South Africa: Anti-Gang Unit makes arrests in Cape Town

The vigilance and swift response from members attached to the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) Combat Team has landed several suspects behind bars for possession of unlicensed and prohibited firearms, and illegal possession of ammunition and drugs.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Monday said members deployed in the Belhar precinct in Cape Town descended on a premises in Adam Tas Avenue, based on information received, and conducted a search for illegal firearms.

This resulted in the arrest of a 27-year-old man for the possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. A CZ75 pistol, with the serial number filled off, and 12 rounds of ammunition were found in possession of the suspect, the SAPS said.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man from Forest Village was arrested for the illegal possession of ammunition after he was found with a magazine and five rounds of ammunition.

In another incident, members gathered information from different sources about a shooting that recently took place. A follow-up was conducted regarding the use of the firearm, which led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man, who was found in possession of a 9mm pistol and nine 9mm rounds of ammunition at a premises in Liesbeek Way, the police said.

The suspect was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.

The team also discovered a .38 Special revolver, with the serial number removed, in the possession of a 16-year-old suspect after a thorough search was conducted at a premises in Mevede Street.

The suspect was arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm.

In addition, a search and seizure operation was conducted aimed to confiscate illegal drugs and ammunition in the area.

This led to the arrest of a 24-year-old male, who possessed 50 whole mandrax tablets and 19 sachets containing tik, 10 calibre rounds of ammunition and R640 in cash.

The suspect was apprehended for dealing in drugs and illegal possession of ammunition.

During a tracing operation of wanted persons, the members arrested a 37-year-old man, who was wanted for an attempted murder case reported at Belhar SAPS in May this year.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bellville and Blue Downs Magistrates court soon on mentioned charges, the police said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.




NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

June 6, 2023



NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Bill Donohue, President, Catholic League:

Starting today, for five consecutive days, we are running 25 radio ads (30 seconds each) on KABC asking listeners not to attend the June 16 "Pride Night" Dodgers game that features the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence." KABC is the ABC affiliate that covers Los Angeles and the Southern California area.

Due to copyright laws, we are prohibited from mentioning the Dodgers, or Dodger Stadium, per se. Everyone in the huge listening area will understand what the selected euphemisms mean (the stadium is also known as Chavez Ravine).

Here is the text of the ad that is being read by a woman chosen by KABC.
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PRNewswire New Delhi [India], June 6: Cloud4C, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Tier Services Partner and one of the world's leading application-focused Cloud MSPs, announced today that it has achieved AWS Migration Competency status. This designation recognizes that Cloud4C provides automation-driven, fully risk-proofed cloud migration services powered by a Factory-based Approach to help customers move their mission-critical assets successfully to AWS, through all phases of complex migration projects; discovery, planning, migration and operations. Achieving the AWS Migration Competency differentiates Cloud4C as an AWS Partner that provides specialized demonstrated technical proficiency and proven customer success with specific focus on AWS CAF-based migration assessment and blueprinting, migration consulting, migration delivery for infra and platforms, data and storage migrations, enterprise application migrations, virtual workspaces, technology solutions and frameworks for automated migrations. To receive the designation, AWS Partners must possess deep AWS expertise and deliver solutions seamlessly on AWS. "Cloud4C is proud to achieve AWS Migration Competency status," said Chankya Levaka, VP Global Sales. "Our team is dedicated to helping companies achieve their technology goals by leveraging the agility, breadth of services, and pace of innovation that AWS provides. Our dedicated AWS experts, paired with novel automation technologies, empower enterprises to leverage their transformation journeys on AWS to the fullest, achieving consistently high ROI, high performance outcomes in a single service level agreement." Cloud4C is committed to delivering customers with high business value outcomes on cloud. The company's unique Migration Factory Approach powered by its proprietary Self Healing Operations Platform (SHOPTM) allow firms to move their critical landscapes to the cloud in an automated, phased manner guaranteeing zero disruption to business as usual and zero data loss. The entire exercise from blueprinting to final implementation can be completed in an agile mode within days and the newly migrated landscape including core and non-core assets, workloads can be effectively monitored and managed from a single pane of glass. AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, AWS established the AWS Competency Program to help customers identify AWS Partners with deep industry experience and expertise. Cloud4C is the world's leading automation-driven, application-focused Cloud Managed Services Provider (MSP) and an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner with 3 key competencies, addressing enterprise transformation journeys for more than 4000+ organizations including 60 of the Fortune 500. Our 450+ dedicated AWS experts offer AIOps-driven migration & managed services for sovereign, hybrid and multi-cloud environments on AWS at zero data loss guarantee under a single SLA at the application login layer. We adhere to local and global compliances like MAS, NESA, Dubai ISR, SAMA, GDPR, IRAP, RBI, MEITY, OJK, HIPAA, and FedRamp etc. We are also a global premium supplier of SAP and a trusted RISE with SAP partner, providing fool-proof SAP transformations on hyperscale cloud platforms such as AWS. Media Enquiries: Ravi Shankar Kravi.shankar@cloud4c.com+65-87190012 (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SRV Media New Delhi [India], June 6: Al-Baik India, a renowned name in the food industry, is delighted to announce its franchise opportunity, offering comprehensive support and training to ensure franchisees' success in operating their outlets. With a commitment to excellence, Al-Baik India provides a range of valuable resources and expertise to empower franchisees to deliver the iconic Al-Baik experience consistently. With an investment as low as 15 lac INR, individuals or multi-unit investors can now establish and operate their own Al-Baik India outlets, becoming part of a rapidly growing brand with a strong presence in the Indian market. With ambitious expansion plans, Al-Baik India aims to open new outlets in key cities and towns across the country. The brand's strategy focuses on metro and Tier-II cities, ensuring a balanced approach to capture a diverse customer base. Leveraging its strong brand reputation and the increasing demand for its authentic Saudi Arabian Broast, Al-Baik India aims to cater to the evolving food culture in urban and semi-urban markets. The leading F&B chain primarily targets urban and semi-urban markets with a significant population and a growing food culture. The brand aims to cater to families, students, working professionals, and food enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality and flavorful food. Whether customers seek a quick dining experience or takeaway options, Al-Baik India provides a menu that satisfies their cravings. Sharing his thoughts on the brand's robust expansion plans and lucrative franchise proposition, Syed Sahil said, "Al-Baik India is committed to the success of its franchisees by offering comprehensive support and training. From initial training programs to ongoing operational support, site selection assistance, marketing support, and access to proprietary systems, franchisees can confidently operate their Al-Baik outlets efficiently and profitably." The key aspects of support and training provided by Al-Baik India are designed to equip franchisees and their staff with the necessary knowledge and skills, optimize operations, and enhance profitability. Here are the highlights: - Initial Training Programs: Franchisees and their staff benefit from thorough initial training programs. These programs cover various aspects of operating an Al-Baik outlet, including food preparation, menu items, hygiene standards, customer service, inventory management, and point-of-sale systems. By participating in these comprehensive training programs, franchisees gain the confidence and expertise to deliver an exceptional Al-Baik experience. - l Ongoing Operational Support: Al-Baik India believes in the importance of continuous operational support for franchisees. The brand's operations team conducts regular visits and consultations to assess performance, provide guidance, and address any operational challenges. In addition, franchisees receive assistance in quality control, menu updates, supply chain management, and maintaining brand standards. With Al-Baik India's expertise and support, franchisees can optimize their operations and enhance profitability. - l Site Selection and Lease Negotiation: Al-Baik India understands the significance of strategic site selection. Franchisees are provided with valuable assistance in analyzing potential locations based on market research and brand requirements. Factors such as footfall, visibility, accessibility, and market demographics are carefully evaluated to ensure informed decision-making. Additionally, Al-Baik India may offer support in negotiating lease agreements to secure favourable terms and conditions for franchisees. - l Marketing and Advertising Support: Effective marketing and advertising play a crucial role in driving customer awareness and footfall. Al-Baik India extends its marketing and advertising support to franchisees, encompassing the development of marketing strategies, localized campaigns, and promotional materials. Franchisees benefit from the brand's marketing expertise, including digital marketing, social media campaigns, and local area marketing initiatives. - l Access to Proprietary Systems or Technologies: Franchisees gain access to Al-Baik India's proprietary systems and technologies, which streamline operations and enhance efficiency. This includes advanced point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management software, and other technology-driven solutions. By leveraging these cutting-edge systems, franchisees can effectively manage their outlets, track sales, inventory, and other essential aspects of the business. "Al-Baik India has emerged as a prominent player in the Indian fast-food industry, captivating the taste buds of food enthusiasts across the country. The brand has achieved remarkable success by staying true to its roots and delivering exceptional customer service. With over 95 outlets and counting, Al-Baik India has rapidly expanded its footprint, offering high-quality food prepared with the finest ingredients. Its commitment to maintaining the authenticity of Saudi Arabian cuisine while catering to the Indian palate has earned it a loyal following. With a strong reputation for quality, taste, and customer satisfaction, Al-Baik India has established itself as a leading player in the fast-food segment, competing effectively and delighting customers with its delectable offerings." added Syed Sahil. Al-Baik India is actively seeking potential franchisees with the right qualifications, skills, and personal characteristics to operate their franchise outlets successfully. The brand places great importance on selecting individuals who align with its values and vision. The brand seeks individuals with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine passion for the food and beverage industry. Franchisees should be motivated, proactive, and driven to succeed in a competitive market. Additionally, a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and consistency is highly valued by Al-Baik India. Franchisees should share this commitment and strive to deliver exceptional customer experiences through their outlets. While prior business or industry experience can be beneficial, Al-Baik India also welcomes individuals who need more knowledge or experience in the food and beverage industry. The brand provides comprehensive training programs that cover various aspects of operating an Al-Baik outlet, ensuring that newcomers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. Financial capability is another important consideration, as potential franchisees should have the resources required to meet the initial investment requirements and ongoing operational expenses. For further information or to express interest in the Al-Baik India franchise opportunity, please contact: 9721117978, www.albaikfoods.com, albaikfoodsystems@gmail.com (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
OP Jindal University Sonipat (Haryana) [India], June 6: Sreenivasan Jain, the multiple award winning Indian investigative journalist and former Group Editor of NDTV, has joined India's first global journalism school, Jindal School of Journalism and Communication (JSJC) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat. Announcing the appointment, JGU's founding Vice Chancellor Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar said, "Sreenivasan Jain is an outstanding journalist in the best traditions of the practice and his experience will enrich JSJC and JGU in many ways. He has spoken truth to power during his career as a journalist and his joining our university as a faculty member will instil confidence among the students in pursuing a career in journalism and public affairs on the edifice of ethics and integrity. The students of JSJC have had a unique experience of studying at an exciting school with an innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum in cinema, journalism and communication that offers a wide range of national and international opportunities." Sreenivasan Jain is the recipient of Journalist of the Year by the Ramnath Goenka Awards in 2014, by the Red Ink Awards in 2015, and Anchor of the Year at ENBA Awards, 2016. Other awards include the World Media Summit Awards in Beijing, the World Silver Medal at the New York Festivals, the Hero Honda Indian Television Academy Awards, the Indian Telly Awards, the ENBA Awards, and the GQ Man of the Year (Media) in 2009. He was a recipient of the Eisenhower Fellowship in 2000. In the world of the news media, investigative journalism is considered the highest calling. It comes closest to the core mission of the press in a democracy -- of uncovering uncomfortable truths that hold power holders to account. JGU and JSJC is excited to welcome the award-winning broadcast journalist, Sreenivasan Jain who will provide a masterclass into the techniques and skills needed to produce top-notch investigative reportage, drawing from his three-decade-long experience in reporting -- and uncovering -- some of the biggest stories of our time. Expressing his excitement in taking up the faculty appointment at JSJC, Sreenivasan Jain said, "In my three decades in TV news and journalism, one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience was the opportunity to work with and train younger entrants into our newsroom. I look forward to extending that experience in this new innings as a faculty member at the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication of O.P. Jindal Global University." Professor Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Dean, JSJC, himself an award-winning former broadcast journalist who has made several documentaries and reported widely from India's conflict zones, said, "JSJC students will benefit immensely from Sreenivasan's experience. Sreenivasan has been a colleague for decades and a comrade in reporting the underreported stories. We have often collaborated on investigative reports and it gives me immense joy in welcoming him to JSJC. We need more and more journalists and truth-tellers to help make sense of what is happening around us. We try to offer innovative, sustainable, market-driven training focusing on niche reporting and new media skills. Whether they report news or write a screenplay or manage communication, we encourage our students to always challenge the status quo and seek truth." In 2023, JSJC will have the first class of its third programme, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs. Already quite popular among prospective students, the course will allow JSJC to cover the entire spectrum of undergraduate communication education in India. It has a robust pedagogy, through consultation with leading industry professionals and academics. The school looks forward to delivering the best education to students as it grows from strength to strength. JSJC launched its second undergraduate programme, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Film & New Media in 2022. With state-of-the-art facilities, including the latest equipment, studios, and pedagogy, the course has become the most-desired destination for aspiring filmmakers around the country. This year JSJC's older programme, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Journalism & Media Studies is graduating its 4th batch. Despite the challenges due to Covid-19, JSJC graduates secured jobs in leading media companies such as NDTV, Business Standard, Global Data, London, Indian Express, the Press Trust of India, and Al Jazeera. While JSJC prides itself on producing working journalists through its skill-intensive, studio-based curriculum, many students have gone on to pursuing Masters' degree programmes in universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Toronto Film School, Columbia University and King's College, London. Frequently, journalism students go on to diverse areas of study such as human rights, law, policy, design and film. JSJC students intern in leading production companies and OTT platforms, and they enter the industry as well-trained filmmakers and professionals. JSJC has a stellar faculty considered the best amongst journalism schools drawing from top journalists, editors, filmmakers and academicians who have more than 20 books, 10 films and 1000+ articles to their credit. It is home to global collaborative research in emerging technologies and hosts important calendar events in Delhi in the world of arts, cinema and communication. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], June 6: ixigo (Le Travenues Technology Limited), India's leading online travel aggregator (OTA), is excited to announce its 16th-anniversary celebration with the launch of the 'Sweet 16 Travel Sale.' This special sale will be live from June 7th to June 12th, offering travelers a golden opportunity to save on both domestic and international flights. ixigo, having completed 16 successful years of empowering travelers with seamless travel experiences, is thrilled to mark this milestone by giving back to its loyal users. The 'Sweet 16 Travel Sale' presents a range of exclusive discounts and offers to make travel dreams a reality at unbeatable prices. During the sale period, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda & IDFC FIrst Bank credit card holders can avail themselves of an exciting 16% discount on flight tickets by using the code 'SWEET16'. ICICI Bank cardholders can enjoy this discount on June 7th and 8th, Bank of Baroda cardholders can avail the same offer on June 9th and 10th, while IDFC FIrst Bank credit card holders can avail the offer on June 11th & 12th . This special privilege is a token of appreciation to the valued customers who have been an integral part of ixigo's remarkable journey. Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO and Co-founder of ixigo, said, "We are immensely grateful to our users for their unwavering support throughout our incredible 16-year journey. Over the years, ixigo has evolved into a trusted platform that offers convenience, transparency, and value. With our customer-first approach we have been able to scale our business and solidify our presence as the fastest growing OTA in India. The 'Sweet 16 Travel Sale' is our way of giving back and celebrating this significant milestone with them. We invite all travel enthusiasts to take advantage of this exclusive sale and experience the joy of saving on their flights." ixigo Launched in 2007 by Aloke Bajpai & Rajnish Kumar, ixigo (Le Travenues Technology Limited) is a technology company focused on empowering Indian travelers to plan, book and manage their trips across rail, air, buses and hotels. ixigo assists travelers in making smarter travel decisions by leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science-led innovations. The ixigo, ConfirmTkt and AbhiBus apps allow travelers to book train tickets, flight tickets, bus tickets, hotels and cabs, and provide travel utility tools and services developed using in-house proprietary algorithms and crowd-sourced information. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
State-owned hydropower company NHPC Limited has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government for the establishment of energy storage systems along with other renewable energy sources (Solar/ Wind/ Hybrid) of total 7,350 MW capacity, it informed stock exchanges on Tuesday. Other details, including financial consideration and the timeline of the project, were not mentioned in the stock filing. NHPC is the largest hydropower development organization in India, with capabilities to undertake all the activities in hydro-related projects. NHPC has also diversified in the field of solar and wind energy. Late in May, it declared its earnings for the financial year 2022-23. It reported consolidated net profit for 2022-23 at Rs 3,890 compared to Rs 3,524 crore in 2021-22, an increase of 10 per cent. NHPC Power Stations achieved the generation of 24,907 Million Units (MUs) of power during the financial year. Besides, the state-owned company's Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of Rs 0.45 per share for the financial year 2022-23. This is in addition to an interim dividend of Rs 1.40 per share. Accordingly, the total dividend for 2022-23 is Rs 1.85 per share. A dividend is a reward companies often provide to their shareholders, though not mandatory, from a portion of their earnings. NHPC presently has an installed capacity of 7097.2 MW from 25 power stations and is presently engaged in the construction of 16 projects aggregating to a total installed capacity of 10489 MW. It also has 12 projects with an aggregate capacity of 5882 MW under the clearance stage and two projects with an aggregate capacity of 890 MW in the survey and investigation stage. (ANI)
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], June 6: Sequoia India & Southeast Asia, the largest venture capital firm in the region which manages over USD 9.2 billion across 13 funds, will now be known as Peak XV Partners* globally. The rebranding has come after Sequoia Capital (US/Europe), Sequoia China and Sequoia India & Southeast Asia have decided to become independent firms with distinct brands. Peak XV was the original name given to Mount Everest and symbolises the relentless pursuit of audacious goals by founders. Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners said, "It's a new beginning for us as Peak XV Partners, but unlike most beginnings, this is an opportunity for us to build on top of the foundation laid over the last 17 years. Our firm will continue to be managed by the present leadership team and will continue to invest from the most recently raised set of funds focused on India and Southeast Asia." Since inception, Sequoia Capital (US/Europe), Sequoia China and Sequoia India/SEA have been built as separate businesses with independent investment decision making. Over the years, the strategies for each business have diverged and the scale and market leadership across different geographies has started to result in brand confusion and portfolio conflict. This has led the leaders of each business to collectively decide to move to fully independent partnerships with distinct brands, in order to serve founders and Limited Partners in the best manner. "We are seeing companies emerge from every region with global ambitions. The flexibility that comes with the new structure will open up an unbounded global opportunity and help create more value for our founders and LPs," Singh said. Over the last 17 years, Sequoia India & SEA has raised 13 funds, invested in over 400 startups, with 50+ companies valued at USD 1 billion and above. The portfolio has seen 19 IPOs and multiple successful M&As resulting in USD 4.5 billion of realized exits so far. The investment team is led by 11 Managing Directors with an average tenure of over 12 years at the firm. Peak XV Partners will continue to invest across stages (seed, venture, growth) and sectors like SaaS, AI, developer tools, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, climate tech, fintech, healthtech and consumer. The firm will further strengthen its unique and industry-leading programs like Surge and Spark that have been very well received by founders. The firm remains committed as ever to help audacious founders build iconic companies that can be regional and global category leaders. *Pronounced Peak Fifteen (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Automaker Honda on Tuesday said it plans to launch five new SUVs in India by 2030. Honda's latest SUV car ELEVATE had its global unveiling today at an event held in India. Of those five, a battery electric vehicle-based SUV is planned to be launched in India within three years as part of its carbon neutrality initiatives. "We have a robust product strategy to strengthen our premium play in the market and Elevate is first model among the 5 new SUVs that will be launched by Honda in India by 2030," said Takuya Tsumura, President and CEO, Honda Cars India on Tuesday. The Elevate which has been unveiled today is a mid-size SUV and it comes with six airbags. The Elevate is scheduled for launch during festive season this year. India will be the first country to manufacture and sell the model globally. While the initial introduction of Elevate is focused on domestic market but India also aims to serve export markets. "India being the world's third largest automotive market is extremely important for Honda. As the first country to launch a global model, today's World Premiere of the all-new Elevate is a stamp of commitment of Honda's plans and aspirations for the country. The exports from India to several regions across the globe are growing continuously every year. With high level of quality standards to deliver products that exceed expectations of both local and worldwide customers, India has become one of the most important export hubs for Honda," said Toshio Kuwahara, Head of Regional Unit (Asia and Oceania), Honda Motor Co and President and CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co. Honda strives to realize carbon neutrality and zero traffic collision fatalities by 2050. "To achieve this target, Honda aims to increase the sales ratio of Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles sales to 100 per cent globally by 2040, including India. For safety, we continue enhancing advanced technologies including the expansion of Honda SENSING around the world and strengthening our safety education to reduce traffic accidents," Kuwahara added. (ANI)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], June 6: Arasoft, a leading technology company with Green Technology Certification from the Korean government, has launched its ambitious project titled "Adopting Carbon Net-Zero and Social Contribution through Paperless Publishing" in New Delhi from 6th June to 8th June 2023. This 3-day project, which falls under the intangible category of technology and service and aligns with Global ESG Initiatives, aims to provide training programs and foster cooperation in the adoption of carbon net-zero practices and paperless publishing. Dr In Pyo Hwang, Director, Arasoft, and Chief of the Institute of Global Competency Development (IGCD), Seoul and his assistant NG Yong XIN, conducted face-to-face training sessions for public officials, educators, entrepreneurs, and other target audiences in New Delhi. Arasoft donated more than 20 software packages, including Namo Author, Namo Reader, and AraBook, as well as storage devices to the participants, to support the training program. These tools enable low-carbon and eco-friendly document management, fostering eco-friendly value consumption and expanding potential markets in target countries. The training program was held at the Maharaja Surajmal Institute in Janakpuri, Delhi, and organized in cooperation with the Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB) and KOTRA (Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency). The "2023 KOTRA Global ESG Project" serves as a platform through which KOTRA supports Korean small and medium-sized enterprises in their international Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavors. This support includes facilitating the identification of local partner organizations and providing assistance in organizing events. Participants were required to have basic IT skills and a beneficial interest in the curriculum, with a preference for individuals who can communicate and write documents in English and have basic knowledge of eBooks. The program covered various aspects of paperless publishing, including an introduction to ESG management, eBook and paperless technology trends, utilization of Namo Author software, creation of electronic documents, eBook publishing, and eBook content distribution. During this 3-day programme, the participants also engaged in individual projects, developing business model plans and work application strategies. Arasoft is proud to contribute to the global efforts in achieving carbon net-zero and promoting responsible consumption and production through this project. By training professionals and establishing cooperation between industries, academia, government, and associations, Arasoft aims to create a sustainable future for all. Aligned with Global ESG Initiatives The project is a response to the global sustainability goals outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). It is closely linked to key objectives such as responsible consumption and production (No. 12), addressing climate change and its impact (No. 13), and strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development (No. 17). Arasoft is committed to enhancing corporate awareness and contributing to the international community through mutually beneficial cooperation with local authorities. Objectives and Expected Outcomes Arasoft's project seeks to achieve short-term and long-term goals by implementing Paperless Publishing to achieve carbon neutrality. The short-term goal involves establishing business networks and securing technology exports through local training and knowledge exchange in 2023. The long-term goal is to establish eco-friendly social communities and foster ESG cooperation between countries through local carbon-free diffusion and systemization. By reducing environmental pollution through the adoption of Paperless Publishing, Arasoft aims to decrease carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of working with digital documents. The use of eBooks has been increasing due to advancements in supply and communication technology. The project will leverage green IT business, eco-friendly green publishing, and raise awareness about paper consumption, significantly reducing printing and paper usage by storing and distributing documents as electronic files. For more information about the project and registration details, please visit Arasoft's website or contact our media relations team. Arasoft is a leading technology company committed to providing innovative solutions in the digital publishing and document management industry. With a focus on eco-friendly practices, Arasoft aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote responsible consumption through its paperless publishing initiatives. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The official trailer for Netflix's The Out-Laws has been released. The crime comedy film, which stars Adam Devine, Nina Dobrev, Pierce Brosnan, and Ellen Barkin, will stream on Netflix on July 7. DeVine plays a bank manager who meets his fiancee's (Nina Dobrev) parents for the first time the week before their wedding and discovers they're notorious bank robbers. "If I learned anything from shooting this movie, it's that if you want to impress your in-laws, rob a series of banks to earn their respect and save their daughter!", DeVine told PEOPLE. In the trailer, his character Owen tells his friend (Lil Rey Howery) that his fiancee's parents, Billy (Pierce Brosnan) and Lily (Ellen Barkin), have lived off the grid since the couple met. The bank manager's place of work is robbed after what appears to be a tense meeting and several drinks between Owen and his future in-laws. Owen believes he recognises the elder couple's voices behind their masks during the robbery. Following their identification as The Ghost Bandits, whom Owen describes as the most notorious bank robbers in American history, Dobrev's character is kidnapped by a woman from whom The Ghost Bandits have also stolen from. Owen earns a chance to prove himself to his in-laws by assisting them in pulling off a new heist to reclaim his fiancee. According to the official synopsis, DeVine's character is a straight-laced bank manager whose bank is held up by the infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week and who comes to believe his future in-laws are the infamous Out-Laws. The director, Tyler Spindel told PEOPLE, "We really tried to push the envelope and find set pieces that no one's seen before... it's a wild, fun ride, And the cast is incredible - Nina Dobrev and Adam Devine have such great chemistry as a couple. It made me sad when I realized I'll never have what they have." He added, "I was really method about directing this film, even robbed a few banks to make sure it felt authentic, I used my one phone call for this interview." Brosnan described his character in The Out-Laws as "kind of [a] lost soul" in a recent interview with Netflix's Tudum. Brosnan said, "He and his wife are not who they say they are, We come into town because our daughter's getting married, and I do not take to this young man, in any shape or form. I find him to be not worthy of my daughter's heart. And I give him a very hard time in the process of him trying to woo her." Michael Rooker, Poorna Jagannathan, Julie Hagerty, Richard Kind, Blake Anderson, Lauren Lapkus, and Laci Mosley also star in this action-comedy. 'The Out-Laws' was directed by Spindel from a screenplay written by Evan Turner and Ben Zazov and its producers are Devine and Adam Sandler. (ANI)
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana's father, P Khuarna passed away on May 19. After completing the rituals in Chandigarh, actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana returned to Mumbai with their mother, Poonam Khurrana. Taking to Instagram, Ayushmann on Monday, dropped a selfie of the trio in his stories. He captioned the post, "Maa." In the photo, the Khurrana brothers with their mother are smiling for the camera. The trio can be seen sitting inside the plane. Later, three of them were captured at the airport. The actors were seen exiting the Mumbai airport while holding Poonam's hands. Ayushmann dressed casually in a green T-shirt and black joggers. Aparshakti can be seen donning a peach shirt over a blue T-shirt with matching trousers. Poonam wore a black and white dress. Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana's father P Khurrana passed on May 19. He was popularly known in North India for his contribution to the field of astrology. Hailing from Chandigarh, he had written books based on his knowledge of the subject.Aparshakti shared the unfortunate news via a statement. "It's with our deep sadness to inform you that Ayushmann and Aparshakti Khurana's father, Astrologer P Khurana passed away this morning at 10:30 am in Mohali, owing to a prolonged incurable ailment. We are indebted for all your prayers and support during this time of personal loss," the statement read. Meanwhile, on the film front, Ayushmann will be next seen in Dream Girl 2, the sequel to his blockbuster Dream Girl. It will be out on August 25. Earlier it was supposed to be released in July. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday held a review meeting on the implementation of MoUs signed at the GIS 23 (Global Investors Summit). Highlighting the significant contribution of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to the growth of the state, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take prompt measures in helping the enterprises to flourish from manufacturing to marketing their products globally, said an official statement. CM Jagan told the officials to identify the products having global demand, the state-of-the-art technology needed for the small enterprises to produce such products, and the ways to market them through tie-ups with MNCs (multinational corporations). Instructing them to formulate an action plan to provide a separate wing for MSMEs in the industries department at the Secretary level and extend the required technology to boost the state's economy, the CM said, "You should work with the aim of exporting a wide range of products to several countries," suggesting that necessary skills also should be developed among the youth for the purpose. During the meeting, the officials informed CM Jagan that out of the 387 MoUs signed at the GIS, 100 MoUs were signed by the Trade and Industry department while 13 MoUs were translated into action, bringing in Rs. 2739 crore investments and creating employment for 6,858 people. They further added that 38 companies would begin their work in the State before January 2024 and 30 other companies before March 2024 to which the CM stressed the officials to ensure that all companies which signed MoUs would begin work by February 2024. The Chief Minister was informed that out of the 25 MoUs signed on energy projects, 8 projects were awaiting SIPB clearance while DPRs are getting ready for another 8 projects, and works on 4 projects would be commencing soon. Referring to the 20 MoUs signed on energy projects prior to the GIS-23, officials said that works on 6 projects would commence soon while DPRs are ready for 11 projects. These projects will bring Rs.8.85 lakh crore investments resulting in employment to 1,29,650 persons, they explained. While reviewing the progress of the IT industry and investments in the sector, CM Jagan told the officials to work hard and make Visakhapatnam, the IT hub of Andhra Pradesh. Disclosing key figures on the IT-related projects, the officials said that 88 MoUs worth Rs. 44,963 crores were signed. Out of this, investments worth Rs. 38,573 crores have already come and the companies are about to commence their operations. CM Jagan encouraged the officials to work towards translating the MoUs signed on food processing projects into action at the earliest to help the tomato and onion growers by establishing processing units. He also reviewed the flow of Investment into the animal husbandry and tourism sectors for which MoUs were signed. They also explained that the State achieved excellent progress with the growth rate reaching 11.43 % in 2021-22 from 5.36% in 2019. The exports from the State also went up to Rs. 1.6 lakh crore in 2022-23 from 1.43 lakh crore in 2021-22, said a statement from the Chief Minister's office. (ANI)
No casualties have been reported in the collapse of the bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur that occurred on Sunday, said Southern Bhagalpur Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dhananjay Kumar. "The SDRF teams are carrying out search operations continuously and no casualties have been reported in the mishap till now," Kumar said while talking to ANI. On Sunday, an under-construction Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bhagalpur collapsed. The moment when the bridge collapsed in the Ganga River was caught on video by locals. However, the collapse of the bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur stoked a war of words between the state government and the opposition BJP. Following the bridge collapse, the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's governance and said, "There is a tradition of seeking commission (bribe) in this government. It is a consequence of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's mentality of political instability that there's administrative anarchy and corruption. The system is collapsing but they are talking about Opposition unity." He further stated that there should be an immediate enquiry into the incident. "There needs to be accountability in this incident. Those involved in corruption in the government have fixed their commissions. Where is your zero tolerance on corruption?" he added. Soon after the collapse of the bridge, CM Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur and asked the officials to identify those responsible for the incident. Nitish Kumar on Monday said he has instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the "poor construction work" of the under-construction bridge over River Ganga. "The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," said CM Nitish Kumar. Kumar said he instructed officials to visit the site of the Aguani-Sultanganj bridge and vowed strict action against those responsible. CM expressed his disappointment over the delay in the completion of the bridge and said that together with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav they will instruct for the completion of the bridge as soon as possible. (ANI)
A maximum of 123 dead bodies are kept in the AIIMS mortuary, the official said.

"Corpses are also kept in other medical colleges in Bhubaneshwar for identification. 43 bodies were dispatched from AIIMS on Monday. A total of 62 bodies were sent to various locations from six mortuaries in Bhubaneshwar," Bhubaneshwar Police Commissioner SK Priyadarshi said.

People from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu are arriving in Bhubaneshwar in search of their relatives.

The triple train accident in Balasore occurred on Friday evening, resulting in the unfortunate death of at least 275 people. In the accident, more than 1,000 were injured that took place near the Bahanaga Bazar area on June 2.

The Odisha government on Monday informed that 151 bodies from the triple train accident that took place in Odisha's Balasore district had been identified till today morning.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the Balasore accident site from ground zero and also visited the injured being treated at the hospital.

Before leaving Delhi for the mishap site, PM Modi had also chaired a high-level review meeting on the same. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Sarma said that the action has been taken under the 'Drugs free Assam'.

"#AssamAgainstDrugs @karbianglongpol apprehended a four-wheeler vehicle at number 2 Nambor Forest Bridge and seized 89 soap boxes containing 1.104 Kg Heroin hidden in the door panel of the vehicle. The accused driver has been apprehended. Compliments for great work @assampolice," Sarma said in a tweet.

Earlier in the day, the police informed that the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) in a joint operation seized 5 kg of contraband drugs from a train and apprehended two persons at Lumding railway station in Assam's Nagaon district on Sunday night.

T Boro, an official of GRP Lumding said that during the joint operation, they recovered nine packets of ganja weighing about 5 kg from the Kanchanjunga train.

"We have recovered the ganja in possession of two women. The train was coming from Agartala. We have apprehended two women who are hailing from Bihar," the police official said.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered by GRP Lumding.

The Assam Police, on Saturday, launched an operation to catch drug peddlers and apprehended two persons.

It also seized a massive quantity of contraband drugs worth Rs 16 crores.

"Based on secret information, a team of Cachar district police launched an operation on Saturday night at Katagashtal area, Silchar and recovered about 2.2 kg of heroin", said Subrata Sen, Additional Superintendent of Police, Cachar district.

Adding further, Sen said, "We have seized 143 soap cases containing 2.2 kg of heroin and also apprehended two accused in the operation. The market value of the seized drugs is estimated at around Rs 16 crore. Our investigation is on". (ANI)
After a special MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi awarded life imprisonment to jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder case, Special law and order DG for the state Prashant Kumar said that the verdict is the result of the "effective lobbying". "Mukhtar Ansari is the leader of 191 gangs, his elders have a total of 61 cases registered in UP, Punjab, and New Delhi. Mukhtar has been sentenced in 5 cases this year. The action was taken against 298 members of his gang, in which 205 of his people have been arrested. Work was done to stop the tender of 2100 crores related to the accused. Today's punishment is the result of our effective lobbying," Kumar told the reporters on Monday. A special MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi awarded life imprisonment to jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in the 1991 Awadhesh Rai murder case. On August 3, 1991, Congress leader and brother of former MLA Ajay Rai, Awadhesh Rai, was shot dead outside Ajay Rai's house in Varanasi. Ansari was presented before the court through video conference where the court convicted him under Sections 145 and 302. Reacting to the court's judgement advocate Ajay Rai said, "Today, we have won after a 32-year-long battle. We welcome the verdict of the court...If anything happens to me the responsibility will lie on the BJP government. The Special Court which concluded the hearing after arguments on May 19, reserved its order, and fixed June 5 as the date to deliver it. In the case of the killing of Awadhesh Rai, Ajay Rai had named Mukhtar Ansari, Bhim Singh and former MLA Abdul Kalim, in the FIR. On May 17, a Ghazipur MP-MLA Court acquitted Mukhtar Ansari accused in a case of conspiracy of a murder attempt in Uttar Pradesh's Mohammadabad area in the district. In 2009, Mir Hasan filed a case of attempt to murder against Ansari under 120B. A case under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Ansari at Mohammadabad police station in Ghazipur. (ANI)
According to AAP sources, the meeting of the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the national president of the Samajwadi Party will be held in Lucknow.

Kejriwal had on May 23 embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance.

The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'.

The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. (ANI)
Days after the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav has alleged that it was demolished by Bharatiya Janata Party. Aguwani-Sultanganj under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur was collapsed on June 4. "The bridge has been demolished by BJP. We are building the bridge and they are demolishing it," Tej Pratap said on Monday. Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed in the Patna High Court for seeking an independent enquiry into the collapse of the bridge, second time in a year. After the collapse of the bridge, CM Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe and has asked the officials to identify those responsible for the incident. "The bridge that collapsed on June 4, had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," Kumar said. (ANI)
The Buddhist monastic communities in North East India have long been known for their serene tranquillity and spiritual teachings. But recently, these communities have emerged as leaders in environmental stewardship, combining their religious ethos with a profound sense of responsibility towards the natural world. A shining example is the Buddhist community of Chalapathar Shyamgaon, a village in eastern Assam. Prompted by the near extinction of the bhungloti creeper, a native plant traditionally used to give Buddhist monastic robes their iconic saffron hue, this community took the bold step of adopting the nearby forest as the Chala Village Sanctuary. This was more than a symbolic gesture: it marked the beginning of a concerted effort to protect and rejuvenate the local ecosystem. The monks of Chalapathar Shyamgaon have since worked tirelessly to guard the forest against illegal logging and poaching, even forming a forest protection group of 22 individuals to assist the understaffed Forest Department. But their efforts have gone beyond mere preservation. The community has been re-greening parts of the land that had been denuded by illegal logging, planting more than 20,000 saplings gifted by the Forest Department. They have also established a biodiversity park, hosting an assortment of orchids and indigenous trees. What motivates these communities? The answer lies in the Buddhist teachings. The Buddha emphasized living in harmony with nature and respecting all life forms. Buddhism encourages mindfulness, a deep awareness of the effects of one's actions on the world, as a way to avoid causing harm to nature and other living creatures. The teachings also stress the concept of "ahimsa", or "do no harm", which is often interpreted as a call to show compassion and avoid taking life, including that of non-human beings. This mindful approach extends to the ecosystem. The Buddha taught that people should not disrupt the habitats of other creatures or kill other living beings. Destroying natural habitats, therefore, can be seen as a violation of the precepts of Buddhism, an act of thoughtlessness that harms not just the immediate environment but the interconnected web of life. The Chalapathar Shyamgaon initiative and others like it to highlight how Buddhist monastic communities in North East India are living these teachings, championing environmental stewardship as a spiritual duty. By integrating Buddhist principles with conservation efforts, they are not only preserving their local environments but also setting a powerful example of ecological responsibility for the wider world . (ANI)
BJP workers in Karnataka staged a unique protest with cows against the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government following State minister K Venkatesh recent remarks on cow slaughter that sparked a row. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1665967464012976129 Venkatesh had on Saturday said that if buffaloes can be slaughtered, why not cows. This did not go down well with the BJP who came down heavily on the Siddaramaiah government. On Monday, Siddaramaiah defended Venkatesh claimed there was lack of clarity in the cow slaughter scheme brought by the previous BJP government and it will be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting. The Karnataka BJP also alleged that the State government is not delivering on its five poll guarantees. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1665963172229169152 Siddaramaiah has said that the BJP has no moral right to protest against the Congress' poll guarantees. Siddaramaiah was speaking to mediapersons here after garlanding former Karnataka Chief Minister Devaraja Arasu's statue in the Vidhana Soudha premises. "BJP is an anti-people party," he said adding that when the opposition party was in power they had looted the State. The BJP stopped giving benefits under Indira Canteen, Shoe Bhagya and cycles to students. Siddaramaiah said that the State government will provide 10 hours of free electricity to the people and will also waive off loans. These five 'main' guarantees promised by the Congress during the poll were, 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti); Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi); 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya); Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi) and free travel for women in public transport buses (Uchita Prayana). (ANI)
"Inputs indicate casualties to insurgents. This is being verified on the ground. During preliminary search, two AK series rifles, one 51mm mortar, two carbines, ammunition, and warlike stores were recovered from the general area," the Indian Army said.

Meanwhile, additional seven columns (5 of Assam Rifles and 2 of BSF) were re-deployed in the area to strengthen ongoing area domination operations, ambushes and measures to prevent arson, violence in past 48 hours, army stated.

"Operations to sanitise the area is in progress," they added.

Earlier, a jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds in Manipur's Serou in firing between security forces and a group of insurgents.

"One BSF Jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds (GSW) in general area Serou," the Spear Corps of the Indian Army said in a statement.

The BSF jawan Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav, who sustained bullet injury was evacuated to Jivan Hospital, Kakching where he was declared dead.

The Indian Army along with Assam Rifles, CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and police started its extensive area domination operations following the recent crisis in Manipur. (ANI)
A case has been registered under the Arms Act at the Gogamukh Police Station.

"Reference the firing incident at the Assam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji and Gogamukh PS case No. 63/23 u/s 147/148/302/326/307 IPC r/w 25 (1) (a)/27 (3) of Arms Act - Arunachal Police have arrested 5 accused persons," DGP GP Singh tweeted.

"Would take them in custody following due procedure," he added.

The firing incident occurred in the Panbari area in Dhemaji district, located along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border where two people lost their lives.

The deceased persons were identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi.

In the aftermath of the incident, CM Biswa Sarma said that further investigation will be carried out and blamed the incident on those who carry out such activity in the greed of grabbing land in the area.

Addressing the media on Monday, Assam CM Sarma said, "Boundaries are yet to be demarcated. Our neighbouring states don't attack us, some people do this in the greed of land. The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the district will investigate the matter."

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804 km long boundary and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu in New Delhi in April this year to resolve the decades-long border row between two states in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (ANI)
Earlier on May 31, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar deposited Rs 181 crore into the bank accounts of 67,758 farmers as compensation for the loss of their crops due to unseasonal rainfall in March-April.

Taking to Twitter, CM Khattar said, "Today, fulfilling the promise made to my farmer brothers, I have sent compensation of Rs 181 crore directly to their bank accounts through just one click, for their damaged crops. In March-April 2023, we had announced compensation for the crop damaged due to unseasonal rains in the month of May, under which today the compensation amount has been released to 67,758 farmers of the state."

The crops had been damaged due to unseasonal rains in the state in March-April this year. (ANI)
Delhi's Education Minister Atishi Marlena has moved Delhi High Court against concerned ministries of the Central Government for allegedly delaying her travel clearances to the UK. She has been invited in her official capacity by the prestigious Cambridge University to speak at a conference on 'India at 100: Towards Becoming a Global Leader' to be held on June 15. Atishi is a Minister in the Council of Ministers, Government of NCT of Delhi holding portfolio of Education, Public Works Department, Power, Art Culture & Languages, Tourism, Women & Child Development. The plea stated that the respondent authorities are delaying travel clearances to the UK from June 14, 2023, to June 20, 2023. Therefore, urgent directions are required from Court to grant her the requisite clearance. The petition stated that Atishi is invited in her official capacity by the prestigious Cambridge University on June 15, and thereafter, she has arranged multiple visits to primary schools in the UK as well as meetings with potential Teacher Training partners, to make the most of her visit to the UK and ensure that Delhi's children gain from best practices in primary school education abroad. The discretion to grant or deny travel clearances to State ministers is exercised by the Union of India. The petitioner received an invitation dated May 10, 2023, from Judge Business School, University of Cambridge to attend and speak at a conference organized by them on June 15, 2023. "Subsequently, in accordance with the above-mentioned memorandum, the Petitioner applied for relevant clearances. The administrative clearance for Petitioner's request for travel dated 18.05.2023 was granted by the GNCTD. Thereafter, over a week later, the Lieutenant-Governor approved the proposal on May 26 and forwarded it to the Union of India for requisite clearances," stated the plea. "Certain queries were raised on May 31 and subsequently on June 5 which were promptly answered to. Without a decision on such clearance, the present Petitioner is unable to apply for a visa permit for her proposed travel. Once the clearances are made, the process of applying and obtaining a visa will itself take some time and the Petitioner apprehends that the delay on account of the respondent Authorities will render the proposal for the official visit entirely infructuous and irreparably prevent the gains that Delhi's governance and schools could have made from this visit," the plea read. The plea further added that the aforesaid official tour is significant for Delhi's governance - not only will it allow the Delhi Government to showcase the leaps that Delhi has made in education, health, and urban development generally, it will allow Delhi, particularly the children of Delhi, to benefit from learnings from other jurisdictions. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched the K-FON project in the state and said that with this project internet for all "has now become a reality." The project was launched at R Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall of the Legislative Assembly on Monday. According to an official release, the project will initially provide internet access to 100 houses in each legislative assembly constituency of the state. "K-FON has built-in IT infrastructure capable of setting up 40 lakh internet connections across the state. Consumers can access internet services at a speed starting at 20 Mbps and can avail connections of higher speed based on individual requirements", the release stated. Speaking on occasion, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, "Kerala's dream has now become a reality. We will be providing internet for all with this project launch. We are the first state to declare the internet as a right of the citizens and that doesn't stay on the paper but we are building it. And we will ensure that it is available to each and everyone." The chief minister added that the public sector institutions in the country are being sold to private while in Kerala the digital infrastructure has been boosted through public sectors. "K-FON is a public sector initiative. This is at a time when the public sector institutions in the country are being sold to private. We know what is happening to BSNL, and the fate of VSNL is also not very different. Now look at LIC they're trying to sabotage it. Meanwhile, in Kerala the digital infrastructure has been boosted through public sectors which is marking the New Kerala", the CM said. At present, K-FON has been successfully installed in 26,492 government offices, of which 17,354 offices have live internet access. According to the K-FON officials, internet connectivity will be available to all government offices by the end of June as per the provided list. As of now, K-FON has more than 1000 household subscribers and installation of cables for over 7000 connections has been completed. On completion of the initial phase of the project by August 2023, the project will be expanded to setting up commercial connections. It is estimated that 2,50,000 commercial connections will be provided in the first year, which could facilitate the project's profitability. (ANI)
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought report from the Central government over the non-release of funds allotted to the West Bengal government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The court also directed the Center to conduct a proper investigation so that the beneficiaries of the scheme do not get deprived. The Center has been directed to submit a report to the court by June 20. The court has also mentioned that if the state government wants to issue any statement they need to inform within a week. The High Court has listed the matter for hearing again in the next month. The PIL for this was filed by Pashchim Banga Khet Majdoor Samiti. The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government and the Centre had often been at loggerheads with one another over release of funds by the Centre. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier accused the Centre of discriminative behaviour towards her State. Earlier in March, Banerjee said, "Centre has stopped giving money for 100 days of work. Nothing was given to Bengal even in the budget, so I will protest in front of the Ambedkar statue on March 29-30 against the dictatorship of the central government." (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that "Naya Kashmir" is shaping up following the successful G20 event in Srinagar and maintained that the security forces are "fully capable of dealing with any challenge" in the valley. Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Manoj Sinha said, "Challenges come but now we are capable of successfully handling the challenges. For the first time, such a big international-level event (G20) was organised in Jammu and Kashmir". Referring to the recent G20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar, L-G said, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir supported us a lot in making the event a huge success. The administration and the security forces also chipped in," he said. "A Naya Jammu and Kashmir is shaping up," he added. "A Yatri Niwas is being constructed at Rs 51 crores. Four more similar Bhawans will be constructed in the coming days. We are preparing a DPR for a road from Chandanwari to Baltal," LG Manoj Sinha said later after inaugurating the Prasad cum Souvenir counter of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Jammu airport. Manoj Sinha was responding when asked about security arrangements ahead of the Amarnath Yatra set to begin next month. A G20 event was held in Srinagar between May 22-24 for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 amid tight security. India under its G20 Presidency is currently holding meetings across the country in the lead-up to the G20 Summit scheduled to be held in September in New Delhi. (ANI)
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) on Tuesday on Tuesday staged a protest in Guwahati against the State government's decision to introduce the English language as a medium of study for science and mathematics from class 6. Earlier, the students' organisation declared a month-long agitation across the state against the Assam government's decision. Samujjal Bhattacharya, Chief Advisor of AASU said, "The Assam government has taken an anti-vernacular decision and AASU has announced a month-long agitation programme against this." "As part of the agitation, today we have staged Gana Satyagraha in Guwahati. Earlier we discussed with Nikhil Bodo Students' Union, Asam Sahitya Sabha, and Bodo Sahitya Sabha and took the decision jointly. We also discussed with the teachers association, tribal Sahitya Sabha, and various tribal organisations and sent our decisions to the government. The government called us for discussion but no solution was found. The government did not respond positively and started distribution of textbooks," Bhattacharya said. He further said that the Assam government has pushed the students' union to the path of agitation. "We have no other option to take non-violent agitation. We do not want agitation, we want a solution and for this, we are taking agitation," the Chief Advisor of AASU said. The AASU leaders said that the agitation will be continued until and unless the government decision is not withdrawn. (ANI)
Additional Chief Secretary for Bihar Road Construction Department Pratyaya Amrit on Tuesday said that the investigation into the collapse of the under-construction bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur will be completed soon adding that a new bridge shall be constructed. While talking to ANI, Pratyaya Amrit said, "We will try to complete the investigation at the earliest. We have served a showcause notice to SP Singla and Company as to why they should not be blacklisted. They have been given 15-day time to reply. For serious dereliction of duty, the Executive Engineer of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam posted at Khagaria has been put under suspension and departmental proceedings have started. The Managing Director of Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation has also been showcaused as to why was there a delay when the instructions were very clear to completely demolish pier 5. A new bridge will be constructed. We will try to prioritise it so that the work on this can start after monsoon." "When its pier no.5 collapsed on April 30, 2022, we deployed an IIT Roorkee team for its investigation. There were some defects in its structural audit. Taking a cue from that, we had asked IIT Roorkee to examine the entire design. We suspected the same defects to be there in the design. We were waiting for that report to come. Today, we got that report also. We will examine the report and what are the recommendations of IIT Roorkee," Pratyaya Amrit added. Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed in the Patna High Court seeking an independent inquiry into the collapse of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur on Sunday. The petitioner, Manibhushan Pratap Sengar, in his writ petition, sought an independent probe instead of a departmental inquiry and action against SP Singla Company, involved with the construction of the bridge. The PIL also sought recovery of losses of thousands of crores to the exchequer due to the collapse of the bridge. As the politics over the bridge collapse in Bihar gained momentum, state Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of demolishing the bridge. "The bridge has been demolished by BJP. We are building the bridge and they are demolishing it," Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters on Monday. On the other hand, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded an audit of all under-construction bridges in Bihar after the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur and asked the officials to identify those responsible for the incident. Nitish Kumar on Monday instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the "poor construction work" of the under-construction bridge over River Ganga. "The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," CM Nitish Kumar said on Monday. (ANI)
Reacting to the controversial statement of Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary on the rise of the electricity bill, opposition Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha on Tuesday staged a protest against the statement and was seen as sitting under a tree near the Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker's official residence inside the state assembly premises in Guwahati. Amid soaring mercury level and rising electricity bills in the state, Biswajit Daimary recently advised common people of the state that, if people are struggling to pay their electricity bill then they can find alternative by sitting under trees instead of switching fans to reduce electricity bill. Hitting out at the Assam Legislative Assembly speaker, Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said that, he staged protest by sitting under a tree near the official residence of Biswajit Daimary on behalf of the common people of the state. "Amid soaring Mercury level, the common people are suffering from rising electricity bills, but the Assam Assembly speaker has advised the people to sit under trees to reduce electricity bills. It is totally unacceptable," Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said. He also said that, he and his party has strongly condemned this type of statement. The Congress MLA said that, not only the Assam Assembly speaker, the state BJP president also advised the people to eat less to control the price hike of essential commodities, vegetables. Opposition Congress expressed deep concern over lack of effective measures by the state government to control price hike. He also said that, his party will take agitation against the Assam government's failure to control price hike. (ANI)
A Delhi Court, hearing North East Delhi riots case, has framed charges under sections related to attempt to murder, rioting and other offences against 13 persons. The court said that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to achieve the object of attacking persons from the Hindu community. This case pertains to a case registered at police Station New Usman Pur during North East Delhi riots in February 2020. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala framed charges against Mohd. Anas, Mobin, Mohd. Javed Khan alias Shanu, Faisal, Shahjad Khan alias Montu, Shoaib Khan, Imran Khan, Badshah Khan, Irfan Khan, Siraj Khan, Arman alias Arbaz, Aman alias Suhail and Iqbal Khan alias Sonu under attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, conspiracy to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder. They are also charged with the offence of violation of orders passed by government officials. The judge said, "On the basis of statements of witnesses including the complainant, Suraj Prakash, Munna Lal Sharma, Surender Sharma, Rajesh and Deepak as well as other materials including CCTV footage, I do find that all the accused persons, in this case, formed an unlawful assembly with a common object, including the object to attack upon persons from Hindu Community." "They had a meeting of mind among themselves for the purpose of such attack upon persons from Hindu Community and thus, a criminal conspiracy was hatched by them to achieve this common object," the judge further observed. The court noted in the order, "In pursuance to this criminal conspiracy and this common object, this mob chased and attacked upon the complainant, being equipped with weapons like sword, spear, danda and rod, which resulted into several simple injuries on the body of complainant." "The complainant was hit over his head with sharp weapons. All these members of the mob were out in the Gali equipped with weapons in order to achieve the aforesaid common object, in violation of proclamation made under section 144 CrPC," the court added. ASJ Pramachala said, "Accordingly, I do find a prima facie case for an offence punishable under section 120-B IPC read with Section 147/148/302 IPC; under sections 147/148/307 IPC read with Section 120-B and 149 IPC and under section 188 IPC against all the accused persons." "I also find a prima facie case for an offence punishable under section 174-A IPC against accused Shoaib Khan, Imran Khan, Badshah Khan, Irfan Khan, Siraj Khan, Arman, Aman, Iqbal Khan. All the accused are liable to be tried accordingly, the judge ordered on June 3. The judge also said that accused Shoaib Khan, Imran Khan, Badshah Khan, Irfan Khan, Siraj Khan, Arman, and Aman Iqbal Khan were absconding and they did not appear before Magistrate despite duly published proclamation to ensure their presence. At this stage, I cannot look into the defence of these accused persons. It is alleged that on February 25, 2020, at about 8.20 pm, complainant Raman had gone to Gautam Vihar, Delhi, when he was assaulted by a group of 15-20 persons. These persons were equipped with sticks, swords etc. and were raising the slogan of "Allah hoo Akbar". The complainant was injured with a sword and other items on his head, leg, back and other parts of his body. Subsequently, he was shifted to JPC hospital by CATS Ambulance and thereafter, he was referred to LNJP hospital. During the probe, investigation officer (IO) obtained CCTV footage from the camera installed in a shop on Shivaji Marg, Kartar Nagar. This shop was situated near the place of the incident and in the CCTV footage the incident was seen. On the basis of the identification of rioters, the accused persons were searched and arrested one after another. However, accused Shoaib Khan, Imran Khan, Badshah Khan, Irfan Khan, Siraj Khan, Arman alias Arbaz, Aman alias Suhail, and Iqbal Khan alias Sonu, were absconding and hence could not be arrested initially. An order of Proclamation to ensure their presence was issued by the court. (ANI)
Photo: Pixabay

After 20 years of full-time traffic policing, you accumulate many memories.

I was reminded of one on the weekend when a small pickup truck passed me and I could see the bright patch from the right low beam headlight shining on the pavement about three meters in front of the vehicle.

The memory concerns a driver who thought headlight aim was unimportant.

I stopped that driver in much the same circumstances and issued a repair order for his vehicle. He brought the order back to the detachment showing the repair was carried out, but it was inside a card offering to buy me coffee so I could sit down, relax and hopefully not take the issue so seriously.

According to lighting expert Daniel Stern, lamp aim is by far the main thing that determines how well you can or can't see at night.

Its even more important than the output and beam pattern of the headlamps themselves, he says.

If you don't worry about it, your vehicle may never have its headlights properly aimed. Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Act does not require vehicle manufacturers to aim them before delivery to a customer. If you are purchasing a new vehicle, ask the dealer if the pre-delivery inspection includes checking if the headlight aim is accurate.

If your headlight beams are set too low, your ability to see at a distance is reduced. Set them too high and you can see further down the road but illumination of the pavement for vehicle guidance is affected.

Misaligned headlights can prevent oncoming drivers from seeing properly, possibly with severe consequences.

Oddly enough, a driver with misaligned headlights is more susceptible to glare from oncoming vehicles. The difference between light levels of oncoming lamps and the visual task area while driving at night is smaller when your headlights are properly aimed than when they are not. Your eyes see the latter situation as one with more glare.

If you are going to have a repair or body shop adjust your headlights, make sure it will uses an optical beam-aiming instrument. Here's an example of instructions for using a headlight-aiming instrument.

Doing it yourself is possible, but definitely not the best choice. There are detailed headlight aiming instructions about how to do the job on Daniel Stern's site. Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time to accomplish this.

Accuracy in adjustment is critical. If your headlights are improperly aimed by just half a degree, the amount of usable light projected even 23 metres (75 feet) ahead could be compromised and potentially useless.

So, sorry sir, I still think headlight aim is something to be taken seriously.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
In the run-up to next year's Lok Sabha elections and Assembly Polls in five States, the Congress party is making plans to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindutva card. Congress Party's Minority Department has prepared a road map for this the party, along with its demand for a caste-based census, is now planning to conduct an outreach programme for uniting minorities against the headwind of polarisation fear in the polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi have approved this road map of the party's minority department. Speaking to ANI Imran Pratapgarhi, INC Minority wing national chairman Said "As part of the campaign programs of minority department will be organized in 100 Muslim-dominated areas across the country." In these programmes, people from Jain, Sikh and Christian communities will also be contacted. 'Bharat Jodo Bhaichara Sammelan' titled programmes will also be held. The message of schemes for the backward Muslims and Pasmanda community during the rule of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will also be spread among the public.Booklets and pamphlets will be distributed reminding people of the 30 per cent capital subsidy on power looms, given by the UPA government, which was now reduced to 10 per cent by the Central government. In Recent Days BJP Tried to Reach out to Pasmanada Muslims, Now the Party is has decided to Expose the big Promises to the Bunkars which are majorly from Pasmanda Muslim Community In the midst of this campaign, a big meeting of all minorities including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Jains, will be organized at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital. The event will be attended by both Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Former President Rahul Gandhi, the minority department of the party will focus on states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana -- where Assembly elections are due at the end of the year. After this, till the Lok Sabha polls, it will be expanded in the whole country. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "new model of governance through Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan" (Service to people, Good Governance and Welfare of Poor) has ushered in tremendous development in the North-Eastern region, making it an attractive destination for investors. "Pre-2014, there was no development in the North-East and investors used to stay away from it as there were no roads, railway network or connectivity by air. Today the region is connected like any other in the country. It has made tremendous progress in the nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance and foreign countries are eager to engage with us," said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, while addressing a meeting organised by the Janjati Morcha initiative at Chakma Ghat Community Hall of Khowai district in Tripura. Speaking about how Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership has changed the narrative of India from a dysfunctional democracy to a vibrant one in the past nine years, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Prime Minister has worked relentlessly for "24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year" with just one mission in mind -- development and progress of the country and because of his proactive policies and schemes, the economy could make a turnaround to become the fifth largest economy in the world. "What could not be achieved in 65 years, India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved in nine years. India will soon emerge as the third largest economy in the world, next to the US and China," he said. Referring to India's growing stature in the world order, the Minister said, "We no longer run to other countries asking for help. Today, under Narendra Modi, India has emerged stronger. We don't buckle under pressure from other countries or terror groups. Our befitting responses have forced them to think twice before planning any attacks against us." The Minister arrived in Agartala on Monday on a three-day visit to Tripura, during which he has been meeting different sections of people and reviewing the Skilling efforts in the state and addressing the concerns of people with regards to market linkages, capacity building and employment generation. Earlier in the day, he visited the Teliamura Sub Division, near Krishnapur and was briefed by Sourav Das, DCM about the education and skilling facilities. He also planted a sapling in front of the DCM office. The Minister met Tripura Minister for Tribal Welfare, Handloom, Handicrafts and Sericulture and Statistics, Bikas Debbarma and discussed the challenges and opportunities in the state on various counts. The Minister will be later returning to Agartala and will visit Vikas Tirth, the Agartala - Bangladesh Rail Project, among other engagements. This is Rajeev Chandrasekhar's second official visit to Tripura after becoming a Minister in PM Modi's Cabinet. He was here last time in August 2022 and had taken part in a Tiranga rally. (ANI)
Delhi's Karkardooma Court on Tuesday discharged five persons accused of committing the offences of arson, dacoity and other offences during North-East Delhi riots of 2020. This case was registered at the police station Khajuri Khas. However, they have been charged with the offences of rioting and unlawful assembly. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala discharged five accused persons namely Mehboob Alam, Manjoor Alam alias Raja, Mohd. Niyaz, Nafees and Mansoor Alam alias Lala of the offences under sections 395 (Dacoity), 427 (Mischief by fire) and 435 (damage to property by using Fire or Explosive) of IPC. The ASJ Pramachala said, " I find that there is no evidence on the record in support of allegations for offence punishable under Section 427/435/395 IPC against accused persons. Therefore, they are entitled to be discharged for offences punishable under sections 395/427/435 IPC." "However, on the basis of the evidence placed on the record I find these accused persons liable to be tried for offence punishable under sections 147/148 IPC read with Section 149 IPC; as well as Section 188 IPC," the judge ordered on June 6. As per prosecution on 28.02.2020 a written complaint was given by.Mithhan Singh in Police Station Khajuri Khas. On the basis of the same and accordingly, FIR in this case was registered on 04.03.2020 under sections 147/148/149/435/427/392/34 IPC. The complainant had alleged that On 25 February (Tuesday) during riots on due to arson in his neighbourhood, his house in Khajuri Khas had suffered severe damage and cracks had developed in his house. He further alleged that rioters had looted 10 tola gold jewellery and Rs 90,000 cash amount from the almirah in his house. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) RCS Bhadauria had argued that all the accused persons are seen in the video, which pertains to the same gali. He further argued that these persons were also carrying danda etc. The SPP had further argued that witnesses like complainant, Pawan, Sandeep etc. duly identified these accused persons and therefore, there is sufficient material to frame charges against them. While discharging the accused persons the court said, "First of all in respect of allegations qua offence u/s. 427/435 IPC, I find that on the record neither is there any concrete statement of any witness in respect of any particular property which would have been damaged or would have been set on fire." "All the statements are vague in this respect, wherein general terms of vandalism is used (paththarbazi wa tod fod karne lage)," the court noted. "There is no photograph of any vandalized property on the record. The photographs placed on the record pertained to house of the complainant. Some were taken by crime team official and some were provided by Pawan Kumar (Son of the complainant)," it added. "These photographs show crack on the walls and subsequent cement plaster on the same. In one photograph a sofa set is shown, however, it is also not in damaged condition. There is no material shown to be in burnt condition at all, " the court observed. The court said, "As far as cracks in the wall of house of complainant are concerned, as per complainant and his son Pawan, same were developed because of arson in the property situated on the west side of his house." 'Meaning thereby, even as per complainant, these cracks were not caused by the rioters by doing something inside or outside directly against his house. The cause for these cracks was imputed to the fire in the adjacent property, which was a remote cause in the estimation of complainant," the court added. The court said, "In respect of the gold jewelleries, neither complainant nor his son stated about source of the same nor IO obtained any information in respect of procurement of the same, so as to.confirm if actually such materials were there in the house of complainant." "It is worth to mention here that unlike many other cases like riots, house of the complainant is not alleged to have been burnt. It is also not part of the allegations that except for jewelleries and cash Rs 90,000, anything else including documents were taken away," the court said. (ANI)
The Indian Navy will participate in a commemorative event to mark 130 years of the start of the struggle against apartheid at the Pietermaritzburg, Railway Station near Durban, said the Ministry of Defence. INS Trishul, a frontline warship of the Indian Navy is visiting Durban from 06 to 09 Jun 23 to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the 7th Jun 1893 incident at Pietermaritzburg, Railway Station as also 30 years of re-establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa, stated a government release. Mahatma Gandhi had arrived in Durban, South Africa, in 1893 to serve as legal counsel to the merchant Dada Abdulla. On June 7, 1893, during a trip to Pretoria in the Transvaal, he first arrived at Pietermaritzburg station. Gandhiji who was seated in the first-class compartment after having purchased a ticket, was evicted from the compartment at the behest of a European since as per him 'coolies' and non-whites were not permitted in first-class compartments. The incident is considered to be the trigger which led to Gandhiji's fight against racial oppression and to the birth of Satyagraha. The story of Mahatma Gandhi's travails at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station acquired another life on April 25, 1997 when, in a moving ceremony at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, presided by Nelson Mandela, then President of South Africa, the Freedom of Pietermaritzburg was conferred posthumously on Mahatma Gandhi. Gathered together to right a century-old wrong, President Mandela recalled "Gandhi's magnificent example of personal sacrifice and dedication in the face of oppression". INS Trishul's visit to Durban is in continuation with the Indian Navy's celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav by celebrating key moments that shaped India's Independence struggle. The ship during its visit to Durban, will participate in a commemorative event at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station which would include paying floral tributes at the Gandhiji Plinth and a performance by the IN band. The ship will also participate in other professional and social engagements during the visit. (ANI)
The cultural department of the Maharashtra government organized a series of programs to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the coronation of the great Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. As part of these initiatives, a special postal stamp was unveiled on Tuesday in the presence of Governor Ramesh Bais, chief minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been a source of inspiration for all and the government aims to emphasise the significance of his coronation, stated Sudhir Mungantiwar, the Minister for Cultural Affairs. The department has extensive plans to introduce memorabilia based on coins from his era, his forts and castles, his council of ministers, and virtually every aspect related to his life and times. "We want the next generation to have a deeper understanding of our traditions and heritage," added the minister. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said "The New postal ticket inaugurated on the occasion of the 350th coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a historical step and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is different from everyone. During the Mughal era in the country, Chhatrapati shivaji maharaj fought with the Mughals for freedom." Speaking on NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's support for the 350th coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said, "Some people interfere with this occasion too saying that how can it be a 350th coronation ceremony. Sharad Pawar gave them an answer with his tweet and supported the 350th coronation ceremony." Addressing the event Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde said, "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is ideal for all of us and we should celebrate 100 times Shivaji Maharaj's Coronation so that his image remains in our hearts. We changed Aurangabad's name to Sambhaji Nagar, we changed Coastal Road's name to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and we are continuously working for the betterment of state & people of Maharashtra." Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais while addressing the event said: "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died after his coronation but If he lived more than 20 years after his coronation then the situation of India would have been different today. With his immense power, he always fought for freedom and Hind Swaraj". The event was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Tourism Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, PMG Swati Pande, and other dignitaries. Following the stamp release function, a cultural program titled "Shiva Vandana" was organised. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association appealed to the Central government to take "appropriate" action against Brij Bhushan.

"We want the Central Government to take appropriate action against the BJP MP(Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) who allegedly sexually harassed some of the women wrestlers. Justice should be given to the Women wrestlers," Sumathi, General Secretary, TNGEA said.

She asked, when women wrestlers, who made our country proud by getting medals in international competitions, are not safe in our country, how come ordinary women feel safe?

"Women wrestlers have made our country proud. However, they also face sexual harassment. In such a situation, how do ordinary women feel secure in this country?" Sumathi asked.

The government must have zero tolerance for sexual harassment, and whoever is involved in it must be dealt with sternly, irrespective of the person's position, TNGEA said.

Violence against women is really condemnable, and the central government should take action and arrest the people who are involved in it.

India's top wrestlers, who were protesting against Brij Bhushan, have resumed their work. But they said they were not withdrawing their protest. (ANI)
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a cautionary advisory for fishermen on Tuesday urging them to avoid venturing into the deep Arabian Sea for the next five days. The IMD notified that strong winds, potentially reaching speeds of 120-130 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 135 kilometers per hour, are expected in the upcoming days. He also informed that there will be no heat wave in North India for the next 10 days. "There is a warning for fishermen in areas like South Arabian Sea, Kerala, Karnataka, Lakshadweep area, Maharashtra, etc. that they should not venture into the deep sea for the next 5 days as the core is 800 km away and the wind coming in 50-60 gusting to 70. But in the coming days till June 09, the wind could reach 120-130 gusting to 135. We are keeping an eye on the monsoon, monitoring is being done," RK Jenamani, a senior IMD scientist said while speaking to ANI. He further said that a temperature rise of 1 to 2 degrees is being seen in the areas of northern India with cloudy weather in the next ten days. "We will be clear in a day or two with a statement regarding how long the monsoon will knock in Kerala. Apart from this, a temperature rise of 1 to 2 degrees is being seen in the areas of northern India, although along with this it is also cloudy which gives relief from the heat. There is no heat wave in North India for the next 10 days," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, the department said that a depression over the southeast Arabian Sea is likely to move northward and intensify into a cyclonic storm. In a tweet, IMD said, "Depression over the southeast Arabian Sea at 0830 IST near latitude 11.5N and longitude 66.0E, about 950 km WSW of Goa, 1100 km SW of Mumbai. To move nearly northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours." "Depression over SE Arabian Sea intensified into Deep Depression at 1130 IST near latitude 11.9N and longitude 66.0E, about 930 km WSW of Goa, 1060 km SW of Mumbai. To move nearly northwards and intensify into a CS during next 6 hours," another tweet by IMD said. Also, westerly winds continue to persist over the South Arabian Sea. The depth of westerly winds has increased from 1.5 to 4.5 km above mean sea level. There has been some increase of rainfall activity over Kerala. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met with the Indian diamond business owners from Gujarat in Namibia. He said that they are making economic advances and building real friendships. "Good to see Indian diamond businesses from Gujarat active in Namibia. They are advancing our economic interests while building real friendships. The Namibian Government is appreciative of their contribution to the local economy," EAM Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Namibian Independence Museum and called it a reminder of Global South solidarity. Taking to Twitter, EAM Jaishankar wrote, "Visited the Namibian Independence Museum. A powerful reminder of a shared struggle and the Global South solidarity." Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Windhoek to further strengthen relations with Namibia. He was received by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu. This is the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to the Republic of Namibia. During the visit, EAM will call on the top leadership of the country. Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In Cape Town, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa Upon arrival in Namibia, EAM Jaishankar in a tweet stated, "Arrived in Windhoek. Thank Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu for receiving me so warmly. Look forward to a productive visit that takes our time-tested ties forward. "On Sunday, Jaishankar addressed the Indian diaspora in Namibia. He said that the condolence messages and the outpouring of support that he received in the wake of the horrific train accident in Odisha show how connected the world is with India. "A lot of leaders from all over the world and the foreign minister from here [Namibia] also has expressed solidarity and sent sympathy," EAM Jaishankar said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Namibia on Sunday. "I received many messages and foreign ministers and friends from across the world. The Prime Minister also received lots of messages. This is an example of how globalised today's world is and how the world is connected with India," he added. Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. In Cape Town, Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa stating that there is a very "deeply emotional" connection between the two countries. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to pay tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Suriname today, accompanied by Surinamese President Chan Santokhi. The President will also attend cultural programs to mark 150 years of the arrival of Indians to Suriname. Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), MEA listed various MoUs signed between President Droupadi Murmu and President Chandrikapersad Santokhi at Presidential Palace in Paramaribo and announcements made by President Droupadi Murmu to strengthen India-Suriname relations "President Droupadi Murmu would pay respect at the statue of Mahatma Gandhiji, along with President Santokhi," said Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. "Later in the evening (Local time), the two presidents will witness a cultural procession to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians. And that would be followed by another cultural programme in which both presidents would be participating," Saurabh Kumar added. The MEA secretary informed that the President has another hectic day on Tuesday. Regarding the discussions, he said, "The discussions were very good. President Santokhi, on several occasions during the conversations, used Hindi words, Hindi forms of greeting to the Rashtrapati and referred to her as his sister." "The same sentiment and warmth were reciprocated by President Murmu," he added. President Droupadi Murmu thanked Surinamese President Santokhi for all the hospitality and warmth which she had received, he informed. "And President Santokhi on several occasions made a reference to his visit to Indore and how well he was treated out there and specifically said that his respects and told President to pay his regards to Prime Minister Modi," Saurabh Kumar added. President Murmu is also going to launch six quick impact projects. An additional one focusing on the promotion of women's entrepreneurship by supporting rice cultivation was added later. MEA secretary also said that an Indian delegation is to visit Suriname to discuss cooperation in the area of defence and capacity building of Suriname Armed Forces. He also emphasized, "India's contribution to the development of small and medium-scale enterprise enterprises in Suriname through the supply of machinery from India as a grant towards some selected specific projects". Several Memorandum of Understanding MoUs were also signed during the visit. The first MoU related to pharmaceuticals, and drug regulators for cooperation in the field of medical product regulation, exchange of good practices and capacity building. Another MoU related to the pharmaceutical sector was signed. The recognition of Indian pharmacopoeia by the Suriname side is expected to facilitate the sale of pharma products manufactured by India in Suriname as per Indian pharmacopoeia standards. A joint work plan in agriculture and allied sectors for the period 2023 to 27 under an existing MoU was also signed and exchanged. The buyer's credit which India had extended to Suriname has also been restructured. "In a small ceremony following the talks, President Santokhi presented President Murmu with commemorative first day cover for stamps marking the 150th year of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, MEA Secretary (East) informed during the press conference. President Murmu on her part handed over to President Santokhi a consignment of essential medicines for supplementing Suriname's flood relief efforts. It was a symbolic handing over and the actual consignment is on its way, he added. President Murmu and President Santokhi after the signing ceremony participated in various programmes. They witnessed the traditional enactment which was reminiscent of the arrival of the first Indians to Suriname on board the vessel Lalaruk at Marine Trap, Saurab Kumar informed. Both leaders inaugurated a simulated village modelled on the original habitat of the Indians who had come to Suriname and it was a display of their lifestyle and the adversarial circumstances in which they lived and gradually made their way in this country. After that, both the leaders garlanded the statues of Baba and Mai which symbolises the arrival of the first Indian men and women in Suriname. And they also planted an Indian sandalwood sapling brought by President Murmu from India to commemorate this special occasion. Later, President Santokhi hosted a banquet in honour of President Murmu. "Before the banquet, President Santokhi, in an elegant ceremony, decorated President Murmu with the highest civilian honour of Suriname Grand Order of the Yellow Star," Kumar said during the press conference. President Murmu is the fourth recipient of this honour and the first Indian to be conferred this award. This honour exemplifies the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the two countries and the immense goodwill that our peoples hold for each other. "Receiving this decoration during the historic commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Indian arrival in Suriname makes it more special. If this honour serves as a beacon of empowerment and encouragement for women in both our countries, then it becomes even more meaningful," President Droupadi Murmu said. She also highlighted the achievement as a testimony to all women, particularly those from underprivileged sections of society.. (ANI)
Earlier, the fifth edition was held from 5th September 2022 to 3rd October 2022, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal handed the certificates to the Indian Navy training team.

The High Commissioner of India to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy, Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi handed over certificates to the Marines of Special Operations Group (SOG) of the MNDF Marine Corps.

Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal as well as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy, Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi addressed the attendees at the ceremony.

Commander of MNDF Marine Corps, Special Operations Group, Captain Hussain Shafeeq delivered the opening and welcoming remarks while the conduct report of the exercise was reviewed by Lieutenant Commander of the Indian Navy training team, Mahesh Kumar.

The ceremony that concluded with the national anthem of Maldives was followed by the exchange of mementoes and a display of weapons used in the exercise.

Exercise taken part by 30 marines of MNDF Marine Corps, Special Operations Group and 10 marine commandos from the Indian Navy focused on combat shoot, VBSS, demolition, CQB, divator diving, rebreather diving, and diving operations.

Attendees at the closing ceremony included the Commandant of MNDF Marine Corps Brigadier General Wais Waheed, General Officers of MNDF, Commandant of MNDF Coast Guard Colonel Ibrahim Hilmy, Commander of MNDF Central Area Command Colonel Ahmed Fathih, Indian Defence Advisor to the Maldives Captain Mahesh C. Moudgil, some officer of MNDF Central Area Command, and officers of SOG. (ANI)
Photo: Photo via Google Maps. The Surrey RCMP worked with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police and Delta police to make 26 arrests and recover thousands of dollars inA stolen merchandise.

A Vancouver man faces two theft charges after he was caught by police allegedly stealing twice in 90 minutes.

The Surrey RCMP say officers arrested 26-year-old Donovan Alexander after he was released on an undertaking to appear in court for an alleged theft, and then picked up again an hour and a half later for stealing from a supermarket, according to a news release.

After being held in police custody, Alexander appeared in Surrey Provincial Court and was later released on the condition that he not be in the "City of Surrey, except under prescribed conditions including attending court."

The Surrey RCMP worked with the Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) and Delta police to make 26 arrests and recover thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise during a one-day operation on May 25 at the Guildford Town Centre in Surrey.

Police say the arrests included executing five arrest warrants and recommending 15 criminal charges. Officers also recovered upwards of $5,000 in stolen merchandise including, food, clothing, electronics, and cosmetics.

The individuals arrested ranged in age from teenagers to adults in their forties.

We recognize that criminals are conducting retail theft across municipal borders, often using public transit, and their crimes have a significant negative impact on the community, including local businesses. These crimes result in additional costs to our families with each purchase we make, says North Community Response Unit Commander S/Sgt Nigel Pronger.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the members of his party are being forced to quit the party by threatening harm to the women in their families. Sharing a screenshot of a text message claiming to be a former PTI member, Imran Khan took to Twitter and said, "This is the sort of pressure behind the "forced divorces". "Chairman sb, I bore a lot of pressure [To quit PTI], but it has now become unbearable. [The threats] have now gone beyond business to the women of my house. Now there is no other way besides doing a press conference [and announcing dissociation from PTI]," Imran Khan posted a screenshot of a text message written in Urdu along with a translation for the same. "I had never thought this would happen. I only have 2 options now: either commit suicide or hold a press conference Chairman, I have been with you since the beginning when you first contested the election from Mianwali," the alleged message read further. With the exodus of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and Jahangir Tareen -- the estranged party leader -- getting active post-May 9 riotings, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah predicted that three splinter groups will emerge in the future and that will no longer be a threat to Pakistan Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan- based The News International reported. "On Jahangir Tareen's issue N-League should remain calm as our vote bank is not going anywhere," Sanaullah said. In Punjab, it is the PML-N against PTI but after the May 9 rioting, the situation had changed, he added. "The PTI will get divided into two or three parts. One part will go into the PPP, second to Jahangir Tareen and third will remain in the PTI," predicted the interior minister. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 and subsequent violent protests, during which unruly supporters and workers stormed and torched state installations almost across the country, unleashed a mass exodus of leaders from the former ruling party. The nearly three-day-long protests also claimed at least 8 lives and injured dozens of others with the incumbent coalition government suspending internet services and deploying army troops to maintain law and order situation. Following the unprecedented attacks on defence and public properties, the crackdown was launched on the PTI to detain the suspect involved in the vandalism with the country's top civil-military leadership vowing to try rioters under relevant laws of the country including the Army Act. Since then, several PTI leaders including close aides of Khan have announced quitting the party over May 9 vandalism with some blaming Khan's policies for the attacks on the military installations. So far, more than 80 PTI leaders from across the nation have left the party. Geo News reported. (ANI)
US-India Business Council (USIBC) has lauded the outcome of talks between US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and said the US leader's visit reflects the accelerating convergence between the world's oldest and largest democracies. In a statement, USIBC President Atul Keshap said the two sides had concluded a roadmap for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation. "USIBC applauds both governments for establishing a new roadmap for US-India defense industrial cooperation. Our USIBC members include the top defence firms in the world, producing sophisticated defence platforms that can enhance Indian and American capabilities in border security, maritime domain awareness, space situational awareness, and more. Such strength helps ensure effective deterrence in an unsettled geostrategic environment," Keshap said. "Secretary Austin's visit reflects the accelerating convergence between the world's oldest and largest democracies. We are confident that continued progress on tech release under iCET and the startup linkages created by the INDUS X defense innovation bridge will empower industry to further facilitate India's role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region," he added. He said the discussions between the two sides reinforced the increasing importance the US government is placing on India as a major commercial and defence partner and talks continued on tech releasability issues between the two sides. He said that the USIBC welcomes the Security of Supply Chain Agreement and a reciprocal defence procurement agreement and stressed that these were major calls from industry during the initial public-private consultations under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) launched at the US Chamber of Commerce in January. "These are vital steps in the development of our high-trust ecosystem that will enable the private sector to be even more ambitious," he said. Keshap said USIBC will host the inaugural Indus X conference on June 20, 21 in Washington. "This conference can foster a richer culture of co-development and co-production between our two nations, accelerating the exchange of technology, knowledge, and trust between our two great and powerful democracies," he said. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin concluded his India visit on Monday with both countries taking new steps to strengthen their defence partnership. During his meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the US Secretary exchanged perspectives on a range of regional security issues. The two countries decided to launch negotiations for two crucial agreements related to the Security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defence Procurement in an effort to establish stable supply chains of arms and equipment. According to Pentagon, Lloyd Austin and Rajnath Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation and to initiate negotiations on these agreements. (ANI)
Indian embassy in Nepal has handed over 275 LPG gas stoves, cylinders and other accessories to underprivileged families in Tirhut Rural Municipality of Saptari district in the Himalayan country. Consul General of India Nitesh Kumar and President of Nepal-India Women Friendship Society (NIFWS) and Member of House of Representatives Chanda Chaudhary handed over the cylinders on in Saptari district on June 3. A total of 3,000 sets of LPG stoves and 14.2 Kg cylinders and other accessories like regulators and pipes were gifted by the Government of India to underprivileged families of the districts of Sarlahi, Rautahat and Saptari. Approximately, 500 sets were distributed in Kaudena Municipality of Sarlahi district on April 19 this year. Vijay Yadav, Chairman of Tirhut Rural Municipality; Narendra Karki, SP of Saptari; Radha Kayasth, Vice-President of Nepal-India Women Friendship Society; local journalists and other stakeholders were present on the occasion. The families were identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) list in coordination with District Administration Office (DAO) and local level. Social welfare councils have also been roped in for the distribution process. The government of India has approved Nepalese Rupees 2,40,90,000 for this purpose. Consul General congratulated the beneficiaries and noted that the use of traditional cooking fuel is detrimental to the health of rural women and the environment. The gifting of these LPG gas stoves and cylinders reflected the continued support of India to Nepal. NIWFS President Chanda Chaudhary thanked the Indian Government for its continued developmental support to women. Distribution of these LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories will replace the use of traditional cooking fuels like firewood, coal, and cow-dung cakes, which produce heavy smoke and cause health hazards. The gifting of stoves and cylinders is one of the 75 projects being inaugurated this year in Nepal as part of "India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav". The Project is inspired by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) of the Government of India which is a flagship scheme with the objective to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels. Since 2003, India has taken up over 535 High Impact Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal in various sectors Health, Education, Drinking Water and Irrigation, Electrification, etc. and has completed 476 projects and 59 ongoing projects. Amongst these, 81 projects have been undertaken in Province-2, including 19 projects in Sarlahi; 5 projects in Rautahat and 9 projects in Saptari Districts. In addition to these, 87 ambulances to various health posts and 3 school buses have been gifted in these three districts by India. As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of this project reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal for the upliftment of its people. (ANI)
A large number of supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan gathered in front of the UN office in Geneva on Monday to raise human rights violations in Pakistan. Protesters holding flags of Pakistan and Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathered in front of the Broken Chair monument across the street from the Palace of Nations, that houses the United Nations Office. It is estimated that some 100 of the protestors were from other European countries like France, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Protesters raised slogans like "Imran Tum Aage Badho Hum Tumhare Saath hai" (Imran you go ahead we are with you) and "Hume Chahiye Azadi" (We want Freedom). They also demanded the release of Imran Riaz Khan, a Pakistani journalist and a YouTuber who was apprehended by police on May 11 at Sialkot International Airport and his current location has been untraceable ever since. A large number of supporters of Imran Khan living in various parts of the world have been holding protests amidst the worsening political tussle between Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PTI Chief Imran Khan. On May 9, Pakistan witnessed violent protests after the arrest of Khan in a corruption case by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of Islamabad High Court. Thousands of PTI supporters have been arrested by the police and many of them are now being tried by a military court. Pakistan's Interior Minister and Defence Minister have hinted that Imran Khan could also be tried in a military court for his alleged involvement in the May 9 incident in which military and state installations were attacked by his supporters. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Tuesday discussed regional issues and shared priorities. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries. Sharing details regarding his meeting with Boris Pistorius, Rajnath Singh in a tweet stated, "Had fruitful discussions with the German Defence Minister, Mr Boris Pistorius. His passion for Yoga is commendable. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between India & Germany." Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at National War Memorial in the national capital. Pistorius, who arrived in the national capital yesterday is accompanied by a German delegation. Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a statement. On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. Ahead of his visit to India, the German Defence Minister said India's continuing dependence on Russian weapons is not in Germany's interest, German news agency Deutsche Welle (DW) reported."It is not up to Germany to change that on our own," Pistorius said in an exclusive interview with DW's top political correspondent Nina Haase in Jakarta. Pistorius was in Jakarta ahead of his four-day visit to India. "This is an issue we have to solve jointly with other partners. But of course, we can't have an interest in the long run that India is so dependent on Russia's delivery of weapons or other materials," he added. Pistorius said that Germany is ready to support partners like India. He said, "I want to send a signal that we are willing to support our partners, our reliable partners like Indonesia, like India," DW reported. Earlier in December, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described India as a "natural partner" that she believes will move alongside Germany to sail through "this rough sea", as the world continues to face uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine conflict. She made these remarks during the India Trilateral Forum in New Delhi. "In this vibrant region, as the world's largest democracy and a rising political and economic power in Asia, for us, India is the natural partner to sail this rough sea together. Because if you're going out on rough seas, you have to trust your partners," Baerbock said during an event organized by the US-based German Marshall Fund and New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The bilateral ties between India and Germany have been founded on common democratic principles and marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. India was amongst the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with Germany after the Second World War. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said she is "greatly honoured" to receive Suriname's highest civilian honour - Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the first Indian to receive this award. "I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, the grand ribbon in the honorary order of the Yellow Star," President Murmu said in her acceptance speech on being conferred Suriname's Highest Civilian honour. Suriname on Monday conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu, The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star. Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. President Murmu said, "This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the more than 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent." "I also dedicate this honour to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she said. She said Suriname President Santokhi has often emphasized the "significance of my ascent to the highest position within my nation, as a source of inspiration, particularly for women hailing from historically deprived regions or communities." "If this honour serves as a beacon of empowerment and encouragement for women in both our countries, then it becomes even more meaningful," said Murmu. According to President Murmu, receiving the decoration during the historic commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Indian arrival in Suriname makes it more special. "This is also a tribute to the indelible contribution made by the Indian community towards the socio-economic development of Suriname. It is an acknowledgement of their invaluable role in shaping the fabric of this nation." The Indian President extended her heartfelt gratitude to the President of Suriname and the Government of Suriname for "bestowing upon me this remarkable honour, which I will forever cherish. This recognition symbolises the enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations." On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 4. She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan read. Earlier today, President Murmu commenced her engagements by visiting the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo to meet her counterpart, President Santokhi. She received a warm welcome from her counterpart Santokhi at the Presidential palace in Paramaribo. The President appreciated President Santokhi's warmth and hospitality throughout the meetings. She was delighted to learn that Hindi is widely spoken in Suriname, which makes her remind of India. India and Suriname on Monday signed four major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in health, agriculture and capacity building. (ANI)
China on Tuesday reacted to US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin's remarks that the world witnesses "bullying and coercion" from Beijing and said "it is the US who resorts to all types of measures for coercion and hegemony". Wang Xiaojian, Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India, responded to Austin's remarks made during his visit to India. "China is a contributor to world peace and prosperity. It is the US, not China, who resorts to all types of measures for coercion and hegemony. Victims to US coercion and bullying include its allies and partners, with developing countries bearing the brunt of it," Wang said in a tweet. "The current China-India border situation is overall stable. The boundary question is a matter between China and India, and brooks no interference of any third party," he added. Lloyd Austin, who addressed a press conference after holding a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, talked about a rapidly changing world and transnational challenges. "We face a rapidly changing world. We see bullying and coercion from China, Russian aggression against Ukraine that seeks to redraw borders by force and threatens national sovereignty as well as transnational challenges such as terrorism and climate change," he said. He highlighted the importance of joint military exercises between India and the US. "So democracies must now rally together around not just our common interest, but also our shared values. Preserving and protecting the freedoms that are essential to peace and prosperity will require vigorous leadership from the United States and India. And so we still have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that the US-India Partnership will help to secure an open and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the wider world," Austin said. In his address at the Shangri-La Security Summit in Singapore, Austin warned that the conflict in Taiwan Strait would be devastating. "Our policy is constant and firm. It has held true across U.S. administrations. And we will continue to categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. I'd also highlight that conflict is neither imminent or inevitable. Deterrence is strong today--and it's our job to keep it that way," Austin said in his remarks at 'A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific'. "You know, the whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait--the whole world. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation world-wide.But make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating," he added. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday highlighted the deep-rooted ties between India and Suriname and said that the partnership is grounded in the common historical experience of colonialism and that the two countries relations have evolved over a period of time and have stood the test of time. "It is a great pleasure for me and my delegation to be in your beautiful country. We are touched by the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to us by the Government and the people of Suriname," President Murmu said during her address at the State Banquet hosted by the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The Indian President during the event conveyed her heartfelt affection and greetings from more than 1.4 billion people of India to the people of Suriname. India enjoys close, warm and friendly relations with Suriname, reinforced by cultural and people-to-people contacts bridged by the Indian diaspora. President Murmu said India remembers Suriname President Santokhi's visit to India in January this year and his participation at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas as a Special Guest of Honour. "During the visit, you had mentioned the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname. Today is indeed a significant milestone, not only in Suriname's history but also for India-Suriname relations," President Murmu said. "As we gather here to celebrate the everlasting bonds of friendship between our two countries and peoples, we honour those courageous and determined pioneers who built Suriname," she said. She added: "It was an honour for me to pay my respects at the Baba and Mai and the Mama Sranan monuments this morning. These two monuments represent two very important aspects of Suriname: The struggles and courage of the Indian ancestors who arrived here 150 years ago, and its diverse and inclusive spirit." "In the global arena, this also epitomizes India's approach: an inclusive world order that is sensitive to legitimate interests and concerns of every country and region. It is in this spirit of solidarity that India extended a helping hand to more than 100 countries during the Covid-19 Pandemic." President Murmu said that Suriname has been home to "our Indian brothers and sisters and their descendants, over the last 150 years. I am happy to see that our societies are well integrated with a strong connection to our common heritage, traditions and culture." President Droupadi Murmu and Suriname counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Tuesday attended a cultural festival to mark 150 years of the arrival of Indians to Suriname. On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 4. She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan read. (ANI)
The visuals of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 21st touched the heart of every Indian and captured the attention of viewers worldwide. PM Modi had just arrived at the Island nation, after a hectic few days at the G7 leaders' summit in Japan. PM Modi was greeted personally by Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister. PM James Marape, in a sign of extreme respect, bent down and touched PM Modi's feet, seeking the Indian Prime Minister's blessings...a gesture that transcended any religious or protocol norms in place, a gesture that was an acknowledgement of the love and respect India had accrued as a result of its selfless foreign policy. Rewind back a few days...and the accolades had kept coming. During the all-important QUAD meet in Japan, the leader of the World's strongest economy, US President Joe Biden, jokingly told PM Modi that he should be asking for an autograph from him. During an informal conversation, Joe Biden, who will be hosting PM Modi for a State Dinner in Washington DC in June, told PM Modi that his office was being inundated with calls for seats at the state dinner. A seat at the PM Modi State Dinner at the White House is a hot ticket! During the same QUAD meeting, the Australian PM, Anthony Albanese, chimed in about the thousands of people who packed stadiums to hear PM Modi speak. Albanese went a step ahead...in a packed stadium in Sydney, he exclaimed, "PM Modi is the BOSS!" Anthony Albanese the Prime Minister of Australia while complimenting on the stature and respect that PM Modi, has gotten over time said "The last time I saw someone on the stage was Bruce Springsteen and he did not get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the BOSS." This was during the visit of the PM to Australia last month. "The last time I saw someone on the stage was Bruce Springsteen and he didn't get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got. Prime Minister Modi is the 'BOSS'," PM Anthony Albanese said. The impact of India's pro-people, globe-oriented foreign policy has been so remarkable that India has not only garnered acknowledgement the world over but there has been also an overwhelming interest from all corners of the world to forge a coveted alliance with the 'Leader of the Global South'. India's foreign policy has flourished in recent years, particularly in the Modi era and how it has become a model to be emulated for the rest of the world. PM Modi received a rousing welcome as thousands of Indian expatriates in Australia gathered for a community event in Sydney, to mark his arrival and celebrate the unparalleled popularity of Modi on a global scale. The fervent fandom was led by Prime Minister Albanese himself, who referred to Modi as 'The Boss' and to Indians as the disseminators of the true ethos of democracy. Albanese, also said that you have brought the spirit of the world's biggest democracy to Australia and you have helped make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. "You've strengthened Australian society, bringing our country the benefits and riches of such a beautiful and diverse culture. And I'm so proud that you have made Australia your home - that you see your life and your future here," PM Albanese added. It is the result of India's diligent diplomatic endeavours and an effective foreign policy that Indians around the world enjoy widespread esteem today. Indian foreign policy has been open-minded and inclusive of all. It places as much emphasis on global well-being as it does on Indian interests. Indian foreign policy's economic component has taken a more practical approach and has addressed each bilateral relationship with its bespoke elements. Free Trade Agreements are being put in place at a fast clip with countries thereby doing away with red tape and tariffs. India is negotiating the reduction or complete elimination of tariffs with a number of countries. Major global economies, too, have expressed interest in India's trading model and are very close to reaching a final deal. As a leading voice of the Global South, the decision makers in the South Block do not discriminate between the size of nations. Leading with a philosophy of 'The world is one', India's export of critical Covid vaccines has not been forgotten by nations that had limited means to procure the life-saving medicines themselves. India's vaccine export is one of the reasons that countries look up to India for assistance and guidance through all forms of crisis, be it socio-political, economic or singularly centred on a single event. James Marape the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea also conveyed his opinion in the direction to extend his admiration for India by saying that" At the end of these dialogues, may Indian and Pacific relationship in return gets strengthened. But more importantly, the issues that we are facing, the Pacific Island Nations, especially the smaller ones amongst us, are heard in the right context and are given support by you 'The leader of the Global South'. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar after coming back to India alongside PM Modi mentioned similar events that had happened during the 3 country visit last month. Jaishankar said that "The PM of Papua New Guinea was talking to our ambassador, Marape at that time had told the ambassador that he does not consider India's PM just another PM, he is not just another guest for me, for me he is a 'Vishwa Guru' (world's teacher)." He also mentioned that all the bilateral talks that had taken place during that tour were centred around India's transformation, people wanted to know from our Prime Minister, how did you manage the Covid crisis, how did you manage the vaccinations, how did you manage digital delivery and how did you provide food for 80 crore people. India, which is currently chairing the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, among various other significant political chairs, has assured Island countries that she would assist them under all circumstances. PM Modi during the meeting with Marape had assured that there will be assistance from India for all their needs. He said, "Be it digital technology or space technology or health security or food security or climate change or environmental protection, we are with you in every way. Excellencies, we believe in multilateralism like you and we support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific". There has been a growing global consensus that India is one of the most transparent, accountable, and democratic states in the world. Have you ever wondered why India, which is not an active member of one of the most powerful groupings of the world, G7, is invited every single time a summit-level meeting is held? The reason is that India is indispensable in any decision-making forum. And it is not just the sheer size of the country but also its consistently objective policies that have garnered this reputation. It is also important to note that some members of the G7 back India's inclusion into the UN Security Council. President Biden's candid remark about Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in which he said he wanted Modi's autograph was not just a testament to India's thriving relations with the United States but also her and her Prime Minister's growing stature and popularity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continuously topped approval rating charts. He has been accorded with highest civilian awards by several countries- again, a testament to countries' acknowledgement of Indian efforts towards strengthening bilateral camaraderie and global harmony. While on one side, Indian diplomacy has focused on integration and inclusion of all, on the other side it has sought to secure peace and prosperity for the benefit of the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and pledged Indian assistance for an end to the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict. During the meeting PM Modi said, "I want to assure you that to provide a solution to your difficulties, India, and I personally, will definitely do everything we can. The war in Ukraine is a huge topic of discussion for the entire world. Its impacts have been multi-fold on the globe, but I do not consider it to be just an issue of economy or politics. For me, it is an issue of humanity and humanitarian values. You would know the challenges and pain of war more than any of us". India's military is among the best in the world. But despite its unrivalled firepower, India has never been an aggressor and has employed her strength only to defend her own borders and never to violate others' sovereignty. Whether it was leading the international effort to assist the poorly-equipped African nations during the Covid immunization campaign, or it was sending medical and humanitarian relief to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, India was always the first to volunteer. Whether it was helping war-torn Afghanistan or directly financing island nation Sri Lanka to emerge from a deep crisis, Indian aid doesn't seek returns or come with any attached strings. Indian Foreign Policy has been pro-peace, pro-people and pro-prosperity. And she is one of a limited group of countries that has lived up to her ideals, without failing. (ANI)
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday said Germany, India need more cooperation in defence industry and element cooperation. The German Defence Minister while talking about his meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, said: "We've totally agreed about German and European role in the Indo-Pacific. We agreed that more engagement of Europe and Germany is necessary." Pistorius said: "We need more Cooperation, literally, not just by exercises but also by the defence, defence industry, element cooperation and we are working on it, for example, regarding the submarines, but also regarding other materials, we are talking about." The German Defence Minister said more needs to be done in the Indo-Pacific in partnership with India, "because we are approaching times where we can't really predict what's going to happen in the next few years." Pistorius said Germany "needs strategic partners like Indonesia, like India, for example, especially, to make sure that the Law of Free navigation, and the free trading routes will be achievable during the next decade too. And this is an issue for several partners, but not each partner for itself, rather as a team." On Germany's standing on submarines, the German Defence Minister said: "We are talking about a deal of TKMS, about six submarines but of course the procedure is not finished yet but I think the German industry is at a good place in that race." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Tuesday discussed regional issues and shared priorities. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries. Sharing details regarding his meeting with Boris Pistorius, Rajnath Singh in a tweet stated, "Had fruitful discussions with the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius. His passion for Yoga is commendable. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities." We also agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between India and Germany. Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at National War Memorial in the national capital. Pistorius, who arrived in the national capital yesterday is accompanied by a German delegation. Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a statement. On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. (ANI)
Photo: The Canadian Press

Prince Harry entered a courtroom witness box Tuesday, swearing to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping.

Harry held a Bible in one hand as he was sworn in at the High Court in London, where he is suing the publisher of the Daily Mirror. Earlier, he'd arrived at court in a black SUV and entered a modern wing past dozens of photographers and TV cameras.

Harry accuses the publisher of the Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an industrial scale to get scoops. He faces hours of cross-examination by a lawyer for the defendant, Mirror Group Newspapers, which is contesting the claims.

Sitting in the witness box and dressed in a dark suit and tie, Harry told Mirror Group attorney Andrew Green that he had "experienced hostility from the press since I was born." The prince accused the tabloids of playing a destructive role in my growing-up.

Harry was forced almost immediately to acknowledged that he couldn't recall specific articles he was complaining about. Green pressed him on how they could have caused such distress if he couldnt remember having read them at the time.

"It isnt a specific article, it is all of the articles, he said. Every single article has caused me distress.

Green asked him to identify what evidence he had of phone hacking in specific articles, and Harry said he'd have to ask that question of the journalist who wrote it. He repeatedly said that the manner in which information had been obtained was highly or incredibly suspicious.

He said that it was also suspicious that some of the journalists had been known for hacking or invoices to third parties, including private investigators known for snooping, around the time of the articles.

When asked how reporters could have hacked his phone for an article about his 12th birthday  a time when he admitted he didn't have a mobile phone  he suggested they may have hacked the phone of his mother, the late Princess Diana.

"Thats just speculation youve come up with now, Green suggested.

In the same article, Green pointed out that a reference to him taking his parent's divorce badly was obvious.

Like most children I think, yes," Harry said.

But the prince said it was not legitimate to report such information and the methods in which it was obtained seem incredibly suspicious."

Green then pointed out that his mother previously made public comments to reporters about the difficulties of her children after the divorce.

The 38-year-old son of King Charles III is the first senior British royal since the 19th century to face questioning in a court. An ancestor, the future King Edward VII, appeared as a witness in a trial over a gambling scandal in 1891.

Harry has made a mission of holding the U.K. media to account for what he sees as their hounding of him and his family.

Setting out the princes case in court Monday, his lawyer, David Sherborne, said that from Harry's childhood, British newspapers used hacking and subterfuge to mine snippets of information that could be turned into front-page scoops.

He said that stories about Harry were big sellers for the newspapers, and around 2,500 articles had covered all facets of his life during the time period of the case  1996 to 2011  from injuries at school to experimenting with marijuana and cocaine to ups and downs with girlfriends.

Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds for the tabloids, the lawyer said.

In a written witness statement published Tuesday, Harry said that he felt as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely.

I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," he said.

Hacking  the practice of guessing or using default security codes to listen to celebrities cellphone voice messages  was widespread at British tabloids in the early years of this century. It became an existential crisis for the industry after the revelation in 2011 that the News of the World had hacked the phone of a slain 13-year-old girl. Owner Rupert Murdoch shut down the paper and several of his executives faced criminal trials.

Mirror Group has paid more than 100 million pounds ($125 million) to settle hundreds of unlawful information-gathering claims, and printed an apology to phone hacking victims in 2015.

But the newspaper denies or hasn't admitted any of Harry's claims, which relate to 33 published articles.

Green said Monday there was simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis. The defense lawyer said he plans to question Harry for a day and a half.

Harry had been expected in court on Monday for the opening of the hacking case, the first of his several lawsuits against the media to go to a full trial.

He was absent because hed taken a flight Sunday from Los Angeles after the birthday of his 2-year-old daughter Lilibet, Sherborne said  to the evident chagrin of the judge, Timothy Fancourt.

Im a little surprised, said Fancourt, noting he had directed Harry to be prepared to testify.

Harrys fury at the U.K. press  and sometimes at his own royal relatives for what he sees as their collusion with the media  runs through his memoir, Spare, and interviews conducted by Oprah Winfrey and others.

He has blamed paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, Princess Diana, and said harassment and intrusion by the U.K. press, including allegedly racist articles, led him and his wife, Meghan, to flee to the U.S. in 2020 and leave royal life behind.

While Harrys memoir and other recent media ventures have been an effort to reclaim his lifes narrative, which has largely been shaped by the media, he has no such control during cross-examination in a courtroom full of reporters taking down every word.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday said a long-standing strategic partnership connects Germany and India. The German Defence Minister during a media briefing on Tuesday said that next year, India and Germany will conduct a multi-day military exercise with the deployment of our naval units for the Pacific Program 2024, including a port visit. "There will be an exercise in Goa. This is important for several reasons," he said. The German Defence Minister while talking about his meeting with his counterpart Rajnath Singh, said, "We talked about the fact that our connection, our strategic partnership, should and must gain more momentum--not only against the background of current developments in the region, but also worldwide." "We have established that defence is a pillar of this partnership between the two countries in a special way, precisely because of our joint strategic partnership experience. We both emphasized very, very clearly why the future will be and that is part of it," he said. Pistorius said: "It is the first visit by a defence minister from the Federal Republic of Germany since 2015, i.e. in eight years. And I think it was about time. A long-standing strategic partnership connects Germany and India. The corresponding agreements were made in 2000 and 2011." The German Defence Minister said: "We also talked about the war between Russia and Ukraine. The war has repercussions up to here in every corner of the world. That's no surprise. And India is trying very hard to significantly and quickly reduce its dependency on Russia for armaments, which is currently at 60 per cent. Germany is the largest trading partner for India in the EU, with a volume of 30 billion euros. That is significantly more than between India and France, for example." Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at National War Memorial in the national capital. Pistorius, who arrived in the national capital on Monday is accompanied by a German delegation. Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a statement. On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. (ANI)
China consumes at least one-fifth of the world's plastics, it is also the single largest producer and exporter of single-use and virgin plastics (new plastics made without any recycled materials). The country is also by far the largest source of mismanaged plastic waste and is the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution. In addition to this, the US State Department in its reports states that China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases; the largest source of marine debris; the worst perpetrator of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and the world's largest consumer of trafficked wildlife and timber products. While many multinationals assume they comprehend, and have tried to mitigate, the serious risks posed by operating in China, intellectual-property-rights violations, corruption, lack of transparency, potential political instability, and one of the highest risks of all, environmental degradation (due to Chinese activities), is hardly discussed in corporate boardrooms. Despite claims of international environmental leadership, China's energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are rising. It has been the world's largest annual greenhouse gas emitter since 2006. China's unsafe industrial processes also make it the world's greatest emitter of mercury, a neurotoxin, and a major public health threat when allowed to pollute the air, water, and soil. China leads the world in mercury air pollution from its own coal-burning power plants, as well as the plants that Chinese state-owned companies finance, build, and operate in other countries. China is the biggest producer and exporter of plastic products, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the world's total. A 2019 comprehensive literature review by Tianjin University estimates China is the world's leading generator of plastic waste. At least 13 per cent of China's domestic plastic waste is unmanaged and released or dumped directly into the environment as pollution, translating into millions of tons per year. Amidst the scam of plastic usage, a recent report by Tibet Rights Collective, claims that China is stealing Tibet's groundwater and selling (earlier available for free) it back to Tibetans in plastic bottles. It may be said that China has reduced the status of the once-proud and self-sustaining nomads of Tibet to beggars. It has forcefully removed from their traditional grazing lands to make way for so-called 'nature reserves' and now, the nomads are reliant on the Chinese government's meagre subsidies. Except for the tea, all of these were available for free to nomad yak herders. They would camp near rivers, lakes or other water sources to fetch their own water. Now they are reduced to buying water that Chinese entrepreneurs are bottling by tapping into Tibet's abundant groundwater and spring water. Tibet's immense reserves of groundwater were never exploited until the Chinese invasion of Tibet. And not on any scale until 2006, with the arrival of the railway from Golmud to Lhasa. The railway link makes the export of Tibet's bottled water to Shanghai and Beijing economical-and highly lucrative trade. By 2025, China targets to produce 10 million tonnes of bottled water, an exponential increase and thereby an eco-disaster in the making for Tibet. China has separately put in place mechanisms to exploit water from the rivers flowing through Tibet, at the cost of severely impacting water availability to the Tibetan people. Diversion of the course of rivers for exploitation has been a regular practice in China. One could argue that the water from the holy Ganges is also sold in India, mostly by Hindu believers, but it is important for the global audience to understand that water collected from Gangotri (the origin point of river Ganga) is an inaccessible area for the elderly and hence the National Postal System in India makes it available at a subsidised rate (charging only for the transport and packaging) to respect religious sentiments. At the same time, the collection of water causes no adverse effect on the ecosystem. Moreover, there are efforts made consistently by various conscientious Indian organisations/NGOs to build awareness about the relevance of a clean and plastic-free Ganges. In this connection, the Centre to Global Affairs and Public Policy (CGAPP) is launching a project - "tackling Plastic Pollution in the Ganga Basin" to address the problem of plastic waste in the Ganga Basin. The objective would be to build awareness against plastic pollution causing long-term damage to our environment and aquatic systems. The project would involve a 220 km river expedition from Prayagraj to Varanasi leading to Sunderbans in Bangladesh. Teams from India and Bangladesh would participate in this campaign. Meanwhile, internationally, China is the largest financier of fossil fuel infrastructure. Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has built or is planning to build hundreds of coal-fired power plants in countries around the world. More than 60 per cent of BRI-specific energy financing has gone toward non-renewable resources. Greenhouse gas emissions in more than a dozen BRI countries have soared. Researchers found in 2019 that BRI could drive the global average temperature to increase by 2.7C, significantly higher than the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. Like the rest of the world, China will increasingly suffer over the next few decades from the effects of climate change, which include sea-level rise, stronger storms, and more intense heat waves. China's average temperature and sea levels have risen faster than the global average, according to a 2020 report from China's National Climate Centre. Some of China's coastal cities, such as Shanghai, could be submerged if the global average temperature continues to rise. Despite Beijing's pledges to address climate change, transitioning from coal to renewable energy is critical to China's efforts. For several years, China resisted making commitments under the UN framework. Chinese diplomats argued that China shouldn't have to sacrifice its economic development for environmental protection blaming developed countries like the US. It is only in the recent decade that China has felt the impact of how environmental degradation is a non-traditional threat that has no respect for sovereign territories but for the entire globe. Air pollution, desertification, nuclear waste and water insecurity among others are some major challenges that China is still grappling with. The awareness is still low with even more increasing global issues. It is the moral responsibility of leading global powers to force China to change its planning and approach for the planet to sustain itself. China would have to deal with climate change issues more meticulously and not make climate a politically non-negotiable pillar of long team policy making. China's unusually long-drawn targets for achieving climate change results have also been a serious challenge for the global community to deal with. (ANI)
"Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia," the Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted on Tuesday.

The South American nation in 2022 had expressed interest in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas for Argentine Air Force.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged Argentine interest in the Tejas fighter aircraft and highlighted the importance of the proposal in enhancing the strategic quotient of bilateral relationships.

Both sides agreed to promote the exchange of visits between the Armed Forces, defence training and collaboration for joint production of defence-related equipment.

The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently extended wishes to the government and people of Argentina and Jordan on their National Day.

Taking to Twitter, he extended his greetings to his Argentinian counterpart Santiago Cafiero and said, "Warm greetings to FM @SantiagoCafiero and the Government and people of Argentina on their National Day."

'Our cooperation continues to benefit our people and enhance our Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar added.

Notably, India shares cordial and friendly relations with Argentina. Earlier in 2022, EAM Jaishankar visited Argentina and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Republica de la India Street. (ANI)
Anti-China demonstrations were witnessed across Myanmar when Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Naypyidaw, giving a loud and clear message that Beijing's participation with the military government is unacceptable, according to Mekong News. Protesters damaged Qin Gang's photos and set fire to the Chinese National flag during a demonstration in Letpadaung, Sagaing Region, where a disputed copper mine backed by China is located. Similar protests were held in Magwe, Yangon, Mandalay, and other parts of Sagaing, where resistance groups burned Chinese flags and images of Qin and junta leader Min Aung Hlaing while hoisting banners pleading with Beijing to stop "supporting fascist criminals" and to "respect the Myanmar people's voice," according to Mekong News. The General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB), an anti-regime organisation, said that resistance forces in Myanmar would intensify their protests against China's cooperation with the loathed military administration. According to GSCB, as long as the Chinese government publicly supports the dictatorship, people would continue to stage anti-China protests not just in Myanmar but also overseas with the help of the Myanmar diaspora, according to Mekong News. Qin met with the leaders of the junta, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and Retired Gen. During his visit, and he made a commitment to deepen practical cooperation in the economy and livelihood and support Myanmar's efforts to uphold stability, revitalise the economy, improve the lives of its citizens, and achieve sustainable development. However, the people of Myanmar are aware of what really went on behind the scenes. Qin also expressed hope for the continuation of Myanmar and China's long-standing "pauk-phaw" friendship, the two countries' unique word for their bond. The most recent demonstrations highlighted the widespread discontent about China's support for the military junta that overthrew the government in a coup in February 2021 and its engagement with it, Mekong News reported. China has gradually recommitted to full military intervention in thein the pursuit of its primary strategic objectives in Myanmar, particularly its steadfast goal to establish an overland transportation route connecting Yunnan province with the Bay of Bengal coast of Myanmar. Such engagements reveal that Beijing appears to be acting as though the coup never took place, Mekong News reported. Beijing's accommodating approach entails some hazards. The demonstrations this month indicate that China's reputation, which has never been good even in the best of times, is reaching new lows among the nation's resistance and a sizable portion of the general people. If the National Unity Government of the opposition wins its battle, China will be held responsible for assisting a ruthless military dictatorship. This article is written by Linn Maung for Mekong News. He is a senior online editor at Mekong News. (ANI)
No critical situation has been recorded due to Russians blowing up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on the right bank of Kherson Oblast; so far, the left bank has suffered much more.

Source: Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Defence Forces of the south, at a briefing, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine; State Emergency Service

Quote from Humeniuk: "On the right bank, critical situations have not actually been recorded in those settlements where the water is rising. In particular, the oblast centre has not been critically affected; there is flooding of some neighbourhoods, residential areas and streets.

Nevertheless, the evacuation was organised because the water level continues to rise, and according to preliminary estimates by experts, the water will reach a critical level somewhere around 13:00. The situation is being monitored. All services are working."

Details: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that as of 15:00 on 6 June, emergency workers, Ukrainian National Police and volunteers have evacuated about 1,300 people so far.

Speaking about the situation on the left bank, Humeniuk noted that the aggressor country "jammed" the connection so that people did not have the opportunity to receive competent recommendations and to communicate with the territory controlled by Ukraine.

She added that due to the rising water level, water mine danger has increased, and she also advised local residents not to try to evacuate on their own.

"I don't think that the occupiers will calmly watch civilians evacuate from the left bank to the right, so I don't advise taking risks. It's much better to go deeper into the left bank and organise the evacuation there," Humeniuk explained.

The Defence Forces also emphasised that the geographically lower left bank has been affected much more so far.

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Sixteen members of a Georgia motorcycle gang have been indicted on charges stemming from a shooting that injured two people last year in a hotel parking lot, authorities said Monday.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said his offices gang prosecution unit will take the lead in prosecuting the case in Bryan County, south of Savannah.

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The indictment in Bryan County Superior Court charges 16 people with multiple violations of Georgias Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Some were charged with aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery, while others were charged with conspiring to commit those crimes.

All of the defendants are members of the southeast Georgia chapter of the Outcast motorcycle gang, Carrs office said in a news release. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury Wednesday, says Outcast members plotted to rob members of a rival gang of their motorcycle vests.

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Outcast members held rival gang members at gunpoint outside a hotel in Richmond Hill on June 17 and ordered the men to hand over their vests, according to the indictment.

Shots were fired in the parking lot along a highway dotted with hotels, gas stations and fast food restaurants. No one was killed, but police said two people were injured.

Carrs office said authorities executed more than 40 search warrants across southeast Georgia as part of their investigation and seized $180,000 in cash as well as 71 guns.

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An armed 16-year-old boy looking for meth was fatally shot during a gunfight at a Florida homeless camp, according to the Escambia County Sheriffs Office in the Panhandle.

It happened May 26 in Pensacola, and investigators say the killing was justified. The identity of the teen has not been released.

It was determined that the deceased 16-year-old and another 16-year-old accomplice were in possession of firearms and had attempted to buy methamphetamines at a homeless camp, the sheriffs office said in a June 2 news release.

Upon being told that no one at the homeless camp had any methemphetamines to sell, the two 16-year-olds pointed their firearm at two victims, threatening to steal their belongings. At this time, another male was called upon to assist the two victims.

Witnesses said the teens pointed their guns at the third man, leading to an exchange of gunfire, officials said. One teen was critically wounded and died at a hospital, officials said.

He was found by deputies responding to calls about a shots fired disturbance at the camp, which sits across the street from The Alfred-Washburn Center. The center is a nonprofit that offers meals, showers and other services to the homeless and poorer members of our community.

Further investigation determined that the third male acted in self-defense, resulting in a portion of the investigation being ruled as stand your ground, the sheriffs office said.

The teen who survived is accused of committing aggravated assault with a firearm which led to the 16-year-olds death, officials said. He is charged with third-degree felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, two counts of deadly missiles, and carrying a firearm, officials said.

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Two teenagers who were high school sweethearts in the 1950s broke up after a few years and didn't see each other until a little over a year ago. Now, Caroline Reeves and Eddie Lamm are newlyweds  sharing a love that is blossoming 63 years after they first met.



"We feel young again," said Reeves, who turns 82 on Thursday.

"When you're in your 80s, you don't have to grow old," she said. "We keep our minds going and we're active and we have fun and laugh and tease and cut up and just want to just live as long  the best life we can live."



Back in 1956, Elvis was on the jukebox and President Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the White House  while Reeves and Lamm were in love.

Eddie Lamm and Caroline Reeves / Credit: CBS New

"Once I saw her, it was all over," said Lamm, who is now 85.



Reeves thought he was the cutest boy on campus.



The only meal he ever bought her back then was french fries and Coke  but it wasn't a fancy dinner she was looking for. She had her eyes on a high school class ring and all that it would signify.



"It was an engagement ring," she said. "And I was the type of person that would have committed myself to him for the rest of my life with that ring."



But she didn't get the ring  at least not then.

Lamm had set his sights high, joining ROTC at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with dreams of flying planes in the U.S. Air Force. It was Reeves' senior year in high school and he couldn't find the words to say a proper goodbye, so he didn't.



"We pulled up in her driveway and I said,' May I kiss you?' And so I kissed her, goodnight, then, not knowing that that's the last time I would kiss her in 64 or 65 years."

Eddie Lamm and Caroline Reeves

Reeves said he didn't follow up with, "Could I take you out? Could we go to a movie? Can I see you again before I leave?"



"I opened that car door and I got out of that car and ran up the steps and slammed the door and went upstairs and cried all night," she said. "That was it."



Their lives then followed far different paths. She became Miss Nashville 1959. Two years later, in 1961, they got married to other people. Reeves married Charles Wallace and Lamm married Polly Piper.

Lamm went on to serve 21 years flying KC-135s in the U.S. Air Force. Reeves traveled the world, was an interior designer, has been a magazine writer and wrote three novels.

In December of 2021, Lamm's wife, Polly, the mother of their two sons, died from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. They'd been married two days shy of 60 years, and in Polly's final years, Lamm was her caretaker.



"It just shows you his strength and how sweet and kind and gentle this man is and always has been," Reeves said.



After Reeves' marriage to Wallace ended in the 1980s, she married a man named George Kennedy, who died in 2001.



Reeves said she wondered "all the time" over the course of her life how Lamm was, and Lamm said he wondered, too, how Reeves was doing.

Eddie Lamm and Caroline Reeves / Credit: CBS News

In April 2022, Lamm was living in California and Reeves was in Nashville.



"All at once something hits me. I said, 'I've got to call her,'" Lamm said.



He tried nine times before finally reaching her.



"After the second day, it was comfortable. It was natural. By the third day, that third night, he told me he still loved me. And I knew my life had changed. And then the next morning, he calls and he says, 'I apologize for being so forward last night.'"



But his confession of love was what Reeves wanted to hear, and he flew to Nashville to see her.



This time, she was in the driver's seat. When she went to pick him up, they didn't get too far from the airport  at first.



"He peeked his head into my car and I just  he took my breath away," Reeves said. "I've never seen anything like it in my entire life. I just can't even explain it. So I got out of the parking lot, zoom, zoom, zoom, went around and found the FedEx parking lot. And it was the warehouse. It was closed at night and they had all these security lights. And I got out and jumped around and we hugged and kissed ... and I remember looking up at the security lights and insects were swirling all around."



"So, FedEx does deliver," she said, to a burst of laughter.



After Lamm arrived in Nashville, he waited five days before asking her to move with him to California. Three months later, at the age of 84, he popped the question.

Eddie Lamm and Caroline Reeves getting married.

He had planned to give her his mother's ring, but Reeves said it was too precious and should be saved for one of his grandchildren. Instead, she wanted his high school class ring, and he put it on her finger.



She called it "miraculous" that they found their love again.



"And we asked God all the time, 'why did you do this?' And now we know: to take care of each other," she said.



Apple's ambitious and expensive launch into virtual reality

Chinese authorities raided 3 firms gathering information on Chinese companies for investors

Chris Christie and Mike Pence, former Trump allies, joining 2024 presidential race
From cloud forest hikes to chocolate farm tours, these are the best things to do in Costa Rica.

Janusz Kubow/Getty Images

From rainforests and cloud forests to volcanoes and hot springs, Costa Rica is a hub of ecotourism with great weather and an endless parade of pristine natural areas to discover. Framed by coastlines along both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the country has countless places to surf (hello, Santa Teresa and Nosara) and chill on beautiful beaches. Add cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in the capital, San Jose, plus some wonderful eco-lodges and resorts, and its easy to see why tourists flock to Costa Rica.

While its hard to cull down the myriad activities and attractions in this peaceful Central American country where pura vida is the way of life, with the help of a dream team of local experts (Lucas Medeiros, chief concierge at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Natasha Brown, the founder of Salty Afro Surf, and Jemma Wright, director of experience at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection), weve rounded up 20 of the best things to do in Costa Rica.

Related: T+Ls Guide to Costa Rica



Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

Brandon Rosenblum/Getty Images

Nestled along the Cordillera de Tilaran mountain range, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve covers more than 35,000 acres of lush trees. Besides incredible endemic flora, its also home to animals such as howler monkeys and sloths. One of the best ways to soak in all the beauty? A high-flying zip-line tour.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure

Rincon de la Vieja National Park spans 34,000 acres of rugged terrain. Its also a hotbed for adrenaline-pumping activities. Mountain bikers of all levels can enjoy a thrilling ride around the largest volcano in Guanacaste, says Lucas Medeiros.



Ecotermales Fortuna

Courtesy of Ecotermales Fortuna

The ideal place to soothe overworked muscles and relax after countless rugged adventures? Ecotermales Fortuna. The warm, magnesium-rich waters heated by the nearby Arenal Volcano are said to help combat inflammation and relieve pain, and the cool pools provide the perfect opportunity for hot and cold therapy.



Corcovado National Park

MB Photography/Getty Images

Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula, protects one of the most biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world, says Jemma Wright. The natural richness of this area  unspoiled beaches, rainforest trails, mangrove swamps, waterfalls, and wildlife  helps visitors appreciate our beautiful country.

Arenal Volcano National Park

MB Photography/Getty Images

One of Costa Ricas most famous attractions, the 30,000-acre Arenal Volcano National Park draws upwards of 100,000 visitors each year. Most travelers make the journey to witness its crown jewel stratovolcano, which rises 5,357 feet toward the clouds. Hiking, horseback riding, zip lining, and river rafting are also popular activities.

Santa Teresa

Aldo Pavan/Getty Images

Santa Teresa is a must-visit spot for pura vida chasers and surfers. New to paddling out? First-timers can take group or private lessons. Back on land, the palm-fringed beach draws crowds for sunbathing and sunsets.



Tenorio Volcano National Park

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

Situated in the rugged northern part of Costa Rica and part of the broader Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area, Tenorio Volcano National Park thrills travelers with its namesake volcano along with the spectacular Rio Celeste Waterfall (and the 3.5-mile trail that leads to it), wildlife peeping, and canopy bridges.

Playa Chiquita

Simon Dannhauer/Getty Images

With over four miles of pristine waters, Playa Chiquita is the place for travelers looking for long swaths of untouched, uncrowded beaches and snorkeling the beautiful reefs, says Natasha Brown.

Manuel Antonio National Park

AutumnSkyPhotography/Getty Images

Manuel Antonio National Park packs a ton of nature into a relatively small area. Its just seven square miles, but within its boundaries are rainforests, tropical plants, untouched white-sand beaches, coral reefs, coastal hiking trails, and diverse wildlife  from three-toed sloths and white-faced capuchin monkeys to orange crabs and black spiny-tailed iguanas.

Coffee Farm Tour

Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure

Costa Rica produces some of the best coffee in the world, and its a huge economic driver for the country. While its certainly not difficult to procure a great cup of joe, serious java enthusiasts keen to learn more about the process should consider booking a tour at one of the many coffee farms outside of San Jose.

Related: The Best Times to Visit Costa Rica

Tabacon Hot Springs

Bkamprath/Getty Images

While Costa Rica has many wonderful places to reap the benefits of volcano-heated mineral waters, few are as iconic as Tabacon Hot Springs. Tucked inside a lush, private rainforest reserve, this natural oasis wins points for its thermal pools and cascading waterfalls with healing, stress-melting benefits.

Bijagua Ranas

I love going to Bijagua Ranas to enjoy the rainforest and see the sloths! says Medeiros. Snakes, frogs, and toucans also call the wildlife sanctuary home. There are hiking trails, bridges, and viewing platforms that help you get a better look at all the wild inhabitants.

Playa Cocles

Vadim Anvaer/Getty Images

Just south of Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Playa Cocles is a popular surf spot and afternoon hangout. Both locals and travelers come here at the end of the day to watch fire shows, enjoy a drink with friends, or sneak a few waves while watching the beautiful sunset, says Brown.

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Courtesy of Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

Head to the capital, San Jose, to learn about Costa Ricas history and culture at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. Housed in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura, it dazzles visitors with a huge collection of gilded artifacts.

Tortuguero National Park

Arctic-Images/Getty Images

Hidden away on Costa Ricas northern Caribbean coast and only accessible by boat or plane, Tortuguero National Park is one of the most distinct, isolated, and biodiverse places in the country, according to Wright. Nature lovers venture to this remote wilderness area to peep sea turtles, manatees, speckled caimans, and birds while navigating the canals on a canoe.

Nosara

Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica

One of the top spots to learn, practice, or master surfing in Costa Rica, Nosara is awash with strong breach breaks and knowledgeable instructors. Its also a wellness destination with many yoga studios, retreats, and wellbeing centers.

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve

Mike Melton

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve in northern Costa Rica operates a spate of eco-tours through the spectacular 220-acre private preserve where animals ranging from ghost glass frogs to hummingbirds live. Visitors can follow tapir tracks with the help of a local Bijaguan guide, rise early for a birding adventure, or do a nighttime jungle tour to glimpse nocturnal critters.

Terraba-Sierpe Wetland

Jesus Fung Yan/Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica

Exploring the mangroves, which hold so much biodiversity, supplies a deeper understanding of where the land, river, and sea unite," explains Medeiros. Youll find the largest mangrove swamps in Costa Rica at the Terraba-Sierpe Wetland, just north of the Osa Peninsula.

Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge

Kryssia Campos/Getty Images

Part of the Arenal Huetar Norte Conservation Area in the remote northern part of the country near the Nicaraguan border, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is a paradise for birdwatchers with good odds of spotting roseate spoonbills, jabirus, and even the reclusive agami heron in the Everglades of Costa Rica.

Chocolate Farm Tour

Jonathan Ledezma/Courtesy of Visit Costa Rica and Rainforest Chocolate Tour

When most people think of Costa Rican food, plates of pork, fish, rice, beans, and vegetables come to mind. But chocolate is a major staple (and export) as well. If youre interested in learning more about how cacao becomes fine artisan chocolate  and sampling the food of the gods  book a beans-to-bar tour at one of the many chocolate farms.



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Residents and community leaders campaigned for a special crosswalk to be installed at a dangerous Millwood Avenue intersection in 2019. Since it was installed, residents say it has made the neighborhood safer, but they still have concerns.

The crosswalk, near the intersection with House Street, was installed after several pedestrians were struck by cars while crossing the Columbia street, according to previous reporting from The State. Authorities in 2019 said three pedestrians were killed on Millwood Avenue over four years.

One pedestrian was killed in January 2019 after being hit by a car at the location, according to the state Department of Public Safety. The fatal collision happened several months before the new crosswalk opened in July of that year.

At least one pedestrian has been injured in a collision since the crosswalk opened, in 2021, according to DPS data. No fatalities have been reported since the crosswalk was installed.

The crosswalk is classified as a high-intensity activated crosswalk beacon by the Department of Transportation. It includes flashing lights to stop cars when pedestrians press a button to cross.

These crosswalks have been proven to reduce total crashes by 29% and pedestrian crashes by 69%, Rob Perry, DOT state traffic engineering director, said in a video released by the DOT when the crosswalk was dedicated.

Cars pass through a crosswalk on Millwood Avenue installed in 2019.

While data shows a decrease in car-pedestrian collisions since the crosswalk went in, the DOT has no way of measuring how many pedestrians are using it to cross the street, Kelly Moore, the DOTs director of public engagement, said.

State Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland, said he has gotten mixed responses about how often the crosswalk is used. Rose was heavily involved in securing funding for the crosswalk to be installed while he represented the neighborhood on Richland County Council.

Some say Hey, no ones using the crosswalk, he said. To which I say, If someone dies, we can all sleep at night knowing they had an option to use it. But Ive also had people stop me and say people are using the crosswalk and they joke about having to stop in traffic for it.

Several residents said the reception in the neighborhood has been largely positive, calling it safe and a good addition to the community.

The crosswalk enhancements have made a positive impact from my observations, Josh Shelton, president of the Historic Melrose Neighborhood Association, said. The majority of the time I see neighbors using the crosswalk to cross Millwood safely.

One resident, David Johnson, said about half and half of people use the crosswalk to cross the road, versus crossing illegally near it. He said he would like to see tickets given to those who cross without using the crosswalk.

There could be some kind of sign telling people to use (the crosswalk), that would help it a whole lot, he said.

The crossing is frequently used by residents in the area to visit a convenience store and laundromat directly next to it on Millwood, resident Rick Roberson said.

Though residents said people have been using the crosswalk, some had concerns that cars dont always stop for pedestrians. Drivers are required to stop at the crosswalk when the overhead lights are solid red and may proceed with caution when the lights are flashing red, according to the posted signage.

It is (used by pedestrians), but getting the cars to stop is a different story, Roberson said. People get in a hurry and a lot of times people dont even stop.

Shelton also said drivers go too fast on Millwood and ignore the posted signage at the crosswalk.

Roberson suggested a camera be put up at the crosswalk to ticket drivers who dont stop. Traffic tickets written from cameras  excluding toll violations  are illegal in South Carolina.

Shelton said he would like to see measures taken to slow traffic on Millwood.

(I) hope that those traveling (Millwood) will respect those who live along the avenue and have a need to cross the road, he said.
Although B.C.'s minimum wage rose to $16.75 from $15.65 per hour on June 1, it still doesn't meet the calculated living wage for much of the province.

On May 31, one of the guests on the CBC Radio show "B.C. Today with Michelle Eliot" was Anastasia French, provincial manager for Living Wage for Families BC.

French said a living wage is calculated using a family of fourtwo parents (both working full-time) and two kids, and the real essentials the family needs to make ends meet.

"We've also done a similar calculation for a single person and it comes out relatively similar, because of the amount of government benefits that families with kids get.... It really is the bare minimum you need to be able to pay rent, pay for food and pay for essentials, she said.

On the Living Wage for Families BC website the 2022 living wage calculations are posted for 23 B.C. communities. The living wage calculations for Kelowna and Kamloops were $22.88 per hour and $19.14 per hour respectively. (The program doesn't currently have a community partner in place for either Vernon or Penticton.) The 2023 calculations for all 23 communities will be posted in November.

The number of employers who have committed to pay their direct staff and contracted workers a living wage is 13 in Kelowna and 10 in Kamloops.

Here's a niche market idea I think could spread quickly, up-scale and fine dining restaurants that have a no tipping policy. All menu items would have a higher price than at a restaurant serving similar fare where tipping is expected.

Comparing the two types of restaurants, the patrons at the no-tipping and tipping restaurants would probably end up paying about the same price for a similar meal.

At no-tipping restaurants, all workersfrom the chef to servers to dishwasherswould be paid at least a living wage, or more, depending on what their specific job is. (I assume an experienced chef would be paid more per hour than a dishwasher)

The employees would be happier, and the patrons, especially those who dislike tipping in the first place, wouldn't feel guilted into leaving a tip, whether the food and service met their expectations or not.

Since opening in June 2022, the upscale all-vegan Folke Restaurant in Vancouver has had a no-tipping policy. The menu changes based on ingredient availability and seasonality.

Who's going to be brave enough to start a no-tipping restaurant in the Okanagan? At the very least, it would probably generate a lot of free advertising for the restaurant in the local media.

Good word-of-mouth marketing would naturally follow if the dining experience includes flavourful food and friendly, attentive staff.

David Buckna, Kelowna
Lise De Baissac was a leader in the French Resistance whose efforts contributed to the success of the D-Day landings. Eric Harlow/Getty Images

Women played key roles in D-Day, the Allied assault on Nazi-held France that is the largest amphibious invasion in history.

"People tend to think women were 'just' secretarial couriers and messengers," said journalist Sarah Rose. "No, there were female special forces agents on the ground and working to keep the Allies from being blown back into the water."

These are three of the British agents who contributed to the Allied victory in Normandy and the liberation of Western Europe.

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It has been 79 years since upward of 150,000 Allied troops began storming the beaches of Normandy by air, land, and sea. As the June 6 anniversary of the largest amphibious assault in military history approaches, journalist Sarah Rose illuminated several less widely known combat heroes who fought for the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe in Operation Overlord: Andree Borrel, Lise de Baissac, and Odette Sansom. They are among the 39 female agents who served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's secret World War II intelligence agency created in 1940 to "set Europe ablaze."

"Women are the hidden figures of D-Day," says Rose, who started researching the history of women in combat and was surprised to learn that their roles dated back to World War II. "People tend to think women were 'just' secretarial couriers and messengers. No, there were female special forces agents on the ground and working to keep the Allies from being blown back into the water. They did what men did. They led men."

In her book, D-Day Girls: THE SPIES WHO ARMED THE RESISTANCE, SABOTAGED THE NAZIS, AND HELPED WIN WORLD WAR II, Rose chronicles three of these agents' contributions to the Allied victory in Normandy and the liberation of Western Europe.

Andree Borrel, the first female combat paratrooper, fought for the liberation of France until Nazis executed her a month after D-Day.

Aliases: Monique; Denise Urbain, Whitebeam. 1919-1944 UK National Archives

Born to a working-class family on the outskirts of Paris after World War I, Borrel left school at 14. She had a job at a Paris bakery counter when World War II broke out.

Read more: 8 famous people who served on D-Day

Once the war began, Borrel left Paris and took a crash course in nursing with the Red Cross.

The German military defeated France in June 1940, but many French citizens took up arms in a resistance to Adolf Hitler and his troops. German Federal Archive

After a stint treating people wounded by the German Army, she joined a group of French Resistance operatives organizing and operating one of the country's largest underground escape networks, the Pat O'Leary line. She aided at least 65 Allied evaders (mainly British Royal Air Force airmen shot down over enemy territory) on their journeys out of France to Spain through the Pyrenees.

When she herself got ratted out, she escaped to Lisbon, Portugal. She then moved to London, eager to continue fighting for the liberation of France. In the spring of 1942, the SOE recruited her. She was trained not only to jump behind enemy lines, but also to spy on, sabotage, and kill Axis troops occupying her home country.

Borrel parachuted into France in September of 1942, becoming the first female combat agent to do so. She worked as a courier for the SOE network Physician (nicknamed "Prosper"), which raised bands of Resistance members in the north to carry out guerilla attacks against Nazi troops. Moving between Paris and the countryside, she coordinated aerial supply drops and recruited, armed, and trained Resistance members.

She rose to second in command of the network's Paris circuit, which was also funneling enemy intelligence back to the Allies in London. She was in the SOE's first training class for female agents, where she learned skills from hand-to-hand combat to Morse code. When asked, "How might you kill a Nazi using what you have on you?" she is said to have responded: "I would jam a pencil through his brain. And he'd deserve it."

Her commanding officer described her as "the best of us all."

Read more: Here's how the Allies began to reclaim Europe from the Nazis

The Nazis arrested Borrel in 1943 and sent her to a concentration camp.

Borrel was sent to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp in July 1944, a month after D-Day. Windofkeltia

Nazis, allegedly leveraging intelligence from a double agent, arrested Borrel and fellow Physician leaders in June 1943. After being interrogated and imprisoned around Paris, she was transferred to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp in July 1944 with three other female SOE agents and executed a month after D-Day.

Even from prison, she is said to have continued fighting by inserting coded messages about her captors in several letters to her sister. She was 24.

Honors: Croix de Guerre, Medal of the Resistance, the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct

Lise de Baissac parachuted into France twice and became the No. 2 commander of a French Resistance group fighting Nazis during the Battle of Normandy.

1905-2004 Aliases: Artist, Odile, Irene, Marguerite, Adele Records of Special Operations Executive

Andree Borrel was the first female SOE agent to parachute into France during World War II, but her jumping partner, 37-year-old Lise de Baissac, was right behind her. The daughter of a wealthy family in British-ruled Mauritius, de Baissac was in France when Hitler's troops moved into Paris in 1940. She fled to the south and then to London. When the SOE started recruiting multilingual women as agents, she joined the fight.

After parachuting into Central France with Borrel, de Baissac set up an Allied safe house for agents in the town of Poitiers in western France, selecting an apartment near Gestapo headquarters  a hiding-in-plain-sight strategy she felt would arouse less suspicion.

She bicycled around occupied territory as a liaison among different underground networks, often riding 60-70 kilometers a day and carrying contraband. On one occasion, a Nazi stopped her and her clandestine radio operator, patting them down. The officer searched them for guns, which they didn't have, so he let them go. She'd later report that a radio crystal fell out of her skirt as she was leaving but that she leaned over, grabbed the crystal off the ground, and pedaled on.

In August of 1943, when her network in Poitiers was blown, the SOE airlifted her back to England by Lysander aircraft. She trained new female SOE recruits in Scotland. In April of 1944, after recovering from a broken leg, she jumped back into occupied France. She made her way to Normandy, joining her brother, fellow SOE agent Claude de Baissac, in leading a network of Resistance fighters in Normandy. They carried out attacks to weaken Nazi communication and transportation circuits, strategically cutting phone lines and blowing up roads, railways, and bridges to hinder the movement of German reinforcements Hitler was ordering to the beaches.

De Baissac raced out of Paris to assist the allies when she learned D-Day was imminent.

Sherman tanks of British 30th Corps passing through Bayeux, France. Imperial War Museum

On June 5, 1944, de Baissac was in Paris recruiting when she learned D-Day was imminent. She biked for three days, speeding through Nazi formations, sleeping in ditches, and reaching her brother and their Resistance circuit headquarters in Normandy.

As the bloody Normandy campaign raged and the Allies struggled to penetrate the Axis front, the de Baissacs continued leading espionage and sabotage operations. They gathered intelligence on enemy positions and transmitted messages back to England, helping lay the groundwork for Operation Cobra, the Allied breakout in which U.S. Army forces came out of the peninsula and pierced Hitler's front line seven weeks after D-Day.

After the war, she worked for the BBC.

Honors: MBE, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur Croix de Guerre avec Palme

Odette Sansom blew up Nazi train lines and, upon being arrested and tortured, told Gestapo officers: I have nothing to say.

Aliases: Lise 1912-1995 Imperial War Museum

Odette Sansom was a 28-year-old homemaker in Somerset, England when she answered the British War Office's call for images of the French coastline, offering photographs she had from her childhood. Born in France as "Odette Brailly" in 1912, she had lost her father in the final months of the World War I. With World War II raging and her English husband already away fighting in the British Army, she didn't take lightly the decision to leave her three young daughters. But with Hitler already occupying her old home and threatening her new one, she felt compelled to join the fight.

She was tough, determined, and persistent. When a concussion during parachute training left her unable to jump into France, she docked in Gibraltar on a gunrunner disguised as a sardine fishing boat, only to arrive in France's "free" zone the same week in November 1942 that Hitler's forces began occupying the region. So began several months working as a courier in SOE agent Capt. Peter Churchill's network, Spindle. Churchill relied heavily on her to set up clandestine radio networks, coordinate parachute drops, and arm Resistance fighters in the Rhone Alps in preparation for D-Day.

She and Churchill fell in love and continued working together mobilizing Resistance members in southeast France until April 1943, when the Gestapo arrested them. Knowing that they were at risk of being executed as spies, she convinced their captors that her commanding officer was a relative of UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill and that she was his wife and only in France at her urging. Peter Churchill was not, in fact, related to Britain's prime minister, but Sansom figured that if she could trick the Germans into thinking they were VIPs, there would be incentive to keep them alive.

Sansom emerged from the largest, most lethal womens concentration camp in history with evidence used to convict its leaders of war crimes.

Sansom with her then fiance Capt. Peter Churchill in 1947. Getty Images

While Sansom was imprisoned around France and then at Ravensbruck concentration camp, enduring solitary confinement and somewhere between 10-14 torture sessions  she survived.

By the time Ravensbruck was evacuated in the spring of 1945, Sansom's back was broken, and she had been starved and beaten, with her toenails pulled out and her body burned in attempts to get her to reveal information about her fellow agents. She is said to have revealed nothing.

In the years after the war, Sansom's testimony was later to convict Ravensbruck camp commandant Fritz Suhren, as well as other SS officers, of war crimes. Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945 came less than a year after the sweeping invasions that began the Battle of Normandy, now memorialized as "D-Day."

Honors: George Cross, Member of the Order of the British Empire, Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur

Editor's Note: This post was initially published on June 5, 2019.

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Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower told his invasion force, "Your task will not be an easy one." He was brutally right. The National WWII Museum

The D-Day invasion was the largest seaborne invasion in history and a turning point in World War II.

By the end of the Normandy campaign, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians had been killed or wounded.

The greatest risks were borne by American troops who arrived in the first wave, seized clifftop artillery, and set up balloons to defend against aerial attacks.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely."

As the sun set on the blood-stained beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's message to the thousands of Allied troops dispatched to carry out the largest amphibious landing in military history rang true.

The invasion, codenamed Operation Neptune and remembered as D-Day, sent roughly 156,000 British, Canadian, and American troops to the Nazi-occupied French coast by air and sea, beginning the multi-month Battle of Normandy and the liberation of Western Europe from Hitler's Wehrmacht.

Read more: 3 unsung World War II female spies who helped make D-Day a victory

Four years ago, as millions gathered in Normandy to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, National WWII Museum senior historian Rob Citino emphasized that the impact of the landings came at a tremendous human toll. By the end of the Normandy campaign, hundreds of thousands of Allied and Axis soldiers and civilians had died and been wounded, with those involved in the initial landings suffering disproportionately.

"Certain sectors and certain minutes, casualties were 100 percent," Citino said.

Citino described the most perilous jobs American troops performed to help make the D-Day landings a World War II turning point. "It was bad enough but would have been worse," he says.

1. The Pathfinders

A paratrooper with a Thompson M1 submachine and heavy equipment. The National WWII Museum

The earliest paratroopers of the US Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions jumped into enemy territory in the dark, facing unrelenting attacks with little back-up and a lot of pressure to light the way.

Strategy and scope: Upwards of 13,000 American paratroopers would jump in the early days of Operation Neptune, the Allied invasion of well-guarded Normandy.

Minutes after midnight on June 6, around 300 101st Pathfinders, nicknamed "the Screaming Eagles," went in first. Paratrooping in lean, highly-trained formations, the Pathfinders were not out to engage in combat. They were to quickly set up lights and flares to mark drop zones for paratroopers and landing paths for the gliders preparing to land.

General Eisenhower's advice to the 101st ahead of D-Day? "The trick is to keep moving."

The Pathfinders paved the way for waves of paratroopers to follow, but paid a heavy price.

Pathfinders with the 82nd Airborne Division jumped from C-47 transports into occupied France under the cover of darkness. The National WWII Museum

Threats and losses: The equipment they carried  from parachutes and life jackets to lighting systems they were to set up once on the ground  made their packs so heavy that they had to be helped onto the planes.

Then there was the jump.

Amid the bad weather and limited visibility that night, some were blown wildly off course after leaping from the C-47 Skytrains. Even those who managed textbook landings into the intended locations were at risk.

"It's the loneliness  out there all by yourself with no one riding to your rescue in the next 10 minutes if you get in trouble. You're against all the elements," Citino said.

Impact: While the Pathfinders saw heavy losses, they ultimately enabled more accurate, effective landings and ability for Allied troops to withstand counterattacks.

Read more: Here's what it took 79 years ago to pull off the biggest amphibious invasion in history

2. The Ranger Assault Group scaling Pointe du Hoc

They climbed 100-foot cliffs under fire to take out key German artillery pieces aimed at the beaches. National Archives

Strategy and scope: Once dawn broke on June 6, 1944, a force of 225 US Army Rangers of the 2nd and 5th Ranger battalions began their attempts to seize Pointe du Hoc. Their mission: Scale the 100-foot rock and upon reaching the cliff top, destroy key German gun positions, clearing the way for the mass landings on Omaha and Utah beaches.

The multifaceted naval bombardment sent the highly trained climbers hauling themselves up the cliffs using ropes, hooks, and ladders. Two Allied destroyers would drop bombs onto the Germans in an attempt to limit the enemy's ability to simply shoot the Rangers off the cliffs.

The Rangers climbed the cliffs in sodden clothes while Germans above them shot at them and tried to cut their ropes.

The sheer cliff walls the Rangers scaled, shown about two days after D-Day when it because a route for supplies. US Army

Threats and losses: Beyond the challenging mountain climbing involved in getting into France via the cliffs along the English Channel, the Rangers faced choppy waters and delayed landings, which increased the formidable enemy opposition.

Nazi artillery fire sprayed at the naval bombardment. Landing crafts sank. Those who made it to the rocks were climbing under enemy fire, their uniforms and gear heavy and slippery from from mud and water. Germans started cutting their ropes. Rangers who reached the cliff top encountered more enemy fire, along with terrain that looked different from the aerial photographs they had studied, much of it reduced to rubble in the aftermath of recent aerial bombings. And they discovered that several of the guns they were out to destroy had been repositioned.

Impact: The Rangers located key German guns and disabled them with grenades. They also took out enemy observation posts and set up strategic roadblocks and communication lines on Pointe du Hoc. The 155mm artillery positions they destroyed could have compromised the forthcoming beach landings.

3. The first troops on Omaha Beach

US soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division approach Omaha Beach in a landing craft. The National WWII Museum

Members of the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions and the US Army Rangers stormed the beach codenamed "Omaha" in the earliest assaults. These were the bloodiest moments of D-Day.

Strategy and scope: Beyond enemy fire, the Allies were up against physical barricades installed to prevent landings onto the six-mile stretch of Hitler's "Atlantic Wall."

To break through, infantry divisions, Rangers, and specialist units arrived to carry out a series of coordinated attacks, blowing up and through obstacles in order to secure the five paths from the beach and move inland.

A fraction of the first assault troops ever reached the top of the bluff.

American troops approach Omaha Beach on June 7. The National WWII Museum

Threats and losses: In pre-invasion briefings, troops were told there would be Allied bombing power preceding them and that the Germans would be largely obliterated and washed ashore, Citino said.

While there were aerial bombings, the impact was not as planned. Some of the B-24s and B-17s flying overhead missed their targets. German troops sprayed guns and mortars with clear views of the soldiers, stevedores, porters, and technical support charging the narrow stretch of beach. Men waded through rough, cold water from Allied landing crafts under withering heavy fire. The dangers continued with mines in the sand.

The scene was similarly gruesome for combat engineers moving in with Bangalore torpedoes to blow up obstacles. Meanwhile, amphibious tank operators tried to shield Allied infantry and medics came ashore to try to administer emergency care while facing counterattacks and navigating around the dead and wounded.

Impact: A fraction of those who landed reached the top of the bluff. Some company headcounts went to single digits. But the troops who helped secure Omaha and the five paths off the beach in the coming days cleared the way for massive tanks, fuel, food, and reinforcements important to the rest of the campaign.

4. The 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion

Soldiers prepare to deploy a barrage balloon on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion. The National WWII Museum

These combat troops landed on Utah Beach and set up key lines of defense to prevent Luftwaffe raiders from strafing the incoming army of troops and supplies.

Strategy and scope: The Allies knew that as soon as the landings began, German air attacks would present a major threat to the masses of troops arriving in thousands of landing crafts. To defend against air raids, they turned to defensive weaponry units, including the 621 African-American soldiers in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, to land with 125-pound blimps and work in teams to anchor them to the ground. Each blimp was filled with hydrogen and connected to small bombs that could denote if enemy aircraft made contact with the cables.

Threats and losses: They came ashore on Utah Beach from some 150 landing crafts on the morning of June 6, facing the dangers of fellow infantry and the added threats that came with maneuvering heavy cables and balloon equipment on the beach under fire. They set up barrage balloons, digging trenches to take cover as waves of fellow soldiers landed.

The air cover allowed Allied troops to move inland with less threat of being bombed or strafed by German planes.

The landings would have been even more deadly without the defensive balloons set up by the 320th. AP Images

Impact: As landing craft after landing craft came ashore on and after D-Day, the 320th's balloons gave Allied troops and equipment some protection, allowing them to move inland with less threat of being blown into the sand by German fighters.

The hydrogen-filled balloons they deployed along the coast created barriers between the Allied troops and the enemy aircraft out to decimate them. Citino said that their actions setting up the defensive balloons under enemy fire were "as heroic as it gets."

Read the original article on Business Insider
4-year-old found dead in pond after family dog is seen swimming alone, Florida cops say

A 4-year-old girl who went missing while visiting family in Kissimmee was found dead and submerged in a nearby retention pond, Florida deputies say.

They responded to the area at about 7 p.m. on June 5 after the girl was reported missing, according to a statement from the Osceola County Sheriffs Office.

The child had last been seen in the backyard with a family dog, deputies say. Family members said she vanished minutes later, and the dog was seen swimming in the nearby pond, according to the sheriffs office.

Multiple agencies responded, including bloodhound units, aviation units, Osceola County Fire Rescue and the Orlando Fire Department dive team, the statement says. Divers found the childs body submerged in the pond.

No signs of foul play were observed on the scene, deputies say.

The sheriffs office called the childs death a tragic accident.

The office did not release her name.

Kissimmee is about 20 miles south of Orlando.

Paddleboarder finds body of missing 19-year-old swimmer in water, Florida cops say

16-year-olds drown after being swept away in rivers current, Indiana officials say

Body of 76-year-old angler found after parkgoer hears cries for help, Iowa officials say
Kamala Harris

Mondays surprise announcement by academic and activist Cornel West that he is running for president of the United States was the latest twist in what is shaping up to be a very unusual 2024 election cycle. Amid questions about President Joe Bidens age and former President Donald Trumps legal woes, a variety of candidates have entered the presidential race. One notable feature of this race is the wide variety of Black candidates who are running across a number of different parties. Here are five Black politicians who are running in the 2024 presidential race.

Sen. Tim Scott  Republican Party

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott officially launched his bid for the Republican nomination for president in May, ending months of speculation about whether or not he would be running. As the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, Scott is looking to broaden the appeal of the GOP, a party that many see as racially out of touch at best and outright racist at worst. Scotts mixed record on issues like police reform may help him stand out from other Republicans but may also limit his ability to reach out to Black voters and other Democratic-leaning communities. Scotts recent contentious appearance on The View shows that he has work to do to make his message more appealing beyond the Republican base.

Larry Elder  Republican Party

Though Scott is the most prominent Black Republican running for president so far, he was not the first to throw his hat in the ring. Conservative radio host Larry Elder announced his bid for president in April. At the time, Elder told Tucker Carlson during a Fox News interview that I feel I have a moral, a religious, and a patriotic duty to give back to a country thats been so good to my family and me. Elders website lays out a policy platform that includes hardline stances on immigration, tough-on-crime rhetoric, and the blaming of the Critical Race theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) cults for increasing racial tensions in America. These views align with past statements. For example, during his unsuccessful 2021 run for governor of California during that states recall election, Elder told interviewer Candace Owens that a case could be made that it was actually slave owners who were owed reparations after the Civil War rather than formerly enslaved people.

Kanye West  Independent

Youd be forgiven if you did not notice that Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, announced in November via social media that he was again running for president. The musician and fashion designers Ye 24 announcement came as his career, public reputation and fortune imploded due to a series of bizarrely racist and antisemitic statements and actions. Wests new campaign is surprising given that his previous presidential run in 2020 created strange public appearances but very few votes. So far, Ye has not done much to back up his 2024 run, though surrounding himself with controversial figures like white nationalist Nick Fuentes has not helped him improve his image.

Dr. Cornel West  Peoples Party

As Blavity previously reported, Dr. Cornel West announced on Monday that he is running for president as the candidate for the Peoples Party. Though primarily known for his academic work at Harvard and Princeton and his activism, West is no stranger to presidential politics; in the past, he offered harsh criticism of then-President Barack Obama and supported Sen. Bernie Sanders bid to win the 2016 Democratic nomination. Now that he is a candidate himself, West is espousing a progressive platform that includes fighting to end poverty, mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, guaranteeing housing, health care, education and living wages for all! according to a recent tweet. Critics worry that West could be a spoiler candidate, not popular enough to win but popular enough to draw votes away from Biden.

Vice President Kamala Harris  Democratic Party

To be clear, Kamala Harris is not running for president. She has rejoined Biden as his 2024 running mate and looks to return to her role as vice president for four more years. However, loud voices in both parties have been critical of Biden, already the oldest president in U.S. history, running again. As various people speculate concerning Bidens ability to serve another full term, Harris has come under increasing scrutiny based on the concern that she might have to assume the presidency if Biden is unable to complete his term. Harris, despite criticisms over issues like the handling of the U.S./Mexico border, has made her mark as vice president by casting a record-breaking number of tiebreaking votes in the Senate and by emerging as a leading voice defending voting rights and democracy. So even though Harris will not be at the top of the Democratic ticket, her record and her potential to serve as president will have a significant role in shaping this election.

There is still plenty of time between now and November 2024. Though each of the candidates listed above have a long way to go in order to make their case for the nations highest office, each has a shot at making history in one way or another. We will continue to watch each of these candidates, and look out for new entries into the presidential race, as the countdown to Election Day 2024 continues.
6 Black HBCU students sue Florida, claim FAMU doesnt get as much funding as mostly white U of Florida

Although Florida A&M and Florida State are the only two public land-grant universities in the state, the complaint claims the gap amounted to almost $1.3 billion from 1987 to 2020.

Six Black students are suing Florida, alleging the state discriminates against their historically Black college in Tallahassee while favoring its largest public university, which is predominantly white and in the same city.

The Florida A&M University students who filed the lawsuit claim the University of Florida receives a higher state appropriation per student than FAMU. According to NBC News, although the two institutions are the only two public land-grant universities in the state, the complaint claims the gap amounted to almost $1.3 billion over 33 years, from 1987 to 2020.

Our school has always made a little go a long way, but we shouldnt have to, said plaintiff Britney Denton, a first-year doctoral student at FAMU, NBC reported. There are bright and determined people here who deserve the same level of support and quality of resources as FSU next door or any other state school in Florida.

J. R. E. Lee Hall at FAMU, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Tallahassee, Florida. Six Black FAMU students are suing the state, alleging it discriminates against the historically Black college while favoring a predominantly white institution. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

A 2022 Forbes analysis found that FAMU received $2,600 less per student in 2020 than the University of Florida. Forbes said the HBCU depends more on state support than its white counterpart.

Named in the lawsuit are the Florida Board of Education and its commissioner, Manny Diaz Jr.; the state and its Republican governor, Ron DeSantis; and the State University Systems board of governors and its 12th chancellor, Ray Rodrigues.

In the first court hearing for the class-action complaint filed in September, Judge Robert L. Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida heard oral arguments on Thursday. He denied the states plea to dismiss the lawsuit but called for revisions.

In addition to other grievances, the lawsuit accuses the state of enabling Florida State to duplicate more than 40 FAMU programs, making it harder for FAMU to draw in prospective students in those academic areas.

HBCUs were established in an era when most institutions were segregated to give Black students a chance for higher education and upward mobility. However, decades of underfunding, and economic downturns nationally, have caused several challenges for the schools, including a lack of resources and housing issues.

The plaintiffs are requesting injunctive action under numerous laws, including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act  which forbids racial discrimination in federally financed programs  and are demanding the state commit to equity in its support of historically Black colleges and universities.

Citing DeSantis aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the states schools, the NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida just weeks before the Thursday hearing.

Josh Dubin, a civil rights lawyer defending the plaintiffs, noted that FAMU didnt receive funding proportional to traditionally white students or the freedom to forge its own identity. He added that FAMUs facilities arent adequately maintained due to insufficient funds.

Were talking about segregating African American students from white students, said Dubin, according to NBC. This obviously has racism at its core.

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The post 6 Black HBCU students sue Florida, claim FAMU doesnt get as much funding as mostly white U of Florida appeared first on TheGrio.
Hotel interior designers share their expert advice for creating a curated (never cold) home.

Communal table at the Graduate Palo Alto / Credit: D Mitchell

The most beautifully designed hotels have a way of combining home-like comforts with a sense of elevated luxury. They're the kind of spaces wherethe second you step foot insideyou instantly feel your shoulders relax and your mind slow down; you can't help but look around and take it all in. Its no wonder we wish we could bottle up some of that refinement and bring it home with us.

Take the Graduate Palo Alto, for example, which previously operated as the historic Hotel President from 1930 through the '60s. The recent top-to-bottom refresh was inspired by the buildings original Spanish Colonial architecture, nearby Stanford campus, and Californias unique botany. This organic infusion of local details and a thoughtful curation of old and new has created a warm, welcoming atmosphere. As soon as you step through the front door, we just want you to feel comfortable, cozy, and inspired, says Krissy Melendez, who led the redesign project for Graduate Palo Alto (she's also the head of design at Adventurous Journeys). There are so many [woven-in] details. Everything we do is so thoughtful and every detail matters.

Want your own home to have that considered, luxurious hotel feel? It's certainly possible: Simply borrow a few hotel decor tricks for your space. Ultimately, its the combination of leaning into existing features, tapping into the essence of the community, digging for old treasures, and curating new gems that allows you to create a home thats authentic and inviting. Apply these principals to your house to create a similar ambience for you familyand any guest that walks through your doors.

Related: 14 Living Room Decor Ideas Every Homeowner Should Try

Tap Into What Inspires You

KhongkitWiriyachan / GETTY IMAGES

Draw inspiration from elements that speak to you. Maybe its the organic details of your geography, a movie or era that youve always loved, or a hotel that you never tired of revisiting. For the Wayback Hotel in Austin, Texas, nature served a guiding light throughout the design process. Whether it's a gorgeous tree-lined view through a window or a private patio, we made nature the star, which helps create a relaxing and restorative vibe, says Kelly Moseley, the hotels interior designer. Our goal was to have guests feel like our hotel is an experience as much as a place to rest their heads.

Sarah Wetenhall, owner of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla., agrees. She says theres a general fear of design being too personal"there's a misconception that personal touches detract from high design. Personally, I believe design should feel deeply personal, through images, artifacts, or themes that resonate, Wetenhall says. Our de Gournay lobby wallpaper is laced with personal motifs and hidden meaning throughout, and is part of its charm.

Allow your sources of inspiration to permeate not just the big details, but the small ones, too. Aim to feel excited about every color, object, piece, and view in your home.

Lean Into Original Architecture and Location

Tom Merton / GETTY IMAGES

Emma Pearson, interior designer for the Cashel Palace Hotel in Ireland, and her team saw the property's refresh as a chance to honor its original architecture. (Melendez and the Graduate Palo Alto team did the very same by drawing inspiration from details of the Spanish Colonial building they were working in.) Our approach to design was to respect the bones of the structure we were working with while creating a space that is welcoming and timeless, says Pearson. Our aim was to make guests feel as though they are returning to an Irish country home.



This looks different for every home, of course. For example, if you live in an adobe-style house in the desert, then lean into the soft earthiness and muted tones. Or if youre decorating a beach house on the East Coast, look to bright and airy spaces with nautical details.

Avoid Furniture SetsMix and Match Instead

Vlajs / GETTY IMAGES

Its easy to walk into a furniture store and buy the three-piece set, but this often creates a lackluster, uninspired result. Instead, take notes from hotel interior designers and flex your creative muscles; experiment with mixing and matching shapes, colors, and fabrics. Our furniture is an eclectic mix of any style so that whether you're 18 or 80, you can connect with something, says Melendez. It's really about that classic approach to design where maybe if you were to see these pieces individually you wouldn't necessarily think they go together, but once they're all in the same atmosphere and layered, the curation of all of those different forms comes to play.

This eclectic approach prevents your designs from feeling like a dated time capsule three, five, or 10 years down the line, Melendez says. It also feels more purposeful when you choose each piece by hand.

Prioritize Layered Lighting

alvarez / GETTY IMAGES

Even the most beautifully decorated homes won't shine if they have poor lighting. Moseley says to avoid harsh and glaring overhead lights, and to incorporate a mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting, instead. Light temperature matters, too: Use warm settings on LED lights in bedrooms and living spaces, use bright, clean, and cool light in kitchens, utility rooms, and bathrooms, and add a simple pendant light or lamp in dining spaces, she says. While lamps can be placed in various places in a home, they should definitely be in bedrooms where you want to feel restful.

Related: 3 Types of Home Lighting and How to Layer Them to Create a Beautiful and Functional Room

Incorporate Communal Spaces

brizmaker / GETTY IMAGES

Creating communal spaces is something that well-designed hotels do really well. In fact, it's usually a priority in the design process. Whether its cozy seating nooks for intimate groups to gather or open spaces that provide room for a larger bunch, communal spaces are where memories are made. We make it a point to have a communal table that welcomes gathering around your neighbor, notes Melendez. [Our goal] is to build more room for people at our table and invoke that sense of community and camaraderie.

In your home, this might translate to something like a conversation pit, an extended dining table, or an outdoor seating area with enough space for everyone to sit and catch up after a long day.

Add Fresh Plants and Flowers

2K Studio / GETTY IMAGES

Living plants and freshly picked bouquets instantly breathe life into a space. "Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can find easy-to-maintain plants at your local nursery and place them in planters that can add texture and color, Pearson says. Flowers are a small way to feel like you are living in luxury. It feels wonderful to wake up to a vase of roses at your bedside or a colorful mane of tulips that give an old antique table a fresh, modern feel.


62 percent say Trump should not be allowed to serve again if convicted of serious crime: survey

Nearly two-thirds  62 percent  of Americans in a new poll said that former President Trump should not be allowed to serve as president again if he is convicted of a serious crime.

The Yahoo News-YouGov poll found that a slightly smaller majority  52 percent  said they believe that Trump has committed a serious crime at some point in his life.

The former president is facing a litany of investigations, including the Manhattan district attorneys probe into an alleged hush money payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election and the Justice Departments dual investigations into his handling of classified documents and role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Just over half  52 percent  also said that they considered falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star to be a serious crime. Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the Manhattan criminal probe in early April. He pleaded not guilty.

Some 66 percent also said that conspiring to overturn the results of a presidential election was a serious crime, while 63 percent and 64 percent each said the same of attempting to obstruct the certification of the election and of inciting or aiding an insurrection against the federal government.

Further, 63 percent said they considered taking highly classified documents from the White House and obstructing efforts to retrieve them to be a serious crime.

Trumps lawyers were spotted meeting with federal prosecutors on the classified documents case Monday, after CNN reported last week that the prosecution had obtained a recording of the former president discussing a classified document that remained in his possession in July 2021.

He reportedly appeared to acknowledge that the document was still classified on the recording, telling two authors that he couldnt show them the document because they lacked security clearances.

However, despite his legal woes, a large portion Americans in the poll said that the various investigations into Trump dont affect their opinion of the former president. Among respondents, 43 percent said they have the same opinion of him as before, while 34 percent said they feel more negative about Trump and 13 percent said they feel more positive.

Trump remains the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination amid a growing field of opponents. He sits more than 30 points ahead of his closest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to a recent polling average from FiveThirtyEight.

The Yahoo News poll was conducted May 25-30 with 1,520 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
How a 77-square-foot apartment with no bathroom for $2,350 a month sparked a bidding war: 'If you want to be on a prime block, you can't have everything'

A tiny studio apartment rented for $2,350 in New York City. TikTok/@omerlabock

A tiny New York City studio with no bathroom and $2,350-a-month rent was quickly snapped up.

The 77-square-foot space is in the coveted Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

"If you want to be on a prime block," a student who bid on it said, "you can't have everything."

Good things come in small packages.

But does a 77-square-foot studio apartment in New York City  which has no kitchen, a shared bathroom in the hallway, and recently rented for $2,350 after a bidding war  count?

The unit in Manhattan's trendy  and expensive  Greenwich Village neighborhood is less than 7 feet wide and 11 feet long, according to David Brand, a reporter for local news site Gothamist who visited last week.

The petite pad most recently sparked incredulity and outrage two weeks ago when a 32-second video tour, originally posted on TikTok in December by real-estate agent Omer Labock, was reshared on a Reddit message board called "facepalm."

Brand reached out to Labock for his reflections on the studio and its neighbors. (The building has 26 apartments across five floors, according to listings site StreetEasy, which is owned by Zillow.) "They're tiny, man," Labock told him. "The smallest units I've ever shown."

The wildest thing? People want to live there.

The median rent in Manhattan exceeded $4,150 in March for the first time ever, according to Douglas Elliman's monthly market reports. So it makes sense that renters are vying for anything they can afford.

At least one person who toured the studio last week found it a bargain: a Pace University junior who was preparing to bid on the unit when Gothamist's Brand visited. "He asked that his name not be used in a story because he didn't want to jeopardize his chances of landing a spot in the elite ZIP code," wrote Brand, who said the undergraduate told him, "If you want to be on a prime block of the city, it's like, you can't have everything."

Homes like these, however, are actually relatively common in New York City.

Called single room occupancy units, or SROs, they were originally built to house lower-income workers who couldn't afford larger homes, according to a New York Post article detailing the fascinating history and current residents of these microapartments.

Take Alaina Randazzo, a 25-year-old in fashion media who pays $650 a month for her 80-square-foot studio.

Alaina Randazzo's lofted bed in her tiny SRO apartment. YouTube/CalebSimpson

Developers haven't been able to construct new SRO units since 1985, but existing ones are essentially grandfathered in.

49 W. 11th St.  where this studio is located, tucked between Union Square and New York University's Washington Square Park-area campus  dates back to at least 1937, a spokesperson for New York City's buildings department told Gothamist.

One current tenant in the building, who declined to be named, showed Gothamist their own apartment in the building  complete with lofted bed and a desk that retracts to take up less space when not in use.

The resident said they'd lived there since 1997 and currently pays just $1,100 a month in rent.

Via Hendrix's SRO apartment,, which has a futon for a couch and bed and an exposed clothing rack. Via Hendrix for Insider

Via Hendrix, who lives in a 72-square-foot Manhattan apartment and pays just $1,345 a month, wrote for Insider in 2021 that her low rent is worth the sacrifices of a small space with no amenities.

Hendrix sleeps on a futon that is her bed by night and her couch by day, she cooks using a hot plate and a toaster-oven-air fryer combo appliance, and she can host up to three friends for gatherings.

"At the end of the day, this is by no means the perfect apartment. Someday, I would love to have a living room for parties, a full fridge, a closet, more counter space, and so much more," Hendrix wrote. "This apartment has allowed me to live in the center of NYC, which was a priority for me. The city is always experienced outside anyway, so I don't mind having my small and cozy place to return to."

Read the original article on Business Insider
All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.

Looking for the best Airbnbs in Hawaii? Youre far from alone: The Aloha state received over 9 million visitors in 2022many of those international travelersdrawn to everything from the Big Islands Volcanoes National Park, to Mauis Wailea beaches, to the tropical metropolis of Oahus Waikiki. And across all the major islands, the home-rental platform offers a number of stunning properties where one can embrace the laid-back lifestyle the archipelago is known for.

Below, the best Airbnbs in Hawaii for your next island adventure. (And, once you bookheres how to travel there more mindfully, according to seven Native Hawaiians.)

Glass House in Captain Cook (Big Island, Hawaii)

Courtesy of Airbnb

This off-grid home is surrounded on all sides by a Hau tree forestwhich one can fully immerse themselves in thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. Sip coffee out on the deck while taking in the jungled view, or venture off into the wilderness with your private access to the Captain Cook Trail. (The hike ends at one of the best snorkeling spots on the island.)

Amenities include a washer and dryer, WiFi, flat screen television, outdoor shower, as well as beach access.

Book Now

Kuono Tiny Cabin at Volcanoes National Park (Big Island)

Courtesy of Airbnb

A mere five-minute drive from Volcanoes National Park is this tiny cabin, which sits within a forest of Ohia trees. The walls are adorned with artwork from local artisans, and outside is a patio and firepit thats a perfect gathering place for an evening cocktail. Probably the most stand-out feature, however? The 14-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, where you can take in the spectacular, temperate climate the national park is known for.

Amenities include washer and dryer, WiFi, a 55-inch television, and a hot tub.

Book Now

Kailua-Kona Tiny Home (Big Island)

Courtesy of Airbnb

This Airbnb sits upon three acres of land on Hawaiis Big Island just below the Kaloko Cloud Forest. Its an adventurers dream, with an abundance of rainforest trails and coffee farms a few minutes up the mountain. (Its also an eco-friendly property with solar power and composting toilets.) You can even make it into an ideal property for a family retreat: the owners have two other units nearby, which all share a common area that includes a fire pit, surf shack, and a BBQ area.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, andin quite a fun additionbeach essentials like snorkeling gear and umbrellas.

Book Now

Puako Hylton (Big Island)

Courtesy of Airbnb

Fully embrace oceanfront living at this villa with plenty of shaded lanais (a Hawaiian architectural term for expansive outdoor porches or rooms.) If you visit during January and Marchthe peak of whale-watching seasonyou can see the majestic marine mammals swim past while soaking in the hot tub, or wander up to the shore yourself for a better view. Plus with four bedrooms and a movie theater, its the perfect home for a family vacation.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, outdoor shower, a heated pool, a barbecue area, and stand-up paddle boards.

Book Now

Frank Lloyd Wright Home (Big Island)

Courtesy of Airbnb

Architect aficionados will jump at the chance to stay at the only home in Hawaii designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The midcentury modern masterpiece features panoramic views of three Big Island volcanoes Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalaias well as the ocean, which you can enjoy from a secluded hammock on the grounds. An added bonus? The charming town of Waimea (and its many farmers markets) is a 10-minute drive away.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, hot tub, and a barbecue area.

Book Now

Whale Tale Hale (Big Island)

Courtesy of Airbnb

Why is this Big Island Airbnb called Whale Tale Hale? Because during migration season, you can actually hear the sea creatures swim by from your infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. The interiors are playfully tropical, with bright orange, white, and turquoise throughout. Its also an idyllic booking for families, as it offers childrens books, beach toys, and even a baby bath.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, hot tub, a barbecue area, kayaks, a private pool, hot tub, and exercise equipment.

Book Now

Napili Cove Villa (Maui)

Courtesy of Airbnb

This Airbnb sits right upon a private beach in Lahaina, a tropical region so beautiful films from Pirates of the Caribbean to Jurassic Park have been shot there. The villa has two king-sized bedrooms and a large living room, however, much of your time will likely be spent on the wraparound porch which offers an unparalleled view of the sunset over the ocean.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, outdoor shower, and private beachfront.

Book Now

Kahala Oceanside (Oahu)

Courtesy of Airbnb

Just outside of Honolulu is this spectacular oceanfront villa, which is walking distance from the world-famous Kahala Beach. Relax in your lagoon-style swimming pool or mix mai-tais from your outdoor bar.

Amenities include a washer, dryer, television, WiFi, private pool, hot tub, barbecue area, and stand-up paddle boards.

Book Now

Originally Appeared on Vogue

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81-year-old run over by own car when she gets out to move trash can, Tennessee cops say

A woman has died after she was run over by her own car rolling down a hill, Tennessee police said.

On June 5, 81-year-old Joyce Hicks parked on a street at the top of a hill in Nashville to visit a friend, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

After her visit, Hicks got back in her Nissan Sentra and put the car into gear, police said.

The car started to roll backwards, police said, and bumped into a residential trash can.

Hicks got out of the Sentra, but left the car in gear, police said.

As she moved the trash can away from the back of her car, Hicks fell down onto the street, according to the release.

The car began to roll backward down the hill and on top of Hicks, police said.

The car kept rolling and went all the way down the hill before stopping in the front yard of a home at the bottom, police said.

Hicks was taken to a hospital where she later died, according to police.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Parliament Hill, Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to keep "multiple murderers" in maximum-security prison, as fallout continues over the transfer of convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec.

And Ontario Premier Doug Ford is looking for the ouster of the federal corrections commissioner after the move, which was made public last week.

Anne Kelly, commissioner of the Correctional Service Canada, announced the transfer was under review after Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he was told how shocked Canadians were by the decision.

Mendicino says he is open to looking at the options when it comes to adjusting the government's policy.

Speaking from the legislature, Ford said Canadians have lost confidence in Kelly's decision-making and asked that she "step aside, step down or be fired."

"Sorry for the language, but hes nothing but a scumbag," Ford said of Bernardo, whose transfer has also garnered widespread backlash from police associations in Ontario.

"This S.O.B. needs to be in jail 23 hours a day in a maximum security (facility)."

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of 15-year-old Kristen French in 1991 and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in 1992. He was also convicted of manslaughter in the 1990 death of Tammy Homolka, the 15-year-old sister of his then-wife, Karla Homolka.

Homolka pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the crimes committed against French and Mahaffy, and was released in 2005 after serving a 12-year sentence. Bernardo also admitted to sexually assaulting 14 other women.

Mendicino has said he is unable to reverse the transfer decision because the federal correctional service operates as an independent institution.

But Poilievre said Tuesday he rejects that explanation and demanded Trudeau step in.

"I'm calling on the prime minister to direct his public safety minister to say that all mass murderers should have to serve their entire sentences in maximum security prisons," Poilievre told reporters Tuesday.

"This is a no-brainer and the prime minister can do it. He's got to stop passing the buck."

Poilievre's office has suggested that such power exists in the form of directives from ministers, which are typically used to address broad policy issues.

Mendicino said Tuesday he expects the review into Bernardo's transfer will only take a couple of weeks "at the most," and suggested any discussion around policy changes must wait until its conclusion.

"Look, if there are issues with regards to policies, with regards to the principles, even with regards to the legislation  I'm going to leave all of those options on the table," he said.

"We'll see where we are at in a couple of weeks' time and after that, if we need to revisit the legislation or any of their policies or directions, then we'll do that."

The correctional service said it understands Bernardo's transfer comes as a shock to some and acknowledged in a statement Monday that it did not intend to cause harm to his victims.

It has said decisions around the security classification for offenders must adhere with the law and depends on factors such as their risk to public safety, their threat of escaping and psychological assessments.

The reason why Bernardo was moved has not been divulged, but the prison he was transferred to is known for housing violent sex offenders and specializes in treating people convicted of sexual offences.

On Tuesday, Mendicino said "we do have access to those reasons" for Bernardo's transfer, but stressed that because of privacy provisions, it is up to the federal correctional service to decide whether it can release those reasons publicly.

"I do believe that given the fact that this matter is now public, that Canadians are entitled to an explanation," he said.
1 /9 Its no surprise that Paradise Ranch Inn is operated by a team of nature and design enthusiasts. On the property is OOD House, a cuboid mirror home outfitted with Scandinavian-inspired decor and enough space for two. Built near the base of Sequoia National Park, the home is set close to the largest living organism by volume on the planet: General Sherman, a 2,100-year-old, 2.7 million-pound giant sequoia. (Photo: Courtesy of VRBO)

2 /9 Designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Casa Invisible is a prefabricated home currently available for purchase. Constructed with a wood structure, the home can be fully disassembled for minimal environmental impact. The mirror home is designed with an open floor plan around a central chimney and spans 538 square feet. (Photo: Christian Brandstaetter, courtesy of Delugan Meissl Associated Architects)

3 /9 The base of Lucid Stead, a humble homesteader shack, had been around for 70 years before Philip K. Smith III, an American artist, stepped in. Using LED lights, mirrors, and custom electronic equipment, the home changes both in color and reflection throughout the day. By maintaining the wood framework of the original shack and using the mirrors as accents, the home appears translucent. (Photo: Steve King)

4 /9 Arcana is not a single mirrored cabin, but a collection of reflective structures in the woods of Torontothough the company assures you wont be running to neighbors like at a traditional campsite. Each cabin includes a kitchen and bathroom and a stainless steel facade that is coated in a wildlife-friendly texture. (Photo: Andrew Latreille)

5 /9 Located in South Tyrolean Dolomites, Mirror Houses are a pair of vacation homes designed by Peter Pichler. Each home is oriented towards the east, offering opportunities to watch the sunrise through the floor-to-ceiling windows. For an added nature-immersive touch, the homes include a window above the beds so you can stargaze from the comfort of a climate-controlled oasis. (Photo: Oskar DaRiz)

6 /9 The second of Pichlers mirror houses doesnt include allover reflection, but it includes deliberate mirrored panels on the back side of the home. The front features a glass curtain wall, which seemingly dissolves the barrier between inside and out. (Photo: Oskar DaRiz)

7 /9 Perhaps one of the most well recognized mirror houses in the worldpartly thanks to its many celebrity visitors over the yearsThe Invisible House in Joshua Tree was designed by Tomas Osinski and its first owner, Chris Hanley. Outside, the facade reflects the surrounding Mojave Desert, while the inside walls are constructed with glass, offering endless views for visitors. In addition to its unique shape and exterior, the home also includes a 100-foot indoor pool. The property was put on the market in January of this year for $18 million and is currently available to rent for overnight stays. (Photo: Courtesy of VRBO)

8 /9 Part of a Treehotel (a collection of unique hospitality offerings suspended in the trees), Mirrorcube is exactly what it sounds like: a cube covered in mirrors. Sized at 13 feet by 13 feet by 13 feet, the cozy room has enough space for two people. The accommodations were designed by Tham & Videgard and include a double bed, a toilet, and a small seating area. (Photo: Andrea Barghi)
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, center right, is checked out after catching a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' J.D. Martinez during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, June 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

NEW YORK (AP)  Aaron Judge is headed to the injured list for the second time this season after the New York Yankees star hurt his right toe making a spectacular catch at Dodger Stadium.

The reigning AL MVP missed his second consecutive game Tuesday night. He met with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and underwent testing that showed a bruise and a sprained ligament, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said following his team's 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Boone said Judge will be placed on the IL but did not give a timeline for his return. The slugger received a platelet-rich plasma injection.

The biggest thing now is trying to get the swelling out of there, Boone said. Had some improvements today, but now just see where we are in the coming weeks, or days and then a week.

Boone said Judge's toe is not fractured.

I think it definitely could have been worse," the manager said. Hopefully its on the shorter side of things.

Judge banged his right toe while making a running catch and crashing into the outfield fence during the eighth inning of Saturdays 6-3 win over the Dodgers. He sat out Sundays 4-1 victory.

The right fielder knocked open the door of the visitors' bullpen while making the grab on J.D. Martinezs liner into the corner with Max Muncy on first base and nobody out.

Judge, who set an AL record with 62 home runs last year, is headed to the injured list for the eighth time since making his major league debut on Aug. 13, 2016. The 31-year-old missed 10 games this season with a strained right hip after getting injured on a headfirst slide attempting to steal third at Minnesota on April 26.

The Yankees went 4-6 while Judge was on the IL. Since returning from the hip injury, he is batting .326 with 13 of his AL-best 19 homers.

You cant replace that guy, New York third baseman Josh Donaldson said. "From a leadership standpoint, from a playing standpoint. Were just really going to have to come together as a team and grind out at-bats, play good defense, throw the ball well and hopefully keep winning ballgames until hes back.

New York is 30-19 with Judge in the lineup, averaging five runs per game. The Yankees are 6-7 without him, averaging 3.5 runs. He was appointed team captain after staying with the Yankees last offseason and signing a $360 million, nine-year contract as a free agent.

I dont like when hes not in the lineup and its hurting him enough for him not to be in there, Boone said before Tuesday's game. It seems like hes progressed here over the last 24 hours from a swelling standpoint, which I think is an important factor of it all is getting that swelling out of there and kind of having a better idea of what you have. So well see.

Judge did not go on the IL in either of the past two seasons. He appeared in 155 games in 2022 when he broke Roger Maris AL record of 61 homers set in 1961. He played 148 games in 2021.

The Yankees also said Tuesday they will place left-hander Nestor Cortes on the injured list with a shoulder strain. Cortes is expected to miss at least two starts. Rookie right-hander Randy Vasquez will pitch in his place Wednesday.

Just shoulder strain is what I got, Cortes said. I talked to the doctors today, I got the shot. It was 15 days no throw. Hopefully it's a little sooner, but we're counting out 15 days.

Cortes said the shoulder has been bothering him between starts and more so after he pitched five innings May 30 in Seattle.

I took two days off and when I got to LA and threw that first day, I didn't feel right. But it was first day coming back from pitching so I knew it was going to be nagging a little bit, Cortes said. "So I waited a little bit.

That second day in LA was when I said something because it felt like I had pitched yesterday. So I wasn't recovering in time. I didn't want to come in today at 3 o'clock and tell them I was hurting. I think it was the right move for me and the team.

Cortes is 5-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 11 starts and has particularly struggled later in outings. Opponents are hitting .447 when facing him for the third time in a game.

Last year, Cortes was an All-Star and went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 starts.

The Yankees also said reliever Ryan Weber has a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and is deciding whether to get surgery. The right-hander was injured Friday when he pitched two innings in Los Angeles. He is 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA in eight appearances this year.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
FILE - A patient prepares to take the first of two combination pills, mifepristone, for a medication abortion during a visit to a clinic in Kansas City, Kan., on Oct. 12, 2022. Abortion providers sued Kansas on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, challenging a new law requiring them to tell patients that an abortion medication can be stopped but also existing restrictions that include a decades-old requirement that patients wait 24 hours to terminate their pregnancies. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Abortion providers sued Kansas on Tuesday over a law enacted this year and existing restrictions, including a decades-old requirement that patients wait 24 hours after first seeing a provider to terminate their pregnancies.

Besides the waiting period, the lawsuit challenges a law set to take effect July 1 that will require providers to tell patients that a medication abortion can be stopped using a regimen that major medical groups have called unproven and potentially dangerous.

The lawsuit, filed in state district court in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, argues that Kansas has created a Biased Counseling Scheme designed to discourage patients from getting abortions and to stigmatize patients who terminate their pregnancies. The lawsuit contends that the requirements have become increasingly absurd and invasive over time and spread medical misinformation.

Kansas voters in August 2022 decisively affirmed abortion rights, refusing to overturn a state Supreme Court decision three years earlier that declared access to abortion a matter of bodily autonomy and a fundamental right under the state constitution. The providers hope the state courts will invalidate the entire state law that spells out what they must tell patients  in writing  and when, with a single, specific style of type mandated for the forms.

We thought about the fact that the voters were very clear in the fact that they want providers able to speak directly and honestly to their patients, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, one of the providers filing the lawsuit.

Wales added that the newest restriction caused the providers to look at the state's requirements more broadly: This addition would really harm patients potentially, so we felt compelled to do something.

The medication abortion-reversal regimen, touted for more than a decade by abortion opponents, uses doses of a hormone, progesterone, commonly used in attempts to prevent miscarriages. Supporters of the new law  and Kansas entire Right to Know Act  argue that they are making sure that patients have the information they need to make informed decisions about ending their pregnancies.

With todays lawsuit, the profit-driven abortion industry has launched an unprecedented attack on a womans right to informed consent before an abortion is performed on her, Danielle Underwood, spokesperson for Kansans for Life, the states most influential anti-abortion group, said in a statement.

Last year's vote and the 2019 state Supreme Court decision mean that Kansas lawmakers cannot greatly restrict or ban abortion, in sharp contrast to other states with Republican-controlled Legislatures following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision against abortion rights in June 2022. The new Kansas law was enacted over the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, an abortion rights supporter.

Abortion rights advocates have long viewed the 24-hour waiting period as medically unnecessary and something that either increases patients' travel or forces them to arrange an overnight stay and childcare. They see the issue as even more compelling since the Dobbs decision.

Providers in Kansas are inundated with a surge of patients traveling from out of state, from states as far as Texas and Mississippi, in search of desperately needed essential health care, said Alice Wang, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

But anti-abortion groups and lawmakers also are likely to be upset about the lawsuit because of the campaign leading up to the August 2022 vote. The measure on the ballot was a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have declared that it does not grant a right to abortion.

Abortion opponents pitched it as a way to preserve reasonable restrictions. But as written, the Legislature would have gained the power to ban abortion  and that point was emphasized by abortion rights supporters.

Even with the August vote, Underwood said, Kansans never agreed to give up their basic rights to information, safeguards from a profit-driven industry, and the space and time to change their mind about an abortion they have yet to complete.

Abortion foes warned repeatedly during last year's campaign that without a change in the state constitution, the state risked having even longstanding restrictions reversed. Parts of the law being challenged  including the 24-hour waiting period  were enacted in 1997.

The lawsuit was filed by the Planned Parenthood affiliate, which operates two clinics in the Kansas City area and one in Wichita; another center offering abortion services in the Kansas City area; its owner and another doctor working there. The defendants are state Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican who has vowed to defend state abortion laws; district attorneys in the Kansas City and Wichita areas who would enforce the restrictions; and the top staffer and chairman of the state medical board.

However a district court judge rules, the case is likely eventually to go to the Kansas Supreme Court. The seven justices already are reviewing a ban enacted in 2015 on the most common second-trimester abortion procedure and a 2011 law setting special health and safety regulations for abortion providers. Neither has been enforced.

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This story has been corrected to show that the lawsuit was filed in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, not Shawnee County, home to Topeka.

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Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
The head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tae Johnson, is leaving the agency, making him the second senior immigration official to announce retirement plans in the past week.

An ICE spokesperson said Johnson, who has led the agency since 2021, will step down at the end of the month.

I am grateful to Tae Johnson for his service to ICE, the Department, and the nation," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Monday. He said Johnson has overseen some of the nations most critical investigations, including combatting counterfeit Covid vaccines and helping to curtail the flow of fentanyl smuggled into the United States from Mexico.

Johnson retirement was announced less than a week after U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said he would step down after more than three decades with the agency.

Johnson has been at ICE and its predecessor agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for 31 years. In his final months, he helped oversee the wind-down of the Trump-era border policy known as Title 42, which ended last month.

ICE has not had a permanent director since 2017. It operated with five acting directors during the Trump administration. President Joe Biden's nominee to be director  Ed Gonzalez, the sheriff of Harris County, Texas  withdrew from consideration last year after more than a year without a Senate confirmation vote.

ICE has about 20,000 employees and an annual budget of $4 billion.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Advanced AI software was crucial in proving a paedophile groomed and sexually abused young girls, police reveal in a new TV programme.

The conviction of Luke Cassidy, 29, from Coventry, has been documented by BBC Two's Forensics: The Real CSI.

Investigators said they struggled at first to find enough evidence to prove Cassidy controlled and groomed girls.

But via his phone they went on to find deleted messages and photos which led to his conviction in January.

Warning: this article contains information some people may find distressing.

Cassidy was arrested when a 12-year-old girl reported he groomed her on the social media platform Snapchat and then raped her.

But while he admitted to detectives he had sex with her, he claimed she told him she was 16. Additionally, his victim's account of grooming was in need of corroboration for prosecution.

First, Cassidy's Nissan Juke was seized by police as forensic coordinator Jo Ward said the victim told them she had been inside the vehicle.

But evidence only proved Cassidy had sex in it - there was no DNA linking his victim to the car.

Digital forensics officer Dan Coley then examined the phones of defendant and victim but could only prove they knew each other and had spoken.

"There is nothing potentially there to support the victim's account of what's happened," he said of an initial stage of the inquiry that ran, he added, the risk of being "the end of that investigation".

But then came a breakthrough, along with the means to unpick Cassidy's account.

Detectives explained that a 13-year-old girl had come forward to inform them she was sexually propositioned by a man online.

When it became clear Cassidy was behind that content, investigators were finally able to build a case against him that could bring the first victim into their scope.

ArtificialI Intelligence (AI) enables computers to perform complex tasks. In this case, specialist software was trained on the words used in Cassidy's messages to the second victim and then applied to a search for similar language anywhere on Cassidy's phone.

Indecent images of children were uncovered plus messages that showed he was grooming children and was indeed a predator, Mr Coley said.

Cassidy was then charged. In court he pleaded guilty to one charge of rape and one of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, but he denied a charge of online grooming and five more counts of rape.

However, he was convicted of all charges at Warwick Crown Court in December and jailed for 19 years, with five more on licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

"This result matters to me," Mr Coley said. "Not just as a parent but also in the hope that ultimately, we are here to try and help safeguard children."

Det Con Corinne Hatton, from West Midlands Police, said Cassidy targeted the most vulnerable in society and had "taken innocence".

Police said 14 further victims had been uncovered by June and officers were working to identify and support them.

Watch "Forensics: The Real CSI - Tracking a Paedophile" on BBC Two at 21:00 BST on Tuesday 6 June or via BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

Help and support

If you're affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations who can help via the BBC Action Line.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
Air defence destroy over 20 Russian air targets in and around Kyiv

Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv City Military Administration, has said that Ukrainian air defence systems have destroyed over 20 Russian air targets in and around Kyiv.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration, citing Popko

Quote: "Regardless of international humanitarian law, or their lack of gains, the Russians continue to attack peaceful Kyiv. At night again. An air-raid warning again.

Yet another large-scale missile attack, potentially by Kh-101/555 cruise missiles.

The launches were carried out as they usually are from Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Caspian Sea."

Details: Preliminary information indicates that over 20 Russian air targets were detected and destroyed in the airspace around the capital by air defence personnel and assets.

Popko said that all the targets launched by the Russians were shot down, and no strikes were recorded.

The road surface, trolleybus connection powerlines were damaged, and shop windows were partially broken as a result of falling debris in the Desnianskyi district.

"Information about casualties has not been received yet. Data from the operational summary along with information regarding damage and casualties are being collected and confirmed," Popko added.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A bird flies over a logo of Air India airlines at the corporate headquarters in Mumbai

By Aditi Shah, Joanna Plucinska and Gleb Stolyarov

ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An Air India plane flying from Delhi to San Francisco was forced to divert and land at an airport in Russia's Far East after it developed a technical issue with one of its engines, the airline said on Tuesday.

The diversion of the Boeing 777 widebody aircraft comes amid a global debate over the use of Russian airspace by some carriers, with the chief of United Airlines warning on Monday of the dangers of a plane being forced to land in Russia with American citizens on board.

The 216 passengers and 16 crew onboard were being offered support on the ground and accommodated in local hotels for the night, Air India said.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel Tuesday said it is "likely" there are Americans onboard given its planned destination.

"We are aware of a U.S.-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia and are continuing to monitor that situation closely," Patel said.

The airline said it planned to send a plane on Wednesday to pick them up and fly them to their original destination.

"The authorities are extending all cooperation in our effort to ensure that passengers safely reach their destination at the earliest," it said.

Air India said it could not share any passenger details.

Russia's aviation authority said it was checking on the plane's technical condition after landing at Magadan airport and it had given permission for the alternate flight to land there at 0300 GMT on Wednesday. It was scheduled to leave Delhi at 1835 GMT.

"At present, the question of passengers' stay and accommodation is being resolved by border, customs and regional authorities," Rosaviatsia said earlier in the day.

The airport at Magadan, a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia's Far East, did not respond to a request for comment.

The diversion also raises questions over how quickly the $200-million Boeing 777, a high-profile U.S.-built plane whose engines are made by General Electric, can be repaired amid U.S. and European Union sanctions on exports of aviation items to Russia. In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 made an emergency landing in Iran with engine problems weeks after Washington re-imposed sanctions and became stranded for more than two months. The 186 passengers and six crew were able to fly out of Shiraz the next day. But despite initial assurances from the airline that the plane would also quickly be repatriated, a GE engine venture waited weeks for a U.S. Treasury export licence. The U.S. Department of Commerce did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Patel declined to say if the United States would approve export of repair parts if needed.

GE Aerospace said it was aware of the diversion and working with Air India to resolve the issue.

BANNED

On Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline's use of Russian airspace, noting the critical role the industry plays in connecting economies, people and cultures.

"Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree," he said on a panel at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting.

Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign carriers from using its airspace in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the United States in March 2022 after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

However, Air India and some Gulf-based, Chinese and African carriers continue to fly over Russia, making flying times shorter and American rivals uncompetitive.

In February, U.S. senators urged the Biden administration to halt Chinese airlines and other non-American carriers from flying over Russia on U.S. routes.

Reuters reported last week that Chinese airlines are avoiding using Russian airspace in four newly approved flights to and from the United States.

Air India appeared to continue flying over Russia after the incident, with four flights over the country on Tuesday afternoon, according to FlightRadar24.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah, Tim Hepher and Joanna Plucinska in ISTANBUL, David Shepardson, Simon Lewis and Valerie Insinna in Washington, Alexander Marrow and Gleb Stolyarov;Writing by Josephine Mason;Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, David Evans, Nick Zieminski and Mark Potter)
New York under dire air quality alert amid heavy smoke from raging wildfires in Canada

New York City and large parts of the tri-state area were placed under air quality alerts on Wednesday as wildfires continued to explode across Canada.

The Big Apple was the worlds most polluted major city for a few hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, surpassing Delhi, Baghdad, Doha, Kuwait and Dhaka.

The air quality for New York stood at 174 on Wednesday, a level that is considered unhealthy for everyone as Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to mask-up.

If you are an older adult or have heart or breathing problems and need to be outside, wear a high-quality mask (eg N95 or KN95), the office of mayor said in a rare advisory on masking.

Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports, Mr Adams office said.

The city also urged New Yorkers to stay indoors when possible as outdoor activities in schools were cancelled.

"If you're a New Yorker with heart or breathing issues, be careful when you're outdoors. Smoke from wildfires in Canada is impacting our city's air, so an Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued. Try to limit outdoor activities today to the absolute necessities."



 @NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/e2t8XfN8XZ  City of New York (@nycgov) June 6, 2023

New York City was experiencing hazy skies and the sun blotted to a deep orange by the smoky conditions on Tuesday.

The sun over New York City takes on a red appearance on a hazy morning resulting from Canadian wildfires (Getty Images)

After New York, Detroit was the most polluted city in the US, with air quality of 155, making to the top 10 list of IQAir, a Swiss technology company that monitors air quality.

Heavy smoke from Quebecs wildfires began moving over eastern New York and western New England on Monday evening, prompting health advisories in cities across the northeastern coast.

Current wildfires  across Canada via @NRCan https://t.co/YR85GAQAoQ.



Red - out of control

Yellow - being held

Blue - under control pic.twitter.com/PzqScZHEUo  Dayna Vettese  (@daynavettese) June 5, 2023

Satellite images show smoke cover reaching as far as the Carolinas, covering much of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic by Tuesday.

It's #TimelapseTuesday, and we are continuing to monitor the large amount of grayish smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting across the eastern U.S.

You can see it in stark contrast with the white clouds in this 7-hour loop via #GOESEast. pic.twitter.com/MWCOF1MQG3  NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 6, 2023

The source of the pollution is more than 160 forest fires that have broken out in the province of Quebec with at least 114 raging out of control as officials warned that its shaping up to be Canadas worst fire season ever.

There are more than 400 wildfires across the country as leaders appealed for international help to bolster local fire crews. An additional 200 firefighters are coming from France and the US, and Quebec is also in talks with Costa Rica, Portugal and Chile as it searches for additional resources.

Fires have forced about 10,000 people from their homes in Quebec, with most of those in the northwestern Abitibi region and the eastern Cote-Nord region.

No one has died in the Quebec fires, but crews were forced to pull back from the hamlet of Clova around 200 miles northwest of Montreal.

Unfortunately, we lost control, Quebec Premier Francois Legault told The Associated Press. We are going to be obliged to let Clova burn. Authorities said the communitys 36 residents have been evacuated.

Smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec is shown over Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday (AP)

Wet weather in the Atlantic Coast province of Nova Scotia has allowed that province to free up water bombers to dispatch to Quebec, where wildfires flared up this past weekend.

Here is the latest Satellite imagery this am. You can see the smoke and haze (north and west of our area) from the wild fires burning over Quebec. The smoke and haze is expected to move over the area this evening and overnight and continue into Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/3rAuQ7C7sc  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) June 5, 2023

Air quality advisories were in effect for the New York City metro area, along with Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario, and Central Regions.

The alerts also cover northern South Carolina, much of North Carolina, northern Virginia, much of Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and western New Hampshire.

Officials recommended that individuals limit strenuous outdoor activity to reduce health risks and that extra precautions are taken when it comes to young children and those with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma or heart disease.

Climate scientists agree that, although fire is a natural part of some ecosystems, the climate crisis is making wildfires larger, more intense, and more common overall.

With reporting from The Associated Press
A Reddit user has gone viral after revealing that they were asked to tip at a self-checkout line at an airport. Now their post has sparked a debate about gratuity, as many people believe that tipping culture in the United States has gotten out of hand.

A woman with the username u/_seaweed_ went viral on Reddit earlier this week when she came across a point-of-sale (POS) system for transactions at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, she revealed in a comment.

In the image, which was posted to the popular Reddit forum r/mildlyinfuriating, she had rung up a pre-packaged chicken caesar wrap for $14.99 and a bottle of Vita coconut water for $6.39. After tax, her total had come to $23.05, before she was prompted to leave a tip at the self-checkout machine.

Would you like to leave a tip? the tip screen read, with the options to leave a 15 per cent, 18 per cent, or 20 per cent tip, and no tip at all. She captioned the Reddit post: It finally happened. I was prompted to tip at the airport self-checkout station.

The post received more than 108k interactions and over 4,700 comments on Reddit, as many people shared their equal frustration at being prompted to leave tips at self-checkout. Some internet users argued that they shouldnt leave a tip at all because they bagged their own items.

Tip who exactly? read the top comment from u/Head-Investment-8462. One person replied: The robotic overlords

I had this conversation with my brother last week, another user shared. Tip who? Myself? Am I the employee now? Are yall gonna send me a paycheck and a W2? Can I put this on my resume?

Tipping for self checkout is absolutely stupid, said someone else. If anything, you should get a discount for doing the cashiers job for them. Ridiculous.

Others shared how tip screens prompt them to feel guilt tipping at self-checkout lines  in which they leave more sizable tips when they normally wouldnt.

My partner panics every time these come up and doesnt want to seem rude ever and always tips any time it prompts. Its a horrible system that traps some people into feeling guilty if they dont, said one person.

American tip culture has gotten out of hand, another wrote. Its f***ing embarrassing how they all have their hands out for simply doing their job, or in this case, doing nothing at all.

A recent report from theWall Street Journal revealed that Americans have turned a corner on tipping culture. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the report suggested that tipping practices have rapidly changed, as customers are being prompted to leave tips in self-checkout lines at airports, grocery stores, stadiums, and cafes.

While companies and organisations claimed that tipping is completely optional and tips at self-checkout stations are split between staff members, some customers said that being prompted to tip in a self-checkout situation feels like emotional blackmail  a means of guilt-tripping customers into tipping even when they ordinarily wouldnt.

In the US, its customary to leave between 15 and 20 per cent of the total bill before tax is included. Some people say that 18 per cent is the bare minimum, while others argue that a 20 per cent tip is standard  for restaurants, fast-casual establishments, food delivery drivers, and bartenders.

Last year, a woman on TikTok went viral after claiming that she was asked to tip an airport worker for checking her bag. In the video, TikTok user Addysen Drake said: Tell me why when I get to the airport, after paying $400 for a flight, and Im going to pay for my $35 checked bag, the guy says to me: OK, you have to pay in credit card, but you can tip in cash.

Drake claimed that when she took out her credit card, the worker handed her an iPad screen and asked her, What would you like to leave for a tip?

What am I tipping that man for? What do we pay all this money for? she said.
Aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe is taking her business to new heights. She has secured a major contract with the U.S. government.



Bowe is a Bahamian-American former NASA rocket scientist and founder and CEO of STEMBoard. The company helps government and private-sector clients with technology needs. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced it has awarded a $947 million contract to Exacta Solutions, which is a joint venture with STEMBoards.



A statement on the contract, explained that the grant will be used to provide support to NGAs total lifecycle acquisition management, strategic financial management and strategic business management activities.

Making Space History

Bowe made history back in 2022. She revealed she would be the first Black woman to travel with Jeff Bezos through his Blue Origins commercial spacecraft company. The 2024 trip will make her just the sixth Black woman in history to travel to space.



As the first Black woman confirmed to fly with BLUE ORIGIN on #NewShepard, I am expected to be the sixth Black woman to cross the Karman line  the internationally recognized boundary of space! she wrote in a LinkedIn post celebrating her space trip.

There are only four other Black women who carry that distinction.

NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Jessica Watkins and Dr. Sian Proctor of the SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission, Bowe continued in her post. I am honored to follow the footsteps of these incredible woman. I cant wait to fly on a future flight of BLUE ORIGINs #NewShepard.

Other Ventures

Bowe is a celebrated philanthropist who regularly supports organizations and causes focused on STEM programs. The documentary, In Her Element, also explored her story. Reese Witherspoons Hello Sunshine production company released the documentary.

Along with STEMBoard, Bowe also founded LINGO, which is a coding kit that helps students learn how to code at home.

During her time at NASA, Bowe worked as an aerospace engineer at the Ames Research Center. There she focused on miniaturized satellites and aircraft trajectory optimization.



In an interview with the State Department, Bowe stressed the importance of diversity in technology.

I want to abandon the idea that engineers look a certain way and that people in certain fields look a certain way, broadly. To me, thats the power of diversity and engineering and science and technology, she said. You make the end product reflect the needs of the many as opposed to the few by having diverse perspectives in the engineering and design process.

The post Aisha Bowe Secures $1 Billion Government Contract Ahead of Traveling to Space With Jeff Bezos appeared first on 21Ninety.
Photo: The Canadian Press A cyclist rides as smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec obscures Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Hazy, smoky conditions engulfed Canada's capital city on Tuesday, with the federal Environment Department issuing a special air quality statement for the region.

The department said high levels of air pollution had developed in Ottawa, Gatineau, Que., and other nearby municipalities due to smoke from nearby wildfires.

Wildfires in Quebec and Southeastern Ontario over the weekend caused thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.

Environment Canada was warning that wildfire smoke can be harmful to public health, even at low concentrations.

It advised people in the area to take precautions to protect their health and reduce exposure, including wearing masks, avoiding outdoor activities and contacting health-care providers if they experience irregular symptoms.

People with lung disease, heart disease, older adults, pregnant people and people who work outdoors are at a higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by smoke and smog.

Environment Canada is forecasting a high-risk air quality in the capital region through the week.

"Unfortunately, this weather pattern is sticking with us this week," said Gerald Cheng, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, in an interview with The Canadian Press.

As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Environment Canada was assessing Ottawa's air quality as a nine out of 10 on a scale used to measure the severity of conditions, meaning it was high-risk to the local population.

Earlier in the day, air quality had been measured at 10+ or deemed as very high-risk.

"It's a very, very deteriorated air quality. It is the worst in Canada at the moment," Steven Flisfeder, an Environment Canada meteorologist, said in an interview.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was advising schools under its jurisdiction to keep students inside for recess.

The public school board cancelled a regional track meet scheduled for Tuesday. And First Avenue Public School, just south of downtown Ottawa, cancelled a field trip to Gatineau Park across the river in Quebec due to the air conditions.

The City of Ottawa also cancelled all outdoor recreational programs, activities and leagues operated by the city that were scheduled for Tuesday.

The poor air quality also garnered the attention of federal politicians on Parliament Hill.

"I think we all noticed, even coming into work this morning, you can strongly smell the smoke and see it in the air, and we're even seeing dust and ash starting to accumulate on surfaces. And so, it is a little concerning," Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said before the Liberal government's weekly cabinet meeting.

Blair said older adults, children and people with respiratory conditions should avoid outdoor activities and suggested that wearing a mask outdoors would be a "really good idea."

"I have never seen this in my life. It's incredible! And I see a lot of people wearing the mask today," Government House leader Mark Holland said upon arriving for the cabinet meeting.

Holland said the hazy weather was prompting him to discuss air quality in government buildings with municipal officials.

Liberal MP Steve MacKinnon, who represents the riding of Gatineau, Que., said he suffers from asthma and had trouble breathing Tuesday morning.

The smog, which came as a result of wildfires expanding across Canada, reached much of Eastern Ontario.

Fire adviser Shayne McCool, with Ontarios Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, said Tuesday that wildfires near Cochrane, Ont., had seen "significant growth" in the last two days.

One wildfire tripled in size from 600 hectares to 1,840 hectares, he said.

Another fire near Cochrane stood at 1,239 hectares and was considered "not under control."

"Certainly, we're seeing a lot more smoke in the air today and that's pretty obvious across most of the northeast (of the province)," he said.

Though McCool said there had been no official evacuations by Tuesday afternoon, some people in the area were asked to leave as a safety precaution.

Closer to Ottawa, a forest fire was set ablaze near Centennial Lake on Sunday and residents of Greater Madawaska  a municipality about 150 kilometres west of Ottawa  were evacuated from their homes.

The fire has since been "greatly suppressed," Greater Madawaska Mayor Rob Weir told CTV News.
Robert Hanssen, pictured in prison following his arrest in 2001, was found dead at a maximum security prison in Colorado - Polaris/eyevine

Americas most damaging spy, who spied for Russia over more than two decades during and after the Cold War, has been found dead in prison.

Robert Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive at a maximum-security facility in Florence, Colorado, where he was serving a life sentence.

Hanssen was one of the FBIs most notorious spies but his work as a double agent for Moscow went undetected for years.

Three hundred agents worked on his case. During his arrest, he asked: What took you so long?

Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent, spied on and off for Moscow into the 2000s - Reuters

Hanssen became a double agent in 1979, and spied on and off for Moscow into the 2000s under aliases including Ramon Garcia.

His tips included disclosing that the US government dug a tunnel underneath the Soviet embassy in Washington to eavesdrop on its staff.

He also informed Moscow about three KGB officers who were secretly spying for America. Two of them were later executed.

In exchange for passing along national secrets, Hanssen received around $1.4 million (1.1 million) in cash, bank funds and diamonds from Moscow.

To this day, the FBI describes him as the most damaging spy in bureau history.

The bureau began the hunt for him after the 1994 arrest of Aldrich Ames, a CIA agent who was also spying for Russia, when the bureau realised that classified information was still being leaked.

The identification and business card of former FBI agent Robert Hanssen in a display case at FBI Academy in Quantico - PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP

But it was not until 2000 that investigators finally honed in on Hanssen, when the FBI received an audio recording of the double agent from a former Russian intelligence officer.

In 2001, agents arrested Hanssen in a Washington suburb near his home as he carried out a dead drop, leaving classified material for his Russian handlers under a wooden footbridge.

He told interrogators that the FBIs lax security amounted to criminal negligence, but pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced in 2002 to life in prison without parole.

He told the FBI that he was inspired as a teenager by Kim Philby, the British spy turned Russian agent.

Hanssen had lived a double life in more ways than one - outwardly an anti-Communist and devout Catholic father of six, but a frequenter of strip clubs who secretly filmed pornographic videos of his wife.

He was found unresponsive in his cell on Monday morning. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom, seen speaking in Sacramento in January, slammed the Temecula Valley school board for rejecting a new social studies curriculum, which mentions Harvey Milk. (Jose Luis Villegas / Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted a Temecula school board president who voted along with a majority of the panel to reject a curriculum because a textbook mentioned gay rights activist and San Francisco politician Harvey Milk.

During a public hearing on the curriculum, Temecula Valley Unified School District board President Joseph Komrosky called Milk a "pedophile." In a Twitter post, Newsom fired back, calling Komrosky "ignorant."

The feud has erupted amid a nationwide trend of book bans and attacks against schools for supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

A majority of Temecula Valley Unified's five-person board rejected on May 16 a new social studies curriculum, which included a textbook that would be assigned to the district's 18 elementary schools in southern Riverside County.

A supplemental section of the book includes a biography of Milk, a pioneering gay activist who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was gunned down, along with Mayor George Moscone, the following year by a disgruntled former city supervisor.

The Temecula school board's conservative majority claimed that parents did not have enough involvement in approving the social studies textbook, and two members  including Komrosky  said they opposed the book because of the section on Milk.

"My question is, why even mention a pedophile?" Komrosky asked during a hearing on the subject.

Members of the audience stammered in response and some shook their heads in video from the board meeting.

Board member Allison Barclay said, "He's not a pedophile."

"I beg to differ," Komrosky said. "What does that got to do with our curriculum and schools? Why?"

Milk's work focused on protecting classes of people from discrimination, including the LGBTQ+ community, Barclay said.

Komrosky asked, "So, you think pedophilia is protected?"

"Excuse me, absolutely not," Barclay said. "I am not talking about pedophilia."

Komrosky, who is a tenured college professor at Mt. San Antonio College, did not respond to requests for comment.

In a Twitter post Saturday, Newsom fired back at Komrosky.

"An offensive statement from an ignorant person," the governor wrote. "This isnt Texas or Florida. In the Golden State, our kids have the freedom to learn. Congrats Mr. Komrosky you have our attention. Stay tuned."

The governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about how the state would respond, but last week, Newsom's office, along with Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, and California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond called on school officials across the state to be careful around the topic of book bans.

"In the first half of this school year alone, 1,477 books were banned nationally, with teachers and librarians threatened with prison time for shelving the wrong book, the officials wrote in their letter.

As state leaders elected to represent the values of all Californians, we offer our response in one shared voice: Access to books  including books that reflect the diverse experiences and perspectives of Californians, and especially, those that may challenge us to grapple with uncomfortable truths  is a profound freedom we all must protect and cultivate, the joint letter said.

The letter did not directly address the vote in Temecula, but warned that if school administrators in California remove or ban instructional materials from classrooms or libraries, the state may request information about the removal for analysis.

Before the Temecula school board rejected the social studies textbook, roughly 1,300 students were involved in a pilot program, using the curriculum material, and 45 parents responded to a survey asking for feedback about the curriculum, according to district staff.

Also, 47 teachers agreed that the district should adopt the textbooks California Studies Weekly for kindergarten students and TCI Social Studies Alive for first- through fifth-grade students.

The board shot down the adoption in a 3-2 vote. Board members Jennifer Wiersma, Danny Gonzalez and Komrosky voted against the curriculum, while board members Steven Schwartz and Barclay voted in favor.

Without the approval of the new curriculum, the district will be short of the books needed for students, which could run afoul of a California law that requires enough instructional materials, such as textbooks, be provided for every student.

Edgar Diaz, president of Temecula Valley Educators Assn., said having no materials means that teachers would need to find their own.

Theres a tremendous amount of work to go out and do, Diaz said.

The board did not offer any alternatives aside from rejecting the new textbooks, Diaz said, leaving the district stuck until a new decision is made.

"If they dont, were going to have 11,300 students without textbooks next year,"

The educators organization, an advocacy group, plans to rally outside the next board meeting on June 16.

Wiersma, Gonzalez and Komrosky were voted into office last year, with the endorsement of the Inland Empire Family PAC, which aims to support candidates who oppose critical race theory, LGBTQ+ acceptance and the promotion of transgenderism, according to the political group's website.

In December, the board banned teaching critical race theory in the school district.

Lawmakers in Sacramento are now considering a bill by State Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Riverside) that would require a super majority vote from a school district's governing body to remove a book from a school's curriculum. Assembly Bill 1078 also would create an appeal process for parents to challenge a book ban.

"As a Christian myself, I am deeply appalled that these individuals are perverting our faith to sow division and suppress the histories of others," Jackson said in a statement. "This will not happen on my watch."

Times staff writer Saumya Gupta contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After years as both a semifinalist and a nominee, Republique co-owner Margarita Manzke won a James Beard Foundation award for outstanding pastry chef or baker. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Dubbed the biggest night of the year for the culinary industry and the Oscars of food, the James Beard Foundations annual restaurant and dining awards are some of the highest accolades that chefs, restaurateurs and others in the industry can garner. Following weeks of controversy surrounding the foundation and its investigations into semifinalists and nominees, the awards ceremony took place in Chicago with big wins for some of the countrys most recognizable culinary names and up-and-comers.

This year some of the most acclaimed chefs in Los Angeles took home national and regional awards  as did Los Angeles Times Food critic Bill Addison, who won a media award on Saturday.

Anajak Thai chef and co-owner Justin Pichetrungsi, who has taken over his family's generational Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks, won best chef: California on Monday night. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Justin Pichetrungsi, chef of L.A. Times restaurant of 2022 Anajak Thai, won best chef: California, an award he largely credits to the tutelage of his parents  and especially to his father, who cooked for 38 of Anajaks 43 years before passing the torch to his son. A number of his fellow nominees, he noted, also cook with their parents, although it isnt always easy.

There's a lot of intergenerational pain there and we're trying to heal it one dish at a time; my parents are my teachers, Pichetrungsi said before thanking his team, then added, I'd love to thank my parents because they are my greatest allies. They argue with me a lot. I have the hardest conversations with them about where the direction of the restaurant is going, where the direction of cooks are going to be going, what's the math involved in all this stuff. But they gave me the tools to do everything else, and for that I'm eternally grateful for them.

A semifinalist or nominee every year since 2015, Republique co-owner and lauded pastry chef Margarita Manzke was finally awarded outstanding pastry chef or baker; an employee excitedly accepted the award on behalf of Manzke, who could not attend the ceremony.

Echo Park sake bar Ototo  which Addison dubbed L.A.s best sake bar last year  won in the category of outstanding wine and other beverages program. It was such a surprise to be nominated, to see that the Foundation had chosen to expand the category this year to recognize sake, said co-owner Courtney Kaplan. [Its] such a special beverage that sometimes doesnt always get the spotlight that I think it deserves.

Ototo owners Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan stand inside their Echo Park sake bar, which won the James Beard Foundation award for outstanding wine and other beverages program. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Other Los Angeles names permeated the Beard awards, with multiple accolades garnered during the media-awards ceremony.

Addison won the Craig Claiborne distinguished restaurant review award for Ponchos Tlayudas, a window to Oaxaca, serves one of L.A.s defining dishes ; At Chinatowns Pearl River Deli, the menu is always changing  and worth chasing ; and Anajak Thai is our 2022 Restaurant of the Year. It marks the second James Beard Foundation award for Addison, who won for dining and travel writing in 2017, and his first while at the Los Angeles Times.

In the media awards book segment, Bludsos Bar & Que chef-founder Kevin Bludso and co-author Noah Galuten won the restaurant and professional category for Bludso's BBQ Cookbook: A Family Affair in Smoke and Soul, an L.A. Times pick for best cookbooks of 2022 .

Personal essays by L.A.-based writers Kyla Wazana Tompkins and former Good Girl Dinette owner Diep Tran also won media awards.

The months leading to this years awards have been punctuated by reports and allegations that call into question the foundations more recent initiatives, many intended to create a more diverse and equitable process and nominee pool.

Last week, the New York Times revealed that through one of the James Beard Foundations new investigative policies, 2023 best chef: Southeast nominee Sam Fore felt she was interrogated by the committee based on an anonymously submitted complaint: Social-media posts, including one made to raise awareness of domestic violence, were examined as potential targeted bullying and harassment despite Fore not naming a perpetrator. The report has spurred discussions surrounding the foundations investigative process and its anonymous-tip procedure.

Fores is not the only controversy spurred by this years awards procedures. In spring, judges and multiple committee members resigned  and former winner chef John Currence smashed one of his own framed Beard awards with a brick  when chef Timothy Hontzas was disqualified from the category of best chef: South. The Foundations ethics committee determined that Hontzas alleged yelling at guests and employees violated the code of ethics.

I am sickened today in a way I cant even begin to explain, Currence posted to Instagram in May, the caption to a photo of his smashed award. But it is way past time to stop this cycle of insane blame and shame through arbitrary accusations and NOTHING approaching due-process and stripping people of credit they deserve based on nothing other than the opinion of one.

We are about raising people up, not calling them out, Foundation Chief Executive Claire Reichenbach said at the ceremony.

When it came time to announce the category in which Hontzas had previously been a finalist, presenter Mairym "Monti" Carlo took the stage. This next category  best chef: South  has brought more drama than a Mariah Carey concert, but were here for it, she said, smiling. No one mentioned the controversy surrounding the way Fore was investigated during the announcement of best chef: Southeast, which was awarded to Terry Koval of Atlanta.

Earlier in the evening, chair of the awards committee Tanya Holland took the podium to share that New Orleans chef Leah Chase once told her: Be prepared to get a lot of criticism in this industry, and work with it; you will make mistakes. The important thing is where your heart is and how you move on. The universe knows Ive made numerous mistakes, said Holland, who is chef of Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland.

She has become comfortable being uncomfortable, she said, adding that she is motivated to make the industry better. The efforts of the foundation have made a difference in the diversity of the awards nominees and winners, she said, and should be commended.

Were learning as we go, she said. Its not always smooth, but that doesnt mean were not on the right path.

Members of the Los Angeles Times Food section have served as judges for the awards but did not contribute to the reporting of this article.

Updates:

2:57 p.m. June 9, 2023:



This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Amtrak is looking to expand, with its eye on the Metroplex.

Amtrak has applied for $716 million in federal funds for 16 projects including the extension of its I-20 corridor service to Fort Worth. If approved, passengers could use Amtrak to travel from the Metroplex to Shreveport in Louisiana, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and New York City.

The project would use existing tracks to fill a 345-mile gap between Marshall, Texas, and Meridian, Mississippi. The result would create an East-West connection between the Lone Star State and the East Coast, as well as a transcontinental connection between Los Angeles and New York City, according to the I-20 Corridor Council.

The proposal would use tracks owned by Trinity Railway Express between Fort Worth and Dallas; Union Pacific from Dallas to Shreveport; Kansas City Southern from Bossier City to Meridian; and Norfolk Southern from Meridian to Atlanta.

Amtraks long distance routes are vital mobility and economic links for communities around the country, and were continually working to enhance them, said Amtrak board chair Tony Coscia in a statement.

A Rail Passengers Association study published in March suggested that extending Amtraks Crescent route from Mississippi to Fort Worth could generate as much as $50.7 million in economic benefits to a dozen communities served, and $207 million to Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The existing Amtrak routes in the Metroplex can take passengers from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, Austin and San Antonio, and from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri.

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, said the proposed project is possible due to the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021.

As Texas continues to grow, we need more transportation options to give folks the flexibility they need to travel and connect our communities, Allred said. Building long-distance rail along the I-20 corridor will benefit folks from Dallas to Longview and all the way to Louisiana  all while helping to grow our economy.

A trip on rail from Dallas to Atlanta takes one day, and two days to Washington and New York City. The Amtrak project would aim to lessen travel times and improve the reliability of long-distance travel.

This infrastructure will set the groundwork toward revitalizing historic downtowns across the First District of Texas and catalyzing local economic development, while expanding opportunities in these communities, said Nathaniel Moran, congressman for the first district of Texas. Thank you to Amtrak for their support and recognition of the need to expand much-needed transit across East Texas through the I-20 Passenger Rail Corridor project.
Andrew Tate is being investigated by Romanian authorities

A British woman says Andrew Tate choked her until she lost consciousness while they were having sex, and then subjected her to threatening behaviour.

The woman, who was 20 at the time, says she first met the controversial social media influencer in August 2014.

She says consensual sex turned violent when Mr Tate choked her and when she woke up, he was still having sex with her, adding: "I didn't consent to it".

Mr Tate said he "vehemently denies" the allegations against him.

A spokesman said Mr Tate does not condone violence of any kind towards women, and that all sexual acts he had taken part in had been consensual.

Bar in Luton

Evie - not her real name - told BBC Newsnight she first met Mr Tate in a bar in Luton, before he was an influencer with millions of followers. She says he was working as a club doorman and she was a student.

She says she had consensual sex with Mr Tate before meeting him again at her flat later in 2014, in late November or early December. It was then a consensual sexual encounter became violent, she says.

She says Mr Tate "put his hand on my throat and strangled me". Evie says when she came round "it was a bit confusing at first", saying the influencer was "still having sex with me."

Evie, now aged 30, claims Mr Tate also subjected her to violent threats, including threatening to kill her, until he left the following morning.

"He kept saying: 'I own you, you belong to me'," she says. "All throughout the night he was being fairly aggressive and saying horrible things." The next day, Evie says the white part of one of her eyes had completely turned red.

Andrew Tate waits for an appeal against preventive detention at the Bucharest Court, in Bucharest, Romania, 2 May 2023

Evie did not report the alleged incident to police at the time.

Asked by the BBC why she did not go to the police to report a rape, Evie said she did not realise she had been the victim of an alleged crime.

She added: "I think I knew what had happened I didn't consent to. But I didn't see it as rape or sexual assault because this was 10 years ago."

She says it wasn't until about six years later when she described the alleged incident to her friends that she began to think she had been sexually assaulted.

Three people who know Evie - and say they remember her describing what had happened - have told her lawyers they are prepared to give evidence in court to that effect.

She says she wants to share her experience to raise awareness about Mr Tate and get justice.

"Hopefully it can teach women what [consent] looks like and encourage more women to come forward with stories," she added.

Evie is the latest British woman to join a planned lawsuit against Mr Tate. Together with three others, they are pursuing civil claims for damages.

The women, all in their late 20s and early 30s, allege they were victims of sexual violence by Mr Tate between 2013 and 2016, when he was living in the UK.

Addressing the former kick boxer, Evie added: "You're going to be held accountable for what you've done."

In an interview with BBC News last week, Mr Tate denied fuelling a culture of misogyny and defended his reputation.

He also dismissed the testimonies of individual women involved in the current investigation who have accused him of rape and exploitation.

He was first arrested, together with his brother, Tristan, at their Bucharest home, in Romania, in December 2022. The pair were later moved from custody to house arrest following a ruling by a Romanian judge.

Prosecutors are investigating the brothers for crimes of suspected human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. No charges have so far been brought against them. They deny those allegations.

A spokesman for Mr Tate told the BBC: "Andrew strongly encourages women who have experienced assault, in any form, to report it to the relevant authorities.

"He is saddened that a few opportunistic women who he has allegedly spent time with nearly a decade ago have decided to try and take advantage of his current situation. We will not be commenting any further on anyone's alleged intention to pursue legal action unless such action is submitted to the authorities."

If you are affected by any of the issues in this story you can contact the BBC Action Line.

Watch the Newsnight interview in full on BBC iPlayer (UK only)
Animal rights activists explain rules for evacuation with pets after blast at Kakhovka dam

Animal rights activists recalled the rules for evacuation with animals after the explosion of the Kakhovskaya HPP

A total of 80 settlements are at risk of flooding after the blast, with about 16,000 people being in the zone of potential danger, which is why the Kherson regional authorities have announced the evacuation of the population from areas that may be flooded, the activists wrote on Instagram.

Read also: Dam waters ravage south Ukraine, military expert assesses catastrophic impact

Animal rights activists have published the rules of evacuation with animals.

And the most important of them: If possible, take your pets with you.

If it is impossible, Untie them and let them go. Give them a chance to save themselves!

Rules for evacuation with pets

If possible, take your pets with you!

Take care of an ID for your pet with your contacts, attach it to the collar (it can be just a piece of paper with a phone number);

Prepare medications, vet passport, leashes and collar, food and water (preferably for at least seven days), bowls, toilet/diapers for cats and small dogs, garbage bags, paper towels, wet wipes, disinfectant, toys;

Label the pet carrier: pets name, owners phone number.

En route:

Be sure to keep dogs on a leash, and cats and small animals in carriers;

Be patient and prepared for animal behavior problems, especially in crowded areas or during explosions.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction  video

How animals are saved in the Kherson Oblast

Read also: Animal rights activists explain rules for evacuation with pets after blast at Kakhovka dam

Several videos have surfaced in social media showing rescue workers not only aiding people, but also assisting in saving the lives of animals who have fallen victim to the brutality of the Russian military.

One incident involved police rescuing a dog from the water.

In the village of Antonivka, rescuers managed to save a deer.

Some farm animals are finding ways to save themselves from the flooding.

However, there are also those who do not require rescue.

Animal rights activists have reminded people of the guidelines for evacuating animals and have explained how to properly act in case it is not possible for evacuees to take their pets with them.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has also urged evacuating individuals not to leave animals chained up or in cages.

In addition, the organization UAnimals has launched the Shelter with Animals flash mob, calling on anyone with the means to provide temporary shelter to displaced individuals and their pets to come forward and help.

Read also:

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday denied the Biden administrations request for a stay on an order blocking the implementation of a controversial policy that saw thousands of migrants released into the U.S. without a court date in the short time it was in place.

A federal judge had blocked the administrations "parole with conditions" policy in May, a day after it was implemented amid a surge in migration to historic highs just ahead of the end of Title 42 expulsions on May 11. The administration has said that nearly 9,000 migrants were released in the time the policy was in place.

The judge found that the policy, which saw migrants released into the U.S. without court dates and told to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement within 60 days, was materially identical to a separate policy that paroled migrants into the U.S. while enrolling them into alternatives to detention (ATD) programs. The judge had blocked that policy in March in response to a lawsuit from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who also filed the May challenge.

FLORIDA AG MOODY MOVES TO BLOCK DHS FROM RELEASING MIGRANTS INTO INTERIOR WITH COURT DATES

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The administration, which called the block of the policy "sabotage," filed a motion to stay the orders blocking both the "parole + ATD policy" and the "parole with conditions" policy. Lawyers for the administration said that the orders blocking the policies will "undermine the Executive Branchs constitutional and statutory authority to implement its immigration priorities and secure the border."

The administration had also argued that blocking the ability to release migrants will lead to the overcrowding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities and threaten the health, safety and security of Border Patrol agents and migrants  with downstream effects on public safety and national security.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The fact remains that when overcrowding has occurred in Border Patrol facilities, Republican and Democratic Administrations alike have used this parole authority to protect the safety and security of migrants and the workforce," a CBP statement said last month.

The three-judge appeals court panel denied the motion, arguing that the warnings "ring somewhat hollow on this record, considering the departments track record of overstating similar threats in the underlying proceedings" and pointed to prior claims made by the administration of disastrous consequences if releases were blocked.

AS BIDEN ADMIN TOUTS SHARP DROP IN NUMBERS POST-TITLE 42, LEGAL CHALLENGES LOOM

"Given this record, we take DHSs latest claims of impending disaster if it is not allowed to use either of the challenged policies with some skepticism," the judges wrote. The judges also noted a recent drop in encounters at the border since the Title 42 order ended on May 11.

The denial marks another win for Moody, who secured first a temporary restraining order and then the preliminary injunction against the policy.

"The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to disturb an injunction Florida obtained against a Biden policy allowing the mass release of illegal immigrants into the country," Moody said in a statement. "Protecting our border is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of our President and Florida will not allow Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to continue putting American lives at risk in clear violation of Federal Law."

GOP-LED STATES TAKE AIM AT SMOKE SCREEN BIDEN ASYLUM RULE WITH NEW LEGAL CHALLENGE

Moody last week expanded the challenge to include migrants being released with court dates (Notices to Appear) after DHS said it had streamlined a policy that released migrants with NTAs on their own recognizance. Should that policy be blocked, it could result in most migrants not being allowed into the U.S. and a significant increase in detention.

Meanwhile, the administration is also facing legal challenges from both GOP-led states and civil rights groups targeting its asylum rule, which in theory bars most migrants from claiming asylum if they have entered illegally and failed to claim asylum in a prior country.

GOP-led states have called the rule a "smoke screen" while left-wing groups have argued it unlawfully bars migrants from claiming asylum. The administration has defended the policy, saying it is designed to encourage migrants to use lawful pathways and enter via ports of entry.

DHS officials said last week that, amid a 70% drop in encounters at the border, "[W]e've also seen how the consequences we are delivering as part of our comprehensive effort to manage flows at the border are working."
A federal appeals court panel appeared skeptical on Tuesday of calls to impose a nationwide freeze on Obamacares rules for no-cost coverage of preventive care while litigation continues  a move the Biden administration warned would threaten access to a range of services for millions of people on employer-sponsored insurance and Obamacares individual market.

Both sides in the case agreed that the individual Texas businesses that sued over the mandate should be shielded from it while the case makes its way through the courts. But they split on whether more harm would be caused by keeping the current coverage rules intact for everyone else in the country or by suspending them nationwide.

Attorneys representing the Texas employers and individual workers challenging the policy argued that because the United States Preventive Services Task Force is made up of outside experts who are not Senate-confirmed or overseen by Senate-confirmed government employees, their recommendations of what preventive services should be covered by insurance  from syphilis tests to depression screenings  must be set aside and cant be enforced.

Their suit also claims the Obamacare requirement for insurance to cover the pre-exposure prophylaxis pill used to prevent transmission of HIV  known as PrEP  violates the religious rights of the challengers. In their legal briefs, they equated covering the highly effective medication with encouraging homosexuality and promiscuity.

The merits of those legal arguments didnt come up in Tuesdays hearing before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which focused squarely on whether the nationwide freeze of the Obamacare mandate a lower court ordered in March went too far.

That ruling, Justice Department attorney Alisa Klein told the court, was a legal error that extinguished the rights of about 150 million people who are not parties to the case.

Klein urged the appeals court judges to consider the balance of equities, arguing that there would be no harm done to the already-protected plaintiffs by putting the nationwide injunction on hold, but great harm done to everyone else if they failed to do so.



It cant be overstated how important the guarantee of cost-free access is when patients go to get their mammograms and colonoscopies, she said. Were talking about 50 different types of care.

The attorney for the conservative challengers, Jonathan Mitchell, responded that the nationwide ruling was appropriate because agency actions must be set aside if they are unlawful.

Mitchell  the architect of the six-week abortion ban Texas imposed before Roe was overturned  attempted to reassure the judges that imposing a nationwide injunction wouldnt cause harm because insurers are unlikely to drop coverage of preventive care services while the case is still in process.

The judges on the appeals court panel seemed unconvinced.

Leslie Southwick  an appointee of former President George W. Bush  called that assertion speculative and said it was very unusual to be asked to rule on our sense of how insurance companies would react.

Im not sure what we have to go on, he said.

The judges also grilled Mitchell on whether a win for his side would solve his clients problem  a legal threshold known as redressability. When Mitchell argued that individual workers he represents who are refusing to buy insurance because of the PrEP coverage requirement would be able to get covered if the mandate were lifted, Judge Stephen Higginson noted that the workers own affidavits dont say that.

Higginson  an appointee of former President Barack Obama  pointed out that only one of the four workers came anywhere close to making that claim, and that he expressed a desire to buy insurance, not a specific intent.

Mitchell acknowledged that theres no iron-clad guarantee his clients would buy health insurance if courts blocked the Obamacare mandate.

In closing, the judges urged both him and the DOJ to try to broker a compromise that would more narrowly tailor the nationwide ruling without infringing on the rights of the plaintiffs.

Tuesdays hearing was the latest in a months-long saga over the preventive care mandate thats been in place for more than a decade.

Texas District Court Judge Reed OConnor  the author of several rulings against pieces of Obamacare  issued a nationwide ruling in March for the challengers, striking down all of the decisions made by the United States Preventive Services Task Force since 2010 about what insurers must cover without cost sharing.

In May, the 5th Circuit Court issued an administrative stay of that lower court ruling  keeping the current coverage rules in place while the case proceeds.

Public health groups warn of serious consequences if OConnors ruling is upheld  citing research showing that even small out-of-pocket costs deter many people from seeking preventive care, leading to sicker patients and more costly treatments. Medical experts are particularly worried that coverage rollbacks would exacerbate already record rates of sexually transmitted diseases by making testing and treatment services unaffordable for vulnerable populations.

Many major insurers have pledged to maintain preventive care at no cost to patients for the time being no matter what courts decide, but experts fear that patients could eventually be hit with out-of-pocket charges should the 5th Circuit and Supreme Court side with the challengers.

The case also throws more than two-dozen new recommendations the federal task force is currently weighing in jeopardy, rules that could expand coverage of everything from prenatal care to speech therapy to osteoporosis.
Apple's new iOS 17 will warn you if someone tries to send unsolicited nudes

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks before the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at its headquarters on June 05, 2023 in Cupertino, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Apple's new iOS 17 has a feature that aims to prevent people from seeing unsolicited nude imagery.

The company said in a press release the update was called a Sensitive Content Warning.

The update was announced on Monday, alongside Apple's new mixed-reality headset.

Apple's new iOS 17 has a feature that will warn people when someone attempts to send them unsolicited nudes.

Apple said in a press release that the Sensitive Content Warning would help adult users avoid seeing unwanted nude images and videos. The company would not get access to the content as processing for the new feature occurred on the user's device, the press release added.

The tech giant is also expanding Communication Safety, a feature aimed at protecting children, to cover sending and receiving content via AirDrop, Contact Posters, and FaceTime messages. The privacy feature will also expand to cover video content, as well as images.

The new iOS 17 was announced on Monday, alongside Apple's new mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro.

The operating system brings with it several updates, including two new features called Journal and StandBy.

"With iOS 17, we've made iPhone more personal and intuitive by deeply considering the features we all rely on every day," Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said in the press release.

Apple's Journal app is aimed at helping users write journal entries, using machine learning to offer personalized suggestions for entries.

The StandBy feature turns an iPhone into a smart display that looks similar to the Amazon Echo Show. The feature will show information like the weather and calendar events in a "glanceable" way while the phone is on its side.

Meanwhile, a new Messages feature called Check In will allow users to provide real-time location updates.

Representatives for Apple did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It was a picture postcard Okanagan morning Tuesday while out for my morning walk at West Kelownas Gellatly Bay.

Adding to that picturesque moment was a beautiful green sail boat anchored overnight, as it has been for the past 25 years at this time of year.

However that scene was marred by two bylaw officers yelling at boats owners that someone complained from one of the (overlooking) hillside homes and they had to leave. (Just because) one person complained?

Eleven people complained about books in Florida and more than 500 books were pulled from libraries. Librarians were threatened with jail. One person in particular complained about a book about (U.S. civil rights icon) Rosa Parks, saying it made her feel uncomfortable. And it was pulled.

During (the recent) worldwide pandemic, a minority (in Canada) terrorized schools and hospitals, school children and health practitioners, and even went so far as to assault people over their misguided belief their views superseded the majority. This tyranny of the minority continues with the ongoing court case in Kelowna involving (COVID-19 measures protester) David Lindsay and his courtroom antics.

Enough is enough.

Is it now illegal to stay overnight in your rented houseboat on Lake Okanagan?

George Philp
The Arctic could be virutally 'ice-free' in summer within 15 years, a new study shows

The Arctic Ocean's ice cap will disappear in summer as soon as the 2030s and a decade earlier than thought, no matter how aggressively humanity draws down the carbon pollution that drives global warming, scientists said Tuesday.

Even capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris climate treaty will not prevent the north pole's vast expanse of floating ice from melting away in September, they reported in Nature Communications.

"It is too late to still protect the Arctic summer sea ice as a landscape and as a habitat," co-author Dirk Notz, a professor at the University of Hamburg's Institute of Oceanography, told AFP.

"This will be the first major component of our climate system that we lose because of our emission of greenhouse gases."

Decreased ice cover has serious impacts over time on weather, people and ecosystems -- not just within the region, but globally.

"It can accelerate global warming by melting permafrost laden with greenhouse gases, and sea level rise by melting the Greenland ice sheet," lead author Seung-Ki Min, a researcher at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, told AFP.

Greenland's kilometres-thick blanket of ice contains enough frozen water to lift oceans six metres.

By contrast, melting sea ice has no discernible impact on sea levels because the ice is already in ocean water, like ice cubes in a glass.

But it does feed into a vicious circle of warming.

- Three times faster -

About 90 percent of the Sun's energy that hits white sea ice is reflected back into space.

But when sunlight hits dark, unfrozen ocean water instead, nearly the same amount of that energy is absorbed by the ocean and spread across the globe.

Both the North and South Pole regions have warmed by three degrees Celsius compared to late 19th-century levels, nearly three times the global average.

An ice-free September in the 2030s "is a decade faster than in recent projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)", the UN's science advisory body, said Min.

In its landmark 2021 report, the IPCC forecast with "high confidence" that the Arctic Ocean would become virtually ice-free at least once by mid-century, and even then only under more extreme greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.

The new study -- which draws from observational data covering the period 1979-2019 to adjust the IPCC models -- finds that threshold will most likely be crossed in the 2040s.

Min and his colleagues also calculated that human activity was responsible for up to 90 percent of the ice cap's shrinking, with only minor impacts from natural factors such as solar and volcanic activity.

The record minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic -- 3.4 million square kilometres (1.3 million square miles) -- occurred in 2012, with the second- and third-lowest ice-covered areas in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Scientists describe the Arctic Ocean as "ice-free" if the area covered by ice is less than one million square kilometres, about seven percent of the ocean's total area.

Sea ice in Antarctica, meanwhile, dropped to 1.92 million square kilometres in February -- the lowest level on record and almost one million square kilometres below the 1991-2020 mean.

mh/fb
The Arctic could be ice-free in the summer by the 2030s. What experts say it could mean.

Summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean might be a thing of the past by the 2030s, no matter what we do to curb emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, an international study released Tuesday suggests.

In fact, an ice-free Arctic each September is likely already "baked" into Earth's climate system, according to study lead author Seung-Ki Min of the Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea.

"We found ice-free conditions will occur even in a low-emission scenario," Min told USA TODAY. Min and his co-authors used computer models to predict what will happen to the Arctic as the Earth's temperature rises over the next several decades.

The new study, published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature Communications, adjusted the models, scaling them based on data collected year-round. The authors said their results show emissions are having "profound impacts" on the Arctic and that previous computer modeling studies have "significantly" underestimated the trend in sea ice decline in the region.

Fact check: Greenland still losing ice due to greenhouse gas emissions, experts say

Sea ice cover is a hunting ground and habitat for polar bears and seals and keeps the Arctic cool by reflecting sunlight.

What is sea ice? Why is it important?

Sea ice is frozen ocean water that melts each summer, then refreezes each winter. Sea ice in the Arctic has been declining for years, particularly during September, when it generally reaches its lowest coverage of the year. And previous international research projected it would be virtually ice-free by late in the century if higher greenhouse gas emissions continued unabated.

Arctic sea ice has been declining rapidly throughout all seasons in recent decades, and there has been an increased decline since 2000, the study said.

Sea ice affects Arctic communities and wildlife such as polar bears and walruses, and it helps regulate the planets temperature by influencing the circulation of the atmosphere and ocean.

Human impact on sea ice decline

The human impact on declining sea ice in the Arctic can be seen throughout the year and can be largely attributed to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of oil, gas and coal. The contributions of aerosols and natural factors (such as solar and volcanic activity) were found to be much lower, according to the study.

The authors project that the Arctic may be sea-ice-free in September by 20302050 under all emission scenarios. This contrasts with previous assessments discussed in the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that did not project a future sea-ice-free Arctic in summer under low emissions.

Fact check: Arctic sea ice declining overall, though level varies by year and season

Will the Arctic be 'completely' ice-free by the 2030s?

Not quite. Scientists in the study say there will still be some summer sea ice left in parts of the Arctic Ocean. What scientists refer to as the first "ice-free" Arctic summer year will occur when the Arctic has less than 386,000 square miles of sea ice. (The thick ice sheets surrounding Canadas Arctic islands are likely to remain for much longer, even in summer.)

Near-surface air temperatures across the Arctic from October 2021-September 2022 compared to the 1991-2020 average. Most of the Arctic was warmer than average (red) during the monitoring year, though Alaska was notably cooler-than-average (blue).

How might an ice-free Arctic impact weather and climate patterns around the world?

Min told USA TODAY that an ice-free Arctic will "induce faster and stronger Arctic warming" and that "warming may increase extreme weather events."

"Based on recent studies, stronger Arctic warming ... is expected to induce changes in atmospheric circulations," he said. "For example, causing more fluctuations of jet streams in the Northern Hemisphere, potentially increasing chances of heat waves, wildfires, cold snaps and heavy rainfall events over the northern midlatitude lands, including North America, Europe and Asia."

Current collapse: Study warns critical ocean current is nearing 'collapse.' That would be a global disaster.

What does this mean for the people and animals who live in the Arctic?

Arctic indigenous communities will be affected because their hunting and traveling depend upon ice-free conditions, according to Min. He said animals that depend on sea ice will also be strongly affected: "As Arctic warming is enhanced, permafrost will also melt earlier and many species, including polar bears, walruses and reindeer, will have trouble surviving."

Would this open the Arctic for shipping and mining?

Yes, reduced sea ice will open the routes for ships and also favor the development of natural resources, Min said. This can be beneficial by reducing the shipping industrys carbon footprint.

However, Arctic warming and melting permafrost can enhance the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, further intensifying global warming.

Polar bear update: Canadian polar bears near 'Polar Bear Capital of the World' are dying at a rapid rate, survey says

What's happening in the Arctic now

The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet, scientists say.

In fact, Arctic annual air temperatures from October 2021 to September 2022 were the sixth-warmest on record, which dates back to 1900, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its annual Arctic report card in December. Each of the last seven years in the Arctic has been among the seven warmest on record.

Although sea ice coverage in 2022 was higher than it had been, it was still much lower than the long-term average.

Open water developed near the North Pole for much of the summer in 2022, allowing polar-class tourist and research vessels easy access. The Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage were "largely open," the report card said

Satellite records show an increase in maritime shipping in the region as sea ice declines, and the "most significant increases" in travel are from the Pacific through the Bering Strait and Beaufort Sea, according to the report card.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arctic sea ice: Ice-free in the summer by the 2030s, new study says
(photo: Canva)

In a letter on Tuesday, May 30, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs urged President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate the tribally proposed Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.

Arizona is known as The Grand Canyon State, and the use of the Antiquities Act  established in 1906 to preserve archeological and historical sites on public lands  would safeguard the canyons watershed, continue to support strong economic growth in communities across the state, and preserve important cultural land.

Hobbes support comes after Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) visited the Grand Canyon on May 20 to meet with the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition about the proposed monument.

The Grand Canyon region is a significant contributor to the state's economy. According to a recent National Parks Service report, in 2021 4.5 million people visited the National Park and spent an estimated $710 million in park gateway regions alone, which has supported over 9,300 jobs.

The Grand Canyon region is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, but known for much more in the state of Arizona, Hobbs said in her statement. Its a culturally sacred place, stewarded by Indigenous Peoples for centuries. Today, I add my voice to those asking President Biden to use the Antiquities Act authority to safeguard this irreplaceable landscape.

As well, Hobbs wrote that the Arizona Game and Fish Department will retain its existing authority related to the management, control, and regulation of fish and wildlife in the area so that this authority is clearly delineated prior to the years-long formation of a monument management plan."

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Arnold Schwarzenegger calls heaven a 'fantasy': 'We will never see each other again like that'

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger attends the European Premiere of "The Last Stand" at Odeon West End on January 22, 2013 in London, England. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't believe in heaven.

"The reality is that we won't see each other again," he told Danny DeVito for Interview magazine.

Still, the former bodybuilder said he doesn't want to die. "I will fucking miss the shit out of everything," he added.

Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't believe in heaven.

The former-movie-star-turned-governor-of-California recently sat down with his "Twins" costar, Danny DeVito, to muse about his career, his life, and thoughts on just about anything for Interview magazine.

That's when the subject of what happens when we die came up.

Schwarzenegger, who admitted he wasn't an "expert," didn't hold back.

"It reminds me of Howard Stern's question to me," he began in the interview. "'Tell me, governor, what happens to us when we die?' I said, 'Nothing. You're 6 feet under. Anyone that tells you something else is a fucking liar.'"

"I said, 'We don't know what happens with the soul and all this spiritual stuff that I'm not an expert in, but I know that the body as we see each other now, we will never see each other again like that,'" Schwarzenegger continued.

Despite not believing in an afterlife, Schwarzenegger doesn't want to learn firsthand what happens anytime soon and finds death "sad" and something he's uncomfortable with.

"Because I will fucking miss the shit out of everything. To sit with you here, that will one day be gone?" he continued. "I don't know what the deal is, but in any case, it's a reality, and it truly pisses me off...What the fuck? What kind of deal is that?"

Schwarzenegger will shed more about his life in Netflix's upcoming three-part limited docuseries about his life and career. "Arnold" premieres Wednesday.

Read the original article on Insider
Arnold Schwarzenegger opens up about the abuse he and his brother suffered at the hands of their father in his new Netflix documentary, Arnold.

Schwarzeneggers father, Gustav Schwarzenegger, served in the Nazi party during World War II and was wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad.

The Terminator star had one older sibling, Meinhard, who died at the age of 24 in a drunk driving accident after hitting a telephone pole.

Speaking about his Austrian father, Schwarzenegger said: He was buried underneath buildings, rubble, for three days, and on top of that, they lost the war. They went home so depressed. Austria was a country of broken men. I think there were times where my father really struggled.

The actor went on to recall how his father would make him and his brother earn breakfast and made them compete against each other.

There was a kind of schizophrenic behaviour that my brother and I witnessed at home, Schwarzenegger said. There was the kind father, and other times when my father would come home drunk at three in the morning and he would be screaming.

We would wake up and, all of a sudden our hearts were pounding because we knew that meant that he could, at any given time, strike my mother or go crazy. So there was the kind of strange violence.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Arnold (Netflix)

Schwarzenegger said he believes his brother started drinking because our upbringing was very tough.

The brutality that was at home, the beatings that we got from our parents sometimes  all of this I think he could not sustain, he continued. He was much more delicate of a person by nature.

Schwarzenegger left Austria for America in 1968, aged 21. Three years later, after winning consecutive Mr Universe competitions, he was informed that his brother had died.

The kind of upbringing that we had was beneficial for someone like me, who was inside very strong and very determined, but my brother was more fragile, he said. Nietzsche was right: that what does not kill you will make you stronger.

Schwarzenegger spoke candidly about his Nazi father last year in an address to Russian citizens and military discouraging the invasion of Ukraine.

To the Russian soldiers listening to this broadcast, you already know much of the truth that Im speaking. Youve seen it in your own eyes. I dont want you to be broken like my father, he said.

Elsewhere in the new, three-part Netflix docuseries, Schwarzenegger apologised for groping women in the past.

Arnold is out on 7 June on Netflix.
'Ask for help': Stoughton dance teacher takes own life 9 days after giving birth to twins

STOUGHTON  Ariana Sutton  a dancer and mother of three whose husband is an Easton police officer  took her own life on May 31, after giving birth to twins. Her family is asking for the community's support as they raise awareness about postpartum depression.

Catherine Sutton, sister-in-law of Ariana, said the family wants to make sure mothers don't feel shame about attending to their own mental health.

"It's so important that you ask for help," she said. "If another family's able to avoid what we're going through right now, it's worth it to share our story."

The twins, born a month early, are in the neonatal intensive care unit at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where they are expected to remain through the official due date at the end of the month.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of Ariana Sutton, a loving mother who tragically took her own life only days after delivering newborn twins," reads the charity appeal on GoFundMe. "The weight of this tragedy is unimaginable, but together, we can offer our love, strength and financial assistance to help this family through their challenging journey."

May 2023 photo of Ariana Sutton (in black shirt), with husband Tyler Sutton, daughter Melody Ki, newborn twins Everly Irene and Rowan Stephen Sutton and mother-in-law Christine S. Sutton.

'A gentle, kind human being'

Sutton, 36, died May 31 at her home in Norton, according to her obituary. She co-owned Starline Academy for the Performing Arts in Stoughton with her sister Rayna Flaherty. She leaves behind 4-year-old Melody Ki, newborn twins Everly Irene and Rowan Stephen Sutton, and husband Stephen "Tyler" Sutton, who is an Easton police officer.

"He's one of those guys who loves doing his job and helping people," said Tyler Sutton's brother Jason. He said Ariana was a "very gentle, kind human being."

As of Monday afternoon, well-wishers had pledged $233,685. Donations will help fund childcare and shore up the family's long-term finances. Family members who set up the appeal said they hoped to raise awareness about postpartum depression and mental health both during and after pregnancy.

Massachusetts has a free helpline for mental and behavioral health. Call or text 833-773-2445.

Postpartum mental health Deaths of Duxbury children push postpartum depression and mental health to forefront

"By fostering a supportive community, we can strive to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies," the appeal read. "In memory of Ariana Sutton, let us unite to honor her legacy, celebrate her love for her children, and provide the support her family desperately needs."

Family members said Tyler Sutton plans to move back to Easton. Jason and Catherine Sutton, who also live in Easton, are expecting a daughter in August. The twins will be about the same age as the new arrival.

"Ariana wanted these kids so badly. She lived to be a mother," Jason Sutton said. "The two twins are the cutest kids ever."

Real estate report This 'beautiful' Brockton home that sold for almost $600K overlooks Audubon Preserve

'Her personality was so big'

Ariana Sutton was born in Stoughton, raised in Easton and graduated from Oliver Ames High School in 2005. She went on to a earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance education and dance performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. While her local students may know her best for her work as a teacher and choreographer at Starline, Sutton was an accomplished dancer with performance credits that included the Martha Graham Dance Company at Philadelphia's Zellbach Theater and Impact Dance Company in Boston, according to a biography posted on Starline's website as of March.

Catherine Sutton said when she thinks of Ariana, she thinks of how happy and full of life she was.

"Her personality was so big," she said. "It could happen to anybody. She was just amazing."

Cast your vote Tourney stars: Vote for the High School Softball Player of the Week

The larger picture on postpartum depression

Postpartum depression may affect about 1 in every 7 women, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is a form of major depression that may take hold at the beginning of pregnancy or within four weeks of giving birth.

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are symptoms to watch out for.

Depressed mood or severe mood swings

Crying too much

Difficulty bonding with your baby

Withdrawing from family and friends

Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual

Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much

Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy

Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy

Intense irritability and anger

Fear that you're not a good mother

Hopelessness

Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy

Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions

Restlessness

Severe anxiety and panic attacks

Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Source: Mayo Clinic

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on Twitter at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Easton cop's wife's suicide shines spotlight on postpartum depression
Credit - Photo illustration by Lon Tweeten

The news quiz is a tradition at TIME that dates back to 1935. Iterations of the test were used in schools across the country to examine current-affairs knowledge, and it even came in a crossword version.

Now, the recent removal of TIMEs digital paywall has opened up a century of journalism for everyone, ripe for testing your knowledge about the people who shaped history. Since TIMEs archive contains 200 million words, its a task thats well-suited for the new generation of AI technology, which is able to analyze huge amounts of human-generated text in seconds.

So what happens when you turn the power of cutting-edge AI to the task of generating news quizzes based on magazine articles?

Below, youll find 10 quizzes that we trained the technology behind ChatGPT to produce, based on 10 stories hand-picked from the TIME archives, which are now available to everyone free of charge. Simply click on the article headline, next to the original issue date, to jump to the story on which each quiz is based. Below the interactive, we discuss how we negotiated with artificial intelligence to teach it to do what we asked.

How It Works

Given some of the truly astonishing outputs that ChatGPT can producea plot for a sci-fi novel, say, or mock Biblical textsproducing a quiz may seem like a trivial assignment (so to speak). And at first blush, it is. When we asked ChatGPT to simply make a quiz based on this article, and provided a link to TIMEs 2014 cover story on Taylor Swift, it promptly spat out a 10-question quiz with four choices for each answer.

Some of the questions were right on. (Q: Taylor Swifts fans are famously referred to as what? A: Swifties.) But many referred to albums and events that occurred well after the storys publication, and one was just wrong. (Which event led her to publicly endorse a political candidate for the first time? ChatGPT claimed it was the 2020 election, but backtracked and apologized when we reminded it that she endorsed two Tennessee Democrats in 2018.)

In many cases, ChatGPT and its various rivals may seem indistinguishable from magic. So its instructive to find assignments where the bots arent immediately capable of near-perfection. Every failure is a clue as to whats going on under the hood.

So lets break down what goes in to a multiple-choice question quiz and what that requires a machine to do:

Read a story of several thousand words, comprehending not only the language but the progress of information from start to finish. Extract the factual statements, distinguishing them from opinions, no matter how confidently those opinions are expressed. (Top-selling album vs. Most creative artist.) Decide from those facts which ones make for the best questionsa particular challenge when the source material is several decades old. Phrase the facts as questions, leaving out the part that forms the answer. Generate three alternative solutions that sound plausible but are wrong enough not to make the correct answer ambiguous.

For a human beingparticularly one who has seen a few news quizzes and is familiar with the exercisethis is probably more instruction than necessary. But until recently, it wouldnt have been enough for a machine. A year ago, this exercise would have involved writing a lot of code, picking between different algorithms and pre-trained language models, and constantly tweaking the hyperparameters, or human-defined starting conditions for the training process.

In this new world, the task is somewhere in the middle. Instead of writing instructions in Python, where a single misplaced keystroke can derail the whole operation, you deliver the instructions to the machine in plain English, as precisely and literally as you can.

This is known as a chain of thought prompt, which you can deliver directly to the OpenAI API, bypassing the conversation with a chatbot and interfacing instead directly with ChatGPTs brain. You still use a language like Python to make the introduction, but its the bot thats doing all the hard work.

We sent a version of the above instructions to the API and set the temperaturewhether it randomizes the resultsto zero, meaning the model would respond the same way each time we sent it identical commands. When we fed it the same Taylor Swift story, and got back another set of 10 multiple-choice questions. Heres one:

Who was named Billboards woman of the year for 2014?

a: Rihanna

b: Taylor Swift

c: Lady Gaga

d: Beyonce

Any guesses? Hint: The answer to five of the other nine questions was also Taylor Swift.

Our first elaboration was to ask that the model to hide the ball better and keep the answers limited to the article text, rather than fall back on whatever it knows from the enormous amount of text it has analyzed in the past. At most, it can handle about 2,000 words at a time, so in most cases we had to break stories into chunks of complete paragraphs.

The instructions we settled on looked something like this, paraphrased:

For the following text, get the most interesting, objective facts. [2,000 words from a TIME story] Convert those facts into trivia questions. Make sure the questions arent too obvious but are still interesting and accessible. Create four answers: The correct one and three others that are plausible but incorrect. Provide an informative context for the correct answer based on the original text.

In the initial trials, we found that the output often included phrases like according to the text, as if interrogating the user on whether they have actually read the article. It had trouble remembering that it was supposed to be writing trivia-style questions, not reading-comprehension tests. For a quiz based on an 2016 obituary for Muhammad Ali, it sometimes referred to the boxer in questions as Cassius Clayand also quizzed users on Alis original name.

As inscrutable as artificial intelligence can often seem, the beauty of chain-of-thought prompting is that we could ask the model what it was thinking at each step of the process and adjust the language to tease out the best results. Should the machine retrieve all the facts? Just three facts? Five? How can we ask it to stop using the phrase according to the text?

All these dilemmas were natural byproducts of the fact that, while plain-language instructions are easier to construct than ones written in code, they are, at times, much more difficult to debug. At one point, we even fed the instructions back into the model to ask what its thoughts were about how they were worded, and how we could write it differently to get more consistent outputs. Its thoughts were helpful.

The results did require a round of finessing by TIME editors, mainly to remove options that were difficult to parse or too obscure years later. Every question that got cut becomes one we can ask the model to avoid in future attempts.

This is what a lot of modern computer programming may look like in years to come: Humans and machines collaborating in the formers language and the latters logic to complete tasks and solve problems. Those who herald an end to computer programming may be correct that future developers will rely less on formal computer languages to write software. But if this exercise is any guide, they will still need to think like programmers.

Update, June 7: For a question about the outcome of Muhammad Alis 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match with George Foreman, the AI-generated answer originally read: Ali won a unanimous decision over Foreman. While Ali did lead in all three scorecards at the conclusion, the match ended in a knockout in the eighth round when Foreman failed to get up in time and was counted out. When asked to clarify, the model acknowledged that Ali did win in a knockout. The answer has been updatedand the humans reminded of how much AI still has left to learn.
The Atlanta City Council has approved plans to construct a $90m police training centre dubbed cop city amid public outcry.

Funding for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center was passed with an 11-4 vote on Tuesday 6 June. The controversial law enforcement centre has been a major part of Mayor Andre Dickens first term in office, despite significant local and national pushback.

Protesters across the country joined the Stop Cop City movement after a multi-agency team of Georgia police fatally shot environmental activist Manuel Tortuguita Esteban Paez Teran, 26, in January.

The activist, who uses they/them pronouns, was part of a group of demonstrators who had been camping in the woods near the site of the proposed project in DeKalb County.

On Monday 5 June, city officials prepared to vote on allocating at least $31m in public funds for the construction of the training facility, which will feature a firing range and a mock city for training exercises.

Several local residents and community groups rallied against the project on Monday, taking the podium at City Council again and again over a 14-hour period, arguing that it would perpetuate military-style violence against people of colour.

Todays vote is about perpetuating militarized policing that will endanger the lives of our residents, our visitors, and put the Black people and Brown people in Atlanta at a heightened risk of police violence, Gary Spencer of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund testified before the council.

Campaigners also claimed it would be a misuse of public funds to build the facility in a large urban forest, in a poor, majority-Black area  insinuating environmental racism.

According to the Associated Press, the executive director of a local social justice non-profit Beloved Community Ministries Matthew Johnson said: Were here pleading our case to a government that has been unresponsive, if not hostile, to an unprecedented movement in our City Councils history.

Were here to stop environmental racism and the militarization of the police. ... We need to go back to meeting the basic needs rather than using police as the sole solution to all of our social problems, Johnson continued.

The training center is backed by the private Atlanta Police Foundation and several high-profile donors. It was approved by the City Council in September 2021 but required an additional vote for more funding.

According to city officials, the 85-acre (34-hectare) training facility would help address difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers that worsened after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice three years ago.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

The Atlanta city council early on Tuesday approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as Cop City.

Some Cop City opponents have faced unprecedented arrests during which police have accused them under a state domestic terrorism statute, prompting a legal challenge which argues that the protesters are being unduly targeted over their constitutionally protected free speech.

Related: Atlanta politicians face pressure to vote against giving $31m to Cop City

Tuesdays 11-4 vote just after 5am is a significant victory for Atlantas mayor, Andre Dickens, who has made the $90m project a large part of his first term in office, despite significant pushback to the effort. The city council also passed a resolution requesting two seats on the governing board of a foundation dedicated to raising funds for Atlanta police.

The decentralized Stop Cop City movement has galvanized protesters from across the country, especially in the wake of the January fatal police shooting of Manuel Paez Teran, a 26-year-old environmental activist known as Tortuguita who had been camping in the woods near the site of the proposed project in DeKalb county.

For about 14 hours, residents again and again took to the podium to denounce the project, saying it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority-Black area.

Were here pleading our case to a government that has been unresponsive, if not hostile, to an unprecedented movement in our city councils history, said Matthew Johnson, the executive director of Beloved Community Ministries, a local social justice non-profit. Were here to stop environmental racism and the militarization of the police  We need to go back to meeting the basic needs rather than using police as the sole solution to all of our social problems.

The training center was approved by the city council in September 2021 but required an additional vote for more funding. City officials say the new 85-acre (34-hectare) campus would replace inadequate training facilities and would help address difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers that worsened after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice three years ago.

But opponents, who have been joined by activists from around the country, say they fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will exacerbate environmental damage. Protesters had been camping at the site since at least last year, and police said they had caused damage and attacked law enforcement officers and others.

The highly scrutinized vote on Tuesday also comes in the wake of the arrests last week of three organizers who lead the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped find attorneys for arrested protesters.

Prosecutors have accused the three activists of money laundering and charity fraud, saying they used some of the money to fund violent acts of forest defenders. Warrants cite reimbursements for expenses including gasoline, forest clean-up, totes, (Covid-19) rapid tests, media, yard signs. But the charges have alarmed human rights groups and prompted both of Georgias Democratic senators to issue statements over the weekend expressing their concerns.

The Democratic US senator Raphael Warnock tweeted that bail funds held important roles during the civil rights movement and said that the images of the heavily armed police officers raiding the home where the activists lived reinforce the very suspicions that help to animate the current conflict  namely, concerns Georgians have about over-policing, the quelling of dissent in a democracy, and the militarization of our police.
After hours of public comment, the Atlanta City Council adopted the budget for the controversial Atlanta Public Training Center early Tuesday.

The city council voted 11-4 in favor of the $67 million funding bill.

Ultimately the breakdown of the funds comes to $31 million in direct funding plus $1.4 million a year in a lease-back agreement with the Atlanta Police Foundation.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Multiple Channel 2 Action News reporters brought you live updates throughout the day, on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. and Channel 2 Action News This Morning leading up to the vote. Hundreds of protesters spoke during the public comment session which lasted until 3:30 a.m.

The councilmembers discussed other items on the agenda until it was time to vote around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Chants of Cop City will never be built echoed throughout city hall after the legislation passed.

Jason Winston, Amir R. Farokhi, Byron Amos, Alex Wan, Howard Shook, Mary Norwood, Dustin R. Hills, Andrea L. Boone, Marci Collier Overstreet, Michael Julian Bond and Matt Westmoreland voted yes in favor of funding the facility.

Liliana Bakhtiari, Antonio Lewis, Jason Dozier and Keisha Sean Waites voted no to funding the facility.

TRENDING STORIES:

The council approved legislation in 2021 that authorized a ground lease agreement with the Atlanta Police Foundation to build the training facility along Key Road. Since its approval, the project has been controversial leading to clashes between police and protesters at the future site.

Opposition to the facility grew louder after Manuel Teran, 26, was shot and killed during a Jan. 18 raid at the site. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Teran opened fire on troopers as they tried to clear the site.

Within the past year, dozens of protesters have been arrested on domestic terrorism charges. On Wednesday, the GBI arrested three people connected to protests on money laundering and charity fraud charges.

Marlon Scott Kautz, age 39, of Atlanta, Savannah D Patterson, age 30, of Savannah, and Adele Maclean, age 42, of Atlanta, work for the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a nonprofit and bail fund that offers support for protesters who are arrested, according to a release by Stop Cop City.

A judge granted all three of them bond on Friday, saying he didnt think the allegations were serious enough for the three to remain in jail before their trial begins.

Its not a lot of meat on the bones, Judge James Altman told the court. I dont find it real impressive.

Some of the bond conditions for the three included staying away from the training facility site and ceasing activity with the Forest Defense Fund.

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Hanoi students pray for exam luck at Temple of Literature

Many students are flocking to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi to pray for luck before their high school entrance exams.

On June 5, five days ahead of the exams, many students and their parents came to the Vietnam's first university with offerings to pray for good luck.





This is a common activity practised by local students and parents before an important exam.





According to the students, this helps them relax and have more confidence before their test.





Nguyen Ngoc Han from Hoai Duc District said that she was a bit worried about the exam as she was not good at literature. She came here to pray for luck so that she could pass the entrance exam to a local high school.





Pham Ha Thanh from Thanh Xuan District said that he had prepared well for the exam but was a bit nervous. "I just want to relax before my exam," he said.





Students also seek calligraphic blessings for luck.




(200771):( 20230606 11:51:23  ::(

::( Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.: 2023-45

Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.

Announcement on the completion of transfer registration for the transfer of part of the Company's shares by agreement by the controlling shareholder

The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or significant omission carried in this announcement.

I. The basic info of the transfer by agreement

Hangzhou Steam Turbine Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as " Steam Turbine Holding"), the controlling shareholder of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), and Hangzhou Qitong Equity Investment Partnership (limited partnership) (hereinafter referred to as "Hangzhou Qitong") signed a conditionally effective Share Transfer Agreement on April 3, 2023, and Hangzhou Qitong acquired 49,008,999 unlisted circulating shares of the Company held by Turbine Holding through the agreement by public solicitation and transfer (accounting for 5% of the total share capital of the Company). For details, please refer to the "Announcement on the Progress of the Transfer of the Company's Shares by the Controlling Shareholder through Public Solicitation for Transfer Namely the Signing of the Share Transfer Agreement" (Announcement No.:2023-32) disclosed by the Company in Shanghai Securities News, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and Cninfo Information Network (www.cninfo.com.cn) on April 4, 2023, and the "Supplementary Announcement on the Content of the Simplified Report on Change in the Equity of the Share Transfer Transferee" disclosed by the Company on April 13, 2023(Announcement No.:2023-33). II. Registration of shares transferred by agreement

On June 5, 2023, the Company received the Confirmation of Securities Transfer Registration issued by China Securities Depository and Clearing Co., Ltd, and the 49,008,999 non-tradable shares (accounting for 5% of the total share capital of the Company) held by Steam Turbine Holdings have been transferred and registered under the name of Hangzhou Qitong, and the settlement date is June 5, 2023.

Before and after the completion of the share transfer registration, the changes in the shareholdings of both parties are as follows:



Name Before the completion of this share transfer After the completion of this share transfer Number of shares held (shares) Shareholding ratio Number of shares held (shares) Shareholding ratio Steam Turbine Holdings 623,772,240 63.67% 574,763,241 58.67% Hangzhou Qitong 0 0.00% 49,008,999 5.00% After the completion of this public solicitation and transfer, Steam Turbine Holdings remains the controlling shareholder of the Company, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hangzhou Municipal People's Government remains the actual controller of the listed company.

III. Documents for Reference

Confirmation of Securities Transfer Registration issued by China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation.



This announcement is hereby made.



The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. June 6th ,2023







 Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.: 2023-45Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.Announcement on the completion of transfer registration for the transfer of part of the Company's shares by agreement by the controlling shareholderThe members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or significant omission carried in this announcement.I. The basic info of the transfer by agreementHangzhou Steam Turbine Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as " Steam Turbine Holding"), the controlling shareholder of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), and Hangzhou Qitong Equity Investment Partnership (limited partnership) (hereinafter referred to as "Hangzhou Qitong") signed a conditionally effective Share Transfer Agreement on April 3, 2023, and Hangzhou Qitong acquired 49,008,999 unlisted circulating shares of the Company held by Turbine Holding through the agreement by public solicitation and transfer (accounting for 5% of the total share capital of the Company). For details, please refer to the "Announcement on the Progress of the Transfer of the Company's Shares by the Controlling Shareholder through Public Solicitation for Transfer Namely the Signing of the Share Transfer Agreement" (Announcement No.:2023-32) disclosed by the Company in Shanghai Securities News, Securities Times, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and Cninfo Information Network (www.cninfo.com.cn) on April 4, 2023, and the "Supplementary Announcement on the Content of the Simplified Report on Change in the Equity of the Share Transfer Transferee" disclosed by the Company on April 13, 2023(Announcement No.:2023-33). II. Registration of shares transferred by agreementOn June 5, 2023, the Company received the Confirmation of Securities Transfer Registration issued by China Securities Depository and Clearing Co., Ltd, and the 49,008,999 non-tradable shares (accounting for 5% of the total share capital of the Company) held by Steam Turbine Holdings have been transferred and registered under the name of Hangzhou Qitong, and the settlement date is June 5, 2023.Before and after the completion of the share transfer registration, the changes in the shareholdings of both parties are as follows:After the completion of this public solicitation and transfer, Steam Turbine Holdings remains the controlling shareholder of the Company, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hangzhou Municipal People's Government remains the actual controller of the listed company.III. Documents for ReferenceConfirmation of Securities Transfer Registration issued by China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation.This announcement is hereby made.The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. June 6th ,2023
The Atlanta City Council approved funding Tuesday for the citys controversial new police training center, which its opponents have dubbed Cop City.

The city council voted 11-4 to approve $31 million in funding for the sprawling 85-acre project, as well as a lease-back agreement that would reportedly see the city of Atlanta pay $36 million over the next 30 years to use the facility, according to the Associated Press.

The remaining funds for the $90 million Atlanta Public Safety Training Center  set to include a shooting range, a nature trail and a mock village for cops to practice raids  are expected to come from donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation.

The final vote came after about 14 hours of public comment, in which residents repeatedly expressed their disapproval of the project, AP reported.

Preliminary construction has already gotten underway on the facility, which was originally approved by the city council in 2021.

The training center has drawn a wide range of protesters, including anti-police brutality activists and environmentalists opposed to deforestation in the South River Forest.

Confrontations between protesters and police have become increasingly violent in recent months. Police shot and killed an environmental activist during a raid on an encampment in the forest in January, and dozens of people have been charged with domestic terrorism, charges sparking first amendment concerns.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Demonstrators hold signs and listen to speakers during a protest on March 9 over plans to build a new police training center near Atlanta.

Demonstrators hold signs and listen to speakers during a protest on March 9 over plans to build a new police training center near Atlanta.

The Atlanta City Council pushed forwardlegislation early Tuesday that would help fund a controversial public safety training facility.

The council voted 11-4 in favor ofthe legislation,which would allocate an additional $31 millionfrom the 2023 uncommitted general fund budget toward the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.The move comes after an enormous turnout at a City Council meeting on Monday in which community members and organizers vocalized their disapproval of the facility, popularly known as Cop City, in more than 14 hours of public comment.

The council also approved a resolutioncalling for two seats on the Atlanta Police Foundation board.

Hundreds of people gather in Atlanta's City Hall on June 5, 2023, to speak ahead of a council vote that approved tens of millions in public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center that activists decry as

Hundreds of people gather in Atlanta's City Hall on June 5, 2023, to speak ahead of a council vote that approved tens of millions in public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center that activists decry as "Cop City."

Hundreds of people gather in Atlanta's City Hall on June 5, 2023, to speak ahead of a council vote that approved tens of millions in public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center that activists decry as

Hundreds of people gather in Atlanta's City Hall on June 5, 2023, to speak ahead of a council vote that approved tens of millions in public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center that activists decry as "Cop City."

Following the vote, protesters chanted Cop City will never be built, according to videos posted on Twitter by reporters.

COP CITY NEVER BE BUILT: Opponents react to funding approval for controversial 1st responder training facility. Atl City Council voted 11-4 to move forward the project. Team coverage on @GoodDayAtlanta . @FOX5Atlanta#Atl#CopCityVote#CopCity#BreakingNewspic.twitter.com/BFgiCTW3GA  Marc Teichner (@mteichnerfox5) June 6, 2023

The vote also falls roughly two weeks after the finance subcommittee voted 5-1in favor of funding the training site on May 24.

The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center would boast at least 85 acres of land in the South River Forest, an area with a complex history that includes at least one plantation, a prison farm, and the violent removal of Indigenous people. The city said the Atlanta Police Foundation will raise two-thirds of the total cost, about $60 million, to build the facility through philanthropic and corporate donations. But, the remaining amount is set to come from taxpayers.

However, the Atlanta Community Press Collective found that the amount taxpayers may end up paying is more than double the original allocation of $31 million of taxpayer money due to a provision known as a leaseback agreement. The agreement would require the city of Atlanta to pay the Atlanta Police Foundation $1.2 million annually to use the training facility, which would end up adding $36 million to the cost throughout the 30-year lease, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

A spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens office told the AJC that the lease payments are budget neutral. She said the money will come from funds already allocated toward training police officers and firefighters.

While Cop City may not be the largest training facility in the U.S., organizers have told HuffPost that they fear the plans may expand beyond 85 acres for the entire 381-acre lease. As it stands, the remainder of the area is set to be used for greenspace.

The movement to Stop Cop City from being built is made up of people from different backgrounds and interests  including Black people, Indigenous individuals, abolitionists, environmentalists and more. While some in the movement are residents, others have come from elsewhere to support the cause. People are supporting the movement in various locations and in many different ways  forest defenders have lived in the forest to protect the land, others are organizing protests, and some are sharing information in person and online.

During the hours of public comment, Sara McClintock, an Emory University religion professor, called on council members to vote against the legislation.

We dont want it because it doesnt contribute to life, McClintock said, according to The Associated Press. Its not an institution of peace. Its not a way forward for our city that we love.

But the movement has also seen pushback and, in some cases, violence from law enforcement and city officials.

Family members of environmental activist Manuel Estaban Paez Teran visit a makeshift memorial for him in February. Teran was fatally shot in January by law enforcement during a raid to clear the construction site of the police training facility that activists have nicknamed

Family members of environmental activist Manuel Estaban Paez Teran visit a makeshift memorial for him in February. Teran was fatally shot in January by law enforcement during a raid to clear the construction site of the police training facility that activists have nicknamed "Cop City."

Georgia state troopers killed Manuel Estaban Paez Teran, a forest defender known as Tortuguita, in the forest in January.

And at least 40 people have been charged with domestic terrorism, even some who attended a music festival in the forest. Three people were charged with felonies after being accused of putting flyers on mailboxes naming one of the officers that fatally shot Tortuguita.

Recently, three board members of an organization that helped to bail out activists were arrested and charged with money laundering and charity fraud.

Most protest crimes are misdemeanors or ordinance violations, like a traffic ticket, attorney Lyra Foster previously told HuffPost. People need to understand the actions of protesters havent changed; the crimes theyre charged with have. This isnt an escalation in protest, its a crackdown on those same First Amendment protected protests as before.

Some elected officials, including Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, have been adamant about quelling the movement.

As we have said before, we will not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation, Carr tweeted Wednesday.

Others, such as Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, have previously advised opponents of the project to protest peacefully and share their thoughts with the City Council. On Sunday, the two, along with Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), put out statements questioning recent arrests and state and local officials responses.

Hours of public comment, numerous peaceful protests and other attempts to spread the word have not yet received a satisfactory response and have even been met with dozens of arrests.

Organizers have called out the relentless pushback from lawmakers and law enforcement as political persecution.

Hannah Riley, a writer and organizer, previously told HuffPost that the movement persists.

Despite the increased intimidation and harassment and suppression, the movement is emboldened. It is not going anywhere, Riley said. People see this for what it is. They see that it is an attempt to squash peoples First Amendment rights to free speech and to dissent from terrible things like this.

Related...
The Atlanta City Council voted early Tuesday to approve $31 million in public money for construction of a police and fire training facility, dubbed Cop City by opponents, following a marathon 16-hour meeting that saw hundreds of people voice their opinion.

The facility has been a point of contention since its conception by residents who feel there was little public input, conservationists who worry it will carve out a chunk of much-needed forest land and activists who say it will militarize police forces and contribute to further instances of police brutality.

Dozens of people have been arrested during protests at the site, and an activist, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, was fatally shot by law enforcement in January as they worked to clear the site, officials said.

The meeting grew tense, with council members calling for a 15-minute recess about nine hours into the proceedings to allow people to calm down.

People on council have been threatened, council member Liliana Bakhtiari said.

Hundreds of people gather in Atlanta's City Hall on Monday to speak ahead of a council vote on funding for a new police training facility. - R.J. Rico/AP

Citing public safety concerns ahead of the meeting, the city closed many City Hall offices Monday and temporarily banned liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes inside the building.

The meeting, which started at 1 p.m., stretched into the early morning hours Tuesday, when the council ultimately voted to approve the funding, which covers about a third of the $90 million estimated construction costs, the city has said.

The Atlanta Police Foundation, a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that supports the Atlanta Police Department, has pledged the remaining money, which will come from philanthropic initiatives, a private loan and new market tax credits, the city said.

The approved resolution also includes a leaseback agreement between the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Foundation of $1.2 million over 30 years. That money will exclusively be used to cover the centers operational and maintenance expenses, as well as the principal and interest of APFs $20 million loan, according to a news release from the city.

Mayor Andre Dickens called the public funding approval a major milestone.

Atlanta will be a national model for police reform with the most progressive training and curriculum in the country, Dickens said in a statement.

Members of the Atlanta City Council listen as opponents to the planned Atlanta Public Safety Training Center address the council. - Erik S Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Facility will boost police morale, supporters say

The training center is set to be built on forested land that used to be a prison farm.

The land sits outside Atlanta city limits but is owned by the city. That means residents who live near the site dont have voting power for the leaders who approved it.

Protesters yell at council members after the vote passed 11 to 4 to approve legislation to fund the training center early Tuesday. - Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

In 2021, the Atlanta City Council approved a ground lease agreement with the police foundation that called for 85 acres of the land to be turned into the training center, with another 265 acres maintained as green space, the city said at the time.

The center is expected to include a shooting range, a burn building and a mock city for real world training, according to the foundations website.

Leaders of the Stop Cop City movement  which covers a coalition of groups, activists and organizers  see the project as a response to the 2020 uprisings over the police killings of Black Americans and say the center will militarize police and promote violent policing tactics, especially on communities of color.

Activists have also pointed to the environmental impact of the facility, including more than a dozen environmental organizations that urged city leaders in 2021 to reject the training centers development, saying it would be devastating for the ecological community and surrounding historically marginalized neighborhoods.

Supporters say the new facility will help boost police morale and recruitment efforts. The center will focus on community-oriented police and set a national standard for neighborhood sensitivity and devotion to the civil rights of all citizens by law enforcement, the foundation said, noting green spaces and other facilities will be open for public use.

CNNs Christina Maxouris, Nick Valencia, Rebekah Riess, Jeremy Grisham and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Reuters

Atlanta City Council members voted early Tuesday morning to fund a controversial police training facility, breaking with hundreds of community members who spoke against the facility throughout the overnight council meeting.

Council members voted 11-4 to fund the project, following more than 14 hours of comments from hundreds of speakers. The funding vote represented one of the best chances at blocking the facility, nicknamed Cop City by opponents who decry the project as an expensive and environmentally destructive bid to further militarize Atlantas police force.

The 5am vote approved over $30 million in construction costs, plus an annual $1.2 millionan expected but disappointing outcome for opponents to the facility.

What meets us in this moment is immoral and undemocratic, Rev. James Woodall, a public policy associate at the Southern Center for Human Rights told council members during Monday afternoon testimony. He and other Cop City opponents have accused the city of rushing the project toward approval, against the wishes of Atlanta residents.

The Monday afternoon session came at an especially fraught moment of the project.

Last month, the Atlanta Community Press Collective revealed that Cop City costs stood to balloon far beyond the citys estimated $30 million price tag, A Sunday report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calculated the actual cost to taxpayers for the facility is expected to be more than double what officials have continually said, based on a review of public documents. Much of the additional spending comes in the form of annual $1.2 million payments to the Atlanta Police Foundation, the organization managing fundraising for the facility.

Atlanta Activists Are Racing to Stop $33.5 Million Cop City Funding

City officials disputed this characterization, claiming the payments are budget-neutral, as Atlanta currently pays a similar annual lease for its current police training facilities.

Speakers at Mondays meeting were also incensed over last weeks arrests of three activists whod run a support fund for Cop City opponents. Prosecutors accused the trio of financial crimes for using the Atlanta Solidarity Fund to buy things like yard signs and camping supplies. The activists lawyer defended the small-dollar purchases as part of the Solidarity Funds work supporting the protests, many of which have taken place in a forest that would be cut down to make room for the police training facility.

The arrests inspired criticism from civil rights watchdogs, who connected them to dozens of similarly controversial cases against anti-Cop City activists. More than 40 people have been arrested on domestic terrorism charges in connection to property damage at the proposed construction site. Many of those cases are thinly evidenced, with defendants being arrested based on proximity to the Stop Cop City music festival, or on the basis of having muddy shoes.

In one instance, the crackdowns have turned deadly. In January, police shot and killed activist Manuel Paez Teran, while Teran was in a tent on the site of the proposed construction. Police accused Teran of shooting at them, a claim that has been complicated by a pair of autopsies suggesting that the 26-year-old did not shoot.

Others who testified on Monday and Tuesday said they feared the project would contribute to the over policing of Atlantas Black community.

One man described taking his young daughter to preschool and observing places where the citys money might be better spent.

On our way to daycare in the morning, we sing songs as I try to avoid the potholes that have been there for years. I drive by neighbors waiting at bus stops with no benches, no shelters from the rain. We see unhoused neighbors and community members sleeping under makeshift shelters and we see cop cars cruising our neighborhood all day, every day. Ive been harassed on more than one occasion by the cops in my neighborhood. They make me feel the opposite of safe, he said.

Spending $60 million taxpayer dollars on a new police training facility is the most heartbreaking, reckless, and quite frankly anti-Black thing this city has ever proposed in my lifetime. I cannot believe Im standing here pleading for you to not spend tax dollars of a Black city to tear down a forest in a Black neighborhood, to increase the policing and caging of more and more Black people.

A woman who said she lives hundreds of feet from the construction site, said the project is already a headache.

"I have been harassed, intimidated, interrogated, and followed, and had to tell an officer to turn off his flashing blue lights because I had to sleep, she testified. The officer, she said, was sleeping in his squad car.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Activists march through a forest holding signs protesting the Cop City development

Environmental activists hold a rally and a march through the Atlanta Forest, a preserved forest Atlanta that is scheduled to be developed as a police training center, on March 4, 2023. Credit - Andrew LichtensteinCorbis/Getty Images

Atlantas city council voted early Tuesday morning to provide public funding for a controversial law enforcement training facility, cementing an unusual alliance that has formed between local Democrats and state Republicans. With the Democratic mayor, left-leaning city council and state Republicans all backing millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for the private non-profit that is building the center, the facility dubbed Cop City by opponents is set to take the next step towards construction, local political observers say.

Atlantas city council voted 11-4 in favor of allocating public funding to the facility after protesters packed the building and gave hours of heated public comment. In 2021, council members voted 10-4 to lease land to the Atlanta Police Foundation but not to provide money. The session began early Monday afternoon and members voted around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

More than 200 people spoke against the facility, saying it would militarize police and cost too much. What youre voting on today is a military facility to propose a compound to make a mock city for training in urban warfare tactics, said Gary Spencer, senior counsel at the NAACPs Legal Defense Fund. The policing promoted by this facility will not make Atlanta safer; in fact, it will put our communitiesparticularly our Black and brown communitiesin significant danger.

Just a handful spoke in support of the project.

Supporters, led by Atlantas Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens, say the center is needed to properly train police and to replace dilapidated existing facilities. Last week, during his official state of the city address, Dickens argued that police training was key to reducing crime. We need training facilities, and our police and fire training centers have been long condemned. Thats why we are building the state-of-the-art Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

The approval of local funding for the center is a blow to progressive protesters who have argued that it would empower police violence. Atlanta City Councilwoman Keisha Sean Waites voted no, even though she believes the state needs a new public safety training facility and supports law enforcement. She says the facility lacks community support and has a higher price tag than was initially stated. There is no way in the world we should be supporting a measure that does not have the pulse of those people who sent us down here to represent their voice, Waites says. What I dont understand is why there is this immediate need and urgency to do this. There is no reason why we have to do this on Monday.

The months leading up to the funding vote have been tense. In January, police shot protester Manuel Tortuguita Teran 57 times, according to an official autopsy. Nearly 300 people spoke against the training center at a May 15 city council meeting; public comment lasted more than 7 hours. Taxpayers learned they will actually be paying close to $67 million to help build the facilitymore than double the initial announced cost, as first reported by the Atlanta Community Press Collective. About $31 million in public money will be used to fund the sites construction. The city will also pay $36 million over 30 years for using the 300 acres of forested land, which it leased to the Atlanta Police Foundation for $10 a year.

On Friday, lawyers for a Cop City protester sued over the use of a state domestic terrorism charge in a case stemming from the protests, the Guardian reported. Last Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations announced that it had arrested three members of a bail fund on charges of money laundering and charity fraud. The Atlanta Solidarity Fund had been providing financial relief for protesters, many of whom had been charged under domestic terrorism laws. Bond has since been granted for the three activists; a judge said he did not currently find the prosecutions case real impressive after expressing concerns about their free speech rights.

A police officer looks up as people protest against the controversial Cop City project, inside the city hall in Atlanta on May 15, 2023. Megan VarnerReuters

Cop City critics and some attorneys and lawmakers fear that the charges against bail fund members are intended to chill protests and those who support them. State Sen. Josh McLaurin said he is concerned about the misuse of state resources. The broad brush that was used to paint a large group of protesters as domestic terrorists months ago is now being further deployed to extend the reach of the criminal legal system to more people, even further out, McLaurin says.

Attorney General Chris Carr has said authorities will not rest until we have held accountable every person who has funded, organized, or participated in this violence and intimidation.

Public resistance has not been enough to change the political reality in Atlanta, as the city council has backed funding for the facility. Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond voted yes for the center. He says current training facilities are dilapidated. Its not just something that is glitzy and glamorousthat we want to do to appease the police state, he says. This is a real necessity for our city and it affects the recidivism rate in the police and fire department and harms recruiting the best and brightest. Bond says that he condemns the death of the protester, as well as the raid of the bail fund.

While public hearings have largely showcased critics of the facility, a March survey by Emory University professors suggest that the views of Atlanta residents are mixed. Overall, 48% supported the training center, 46% opposed it and about 6% were not sure. However, the survey also reveals a racial disparity. If you go into the more affluent northern parts of the city, like Buckhead, there are much higher levels of support, compared to lower income, more heavily Black neighborhoods in the southern part of the city, says Zachary Peskowitz, associate professor at Emory Universityone of the two people who conducted the study.

Interest in the facility increased when homicides spiked in 2020 and a concerned business community started to work with Atlantas mayor and city council to try and decrease crime, Peskowitz says. There has also been an active movement for the majority-white and affluent neighborhood of Buckhead to secede from the rest of Atlanta. That concern may definitely have led some political leaders to be more enthusiastic about this facility, he says. Part of the motivation for this facility is to assuage corporate concerns about crime in the cityto say, heres a concrete thing that were going to do to increase public safety. For decades, left-leaning Black political leaders and business elites in Atlanta have shared a strong relationship, he adds.

For Michael Leo Owens, the second Emory professor who worked on the survey, any claims that the new facility will definitely increase or decrease public safety is speculation.

Atlanta has always had pro-police leanings, even among its Democrats, Owens says; it often defers to its more affluent population. The Atlanta Way is to exceedingly accede to the values, preferences, and wishes of its foremost commercial and philanthropic elites, both those based in and those based beyond the citys limits, Owens says.

Still, many left-leaning Democrats and Cop City critics feel betrayed by the citys stance on the project. In every other space, these two factions claim to strongly dislike each others politics but they agree on the repression of protest, says Tiffany Roberts, policy director at Southern Center for Human Rights, which is helping connect protesters with legal representation. It all comes down to a so-called progressive man wielding conservative politics.
A plan to build a massive public safety training center in Atlanta cleared its latest hurdle early Tuesday when lawmakers voted to help fund a facility dubbed Cop City by opponents.

Despite hearing more than 14 hours of testimony, mostly from opponents of the project, the Atlanta City Council agreed to allocate $30 million toward development of the $90-million, 85-acre facility where police, firefighters and emergency responders would train.

The 11-4 vote around 5:30 a.m. local time prompted outrage and jeers within the chamber, where audience members chanted, "'Cop City' will not be built."

Activists march through the Atlanta Forest, the site of a proposed police training center, on March 4, 2023 in Atlanta. (Andrew Lichtenstein / Corbis via Getty Images file)

The vote comes after years of fierce opposition from protesters who worry the proposed campus will harm the environment and be used by police to practice urban warfare.

In January, officers fatally shot an environmental activist as workers across several agencies tried to clear out the site. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, 26, known as Tortuguita, shot at officers first without warning, wounding a state trooper  an account his family disputes.

Days later, a vigil in Atlanta honoring the slain activist ended in property damage and several arrests.

A photo of Manuel Teran, who was shot and killed by a Georgia State Trooper, at a makeshift memorial in Weelaunee People's park on Jan. 21, 2023 in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Ahead of the vote, more than 350 people signed up to give remarks during a public comment period, which began around 1 p.m. Monday and went into the night.

The vast majority of the speakers were emotionally opposed to the development, saying it would not make the city safer but would perpetuate military-style policing and encourage the use of force.

The City Council voted Monday to amend its agenda to allow for people who had missed the sign-up period to speak.

In anticipation of the vote, officials closed several City Hall offices Monday, moved services online and issued a temporary ban on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes from being carried into the building due to increased security concerns.

Tuesdays vote means taxpayers will pay less than the city had agreed upon, city officials said. The greenlighted legislation, they said, allows the city to consolidate multiple leases that it currently pays for suboptimal training facilities that police and firefighters use separately. Such a move would save the city $200,000 annually or $6 million over 30 years, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens office said in a news release.

The Atlanta Police Foundation, the independent nonprofit group spearheading the project, has said it would privately raise the rest of the money needed for construction through philanthropic and corporate donations.

The proposed project includes creating a mock city for police and firefighter trainees, a shooting range and an emergency vehicle operations course, which would be a first for both the police and fire rescue departments, the Atlanta Police Foundation said.

The group said the new campus is necessary because current training facilities fail to meet the training needs required of a major urban law enforcement agency, which it said ultimately worsens morale, recruitment and retention issues.

The project would be built on a parcel of land that the city of Atlanta owns in unincorporated DeKalb County, around Intrenchment Creek and the South River Forest Basin.

The land is known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm, where prisoners labored in poor working conditions for much of the 20th century. It is the only city-owned area large enough for such a project, the Atlanta Police Foundation said.

The group said it will not have to cut down acres of trees because the targeted parcel of land, which was cleared decades ago, does not currently have significant tree cover. The tree cover that does exist, it said, is overwhelmingly dominated by invasive species.

The Atlanta Police Foundation pledged to replace any hardwood tree destroyed in construction with 100 new ones. Nearly 300 acres will be preserved as green space, parkland and trails, it added.

The Atlanta City Council first approved the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in 2021, following anti-police violence protests. City officials said the new center would be integral to the reforms residents had been demanding, but protesters remain staunchly opposed.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Floridas Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said the shooter, who is white, and the mother had a long-standing neighborhood feud about her four children.

More and more people are calling for the arrest of a white woman accused of hurling racist slurs at her neighbors children before a shot rang out and killed the mom.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called Ajike AJ Owens death an unjustified killing. According to NBC News, he said Owens children were playing in a field close to an apartment complex in Ocala, Florida, when the white woman, 58, began yelling at them to get off her land and calling them racial slurs.

Crump said Owens children unintentionally left an iPad behind, which the woman then took. She allegedly tossed the device when one of Owens children rushed to get it, striking the youngster and shattering the screen.

Ajike AJ Owens, a mother of four, was reportedly shot and killed by a white neighbor with whom she had a long-standing neighborhood feud. (Photo Credit: Screenshot/YouTube.com/MSNBC)

After learning what had occurred, Owens crossed the street to speak with her neighbor. A shot came from behind a closed door, striking and killing Owens.

During a news conference on Monday, Owens mother, Pamela Dias, said her daughter was being protective when she went to her neighbors house in search of explanations for how she treated her children.

The mother, the protector of her children, she wanted to know why this happened, Dias said, NBC reported. A closed, locked door. The door never opened. My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her. She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods did neither confirm nor deny Crumps claims, telling reporters on Monday that he was not going to stand here and tell you what theyre putting out there is inaccurate, but he wasnt entirely sure.

However, the sheriff said the shooter and Owens had a long-standing neighborhood feud about her children, and there was a heated conversation when she arrived at the womans house that night. The shooting, which occurred around 9 p.m., may have been seen by at least two of Owens four children.

The children are a big part of answering many of our questions, Woods added.

Woods said detectives are attempting to ascertain whether Floridas stand your ground law applies to the shooting. The law states that Florida residents are permitted to use lethal force to defend themselves from imminent danger or death, a right that extends outside the confines of their homes.

Family attorney Anthony D. Thomas urged swift justice and noted that the neighborhood would keenly watch how the sheriffs office conducts the case. Woods promised Owens family that his office would use every tool to pursue justice.

Bishop J. David Stockton III, president of the Marion County NAACP, said the shooting is the most recent instance of Black people going about their daily lives only to encounter senseless violence.

The truth is weve gotten to a point where Black folks are almost living in a day where we are afraid to go outside, Stockton said, NBC reported. Our children and adults deserve to live in a world where they do not live in fear of their neighbors.

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The post Attorney says woman yelled racial slurs at children before mom was shot, killed appeared first on TheGrio.
Avid cliff diver drowns in aggressive current after leap from waterfall, CA cops say

A hiker drowned after jumping from a waterfall in Mount Baldy, California officials say.

The adrenaline-pumping activity appeared to be a hobby of his, Lt. Daniel Vizcarra with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department told McClatchy News.

The 32-year-old cliff-jumper had hiked along a trail near Barrett-Stoddard Road and jumped from a waterfall into a river just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, Vizcarra said.

Not only was the water shallow, but the current was strong and swift, officials with the San Dimas Sheriffs Station said in a June 6 post on Facebook. The man was knocked unconscious when he hit his head on a submerged rock, and he drowned, officials said.

The mans friends pulled him out and gave him CPR until first responders arrived, but they werent able to revive him, officials said in the post.

The sheriffs search and rescue team hoisted the mans body up the treacherous cliff in the dark, officials said.

While this is yet another sad end during a season of water incidents, we are grateful to have been able to bring closure to this persons family and friends, officials with the San Dimas search and rescue team said in a June 6 post on Instagram.

Officials warned the public to stay out of the water, especially during periods of increased spring runoff.

Our Mountain Unit would like to remind the public to take extra precautions when out on a hike in the mountains or near water areas, officials said. The river current is aggressive and dangerous at this time.

Woman swept into gorge and dies after falling from cliff in Glacier National Park

Hiker dies after sliding up to 700 feet down icy California mountain, rescuers say

Missing 75-year-old hiker rescued from treacherous icy California peak, cops say
There are two unusual factors to consider about Tool coming to the Ford Idaho Center this fall.

It will be the second year in a row that the prog-metal band has played the Nampa arena  although 21 months apart.

Possibly more uncommon, though? For a secondary market like Boise?

The Oct. 14 show is on a Saturday night. The party is on. Expect headbangers to roll out in droves.

Tickets become available to the public starting at 10 a.m. Friday for $65, $85, $125 and $150, through fordidahocenter.com. Theres only one presale  for the Tool Army fan club starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Members of Tool shown performing in Birmingham, England, in 2022.

Formed in 1990, Tool has been a concert-industry force for decades. Its shows are known for mind-bending imagery, lasers and psychedelic lights. Tools Fear Inoculum Tour has been described by the Chicago Tribune as a twisting multimedia roller coaster of a concert. The Arizona Republic called it a visually breathtaking night of dystopian art-rock spectacle.

In 2022, Tool averaged over 11,000 tickets sold per night, according to Creston Thornton, president of promoter Live Nations mountain region, and is still one of the largest touring bands in the world.

When Tool played the Idaho Center in 2017, it sold out  over 9,000 tickets  in approximately six minutes. Because of the pandemic, Tools 2020 show at the arena was bumped to 2021 at the last moment, then rescheduled yet again to 2022  and still did almost 8,000, Thornton said via email.
A homeless man was stabbed 137 times and left in a trash pile. His killer is sentenced.

FALL RIVER  New Bedford native Matthew Lariviere was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Robert Jones III, who was stabbed and slashed at least 137 times in a New Bedford homeless encampment in 2019.

Lariviere was convicted Monday following a two-week jury trial in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River.

He was sentenced by Judge Gregg J. Pasquale to 12 to 15 years in state prison. Sentencing guideliness recommend an eight- to 12-year sentence for this charge, but Pasquale said the longer sentence was appropriate due to "the extreme nature of the injuries."

Lariviere had faced a possible conviction for murder one or murder two.

New Bedford native Matthew Lariviere was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Robert Jones III, who was stabbed and slashed at least 137 times in a New Bedford homeless encampment in 2019.

A medical examiner testified Jones' autopsy took two days to perform because of the large number of wounds, and that the body's decomposition was such that there actually could have been more wounds.

Jones, who was 5-foot-5 and 127 pounds, was killed on Aug. 5 by Lariviere in a tent in the encampment in a heavily wooded area off 47 Nauset St., according to testimony. The body wasn't discovered until Aug. 8 after two homeless men living in the encampment called police.

Knife was left in victim's neck

The body had been wrapped in tenting, and a sleeping bag and left in a trash-pile area, with the knife buried in the victim's neck to the hilt, the black handle protruding, according to testimony.

Police said a garbage bag was also at the trash-pile site. It contained another knife, as well as blood-stained clothes saturated in bleach.

Jones was stabbed twice to the heart, multiple times to the liver, eight times to the lungs, and 16 times to the face and neck, according to testimony. He was also slashed to the face and neck 14 times.

Lariviere said he acted in self defense, and could only remember stabbing Jones six or seven times.

He was on a crack cocaine "bender" for about 20 days prior to the killing, he said.

Lariviere's life spiraled from drug addiction

Lariviere, who is 43, described his past as a "vicious cycle" of landing stable design engineering jobs with salaries in the $80,000 to $90,000 range, which he would lose due to drug addiction on substances ranging from Percocets, fentanyl, and heroin to crack cocaine.

He had entered rehab numerous times, but he would relapse, according to testimony.

Assistant Bristol County District Attorney Shawn Guilderson said Lariviere had spent a total of 14 years in various rehabilitation programs.

He founded church ministry to help addicts

His last period of sobriety leading up to the murder lasted two years. During that time he married and took part in a church ministry to help addicts.

He also formed a group to help homeless people, called Tent City, where they brought food, clothing, and tents to the homeless, including to the encampent where the murder took place.

Prior to that two-year period, he had been living at his grandmother's in Fairhaven in 2016 when he started shooting heroin.

He testified his father found drugs in the home, and added he stole money from his grandmother. He was then kicked out of the home by his father, he said.

Moved into homeless encampment and then a sober house

He went to the Nauset Street encampment and lived there for three months.

Lariviere sobered up again after he was arrested in 2016. He began living in a sober house in Plymouth, and entered a 12-step program, he said.

That's when he reconnected with a woman he knew in high school who was involved with the church, and they were married.

He was making about $70,000 as a design engineer, and bought a Lexus with his grandmother as co-signer, according to testimony.

His grandmother signed the car over to him as a wedding gift. The newlyweds shared an apartment in New Bedford.

His wife had health problems, he said, which produced stress, including financially. He got another job where he could make more money, he said.

Lariviere said they argued in 2018 after she had a medical procedure in Boston against his wishes.

He then returned to the encampment off 47 Nauset St. to get high, he said. He stayed a few days smoking crack.

Lands a design engineer job making $90K a year

Then followed another period of sobriety in which he landed another job at $90,000 per year, he said.

But in July 2019 he relapsed and returned to the encampment where he went on a crack binge that emptied his bank account. He sold the $30,000 Lexus for $6,000 to continue buying crack, he said.

Crack cocaine addiction leading up to murder

Lariviere said he was spending $300 to $400 a day on crack leading up to the night of the murder.

There were no eyewitnesses to the fatal encounter.

Lariviere said he had bought Xanax in the past from Jones, who also lived in the encampment, to help him sleep.

He stopped buying from Jones, though, because Jones had a left a message on his phone that he was going to kill him, Lariviere said.

He said Jones was known to be violent and he was afraid of him.

On the night of Aug. 5, Lariviere said he returned to his own tent to smoke crack.

Jones was drunk, he said, and was arguing with Troy Serpa, who also lived at the encampment. Lariviere said the pair had gotten into fights involving weapons before and he wanted to stay clear.

Serpa also testified that Jones had attacked him with weapons in the past.

Jones was complaining about two bags of personal items that were stolen from him, Lariviere said.

Serpa had been up for a couple days drinking heavily, according to his own testimony.

Serpa testified Jones had been threatening Lariviere, and threatening to stab "everybody."

Lariviere said he later heard the sound of footsteps outside his tent. It was pitch black, he said.

Claims victim entered his tent with a knife

Jones entered the tent, he said, with a knife.

Lariviere said he told Jones he didn't have his stolen bags and told him to leave.

According to Lariviere, Jones said, "How did you hear me? I came to get you like and Indian." Jones was barefoot and at some point left his shoes in Lariviere's tent, according to Lariviere.

Jones said he was a "super soldier," according to Lariviere.

He said Jones then lunged at him.

Lariviere reached for his own knife and tried to push Jones off him with his feet, he said. He said one of his shoes was damaged by Jones' knife, which also scratched his foot.

They wrestled, he said.

What he remembers from the stabbing

"I remember taking jabs at him with the knife. I remember swinging, hitting his back. He made a sound, not a good sound," Lariviere said.

He said Jones was on top of him, and he pushed him off. He maintained that he did not remember stabbing and slashing him 137 times.

He went to Serpa's tent and said Jones attacked him, and he thought Jones was dead.

Lariviere then went back to his own tent and when Jones was unresponsive, he took Jones' phone from his pocket. He also retrieved the rest of his crack from the tent, he said.

Lariviere said he went to nearby railroad tracks, and threw the phone away when he couldn't open it. He took Xanax and passed out, he said.

The next day he heard some of the homeless people in the encampment talking about what happened, including Serpa.

He approached them, he said, and one offered to get him bleach. He doesn't remember asking him for it, he said.

They took a hit of crack, he said, and they planned to move the body out of the camp and call the police anonymously.

Lariviere said he went back to his tent with the bleach, rolled Jones' body into a sleeping bag, and dragged it to the trash pile area where the body was found.

He also put bloody items, including clothes, into a hamper and into a plastic bag that he dragged to the trash pile.

Lariviere said he also saw the two bags that Jones had been seeking on a nearby path and took them to the trash-pile site, as well as the knife he said Jones had.

Lariviere changed clothes. He said he heard a dog and realized police were approaching.

Lariviere testified he "realized I was set up, given bad advice, leaving me in a bad situation."

He fled the encampment after giving a police officer a fake name.

Prosecutors showed surveillance tapes of Lariviere walking on nearby Nash Road after fleeing the encampment.

Charges pending in other cases

They were unable to tell the jury that Lariviere subsequently was accused of holding a knife to a 19-year-old New Bedford woman with a 5-month-old baby and demanding money from her at about 8 p.m. in the area of First Citizens Federal Credit Union at 570 N. Front St. He then stole the womans car and robbed a female clerk at knifepoint at the Shop n Save at 807 Ashley Blvd., according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

That evidence was found to be prejudicial and was inadmissable at the trial. Charges in those cases are pending.

Prosecutors were able to tell the jury that Lariviere was arrested after a car and foot chase, though they weren't told they were in connection with the armed robberies.

Lariviere was checked at St. Luke's Hospital after the arrest, where he was found to have no injuries. He also told police that he was not involved in an altercation with Jones in a subsequent interview.

Expert: Psychotic episode fueled by drugs

Dr. Jhilam Biswas, a forensic psychiatrist for the defense, testified Lariviere had suffered a psychotic episode when he killed Jones, fueled in part by drugs, medical fallout from failing to care for his Type 1 diabetes, and lack of sleep.

Dr. Fabian Saleh, a forensic psychiatrist for the prosecution, testified that Lariviere did not suffer a psychotic episode. He said disorganized behavior is a symptom of psychosis, yet Lariviere's actions were "goal-directed." He moved the body, changed clothes, and avoided police, Saleh noted.

Lariviere's own words showed he was not disorganized, Saleh said.

Attorney Kenneth Van Colen, who defended Lariviere, said in his closing argument the killing was done in an "irrational fervor in act of self defense" brought on by the drugs, his medical condition, and lack of sleep. Lariviere was also defended by attorney Heath Antonio.

ADA Guilderson said in his closing argument that Jones had died a "horrific death." He added, "You don't need to stab someone 137 times to defend yourself."

He said Lariviere's ability to testify to everything that occurred except for the number of wounds to Jones was convenient and not believable. Nor was it believable that he found Jones' missing bags on a path after the murder. Nor was it believable that Jones had been on top during the altercation since his wounds included numerous stab wounds to the back of his head and neck.

Guilderson said it was a "savage killing" that warranted a finding of first degree murder. The case was also prosecuted by Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.

They had recommended a sentence of 17 to 20 years after the voluntary manslaughter conviction.

Jones' mother, sister and niece provided witness impact statements.

The victim's sister, LaToya Jones, said she was praying for both families. "To both families affected by this tragedy I pray for peace and better days ahead." She added it was "so sad" that all this suffering had been caused "due to bad decisions made on that fateful night of Aug. 5."

His sister LaToya Jones said he would have been 45 on June 9.

She said the family was satisfied with the guilty verdict, and thanked the jurors but requested the judge hand down the maximum sentence.

She said her brother didn't deserve to die in such a brutal manner. "No one does."

Jones added her brother was quiet and shy as a boy, and was "sweet and selfless." He used to babysit for her daughter, she said, and she vowed to care for his two daughters.

She said she was praying for her family and the Lariviere family, as well.

"To both families affected by this tragedy I pray for peace and better days ahead," she said, adding that it was "so sad" that all this suffering had been caused "due to bad decisions made on that fateful night of Aug. 5."

The defendant brutally killed the victim, but unfortunately there were no eye witnesses. The jury found that there was an issue of self-defense in the case or some other mitigating factors. I respect the jurys verdict, District Attorney Quinn said in a press release. The defendant has a long history of drug abuse. His violent and excessive conduct clearly demonstrates that he poses a danger to the public.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford native convicted of manslaughter in homeless man slaying
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Kasama's Genie Kwon and Tim Flores pose for a portrait after winning Best Chef in the Great Lakes region during the James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera House on June 5, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago took home two James Beard Awards on Monday, with Virtue chef de cuisine Damarr Brown and Kasama chefs Genie Kwon and Tim Flores winning in the city that once again played host to what many consider the Oscars of the culinary industry.

Brown won the first award of the night, as the 2023 Emerging Chef, competing against chefs from Bridgetown Roti in Los Angeles, Dakar NOLA in New Orleans, Brooklyns Clover Hill and Her Place Supper Club in Philadelphia.

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To my team who stands beside me daily, I wish each of you were standing with me now, because we achieved all of this together, Brown said in his acceptance speech. To the women who raised me, they were my first examples of kindness, generosity and patience  which all happen to be virtues.

Brown also thanked Virtue executive chef Erick Williams, who won his own James Beard Award in 2022 for Best Chef: Great Lakes. Brown worked under Williams at the nationally acclaimed restaurant mk for seven years before working at the Alinea Group restaurant Roister for two years. He reunited with Williams to open Virtue in 2018.

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Ive always felt that its extremely difficult to do something if you dont see anyone who looks like you doing it, Brown said. So Id like to thank chef Erick Williams. For the last 13 years, you have been that example for me. I stand because you stood.

Damarr Brown, chef de cuisine at Virtue Restaurant in Hyde Park, after winning the award for Emerging Chef at the James Beard Awards on June 5, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

The regional Best Chef: Great Lakes award also went to Chicagoans this year, as Kwon and Flores were named the top chefs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

[ The best places to eat and drink in Chicago ]

We have incredible team members, and theyre just good people that want to take care of people, and everything has fallen into place because of them, Kwon said, tears flowing freely. She also thanked Flores, her husband and business partner, and their puppy, Longganisa.

As for Flores, he said he never expected the Filipino food he grew up eating would bring him to this point.

To be recognized for cooking my moms food is insane, he said. I never thought wed be cooking Filipino food until we opened Kasama.

Previously, they were the pastry chef and chef de cuisine, respectively, at the Michelin two-star restaurant Oriole.

And as for what the award will mean for Kasama, It means we can grow as a team, Flores said. It will help us in the future and push forward and allow our team to keep doing what we love.

Kasama's Genie Kwon and Tim Flores after winning Best Chef in the Great Lakes region during the James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera House on June 5, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Diana Davila of Mi Tocaya Antojeria was also up for the Best Chef: Great Lakes regional category, as were Detroits Omar Anani (Saffron De Twah), Andy Hollyday (Selden Standard) and Sarah Welch (Marrow).

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While Davila had started off the night hoping for a win, she also noted the effect attending the Beards had.

Ive met so many incredible people tonight and the world seems so much smaller, she said ahead of the award ceremony.

Two other Chicago restaurants up for awards  Obelix was among 10 nominees for Best New Restaurant, and Sepia was nominated for Outstanding Hospitality  did not come away with wins. Kann, a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, won Best New Restaurant, and Maine restaurant The Quarry won the Outstanding Hospitality award.

Last year, Kasama was nominated for Best New Restaurant, which ultimately went to Owamni, an Indigenous-focused restaurant in Minneapolis.

Virtue and Kasama have been consistently celebrated and honored since their respective debuts in 2018 and 2020.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 10 Kasama co-owners and chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon at their East Ukrainian Village restaurant on Dec. 9, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Kasama introduced its 13-course tasting menu dinner a year after opening as a takeout-only spot for breakfast and lunch. In 2021, it received the Tribunes sole outstanding four-star review, before going on to receive a Michelin star in 2022 and a smattering of other accolades.

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[ Review: Kasama was supposed to be a neighborhood cafe. Its become one of the best restaurants in the world. ]

At the start of 2019, former Tribune critic Phil Vettel declared Virtue excellent and Williams was named Chef of the Year in the Tribunes annual Dining Awards in 2020. Virtue was also named a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient, which the guide designates as offering high-quality food at affordable prices.

Brown has also become a well-known chef in his own right; on the 19th season of Top Chef, he came in fourth place and was declared the fan favorite.

[ Chicagos 2022 Michelin star, Bib Gourmand restaurants, mapped ]

Two additional Chicagoans won James Beard Media Awards over the weekend; drinks journalist Emma Janzen and Toby Maloney, head mixologist at The Violet Hour, won a Media Award for The Bartenders Manifesto: How to Think, Drink & Create Cocktails Like a Pro, in the category of beverage books with recipes.

Its Janzens second Beard Award in as many years, as the author won in 2022 for The Way of the Cocktail, which she cowrote with Julia Momose, bar and creative director of Kumiko.

[ New book from The Violet Hours Toby Maloney shows you how to make bars most legendary cocktails ]

Beyond Chicago, the awards this year marked an expansion of recognition for Midwest chefs and restaurants, with nominees from Detroit, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Cleveland and Minneapolis.

Madison chefs Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger won for their restaurant Fairchild in the Best Chef: Midwest category, which includes restaurants in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

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People attend the James Beard Awards post-awards reception at Union Station on June 5, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made a surprise visit to the ceremony. He thanked Chicagos newly inaugurated mayor, along with the James Beard Foundation, Choose Chicago and Illinois Restaurant Association.

He praised Chicago as one of the most vibrant, diverse and mouthwateringly delicious food cities in the world.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson also spoke at the start of the night.

How about this amazing moment, he said. He praised the citys five-star dining restaurants and also the humble hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.

Mayor Brandon Johnson walks the red carpet while attending the James Beard Awards at the Lyric Opera House, June 5, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Last year marked the return of the event after the James Beard Foundation canceled its awards for the first two years of the pandemic amid a reckoning with a lack of diversity among its would-be winners in 2020.

The foundation underwent an audit of its judging practices, pledging to become more equitable with the return of its awards in 2022.

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Last week, The New York Times published a report into the foundations investigatory process created in 2021 as part of those changes, along with an ethics committee and tip line. At least one chef was disqualified this year as a result of the investigations, the Times reported.

food@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
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Episode 9: "This Was Foretold." In the final episode of Foretold, Paulina makes a career choice and starts figuring out her place in the world. And Paulina and Bobbys custody battle culminates in a decision about their daughters future.

Read the episode transcript.



See all episodes and extras.

Three and a half years ago, I came home after my first interview with Paulina Stevens and thought, "Wow, that was incredible." Now I've been pouring myself into the "Foretold" podcast for half of my career, and I still feel the same way.

As we publish the final episode, I want to tell you about some of the moments that stick with me most.

Paulina Stevens. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Before I started to report on this story, I knew little about what we call the G-word, a term many Romani people see as a slur if outsiders say it. And yet outsiders throw it around frequently. Once I began paying attention, I saw it all over the place: on surfboards, tea bags, book titles  the list goes on and on. Tropes about fortunetellers are also pervasive, including in California, where psychic shops are plentiful.

I started snapping pictures wherever I saw them.

I've stumbled upon several Zoltar machines, featuring an animatronic fortuneteller that spits out a paper fortune card. I ended up having to record three separate Zoltar machines before getting the one that we used in the podcast. But one of the fortune cards I got said, "You will find the answer is to be found in how well you relate to people." I'll take it.

My reporting took me on multiple trips to Morro Bay, Paulina's hometown on California's Central Coast  about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's one of my favorite parts of the state. Paulina's first-grade teacher, Ms. Cameli, was kind enough to meet us at the school during her summer break a couple years ago.

And it was during another trip to Morro Bay that I got to meet "Foretold" senior producer Asal Ehsanipour in person for the first time. We got bagels (success) and knocked on a bunch of doors to try to talk to people who knew Paulina (not a success).

When Paulina was 17, she married her distant cousin, Bobby Stevens, and moved into his family's Orange County home, which doubled as a psychic shop. As a local reporter, I'd passed by the shop dozens of times without ever really noticing it. But since learning about Paulina's connection, the place has loomed large in my mind. Paulina said that when she lived there, the house had a revolving cast of relatives and guests in and out all the time  like a train station. The name stuck.

I was never able to go into any part of the Train Station. But Paulina sent me this selfie she took with Bobby years ago in a mirror of the psychic shop's waiting room, where clients would sit before getting a reading with her or her mother-in-law.

At the heart of "Foretold's" plot is a custody battle: Paulina and Bobby split up, and they each wanted to keep their two little girls. Paulina had to decide whether to take her case to the American justice system or go through a traditional Romani tribunal, called a kris.

To understand why it was such a big deal for Paulina to consider using the American justice system route, I dug into court cases, combed through police records and spoke to several lawyers who have represented Romani litigants, including attorney Barry Fisher.

Getting to know Barry led me down a delightful side path: I got to learn about one of his personal passions. In 2021, I attended a Hanukkah celebration in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood to see him and his band play Klex/Mex, a mix of Ashkenazi Jewish klezmer and Mexican mariachi music.

Barry's the one with the accordion. (Faith E. Pinho / Los Angeles Times)

The more I reported on Paulina's story, the more I saw just how rarely stories of Romani people are covered in the mainstream media. The stories that are reported often rely on stereotypes and tropes  especially ones about Romani fortunetellers. So I was eager to talk to George Eli, a Romani American media maker.

After initially hesitating to talk to me, George let me visit his shop in Westport, Conn. When I arrived, he introduced me to his apprentice as the journalist who was going to "single-handedly take down the Roma community." I think he meant it as a joke, but I was pretty seriously spooked. Thankfully, he still sat down and talked to me for a couple hours about his work as a filmmaker, author and spiritualist.

In our final episode, we get to see where Paulina lands  in some ways, right back where she started. And  spoiler alert  that means she's running her own fortunetelling business again. She calls it Romani Holistic Healing. It's one of the ways she's trying to bridge her old life with her new one.

Two pictures of Paulina in her new shop. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

When I was starting this local story as a community reporter at the Daily Pilot, I never would have guessed that it would balloon into this L.A. Times project with a team about a dozen strong. We've pushed one another to question our assumptions, called out problems with warmth and sensitivity, and clocked more hours of overtime in the past few months than I want to count.

Cheers to everyone who helped this story come together  and to all of you for caring.

 Faith E. Pinho

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mexico isnt a monolith, and neither are its cuisines. From the seafood dishes of Veracruz to El Nortes famous artisanal cheeses, each region contributes its own distinct foods that make up the countrys larger culinary identity.

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The state of Michoacan is credited for creating carnitas, something chef Edgar Rico enjoys often when visiting family in Uruapan. The traditional recipe made by slow-cooking pork in its own fat has become one of Mexicos most ubiquitous foods. And at Ricos restaurant, Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas, he uses the same techniquebut with duck instead. Just like pork, duck is brimming with savory, luscious natural fat that helps create soft and tender meat.

It might look intimidating, but duck fat is much easier to cook with than youd think. Bonus: It can be repurposed in nearly any recipe that calls for oil or butter. For example, Rico flavors all of the beans at Nixta with duck fat.

The foundation of Ricos duck carnitas recipe starts with classic ingredients. Many chefs in Michoacan swear by adding Mexican Coca-Cola to carnitas to lend acidity and sweetness to the braising liquid. Rico also uses condensed milk to help tenderize the protein. After slow-roasting in its own fat and a signature blend of aromatics, the duck is so succulent and fall-off-the-bone tender. Rico serves his carnitas on a warm corn tortilla and tops it off with cilantro, onion, radish, salsa cruda, and a squeeze of lime.

And dont forget the salsa macha. Another item you can find at Nixta Taqueria, this condiment dates back before colonization. Rather than using fresh chiles, salsa macha combines dried peppers and nuts in a savory infused oil. You can drizzle it on eggs, pizzajust about anything.

PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: MARIANA VELASQUEZ

The backbone of any salsa macha is the chiles, and Rico uses three different types in his recipe. His personal favorite is ancho, which is a smoky dried poblano pepper with a flavor that almost resembles dried fruit. He supplements it with both pasilla and guajillo chiles. This combination is more smoky and savory than it is spicyRico even removes the seeds to make the finished salsa more mild.

Peanuts, sesame seeds, and garlic are commonly used in salsa macha. Rico's version honors tradition but supplements the recipe with Texas pecans, Mexican oregano, and apple cider vinegar. The most important ingredient, however, is time. After frying the ingredients in a neutral oil and blending them into a sauce, Rico suggests waiting at least a few days for the savory, earthy flavors to come together.

The best part? Since it's an oil-based condiment, it can stay in the fridge for months. While salsa macha pairs well with virtually anything, Rico especially loves drizzling it over seafood. Want to see how he prepares these iconic Mexican dishes? Check out the videos above.

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(Bloomberg Law) -- Australian senators on Wednesday will set their sights on KPMG in a growing probe of conflicts of interest and ethical lapses in the governments use of consultants.

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With public outrage over illicit information sharing at PwC Australia, the Senate in March charged the Finance and Public Administration References Committee with reporting on the governments use of outside consultants. The committee, in addition to focusing on conflicts of interest and ethical concerns, will examine the risks posed to the public sector by the use of consultants.

The broad inquirywhich is focused on contracts awarded to Accenture, McKinsey, and Boston Consulting Group in addition to the Big Fourheld its first hearing on May 2. On its second day Wednesday, KPMG Australia and its CEO, Andrew Yates, will be asked to explain how the firm manages conflicts between its service delivery and policy advice arms, according to the office of Sen. Barbara Pocock, a Greens party politician.

The rest of the Big FourErnst & Young, Deloitte Australia and PricewaterhouseCooperswill have a chance to be heard at the next round of hearings, in mid-July.

All can expect similar questions and potentially be asked to respond to allegations of conflicts based on confidential evidence pouring into senators offices, lawmakers say.

The scandal erupted following revelations that a top PwC executive breached confidentiality agreements to monetize his inside knowledge of government anti-tax avoidance plans. The daily disclosures are fueling the governments inquiry into how to reduce its dependency on consultant contracts while continuing to seek their advice and expertise.

Senators also are demanding to know why it took more than six years for PwC to be sanctioned over its staff leaking government information.

Sen. Deb ONeill, a member of the governing Labor Party and head of the Finance Committee, said she would be questioning officials on the international ramifications of PwCs global tax transfer pricing teams being involved in pitching the tax avoidance scheme to clients.

This inquiry was established to investigate the concentrated power of the Big Four consulting firms, who seem to have been allowed to set up a shadow government alongside our public service that is far less transparent, far less accountable and in some cases far less ethical than it should be, Sen. Pocock said.

The Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected on a promise to cut consulting contracts and replenish a public service that had been radically culled by the previous conservative administration. Budget cuts across government agencies over ten years led to layoffs, leaving the public service heavily dependent on short-term contract staff and consultants for policy advice and program delivery.

As experienced and skilled public servants left, Big Four and other consultants increasingly stepped into their places, becoming major beneficiaries of the A$565 billion (US$375 billion) in government contracts issued from 2012-2022. PwC won by far the richest contracts, earning A$223.7 billion over the ten years.

Eyes on Contracts

Some businesses and government agencies are not waiting for the outcome of the three separate inquiries and a police investigation into the PwC leak, as the harm spreads to other parts of the company.

Pension fund Australian Super, the countrys largest, has frozen its PwC contracts, and the Australian Retirement Trust has said it will no longer contract with the firm.

The central bank governor, Philip Lowe, said PwC wouldnt be given new contracts until the leak affair had been resolved, while the Australian Securities and Investment Commission has said its reviewing its own contracts with the firm.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has said the government cant end its existing PwC contracts without risk, though her department has introduced a new ethics clause into contracts along with a termination clause for a material breach.. The Treasury and the Finance Ministry are working on a supplier code of conduct off the back of the PwC incident, officials said.

New South Wales is also reconsidering its Big Four consultancy contracts. The state Parliament began its own inquiry into consulting services value for money and integrity on May 31.

To contact the reporter on this story: Deborah Nesbitt in Canberra, Australia, at correspondents@bloomberglaw.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeff Harrington at jharrington@bloombergindustry.com; David Jolly at djolly@bloombergindustry.com

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Former Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley speaks after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) announced that she would be the first chief diversity officer of the State Department on April 12, 2021.

Former Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley speaks after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) announced that she would be the first chief diversity officer of the State Department on April 12, 2021.

The State Departments first chief diversity and inclusion officer, retired Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, is leaving her post, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday.

The only way to ensure our foreign policy delivers for the American people is to recruit and retain a workforce that truly reflects the American people, Blinken said in a statement. Thanks to Ginas leadership, the Department has made significant progress to live up to our commitment to create a more inclusive workplace.

Abercrombie-Winstanley did not respond to HuffPosts requests for comment.

Abercrombie-Winstanleys appointment in April 2021 attracted significant attention. The powerful agency has long been dominated by a pale, male and Yale ethos that excluded historically marginalized individuals, like women and people of color, and tolerated workplace harassment and discrimination with few options for holding abusers accountable. President Joe Biden and Blinken repeatedly promised to prioritize diversity work, with Blinken telling Congress he saw the issue as a barometer by which to measure his success as secretary.

But change has been slow and procedures for reporting mistreatment remain byzantine and lacking, multiple current and former State Department officials told HuffPost earlier this year. In one instance, a Biden nominee for a senior State Department job is facing a sexual harassment accusation that congressional staff believes the department has failed to properly investigate  yet HuffPost found the State Department had no plan to address their concerns.

Reacting to the news of Abercrombie-Winstanleys departure, a U.S. official said her appointment ultimately ended up being a box-checking exercise.

This was a missed opportunity because a lot of the changes were performative and it didnt get to the heart of structural reform, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The departing diversity officer did everything she wasnt supposed to do according to her own report, argued a State Department official, referencing a report produced by a task force at the Truman Center for National Policy think tank that Abercrombie-Winstanley co-chaired. She just became a talking head with no substance. It let people off the hook from doing the real work.

The official requested anonymity for fear of professional repercussions.

Some 44% of State Department personnel have experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying while on the job, according to an unpublished survey of employees conducted last year and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Most people in that group said they did not report the issue due to fear of retaliation or because they did not think there would be any consequences.

Meanwhile, lawmakers and advocacy groups repeatedly raised the alarm last year about Fritz Berggren, a diplomat who runs an antisemitic website. In April, the department told Jewish Insider it was still employing Berggren.

A State Department spokesperson sent HuffPost a fact sheet offering the agencys view of Abercrombie-Winstanleys accomplishments. The document cited the publication of a strategic plan on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility  noting that the State Department was one of few government agencies to publish such a plan  and creation of a leadership council and data working group. It added that her office made tweaks to the departments hiring processes and handling of settlement agreements.

In her first major media interview in her role, Abercrombie-Winstanley told HuffPost she foresaw an uphill battle but was serious about reform  and that the process could get ugly.

Traditionally, the agency asked staff to put your head in the sand, to ask employees to suffer and  suck it up, she noted.

Everything before us is difficult, Abercrombie-Winstanley said. She added that she hoped to soon be out of a job.

Despite Bidens emphasis on improving diversity at national security agencies, many observers have soured on his approach. We were simply political props for this administration, one Biden appointee in touch with a group of disaffected staff at such departments recently told HuffPost.

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The bikinis are coming! Miamis annual ode to swimsuits is back in town. How to go

If it stops raining in Miami for a minute, we can focus on things that are really important: like bikinis.

For fans of skimpy swimwear, youll be pleased to learn that one of the citys most anticipated events, Paraiso, aka Swim Week, is back. Its moved up to June this year, allowing brands to capitalize on the timing earlier in the season, says founder Natalija Dedic Stojanovic.

The festivities kick off Thursday with the so called Summer Fashion Summit at the W South Beach. The inaugural conference is super insider-y, bringing together top industry players from around the nation, so if this is the field you want to get into, wed advise you to grab some tickets. Start saving; they start at $600 for a two day pass.

Speaking of saving... an experience like Miami Swim Week does not come cheap this year.

Also open to the public for big spenders are a number of catwalk shows at The Tents at Collins Park, at 2111 Collins Avenue, which is transformed into a giant runway on the sand.

Rent doubled? Keep in mind these selfie friendly activities will set you back a cool $650 for each show.

We hear a major highlight will be the Beach Bunny show: The celeb-loved brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a strutfest full of Next models, at 9 p.m. Thursday. Yes, you will be poor afterward but will walk out with swag and awesome Insta stories.

Other names to look out for include Swim Week OGs like Luli Fama, Sinesia Karol and Kittenish, which never disappoint with their less is more styles.

Stojanovic is excited about all this year has to offer.

For a true VIP experience, passes are available that include front row seating to all 15 plus runway shows, gift bags and exclusive invitations, she says. For those wishing to experience Swim Week outside of the runways, there are numerous fashion presentations, wellness experiences and events that are free, open to the public and easily accessible.

PARAISO MIAMI BEACH

Where: The Tents at Collins Park, 2111 Collins Ave. Miami Beach.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

For a full schedule of events and activations, including popup stores, boozy brunches and pool parties at various venues all over town, go to www.paraisomiamibeach.com.
The two co-chief executive officers of Bitwise Industries, the California tech training company that opened an office in El Paso in April and had one in the works in Las Cruces, have been fired and an investigation of its financial problems launched by its board of directors.

The terminations, announced in a news release Saturday, come days after financial problems prompted Bitwise officials to suddenly stop operations and furlough its workforce reported at about 900 people in several cities.

It had nine employees in El Paso and one in Las Cruces in early April.

Bitwise co-CEOs and company founders Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr. were fired effective June 1, the board announced.

A portion of Bitwise Industries' cowork space, as seen April 24, in its office on the second floor of the Sotoa Building at 500 W. Overland Ave., in Downtown El Paso.

Bitwises board has started an investigation, with the help of independent experts, into what led to the companys financial problems.

It also appointed Ollen Douglass, a Bitwise board member for just over two years, as interim president. He will oversee the investigation.

The board was recently made aware of the companys cash deficit by management and took immediate action as a result, including workers' furloughs and suspending operations, Douglass said in a statement.

We are committed to determining the root cause and will continue to take swift action, he said.

The company, based in Fresno, California, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and was in the midst of a multicity expansion, which included El Paso and Las Cruces.

This renovated, former car dealership building in Downtown Fresno, Calif., is the Bitwise Industries headquarters and one of its technology hubs.

In February, company officials announced Bitwise had received an $80 million investment from several companies, including Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Citibank, Kapor Center in Oakland, California, and Motley Fool.

That was part of $200 million Bitwise received from several venture investment firms over several years to help fund its growth, according to Bitwise information provided to the El Paso Times in April.

Douglass, the interim president, recently left Motley Fool, a financial advising firm based in the Washington, D.C., area, where he worked 22 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also is a founding board member of the Motley Fool Foundation.

He now operates Hanover Street Advisors, a consulting firm focused on early-stage, venture-backed companies, according to the Bitwise board news release.

The El Paso City Council in April approved a $1.6 million grant for workforce training and other tech services with Bitwise Impact, the not-for-profit organization aligned with the company. And the Las Cruces City Council last year approved giving $1 million to a partnership of Bitwise Industries and the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico for tech training and other tech services.

El Paso's grant is performance based, so Bitwise has received no money from the grant, Laura Cruz-Acosta, a city spokesperson, said in an email. City staff will work with the City Council to determine the next steps for the grant, she said.

The cowork space in Bitwise Industries office, as seen April 24, on the second floor of the Sotoa Building at 500 W. Overland Ave., in Downtown El Paso.

Las Cruces also has paid no money for its grant contract, which is with the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, said Mandy Gus, a city of Las Cruces spokesperson. The foundation will determine how to proceed with the grant, and city officials will then decide what needs to be done, she said.

Bitwise specialized in providing technology courses and tech apprenticeships for people with low incomes and those without college degrees. It also operated a tech consulting business that hired some of its course graduates. It also specialized in buying and renovating buildings for its so-called tech bubs, including cowork spaces.

Company officials had plans to buy and renovate a building in the Downtown El Paso area for its permanent tech hub.

More: Downtown El Paso's vacant buildings await next wave of redevelopment

Its current El Paso office is on a portion of the second floor of the Sotoa Building, a former factory turned into offices at 500 W. Overland Ave., in Downtown's struggling Union Plaza District. The status of Bitwise's lease in the building was not immediately available from the building's leasing officials.

The company last fall bought the three-story Bank of the West office building in Downtown Las Cruces, where it planned to open an office and cowork space on a portion of the ground floor.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421, vkolenc@elpasotimes.com and @vickolenc on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Bitwise tech training firm CEOs fired, board investigating problems
A nature reserve in Lincolnshire is celebrating the arrival of four black-winged stilt chicks - the first time the species has bred in the county.

The pair at RSPB Frampton Marsh hatched all of their eggs successfully, the RSPB said.

The birds are more often seen in southern Europe and only been four previous incidences of them breeding in the UK have been recorded since 1945.

John Badley, who manages the site near Boston, said staff were "thrilled".

The pair made their nest within a fenced off protective zone, which increases the chances of species such as avocet, lapwing and redshank raising young.

Mr Badley said staff and volunteers worked "incredibly hard" to protect all the species at the reserve.

He added: "We're doing everything we can to see nature flourish here."

The stilts, which are long-legged wading birds with black and white plumage, arrived at the site on 1 May and the pair's first egg was laid on 11 May, with three more appearing in the following days.

Stilts incubate their eggs for between 22 and 26 days and all four hatched around the same time.

Dr Chris Andrews, visitor experience manager, said the species had been expanding their breeding range to the south of the UK.

"Much of Spain and France have been experiencing severe drought conditions, which has doubtless caused the influx of stilts to the UK this spring, alongside other species like night heron, purple heron and great reed-warbler," he added.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
The recent suicide death of yet another Black medical student is raising fresh questions around the continued need for mental health resources aimed at supporting Black people in the medical field.



Dr. Nakita Mortimer passed away on May 24 by suicide, with her death prompting loving messages from her family and friends. This included a heartwarming note from Jennifer Gates, daughter of Bill Gates. Congressman Jamaal Bowman also took to his Twitter to send a note of condolences to her family and to celebrate her accomplishments.



Mortimer, who was a Haitian-American, was an anesthesiologist resident at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. She also was an outspoken advocate in the medical sector, with her focusing specifically on fighting for better conditions for healthcare professionals.



The death of Mortimer comes at a time when conversations around the mental health needs of Black women in medicine remain greatly underresearched.



There have been a few studies focusing on the experiences of Black women in the health field. They have looked at how racism, discrimination, and misogynoir in the industry can affect mental health. This includes a study from 2021 looking at depression and anxiety symptoms among Black medical students.

The lack of focused studies on Black women medical students experiences adds to the lack of data surrounding the topic. But the unfortunate failure to put resources into crafting more of these studies hasnt stopped Black mental health professionals from presenting solutions.



There are a growing number of therapists and counselors who aim to specifically support Black women medical professionals through their mental health needs. This includes individual sessions and a focus on group sessions.



Supporting and empowering black female medical students is needed and can be accomplished through accessible, culturally affirming group therapy, Anequa Blakely wrote in a post on the need for more services focused on Black women medical professionals. Blakely is a MA, QMHP.



Group therapy sessions can provide psycho-education to promote greater personal health and collective well-being. Creating a safe, collaborative, and culturally aware environment is of utmost importance, Blakely continued in her piece. This safe space can allow black female medical students to learn skills to manage stress, build confidence and learn how to utilize mindfulness to balance the challenges they come across in personal and professional contexts.



The importance of these conversations has also pushed Black women in the medical field to openly share their own stories regarding mental health through news outlets, feature stories, blogs, and even on social media. Organizations like the Association of Black Women Physicians are also providing resources. They are making space for conversations that center Black women medical professions and tools they can use to prioritize mental health.



YouTube has become a resource amidst the push for more help. Black women across areas of the medical industry have taken to their YouTube pages to share all theyve faced while navigating their medical careers.

There does remain a large gap in the number of available Black mental health workers, though. This reality adds to the challenge of Black women medical professionals getting the focused support they need. Thats especially true for those who prefer to work with a Black mental professional who better understands the nuances of their experiences.



The post Black Women in Medicine Face Continued Lack of Mental Health Resources appeared first on 21Ninety.
(Getty Images for Netflix)

The stars of Netflixs Bling Empire have paid tribute to their fellow cast member Anna Shay, who died of a stroke at the age of 62.

The news of Shays death was announced by her family on Monday (5 June).

It saddens our hearts to announce that Anna Shay, a loving mother, grandmother, charismatic star, and our own brightest ray of sunshine, has passed away, the family said.

Anna taught us many life lessons on how not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the finer things. Her impact on our lives will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Shay was a Los Angeles socialite who amassed a fortune after she and her brother sold their fathers company, Pacific Architects and Engineers, after his death.

After hearing the sad news, many Bling Empire cast members paid tribute to Shay on social media.

Kelly Mi Li, who featured alongside Shay on the Netflix show, uploaded a string of photographs on Instagram, writing: RIP @annashay93, you were truly one of a kind and we will miss you forever.

In her own tribute, DJ Kim Lee added: I cant believe Im writing this right now. Anna, were going to miss you. Im glad we got to cross paths. I cried and laughed with you and shared so much memories with you on screen.

I loved your realness and humour and one thing u taught all of us is not to take life too serious. Anna Shay we love you Queen!! You will forever be missed.

Kevin Kreider, who was one of Shays closest co-stars on Bling Empire, wrote: You never know when your last goodbye will be. So unexpected and wished when I saw you last for lunch I would have taken a moment to smell the roses and had one last adventure with you.

Christine Chiu, who was constantly pitted against Shay on the show, also paid tribute to her on Instagram by posting a picture of a scenic beach background, writing: RIP Anna. It never aired, but I will always remember this special moment between us. My condolences to your family.

In a long tribute, Kane Lim wrote: You had a nonchalance about you that was mesmerising and captivated audience around the world.

I was lucky to get to know the real you and not many knew about our friendship off camera. We had a real friendship and though the show made things or even portrayed us a little crazy at times you knew who I really was as a person and had my back in the end.

I will always remember you for your tenacity for life and resilience and whether the camera is on or off you, you slayyyy. Continue to slay in the heavens. Love Kane.

Model Jaime Xie added: You will be so dearly missed. Rest in peace, Anna. Our many memories together will stay forever in my heart.

Shay was a fixture in Los Angeles high society. She was the only daughter of Edward Shay, the American billionaire founder of the defense and government services contractor, and Ai-San, his half-Japanese, half-Russian wife.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for talks, two U.S. officials told NBC News on Tuesday.

The news comes after a previously planned trip was postponed following the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the U.S.

U.S. officials did not provide additional details on the timing of Blinkens rescheduled trip, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

Blinken postponed that trip in February after the suspected spy balloon entered American airspace and flew across the continental U.S. American fighter jets later downed the balloon off the coast of South Carolina, although the craft was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive U.S. military sites, current and former U.S. officials said in April.

Blinken conveyed to Chinese official Wang Yi at the time that the balloon was "an irresponsible act and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law that undermined the purpose of the trip," then-State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously called the balloon a "civilian airship" used for weather research.

The relationship between the two countries has spiraled since the incident, with leaders postponing or rejecting talks. Just last week, China declined a U.S. request for the defense chiefs to meet at a security summit in Singapore. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping previously met in November in Bali, Indonesia, where they agreed that Blinken would visit China to follow up on the discussions.

Taiwan and territorial tensions were among the subjects discussed between the two leaders  issues that have not faded in the following months.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Tuesday that Biden is confident the two countries will be able to get back to the spirit of Bali, referring to the November meeting.

On Monday, the U.S. military released a video from last weekend showing a Chinese warship and an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait coming within 150 yards of each other, according to the U.S. military. A Chinese government representative defended its actions, saying Monday that "China always respects the right of navigation."

The close call comes as debate over the future of Taiwan  a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own, but has never controlled  is expected to be high on the agenda when Blinken visits Beijing.

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last fall, Biden said the U.S. opposes "unilateral changes to the status quo" in the Taiwan Strait, but Xi has refused to rule out using force to seize the island.

The U.S. has typically declined to say whether it would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, a policy known as strategic ambiguity, after enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979. The act requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and makes clear that Washington established diplomatic ties with Beijing with the expectation that Taiwans future would be determined peacefully.

Biden, however, has repeatedly said the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. In September, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said his comments "breached the important commitment the U.S. made not to support Taiwan independence," though Biden administration officials insist U.S. policy has not changed.

Other points of contention between the U.S. and China continue to sour their relations: In October, the Biden administration restricted sales of key semiconductors to China, a move the Chinese foreign minister called "bullying tactics." Blinken has also said China's systematic detention of its Uyghur minority amounts to "genocide and crimes against humanity," and he has been sharply critical of the country's crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong and Tibet.

Blinken's upcoming visit will also likely aim to assuage the security concerns of key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, such as South Korea and Japan.

"The current state of Chinese-U.S. relations is a powder keg that I fear could explode anytime," South Korean Rep. Lee Jae-jung, who sits on the foreign affairs committee of the country's National Assembly, said in March.

Aspects of U.S.-China relations have proven to be a rare point of bipartisan agreement in Congress. Last month, the bipartisan House select committee on China adopted policy recommendations relating to a potential conflict in Taiwan and the mistreatment of Uyghurs.

Last August, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a visit to the self-governing island, prompting a furious response from China, which conducted military drills that experts say simulated an attack on the island. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., met in April with Tsai in California, shortly before a bipartisan delegation visited Taiwan.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

The chef Sam Fore in her home kitchen in Lexington, Ky. May 25, 2023. Fore was pleased when the James Beard Foundation named her a finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, but shocked when it had a private investigator interrogate her. (Jessica Ebelhar/The New York Times)

Chef Sam Fore received an ominous voicemail in May from an unknown number. The caller identified himself as a private investigator working for the James Beard Foundation. Later that day, Fore found herself on a Zoom call, answering questions from him and another man.

They said to me, We have an anonymous complaint we have to ask you about, she said.

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Fore is a finalist in the James Beard Awards, which for nearly three decades have been considered the most prestigious culinary honors in the United States, the so-called Oscars of the food world. As the #MeToo movement led to high-profile revelations of misbehavior and workplace abuse in the restaurant world in recent years, the Beard foundation overhauled its processes to make the awards more equitable and diverse and to ensure that chefs with troubling histories are not honored.

Fore is among the first subjects of an investigatory process created in 2021 as part of that overhaul. But in many ways, she is the kind of chef the retooled awards are meant to recognize more fully. Early indications suggest that the new process is vulnerable to failure in several ways.

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While the awards have historically honored mostly white chefs serving European-derived food in expensive urban restaurants  in fact, the other four finalists in the Best Chef: Southeast category with Fore are white men  her business, Tuk Tuk, is a pop-up that serves cuisine inspired by what she grew up eating in Lexington, Kentucky, as the daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants.

In what she called an interrogation, the investigators asked her about social media posts she had made on both private and public accounts. Someone had sent them to the foundation through an anonymous tip line on its website. The men told Fore that the posts potentially violated the organizations code of ethics  specifically, that they amounted to targeted harassment and bullying.

They included an Instagram post, she said, that was part of a domestic violence awareness campaign, and others related to her advocacy for victims of sexual violence, including vague tweets about people the posts did not name.

She said she told the investigators, Weve been talking for 90 minutes about these tweets, and you dont know who Im targeting with them. How is that targeted harassment?

On Wednesday, after this article was published, the foundation notified Fore in an email that she had not been disqualified from the awards, which will be given out at a ceremony in Chicago on Monday. The investigation, it said, did not find it more likely than not that you violated the Code of Ethics.

Even so, she believes that what was supposed to be the honor of a lifetime could actually do her more harm than good.

I realize that my presence is a good look for Beard, but I cooked my way across the country to get to this level, she said. Now all Ive done can be dismissed because someone on the internet called me a bully?

Started in 1985 to honor food writer James Beard, the foundation established its chef and restaurant awards in 1991.

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The foundation has identified itself more and more closely with chefs and restaurants over the years, riding the rise in popularity of chef culture starting in the 1990s. As the American public became increasingly fascinated by restaurants and the people who run them, the profile of the awards grew, the events became more glamorous, the brand partnerships more lucrative. (According to IRS filings, the foundations revenues jumped from $5 million in 2010 to $18 million in 2020.)

By making itself the chief arbiter of restaurant excellence, however, the foundation also made many of the restaurant worlds most pernicious problems  inequality, lack of diversity in leadership, workplace abuse of many kinds  its own.

To address those problems, the foundation established an ethics committee before the 2022 awards, along with the tip line and the pursuant investigations, to ensure that the awards would not celebrate chefs who failed to meet its standards. (Brett Anderson, who co-wrote this article, was on the restaurant awards committee from 2002 to 2012.)

The James Beard Awards are known as the standard-bearers of excellence in the industry. We take that very seriously, said Clare Reichenbach, the foundations CEO. Weve built a process with great intentionality that we think has rigor, that reflects our values and our mission, and we stand by it.

But it is unclear whether the foundation is up to the task of vetting the finalists.

Katie Button, whose restaurant Curate in Asheville, North Carolina, won the Beard Award for outstanding hospitality last year, said the awards have a tremendous effect on restaurants, from reservations to staff morale to social media followers.

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They are effectively deciding that they will be delivering the judgment and the sentence, she said. They need to think about the gravity of their decisions.

Since the awards began in 1991, chefs have questioned their fairness and the foundations transparency and integrity. A scandal in 2004, in which the organizations longtime president was convicted of embezzlement and the trustees resigned en masse, did not help matters.

In August 2020, as the culinary world struggled through the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests unfolded across the country, the foundation stumbled again. Although the voting for the awards was already complete, it decided to cancel the entire awards program for that year.

The foundation attributed the move to the ravages of COVID-19, but it soon leaked out that the awards had been canceled for other reasons: None of the winners were people of color, and some finalists stood accused of verbal and physical abuse.

Foundation leaders quietly proposed a revote, which outraged some awards judges, who publicly accused the foundation of manipulating the results. Ultimately, no awards were given in the major restaurant and chef categories.

The foundation then canceled the 2021 awards and embarked on an internal audit, which resulted in a sweeping overhaul of its board, mission and processes. For 2022, the awards were rebuilt to consider not just culinary excellence but also equity, leadership, sustainability, diversity and other values aligned with the groups new mission.

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We are watching an institution self-correct in real time, said Erick Williams, chef-owner of the Chicago restaurant Virtue and last years winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes. The ceiling had to be cracked; the mold had to be reshaped.

The ethics committee and the tip line were part of that reshaping.

If Fores case raises questions about whether the foundation should be investigating the anonymous accusations against her, the case of Timothy Hontzas raises questions about what the foundation does once it concludes its investigation.

Hontzas, chef and owner of Johnnys, in Homewood, Alabama, is a finalist for Best Chef: South, as he was last year. On May 10, he received an email saying he had been disqualified from this years awards.

Based on the review conducted, the Ethics Committee found it more likely than not that you violated the Code of Ethics, the email read. It went on: You are prohibited from using the seal, logo or image of the James Beard Awards, and from claiming any recognition from the Foundation in connection with the 2023 Awards.

News of his disqualification quickly spread on social media and in news reports.

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Hontzas said that in a Zoom interview in April, a Beard investigator asked him about anonymous allegations that he had yelled at employees and customers.

In an interview with The New York Times with his lawyer present, Hontzas said he didnt deny the accusations to the investigators but told them the incidents, as he recalled them, were not as severe as the accusers described. He also said that none of the incidents rose to the level of an ethics violation. (The disqualification email does not reference specific allegations.)

I dont understand how one call can completely ruin the possibility of winning the award, Hontzas said.

But one of his former employees, Emily Heeter, agreed with the disqualification, though she said she did not send the tip to the Beard foundation. Hontzas hired her to her first job out of high school, in 2016. In the five years she worked on and off at Johnnys, she said he regularly yelled at customers and employees and even threw plates at her head. She said she quit three times because of his outbursts.

Im usually not a crier, but hell yell and yell and yell at you until you start crying, and hell yell some more, Heeter said. On one such occasion, she said, I looked out into the dining room, and all of the customers were silent.

Hontzas denied Heeters allegations in an email and said she was twice terminated based on her performance and simply did not return to work at the end of her final shift at Johnnys.

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The foundation does not comment on specific ethics investigations, in order to keep them confidential, but that confidentiality presents potential issues of its own. To maintain it, the organization does not remove the names of those disqualified from previously issued news releases, from the ballot or even from the program at the gala.

In other words, if Hontzas hadnt gone public with his disqualification, he would have remained a Beard Award finalist as far as the public knew and could even have attended the June gala in Chicago  scenarios the foundation seems not to have considered.

I think you have hit on one of the tougher issues in this process, said Steve Koch, chair of the foundations governance committee. We made a judgment that our goals and our mission are better served by coming out the way we did.

Its even possible that Hontzas could get the most votes in his category. In that event, the second-place finalist would be declared the winner, the foundation later said. (The foundation confirmed that it conducted ethics investigations last year but would not confirm whether any disqualifications were made.)

Fore and Hontzas said the secrecy around ethics investigations also leaves the process vulnerable to being weaponized by candidates competitors or enemies and that they werent given a full opportunity to respond to allegations.

The Zoom call was the only chance I had to defend myself, Fore said.

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The ethics violations the foundation investigates range from yelling at employees to sexual assault. No matter what an investigation uncovers, the foundation said it would not publicize its findings or report them to law enforcement.

Reichenbach said confidentiality is necessary to protect the anonymity of the accusers and the reputations of the accused.

We dont want to be publicly shaming people, she said. We are here to celebrate those who are winning.

The blanket confidentiality angered some judges and members of the chef and restaurant awards committee, who werent informed of the ethics committees decision to disqualify Hontzas. At least three judges resigned, including Vishwesh Bhatt.

Bhatt is the chef of Snackbar, in Oxford, Mississippi, a past Beard winner and a finalist this year. He was mystified that the foundation would keep information from judges that is germane to their duties as voters.

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You trust us to uphold these ethics, but then you wont tell us when you find someone has violated them, he said. What is this, Yelp?

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Tanya Holland, a chef, restaurateur and writer who chairs Beards awards board, was asked about leaving the names of disqualified finalists on the ballots and among those announced at the gala.

I think this is an unfortunate example where we have to say, Now weve learned something, said Holland, who is also on the board of trustees. Next year, well have to do better.

Despite her feelings about the investigation, Fore said she still planned to attend the awards ceremony. She already bought flights and a ticket to the gala for her husband, and she cant get the tickets refunded.

Whatever happens in Chicago, Fore is proceeding with construction on her first brick-and-mortar restaurant, which she plans to open in the fall  another project shes been distracted from since the foundations investigation began.

These people have no idea what its like to be a woman of color in this business, Fore said. What they dont understand is that I exist despite them. Winning a Beard wasnt even on my list of goals.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, a State Department spokesperson told CNN, the latest step toward rapprochement between the US government and the de facto leader of a key US ally.

The two men affirmed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond during the meeting, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement Tuesday.

Miller said that commitment includes a comprehensive political agreement to achieve peace, prosperity, and security in Yemen, adding that Blinken emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights.

Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years following the torture and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, for which a US intelligence report held the Crown Prince responsible. But in the wake of fluctuating oil prices over the past year  Saudi Arabia this week said it will slash oil output starting in July as part of an effort by producers to shore up crude prices  the Biden administration has sought to reengage with the kingdom.

During the meeting, Blinken and bin Salman discussed deepening economic cooperation, especially in the clean energy and technology fields, Miller said in the statement.

Blinken also thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabias support evacuating hundreds of U.S. citizens from Sudan, and for the Kingdoms ongoing partnership in diplomatic negotiations to stop the fighting there, the statement said.

The meeting lasted an hour and 40 minutes, a US official told the traveling press, during which they also touched on the potential for normalization of relations with Israel and agreed to continued dialogue on the issue.

A State Departments travel summary said Blinken would meet with Saudi officials to discuss US-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral issues including economic and security cooperation, and participate in meetings of the US-Gulf Cooperation Council and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday afternoon, and will travel to Riyadh on Wednesday for further meetings.

Speaking to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC on Monday, Blinken said that normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be a topic of conversation during his trip.

The production cut announced by Saudi Arabia over the weekend was its biggest in years and will depress its output to 9 million barrels per day. It came after a meeting in Vienna of the alliance known as OPEC+, which includes members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other smaller producers.

Asked to comment on the decision to slash production ahead of Blinkens visit, deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel noted that gasoline prices have generally fallen in the US from heights reached a year ago.

We believe that supply should meet demand, and well continue to work with all producers and consumers to ensure that energy markets support economic growth and lower prices for American families, Patel said at a briefing. Thats what were focusing on.

On the campaign trail, then-candidate Joe Biden promised to make Saudi Arabia the pariah that they are on the world stage and make them pay the price for Khashoggis murder. But he reneged on that vow by visiting the country last year and giving the crown prince a fist bump, providing a photo opportunity for the Saudi government and outraging human rights groups.

At the time, the president defended his actions by saying his Saudi trip was critical to US security.

As president, it is my job to keep our country strong and secure. We have to counter Russias aggression, put ourselves in the best possible position to outcompete China, and work for greater stability in a consequential region of the world, Biden wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post.

To do these things, we have to engage directly with countries that can impact those outcomes, he wrote.

Months after Bidens visit, the US determined that bin Salman should be granted immunity in a case brought against him by Khashoggis fiancee.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Jack Forrest contributed to this report.

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By Humeyra Pamuk

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washington's relationship with Riyadh after years of deepening disagreements on issues ranging from Iran and regional security to oil prices.

Blinken met with the kingdom's de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, and they "discussed deepening economic cooperation, especially in the clean energy and technology fields", according to a State Department readout.

Blinken was also set to meet other top Saudi officials during his time in Riyadh, the capital, and the coastal city of Jeddah, in what will be Washington's second recent high-level visit.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on May 7.

The top U.S. diplomat's June 6-8 visit to the world's largest oil exporter comes days after Riyadh pledged to further cut oil production, a move likely to add tension to a U.S.-Saudi relationship already strained by the kingdom's human rights record and disputes over America's Iran policy.

The aims of the trip include regaining influence with Riyadh over oil prices, fending off Chinese and Russian influence in the region and nurturing hopes for an eventual normalization of Saudi-Israeli ties.

Speaking at the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday, Blinken said Washington had "a real national security interest" in advocating for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but cautioned that it will not happen quickly.

Discouraging a closer Saudi-Chinese relationship is probably the most important element of Blinken's visit, said Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at Washington-based think-tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

"[Blinken should explain] why Chinese interests do not align with Saudi Arabia, and why closer relations in a strategic way inhibit closer relations with Washington," Goldberg said.

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U.S.-Saudi ties got off to a rocky start in 2019 when President Joe Biden during his campaign said he would treat Riyadh like "the pariah that they are" if he was elected, and soon after taking office in 2021, released a U.S. intelligence assessment that Crown Prince Mohammed approved the operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

A visit by Biden in July 2022 to the kingdom did little to ease tensions, and increasingly, Riyadh has looked to reassert its regional clout, while growing less interested in being aligned with U.S. priorities in the region.

The most recent example was when MbS gave a warm embrace to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at an Arab League summit in May, which saw Arab states readmit Syria after a decade of suspension, a move Washington said it neither supported nor encouraged.

The kingdom has been pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into transforming and opening its economy to reduce dependence on crude oil. The reforms have been accompanied by a raft of arrests of critics of MbS, as well as of businessmen, clerics and rights activists.

U.S. citizens and residents with family members detained in Saudi Arabia called on Blinken in a letter on Tuesday to press Saudi officials for an immediate release of their relatives. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

The kingdom had released detained U.S. citizens from its prisons but some still remain under a travel ban.

U.S. officials briefing reporters on the trip last week said there was an "ongoing conversation regarding the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms" with Saudi Arabia but they declined to say if Blinken would seek any guarantees from the Saudis on the issue.

Blinken "emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in the readout of his meeting with MbS.

(Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed, Simon Lewis, Aziz El Yaakoubi and Costas Pitas; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sharon Singleton, Cynthia Osterman and Gerry Doyle)
Blowing up of Kakhovka HPP: Zelenskyy convenes emergency meeting of National Security Council

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, is convening an emergency meeting of the National Security Council due to the emergency situation caused by the Russian forces' blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Source: Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council

Quote: "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had decided to hold an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine in connection with the blow-up of the Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant."

Background: Russian occupation forces have blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, and the evacuation of local residents has begun.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah works against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP)  The Toronto Blue Jays demoted struggling right-hander Alek Manoah to the Florida Complex League on Tuesday, one day after the 2022 All-Star and AL Cy Young finalist couldnt get out of the first inning against the Houston Astros.

Manoah was booed by Toronto fans after allowing six runs and seven hits in 1/3 of an inning Monday, his seventh straight losing decision. Hes 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts after going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 31 starts last season.

Manoah has allowed 45 runs in 58 innings. He allowed 55 in 196 2/3 innings in 2022. He went 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 20 starts as a rookie in 2021.

Previously the Gulf Coast League, the Florida Complex League is a rookie-level league with most games played at spring training facilities.

After Monday's loss, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said everything is on the table when asked about Manoahs status.

On Tuesday, Schneider said there was no timeline for Manoah's return to Toronto's rotation.

Whenever he's ready is when he's ready, Schneider said, adding that he wanted the slumping pitcher to focus on his form and not have to worry about regular competition.

Schneider said Manoah was upset when told of the demotion.

It wasnt an easy conversation, Schneider said. He understands that the performance hasnt really been there.

Toronto is the only big league team to use no more than five starting pitchers so far this season. The Blue Jays are 33-28, fourth in the AL East.

Schneider said right-hander Bowden Francis, who was selected from Triple-A Buffalo Tuesday, could be an option when Manoah's turn comes up Saturday against Minnesota. Francis was 0-2 with a 3.45 ERA in four Triple-A starts.

The Blue Jays also activated right-hander Chris Bassitt off the paternity list, and activated infielder Santiago Espinal (right-hamstring) off the 10-day injury list.

Toronto optioned right-hander Jay Jackson and infielder Ernie Clement to Triple-A. Minor league right-hander Zach Thompson was designated for assignment.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Body camera footage released Monday by Phoenix police shows the moment officers shot and seriously injured a woman in late May after police thought she pointed a gun at them, which was later determined to be a "butane lighter resembling a handgun."

At about 7:30 p.m. on May 22, officers were investigating a vehicle in the area of 35th and Glendale avenues. In a statement released on Monday, Sgt. Rob Scherer with Phoenix police said officers approached the vehicle after receiving a call about an unresponsive woman inside a running car.

The video released by police, which contains snippets of edited body camera footage as well as audio from the 911 call, shows a woman sitting in the driver's seat of a sedan vehicle with a dog in the backseat while an officer knocks and then pounds on her window and tells her to put her vehicle in park. The woman does not comply, reverses her car and drives off from the parking lot.

The video then jumps to a traffic stop being conducted when the woman pulls into an apartment complex. Officers are heard asking her to turn off the vehicle and throw the keys out the window, but the car once again drives off.

Phoenix-area homicides in June 2023: 1 woman killed, 2 injured in Glendale shooting

The woman's vehicle was ultimately stopped when officers used a grappler near 19th Avenue and Phelps Road, Scherer said. Police then commanded her to turn off the car and show her hands, which she did not comply with and "produced an object perceived to be a handgun and pointed it at an officer," Scherer said. Several officers fired the handguns at her.

Body camera footage from one of the officers shows an officer standing on the driver's side of the patrol car and telling the woman to show her hands and turn the car off, all while a dog barks continuously. The car and the woman cannot be seen in the video.

Charged in murder: Man arrested after bus stop drug deal ends in 2 dead, 1 hurt, Phoenix police say

Several gunshots are heard being fired after an officer yells over the radio, "She's got a gun!" After the firing ceases, the officer standing by the driver's side of the patrol car moves closer to the front of his car, at which point part of the woman's vehicle is in camera view, and fires at least four more shots. The woman is not in view.

The officer then says, "She's still moving!" and orders the woman to show her hands. He is then heard asking another officer if he can see the gun, to which another officer replies that he can't.

Officers continue giving her orders and the car is heard accelerating. Officers then use a less lethal 40 mm launcher and an irritant spray in order to break the glass and "coax the woman out," Scherer said.

Body camera footage shows the woman crawling out the window as officers command her to do so. Officers then pull her out of the car through the window and cuff her on the ground while the woman yells for help.

The woman, who was not identified by police, was arrested and hospitalized. Police did not release information about her condition or the charges she faced.

After searching the vehicle, police said they found a butane lighter in the shape of a gun.

In the initial May 23 news release, Phoenix Police Department described the woman to have pulled out a gun and pointed it "in the direction of an officer." There was no mention of a butane lighter.

According to Scherer, two of the officers involved are part of the Tactical Support Bureau and have been with the department for 17 years. The other officer, assigned to the South Mountain precinct, has been with the department for five years.

Scherer said that the department had launched a criminal and administrative investigation into the shooting, as is standard protocol in police shootings.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police bodycam shows officers shooting woman in car
Boston police searching for 2 teenage girls who have been missing for nearly a week

Police in Boston are turning to the public for help tracking down a pair of teenage girls who have been missing for nearly a week, officials announced Tuesday.

Asia Bridgeman, 17, was last seen in the area of 23 Warner Street around 4 p.m. June 1, according to the Boston Police Department.

Bridgeman was last known to be wearing a gray crop top, black biker shorts, and slip-on slides.

Bridgeman is known to frequent the areas of Wainwright Park and Ginita Street in Dorchester, and police say she may be in the company of Franyelis Arias, who was also reported missing on the same day.

Arias was last seen around 7:45 a.m. that day after being dropped off at Tech Boston Academy, according to police.

Arias is known to frequent the Wainwright Park area.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to contact Boston police.

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The Bradenton Police Department is looking for Elecia Nicole Bing, 38, who was last seen with the suspect in a shooting Monday night at the Tropicana Bradenton facility and is believed to be in danger.

She is considered missing or endangered and law enforcement is concerned for her safety, according to a news release issued by the department Tuesday.

Bing was last seen leaving the Tropicana Bradenton facility with Demetrius Bell, the 50-year-old suspect who walked into the facility and shot a coworker on Monday night. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is in stable condition. Bing is also an employee at the facility.

Earlier: Police: Tropicana Bradenton employee shot by a coworker; suspect sought

More: Apartments, dining and retail slated for a Palmetto property popular among boaters

Authorities believe the two men were involved in a dispute, and Bell, who works a different shift, walked into the Tropicana Bradenton plant Monday night while the victim was working and shot him.

Warrants have been issued for Bell, who faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Bing is 5'10" about 110 lbs, and has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a yellow safety shirt and blue jeans. Bell was last seen driving a 2015 black Camaro with Florida license plate QUQF97.

Authorities ask anyone with information about Bing or Bell's whereabouts to contact Det. Jeff Beckley at 941-932-9356 or by sending an email to jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: A woman last seen the Tropicana Bradenton shooting suspect is missing
By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union countries are expected this week to agree on how to share out the responsibility of hosting refugees and migrants, a top EU official said on Tuesday of what would mark a breakthrough after years of bitter feuds within the bloc.

The EU's migration chief spoke ahead of talks between home affairs ministers of the bloc's 27 member states on Thursday. On the table is an overhaul of EU asylum rules which broke down in 2015 as more than a million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - reached the bloc across the Mediterranean.

"It's about having a European migration policy," EU migration commissioner, Ylva Johansson told reporters. "When we work together, we are so strong... This is not a zero-sum game. It's not about winners and losers."

"If we agree on a common approach to managing migration in a humane but restrictive way together, we would all be winners because we will be able to manage migration together in an orderly way."

Agreeing a joint approach has proven all but impossible for EU countries since 2015 when the sea arrivals caught them by surprise, overwhelming their reception and security capacity.

Ever since, countries of arrival like Spain, Italy, Malta and Greece have demanded more help from EU peers. The rich destination countries like Germany, France and Sweden have said they cannot be the only places where the new arrivals end up.

Bad blood spilled over as eastern EU countries like Poland and Hungary refused to host any refugees and migrants from the mainly-Muslim Middle East and North Africa.

The EU has since stepped up efforts to keep people away, with U.N. data showing fewer than 160,000 people made it across the Mediterranean last year. Nearly 2,500 died or went missing on the dangerous voyage.

But the bloc has so far failed to agree on how to share out the responsibility of caring for those who make it, differences playing out prominently as right-wing and populist parties fuelled the debate with anti-immigration rhetoric.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

At the heart of the dispute is whether all EU countries would have to host people - as long demanded by the south and the west - or would eastern states be allowed to offer money or personnel instead of taking in refugees.

Johansson said the tentative deal allowed for the latter, adding that it envisaged no "mandatory relocations" of people and that EU states could help differently.

"I actually foresee we will find a compromise along those lines," she said.

She also warned those reluctant had no veto in the majority vote, and cautioned against taking tough lines on migration for domestic political purposes.

"Without an agreement we are all losers," she said. "With an agreement, we are actually all winners, including the migrants, because when we work together, we can also welcome migrants and refugees in a more orderly way without risking their lives."

Charity Oxfam criticised the plan, saying it would perpetuate the EU's failed approach which had produced overcrowded and inadequate migration camps on the edges of Europe.

"These proposals will not fix the chronic deficiencies in the EU asylum system. Instead, they signal the EU's desire to barricade Europe from asylum-seekers," it said.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, editing by Ed Osmond)
Five people are currently awaiting execution on death penalty sentences connected to murders in Bucks County.

Which death row inmates are connected to Bucks County cases?

Richard Laird, of Bristol Township was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1987 slaying of artist Anthony Milano. Laird and accomplice Frank Chester were first convicted and sentenced in 1989 for abducting the 26-year-old Milano, forcing him into a wooded area near Venice Ashby and then hacking out his throat with a box cutter. The case was the first time in U.S. history that a killer had been sentenced to death for an anti-gay murder. A federal appeals court overturned the convictions and sentences and granted the men retrials citing errors in the first trial. A second Bucks County jury convicted Laird and handed down the death sentence. Chester cut a deal to plead guilty to murder in exchange for a life sentence.

Richard Laird walks into the courthouse in Doylestown for the beginning of his retrial in 2007. He was convicted a second time and re-sentenced to death in the 1987 murder of Anthony Milano

Robert Flor was convicted and sentenced to death in the 2005 fatal shooting of Newtown Borough police officer Brian Gregg.

Robert Flor, of Falls, was convicted in 2006 for fatally shooting Newtown Borough Officer Brian Gregg on Sept. 29, 2005 and sentenced to death. Flor had been arrested for a suspected DUI and was taken to St. Mary Medical Center for a blood alcohol test when he took an officer's weapon and started firing, killing Gregg, and wounding another officer and a hospital employee. In 2010 Flor filed a petition to overturn the death sentence, claiming he was intellectually disabled and not eligible for the death penalty; a Bucks County judge rejected the petition, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the lower court decision in 2021.

Alfonzo Sanchez seen here in 2009 at his death penalty murder trial for a double murder in Warminster.

Alfonso Sanchez, of Warminster was sentenced to death in 2008 for the 2007 double murder of Lisa Marie Diaz, 27, and Mendez Thomas Jr., 22, at the Bucks Landing apartments on Street Road. Police say Sanchez shot the victims in the head at close range during a dispute over a crack cocaine debt. A third woman was shot but survived. Police said that Sanchez and his accomplices were looking for Thomas because he allegedly owed them money, and were waiting at the apartment when Thomas showed up. Sanchez was retried in 2023 and found guilty again and re-sentenced to death.

Robert Diamond, who is accused of shooting and killing two coworkers at the Simon & Schuster warehouse in Bristol in 2008.

Robert Diamond, of Bristol, was convicted in 2009 after pleading guilty to killing two people at the Simon and Schuster warehouse in Bristol on Aug. 1, 2008. Diamond had worked as a forklift driver at Simon and Schuster. He shot Angel Guadalupe, 46, of Falls, and Reginald Woodson, 52, of Willingboro, N.J., during a midday rampage at the warehouse. The state supreme court upheld his death sentence in December 2013 Diamond is the only person sentenced to death by a Bucks County judge acting independently of a jury.

Marcel Johnson was convicted in the 2015 murders of Ebony Talley, her 4-year-old daughter R'Mani Rankins and the unborn child of Talley, who was five months pregnant

Marcel Johnson, of Bristol Township, was convicted and sentenced to death in the murders of Ebony Talley, 22, who was 5-months pregnant, and her 4-year-old daughter RMani Rankins. They were murdered in the Avalon Court Apartments in Bristol Township on Nov. 25, 2013.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Who are Bucks County murderers with death sentences in Pennsylvania
Burdened after Death: What you should know about North Carolinas autopsy crisis

A severe autopsy backlog in North Carolina has added to the financial and emotional burdens of grieving families, a Charlotte Observer and News & Observer investigation revealed.

Here are three takeaways from Burdened after Death:

 When people in North Carolina die unexpectedly, required medical investigations usually take more than 20 weeks. In nearly 1,400 cases since 2020, they took more than a year.

That crisis heaps more burdens on grieving family members during one of the worst periods of their lives. Some cant touch funds they are entitled to inherit, leaving their biggest bills unpaid. Many must wait months for the answer to a burning question: Why did their loved one die?

The system is bogged down chiefly because there are too many bodies and too few pathologists and toxicologists to handle the load.

The surging number of drug overdose deaths is partly to blame. Staff vacancies have made the problem worse. Nine of the states 16 forensic pathology positions are vacant.

Low pay has contributed to the problem. North Carolinas medical examiners office has for years operated with less funding than most other states.

Valerie Smith-Ragland holds a photo of herself and her son, Makari Jamel Smith. Makari was shot to death by sheriffs deputies in Feb. 2022 while he was suffering a schizophrenic crisis. It took more than a year for the autopsy report to be completed, and that held up insurance payments. It has put me in massive financial strain, Smith-Ragland said.

 A key reason that the autopsy backlogs have proved so devastating to families: Relatives usually cant get death certificates until the autopsy report is completed.

And without a death certificate, survivors usually cant access insurance and other assets they are due to inherit. Family members need death certificates in order to sell a house theyre due to inherit, transfer automobiles, homes and other property to surviving family members, or collect survivor benefits from a pension or social security.

 The logjam also leaves some criminals free from prosecution for months.

Authorities cant file homicide charges in some cases  including many infant deaths and suspected drug overdoses  until they know the cause of death. So when these cases are delayed for months, potentially dangerous criminals remain on the street.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

NEW YORK  Just as New Yorks theater world sashays from one end-of-season party to another, bars open at every turn, comes a gorgeously and expressionistically scored new musical from Adam Guettel, an often melancholic composer known as much for the years that flow between his shows as from being Richard Rogers immensely talented grandson.

In Days of Wine and Roses, Guettels seductive arpeggios tinkle and twinkle like ice in a class, only for the composer to follow them with cold, agonizing strings as we watch an otherwise loving marriage get blown up by booze. Its just as well this off-Broadway staging, directed in typically uncompromising fashion by Michael Greif (Rent), is performed without intermission. There would have been no line for the bar, unless you count those looking for water.

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Nobody ever intends to become an alcoholic but addiction is insidious.

Ive long been inescapably attached to Guettel; I listen to his score for The Light in the Piazza on an almost weekly basis, finding something new every time. So the first staged performance by the Atlantic Theatre of his much-anticipated score to the new stage adaptation of the stunningly artful 1962 Blake Edwards film, Days of Wine and Roses, as adapted from JP Millers 1958 teleplay of the same name, would be an occasion for something chilled and celebratory were this not a story of the destructive powers of alcoholism and its unique capacity to first animate, then preserve, and finally torpedo an upper-middle class marriage.

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You might think of this piece as the somber underbelly of Mad Men, a story of what happens when the go-go music stops. But this was 1962 and it didnt fully speak to todays language of addiction. There was blame to be attached to the husband, Joe, played on screen by Jack Lemmon, who introduces booze to the hitherto non-drinking Kirsten, played by Lee Remick, who sips a sweet cocktail one fateful night and finds she surely enjoys the sensation, even as her remote, stern father watches in dread for something he may have caused.

That pair is now essayed by Brian dArcy James, playing a Don Draper insufficiently talented to really be Don Draper, and Kelli OHara, playing a young wife who first hopes and then capitulates.

The source movie went against the grain of its day and is rightly lauded for being so prescient. As a musical, it presents a similarly obvious commercial drawback: most urbane social drinkers, aka most New York theatergoers, dont care so much to see a worst-case scenario. But Guettel and Craig Lucas, who wrote the book, cant worry about that. Addiction as something tangible is just one of the horrors that potentially await us all. Death, which obsessed Stephen Sondheim, is worse.

At this juncture, Days of Wine and Roses has beautiful performances from mature actors (Byron Jennings plays the father), whose exquisite instruments fill the tiny Atlantic theater space. It has a suite of beautiful songs, although it lacks a fully introspective, cumulative ballad for both of its lead characters, the provision of which would be a great improvement.

Some of the lyrics strike me as overly situational, although perhaps inevitably so. Still, we look to Guettel always for the big picture and alcoholism is a wonderful subject for his artistry, given its paradoxical combination of inherited vulnerability and the drinkers making of lousy choices. Those are the songs that still need to fully arrive although, heaven knows there are glimmers already: I love a bolted door, Kirsten sings as both a potential partner and a vulnerable addict. Let me in there.

Or from Joe: There is a man who loves you, as the water loves the stone and the stone adores the hillside where the wind has always blown.

Book-wise, the show struggles with something tricky for a musical, which is a story that travels on twin tracks. Whose journey are we watching? The husband feeling inestimable guilt for unleashing a demon? Or a wife in present-tense agony, losing her love, her dad, her daughter? The answer, of course, is that it cant feel like it switches rails (as it now does) but must organically be both, and that kind of coherent double-tracking, that move toward the shared circumstance of a tragic Greek couple, is what needs the most work in Lucas book. Right now, Kirsten is underwritten and under-explored, her beautiful songs notwithstanding.

In this musical form, the piece needs to lose more of the noir reality of the film and find more of an overtly theatrical metaphor on Lizzie Clachans setting. True emotional engagement only kicks in with the couples child, a heart-wrenching section of the piece still in my head as I write. But that feeling of emotional neediness, so constituent a part of the shows themes, should raise its arms much sooner and more youthfully, I think.

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Greif, both an idealist who understands connection and a chilly anti-sentimentalist, is the ideal director and his staging ideas are well on their way. Its a small cast show and perhaps could be even smaller and deeper, although it could just as well be Broadway scaled. God knows thats true of these stakes.

Days of Wine and Roses at Atlantic Theater Companys Linda Gross Theater, 336 W. 20th St., New York; atlantictheater.org

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has allotted $5 million to support those displaced by the January shootings at two farms in Half Moon Bay, some 25 miles south of San Francisco. The money is part of a series of grants totaling $16 million meant to make homeownership more accessible to California farmworkers.

These grants will help make the California Dream a reality for dozens of farmworkers by helping them become homeowners  and help them lay a foundation for future generations to build upon," Newsom said in a press release.

San Mateo County, the backdrop to the shootings that killed seven migrant farmworkers, has been working to support families left without housing or income in the aftermath.

The $5 million will be used to purchase 28 housing units, 18 of which will be prioritized for the families displaced by the shootings, according to the release. The remaining 10 will be open to other low-income farmworkers in the county.

Police cordon off the crime scene in Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images file )

The shooter at both Half Moon Bay farms was identified by authorities as Chunli Zhao, 66, himself a laborer at one of the farms. A week after the killings, advocates told NBC News that families were struggling to meet basic needs.

This mass shooting, the gun violence issue, compounds some already pretty terrible living and working conditions, Cynthia Choi, co-executive director of advocacy group Chinese for Affirmative Action, told NBC News in January after meeting with survivors. We have individuals who no longer have a place to live because they lived on the farm  Obviously, they dont want to go back.

Five of the seven killed in Half Moon Bay were Chinese farmworkers, a population that Choi said already goes unacknowledged. Without in-language support systems in the area, groups like Choi's had to fill the void in initially finding housing and food for those who were displaced.

When you think about farmworkers and migrant workers, you often dont think of Asians, Choi said. But of course we have a history of Asians who are agricultural workers, especially in California. I think locally and on the coast, theres just very little information.

The grants are meant to bridge some of that gap, according to the release.

We are so grateful to Governor Newsom and the State of California for this vital influx of resources in support of our efforts to ensure that every farm working family in Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County is living with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable housing, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller said in the release.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The offices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento are seen in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, June 5, 2023. Sixteen migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were brought to the diocese's offices on Friday, June 2, 2023, after being flown from Texas to Sacramento. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration said Tuesday that three dozen migrants whom the state flew from the U.S. southern border to California on private planes all went willingly, disputing allegations by California officials that the individuals were coerced to travel under false pretenses.

The admission of responsibility  five days after the first flight touched down in California's capital  only served to heighten tensions between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, his frequent political sparring partner.

Two planes arrived in Sacramento, on Friday and Monday, each carrying asylum-seekers mostly from Colombia and Venezuela. The individuals had been picked up in El Paso, Texas, taken to New Mexico and then put on charter flights to California's capital of Sacramento, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He is investigating whether any violations of criminal or civil law occurred.

Alecia Collins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a statement that through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California. She also shared a video compilation that appeared to show people signing consent forms and thanking officials for treating them well.

The clips had no time stamps, and Collins declined to share additional details about when and where they were recorded. Representatives from Sacramento ACT and PICO California, two religious groups helping the migrants in Sacramento, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about whether the migrants in the videos were the same as those they were helping.

Bonta told CNN late Tuesday he would be requesting that Florida turn over any video footage, unedited, that it has of the group. A spokeswoman for his office could not confirm if any of the people seen in the video were among the migrants Bonta met.

This isn't the first time DeSantis' administration has transported migrants from Texas to other states. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to the upscale Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. The move was intended to protest federal immigration policy. DeSantis has said he intends to send migrants who may end up in Florida to states that have immigrant-friendly policies, like California.

It's not clear whether Florida was the intended destination for any of the people who arrived in California. If so, they would represent just a sliver of the immigrants who arrive in Florida each year.

DeSantis signed a law providing $12 million for his migrant-relocation initiative in early May, just weeks before announcing his Republican presidential bid. He has touted the earlier migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard on the campaign trail.

Newsom, a Democrat, indicated in a tweet Monday that California may consider kidnapping charges against DeSantis. Such charges would likely be extremely difficult to prove, particularly given the migrants signed waivers.

Bonta has not directly said he is considering kidnapping charges. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas on Monday said it had recommended misdemeanor and felony charges for unlawful restraints" in the transport of migrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard. The county district attorney must decide whether to pursue those charges and against whom.

Possible charges aside, Newsom's office doubled down on its criticism of DeSantis after Florida claimed credit.

This is exploitative propaganda being peddled by a politician who has shown there are no depths he wont sink to in his desperate effort to score a political point, said Anthony York, a spokesman for Newsom.

Though Newsom has no plans to run for president in 2024, he and DeSantis have frequently used each other as political foils as they cast their own governing approach as a model for the nation. Beyond immigration policy, the two have sparred on abortion access, LGBTQ+ and civil rights, and a host of other cultural issues.

On the campaign trail, DeSantis has been eager to slap at progressive policies in Democratic strongholds such as New York and California, claiming that Floridas population boom in recent years has been driven by people fleeing blue-state policies.

DeSantis is currently positioned as the strongest alternative to former President Donald Trump in the GOPs crowded primary, although Trump maintains a big lead in early polls.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived Friday, said they told him they were approached in El Paso by two women who spoke broken Spanish and promised them jobs. The women traveled with them by land from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico, where two men then accompanied them on the flight to Sacramento. The same men were on the flight Monday, Bonta said.

He said the asylum seekers have court dates in New York, Utah and Colorado and carried a document that purports to be a consent and release form that is designed to shield Florida from liability.

Of course, whats important is what is actually said and represented and told to the individual, and weve got good indications of what that was and the fact that it was false, misleading, and deceptive, Bonta said.

His office didn't comment Tuesday following Florida's assertion that the migrants were not coerced.

Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of religious congregations in the Sacramento area, said all of the migrants had already been given pending court dates by U.S. immigration officials before they were approached in Texas by people promising jobs. Trejo said that they had been lied to and deceived.

It's not yet clear if the new arrivals in Sacramento plan to stay in California or will eventually seek to go elsewhere, advocates said. Four who arrived on the first flight on Friday have already been picked up by friends or family members, but the rest remain in the care of local advocacy groups. ___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.

___

Find more AP coverage of immigration: https://apnews.com/hub/immigration
California says second migrant plane landed in Sacramento after one linked to Florida

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said a second plane carrying migrants has landed in Sacramento, after a first flight last week was linked to Florida.

This morning, a second flight of asylum seekers touched down in Sacramento. Were investigating the circumstances by which they were brought to California. State-sanctioned kidnapping is immoral, Bonta said Monday on Twitter.

Bonta said Monday that the state of Florida appeared to be behind an initial group of South American migrants who arrived in Sacramento via a private flight last week. The migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were then taken to a local church. Business Insider reports that the migrants on the most recent flight were also carrying paperwork linked to Florida.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) a small, pathetic man over last weeks flight. This isnt Marthas Vineyard. Kidnapping charges? he asked on Twitter.

Last September, the Florida governor sent dozens of migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard, Mass., as part of a purported migrant relocation effort. The sheriffs office in Bexar County, Texas, recently filed a criminal case with the countys district attorney over the matter.

Several GOP governors have moved to bus or fly thousands migrants north to Democrat-led cities in protest of federal immigration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border.

DeSantis has yet to comment on the Sacramento flights.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
California Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted a screenshot of his state's legal code on kidnapping

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to threaten his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis with kidnapping charges Monday, as a second planeload of migrants arrived via private jet in state capital Sacramento.

The confrontation comes after DeSantis -- a rising Republican star and potential presidential candidate in 2024 -- has pursued a policy of flying migrants to Democratic-controlled states, in protest at President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

Last September, DeSantis arranged and paid for nearly 50 migrants to fly from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a wealthy resort island in the northeastern state of Massachusetts.

While Florida officials have not commented on the two recent flights to Sacramento, California officials said some of the migrants were carrying documentation "purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida."

"@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man," tweeted Newsom on Monday.

"This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?" he added, including a screenshot of California's legal code on kidnapping.

The first planeload of more than a dozen migrants, originally from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Friday.

They had crossed the United States border into Texas and were transported to New Mexico before boarding a plane.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office was "evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants."

"State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting," he said in a statement.

PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants, said the group did not know they were being taken to California, and had been approached by people offering them jobs.

A second planeload of around 20 migrants, mainly from Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Monday, the New York Times reported.

Wilkendri Rodriguez, 23, told the newspaper he had been approached by four people in El Paso, Texas and asked if he wanted to go to California.

"I don't know what is their motivation to organize these trips," he said. "I don't know if it's political, or part of the government. They didn't tell us anything."

A California Department of Justice official told US media it appeared the same company, Vertol Systems, as well as the state of Florida, had been involved in both operations.

DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the flights.

Separately on Monday, a Texas sheriff investigating the migrant flights last September from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard recommended criminal charges.

A criminal investigation found the migrants were lured onto flights with false promises of jobs and opportunities on the other end, according to the Miami Herald.

amz/bfm
Calls for womans arrest grow after the fatal shooting of her neighbor in Florida

Calls are growing for the arrest of a woman accused of shooting her neighbor Friday, June 2, in Florida in an incident a nationally renowned civil rights attorney described as an unjustified killing.

The children of the victim, identified as Ajike AJ Owens, were playing in a field near an apartment complex in Ocala when, attorney Ben Crump said, an unidentified white woman, 58, began yelling at them to get off her land and calling them racial slurs.

According to Crumps statement, after the woman yelled slurs at Owens children, they accidentally left an iPad behind, which the woman took.

When one of Owens children went to retrieve it, she threw it, hitting the boy and cracking the screen. Owens walked across the street to speak to her neighbor after she learned what happened, Crump said.

She knocked on the door, and at that point, the woman allegedly shot through the door, hitting AJ, who later died from her injuries, Crump said.

At a news conference Monday, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods did not confirm or reject Crumps account, telling reporters he was not going to stand here and tell you what theyre putting out there is inaccurate. Its just I dont know yet.

Heres what the sheriff said he does know:

There had been a long-standing neighborhood feud between the shooter and Owens about her children.

The children may have been hit by an unspecified object. Was something thrown at them? Yes, but not directly at them of what were being told now, Woods said. It just unfortunately may have hit them. He added: The children are a big part of answering a lot our questions.

When Owens came to the shooters door, there was a heated exchange. Owens was shot through the door.

At least two of Owens four children may have witnessed the shooting, which occurred about 9 p.m.

Woods promised Owens family his office will provide all resources available to seek justice in the case.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, he said, adding investigators are trying to determine whether Floridas stand your ground law applies in the shooting.

In general, Floridians can defend themselves with deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger or death  and not only when they are inside their homes. A person being threatened is not required to try to flee.

That law has specific instructions for us and law enforcement, and any time that we think or perceive or believe that ... might come into play, we cannot make an arrest, Woods said. The law specifically says that, and what we have to rule out is whether the deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest.

At a news conference Monday afternoon at New St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Ocala, Owens mother, Pamela Dias, said her daughter was acting as a protective mother when she went to her neighbors home looking for answers about why she treated her children like she did.

The mother, the protector of her children, she wanted to know why this happened. A closed, locked door. The door never opened. My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her. She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone, Dias said.

The Marion County NAACP president, Bishop J. David Stockton III, said the shooting is just the latest case of Black people living their lives only to be met by unreasonable violence.

The truth is weve gotten to a point where Black folks are almost living in a day where we are afraid to go outside, he said. Our children and adults deserve to live in a world where they do not live in fear of their neighbors.

Attorney Anthony D. Thomas, who represents the Owens family, said the community is closely watching how the sheriffs office handles the investigation.

We need an arrest, Thomas said. Make no mistake about it. We do support our sheriff. But at the same time, we want him to do the job that he promised that he would do, and we want swift justice.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Four peregrine chicks have fledged successfully after falling on to a city centre street on their first attempts.

Saimon Clark, who has documented the birds, said "several people" sometimes visited Cambridge city centre at 05:00 BST hoping to see them fledge the nest.

Fledging is when young birds feathers have developed and they attempt to fly.

There have been people "on hand to help" put them back in their nest after their initial struggles to stay airborne, Mr Clark said.

He said this pair of adult peregrines first came to Cambridge in 2014 and reared a chick in 2015.

He said he did not want to disclose the precise nesting location, because of the birds' status as a protected species.

Saimon Clark has posted updates and pictures of the Cambridge peregrine chicks over the past month on Twitter.

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire he had been visiting the birds to "document what's going on and share the news" about them.

The final chick fledged from its rooftop on Monday at about 17:00, he said, where it "fell on to the street and lots of people went running after it to save it".

The 4th chick to fledge the nest has also flown from the roof. It was seen on an aerial in Corpus and then moved a short distance to the turret. The first two birds to fledge have been playing hide and seek on new museum sit, this is when it really pays to look up to find them. pic.twitter.com/bnKVfR2gXS  Cambridge Peregrines (@camperegrines) June 6, 2023

Mr Clarke said: "If they get it right, they're OK, but with the wind direction and the height of the nest, they do tend to slip out of the nest and fall to the street.

"They don't hurt themselves, but as long as someone's there to rescue them, they're fine."

He said fledging could be an undignified process, he said, but "normally after the second flight from the top of the roof, they're fine".

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830
FILE - A seal hunter drags a harp seal back to his snowmobile during the annual seal hunt on an ice floe on April 2, 2005, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. A Canadian company has pleaded guilty Monday, June 5, 2023, to violating federal law by illegally selling seal oil capsules to American customers. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A Canadian company has pleaded guilty to violating federal law by illegally selling seal oil capsules to American customers.

The oil is made from the blubber of seals and sold as a nutritional supplement with a promise of containing healthy fats. The company, FeelGood Natural Health Stores of Whitby, Ontario, sold and transported capsules made from harp seals, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday.

The company's actions are illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it unlawful to transport or sell any marine mammal or byproducts for most commercial purposes. The act protects the harp seal throughout its range, including the North Atlantic and Artic oceans and the waters off New England.

FeelGood shipped more than 900 bottles of the capsules worth more than $10,000 to the U.S. from 2019 to 2021, the Justice Department said.

"The illegal importation of marine mammal products not only violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act but also jeopardizes the safety of protected species such as harp seals, said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, which prosecuted the case.

Harp seals are listed as a special species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, though their population declined to low levels in the 1960s due to hunting. They now have a global population of about 7 million, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They have been hunted off of Canada for thousands of years.

FeelGood entered its plea on Monday and will be sentenced on Sept. 28. Representatives for the company did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The company pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which combats wildlife trafficking, in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A plea agreement states that the company will pay a fine of $20,000 and face three years of probation, during which it must create and implement a compliance plan, train employees and cooperate with the U.S. government, the Justice Department said. The maximum sentence for the charge of violating the Lacey Act, is a $500,000 fine and five years probation, the department said.

The Justice Department said FeelGood sold the seal oil capsules via its own website and a third-party platform. The company's website describes it as a worldwide shipper of supplements and natural remedies. Seal oil products were still on the company's website on Tuesday and were marked with a notice that they cannot be shipped to the U.S.

When it was shipping the seal oil to the U.S., the company sent it direct from Canada or through fulfillment centers run by a third party in the U.S., the Justice Department said. In some instances, it sent the items to a covert U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, the Justice Department said.

Our wildlife laws were passed to ensure the continued existence and enjoyment of these natural resources for future generations, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The Amarillo City Council runoff candidates participated in the Freedom First of West Texas candidate forum Thursday at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens in front of a sparse but enthusiastic crowd.

Candidates from each place were asked a series of questions to give voters a clearer idea of where they stand on issues that could be faced by the council. All candidates portrayed themselves as Christian conservatives with truly little differentiation in policy ideas overall.

Adrian Avila, president of Freedom First of West Texas addresses the audience during the June 1 Amarillo City Council Candidate Forum at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens.

For Place 1 candidates, Dean Crump and Josh Craft led off the discussion and took questions on their priorities. Crump made infrastructure his top priority, citing the recent flooding that the citys drainage has not been able to handle with the steady rain.

Candidate for Amarillo City Council Place 1, Dean Crump addresses the audience at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens at the June 1 candidate forum.

I think if you look outside, you can see our issues with drainage, Crump said. Our playa lakes are full, and if we get more rain today, there will be floods. We are not able to pump the water out to these lakes as fast as needed; we have an aging infrastructure.

His opponent in the race, Craft, spoke about public safety being his priority.

Candidate for Amarillo City Council Place 1, Josh Craft, addresses the audience at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens at the June 1 candidate forum.

"If we do not have a safe community, we do not have anything at all, Craft said. I am a big believer if we can do the small things right, the big things will follow. Being in public service for the past 10 years, I see what it is going to take to create a safer city.

Asked to differentiate themselves as candidates, Craft said that his experience in public service makes him stand out. Crump cited his vast experience in business, especially with budgets and his service on the Kids Inc. Board as reasons for him to be the choice.

When the candidate forum moved to the Place 4 candidates, an awkward question was asked about the Texas House Bill 2127, which would restrict cities from having separate rules and regulations as the state. The bill is considered vague by many in office, but it is argued that it combats cities like Amarillo from passing sweeping measures such as Amarillos defeated plan to finance the civic center.

Candidate for Amarillo City Council Place 4, Les Simpson addresses the audience at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens at the June 1 candidate forum.

Place 4 runoff candidates Claudette Smith and Les Simpson understandably were not completely familiar with the bill, since both candidates are studying to serve the city.

Both candidates were asked about what strategies each would engage with the residents of Amarillo to get their input for measures to come before the city council.

What I have done in this campaign is knock on over 1,000 doors, Simpson said. "I have talked to people one on one and spent hours and hours speaking to hundreds of voters. If you want to find out what voters think, that is the way to do it.

Simpson said that he would like to hold more town halls and make it easier for voters to express their opinions to him.

Candidate for Amarillo City Council Place 4, Claudette Smith addresses the audience at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens at the June 1 candidate forum.

Smith said that she has spent the last seven years talking to several thousands of residents and business owners, and she plans to do the same while in the office.

It is important that you continue that boots-on-the-ground method after you are elected to office, Smith said. It is important that we stay out in the community and keep that open line of communication with our taxpayers because it is their money, after all.

Candidate for Amarillo City Council Place 4, Claudette Smith addresses the audience at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens at the June 1 candidate forum.

Smith said her vision for Amarillo was to restore trust in city government in all aspects of city government. Her opponent Simpson said that his focus was on letting the community know the city's real problems.

Both candidates felt that more should be done for underserved communities in the city, with Smith differentiating that the city has had pet projects and needs to fund growth, while Simpson said more law enforcement is necessary to help those communities.

Early voting for the Amarillo Council runoff starts June 12 and lasts until June 20. Election Day is June 24.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 4 Amarillo City Council runoff candidates answer questions at forum
LA Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho wants to dramatically increase the number of high schools offering prestigious online college courses for the fall to boost enrollment and increase pathways to college  but so far the goal is elusive.

In an interview with LA School Report in early May, Carvalho said he was confident 30 schools will offer classes in partnership with the National Education Equity Lab  a not-for-profit program that brings remote classes taught by professors and facilitated by high school teachers to low-income schools across the country.

As of last week, 15 LAUSD high schools had signed up, according to officials at the National Education Equity Lab. But an LAUSD spokesperson said just 10 schools are registered to offer the classes.

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Now that we have an established footprint, we can rapidly scale up, Carvalho said early last month. And I see no problem with actually reaching that goal  considering the needs and demands so far, [the] goal of 30 is a very tangible goal and aligned with our strategic plan goals that are rapidly expansive, high-level choice opportunities for students.

When Carvalho first arrived in 2022, seven schools offered National Education Equity Lab courses, he said. This past semester, classes were offered at nine schools, said John Dixon, the National Education Equity Labs senior director of high school partnerships.

High schools have until the end of June to sign up to offer the classes, said Dixon.

Last year, Carvalho said he planned to forcefully expand the districts partnership with the National Education Equity Lab. At the time, he lauded the partnership as a way to bring families back into L.A. Unified and boost enrollment. For the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment dipped by nearly 2%  a continued decline from recent years but not as bad as the 4.1% drop that was projected.

Carvalho told LA School Report he sees the partnership as a way to guarantee students have increased graduation rates, opportunities for academic enrichment and post-secondary success.

National Education Equity Lab provides just that, he said. Our students really have an opportunity to catapult ahead through meaningful, high-level, rigorous coursework. It also allows them to experience and visualize what their post-secondary careers can be through college instructors through the support of Los Angeles Unified staff.

Related LA Looks to Expand Popular Math Program Without Clear Evidence of Effectiveness

At the Miami-Dade County school district, Carvalho doubled the number of schools in partnership with the National Education Equity Lab from 11 high schools to more than 20.

LAUSDs partnership with the not-for-profit began in 2019, but was formalized last November with a contract that will expire in 2025. Five different courses were offered through the partnership last year including Introduction to Computer Science through Stanford University, Map of the Modern World through Georgetown University and Introduction to Microeconomics through Barnard College.

Earlier this year, the National Education Equity Lab announced a partnership with the University of California system.

Now that the contract is in place, there is a formal process for incorporating National Education Equity Lab courses into school schedules for students to choose from and receive high school and college credit, according to Dixon.

Prior to the contract, there had been issues with classes not being offered in some master course lists or during the school day, leading to the most motivated students signing up and some teachers being the ones to select their own students.

Last year, LAUSD and National Education Equity Lab officials promised that all partnership classes in the 2022-2023 would be held during the school day in order to be accessible to all students. However, at Santee High School courses remain outside of school hours, according to Dixon.

The expectation at the lab is that 100% of our schools are going to offer the courses during the school day, Dixon said. Depending on if there are some challenges with teacher capacity or teacher shortages, there are times when we might have to make an exception  that was the case for Santee, but we are working with the district and with the school to ensure that all of our schools in LA are running the courses during the school day.

Carvalho said the early scheduling kink, which was partially there because of time zone differences, has been worked through.

We were able to iron out those challenges and we have not had a challenge since then, he said.

Dixon said that one of the major obstacles the district and National Education Equity Lab have had to work through is ensuring that university timelines for approving courses align with when students need to select courses and enroll. Carvalho said the districts ability to scale up the program is limited only by the slots available from partnered universities, but he hopes it becomes a major facet of the districts strategic plan.

It is ultimately our goal to ensure that every single high school students in every single high school has an opportunity to enroll in high level, rigorous coursework that allows them to graduate on time but also simultaneously earn college credit  whether that is through dual enrollment programs here locally, through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or the National Education Equity Lab offerings, he said.

Earlier this year, an LAUSD senior enrolled in a Stanford computer science course through the National Education Equity Lab earned the highest score in the nation and received college credit she will use in her plans to enroll in a university next fall.

At the end of the day, what this comes down to is really helping our scholars see themselves and the opportunities that they have available to them and expanding what they know to be possible for themselves, for others within their communities, said Ariel Murphy Bedford, the chief academic and impact officer at the National Education Equity Lab. Ninety-nine percent of our teachers who weve surveyed have mentioned that offerings have prepared their students to be ready for college level work.

This article is part of a collaboration between The 74 and the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism.
New signs outlining risk of wildfires have been put up in the Manx countryside

People on the Isle of Man have been urged not to light campfires or barbecues in the countryside.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) said the recent dry weather conditions meant there was "a heightened risk of wildfires".

A DEFA spokesman said people were being asked to "act responsibly" to reduce "the risk of fire related incidents".

New signage had been put up as reminders of the dangers of lighting fires in forests and glens, he said.

Residents and visitors should continue exploring the countryside, but not light disposable barbecues or camp stoves or set campfires, and dispose of cigarettes in a proper manner, he said.

A QR code on signs can be scanned to see the island's green lanes and greenway map

People have also been warned to stick to marked green lanes and greenway roads when accessing vantage points on the TT Course to avoid damaging the terrain and disturbing wildlife in the uplands.

New signs featuring a QR code have been put up to give those out in the countryside access information about the island's green lanes and a greenway map, which includes routes in the vicinity of the TT course.

Some parts of the uplands are Areas of Special Scientific Interest, and those anyone who drives an off-road motorbike, all-terrain vehicle like a quad bike, or 4x4 anywhere other than in designated areas could face prosecution.

"The risk posed by travelling off-piste is very high to this significantly important environment and the species which call it home," a DEFA spokesman said.

"This is a particularly sensitive time of year for wildlife especially for protected ground nesting birds including hen harrier and curlew," he added.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where a Cessna Citation crashed over mountainous terrain near Montebello, Va., June 4, 2023. (Randall K. Wolf/AP)

WASHINGTON  Only minutes into a doomed journey that ended on a remote Virginia mountain, the pilot of a business jet was not responding to air traffic control instructions and the situation was soon reported to a network that includes military, security and law enforcement agencies, according to federal aviation officials.

Despite being out of contact on its ascent Sunday afternoon, the jet that had just taken off from a Tennessee airport continued toward its intended destination on New Yorks Long Island, then turned to fly back to Virginia where it slammed into a mountain, killing the four people aboard.

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Family and friends identified two of the victims as an entrepreneur known in New York real-estate circles and her 2-year-old daughter.

Outside aviation experts continued to speculate that the pilot likely lost consciousness from a lack of oxygen inside the jet when it climbed above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), the altitude that typically requires cabin pressurization.

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The most likely scenario right now is a pressurization failure or a mis-setting of the pressurization system, said Alan Diehl, an aviation psychologist who previously worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Air Force. In the late 1960s, Diehl also helped design the original model of the plane, the Cessna Citation, that crashed in Virginia.

Its unclear when the pilot stopped responding to air traffic controllers. But their last attempt to reach him occurred 15 minutes after takeoff, according to the FAA.

The plane could have surpassed 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) in just a few minutes, Diehl said. However, the pilot may have had to wait for some period of time after takeoff before he was cleared for higher altitudes.

Depending on the jets altitude as well as the pilots age and health, he likely had minutes  or even less than a minute  to react as his brain suffered a decline in oxygen, Diehl said.

The one other thing that they probably cant eliminate at this point is some kind of medical issue, Diehl said.

A heart attack, brain aneurysm and over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, can affect a pilots ability to fly the airplane and recognize there may be a problem with the cabins oxygen levels and pressurization.

Fighter jet pilots sent to intercept the business jet reported that its pilot appeared slumped over and unresponsive, three U.S. officials said Monday. The officials had been briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation.

The plane took an erratic flight path  turning around over Long Island to fly directly over the nations capital  which prompted the military to scramble fighter jets. This caused a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

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John Rumpel, the owner of the plane, said his daughter, Adina Azarian, 2-year-old granddaughter, Aria, and the girls nanny were the victims, along with the pilot. He said they were returning to their home on Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina.

Rumpel told The Associated Press on Tuesday that new radios had been installed in the plane two or three weeks ago and the aircraft was equipped with emergency oxygen. Rumpel said he also believes the pilot, who he identified as Jeff Hefner, probably lost consciousness from a lack of oxygen. Rumpel said Hefner had recently had a physical and he was not aware of any concerning medical conditions.

He was top shelf, absolutely top shelf. I wouldnt have had my daughter and my grandbaby fly with him if he wasnt, Rumpel said Tuesday.

Rumpel said he wonders if a flashing light on the plane that should have warned the pilot that he was losing oxygen somehow malfunctioned.

To the best of my knowledge, the emergency masks never dropped, he said.

Rumpel also said it is common practice for pilots to put their destination, along with an emergency return destination into the auto pilot system, which he said would explain why the plane turned around and headed south again once it flew over its destination of MacArthur Airport on Long Island. He said the emergency return destination would have been the airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, where the flight took off from.

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On Monday, it took investigators several hours to hike into the rural area where the plane crashed about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Charlottesville. They expected to be on the scene for at least three to four days.

Diehl, the aviation psychologist, said investigators often dig deeply into a pilots background following a crash. For instance, did he or she have training in the military to recognize the signs of low-cabin pressure? Were they a risk taker? What were the results of their last flight physical?

Investigators will also review the recordings of the pilots last communications with air traffic control. Theyll check for a change in speech patterns, such as slower talking, that could indicate low-oxygen levels. But testing oxygen levels in blood and human tissue could be unlikely given the high impact of the crash, Diehl said.

At a briefing Monday, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is highly fragmented and investigators will examine the most delicate evidence at the site, after which the wreckage will be moved, perhaps by helicopter, to Delaware, where it can be further examined. It was not clear if the plane had a flight data recorder. A preliminary report will be released in 10 days.

The Virginia State Police said human remains will be brought to the state medical examiners office for autopsy and identification. Authorities said the victims included the pilot and three passengers. There were no survivors.

The plane took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. Sunday. Air Traffic Control lost communication with the airplane during its ascent, according to the NTSB.

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Preliminary information indicates the last air traffic control communication attempt with the airplane was at approximately 1:28 p.m., when the plane was at 31,000 feet (9,449 meters), the NTSB said. About eight minutes later, the FAA reported the situation to the Domestic Events Network, which includes military, national security, homeland security and other law enforcement agencies.

The plane flew directly over the nations capital. According to the Pentagon, six F-16 fighter jets were deployed to intercept the plane, including two from a base in Maryland, two from New Jersey and two from South Carolina.

The plane climbed to 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers), where it remained for the rest of the flight until 3:23 p.m. when it began to descend and crashed about nine minutes later, according to the NTSB.

Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Associated Press writer Denise Lavoie contributed from Richmond, Virginia. Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York, and White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- The Confederation of British Industry faces a crunch vote over its future on Tuesday amid a war of words with one of the business lobby groups biggest rivals.

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The CBI, which risks collapse triggered by a sexual assault scandal, has asked its members to support a reform program aimed at winning back trust. Dozens of the UKs largest companies have suspended engagement with the group following a series of allegations from CBI staff, including two who said they were raped by colleagues.

At the start of the most critical week in its history, the CBI was threatened by an initiative by another business group. The British Chambers of Commerce announced plans to form a business council including founder members such as BP Plc and London Heathrow Airport.

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, said that companies were looking for a change and now is the right time to speak up.

Tables Turned

CBI Director General Rain Newton-Smith said Tuesday morning that the timing of the BCCs move has actually raised a few eyebrows. She told the BBCs Today program that the rival business group lacks the CBIs depth of experience with economic surveys and policy analysis.

Karan Bilimoria, the Cobra Beer entrepreneur and former president of the CBI and who remains on the board, said he was confident of a clear sign of confidence and support from members. However, he added that had the tables been turned, I would be doing my best to support my fellow business organizations, not trying to take advantage of any difficulties that they are going through.

During a phone interview, Bilimoria said: So I was very disappointed to hear and read what I read.

Richard Burge, chief executive officer of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a statement Monday that for too long, businesses have been constrained by a form of policy monoculture, where one overarching organization has monopolized engagement with government. He said he welcomed the BCCs initiative.

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The government suspended all engagement with the CBI in April, depriving the group of one of its core strengths  a history of meeting ministers and civil servants to present its analysis of key policy areas.

Why wont you speak to us? Newton-Smith asked during Tuesdays interview with the BBC. We need to have a moment when we can move forward. She said the government and opposition parties had seen the CBI work effectively in the recent past, citing the furlough scheme developed during the pandemic.

Some of Britains biggest and best-known businesses have quit the CBI, including John Lewis Partnership Plc and NatWest Group Plc.

All of the so-called Big Four audit firms have turned their backs on the group. A spokesperson for KPMG said its membership had elapsed on June 1 and that it wouldnt attend the vote. EY terminated its membership in April and Deloitte withdrew from the group last month. PwC suspended engagement with the CBI and is not taking part in the vote.

Read More: Big Business Shuns CBI Groups Crucial Vote on Its Future

The CBI needs more than 50% of votes to support its program, with members receiving one vote each.

At its extraordinary general meeting, Newton-Smith will directly address members. Ive seen what we can achieve, and how powerful we can be in driving change, she is expected to say according to released extracts. Even our competitor groups have admitted they cant match all that.

CBI members will be asked to vote on whether the changes give them the confidence they need to support the CBI. The result is expected between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

(Updates with comments from CBI boss and other details from fourth paragraph.)

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As controversy and confusion continue to surround rules around how retail store workers should handle the shoplifting epidemic, the California state senate last week passed SB 553, which would prohibit retailers from requiring staff to confront people trying to steal.

The move comes in response to a rash of incidences where sales associates trying to stop shoplifters has led to escalating situations, sometimes with fatal outcomes.

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It also comes as a new National Retail Federation study finds that shoplifting is becoming an existential threat to brick-and-mortar commerce altogether and consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the growing problem of retail crime.

The study found that 55 percent of consumers say they believe retail crime has increased since the start of the Covid pandemic. Among the 5,031 consumers polled, 64 percent say they are concerned about gang-led shoplifting, a number that goes up to 75 percent in urban areas. Three out of four said they have shopped in stores where merchandise has been kept under lock and key, 79 percent believe retail theft affects the cost of items in stores and 51 percent believe the police and courts have been too lenient on shoplifters.

Meanwhile, another retail trade organization, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, hired Khris Hamlin as its new VP of asset protection. Hamlin comes over from VP of loss prevention and logistics operations for Saks Off 5th after holding similar positions with Nordstrom, Belk and Macys.

With experience working in-house at several retailers, Khris knows firsthand the complex and evolving role of asset protection professionals, said RILA senior executive VP, retail operations Lisa LaBruno. Among the many challenges retailers face, addressing organized retail crime and workplace safety has never been more critical for retailers and the communities we serve.

Passed in the senate, the California bill heads to the assembly, where if passed and then signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it would authorize labor unions to seek temporary restraining orders on behalf of employees based on workplace violence or credible threats of violence. It also would prohibit employers from maintaining policies that require employees to confront active shooters or suspected shoplifters.

The bills sponsor, Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), said the bill was motivated by recent tragic incidences at California Walgreens and Home Depot, where a shoplifter at the former and an employee at the latter tried to stop shoplifters, per company policy in each case.

Workplace violence has hit extreme levels in California. My SB 553 will reduce these types of terrible incidents by giving employees the support they need to stay safe.



Smart coverage of this issue by @kron4news: https://t.co/TjcrKtX3pw  Senator Dave Cortese (@SenDaveCortese) June 3, 2023

With growing awareness of workplace violence, California needs smarter guidelines to keep workers safe in the office or on the job site, Cortese wrote on his website. Under my SB 553, employers would be prohibited from forcing their workers to confront active shoplifters, and all retail employees would be trained on how to react to active shoplifting. The legislation has other provisions that keep people safe at work. Lets take every reasonable step to prevent another workplace assault or shooting.

The California Chamber of Commerce, however, has reservations about the measure.

Californias employersboth public and privateshould be very concerned about SB 553 because it requires all employers to meet workplace violence standards that exceed even those applied to hospitals under present regulations, the organizations policy advocate Rob Moutri said in a statement. Cal/OSHA staff specifically rejected using the hospital standard for all industries, and have spent years working on a general industry draft that makes sense for all of Californias workplaces. Sadly, SB 553 ignored those years of work and applies the hospital standardwith a few additional provisionsto even the smallest employer in the state.

Meanwhile, the shoplifting scourge rages on. A manager of a Ross Dress for Less store in Denver told CBS News Colorado that her store is hit as many as four times a day. Ross has a no-confrontation policy on shoplifters, who were filmed on Tik Tok loading duffel bags full of fragrances.

Were not allowed to touch them, follow them, or we are putting our job in jeopardy. We dont even intimidate them at this pointthey just come in here, get what they want, then they leave. We cant touch them, cant grab anything from their hands, cant put ourselves in jeopardy, the manager told the outlet.

That frustration drove a pair of Lululemon employees in the Atlanta area to film and tell shoplifters to get out as they took handfuls of clothing out of the store with them. Both employees were fired for violating Lululemon policies of not confronting and not filming shoplifters at work.

Click here to read the full article.
South Carolina-based Frothy Beard Brewing Co.  known for hosting fun events such as drag shows, NerdFest for gamers and cosplayers and Killer Queen League arcade play  is expanding to Charlotte in August.

We are beyond excited to bring Frothy Beard to Charlotte, co-owner Michael Biondi told CharlotteFive. We are a community focused brewery and taproom that combines quality beer, great food and unique events in order to just have fun mixed with a bit of nostalgia for the 80s, 90s and nerd culture. With the new brewing space we will have the opportunity to add some fun new beers to our list for Charlotte to taste alongside our core beers and our specialty brews coming out of Charleston!

The brewery got its start in Charleston and has a location in Summerville. Axios Charlotte first reported the news. In Charlotte, it will be moving in to the former Bhramari Brewing Co. spot in South End.

The food menus will be similar to the brewerys Charleston offerings, with burgers and salads, pizzas and wings. Look for specialty pies such as the Bacon & Brussels ($15), with an olive oil and garlic base, mozzarella, Brussels sprouts, bacon and balsamic glaze, along with build-your-own pizzadillas.

Location: 1200 S Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Menu

Cuisine: American, bar food, pizza

Instagram: @frothybeardbrewing, @frothybeardcharlotte
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley is leaving her position as the State Departments first chief diversity and inclusion officer.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked the longtime diplomat in a statement Tuesday announcing her departure.

The only way to ensure our foreign policy delivers for the American people is to recruit and retain a workforce that truly reflects the American people, he said.

Thanks to Ginas leadership, the Department has made significant progress to live up to our commitment to create a more inclusive workplace, he added.

Blinken tapped Abercrombie-Winstanley to be the departments first chief diversity officer in April 2021.

Abercrombie-Winstanley has 30 years of experience working in foreign services and served as the deputy coordinator for counterterrorism during the George W. Bush administration.

Abercrombie-Winstanleys hiring was part of an effort by the Biden administration to address the issue of minority representation in the government, as the State Department has come under fire to improve its own record of retaining and promoting foreign and civil service officers from minority groups.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Children's camps in Kyiv to welcome 100 kids from Kherson  Kyiv Mayor

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko has promised to help residents of Kherson Oblast who have been affected by the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on 6 June. Kyiv will welcome and offer rehabilitation to 100 children from Kherson in its childrens camps.

Source: Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko on Telegram

Quote from Klitschko: "Kyiv will offer all the help it can to cities critically affected by the Russian occupation forces blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP dam and the water released from the Kakhovka reservoir as a result.

I spoke with the Secretary of Kherson City Council, Halyna Luhova. We agreed that [Kyiv] will welcome and offer rehabilitation to 100 children from Kherson in its childrens camps. We have started organising this."

Children evacuating from Kherson Oblast. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Children evacuating from Kherson Oblast.

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Details: Kyiv is also assisting Kherson residents via the association of Ukrainian cities; the capital has received a list of Khersons most pressing needs from the associations Kherson Oblast branch.

"We are currently determining which of the listed types of equipment we can provide quickly; we are particularly looking to offer motor pumps and watercraft. We will also send food and drinking water," Klitschko added.

Previously: Kyiv Mayor said earlier that the explosion at the Kakhovka HPP will not affect Kyivs water supply.

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(Bloomberg) -- Chiles finance minister said the governments broadened tax reform push was well received by one of the countrys most influential business organizations, as crucial talks continue on the legislation.

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The administrations fiscal pact not only focuses on how funds from a reform would be used, but also considers points such as how public spending can be made more efficient and tools to evaluate the impact from any policy changes, Mario Marcel told reporters Tuesday after a meeting with business chamber CPC.

This fiscal pact goes beyond tax reform, Marcel said. What we are doing is, on the basis of this design, we are identifying points where theres more agreement between different groups.

Chile President Gabriel Boric said his administration will present a new tax reform bill to the Senate at the end of next month after the lower house of Congress unexpectedly rejected the previous proposal in March. The government is counting on the overhaul to finance a progressive social agenda. Marcel said part of the talks now focus on what parts of the proposal that was shot down will be removed, modified or kept in tact.

Read more: Chiles Boric Outlines Fresh Tax Reform Push for Social Agenda

Borics administration is aware that it has to be flexible, and that it will not be able to include all the points that it wants in the revamped tax legislation, Marcel said.

The government also sees tax reform as an opportunity to reduce uncertainty and create favorable investment conditions, Marcel said. Talks will continue both with the CPC and other organizations, he added.

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China Youth Unemployment

Chinese youth flock a job fair in Chongqing Municipality on April 11, 2023. Credit - Zhao JunchaoFeature China/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Jason Lus parents never went to university. So when the 25-year-old was accepted into a masters program studying translation in Shanghai, they were very proud, he says, hoping that his qualifications would one day lead to a good job. They are getting older and older and want me to look after them.

However, due to a terrible jobs market, as Lu puts it, he is delaying looking for work and instead applying for scholarships to gain a PhD. In April, youth unemployment in China hit a record high with 20.4% of 16- to 24-year-old jobseekers unable to find work. Compounding matters, some 11.6 million students are set to graduate this month, entering a labor market that looks increasingly bleak. Most of my classmates are very anxious, says Lu.

Lus experience underscores a twin economic challenge that China is facingan aging population and young people unable to find work who are expected to care for them. By 2035, around 400 million Chinese people will be aged 60 and over, or some 30% of the population. Last year, deaths outnumbered births for the first time since 1961, further graying the nations demographic balance.

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Meanwhile, the ratio of workers to dependents is growing even more unfavorable as an estimated 228 million members of Chinas baby boom generation from 1963-72 will retire over the decade. Last year, China had 2.26 working-age people supporting each seniorbut that is forecast to drop to 1.25 by 2042. It promises to unleash an unprecedented burden on young people like Lu, who like most of his peers is an only child. My generation feels a mounting pressure from jobs and our family, he says.

Read More: Why One of Chinas Largest Provinces Is Lifting Birth LimitsEven for Unmarried Parents

But while raising retirement ages is a clearalbeit controversialoption to mitigate the problem, providing jobs for Chinese graduates is a more complex and acute challenge. China suffers from a skills mismatch meaning factories have faced worker shortages while graduates are bereft of opportunities that match their proficiency.

Youth unemployment is a more pressing issue than the aging population, says Keju Jin, an associate professor at the London School of Economics and author of The New China Playbook. The 1.1% annual reduction in the labor force doesnt compare to the fact that the most productive and highly-educated generation cannot find jobs.

The crisis has led to an outpouring of sardonic grumblings on Chinese social media and the inevitable pushback from officials. In March, the Communist Youth League urged young Chinese to take off their suits, roll up their sleeves, and go to the farmland, while Chinese President Xi Jinping weighed in by saying new graduates must eat bitterness, a colloquial expression for stoically enduring hardships.

It certainly leaves a sour taste for a Confucian society that invests huge sums in education in the firm belief that its the surest path to success. My parents dont want me to work in their factory, says Lu. I have a masters degree, they want me to work in an office or as a teacher.

Youth joblessness reinforces growing discontent over a lack of social mobility in China. Office workers especially in the tech industry are expected to toil for long hours in whats dubbed 9969am to 9pm, six days a weekwith no overtime and paltry leave entitlements. Its contributed to a phenomenon known as lying flat, where young workers become so disillusioned by their torpid career advancement that they simply do the bare minimum just to keep getting paid.

Policy blunders have exacerbated the problem. In 2021, the government suddenly banned for-profit tutoring, wiping out a $150 billion industry as well as a key revenue stream that allowed young graduates to support themselves while looking for work more attuned to their chosen careers. A regulatory crackdown on Chinas tech industry contributed to tens of thousands of layoffs and a lull in graduate programs.

Its especially problematic because young people in China account for nearly 20% of consumption, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis, meaning youth joblessness disproportionately impacts growth targets and the nations coffers. Chinas basic pension fund for urban employees had sufficient reserves to cover 18.5 months of benefits in 2012 but only 11.2 months in 2021. The grim economic outlook has already prompted local governments to slash social services, sparking rare public protests earlier this year in cities such as Wuhan and Dalian.

Proposals to raise retirement ages are seen as inevitable by demographers and policymakers yet remain deeply unpopular among ordinary Chinese (as they do across the globe). We will conduct careful studies and thorough analysis to roll out the [retirement age] policy prudently in due course, new Premier Li Qiang told a press conference in March following Chinas annual National Peoples Congress rubberstamp parliament.

An obvious answer is to channel some of the $3.1 trillion that China holds in foreign exchange reserves back into social programs where its most needed. Of course, there are a lot of vested interests that dont want their money being pumped into pension funds, says Jane Golley, an expert on Chinese economics at the Australian National University. Then its a question of government effectivenesstheir capacity to actually do what needs to be done.

Still, tackling youth unemployment remains a trickier issue. The Chinese government is already pivoting towards vocational training and expanding the service sector, which accounts for less than half of jobs in China compared with roughly 80% in Japan and the U.S. Its an unfortunate reality that graduates will have to lower their standards and work in sectors that they wouldnt necessarily have aspired to, says Golley.

Lu says hes unable to afford the roughly $1 million rmb [$140,000] he would need to pay for his own four-year doctorate, so if he cant secure funding, hell be forced to take whatever work he can get. I can find a job, but I dont think it will make me content, he says. We want to fulfill our dreams.
[Source]

China is drilling a hole into the Earths crust in the Taklimakan Desert in Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang province to explore and study the unknown.

About the project: China National Petroleum Corporation, the country's largest oil producer, is heading the project, which began on Tuesday. Scientists aim to pierce through more than 10 layers of the Earth's crust with a planned depth of over 10,000 meters (approximately 32,808 feet or 6.2 miles) to reach the Cretaceous system, which consists of stratified rocks dating back 145 million years.

The project is expected to take 457 days and will use underground drilling technologies and equipment that weigh more than 2,000 tons. It aims to gather data on the Earth's internal structure for geoscience research, which could also help scientists discover minerals and learn more about the risks of environmental disasters.

Finding resources: In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged scientists to pursue deep Earth exploration, stressing the need for energy resources. The Xinjiang area reportedly consists of rich mineral deposits and oil.

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The petroleum corporation also hopes to find natural resources.

Drilling the borehole has two purposes: for scientific exploration and finding oil and gas, Lyu Xiaogang of PetroChina told New China TV. "Through drilling this borehole, we will strengthen PetroChinas technology reserve for ultra-deep drilling and build more ultra-deep drilling equipment. The second purpose is to explore new areas for ultra-deep oil and gas in the region."

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China claims to have a better 'democracy that works' after not being invited to Biden's Summit for Democracy
(Bloomberg) -- As investor concern grows over an information crackdown in China, another key data source has become mysteriously rarer: readouts from meetings of the nations 24 most-powerful men.

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Since President Xi Jinping secured a precedent-defying third term in October, the Communist Partys top decision-making body has skipped publishing a statement for three separate months. During the Chinese leaders second term, it took the party nearly five years to miss the same number of statements.

While there is no public mandate for the Politburo to meet monthly, it has done so for 90% of Xis decade-plus tenure, according to a Bloomberg News analysis of government statements.

Its unclear whether the Politburo failed to convene in November, January and May, or if the elite group discussed sensitive matters it didnt want to reveal. Its still possible for state media to release statements on the bodys activities. Sometimes the party releases transcripts of Xis remarks months, or even years, later.

The omissions come as Beijing builds a black box around sensitive information, in the wake of growing US scrutiny of its tech industry and economic engagement with Russia. China has in recent months limited access to corporate data, court documents, academic journals and raided expert networks serving businesses, hampering investors ability to assess the economy.

The unintended consequence of this kind of silence, whether its data or policy decisions or official announcements, is that people dont know how to distinguish rumor from official policy, said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA.

The result is less certainty on policy direction and thus investors potentially holding back or needing to take on more risk, she added.

While Politburo readouts tend to be formulaic, they provide a rare glimpse into the operations of the secretive body that gathers behind closed doors and publishes no schedules or agendas.

Changes in tone and broad pledges can be enough to send stocks rallying or plunging. Investors dialed back expectations for major stimulus after leaders said that Chinas recovery was better than expected at the Politburo meeting in April.

Perhaps most-watched are the three Politburo meetings focused on economic policy in April, July, and December. The body has never missed a readout from these sessions throughout Xis tenure.

Its also rare for the Politburo to skip readouts from months when the group discusses regular agenda items  for example, in February, when it reviews the draft annual government work report.

While its possible the recent missing readouts are a sign the Politburo is meeting less than usual, official statements show the body held study sessions in January and May. Typically, those events take place on the same day as the broader meeting.

The Politburo has kept the world in the dark before. Last year, it issued its shortest readout of Xis rule, and the first to not disclose specific discussion topics, as the Chinese leader headed into the politically sensitive leadership congress. During Xis first five years in office, there were seven months without readouts. But while August 2015 had no statement, for example, the month before had two, suggesting the huddle happened slightly earlier.

For now, investors are left guessing what Xi and the powerful group hes packed with loyalists might have discussed last month.

At a minimum, there seems to be change in how Politburo meetings are reported, though we need more data points to verify this, said Adam Ni, publisher of the China Neican newsletter on Chinese politics, who has written previously on missing Politburo readouts.

At a maximum, it reflects a whole new way of exercising power, he added, cautioning that more evidence was required to say with confidence what the absence showed.

--With assistance from Yihui Xie and Davy Zhu.

(Updates with additional details on Politburo meetings in 11th paragraph.)

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In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship conduct what it called an "unsafe Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait, Saturday, June 3, 2023, in which the Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of the American destroyer, forcing the U.S. ship to slow to avoid a collision. The incident occurred as the American destroyer and Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting a so-called freedom of navigation transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China. Credit - Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. RichardU.S. Navy/AP

China takes pride in being a peaceful country. We never started a conflict, occupied an inch of foreign land or waged a proxy war, its defense minister, Li Shangfu, said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a regional security summit in Singapore on Sunday.

But on that same day, when Li said that war with the U.S. poses an unbearable disaster for the world, the U.S. military released a video showing China making moves in the Taiwan Strait that would only seem to escalate the already rising tensions between the two superpowers.

According to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a Chinese warship cut through the path of an American destroyer and a Canadian Navy frigate doing a routine transit on Saturday. Chinas ship, a guided-missile destroyer, crossed the bow of the USS Chung-Hoon at 150 yards, forcing the American vessel to slow down to avoid collision. At 2,000 yards, the Chinese vessel crossed the bow again. The Indo-Pacific Command called the maneuver unsafe, and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing Monday that the encounter signals an increasing level of aggressiveness from the Chinese military. The incident also comes on the heels of a Chinese fighter jet on May 26 flying in front of the nose of a U.S. Air Force aircraft conducting routine operations over the hotly-contested South China Sea.

It wont be long before somebody gets hurt, Kirby warned. Thats the concern with these unsafe and unprofessional intercepts. They can lead to misunderstandings. They can lead to miscalculations.

China, for its part, points to the U.S. as a provocateur in the region. Foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday that Chinas actions are completely justified, lawful, safe and professional, and added that it respects freedom of navigation and overflight.

A fundamental issue behind the U.S. and Chinas tensions

For the longest time, China and the U.S. have been trading barbs over whos stirring trouble in the region with supposed territorial incursions and related responses. Euan Graham, a senior fellow from the International Institute of Strategic Studieswhich hosted the weekend dialoguesays that China is clearly the aggressor in this latest ship saga. They were, he tells TIME of the U.S., sailing along their normal course, apparently, not deviating from across the median line in any way that would have prompted the Chinese response.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China has ratified and the U.S. has not but adheres to, international ships may freely pass through parts of the Taiwan Straitas long as they are outside the 24-nautical mile zone from either coastline. Coastal countries are also granted an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of up to 200 nautical miles from their coastline, over which they have sovereign rights (meaning they can use and manage the resources in those areas) but not territorial rights (like they do over their land and within 12 nautical miles off the coast). These coastal countries, according to the convention, cannot limit other countries freedom of navigation and overflight within the EEZ.

Collin Koh, a regional security analyst from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, says the U.N. treaty hasnt explicitly stated any limits on foreign military activities in those maritime regions, and this ambiguity is a key crux of the conflict between China and the U.S. in the waterway. China will prefer a restrictive interpretation according to its rights as a coastal state, whereas the U.S. being the user state, will want to interpret it more broadly, that associates broader global interests, Koh says.

Still, a full-scale conflict emerging from Chinas moves is unlikely, says Koh. I dont think both the U.S. and China enter the room with eyes closed, he says. Both sides will have rhetoric, but it seems like they stop at that.

Theres also an apparent double standard with Chinas furor over the U.S. entering its neighboring waters. In 2015, Chinese navy vessels entered Alaskas territorial waters, but U.S. reaction was minimal since China had the right of innocent passage. China has similarly entered Japans territorial waters since December last year, and in the South China Sea, Chinese vessels and warships have been repeatedly spotted in Philippine maritime territory, even scaring off fishermen within the Southeast Asian nations EEZ and at one point thwarting Philippine coast guard officials with military-grade laser lights.

For Derek Grossman, a defense analyst at California-based think tank RAND Corporation, the trouble really stems from Chinas expansive and unjustifiable claims over territories and seas in the first place that the U.S. and increasingly select allies and partners, like the Philippines, feel compelled to respond to.

In Singapore, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela posed a question to the Chinese defense minister: While China is talking about dialogue, Chinas actions show confrontation. Why is there a big difference between Chinas words and its actions? Li didnt give an answer.
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Police tape dangles from an iron fence on June 6, 2023, outside an apartment building in the 2000 block of Chicago's North Kimball Avenue where a woman was found unresponsive inside. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

A woman found dead Monday night in Logan Square was identified by loved ones as 33-year-old Brittany Battaglia, who was described as a great person by her brother on Tuesday.

She was a great person. She was happy and she would help anyone, her brother AJ Battaglia told the Tribune.

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Battaglia was reported missing after she was last seen June 2, and police issued a missing report for her Monday morning.

Brittany Battaglia went missing on June 2. (Chicago Police Department)

On Monday night, an unidentified woman was found unresponsive in a building in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue, about a block away from where Battaglia lived. The woman was found shortly after 8:30 p.m., Chicago police said.

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My parents are on their way to the medical examiners office now to identify my sister, AJ Battaglia said in a phone interview. I am on my way to be interviewed by the states attorney.

A friend of the missing woman, Jennifer Hall, said she was with Battaglias roommate when she received a call Monday from detectives saying they discovered her body. Battaglias younger brother also said detectives called him Monday night inquiring about his sisters tattoos.

Hall, who had known Battaglia about 12 years, has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help cover funeral expenses.

My heart goes out to the family, Hall wrote. She was my friend and I cant believe what has happened.

Detectives are investigating and were questioning a person of interest, family said.
By Laurie Chen and Ryan Woo

BEIJING (Reuters) - Meetings between senior U.S. and Chinese officials in China this week struck an upbeat chord, with both sides agreeing to maintain communication lines, even as Beijing remains leery of more "provocative" U.S. moves and open clashes are still a risk.

Statements from Washington and Beijing on meetings between Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Chinese officials including Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu were positive, describing the talks as candid and productive.

Just before Kritenbrink arrived in Beijing on Sunday, the U.S. navy reported an "unsafe interaction" on Saturday when a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer in the sensitive Taiwan Strait, raising the prospect of future face-offs that could spiral out of control.

Kritenbrink's visit also followed China's apparent snub last week of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who had sought a formal meeting with his Chinese counterpart but was bluntly rejected.

"The two sides conducted candid, constructive and fruitful communication on promoting the improvement of Sino-U.S. relations and properly managing and controlling differences," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday of Kritenbrink's meetings.

Both sides also agreed to continue to communicate, according to the statement.

"The two sides had candid and productive discussions as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries," the U.S. State Department said late Monday.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has pushed to boost engagement with China as ties between the world's two largest economies have deteriorated over issues ranging from democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own, to military activity in the South China Sea.

But critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that past decades of engagement have failed to change Beijing's behaviour.

'MORE COMPLICATED'

The recent interactions between China and the United States showed both sides are trying to manage disputes, but the risk of clashes will still rise if Washington does not cease its provocations and if it does not show sincerity in improving relations, state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times reported late Monday.

China and U.S. ties have entered a "more complicated" phase - while China is willing to stabilise relations and is open to possible cooperation, it will also firmly fight back against the U.S. provocations, wrote Global Times, known for its nationalist leanings.

"We're working hard to manage the relationship as best as we possibly can," said Kritenbrink, when asked by reporters in Beijing on Tuesday about the current state of bilateral ties.

The already frayed ties took a sharp turn south in February as Secretary of State Antony Blinken scrapped a trip to China after what Washington described as a Chinese spy balloon flew through U.S. airspace.

Asked if Blinken would visit China soon, Kritenbrink said: "We'll see, I have nothing to announce."

On the odds of a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit in San Francisco in November, he said, "I couldn't possibly say."

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ella Cao; Editing by Kim Coghill and Michael Perry)
The East Asian superpower's struggles to recover from the pandemic could have huge consequences.

A man walks on an overpass near a construction site of a subway station in Beijing, China, April 18. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

As China struggles to emerge from the economic catastrophe caused by the coronavirus pandemic, its continued efforts seem to have stalled on a number of fronts, as debts mount and consumers show renewed caution about spending.

And as the recovery falters, a moment of truth looms, with potentially enormous consequences for the United States.

Because the economies of the U.S. and China are so deeply connected, policymakers in Washington and finance titans in New York are closely following Beijings response to what could be a temporary setback  or a widening crisis with global implications.

And even as diplomatic links between the two nations fray, business ties persist. Elon Musk of Twitter and Tesla, Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan and Tim Cook of Apple have all recently visited China, in what could be seen as an attempt at reassurance.

Lets not try to hurt China, the Chinese people, Dimon said during last weeks visit. Youre not going to fix these things if you are just sitting across the Pacific yelling at each other.

Much slower growth

Chinese President Xi Jinping at a joint press conference for the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian, Shaanxi province, May 19. (Florence Lo/Pool via Reuters)

China was already experiencing an economic slowdown in 2019, in part due to restrictive trade policies implemented by the Trump administration. The virus exacerbated and accelerated existing challenges, disrupting manufacturing and confining consumers to their homes.

Now, life in China is returning to normal, but its economy continues to show signs of burgeoning problems that clash with the image of an unstoppable global force.

Under current President Xi Jingping, China cemented its status as a manufacturing giant while also lifting its own residents out of poverty. In 2012, the communist nations gross domestic product was $8.5 trillion. By the time Xis second term ended, in 2022, the GDP had risen to $18.5 trillion, an astonishing growth of more than 100%.

By contrast, the Chinese economy grew by only 4.5% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. It was an improvement over 2022, which saw only 3% growth, but still shy of the 5% target set by Beijing.

Granted, the U.S. economy only grew 1.3% in the first quarter of 2023, but some observers believe that Chinas slowdown is indicative of deeper problems that could soon emerge  problems that had long been concealed by Chinas insular leadership.

Something is rotten in the Chinese economy, investor Ruchir Sharma recently argued, pointing to what he described as unsustainable levels of government investment and debt accumulation.

Read more on Yahoo News: Charting the Global Economy: Business Activity Slows in China, via Bloomberg

A looming local debt crisis

Aerial photo shows the building of the Qingchi Bridge in Jinsha County, Bijie City, Guizhou province, China, May 27, 2023. (Liu Qing/CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

After the 2008-09 financial crisis, China allowed municipalities to use local government funding vehicles, or LGFVs, to borrow money to pay for infrastructure projects. The debt was principally repaid through fees generated by a booming real estate market, which gravitated toward inland regions far from the overdeveloped coast.

It was always a risky play  but never more so than today.

Real estate growth effectively froze during the pandemic, while government spending increased. Those dynamics have raised the possibility that some local governments could default on their debt obligations, triggering a broader economic crisis.

A recent analysis by the Rhodium Group found that of 205 cities surveyed, 102 had struggled with debt servicing in 2022. Analysts for Goldman Sachs recent said that they saw risks on the rise, especially for the less developed inland regions.

Total debt owed by LGFVs is estimated at a dizzying $8 trillion

Last year, Xis government announced a 16-point plan to galvanize an anemic real estate market, which would replenish municipal coffers and, presumably, keep the LGFVs from collapsing.

But so far, the measures do not appear to have worked, leading Beijing to unveil new measures to boost the real estate sector last week.

Read more on Yahoo News: Struggling China local governments find a fundraising loophole, lifeline in pearl bonds, via Reuters

Real estate boom goes bust

A worker walks past a construction site near residential buildings in Beijing on April 14, 2022. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

Real estate accounts for about 25% of Chinas gross domestic product, meaning that the sector is critical for the nations economic health (by contrast, real estate accounts for 17% of the gross domestic product in the United States).

As with other aspects of Chinas economy, the real estate market is recovering from the prolonged period of zero-COVID  lockdowns and intensive surveillance measures implemented at the slightest sign of the coronavirus  which severely disrupted economic activity.

But the recovery has been faltering. Relative to April, May saw a nearly 15% drop in residential sales.

The basic picture was one of regression, a Bloomberg analyst recently assessed, describing the real estate sector as still sick.

Read more on Yahoo News: China Housing Rebound Fizzling Shows Risks to Economic Recovery, via Bloomberg

Low consumer confidence

People walk through a traditional shopping street in the Qianmen area of Beijing on May 3, 2023. (Greg baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Ultimately, whether ordinary people are willing to spend money on goods and services  condominiums, smartphones, restaurant meals  is revealing of how they see their own financial prospects.

Businesses are also unlikely to make new investments if they perceive the economic climate to be unfavorable or uncertain.

On that front, China fares poorly. Business confidence plunged after a crushing 2022; meanwhile, consumer confidence remains weak and shaken, Pepsi chief financial officer Hugh Johnston judged last month in an interview with Reuters.

Also, foreign investors are pulling out of China, another bad sign.

Unlike previous cycles, we see no easy fix this time. The real barrier to sustaining the growth recovery is a lack of confidence, economists with Nomura Holdings recently wrote.

Most analysts believe that Chinese consumers and enterprises will eventually recover their confidence, while Beijing will shore up other sectors of the economy. But that could take years. And even then, the pre-pandemic powerhouse may only live on in memory.

Read more on Yahoo News: Feeling poorer: Property slump hurting Chinese consumers, clouds recovery, via Reuters

Cover thumbnail photo: China Daily via Reuters
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched his second presidential campaign on Tuesday, entering the growing Republican primary race as former President Donald Trump's main antagonist.



Christie took aim at the former president throughout his remarks, calling him "a bitter, angry man who wants power back for himself."

The former New Jersey governor framed his decision to run for president a second time on his belief that the country is at a pivotal moment of having to choose between "big and small."

Christie made the case that in recent years the country has been helmed by people who have "led us to being small  small by their example, small by the way they conduct themselves, small by the things they tells us we should care about ... They're making us smaller by dividing us into smaller and smaller groups."

"All throughout our history, there have been moments where we've had to choose between big and small," he said. "I will tell you, the reason I'm here tonight is because this is one of those moments."

Christie filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission formalizing his candidacy on Tuesday afternoon and made his formal announcement in New Hampshire.

The former governor, who ran for president in 2016, views himself as someone who can stand up to and present a contrast with Trump, the early front-runner in the polls. Christie, who was once a Trump ally, may be the only candidate in the race so far who is willing to openly criticize Trump on a regular basis.

File: Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie speaks at the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas, NV, on November 19, 2022. / Credit: WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images

Christie said other Republican candidates are treating Trump like the Harry Potter villain Voldemort, tip-toeing around criticizing him by name.



"Let me be clear, in case I have not been already," Christie said after bashing Trump. "The person I am talking about  who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault and who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong, but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right  is Donald Trump."



He added later: "There is one lane for the Republican nomination and he's in front of it. And if you want to win, you better go right through him. Because let me guarantee you something from knowing him for 22 years, he's going to try and go through me. He's going to try and go through Ron [DeSantis] and Nikki [Haley] and Tim [Scott], and everybody else who stands in his way."



He said Trump made the country "smaller by dividing us even further and pitting one group against another." He also accused former President Barack Obama and President Biden of dividing Americans.



But Christie admitted he also has his faults.

"If you are in search of the perfect candidate, it is time to leave. I am not it. Not only am I not the perfect candidate, I'm far from the perfect person," he said. "What true leaders do is not try to pretend to you that we're perfect, because we're human just like you. Because in our country, in our democracy, we are no better and no worse than any of you. We are you."

After Trump's appearance in a CNN town hall in May, Christie tweeted reminders of what the former president had promised and what he did not deliver:

"More nonsense from Donald Trump last night. Fact: He promised to build a big beautiful wall on the border. Fact: He did not deliver & immigrants are pouring over the border. Fact: He said Mexico would pay for it. Fact: We have not gotten one peso yet. He failed us on immigration."

He called the former president a "coward" and a "puppet" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At a town hall in March, Christie foreshadowed what his own presidential candidacy would look like.

"You better have somebody on that stage who can do to him what I did to Marco [Rubio], because that's the only thing that's gonna defeat Donald Trump," he said at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. "And that means you have to be fearless, because he will come back, and right at you."

The mention of Sen. Marco Rubio was a reference to a 2016 presidential primary debate when Christie had memorably  and effectively  ripped into Rubio, mocking him for "memorized 30-second speeches" that he repeated several times during the debate.

Christie enters an increasingly crowded Republican primary  he's the ninth candidate, so far. Former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum are each planning to announce the launch of their respective campaigns Wednesday.

The large field threatens to fragment Republican primary support, a dynamic that led to Trump's 2016 primary victory. In May, Christie said the fear this could happen again in 2024 would not keep him out of the race.

"I think that analysis is a retrospective analysis. And every time you look at the next election through the prism of the last one then one thing I can guarantee you for sure is you're wrong," he said in May. He added, "Remember, in 2016, no one knew who Donald Trump was going to be as a political figure."

Trump shared on social media a Make America Great Again response to Christie's candidacy from spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt: "Ron DeSantis' campaign is spiraling, and President Trump's dominance over the Republican primary field has opened a mad rush to seize the mantle for runner-up. Ron DeSantis is not ready for this moment, and Chris Christie will waste no time eating DeSantis' lunch."

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday announced his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, positioning himself as an alternative to Donald Trump and someone who isnt afraid of calling out the former president.

The 60-year-old former governor, who is known for his combative style, made it clear that his campaign will focus on challenging the GOP front-runner head-on, in marked contrast to other declared and would-be candidates in the race.

Its not entertaining anymore. It is the last throes of a bitter, angry man who wants power back. Not for you, Christie said at a town hall-style event in New Hampshire, hammering Trump over his leadership and broken promises as president.

A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving, mirror hog is not a leader, he added.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is running for the 2024 GOP nomination, and he isn't afraid to call out Donald Trump.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is running for the 2024 GOP nomination, and he isn't afraid to call out Donald Trump.

Its unclear whether such a strategy can work in todays Republican Party, however. Although there are some Republican voters who believe its time to turn the page on Trump, many still support him and believe he actually won the 2020 presidential election. In Congress, Trump has already won the endorsements of 11 GOP senators and dozens of House members.

Trumps rivals often treat him like he doesnt exist. They dont bother mentioning his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection or his unprecedented effort to overturn an election he lost. Theyve also rallied to his defense after he was criminally charged in New York.

Christie abandoned his own presidential hopes early in the 2016 campaign and became one of the first big-name Republicansto endorse Trump. Trump said Christie would organize his presidential transition team, a role usually given to a vice-presidential pick, but then was sacked when Mike Pence was chosen as Trumps running mate.

Christie said on Tuesday that he made a fundamental judgment error by supporting Trump in the past. I aint making that mistake this time.

The New Jersey Republican has since become one of Trumps vocal critics, lambasting him from his perch at ABC News where has worked as a commentator, and in other interviews in recent weeks.

All he wants to do is go back and re-prosecute the 2020 election because his feelings are hurt, Christie said in an interview with conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt. Hes a child in that regard.

Christie is one of three candidates jumping into the race this week. Former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will join Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, as well as a host of other candidates, in vying to lead their party in the 2024 general election.

Christie didnt just go after Trump at his town hall on Tuesday.

DeSantis never had to compromise when he was in the House of Representatives, he said of the Florida governor, who previously served as a GOP House member. He was in the Freedom Caucus, and he just said either Hell yes or Hell no.

He also joked that Burgum was a little-known governor outside of North Dakota.

I had somebody say to me recently that Doug Burgums running for president. The governor of North Dakota? They dont know Doug Burgum in South Dakota, Christie said.

Unlike Christie, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, another moderate critic of Trump, announced this week that he would not run for the GOP nomination.

The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen, Sununu wrote in an opinion article published by The Washington Post.

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addresses a gathering during a town hall style meeting at New England College, April 20, 2023, in Henniker, N.H. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has filed paperwork to launch his 2024 presidential bid.

Mr Christie, who faces long odds in the competition for the GOP nomination, is expected to formally kick off his campaign during a town hall in New Hampshire.

Mr Christie plans to focus on the Granite State, an early primary state that he hopes will help give his campaign momentum. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, leads the increasingly crowded GOP field. But Mr Christie will look to position himself as a more moderate alternative to Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently launched his own GOP presidential bid.

At one point, Mr Christie appeared to be in the running for an administration post in Mr Trumps government. But he has since become a vocal critic of the former president, who faces criminal charges in New York City and the prospect of additional charges at the federal level and in Georgia.

More follows.
Chris Christie is making another run for the White House  a long-shot campaign in which the former New Jersey governor will seek to position himself as the fields most credible critic of Donald Trump.

Christie, who filed campaign paperwork on Tuesday, has spent weeks sharpening his attacks on Trump in preparation for his launch, testing a message that he  and he alone in the growing field of 2024 GOP contenders  has the guts and the skill to knock the former president off his perch atop the party.

The problem for Christie: It was too little, too late when he tried that tactic in 2016. And Republican primary voters dont seem any more open to it today.

Trump continues to hold double-digit leads over the rest of the field  numbers that improved as his legal woes deepened and as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fell back before he entered the race.

Christie, meanwhile, has been largely an afterthought in surveys, registering in the low single digits, if at all. He would need to score at least 1 percent support in three national surveys and have at least 40,000 unique donors (and also commit to supporting the partys eventual nominee, even if its Trump) just to qualify for the first debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee.



Still, Christie, 60, has said he wouldnt enter the primary unless he saw a path to victory, maintaining that hes not a paid assassin. His foray into the Republican field is the result of weeks of public and private deliberations in which hes huddled with donors and old political allies and trekked to New Hampshire for two town halls. Hell launch his campaign in another New Hampshire town hall on Tuesday with the backing of a super PAC helmed by longtime advisers.

Christies last presidential campaign went down in flames. He logged more visits to New Hampshire than any other GOP candidate in 2016. But he dropped out of the race after finishing in a dismal sixth place in the first-in-the-nation primary with little more than a debate-stage evisceration of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to show for his efforts.

He then turned around and endorsed Trump, becoming the first of his former rivals to do so and setting off a coalescence of GOP brass behind the brash outsider that Christie now says was a strategic error.

Christie has eschewed the notion of needing a lane this time around. But hes carved a clear one for himself as Trumps chief critic  bludgeoning the former president at a time when his competitors and would-be rivals continue to measure their remarks about the polling leader. He called himself not just a viable Trump alternative in a recent Daily Beast interview, but the viable Trump alternative.

Christie blames Trump for Republicans losses in 2018, 2020 and 2022 and argues the party will lose again if hes the nominee in 2024.



But the great GOP reckoning the establishment hoped for after the partys underperformance in last years midterms hasnt happened. Instead, the former president continues to hold many state parties and grassroots activists in a vise grip  a reality Christie now has to navigate in his quest for the nomination.

And voters are already questioning Christies anti-Trump bona fides given his long allyship with the former president. Christie, who stuck with Trump through 2020 until his election denials began, claims he wouldnt vote for Trump again. But he also told an audience in New Hampshire that, knowing what he knows now, hed still pick Trump over his 2016 rival, Hillary Clinton.



In addition to pummeling Trump, Christie has repeatedly laid into DeSantis, slamming his foreign policy chops after the Florida Republican mangled his stance on Russias war in Ukraine and skewering his handling of his ongoing battle with Disney.

Christie plans to again run a New Hampshire-focused campaign, despite likely GOP primary voters in the state showing little interest in the former New Jersey governor in a pair of spring surveys.

His old allies in the state are starting to come on board again. Former New Hampshire GOP Chair Wayne MacDonald said in an interview late last month that hes absolutely with Christie again even after being approached by other campaigns for support.

Those of us who supported him in New Hampshire are excited about the prospects of him running again, MacDonald said. He's a great candidate, hell be a great president.
Chris Christie: The former governor who wants to be US president

Chris Christie is running for president a second time

Chris Christie is running for the White House in 2024, another attempt at the top job after one previous failed campaign. It's another unexpected chapter in a colourful page-turner of a career.

A decade ago, he was a rock star within the Republican Party.

A popular governor in the strongly Democratic state of New Jersey, many thought he was destined to be US president.

Republicans nationally were applauding his fiscal conservatism and even Democrats were hailing his response to the worst storm to hit New Jersey in a century.

That led party bigwigs to urge him to enter the 2012 presidential race - an offer Mr Christie would fatefully turn down. He was easily re-elected governor the following year but the remainder of his governorship was mired in scandal.

He threw his hat in the ring for the 2016 presidential election but dropped out after a poor early showing and endorsed the eventual president, Donald Trump.

The pair have since fallen out and Mr Christie, 60, is now trying to launch his political comeback. But he has an uphill task given his poor approval ratings among Republican voters.

Rising star

A New Jersey native, Mr Christie graduated from the University of Delaware then attended law school.

He held elected office in Morris County in northern New Jersey before President George W Bush appointed him US attorney, the state's highest federal law enforcement officer, in 2002.

In that role, Mr Christie secured the indictments of more than 130 political officials and even prosecuted Charles Kushner, the father of Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Mr Christie left the post in 2008 after Mr Obama was elected president, and soon embarked on a campaign for governor.

In November 2009, he defeated the unpopular incumbent Jon Corzine, a Democrat and former Wall Street executive.

New Jersey is a deeply Democratic state that Mr Obama had won with 57% of the vote, and Republicans hailed Mr Christie's victory as a sign voters had begun to turn against the Democrats.

A brash and unflinching adversary, Mr Christie embarked on spirited battles with public employees' unions and with Democrats in the state legislature.

Supporters applauded his willingness to aggressively confront his political opponents but to his critics he was a name-calling bully.

Throughout 2011, he repeatedly rebuffed efforts by prominent conservatives to get him to run for president, saying he was unprepared for the national stage and the rigours of the campaign trail.

He was selected to deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Republican National Convention, the highest-profile spot for a party member not accepting the presidential or vice-presidential nominations.

Mr Christie went on to earn cross-party praise for his response to Superstorm Sandy, which killed 71 people, displaced thousands and devastated miles of New Jersey coastline.

The governor spent the days after consoling residents, attending funerals, publicly praising President Obama for an "outstanding" response to the state's needs and memorably hugging him when he visited.

Governor Christie welcomed President Obama to his state and praised his response to Superstorm Sandy, days before the 2012 election

His approval rating soared to 77%, making him one of the most popular governors - Democratic or Republican - in the country at the time.

In February 2013, Mr Christie underwent lap-band stomach surgery to try to lose weight, furthering speculation he was planning a 2016 presidential bid. He said it was "about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them".

He sailed to a second term as governor that November, winning more than 60% of the vote against his Democratic challenger.

A scandal-hit term

Emails and texts made public in January 2014 linked a top Christie aide to a recent closure of traffic lanes feeding into the George Washington Bridge, one of the world's busiest.

The move had caused traffic chaos in the New Jersey borough of Fort Lee, whose mayor had declined to back Mr Christie's re-election bid.

The staffer in question and three Christie appointees were later indicted over what came to be known as the "Bridgegate" scandal.

Mr Christie denied all knowledge of the scheme but he never recovered his standing.

When he ran for president in 2016, it was clear Republicans had fallen out of love with him. He soon dropped out and endorsed Mr Trump instead, one of the first big names to do so.

He was passed over to be Mr Trump's running mate but headed the New Yorker's presidential transition team, although still failed to get a job in the administration. He said it may have been due to his opposition to the controversial hiring of Michael Flynn as national security advisor. Others said his past as the man who prosecuted a Kushner counted against him.

More scandal followed in 2017, when the governor and his family were photographed enjoying themselves on an empty beach that had been closed due to a government shutdown.

Turning on Trump

Leaving office as the least popular governor in New Jersey history, he joined ABC News as a prime-time contributor, a position Mr Christie has since left to run for president.

In 2020, he had a frightening bout with Covid-19. Overweight and asthmatic, he spent seven days in intensive care. He said it was "undeniable" that he had contracted the virus from Mr Trump during a "super-spreader" White House event.

Later that year, he helped lead Mr Trump's preparations for debates with Mr Biden ahead of the 2020 election.

But he publicly turned on Mr Trump after the January 2021 attack at the US Capitol, criticising his "unacceptable" post-election conduct and his claims the election was stolen.

In recent months, he has argued that Mr Trump "disqualified himself from the presidency" and that Republicans are in need of a winner.
As former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie enters the 2024 race for the White House, he has one mission: to torpedo Donald Trump's campaign. But his low popularity among Republicans may thwart his efforts to launch a head-on attack.

Seven years ago, his failed bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination featured debate-stage fireworks, disappointing voting results and a surprisingly early endorsement of Mr Trump.

Now, Mr Christie will need to take the current front-runner down a peg and then position himself as the one who can win.

In a speech kicking off his campaign, the former governor quickly went on the attack, calling Mr Trump a "lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog".

"Donald Trump made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting one group against another, different groups pitted against different groups every day," he added.

Mr Christie formally filed the paperwork for his White House bid on 6 June, but the brash New Jerseyan starts this campaign from the back of the presidential pack.

Of the announced candidates so far, only Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have any kind of widespread support in public opinion polls. Mr Christie, according to a Fox News national survey of Republicans released last week, had the backing of less than 1% of respondents. A Quinnipiac Poll put him at 2%. Mr Trump led the field by more than 30% in each.

To change this dynamic, Mr Christie will have to take advantage of limited opportunities. The most prominent is the series of upcoming Republican presidential debates that begin in late August.

"A lot of people are going to be gunning for Trump," says Republican strategist and former party communication director Doug Heye. "There's going to be a battle royal where everybody's trying to throw Andre the Giant out of the ring."

If that happens, he says, then the whole leadership race would be reset.

What happens next?

Candidates for the Republican nomination will hit the campaign trail and begin a series of TV debates in the coming months

Elections in each state - called primary elections - begin next February

The person with the most support will be crowned at the Republican Convention in summer 2024

The winner of the nomination looks likely to face Democrat Joe Biden in the general election in November 2024

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie

Back in 2016, Mr Christie used a debate shortly before the New Hampshire primary to eviscerate Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who was surging in the polls at the time, as too programmed and robotic. The former governor's task will be to use his sharp tongue and aggressive attitude to achieve similar success against Mr Trump.

"You better have somebody on that stage who can do to him what I did to Marco, because that's the only thing that's going to defeat Donald Trump," Mr Christie said in March. "And that means you have to be fearless, because he will come back right at you."

Heye says Mr Christie has the political instincts and talent to create a similar debate moment this time.

"Christie is not somebody who's coming in merely to pad speech fees, do book tours and all those other things that people who really have no chance get into the race to do," he says. "Clearly he's somebody who potentially could pop Trump's balloon."

The problem for Mr Christie is that he may never get the chance.

The Republican Party has set somewhat stringent requirements to qualify for its debates, including having a minimum number of campaign donors from across the US and at least 1% support in three recent party-approved public-opinion polls.

Even if the former governor qualifies, Mr Trump has reportedly been considering skipping the early debates, leaving the non-Trump candidates to spar amongst themselves.

Outside of the debates, Mr Christie's plan hinges on courting voters in New Hampshire, the state that follows Iowa on the Republican presidential primary calendar.

He will have his work cut out for him there. A recent survey of Republican voters in the state showed Mr Christie with a net favourability of negative 44%, the worst of any announced or potential candidates. A majority of the voters in that state know him - and don't like him.

Polls show that Republican voters do like Mr Trump, however. That reflects the reality of a party transformed by Mr Trump and his populist style of politics.

Christie and Trump during happier times at the White House in 2017

Mr Christie hastened that shift back in February 2016 when he became the most prominent establishment Republican politician to back the unconventional candidate at the time.

The endorsement fuelled speculation that Mr Christie would become Mr Trump's vice-presidential running mate or join his administration as a Cabinet official. Such offers never materialised, however. And over time, Mr Christie - who initially said he was "happy to be on team Trump" - began criticising his former ally.

Since then, Mr Christie's views on Mr Trump have become pointed and fiery - and have prompted a sharp response from the man he once supported.

Mr Trump called Mr Christie's campaign launch speech "not very good" on his platform, Truth Social, adding that Mr Christie "rambled".

"Hard to watch, boring," he wrote, noting that Mr Christie had record-low approval ratings in his final, controversy-marred days as New Jersey governor.

In 2017, after his unsuccessful presidential bid, he was photographed lounging with family on an otherwise empty New Jersey state beach that had been closed to the public during a budget dispute between the governor and state. That episode made the governor an object of national ridicule.

By entering the 2024 presidential race, he will hope to rewrite his political epitaph. But he'll have to go through Donald Trump to do it.
(Bloomberg) -- Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie became the latest Republican to enter the 2024 presidential campaign, adding an ally-turned-critic of Donald Trump to an already crowded primary contest.

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Christie, 60, announced his intentions at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire Tuesday night, casting Trump as a small-minded leader who wont admit when hes wrong.

A leader like that thinks Americas greatness resides in the mirror hes looking at, Christie said. And a lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader.

Christies entry swells the number of candidates in the race to more than 10, potentially recreating the dynamic that allowed Trump to divide and conquer the Republican field in 2016. Christie is the only one of Trumps former rivals to return for a rematch. He dropped out of the 2016 race and endorsed Trump after finishing in sixth place in New Hampshire.

As before, Christie is signaling a strategy that would concentrate on the Granite State, starting his campaign with a two-hour town hall at Saint Anselm College near Manchester and promising perhaps 100 more such question-and-answer sessions over the next eight months.

Thats why I didnt do some big podium speech tonight to announce. To me, if you want to win, this is the best way to do it, he said.

Known for a bold rhetorical style that presaged Trump, Christie served two terms as governor of New Jersey, from 2010 to 2018. He led Trumps presidential transition and headed his opioid commission. But he broke with Trump shortly after the 2020 election when Trump refused to concede to Joe Biden.

Christie criticized the reluctance of other Republican primary candidates  who he called pretenders  who wont even speak Trumps name for fear of alienating his supporters. He acknowledged making a mistake in not attacking Trump harder in 2016, and said the 2024 nomination would have to go through the former president.

The reason Im going after Trump is twofold. One he deserves it. And two, its the way to win, he said.

Read More: GOP Field Faces Polling, Donor Thresholds in Aug. 23 Debate

His strategy will rely heavily on a strong performance in primary debates. Christie, a former federal prosecutor and ABC news political analyst, debated Trump as a candidate six times in the 2016 primaries, then helped prepare him for general election debates as a stand-in for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and later Biden.

Trump, though, has suggested hed skip the first two GOP debates to avoid giving oxygen to low-polling candidates, and Christie will first have to qualify to get on the stage. The Republican National Committee will require at least 1% support in polls and at least 40,000 unique donors from 20 or more states.

Trump has been dominating small-dollar contributions, but a Christie campaign would have support from a super political action committee, called the Tell It Like It Is PAC. It will reinforce his blunt-talking New Jersey brand. Unlike campaigns, super-PACs can raise and spend unlimited funds to support candidates.

On Tuesday, Christie gave a preview of the issues hell attack Trump on, saying he failed to finish the wall at the southern border, increased the national debt by more than $7 trillion and appeased Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Christie didnt stop at Trump. He also criticized candidates like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, calling those who dont support Ukraine modern-day Neville Chamberlains. He said hes anti-abortion but doesnt support a national ban, and added that he would address entitlement programs like Social Security.

Sarah Longwell, who conducts focus groups with Republican voters and publishes the anti-Trump website The Bulwark, said its good that Christie is joining the race to confront Trump. But she said theres no GOP voter appetite for Christie and other candidates who forged their identities in the pre-Trump era.

Read More: Sununu Wont Run for President, Will Endeavor to Stop Trump

They see them as establishment, they see them as regular politicians, Longwell said. And the term regular politician is basically the kiss of death with voters now. Its one of the reasons you see Trump trying to paint Ron DeSantis as a regular politician.

Polls show DeSantis as the top challenger to Trump for the nomination and that Christie is not popular. A Monmouth University poll released May 30 showed Christie had a 47% unfavorably rating among Republican and GOP-leaning voters with only 21% favorable.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu said Monday hes not running and will instead lend his voice to the anti-Trump effort as a non-candidate.

(Updates with details from Christies announcement event in New Hampshire.)

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KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Sudan's warring military factions are restarting ceasefire talks sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya TV reported on Tuesday, as they clashed by air and on the ground in the capital Khartoum.

The fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, now in its eighth week, has caught civilians in the crossfire, cutting of their access to basic services, and spread lawlessness.

Saudi Arabia and the United States had brokered talks that had led to imperfectly-observed ceasefires with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance. But talks collapsed last week after the mediators said there had been numerous serious violations.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya said the two sides had agreed to indirect talks without providing details. The army and RSF did not immediately comment.

Earlier in the day, army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan spoke with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan, a statement from the Sovereign Council he leads said.

Burhan emphasized the need for the RSF to exit hospitals, public facilities, and homes and to open safe pathways in order for "the Jeddah platform" to succeed, the statement said.

RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said on Sunday he had spoken with Farhan and expressed his support for the Jeddah platform. Neither leader mentioned restarting talks.

Artillery and air strikes continued overnight, with residents in southern and eastern Khartoum and northern Bahri reporting sounds of artillery and gun clashes on Tuesday morning.

STREET FIGHTING IN OMDURMAN

Overnight, the two forces clashed in the streets of the city of Omdurman, around the army's Engineers Corps base. The army, which tends to prefer air strikes to ground fighting, was able to maintain its positions around the base but could not push back the RSF, which controls most of the rest of the city.

"Our neighbourhood has become a war zone. There are fierce clashes and strikes all around us because our house is next to the Engineers' Corps," said 45-year-old Jawahir Mohamed.

"We are scared of dying but we are also scared of leaving our house and being burgled," she added.

Looters, some of whom Khartoum residents and neighbourhood committees said belong to the RSF, have pillaged neighbourhoods, stealing cars, breaking open safes, and occupying homes.

Aid groups have struggled to provide extensive assistance to Khartoum residents, who face electricity and water shortages as well as dwindling supplies in shops and pharmacies. Neighborhood-based resistance committees have tried to fill the gaps.

"We could not distribute medicines because of the air and artillery bombardment," said one activist who asked not to be identified.

The island of Tutti, which lies just north of main battlegrounds such as the presidential palace, has been besieged by the RSF, according to Emergency Lawyers, a rights group.

The RSF had blocked access to the island for eight days, cutting off food supplies and healthcare, the group said in a statement. It also said RSF members had shot at anyone who tried to leave the island, leading to the death of one man.

Fighting has extended to the Darfur region to the West, where the RSF originated and maintains a power base. Also hit by fighting was El Obeid, a city between Khartoum and Darfur.

More than 400,000 civilians have been driven across Sudan's borders and more than 1.2 million out of Khartoum and other cities. At least 175,000 have made the journey to Egypt, where many have experienced days and weeks-long delays in border towns with few services.

On Tuesday Burhan's special envoy Ambassador Dafallah al-Haj discussed the difficulties facing Sudanese refugees with Egyptian foreign ministry officials and received assurances that border roadblocks would be relieved, a Sudan foreign ministry statement said.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai, Nafisa Eltahir and Adam Makary in Cairo; Editing by Christina Fincher and Grant McCool)
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Police are asking for the publics help in finding a 39-year-old woman who went missing in the Roseland neighborhood.

Rena Baker went missing in the Roseland neighborhood and was last seen June 2. (Chicago Police Department)

Rena Baker was last seen Friday, driving a 2004 Hyundai Sonata with an Illinois plate of Z709627, Chicago police said in a missing person alert.

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Police said Baker, who lives in the 10200 block of South Forest Avenue, works at a dental office near 51st Street and Pulaski Road.

Baker was described as a Black woman, about 5-foot-3, weighing 130 pounds. She has a medium complexion with black hair, police said.

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Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Area 2 special victims unit at 312-747-8274.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, on Tuesday night, approved changes to school boundaries in south Charlotte.

READ MORE: CMS students, parents form human chain to protest school boundary changes

The board voted 7 to 2 to approve the third and final version of the south county relief map.

Parents and students in the chamber were not happy, and made sure to let the school board know.

The new boundary lines will set off the reassignment of thousands of students across southern Mecklenburg County beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.

About 75 people spoke during the public comment period hoping to get school board members to reconsider.

CMS said it had to redraw boundary lines that determine the route that students take from elementary to middle to high school, because of a new high school that will open this upcoming school year and a middle school that will open the next.

There are 42 thousand students affected in this geography right? So when we get to the end, youre hearing the few people who are still unsatisfied, Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Real Estate Dennis LaCaria told Channel 9.

READ PREVIOUS:

School board members Jennifer De La Jara and Lisa Cline voted no, saying that she had hoped CMS would have expanded the geographical areas that were included in the boundary changes -- not just the southern portion of the county.

Some parents felt the same way.

We understand that south Charlotte is growing, we understand that with the growth, we have more people, more people, more kids, so we need more schools, we understand this, said Ralitsa Katz.

Lets not place this burden only on one community, Katz added.

The board did approve an amendment to the map proposed by board member Summer Nunn.

Last week, students and parents formed a human chain to protest the proposal. They locked arms from Alexander Graham Middle School to Myers Park High School to show how close the schools are.

VIDEO: CMS holds hearing on school boundary changes in southern Meck County
Former television producer Chris Licht, shown here at an event in Los Angeles in 2022, faces an uncertain future as CNN chairman. (Jordan Strauss / Invision via AP)

CNN Chairman Chris Licht is trying to win back the support of his troops following a disastrous magazine piece about his first year at the network.

Licht expressed regret Monday to staffers about the Atlantic profile by journalist Tim Alberta, described by many media industry longtimers as an unusually damaging story about a prominent media executive.

The piece comes after a tumultuous period for CNN under Licht's tenure that has been marked by cost-cutting pressures, programming missteps and declining audiences.

Executives and employees throughout CNN and its Warner Bros. Discovery were outraged by the story, and the top conversation internally is how much longer Licht can last in the job, according to several insiders who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Licht gave unfettered access for the Atlantic article, considered an unusual decision in itself when a company or network is undergoing a makeover. In the story, Licht disparaged CNN coverage under his popular predecessor Jeff Zucker while appearing to be oddly obsessed with him.

The story  "Inside the Meltdown at CNN"  also stated what many inside CNN say privately: that Licht has been an isolated leader primarily concerned with Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav's mandate that the network be more hospitable to Republicans and address his perceived need to restore trust with viewers.

Based on his remarks he made at the network's morning meeting, Licht recognized the damage the piece has caused internally.

"To those whose trust I've lost, I will fight like hell to win it back, because you deserve a leader who will be in the trenches, fighting to ensure CNN remains the world's most trusted name in news," Licht said.

Such a slice of humble pie coming from a chief executive is rare and a strong indication of Licht's cloudy future at the network.

The drumbeats that Licht's days may be numbered were heightened by last week's announcement that Zaslav has dispatched one of his most trusted lieutenants, David Leavy, to serve as chief operating officer at CNN. He starts in the role on June 20.

The rationale for the move is that Leavy will handle business, operational and promotional activities across CNN, freeing Licht to focus on programming and editorial.

But the narrative circulating inside CNN is that Leavy will be getting working knowledge of the division so he could eventually take over in the event Licht cannot turn things around.

Leavy's arrival is aimed at giving Warner Bros. Discovery time to figure out if Licht can be rescued, as Warner Bros. Discovery insiders believe Zaslav is loath to make another high-profile management change so soon. Warner Bros. Discovery wants to make that determination before the presidential campaign season  typically a strong period for CNN  gets into full swing.

Zaslav did issue a statement late last week after the Atlantic story, saying he still has confidence in Licht.

CNN is a very important business for us, and, in fact, we believe that nothing we do is more important, Zaslav said in a statement. We aspire to be the news organization most trusted by viewers globally. We set a high bar for ourselves and while we know that it will take time to complete the important work thats underway, we have great confidence in the progress that Chris and the team are making and share their conviction in the strategy.

Nevertheless, Licht is now topping a growing list of issues that have plagued Zaslav since taking over as the big boss overseeing CNN, Warner Bros. film and TV studios and HBO.

The veteran executive has presided over layoffs of thousands of people.

Late last month, the company stumbled during its rebrand of the streaming service HBO Max, changing the name to Max to appeal to heartland consumers turned off by the coastal elite appeal of HBO. But the new app infuriated Hollywood talent by lumping directors, writers and producers into a single generic category called creators.

Despite the show of support for Licht, Leavy is acting like an executive who will be deeply involved in all aspects of the network. He has already reached out to on-air talent at the network and the agents who represent them, according to several people who have been contacted.

When Leavy talks with employees, he will likely hear about low morale under Licht's leadership, which they have privately complained about for months, according to several insiders. Their unhappiness can be reflected in the number of unflattering stories leaked about the company, something that happened rarely when Zucker was in charge.

Leavy, 53, has no experience running a news organization but is familiar with Washington politics. Before joining Discovery in 2000, he worked as a press spokesman during the Clinton administration, including at the National Security Council, U.S. State Department and the White House.

Even before the Leavy announcement, Warner Bros. Discovery management was already concerned with CNN's direction under Licht, who arrived in 2022 with a record as a successful TV producer thanks to his work on "Late Show With Stephen Colbert," MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and "CBS This Morning." During a CNN town hall with employees in March, Zaslav conceded that mistakes had been made.

The transition from executive producer to the chief executive of a nearly 4,000-person news organization has turned out to be perilously fraught.

Licht, 51, entered the job facing a string of challenges that were not of his making, including a soft TV advertising market, the shrinking number of pay TV consumers and numerous rounds of layoffs and cost-cutting due to the parent companys enormous debt.

But Licht baffled people inside the company by choosing to make a new morning program his first priority when the network needed to bolster its prime-time lineup after losing its top-rated personality Chris Cuomo. "CNN This Morning" is often the least-watched show of the day and two of its three co-anchors have been moved off the program, including Don Lemon, who was fired following a backlash over making sexist remarks.

Lemon was delivering the kind of liberal commentary in prime time that made Zaslav unhappy. But Licht was told that moving Lemon to the morning, where the ability to banter spontaneously is a must, was not a good solution, according to one former CNN executive who was not authorized to comment.

Lemon faced a backlash over ill-advised comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her "prime."

Warner Bros. Discovery executives were also irked that Licht said there would be no layoffs at CNN following the closing of its short-lived streaming service. Licht was forced to make more personnel cuts.

But the network's troubles became a full-blown crisis following the May 10 town hall with former President Trump, who long ridiculed the network for being "fake news."

The town hall format was panned internally and externally, as Trump was able to play to cheering supporters in the New Hampshire audience and deliver falsehoods at a faster rate than moderator Kaitlan Collins could fact-check.

Veteran CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour publicly denounced the decision to give Trump such a forum.

My management believes they did the right thing as service to the American people," Amanpour told an audience at Columbia Journalism School on May 18. "I still respectfully disagree with allowing Donald Trump to appear in that particular format.

Licht and the company defended the decision to feature the former president with a prime-time appearance because polls show him as the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 race for president. But Amanpour's colleagues shared her message on social media in solidarity, an outright rebuke of Licht.

While the town hall attracted more than 3 million viewers, the audience has left CNN in droves since, with the network finishing behind the small, right-wing network Newsmax on some nights in prime time. Veterans at CNN said the Nielsen data shows that its audience is clearly angry at the network.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Cobb County Police are investigating after a K9 officer was found dead in the back of a patrol car while officers were participating in a training exercise Monday.

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According to police, the incident happened just after 2 p.m. at Allatoona High School at 3300 Dallas Acworth Highway. Officers were at the school for a scheduled active shooter training when K9 Chase was found unresponsive in the patrol car by K9 Officer Neill.

Life-saving efforts were started immediately by Neill and other Cobb officers and firefighters. K9 Chase was transported to a local veterinarian clinic where he died from heat-related injuries.

Police told Channel 2 Action News they had been at the training since 11 a.m. and were checking on the K9 partners on the hour for 15-minute breaks between each 45-minute training session. After a previous check, it is believed that the air conditioning system malfunctioned in Officer Neills patrol car. Preliminary investigation also revealed that other safety systems did not activate and the temperature quickly rose in the car.

They worked on Chase for hours trying to get him to resuscitate, Officer Aaron Wilson said. Their dog is like a child to them you know? To lose part of their family is how theyre feeling right now.

TRENDING STORIES:

K9 Chase was a Belgian malinois born in Hungary on August 13, 2018. He began his career with the Cobb County Police Department in April 2020 with his handler K9 Officer Neill.

Chase was a dual-purpose K9 trained for narcotics detection, criminal apprehension, tracking, building searches, and evidence recovery. K9 Chase seized thousands of dollars worth of illegal narcotics and helped with numerous arrests.

Chase was named after fallen Locust Grove Police Officer Chase Maddox, who died in the line of duty on February 9, 2018, just days before K9 Chase was born.

This is a horrible incident and our investigators are continuing to gather information regarding the vehicle system failures that led to this tragedy, Officials with Cobb County Police said. K9 Chase was a beloved officer of the Cobb County Police Department and will forever be missed by us all.

It is important to note, the Cobb County Police Department is not launching a criminal investigation, instead, they are launching an investigation to look into what led up to K9 Chases death and why the air conditioner malfunctioned.

K9 Chase is currently at Cobb County Animal Shelter and will be transported to the University of Georgia for a necropsy later Tuesday.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
CANAL WINCHESTER  A Reynoldsburg resident was arrested after being found with cocaine, marijuana, and a stolen firearm in Canal Winchester on Saturday.

Chaz Brisco, 18, was arrested on Saturday after a routine traffic stop resulted in the recovery of a stolen firearm and drugs.

On Saturday, Fairfield County Sheriff's Office deputy stopped a white Toyota Camry for following too close and having no operational license plate light. According to the arrest report, Brisco, who was the passenger, appeared visibly nervous to the deputy.

The deputy returned to his cruiser and ran Brisco's information, it showed that he had been charged with felony possession of drugs in Franklin County.

This led to the deputy deploying K9 Lupo for a free air sniff, which resulted in a positive indication of a narcotic odor.

The deputy then had the driver exit the vehicle and spoke with her. She stated that she was not aware of anything illegal in the car and that she had only known Brisco for about a week.

Next, the deputy had Brisco step out of the vehicle and conducted a search. In his shorts, he located a baggie of marijuana and a fake Indiana ID. In a bag on the floorboard between Brisco's feet, a gun was located. When the gun's serial number was run, it was found to have been reported stolen. Brisco claimed to the deputy that it had been bought from a friend, according to the report.

After being arrested and transported to the Fairfield County jail, 20 grams of cocaine were located in Brisco's underwear.

Brisco has been charged with a third-degree felony for possession of cocaine, a third-degree felony for illegal conveyance of narcotics into a detention facility, and a fourth-degree felony for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Cocaine found in suspect's underwear in Fairfield County Jail
Mk 48 Frigate

There was a time when elements of the U.S. Navy appreciated the complexity, effort, duration, and assets anti-submarine warfare, or ASW, demanded of a fleet. Expecting to fight a blue-water war-at-sea campaign against a maturing Soviet Navy, serious investment was made toward developing the best sensors and weapons that could defeat any undersea threat.

Designed in response to the existential crisis created by the speed, endurance, and performance of nuclear-powered submarines, as first demonstrated by the USS Nautilus, 63 frigates were built for service in the U.S. Navy between 1962 and 1974 across three classes: the Garcia, Brooke, and Knox.

USS Brooke (FFG-1), the lead ship of its class. U.S. Navy

Anticipating the need to adequately equip these ships with a variety of the most advanced sensors, weapons, and fire control systems, the Navy initially designed them with a state-of-the-art bow-mounted sonar.

Once detected by the frigates sonar, an enemy submarine could either be sunk or discouraged from completing its mission by anti-submarine rockets (ASROC) armed with a nuclear depth bomb or a lightweight torpedo (LWT), deck-launched LWTs, stern-launched heavyweight torpedoes (HWT), and an unmanned/manned helicopter armed with LWTs or a nuclear depth bomb.

At one point, the Navy even had the audacity to consider arming these warships with the newest HWT then being developed: the Mk 48.

It's a cautionary tale that should be factored into anti-submarine warfare decisions being made today.

The Nautilus Scare

During initial combat effectiveness trials, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) stunned the anti-submarine world with its sustainable speed, agility, and elusiveness while successfully attacking and re-attacking high-value targets and their escorting destroyer screens. Norman Friedman describes the attempted ASW response in his seminal work on US submarine design: By the fall of 1957, Nautilus had been exposed to 5,000 dummy attacks in U.S. exercises. A conservative estimate would have had a conventional submarine killed 300 times; [Nautilus] was ruled killed only three times  in effect, Nautilus wiped out the ASW progress of the past decade.

A painting of USS Nautilus (SSN-571), by Albert Murray, dated 1959. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph, 88-195-HL

At that time, the Mk 37 HWT was the most advanced ASW torpedo used by both submarines and surface ships. Its homing, wire guidance (in the Mod 1 version), dual speed, and estimated range of 23,000 yards (11.5 nautical miles at 17 knots) established the 19-inch HWT as the best weapon against faster and hydrodynamically more efficient post-war diesel submarines, particularly when the enemy was snorkeling. However, it was clear that this torpedos estimated maximum speed of 26-27 knots, its total range, and its acquisition range (about 1,000 yards) were simply no match for the endurance and speed of a nuclear submarine.

In ASW exercises the Mk 37 was having great difficulty finding and then chasing down the first-generation Nautilus and the Skate class nuclear fast attack submarines. Even so, Friedman acknowledges that the Skates actually suffered hits. But the much faster, second-generation, teardrop-shaped Skipjack class and the almost undetectable third-generation Permit class, as well as the very slow (16 knots) but ultra-quiet USS Tullibee (SSN-597) were able to outsmart, out-dive, and/or outrun the Mk 37.

USS Tulibee (SSN-597). U.S. Navy

Forced to an unwanted conclusion, the practitioners of ASW acknowledged that their reliance on current sensors and weapons designed to detect, localize, and kill their underwater adversary was simply obsolete. As this devastating revelation unfolded, the U.S. Navy decided it needed an urgent replacement for its surface and sub-surface launched Mk 37 ASW HWT.

Nobska and RETORC II

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Arleigh Burke, was not happy. In late 1955, he asked the Committee on Undersea Warfare (CUW) to hold an ASW conference the following summer to determine how to approach and defeat the nuclear submarine threat. Project Nobska met from June to September of 1956 and delivered its report to the CNO in December. As might be expected, Nobska addressed the torpedo problem.

Though fraught with diplomatic and ethical considerations, an immediate and rather drastic response was to develop and quickly deploy a nuclear depth bomb, known as the Mk 101 Lulu, and a nuclear-tipped anti-submarine torpedo, the Mk 45 ASTOR. This submarine-launched HWT had a meager range of five to eight miles and was wire-guided for command detonation, not acoustic homing.

Meanwhile, Nobska also gave birth to the Research Torpedo Configuration, or RETORC II program which was charged with designing and developing a heavyweight torpedo that could be fired from both submarines and surface ships. The primary goal set for this new torpedo was that it must run at twice the speed and range of the Mk 37. Initially known as EX-10, it would become the Mk 48 torpedo.

Technicians perform maintenance on a Mark 48 Advanced Capabilities torpedo at Keyport, Washington in 1982. U.S. Navy

A Brief History of the Mk 48

Ten months after the Nobska report was delivered to the CNO, the Bureau of Ordnance began feasibility studies on the new HWT. In the late 1950s, a series of RETORC II test vehicles were built and evaluated writes John Merrill in his comprehensive study of undersea warfare sensors and weapons systems. The evaluations were quite successful: In-water tests demonstrated a reduction in self-noise, a five-fold increase in acquisition range, and torpedo speed more than doubled.

After almost a decade of highly motivated and deeply committed development and evaluation by the Naval Underwater Systems Center (NUSC), Westinghouse was awarded the initial contract for the Mk 48 Mod 0. This was developed by the Ordnance Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University with a variable-speed turbine for its propulsion. However, it was, at the outset, exclusively designed for ASW.

Problems and cost of the Mod 0 turbine, as well as the Navys new desire to have the new torpedo also attack surface ships, caused delays. Because of this, Gould, Inc., and the Naval Surface Warfare Center were tasked to develop a competing torpedo designated the Mk 48 Mod 1. This torpedo would have an external, axial piston engine reducing the overall price of the weapon and it would be able to kill surface ships.

With the early-World War II Mk 14 submarine-launched torpedo debacle fresh in their minds, the NUSC embarked on an aggressive evaluation of the new torpedo. The Mark 48 torpedo pre-introduction testing had proved to be the most extensive underwater weapon system evaluation ever conducted by the U.S. Navy, writes Merrill, with 227 range runs of the Mod 1 torpedo and a total of 300 runs during the evaluation of the Mod 0 and 2.

Conducting a final shootout before the Navy decided which version to buy, more than 480 side-by-side firings were conducted in accordance with the Naval Sea Systems Commands selection test plan, which included several threat scenarios at AUTEC

In 1972, the Gould, Inc. Mk 48 Mod 1 was chosen. It would replace the Mk 37, which would become a mobile mine, as well as the nuclear-tipped Mk 45 ASTOR.

The new torpedos maximum estimated speed was 55 knots with an estimated range of 48,000 yards (24 nautical miles), an estimated acquisition range of 4,000 yards, and an estimated diving depth of over 1,000 feet. Between 1973 and 1980, the new torpedo would be fired over 13,000 times from submarines during training exercises.

Despite expected teething problems, this HWT proved itself an outstanding ASW weapon.

Arming Surface Ships with Mk 48, Part I: FRAM Sets the Precedent

Since Robert Whitehead offered his refined weapon to the worlds navies in 1868, surface warships have been attempting to sink one another with the torpedo. By the end of World War II, the increasing distances between opposing battle fleets  created by the well-armed airplane and the advent of the anti-ship cruise missile  made ship-to-ship torpedo warfare obsolete.

However, this didnt put the weapon out of a job. The altering effect the submarine brought to naval warfare and the alarming numbers the Soviet Navy was perceived to be building during the immediate post-war years ensured that a homing torpedo fired from the decks of a surface warship would find lasting employment trying to locate and eliminate the undersea threat.

The Navy had an abundance of World War II-era destroyers that were also obsolete, but they had nothing else available in great numbers to escort aircraft carrier battle groups (CVBG) and convoys. The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program was created to extend the lives of these workhorse destroyers and update their weapons and sensors.

Ninety-five Gearing class destroyers were modified under FRAM I, which was primarily for ASW. Thirty-three Allen M. Sumner class destroyers were modified primarily for anti-air warfare (AAW) under FRAM II, although these ships would also receive ASW sensors and weapons.

Gearing class destroyers USS Sarsfield (DD-837; top) in 1945 and USS Rowan (DD-782; bottom) in 1965, after FRAM conversion. U.S. Navy

One such modification to the FRAM II destroyers was a new type of 21-inch, single-tube HWT launcher: the Mk 25.

It was designed to fire the Mk 35, the first surface-launched ASW HWT produced for the US Navy. However, the new launcher was adapted to fire the Mk 37. Its placement amidships would complement the new triple-tubed Mk 32 launcher which could fire the second-generation Mk 44 LWT and eventually the third-generation Mk 46 LWT.

A 21-inch HWT tube mount on USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692). During the FRAM II overhaul two Mk 25 tubes were installed on the O-1 Deck with one on each side angled forward at approximately a 45-degree angle. The tubes could be adapted to fire the Mk 37 Mod 0 torpedo. DD-692.com with permission

Of course, as we have discussed, the Mk 37 was not up to the task of killing a nuclear submarine.

Arming Surface Ships with Mk 48, Part II: Ocean Escorts

Initially designated destroyer escorts (DE) and called ocean escorts, the Garcia, Brooke, and Knox classes were ridiculed for not being fast enough, not being well enough armed offensively or defensively, and not having enough sensors. Some even complained they didnt look fearsome enough. In fact, one prize-winning naval essayist wrote of one of the frigate classes: We have wrought the DE-1052 [Knox] class, the greatest mistake in ship procurement the U.S. Navy has known.

Of course, this gentleman had not met the Littoral Combat Ship.

At 27-28 knots maximum speed, the ocean escorts certainly were not as fast as their ASW destroyer-kin, the 30+ knot FRAMs. However, they could keep station at normal CVBG speeds. Far more important, they could shepherd convoys, amphibious battle groups, and underway replenishment (UNREP) ships with ease.

A starboard bow view of the Knox class frigate USS McCandless (FF-1084) underway in Thimble Shoals en route to the open ocean for sea trials. (USN)

As far as sensors and weapons are concerned, all three classes were equipped with the AN/SQS-26, the bow-mounted sonar that was actively detecting unalerted submarines at ranges sometimes greater than 30 nautical miles.

For the kill, these three classes were armed with LWT tubes that could fire both the Mk 44 and Mk 46 ASW homing torpedoes. Each ship also carried an RUR-5 Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) box launcher capable of delivering a W44 nuclear depth charge or LWT up to six nautical miles away.

By this time, the Navy had fully appreciated the role the manned helicopter could play in ASW, and each ship would carry the Light Airborne Multipurpose Helicopter (LAMPS) Mk 1 SH-2 Seasprite which could also carry the LWT.

An Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC) box launcher capable of firing either a nuclear depth charge or conventional lightweight torpedo. U.S. Navy

But the Navy wasnt done. Two fixed Mk 25 HWT tubes were mounted in the stern of the Garcia and Brooke classes and were planned for the Knox. More importantly, the service wisely understood that the remarkable active sonar ranges the SQS-26 was seeing demanded a deck-mounted weapon that could be launched even when the helicopter could not. They also needed an HWT that could deliver an almost certain kill to both a diesel and nuclear-powered submarine, in an ASW world that was increasingly concerned about the ability of LWTs to do the job. Clearly, the Mk 37 just wasnt up to the task.

The obvious answer was to arm them with the Mk 48.

The Mk 48  Its Not Just for Submarines

The fact that the Garcia and Brooke classes were already fitted with the stern-mounted 21-inch torpedo tubes during construction meant they were ready for the introduction of the Mk 48. After all, they had already been carrying the Mk 37 HWT operationally since 1962.

In 1971, Admiral Zumwalt, the CNO, testified about the use of the Mk 48 torpedo in surface ships before the House Appropriations Committee:

"There are still provisional arrangements, in the form of space and weight reservations being made for the introduction of the Mk 48 torpedo into surface ships. Additionally, we have configured one surface escort, the USS Talbot, to fire the Mk 48, and are planning to include firing Mk 48 torpedoes from this ship in the operational evaluation of the Mk 48 weapons system. This will provide data to develop firing doctrine and will complete the groundwork for arming surface ships with the Mk 48 torpedo should this course of action be decided upon."

The Mk 48 torpedo was intended for use in both submarines and surface ships, in the latter for the ASW role. Twin Mk 25 tubes for Mk 48 torpedoes were fitted in guided missile frigates (DLG/DLGN) in their after deckhouse and in escort ships (DE/DEG) in their stern counters. This photo shows a Mk 48 being launched from the USS Talbot (DEG-4). Lockheed Shipbuilding; US Navy

Additionally, Vice Admiral Charles S. Minter fielded questions about surface escort evaluation of the Mk 48 asked of him during Senate hearings: Approximately 50 test launchings have been conducted from deck-mounted tubes on surface craft of various types including a destroyer escort USS Bridget (DE-1024). These tests have established that the Mk 48 torpedo is suitable

VADM Minter also identified two other classes of ships that had space and weight reservations set aside for arming with the Mk 48: the Belknap class cruiser (initially designated a frigate), and the nuclear-powered cruiser USS Truxtun (CGN-35).

USS Truxtun (DLGN-35) before commissioning in May of 1967. This warship was redesignated as a nuclear-powered cruiser (CGN) in 1975. Official U.S. Navy photo

Stern view of USS Truxtun (DLGN-35). Note the RIM-2 Terrier surface-to-air missile launcher with two practice rounds. Also note the stern indentation showing possible Mk 25 torpedo tube doors. U.S. Navy

It certainly seemed that these surface ships were going to be armed with the powerful Mk 48 HWT.

The Mk 48  Actually, It is Just for Submarines

By the time the Navy changed its designation of the ocean escorts from destroyer escort to frigate in 1975, they were installing AN/SQS-35 variable-depth sonars into stern torpedo spaces of the Knox class and had begun removing the Mk 25 stern torpedo tubes from the Garcia and Brooke classes.

Through the years, a variety of reasons have been offered for why the Navy chose not to arm the Garcia, Brooke, Knox, and Belknap classes and the USS Truxtun with the Mk 48 and remove the Mk 25 tubes from the two oldest classes. The most cited was budgetary.

As the Cold War progressed, sonar technology confirmed that, in the right conditions, the submarine was indeed the best platform to hunt and kill another submarine. Also, the submarines inherent stealth and the painstaking effort the U.S. Navy had taken to make their submarines extremely quiet supported the priority of arming all of its submarines with the Mk 48 torpedo.

At $894,000 apiece (FY 1979 buy of 127 torpedoes) and amid the massive post-Vietnam War defense budget cuts, it really did make sense to prioritize the Mk 48 for the 13 boats of the Permit class, the 38 boats of the Sturgeon class, and the 41 ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) of various classes. Additionally, the first keel for the new Los Angeles class SSN was laid down the same year the torpedo became operational and in 1976, the keel was laid down for the first Trident class SSBN.

A Mk 48 stored in a torpedo room aboard a U.S. Navy submarine. (U.S. Undersea Museum)

Yet, even before the Mk 48 became operational, the Navy seemed to have already made up its mind. In his 1972 testimony before the Senate, VADM Minter engaged in this exchange with a senator who asked why the necessary gear to arm the designated surface ships with the Mk 48 has not been installed:

Answer: "At present our requirement for surface ships is limited to a single ship configuration for purpose of test. Neither present nor projected funding requirements include the cost of equipping surface ships with the Mk 48 torpedo."

Question: "If they do not, why not a full disclosure as this will be a costly program?"

Answer: "Navy plans and cost estimates are based on approved objectives which at this time do not include requirements for installation of the Mk 48 torpedo system on surface ships."

Question: "When do you expect to begin surface ship introduction?"

Answer: "The primary reason for development and procurement of the Mk 48 torpedo system is to provide our submarine force with a weapon capable of coping with the present and future threat. As a secondary objective, it was advisable to make this weapon surface-ship compatible  in the meantime, the Mk 46 torpedo will remain as the primary ASW weapon for our surface ships."

The arming of surface ships with the Mk 48 died a quiet death.

A New ASW Philosophy: On the Nature of Putting Your Eggs in One Basket

In the late spring of 1970, Okean 70 was recognized as not merely the Soviet Navys but historys largest peacetime naval exercise, according to Norman Polmars 50-year reflection on the event. Okean, or Ocean, 70 included 84 surface warships, 80-some submarines (including 15 nuclear powered), and 45 naval auxiliary and intelligence-collection ships, plus several hundred aircraft.

The Soviet Navy had finally convinced not only its own government, but also the West by providing tangible proof that it was a blue-water navy.

This exercise only added to the troubling outlook the 1970s U.S. Navy faced. The rapidly diminishing post-Vietnam War defense budget would have to be divided primarily among the Navys demand for the new Nimitz class aircraft carriers, the new Ohio class SSBNs, and the new Los Angeles class SSNs. Once again, the non-sexy field of ASW would be targeted for necessary cuts.

As VADM Minter described above, the Mk 46 LWT would be relied upon to be the primary ASW weapon of both the surface navy and Naval Aviation (NAVAIR). Even the happy time of the 1980s Reagan Navy would fail to produce committed research and development of additional deck-launched or air-dropped conventional weapons to supplement the LWT.

With the end of the Cold War, the lightweight torpedo would become the sole surface/air ASW weapon when the nuclear-tipped ASROC and air-dropped B57 nuclear depth bomb were taken out of service.

The ASW eggs had been moved to a single basket.

The very unwise reliance on a single weapon was not the only problem. During my time as an acoustic sensor operator in the S-3 Viking, I had heard whispers that the Mk 46 torpedo was not reliable and several of my pilots and Naval Flight Officers quietly expressed their doubts that we would be able to disable or kill an enemy submarine.

An S-3 Viking and A-6 Intruder from the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) fly over a Soviet Foxtrot class diesel submarine. U. S. Navy

Concerns about the reliability of the LWT and its ability to defeat Soviet submarines, particularly the newest classes being built, were finding voice in 1980s naval literature.

Articles with titles such as Torpedoes: Our Wonder Weapon! (We Wonder If Theyll Work) and disturbing comments such as The Mk 46  Stingray [LWTs]  might have been barely adequate in the early 1960s  [they are] frighteningly unconvincing against modern, fast, deep-diving Soviet submarines supported the whispers I was hearing.

This alarming comment was written by then CDR Roy Corlett, U.K. Royal Navy, in the 1982-83 issue of Janes Naval Review. CDR Corletts credentials included commanding a Royal Navy submarine and serving as Staff Weapons Officer to Flag Officer, Submarines.

But the most troubling event supporting the whispers was the most recent, modern war-at-sea: the Falklands conflict.

Over 200 weapons were expended against targets thought to be submarines by Royal Navy ASW forces, according to some sources. Many of these were lightweight torpedoes. In fact, from April to June 1982, helicopters dropped 24 Mk 46 and six Mk 44 LWTs, according to Mario Sciaronis excellent work on the Royal Navy ASW campaign. Yet, for more than a month, the Argentinian submarine ARA San Luis (S-32) was neither deterred nor destroyed. After the disabling of the ARA Santa Fe (S-21), the San Luis was the only threat submarine the British faced.

The US Navy knew it had a problem. The Mk 46 just wasnt going to do the job. Thus, a long journey began to update and eventually replace the sole surface-ship-launched and air-dropped LWT.

The Mk 46 Mod 5 NEARTIP, or Near-Term Improvement Program, only addressed some of the problems and failed to convince the nay-sayers. Worse still, despite its impressive speed, the Mk 50 had a relatively short service life of only a decade. Apparently, its shaped-charge warhead did not perform as advertised nor did its propulsion system.

The Navy moved on to the Mk 54 which uses the Mk 46s propulsion, a regular high-explosive warhead, and the homing software of the Mk 48. By the Navys own confession, this torpedo isnt working as desired, either.

Over the years, do you know what I have also heard frequently whispered?

Dont put all your eggs in one basket.

The Business of Frigates

On March 30, 1987, the keel for the final Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, the USS Ingraham (FFG-61), was laid down. Now, 36 years later, the U.S. Navy is going back into the business of frigates.

Traditionally, the modern frigate was designed to escort convoys, amphibious battle groups, and high-value assets such as underway replenishment (UNREP) ships through submarine-infested waters.

Under the shadow of the failed LCS program, the potential decommissioning of all Ticonderoga class cruisers by the end of the decade, and a planned 90-hull build of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, the Navy can use as many frigates as it can get to supplement a limited ASW-capable surface fleet.

Unfortunately, the Navy is only planning on building 20 hulls of the 7,291-ton, 496-foot Constellation (FFG-62) class frigate. While the most recent report on the frigate states that new warship is multi-purpose, the project manager claims it is primarily an ASW platform.

U.S. Navy guided-missile frigate FFG-62 artist rendering, from April 2020. U.S. Navy

For the ASW fight, the FFG-62 has the following planned sensors and weapons:

AN/SQQ-89(V)15 Integrated Undersea Warfare (USW) Combat System Suite

CAPTAS-4 variable-depth sonar

TB-37 Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA)

Mk 41 Vertical Launch System

Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (2 x Mk 32 LWT triple launcher)

RUR-139 Vertical Launch ASROC (Mk 54 LWT)

Mk 54 lightweight torpedo

LAMPS Mk III helicopter (MH-60R w/Mk 54)

MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopter (possibly w/Mk 54)

On paper, this seems to be an impressive list to meet the submarine threat. But lists can be deceiving and the 21st-century anti-submarine battle is proving to be unlike anything any navy has experienced.

Commitment to One-Basket-ism

"An anti-submarine warfare (ASW) campaign will be the unavoidable opening phase of conflict in the Western Pacific, one of the planets toughest acoustic environments. It will be a come as you are street fight against an adversary who may engage us in unanticipated ways. Whether this confrontation is ultimately with China, or perhaps with Russia, or any of a number of other nations with small but capable submarine forces, we are likely to get an ugly surprise."- Vice Admiral James R. Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) and Rear Admiral Richard F. Pittenger, USN (Ret.) in ASW  Will We Ever Learn?

From an ASW perspective, two things stand out about the Constellation class frigate: the conspicuous absence of a bow sonar and complete reliance on one weapon to engage a submarine: the Mk 54 lightweight torpedo.

Considering that the FFG-62 will be traversing the diverse waters of the Indo-Pacific theater when the probable next war-at-sea breaks out, not taking advantage of every available submarine-hunting sensor, such as the SQS-53C bow sonar  which is an essential element of the complete AN/SQQ-89 Integrated USW Combat System Suite  seems terribly misguided. (I will address this issue in a future article).

But then to rely solely on the Mk 54 LWT, which at the Navys own admission isnt all that it should be, points to the sea service still not taking its frigate design or ASW seriously.

A 2014 report states that the LWT is not operationally effective. During operationally challenging and realistic scenarios, the Mk 54 (BUG [block upgrade]) demonstrated below threshold performance and exhibited many of the same failure mechanisms observed during the FY2004 initial operational testing.

Ten years and the problems werent fixed.

A 2016 report isnt any better: The new version, designated the Mk 54 Mod 1 torpedo, is scheduled to begin OT&E in FY20. The Navy started the Mk 54 Mod 1 development in FY07 and in-water developmental testing in November 2015. The Navy has completed 16 of the planned 80 Mk 54 Mod 1 developmental test firings and obtained valid test data from 11 Based on data collected in the Navys scaled Mk 54 warhead tests executed in FY16, it is assessed the Mk 54 will remain not effective even with the Mod 1 fixes. (Italics, mine).

Not only am I hearing those whispers from the past about eggs and baskets, I am deafened by the screams from the ghosts of World War II about unreliable torpedoes.

The Audacity of Growth

In the latest report to Congress on the Constellation class frigate, the growth margin is discussed:

"Another potential aspect of this issue is whether the Navy more generally has chosen the appropriate amount of growth margin to incorporate into the FFG-62 design. The Navy wants the FFG-62 design to have a growth margin (also called service life allowance) of 5%, meaning an ability to accommodate upgrades and other changes that might be made to the ships design over the course of its service life that could require up to 5% more space, weight, electrical power, or equipment cooling capacity... Skeptics might argue that a larger growth margin (such as 10%  a figure used in designing cruisers and destroyers) would provide more of a hedge against the possibility of greater-than anticipated improvements in the capabilities of potential adversaries such as China"

Proposed Government Furnished Equipment for FFG(X)  now known as FFG-62, or Constellation class. U.S. Navy

It isnt too late to use some of that growth margin now and consider adding one Mk 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) tube to the stern of the FFG-62. Of course, because of the Mk 48s remarkable range, the SQS-53C bow sonar must be added to the frigate design as well.

If not already, production of new Mk 48s in large numbers should be one of the highest priorities of the U.S Navy.

Keep in mind, the Constellation class frigate is 3,000 tons heavier, almost 60 feet longer and almost 20 feet wider at the beam than the Knox class frigate which originally had two HWT tubes planned for its stern. The stern of the FFG-62 can be modified to accommodate both a VDS and a single Mk 48 torpedo tube with reloads.

Knox class frigate, drawing, from the 1974 All Hands magazine. All Hands

A single HWT tube might be risky, but dependency on a single ASW weapon with a questionable history and reliability is a risk that shouldnt be taken.

Along with frigates, its time for the U.S. Navy to get back into the business of being audacious.

Authors note: I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Susan Brook at the US Naval Institute for providing a digital original and giving permission to use the remarkable photo of the USS Talbot firing the Mk 48. Also, I am grateful for the permission to use the Mk 25 HWT tube mount photo and assistance from Ron Babuka, former crewman of the USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) and editor of the website dd-692.com

Kevin Noonan served in the U.S. Navy from 198494 as a sensor operator (SENSO), briefly, in the P-3B Orion with VP-94 and for the remainder of his service as a SENSO in the S-3A/B with VS-41, VS-24, and VS-27.

Contact the editor: oliver@thewarzone.com
Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa delivers a speech during an event with local authorities in Bogota on June 5, 2023

An illegal wiretapping scandal that has engulfed members of President Gustavo Petro's entourage deepened Tuesday with the country's top prosecutor accused of colluding with government detractors.

The South American country's ruling Historic Pact coalition announced it would ask Congress to investigate Attorney General Francisco Barbosa for allegedly instigating acts of "insubordination and disobedience."

Barbosa last week announced an investigation into claims of wrongdoing against Petro's chief of staff Laura Sarabia and ambassador to Venezuela Armando Benedetti, both since forced to step down.

"Rather than acting as head of the prosecutors office, (Barbosa) has decided to intervene openly in politics and... sadly become a spokesman for the opposition," senator Maria Jose Pizarro told reporters.

David Racero, leader of the House of Representatives, added Barbosa "may be using his power... against this government."

Sarabia and Benedetti came under scrutiny after Sarabia's nanny -- who previously also worked for Benedetti -- allegedly fell victim to illegal surveillance.

Benedetti had said he fired the nanny, Marelbys Meza, in June last year on suspicion of stealing thousands of dollars and after she failed a polygraph test.

Sarabia hired Meza last August.

In January this year, the nanny was allegedly made to take another polygraph test, this time on suspicion of stealing $7,000 from Sarabia's house.

To gain access to her calls, a false police report was allegedly used to link the nanny to organized crime, according to Barbosa, who was appointed in 2020 under Petro's rightwing predecessor Ivan Duque.

- 'Rage and drink' -

Meza has also claimed she was subjected to illegal interrogation and a lie detector test in January at a building annexed to the presidential palace in Bogota.

Petro's former top aides have since accused one another of all kinds of misdemeanors.

Sarabia claimed Benedetti, her former boss, had set her up by introducing her to Meza and then blackmailed her into supporting his bid for a ministerial post in exchange for making the nanny's claims disappear.

Benedetti, in turn, accused Sarabia -- whom he had introduced to Petro -- of "abuse of power, kidnapping (of Meza) and intimidation."

On Sunday, the newspaper La Revista Semana published an expletive-riddled recording of Benedetti threatening Sarabia with his knowledge of alleged illegal campaign funding to the tune of $3.5 million.

Benedetti, a key aide to Petro's successful 2022 election campaign, was reported saying they would all go to jail if he is pushed into spilling the beans.

Colombia's national electoral council (CNE) has opened an investigation into Benedetti's claims.

He later said the recordings had been "manipulated" and offered an apology to Petro.

Late Monday, Benedetti took to Twitter to explain that "in an act of weakness and sadness" about his declining political fortunes, "I let myself be carried away by rage and drink."

Petro has denied any impropriety, and denounced, in response to Benedetti's tweet, "an attempt to stop the fight against impunity."

lv/llu/mlr/caw
A man is facing at least 19 years in prison for fatally shooting a 29-year-old man inside a Franklinton bar in 2021.

Clyde T. Littlefield, 23, of the West Side, pleaded guilty on Monday in connection with the death of Edward Charles Little Eddie Hunter Jr., of the South Side, on July 1, 2021.

Littlefield pleaded to involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises and illegally carrying a concealed weapon.

In exchange, Franklin County prosecutors dismissed a murder charge.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Kimberly Cocroft sentenced Littlefield to an indefinite prison term of 19 years and two months to 24 years and eight months. If Littlefield misbehaves in prison, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections could extend his prison term.

The sentence was jointly recommended by prosecutors and Littlefields defense attorney.

Littlefield has been in jail for about one year and nine months and that time will count toward time served.

A fight at Patio Bar at 945 Sullivant Ave. preceded the fatal shooting.

According to a statement by the Franklin County Prosecutor's office, there was a fight between Littlefield's group and another group of people before Littlefield pulled out a gun and shot Hunter in the back while he was standing and again while Hunter lay injured on the ground.

Hunter died at the scene. Littlefield fled the bar.

Littlefield's defense attorney, Dan Sabol, said Littlefield regrets the shooting every day.

"Clyde wasn't out to hurt anyone that night. A fight broke out amongst a group of people that he was not a part of, (Hunter) started assaulting Clyde's friend, so he stepped in to protect him and unfortunately used a firearm in the heat of the moment. This was a tragedy for all involved," Sabol told The Dispatch.

U.S. Marshals arrested Littlefield in August 2021 in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Shortly after the shooting, Columbus police said they were also looking for Logan Besse, a person of interest in Hunters death. Sabol said Besse was Littlefield's friend who Hunter punched.

Besse, 24, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to having a weapon under disability (possessing a gun illegally) and he is currently on probation. Cocroft sentenced Besse to two years and six months of community control.

More for subscribers: Columbus gripped by gun violence

More: Columbus leaders, activists rail against state laws at vigil for gun violence victims

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man sentenced to prison for fatal shooting inside bar
Columbus police looking for 28-year-old man after woman dies in Southeast Side shooting

Columbus police are looking for a 28-year-old man who is accused of shooting a woman after an argument outside a Southeast Side apartment Monday afternoon.

Police said the 20-year-old woman was found shot around 12:45 p.m. Monday at the Independence Village apartments, located off of Refugee Road. Witnesses told police they heard 28-year-old Miles Gibson, of the Southeast Side, and the victim arguing shortly before hearing a single gunshot.

The woman, who was identified Tuesday as 20-year-old Kennedy Cowans, ran into the apartment complex and sought help. She was found by officers on the 3300 block of Brooke Colony Drive.

Miles Gibson, 28, is wanted in connection with the June 5 homicide of a 20-year-old woman. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

According to court records, Gibson's last known address is in the area of the apartment complex where the shooting took place.

Cowans was rushed to Mount Carmel East hospital but died at 3:02 p.m. Monday from her injuries.

A murder charge was filed against Gibson on Monday evening and an arrest warrant was issued. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police seek 28-year-old suspect in woman's shooting death
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Twitter/Getty

Late-night shows have been put on hold amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. But one Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer is still delivering hysterical, Emmy-worthy impersonations from her Twitter account and pissing off conspiracy-spreading Republicans in the process.

I cant write jokes for work, comedian Blaire Erskine tells The Daily Beast. I have to do something to entertain myself when Im not picketing.

On May 24, Erskine posted a hilarious impression of Georgias GOP district chairand failed gubernatorial candidateKandiss Taylor, lampooning her widely mocked comments about our planet during a discussion with two flat-earthers recently on her podcast.

Kandiss Taylor explaining how the Earth is flat pic.twitter.com/CByWpLX0ZU  blaire erskine (@blaireerskine) May 25, 2023

People want to be like, If the Earth is flat, then what about night and day? Erskine says in the video, nailing Taylors Southern twang. I dont know. Let me think about it. Maybe because the Earth is double-sided, and God flips us over when its time to go to bed and flips us back over when its time for us to wake up.

Taylors actual comments on Jesus, Guns and Babiesyes, that is the actual name of her podcastwerent that far off. Mostly, the GOP chair is concerned that were all being brainwashed into believing the Earth is round through globe propaganda.

All the globes, everywhere Taylor said in the episode. I turn on the TV, theres globes in the background. Everywhere theres globes. You see them all the time, its constant. My children will be like Mama, globe, globe, globe, globe. Theyre everywhere.

Erskines impression of Taylor was apparently so goodor maybe conservatives nowadays are just so absurdthat BuzzFeed included her in their 14 People Who Failed Hard This Week listicle, apparently mistaking her for the politician herself.

I think it was a combination of a few sources mistaking me for her, Erskine explains. But nevertheless, thank you, Buzzfeed. Don't replace your writers with AI.

Why MAGA-Mocking Comedian Blaire Erskine Makes Liberals So Mad

To be fair, it wasnt the first time one of Erskines viral political parodies, which she capitalized on during the pandemic, left the internet scratching their heads. A previous video she recorded pretending to be Ted Cruzs director of communications during his infamous Cancun scandal in 2021 stumped Succession star J. Smith Cameron. Unfortunately, her send-up of Taylor made it to the GOP officials desk, prompting one of the most galaxy-brain spiels to circulate on Twitter in recent memory.

Ive never said the Earth was flat, Taylor responded in a 12-minute video. Ive never said that I was a flat-earther. I never said that globes were fake. What I said was that NASA taking billions of dollars every month of our taxpayer money and funding something that we do not see any progression ingoing to space, going to the moon, going to Mars. Theres no progression.

The entire response is as erroneous and spoof-worthy as Taylors initial comments fretting the prevalence of spheres. She refers to Erskine as radical liberal psychotic girl before differentiating the two of them for any of her confused followers by the size of their upper lips. The red was a nice touch, but you dont have the lips for it, she retorts. She also mistakes her for a Saturday Night Live writer.

Erskine reposted a clip of Taylor's video, joking that she just learned a lot about myself, including dont have a full front top lip and apparently work at snl, adding, thank you for clearing that up @KandissTaylor.

just learned a lot about myself!

- dont have a full front top lip

- not from south georgia

- apparently work at snl



thank you for clearing that up @KandissTaylor and dont let big globe get you down pic.twitter.com/x8tqn11Qxz  blaire erskine (@blaireerskine) June 5, 2023

When The Daily Beast reached out to Taylor for comment, she offered this response via text, Blaire Erskine is a failed comedian and completely out of touch with the heartland of America. The truth is, the media has lied about EVERYTHING, from 'safe and effective' vaccines, 'secure elections,' to men now being able to conceive babies. Everybody loves a good conspiracy theory, but we cant smother and demonize people for their curiosity in pursuit of political correctness."

Asked if she believes the Earth is flat, Taylor evaded the question by replying, Id love to visit space and see it for myself one day!

Despite having some of Taylors followers in her mentions, Erskine said shes not concerned about receiving a ton of backlash from the politicians fringe camp of rightwingersor flat-earthersonline.

She got, like, 3.4 percent in the Republican primary, Erskine said. I don't think she has many followers. I am taking her response seriously, though, especially the part about my accent being fake because Im from Atlanta.

Like all the best parodies, the 31-year-old Georgia native says she has a familiarity and underlying affection for the archetype Taylor represents, given her Southern rootseven if shes not on board with her ill-informed ideologies.

I love brassy Southern women, she said. I was raised by them. Luckily, the ones who raised me weren't far-right bigots who think globes are a conspiracy. All of that was appealing to me when she first came on the scene, and then her Jesus, Guns, and Babies schtick was impossible not to parody.

She could be an incredible comedy writer if it werent for everything else about her, the comedian adds.

Kimmel Writer Blaire Erskine Nails Herschel Walker With Brutal Abortion Ad

Despite the absurdity of Taylors remarks, Erskine doesnt want her parody to give social media a false impression of her home state or incite elitist notions of Southern people. She says comments generalizing Georgia based on some of their elected officials or making fun of Taylors accent bum [her] out.

I love Georgia, and I know Kandiss Taylor is not representative of our state as a whole, she clarified. Georgia has its problemsits Marjorie Taylor Greenes, if you will. But its also full of some of the most brilliant and talented people Ive ever met.

Nevertheless, funny is funny. And Taylor has provided Erskineand the rest of the worldplenty of material to take advantage of. And this latest dust-up wasnt even Erskines first social media encounter with the GOP official.

During Taylors run for governor in February of 2022, the comedy writer released a video mocking her bid by declaring all abortions will be illegal cuz that fetus could be a Jesus. Taylor earnestly replied, Blaire Erskine is right, All abortion is murder and will be criminalized in Georgia Shes also right that Americas founding was through divine intervention Jesus is with our movement and we will take Georgia back from the corrupt swamp and return it to the people.

I never thought Id be satirizing this woman over a year later, Erskine said. But thats what happens when she speaks out against Big Globe while Im in the middle of a writers strike.

Additional reporting by Zachary Petrizzo.

For more, listen to Blaire Erskine on The Last Laugh podcast.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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HOLLAND  The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area recently welcomed new leadership and celebrated a successful fundraising effort to support local nonprofits.

During an annual luncheon in late May, CFHZ officially welcomed Patrick Cisler as its new president and CEO. Cisler was announced as the organizations next leader in March. He takes over for Mike Goorhouse, who led CFHZ since 2014.

Patrick Cisler, new president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, speaks during an annual luncheon event.

As someone who grew up in this community, it is truly a privilege to now be leading one of its finest organizations and continuing to build upon the excellent work of my predecessors, Cisler said during the luncheon. I hope to push the foundation during my time here to think about not just how we invest in buildings and organizations and programs, but how we invest in the social connection between people.

More: CFHZ names new president and CEO

CFHZ also has new leadership on its board of trustees. Three new members were recently elected to the board  Tim Hemingway, Micki Janssen and Rogen McLean.

Hemingway, a longtime Holland resident, held various executive leadership roles during a three-decade career with SAF Holland. Hes been on several local boards, including Holland BPW, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland and Holland Aquatic Center.

Janssen was born and raised in Zeeland. She was an elementary school teacher for 32 years and has served on boards for Resthaven and the Outdoor Discovery Center.

McLean will serve a one-year term as a Youth Trustee and will chair the Youth Advisory Committee. She will be a senior at West Ottawa this fall and has been on the YAC since her sophomore year.

Tom Den Herder was also selected as the boards chair, succeeding Diane Kooiker. Erin Avery Zylman will serve as chair elect, Jasmine Irish will serve as secretary and Scott Brooks will be treasurer.

Foundation staff also announced the conclusion of the "Strengthening the Nonprofit Sector Campaign," which was launched in the spring of 2022 and raised $1.7 million.

So far, funds have been used for leadership development programs, as well as program and operating support for the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance and Community SPOKE.

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A technical assistance fund will be launched in the fall.

The past few years provided a living case study which demonstrated the importance of our nonprofits having the support and resources they need to continue to collaborate, innovate and respond to increasingly complex challenges, Colleen Hill, vice president of development and donor services at CFHZ, wrote in a statement.

The generous support of local donors to the SNS Campaign means we can meaningfully increase our investment in the health and strength of nonprofit organizations and our commitment to creating a fully thriving community for all.

 Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: CFHZ welcomes new leadership, announces successful fundraising effort
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Good morning, Chicago.

A new effort is underway to measure heat across the city this summer. The campaign is the first step in fighting heat vulnerability, said Kyra Woods, a city of Chicago policy adviser on environment and climate.

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Heat is the deadliest weather phenomenon, killing more people in an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and cold, according to the National Weather Service. Heat kills some outright via heat stress. For others, heat exacerbates common chronic conditions, including asthma, heart disease and diabetes.

An investigation by the Tribunes Sarah Macaraeg found that more than 300,000 Chicagoans live in areas that are hotter than 90% of the rest of the city, or an estimated 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the city average.

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DePaul University College of Law graduate Emad Mahou greets a fellow graduate after the law school's commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

When Emad Mahou landed at OHare, he had two small bags of belongings, $100 and a sealed envelope with do not open in bold letters across the front.

With his hands he demonstrates the ups and downs of the last 12 years  from being released and offered refuge in America to graduating from the DePaul University School of Law. As his wife, 8-year-old daughter and his father stood in the stands, he walked across the stage with hopes of practicing human rights law to help other refugees coming into the country.

SafeSpeed red-light cameras in April 2022 at the intersection of Illinois 83 at 22nd Street, a corner shared by Oakbrook Terrace and neighbor Oak Brook. (Mike Mantucca/for the Chicago Tribune)

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

A DuPage County judge has ruled that Oakbrook Terrace must remove the red-light cameras at the intersection of 22nd Street and Route 83. Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Paul Esposito said Monday the city plans to appeal.

Joyan Landgham, left, and her son Ranfeld, center, display their stained glass for customers in 2005 at the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

A splendid and often rewarding way to spend a summer Saturday or Sunday is to wander the sun-splashed streets of a city or suburban neighborhood and look at, in the widest and wildest definition of the word possible, art, writes Rick Kogan.

Two of the most venerable art fairs come in June.

Chicago White Sox minor-leaguer Anderson Comas. (Darren Georgia/Chicago White Sox/Darren Georgia)

Anderson Comas thought of those who feel like they dont have support and wanted to do his part to help when he decided to come out as gay in February.

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I wanted to open that door for those people that are fighting for their dreams, Comas said during a videoconference call Friday. I feel like they cannot do it because of peoples opinions, so I wanted to share a little bit to help, to open that door and to inspire all of them to keep fighting.

Chicago chefs (from left) Damarr Brown of Virtue and Genie Kwon and Tim Flores of Kasama won James Beard Awards on June 5, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

The James Beard Awards are back in Chicago, and after a weekend of honoring food media and industry leaders, the Restaurant and Chef awards took place Monday night.

Chicago chef Damarr Brown took away the first win of the night for Emerging Chef. Brown has been the chef de cuisine at Virtue in Chicagos Hyde Park neighborhood for years.
Companies are using Twitter's own tools to keep their ads away from Elon Musk's tweets

Twitter CEO Elon Musk appearing at a 2022 Tesla event. Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk told the BBC in April that "almost all advertisers have come back to Twitter."

Ad revenue from April 1 to the first week of May was down 59% from a year earlier, NYT reported.

Brands and agencies continue to limit spending on the platform over misleading and hateful content.

While Elon Musk claims that "almost all advertisers have come back to Twitter," some still don't want anything to do with the company's CEO.

The New York Times, citing four people familiar with Twitter's advertising situation, reported that certain brands that have returned to advertising on the platform are using Twitter's adjacency controls to keep their content clear of increasingly troubling content  including Musk's own tweets.

Jason Kint, chief executive of Digital Content Next, told the Times that Twitter is "unpredictable and chaotic" adding that, "Advertisers want to run in an environment where they are comfortable and can send a signal about their brand."

Announced in December 2022, just a few months after Musk took control of the company, adjacency controls aimed to enable advertisers to prevent their ads from appearing adjacent to Tweets that use keywords they'd like to avoid.

"Empowering brands to customize their campaigns to prevent their ads from appearing adjacent to unsuitable content is an important step towards increased ad relevance on Twitter," said an undated December blog post written by Engineering Lead Nina Chen and Head of Brand Safety AJ Brown.

Both Chen and Brown are no longer with the company. Neither immediately responded to Insider's request for comment.

Insider previously reported that Brown attempted to counter the growing perception that Twitter wasn't safe for brands with a later blog post about the company's partnerships with adtech companies DoubleVerify and IAS, which were meant to help with brand safety.

One individual at the company who seems unconcerned with brand safety is Musk himself.

He has deployed an array of bizarre tweets, from antisemitic conspiracy theories to anti-transgender content and anti-vaccine misinformation.





Citing a series of Musk tweets about financier George Soros, Ted Deutch, the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, told the Times that "the lie Jews want to destroy civilization has led to the persecution of Jewish people for centuries."

He added, "Musk should know better."

Twitter responded to Insider's request for comment with a poop emoji.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Compass Medical filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Monday after abruptly laying off more than 400 employees and shutting its doors at 6 locations last week.

Compass Medical announces immediate closure, patients left pondering their healthcare futures

Compass Medical announced Wednesday evening that all their practices will immediately close and advised patients to access their local emergency rooms and urgent cares.

There is no good way to share this news. We are heartbroken and truly sorry as we know the unprecedented impact on our valued patients, the healthcare company said in a statement.

Since last week, Compass has mobilized its limited remaining resources to stand up a website to assist patients locate their providers, to preserve the medical records and access to them after our closure, and to provide a plan to assure continuity of care for our 70,000 patients including the provision of on-call coverage during this transition.

Most of the companys physicians will join other practices in the community and it will aim to connect former patients with them.

This has been a difficult process for our providers, our employees, and the communities we have served for the past 30 years, said Bruce Weinstein, President, Board of Directors of Compass Medical. Once it became clear that closure was unavoidable, our extraordinary team has placed intensive focus on doing everything in our power to make sure our patients can transition to new practices, knowing that disruption was inevitable but committing all our resources to help mitigate where we could.

Need meds? Compass Medical patients should take these steps

Compass operated six medical clinics south of Boston.

For ten years, Compass partnered with Steward Medical to bring medical care to the South Shore. That association ended on a sour note last year. The companies sued each other over financial issues.

Last October, a Boston jury found Compass guilty of fraud, awarding Steward $16.4 million. The attorney representing Steward in that case, Howard Copper of the firm Todd & Weld, LLP, tells Boston 25 News that the settlement has since swelled, with interest, to at least $25 million. It remains unpaid.

The Attorney Generals Office told Boston 25 News they were looking into reports as well before the company officially announced its closure.

The AGs office also created an online form specific to intaking Compass Medical complaints, so patients or employees of the company are encouraged to fill it out.

It is available on the front page of their website, click here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Monday he will initiate contempt of Congress hearings this week over FBI Director Chris Wray's refusal to physically turn over a document that Republicans believe is related to President Joe Biden.

Comer's announcement followed a briefing by FBI officials in which the Kentucky Republican and the Oversight Committee's ranking Democrat, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, reviewed a document the House GOP thinks is linked to an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden -- a suspicion the White House has dismissed.

Wray allowed the committee to review the document behind closed doors at the Capitol, which Comer accepted, but the FBI refused to leave it with the committee, Comer later told reporters, adding that he wants to release it publicly.

"Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further," Comer said, echoing a statement he made last month: "The American people need to know if President Biden sold out the United States of America to make money for himself."

Comer said the hearings will begin Thursday.

MORE: House Republicans seek FBI document they say alleges 'scheme involving' Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Fox News on Monday night that the contempt process for Wray would first go through the Oversight Committee and then to the floor for a vote "next week."

The Kentucky Republican said Monday that the document appeared to be part of an ongoing FBI investigation he assumes is taking place in Delaware, but when reporters asked him why he believes this, he did not say. (The president's son Hunter Biden has been under investigation in Delaware for tax-related matters and whether he potentially lied on an application for a gun purchase but has maintained he "will be cleared of any wrongdoing.")

Dated July 30, 2014, Comer claims there are multiple documents related to a bribery scheme originating in Romania, saying they come from a "highly credible informant" that has provided the FBI information since the Obama administration.

Comer and Raskin differed over the veracity of the underlying allegations, with Raskin in a statement on Monday calling them uncorroborated even after they were reviewed by authorities in 2020 -- but Comer insisted they hadn't been "disproven."

Raskin said in his statement that the claims originated from a "highly credible" FBI source who was nonetheless relaying information secondhand from unidentified Ukrainians, with the FBI source taking no position on their reliability.

PHOTO: House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) speaks to reporters after attending an FBI briefing in the House Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the Capitol Building on June 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House Oversight Committee initially subpoenaed the FBI last month for the documents. Comer sought an unclassified FD-1023 document, which is generally defined as a report from an informant.

The White House denounced the move as spreading "anonymous innuendo."

"For going on five years now, Republicans in Congress have been lobbing unfounded, unproven, politically-motivated attacks against the President and his family without offering evidence for their claims or evidence of decisions influenced by anything other than U.S. interests," White House spokesman Ian Sams said in May.

In a statement on Monday, Sams, like Raskin, said the accusations had been previously investigated. "This is yet another fact-free stunt staged by Chairman Comer not to conduct legitimate oversight, but to spread thin innuendo to try to damage the President politically and get himself media attention," he said.

The FBI has said it is working to provide information with House Republicans and "remains committed to cooperating with the Committee in good faith," but they've raised concerns over broadcasting an FD-1023.

"Documenting the information does not validate it, establish its credibility, or weigh it against other information verified by the FBI. Revealing unverified or possibly incomplete information could harm investigations, prejudice prosecutions or judicial proceedings, unfairly violate privacy or reputations, create misimpressions in the public, or potentially identify individuals who provide information to law enforcement," the bureau said last week.

In a statement on Monday, an FBI spokesperson reiterated that they are working with the House committee by allowing the document to be reviewed by lawmakers. They said such an arrangement was a "commonsense safeguard" that protected sources and investigations.

"The escalation to a contempt vote under these circumstances is unwarranted," a spokesperson said.

PHOTO: FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Capitol Hill, May 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE)

While Comer took a strong stance against Wray and the FBI, Raskin had words for the chairman as well.

"I'm just surprised that my colleagues want to try to litigate this in public," he told reporters Monday. "Much less hold the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in contempt for complying with their request."

If Congress sends a contempt referral to the Department of Justice, criminal charges could be pursued against Wray.

Raskin also poured cold water on the idea that the multiple-page document he and Comer reviewed has anything to do with a Romanian bribery scheme.

"Unfortunately, I don't know what he's referring to," Raskin said of Comer. "We, of course, have a problem within our committee, which we feel is that we've been closed out of these investigations."

ABC News' Ben Gittleson, Alexander Mallin, Lauren Peller and Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.

Congressional hearings against FBI Director Wray will begin over Biden document dispute: Comer originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
What are the consequences of the Kakhovka dams demolition?

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam can lead to serious humanitarian, ecological, economic, military, and legal consequences.

The demolition was carried out by Russian forces in southern Ukraine in the early hours of June 6. And its among the most dramatic violations of the Geneva Conventions in recent decades.

The sudden release of 18 cubic kilometers of water, about the volume of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S., will sweep the Dnipro Rivers banks and tributaries downstream, threatening 80 settlements with flooding, including part of the city of Kherson and much of the eastern bank of the Dnipro, which is occupied by Russia.

About 16,000 people are reportedly in a critical flood zone, but hundreds of thousands could be affected in some way.

The water levels in the Inhulets and Buh rivers will rise, and the floodwaters will likely drown the land around the Dnipros delta, according to an earlier projection by Swedish consultancy Damningsverket.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, said evacuations are underway.

Besides direct water damage to homes, land, and enterprises, the flooding can pick up dangerous chemicals from where theyre stored on land, distributing them over a wide area and into the Black Sea, said Oleh Savitskyi, an ecological expert with the nonprofit Razom We Stand.

The State Emergency Service urged civilians in Kherson Oblast to remain vigilant of landmines dislodged by flooding after Russian forces blew up the dam.

Other areas can lose their main water supply for a very long time. This includes occupied Crimea, which relied on rerouted water from the Dnipro through the reservoir. This will wreck large tracts of agriculture on the mainland and the peninsula.

For example, vegetable growers in the region will lose 20,000 hectares of productive land, according to agricultural consulting firm Agroanalysis. Its director, Vadym Dudka, said that this pushed back the restoration of Kherson Oblast's vegetable production by five years.

It will also force important industries, like metallurgical plants, to grind to a halt in multiple cities because they need uninterrupted access to water.

Russian forces destroy Kakhovka dam, triggering humanitarian disaster The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russian forces, was destroyed on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. Ukraines Southern Operational Command reported early in the morning The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

The hydrological regime of Ukraines main river, Dnipro, will be reshaped, causing unpredictable and possibly dangerous changes for people and other life forms living in the regions that it flows through. Many fish, birds and aquatic animals may be subjected to death or habitat loss.

Vitaliy Selyk, cofounder of the volunteer group Smilyvi Vidnovliuvaty (Brave to Rebuild) said that waterlogging of drained lands and conversely, the exposure of sandy river bottom will cause climate changes, such as dust storms, changes in precipitation, a rise in temperature and more frequent droughts in the south.

Nuclear danger

A plunge in the reservoirs water level also threatens to cut off critical water supplies to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe. Its reactors are off but they still need water to cool the fuel in their cores. Cooling pools for spent fuel and for new fuel waiting to be loaded into reactors also require circulating water.



The plant has a dedicated cooling pond but if something happens to it, it risks causing a nuclear catastrophe larger than Chornobyl.

Energoatom, the state nuclear company, said that for now, the plant has enough water and the Ukrainian workers are monitoring the situation. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that for now, they don't see an immediate risk to the plant and the pond can supply the plants need for some months.

Energy supply

Because the damage to the hydroelectric plant appears to be beyond repair (the explosions took out the plants engine room), Ukraine has lost an important and flexible power source, making the grid tougher to operate. The cost of rebuilding it will be very high.

The plant had a capacity of 357 Megawatts, producing 1.4 Terawatt-hours per year. It was also profitable, bringing Hr 44 million ($1.2 million) to the national budget and Hr 6.1 million ($167,000) to local budgets in 2019.

Former Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov told the media that the destruction will lead to problems with water and energy supply infrastructure, with distribution networks, substations and power lines facing submersion.

In the meantime, Ukraine may have to burn more fossil fuels to produce energy or balance out the swings in the system, compounding the economic and environmental cost.

Counteroffensive

The destruction may also, for a time, complicate Ukraines counteroffensive plans. The Russians are trying to slow down Ukrainian tempo, said Serhiy Zgurets, director of the consulting company Defense Express.

Firstly, the dams destruction drops a massive problem into the Ukrainian governments lap, forcing it to use resources to mitigate the damage instead of pouring its effort into counterattacking Russia. Secondly, it eliminates a key crossing point over the river.

The breadth of the waterlogged areas will make it harder for Ukrainian special forces, such as airborne troops, to do damage to Russias Dnipro Grouping of Forces as the Kremlin has referred to it. That may leave this grouping free to strike at the flank of a possible Ukrainian attack force in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Zgurets said.

However, he echoed the words of Ukraines head of intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, in saying that this would only slow Ukrainians down by a maximum of two weeks.

Russia reports Ukrainian ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast in possible launch of counteroffensive In the early hours of June 5, the first announcement of what looks like it could be the start of a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive came from an unusual source. At 1:31 a.m. Kyiv time, the Russian Defense Ministry, which famously floundered in silence in response to Ukraines The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Accountability

Early reactions by Western leaders blamed Russia for the dams destruction.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called it "an outrageous act" demonstrating Russia's brutality. European Commission President Charlels Michel said Russia would be held accountable.

The Geneva Convention states that Works and installations containing dangerous forces, namely dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations, shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives, if such attack may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population.

However, this is not the first time Russia has violated the Geneva Convention since the full-scale invasion began. Moscow does not acknowledge the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant against Russian leader Vladimir Putin in March.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called on the G7 countries and the EU to consider more sanctions on Russia in response to its "technogenic and ecological terrorism," saying "this is Kremlin's answer to countries calling for peaceful talks with the Russian Federation." The statement called for sanctions on Russia's rocket and nuclear industries.


Harvard professor Cornel West speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at the Whittemore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire, Feb. 10, 2020, in Durham, N.H. West says he will run for president in 2024 as third-party candidate. | Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

Professor and activist Cornel West announced his bid as a 2024 presidential candidate for the Peoples Party on Monday.

In these bleak times, I have decided to run for truth and justice which takes the form of running for president of the United States as a candidate for the Peoples Party, West said in a campaign video posted to Twitter.

I enter in the quest for truth, I enter in the quest for justice. And the presidency is just one vehicle to pursue that truth and justice that Ive been trying to do all of my life.

I am running for truth and justice as a presidential candidate for the Peoples Party to reintroduce America to the best of itself - fighting to end poverty, mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, guaranteeing housing, health care, education and living wages for pic.twitter.com/u3NYGUbG1S  Cornel West (@CornelWest) June 5, 2023

West, 70, has taught at top Ivy League schools and currently works as a philosophy professor at Union Theological Seminary.

His exit from Harvard University was widely publicized and came as a result of his dispute with the then-president of the university, Lawrence Summers. West joined Princeton University and also taught at Yale University shortly after.

Its worth noting that West later rejoined Harvard but left in 2021 after accusing the university of intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of deep depths, as Politico reported.

He is the author of 20 books, including titles like Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and has been an activist since the 1960s, and even marched during the Civil Rights movement.

As a young man, he was inspired by Malcolm X. He also had admiration for the Black Panther Party, which West didnt join because of his Christian faith, as he said in an interview in 2009.

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West will represent the Peoples Party, founded by Nick Brana, a former staffer for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

In his campaign video, West targeted both political parties, stating that neither wants to tell the truth about Wall Street, about Ukraine, about the Pentagon, about Big Tech.

I come from a tradition where I care about you. I care about the quality of your life. I care about whether you have access to a job with a living wage, decent housing, women having control over their bodies, health for all, West said in the clip.

Alongside the video, West wrote on Twitter that he will fight to end poverty, mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, guaranteeing housing, health care, education and living wages for all!
How a coup to force Putin from power could go down if he loses in Ukraine, according to former intel officers

Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting in Moscow on October 26, 2019. ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

Rumors of a coup plot against Russia's Vladimir Putin are swirling.

Putin's position is more unstable than at any time since he came into power, analysts say.

Russia's defeat to Ukraine would be a tipping point, former intelligence officers told Insider.

Vladimir Putin's position at the summit of Russia's autocratic political system has long appeared to be unassailable.

During his two decades in power, the Russian president has surrounded himself with an inner circle of former security service officials known as "the siloviki."

He has constructed a system of elaborate security measures designed to deter would-be traitors and assassins, and has struck fear into opponents with the brutal persecution of critics and dissidents.

But in the chaotic fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's grasp on power appears much less secure, former intelligence officers told Insider.

"He's under greater pressure than he's been in ever since he first took power. He is in a difficult situation politically," George Beebe, former director of Russia analysis at the CIA told Insider.

Rumors of a plot to oust Putin are swirling

The Kremlin had apparently expected a swift victory in Ukraine, but the war has dragged on for more than a year, at a punishing cost to the Russian military and economy.

The faltering invasion has prompted criticism of the Russian president that would have previously been unthinkable.

Russia's private Wagner Group private army outfit has played a key role in the invasion. Its chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has launched a series of verbal attacks on Russia's military leadership, including a veiled attack on Putin himself, leading to accusations he's plotting a coup against the president. Prigozhin denies these claims.

Putin is also facing domestic pressure from hardline nationalists. They are furious about what they believe to be an excessively cautious Russian strategy in Ukraine that has resulted in a military stalemate.

Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter, told CNN in February that Putin could be toppled in a military coup amid growing opposition to the war in Ukraine.

"There's a really hated unpopular president at the head of the country and the war is really unpopular, and they need to shed blood for this  at this moment, a coup becomes a real possibility," he said.

Analysts, however, told Insider that despite signs of internal unrest, there was no sign of an imminent threat to Putin's power and potential sources of a challenge  the siloviki and the military  appeared unlikely to act.

Russian Security Council's Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev (C), Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev (3L) and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin (2R) on February 26, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. All are members of the Kremlin inner circle who could challenge Vladimir Putin if Russia's defeated in Ukraine. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Defeat in Ukraine could spark brutal battle for power in the Kremlin

The Russian president would likely only face serious challenges to his power in the event of what many Kremlin hardliners regard as an unthinkable event  the defeat of Russia in Ukraine.

"I think the tipping point will be the Russian military being ejected from Ukraine," Philip Ingram, a former senior UK military intelligence official told Insider.

Exactly what a Russian defeat would constitute isn't exactly clear. But Beebe said if Russia were ousted from Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it annexed in 2014 that is prized by many Russians, it's the type of event that could tip Russia into political chaos.

"If it is becoming quite clear that the Russians are losing or have lost, then I think we're looking at a very likely a period of real political turmoil inside Russia. I think Putin will be vulnerable under those circumstances," he said.

As things stand, Russian forces and Ukrainian forces are deadlocked along a broad swath of territory in east and southern Ukraine. But Ukrainian forces are poised to launch a counterattack aimed at driving Russian forces from the country.

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in what Russian state media described as the salt mines of Soledar, eastern Ukraine, on January 10 2022. RIA Novosti

Ingram said that Putin had created an atmosphere of deep mutual mistrust within the inner circle of officials who potentially have the power to overthrow him.

Multiple intelligence agencies monitor for potential coup threats, as well as keeping tabs on each other. But a defeat could be a "tipping point" that would prompt dissenters to form an alliance and seek to oust their boss, Ingram said.

"Putin will go and what we'll get is alot of inner fighting between his inner circle because there isn't a natural successor that's in there," said Ingram.

The siloviki may be Putin's biggest threat

He cautioned though that Putin's likely successor would be "even more extreme and worse than Putin is," and that the figures most likely to take power include those behind some of Russia's most brutal policies and tactics in Ukraine.

But Beebe, the former CIA officer, believes that the siloviki would be desperate to prevent a figure such as Prigozhin, or Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, from seizing power, so would instead seek to stage manage a succession.

"They will want to manage that in a way that minimizes the likelihood that a figure like that winds up on top and they will certainly want to, you know, prevent some sort of real violent internal turmoil with some of these militias," he said, referring to the private military forces both Prigozhin and Kadyrov command.

But he cautioned that Putin retained a number of "escalatory options" up his sleeve to divert defeat. These include, he said, escalating the war to drag in NATO members, but stopping short of the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

Some analysts believe that a further wave of mass mobilizations and economic turmoil could trigger mass protests, but others believe that the Russian civilian population is unlikely to trigger regime change.

Ben Noble, an Associate Professor in Russian politics at University College London, told Insider that coup rumors were a recurrent feature of Russia's political system.

"Rather than providing credible intelligence about imminent moves against the president, however, these rumours tell us more both about the nature of the political system (that it is a personalist autocracy, in which secrecy, coercion, and fear play key roles) and about those commenting (who likely wish Putin to be toppled)," he said.

Ingram cautioned that Russian defeat could provoke even broader global instability.

If Putin is ousted, he said, "the world might be worse than the position we're in at the moment."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lawyers are seeking clarity on Nicola Sturgeon's WhatsApp messages

Lawyers representing bereaved families in the Covid-19 inquiries have demanded clarity on former first minister Nicola Sturgeon's WhatsApp messages.

Counsel acting on behalf of Scottish ministers said Ms Sturgeon did not have any relevant informal correspondence.

However, lawyers for the bereaved said it should be up to inquiry officials to decide what was considered relevant.

This could include private messages, emails or diaries regarding the handling of the pandemic.

Aamer Anwar is the lead solicitor for the Scottish Covid Bereaved group.

The group has made further legal submissions to the UK Covid Inquiry calling for all unredacted WhatsApp messages and other relevant materials to be provided.

The Covid inquiries are intended to help government officials and the public work out what ministers got right and wrong - before, during and after the pandemic.

In a new statement, Mr Anwar said a request "should be made of Scottish ministers to provide to the inquiry any communications held by informal means in order that the primary relevance test can be carried out by this inquiry".

He said: "The government is, and should be, answerable to the people, this applies to both the Scottish government as well as the UK government.

"We were advised by the Scottish ministers' counsel that Nicola Sturgeon has advised them she does not have such informal messages - i.e. WhatsApp messages.

"Today we have sought full clarity from the UK and Scottish Inquiry as to what has happened to Ms Sturgeon's WhatsApp messages, and why they are not being disclosed in their entirety.

Lawyers Aamer Anwar and Stuart Gale KC met the Scottish Covid Bereaved group in May

"Ms Sturgeon and other Scottish ministers should be in no different of a position to that of Mr Johnston, Rishi Sunak or Matt Hancock - the job of establishing the relevance is a matter for this inquiry.

"We have said before and say it again, no individual, no matter how powerful, can be allowed to interfere with the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability in this inquiry.

"Those who lost their lives to Covid-19 deserve nothing less."

Ms Sturgeon will give evidence to the Scottish inquiry at a later date, alongside former deputy first minister John Swinney, health secretary Jeane Freeman and Scotland's former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood.

It comes as a transparency row erupts between the UK inquiry and the Westminster government after WhatsApp submissions from senior aides had been redacted.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson said he would give unredacted WhatsApp messages dating back to May 2021 directly to the Covid inquiry.

This will bypass the UK government which has refused to hand them over.

The Cabinet Office has launched a legal challenge to the inquiry's demand for texts from the former prime minister and officials, arguing that many of the messages are irrelevant to the investigation.

It said they needed to protect the privacy of ministers and others.
New Crank and Boom ice cream honors light and joy of Virginia Moore. How to get a pint

Crank and Boom Ice Cream in Lexington is bringing back its Virginia Smoore flavor to honor American Sign Language interpreter Virginia Moore who passed away in May.

Preorders of the 1 pint, small batch flavor cost $12 and are available until 11:59 p.m. June 11, according to Crank and Booms website. All proceeds will benefit the Knowledge Center on Deafness, a nonprofit organization Moore was the chair of.

Moore became a beloved figure in Kentucky when she started interpreting Gov. Andy Beshears daily COVID-19 briefings. She was also the executive director of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

During the pandemic, the ice cream shop released special flavors to raise money for nonprofit organizations, Toa Green, owner of Crank and Boom, said. Inspired by the work that Moore was doing with Beshear in the briefings, they created flavors like Virginia Smoore and Candy Beshear.

Moores ice cream flavor was the first smores flavor on the menu, and it became staple in the companys summer rotation of small batch flavors, Green said. The flavor is made with SuperFudge ice cream, in-house made marshmallow fluff and toasted graham crumb.

In honor of Moores passing and with the blessing of her family, it felt right to bring back the flavor to remember her and raise awareness for an organization she cared about, Green said.

Preorders are available for pickup from June 16-22 at the Clays Mill location.

Like everyone else who was watching the daily press conferences with the governor, I think we all saw and felt like we knew Miss Virginia, Green said. She was just a person of light and joy.
In the wake of his conviction, a South Carolina man is being sued for the same crime that put him behind bars: a voyeuristic scheme in a Hilton Head rental home.

Seth Taylor Bruce, 47, pleaded guilty in late January to three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, earning a 10-year prison sentence. Prosecutors said the Greer man hid a spy camera in the bathroom of a Hilton Head short-term rental he shared with two other families in June 2020, accessing the recordings to save over 500 photos of four underage girls while they changed clothes and used the bathroom.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Beaufort County civil court, demands damages for the embarrassment and humiliation suffered by one of the young girls and her mother. Court documents also implicate Bruces employer, unknown by lawyers at the time of filing, for knowingly allowing the man to store and share the child pornography on his company accounts.

Bruce was a family friend of the young girl, according to the court summons. Police say he planted the hidden camera right as the families arrived at the Hilton Head vacation home in early June 2020, knowing that only minors would be using that bathroom. The man then accessed the video feed from an app on his phone, sending screenshots to his work email. By the end of the six-day trip, court documents state, the cameras SD card was filled with video of the young girls.

Greenville County deputies arrested Bruce on June 15, 2021 following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Greenville investigation prompted additional charges out of Beaufort County, bringing his total to 35 counts of voyeurism and sexual exploitation, according to judicial records from both counties. His trial was prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Office.

Bruce is still in custody at the South Carolina Department of Corrections with a projected release date of December 2029, followed by five years of probation, records show. He is not eligible for parole.

The attorney representing the lawsuits plaintiffs did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment.
Crocodiles and gharials are getting bizarre orange 'tans' in Nepal. Here's why.

A picture of the orange alligator spotted in South Carolina in 2017 walking across grass.

A picture of the orange alligator spotted in South Carolina walking across grass.

An alligator spotted in South Carolina turned orange in 2017 after spending the winter in a rusty iron culvert. (Image credit: Leroy Burnell/The Post & Courier/AP)

Freshwater mugger crocodiles and gharials are turning orange in Nepal, and scientists think it's down to iron in the waters where they hang out.

The orange crocs were spotted in Chitwan National Park, a protected area of the Himalayan foothills. "Have these crocs been drinking too much Sunny D? Messily eating Cheetos? Or could they be taking fashion advice from Donald Trump?" Phoebe Griffith , a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, wrote in a Twitter thread on May 29.

To find out why the crocs have become tangerine-colored, researchers collaborated with Project Mecistops  a conservation project working to preserve and reintroduce critically endangered West African slender-snouted crocodiles (Mecistops cataphractus) in Cote d'Ivoire and throughout western Africa.

It turns out some of the rivers and streams in the park have extremely high levels of iron, which could explain why some crocodilians are sporting orange coats.

"Gharial and mugger crocodiles who spent lots of time in some streams, or near the mouths of them, were getting a serious fake tan," Griffith explained on Twitter. "Turns out some areas of Chitwan have seriously high levels of iron in the water, and iron reacts with oxygen to form an orange substance called iron oxide."

Related: How are alligators and crocodiles different?

Have these crocs been drinking too much Sunny D? Messily eating Cheetos? Or could they be taking fashion advice from Donald Trump? (is that one wearing a Make Chitwan Great again cap?). Nope - seems to be all about where theyre hanging out! An orange croc thread 1/3 #scicomm pic.twitter.com/KA93d3wrOSMay 29, 2023

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As these crocs spend most of their time in the water  gharials are not well-suited to walking on land and typically only crawl onto sandbanks to bask in the sun or nest  the iron-rich rivers could have coated their scales and teeth in a temporary layer of rusty particles.

Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are critically endangered freshwater crocodiles that have a long, narrow snout tipped with a bulbous growth. Males can grow to be around16 feet (5 meters) long and weigh up to 550 pounds (250 kilograms).

The gharial population in Nepal has plummeted by 98% since the 1940s due to overhunting, according to the Zoological Society of London . Most of the 200 remaining gharials live in Chitwan National Park, where they face additional threats linked to pollution, mining and declining fish populations.

Mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) are more widespread and inhabit marshes and waterways stretching from southern Iran to the Indian subcontinent. They are broad-snouted and similar in size to gharials, but they can weigh twice as much due to their girth.

 and yep! Turns out some area of Chitwan have seriously high levels of iron in the water, and iron reacts with oxygen to form an orange substance called iron oxide. I loved these orange crocs as this is my favourite colour (she said, scientifically). 3/3 #wildlife #crocodiles pic.twitter.com/yLfPLXZywIMay 29, 2023

See more

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The discolored gharials and crocodiles new orange look is temporary, and the rusty particles could wash off in less iron-rich waters. "It should go off automatically in clean(er) water," Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, a zoologist and wildlife researcher in India, wrote in a comment on Twitter.

These aren't the first rust-colored reptiles on record. A 2016 study in the African Journal of Ecology reported that orange dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis) living in caves in Gabon may have turned orange after being exposed to bat guano, which contains high levels of urea  a substance with a bleaching effect that forms when protein is broken down in the liver.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

Shedding new light on Chicago Public Schools recent disclosure that the district violated state laws in its use of physical restraint and isolation of students, a letter from the state education superintendent delves further into CPS systemic failures.

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The letter, written by state Superintendent Tony Sanders to CPS CEO Pedro Martinez in April, was ISBEs fourth directive ordering CPS to comply with state law. Violations alleged by the state agency range from CPS allowing untrained staff members to restrain students unnecessarily  sometimes for more than hour or through the use of prohibited methods  to the districts failure to notify parents and review and report all incidents to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Another ISBE official had written CPS in November to say that its complete disregard for the health and safety of its students and blatant violation of state law is unconscionable.

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An ISBE investigation, sparked by violations made apparent in the districts own reporting of incidents, found issues jeopardizing the health and safety of CPS students and staff that remained ongoing at the time of Sanders April 18 letter.

In a statement Friday, a CPS spokesperson said, We remain committed to continually reviewing and improving our services, working closely with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and all partners, including parents and advocacy groups, to co-design an improved system that not only is in compliance with all State and Federal education requirements, but meets our own high goals for excellence.

Among possible repercussions CPS faces if violations continue, Sanders letter raised the specter of placing the district on probation, for exhibiting deficiencies that present a health hazard or a danger to students and staff.

An ISBE spokesperson said in a statement Friday that probation would be a last resort and that the state board is providing CPS with the support and technical assistance they need to understand and comply with the requirements.

Unreported restraint of students by untrained employees

Among restraint, timeout and isolation incidents CPS reported to ISBE in the 2021-22 school year, 71 instances involving 41 students occurred unnecessarily, according to the April letter.

Although CPS has significantly reduced the use of (restraint, timeout or isolated timeout) when no reported imminent danger exists, we still find that it does still occur, Sanders wrote, adding that many reported incidents continue to involve untrained staff members.

As of March 28, less than half of the 77 schools ISBE had placed on a priority list for training had completed it, with some of those schools continuing to report the use of restraint, despite ISBE having ordered CPS to halt the practice until meeting its training requirements. An additional 16 schools not on ISBEs priority list also continued to report incidents, the letter states.

Unequivocally, the rules require that any staff member who participates in a physical restraint, time out, or isolated time out must complete eight hours of training. CPS continues to violate these rules each month by permitting staff to use these techniques on students without the training the rules require, Sanders wrote.

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The April letter also provides an overview, from Feb. 1 to March 8, of missing reports to ISBE and late notifications to parents  attributed in part to CPS lack of a central system to collect incident data and the lack of a daily review of incidents by the districts designated official, Stephanie Jones, chief officer of CPS Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services. (CPS use of restraint, isolation and timeout procedures is not limited to special education students.)

Between Feb. 1 and March 8, CPS reported 35 incidents in ISBEs reporting system. But, in reviewing other documentation, the agency found CPS did not report all incidents that occurred in that timeframe.

In ISBEs review of 24 forms of alternative documentation, the agency found 22 incidents involved the physical restraint of a student  by at least one untrained staff member in more than half of the incidents. The number of incidents involving no trained staff members is redacted in Sanders April letter.

Multiple physical restraint incidents lasted one hour or more, the letter states, and in 10 instances, parents werent notified within the required time frame. State policy requires schools to attempt to notify parents and guardians of incidents on the same day and to provide a written explanation within one day.

Teachers union calls for administrators removal

The Chicago Teachers Union called last week for the removal of Jones as chief of CPS office dedicated to supporting diverse learners, citing deficient staff training in restraint practices, among other lapses.

As of Sanders April letter, Jones was also the districts designated official who is required by state law to be notified of every restraint, isolation and timeout incident by the end of the school day on which it occurred; to receive evaluations of physical restraint lasting more than 15 minutes and timeout incidents surpassing 30 minutes; and to be responsible for maintaining incident records.

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Jones told ISBE she delegated the responsibility to a team member who resigned in March, according to Sanders April letter. That person reviewed the incident documentation that they received daily, but told ISBE that certain restraint, isolation and timeout data was kept in a separate system she couldnt access.

CPS does not have a designated official who is informed and maintains (restraint, isolation and timeout) data as required, the letter states. No single CPS official has access to all the systems that house (restraint, isolation and timeout) information. CPS has named Dr. Jones as the designated official, but she does not receive or review this information.

Regarding the unions call for Jones dismissal, a CPS spokesperson said Friday, Significant strategic changes to the department have been in motion for some time and pre-date any public statements calling for personnel decisions, which are separate and distinct from the Districts review and work to improve services.

District leadership does not publicly discuss personnel changes as a matter of professional practice and privacy, the spokesperson added.

Ordered to be transparent, CPS initially dodged

The full list of corrective actions ISBE prescribed CPS is fully redacted in each of the two letters state officials sent the district that were obtained by the Tribune. But the April letter shows one requirement entailed disclosing the districts violations of state law to CPS parents and guardians.

In a May 26 email sent by the district on a Friday evening, CPS outlined its failures and actions that were underway to remedy them. It wasnt the districts first attempt to comply with ISBEs order.

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According to Sanders April letter, the district initially confirmed to ISBE in December that it had notified parents of its training violations. But the state agency found CPS had only sent an email promoting a link to a broad plan for improving the district that had multiple errors and omissions so even if parents followed the link, they did not find accurate information, the letter states.

It added that CPS admitted that many parents do not have email addresses so it could not confirm that every parent in the district received the email. ISBE then ordered the district again to notify parents and guardians of its failures.

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In its May parental notification email, CPS listed a dozen violations. The district also said it had developed a plan, including training, to bring it in compliance and that it would receive parents concerns regarding restraint, isolation and timeout incidents at a dedicated email address, PRTO@cps.edu, while also providing the emails and CPS responses to ISBE weekly.

Without specifying the officials name, the district also said it had designated a responsible staff member who will be informed of incidents on the day they occur and meet with ISBE weekly to review restraint, isolation and timeout data. CPS wrote that its also developing a centralized database to document incidents and will create another database encompassing the names of staff members whove completed state training requirements.

A spokesperson said Friday, Our top leadership at CPS has been committed and transparent about the need for improved systems, strategies, and services to support our most vulnerable students through our Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS).

The district has added more than 170 special education teachers and more than 600 special education classroom assistants since last school year, the spokesperson added.

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ISBEs investigation also discovered the districts use of prone restraint, in which a student is held face down and physical pressure is applied to their body, in a redacted number of incidents this school year.

Prone restraint has been prohibited in all schools in Illinois since the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. These incidents are a clear violation, the letter states.

Note: An earlier version of this story included a photograph that misidentified its subject as Stephanie Jones, chief officer of CPS Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services.
The Oscar winner's lawyers insisted it was consensual sex and his accuser bragged about it afterwards to others - Alec Tabak

The actor Cuba Gooding Jr has settled accusations that he raped a woman in a New York hotel a decade ago.

The actor had insisted through lawyers that his encounter with the woman was consensual after the two met at a nearby restaurant.

His trial was to start with jury selection in New York federal court as the Oscar-winning Jerry Maguire star faced allegations he met the woman in Manhattan, persuaded her to join him at a hotel, and convinced her to stop at his room so he could change his clothes.

Minutes after jurors were to begin assembling in a courtroom, a calendar entry in the official court record said: TRIAL OFF. It added: Reason for cancellation (on consent): the parties have resolved the matter.

The woman had begun proceedings anonymously until last week when Judge Paul A. Crotty ruled that she would have to reveal her name at trial. She said in her lawsuit that Gooding raped her in his room. His lawyers, though, insisted that it was consensual sex and that she bragged afterwards to others that she had sex with a celebrity.

The lawsuit sought $6 million (4.8 million) in damages. Attorney Gloria Allred, one of several representing the woman, declined comment. Other lawyers, including those representing Gooding, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

More disappointing than words can say

The lawsuit was filed against a man who authorities say has been accused of committing sexual misconduct against more than 30 other women, including groping, unwanted kissing and other inappropriate behaviour.

Late last week, the judge seemed to strengthen the womans hand at trial and in settlement negotiations by ruling that he would let three women testify that they also were subjected to sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults after meeting Gooding in social settings such as festivals, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

One of the women who had planned to testify at the trial was Kelsey Harbert, who told police Gooding fondled her without her consent at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge near Times Square in 2019.

Harbert, who granted permission for her identity to be revealed, said last year that never getting her day in court was more disappointing than words can say.

It followed Gooding pleading guilty in New York state court to a charge that spared him from jail or a criminal history.

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REUTERS/Mike Segar

In a stunning last-minute move, a civil lawsuit accusing Cuba Gooding Jr. of raping a woman in 2013 was settled Tuesday just moments before jury selection was set to begin in Manhattan federal court.

The jury trial scheduled to go forward today is off the calendar. Reason for cancellation (on consent): the parties have resolved the matter, a docket entry in the August 2020 lawsuit against Gooding Jr. said on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York also confirmed to The Daily Beast that there will be no trial.

While the details of the settlement between the actor and the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe are not immediately clear, it comes just days after Judge Paul Crotty ordered her to reveal her identity in open court before trial. The settlement marks the end of the lawsuit for Jane Doe, who was seeking $6 million in damages against Gooding Jr., whom she alleged she met at a bar seven years prior and that he raped her in a hotel room.

Attorneys for Gooding Jr. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gloria Allred, the attorney representing Jane Doe, declined to comment.

Cuba Gooding Jr. Just Ducked Prison. His Sexual Assault Accusers Are Furious.

The swift judgment also marks the second time that Gooding Jr. has evaded a jury since his legal problems began in 2019. While he was charged with six criminal misdemeanorsand prosecutors said nearly 30 other women came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against the actorhe avoided a criminal trial last year after striking a plea deal.

Gooding Jr. pleaded guilty to a harassment violation, and after completing an alcohol and behavior modification counseling course, walked away without a criminal record. He has steadfastly denied all allegations of wrongdoing, and his lawyers have previously slammed the lawsuit as completely false and perjurious.

I apologize for making anybody ever feel inappropriately touched, Gooding Jr. said last April as part of his deal with the government. I am a celebrity figure. I come into contact with people. I never want them to feel slighted or uncomfortable in any way.

The actors legal team was set to not only defend their client against Jane Does lawsuit but the accusations of three other women who were expected to testify about the actors alleged misconduct.

Last week, Judge Crotty ruled that the three women, who accuse Gooding Jr. of misconduct between 2009 and 2019, have claims that are sufficiently similar to Plaintiffs allegations because all involve sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults connected with the Defendant and victims presence in social settings prominently featuring drinking like festivals, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.

The three women include Kelsey Harbert, whose claim that Gooding Jr. touched her at a bar in 2019 spurred the actors criminal case.

The lawsuit alleged that in August 2013, Jane Doe and her friend met Gooding Jr. while at a bar in downtown Manhattan and invited them to join him and his friends at theirtable. Shortly after, Gooding Jr. allegedly told Jane Doe that his friends were going to The Mercer Hotel for drinks and once again offered for the two women to join them.

The woman alleged that she left the bar through the front entrance to join Gooding Jr. in a cab, understanding that her friends would meet her shortly. When they arrived at The Mercer, Gooding Jr. said he needed to change his clothes and ushered her to his hotel room on the fifth floor.

Inside the room, Gooding Jr. allegedly put on Mumford & Sons and took a position between her and the hotel room door before he began taking his clothes off. The lawsuit stated that Jane Doe told him that she had to leave to meet her friend downstairs and began standing up from the edge of the bed where she was sitting and attempted to move toward the door.

Gooding Jr. allegedly blocked her escape and pushed her onto the bed, before the lawsuit stated he took off his clothes and forcibly and without consent put one hand in her halter top to touch her breasts. The woman said she told the actor no and tried to push away his hands, but the lawsuit stated that Gooding Jr. ignored her and forcibly stroked her genitals under her underwear.

At this point [Gooding Jr.] began physically aggressive and each time plaintiff pushed [Gooding Jr.]s hands away, he forcibly placed them back on her, the lawsuit stated, noting that she said no numerous times and was ignored.

The actor then allegedly raped her, the lawsuit stated, and did not use a condom. Afterward, Gooding Jr. allegedly went to the bathroom before returning to the bedroom while the woman was trying to escape. Gooding Jr. then allegedly raped her for a second time, this time anally, before he ejaculated and fell asleep immediately.

The lawsuit stated that she ran to the bathroom to clean herself before running out of the hotel room. She eventually met up with her friend again and went home. Gooding Jr.s lawyers have previously argued that the incident was consensual.

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SANTA MARGHERITA DI PULA, ITALY - JUNE 09: Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Filming Italy 2022 photocall on June 09, 2022 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Daniele Venturelli / Getty Images for ABA)

Daniele Venturelli/Getty Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr. settled a civil lawsuit that accused him of rape, narrowly averting a trial that had been expected to include testimony from three other women who also claim the actor sexually assaulted them.

Jury selection in New York federal court had been set to begin on Tuesday, but a calendar entry declared the trial had been called off minutes after jurors began to assemble in the courtroom, according to AP.

The Oscar-winning actor, who has been accused by some 30 women of groping and other forms of unwanted touching, faced allegations that he raped a woman twice after persuading her to join him at his Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

According to the lawsuit filed in 2020, the woman met Gooding at a nearby restaurant before he coaxed her to his room, where he said he needed a wardrobe change. He then prevented her from leaving and pushed her to the bed and assaulted her, the woman alleged.

Gooding's legal representation at the time called the allegations "completely false and defamatory," maintaining the interaction was consensual.

Last April, the actor pleaded guilty to forcibly kissing an employee of a New York nightclub in 2018, which allowed him to avoid jail time for complying with terms of a conditional plea agreement. As part of the deal, Gooding completed alcohol and behavioral counseling that permitted him to withdraw the plea and instead plead guilty to a lesser harassment violation, sanitizing his criminal record.

A rep for Gooding did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment. Gloria Allred, one of the attorneys representing the woman in the rape case, declined to comment.

Related content:
Cuba Gooding Jr. settled his civil sex abuse case Tuesday just minutes after it started.

The Jerry Maguire actor was slated to go on trial in Manhattan Federal Court at 10 a.m. in the suit accusing him of raping a woman he met at a Greenwich Village bar in 2013.

An entry on the court docket at 10:24 a.m. said the trial had been removed from the calendar because the parties had resolved the matter. Details of the settlement were not immediately available. Cubas accuser had demanded $6 million in damages.

Lawyer Gloria Allred, representing the woman who brought the suit anonymously, declined to comment.

Goodings lawyers did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

The woman alleged that after meeting Gooding at a bar, he invited her for drinks at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, where he was staying. He then asked her to join him in his room when they arrived so he could change, according to her account.

In the room, the woman claims, Gooding stripped nude and refused to let her leave before proceeding to rape her twice.

Gooding, 55, denied the allegations, contending his accuser was lying and that the encounter was consensual. His lawyers wanted to question two people they alleged she bragged to about sleeping with Gooding.

The eleventh-hour settlement shielded the woman who brought the August 2020 suit from having to disclose her identity, which Judge Paul Crotty ordered last week would be revealed in the trial.

Gooding, meanwhile, avoided the airing out of four accounts accusing him of rape and sexual assault. Crotty found enough similarities between the accounts of three additional women and the account of the accuser who filed the suit to warrant their testimony, noting that all involve sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults.

At least one of the four women slated to testify in the federal case, Kelsey Harbert, was involved in Goodings 2022 criminal case in which he dodged a conviction.

The criminal court plea deal allowed him to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of forcible touching and to apologize to two victims without pleading guilty to related charges. He was permitted to withdraw his misdemeanor plea and enter a new plea to a harassment violation  wiping his criminal record  in exchange for going to therapy.

At one point, prosecutors in the criminal case planned to seek testimony from at least 22 women alleging Gooding sexually assaulted them and threatened them with professional ruin.

Gooding was also required to apologize on the court record per the deal.

I apologize for making anybody ever feel inappropriately touched, anyone, Gooding said when he entered his plea. I am a celebrity figure. I come into contact with people. I never want them to feel slighted or uncomfortable in any way.

At the trial Gooding dodged Tuesday, Harbert would have testified that Gooding groped her breast at the Magic Hour Club in Manhattan in 2019, which he admitted to in his criminal case.

Gooding also admitted in the criminal case to pinching a womans buttocks at TAO restaurant in 2018 and an incident that same year where he forcibly kissed a waitress at LAVO New York. That woman described Goodings abuse of women in the service industry as an open secret in her statement at sentencing.

I wasnt going to come forward until I realized I was one of four women working in my restaurant that had an incident with him, and one of those women was coming out, read the LAVO waitress statement.

One of the other women was my trainee. That night, and her first night on the job, Cuba licked her hand right before she watched him force his tongue into my mouth unexpectedly while I delivered him drinks.

It wasnt immediately clear whether Tuesdays settlement requires Gooding to admit wrongdoing.
NEW YORK  Cuba Gooding Jr. settled his civil sex abuse case on Tuesday just minutes after it started.

The Jerry Maguire actor was slated to go on trial in Manhattan federal court at 10 a.m. in the suit accusing him of raping a woman he met at a Greenwich Village bar in 2013.

An entry on the court docket at 10:24 a.m. said the trial had been removed from the calendar because the parties had resolved the matter. Details of the settlement were not immediately available. Cubas accuser had demanded $6 million in damages.

Lawyer Gloria Allred, representing the woman who brought the suit anonymously, declined to comment.

Goodings lawyers did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

The woman alleged that after meeting Gooding at a bar, he invited her for drinks at the Mercer Hotel, where he was staying. He then asked her to join him in his room when they arrived so he could change, according to her account.

In the room, the woman claims Gooding stripped nude and refused to let her leave before proceeding to rape her twice.

Gooding, 55, denied the allegations, contending his accuser was lying and that the encounter was consensual. His lawyers wanted to question two people they alleged she bragged to about sleeping with Gooding.

The eleventh-hour settlement shielded the woman who brought the August 2020 suit from having to reveal her identity, which Judge Paul Crotty ordered last week would be revealed in the trial.

Gooding meanwhile avoided the airing out of four accounts accusing him of rape and sexual assault. Crotty found enough similarities between the accounts of three additional women and the account of the accuser who filed the suit to warrant their testimony, noting all involve sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults.

At least one of the four women slated to testify in the federal case, Kelsey Harbert, was involved in Goodings 2022 criminal case in which he dodged a conviction.

The criminal court plea deal allowed him to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of forcible touching and apologize to two victims without pleading guilty to related charges. He was permitted to withdraw his misdemeanor plea and enter a new plea to a harassment violation  wiping his criminal record  in exchange for going to therapy.

At one point, prosecutors in the criminal case planned to seek testimony from at least 22 women alleging Gooding sexually assaulted them and threatened them with professional ruin.

Gooding was also required to apologize on the court record per the deal.

I apologize for making anybody ever feel inappropriately touched, anyone, Gooding said when he entered his plea. I am a celebrity figure. I come into contact with people. I never want them to feel slighted or uncomfortable in any way.

At the trial Gooding dodged Tuesday, Harbert would have testified that Gooding groped her breast at the Magic Hour Club in Manhattan in 2019, which he admitted to in his criminal case.

Gooding also admitted in the criminal case to pinching a womans buttocks at TAO restaurant in 2018 and an incident that same year where he forcibly kissed a waitress at LAVO New York. That woman described Goodings abuse of women in the service industry as an open secret in her statement at sentencing.

I wasnt going to come forward until I realized I was one of four women working in my restaurant that had an incident with him, and one of those women was coming out, read the LAVO waitress statement.

One of the other women was my trainee. That night, and her first night on the job, Cuba licked her hand right before she watched him force his tongue into my mouth unexpectedly while I delivered him drinks.

It wasnt immediately clear whether Tuesdays settlement requires Gooding to admit wrongdoing.
Grandmothers hold a special place in so many families  and specifically in Hispanic homes, the abuela is often the glue that holds households together, allowing for her family members to chase the American dream while not forgetting where they came from.

On TODAY June 6, Tom Llamas caught up with women taking the lessons their grandmothers taught them to new heights, embarking on comedic adventures and culinary splendor all in honor of their abuelas.

One Cuban American woman who grew up in Miami uses her childhood experiences as the basis for an alter ego getting a lot of attention on social media. The character, Abuela, is the brainchild of actor and producer Jenny Lorenzo in homage to her real life Cuban abuela.

Its funny, because when I would meet my friends's abuelas, Im like, Yall are the same. What is going on? Lorenzo told Tom. A lot of it is just in the facial expressions. Especially her judgment stare. Like, you know, just pierce right through your soul.

Lorenzos 232,000-plus YouTube subscribers and 261,000 Instagram followers have watched her take her Abuela character to relatable extremes, racking up millions of views in the process. Viewers can laugh and empathize with her abuela as she rushes to administer flu remedies, enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and show what happens when you refuse an abuelas food.

Humor isnt the only way that abuelas are being honored in the digital age, either. Wanting to create a space where the techniques and recipes that their abuelas instilled in them could be shared with a wider audience, Abuelas Cuban Counter aims to do just that.

Posting recipes on their website and on social media, chef Ani Mezerhane and lawyer Cristina Bustamante help their followers to learn to cook authentic Cuban food.

Mezerhane and Bustamante on TODAY. (TODAY)

It comes from an idea we started working together (during) COVID, just passing recipes together, and just trying to keep alive all the traditions that we grew up with, Mezerhane told Tom. I always sat on my grandmothers counter kind of just watching her cook, watching her bring all these recipes to life.

From Cuban-Style Black Beans to Croquetas de Jamon (Ham Croquettes), these foods connect Mezerhane and Bustamante to their childhood, their family and their abuelas, whose recipes are now being shared with the masses.

Baby Ani with her aunt and grandmother. (Courtesy Ani Mezerhane)

Theres so much tradition in the cooking, and I think we both connected with that, Bustamante told Tom. We both felt like there was more of a community to discover that would resonate with more than just us.

Every time I cook now I just feel like a little piece of her is with me and I can pass that on to my kids, Bustamante continued. And I think that thats always what she wanted.

Croquetas de Jamon (Ham Croquettes) by Ani Mezerhane and Cristy Bustamante

To celebrate all this love for grandmothers, Lorenzo  as Abuela  met Mezerhane and Bustamante, to try out some Abuelas Counter dishes.

Cuban-Style Black Beans by Ani Mezerhane and Cristy Bustamante

I know those girls grandmothers taught them how to cook, Abuela said in Spanish. She also approved of the ladies black beans, taking a bite and exclaiming, Que rico!

In the spirit of honoring abuelas then and now, Tom invited his own mother, Lisette, now an abuela herself to Toms three kids Malena, Juliette and Thomas.

Tom Llamas's abuela. (Courtesy Tom Llamas)

Do you feel the responsibility of the keeper of the family legend  all of the history of Cuba up to now? Tom asked his mother.

Definitely, she said. I start instilling the love of Cuba and the love of this country that has opened all its doors  to respect your country above all and never forget where you come from.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Freshwater mussels can live for about 120 years and improve water quality

Freshwater mussels at risk of extinction have started reproducing for the first time in 13 years.

Conservationists have been monitoring the River Irt which is home to the "critically endangered" population of about 300 mussels.

Only a handful of freshwater shellfish populations remain in England.

Chris West from West Cumbria Rivers Trust said it was "thrilling" and "heartening" to find evidence the species was reproducing.

Populations have been affected by wildlife crime, habitat deterioration and declining water quality.

It is also not helped by the reproduction process which sees females release millions of glochidia, or larvae, into the water which have to be inhaled by fish to survive.

The glochidia clamp on to the gills of juvenile salmon or trout for about a year before landing on gravel where they bury and grow.

The process is called encystment and the last evidence of it happening in the River Irt, in the Wasdale Valley, was recorded by the Environment Agency in 2010.

The team found one of the juvenile mussels it released which has survived two winters

To try and help the mussels, conservationists have been improving the habitat of the river by stabilising the river bank, planting willow and trees and adding boulders to the water.

They also released juvenile mussels, which had been bred in captivity, to help increase numbers.

"It's thrilling to find evidence that the population is reproducing. All our previous monitoring has found no evidence of reproduction, so this is heartening to see," Mr West said.

"It's also reassuring to see the mussels released into the Irt are thriving. These plus more that we plan to release over the coming years will significantly boost the population number."

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus is launching an information campaign to counter a spike in irregular migration, authorities said on Tuesday, saying they were struggling with the highest inflows in the European Union.

The east Mediterranean island has had the highest new asylum applications in proportion to its population for the past six years. Eurostat data for 2022 showed it at double that of second-placed Austria.

Cyprus is not a member of the EU's visa-free Schengen Area, meaning that an irregular migrant could be stranded there.

"Traffickers wrongly portray Cyprus as an interim stop for an onward journey to Europe, ignoring the fact that its an island," said Constantinos Ioannou, Cyprus's interior minister.

A social media campaign entitled "Lets Talk Truth About Cyprus" and directed primarily at countries in sub-Saharan Africa says 96% of asylum applications are rejected, and rejected applicants face a five-year EU entry ban.

Divided since a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greece-inspired coup in 1974, irregular migration poses a challenge for authorities. A ceasefire line dividing areas under the control of an internationally recognised government and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north is proving particularly porous.

Cypriot officials say 95% of arrivals use the ceasefire line route. Many asylum seekers arrive on the island itself on student visas to privately-run universities in northern Cyprus, then slip through the ceasefire line, which is not heavily guarded.

Ioannou said authorities had recently recruited additional guards and deployed additional resources to process asylum applications. Authorities plan to establish a migration ministry for better administration of the matter, he said.

(Reporting by Michele Kambas; editing by Paul Simao)
Ukrainian T-64 tank during the Independence Day parade in Kyiv, August 24, 2008

After the repairs and upgrades, the tanks will be sent back to the battlefields in Ukraine.

The work will be done in the city of Novy Jicin, on the basis of a memorandum signed between VOP CZ, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Czech Ministry of Defense, and the Ukrainian defense industry conglomerate Ukroboronprom.

Read also: Czechs raise $2.3 million to buy RM-70 rocket launcher for Ukraine

Marek Spok, the director of VOP CZ, said that the Ukrainian tanks have been in storage for decades, necessitating their complete disassembly and the replacement of certain parts in order to restore their combat capability.

Overall, the modernization will be carried out under the technical supervision of Ukrainian experts with their direct participation, Spok said. The tanks will be equipped with optical observation systems, improved communications, and more.

He further mentioned that his companys employees have visited Ukrainian Ukroboronprom facilities in recent weeks to establish mutual cooperation.

Jana Cernochova, the Czech defense minister, said that her country would continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Read also: Czech president supports creation of war crimes tribunal for Russia

Weve provided surplus military equipment, trained Ukrainian soldiers, and now were assisting in the repair of Ukrainian equipment, she said.

We can offer our knowledge and skills for training and repairs, while also gaining invaluable combat experience from the Ukrainians.

Yuriy Husev, CEO of Ukroboronprom, noted that the defense cooperation between Ukraine and the Czech Republic encompasses the production of military equipment and ammunition of various calibers, the development of service centers for the maintenance and repair of anti-aircraft weapons, as well as the establishment of a joint scientific research center.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
D-Day by the numbers: Here's what it took 79 years ago to pull off the biggest amphibious invasion in history

D-Day by the numbers: Here's what it took 79 years ago to pull off the biggest amphibious invasion in history

US Troops wading through water after reaching Normandy and landing Omaha beach on D Day, 1944. Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

The scale of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944 was unlike anything seen before.

By that summer, the Allies had slowed the forward march of the powerful German war machine and were ready to drive its army back.

A massive landing force of 156,115 Allied troops landed at Normandy on D-Day.

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The Allied invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 was the largest amphibious invasion in history. The scale of the assault was unlike anything the world had seen before or will most likely ever see again.

By that summer, the Allies had managed to slow the forward march of the powerful German war machine. The invasion was an opportunity to begin driving the Nazis back.

The invasion is unquestionably one of the greatest undertakings in military history. By the numbers, here's what it took to pull this off.

Around 7 million tons of supplies, including 450,000 tons of ammunition, were brought into Britain from the US in preparation for the invasion.

D-Day invasion preparations David E. Scherman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Source: The D-Day Center

War planners laying out the spearhead into continental Europe created around 17 million maps to support the operation.

Map detailing the Allied invasion of Normandy Getty Images

Source: US European Command

Training for D-Day was brutal and, in some cases, deadly. During a live-fire rehearsal exercise in late April 1944, German fast attack craft ambushed Allied forces, killing 749 American troops.

American troops landing on beach in England during Exercise Tiger, a rehearsal for the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. United States Library of Congress

Source: NBC News

D-Day began just after midnight with Allied air operations. 11,590 Allied aircraft flew 14,674 sorties during the invasion, delivering airborne troops to drop points and bombing enemy positions.

A view of some of the air assets involved in the invasion of Normandy. Getty Images

Source: Seattle Times

15,500 American and 7,900 British airborne troops jumped into France behind enemy lines before additional Allied forces stormed the beaches.

U.S. paratroopers fix their static lines ahead of a jump before dawn over Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944, in France. AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps

Source: The New York Times

6,939 naval vessels, including 1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels, manned by 195,700 sailors took part in the beach assault.

Allied landing craft underway to the beaches of Normandy. Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

Source: Department of Defense

132,715 Allied troops, among which were 57,500 Americans and 75,215 British and Canadian forces, made amphibious landings at five beaches in Normandy.

Photograph of American troops approaching Omaha Beach, Normandy, on D-Day Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

Source: Department of Defense

23,250 US troops fought their way ashore at Utah Beach as 34,250 additional American forces stormed Omaha Beach. 53,815 British troops battled their way onto Gold and Sword beaches while 21,400 Canadian troops took Juno Beach.

US troops landing at Omaha Beach Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Source: The Telegraph

The US casualties for D-Day were 2,499 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing, and 26 captured. British forces suffered about 2,700 casualties while the Canadian troops had 946.

A group of U.S. wounded soldiers sheltering behind a wall after the Normandy landing at Omaha Beach. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Source: The Telegraph

Total casualties for both sides in the Battle of Normandy (June 6 - 25, 1944) were approximately 425,000.

The bodies of American soldiers lie on the ground in Normandy, France, awaiting burial in the aftermath of the D-Day Allied invasion. Fox Photos/Getty Images

Source: Seattle Times

By the end of June 11 (D+5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been unloaded in France. By the end of the war, those figures would increase to 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles, and 4 million tons of additional supplies.

With ships and supply vehicles below them, American troops march up from Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy, on June 18, 1944. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

Source: US European Command

Read the original article on Business Insider
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the annual meeting of the Arms Control Association at the National Press Club on June 2, 2023, in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

You may not know it from watching cable news, going grocery shopping or doing any other mundane chore of daily life, but the world is at an increased risk of nuclear confrontation. Thats at least the assessment of National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who delivered a speech at the Arms Control Association last week about a multidecade arms control structure that is gradually losing its sturdiness.

The system of nuclear agreements and risk-reduction measures spurred on by the 1962 Cuban missile crisis has begun to erode, Sullivan told the group. His boss, President Joe Biden, was even more dramatic in October when he told a Democratic Party fundraiser that the chances of nuclear Armageddon were at their highest since that high-stakes gambit six decades earlier when President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev stared each other down for 13 long days in October.

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While discussions about nuclear proliferation are often subject to hysteria, troubling developments have led Biden and Sullivan to these worrisome conclusions. Russian President Vladimir Putin is in the process of deploying tactical nuclear warheads, Iskander-M missiles and nuclear-capable Su-25 aircraft to his ally Belarus. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pressing forward with his own nuclear development plans, including but not limited to the miniaturization of nuclear warheads, the testing of military reconnaissance satellites and the production of solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Chinas nuclear modernization remains in full swing, with the Pentagon estimating that Beijings nuclear arsenal could reach 1,500 warheads by 2035 if its current pace is maintained. And lets not forget that the New START accord, the last major nuclear agreement between Washington and Moscow, is no longer operable; last week, the U.S. responded to Russias February withdrawal from the deal by limiting the usual information it sends to the Russians.

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All of this sounds frightening to those who study nuclear weapons for a living. Its clearly frightening to the Biden administration as well; otherwise, a senior U.S. security official wouldnt have spent part of his day delivering an address on the topic.

Fortunately, the White House has a plan to deal with all of this. Unfortunately, the plan has very poor odds of success.

According to the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review, Washingtons strategy relies on two planks: modernizing the U.S. nuclear weapons apparatus to ensure that deterrence holds and exploring new nuclear transparency and risk-reduction measures to manage or, better yet, downgrade nuclear rivalry between the U.S. and its adversaries.

Mutual, verifiable nuclear arms control offers the most effective, durable and responsible path to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our strategy and prevent their use, the strategy states. Sullivan reiterated those points last week, reminding everyone in the room that the U.S. is willing to get back to the table with Russia on developing a new arms control framework and enter nuclear talks with China without preconditions.

It takes more than one party for diplomacy to work, however. And as sober-minded as the Biden administration wants to be with one of the most important subjects on the planet, its largely talking to itself. Russia, China and North Korea are at best uninterested in pursuing a nuclear dialogue with the U.S.

The three countries all have their own reasons for staying away from the negotiating table.

[ Elizabeth Shackelford: Lets avoid another nuclear arms race ]

For China, its partly a matter of basic arithmetic. From where Beijing sits, it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to enter into bilateral nuclear talks with a country whose nuclear arsenal is nearly 13 times the size of its own. The U.S. has more than 5,200 nuclear warheads in its inventory to Chinas 410, according to a Federation of American Scientists assessment.

The Chinese are already at a massive disadvantage numerically, which means any mutual weapons reductions wouldnt alter the overall picture for the country. It should therefore be no surprise why Beijing would dismiss Washingtons offer to talk. Sadly, there is unlikely to be any U.S.-China nuclear reduction negotiations unless one of two things occurs: Washington drops to Beijings level or Beijing rises to Washingtons.

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For Russia, the situation is different. Unlike China, Russia is largely at parity with the U.S.  in fact, Russias nuclear arsenal is larger than Americas. Yet because U.S.-Russia relations are so acrimonious today, principally over the war in Ukraine, it is almost unfathomable to envision Putin greenlighting serious, substantive nuclear talks with the U.S., Ukraines biggest military supplier. Whereas Washington and Moscow have historically separated strategic stability from other issues of dispute, this no longer appears to be the case.

The Russians are currently using the prospect of nuclear arms talks as a way to leverage concrete changes to U.S. foreign policy. This includes reentering arms control agreements, such as New START, that have long been in effect. As Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said over the weekend, Moscow will return to New START only if the U.S. abandons what he called its fundamentally hostile policy toward Russia.

As far as North Korea is concerned, what is there to discuss? A nuclear deterrent is the ultimate insurance policy for an internationally isolated state that shares a heavily militarized border with a neighbor, South Korea, whose military is more sophisticated than its own and that considers the worlds predominant superpower its main enemy. North Korea isnt any more likely to abandon its nuclear weapons program than the U.S. is. No amount of talk about denuclearization from State Department officials is going to change that basic dynamic.

We all like to envision a world without nuclear weapons. Reality, however, has a habit of crushing hopes and dreams.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Dad calls 911 after kids home alone say man followed them from school, Utah cops say

A man is accused of following three children home from school and looking into a bedroom window, Utah police say.

The childrens father called police on Monday, June 5, after one of them called him about the man peering in the windows, the Salt Lake City Police Department said in a news release.

The man began following the siblings  a 6-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old-girl  about two weeks ago, even on some occasions speaking with the youngest child, according to police.

After getting the 911 call, police said they arrived on scene and arrested the man following a brief struggle.

He was booked into jail on a number of counts, including voyeurism against a child, according to police.

Merced girl cries out. Her father responds, police say, and helps stop a kidnapping

Teacher left young kids home alone while she took trip out of state, CT police say

Toddler left home alone while parents go to New York, South Carolina cops say
Dallas-Fort Worth city starts another round of spraying for West Nile virus

Arlington is conducting targeted ground spraying in multiple areas after five mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile virus, according to a news release.

The spraying will be targeted in the following areas:

- Saddle Ridge Road at Yachtclub Drive

The City of Arlington will conduct targeted ground spraying for West Nile Virus in the area around Saddle Ridge Road and Yachtclub Drive.

- Caliente Drive at Commander Court

The City of Arlington will conduct targeted ground spraying for West Nile Virus in the area around Caliente Drive and Commander Court.

- Arkansas Lane at Lakewood Drive

The City of Arlington will conduct targeted ground spraying for West Nile Virus in the area of Arkansas Lane and Lakewood Drive.

- Park Hill Drive at Mossy Oak Street

The City of Arlington will conduct targeted ground spraying for West Nile Virus in the area around Park Hill Drive and Mossy Oak Street.

- Greek Row Drive at Kerby Street

The City of Arlington will conduct targeted ground spraying for West Nile Virus in the area around Greek Row Drive and Kerby Street.

The spraying will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., weather permitting.

Targeted ground spraying doesnt present a specific risk to animals or the environment. However, those concerned about exposure to a pesticide, and those with chemical sensitivity or breathing conditions, can reduce their exposure by staying indoors during the application time.

The pesticide produces little residual effect after it dissipates and breaks down in the environment.

Arlington did an earlier round of spraying from May 31-June 1 after one area had a positive test for the virus.

Enjoy the outdoors while protecting yourself

Tarrant County Public Health suggested simple ways for the public to enjoy their time outdoors without the worry of pesky mosquitoes.

Mosquito bites can be prevented by covering areas vulnerable to them, like covering arms and legs with long sleeves and pants.

Bug repellent is also an important part of mosquito deterrent. DEET his an ingredient to look for in repellents.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so draining water in yards, clogged rain gutters and flowerpots will help prevent the spread of mosquitoes, lowering the chance of the presence of West Nile virus.

If standing water cant be eliminated easily, check regularly for mosquito larvae. If larvae are present, biological larvicides, otherwise known as mosquito dunks, are available at local hardware stores.

The first human case of West Nile this year was reported in Nebraska.

News Release: First West Nile Virus Case Detected in Nebraska



The first human case of West Nile virus for the 2023 season has been found in the Three Rivers Public Health District. The person who tested positive was not hospitalized. https://t.co/MKqOOKUl1P  Nebraska DHHS (@NEDHHS) June 6, 2023

The first positive test in Tarrant County, which was from a mosquito, was collected in Euless earlier this year.

DFW was ranked No. 5 on Orkins annual Top 50 Mosquito Cities, which brought the metroplex up from No. 6 the year before.
Twitter

Several residential areas are fully underwater after a Soviet-era dam and hydroelectric power station in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Kherson region was blown up, flooding the war zone and sparking frantic evacuations.

Mass evacuations forced residents out of their homes amid fears of widespread flood devastation. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack on the critical Kakhovka dam was carried out by Russia, whose military has occupied the area. Ukraine described it as an act of ecocide, and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

The incident has forced Ukraine to evacuate over 17,000 people from flooded areas, Andriy Kostin, Ukraine's prosecutor general, said. According to Ukrainian authorities, some 40,000 civilians in total will need to be evacuated.

More than 20,000 civilians, however, are on territory controlled by the Russians, who are not conducting evacuations, he explained.

This is yet another blatant disregard for human life and international law, Kostin said.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH    (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

Its not clear how many people have died in the flooding by the White Houses count, but the dam destruction will lead to likely many deaths, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby told reporters in a briefing Monday.

Videos and photos from the area shared on social media showed apocalyptic scenes, with homes and vehicles underwater, and local residents rushing to rescue their pets from the rising flood waters.

A zoo housing 260 animals was also submerged by the torrent of water, according to RBC Ukraine. Its hard for me to say the fate of the animals that were there, Nova Kakhovka Mayor Volodymyr Kovalenko told local media.

Russian state-controlled media reported that at least three villages had been completely swallowed up by the flooding. More than 1,300 people had been evacuated by 3 p.m. local time.

The Russian-controlled town of Oleshky said Tuesday it is almost completely flooded after the incident.

Evacuation is possible only using special equipment, the Russian-installed chairman of the Kherson region, Andrei Alexeyenko, said.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said the attack on the civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime.

All the animals died in Nova Kakhovka Zoo 



It completely went under water, only swans and ducks managed to escape @UAnimalsENG #StopEcocideUkraine#RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/7X0UOSsJlM  MFA of Ukraine  (@MFA_Ukraine) June 6, 2023

The United Nations nuclear monitoring watchdog said there was no immediate threat to Zaporizhzhia, which is Europes largest atomic energy plant, but the reservoir fed by the dam is responsible for the cooling water needed to keep the nuclear site safe.

The New York Times reported that Ivan Plachkov, a former energy minister of Ukraine, warned that more than 100,000 gallons of water an hour from the reservoir was required to keep the six reactors cool and to stop the spent fuel from melting down.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram it will take mere hourswithin fivefor the water to reach critical levels.

Ukrainian authorities had already warned what might happen if the dam failed: unleashing 4.8 billion gallons of water and flooding districts where hundreds of thousands of people live in what is already difficult terrain as the Russian invasion grinds on.

Residents further downstream on the Dnipro River in Kherson were warned: Do everything you can to save your life, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Ukraines Kherson region military administration.

Russia's TASS news agency says at least 300 houses in the settlements of Dnepryan and Korsunka near Nova Kakhovka could fall into the flood zone, but there are more widespread fears that hundreds of thousands of people could be displaced.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry told residents to gather what they needed, including essential documents and pets, then turn off appliances, and flee as soon as possible.

Russia blew up the dams, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in response, adding: The purpose is obvious: to create insurmountable obstacles on the way of the advancing #AFU [the Armed Forces of Ukraine]; to intercept the information initiative; to slow down the fair final of the war. President Zelensky described those allegedly responsible as Russian terrorists, adding he has convened the National Security and Defense Council for talks after the incident.

According to The Washington Post, Russian military bloggers claimed Ukraine blew up the dam to trigger flooding that will wash away Russian positions on the left bank of Dnipro and allow a Ukrainian amphibious assault.

The Russian Defense Ministry also blamed Ukraine for the dam explosion, claiming the Ukrainian military was trying to weaken Russian positions in the area.

Other western leaders have blamed Russia, claiming the scheme is aimed at hampering Ukraine's counteroffensive.

By all accounts, this is aggression by the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive to defend its own country. This shows that this is a new dimension, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

The European Unions Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic pinned the blame on Russia as well.

Russia's attacks against Ukrainian civilian critical infrastructure reached an unprecedented level today with the destruction of the dam at Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, the two said, calling it a new dimension of Russian atrocities.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the attack an outrageous act and a demonstration of the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

It is still too soon to know how the destruction of the dam will impact Ukraine's counteroffensive operations, according to the White House.

The United States is still working on determining attribution for the incident, Kirby said.

"We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam," Kirby said. "We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened."

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the destruction of the Nova Karkhova dam.

Ukraine's Operational Command South (OCS) on Tuesday said that while the Russians intentionally blew up the Nova Khakovka dam which it has held since the early days of this all-out war, it won't change how Kyiv conducts its counteroffensive. How realistic this is, however, is unclear at this time.

"The main conclusion is that the detonation was intentional, but the enemy acted chaotically, allowing their own equipment to be flooded," OCS said Tuesday on its Telegram channel. "At the same time, the detonation of the dam did not affect Ukraine's ability to de-occupy its own territories."

https://twitter.com/NewsUkrainian24/status/1666042566528172033

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665907948986458113

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in blaming Ukraine, said that Kyiv blew up the dam to prevent Russian offensive actions in the region. The Kremlin-connected Rybar Telegram channel also said that Russian defensive positions would suffer as a result.

"If you pay attention to the map of potential flooding, then the left bank and the islands will suffer first of all. Kherson will get it, but not so much. Mine-explosive barriers, advanced positions and houses and farms located on the shore will suffer."

https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1666043848164888578

https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/1666056655035936769

But aside from potential ecological devastation and disruption of thousands of lives, surging floodwaters from the breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam could still have far-reaching effects on the conduct of the war regardless of what either side says.

The Dnipro River, which has been the dividing line in Kherson Oblast between the two opposing armies since Russians evacuated Kherson City last fall, can also impact how Kyiv conducts its counteroffensive and how Moscow defends against it, analysts say.

"Flooding will affect both [Russian] defensive belt & potential [Ukrainian Armed Forces] river crossing, supply lines and upcoming offensive in Kherson," Mark Hertling, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, noted Tuesday in a Twitter thread. He was commenting on a situation where each side blames the other for blowing up the dam.

https://twitter.com/MarkHertling/status/1665922653327114240

The destruction of the dam could give Russians additional time to prepare its defenses while also depriving Ukraine of some options for its counteroffensive, Nico Lange, a former German Defense Ministry official, told The Wall Street Journal. Russia could now redeploy resources from the southwest to reinforce other sections of the front, Lange, now a fellow with the Munich Security Conference, a global security forum, told the newspaper.

Analyst Michael Kofman told The War Zone that the Russian military will bear the greater brunt of any problems associated with the breach.

"I don't think this significantly affects Ukraine's military prospects or substantially improves Russia's position," he said. "It makes a cross-river operation, which was risky and difficult proposition to begin with, far less likely, while at the same time damaging the initial line of defenses Russian forces built up after November."

Regardless of what caused the breach of the dam that held back 18 million cubic feet of water, this is a huge humanitarian and ecological disaster in addition to being a military challenge.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665924031520882688

https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1665951352998993920

Ukrainian authorities say that about 80 towns and villages are in the path of potential flood waters and that about 16,000 people are in immediate danger. In addition, the Dnipro River provides cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency says there is no immediate threat to the plant.

The Dnipro river is a vital source of drinking water for Ukraine, including Crimea, and irrigation for Ukrainian farms. There are indications that oil from the damaged dam has already seeped into the water, adding pollution to the growing concerns that include how this will affect the region's wildlife.

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1665996330924232704

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1666118860452274179?s=20

But the most immediate threats are to the people living along the river.

Right now I am in the center of Kherson, Oleksiy Goncharenko a Ukrainian parliament member, said standing by the river Tuesday afternoon local time. Water arrives very quickly, and the air smells of oil. We will feel the consequences of this disaster for decades to come. Russia is a terrorist state!

https://twitter.com/GoncharenkoUa/status/1666060311336550403?s=20

https://twitter.com/mefimus/status/1665949810354974720?s=20

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russians blew up the dam shortly before 3 A.M. local time.

"This night at 2:50 a.m., Russian terrorists carried out an internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP," Zelensky said on his Telegram channel. "About 80 settlements are in the flooding zone."

"It was ordered to carry out evacuation from risk areas and to provide drinking water to all cities and villages that were supplied with water from the Kakhovsky Reservoir," Zelensky said. "We do everything to save people. All services, military, Government, Office are involved."

Zelensky also told the Bucharest Nine summit that there was no way Ukraine could have done this because it is "physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside."

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1666055400435732482

Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) said his agency has evidence the Russians blew up the dam.

"There could be various scenarios. But the preliminary conclusions are as follows: experts see no reason to think that the dam was fatigued. There are other factors as well," he said, according to the Ukrainian Suspline news agency. In response to a follow-up question asking whether there is evidence that the dam was blown up, Yusov said, "Yes. Explosives were used."

https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1666146954995171344

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov blamed Russia and called the dam's destruction a "war crime."

https://twitter.com/oleksiireznikov/status/1666081031697612801?s=20

The Ukrainian Kherson Oblast government began alerting residents of this disaster at about 5 A.M. local time.

"I am informing you about the course of events in connection with the emergency situation at the Kakhovskaya HPP," Ukrainian Kherson Oblast Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said on his Telegram channel Tuesday. "The military administration and all services, including the emergency services and the police, raised the alarm at 5 in the morning."

The population "is being evacuated," he said. "All elders and heads of communities have been informed and are gathering the population at designated collection points. Each community has a separate headquarters responsible for its territory."

https://twitter.com/NatalkaKyiv/status/1665936697610104832

As of 7:30 A.M. local time, "the following settlements were completely or partially flooded: Tyaginka, Lviv, Odradokamyanka of Beryslav district, Ivanivka, Mykilske Tokarivka, Ponyativka, Bilozerka, Ostriv microdistrict of the city of Kherson, Kherson district. We understand that other settlements will be flooded, ready for this."

"About 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson Region," Prokudin said. "Currently, the evacuation of residents of these settlements by buses to Kherson, then to Mykolaiv and from there to Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, Kyiv and others is organized."

At noon, "an evacuation train will depart from Kherson to Mykolaiv at the railway station," he added.

By 10:00 A.M. local time, 742 people have already been evacuated in the Kherson region, Ihor Klymenko, Ukraines Minister of Internal Affairs, said on his Telegram channel.

Water is coming, he said. The situation is complicated by the fact that some roads are washed away. This makes it impossible to travel to individual settlements. Evacuation teams are looking for other ways. About 80 settlements are in the zone of potential flooding. Most of them are temporarily occupied.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1665980821063213057

https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1666030969021771777

Making matters worse are floating mines and oil polluting the water, Klymenko said.

"We urge citizens to be careful, because water picks up explosive substances that can detonate. In addition, due to the destruction of the engine room of the HPP, 150 tons of fuel oil got into the Dnipro. Groups with the necessary equipment have already set out to eliminate the possible consequences of an environmental disaster," he said.

Ukraine's Operational Command South (OCS) military command warned of a looming food disaster as a result of this incident.

"The undermining of the Kakhovskaya HPP by the Russians is a blow to global food security, which the enemy wants to undermine," OCS said on its Telegram channel Tuesday. "Because this disaster will affect the irrigation system in the South of Ukraine. Russians need world hunger."

The destruction of the dam "is the biggest man-made disaster in the world in recent decades, which kills the environment and will negatively affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the years to come," said OCS. "The insane goal of stopping the Defense Forces' advance and avoiding defeat and disgrace drives Kremlin criminals. They are willing to do anything to raise the stakes in this war."

The Russians, meanwhile, are blaming Ukraine.

Tonight, the Kyiv regime committed another terrorist crime: the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station facilities were blown up, flooding a large area, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on the Russian Defense Ministry Telegram channel. The purpose of these actions is reportedly as follows:

Having failed to succeed in the offensive operations, the enemy intends to redeploy the units and hardware from the Kherson direction to its offensive area in order to strengthen its potential, significantly weakening its position in the Kherson direction. The enemy has begun building defensive positions on the right bank of the Dnipro River, which indicates the intention to turn to defense there.

In order to prevent Russia's offensive actions in this section of the front, the Kyiv regime has carried out sabotage, essentially a terrorist act, which has resulted in the flooding of significant areas and will have serious and long-lasting environmental consequences.

In addition, the release of water from the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station, according to available data, has been significantly increased, leading to even greater flooding of areas."

This fact proves that the large-scale diversion was planned in advance by the Kyiv regime, Shoigu said.

https://twitter.com/Roberto05246129/status/1666075408570146816

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was an act of sabotage by Ukraine.

"The president receives reports through the Defense Ministry and other services on what is happening around the Kakhovka HPP," he said, according to the official Russian TASS news agency. Here we can already say unequivocally that this is deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side," the Kremlin spokesman told reporters.

"This sabotage has the potential to cause very serious consequences for tens of thousands of the regions residents, environmental consequences and consequences of another nature that are yet to be established," Peskov added

The Kremlin spokesman also called it unmistakable that one of the goals of this act of sabotage was to deprive Crimea of water. "The water level in the reservoir is dropping, hence, the water supply to the [North Crimean] canal is drastically reduced," he added.

https://twitter.com/tassagency_en/status/1666051083939061761?s=20

Russian authorities are also taking precautions.

The Prosecutor General's Office of Russia instructed prosecutors to take control of the protection of the rights of residents of the Kherson region after the breakthrough of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, according to the TASS Telegram channel.

Now informing the population has been organized, temporary accommodation centers for citizens are being prepared in the nearest settlements. Mobile brigades of the regional prosecutor's office have been organized, ready to leave in order to check the places of accommodation of evacuated citizens, including in terms of providing food, medical care, providing household services and basic necessities, and providing information and psychological support.

There were already visual indications of damage to the dam as of noon local time Monday, according to satellite imagery taken by Maxar Technologies.

"Maxar collected new satellite imagery of the Nova Khakovka dam on 5 June 2023 that reveals evidence that a section of the roadway and sluice gates have been recently damaged/destroyed," Maxar spokesman Stephen Wood said in a message to The War Zone. "Not sure if was the precursor to the collapse of the dam or if additional explosions occurred afterwards that ultimately caused it to fail."

Overview of Nova Khakovka dam on June 5. (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies)

Closer view of destroyed roadway and section of Nova Khakovka dam taken June 5. (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies)

While it is also possible that rising waters combined with poor maintenance of the facility by the Russians while they occupied the plant caused the breach, both sides said back in October that the other would blow up the dam.

We wrote at the time about how Zelensky warned that the Russians were plotting to blow up the dam.

https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1583203245240897536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1583203245240897536%7Ctwgr%5E8967f48fb6b465d2320639f19b1ec4bdceac7ea9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-russia-rigged-kherson-dam-to-explode-zelensky-claims

A day after Zelensky raised concerns about the Russians blowing up the dam, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General warning about Kyiv's alleged "plans to destroy" the dam. It was something Russian officials brought up again on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1666038487546560514

Models devised at the time showed how a dam breach would affect the region, which you can see below.

https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1583156701502459904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1583156701502459904%7Ctwgr%5E8967f48fb6b465d2320639f19b1ec4bdceac7ea9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-russia-rigged-kherson-dam-to-explode-zelensky-claims

But even before there were threats to blow up the dam, Ukraine had attacked the roadway on top of it to interfere with Russian logistics.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1558519757279821825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1558519757279821825%7Ctwgr%5E8967f48fb6b465d2320639f19b1ec4bdceac7ea9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fukraine-situation-report-russia-rigged-kherson-dam-to-explode-zelensky-claims

The full extent of this disaster and what caused it will come into sharper focus in the coming days.

This is a developing story we will follow closely.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
(Bloomberg) -- The 24 hours before Tuesdays flooding of the Dnipro River basin were already dramatic, as Ukraine appeared on the cusp of a counteroffensive that many in Kyiv see as their best chance to defeat Russias invasion.

Most Read from Bloomberg

US President Joe Biden, just hours earlier, gave a fingers-crossed sign in response to a question on the Ukrainian campaigns chances.

Russia, meanwhile, claimed without evidence it fended off a large armored attack in the countrys eastern Donbas region. But the Kremlin had to dismiss as fake a putative address to the nation by President Vladimir Putin, in which he allegedly called on Russians to rally against invasion by Ukraine in the wake of strikes across the border in recent days.

Nothing, however, compared to what appeared to be a horrific escalation of the war early on Tuesday, as up to 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water poured through a massive breach in the Kakhovka dam, swamping communities along the banks of the Dnipro river.

Ukraine accused Russia, which occupies the dam, of blowing it up, while Moscow said shelling by Kyivs troops was the cause. Intelligence agencies for Ukraines allies, including the US, are still assessing who is responsible, but are leaning toward Russia, a Western official said on Tuesday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, called the dams destruction an environmental bomb of mass destruction.

The motive for Russia to have blown up the dam also was still being assessed, but appears to have been to make it more for difficult for Ukraine to conduct a river crossing downstream, while at the same time creating a significant humanitarian challenge for Kyiv to deal with, the western official said.

That assessment was contested by a person close to Russias Defense Ministry. Russian frontline positions have now been flooded, the person said, while in a week to 10 days the reservoir would empty, the floods gone and parts of the river would settle at lower levels than before. That will return the river to patterns recorded in the pre-Soviet era, when in hot summers some parts of the Dnipro became so shallow it could be forded.

Ukrainian officials were skeptical of any military impact. Sooner or later this would have happened, and it happened at 2:50 a.m. this morning, Ihor Zhovkva, the deputy head of Zelenskiys office, said in a phone interview. He said Russia had mined the dam last year. It will have no impact on military operations, and we will make the counteroffensive.

Zhovkva called on European and US allies to clearly say that full security for Ukraine can only happen with fully fledged EU and NATO membership.

In fact, the impact of the dam breach may be bigger off than on the battlefield, as the unfolding humanitarian and ecological disaster refocuses the attention of Ukraines international backers, after more than 15 months of war and tens of billions of dollars spent on the nations military and financial support.

This is something that has a new dimension, but which fits with the way in which Putin wages this war, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told WDR television, adding that it underlined the need to support Ukraine.

Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime, UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly said on Twitter.

Ukrainian authorities said about 1,500 people had been evacuated from homes on the western bank of the Dnipro. It wasnt clear how many people were affected on the Russian-occupied eastern bank, where the worst flooding occurred.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih PJSC, the Ukrainian unit of steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA, said by email it had temporarily paused steel and rolled metal production to limit water consumption at its plant in Kryvyi Rih, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) northwest of the reservoir.

International outrage could, if sustained, make the dams destruction just the latest in a series of alleged and proven Russian atrocities  from the mass graves of Bucha, to the bombed-out shelters and hospitals of Mariupol  that have at critical moments stiffened US and European resolve to cross red lines and give Ukraine more of what it wants to fight back.

Hours before the breach, top diplomats from France and China had discussed the need to begin the political settlement process, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said.

On Wednesday, Chinas permanent representative at the United Nations, Zhang Jun, expressed his nations grave concern over the disaster, portraying it as further evidence of the need to for peace talks.

In addition to a path to NATO membership, which requires unanimity and is not expected to be granted at a summit in Vilnius next month, Ukraine is pressing to receive F-16 combat jets. After long blocking the initiative, the US recently green-lit a coalition to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the aircraft. Zelenskiy told reporters Tuesday hes already lined up pledges to deliver the planes if the US gives permission.

Russia, according to the person close to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, believes Ukraine has until October to make its offensive count, with the likely thrust coming from Zaporizhzhia, in southeastern Ukraine, toward the south and ultimately Crimea. The assumption was that smaller strikes across the Dnipro would aid that effort, the person said in written replies sent just before the dams breach.

A senior NATO official gave a similar assessment of likely Russian concerns about Ukraine using the Dnipro as a secondary front.

Officials in Moscow estimate that Ukraine has prepared as many as 20 new army and national guard brigades for the offensive, bringing the total strength of its armed forces to between 700,000 and 1 million personnel, the person said. The difficulty for Ukraine, he added, is that training and western weapons supplies have been too slow, causing delays.

Russia should have enough troops, aided by air superiority, to repel the Ukrainian attack and create a stalemate, the person said, even if the record of Russian command failures leaves room for doubt.

The flooding from the dam breach will force Russian troops near the Dnipro to retreat, which may reduce the intensity of shelling against territories Ukraine controls, according to Ukrainian southern military spokeswoman Nataliya Humenyuk.

I dont think itll impact the counter-offensive as such, but I think the aim is to impact Ukrainian publics willingness to keep up their efforts, said Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on defense against hybrid and gray-zone threats. Its aimed at terrorizing the Ukrainians at the very moment when they might feel optimistic about the counter-offensive.

(Updates with more details from Ukrainian official in ninth paragraph)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
On June 6, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovskaya HPP

Zhyrokhov said the incident was the most significant man-made catastrophe of the 21st century so far, and said it held uncertain implications for the region.

Read also: Ukraine calls for urgent UN-EU monitoring mission at Kakhovka HPP

For one thing, it will affect military actions in southern Ukraine, he said.

The dam was the only route through which tanks and military equipment could be transported more or less normally, he said.

Additionally, there were reports that massive battles were taking place on the islands downstream, and supposedly the Ukrainian army was planning to carry out a landing there. For the Russians, this meant gaining an active front in Kherson. They decided to impede the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this manner.

Read also: Threat of Russian attack on Kakhovka HPP: Scenarios and consequences of dams destruction

However, the military expert acknowledged that the flooding resulting from the dam explosion would not only impede the Ukrainian offensive but also pose challenges for the Russian defenses.

The defense in these areas, if Oleshky and a large number of populated areas are flooded, will be a problem for them. But I still dont understand: they may be able to shift to the second or third line of defense, but what will that achieve? It is still unclear.

Zhyrokhov also highlighted the severe issues arising from the dam explosion, including the disruption of the water supply to the North Crimean Channel, a primary objective for the Russians in their so-called special military operation.

Additionally, the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant relied on water from the dam, exacerbating the challenges faced by the region.

In other words, a tremendous number of problems, Zhyrokhov warned. The military component will be in second or third place because humanitarian issues will continue to escalate, and they will escalate within the next few hours.

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Station dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Adminstration to declare an urgent evacuation.

Read also: Zelenskyy calls environmental devastation in Ukraine ecocide by Russian invaders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the actions of the Russians, stating that their destructive act served as a stark reminder that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

He added that neither by water, nor by missiles, nor by anything else will the terrorists succeed in stopping Ukraine.

Read also:

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Kentucky is a Republican state with Republican values  at least, thats what Attorney General Daniel Cameron is banking on in his bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

That was the buzz in Richmond on Friday, where area Republicans gathered in a quiet lunchtime setting to kick off Camerons general election campaign. It marked the first official campaign stop for Cameron after winning the GOP primary by 26 points.

Beshear, who coasted to his partys nomination unlike Cameron who faced several well-funded opponents, launched his general election tour just days after the May 16 primary.

Cameron reflected optimism to the crowd gathered in Madison County, a place that could serve as a bellwether if recent history is any indication. Beshears 0.3 percentage point win in 2019 closely aligned with his narrow statewide 0.4 percentage point win in that general election.

Cameron said he thinks more like Madison Countians, and the majority of Kentuckians, than Beshear does.

Youve got a governor right now whose vision for Kentucky and whose values are not aligned with the folks here in Madison County and does not reflect the values of the men, women and children of all 120 counties, Cameron said

Cameron hit the current governor on a familiar slate of contrasting issues, leading with education and transgender identity. Cameron supported Senate Bill 150  an omnibus bill passed by the states GOP majority which banned gender affirming care for trans minors, implemented a transgender bathroom ban in schools, and barred any discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity in schools  while Beshear vetoed it. Cameron also reminded the crowd of his disdain for Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Jason Glass, who rose from little-known bureaucrat to a frequent conservative political target when he suggested that teachers who dont use students preferred pronouns should find something else to do.

A commissioner... said to members of the General Assembly that if any teacher expressed concern about the gender ideology curriculum thats making its way in our classroom, that teacher needed to find another job. Ladies and gentlemen, thats not the right answer. The right answer is that Andy Beshear needs to find another job and we will help him do that, Cameron said.

While Camerons political message cohered around a values-oriented contrast between himself and Beshear, he also made a viability argument. He pointed to the campaigns 26-point primary win, which he said left him pleasantly surprised and exceeded the margin predicted by pre-primary polls.

In November, Kentucky is going to have another governor and its going to be me, Cameron told the crowd.

Supporters in attendance are convinced, too.

Michael Douglas  the younger brother of Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, who in 2021 became the first Black GOP member of the Senate  believes that Camerons win is assured. He said those close to Cameron, whom he met at the nominees primary victory party, speak highly of his ability to win this race.

I feel confident because of the conservative values and the Christian values that he has. Its not something he just talks about. I talked to his mother, I talked to his in-laws, and I talked to his childhood friends and everybody said the same thing: this is him, Douglas said.

New face to the campaign: McConnells top man

One of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells top lieutenants officially joined the Cameron campaign this week.

Terry Carmack, McConnells chief of staff, is now with the Cameron campaign in a senior management role according to Sean Southard spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky. Washington-based news outlet POLITICO reported that Carmack was Camerons campaign manager, though Southard indicated that Carmack was taking a senior management role, and not stripping that title from current campaign manager Gus Herbert, who held the role during the primary.

Terry is one of Kentuckys most experienced political operatives with extensive state and national experience, having previously served as state party chairman, chief of staff to members of congress, and as the political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Southard said. Daniel Cameron enjoys support from all wings of the Republican Party, from Donald Trump to Mitch McConnell. Its all-hands-on-deck to defeat Joe Bidens man, Andy Beshear.

Carmack has been an entrenched power player in Kentucky GOP politics for decades, with his McConnell ties dating back to the mid-1980s. Since then, hes been chair of that state party, chief of staff for multiple Kentucky congressional Republicans, and McConnells state director for 11 years.

Im humbled and honored to join Team Cameron. Republicans across the state are excited to make history this November when we elect Daniel Cameron as the next Governor of Kentucky, Carmack said in a statement.

Veteran Kentucky political observer Al Cross, a former political reporter who runs the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, said that Carmacks involvement with Camerons campaign highlights McConnells continued grip on the Republican Party of Kentucky.

(Carmack) has been operating at a high level in Kentucky politics for 30 years, all as a protege of Mitch McConnell, Cross said. What more credential do you need?

It certainly does put the McConnell stamp on the campaign, Cross added.

Camerons ties to McConnell  who, despite winning his most recent election by a wide margin, is unpopular in Kentucky  were a brief point of attack for former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft.

Poll shows tight race & some good news for governor

Cameron and other Republicans have worked hard to tie Beshear to figures like Glass or president Joe Biden, who Kentuckians might see as too progressive.

But Beshear remains quite popular in Kentucky according to all available polling, including a recent one that Cameron himself has touted.

A survey released by Republican-aligned pollster Cygnal  which, despite its partisan affiliation, elections website fivethirtyeight.com gives an A rating  showed Cameron and Beshear in a dead heat as of late May, though significantly more voters responded that they would definitely support Beshear than Cameron.

With a relatively small sample size for the Kentucky general electorate, 600 likely voters, the poll has a margin of error of about +/- 3.9%.

The rest of the poll contains a mixed bag of results for Beshear and Cameron. Beshears popularity remains high  about 55% favorable to 41% unfavorable for a net favorability of more than +14  but Democratic President Joe Biden is highly unpopular. The likely voters surveyed gave Biden a -27.5 favorability rating. Cameron, meanwhile, scored a nearly +9 favorability rating with a larger share of voters having no opinion about him.

One potentially strong data point for Beshear in the poll thats been less advertised than the Cameron/Beshear horse race number: how Kentuckians believe the state is faring. 46.4% of the respondents said Kentucky is headed in the right direction while 40.3% said its on the wrong track, a much rosier outlook than how Americans feel about the nation  the latest numbers from Morning consult show that 72% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track.

The current governors popularity is a reality that Cameron acknowledged in his Richmond speech.

There will be naysayers out there to tell you that the governor is too popular and all those things, but those things cannot be further from the truth, Cameron said.
Daywatch: Why do some parts of Chicago get hotter than others?

Good morning, Chicago.

A new effort is underway to measure heat across the city this summer. The campaign is the first step in fighting heat vulnerability, said Kyra Woods, a city of Chicago policy adviser on environment and climate.

Heat is the deadliest weather phenomenon, killing more people in an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and cold, according to the National Weather Service. Heat kills some outright via heat stress. For others, heat exacerbates common chronic conditions, including asthma, heart disease and diabetes.

An investigation by the Tribunes Sarah Macaraeg found that more than 300,000 Chicagoans live in areas that are hotter than 90% of the rest of the city, or an estimated 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the city average.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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When Emad Mahou landed at OHare, he had two small bags of belongings, $100 and a sealed envelope with do not open in bold letters across the front.

With his hands he demonstrates the ups and downs of the last 12 years  from being released and offered refuge in America to graduating from the DePaul University School of Law. As his wife, 8-year-old daughter and his father stood in the stands, he walked across the stage with hopes of practicing human rights law to help other refugees coming into the country.

A DuPage County judge has ruled that Oakbrook Terrace must remove the red-light cameras at the intersection of 22nd Street and Route 83. Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Paul Esposito said Monday the city plans to appeal.

A splendid and often rewarding way to spend a summer Saturday or Sunday is to wander the sun-splashed streets of a city or suburban neighborhood and look at, in the widest and wildest definition of the word possible, art, writes Rick Kogan.

Two of the most venerable art fairs come in June.

Anderson Comas thought of those who feel like they dont have support and wanted to do his part to help when he decided to come out as gay in February.

I wanted to open that door for those people that are fighting for their dreams, Comas said during a videoconference call Friday. I feel like they cannot do it because of peoples opinions, so I wanted to share a little bit to help, to open that door and to inspire all of them to keep fighting.

The James Beard Awards are back in Chicago, and after a weekend of honoring food media and industry leaders, the Restaurant and Chef awards took place Monday night.

Chicago chef Damarr Brown took away the first win of the night for Emerging Chef. Brown has been the chef de cuisine at Virtue in Chicagos Hyde Park neighborhood for years.
Is death penalty likely for mom charged with killing kids? What the prosecutor says

The Bucks County District Attorneys Office may seek the death penalty against an Upper Makefield mother charged with killing two of her sons and attempting to kill a third person last year.

Bucks County First Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Schorn filed a notice of aggravating circumstances May 31, against Trinh Nguyen, 39, who is accused of the May 2, 2022 shooting deaths of her sons, Jeffrey and Nelson Tini, ages 13 and 9 respectively, and the attempted murder of her ex-husbands nephew.

The notice must be filed with the court before a defendant is formally arraigned to certify a capital punishment case, and it signals the presence of aggravating circumstances that could result in harsher penalties against a convicted defendant.

DEATH ROW KILLERS: Who are the Bucks County convicted killers on death row in Pennsylvania

Jeffrey "JT" Tini, 13, and his brother, Nelson Tini, 9, were shot in their home Monday, May 2, 2022. Their mother, Trinh Nguyen has been charged.

Who is eligible for the death penalty in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, aggravating factors that make a defendant automatically eligible for the death penalty include a killing involving a child under age 12, and multiple killings, which are both present in the Nguyen case.

Nguyen, who waived her right to a preliminary hearing last month, is scheduled to be formally arraigned at the Bucks County Justice Center on Friday. It will be her first court appearance since her arrest.

A trial date has not been scheduled.

A decision on whether the prosecution will pursue the death penalty isnt expected until sometime after arraignment when prosecutors will get access to discovery material from the defense, said Schorn, who is prosecuting Nguyen.

Prosecutors will typically file notice of a potential death penalty case where there are automatic aggravators present, Schorn said.

More on the Trinh Nguyen case Mental competency case dropped for Upper Makefield murder suspect. What happens next?

Schorn said her office has also filed notice it may seek the death penalty against a former Bristol Township drug dealer and confidential informant Robert Atkins. He is accused in the 1991 murder of his former neighbor, Joy Hibbs, which remained unsolved until his arrest last year.

Prosecutors will typically seek to preserve the ability to seek the death penalty in cases where there are eligible aggravating factors, but that does not automatically mean it will follow through, Schorn said.

In 2021, the DA certified the murder case against Miles K. Jones, of Philadelphia, who was convicted of murdering two men at the Homestead Family Campgrounds in October 2019. But the office later dropped its pursuit of the death penalty. Jones is serving life in prison.

There are currently five Bucks County inmates on death row; none are women.

In 2006 prosecutors sought the death penalty against Heather Lavelle, a Bensalem woman convicted in the torture murder of her ex-boyfriend, but ultimately a judge sentenced her to life in prison.

The most recent case where Bucks County prosecutors pursued the death penalty was in 2019 against Jacob Sullivan for the rape, murder and dismemberment of 14-year-old Grace Packer, his girlfriends daughter. A jury agreed, but but Sullivan died a year later of a cardiac aneurysm.

Alfonso Sanchez, who was originally convicted and sentenced to death for double murder in 2009, was retried, reconvicted and sentenced to death a second time last month.

Will Trinh Nguyen face death penalty?

Nguyen remains in Bucks County Jail without bail.

Until last month, she had been involuntarily committed to Norristown State Psychiatric Hospital for treatment after she was found to be mentally incompetent shortly after her arrest.

Investigators work on the scene of an Upper Makefield home where two boys, 10 and 13 years old, were shot May 2, 2022. Their mother, Trinh Nguyen, was arrested and charged in the shooting, according to Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub.

Why Trinh Nguyen case stalled Upper Makefield mom accused of shooting sons mentally incompetent, according to defense

Prosecutors allege Nguyen shot her sons in their heads as they slept in their rented Timber Ridge Road home. The boys succumbed to their injuries on May 6, 2022.

She was arrested the same day as the shootings in a nearby church parking lot hours after the boys were found by police and the aunt who owns the home. Authorities said Nguyen had heroin in her system in what police described as a suicide attempt.

Prosecutors have provided no motive for the shootings, which occurred the day before Nguyen was to be evicted from the home for failing to pay more than $11,000 in rent.

Authorities found a handwritten note dated a week before the murders that Nguyen allegedly wrote with information on what to do with her and her sons ashes. She also allegedly left a note in the minivan revealing that her sons, both Council Rock District students, were dead and the address of the home with a request to call 911.

Records show that Nguyen was also involved in a custody dispute with her former husband, Edward Tini, of Philadelphia. The couple separated and divorced in 2021 and Tini had opposed Nguyens plans to take Nelson to visit her family in Vietnam over summer vacation.

Nguyen had sole custody of Jeffrey Tini, whose father she divorced in 2009. She has a third son, who is 17, and lives on the West Coast with his father, Nguyens first husband.

The challenge of mental incompetency Why being found incompetent for trial is a tough bar to clear in Pennsylvania

More on Alfonzo Sanchez murder case Philadelphia man sentenced to death in 2007 double homicide in Warminster.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Prosecutors could pursue death penalty for Trinh Nguyen in murder case
Fajada Butte Rock Formation in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. (photo: Canva)

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland took action last week to protect the cultural and historic resources in the Chaco Culture Historical Park from encroaching new oil and gas leasing and mining.

Haalands action comes after President Biden announced efforts to protect the area at the White House Tribal Nations Summit back in November of 2021.

The action withdraws public lands that surround the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northern New Mexico from future leasing and mining claims. Through the new public land order, public lands within a 10-mile radius of the park will be protected for the next 20 years.

For approximately the last ten years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has not issued an oil and gas lease within the 10-mile buffer, with a moratorium on new mining claims in place since January 2022 while the assessment of the proposed withdrawal took place.

The 10-mile withdrawal provides the greatest protection for the more than 4,700 known archaeological sites located in the surrounding area of the park, as determined by a BLM review.

The action responds to decades of tribal efforts  along with efforts from elected officials and the public  that sought to ensure the protection of sacred and historic sites and Tribal communities in northwestern New Mexico.

Efforts to protect the Chaco landscape have been ongoing for decades, as Tribal communities have raised concerns about the impacts that new development would have on areas of deep cultural connection, Haaland said in a statement. Today marks an important step in fulfilling President Bidens commitments to Indian Country by protecting Chaco Canyon, a sacred place that holds deep meaning for the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors have called this place home since time immemorial. I value and appreciate the many Tribal leaders, elected officials, and stakeholders who have persisted in their work to conserve this special area.

The surrounding desert landscape of the Chaco Canyon contains rich archaeological resources and Pueblo and other tribal nations cultural sites, which are still utilized today. Structures in the Chacoan landscape date back approximately 850 - 1250 years, back to when the area was home to a social and religious center for the Chacoan people.

In 1987, the national park was designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. In 2022, there were more than 41,000 visitors to the park.

The withdrawal only applies to public lands and federal mineral estate. Minerals owned by private, state, or tribal entities and valid existing leases are not affected. Any existing leases with well production can continue. This means that any Navajo Nation allottees can continue to lease their minerals.

For future steps, the Department of Interior is starting a broader assessment of the greater Chaco landscape in order to ensure that the sacred sites, stories, and cultural resources in the region are protected for years to come.

In the first phase of the Honoring Chaco Initiative, a regional collaboration among BLM field offices, BIA, and interested Tribes, Pueblos, and other Tribal interests in the Greater Chaco area, a set of 45 broader interviews, as well as planning sessions that culminated in 2.5 days of meetings were conducted. Around 30 participants from various fields, tribal historic preservation officers, tribal organizations, tribally led non-governmental organizations and representatives of New Mexico were included.

About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. "

Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net
More Chinese quit jobs to study abroad for better employment opportunities when they return: report

People's Daily Online) 15:50, June 05, 2023

Wang Xinhui (second from left in the front row) and her schoolmates celebrate the Spring Festival in the Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

New Oriental Education & Technology Group, a leading provider of private educational services in China, recently issued a white paper on studying abroad in 2023. According to the report, an increasing number of working people hope to enhance their employment competitiveness by going overseas to further their studies.

After working in the field of computer technology for three years, Liu Yu decided to pursue a graduate degree in the U.S. "After graduating from university, I joined my current company. As I gradually adapted to the job, I realized that I was doing the same thing everyday and my chances of promotion were slim," said Liu.

"I started to think about how to improve myself. I thought if I could gain managerial knowledge, I would become more competitive. Then I applied for a business degree in the U.S. in the hope of getting more opportunities when I look for a job in the future," said Liu.

Hu Jiayuan, who had worked in Shanghai for nearly two years, went to the U.K. to seek a degree in intellectual property law last year.

"I worked in a law firm where I used English a lot for writing legal documents and communication. I thought that by studying in the U.K., I could improve my English in all aspects and gain cutting-edge knowledge in intellectual property," said Hu.

Photo shows a picture of Hu Jiayuan while studying in the UK. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Wang Xinhui, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, said before going abroad, she worked at a research institution and then a hospital, where she was required to read many English journals and attend meetings in English. Wang believes the English-speaking environment abroad is conducive for improving her scientific research capabilities and she can gain inspiration from the interaction of different ideas.

"When I was a college student, I wanted to study abroad to see the bigger world and broaden my horizons, but it would have cost a lot. Now, I have savings and I want to realize my dream without putting a burden on my parents," said Liu.

As a person with some work experience, Hu said he can better organize his life when he studies abroad.

"My time management skills have improved through working. I also know what information I need and which abilities I need to improve on. I'm sure that I want to be a lawyer after I return home, so I often keep myself updated with the latest legal cases and articles in the field," said Hu.

"My prior work experience gives me a stable state of mind in my pursuit of a doctoral degree," said Wang. "Because I have worked before, I know what I'm interested in and my purpose for learning, as well as how to achieve my goals. I also learn how to handle problems in a more sophisticated manner and also respond to difficulties with more resilience," said Wang.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

DePaul University College of Law graduate Emad Mahou, right, weeps as his father, Shirkou Mahou, far left, greets a family friend after the law school's commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre, May 20, 2023. Emad Mahou was detained and tortured in his native Syria for his activism and speaking out against the government of President Bashar Assad. He was granted asylum in the United States after his release and is now a U.S. citizen. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

He says he cant really describe torture or the night terrors that still creep up on him years later, but hell try. He starts out with a picture: a prison cell the size of a rug and a creaky door that he couldnt help but stare at. Every time it opened, he knew hed either be released or tortured once again.

When Emad Mahou tells the story of being imprisoned in Syria during the 2011 revolution, his voice has a heaviness, unlike the joy he exhibits when talking about not knowing how to order a Subway sandwich when he arrived in Chicago as a refugee.

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With his hands he demonstrates the ups and downs of the last 12 years  from being released and offered refuge in America to graduating from the DePaul University School of Law. As his wife, 8-year-old daughter and his father stood in the stands, he walked across the stage with hopes of practicing human rights law to help other refugees coming into the country.

Mahous father, Shirkou Mahou, flew in from Lebanon to attend the May 20 ceremony on a visit visa.

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Im seeing a part of my dad I didnt see before, Mahou said. Hes an old man. When I left he was much stronger, much younger.

On a May afternoon, days before the graduation ceremony, Mahous dad was sitting next to him on a couch in one of DePauls Loop campus law buildings, wearing a brown suit, white shirt and a prayer hat on his head.

Its his first time in America. His first time seeing his sons new life up close  so different from the life he left at age 21.

He cried audibly every now and then, especially when Mahou would translate for him into Arabic parts of what he was sharing about the Syria of his childhood versus the Syria he left behind.

Shirkou Mahou waves to his son, DePaul University College of Law grad Emad Mahou, as all graduates' family members were applauded during the law school's commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre on May 20, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

DePaul University College of Law graduate Emad Mahou stands with fellow students during the law school's commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

I grew up in a loving, very beautiful, family-oriented environment. I miss going to my grandmas sisters house  my dads khalto, Mahou said. Life is so simple there. Wed all be sitting around this heating machine that burns oil and were sitting and playing cards and talking and telling stories, and its already 11 oclock. Kids will be sleeping on the bed or on the sofa and adults will be talking and its the middle of the winter. And that is almost a nightly thing.

Syria today is a country torn by civil war and I hate to say that, Mahou said. To leave my town, you have to go through a checkpoint where there is a tank and they will pull you over if youre wanted, and they will shoot you on the side of the road like a dog. Who lives like that? My cousin was pulled out of a bus and shot. Thats the Syria I left.

Somehow they got a tip that I might be hiding in this area

Mahou and his father were part of the rebellion during the Syrian revolution, which started roughly in February 2011 with the early stages of protests against Syrias government, which was led by President Bashar Assad. The rebels, as they called themselves, were taking to the streets to object to the authoritarian tactics of Assads regime, which was known for its pervasive censorship, surveillance and brutal violence against those who disagreed.

The uprising was noncombative at first, Mahou said, but by March, hubs of protesters were frequently met with heavy military weaponry.

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Mahou said he and his family always had a target on their back, dating to when his paternal grandfather refused a high-ranking government appointment by Assads father. Mahou said his father was arrested several times for protesting, as was he.

During a raid toward the second half of 2011, military police came looking for Mahou. At that time, Mahous resistance entered a new phase. He was tapped by media outlets, likely because of his strong English skills, and became sort of a boots on the ground source, though his face and name were hidden anytime he was on air with reporters.

Mahou was hiding at a distant cousins house. She was a widow without children, therefore her home was an unlikely place for police to come barging in.

But somehow they got a tip that I might be hiding in this area, Mahou said. I was watching from the third-floor window and thinking ... theres no way Im making it out of there. I see a truck full of army men coming and Im like, Oh my God, what am I going to do? Im gonna get killed. From the roof, I jumped from her building onto the building next door and twisted my foot.

Mahou hid in a water tank until the sounds of footsteps and clunking AK-47s subsided.

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Its like a movie  you wont believe what happened to us. And this is a story out of millions of stories similar to this, he said.

In October 2011, United Nations human rights officials estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed since the start of the protests in March, including nearly 200 children.

Mahou said from 2011 to the present day, he lost several loved ones.

Sitting forward in his seat, Mahou starts counting on his fingers, his immediate family members who died in protests, run-ins with military police and in jail.

He shows eight fingers. He then starts counting extended family, but quickly stops. Ill get to like 50 people if I keep going, he said.

His father, upon hearing the names of those who died, starts crying again.

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It got to a point where mentally I was broken

Mahous memories of some of his arrests are blurry, except for one in which he was detained and tortured for three months. In June 2011, he said he spent 100 days in an underground cell the size of a rug. He didnt know it when he was thrown in, but this would also be the last time hed be imprisoned.

The torture was really over the limit at that point. I was really struggling with the pain, Mahou said. It was daily, continuous, degrading. One day in particular, they took turns urinating on me. It got to a point where mentally I was broken. You smell yourself and I felt really, really bad. I am used to a nice life. I showered daily. I was in college to be an architect.

Mahou stops and reminds himself that he had a full life in Zabadani, Syria, before the revolution. They all did.

At that point, I was almost done with college and I had a whole future ahead of me. And I just looked at where I am now. That day was my weakest day mentally. I was shattered. The humiliation went too far  like theyre using you as a toilet ... so I banged my head on the wall.

Mahou recalled falling to the ground after that and feeling the door open.

He felt a breeze. He remembered his cat, Sasha; he visualized the marble tiles of his familys home, the comforting chaos of his kitchen, his mom cooking a meal. It was a message that I shouldnt be dying here today. And I didnt die. I made it all the way out of Syria and I made it to Chicago, he said.

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We all have those moments when you remember something and it saves you, Mahou said. I dont think God talks to us directly but I think God can guide us somehow. I think that was probably my guidance that, you know what, youre not dying here.

Thats when he was released from prison. But knowing that he could get picked up again by another security branch, Mahou, like many others in the rebellion, needed an escape.

Syrian security services began to increase pressure on activists and crack down on protesters. With the help of fellow rebels, Mahou was escorted to the southern border of Syria, where he fled to Jordan.

In Jordan, Mahou did what millions of people fleeing countries do: He registered as a refugee with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a United Nations refugee agency.

Refugees who are in the system can indicate their goals for resettlement, which for Mahou was the United States. Though it could take many months  years even  for an individual to get through the queue.

Mahou was connected with the U.S. Embassy in Amman shortly after his arrival in Jordan. He described to embassy staff how his work with Syrias opposition-affiliated media presented dangers to his personal safety in Jordan as well as to his family still in Syria. The embassy ultimately was able to work with the UN refugee agency to expedite his resettlement in Chicago.

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Mahou was in Jordan from December 2011 until July 26, 2012, when he arrived at OHare International Airport.

DePaul University College of Law graduate Emad Mahou kisses his 8-year-old daughter, Sophia, after the law school's commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

The marquee celebrates DePaul University College of Law graduates during its commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre on May 20, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Is there a point when I am no longer not from here?

When Mahou landed in Chicago, he had two small bags of belongings, $100 and a sealed envelope with do not open in bold letters across the front.

The official documents explaining his refugee status, he later learned, were only to be opened by immigration officials. After what felt like ages, Mahou said his documents were stamped, his fingerprints taken, his picture taken and he was free to pass the checkpoint.

You know how in Terminal 5 there are two exits? I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing, Mahou said. And I speak English, but it was not this English  not law school English. It was my English in 2011.

He said he walked out and spotted a representative from World Relief, the organization assigned to Mahous relocation services, holding a sign with his name. The World Relief representative reached into his pocket and gave Mahou $103 in cash after showing him a check of the same amount addressed to the organization.

So now I have $200  like, wow, I got some money, Mahou said with a laugh. I still remember how I spent those $200.

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He was taken to a studio on Kimball Avenue, not far from the airport. It was $550 a month. Mahou said the U.S. government paid one month of the rent, World Relief paid half a month, and then he was on his own.

There was a kitchen, a table, two chairs, a twin bed mattress, one cover, one spoon, one fork, one knife, one shaving blade, one frying pan, Mahou said. And that whole night I was looking out the window and watching the airplanes because I couldnt drown them out. I was so far from home. I think I just sat there crying all night.

Very quickly, a disastrous attempt to order a Subway sandwich, a daunting bus ride where the driver wouldnt take the $5 Mahou was handing over, a costly T-Mobile 4G hot spot and more Subway sandwiches later, he ran out of money. He didnt have a resume because he worked at his fathers business all his life, but he still put on his dads old suit. His first job in America was providing wheelchair service in OHares Terminal 5. Something about it just felt safer than it had a month ago, Mahou said.

In 2013, while Mahou was still figuring out Chicagos color-coded train lines, his mom and now 25-year-old sister relocated to Lebanon and his father followed them a year later after being detained by the Syrian regime. According to the United States Institute of Peace, the Syrian conflict displaced an estimated 13 million people with over 6.2 million Syrians internally displaced. Approximately 5.6 million refugees now live in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

Mahou said he was in touch with his family as much as he could be.

He started attending community college at Harry Truman toward a degree in computer science in the fall of 2013, before transferring to DeVry. In 2017, he got a job as a web developer for the board of trustees at DePaul University. There he met law professor Craig Mousin, who sat in an office across from Mahou.

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Mousin said when Mahou realized that he taught at the law school and that his specific area of teaching was asylum and refugee law, it piqued his interest.

Emad has intimate knowledge of how governments can use all the power and authority they have to stifle dissent, Mousin said. And sometimes in doing asylum and human rights cases, theres this built-in assumption that governments would not hurt their own citizens. And sometimes its very difficult for people in the United States who live with relative freedom to understand that. Emads felt the brunt of that failure.

With Mousins guidance, Mahou tapped into his experience of standing up for freedom in Syria and what he calls a rebel mentality to figure out that what he actually wants to do isnt web development, but rather become a lawyer. On May 20, he earned his juris doctorate.

I really want to learn about other peoples experiences in the system, said Mahou, who now lives in Oak Park. People who are fleeing persecution, traveling through dangerous paths to seek refuge, those are the people I want to help.

Mahou said hes now studying for the bar exam but was fortunate to get a taste of the kind of cases he would like to work on when he enrolled in DePauls Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, where he helped put together an asylum petition for a family.

As Mahou recounts his tale, he shares that hes seen his parents for a total of 20 days since 2011, during short visits to Lebanon. And now he was making up for lost time.

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His father said it was OK that he had such limited time with his son because his visa expires Thursday. Alhamdulillah for everything, he said. Im grateful to God for his life.

Mahou agreed, though he wished some things could be different. Or maybe just easier.

He said for every person who looked at him like a Pokemon walking around when hed stumble through ordering food, paying for the bus or reloading his CTA card, there were always a few more who would stop to make sure he knew where he was going. When he first came to Chicago he was 21. Now at 34  with a job, a family, a law degree, a community of colleagues and friends  theres a part of him thats still a little unsettled.

I have been struggling with what is home for the past 12 years, Mahou says. How can I define home? Where can I find home? I cant say my daughter is my home because shes just too little to carry that burden. ... I have a passport that has the United States of America on it, I have my picture, my name  everything. And I still feel Im not from here. Is there a point when I am no longer not from here?

zsyed@chicagotribune.com
Vladimir Putin in a meeting and a deepfake broadcast of him (text edit added by The Independent to indicate deepfake) (AFP/Getty/Alex Kokcharov/Twitter)

A deepfake of Vladimir Putin declared martial law and said Ukraines army had invaded Russia in footage aired on some of the countrys television channels and radio stations on Monday.

Authorities later said some TV channels and radio stations had been hacked because of which the deepfake was able to make its way to the national airwaves.

Definitely there was no address. It is true that there were hacks in some regions, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Russian state news agency TASS quoted him as saying that the video shown on some networks is a hack and experts are already dealing with it.

I know that there was a hack into Radio Mir and into some networks. Now all this has been eliminated and taken under control, he said.

The deepfake video of Mr Putin appeared on some TV channels with the caption emergency appeal of the president. In the video, the Russian presidents deepfake said Ukraines army had entered three border regions. The deepfake also announced the declaration of martial law in those regions.

Local media reported that no suspects have been identified yet.

Today, from 12.41pm to 13.18pm, unidentified persons made an illegal tie-in with the substitution of the content of the information programs of the Mir TV channel and Mir radio, said Russias International Television and Radio Company [MTRK] or Mir on Monday, after viewers reported the deepfake.

All information posted from 12.41 to 13.18pm has nothing to do with the Mir MTRK and is an absolute fake and provocation.

In #Russia, several radio stations and even local TV networks appear to have been hacked to broadcast a deep fake address allegedly by president Putin.



This fake address announced mass mobilisation and introduced martial law in border regions.



1/2pic.twitter.com/Z79Jqjil6W  Alex Kokcharov (@AlexKokcharov) June 5, 2023

In Russias Voronezh region, authorities received reports of hacking of radio stations from residents. Officials later said on Telegram that the situation was under control.

Residents of the Voronezh region report another hacking of radio broadcasting frequencies. We officially inform you that the situation in the region continues to be controlled by the authorities and law enforcement agencies. There is no cause for concern, the statement read.

Meanwhile, a major Soviet-era dam in southern Ukraine that supplies water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was blown up on Tuesday, with the two sides blaming each other for the incident.

Ukrainian authorities asked residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate as water gushed out from the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam in the southern Kherson region.

Ukraines ministry of internal affairs said in a statement that, with the water level rising, the ministry urged everyone in the danger zone to turn off all electrical appliances, take documents and essentials, and take care of loved ones and pets.
Top Democratic leaders this week are racing to the defense of the Biden administrations investigations into former President Trump, saying Republicans have overstepped their authority in demanding the release of Justice Department (DOJ) documents related to those ongoing probes.

Congress is the legislative branch, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said during a press briefing in the Capitol. We do not interfere in ongoing law enforcement investigations.

The comments came in response to a new effort by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a vocal Trump ally and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to obtain more information about special counsel Jack Smiths investigations into the former president.

In a letter sent Tuesday morning to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith to the post last November, Jordan is demanding that the DOJ release the initial memo outlining the scope of Smiths investigative duties.

We previously requested information and documents related to the FBIs raid on President Trumps residence and its subsequent investigation, Jordan wrote. Because you have not provided this information, and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel, we write to request an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smiths probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel.

Jordan has requested that the documents be turned over by June 20 at the latest.

Lieu, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said the request constitutes a politically motivated encroachment into an independent, executive branch investigation. He warned Jordan not to hold his breath for the documents.

Law enforcement should be allowed to do its job. It is, frankly, outrageous that you have Chairman Jordan trying to interfere in an ongoing federal investigation, Lieu said. And by the way, the Department of Justice is just going to ignore it.

Appointed last November, Smith has been focused on several different episodes involving Trump since his defeat at the polls in 2020, including his effort to overturn the results of the election and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent discovery of classified documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in South Florida.

Jordan and other Trump allies in Congress have accused the DOJ of conducting a witch-hunt in order to damage Trump politically, heading into a 2024 election contest where he is far-and-away the leading contender for the GOP nomination.

The Biden administration has rejected those charges, and Democrats on Capitol Hill are backing those assertions.

This is a House Republican conference that has talked routinely about defunding the FBI, Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), chairman of the Democratic Caucus, told reporters Tuesday. This is a next step in that conversation where clearly they are caving to the most extreme elements within their conference.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Democrats running for Feinsteins seat vote the same. A closer look reveals differences

The three California members of Congress running for Sen. Dianne Feinsteins Senate seat come to the contest with distinctly different political identities.

Barbara Lee is a liberal hero with a lengthy record of fighting what she sees as an overly aggressive, expensive military.

Katie Porter has forged an image as an outspoken outsider, eager to expose corporate abuses and challenge CEOs publicly.

Adam Schiff is the progressive who helped lead battles against President Donald Trump while making sure he delivers for his Los Angeles area district..

Look at their House voting records, however, and its difficult to tell them apart.

Lee, D-Oakland, Schiff, D-Burbank and Porter, D-Orange County, received perfect ratings from the AFL-CIO and the Human Rights Campaign in their latest tallies.

Schiff supported President Joe Biden on every key vote last year, said the Congressional Quarterly vote study. Porter was at 98% and Lee at 97%.

Each routinely gets top ratings from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action and on the League of Conservation Voters environmental scorecard.

All three would be great senators in their own way, said Don Kusler, ADA national director.

The groups ratings are nearly identical to those of Feinstein, who got a perfect score from ADA last year. Shes retiring at the end of her current term in January, 2025.

Voting records matter. Theyre an easy, understandable way for voters to learn about candidates.

But a deeper look reveals some differences.

Trying to find differences

Congress takes hundreds of votes each year, and there are inevitable differences. But voters dont usually examine minutiae.

What matters more is the candidates ability to connect with voters in a positive way and make voters see their opponents in a negative way, said Kambiz Akhavan, executive director of the University of Southern California Dornsife Center for the Political Future.

That will be tough. Porter has been a House member only since 2019, while Lee arrived in 1998 and Schiff in 2001. There are some important votes where the differences were clear. Among them:

 Debt limit. Lee and Porter were among 11 California Democrats who opposed the debt limit deal ironed out by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

Schiff joined the states other 28 Democrats to back the bill. The alternative was catastrophe. It was a collapse of our economy, a recession, the loss of millions of jobs for Californians, he explained. Moodys Analytics had projected that a prolonged government default would cost the state an estimated 871,000 of its 18 million jobs.

Porter objected to some of the bills environmental and climate provisions, including one that could make it easier for fossil fuel projects to proceed.

 Criminal justice. In 2021, when there was speculation Schiff could be named Californias attorney general, a coalition of justice reform groups wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom saying that over the years, the congressman was too often a strong supporter of tough incarceration policies.

Marisol Samayoa, spokeswoman for Schiffs campaign, told The Bee, Adam is proud of his work to reform our criminal justice system, including passing the single biggest investment in youth crime prevention in Californias history.

 Military issues. Lee and Schiff were House members during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Schiff voted to give President George W. Bush broad authority three days after the attack to use military force against terrorists. Lee cast the only dissenting vote.

The next year, Lee voted against authorizing the use of military force in Iraq. Schiff voted yes and later said he regretted doing so.

In 2005, Lee and two other California House members founded the Out of Iraq caucus in 2005. The next year, Lees proposal barring permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq was passed.

All three candidates have been critics of what they call excessive defense spending. Porter in December said that though she he supported steps to pay our troops fairly, and other parts of the latest defense bill, she voted no.

Im concerned that these taxpayer dollars will be wasted lining the pockets of big defense contractors, she said. Lee and Schiff also opposed the bill.

Identical Democrats?

The glut of partisan votes are to a large extent a product of the times. Political polarization over the past 20-odd years has led to a Congress that usually votes on big, comprehensive packages dealing with defense and the budget, and less on bills and amendments focused on more specific items.

As a result, most votes fall along party lines. The system hasnt allowed members to express nuances in their positions, said Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union, a conservative group that rates lawmakers.

In President Barack Obamas first term, for instance, Lee voted with the Democratic president as little as 78% in 2011 and as much as 93% in 2009, according to the CQ study. She was with Biden on 98% of votes in 2021 and 97% last year.

Schiff voted with Obama 90% of the time in 2012, and in other years his backing ranged from 92% to 98%. He was House Intelligence Committee chairman from 2019 to 2023 and was the lead prosecutor in the 2020 Trump impeachment. Schiff has been a 100% backer of Biden, according to the CQ study.

ADAs Kusler summed up the ratings this way: Clearly, Lee is the progressive champion in her style, leadership, and rhetoric. That is seen in her voting record too, he said. Schiff has been solid left but more mainstream per ADA standards.

Throughout other ratings, differences are also slight. The National Taxpayers Union, for instance, gave Lee a 13% lifetime rating in 2021, meaning she went along with the NTUs frugal approach to government 13% of the time.

Porter, who also has fought higher defense spending, was at 11%, while Schiffs rating was 10%.

Still, said Sepp, these are modest differences.
DeSantis suspends mayor accused of voting in Miami-Dade while residing in Broward

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Anthony DeFillipo, the North Miami Beach mayor who prosecutors say moved to Broward but voted illegally in Miami-Dade.

Last week DeFillipo was charged with three election violations of an unqualified elector willfully voting, a third-degree felony, after prosecutors said he voted in a county where he doesnt live.

David Jeannot, the citys spokesman, said it was still unclear Tuesday if DeFillipos seat would be filled by special election or appointment.

He announced Mondays suspension in an email, saying the circumstances surrounding the former Mayor is not a reflection of the City staff or the rest of the City Commission who work tirelessly, day in and day out to make NMB a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said investigators tracked DeFillipos cellphone locations, which shows him leaving his Davie home, then driving to vote in Miami-Dade, and returning back to Davie later each day on the days he voted.

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His arraignment is scheduled for June 30. DeFillipos attorney, Michael Pizzi, has said the allegations against his client are totally unfounded.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash
Slammed as "cruel" and "pathetic" by California authorities who accuse him of sending migrants by private plane from New Mexico to Sacramento, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to avoid commenting on the flights during an appearance in The Villages Tuesday.

The silence on the migrant issue has been noticeable for a political leader who is campaigning for president as an immigration hawk. The migrant flights are creating growing legal jeopardy for DeSantis, though, with charges recommended from a flight last year to Martha's Vineyard and California authorities threatening more.

DeSantis appeared in The Villages retirement community in Central Florida for a bill signing Tuesday and didn't mention the migrant flights. He didn't take questions at the press conference.

The governor hasn't said anything about the new flights since the first one became public over the weekend. His press office hasn't responded to multiple requests for comment. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom have railed against DeSantis.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Bonta said in an interview with an ABC News station in Sacramento that a migrant flight there on Friday was part of a Florida program approved by DeSantis.

"This is Gov. DeSantis' state of Florida, this is his cruel, inhumane political stunt," Bonta added. "Manipulating human beings, people, for whatever cheap political points he wants to get in his run for presidency."

Newsom said DeSantis is a "small, pathetic man" and raised the possibility that the Friday flight could result in kidnapping charges.

A plane carrying 16 migrants traveled from New Mexico to Sacramento Friday, and the same plane made the same journey with 20 migrants on Monday, according to the Sacramento Bee.

The new migrant flights come as DeSantis is facing intensifying legal scrutiny over a previous flight that delivered 49 migrants to Marthas Vineyard.

Back story: Texas sheriff investigating how migrants were 'lured' on flights DeSantis arranged

On Monday a Texas sheriff in Bexar County, where the migrants were approached for the Martha's Vineyard flight, recommended several charges of unlawful restraint. The charges include both felonies and misdemeanors, according to the sheriff's office. The case was forwarded to the local district attorney to decide whether to prosecute.

It's not clear which individual or entity could face charges. A spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff said "at this time we are not naming the suspects involved in the case."

The new flights could bring more legal complications, and Bonta said DeSantis himself could face charges.

The people that could be potentially implicated are those who were part of this official act and carried it out, Bonta said in an interview with the ABC News station in Sacramento. So the state of Florida, Gov. DeSantis, the employees who work for Vertol Systems, the private vendor thats hired by the state of Florida.

Bonta said the migrants on Friday's flight had documents indicating their flight was part of Florida's program, which the Legislature expanded with millions in additional funding. The documents indicate that Vertol Systems, which also conducted the Martha's Vineyard flight, was the contract for the flight to Sacramento, a California Department of Justice spokesperson told the Sacramento Bee.

Bonta is exploring potential felony and misdemeanor violations.

Attorney Erin Corcoran, an immigration law expert and professor at Notre Dames Keeough School of Global Affairs, said DeSantis migrant flights raise significant legal issues.

Corcoran said moving immigrants between jurisdictions is squarely a federal issue, not a state issue. DeSantis is testing that premise, so its not surprising that he could face legal challenges, particularly on the constitutionality of his move.

A constitutional challenge could take years to be decided, though.

To get a case heard before the Supreme Court is one in a million, Corcoran said. Its not easy. If you actually care about the integrity of your state border and what other states can do and you care about the people involved, you would not go to the Supreme Court; you would use your own (state) legal system.

Going through state courts could result in a much faster decision.

Yet trying to prosecute a state or governor on criminal charges would be highly unusual and politically explosive.

With a state or a governor its somewhat novel, Corcoran said of the charges being explored.

Attorney Denise Gilman, a professor who directs the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas Law School, said it's "possible that individuals directly involved in coercive transfers of migrants may be subjected to criminal prosecutions or civil lawsuits" but finding the state of Florida liable is "less likely... although not impossible."

Both Gilman and Corcoran said charges could hinge on whether authorities can prove that the migrants didn't relocate voluntarily, which could come down to whether they were given false information.

"Where there is not full voluntariness, then there are serious legal issues," Gilman said. "First, the migrants will have been deprived of their liberty on false pretenses, which means that they have been kidnapped."

Having DeSantis or other Florida officials charged with kidnapping in the state of California would be a dramatic move.

It could be a political bombshell, although not necessarily a setback for DeSantis in the primary.

Trumps legal issues seem to have strengthened him with GOP voters.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ron DeSantis quiet after Gavin Newsom slams migrant flights
Florida officials confirmed Tuesday that the state arranged the chartered flights that took migrants to Sacramento on Monday and last Friday, generating outrage from California authorities.

The statement from the Florida Division of Emergency Management came a day after California's attorney general said he was considering legal action over the flights, which he said could amount to "state-sanctioned kidnapping."

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in the statement that the state's relocation program was voluntary, noting that there was verbal and written consent indicating the migrants wanted to go to California.

Florida has faced pushback from officials in both California and Texas, who have said the flights may be breaking the law.

Florida officials have justified arranging the migrant flights in the past. DeSantis, a presidential candidate and fierce critic of President Biden's immigration policy, signed a bill in May allocating $12 million for the transport of migrants.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets attendees during the annual Roast and Ride hosted by Sen. Joni Ernst in Des Moines on June 3, 2023. / Credit: Rachel Mummey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"From left-leaning mayors in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, the relocation of those illegally crossing the United States border is not new," a Florida Division of Emergency Management spokesperson said. "But suddenly, when Florida sends illegal aliens to a sanctuary city, it's false imprisonment and kidnapping."

On Monday, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas recommended criminal charges to the local district attorney over migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard arranged by Florida in September 2022.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has alleged unlawful restraint was involved in the migrant flights. Officials have said they are looking into how migrants "were lured from the Migrant Resource Center, located in Bexar County, TX, and flown to Florida, where they were ultimately left to fend for themselves in Martha's Vineyard, MA."

Forty nine migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts in September 2022, with some of them saying that they suffered emotional trauma as a result. At the time, DeSantis's communications director said the flights were part of an effort to "transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."

Under Texas law, someone can be charged with unlawful restraint if they "restrict a person's movements without consent, so as to interfere substantially with the person's liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person." Restraint is considered to be without consent if it's accomplished by force, intimidation or deception.

It's not yet clear whether Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales will pursue the charges or who they would be filed against, but he said his office was reviewing the case thoroughly.

"If a review of the facts reveal that a felony offense has been committed, we will present that case to a grand jury for their deliberation," Gonzales said.

DeSantis has not yet responded directly to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, but on Tuesday his office released a statement touting Florida's record in assisting Texas immigration authorities, including with more than 190 arrests.

"Florida teams have made contact with more than 5,800 undocumented migrants and assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety with more than 190 arrests including felony charges for human smuggling, drug paraphernalia, unlawful carrying of weapons, and a suspect with a capital murder warrant," the statement said.

The Florida governor was also sued over the Martha's Vineyard incident, but a federal judge dismissed the case.

On Monday, a spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the migrants flown to Sacramento carried "documents indicating that their transportation to California involved the state of Florida." After the first flight landed, Bonta said his office was looking into possible criminal or civil action against those who transported the migrants or arranged for the transportation. Bonta said evidence was being collected.

The migrants on Friday's plane to Sacramento originated in Texas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

"These individuals were transported from Texas to New Mexico before being flown by private chartered jet to Sacramento and dumped on the doorstep of a local church without any advance warning," Newsom said.

Newsom tweeted about DeSantis on Monday, calling him a "small, pathetic man."

"This isn't Martha's Vineyard," he tweeted. "Kidnapping charges?"

The tweet included a link to California legislation on kidnapping and an image of the legislation.

"Every person who, being out of this state, abducts or takes by force or fraud any person contrary to the law of the place where that act is committed, and brings, sends, or conveys that person within the limits of this state, and is afterwards found within the limits thereof, is guilty of kidnapping," the law reads.

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Thousands evacuate after Ukrainian dam collapses
a prepay electricity key sits in a prepayment electricity meter - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Cash-strapped households are asking engineers to tamper with energy meters to shield themselves from soaring bills.

More than two in five gas and electricity engineers have been asked to interfere with a meter, according to research carried out by insurer Direct Line in March. The increasing cost of energy over the last 18 months, is likely to be driving meter tampering requests, it said.

Roughly a third of tradespeople polled by the insurer said they had noticed signs of interference when carrying out work in bill payers homes.

Tampering with an energy meter to make it display incorrectly and possibly lower a homes energy bill is known as energy theft and is a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The practice also has potentially lethal consequences, warned David Powell, of charity Electrical Safety First.

He said: Many people are struggling financially but it is never worth putting you or your family at risk. Tampering with meters exposes anyone in your household to electric shocks, burns, fire and even death.

Direct Line surveyed 150 engineers and found 43pc had been explicitly asked to tamper with an energy meter. Of these 92pc said increased costs had driven households to ask.

Typically employed by drug dealers to avoid arousing suspicion, meter tampering has become increasingly common among households desperate to dodge soaring energy bills.

Reports of meter tampering surged in the wake of the energy crisis, which saw the average annual power bill jump from 1,277 to 2,500 in the space of a year. The number of reports to charity Crimestoppers has trebled since 2017-18.

There were 4,559 reports in the last six months of 2022, an increase of 20pc compared to the first half of the year. Police forces also received more than 3,500 reports of dishonest use of electricity in the first half of 2022.

Stolen energy is factored into how much suppliers charge customers, increasing the average household bill by an estimated 50 a year as a result.

Removing a gas or electricity meter without a suppliers consent is against the Electricity and Gas Acts. Households caught doing so will be billed for any energy used and for replacing the meter.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, said under no circumstances should consumers attempt to connect electricity meters themselves.

Alison Traboulsi, of Direct Line, warned landlords their insurance may not cover tenants tampering with meters unless they had taken out specific coverage.

She added: If your property is damaged, destroyed or someone is hurt as a result of deliberate meter tampering, you wont be covered by your home insurance.

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Moscow and Kyiv traded blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam

The gaping hole blasted into a key hydroelectric dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday will severely impede Kyiv's efforts to reconquer territory lost to Russia, even if Moscow risks seeing its defensive lines submerged.

Moscow and Kyiv traded blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam, which is designed to supply water to the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, which could now be facing serious water supply problems.

But Western observers believe the sabotage is a Russian attempt to harm Kyiv in the short term, just as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive to regain areas in the east.

Kyiv shares the same view, having accused Russia of having "blown up" the dam in order to "slow down" its operation.

Floods have already forced thousands to evacuate and risks interrupting ongoing Ukrainian military operations.

The rising water in the Kherson region will make it very difficult for Ukraine forces to carry out any operation involving crossing the river to reclaim the eastern bank, in the direction of Crimea.

"Following the logic of cui bono [who benefits], Russia would be the obvious culprit, since by causing floods downstream of Nova Kakhovka, the Russians would complicate Ukraine's efforts to cross, winning time, which would allow them to focus on other sections of the front," said Sergey Radchenko, a history professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, in a Twitter post.

"I can't see anything near beneficial to Ukraine in this case. More destroyed infrastructure, more downed electricity production facilities, more suffering for Ukrainian civilians, a limitation of Ukrainian offensive and logistics options," said Stephane Audrand, an independent consultant on international risks.

- Floods as a weapon of war -

The risk of strikes on the strategic Kakhovka facility, located in the Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region, has been brandished since October by both Ukrainians and Russians.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of having "undermined the dam", one of the largest in Ukraine. Russian authorities retorted: "lies".

Destruction of this magnitude, likely to cause considerable harm to civilians, is considered a war crime under the 1949 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention.

"Dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations, shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives, if such attack may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population," according to Article 56.

Contemporary history offers many examples of the destruction of dams and floods in Europe for defensive and offensive purposes.

In 1941, the Soviet Union blew up a huge dam in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia to slow the German advance.

In May 1943, the British Royal Air Force bombed German dams in the Ruhr valley, the country's industrial heartland.

Carried out by the RAF squadron 617 -- which earned the nickname "Dambusters" -- this operation destroyed two of three dams and damaged the third.

The effort was immortalised in the 1955 film "The Dam Busters".

The flooding tactic was also practised in the First World War.

In the autumn of 1914, during the Battle of Yser, French and Belgian forces unleashed floods to slow the advance of German troops who were attempted in cross the Yser River toward Dunkirk.

The flooding was orchestrated by tampering with the system of locks in Nieuwpoort, which regulates the influx of seawater and drainage to flood plains.

dab/fz/sba/giv/fb
(Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon will meet privately with a group of moderate House Democrats on Tuesday, with banking and the US economy on the agenda, according to people familiar with the plans.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The closed-door lunch with the New Democrat Coalition takes place as Dimon has been urged to enter the 2024 presidential race, despite his protests that he does not plan to run.

Dimon frequently meets with lawmakers and government officials. On May 17, he along with other banking executives met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, during the extended standoff over the US debt ceiling.

He also spoke the same day with a bipartisan group of House members  including Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York  about improving employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records.

The Tuesday get-together was reported earlier by Semafor.

The New Democrat Coalition describes itself on its website as being made up of nearly 100 forward-thinking Democrats who are committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies.

Read More: Dimon Has No Plans to Run for Office, JPMorgan Spokesman Says

A spokesperson for JPMorgan declined to comment. Another JPMorgan spokesman, Joe Evangelisti, said earlier Monday that Jamie has no plans to run for office.

Pershing Squares Bill Ackman said late last month that Dimon should become a presidential candidate, describing him as a political centrist who could beat President Joe Biden in a primary or former President Donald Trump in a general election.

There is nothing more for him to achieve at JPM. He has already been crowned the worlds best banker, Ackman wrote on Twitter.

Dimon, 67, told Bloomberg Television that a political career had crossed his mind and maybe one day Ill serve my country in one capacity or another. The comment set off a fresh round of speculation that he might make a run for the White House.

In 2018, Dimon claimed he could defeat Trump, asserting that he was as tough and smarter. Later that day, however, he said he wasnt running for president and his comment proves I wouldnt make a good politician. The following year, Dimon, who assumed his role at the bank in 2005, said that while he did think about a presidential candidacy, he decided against it.

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A previous version of this article misidentified the name of the show Myra Flynn hosts and executive produces on Vermont Public.

Myra Flynn is changing.

In the past five years, the Vermont-raised musician married (Phil Wills, a celebrity mixologist from the TV show Bar Rescue), had a child (Avalon, whos 3) and began a new high-profile job in her home state (host and executive producer of the Vermont Public show Homegoings). All of that means her music has changed, too.

Flynn plays what might be her biggest show ever on Sunday, June 11  at the Flynn, of course - to conclude the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Shell celebrate her new five-song EP, Shadow Work with musical guests from Vermont including Mike Gordon of Phish, saxophone player Joe Moore and guitarist Nick Cassarino.

Flynn, who splits her time between Vermont and Los Angeles, sat down recently at Leunigs Bistro with the Burlington Free Press, a publication that once employed her, to talk with an interviewer with whom she worked closely. She discussed her musical career of 20-plus years and its various levels of ups and downs. She also talked about change, and how a lot of change can do a person a lot of good. (The conversation has been edited for conciseness and clarity.)

Vermont musician Myra Flynn stands near the Flynn in Burlington on May 11, 2023.

Flynn's big show at the Flynn

Burlington Free Press: How big is this show? What does it mean for you?

Myra Flynn: This show is the biggest deal to me. I of course grew up in Vermont and the Flynn main stage was only where you went for the most special of things I have been after that place to have a little faith and trust in a local artist, to see if I can pull in that room, because Im not the biggest star in the world but my audience loves me and I love them, you know, and they trust me and I trust them.

When I met (executive director) Jay Wahl from the Flynn, I was playing the KidZone Hour at the Flynn and he was in the audience and I was like, Oh, youre Jay Wahl, I gotta talk to you! And we had a great conversation where he was kinda like, Lets be realistic. I think he did his research, he wanted to see what my draw has been like in other places in some of the larger rooms Ive played in in Vermont, like Higher Ground He said, What do you need? and I said, Well, what do you mean, What do you need? He said, No, you know, as an artist, what do you need to make this a good show? We have resources.

Ive just never had anybody ask that. Its become really apparent to me that Jay has an agenda when it comes to that theater, and when it comes to the jazz festival the agenda is unlike any executive director or bookers agenda Ive ever met, which is to prioritize the presence of Black bodies on stage. When you ask him about that it doesnt have anything to do with DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) work, it doesnt have anything to do with righting the wrongs of history. It has to do with most of the music we listen to has stemmed from Black music, Black people and Black culture. I love that. I love that he is just unabashedly just deciding to make this festival  this festival is hella Black, and I get to close it out as a Vermonter, as a Black Vermonter.

BFP: Last years (festival) was, too, which you were a part of at Leunigs and elsewhere. We saw that was happening last year.

MF: Things have changed (with the festival), right? People are noticing things have changed. Its shorter, right? But in my opinion its braver. Ive seen some grumblings about the change but I just wonder how else wed change in Vermont if we dont prioritize the things that need the most space and breathing room and recognition. They need to be the priority. And so I just feel like Im in this weird place in my life where everything is just kind of in alignment with one big goal and mission, you know, to be giving marginalized folks the platform, the spaces and the voices they already had the right to own and speak with.

BFP: Is that how everything you have has come, by being more direct and straightforward?

MF: No. In a lot of cases, being bold, direct and straightforward has not done good things for me Thats something thats come with motherhood, frankly. Its just a really beautiful gift of just, like, stripping out all of the noise and just being, like, Im not afraid to just advocate for what I believe in, and what I believe in is myself. It probably did take this long at 38 years old now to believe in myself fully, so that my pitch isnt a pitch, its true.

The cover of Vermont musician Myra Flynn's 2023 album, "Shadow Work."

Music and motherhood

BFP: So how does motherhood give you that confidence?

MF: I dont know that Im bolder. I just know that motherhood exhausts you to your absolute core. You watch your body do these crazy things like open up like a snake and give birth and your body and your actions previous to that experience feel dumb. And then you got smarter. You realized what your body was capable of, you realized what no sleep actually meant, you realized what love  how deep it can go and how hard it can be to give and how much you can give it without even receiving it, right? A babys a blob for a while (laughs) and doesnt know how to love you back until it does. So it just removed time  I dont have time to be self-conscious.

BFP: How do you think motherhood maybe influenced and/or inspired the album?

MF: A lot of it comes down to rebellion, which it might not seem like its a rebellion but, you know, motherhood is absolutely a rebellion for musicians, its absolutely a rebellion for light-skinned, highly-sexualized musicians, because we were told, you know, to stay hyper-sexually beloved, somehow, and always available, and dont lean into family, and never become a mother and youre here for one job All sorts of people will tell you, If you do this, youll be famous. Dont do this and youll be famous. And they dont know what theyre talking about (laughs). Thats my biggest life lesson and what I would want to impart, you know, to every musician, is nobody has the answers, and you can always manage yourself better than anyone else.

And so I made a promise to myself when I was pregnant with Avalon that I was going to do a tour with my big belly hanging out, and I did. I did a mama tour and called it Mother. And then after I gave birth I would return to music when I had some period of time to reflect on the change. Its been four years since my last record and I think you can definitely hear that Im just, like, you know, a different person, on to different things.

I grew up in Brookfield, Vermont. There was no scene and then I was here briefly in Burlington and lived here when I worked with you, and didnt have an experience in Chittenden County like having access to all sorts of things. So a lot of the folks like at Old Gold (the vintage clothing shop) where I worked, they were kind of my sherpa into the music scene and music world, and it was wonderful. But the reality is, behind all that if you strip that away, I was raised by a Black mother in Brookfield, Vermont, who raised me on Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Anita Baker. Thats the music that I almost in some ways have been, um, hiding (laughs).

You want nothing more than to fit in in a state like this. Thats really hard; growing up here was really hard. And so Ive been in this indie scene forever and a big part of this motherhood thing is a journey back to self, like, What did I listen to growing up? So this album hearkens to, I call it, like, 1986, Black music in particular. It sounds like soul in kind of its post-Motown form.

Vermont musician Myra Flynn

Shifting musical styles

BFP: What was it like to shift your style musically? Was it at all like speaking a different language? Was it awkward at first? How did that go?

MF: It felt very freeing. I feel like the awkward fit has been to try to be a cool indie chick this whole time, you know? And Ive done it. I mean, I hope Im still cool to somebody, but I think this just felt more freeing. I used to be self-conscious of sounding too soulful in this town, like it would turn people off, you know? Like they wouldnt like it if I didnt speak their exact language. It just feels really good to just be free of that.

BFP: Often when a musician releases an album theres a plan for touring or theres a plan for reaching the next level, whatever the next level may be. Is there a plan, or with the other job and family is that just not a factor right now?

MF: I have a plan, and the plan is to play five to seven top-shelf shows per year, so less shows, more special ones. Because I have my (Vermont Public) job that I also love I can do that, and I hope that people support me in that. Ive remained maybe the most accessible artist Ive ever met to my crowd for years. Its not always been about the grind. Ive played in the tiniest places because it was more fun, because I get to talk with them, because I wanted to know how their kids were doing and because they wanted to know how I was doing truly.

That accessibility at this point is not possible, you know. Im too busy, and it belongs to the select few in my life, and Im stretched over that bandwidth and I dont want to quit music, but Ive got to figure out a way to stop doing so much of it. Ive really been kind of reconciling the fact that I dont really know a lot about the word sacrifice because I have just made sure to keep it all going and not drop any balls. Its time for me to sacrifice some things so that I can feel better in other ways.

Special guests, special night

BFP: Youre going to have special guests for this show. You could have a night where its you shining, you and your songs especially shining in the spotlight. But youre sharing it. What was the thought there?

MF: Oh, gosh. Its just always better  more is better (laughs). I dont know if everyone agrees. I think more is better. We have so many talented people here. Also, the jazz fest is shorter, and not everybody has the same opportunities to get on the stage in the same way that I am, and I just feel like when artists are at their best theyre proactive. I want everyone to shine in a way.

BFP: As we talked at the beginning, this is maybe the most-important show youve done. What do you expect when youre either on the stage or youre done at the end of the night?

MF: Relief (laughs heartily). Relief that its finally here. Its a long lead-up, you know. I have really high standards for myself, and so Im kicking my ass a lot leading up to this thing. The band has been having weekly Zoom meetings and rehearsals and just trying to talk about the flow of things. Its been a lot of, like, applying more organized work to this than I ever have in my life. And of course I live across the country sometimes, Im trying to facilitate rehearsals for a 30-piece choir. Its been a real puzzle. But I already know that it will be magical.

And so what do I expect? I expect to get all of this back-end business out of the way, social promos and blah blah blah and be able to focus on the content, the actual show. And so I think itll be a blast... Life is pretty sweet right now.

BFP: And youve been through so much that you know to treasure that when you get there.

MF: (pause) Yes. (chokes up) Im deeply moved by how nice life feels. Its been a long time (laughs).

Vermont musician Myra Flynn stands near the Flynn in Burlington on May 11, 2023.

If you go

WHAT: Myra Flynns Roar of the Queen featuring Mike Gordon, Dave Grippo, Joe Moore, Sage Horsey, Nick Cassarino and the Lake Champlain Mass Choir

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11

WHERE: The Flynn, Burlington

INFORMATION: $25-$75. www.flynnvt.org

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington Discover Jazz Festival ends with Vermont singer Myra Flynn
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune.

With the end of the school year and food scarcity issues remaining, the city of Aurora together with Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Dunham Foundation are again looking to bridge the gap for youngsters in need of meals this summer.

In a press release, the city has announced that beginning this week, any child in Aurora will have access to free, nutritious meals all summer that will be distributed each weekday at four Aurora parks.

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Clayton Muhammad, Aurora chief communications and equity officer, said the program began in 2018 and ran throughout the pandemic.

We have been partnering all along with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. For families, there is always that concern, what do students do, particularly those who are on free or reduced lunches during the school year, and how is that handled during the summer, Muhammad said. The Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Dunham Fund and some others stepped up and said Well close the gap. We know the need thats out there.

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The program, Muhammad said, allows all youngsters 18 years old and under without registration or ID needed to visit one of the selected parks and have lunch.

There are also those who were concerned about what do you do on the weekends? he said. No problem. When you grab your lunch on Fridays, you take home with you lunches throughout the weekend. Throughout the last two years it has also included fresh fruits and vegetables for this special program.

Muhammad said even though the city may have scaled back on some of the mass food distributions this is something that we continue to do.

The summer youth lunch program will continue to have four distribution sites throughout the city.

Well have the same four, one in each section of the city, and we always try to keep it balanced, he said. There is no ceiling here as far as people - whatever the need is, thanks to the partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, well be able to meet it thanks to the amazing work they do in our area.

The program runs Monday through Friday until Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon at Garfield Park playground, 350 N. Sheffer Road, and Phillips Park Visitors Center, 1000 Ray Moses Drive, and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at McCarty Park, 350 E. Galena Blvd., and Plum Park, 337 Plum St.

The program also includes the Friday Fresh Market, where every Friday take-home lunches for Saturday and Sunday, along with fresh fruit and vegetables, will be provided to families, city officials said.

All meals are free. Weekday meals must be eaten on site, officials said.

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David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

A Georgia physician allegedly groped his seatmates crotch aboard a Delta Air Lines flight to Maine, where the 48-year-old was planning to propose to his girlfriendlater insisting to investigators that his alleged actions were not sexual in any way.

Dr. Jake Namjik Cho, a nephrologist in the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, ultimately blamed the whole thing on his poor eyesight, telling the FBI that he merely intended to squeeze the womans upper thigh but that his hand slipped because my glasses were off and it was dark.

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Cho told The Daily Beast he did not wish to comment on the accusations, which are detailed in a newly unsealed criminal complaint obtained first by The Daily Beast.

No, not right now. Thank you, Cho said before hanging up.

The episode allegedly unfolded aboard Delta flight 2138 on March 17, according to the complaint. The 737-900 took off at 9:20 p.m. from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the Portland International Jetport, with a planned arrival time of 11:59 p.m., the complaint states.

Shortly after the plane landed, a woman who had been sitting in seat 17A told police that Cho, who was assigned to seat 17B, had continuously leaned into her seat area while appearing to be asleep, the complaint goes on.

Cho moved his hand onto the seat in the space between him and [the woman], with his hand in contact with her thigh and buttocks, it says, adding that Cho also moved his feet into [the womans] foot space and touched her feet with his feet. At one point, the plane hit turbulence, according to the woman, who is not named in court documents. Thats when Cho appeared to have spasmed and reached over [the womans] leg and down into her crotch, the complaint continues.

Cho then touched the outside of [the womans] genitals from the outside of her pants, according to the complaint.

The woman told cops that she had previously shifted her body as far as she could away from Cho, which suggested to her that the move was deliberate, the complaint states.

The woman then exclaimed, Excuse me, and Cho quickly pulled his hand away, it says.

Cho appeared to be sleeping or pretending to sleep throughout, according to the complaint.

Cho and his alleged victim were aboard a night flight from Atlanta to Portland, Maine. Mike Blake/Reuters

Two days later, Cho returned to the Portland Jetport for his flight back to Atlanta and was stopped and questioned by an FBI agent, a federal air marshal, and a member of the Portland Police Department, according to the complaint.

Cho told the trio that he was a practicing medical doctor and had been in town to ask his girlfriend, who lived in Maine, to marry him. He denied touching, or even speaking to, the woman sitting next to him, and offered to take a polygraph exam to prove it, the complaint states.

On April 1, Cho showed up at the FBI offices in Portland for a second interview, after which he sat for the polygraph. He repeatedly insisted the woman had made up the story, but, the complaint goes on, Eventually, while maintaining that the actions were not sexual, Cho admitted that he touched [the woman] during the flight.

In a signed statement, he said that once the aircraft took off, I began to relax and I stretched out my legs, noting that at some point, I touched my left foot against her right foot and maintained the contact until I fell asleep, according to the complaint. In addition to maintaining the foot contact, I used the contact to keep myself upright, as I have shorter legs.

Cho said he fell asleep a short time later, and that when he woke up, he was leaning on his left side, facing the woman next to him.

At some point I saw her and reached out and grabbed her upper thigh with my left hand, Chos statement continues. I intended to only squeeze her upper right thigh and never intended to touch her crotch. Because my glasses were off and it was dark, my hand slipped from her upper thigh to her crotch. As soon as I did this, she instantly exclaimed something loudly which caused me to remove my hand from her leg and sit straight up.

Cho said he was so embarrassed and did not know what to do, so he closed his eyes and tried to sleep for the remainder of the flight. He also expressed regret for any harm he may have caused, the complaint concludes.

Cho, who is charged with one count of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, does not have a lawyer listed in court records. Prosecutors in Maine served Cho with a summons on June 1, instructing him to appear in Maine federal court at 11 a.m. on June 8. If he does not show up, he may be arrested, the summons warns.

So far this year, the FAA has received some 783 reports of unruly passengers, a problem that has increased sharply in the past few years. In 2022, the agency fielded nearly 2,500 unruly passenger reports, after a high in 2021 of almost 6,000.

Delta has zero tolerance for criminal activity of any type on our flights and at our airports, spokeswoman Morgan Durrant told The Daily Beast on Tuesday. As such, we work with the requisite authorities when passengers engage in such activity to ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent.

Cho graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 2017, according to his bio. He completed a nephrology fellowship in 2022 at the Maine Medical Center, and is board-certified in internal medicine If convicted, Cho faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York appeals court on Tuesday signaled it was unlikely to grant Donald Trump's request to dismiss state Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit accusing him, his family business and three of his children of a "staggering" fraud.

The Appellate Division in Manhattan was considering Trump's appeal from a January lower court ruling allowing James to sue.

James accused Trump of lying to lenders and insurers from 2011 to 2021 about asset values at the Trump Organization, as well as his own net worth.

She is seeking at least $250 million of damages, and to stop the Trumps from running businesses in New York. Trump's children Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka are also defendants.

Christopher Kise, a lawyer for Trump, told the five-judge appeals court panel that James sued too late, and lacked broad authority to police a wide range of transactions that the parties thought were legitimate.

"The greater risk is allowing a government official to come along five or six or seven or eight or 10 years later to interject itself into successfully consummated private transactions," he said.

But some judges suggested that James had a role, and that whether fraud occurred could be decided at the scheduled Oct. 2 trial.

"You keep saying that because the two parties to the alleged fraud aren't complaining of it, therefore the AG can't address it," Justice Saliann Scarpulla told Kise. "That is the argument that I'm having difficulty accepting."

Judith Vale, a lawyer for James, warned against giving the attorney general no oversight.

"These transactions don't take place in a vacuum," she said. "There are real estate markets, there are insurance markets, there are banking markets. The honest participants ultimately end up subsidizing the cost when there is fraud and dishonesty."

The appeals court appeared more receptive to arguments by Ivanka Trump's lawyer Bennet Moskowitz that James may have sued her too late.

James' case is separate from a 34-count criminal indictment obtained by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump over hush money payments to a porn star, to which Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Trump is the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential election. He has called the probes by James and Bragg, who are both Democrats, a "witch hunt."

The appeals court did not say when it will rule.

The case is New York v Trump et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 2023-00717.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Howard Goller)
SACRAMENTO  A Pride ceremony went on as planned Monday at the California State Capitol despite some pushback from Republican lawmakers.

The issue was over one of the guests invited to the Senate ceremony: a drag nun who's part of the group The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

That name may sound familiar. The group was involved in some controversy a few weeks ago after being uninvited and then reinvited to a Los Angeles Dodgers Pride event.

Critics say the group mocks the Catholic faith. Some Republicans agreed and asked that Sister Roma not attend. Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) released a statement on the matter, saying:

"I have supported every Pride Month Resolution throughout my time in the state legislature, which recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of the LGTBQ community. However, I viewed the recognition of Sister Roma with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as a separate item about whom I heard concerns from my constituents. And though I recognize her noteworthy work with LGBTQ members in need, I share my colleagues' concerns with regards to the disparaging work against the religious faith of many Californians, including my uncle, a retired Catholic Priest. Respectfully, I did not applaud, acknowledge, or show support for Sister Roma on the Senate Floor."

State Senator Scott Weiner, who invited Sister Roma to the event, said he wanted to highlight her work in the LGBTQ+ community.

Robert Hanssen | 60 Minutes Archive

Chris Christie to run for president again -- will 2024 be different?

What's the significance of the dam destroyed in Ukraine?
Driver going 115 mph fled because her uncle said cops are mean, Florida police say

A driver sped away when she saw deputies behind her at a gas station because her uncle told her cops are mean, according to a Florida sheriffs office.

A deputy followed an SUV into a Circle K parking lot after seeing it traveling 84 mph in a 55 mph zone in Summerfield at around 10:30 p.m. on June 1, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

The vehicle drove recklessly through the Circle K parking lot, ran a stop sign and turned south onto U.S. Route 441, a north-south highway that runs along the Florida peninsula, the report says.





The deputy followed the SUV with lights and sirens activated, but the driver continued to speed away, reaching about 115 mph, the report says. As the driver tried to make a turn, the SUV crashed into a parked car and a residence located along the highway, according to the sheriffs office.

The deputy tried to arrest the driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, the report says. The driver, who is 21, refused to get into the back of the patrol vehicle and freed her right hand from handcuffs, according to the report.

The deputy took her to the ground in order to reapply the handcuffs, the report says.

She later told the deputy that she saw him behind her at the Circle K and fled because her uncle had told her that cops are mean, the report says.

Her drivers license had been suspended since Nov. 14 because of failure to pay a past traffic citation, according to the sheriffs office. She was arrested and taken to an emergency department for evaluation, the report says.

She is charged with fleeing/eluding police at high speeds, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and resisting an officer without violence, according to Marion County jail records. Her bond was set at $6,500.

Summerfield is about 60 miles northwest of Orlando.

Kids on way to kindergarten graduation are thrown from car during crash, Florida cops say

19-year-old BMW driver arrested after hes clocked going 176 mph, Oregon cops say

Speeding 19-year-old leads deputy on chase with open alcohol in car, Georgia cops say
A farmer who had 70,000 worth of high-tech equipment stolen believes a gang spied on his premises with a drone.

A number of GPS units were stolen from tractors and combine harvesters owned by Robert Redman, an agricultural contractor near Thame, Oxfordshire.

He said the thieves, who were caught on CCTV, knew the machines' precise location and how to gain access.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) said it had received numerous reports of similar GPS thefts since the start of May.

The computer equipment is used to guide and monitor machinery during precision processes such as sowing and harvesting.

Mr Redman said: "I believe it's an organised group.

"Two weeks ago there was a drone flown over and I believe that was them, casing this premises.

"They knew to the exact tee where they were going."

Robert Redman said a drone flew over his yard two weeks before the break-in

The equipment's manufacturer, John Deere, said its Starfire Receivers and Greenstar in-cab displays are equipped with with PIN protection, "meaning it is impossible to use them if stolen".

A spokesperson said: "We can only urge owners of all high-value technology items to use the protection provided along with, if necessary, the removal of components to further prevent opportunities for theft."

Insurance company NFU Mutual said the cost of GPS theft nationwide between January and April this year was more than 500,000 - and had doubled compared with the same period in 2022.

TVP police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber said: "It's really big business. Since the war in Ukraine there has been a shortage of farm machinery in Eastern Europe and a lot of the stuff that is being stolen in the UK, we are seeing it being tracked across Europe.

"There's a lot more that needs to be done. There's legislation going through Parliament which will potentially require manufacturers to use forensic marking. It makes it much harder to sell on and easier for police to track."

Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
Early-morning chase ends with suspect on roof of midtown Sacramento business, sheriff says

A suspect has been arrested following a chase with Sacramento County Sheriffs Office deputies early Tuesday morning that ended on the roof of a midtown pub.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle around 3:30 a.m. in the area of Freeport Boulevard and Blair Avenue, near Sacramento Executive Airport, Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said.

The vehicle did not stop, and the ensuing pursuit lasted roughly 5 miles until the suspect allegedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot to the roof of Streets Pub and Grub near the corner of J and 18th streets in midtown Sacramento, formerly Streets of London, Gandhi said.

Gandhi said the suspect, described by deputies as a 27-year-old man, eventually surrendered and is in custody.

Deputies said the vehicle was confirmed stolen, a firearm was found inside and the suspect allegedly violated parole. The firearm is probably why he ran, Gandhi said.

The suspect was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail downtown, is ineligible for bail in connection with the parole violation and is expected to appear in Sacramento Superior Court on Thursday.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Haitis southwest region early Tuesday morning, destroying homes and creating panic in the countrys GrandAnse region, where heavy rains over the weekend washed away parts of a main bridge and left a trail of disaster.

Jerry Chandler, the head of the countrys Office of Civil Protection, said at least four fatalities had been confirmed, along with 32 people injured. Disaster responders were still assessing damages, he added.

Three of the deaths occurred in the neighborhood of Ste-Helene, a slum located inside the city of Jeremie. Ralph Simon, a local journalist who runs the online site JCOMHaiti, said the people were killed when two houses collapsed, one on top of the other.

Where the houses collapsed, there is no way to get equipment in there so they are doing it all manually, he said. People are trying to go in the rubble to see if they can find the bodies. But one body was removed and another is still inside. There is also a child that they have not yet found. Thats why they are saying there are three people who died.

JCOMHaiti published some of the first images of the disaster, which showed buildings turned into rubble, some of the reported dozen injured and being treated for lacerations and people searching for loved ones in a collapsed whole of pink-colored concrete. One image showed a child face down buried under debris.

Haitis Office of Civil Protection said that some 60 houses were damaged inside the city and another 10 were damaged in an area called David, based on preliminary reports.

Claude Prepetit, Haitis chief seismologist, told the Miami Herald the quake occurred around 5:11 a.m. and its epicenter was in the ocean between the cities of Abricots and Jeremie, located on the western edge of the countrys southern peninsula.

It was magnitude 5.5, which is a moderate earthquake, he said. But it was still strong enough to create panic in all of the GrandAnse all the way to Les Cayes. They told me that they felt the shaking.

Prepetit said hes been told that a lot of damage was done and there are people who died.

This is the second earthquake to strike the area in two days. On Sunday morning, there was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake, said Prepetit, who was watching to see if there were aftershocks as is usually the case.

All day yesterday, I was watching but I didnt see it replicated, he said.

Given that Tuesdays quake is far stronger than Sundays, Prepetit said its most likely that the most recent tremor, which occurred about 3 miles north of the previous one, is from a different fault line.

Thats the analysis currently taking place, which is these were two different earthquakes, he said.

READ MORE: As Haiti seeks to respond to recent disasters, aid workers wonder when help will arrive

Since Haitis disastrous 2010 earthquake, Prepetit, a geologist by training and the director of Haitis Bureau of Mines and Energy, has been overseeing a small seismic monitoring team in Port-au-Prince. Solar-powered seismic stations located throughout country and a network of seismometers that record tremors in real time provide information on quakes via satellite and the network. The team than analyses the data and issues bulletins on quake activity.

This is why, he pointed out, they show the quake having a magnitude of 5.5 at a depth of 5.5 miles and the the U.S. Geological Survey had it registered at 4.9 magnitude. Haitis monitoring equipment is located closest to the epicenter, he said.

Prepetit said since Aug. 14, 2021, when Haitis southern peninsula was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that left hundreds dead, his team has had a particular focus on the GrandAnse, Nippes and South regions of the country.

From Aug. 14 until May 31, 2023, weve registered over 1,000 earthquakes in the GrandAnse region. he said. And three-fourths of them occurred in the ocean north of Jeremie from a fault line that weve identified and was reactivated after the Aug. 14 earthquake.

That particular line, known as the Northern Fault Line, he said, is very long with a lot of secondary fault lines, and it travels along the South to the northern coast of Haiti.

READ MORE: Haitis 2010 earthquake killed hundreds of thousands. The next one could be worse

Bette Gebrian, who lives in the region, said while the quake was surprisingly very short, about four or five seconds, it was very strong.

We felt it, she said. There are people all over town, walking around; walls are down. Everyone is calling everyone else, so that is a good thing, the phones are working. But its scary as always.

There has been no power in Jeremie since last January, and of course that makes things difficult if people need surgical intervention, she added. People are flowing into the hospital but they are very short staffed because its not really functional. Well do what we can to share what we have for the injured.

Gebrian, a nurse, runs the only breast-cancer treatment center in the region through her nonprofit, GrandAnse Health and Development. Her husband, Edwin, runs a small guest house.

The region  or Haiti  she said, cant seem to get a break.

Following heavy rains and flooding over the weekend, the countrys Civil Protection agency and United Nations humanitarian experts have been trying to get aid out to eight regions that were heavily affected by the storms. At least 51 people had been confirmed dead and over 39,000 families homeless after their homes were flooded when roads turned into raging rivers of brown water carrying debris.

More rains are expected this week, fueling worries among humanitarian officials contending with a search and rescue operation in Jeremie and the possibility of more flooding and mudslides,

While Port-au-Prince, which was struck by the devastating earthquake in 2010, was the most heavily affected by the recent rains, the southwest region wasnt spared. The main bridge connecting the coastal city of Jeremie to the rest of Haiti was cut off when part of it was submerged by flood waters, washing away portions of the off ramp. The bridge was installed 10 months ago to replace another bridge that had collapsed during the 2021 earthquake.

It was just horrific, Gebrian said. Everyone was just watching the bridge..the soil tumbled down.

Prior to this weekends torrential rains, it had not rained in the region for five months, leading to shortages of food among the residents, many of them farmers.

You cant get food in, you cant get things out when the gangs are active, she said, adding that the latest disasters are adding Insult to injury.
Ecologist reveals damaging consequences of Kakhovka dams destruction

NV: Is there an understanding of how events will unfold around this catastrophe? When will the water reach its peak? How quickly will it recede, and what territories might be affected by flooding?

Khlobystov: This is quite a complex situation. According to experts estimates, the water today could reach a distance of 200 meters from the (riverbanks), particularly on the left side of the Dnipro River. This means that the water flow will increase by approximately 200 meters, resulting in the formation of a new body of water. Undoubtedly, this presents enormous problems.

Read also: Kakhovka hydropower plant blown up by Russians from within, but not all of the dam destroyed

First and foremost, ecological issues arise as the explosion affects both biodiversity and agricultural land. The main danger lies in the fact that there are inhabited areas in the vicinity that were completely unprepared for such a situation. These areas contain landfills, waste, toilets, and various other elements related to human activity, all of which will be submerged under water. This will inevitably impact the epidemiological situation.

Additionally, significant changes in the ecological systems of the affected territory will occur, leading to difficulties in land consolidation and subsequent agricultural use of these areas. The damage will be substantial.

Moreover, there will be complications in providing water supply to the settlements that relied on the Kakhovka reservoir, as the reservoir will virtually disappear within a few hours. This presents a significant problem that we were, in my opinion, unprepared for. Urgent measures need to be taken to address this situation.

NV: Was such a situation not even considered? In fact, back in October of last year, intelligence reports indicated that such actions by the occupiers were being prepared. Perhaps there was a plan of action being developed?

Read also: Political analyst says Kremlin may have sabotaged Kakhovka dam out of fear of Ukrainian counter-offensive

Khlobystov: Certainly. As you can see, urgent evacuations have begun today, and efforts are underway to save people and rescue the most crucial items that can be promptly removed.

However, it should be noted that the water is not expected to recede in a short period of time. Unfortunately, it will likely remain for a long duration.

As for how long it will persist, it is difficult to determine at this moment. Further studies need to be conducted, taking into account the soil characteristics. Therefore, we will be able to provide at least an approximate estimate of the amount of water that will inundate the area, no earlier than tomorrow or the day after, once we observe a stable water level situation in this part of Kherson Oblast.

Read also: Mykolaiv ready to aid Kherson Oblast evacuees, mayor says city can provide transit to safety

NV: And what about the water supply to the settlements upstream? What can we understand in this regard? What scale are we talking about? In Kryvyi Rih, they already say that the situation is complicated even at present. What alternatives can be considered for replacing the water in this case?

Khlobystov: Under the circumstances, finding alternatives for water supply everywhere is challenging. For instance, switching to underground water supply for everyone is quite difficult to implement. Therefore, we can only discuss certain individual possibilities in that regard.

However, I hope that the water supply situation upstream, above the dam breach, will not change drastically and wont be as critical. It is difficult for me to provide a comprehensive assessment at this moment since I cannot observe how the Dnipro River will appear between the Kakhovka reservoir and downstream. As for the upstream areas, I am uncertain if there will be a catastrophic situation. However, there might be complications, of course.

Read also: Ukrhydroenergo says how destruction of Kakhovka dam will affect Ukraines hydrosystem

NV: We are currently hearing from the Kremlins puppet authorities on the left bank that there is no need to panic and no evacuation is necessary. Although we know that the left bank is located lower than the right bank, flooding on the left bank is possible. What situation may arise on the left bank, which is currently occupied by the Russians?"

Khlobystov: The situation on the left bank will be challenging because a significant portion of the water will flow in that direction. There will be an increased risk of flooding, and the dangers related to the epidemiological situation and the provision of basic necessities of life will be higher.

As for the evacuation in the currently occupied area, it is difficult to predict. However, one thing is certain: the Russians will not prioritize the well-being of ordinary people. It is likely that the resolution of this situation will be improvised or handled in a spontaneous manner.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Summer in Chicago invariably arrives after little in the way of spring: all of a sudden, or so it feels, Chicagoans emerge from their homes to remind themselves why so many of us chose to move here.

This past weekend serves as a perfect example. The city was bathed in warmth and sunlight and filled with delighted, delightful Swifties, or Taylor Swift fans, some of whom found themselves jostling for sidewalk space with credentialed and baffled delegates from the American Society of Oncology conference.

Those doctors and drug company executives were meeting at McCormick Place and, on their weekend walks from hotels to downtown restaurants, they could be seen enjoying a vista into life at its most exuberant. One noted it was why they had chosen to do what they do.

In neighborhoods across the city, street fairs cranked up. Downtown, a young man was singing Maria at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as The Whos Tommy rehearsed nearby at the Goodman Theatre. In the West Loop, as the sun set, valet parkers looked overwhelmed by the crowds at restaurants.

On the Belmont Avenue bus, two young Irish women fresh from American Airlines and Dublin rode in from OHare chattering excitedly about their summer jobs at a Giordanos pizzeria at Navy Pier, which they had yet to visit. James Beard Award winners hit the bars in celebration. And pedicab drivers had the mother of all weekends.

Chicago has had many rough periods as of late. But let the record show that the first weekend of June 2023, when the sidewalks of the city felt much busier than anytime in the past three years, went very well, considering.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A bill by state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) would expand the criteria under which people can be compelled into mental health or substance use treatment, but would not expand services available. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Californias mental health care infrastructure is controversial for the wrong reason. Critics target the groundbreaking Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1967 for supposedly filling the streets with drug users and mentally ill people. But LPS, as it is known, didnt do any of that. It and similar laws adopted in other states simply limited the vast power of government to take people into custody and force them into mental health treatment.

LPS was supposed to be part of a larger restructuring of support under which mental asylums were to be replaced by multiple levels of service: acute care for people in crisis, intermediate "step-down" care for people in recovery to transition out of hospitalization, community clinics for ongoing outpatient care. But these necessary companions to LPS never materialized.

As society learned more about the nature of psychiatric conditions, and as people living with mental illness began to organize and advocate for themselves more effectively, other types of care were proposed, such as peer communities or villages organized around the particular needs of people dealing with mental illness.

Government did in fact invest in this reimagined version of care for people with developmental disabilities that originate at birth or in childhood. In combination with the states department of disability services, a network of regional centers provides services that allow people to live their fullest, most independent lives to the extent their conditions permit. The system has its flaws, but it is a model for providing  simultaneously  care, dignity and self-determination.

Californians in need of emergency and ongoing psychiatric care also ought to have access to similar services to enable them to likewise live fully, with guidance where needed, and without compulsion or criminal-like loss of liberty where they are not needed.

Some level of involuntary care will always be appropriate for some Californians, but the point of LPS is to ensure that people dealing with mental illness are not forced into custody and treated against their will unless absolutely necessary for their safety or that of others.

Too many people with psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders live on the street and in serious danger, but not because LPS made it too hard for government to take them into custody or because they are afforded too much power over their own lives and bodies. Rather, it's because we've never followed through with sufficient services to see to their needs.

Thats the problem with Senate Bill 43 by Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, a Stockton Democrat, which would force more people into involuntary treatment in the hope that time-limited care will somehow address their ongoing needs.

Theres little if any evidence that such an approach works  if by works we mean lasting improvement in their condition or the creation of the housing and supportive service they will need once the emergency hold or conservatorships expire.

Unfortunately, to Californians frustrated by seeing squalor and misery on their streets, works may mean sweeping mentally ill or drug-using homeless people into custody, even if only temporarily.

And in fact, permitting the sick to live on the street without care is not an acceptable option. But current policies foolishly made the choice binary.



Without a system that includes sufficient ongoing care, we leave only two choices for unhoused people with psychiatric needs after they are stabilized: Continue occupying beds that are needed for others in crisis, or return to the streets.

For those struggling with substance use, especially opioid dependence, the choice is even more stark, because returning to the street after having been weaned off the drug, but without ongoing counseling and support, often means death by overdose. The same dose that they formerly tolerated can become deadly following treatment.

In 2019, lawmakers asked the state auditor to critique LPS for its supposed shortcomings, but the resulting report found the problem was with inadequate ongoing services, not the law. Its as though Californias care infrastructure for mental health and substance use is a leaky and overcrowded canoe. It wont help to add more passengers who dont want to be there, as SB 43 would do. Were going to need a bigger boat  and a better one.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Migrants arrive at the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, on May 10. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press)

California officials are considering filing civil and criminal charges for what they call state-sanctioned kidnapping against whoever is responsible for flying migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border region to Sacramento on two planes the last few days.

According to California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, the two planes carrying migrants from South America were chartered by the state of Florida, the very state whose Legislature recently passed a bill calling for prison time for anyone caught transporting undocumented immigrants. Nevertheless, these same Florida legislators have supported Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' scheme to transport migrants from anywhere in the country to liberal so-called sanctuary cities, expanding his previous program that flew migrants to Marthas Vineyard. DeSantis has not claimed responsibility for the flights to Sacramento.

Let's be clear  migrants are human beings, not cargo to be shipped around without regard for their humanity. Sacramento migrant aid workers said the migrants who were abandoned in front of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Sacramento on Friday had no idea what city or state they were in. The 12 men and four women from Venezuela and Colombia said they had been approached at a migrant center in El Paso and told that they would be taken to a place where they could get jobs and services. They were then driven about 100 miles to Deming, N.M., where they boarded flights that arrived in Sacramento. A second flight of 20 migrants arrived at a Sacramento airport from New Mexico on Monday morning.

When migrants arrive at the border, they are typically processed by immigration authorities who assign them a court date. Moving people across the country, without regard to their ability to get to their court hearings, is likely to jeopardize their immigration cases.

But these deceptive and cruel migrant-transport programs aren't designed to help vulnerable men and women, who made harrowing journeys through jungles and dangerous terrain in the hope of a better life in the U.S. These are political stunts. DeSantis and GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who bused migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris' home in Washington last year, are ostensibly trying to make a statement against President Bidens border policies, which Republicans claim are creating an open border. The reality is that the border is highly guarded and fortified by walled areas, and there arent many legal ways for people to migrate.

There's no question that migration has put tremendous pressure on border communities. But real leaders try to solve problems, not worsen them with cruel tricks or political stunts that do little to help those communities or the desperate men and women seeking to enter the U.S.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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The editors of Parents share what theyre buying for the father figure in their lives

Parents / Daisy Rodriguez

Fathers Day is fast approaching, but it can be difficult to shop for the dad who already has everything. Heres what Parents editors and writers are buying for their dads, father figures, grandpas, and partners. Whether Dads a foodie, a fitness lover, or fashion-forward, theres something on this list for even the pickiest of dadseven the one who claims he doesnt want anything.

Brightland Pizza Oil

Brightland

"My husband loves hot sauce on all the things, and we're gearing up to start making lots of homemade pizzas this summer season, so this jalapenos-infused cold pressed oil will be a perfect addition to top our pizzas, pastas, and anything else that could use a little kick."

Esther Carlstone, Commerce Editorial Director

To buy: Brightland Pizza Oil $32; brightland.com

Cuisinart Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker

Sur La Table

My husband usually makes either pancakes or waffles for our kids on Sunday mornings. This year, I wanted to upgrade his really old and cheap waffle maker with a nicer one. This Cuisinart model makes two waffles at once, so it whips up family breakfast faster than a traditional waffle iron. I also like that it has a knob that lets you adjust how brown each waffle getsthis is great for parents of picky eaters!

Ashleigh Morley, Commerce Director

To buy: Cuisinart Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker $220; surlatable.com

Embark Dog Breed Identification DNA Test

Chewy

My husband dotes hard on our rescue dog (she is, after all, a very good girl), so I got him this doggy DNA test. Turns out our maybe-a-terrier? is actually mostly a husky! Who knew? He loved parsing over the results, and it definitely gave us something to talk about.

Cecily McAndrews, Editorial Director

To buy: Embark Dog Breed Identification DNA Test $129; chewy.com

Happy Socks New York Times Crossword Socks

The New York Times Store

My dad and I connect over New York Times gameswe still send each other our Wordle scores every morningso when I came across these incredible crossword-themed Happy Socks, I knew I had to give them to him for Fathers Day. They come in a two-pack, and secretly, Im hoping hell give me the smiley face pair

Phoebe Sklansky, Associate Commerce Editor

To buy: Happy Socks New York Times Crossword Set $36; store.newyorktimes.com

Fitbit Charge 5

Amazon

My dad has a terrible track record of receiving what I think are pretty awesome gifts from me and then completely forgetting to use them. So when he asked for a fitness tracker, I was skeptical and knew I shouldn't throw money away on anything too fancy, lest he get frustrated and leave it in the bedside drawer. This Fitbit was so easy to set up (yeah, I did it for him) and offers everything he needs, without too many distracting bells and whistles. He gets his regular heart rate, as well as info on whether he's experiencing an irregular heart rhythm through an ECG app. He really does wear it all the time, and I've never been prouder of both of us.

Sabrina Rojas Weiss, Senior Commerce Editor

To buy: Fitbit Charge 5 $150; amazon.com

Ember Mug 2

Ember

My husband is a big coffee drinker and is usually in a rush. I wanted him to have the luxury of actually enjoying his warm coffee (which parents rarely get to do!). I got him this Ember mug and he loves it. It's pricey, but good quality and helps the coffee maintain its temperature for an hour and a half. It's totally worth the gift of enjoying every warm sip at his own pace.

Sugey Palomares, Senior Social Media Editor

To buy: Ember Mug 2 $130; ember.com

Mevlzz Mens Slip-on Running Shoes

Amazon

While these sneakers may not be the most exciting gift, theyre super practical and affordable, and my husband is obsessed with them. They're very comfy, he can stand for hours in them, and there's minimal breaking-in needed.

Dorian Smith-Garcia, Staff Writer

To buy: Mevlzz Mens Slip-on Running Shoes $22; amazon.com

Paper Culture Photo Calendar

Paper Culture

"I love this stunning minimal desk calendar from Paper Culture, which gives me an excuse to finally print some of our favorite family pictures that I know will actually be looked at all the time. And getting it made couldn't be easier: You simply upload your favorite snaps, and a customized and thoughtful gift will show up on your doorstep."

Esther Carlstone, Commerce Editorial Director

To buy: Paper Culture Photo Calendar $25; paperculture.com

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris

Bookshop.org

We have some serious David Sedaris fans in my household, so I had to buy two copies of Happy-Go-Lucky, his new-ish book: one for my dad and one for my husband. Filled with Sedaris signature wry humor, this collection of personal essays paints a picture of the pandemic as he lived it.

Cecily McAndrews, Editorial Director

To buy: Happy-Go-Lucky $29; bookshop.com

Mack Weldon Atlas Jogger

Mack Weldon

Like many people these days, my dad works a hybrid work schedule, so it's goodbye suits, hello very old sweatpants. So as a Fathers Day gift, Im upgrading his loungewear with these Mack Weldon joggers so he can work from home in style and comfort. (And honestly, its a gift for my mom, too.) I got them in gray, but I love the navy as well.

Phoebe Sklansky, Associate Commerce Editor

To buy: Mack Weldon Atlas Jogger $98; mackweldon.com

Mikes Hot Honey Cocktail Gift Set

Amazon

This Fathers Day, Im gifting my honey the Mikes Hot Honey Cocktail Gift Set. It includes almost everything he needs to whip up an old-fashioned cocktail thats spicy, yet sophisticatedjust like him!

Grace Bastidas, Editor-in-Chief

To buy: Mikes Hot Honey Cocktail Gift Set $50, amazon.com

Cotopaxi 24-Liter Cooler Backpack

Cotopaxi

"My husband has been jealous of my very colorful Cotopaxi daypack ever since I got it last year. And I got that because I was jealous of the messenger bag-style cooler I got my dad's girlfriend for Christmas the year before. So don't tell him, but I'm going to continue this new trend for Father's Day with this backpack cooler. It's big enough to hold a whole picnic's worth of food and drinks, but because it's a backpack, he won't complain when I decide we need to walk just a little further to get the perfect beach spot."

Sabrina Rojas Weiss, Senior Commerce Editor

To buy: Cotopaxi 24-Liter Cooler Backpack $200; cotopaxi.com

Rothys The Lavello Loafer

Rothy's

I just got my partner these chic, comfy, pink loafers for Father's Day and I know he's going to be thrilled. They're squishy-soled, washable, look fancy as hell, and are made from 16 recycled plastic bottlesand that's just this pair! Plus this is a dude who loves color (and looking sharp/funky in the school pickup line), so it's a win-win. They also come in several other colors, too.

Amelia Edelman, Senior Editorial Director

To buy: Rothys The Lavello Loafer $189; rothys.com

Williams Sonoma Himalayan Salt Plank

Williams Sonoma

A few years ago, I got my dad a Himalayan salt plank like this one. He loves to cook salmon, which he cooks every Friday! Ive heard that this is especially great for grilling fish. And as a bonus, it's pretty kitchen decor.

Ashleigh Morley, Commerce Director

To buy: Williams Sonoma Himalayan Salt Plank $50; williamssonoma.com



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Read the original article on Parents.
Eels deemed unsafe to eat by FDA, but company smuggled them to US anyway, feds say

A California company re-imported frozen roasted eels, known as unagi, previously rejected by the Food and Drug Administration for being unsafe for human consumption, federal officials reported.

A 41-year-old owner of Yong Chang Trading Co. Ltd. pleaded guilty May 31 to smuggling and introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California said in a June 5 news release.

The man, of Pomona, admitted to re-importing unagi that had been rejected by the FDA for containing Gentian Violet, Leucogentian Violet and Malachite Green, unsafe new animal drugs, prosecutors said.

The antibiotics and drugs can leave residue in edible food that can boost antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens, the release said.

Prolonged exposure to two of the drugs also can be carcinogenic, prosecutors said.

This individual showed complete disregard for the health and safety of the U.S. consumer by knowingly bringing tainted products into the market, said Eddy Wang of Homeland Security.

The companys owner, who is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 14, faces up to 21 years in prison.

Man tries selling venomous creature on Craigslist  and now must pay a fine, MD cops say

Huge invasive snails found hidden in package arriving at Kentucky port, feds say

Pregnant woman takes off running as drugs fall out of her fake belly, SC cops say
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) has said a "joint investigation" with Egypt "will be exhaustive and thorough"

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to boost cooperation Tuesday after an Egyptian policeman shot dead three Israeli soldiers before being killed, officials said.

Sisi received a telephone call from Netanyahu about Saturday's deadly violence on the normally calm border, the spokesman for the Egyptian president said.

During the conversation, the two leaders stressed "the importance of coordination between the two countries to clarify the circumstances", he said.

Egypt has said the policeman crossed into Israel while chasing drug smugglers, leading to exchanges of fire with Israeli soldiers.

On Saturday, Netanyahu called the Egyptian shooter a "terrorist" although he has since mostly spoken of the shootings as an "incident".

Sisi offered Netanyahu his "deep condolences", the Israeli prime minister's office said.

"The two leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthening peace and security cooperation, which is an essential value for both countries," it added.

Israel's border with Egypt has been largely quiet since Egypt became the first Arab country to make peace with Israel following the Camp David accords of 1978.

In recent years, there have been exchanges of fire between smugglers and Israeli soldiers stationed along the border.

Questions have been raised about why the Egyptian assailant -- reported by Egyptian media to have been a 22-year-old conscript -- crossed into Israel and opened fire.

Speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said his government had sent a "clear message" to Egypt: "We expect that the joint investigation will be exhaustive and thorough."

On Tuesday, his office said he had "thanked the Egyptian president for... his commitment to an exhaustive and joint investigation of the incident".

sar/hkb/kir
CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a rare border shooting in which three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed, the leaders said in separate statements on Tuesday.

Sisi and Netanyahu emphasised the importance of coordination on investigating the incident, Egypt's presidency said.

"Egypt's President Sisi expressed his deep condolences over the incident on the Egyptian border," the statement from Netanyahu's office said, adding that the leaders pledged to continue strengthening peace and security cooperation.

"The Prime Minister thanked the Egyptian president, as well as for his commitment to a thorough and joint investigation into the incident," the statement said.

Israel's military has said that two of its soldiers were shot dead early on Saturday by a member of the Egyptian security services who crossed a remote part of the border fence between the two countries.

After the Egyptian was located by drone he and a third Israeli soldier were killed in an exchange of fire.

According to two Egyptian security sources, the Egyptian has been identified as 22-year-old Mohamed Salah, from the Ain Shams neighbourhood in Cairo.

Salah, who started his border patrol duties over two years ago, did not have any political affiliations and was mentally stable, the sources said, citing investigations with Salah's friends and family.

They said about 40 people including relatives attended Salah's burial early on Tuesday, including his family, and that security officials were present. Israel handed over his body to Egyptian authorities on Sunday.

Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel and they share a border more than 200km (124mile) long where security incidents are unusual.

In a statement on Saturday, Egypt's military said the Egyptian guard was killed after he chased smugglers across the border. Netanyahu called the incident a terrorist attack.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Henriette Chacar and Cairo bureau; Editing by Alex Richardson and Ed Osmond)
Elizabeth Holmes' ex-partner Sunny Balwani has already had 2 years taken off his prison sentence

Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani. Stephen Lam/Reuters

Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani has had around two years shaved off his federal prison sentence.

The former Theranos executive reported to prison in April to serve a nearly 13-year sentence.

Balwani's lawyer declined to comment on the new release, which is now in 2034.

Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, Elizabeth Holmes' ex-boyfriend and the No. 2 in charge at the failed blood-testing startup Theranos, has had some time shaved off his nearly 13-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy, Insider has learned.

Balwani, Theranos' former president and chief operating officer, was convicted last year and sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison plus three years of probation, according to court documents.

Federal-prison officials have calculated Balwani's projected release date  in accordance with federal law and prison policy  and his new projected release date is April 11, 2034. That means he is set to serve about 11 of the almost 13 years that he was originally sentenced to. Last month, a judge ordered Balwani and Holmes to pay $452 million in restitution to defrauded investors, including $125 million to the media magnate Rupert Murdoch, Insider's Sarah Jackson previously reported.

Last year, following a monthslong trial, a jury found him guilty of 12 counts of conspiracy and fraud. Balwani is appealing his conviction. His lawyer, Stephen Cazares, declined to comment.

In April, Balwani reported to prison at FCI Terminal Island, a minimum-security federal facility just outside of Los Angeles.

A spokesperson for the US Bureau of Prisons confirmed Balwani's release date but declined to comment on the specifics of his case, citing privacy and security reasons. However, the spokesperson said that generally, every inmate could earn up to 54 days of "good conduct time" for every year served, which shortened their sentence. They also said inmates could earn credit for time served through participation in recidivism-reduction programs and residential drug treatment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
AUDE GUERRUCCI

The Great star Elle Fanning revealed she was turned down for a movie role when she was 16 for being unfuckable in a new Hollywood Reporter interview out today.

The 25-year-old former child star joined several other female contenders for this years Emmys, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Natasha Lyonne and Ayo Edebiri, for the publications annual Comedy Actress roundtable ahead of next months nominations. Among other topics, the women exchanged stories about dealing with sexism in the industry, including being labeled difficult and judged by their appearances.

During a point in the conversation about the womens early years in the business, Fanning revealed a disturbing story about the time she was rejected for a role based on her looks when she was just a minor.

Ive never told this story, she said. But I was trying out for a movie. I didnt get it. I dont even think they ever made it. But it was a father-daughter road trip comedy. I didnt hear from my agents because they wouldnt tell me things like this. That filtration system is really important because theres probably a lot more damaging comments that they filtered.

I was 16 years old, she continued. And a person said, Oh, she didnt get the father-daughter road trip comedy because shes unfuckable.

Whoa, at 16? Lee Ralph responded.

Of course, there are so many stories like this, Fanning said. Ive talked to people about this. And I can laugh at it now, like, What a disgusting pig!

Around that age, Fanning has starred as Sleeping Beauty in the live-action Disney film Maleficent and had a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated film Trumbo. She had also recently starred in another father-daughter film, Somewhere, in 2010.

Fanning credits her team with shielding her from certain feedback when she was a child. She also says shes able to grapple with the situation because she was born with a sense of confidence.

I was always immensely confident, she said. But, of course, youre growing up in the public eye, and its weird. Ill look at paparazzi photos from when I was 12 and think, Is that a good thing to see such a mirror of yourself at that age? I dont feel like it damaged me, but it definitely made me very aware of myself in a way.

I dont regret it, she said about growing up in the spotlight. Its whatever. Its amazing. And Im glad I found what I love from a young age. I feel like Ive grown.

Elle Fanning Is So Good in Texting-Suicide Series The Girl From Plainville

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Elle Fanning says she lost an acting job at 16 because she was considered 'unf--kable'

Elle Fanning. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Elle Fanning said she once lost a role because she was considered "unfuckable."

The actor said she was up for a part in a father-daughter road-trip comedy when she was 16.

"I don't feel like it damaged me, but it definitely made me very aware of myself," Fanning said.

Elle Fanning said that when she was 16, she was told she lost a role in a film because she was "unfuckable."

Fanning shared the story as a part of The Hollywood Reporter's "Comedy Actress Roundtable" during a conversation with her fellow actors Jenna Ortega, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Natasha Lyonne, Ayo Edebiri, and Devery Jacobs.

Fanning, Ortega, and Lyonne began acting at a young age, and Lyonne and Fanning spoke about their unsettling experiences with casting directors and producers.

Fanning said that while she had "an amazing manager and agent" who largely shielded her from inappropriate feedback, some comments still made their way through to her.

"I've never told this story, but I was trying out for a movie," Fanning said. "I didn't get it. I don't even think they ever made it, but it was a father-daughter road-trip comedy. I didn't hear from my agents because they wouldn't tell me things like this  that filtration system is really important because there's probably a lot more damaging comments that they filtered  but this one got to me. I was 16 years old, and a person said, 'Oh, she didn't get the father-daughter road trip comedy because she's unfuckable.'"

When asked how it affected her, Fanning said, "I don't feel like it damaged me, but it definitely made me very aware of myself."

But both Fanning and Lyonne said that growing up in the public eye was unsettling at times, and Lyonne  who said she had less-than-present parents  shared that she was asked to do inappropriate things in auditions.

"I remember auditioning for 'Lolita,' the remake, when I was 14 or 15, and it was like, 'Can you eat this banana slowly?'" Lyonne said, referring to the 1997 film.

"I was already a bit of a tough guy, so I was like, 'So you mean eat the banana slowly?'" she said. "But it's sick. Ultimately, it seems like your question is one about stepping into autonomy  and certainly being able to find a measure of autonomy, that's the blessing of having some success. You can be a little more selective and wise about what you're stepping into."

Read the original article on Insider
Elon Musk said Target should expect lawsuits over its Pride range for 'destruction of shareholder value'

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Ludovic Marin/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Target should expect lawsuits from shareholders over its Pride range, Elon Musk said.

The retailer's stock has tanked amid immense backlash from conservatives over its Pride collection.

Items Target is selling include transgender-friendly swimsuits and educational books.

Target should expect lawsuits from shareholders over its Pride range "for destruction of shareholder value," Elon Musk said.

The retailer said last month that it was pulling some items from its Pride Month collection after staff got threats from anti-LGBTQ activists. Target's share price has plummeted in recent weeks as the controversy unfurled.

Musk has now waded in on the discourse, responding to a tweet by right-wing personality Charlie Kirk about how JPMorgan had downgraded Target's stock.

"Won't be long before there are class-action lawsuits by shareholders against the company and board of directors for destruction of shareholder value," Musk tweeted. The tech mogul shared anti-trans content on Twitter the same day, too, urging "every parent" to watch a video that promotes intolerance of trans people.

JPMorgan said that it had downgraded the stock because of its high exposure to millennials, many of whom will resume student loan debt repayments later this year, and it didn't directly mention the retailer's Pride collection, though it did refer to "recent company controversies."

Target's Pride Month collection, which has more than 2,000 pieces, includes items such as "tuck friendly" swimsuits for trans women, books for both children and adults, and T-shirts with slogans like "if being gay was a choice I'd be gayer" and "here, queer and without fear."

The items  in particular the swimsuits  provoked outrage from conservatives, leading to backlash against the retailer and its staff both in store and online. Workers got threats impacting their "sense of safety and wellbeing," Target said. One employee told Insider that guests had called and emailed his store, accusing the company of "grooming" and "indoctrinating" kids.

In response, Target staff were told to take down front-end Pride displays and move them to low-traffic areas of the store, items celebrating transgender Pride were removed, and the transgender-friendly swimsuits were removed from sale, Insider previously reported.

Target did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of normal working hours, about whether it anticipated lawsuits from shareholders over its Pride collection.

Read the original article on Business Insider
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is slamming the Afghanistan dissent cable that Secretary of State Antony Blinken allowed congressional access to Tuesday as "embarrassing" and said it debunks the Biden administration's narrative that it was caught off guard by the country's swift collapse in 2021.

Issa, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News Digital that he was the first committee member to view the dissent channel cable from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and Washington's response.

The State Departments "dissent channel" allows for contrary views to be expressed by officials. The document, signed by 23 staffers and diplomats, warned about the possibility of a rapid Taliban advance as the U.S. left the country, which President Biden and other top officials downplayed at the time.

"What we saw was their prediction, with great accuracy, of exactly what was going to happen and what the outcome would be if they did not change their directions," the congressman said. "We saw a response from the office of the State Department saying, We hear you, and we agree, basically, we don't take it lightly. And then, obviously, we know what they did and didn't do, which was totally insufficient for the warning that was given."

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., left, and President Biden, right

AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: A POLITICAL TURNING POINT FOR WAY PUBLIC FELT ABOUT BIDEN

"They redacted the specific names, but we now know that many of them were senior executive surrogates, meaning people that are paid at the highest level in the State Department," he continued. "They knew and understood that there was no way that the Afghan military was going to defend successfully. They did not disagree with that, and as a result, they knew that Kabul would fall within weeks, that the Taliban would do what they have done, which is to continue to kill and persecute individuals, and they allowed it to happen."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Issa said the cable also revealed that "there was no expectation by the State Department that there would be sustainability" in the region and knew that the billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment that was left behind was going to fall into the Taliban's hands.

Issa said the cable went out on July 13, 2021, the response came back a week later on July 20, and Kabul officially fell weeks later on Aug. 15.

"Every prediction came through, including the quick collapse of the Afghan army," he said.

Issa said his next course of action is trying to get the document declassified so that the families of the 13 U.S. service members who were killed during the chaotic withdrawal can get to the bottom of what happened.

"Redacting only a portion of a portion of a sentence takes this from a secret document to a confidential document, and confidential, quite frankly, in this case is even inappropriate," he said.

Representative Darrell Issa, Republican from California, during a House Judiciary Committee field hearing in New York, US, on Friday, April 17, 2023.

"This is classified because it's embarrassing," he added. "Theres absolutely no reason the American people shouldn't see it, and I will not rest until they do."

"The bottom line is nothing ends here," added Issa's communications director, Jonathan Wilcox.

"This obliterates the administration's big lie on Afghanistan  that this could not have been foretold, nobody could have seen this coming, nothing could have done to prevent it," he said.

"We know it was received. We know it wasn't followed," he continued. "Their personnel on the ground saw this, reported it, warned them, and were ignored."

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul announced Monday that he had secured an agreement with Secretary Blinken that would allow all members of the committee a reasonable opportunity to view the cable.

MCCAUL FIRES BACK AT WHITE HOUSE MEMO ATTEMPTING TO DISCOUNT AFGHANISTAN REPORT

In response, Chairman McCaul agreed it would be a satisfactory accommodation to his earlier subpoena and would take contempt off the table. This is the first time in U.S. history that a dissent channel cable has been provided to Congress.

"This is an unprecedented step forward in our committees investigation into the Afghanistan withdrawal," McCaul said Monday. "For the first time in history, the State Department has agreed to allow Congress to view a dissent channel cable. This cable contains first-hand information from Embassy Kabul employees who were on the ground prior to the collapse as well as Secretary Blinkens response to their concerns. I want to thank Secretary Blinken for negotiating with me in good faith on this."

McCaul had subpoenaed the document multiple times in the early months of this year, but Blinken had failed to provide it, prompting McCaul to threaten to charge Blinken with contempt of Congress.

Bidens decision to pull troops from Afghanistan faced widespread global backlash after Taliban insurgents retook the country in a matter of days on Aug. 15, 2021, essentially winning the war 20 years after their ouster by U.S.-led forces. Just a month earlier, Biden told Americans that the likelihood of a Taliban takeover was "highly unlikely."

On Aug. 18, 2021, three days after the Taliban seized the capital of Kabul and forced the U.S. Embassy there to evacuate, Biden told ABCs George Stephanopoulos that intelligence did not indicate the Afghan government would quickly collapse  despite reports stating that is exactly what the intelligence predicted. The president also falsely claimed that "no one's being killed" in Afghanistan despite reports at that time of at least seven deaths amid the chaos at Kabul's airport.

Then on Aug. 26, 2021, during the U.S. military's mass evacuation at the Kabul airport, suicide bombers killed 183 people, including 13 U.S. service members. The U.S. retaliated by launching two drone strikes against suspected ISIS-K terrorists, one of which ended up killing 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 15: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) listens as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon on March 15, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. Secretary Austin and Gen. Milley discussed various topics including the downing of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea by Russian fighter jets.

Critics immediately demanded that heads roll for the Afghanistan debacle, with calls for the firings of Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, but no one was fired.

Despite telling Americans after Afghanistans fall that "the buck stops with me," Biden repeatedly blamed former President Trump and the Afghan military for the countrys swift collapse. While Biden admitted that the Talibans takeover had caught the U.S. off guard, he has insisted he made the right decision in ending the war and has declined to fire a single official over the pullout.

However, critics have often compared the withdrawal to the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War and have said Bidens foreign policy blunders have given the green light to authoritarian leaders to act aggressively across the globe.

For instance, two months after the Afghanistan withdrawal, Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed a major buildup of troops near the Ukrainian border in October 2021, which eventually led to its invasion of the country that continues today.

The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Pete Kasperowicz and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
The beleaguered cruise company Vantage Deluxe World Travel quietly told its employees all trips through Aug. 28 are postponed, as complaints against the Boston-based business continue to pile up.

In an internal email, Vantage V.P. of Worldwide Operations & Marketing Deirdre Dirkman told employees the 90-day postponement was because of the companys impending transaction. The email shows Dirkman said Vantage decided to dock two of its vesselsOcean Explorer and Ocean Odysseyin France, until we have a better idea of the timeline for restarting operations.

The Mass. Attorney Generals Office says it received at least 793 complaints against Vantage Deluxe World Travel since Jan. 1, 2020, including 156 complaints filed in 2023.

Michelle Couch-Friedman, the founder of Consumer Rescue, said shes been in contact with hundreds of customers who are not getting refunds or finding their trips canceled at the last minute. Couch-Friedmans organization helps mediate complaints between customers and companies. She has documented the problems with Vantage on her website.

People are contacting me, theyre desperate, Couch-Friedman said. I started receiving phone calls and emails from Vantage employees and many of these employees sound as distraught as the Vantage customers.

Vantage has not responded to repeated requests for comment. The company, which markets its trips as deluxe travel, has offices on Canal St. and has been around since 1983, according to its website. The AGs Office has been in contact with the company regarding its recently reported problems but an AG spokesperson said they could not provide any additional information.

Despite the moratorium on trips through Aug. 28, at least one Vantage customer has received an advertisement for a 2024 Vantage Icelandic cruise. Theres nothing on the companys website indicating theres a problem or that trips are postponed.

The brochures are still coming through and the company is acting like this is business as usual, Couch-Friedman said.

The AGs Office said most of the consumer complaints against Vantage come from outside Massachusetts. At least 70 of the complaints are from Bay State residents. An AG spokesperson encourages consumers to file complaints with the Mass. AGs Office.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's dam in Ukraine's Kherson Oblast has put other energy facilities in the region at risk of flooding, in particular, the Kherson Thermal Power Plant, the Energy Ministry reported on June 6.

Almost 12,000 households in Kherson's Ostriv district have been left without electricity due to the flooding, according to the Energy Ministry. Issues with water supply are possible as well.

As a result of the Kakhovka dam explosion, the water level in the reservoir of the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant is decreasing, Ukraine's private energy company DTEK said on Telegram.

The thermal power plant has been inactive since May last year, but the reservoir is used to supply water to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant located in Enerhodar.

World leaders condemn Russias destruction of Kakhovka dam, call it war crime World leaders and international organizations are reacting to the growing humanitarian and environmental disaster caused by Russia blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, with many calling it a war crime. The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

The thermal plant employees monitor the situation and are in constant contact with colleagues from Ukraine's nuclear energy company Energoatom, the DTEK added.

In general, the Dnipro cascade of the Kakhovka plant supplies water to three thermal power plants owned by DTEK. The company said the water level was being monitored on all of them, and the situation was stable.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported "no immediate nuclear safety risk at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to the Kakhovka dam destruction, which was confirmed by Ukraine's Energy Ministry in its latest update.

Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's dam across the Dnipro River on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine.

Built in 1956, the power plant is crucial to Ukraine's energy infrastructure. According to Ukraine's state hydroelectric power company, the damage caused by the breach is "impossible to repair."

Around 16,000 people's homes in Kherson Oblast are reportedly located in "critical risk" zones for flooding. According to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, 885 people have been evacuated from Kherson Oblast as of 11:00 a.m. local time and the process is ongoing.
A soon-to-be sergeant major was fired from her position as the top enlisted Marine for a Quantico, Virginia, training battalion after she was charged with striking two teenagers Wednesday night with her car while under the influence.

Marine 1st Sgt. Beth Ellen Abbott, 39, faces one count of driving under the influence, two counts of maiming while driving under the influence and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Abbott had glassy, bloodshot eyes, the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, and admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving when police responded to the scene in Stafford, Virginia, after a report that two pedestrians had been struck, according to a news release by the Stafford County, Virginia, Sheriffs Office.

Abbott was relieved of her position Friday as the senior enlisted leader of the combat instructor battalion at The Basic School, Maj. Danielle Phillips, a Marine spokeswoman, confirmed in a Monday statement to Marine Corps Times.

The Basic School is the Corps officer training institution, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, also in Stafford County.

After the incident, Abbott remained on the scene, the release stated.

Aquia Harbour, Virginia, police charged Abbott with driving under the influence and she was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond, according to the release.

Although the news release provided no names, sheriffs office spokesman Ryan Wilbur confirmed to Marine Corps Times and other outlets that the suspect was Abbott.

The two 14-year-old pedestrians were airlifted to a nearby hospital to get treatment for serious injuries, according to the press release, which added that the teens were expected to make a full recovery.

The following day, Abbott was arrested again on three more counts. Stafford County, Virginia, sheriffs investigated the crash and determined that two counts of maiming while driving under the influence were appropriate, according to Wilbur.

As they were serving the two new warrants, suspected controlled substances were located within the vehicle she was driving during the crash, Wilbur stated to Marine Corps Times.

Abbott was also charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and was held on a $6,000 secured bond, according to Wilbur. Alcohol is not a controlled substance under U.S. law.

Virginias Rappahannock Regional Jail did not list Abbott as a current inmate as of Monday.

Abbott is a frocked sergeant major, according to information from her service record, provided by Phillips. That meant Abbott was wearing the uniform and taking on the duties of the E-9 paygrade but technically was still an E-8 as she awaited an official promotion.

She enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2003, and has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, according to her service record.

Abbotts awards include one Purple Heart, six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, six Good Conduct Medals, two Iraq Campaign Medals, and a Drill Instructor Ribbon.

The Marine Corps is aware of the charges against Abbott and is coordinating with local authorities for their ongoing investigation during this difficult time, Phillips said.

Abbotts arrest was first reported by the Stafford Daily Voice after the incident garnered attention on social media.

Marine Corps Times attempted to reach out to Abbott via an email address she has been linked to but did not receive a response by time of publication.

Wilbur said Monday the teens were still recovering from their injuries, as of the last update he had.

The Stafford County Sheriffs Office is praying for a speedy recovery for both juveniles, Wilbur said in a statement to Marine Corps Times.
(Bloomberg) -- Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas warned that certain members of the NATO alliance are not taking their defense targets seriously enough, urging them to spend more to ward off any potential threats.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speaking during a visit to Singapore, Kallas said that she was very sad some member nations think they can postpone an investment pledge to spend a minimum 2% of gross domestic product on defense by next year. She supports lifting the floor to 2.5% of GDP to achieve a security posture that wouldnt only serve as an appropriate deterrence, but also demonstrate NATOs commitment to the US ahead of divisive presidential election in 2024.

Not all countries take this seriously enough, she said during an interview on the sidelines of a tech conference in the city-state. It is very important for the European defense still to show to the Americans that we are doing everything because who knows what happens after the presidential elections.

She joins a chorus of voices in Europe increasingly concerned over the need to address defense supply shortages as they continue to fuel the Ukrainian side of a war that is showing no signs of easing. Both Moscow and Kyiv are reporting widespread fighting along the front lines as anticipation mounts for Kyivs long-planned counteroffensive.

Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russian forces of blowing up a giant dam in the south, unleashing a torrent of floodwater, threatening residents and complicating the battle.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview in Oslo this month that allies need to sign more contracts with defense companies to boost production given their ammunition stocks are running dry. The alliance may agree as soon as this summer to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, a slight shift from a 10-year-old pledge to move toward the 2% guideline.

Kallas, as the 45-year-old leader of the Baltic nation of 1.3 million, has been among the EUs most strident critics of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Estonia, which shares a border with Russia, is one of the biggest per-capita suppliers of weapons to Kyiv. A lawyer by profession, the daughter of the countrys former premier and European Commissioner Siim Kallas, is seen as a potential candidate to become secretary-general of NATO.

The Estonian prime minister, however, told the BBC in May that it was unlikely she would be offered the job because she is from the alliances eastern flank.

Wrapping up her first trip to Asia since taking office in 2021, Kallas lamented on Tuesday a lack of support as some countries in the region have remained neutral since the war broke out. She also said she has been battling public perceptions that NATO is ultimately responsible.

What we hear around here is that NATO is at fault and Im trying to explain that NATO is a defense alliance where countries actually applied, she said. The political support definitely is stronger in some parts of the world than in others, and therefore I think we need to do a lot of work to convince the people here as well what is at stake.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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An artistic image of a person's head being enclosed by a fake head.



Deepfake images, video, audio, and text are already spreading throughout the internet and has been used for political purposes and to spread misinformation.

The European Union is absolutely set on regulating AI, and now the biggest online platforms in the world need to help folks tell if the growing number of fake images, video, and audio was created with artificial intelligence. Major tech companies including Google, Facebook, and TikTok have until Aug. 25 to start identifying what images, video, or audio contain deep fakes or potentially face multi-million dollar fines from the EU.

In talks, European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova said that dozens of tech companies need to start coming up with ways to label AI generated disinformation. The official said during a press conference that companies would need to put in place technology to recognize such content and clearly label this to users.

Read more

Jourova said AI-generated content need to have prominent markings denoting theyre deep fakes or were manipulated to some degree. This regulation is being promoted under the European bodys Digital Services Act, a law meant to mandate transparency of online content moderation.

According to information sent to Gizmodo from Jourovas office, the new guidelines follow from an early May meeting with the task force of the Code of Practice on disinformation which includes representatives from both the companies and regulators. In addition, those platforms that make use of AI chatbots, including for customer service, must let users know theyre interacting with an AI instead of a real flesh and blood human.

Microsoft and Google are locked in a race to develop AI chatbots, and the EU has taken notice how far both seem to be going without any roadblocks or safeguards. According to The Guardian, Jourova met with Google CEO Sundar Pichai last week who told her they were working on developing means to detect fake AI-generated text. Despite how fast these companies have worked on proliferating AI chatbots, few have taken the same resources toward dealing with the mass AI content farms pumping out disinformation.

The DSA is already in force, but the EU still has to offer designations which online platforms fall under its specific restrictions. Late last month, Elon Musks Twitter decided to leave the EUs voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. EU Commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton announced Twitters departure through a tweet, adding the DSAs disinformation requirements would be applied to all by Aug. 25.

Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation.



But obligations remain. You can run but you cant hide.



Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25.



Our teams will be ready for enforcement.  Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) May 26, 2023

The Commission is working on some of the worlds first hardline AI regulations under the Artificial Intelligence Act. In part, that law would mandate AI developers disclose all the copyrighted materials used to train their AI models. Jourova said that European Parliament could apply rules mandating platforms detect and label AI-generated text content. Current methods for detecting AI-generated text are rather inefficient, so the onus would be on major tech companies to develop new models for determining deep fakes, whether thats watermarks or some other method of ingraining an immutable AI signifier.

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(Reuters) -Europe's medicine regulators on Tuesday backed the World Health Organization's recommendation to update the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines to target one of the currently dominant XBB variants ahead of the upcoming autumn vaccination campaign.

Advisory groups related to the WHO suggested that, while waiting for more data, the monovalent XBB-containing vaccines could be considered a reasonable choice and individuals at risk of progression to severe disease such as older adults should be given priority, according to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Marco Cavaleri, EMA's head of health threats and vaccines strategy, explained the thinking behind the choice of monovalent vaccines at a briefing on Tuesday.

"What we learned is that individuals that have been repeatedly vaccinated with the ancestral strain... already have good immunity against all the viruses that have been circulating in the past. But this immunity is not very good for what looks like is coming up next," he said.

For that reason, he said, the EMA and ECDC felt that it was important for adapted vaccines to trigger an immunity that is more directed against these new sub-variants that are dominant at the moment, like the XBB family, "to increase the chances of having good protection not only from severe disease but also from infection and the mild symptomatic disease."

Novavax Inc's R&D chief Filip Dubovsky said on Monday that "a monovalent vaccine appears to be the way to go."

The company is producing an updated COVID vaccine that is likely to be protective against other fast-growing coronavirus variants circulating in the United States.

Once authorised, these monovalent XBB-adapted vaccines could also be used for primary vaccination of young children below 5 years of age who are at risk of complications or severe disease, the EMA statement said.

The WHO in May said that new formulations should aim to produce antibody responses to the XBB.1.5 or XBB.1.16 variants, adding that other formulations or platforms that achieve neutralizing antibody responses against XBB lineages could also be considered.

(Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar and Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru, Maggie Fick in London; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Europe, US reacts in shock to Russias destruction of Kakhovka dam in south Ukraine

The Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called the incident the biggest man-made disaster in Europe in recent decades.

Read also: Ukrhydroenergo says how destruction of Kakhovka dam will affect Ukraines hydrosystem

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he was shocked by the unprecedented attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime  and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable, he tweeted.

Will raise the issue at the European Council in June and propose more assistance to the flooded areas. My thoughts with all the families in Ukraine affected by this catastrophe.

Read also: Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam could deprive Crimean residents of drinking water, says Yermak

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric also condemned Russias destruction of a dam in Ukraine, calling it criminal and reckless.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage.

This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine, Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who was on a visit to Ukraine on June 6, said it was too early to give a meaningful assessment of the details behind the destruction of the dam in southern Ukraine, but that it had happened because of Russias invasion, the Reuters news agency reported.

Well continue to assess the developing situation, but the best thing Russia could do now is withdraw their troops immediately, Cleverly said.

In turn, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that terrorist dont stop unless they are stopped.

They dont negotiate with anything except force, Landsbergis tweeted.

Read also: Political analyst says Kremlin may have sabotaged Kakhovka dam out of fear of Ukrainian counter-offensive

They cause huge catastrophes without regret. Ill say it again: Lasting peace in Europe requires a Ukrainian victory both on the battlefield and in court. Nothing else will work.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that the destruction of a major dam was a crime of war that directly threatens thousands of people, and Russia must be held accountable for it.

And Ukraine must win this war to stay safe! Nauseda wrote on Twitter.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said Russian imperialism had to be defeated in Ukraine.

There will be no peace and security in Europe until Putin finally loses in Ukraine, McFaul said.

Kakhovka HPP  what is known about the explosion

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Administration to declare an urgent evacuation.

The east bank of the region, which is controlled by the Russian forces, will also be badly affected, as it is low-lying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

Read also: Danilov spells out consequences of Russias possible destruction of Kakhovka dam

The demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam could also have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Water from the dam is needed for the plant to receive water for turbine condensers and safety systems.

Ukrhydroenergo, the state hydroelectric power company, has reported that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been completely destroyed and cannot be repaired.

Read also: Kakhovka hydropower plant blown up by Russians from within, but not all of the dam destroyed

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced there is a threat of flooding up to 80 settlements.

The Main Intelligence Directorate says that the terrorist attack increases the threat of a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

Read also: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable  Energoatom

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Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Hulu/Getty

Partway through his rags-to-riches origin story Flamin Hot, our plucky protagonist and narrator Richard Montanez pauses for an asidea kind of record-scratch moment.

It happens right after we watch an itty-bitty Montanez cuffed and shoved into a police car, after trying to buy chocolate for his crush (and future wife) with money hed rightfully earned. When the world treats you like a criminal, you become one, adult Montanez tells us. Now, before you start talking smack about why Mexicans always got to be gangsters, dont, he says, because I lived it.

Out Friday on Disney+ and Hulu, biopic-of-sorts Flamin Hot is determined to inspire. Just like its central couplesupposed Flamin Hot Cheetos inventor Montanez (Jesse Garcia) and his ride-or-die wife, Judy (Annie Gonzalez)the film is unfailingly upbeat, even as Montanez delves into topics like police brutality in his narration. Rather than crumble in the face of unfair, seemingly insurmountable adversity, these two always seem to meet fire with fire. (Or, at least, a very spicy slurry.)

The Beautiful Past Lives Was Predestined for Greatness

As we quickly learn, Montanezs life was a long journey well before he landed at Frito-Lay as a janitor and eventually helped launch one of our most iconic snack foods. The son of a Mexican immigrant, he spent years shrugging off insults (and worse) from white neighbors, job interviewers, and bosses. He sold drugs, and then he got his janitorial job at Frito-Lay. Then, Montanez realized his callinginventing a snack that he knew his community would snatch off the shelves, if only one executive could be brave enough to believe in the Latinx market.

Dont let the corporate setting fool you; theres absolutely nothing stale about this story. After years of television directing, Eva Longorias feature debut is both winning and precisely crafted. Garcias got charisma seeping from his pores, and the quiet vulnerability he brings to Montanez cuts through the (admittedly compelling) bravado. When he tears up, you feel it. Meanwhile, Gonzalez makes Judy a force of nature with a trademark blend of grit and compassion honed on other projects like Netflixs Gentefied. (That show and Flamin Hot also have screenwriter Linda Yvette Chavez in common.)

Gentefied Was Already One of Netflixs Best Shows. It Just Leveled Up.

Real life has already spoiled the movies ending, a hard-earned win that nonetheless feels even more satisfying when you actually get to see Tony Shalhoub warmly applaud for the man who was once his janitor. Theres just one catch: According to the Los Angeles Times, Montanez didnt invent the Flamin Hot Cheeto.

Montanez has been telling his story for years through keynote speeches for large organizations, reportedly including Target, Harvard, and Wal-Mart, the Times notes. In 2021, however, the newspaper published an expose that pointed out various anomalies in his chronologyincluding key dates. Montanez made it, from rags to riches, from factory floor to corporate suite, the report states at one pointbased on more than a dozen interviews, the Frito-Lay archival record, and statements made by the company itself. He just didnt make Flamin Hot Cheetos.

When Flamin Hot premiered in March out of SXSW, director Longoria told the Times, We never set out to tell the history of the Cheeto. We are telling Richard Montanezs story, and were telling his truth.

As seen at the films premiere screening earlier this year at South by Southwest, Gonzalez is the kind of performer that can make the entire audience break into applause when she tells off the right person. And the laughs keep coming: Matt Walsh plays the perfect soul-dead boss, who never pronounces Montanez correctly, and Tony Shalhoub makes a fun, slightly idiosyncratic choice to play former Pepsi CEO Roger Enrico.

Why Does Everyone on The Idol Have the Most Atrocious Hair?

Watching Flamin Hot as it currently exists, its hard not to ask the admittedly futile question of what this film mightve looked like if it had engaged with this tension. The Times does not dispute that Montanez rose the ladder, or even that he invented a variety of flavorful products based on his heritage, including a snack line called Sabrositas. The real bone of contention is simply this specific product. Montanez and his supporters insist he invented Flamin Hot Cheetos, while several others claim that he did not.

Putting aside the question of whether or not Montanez invented the Flamin Hot Cheeto, the PR debacle prompts an even more interesting one: Is the value of this story directly tied to the value of the product?

In terms of dollars and cents, its barely a question. Hollywood prizes pre-existing IP, particularly when said IP comes with strong brand recognitionFlamin Hot Cheetos have literally been at Fashion Week. It stands to reason that this snacks story will sell more movie tickets (and speaking engagements) than a lesser-known iteration. But to borrow a phrase from Oprah, what is the truth that Flamin Hot is telling? What is the core of Richard Montanezs story, if its not about the history of the Cheeto?

Here, it feels pretty impersonal. As relentlessly watchable as Flamin Hot might beand I truly did gobble it up, from beginning to endit also tends to hold viewers at a safe distance. Rather than get into the emotional toll of the hardships he faces, Richards narration sticks to wisecracks. At times, well see an outburst from him or a wave of anxiety from Judy, but only for a moment. Its characters, inspiring as they might be, can also feel a little too composed to be believed. (Does Judy never get tired of being the perfect supporting character to her husbands aspirations? Does he never lash out at anyone?)

Theres safety in retrospect, and at all times, Flamin Hot operates in hindsight. And just like how it shields us from the darker portions of the Montanezes journeys, the film also does not engage with those who claim its central tale is at least a little fictitious. As Longoria expressed, its creators are more interested in Montanezs story than they are in a nonfictional account of the Cheetoand its certainly not uncommon for biopics to take some liberties.

In the end, Flamin Hot is utterly charmingcleverly written and impeccably acted. It has all the beats of an uplifting fable, with a careful eye toward authenticity in its production. But its most powerful story really isnt about Richard or Judy, or anyone in their orbit. Instead, the real triumph in this story appears to be the Latinx marketa powerful force that often goes ignored, especially in Hollywood. Learn how to whisper into it, this story tells us, and you could have a hot new chip (or movie) on your handsperhaps even the power to change lives. Maybe just ignore that little voice in your head, reminding you that the American Dream is still just as disputable as Montanezs own experience living it out.

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FILE - The Federal Correctional Institution is shown in Dublin, Calif., July 20, 2006. A former federal correctional officer was convicted Monday, June 5, 2023, of sexually abusing two inmates at a womens prison in California where the warden and other employees were charged with similar conduct. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)  A former federal correctional officer was convicted Monday of sexually abusing two inmates at a womens prison in California where the warden and other employees were charged with similar conduct.

A jury found the officer, John Russell Bellhouse, guilty on five counts of sexual abuse for incidents involving the two women between 2019 and 2020 at FCI Dublin, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Oakland.

Bellhouse, 40, was scheduled to be sentenced in August.

My clients feel heard, Jessica Pride, an attorney for the victims, told KTVU-TV. Regardless of a prisoners crime, sexual assault is not part of their punishment."

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Bellhouse began to express an interest in a particular female inmate and started calling the inmate his girlfriend in 2020. Authorities said he inappropriately touched the woman and that she performed oral sex on Bellhouse twice in the prisons safety office.

All sexual activity between a prison worker and an inmate is illegal.

Prosecutors said Bellhouse allowed one woman to use an office phone  a violation of Bureau of Prisons policy  and also gave her earrings. Another inmate was tasked to act like a lookout during at least one of the sexual encounters, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Bellhouse, Shaffy Moeel, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment.

Bellhouse is the sixth employee at the prison to be charged with sexually abusing inmates. The prisons former warden, Ray Garcia, was convicted in December of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose naked in their cells. He was sentenced to serve six years in prison.

An Associated Press investigation revealed a culture of abuse and cover-up that had persisted for years at the facility.

Since the AP's investigation, the Bureau of Prisons launched new training for prison wardens and created specialized teams aimed at curtailing sexual abuse at the nations federal prisons.
Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen filed separate lawsuits Tuesday against the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and Attorney General Keith Ellison, alleging they worked together on "politically motivated" investigations into his medical license.

Jensen, a Chaska physician, said he was repeatedly investigated by the Board of Medical Practice for public statements he made about COVID-19, and all complaints were later dismissed. The Republican previously made comments encouraging civil disobedience against vaccine mandates and opposing children wearing masks in schools, among other things, and vowed to reshape the Board of Medical Practice if elected governor.

He accused the board on Tuesday of attempting to chill his speech, arguing the panel should not have launched investigations into his medical license over political statements he made. Jensen questioned whether the board's repeated investigations hurt him in his unsuccessful campaign against DFL Gov. Tim Walz last year, noting that Walz used those investigations as a line of attack against him.

"I think it cost me dearly from a reputational standpoint, potentially impacting somewhat on the governor's race. We'll never know that," Jensen said during a news conference Tuesday. "In the end, I think it was about bullying  it was about, if you dare to disagree, you're in trouble."

The lawsuit states that all of the board's investigations into Jensen revolved around his public statements, not his patient care or treatment.

The Board of Medical Practice did not respond to a request for comment.

In his suit against Ellison, Jensen alleges that the Attorney General's Office "intentionally withheld" public data that should have been released to him in response to a Data Practices Act request.

The Attorney General's Office told Jensen it withheld a small set of data about some of its individual employees because "staff have received harassing and/or threatening calls following posts by Dr. Jensen on social media," according to the lawsuit. If Jensen were to publicize that data on social media, the office said it "would likely substantially jeopardize the security of individuals and subject staff to harassment and/or threats by followers/viewers."

John Stiles, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, defended the handling of Jensen's data request in a statement Tuesday.

"The Attorney General's Office takes its responsibilities under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act seriously  and fulfilled them in responding to Dr. Jensen's data request," Stiles said. "The Office gave Dr. Jensen nearly 1,800 responsive documents. It also withheld other data that fell within categories that the law authorizes the Office to withhold. This lawsuit is without merit and the Office will respond fully in court."

Jensen and his attorneys are seeking damages from the Board of Medical Practice and are asking a judge to prohibit the board from further investigating his "protected First Amendment speech."

They're also asking a judge to compel Ellison's office to immediately release the withheld data.
FILE - Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill speaks during a news conference at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, July 9, 2018. Hill is considering whether to join the 2024 Republican governors race, nearly three years after his reelection bid was derailed by allegations that he drunkenly groped four women during a party. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is considering whether to join the 2024 Republican governors race, nearly three years after his reelection bid was derailed by allegations that he drunkenly groped four women during a party.

Hill built a following among social conservatives during his time in office and his entry into the governors race could further complicate what already is shaping up to be an expensive fight for the Republican nomination. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden are already vying to replace Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who cant seek reelection because of term limits.

Hill expects to make a decision in the coming weeks as he and his wife are carefully praying for guidance, he said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by his political advising firm.

At a time when Hoosiers are hungry for fresh leadership, it is crucial that we distinguish between those who genuinely represent conservative values and those who simply say they do, Hill said. Our state deserves a proven conservative who has the guts to challenge the Indianapolis status quo and the grit to stand up against the Washington, D.C., crowd."

Hill, 62, won election as state attorney general in 2016 after 14 years as the prosecutor in northern Indianas Elkhart County. Hill had been seen as a rising African American star among Republicans and built himself up as an anti-abortion and tough-on-crime crusader, making appearances on Fox News to discuss topics such as San Franciscos troubles with homelessness.

Hill faced calls for his resignation from Holcomb and many other state Republican leaders after allegations became public that he groped the women during a 2018 party at an Indianapolis bar. He denied wrongdoing but the state Supreme Court ordered a 30-day suspension of his law license after finding by clear and convincing evidence that (Hill) committed the criminal act of battery against three female legislative staffers and a state lawmaker during the party.

The allegations were a key campaign issue when he narrowly lost the 2020 Republican attorney general nomination for his reelection to Todd Rokita, who took office in January 2021.

Hill failed in another attempted political comeback last year when he lost a vote among Republican precinct committee members to replace U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski on the election ballot following her death in a highway crash. Business executive Rudy Yakym won the GOP nomination and election for northern Indianas 2nd District seat.

Even though Hill finished a distant second, the caucus vote showed that Hill still had a base of supporters and could further split conservative voters in a competitive race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, said Steve Shine, whos been the Republican chairman in Allen County, which includes the state's second-largest city, Fort Wayne, for more than 30 years.

Add that to what he has had to go through, because if it was so damning, he wouldnt have been in second place. He would have been at the end of the pack rather than at the top of it, said Shine, who hasnt endorsed any candidate.

Hill, however, would be entering the race far behind in campaign fundraising.

Braun, Crouch and Doden all started this year with campaign bank accounts approaching or exceeding $3 million and have raised at least hundreds of thousands more since then. Hills state campaign reported ending 2022 with about $20,000.

Whoever captures the Republican nomination will be looking to extend the partys dominance in the state, which includes winning five straight governor elections since 2004. Former state schools Superintendent Jennifer McCormick, who won election as a Republican in 2016 alongside Hill and Holcomb but later broke with the Statehouse GOP, is the only declared candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
By Sarah McFarlane and Valerie Volcovici

LONDON (Reuters) - The war in Ukraine is deepening the climate crisis at time when global greenhouse gas emissions are already running at a record high, according to report by carbon accounting experts who have tallied the overall impact of the conflict.

The report, which is due to be released on the sidelines of the U.N. climate summit in Bonn this week, calculates that the first 12 months of the war will trigger a net increase of 120 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the annual output of country such as Belgium.

A group of researchers led by Dutch expert Lennard de Klerk looked at a range of contributors to emissions, from fuel used by vehicles, to forest fires, to changes in energy use in Europe and the future reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure.

"We didn't expect the emissions of war would be so significant and it's not only the warfare itself that contributes to the emissions, but it's also the future reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure," said de Klerk by phone from his home in Hungary near the border with Ukraine.

Carbon accounting will be in focus at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai this year as countries assess progress against climate goals agreed in Paris in 2015, and de Klerk said it was crucial military emissions were included.

"Emissions of conflicts and military emissions are often overlooked," he told Reuters.

"The aim that we all should have is to get to net zero by 2050, including the military, but if you don't know what the military emissions are, it's very difficult to start work on policies to reduce them," de Klerk said.

The report - Climate Damage Caused By Russia's War in Ukraine - was funded by the European Climate Foundation and the Environmental Policy and Advocacy Initiative in Ukraine.

GAS LEAKS AND BOMBS

According to the report, seen by Reuters, almost half of the net increase in emissions since the Ukraine war started in February last year are linked to the anticipated reconstruction of buildings, roads and factories damaged in the fighting.

About 19% of the emissions, meanwhile, come from military activities such as burning fuel in vehicles, making and firing ammunition and the construction of concrete fortifications.

The overall tally included greenhouse gas emissions from outside Ukraine linked to the conflict, such as gas leaks from the sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline, the rerouting of international flights, as well as the movement of refugees.

"If you look at the environmental costs of what's happening in Ukraine, that war is a catastrophe when it comes to carbon emissions," said James Appathurai, NATO's deputy assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges.

The report acknowledged there had been a drop in Ukraine's domestic economic activity due to the conflict, but said emissions related to those activities had mainly shifted to other countries.

It also concluded that the fall in emissions in Europe from lower flows of Russian gas and a drop in electricity usage due to higher energy costs had almost all been offset by increases in the use of oil, coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The authors said the report followed guidelines on military emissions reporting developed by the Conflict and Environment Observatory charity, and relied on data sources including fossil fuel consumption figures, remote sensing through satellites, and open-source publications.

HARD TO DECIPHER

Ukraine's Ministry of Environmental Protection said it was important to initiate discussions about the impact of conflicts on the climate.

"Unfortunately, the impact of the war in Ukraine was not and will not be reflected in the reports and reviews of greenhouse gas emissions prepared annually by the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," the ministry said in an emailed statement.

Government reporting of military and conflict emissions to the United Nations is notoriously hard to decipher.

Opaque data on military activities, exemptions for emissions generated by armies while abroad, and annexed territories sometimes being double-counted all confused the picture, said carbon accounting expert de Klerk.

Other studies have attempted to calculate emissions from conflicts.

The U.S. military's war-related activities abroad between 2001-2018, including in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, caused 440 million tonnes of emissions, according to the Costs of War project at Brown University.

During the 1990-91 Gulf War, about 133 million tonnes of emissions were released when Iraq set fire to hundreds of oil wells as it retreated from Kuwait, according to a report by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

Britain, meanwhile, is funding a study into emissions related to the widespread use of concrete blast walls - known as Bremer walls - in Iraq.

(Reporting by Sarah McFarlane and Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and David Clarke)
FILE PHOTO: Commercial vessels including vessels which are part of Black Sea grain deal wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi in Istanbul, Turkey

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A possible extension next month of a deal allowing the safe wartime export of grains and fertilizers from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports could hinge on the reopening of a pipeline that delivers Russian ammonia to one of those Ukrainian ports.

THE DEALS

The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative for an initial 120 days last July to help tackle a global food crisis worsened by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters. It has been extended three times since, most recently until July 17.

More than 31 million tonnes of mostly corn and wheat have been exported by Ukraine under the deal. The Black Sea Grain Initiative also allows for the safe export of ammonia - a key ingredient in nitrate fertilizer - but none has been shipped.

To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a three-year pact was also struck last July in which the United Nations agreed to help Moscow overcome any obstacles to its own food and fertilizer shipments.

While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments.

AMMONIA

A pipeline used by Russia to pump up to 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia annually for global export to Ukraine's Pivdennyi port on the Black Sea from Togliatti on the Volga River in western Russia has been shut down since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

It is the world's longest ammonia pipeline at about 2,470 kilometres (1,534 miles) in length, according to the International Energy Agency.

Ukrainian authorities have said workers would need about 30 days to prepare the pipeline to pump ammonia again.

UKRAINE

The Black Sea Grain Initiative covers the "safe navigation for the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia" from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, known in Russian as Yuzhny.

Ukraine has argued that the language of the deal does not cover the transit of Russian ammonia across Ukraine. A Ukrainian government source told Reuters that Kyiv would consider restarting the pipeline in exchange for an expansion of the Black Sea grain deal to include more ports and commodities.

RUSSIA

Russia said the transit of ammonia "although not spelled out literally, is implied by the logic of the agreement." Moscow has said it was "ready without delay, in a matter of days" to restart the ammonia pipeline.

Until the ammonia pipeline is restarted, Moscow has said it will limit the number of vessels allowed to travel to Pivdennyi port under the Black Sea deal, the U.N. said.

U.N. data shows no ships have visited Pivdennyi port for more than three weeks.

Under the Black Sea Grain Initiative a joint coordination centre in Istanbul made up of officials from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the U.N. agrees on the ships to be registered and conducts inbound and outbound inspections in Turkish waters.

U.N. PROPOSAL TO RESTART AMMONIA PIPELINE

In September, Reuters reported that the United Nations proposed that ammonia gas owned by Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem be brought via pipeline to the Russia-Ukraine border.

At the border it would be purchased by U.S.-headquartered commodities trader Trammo, according to the proposal. Trammo has been approached by the United Nations to assist in this project and is happy to cooperate, it said in an emailed statement.

The United Nations has consistently pushed for the reopening of the ammonia pipeline.

Reuters reported last week that the U.N. proposed that Kyiv, Moscow and Ankara start preparatory work on restarting the pipeline, while conducting parallel talks to broaden the Black Sea deal to include more Ukrainian ports and other cargoes.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Jamie Freed)
By Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The Geneva Conventions and its protocols explicitly ban war-time attacks on "installations containing dangerous forces" such as dams due to the risk posed to civilians, a prohibition likely to come into focus after the destruction of a huge Ukrainian dam.

Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine, inundating a populated region of the war zone and forcing villagers to flee.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine sabotaged the dam to distract attention from its faltering counteroffensive.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general's office said on Tuesday it was investigating the blast at the Nova Kakhovka dam, situated in Russian-occupied territory, as a war crime and possible act of environmental destruction, or "ecocide".

Russia had conducted a winter campaign of air strikes on Ukrainian energy and utilities infrastructure, damaging up to 50% of the energy infrastructure. Kyiv said this was a war crime, while Moscow said the targets were legitimate.

ATTACK ON A DAM: WHAT KIND OF CRIME COULD IT BE?

The 1949 Geneva Convention's subsequent protocols specifically cover attacks on "installations containing dangerous forces", such as hydroelectric dams. Such installations should not be attacked even if they are legitimate military objectives, "if such attack may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population", the protocols, dating from 1977 say.

There is no mention of dams in the 1998 founding statute of the International Criminal Court. But the statute does criminalise "intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated".

In a blog for the European Journal of International law on Tuesday, international law professor Marko Milanovic of the University of Reading said the dam's destruction could amount to a war crime, or the graver offence of a crime against humanity, if it was carried out by Russia - "knowing of the harm that can befall the civilian population".

WHAT DOES INTERNATIONAL LAW SAY?

The Geneva Conventions and additional protocols shaped by international courts say that parties involved in a military conflict must distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives, and that attacks on civilian objects are forbidden.

This prohibition is also codified in the Rome Statute of the ICC, which opened an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine soon after Russia's February 2022 invasion, and has been examining attacks on infrastructure.

The prohibition seems clear-cut though some infrastructure owned and used by civilians can also be a military objective. Military objectives are defined as those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action, and whose destruction or capture offers a definite military advantage.

IS ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE MILITARY OR CIVILIAN?

Power infrastructure has long been considered a valid military objective as long as it supports an enemy armys activities, even if the system also supports the civilian population, writes military law expert Michael Schmitt in the Articles of War blog run by the Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare at the United States Military Academy West Point.

Milanovic said a dam "is not a military objective by its nature, but it may be such by its purpose or use".

In his blog he added: "The real question here is whether the dam was making 'an effective contribution to military action'."

HOW ARE MILITARY NEEDS BALANCED AGAINST CIVILIAN?

But even if some targets could be considered military objectives, that is not the end of the story, says Katharine Fortin, associate professor of international law at Utrecht University.

The military must consider whether the damage and loss incurred by civilians in such attacks are excessive compared to the concrete and direct military advantage, she said.

Milanovic makes a similar argument. He says that even if a dam could be seen as a military objective, an attack could be legally classified as disproportionate - for instance, if the incidental loss of civilian life or damage to civilian objects is excessive when examining the direct military advantage expected.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Explainer-Why dangerous encounters by US and Chinese militaries look set to continue

Chinese warship sails near U.S. destroyer, in the Taiwan Strait

By Michael Martina and Martin Quin Pollard

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - When a Chinese warship came within 150 yards of a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday and forced it to slow down, it was the second time in a matter of days in which Chinese and U.S. military personnel came close to a major incident.

Late last month a Chinese fighter jet flew in front of a U.S. warplane over the South China Sea, drawing a rebuke from the United States.

After the warship encounter on Saturday, the White House accused China of growing aggressiveness. China has said that such U.S. military activity in international waters is "deliberately provoking risk.

Here is why these recent close encounters between the U.S. and Chinese militaries may continue:

CHINA PUSHING BACK

Under President Xi Jinping, China has embarked on what U.S. officials say is one of the largest peacetime military buildups in history.

Beijing is using its growing military capability and economic clout to push back on decades-old U.S. military dominance in Asia. China regards the United States as an outsider interfering in a region in which it sees itself as a force for peace and stability.

A particular source of tension are the "freedom of navigation" patrols in which the United States and its allies sail naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

The United States says such patrols defend the right of all countries to sail in international waters.

China has complained about U.S. vessels and aircraft in the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea close to islands it controls, claims, or constructed and turned into military installations. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) typically trails the U.S. vessels.

Some analysts say Chinese military commanders have been encouraged to act more assertively against foreign military ships and planes.

"I think what we are seeing is likely a general encouragement, maybe even incentive scheme for (PLA) unit commanders to be aggressive when the opportunity presents, which is at the unit level encouraging more reckless behaviour, said Jennifer Parker, a defence expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Other recent incidents in the South China Sea have seen a Chinese coast guard ship direct a "military-grade laser" at a Philippines vessel in February, and Vietnam last month demand Beijing remove survey vessels from its waters.

China said both incidents were lawful and normal.

Its defence ministry did not immediately have comment on the assertion it was encouraging more aggressive behaviour.

This approach from the PLA increases the chances of a collision, which could spiral into armed conflict, says Derek Grossman, senior defence analyst at the RAND Corporation, a U.S. think tank.

"In my view, this is the no. 1 scenario that leads the U.S. and China to war, and less so Beijing seizing a feature in the disputed South China Sea or attacking Taiwan," he said.

ON A COLLISION COURSE?

Making the situation more dangerous are the starkly different views of the U.S. and China about the source of the problem. The United States sees China as disrupting the status quo with its threats against Taiwan, the self-governed island that China claims as its own, and its territorial claims to the resource-rich South China Sea.

The answer from the U.S. perspective is to continue asserting its right to sail and fly near China.

China's ruling Communist Party sees those U.S. actions as provocative and believes U.S. pursuit of military dominance is the real cause of the dangers in the region, said Tong Zhao, a visiting scholar at Princeton Universitys School of Public and International Affairs.

"Chinese officials generally don't see China's own behaviours contributing to risks," he said.

"And therefore their logic is China can only reduce the risk by stepping up its military measures to confront the U.S.'s aggressive behaviours, and to make the United States really feel concerned about incidents. And that's when the United States would eventually take the necessary measures to reduce the risk."

NO COMMUNICATION

Add to this one other problem: the lack of reliable communication channels between the two militaries.

The U.S. military has long pushed China for open lines of communication with the PLA - both at senior and lower levels - to mitigate the risk that accidents become military flare-ups.

China's leaders, by contrast, have been slow to establish military contacts and quick to shut them down during periods of diplomatic tension, U.S. officials say.

China suspended several high-level military dialogues with the Pentagon after former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last summer and declined a U.S. request for a phone call between the two countries' defence chiefs after the downing of Chinese spy balloon in U.S. airspace this year.

A senior U.S. defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that since 2021 China had declined or not responded to more than a dozen requests to talk with the Pentagon and nearly ten working-level engagement requests.

China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Analysts say that China is wary of military talks that could give the United States greater insight into PLA operations. Chinese leaders would also prefer to keep U.S.-China discussions focused on trade and economic issues.

The dangers are not hypothetical, however.

In 2001 a U.S. spy plane made an emergency landing on Hainan island after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.

One Chinese pilot died and Beijing detained the 24-member U.S. crew for 11 days, releasing them only after Washington sent a letter saying it was "very sorry."

(Reporting By Michael Martina and Martin Pollard; Additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Don Durfee and Gerry Doyle)
Photo: Niall Carson (AP)

Metas Oversight Board, the Supreme Court-esque body formed as a check on Facebook and Instagrams content moderation decisions, received nearly 1.3 million appeals to the tech giants decisions last year. That mammoth figure amounts to an appeal every 24 seconds, 3,537 cases a day. The vast majority of those appeals involved alleged violations of just two of Metas community standards: violence/incitement and hate speech.

The appeal figures are part of the Oversight Boards 2022 annual report, shared with Gizmodo Tuesday. Facebook and Instagram users appealed Metas decision to remove their content 1,290,942 times, which the Oversight Board said marks a 25% increase in the number of appeals over the year prior. Two-thirds of those appeals concerned alleged violence/incitement and hate speech. The chart below shows the estimated percentage of appeals the Oversight Board received, broken down by the type of violating content, since it started taking submissions in late 2020. Though hate speech appeals have dipped, appeals related to violence/incitement have skyrocketed up in recent years.

Read more

Screenshot: Oversight Board

The biggest portion of those appeals (45%) came from the United States and Canada, which have some of the worlds largest Facebook and Instagram user bases. American and Canadian users have also been on Facebook and Instagram for a comparatively long time. The vast majority of appeals (92%) involved users asking to have their accounts or content restored compared to a far smaller share (8%) who appealed to have certain content removed.



By publicly making these recommendations, and publicly monitoring Metas responses and implementation, we have opened a space for transparent dialogue with the company that did not previously exist, the Oversight Board said.

Oversight Board overturned Metas decision in 75% of case decisions

Despite receiving more than one million appeals last year, the Oversight Board only makes binding decisions in a small handful of high-profile cases. Of those 12 published decisions in 2022, the Oversight Board overturned Metas original content moderation decision 75% of the time, per its report. In another 32 cases up for consideration, Meta determined its own original decision was incorrect. 50 cases total for review might not sound like much compared to millions of appeals, but the Oversight Board says it tries to make up for that disparity by purposefully selecting cases that raise underlying issues facing large numbers of users around the world. In other words, those few cases should, in theory, address larger moderation issues pervading Metas social networks.

The nine content moderation decisions the Oversight Board overturned in 2022 ran the gamut in terms of subject material. In one case, the board rebuked a decision by Meta to remove posts from a Facebook user asking for advice on how to talk to a doctor about Adderall. Another more recent case saw the Oversight Board overturn Metas decision to remove a Facebook post that compared the Russian army in Ukraine to Nazis. The controversial post notably included a poem that called for the killing of fascists as well as an image of an apparent dead body. In these cases, Meta is required to honor the boards decision and implement moderation changes within seven days of the rulings publication.

Aside from overturning moderation decisions, the Oversight Board also spends much of its time involved in the less flashy but potentially just as important role of issuing policy recommendations. These recommendations can shift the way Meta interprets and enforces content moderation actions for its billions of users. In 2022, the Oversight Board issued 91 policy recommendations. Many of those, in one way or another, called on Meta to increase transparency when it comes to informing users why their content was removed. Too often, the Oversight Board notes in the report, users are left guessing why they had certain content removed.

In response to those transparency recommendations, Meta has reportedly adopted new messaging telling people which specific policies they violated if the violations involve hate speech, dangerous organizations, bullying, or harassment. Meta will also tell users whether the decision to remove their content is made by a human or an automated system. The company changed its strike system to address complaints from users that they were unfairly having their accounts locked in Facebook Jail.

Meta also made changes to the ways it handles crises and conflicts due to Oversight Board pressure. The company developed a new Crisis Policy Protocol which it used to gauge the possible risk of harm associated with reinstating former President Donald Trumps account. While some speech advocates like the ACLU praised Metas decision to reinstate Trump, other rights groups like the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and Media Matters said it was premature. Similarly, Meta also reviewed its policies around dangerous individuals and organizations to be more risk-based. Now, groups or individuals deemed the most dangerous are prioritized for enforcement actions on the platform.

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The Iranian flag flutters in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organisation's headquarters in Vienna

Factbox-Iran's hardline rulers see missile systems as vital deterrent The Iranian flag flutters in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organisation's headquarters in Vienna

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.

Here are some facts about Iran's missile programme, which is one of the biggest in the Middle East.

MILITARY CLOUT

* Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept.

* Iran says its ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 2,000 km (1,200 miles), are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel and other potential regional targets. It denies seeking nuclear weapons.

* Despite U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme.

* Concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles contributed to then-U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers.

* According to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region.

* The Arms Control Association, a Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization says Iran's missile programme is largely based on North Korean and Russian designs and has benefited from Chinese assistance.

* The Arms Control Association says Iran's short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles include Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 300 km, the Zolfaghar (700 km); Shahab-3 (800-1,000 km), Emad-1, a missile under development (up to 2,000 km) and Sejiil, under development (1,500-2,500 km).

CRUISE MISSILES

* Iran also has cruise missiles such as Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon (up to 3,000 km), and the advanced anti-ship missile the Khalid Farzh, (about 300 km) capable of carrying a 1,000 kg warhead.

REGIONAL ATTACKS

* Saudi Arabia and the United States have said they believe Iran was behind a drone and missile attack on Saudi Arabia's prized oil facilities in 2019. Tehran denied the allegation.

* In 2020, Iran launched missile attacks on U.S.-led forces in Iraq, including the al-Asad air base, in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

* More recently in 2022, Iran showed its prowess when it attacked Erbil in northern Iraq with a dozen ballistic missiles, an unprecedented assault on the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

BACKING FOR YEMEN'S HOUTHIS

* Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has also shown a growing mastery of missile technology. The United States accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, a charge Tehran denies.

* The group said it fired a number of ballistic missiles at Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, and had also fired several drones at Dubai, the regional business hub.

* In another attack, a base hosting the U.S. military in the UAE was thwarted by U.S.-built Patriot interceptors. The attack sent U.S. troops into bunkers.

SUPPORT FOR HEZBOLLAH

* The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group has said the group has the ability within Lebanon to convert thousands of rockets into precision missiles and to produce drones.

* Last year, Hassan Nasrallah said Hezbollah was able to transform standard rockets into precision missiles with the cooperation of "experts from the Islamic Republic of Iran".

SYRIA

* Iran has transferred indigenous precision-guided missiles to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assads fight against insurgents, according to Israeli and Western intelligence officials.

* It has also moved some of its production capacity to underground compounds in Syria, where Assads military and other pro-Tehran forces have learned to build their own missiles, those same sources say.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Arshad Mohammed in Washington,Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Christina Fincher)
Fake heiress Anna Sorokin cheated her attorney out of more than $152,000 in legal services, new lawsuit says

Anna Sorokin arrives at the Department of Correction Parole office in New York City, on October 24, 2022. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images for ABA

Anna Sorokin's ex-lawyer filed a complaint claiming she cheated her out of $152,000 in service fees.

Audrey A. Thomas said Sorokin filed false allegations against her to the grievance committee.

Thomas is facing criminal prosecution herself and was disbarred in November last year.

Anna Sorokin, who posed as a German heiress under the name "Anna Delvey," cheated her attorney out of more than $152,000 in legal services, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit submitted on Tuesday.

Sorokin hired lawyer Audrey A. Thomas in 2020 to represent her in her immigration case and to help her appeal her criminal conviction of having defrauded an estimated $275,000 from hotels, friends, and banks, the lawsuit said.

The elaborate four-year scam allowed Sorokin to live a luxurious lifestyle amid New York's high society, which eventually led to her arrest and subsequent conviction in 2019. She was released from incarceration in 2021 and is currently under house arrest in her East Village apartment.

In the complaint, Sorokin's lawyer argues that the fake heiress lied to get out of paying "astronomical legal fees" by filing false allegations against her to the grievance committee.

"The false statements by [Sorokin] against Plaintiffs' interest were made for the sole purpose of causing injury to Plaintiffs and to damage Plaintiffs' reputation and standing, in the community," the complaint said.

It is unclear exactly what the false allegations are. Thomas did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Thomas herself is facing criminal prosecution after she was accused of stealing money from an elderly client several years ago, The New York Post reported. As a result, she was disbarred in November last year.

The disbarment "was not related to the facts or circumstances that gave rise to this lawsuit," Thomas said in her complaint.

The lawyer also said that Sorokin was well aware of her legal troubles when they started their attorney-client relationship, adding: "Anna actually told me that she hired me because she believed that if anyone would fight for her I would because I know what it is like to be wrongfully accused and publicly shamed."

Sorokin fired Thomas in April 2022. She took her to court last year, claiming the lawyer hadn't returned court records to help her fight her deportation case in an appeals court, Law & Crime reported.

"[Thomas] is trying to get as much as she can out of being associated with me and my story," Sorokin told The New York Post at the time.

Sorokin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Destruction: People walk past a burnt-out car in Dakar

As Senegalese struggle with the aftermath of deadly protests sparked by the conviction of an opposition leader, attention is shifting to the impact on the nation's economy.

Two days of violence last week have cost "billions of CFA francs" -- tens of millions of dollars -- and political risk is threatening this year's growth targets, said consultant economist Mansour Sambe.

The West African state has long surfed on its reputation for stability in a region plagued by coups.

But that cosy image has been dented by clashes between the security forces and supporters of firebrand presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko.

Sixteen people died and hundreds were injured or arrested after Sonko on Thursday was sentenced to two years on charges of "corrupting" a young woman.

That verdict was the outcome of a two-year case for rape charges that transfixed the country, triggering sporadic unrest that had already claimed a dozen lives.

In a country that has only a meagre social safety net, many Senegalese live in precarity and eye disruption with dread.

- 'If you work, you eat' -

Magaye Gaye, a 19-year-old toiletries seller at the Sandaga market in Dakar, said he had closed his stall on the eve of the trial's outcome.

Several days without business had left him with almost nothing.

"I have spent all my savings just to survive," he told AFP.

Clothing seller Modou Gueye, 46, was in a similar predicament.

"Clients have stayed away because they are afraid," he said Monday. "We live from one day to the next. If you have work, you eat, if you have no work, you go hungry."

For many poor Senegalese, the coming Muslim festival of Tabaski is a daunting moment, as it requires the purchase of lamb for the traditional family feast.

Some have been badly hit by the government move at the weekend to suspend mobile internet access after it blocked access to social media, since millions use mobile phones to transfer money.

"The banks have been closed since Wednesday," Ady Thiam, a 45-year-old accountant, said while waiting in line on Monday.

"You can't get your wages or your pension. Daily workers aren't being paid. People can't get medical treatment," he said.

"People have so little anyway -- this is what causes them to revolt."

- 'Political risks' -

Further tension seems almost inevitable.

The next flashpoint could be when Sonko -- believed to be at his home in Dakar, surrounded by police -- is taken into custody to serve his sentence.

Then there are the potentially stormy waters of next year's presidential elections, for which Sonko now appears to be ineligible.

"The biggest danger for investors are political risks," Sambe said.

Before the unrest, economists had been expecting growth of nine to 10 percent for 2023, he said.

But with uncertainty hanging over the 2024 election, "the entire second half (of 2023) could be lost", he said.

Sambe urged President Macky Sall to intervene, saying, "He has to reassure the public".

- Spotlight on Sall -

But Sall's own credibility is on the line.

Sonko's supporters say their champion, like other Sall rivals before him, is being persecuted by a manipulated judicial system -- a charge the president denies.

But Sall himself has stoked uncertainty, refusing to say clearly whether he will bid for a third presidential term, a move critics say would breach the constitution.

Of all the crises that modern Senegal has faced, the present one "is the easiest to resolve," three leading intellectuals said in an open letter on Monday.

"All it would need is for one man to say, 'I am not going to seek a third term, which would dishonour my word, my country and its constitution'."

The letter was penned by award-winning writers Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and Boubacar Boris Diop, and Felwine Sarr, who co-wrote a landmark report on the restitution of African cultural artefacts.

Sall on Monday paid a surprise late-night visit to Serigne Bassirou Mountakha Mbacke, the spiritual leader of an influential Muslim fraternity, the daily Soleil reported on Tuesday.

"The wisdom of his advice in some situations can help restore peace and stability," it said.

Meanwhile, Dakar announced it was closing several foreign consulates -- notably in Paris, Bordeaux, Milan and New York -- which have come under attack amid the unrest.

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A Florida judge on Tuesday blocked the enforcement of new state restrictions on gender-affirming health care for three transgender children whose families have challenged them in federal court, ruling that the state has prohibited the administration of treatments even when medically appropriate.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who launched his bid for the White House this month, in May signed off on a law making it illegal for health care professionals to provide gender-affirming medical interventions including puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries to transgender minors.

Those who violate the law risk being convicted of a third-degree felony crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, according to Floridas criminal code. The new law additionally limits access to care for transgender adults by significantly narrowing the pool of providers who are able to legally administer treatments and requiring that patients over the age of 18 submit documentation that does not yet exist.

Three Florida families with transgender children sued the state last month, arguing that enforcing the law will cause irreparable harm to transgender young people and infringe on their rights as parents to make medical decisions for their children.

The families lawsuit was added to a separate legal challenge filed in March against new rules adopted by the states two medical boards last year. The rules, which have been widely criticized by health care professionals and LGBTQ civil rights groups, similarly prevent transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming medical care in Florida.

Another rule set by the states Health Department in August prohibits transgender Floridians, regardless of their age, from using Medicaid to help pay for gender-affirming health care. That rule is also being challenged in federal court.

In an order issued Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle wrote that Floridas bans on gender-affirming medical care likely violate the U.S. Constitution and run counter to best practices and standards of care set by medical experts.

The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset, Hinkle wrote Tuesday. Gender identity is real.

There is no rational basis for a state to categorically ban these treatments, he added.

Gender-affirming health care, for both transgender youths and adults, is backed by most major medical organizations, which say the administration of care is medically necessary and often life saving.

Florida health officials and politicians have accused organizations including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics of falsely recommending gender-affirming health care to further an agenda. Last year, Floridas Health Department claimed a federal government brief on the merits of gender-affirming care was released with the intent of injecting political ideology into the health of our children.

The defendants say, in effect, that the organizations were dominated by individuals who pursued good politics, not good medicine, Hinkle wrote Tuesday. If ever a pot called a kettle black, it is here. The statute and the rules were an exercise in politics, not good medicine.

The plaintiffs are likely to prevail on their claims that the bans are unconstitutional and violate the fundamental rights of parents, according to Hinkles order.

In a statement released Tuesday by her attorneys, Jane Doe, who is challenging the states restrictions on behalf of herself and her 11-year-old daughter, Susan, celebrated Hinkles ruling and said her family has felt powerless since Floridas gender-affirming health care ban took effect last month.

Im sure most any parent can imagine the sense of powerlessness that comes from being unable to do something as basic as get medical care for your child, she said. Today my entire family is breathing a huge sigh of relief knowing we can now access the treatment that we know will keep Susan healthy and allow her to continue being the happy, confident child she has been.

Each of the three families challenging Floridas gender-affirming health care restrictions are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.

Defendants include Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and state Attorney General Ashley Moody (R), as well as members of the states medical boards and several Florida attorneys.

Floridas Department of Health declined to comment on the decision, saying it did not comment on active litigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Family Of Florida Mother Shot And Killed By Neighbor In Tablet Dispute Wants The Woman Who Shot Her Arrested

The family of a mother of four who was shot and killed by her neighbor in Ocala, Florida, has called on the police to arrest the woman who shot her.

Authorities identified the victim as 35-year-old Ajike AJ Owens, who was shot through a closed door after confronting the shooter over complaints about her children playing on or near the persons property.

CNN reported that authorities and Owens family attorney confirmed she had a longtime dispute with the shooter dating back to January 2021 regarding the victims children.

On Monday, Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods held a news conference and told reporters the department has information about the shooters identity. However, no arrest has been made in Owens death.

CNN reported that a witness told police there had been a dispute over a childs electronic tablet device prior to the shooter throwing the skates at the children, according to an incident report from the sheriffs office.

Woods asked the public to remain patient as authorities investigated the shooting. He also stated that the department was working to obtain video footage of the incident and interview the children who witnessed what happened. During the conference, the sheriff mentioned the states stand your ground law and why the woman is not in custody.

What a lot of people dont understand is that law has specific instructions for us in law enforcement, he said, according to CNN. Any time that we think, or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest, the law specifically says that.

The law was enacted in 2005, stating that people can resort to using deadly force if they believe they or someone else is in danger at the hand of the alleged attacker.

What we have to rule out is whether the deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest, Woods added.

According to reports, the shooter had engaged with Owens children before the deadly incident. She allegedly threw a pair of skates at them, which hit one of them, Woods said. However, there are conflicting reports about the object used to strike the children; civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, said it was an iPad, CBS News reported.

A mother of 4 fatally shot after she reportedly knocked on the door of a white womans residence to retrieve her childs iPad. Its believed that Owens children accidentally left the device behind in a field they were playing in, & the woman took it, Crump tweeted.

This is Ajike AJ Owens  a mother of 4 fatally shot after she reportedly knocked on the door of a white womans residence to retrieve her childs iPad. Its believed that Owens children accidentally left the device behind in a field they were playing in, & the woman took it. pic.twitter.com/jfC6JJdQCS  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 5, 2023

Was something thrown at them? Yes, but not directly at them is what were being told now. It just unfortunately may have hit them, Woods said, according to CBS News.

One of the children went back to their home and told Owens what happened, prompting her to confront the lady at her home, Woods said, CNN reported. Owens knocked on the womans door and seconds later, she was shot through the door. Woods said police are under the impression that there was a lot of aggressiveness from both sides.

Deputies responded to a trespassing call Friday night and discovered the 35-year-old had an apparent gunshot wound. Owens was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead, authorities said, per CNN.

Heres what I wish: I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands. I wish Ms. Owens would have called us, in hopes we could have never got to the point in which we are here today, Woods said.

Pray for those children. Pray for each and every one of them, he added. Their life has changed.

A separate press conference was held by Owens family, demanding justice for the shooting death of a beloved mother of four. The womans mother, Pamela Dias, said the shooter had called the family and children racial slurs, and that the shooter never opened the door for Owens. Instead, she shot her through the front door of her home.

My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her. She had no weapon, she posed no imminent threat to anyone, Dias said, according to CNN.

What Im asking is for justice, she added. Justice for my daughter.
Estefania Rebellon, director of Yes We Can, greets students in the classroom that was created inside a bus located in Tijuana. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

When she starred as one of two sisters crossing the border through the Sonoran desert in the film On the Other Side, actress Estefania Rebellon had her first experience of what thousands of people in search of the American dream face.

But cinema is one thing, and reality another thing entirely.

When she was 10 years old and living in Cali, Colombia, her parents came to her school one day to pick her up earlier than usual. They told her they were going to leave the country because they were under death threats from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the left-wing guerrilla group that for decades waged a civil war against the government that left hundreds of thousands dead over more than a half-century.

"The only thing I was able to take was a toy," recalls Rebellon. "I arrived in Miami with what I was wearing.

Seeking to fulfill her dream of being an actress, Rebellon left Florida and moved to Los Angeles, where she began a promising career in the world of film and television. By 2017, she had written, directed, and acted in several films and series, such as "Grachi" (2011), "Husband for Rent" (2013) and "Jane the Virgin."

But in 2018, when the migratory flow reached a crisis point, and dozens of migrant caravans from Central America arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, her glamorous life in Hollywood turned upside down. Something told her that she had to go to Tijuana and see what was happening up close.

And she didn't think twice. In Los Angeles, together with her partner, Kyle Thomas Schmidt, an actor, director and stuntman, she formed the organization Yes We Can, and in less than three months they had purchased a school bus and converted it into a school that was placed on the grounds of the Pro Amore Dei hostel in Tijuana.

The question is unavoidable: Why a school?

When I arrived from Colombia, everything changed from one day to the next and the only place where I felt safe was at school," she tells me with a touch of nostalgia for those difficult days of her childhood. "That's why a school in Tijuana was a way to make life a little easier for these children who have had to go through so many difficulties."

When I visited the Yes We Can school in Tijuana, I met teacher Clarisa Carrasco, who, amid the noise of the classroom, played soft music, as if for meditation, and asked the children to breathe in, and out, as she slowly raised and lowered her arms.

The effect was immediate. The uproar gradually turned into a silence that was only broken by the delicate music. Now drop all thoughts, just focus on your breathing.

Amid all the stress the children experience, school offers them a bit of stability, Carrasco, who has extensive experience working with migrant children from Latin America, told me.

Here at this school, everyone, children and adults, has a story to tell.

Like the 5-year-old Guatemalan girl who hugs a huge teddy bear while describing, in minute detail, her experience of staying in the immigration detention center, known as the "ice box"; the cold she feels when she sleeps with an aluminum blanket, and the little pain she felt in her chest when immigration authorities separated her from her mother.

Or Isabel, a Guatemalan girl with beautiful light-brown eyes who left her town when armed men attacked her neighbors' houses.

The dynamic within the school is similar to that of other educational systems. There are two instructors who teach different subjects bilingually. The children start activities at 9 in the morning and at 11 they take a break for breakfast. The day ends at 1 in the afternoon.

In 2021, the Yes We Can Mobile Schools program turned 2 years old. We were very surprised to see that, despite the global confinement due to the pandemic, thousands and thousands of families continued to migrate, making schools increasingly necessary, says Rebellon.

Between 2020 and 2021 Yes We Can opened two new schools with the same model in the states of Baja California and Chihuahua. The impact has been so great that the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico granted official recognition to its study plans, thus making it the first bilingual academic program for migrant children.

Impressive achievements

In July, Yes We Can will turn 4 years old and will be starting the construction of a new bus in Los Angeles that will be used as a school in one of the border cities. We always need volunteers to help us, the work is never done, Rebellon says with a laugh.

What this young actress has accomplished through organizing Yes We Can in four years is impressive. Here are some data:

She has provided education and enrolled more than 2,800 immigrant and refugee children in her Mobile School Program.

She has provided more than 2 million hours of education to children in crisis.

She has built four school spaces on the border between the United States and Mexico, two in Tijuana, one in Mexicali, and one in Ciudad Juarez. The organization currently operates three school spaces, two in Tijuana and one in Ciudad Juarez.

It has developed its own curriculum for working with refugee and immigrant children and has developed specialized courses for children in crisis and migrants.

The schools serve more than 300 students daily between the ages of 3 and 15, and offer education for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary grades from first to fifth grade and sixth to eighth grade.

The schools work with children of 10 different nationalities including those from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti, Brazil, and U.S.-born children whose parents have been deported.

Yes We Can has handed out more than 2,800 new backpacks with school kits and has provided more than 2,800 uniforms to children enrolled in its programs.

Students play after class. The Yes We Can Foundation cleared the property near the bus to serve as a playground. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

All that work has given Rebellon great satisfaction. In 2023 she was named Woman of the Year by the Women's March LA Foundation. In 2021 she was nominated for the Alfonso Garcia Robles Humanitarian Award by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for the defense, promotion, protection and guarantee of the human rights of immigrants who are in a condition of vulnerability.

A pleasant surprise

In June 2022, Rebellon received a direct message from Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the Department of Homeland Security, and her heart jumped in her chest. It's not every day you get calls like this.

The message was simple: The United States government wanted to inform her that she had been named an Outstanding American for her work leading the Yes We Can organization.

How does it feel to get recognition like that? Rebellon remains very serious as she tells me, "This is a recognition to my family, to the migrants, and to all of us who have come to this country and have contributed to making it bigger and more prosperous."

And although in recent years she has been focused on how the lifting of Title 42 is affecting global immigration, she has not put aside her dream of being an actress.

But I'm not going to lose myself in the glamour and elegance of Hollywood," she tells me with conviction. "I have a conscience and I am consistent with what I believe, so I will continue fighting for each of my dreams, no matter how difficult they may seem."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
There are times in life when things and moments hit you when you least expect it. Monday, May 29, 2023, on Memorial Day, was one of those times. Now for the record, this year was my 54th year as a veteran, and more specifically, a Vietnam veteran. I have been to over 50 plus years of attending or being directly involved in Memorial Day services. Ive heard my share of speeches over the years. I have both given Memorial Day speeches or have heard firsthand, dozens of Memorial Day speeches.

In short, I have heard and witnessed them all. Or so, I thought.

Ralph Fatello and Joe Kutt, both Vietnam veterans, pose for a photo at the Hampton Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 29.

American Legion Post 35 Commander Berk Bennett gave the opening address speech that stopped me dead in my tracks. Apparently, this year 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the end of combat operations in Vietnam. March 1973 was the end of all combat operations in Vietnam. Most of us Nam vets know this, but we never acknowledge it. Like most Vietnam vets, wed just as soon as forget it, then bring it up. But Bennett did something that no other speaker has ever done before. He spoke about the many Vietnam vet members of Hamptons Post 35. And he did it in such a way that he never mentioned a single name. In other words, he painted this visual collage of the many men and women of Post 35 without actually saying their names, but we all knew who he was talking about.

It was an emotional delivery of respect and honor, of his fellow veterans that had most of us in attendance, on the verge of tears. We knew exactly who he was talking about.

More: NH natives who died in Lost 74 tragedy being added to Hampton Beach Lady of Sea memorial

He honored and spoke of them all. From those who served in the many jobs in the Air Force, to the men who served on ships off the coast of Vietnam in the Navy. To the Navy nurses who served in the hospitals, and to the men who flew helicopters and cargo planes in both the Army and the Air Force. He spoke of the men who built the roads in South Vietnam under the watchful eyes of the enemy. And he spoke of the men who worked around the clock providing artillery support for the Marines and Army infantry.

And then he spoke of the Grunts.

The American Legion Post 35 held its annual Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 29.

This really hit home with me, having been a Grunt. He spoke of what it was like for them (us). He mentioned how one of the grunts went back to Vietnam during the last 5 years, to look for a missing Grunt, whose body was never recovered. And he mentioned how one Marine Grunt officer had one of the marines in his platoon give his life after jumping on a live grenade, to save the lives of his fellow Marines. That young Marine received the Medal of Honor. Bennett said, I can tell you, that this Marine, thinks about that young Marine, every single day of his life. We all knew who he was talking about. And so did those in attendance who were close to that Marine officer.

Bennett reminded everyone that 58,220 Americans were killed in Vietnam. Five were from Hampton, N.H., and one was from North Hampton, N.H.

American Legion Post 35 Commander Berk Bennett and Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno at Hampton's Memorial Day observances.

As Bennett was telling these true stories about the men and women of Post 35 here in Hampton, I swear, you could hear a pin drop in that large crowd on the beach, and again at the High Street Cemetery. It was one of the most powerful speeches I have ever heard. And if that wasnt emotional enough, our guest speaker came out, and literally Hit one out of the park with his incredible speech.

Long overdue honor: Hampton street named in memory of Sgt. Desiree Loy

Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno gave an incredible speech on the heels of Bennetts speech.

Chief Master Sgt. Reno (United States Air Force) came out and spoke with conviction and passion. His opening lineIt was April, and the air temperatures were well above 100 degrees and exponentially hotter on the airfield on a base in Southwest Asia. An alert came out that there was an inbound aircraft carrying the remains of American military members, coming from the various parts of responsibility, destined to go home to their families. That opening line set the tone of a speech that Reno would give of how men like Reno would enter these open cargo aircrafts carrying the remains of American service members, in these transfer cases draped with American flags.

We have all seen those dramatic photos of caskets with flags draped over them, as they go through the long process before they touch down on U.S. soil again. Reno spoke of how many of the families of these lost heroes, had not yet been notified of their loved ones being KIA (killed in action). There was a movie made in 2009, starring Kevin Bacon, as a Marine officer escorting a Marine home from the war in 2009. It was called Taking Chance. If you havent seen this film, I strongly suggest that you do. It reminded me of Renos speech. Having known Reno since he was an SRO officer at Hampton Academy here in Hampton, I remember when he was first deployed to the GWOT theater. His wife Kimberly was always involved in the Memorial Day assemblies, and I watched them both raise a family here on the Seacoast, as Alex climbed the ranks at the Hampton Police Department.

I admit, I never knew what Alex did overseas in GWOT. But after Monday?

I now know, that he was with a group of Americans who saw firsthand, what this day, Memorial Day, is all about.

And for those who ventured out to Hampton Beach, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, and watched the parade in Hampton, and stayed around long enough to hear these two incredible speeches about sacrifice and honor, you too now know of these local heroic stories that honor the fallen, and more importantly, how its so important that we remember. Remembering who, and what this day is truly all about.

Those, that have died fighting, in our nations wars.

As the past commander of Post 35, I was never more proud of Bennett, and Reno, as I was on this day. And it was an honor, and a privilege, to bear witness to these two great speeches, on this most somber of all holidays. Thank you both gentlemen. You have restored our faith in not only our community, but indeed, to our country.

Fatello, of Hampton, is a Vietnam veteran and past commander of the American Legion Post 35.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Fatello: Hampton pays tribute to Vietnam War veterans on Memorial Day
A Westwood man is facing charges in the death of his 1-month-old daughter, according to court documents.

Alanzo Berry, 26, is charged with felony child endangering. His daughter, Pryncess Whiting, died at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Friday, the Hamilton County Coroner's Office reported.

Berry's attorney, Douglas Nicholas, said prosecutors characterized Pryncess's death as "sleep-related." Such deaths are usually brought on by unsafe sleeping practices like sleeping in the same bed as an adult or with inappropriate bedding a baby could get tangled in.

Cradle Cincinnati tracks sleep-related deaths. The nonprofit is dedicated to supporting pregnant women and trying to lower infant mortality. The group's 2022 report states that 21% of all infant deaths in Hamilton County are sleep-related.

Between 2018 and 2022, 78 infants died of sleep-related causes. However, it is very uncommon for a parent to be charged.

The Enquirer could find only one other instance of a parent being charged.

Last year, Brooke Hunter, 24, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of her infant son. In her case, prosecutors said co-sleeping led to the death of another one of her children in 2021 and she was warned about the dangers. Hunter's case is still ongoing.

Police and prosecutors did not offer an explanation for why Berry has been charged. Court documents state he violated his duty of care. The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office will not comment on Berry's case until after it is presented to a grand jury.

Nicholas told The Enquirer prosecutors said in court this week that Berry overfed Pryncess, did not burp her and placed her on a pillow to sleep. While experts say infants should sleep without a pillow, Nicholas said he is surprised that this alone would rise to the level of criminal charges.

Nicholas said Berry does have other children.

More information about the allegation could be revealed as the case progresses.

Berry's bond was initially set at $100,000, but that was reduced to $10,000 after a hearing Saturday. He posted bond and was released from the Hamilton County Justice Center on a GPS ankle monitor.

A grand jury is expected to report on the case by June 12.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pryncess Whiting: Father charged in sleep death of 1-month-old baby
Father and son involved in fight over gun in Madera County. One was killed

A man was detained Monday afternoon after he is accused of killing his son.

Deputies with the Madera County Sheriffs Office responded to shots fired around 11 a.m. in the 16000 block of D Street in Madera after receiving a call from a cleaning company employee who reported a family disturbance inside a home.

Deputies arrived and surrounded the home to make contact with the suspect inside. Deputies talked to the man and went inside and found another man who was shot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the suspect was taken into custody.

Detectives learned the altercation was between a father and son.

The father lived at the home and his son was visiting from out of the area.

The employee of the cleaning company overheard a noise and went to help and found the father and son in a fight over a gun.

Deputies said the son told the employee to call 911 for assistance. The employee remained on scene and was cooperating with investigators.

The shooting was being investigated as a homicide.

Schools nearby were placed on temporary lockdown.

Anyone with information is asked to call 559-676-7770.
Fear and chaos as hit-and-run crash kills woman on I-44: witnesses in Douglas' trial

Steven Ray Douglas, right, stands in the 89th District Court during his punishment trial on Monday, May 5, 2023, for the 2018 death of Lorri Garst, 53. His defense attorney, Dustin Nimz, is to his left.

In the moments before a hit-and-run driver sent Lorri Lynn Garst's SUV into a deadly tumble, terrified motorists saw a car aggressively weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds on Interstate Highway 44 in Wichita County.

It was about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 2018, on the northbound stretch of I-44 before the Bacon Switch Road exit. Steven Ray Douglas of Burkburnett was erratically driving a Chevy Malibu in the winter darkness among busy traffic. Garst, 53, of Wichita Falls was somewhere ahead of him, the sole occupant of an SUV.

During Douglas' punishment trial Monday, Joshua Jackson testified he and other motorists were driving above the speed limit at about 80 mph, but Douglas was going "dramatically quicker" before he hit Garst's SUV.

Francisco Ochoa was returning to Lawton, Oklahoma, after a shopping trip in Wichita Falls with his mother, Tiffany Downs, he testified Monday. She suddenly sped up, frightening him because he didn't know why.

Then 17 years old, Ochoa told his mother, "You can't be doing that!" Then he saw the crash that killed Garst behind them.

Later when they were sitting in their car, "I apologized to my mom because she had saved my life," Ochoa testified.

Another witness, Nadia Holguin, testified she was driving through the area with her then 4-year-old son when she looked in her rearview mirror and saw a vehicle swerving from lane to lane.

"I started slowing down because it was coming too fast, and it scared me," Holguin testified.

She let Douglas pass her and then saw the crash happen in front of her. A minivan and Garst's SUV were going about the same speed side by side.

"That vehicle drove in between both of them, causing one of them to start flipping," Holguin gold the judge.

Garst was ejected and killed. Douglas drove on, in spite of the damage to the Malibu, as her SUV continued to roll.

"It was a lot of pieces breaking off of it," Holguin testified.

Ochoa testified that he and his mother followed Douglas when he took the next exit off of I-44. Downs pulled up beside Douglas and confronted him while Ochoa got his license plate number and later called 911 to provide it.

"You realize you hit that vehicle, right?" his mother said more than once to Douglas.

He seemed "not really aware of what happened," Ochoa testified. "He was kind of like, what?"

Downs drove back to the area of the accident where they saw Garst's body shrouded by a blanket, blood on the northbound side of the highway and the damage to her SUV, Ochoa testified.

"It was completely on its side," he testified. "Glass and debris were everywhere. It was terrible."

He was too stunned and traumatized to do anything other than sit in the vehicle with his mom, he told the judge. That's when he apologized to her.

Others stopped to render aid to Garst and call 911.

She had suffered an extensive head wound, and when her husband arrived and wanted to see the body, authorities steered him away from doing that, fearing he would suffer for a lifetime from the sight, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Todd Lewis testified Monday.

On Thursday, Douglas, 61, waived his right for a jury to decide his guilt or innocence and pleaded guilty to accident involving death.

At Douglas' request, his penalty for the second-degree felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison, will be determined by 89th District Judge Charles Barnard. His punishment trial began Monday afternoon and was expected to continue Tuesday morning.

Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Matt Shelton gave a very short opening statement before the judge Monday.

Defense attorney Dustin Nimz told the judge in his opening statement that he agreed that Douglas did not do the right thing, and Douglas took responsibility for that with his guilty plea. But he did not intend to hurt anyone.

"You're going to hear from him directly about how he feels about this case," Nimz said.

During Lewis' testimony, he told the judge how the DPS tracked down the damaged car, discovered with a carpet draped over the damage and a trash can pushed up next to it, at a Burkburnett home.

DPS video shown to the judge Monday captured the trooper's first encounter with Douglas in Burkburnett.

Douglas came outside the home while Lewis was examining the damaged vehicle he had discovered there.

"I was fixing to come see y'all," he said to Lewis.

He told the trooper he can't walk very well and has numerous health problems.

"I have quite a few pills I need to take, and one of them, that water pill, it gives me a blindspot," Douglas said.

The judge also watched video of Lewis' drive to take Douglas in for an interview.

Douglas talked extensively about health problems he was suffering, including an enlarged heart, a difficult bout with bladder cancer, resulting complications and trouble obtaining medical care for two months.

Douglas also discussed his medication.

"The water pills, there's something about them that messes with your vision," he told Lewis.

Douglas said that if he "beat this last one," and the cancer was gone, he might become a preacher.

"God has a plan for me," Douglas said.

Douglas was free Monday from the Wichita County Law Enforcement Center on a $5,000 bond, according to online jail records.

More: Wichita Falls man killed in crash Saturday

More: Man accused of MSU sexual assault has prior rape conviction

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Steven Ray Douglas punishment trial for death of Lorri Garst
A federal appeals court Monday sided with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and kept in place rulings that blocked Biden administration immigration policies.

A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request by the Biden administration for a stay of two rulings by Pensacola-based U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, who said the policies violated federal law.

The policies, known as Parole Plus Alternatives to Detention and Parole with Conditions, allowed releasing migrants into the United States amid issues such as overcrowding at detention facilities.

READ MORE: DeSantis mum on migrant flights as California alleges state-sanctioned kidnapping

In a challenge filed by Moodys office, Wetherell in March rejected Parole Plus Alternatives to Detention, also dubbed Parole+ATD. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security subsequently moved forward with the Parole with Conditions policy, but Wetherell in May issued a preliminary injunction to block it.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys appealed to the Atlanta-based appeals court and asked for a stay of Wetherells decisions while the appeal moved forward. In part, the Justice Department argued that a stay was needed to prevent irreparable harms that could occur from conditions such as overcrowded detention facilities.

The [Wetherell] orders frustrate the most effective measures available to DHS [Department of Homeland Security] to secure the border while protecting the health and welfare of USBP [U.S. Border Patrol] agents and noncitizens during periods of increased border encounters that require immediate action by USBP to avoid overwhelming DHS capacity, the Justice Department attorneys wrote in a May 19 motion. DHS faces an exigent situation at the southwest border.

But in rejecting the stay request Monday, the appeals court questioned the arguments about harms, saying the Department of Homeland Securitys claims of irreparable injury ring somewhat hollow on this record, considering the departments track record of overstating similar threats in the underlying [district court] proceedings.

The departments ability to ascertain future harm is uncertain at best, said the eight-page decision, written by Judge Barbara Lagoa and joined fully by Judge Robert Luck. Given this record, we take DHSs latest claims of impending disaster if it is not allowed to use either of the challenged policies with some skepticism.

READ MORE: Texas sheriff recommends criminal charges in DeSantis migrant flights to Marthas Vineyard

Judge Jill Pryor dissented in part, saying she would have granted a stay on the Parole with Conditions policy.

Lagoa and Luck are former Florida Supreme Court justices who were appointed to the appeals court by former President Donald Trump. Pryor was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Wetherell is a former state appellate judge who was appointed to the federal bench by Trump.

Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis have long criticized federal immigration policies, with the state filing a lawsuit in September 2021 alleging that the Biden administration violated immigration laws through catch-and-release policies that led to people being released from detention after crossing the U.S. border. The state has contended, in part, that undocumented immigrants move to Florida, creating costs for such things as the education, healthcare and prison systems.

The 2021 lawsuit ultimately led to Wetherells March ruling that blocked the Parole+ATD policy. Moodys office then challenged the subsequent Parole with Conditions policy.

Mondays ruling did not resolve the underlying legal issues in the appeal  it dealt only with the Biden administrations request for a stay of Wetherells rulings.

But in a May 24 court document, Moodys office said the dispute is about an attempt to transform parole from a narrow safety valve into a primary processing mechanism for mass-releasing aliens into this country.

In both cases, the district court correctly recognized that DHS may not lawfully use parole as a principal method for processing and releasing aliens who unlawfully enter this country, lawyers in Moodys office wrote.
A federal grand jury will meet this week in Florida to hear evidence in special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of former President Donald Trumps handling of classified documents, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

It is not clear how the court proceedings in Florida relate to the work of a separate grand jury in Washington, where prosecutors had been presenting evidence and witness testimony for months. The development was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Why prosecutors are using multiple grand juries, and whether they are ready to seek an indictment in either jurisdiction is unknown. The Justice Department declined to comment on the investigation.

Three members of Trump's legal team met Monday with Smith and other officials at the Justice Department, a person familiar with the matter said. Neither Attorney General Merrick Garland nor Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco were present, NBC News confirmed.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump blasted the Justice Department on Monday, saying in all caps: How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong, when no other presidents were charged.

Trump's handling of classified documents came under FBI investigation last year when the National Archives alerted the agency that government documents Trump had returned after having been out of office for about a year included 184 that were marked as classified.

Trump was indicted this spring on state charges in New York in a case relating to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and a second woman in the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign. It was the first time a former president has faced criminal charges.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Chemours Companys PPA facility at the Fayetteville Works plant near Fayetteville, N.C. where the chemical known as GenX, a PFAS, is produced, on June 15, 2018.

A U.S. federal judge allowed a delay yesterday in the water contamination trial against manufacturing giant 3M, Reuters reported. The trial was brought on by the Florida city of Stuart, which is suing the company for $100 million for water filtration and forever chemical remediation.



However, both parties recently informed the federal court that they felt confident they could reach an agreement soon, The Guardian reported. The judge agreed to the delay and said that he would reschedule if an agreement is not reached within the next 21 days from this Monday. This means 3M would have to successfully settle the lawsuit with Stuart before the end of this month.



Read more

The city is seeking this settlement because officials say that 3Ms products have exposed residents to PFAS, which means per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Theyre commonly called forever chemicals because they wont break down in nature over time. They also dont break down in the human body. Its also a category of over 12,000 chemicals found in many everyday products. Chemical exposure has been linked to cancer, infertility, birth defects, and more.

Before the lawsuit, firefighters in the city of Stuart frequently used firefighting foam that they believed was harmless. Emergency responders were exposed to it in training and would simply hose it away afterward, local news WPTV reported. But a 2017 investigation from city officials found that the widely used foam contained PFAS chemicals. In 2018, several homeowners in the city received a notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that groundwater near them tested positive for high levels of PFAS chemicals. The city filed its lawsuit at the end of 2018, demanding millions of dollars for water filtration and remediation.

Stuart, Florida is just one of several places currently suing major chemical manufacturing companies throughout the U.S. for PFAS contamination. The lawsuit that would have begun court proceedings on Monday is one of more than 4,000 filed against 3M and other industrial chemical manufacturers, Reuters reported. Just last week, Maryland was one of several other states to file a lawsuit against 3M and DuPont Baltimore Sun. The states attorney generals office argued that the companies being sued should be held financially responsible for investigating and remediating PFAS contamination throughout Maryland. This March, Maines attorney general also sued several chemical manufacturers including DuPont and 3M for chemical contamination, the Associated Press reported.

Other major chemical companies are working to settle the many lawsuits against them, just as 3M is doing this month. Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva have agreed to pay over $1 billion to settle PFAS water contamination claims throughout the country, they announced last Friday. They agreed to pool money towards a settlement fund for about $1.185 billion, CNN Business reported.

Its no surprise that chemical companies are being called to task, and have been asked to shell over millions per lawsuit. Manufacturers have known about the dangers of PFAS exposure since the early 1960s. Researchers from the University of California San Francisco recently published an analysis of previously secret industry documents outlining how DuPont and 3M leadership were aware of employees whose children were born with birth defects. A study released in 2022 found that there could be more than 50,000 sites in the U.S. that are contaminated with forever chemicals. Its likely that this is an undercount, according to the study researchers.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to regulate PFOA and PFOS, which are two very common forms of PFAS. However, there is currently no federal limit for PFAS in drinking water. And 3M itself did announce in 2022 that it would stop producing forever chemicals by 2026. But this is after decades of toxic exposure for unsuspecting consumers that were unaware so many of their household items could make them sick.

Want more climate and environment stories? Check out Earthers guides to decarbonizing your home, divesting from fossil fuels, packing a disaster go bag, and overcoming climate dread. And dont miss our coverage of the latest IPCC climate report, the future of carbon dioxide removal, and the invasive bugs you should squash on sight.

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A federal judge has partially struck down Floridas ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, in a ruling that condemns anti-trans bigotry and debunks bogus claims from state officials.

The ruling from US District Court Judge Robert Hinkle on 6 June grants a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of a law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and rules that prevent a group of trans youth who sued the state from accessing widely accepted care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, as their legal challenge plays out.

A decision from Judge Hinkle, who was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton, follows a lawsuit against the states surgeon general from a group of Florida families with trans children, who argued that the state could not demonstrate any rational basis, much less an important or compelling one, for the transgender medical bans which prevent transgender adolescents from getting safe and effective medically necessary healthcare.

Judge Hinkles ruling eviscerates the states arguments and points to discriminatory language and bigotry that have fuelled Floridas rules as well as similar legislation across the country, condemning the unspoken suggestion running just below the surface in some of the proceedings that led to adoption of the statute and rules at issue  and just below the surface in the testimony of some of the defense experts  is that transgender identity is not real, that it is made up.

The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear. The medical defendants, speaking through their attorneys, have admitted it, the judge wrote.

Any proponent of the challenged statute and rules should put up or shut up: do you acknowledge that there are individuals with actual gender identities opposite their natal sex, or do you not? Dog whistles ought not be tolerated, he added.

The judge said widely accepted standards of care supported by major health organisations and physicians and the great weight of medical authority supports affirming healthcare, and that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in the case on their claim that a prohibition against such care is unconstitutional.

The judges order also slams Floridas dubious claims regarding transition regret and false statements that the state joined international consensus against affirming healthcare.

This assertion is false. No matter how many times the defendants say it, it will still be false, he wrote. No country in Europe entirely bans these treatments.

Jane Doe, who joined the lawsuit on behalf of herself and trans daughter Susan, said in a statement that the family is breathing a huge sigh of relief following the ruling.

My husband and I have been heartbroken and worried sick about not being able to care for our daughter in the way we know she needs, she said. Im sure most any parent can imagine the sense of powerlessness that comes from being unable to do something as basic as get medical care for your child.

The families are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.

A statement from the groups supporting the families said the ruling is a powerful affirmation of the humanity of transgender people, the efficacy of well-established, science-based medical care, and of the rights of parents to make informed healthcare decisions for their children.

The Independent has requested comment from Floridas Department of Health.

By the end of May, state lawmakers across the country had introduced more than 500 bills impacting LGBT+ this year, including 220 bills specifically targeting trans and nonbinary Americans, according to an analysis from the Human Rights Campaign. More than 70 such bills have been signed into law.

At least 19 states have enacted laws or policies banning affirming healthcare for young trans people, all against the guidance of health providers and major medical organisations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A federal judge pushed back on attorneys for the state of Florida during a hearing Tuesday about their claim a new law does not specifically target drag performers.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell did not immediately issue a ruling during Tuesdays hearing in the case brought by the Hamburger Marys restaurant in Orlando but said he would as soon as possible. The hearing was originally scheduled about Hamburger Marys motion to temporarily block the law.

The court battle is over a state law signed in May with penalties for venues letting children into an adult live performance and includes potential first-degree misdemeanor charges for violators.

Hamburger Marys filed a lawsuit in May against Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state, and Melanie Griffin, secretary of Floridas Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The suit said after the law was signed the restaurant told customers children would not be allowed at drag shows and it lost 20% of its bookings. The lawsuit noted the criminal penalties and said the business could not take the chance its liquor license would be suspended.

Presnell ruled that DeSantis and the state should be dismissed as defendants, with Griffin remaining, after attorneys agreed on that at the start of Tuesdays hearing at the Orlando federal courthouse.

Hamburger Marys lawsuit also argued the law would have a chilling effect on the First Amendment rights of the citizens of Florida.

Hamburger Marys has been forced to self-censure, said Brice Timmons, a civil rights attorney representing Hamburger Marys. He also represented a Memphis drag theater in a challenge against Tennessee restricting drag shows. A federal judge ruled the law was unconstitutional last week.

On Friday, state lawyers filed a motion to dismiss and asked that Hamburger Marys motion for a preliminary injunction be turned down.

The state argued Floridas Protection of Children Act does not target drag shows.

The Act does not prevent establishments from continuing to stage adult live performances or deny access by adults to those performances, the states argument read. It merely requires the exclusion of children for whom the performance would not be age-appropriate. And contrary to [Hamburger Marys] implication, the Act does not target drag shows; by its terms, it protects children from exposure to any kind of sexually explicit live performance that is obscene for the age of the child present.

But in Tuesdays hearing, a part of the law that reads lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts was signaled out.

Timmons argued the prosthetic line belies the statutes real purpose.

He argued there were only two people who would have prosthetic breasts: women who had undergone mastectomies or drag performers.

This is a question that parents should answer, Timmons said of if a child can attend a drag performance.

Presnell pressed the states attorney, Nathan Forrester, senior deputy solicitor general, on the law targeting drag performances.

Forrester disagreed, arguing the law might cover drag shows but is not limited to that. He added it does not have to be based on sexual identity.

Presnell raised other questions of vagueness in the law, asking about what defines a live audience and giving the example of a Fathers Day in a backyard where someone was dressing in female attire.

Timmons was optimistic after Tuesdays hearing.

We feel very good about it, he said leaving the federal courthouse in downtown Orlando.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  A federal judge delivered a stinging rebuke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature over rules and a new state law that banned minors from receiving puberty blockers and other types of gender-affirming care.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle on Tuesday blocked the state from applying the ban to three minors whose parents are part of an ongoing lawsuit, saying they would suffer irreparable harm if they were not allowed to continue access to hormones and other types of treatment.

The preliminary injunction does not apply to other minors who may wish to obtain treatment, but the ruling suggests that a key part of the law itself could get knocked down as the legal challenge proceeds. Lawmakers approved the new law in early May at the urging of Republicans, who called the treatments evil and child abuse.

Hinkles 44-page ruling called the decision to pursue the ban on puberty blockers and hormonal treatment a political decision and not a legitimate state interest. Several states  including Texas  have also recently enacted bans on gender affirming care.

Nothing could have motivated this remarkable intrusion into parental prerogatives other than opposition to transgender status itself, wrote Hinkle, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton.

Hinkle also added that the statute and the rules were an exercise in politics, not good medicine. This is a politically fraught area. There has long been, and still is, substantial bigotry directed at transgender individuals. Common experience confirms this, as does a Florida legislators remarkable reference to transgender witnesses at a committee hearing as mutants and demons. And even when not based on bigotry, there are those who incorrectly but sincerely believe that gender identity is not real but instead just a choice.

Hinkles mutant and demons comment is a reference to state Rep. Webster Barnaby (R-Deltona), who in April disparaged transgender people during a Florida hearing on a bill, eventually signed into law, that makes it a misdemeanor offense for someone to use a bathroom that doesnt align with the sex they were assigned at birth.



Hinkle also rejected the assertion, made by DeSantis and Republicans, that Florida was following the lead of European countries, saying that the state ban goes far beyond what is in place abroad.

Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for DeSantis, noted the injunction is extremely limited in scope since it only applies to three children and that the law is still in effect. Redfern also pointed out DeSantis past criticism of the treatments as irreversible and not based on science.

We obviously disagree with the judge's ruling, Redfern said in an email. We will continue fighting against the rogue elements in the medical establishment that push ideology over evidence and protect against mutilating our kids.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs that challenged the ban praised Hinkles decision in a statement.

Im sure most any parent can imagine the sense of powerlessness that comes from being unable to do something as basic as get medical care for your child, said Jane Doe, one of the unidentified plaintiffs who challenged the ban on behalf of herself and her daughter Susan. Today my entire family is breathing a huge sigh of relief knowing we can now access the treatment that we know will keep Susan healthy and allow her to continue being the happy, confident child she has been.

GOP state Rep. Randy Fine, who sponsored the legislation, blasted Hinkles ruling, saying in a text: We will not stop fighting to defend children.

Floridas medical boards late last year first adopted rules that blocked doctors from offering treatment to minors. That change was then placed into state law this spring by the Legislature, which also prohibits universities, local governments and other agencies that access the states Medicaid programs from using public dollars to cover such treatments for anyone in Florida. And the new law makes it easier for patients to sue doctors who performed gender-affirming treatments.

DeSantis last month signed the ban on gender-affirming care into law along with several other bills, including the bathroom bill and legislation that expanded the states parental rights law that blocks classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.

What weve said in Florida is we are going to remain a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy, DeSantis said at the time. Kids should have an upbringing that reflects that.

The new law dealing with gender affirming care also included a ban on surgery, a practice that DeSantis has called mutilation but the ruling by Hinkle does not apply to the part of the law.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support gender-affirming care for adults and adolescents. But medical experts said gender-affirming care for children rarely, if ever, includes surgery. Instead, doctors are more likely to recommend counseling, social transitioning and hormone replacement therapy.
FEMA overhauled flood insurance program for the first time ever. Why states are suing

FEMA began overhauling the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in October 2021; the first time the programs methodology received any sort of changes since the 1970s. The overhaul has now prompted lawsuits from 10 states, including Florida, who say the system will drive up premiums for property owners.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry filed the lawsuit on June 1 in the federal Eastern District of Louisiana against defendants, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, nearly two months after the proposed changes went into effect on April 1, according to the News Service of Florida.

Part of the lawsuit alleges that high flood insurance rates will cause people to leave Florida due to rising costs and depress property values.

Florida insurance crisis? Floridians brace for yet another rate increase. Here's why.

How to save money on home insurance: Florida homeowners insurance rates are rising. How can you protect your home and save?

My Safe Florida Home: DeSantis extends My Safe Florida Home hardening grant. How it can slash insurance premiums

While the agency (Federal Emergency Management Agency) paints a picture of nuanced calculations using massive data repositories that reveal a propertys individualized risks, the reality is much simpler: Flood insurance is going to be much more expensive for pretty much everybody, the lawsuit said.

FEMA claims that Risk Rating 2.0 is a transformational leap forward for the NFIP by addressing rating disparities that include more flood risk variables. Flood frequency, flood types, distance to water, cost to rebuild and other property characteristics are all included in the new pricing methodology.

Policyholders with lower-valued homes may have been paying more than their share of the risk while policyholders with higher-valued homes may have been paying less than their share of the risk, the agency said.

Why did FEMA overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program?

FEMA updated its rating methodology to what it has dubbed Risk Rating 2.0 to equitably distribute premiums across all policyholders based on home value and a propertys flood risk, and set rates that are fairer and more equitable.

According to its site, the organization used the same methodology it has used since the NFIP began in 1970 to calculate premiums. It relied on mostly static measurements and emphasized a propertys elevation within a zone on a flood map.

Florida car insurance: Florida car insurance in 2023 out-paced the national average by almost double

Risk Rating 2.0 incorporates private sector data sets, catastrophe models and actuarial science, in addition to accounting for the cost of rebuilding a home. FEMA says the new model will help level the playing field as lower-valued homes were likely paying more than their share of the risk while higher-valued homes may have been paying less than their share of the risk.

FEMA ultimately believes that the overhaul will make premiums easier to understand, deliver more equitable rates and better reflect a propertys individual flood risk.

What are the changes to the new flood insurance program?

For policyholders, changes to NFIP will be mostly invisible as they are more under-the-hood tweaks. Heres what policyholders can expect to see and an overview of the more unseen changes.

Changes to flood insurance premiums  Rate changes will be the biggest change to most policyholders. Under the previous methodology, FEMA says the average policyholder sees an average increase of $8 per month. It says that 96% of current policyholders will see either an immediate decrease or $20 or less per month increase in their premiums.

Heres a clearer breakdown:

About 23% of policyholders will see an immediate $86 per month decrease, on average.

About 66% of policyholders will see an average monthly increase between $0 and $10.

About 7% of policyholders will see an average monthly increase between $10 and $20.

About 4% of policyholders will see an average monthly increase greater than $20.

FEMA claims that flood increases will not continue indefinitely, like they did under the previous methodology.

Expanding policy discounts  FEMA is expanding policy discounts by making them available to properties located outside high-risk flood areas. Properties are eligible for discounts after owners take steps to mitigate the risk of flood damage to their property, such as elevating a building or installing proper flood openings in crawlspaces.

Updated rating factors  The previous methodology treated most homes similarly, regardless of the homes replacement cost or its individual flood risk. The new methodology is informed by models that account for the aforementioned factors along with private sector data, catastrophe models, the homes distance to a flood source, types and frequency of flooding and other property characteristics.

Florida insurance overhaul: Florida Senate approves insurance overhaul that hits homeowners hard

Home insurance 'fix': Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs home insurance fix  certain to raise costs for many

What isnt changing?

While there are a lot of things changing with the new NFIP, there are plenty of things staying the same.

Limiting annual premium increases  Annual premium increases will still be capped at no more than 18% per year.

Using Flood Insurance Rate Maps for mandatory purchase and floodplain management  FEMA says that it uses flood map data to inform its catastrophe models used to develop rates under Risk Rating 2.0, and that it will continue to use that data for floodplain management building requirements and mandatory purchase requirements.

Discounts  FEMA will continue offering premium discounts for pre-FIRM subsidized and newly mapped properties. It will also keep discounts for policyholders in communities who participate in the Community Rating System.

Transferring policies  Policyholders selling a home can still transfer discounts to a new owner by assigning their flood insurance policy when their property changes ownership.

Lawsuit filed: States join Louisiana to sue federal agency over flood insurance rules

Which states are suing the National Flood Insurance Program?

Florida, Louisiana (including several local governments), Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Virginia, the News Service of Florida reported.

Why are states suing over the flood program?

There are several allegations peppered throughout the 146-page lawsuit, but the rising cost of flood insurance is one of the primary reasons cited.

While the annual flood insurance premium increases are capped at 18%, the initial implementation will increase rates for some customers well beyond that.

While the agency (Federal Emergency Management Agency) paints a picture of nuanced calculations using massive data repositories that reveal a propertys individualized risks, the reality is much simpler: Flood insurance is going to be much more expensive for pretty much everybody, the lawsuit said.

The Associated Press reported that in a lawsuit filed in April seeking access to information and data used to calculate rates, St. Charles Parish officials said the average cost of flood insurance policies there will increase from $815 to $2,766 annually.

States like Louisiana and Florida fear that these drastic rate increases could drive people from their homes, increase foreclosures and depress property values.

The lawsuit also cites the Administrative Procedure Act, which it asserts that federal officials violated by making arbitrary and capricious changes such as FEMAs consideration of climate change, saying it does not relate to the risk a property actually faces today.

How will the new flood insurance overhaul affect Florida?

An interactive map that breaks down projected premium changes by state and territory for the first year can be found here.

The map, which was developed by the Association of State Floodplain Managers and The Pew Charitable Trusts, shows that the majority of Florida policyholders can expect to see an increase in their flood premium.

The table below gives a broad overview of how Florida insurance premiums are expected to change in the first year. A breakdown by zip code can be found here.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Flood insurance changes draw lawsuits from Florida, other states
LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization GLAAD and EveryLibrary, a national group supporting campaigns against book bans, have announced a new resource to help communities work to defeat book bans and challenges, which predominantly target LGBTQ-inclusive titles and books about race and racism.

Book Bans: A Guide for Community Response and Action, released Tuesday, is designed to help citizens organize, create authentic messages, and work with media to ensure diverse local voices are heard against book bans and in support of LGBTQ people and all people of color, says a GLAAD press release.

2022 saw the highest number of challenged books in school and public libraries since the American Library Association started documenting challenges 20 years ago  2,571 titles, up from 1,858 in 2021  and the majority of the books were by or about LGBTQ+ people or people of color. There were 1,269 challenges, most of them involving multiple books, compared with 769 in 2021.

Book challenges seek removal of titles and materials from school and public library shelves, whereas book bans see them successfully removed, Book Bans explains. To be clear, there is arguably little difference  books that are challenged and removed are effectively banned, usually until a period of review is completed.

Writers group PEN America found that 96 percent of book challenges were initiated without the written forms most school district policies require. PEN America joined with publisher Penguin Random House, parents, and challenged authors to sue the Escambia County, Fla., School District, and its board last month, alleging school board members banned books and ignored recommendations from its formal review process to return the books to shelves.

GLAADs guide offers recommendations on how to organize a diverse local coalition including students, parents, teachers, librarians, LGBTQ+ advocates, authors, health professionals, and clergy members; create fact-based and meaningful messages to inform the community and present to school and library boards; engage news outlets and social media; inform all in the community including families, businesses, elected officials and taxpayers about the absurdity of book bans, and the threat they pose to vulnerable youth, and the entire communitys safety, prosperity and reputation; and hold school and library boards accountable to all taxpayers, ensure proper protocol is being followed in book reconsiderations, and demand necessary reforms to end the skyrocketing and discriminatory wave of book banning, the news release says.

The guide also spotlights a successful fight against a book ban effort in suburban New Jersey. Community organizers engaged local mental health and child psychologists, a coalition of clergy, educators, librarians, students, and author George M. Johnson, a New Jersey native whose book had been challenged, to draft and deliver essays and statements shared in local and state news media and social media. Johnsons statement was also delivered at the decisive hearing by Johnsons mother and aunts, receiving a standing ovation. All challenged books were unanimously returned to the shelves.

This guide is urgently needed as communities face a skyrocketing number of book ban attempts across the country targeting LGBTQ books and books about race and racism, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in the press release.

Book bans cannot stand, she continued. LGBTQ people and books about us belong in libraries, schools and everywhere. This playbook to push back against book bans will help communities become safer, stronger, and smarter. By using the power of personal storytelling and engaging media, communities can unite with their neighbors, send a signal of welcome and acceptance, and see challenged books return to shelves. Communities who care about each reader and a future where all can be free must get the last word.

We are proud to support the work of GLAAD in this unprecedented attack on the LGBTQ community,, EveryLibrary Executive Director John Chrastka added. We cannot allow this attempt to erase the lives of millions of Americans through book bans to continue. Thats why were committed to providing pro-bono resources to communities who are fighting back. I know this guide will help hundreds of communities respond to the attack on their First Amendment rights and the rights of their LGBTQ friends and family.
The catacomb will solve the problem of long-term storage for spent nuclear fuel from Finland's nuclear reactors

Deep within the bedrock in western Finland, flashing lights from heavy machinery cast shadows in eerie tunnels that lead to a tomb that must remain unperturbed for millennia.

There is a reason the catacomb on the lush island of Olkiluoto was buried 400 metres (1,312 feet) below ground: It will house the world's first spent nuclear fuel disposal facility.

The project, which aims to solve the age-old quagmire of what to do with nuclear waste, is nearing completion in a region that is already home to Europe's largest nuclear reactor.

The Onkalo repository is designed to house a total of 6,500 tonnes of uranium, covering the spent fuel produced by Finland's five nuclear reactors during their lifetime.

Low-carbon nuclear power has been hailed as a climate-friendly energy source as the world struggles to combat global warming.

Environmentalists, however, worry about their safety and warn that disposing radioactive waste carries huge risks.

Around 400,000 tonnes of used fuel have been discharged from reactors worldwide so far, the World Nuclear Association estimates, most of which is stored in temporary storage facilities near power plants.

But the long-term storage problem has cast a shadow on nuclear projects.

Onkalo's operator Posiva has developed its solution together with the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB).

The plan is to encapsulate the used uranium in thick copper shells and bury the up to five-metre-long canisters in the bedrock, before sealing the tunnel with a massive, wedge-shaped and steel-reinforced concrete plug.

Construction began at Onkalo -- Finnish for "hollow" -- in 2004, and final trials will be conducted in early 2024.

"Once we have established that we are ready, we can then move on to the actual operational phase in the mid-2020s," geologist Johanna Hansen, Onkalo's research and development coordinator, told AFP.

- Final resting place -

The immense amount of time it takes for radiation to decrease to safe levels poses significant challenges.

It can take around 250,000 years for the high-level toxic waste to reach the radiation levels of a naturally occurring uranium deposit.

Put in context, 250,000 years ago Europe was in the midst of an Ice Age and was home to Neanderthals and mammoths, while Homo sapiens had only recently emerged in Africa.

In other words, before the waste no longer poses a threat to the environment or people, the landscape of Olkiluoto island may have changed dramatically.

Posiva insists their canisters are designed to withstand even major changes taking place on Earth.

But some experts have cast doubt on the Finnish-Swedish disposal method.

"It is not a solution, it's a reduction of risk," Jan Haverkamp, nuclear energy expert at Greenpeace, told AFP.

Haverkamp claimed that Posiva is giving "no real attention" to the discourse around corrosion of the copper canister in Sweden.

For example, researchers at the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) have questioned the plan's safety by highlighting greater risks of copper corrosion than previously acknowledged, which could result in leakage.

"The case for not producing more waste is still standing as strong as it was standing 20 years ago," he added.

Posiva and SKB have refuted KTH's experimental studies, and the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has concluded that the plans meet the requirements of nuclear and radiation safety.

- 'Leading the way' -

Allison Macfarlane, professor at the University of British Columbia, told AFP that while no plan is "100 percent safe," Onkalo is "certainly the solution that's received the most research."

The alternative, she added, would be "leaving the waste where it is above ground without a plan indefinitely."

If the nuclear waste is left above ground and our society falls apart "it will definitely get into the environment and affect humans," she explained.

She believes that in a reasonably selected location, the waste "will remain safe for thousands and tens of thousands of years."

"I think it is the internationally agreed-upon solution to the problem of nuclear waste," Macfarlane said.

Locations for potential nuclear waste repositories have been selected in Sweden, France and Switzerland, with Canada close to making a decision.

"Now that we are leading the way, others are following and doing the same," Posiva's Hansen said.

But many projects have faced resistance and locations have been difficult to agree on, such as France's Cigeo project in the country's northeast.

In April, Finland's next-generation Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor, the largest in Europe, went into regular production.

A poll published the same month by the trade association Finnish Energy showed record-high support for nuclear energy in Finland, with 68 percent of Finns in favour.

Macfarlane said "Sweden and Finland have shown us that the technical challenges can be surmounted."

"Other challenges that need to be addressed are the political ones."

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Fired Sacramento police Officer Alexa Palubicki accepted a plea deal Monday, entering no-contest pleas to felony charges of filing a false report in connection with the July 12, 2020, arrest of a motorist.

Palubicki had been scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Monday afternoon in Sacramento Superior Court, with two police witnesses standing by to testify.

But after conversations between her lawyers, Deputy District Attorney Nick Johnson and Judge Shauna Franklin, Palubicki went into a courthouse hallway to make a phone call, then returned and agreed to a deal that could keep her out of jail and result in the charges being reduced to misdemeanors a year from now.

Weve had a chance to talk about it and shes consulted with her significant other and were ready to go forward with the suggested resolution by the court, Vallejo attorney Daniel Russo told the judge.

Palubicki could have faced up to three years and eight months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.

Sentencing will be delayed one year

Under the terms of her deal, she will face sentencing in one year. If she has not committed any other offenses in that time, Palubicki can have the charges reduced to misdemeanors and serve only probation. If she re-offends during that time, she could face a sentence of up to three years and eight months.

Her lawyers were seeking to have her plead to misdemeanors, while Johnson was seeking to have her sentenced Monday to the felony counts with the chance of having the counts reduced to misdemeanors later.

Instead, the judge proposed the deal agreed to on Monday.

The court suggested resolution was that Ms. Palubicki enter felony plea and that we delay sentencing for a year, and at that point the court can take into account any conduct between now and the sentencing and determine if keeping the matter a felony is appropriate or reducing it to a misdemeanor, Franklin said. Specifically, Ms. Palubicki, it would be that you not engage in any criminal conduct between now and the sentencing date.

Palubicki, who was admonished that as a result of her plea she cannot possess firearms or ammunition, remained mostly silent during the hearing, politely answering the judges questions about whether she understood the terms of the deal.

But both Johnson and the judge noted that police officers are held to high standards that she failed to live up to.

Sacramento Police Officer Alexa Palubicki is seen in a social media post by the department on Dec. 15, 2019, during a call for service where officers provided a family with Christmas gifts. Palubicki was arrested Thursday, May 6, 2021, following a 10-month investigation over a traffic stop. The Sacramento County District Attorneys Office has filed charges against Palubicki for falsifying a police report.

Palubickis past cases investigated

Johnson said that once the false reports were discovered investigators looked into other cases in which Palubicki was involved.

We did conduct an exhaustive investigation, Johnson said. We saw a number of cases we felt were questionable, but none we felt we could charge.

Franklin told Palubicki that the expectation of law enforcement is significantly higher than it is for the average citizen.

When officers commit this kind of conduct it really, fundamentally, undermines everything that we strive to do in this building and in our system of justice, Franklin said. Its extremely troublesome conduct.

Palubicki was 26 and had been with the department for three years when she was arrested in May 2021.

She was accused of providing false reports about the July 11, 2020, arrest of a motorist parked at the Jibboom Street Shell gas station near Discovery Park.

This gas station near Discovery Park was the scene of an arrest last July that has roiled the inner workings of the Sacramento Police Department and resulted in felony charges against a 26-year-old officer.

Probable cause lapse tipped off department

According to internal police documents obtained by The Bee, the case began at 12:33 a.m. when Palubicki and her partner, another female officer, spotted a 27-year-old Black man driving a gray 2020 Nissan Altima that abruptly pulled into the Shell station and parked across two parking spaces.

Palubicki was accused of having another officer file a report falsely stating that she saw the car turn without signaling and that she suspected the driver of driving under the influence.

A search of the mans car turned up a loaded handgun and he was arrested and taken to jail.

The man was charged with two felony counts of carrying a concealed weapon and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. But within weeks the District Attorneys Office dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence.

By then, police investigators were aware of allegations that the probable cause cited for approaching the motorist had come under question inside the department.

Theres a lot wrong with this, one officer told his partner as he heard details of the arrest, according to the documents. I dont know about this.

Disclosure of full investigation

Police investigators searched officers lockers, conducted surveillance on at least two officers homes and placed at least two officers on administrative leave at the time.

The investigation led to Palubickis arrest and firing, but the full scope of the investigation still has not been released by the police department, despite a state law requiring disclosure of documents related to sustained findings of dishonesty.

The Bee obtained 100 pages of internal police documents the day of her arrest, but the department to date has released only 39 pages on the city website devoted to such disclosures. On Monday, the site noted that review of additional records remains ongoing.

Palubicki sued the city in March 2022 seeking a court order requiring officials to submit to arbitration over her firing. No documents have been filed in that case since May 2022.
Four restaurants in Vietnam have earned a coveted Michelin star -- the first time the country has been so honored

Vietnam's booming food scene was awarded its first ever Michelin stars Tuesday, with four restaurants selected by the prestigious dining guide.

Three eateries in Hanoi -- Gia, Tam Vi and Hibana by Koki -- and one in Ho Chi Minh City -- Anan Saigon -- were each awarded one Michelin star.

Although there were no stars handed out to traditional street food eateries serving classics such as pho -- a noodle soup -- or bun cha -- a vermicelli noodle dish with grilled pork -- Vietnamese flavours feature heavily among the winners.

Tam Vi largely focusses on northern Vietnamese dishes including ham with periwinkle snails -- served with fresh herbs, rice vermicelli noodles and fish sauce -- and crab soup with spinach, a popular summer meal.

Nguyen Bao Anh, whose mother, Tam, owns the restaurant and named it after herself, said her mum "had a dream of opening a restaurant where customers could come and feel like they were eating a home-cooked meal".

"The restaurant serves traditional food and I think now not many restaurants serve that kind of food that remind people of familiar flavours," Bao Anh told AFP after the awards ceremony in Hanoi.

"This award is for my mum and I'm proud of her," she added.

Sam Tran, the chef and co-founder of high-end contemporary restaurant Gia, spent 10 years studying in Australia before returning to Hanoi, her home city, to push the boundaries of Vietnamese cuisine.

"Through each dish at Gia, I want to tell the story of Vietnamese culture," she wrote in a guide to the ceremony.

"I want to tell the story of each stage of my life, the regions I have visited, the flavours passed down from generation to generation that I have tasted."

In Ho Chi Minh City, Anan Saigon was recognised for its modern take on Vietnamese classics, including a bone marrow wagyu beef pho.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said Vietnam's two biggest cities, Hanoi and commercial centre Ho Chi Minh City, offered a vibrant and varied dining experience.

"Hanoi has a laid back and relaxed vibe, with small shops and restaurants mostly from the Old Quarter", Poullennec said.

"Ho Chi Minh City on the other hand is a bustling and rapidly growing city, which offers a unique energy to all travellers and a very diverse food scene."

Hibana by Koki, which serves Japanese cuisines was the only non-Vietnamese restaurant to receive a star.

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Skhemy, an investigative reporting project by Radio Liberty, has published the first satellite image of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) that has been destroyed by the occupiers.

Source: Skhemy with reference to Planet Labs satellite data for 6 June

Quote from Skhemy: "New satellite photos by Planet Labs for 6 June 2023 show the aftermath of the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP.

We can see that almost the entire building of the hydroelectric power plant has been destroyed, compared to the picture taken on 4 June."

Background:

On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). The dam and the power plant's engine room were completely destroyed. The water is moving very fast in a wide stream. The hydroelectric power plant is beyond repair.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, said the evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas had begun.

The power supply has been cut off in the Korabel district of the city of Kherson due to the flooding that occurred after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station was blown up by the Russians.

As of 07:30 on 6 June, eight settlements and one microdistrict in the city of Kherson have been completely or partially flooded due to the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station being blown up by the Russian invaders. In the afternoon it was reported that 24 settlements have already been flooded.

President Zelenskyy called an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council to address the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine say that the Russians blowing up the Kakhovka power plant will not prevent the defence forces from continuing to liberate the occupied territories.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
All five suspects arrested in the Hollywood Beach shooting. Heres what weve learned

All five suspects are in police custody Monday night after a week-long hunt stemming from the Memorial Day shooting that injured nine  including a 1-year-old child  in Hollywood Beach.

Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., 18, Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, and Jordan Burton, 15, face several counts of attempted murder and carrying concealed firearms. Two 18-year-olds, Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart, have been charged with firearm-related offenses.

Take a look at the timeline of events that culminated in the Hollywood police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies tracking them down in a seven-day span.

Pedestrians and bicyclist move around a Hollywood Police Car as it sits parked on the 1214 block of North Broadwalk near Nicks Bar and Grill after police responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Tragic Memorial Day shooting

Around 6:45 p.m. May 29, police rushed to the scene after an altercation between two groups escalated to gunfire on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk  prompting thousands of Memorial Day beach-goers to hysterically scatter and duck for cover.

The citys web cameras captured the chaos that ensued: People running away from the gun shots, a woman trying to cover a kid with her body and others carrying babies and toddlers to safety.

First responders took the victims to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood. The childrens ages range from 1 to 17 years; the adults ages range from 25 to 65, authorities told reporters near the crime scene.

The names of the wounded havent been released by officials, but family members of the 1-year-old victim identified him as 16-month-old Amari. Another child injured, 15-year-old Kyan Reddix, was shot four times  two bullets to the stomach and two to the chest, his mother Latroya Stone told 7News. Two of the people shot were part of one of the groups involved in the altercation.

Five suspects have been arrested in connection to a mass shooting that left nine people injured in Hollywood Beach (Hollywood, FL) on May 29, 2023. From left to right: Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, Jordan Burton, 15, and 18-year-olds Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart.

Two suspects arrested

Two 18-year-old men were arrested hours after the shooting a few blocks away from the crime scene on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk near Johnson Street. Investigators also recovered five guns of which two were stolen from Miami-Dade County and Texas respectively, Hollywood police said the following day in a news release.

READ MORE: Two arrested in Hollywood Beach shooting. Businesses say security a growing concern

Morgan Deslouches, a Hollywood resident, is facing charges of grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and removing or altering the serial number from a gun after police say they found a black Smith & Wesson inside a bag hanging from his left shoulder. Keshawn Paul Stewart of Dania Beach was arrested on a charge of carrying a concealed firearm after officers said they spotted a fully loaded semi-automatic 9mm handgun inside a backpack he was carrying.

Stewart and Deslouches have since been released on bails of $15,000 and $20,000 respectively after pleading not guilty, court records show. A judge ordered Deslouches not to possess any firearms or ammo as well as to not contact the victims or any other person involved in the shooting. The same judge also told Steward not to return to the area of the shooting and to avoid contacting other co-defendants.

Attorneys for Stewart and Deslouches didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

READ MORE: Two arrested in Hollywood Beach shooting that left 9 wounded on Memorial Day

On May 30, the day after the shooting, authorities announced that three more suspects were on the loose, releasing video surveillance that showed them fleeing from the scene.

A Hollywood Police Car sits parked on the 1214 block of North Broadwalk near Nicks Bar and Grill after police responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Third arrest

A third suspect involved in the Hollywood Beach Memorial Day shooting was captured Saturday afternoon by Hollywood police and U.S. Marshals, officials said.

Jordan Burton is facing one count of attempted murder in the first degree, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

READ MORE: A third arrest has been made in the Hollywood Beach shooting

Investigators say Burton, Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., Ariel Cardahn Paul and others approached the other group before words were exchanged and a fight ensued. Burton, police say, appeared to brandish a handgun and fire at the other group.

Attorney information for the three suspects wasnt available Tuesday afternoon.

A Hollywood Police Car sits parked on the 1200 block of North Broadwalk near the Hollywood Beach Theatre police have responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Fourth arrest

Ariel Cardahn Paul was taken into custody by Hollywood police Sunday night. He faces one count of attempted murder in the first degree, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

According to investigators, he whipped out a silver-colored handgun and, like Burton, appeared to fire indiscriminately at the opposing crew as well as into the crowd before both groups fled in various directions.

READ MORE: Fourth arrest made in the Hollywood Beach shooting

Two 9mm handguns were recovered under the stairwell of a nearby apartment building where Jordan and Stewart were seen, investigators say. A black Smith & Wesson .380 handgun was found nearby in the bushes behind a tiki hut.

The Broward State Attorneys Office told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that prosecutors will review everything before making any charging decisions, whether the suspects are adults or juveniles.

Fifth  and final  arrest

The last suspect on the run was tracked down Monday afternoon by Hollywood police. Lionel Jean-Charles Jr. faces the same attempted murder and weapon charges as Jordan Burton and Ariel Cardahn Paul. The Hallandale Beach man remained behind bars at Broward Countys Main Jail as of Tuesday night, records show.

Investigators say surveillance footage captured Jean-Charles Jr. as he fled from police northbound on North Ocean Drive, where he then turned east on Cleveland Street, removed his yellow hoodie and threw it away.

READ MORE: Fifth  and final  suspect arrested in the Hollywood Beach shooting that left 9 hurt

Jean-Charles Jr., police say, unprovoked, willfully and intentionally produced a handgun with the intent to murder one of the males from the other group  while simultaneously endangering the public and innocent bystanders.

Hollywood mayor thanks police, public

Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy on Tuesday thanked the community for assisting law enforcement and showing that we stand united in not tolerating such behavior in our cities and public spaces.

The collaborative response that we saw from the public, law enforcement, good Samaritans, paramedics and medical professionals highlights the power of unity when we stand united against crime and come to the aid of those in need, he said in a Facebook post. Moving forward, let us continue to support one another, remain vigilant against any form of criminal activity, and foster a culture of care and responsibility

Levy also had a message for parents, teachers and other adults.

It is crucial that we instill in our youth the understanding that if they witness or hear about any situation that may pose harm to someone, their responsibility is to confide in a trusted adult, whether it be a teacher, a parent, police or any reliable person, he said. Keeping our community safe requires the active participation of each and every one of us, and by empowering our youth with this knowledge, we are fostering a culture of care and vigilance.

Miami Herald staff reporters Grethel Aguila and Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
Resident Abdulrahim Brohi says flood victims don't have the wherewithal to rebuild, let alone relocate

Noor Bibi lost her mother, her daughter and the roof over her head in the catastrophic floods that drowned Pakistan last summer.

One year later she remains homeless, living with the remnants of her family in spartan tents marking where the village of Sohbat Khosa was gutted by the deluge in southern Sindh province.

Noor, a farm worker approaching her 60s, prays for "someone with righteous thoughts that will help us build some good houses in an elevated place".

"If it flooded again, we would not bear such big losses," she told AFP.

But government pledges to rebuild flood-ravaged swathes of Pakistan so they are resilient to future extreme weather have largely failed to materialise.

The monsoon deluges of last summer submerged a third of the country, killing 1,700 people and displacing eight million more.

Climate change is making those seasonal rains heavier and more unpredictable, scientists say, raising the urgency of flood-proofing the country.

A failure to do so will be most acutely felt by the poor, who tend to live in the most vulnerable areas.

- Absence of authorities -

Here in Dadu district, which was heavily flooded, no rehabilitation is visible. Rare pieces of public infrastructure remain in disrepair and housing reconstruction is left to locals or NGOs.

In January, Islamabad announced a "Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework" valued at $16.3 billion, but it remains confined to paper.

International donors have also pledged $9 billion, but most of the cash will come in the form of loans.

Villagers' crops were swept away in the floods, depriving them of livelihoods that might have allowed them to pave their own way to recovery.

With pooled funds, the residents of Sohbat Khosa only raised enough for a toilet and water tank.

Their best hope is the Alkhidmat Foundation, a Pakistani NGO, which plans to build around 30 new homes.

"The government seems to not exist here, and if anything is done by the government, that is only corruption," said Ali Muhammad, a coordinator for Alkhidmat in Dadu.

Pakistan is currently mired in dual political and economic crises that have brought all public initiatives to a standstill.

But decades of entrenched corruption and mismanagement are also to blame.

"Building back better is expensive, and the amount of damage is colossal," Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told AFP.

He said he "can't speak to what the federal government has done", but in Sindh province, controlled by his party, "we've started a couple of initiatives".

"One is the financing of the reconstruction of houses, through NGOs and charity organisations," he said.

However, Alkhidmat, like two other NGOs interviewed by AFP, has not received any public money and relies entirely on private funds.

- 'Where else could we go?' -

Thanks to Alkhidmat's efforts, a few dozen homes have been built in the district, but it's nowhere near the two million damaged or destroyed in the floods.

The village of Bari Baital, submerged until November, is expected to eventually host 80 houses built by the foundation -- far too few for its thousands of inhabitants.

To resist future rains they are raised on brick pillars, and built with reinforced roofs and water-resistant cement.

"People are completely unaware of climate change," said village teacher Imtiaz Ali Chandio.

All they know is that their village has been a "passage for floods for centuries", he said.

But moving is not an option, meaning the scenario will likely soon be repeated.

"Where else could we go?" asked Abdulrahim Brohi, who already weathered catastrophic floods in 2010. "Everything of ours is here."

"Somewhere else people won't accept us," added Brohi, who estimates his age to be between 50 and 60. "We don't have resources to rebuild our houses here, so how can we afford land somewhere else?"

- Repeating mistakes -

Prized by tourists for its scenic mountain vistas, the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan was also hit hard by last year's floods.

Hundreds of hotels, restaurants, businesses and homes perched on the banks of the Swat river were swept away as ferocious waters were funnelled down the ravine.

To prevent a repeat of the disaster, authorities have "imposed a complete ban on the construction of any sort of building on the river", said Irfanullah Khan Wazir, Swat's deputy commissioner.

Nonetheless, in Bahrain, a small resort town once half underwater, the government's writ is so weak that builders are riding roughshod over the ban.

A number of shops, restaurants and hotels have been renovated or rebuilt just metres from the coursing water. Even the mosque has been rebuilt on the same spot where it was heavily damaged.

"People are doing illegal construction on weekend nights, but [authorities] are not paying any heed -- their silence is baffling," said hotel manager Zafar Ali.

His own property is under construction 20 metres (65 feet) from the river, in a zone he says is authorised.

It is now protected by a flood wall twice the height of the previous one. Economic considerations also prevented them from relocating away from their waterfront vantage.

"Tourists want to be able to open their windows and see the river outside," Ali said. "Those built further away struggle to cover their expenses."

Locals in Swat also condemned the inaction of authorities. The main road following the river has been reopened, but whole sections of tarmac remain torn away.

Compensation schemes have been limited to certain people who lost their homes. They are granted 400,000 rupees ($1,400), nowhere near enough to rebuild.

Muhammad Ishaq, a tailor in Bahrain, built his house near the river for easy access to the water. He watched as his home was swallowed by the floods, and has since been forced to move in with his father further up the mountainside.

Life there is harsher, he told AFP, but even if he manages to rebuild, he knows he "will have to stay away from the river".

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Flooded South: the consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka dam (in brief)

This article was written and released in Ukrainian in October 2022. On 6 June 2023, the Russian occupiers blew up a dam at the Kakhovka Reservoir. The following text is the English version of the article.

On 20 October 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russians were planning to blow up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on the territory of occupied Kherson Oblast. And the main thing was, they planned to accuse Ukraine of doing it.

This statement was a response to a remark made by Sergey Surovikin, then the new commander of the Russian army in Ukraine, regarding "preparations for a missile strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Kherson and the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant."

Surovikin announced a "strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces", commenting on the difficult military situation for the occupiers in Kherson Oblast. He admitted that the Ukrainian army was breaking through the Russian defences.

According to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, the occupiers did most of the work on mining the dam in April. Over the past few days, the locks and supports of the Kakhovka HPP were mined.

However, in an interview with UP, Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, said it would be extremely difficult to undermine such a structure.

"To destroy a structure of this size, you need dozens of tonnes of explosives, correctly placed. You can't put a KaMAZ [a large Russian-made truck  ed.] somewhere nearby, it won't help," Budanov said.

At the same time, experts began to discuss the real consequences of blowing up the dam, from the partial halt of the Ukrainian army's counteroffensive in the south to the flooding of much of the left bank of occupied Kherson Oblast.

Some experts whom UP contacted for an interview noted that there is currently too little input data to assess the real consequences of the Dnipro flooding.

What functions does the Kakhovka dam perform, what could happen in the event of its complete destruction, and how will it affect combat operations, in particular, the Ukrainian armys counteroffensive operation in the south? Ukrainska Pravda presents a brief summary for our readers.

UP answered these questions with the help of:

Mykhailo Yatsiuk  Head of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Development of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;

Volodymyr Kovalenko  Mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which lies five kilometres from the Kakhovka HPP;

Yurii Sobolevsky  Deputy Head of Kherson Oblast Council;

Vasyl Opanasyuk  an explosive ordnance engineer;

Roman Kostenko  an MP and a military man who is familiar with the course of hostilities in Ukraine's south.

The Kakhovka Dam is part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP), built in the 1950s and 1960s in Kherson Oblast. The Kakhovka HPP is the last and lowest rung of the Dnipro cascade of power plants. One of the tasks of the HPP is to provide water to Ukraine's arid south by accumulating and redistributing water resources. The station's power output is not particularly high, amounting to 334.8 MW (for comparison: the capacity of the Kyiv HPP is 440 MW and that of the Dnipro HPP is 1,577 MW). Since the first few hours of the full-scale invasion, the Kakhovka HPP and the North Crimean Canal, fed by the Kakhovka Reservoir, have been under the control of the occupiers. Water from the Dnipro river was being supplied to occupied Crimea again. Ukrainian employees of the HPP are currently not allowed to work. "Safety measures" have been strengthened at the HPP.

Why the Kakhovka dam is important

The Kakhovka dam performs several functions at the same time. First, it "props up" the Dnipro and allows up to 18 cubic kilometres of water to be stored in the Kakhovka reservoir (the largest full volume of all reservoirs on the Dnipro).

Secondly, it helps regulate the accumulated volume of water to provide water to even the driest regions of Ukraine's south. Two giant canals depend on the water from the Kakhovka Reservoir  the Kakhovka and North Crimea canals, as well as irrigation systems in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Thirdly, the dam of the Kakhovka HPP is an energy facility, as the hydropower units installed on it generate electricity, mostly to balance the power system and cover peak consumption hours.

"During peak load hours, the Kakhovka HPP, which generates a considerable amount of electricity, acts as a kind of stabiliser of the power system. That is, it protects us from destruction and blackouts," Volodymyr Kovalenko, the Mayor of Nova Kakhovka, explains.

Fourthly, there's another bridge along the dam between the two banks of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. It is almost four kilometres long. The occupiers make a great deal of use of the dam to transport their equipment and manpower, even after precision missile strikes.

Is it even realistic to blow up the dam?

Not only Ukraines Defence Intelligence chief but also the military and local authorities speak cautiously about the possibility of the destruction of such a huge reinforced concrete structure as the Kakhovka Dam.

In favour of its strength, the dam structure is still standing after several missile strikes on the Kakhovka Bridge, launched by Ukrainian forces [so as to make the Russian troops withdraw from the area  ed.], and the bridge is still being used by the occupiers.

"The dam is really built with military actions in mind  it is a capital structure with a margin of safety. It is very difficult to destroy it from the outside, it would probably be necessary to use tactical nuclear weapons to do it. But if there is access to this infrastructure, which is the case with the Russian troops, then it could be undermined from the inside.

The weapons currently used by the Ukrainian military [i.e. destroying bridges and crossings in the occupied territories  UP] are not enough," says Yurii Sobolevsky, Deputy Head of Kherson Oblast Council.

Vasyl Opanasyuk, an explosive ordnance engineer, notes that if 5-6 tonnes of TNT (which fits in one truck) was detonated, it would only create a five-metre large hole in the dam. Water would simply flow through it.

It would take at least ten such trucks to damage the dam seriously. After that, the structure may begin to collapse under the pressure of the water.

There has already been a similar case in Ukraines history.

In 1941, the Soviet army blew up the Dnipro HPP dam to stop the advance of German troops. To be more precise, part of it was blown up, 175 metres out of more than 600. As a result of the explosion, a huge hole was formed in the dam, through which water flowed rapidly.

"When the explosion occurred, the speed of the current accelerated much faster. The water [level] could have risen to 5 metres. But it was unlikely to be a one-time wave. The water rose sharply and flowed very quickly for about 23 days. And then everything returned to normal," Volodymyr Linkov, Zaporizhia historian, told Radio Liberty a year ago.

What happens if the dam is blown up?

If the dam is severely damaged or destroyed, the water will flow down the Dnipro riverbed at a tremendous speed. Experts call this phenomenon a hydrodynamic accident.

"There will be an artificial, uncontrolled flood, accompanied by the inundation of settlements and destruction of downstream facilities. This will pose a huge threat to the lives of the local population," explains Mykhailo Yatsiuk, Director of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Development of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

"The spill area will also depend on the water level at the time of the explosion. Now, the Russians seem to be trying to drain the water there," adds Yurii Sobolevskyi.

In the event of an explosion, the Dnipro will spill over onto both banks  both the right bank, where Kherson is located, and the left bank, where Nova Kakhovka is located. However, the left bank of Kherson Oblast will be hit harder, as it is lower than the right bank.

First of all, floodplain areas and floodplain terraces will be affected.

Volodymyr Kovalenko predicts that a 12-metre-high water pillar will rise after the dam is blown up.

"According to Soviet calculations, this pillar of water will reach its peak during the tenth hour [after the explosion  ed.], at which time Dniprovskyi Avenue, Istorychna and Heroiv Ukrainy streets in Nova Kakhovka will be flooded. These streets are located along the Dnipro River [500 metres from the bank  ed.]," Kovalenko added.

He said that the water level on the coastal streets could be a metre and a half. It will begin to subside only seven days after the explosion.

The scale of the consequences

The greatest damage from the dam's destruction and the breakthrough of a huge water flow will be the flooding of settlements located downstream of the Dnipro.

According to President Zelenskyys estimates, more than 80 settlements, including Kherson, will be in the zone of rapid flooding.

There is no accurate data or modelling of the flood zone at the moment. Several Russian and German media outlets, as well as propaganda Telegram channels, have distributed a map (with reference to 2004 data) which shows Kherson, Oleshky and Hola Prystan as potentially flooded cities.

However, some hydrologists have pointed out that the flooding of Oleshky and Hola Prystan is a situation from the realm of fantasy.

Meanwhile, residents of Kherson and nearby villages living near the Dnipro River and the Koshova River are being advised to temporarily move to streets on higher ground in their neighbourhoods. By doing so, they will have moved to a distance of 1,400 metres from the Dnipro bank.

At the same time, the Kakhovka Canal, which supplies water to occupied Berdiansk and most of the settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, is at risk of running out of water.

"This humanitarian catastrophe will affect hundreds of thousands of people, if not a million," explains Mykhailo Yatsiuk.

The problem with the irrigation system in Ukraine's south will also add to the humanitarian disaster. It is not only a matter of next year's harvest shortfall but also soil degradation, changes in flora and fauna, etc.

"This will affect both Crimea and the entire south of the Kherson Oblast. This includes the Krasnoznamianka Canal and rice irrigation systems in Kalanchak district. This will have huge negative consequences for agriculture in the entire region," adds Yatsiuk.

If the Kakhovka dam is blown up and the Kakhovka reservoir is emptied, Ukraine will only be able to restore its reserves in the spring of 2023 (provided that the plant is repaired). Transferring water from other reservoirs is quite unlikely.

The devastation, or at least reduction, of the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir is another extremely negative consequence of the dam's explosion  a threat to the operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. After all, the ZNPP is cooled by water from the Kakhovka reservoir.

How will the dam being blown up affect the water supply to occupied Crimea?

In short, it will be negative for the residents of Crimea, as well as for the occupiers themselves. After all, if there is no water in the Kakhovka reservoir or its level is insufficient (less than the current 16.4 metres), water will simply not flow into the North Crimean Canal.

Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, has said that if the hydroelectric power station is blown up, Crimea could be left without water for 10-15 years, possibly forever.

Why would the Russians blow up the dam?

The experts interviewed by Ukrainska Pravda suggest two reasons.

The first is that the Russians want to prevent the Ukrainian army from crossing to the left bank of the Dnipro River.

However, Roman Kostenko, an MP and military officer, explains that this goal could be achieved much more easily  it would be sufficient to cut off the roadways and railway lines at the Kakhovka dam and keep it under constant fire. That is, there is no military expediency in blowing it up.

In addition, a huge water flow would rush to the left bank, which is currently occupied.

"As long as the Russians expect to stay on the left bank, I dont think they will blow up the dam. If we push them out of the left bank, this issue may arise again," Kostenko says.

The second reason for a possible explosion is the continuation of Russia's tactics to destroy Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

"This hydroelectric power plant is very important for the power sector. Given the volume of water, the potential of the units that are concentrated there... The enemy knows this, they want to destroy it and thus do damage to our economy," explains Mykhailo Yatsiuk.

It is impossible to rebuild a damaged dam under the ongoing combat actions. In peacetime, it would take at least a year.

How will the dam being blown up affect the Ukrainian army's counter-offensive in the south?

Purely theoretically, the flooding of the Dnipro (provided that the Russians retreat to the left bank) will certainly complicate the Ukrainian army's access to the areas currently held by the occupiers. The widening of the river will mean an increase in the distance to the invaders.

However, Roman Kostenko believes that after the liberation of the right bank of the Dnipro (in Kherson), the Ukrainian army will have to entrench itself there and still launch a counter-offensive to the north, on the Zaporizhzhia front: "Conducting a forced crossing of the Dnipro River if the enemy is on the left bank means taking a big risk  there could be a lot of casualties."

Olha Kyrylenko, Ukrainska Pravda

Edited by Ivan Zhezhera and Teresa Pearce

Translated by Sofiia Kohut and Myroslava Zavadska
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida officials confirmed Tuesday that the DeSantis administration was responsible for sending two planes full of migrants from the Texas border to Sacramento as a protest to federal immigration policies.

As Californias leaders continue to claim that the actions could amount to kidnapping or false imprisonment, Florida countered those allegations by posting a video of some of the migrants signing documents, smiling on a plane and waving their hands while riding inside what looks like a limousine or party bus.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management, the state agency responsible for overseeing the relocation program, asserted that program was voluntary as the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis remains at odds with President Joe Biden and other top Democrats.

From left-leaning mayors in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, the relocation of those illegally crossing the United States border is not new, Alecia Collins, communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, wrote in a statement. But suddenly, when Florida sends illegal aliens to a sanctuary city, it's false imprisonment and kidnapping.

The agency statement is Floridas first public acknowledgment of the migrant flights to California since the first one landed in Sacramento on Friday, triggering a political firestorm from state Democrats led by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The DeSantis administration was silent for several days, and the Republican governor, who frequently touts his policies as he campaigns for president in early voting states, didnt mention the immigration plan during a bill signing in Wildwood, Fla., on Tuesday morning.

California, though, has been publicly shaming Florida over the flights even before Florida took credit. State officials say they are probing the state for possible crimes such as kidnapping, false imprisonment or other violations based on deception, misrepresentation, lying or false representations.

Floridas assertion that the flights were voluntary didnt soften the Newsom administration tone, with spokesperson Anthony York on Tuesday reprising a tweet from Newsom saying the video was another reminder that DeSantis is small and pathetic.

This is exploitative propaganda being peddled by a politician who has shown there are no depths he wont sink to in his desperate effort to score a political point, York said in a written statement.

DeSantis and Newsom have long been political adversaries over their differing stances on immigration, LGBTQ issues and gun safety, and the latest migrant relocations could be considered political retaliation against the California governor who has been a constant critic of Florida's policies.

There are a number of different legal theories that we're looking at, but we have got to gather all the facts first, complete the interviews, chase down leads, and then match the law to the facts, California attorney general Rob Bonta said Tuesday, speaking with journalist Jose Diaz-Balart.

Florida pointed to the video of migrants traveling to California as proof that the trips were voluntary. The Division of Emergency Management said that a contractor, likely Destin-based Vertol Systems, safely passed the migrants to a third-party organization  Catholic Charities. The DeSantis administration pointed to other state and local leaders relocating migrants, including Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, Democratic El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California, Collins wrote in the statement.

But California officials have already been casting doubt on how Florida is presenting the migrant flights.

Bonta relayed to media that the migrants were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, where they were told in broken Spanish to board a plane under the false promise of jobs and aid. They were given documents in English and Spanish, but apparently not all of them understood where they were going until they landed in Sacramento and not all signed the papers, according to the Miami Herald.

The people who arranged the migrants transportation allegedly put them on a bus and dropped them off outside a Catholic church in Sacramento. Once they rang the doorbell, they left the migrants on the doorstep, never to be seen again, Bonta said.

A Sacramento-based nonprofit has been providing food and shelter to the 36 migrants, who originate from Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg condemned the decision to send the migrants to Sacramento but said the city would continue to accept and care for new arrivals.

Bring it on, Steinberg said at a Tuesday press conference. You better believe we can handle it.

The migrant flights are part of a controversial program in Florida that first took off last year when the state paid to send nearly 50 migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts.

To that end, DeSantis has millions of dollars in state cash to shuttle more migrants who never stepped foot in Florida. The states GOP-controlled Legislature in 2022 gave DeSantis $12 million to operate the migrant relocation program and another $12 million this year in the Legislatures latest immigration bill.

Gary Fineout and Lara Korte contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the day of Darrell Steinbergs press conference.
Four days ago, 16 South American asylum seekers were flown on a private plane from Texas to California. When they landed, most did not know where they were. But the people who arranged their transportation put them on a bus and dropped them off outside a Catholic church in Sacramento.

They rang the doorbell of the church, and told the group of migrants they would be back.

But they never returned.

The migrants recounted their experience to Sacramento faith leaders, who have been providing assistance to them, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is investigating whether there was criminal or civil wrongdoing in how the migrants were relocated, purportedly by the state of Florida and a contractor of its state-funded program.

We dont have our arms around all the facts yet, but we are looking at criminal and civil liability, misdemeanors and felonies on the criminal side, Bonta said in an interview with the Herald/Times on Tuesday. I will say theres not a slam dunk, though at this time it might develop into that.

At 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Florida officials sent a statement to the Herald/Times defending Gov. Ron DeSantis so-called migrant relocation program. It included a link to an unsourced video that claims to show footage and still images of migrants at different locations. The statement said it showed that through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California.

The statement does not say when or where the videos and photos were taken, who took them or who put together the entire video. And it does not identify the people who speak or whose faces are shown.

Bonta, however, said the migrants were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas and were told in broken Spanish to board a plane under the false promise of jobs and assistance. They were given documents in English and Spanish, but not all of them understood where they were going until they landed in Sacramento and not all signed.

The documents indicated the travel arrangements were on behalf of Florida and its contractor, Vertol Systems, Bonta said.

Theyre going to argue that this was voluntary and consensual, but the entire set of facts, including what they were represented, verbally, what they were told, what they were enticed with and promised,thats all going to be part of the factual scenario, Bonta said. But theyre going to want this document to be their liability shield.

Vertol Systems is the same company that last September sent 49 asylum seekers, most of them Venezuelans, from San Antonio, Texas to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts  the first iteration of Floridas program.

A Texas sheriffs office has recommended criminal charges following an investigation into the handling of those flights. The case filed included both felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, according to Bexar county Sheriffs Office.

California is looking into potential false imprisonment crimes and civil action based on claims that the migrants were deceived, misled and lied to by those who arranged their travels, Bonta said. The investigation, he added, is into everyone involved in the conduct, including Florida state employees,Vertol Systems and any of its employees and subcontractors.

Requests made to the state of Florida to produce public records showing recent contracts signed by Vertol have not been fulfilled.

The Division of Emergency Management, which runs the program, took credit for flying the migrants to California for the first time on Tuesday. The first flight arrived on Friday. A second flight carrying about 20 migrants, all of whom had the same documents tying their transportation to Florida, landed in Sacramento Monday, a spokesperson for the California Attorney Generals Office told the Herald/Times.

DeSantis has yet to publicly comment on the flights.

Bonta said he had not been in touch with anyone in Florida or Vertol Systems as of Tuesday morning.

Haircuts, cellphones and other support

California officials and community faith leaders would not be surprised if more flights with migrants arrive, though they have not been given any notice.

So far, the community has provided the migrants with housing, clothing, cell phones, haircuts and legal services.

We are letting them kind of dictate what they believe their needs are, Cecilia Flores, a spokesperson for Sacramento ACT, said at a press conference in Sacramento on Tuesday morning. Our approach is really enabling them to feel once again empowered.

Many of the migrants are still figuring out their destination. A few have been picked up in Sacramento by loved ones. Others remain in Sacramento, and have indicated a desire to help out in the community, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said during the press conference.

But most of them, Flores said, simply wanted to reach the United States and did not have a specific destination in mind.

The migrants are free to travel throughout the United States once they are released from federal custody, vetted by the Department of Homeland Security and assigned a hearing date for processing.

I had the opportunity last night to meet several of our asylum seekers and what struck me was not only their friendly nature after they had gone through such a journey. More than anything else, while they were grateful for our communitys help and support, they werent asking for anything, Steinberg said.

If more come, the city and county will be prepared, Steinberg added

There is no other answer than to say yes, and you best believe we can handle it, he said.
With the help and support from the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, a high school cancer survivor received a college scholarship. Aya Osman, 18, was diagnosed with cancer at 12 years old after her older sister discovered a lump on her neck.

My older sister flew in from college, she noticed a weird lump, and I was like thats a cause for concern, so once we got it checked out, it was the worst news possible, cancer, Osman told CBS.

Osman went through one round of chemo every three weeks for six months and has since been in remission for two years.

It was malignant, the scans were necessary, but it was also quite scary, Osman said.

Osman dove into her hobbies and interests as a way to take her mind off the life-changing diagnosis. Osman says her mother would bring in her laptop to chemo treatments so that she wouldnt fall behind in her schoolwork.

It was a hard time, but I decided to focus on my mind through focusing on my hobbies, Osman said. Things turned around for the better when Osman was introduced to a nonprofit that helps families overcome childhood cancer through financial, emotional and practical support.

Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation provided Osman the means to achieve her goals of completing higher education without worrying about medical bill expenses.

Since remission, Osman has succeeded at Ridgeview High School, graduating Summa Cum Laude, President of Beta Club, a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Science Honor Society, debate and multicultural club. Osman also spread her time between earth club, college readiness, Future Business Leaders of America, the academic team, and the Senior board. Embracing all that her school had to offer, Osman achieved a spot on the Spanish honor society and was an IB diploma candidate.

In August, Osman will start her freshman year at NYU with a major in biology. She says she knew she always wanted to be in the field of science since she was 12.
Retired Navy commander and university professor Joe Dituri has spent close to 100 days confined in an underwater habitat almost 30 feet below the surface off the Florida coast.

Dituri, who broke the record for the longest time spent underwater on May 14 at 73 days, is still down there, and planning to stick around until he hits an even 100 days on Friday.

And the effects the added pressure is having on his physical body are really starting to show. For one, he noticed that he no longer bangs his head on an iron handle attached to the ceiling.

"I've already shrunk at least a half an inch [due to the pressure]," Dituri told FOX 13.

When asked if he's expecting to grow the height back again once he reemerges, Dituri gave a surprising answer.

"I don't know," he told the broadcaster. "No idea. That's why we're doing this."

The roughly 100-square-foot habitat was built in the early 1980s and was originally intended for tourists to spend a night underwater.

Dituri has been using the habitat to study how the added pressure some 30 feet underwater  almost twice that on the surface  is affecting his body.

According to his own measurements, Dituri claims his cholesterol is already down.

The researcher is also suggesting that since his body is producing stem cells, the telomeres at the end of his chromosomes are growing instead of shortening, a process that is usually associated with aging.

In other words, he thinks spending prolonged periods of time underwater could slow down aging, a controversial conclusion.

"I suspect, and I'll find out exactly how many, but I suspect it will add that many more to my life," Dituri told FOX 13.

It's worth noting that Dituri also runs the Undersea Oxygen Clinic, where patients are subjected to higher pressures inside hyperbaric chambers to simulate a deep sea environment, meaning he has a financial interest in promoting purported health benefits of the therapy.

As the US Food and Drug Administration notes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is already being used to treat health problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning and diabetic foot ulcers. Yet many claims surrounding the treatment remain unproven.

While experts have yet to analyze Dituri's findings, at the very least it's a fascinating glimpse into what living deep underwater does both physically and emotionally.

"The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the Sun," he said previously.

More on the experiment: Florida Man Has Been Living Underwater for Two and Half Months
Florida woman who shot and killed her neighbor after dispute has been arrested

A protester holds a poster of Ajike Owens at the Marion County Courthouse, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Ocala, demanding the arrest of a woman who shot and killed Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four, last Friday night, June 2. Authorities came under intense pressure Tuesday to bring charges against a white woman who killed Owens, a Black neighbor, on her front doorstep, as they navigated Floridas divisive stand your ground law that provides considerable leeway to the suspect in making a claim of self-defense. | John Raoux, Associated Press

A Florida mother of four was shot and killed by a neighbor through a closed door, according to police. Ajike AJ Owens was killed in Ocala, Florida, on Friday, and the woman who is accused of shooting her was arrested on Tuesday.

Police have responded to at least six incidents in connection with feuding between Owens and the woman who shot her, ABC News reported.

What led to the shooting?

Prior to the shooting, Owens children were playing in a nearby field, and the children allegedly told their mother that the neighbor threw an item, likely a pair of skates, in the direction of the kids, incidentally striking one of them. The children claimed that the neighbor also took their iPad.

After hearing what happened, Owens went to the front porch of the neighbor with her 9-year-old son to confront her. According to police, she and the neighbor exchanged arguments and threats until Owens was ultimately shot through the closed door. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, per CNN.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told CBS News.

Suspect claims self-defense under Florida Stand Your Ground law

The 58-year-old Susan Louise Lorincz was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault, The Washington Post reported. She is claiming self-defense under Floridas Stand Your Ground law, and is cooperating with police, according to Fox 35 Orlando.

In a statement, one of the attorneys representing Owens family, Ben Crump, said that the woman, who is white, was yelling racial slurs at the children, who are Black, before the confrontation occurred with their mother, ABC News reported.

It is asinine when they try to justify this unjustifiable killing of this mother of four who was killed in front of her children, Crump said, per CNN. It is heartbreaking on every level.

Lorincz was not initially arrested, and the family of Owens had been calling for her to be arrested since the shooting occurred. Pamela Dias, Owens mother, said that Owens had no weapon and that she posed no imminent threat to anyone, per Fox 35 Orlando.

My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her, Owens mother said at a press conference, per CBS News. She had no weapon, she posed no imminent threat to anyone.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  A federal appeals court this week ruled that the Biden administration still cannot implement certain immigration policies at the southern border, saying the Department of Homeland Security hasnt gone far enough to prove they are warranted.

The Monday decision from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta marks another policy win for Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is spearheading the lawsuit through state Attorney General Ashley Moody as a protest to President Joe Bidens handling of immigration.

In denying a court stay seeking to allow DHS to release some asylum-seekers into the U.S. on a parole basis with limited supervision as the legal battle continues, the appeals judges determined that the federal government failed to make their case, citing a lengthy delay in appealing a prior court ruling and less action at the border than was originally forecast.

The departments ability to ascertain future harm is uncertain at best, the judges wrote in an 8-page order. Given this record, we take DHSs latest claims of impending disaster if it is not allowed to use either of the challenged policies with some skepticism.

The appeals court action stems from a 2021 lawsuit brought by Moody against the Biden administration targeting immigration policies put in place shortly after the president entered office. The challenge claims that federal authorities were ignoring a federal law that requires people entering the country illegally to be detained and that undocumented migrants coming into Florida were costing the state.

U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell in March ordered federal immigration authorities to revamp their Parole Plus Alternatives to Detention, known as Parole + ATD, policies, slamming the Biden administration for what he called an unsustainable crisis on the nations southern border. Wetherell was appointed to his current post by former President Donald Trump.



The federal government has since been unable to enforce the immigration measures, as Wetherell denied a court stay sought by the Biden administration in May before the case eventually headed to appeals court.

The Biden administration, on appeal, pushed back against Wetherells ruling, calling it harmful and alleging that it will lead to unsafe overcrowding at U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities while also undercutting the countrys ability to process and remove migrants, undercut creating dangerous conditions for Border Patrol agents and migrants alike.

But in rejecting the Biden administrations latest stay attempt, the majority of appeals judges disagreed.

The panel determined that recent data from the border casts further doubt on arguments from feds claiming the ruling is causing irreparable harm, noting that contrary to DHSs catastrophic predictions, encounters with aliens at the border fell significantly after Title 42 expired May 11.



Further, the court called into question how the feds waited nearly 60 days to appeal the original ruling, a timeline that brushed up against the coming termination of Title 42.

In this context, i.e., where DHS frames its concerns over its tools in detaining aliens at the border in terms of national security, that delay of several months greatly undermines the departments position, the panel of appeals judges wrote.

The decision was written by Judge Barbara Lagoa and joined fully by Judge Robert Luck. Judge Jill Pryor dissented in part, writing that she would have granted a stay on the Parole with Conditions policy.

Lagoa and Luck are former Florida Supreme Court justices who were appointed to the appeals court by Trump. Pryor, meanwhile, is an appointee of former President Barack Obama.

There is currently no hearing scheduled for the immigration lawsuit.
Florida police arrest four in deadly drug deal, sheriff says, 'You play with fire, you're going to get burned'

Four Pinellas County, Florida, men have been indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection to a drug deal in April that turned fatal.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said on April 29, deputies responded to a 911 call for a man who was shot at the All-American Business Center on Ulmerton Road.

When the deputies arrived, they found 20-year-old Brent Alley laying in the parking lot and suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Alley was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Over the course of a 17-year investigation that led detectives to Los Angeles, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and northern Virginia, deputies ultimately arrested Tyaire Turner, 43, of Pinellas Park; Scott Laracuente, 32, of Largo; Terrell Jackson, 32, of Largo; and Joshua Ashley, 26, of Largo.

SOUTH FLORIDA POLICE ARREST ANOTHER SUSPECT IN MEMORIAL DAY BEACH SHOOTING

A Pinellas County grand jury returned indictments for all four men, charging them with first-degree murder.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The sheriff described the investigation as "complex," saying Alley rented a Porsche in Jacksonville, Florida so he could drive to Largo to purchase $40,000 worth of marijuana from Ashley.

Alley had a drug relationship with Ashley, Gualtieri said, meaning, Ashley was allegedly Alleys marijuana supplier.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference describing the events that led to a man's death during a drug deal, and how the suspects were found.

Before Alley arrived, Ashley, Jackson, Laracuente and Turner allegedly conspired to rob him of the $40,000, rather than supply him with marijuana.

FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRINTS YEARBOOKS, OFFERS REFUNDS AFTER BACKLASH TO 'GENDERFLUID' LGBTQ SPREAD

Jackson and Ashley stopped at Ashleys house to pick up his 9mm handgun, on the way to Laracuentes place.

Laracuente was living in one of the commercial business center units, Gualtieri said, which is where Ashley told Alley to meet.

Jackson, Ashley, Laracuente and Turner allegedly solidified their plans to rob Alley, which consisted of Turner hiding in the stairwell with a gun.

Police car with blue lights on the crime scene in traffic urban environment.

Alley and 22-year-old Kyle Foster arrived at the unit at about 5:45 p.m., and when they went inside, Alley, who was carrying a bag with $40,0000, saw Laracuente, Ashley and Jackson.

PROMINENT FLORIDA FAMILY LINKED TO PLANE THAT FLEW OVER DC, CRASHED IN VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS

Alley became concerned about the circumstances and went back out to the Porsche, where he left the $40,000 before returning inside with a gun of his own.

The five men talked until about 6:30 p.m., when Jackson and Ashley left to go buy food. The two men returned at about 7:10 p.m., and according to the sheriff, Ashley handed Alley his food.

Then, Gualtieri claimed, Turner, who was wearing a mask, emerged from under the stairwell and shot alley.

The sheriff said Alleys milk shake went all over the place, he stood up and stumbled outside to the parking lot while screaming in pain. He then laid down and died.

BODY FOUND OFF FLORIDA BEACH IDENTIFIED AS MISSING 19-YEAR-OLD SWIMMER

"Theres video of Alley dying in the parking lot, and its really sad to watch a 20-year-old kid lay down and die over greed," Gualtieri said. "But, when you play with fire, youre going to get burned, and sometimes you get killed."

Jackson, Ashley, Laracuente and Turner quickly fled the scene.

Turner was dropped off at his home in St. Pete, and Jackson and Laracuente drove to Sarasota, where they dropped of Ashleys Dodge Challenger Hellcat in a parking lot.

Laracuente stayed in Sarasota until the next day, before boarding a bus to Las Vegas, the sheriff said.

FLORIDA TEACHER'S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED IN MURDER-SUICIDE

Jackson, Gualtieri added, took an Uber to Largo, where he met with Ashley. The two men stayed the night at Ashleys girlfriends house, and the next day fled in a vehicle to Los Angeles, arriving on May 3.

The Mandalay Hotel

On May 5, the sheriff said, the two men allegedly left for Las Vegas where Laracuente was. All three men were located by Pinellas County detectives, with the help of the Las Vegas police department, at Mandalay Bay Resort.

Turner fled to northern Virginia in a vehicle and was located by detectives and U.S. Marshals.

All four men are currently in the Pinellas County Jail.

"Drug dealing is not a victimless crime," Gualtieri said, describing Alleys last few moments as taking a round and bleeding out. "Hes not an innocent victim. He doesnt have clean hands."

No charges have been filed against Foster in the incident.
FM calls for release of Scot held in India since 2017

Humza Yousaf has called for the immediate release of a Scottish man detained in India on terror charges.

Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton has been held without conviction since 2017.

The first minister said he was "gravely concerned" about Mr Johal's case and would be raising it directly with the UK and Indian governments.

The UK government said it had consistently raised concerns about Mr Johal's case with Indian ministers.

Mr Yousaf's call comes after a meeting with Mr Johal's brother Gurpreet at the Scottish Parliament.

The first minister praised the "resilience" of Mr Johal's family and said he supported the findings of a group of UN experts that the 36-year-old's detention was "arbitrary" and lacked legal basis.

He also said the Indian authorities had a "choice" in relation to Mr Johal's case.

Mr Yousaf told BBC Scotland: "If there is evidence in relation to Jagtar Singh Johal then of course due process should follow.

"If the evidence is not there and he's been imprisoned for 2,000 days then he should be released.

"I'm very concerned by what I've heard from Jagtar's family in relation to the glacial pace of the court process that is taking place."

Mr Yousaf called for the UK government to use "every lever they have in their power" in order to call for Mr Johal's release.

Mr Johal was arrested in India's northern region of Punjab in November 2017 after celebrating his wedding.

His family say he was snatched from the street by plain clothes officers and had a bag placed over his head before being bundled into an unmarked car and taken away.

He has remained in custody ever since and alleges that he was abused and tortured by officers of the Punjab Police in the early days of his detention.

There have been hundreds of pre-trial hearings in his case and a UN panel of experts found last year that his imprisonment was motivated by his Sikh faith, calling for his immediate release.

The Indian government has denied Mr Johal was mistreated or tortured and said he was part of a terrorist network which carried out the killings of right-wing Hindu religious and political figures in the country.

Mr Johal faces conspiracy to murder and terrorism charges to which he has entered a not guilty plea.

'Clear and unequivocal'

His trial has started but has been drawn out by procedural issues and has yet to hear any meaningful evidence, his supporters argue.

Mr Johal's family say no direct evidence of his involvement in the killings has been presented and welcomed the call for his release from the first minister.

His brother Gurpreet Singh Johal told the BBC he was "grateful" for the meeting with Mr Yousaf.

He said: "He's been following Jagtar's case for a long time, recognises he is arbitrarily detained and told me he'll do everything he can to bring my brother home.

"The Scottish government's position is clear and unequivocal: there is no legal basis for Jagtar's detention and he should be set free."

He said the UK government - which leads on cases of British citizens detained overseas - had the power to call for his brother's release but had so far declined to do so.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We have consistently raised our concerns about Mr Johal's case directly with the government of India, including his allegations of torture and his right to a fair trial - we are committed to doing what we can to assist him."
Ford Motor Co. named Liz Door its new chief supply chain officer Tuesday, while at the same time announcing the departure of three executives in key roles after a fourth top executive left in April.

Door, who spent the last six years leading global strategic sourcing at Whirlpool Corp. based in Benton Harbor, will report to Chief Financial Officer John Lawler starting Monday. Lawler held dual roles since September on an interim basis. Prior to a total of 12 years at Whirlpool, Door spent 15 years at General Motors in purchasing and supply chain roles.

Last month, Lawler said the company "has a lot of work to do" with supply chain and auto parts supplier relations while Ford CEO Jim Farley said good supplier relations are essential to executing strategy. Ford ranked in a 2023 industry study among the worst companies based on trust, integrity and clarity of mission with auto parts suppliers.

"Door comes to Ford at a time when improving quality and reducing costs, including through the supply chain, are high priorities and vital to realizing the full potential of the Ford+ plan," the company said in a news release.

At Whirlpool, Door headed North American procurement for more than six years and then became executive vice president of global strategic sourcing and a member of the home appliance makers executive committee in 2017.

Liz Door, a former Whirlpool executive who also spent 15 years at General Motors, has been hired to lead global supply chain management at Ford Motor Co., the automaker announced June 6, 2023.

"Those roles placed her in the middle of Whirlpool reimagining and developing smart, networked kitchen and laundry products embedded with sensors, software and other new technologies  in the same way Ford is creating breakthrough digital platforms and software for adoption across connected electric, hybrid and gas vehicles," the release said.

Liz brings deep, relevant domain experience  including leveraging the Internet of Things to create great value for customers  from both outside and inside the global auto industry, Lawler said in the news release. Thats an ideal combination for leading a team thats determined to restore supply chain management as a competitive advantage for Ford.

More: Ford supply chain exec departs, F-150 Lightning plant still closed

Door began her career with Prince Corp., now part of Johnson Controls technology, software and services conglomerate, as a resident quality engineer at a Chrysler assembly plant in St. Louis, Missouri. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in business administration from Michigan State University.

Ford and our suppliers will win together by delivering fresh, high-quality products for our customers, Door said in a statement. Were going to expand the use of advanced quality planning throughout the supply portfolio."

Kiersten Robinson retires

Kiersten Robinson, general manager of family vehicles and Ford Blue president of Mexico and Canada operations, will retire effective July 1.

Robinson began her 28-year career in labor relations and spent most of it in human resources  in Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and North America  including four years as Ford chief human resources officer and head of Ford Land. Last year, she moved to an operational role in Ford Blue, which develops, makes and sells gas and hybrid vehicles.

Kiersten Robinson, chief human resources officer, presents to a Ford global town hall from her home in Franklin via Webex on May 28, 2020.

Kiersten uses her expertise in people and systems to find solutions that are good for the business, our customers and our teams, said Kumar Galhotra, the president of Ford Blue. Shes a great listener who brings global perspective and empathy to large-scale change.

Robinson has been "central to expanding Fords attention to diversity, equity and inclusion," introducing benefits such as parental leave for both mothers and fathers. Leading human resources was not without controversy, including a federal lawsuit citing internal corporate emails that alleged Ford targeted high-performing older workers that was settled by Ford.

Robinson joined Ford in 1995 in Australia, her home country, had progressively larger HR assignments during periods of growth in Asia Pacific and Europe, and moved to the Dearborn headquarters in 2002. Her responsibilities shift to Andrew Frick, Ford Blues vice president of sales, distribution and trucks. Fricks operational role will now span all of North America and his general management responsibilities will expand to include SUVs in addition to trucks, Ford said.

Jonathan Jennings retires

Jonathan Jennings leaves his role as vice president of supply chain effective Aug. 1.

Jennings, a point man for Ford suppliers, started as a manufacturing engineer at the former Cleveland Casting Plant in 1993. He has worked in various positions globally, leading "strategic initiatives" and "helping hundreds of suppliers reach and maintain manufacturing readiness," Ford said in a statement. "But the greatest challenges for Jennings and his supply chain management colleagues have been over the past three years."

Jonathan Jennings, vice president of supply chain at Ford since March 2022, had previously been vice president of global commodity purchasing and supplier technical assistance with experience in strategic planning, material cost delivery and overall production supplier cost performance.

Lawler said in the announcement, "Our industry and others have been pummeled by issues caused by the pandemic, natural disasters and extraordinary demand for new technology. Jonathans firsthand relationships with vendors have helped us navigate often severe limits on volumes of semiconductors, batteries and even basic parts in order to best meet the needs of customers."

More: Shareholders ask Ford execs to explain plan for fixing quality

More: Ford announces team shake-up after supply chain warning for Wall Street

Jennings said, "Ford is different from most organizations in that, even though its one of the largest in the world, this remains a people-focused company that cares for customers and colleagues in the best and most difficult of times.

Tim Slatter promoted

Trevor Worthington, head of all Ford Blue vehicle programs, retired at the end of April, Ford previously announced. The company revealed that Tim Slatter replaced Worthington in the new role on June 1. Slatter will be involved in strategy and cycle planning for Ford Blue, Ford Performance and Ford Motor Sports.

Tim Slatter, who took over as head of Ford vehicle programs on June 1, 2023, manages all Ford Blue global vehicle programs and Ford Performance products. Hell also be involved in strategy and cycle planning for Ford Blue, Ford Performance and Ford Motor Sports.

Slatter reports to Jim Baumbick, Ford Blues vice president of product development operations and quality. Slatter has been with Ford 25 years and worked in China and Australia. He most recently was vehicle line director for buses and vans in Ford of Europe and chair of Ford of Britain. Hell continue to direct U.K. operations until his successor in that position is in place, Ford said.

More: Fords Jim Farley addresses automakers financial struggles, plans to slash costs

More: Ford doubles annual bonuses amid worker fury over controversial formula

More: Ford employee files lawsuit claiming workplace cruelty

Dave Bozeman to leave after less than 11 months

Dave Bozeman, who joined Ford in September from Amazon Transportation to be vice president of the global Ford customer service division and enthusiast vehicles product line in Ford Blue that focuses on gasoline-powered products, will leave the company June 16 to become CEO at C.H. Robinson global logistics. The freight transportation, transportation management, brokering and warehousing company based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, recorded $25 billion in revenue last year, Ford said.

Previously, Bozeman held senior transportation, logistics and engineering roles at Caterpillar and Harley-Davidson. On Tuesday, Bozeman's image was posted on the C.H. Robinson home page touting news of the hire.

Dave Bozeman, who joined Ford Motor Co. from Amazon in September 2022, announced his departure June 6, 2023 to become CEO of C.H. Robinson, a freight transportation, transportation management, brokerage and warehousing company based in Minnesota.

Im grateful to Ford and my colleagues for their generosity and teamwork this past year and could not be more confident about the companys plan and prospects for success, Bozeman said. My experiences here will be invaluable as I help another great global company with its next phase of growth.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford names Liz Door from Whirlpool, GM chief supply chain officer
Former KTVU anchor Frank Somerville was arrested twice in one night after domestic disturbances at his family's home in Berkeley, authorities said. (Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images)

Former Bay Area news anchor Frank Somerville, who has spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues, was arrested twice in one night after domestic disturbances at his family's home in Berkeley, according to authorities.

Officers responded about 6:36 p.m. Monday to a "family altercation" at a home on Indian Rock Avenue, the Berkeley Police Department said in a news release. Officers detained Somerville and spoke with all parties, determining that Somerville was "intoxicated and showed up regarding ongoing family issues at the residence."

Somerville was told to leave by family members but refused, and a physical altercation broke out after he threatened one person, according to police. Both parties suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene by Berkeley Fire Department personnel and released.

Somerville's brother Mark told the Berkeley Scanner that Somerville had shown up at the house and threatened their 91-year-old father. When Mark told him to leave, he said, they got into a fight outside the home and Mark detained Somerville until officers arrived.

Frank Somerville has spoken publicly about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues. (Berkeley Police Department)

Somerville was arrested on suspicion of criminal threats, public intoxication, assault and violating probation, and was taken to the Berkeley jail, authorities said.

About 3:26 a.m., police received another call from the home on Indian Rock Avenue saying that Somerville had returned and was ringing the doorbell.

Somerville had gone back to the house to get his car after being released from jail, left and returned again to retrieve something he had lost the night before, police said. Somerville kept ringing the doorbell until one of his family members called the police.

Officers found Somerville sitting in his car and showing "objective signs and symptoms of public intoxication," authorities said. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and violating his probation, and was taken back to the Berkeley jail.

As of Tuesday morning, he remained in custody and had been transferred to Santa Rita Jail, an Alameda County lockup.

Somerville was an anchor for KTVU-TV Channel 2, a Fox affiliate based in Oakland, for three decades. In June 2021, Somerville took a leave of absence after he appeared to slur his words on-air and struggled to read the script. He said later in a Facebook post that he had taken two Ambien pills by accident.

A few months later, after Gabby Petito was killed by her fiance on a cross-country trip, Somerville was suspended for defying his supervisors by attempting to add racial commentary to a broadcast script about the case, noting that Black women are far more likely to be killed in domestic violence but almost never receive national media attention.

In December 2021, Somerville was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a car collision in Oakland. KTVU decided not to renew Somerville's contract.

Somerville said in a December 2022 post on Facebook that he didn't believe that the DUI had any bearing on KTVU's decision to let him go. He attributed that decision to "a disagreement" and said it came after "an accumulation of a lot of different things, including serious mental health issues."

Covering the killings of young people in Oakland made him feel like he had post-traumatic stress disorder, he said, adding that he "really needed someone to talk to."

"But the last thing I was going to do was tell the station that I was hurting," he wrote. "Main anchors dont do that. So I tried to deal with it on my own [with] prescription drugs [and] alcohol. It was the worst decision I ever made but I felt that I had no other choice."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Former California prison guard who allegedly called inmate 'girlfriend' is convicted of sexual misconduct

Former California prison guard who allegedly called inmate 'girlfriend' is convicted of sexual misconduct

A former California federal correctional officer whom prosecutors allege had started calling a female inmate "his girlfriend" has been found guilty of sexual misconduct.

John Bellhouse, 40, is now set to be sentenced in August after being convicted this week of five counts of sexual abuse involving two women at FCI Dublin, outside of Oakland, between 2019 and 2020.

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Bellhouse "began to express an interest in a particular female inmate and started calling the inmate his girlfriend" in 2020. Authorities said he inappropriately touched the woman and that she performed oral sex on Bellhouse twice in the prisons safety office.

Prosecutors also said Bellhouse allowed one woman to use an office phone -- a violation of Bureau of Prisons policy -- and gave her earrings. Another inmate was tasked to act like a lookout during at least one of the sexual encounters, according to prosecutors.

FORMER CALIFORNIA PRISON OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 13 FEMALE INMATES OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS

"My clients feel heard," Jessica Heard, a civil attorney representing one of the women, told KTVU. "Thank you to the jury for listening to their voices and delivering justice. Change is happening... Regardless of a prisoner's crime, sexual assault is not part of their punishment."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Bellhouse is the sixth employee at FCI Dublin to be charged with sexually abusing inmates, according to The Associated Press.

FCI Dublin is exclusively a women's minimum-security prison and houses 1,235 inmates.

In December, former warden Ray Garcia was found guilty of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose naked in cells and has since been sentenced to six years behind bars, the news agency reports.

FEDERAL PRISON WORKER IN CALIFORNIA PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ABUSING INMATES

When the verdict was read against Bellhouse on Monday, he had tears in his eyes, a juror said to KTVU.

During both the Bellhouse and Garcia trials, the defense tried to argue that the female inmates were lying and convicted felons whose testimony could not be trusted, KTVU reported.

The station also said in Bellhouses trial, his lawyers argued the female inmates were motivated to make money off civil cases against him, while others gave testimony to prevent being deported from the U.S.

A cell at FCI Dublin is seen in March 2000.

However, a Bellhouse trial juror who spoke on condition of anonymity told KTVU "we just didnt buy it."

FCI Dublin is located in the California Bay Area, about 20 miles east of Oakland.

Fox News Jessica Napoli and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, center, poses for a selfie after a town hall style meeting at New England College, April 20, 2023, in Henniker, N.H. Christie is set to launch his campaign for the White House at a town hall in New Hampshire on June 6. He's cast himself as the only candidate willing to directly take on former President Donald Trump.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump while launching his presidential campaign on Tuesday, calling the former president and current Republican primary front-runner a lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog" and arguing that he's the only one who can stop him.

A onetime federal prosecutor, Christie was among the crowded field of 2016 Republican presidential candidates steamrolled by Trump. Now that Trump is running for the White House a third time, this year's crop of rivals have no choice but to criticize him relentlessly, or risk political history repeating itself, Christie says.

Kicking off his campaign with a town hall at Saint Anselm College, Christie suggested that other top Republicans have been afraid to challenge Trump or even mention his name much while campaigning  but made it clear he had no such qualms.

A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader, Christie said, adding, The person I am talking about, who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault, who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong  but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right  is Donald Trump."

Christie enters a growing primary field that already includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will be formally launching his own campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.

Mere weeks after dropping out of the 2016 race, Christie became the first sitting governor and former rival to endorse Trump. He went on to become a close off-and-on adviser before finally breaking with Trump over his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

During his time as governor, Christie established a reputation as a fighter with a knack for creating viral moments of confrontation. But he faces an uphill battle to the nomination in a party that remains closely aligned with the former president, despite Trumps reelection loss in 2020 and Republicans poorer-than-expected showing in the 2022 midterm elections.

Anti-Trump Republicans are particularly eager to see Christie spar with Trump on a debate stage. But that happen only if Trump agrees to participate in primary debates and Christie meets the stringent fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee for participation.

JP Marzullo, a former state representative and former vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, previously backed Trump but is now supporting Christie.

I think hell actually unite some of the voters, and hell get to independents, Marzullo said of the former governor, adding, I think its time for a change.

Christie began criticizing Trump by name mere moments into his half-hour speech Tuesday, saying the former president had made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting us one against the other.

He also said President Joe Biden is doing the same thing, just on the other side. Christie noted that he'd known Biden for decades and that he was a nice guy, but said that the president is out of his depth because hes not the guy he used to be, referencing the 80-year-old Biden's advanced age.

But Christie's chief target was Trump.

Theres a big argument in our country right now about whether character matters, and we have leaders who have shown us over and over again that not only are they devoid of character, they dont care. Christie said. We cant dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve, and we will have to own it.

Christie advisers are planning a nontraditional, nationally focused campaign based on earned media attention, instead of focusing on specific states. Their candidate said staying aggressive against Trump was key and scoffed Tuesday at what he said were Trump's failed promises, including a pledge to wall off the entire southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for it.

The reason Im going after Trump is twofold," Christie said. "One, he deserves it. And two, its the way to win.

Christie will test the appetite among Republican voters for someone who has expressed support for many of Trump's policies but has criticized the former president's conduct. The former governor has urged the party to move on or risk future losses.

Other Republicans with similar views, including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, have opted against their own campaigns, expressing concerns that having more candidates in the race will only benefit Trump.

Christie was at one point seen as one of the Republican Partys brightest political stars as the popular Republican governor of a Democratic state. But despite persistent urging from top donors and party officials, he declined to run for president in 2012. By the time he announced in 2016, his reputation had been tarnished by the Bridgegate scandal in which aides were accused of wreaking traffic havoc in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in an apparent effort to punish the citys mayor for failing to endorse his reelection bid.

The former governor has known Trump for nearly 20 years but their relationship has been complicated. Christie was on the shortlist to serve as Trumps vice president, oversaw Trumps early White House transition efforts, said he was offered  and turned down  multiple Cabinet positions, and helped Trump prepare for each of his general election debates in 2016 and 2020.

But Christie also clashed with Trump at times and has described the former presidents refusal to accept his 2020 election loss to Biden as a breaking point.

Christie opting to start his 2024 bid at a New Hampshire town hall recalled his first run at the White House, when he focused on the state, holding dozens of New Hampshire town hall events only to finish sixth in its primary. He dropped out of that race shortly afterward.

After his speech Tuesday, Christie took extended questions from the audience  a common occurrence in early voting states that DeSantis was hesitant to do when launching his campaign. Christie also talked openly about his underwhelming 2016 performance, despite concentrating so heavily on New Hampshire.

I lost," Christie laughed. "You people did that to me in 2016.

___

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press Writer Will Weissert contributed to this story from Washington.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has officially joined the 2024 presidential race, after filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.

Christie is expected to formally announce his bid for the nation's highest office Tuesday during a 6:30 p.m. town hall at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Though the state flat-out rejected him in 2016, when Christie last ran for president, it's expected to play a central role in his 2024 strategy.

The former governor is also expected to participate in a CNN town hall event next week, taking questions from anchor Anderson Cooper and an audience of voters.

In a growing GOP primary field, Christie, 60, has sought to set himself apart from other Republican candidates by vocally criticizing the party's front-runner: former President Donald Trump.

He undermined our democracy. And the only reason he undermined our democracy was because he was pissed, Christie said of Trump's repeated false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election and attempts to overturn his loss. He undermined our democracy because he was angry we didnt reelect him."

The former New Jersey governor has taken aim at other GOP candidates for failing to challenge Trump, likening the former president to the Harry Potter series villain Lord Voldemort, whose name is rarely spoken out of fear. Christie backed Trump in 2016 and 2020 but said he stopped supporting the former president when he started to claim the election had been stolen.

Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, criticized Christies previous support of Trump in a statement on Tuesday.

"Nothing he says can change the fact that Chris Christie is just another power-hungry extremist in the rapidly growing field of Republicans willing to say anything to capture the MAGA base, Harrison said.

Despite his brash style of politics and willingness to take Trump to task, Christie enters the 2024 race behind other candidates, seeing no more than 3% support in any national poll of Republican voters to date.

Who is Chris Christie?

Before he was elected as New Jersey's 55th governor, Christie was appointed U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey by former President George W. Bush. Serving in that role from 2002 to 2008, he earned a reputation for being tough on corruption.

Christie served two full terms as New Jersey's governor before leaving office in 2018. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he graduated from both the University of Delaware and Seton Hall University School of Law.

Criminal justice reform, immigration: What are Christie's views?

Christie is a Republican. It's not yet clear which key issues the former governor will campaign on heading into 2024.

But in 2016, Christie called for criminal justice reform focused on community policing efforts and ex-offender rehabilitation, a stronger national defense and a secure border.

Has Christie run for president before?

Yes. Christie ran for president in 2016 unsuccessfully, dropping out of the race after coming in sixth in New Hampshire, an early primary state.

"I tried to reinforce what I have always believed  that speaking your mind matters, that experience matters, that competence matters and that it will always matter in leading our nation," Christie said at the time.

Christie intends to focus much of his campaign on winning over New Hampshire voters, a tactic that could clear the path for Christie's campaign in a crowded GOP field.

New Hampshire: Chris Christie wants to take down Donald Trump: Why New Hampshire could be key in 2024

What is Christie's 2024 pitch to voters?

In 2016, Christie's campaign slogan was "Telling It Like It Is." He's diving into the 2024 race with a similar approach, pitching himself to voters as a no-nonsense, straight-talking candidate who's willing to stand up to Trump.

The former governor frequently bashes Trump in interviews and on social media, from taking aim at his "bravado" over his indictment in a New York hush money case to calling him "Putin's Puppet." Christie supported Trump in 2016 and 2020 but has said he withdrew his support after Trump began making false claims of election fraud following the 2020 race for the White House.

Anything else?

In 2014, while he was still New Jersey's governor, Christie was implicated in a local scandal dubbed "Bridgegate."

Aides once closed part of the state's George Washington Bridge, which created a massive traffic jam in a city led by a Democratic mayor who had opposed Christie. Christie denied authorizing the incident and fired aides who were involved.

The aides  Bridget Anne Kelly, Christies former deputy chief of staff, and William Baroni, the former governors top political appointment at the Port Authority  were in 2016 convicted of fraud and conspiracy and faced prison sentences for helping to orchestrate the massive gridlock during portions of five days in September 2013. But in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdicts in a unanimous decision.

"The evidence the jury heard no doubt shows wrongdoing  deception, corruption, abuse of power," Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said in a 13-page opinion. "But the federal fraud statutes at issue do not criminalize all such conduct."

Contributing: David Jackson, USA TODAY; Mike Kelly, NorthJersey.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christie is running for president, setting up 2024 face off with Trump
A brown gavel is struck against a sound block in the foreground, with the out-of-focus blur of a suited man in the background.

A former Grady County jail guard has been ordered to serve four years on probation after pleading guilty in an excessive force case.

Johnnie K. Drewery, 29, a former sergeant at the jail, also must serve 30 days of weekend incarceration and 104 hours of community service.

On July 11, 2020, Drewery and other detention officers placed an inmate into a holding cell at the Grady County jail in Chickasha.

Court documents reveal that as the cell door closed, the inmate spit on Drewery. Drewery then yelled for the door to be reopened.

Drewery entered the cell and struck and repeatedly kneed the inmate, causing a fractured rib.

On Jan. 19, 2022, Drewery pleaded guilty in Oklahoma City federal court to a felony civil rights violation.

Former Sergeant Drewery violated the public trust and the laws he was sworn to uphold when he assaulted a man entrusted to his care, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma said in a statement. Being a correctional officer did not make him above the law. My office remains committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Oklahomans  including those who are incarcerated.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Oklahoma jail sergeant sentenced in excessive force case
Former opponents Josh Kaul, Eric Toney make joint plea for state crime labs funding. Here is their case to lawmakers.

MADISON  After running against each other last fall, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul and Republican Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney joined forces Tuesday to call on state lawmakers to increase state budget funding for Wisconsins crime evidence labs.

Kaul and Toneys appearance was a stark shift from heated rhetoric on the campaign trail last year, where Toney described Kaul's handling of the crime labs as an "abysmal failure." But the two agreed Tuesday that the states current system for processing forensic evidence in criminal cases needs more staff to keep up with increasingly complex testing procedures.

Ensuring that we have our team fully staffed so that we're not taking the analysts away from conducting their analysis helps ensure we can continue turning around these submissions efficiently, Kaul said. These are critical investments.

More: Josh Kaul defeats Eric Toney to win second term as Wisconsin attorney general in 2022 midterm election

What resources do Kaul and Toney say are needed?

Kaul and Toney, along with a coalition of public defenders, state prosecutors and district attorneys, want the Republican-controlled Legislature to fully fund a $2.27 million Crime Fighting Budget request for the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories during the 2023-25 biennium.

The Department of Justice request proposes 10 new DNA analysts, four additional toxicologists and two additional crime scene response unit members requested by local law enforcement agencies to alleviate staff shortages and backlogs in evidence processing.

There's no doubt that the crime labs in Wisconsin are critical to public safety as a prosecutor, Toney said. We use those resources across the state on everything from first-offense drunk driving to intentional homicides to drug overdoses.

What is the impact of a lab backlog?

Median processing times for DNA samples at the lab increased 77% between 2019 and 2021, according to figures from the labs latest annual report in 2021. The longer processing times occurred as the lab took fewer cases each year  3,612 in 2021, down from 4,400 in 2019.

Controlled substance samples and toxicology cases also saw processing times tick up during the three-year period, although firearms cases were processed more quickly than in previous years.

Kaul said in 2022 that the pandemic was one of the main reasons for the increase in processing times. And while trendlines at the states three crime labs in Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau appeared to show progress, updated numbers wont be available until the next annual report is released in a few months," the attorney general said Tuesday.

Whats being done to lower processing times?

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers sent the DOJ more than $12 million in federal coronavirus relief aid last year to help state crime labs catch up on cases, according to Evers spokeswomen Britt Cudaback. A portion of the money was used to outsource some of the states work to private labs, Kaul said last year.

But the labs biggest challenge has been adding additional staff. Kaul pressed state lawmakers for 19 new analysts in the 2019-2021 biennial budget but ended up with just over seven after cuts from Evers and the Legislatures Republican-controlled finance committee.

Kaul hosted lawmakers for tours of state crime labs in March to build support for new positions. But the DOJs request for the 2023-25 budget took a hit earlier this year when Evers released his executive budget, which fulfilled just one-third of the $2.27 million the DOJ requested. Evers proposal also cut seven of the proposed crime lab analyst positions and delayed the implementation of five positions to the 2025 fiscal year.

The crime lab budget was part of a wider effort by the governors office to balance resource and staffing needs across all areas of government, Cudaback said in an email Tuesday.

Kaul said Tuesday he has gotten a positive response in conversations with members of the Legislatures finance committee regarding the crime labs' funding priorities.

I think there's a clear recognition about the importance of investing in the system as a whole, he added.

Committee members will take up the state crime labs budget request along with other DOJ items on Thursday.

Tyler Katzenberger can be reached at tkatzenberger@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Josh Kaul, Eric Toney make joint plea for state crime labs funding
A former teacher, former school board member and former board candidate to be interviewed

The Columbia Board of Education on Monday selected a former teacher, a former longtime school board member and a former school board candidate for Wednesday interviews.

After the interviews, the board will vote on one to fill a board vacancy.

The vacancy was created when board member Katherine Sasser resigned, saying that she planned to move out of state because the Legislature has made Missouri unsafe for LGBTQ+ families like hers.

The three finalists were chosen from among 13 applicants to fill the vacancy.

The former longtime board member is Jan Mees. Mees has said she doesn't plan to run when the unexpired term ends. A member of the Columbia Public Schools Foundation, if selected she would resign from the foundation as a potential conflict of interest.

The former teacher is Karen Hayes, who taught at Oakland Middle School from 2001 to 2005. She wrote in her application that she has worked in inclusion and diversity in the University of Missouri College of Education and Human Development and the School of Health Professions.

Andrea Lisenby ran unsuccessfully for the school board in 2022. She wrote in her application that she has been very involved in special education and is on the Boone County Family Resources board.

Each of the three will have opening and closing statements. They also each will answer these two questions:

How would you contribute as a board member to ensuring all scholars receive a quality education?

What are the ways that the board can strengthen its governance of the school district?

They also will answer randomly selected questions on the topics of communication, teamwork, empathy, open-mindedness, integrity and problem-solving.

Others who received votes in balloting Monday were former school board member Della Streaty-Wilhoit; Frank Aten, a former board member with Job Point; Sahba Jalali, an osteopathy doctor; and Greg Brockmeier, a board member with the Missouri Symphony and chair of the Small Business Committee for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Other applicants were former school board candidates Chuck Basye, James Gordon and John Potter; Phillip Stroessner, who formerly worked for Refugee and Immigration Services; James Patterson, a member of the Boone County Industrial Development Authority; and Michael Zweifel, Boone County Pachyderm Club president.

Before balloting, school board members discussed qualities they sought in the interim board member.

Blake Willoughby favored a former school board member, who he said wouldn't need to be brought up to speed on being a board member while also getting up to speed on the issues the school board is facing.

The appointment strips the community of its votes, he said.

"This is a really uncomfortable position for the six of us to be in," Willoughby said. "This is really weighty."

Someone who can work with the six of them is needed, said board President Suzette Waters.

CPS students are Black, Hispanic and Middle Eastern, but they don't see anyone who looks like them on the school board, she said.

"We are kind of a vanilla board," she said.

Classroom teaching experience was mentioned by some board members, with Waters noting that Sasser had been a former teacher.

The board needs to choose carefully, said board member John Lyman.

"This is setting up this person really, really well for the campaign," he said.

Not necessarily, said board member Jeanne Snodgrass.

"I'm not 100% certain that it would help someone if they decide to run," Snodgrass said.

Wednesday's meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the CPS administration building, 1818 W. Worley St.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Thirteen applied for school board vacancy, with these three finalists
Fox News Tonight guest host Harris Faulkner opened Mondays show with a thoroughly patriotic and religious monologueone that included a strange line about her own pronouns.

We are the greatest nation on Earth, Faulkner began, setting the tone for the next few minutes. Right now, we need to remind some folk that we belong in our divinely given place at the top.

Faulkner, the supposed straight news anchor of the Fox News morning show The Faulkner Focus, remarked how it feels like the proverbial hour is midnight in the U.S.

Faith is under attack, Faulkner claimed, after mentioning the mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville in March.

Enough is enough. I mean, is it enough for you? It is for me. We are in a spiritual fight for the soul of America, and if you think thats not true, take a look around at whats going on. The devil has gotten into some people. The worst part of experiencing our country ripping at the seams is that our enemies are massing, feasting on the tastiness of our weaknesses, she said vividly.

Faulkner, who once said that Joe Biden hates at least half the country, then aired an unflattering compilation of the president, since it seems that no primetime Fox News broadcast is complete without one.

The latest of several fill-in hosts during the 8 p.m. hour since Tucker Carlsons firing, Faulkner then honed in on some right-wing grievances popular with the primetime audience.

Women and children are being redesigned by some sort of mad leftist science experiment, she asserted. Its as though people on the left have more free time than anybody else. They want to acronym and pronoun us to death. Well know this: the Lord has determined I am a woman, and my pronouns are U.S.A.

Faulkner repeatedly invoked faith throughout her monologue, encouraging those who believe to be bold in our faith right now. She also claimed to have been kicked out of a restaurant for praying.

When you gather in public spaces, pray thankfully over your food, even when the server gives you the stink-eye or tells the manager that your peaceful grace is triggering them, she said. I had it happen to me. Ive been asked to leave a restaurant for openly bowing my head in prayer hands. In America. Its all good. They dont deserve my money anyway.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Fox for further details of the restaurant drama, including the name of the establishment and the date it occurred.

My faith determines my values, and I hope you are living by your values and what brings you joy and peace and love, Faulkner added. I believe people can love who they want. Be free. Be happy. Just dont force me to bend to your will and your belief system simply because you feel a certain way.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Francesca Williams moved her family to Ecuador to build her Shangri-La. She was shot dead protecting them

Francesca Williams, 44, was murdered during a home invasion at her farm in Vilcabamba, Ecuador, on 20 May (Courtesy of Marianna Benedict-Bacilla)

In 2014, Francesca Williams moved her family from Colorado to a remote valley in Ecuador famous for the longevity of its residents to pursue their dream of building their version of Shangri-La.

She and her husband Michael paid about $10,000 for a 10-acre plot of land on the side of a mountain just outside Vilcabamba to raise chickens, goats, horses, pigs, ducks and guinea fowl on a sustainable farm with their three daughters.

It was a life they never could have afforded in the United States, but after years of hard work was starting to come to fruition, Francescas mother Marianna Benedict-Bacilla, 61, told The Independent in an interview.

Francesca, a gifted artist, linguist, translator and published childrens author, threw her boundless energy into making the farm a success, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

When Michael would travel back to the US for work, Francesca would remain in Ecuador with their three teenage daughters Rachel, 19, Renee 17, and Rebekah, 14, and her elderly father John to tend to the animals and plant crops.

On 20 May, that idyllic life was shattered when at least four men armed with rifles burst onto the farm and shot Francesca dead.

The attack was sudden, and extremely violent. The men knocked out Michael before he even realised they were on the property, and stabbed Williams elderly and infirm father John when he tried to intervene.

Ms Benedict-Bacilla said Francesca had been hanging out the washing when she saw the assailants attack her father, and rushed to help him.

Francesca gave her life trying to save her fathers, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

My daughter was petite, but she guarded her family ferociously. She always knew if there was ever a problem, nothing would get in the way.

Francesca Williams, left, with husband Michael, centre front, father John, and their three children Rachel, Renee and Rebekah (GoFundme)

Rachel, their middle daughter, told Colorado news site KDVR in an interview last week that she had seen her mother scrambling after a man trying to fight him off.

Then she saw two sparks of a gun as the assailant fired at her mother. Her older sister ran to a neighbours for help.

The stick up crew tied up Michael, John, and two of the daughters, and locked them in separate rooms throughout the house before making off with wallets, iPads and computers.

It was horrendous. They were essentially hostages in their own home, Ms Benedict-Basilla said.

Rachel recalled hearing the men asking in Spanish for the large aunt, and thought they might have targeted their home by mistake.

It was only when Michael managed to untie his hands about an hour later that he found his wifes body, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

He put the family in their vehicle, and raced to an emergency medical centre. Michael and John received medical attention in a hospital, while the daughters were unharmed.

We were very humble people, we dont understand why we were targeted, Michael told San Diegos KGTV.

Francescas death has torn open the familys generational trauma from the 1967 unsolved murder of her aunt Nikki Benedict who was stabbed to death walking home from school aged 14, Ms Benedict-Basilla said.

Everything was taken from them

Three years before her death, Francesca Williams had written of her fears of home invasion and violent crime in her adopted home on the knowledge-sharing website Quora.

Asked about Ecuadorean stereotypes, Williams said she had been told of the high risk of robberies prior to moving there.

We have not experienced this as of yet, but live in constant awareness of this danger, she said.

I know many, many foreigners who have experienced home invasion robberies and I would not have come here if I had any idea of how close to home such attacks would be. It is essential that one have intimidating dogs and bars on ones windows.

Ms Benedict-Basilla told The Independent the family had been especially on edge after an expat neighbour was shot dead trying to repel a home invasion.

The gunmens modus operandi in that case was eerily similar to the attack that killed Francesca, she said.

The homeowner had confronted a group of assailants as they tried to break in, and was shot dead. Ms Benedict-Basilla believes they could be the same group that targeted her family.

The family are holding out hope of finding justice for Francesca, but say not enough is being done to make the town safe for the vibrant community of artists and retirees who have made it their home.

The government isnt putting any effort into investigating the things that happen there, she told The Independent.

She said the local police were doing their best. But they dont give them the resources that they need and these murders arent being investigated.

Francesca Williams, left, with her mother Marianna Benedict-Bacilla on her wedding day. Williams was killed in a home invasion on her farm in Ecuador on 20 May (Courtesy of Marianna Benedict-Basilla)

No suspects have been identified in either killing. The local Vilcabamba police force was doing what it could, she said, but without the support of the Ecuadorean National Police there seemed to be little chance of finding the killers.

The Policia Nacional del Ecuador did not respond to numerous requests for comment about the investigation. It has barely received any mention in the Ecuadorean press.

In a statement, a US State Department spokesperson told The Independent: We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.

We are in contact with the family and are providing all appropriate consular assistance.

We refer you to the government of Ecuador for information regarding any local investigation.

State Department figures show 15 US citizens were murdered in Ecuador between 2010 and June 2022, but its unclear if those figures capture recent attacks around Vilcabamba.

Francescas family have taken little comfort from the Ecuadorean authorities response, and will not be returning, Ms Benedict-Basilla said.

Everything was taken from them.

The Valley of Longevity

In expat forums, adopted residents have spoken out about the impotence of the local police force to combat a rising tide of rape, home invasion and murder against the foreigners who have made Vilcabamba their home.

In response, local expat communities have formed neighbourhood security groups, and any disturbances are quickly shared through WhatsApp groups.

The town, situated in the lower Ecuadorean Andes near the border with Peru, gained worldwide attention in the 1970s, when Harvard professor Alexander Leaf travelled there to report on claims that residents were living to the age of 130 for National Geographic.

The subtropical valleys year-round spring climate, crystal-clear water, pollution-free air and abundance of produce supposedly supposedly allowed the male residents to continue to carry out manual labour and conceive children until well past 100.

The sustainable farm near Vilcabamba, Ecuador, where Francesca Williams and her family were building a new life (Courtesy of Marianna Benedict-Basilla)

The area, known as The Valley of Longevity, became inundated with gerontologists who wanted to know more about how that delicate balance of good genes and healthy natural environment was prolonging lives.

They later grew sceptical about some of the residents claims when they were unable to produce credible birth records.

But that didnt stop a large number of expats moving there to buy property over the years, gentrifying the area, and sometimes bringing them into conflict with the locals who still worked the fields for a few hundred dollars per month.

By 2007, that global fame was harming Vilcabambas local community, according to a Reuters report.

These days, the famous elders of Vilcabamba are dying at a younger age, the result of the stresses of modern life brought by the scores of tourists and health buffs who flock here in search of eternal youth, Reuters wrote.

Generational trauma

In May 1967, Ms Benedict-Bacillas sister Nikki Benedict was stabbed to death while she walked home from her friends house in Poway, near San Diego, aged just 14.

She suffered knife wounds to the neck and chest in the brazen daylight attack and was found bleeding to death in a field. The murder has never been solved.

Their mother had been the editor of the local newspaper at the time, and had to write an article about her own daughters death, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

Nikki Benedict, the aunt of Francesca Williams, was murdered in 1967 in Poway, California, at the age of 14. It remains unsolved (Supplied)

Ms Benedict-Basilla was five at the time, and the tragedy, and lack of answers about what had happened defined her childhood, she said.

It was all I ever knew, she said. Weve had so much family tragedy. You dont heal, you just get stronger.

Ms Benedict-Bacilla runs a Facebook group dedicated to finding her sisters killer, and speaks out every anniversary of her death to keep focus on solving the heinous killing.

As a way of dealing with her own psychological wounds, Ms Benedict-Bacilla became a specialist in trauma intervention and volunteers for the American Red Cross and the Poway Community Emergency Response Team.

She likens the kind of generational trauma that her family suffered after Nikkis murder to a cancer that can never fully heal, but can only be managed through finding strength in keeping their loved ones memory alive.

She had seen Francesca grow up in the shadow of that trauma, and took comfort from the fact that her granddaughters would be one generation removed from it.

They stole (Francescas) future, and they stole her childrens future. It will be part of them now because thats how generational trauma works, she told The Independent.

A quest for knowledge

Francesca Williams excelled at anything she turned her hand to, Ms Benedict-Basilla told The Independent.

She was an extraordinarily gifted person, just mega-smart, Ms Benedict-Basilla said.

Coming from four generations of journalists and editors, Francesca Williams wanted to be a writer from an early age, her mother said.

But when it was time to choose a major, she opted to study linguistics at the University of California, San Diego. She was fluent in French and Lithuanian, her great-grandmothers home tongue.

Mother of three Francesca Williams, 44, had studied languages at university (Facebook)

She had known her husband Michael since they were children, and decided to move from Poway to Kommerling, Colorado, when the cost of living in California became too high.

Francesca hadnt known Spanish prior to moving to Ecuador, and within a year she was fluent and carrying out legal transcriptions, her mother said.

She had also recently published her first illustrated childrens book, The Kings Magic, and was a brilliant artist on any medium, her mother says.

Anything she touched she turned into beautiful art. A lot of people who are that bright can get into trouble in life, she put it all into a quest for knowledge.

Francescas body was returned to the US last week, but the family are still trying to get their beloved Corgi Banksy home.

Her funeral was held in Colorado on Saturday 3 June. A GoFundme page has been set up to help the family.
This story was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, its daily newsletter.

In the summer of 2021, Azita Jawady and Hamid Sadra were a young, married couple in love, living in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, and expecting their first child. They felt good about their future and their country. Despite decades of war, Afghanistan seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

At least in urban areas, women could attend school and university, enter the workforce and participate in public life. Jawady believed this was a lasting transformation since the end of the first Taliban regime in 2001.

For 20 [years] we tried to make a good Afghanistan, Jawady said. We were an open-minded people. We go to restaurant, we work with men. We never thought that Afghanistan fall downs again.

But on Aug. 15, 2021, their lives changed in an instant. Two weeks before the U.S. military ended its 20-year presence in Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of Kabul and the country. Jawady, Sadra and many others didnt expect it to happen so quickly  if at all.

Tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked for the U.S. government or other Western entities were now at risk. That included Jawady, who was a social worker for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Sadra, who worked for ArtLords, an Afghan artist-activist group that had done work for the U.S. Embassy and painted murals with themes of peace, health and human rights on the blast walls that protected buildings from bombs across Afghanistan  themes that conflicted with the Talibans stringent rules against behavior considered un-Islamic.

Even speaking English was dangerous. A Taliban fighter at a security checkpoint once asked Sadra, in English, what his job was, and Sadra pretended not to understand. He felt he was being tested.

I really was scared, and all of my body was shaking. I didnt say anything, he said. Bottom of Form

They feared for their lives, and for the life of their unborn son, and fled the country on Dec. 1, 2021, on a flight arranged by nongovernmental organizations including Sadras employer. After staying at a military base for a month in Qatar  where Jawady was treated for Bells palsy, a partial facial paralysis, usually temporary, that she thinks was triggered by stress  they were sent to a U.S. Army base in New Jersey, then to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and finally arrived in Austin in February 2022.

More than 97,000 Afghans have come to the United States since the Afghan government collapsed in 2021, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson. Federal data indicates at least 3,800 Afghans came to Texas as refugees or with special immigrant visas during that time.

Since fiscal year 2010, at least 17,000 Afghan refugees and those with special immigrant visas have arrived in Texas. Only California surpasses it, with at least 40,000 Afghans arriving during that time.

Texas has long been one of the top states for refugee resettlement in the country. Almost 220,000 refugees arrived in the state between 1980, when the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program began, and 2018, according to research conducted by Germanys Georg-August-Universitat-Gottingen and the University of Western Australia.

Most recent Afghan refugees are here through humanitarian parole, which allows people facing an urgent humanitarian crisis permission to stay in the United States for a short time. They dont receive visas or permanent residency  better known as green cards  but they are eligible for public benefits and can apply for temporary work permits.

Afghan parolees now have up to four years to either figure out a way to stay in the country for good or leave when their parole expires. Their best option for eventually getting a green card is the so-called Afghan Special Immigrant Visa. Afghans who worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan for at least one year are eligible, as are their spouses and children. Many SIV applicants worked as interpreters for the U.S. military.

In 2021, the Department of Homeland Security estimated that more than 40% of Afghan parolees were eligible for SIVs because of their previous work with the U.S. government. But what should be a minimum nine-month visa process is currently taking at least 10 months to navigate, and has climbed to as much as 33 months in recent years.

The State Department has historically been slow to process SIVs, but it became a crisis when thousands of Afghans eligible for those visas arrived in the United States after the fall of Kabul. The State Department was understaffed and reported receiving hundreds of thousands of emails between August 2021 and October 2021. It took at least a year to clear the backlog of inquiries.

At their home in Austin, Azita Jawady, her husband Hamid Sadra and their 1-year-old son Qmars look through wedding photos from Afghanistan. (Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune)

For now, Jawady and Sadra are trying to focus on what they can control. That includes adjusting to refugee life in Austin, where they live with 1-year-old Qmars, a gentle boy with fluffy spikes of dark hair, in an apartment they found about 15 miles north of downtown.

After first working at an online retailers fulfillment center, Sadra, who was an artist in Afghanistan, now works as a technician testing building materials for construction sites. He says hes become a workaholic after starting over in Austin and struggling to keep up with the citys high cost of living. Jawady tutors other Afghan refugees in English; she also teaches refugees how to access health care services in Texas through a nonprofit organization.

Navigating the labyrinth of federal, state and local entities in charge of helping them get health care, food and housing support and even diapers and formula for their son has been a head-spinning experience.

We thought the American people has a special benefits to the babies  maybe some nurses help? Because its my first experience of being a mom, so its very hard for me, Jawady said. In America, we have a lot of expectation. But its different.

And their immigration status is always on their minds. Jawady applied for an SIV and said she hasnt heard anything from immigration officials since four months ago, when they said her case was in stage one. Sadras not eligible for an SIV because he didnt officially work for the U.S. government, so he applied for asylum in April.

Receiving asylum gives someone temporary permission to stay in the United States and the ability to apply for a green card after a year. The best-case scenario for the family would be that Jawady receives an SIV, which would cover Sadra and Qmars too.

Felix Villalobos, an attorney for RAICES, which provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants and refugees, said so many Afghans have arrived in Texas after the fall of Kabul that he formed a rapid response team that has counseled Afghan families mostly about special immigrant visas and asylum. He estimates RAICES has worked with 400 Afghan refugees so far, and that has just been in San Antonio, where RAICES operates.

It is very time-consuming work, Villalobos said. Its not their fault, and theyre just having to deal with the realization that  theyre in a new country, they may lose status here in the next few months and theyre trying to find a way to stay because they cant go back.

A system under stress

For refugees, getting help from an immigration attorney can give them the best chance for a favorable decision in their case. But for refugees in Texas with little to no money, free or affordable legal help is hard to come by.

Villalobos is one of those hard-to-come-by attorneys. Hes trying to beat the clock and submit around 200 applications for Temporary Protected Status in the next few months as parole begins to expire for his clients. TPS prevents someone from getting deported for a designated period of time if theyre from a country the U.S. deems unsafe. Recipients get temporary authorization to work, but unlike parole, they dont get access to public benefits.

And while his clients are also now eligible to extend their parole for two more years, hes not convinced it will be a smooth process or that it ultimately serves his clients best interests.

Helping Afghan clients over the last year and a half has been unnerving for Villalobos and others. Getting official documents out of Afghanistan can be difficult to impossible since its government fell to Taliban rule and its president fled the country.

Houston-based refugee advocate Khalil Arab, an Afghan refugee who received his special immigrant visa in 2019 after spending five years interpreting for the U.S. military and coalition forces, said Afghan refugees without concrete documentation are unlikely to be granted visas.

Villalobos says every one of his clients is eligible for an SIV, including some who risked their lives assisting the military at prison camps, in black ops missions or in confrontations with the Taliban. Not receiving a visa at the end of it all would be a huge broken promise, he said.

All of them had the expectation that upon arrival to the U.S., they would get their green cards, he said, referring to the fact that under normal circumstances they would have finished the SIV application process prior to leaving Afghanistan and received a green card once they arrived. It took quite a while for them to understand and figure out that that was no longer the case.

They have also arrived when the U.S. refugee safety net is badly frayed. The Trump administration drastically reduced the number of refugees allowed into the United States for several years  from 110,000 when Donald Trump took office to 18,000 in 2020. The Biden administration has since raised the limit to 125,000 for fiscal year 2023. But the effects of the previous cuts linger because less federal funding had been flowing to agencies and to the system as a whole.

Evacuees wait to board a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 23, 2021. (Sgt. Isaiah Campbell/Marine Corps)

Ian Kysel, an expert in migration and refugee law and a professor at Cornell Law School, says that created a vicious cycle starting with the federal government ending contracts or cutting off support to some organizations  starving the resettlement system, according to a 2020 Migration Policy Institute report  which caused those organizations to lay off workers and limited how many refugees they could work with at a time.

Texas largest refugee resettlement agency, Refugee Services of Texas, collapsed in the wake of those cuts. In March, the organization announced a budget shortfall, and in early May, it announced it was cutting staff and closing some offices. On May 26, it announced it was closing completely. Over the last seven months, the agency has served almost 1,000 refugees in its seven offices across Texas.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban, the system couldnt accommodate the surge in demand  especially for Afghan refugees who needed specialized help such as Pashto or Dari interpreters.

Khaleemullah Ghazi, a former interpreter for U.S. Special Forces and an Afghan refugee who resettled in Austin after evacuating his country in August 2021, worked at a Texas resettlement agency in 2022 and said caseworker pay is low, especially given the skills needed.

The person who has a skill of three or four languages, he still is getting paid $16 or $17 an hour, Ghazi said. Every person has more than 15 or 20 cases. Theres a ... heavy load of work on everybody.

The refugees have allies who are trying to help them. One veterans organization, Houston-based Combined Arms, has been lobbying Congress to pass legislation that would streamline the Afghan immigration process.

Khalil Arab, the Houston refugee advocate who also works for Combined Arms, said this is an emotional issue for many veterans who feel a deep moral injury about how the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan unfolded.

They left their comrades behind. A lot of them have seen their interpreters or their comrades suffering, go into hiding, some of them even got a family member killed by the Taliban, Arab said. So the expectation is to provide them a pathway to legal residency and eventually to citizenship.

Still waiting

Jawady and Sadras humanitarian parole expires in about seven months. In a perfect system, that should be just enough time for Sadras asylum to be approved and Jawadys SIV application to be finalized.

But neither is certain.

The good news for Jawady is that processing time for the visas dropped significantly at the end of last year. The bad news is that the recent end of Title 42, a public health order that went into effect at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed border officials to swiftly deport people who had crossed the U.S. border illegally, could delay refugee processing. Villalobos of RAICES said hes already seeing the effects.

USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] has canceled asylum interviews for our clients to move resources to the border. We had several clients set to go to interviews next week and they were all canceled on us yesterday, Villalobos said on May 11, the final day Title 42 was in effect.

Despite all that his family has gone through since fleeing Afghanistan, though, Sadra isnt cynical.

I trust one thing: America is very, very, very lawful, he said.

But the closing of Refugee Services of Texas seemed to shake Sadra. A lawyer from the organization had been helping them navigate the system, and now they have to start over with another agency, which could further delay things like renewing his work permit.

Honestly, we dont have a good feeling, but we dont have any other option, Sadra said.

Refugee Services of Texas said in a press release that all of its Austin cases will now be managed by Episcopal Migration Ministries.

One thing keeping Jawady and Sadra grounded is their close ties to family and friends in Afghanistan. But they also feel responsible for them. They were the lucky ones who got out, and they worry about their loved ones well-being given the damage to Afghanistans economy since the U.S. withdrawal. Sadra feels obligated to send money back home.

When  Afghanistan fell down, all of the jobs go down  no education, no work, no money, no income. So we should support them, Sadra said.

They still feel the weight of how their country transformed seemingly overnight. Jawady grieves for the girls who arent allowed to go to school or work like she did. To an observer, Jawadys new jobs with refugees as a tutor and health care advocate could be interpreted as subtle acts of defiance against the Taliban regime.

Its really hard for us, all of us just cry, Jawady said, reflecting on what Afghans have gone through during the last couple of years.

A few minutes later, she quoted the Farsi version of the saying, This too shall pass.
Carlos Alcaraz is bidding to reach the French Open semi-finals for the first time

Carlos Alcaraz faces a severe test of his French Open title credentials on Tuesday as he closes in on a mouth-watering showdown with 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.

In the women's draw, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will attempt to keep her unexpected run going in a politically-charged encounter against second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at the quarter-finals on the 10th day of the 2023 tournament (x denotes seeded player):

- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x1) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) -

World number one Alcaraz has so far lived up to his billing as the tournament favourite but Tsitsipas, the 2021 runner-up, represents his stiffest challenge yet.

The Spaniard has won all four past meetings -- two of which have been on clay, most recently triumphing in the Barcelona Open final in April.

"We have played great matches. I won every match that we have played. But it doesn't mean that I'm going to win every match that we play," said Alcaraz.

Tsitsipas also reached this year's Australian Open final, losing again to Djokovic, and has been steady rather than spectacular in 2023.

He is yet to win a title this season but has made serene progress through the draw in Paris, dropping just the one set in his opening round.

"Right now he's one of the biggest obstacles and challenges for any player to compete against," Tsitsipas said of Alcaraz. "Rivalries like this, they are the toughest thing you can get in our sport."

Key stat: Alcaraz has made four Grand Slam quarter-finals in nine events

- Novak Djokovic (SRB x3) v Karen Khachanov (x11) -

Djokovic is in familiar territory after making the last eight in Paris for a record 17th time -- his 14th consecutive quarter-final appearance here.

The 36-year-old Serb, chasing a third French Open crown, looks to be rounding into form at the right time after an underwhelming clay season.

His lone loss in nine matches against Khachanov came in the 2018 Paris Masters final, with Djokovic dispatching the Russian in three sets in their only Roland Garros clash three years ago.

The 27-year-old Khachanov is in his third straight Grand Slam quarter-final after semi-final runs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January.

He trailed French journeyman Constant Lestienne by two sets in the first round and again started slowly against Lorenzo Sonego in the last 16 before figuring things out.

Djokovic, however, is a conundrum he has struggled to solve. "You need to play really good chess to beat him," said Khachanov.

Key stat: Djokovic is 89-16 at Roland Garros

Aryna Sabalenka (x2) v Elina Svitolina (UKR)

The war in Ukraine will come into sharp focus again as Sabalenka of Belarus takes on Svitolina, the Ukrainian former world number three playing her first Grand Slam since becoming a mother.

Sabalenka's first round opponent, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, was booed for not shaking hands in protest over the war in which Belarus is a close ally of Russia.

Svitolina, who defeated Russia's Daria Kasatkina in the last 16, has already said she will maintain the position of all Ukraine players in refusing to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents.

Sabalenka has refused to carry out media commitments, claiming she does not "feel safe" having faced a barrage of questions over her stance on the war and her links to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

On the court, the pair have split their two meetings.

Key stat: Sabalenka has a WTA Tour-leading three titles in 2023

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Karolina Muchova (CZE)

Pavlyuchenkova missed last year's French Open through injury after falling in the final in 2021, but is making up for lost time 12 months on.

At 333 in the world, she is the lowest-ranked quarter-finalist ever at Roland Garros having survived a pair of three-hour matches.

The 31-year-old has knocked out three seeds to get to this point, but Muchova is unseeded herself and dumped out Maria Sakkari in the first round.

The Czech is into the second week in Paris for the first time but has twice been to the quarters at Wimbledon. Her best Grand Slam run came at the 2021 Australian Open when she made the last four.

Key stat: Pavlyuchenkova is playing her 57th Grand Slam

mw/dj
Series writers Alice Nutter and Simon Beaufoy greeted those at the screening with placards

The cast of The Full Monty have returned to Sheffield to premiere a new Disney+ series that reunites the characters from the hit 1997 film.

Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy and Lesley Sharp were at Monday's premiere in the city, where the film and show are set.

However, Full Monty creator Simon Beaufoy and series co-writer Alice Nutter did not go in because of the continuing US writers' strike.

Instead, they picketed the event, carrying placards outside the cinema.

Beaufoy, who wrote the original Oscar-winning film, held a sign reading: "The Full Monty - about people, for people, by people. No AI."

Nutter's message referred to the premiere. "We love this show but we can't go - fair deal for writers," it said.

The new series stars (left to right) Steve Huison, Paul Barber, Wim Snape, Lesley Sharp, Robert Carlyle, Talitha Wing and Mark Addy

The British pair are both in the Writers Guild of America, which has told members not to work for US companies during the industrial action, saying studios are underpaying writers in the streaming age.

In a statement before the premiere, Beaufoy and Nutter said: "We worked on The Full Monty TV series for over three years.

"We love this show, we put our hearts and souls into it and would like to be at the premiere - but as WGA writers, we won't be taking part in promotion until the strike is over.

"The ongoing strike and struggle to get a fair deal for writers is too important to us."

The eight-part series catches up with the Full Monty's characters 26 years after the film, which saw a group of unemployed men turn to stripping.

In a three-star review, the Telegraph said the new version "firmly wears its politics on its sleeve - with mixed success".

The cast and crew with Robert Carlyle (front centre), who returns as Gaz

"The issues will be all too recognisable, especially to those in neglected communities," the paper's critic Michael Hogan wrote.

"If the optimism of the original... has gone, that's the point - this is a sobering reminder of how far we haven't come."

Mark Addy's character, Dave, is now a school caretaker

The striptease "makes a half-hearted reprise" but is "no longer the narrative-driver", he said.

"For all the kitchen-sink bleakness, its community spirit still crackles with warmth, offering glimmers of hope," Hogan added.

Absent from the premiere altogether was Hugo Speer, who played Guy but was fired during filming after Disney+ investigated "allegations of inappropriate conduct" on set.

The actor told the Daily Mail, at the weekend, a runner had walked in on him getting changed in his trailer and he "didn't believe I'd done anything wrong".

"I'm not going to start turning into a flasher after all these years in the business," he said. "I was so shocked to be told I'd made members of the crew feel 'uncomfortable'."
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is introducing a resolution on Tuesday to hold lawyer Mark Pomerantz in contempt of Congress for his "frivolous" behavior before the GOP-run House subcommittee on government weaponization.

Pomerantz was one of the lawyers investigating former President Donald Trump under Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, though he left the investigation more than a year ago and wrote in his resignation letter,"The team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes  he did."

The House Judiciary Committee grilled him last month for roughly six hours amid their oversight probe into Braggs investigation  though Republicans fumed over his refusal to answer any substantive questions.

"He lobbied his way onto a prosecutorial team as a private lawyer. He did all he could to gaslight charges against Donald Trump. When the evidence didn't support those charges, he initially got miffed and quit the team and wrote a book about it," Gaetz told Fox News Digital. "Now, he has the nerve to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege over these matters when he has clearly explicitly and repeatedly waived that privilege. Contempt is proper where someone refuses to answer Congress's questions under a frivolous assertion."

NEW YORKERS PAN MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGG FOR NOT PROSECUTING 'REAL CRIMINALS' AS HE ARRESTS TRUMP

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is introducing a contempt resolution against lawyer Mark Pomerantz

Asked about whether House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is supportive of the contempt resolution, Gaetz appeared to reference that McCarthy agreed to a one-member motion-to-vacate threshold in order to win his gavel earlier this year.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think right now his principal goal is to remain Speaker," Gaetz said. "Speaker McCarthy has been really strong on oversight matters to date, and I hope and expect it to continue."

Braggs probe saw Trump indicted on 34 felony counts linked to hush money payments made out to porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had an extramarital affair with the former president in 2006, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

MATT GAETZ SAYS CLASSIFIED DOCS SCANDAL 'FEELS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING OUT JOE BIDEN'

Trumps Republican allies in Congress have decried the investigation as a political hit job, even going so far as to travel to New York City for a hearing on violent crime to make a point about Braggs priorities as a prosecutor.

Pomerantz called the GOPs interest in the matter "an act of political theater" when he appeared before House lawmakers last month.

He reportedly invoked the Fifth Amendment in order to not violate any rules on confidential information. But the testimony came months after Pomerantz released a tell-all book about his time in Braggs office titled, "People Vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account."

According to the contempt resolution text obtained by Fox News Digital, Gaetz noted that Pomerantz pleaded the fifth for questions such as "Do you respect Alvin Bragg?"

ALVIN BRAGG PROMISES NOT TO PROSECUTE THEFT TO ESTABLISH 'RACIAL EQUITY' BALANCE: 'CRIME OF POVERTY'

Gaetzs text also claims Pomerantz waived his right to the Fifth when he asserted to GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., also a member of the committee, that the contents of his tell-all book were true.

Pomerantz made a very public exit from Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's Trump investigation

"I've talked to a lot of my colleagues on the weaponization subcommittee, and Ill allow them to speak for themselves, but many agree that the Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination were waived once Pomerantz defended the veracity of his book in response to questions from Congresswoman Stefanik," Gaetz said. "I mean, Pomerantz pled the fifth when we asked him if he broke any laws while participating in the Trump investigation. We deserve an answer to that question."

Trump ally Steve Bannon was charged by a grand jury with two counts of contempt of Congress last July for his failure to comply with a subpoena from the now-defunct select committee investigating the January 6 attack.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) (3rd L) speaks as (L-R) Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) listen during a news conference. (Getty Images)

Rep Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution to hold a former New York City prosecutor in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify about charges against former president Donald Trump.

The resolution requests that Mark Pomerantz, who worked in the New York County District Attorneys office before resigning, be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

Mr Pomerantz had previously been tapped to serve in the district attorneys office by its previous occupant Cyrus Vance to investigate former Mr Trump. But Mr Pomerantz quit his position last March under current District Attorney Alvin Bragg and then authored a book that claimed that Mr Bragg backed off indicting Mr Trump despite the fact the indictment had been authorised by Mr Vance.

Mr Braggs office later indicted Mr Trump and he was arrested in April. The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government subpoenaed Mr Pomerantz shortly thereafter. Mr Bragg authorised Congress to question Mr Pomerantz.

Mr Pomerantz later testified before the committee on 12 May but repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.

Through his lack of testimony, Mark Pomerantz has undoubtedly undermined the legitimacy of this witch hunt indictment against President Donald Trump, Mr Gaetz said in a statement. Mr Pomerantz pled the Fifth to nearly every question about his time in the Manhattan DAs office, despite writing a tell-all book about his time there.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 charges related to his allegedly making hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for an affair they had before he became president.

Mr Gaetz said that Mr Pomerantz unfairly went after Mr Trump.

I believe Mr. Pomerantz engaged in misconduct in his targeting of President Trump, and his refusal to answer simple questions should not go unpunished, he said. He should be held in contempt of Congress and be compelled to answer the questions regarding the weaponization of the Manhattan DAs office. If he fails to comply with the congressional subpoena, then the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives must summon him by force.
From garlic to grapes: Veterinarians shock pet owners with surprising list of things that are toxic to dogs

Animal hospital staff workers have stunned pet owners after revealing the surprising list of common things that may be toxic for their beloved dogs.

Veterinarians at the Upper Canada Animal Hospital in Ontario, Canada recently went viral on TikTok when they named some of the human foods that dogs should avoid. In the clip, which has shockingly gained more than 75 million views on TikTok, one staff member at the animal hospital asked each of her co-workers: Whats one thing thats toxic to dogs?

Heres everything they said.

Ibuprofen

The first veterinarian up was Morgan, who revealed that the common pain reliever is unsafe for dogs. Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen are NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that are used to treat pain and inflammation in people.

For dogs, ibuprofen can easily exceed toxic levels because dogs metabolise drugs differently than humans do. It can have adverse effects on a dogs gastrointestinal tract, kidneys or liver.

Avocados

Next, vet worker Ange said that avocados are one human food thats toxic to dogs. Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, per the American Kennel Club.

Garlic and onions

According to the veterinarians Paige and Lindsay, garlic and onions are human foods that pet owners should avoid giving to their dog. While the American Kennel Club says that it takes a large amount of garlic to cause problems, some dogs may be more sensitive to garlic toxicity than others.

Both garlic and onion are members of the allium family, which contains thiosulfate. These foods can cause damage to a dogs red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. When a dog consumes too much garlic or onions, they may appear weak and lethargic, or may end up suffering from gastrointestinal issues.

Grapes

Dogs should never eat grapes, said vet worker Sara in the TikTok video. Fruits such as grapes and raisins are so toxic to dogs that consuming just one can be fatal.

Chocolate

Its a well-known fact that chocolate is toxic to dogs. While chocolate is a favourite treat amongst humans, it contains both theobromine and caffeine, which can speed up a dogs heart rate and stimulate their nervous systems. The risk of a dog becoming sick from eating chocolate depends on the type and amount of chocolate consumed, as well as the dogs weight.

Signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within six to 12 hours after it was first ingested. Some symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, increased urination, abnormal heart rate, seizures, and even death for older dogs or dogs with heart conditions.

Gum (xylitol)

Lastly, veterinarian Fiona warned that chewing gum  or anything with xylitol  is damaging for pups. Xylitol is a sugar substitute most often associated with sugar-free gum and mints. It can also be found in some dental hygiene products, and even sugar-free peanut butter.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) warns that dog whove consumed xylitol will have a sudden release of insulin. This can cause the dogs blood sugar to drop and result in hypoglycemia. Research has found that liver enzymes can also become elevated in dogs after they eat xylitol, leading to liver damage or failure.

In the comments of the viral TikTok video, many pet owners were stunned by the list of human foods that can be dangerous for their dogs. Others shared how shocked they were that their dog was still alive, despite feeding them some of the toxic foods.

After watching this Im convinced my dog is invincible, joked one user.

How the hell are my dogs still alive? another person asked.

My dog must have super powers or something, someone else wrote.
Gavin Newsom says Ron DeSantis is a 'small, pathetic man,' floats kidnapping charges for the Florida governor after immigrants were 'dumped' in California

Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis. Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Bloomberg Philanthropies, Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom accused Ron DeSantis of dumping migrants in California.

Newsom floated kidnapping charges for DeSantis on Twitter, and called him a "small, pathetic man."

The California governor has publicly criticized his Florida counterpart numerous times.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called his Florida counterpart, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a "small, pathetic man" after migrants from Florida were unceremoniously ferried to and dumped in California.

In a tweet on Monday, Newsom wrote: "@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man. This isn't Martha's Vineyard."

Newsom floated the idea of pressing "kidnapping charges" against DeSantis by invoking a section of the criminal code that penalizes people who forcibly bring people into "the limits of the state."

Newsom's tweet comes after it was reported that 16 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were dropped off in front of a Catholic church in Sacramento, California, on Friday.

A New York Times report stated that the migrants carried paperwork from Florida and that the Florida-based contractor, Vertol Systems Company, organized their travel.

Newsom said in a statement on Saturday that he had met with at least a dozen migrants who were dropped off in California.

"These individuals were transported from Texas to New Mexico before being flown by private chartered jet to Sacramento and dumped on the doorstep of a local church without any advance warning," he said in the statement.

And on Monday, California law enforcement intercepted a second plane carrying about 20 migrants from Florida to Sacramento.

DeSantis, who recently announced his 2024 presidential run, has kept mum about his involvement in the matter.

However, his office acknowledged to Fox News last September that it had sent 49 migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The move to send illegal immigrants to Democrat-run states was widely seen as an anti-liberal political stunt and a protest against President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

This is not the first time that the California governor has criticized DeSantis. On April 1, he made a sarcastic remark about DeSantis' ongoing feud with Disney.

Speaking to Insider's Kimberly Leonard, he said: "There's a new sheriff in town. It's Mickey Mouse, back on top."

He also said during an MSNBC interview with former White House press secretary Jen Psaki on April 9 that DeSantis will get "thumped" if he chooses to run against former President Donald Trump.

Representatives of DeSantis and Newsom did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
California Governor Gavin Newsom suggested he may be considering kidnapping charges against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the 2024 GOP primary candidate flew a group of migrants from Texas to Sacramento on allegedly false pretences.

Mr Newsom called Mr DeSantis a "small, pathetic man" in a tweet on Monday, and then provided a snippet of the state's laws regarding kidnapping.

"Every person who, being out of this state, abducts or takes by force or fraud any person contrary to the law of the place where that act is committed, and brings, sends, or conveys that person within the limits of the state, and is afterwards found within the limits thereof, is guilty of kidnapping," the snippet reads.

On Friday, more than a dozen migrants were brought into California on a private jet. The migrants were left at a Catholic facility in Sacramento with "no prior arrangement or care in place," according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

California officials learned the migrants crossed into Texas, where they were approached by an individual who said they could help them, according to local broadcaster KXTV. The migrants were reportedly sent to New Mexico before they were flown to Sacramento. Officials found the migrants holding documents claiming to be from the state of Florida when they arrived in California.

Mr Bonta said the state is investigating the incident and "evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants."

While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting. He said both the state and the city would welcome these individuals with open arms and provide them with the respect, compassion, and care they will need after such a harrowing experience.

Mr DeSantis pulled a similar stunt last year when he flew more around 50 primarily Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, where they were told jobs and access to migrant services would be provided. The GOP governor and other Republicans who support the flights argue that states like New York and California offering themselves up as "sanctuary" states invites illegal immigration.

The Independent has reached out to Mr DeSantis for comment.

Mr Newsom's spokesperson Anthony York said the administration continues to work with the California Department of Justice as they investigate the circumstances behind these flights and will look to hold anyone criminally accountable for misleading, manipulating and transporting individuals under false pretenses. In California we work together to humanely welcome migrants, support our local communities and address the challenges of a broken immigration system with dignity and without stunts.

The migrants are being served by a local faith-based group in Sacramento and will be processed by US immigration services, according to Deadline.
Gavin Newsom wants Ron DeSantis charged with kidnapping migrants. Is that possible?

There are lots of thorny legal problems with filing kidnapping charges against a rival governor, but the most important one is simple: Proving that the chief executive of the other state is, in fact, responsible for luring migrants onto a plane under false pretenses.

But Gov. Gavin Newsom, on Twitter, is threatening to do just that after two recent flights delivered 36 people to Sacramento. The first flight arrived Saturday and a second arrived on Monday morning.

Though neither flight originated in Florida, Californias governor put the blame squarely on the Sunshine State, as he did last year when planeloads of migrants were flown into Sacramento and Marthas Vineyard, Mass.

You small, pathetic man, Newsom tweeted at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning. This isnt Marthas Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?

Newsom then linked to the California criminal code statute on kidnapping, specifically the section on bringing someone into the state against their will.

Newsom also made noise last year when requesting the federal government investigate the previous flights, but so far, the U.S. Department of Justice has not made public any such investigation.

Immigrant advocates said on Monday that the human consequences of federal inaction last year are arriving tired and hungry in Sacramento this week.

I think it was a mistake to dismiss these flights as a stunt in September, said immigration and border consultant Chris Rickerd. It was a mistake not to stop the escalation then.

A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta told The Associated Press that the migrants were transported through a program run by Floridas Division of Emergency Management and carried out by the same contractor paid by the state of Florida to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in September.

While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting, Bonta said in a statement.

Brian Hofer, an attorney and executive director of the Oakland-based nonprofit Secure Justice, which advocates against what the organization deems to be state and corporate overreach, said the legal ground is messy for determining charges, much less where to file them.

You took people from one state, on flights which are funded by another state, dropped them off in a third state, and youre going to say they were coerced or taken under threat of force? Hofer said. What court do you bring that in?

Its just a mess. The legal ground is certainly messy.

Mark Meuser, a San Francisco-based constitutional and election law attorney, disputed Newsoms legal reasoning in a tweet on Monday.

Can you please cite one Florida law that prohibits the transportation of individuals who are in this country illegally to a sanctuary state? wrote Meuser, a Republican who ran against U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla in last Novembers election.

Gavin Newsom called for Justice Department investigation

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the flights dangerous and unacceptable on Monday, but the Biden administrations response to previous migrant flights has been, at the very least, out of public view.

Newsom in September asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether the flights could be considered kidnapping under state laws. If they could, he wrote, then the U.S. Justice Department should get involved because they could be considered violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

In September, Rachael Rollins, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, pledged to look long and hard at potential charges. But Rollins has since resigned, and its unclear where that investigation led. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts did not return calls from CalMatters on Monday.

DeSantiss office also didnt return calls and emails from CalMatters. Floridas Republican-controlled legislature has set aside $12 million for the migrant flights.

Bonta, as Californias attorney general, also didnt file state charges related to those September flights, and its unclear what would be different this time. Bonta did not responded to requests for comment from CalMatters.

Newsoms office released a statement late Monday that expressed support for Bontas investigation into the flights.

As to specific charges and laws that may have been violated, that will ultimately be determined by the attorney generals office, Newsom spokesperson Daniel Lopez wrote.

Its one thing to know the planes came from Florida and another to connect those flights directly to DeSantis. But at least one investigation into that connection is continuing, as the sheriff in Bexar County, Texas, has turned over the results of a criminal investigation into DeSantis for his alleged role in transporting 49 migrants from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard last year.

The Texas Tribune reports that the Bexar County Sheriffs Office recently filed several counts of unlawful restraint, both misdemeanors and felonies as a result of the investigation, but didnt name individual suspects. The investigation has been turned over to the Bexar County District Attorney.

Sacramento surprised by migrant flights

California was caught unaware by the latest arrivals, who were diverted to a small airport in the city and met by local outreach groups and law enforcement.

Sacramento County spokesperson Kim Nava said the migrants left from Texas and changed planes in tiny Deming, N.M., before arriving in California.

The county did not know the flight was coming in, she said. We dont have communication (with the state of Texas) at this time.

California was caught unaware by the latest arrivals, who were diverted to a small airport in the city and met by local outreach groups and law enforcement.

Sacramento County spokesperson Kim Nava said the migrants left from Texas and changed planes in tiny Deming, N.M., before arriving in California.

The county did not know the flight was coming in, she said. We dont have communication (with the state of Texas) at this time.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the migrants were being used as political pawns. He said hes focused on making sure the people who landed here are cared for, and thats our job.

Steinberg, a Democrat who is considering a run for attorney general, said he supported a review of whether criminal charges should be filed.

I mean, I think we ought to, you know, await the result of an investigation, but certainly, an investigation into potential criminal culpability is warranted, he said.

Each of the migrants carried a clear plastic bag, inside of which were papers directing them to immigration courts, some as far away as Chicago, according to an advocacy group that has been supporting them. Landing in California could make it more difficult for those individuals to reach their court appearances.

So theyre not even trying to get them closer to families or closer to their court, said Lydia Guzman, national immigration chair for The League of United Latin American Citizens. This is all politics.

Guzman said the organization also demanded action from the federal government in September.

We inquired with the (U.S.) Department of Justice, we wanted them to look at who was behind all of this, Guzman said. We never heard back from DOJ on this issue.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gavin Newsom Ron Desantis 'kidnapping' migrants
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on Monday asked a judge to keep sealed the names of the people who cosigned his $500,000 bond in his criminal fraud case.

Media organizations in two separate requests have asked for the court to unseal the names, arguing that there is a public right to access the records.

Santoss attorney, Joseph Murray, cited a media frenzy and said the embattled congressman would rather be detained ahead of his trial than allow his bail sponsors names to become public.

If this Court is so inclined to unseal the sureties, we truly fear for their health, safety and well being, Murray wrote.

Santos declined to comment when asked by The Hill about the filing.

Santos last month was indicted on 13 federal criminal charges, including counts of wire fraud and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty.

Court documents indicate Santos was released on a $500,000 bond after his arraignment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and three individuals cosigned the bond.

Their names have not been made public, and Santos has denied reporter inquiries about their identities.

In fact, if the suretors are required to be identified, we respectfully request that the Court allow the suretors notice before the court releases their information so that they can withdraw as cosignors on the bond and Rep. Santos and I will appear before Your Honor forthwith, Murray wrote.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, he continued.

The New York Times first filed a motion to unseal the records last month. A second request was submitted two days later by a coalition of other media companies, comprising ABC News, The Associated Press, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, CNN, Insider, NPR, NBC, Newsday and The Washington Post.

Both requests ask the judge to make public the names of the three sureties and any transcripts of sealed proceedings.

The media organizations argued there was a compelling public interest in unsealing the records, while asserting that the First Amendment provides a right for the press and public to access them anyway.

The surety records relate to three individuals who have committed large sums of money to ensure that Rep. Santos can remain at liberty, pending further proceedings, wrote Dana Green, senior counsel at The New York Times.

This presents an obvious opportunity for political influence, given Rep. Santoss elected position and his dependence on these suretors, she added. That risk is further heightened by the fact that the very crimes Rep. Santos has been charged with involve abusing the political process for personal gain.

Prosecutors on Friday took no position on the request. The Justice Department similarly took no position in the recent high-profile case of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who looked to keep sealed the names of his bond sureties.

Santoss opposition on Monday came with little surprise. On the day of his arraignment, Santos told reporters they would never get the names of the three sureties.

Your intention is to go harass them and make their life miserable, Santos told reporters.

Murray in Mondays filing said one of the three cosigners lined up backed out after news of Santoss indictment leaked.

The New York Republican has been under scrutiny since before he was sworn into office amid questions about his biography and finances. He admitted to embellishing parts of his resume but still faces queries about financial disclosure forms he submitted and whether or not he engaged in unlawful activity during his 2022 campaign, among other matters.

A number of lawmakers in both parties have called for Santos to resign or be expelled but he has said he has no plans to leave Congress early. Additionally, House Republican leadership has maintained that the legal process involving Santos should play out before lawmakers consider taking action against him.

But in an escalation of the political firestorm surrounding the New Yorker, the House voted last month to refer a resolution to expel Santos to the Ethics Committee, punting the question of whether or not he should be kicked out of Congress.

The move, however, was largely redundant since the Ethics Committee is already looking into the embattled congressman.

In March, the panel said it was looking into whether Santos engaged in unlawful activity with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office.

On the day of his indictment, Santos told reporters in New York I believe Im innocent.

Im gonna fight my battle, Im gonna deliver, Im gonna fight the witch hunt, Im gonna take care of clearing my name and I look forward to doing that, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

The Republican congressman and serial fabulist George Santos has until Friday to appeal an order to reveal the identities of three people who guaranteed his $500,000 bond on fraud charges, a New York judge said on Tuesday.

A lawyer for Santos had said identification of the guarantors would imperil their health, safety and wellbeing, and claimed the New York congressman would rather go to prison than reveal the names.

My client would rather surrender to pre-trial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, the lawyer, Joseph Murray, wrote to the judge on Monday.

At his arraignment in Long Island last month, Santos, 34, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements.

Related: Chris Christie, ex-New Jersey governor, launches 2024 presidential run

After entering his plea, Santos told reporters: Its a witch-hunt. Im going to fight my battle, Im going to fight the witch-hunt, Im going to take care of clearing my name.

The New York Times sought the identification of Santoss bail guarantors, arguing they should be identified as they had a chance to exert political influence over a congressman. Other news outlets joined the Times in its effort.

On Tuesday, Santos did not immediately comment.

Last month, House Republicans deflected a Democratic motion to expel Santos from Congress, referring his case to the ethics committee.

Only five members of Congress have ever been expelled from the House: three for fighting against the Union in the civil war and two over convictions for fraud.

Santos has admitted embellishing a resume that was ripped apart after he won his seat in Congress last November, even his real name being brought into question.

He has denied accusations of wrongdoing including alleged schemes involving stolen cheques and puppies and allegations of sexual harassment from a former aide.

After winning a New York district previously held by a Democrat, Santos became a key figure in Republicans slim House majority. In January, he backed the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, through 15 rounds of voting to secure the position.

Santos has repeatedly said he will not resign, and is running for re-election next year.
Peng Liyuan, African first ladies launch health campaign for orphans in Africa

17:00, June 05, 2023 By Paheja Siririka ( People's Daily Online

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has teamed up with the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) through its president, Namibias First Lady Monica Geingos, to initiate a health care campaign for African orphans.

(Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia)

Chinese embassies and medical teams in African countries have visited children in local orphanages and relevant institutions, carrying out activities such as free medical check-ups and donating care bags.

On the charity activity, Peng said China is Africa's forever friend and sincere partner. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Chinese government sending medical teams to Africa. The Chinese medical teams have assisted the people of African countries and become envoys to carry forward China-Africa friendship.

Peng expressed her hope that the health care campaign for African orphans could provide warmth and care to children, improve the health and well-being of African children, and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

In Namibia, the event, which took place on Wednesday, May 31, saw around 100 children getting medically checked for diseases at the Namibia Childrens Home in Windhoek.

The medical attention that will be administered at the Namibia Childrens Home includes checking the childrens eyes, teeth, skin, spinal cord, and for congenital heart diseases, Yan Runqing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, told Peoples Daily Online prior to the event.

He said to ensure the success of the event, Chinese doctors have been dispatched to Namibia, especially for these medical checks.

We have 10 doctors who are from the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine and the Childrens Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yan said.

The medical experts are specialists in cardiology, pediatrics, stomatology, ophthalmology and dermatology.

Peng has been a staunch advocate for children's welfare. In 2015, she visited an orphanage in Harare, Zimbabwe, accompanied by then First Lady Grace Mugabe. Peng said orphans are the most vulnerable and at-risk community in a society, so it is the common responsibility of society to make them live a happy life and get a good education, as other children do.

Namibias First Lady Monica Geingos delivers a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Warm Childrens Hearts initiative in Windhoek, Namibia. (Photo from the official Facebook page of Monica Geingos, the First Lady of Namibia)

Geingos said during the opening ceremony in Windhoek she is honored to collaborate with her Chinese counterpart on the initiative where Chinese medical teams provide free medical checkups for vulnerable children in Africa.

I appreciate that she (Mdm. Peng Liyuan) uses her voice to amplify the needs of young people. We must ensure that our children healthy, educated, loved and protected from harm, said Geingos.

Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping said that Professor Peng Liyuan cares deeply about the healthy growth of children, and the free medical check was an important part of the health care campaign for African orphans "Warm Children's Hearts, a China-Africa Joint Action", which was jointly initiated by Professor Peng and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development. He further pointed out that Professor Pengs love for African children is a vivid demonstration of the Chinese peoples fraternal friendship to the African People.

Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping delivers a speech at the ceremony. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia)

Gina Martin from Namibia Childrens Home said this initiative has a huge impact on them as an organ.

It has a big impact, a big impact that helps people that are unable to help themselves medically well. Some of us are not fortunate enough money-wise to get medical check-ups or medical treatment. So this program in this event helps us achieve more in life than what is expected, Martin said.

Photo shows the 10 Chinese medical experts who conducted health checkups on children at the Namibia Childrens Home. (Photo from the official Facebook page of Monica Geingos, the First Lady of Namibia)

Paheja Siririka is a journalist from the New Era Newspaper of Namibia.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
(Bloomberg) -- Germany and India are closing in on a deal to build diesel submarines in the South Asian country as Russias prolonged war in Ukraine pushes New Delhi to expand its sources of military hardware beyond top supplier Moscow.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Thyssenkrupp AGs marine arm and Indias Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited are likely to jointly bid for a project worth an estimated $5.2 billion to build six submarines for the Indian navy, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified as the details are confidential.

A preliminary agreement, or memorandum of understanding, will be signed in the presence of Boris Pistorius, the defense minister in Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government in Berlin, who arrived in New Delhi Tuesday for a two-day visit, German and Indian officials said.

Pistorius told public broadcaster ARD that the submarine deal will be on the agenda when he visits Mumbai on Wednesday and that his role is to support and assist the negotiations between German executives traveling with him and their Indian counterparts.

This would be a big and important contract not only for German industry but also for India and the Indian-German strategic partnership, Pistorius said. In a statement to reporters later on Tuesday, he cautioned that there are of course also other competitors and said that the French are clearly also in the game.

Frances Naval Group SA, in which the government in Paris is the main shareholder, competes with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in manufacturing submarines.

Indias Ministry of Defense and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders didnt respond to requests for comment. A German Defense Ministry spokesperson and a Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems representative declined to comment.

The Kiel-based defense contractor had shown no interest in jointly manufacturing subs in India when the tender was announced two years ago. With the war in Ukraine now in its second year and China moving in lockstep with Russia on the war, the West, and in particular Germany, are placing their bets on India becoming a bulwark against Beijings growing diplomatic and military assertiveness.

India has identified Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Larsen & Toubro to tie up with foreign defense majors to build the diesel attack submarines. A key target for a partnership had been Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which is one of two submarine manufacturers globally to have air independent propulsion  a technology that helps conventional submarines stay underwater for longer.

Thyssenkrupp-made submarines were used in the past by the Indian navy, making them a far more compelling choice compared to South Koreas Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and Spains state-owned Navantia Group.

Scholz wants German and European defense companies to step up their efforts to supply New Delhi with modern military gear as a way to help Prime Minister Narendra Modis government wean off its dependence on Russia in the defense sector.

New Delhi has used a lingering border dispute with China to carry on buying weapons from Moscow  its biggest supplier of military hardware though deliveries have stalled as Russia and India struggle to find a payment mechanism that doesnt violate US sanctions. India has also emerged as one of the swing states buying large quantities of discounted crude from Moscow while continuing to engage the US and its allies.

Submarines are a key need for New Delhi due to its aging fleet. To effectively patrol the Indian Ocean, the Indian navy needs a minimum of 24 conventional submarines but currently has only has 16. Of this fleet, aside from six recently built vessels, the rest are over 30 years old and likely to be decommissioned in years to come.

India, which is part of the so-called Quad grouping that includes Japan, US and Australia, has been pushing for these countries and European allies to share technology to build submarines. However theres been a general reluctance to pass on technology given Indias proximity to Russia and Modis Make in India policy to boost local manufacturing and create jobs.

--With assistance from Arne Delfs and Iain Rogers.

(Updates with additional Pistorius comments in fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
F-16 fighters

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was speaking in an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which was published on June 5.

"We are in a phase of rethinking right now and checking what is possible and what we want and can do," Pistorius said. And I think we will decide within the next two weeks.

He said Berlin has to rethink its policy of recent decades.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force reveals how it will train pilots on F-16 jets while still protecting Ukrainian skies

"German society and German politicians have really changed their minds," Pistorius added.

If someone had told me two years ago that Germany would supply three to five billion euros worth of heavy weapons, I would not have believed it.

But in a blow to Ukraine, the minister also rejected the possibility of transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine in the near future.

As recently as May 17, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he did not intend to participate in the "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine.

Read also: Germany could add Eurofighter Typhoon to fighter coalition for Ukraine, says Reznikov

However, on May 19, U.S. President Joe Biden said he supported an international fighter jet coalition for Ukraine. Then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark would participate in training Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets.

The head of the Ukrainian President's Office, Andriy Yermak, announced on June 2 that eight countries had joined the coalition backing fighter jet deliveries to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on June 5 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would not use F-16 fighter jets during their counter-offensive this summer.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE PHOTO: The historic headquarters of German pharmaceutical and chemical maker Bayer AG is pictured in Leverkusen

By Manvi Pant

BENGALURU - German drugmaker Bayer said it was facing supply issues with its popular oral-contraceptive pill Yasmin in India, without giving a reason, and that supply would resume in the "next few days".

About 40 Indian pharmacies and drug distributors told Reuters that Yasmin, the No.2 combination oral-contraceptive pill in the country, has been in short supply since March.

Yasmin, made from a combination of female hormones ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone, is manufactured locally by Bayer Zydus Pharma, a joint venture between Bayer's Singapore unit and India's Zydus Lifesciences.

Unit sales of Yasmin, also prescribed to treat irregular periods tied to polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), have slid 48% from January to April, according to market research firm Pharmarack AWACS.

"We faced temporary supply issues for Yasmin in India and have also intimated this to healthcare practitioners," a Bayer spokesperson said by email.

They did not say what caused the shortage but said the pill would be available in the "next few days", without elaborating.

The drugstore operators that Reuters spoke with said they were unaware of the reason for the shortage, nor when the pill would be available next. No shortages have been reported in other countries so far.

In March, Bayer said it would shift the focus of its drug research away from women's health, one of its traditional pillars, to focus on neurology, rare diseases and immunology.

In India, Yasmin competes with drugs including Sun Pharma's market-leading Dronis as well as Cipla's Crisanta and Lupin's Yamini.

Yasmin accounted for 26% of the market for combination oral contraceptives, which was worth 1 billion rupees ($12.11 million) as of April 2023, per Pharmarack AWACS. The overall oral contraceptive market is pegged at 5.07 billion rupees.

The Drugs Controller General of India, Sun Pharma, Lupin and Cipla did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. ($1 = 82.5941 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Manvi Pant in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Skariachan and Savio D'Souza)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam was in line with Russia's escalating violence in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy of attacking civilian targets.

"For this reason, this is something that has a new dimension but which fits with the way in which Putin wages this war," said Scholz in an interview with broadcaster WDR.

This makes it all the more important that Germany continues to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, he added.

Scholz also said Germany was watching the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with concern following the destruction of the dam, which supplies water to the plant.

"All we can say about Zaporizhzhia is that we are monitoring this all the time," Scholz said.

Ukrainian and Russian forces have blamed each other for the breach, which unleashed millions of litres of water, threatening scores of villages and cutting off water supplies.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant" which is also in southern Ukraine.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray and Rachel More, editing by Ed Osmond)
Ghana patients in danger as nurses head for NHS in UK - medics

Ghanaian patients may have to wait longer to be seen because of a lack of nurses

The recruitment of nurses by high-income countries from poorer nations is "out of control", according to the head of one of the world's biggest nursing groups.

The comments come as the BBC finds evidence of how Ghana's health system is struggling due to the "brain-drain".

Many specialist nurses have left the West African country for better paid jobs overseas.

In 2022 more than 1,200 Ghanaian nurses joined the UK's nursing register.

This comes as the National Health Service (NHS) increasingly relies on staff from non-EU countries to fill vacancies.

Although the UK says active recruitment in Ghana is not allowed, social media means nurses can easily see the vacancies available in NHS trusts. They can then apply for those jobs directly. Ghana's dire economic situation acts as a big push factor.

Howard Catton from the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is concerned about the scale of the numbers leaving countries like Ghana.

"My sense is that the situation currently is out of control," he told the BBC.

"We have intense recruitment taking place mainly driven by six or seven high-income countries but with recruitment from countries which are some of the weakest and most vulnerable which can ill-afford to lose their nurses."

Leading nurse Gifty Aryee says delays in seeing patients leads to higher mortality rates

The head of nursing at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Gifty Aryee, told the BBC her Intensive Care Unit alone had lost 20 nurses to the UK and US in the last six months - with grave implications.

"Care is affected as we are not able to take any more patients. There are delays and it costs more in mortality - patients die," she said.

She added that seriously ill patients often had to be held for longer in the emergency department due to the nursing shortages.

One nurse in the hospital estimated that half of those she had graduated with had left the country - and she wanted to join them.

'All our experienced nurses gone'

The BBC found a similar situation at Cape Coast Municipal Hospital.

The hospital's deputy head of nursing services, Caroline Agbodza, said she had seen 22 nurses leave for the UK in the last year.

"All our critical care nurses, our experienced nurses, have gone. So we end up having nothing - no experienced staff to work with. Even if the government recruits, we have to go through the pain of training nurses again."

Smaller clinics are also affected by staff migration because even one nurse leaving a small health centre can have a large knock-on effect.

At Ewim Health Clinic in Cape Coast, one nurse has left their small emergency department and another has left the outpatients unit. Both nurses were experienced and had found jobs in the UK.

The chief doctor there, Dr Justice Arthur, said the effects were enormous.

"Let's take services like immunisation of children. If we lose public health nurses, then the babies that have to be immunised will not get their immunisation and we are going to have babies die," he told the BBC.

He said adult patients would also die if there were not enough nurses to look after them after surgery.

Most of the nurses that the BBC team spoke to wanted to leave Ghana due to the fact they could earn more elsewhere.

At Kwaso healthcare centre near the city of Kumasi, Mercy Asare Afriyie explained that she was hoping to find a job in the UK soon.

"The exodus of nurses is not going to stop because of our poor conditions of service. Our salary is nothing to write home about and in two weeks you spend it. It's from hand to mouth."

Ghanaian nurses told the BBC that in the UK they could earn more than seven times what they are receiving in Ghana.

Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo from Ghana's Nurses and Midwives Association said her country's healthcare system needed more help.

"If you look at the numbers, then it is not ethical for the UK to recruit from Ghana because the numbers of professional nurses compared to trainee or auxiliary nurses is a problem for us," she said.

But she added that it was not possible to stop nurses from leaving as migration was a right and that the Ghanaian government needed to do more to persuade them to stay. The health ministry in the capital, Accra, declined to comment.

Fewer nurses in Ghana means that critical care for patients there is being affected, medics say

Ghana is on the World Health Organization's list of 55 vulnerable countries, which have low numbers of nurses per head of population. The list - dubbed by some as the "red list" - is designed to discourage systematic recruitment in these countries.

The UK government recently gave 15m ($18.6m) to Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya to help boost their healthcare workforces.

But the country is known to be looking at brokering a formal deal with Ghana whereby it might be able to recruit more proactively in return for giving the government there a sum of money per nurse.

It already has a similar agreement with Nepal.

But the ICN's Mr Catton questioned whether it was enough.

He told the BBC that he believed such deals were "trying to create a veneer of ethical respectability rather than a proper reflection of the true costs to the countries which are losing their nurses".

The WHO's Director of Health Workforce, Jim Campbell, explained to the BBC that Brexit had been a factor in the UK turning to African countries for nurses to fill NHS vacancies.

"The labour market is extremely competitive around the world and, having closed off the potential labour market from European freedom of movement, what we're seeing is the consequences of that in terms of attracting people from the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions."
Mountain High

Mount Everest may be the highest peak on Earth, but the BBC reports that there are staggeringly tall mountains deep inside our planet's interior that dwarf the tallest ranges on the surface  and scientists are puzzling over the origin of these geological marvels.

These gigantic buried mountain ranges, called ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZ), are located in the core-mantle boundary inside Earth, around 1,800 miles deep. Some can be "4.5 times the height of Everest" or more than 24 miles in height, researchers told the BBC, and completely hidden until they were revealed by seismic data from earthquakes and even atomic explosions.

"We found evidence for ULVZs kind of everywhere," University of Alabama geologist Samantha Hansen told the BBC, adding that "if it's big enough, we can see it."

Deepening Mystery

Scientists have speculated that these structures may be remnants of ancient oceanic crusts that were pushed deep into the Earth's interior, or parts of the mantle that have been superheated by the planet's searingly hot core.

Adding to the grandeur, when you find these interior mountains you will also likely find another mysterious deep-Earth structure, large low-shear-velocity provinces or "blobs," as scientists often call them. The BBC reports that these mountain ranges and blobs could offer valuable new clues into the shifting and jostling of tectonic plates as they move from the Earth's crust into the deep mantle.

Round the World

A team of scientists led by Hansen has been studying these ULVZs via seismology stations in Antarctica. The southernmost continent is an interesting place to study these hidden monster mountains, because they're far from any blobs or tectonic plates that have shifted or fallen.

But because of their existence in Antarctica, Hansen says these gigantic peaks may be found all around the planet, contradicting the idea that these high underground peaks were once ancient ocean floors.

"Seismic investigations, such as ours, provide the highest resolution imaging of the interior structure of our planet," Hansen said earlier this year, "and we are finding that this structure is vastly more complicated than once thought."

More on Earth: The Earths Core Is Wrapped in the Floor of an Ancient Ocean, Scientists Say
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has proposed $1.1 billion in new capital spending on major purchases such as city trucks and equipment, as well as construction.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has sent the City Council his new annual "capital budget" for 2023 that proposes $1.1 billion in new spending on longterm needs such as construction projects, technology and equipment.

Our capital budget reflects our top priorities  public safety, affordability and the neighborhood infrastructure that is the backbone of our community, Ginther said in a written statement released by his office. This includes new crime-fighting tools and technology, a new police substation, a new fire station and fire apparatus, affordable housing units, historic street resurfacing and more.

Highlights of the proposed spending plan include: $10 million for fire apparatus; $23 million for a new Hilltop police substation and Northside fire station; $62 million in road and intersection upgrades and resurfacing; $50 million to increase the number of new and rehabbed affordable housing units; $14 million for pedestrian safety and bikeway projects; and $5 million in ATF safety funding to track illegal crime guns.

The fact that the $1.1 billion is in the 2023 proposed capital budget doesn't mean it is necessarily intended to be expended this year, as a large portion of new spending annually ends up stretching across several years. In fact, this year's budget includes an additional $633.1 million in "carryover funding" that was appropriated for spending in past capital budgets, bringing the total to $1.74 billion.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has proposed $1.1 billion in new capital spending on major purchases such as city trucks and equipment, as well as construction.

The capital budget contains hundreds of line-item funding proposals, from tiny ones amounting to several dollars that were left over from a previous capital budget, to large ones totaling tens of millions of dollars.

The 71-page proposal now heads to City Council for review and potential changes. But in past years Council has only tweaked the mayor's capital spending proposals around the edges, and haven't made major revisions. The City Council has scheduled two hearings to collect input from the public on the proposal:

Tuesday, June 6 (today) at 6 p.m. at the Scioto Southland Community Center, 3901 Parsons Avenue.

Wednesday, June 7, at 6 p.m., Howard Community Center, 2505 North Cassady Avenue.

And a virtual meetings, Tuesday, June 13, at 4 p.m.

To be eligible for capital improvements funding, a capital project must cost more than $5,000, have a useful life of at least five years and be considered "nonoperational," or not part of the city operations budget, which pays for things such as employee salaries and benefits. That's because the capital budget is mostly funded by the city issuing debt, in the form of bonds, that is paid back over many years. A quarter of all city income tax money automatically goes into a "Special Income Tax Fund" to repay the debt.

So long as the city's income taxes increase, as they generally have for decades as Columbus evolved into Ohio's largest city, the funding for capital automatically increases simultaneously. Also, in 2009 voters approved increasing the city income tax to 2.5% from 2%.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mayor proposes $1.1-billion capital budget for Columbus for 2023
Tukwila police arrested a 12-year-old girl with a no cares attitude who officers say has been involved in a string of robberies and vicious attacks over the last few months that mostly targeted elderly women.

Her latest arrest stems from an incident on Monday evening, when officers were called to a business in the Southcenter area for a report of a robbery.

The victim told officers she was in the bathroom at the business when she was attacked by a girl who stole her phone and then ran away. Police said the suspect was a 12-year-old girl, who is well-known to officers.

Tukwila officers said they tracked the victims phone to a business near Fourth and Andover Park East where the girl is known to hang out.

Officers spotted her hanging out with a female friend, and as police took the 12-year-old into custody, she encouraged her friend to attack an officer so that they could go to juvenile detention together and could continue to hang out, according to police.

Officers said her comments were in line with her previous no cares attitude she displayed in previous crimes, when she laughed or joked about her victims crying, being hurt, or emotionally traumatized.

This is an unfortunate trend that has been growing across the region with juvenile suspects escalating their criminal behavior and expressing a lack of caring due to their belief that there is a total lack of consequences for said behavior, the Tukwila Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Tukwila Police said the girl has been a suspect in these crimes:

Feb. 28: The girl followed an elderly woman from a bus on Andover Park West and First into a business, where she attacked the woman and stole her purse. The victim did not want to pursue charges.

March 13: The girl followed an elderly woman out of a business on Strander Boulevard near Third, knocked her to the ground, attacked her, and tried to steal her phone and purse. A bystander came to the womans rescue and the girl fled, but she was quickly found and taken into custody.

Apr 14: Officers were notified that the girl had cut off her ankle monitoring bracelet the day before. Later in the day, she got into a fight with someone and then attacked an elderly woman who happened to be nearby. The girl had been banned from the location but continually returned without worry, police said.

Apr. 18: The girl made a social media post asking others to meet her at a location where she had been banned and committed most of her crimes, with the goal of starting a large fight there. Officers intercepted the messages, quickly went to the location, and spotted the girl, who ran away but was found shortly after and was taken into custody on a warrant.

May 22: Officers were called to a report of an attack in the 13900 block of Military Road South where they were told the girl had tried to stab a romantic rival after a fight related to a boy they were both involved with.

According to police, the girl has repeatedly been offered help but instead of trying to improve her life, with each incident, her bad behavior has only worsened.

Because of previous arrests, she is required to be under strict supervision but recently cut off her ankle monitoring device.
It was only 15 minutes after a Cessna 560 Citation civilian jet took off from an airport in northeastern Tennessee on Sunday that the aircraft, bound for New York, stopped responding to air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday -- as new details emerged about an unusual episode in the skies over the nation's capital.

About 80 minutes after takeoff, the Cessna, having apparently been unresponsive to the outside world for more than an hour, made it to the intended destination on Long Island, flight tracking software shows.

But rather than landing at MacArthur Airport, the plane turned around.

At that point, one U.S. official told ABC News, concerns grew significantly. Until then, the Cessna had been following its flight path and was being tracked on radar by the FAA, even despite the lack of communication.

Around 3 p.m. ET, and nearly two hours after the Cessna left Tennessee and an hour and a half after last communicating with aviation officials, the plane, flying at an altitude of 34,000 feet, was drawing closer to the restricted airspace over Washington, D.C.

That's when six F-16s were scrambled by NORAD, or North American Aerospace Defense Command, to intercept it, a U.S. defense official said.

As the military jets raced toward the craft from three bases in Maryland, New Jersey and South Carolina, one of the F-16s from New Jersey is believed to have created a thunderous sonic boom heard over much of Washington and its suburbs, according to NORAD.

Around 3:20 p.m., two F-16s that had taken off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland were the first to reach the aircraft, about 20 miles northeast of Reagan National Airport, according to the defense official.

The military pilots attempted to communicate with the unresponsive Cessna by radio and by rocking their wings, firing flares and flying around the aircraft, according to this official.

"NORAD pilots visually confirmed that the Cessna pilot was unresponsive," a second U.S. official said.

Around 3:32 p.m., according to the tracking software, the plane crashed in a remote, mountainous area near Montebello, Virginia. Authorities said the pilot and three passengers onboard were killed.

PHOTO: In this file photo, the sign for Joint Base Andrews is seen on March 26, 2021, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. (Alex Brandon/AP)

How the alarm was raised

The FAA, NORAD and other federal agencies had tracked the civilian jet as it headed northward after departing from the city airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Once the pilot failed to respond to air traffic control around 1:28 p.m., the FAA reported the issue about eight minutes later to a network that included "the military, national security, homeland security and other law enforcement agencies."

NORAD and other federal agencies were abreast of the situation on the conference call established for the incident.

But NORAD's view of the situation changed after the plane turned back over Long Island because it was now flying on an unknown flight plan which raised security concerns, one of the U.S. officials said.

NORAD can decide for itself if it will scramble jets based on its own criteria or after discussion with the other agencies. In such cases, military planes are deployed so they can provide "eyes on" an aircraft that is not responding to communications.

A U.S. official noted that occasionally pilots experience radio trouble or other issues that could cause a temporary loss of communication, leading flight controllers to attempt to reach them while monitoring the craft for any other odd activity.

"The actual standards [for scrambling jets] are classified, but there is a good bit of judgement involved," retired Marine Col. Stephen Ganyard, an ABC News contributor, said on "Good Morning America" on Monday.

It appears that military officials decided not to shoot the Cessna down because it was maintaining a constant high altitude and heading, meaning it wasn't seen as a threat, Ganyard said.

PHOTO: This file photo released by the US Air Force January 31, 2006, shows an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. (Kevin Gruenwald/US AIR FORCE/AFP via Getty Image)

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

"We are here not only to figure out what happened but why this happened, to prevent future accidents," Adam Gerhardt, a NTSB senior air safety investigator, told reporters at a news conference near the crash site on Monday.

He said the area is extremely rural and mountainous and the "destroyed" wreckage will need to be lifted out by helicopter and brought to a secure facility in Delaware.

The NTSB has said the Cessna was not required to have a black box.

A preliminary report from NTSB investigators is expected within three weeks, officials said. That report will look at "the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation."

"At this early stage of an investigation, NTSB does not state a cause but will provide factual information when available," the board said.

PHOTO: Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where a Cessna Citation crashed over mountainous terrain near Montebello, Va., Sunday, June 4, 2023 (Randall K. Wolf via AP)

Suspected cause

The man who runs the company that owns the Cessna told The New York Times that the victims included his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter and her nanny.

Adina Azarian, a prominent New York real estate agent and her daughter, Aria, were identified as among the dead, according to Azarian's employer.

"My family is gone, my daughter and granddaughter," Azarian's mother, Barbara Rumpel, posted on Facebook,

Experts said it was likely hypoxia caused the pilot and passengers to be unresponsive. Hypoxia is a condition that occurs when the body loses oxygen -- and severe hypoxia can cause a loss of consciousness and eventually death.

If an aircraft isn't pressurized, hypoxia can occur at or above 10,000 feet. At a higher altitude like 34,000 feet, hypoxia can occur much more rapidly, causing unconsciousness in around a minute to a minute and a half.

"The pressurization in the aircraft should keep enough oxygen in the cabin to stay alert and stay awake," Ganyard said in an interview on "World News Tonight."

But "[hypoxia] can happen insidiously," Ganyard said, "where you lose consciousness, you begin to feel tingling, you feel a sense of euphoria and it very slowly overcomes the people in the cabin."

ABC News' Clara McMichael, Lauren Minore and Kevin Shalvey contributed to this report.

Fighter jets scrambled 1.5 hours after contact lost with unresponsive jet that veered to DC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
'Our goal is to teach them': Evans Industries creates job training for foster care youth

Bevan Evans, president of Evans Industries in downtown Canton, and her line-production manager, Tony Barrino, have created a pilot program to teach employment skills to young adults who are aging out of foster care.

CANTON  These days, it's not that difficult to find a job.

But for many young adults emerging from foster care, the problem often is in keeping it.

Bevan Evans, president of Evans Industries, and Tony Barrino, a former foster parent and longtime line-production supervisor at Evans, are formulating a work-skills program to aid those aging out of the foster care system.

Their goal is to begin in the fall.

"Right now, it's a pilot program," Evans said. "Throughout the pandemic, we were racking our brains trying to figure out what we could do. And Tony, here, as a foster parent said, 'Hey, I have an idea.'"

Barrino, who adopted two of the boys he fostered, said the pilot program would stretch about six weeks.

From foster to adoptive dad Family found: Tony Barrino adopts teens in foster care

"Most foster kids are taught independent living skills," he said. "They're taught how to write a check; they're taught how to do a job interview and how to dress for a job interview. But one thing they're missing and are lacking is the skills to keep a job. Most of the time, they go from job to job. Ninety percent of them don't have a support system. My sons, who are 25 and 26, have a support system. Most kids come out with nothing."

What are the ABCs of work?

Barrino said the training will include "homework" that emphasizes what he calls "the ABCs" of work ethics: Attitude, behavior and communication.

He has worked at Evans Industries for 29 years.

"If you have a bad attitude, then that means your behavior is going to reflect your attitude, and that means your communications skills are going to reflect those," he said. "We'll go from A to Z to help them understand that this is how you survive in the workforce."

According to the National Foster Youth Institute:

More than 23,000 children age out of the U.S. foster care system every year.

After reaching the age of 18, 20% of the children who were in foster care become instantly homeless.

Only 1 out of 2 foster kids who age out of the system will have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24.

There is less than a 3% chance for children who have aged out of foster care to earn a college degree at any point in their life.

7 out of 10 girls who age out of the foster care system will become pregnant before the age of 21.

25% of children who age out of the foster care system suffer from PTSD.

Evans said they developed the plan over the winter to enter a contest sponsored by Citizens Bank, which awards $10,000 to 30 small businesses across the country in recognition of the positive contributions theyve made within their communities.

Evans Industries won a Small Business Community Champion Award under the woman-owned business category.

"It made us put pen to paper and come up with the process," Evans said. "The money is going to allow us to actually get that started and get it up and running."

Getting the necessary training

Evans and Barrino said the training will start with about four young adults.

"They will actually get paid to be told, 'This is not how you do it,'" Barrino said. "They're going to be trained to learn how to work."

Evans Industries, a contract manufacturer, was founded by Evans' mother, Sue, in the 1970s.

"She was a divorced mom, raising four kids," she said.

Evans said the company has a history of hiring those in need of a second chance. It currently has a workforce of about 17.

Canton woman gets a pardon 'It's been a long journey.' Canton mom's road to redemption results in governor's pardon

"We've hired people from SRCCC (Stark Regional Community Correctional Center)," she said. "It's part of our legacy and what we do. We've never turned anybody down because of their record."

Barrino said the program is not just a plan, it's also a vision. Their goal includes developing connections with other local businesses that may be in need of employees.

"We're not training people to work here," he said. "Our goal is to teach them, train them, and send them off so hopefully they can get a job to provide for themselves and their families. We're training people to live a successful life in the workforce."

To learn more contact Evans at bevans@evansind.net or call 330-453-1122, or 330-990-6718.

Church urges more foster families Compassion Church works to boost fostering, adoption

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Evans Industries offers work training for youth leaving foster care
Image: Postmodern Studio (Shutterstock)

The days of relying on a travel agent may be making a come-back, but not with humans. Google is reportedly bringing its own AI engine to online travel agency Priceline to help customers book trips through a chatbot.



Google and Priceline told Reuters that the new feature could go live as early as this summer, and will consist of a more sophisticated chatbot. Since Priceline will now have access to Googles generative AI, the platform will be able to extract data on hotels, for example, more efficiently. That data can then be served up to the customer in a format that appears like a human wrote it, which Googles Bard is famous for doing. Martin Brodbeck, Priceline Chief Technology Officer, told Reuters that the chatbot will serve as a personal concierge for users.

Read more

You can easily find out that in Bryant Park theres a Christmas market that runs from early November all the way through the beginning of January when youre actually booking your hotel, said Brodbeck to the outlet.

On the backend, Google will also be helping Pricelines digital infrastructure. The artificial intelligence will reportedly generate code for the hundreds of software developers that work for Priceline. Also, Googles search engine will be woven into the companys intranet and the tech giants AI will aid with marketing popular destinations to consumers.

You could have it create images like a beautiful beach, and you could marry that with great generative-AI copy, Brodbeck told Reuters.

Travel site Expedia also has its sights set on an AI-assisted travel planner. In April, the company announced plans to put a beta ChatGPT interface into its app thatll let users plug in their travel preferences, budget, and time of stay, and in return, the system should create some natural language responses offering hotel or activity suggestions.

Want to know more about AI, chatbots, and the future of machine learning? Check out our full coverage of artificial intelligence, or browse our guides to The Best Free AI Art Generators, The Best ChatGPT Alternatives, and Everything We Know About OpenAIs ChatGPT.

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Click here to read the full article.
Eliza Anderson, Deseret News

An electrifying example of Christian love in the face of great racial tension occurred in 2020 immediately after the horrifying murder of George Floyd. Scott Hagan, then president of North Central University, welcomed Floyds grieving and traumatized family to the Assembly of Gods premier university where the family had asked to hold a funeral for Floyd. News coverage of the funeral may have reached well over one billion people.

This act of compassion and courage, standing up for a man who had been unjustly killed at the hands of the police, was later vindicated by the conviction of the murderer, Derek Chauvin. Today a scholarship in honor of George Floyd at North Central University benefits the young man who now deeply regrets his role in bringing the police to the scene where Floyd was murdered. And several other schools have established similar scholarships. The message promoting justice still echoes around the world today; Christians defend those who are the victims of injustice even when it is costly to do so.

Religion in the civil rights movement

Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us that the fruit of his justice is peace, calling his people to act as Scott Hagan did. Racial problems are rooted in a long and bitter history of slavery and oppression, which has left intractable systems that still pose enormous barriers to African Americans.

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The most important step is to educate ourselves about the issues. Our churches, mosques, temples and synagogues provide the perfect venue. Spiritual leaders can develop reading lists of accurate, balanced accounts of the history. They can establish study groups among their congregations and teach on these topics in their sermons.

People of faith can learn how sharecroppers were trapped in poverty because white farmers repeatedly cheated them. And how successful Black people, in places like Black Wall Street in Tulsa, repeatedly had their property destroyed and their lives ended by envious white people.

Educate yourself on the experience of Black people

Education is the basis for action. One fruitful approach is to build relationships with local Black churches, supporting their work on issues in their community, establishing friendships over time with pastors and members. The partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a network led by the Azusa Christian Community in Boston, which distributes several tons of food to the needy, is one example.

Related

The famous friendship between the Rev. Dr. Martin King Jr. and Abraham Heschel is another. Contact like this is an opportunity to learn how racism affects peoples daily lives. Many Black people are trapped in poor neighborhoods because, as recently as the 20th century, the New Deal implemented in the 1930s was designed in a racially biased way that created a lasting and growing racial wealth gap, although it also brought undeniable benefits to Black people. Redlining in northern cities such as Chicago and Detroit established the basis for the wealth of the white middle class while blocking Black people from accessing the same resources.

Rectifying these injustices is consistent with Gods commands to the ancient Israelites to protect the widow, the orphan and the stranger. We too must act to defend those who suffer.

Collaborate with Black congregations

Further action can grow out of collaboration between Black and white congregations. Much of the injustice that African Americans have experienced has been the product of policy decisions by the U.S. government, from codifying slavery to implementing redlining.

Current disadvantages like entrenched residential segregation, extremely limited access to high quality education and subtle employment bias continue to hold Black people back. Steps to implement policies that reverse that harm must be taken. Some recommendations, such as increased funding for inner-city public schools and protection of Black peoples voting rights, are obvious.

But a deep understanding of the problems is essential in this process. So, we must oppose efforts to limit the study of an unvarnished history of the United States.

Finally, our congregations can provide philanthropic support for families in need, for scholarships for Black youth, and for other local, statewide or national efforts to support the advancement of African Americans.

Reducing the racial tensions in our society is no easy lift and will take courage, resilience and persistence. But as people of faith, it is surely a critical task to which God calls us.

Jacqueline C. Rivers is Executive Director of the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies.

This story appears in the June issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.
A flooded house is seen Monday on 77th Street near Amarillo across from Greenways.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for parts of the South Plains and the Panhandle due to flooding caused by recent storms.

The declaration could help the state and localitites affected by the flooding qualify for federal disaster assistance.

The declaration was issued for Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Deaf Smith, Garza, Hale, Lamb, Lynn, Potter, Randall, Parmer and Roberts counties on Tuesday, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Under the governor's direction, the Texas Department of Emergency Management has activated the Texas National Guard, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies to help respond to the disaster.

A Multi-Agency Resource Center has also been opened Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Deaf Smith County at First Baptist Church of Hereford, 501 Sampson St., in the gymnasium.

According to the news release, individuals are asked to help local and state officials assess the damage caused by the flooding by reporting it through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Abbott signs disaster declaration for South Plains, Panhandle amid flooding
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference Tuesday in Wildwood.

The event was held at the Everglades Recreation Center.

Read: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to announce hes running for president during discussion with Elon Musk

This was Gov. DeSantis first public press conference in Central Florida since he announced he was running for president in 2024.

In recent days, the State of California has been looking into GDeSantis involvement in flights of migrants crossing the Texas border and dropping them off in Sacramento without the states knowledge.

Read: California investigating whether DeSantis involved in flying asylum-seekers from Texas to Sacramento

WFTV Channel 9 will have a crew at the press conference and will stream it live on WFTVs NEWS 24/7 stream.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A period of spectacular revenue growth has ended in California. That means Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature  equally inexperienced with difficult budget cycles  will face crucial decisions to approve a spending plan for the coming fiscal year in California by June 15.

Based on state forecasting models, this wont be the last time. An era of deficits and difficult budget decisions lies ahead.

Opinion

We believe that strategic cuts that dont sacrifice the states core missions and revenue increases that dont further harm the economy should both be on the table.

Climate change and homelessness are two pressing issues that demand consistent financing. If its true that a state budget is about values, then funding efforts to roll back the impacts of climate change should be exempt from the whims of budget politics. The same can be said for funding statewide efforts to bend the curve of homelessness and misery experienced throughout California.

How does California budget its values in difficult years like this one?

A more relentless eye on spending efficiency combined with a steadier revenue stream are essential to making that happen

There is an understandable focus on revenues this budget season for two reasons: Many Californians have not filed their 2022 tax returns because of the shift to an October filing deadline due to the storm emergencies, so the state has limited data on what it will ultimately collect when the fiscal year ends on June 30.

Meanwhile, predicting how the economy will perform is beyond the ability of any model, no matter how sophisticated.

With half of state income taxes coming from only 1% of the states wealthiest residents, California has one of the most volatile revenue structures imaginable.

Last month, the Newsom administration forecast an imbalance between revenues and expenses of about $32 billion and proposed closing it with a traditional set of maneuvers. About $8 billion in one-time spending was delayed, existing bond proceeds will cover some costs rather than incoming revenues, and additional federal funds for health care will cover another $2.5 billion of the problem.

Yet, missing was a comprehensive plan for how to trim fat in every department  a process that inevitably happens when general fund spending nearly doubles in six years. Senate Republicans are right to question a 23% increase in state employees during the last decade.

Instead, Newsoms budget proposes to lop off a few financial branches, when a careful pruning of the tree is desperately needed.

The lack of attention to the spending side resulted in neither branch of government setting the stage for a necessary discussion about strategic revenue increases. The governor wrongly opposes any discussion of the matter, saying tax increases are off the table.

State Senate Democrats deserve credit for showing how to increase revenues in a way that can lead to both tax decreases and spending increases targeting those who truly need it.

Corporations are contributing less to the federal budget ever since Congress, in 2017, lowered the tax rate from 35% of income to 21%.

In Sacramento, Senate Democrats this year suggested lowering the state rate from 8.84% to 6.63% for businesses making less than $1.5 million a year and raising the rate to 10.99% for businesses making more than $1.5 million.

The Democrats proposed spending most of the estimated $7.2 billion in new revenue to cover the costs of tax cuts to small businesses and a renters tax credit. The new spending would be earmarked for the homeless, schools and subsidized child care.

Newsom must protect public transit

Then there is the matter of what the budget is simply missing.

The proposed budget leaves unresolved whether and how to keep urban transit agencies in business. Federal bailouts during the COVID-19 crisis are over, and ridership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and may never any time soon.

Public transit should be the foundation of the states climate change strategy because of its lower per-passenger emissions compared to the automobile. Cutting routes would likely trigger ridership declines and then revenues, a classic fiscal death spiral. The challenge is to provide enough funds to keep transit afloat while forcing a re-examination of the mission, particularly in a Bay Area once dominated by downtown San Francisco.

Equally unresolved is the precarious future of hospitals in rural areas and disadvantaged urban communities. They are in financial straits as they have cared disproportionately for low-income patients and received state reimbursements that have not covered costs.

Ignoring problems of this magnitude would only lead to greater future costs.

The governors proposal of $10 billion in one-time spending is a reasonable ceiling for him and lawmakers to cobble together a compromise.

Last, but hardly least, is the unsavory tradition of packing the budget with so-called trailer bills. This has become an odious Sacramento tradition where complex policy issues are jammed into budget bills that deserve careful consideration.

Newsom proposed the mother of all trailer bills last month when he unveiled a complex plan to accelerate a range of infrastructure projects with a slew of bills to be tacked onto the budget. There are plenty of unresolved budget matters to keep Sacramento busy between now and June 15 without adding bills that should be debated over the summer.

This is no time for an autopilot budget. With revenues truly unpredictable this coming fiscal year, the administration must be poised to take additional actions should tax receipts begin to fall dangerously short.

California is too vulnerable to these swings because we neither spend nor raise funds as wisely as we should. The rainy day reserves, untouched in the governors proposal, do not even cover 10% of a single years budget. There is no avoiding the need to do better at surgically cutting costs and diversifying revenues. There is no shirking of the values California must uphold in this budget. To do so would be a blunder for Newsom and the Legislature the first time they faced a tough budget.
Gov. Sununu says he wont run for president because he doesnt want to split opposition to Trump

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu takes part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Sununu says he will not seek the presidency in 2024. | Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Despite rumors that he would throw his hat in the ring, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he will not run for president in 2024.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Sununu said he does not want to dilute opposition to former President Donald Trump, who is currently the frontrunner in the Republican primary.

Too many other candidates who have entered this race are simply running to be Trumps vice president. Thats not leadership; thats weakness, he wrote. Too many candidates are afraid to confront Trump, surrendering to his attacks. I will have more credibility speaking out against Trump as a non-candidate to help move the conversation toward the future I believe the Republican Party should embrace.

He said he would endorse the candidate he believes is most likely to win in 2024.

Sununu is a popular Republican governor in a purple state. He won reelection in 2022 with 57% of the vote, compared to 41% for his opponent, while New Hampshires entire congressional delegation is Democratic.

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And as governor of New Hampshire  the state that typically holds the first primary in the nation, after the caucuses in Iowa  Sununu could play a role in helping or hurting the Republican candidates as they travel to his state to campaign.

On Monday, Sununu told CNN host Dana Bash he does not believe Trump can win the general election, and that if Republicans nominate him theyll be helping President Joe Biden win in 2024.

The math has shown Donald Trump has no chance of winning in November of 24. He wouldnt even win Georgia. If youre a Republican that cant win Georgia (in) November 24, you have no shot, and hes proven that, he said.

He told her part of his decision was based on the growing size of the Republican field, and said other candidates should exit the primary process quickly if its not working.

He also said he will support the Republican nominee no matter who it is.
A GPS mistake took a 60-year-old driver to the Canadian border, where he was arrested with 400 pounds of cannabis and more than $600,000 in his car, police said

A vehicle turning onto the border crossing at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario. GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images

A 60-year-old American inputted the wrong GPS coordinates and ended up at the Canadian border.

Police said an inspection uncovered 400 pounds of cannabis and more than $600,000 cash in his car.

Police said he was arrested and remained in custody in Ontario, Canada.

A 60-year-old American driver was arrested last week after he took a wrong turn and ended up at the Canadian border with a huge quantity of cannabis and more than $600,000 cash in his car, according to law enforcement authorities.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release that Andrew Lee Toppenberg was following GPS coordinates that were entered incorrectly when he mistakenly ended up in the border lineup at Canada's Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Toppenberg, of Tustin, California, was subject to an inspection because he did not have his passport with him, according to police.

Canadian border officials said that they found 181 kilograms, or about 399 pounds, of cannabis during the inspection that was valued from $269,775 to $539,552. They also found more than $600,000 cash in the vehicle, the news release said.

The drugs and the money were located throughout the car, with the cannabis in vacuum-packed containers and the cash separated into bundles that were concealed in a safe, suitcase, and lockable case, according to police.

The police said the packaging looked like the sort of containers drug dealers or money launderers used, which led to them issuing charges against Toppenberg on suspicion of the possession and import of cannabis, and the possession of more than $5,000 knowing that all or parts of the proceeds were obtained by a crime.

Toppenberg appeared in an Ontario court on Monday and remained in custody, the news release said.

Jeff Walters, the director of Niagara District Operations for Canada's Border Services Agency, said in a statement: "The CBSA is extremely proud of the diligence shown by our officers. Their hard work has a profound impact on continually ensuring public safety at our borders."

Read the original article on Insider
Yes, Kamala Harris could become president if Biden is reelected. That's not a mark against his campaign. It's kind of the point of her job. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

The first big decision a presidential nominee makes is picking a running mate. In announcing his own candidacy for the White House on Monday, former Vice President Mike Pence made it official: Donald Trump 2024 is running against his own first big decision from 2016.

Awkward.

Meanwhile Nikki Haley, a candidate herself, went on Fox News to remind everyone of the choice Joe Biden made in 2020 after he received the Democratic nomination.

A vote for President Biden is actually a vote for President Harris, she said on Fox News. Make no bones about it.  Every liberal knows  its Kamala Harris thats gonna end up being president if Joe Biden wins this election.

Now, in case you didnt get the memo, Haley has this generational change narrative shes been workshopping on the campaign trail. The former governor of South Carolina started banging this drum back in February when she proposed a competency test for politicians over 75 . It didnt catch on. Shes apparently moved on to an updated version of a 2020 scare tactic: Bidens age will prevent him from finishing the term  hence a President Harris.

Haleys comments are a bit silly. The reason we have vice presidents is in case something happens to the president  not in case theyre old. Ideally, the vice president pick is someone the nominee believes can do the job as well as bring excitement (Harris) or stability (Pence) to the ticket.

The hope is that the selection is more about qualifications than politics. When it comes to Harris, conservatives like Haley remain hungry to test that out, because they see a political opening. Their hunt began in 2020, the moment Biden made it clear his pick would be a Black woman. The more crowded the GOP field becomes this time around, the more frenzied their rhetoric about Harris is sure to become.

So give them what they want.

If the point of having a vice president is having a backup in case the president is unable to serve, why not own Bidens choice? That doesnt mean dwelling on his age as much as it means not allowing Haley and others to turn Bidens choice of vice president into a negative. Especially given the current relationship between Trump and Pence.

We know Haleys scare tactic wasnt intended to sow dissension on the left, because  well, she was speaking on Fox News. So that President Harris specter was meant for Republican voters who would hate not only the thought of a Biden successor who could deliver on his promises, but also the image of Harris being the commander-in-chief doing it.

Its something comedian Roy Wood Jr. touched on while hosting this years White House Correspondents Assn. dinner:

I think the most insulting scandal to fall to the feet of the Biden administration was placed at the feet of our Madam Vice President  the scandal of What does Kamala do? Thats a disrespectful question, because nobody ever asked that question of a vice president until a woman got the job.

Specifically, a Black woman. Critics were primed to attack no matter what she did or didnt accomplish.

But consider the source. Most of the barbs aimed at Harris come from Republican detractors, members of the party whose front-runner was recently convicted of sexual assault, the party with a habit of catering to white nationalists. With their racist and sexist baggage, using President Harris as a boogeyman is especially disgusting. Also effective.

Theres no getting around it.

So Biden should not allow opponents to use a "President Harris" narrative as a sign of his frailty; it's a strength. His first big decision as the nominee was historic. Now, go remind voters why it was also right ... which is something Trump can't do.

@LZGranderson

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A group of demonstrators are calling for an assault weapons ban in Washington DC. (John Bowden/The Independent)

As a major piece of gun control legislation looks poised to die in the Senate for the umpteenth time, a group of grieving families is turning pain into action.

On a breezy Tuesday morning in Washington, the families erected a small collection of lawnchairs and a small tent roof, and unfurled banners and shirts with a simple message: Ban assault weapons.

Their push for Congress to make meaningful changes to Americas culture of guns and the nightmarish shooting attacks that make the US stand out among its Western peers is nothing new. Whats new is their anger, and perhaps an acceptance of the idea that many in Congress are simply not interested in working to find a solution.

Thats the sense that you get when you talk to Samuel Schwartz, a volunteer with the survivors, who pointed out that some among the families gathered in small circles under the trees had been a part of this movement for more than a decade. Some lost loved ones in the horrific Uvalde elementary attack, others had even more recent experiences in Nashville and Highland Park, and still others came to Washington from Parkland and other scenes of mass violence.

A sit-in is something that I feel like is done when we have exhausted all our other options, Mr Schwartz told The Independent. The fact that we still have to come out here and do this 20 years later is shameful...The senators are doing nothing. Not saving any lives.

Mr Schwartz, whose cousin was killed in the Parkland massacre, and his allies hope to press a number of Democratic holdouts into supporting the assault weapons ban, even as they understand that getting Republican votes on top of those members is a steep ask. And therein lies the anger: There remains little to be called a path forward, at least through the Senate, for the foreseeable future. Thats a reality that hasnt changed in a long time.

(John Bowden/The Independent)

A bill banning assault weapons passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last year. It hasnt gone anywhere in the upper chamber, however, and leaders of the presidents party are doing little to champion the issue beyond press releases and the occasional public statement.

We're going to say nothing during this event that hasn't been said before. What we're doing differently is actually sitting here and not leaving until we do something that's different, Mr Schwartz said.

(John Bowden/The Independent)

His group, which numbered at least 30 on day one, plans to grow and encourage others to join them as their protest persists throughout the week. Volunteers plan to stay on-site 23 hours a day.

Mr Schwartz described what it was like to be fighting alongside families and survivors who had been pressing for these changes for more than a decade, and how that reality was changing the tone of the movement itself.

It's like monotonous. Sometimes it feels discouraging. And it's like, you just get in your own head that nothing will ever change.

He went on to say: Maybe five to 10 years ago, when Americans heard about a mass shooting, their initial reaction was sadness. Now that has changed, to their initial reaction being anger.

I feel like anger leads to just movement and momentum. So I mean, we're all angry or peaceful, obviously, but we're pissed.
A Grosse Pointe Farms lawyer accused of embezzling several million dollars from the trust of late Carhartt leader Gretchen Valade will stand trial in Wayne County Circuit Court, a judge ruled Monday, just before the attorney was also charged with stealing from the trust of a Grosse Pointe Farms school.

David Sutherland, 58, was bound over for trial on four charges after a daylong preliminary exam Monday in Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court. The hearing included six prosecution witnesses, including Valades former housekeeper-turned-household manager and caretaker, investigators, a woman who worked with Sutherland who was given immunity to testify and representatives of Plante Moran, which now oversees the trust as well as related real estate holdings.

The defense called no witnesses.

Attorney James Joseph Sullivan, left, speaks with his client David Sutherland, an attorney who has been charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from recently deceased Carhartt heiress Gretchen Valade's trust, after an arraignment hearing at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on January 11, 2023.

How prosecutors say Sutherland stole from Valade

Sutherland is facing two counts of embezzlement over $100,000, one count of embezzlement from a vulnerable adult of $100,000 or more and one count of conducting criminal enterprises. Each count is a 20-year felony offense.

Sutherland was trustee when the trust was created in 2009 until 2020.

Valade, a businesswoman, philanthropist and arts patron, died at her Grosse Pointe Farms home on Dec. 30. She was 97 and the granddaughter of Carhartt Inc. founder Hamilton Carhartt.

Testimony from Mary Lubera, who worked with Sutherland from 2006 until 2020, indicated that Sutherland wrote and signed promissory notes in 2017 and 2018 giving him a $5 million personal line of credit from the trust and creating a separate $5 million line of credit for a business with which he was affiliated. But he backdated the notes, which read as if the loans had been authorized a year earlier than they were written. Investigators said that an additional $2 million-plus was embezzled beyond the amount authorized in each promissory note, for a total of $7.7 million for one note and $7.6 million for the other.

Lubera testified that she prepared the documents at Sutherland's direction.

More: Metro Detroit businesswoman Gretchen Carhartt Valade dies at age 97

More: Detroit businesswoman Gretchen Carhartt Valade leaves behind a symphony of accomplishments

Gretchen Carhartt Valade, metro Detroit businesswoman, philanthropist and "angel of jazz," died peacefully in her home on Dec. 30, 2022 at age 97.

Investigator: Sutherland made Valade 'a human ATM'

Testimony from Julie Cotant, a senior trust officer at Plante Moran, cited check after check for amounts varying from $10,000 to $300,000 written from the trust to numerous businesses that Sutherland was associated with in 2019 and 2020. They had no association with the trust.

She testified that Sutherland repaid $500,000 to the trust in late 2020, after Plante Moran took over the trust, and the business with which he was affiliated made a similar payment.

Scott Teter, division chief of the financial crimes division for the state Attorney Generals Office, said Sutherland turned Valade and her trust into a human ATM, again and again taking money to the tune of millions of dollars.

More: New details in case against attorney accused of theft from Gretchen Carhartt Valade's trust

More: Lawyer charged with 'staggering' theft from trust of late Carhartt leader

Teter told Municipal Court Judge Charles Berschback that Sutherland, who met with Valade at least every other week, made no attempt to pay until he was caught.

Sutherlands attorney, James Joseph Sullivan, said Sutherland had clear authority to loan money to himself and was entitled to compensation as the trustee. He asked Berschback to dismiss all four charges, saying that the trust itself isnt a vulnerable adult and doesnt meet the elements of the vulnerable adult charge.

There was no misrepresentation or fraud, Sullivan said.

But Berschback found sufficient elements to bind Sutherland over on all charges. He said several entities controlled by Sutherland got trust money.

Municipal Judge Charles Berschback listens during an arraignment hearing for David Sutherland, an attorney who has been charged with embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from recently deceased Carhartt heiress Gretchen Valade's trust, at Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court on January 11, 2023.

Alleged theft from St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School

After the six hours of testimony, Sutherland was arraigned on a separate embezzlement charge filed at the end of May.

Attorneys with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office said that allegation involves embezzlement of more than $1.4 million from the William Cardinal Foundation, which is to benefit education at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Farms. That alleged crime is said to have occurred between Aug. 1, 2018, and the present, according to statements made during the arraignment.

Berschback entered a not guilty plea for Sutherland in the new charge of embezzlement over $100,000. A probable cause conference is set for July 26 in municipal court.

More: Detroit businesswoman Gretchen Carhartt Valade leaves behind a symphony of accomplishments

Berschback kept the same bond as in the Valade case, including a GPS tether for Sutherland, but approved part of a request from Assistant Attorney General Daniel Gunderson to have another attorney from Sutherlands office supervise Sutherland in vulnerable adult cases.

Berschback said he wants to know at the next hearing how many cases may be in play after Gunderson mentioned this is a pattern of conduct for Sutherland. Gunderson said he was told Friday that Sutherland approached an individual regarding a civil matter on a different living trust. No charges are filed in that matter, Gunderson said.

Valade's son, Mark Valade, the current Carhartt CEO, sat through the day's proceedings, but had no comment afterward.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Attorney to stand trial in embezzlement from Carhartt leader's trust
FILE - A bus drives past a sign reading Welcome to Sandy Hook in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 4, 2013. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, signed the most wide-ranging state gun control bill since a 2013 law passed in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, sparking an immediate lawsuit by gun rights supporters seeking to block a ban on open carrying and other parts of the new law. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday signed the most wide-ranging state gun control bill since a 2013 law passed in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, sparking an immediate lawsuit by gun rights supporters seeking to block a ban on open carrying and other parts of the new law.

It's the latest legal fight over Connecticut's gun laws, which are some of the strictest in the country, since the U.S. Supreme Court last year expanded gun rights and opened several states' laws to challenges. The landmark 2013 gun law and others also are being contested in court.

This bill that I just signed takes smart and strategic steps to strengthen the laws in Connecticut to prevent tragedy from happening, the Democratic governor said in a statement. The inaction of Congress on critical legislation to keep Americans safe requires each state to act individually."

Idaho-based We the Patriots USA, a group that bills itself as a protector of gun and other rights, filed a lawsuit in federal court late Tuesday with other plaintiffs in an effort to block the law, the group's lawyer said.

Individuals have a right to bear arms under both the state and federal constitutions, the lawyer, Norm Pattis, wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The state constitution guarantees a right to protect oneself. No one sacrifices that right by walking out of their front door. In an era of defunding police, permissive bail reform and liberal clemency, folks depend on the right to self-defense more than ever.

The Connecticut Senate gave final legislative approval to the bill on Saturday. The measure passed the Senate 24-11, following a 96-51 House vote last week.

Besides banning open carrying of firearms, the law would increase bail and toughen probation and parole for what officials called a narrow group of people with repeated serious gun offenses. It also would prohibit selling more than three handguns within 30 days to any one person, with some exceptions for instructors and others.

Other provisions include expanding Connecticuts current assault weapon ban to include some other similar weapons; stiffening penalties for possession of large-capacity magazines; expanding safe-storage rules to more settings; and adding some domestic violence crimes to the list of disqualifications for having a gun.

It also expands a ban on retail sales of certain semiautomatic rifles to anyone under 21 and increases penalties against gun dealers for violating state law.

The lawsuit filed by We the Patriots USA says the new law violates 2nd Amendment gun rights, particularly the ban on open carrying and limiting purchases to no more than three guns within a 30-day period.

Democrats, who control both chambers of the legislature, backed the legislation, while Republican lawmakers complained it was another bill that punished law-abiding gun owners instead of targeting criminals who commit gun violence.

The 2013 law passed after the Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, added more than 100 firearms to the state's 1993 assault weapons ban, prohibited ammunition magazines carrying more than 10 rounds and created a dangerous weapon offender registry. Another lawsuit is challenging that law.
Mk 15 phalanx garage

A video has recently emerged showing what, at first glance, seems to be a Mk 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, or CIWS, in someone's garage. On closer inspection, it turns out the Phalanx is actually a scale model which can spray BB gun pellets at an astonishing rate.

Yes, a guy built an airsoft Phalanx in his garage.

In the video, which can be viewed in the Tweet below, we see a miniaturized Phalanx placed on the back of a pickup truck facing a target. While its not immediately clear what the target was made from, heavy paper material seems likely. The video then shows it was no match for the airsoft Phalanx. Indeed, the spray of the BB gun pellets easily cut the target in two.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1664100308291813376?s=20

The Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, which is produced by Raytheon, is armed with a variant of the famous M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and has a rate of fire of 4,500 rounds per minute. It can engage targets in manual mode or autonomously, via the use of two radars, while recent versions have include electro-optical and infrared sensors.

As we have highlighted in the past, Phalanx has been in operational use with the U.S. Navy since 1980, initially as a ship-based weapon system intended to protect vessels against incoming cruise missiles and aircraft. Variants of the Phalanx are found on a wide variety of Naval vessels around the world, including in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces. A land-based version of Phalanx called Centurion was introduced around 2004, primarily in order to down incoming rockets and mortar rounds in Iraq and Afghanistan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsf38NYzo5Q

The man behind the mini-Phalanx is Kogoro Kurata, CEO of the Japan-based robotics company Suidobashi Heavy Industry. The company shot to fame over a decade ago when Kurata, along with roboticist Wataru Yoshizaki, developed a four-meter (13 feet) tall Kuratas robot prototype, which also sprays BB gun pellets. Kuratas famously took part in a Megabots robot fight in 2017, which it ended up winning. Kuratas robots can be custom ordered for as little as $1.35 million, as of 2013. The company also makes other airsoft-related products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCxbD67WhGc

As Kurata highlights in another Tweet, the airsoft Phalanx uses an airsoft M134 Minigun manufactured by the Japan-based CAW (Craft Apple Works). The real-life M134 Minigun, which fires 7.62x51mm rounds, is itself a direct cousin of the 20mm Vulcan cannon found on the Phalanx (and both are six-barrel, electronically-powered Gatling-type guns).

Kurata also indicates that the airsoft Phalanxs dome, where the Phalanx CIWS' search and tracking radars are housed, serves as a tank holding in the region of 900,000 airsoft BB pellets. Compared to an actual Phalanx, which stands at around 4.7 meters (15.5 feet) high, the miniature version stands at around 2.3 meters (just over 7.5 feet) high, which includes its pedestal.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1663376407899283456?s=20

Kuratas ambitions to create an airsoft Phalanx stretch back several years. In a Tweet he posted on March 5, he showed components of the airsoft Phalanx sitting in a garage. In a translation of the Tweet, Kurata explains that his initial drive to build the model had stalled due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, but that he had recently resumed working on it.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1632569689069985796?s=20

Various Tweets Kurata posted since then show the miniaturized Phalanx in different states of completion, starting with its core structure.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1633385429272768521?s=20

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1636567205516288002?s=20

From there, Kurata revealed the installation of the CAW Minigun and hydraulic systems to rotate the base of the scale model Phalanx and to move the gun vertically.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1640285858606759936?s=20

Aiming to create a faithful reproduction of the CIWS, Kurata also installed a camera, designed to resemble the side-mounted Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera first seen on the Block 1B variant of the Phalanx.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1648627888953102338?s=20

Phalanx CIWS Block 1B mounted on the Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate, USS Elrod (FFG-55), 2019. Chuck Homler d/b/a FocusOnWildlife via Wikimedia Commons

Once assembled, the airsoft Phalanx was subsequently moved onto the back of a pickup truck.

https://twitter.com/koogooroo/status/1656130471028461570?s=20

More broadly, the real-world Phalanx holds a unique, if not slightly odd, place within popular culture. Comparisons have often been made between the weapons shape and famous fictional characters from the big screen, including Minions and even R2-D2. Most recently, sailors were even filmed speaking to a Phalanx as it appeared to track a 737 over a Harpers Ferry or Whidbey Island class amphibious dock landing ship.

https://twitter.com/JosephHDempsey/status/1153928703438704641?s=20

https://twitter.com/top_force/status/878883659092250625?s=20

Fun has also been poked in the past at the use of Phalanxs by the JMSDF with the aid of models (albeit ones that don't use BB gun pellets).

https://twitter.com/Dark_Falcon7/status/1307061077398740994?s=20

With that said, Kuratas airsoft Phalanx is certainly something to behold. And with the promise of further tests of its capabilities in a "wider place," to come in the future according to Kurata's Twitter, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled (and protected!) to see what it gets up to next.

Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com
Haiti hit by 4.9 magnitude earthquake as nation reels from floods that killed 42

A preliminary 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit the southern part of Haiti on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuring others, according to AP.

The earthquake hit near Les Abricots, Haiti, at a depth of about 6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The three victims were discovered under a collapsed house where rescuers were searching for additional victims, Frankel Maginaire with Haitis Civil Protection Agency in Jeremie told the AP.

Maginaire told AP several children were taken to hospitals with injuries they suffered after "they panicked and ran."

People watch rescue efforts in homes that collapsed after an earthquake in Jeremie, Haiti, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Ralph Simon) ORG XMIT: XRE106

The earthquake comes after severe floods and landslides rocked the island nation of Haiti this past weekend, resulting in 42 people dead, 85 injured and 11 missing as of Tuesday morning.

A mix of heavy rain and wind slammed the country June 2 and 3, causing extensive damage to structures across the island, according to officials.

With hurricane season underway and Haiti recovering from two disasters, here's what you need to know about the natural disasters occurring on the island.

People transport an injured person after rescuing him from a house that collapse after an earthquake in Jeremie, Haiti, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Ralph Simon) ORG XMIT: XRE104

How many people have been impacted by the flooding?

According to the Haitian Civil Protection Agency, nearly 12,800 people have been impacted by the flooding and the number of casualties is continuing to rise. As of Tuesday morning, 6,334 people have been evacuated from the island and a total of 13,500 people have houses flooded.

Multiple roads are also destroyed. According to the Haitian Civil Protection Agency, the majority of the rivers are overflowing in the country's West, North-East and North-West departments. As of Tuesday, 19 people have died in the Ouest department while five municipalities have been "hardly impacted" by the flooding.

What parts of Haiti were impacted?

A majority of the country was hit by the rain causing flooding and landslides. According to AP, the World Food Program said the most significant damage was to Port-au-Princes metropolitan area and in the island's western region.

What do the rescue efforts look like currently?

Both the Haitian Civil Protection Agency and the Red Cross have begun rescue operations in the country. The World Food Program in Haiti also said they are providing meals to people throughout the island impacted by the disaster.

Floods in #Haiti



WFP is working with @Pwoteksyonsivil to provide immediate help to people affected by excess rainfall this past weekend.



We'll start providing hot meals to displaced people in the coming hours & are mobilizing ready-to-eat rations & dry food.



(file photo) pic.twitter.com/stNuZEjU2G  WFP Haiti (PAM)  (@WFP_Haiti) June 5, 2023

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has requested international help following the flooding and landslides.

Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti's acting humanitarian coordinator, said the Directorate General for Civil Protection has activated the National Emergency Operations Centre following the disasters, according to a statement from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti.

"Although this is not a cyclone nor a tropical storm, considerable damage was observed in the affected areas. The humanitarian community is working alongside national institutions to assist the affected people," Bauer said in the release.

How is the weather going to be like looking forward?

There's a chance for thunderstorms and rains across the country over the next 24 hours, with the rest of the week having temperatures in the 90s with partly sunny skies.

More coverage from the USA TODAY Network

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More on flooding in the U.S.: Possible flash floods in New Mexico, Texas: Monday weather forecast updates

Wildfires cause air quality problems: Smoke, haze impact US air quality as Canadian wildfires continue to rage

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Haiti earthquake, 4.9 magnitude, strikes Tuesday after deadly floods
As Haiti seeks to respond to recent disasters, aid workers wonder when help will arrive

Even before the southern coastal town of Jeremie was struck Tuesday by its second deadly earthquake in less than two years  after being battered by torrential rains and flooding this weekend  the regions 200,000-plus inhabitants were already feeling the collapse of Haiti.

With Port-au-Prince under siege by warring armed gangs, merchandise couldnt get in or out of the city by traveling the 180 miles between the city and the capital. And the violence meant that Jeremie, known as the city of poets, is now becoming a bastion for refugees.

Add to this, no electricity for over a year, no rain for five months and a flooded bridge. The bridge, which connects the GrandAnse to the rest of Haiti, was partially submerged by floodwaters over the weekend.

Things are so unbelievably fragile, said Nadesha Mijoba, who runs the Haitian Health Foundation in the town. The availability of supplies is so sporadic. Weve had to find different options to keep things coming in.

With the recent rains and the quake, she and others are wondering how aid will arrive and, if it does, whether it will it be enough and will get to those who need it.

I cant even imagine what the response is going to be like for this disaster because the bridge is out, Port-au-Prince is under siege and if we barely got anything after the earthquake in August 2021. I cant even begin to imagine how we are going to do this, she said.

Haitian authorities and the United Nations have acknowledged the difficulty of moving humanitarian aid in Haiti, especially through Martissant, the gang-controlled neighborhood that connects Port-au-Prince with the southern regions of the country, including the southwest peninsula where Jeremie is located.

The escalation in gang violence has made police escorts necessary, and barges to move aid deliveries.

The back-to-back disasters in just a few days  with more rain in the forecast requires prioritizing the communities most in need while also reminding groups that want to help that they need to go through the National Emergency Operations Center to coordinate.

In a noon briefing with reporters in New York, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said colleagues in Haiti have reported that the ongoing violence and damage to roads are hampering relief efforts.

Still, he said, the U.N. stands ready to help.

The U.N. stands ready to work with the Haitian authorities and other partners to help ease the suffering of those in need, Dujarric said. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is working with UNICEF, the World Food Program and the International Organization for Migration to support communities around Port-au-Prince that were hardest hit by the floods and landslides, he said. The U.N.food program is ready to distribute 350,000 hot meals and other food to those who need it the most.

Mijoba and others remain worried, because past relief efforts have failed to either reach those who need it most.

I have a feeling that this is going to be a very difficult year in the context of natural disasters for our poor little country of Haiti, Mijoba said.

Bette Gebrian, who runs the only breast cancer treatment program in the region through her GrandAnse Health & Development Association, said life has become incredibly difficult in the city, from the lack of food to the lack of potable water in the local prison.

There are not gangs out there doing bad things but you cant get food in, you cant get products in, she said. The buses started for a while and then were stopped because Martissant got bad again; so when the gangs are active, charging people or stealing their stuff, people cant travel at all. Its awful.

Weve gone through this, and cholera, COVID and Zika, she added, listing the emergencies that have hit Haiti in recent years and isolated Jeremie from the rest of the country. And now its hurricane season.

Haitis Office of Civil Protection said the recent rains caused four rivers to overflow their banks, and the the flooding in the GrandAnse region washed out the few crops that farmers managed to plant despite the previous lack of rain.

The hunger is so widespread that some people have nothing more than a potato to feed their children, Gebrian, a registered nurse, said.

Its amazing how people are hungry in a place where theres a lot of farmland, she said. But without rain people are not able to plant.

According to the U.N. about 5.2 million of Haitis nearly 12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, a figure that has doubled in the last five years. Humanitarian partners say they are trying to reach about 3.2 million this year, but said donors have been slow to support a $720 million funding request they launched this year.

I am particularly concerned by this situation at a time when the Haitian population is already highly vulnerable, said Jean-Martin Bauer, Haitis acting humanitarian coordinator and the current country director for the World Food Program. The humanitarian response plan is still underfunded, with only 20% of the necessary budget received. I call donors to show solidarity with the Haitian people and ensure funding for this plan.

Mijoba, who has been critical of international efforts to bring aid to Haiti in the past, said donors need to rethink their definition of help. After the 2021 earthquake that struck the GrandAnse and southwest regions many of promises were made. But those communities are still struggling to recover.

That struggle is further compounded by Haitis worsening gang violence and what she sees as a failure by the international community to help.

With each disaster, we just talk about how were going to rebuild better, Mijoba said. I dont see it. Ive been living and working in Jeremie for 10 years and I am still waiting to see this rebuilding better. Look at the bridge. That bridge should have been built higher, stronger and in fact many in the community said it wasnt a good idea to build it where they did because of the rains that caused the river to widen.

The bridge, installed temporarily last year to replace another one that collapsed in the 2021 earthquake, became impassable after it was submerged in water during the floods and part of its off ramp washed away. Workers made repairs but concerns remain that more rain will make it unstable or impassable. The Office of Civil Protection said Tuesday that National Road 7 connecting Jeremie to Les Cayes was blocked.

Mijoba also echoed a common complaint that everything is centralized in Port-au-Prince.

It leaves everybody in the country, including the displaced people who are leaving Port-au-Prince, with nothing. There is no humanitarian aid to assist all of these individuals because nothing can arrive, she said.

In the month of March alone, she said, her health charity received 157 displaced pregnant women seeking care. In April, there were 77.

The death of President Jovenel Moise five weeks before the August 2021 earthquake exacerbated Haitis problems, Mijoba said, but did not start them. The volatile gang situation in Martissant, a key thoroughfare for anyone trying to get to the southern peninsula from the capital, already existed.

We kept saying it needs to be addressed and we kept asking for help and we all got ignored, she said. Things have fallen apart further and they are going to continue to fall apart further including in all of the other areas of Haiti. And where is everybody going to go?
What will happen to this east Hialeah neighborhood now that developers are taking over?

Real estate developers have had their sights on one particular area of Hialeah between Le Jeune Road and East 10th Avenue for a while.

Nancy Nawaz, 48, a resident of the area has been feeling the changes. Since last year she has been getting calls from real estate agents looking to help her move out.

First they offered us $499,000, but on the last call they promised up to $525,000, said Nawaz, who lives in a single family home with her mother, son and nephew. Although my mom is excited to sell, I have had to explain to her that with that money we wont be able to buy a similar property in Hialeah.

But now developers have claimed this niche in the eastern part of Hialeah near the Metrorail station to erect tall condos in an area filled with single family homes.

The zoning has changed for eight blocks between East 24th St to East 32nd St, from single-family to multi-use housing, including construction of buildings over eight stories.

And in the last two months the Hialeah City Council has approved three new developments: An expansion of the Metro Parc project, with 629 additional units located at 955 East 25th St and 980 East 26th Street; a 347-unit, 10-story building facing East 25th Street by Saber South Hialeah, LLC, a company in Hallandale Beach; and a 613 unit building by Taves Capital Group, LLC along East 28th Street, with eight stories and first floor shops facing East 10th Avenue.

In the area of 2.78 acres, a 347-unit, 10-story building with a lobby and services facing East 25th St. and retail users is planned. The project belongs to Saber South Hialeah, LLC, a company located in Hallandale Beach. Saber South Hialeah, LLC

Now residents like Nawaz, who lives just three blocks north of these developments, are worried about what these changes will mean for their neighborhood.

Who is going to move into those buildings? No one in the community can afford those prices earning $43,000, said Nawaz. Many are renting a room, like an efficiency, for $1,300. They will be even less able to pay those rents, she said.

Milly Herrera, a resident the eastern area of Hialeah for 56 years, thinks that the land grabs and gross construction projects we are seeing - taking homes, destroying neighborhoods, displacing businesses and gentrify people, affecting our peace and quality of life.

Adrian Madriz, Co-Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure of the non-profit Smash (Struggle for Miamis Affordable and Sustainable Housing,) warns that there is a real danger (with these developments) that rents will become too high for residents to afford, and they will need to move to another part of the county, or even the state.

More than 2,100 units on four streets

Just across East 10th Avenue from all the development is an industrial zone filled with auto shops, warehouses and other industrial enterprises. Probably not the best view for the new residents of these tall buildings.

Part of this industrial area was designated by the city as the Transit Oriented Development District (TOD) in 2016, with the purpose of reducing traffic and improving air quality, due to its proximity to the Tri-Rail and Metrorail.

In the 2015-2025 Comprehensive Plan, it says that the TOD would allow better connectivity for pedestrians, bicycles, cars and public transportation, the development of attractive and walkable areas, limiting dependence on cars, as well as the modernization of existing industrial facilities.

So far, its still just an industrial zone with no attractive and walkable areas to speak of.

Hialeah is a city of concrete. There is no space to walk, to ride a bicycle, the roads have too many potholes, but now they plan to build hundreds of apartments around us when the infrastructure in the area is the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago, complained Lazaro Cabrera, 48, who lives on East 8th Lane, a mile away from these developments.

Cabrera fears that everything will get worse in the area. The supermarket, the gas stations, the highways are going to collapse. All those residents will end up on our streets looking for parking, he said.

Rendering of 613 units, an 8-story building that Taves Capital Group, LLC is proposing to build East of Hialeah, on 28th St Taves Capital Group, LLC

Some residents are already seeing chaotic changes in the area.

Every day there are big trucks blocking the road, generating more traffic. What is going to happen when those huge buildings are built? Where are those cars going to go? Nawaz wondered.

But the situation is not only baffling residents but also some city politicians.

I am concerned that we on the council continue to convert single-housing to buildings while ignoring the industrial corridor that was the area that originally was going to become a Development Transit District, Councilman Bryan Calvo said.

In terms of aesthetics, the councilman thinks that in the citys future we are going to have an area where some buildings will be next to industrial areas, he said.

Before approving land zoning changes, the council should create a business infrastructure for these new residents that will come. The more buildings are built, the greater the flow of people will be, as well as more traffic congestion. In addition, taxes will go up, Cabrera said.

The area will have more than 2,100 units, including 560 in Metro Parc I and 629 in Metro Parc II, exponentially increasing population density.

David Cisnero, 54, who has lived in the area for 41 years, is not against developers but he opposes the construction of buildings that exceed three stories in height.

Traffic is going to be a big problem, like the one that Brickell, Downtown Miami or Wynwood suffers today. Hialeahs infrastructure is not designed for that boom overnight, Cisneros said. Once those buildings are up, nothing can be done. We as residents will have to deal with it, he complained.

Carlos Diaz, a lobbyist for developers Saber South Hialeah and Taves Capital Group, told the council members that after the plan is approved, many improvements must be made. We must speak with Public Works, the Department of Highways, and in most cases, infrastructure improvements such as pipelines, repairing streets have to be made.

Councilwoman Monica Perez asked the lobbyist if it was possible to create a pedestrian sidewalk that connects the area of the new developments to the train stations, to which Diaz replied, We want East 25th St to remain as a boulevard and we are coordinating with Metro Parc, which has construction on the street in front, so that both streets remain the same, he said.

However, residents are not convinced that all this construction near the Metrorail will help traffic.

The council approve and approve construction near the Metrorail saying that those residents will not use their cars, Nawaz said. Who does not use a car in Miami?
What happens if the SEC's Coinbase lawsuit lands at the Supreme Court?

Photo: Elizabeth Frantz (Reuters)

The US Securities and Exchange Commissions lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has the potential to significantly diminish either the crypto industrys presence in the US, or the power of the SEC.



Its a risk on the SECs part, Todd Phillips, a former FDIC lawyer who is now a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, told Quartz. I could imagine this Supreme Court taking away authority from the SEC by refining what an investment contract is.

Read more

Currently, the SEC uses the Howey test to determine if something is a security or not. The criteria emerged from the 1946 case SEC v. W.J. Howey Co., in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 meant that US law defines a security as an investment of money in a common enterprise, with the expectation of profit to be derived from the efforts of others.

Crypto vs. the SEC

The SECs lawsuit is a bold gamble on what is and isnt an investment contract.

The case hinges on whether Coinbase is selling unregistered securities, but it also focuses on how the company allowed users on its platform to participate in decentralized financial exchanges.

Coinbase, according to the SEC, allowed customers to profit from investments in crypto tokens that should have been registered as securities, akin to a traditional stockbroker caught selling its customers assets that havent been approved by the financial regulator.

If the courts agree with the SECs assessment that these tokens are in fact securities, it could make trading them on US exchanges impossible.

If the Supreme Court decides that the SEC is wrong about what constitutes a security, that ruling could affect many other kinds of assets in addition to crypto, leaving investors less protected in other parts of capital markets, Phillips said.

Democrats are already likely to oppose a crypto regulatory bill from representatives Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, and Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, for not being strong enough because it would allow cryptocurrencies to escape SEC regulation once theyre decentralized enough. If SCOTUS guts the SECs enforcement power, then Democrats may support the bill in lieu of no SEC oversight for crypto.

The case ought to be straightforward because it deals with basic statutory interpretation and not constitutional issues, but its difficult to tell what the partisan justices on todays Supreme Court will do, according to Tyler Gellasch, president of Healthy Markets Association, a Washington, D.C.based think tank.

Its a reasonable thing for the industry to argue that the SEC let all this stuff go for years, and had plenty of opportunities to stop it, Gellasch told Quartz. But traditionally, thats not how laws work. You might be able to speed every day on the same road for 10 years, and all of a sudden a cop pulls you over. You can say, Ive been speeding on this road for 10 years! but its not a great defense.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that Ukraine will receive "a large number" of modernised F-16 multi-purpose fighter jets from international partners.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 6 June

Quote: "As of today, our last important meeting (was) in Moldova, where I had a closed meeting with the countries that have definitely confirmed that they will give us the F-16s. For this [to happen], we need a joint agreement with the USA."

Details: The head of state noted that he could not disclose any details, including the number of fighter jets, but assured the press that he has received a hint from some European partners that the quantity will be substantial.

Quote: "I just had a happy day. Because sometimes, you know, something needs to be negotiated one at a time, two at a time (planes), and in this matter there was a serious, powerful offer.

It is important that this coalition on paper is an agreement on Ramstein or on another platform, God willing, that we push through it and then the preparation of the entire infrastructure will begin, and it will not be fast."

Details: At the same time, Zelenskyy added that Ukraine's Air Force has an understanding of the infrastructure for the F-16s, and Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk "knows where and what to do."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Parents and LGBTQ+ advocates on Monday demanded that the Harrison County School District change their dress code policies that they say target girls and trans students.

A small group convened at the districts school board meeting after at least two students were pulled from graduation stages because of dress code violations.

You need to really, seriously consider a policy change, McKenna Raney-Gray, an LGBTQ+ justice attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, told the Board.

This will continue to happen if it is not addressed now, Mississippi Rising Coalition President Lea Campbell said.

Mississippi Rising Coalition President Lea Campbell asks the Harrison County School Board to make changes to their dress code during a Harrison County School Board meeting at the Central Office in Gulfport on Monday, June 5, 2023.

A group brought signs and posters in support of LGBTQ+ students. The outcry came after Harrison Central High School forbade a transgender student from wearing a dress to graduation in May.

District leaders have said the student and her mother signed a dress code form that required boys to wear a shirt and tie. The student, a transgender teen identified as L.B., had worn girls clothing her entire high school career and thought shed be able to follow the girls dress code.

Board members were not available for comment at the meeting and said they could not discuss ongoing matters involving individual students. During the meeting, School Board President Eric Simmons said the district would take the comments under advisement.

Policies do change, he said. We will discuss.

The Sun Herald has also reached out to Superintendent Mitchell Kings office.

The ACLU of Mississippi filed suit on behalf of L.B. last month. A federal judge ruled in favor of Harrison County School District leaders because he said enforcing the dress code did not pose irreparable injury to the student. L.B. later dismissed her lawsuit.

Courts generally permit dress codes if they pose equal burdens on both sexes, but a federal study last year found enforcement often targets LGBTQ students, students of color and girls over other groups.

Caren Dallas attended the meeting and said her daughter, Jai, was also pulled from the graduation lineup because she wore black pants and a white blouse when the girls dress code required all white.

My daughter will never be able to have that moment back, Dallas said. Ever.

Harrison County School District Superintendent Mitchell King listens as members of LGBTQ advocacy groups ask the school board to change their dress code for graduation after L.B., a transgender student, and a few other students were unable to walk in graduation to due the schools dress code during a Harrison County School Board meeting at the Central Office in Gulfport on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Hunter Thieme, a former student of the Harrison County School District who is transgender, talks with a member of the Mississippi Rising Coalition outside a Harrison County School Board meeting at the Central Office in Gulfport on Monday, June 5, 2023. LGBTQ+ advocates showed up at the meeting to request a change in the schools graduation dress code after several transgender and cisgender students were prevented from walking in graduation due to their dress.

Members of the Harrison County School Board listen as members of LGBTQ advocacy groups ask the school board to change their dress code for graduation after L.B., a transgender student, and a few other students were unable to walk in graduation to due the schools dress code during a Harrison County School Board meeting at the Central Office in Gulfport on Monday, June 5, 2023.

ACLU Attorney McKenna Ramey-Gray asks the Harrison County School Board to make changes to their dress code during a Harrison County School Board meeting at the Central Office in Gulfport on Monday, June 5, 2023.
Hartford HealthCare and GoHealth will open a primary care and walk-in urgent care center on Wednesday in West Haven.

The center, at 1 Cellini Place near the Boston Post Road in Allingtown, shares the location with Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network, which opened in January, according to a Hartford HealthCare spokeswoman.

This will be the 26th HHC-GoHealth urgent-care center, the spokeswoman said. Hartford HealthCare has additional locations that are not affiliated with GoHealth, she said.

Hartford HealthCare is committed to transforming health care, bringing the highest quality, most affordable and equitable care to all residents of Connecticut, said Karen Goyette, executive vice president of Hartford HealthCare in an email.

Increasingly, this means providing the highest quality care in lower-cost settings, with options like urgent care and ambulatory surgery centers, as well as a network of home-based and community services. This helps lower health care costs for all, while improving access to care, she said.

The site is part of an alliance with Physicians Alliance of Connecticut.

By opening walk-in centers that are accessible and affordable, Hartford HealthCare has reduced non-emergency visits to emergency departments by 10% since 2016, Goyette said.

Nearly 40% of our surgeries are now performed outside of hospitals and in more affordable settings. This makes care more affordable overall and ensures better coordination of care, she said.

Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com.
Education advocates have worked to ensure K-12 curriculums are more in line with real-world expectations for years. One of the most pointed topics for curriculum redesign has been the inclusion of classes related to financial literacy.

In 2022, the National Endowment for Financial Education released a report highlighting the nationwide efforts to make this advocacy work a reality for students. And for some who attend a historically Black school in North Carolina, that reality has been leveled up.

Hands-on instruction has taken on a new meaning for the students of Hillside High School as it has opened a bank on its campus in Durham.

According to a report by local public radio station WUNC-91.5, financial literacy has been an evolving part of North Carolinas K-12 curriculum. The opening of the bank models that commitment through Hillsides Student Bank Training Center.

Although positioned as a student learning mechanism, the fully functioning bank branch allows students, staff, and families to open and operate accounts as they would at any other financial institution.

A part of the Woodforest National Bank system based in Texas, the high school bank is in partnership with Hillsides Business and Finance Academy. With over 80 locations across North Carolina, Hillsides branch is the first of its kind opened in a high school. The banks senior vice president, Jessica Valentine, expressed her support for the partnership and opportunities.

Theres a staff thats been hired for this branch, theres a manager and service representatives, and so they facilitate everything, Valentine said. And were here on a weekly basis sort of providing any follow-up training or questions or things like that. So were just supporting the staff thats here, the kids.

Many of the jobs are filled by students. Hillside senior Kiara Lowther works as one of the banks loan officers, making her a part of a cohort of students training at the branch through the Hillside Business and Finance Academy.

While Woodforest National Bank is the official branch operator, Priscilla Ross heads the schools academy providing support and oversight to the program and operations.

Well, hopefully, this will generate some more interest in students wanting to learn more about the Finance Academy, especially those students who are going to be accountants are thinking about going into anything finance, Ross explained. They definitely would want to come to Hillside High School.
It was not immediately clear what  or who  caused the destruction to a major dam and power plant early Tuesday in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine. Also in the news: Prince Harry is present in a London court Tuesday to testify after missing day one of a case he's bringing against a media publisher, and we take a look at one Illinois town that symbolizes the nation's evolving abortion access landscape.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Pride Month sales are here  shop the best deals on clothing, food and more.

Now, here we go with Tuesday's news.

Ukraine and Russia each accuse other of being responsible for dam incident

Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls, sending water gushing from the breached facility and risking massive flooding.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Officials have warned a severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant of crucial cooling.

The Ukrainian army has claimed to be gaining ground amid Russian claims that the long-awaited Ukraine counteroffensive may be underway.

Ukraine has revealed very little about how and when it intends to recapture territory claimed by the Russians since the war started, living by the motto that plans love silence.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine.

Former Vice President Mike Pence files to run for president in 2024

Former Vice President Mike Pence is expected to publicly launch his 2024 presidential campaign with a Wednesday rally in Des Moines, Iowa. The former vice president has been widely expected to launch a run for the GOP nomination. He has been laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign, making regular visits to Iowa and New Hampshire  both key early-voting states. Pence has aimed to distinguish himself from some of his major Republican rivals, including Donald Trump, targeting the former presidents role in the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Read more

Tim Scott was booed on The View over the DeSantis fight with Disney, defends GOP on race.

Column: Nikki Haleys grotesque, and wrong, attempt to link trans youth to suicide among teen girls.

Former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, during her Roast and Ride campaign rally on June 3, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.

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What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Prince Harry present in court after skipping day one of phone-hacking case

Prince Harry arrived Tuesday morning at a London court ahead of his testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. Harry has made a mission of holding the U.K. press to account for what he sees as its hounding of him and his family. The 38-year-old son of King Charles III will be the first British royal since the 19th century to enter a courtroom witness box. He will face cross-examination by a lawyer for the defendant, Mirror Group Newspapers. The Duke of Sussex's highly anticipated showdown against the publisher kicked off Monday without him present in court  and the judge was not happy. Read more

Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

How one quiet Illinois college town became the symbol of abortion rights in America

A year ago, there were no clinics in Carbondale, Illinois, a former coal-country railroad junction turned college town. In the months since Roe fell, few places in America have experienced the courts radical redrawing of abortion access as intimately as some small, blue-state towns near red-state borders. States moved to restrict or ban abortions, and some clinics moved or opened anew in these border towns. Now, Carbondale hosts the states southernmost clinics, and is the closest destination for abortion for 1.2 million women who live across parts of the South, one researcher estimated. The citys new role has drawn both support and opposition  a change that USA TODAY has chronicled over much of the past year. Read more

A year after the fall of Roe v. Wade, abortion access is reshuffled on state lines.

A security guard stands inside Choices Center for Reproductive Health in Carbondale, Illinois. April 2023.

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These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.

Apple unveils Vision Pro

Apple unveiled its vision for how computing will change in the future. On Monday, Apple announced the Vision Pro mixed reality headset at its Cupertino, California, headquarters. The headset incorporates both augmented and virtual reality, requiring wearers only use their eyes, hands and voice to control. The Vision Pro includes a three-dimensional interface where apps appear to pop up within the room you occupy, while also still viewing your surroundings if you choose. A knob called the digital crown, also found on Apple Watch, controls how immersed users want to feel while wearing the headset. The product will launch early next year for $3,499. Read more

Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils Vision Pro, its new VR headset.

Quick hits

Photo of the day: D-Day 79th Anniversary

D-Day, the largest land, sea, and air invasion ever attempted, happened on June 6, 1944  79 years ago. Its impact resonates today. The invasion of German-held western Europe by the Allies  primarily the U.S., Great Britain and Canada  didnt go according to plan, but the offensive strained an already weakened Germany and helped bring about the end of World War II less than a year later. Read more

People wave flags for World War II veterans before a ceremony at the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, Monday June 5, 2023.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Who hit the dam?
Hong Kongs famous rubber duck returns  and now there are two

A decade since it famously appeared in Victoria Harbour, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofmans Rubber Duck sculpture has returned to Hong Kong. And this time it has a friend.

Creative studio AllRightsReserved, which often orchestrates public art displays in the city, announced Thursday that a pair of Hofmans inflatable ducks will float in Hong Kongs waters for two weeks later this month. The company dubbed the new installation Double Ducks.

In an apparent test run for the installation, the two outsized bath toys were spotted being tugged by boats in the waters off Tsing Yi, the territorys fifth largest island in May. At 18 meters (59 feet) tall, they are slightly larger than the one that made global headlines when it was installed in Hong Kong 10 years ago.

The ducks were spotted during a test run in Hong Kong on May 25, 2023. - Courtesy AllRightsReserved

In a press release announcing the project, organizers compared the inflatable duo to the symmetrical Chinese characters xi (known as double happiness) and peng (friend), both of which feature two identical components next to one another.

Double duck is double luck, Hofman said in a statement. The work emphasizes friendship and getting connected  Double Ducks is not about looking into the past but enjoying the moment together!

Conceived in 2001 before debuting in France six years later, Rubber Duck appeared in cities including Osaka, Sydney and Sao Paolo before arriving in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory in May 2013. (Although Hofmans ducks all look alike, he makes a new one for each location.) But the artworks previous arrival in Victoria Harbour made a splash worldwide  in part because it mysteriously deflated overnight before being reinflated days later.

The ducks stint in Hong Kong was also notable for attracting the ire of Chinas censors. Installed just weeks before the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre that year, the sculpture started appearing on altered versions of Tank Man, the famous photo of an unidentified protester standing up to Chinese military tanks. Social media users began sharing images in which rubber ducks replaced the line of tanks, leading to the term Big Yellow Duck being blocked on the Twitter-like platform Weibo.

The next year, images of another artists giant yellow sculpture of a toad, inspired by Hofmans work, was also censored after social media users likened it to former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

In the years since first arriving in Hong Kong, Rubber Duck has appeared in the waters of cities such as Seoul and Los Angeles. The artwork unexpectedly deflated in the Taiwanese city of Keelung, while in Santiago, Chile, it burst after accidentally crashing into a sign.

Hofman is known for producing other large-scale art installations reimagining everyday objects at unexpected scales  not only bath toys, but also toy rabbits, paper boats and a wooden hippo named HippopoThames, which he installed on Londons River Thames in 2014.

The Double Ducks are set to return to Victoria Harbour on June 10. Ahead of the installation, images of the pair have been pasted on the side of the citys trams and at subway stations around Hong Kong.

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[Source]

The famous 60-foot-tall Rubber Duck art installation by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman has returned to Hong Kong with a friend after first appearing in Victoria Harbour 10 years ago.

About the Double Ducks: Two giant inflatable ducks were spotted in the waters off Tsing Yi ahead of Hofmans latest exhibition, Double Ducks, which will launch on June 10. The yellow ducks are set to sail around Hong Kong for two weeks.

Hofmans new installation is meant to represent unity.

Due to Covid-19 we learned that spending time together is so valuable, Hofman said in a statement. Making moments and memories for real, living in the here and now, are things to cling on to. Double Ducks is not about looking into the past but enjoying the moment together.

More from NextShark: Chinese man goes viral for picking up eggs using massive iron chopsticks

Happiness icons: Hong Kong-based creative studio All Rights Reserved is organizing the exhibition. According to the studio, the Double Ducks are happiness icons that aim to spread the healing power of art.

Background: Hofmans first installation, Rubber Duck, debuted in 2007 with the aim of putting a smile on peoples faces. It has since appeared in cities around the world, including Seoul and Los Angeles.

More from NextShark: Anti-Asian hate bills unanimously passed in California now await Gov. Newsom's approval

Hofman is known for creating large versions of everyday objects, including bath toys, paper boats and animals.

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

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(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong opposition politicians of The League of Social Democrats staged a rally outside of HSBC Holdings Plc to protest a decision by the bank to close accounts of the group and demand an explanation from the lender.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A group of five activists gathered in front of one of the iconic lion statues that stand guard at HSBCs main offices in the citys Central business district. They spoke to an assembled press, with police closely watching, and held signs saying the bank cared only about making money and was abetting the tyrant.

Unfortunately, all three accounts in HSBC is our only accounts in Hong Kong, said Dickson Chau, external vice chairman of the League of Social Democrats. We are no longer able to receive donations or make payments in a digital way. We can only do everything in cash now.

He said the bank didnt provide a reason for the closing, but that they were allowed to withdraw the money.

HSBC said in a statement that the closing was part of a regular review of account activities and due diligence requirements.

Based on these reviews, HSBC may decide that we will no longer be able to maintain the banking relationships with certain customers, a spokesperson said.

HSBC, which is Hong Kongs biggest bank, has had to walk a tightrope after a China-imposed crackdown on civil liberties following massive pro-democracy protests that rocked the financial hub in 2019. The lender was slammed by activists in 2020 for freezing the accounts of a former pro-democracy lawmaker and a local church that helped protesters. It also saw some of its branches attacked after it closed an account linked to the pro-democracy movement.

HSBC was also rebuked by British and U.S. politicians after the banks Asia chief Peter Wong signed a petition in support of the China-drafted National Security Law.

Hong Kong police detained more than 20 people on Sunday, the 34th anniversary of the crackdown on protesters in Beijings Tiananmen Square, as authorities took a forceful approach to prevent any public commemoration of the deadly event.

Chan Po-ying, chairperson of the League of Social Democrats, was among those detained. Chan took over in 2021 after several core party members were jailed or awaiting trial  including her husband, veteran activist Leung Long Hair Kwok-hung.

Chau said the league hasnt tried to open accounts with other banks in Hong Kong but he thinks its not possible to do so under the League of Social Democrats.

Such irresponsible behaviour of HSBC is not only disrupting the daily operation of our organization but also jeopardizing the reputation of Hong Kong as a free trade harbor and also the international finance city, said Chau.

--With assistance from Olivia Tam.

(Adds details in last two pargraphs)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
House conservatives revolted against Republican leadership Tuesday, blocking four bills from coming to the floor for a vote in retaliation for the debt ceiling bill crafted by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Biden, which was signed into law days earlier.

The rebuke  which played out in a dramatic scene on the House floor  was also a protest sparked by Rep. Andrew Clydes (R-Ga.) allegation that GOP leadership threatened to block his bill on pistol stabilizing braces from receiving a vote on the floor if he opposed the rule for the debt ceiling bill, which he ultimately did.

Eleven conservatives, most of whom are members of the House Freedom Caucus, opposed the rule on Tuesday: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Dan Bishop (N.C.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Bob Good (Va.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Matt Rosendale (Mont.) and Chip Roy (Texas).

The rule would apply to four bills related to gas stoves and regulatory reform.

Seconds before the rule vote closed, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) also voted no on the rule, a move that will allow him to bring the rule up for another vote later on.

The rule was defeated by a 220-206 vote, blocking the bills from advancing to the floor for a vote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An illustration of SpaceX Starship human landing system design.

When it comes to the future of spaceflight, the Moon is the place to be. Several missions are set to land on the Moon in the next few years in an effort to establish a human presence on the lunar surface. Although theyre meant to bolster lunar activity, those landings, however, could in turn have a negative effect on spacecraft orbiting the Moon.

A recent study, newly uploaded to the preprint arXiv, examined the potential damage caused by lunar landers, which can eject dust from the surface of the Moon and send it into orbit as they land on the surface. With enough Moon landings in the future, a cloud of pesky lunar dust particles could get in the way of orbiting spacecraft.

Read more

Lunar dust has always been an issue for Moon missions. Astronauts from NASAs Apollo program reported annoying difficulties in dealing with dust from the Moons surface, those electrically charged, fine particles of regolith that stick on any surface. As Apollo astronauts entered and exited the lunar module, dust got everywhere and it clogged mechanisms, interfered with instruments, caused radiators to overheat and even tore up their spacesuits, according to NASA.

As NASA prepares to land on the Moon as part of its Artemis program, the space agency is now aware of the trials and tribulations of lunar dust when it comes to its astronauts. Frequent Moon landings, however, could have larger impacts on orbiters or space stations in lunar orbit, according to the new pre-print, which has yet to go through peer review. Planetary physicist Philip Metzger from the University of Central Florida co-authored the new study.

The Artemis program will involve several lunar landings in the coming years, with Artemis 3 scheduled for launch in late 2025, followed by Artemis 4 in 2028. Afterwards, NASA wants to establish a steady flow of astronauts headed for the Moon. The space agency isnt the only one with longterm lunar ambitions; China recently revealed its own plan to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and establish a sustainable presence on the surface as well.

The study found that large lunar landers would kick up clouds of dust from the surface of the Moon, sending this ejecta, in the parlance of scientists, tens of thousands of particles into orbit. A 40-ton lunar lander could accelerate surface dust to speeds of around 10,000 miles per hour (16,000 kilometers per hour), which is enough to place a large cloud of particles into lunar orbit.



NASAs future Lunar Gateway, designed to be a space station in a highly elongated halo orbit around the Moon, would pass through this dusty sheet but will likely suffer little to no damage, the scientists claim. Other orbiting spacecraft flying closer to the Moon, on the other hand, will sustain extensive damage with hundreds of millions of impacts per square meter, according to the paper.

Even if the high-velocity impact of the particles doesnt damage the spacecraft, the dust itself will. As you know, regolith particulates are very, very fine, William Schonberg, an engineering professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology, told Gizmodo in an email. So even if they dont do any impact damage, they can still settle on critical functional surfaces and components of lunar orbiting spacecraft and nearby lunar habitats or worksites and so can easily gum up that functionality.

As Schonberg points out, the dust could also pose a risk to future lunar habitats built on the surface of the Moon. Thats probably why recent lunar sci-fi shows have lunar take-off and landing sites far removed from any surface habitats, right? he added.

So as the new study shows, lunar dust is not just annoying to deal with on the surface of the Moon, it could be a major hazard for lunar spacecraft in the future. NASA and other agencies with their landers set for the Moon should keep its dusty surface in mind.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight Spaceflight page.

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Volodymyr Kovalenko, the mayor of Nova Kakhovka, has said that the city is being flooded as a result of the occupiers' blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) dam.

Source: Kovalenko in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Kovalenko: "The explosion is terrible because it affected not only the roadway, the dam, and unfortunately, the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant itself, that is, the turbine hall, was blown up. The destruction is man-made; the volume of water is falling rapidly at the moment."

Details: The citys mayor has information as of 06:30. He said that at that time, the Fairy Tale Grove zoo (Kazkova Dibrova) and the summer theatre were flooded, that the water had come up to a monument to Shevchenko, and that cafes and a playground in the city were flooded.

A boat station and a yacht club were also flooded, and water had come up to Dniprovskyi Avenue.

Kovalenko said that it is currently difficult to get information from the city because there are interruptions in internet connections. He believes that it was the Russians who started jamming the signal to keep people in an information vacuum.

Local residents started writing about the dam blowing up at 05:00. At the same time, there is no information on whether there were one or several explosions.

The mayor added that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant had not been generating electricity in recent months.

Background:

On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that the Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), with Kherson Oblast Military Administration confirming this information. Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, noted that they had started the evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas.

According to Prokudin, the water will reach a critical level in five hours.

Police noted that the potential flood zone on the right bank of the Dnipro River includes the villages Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lvove, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and part of the city of Kherson  Korabel Island.

The electricity supply was cut off in the Korabel microdistrict in Kherson due to flooding caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) by the Russian invaders.

Zelenskyy has called an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council due to the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.

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Ice-free Arctic summers are now unavoidable and could happen as soon as 2030s, scientists say

Dwindling icebergs in the Arctic in July 2022. Scientists now say that Arctic summers will be free of sea ice in the coming decades (AFP via Getty Images)

Ice-free Arctic summers are now unavoidable, scientists have said.

Even if rapid, dramatic cuts are made to planet-heating emissions, the polar region will still be without sea ice in September in the next few decades, according to research published in the journal Nature Communications. The first sea ice-free September could occur as early as the 2030s, the study found.

Arctic sea ice has been declining for decades but has shrunk at an even faster rate in the past 20 years.

The latest assessment from the UN climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), found that the Arctic would be practically ice-free in September, sometime around mid-century, with failure to cut emissions.

However, the study, published on Tuesday, found that ice loss was happening even faster.

We basically are saying that it has become too late to save the Arctic summer sea ice, Professor Dirk Notz, of the University of Hamburg, Germany, who was part of the research team, told Bloomberg.

Using satellite observations of Arctic sea ice over the last 40 years and the best climate models, an international team from scientific institutions in South Korea, Canada and Germany, were also able to attribute ice loss primarily to greenhouse gas emissions.

The team found that failure to cut global emissions, or lacklustre efforts, could see the Arctic experience its first summer without ice as soon as the 2030s.

If runaway levels of emissions continue, extended occurrences of an ice-free Arctic in early summer are projected later this century.

As scientists, weve been warning about the loss of Arctic summer sea ice for decades, Prof Notz also told The Guardian.

This is now the first major component of the Earth system that we are going to lose because of global warming. People didnt listen to our warnings.

The absence of polar sea ice in summer will have profound impacts on the environment including speeding up overall warming of the Arctic.

Other studies have shown that a rapidly heating Arctic has consequences for weather further south, by altering the jet stream and driving more extreme weather events.

Dreadful news, tweeted Professor Bill McGuire, Professor Emeritus of Geophysical and Climate Hazards at University College London, after the study was published.

Expect the shipping, oil and gas and minerals corporations to descend like vultures.
Slain University of Idaho student Ethan Chapin's mother Stacy unveiled a new tattoo in her son's own handwriting Monday as she announced a children's book written in his memory and revealed her family plans to skip the trial of his suspected killer.

Stacy Chapin's "The Boy Who Wore Blue," was released Thursday and is available now at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Lana Lee, whose other credits include "Ballerina On Wheels" and "The Reading Seed," illustrated the new book, according to the book chain.

Stacy Chapin told NBC's Savannah Guthrie she and her family do not plan on attending the trial of Bryan Kohberger.

IDAHO MURDERS: ETHAN CHAPIN'S PARENTS BREAK SILENCE ON LAST TIME THEY SAW SON

The family's efforts are focused on positivity instead  including her book and the " Ethans Smile " foundation, which they helped start at Tulip Valley Farms in Mount Vernon, Washington, where he had worked during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

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The book is based on her son's childhood and Chapin said she was inspired to write it after learning that someone was working on a book about her son's murder.

Stacy Chapin shows off her new tattoo, based on a handwritten card from her son Ethan, on Monday, June 5, 2023, along with a bracelet that reads "Live Life Like Ethan." Ethan Chapin was among four University of Idaho students killed in a home invasion stabbing attack in November.

"My best friend sent me a news release that an author had been given the rights of the story to tell of these kids," she said. "And as a mom you're like, how does somebody write a story about people that they don't know?"

IDAHO MURDERS: BRYAN KOHBERGER'S DEFENSE STANDS SILENT AT ARRAIGNMENT, JUDGE ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEAS

Photo of the Chapin triplets announcing they were going to University of Idaho.

Appearing on "Today," she said that after that, the story of "The Boy Who Wore Blue" came to her in the middle of the night.

She also showed off her new tattoo, written in her son's handwriting and reading, "I love you mom," followed by a hand-drawn heart and her son's name.

Jim and Stacy Chapin's son Ethan was one of four University of Idaho students murdered last November

The tattoo artist took the lettering from a card Ethan once sent to his mother, she said.

Ethan Chapin was one of four University of Idaho students killed in an off-campus rental home on Nov. 13 when an intruder snuck in around 4 a.m. with a large knife, according to police in Moscow, Idaho.

Photo of the Chapin family. Ethan was one of four University of Idaho students murdered last November.

The others were his girlfriend, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and her two 21-year-old housemates, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. Two other young women were spared during the attack, including one who told police she saw a masked man leaving out the back sliding door after she heard signs of a struggle.

The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at the neighboring Washington State University.

He is being held without bail at the Latah County jail in Moscow on four charges of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge.

Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom, looking at defense attorney Anne Taylor, for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

District Judge John Judge set his trial date for Oct. 2. Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted.

Judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during his arraignment last month.

"Ethans Smile" will fund scholarships for students in Skagit Valley, Washington, to the University of Idaho. "The Boy Who Wore Blue" is available now.

Fox News' Kelley Kramer contributed to this report.
CHICAGO  Across the country, marshes, swamps and bogs quietly soak up flood water and filter pollutants. Ecologists agree they are one of the best natural defenses against climate change.

But after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, more than half of the countrys 118 million acres of wetlands, according to estimates from the environmental firm Earthjustice, will effectively no longer have federal protection from developers and polluters.

Illinois, which has lost 90% of its wetlands since 1818, is among the more vulnerable states with no state-level protections for wetlands on private property. Those on public land are still protected.

In a startling precedent for environmental law, experts say, the decision in Sackett v. EPA upends more than 50 years of legal protections by limiting the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act to wetlands visibly connected to major waterways.

(The courts rationale) is almost science fiction, said Richard Lazarus, a law professor at Harvard University who represented environmental groups before the court.

In states such as Illinois, environmentalists are rallying to draft legislation as local governments must decide whether and how to protect these wetlands.

Right now were in the process of building up our troops, said Eliot Clay, state programs director at the advocacy group Illinois Environmental Council.

Meanwhile, builders, developers and farmers applauded the decision, accusing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of encroaching on property rights.

While the Supreme Courts decision will take down federal barriers to developing farmland and constructing buildings in certain places, eventually flooding and erosion will follow, harming farmland, residential areas and transportation infrastructure, Clay said.

This decision by the Supreme Court was a really big win for those who believe that individual property rights are more important than the collective status of a piece of property, said Clay. They can celebrate that in the short term, but people arent going to be celebrating those kinds of decisions when it starts impacting their actual day-to-day way of life.

What does adjacent mean?

In a 17-year legal battle against the EPA, Michael and Chantell Sackett argued the agency overstepped when it forced them to halt construction on their property 300 feet from Idahos Priest Lake, because they were building on federally protected wetlands without a proper permit.

The dispute centers on what Congress intended with the word adjacent when it passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 with bipartisan support to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nations waters.

The act gives the EPA authority to regulate construction near and pollution into waters of the United States, defined as relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water connected to a traditional interstate navigable water. Recognizing the connections between wetlands and streams, oceans, rivers and lakes, the act also extends protections to wetlands adjacent thereto.

The EPA reasoned the wetlands on the Sacketts property are adjacent to Lake Priest since they feed water into the lake via underground channels.

The Sacketts argued they are not adjacent because a man-made ditch separates them from a stream that flows into the lake.

The Supreme Court sided with the Sacketts, stating that when the ditch was built, the wetland on the Sacketts property lost federal protections even though none of its ecological properties were fundamentally changed.

The Illinois Farm Bureau praised the May 25 decision as a clear rule that will save farmers from having to enlist legal expertise to tend to their land as they see fit.

The National Association of Homebuilders joined them, stating that the decision represents a victory against federal overreach and a win for common-sense regulations.

Up to the states

Illinois, like many other states, depended on federal regulations to protect wetlands. Now, that responsibility falls to individual states. This worries Scott Strand, a senior attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

The Clean Water Act was passed because the states were failing. The whole point of the law was to deal with the fact that the states were not either able or willing to do the job, he said.

The Illinois EPA is reviewing the Sackett v. EPA ruling to fully understand the implications that it will have on wetlands and waters within the state.

How these new considerations (in the courts decision) will affect Illinois EPAs permitting and enforcement decisions going forward cannot be determined at this time, an agency spokesperson wrote in an email to the Tribune.

The Illinois Environmental Council is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to issue an executive order protecting as many wetlands as possible until the General Assembly can consider new legislation when it reconvenes in January.

I have absolutely no question that (the proposal of a state wetland law) is now going to happen, said Paul Botts, the president and executive director of The Wetlands Initiative, a Chicago-based nonprofit.

Wetland protections have been introduced in the General Assembly before, most recently in 2020. They faced challenges from lobbying groups for farmers and builders, which ultimately won out.

Clay, who has been organizing numerous environmental groups into action since the ruling, predicts theyll face another uphill battle but remains optimistic.

A big argument that was brought up against (the 2020 bill), especially from the business community, was that we dont need to do this in Illinois because it already exists in federal law. Now that that card has been thrown out, they dont have that argument anymore, said Clay.

Botts and Strand want a state law that will delineate wetlands based on their soils rather than their visible connection to another body of water.

When they wrote the Clean Water Act, they had no idea that wetlands have a fingerprint called hydric soils, said Botts.

As a result of the saturation, flooding and ponding that occurs in wetlands, the soil has specific chemical and biological properties that can be distinguished with a standardized, on-site soil test.

The common complaint among farmers and developers is that scientifically based rules require costly and time-consuming expert analysis that delay projects.

In its statement after the Sackett v. EPA ruling came out, the homebuilders association called for a practical definition of waters of the United States that wont trigger expensive, time-consuming permitting and regulatory requirements.

Botts said these cost and time concerns are moot points with soil samples.

Its not any kind of exotic scientific process. Its not particularly any more complicated than doing a survey, and if youre going to build a building or a house, you have to hire surveyors to come out and do a proper survey anyways, he said.

Natural sponges and filters

The Supreme Courts criteria for adjacency also fails to consider the latest scientific understandings of wetlands, say environmentalists.

The Supreme Court majority is just saying, If I can see water, and I can see the water flowing from the wetland to the river and back, its a wetland. And, if I cant, its not, said Botts. From a scientific or technical point of view, thats utterly just nonsense.

A key characteristic of wetlands is they absorb water, so much of their connections to rivers, lakes, streams and oceans are through underground networks. Surface water is often not present during periods of low rainfall when there is no excess water.

The Great Lakes, for example, are lined with adjacent wetlands that appear and disappear with water-level fluctuations. Some of the most robust examples are along Lake Michigans Indiana dunes. Although wetlands in Indiana Dunes National Park are protected, some nearby wetlands outside the park, which also provide homes for insects and amphibians and feeding grounds for birds and mammals, are now at risk.

The spongelike quality of wetlands makes them invaluable resources for mitigating greenhouse gases and coping with the runoff from intensifying weather patterns caused by climate change, scientists say.

Wetlands are remarkable carbon sinks, filtering out pollutants before they can make it to major waterways and containing 20% to 30% of global soil carbon despite only making up 5% to 8% of land surface.

Illinois is one of the biggest contributors to nutrient pollution that flows from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, creating a dead zone with chronic algae blooms and near-zero oxygen levels. The states negative impact is bound to increase without state-level regulations, Clay said.

Years of scrutiny

During the last three presidential administrations, the EPA has reinterpreted and revised the definition of protected wetlands. Each attempt has faced scrutiny in the courts. Most recently, the Biden EPA implemented a new definition that was immediately challenged by 26 states and must now be revised to fit the Supreme Courts narrower standard.

Some environmentalists believe changes at the federal level will likely require a new or revised law from Congress. But partisan gridlock makes passage of this kind of legislation difficult.

Sackett v. EPA, alongside other recent environmental rulings by the Supreme Court, has established the precedent that, if EPA is trying to enact a significant pollution protection program, they have to have exceedingly clear congressional authorization, Lazarus said.

That is a complete reversal of what the law has been for the past basically 40 years where you only could defeat an EPA program if you could show the plain meaning (of the law) did not support the agency, he said.

While the EPAs authority is being rolled back by the Supreme Court, the states are not powerless. The states have lots of ability to take care of this problem and preserve their environments, Strand said.

In Illinois, environmental groups are ready to get to work.

Over the next few months, as we start getting our game plan together for the next legislative session, were gonna need to think through what we need in Illinois, Clay said. Were really going to try to craft a bill that, at least from a Midwestern standpoint, puts Illinois in the lead in terms of wetland protection.

_____
Beginning Aug. 4, residents of Independence will again be allowed to own pit bulls, after more than a decade ban on the dog breed.

The Independence City Council on Monday evening voted 5-2 in favor of repealing breed-specific legislation that currently prohibits ownership of pit bulls.

The ban was put into place after a man named Alan Hill was viciously attacked by a pack of pit bulls in 2006 in Independence.

In early May, a petition to repeal the ban or let voters decided at the ballot garnered more than 5,600 signatures, FOX4 reported.

Prior to the change, city code prohibited owning, transporting and selling pit bulls in Independence. Those who didnt comply could face fines up to $500 and up to 180 days in jail.

Independence Mayor Rory Rowland said the city will spend the next 60 days hammering out plans for enforcement of dangerous dogs and bad dog owners who he said will suffer steeper consequences than a $500 fine.

Were going to come up with some language on what well do in regards to a dangerous dog ordinance thats more robust, and has, for lack of a better word, more teeth, Rowland said.

Mike Steinmeyer and Brice Stewart were the only council members to vote no. Both men said they felt the issue should instead go to the ballot.

Stewart called the Mondays vote one of the most difficult hes taken quite simply because I love dogs.

But Stewart said he was hopeful that the 60 day delay in enacting the change would be enough time to hopefully get a good, strong, dangerous dog ordinance in effect.

We applaud the city council for this decision, the Kansas City Pet Project posted on Facebook Monday evening, adding that theyre hopeful many of the cute pit bulls in their shelter will soon find homes with families in Independence.

Pit bull bans remain in Kearney and Leawood, KCUR reported last month.
An Indiana man was charged on Friday after allegedly threatening Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and his family, court documents show.

Aaron Thompson, 33, was charged with harassment and intimidation, a felony offense in the state, after he allegedly left several threatening voicemails with the congressmans office in early April, according to a probable cause filing.

Heres the choice. Your daughters grow up without their dad. Or you grow old without your daughters. How you like that? Let me know what your opinion is. Ill make the decision, Thompson allegedly said in an April 11 voicemail.

He also reportedly said in separate voicemails that he hoped Banks would die in a car crash and get your brains blown out.

Capitol Police say Thompson told them that he was intoxicated at the time and left the voicemails for Banks because he disagrees with him politically.

The safety of my family is my top priority, Banks said in a statement. Ive been instructed to refer all questions about the ongoing criminal investigation to the Allen County Prosecutors Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editors Note: Soldiers in the story are introduced by their first names for security reasons amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

DONETSK OBLAST  Soldiers from Ukraines 24th Mechanized Brigade listened closely to the instructors as they practiced assault tactics before using them on the battlefield for the first time.

On a hilly terrain in early spring, 21 infantrymen  many of whom were recently mobilized  split into three groups, taking turns throwing grenades, shooting rifles, and learning first aid.

The two-week-long assault training on the eve of a looming counteroffensive was led by foreign instructor Magnus, a 53-year-old ex-Swedish lieutenant with 12 years of army experience.

These soldiers have mostly been fighting in defensive positions in the trenches, said Magnus, who first arrived in Ukraine in July 2022 and has spent months training Ukrainian soldiers since then. I have a focus on assault fighting, a completely bold game.

My goal is to train soldiers because I know that this saves lives, thats my main objective, he told the Kyiv Independent. An infantryman must be absolutely superior with his assault rifle and his hand grenade.

Magnus said Ukrainian soldiers are always highly motivated to take as much from the training as possible because they know where they are going. Despite the language barrier, the soldiers learn quickly with the help of a translator, and always with a smile on their face, he added.

Soldiers from various brigades, as well as from Ukraines new Offensive Guard force, have been preparing for an operation that could turn the tide of Russias war on Ukraine.

Early signs of what could be a build-up step of the Ukrainian counteroffensive appeared on June 5. Kyiv said it was shifting to offensive actions in some areas in Donetsk Oblast, heightening hopes that a long-awaited operation is set to begin soon.

Ukrainian soldiers from the 24th, a brigade originally from the western Lviv Oblast, seemed more than ready by their spirit to take on the mission. They followed Magnus as he explained the drills for the next simulation training.

Andriy, a 32-year-old infantryman, said he knows the risks of switching to the offensive side to storm into Russian-held positions, but adrenaline keeps him going.

You want more adrenaline after feeling an adrenaline rush, Andriy told the Kyiv Independent during a break from the training.

The soldier from the western Rivne Oblast voluntarily joined the army in December because he felt it in his heart. He volunteered to join the assault troops in March, as he believes there arent enough soldiers on the front line. A few days later, he was sent to Donetsk Oblast for special training.

Though Andriy spent a month and a half training in the native Rivne Oblast before heading to the Donbas back in winter, he says he appreciates Magnus instructions because they are interesting and straight to the point.

He said that the support from his comrades has helped him to feel as ready for the assault as possible.

The most important thing is not to be afraid, but there is a little bit of fear, Andriy said of his experience on the front line.

Building confidence

For Nazar, a soldier from western Ukraine who was mobilized to the army in December, these were his final weeks of training before heading into active combat for the first time.

Nazar was rather calm, saying he felt ready because he knew his turn would come sooner or later. Since arriving in the Donbas, he went out to the position near Toretsk in February, but he said he didnt have enough experience then to do more than drive.

The newly trained soldier said shooting with an assault rifle was still difficult, but he is learning new tactics and getting ready. He said his life  like for millions of other Ukrainians  has turned upside down, but his comrades have been an immense help even on the days he misses his big family back home the most.

Another soldier, Igor, a 51-year-old from the western Ternopil Oblast, appeared more tired. He has served in the army since the early summer of 2022, and he misses his two small granddaughters.

As he loaded bullets into his rifle, Igor told the Kyiv Independent that it had been difficult to overcome the trauma of watching his mentor  a platoon commander  severely injured by a Russian attack that hit very close to their base, near Bakhmut, in January. The commander is still hospitalized after losing an eye, and four others standing near him were killed.

Holding back his tears, Igor said they were unable to evacuate the bodies immediately due to the continued Russian shelling.

Its difficult, but you need to get used to everything, Igor said.

Training soldiers

As sounds of grenade explosions spread across the training field, Vitaly, a 40-year-old former platoon commander working as a driver due to his severe concussions, observed each soldiers movements.

In between his trips to the front line, Vitaly also helps train soldiers who have less experience than him. He sees the soldiers have each others back, but he understands that their risks are high as assault troops are the first to storm into unknown territory, and the odds of survival is akin to the spin of a roulette.

Vitaly is too familiar with the brutality of the war after losing a 24-year-old brother near Bakhmut last summer. The soldier from the western Zakarpattia Oblast says he was always in close touch with his brother and remembers him saying, everything is okay during their last phone call.

Everyone can be fine one day, and then tomorrow no longer, Vitaly said, mourning his brother Mykhailo with whom he worked on construction sites in Germany before rushing home in the wake of the full-scale war.

When dying stops being scary: Worn out Ukrainian soldiers in Donbas hold off Russian assaults Editors Note: This story is based on interviews with Ukrainian soldiers, conducted in Donetsk Oblast, near the eastern front line, in late March. Some of the soldiers declined to give their last names for security reasons, and are identified by first names and callsigns instead. DONETSK OBLAST  U The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Now, Vitalys job is to deliver boxes of ammunition and drive soldiers to the front line. But he said the most difficult part is when he is called to transport killed soldiers from their positions to a morgue.

They are all like brothers to me, Vitaly said, looking at the soldiers training from uphill. Everyone is learning here. If you want to survive, you need to learn.

Another Vitaly, an instructor from Ukraines Armed Forces who helps Magnus with the training, said the most important thing that he hopes the soldiers would learn in these few weeks is coordination and how to avoid friendly fire.

The result is visible after a week, they are better, the serviceman from Lviv Oblast said.

But no matter how much the soldiers practice, it would still be difficult repeating the movements from the training because Russian forces will be attacking the Ukrainian positions with artillery and heavy equipment, Vitaly said.

According to Vitaly, the soldiers still need to work on their speed and ensure the assault movements are almost automatic during the rest of the training.

The guys are motivated, and they know what they want, Vitaly said, referring to the common goal of ending the war so todays children can live better lives.

The most rewarding moment would be when they (the soldiers he trained) go home alive, and return to what they were doing before the full-scale war, Vitaly said, just as he excused himself to return to the training.

Russia reports Ukrainian ground attacks in Donetsk Oblast in possible launch of counteroffensive In the early hours of June 5, the first announcement of what looks like it could be the start of a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive came from an unusual source. At 1:31 a.m. Kyiv time, the Russian Defense Ministry, which famously floundered in silence in response to Ukraines The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

______________________________________________________

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Asami Terajima, the author of this article.

Thank you for reading my story till the end. I have spent a considerable amount of time in the Donbas this year, hoping to tell stories about the heroic bravery of Ukrainian soldiers in extremely difficult circumstances. They are encouraged when I tell them that our readers in other countries  such as the U.S., U.K., and Canada  are following the war closely because they are with Ukraine. To help the Kyiv Independent continue reporting from the Donbas, please consider supporting us by becoming our member.
Flies on sandwiches and equipment problems were among the reasons a West Miami-Dade bakery failed inspection on Friday.

Party Cake Bakery, 8582 Bird Rd., got a Re-Inspection Required, the worst result one can get from a Florida Department of Agriculture inspection. The Ag Department inspects supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, other packaged food sellers, bakeries, food storage, food distribution and food processing facilities.

READ MORE: Pooping roaches and bad food get Coral Gables and South Miami-Dade restaurants shuttered

Unlike restaurants, which are inspected by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an Ag Department inspection cant close a place down. An inspector can put Stop Use Orders on equipment or areas of the business, however.

Heres just some of what Inspectors James Zheng and Pedro Llanos found wrong when they visited Party Cake Friday.

 In the food service area, an employee working with a slicer and deli ham touched the ham with bare hands. The ham got a Stop Sale order and was tossed.

 The handwashing sinks in two key areas, the backrooms employee restroom and the food prep area, didnt have towels or a blow dryer for hands.

 The ice machine next to one of those handwashing sinks featured black substance on the interior ledge of ice machine...

 A prep table slicer in the food service area was found with old food debris.

 Wet wiping cloths on the prep tables in the kitchen and food service area werent kept in sanitizer solution when not being used.

 There were temperature dysfunction problems with a reach-in cooler. The one under the deli slicers couldnt get down to 41 degrees, so it couldnt keep its food under that maximum temperature for food safety. So the diced ham, diced cheese, bacon, steak and tequenos that measured 52 to 64 degrees got hit with Stop Sales.They were tossed.

 In the food service area, there were numerous small, flying insects observed above prep areas and in the food prep area, Flying insects observed landing on ham & cheese croissant sandwiches and Cuban bread.
Andriy Yusov

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence officer and spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, said on Ukrainian national television on June 5 recent fighting between Russian anti-Putin regime armed groups and the Russia army would spread.

Read also: Dam waters ravage south Ukraine, military expert assesses catastrophic impact

In recent months, these events have gained momentum, Yusov said. The insurgents activities are expanding geographically, with a growing number of participants.

We must now consider the overall state of Russia, not just isolated incidents in Belgorod Oblast, as a failed state, Yusov said.

He also pointed out the incompetence of Russias central authorities, citing the events in Belgorod Oblast as evidence.

Read also: Freedom of Russia Legion claims destruction of Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers  video

All capable military resources are concentrated in occupied Ukrainian territories, while within Russia itself, there is rampant disorder, chaos, anarchy, and lawlessness. This implies that similar conflicts may arise in various regions of what is presently known as the Russian Federation, Yusov said.

Yusov added that Moscow has yet to relocate any of its troops stationed in Ukraine to Belgorod Oblast. Instead, the Russian military relies on internal resources, which has led to artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure within their own territory.

The deployment of their armed forces, including military aviation and artillery, is an established fact. Hence, the Putin regime is simply unable to continue concealing the ongoing events and pretending that nothing is happening.

Russian armed groups are continuing operations in Belgorod Oblast, which began on June 1. The groups say they are in control of several villages near the border.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
iOS 17 release date and compatibility: When Apple will release new iPhone, iPad and Mac updates  and which will get it

(AFP via Getty Images)

Apple has announced its new major update for the iPhone  but not for every iPhone.

The new release, iOS 17, brings new Messaging features as well as whole new ways of using the iPhone, in the form of a new feature called StandBy.

It was announced during Apples Worldwide Developers Conference in California this week, as part of a live-streamed event that also saw the reveal of a new virtual reality headset.

Apple announced an early version of the software shortly after that event, but only to developers. Those registered developers can download it now.

The company will then release a public beta, for which anyone can sign up and download the software, in July. It did not give a more precise date for the release.

Apple will then release the update to the public in the autumn, it said. Each years iOS update usually arrives just before the introduction of the new iPhone, in September.

Apple will release the updates for MacOS, WatchOS and iPadOS on a similar schedule. Sometimes, however, the launch of the new iPad and Mac update is held until later in the year, in October.

The new update will be available on all iPhone devices that can run the current iOS 16  with the exception of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. Those devices were introduced in 2017.

Apple has said that it keeps new updates coming to older devices for as long as possible, but that new features sometimes mean it has to drop them from new updates.

MacOS will drop support for 2017 iMacs and MacBook Pros, with the exception of that years iMac Pro. The new Watch will be compatible with every device that could run WatchOS 9, which means it is available on the Series 4 and later.
The Fattah missile unveiled by Iran. Hossein Zohrevand / Tasnim News Agency via AP

Iran claimed Tuesday that it had created its first hypersonic ballistic missile, a weapon that has the potential to beat Western air defenses.

The missile was unveiled during a ceremony in Tehran attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Rahisi. Called Fattah, or "Conqueror" in Farsi, the missile "can fly at very high speeds and perform various maneuvers in and out of earth's atmosphere," according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

Raisi said at the event that a "deterrent power has been formed," adding that the missile "is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries."

Fattah is claimed to have a range of 870 miles, according to IRNA, and can allegedly hit speeds of Mach 13 to Mach 15  over 11,000 mph. Hypersonic missiles travel fly at least Mach 5, and "their speed and claimed maneuverability is believed to make them difficult to intercept," The Guardian reported. The U.S., Russia, China, and North Korea have all successfully tested hypersonic missiles.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Iranian paramilitary's aerospace program, said there "exists no system that can rival or counter this missile." However, this claim is subject to the maneuverability of the missile, The Associated Press reported. The event showed off what appeared to be a moveable nozzle on the Fattah, which could allow it to change trajectories in flight and make it more difficult for anti-air defenses to intercept.

Iran's missile unveiling comes as tensions between the United States and other Western nations remain high. While Iran has committed to continuing its weapons program despite Western opposition, Reuters noted that the country "sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities."

There are also concerns that the Fattah could potentially be used to attack Israel. This past November, Iran claimed it was developing a hypersonic missile that could reach Israel in 400 seconds.

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Iran says it has developed a hypersonic Fattah missile capable of travelling at 15 times the speed of sound.

Source: IRNA News Agency, The Guardian

Quote from IRNA: "The domestically-developed hypersonic missile Fattah, Iran IRGC's most recent achievement, was unveiled on Tuesday morning (June 6) in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi."

The domestically-developed hypersonic missile "Fattah", #Iran IRGC's most recent achievement, was unveiled on Tuesday morning (June 6) in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi. pic.twitter.com/wzwUTRR3ez  IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) June 6, 2023

Details: This statement was made against the background of a high level of tension in relations with the United States regarding Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran's state television said the missile, called Fattah, or "Conqueror" in Farsi, has a range of up to 870 miles (1,400 km).

The report also claimed that the missile could pass through any regional missile defence system, but no evidence supported this claim.

The broadcast showed what appeared to be a model missile that the Revolutionary Guard Corps presented to President Ebrahim Raisi.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps already has a large arsenal of ballistic missiles.

Background: In November, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran had developed a hypersonic missile, without providing any evidence to back it up.

The announcement came in September, amid nationwide protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by the country's "morality police".

For reference: Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds over Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, can pose serious challenges to missile defence systems due to their speed and manoeuvrability.

It is believed that China and the United States are working on creating this weapon.

Russia claims it is already deploying the weapon and has said it used it on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Iran unveils first hypersonic missile in challenge to Israel and West

Iran unveils its indigenously-developed hypersonic missile

Iran has unveiled a hypersonic missile dubbed the Fattah which it claims is impossible to shoot down, in a potentially major challenge to Israel and Western leaders.

Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps revealed the new weapon, which can allegedly travel at 15 times the speed of sound, at a ceremony attended by Ebrahim Raisi, Irans president, and the regimes top military chiefs.

Today we feel that the deterrent power has been formed ... this power is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries, said Mr Raisi.

Iran also published a video demonstration that purported to show the missile in action, though much of it appeared to rely on computer-generated imagery.

General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace programme, claimed that there exists no system that can rival or counter this missile.

The assertion that the missile can both bypass and destroy air defence systems creates a significant security headache for Israel, Irans arch-foe in the region.

It will also cause deep concern among Western leaders, who are increasingly wary of Irans growing military capabilities - in particular its new security pact with Russia which is assisting the invasion of Ukraine.

An Iranian state television report on the ceremony claimed that the missile can destroy the enemys advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles.

It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the Zionist regime, including Israels Iron Dome, added the report.

The Fattah system has a range of 1,400km, can move in and out of space and, according to one Iranian general, is capable of hitting targets in Israel in as little as 400 seconds.

Israel and Iran are locked in an escalating shadow war in which they have attacked each others ships, along with other key infrastructure.

Israel is also suspected of launching a series of covert attacks on Tehrans nuclear programme, which it regards as an existential threat.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has repeatedly suggested that he may take decisive military action against the nuclear programme in the near future, a move that could spiral into open regional warfare.

The weapon is called the 'Fattah'

It comes after Iran announced it had completed work on the hypersonic missile, which according to some Israeli media reports may have been achieved with technological support from Russia.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Iran has been providing Vladimir Putins forces with hundreds if not thousands of drones and missiles.

In return, Moscow is to send powerful fighter jets to Tehran and could be assisting the regime in building up other areas of its military prowess.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Graphic showing the trajectory and detection of hypersonic weapons

Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled an intermediate range ballistic missile Tuesday capable of travelling at hypersonic speeds of up to 15 times the speed of sound, state television reported.

President Ebrahim Raisi hailed the new missile's hypersonic capability, saying it would boost Iran's "power of deterrence" and "bring peace and stability to the countries of the region".

The official IRNA news agency published photographs of the ceremony in a closed area it did not identify. Several top military commanders were present, including Guards chief General Hossein Salami.

"The range of the Fattah missile is 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) and its speed before hitting its target" is between 13 and 15 times the speed of sound, IRNA said.

Like slower ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles can be equipped with nuclear warheads and Iran's announcement it was producing one in November prompted International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi to express concern.

But Grossi added he did not see the new missile "having any influence" on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear activities.

Talks between Tehran and major powers on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal that was left in tatters when Washington unilaterally abandoned it in 2018 and imposed renewed sanctions are currently stalled.

Iran has since suspended its implementation of the strict limits it agreed to on its nuclear activities and restricted IAEA monitoring in a policy it is only slowly reversing.

Unlike conventional ballistic missiles, hypersonic ones fly on a trajectory low in the atmosphere, enabling them to reach their targets more quickly and with less chance of being intercepted by modern air defences.

When the programme was announced last year, Guards aerospace chief General Amirali Hajizadeh said the system was developed to "counter air defence shields", adding that he believed it would take decades before a system capable of intercepting it is developed.

Iran's arch foe Israel, which is widely believe to have its own undeclared nuclear arsenal, has multiple air defence shields for countering subsonic and supersonic missiles.

North Korea's test of a hypersonic missile last year sparked concerns about the race to acquire the technology, which is currently led by Russia, followed by China and the United States.

Since March last year, Russia's Kinzhal hypersonic missile has been used multiple times in its war against Ukraine.

ap/jri/kir
Iran is using the worlds largest lake to evade the U.S. and ship weapons to Russia

The News

Western efforts to stop the flow of Iranian weapons into Russia for use in Ukraine are running into a 3,300-foot-deep problem: the Caspian Sea.

American officials told Semafor that Tehran has stepped up its movement of arms to Moscow via the landlocked body of water  often described as the worlds largest lake  which has prevented interdiction efforts by putting shipments beyond the reach of U.S. and NATO naval power. The U.S. has successfully intercepted seabound shipments of Iranian weapons to other war zones, such as Yemen.

The Central Asian countries that border the Caspian, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, have been reluctant to join the West in enforcing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, according to U.S. officials, let alone interdict arms shipments. Without those governments cooperation, American and NATO forces cant legally police their territorial waters.

In terms of international law, you're not going to have anyone there on your side, said Benham Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. In terms of political will to do something risk tolerant and using a local actor, we also are not going to have anyone there.

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In recent weeks, the Biden administration has called Tehran Russias top military backer in Ukraine and said the U.S. is following ongoing shipments of kamikaze drones, artillery, and tank rounds from Iran to the Russian military. The Kremlin, in turn, has pledged to provide Iran with unprecedented military support in the form of Sukhoi fighter jets, Russian attack helicopters, and S-400 air defense systems.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, also signed an agreement last month to build a North-South transportation corridor to better connect their countries and economies, and to grow trade with the other Caspian Sea nations. The corridor will buttress the maritime links between Russia and Iran through the construction of rail lines running adjacent to the Caspian, through Azerbaijan and other former Soviet states.

Its part of the broader effort by Moscow and Tehran to circumvent the growing sanctions wall being constructed against them by the U.S. and European Union, said Iran and Russia analysts. The two countries have developed direct banking channels to operate outside the SWIFT payment system that governs global financial transactions. The Caspian Sea routes can shield their direct arms shipments.

Jay's view

The war in Ukraine is accelerating a splintering between Western and Eastern economies, with Russia increasingly shielding itself behind China, Iran, and the former Soviet states. But the Caspian Sea is the most physical manifestation of this global breakdown, and the Kremlins ability to hide.

The Biden administration said it first began detecting Iranian drone shipments to Russia last summer, including through air deliveries. But private companies, such as Lloyds List in London, said they also began picking up at this time an unusual trend in the Caspian Sea  trade involving Russian and Iranian ships was spiking while many of their deliveries were being made with their Automatic Identification System signals turned off. The United Nations requires most maritime traffic to use AIS transceivers to track their movements in international waters.

There are several reasons for ships to switch off AIS, including transmission or safety issues, but it is commonly used as a tactic to obfuscate journey origins and destinations, as well as other illicit activity, Lloyds List wrote in a report about this dynamic in the Caspian Sea. The most traveled routes involving these shipments were the Russian port of Astrakhan and Irans Amirabad port.

The Wall Street Journal reported in April that Russian ships had ferried 30,000 artillery shells and a million rounds of ammunition from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea during the previous six months, citing data from Middle Eastern governments.

The Biden administration has sought to break up the Russian-Iranian trade through a wave of sanctions targeting the companies, procurement networks and ships and airplanes engaged in this trade. In April, the Treasury Department sanctioned six entities supporting Irans drone production, including companies in China and Malaysia.

But the Caspian Sea is a blind spot in this counter-proliferation strategy  a place where the U.S. cant patrol, and local governments are disinterested in helping.

Room for Disagreement

The Russian and Iranian governments didnt respond to requests for comment from Semafor concerning their alleged use of the Caspian Sea to ship arms. But Russian and Iranian leaders have said in recent months that their development of the North-South Trade Corridor was solely focused on growing the regions economies and creating an alternative trade route to the Suez Canal. The unique North-South transport artery, of which the Rasht-Astara railway will become a part, will help to significantly diversify global traffic flows, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 17.

Notable

CNN released a May video report on suspected Iranian arms shipments to Russia via the Caspian Sea.

Stimson Center released an April report on Russias and Irans efforts to rebuild Eurasia into an anti-Western region.




Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the ministry took the highly unusual move to summon Germanys ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, to send a message about his reported interference in domestic affairs, including allegedly honoring Palestinian terrorists.

Lior Haiat, the spokesman for Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, told Fox News that he "confirms" the report on the website of the conservative Israeli news outlet Chanel 14.

The reported rebuke of Seibert coincides with a recent Fox News Digital report about criticisms leveled against the Biden administrations alleged "blatant interference" in Israeli domestic affairs.

Channel 14 reported in late May, that "Seibert was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was rebuked by the head of the Europe Division, Daniel Meron, following a series of events that were viewed harshly in Israel. Among other things, Seibert participated in the Alternative Day of Remembrance ceremony in Tel Aviv."

Israels MFA and Israeli critics of Seibert took great umbrage at Seibert for his role in reportedly denigrating one of the most important and solemn days in Israel: "Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Hostile Acts."

MOSSAD THWARTS IMMINENT ATTACK ON JEWISH RESTAURANT IN GREECE, EXTENSIVE LOSS OF LIFE

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Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen speaks during press conference in Jerusalem on January 02, 2023.

Israeli Mideast expert Caroline Glick told Fox News Digital that Seiberts role in the alternative ceremony  also known as the joint memorial day  was a "hostile act toward not just the Israeli government but Israeli society" because the event honors "dead Palestinians terrorists" along with Israeli victims of terrorism and fallen Israeli soldiers. Glick, who hosts the popular Caroline Glick Show on Jewish News Syndicate, said the alternative ceremony, which has taken place since 2006, "meets with overwhelming revulsion" in Israel and is a form false "moral equivalency" because it equates Palestinians who carried out terrorist acts with Jewish victims of terrorism and fallen Israelis soldiers who combat terrorism.

Glick said Germany funds the NGO Parents CircleFamilies Forum that sponsors the alternative memorial ceremony. She added the event is a "deliberate act by NGO Parents CircleFamilies Forum to anger and cause great emotional distress to Israeli society and undermine spirit of Israeli society."

Israelis in Jerusalem mark Memorial Day with a national minute of silence.

Robi Damelin, a spokeswoman from Parents CircleFamilies Forum, told Fox News Digital that she lost her son David to terrorism in 2002 and expressed outrage about being viewed as "traitor." She said, "PCFF is working for non-violence and reconciliation. The people who criticized the ceremony have never actually been to a ceremony. You can go to YouTube and see the ceremony where Palestinians and Israelis come together to tell their stories on memorial day and hear beautiful music and poetry. I dont think that it is radical. I think it is unique."

Damelin said the German NGO Bread for the World (Brot fur die Welt), the European Union, and private donors provide funds to PCFF. Israels MFA also took Seibert to task for his role in preventing the German air force from participating in a joint flight with Israels air force fly over the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria during the Jewish States 75th Independence Day ceremony in April.

Ariel Kahana, a senior diplomatic commentator for Israels most read Hebrew-language daily newspaper, the right-of-center Israel Hayom, who first broke the story on Seibert interfering in the German air force flight, told Fox News Digital that "Seibert boasted about succeeding in preventing the flight" over the disputed territory.The Palestinians see the disputed West Bank territory, known by Israelis as Judea and Samaria, as land for their future state. Israels government has built Jewish residences and town in the Judea and Samaria and contests the Palestinian claim over the entire region.

NETANYAHU TELLS PIERS MORGAN DEMOCRACY IS SAFE IN ISRAEL DESPITE HIS MOVES TO WREST CONTROL OF TOO POWERFUL

The United States, the United Kingdom and Italy participated in the joint flight in celebration of Israels founding and did not withdraw their flight over Judea and Samaria. The Israeli military said at the time this is "a sign of partnership between the countries and the unique relationship of the State of Israel with them."

Glick said, "The German military is supposed to be a symbolic representation of the new Germany. They asked to participate and insinuated themselves into our national independence and used the opportunity to insult it." She added that the refusal to join Israels air force in the flyover is "just an act of hostility by the Germans."

Israelis in Jerusalem mark Memorial Day with a national minute of silence.

Yossi Melman, a veteran Israeli columnist for the left-leaning Haaretz, said the rebuke of Seibert "is shameful and stupid. Germany is a great supporter of Israel. For what? Because they dont allow Germany to fly over West bank."

Melman said the German governments policy "doesnt recognize the West Bank" as Israeli territory. He added the Germans "support Israel against Iran. They help Israel with intelligence. The trade between Israel and Germany is big."

IRANIAN MEDIA CLAIMS NAVAL FORCES WARNED US NAVY AIRCRAFT AGAINST ENTERING ITS AIRSPACE

He added that "You dont do this publicly" regarding the rebuke of Seibert. "Ambassadors are supposed to represent all sectors of Israeli society, including the opposition and tiny minorities. He is the German ambassador to Israel not to the Israeli government," said Melman.

Israels MFA also summoned Seibert due to a report that Germanys government reportedly instructed German diplomats on two occasion to not take photographs in the Old City of Jerusalem because Berlin views it has "occupied territory," according to Israel Hayom.

Yonatan Shay, the Head of the Hasbara (Israel Advocacy) Dep. of Im Tirtzu told Fox News Digital that Seibert has contributed to a deterioration in German-Israeli relations during his short tenure as ambassador. Shay said "the biggest Zionist movement in Israel, Im Tirtzu, truly believes he should resign due to his recent fiascos."

Shay said about Seiberts tweets in support of alleged Palestinian terrorists that "He disgraced the international Holocaust memorial day by criticizing heroic IDF operation in Jenin in which the IDF eliminated Palestinian terrorists with Jewish blood on their hands."

WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS FIRST-EVER NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM, 'THE WORLD'S OLDEST HATRED'

Then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a ceremony for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars at the Yad Lebanim House on the eve of Memorial Day, in Jerusalem, April 13, 2021. Debbie Hill/Pool via REUTERS

Shay, who speaks fluent German and worked for the Jewish Agency for Israel in Germany, said Seibert "disgraced the most sacred day in the Israeli calendar because he participated at the joint alternative memorial ceremony to honor Palestinian terrorists who murdered Jews and IDF soldiers who fell in battle protecting our land."

Fox News Digital sent numerous press queries to Seibert and the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin.
Issa rejects White House 'spin' on China visit during Tiananmen anniversary: 'Embarrassed on the world stage'

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is pushing back at the Biden administrations downplaying of the controversy stemming from its move to send two top officials to China at the same time as the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

"Once again, the Biden Administration yielded to Chinese demands and got embarrassed on the world stage," the San Diego Republican told Fox News Digital.

"They can maintain it doesnt matter, but make no mistake: With Biden at the helm, America is losing ground to Beijing. Pretending it doesnt matter just shows the limits of their spin after the fact."

Issa was responding to a comment from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Monday where he seemingly dismissed concerns that two U.S. officials went to China on the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when the Chinese military slaughtered hundreds, possibly thousands, of pro-democracy protesters.

CHINAS DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS WAR WITH US WOULD BE UNBEARABLE DISASTER'

Representative Darrell Issa, a Republican from California, speaks during a hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S.

"We would not call it a misstep," Kirby explained in a Monday briefing.

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"I mean, this was a long-planned trip and this is the way the schedules worked out. But I think honestly, people criticizing the timing of Tiananmen Square, just making a whole heck of a lot out of nothing. It wasn't timed to do anything with the anniversary."

US MILITARY RELEASES VIDEO OF CHINESE WARSHIP CUTTING ACROSS AMERICAN DESTROYER IN TAIWAN STRAIT

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing the country's economic and social development at a political gathering in Beijing, China.

Issa had previously said the Biden administrations move handed a "major coup" to Chinese President Xi Jinping by sending the officials there on that specific date.

"This is no ordinary foreign policy stumble," Issa, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had told Fox News Digital over the weekend, becoming one of several people to criticize the Biden administration over the timing of the trip.

"Its a concession demanded by the Chinese and granted by a White House and State Department willing to bend. Its a major coup for Xi, and Americas position in the world just got weaker  where it matters most."

The White House and National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
ISW explains why it is not commenting on Ukrainian counteroffensive operations

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted that they are not currently making any assumptions about the counteroffensive operation by Ukraines Defence Forces, since it is unknown when its outcome will be, while "Russian sources may falsely claim to have defeated it".

Source: ISW

Details: The ISWs report noted that Russian and Ukrainian officials have been giving out signals about the beginning of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

ISW noted that it has seen an increase in combat activity on various areas of the front, but will not speculate on the intentions, weight or direction of Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.

"A successful counteroffensive operation may take days, weeks, or even months before its outcome becomes fully clear, during which time Russian sources may falsely claim to have defeated it," ISW noted.

The report also pointed out that the Russian Volunteer Corps stated that their operations are ongoing in a border settlement in Belgorod Oblast as of 5 June.

Meanwhile, Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, said that Chechen forces are ready to defend against raids in Belgorod Oblast, probably partially in order to keep his troops from participating in hostilities in Ukraine.

The ISW pointed out that the Russian Black Sea Fleet is trying to alleviate logistical difficulties in occupied Crimea by moving resources to the Russian mainland.

Therefore, Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint Press Centre for Operational Command Pivden (South), reported on 5 June that Russian troops are moving the logistical support centres of the Black Sea Fleet from Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in Russias Krasnodar Krai.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner PMC financier, continues to make efforts to deepen the differences between the Wagner Group and the Russian Defence Ministry.

Prigozhin's press service published a video on 4 June in which a Wagner fighter interrogates a Russian soldier, who introduced himself as Lieutenant Colonel Roman Venevitin of the 72nd Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade (3rd Army Corps).

The ISWs report noted that as Prigozhin continues to try to maintain media relevance, his "rhetorical charades" are likely to further deepen the rift between the Defence Ministry and Wagner Group, thus hampering the overall combat capability of both forces and further generating growing discontent in the information space that previously supported him.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 5 June:

Russian and Ukrainian officials are signalling the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Ukrainian forces conducted limited successful offensives north and southwest of Bakhmut.

The pro-Ukrainian all-Russian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) claimed that it continues to operate in a Russian border settlement in Belgorod Oblast as of 5 June.

Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov claimed that Chechen forces are ready to defend against raids in Belgorod Oblast, likely partially in order to keep his forces out of combat in Ukraine.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet is attempting to mitigate complications with logistical support in occupied Crimea by shifting resources to mainland Russia.

Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is continuing efforts to exacerbate the divide between the Wagner Group and the Russian Defence Ministry.

Russian forces reportedly conducted unsuccessful reconnaissance-in-force operations northeast of Kharkiv City and continued limited ground attacks northeast of Kupyansk and along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

Russian forces continued limited offensive operations on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.

Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks in western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhia oblasts and made further limited tactical gains.

Ukrainian forces continue to target rear Russian positions throughout southern Ukraine.

Iran has allegedly signed contracts with Russia for about $1.74 million in ammunition for Russia to use in Ukraine.

Ukrainian sources and Belarusian sources indicated that Belarus has been involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to grant Tunisia $750 million in aid and to back it in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over a crucial bailout.

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The announcements, after talks Tuesday with Tunisian President Kais Saied, indicate the importance of the troubled North African country, which is a major embarkation point for illicit migration across the Mediterranean.

Avoiding an economic meltdown in Tunisia is a priority for Meloni as the birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings continues to struggle following its revolution. Further turmoil would risk spurring yet more migration  heaping pressure on the right-wing leader on an issue that was pivotal to her 2022 electoral success.

Italy plans to open 700 million ($748 million) in credit lines to mostly support vital services such as health care, Meloni said in remarks posted on the Tunisian presidencys Facebook page. Italy will also seek to bridge viewpoints between the IMF and Tunisia during an international conference around the issue of irregular migration to be held in Rome, she said without specifying a date.

The approach has to be pragmatic so that we can help Tunisia, she said.

During his meeting with Meloni, Saied renewed his rejection of what he termed diktats in the talks with the IMF, warning they could ignite instability in Tunisia and beyond. He raised with Meloni the idea of debt relief through the conversion of Tunisian debt into private development projects, according to the presidency.

Those who provide ready-made prescriptions are like a doctor who prescribes the medicine before diagnosing the disease, he said.

While IMF assistance is seen as key to shoring up an economy battered by soaring prices and high youth unemployment, the Tunisian government has yet to finalize the wide-ranging reforms, including potentially painful cuts in state spending, necessary to secure a final deal.

Tunisia, where Saied is accused by opponents of trying to restore one-man rule after assuming greater powers in 2021, has been a major staging point for illicit crossings, both by Tunisians and others from the continent.

The migration issue is worsening by the day and calls for an international dialogue, Saied said, blaming lawless foreign migrants and what the presidency termed organ- and human-trafficking criminal gangs in sub-Saharan Africa and northern Mediterranean countries for the surge in crossings.

The roads no longer lead to Rome alone, they now also lead to Tunis, he said, stressing how some foreign migrants elect to stay in Tunisia instead of using it as a springboard to Europe.

Italys migration policy has been criticized by other European nations. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said last month that Melonis cabinet was incapable of fixing Italys migration problems, rekindling a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Read More: Italy and France, Old Frenemies, Are Squabbling Ahead of G-7

At least 23,091 migrants were intercepted while trying to illicitly cross by boat from Tunisia to Italy between January and May this year, according to FTDES, a Tunisian non-governmental organization. About 3,430 Tunisians reached Italy, including 865 minors, while 534 people died in attempts, the data show.

(Recasts with aid starting in first paragraph.)

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St. Dominic's in Jackson announced Monday that, because of deteriorating financial issues, the healthcare system is laying off 157 people, which represents a 5.5% reduction of the total workforce.

St. Dominic's in Jackson announced Monday that, because of deteriorating financial issues, the healthcare system is laying off 157 people, which represents a 5.5% reduction of the total workforce.

"Similar to many healthcare systems in recent years, St. Dominics faces substantial financial challenges. After a thorough assessment of our staffing and services and following losses of several million dollars in the last 3-5 years, St. Dominics has determined the immediate need to make significant changes to best serve the patients of central Mississippi and ensure the long-term sustainability of St. Dominics," The hospital said in a statement. "This will help ensure the highest quality and compassionate clinical care while stabilizing financial performance.

St. Dominic Behavioral Health Services will close. No additional admissions will take place after 7 a.m. on June 6. St. Dominics will continue to provide care and treatment for current inpatients as it works to ensure safe transitions to other facilities as needed.

"This decision follows a detailed review of patient census, nearby availability of similar services, and staffing realities," the statement said. "St. Dominics is exploring potential partners to best meet the mental health needs in the community.

Painful price of health care: St. Dominic knew patients couldn't afford care. It sued anyway.

The statement also said that Select positions from various service areas will be eliminated in addition to continued focus on improving patient experience and efficiencies within hospital operations.

Throughout its 77-year history, the St. Dominics ministry has evolved to meet the everchanging needs of the community it serves with a steadfast focus on quality, safety, patient experience and stewardship, said Scott Kashman, Market President and CEO, St. Dominic Health Services and St. Dominic Hospital. After thorough discernment and prayerful consideration, we must again adapt and evolve to preserve the ministry in the face of these economic realities and better ensure the long-term health of the organization. Ultimately, these decisions were made in faithfulness to good stewardship of our mission and the ministries we support.

These changes come amid the ongoing debate about Medicaid expansion, which has cause many Mississippi healthcare operations to miss out on funding opportunities. Gov. Tate Reeves has been a staunch opponent of allowing Medicaid expansion. However, there was one small break in that in the spring as the legislature allowed expansion for postpartum care.

Brandon Presley, who is running against Reeves for governor this year, is for full Medicaid expansion.

Despite what Tate Reeves tries to portray, the healthcare crisis is real and is damaging our people and our economy. Almost every day, we hear about a hospital cutting critical healthcare services or threatening to close its doors completely," Presley said. "Mississippians know that Tate Reeves isnt interested in fixing this problem, and his failed record proves it. Im running for governor to fix this mess, get our healthcare systems back on track, provide healthcare to 220,000 working Mississippians, and keep our hospitals open.

Reeves, meanwhile, has not made a statement on the St. Dominic's layoffs.

With nothing to block the actions, no new behavioral health patients will be accepted, beginning Wednesday.

Severance opportunities will be offered to full-time and part-time employees who are unable to secure other similar roles within the organization.

We recognize that mental health is a significant need, with various aspects of mental healthcare emerging as six of the top 25 needs identified in the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, Kashman said. While continuing to meet these needs directly is no longer viable for St. Dominics, we are working with partners to help patients access the care they need. Our health system will continue to advocate for additional state and federal resources to stabilize healthcare providers in Mississippi.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: St. Dominic hospital in Jackson MS slashes jobs
The Jacksonville Jaguars will debut to the public a first look at conceptual designs for the Stadium of the Future tomorrow, Wednesday, June 7.

Jaguars fans and Northeast Florida residents can tune into 1stDownTownJacksonville.com or Jaguars social media channels at 10 a.m. for the debut of a video visualization and renderings of the project.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Three years in the making, the Stadium of the Future represents the next step in the teams efforts to transform downtown Jacksonville.

On Wednesday, the Jaguars will also share additional information about how the community can engage with project leaders in community huddles scheduled throughout Duval County in the coming weeks.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

For more information about the Jaguars and their development plans or to sign up and receive updates, visit www.1stdowntownjacksonville.com.

Be first to see our vision for the Stadium of the Future  head to https://t.co/UhmjhiU9qL tomorrow morning at 10 am!  1stDownTown (@1stdowntownjax) June 6, 2023

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.
Jake Tapper Can't Get Brianna Keilar's Icky Description Of GOP Race Out Of His Head

CNNs Brianna Keilar on Monday suggested the 2024 GOP presidential field is like a crowded Jacuzzi and colleague Jake Tapper wasnt there for it.

Keilars description came as the pair discussed the growing number of Republicans seeking to take on current GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

Come on in, the waters fine, Tapper joked about the burgeoning list. He asked Keilar if she was feeling the Burgumentum, a nod to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgums (R) reported imminent campaign launch.

I feel a lot of mentum, Keilar responded in a video posted online by Mediaite. There could be some Pencementum. There could be some Burgumentum.

When you talk about this crowded field, it kind of reminds me of like a crowded Jacuzzi, she then riffed.

Nice. Is that how you think of it? asked Tapper.

A little bit, Keilar replied. At a certain point, arent there just too many people in the Jacuzzi?

Its a good question. Its certainly a concern among people who want Donald Trump to not be the nominee, said Tapper. They would rather that there not be so many candidates. Theyre worried about what happened last time.

After talking about anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s longshot challenge of President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, Tapper returned to Keilars description.

I cant get the image of the Jacuzzi out of my head and I do not thank you for that, he said.

Yeah, that was on purpose, Keilar cracked in response.

Related...
(Bloomberg) -- Japan will aim to have women make up at least 30% of directors at major firms by 2030, according to a draft plan issued by the Gender Equality Bureau that said more diversity can contribute to innovation and growth.

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The government will press for the target to be included in the regulations for companies listed on the Prime Market Index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, according to the document that was released Monday. The first step would be to require at least one woman on the board of all the indexs firms by 2025.

Japan has sought to bring more women into the workforce to make up for its aging and shrinking population, but has long struggled to meet its targets on diversity in management. It ranked 116 out of 146 countries in last years Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, far below all of its Group of Seven peers.

Japans New Disclosure Rules to Help G-7s Worst Gender Pay Gap

Companies would be urged to form a plan to reach the board targets, according to the draft. As of last year, about 18.7% of Prime Market companies had no female directors. Women made up 15.5% of directors at the largest companies in Japan in 2022, compared with 31.3% in the US, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The government will also encourage women to start their own companies, with the target of having women make up 20% of entrepreneurs benefiting from a government support program, up from the current 8.8%.

Financial independence for women is another target of the new plan, with many Japanese women forced into poorly paid irregular jobs after having children, meaning single mothers can often face poverty.

Norway Fund Joins Goldman in Voting Against Japans Male Boards

The government will consider expanding an obligation to reveal data on pay disparities between men and women from companies with more than 301 employees to those with more than 101 employees. Japan has one of the widest pay gaps among developed countries surveyed by the OECD.

The government will expand support for companies that switch employees from irregular to full employee status and press for equal pay, regardless of status, according to the document. It will also offer support for retraining in IT skills.

The draft policy calls for more flexible working, the division of household tasks between men and women and the creation of a society where its a matter of course for fathers to take paternity leave.

(Updates with chart.)

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Chevrolet

The C8 Corvette is the first model in the nameplates long history to offer a right-hand drive configuration directly from the factory. This has allowed the C8 Stingray and C8 Z06 models to find plenty of interested parties in Europe and Japan. Thanks to a report from WebCG, we now know that every C8 Z06 headed to Japan will carry the same trim package and color combination.

The news comes directly from GM Japan executives Yoshiaki Uehara and Satoshi Nakano, who discussed the Japanese-spec Z06 with the publication. According to the report, every C8 Corvette Z06 being ordered by GM Japan will be a loaded-up 3LZ coupes, complete with black exterior paint and a red interior. In order to keep the color theme in order, all cars will also feature black wheels and red brake calipers. The track-oriented Z07 package will also not be available for customers at the time of the sales debut, nor does the company expect to be able to retrofit those parts with ease. The executives specifically noted that this combination is currently the most popular with Z06 customers in the United States, and one that fits the car nicely. The Japanese spec wasnt made on styling preference alone, however. Uehara noted that if customers overseas were given the same access to the Z06 configurator as here in the States, the cars might never get built. GMs difficulties in getting C8s to customers has been well documented through the cars production run, with high interest in the Z06 only making that more of a challenge.

Chevrolet

Japanese-market Z06 models will also lose the cars unique center-exit exhaust system found on US-spec cars. This comes as a result of the countrys more stringent emissions and sound requirements for vehicles, which the trumpet-style straight pipes on the Z06 will not meet. This means the cars will wear the standard Stingrays corner exit setup, resulting in a slight drop in horsepower output. Whereas US-spec cars make 670 hp, these particular units will be limited to 636 hp. That should still be plenty of power to beat up on all sorts of JDM goodness at any of Japans incredible circuits.

Chevrolet

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New Jersey man allegedly lured 11-year-old girl off street before kidnapping her: prosecutor

A New Jersey man is behind bars after he allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl off the street and into his car before kidnapping her, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Raquan Folk, 29, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree luring a child and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child via sexual conduct, Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a statement Monday.

Folk is accused of pulling up next to the young girl, who was walking along Ridge Avenue in Asbury Park, in a white Kia and convincing her to get into the car with him at approximately 5:30 p.m. on May 30, according to a joint investigation with the MCPO Special Victims Bureau and Asbury Park police.

Once she was in the car, he allegedly drove to neighboring Neptune Township, stopped the car and told the girl to take off her clothes.

GEORGIA MAN SENTENCED AFTER KIDNAPPING, SEXUALLY ASSAULTING COLLEGE STUDENTS WALKING HOME

Raquan Folk, 29, is accused of luring and kidnapping an 11-year-old girl in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

The girl asked Folk if she could use a bathroom, according to Santiago's statement, and he allegedly drove to a service station.

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Once stopped at the service station, she reportedly ran from the car, flagged down a passerby and was taken to the Neptune Township Police Department.

KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR REMEMBERS DRAGGING 'COLD, HEAVY CHAIN' FROM CAPTOR'S DUNGEON DURING RESCUE

Folk was taken into custody without incident on Thursday and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where he is awaiting a detention hearing with the county's Superior Court.

The state is filing a motion to keep him in custody as the case against him moves forward, Santiago said.

The prosecutor's office is encouraging anyone with additional information on this incident, or Folk's activities in general, to contact MCPO detective Kayla Santiago at 800-533-7443.
Washington-area residents were startled Sunday afternoon when a D.C. Air National Guard F-16 fighter jet went supersonic in pursuit of an unresponsive Cessna business plane, letting loose a sonic boom that echoed across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The U.S. military routinely trains near the national capital region, practicing to intercept wayward aircraft and other threats along the East Coast. But those jets rarely break the sound barrier over land unless they face a real-world emergency, to prevent panic among unsuspecting residents on the ground and damage to the community around them.

Military pilots dont need to zip around at supersonic speeds all the time; for instance, F-35A Lightning II pilots cruise around .9 Mach, or around 700 miles per hour.

Going faster than the speed of sound  around 760 miles per hour  helps pilots fire weapons smoothly in air-to-air combat training, such as those simulating offensive counter-air missions, said Heather Penney, a former F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot who now works as a defense policy expert at the Air and Space Forces Associations Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Penney said they are allowed to break the sound barrier in a limited number of scenarios: over the ocean or on a training range where it wont disrupt everyday life, or in an emergency with a superiors approval.

And it comes in handy when a pilot needs to catch up with an out-of-place or unresponsive aircraft, so they have more time alongside the plane to assess whether it is a threat or not, Penney said. Most often, she said, people simply get lost or dont know where theyre allowed to fly.

John Kirby on Sunday's NORAD intercept: "Six F-16s from three different air bases...launched to intercept this particular Cessna Citation...the two from Andrews...they had to turn on the speed to get to him, which is why people here in the District area heard a sonic boom..." pic.twitter.com/0PKiqikPAk  CSPAN (@cspan) June 5, 2023

On Sunday, the New York-bound Cessna Citation business jet suddenly turned around over Long Island, prompting the military to scramble six fighter jets to intercept it. Its civilian pilot appeared to be slumped over and unresponsive, U.S. officials told the Associated Press of their conversations with the fighter pilots. The officials were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the military operation.

North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesman John Ingle told Military Times this week that one F-16 that responded to the unresponsive Cessna made the jump to supersonic speed, though three others were also authorized to do so.

Two F-16s tasked to NORADs homeland defense mission flew alongside the Cessna over Virginia around 3:20 p.m., the Pentagon said. Military Times staff heard the sonic boom echo over Washington roughly ten minutes earlier. Its unclear at what point the jets sped up to catch the unresponsive plane, or how long they escorted it; Ingle said NORAD is still establishing the timeline of events.

The go-ahead to exceed Mach 1 comes from the U.S.-focused branch of NORAD, which is responsible for monitoring and defending the continents skies.

NORAD aircraft typically fly at speeds slower than those required to create a sonic boom. However, that could change depending on the mission and the need to respond in such a manner to provide decision-makers the necessary time to act, Ingle said. NORAD aircraft often operate within specified parameters when over land so as to mitigate sonic boom disturbances.

On top of considering where a sonic boom might reverberate the strongest, officials have to consider the threat level, the atmospheric conditions and how high the jet is flying before approving supersonic flight.

Once a jet breaks the sound barrier, the sonic boom fans out like the wake behind a boat. As with a boats wake, the compressed air of a sonic boom is strongest near the jet and gets weaker as it fans out behind the aircraft. Thats why people closer to the F-16 heard and felt its roar more intensely than those farther away, Penney said.

And the jet pilots dont feel a sonic boom from the cockpit, just as passengers on a boat dont feel the effects of the wake behind them, she added.

NORAD doesnt alert other agencies that those shockwaves may be coming because of the unpredictability of military responses and the urgency of situations that would require supersonic flight, Ingle said.

That leaves local and federal government agencies, meteorologists, journalists and more to rule out other possible explanations, like routine explosions on a military installation, thunder or an attack.

In general, Penney said, fighter pilots arent supposed to fly that fast near Washington, D.C., at all, to protect the multitude of government buildings and avoid unnecessary alarm.

The wayward plane ultimately crashed near the George Washington National Forest in Virginia, about 160 miles southwest of Washington, shortly after 3:30 p.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating Sundays crash, which killed the pilot and three passengers. North Carolina resident John Rumpel, the planes owner, told The New York Times that his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter and a nanny were on the flight.

Penney said the militarys decision to go fast and inspect the plane in question, rather than jumping to conclusions and shooting down a jet with civilians aboard, shows the nations air defenses are working properly.

The point of our air defense systems is to protect our national infrastructure ... not to get trigger-happy, she said.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is asking the Justice Department to break down the scope of special counsel Jack Smiths probe into former President Trump amid signs he may be wrapping his investigation.

The letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland  Jordans second in a week  seeks the memo that formalized Smiths appointment and his investigatory role.

Please provide the committee with an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Special Counsel Smiths investigations pursuant to his appointment on November 18, 2022, and any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction of the special counsel as soon as possible, Jordan writes.

The letter follows public reporting about a number of developments in the case, including a Monday meeting between Trumps attorneys and federal prosecutors. Trump had publicly shared the request for the meeting.

NBC News also reported over the weekend that Smith reconvened a Florida grand jury assembled in the Mar-a-Lago case.

And CNN on Monday reported prosecutors were also examining whether the draining of a pool that flooded a Mar-a-Lago room that stored computer servers with surveillance footage data was done intentionally.

Garland largely spelled out the scope of Smiths appointment in a press conference last November, noting Smith would oversee the investigation into whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or with the certification of Electoral College vote held on or about January 6.

The special counsel will also conduct the investigation involving classified documents and other presidential records, as well as the possible obstruction of that investigation, Garland said at the time.

Jordan last week asked Garland to break down the FBI personnel assigned to the case, including whether any were involved with prior investigations into Trump.

DOJ acknowledged receipt of the letter but declined to comment further.

Updated at 11:55 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Maximo Altez, the lawyer for Joran van der Sloot tells Fox News Digital he will file a habeas corpus petition against the Peruvian government in an attempt to stop the transfer of his client to the United States.

The Dutch national is the prime suspect in the May 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba during a Mountain Brook High School, Alabama, senior trip.

According to Col. Carlos Lopez Aeda, the chief of Interpol in Lima, Peru, van der Sloot was set to be temporarily transferred to the United States on Thursday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Altez told Fox News Digital "I am going to do It, we will try," regarding the habeas corpus petition.

NATALEE HOLLOWAY CASE: PERUVIAN INTERPOL CHIEF REVEALS HOW JORAN VAN DER SLOOT EXTRADITION WILL GO DOWN

It was announced Wednesday that Joran Van Der Sloot was set to be extradited from Peru.

Van der Sloot's lawyer did say, however, that he still expects his client will be transferred to the United States this week.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The Dutch national is facing charges of extortion and wire fraud in the United States after he allegedly tried to sell Beth Holloway, Natalee's mother, information regarding the location of her daughter's body. The Peruvian government ruled in early May that he would be temporarily transferred to the United States to face those charges, then returned to the United States when he's sentenced.

Federal prosecutors say van der Sloot asked for $250,000  $25,000 up front for the information and the rest being paid out when the body of Natalee Holloway was positively identified.

However, van der Sloot lied to Beth Holloway's lawyer, John Q. Kelly, about where her daughter's remains were located, according to American prosecutors.

Joran Van der Sloot (L) is escorted by police officers on an airplane in Santiago June 4, 2010. Van der Sloot, who was arrested twice over the disappearance of a U.S. student in Aruba in 2005, has been expelled from Chile and will be handed out to Peruvian authorities where he is a prime suspect in a new murder probe, according to local media reports.

The Dutch national is being held in a Peruvian prison for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in 2010. Van der Sloot was originally sentenced to 28 years in prison for the killing, but more time was added on because of a drug smuggling scandal he was involved in while in jail.

Col. Carlos Lopez Aeda, the chief of Interpol in Lima, Peru told Fox News Digital on the evening of June 2 that officials will begin taking Van der Sloot from Challapalca Prison to a maximum security prison in Lima at midnight.

"[Van der Sloot] will leave [Challapalca] tonight and on Sunday morning he will be in Lima, ready for the transfer," Lopez Aeda said.

JORAN VAN DER SLOOT CASE: NATALEE HOLLOWAY PRIME SUSPECT TO GO TO LIMA BEFORE TRANSFER TO US, SOURCE SAYS

Joran Van der Sloot (C) of the Netherlands is escorted by Peruvian police officers at the police headquarters in Lima June 5, 2010. Chile on Friday deported to Peru Van der Sloot who is wanted for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Lima and has been linked to the 2005 disappearance of an American teenage girl in Aruba.

Lopez Aeda also said that van der Sloot is being held at the Ancon 1 Prison in Lima until he's transfer to the United States.

"He is already admitted to the Ancon 1 Prison in Lima awaiting his next transfer to the USA," Lopez Aeda said.

JORAN VAN DER SLOOT HAS FANS 'ALL OVER THE WORLD' WHO SEND NATALEE HOLLOWAY SUSPECT HUNDREDS PER MONTH: LAWYER

Natalee Holloway was last seen alive in Aruba while on a Mountain Brook high school senior trip.

Natalee Holloway's body was never found. In January 2012, van der Sloot pleaded guilty to killing Flores, and Natalee Holloway was legally declared dead that month.

Natalee Holloway's mother, Beth, said in an earlier statement shared with Fox News Digital that the extradition gives a chance for justice to finally be served.

"I was blessed to have had Natalee in my life for 18 years, and as of this month, I have been without her for exactly 18 years. She would be 36 years old now," Beth Holloway said. "It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off. Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee," Beth Holloway said.
Civil rights activist Earl M. Johnson Jr. was photographed in 2021 in front of the base of a Confederate monument that had been partally removed from Jacksonville's James Weldon Johnson Park. The entire moument has since been removed. Johnson asked a federal judge to rule that using city or state tax money to maintain tributes to Confederate figures violated his constitutional rights, but the judge has now dismissed the lawsuit.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a Jacksonville civil rights activist trying to block government spending to maintain tributes to the Confederacy, including county names memorializing Confederate figures.

Earl M. Johnson Jr., whose ancestors had been enslaved in the South before the Civil War, had argued that using his taxes to maintain badges, indicia and vestiges of slavery violated the U.S. Constitutions 13th and 14th Amendments, which prohibited slavery and guaranteed equal protection under the law.

But a federal magistrate concluded Johnson hadnt shown he had legal standing to file the suit and U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard decided late last month that she agreed.

In an order ending the case, Howard wrote that that plaintiff has no standing, and as a result the court has no subject matter jurisdiction over his claims. That forced Howard to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice, or without ruling whether its arguments had any merit.

Attorneys for the city and state, who were both sued, had asked to have the case dismissed with prejudice, deciding the case permanently in the governments favor.

Johnson has asked for a far-reaching finding, seeking a ruling that would have barred use of public money for any expenses that perpetuated the memory of Confederates, from maintaining street signs like Stonewall and Jackson streets to tending grounds for Confederate statues like one outside Putnam Countys courthouse and the monument to women of the Confederacy in Jacksonville's Springfield Park. When the lawsuit was filed, the base of a dismantled Confederate memorial still stood in Jacksonvilles James Weldon Johnson Park outside City Hall, although Mayor Lenny Currys office had that removed last month.

The Monument to the Women of the Southland (Monument to the Women the Confederacy) has been in Springfield Park, formerly Confederate Park, since 1915, and has spurred controversy in recent years.

Some African Americans regard Confederate memorials as endorsements of an unequal system of laws and customs where Blacks were assigned inferior status.

Howard had assigned U.S. Magistrate Patricia Barksdale, whom she outranks, to review the lawssuit and offer recommendations on how to proceed.

Barksdale concluded in April that Johnsons grounds for suing were insufficient, pointing to earlier cases where courts found plaintiffs complaints shouldnt be based on a generalized grievance shared in substantially equal measure by  a large class of citizens.

Johnson had objected to Barksdales recommendations, but Howards ruling said the objections werent specific enough and didnt identify any legal or factual errors to challenge the magistrates findings.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville man's lawsuit over tax money to honor Confederates tossed
A federal judge Tuesday granted media organizations requests to unseal the names of the people who cosigned Rep. George Santoss (R-N.Y.) $500,000 bond in his criminal fraud case.

The order is a blow to Santos, whose attorney Monday asked a judge to keep the names of the bond cosigners sealed. The congressmans lawyer, Joseph Murray, expressed concern for the sponsors should their identities be revealed, citing a media frenzy around the Santos case.

If this Court is so inclined to unseal the sureties, we truly fear for their health, safety and well being, Murray said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields gave Santos until noon Friday to appeal the ruling, ordering the names to remain under seal in the meantime.

Murray previously indicated Santos would rather go to jail ahead of trial rather than allow the suretors to face the public attention.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, Murray said.

Federal prosecutors took no position on the unsealing request.

The Hill has reached out to Murray and Santoss congressional office for comment.

Santos faces 13 criminal charges over three alleged schemes that accuse him of misleading campaign donors, fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits and lying on financial disclosures. He pleaded not guilty and was released ahead of trial on the $500,000 bond.

The congressman has been at the center of a political firestorm since before he was sworn into office amid questions about his finances and biography. He faces calls to resign and to be expelled but has remained adamant that he does not plan to step down from Congress.

The controversy surrounding him escalated last month when the House voted to refer a resolution to expel Santos to the House Ethics Committee, punting on the question of whether or not the New York Republican should remain in office.

The vote, however, was largely redundant, since the Ethics panel has been investigating Santos since March. In a statement that month, the committee said it was looking into whether Santos engaged in unlawful activity with respect to his 2022 congressional campaign; failed to properly disclose required information on statements filed with the House; violated federal conflict of interest laws in connection with his role in a firm providing fiduciary services; and/or engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual seeking employment in his congressional office.

Last month, the panel asked for information on the individuals who sponsored Santoss bond.

The request  outlined in a letter dated May 13 that was first made public Monday  asks Santos to identify the individuals who co-signed his bond, inform the committee of any payments made on his behalf to the co-signers as compensation, lay out any exceptions to House rules that the congressman believes applies to the bond guarantors and provide all documents related to the bond, including communications with the co-signers.

In a May 31 letter  the deadline set by the panel  Santoss attorney, Joseph Murray, requested that the congressman receive a 30-day extension to respond to the committees request while noting that he was unable to share the requested information with the panel until it is unsealed by the court.

He said, however, that if the court ultimately decides to unseal the identities of the sureties and relevant documentation  which it did Tuesday  he would share the information with the panel.

Please understand that unless or until such time that the Court unseals the identities of the suretors, the surety records, and proceedings, I cannot share that information with this Honorable House Ethics Committee, Murray told the committee.

If the Court decides to unseal the identities of the sureties, the surety records and proceedings, I will share that information with the Committee. If, however, the Court upholds the sealing, I will also share that Order with this Committee, he added.

Murray did, however, cite the House rules definition of a gift, arguing that his bond fits that description.

Under this definition the surety co-signer of an unsecured appearance bond may be considered a favor or other item having monetary value, he wrote.

He also outlined the rule that says gift restrictions do not apply to relatives.

Murray said Santos has conducted himself in an ethical manner as it pertains to the suretors of his bond. His letter also referenced exceptions for gifts given by relatives.

I firmly believe that Congressman Santos has conducted himself honorably, lawfully, and ethically in keeping with the good order and finest traditions of an honorable members of the United States House of Representatives, in the manner in which the suretors who cosigned the unsecured $500,000.00 appearance bond, under oath in court were engaged, Murray said.

Updated at 1:34 p.m. EDT.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Judge who once did legal work for Trump can continue in criminal case

Neither former President Trump nor Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg object to Judge Alvin Hellerstein presiding over a matter related to Trump's criminal prosecution, the two sides indicated Monday in separate letters to the court.

Hellerstein revealed last week that he had once performed legal work for a Trump entity in the 1990s while in private practice but said he did not believe that would affect his impartiality. He retired from the firm in 1998.

"After considering Your Honors letter, and consulting with our client, we agree with Your Honors conclusion that the prior work does not provide any basis for a recusal in this matter," defense attorney Todd Blanche wrote.

"The People believe that the circumstances identified by the Court do not present any appearance of impropriety, reason to question the Courts impartiality, or other basis for recusal," assistant district attorney Matthew Colangelo wrote.

PHOTO: FILE - Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference to discuss his indictment of former President Donald Trump, outside the Manhattan Federal Court in New York, April 4, 2023. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

On June 27 Hellerstein will hear oral arguments to decide whether to move Trumps criminal prosecution to federal court, where he has argued it belongs since the alleged crimes occurred while he was president.

Prosecutors oppose the move, arguing the charged conduct had nothing to do with the presidency.

MORE: Trump asks judge in criminal case to step aside due to his daughter's Democratic ties

In his letter to Trumps attorneys and the Manhattan district attorneys office, Hellerstein said he once performed legal work for Trump Equitable Fifth Ave as a partner at a Stroock Stroock Lavan.

"In my opinion, my impartiality cannot reasonably be questioned and no appearance of impropriety exists," Hellerstein wrote.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection to a hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.

Judge who once did legal work for Trump can continue in criminal case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  The Florida judge who oversaw the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail vitriolic statements directed at Cruzs attorneys by the victims families and sometimes allowing her emotions to overcome her judgement, a state commission concluded Monday.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated several rules governing judicial conduct during last years trial in her actions toward Cruzs public defenders. The six-month trial ended with Cruz receiving a receiving a life sentence for the 2018 murder of 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after the jury could not unanimously agree that he deserved a death sentence.

The 15-member commission found that Scherer unduly chastised lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz attorney of threatening her child, and improperly embraced members of the prosecution in the courtroom after the trials conclusion.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads the verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse on October 13, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Judge Elizabeth Scherer reads the verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse on October 13, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The commission, composed of judges, lawyers and citizens, acknowledged that the worldwide publicity surrounding the case created stress and tension for all participants.

Regardless, the commission said, judges are expected to ensure due process, order and decorum, and act always with dignity and respect to promote the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

In limited instances during this unique and lengthy case, Judge Scherer allowed her emotions to overcome her judgement, the commission said in its report to the Florida Supreme Court, which will make the final decision.

Scherer announced last month that she would be retiring from the bench on June 30. The commission said the resignation was not part of any deal struck with the judge. The commission report said that Scherer acknowledged during her testimony that her conduct during the trial fell short of whats expected of judges and that her treatment of members of the defense team was at times not patient, dignified or courteous.

Scherer, a 46-year-old former prosecutor, was appointed to the bench in 2012 and the Cruz case was her first capital murder trial. Broward Countys computerized system randomly assigned her Cruzs case shortly after the shooting.

Her attorney, Thomas Panza, did not immediately respond to a call or email seeking comment.

Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes declined comment.

Scherers handling of the case drew frequent praise from the parents and spouses of the victims, who said she treated them with professionalism and kindness, but her clashes with Cruzs attorneys and others sometimes drew criticism from legal observers.

Before the trial she criticized two reporters from the Sun Sentinel newspaper for publishing a sealed Cruz educational record that they obtained legally. She threatened to tell the paper what it could and couldnt print, but never did; legal experts say such a move would have been unconstitutional.

Scherer also had frequent heated arguments with McNeill. Those boiled over for the first time when McNeill and her team suddenly rested their case after calling only a small fraction of their expected witnesses. Scherer called it the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case, though the defense has no obligation to call all of its witnesses or announce its plans in advance.

McNeill countered angrily, You are insulting me on the record in front of my client, before Scherer told her to stop. She then laid into her.

Youve been insulting me the entire trial, Scherer barked at McNeill. Arguing with me, storming out, coming late intentionally if you dont like my rulings. So, quite frankly, this has been long overdue. So please be seated.

The two clashed again during Cruzs sentencing hearing in November over the verbal attacks some victims family members made against the defense team during their courtroom statements. Scherer refused to curtail the statements and ejected one of McNeills assistants, David Wheeler, after she wrongly interpreted one of his comments as a threat against her daughter.

After sentencing Cruz, 24, to life without parole as required, Scherer left the bench and hugged members of the prosecution and the victims families. She told the commission she offered to also hug the defense team.

That action led the Supreme Court in April to remove her from overseeing post-conviction motions of another defendant, Randy Tundidor, who was sentenced to death for murder in the 2019 killing of his landlord. One of the prosecutors in that case had also been on the Cruz team, and during a hearing in the Tundidor case a few days after the Cruz sentencing, Scherer asked the prosecutor how he was holding up.

The court said Scherers actions gave at least the appearance that she could not be fair to Tundidor.
Judge rules to release names of Rep. Santos bond cosigners, will stay secret as appeal considered

FILE  Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters outside after an effort to expel him from the House, at the Capitol in Washington, May 17, 2023. A federal magistrate ruled Tuesday, June 6, 2023, to make public the names of the cosigners on indicted Rep. George Santos' $500,000 release bond, but said she'll keep them secret for now to give his lawyer time to appeal the decision. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  A federal magistrate ruled Tuesday to make public the names of the cosigners on indicted Rep. George Santos  $500,000 release bond, but said shell keep them secret for now to give his lawyer time to appeal the decision.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields ruling came a day after Santos lawyer said the New York Republican would risk going to jail to protect the identities of his cosigners whose backing enabled his pretrial release.

The decision was a victory for news outlets including The Associated Press and The New York Times that petitioned Shields last week to unseal the names, citing a need for the greatest transparency possible.

Santos lawyer, Joseph Murray, urged Shields to keep the names secret. He suggested that the congressmans cosigners could suffer great distress, including possible job losses and physical harm, if theyre identified publicly.

Murray said he, Santos and Santos staff have been receiving threatening and harassing calls and messages, including death threats. He said he worries Santos critics are just waiting to pounce on the people backing his release.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, Murray wrote.

Shields gave Murray until 12 p.m. Friday to appeal. A message seeking comment was left with Murray.

Santos, 34, represents parts of Queens and Long Island. He pleaded not guilty May 10 to charges he duped donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didnt deserve.

At Murrays request, Shields agreed at Santos arraignment to keep the cosigners names out of the public court record. In her ruling Tuesday, Shields reversed that decision.

Santos has defied calls to resign and has said he wont drop his bid for a second term. He is due back in court on June 30.

Santos bond is unsecured. That means his cosigners didnt have to put up any money up front, but could be forced to pay the full amount if he doesnt comply with his release conditions or fails to show up for court.
A federal judge in Florida issued a scathing assessment Tuesday of the states ban on gender transition care for minors, asserting in a ruling that the families with transgender children who sued the state are likely to prevail on their claim that the prohibition is unconstitutional.

Judge Robert L. Hinkle of U.S. District Court in Tallahassee ruled specifically that three transgender children can be prescribed puberty blockers despite the new state law, which also adds new hurdles for adults who seek similar care.

But as legal challenges have been mounted to new restrictions on transition care that have been enacted across the country, Hinkles ruling exemplifies the kind of chilly reception that the bans may receive from judges.

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Gender identity is real, Hinkle wrote, adding that proper treatment can include mental health therapy followed by puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Florida has adopted a statute and rules that prohibit these treatments even when medically appropriate.

The judge issued a preliminary injunction in response to an emergency request by the families of the three children. They and others had sued the state of Florida in March over an administrative ban on gender transition care for minors, and then widened their suit to take in the new law after Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed it May 17.

The plaintiffs had urged the judge specifically to block one part of the law that bars doctors and nurses from prescribing or administering transition-related medication to children, and another part that exposes medical providers to criminal liability and professional discipline for doing so.

The injunction granted by Hinkle does not apply to other aspects of the far-reaching legislation, which also bars gender-transition surgery for minors, alters child custody statutes to treat transition care as equivalent to child abuse, and forbids the use of state funds to pay for transition care.

Even so, the judge wrote dismissively of the arguments offered by the state, calling them a laundry list of purported justifications for the statute and rules that were largely pretextual and, in any event, do not call for a different result.

Concerning the states claim that professional associations that endorsed gender transition care had done so for political reasons, the judge wrote: If ever a pot called a kettle black, it is here. The statute and the rules were an exercise in politics, not good medicine.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs families interpreted the ruling Tuesday as possibly extending to other transgender minors throughout the state.

The court addressed the specific question in front of it but also issued a very strong ruling that says the bans are unlikely to survive constitutional scrutiny, said Jennifer Levi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs and the senior director of transgender rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders.

She noted that Hinkles 44-page ruling drew conclusions far beyond the scope of the three families in the case. The power of the ruling is to make clear that the law is unconstitutional, she said.

The Florida Department of Health declined to comment on the ruling, citing the continuing litigation.

The legislation codifies policies adopted last year by the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine  whose members are appointed by the governor  that banned hormone treatments for people younger than 18 unless they were already receiving such care. Hinkles order also temporarily blocked those rules as they pertain to the three plaintiffs.

The law also includes penalties for doctors who violate it, including prison terms of up to five years. It goes beyond similar legislation in other states by adding new restrictions for adults receiving transition care, including requirements that consent forms be signed and prescriptions for hormone treatments be obtained in person instead of through a telemedicine appointment.

Under the new law, only doctors are allowed to prescribe transition-related medication; nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who have been providing the treatments for many patients, can no longer do so. Those provisions were not blocked by the judges order and remain in effect.

More than a dozen states have adopted bans or other restrictions on transition-related care for children and teenagers in the past year. Proponents say the bans protect children from medical treatments they see as harmful and unproven. But that stance defies much of the medical establishment, which views the care as medically necessary and beneficial for some children who have gender dysphoria.

Opponents of the Florida law say it stands out for being particularly mean-spirited, as the Human Rights Campaign described it.

Lawyers for the families argued that the law threatened to cause irreparable harm, because parents would be deprived of their fundamental right to make medical decisions for their children and the children themselves would suffer a cascade of mental and physical injuries from being denied care.

After the bill was passed, Planned Parenthood warned patients that it would suspend providing gender transition care in its Florida clinics until mid-June so that it could develop new consent forms for adults receiving the care and change its practices to comply with the new law. Other clinics that relied on nurse practitioners to provide care have stopped prescribing it indefinitely.

Before he signed the legislation, DeSantis, who has since announced a presidential bid, criticized puberty blockers and other forms of gender transition care for children. That is wrong, and were glad that we put a stop to that in the state of Florida, he said.

It is wrong to be sexualizing these kids, he added. Its wrong to have gender ideology and telling kids that they may have been born in the wrong body.

The legislation was part of an avalanche of measures focused on LGBTQ people that Floridas Republican-controlled state Legislature passed during its annual session.

Lawmakers advanced bills that require public school employees to call students by the pronouns matching the gender on their birth certificate, no matter what pronouns the child uses; that make it a misdemeanor to use restrooms in public buildings that do not correspond to the persons gender at birth; and that punish businesses that admit minors to adult live performances, including drag shows.

Now that a preliminary injunction has been issued, the plaintiffs legal challenge to the law will move forward.

It remains unclear how bans on gender transition care for minors will ultimately fare in the courts. One indication could be imminent: A judge is expected to rule soon on a lawsuit to overturn legislation passed in Arkansas in 2021 that was the first to forbid medical treatments for children and teenagers seeking gender transitions.

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The breach of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine could have lasting ecological and health impacts. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

A dam that supplies drinking water to thousands of Ukrainians as well as cooling water for reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station was ruptured on June 6, 2023.

Kyiv blamed the destruction on Moscow, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slamming Russian terrorists for destroying the Kakhovka dam and the adjacent hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused Ukraine of deliberate sabotage, noting that the reservoir is a crucial resource for the people of Crimea, a Ukrainian region illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Either way, the destruction of the dam is a worrying development. It has the potential for lasting ecological damage and harm to human health in a country already ravaged by more than a year of warfare. It also evokes concerns flagged by The Conversations authors in past articles looking at how the conflict has put infrastructure and nuclear power on the front lines.

1) Risk of nuclear accidents

This isnt the first time during the Ukraine war that concerns have been raised over the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. The plant is the largest nuclear facility in Europe. But ongoing fighting has put it in a uniquely vulnerable position.

In an interview back in August 2022 after the plant was damaged by shelling, Najmedin Meshkati, a nuclear safety expert at the University of Southern California, laid out the concerns, including a worst-case scenario in which a missile damages the nuclear reactor, releasing radiation into the atmosphere. It could be another Chernobyl, he said.

More pertinent to the destruction of the dam is the potential disruption to the flow of cooling water.

As Meshkati pointed out in August 2022: Even if you shut down the reactors, the plant will need off-site power to run the huge cooling system to remove the residual heat in the reactor and bring it to what is called a cold shutdown. Water circulation is always needed to make sure the spent fuel doesnt overheat. Spent fuel pools also need constant water circulation to keep them cool, and they need cooling for several years before they can be put in dry casks.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said in the aftermath of the dam rupture that there are no immediate risks to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. It noted that five of the six reactors there have already been put in cold shutdown, which require relatively little water. The sixth reactor is cooled with water from a nearby pond. The danger would be if the pond became depleted.

These concerns may prompt renewed calls for a demilitarized zone to be set up around the nuclear plant.

War, Meshkati noted, is the worst enemy of nuclear safety.

Read more: UN nuclear agency calls for protection zone around imperiled Ukrainian power plant  a safety expert explains why that could be crucial

2. Risk to civilian infrastructure

Russia has denied causing the damage to the dam. But in October 2022, Benjamin Jensen, a defense strategist at American Universitys School of International Service, was warning of the danger of increased targeting of civilian infrastructure as the war progressed.

In response to setbacks on the battlefield, Russia has increased its attacks in Ukraine on everything from power plants and dams to railways, pipelines and ports, he noted, adding, These attacks against civilian infrastructure are not random. Rather, they reflect an insidious calculus integral to modern Russian military theory. For more than 20 years, Russian military journals have emphasized the need to conduct noncontact warfare and target critical infrastructure.

It forms part of a coercive strategy by which Russia attempts to manipulate the enemy through a mix of political, economic and military pressure.

After it became apparent that Russias initial war plan was sufficiently countered by Western-backed Ukrainian resistance, Moscow upped its attacks on infrastructure in line with this coercive strategy.

While military campaigns historically target transportation infrastructure, Russia went further. In response to the ongoing counteroffensive  which has seen Ukrainian forces retake formerly Russian occupied land in the east and south of the country  coercive measures by Russia have escalated to include targeting major dams. In mid-September 2022, Russia tried to destroy the dam outside of Kryvyi Rih, a city of half a million people, wrote Jensen.

If the Ukrainian interpretation of what happened at the Kakhovka dam is accepted, this time, Russia succeeded.

Read more: Crippling civilian infrastructure has long been part of Russian generals' playbook  Putin is merely expanding that approach

3. Risk to Ukraines war plans

Regardless of who is to blame over the dams rupture, the incident will affect the war.

Stefan Wolff and David Hastings Dunn, from the University of Birmingham in the U.K., noted the timing of the destruction: just as Ukraine seemed poised to launch a major counteroffensive.

The enormous flood that it has triggered is likely to devastate vast areas on both banks of the Dnieper south toward Crimea. This will make offensive operations by Ukrainian ground forces in this area difficult, probably for months to come, and without similarly weakening Russian defensive lines, they wrote, adding: Moreover, it will also make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to advance further toward Crimea, the peninsula that Russia has illegally occupied since 2014.

If this was the intended purpose then it would mark a new phase in this war, Wolff and Hastings Dunn wrote. It demonstrates Moscows effort to control the narrative as to who is responsible for the most heinous acts in the conflict after many months of negative coverage of the Russian conduct of the war. And in sacrificing hydroelectric power and drinking water to Crimea, the move would suggest a callous disregard for the inhabitants [of Crimea], many of them ethnic Russians.

Despite the Kremlins rhetoric, what this episode suggests is that Russia is less interested in liberating Ukraine from its present leadership than it is in destroying its ability to function as a sovereign nation, Wolff and Hastings Dunn wrote.

Read more: Ukraine war: what we know about the Nova Kakhovka dam and who gains from its destruction

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Matt Williams, The Conversation.

Read more:


The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) has been completely destroyed due to the blowing up of the turbine hall from the inside, and the plant cannot be repaired.

Source: Press service for Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraines Defence Intelligence

Quote: "The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) has been completely destroyed as a result of the blowing up of the turbine hall from the inside. The station cannot be repaired.

Preliminary forecasts indicate that the reservoir is expected to be drained within the next 4 days."

Details: Ukrhydroenergo is continuing to analyse the situation as for now.

Specialists are working to confirm the extent of the damage, and the speed and volume of the water. Information will be kept updated.

Ukraines Defence Intelligence added that the blowing-up occurred at around 02:30 on 6 June.

Quote: "This terrorist act has created a grave danger for Ukrainian citizens in settlements on both banks of the Dnipro River below the Kakhovka reservoir. This is an undeniable act of ecocide and a definite war crime, the impact of which goes far beyond Ukraine and affects the ecosystem of the entire Black Sea area."

The water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir is rapidly dropping as of the morning of 6 June, and authorities have begun the evacuation of the population from potential flood areas.

An uncontrolled decrease in the reservoir level is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the plant to feed the ZNPPs turbine condensers and safety systems. The stations cooling pond is currently full. The Ukrainian staff at ZNPP are monitoring all indicators.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

Background:

On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that the Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), with Kherson Oblast Military Administration confirming this information. Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, noted that they had started the evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas.

According to Prokudin, the water will reach a critical level in five hours.

Police noted that the potential flood zone on the right bank of the Dnipro River includes the villages Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lvove, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and part of the city of Kherson  Korabel Island.

The electricity supply was cut off in the Korabel microdistrict in Kherson due to flooding caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) by the Russian invaders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Kansas abortion providers are challenging strict state requirements mandating providers share medically inaccurate or unproven information with patients considering an abortion and that patients undergo a waiting period before their procedure.

The lawsuit filed Monday against several state officials in Johnson County District Court challenges long-standing rules governing counseling for abortion patients, as well as a new law requiring medication abortion patients be told the procedure is reversible if they have taken only the first pill in the regimen.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Hodes and Nauser Womens Health and the Center for Reproductive Rights argue that the law, titled the Womens Right to Know Act by the GOP-controlled Legislature, violates the right to an abortion in Kansas constitution, as well as rights to free speech and equal protection.

Make no mistake: these laws are designed to shame and stigmatize people as part of a broader effort to make abortion inaccessible, Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a news release. We will not stand by as Kansans rights continue to be undermined  especially after they made their support for abortion access resoundingly clear last summer.

The providers are asking the court to block the enforcement of the full policy, which requires physicians to meet with a patient and provide detailed information to patients about their pregnancy 24 hours before the procedure. The law also requires physicians to listen to the fetus heartbeat 30 minutes prior to an abortion. The policy requires providers to, without evidence, post information in their clinics and websites that abortions could increase their risk of breast cancer and premature birth in future pregnancies.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, the first defendant named in the suit, did not immediately respond to The Stars request for comment.

Anti-abortion and politicians contend that the law ensures women have access to all the information they need as they consider whether to have an abortion and grants them time to carefully consider the choice.

This legislation ensures that women in this situation are provided with all medical information and its appalling that Planned Parenthood would attempt to block this information to satisfy their donor base, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in a statement.

Danielle Underwood, a spokeswoman for Kansans for Life, called the lawsuit an unprecedented attack on a womans right to informed consent before an abortion is performed on her.

Portions of the law, such as the waiting period, date back to 1997 when it was passed under former Republican Gov. Bill Graves. A majority of the additions to the law were made under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, a staunch opponent of abortion. While providers have long opposed the law on the grounds it requires them to share one sided, medically unnecessary and untrue information with patients, this is the first time they have challenged its legality in court.

The Legislature added the abortion pill reversal notice requirement this year over a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The policy was one of a handful of anti-abortion measures pushed by Republicans in the months following an overwhelming vote to retain the right to abortion in the state constitution last year.

Though the overall law has been on the books for years Emily Wales, president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said this years pill reversal measure lent urgency.

Additionally, she said, the 24-hour waiting period and strict requirements on how that information is delivered has become increasingly challenging for patients traveling long distances. If patients do not print the form in the correct font or color, Wales said, the clinic has to turn them away for 24 hours.

All its designed to do is to prevent you from accessing care in a timely fashion, she said.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, Kansas became a major access point for abortion in the Great Plains as strict bans on the procedure went into effect in neighboring Missouri and Oklahoma.

The Kansas state constitution blocks any restriction on abortion access unless the law clears an extremely high legal bar. The state Supreme Court is currently reviewing challenges to extensive health and safety requirements for clinics and a ban on abortion via telemedicine.
The Sonoran flour tortilla is like my pride and joy because thats where Im from, said Marissa Gencarelli, who hails from Sonora, Mexico. Gencarelli owns the business with her husband, Mark Gencarelli.

The Westside tortilla shop Yoli Tortilleria is the winner of this years James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery.

Owner Marissa Gencarelli, who is originally from Sonora, Mexico, accepted the award alongside her husband and co-owner, Mark, at a ceremony Monday evening at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Thank you for helping us honor the very humble tortilla, Gencarelli told the crowd from the podium, adding that baking was a way for her and Mark to connect and honor my ancestors (while living in) the middle of North America. Gencarelli closed her brief speech by thanking the folks back home: Our city, Kansas City: Without you, we wouldnt be here, thank you so much, muchas gracias!

The Gencarellis started their business in 2017, renting space in the East Bottoms to make corn tortillas using a traditional nixtamalization process. Their artisan approach caught the attention of several local chefs, and soon they were supplying tortillas to restaurants across the city. Today, Yoli employs 15 full-time workers, has two locations, and ships corn and flour tortillas to more than 100 restaurants and grocery stores in the metro.

Yoli beat out bakeries in New Orleans, Dallas and Miami for the honor. It was a semifinalist for Outstanding Baker in 2022.

The Shawnee cocktail bar Drastic Measures was also a Beard finalist on Monday night, for Outstanding Bar. But the winner in that category was Bar Leather Apron, in Honolulu.

This year saw seven Kansas City-area establishments nominated as semi-finalists in the prestigious awards, sometimes called the Oscars of the food world.

In addition to Yoli and Drastic Measures, those included Johnny Leach, executive chef for The Town Company, for Outstanding Chef; The Restaurant at 1900 for Outstanding Hospitality; and Pam Liberda of Waldo Thai, Michael Corvino of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, and Nick Goellner for Best Chef: Midwest.

Beard nominees from the Kansas City area are common, but winners are rare. The most recent Beard award winner was Bluestem chef Colby Garrelts, who won Best Chef: Midwest in 2013. Celina Tio of The American took home the same honor in 2007, as did Michael Smith and Debbie Gold in 1999, also for their work at The American.
An Australian woman convicted of killing her four infant children says a decision to pardon her after 20 years is "a victory for science" and "truth".

Kathleen Folbigg was released from prison on Monday after an inquiry upheld new evidence which cast "reasonable doubt" on her convictions.

Originally accused of smothering her children, the evidence suggested they died due to rare genetic abnormalities.

The 55-year-old said she was "humbled" and "grateful" to be free.

"For the past 20 years I have been in prison, I have forever, and will always, think of my children [and] grieve for my children," she said in a video statement.

Ms Folbigg also thanked her friends and supporters, who in recent years waged a campaign for her case to be reviewed.

"I would not have survived this whole ordeal without them," she said.

Ms Folbigg was met at the prison gates by long-time friend Tracy Chapman, who said she spent her first day of freedom enjoying simple pleasures.

These included a comfortable bed, pizza and garlic bread, and a Kahlua and coke, Ms Chapman told reporters, adding that Ms Folbigg was "in awe" of modern technology such as smartphones.

"There's no hate in Kath's heart. She just wants to live a life she missed for the last 20 years and move on," she said.

Ms Folbigg would now seek to have her convictions quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal, lawyer Rhanee Rego said.

"If Australia really wants to make some good from a tragic story, they'll seriously consider reviewing the system of post-conviction review," she said, adding that it had taken too long for Ms Folbigg's case to be scrutinized.

Ms Folbigg, who always maintained her innocence, made two unsuccessful appeals against her conviction and an earlier inquiry upheld the guilty verdict.

But on Monday the New South Wales (NSW) attorney general said Ms Folbigg had been granted the unconditional pardon due to another recent inquiry into her case.

That inquiry, led by retired judge Tom Bathurst, heard all four children could have died from natural causes.

A team of immunologists found that Ms Folbigg's daughters, Sarah and Laura, shared a genetic mutation - called CALM2 G114R - that can cause sudden cardiac death.

The heart condition, known as calmodulinopathy, is so rare that only 134 known cases have been detected worldwide.

Evidence was also uncovered that her sons possessed a different genetic mutation, linked to sudden-onset epilepsy in mice. The inquiry heard Patrick had epileptic seizures in theffington months before his death.

It also heard that the diary entries from Ms Folbigg used in her original trial should not have been accepted as admissions of guilt.

Her ex-husband, Craig Folbigg, had contacted police after reading diary entries, which prosecutors later argued implied she had harmed the children.

He maintains she is guilty, and his lawyer said news of her release had "increased the pain and suffering his client had endured for two decades".

Ms Folbigg could eventually claim a substantial compensation payment from the state if her convictions are overturned.

If her appeal succeeds she could take then legal action against the NSW government, or seek a settlement payment from them.
KCK-based union files suit over leaders ouster, but some wonder who is behind action

Note: This story has been updated to include comments from Boilermakers International President Newton Jones and top union officers.

The Boilermakers union is suing three of its top officers, arguing they had no authority to oust International President Newton Jones last week for alleged misuse of funds and asking a judge to prohibit the action.

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, whose headquarters is in Kansas City, Kansas, filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, requesting a temporary restraining order followed by a preliminary injunction and then a permanent injunction.

If they are allowed to go forward with their plan, the IBB will be thrown into extreme confusion about who is properly in charge, the unions filing said. Further, allowing them to continue down this path could create conflicting rulings, which would throw the IBB into organizational chaos.

The actions by three of the unions international vice presidents also could create the basis for a lawsuit by Jones against the union, the court filing said.

In short, the Three Defendant IVPs actions (and likely future ones) could cripple the IBBs operation and create legally actionable conduct when it could be prevented, it said.

Meanwhile, a defiant Jones told union members Tuesday that he is not stepping down.

Contrary to sinister reports of my demise, I remain your International President, he wrote in a letter to all Principal Lodge Officers.

Jones said he was at a loss to explain or understand the recent actions of the three international vice presidents.

...These officers have accused me of misappropriation of funds without bothering to authenticate the evidence upon which they relied, he wrote. I assure you, I have not misappropriated any union funds. In fact, I have presided over a very clean organization in my 20 years as your International President.

Jones said the union had been engaged with the U.S. Department of Labor in an audit since the start of the pandemic.

After more than three years of the DOLs review of our financial records, we have yet to be informed by the DOL of a single instance of misappropriation of funds or of any legal violation by anyone in our International organization, he said.

The lawsuit  and Jones response  appear to contradict the stance of many of the unions members, who have complained for years about his leadership and his expenditures of union money.

My question is, who is filing this lawsuit on behalf of the union? said Adam Mendenhall, a longtime member of Boilermakers Local 83, based in Kansas City. This doesnt represent the feelings of the rank-and-file. Theres not a rank-and-file member Ive talked to yet that feels like Newton Jones being gone is a negative thing for the union. It was kind of a day of celebration.

And to say this would create organizational chaos? Theres already organizational chaos, and has been for years.

The unions executive council held a hearing on May 30, finding that Jones had violated a section in Article 17 of the Boilermakers constitution that deals with the misappropriation of funds. But the unions lawsuit contends it was a rogue hearing and that the council issued an alleged decision not authorized by the Boilermakers constitution.

A hearing date for the case has not yet been scheduled.

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers represents about 46,000 workers in the United States and Canada who assemble, install and repair boilers, fit pipes and build power plants and ships.

The lawsuit names as defendants the three members of the unions executive council who voted to remove Jones as president  J. Tom Baca, of California; Arnie Stadnick, of Canada; and Timothy Simmons, of Tennessee. Another member of the council, Lawrence McManamon Sr., of Ohio, did not attend the hearing or vote to remove Jones.

John Fultz, the executive councils fifth member, was not eligible to participate in the decision because he filed the internal union disciplinary charges against Jones.

Baca, Stadnick and Simmons responded Tuesday afternoon to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

We are Boilermakers first and foremost and it is our duty to stand up and protect the highly skilled workers we have the privilege to represent, they said in an email to The Star. Earlier this year we learned of a material malfeasance from the highest level of our union, we moved swiftly to protect the membership.

Despite the petty and retaliatory actions of those who stand to profit from the malfeasance, we see this as an opportunity for the rebirth of our union. We are confident that this chapter will end with leadership that rightfully exists only to serve its members.

The lawsuit contends that the defendants circumvented the unions procedures that govern how it investigates violations of its rules.

Further, Defendants have taken the unprecedented step of misappropriating authority under the IBB Constitution and utilizing that misappropriated authority to remove the duly elected International President and stripping him of his membership in the IBB through extra-constitutional means, it says.

Plaintiffs seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent further irreparable harm to the IBB, its officers and its members.

After that, the plaintiffs want a permanent injunction requiring the defendants to cease all violative actions in order to preserve the status quo and to take no further actions to undermine or subvert the Article 17 Committee process.

The lawsuit says that after Fultz filed the charges against Jones on April 14, Jones appointed McManamon and Bill Creeden, the unions secretary-treasurer, to an Article 17 Committee on May 3 to oversee the case.

But on May 6, it says, Simmons emailed the unions executive council and said a meeting would take place on May 12 to consider how to handle the charges against Jones. The email said that any action taken by Jones with respect to the charges were null and void because the executive council had exclusive authority under the unions constitution.

That email caused competing proceedings to take place and created substantial confusion, the lawsuit says. The executive council then held the May 30 hearing to address the charges against Jones, but McManamon did not attend. That hearing was unauthorized, the lawsuit contends, and the suit was filed that night.

Despite the efforts of the Article 17 Committee, the Three Defendant IVPs have assigned themselves to decide International President Joness fate based on vague, incomplete charges, and made no effort to address the ongoing investigation of the Article 17 Committee, the lawsuit says.

Baca, Simmons and Stadnick signed the Decision of Executive Council on June 1, removing Jones from office.

They found that Jones ordered the union to give his wife, Kateryna, more than $100,000 plus benefits in back pay for apparently no union purpose while she was living in the Ukraine and spent more than $20,000 in union funds for flights to Ukraine to visit his wife and to go to the home which he owns in the Ukraine.

Jones and his wife also turned in about $40,000 in receipts for meals for them and other family members when at their home location in North Carolina  some quite lavish and expensive  with no justification for the expenses, the executive council found.

Calling Jones actions shocking, the council ordered him to reimburse the union all of the funds which he misspent as reflected in these charges and to immediately resign from all of his other positions, including serving as a trustee of all funds in which the union participates.

The drastic action of removing President Jones immediately and directing other actions is clearly necessary because of the seriousness of these allegations and the harm to our membership, the council said in its decision.

Jones, 69  who has led the union since 2003  said in an email to The Star late Saturday that its not what it seems. He didnt elaborate and did not get back to a reporter on Sunday as he said he would do.

In his letter to lodge officers, Jones said the errant international officers do not have the Constitutional authority to take the action they are endeavoring to take, nor are they at liberty to interpret our Constitution in the manner that they are doing. 

Their audacious effort to remove a democratically elected officer is nothing short of an attempted political coup using trumped up accusations with no proof, with no effort to review the financial records, and with no effort to perform their elected roles responsibly and with integrity.

Jones said he has filed charges against Baca, Stadnick and Simmons alleging numerous, egregious violations of our Constitution. A hearing has been scheduled for June 21, he said.

He also said he has ordered a forensic investigation into document theft at the international headquarters.

And we already have knowledge of who, among them, was pilfering documents illegally for their conspiratorial cabal, he wrote. I have also ordered, many weeks ago, a forensic audit into the financial expenditures of every International Officer and some staff, with additional audits possible in the future.

The audits are scheduled to begin on June 12, he said.

Jones said that under his leadership, the union is in the best financial shape it has ever been.

We have over $82 million in reserves even after a Great Recession, the ultra-environmentalist attack on our work and a multi-year pandemic, he said.

The action to remove Jones comes as a federal criminal investigation into union activities is underway. Several sources confirmed that they have been interviewed by the FBI in recent weeks.

The Star investigated the Boilermakers in 2012, finding that Jones and other executives were living the good life. Jones salary and business expenses totaled more than $607,000, which put him above the presidents of the biggest unions in the country. The newspaper also found that several of Jones family members and relatives of other officers were earning hefty union salaries as well.

A followup story in 2017 found that little had changed.

The unions most recent annual report, filed with the U.S. Department of Labor for the period ending June 30, 2022, shows that Jones salary and disbursements for official business totaled $656,179.

Some of his relatives remain on the payroll, including his wife, who as special assistant to the international president received salary and disbursements of $210,369. Jones son, Cullen, made $115,422 as film project coordinator. And Jones daughter, Shea, received $113,590 as a graphic artist.

The unions longtime law firm, Blake & Uhlig, is handling the lawsuit. The union paid the firm nearly $1.1 million for legal services from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, according to its annual report.
Keith Lee is embarking on amplifying Black-owned restaurants beyond his social media.

The popular TikTok food critic has partnered with Pepsi Dig In to help discover top-notch dining establishments across the U.S. for its Restaurant Royalty program, according to a press release shared with AfroTech.

For its second year, the platform and Lee aim for consumers to nominate their favorite Black-owned restaurants.

As previously reported by AfroTech, Lee has become known for helping transform the lives of Black entrepreneurs through his reviews on TikTok, where he has built a following of nearly 13 million, as of this writing. Through the new partnership, Lee hopes to continue being a vessel that helps Black-owned restaurants gain more exposure, which leads to more revenue.

A lot of times, especially in the neighborhoods that we live in, [Black-owned restaurants are] right down the street. We just dont know about them, Lee said to AfroTech in an interview. Its a lot of hole-in-the-wall spots and a lot of local mom-and-pop shops that its an if you know, you know kind of thing.

He continued, I feel like with the Pepsi Dig In, the Restaurant Royalty program, and just with the presence that we have on TikTok, I feel like were just blessed enough to be in a position where we can be the platform, we can be the media, we can be the huge engine that allows people to see these restaurants. And as always, Im just thankful to be a part of it. And I think anybody that has the ability to be a part of it, I think thats just a blessing within itself.

One grand prize winner will get to have their signature cuisine featured at MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, the press release details. In addition, one first prize winner is set to receive tickets for a trip for two to New York City for an exclusive chance to go to Platform by the James Beard Foundation  a new culinary experience that features Black chefs from across the country in partnership with Pepsi Dig In.

Ten Restaurant Royals will not only receive additional visibility on Pepsi Dig In and EatOkras social channels, but will also have the chance to be enrolled in Black Restaurants Deliver, which is an eight-week program that upskills restaurateurs and their offerings to increase sales and revenue long term. Whats more, five Restaurant Royals will also have the chance to receive $10,000 in digital media buys for their businesses.

As someone who constantly shares guidance for restaurants to be on top of effectively marketing themselves, Lee is excited about the visibility that selected restaurants will gain from help with their online ordering capabilities and search presence.

I think itll be a really impactful thing, not only for the restaurants but for the people who nominate them because it allows other people to see your favorite Black-owned restaurant, he expressed. And I know as a foodie, thats super important to me. I love when I can show other people foods that I love and see the love that they have for it.

He added, Just to be able to be on a scale where people see the hard work thats put in because a lot of times these restaurants have great food and great customer service but they just dont have the eyes on them. And I think its just gonna be so dope to allow these restaurants to have the platform that they deserve.

Ten $1,000 gift cards will also be awarded to fans who make submissions in the Restaurant Royalty program. The gift cards can go toward dining at their recommended restaurant and additional foodie experiences in New York City and Las Vegas with Pepsi Dig In and its partners.

The deadline for submissions is July 1.

To learn more about how to nominate your favorite local Black-owned restaurants, click here.
Kenyan police fire tear gas at protesters marching against finance bill Kenya activists march over unpopular finance bill in Nairobi

NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenyan police fired tear gas at hundreds of people protesting near parliament on Tuesday against a proposed finance bill that would hike taxes on fuel and housing.

President William Ruto, who won elections in August on a platform of helping the poor, is under pressure to raise revenues in East Africa's economic powerhouse in the face of rising government debt repayments.

But his proposals have drawn sharp criticism from civil servants and political opponents, who say that the cost of living is already too high.

Police fired tear gas to disperse about 500 protesters who marched to parliament to present a petition against the bill, a Reuters witness said.

Eleven protesters were seen being detained by police. In downtown Nairobi, plain-clothed police officers were seen carrying an activist who held a placard that read: "Colonialism never really ended."

Ruto has defended the bill, saying its provisions are needed to ensure financial stability and create jobs for young people by building new houses financed through a housing levy. The legislation, which would also hike taxes on digital content, is expected to be voted on next week.

The opposition Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) party, which has since March led protests against the government over the high cost of living and alleged fraud in last year's election, has said the bill would take the country back to 1980s, when the economy started to deteriorate.

Last week, the opposition suspended bipartisan talks in parliament aimed at ending their row with the government. Their leader Raila Odinga has threatened to hold more protests.

Labour unions, including one representing health workers, also protested against the bill last week.

(Reporting by Thomas Mukoya and Duncan Miriri; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Heavens)
Nova Kakhovka was flooded after Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka HPP

The left bank is geographically lower than the right one, she said.

The figures announced regarding flooded settlements are more relevant to the left bank, the official said.

No critical conditions have actually been recorded on the right bank in those settlements where the water is rising. In particular, the regional center (Kherson) has not critically been affected, with (only) some neighborhoods, residential sectors and streets being flooded. Nevertheless, evacuations have been organized as the water level continues to rise. The situation is being monitored and all emergency services are working at the scene.

Read also: Kakhovka hydropower plant blown up by Russians from within, but not all of the dam destroyed

Humeniuk also called on the residents of the left bank of Kherson Oblast not to try to evacuate to the right bank on their own.

I dont think the invaders will calmly watch civilians evacuate from the left bank to the right one, so I dont recommend taking any risks, she said.

Its much better to go deeper into the left bank and organize evacuation there.

Kakhovka HPP  what is known about the explosion

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Administration to declare an urgent evacuation.

Read also: Ecologist reveals damaging consequences of Kakhovka dams destruction

The east bank of the region, which is controlled by the Russian forces, will also be badly affected, as it is low-lying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

The demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam could also have negative consequences for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Water from the dam is needed for the plant to receive water for turbine condensers and safety systems.

Ukrhydroenergo, the state hydroelectric power company, has reported that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been completely destroyed and cannot be repaired.

Read also: Animal rights activists explain rules for evacuation with pets after blast at Kakhovka dam

At the same time, Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said the Russian military had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant from the inside, but that not all of the dam had been destroyed.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced there was a threat of flooding in up to 80 settlements.

The Office of the Prosecutor General has launched an investigation into the destruction of the dam under the article of the Criminal Code on ecocide.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Kherson residents flee under artillery fire after collapsed Kakhovka dam floods homes Flooding in Kherson after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached

By Max Hunder

KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - Distraught residents of Ukraine's Kherson evacuated their homes under artillery fire on Tuesday after they were flooded by the rupture of a vast dam upstream in a disaster that Kyiv and Moscow have blamed on each other.

Some residents cried as they packed belongings into cars. A meteorologist measuring the river level at the scene told Reuters the water was 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) higher than on Monday, before the dam was destroyed.

Kherson, on the shores of Ukraine's vast Dnipro river, faces the Russian-controlled eastern bank.

Around 60 kilometres (37 miles) upstream lay the Nova Kakhovka dam, a 3.2 km-long 1950s structure which Kyiv accused Russia of blowing up in an "act of terrorism."

The Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive Moscow says is faltering. Some Russian-installed officials said the dam had collapsed on its own.

Mykola, a 73-year-old pensioner, traipsed down the street towards dry land, soaked from the shoulders down and carrying what few possessions he could save. He said the water in his apartment had been up to his chest.

Minutes later, cracks of incoming artillery sent people running for cover.

Shelter could not be easily found, as water crept silently higher and higher on Kherson's streets.

On Tuesday evening, Reuters reporters heard four incoming artillery blasts in close proximity to a flooded residential area in southern Kherson from which civilians were evacuating.

Ukraine's interior minister said earlier Russia was shelling areas from where people were being evacuated, and that two police officers had been wounded.

Kherson, which had a pre-war population of nearly 300,000, was occupied by Russian forces for eight months after Moscow invaded Ukraine last year.

Since it was retaken by Kyiv last November, Kherson has experienced regular heavy shelling from Russian forces across the Dnipro river.

Before she was forced to flee the incoming shelling, 56-year-old Lora, a hydro-meteorologist working for local authorities, was measuring the water level using a depth stick.

Speaking on Tuesday evening, she said the water was 3.5 metres higher than before the dam had collapsed, and that it was still rising, albeit at a slower rate of about 6 cm (2.4 inches) every 30 minutes, about half the rate observed earlier in the day.

"This is an atypical war, unworthy of people. It's hardly showing the art of war to blow up a dam," Lora said.

Some locals came to watch the waters rise, while others helped evacuate people from their homes.

Local resident Kostya, 25, was one of those assisting evacuations as homes filled with water, helping a police officer get his young daughter to dry land along a path made precarious by shattered glass from an earlier shelling.

"There are still old people in there, they're refusing to leave ... those homes are filling up with water," he said, pointing at the old low-rise block he had come from.

Oksana wiped away tears as she unloaded plastic bags full of her belongings from her son-in-law's car. The 53-year-old woman's house had been flooded on Tuesday morning. The contents of the bags was all she could save.

"Everything is floating," she said. "All the furniture, the food in the fridge, all the flowers, it's all floating. I don't know what to do."

(Reporting by Max Hunder, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
In an effort to suppress their worst fear of being snatched off the street and detained for deportation, a crowd of immigrants gathered virtually and at the Buenaventura Lakes Library in Kissimmee to seek information about how to live in Gov. Ron DeSantis new Florida.

In just under one month, DeSantis law that penalizes immigrants who carry identification from other states, criminalizes transporting undocumented migrants across state lines and cracks down on employers who fail to use the E-Verify system, among other provisions, will take effect.

One of the immigrants sitting in the Buenaventura Lakes Library for the presentation was 63-year-old Esmeralda Bentura, who is from the Dominican Republic and has lived legally in Kissimmee for over 30 years.

I want to become a citizen now because I now have the desire for it, Bentura said in Spanish. My kids have grown up here and everything so now Im in the process. It also makes coming in and out of the country easier.

Bentura said the new state law makes her worried for her fellow immigrants.

It worries me for the other immigrants who are very scared and theyre going to be scared of leaving their home, she said.

The law prompted immigration lawyers to tell immigrants at a legal orientation program last week to stay at home unless absolutely necessary while the law takes effect and some time passes.

Bentura sought advice to secure her citizen status quickly but others at the Hello Project meeting were wondering how to get to their immigration appointments and avoid being detained. Some wanted to know whether they were allowed to drive themselves using their drivers licenses after the new law takes effect.

In an attempt to combat some of their fears, the Orlando Center for Justice created the Hello Project in February, which meets monthly on the first Thursday at the Buenaventura Lakes Library in Osceola County and at other locations in Orlando. Now, the presentation includes a section explaining DeSantis new immigration bill.

The crowd of immigrants attending from all over Central Florida via Zoom on Thursday stayed silent as they were told that, due to federal laws, they could not be deported if they were going through the legalization process correctly but confirmed their fear that, because of the new state law, they could be detained.

Melissa Marantes is the co-founder and director of the Orlando Center for Justice, a nonprofit that provides legal services to underrepresented groups who cannot afford a lawyer.

Use buses, public transportation or a family member who is already a legal resident to drive you to appointments, Marantes said in Spanish to immigrants at the Hello Project meeting. This is for those that have an irregular status because, what happens, there is no clear definition under the law  if it will target the undocumented person whos been here for a million years or someone still in the process.

Advocates believe immigrants and Puerto Ricans in Osceola County and Central Florida are at risk after DeSantis new immigration law takes effect on July 1.

In May, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718 into law. The law requires companies in the state with 25 or more employees use E-Verify, a federal system that determines the eligibility of employees to work in the U.S.; creates penalties for those employing or smuggling undocumented immigrants and prohibits local governments from issuing identification cards to them; invalidates ID cards issued to undocumented immigrants in other states; and requires hospitals to collect and submit data on the costs of providing health care to undocumented immigrants.

Advocates say the law will foster discrimination against Hispanics, including those who are legally in Florida like Puerto Ricans, the large majority of whom live in Osceola County.

With a backlog of immigration cases in the state since COVID-19 delayed many appointments and the recent ending of Title 42, the COVID-era federal immigration policy that allowed authorities to swiftly turn away migrants at the U.S. border, Floridas new immigration bill adds confusion.

In the first quarter of 2023, the U.S. immigration court already had over 1.8 million pending cases since the end of the fiscal year, according to data from the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Nearly 200,000 initial cases were just filed in the first quarter of the year and another more than100,000 cases were completed this year so far, according to the data.

Marantes said she hears daily from immigrants with questions about the immigration process but has seen an increase in calls after DeSantis signed the legislation, with most saying they are fearful of whats going to happen.

Immigrants who are in the process of becoming legal residents are worried the new law might impact their ability to get legal status, she said. She often has to remind immigrants going through the process that they are legally allowed to be in the country while attending appointments and working toward their legal residency, Marantes said.

Its going to affect those that maybe have licenses from somewhere else and unfortunately what were already seeing is that there are police officers already trying to enforce what isnt law yet, Marantes said. So it starts in July but weve already heard concerns of people getting stopped, being asked about their immigration status.

Marantes also is worried about how police will enforce the law because of the vagueness of its language.

If an individual is awaiting their case, were just not sure how its going to roll out, Marantes said. My heart goes out to  even the police force because its going to be hard to know how they would interpret, try to enforce, because its very vague.

The Osceola County Sheriffs Office in an emailed statement said, after DeSantis immigration bill takes effect, it will not be changing how it trains officers.

The Kissimmee Police Department is reviewing the language of the immigration policy and Chief Betty Holland is working with the citys legal team to see what changes, if any, will be applicable, spokesperson Stephanie Bechara said in an email.

After Title 42 ended, Title 8 is now being enforced, which allows for a swift deportation process; the ban on migrants to enter the U.S. for five years or more; longer processing time; and criminal prosecution for those who seek reentry on multiple occasions. The process makes it more difficult for migrants to seek asylum and takes longer.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the agency that finds and deports illegal immigrants and often works with local law enforcement.

In Osceola, the county corrections center detains these individuals until ICE picks them up to take them to the Miami ICE detention center. ICE has 48 hours to pick up these individuals and in 2022 they picked up 28 detainees, said Hope Martinez, Osceola County Corrections spokesperson in an email. As of May 25, ICE has picked up 41 detainees from Osceola County Corrections this year.

Marantes said immigrants already have many hurdles when trying to get their legal status from federal laws and adding this state law into the mix spells more confusion and fear.

For example, you need a passport to get a drivers license in Florida and as an immigrant awaiting certain processes, Marantes said. But if you cant get your passport then you cant get the drivers license so you have everything lined up and every ability to get it but you cant get it because of this one hurdle.

Making it even harder is the fact that many immigrants are fleeing a home country in fear and asking for a passport from their home country exposes immigrants to their government knowing where they are, Marantes said.

The new state immigration bill could spell trouble for legal citizens like Puerto Ricans, said Elizabeth Aranda, University of South Florida professor of Sociology and director of the Immigrant Well-Being Research Center.

Aranda has researched Puerto Ricans in Florida for many years and found across multiple studies they are often assumed to be foreign, not U.S. citizens, targeted for speaking Spanish and often steered to lower-wage service jobs. She said the new state immigration law could lead to more discrimination against Puerto Ricans, who often grapple with leaving Florida due to difficulty transitioning.

Aranda said if officers are shown a Puerto Rican drivers license they may not recognize them as citizens. And if the driver has a darker complexion or an accent, police may presume the driver is undocumented. Aranda said DeSantis law requires law enforcement to implement racial profiling to implement the law.

As immigrant enforcement ramps up, anyone who is Latino becomes suspect, Aranda said. Unfortunately thats what happens when you have laws that rely on racial profiling.

It is estimated that 34% of Osceolas population identifies as having Puerto Rican origin.

In Osceola County, there are over 37,000 residents who work in leisure, hospitality, accommodation and food services, according to data from the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.

We rely on immigrant labor for a lot of things and if people feel like theyre not safe to go to work, if they feel like they cant get medical care and if they feel like their loved ones are in jeopardy, theyre going to leave, Aranda said. Which I guess is maybe one of purposes of the law is to have folks leave, but you know, I dont know that they fully thought of what it would be like to have an economy without immigrants working in it.

U.S. Rep Darren Soto, who represents Osceola County, said DeSantis immigration law is going to hurt tourism and have a chilling effect.

I do small business tours across the district and the biggest thing I hear now from small businesses is a lack of a labor force, Soto said. Many folks have been hiring recently arrived immigrants to help pick up the slack so its definitely going to hurt us.

The new Family Reunification Parole Processes that the Department of Homeland Security announced in April allows vetted individuals with already approved family-based petitions to be released into the United States, on a case-by-case basis, from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, Cuba and Haiti. Soto said this parole process combats DeSantis new immigration regulations.

Thats been a very successful program in Central Florida to reunite families, Soto said. But overall its going to put a chilling effect on tourism, agriculture and potentially construction as well, which could exacerbate our affordable housing issues with slower construction and potentially raise fruit and vegetable prices.

Another aspect of the laws potential chilling effect is the unclear language on IDs.

The new law doesnt recognize IDs from other states granted to illegal immigrants, but the language is unclear on whether immigrants awaiting the finalization of their legal status who are able to get their drivers license in other states will be scrutinized after July 1 in Florida.

Marantes said the law might have a chilling effect on those people wanting to visit Disney or other tourism spots in Florida.

Were the community of Disney and high tourism and I worry for our tourism industry if people start getting stopped in error, she said. What would that look like or what that kind of attention might that bring?

Many questions remain unanswered about driving with relatives without an ID, driving undocumented relatives to their immigration appointments, or Puerto Rican drivers licenses. Marantes said she often gets Puerto Ricans calling her office who struggle to get their birth certificates from the island to get their drivers licenses.

So its not so much an immigrant issue only; were seeing that its an everybody issue, Marantes said.
What to know about latest migrant charter flight dispute between California, Florida

California's top lawyer said he believes the state of Florida is likely behind the arrival of more than a dozen migrants in Sacramento last week.

Over the weekend, Attorney General Rob Banto said he met with 16 South American migrants transported from El Paso, Texas to Sacramento by "private plane, with no prior arrangement or care in place."

The Colombian and Venezuelan migrants turned up at the Roman Catholic Church diocese's Sacramento headquarters Friday, state officials reported. California authorities are looking into exactly who recocated the group according to Banto, who also said he is investigating whether any crimes were committed.

Another flight carrying 20 migrants arrived in Sacramento Monday, according to the Sacramento Bee. That flight also departed from New Mexico and used the same private plane as Friday's flight.

If Florida is to blame for the movement, the migrants would be the latest lifted from a Republican-led state to one led by Democrats.

Here's what we know so far about the case:

The migrants had documentation from Florida

Although circumstances about the group's relocation remained under investigation Monday, Bonta confirmed the migrants  which included men and women  had documentation "purporting to be from the Florida government."

"While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting," Bonta said in a statement, adding he is looking into whether any civil or criminal law violations occurred.

Today I met with over a dozen migrants who were brought to Sacramento by private plane, with no prior arrangement or care in place.



We are investigating the circumstances by which these individuals were brought to California. pic.twitter.com/UXY2yKvKwl  Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) June 4, 2023

How did the migrants enter the US?

The migrants entered the U.S. through Texas, the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.

Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California  a faith-based group that helps migrants, said American immigration officials had already processed the group and "given them court dates for their asylum cases when individuals representing a private contractor" approached them outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, the Associated Press reported.

There, Carmona told the outlet, they offered to help them get jobs and get them to their final destination.

Migrants waiting on the north embankment of the Rio Grande hold hands during a prayer on May 9 as they await to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso. Some of the migrants had been at the encampment on the river for more than eight days waiting to surrender to immigration officials.

"They were lied to and intentionally deceived," Carmona told the AP, adding the migrants did not know where they were after being dropped off in Sacramento. The migrants, he said, have court dates in cities throughout the country and none of them planned to wind up in California.

The group was then transported from Texas to New Mexico and flown by private plane to Sacramento, California officials aid.

Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Bonta, told the AP the migrants' documents indicated they were transported through a program run by Florida's Division of Emergency Management and carried out by contractor Vertol Systems Co.

Migrant fact check claim False claim video shows soldier allowing migrants to illegally cross border

Florida's governor's stance on immigration

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been a critic of federal immigration policy under the current presidential administration. DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president, has heavily publicized Florida's role in past instances in which migrants were transported to Democratic-led states.

In September, DeSantis took credit after 50 undocumented immigrants arrived unannounced in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The migrants  many if not all of whom are from Venezuela and included children as young as 3  spent the night on a church property after arriving unexpectedly on one-way charter flights.

Neither Vertol Systems nor DeSantis' office responded to requests for comment, the AP reported. Alecia Collins, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management told the AP in an email Monday she could not confirm whether the agency was involved.

Also on Monday, a Texas sheriff in Bexar County, where the migrants were approached for the Martha's Vineyard flight, recommended several charges of unlawful restraint. The charges include both felonies and misdemeanors, according to the sheriff's office. The case was forwarded to the local district attorney to decide whether to prosecute.

It's not clear which individual or entity could face charges. A spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff said "At this time we are not naming the suspects involved in the case."

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How California's governor reacted

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom said in a statement he also met with the migrants and said officials are making sure they are being "treated with respect and dignity" through this process.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg issued a much more stern statement: "Whoever is behind this must answer the following: Is there anything more cruel than using scared human beings to score cheap political points?"

Contributing: The Associated Press and the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California AG blames Florida for private migrant flight to Sacramento
Kosovo open to new elections in municipalities hit by unrest, minister says

PRAGUE (Reuters) -Kosovo is open to the possibility of new elections in four northern Serb-majority municipalities following unrest, but other steps need to be taken before then, Kosovan Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz said on Tuesday.

Violence has flared since Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors in offices in the municipalities after being elected on a turnout of just 3.5%, angering Serbs who form a majority in the region and who had boycotted local polls.

Gervalla-Schwarz, speaking after meeting the Czech foreign minister in Prague, said an end to the violence was the first condition to consider new elections.

"Yes, we are open to elections in those four municipalities but to have new elections we need steps in between," she said.

She said Kosovo also needed "a commitment from Serbia that they will no more threaten Serbian citizens of Kosovo not to participate in the election," adding that people should not feel the threat of mob violence.

Reinforcements for NATO's peacekeeping force began to arrive in Kosovo this week following the unrest.

Kosovo declared internationally recognised independence from Serbia in 2008, although it was rejected by Belgrade. Serbs in Kosovo's north are seeking autonomy for their region under a 2013 deal that has not been implemented.

Last week, an aide to U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, pushing Serbia to withdraw armed forces stationed near the border and urging protesters to remain peaceful.

"We do have some challenges in the bilateral relations in dealing with the prime minister (Kurti)," U.S. senior diplomat for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar told reporters at the U.S. embassy in Pristina on Tuesday.

Kurti has dismissed Western criticism and blamed Serbia for financing and supporting Serbs in the north, who do not recognize the 2008 declaration of independence and see Belgrade as their capital.

(Reporting by Robert Muller and Jason Hovet in PragueAdditional reporting by Fatos Bytyci in PristinaEditing by Kirsten Donovan and Matthew Lewis)
The Kremlin has stated that the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) "was blown up by the Ukrainians".

Source: Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, in an interview with Russian media outlet RBC

Quote: "We can already unequivocally state that this is a deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side. This sabotage could potentially cause very serious consequences for several tens of thousands of residents of the region, ecological consequences, [and] consequences of a different nature which have yet to be established."

Details: Peskov stated that Ukraine was "pursuing the goal of depriving Crimea of water". He also rejected accusations against the Russian military.

Quote: "The water level in the reservoir is falling. And accordingly, the supply to the canal is reduced, dramatically reduced. It looks as if the sabotage is connected with the fact that having started large-scale offensive actions two days ago, now the Ukrainian armed forces are not achieving their goals. These offensive actions are faltering."

Update: Russias Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into an act of terrorism following the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam and the flooding of the territories.

Reminder: Early reports indicate that the Kakhovka HPP was blown up by the 205th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.

Background: On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). The dam and the power plant's engine room were completely destroyed. The hydroelectric power plant is beyond repair. According to a preliminary forecast, the reservoir is expected to be drained within the next four days.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, said the evacuation of the local population from areas at risk has begun.

The power supply has been cut off in the Korabel microdistrict in Kherson due to the flooding that happened as a result of Russian occupiers blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP).

Zelenskyy called an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council to address the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine said the Russians blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant will not prevent the Defence Forces from continuing to liberate the occupied territories.

Over 80 settlements are located in the flood zone and about 16,000 residents need to be evacuated. According to Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, 24 settlements have already been flooded as of 12:30.

Read also: Flooded South: the consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka dam (in brief)

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A total of 207 candidates are running in Kuwait's elections, the lowest number since 1996

Polls opened on Tuesday in Kuwait's seventh general election in just over a decade, following repeated political crises that have undermined parliament and stalled reforms.

More than 793,000 eligible voters will have the chance to determine the make-up of the 50-seat legislature in the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament with powers to hold government to account.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and are due to close at 8:00 pm, with the results to be announced the following day.

Voters queued outside in the sweltering summer heat, many of them dressed in traditional thob gowns.

"I came to perform my patriotic duty and I am hopeful that things will get better," Maasoumah Bousafar, 64 told AFP after casting her ballot.

Kuwait's emir, Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, called the vote last month after he had again dissolved parliament amid a persistent deadlock with the executive branch that has deterred investment and impeded growth.

A total of 207 candidates are running for a four-year term as lawmakers, the lowest number in a general election since 1996. They include opposition figures and 13 women.

All but three of the 50 members of parliament who won in 2022 are seeking re-election.

Despite widespread frustration with the political elite, human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais said it was still important to cast a ballot.

"This is the only place where I have a voice, and boycotting means giving up my right as a citizen," she told AFP.

"I have to participate, even if I do not expect the new parliament to tackle issues" concerning the country's human rights record, Buqrais said.

Since Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962, the legislature has been dissolved around a dozen times.

- 'Failure in leadership' -

In March, the constitutional court annulled the results of last year's elections -- in which the opposition made significant gains -- and reinstated the previous parliament elected in 2020.

"Many in Kuwait do feel as if they are being asked to participate in a political process that does not serve them," said Daniel L. Tavana, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Penn State University.

"This is because the electoral system is broken" he told AFP, arguing that "there are limits to what we can expect an elected legislature to do".

While lawmakers are elected, Kuwait's cabinet ministers are installed by the ruling Al-Sabah family, which maintains a strong grip over political life.

Continual standoffs between the branches of government have prevented lawmakers from passing economic reforms, while repeated budget deficits and low foreign investment have added to an air of gloom.

Oil-rich Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, boasts seven percent of global crude reserves. It has little debt and one of the strongest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

But its lack of stability has scared off investors and dashed hopes of reform in a wealthy country struggling to diversify in similar ways to Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"Kuwait is not doing well," said Bader al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University. "Elections on steroids... are not the only solution.

"The Kuwaiti political system is in dire need for innovation," he told AFP, criticising a "failure in leadership in Kuwait's often recycled political class, whether in government or parliament".

sl/ho/kir
Kuwaitis go to the polls again in bid to shift political crisis

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view taken with a drone shows Kuwait National Assembly building in Kuwait City

By Ahmed Hagagy and Lisa Barrington

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait on Tuesday holds its second legislative election in nine months in a bid to resolve a grinding political crisis that has seen parliament repeatedly dissolved and reinstated, hindering economic reforms.

Feuding between the OPEC member state's appointed government and elected parliament has hampered fiscal reform, including passing a debt law that allows Kuwait to tap international markets and address a heavy reliance on oil.

Kuwait's last election was in September 2022, when opposition candidates made gains and which was called to replace the 2020 parliament which had been dissolved in a bid to end political bickering.

The 2022 vote was nullified in March and parliament was reinstated under its 2020 composition. In May, that parliament was itself again dissolved for fresh elections.

Frequent political deadlock in Kuwait, the Gulf region's oldest and most lively legislature, has for decades led to cabinet reshuffles and parliament dissolutions.

Kuwait bans political parties and candidates run as independents, but its legislature has more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies, including the power to pass and block laws, question ministers and submit no-confidence motions.

The number of candidates contesting 50 elected seats has dropped to 207, from the 305 that stood in 2022; the lowest number of candidates since the seventies. The emir appoints up to 15 other National Assembly members.

"There is a sense of apathy and I think disillusionment with the system since gridlock has emerged," said Courtney Freer of Emory University.

"In terms of moving past this political impasse, political reform is often discussed, but there is little agreement about what type of reform would be best" Freer said.

The International Monetary Fund on Monday said high oil prices were helping Kuwait recover from a COVID-era strain on public finances, but passing the new Public Debt Law soon was paramount.

"Substantial fiscal consolidation based on both expenditure and non-oil revenue measures will be needed," it said, adding that lower public sector wages and energy subsidies were needed to reverse a projected decline into fiscal deficit over the medium term.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Ahmed Hagagy; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Labours green masterplan will destroy Britains energy security  and they know it

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - Ben Birchall/PA

Oh dear. Just as Labour were beginning to look like a credible government-in-waiting, they come up with a stinker of such epic proportions that even some ardent Toryphobics may get doubts.

Last week in Washington, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves declared: Globalisation, as we once knew it, is dead.

She even coined a phrase for what will take its place: Securonomics. From now on, she argued (not unreasonably), national security will trump economic efficiency.

But back at home, Keir Starmer was reportedly putting the finishing touches to a proposed ban on new oil and gas projects in the North Sea as part of his plans to make Britain a clean energy superpower should Labour win the next general election.

How, one might ask, can you square Reevess emphasis on the growing importance of self-sufficiency in the modern world with Starmers plans to squander one of the worlds great troves of natural resources on our doorstep?

Thats easy. You cant. Labour is simultaneously highlighting the importance of national security and promising to undermine it.

If this policy is enacted, we will become increasingly reliant on imported energy, says David Whitehouse, the chief executive of Offshore Energies UK. It would undermine the UK energy security, it would undermine those 200,000 jobs that we see across the country, it would make the country poorer.

As a lobbyist, Whitehouse is obviously going in to bat for his industry. But its hard to find fault in his assessment of Labours plans.

Actually, its even worse than he suggests: Labours ban may actively squander the countrys chances of hitting net zero.

Weve been here before. Having touted the North Seas hydrocarbons as a key pillar of the case for Scottish independence in 2014, Nicola Sturgeon executed a screeching handbrake U-turn in 2021.

The then-Scottish First Minister said it was fundamentally wrong for her country to continue exploring and extracting oil and gas until the last possible moment, and argued the Cambo oil field west of Shetland should not get the green light.

Was this huge volte face the result of conviction of political expediency? Who can say. But its worth noting that the anti-North Sea bombast coincided with Sturgeon having to rely on the support of the Scottish Greens to shore up a small governing majority.

And, in theory at least, it amounted to only so much hot air given that the licensing of new oil fields in the North Sea is a matter for Westminster rather than Holyrood.

Nevertheless, companies weighing up investments in projects that could last decades must be constantly attuned to which way the political winds are blowing.

Sturgeons rhetoric combined with lukewarm support of the North Sea industry in Westminster resulted in Shell pulling out of the Combo development in which it had a 30pc stake.

At the time, a Shell spokesman said, with barely disguised frustration: Continued investment in oil and gas in the UK remains critical to the countrys energy security.

We believe the North Sea  and Shell in it  has a critical role to play in the UKs energy mix, supporting the jobs and skills to enable a smooth transition to Britains low-carbon future.

The whole episode felt faintly farcical. But that was before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and energy prices shot up. For Labour to now consider aping the SNPs self-harm strategy really beggars belief.

And, although this is really just a side issue, you have to question whether Labours plan to deliberately sabotage the countrys energy security even makes sense at a political level.

The party has put a huge amount of groundwork into boosting its pro-business credentials. Consigning the North Sea to the knackers yard will surely undermine Labours seriousness in the eyes of many sensible business people who are desperate for an alternative after years of not-so-benign neglect by the Tories.

Two of the main unions are up in arms about the possibility of a jobs bloodbath akin to that triggered by closing the coal mines in the 1980s. I know the Labour leader is trying to distance himself from his partys Left wing, but inviting comparisons to Margaret Thatcher may be taking things a bit far.

Crucially, it also removes a key point of difference with the SNP in what will broadly be a two-party fight north of the border at the next general election and where Labour absolutely has to make inroads to improve its chances of gaining an overall majority.

Labours policy also seems tailor-made to heighten the gathering backlash against net zero  having somehow managed to unite free marketers and trade unions in their condemnation of the partys shortsightedness.

Few people have many complaints about weaning the world off fossil fuels and developing renewable sources of energy. However, most would also agree this is a process that will likely take decades.

On Monday, Starmer visited Hinkley Point to declare nuclear power a critical part of the UKs energy mix. He also pointed out that, 13 years after being given the go-ahead, Hinkley is still not up and running.

Hes right on both counts. But this further highlights how tricky it will be to develop alternative forms of reliable baseload power.

In an ideal world you wouldnt start any new oil and gas projects. But we dont live in an ideal world. Theres many a slip twixt cup and the lip, and the best form of insurance is to keep your options open.

If decarbonisation happens quicker than expected, then some of the oil and gas projects that are given the go ahead in the coming years may very well become stranded assets. But thats a problem for the energy companies and their shareholders to worry about.

Properly managed, there are opportunities and jobs in new green technologies. But many of them will be dependent on investment by oil and gas companies and their supply chains. Discourage that investment and you may very well diminish the opportunities.

So, Labours plan to start pulling down the shutters on the North Sea is bad economics, bad politics and may even fail in its own terms to aid the transition to net zero. Its so ill-conceived its almost impressive.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
A chalk art controversy has a Kansas resident and her landlord feuding, and millions of TikTok viewers are engrossed in the drama.

Kara Vaughn posted a TikTok video May 28 showing her drawing Pokemon characters with chalk outside her apartment in Hutchinson. But as the video continues, Vaughn washes away the art with water.

Its because her landlord called the art disrespectful and said it needed to be removed, according to the video.

She immediately tells me that what I was doing was disrespectful and not OK, Vaughn said in the TikTok. I explained that it was chalk art and it would wash away once it rained.

TikTok viewers called Vaughns art beautiful and are showing support for the artist. More than 10 million people have watched the initial video as of Tuesday, June 6.

But that was just the beginning of the feud between Vaughn and her landlord.

Its not art to me

Vaughn said in a follow-up video that she had contacted city officials, who told her she is allowed to draw with chalk on city sidewalks. The Hutchinson News confirmed there are no city ordinances about chalk art on public sidewalks.

But a lawyer who creates TikToks under the @dadchats moniker says landlords can prohibit tenants from defacing property and maintaining the outside of a building.

Vaughn and her landlord spoke on the phone about the issue, and the landlord initially apologized for how the situation was handled. The landlord appeared to sound more confrontational after Vaughn told her the city has allowed her chalk art.

The landlord called the chalk art graffiti and vowed to get an attorney involved, she says in the phone conversation recorded in a TikTok.

Im just disappointed, the landlord said. Nobody does this to somebody elses property. Its art to you, but its not art to me. Its not something that you go out and do in front of my property.

Vaughn, who KSNW reported is a middle school art teacher, said she was not trying to start any problems and was simply chalk painting as a summer activity.

The landlord said the chalk art feud is going to be a real problem for us.

If you want your lease, Im sure theres nothing in there about you drawing, so why dont you just start drawing everywhere, the landlord said. But I will go to an attorney because Im very unhappy about all of this. So Im sorry that you have little respect for any of our feelings.

TikTok responds  Omg it is CHALK

More than 20 million people have watched the video of Vaughns phone conversation with her landlord, and the TikTok viewers are overwhelmingly in support of the artist.

Many of them are wondering why washable sidewalk chalk has become a point of contention.

Omg it is CHALK for crying out loud. I cant believe this is even real, one commenter said.

If I ever get this pressed about CHALK, then someone put me out to pasture, another commenter said.

Vaughn said in a GoFundMe her lease is up soon and she has plans to move to a new building.

Whats next for Vaughn?

After her TikTok videos went viral and her citys newspaper reported about the topic, she woke up to colorful chalk art drawn on the sidewalks outside her apartment drawn by encouraging locals.

Words cannot describe the feeling I felt when I walked outside my apartment today to these two girls running out to me with open arms ready to show me all the artwork they had start making after seeing my story, she said in the TikTok.

She now has plans for a Chalk the Town event in Hutchinson, with a focus on sharing love, kindness and positivity within the community.

Vaughn has not stopped creating her chalk art. Additional videos uploaded after her initial confrontation has shown her drawing cartoon characters from The Fairly Oddparents, Bluey and more.

v

Tenant tricks 3 people into signing leases for home she didnt own, Indiana cops say

Dads Thin Blue Line flag honors son who was killed. HOA wants it gone, lawsuit says
Tampa Bay is known for its beaches, but a new attraction in Pasco County offers the chance to spend a day by the water without visiting the shore.

The Mirada Lagoon is a human-made body of water that spans more than 15 acres, making it the largest in the United States. Located at the Mirada housing development in San Antonio, the lagoon features sandy shorelines, a swim-up bar, water slide, kids play area, kayak, paddleboard and cabana rentals and a floating obstacle course.

The lagoon first opened for residents at the end of May, but outside visitors can now purchase day passes on the MetroLagoons website.

Admission differs in price depending on the date and time, but day passes generally range between $20-$45 for adults and $15-$30 for children. Activities like kayaking and the obstacle course can be purchased as add-ons. There is also a VIP area called Cabana Cove for guests 21 and up.

Vaike OGrady is the vice president of marketing and communications for Metro Development Group. Her company has opened three lagoons around the Tampa Bay area as featured amenities for their master-planned communities. The Epperson Lagoon in Wesley Chapel was the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 2018.

After we saw what the success was, we realized we could do this again and again because there was so much demand for it, OGrady said.

Building the Mirada Lagoon came with additional challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic caused supply chain issues and labor shortages that led to delays.

The massive size of the project required special care. Metro had to haul in roughly 8,600 tons of sand. It took 45 days to fill the lagoon with about 33 million gallons of water.

Ultimately though, OGrady said the meticulous preparations were worth it to be able to give residents and visitors a uniquely Florida experience. She believes the lagoons have helped boost home sales in their communities.

Forty percent of our buyers are from out of state, she said. Maybe theyre exploring living by the beach but then they realize that its so much more expensive. When they come here and they see they can have an inland lagoon lifestyle from prices as low as the high $200s, theyre blown away by the value.
Latest Operation Consequences nets firearms, drugs and arrests across the Victor Valley

San Bernardino County sheriffs deputies made several felony arrests and seized dozens of firearms and drugs during the latest week of Operation Consequences in the High Desert and Inland Empire.

The week of targeted crime suppression ending June 2 included investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department  Gangs/Narcotics Division and deputies from patrol stations, serving seven search warrants and contacting suspects at the following locations:

Sheriffs officials reported making several felony arrests and seizing dozens of firearms and drugs during the latest week of Operation Consequences in the High Desert and Inland Empire.

14700 Block of Seneca Road, Victorville

13600 Block of Opal Avenue, Victorville

16700 Block of A Street, Victorville

11600 Block of Pinon Avenue, Hesperia

17400 Block of Catalpa Street, Hesperia

100 Block of East Laurel Street, Colton

25200 Block of Redlands Boulevard, Loma Linda

During the searches, investigators seized 40 firearms, one of which was a ghost gun, and over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators also made 12 felony arrests, sheriffs officials reported.

Operation Consequences will continue to focus on targeted crime suppression operations in the High Desert and throughout the county.

Sheriffs officials reported making several felony arrests and seizing dozens of firearms and drugs during the latest week of Operation Consequences in the High Desert and Inland Empire.

There are currently 6,721 parolees at large in California and 564 parolees at large in the county.

The operations have also included personnel from the California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Probation, and Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Latest Operation Consequences nets firearms, drugs in the Victor Valley
Author Hector Tobar is not surprised by the recent spate of measures to restrict diversity and inclusion efforts in education.

There are a lot of people who are threatened by Latinos when they are assertive and self-confident, he said in an interview with NBC News. And so theyre trying to keep us in our place, to belittle us. These campaigns are happening so that young Latinos dont grow up thinking of themselves as people who matter.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and scholar rebukes such thinking with his latest book, Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of Latino. In it, Tobar explores what it means to be Latino in the 21st century  by reflecting on his past, visiting his parents homeland and taking a road trip across the United States.

Farrar Strauss Giroux

He said he wrote Our Migrant Souls because, in his view, the national conversation about race and identity rarely includes Latinos.

We are not seen as people who are central to the American story. We are seen as the supporting cast, like this inconsequential supporting actor," Tobar said. He points out that it is Latino labor that keeps the country functioning and that is essential to industries such as construction and agriculture  and that it was largely Latino workers who built the infrastructure of the American southwest.

As he strives to illuminate the Latino experience, he acknowledges that the construct of Latino is artificial and complicated.

Latino is the most open-ended and loosely defined of the non-white categories in the United States, Tobar writes. As such it can feel like the transit lounge of American identities, one where people come and go with relative ease.

The son of Guatemalan immigrants, Tobar, 60, was raised in East Hollywood, California. He grew up among Eastern European, Mexican and Central American families. His godfather was an African American activist, while James Earl Ray (who later assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.) lived in his neighborhood  right next door.

His familys presence in such a setting, Tobar writes, was completely natural: Across the United States, Latino people inhabit places that are never far from Black struggle and the history of white supremacy.

Hector Tobar with his mother Mercedes at the Griffith Park Observatory, Los Angeles, 1963. (Courtesy Hector Tobar )

Tobar hopes that his book will help young Latinos understand the complexities of the worlds they inhabit.

A lot of us as Latino people grow up with the erasure of ourselves from most of the mainstream media, he said.

Tobar said that because the press tends to focus on Latinos in crisis or as undocumented immigrants, there is this equation of our identity with working class status, and with a lack of sophistication and intelligence."

He recalls a moment in 2010 when he was dressed casually at a suburban park and a child mistook him for an ice cream vendor.

The 'little bit ludicrous' arguments over labels

When the Pew Center asked Latinos in 2020 about their preferred pan-ethnic term, 61% of respondents said they preferred the term Hispanic, followed by 29% who preferred Latino. Only 4% chose Latinx, a gender-neutral alternative, which is intended to be inclusive but often sparks backlash.

In Tobars view, the term Latinx was adopted by young Latinos who wanted to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and who were somewhat distanced from the Spanish language. Many native Spanish-speakers or people raised among Spanish-speakers, in contrast, are comfortable with the ideas that all nouns have genders, with the default term for a group being masculine.

Controversy over Latinx is rooted in this generational and linguistic conflict, he explained. In addition, many Latinos heard Latinx emerging in the media and felt like it was being imposed on them by others.

The ongoing arguments over Latinx are a little bit ludicrous," Tobar said. He sees both Latino and Latinx as problematic because the words bear the "Latin-" prefix.

This is assigning a European term to a group of people who are also Indigenous and African," he said. He likens attempts to define Latinos with labels as like using crayons, which are very crude instruments, when you need a fine-bristle paintbrush to really capture who we are.

Author Hector Tobar. (Patrice Normand / Agency Opale)

Latino identity masks a great deal of cultural mixing, Tobar said. I like to say that Latino or even Latinx is a synonym for mixed, a person who is Latino more than likely has European and Indigenous roots, or even African roots.

"Our Migrant Souls" has drawn wide praise; Publishers Weekly described it as lyrical and uncompromising, while Kirkus Reviews termed it a powerful look at what it means to be a community that, though large, remains marginalized.

Along his literary journey, Tobars book delves into everything from immigration policy to queer utopias to the cultural impact of the late iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Tobar is the author of six books, published in 15 languages. He has been a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a contributing writer to The New York Times. His acclaimed book, Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine and the Miracle That Set Them Free was adapted into the 2015 film, The 33 starring Antonio Banderas. A professor at the University of California, Irvine, Tobar was awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in April. Tobar was part of the Los Angeles Times reporting team whose coverage of the city's 1992 riots won a Pulitzer Prize.

Pushing 'our imperfect selves onto the American stage'

Looking ahead, Tobar is optimistic about the future for Latinos. Im very optimistic because I work with young people, and I see their energy. I see their ambition, he said. I see the love they have for themselves and their culture, which is wonderful.

Our fight is to push our imperfect selves onto the American stage. To stand as we are and force the United States to see us as we are, he writes in his book. Lo bueno y lo malo (the good and the bad), the tragic and the defiant. And all the other states of being human that lie in between.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Supreme Court justices pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington

By Susan Heavey and Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Texas billionaire Harlan Crow's lawyer has offered to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee staff to discuss the businessman's ties to conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, but Democratic senators on Tuesday said the Republican donor was refusing to cooperate with legitimate requests for information.

Revelations in media reports about the links between Thomas, the court's longest-tenured member, and Crow including real estate purchases and luxury travel paid for by the businessman have prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers for more rigorous ethics standards for the Supreme Court.

The Democratic-led Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the subject in May. Crow, a major Republican donor, last month, rejected the panel's request for a meeting.

In a six-page follow-up letter made public on Tuesday, Crow's lawyer Michael Bopp reiterated that he does not think the committee has the power to request information from Crow or to impose ethics standards on the nation's top judicial body, as it is considering pursuing, but that he "would welcome a discussion with your staff."

"The latest correspondence from Harlan Crow's lawyer is a clear, unwarranted refusal to cooperate with legitimate requests for information from this committee," Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin and Democratic panel member Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement, adding that "all options are on the table moving forward."

Separately, Bopp declined to provide another Democratic-led Senate panel, the Finance Committee, any personal financial information about Crow, it said. In a statement, the panel accused Crow of "stonewalling" and "doubling down on bogus legal theories." Senator Ron Wyden, the panel's chairman, said the committee is considering issuing a subpoena.

Bopp told the Finance Committee in a letter dated June 2 that it "has no authority to target specific individuals' personal financial information when the asserted legislative goals could be served in less intrusive ways" but that he and Crow would still "work with the committee."

The news outlet ProPublica has detailed the ties between Thomas and Crow. Separately, the news outlet Politico has reported that conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch failed to disclose the buyer of a Colorado property in which he had a stake - the chief executive of a major law firm whose attorneys have been involved in numerous Supreme Court cases.

Unlike other federal judges, Supreme Court justices are not bound by the code of conduct adopted by the policymaking body for the broader U.S. judiciary that requires federal judges to avoid even the "appearance of impropriety."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Will Dunham)
Lawyer for Natalee Holloway disappearance suspect is challenging his extradition to the U.S.

A lawyer for the Dutch man suspected in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway is challenging his extradition to the U.S. on fraud charges, calling it an abuse of authority that violates his clients rights.

Attorney Maximo Altez said in an interview that neither he nor Joran van der Sloot were notified of the extradition order to Alabama on charges of a fraud scheme connected to Holloway and her family.

Altez said he plans to file a writ of habeas corpus, or a court action that he said will give van der Sloot due process before his extradition, scheduled for Thursday.

Natalee Holloway (TODAY)

Van der Sloot was issued a provisional passport for the process Monday, but Altez said he "has not accepted it."

"I don't know how they'll extradite him," Altez said. "He's not willing to do it voluntarily."

The extradition is connected to a federal criminal complaint filed in 2010 in Birmingham, Alabama, alleging that van der Sloot was behind a fraud scheme that promised to offer the location of Holloway's remains.

Holloway, 18, vanished in 2005 in Aruba on a high school graduation trip and has never been found. Van der Sloot was arrested in her disappearance but was later released and never charged with a crime. A judge later declared Holloway dead.

In this undated photo from Peru's National Identitfication Registry is seen Stephany Flores. Peruvian police on Wednesday June 2, 2010 confirmed that Joran van der Sloot, a young Dutchman previously arrested in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, is being sought in the May 30 killing of 21-year-old Flores.(AP Photo/Registro Nacional de Identificacion y Estado Civil) (Registro Nacional de Identificacion y Estado Civil/AP file)

Van der Sloot is serving a 28-year sentence for the 2010 killing of a Peruvian business student, Stephany Flores.

In the alleged fraud scheme, van der Sloot is accused of trying to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from Holloway's family in exchange for the supposed details of her death.

Holloway's mother sent $25,000 to an account in the Netherlands for van der Sloot and an American lawyer who would visit the site in Aruba where van der Sloot said Holloway was buried.

Federal prosecutors said van der Sloot knew the details he provided were false  in an email, he called the information "worthless"  but he kept the $25,000 anyway.

Van der Sloot was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of extortion.

Altez said Monday that van der Sloot spent the $25,000 on gambling.

He described van der Sloot as a "sick person" and a compulsive gambler who "took advantage of the circumstances" when Holloway's mother sent the money.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Lawyer says Rep. George Santos would go to jail to keep identities of bond cosigners secret

FILE - Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters outside the Capitol, as his top political aide Vish Burra, second from right, listens, after an effort to expel Santos from the House, in Washington, Wednesday, May 17, 2023. A man who briefly worked as an aide to Santos told House investigators Wednesday, May 31, that he got his job after sending a series of payments to Burra, Santos' director of operations. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEW YORK (AP)  Rep. George Santos lawyer said Monday the indicted New York Republican would risk going to jail to protect the identities of the people who cosigned the $500,000 bond enabling his pretrial release.

The lawyer, Joseph Murray, urged a judge to deny a request by news outlets to unseal the names of Santos' bond suretors, or guarantors, suggesting they could suffer great distress," including possible job losses and physical harm, if they're identified publicly.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, Murray wrote in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields.

Murray asked that she give them time to withdraw as cosigners if she decides to unseal their names, which Shields kept off the public court docket at the lawyer's request.

Murray said he, Santos and Santos' staff have been receiving threatening and harassing calls and messages, including death threats. The lawyer said he received a call Friday from someone shouting, Who paid Santos' bond? and said he worries Santos' critics are just waiting to pounce on the people backing his release.

We truly fear for their health, safety and well being, Murray wrote.

Santos pleaded not guilty on May 10 to a 13-count indictment charging that he duped donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didnt deserve. He is due back in court on June 30.

The 34-year-old, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, has defied calls to resign and has said he won't drop his bid for a second term.

Prosecutors have not taken a position on the unsealing request.

In a letter last week, a lawyer for news outlets urged the judge to the release the names of Santos' bond suretors, citing a compelling public interest in maintaining the greatest transparency possible in these proceedings.

The New York Times first wrote to Shields on May 23 asking to unseal the names. Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, joined the fight a few days later.

Separately, the House Ethics Committee wrote to Santos on May 16 asking him to identify the people who cosigned his bond.

Murray said Santos originally lined up three financially responsible cosigners as suretors, but one backed out and the other two didn't show up to his arraignment.

That forced them to make other confidential arrangements to ensure Santos' release, Murray said.

Santos' bond is unsecured. That means his cosigners didn't have put up any money up front, but could be forced to pay the full amount if he doesn't comply with his release conditions or fails to show up for court.

__

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
Leah Remini is making up for lost time.

The Emmy winner, who famously exited the Church of Scientology in 2013, revealed last week on Instagram that she officially finished her second year at New York University.

Two years ago, I had an 8th-grade education thanks to spending 35 years in a cult, Remini wrote. And now, at age 52, Ive successfully finished my second year at NYU. Undertaking this educational journey has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life.

The former King of Queens star previously told BuzzFeed her mother joined Scientology shortly before Reminis 10th birthday. She said she received barely any schooling and endured constant physical labor with heavy repercussions for refusing to work.

The actor left the church at age 42 and went on to write the tell-all memoir Troublemaker in 2015, followed by an A&E documentary series about the church that earned her the first Emmy of her career.

L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, had a deep disdain for conventional education and since everything in Scientology is guided directly by his principles, with no room for interpretation, my education was interrupted, Remini tweeted last year.

Her documentary series, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, notably included Marc Headley, a former event coordinator in the church who reportedly claimed women in the Sea Org department are forced to have abortions if they get pregnant.

Remini is one of several high-profile defectors from the controversial church, which was founded in the mid-20th century by Hubbard, a science fiction writer, and now claims top Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise as members. Former members have described a cultlike atmosphere and a culture of abuse, manipulation and fear. The church and its current leader, David Miscavige, have faced multiple human trafficking suits over the years, but those have foundered on Scientologys legal status as a religion and its vigorous use of contracts.

Many such allegations were chronicled in Alex Gibneys documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.

Remini previously wrote about her educational journey when she was admitted to NYU in 2021.

For someone like me, a person who desperately wanted a higher education and options in my life, coming from a cult and a family who didnt value an education, this is a very big day for me, she captioned an Instagram post showing her admissions letter. This didnt come easy.

Remini added it took a lot for her to apply to a conventional school after years of being told she wasnt smart or worthy enough for an education outside the church. While she added a very special person gave her the final push, Remini is doing the rest.

There have been days where Ive thought about giving up, she wrote in her post last week. While Im still not finished, Im so glad I decided to dive in. If you have the desire and capacity, please remember that its never too late to start again.

Related...
Learn and be successful: Over 100 local tourism workers completed ESOL classes.

Over 100 local hospitality workers celebrated a remarkable accomplishment.

Orange County, Rosen Hotels, and the University of Central Florida started a pilot program earlier this year to help hospitality workers strengthen their talents.

On Tuesday, the room was full of smiles from ear to ear as dozens of I-Drive workers received well-deserved recognition.

One after another, the local workers were recognized.

This time, not for their hard work on the job but for their accomplishments in the classroom.

Read: Avelo Airlines offers $19 one-way flights from Central Florida

The English for Speakers of Other Languages pilot program or EPIC offered language instruction in the I-Drive corridor for those workers looking to excel in the hospitality industry in the tourism hub of Orange County.

Students from different countries received the opportunity to learn English to advance their careers.

Thanks to the program, workers didnt have to choose between learning and making a living, as the classes were at Rosen Resorts.

Read: Orlando event promises to help you get the best sleep of your life

Karen Daza was a child psychologist in Colombia before moving to Central Florida.

Its very important for me, she said. In this moment, I feel very excited for this event.

Franklin Perez was in the Air Force when he decided to move here from the Dominican Republic.

He said learning English will open doors for him and his family.

Im going to show my kids that they can do it-- and other people from other countries, he said. We can learn and be successful.

Read: Mills 50 to get new fitness/entertainment concept

One hundred twenty students graduated Tuesday morning - this is just the beginning of the pilot program.

The program has been approved for a fourth cycle.

I-Drive employers, IMA Medical Group, and Paramount Hospitality Group will offer employees the opportunity to learn English on the job.

The goal is to make this program permanent in Central Florida.

Read: Brightline just bought more land; see how it might be used









Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
At least 42 dead in Haiti floods, landslides

Residents wade through flooded roads in neighborhoods of Petit-Goave, Haiti in June 3, 2023, during heavy rainfall

At least 42 people were dead and 11 missing in Haiti after heavy rains at the weekend triggered flooding and landslides, civil protection officials said Monday.

The bad weather hit seven of the 10 departments in the country which is already plunged into a protracted humanitarian crisis fueled by gang violence, political collapse and economic stagnation.

According to the UN, the severe rains affected 37,000 people and displaced 13,400.

The town of Leogane, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, was particularly badly hit, with damage caused by three flooded rivers.

At least 20 people died there, according to Haitian officials.

"The residents are desperate. They have lost everything. The waters have ravaged their fields, washed away their livestock," Leogane Mayor Ernson Henry told AFP.

Thousands of families were affected in the town, he said, stressing that the population urgently needed food, drinking water and medicine.

The floods caused extensive material damage across the country, destroying hundreds of homes and damaging several roads.

"Although it is not a hurricane or a tropical storm, the damage observed in the affected areas is considerable," said Jean-Martin Bauer, UN coordinator of humanitarian action in Haiti.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry activated the National Emergency Operation Center in response.

The heavy toll highlights the country's vulnerability to natural disasters and its failure to mitigate storm risk just as the hurricane season is about to begin.

Even before the floods, nearly half of Haiti's population was in need of humanitarian assistance, a figure that has doubled in just five years, according to the UN.

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At least 51 dead from heavy rains in Haiti, which is also dealing with an earthquake

At least 51 people died, 18 are missing and another 140 were injured over the weekend in Haiti , when the fragile nation was hit with torrential rains that turned the countrys streets into raging brown rivers.

The latest update on the disastrous weekend came as the Office of Civil Protection was also responding Tuesday to a 5.5 magnitude earthquake in the southwest region of the country that left at least 4 dead and 32 others injured in the coastal town of of Jeremie in the GrandAnse region. Haitian authorites said about 70 houses were also damaged and another two were destroyed.

Three of the deaths occurred when two houses in Jeremie collapsed during the quake, according to the Office of Civil Protection. The National Road #7 is also blocked at Morne Rampe, between Jeremie and the southwestern city of Les Cayes. The area was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Aug. 14, 2021, just five weeks after the assassination of Haitis president, Jovenel Moise.

Officials in Haitis disaster office said they are still assessing the damage from the quake and the devastation wrought by torrential rains that hit the country on Friday and Saturday, just days after the start of the June 1-Nov. 30 Atlantic hurricane season. The storms downed trees in rural southeastern communities, washed away crops in the Central Plateau region and flooded homes and vehicles in towns like hard-hit Leogane, just south of the capital, where 24 people died.

The storm flooded out 31,591 houses, of which around 820 were destroyed, and left 39,458 families homeless, according to the Civil Protection office.

The storms were the result of the formation of a low-pressure system that remained stationary over the country. The heavy rainfall also has raised concerns about the ongoing cholera outbreak that resurfaced in Haiti as a result of violent gang clashes cutting off access to potable water in the capitals slums. The deadly waterborne disease has since spread throughout the country.

Haitis Maritime and Navigation Service reported that its maritime signaling equipment was damaged or washed away by the floods in the southeast and western regions. The ports of Port-au-Prince, Marigot, Anse-a-Pitres and Belle-Anse have all been affected.

The agency also confirmed that three people died Saturday morning when a boat, the Metropolis, capsized as it traveled between ports. The number of survivors, initially believed to have have been 14, was actually 20, they agency reported.

While the assessments are ongoing, the country continues to prepare for more rain expected this week, authorities cautioned. There were several tropical waves moving over the Caribbean Sea. Storms were being forecast in the Center, North, Northeast, South, GrandAnse and Artibonite regions of the country for late afternoon and into the evening.

Storms are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evening, particularly in the regions of the North, Northeast, South, Southeast and GrandAnse. As a result, Haitis disaster office is being warned that there is a risk of more flooding for the northern regions of the country for Wednesday evening.

On Monday, municipalities in the northeast  Ouanaminthe, Mont-Organise and Ferrier  and central region  Belladere  recorded heavy rains, accompanied in some cases by wind and thunderstorms.

About 48 hours after the countrys heavy rains, several rivers were still rising, while others continued to decline, the Office of Civil Protection said Tuesday. Several municipalities are still flooded.

Of particular concern was the GrandAnse region, where the quake struck shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. At least four rivers in the department experienced significant flooding: the GrandAnse river in Jeremie, the Ladigo and Mouline rivers in Beaumont and the La Hatte river in Pestel. The three municipalities of Irois, Pestel and Beaumont recorded flooding in the last 72 hours.

River were also either flooded or overflowing in the neighboring Nippes region and areas such as Desruisseaux, in the city of Miragoane, was also flooding.

The hardest hit region during the rains was the west, where the capital of Port-au-Prince is located.

At least five municipalities in the department recorded significant flooding and damage, Arcahaie, Carrefour, Ganthier including Fonds-Parisien, Gressier and Leogane, the Office of Civil Protection said. The spectacular floods and the overflows of the Grise and Rouyonne rivers strongly hit the neighboring communities.
Dan Cherry is a Lenawee County historian.

Nearly every small town in history has been visited by bank robbers  some local bandits, many transient.

One hundred years ago, robbers passing through Onsted added to their crime by shooting the cashier during their criminal activity at the Onsted State Bank.

The Daily Telegram reported at the time the crime in Onsted May 22, 1923, was the first daylight bank robbery in Lenawee County. The two culprits, John Murray, 25, and Cecil Hizer, reportedly 15, had just come from Rochester, Indiana, where they robbed the bank in that town as well. It is not known how the pair ended up 175 miles from the north-central Indiana town to Lenawee County.

Onsted State Bank in downtown Onsted is pictured at far left, approximately 10 years before it was robbed in 1923.

Late in the afternoon, at about 2:56 p.m., Murray and Hizer barged into the Onsted State Bank and demanded money. Upon hearing the command, cashier William Redfield spun around in his chair. The sudden action startled the robbers, and a shot was fired, striking Redfield in the forearm. Teller Ethel Wood was told to "put 'em up and keep 'em up," but she dropped to the floor and hid under the counter, with the money she was counting when the two came in with guns drawn. Her attempt to hide herself and the money failed, and in moments, the money was scooped up at gunpoint.

At that time, a local patron, Charles Schultis, entered the bank with a $10 deposit in hand. One of the robbers relieved him of that as they ran out the door.

In their haste to leave, one of the robbers dropped a bundle of several hundred dollars, reducing the amount of their take to $130. Upon leaving, their excited demeanor turned to calm as they sought to hide through actions what they had just done. They casually walked to their car and left south on Main Street.

Redfield, weakened by blood loss, left the bank through the back door and stumbled to the post office and drug store nearby and tried to call the police. Unable to do so, he shouted to those in earshot, "they are robbing the bank! They are robbing the bank!"

At the same time, Shultis had run out into the street and alerted passersby the bank had just been robbed. Deputy Fred Williams organized a makeshift posse and took off in the direction the robbers had last been seen, and the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office was also notified.

While the pair were not immediately caught, detectives were able to track the vehicle's tire marks on the unpaved roads two miles south of Onsted, then east and north across country roads to M-50, where the trail was lost.

However, days later, Murray and Hizer were caught in Rochester, Indiana, and quickly confessed to their crime spree in both Indiana and Michigan. Apparently, the two had traveled to Onsted from Indiana twice, casing the town and intending to rob the bank. However, they lost their "nerve" to do so, until the third visit, where they arrived in town around noon and spent a few hours asking questions. They were wanted as well for shooting a police officer in LaPorte, Indiana, in the days leading up to the Onsted robbery. After an extradition squabble in early June 1923 between Indiana and Michigan law enforcement officers, the pair were brought to justice for their actions. Murray was sentenced to 25 years in a Michigan prison, and Hizer was confined to an Indiana boys home until the age of 21. From a newspaper standpoint, they then disappeared into history.

Dan Cherry is a Lenawee County historian.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee County History: Cashier shot in 1923 Onsted bank robbery
The Progress Pride Flag flies over the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County Supervisors passed two motions Tuesday intended to improve the lives and health of their LGBTQ+ constituents, citing horrific attacks by policymakers on gay and transgender youth across the nation.

The first, authored by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Lindsey Horvath, aims to improve the countys gender-affirming healthcare services. The second, authored by Solis and Supervisor Janice Hahn, creates an advisory commission focused exclusively on advancing LGBTQ+ policies.

In the last year, conservative lawmakers have flooded statehouses with bills targeting gay, lesbian, nonbinary and transgender youth. These have included proposals to ban books, outlaw classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity, and bar trans athletes from competing. Solis said she wanted the two motions to set the county apart from these legislatures targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

Those bills are absolutely, in my opinion, unconscionable, Solis said. Let's stand firm and make sure that we dont go in the opposite direction and allow for hateful policies to be expanded.

County leaders have six months to form the 15-person commission responsible for advising the board and countys over 30 departments on policies, budgets and programs that will support the LGBTQ+ community. Each supervisor will nominate two people and the countys other three elected officials  the sheriff, the district attorney, and the county assessor  will pick one person. Two members will be picked through an application process.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell called for the commission to include transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and nonbinary appointees.

The county already has more than 30 commissions, some of which deal with LGBTQ+ issues. The county's Commission on Human Relations, for example, develops programs to address homophobia, among other initiatives. The commission's most recent report on hate crimes found there were 41 anti-transgender crimes in 2021  the vast majority of them violent. The majority of hate crimes toward gay men were also violent.

Unlike other county commissions, this one will be composed exclusively of people who identify as LGBTQ+, according to the motion.

Having an entity made up of individuals who know and have experienced the unique struggles that are common to the LGBTQ+ community is vital, the motion said. This commission will allow the county to see this community through its own lens and understand the many overlapping challenges they often experience.

County supervisors also noted Tuesday the number of bills introduced across the nation criminalizing doctors and families seeking gender-affirming healthcare. Supervisors said they wanted to bolster these very services curtailed in other states through a motion strengthening coordination between county departments that can play a role in offering gender-affirming healthcare.

Horvath said these services would include providing HIV prevention drugs PrEP and PEP as well as puberty blockers for transgender youth.

"We must re-dedicate ourselves as an entire county and know this is a responsibility we all have," she said. "This is not a responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of the LGBTQ+ community to fight by themselves."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nation inspired to foster modern Chinese civilization

Xinhua) 08:08, June 06, 2023

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting on cultural inheritance and development last week received an enthusiastic response from all sectors of the Chinese society.

Experts and scholars in the relevant fields said that under the guidance of the speech by Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, efforts should be made to shoulder the new cultural mission of further promoting cultural prosperity and developing a great culture in China and a modern Chinese civilization from a new starting point.

At Friday's meeting, Xi summarized five prominent features regarding Chinese civilization -- consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusivity, and peaceful nature.

From a strategic perspective encompassing the holistic development of both the Party and the country, Xi has introduced fresh views on the inheritance, promotion and innovative development of Chinese civilization, creatively enriching and developing the Party's thinking on cultural development, said Wang Bo, vice president of Peking University.

"These five prominent features point the way forward for the advancement of the modern Chinese civilization," Wang added.

Xing Guangcheng, director of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said these five interconnected features constitute the general attribute of Chinese civilization.

"At such a historical juncture critical to realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is all the more important to unify the whole nation as a community with a shared future with a higher degree of identity and cohesion," Xing said.

Xi pointed out that a profound understanding of the history of Chinese civilization is essential to promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture in a more effective manner.

Xu Qinhua, a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, said Xi's words have struck a chord with her.

"The rise of all countries is spearheaded and based on cultural innovation and civilizational progress," said Xu. "Only by creating a new form of civilization can the strength of a country be translated into civilizational prosperity."

When addressing Friday's meeting, Xi said that it is natural to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture if we are to create and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of the profound Chinese civilization of more than 5,000 years.

"The integration of the basic tenets of Marxism with China's fine traditional culture highlighted by Xi represents another endeavor to emancipate our minds, which has brought new vitality to Marxism," said Han Zhen with the Beijing Normal University.

Han's views were echoed by Lyu Jian, president of Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House.

"We will employ the strength of Marxism to energize traditional culture, inject new vitality into the publishing of ancient books, and make efforts for the innovation of Chinese civilization," Lyu said.

According to Su Bomin, president of the Dunhuang Academy, Xi's speech has enabled him to better understand the far-reaching significance of openness and inclusiveness to Chinese civilization.

Su said that the academy will leverage its advanced concepts and technologies in the fields of murals, earthen sites, and digitalization of cultural relics to increase global cooperation and facilitate the advancement of modern Chinese civilization.

Fan Di'an, president of the Chinese Artists Association, said he found great inspiration in Xi's comprehensive insights and analysis of major theoretical and practical issues concerning the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.

"As art workers, we should adhere to innovation on the basis of what has worked in the past, and contribute to the building of a modern Chinese civilization," Fan added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Wearing traditional Chinese clothes, more than 50 students from a university in Angola participated in a competition to showcase their knowledge about Chinese culture.

During the first recitation competition on Chinese literature held by the Confucius Institute at Agostinho Neto University, students on Saturday recited pieces by heart from the ancient Analects of Confucius, dating back to more than 2,400 years, to contemporary Chinese poetry. Their performances impressed audiences from all walks of life in Angola.

In his opening speech, Pedro Magalhaes, rector of Agostinho Neto University, hailed the event as a grand cultural gathering. He emphasized that poetry and music are the most potent forms of global communication, and the students from the Confucius Institute symbolize the cultural exchange between Angola and China.

In the performances, the students combined dance, singing with traditional Chinese martial arts, demonstrating their enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language.

Caetano Wissa, who has just started his study at the Confucius Institute, expressed his passion for learning the Chinese language, saying his enthusiasm stems from his desire to pursue a university education in China and seize career opportunities.

"There are many Chinese people in Angola, and I expect to work with them as a translator in these Chinese companies," he said.

"This event aims to enrich the cultural experiences of the youth," said Pedro Magalhaes. He emphasized the strong ties between Angola and China and highlighted the responsibility of Angolan universities to foster closer connections between the two nations.

Ren Bing, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the university, said that his institute has provided training courses for more than 2,000 local students in the past seven years, and there are 200 Angolan youth studying Chinese at the institute.

"Chinese is not a difficult language, and through this event, we provide students with an opportunity to showcase their abilities, arouse their interest in learning Chinese, and encourage them to pursue their studies," Ren said.
Protesters opposed to Saticoy Elementary's LGBTQ+ Pride assembly and counter-protesters are seen in North Hollywood on June 2. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: As a 70-year-old straight white female, I am outraged at the hate, bigotry and intolerance I am witnessing toward the LGBTQ+ community.

I was at the protest at Saticoy Elementary in North Hollywood to stand up against hate in my neighborhood after reading posts on one of their social media accounts that included bullying of a teacher, homophobic slurs and vile accusations of pedophilia.

I heard the same LGBTQ+ hate in their chants at the protest and take issue with their denial about the true intention of their movement.

We must call out hate and call it what it is.

Carey Okrand, Sherman Oaks

..

To the editor: The Times' coverage of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters outside a local elementary school serves as a wake-up call. The attacks on the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ children and adults have already spread far beyond Texas and Florida.

Unfortunately, while providing vital reporting, the article linked directly to a social media account of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters, amplifying their hate-filled rhetoric.

It is sadly not surprising that this contagion has infected even progressive California. The right wing's well-funded political operatives know that if they lie long and loud enough that "someone wants to hurt your children, theyll succeed in inciting mobs on social media, in the street and in elected office.

This strategy might be effective, but it is cynical and promises to tear our country further apart. The Times is obligated never to aid in the online incubation of hate and divisiveness, pathogens that will eventually harm all of us.

Seth Litt, Washington

..

To the editor: I'm not sure what the protesters at Saticoy hoped to accomplish.

First of all, the Pride assembly for students was not mandatory, so the protesters could've just chosen not to have their kids participate (those who actually had kids attending the school, that is).

Beyond that, do they think that not allowing their children to experience a celebratory event about LBGTQ+ people will actually shield their kids? Children do not live in a bubble, and they will hear about LGBTQ+ issues in some way. The unfortunate part is that because it won't be in a school setting, the "facts" they hear may be at best gossip, if not total misinformation.

Kids are going to find out about other sexual orientations. Obviously, it would be best for them to understand these differences in an environment where they are clearly explained and they can comfortably ask questions.

Otherwise, parents who think they are protecting their kids are just going to make them feel ignorant and awkward.

Kendall Wolf, Encino

..

To the editor: My children are now all grown members of society. As parents we raised them to believe in inclusiveness and selflessness, and that knowledge is always be better than ignorance.

Stephen Guthrie, Fillmore

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Human Rights Campaign has declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following what it calls an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year.

A report released by HRC Tuesday, LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack, notes that more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law in 2023, more than doubling the number, in 2022, previously the worst year on record.

HRC also issued a national warning and downloadable guidebook for the LGBTQ+ community. It includes health and safety resources, a summary of state-by-state laws, know your rights information, and resources designed to support LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in hostile states, according to an HRC press release.

LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency, HRC president Kelley Robinson said in the release. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived  they are real, tangible and dangerous. In many cases they are resulting in violence against LGBTQ+ people, forcing families to uproot their lives and flee their homes in search of safer states, and triggering a tidal wave of increased homophobia and transphobia that puts the safety of each and every one of us at risk.

Robinson said as LGBTQ+ Pride Month continues in June, the group will continue to provide resources to protect LGBTQ+ people across the country. That means, she said, whether they are travelling to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws or they live in states with such laws.

There is an imminent threat to the health and safety of millions of LGBTQ+ people and families, who are living every day in uncertainty and fear. Our number one priority will always be ensuring that LGBTQ+ people are safe and have the tools they need to defend and protect themselves against acts of hostility, discrimination and  in the most extreme cases  violence," Robinson added.

HRC also called on allies of LGBTQ+ people to support the queer people in their lives and in their communities.

Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida, issued a statement in partnership with HRC. Equality Florida was the first group to issue a travel advisory for LGBTQ+ who were thinking to travel to Florida.

Florida stands at the forefront of the fight against these oppressive laws now proliferating throughout the nation, Smith said. It is heartbreaking to witness families uproot themselves in search of access to healthcare and inclusive classrooms, free from book bans and censorship.

Smith added, The assault on freedom is not limited to one state but permeates across America. The erosion of civil liberties by extremists to further their own political ambitions, poses a direct threat to the health and safety of LGBTQ individuals. It is imperative for all of us to recognize the gravity of this moment and commit ourselves to being on the frontlines, unwavering in our fight for freedom.

HRC has tracked a steady increase in anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures over the last several years  from 115 bills introduced in 2015 to more than 525 in 2023. This years bills were introduced in 41 states. More 220 of them explicitly targeted transgender people.

With this years actions and those of the past few years, 21 states now restrict transgender students participation in school sports. This affects 30 percent of high school-aged trans youth, according to HRC. Some of the laws affect elementary and middle school students, and some restrict college students as well.

Twenty states have banned some or all gender-affirming care for trans minors, meaning 30.9 percent of trans youth aged 13-17 are living in states where they can no longer access this lifesaving, best-practices medical care.

Nine states have laws barring trans people from using the restrooms, locker rooms, or other facilities comporting with their gender identity while in public school buildings and, in some cases, other venues. These restrictions affect 14.8 percent of trans people aged 13 and older, over 243,000 of the 1.6 million transgender people in the U.S. This includes 32,700 trans youth nationwide, or 10.9 percent of all trans youth aged 13-17.

Families of states with these anti-LGBTQ+ laws have also spoken out about the harm this legislation has brought on their lives.

Being forced to leave our family and friends, with Texas roots over a hundred years, is going to be the hardest thing well ever do, said Wendy, a mother of four in Texas who is relocating to Minnesota this summer, in the HRC release. Our close-knit family, especially my mom, is devastated. Going from seeing each other every week to every other month is going to be emotionally challenging.

Its difficult to articulate what its like to be forced out like this," said Megan, a Montana parent who has a transgender child and is looking for jobs in other states. "It sort of makes you feel like a refugee, as well obviously do whatever we need to do to keep our child safe."

Megan explained that she had a good job in Montana and good support network, which all make it even harder to possibly leave the state after the governor signed a law restricting gender-affirming care.

Texan Rachel Gonzales, a member of HRCs Parents for Transgender Equality Council, said her family has been fighting for years to make her trans daughter safe.

Despite the exponentially heightened threats we face today from hate-filled legislators, we are still surrounded by Texans who know, love, and support us. It is horrifying that so many families are being used as pawns in this manufactured debate from political extremists. We want every trans kid and adult here to know that they are not alone, we are staying put and well be fighting right here alongside you, Gonzales said.

When a child's basic needs are not being met, or when a child is neglected or endangered in the home, Child Protective Services is called. But what happens when it's the state that's endangering a child? When the state is not allowing basic needs to be met? said Daniel, who is the father of a transgender youth and recently moved from Florida to Minnesota. We have our own version of Child Protective Services and removed our child from the danger and neglect from the sate.

The guidebook HRC released Tuesday offers information and resources to help LGBTQ+ people stay safe while living or traveling in most hostile areas of the U.S. It is part of a larger effort by HRC, which will put out more resources in the next few months.

It includes a state-by-state rundown of anti-LGBTQ+ policies as well as LGBTQ+ protections; information on how to determine access to LGBTQ+ health care; resources for financing a move to safer states and finding employment; guidelines on dealing with school boards; information on filing complaints for violation of civil rights laws; how to identify the sources of harmful rhetoric and legislative attacks; how to engage in local advocacy opposing anti-LGBTQ+ efforts; and how to talk with friends and family about anti-LGBTQ+ hate.

More information is available on HRCs website.
Spanish startup Life5 has raised its third funding round and has been growing nicely since my previous post. The company also has a new name  it used to be called Getlife. In addition to its home country, Life5 now sells life insurance products in France.

After raising a 1 million pre-seed round and a 5.5 million seed round, Life5 recently raised a 10 million Series A round (thats $10.7 million at todays exchange rate). Existing investor Singular is investing once again, along with Mundi Ventures and Global Brain (Sony Financial Ventures).

Life5 started with a simple premise. Many people, for one reason or another, want to subscribe to a life insurance product. And yet, its often a painful process as insurance companies sometimes require medical exams. In other cases, they simply dont want to insure you due to a preexisting condition or because you dont fit the bill.

In order to modernize this industry, Life5 works with several insurance companies and simplifies the subscription process. Customers can sign up in a few minutes through Life5s website. They only need to fill out a form.

The companys underwriting engine can handle 700 illnesses and risk professions, which greatly increases the acceptance rate. The startup acts as a managing general agent and partners with insurers and reinsurers, such as Axa and CNP Assurances.

Depending on your age, your answers and your needs, Life5 will recommend a specific life insurance product to protect your loved ones in case you die suddenly. In Spain, you can insure a mortgage or leave a lump sum, for instance.

At Life5 we want people to have access to fair and modern life insurance policies, with no small print. Our aim is to banish the idea that taking out life insurance is a complicated process, which is why we offer users the chance to purchase life insurance simply and quickly, co-founder and CEO Guillermo Alen said in a statement. This new round of financing will allow us to continue growing and revolutionise the life insurance sector by offering distinct solutions.

While Life5 has already raised quite a bit of money, it is still a small player in the insurance industry, as only 9,000 families are currently covered by a Life5 insurance product.

In addition to the direct-to-consumer distribution channel, Life5 partners with brokers, agents and affiliates to distribute its products. After Spain and France, the company plans to expand to Germany and Portugal.
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament rejected on Tuesday a proposal by the ruling Homeland Union party for a snap election amidst an expenses scandal, and the prime minister later said her government may resign in response.

The centre-left Homeland Union had proposed a snap election to "reset" the political system following media reports that many politicians, including three cabinet ministers, had filed excessive expenses while working as municipal councillors.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, who has led the government since 2020, told reporters the Homeland Union party's leadership would determine whether her government should continue.

She had previously pledged to present the government's resignation unless parliament agreed to dissolve, but said on Tuesday this was not a certainty.

"I have probably allowed myself too much, because I'm not in the government on my own," she told reporters.

Presenting the election plan to parliament, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who leads the Homeland Union, said voters should be given an opportunity to be a "final arbiter" of the scandal.

"Refusal to do that means the parliament is choosing an amnesty to all () which is not, necessarily, morally right", Landsbergis told the assembly.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik)
Well never be done: The growing challenge to remove thousands of car tires from ocean floor

Officials for years have been cleaning up tire after tire from the ocean floor off Broward County  removing what was once meant to create a fish habitat but turned out to be an environmental mess. Hundreds of thousands of tires so far have been pulled out. And as more of them are taken away, the work grows more challenging.

The cleanup was easy when the diver just had to tie them up and send them up, said Pat Quinn, a biologist for Broward County who is supervising the tire removal work. But now, the remaining tires are partially or fully buried in the sand. That makes them heavy to pull out because of the suction. Equipment would be needed to lug some tires to shore, and with that, comes the higher cost.

Well never be done, he admits.

Still, could the cleanup effort be nearing its end? State officials say its time to look at what could come next.

Aiming to create a fish destination

During the 1970s, old tires were placed off the coast of Broward County between two coral reefs in an effort to create additional fish habitat known as the Osborne Reef. The exact number of tires originally dumped is unknown: the Department of Environmental Protection say it could be as many as two million.

Frankly nobody knows, Quinn said.

The idea was that the tires hard surfaces would attract marine life. But they didnt. The middle reef was smothered by random tires so that that almost nothing could grow underneath. And when the ropes binding the tires snapped apart, the tires whipped up in the current crashed into natural reef ecosystems. A Washington, D.C.-based oceanographic engineering research consultant told the Fort Lauderdale News in 1972 that the tires were an excellent choice because they dont biodegrade. A University of Hawaii diver who was involved in the project told the Fort Lauderdale News in 1979 that the tires were sunk in bundles of 10 or 12 and the bands used to hold them were supposed to break after being underwater, allowing the tires to fan out.

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Today the path of tires covers about 34 acres of the ocean floor.

But the environmental error and visual eyesore was costly, and with the effort eventually viewed by experts as harmful and catastrophic, the cleanup began in 2007, with the U.S. Army tackling the cleanup first as the lead, with assistance.

A rising cost

The price of fixing a mistake is increasing. For the last five years, tire removal work was being conducted for $18.75 per tire. Since February, the new cleanup is $29.50 a tire, in a contract that expires on Feb. 16, 2028.

The increase in cost is due to the increased level of effort needed to remove the remaining tires as they are no longer in close proximity to one another so additional time and divers are needed to retrieve the tires, according to a state DEP spokesperson.

How many tires have been removed is still unclear: The state DEP estimates more than 677,000 tires have been removed, although county estimates place that figure at about 439,000 using data from the retrieval company.

And how many are left? We dont really know, Quinn said.

He harbors no resentment over the environmental error. People thought they were doing the right thing. They just didnt know it wasnt going to work very well.

These days, its hard to go diving without still finding a tire, Quinn said.

Now, the area is not recognizable, he said. There are still a lot of tires  but not piled all over the place.

Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, was a sponsor of a bill this session signed into law by the governor that requires the DEP to submit a status report on the reef cleanup and tire removal project, and to develop a new reef restoration plan.

We really want to make sure we have an accurate status, LaMarca said, and set aside money for a new artificial reef. The next one could be made up of concrete or 3-D printed, something that is sustainable that wont cause damage.

The goal, he said, is to induce growth of marine life. He hopes the reports will be submitted by mid-2024.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash
Local girl, 15, fatally injured in rear-end collision on Ind. 32 east of Muncie

MUNCIE, Ind.  A 15-year-old local girl was fatally injured late Monday afternoon in a rear-end collision on Ind. 32 east of Muncie.

Angel N. Riley died after being taken by ambulance to the emergency department of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, according to Delaware County Coroner Gavin Greene.

The coroner said the teen died as a result of "massive trauma."

The two-vehicle crash, at Ind. 32 and Delaware County Road 400-E, was reported to emergency dispatchers at 5:53 p.m.

According to Greene, preliminary reports indicated Riley was one of four occupants in an eastbound vehicle that had reduced its speed before it was struck in the rear by another eastbound vehicle.

More: Young Muncie man killed in one-vehicle crash near Farmland

Five other people injured in the crash  three who were in the same vehicle as Riley, and two others who were in the other vehicle  were also taken by ambulance to the Muncie hospital.

An update on their conditions was not available Monday night.

The four-lane state highway was closed to traffic in the wake of the collision. Indiana State Police were investigating the fatality.

In addition to state police and the coroner's office, also responding to the scene were the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, the Delaware County Sheriff's Department and firefighters from the Liberty-Perry volunteer department.

Monday's crash came less than 24 hours after a 19-year-old Muncie man was fatally injured in a one-car crash near Farmland in Randolph County.

On April 27, a pregnant Muncie woman and the child she was carrying were fatally injured in another rear-end collision on Ind. 32 in Liberty Township, that one near Truitt Road.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Local girl, 15, fatally injured, five others hurt in Ind. 32 crash
Local Hispanic and Latino Students encouraged to apply for Achieving the Dream Scholarship

Local students have an opportunity to win a scholarship to help with college.

The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has extended the deadline for its Achieving the Dream Scholarship to June 15.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Its awarded annually to 10 or 12 students of Hispanic or Latino descent who are pursuing an Associates, Bachelors or Masters degree.

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WASHINGTON  Lockheed Martin on Tuesday announced it has selected a General Electric Aerospace engine for the aerial refueling tanker its seeking to sell to a wavering Air Force.

Lockheed picked GEs CF6-80E1 engine for its planned LMXT strategic tanker, which would be a variation of Airbuss A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.

Over the next decade, the Air Force plans to buy about 75 tankers to tide it over between the Boeing-made KC-46 Pegasus  of which the service plans to buy 179 units  and a next-generation design that could be fielded in the latter half of the 2030s.

Lockheed hopes its proposed LMXT can fill that interim role, which in the past has been referred to as a bridge tanker.

But the Air Force has downgraded its procurement plans for the interim tanker, announcing in March that it had decided to cut in half the original plans to buy 150 of them and speed up the procurement of the next-generation tanker. And Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has suggested the service could forgo a competition for the interim tanker, and instead buy another series of modified KC-46s from Boeing.

The Air Forces surprise announcement upended the state of play on its future tanker vision, and made Lockheeds path to success on LMXT tougher.

In a briefing with reporters Tuesday, Larry Gallogly, head of Lockheeds campaign, said the company wants its engine decision to show the Air Force that its LMXT tanker could be a viable choice for the service if it decides to launch a competition.

We want the Air Force to be very confident that we are the low-risk solution, he said. We do want to convince the Air Force that we are ready to go ahead, but we also need to show the Air Force exactly what they would be getting if they entered this competition  what is the real alternative?

Gallogly said Lockheed hopes the positive 50-year track record of GEs CF6 series of engines on other planes such as the C-5M Super Galaxy and the current Air Force One presidential planes will make it easier for the Air Force to opt for a competition.

This aircraft has the space, it has the electrical power requirements, he said. This engine would provide a lot of electrical power on the aircraft to grow with the mission.  When we look at the Pacific theater in particular  there will be this insatiable need for gas. And if the Air Force chooses to sole-source this interim block of tankers, we set ourselves up for a single point of failure for bulk delivery of fuel in-theater.

Abdoulaye Ndiaye, the general manager for GE Aerospaces mobility engines program, said the Royal Australian Air Force now flies MRTT aircraft with GEs CF6-80E1 engines, and the Spanish Air Force plans to use those engines on its future MRTT fleet.

Concept art released by Lockheed Martin shows its proposed LMXT refueling tanker, based on Airbus' Multi Role Tanker Transport, refueling an F-35. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed chose this version of GEs CF6 engine over other unspecified engines because it would deliver greater thrust  almost 70,000 pounds  and better fuel efficiency than previous models, Gallogly said.

If the Air Force goes with LMXT, Lockheed Martin plans to build it in Mobile, Alabama, and Marietta, Georgia.

Lawmakers such as Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Alabama, have criticized the Air Force for considering skipping a competition. In May 2022, Carl made an unsuccessful attempt to add an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have forced a tanker competition, saying lawmakers could not allow the Air Force to run away with our checkbook and do what they want to do.

The Air Force has not yet released its requirements for the next tanker purchase, but Gallogly said the process of setting requirements will likely be finished in late June or early July.

Lockheed expects the Air Force to release a request for information after the requirements are done, he said, and by the end of the year, it will be clearer if the service plans to hold a competition.

When we see those final requirements, that will give us a much better idea of how well the LMXT is aligned with the priorities of the Air Force, Gallogly said. We think weve got a pretty good idea of what those requirements are going to be, but were looking forward to actually seeing those requirements in writing.
D-Day, the largest land, sea, and air invasion ever attempted, happened on June 6, 1944  79 years ago. Its impact resonates today.

The Allied forces turned the tide in World War II with the invasion of Nazi-held Europe. Soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy still faced incredible challenges, persevering when an intricate Operation Overlord didn't go according to plan.

But the decision-making savvy shown by the Allied commanders then is an example of what is always needed to manage changing worldviews, said now-retired Gen. Jeff Harrigian, who penned a D-Day anniversary observance editorial on USATODAY.com in 2021.

"Then and now, information is the key to warfare when youre locked in conflict with a peer adversary as the Allies were with Nazi Germany," said Harrigian, who at the time was the commander of the U.S. Air Forces Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

With information and space as potential "domains of conflict" with adversaries China and Russia, the U.S. and its allies must continue to evolve its ability to use data to its advantage in deterring  and combatting  adversaries, Harrigian said.

Why is D-Day still important today?

There are more existential reasons, too, as to why D-Day remains significant to us. "They gave us our world," said President Clinton, during events observing the 50th anniversary in France.

Sgt. Nathan Rogers, a 23-year-old Army Ranger at the time attending the ceremony, said of the troops involved. "They mean everything to us," he said. "We wouldn't have existed if not for them. They definitely set the standard."D-Day's significance spans continents and decades. "If any single day can credibly be presented as the defining moment of a century, its 6 June 1944, the day of the allied landings at Normandy," Peter Jennings, who was the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute from May 2012 to May 2022, said back in 2014. "As it was the successful allied landings announced Americas arrival as the worlds leading power, created the basis for Europes future wealth and stability, and established the claim that democracy and international collaboration would ultimately overcome totalitarianism."

D-Day: Photos give glimpse into historic World War II invasion 79 years ago

Saluting our veterans: USA TODAY special edition

What is D-Day? When did it happen?

More than four years into World War II  Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939 set off the global conflict  the major Allied forces including the U.S., Great Britain, France and Russia planned an invasion to weaken an already spread-thin German army, according to History.com

The operation would happen on June 6, 1944, but what would become the largest amphibious assault in history had been in the works for years. Preparation began in December 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt named General Dwight D. Eisenhower the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, notes the National World War II Museum.

Troops crouch inside an landing, craft, vehicle, personnel boat, or Higgins boat, just before landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

What does D-Day stand for?

You might think the "D" in D-Day stands for "Designated" or "Decision," but the D actually stands for "Day," because it is a coded designation used for the day of any important invasion or military operation. So actions taken four days ahead of the actual operation, for instance, would be D-4, according to the U.S. Army.

American soldiers land on the French coast of Normandy during the D-Day invasion in June 1944.

What was Operation Overlord?

Operation Overlord was the code name for the D-Day invasion. Overlord included all of the planning that went into the assault, which would involve the transporting of more than 150,000 infantry troops across the English Channel into German-occupied France.

By the end of May 1944, more than 1.5 million U.S. Army personnel had arrived in the U.K. to participate or support the operation, according to the National World War II Museum. Overall, more than two million soldiers from the U.S. soldiers and 250,000 from Canada had arrived by June in preparation for, and to support, the invasion, according to History.com. Also delivered: 7 million tons of supplies including 450,000 tons of ammunition.

(FILES) This file photograph taken on June 6, 1944, shows Allied forces soldiers during the D-Day landing operations in Normandy, north-western France. - The D-Day ceremonies on June 6, 2019, will mark the 75th anniversary since the launch of 'Operation Overlord', a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by - / AFP)-/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1GY9SJ

Operation Overlord also contained a fake operation called Operation Fortitude to convince Hitler the Allies would attempt to land in Norway and Pas-de-Calais in France where the English Channel is narrowest. The plot, concocted over months, included a fake army, led by General George Patton, and readying in Dover for the channel crossing, notes History.com.

Another fictitious force, the British Fourth Army, stationed in Scotland to threaten Norway, where Hitler's U-boats were based, "existed only on the airwaves," wrote historian Stephen Ambrose in "D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II." British officers and German spies created a web of realistic radio messages to convince the Germans of the operation and wooden fake bombers were deployed.

The feints were so successful that even as the Normandy invasion occurred, Hitler considered it a ploy to divert attention from Calais. "They had placed the bulk of their panzer divisions north and east of the Seine River, where they were unavailable for counterattack in Normandy," Ambrose wrote.

What was General Eisenhower's speech on D-Day?

Eisenhower issued an Order of the Day for June 6, 1944, which he had begun writing in February 1944. "You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months," read the order, of which Eisenhower also recorded a radio broadcast version. "The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world."Copies of the order were given to the 175,000-member expeditionary force on the eve of the invasion, according to the National Archives.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the day, "Full victory - nothing else," to paratroopers somewhere in England, just before they boarded their airplanes to participate in the first assault in the invasion of the continent of Europe, June 6, 1944.

Eisenhower also recorded a message to be broadcast to those living in German-held Europe. It started off with People of Western Europe! A landing has been made this morning on the coast of France "

In this address, Eisenhower also instructed patriots outside of recognized resistance groups to continue "passive resistance," but he added, "do not needlessly endanger your lives; wait until I give you the signal to rise and strike the enemy," wrote Tim Rives, the deputy director and supervisory archivist of the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas.

Did D-Day go according to plan?

There were many complications. Eisenhower had chosen June 5, 1944, as the date for the invasion, but it was postponed until the next day because of weather.Many paratroopers, dropped in the morning behind enemy lines to cut off supply routes, missed their landing targets because they had to jump from planes moving faster than expected to evade anti-aircraft fire. Fog and high winds worsened the situation, too, History.com details.

While under attack of heavy machine gun fire from the German coastal defense forces, American soldiers wade ashore off the ramp of a U.S. Coast Guard landing craft in this June 6, 1944 file photo, during the Allied landing operations at Normandy.

As the Allied forces landed on five beaches, the U.S. landing force for Utah beach was blown off course. Winds and tide also affected the U.S. landing at Omaha, where the fiercest fighting was seen.

After emerging from landing boats, troops were pinned down by enemy machine-gun from the cliffs overlooking the long, flat beach code-named Omaha. If you (stayed) there you were going to die, Lieutenant Colonel Bill Friedman told the National World War II Museum. We just had to . . . try to get to the bottom of the cliffs on which the Germans had mounted their defenses. U.S. and British destroyers arrived to attack enemy positions and support the troops including those attempting to commandeer the critical Pointe du Hoc, a German-held clifftop between Omaha and Utah beaches, notes the Naval History and Heritage Command site.

By the end of the day, about 156,000 Allied troops had successfully landed and taken Normandys beaches.

Pointe du Hoc is the highest point between the American sectors of Utah and Omaha Beaches. As part of the D-Day invasion, U.S. Army Rangers scaled the 100-foot cliffs from the sea below to take out German machine gun bunkers.

How did D-Day succeed ?

Operation Overlord involved more than 11,000 planes and more than 5,000 ships and landing craft, along with 50,000 vehicles.

"The plan had called for the air and naval bombardments, followed by tanks and dozers, to blast a path through the exits so that the infantry could march up the draws (ravines) and engage the enemy, but the plan had failed, utterly and completely failed," Ambrose wrote. "As is almost always the case in war, it was up to the infantry. It became the infantry's job to open the exits so that the vehicles could drive up the draws and engage the enemy."

Junior officers and noncommissioned officers "saw at once that the intricate plan ... bore no relationship whatsoever to the tactical problem they faced," he wrote.

Their training "had prepared them for this challenge. They sized up the situation, saw what had to be done, and did it," Ambrose wrote.

American soldiers wait in foxholes at Utah Beach on D-Day for the order to move inland against German fortifications.

Sgt. John Ellery, of the 16th Infantry Regiment of the First Infantry Brigade, also known as "The Big Red One, was among the first wave to hit Omaha Beach. He told survivors around him, "we had to get off the beach and that I'd lead the way," and climbed up the bluff to use grenades to take out a machine gun position, Ambrose writes in "D-Day.""We sometimes forget, I think, that you can manufacture weapons, and you can purchase ammunition," Ellery is quoted by Ambrose, "but you can't buy valor and you can't pull heroes off an assembly line."

Now many soldiers died on D-Day?

4,415 Allied soldiers died on D-Day, with U.S. servicemen accounting for 2,502 of the death and 1,913 Allied soldiers from seven other nations, according to The National D-Day Memorial Foundation.

Between 4,000 and 9,000 German soldiers were killed, wounded or missing in action.

About 200,000 German prisoners of war were captured.

An estimated 12,200 French civilians died or went missing during the battle, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

The invasion proved successful: Paris was liberated from the Germans on Aug. 25, 1944 and on May 7, 1945, less than a year after the D-Day invasion, Germany surrendered.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: D-Day: World War II invasion was 79 years ago. It remains significant
Louisiana set to join other states in LGBTQ bans, restrictions unless governor vetoes

Louisiana lawmakers will send a host of anti-LGBTQ bills to the governor's desk, joining other conservative southern Republican states in bans on gender identity discussions and in schools, library restrictions and outlawing gender affirming healthcare for minors.

All of the bills, including one that would require school employees to use the names and pronouns of students on their birth certificates unless they have parental consent, received veto-proof wins in at least one of the chambers.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he believes the bills are generally unnecessary and understands the LGBTQ community's concerns, but he hasn't said whether he will specifically veto any of the bills.

The bills must return to their respective originating chamber - House or Senate - for final passage because they were amended, but no roadblocks are expected.

As has been the case in other states, the national debate over gender identity is among the marquee culture war issues being debated in the Louisiana Legislature.

"God answered many prayers being lifted up by parents today," said Republican Haughton Rep. Dodie Horton after her House Bill 466, known by opponents as "Don't Say Gay," cleared the Senate on a 29-9 vote.

Following are the bills that on the brink of final passage:

 Senate Bill 7 by Republican Turkey Creek Sen. Heather Cloud to restrict minors' access to public library materials deemed "sexually explicit." Her measure cleared the House Monday on a 73-28 vote.

 Horton's House Bill 466 bill restricts the discussion of gender and sexuality in public school classrooms.

 House Bill 81 by Republican Bossier City Rep. Raymond Crews requires school employees to use the names and pronouns of students on their birth certificates unless they have parental consent and even then teachers can opt out if they object for religious reason. It cleared the Senate Monday on a 31-8 vote.

 House Bill 648 by Republican Rep. Gabe to ban gender affirming healthcare for minors passed the Senate Monday on a 29-10 vote.

Gabby D., a transgender man from Metairie, and his mom Tina D., protest anti-LGBTQ legislation on April 12, 2023 at the Louisiana Capitol.

Members of the LGBTQ community have said they feel under attack.

"It's dangerous to be trans in America," said Gabby D., 18, of Metairie, in an interview with USA Today Network. "There is a wave of hate going on."

But supporters of the legislation say the bills are designed to protect children and preserve parental rights.

Cloud said her bill provides common-sense guardrails that many other media platforms provide to parents.

She said the legislation would "empower parents" and enforce their "fundamental right for the upbringing of their children."

"We must encourage Gov. Edwards to sign this layer of protection into law," Horton said of her legislation. "We are praying that he will."

More: Louisiana closing in on gender affirming healthcare ban for transgender children, teens

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana set to join other southern states in LGBTQ bans, restrictions
China and Tunisia Monday signed a joint cooperation agreement on conducting archaeological investigation, excavation and protection of an ancient Roman site in Tunisia.

Li Qun, China's vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and Hayat Guermazi, Tunisian culture minister, attended the signing ceremony and held working talks.

Li said that the joint archaeological research between China and Tunisia on the ancient Roman ruins in the region of Ben Arous is of great significance.

Chinese archaeological institutions have carried out 44 joint archaeological projects in 24 countries, and China has relatively advanced archaeological technology and mature experience in foreign cooperation, Li said.

He hoped that the two countries will actively discuss joint archaeology in more heritage sites and carry out cooperation in mutual exhibition of cultural relics, recovery and return of lost cultural relics as well as personnel training.

Noting that both Tunisia and China have a long history and culture, Guermazi expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration between Tunisia and China in the field of archaeology, and voiced hope that the two sides can further expand the scope of cultural cooperation and promote cultural exchanges.
A once-daily pill from drugmaker AstraZeneca cut deaths in half among a subset of early-stage lung cancer patients who had undergone surgery, according to new clinical trial results.

The findings were presented Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The data is the first to show how a targeted treatment for early-stage lung cancer impacts survival, said Dr. Roy Herbst, the trial's principal investigator and deputy director at Yale Cancer Center. The drug, called osimertinib and sold under the name Tagrisso, is directed at a specific receptor that helps cancer cells grow.

I think were curing some patients," Herbst said. "Were really showing progress in lung cancer like never before.

The trial results were "about twice as good as we expected," Herbst added.

In an international study of 682 lung cancer patients, roughly half of the participants were given the daily pill for three years, while the other half received a placebo. Five years after their diagnosis, 88% of those who took the pill were still alive, compared with 78% of the placebo group. The study was funded by AstraZeneca and included people from more than 20 countries across the U.S., Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East.

The researchers found that the drug lowered the overall risk of death from lung cancer by 51%.

Last year, the Biden administration set a moonshot goal of reducing the cancer death rate in the U.S. by at least 50% over 25 years.

At least in this one area, weve hit the mark, Herbst said.

Tagrisso is already approved in more than 100 countries, including the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in 2015 for people with more advanced lung cancer who saw their disease get worse during or after taking other treatments. Then in 2020, the agency approved Tagrisso for early-stage versions of the disease.

Herbst's research team showed three years ago that Tagrisso kept tumors from coming back and prevented cancer from spreading to the brain, liver and bone.

"We already knew that this drug was effective. However, what we are seeing now is that patients will also live longer, said Dr. Charu Aggarwal, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine, who wasnt involved in the research.

The trial included people with stages 1, 2 and 3 non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer.

Participants also had a mutation in a receptor called EGFR. The receptor normally helps cells grow, but the mutation can make cells excessively divide and multiply, which may cause cancer. The pill functions as an off switch for that mutated receptor, Herbst said.

Around 10 to 15% of lung cancer cases in the U.S. have an EGFR mutation, though it's more common in Asia and Australia. The mutation is usually detected in people with little to no smoking history.

Herbst said the new survival data could encourage more doctors to prescribe the drug. The data might also prompt wider insurance coverage of the pill, he said, since the treatment is expensive and insurers prefer to see a survival benefit before deciding to reimburse a costly drug.

Patrick Forde, an associate oncology professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said that before targeted treatments like Tagrisso were available, patients with stage 1 to 3 lung cancer would normally receive chemotherapy after surgery. That might improve their odds of survival by about about 5% compared to those who didn't receive chemo, he estimated. (Forde wasnt involved in the new research, but he has consulted for AstraZeneca and obtained research funding from the company in the past.)

"If you go back 15 years, for this patient population we would have expected maybe a survival of 50% at five years," he said. "But because of the advances both for stage 4 cancer, and now this advance in earlier stage cancer, we're up to 88%."

Doctors may still recommend both chemotherapy and Tagrisso after surgery, Forde said.

Compared to chemo, Tagrisso comes with fewer major side effects. According to Herbst, some people on the pill experience skin rashes and mild diarrhea, but overall the drug is "quite well tolerated."

Jill Feldman, a lung cancer patient who has been taking Tagrisso for more than four years, said that her cancer has stopped progressing on the drug and noted that it was easy to take at home as a pill. But she added that side effects that arent life-threatening can still be life-altering to patients. Since she started on the drug, said Feldman, 53, of Deerfield, Illinois, she has experienced diarrhea, mouth sores, fatigue and a skin infection in her nail beds.

One lingering question, Forde said, is whether survival rates would stay the same if patients were given the pill after their cancer relapsed versus immediately after surgery. However, doctors generally recognize that treating cancer early improves survival rates.

Early screening is still a challenge, though: In most cases, Forde said, doctors don't screen broadly enough to detect lung cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screenings for certain adults ages 50 to 80 with a history of smoking.

"Only about 5% of patients are being appropriately screened, and thats in contrast to things like breast cancer mammograms or cervical screening," Forde said.

Aggarwal said many lung cancer patients aren't tested for EGFR mutations, either. The new data could be a "call to action" to increase those screenings, she said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A scan of human lungs, depicted in dark red and pink, with a cancerous tumor in the upper right lung shown in yellow and orange

A once-daily pill halved people's risk of dying from a common lung cancer when they took the drug after tumor-removal surgery, new trial data shows.

Made by the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Tagrisso, also known as osimertinib, reduced the five-year risk of death in lung cancer patients by 51%, according to a study published Sunday (June 4) in The New England Journal of Medicine . Researchers presented this data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago (June 2-6).

The study was the result of a 682-patient trial that included participants diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one of two main types of primary lung cancer. All patients also had a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which codes for a protein found on the surface of cells. EGFR mutations can boost cancer's ability to grow and spread, raising patients' risk of cancer recurrence post-treatment.

Related: Does it matter what time of day you get cancer treatment?

Osimertinib essentially works by blocking the effects of common EGFR mutations, according to the new report. Such mutations are present in about 25% of lung cancer patients worldwide, according to The Guardian .

"Thirty years ago there was nothing we could do for these patients," study co-author Dr. Roy Herbst , deputy director of the Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, said at the ASCO meeting, The Guardian reported. "Now we have this potent drug. Fifty percent is a big deal in any disease, but certainly in a disease like lung cancer, which has typically been very resistant to therapies."

Approximately 80% to 85% of all lung cancers are NSCLC. Each year more than 127,000 Americans die from lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society .

Patients in the trial received either a placebo or osimertinib. Five years after having their tumors surgically removed, 88% of patients who took osimertinib were still alive, compared with 78% of the placebo patients, according to the study.

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"A five-year overall survival rate of 88% is incredibly positive news," Angela Terry , chair of the nonprofit EGFR Positive UK who was not involved in the study, told The Guardian. "Having access to a drug whose efficacy is proven and whose side effects are tolerable means patients can be confident of and able to enjoy a good quality of life for longer."

Unfortunately, not all lung cancer patients are tested for the EGFR gene, Herbst said. "This further reinforces the need to identify these patients with available biomarkers at the time of diagnosis and before treatment begins," he said.
The woman was eventually handcuffed (Tik Tok/@kicknit35)

A Southwest flight was briefly delayed at New Orleans airport on 29 May so that local law enforcement could remove a passenger who refused to disembark the aircraft when asked to.

In a video posted to social media, the woman is seen giving the authorities details about when she paid for her flight, before three deputies  reportedly from the St Charles Parish Sheriffs Office, according to FoxNews  pull her out of her chair and into the aisle.

As she is pulled down the aisle, she is seen resisting being taken off the plane and asking if she can have her phone: I literally need my phone, I paid for that, she says.

Sir, can you please get my phone? she adds, as one of the deputies is seen holding it.

The woman then remarks that she is so confused, whats happening, with a passenger next to her replying: Yeah, well, were not.

Other passengers were clearly tired of the ordeal, with one thanking the officers as they began to escort the woman in question off the plane.

Youre making it worse for yourself, says another traveller as the woman resists being removed from the aircraft.

The deputies then begin to put handcuffs on the unnamed woman, with passengers telling her that it looks like she is under arrest.

The video has since gone viral, with 1.7 million views at the time of writing.

Fox News reports that the person who filmed the video said the woman was asked nicely to get off the flight, but she refused numerous times. As a result, the airline called for assistance.

People in the comments were quick to criticise the woman, with one questioning why people fight the cops.

Ill never understand this, said another.

The Independent has contacted Southwest Airlines for comment.
[Source]

Several Twitter users slammed a Malaysian man for his online comments targeting Pride Month celebrations in Thailand.

What happened: In a tweet on Saturday, Twitter user Faisal Rahim criticized Thailand for how it celebrated Pride Month by turning malls into "drag queen shows with trans women wearing revealing clothes and dancing in public, according to Coconuts.

It is so inappropriate for kids. I guess thats what pride means to them, he continued.

What people are saying: Rahims tweet, which has garnered over 9.4 million views, was met with a wide variety of responses from other Twitter users, many of whom defended Thailands tradition of celebrating Pride Month.

More from NextShark: Filipino student faces scrutiny after claiming he was admitted to 30 universities in US, UK

Imagine feeling this entitled at one of the most LGBTQ affirming & visible countries in Southeast Asia, one user wrote. Bangkok has been celebrating Pride since 2006. The new Thailand government has even pledged to recognise same sex marriage.

Coming from someone who definitely lacks the wisdom to comprehend things, another user said. Embarrassing tweet. Lgbt-safe conditions are huge tourist pull factors for countries such as Thailand and others I shall not name. Let's keep it safe and fun for everybody.

Another Twitter user defended the drag shows Rahim purportedly saw by calling them works of art.

More from NextShark: BTS' Jin has surprise Billboard hit with viral 'Super Tuna' song, V breaks two Instagram world records

Meanwhile, others addressed Rahims Muslim beliefs, with one user writing, "I'm Thai and feel annoyed with Muslims from other countries. If you don't like and feel uncomfortable about LGBT that much then don't travel to Thailand. This place is not suitable for you, and as Thais, we won't welcome Muslims who are close-minded also."

Another user wrote, "As a Thai, I want to say that despite Buddhism making up the most of population, Thailand is, unlike yours, a secular state. This is a small chunk of diversity we Thais uphold. You cant use your religious belief to insult other people. Each person has their own belief."

The bigger picture: Pita Limjaroenrat, the front runner for Thailands prime minister seat, promised at a Pride parade in Bangkok on Sunday to make same-sex marriage legal in Thailand once elected as the next Prime Minister.

The 42-year-old candidate, who leads the Moving Forward Party, is reportedly speaking with other opposition members to form a coalition that would help pass laws to ensure equal rights for all in Thailand, including the Marriage Equality Act.
A 20-year-old Stockton man has been missing since Sunday afternoon after presumably drowning in Northern Californias South Yuba River, authorities said.

The man disappeared in the river around 4 p.m. Sunday near Nevada Countys Bridgeport area, the Nevada County Sheriffs Office and Nevada County Consolidated Fire District said Tuesday in social media posts.

A multi-agency search took place Monday involving sheriffs deputies, California State Parks officials, multiple fire departments and a dive team.

After a lengthy and difficult search the person was not located, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District officials wrote. Yet another unfortunate reminder of how unforgiving the river is.

Searches remain ongoing, the Sheriffs Office said Tuesday.

The presumed drowning would mark at least the second this year on the South Yuba River. A 17-year-old from Washington state died in April while kayaking on the river, Nevada County fire officials said.

We cant repeat the warning enough, please stay out of the Yuba River, it is not safe for swimming at this time, Nevada County deputies wrote.

Authorities continue to urge people to avoid Northern California rivers and other waterways, many of which are cold and raging due to record snowpack levels from winter. According to public safety officials and the National Weather Service, the waterways likely will not be warm enough for safe recreation until at least late July or early August.

A 15-year-old boy drowned Sunday evening on the Sacramento River near Sand Cove Park, Sacramento Fire Department officials said.

Two drownings were reported last month on the American River in Placer County. A 22-year-old Antelope man was found dead near Folsom Lake after being swept away near the confluence of the north and middle forks of the American River, authorities said. The body of a Bay Area man who jumped into the North Fork American River near Yankee Jims Bridge in the Foresthill area on May 14 has not yet been recovered.
A Sedgwick County judge has sentenced a Wichita man to 18 years in prison for the shooting death of another man in 2014, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office.

James L. Edwards, 60, pleaded guilty on April 6 to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the Oct. 9, 2014, killing of Nathaniel Jackson, 36. Police have said Jackson died at a hospital less than an hour after he was shot during a cocaine sale and possible robbery inside Edwards home in the 1500 block of North Minnesota.

Officers found Jackson in the living room with multiple gunshot wounds after Edwards called 911, according to an affidavit released by the court.

Edwards told police he had asked Jackson to come over to sell crack cocaine to another man who wanted to buy some, the affidavit says. He was arrested and charged with felony murder in 2019, nearly five years after Jacksons death, after prosecutors dismissed a homicide charge in 2015 against that other man, Michael D. Davis, over unspecified concerns about the investigation.

The voluntary manslaughter count in an amended complaint filed in the case says Edwards killed Jackson upon a sudden quarrel or in the heat of passion.

Judge Christopher Magana imposed the sentence Monday. It includes three years of post-release supervision, Dan Dillon, a spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office, said.
Man accused of violently attacking woman in Darke Co., holding her hostage for multiple days

Investigators are working to bring a man back to the Miami Valley to face charges for a violent attack.

Police arrested Bradley Boyer in Indiana Monday in relation to a stabbing that happened in Union City in Darke County.

Union City police said the victim was not able to get help for several days after being badly beaten and stabbed.

Police said the victim lived with the suspect.

Our News Center 7 crews were there when officers went inside the home on East Carmel Street Tuesday.

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Theres a lot of blood throughout different rooms, theres some puncture holes and some of the furniture from where he described, the incident took place. Theres a lot of blood in the furniture, Mark Ater, Chief of Union City Police Department said.

A normally quiet block is now part of an investigation.

I hardly ever see any cops around here or anything like that, Jake Combs who visited the area often said.

Ater said investigators got a search warrant to go inside the home a day after Boyer was arrested.

Police believe the stabbing happened in the home last Friday and the victim was held against her will that night.

The male that was involved, Bradley Boyer, then took her from this residence after not letting her leave throughout the night get home to her from this residence and went to Redkey, Indiana early Saturday morning. Its my understanding that she was kept inside of an apartment until yesterday morning where she was able to reach out to a neighbor, Ater said.

Law enforcement caught up with Boyer and took him into custody in Redkey, Indiana  more than 20 miles away from Union City.

>> Death investigation launched after welfare check in Kettering

Its sad. I feel bad for the victim in this case. I mean she was badly beaten and wasnt able to get medical care. No one should have to go through this, Ater said.

Neighbors told News Center 7 that Boyer moved onto the street recently but not much was known about him.

I think he was more a keep to himself, stay inside kind of guy, Combs said.

As the victim recovers at a hospital in Indiana, some are just trying to wrap their brain around what happened.

I mean its horrible, horrible, especially in a town like this, Combs said.

Police said Boyer and the victim were known to each other.

He will face an extradition hearing in Indiana so police can bring him back to Darke County.

Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to contact the Union City Police Department at (937)986-7744.
A 28-year-old man was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly smashing a series of windows in the downtown Palm Springs area.

Ernest Wildon Mecca of Redding in Shasta County was arrested early Monday in Palm Springs on suspicion of vandalism, possession of unlawful paraphernalia and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

Palm Springs Police learned of a series of window smash vandalisms in the downtown area, police said in a statement. An unidentified person destroyed windows using rocks, at various downtown Palm Springs establishments.

Officers quickly identified and arrested Mecca for allegedly vandalizing Johannes and Division Menswear, according to police. Other vandalized businesses included Fudge and Chocolates, Grand Central, and Salon 119 Beauty and Spa.

Mecca was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on $10,000 bail.

Investigators are working to establish potential links between Mecca and the other acts of vandalism that transpired in the same vicinity, police said in a statement. Police will thoroughly investigate acts of vandalism and fully prosecute those who commit these acts.

Anyone with information on the vandalized business, including video surveillance that could aid in the investigation, was asked to contact PSPD Detective Matt Steed at 760-323-8157.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Man arrested in series of Palm Springs vandalism incidents
Man charged in the sexual assaults of 4 women over a decade ago after his DNA was pulled from a drinking glass at an event, prosecutors say

Investigators in Boston have used DNA analysis to identify and charge a suspect in the sexual assaults of four women whose cases have gone unsolved for over a decade, according to prosecutors.

Investigators identified Matthew Nilo, who now lives in New Jersey, as the suspect after revisiting the cases last year, the Suffolk County District Attorneys office announced Monday.

The 35-year-old was arraigned Monday on three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape and one count of indecent assault and battery, according to the district attorneys office. He pleaded not guilty, his lawyer said.

Mr. Nilo maintains his innocence, Nilos attorney Joseph Cataldo said in a statement. He was shocked and we intend to contest the matters.

The four attacks were reported between August 2007 and December 2008 and occurred in the area of Terminal Street in the Charlestown neighborhood, according to prosecutors. The victims were between 23 and 44 years old at the time.

After their cases laid cold for years, Boston police revisited the investigation in 2022, the district attorneys office said in the release.

They employed forensic investigative genetic genealogy, in which investigators search publicly accessible DNA databases, populated only by data which users have chosen to make available, to narrow the pool of potential suspects, the release explained.

After identifying Nilo as a person of interest, investigators began surveilling him early this year while he lived in New Jersey and worked in New York City, prosecutors said.

FBI agents were able to obtain utensils and drinking glasses Nilo used at a corporate event, prosecutors said.

The Boston Police Crime Lab then pulled a DNA profile from one of the glasses, which matched the suspect profile in the three rape cases, prosecutors said.

Investigators also analyzed DNA found on a glove of the victim in the December 2008 assault case, according to the release. She had poked her attackers eyes during the incident, prosecutors said, but no forensic link was made at the time.

Further testing determined that this profile was 314 times more likely to belong to Matthew Nilo than to any other male in the population, Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum said in court Monday.

Nilos attorney suggested he may challenge the legality of the FBIs evidence collection.

If the government obtained DNA evidence from my client without a search warrant, then the constitutionality of that action will certainly and most vigorously be challenged in court, Cataldo said.

Nilo was arrested last week, Boston police announced. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. If released on bail, Nilo must wear a GPS tracker, surrender his passport, have no contact with the victims and stay away from the area of the alleged assaults unless accompanied by his attorney, the district attorneys office said.

His bail review hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Cowbell, an insurance company where Nilo works, said in a statement Monday that Nilo has been suspended pending further investigation. Nilo was hired in January 2023, after passing a background check, the company said.

CNNs Aaron Eggleston contributed to this report.

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Authorities are looking for a man in connection with a February homicide in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, authorities said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service have requested the publics assistance in locating Tyriq Eastling, wanted in connection with death of Barry Richardson, Pocola, Oklahoma on Feb. 21, 2023.

A warrant on a first-degree murder charge in LeFlore County had been issued for Eastling.

Authorities are looking for Tyriq Eastling in connection with a February homicide of a Pocola man.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the location and/or arrest of Eastling.

Two other individuals suspected of being involved in the homicide, Tavin Chambers and Rashawd Chambers, were apprehended and are now in custody at the LeFlore County Detention Center.

Eastling had contacts throughout Oklahoma and Arkansas. Authorities are working diligently to bring this investigation to a swift and just conclusion, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said.

The community's support and cooperation will be appreciated and anyone with information is encouraged to come forward, OSBI said.

The public is advised not to approach Eastling and to immediately contact their local law enforcement agency. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of Eastling, please contact the OSBI tip line at 1-800-522-8017 or tips@osbi.ok.gov or the U.S. Marshals Service.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: LeFlore County murder suspect sought
An oil refining facility is seen in this file photo in Dalian, Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]



China topped the ranking in oil refining capacity in 2022, at 924 million metric tons, or 18.5 million barrels per day, industry experts said.

Ethylene production capacity also continued to grow rapidly for a fourth consecutive year in 2022, with total capacity reaching 49.53 million tons per year, surpassing the United States and becoming the world's largest, according to the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association.

Data released by the Economics and Technology Research Institute of China National Petroleum Corp showed that the country's production capacity has been optimized, with China putting in place an advanced refining capacity of 20 million tons per year, while it phased out 7.4 million tons per year in outdated capacity.

The institute said domestic refining capacity is expected to grow, as the government has approved several projects, including the integrated refining and petrochemical projects of China National Petroleum Corp and China National Offshore Oil Corp, as well as new construction and expansion projects by private enterprises and joint ventures with foreign companies and wholly foreign-owned large projects.

China's recent wave of refinery expansion, led by CNPC as well as large private firms including Zhejiang Rongsheng Holding Group and Jiangsu Shenghong Petrochemical, has helped fill a supply gap in petrochemicals, according to Fu Xiangsheng, vice-president of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association.

CNPC started trial runs of its large greenfield refinery complex in Guangdong province in February, as part of its efforts in international oil and gas cooperation and refinery business upgrade.

With a total 65.4 billion yuan ($9.2 billion) investment, the project, the company's single-largest investment of its kind in China, began construction in 2018 and will produce petroleum, diesel, aviation kerosene, high- and low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene and butadiene.

Wang Lining, director of the oil market department of the institute, said China has been encouraging foreign companies in the refining sector and has attracted several international companies, including ExxonMobil, BASF and Saudi Aramco, to invest in China over the past few years.

These companies have actively pursued joint ventures or wholly owned projects in the country, promoting further development and diversification of the domestic petrochemical market, he said.

The diversification will further encourage market competition in the field of high-end petrochemical products in China, he added.
Manhattan driver who killed Gramercy Park pedestrian and hurt 4 had been drinking all day, starting with boozy brunch: prosecutors

A Manhattan drunken driver went on a day-long bender before killing a pedestrian and injuring four other victims more than seven hours after his first drink at a Sunday brunch, prosecutors charged Tuesday.

Mahbub Ali, 26, was ordered held on $300,000 bail for the wild Sunday evening crash that sent Gramercy Park pedestrians scrambling for cover and left victims scattered along the street  including the dead 23-year-old.

The defendant climbed behind the wheel after starting his drunken spree at a noontime brunch and never stopped before the 7:30 p.m. crash, said Assistant District Attorney Taylor Maurer during Alis Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment.

[Ali] admitted to going out drinking all day and to driving after, Maurer said. Because of [his] decision to drink and drive, there are now four individuals who suffered physical injury, two of whom needed surgery, and one 23-year-old man who is dead.

Two hours after the wreck on Third Ave. near E. 21st St., Alis blood alcohol level was .158, nearly twice the legal limit. Authorities said the Queens resident went to a second location after brunch and continued his boozing.

A source with knowledge of the case said the NYPD was investigating whether the defendant was trying to avoid a bicyclist before the catastrophic crash.

This was a tragic accident and it has impacted the lives of several families, said defense attorney Steven Epstein. Were remorseful for the results of this accident but ask that everyone keep in mind that not all accidents result in criminal responsibility, even tragic ones like this.

Victim Abdulhekim Esiyok, 23, was crossing Third Ave. near E. 21st St. when Ali slammed into him, with freelance journalist George Colli rushing to the victims aid after hearing the crash.

I held his hand and he was gone, said Colli, who found the victim in a fetal position alongside a crumpled metal trash can. Me and another woman prayed over him. It gave me some kind of comfort.

Colli, who knew members of the dead mans family, recognized Esiyok from a local church group where he was a volunteer. The Turkish immigrant was staying at a nearby shelter near where he was struck, Colli said.

He was a very hard worker, said Colli. He came here to work and send money to his family back home.

Four others were hurt in the crash that left debris, including broken bits of a bicycle, scattered over half a block.

Zipping uptown on Third Ave., Alis Hyundai Sonata struck Esiyok in the marked crosswalk at E. 21st St., then swerved right and hit an 18-year-old man turning onto the avenue on his e-bike, police said.

Ali then mounted the sidewalk, his cars right tires hitting two more pedestrians, a 21-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, before slamming into a parked and unoccupied NYPD van.

I was just crossing the street when I heard a bang, a nearby resident who identified himself as Robert told the Daily News on Monday. There was a scary sound, a lot of commotion, a lot of screaming. You knew right away something was wrong.

You saw people on the ground triage kind of instantly and pieces of car mixed with bike strewn all over the ground, he added.

Ali was caught on surveillance camera striking the NYPD vehicle, a garbage can and a light pole, according to court papers. A 25-year-old woman in the passenger seat of Alis car suffered a leg injury.

Esiyok was thrown in the air for a significant distance when Ali rammed into him, Maurer said.

Medics rushed all the victims to Bellevue Medical Center, where Esiyok died.

More than $6,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe post for Esiyoks family.

Ali, in a white T-shirt and jeans, was standing outside his mangled car when taken into custody, cops said. It was his first arrest.

The fatal crash came one day before Queens two men were killed in an alleged drunken driving collision shortly before sunrise Monday. The suspect admitted plowing into the other vehicle after ignoring a stop sign, authorities charged Tuesday.
pride flag waving in the air

June is here, and the spirit of LGBT Pride is palpable. The parties are already happening across New York, and theres plenty of buildup leading to the Pride parade on June 25. Nobody does gay pride like Manhattan, thats for sureexcept maybe San Francisco.

But what if huge crowds give you anxiety? The other four boroughs in New York also offer Pride events throughout the month. Of particular interest is Brooklyn Pride on June 10.

Heres why you should give Brooklyn Pride a try this year.

Brooklyn Pride Is Smaller

Theres an unmistakable intimacy to Brooklyn Pride, which runs along 5th Avenue in Park Slope. In an effort to create community for local LGBT people, Brooklyn Pride, Inc. was established in 1996. Its grown so much over the years but hasnt lost sight of its roots.

There are activities that precede the march. If you feel like working up a bit of a sweat, theres still time to register for the Brooklyn Pride 5K Run and Walk.

Theres also a festival, where youll find all kinds of vendors. Local, national, and international artists perform on the main stage from noon to 6 p.m. Youll find the stage at 4th Street Plaza, just off 5th Avenue.

There Are Family-Friendly Activities

Youll find all ages of people at NYC Pride, but its very much an adult affair. Brooklyn Pride is a good alternative for families with younger children.

Starting at 11 a.m., check out the Family Fun Zone at Old Stone House/J.J. Byrne Park. Theres plenty to keep the little ones happy like face painting, arts and crafts, and storytime. Once the kids are tired out, you can leave them with a sitter and return for the march later on.

The March Is Smaller, But Still A Vibe

Whether youre in the parade yourself or just watching, a good time is promised. Unlike the main parade in Manhattan, it takes place in the evening, around 7:30 p.m. Starting on 5th Avenue and Lincoln Place, the march disperses on 9th Street. At least thats whats meant to happen. Sometimes people insist on dancing in the street for much longer than planned.

Brooklyn Pride isnt just concerned with revelry. Before the march, theres usually a moment of silence to remember those lost to AIDS. After that, its on. Dykes on Bikes, cheer squads, and various floats are part of the procession. Speakers blast every kind of music you can imagine, from dancehall to disco anthems.

In Manhattan, you may need an act of Congress to help you navigate the crowds. In Brooklyn, its much easier to move away when youve had your fill.

There Are Some Nice Local Bars To Support

Manhattan has bars on top of bars, but it can be hell trying to get to those on or near the parade route. Just ask Stonewall.

If you want to imbibe, head to Gingers Bar, which is right on 5th Avenue. Its one of the few remaining lesbian bars in New York, but all are welcome. Patrons can take advantage of the outdoor patio, or shoot some pool.

If you still have gas left in the tank, you wont have any trouble finding an after-party. Whether you go to Brooklyn Pride or not, enjoy this Pride season!

RELATED: Heading To New York For Pride? Here Are Some Things To Know As A First Timer
Martha Stewart says America will go down the drain if employees continue to work remotely

Martha Stewart has shared her candid thoughts about remote work.

The 81-year-old media mogul came out against businesses allowing their employees to work remotely in an interview with Footwear News published on Monday (5 June). While describing her packed daily schedule, Stewart revealed that she didnt stop working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

I continued to work five days a week, she said. As companies have slowly introduced return-to-office measures, with some allowing employees to opt for a hybrid work schedule, Stewart has taken a stance against remote work.

You cant possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely, she told the publication. The Martha Stewart Living founder noted how many French companies allow most of their employees to take summer holiday between July or August, with some French workers receiving 30 days a year of paid vacation.

Look at the success of France with their stupidyou know, off for August, blah blah blah, Stewart said. Thats not a very thriving country. Should America go down the drain because people dont want to go back to work?

Since 2020, many workspace environments have shifted from in-person offices to allowing employees to work from anywhere remotely. Other companies have requested that their employees switch to a hybrid schedule, in which they work from home some days during the week and from the office other days of the week.

Martha Stewart previously opened up about working during Covid-19 pandemic in a 2021 interview with Harpers Bazaar, where she revealed that she had 30 employees on-site at her farm in Bedford, New York. Speaking to the magazine, the lifestyle guru believed that business owners should be able to call their employees anytime, even on weekends, she said.

Stewart went on to share how she called a new employee on a Sunday, but he told her he couldnt talk because he was taking a bath. I knew I couldnt work with that person. I just couldnt, she said. If you cant talk on a Sunday and you take umbrage that Im calling you on a Sunday  you know, if you are a terribly religious person, I take that into consideration. But I knew this guy was not a terribly religious person.

Its exciting! Business is exciting, she added. I want people to feel that way about business.

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, many companies have since called on their employees to return to the office full or part-time. In April, JPMorgan Chase said it will be ending its hybrid work policy for senior staff, while Amazon said in February that it will require corporate employees to spend at least three days per week in the office beginning on the first of May.

Most recently, a professor sparked backlash amongst Gen Z and Millennials for saying that young people should never be home if they want to be successful.

The Independent has contacted Martha Stewart for comment.
Mayor Adams offered an endorsement Tuesday of Board of Correction Chairman Dwayne Sampson after five board members staged something of a palace coup and blocked Sampsons choice for a new director.

Saying he was not fully aware of Mondays dramatic emergency session of the board, Adams said he appoints boards and then steps back.

Mr. Sampson is bringing a level of experience on how to run the board, and theyre going to go through their moments.

He has to navigate that. The board has to navigate that, Adams said.

The Board of Correction monitors and sets rules for the Department of Corrections treatment of detainees at Rikers Island and other city jails.

On Monday, the quintet of board members met in a hastily called emergency session and tapped Jasmine Georges-Yilla as interim executive director, denying Sampson his unilateral choice for the post.

The group also changed rules so Sampson could not unilaterally knock members off committees  as happened last month when he removed Bobby Cohen and Jackie Sherman from the committee that investigates deaths and replaced them with two Correction Department loyalists.

Sampson did not attend the meeting and has said nothing since his agenda was upended.

Joseph Ramos and Jacqueline Pitts, the two board members allied with the administration, also did not attend the meeting and have not commented.

We must be willing to sit in a room  there are going to be moments of debates, moments of disagreements, moments of very heated conversation  but its healthy. Thats what our society is about, Adams added.

The drama started early Monday when Sampson sent a two-page letter to Board of Correction staff announcing his pick for director. In that letter, he also said he was taking personal control of all agency communications.

I will have the policy and communications unit report directly to me, effective immediately, Sampson wrote. Given my intimate knowledge of the boards needs ... I am best-suited to provide targeted continuous guidance to the unit.

But following Mondays meeting, it was the five other board members  not Sampson  who wrote the statement to the public released early Tuesday.

These steps were necessary to affirm that the New York City Charter vests authority and responsibility in the board as a whole, as opposed to a single member of the board, the statement said.

Sampson did not respond to an email Tuesday. The agency also did not respond.
Religious and community leaders on Tuesday urged compassion for the 36 Central and South American migrants who arrived in Sacramento in two separate private chartered flights amid ongoing questions about who orchestrated the trip.

The first group of 16 migrants landed Friday and were bused to the doorstep of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. Three days later, a second group of 20 individuals was flown over in the same plane.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom have said they believe both flights were arranged by the state of Florida and its governor, Ron DeSantis. DeSantis did not take any media questions on Tuesday, his first public appearance since the migrant flights.

During Tuesdays news conference at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in midtown, the coalitions leaders avoided speaking about DeSantis, deflecting political questions, but reinforced the idea that migrants were intentionally deceived to board the planes.

The migrants  most from Venezuela and between 20 to 30 years old  were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, where people representing a contracting organization convinced them to relocate for housing and job opportunities, according to Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of Sacramento area religious congregations. Most migrants were not approached as a cohesive unit, with the ordeals resembling more of a trickling situation.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, about the arrival of 36 migrants via two mysterious plane flights to Sacramento in the past four days. This is worth uplifting what you see behind me here today because this is the best of American values, he said of the communitys response to support the unexpected arrivals.

Some of them walked from seven to three months just to get here in search of the American Dream, said Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT. That dream quickly became a nightmare. They were lied to and deceived.

Since arriving Friday, local faith-based organizations have collaborated to provide services for the two groups. The migrants have been given housing in an undisclosed location, received cellphones to contact family, taken shopping for clothing and some attended mass Sunday at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church near Southside Park.

Many are still adjusting to Sacramento weather, which is comparatively cooler than Latin American countries, said Trejo.

She and other community leaders also described experiences with the migrants over the last four days that demonstrate gratitude and a desire to be incorporated fully into our community.

Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT, speaks on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at a press conference at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in midtown about the arrival of 36 migrants via two mysterious plane flights to the city in the past four days. She joined local and state leaders and members of the faith community in speaking about how the Sacramento community to help the unexpected arrivals.

Shireen Miles, a Sacramento ACT volunteer, shared a recorded message from a Colombian man, who migrated because his family lacked resources and money. Miles took the man and others to a thrift store over the weekend.

Que viva la gente de Sacramento, (Long live the people of Sacramento), the migrant said in the recording.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg met with the migrants Monday night and detailed their desire to begin working. He called that desire the immigrant story of the United States for 300 years.

The only thing they want is the opportunity to give back, to work hard and to contribute to this country so that they can help their families, Steinberg said.

Steinberg declined to answer questions about who is responsible for the migrants being sent to Sacramento but seemingly referenced DeSantis.

They, or he, is not worth dignifying, he said.

Many of the migrants have court appointments elsewhere in the country, with some beginning within the next two weeks. Nonprofit immigrant advocacy groups have deployed lawyers to Sacramento to offer assistance.

Trejo said although some migrants seem open to the idea of remaining in Sacramento, they can leave at any time. Four migrants have already left Sacramento through transportation from their relatives.

Some of them were hoping to be reunited with friends or family throughout the country, said Cecilia Flores, a spokeswoman for Sacramento ACT. And then there are a good number of them whose destination was the United States.

If more migrants should arrive in Sacramento, community leaders said they were prepared and would help them as well.

Nothing would surprise us and we will be prepared and ready to welcome people who need our help, said Steinberg.
The GOP 2024 presidential primary is expected to grow more crowded this week with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum all set to officially launch their bids.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu wont be joining them because he ruled out pursuing the GOP nomination in a CNN interview broadcast Monday.

Even if the field ends up pretty much set after this week, there are enough candidates that it will be a struggle for many of them to find a lane to victory  or even into serious contention.

Here are the paths ahead for the declared candidates

Former President Trump

Trump has by far the clearest pathway to victory given he is the front-runner and, despite all his many controversies, the dominant figure in the party.

In national polling averages, Trump has a lead of around 30 points over his most serious rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The challenge for Trump is not finding a lane, but rather avoiding meeting any insurmountable obstacles.

Speculation is building that charges for Trump could be imminent over sensitive documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Other legal perils proliferate, including charges filed in New York about allegedly falsifying business records and a probe into attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

Trump also turns 77 later this month, which raises its own questions about whether voters want to put him in the White House again.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

DeSantiss basic offer to GOP voters is that he can provide much of the same combative, right-wing populism as Trump, without the propensity for self-defeating chaos.

DeSantis has also begun to jab Trump from the right, suggesting the former president is less staunch in opposition to abortion, among other things.

Still, the Florida governors position in the polls has eroded over the past few months, and his embarrassing campaign launch at a creaky Twitter Spaces event didnt help.

DeSantiss best bet is to get Trump in a head-to-head contest. Thats certainly possible in the end. But any more missteps could open the door to other candidates.

The more truly viable candidates there are, the thinner the non-Trump vote will be sliced  and thats bad news for DeSantis.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.)

Haley and Scott have similarities that go beyond being rooted in South Carolina.

Both are plausible candidates. Both offer a firm conservatism, yet argue they can expand the GOPs appeal in ways Trump and DeSantis cannot. And both face real challenges in breaking out of the chasing pack and into serious contention.

There are ways it could happen.

Trump and DeSantis could bloody each other up so much that frustrated voters begin to give other options a closer look.

A real misfire by one of the big two  for example, a criminal conviction for Trump or a DeSantis campaign that falls flat  would change the dynamic of the whole race.

Haley and Scott would be well placed to capitalize if that happened.

Given the basic similarities in how Haley and Scott are positioned, however, its likely that just one of them, at best, could be truly viable as the nominee.

Former Vice President Pence

Pence will make his candidacy official Wednesday in Iowa.

In a pre-Trump Republican Party, it is easy to see why Pence could discern a path for the presidency.

He has deep roots among Christian conservatives, he has executive experience as a former governor and, as VP to the most recent GOP president, he could conceivably see 2024 as his turn.

The problem for Pence is threefold: He is deeply distrusted by the Trump base, having broken with the former president over Jan. 6, 2021. He risks falling between two stools, offering neither Trump-like populism nor a clearly defined alternative. And several other contenders offer a crisper rationale for their candidacies.

Its very tough to see a path to the nomination for Pence unless several other candidates end up colliding catastrophically in a political demolition derby.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

There is virtually no plausible route to the nomination for Christie, who is poised to launch his campaign Tuesday in New Hampshire.

Christie looks certain to present himself as the most aggressively anti-Trump candidate in the race.

Despite having been allied with Trump at times in the past  including endorsing him early in the 2016 race and being centrally involved in Trumps debate preparation in 2020  he has become a harsh critic.

Christie has called Trump Putins puppet over the war in Ukraine and earlier this month said Trump has done nothing but lose since 2016.

There is virtually no evidence that can be a winning proposition in a GOP primary, where Trump is viewed favorably by around 80 percent of the GOP electorate and other figures who have taken a vigorously anti-Trump stance  notably former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)  have been vanquished.

Vivek Ramaswamy

The 37-year-old entrepreneur has made some headline-grabbing proposals and he at least registers in polls.

Advocates argue he could take advantage of dissatisfaction with the status quo and the current fashion for outsider candidates.

He could indeed ride those waves to greater prominence. But it would be a seismic shock if he were to become the nominee, or even come close.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson

Burgum is expected to enter the race this week. Hutchinson has been in the race since April.

There is a slightly more viable path for Burgum, who is more staunchly conservative and independently very wealthy. But its tough to see how either one of the two, both of whom are modest and not abundantly blessed with charisma, makes any real impact.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Two men were arrested after they allegedly dressed as police officers after they robbed two people at gunpoint at a Kettering home early Tuesday morning.

Kettering police were first called to the Shell gas station at the intersection of East Dorothy Lane and County Line Road around 1 a.m. after receiving a non-emergency phone call from a newspaper delivery driver.

The driver reported a woman was at the gas station saying two men who said they were police officers had just robbed her and another person.

Someone just came to my house. They had badges on, and said they were the police, but they told me not to call the police. They literally had me at gunpoint. They took my phone. They told me not to scream or do anything, the victim said in the phone call, obtained in a News Center 7 public records request.

>> Missing Adult Alert cancelled for 82-year-old Miami Valley man

The woman later reported to police that the two robbers approached her, yelling the name of the other victim, saying he was on probation and was under arrest, police documented in the incident report also obtained by News Center 7.

Kettering officers later found the robbery happened at a house south of the gas station on Gracemore Avenue. Further investigation found the woman and the second victim had just returned home when the robbers showed a gun and forced both inside the house.

Eventually both victims were forced into the residence where their cell phones were taken and thrown. Its not clear as to anything else that might have been taken, Kettering Police Public Information Officer Tyler Johnson told News Center 7s Kayla McDermott.

Both of the victims cell phones were later found in the yard of their house, Johnson said.

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Kettering police used their Flock license plate reader system to get the plate of the suspect vehicle, which was registered to an address in Whitehall, Ohio, east of Columbus. Kettering officers sent notifications to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Columbus, and Whitehall police to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Kettering officers and Whitewalls SWAT team searched multiple locations, according to our news partners at WBNS.

The two suspects were arrested but no charges have been filed yet, WBNS reported.

Kettering police are still investigating possible motives behind the incident however initial indications in the case show is was a targeted crime, Johnson said. Investigators also believe there is no ongoing threat to the general public.

I feel the investigation is leaning towards, it could be a targeted person where they were possibly followed to the residence for some reason that were not exactly sure of just yet, Johnson said.

Its just something where it just seems so bizarre. Its just part of the investigation definitely being looked into.

Johnson also described the incident as rare to have robbers impersonating as police. However, if someone feels a person theyre talking to isnt a police officer there are ways to check while interacting with the suspected officer.

Its pretty rare for us to hear something like (suspects impersonating police officers.) And I dont think its a common thing even around the country, Johnson said.

So if you see somebody thats dressed in something other than (a Kettering police uniform) make sure you get a proper identification. If you feel like theres something fishy going on, feel free to call 911 to confirm that person is an officer.

This is a developing story and well continue to update this page as we learn more.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he had sought to promote unity within the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) during a dinner on Monday evening attended by the party's main contenders to succeed him.

MORENA is due to pick its presidential candidate in the coming months, and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has been urging the party to ensure there is a level playing field for the contest, helping to feed speculation about possible splits.

Ebrard is one of the leading contenders to succeed Lopez Obrador, though most recent polling has tended to give Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum a slight edge in the race.

Lopez Obrador said Ebrard, Sheinbaum and Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez, another presidential hopeful, were at the dinner, where MORENA leaders congratulated party stalwart Delfina Gomez for winning the State of Mexico's gubernatorial election on Sunday.

"And we also met to maintain unity, so that there aren't divisions," the leftist president told reporters.

MORENA is strongly favored to win the 2024 presidential election, polls show. Under Mexican law, presidents may only serve a single six-year term.

Lopez Obrador said he could not go into detail about discussions during the dinner, but noted that he had made a pledge not to "tip the scales in favor of anyone" in the selection process.

(Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Paul Simao)
At Miami City Hall, protesters want Carollo thrown out of office, voluntarily or otherwise

A small group of people braved nasty weather to gather outside Miami City Hall on Tuesday morning to demand that Commissioner Joe Carollo resign or  barring that unlikely move  have him forced out from office by the governor.

That gathering of business owners, activists and residents came in the wake of big legal and political loss for the long-time and long controversial politician. Carollo was found liable in federal court last week of violating the First Amendment rights of two of Little Havanas largest commercial property owners. Jurors said the commissioner pressured code enforcement officers and police to harass William Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla and force businesses on some of their properties to shut down or move., awarding them a staggering $63.5 million in damages.

Carollo, 68, and a fixture in City Hall for decades, has already announced he will appeal the decision while continuing on as a commissioner.

From a podium just outside Carollos front entrance-facing office and under a small overhead covering keeping away the rain, two dozen men and women held signs calling for the commissioner to step down. Several of them also spoke to a small crowd and members of the media.

Marvin Tapia, president of Miami-Dade Countys Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board  who was on the board of Little Havanas Viernes Culturales with Fuller before Carollo forced its departure from Domino Plaza  said the commissioner long-ago forgot how to act as a public servant.

Im here because we all deserve better, he said.

Coconut Grove resident Cecile Tavera-Webman carries a sign asking who is paying for the $63.5 million court verdict against City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo during a protest rally at Miami City Hall in Miami on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Also speaking Tuesday was Daniel Figueredo, a co-owner of Sanguich de Miami. It was a popular, free-standing Cuban sandwich restaurant on one of Fullers properties in the heart of Calle Ocho, before Carollo became obsessed with shutting it down for lack of permitting. It has since moved about 10 blocks away.

We instantly became a political pawn all because he had a bone to pick with our landlord, Figueredo said.

Coconut Grove activist and developer Andy Parrish called for the city to more than double the size of its current five districts. And resident Nathan Kurland asked for an independent counsel to look into the commissions actions. Former Florida State Sen. Annette Taddeo criticized Miami for a lack of leadership and recommended that commissioners stop taking advice from an attorney who is part of the problem.

City Attorney Victoria Mendez has been a staunch supporter of Carollo, blaming the legal battle between the businessmen and Carollo and the trial squarely on Fuller and Pinilla. And though the city of Miami wasnt on trial, Mendez has agreed to pay Carollos attorney fees, which according to city records, were at almost $2 million even before the trial began.

Attorney David Winker, arguing that Carollos civil court loss should amount to criminal charges, read a letter to Gov. DeSantis from Ernesto Cuesta, managing director of the Brickell Homeowners Association. In it, Cuesta argued that Carollo had breached the integrity and accountability his office demands.

Given the proven evidence he should be removed from office. This action would serve as a demonstration of your commitment to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and public trust, Cuesta told DeSantis

Convincing the governor to remove Carollo is likely to be a tall order. Unlike North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo, who Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended from office Monday after he was charged with three counts of voter fraud, Carollo has not been charged with a crime in criminal court.

The governor has also removed others from office, including former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, after criticism of the law enforcement response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in 2018 and Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren in 2022 for allegedly refusing to prosecute certain state laws. DeSantis referred to Warren, a popular Democrat, as woke.
Michael Bibi's a big name on the UK dance scene, and is a regular in Ibiza

DJ Michael Bibi has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain and spinal cancer.

The dance music producer said it was "moving fast" and he was staying in hospital for treatment.

In an Instagram post on Monday night, he told fans he'd been diagnosed with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.

"I don't know what lies ahead, I'm tired but I know I am strong and I won't let this beat me," the 32-year-old added.

Michael is one of the British dance scene's most popular DJs, known for his groove style of house music.

He's been on residency at DC10 nightclub in Ibiza and was due to play at the Parklife festival in Manchester and Glastonbury this summer.

The DJ posted the news on Insta alongside a picture of him doing a peace sign with a cannula in his hand.

"Typing this message doesn't quite seem real and I'm sorry for the bad news," he wrote.

"I will be back stronger for you all. Love Bibi."

Solid Grooves, the record label he founded also posted on Insta, saying he'd taken the brand around the world "while maturing and growing into an international superstar".

"The entire team sends our love and support while he recovers, and we hope to have him back with us as soon as possible to make more memories," they added.

'From London heavyweight to global superstar'

By BBC Radio 1's Dance Party DJ Danny Howard

Michael Bibi (left) came to see Danny Howard in the Radio 1 studios a couple of years ago

Michael's rise has been sharp over the last five years - going from London heavyweight to global superstar is testament to his hard work and talent.

A brilliant producer and influential DJ, he's leading the new generation of ravers with his Solid Grooves-branded UK warehouse parties and popular Ibiza residency.

While his profile has soared, he's always remained humble and the same guy I used to support back in the day on my late-night Radio 1 show when he was breaking through.

Seeing the news is obviously a highly emotional time for everyone who's ever worked with or been connected with Michael.

We all need to be strong for him, send him love and support as he battles through this devastating time, I know the whole dance community is behind him.

Some of the biggest artists in dance music commented on Michael's Insta post to let him know they were thinking of him, including Skrillex and Jamie Jones.

Dutch DJ Martin Garrix wrote: "You got this bro! sending lots of strength and love."

"This is heartbreaking. Can't imagine what you're going through right now. Wishing you a speedy recovery," Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte said.

Michael runs two of his own music labels, Solid Grooves and SG Raw, and is known for playing lengthy sets.

Earlier this year, he was forced to cancel some performances due to ongoing tinnitus health-related issues.

The DJ then posted a video online in May saying the problems were down to a "more serious" neurological concern.

CNS lymphoma

Lymphoma of the brain or spinal cord is also known as primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma

It's a rare type of cancer - around 2 in every 100 brain or spinal cord tumours are lymphomas

Lymphoma means it starts in the lymphatic system, while primary means it started in the lymph tissue of the brain or the spinal cord

The lymphatic system is a system of thin tubes and lymph nodes that run throughout the body

Source: Cancer Research UK

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Senior Chinese political advisor Shen Yueyue on Monday called for more efforts to facilitate women's development at the opening ceremony of the 2023 BRICS Women's Leadership Forum.

Shen, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of the All-China Women's Federation, noted that China's modernization drive has expanded the prospects for the comprehensive development of women, and injected new impetus into relevant cooperation between BRICS countries.

To facilitate women's development, Shen said we should adhere to the principle of putting people first and an innovation-driven approach, and enhance exchanges and mutual learning so that women can live improved lives and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The forum was hosted jointly by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the China Chamber of International Commerce.
Michael Sheen spoke about acting ahead of his upcoming role in four-part drama Best Interests

Actor Michael Sheen has said that he finds non-Welsh actors playing Welsh characters "hard to accept".

Speaking to The Telegraph, the Hollywood star addressed whether actors should play roles they cannot personally identify with.

Some people have pointed out Sheen has played roles such as Edinburgh-born Tony Blair and David Frost from Kent.

However, he said cast and crew of his new drama, Best Interests, made him consider this position.

The actor, who was born in Newport and grew up in Port Talbot, said the fact that several people with disabilities worked on the project, which focuses on a family whose child has cerebral palsy who suffers a life-threatening seizure, was "striking" as he has rarely seen it before.

This made Sheen consider if actors can credibly play roles with identities that are not theirs.

He said: "You know, seeing people playing Welsh characters who are not Welsh, I find, it's very hard for me to accept that."

But, the actor added that this view was not "particularly on a point of principle".

Upcoming BBC drama featuring Sheen, The Way, is due to be filmed in his hometown of Port Talbot later this year

Similarly, Sheen said he had not seen many actors from "quite privileged backgrounds" be "particularly compelling" when playing characters from working-class backgrounds.

"If you haven't experienced something, you know, the extreme example is, well, if you haven't murdered someone, can you play a murderer?" he said.

Online, however, Twitter users pointed out the actor had played many non-Welsh roles, accusing him of double standards.

In his time, the fine Newport actor #MichaelSheen has played David Frost and Tony Blair.



Were they Welsh like you, then, Michael? #CulturalAppropriation #DoubleStandards #JustStopSilliness https://t.co/BDvHRCLrR0  James Woudhuysen (@jameswoudhuysen) June 6, 2023

Others suggested that there was a conversation to be had on the topic.

Responding to the criticism levelled at him, Sheen wrote on Twitter: "A comment about having heard a lot of dodgy Welsh accents from non-Welsh actors is not the end of the world.

"It's not about principle, it's about being convincing. And the money people not thinking Welsh actors can lead shows a lot of the time."

This conversation is not entirely new. In 2020, This is England star Stephen Graham - born in Kirkby, Lancashire - faced some backlash when playing the role of DCI Taff Jones in true crime series White House Farm.

The drama depicted the real-life story of the White House Farm murders that took place in Essex in 1985, with Graham in the lead role as a Welsh detective.

But his depiction of the police officer's Welsh accent was criticised, with one Twitter user calling it a "cross between Russian and Jamaican".

Stephen Grahams welsh accent in. #WhiteHouseFarm is a cross between Russian and Jamaican. Just get a welsh actor?!!  Matt Blackhouse (@mblackhouse) January 8, 2020

Actors were not the only non-Welsh roles discussed by Sheen.

He also believed the Prince of Wales title should be retired.

"I think it's ridiculous. It's just silly," he said.

"I see no reason why the title should continue. Certainly not with someone who's not Welsh."

He did add, however, that this was not the "majority view".
Michael Sheen has admitted he has trouble accepting non-Welsh actors playing Welsh roles.

The actor, who was born in Newport, Wales, made the remarks while discussing his new role in BBC Ones Best Interests, in which he plays the father of a child with cerebral palsy.

He noted that there were several people with disabilities working on the project, leading him to talk about of how far actors can plausibly play people whose experience they have not shared.

You know, seeing people playing Welsh characters who are not Welsh, I find, its very hard for me to accept that, the 54-year-old told The Telegraph. Not particularly on a point of principle, but just knowing that thats not the case.

Thats a very different end of the spectrum, but a part like Richard III [the disabled Shakespeare character] is such a great character to play, it would be sad to think that that character, you know, is no longer available or appropriate for actors to play who dont have disabilities, but thats because Im just not used to it yet, I suppose.

Because I fully accept that Im not going to be playing Othello any time soon, he added, referring to Shakespeares Moorish military commander. Until around 1981, the role of Othello was frequently performed by white actors, including the Sir Anthony Hopkins and the late Laurence Olivier, wearing Blackface makeup.

Again, its not particularly a point of principle, but personally, I havent seen many actors who have come from quite privileged backgrounds being particularly compelling as people from working-class backgrounds, Sheen continued.

If you havent experienced something, you know, the extreme example is, well, if you havent murdered someone, can you play a murderer?

Michael Sheen (Getty Images)

Sheens comments are the latest in a long-running discussion around authentic casting.

Last month, Helen Mirren said she had tried to turn a blind eye to criticism after she, a non-Jewish Brit, was cast as former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir.

Suranne Jones, meanwhile, who is straight but has played gay characters in Gentleman Jack and Vigil, said she did not agree with Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who previously declared that gay roles should be left to gay actors.

Best Interests, which co-stars Sharon Horgan and Lenny Rush, airs on BBC One on at 9pm on Monday 12 June.
Deputies and fire personnel in Michigan are being praised as heroes after a sheriff released heart-pounding bodycam footage of the rescuers saving an unresponsive toddler who fell into the family pool over the weekend.

The childs mother reported that she found the child in the swimming pool and not breathing on Saturday morning in Mount Clemens, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office said.

The father immediately began CPR on the child until deputies and fire personnel arrived within moments of receiving the call and took over life-saving measures.

Officer-worn bodycam footage shows personnel working on the unresponsive child to get her breathing and her heart beating.

DASHCAM VIDEO SHOWS MICHIGAN BOY, 10, LEADING POLICE ON HIGHWAY CHASE

Deputies arrived at the scene within moments of the call and took over life-saving measures from the child's father, authorities said.

"Come on, baby! Come on. I got a heartbeat," one deputy can be heard saying.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A deputy can be heard saying that he found a heartbeat as he continued to work on the unresponsive child.

Officials determined time was too precious to wait for additional personnel and rushed the child to a hospital inside a deputys vehicle with fire personnel riding along and continuing life-saving measures.

At the hospital, doctors found the child was breathing and had a pulse, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies and fire personnel rushed the child to a hospital in a patrol car because time was of the essence, the sheriff's office said.

WASHINGTON STATE FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE 12-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO FELL 20 FEET DOWN WELL

The toddler was then airlifted to another hospital with a Level-II pediatric trauma designation and was reported to be in stable condition.

"This type of situation is one of the worst a parent can experience," Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement. "The responding Deputies and Fire personnel acted swiftly, ensuring the toddler received lifesaving measures and hospital transportation as quickly as possible. I applaud these public servants for their exceptional efforts."

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As of Monday afternoon, the sheriffs office said the parents report that the toddler has been released from the hospital and is expected to fully recover.
The logo of the American computer and personal computer company Microsoft is visible through a grid of its headquarters on January 25, 2023 in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Microsoft will pay $20m (16m) to US federal regulators after it was found to have illegally collected data on children who had started Xbox accounts.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a settlement with the company on Monday, which also includes increased protections for child gamers.

Among other violations, the FTC found that Microsoft failed to inform parents about its data collection policies.

It follows a similar action against Amazon last week over its Echo devices.

The FTC said Microsoft violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by not properly getting parental consent and by retaining personal data on children under 13 for longer than necessary for accounts created before 2021.

The law requires online services and websites directed towards children to obtain a parent's consent and to inform the parent about personal data being collected about their child.

Xbox users must create an account to use certain services. Information such as full name, email address and date of birth are collected as part of the set up.

Not until after obtaining personal information, such as the child's phone number, did Microsoft ask for a parent to provide permission.

From 2015 to 2020 Microsoft retained data "sometimes for years" from the account set up, even when a parent failed to complete the process, the FTC said in a statement.

The company also failed to inform parents about all the data it was collecting, including the user's profile picture and that data was being distributed to third parties.

"Regrettably, we did not meet customer expectations and are committed to complying with the order to continue improving upon our safety measures," Microsoft's Dave McCarthy, CVP of Xbox Player Services, wrote in an Xbox blog post.

"We believe that we can and should do more, and we'll remain steadfast in our commitment to safety, privacy, and security for our community."

As part of the settlement, Microsoft must also institute new safety protections for children. That includes maintaining a system to delete all personal data after two weeks if no parental consent is obtained.

The order must be approved by a federal judge before it can go into effect.

Last week, Amazon agreed to pay $25m after the FTC found that it had retained sensitive data, including voice recordings of children, for years.

Amazon's doorbell camera unit Ring also agreed to pay out $5.8m after giving employees unrestricted access to customers' data.
Mid-State Fair announces free carnival rides on the first day  no wristbands needed

All carnival ride will be free on the first day of the California Mid-State Fair next month  with no tickets or wristbands necessary, organizers announced on Tuesday.

The promotion is a partnership with Helm & Sons Amusements and is only good for Wednesday, July 19, according to a news release.

Admission to the Paso Robles Event Center is still required, but single ride tickets and unlimited ride wristbands will not be necessary to ride any of the carnival attractions, including the Big Splash water ride, the new P.L.U.R. Spinning Coaster and Medusa.

The offer doesnt include paid carnival games, according to the release.

We are pleased to bring back this great deal for all fairgoers, California Mid-State Fair CEO Colleen Bojorquez said in the release. Its a fun way to welcome the community back on our grounds.

The carnival will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight. Carnival ride height and size restrictions still apply.

For all other days of the 2023 fair, pre-sale single-day unlimited ride wristbands are available for purchase for $35 at www.MidStateFair.com. Presale fair admission tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $9 for kids. Prices at the gate are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $9 for kids.

The 2023 California Mid-State Fair runs July 19-30, and this years theme is Shake, Rattle & Roll!
MIDDDLETOWN - State police have charged a Middletown man with predatory sexual assault against a child.

According to state police, their Child Abuse Unit in Orange County was working with the county's Child Protective Services Unit when they received an allegation that an adult male was engaging in sexual conduct with a child less than 13 years old.

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An investigation led to the arrest of Liberio Nieto, 28, of the city of Middletown. He was charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, a felony.

Nieto was arraigned before Middletown City Court Judge Richard Guertin and sent without bail to Orange County Jail, pending a Friday court appearance.

The name of Nieto's attorney was not immediately available.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Middletown man facing child sexual assault charge
Missing woman found dead Monday night in Logan Square building near her residence; She was a great person

A woman found dead Monday night in Logan Square was identified by loved ones as 33-year-old Brittany Battaglia, who was described as a great person by her brother on Tuesday.

She was a great person. She was happy and she would help anyone, her brother AJ Battaglia told the Tribune.

Battaglia was reported missing after she was last seen June 2, and police issued a missing report for her Monday morning.

On Monday night, an unidentified woman was found unresponsive in a building in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue, about a block away from where Battaglia lived. The woman was found shortly after 8:30 p.m., Chicago police said.

My parents are on their way to the medical examiners office now to identify my sister, AJ Battaglia said in a phone interview. I am on my way to be interviewed by the states attorney.

A friend of the missing woman, Jennifer Hall, said she was with Battaglias roommate when she received a call Monday from detectives saying they discovered her body. Battaglias younger brother also said detectives called him Monday night inquiring about his sisters tattoos.

Hall, who had known Battaglia about 12 years, has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help cover funeral expenses.

My heart goes out to the family, Hall wrote. She was my friend and I cant believe what has happened.

Detectives are investigating and were questioning a person of interest, family said.
Congressional Republicans from Mississippi are demanding that the Department of Veterans Affairs remove a temporary Pride flag from Biloxi National Cemetery, arguing its presence is disrespectful to veterans.

In a letter Monday to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, the five GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, called adding the flag during Pride Month a "political stunt."

"Cemeteries should be places for reflection and respect, not public virtue signaling," says the letter, which was also signed by Reps. Mike Ezell, Michael Guest and Trent Kelly. "Our veterans expect the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services, not promote controversial ideologies."

A Pride flag flies with U.S. flags at the entrance to the Biloxi VA Medical Center and the Biloxi VA Veterans Cemetery in Biloxi, Miss., on June 5, 2023. (WXXV)

Asked for comment on the letter, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said Tuesday that the department has received the letter and will respond to our Congressional partners directly.

"Protest is a fundamental part of our democracy, and we respect anyones right to protest VA for any reason," Hayes said, adding that "VA facilities fly the flag as a symbol of VAs commitment to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."

The flag was added to a display of American flags last week. McDonough has authorized all VA facilities to fly the Pride flag  designed by Army veteran Gilbert Baker  for up to 30 days during Pride Month.

A spokesperson for the Biloxi VA, Shaun Shenk, told WLOX-TV of Biloxi last week that the flag is a symbol of inclusion.

Theres nothing more military than that flag, because not only does it represent a group of veterans who were traditionally marginalized by society, but the person who created the flag was also an Army veteran, said Shenk, a disabled Iraq War vet.

Shenk did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News on Monday evening.

It's unclear how many VA facilities and cemeteries are flying the flag. In the letter, the lawmakers contend they should all be removed.

"We demand that you direct the Biloxi National Cemetery and other Veterans Affairs facilities to remove the LGBT Pride flag and reinstate the United States flag to its rightful place," they wrote.

The VA estimates there are over 1 million LGBTQ veterans in the U.S., and studies have found they experience suicidal thoughts at higher rates and are less likely to seek care, in part because of fears of discrimination.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Missouri driver charged with DWI in crash that killed four motorcyclists, injured six others

A Missouri driver who on Saturday crossed the center line of a highway and hit five motorcycles, killing four people who were either drivers or passengers, has been charged with a felony.

Theresa Manetzke, 51, of Aurora, was charged with a DWI involving the death of two or more people. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Manetzke, who was arrested at the scene, was released to seek medical treatment. She also suffered serious injuries in the wreck.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which led the investigation, said Manetzke was driving a Toyota Corolla south on Missouri 39 in Lawrence County, three miles north of Aurora, when the car veered out of its lane, hit five motorcycles in the northbound lane, and came to rest in the ditch.

The crash was reported at 11:20 a.m. Saturday. All the drivers and passengers involved were from Aurora and were wearing safety devices, the patrol has said.

Previously: Four dead after vehicle crosses center line, strikes five motorcycles on Missouri highway

Motorcyclists killed and injured

The four who died in the crash were either motorcycle drivers or passengers, including a 17-year-old female, whose name was not released because she is a minor. Others killed were Kameron Hale, 28; Linda Anderson, 61; and James Olmsted, 59, whose motorcycle caught on fire, killing him and the juvenile female passenger.

According to court documents filed in the case, the troopers responding to the scene found injured people in the ditch on the east side of the roadway

After Manetzke's Toyota struck the motorcycles, the bikes overturned, ejecting drivers and passengers, before they came to rest off the east side of the roadway.

The Toyota, with heavy damage to its front end, was in the ditch on the west side of roadway. Manetzke was sitting on the ground near her vehicle.

Florida: Woman charged after car catches fire with kids inside while allegedly shoplifting

Manetzke told troopers she had taken "several anti-psychotic medications" at about 9 a.m., before getting behind the wheel, according to the court documents.

A trooper who conducted field sobriety tests on Manetzke concluded she was "drug impaired," the documents stated.

At the scene, after being placed under arrest, Manetzke agreed to provide a requested blood sample, which was taken before she left the scene.

Six other people were also seriously injured, including 54-year-old Jesse Clinkenbeard, who was driving the 2006 Harley motorcycle that Anderson was a passenger in; Cody Zielinski, 35, and his passenger, Jessica Zielinski, 35; Darrell Trueblood, 37, and his passenger Krista Trueblood, 30; and a 16-year-old female, who was a passenger on Hale's 2005 Honda motorcycle.

The injured victims were transported to CoxSouth or Mercy hospitals in Springfield.

The four killed at the scene were transported to funeral homes in Aurora or Pierce City.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri highway fatal motorcycle crash: Driver charged with DWI
Possible Hate Crime Pellet Gun Shooting Outside Missouri Gay Bar

Police in Missouri confirmed they are working with the FBI in the investigation of an alleged pellet gun shooting of a person outside an LGBTQ+ club in Kansas City this past weekend. The incident raised concerns about safety during Pride Month as the citys Pride parade takes place this Saturday.

The alleged assault took place around 1 a.m. Sunday morning outside the Fountain Haus, a popular LGBTQ+ club in the citys Westport neighborhood. An unidentified person said they were waiting in line to enter the club when they reported experiencing pain in their arm which they believed came from a pellet shot from a pellet gun. The person did not require medical attention.

The Kansas City Police Department confirmed to the Kansas City Star it is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime in cooperation with the FBI. A spokesperson for the KCPD also said the department is aware of the safety concerns of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.

Our LGBTQ+ liaison officer has already been in touch with the management for the establishment, Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department, said. They have discussed safety for the bar moving forward and he is keeping them in the loop on the investigation.

Justin Short, formerly a commissioner with the Kansas City LGBTQ Commission, said he received an email from Jayson Morgan, a manager at Fountain Haus, discussing the alleged shooting. Short posted to social media a screenshot of the reported email.

Tonight while we had a line from our Main (Broadway) entrance all the way down to the intersection of Broadway and Westport Road, Someone drove by with a BB Gun and shot up our whole line, Morgan wrote in the email reportedly received by Short.

\u201cThis is the beginning of a lengthy email I received this morning. The micro aggressions in our city, state, and country cannot be commonplace. I will be reaching out to the bar owner as well as our local and federal partners to discuss plans for this coming weekend.\u201d  Justin Short For KC (City Council) (@Justin Short For KC (City Council)) 1685895202

It was unclear if there are additional victims and no information was provided about potential suspects, but KCMO LGBTQ Commission Chair Justice Horn told local NBC affiliate KSHB he believes the target and timing of the alleged shooting was intentional.

It was still meant to harm us, to create terror, and to make folks not feel at home here in Kansas City, Horn told KSHB. Its definitely tough for people to show up in the community when this is whats happening.

In his email posted to social media, Fountain Haus manager Morgan echoed Horns concerns.

Thank goodness nobody was hurt, but considering our proximity to Pride next weekend we must consider this a threat that can escalate, Morgan wrote.

Anyone with information about the alleged shooting can call detectives at 816-234-5227 or use the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Photo taken with a mobile phone shows a herd of Tibetan gazelles near Serling Tso Lake in Nagqu, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 13, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region released its latest report on the region's ecological environment on Monday. The report showed that Tibet remained one of the best regions in the world in regard to the ecological environment quality in 2022.

Tibet experienced an average of 99.5 percent of the year with good air quality, according to the report released by the regional ecology and environment department.

During the period, the overall air quality in the Mt. Qomolangma region was graded as Class I, China's best level according to the national standards. Meanwhile, Lhasa, the regional capital, ranked first among China's 168 major cities under air quality monitoring in terms of days with good air quality.

In recent years, Tibet has strengthened its efforts to protect local biodiversity, promote sustainable development and improve its monitoring network on biodiversity.

The report shows that the population of the Tibetan antelope, a signature endemic species, has increased from about 70,000 in the 20th century, the lowest level, to over 300,000 nowadays.

The number of black-necked cranes, listed under the top protection in China, has increased from less than 3,000 in the 20th century to more than 10,000. In addition, other rare and endangered wildlife such as Yunnan golden hair monkeys and Tibetan red deer have also shown remarkable recovery in their population, said the report.

By the end of last year, Tibet had established a total of 47 nature reserves, protecting more than 412,000 square km, which accounted for more than 34 percent of the region's land area, according to the regional ecology and environment department.
US man executed in Missouri for killing two prison guards

Michael Tisius, 42, was executed in Missouri for killing two prison guards in a botched attempt to break a former cellmate out of jail

A 42-year-old man was executed in the midwestern US state of Missouri on Tuesday for killing two prison guards in a botched attempt to break a former cellmate out of jail.

Michael Tisius was pronounced dead at 6:10 pm local time (2310 GMT) at a state prison in the town of Bonne Terre, the Missouri Department of Corrections said in a statement. He had been scheduled to be executed via lethal injection.

Tisius was convicted of the murders of sheriff's deputies Jason Acton and Leon Egley during a June 2000 bid to free a former cellmate, Roy Vance.

According to prosecutors, Tisius carried out the attempted jailbreak with Vance's girlfriend, Tracie Bulington.

Tisius and Bulington turned up at the Randolph County jail on the pretense of bringing cigarettes to Vance and chatted with one of the guards for about 10 minutes, they said.

Tisius then pulled out a gun and shot the two sheriff's deputies.

Tisius and Bulington were unable to find the keys to Vance's cell, however, and fled. They were captured the next day after their car broke down.

Tisius was sentenced to death while Bulington and Vance, who has admitted to orchestrating the escape plot, were sentenced to life in prison.

Missouri's Republican governor Mike Parson rejected a request for clemency for Tisius. His attorneys filed a last-minute appeal for a stay of execution with the US Supreme Court, to no avail.

Tisius's attorneys sought the stay arguing that one of the jurors in his trial was unable to read or write English, which they said should have been disqualifying.

The nation's highest court had turned down another appeal for a stay of execution based on Tisius's age -- 19 years old -- at the time of the murders.

The Missouri attorney general urged the court to reject the latest request, saying there is "no basis to delay justice."

Tisius is the 12th person put to death this year in the United States.

The executions have been carried out in four states -- Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

chp-cl/sms/caw/nro
A teenage cashier at a Missouri pizza restaurant was speechless after a customer surprised him with a big tip. Despite his arms and hands never fully developing, the teen, Ryheem Lumpkins, still runs the cash register, sweeps the floors and wipes down the buffet.

According to KCTV, Lumpkins is typically introverted and shy, but his job at Pizza Ranch in Independence, Missouri, revealed another side of his personality.

I see new people, I get excited when I see them. I never knew I could get excited when I see people, he told the outlet.

One of those new people was Robert Samay, who noticed Lumpkins positive attitude last month. He gave him a $5 tip, and after seeing how happy it made him, he decided to do more.

He returned to the restaurant on Tuesday with a bigger surprise for Lumpkins.

I appreciate your hard work, your good smile, your good attitude. We dont get that nowadays, especially with young kids, Samay told Lumpkins.

Samays friend pulled out a stack of $50 bills and started counting them. Lumpkins eyes swelled with tears as the bills piled up.

To be honest, I was speechless, Lumpkins recounted. I never had nothing in my life that had happened to me like that before.

But it wasnt just the money that touched the 16-year-old; it was the random act of kindness.

That right there showed me that theres more people in the world that really cares for me, Lumpkins said.

Lumpkins truly is a deserving recipient. He eloquently told KCTV he doesnt consider his hands and arms a hindrance.

I dont describe it as a condition. God made me like this for a reason. Im a regular person. I dont think of it as a disability, he said. It dont prevent me from nothing. If I feel like I can do it, I can do it.

His ultimate career goal is to become a motivational speaker for children like him.

Embrace what you have different from other people, he said. Because a lot of people think its cool and a lot of people wouldnt think its cool. The negative words, dont let it get to your head. Because there is a lot of positivity in the world.
By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - Biotech firm Promosome LLC sued Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech in federal court in San Diego, California, on Tuesday, accusing their COVID-19 vaccines of infringing a patent related to messenger RNA technology.

The lawsuits add to a web of patent disputes between biotech companies over technology used in the coronavirus shots, including a case brought last year in Massachusetts by Moderna against Pfizer and its partner BioNTech.

Promosome accused the companies of copying technology that allows for doses of mRNA that are small enough to use safely and effectively in the vaccines.

Promosome asked the court for a share of royalties from the shots. Pfizer earned $37.8 billion from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty last year, while Moderna made $18.4 billion from its vaccine Spikevax.

Representatives of Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

Promosome attorney Bill Carmody said in a statement that the vaccine makers have "failed to give Promosome what it deserves" for creating groundbreaking technology.

San Diego and New York-based Promosome was formed to commercialize technology developed by biochemistry researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

The vaccines use mRNA to send instructions to the immune system for producing specific proteins to fight the COVID-19 virus. Promosome said its technology enables the immune system to produce sufficient proteins to fight the virus with small doses of mRNA.

The lawsuits said Promosome met with Moderna between 2013 and 2016 to discuss licensing the technology and that Promosome's president demonstrated it to a senior BioNTech scientist in 2015. Promosome said neither company agreed to a license.

Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech in the past have denied infringing other patents.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David Bario and Matthew Lewis)
The mother of a 6-year-old Virginia boy accused of shooting his elementary school teacher inside their classroom earlier this year is now facing federal gun and drug charges.

Deja Taylor, 25, was charged Monday with two counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.

Those charges are over her allegedly using marijuana and her not admitting to being a marijuana user during the guns purchase, according to a copy of the indictment.

Deja Taylor is seen with one of her attorneys in April. The Virginia mother is facing federal drug and gun charges after police say her 6-year-old son shot his teacher.

Deja Taylor is seen with one of her attorneys in April. The Virginia mother is facing federal drug and gun charges after police say her 6-year-old son shot his teacher.

Taylor was also charged in April in state court with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm that endangered a child.

Her lead attorney, Gene Rossi, called her a loving mother whose life will never be the same.

This case is a Shakespearean tragedy, a perfect storm that has had horrible consequences, Rossi told HuffPost Tuesday.

The new federal charges, combined, carry a 25-year maximum sentence  though, as part of a plea deal, Taylor is expected to get a far leaner sentence.

The charges follow Taylors son shooting first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in the hand and chest, leaving her seriously wounded, on Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, according to police.

Signs stand outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, following the Jan. 6 shooting that seriously wounded a teacher.

Signs stand outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, following the Jan. 6 shooting that seriously wounded a teacher.

Taylor apologized for her sons actions in a later interview with Good Morning America and said that she believes it was connected to his ADHD diagnosis. She said the shooting followed her son accidentally breaking his teachers cell phone and her allegedly ignoring him in class.

Taylor said her gun was legally purchased and safely locked away.

I dont know that any adult knows exactly how he got the gun, her attorney James Ellenson told GMA.

Police have not said how the child may have gotten the gun.

Zwerner has said that Taylors son had a history of random violence and that he maliciously smashed her phone to the ground. She has filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators, accusing them of gross negligence and failure to report the weapon to authorities.

Related...
Students in a Montessori class are free to wander around the room as they please, and they each have individual plans for the day with the assistance of their teachers.

There are 19 students enrolled in what appears to be the only Montessori school inside the municipal limits of Birmingham, Alabama, and administrators hope to double that number by next year.

Urban Community Montessori, founded by Courtney Davis, is a private school in the Titusville neighborhood primarily serving Black and brown families, according to WBHM News.

After spending more than 10 years working in neighborhood Montessori schools, Davis launched UCM two years ago, saying she was motivated to do so by the lack of diversity she noticed in those classrooms.

A Montessori school geared toward Black and brown children in Birmingham, Alabama, is hoping to double its classroom enrollment numbers by next year. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Students in a Montessori classroom are free to wander around the room as they please, and they each have individual plans for the day, which they follow with the assistance of their teachers. While one child can draw or concentrate on reading skills, another can learn history or work on fractions.

UCM charges tuition on a sliding scale based on family income. Although Davis is aware that a Montessori education may not appeal to some children or families, she makes a lot of effort to persuade them to try it.

Toni Greene said she has witnessed the success of her 4-year-old twin boys  who are enrolled in the UCM pre-K program  at home and school. She said her children had great independence because of whats been instilled in them at school, noting that they could already fold clothing and wash dishes.

[Davis] has done a beautiful job in creating a space where you dont have to choose between quality education and exposure to your culture, said Greene, according to WBHM. We get the best of both worlds.

Greene said the Montessori school she attended as a child helped mold her into who she is now. She wanted to offer her kids that experience yet didnt want them to be the only Black students in the class  and UCM was the perfect fit.

Its something that I know that has given my children the self-confidence to be able to take on the world without fear, said Greene.

Montessori education, she added, also benefits Black and brown students since it helps shield them from the difficulties of conventional public school settings. For instance, compared to their peers, Black students are more likely to face disciplinary action at traditional schools.

Montessori was developed in Italy in the early 1900s, with its cornerstone being that children naturally desire to learn and absorb knowledge from their surroundings. The first Montessori school was established to educate underprivileged and poor children, but the approach changed when it arrived in America. Today, Montessori school locations and pricing continue to favor white, affluent families.

Davis noted that the bulk of Montessori schools in Birmingham are in locations that are inaccessible to families who live in the city. And we know that Black and brown communities are mainly in Birmingham City, she contended.

In addition to location, she said, costly tuition kept many Birmingham-area families away from Montessori. Not anymore, she hopes.

I believe in being fair, said Davis, WBHM reported. Ive opened this school up so that Black and brown communities can see that, number one, that someone who is Black cares about Black children. And that this opportunity is missing, and that it is now accessible within the city limits.

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More than 100 South Carolina churches will separate from one of the states largest denominations.

At its statewide conference in Florence on Tuesday, the United Methodist Church approved the closure of 113 churches across the state, allowing those local congregations to disaffiliate from the United Methodists and potentially affiliate with other denominations.

Tuesdays decision is the culmination of a months-long process during which each local church considered whether it should leave the denomination, including a vote among each churchs members.

We pray for these churches that have chosen a different journey, Bishop Jonathan Holston said after the vote in a statement on the conferences website that addressed Jesus Christ. May we also acknowledge that that which binds us will never leave us. In the midst of our separation, may we show each other the grace and love that you demonstrated through your sacrifice on the cross and your resurrection from the grave.

For those who are leaving us, we bless you and send you on your way, he continued. For those who are remaining, we pray that God gives us a new will to do what God has called us to do.

Some 1,500 clergy and laity at the annual United Methodist conference voted overwhelmingly to approve the separation, the denomination said.

Those who are leaving celebrated the decision.

We praise God for this opportunity to move forward in faith  continuing to be a church where all people can connect with the saving love of Jesus, grow in His love, and share His love freely with each other and the world, Chapin Methodist Church pastor Jody Flowers said in an email. His church is one of several in the Midlands now cleared to leave the United Methodists.

The move comes as the national United Methodist church is split between those who want the denomination to move in a more accepting direction for LGBTQ members and more conservative congregations that are seeking to move away from the denomination for the same reason.

At least 50 South Carolina churches had publicly announced their plans to leave the denomination before Tuesdays vote, according to a list compiled by the S.C. United Methodist Advocate.

One of them is the largest Methodist church in the state. Lexingtons Mt. Horeb church can boast former governor and presidential candidate Nikki Haley among its more than 5,000 members. The church also says the gulf between its leadership and the national leadership of the United Methodist Church has become too vast, including disagreement regarding Christology, biblical authority and interpretation, sexual ethics, and the definition of marriage, Mt. Horeb says in a separation guide posted to the church website.

More than 97% of Mt. Horebs members voted to separate from the United Methodist Church in February, as they and other churches take advantage of a window being offered by the national denomination that will allow local churches to leave the denomination and take church property with them.

The departing churches will owe the United Methodists a 10% tithe based on the value of the property, plus any unpaid apportionment giving, 12 months worth of additional apportionment and a withdrawal liability equal to the churchs proportion of any unfunded pension obligations.

Many issues highlighted by the departing churches center on LGBTQ issues. The split is similar to those in other major Protestant churches in recent years that have faced internal struggles over whether and how to welcome LGBTQ people into the church. As some churches have named openly LGBTQ clergy or blessed same-sex marriages, other believers have peeled away from established denominations they feel no longer share their values.

We believe in celibacy in singleness and fidelity in marriage, with marriage being defined between a man and woman, Mt. Horeb says in its separation guide. Mt. Horeb relies on the Scriptures and what orthodox Christians have always believed about God to guide all matters of human relations, including sexual ethics.

The statement on the United Methodists S.C. conference website notes that The UMC Book of Discipline prohibits performing same-gender weddings and the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals but also acknowledges the departing churches firmly believe that the denomination has not consistently upheld its stated doctrine on issues of human sexuality.

Conservative critics have claimed the national denomination has inconsistently enforced those prohibitions. One jurisdiction has elected an openly gay bishop, for example, and the church has made other moves supportive of LGBTQ rights more broadly. Supporters say the ongoing split will allow remaining United Methodist churches to be more inclusive.

Christianity Today reports that more than 1,800 churches across the United States have already disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church since 2019.

Other churches in the Midlands that are leaving the United Methodist Church include:

 Bethel UMC in Sumter

 Beulah UMC in Camden

 Columbia Korean UMC

 Concord UMC in Bishopville

 Chapin UMC

 Dalzell UMC

 Ebenezer UMC in North

 Lebanon UMC in Eastover

 Limestone UMC in Orangeburg

 McLeod Chapl in Rembert

 Pond Branch UMC in Gilbert

 Rehoboth UMC in Batesburg-Leesville

 St. John in Rembert

 St. John in Sumter

 St. Marks UMC in Sumter

 St. Matthew UMC in Bishopville
Thompson 'Tommy' Machine Gun

Photograph of the 1921 model of the Thompson Machine Gun (also known as a Tommy Gun), circa 1921. Credit - Hulton Archive-Getty Images

Soon after these fearsome weapons began to circulate in society, they developed a notorious reputation. Developed for the battlefield, these guns in civilian hands became the tools of choice in gruesome, highly publicized shootings. Calls for their restriction or banishment escalated, and state legislatures moved to enact new laws.

The gun in question was the notorious Thompson machine gun, and the time was the 1920s. Developed for trench warfare in World War I, the Tommy guna fully automatic weapon, though it could also fire semi-automaticallywas made available for civilian purchase by inventor John Thompsons Auto Ordnance company. With the end of the war the American military was no longer interested in the gun, and Thompson was desperate for new sales, so he began to aggressively market the gun to police forces and civilians. Yet as William Helmer concluded in his book The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar: As a criminals weapon, the Tommygun was an unqualified success. By the middle of the decade, sensational news stories of gangland violence involving the gun sparked calls for government action that led at least 32 states to enact restrictions on the gun and similar gangster weapons. This culminated in the first important national gun law, the National Firearms Act of 1934, which imposed significant and effective restrictions on the guns acquisition.

The story of the Tommy gun bears remarkable resemblance to the contemporary controversy over efforts to restrict AR-15-type assault weapons. They, too, were developed for military use during the Vietnam era of the 1960s. When America ended its involvement in the war, sales declined, and manufacturers ramped up civilian marketing efforts (the civilian version fires semi-automatically). Yet there was little interest until the late 1980s, when cheaper imports flooded the market. The political catalyzing moment came in the aftermath of a 1989 mass shooting at an elementary school in Stockton, Cal., when a man firing an AK-47 killed five children and wounded thirty-three others. Shortly after, California became the first state to enact an assault weapons ban. Today, ten states plus D.C. have done the same.

The lesson of both weapons is the same: when particular weapons entered society and were used for nefarious purposes, regulatory efforts ensued (a lesson that seems lost on many in current America). This lesson is not confined to the last century, or to guns.

In 1827, adventurer Jim Bowie was presented with a uniquely styled big knife by his brother Rezin that he used to kill one man and wound another in a notorious brawl. Word of Jim Bowies encounter, and the knife he used, spread rapidly. The distinctive long-bladed and usually single-edged knife with a hand guard became known as the Bowie knife. As the story spread, so did the knife. Yet this type of knife was part of a category of what were called fighting kniveslong, thin-bladed knives often used in fights, duels, and other criminal activities. States moved with surprising speed to restrict or even bar them. In the 1830s, at least six states barred the carrying of Bowie knives by name. By the end of the nineteenth century, at least 42 states barred or restricted Bowie and similar knives, and another eight states restricted the category or type of knife embodied by the Bowie knife. Yet very much like the allure of contemporary assault weapons to some, the Bowie knifes notorious reputation also, if perversely, fanned its sale and acquisition.

Another, similarly reviled weapon was called a slungshot, a simple hand-held weapon for striking with a weight at one end attached to a flexible strap or handle that began circulating roughly in the 1840s. Anti-slungshot laws were enacted by at least 43 states in the 1800s and early 1900s, as well as numerous other restrictions on other types of clubs. Why? Because, according to Robert Escobars book on such weapons, slungshots were widely used by criminals and street gang members in the 19th Century.

To be sure, knives and clubs are not guns. But they are weapons, and arms as the term is used in law. Even though they are far simpler, easier to make, and less expensive than guns, state and local governments historically regulated them ubiquitously and relentlessly because they posed a clear threat to public order and safety.

As I have learned from my research on early gun laws, weapons regulation in early America went even further, extending to three broad types of laws, spanning nearly 300 years of American history. First, laws restricting weapons carrying were enacted extending to guns, fighting knives, and clubs throughout the 1800s. These laws criminalized concealed weapons carrying in 50 states (including territories that later became states), open weapons carrying in at least 29 states, and even long gun carrying in at least 22 states. Second, at least 36 states laws passed laws that criminalized public weapons brandishing and display. Third, at least 47 states enacted laws providing for the licensing of some of these activities.

This blizzard of weapons regulations makes the contemporary inability to enact similar laws seem both ahistorical and contrary to the fundamental goal of protecting the public and preserving public order.

This history matters for at least two reasons: First, the new standard for judging the constitutionality of modern gun laws under the Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision is based on whether they are consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Analogous historic gun laws, according to the court, need not be a dead ringer for historical precursors but must be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster. Second, many believe this slavish devotion to history to be deeply flawed. For example, why should law-making in modern society be jacketed by the standards of pre-industrial 18th century America? Modern gun technologies are far, far more deadly than the one-shot flintlocks of the 18th centuryshouldnt that matter? And what, exactly, constitutes an acceptable historical analogue? Still, it is equally clear that there is wisdom to be found in our gun law past.

That past reveals at least two key lessons. First, in most of our history, gun laws and gun rights were perfectly compatible. Only in the last few decades have the two become locked in a zero-sum relationship, where a gain for one side is seen as a loss for the other. Second, these prolific and varied gun laws make clear that the default in American history was regulation and restriction for guns and other weapons, especially once individuals left their domiciles.

What was past can also be true for the present.
Most unionized US rail workers now have new sick leave

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 60% of U.S. unionized railroad workers at major railroads are now are covered by new sick leave agreements, a trade group said Monday.

Last year railroads came under fire for not agreeing to paid sick leave during labor negotiations.

In December, President Joe Biden signed legislation to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy after some unions voted against the deal over a lack of paid sick leave.

For months, railroads have been at the table individually with their unions to find a path forward on the quality-of-life matters that came into the spotlight during the rounds final days," Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies said.

Not all of these agreements are the same. However, they are the result of good faith bargaining and a shared desire to demonstrate the value rail employees provide to their companies, their families and the overall economy."

Norfolk Southern and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers -Transportation Division (SMART-TD) said Monday they reached an agreement that immediately provides nearly 300 yardmasters with four new days of paid sick leave per year while also offering flexibility to use up to three additional days of existing paid time off as sick leave.

Norfolk Southern said all of its unionized workers are now covered by sick leave agreements.

Also on Monday, Union Pacific reached an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to provide paid sick leave to for its 5,600 locomotive engineers.

Under the agreement effective Aug. 1, members will have up to seven paid days of sick leave. Five days will be considered paid sick days with the ability to convert two additional paid leave days for use as paid sick time.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Stephen Coates)
Ajike AJ Owens, mother of four, was shot dead through a closed door after she went to retrieve an iPad her children left behind (GoFundMe)

A Black mother of four was shot dead through a closed door in Florida after a dispute with a white neighbour who had earlier allegedly bombarded her children with racial slurs.

Ajike AJ Owens, a resident of Ocala, had an ongoing dispute with her neighbour over her children walking over her ground, according to local officials. Police did not name the neighbour, but CNN cited an incident report that identified her as a 58-year-old white woman.

According to family and witness accounts, Owens had knocked on the door of the woman living next to her on Friday to get an iPad back that her children had left behind, when she was shot from the other side. She was with her nine-year-old son when the incident happened, according to the family.

Owens was taken to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

Authorities received a call for trespassing, and when they arrived, they saw a woman with a gunshot wound, said Marion County sheriff Billy Woods in a news conference on Monday.

No arrest has been made so far in the case, according to Ben Crump, one of the attorneys representing the family, who called the killing appalling.

It is asinine when they try to justify this unjustifiable killing of this mother of four who was killed in front of her children, Mr Crump told MSNBC on Monday. It is heartbreaking on every level.

The unidentified woman, who allegedly shot our client through the door, HASNT been arrested or charged with anything by law enforcement for the unjust killing.  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 5, 2023

Mr Woods said his office was working to determine what role the states stand your ground laws might play in the shooting. The Florida law allows people to use lethal force if they believe their or someone elses life is in danger.

Any time that we think or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest. The law specifically says that, he said in the Monday briefing.

And what we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest.

He said there was an ongoing neighbourhood feud between the two families and police had received about a half dozen calls since January 2021.

In a news conference held by Owenss family attorneys on Monday, the victims mother said the neighbour accused of shooting her daughter had called the family, including the children, racial slurs.

The neighbours door never opened when Owens tried to confront her, and she was shot through the door, said Pamela Dias, the victims mother.

My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her nine-year-old son standing next to her. She had no weapon, she posed no imminent threat to anyone, Ms Dias said.

What Im asking is for justice, she said. Justice for my daughter.

A GoFundMe page set up by the family for Owenss funeral expenses and education of children has raised a little more than $42,000 out of the $25,000 target so far.

According to the family, Owenss children were playing in a field next to an Ocala apartment complex when the 58-year-old white woman allegedly began yelling at them and calling them racial slurs.

The children left, but accidentally left an iPad behind, which the woman took, said the GoFundMe page. When one of the children went to her residence to retrieve it, the woman allegedly threw it, hitting the boy and cracking the screen.

After Owenss children informed her of what happened, she walked across the street with her kids to speak to the woman. She knocked on the door, and at that point, she was shot through the door.
The mother of a 6-year-old boy accused of shooting and seriously wounding his first-grade teacher earlier this year in Virginia faces two new federal charges, according to court documents filed on Monday.

Deja Taylor is accused of unlawfully using a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The new charges follow felony charges filed in April accusing Taylor of child neglect and endangerment.

Taylor "knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement to Winfree Firearms," a gun shop in Grafton, Va., from which she purchased a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, court documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia allege. The documents also allege that Taylor falsely claimed on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives application forms that she did not use marijuana despite unlawfully using the drug.

Abby Zwerner, a 25-year-old teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, was shot in the hand and chest by a student on Jan. 6 as she sat at a reading table in her classroom. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and has had four surgeries since the shooting.

While the boy was not charged in connection with the shooting, a grand jury returned an indictment charging his mother with "felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child," Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said in April. Taylor will return to court in August to face those charges, CBS affiliate WTVR reported.

The boy used his mother's gun, police said, which had been purchased legally.

Family members said the gun was secured. They also noted the 6-year-old boy suffers from an acute disability.

Zwerner in April filed a $40 million lawsuit, accusing school officials of gross negligence for allegedly ignoring multiple warnings that the boy had a gun and was in a "violent mood" on the day of the shooting.

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A group picture taken at the front of the building of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress on May 31, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD)]

A group of young leaders from various countries across the globe attended the the second edition of the international youth salon, "A Closer Look at Whole-process People's Democracy Through Beijing's Practice," which commenced on May 31. They visited the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress in Tongzhou district, Beijing, and had roundtable talks with the representatives of the committee to get to know the working mechanisms of people's congresses in China.

Liu Jun, deputy director of the Research Office of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, introduced the concept of whole-process people's democracy and Beijing's specific practices of the system of people's congresses in the new era, which aroused a warm response among the foreign youth representatives.

Elsbeth van Paridon, a sinologist and journalist from the Netherlands, showed great interest in the age composition of deputies to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

"It is an important thing to have ordinary people in the room, and I think China did a good job in its whole-process people's democracy," Elsbeth said.

Zoon Ahmed shares her thoughts about China's development of whole-process people's democracy, May 31, 2023. [Photo courtesy of GYLD]

"I realize that many parts come together to create a space where genuine feedback and long-term perspectives are valued to create a society that is really leading globally," noted Zoon Ahmed, a Pakistani researcher at Tsinghua University who has spent eight years living in Beijing.

Zoon was quite impressed by how fast China has developed, saying, "Good governance is about critical thinking and engaging and empowering people. I do wish more and more people would come together to understand China's journey and tell China's stories in a more panoramic way."

"I believe this is the first time that a local congress has brought international young generations together to get a comprehensive view at how China's whole-process people's democracy works at different levels, which is a quite valuable and motivated exploration," said Dr. Miao Lu, co-founder and secretary-general of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG).

The event not only focused on introducing the system of people's congresses but also on helping attendees to understand the working mechanisms at the community level to show a true and comprehensive image of China.

Community workers at Zaoyingbeili Community share their work experience with young international leaders in Chaoyang district, Beijing, May 31, 2023. [Photo courtesy of GYLD]

Bai Guangji, Party secretary of Zaoyingbeili Community, and his co-workers showed their daily work procedures and dozens of working WeChat groups to the international visitors, elaborating on how to use social media applications to implement the instructions and policies from their superiors and collect public opinions to form new proposals.

Through the concrete practice of whole-process people's democracy at the community level, all the participants of the event got a comprehensive look at China's democracy.

Itunu Grace Ishola, a Nigerian student at Peking University, said that the activity really provided a lively example of China's whole-process people's democracy and helped her learn about China's democracy from the Chinese perspective.

The international youth salon is an exchange activity carried out under the framework of the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) project, aiming to create opportunities for international youth to fully understand whole-process people's democracy in China.
Movie Review: Who let the beasts out? New 'Transformers' tries but fails to energize the saga

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Wheeljack and Arcee in a scene from "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts." (Paramount via AP)

With the Transformers franchise clearly at a crossroads, its latest protectors have turned to their deep bench of characters. But just adding more robots won't transform this tired series.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts returns the franchise to its galaxy-wide self-importance after taking a nice detour with 2018's smaller Bumblebee. We have a new cast of animal robots and a very evil enemy in the planet-eating Unicron, but they're not used right and the movie limps from fight to fight.

The key to the film is actually a key, some sort of ancient glowing shaft that will open a portal in space and time. Everyone wants it  to go home, to kill planets or to save planets. The audience may also want to use it to beam into a more interesting movie.

Directed by Steven Caple Jr.  using a screenplay by Darnell Metayer, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber and Josh Peters based on a story by Joby Harold  Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a big swing that seems to portend a multi-film arc nestled in time after Bumblebee and before the first live-action Transformers movie.

The problem with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the same problem faced by all of the installments  balancing the humanity with the metal. Bumblebee got the ratios right by bringing the machine down to size.

But a wide gulf between the humans and the giant space robots immediately appears in the new movie, with Optimus Prime being his classic, anal drill sergeant self  If we are to die, then we will die as one," he'll intone. As the movie stutters on, the robots seem to soften only when the beasts show up for the last third  they mourn, get angry, feel protective, love even.

The filmmakers also have tried to bridge the divide with none other than Pete Davidson, who voices the juvenile robot Mirage, a wisecracking, fist-bumping silver Porsche 911 with a less rigid way of expression: Don't mess with my boy! and Prime, you got to learn how to relax, my man. It mostly works  best line: I'm not scared. That's just engine oil!  but Davidson seems trapped inside that steel.

The special effects are astounding but sometimes numbing at the same time. The beasts  especially a nostril-flaring gorilla  are gorgeously realized and the baddies look cool as they control elements in space and time, like building sky walkways as they move on them.

Setting the movie in 1994 gives the filmmakers some vintage fun, like adding beepers and references to O.J. Simpson, plus a soundtrack including A Tribe Called Quest and LL Cool J. But even here they get stuff wrong, like using Biggie's Hypnotize, which came out in 1996, and having a character sing Waterfalls by TLC a year before it came out.

The Autobots are represented by Optimus Prime (voiced by veteran Peter Cullen), Bumblebee and Arcee (voiced by Liza Koshy). Then there are the Terrorcons, led by Scourge (Peter Dinklage), who controls swarms of horrifying insect robots and says things like: Rip the flesh from their bones.

On the puny human side, Anthony Ramos plays an ex-military electronics expert from Brooklyn named Noah, who has a sick younger brother  Dean Scott Vazquez, the best actor of the bunch  and is tempted to criminality to get him proper care. On his first heist, he accidentally gets into Mirage and, after an excellent high-speed chase, meets the rest of the Autobots.

Looking for the portal key, he meets Elena, played by Dominique Fishback, a museum intern with an astonishing ability to recognize everything from a fake Leonardo da Vinci painting to an Nubian sculpture even though she's never been outside New York. Soon she'll be roaming ancient tombs in Peru like Indiana Jones.

Real-life friends Ramos and Fishback have talked about their chemistry, but none of it made it onto the screen. Just like the robots, their scenes are overly heightened and overacted, like an intense bubble of distilled humanity between giant robot fights. It's not clear even what their relationship is  more siblings? Would-be-lovers?

Much too late come the titular stars of the show  the beasts. There's Optimus Primal, a 13-foot-tall metallic silverback gorilla voiced by Ron Perlman; Cheetor, a cheetah the size of a small truck voiced by Tongayi Chirisa; Airazor, a peregrine falcon who shoots fire, voiced by Michelle Yeoh; and Rhinox, a battering ram on legs, voiced by David Sobolov. The film comes to life with them.

They've been hiding out on Earth, too, and a lot longer than the Autobots. They've even become sort of fans of us humans: There is more to them that meets the eye. They are worth saving, says Optimus Primal.

We Earthlings turn out to have been housing an awful lot of secret sentient robots and this latest clutch arise from the shadows like cicadas at a time when A.I. and ChatGPT are a societal worry. Look, maybe we should be anxious. ChatGPT clearly could have a written a better movie.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, a Paramount Pictures release which arrives in theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language. Running time: 127 minutes. One star out of four.

___

MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

___

Online: https://www.transformersmovie.com

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Heres how much Tarrant homeowners will save after county leaders approve tax breaks

Tarrant County leaders approved tax breaks for county homeowners Tuesday, but they dont know where they will make up the difference in the countys overall budget.

County commissioners unanimously approved a 10% homestead exemption for county residents during their Tuesday meeting. They voted 3-2 to give a maximum 10% exemption to the hospital district.

Commissioners Roy Charles Brooks and Alisa Simmons voted against the hospital district exemption.

A resident with a home appraised at $300,000 will save around $67 on their tax bill with a 10% exemption. They will save an additional $67 with a 10% exemption in the hospital district.

All school districts in Texas have a state-mandated exemption on $40,000 of a homes appraised value.

The homestead exemption will lead to a $28 million to $30 million shortfall in the countys overall revenue. The item appeared on the agenda Tuesday because the county has to notify the state and Tarrant Appraisal District about possible exemptions before July 1.

County judge Tim OHare said that while the savings looked small right now, they would grow with home appraisals if they follow the current trend. Property values in Tarrant County could grow between 10% and 20% this year.

Commissioner Manny Ramirez told the court that Tarrant County has historically done a good job of being fiscally responsible and keeping the tax rate low, but he still thinks the state could provide more relief for the schools and cities.

We have to be champions everywhere, not just in this court room, Ramirez said.

The county commissioners move comes as Gov. Greg Abbott calls for a special session on property tax relief. But state leaders all have different ideas for how to deliver those breaks.

A property tax plan passed by the House would reduce school property taxes by 16 cents, which would save a resident in the Fort Worth school district with a home appraised at $350,000 around $485 a year.

Meanwhile, the Senate wants to lower school property taxes and increase the states $40,000 homestead exemption. Texas residents older than 65 can qualify for an additional $10,000.

If the Senate bill became law, homeowners would save an additional 10 cents and the homestead exemption would increase to $100,000. It would save someone with a $350,000 home in the Fort Worth school district $1,019.

The bill would go to the voters and appear on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment.
Facebook/Michelle Foxx

A father and his 18-year-old sonwho had just graduated from high school minutes beforewere killed in a shooting Tuesday evening outside of a ceremony being held on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, police and local reports said.

At least five others were shot during the incident, according to NBC 12 WWBT, which first reported the pairs relationship, citing police sources. Neither were named.

One of the victims, 31, remains in critical condition, while the other fourmales aged 14, 32, 35 and 58were listed in non-life threatening condition, police said at a press conference following the incident.

At least six more were injured by other means, including two from falls and three who reported suffering from anxiety. One nine-year-old was hit by a car while people fled, and was treated at the scene before being released.

Police also said they have arrested a 19-year-old male suspect they believe to be involved, and that there is no active threat to the community. They believe the suspect knew at least one of the men who died.

Prosecutors plan to immediately seek two charges of second-degree murder, with more charges to follow.

Another male with a firearm was arrested, but police later said he did not appear to have been involved in the shooting.

Richmond Public Schools confirmed to NBC 12 that the incident happened outside a campus theater during Huguenot High Schools graduation ceremony, but offered few other details.

A subsequent graduation event for Thomas Jefferson High School has since been canceled.

VCU sent out its initial alert just after 5 p.m. ET, warning of a shooting at the schools Monroe Park campus.

The Richmond Police and VCU Police Departments, with support from Virginia State Police and Henrico Police, are on scene near the Altria Theater for a shooting incident, another alert from VCU said. There is no ongoing threat to the community but there is a heavy police presence at Monroe Park. Richmond Police are leading the investigation.

A witness, who goes by Michelle Foxx on Facebook, posted a livestream of the carnage, showing paramedics performing CPR on a victim amid strewn shoes and graduation caps.

Foxx also said that police had already been manning a corner next to the theater. When the gunshots first started going off, I didnt think there were gunshots because the police were so close, she said.

Another witness, Valerie LHerrou, told The Daily Beast she was driving past the venue with her husband when they heard probably a dozen gunshots ring out.

We were sitting at a light  and then I became aware that there were these pop, pop, pop sounds, she said. And so I looked and we saw all these people just start to run.

LHerrou said she was horrified at the sight of people running towards traffic. She said some hid behind trees and other covers.

People were running for their lives, she said. They were running in all directionsit was pandemonium.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who called the shooting an act of cowardice, addressed the tragedy during a news conference Tuesday evening.

This is tragic but also traumatic because this is their graduation day, Stoney said. Is nothing sacred any longer? This should not be happening anywhere, whether it's in Richmond, whether its in Virginia, whether it's in the United States, this should not be happening anywhere. A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk at their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment.

All Richmond public schools will be closed Wednesday.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

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Two killed and five injured in Richmond high school graduation mass shooting

Police in Richmond, Virginia, responded on Tuesday to a shooting that took place during a high school graduation ceremony on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Seven people were shot in the incident, leaving with three people life-threatening injuries and four with non-life-threatening injuries, Richmond interim police chief Rick Edwards said during a press conference on Tuesday. Two people were killed in the shooting, WRIC reports, and children were among those wounded in the incident, according to the outlet.

Five others went to the hospital with other injuries, he added. Bystanders also sustained injuries fleeing the shooting, including individuals who fell and someone who was struck by a car.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the violence, Mr Edwards said.

According to the universitys safety alert system, shots were fired on the Monroe Park campus after 5pm Eastern time, near the Altria Theater.

Children were involved here ... this is their graduation day, Richmond mayor Levar Stoney said on Tuesday. The question that comes to my mind right now is, is nothing sacred any longer? Is nothing sacred any longer?

This does have to stop. We know where it starts, lieutenant governor Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears said on Tuesday, speaking to reporters from campus. If I had the accountability and the responsibility, this wouldnt keep happening. The peope who are elected here, theyre in charge. They must make that adjustment so that this, the shooting, doesnt keep happening.

Three off-duty officers were inside the theatre and heard gunshots around 5.13pm, running outside and encountering the victims.

VCU police said on Tuesday theres no ongoing threat to the public.

Multiple injuries reported. There is no immediate threat to the public, the Richmond Police Department tweeted on Tuesday. Avoid the area.

RPD is on scene for a shooting located at Laurel Street and Franklin Street. Multiple injuries reported. There is no immediate threat to the public.

Briefing to follow. Avoid the area.



Follow our page for the latest updates on this incident.  Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) June 6, 2023

The shooting took place outside of Huguenot High Schools graduation ceremony, Richmond Public Schools told the station.

Jason Alexander, whose son was part of the graduation ceremony, told NBC12 the shooting sounded like fireworks and sent crowds scattering outside the theater.

The man says he saw multiple injured and estimates he heard eight to 10 shots fired.

It just dont make no sense, another bystander told the station. Were supposed to be happy about people. Were supposed to be supporting one another, loving on another, hugging one another. Come on now. I just think its bad. We have to do better.

As of now, there are 5 confirmed victims in a shooting at Altria Theater in Richmond. Officials say 3 have life threatening injuries and 2 are in "grave condition" https://t.co/RNR106pNyv pic.twitter.com/lIgT6hZwqg  WTKR News 3 (@WTKR3) June 6, 2023

The man told the station one of his daughters friends was among the wounded.

Everyone literally started running for their lives, a witness told 8News.

The incident occured close to the end of the ceremony, witnesses told WTVR.

This is heartbreaking, congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. My staff & I are closely monitoring this situation. Praying for the safety of everyone involved. I encourage everyone who can to avoid the area.

Bystander video of the shooting from bystanders shows throngs of people running across the campus green after the shooting.

Virginia state police and Richmond police enforcement officers are on campus investigating.

Police were seen by local reporters searching a car near the campus.

Richard Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday following the shooting, school officials wrote on the RPS website.
Brockwell Park hosted six days of festivals across the past two-weeks

A group of residents living close to a south London park have expressed their annoyance at "nightmare" noise levels from recent music festivals.

Brockwell Park in Lambeth has hosted thousands of revellers during six days of festivals across the past two weeks.

Some locals say they are also annoyed at illegal parking, damage to the park's turf and weeks of having fencing segregating areas of the park.

Organiser Brockwell Live said the sound levels had been agreed with Lambeth Council and were "built into our licence".

Lambeth Council apologised to residents but added the noise conditions for this year had been exactly the same as last year, and noise generated was "fully compliant" with "license conditions".

'Horrendously bad'

Brockwell Park in Lambeth has hosted a number of festivals across the past two weeks, including Wide Awake and Mighty Hoopla.

Mark Baynes, of Herne Hill, says life has been like "living at a festival for the last 10 days."

The 43-year old is also irritated at "not being able to access the park".

"The kids wanted to play on the grass," he said.

Meanwhile, a resident of Tulse Hill told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It was horrendously bad... its relentless until it closes at night. Its a nightmare.

Donna Harris, leader of the Lib Dem opposition at Labour-led Lambeth Council, said she had received noise complaints from residents living more than two miles (3.2km) away.

But one resident noted that hearing popstar Kelly Rowland from her house had been "brilliant".

Kelly Rowland, pictured at this year's Mighty Hoopla festival, was among the artists who performed at the park in recent weeks

The organiser, Summer Events Limited, has run festivals at Brockwell Park since 2018 under the name Brockwell Live.

A Brockwell Live spokesperson said it and Lambeth Council had used their own "independent noise consultants" that "actively monitor noise levels".

The spokesperson said levels had adhered to permissible limits and were "agreed with the local authority".

The council highlighted the impact the festivals had on local businesses and raising funds for the park.

It said they had added "to Lambeths exciting music scene" and contributed to the borough's "inclusive and diverse calendar of cultural activities".

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Mykolaiv Oblast is prepared, but there will be no water in occupied Crimea  Mykolaiv Oblast official on blowing up of Kakhovka HPP

Mykolaiv Oblast, unlike the occupiers, is ready to deal with the aftermath of the Russians' blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), and the authorities are working with the government to carry out all the necessary measures.

Source: Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "There has been a terrorist attack at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. All services are now fully prepared and we are working in close cooperation with our counterparts from Kherson and the government, with everyone.

This means that we are now prepared for outcomes that are worse than they will be. We are prepared to perform all tasks; all points are deployed; buses, routes  everything is worked out."

Details: He said the occupiers, unlike Ukrainians, were not prepared for the consequences of the blowing up of the Kakhovka HPP. "They are in a panic - theyre leaving, abandoning everything and so on," he said.

Kim added that the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack would be firstly, a lack of water in occupied Crimea, and secondly, the situation on the left bank of the Dnipro River would worsen. "All actions are being taken on our part. We are prepared," he stressed.

Background:

On the morning of 6 June, Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) reported that the Russian occupation forces had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), with Kherson Oblast Military Administration confirming this information. Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, noted that they had started the evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas.

According to Prokudin, the water will reach a critical level in five hours.

Police noted that the potential flood zone on the right bank of the Dnipro River includes the villages of Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lvove, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and part of the city of Kherson  Korabel Island.

The electricity supply has been cut off in the Korabel microdistrict in Kherson due to flooding caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) by the Russian invaders.

Nataliia Humeniuk, head of the press centre of Operational Command Pivden (South), said that the Russians had lost their nerve while waiting for the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to start, so they blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, hoping to stop it.

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Mykolaiv will become a transit point for refugees from the Kherson Oblast

These people will then be transported by bus and train to other regions of the country, Senkevich said.

Read also: Animal rights activists explain rules for evacuation with pets after blast at Kakhovka dam

He said that the city is preparing to receive people and provide them with shelter if necessary. However, it is already known that these IDPs will not stay in Mykolaiv for long.

"Mykolaiv is preparing to receive refugees as a transit zone," the official said.

We have prepared points at the bus and railway stations. Now we see that the number of people is not that big, not even a trainful, there are up to 1,000 people there now. We will see how the situation pans out. In any case, buses from Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, Khmelnytskyi, and I think Cherkasy are already preparing for Mykolaiv, or have already left. That is, these are buses that will pick up people and take them deep into Ukraine.

Read also: Dam waters ravage south Ukraine, military expert assesses catastrophic impact

He also noted that there is currently no accurate information on whether the flooding might reach the territory of Mykolaiv.

"The water in the Inhulets, which is a tributary of the Dnipro, has risen by five centimeters so far," he added. So far, we have no information from the State Emergency Service or anyone else.

At the same time, First Deputy Mayor Vitaliy Lukov said that there was no threat of flooding in Mykolaiv. Currently, the city has taken control of pontoon bridges to adjust them in case of a slight rise in water levels, he said.

"Preliminary calculations show that the flood wave will not be too powerful," he said.

Therefore, the forecasts for the city are optimistic. All actions are coordinated, there is no panic. The water is even coming to Kherson gradually.

Kakhovka HPP - what is known about the explosion

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Station dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Administration to declare an urgent evacuation.

Read also: Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam could deprive Crimean residents of drinking water, says Yermak

The east bank of the region, which is controlled by the Russian forces, will also be affected, as it is low-lying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

The demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam could also have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP. Water from the dam is needed for the plant to receive water for turbine condensers and safety systems.

Ukrhydroenergo, the state hydroelectric power company, has reported that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been completely destroyed and cannot be repaired.

Read also: Political analyst says Kremlin may have sabotaged Kakhovka dam out of fear of Ukrainian counter-offensive

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mystery client who hired detective to spy on Reno's mayor asks Nevada high court to keep name secret

FILE - Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve speaks during the U.S. Conference of Mayors 90th Annual Meeting at the Peppermill Resort Hotel in Reno, Nev., June 3, 2022. The mystery client who hired a detective who secretly tracked Reno's mayor with a GPS device is trying to persuade Nevada's Supreme Court that he has a First Amendment right to remain anonymous, a protected privilege he says is a cornerstone of democracy and part of the business of politics. (AP Photo/Tom R. Smedes, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

RENO, Nev. (AP)  The mystery client who hired a detective to secretly track Reno's mayor with a GPS device is trying to persuade Nevada's Supreme Court he has a First Amendment right to remain anonymous, a protected privilege he says is a cornerstone of democracy and part of the business of politics.

The high court allowed lawyers representing John Doe to file the latest brief in the case  with his true name under seal  last week so as to keep his identity secret, at least for now.

Chief Justice Lidia Stiglich set additional filing deadlines into July as the justices consider an appeal the detective filed last month seeking to overturn a Washoe County judge's order that he name the person who hired him to keep tabs on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and a county commissioner before the November election.

John Doe's lawyers said the U.S. Supreme Court "has repeatedly affirmed that the First Amendment protects anonymous political activity."

For better or worse ... the use of private investigators to conduct investigations of elected officials and/or candidates is just politics as usual, they wrote in the June 1 filing.

Schieve filed a civil suit in December seeking damages from private detective David McNeely for a violation of her privacy after a mechanic alerted her to the clandestine GPS tracking device, which was attached to her vehicle.

Sparks police determined it was purchased by McNeely. Ex-Washoe County Commissioner Vaugn Hartung joined the suit in February, alleging a GPS monitor also was secretly attached to his vehicle to track his movements.

The placing of the devices on the cars wasn't illegal because no Nevada law specifically outlawed the practice at the time. But the Legislature approved and Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law last week a prohibition on placing GPS trackers on vehicles with the exceptions of law enforcement officers with warrants and in some cases certain creditors.

Lawyers for McNeely said in last month's appeal to the states high court that divulging the name of a client would violate the long-accepted and expected confidentiality of a private investigator-client relationship.

Lawyers for John Doe joined the appeal last week, arguing that the First Amendment protects John Does right to anonymously investigate elected officials to help uncover misconduct or malfeasance.

Anonymous pamphlets leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all, said the brief filed by Las Vegas lawyers Alina Shell and Jeffrey Barr.

Even the Federalist Papers, written in favor of the adoption of our Constitution, were published under fictitious names, they said.

They said that without the assurance of confidentiality, Doe wouldn't have hired the detective to investigate any alleged misconduct by the politicians. They said earlier he'd received information that suggested the officials may have been involved in some sort of wrongdoing but haven't provided any further details.

The filing says private investigation of elected officials and candidates has and likely will always be part of American politics.

The late Sen. Edward Kennedy hired a private investigator while seeking re-election in 1994 to dig up damaging information about challenger Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, it said. American journalist James Callendar remained anonymous while revealing President Thomas Jefferson had fathered children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves, it added.

In Nevada, the Culinary Union and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association hired a detective to surveil the movements of Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs-McDonald in 2006 to show she lived outside her commission district, the lawyers said.

They said in earlier filings in Washoe District Court that Doe had not broken any laws or disseminated any of the information gathered on his behalf and never instructed McNeely to place GPS trackers on vehicles.

The tracking device was on Schieves vehicle for several weeks and Hartungs vehicle for several months, their lawsuit says.

Schieve said McNeely trespassed onto her property to install the device, which a mechanic noticed while working on her vehicle last year about two weeks before she won re-election in November.

Hartung also won re-election but later resigned to become chairman of the Nevada Transportation Commission.

Judge David Hardy said in his May 4 ruling that the use of a GPS tracking device to monitor the movements of a person could be a tortious invasion of privacy.
Republican Rep. George Santos of New York, who was indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, has lost his effort to keep the public from learning the names of the people who co-signed his $500,000 bond, according to court records.

Santos attorney Joseph Murray had asked the court to keep the names of the people who guaranteed his half-a-million dollar bond sealed after a motion was filed by multiple news organizations, including CNN, requesting the names be made public.

Murray wrote that there is little doubt that the suretors will suffer some unnecessary form of retaliation if their identities and employment are revealed and claimed that Santos would rather surrender to pre trial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come if their names are made public.

CNN has reached out to Murray for comment on the magistrate judges decision, which was not posted publicly.

Santos was released on bond and ordered to surrender his passport after pleading not guilty to 13 federal charges, seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. He is required to get permission to travel outside of Washington, DC, New York City and Long Island.

Asked Tuesday why its important to shield the identities of the people who guaranteed his $500,000 bond, Santos told CNN: Because it is.

The New York Republican has the option of appealing the magistrate judges order to the district court, and in the meantime, the decision, as well as previously sealed documents with the co-signers names, will remain under seal until at least Friday.

The freshman congressman, whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications stunned even hardened politicos and led top Democrats and some New York Republicans to call for his resignation earlier this year, has said he will not resign from his seat and that he plans to seek reelection next year.

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One grant would support the development of a lunar power distribution system. (NASA Illustration)

NASAs latest round of small-business grants will support aerospace-related technologies ranging from a new kind of spacecraft docking mechanism to a power beaming system suitable for use on the moon.

Those are just two of the projects receiving Phase I grants from the space agencys Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, also known as SBIR and STTR.

The grants will go to 300 proposals from 249 small businesses and 39 research institutions across the country. Each proposal team will receive $150,000 to establish the merit and feasibility of their innovations, representing a total agency investment of $45 million. SBIR Phase I funding supports projects for six months, while the funding for STTR Phase I projects is meant to cover 13 months of work.

NASA has a key role to play in growing the aerospace ecosystem in our country, Jenn Gustetic, director of early stage innovation and partnerships for NASAs Space Technology Mission Directorate, said today in a news release. Through these early-stage small business awards, we are inviting more innovators into this growing arena and helping them mature their technologies for not only NASAs use, but for commercial impact.

Gynelle Steele, deputy program executive for NASAs SBIR/STTR program, said the grants are meant to nurture pioneering ideas from a diversity of innovators across the country that may not attract the initial private industry funding needed to thrive.

Six Washington state companies are on the list for SBIR Phase I grants:

Two additional Washington state companies are involved in STTR projects:

Alternative Energy Materials , a Pullman-based venture, will work with Washington State University to develop a new kind of electrolyzer for producing hydrogen, methane or oxygen  chemicals that could be used in space for refueling or for life support. The VYZion system could also be used for terrestrial power generation.

Nonlinear Materials Corp., based in Seattle, will work with AIM Photonics, a venture formed by the U.S. Air Force and the Research Foundation for the State University, on a project to integrate silicon organic hybrid electro-optical modulators into a silicon photonics platform. The work could lead to compact, low-power optical communication systems for terrestrial and in-space applications.

Companies that make suitable progress in Phase I can submit proposals for $850,000 in Phase II funding to develop prototypes  and then potentially go on to pursue post-Phase II opportunities. NASAs most recent batch of SBIR Phase II recipients  which included Starfish Space  was announced in April.

Also in April, USNC-Tech won up to $600,000 in space agency funding in the form of a Phase II grant from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program, or NIAC.

More from GeekWire:
A youth-led environmental protection competition unveiled the top winners in Beijing on June 5, the World Environment Day.

Representatives of the top winners of Green Life Innovator  Household Paper Green Innovation Competition receive honors in Beijing, June 5, 2023. [Photo by Shao Ran]

The competition, Green Life Innovator  Household Paper Green Innovation Competition, was jointly launched by the China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) and Kimberly-Clark (China) Co., Ltd., a global leader in the personal care and hygiene industry, in March last year. The initiative aimed to implement the national ecological development strategy, adhere to the principles of sustainable development, and encourage environmental protection actions among individual citizens, especially young people.

The competition received 701 short videos showcasing creative ideas related to paper use and environmentally friendly packaging designs from 592 students representing 159 universities nationwide. Financial support was provided to transform the best ideas into tangible results.

Among the top were two creative designs from a team at the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication (BIGC). Their innovations included a printable, flexible luminous display box and environmentally friendly visual detection technology for packages.

Team from the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication briefing their creative designs in Beijing, June 5, 2023. [photo by Shao Ran]

Liu Yibin, a member of the team and a postgraduate student at BIGC, said, "Our products can provide an environmentally friendly, lightweight and low-cost display solution for the current paper/plastic packaging industry, providing a new interactive experience for packaging."

In his address at the conference, Fang Zhi, deputy secretary-general of the CEPF, said, "We are excited to see more and more leading companies like Kimberly-Clark empower every consumer, especiallyyoung people, to become pivotal players in addressing climate change, ecological concerns and other challenges through green products and marketing innovation."

The activity received wide attention from society. Through the competition, the students promoted green innovation by using their knowledge and raising publicawareness of sustainable development.

Zhan Hui, a representative of Kimberly-Clark (China), said that as a global leader in health, hygiene and personal care, Kimberly-Clark is committed to protecting Earth's ecological environment while providing consumers with daily necessities. She pointed out that the company has been making unswerving efforts to minimize its "environmental footprint" in key areas most relevant to its business: climate, forests, plastics and water.

"Promoting sustainable development requires the participation of everyone, and encouraging young people to adopt an environmentally friendly and sustainable understanding of consumption is a top priority," said Zhan. "We are delighted to empower young people to become changemakers in tackling the global challenges of sustainability. We hope to find more imaginative and creative green solutions and provide more inspiration for a better life and world."

On June 5, representatives of the winning projects had the opportunity to visit the former site of the Mathematics Department at Peking University in Dongchengdistrict, Beijing, which serves as a patriotism education base. This visit aimed to deepen their understanding of the country's development trajectory, shifting focus from rapid economic growth to sustainable, high-quality development.
The National Guard has officially revealed the name of the Zaporizhzhia Avenger, the Hero of Ukraine who shot down seven aircraft and a Russian missile using an Igla MANPADS  its Roman Holomba.

Source: press service of the Ukrainian National Guard

Quote: "A mural of the youngest Hero of Ukraine, a soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine, Roman Holomba, was unveiled in the centre of the capital on 6 June. He is also known as the Zaporizhzhia Avenger.

The artists say the mural is an opportunity to tell the true story of a real young man of 19, a conscript in the National Guard, who, in the early months of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, excelled in destroying enemy aircraft and missiles with an Igla MANPADS during battles in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This warrior continues to defend our country."

Details: The mural depicts the Zaporizhzhia Avenger, who is threading downed Russian aircraft on a needle [Igla means "needle" in Russian  ed.]. The idea was initiated by the Charity Hub team, and Taras Topolia, frontman of the band Antytila, also joined in.

During the official opening of the mural, Topolia announced the launch of a UAH 3 million [roughly US$81,200] fundraising drive to buy attack and reconnaissance drones for the Offensive Guard brigades [the military formations, which are being built up for the Ukrainian counteroffensive].

A QR code has been placed on the mural, which can be used to donate money for drones.

Background: In July 2022, the press service of the National Guard confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that after destroying three aircraft, a soldier with the alias "Bandit" had been decorated with the highest state award, the Hero of Ukraine star.

The name of the National Guard member who is nicknamed the "Zaporizhzhia Avenger" has not been officially disclosed.

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This week, the countrys largest newspaper chain, Gannett, is making some big headlines.

Hundreds of its workers walked out of the newsroom and went on a workers strike demanding better treatment for pay and local journalism.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

We felt there was a need to convey to Gannett that there is value in the work that we do, said Patterson.

For nearly 40 years Steve Patterson has been a reporter at The Florida Times Union, whose parent company is Gannett.

The mass media outlet is accused of cutting jobs and hurting local journalism. According to a press release from a workers union called The Times-Union Newsguild, Gannett employees have not been given a raise in almost 5 years.

Financial issues we are just not making progress, said Patterson.

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Russel Harper President of The North Florida Central Labor Council stood by reporters like Patterson. He helps to represent all union workers in Northeast Florida. He says all workers deserve decent pay and benefits.

The shortest concise message is treat your workers like youd like to be treated. You always need more money with the cost of living like it is today and the cost of housing? Everybody needs more money but 5 years without getting a raise is a long time. says Harper.

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This walkout by Gannett employees stems from a nearly 5 yearlong contract with The Times-Union News Guild where employees say newsrooms positions and pay have been consistently cut.

Related Read: Local journalists going on strike

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Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova, right, Romania President Klaus Iohannis, centre, and Bulgaria Vice-President Iliana Iotova, left, arrive at the meeting of the leaders of the Bucharest Nine, a group of nine countries that make up the eastern flank of NATO, in Bratislava, Slovakia, Tuesday, June, 6, 2023. (Michal Svitok/TASR via AP)

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  NATO allies should aim to further boost their support for Ukraine and for its aspiration to become a member of the alliance, the leaders of nine Central and Eastern European countries said Tuesday.

The presidents of an informal group known as the Bucharest Nine, the nations in the easternmost parts of the NATO alliance, met in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, to discuss their common approach at the NATO summit scheduled for July 1113 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

We aim for a more robust, multi-year, and comprehensive support package for Ukraine, which will reinforce its defence capabilities also by implementing NATO standards and increasing interoperability with NATO, they said in a statement to conclude their meeting, which was also attended by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

In light of Russias war of aggression, we will continue our strong support to bolster Ukraines capacity to defend itself and to relieve the humanitarian catastrophe.

The leaders said they expect that in Vilnius, we will upgrade our political relations with Ukraine to a new level, and launch a new political track that will lead to Ukraines membership in NATO, once conditions allow.

The Bucharest Nine came together in response to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The nine countries are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

At their meeting in Warsaw in February, U.S. President Joe Biden assured those nations that worry that Russia could move to take military action against them next if hes successful in Ukraine that NATOs mutual defense pact is sacred and that we will defend literally every inch of NATO.

NATO responded to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by deploying multinational battlegroups in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. They complement another four deployed in 2017 in the three Baltic states and Poland, to expand NATOs presence from the Baltics to the Black Sea.

"Russia is the most significant and direct threat to Allies security and we must be prepared for it to remain so," the presidents said. We expect that the Vilnius Summit will further strengthen NATOs defence posture on the Eastern flank in order to deter and deny any opportunity for aggression.
(Reuters) - Members of NATO's eastern flank expect the military alliance's July summit in Vilnius will set Ukraine on a clearer path to membership, once its war with Russia ends, the countries said at a summit in Bratislava on Tuesday.

NATO allies have squabbled over the speed of Ukraine's eventual accession to the alliance, and Kyiv itself acknowledges it cannot come until its war following Russia's invasion ends.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met European leaders last week in Moldova as he urged NATO to provide security guarantees if membership was not possible for now.

Presidents of NATO eastern countries, most of which border Ukraine or Russia, met on Tuesday together with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in a sign of further backing for Ukraine to be brought closer to NATO.

"We are for strengthening relations with Ukraine in terms of concrete practical aid, but also in bringing relations with Ukraine closer," Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, who hosted the meeting, told a televised news conference.

"We do not consider this an expansion or encroachment of NATO toward Russia," she added, saying it would instead provide guarantees to NATO members that Russia will not absorb countries on its borders.

The eastern flank countries of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - known collectively as the Bucharest Nine - have been among Ukraine's staunchest backers.

Some NATO members, though, fear a hasty move could bring the alliance closer to direct confrontation with Russia and Hungary's president Katalin Novak warned against making "unrealistic promises".

"We expect that in Vilnius, we will upgrade our political relations with Ukraine to a new level, and launch a new political track that will lead to Ukraines membership in NATO, once conditions allow," the Bucharest Nine's joint statement said.

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, who will host the Vilnius summit, told reporters that while the nine countries unanimously support Ukraine's membership of NATO, getting support from other NATO allies was "problematic".

"We don't yet see which way this goes," he said.

"Over the remaining weeks we must find a way to take a large step forward and not disappoint expectation of Ukraine and its supporters.

"It would not be enough to repeat once more that NATO doors are open," he added.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet and Robert Muller in Prague and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, editing by Ed Osmond)
NC Republicans try again to deny the electoral rights of their enemies | Opinion

North Carolina Republican Senate leaders have introduced yet another proposal to restrict voting rights. No surprise there. They attack the right to vote like its their job. Im guessing they think it is.

Senate Bill 747 will limit mail-in ballots. Itll eliminate the three-day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day. That grace period was enacted unanimously in 2009. But this aint 2009. The Republican Party in North Carolina hadnt yet concluded it was existentially opposed to democracy 14 years ago. Now theyre all in. I wonder what they tell their kids when its time for the pledge of allegiance.

Gene Nichol

Sen. Ralph Hise, one of the bills primary sponsors, revealed hed fruitfully conferred, just days before it was introduced, with the remarkable Cleta Mitchell  Donald Trumps election denial guru. She proclaimed recently there were some things she wanted to fix in N.C. election law.

Like Mark Meadows, Mitchell was on Trumps perfect call to the Georgia Secretary of State demanding he find 11,780 votes. Im sure Mitchell knows election fraud when she sees it.

And SB 747 goes farther. Itll make voters who use same-day registration cast a provisional ballot, increase absentee ballot hurdles, and prohibit election boards from using private donations to support training and administration.

Of course, none of these barriers will inflict anything like the wound N.C. voters are about to receive from the next round of nation-leading partisan gerrymandering, but I was taken by a seeming change in tone of Republican explanations for the proposal.

Most of the massive alterations of North Carolina voting law enacted by Republican lawmakers over the last dozen years have been, the courts have explained, justified by lies. The monster voter ID law of 2013 was said to be aimed at voter fraud and ballot accuracy. But judges found that legislators could not conceal the states true motivation  the desire to handicap Black voters.

The gigantic racial gerrymanders invalidated during the same period werent crafted for the proffered reasons, but to deny a constitutionally adequate voice in the state legislature for Black Tar Heels. The 2015 overhaul of Wake County commission districts was rooted in pretext  the sore loser law was actually passed to crush Democrats.

But now Republicans at least come closer to admitting their overarching goal  denying the electoral rights of their enemies.

First, locking arms with Cleta Mitchell is something of a tell. Its like saying they took civil rights guidance from the Proud Boys. Next, Mitchells Election Integrity Network colleague, long-time N.C. GOP leader Jim Womack, who also pressed for the changes, said openly: theres an argument that says its a good thing for conservatives if more people vote, I fundamentally disagree with that.

Senator Hise himself explained, regretfully, that shortening the early voting period is something (he) would very much support, but the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals wouldnt allow it.

All seem to concede theyre out to limit the franchise. In America. In 2023. Who would have guessed a political party could (again) thrive in North Carolina as an opponent to democracy.

Franklin Roosevelts 1936 renomination acceptance speech was one of the greatest ever delivered by an American president. He said: There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation has a rendezvous with destiny.

Roosevelt went on to say: ...in America we are waging a great and successful war. ...It is a war for the survival of democracy. We are fighting to save a great and precious form of government for ourselves and for the world.

That we are. North Carolina Republicans are on the other side.

Contributing columnist Gene Nichol is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
San Diego Padres' Gary Sanchez, right, celebrates with teammate Manny Machado after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, June 5, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN DIEGO (AP)  Gary Sanchez hit a two-run home run and Blake Snell and three relievers combined on a four-hitter for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0 Monday night to salvage a split of a four-game series.

Manny Machado had three hits, scored twice and made a sensational play at third base in his fourth game back from a stint on the injured list with a fractured left hand.

Sanchez, claimed off waivers from the New York Mets a week earlier, hit his third homer in seven games with the Padres when he lined a 2-2 pitch from Kyle Hendricks into the left field seats with one out in the second. Machado was aboard on a leadoff single.

He's been unbelievable, offensively, behind the plate, manager Bob Melvin said of the Padres' new catcher. The running game's kind of been shut down some with his arm strength, he's caught guys he's never caught before and done a great job with them. Quick learning curve with him. He's fit right in from the day he got here.

This one hopefully is a really great pickup for us and has been so far, the manager added.

Whenever you get the opportunity to be out on the field and playing every single day, good things tend to happen, Sanchez said through an interpreter. I think it's more the opportunity to be out there every day.

Plate umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected David Ross after the Cubs manager said something from the dugout during Sanchez's at-bat. Ross came out and continued the argument for a few minutes. He was replaced by Andy Green, who managed the Padres from 2016-19.

Matt Carpenter and Ha-Seong Kim followed with consecutive doubles to make it 3-0. Machado doubled with two outs in the third and scored on Jake Cronenworth's opposite-field single to left. Matt Carpenter hit a bases-loaded drive to the center field fence for a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Snell (2-6) allowed just two singles and walked three in six innings while striking out eight.

He's the man, Snell said Sanchez, a former rival from the AL East. One thing I kept laughing about in the dugout, I was saying we'd be really good together, especially with how well he hits me. He sees my pitches really well and having him behind the plate is very comforting, when he's not hitting."

Hendricks (0-2) had three pitch clock violations while allowing four runs and six hits in six innings.

In the third, Machado made a backhanded stop of Seiya Suzuki's grounder and, as his momentum carried him several steps into foul territory, turned and made the long throw to first to end the inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: CF Trent Grisham was a late scratch with lower back spasms. Fernando Tatis Jr. moved from right to center and Brandon Dixon played right. ... SS Xander Bogaerts was out of the lineup for a second straight game due to his troublesome left wrist. He said he hopes to be back on Tuesday night. Hes been bothered since being hit on the wrist by a pitch from Atlantas Spencer Strider on April 18. Bogaerts had a cortisone shot during spring training and said its too soon to get another one. ... Roughned Odor was batting leadoff and playing second base three nights after straining his left groin running to first base on a single.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-2, 4.81 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels, who will counter with LHP Tyler Anderson (2-1, 5.47).

Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove (3-2, 4.71) is set to go Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game series against the Seattle Mariners, who will send RHP Logan Gilbert (3-3, 4.08) to the mound.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Nearly half of North Carolinas counties are legal deserts, or places where there is less than one attorney for 1,000 residents, says N.C. Indigent Defense Services Executive Director Mary Pollard.

That has serious consequences, she told members of the Governors Crime Commission at a recent meeting.

Lack of resources weaken public trust in the judicial system, she said. Thats something were all very concerned about.

Other problems include overly long waits for trials, crowded jails, innocent defendants pleading guilty to crimes and even wrongful convictions.

This has been and continues to be a big problem in the state, UNC School of Government Professor Phil Dixon told The Charlotte Observer in an email. Dixon specializes in indigent defense education and works with IDS.

We have far more counties than public defender offices, and many of the counties without a PD office simply do not have enough attorneys, or they dont have enough attorneys qualified to handle more serious cases, he wrote.

Change may be on the way with more funding for public defense in proposed state budgets and a six-year plan from Indigent Defense Services, Pollard said.

Lawyers drawn to urban NC

Public defenders are lawyers who represent defendants unable to afford their own attorney. But the supply of lawyers is lopsided in this state.

North Carolinas biggest urban counties, Wake and Mecklenburg, are home to nearly half its active lawyers, according to data that Pollard presented. Despite making up 21.5% of the states population, they have 46.7% of its attorneys, said Pollard, whose office oversees public defenders across the state.

The shortage is often more noticeable in smaller, more rural counties, according to Pollards data. Caldwell, Bertie, Hoke, Stokes and Graham Counties are among those with the largest deficit  somewhere between .19 and .69 attorneys per resident.

In counties where there is no office with full-time public defenders, courts rely on other lawyers willing to take on contract work. Younger lawyers are increasingly uninterested in public defense, Pollard said.

The lawyers who historically have done work for IDS, appointed work are getting older, and theyre not being replaced by younger lawyers, she said. The younger lawyers arent moving to these counties and smaller towns and smaller cities.

If they were present and interested in the work, theyd be paid less today than they were in 2008, according to Dixon.

When he worked as a lawyer in 2008, base pay for appointed work was $75 an hour, he said. In 2023 it is $65 an hour for misdemeanor work but has yet to be restored to pre-cut levels, he wrote.

By way of contrast, attorneys representing indigent clients in the federal system receive an hourly rate of more than double our state rate, he wrote.

Expanding public defender offices?

A 2017 report from the North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice had already laid out the problems and made good recommendations to fix them, Pollard said.

The report was blunt.

While stakeholders agree that IDS has improved the States delivery of indigent defense services, they also agree that in some respects the system is in crisis, part of it reads.

Among its recommendations: Establish more public defender offices across the state and provide reasonable compensation for all counsel providing indigent defense services.

Pollards agency wants to expand public defense statewide in three waves, every other year, over the next six years.

Each wave would include larger and smaller districts to help control costs and to equalize efforts between places that will be easier and places that will be tougher to set up an office, a plan document says.

The first wave would cost $10 million. It recommends 19 counties across several districts that could get full-time, dedicated public defense staff.

At the Governors Crime Commission, she referenced the state House and Senate budgets  yet to be reconciled  which would fund IDS to expand into six or four districts, respectively, she said.

Its a start, she said of the Senate budget proposal. Its not 10, right? But its six.
Nearly half of voters would consider backing third-party candidate in 2024: poll

Close to half of American voters would consider backing a third-party candidate if President Biden and former President Trump head toward a rematch in 2024, according to a new poll.

A NewsNation/DDHQ poll released Tuesday found 49 percent of respondents said it was somewhat or very likely that they would consider voting for a third-party candidate in 2024 if Trump and Biden were their parties nominees.

Among the candidates whom respondents said they would be most likely to vote for as a third party candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received 21 percent, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) received 10 percent and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) received 7 percent, among others.

Another 43 percent said they would choose someone else as a third-party candidate.

Asked recently whether she would consider a third-party bid, Cheney, a vocal opponent of Trump, declined to rule it out. However, she has also repeatedly said she will do whatever it takes to prevent the former president from being elected again, suggesting she would likely pass on a White House bid if the former president was likely to prevail in the GOP primary.

Manchin has also not ruled out a third-party bid. Sanders, meanwhile, has said he is backing Biden in 2024.

The poll comes as Biden faces high levels of disapproval in national surveys. In Tuesdays poll, 53 percent of voters said they disapproved of how Biden handled his job. Another 47 percent said they approved.

Trump doesnt fare better in many national polls, though he still maintains high levels of support among GOP voters, making a rematch with Biden likely. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) officially entered the GOP primary race several weeks ago, while several more contenders are expected to throw their hats in the ring this week.

The substantial number of voters who dont want Trump or Biden as the nominees has raised questions about the possibility of a third-party challenger.

The NewsNation/DDHQ poll was conducted May 25-26 with 1,000 voters polled. The margin of error was roughly plus or minus 3 percent.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
[Source]

Netflix recently released the official trailer for its upcoming K-drama series "King the Land" starring 2PMs Lee Jun-ho and Girls Generations YoonA.

The show centers around Lees charismatic and intelligent character Gu Won, the heir to a family-controlled conglomerate who becomes unexpectedly caught in a fierce inheritance battle. Meanwhile, YoonA plays Cheon Sa-rang, a humble woman thrilled to secure a job at King Hotel, which is owned by Gu Won's affluent family.

Amid a tense inheritance fight, a charming heir clashes with his hardworking employee who's known for her irresistible smile  which he cannot stand, the shows tagline states.

This marks Lees return to the K-drama world after his role as Yi San/King Jeongjo in the historical drama "The Red Sleeve" last year. As for YoonA, she recently starred in the MBC/Disney+ series "Big Mouth."

More from NextShark: Netflix drops trailer for 'Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight' Season 2

"King the Land" is directed by Im Hyun-wook with a script by by Choi Rom and All of Us Are Dead screenwriter Chun Sung-il. It is scheduled to premiere on June 17 on the South Korean network JTBC and will also be made available for streaming on Netflix.

New episodes of the 16-episode series will be released on Saturdays and Sundays. Check out its official trailer below:

More from NextShark: S. Korea national security advisor resigns after alleged Blackpink White House invite blunder

More from NextShark: Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilms secret Star Wars project is a hand-drawn short featuring Grogu

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

South Korean singer Zion. T creates new company for creators
Cryptic mountain creature  with 9 babies on its back  discovered as new species

Perched on a leaf in the cool night air, a creature stops to rest. The nine babies on her back stay balanced despite the slope.

A bright beam of light pierces through the darkness.

Scientists spot the mother and approach her perch. They peer closer at the creatures and realize theyre looking at a new species.

Researcher Philippe Kok summited Wei-Assipu-tepui, a small table-top mountain along the Guyana-Brazil border, for a multi-week animal survey in 2009, he wrote in a study published May 25 in the journal Zoological Letters. The mountain reaches about 1.5 miles in elevation but can only be reached by helicopter or technical climb because of its cliff-like sides.

Exploring the mountain summit, Kok noticed numerous cryptic frogs that hid during the day and emerged at night. The nocturnal animals were found along the ground, on plant leaves, under rocks, in crevices and on small trees.

A habitat at the summit of Wei-Assipu-tepui.

Taking a closer look at the animal, Kok discovered a new species of frog: Stefania maccullochi, the study said.

Stefania maccullochi frogs range in size from about 1.8 inches to about 2.9 inches in size, with females being larger than males, the study said. The frogs coloring varies greatly, ranging from plain medium brown to chestnut brown and from brown-ish red to almost completely red.

Photos show the color variation among Stefania maccullochi frogs. Some animals had dark brown markings while others had little to no markings, the study said.

Stefania maccullochi varied in color from brown to red.

Several female Stefania maccullochi frogs were observed carrying their babies on their backs, Kok wrote. Photos show one female frog perched on a leaf with nine babies on her back. Another female frog was found hiding in a tube-like plant and carrying four babies on her back, photos show.

A female Stefania maccullochi hiding in a plant and carrying nine babies on its back.

A female Stefania maccullochi hiding in a tube-like plant and carrying four babies on its back.

The new species was identified as distinct based on its body shape, geographic location and DNA, the study said.

DNA analysis found the new species had between 4.1% and 4.9% genetic divergence from other frog species, Kok wrote. This divergence was greater than the genetic divergence between other recognized species.

Despite being genetically distinct, Stefania maccullochi frogs resemble another species of frog found on a mountain summit in Venezuela, the study said. Kok attributed this similarity to parallel evolution, shared ancestry or both. Still, the two similar-looking species are found on isolated mountains.

Kok named Stefania maccullochi after Ross Douglas MacCulloch, a herpetologist from Canada who has contributed to the knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles of Guyana.

The new species is likely critically endangered because of its limited geographic distribution, the study said. The animal is threatened by climate change, human fires and an uptick in people visiting its isolated habitat, Kok wrote.

Wei-Assipu-tepui is located on the Guyana-Brazil border. The mountain is in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, an area controlled by Guyana but disputed between Guyana and Venezuela.

Guyana is located on the northern coast of South America and borders Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela

Nocturnal creature  as small as it is rare  spotted in Indian forest, video shows

Rattling sound leads scientists to floating creature  a new species  in Vietnam

Cryptic creature  with long golden fur  discovered as new species at Indian cave
You are here: China

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Tuesday launched a 100-day recruitment campaign to help recent college graduates land jobs.

Aiming to provide over 10 million job opportunities, the campaign will focus on the most in-demand jobs in key industries such as pharmaceutics, information technology, advanced manufacturing and environmental protection, according to the ministry.

The campaign will also facilitate region-specific job fairs in areas with large numbers of recent graduates and high demand for jobs.

The ministry said that with the participation of employment services providers, industry associations and companies, various online platforms will be launched to publish real-time recruitment information and host livestreamed job fairs.

China will see a record 11.58 million new college graduates this year, earlier data shows.
California Gov. Gavin. Newsom, left, has increasingly sought to burnish his credentials as a national Democratic figure. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, right, has been one of his favorite foils. (Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom took his feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis to new heights on Monday, seemingly threatening him with kidnapping charges after California officials say South American migrants were sent to Sacramento by the state of Florida as a political stunt.

Newsom, a Democrat, cited state kidnapping laws in a tweet to the Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful, whom he called a small, pathetic man.

This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges? Newsom said in the tweet, referencing DeSantis' action last year to send a group of Venezuelan migrants to the wealthy liberal vacation spot in Massachusetts.

Sixteen migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were transported from Texas to New Mexico and flown on a chartered jet to Sacramento, where they were dropped off Friday at a church, Newsom said.

On Monday, a plane carrying 20 migrants arrived in Sacramento. Both groups were flown by the same contractor and were carrying documents indicating that their transportation involved the state of Florida, according to officials with the California Department of Justice.

Newsom said that his administration is working with the agency to "investigate the circumstances around" who paid for the plane trips, whether migrants were misled and whether laws were violated, including kidnapping.

It is unclear what legal action the state plans to take. After Newsom tweeted the threat of kidnapping charges, his spokesperson deferred questions to Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office. Bonta said over the weekend that he was evaluating potential criminal or civil action" but did not release additional details Monday.

DeSantis representatives did not respond to written questions from The Times. His campaign press team, which is active on Twitter, made no mention of Newsoms tweeted accusation, and DeSantis did not mention the incident on a Monday morning appearance on Fox News radio.

The question is whether Newsom will follow through with legal action over the interstate transportation of migrants or risk being accused of using the incident to stage his own version of political theater as the two governors jockey for national attention.

Its potent to both bases  as most moves on immigration are," said Mike Madrid, a GOP political consultant. "Republicans love DeSantis for this, and Democrats love the opportunity to showcase Democratic acceptance and tolerance."

Newsom has been known to tweet sharp political messages without fully formed policy to back them up. Earlier this year, he declared California was done doing business with Walgreens after the pharmacy chain said it would not distribute an abortion pill in some states, but his administration had to walk that back due to federal law. "Tweeting is not policy," Newsom's aide said at the time.

In another instance, as gas prices spiked last year, Newsom took to Twitter to call for a new windfall tax on oil companies, telling Californians that they are ripping you off and that the plan would send money directly back to you. But six months later, Newsom reneged on that demand and instead worked with the Legislature to pass a bill increasing oversight of the industry.

Last year, when DeSantis claimed responsibility for sending dozens of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Newsom wrote a letter to U.S. Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland  which he posted on Twitter  demanding a federal investigation. Asked about the status of that request, a Newsom spokesperson directed questions to the Department of Justice, which did not respond to an inquiry on Monday.

Calvin Kia Abbasi, a spokesperson for PICO California, a faith-based nonprofit that is helping support the migrants in Sacramento, said they should be righted by the state and benefit from the due process of law.

They were taken from nowhere and dropped in the middle of the capital of California with nothing on their backs, he said. They deserve actions taken that are in service to their inherent dignity as people, and anything less than that would be an affront to their humanity.

Migrants affected in California could join a federal class-action lawsuit against DeSantis and Florida officials regarding the 2022 Martha's Vineyard incident.

The pending lawsuit, filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights, alleges that Florida officials including DeSantis chartered planes from Texas to Massachusetts as part of a scheme "to defraud vulnerable immigrants to advance a political motive."

Oren Sellstrom, litigation director for Lawyers for Civil Rights, said his organization has attorneys "on the ground now" in California who are investigating the latest orchestrated flight and whether it aligns with their suit.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of impacted migrants in Massachusetts, accuses DeSantis and Florida officials of illegal seizure, false arrest and fraud.

"There is certainly exposure on both the civil and criminal side for any individuals or private companies that engage in this type of despicable conduct," Sellstrom said. "The long-lasting impact of a stunt like this ... people were traumatized when they realized that they were abandoned."

This is not the first time this has happened in Sacramento, home of Californias Democratic leaders. Last year, eight Venezuelan migrants were flown from Texas to Sacramento with little cash, and some without shoes.

Autumn Gonzalez, an organizer with NorCal Resist, said those men remain in Sacramento and have not been able to secure a legal way to work. Her organization continues to provide them housing, food and resources, as they do not qualify for social safety net services offered by the state because of their immigration status.

"If more folks come, they are welcome here. We would love to have them," she said. "We just don't think people should be used as political pawns and as some kind of statement about immigration. It's just wrong."

The Marthas Vineyard flight captured national attention and propelled DeSantis to the forefront of the immigration debate, along with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who last year bused migrants to the Washington, D.C., home of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Conservative media was especially captivated, said Howard Polskin, the author of the Righting, a newsletter that monitors right-wing outlets.

This time, however, its a ghost story, Polskin said. Its been ignored.

The muted interest reflects how DeSantis is having a harder time dominating the political conversation on the right, after appearing ascendant in the run-up to the 2022 elections.

With more candidates throwing their hats in the ring, there's not as much attention focused on him, Polskin said.

Last month, DeSantis signed a bill bolstering the relocation program that funded the flight to Marthas Vineyard. The legislation provided $12 million to relocate migrants, expanded requirements for businesses to check workers legal status and mandated hospitals that take Medicaid patients to ask questions about citizenship on intake forms, a move that some immigrant rights advocates say could deter people living in the U.S. illegally from seeking care.

As Newsom has increasingly sought to burnish his credentials as a national Democratic figure, DeSantis has been one of his favorite foils.

He paid for a television ad in the Sunshine State dumping on DeSantis and urging residents to join the fight, or join us in California. He challenged the Florida governor to a televised debate. He traveled to DeSantis home turf to slam the efforts to reshape education in the state.

DeSantis has tweaked Newsom as well, saying in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley that the California governor seems very concerned about what were doing in Florida and that Americans have voted with their feet by moving away from blue states.

Scott Jennings, a Republican consultant, noted that DeSantis has often found political success by challenging the governance of liberal governors. He relished contrasting his governance during the COVID-19 pandemic to that of then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who later resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.

DeSantis kind of came to prominence in the party as a true fighter by being constantly compared to Cuomo, Jennings said. Hes gone now, so the next best foil is Newsom, who Republicans think is ridiculous.

Though polling showed the Marthas Vineyard migrant transport did not especially alter the dynamics of the 2022 midterm elections, the actions struck a chord with the GOP base. Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist who conducts focus groups with voters across the country, said voters speak unequivocally in positive terms about DeSantis sending migrants to Marthas Vineyard and cite it as a top reason for why they view him approvingly.

For a time, DeSantis was a strong performer in Longwells focus groups, the strategist said, but there has been a shift back toward former President Trump, who has begun attacking the Florida governor.

The latest round of flights may give DeSantis a new shot at capturing primary voters attention.

He is trying to out-MAGA Trump, which sometimes manifests as who can appear to be the toughest or the harshest against illegal immigration, Longwell said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom escalated his feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, appearing to threaten DeSantis with kidnapping charges over South American migrant flights to Sacramento.

Newsom cited California kidnapping laws in a tweet sent Monday that called the Florida governor and 2024 GOP presidential candidate a "small, pathetic man."

"This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?" Newsom tweeted, referencing Florida's migrant relocation initiative. DeSantis drew national headlines last year when the state of Florida flew a group of South American migrants from Texas to the liberal enclave of Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, which had touted broad support for sanctuary policies.

More than a dozen migrants were transported from Texas to New Mexico before being flown to Sacramento and left on the doorstep of a local church Friday "without any advance warning," Newsom said over the weekend.

CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING MIGRANT ARRIVALS IN SACRAMENTO: WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING

On Monday, a plane carrying 20 more migrants arrived in Sacramento. California Department of Justice officials said both groups were flown by the same contractor and were carrying documents linking the state of Florida to their relocation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"My Administration is also working with the California Department of Justice to investigate the circumstances around who paid for the groups travel and whether the individuals orchestrating this trip misled anyone with false promises or have violated any criminal laws, including kidnapping," Newsom said.

ARMED SUSPECTED MEXICAN CARTEL MEMBERS ARRESTED ON TEXAS SIDE OF BORDER

Illegal immigrants arrive at Martha's Vineyard Airport on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, after being relocated by the state of Florida.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a separate statement Saturday announcing an investigation into the migrant flights. Bonta said the state is "evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants."

"While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting," Bonta added. "We are a nation built by immigrants and we must condemn the cruelty and hateful rhetoric of those, whether they are state leaders or private parties, who refuse to recognize humanity and who turn their backs on extending dignity and care to fellow human beings."

FLORIDA AG MOODY MOVES TO BLOCK DHS FROM RELEASING MIGRANTS INTO INTERIOR WITH COURT DATES

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to guests during the Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride event on June 3, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Representatives for DeSantis' political campaign and the office of the governor did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

DeSantis signed legislation earlier this year granting the state of Florida $12 million to continue its "Unauthorized Alien Transpot Program" to send illegal immigrants to states with sanctuary city policies. The program is intended to challenge Democrats' hypocrisy toward asylum seekers and protest federal immigration policy under the Biden administration, though critics have called it a political stunt.

Fox News' Danielle Wallace and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
NI Tourism should prepare for more expensive flights, says report

Air routes are the major way in which overseas tourists arrive in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's tourism industry should prepare for a future in which climate change mitigation has made air travel more expensive, a report says.

The research paper from the Department for the Economy considers challenges over the next decade.

It says rising air travel costs "may limit affordability for external tourists".

It added the sector will have to "mitigate against airplane dependency and the rise of carbon prices".

Air routes are the major way in which overseas tourists arrive in Northern Ireland.

The research states: "The dependency on air travel creates a high risk as carbon prices may continue to rise in the future, resulting in a reduction of airline demand.

"Northern Ireland will need to strike the balance between managing the risks associated with rising carbon prices and maintaining connectivity of airports between target tourist markets."

Air travel is one of the most controversial areas of net-zero emissions policy: it will be difficult to run jet engines using less-polluting technologies and government's are reluctant to agree to measures which will make travel more expensive.

The research uses examples from other countries to suggest that any extra taxes should be used to fund climate and environmental projects.

'Problem of over tourism'

The study also says that the industry needs to anticipate and limit the problem of "over tourism", which is when the numbers and behaviour of tourists negatively impacts local communities.

This has been seen in cities like Amsterdam which recently ran a campaign discouraging visits from young British men.

The research points to the impact tourism is already having on housing stress along the north coast.

It suggests a pilot scheme for tougher regulations covering short stays rents and digital booking platforms in specific locations.
Jasmine Bonilla said she was non-stop crying last week after she and 900 of her Bitwise Industries colleagues were unexpectedly furloughed.

It was a shock to the system, Bonilla said. We got the rug pulled out from under us.

A week after the furloughs rocked Fresno, Bitwise employees are trying to get back on their feet with the support of the local community and elected officials, who are providing direct assistance from their offices as well as organizing a resource fair.

Meanwhile, a Fresno lawyer is helping California-based employees file a class action lawsuit.

Over the past week, Bonilla said she had difficult conversations with her bank, mortgage company and doctors office.

I had to cancel appointments because I didnt know if I had insurance or not, she said, it was just reliving that trauma all over again.

The furlough is having a domino effect on the community, Bonilla said. Its not just people losing their jobs. Its one entire household losing their entire source of income, its businesses around us that were not shopping at anymore.

Bitwise employees worth fighting for, class action lawyer says

Roger Bonakdar, the lawyer representing furloughed workers, said one of the reasons the furlough struck a personal chord with him is because he knew some of the employees personally.

Its an absolute nightmare for these families, he said in an interview with The Bee on Monday.

Bonakdar plans to allege a violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, a state law that requires companies give employees 60 days notice of furloughs and layoffs. He also plans to try to seek damages for employees, in light of allegations from employees that some paychecks bounced and that Bitwise had stopped making matching contributions to their 401(k) retirement savings program in March.

Bonakdar is also running for a seat on city council to represent District 6, which covers northeast Fresno, city records show. The seat is currently held by Councilmember Garry Bredefeld.

Fresno city leaders also said last week that the company likely violated state law.

City Attorney Andrew Janz said what Bitwise leaders described as furloughs rather than layoffs fall under the provisions of the WARN Act.

Bonakdar said the lawsuit could be a long and hard fought battle that could drag on for years.

Sometimes, there are hard fights that have to be fought when theyre worth fighting, he said, and these 300 Fresno families and Valley families are worth fighting for.

He said his office is already in touch with well over 100 locally affected Bitwise employees and encourages others to get in touch because there is strength in numbers.

He expects the lawsuit to be filed this week.

We are locked and loaded and were going to bring down as much force on these folks as we can to try and help these families, he said in an interview with The Bee on Monday. What happened to them is unconscionable and were going to hold them (Bitwise) accountable.

Bitwises board of directors has not yet responded to The Bees request for comment.

How some furloughed Bitwise employees are surviving, pivoting

Some employees are seeking more immediate relief.

Chris Ramos, a community revitalization specialist with Bitwise Industries, said in an Instagram post on his Vintage Fresno account that he, his husband, and his mother were all employed by Bitwise. His mother only recently joined the company in January after leaving her job of 10 years, he said.

Ramos is using his personal Venmo page to raise money so his family can stay on our feet.

We wanted to work at Bitwise as a family until we all retired and believed in the work Bitwise was doing in the world, he said, Were devastated by all of this.

Bonilla, too, is finding ways to move forward.

Shes combining her social media savvy with her passion for vintage goods to grow her online and pop-up business, Dos Manos Finds, a passion project she started during the pandemic where she sells vintage clothing, home decor, and glassware.

Bonilla is not involved in the class action lawsuit at this time. While shes unsure whether she should focus on her business full-time, find freelance social media work or find another full-time job, one thing is clear for Bonilla.

The outpouring of love from people  within the vintage community, friends, family, and strangers  was something she had never imagined. It was like, Oh, Im a person that people care about, if they dont know me.

Others are creating fundraisers on platforms like GoFundMe, selling baked goods or artwork online.

Meanwhile local Fresno businesses are offering things like a free food and hygiene pantry or a month of free yoga to impacted employees.

Job fair for Bitwise workers on Friday

The Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board is hosting two, in-person sessions for impacted Bitwise employees on Friday.

The sessions will cover how to access assistance such as unemployment benefits, social services, job training resources, housing counseling, low cost auto insurance, and more.

Registration for the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. sessions are now open.
The News

Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump are finally both in the presidential race and sparring daily over their records, leadership style, and name pronunciation. But as the two heavyweights look to differentiate each other, Nikki Haley is trying to convince GOP voters theyre one and the same.

The former South Carolina governor is trying to carve out a lane by arguing that  both on policy and style  DeSantis isnt a big enough leap from Trump for Republicans disinclined to hand the former president a third nomination.

One prime example? DeSantis ongoing legal and political battle with Disney over the companys criticism of a law restricting classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation.

During her CNN town hall on Sunday, Haley seemed to link it to Trumps feuds, arguing the company had taken liberal stances in the past on issues like immigration, but that DeSantis only turned on them when criticized personally.

Its just like all this vendetta stuff, Haley said. Weve been down that road. (DeSantis hit back on Monday afternoon during a Fox News appearance.)

Haleys team has been laying the groundwork for this idea  binding the top two candidates together as one in an effort to best DeSantis as the main non-Trump alternative  for weeks now. At the same town hall, she slammed both candidates over their unwillingness to clearly say whether they want Ukraine to beat out Russia.

For them to sit there and say that this is a territorial dispute, thats just not the case  or to say that we should stay neutral, Haley said. Its in the best interest of our national security for Ukraine to win.

Just days before DeSantis campaign launch, Haleys team also sent out a memo to interested parties that argued against DeSantis pitch as the more grown-up credible alternative to Trump. Not Trump Without the Drama. Just Mini-Trump, Haleys team declared, pointing to recent leaks of internal debate prep footage from DeSantis 2018 race, as well as a Florida congressional lawmaker noting that he declined to endorse DeSantis in part because he couldnt get a call back.

Shelby's view

One of the main arguments Haleys campaign has made is that a sizable number of voters  want someone that will continue a lot of Trumps policies, but not [have] the same style, as one source close to the campaign explained.

In my own conversations with voters over the past few months, that fact certainly seems true  its common to hear voters who like his record, but not his volatile behavior or rhetoric.

The problem for Haley? So far, DeSantis is seen as that candidate, and both he and Trump have very high favorable numbers with Republican voters.

In that sense, her teams latest attack effort makes sense: Much like 2016, lower-polling candidates have to focus on knocking off the number two option before being seen as the only real alternative to the top dog. Haley is hoping to undercut a key premise of the Florida governors run: His ability to get things done and his relatively steady, leakless campaign and governors office.

On the last point, those close to Haley see more of an opportunity to rebrand DeSantis as a chaos candidate over the past few weeks, as the online Twitter warring between DeSantis and Trumps camps have continued to heat up, with insults and accusations flying freely.

Their staff is going after each other nonstop, a second person close to Haleys campaign argued. Theres no discipline, and its all very childish  like theyre in a kindergarten food fight.

Even if she manages to undermine DeSantis, she still has to work to stand out from the current pile-up at third place. But its clear shes caught their attention: The pro-DeSantis Super PAC Never Back Down has targeted Haley, despite the fact that she remains polling in single digits.

Room for Disagreement

So far, Haleys push to tie DeSantis together with Trump doesnt seem to faze the frontrunner, who seems happy to welcome more candidates into the field to divide his opposition. One reason he might be pleased: Her attacks tie into Trumps main attacks against the Florida governor: That hes simply Trump-lite, that his campaign has suffered from sloppy missteps, and that he is ultimately not ready for primetime.
Social media users are claiming Mexican TV reported that anti-tank missile systems the United States sent to Ukraine ended up in the hands of a Mexican cartel. This is false; the claims are based on a mistranslation of the segment, which showed a man sporting apparent gang insignia carrying the same type of military-grade weapon used in Ukraine -- but did not say the artillery was diverted from Kyiv.

"Mexican TV reports that dozens of U.S. AT-4 weapons systems, which were originally shipped to Ukraine, have been purchased by Cartel Golfo in Mexico," says a May 31, 2023 tweet from "Citizen Free Press," an account that has previously spread misinformation.

Screenshot from Twitter taken June 5, 2023

Another widespread tweet says: "A Javelin anti-tank missile given to Ukraine valued at $80,000 ends up in the hands of a Mexican cartel (Gulf) member #DefundUkraine."

Similar claims took off on Twitter and other platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, amplified by the Russian embassy in Mexico, the conspiratorial website Zero Hedge and prominent US conservatives including activist Jack Posobiec, former congressman Ron Paul and Republican 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

"US military weapons including Javelin anti-tank missiles and missile launchers are now being used to arm the Mexican drug cartels south of our own border," Ramaswamy said in a video shared on Twitter.

"I'm not kidding," he said. "Weapons that we have sent to Ukraine to protect somebody else's border halfway around the world end up south of our own border in the hands of narco-terrorist Mexican drug cartels."

But the posts are based on a mistranslation of a television report from the Mexican network Milenio, which showed footage of a man carrying a large weapon while wearing a backpack featuring what appears to be an emblem associated with the Gulf Cartel, an organized crime group based in Matamoros, Mexico near the US border with Texas.

Contrary to the claims online, anchor Azucena Uresti did not say the artillery in question flowed from Ukraine -- only that the same type of weapon has been used as the country continues its war with Russia.

"An alleged member of the Gulf Cartel in Tamaulipas was recorded carrying one of the most exclusive and powerful weapons, a 'Javelin,' which in theory is only sold to the army and has been used during the invasion of Ukraine, for example," she said in Spanish in the video, which she tweeted May 31 (archived here).

An article on Milenio's website uses similar language.

AFP contacted Uresti for comment, but no response was forthcoming.

No evidence weapon diverted from Ukraine

The weapon shown in the clip is also not a Javelin. Raytheon, which manufactures the weapon with Lockheed Martin, told Lead Stories that the artillery in the clip is not their product.

Observers noted that the rocket in the clip resembles another anti-tank missile system called an AT4, photos of which (archived here) show the same yellow stripe and tube shape.

Mark Hvizda, a defense analyst at RAND Corporation, told AFP that while the Javelin locks onto a target before firing and has a maximum range of 2,500 meters, AT4 rockets are manually aimed and recoilless, with a shorter range of about 400 meters. A Swedish company is their main manufacturer, Hvizda said.

"These weapons are in service with a number of different militaries around the world, so (the AT4 in the video) could potentially be from a non-US stock," Hvizda said.

US defense officials have repeatedly said there is no evidence Kyiv is misusing its US military assistance.

"As many senior (Department of Defense officials) have said recently, including in testimony to Congress, we've seen no credible evidence of the illicit diversion of security assistance equipment that was originally destined for Ukraine," Lieutenant Commander Tim Gorman, a Pentagon spokesman, told AFP in a June 3 email.

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, an associate professor at George Mason University and expert on US-Mexico relations and organized crime, said armed groups in Mexico have long had black-market access to weapons from around the world.

"Those arms have been in the possession of these groups and have been circulating in the black market also for a number of years," said Correa-Cabrera, who authored a book on Los Zetas, a crime syndicate formed as the Gulf Cartel's enforcement arm. "They are not new."

But she cautioned little is known in general about the trafficking of weapons among these groups on the black market -- or about the specific man and weapon in the video shared online.

It is difficult to confirm that the man is a Gulf Cartel member, Correa-Cabrera said, and "there's no evidence whatsoever" that the rocket he was holding came from a US stockpile sent to Ukraine.

"We don't really know anything. Just a photograph of one alleged member of a cartel is not proof that these arms were accessed in a certain form."

AFP has previously debunked other misinformation about the Ukraine conflict here.
A mother thought she was getting a job; a North Georgia motel manager trafficked her instead

The manager of a Cartersville motel pleaded guilty to trafficking.

Prosecutors say he exploited a woman who had struggled with homelessness, drug addiction and had lost custody of her young child.

Shreesh Tiwari, 70, an Indian national and legal U.S. permanent resident, began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville in 2020.

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Tiwari hired the victim to work as a house cleaner at the hotel.

He promised her he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment, and an attorney.

But instead of following through on the promises, prosecutors said Tiwari monitored the victims interactions with motel guests and employees, forbidding her to speak with them, making numerous sexual advances to her, and when he was angry with her he would threaten to throw her out of her room.

Tiwari also threatened to report her drug use to law enforcement or child welfare agencies whenever he was angry with her, according to a release.

Eventually, he would evict her from her motel room, and even locked her out of her room at night without warning.

Tiwari later required the victim to perform oral sex on him to stay at the motel.

TRENDING STORIES:

Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime in which traffickers specifically identify and target the most vulnerable members of our society, often using fraudulent promises to offer hope to someone in need, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. This conviction demonstrates that the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting motel operators and other landlords who misuse and abuse their position of power over tenants to compel them to engage in commercial sex acts.

Sentencing for Tiwari is set for Sept. 6.

He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

As part of his plea agreement, Tiwari agreed to pay over $40,000 in mandatory restitution to the victim.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
During World War II, the Philippines was a U.S. commonwealth and heavily involved in the war effort. Some 260,000 Filipinos fought alongside American forces during the war and more than 57,000 Filipino troops died while their homeland was occupied by the Japanese.

Also fighting against the occupying Japanese forces was a resistance movement led by guerrilla groups. Many of them included women like those featured in a new children's book, "Kalayaan: Filipina Heroines of World War II."

The book is the brainchild of Filipina author Kathryn Serrano, 42, who grew up in Edgewater and now resides with her husband and three sons in Weehawken. She said she embarked on the project after surfing the internet about two years ago.

The new children's book, "Kalayaan: Filipina Heroines of World War II" puts a spotlight on female resistance fighters in the Philippines who were part of the movement against the Japanese occupation.

That introduced her to Remedios Gomez-Paraiso, also known as Kumander Liwayway and one of the leaders of the Hukbalahap guerrilla group. In the book, Serrano notes her reputation as a "feminine warrior" who wore dresses and bright red lipstick and went into battle with her nails painted. Gomez-Paraiso survived the war and died in 2014 in the Philippines at the age of 95.

"Kalayaan" means "freedom" in Tagalog, or Filipino (the national language of the Philippines), and the book casts a spotlight on several female resistance fighters who helped battle Japanese occupation during the war, among them Maria Orosa, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Nieves Fernandez, Valeria Panlilio, Januaria Constantino Keller, Josefina Guerrero, Magdalena Leones and Simeona Punsalan-Tapang.

Images of the women, drawn by Brooklyn-based artist Casielle Santos-Gaerlan, who is also Filipina, accompany brief profiles that describe their involvement in the wartime rebellion and their accomplishments away from the resistance.

Learning more about the ancestors

"Once I read about Remedios Gomez-Paraiso, who was a beauty queen, then that's when I was inspired and started to do more research and I realized there were so many [resistance fighters], and I was like, 'I wish I had this when I was younger,'" Serrano said. "I wanted to make sure that the next generation had this information, so they can see ancestors that look like them."

More: Paramus swears in Filipino councilman who hopes to be a voice for the borough's diversity

Serrano said that while she was growing up in North Jersey, which has one of the largest Filipino populations in the state, her parents never told her about these female resistance fighters, as they knew nothing about them. She believes that's because the war was a dark chapter in the country's history that people did not want to discuss.

After her discovery of Gomez-Paraiso, she began to look up other Filipina resistance fighters like Josefina Guerrero, who took on the dangerous work of being a spy and messenger for resistance forces while afflicted with leprosy. Guerrero also survived the war and died in 1996 at the age of 79.

Kathryn Serrano, who grew up in New Jersey, has come out with a new children's book, "Kalayaan: Filipina Heroines of World War II."

"Living with this sickness, she was resilient and ended up fighting in the war," Serrano said. "I loved all their stories and how they fought for the Philippines to get freedom. Filipino women are normally considered to be docile, and I wanted to show us in a positive light."

Some of the women featured in the book unfortunately did not survive the war. One of them was Maria Orosa, a chemist famous for inventing the popular Filipino condiment banana ketchup. Orosa was part of the Marking guerrillas group when she died in 1945 at 52.

Serrano said her research has helped her reconnect with her culture, since she did not grow up in areas where there was a large Filipino population. She hopes that young people and their parents who read the book, particularly Filipinos, will gain a greater appreciation of these women, whose service in wartime has been largely forgotten in history.

Forgotten fighters: Filipino World War II veterans honored with medal 75 years later

"I want them to learn more about these women and reconnect with their history and also find strength in our ancestors," Serrano said.

The book is selling for $21.99 and can be found at the website of Mahal Publishing, the company created by Serrano to publish the book, and at WORD Bookstores in Jersey City.

Ricardo Kaulessar is a culture reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region How We Live team. For unlimited access to the most important news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com

Twitter: @ricardokaul

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Female Filipino wartime resistance fighters get their due in new book
Security researchers have warned that North Korean government-backed hackers are impersonating journalists to gather strategic intelligence to help guide the country's decision making.

SentinelLabs researchers said on Tuesday that they had linked a social engineering campaign targeting experts in North Korean affairs to a North Korean advanced persistent threat (APT) group known as Kimsuky. The group, also known as APT43, Thallium and Black Banshee, has been operating since at least 2012 and is known for using social engineering and targeted phishing emails and to gather sensitive information on behalf of the North Korean regime.

Kimsukys latest social engineering campaign targeted subscribers of NK News, an American subscription-based website that provides stories and analysis about North Korea.

SentinelLabs observed Kimsuky impersonating Chad OCarroll, the founder of NK News, to deliver a spoofed Google Docs web link to NK News subscribers, which redirected to a malicious website specifically crafted to capture a victim's Google credentials. In some cases, the Kimsuky hackers also delivered a weaponized Microsoft Office document that executes the ReconShark malware, which is capable of exfiltrating information like what detection mechanisms are in use on a device and information about the device itself.

In another attack observed by SentinelLabs, Kimsuky distributed an email that asked subscribers to log in to a spoofed NK News subscription service. Gaining access to users NK News credentials would provide the North Korean hackers with valuable insights into how the international community assesses and interprets developments related to North Korea, contributing to their broader strategic intelligence-gathering initiatives, wrote Aleksandar Milenkoski, a senior threat researcher at SentinelLabs.

Kimsuky was also observed sending legitimate Google Docs links and Word documents that were free of malware in order to develop a rapport with their targets before initiating their malicious activities.

SentinelLabs analysis comes days after the U.S. and South Korean governments issued an advisory warning that Kimsuky had been carrying out targeted spearphishing attacks to funnel valuable geopolitical insights and other stolen data to the North Korean regime.

The joint advisory warned that the Kimsuky group was impersonating journalists, academics, think tank researchers and government officials to target individuals working on North Korean affairs.

These cyber actors are strategically impersonating legitimate sources to collect intelligence on geopolitical events, foreign policy strategies, and security developments of interest to [North Korea] on the Korean Peninsula, NSA cybersecurity director Rob Joyce said. Education and awareness are the first line of defense against these social engineering attacks."

At the time, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also imposed sanctions on the North Korean hacking group and identified two cryptocurrency addresses used by Kimsuky. The government also accused the group of being involved in a failed spy satellite launch last week.
North Texas man tries to kidnap child, crashes into deputies in chase, sheriff says

A 62-year-old North Texas man was arrested Monday in a police chase after he attempted to kidnap a child, according to the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office.

On Monday at around 6:20 p.m., Tarrant County sheriffs deputies responded to the 13000 block of Lansman Drive about a kidnapping in progress.

Upon arrival, a woman told deputies that a man tried to abduct her child from the area. The childs parents were able to get her away from the suspect before he was able to drive off with her, according to the sheriffs office.

The mother of the child gave deputies the make, model and license plate number of the suspects vehicle.

Deputies went to the address connected to the suspect  Steven Bayse  located in Crowley, a city south of Fort Worth. Deputies found the suspect vehicle and tried to stop and talk to the man, the sheriffs office said.

Bayse refused to stop when deputies tried to pull him over, which then led to a chase, investigators said.

He stopped several times, acting as if he would surrender but then continued running from deputies, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

At one point during the chase, deputies attempted a high-risk stop when Bayse was at a red light. He drove off and hit three patrol cars and almost struck a deputy, according to the sheriffs office.

Bayse then pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store and was taken into custody.

He is being held at the Tarrant County Jail and is faces charges of kidnapping, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, and aggravated assault against a public servant. His bond is set at $125,000.
Norwegian climber Kristin Harila, 37, arrives after summiting Annapurna in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The Norwegian who is aiming to be the fastest climber to scale all the world's 14 highest mountains announced she is shortening her goal and do it in half the time than initial target. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  A Norwegian who is aiming to be the fastest climber to scale all the worlds 14 highest mountains said Tuesday that she can achieve her goal in half the time she initially planned.

Kristin Harila, on return to Nepals capital from the mountains on Tuesday, said she is setting a new target of scaling the peaks in three months, having already climbed eight of them in 40 days.

She is attempting to beat the 2019 record set by a male climber, who did in little more six months.

Harila, 37, is yet to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal, which she hopes to do in the next few days, and then the five remaining peaks in Pakistan, including K2, the second highest in the world. She also reached K2 last year.

I believe we can do it, if we do Manaslu now and the five in Pakistan, we can do in three months. So yes, three months is possible if we do Manaslu now, she said.

We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good, she said.

She began in April by scaling Mount Shishapangma followed by other peaks in China as well as Nepal, including Mount Everest. Her latest one was Mount Annapurna on June 5.

Her climb of Annapurna came very late in the spring season when most teams had already left the mountains.

It was very nice but very difficult to climb Annapurna alone. No one was around, it was different. When there is lot of people it is much easier, she said.

Harila began her attempt in April 2022 with the aim of completing it by September. But she only managed 12 peaks because Chinese authorities had restricted access to foreign climbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The current record is held by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born British citizen who scaled the 14 highest peaks in 189 days in 2019, beating the previous record of more than seven years set by a South Korean climber. Purjas climbs were later made into a popular Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.
What to do now ahead of student loan pause ending

What to do now ahead of student loan pause ending

After three years, the student loan payment pause is officially ending for 40 million borrowers.

The cycle of extensions for the payment pause, which began under then-President Trump during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, finally met its end under the bipartisan debt ceiling agreement negotiated by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Biden signed the measure Saturday.

The pause will now end 60 days after June 30, giving borrowers nearly three months to prepare.

Here is what borrowers should begin to do:

Confirm your student loan servicer and the amount owed

It has been a long time since some users checked on their student loan accounts, while many who graduated during the pandemic are logging in for the first time.

Borrowers can log in to the Federal Student Aid website to check on which servicer holds their loans.

Even if users were paying loans before the pause, it is important to check because some servicers dropped their federal contracts and many borrowers had their accounts transferred to another.

Once borrowers figure out who their servicer is, they will be able to check on their account balance to see how much debt and interest is still owed.

Speak with your student loan servicer

Past the basics, it is essential borrowers begin talking to their loan servicers now about their debt and their options for repayment.

Servicers have been warning for months they do not have sufficient resources to restart student loans.

The department has meaningfully reduced the amount of resources we have and people we can put on the phones. Thats going to be a challenge where we will probably have longer hold time, and processing time for requests and applications could take a lot longer than usual, Scott Buchanan, executive director for Student Loan Servicing Alliance, previously told The Hill.

The Department of Education has pointed the finger at Congress for inadequate funding, but Buchanan says there is still money going to other programs where it is not needed.

Once a person is able to get through to their student loan provider, they can talk about different repayment options and what they qualify for based on their income.

They will also be able to talk about the exact day student loan repayments will resume with their servicer.

Look through your payment plan options

The federal government offers multiple repayment options depending on an individuals income level and profession.

The Department of Education offers a loan simulator that can give options if borrowers are struggling to make their monthly payments. A user can look through and decide on options by themselves, with their loan servicers or get a financial adviser.

The department will give students and borrowers the time they need to plan for restart and ensure a smooth pathway back to repayment, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said.

Even if you had a certain payment plan set up before the pause began, it is important to be on top of the best repayment options if a financial situation has changed.

And some options could be changing soon, such as income-driven repayment plans. If the departments plans are approved, some borrowers who qualify might not have to pay anything each month. The changes would also shorten the time a borrower needs to repay in order to earn loan forgiveness.

Another option that could lead to debt relief is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which allows government employees and some who work for nonprofits to get their loans forgiven after 10 years of payment.

Bidens student loan relief proposal is still at play

While some are skeptical, there is still a long shot for Biden that the conservative-majority Supreme Court greenlights his student debt relief plan.

The proposal would give borrowers making less than $125,000 a year $10,000 in student debt relief. Those who had Pell Grants in school making less than $125,000 would get $20,000 in relief.

While Biden has framed the debt ceiling agreement that ends the pause as a win because it did not include slashing his student debt relief plan, advocates think that point is moot considering it is likely the plan will get the axe.

Biden has admitted its easy to see the high court tossing his proposal.

Im confident were on the right side of the law, he previously. Im not confident about the outcome of the decision yet.

The Biden administration argued in front of the high court if payments are resumed without debt relief, it could lead many to default on their loans.

The Supreme Court is expected to have a decision on student debt relief by the end of the month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
You can now buy Victoria's Secret underwear on Amazon

Victoria's Secret shop on Amazon.com. Amazon.com

Victoria's Secret is now selling its underwear and apparel products on Amazon.

These items will be eligible for speedy shipping via a Prime membership.

Selling on Amazon is a contentious issue. Both Nike and Birkenstock pulled out in the past.

Victoria's Secret has succumbed to the power of Amazon.

As of June 6, it's now possible to order underwear, swimwear, and apparel from both Victoria's Secret and its Pink brand on Amazon.com. According to Victoria's Secret, these items are eligible for speedy shipping via an Amazon Prime membership.

Though the lingerie giant already sells its beauty products on Amazon's site, the availability of the rest of its assortment on Amazon is a major change for the company.

While it also operates its own online store, the partnership with Amazon could enable it to reach a wider customer base across North America and make shopping for its products more convenient. Victoria's Secret has just over 830 stores across the US and Canada after closing 250-plus locations since the pandemic.

While teaming up with Amazon might seem like a no-brainer for the brand in order to boost sales, it hasn't always proven to be straightforward for other retailers.

Aggressive pricing pressures and the impact on brand image have all been called out as challenges in the past.

Both Nike and Birkenstock walked away from deals with the e-commerce giant. Company execs at Birkenstock became increasingly concerned by the number of counterfeit items being sold on Amazon and how this could damage their own brand.

Read the original article on Business Insider
With a screeching subway train bearing down on her, a gutsy high school seniors survival instincts instantly kicked in after she was pushed onto the tracks at a Queens station  she sprang to her feet, pulled herself to the platform, and took the next train home.

Later, she went to her prom.

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Arias was on her way home to Brooklyn Monday morning to get her hair done before her graduation party that night when she was shoved off the platform by a woman who had been arguing with someone else, cops said.

The victim was waiting on an elevated J-train platform at the 75th St-Elderts Lane station near Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven at 10:30 a.m. when the suspect shoved her onto the tracks, according to police.

Police arrested Shakeema Wise, and said she had been arguing with an unidentified man when she stormed off and, without provocation, pushed Arias onto the tracks before she fled.

A dazed but determined Sarah pulled herself out of the filthy track bed, and as startled straphangers looked on, climbed back up to the platform.

It didnt feel real, Sarah said a day later. I just remember I fell and I was on the floor and I saw the train coming ahead because it was approaching the platform. I didnt spend any time on the floor, I fell, I looked up and then I got up. Adrenaline, everything. It felt fake, it felt like I was in a movie. Thinking about it I feel like it was like a movie.

If the train didnt kill her, the fall could have ended her life.

I fell onto my knees, and my arms, my elbows, she said. The tracks are elevated. If I wouldve fallen in a different spot I couldve been in the street.

Sarah said she is still trying to understand what happened.

I walked up the steps, she recalled. I was walking on the platform and when I passed the first bench the only woman sitting there, she just looked at me once real quick, I thought nothing of it and then as soon as I passed her she just grabbed me and she pushed me on the tracks.

As soon as I fell, she walked away, Sarah said. It was very split second; I looked up and she was looking back, she was trying to get out of there. I didnt talk to her but as she was running, I was like, Why did you do this? Theres no reason. She never said a word to me.

Sarah said some of the passengers on the platform were too shocked to help her.

But then as soon as I saw the train coming I couldnt wait for anyone to help me, she said. I just got up. I just grabbed on to the [platform], I jumped and I pulled myself up.

Sarah said she waited for another train, took it one more stop and called her parents.

I couldnt understand how that could just happen, said Sarahs mom, Jeanette Jiminez, 47. My daughter just came out of school. Someone just grabbed her and just pushes her? Shes such a quiet person. I know everybody says they have good kids, but I really have good kids. They dont look for trouble. They dont start any trouble, and if they can help in any situation they always do. So for this to happen to her its just not fair.

Wise was arrested near the station by officers responding to a 911 call. She was hit with several charges, including reckless endangerment, according to officials. Cops said Wise, 26, lives at a homeless shelter on Eldert Lane in Brooklyn.

Sarah, who had left school early and was on her way to a hair salon when she was attacked, was determined to make it to her prom in Howard Beach, Queens, Monday night despite bruised and scratched knees and pain throughout her body.

I made it to prom. This was my prom, Sarah said. I mean it was kind of hard walking in heels at the prom, but I had to adjust.

Even though in the beginning, it took a hard toll on me, I couldnt let it affect the rest of my day.

Sarah is scheduled to graduate from K659 Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School on June 27, and has plans to study criminal justice surveillance at John Jay College.

But shes not sure how shes going to get to class.

I think Ill stick with the bus maybe, she said. Or walk.
The migrant crisis in New York City has become so dire that Mayor Adams says hes now considering the possibility of housing asylum seekers inside Gracie Mansion.

Adams said he was open to using the mayors traditional residence as a temporary shelter on Tuesday  a day after floating the idea of housing migrants in private homes during an announcement that houses of worship will now help in the citys efforts to provide shelter.

I was speaking with the staff to see if I could put a few families into Gracie Mansion, Adams said at an unrelated press conference on the Upper West Side. I dont have a problem if I can put a migrant family in Gracie Mansion because I want to lead from the front. Thats the type of leader I am.

Over the last several months, Adams and his administration have scrambled to find temporary shelter for the thousands of migrants streaming into the city. The administration now estimates that more than 72,000 migrants have come to the city since last spring and has predicted the total price tag for taking care of them will hit $4.3 billion within a years time.

In his latest policy to address the crisis, Adams laid out a plan on Monday to house migrants at churches, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship. He has also used public school gymnasiums, hotels north of the city and is pushing for the state court to narrow the right to shelter law to relieve the pressure the citys been under for months.

His latest idea to house migrants at Gracie Mansion came with a caveat, though. Adams told reporters Tuesday that hed have to take into account legal protocols before going ahead with turning his home into an ad hoc homeless shelter.

If it doesnt go against legal protocols  because there are protocols that are in place  you know, I cant use the building any way I want, he said. Generals dont send their troops into battle and ask, Hows the war? They lead troops into battle. Im a general who leads my troops into battle. So yes, Im more than willing to use whatever space I have to deal with this crisis.

Exactly what legal protocols are involved and how such an arrangement would work logistically was not entirely clear Tuesday. When asked about the protocols Adams was referring to after the press conference, his spokesman Fabien Levy did not directly address the question, saying instead that were looking at if, and how, it could possibly work.

A day earlier, during his announcement about using houses of worship to house migrants, Adams said part of his vision to further address the crisis includes private residents.

How that would work also remains uncertain. Adams didnt provide any more detail about it Tuesday, but reiterated his view that hed rather use the citys cash to pay struggling homeowners, as opposed to shelling it out to corporate providers that are more likely to charge more.

If someone is struggling in their mortgage and they have a spare bedroom and we can find a way to say how do we help you pay your mortgage because of whatever economic challenge youre going through [while] at the same time helping the migrant crisis, were willing to do that, said Adams, who added that using private residences is one of many approaches hes considering to find an overall solution.

I must solve this problem no matter what help I get from anywhere in the country. Im the mayor of New York City, and I have to solve the problem thats facing New Yorkers.
Special units of the New York Police Department engaged in unconstitutional policing by relying on the stop and frisk tactic for too many people without justification, according to a new audit from a court-appointed monitor.

The NYPDs Neighborhood Safety Teams (NST) deployed in the last 14 months appear to be stopping, frisking, and searching individuals at an unsatisfactory level of compliance despite training and experience, the report from NYPD Monitor Myland Denerstein and her team reads.

Too many people are stopped, frisked, and searched unlawfully, Denerstein said. At the precinct level, sergeants, lieutenants, and commanding officers fail to identify and correct the unconstitutional policing.

The audit found, based on the stop reports, that more than 97 percent of the people encountered were Black or Hispanic. Of 230 total car stops, just two resulted in weapons recovery.

NST officers had reasonable suspicion for only 69 percent of the stops and 73 percent of the frisks assessed in the audit and had a legal basis for only 63 percent of the searches assessed, according to the report.

In one police precinct, just 41 percent of stops, 32 percent of frisks and 26 percent of searches by NST officers were lawful.

A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said city officials have serious concerns with Denersteins methodology and that they only learned of her findings after news outlets reported on them. The spokesperson added that shootings have fallen since the NST was created, according to the Associated Press.

Adams last year relaunched the controversial anti-crime units after an earlier version had been disbanded back in 2020.

Some commands within the NST units, which wear modified uniforms and drive unmarked cars, do appear to be engaging in constitutional stops, frisks, and searches consistently and should serve as models for other commands that are performing inadequately, the audit notes.

The Department must focus on improving compliance levels, Denerstein wrote. Clearly, it can be done. The law requires no less.

In 2013, a federal judge ruled that the NYPD had violated the civil rights of Black and Hispanic New Yorkers with stop-and-frisk tactics.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Official: Kakhovka dam was blown up by Russia's 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's dam in Kherson Oblast was blown up by Russia's 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade, National Security and Defense Council chief Oleksii Danilov said on June 6, as cited by Ukrainian news outlet Liga.

The brigade members have been stationed at the power plant near Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka and controlled the facility, Danilov said on national television.

The information on who had blown up the dam was first reported by Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, cited by Ukrainska Pravda publication.

Podoliak added that Russia's destruction of the power plant was an undoubted use of indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction, according to the Geneva Conventions.

Kuleba criticizes international media for entertaining Russian propaganda about Kakhovka dam explosion Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba called out international media on June 6 for entertaining Russian narratives about the Kakhovka dam explosion, saying it puts facts and propaganda on equal footing. The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine.

Built in 1956, the power plant is crucial to Ukraine's energy infrastructure. According to Ukraine's state hydroelectric power company, the damage caused by the breach is "impossible to repair."

Around 16,000 people's homes in Kherson Oblast are reportedly located in "critical risk" zones for flooding. According to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, 885 people have been evacuated from Kherson Oblast as of 11:00 a.m. local time, and the process is ongoing.

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been occupied by Russian troops since the first days of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to Ukraine's military intelligence, Russian forces mined the plant twice last year before blowing it up on June 6, 2023.
Updated | Its official. Pasco becomes first in Tri-Cities to lift its retail cannabis ban

The Pasco City Council voted 4-3 Monday in favor of zoning changes that lift its ban on retail cannabis sales, becoming the first city government in the Tri-Cities to do so.

The vote marks the end of a decade-long struggle by local marijuana activists and business owners to ease government restrictions in the city of 80,000.

Mayor Blanche Barajas, Mayor Pro Tem Craig Maloney and Council members Joseph Campos and Zahra Roach voted in favor of the ordinance. Councilmen Pete Serrano, Irving Brown and David Milne voted against it.

There was little discussion in the lead up to the vote, with several saying they were ready to have the decision done and over with.

Council is relieved to put this behind us and well let the public determine how feasible these businesses are. If the public determines they dont want to patronize and these businesses struggle, then thats not councils responsibility, Campos said.

The ordinance lifts the ban in three commercial zones (C-1, C-2 and C-3) and three industrial zones (I-1, I-2 and I-3) found throughout the city, and opens up business to certain areas along North Road 68, Kings Corner, Broadmoor Boulevard, East Lewis Street and Court Street.

It will take effect five days after approval, pending any publication requirements.

A six-block buffer reduction area  between Columbia and Clark streets, and between 2nd and 5th avenues  created in recent weeks will also allow one property owner to lease his building out to a cannabis entrepreneur downtown.

Three businesses are already lining up to open stores when the ordinance goes into effect.

A map from the City of Pasco highlights all of the commercial (C-1, C-2 and C-3) and industrial (I-1, I-2 and I-3) zones subject to a lift on the citys ban on retail cannabis.

But there also are a number of restrictions for cannabis retailers looking to open in the area.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has limited Pasco to just four retail licenses based on the citys population, with one of those required to be held by a social equity licensee.

This map from the City of Pasco shows marijuana restricted zones and their buffer areas. These areas include schools and parks. Recreational retail cannabis stores would not be allowed to operate in these areas.

And cannabis stores cannot open within a 1,000-foot buffer of a school, playground, recreational center, child care center, public park, public transit center, library or all-ages game arcade.

Steve Lee, co-owner of Green2Go in Finley, previously told the Tri-City Herald that these restrictions have made finding retail space within Pasco city limits really difficult. Cannabis retail remains banned in unincorporated Franklin County.

Pot production, processing and cooperatives also will remain illegal under the passed ordinance.

It was very important to close it, to just be done with it, said Brown, who changed his vote last minute from a yay to a nay.

Brown told the Herald that the process of addressing retail cannabis over the past 10 months has lacked transparency. At times, its left him and other city council members confused over what aspects of the topic they were making decisions on.

Brown previously supported an ordinance that would have lifted the ban in industrial zones only  which the mayor later requested to rescind  and he voted in favor of a failed measure that would have put the decision up to the voters.

He said he would have voted for Monday nights ordinance if it didnt include the downtown buffer reductions.

Retail cannabis could provide a decent revenue source to the city of Pasco. Initial estimates show the city could receive at least $200,000 annually through a per capita distribution from the states 37% excise tax. That would not include any additional revenue that may be raised from local sales.

Washington voters passed Initiative 502 more than a decade ago to legalize and comprehensively regulate the production, possession and retail of cannabis statewide. Today, Washingtonians must be 21 or older to buy recreational pot.

While the initiative passed with 55% statewide approval, 61% of voters in Franklin County were opposed to it. But opinions have shifted over time.

A 2021 community survey showed that 46% of Pasco residents would not back changes to allow marijuana retail sales in city limits, while about 45% said they would strongly or somewhat support it.
Girls in Afghanistan walk to school. Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images

Officials in northern Afghanistan said they believe that over the weekend, 89 girls and staff members at two elementary schools were poisoned.

The students and several of their teachers were hospitalized with respiratory and neurological symptoms, including shortness of breath, nausea, and weakness, with many having to go on ventilators. The first illnesses were reported on Saturday, when 63 students and staff members at the Kabod Aab School in Sar-i-Pul province became sick. On Sunday, 26 students and staffers at the nearby Faiz Abad Girls' School started to feel ill and reported similar symptoms, The New York Times reports.

"Unknown people spread poisonous substances inside the classrooms, and when the students entered the classrooms, they experienced shortness of breath, watery eyes and noses and they lost consciousness," Umair Sarpuli, director of culture and information in Sar-i-Pul, said. Local officials said intelligence and security forces are trying to find the perpetrators.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, restrictions have been placed on girls and their educations. They can only attend elementary schools, and cannot go above the sixth grade. Women also are banned from working in most fields and going to public places like parks and gyms, and are not allowed to travel far unless accompanied by a male relative.

Many parents in Afghanistan were already worried about sending their daughters to school, and these attacks have only heightened their safety concerns. Hassan Haidari's daughter is a teacher at Kabod Aab School, and he told The New York Times she is on a ventilator at a provincial hospital. "Everyone is scared, and we should be scared because the poisoning of the students is severe," he said. "People want to know who did this to ensure it doesn't happen again. Otherwise, no one will send their daughter to school."

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Oklahoma could have the first religious charter school in the US

An Oklahoma school board has approved what will be the first publicly funded religious charter school in the US.

The Oklahoma State Virtual Charter School Board approved the Catholic charter school by 3-2 in a vote on Monday.

The charter school would be run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

The state attorney general called the approval "unconstitutional" and warned it could lead to costly legal action.

A charter school is funded by taxpayers but independently managed. Charter schools are a small fraction of the US school system.

St Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School would bring religious teachings into its curriculum, including subjects like reading and maths.

The online school would open in late 2024 at the earliest, initially to 500 students from kindergarten through to high school.

The board rejected the school's first application in April, citing legal concerns, and they asked for a new application addressing the areas of concerns.

The 400-page application said it aimed "to educate the entire child: soul, heart, intellect and body".

It was anticipated $23.3m (18.7m) in state funding would be required over the school's first five years.

Brett Farley, the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, said: "We are elated that the board agreed with our argument and application for the nation's first religious charter school."

Republican Governor Kevin Stitt celebrated the school's approval, calling it "a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state".

"Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice," he said.

But Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticised it in a statement on Monday as "contrary to Oklahoma law".

"It's extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State - a non-profit advocacy group - said in a statement they plan to "take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state that's promised in both the Oklahoma and US Constitutions".

A legal fight could test the first amendment's "establishment clause" of the US constitution, which prohibits the government from making any law "respecting an establishment of religion".

The clause also bans the government from enacting policies that favour one religion over any other.

Under long-established legal criteria, known as the Lemon test, the government can only assist religions if the primary purpose is secular, assistance does neither promote nor inhibit religion and there is no excessive entanglement between church and state.

The US Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has expanded religious rights in recent years, including in cases involving schools in Maine and Montana.
An Oklahoma school board on Monday approved what would be the nation's first taxpayer-funded religious school despite concerns over the decisions constitutionality from state officials and advocacy groups.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, which oversees all virtual charter schools in the state, voted 3-2 in favor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma establishing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The online public charter school would open in 2024, serving students in kindergarten through grade 12 across the state.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond had warned the board that the decision was unconstitutional.

"The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers," Drummond said in a statement shortly after the boards vote. "Its extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly."

Archdiocese officials have been unequivocal that the school will promote the Catholic faith and operate according to church doctrine, including its views on sexual orientation and gender identity, raising questions of whether St. Isidore of Seville would abide by all federal non-discrimination requirements.

Despite Drummonds opposition, the concept of a religious charter school has gained support from other Republican leaders in Oklahoma, including Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

"This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their childs education," Stitt said in a statement.

Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board listens to public comments Tuesday, April 11, 2023, during a meeting to discuss a vote on whether to approve the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, a Catholic charter school, in Oklahoma City.

Approval could create 'slippery slope'

In April, the board rejected an application to create St. Isidore of Seville over concerns with the school's governance structure, its plan for special education students, and its ability to keep private and public funds separate. The archdiocese adjusted and resubmitted the application, prompting Monday's vote.

The board approved the school despite a state law requiring public schools to be free of control from any religious sect. Advocates for St. Isidore of Seville say recent Supreme Court rulings state a private entity can't be excluded from public programs, including a state's education system, on religious grounds.

Drummond warned the school would create a "slippery slope" toward state-funded religion. Drummond withdrew an opinion from his predecessor, John OConnor, who in his final month in office said recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings compelled the state to accept religiously affiliated public charter schools.

O'Connor cited cases that had "little precedential value" to charter school law, Drummond said.

Despite Drummonds opposition, the concept of a religious charter school has gained support from other Republican leaders in the state, including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters.

Potential legal fight as groups denounce move

The vote kicks off a potential test case for the Supreme Court on the issue of religious public schools.

Church officials are committed to a yearslong legal effort, said Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which represents both the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

"No matter what happens here, our intention is to see this through," Farley said at a previous board meeting. "We're prepared for that long road. This is a major priority to us."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State criticized the boards approval Monday.

The advocacy groups president and CEO Rachel Laser said in a statement that the decision violates the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public school communities. Laser said the group will work with state and national partners to pursue possible legal action against the decision.

"State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students," Laser told USA TODAY in a statement. "No public-school family should fear that their child will be required by charter schools to take theology classes or be expelled for failing to conform to religious doctrines."

Contributing: The Associated Press

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Oklahoma approves first publicly funded religious charter school in US
An Oklahoma school board voted Monday to approve a bid to open the nations first religious charter school, sparking backlash and questions about the constitutionality of the move to use taxpayer dollars to fund a religious school.

Oklahomas Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-2 to approve a plan to create St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

We are elated that the board agreed with our argument and application for the nations first religious charter school, Brett Farley, the executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, said after the decision.

Parents continue to demand more options for their kids, and we are committed to help provide them, he added.

The journey for this Catholic school is far from over, as many disagree with the idea of a charter school  which receives taxpayer dollars along with private donations  run by a religious organization. Opponents argue it violates the separation between church and state.

The nonprofit Americans United for Separation of Church and State bashed the decision as a violation of religious freedoms.

Its hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nations first religious public charter school, the group said in a statement, calling the decision a sea change for American democracy.

State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students, Americans United said. The group says its preparing legal action.

Though some religious schools do receive government money, the new St. Isidore school would be fully government-funded, The New York Times reports.

Supporters of the school argue charter school laws are different in each state and, while in some states a religious charter school may be impermissible, it is allowed under Oklahoma law. Some also see Mondays approval as a win for religious freedom.

And while school choice is popular among conservatives, even top officials in Oklahoma are split on the decision.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) applauded the decision.

This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their childs education, Stitt said in a statement.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R), on the other hand, called the decision unconstitutional and disappointing, arguing the approval of any publicly-funded religious school goes against state law.

Its extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the State to potential legal action that could be costly, Drummond said.

Even those whom the religious charter school might have thought of as friendly to the decision have come out against it.

This decision runs afoul of state law and the U.S. Constitution. All charter schools are public schools, and as such must be non-sectarian. Charter schools were conceived as, and have always been, innovative public schools that provide an alternative for families who want a public school option other than the one dictated by their ZIP code, said Nina Rees, president of the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.

The religious charter school has already overcome some adversity; its application was first denied in April, but the school had the opportunity to fix some of the perceived issues in the application.

And the school says it will be ready to fight a lawsuit.

Were not surprised by the threat of a suit, but we will be preparing if they choose to file one, Farley said. This is a question that ultimately needs to be answered by the courts, perhaps by the US Supreme Court.

Those supportive of the religious charter school have some optimism the conservative-majority Supreme Court would be more sympathetic to their case, especially after favorable rulings for religious schools previously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the writers own and not those of AfroTech.

Five years ago, I started my business, Beaux & Paws, making bow ties, which are in my personal opinion  the perfect complement to any formal outfit. When I launched the business, I knew I wanted to do more than just sell a product. I wanted to make a difference.

My idea sparked when I saw all of the displaced pets following Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey. Some of these animals were understandably not looking their best given what theyd been through. And while we know we shouldnt, many of us judge books by their covers. Ive always gotten compliments on how I present myself  my signature bow tie and dapper look is even how I got the nickname Sir Darius. Thats when I had the thought: what if, by wearing my bow ties, these dogs could find their furever homes faster? After all, who can resist a puppy in a bow tie!?

I started by donating some bow ties to the ASPCA in New York City. Soon, I decided to follow the buy-one-give-one model popularized by brands like Toms and Warby Parker. For every pet bow tie I sold, I donated one to a local Newark animal shelter or organization. Five years later, and through Beaux & Paws, weve accomplished more than I could have ever dreamed of. Weve helped raise more than $300,000 to support animal shelters, sponsor adoption fees, donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor a Puppy Wish, all while donating thousands of bow ties to shelters and adoption centers across the world. I even received a personal letter of encouragement from former President Barack Obama  a truly life changing moment for me.

I want to let kids  and adults  who have a passion, mission or idea that speaks to their heart and captures their mind, to know they can go for it and succeed. It wont always be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

Here are three pieces of advice to others looking to start their own business or organization.

Dont Let Self Doubt Fool You

As I shared, back in 2018, I received a personal letter from President Obama encouraging me to continue my efforts with Beaux & Paws. It came at the perfect time  when I was in low spirits and doubting myself and my vision for the business. I will always remember his advice  anytime Im facing something difficult  whether in the business or other aspects of life: As long as you stay engaged in the world around you, continue looking for ways to help others, and never give up on yourself, Im confident our future will be bright.

These powerful words gave me the motivation and encouragement I needed in that moment to not give up. Soon, my self-doubt had faded away and instead, my mind was filled with hope and creative ideas for the business. As an entrepreneur, youll have tough moments, but know that believing in yourself, your ideas and your desire to make positive change is what is truly important. As long as you dont lose sight of this, you will eventually succeed.

Harness the Power of Online Communities

Simply put, Beaux & Paws wouldnt be where it is today or have helped so many pets if it wasnt for Facebook and Instagram. These online communities helped Beaux & Paws take off, and Ive been so grateful for their tools and support. If youre starting a business  especially one that is mission-driven or has a cause tied to it  know that social media is an excellent opportunity to share your message and reach people around the world that also care about that cause.

In addition to helping me spread the message of what Im trying to do with Beaux & Paws, Facebook and Instagram also helped me generate sales. My Facebook page has its own Shop that people can buy from directly, and last year I was invited by the company to participate in its #BuyBlackFriday initiative spotlighting Black-owned businesses. On the day of my #BuyBlackFriday promotion, we sold $7,000 worth of merchandise on that day alone.

Things arent slowing down either, especially now that Ive started using Reels on Instagram. People really love to engage with my content, and its helped increase my following. Right now, I have more than 136,000 followers on the platform, with new ones rolling in every day.

Selling and Helping: You Can Do Both

Sometimes it seems like people think you can either do one or the other  make money or help others. In my experience, thats simply not true at all. Of course the goal of any business is to turn a profit, but that doesnt mean it has to be the only goal. One of my biggest pieces of advice is to lead with empathy and think creatively about how your business can benefit others aside from what youre selling.

That may be embracing a buy-one-give-one model like we have at Beaux & Paws, or it could be something else entirely. For example, 19&21, an apparel brand that celebrates Black history and a fellow Facebook #BuyBlackFriday business, gives a percentage of its sales to local organizations in North Tulsa where its based. Its founder, Trey Thaxton, also focuses on spotlighting other Black-owned businesses and encouraging the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. As a young Black man from Newark, NJ, I can tell you how important having role models to look up to is, and like Trey, I hope to also inspire others.

Im living proof that you dont need to wait to follow your passion or to make a positive impact on your community or the world. All you need is the idea, the drive and a smartphone. I truly believe my generation can make an amazing impact on the world if we just believe in ourselves, leverage the modern digital tools at our disposal and never lose sight of helping others.



Sir Darius Brown is the founder and CEO of Beaux & Paws where he designs and creates handmade stylish bow ties for pets. In addition to being a teen entrepreneur, philanthropist and shelter pet advocate, Darius is also a recipient of the Global Child Prodigy Award.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Altman on Tuesday suggested an international agency like the International Atomic Energy Agency could oversee artificial intelligence worldwide while visiting the United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to humanity, a key innovator warned during a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, suggesting an international agency like the International Atomic Energy Agency oversee the ground-breaking technology.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is on a global tour to discuss artificial intelligence.

We face serious risk. We face existential risk," said Altman, 38. "The challenge that the world has is how were going to manage those risks and make sure we still get to enjoy those tremendous benefits. No one wants to destroy the world.

OpenAI's ChatGPT, a popular chatbot, has grabbed the world's attention as it offers essay-like answers to prompts from users. Microsoft has invested some $1 billion in OpenAI.

ChatGPT's success, offering a glimpse into the way that artificial intelligence could change the way that humans work and learn, has sparked concerns as well. Hundreds of industry leaders, including Altman, have signed a letter in May that warns mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.

Altman made a point to reference the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, as an example of how the world came together to oversee nuclear power. That agency was created in the years after the U.S. dropping atom bombs on Japan at the end of World War II.

Let's make sure we come together as a globe  and I hope this place can play a real role in this, Altman said. We talk about the IAEA as a model where the world has said OK, very dangerous technology, let's all put some guard rails.' And I think we can do both.

"I think in this case, it's a nuanced message 'cause it's saying it's not that dangerous today but it can get dangerous fast. But we can thread that needle.

Lawmakers around the world also are examining artificial intelligence. The 27-nation European Union is pursuing an AI Law that could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence. Altman told the U.S. Congress in May that government intervention will be critical to governing the risks that come with AI.

But the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven hereditarily ruled sheikhdoms, offers the flip side of the risks of AI. Speech remains tightly controlled. Rights groups warn the UAE and other states across the Persian Gulf regularly use spying software to monitor activists, journalists and others. Those restrictions affect the flow of accurate information  the same details AI programs like ChatGPT rely on as machine-learning systems to provide their answers for users.

Among speakers opening for Altman at the event at the Abu Dhabi Global Market was Andrew Jackson, the CEO of the Inception Institute of AI, which is described as a company of G42.

G42 is tied to Abu Dhabi's powerful national security adviser and deputy ruler Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. G42's CEO is Peng Xiao, who for years ran Pegasus, a subsidiary of DarkMatter, an Emirati security firm under scrutiny for hiring former CIA and NSA staffers, as well as others from Israel. G42 also owns a video and voice calling app that reportedly was a spying tool for the Emirati government.

In his remarks, Jackson described himself as representing the Abu Dhabi and UAE AI ecosystem.

We are a political powerhouse and we will be central to AI regulation globally, he said.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
President Joe Biden meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California to discuss the debt limit in the Oval Office of the White House, May 22, 2023, in Washington. Were there winners and losers in the negotiation? | Alex Brandon, Associated Press

One great strength of our American political system is the capacity to compromise, conciliate and work things out when the issues involved are truly serious. That strength is reconfirmed, dramatically, in the just-concluded agreement between Congress and the White House to suspend the debt ceiling of the nation for two years.

This permits paying commitments already made.

On May 31 and June 1, the House of Representatives and then the Senate passed the deal negotiated between President Joe Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and their staffs. Emphasis should be placed on staffs, who bear the brunt of the complex, detailed give-and-take that is essential for an agreement that is realistic and workable.

The agreement suspends the current debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion until Jan. 1, 2025. This puts off any serious future crisis until after the 2024 elections, an important consideration in particular for Biden, up for reelection next year and now consistently relatively low in popularity measured by opinion polls.

Both sides agreed to retrieve, or claw back in the current vernacular, approximately $27 billion that has been appropriated to combat the COVID-19 public health challenge but remains unspent. This has been an irritant for Republicans for some time.

Another Republican win was to include work requirements for people receiving food stamps and other federal economic assistance. Such requirements for able-bodied recipients of aid was part of a similar, comprehensive budget and debt deal negotiated during the Clinton administration in the 1990s.

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Enormous sums spent for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are sealed in law and therefore nondiscretionary. However, a true cash flow crisis, meaning the government literally could not pay bills, would theoretically put these extremely popular  and therefore politically very powerful  programs at risk, at least over the short term.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens most recent statement on government funds indicated June 5 as the fail-safe date, after which the federal government would have difficulty in paying bills. The agreement was in these terms reached just in time.

As indicated above, staff members deserve credit for the long hours and disciplined discussion that resulted in this successful agreement. However, especially in politics, the boss gets the credit. We should keep both groups in mind.

The biggest winner here is McCarthy. The Republicans recaptured the House of Representatives in 2022, but by the barest of majorities. An anticipated Republican Red Wave in the Congressional elections failed to materialize.

A nearly equal balance of representation between the two parties in the House almost guarantees that partisanship will be intense, and makes bipartisanship more difficult. Additionally, McCarthy had to suffer through numerous votes, and make many concessions to the right wing, over a grueling four days before House Republicans finally elected him their speaker in January of this year.

Unavoidably therefore, while victorious eventually, he assumed the gavel of the speakership appearing to be beleaguered and perhaps compromised. In the intense rough world of Washington politics, cynics sneered his tenure might be weak and brief.

Given this background, McCarthy gains considerable standing, and no doubt influence, that should be of great help in coming political and policy conflicts within Congress. By inference, he clearly has picked effective staff members. He has also managed to overcome the rigid and radical far right of his party.

Biden also benefits politically, at least over the short term. However, he faces multiple electoral difficulties, including the disastrous mishandling of Afghanistan withdrawal.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War. Contact acyr@carthage.edu
People walking to work in Dubai, which has shortened the public sector's workweek. (Karim Sahib / AFP via Getty Images)

In 1940, Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act to limit the standard workweek to 40 hours, with any additional hours eligible for overtime. Despite a more than threefold increase in productivity since, the 40-hour week has remained unchanged for 83 years.

But it may be changing at last. 2023 could just be the year of the four-day, 32-hour week.

Over the first few months of the year, Google searches for information about the four-day week rose by a factor of five. The media have produced hundreds of stories on companies that are offering 32-hour schedules . California and other states have considered legislation to enact or study a four-day week, and Riverside Rep. Mark Takano has introduced a bill on the subject in Congress .

In Europe, national and regional governments have pilot four-day week programs in progress, and the United Arab Emirates has shifted public-sector employees to a 4 -day schedule. In February, we released findings from the worlds largest trial of a four-day week with no reduction in pay, involving some 60 organizations in Britain across a range of sectors from public relations to healthcare to manufacturing. The results were striking: Employees and companies using the new schedule are thriving.

Why are reduced working hours suddenly on the agenda after years of not being taken seriously? The most important reason is the pandemic.

Leaders of the first organization to be part of our research attributed their decision to the COVID-driven shift to remote work. Dr. Adam Husney, the chief executive of the health information firm Healthwise, explained: Once we realized we could trust our employees with where they work, we also realized we could trust them about how much time they work.

Before the pandemic, there was a lot of talk about paying people for their output rather than their hours, but organizations honored the principle mostly in the breach. Once people are off-site, however, paying for productivity rather than time makes more sense, as least for employees who arent subject to draconian surveillance measures.

The pandemic also turbo-charged the four-day week by creating much more hardship for workers. While the work-life interface was difficult to navigate before COVID, the contagion itself and the complications of merging work and family life led to record levels of stress. The latest published research from Future Forum, based on a 2022 survey, found that 42% of employees polled in the United States and five other countries said they were burned out , a 4-percentage-point increase compared with just a year earlier.

Workers are responding with their feet. For Healthwises Husney, a staff exodus in June 2021 was the impetus for closing on Fridays. The labor market is experiencing not only the so-called Great Resignation  record numbers of people quitting their jobs  but also extremely high numbers of unfilled positions. Organizations are having difficulty retaining workers and scrambling to fill openings.

Raising pay isnt always enough, and not all organizations can afford to do so. Turnover is also extremely expensive. Its one reason much of the interest in the four-day workweek is coming from healthcare organizations, where burnout and resignations among nurses have become endemic.

We also think a quieter evolution away from the five-day schedule is underway. Many organizations have already reduced summer schedules by shortening or eliminating Friday hours. No-meeting Fridays have enabled more remote workers to take some of the day for themselves under the radar. We discovered that Friday morning classes at an exercise studio in our area have become very popular, thanks partly to people who reported being at work.

Our research suggests that the four-day, 32-hour week is not only feasible; its better for workers and employers .

In collaboration with the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global, weve been tracking what happens when companies switch to the curtailed schedule with no reduction in pay after a two-month process of figuring out how to maintain productivity and performance. Weve found that employee well-being is markedly improved. Of more than 100 companies with thousands of workers around the world, nearly 70% experienced reduced rates of burnout.

Stress fell. Reported physical and mental health improved. People felt less anxious and fatigued, exercised more and slept better. Their life satisfaction rose, and conflicts among work, family and life plummeted.

But its not just workers who benefited. On a 10-point scale, companies rated the success of the trials at a robust 8.5 or higher. Perhaps the most persuasive metric is that most are opting to continue with the shorter schedule. Only a handful of the organizations that have participated in the trials have reverted to the five-day week.

Many will continue to oppose a shortened work schedule because it sounds un-American or unprofitable. But were finding out that modern challenges make the four-day workweek not only possible but better for workers, employers and society.

Juliet Schor is a professor of sociology and Wen Fan is an associate professor of sociology at Boston College.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In October, about 70 school and district leaders from around the country gathered in Utah for a mental health summit. More than once during the three-day conference, administrators had to break away to deal with mental health emergencies in their districts.

It dramatized what has become increasingly apparent over the past few years: Students are in the midst of a mental health crisis. The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has warned of this repeatedly. Mental health challenges in children, adolescents and young adults are real and widespread, he said in this advisory. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression and thoughts of suicide  and rates have increased over the past decade.

He is not being overly dramatic. In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021, highlighting trends and experiences of U.S. high school students. The findings are sobering. Twenty-two percent, including 30% of girls, seriously considered suicide during the past year, and 10% actually made an attempt.

Related Biden State of the Union Puts Focus on Students' Education 'Turned Upside-Down'

Depression and anxiety are also on the rise among young people: according to recent CDC data, 42% of high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks in a row that they stopped their usual activities. Sadly, many young people turn to drugs and alcohol to cope.

Now is the time to change this pattern.

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The Cook Center partnered with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the JED Foundation and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to host the mental health summit because school leaders bear much of the weight of mental health concerns among young people. In fact, some 80% of families rely on schools for their childs mental health.

During the summit  the first time AASA had sponsored a conference specifically to address student mental health  educators explored the crisis in depth and collaborated with superintendents from rural, urban, low-income and affluent schools to map out possible solutions. They learned how to discuss mental health in a productive way with teachers, students and parents, using data and language supplied by experts from the foundation and the institute. Since the summit, superintendents have returned to their communities with the knowledge and tools to approach problems more analytically.

Importantly, the AASA Mental Health Cohort was established to help implement real solutions for all students. There are more than 40 members who regularly connect with one another to develop strategic plans, increase support options for all members of their school communities and work toward solutions that can be built into schools routines and their existing state, local or Title I funding.

In one members district, school staff meet with students and their families following a mental health hospitalization under a new school reintegration initiative. The team partners with local behavioral health providers, such as hospitals or inpatient treatment centers, to make sure the school understands the struggling students medical needs and can support the behavioral health treatment. The goal is to ease the transition back into a typical school routine without sacrificing the positive effects of the treatment. The program is new, but the district leader is collecting data to improve and expand it. The Jed Foundation has a curriculum available that aims to eliminate suicide among young adults, and Mental Health Americas free toolkit for schools offers tips to students, teachers and even businesses to support the mental health of young people.

The Cook Center has developed two resources that are available at no cost. My Life is Worth Living is an animated series that models how the human connection can protect against suicide. The series tells stories of characters who face some of the most difficult issues that young people deal with and shows how they come to the key decision that life is worth living.

ParentGuidance.org is a free online resource where families can access courses and find answers from therapists. Districts can partner with the site to get additional resources for families, including mental health seminars tailored to local needs.

There has never been a better time to invest in childrens mental health. Unprecedented funding is available: The Department of Health and Human Services has allocated $35 million for mental health services and suicide prevention programs for youth. Congress increased appropriations for the Mental Health Block Grant by $100 million to help state and local governments fill gaps in services. And the Department of Education now has $144 million each year for the next five years to award to state education agencies and districts for mental health support.

Whether that funding is made available long term depends on how well schools implement programs and get feedback quickly. Districts have tremendous leeway in how they gather data and measure their effectiveness of their mental health support programs. Legislators will likely reward initiative and initially fund new programs. But they will also demand accountability, that school leaders gather data and develop improvement cycles. The good news is that fathering data and developing improvement cycles are already institutional skills that education systems do really well.

New coalitions like the AASA Mental Health Cohort and nonprofit groups like the Cook Center for Human Connection and JED are ready to help schools and districts take action to alleviate the mental health crisis among the youth they serve. Time is of the essence. The well-being of millions of young people is on the line.
World War II history enthusiast Arnauld Villalard marks respect on a headstone in the U.S. cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, Saturday, June, 4 2022. Several ceremonies will take place to commemorate the 78th anniversary of D-Day that led to the liberation of France and Europe from the German occupation. | Jeremias Gonzales, Associated Press

Frank DeVitas story is one of many inspiring memories from the men who landed on the beaches of Normandy 79 years ago this Tuesday. But that fact doesnt detract from his story. Rather, it makes the enormous sacrifices of that day even more remarkable.

DeVita was a 19-year-old Gunners Mate 3rd Class aboard the USS Samuel Chase. His job was to ride in one of the many troop transport ships that delivered men to Omaha Beach amid terrific artillery fire, then to lower the ramp that would allow them to exit the ship and run onto the beach, desperate to establish a beachhead on the European continent.

Pre-dawn bombing raids had failed to effectively hit the fortified positions German soldiers had established above Omaha Beach. That allowed the Germans to riddle incoming boats with relentless machine gun fire.

As DeVita said, while choking back tears on a video at History.com, he could hear bullets pounding the ramp as they approached the beach, like the staccato clacking of a typewriter. As long as the ramp was up, it was a shield.

I figured in my mind, when I drop that there ramp, the bullets that are hitting the ramp are going to come into the boat. So I froze, he said.

Only when the boats coxswain yelled and swore at him to lower the ramp did he do his duty.

I dropped the ramp, he said. The first seven or eight, nine, 10 guys went down like youre cutting down wheat.

That was his first trip to the beach. By the eighth trip that day, he was carrying the wounded and dead off the shore and back to the main ships.

He remembers those men, 18, 19, 20 years old. They were too young to vote, but they werent too young to die.

DeVita describes a cemetery near the beach. Pick out any tombstone, he said. Six feet down lies a soldier or a sailor, probably 20 years old, who gave his life for his country. Thats my hero.

The remarkable thing about the Normandy invasion is that the soldiers involved fully understood what they were doing. Nearly a decade ago, Earl Howard Clements of Cottonwood Heights, who was a sergeant during D-Day, told the Deseret News he learned about the pending attack when his ship was heading toward Port of Southampton, England.

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Half of us were going to be killed. They told us that. But everybody went anyway, he said, his voice breaking as he began to cry. They didnt hesitate a minute, and neither did I.

D-Day was a pivotal moment in World War II, not just for U.S. soldiers, but for the allied forces and the world. Officially known as Operation Overlord, the invasion included more than 195,000 personnel from eight allied nations on 7,000 ships and landing craft, with about 133,000 from the United States, Britain and its commonwealth landing on June 6, 1944, according to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

Casualties that day, dead and wounded, numbered 10,300. That is difficult to comprehend at a time when the entire 20-year war in Afghanistan resulted in 22,311 U.S. casualties. D-Day has been called the largest invasion force in human history. It may be the greatest single example of selfless sacrifice, as well.

Because of the bravery and willingness of those men that day, the world has not faced a similar pivot point of such great importance since then.

Those who survived D-Day and the rest of World War II are rapidly dwindling. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said only 167,284 of the 16 million who served in that conflict remained alive in 2022. Those numbers are expected to fall below 100,000 next year.

As the website of the National WWII Museum says, Every day, memories of World War II  its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs  disappear.

But the remembrance and gratitude of todays Americans for that generation must never vanish. Neither should the resolve to follow their selfless example whenever circumstances make it necessary again.
Former President Trump visits with volunteers for his 2024 campaign in Des Moines on Thursday. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)

Congratulations to Nikki Haley for following President Trumps lead and doing a CNN town hall. Ron DeSanctimonious is too chicken to ever do something like this.  @TrumpWarRoom

Here, in microcosm, is the dysfunction plaguing the GOP presidential field, thanks to the Trumpian captivity.

As with most Trumpian pronouncements, theres no policy and no principle to be found  other than the insinuation that Trump is courageous and his opponents are cowards. Ron DeSantis gets the text: He's chicken; Haley the subtext: Shes simply following the Alpha Dogs lead, as if the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador wouldnt have had the fortitude to do a CNN town hall without the benefit of Trumps pathbreaking courage.

For what its worth, the only thing that Haleys Sunday night CNN town hall had in common with Trumps performance last month is that they were on the same network. Haley was generally polite, polished and coherent.

It's all so exhaustingly childish, made all the more exhausting because it works.

The Trump campaigns theory of the race is simply an extension of Trumps worldview  that politics isnt primarily about ideas or policy but bullying and intimidation. Trump acts like the Biff Tannen character from Back to the Future (not entirely coincidentally, as Biffs character was reportedly based on Trump), who dominates the nerds and normal kids alike by his sheer willingness to be an immature jerk.

For months now, Trumps been testing out a slew of low-brow nicknames for Ron DeSantis, from Rob to Meatball Ron, on the theory that name calling is more effective than any policy position.

And, so far, hes right.

DeSantis announcement on Twitter may have been an unforced error, but it didnt prevent him from having a successful debut tour through Iowa and New Hampshire. But, so far, the polls have not significantly budged.

DeSantis is trying to take the high road. I think its so petty. I think its so juvenile. I dont think thats what voters want. And, honestly, I think that his conduct, which hes been doing for years now  thats one of the reasons hes not in the White House now. Because I think he alienated too many voters for things that really dont matter. So I dont get in the gutter for any of that, DeSantis said on a New Hampshire radio station.

DeSantis is, of course, correct. If Trump could have shown a modicum of presidential restraint and maturity when he was in the White House  particularly during the pandemic  he probably wouldnt have lost. Thats the subtext of DeSantis frequent refrain, about being a winner and the need to ditch the culture of losing.

DeSantis is working on the quaint assumption that Republican voters care more about winning than about watching Trumps schtick. Haley and most of the other contenders have similarly endearing assumptions that base voters prioritize policy or positivity about America and the future.

Even Vivek Ramaswamy, who appeared on ABCs This Week to trot out the insipid and insidious idea that America should hand Russia a military victory, nonetheless works on the assumption that appealing to ideas is a winning strategy.

It reminds me of the old story about Adlai Stevensons remark about running for president in the 1950s. When told, Every thinking person in America will be voting for you. Stevenson reportedly replied, I'm afraid that won't do  I need a majority.

It's not that Trump voters dont care about ideas  good or bad  or even winning. The problem is their emotional attachment to Trump, an attachment that virtually all of his opponents let fester and harden for years. The result is a deeply ingrained and even more deeply debased conception of leadership and masculinity, one that confuses boorishness for winning.

Mike Pence, who filed the paperwork for his presidential bid on Monday, is a case in point. As Trumps vice president, Pence loyally defended his boss asininity for four years  until he hit the breaking point on Jan. 6, 2021. He nobly did the right thing that day, but even when it comes to Trumps effort to steal the election  which torched Americas ability to boast about the peaceful transfer of power  his tone has been more in sorrow than in anger.

Politicians are understandably reluctant to tell voters theyre wrong. But hinting at their wrongness isnt very effective, either. It is translated as deference to a high school bully and thats disastrous for any candidate trying to seem like a leader.

@JonahDispatch

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ENTERPRISE, Ore.  A grassroots movement to redraw Oregons border is gaining traction after voters in 11 rural, conservative counties approved measures that would start the process of seceding from the blue state and joining Republican-dominated Idaho.

In Oregons Wallowa County, just eight votes separated those who support the Greater Idaho movement from those who oppose last week, the county clerk said. Tuesday is the deadline to resubmit ballots that either did not have signatures or had signatures that did not match county records.

"Our way of life here is based on agriculture, forestry, timber  its a resource-based economy, and it feels like that side over there treats us like their playground," Wallowa resident Garrett Mahon said, referring to the western part of the state, where more voters are registered Democrats.

He said that if Multnomah County, home to Portland, "votes one way, it vetoes the rest of the state."

Greater Idaho Movement (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images)

It is the second time voters in the small county of Wallowa, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and glistening rivers, have weighed in on the issue. In 2020, residents struck down the idea of joining Idaho by 46 votes. This year, it is winning by just eight ballots.

The question posed to voters would not result in an immediate redrawing of the border; instead, it would initiate regular county meetings to discuss secession. Legislators in both states would have to agree on a formal plan to move the state border, which would then require the approval of Congress.

I understand why many people want to be Idahoans. Theyre looking at Idaho fondly because of our strong economy, regulatory atmosphere, and our values, Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, said in an emailed statement.

Still, he added, Theres a lot that needs to happen before moving the border is within the realm of possibility.

The office of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the dubious siren song about Idaho is not realistic and has multiple fatal flaws beyond its fundamental implausibility.

Among questions are how Oregon landowners water rights would fare in Idaho, as well as the fact that Oregonians would pay a sales tax in Idaho for the first time in their lives, on top of working in a state with much lower hourly wages on average than Oregon has, he said in a statement.

He said most Oregonians are more interested in finding solutions "that bridge differences rather than chasing incredibly unlikely and unhelpful boundary schemes.

Opponents of the Greater Idaho Movement gather in Enterprise, Ore., on May 12, 2023. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images)

While both sides acknowledge that redrawing the border is a long shot, supporters of Greater Idaho say they are tired of being ignored by liberal legislators in Salem and voters in Multnomah County, the most populous region in Oregon, while opponents say the movement is dangerous, sowing political and cultural clashes in an already divided state.

Were irritated with trying to get anything done, said David Wurdinger, of Enterprise in Wallowa County, who says he feels more aligned with the conservative policies of Idaho. Salem wont listen to ranchers, because there arent enough of us left out here."

But Sondra Lozier, who owns an antiques business in Enterprise, said that while she is equally frustrated that not enough state legislators share her conservative values, she does not want to become an Idaho resident.

I want to be an Oregonian, she said.

How much time, energy and money is being spent on something that will never be? she added. Id rather find common ground.

Inspired by the State of Jefferson, a secession movement in Northern California and Oregon to create a new conservative state, the Greater Idaho movement was founded in 2020 with a tailored approach. Rather than try to create a new state and upset the balance of the U.S. Senate, why not make the idea more palatable by simply redrawing the border?

Geography does affect us, Greater Idaho spokesman Matt McCaw said. In Oregon, there are two very different geographies separated by the Cascades, and it creates different groups of people who are going to see things differently. Eastern Oregon counties look like Idaho.

Oregons border was last changed in 1958 to adjust the boundary with Washington along the Columbia River. Changing it now would create a host of complications for residents in Oregon, where the minimum wage is $13.50 an hour, compared to Idahos $7.25, and where recreational cannabis was legalized in 2014. Both medical and recreational cannabis are illegal in Idaho.

There are a lot of people in rural Oregon who dont support this, but they have been beaten down by the conservative perspective, said Carina Miller, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, about two hours outside Portland.

Miller recently appeared on a panel about rethinking state borders with McCaw, and both said they were surprised by the others participation. The two-hour discussion in Portland was heated at times, with McCaw and Miller saying their respective communities are overlooked by state legislators.

To have the narrative that white communities are not represented and are crying out for advocacy on their behalf while completely disregarding the very effective policies that have been put in place to silence communities of color, to disenfranchise us, to take our rights, is maddening, Miller said.

McCaw, who lives in rural Cook County, said that his home state has changed drastically over his lifetime and that it has become unrecognizable to residents outside the urban centers.

Borders are imaginary lines to make peoples lives easier, he said. Why not match people to government and policies that they want and make their lives better?

A sign in support of former President Donald Trump is displayed in front of a home in Wallowa, Ore., on May 12, 2023. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images)

At a time of an increasingly fractured national identity, the Greater Idaho movement represents a deepening political divide that can be felt from the smallest counties on the West Coast to the halls of Congress.

In Oregons capitol, Republican legislators have entered the fifth week of a walkout, denying a quorum and stalling hundreds of bills, including measures about abortion, gender-affirming care and gun control that have sparked fierce debate in the Legislature.

Across the country, the majority of Americans say they have little faith in one another and in lawmakers.

In a recent survey conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center, 76% of respondents said they have little or no confidence in the wisdom of the American people in making political decisions, up from 62% in 2021. There was also an increase in people who said the country cannot solve many of its important problems, from 41% last year to 56% this year.

Since the 2020 election and Jan. 6, there has been a growing language of civil war, a growing language of partition, of a national divorce, like Marjorie Taylor Greene said a few months ago, and there is more and more language that the country is becoming ungovernable, said Joe Lowndes, a professor of political science at the University of Oregon.

Concerned about the growing cultural divide within Oregon, Western States Strategies, the political wing of the Western States Center, a Portland nonprofit group, began running counter TV and ad campaigns to deter Wallowa County voters from supporting Greater Idaho.

It was the first time Western Strategies had decided to take on the movement, largely as a response to what felt like a dog whistle for echoes of Christian nationalism, program director Stephen Piggott said.

"Greater Idaho has been able to capitalize on this to try to further sow divisions," he said. "Thats such a drastic step to take. They're just adding fuel to the flames."

McCaw of Greater Idaho denied any ties to white nationalist groups.

Cattle graze beneath the snow-capped mountains of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Wallowa County of eastern Oregon on May 12, 2023. (Robyn Beck / AFP - Getty Images)

In Enterprise, along a quiet Main Street filled with restaurants and shops, store owner Debbie Kellerman took a deep breath standing behind the counter of her clothing boutique. Asked about the Greater Idaho movement, she smirked.

Oh yes  that, she said with a slight eye roll.

I really think Oregon has gone off the deep end, she said of Portlands uptick in homelessness and recent legislation that decriminalized illicit drugs. We are not the same state we used to be.

Kellerman and her husband voted against the measure in 2020, but she has grown increasingly frustrated with Salem since then. When the measure was reintroduced, Kellerman was so torn that she abstained from voting altogether.

Its very complicated, she said. If I wanted to be an Idahoan, I would be in Idaho.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Turkiye's Erdogan continues to face challenges in ties with NATO allies after re-election

Xinhua) 08:20, June 06, 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces his new cabinet in Ankara, Turkiye, June 3, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's relationship with NATO allies following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for five more years is likely to remain challenging, experts said.

Erdogan won his third presidential term in an election runoff on May 28, which is considered a substantial force in how Turkiye-West ties would stay and change, especially at a time when its relations with the United States, a major NATO ally, are fraught.

Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has kept its distance from Turkiye mainly because of the latter's increasing cooperation with Russia, a trend that disturbs many Western officials and NATO.

Turkiye's decision to oppose Sweden's NATO membership bid has also impacted Ankara's relationship with the United States and other members of the Western defense alliance.

Delegates attend a ceremony for Finland's accession to NATO at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"A crisis seems to loom in Turkiye-NATO relations around Ankara's decision to stall Sweden's bid to join the alliance," Serkan Demirtas, an Ankara-based foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua.

Turkiye has "legitimate security concerns" over the Nordic country's accession to the alliance and is expecting more despite Stockholm's legal efforts to satisfy its demands, Demirtas noted.

"We will soon know if Ankara is satisfied or not, but a deadline is approaching," the Turkish analyst said, referring to the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July, where NATO wants to finalize Sweden's admission process.

Some experts believe that a compromise may be forthcoming after a phone call from Biden congratulating Erdogan on his re-election touched upon NATO expansion.

The two presidents "expressed their shared commitment to continue working together as close partners to deepen cooperation between our countries and people. They also discussed their readiness as NATO Allies to address regional and global challenges, including strengthening transatlantic security at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," said a White House issued on May 29.

The national flag of Finland and emblem of NATO are seen at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"I suspect that Erdogan will ratify Sweden's membership until the NATO summit. In this way, the Erdogan administration will want to make progress on the F-16 warplanes it wants to buy from the U.S.," Moscow-based Turkish analyst Kerim Has told Xinhua.

Despite Ankara and Washington repeatedly denying Turkiye's approval of Sweden's bid is a quid pro quo for buying more U.S. arms, Has argued that the two issues are connected.

Being kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program by Washington for purchasing Russian S-400 missiles, Ankara has sought to buy more F-16 jets, but the request has been pending for months with the Biden administration and U.S. Congress.

For Has, the Turkish leader has pushed the issue about as far as he can, and may finally concede to a compromise, given his country's economic problems which could prompt him to adopt a conciliatory approach in the hope of securing much-needed capital.

Ankara ratified Finland's NATO bid in March but is still reluctant about a similar bid from Sweden over the country's alleged support for Kurdish militants considered by Turkiye "terrorists."

For Washington, the accession of the two Scandinavian states to the alliance is a must amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict since it increases NATO interoperability.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Ankara, Turkiye, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

On May 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkiye to finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, saying the Nordic country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara's objections.

A foreign diplomat based in Ankara whose country is a NATO member told Xinhua that Turkiye will remain a "crucially important member, despite frustration from the alliance."

"The relationship is complicated and will remain to stay so," the source said on condition of anonymity.

According to Tulin Daloglu, an independent analyst based in Ankara, given Turkiye's growing geostrategic importance amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, "the current strained but manageable relations will continue as it is for the foreseeable future".

"The U.S.-dominated NATO decision-makers want Sweden to join the club as soon as possible. Turkiye is not against this membership or NATO's open door policy," she told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton.

The Oregon Department of Corrections has agreed to pay a former correctional officer $500,000 to settle her sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against the agency.

The case was scheduled for trial in Eugene Monday.

The federal lawsuit was filed in 2021. Ashley Longhorn, a former correctional officer at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, alleged the agency failed to take action against harassment and rumors after she reported being sexually assaulted by a more senior corrections officer.

"The Department of Corrections failed to keep me safe after I made a report of sexual assault, Longhorn said in a news release about the settlement. I hope my case will spur a change in the culture of predatory behavior towards female employees at EOCI so that what happens to me never happens to another woman.

According to the complaint, Longhorn was 24 when she began working as an officer at EOCI in 2020. She alleged Matthew Klimek, her mentor and a more senior officer, who was also named as a defendant in the case, assaulted her in his home in May 2020. Longhorn reported the assault to another coworker who reported the assault to an assistant superintendent, according to the complaint.

After the assault, Longhorn claimed, Klimek began stalking her. Other staff spread "degrading rumors" about Longhorn which were overheard by adults in custody, the complaint alleged.

"The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC), knowing of the assault and the hostile environment, failed and refused to protect Longhorn. Longhorn was forced to take unpaid leave for PTSD and anxiety, and she switched to the graveyard shift to protect herself and avoid hostile co-workers. The DOC continued to fail to take effective corrective action, and she ultimately had no choice but to resign," the complaint said.

Klimek, according to the complaint, had been at EOCI for 11 years.

According to court records, Klimek was arrested on six charges related to the assault in December 2020. The charges were dismissed in 2021. A defamation lawsuit Klimek filed against Longhorn was also dismissed this January after the parties reached a mutual agreement, according to public records.

Longhorn resigned from her position in May 2021. Klimek's employment with DOC ended in January 2022, according to the DOC.

Longhorn was seeking a declaration that the DOC had engaged in "unlawful sex discrimination and retaliation" against her, back pay for lost wages and benefits, and for the DOC to reinstate her to her position or award front pay. Longhorn also asked the court to award damages determined by the jury.

On Monday, the DOC agreed to pay Longhorn $500,000 to settle the lawsuit.

"This case is an important reminder that women workers, particularly those in male-dominated fields, continue to face sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation, her attorney Caitlin Mitchell of Johnson Johnson Lucas & Middleton, PC in Eugene said in a release.

Mitchell told the Statesman Journal that Longhorn wanted to emphasize that the DOC has turned a blind eye to these problems and must enforce its existing policies.

"Until they are really willing to take the time to actually see and understand these problems, it'll be impossible for them to do anything about it," Longhorn said through her attorney.

The Department of Corrections declined to comment on the settlement.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter at @diannelugo

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Department of Corrections settles harassment lawsuit
Nicole Daedone, left, and Rachel Cherwitz were indicted on charges of conspiring to force employees to work for their "sexuality-focused wellness education" company OneTaste by inflicting sexual, psychological and economic abuse, federal prosecutors said. (Ian West / Press Association)

The founder and a former executive of OneTaste, a San Francisco-based "sexuality-focused wellness education" company that grabbed national media attention, were indicted on charges of conspiring to force employees to work for them by inflicting sexual, psychological and economic abuse, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Nicole Daedone, 56, the founder and spiritual leader of OneTaste, and Rachel Cherwitz, 43, who served as head of sales, used "a series of abusive and manipulative tactics" to get volunteers and employees to perform work for them from 2004 to 2018, prosecutors said.

They were charged in federal court in Brooklyn, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York. Cherwitz was arrested Tuesday in San Francisco, while Daedone remains at large, a law enforcement source said.

OneTaste rose to prominence for its focus on women's pleasure, offering courses in "orgasmic meditation," during which gloved men would bring women to climax with their fingers, according to reports on the group.

But according to federal investigators, the sexual liberation and healing OneTaste offered were a smokescreen behind which Daedone and Cherwitz manipulated and controlled members, driving them into debt with expensive courses while surveilling them and keeping dossiers of their personal information.

In addition to San Francisco, the company operated in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas and other U.S. cities.

"Under the guise of empowerment and wellness, the defendants are alleged to have sought complete control over their employees lives, including by driving them into debt and directing them to perform sexual acts while also withholding wages, said Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. This prosecution should serve as a reminder to both employer and employee that no matter the marketing mantra, this conduct is never acceptable.

OneTaste and its philosophy propelled Daedone to semi-celebrity status. In a 2011 TEDx talk in San Francisco, she preached the gospel of the female orgasm.

"Female orgasm is vital for every single woman on the planet, she said. It roots our fundamental capacity for connection."

Daedone said she founded OneTaste after a man taught her about orgasmic meditation and brought her to tears by shining a flashlight on her genitals and describing their appearance.

However, Daedone was less focused on the pleasure of OneTaste's members, prosecutors said.

"Cherwitz and Daedone promoted a philosophy and ethos based at the worship of 'Orgasm' in which Daedone played a central role," prosecutors wrote in court documents. "Cherwitz, Daedone, and other leaders in the OneTaste community demanded absolute commitment to Daedone, including by exalting Daedones teachings and ideology."

OneTaste targeted people who had suffered sexual abuse or trauma, saying the group could help with healing, prosecutors said. With Daedone as chief executive from 2004 to 2017, the company separated members from their relationships with outsiders and moved them to new locations, according to federal prosecutors.

Once in the group, OneTaste employees and members were required by Daedone to perform "uncomfortable or repulsive" sexual acts, according to the indictment. Daedone and Cherwitz are also accused of grooming employees to have sex with potential investors and clients of OneTaste, according to the indictment.

All the while, Daedone and Cherwitz used employees' services while often failing to pay them what they were owed, prosecutors said.

OneTaste's rise spawned positive as well as negative attention. A 2009 profile in the New York Times brought the company recognition but was followed by nightmare stories from former members who described it as cult-like.

The BBC in 2020 released a 10-episode podcast on OneTaste; Daedone and Cherwitz joined a lawsuit over the podcast in a failed libel action. Netflix released a documentary about the company, "Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The hottest tropical celebration of the year returns to Amway Center this fall.

Orlando Salsa Festival will bring the rhythmic beats of salsa music and the hottest tropical vibes to downtown on Sept. 22.

READ: New authentic life-sized dinosaur skeleton casts coming to Central Florida

The nationally touring salsa festival will bring salsa legends Willie Colon, El Gran Combo, Victor Manuelle, Jerry Rivera, La India, Rey Ruiz, Fruko y sus Teso and Los Adolescentes to Orlando.

Tickets start at $59 and can be purchased here.

READ: LGBTQ+ people flock to Florida for Gay Days festival

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
(Bloomberg) -- Pakistan is pursuing efforts to secure the remaining $2 billion in external funding gap out of a $6 billion target to revive a long-delayed bailout program with the International Monetary Fund.

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The South Asian nation has lined up $4 billion in external financing and hopes to obtain a deal with the lender before it unveils its budget on Friday, the Ministry of Finance in Islamabad said Monday in an emailed response to questions from Bloomberg News.

Urgency is growing for Pakistan to restart its $6.7 billion bailout program which is set to expire in June. The external financing gap and exchange-rate policy are emerging as among the biggest roadblocks, with the program stalled for more than six months.

Pakistan remains committed to completing the IMF program and has already demonstrated its seriousness, the ministry said. Pakistan is committed to mobilizing additional liquidity despite significant contraction of the current-account deficit which has reduced the requirement, said the ministry.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have committed to provide fresh financing of $3 billion to Pakistan. China and its state-owned banks have rolled over $4 billion in loan commitments.

The IMF reiterated its stance that the loan will resume once there is proper market functioning of the Pakistani rupee and the government follows IMF program goals and adequate financing when it presents the national budget, Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMFs resident representative for Pakistan, said in an email Monday. IMF staff continues the engagement with the Pakistani authorities to pave the way for a Board meeting before the current program expires, said Ruiz.

Bonds Advance

The nation faces about $22 billion of external debt payments for fiscal year 2024, which begins in July, according to Columbia Threadneedle Investments. That level is about five times its reserves. To meet IMF demands, authorities have raised taxes, hiked energy prices and let the rupee weaken.

Pakistan will struggle to muddle through much longer without a program given its limited reserve buffers and elevated external financing needs, said Patrick Curran, a senior economist at Tellimer based in Portland, Maine. Default is inevitable if IMF support is not secured.

Dollar bonds due in April 2024 advanced for a six straight day on Tuesday, with the notes quoted at about 56.35 cents on the dollar. The rupee has lost more than 20% this year after officials devalued the currency in January, making it one of the worst performers globally.

Pakistans economic crisis comes as the country is also facing political stress, with former premier Imran Khan and his supporters clashing with the powerful army, a traditional power base in Pakistan.

The external funds, along with the resumption of the IMF loan, will be crucial to overcome a dollar crunch, ease supply shortages, and pull the $350 billion economy out of default risks ahead of elections expected later this year.

--With assistance from Ruchi Bhatia.

(Updates with bond prices, analyst comment and rewrites throughout.)

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Palestinian mother Marwa al-Tamimi cradles her 3-year-old son Mohammed who was killed last week by Israeli forces during his funeral in the occupied West Bank

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered Tuesday for the funeral of a three-year-old boy who died after being shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank last week.

Mohammed al-Tamimi died in an Israeli hospital Monday, after Israeli soldiers shot him and his father on Thursday night in the village of Nabi Saleh, near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Tamimi's mother, Marwa, wept as she embraced her son for the final time, his body wrapped in the traditional black and white Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.

Israeli soldiers stood within sight of the funeral reception, blocking a main entrance into the village of Nabi Saleh near where last week's shooting took place.

Marwa al-Tamimi, 32, told AFP that soldiers had fired on her husband Haitham, who was also wounded, while he was in the car with their three-year-old son.

She said he had gone out to move his car because he feared it would be damaged by nearby Israeli soldiers.

"My husband started the car and my son was next to him, and the shots were fired at him when he turned on the car's lights".

"They (Israeli soldiers) fired at them for a while, and they could not get out of the car... so I hid inside (the house)," she added.

Her son was transferred to the Sheba hospital in Israel, where he "died... despite extensive efforts of the medical team," a statement released by the hospital on Monday said.

The Israeli army said on Monday that soldiers had "responded with live fire" following a shooting attack on the nearby settlement of Neveh Tzuf.

The army said that two Palestinians were wounded adding that it "regrets harm to civilians" and said an investigation was under way.

Marwa al-Tamimi said she had no faith in the Israeli army's investigation.

"I want an international trial. Enough is enough. Every time we hear of a child who is martyred, a whole family is martyred," she said.

Senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh on Monday night expressed his anger in a tweet.

"He (Tamimi) died by the bullets of Israeli occupation soldiers !!! What will the occupation authorities say about him? Are they going to call him a terrorist?? Is he endangering the lives of their soldiers?."

Al-Tamimi is the youngest person killed in the conflict this year.

Since the start of the year, at least 156 Palestinians, 21 Israelis, a Ukrainian and an Italian have been killed in violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources.

The figures include combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority.

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For just a moment at the start of the third period of their 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, the Florida Panthers gave themselves a flicker of hope.

The Panthers started the third with a new-look line of Anton Lundell, Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair, and scored just 14 seconds into the period, briefly cutting the Golden Knights lead to 4-1 in Game 2 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final in Las Vegas.

The comeback bid ended nearly as quickly as it began with the Golden Knights answering just 96 seconds later, but it gave Florida a peek at a potential way forward to come back from a 2-0 series deficit.

When it got away from us, I rolled a lot of different lines, coach Paul Maurice said.

The Panthers used eight different line combinations for at least two minutes Monday and their most effective combos were deviations from their usual lineup.

With the Lundell-Barkov-Duclair trio on the ice, Florida had a 10-2 advantage in shot attempts, a 7-0 edge in scoring chances and a 5-0 edge in high-danger chances. The Panthers only other goal came from Matthew Tkachuk when the superstar right wing was playing with center Sam Bennett and left wing Carter Verhaeghe, and the Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk trio  also a deviation from the usual lineup  gave Florida a 6-1 edge in shot attempts and 4-1 advantage in scoring chances.

Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is piling up penalties and hits, but not yet fazing Vegas

Granted, both of these goals came in what was essentially garbage time, but they also account for half of the Panthers goals in this Stanley Cup Final so far.

Well look at that, Maurice said. I dont know know that the changes in the lines had an impact or was the reason for generating the goals that we did, but certainly we wont discount it.

The wide array of different line combinations was also the product of Florida dressing seven defensemen and only 11 forwards with forward Eetu Luostarinen out with an injury, and so the first-year Panthers coach was giving extra shifts to Tkachuk, Duclair and Verhaeghe right away.

The sample size is still small on the Lundell-Barkov-Duclair trio. It is not, however, for the Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk group: Those three have now played more than 36 5-on-5 minutes together in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs with Florida outscoring opponents 7-1.

Jun 3, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas (7) grapples with Vegas Golden Knights center Ivan Barbashev (49) in the second period in game one of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers still evaluating Luostarinen, Gudas

The Panthers are still awaiting more clarity on the statuses of both Luostarinen and defenseman Radko Gudas as they deal with injuries coming out of the first two games of the Cup Final in Vegas.

Luostarinen, who had been playing left wing on the third line, didnt play in either of the first two games of the Final, as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury he sustained in the final game of the Eastern Conference finals last month. Gudas, who typically plays on the third defensive pairing, exited after getting hit in the head in the first period of Game 2 on Monday and did not return.

Gudas was set to be re-evaluated later Tuesday. The 33-year-old Czech also briefly exited Game 1 with an injury Saturday, but was able to return.

All that testing will be done today, Maurice said, and then will be done when we get home.

Luostarinens status remains day-to-day, Maurice said. The 24-year-old Finn practiced with Florida on the eve of the Final on Friday and his status for Game 1 was initially deemed a game-time decision, Maurice said, before the Panthers held him out for both games in Nevada.

Hes day-to-day, Maurice said. Hes been on the ice, but hes not ready to play.

Luostarinen has two goals and three assists on 14 shots, with 13 blocked shots and a plus-minus of plus-2 in the playoffs. Gudas had three assists and 13 shots, plus 30 blocked shots and a plus-minus of plus-3 in the postseason. Both are particularly valuable on the penalty kill, where Gudas ranks third among Florida defensemen in average time on ice in the playoffs and Luostarinen ranks fourth among its forwards. The Golden Knights have gone 4 of 11 pon their power play to start the series.

Both have a bit of extra time to get healthy now. Game 3 of the Final isnt until Thursday at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise.
Back to business might have been the way to describe the latest edition of Paris Fashion Week if the clothing on display hadnt been so wonderfully inappropriate for most traditional workplaces.

Locking in a trend that began to take hold in the preceding fashion weeks in New York, London and Milan, sexy, barely-there designs made an appearance at numerous runway shows and presentations. Hemlines were high and midriffs were exposed as designers laid bare parts of the body that many of us have kept wrapped up in loungewear during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The nineties and early noughts also continued to dominate, with many labels offering their high-fashion take on the often questionable street style of a generation of flip phone users. (Scroll for Miu Mius take on the is it a belt or is it a skirt? mini).

And while previously seen themes relating to public health, lockdown and uncertainty were largely abandoned this season, the week closed out with an emotive tribute to the late designer Alber Elbaz, who died of Covid-19 in April, reminding attendees that the pandemic is far from over.

Read on for more impressions from Paris Fashion Week.

Big shows are back

A model walks the runway during the Balmain Festival as part of Paris Fashion Wee at La Seine Musicale. - Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

Doja Cat performs on stage during the Balmain Festival. - Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

Another scene from the Balmain Festival. - Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

After months of pandemic-related disruption, more brands than ever chose to return to the physical show format and some of them went big  no more so than the French luxury house Balmain. To celebrate creative director Olivier Rousteings 10-year anniversary with the brand, an enormous show was staged within Paris La Seine Musicale on a river island, in the western suburbs of the city. The two-day event was part music festival, part collection unveiling. The runway show opened with a pre-recorded audio message from Beyonce, praising Rousteings efforts to to keep pushing that door open wider, making sure that others can also have opportunities for reaching their dreams throughout his career.

Meanwhile, Parisian fashion staple Saint Laurent returned to its show venue of choice, the Eiffel Tower, and Chanel sparked joy on Tuesday with an event that took the catwalk show format back to the 80s, when models would prance and twirl down the runway to the delight of shouty photographers who flanked the stage. In the show notes, the brands creative head, Virginie Viard, wrote that she used to love the sound of flashbulbs going off at the shows in the eighties and she wanted to recreate that atmosphere for today.

Saint Laurent returned to its usual show location to present SS22. - Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Chanel to the show format back to the '80s for its SS22 event. - Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Balenciaga arguably grabbed the most headlines when it brought the characters of The Simpsons to fashion week, thanks to a 10-minute episode crafted exclusively for the brand. The episode was screened live at the Theatre du Chatelet after a red carpet event that surreptitiously seeded the new collection amongst editors, buyers, models, celebrities and friends of the house.

On the subject of the return of the fashion spectacle, Rick Owens, who put on his first show in Paris since the start of the pandemic, told CNN Style, Everybody is going to want to flex. Everyone is going to want to show that they are stronger than ever, that theyre more powerful than ever. Its a little horrifying, but I get it.

Balenciaga put its latest collection straight onto the red carpet. - Ik Aldama/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

US rapper Cardi B poses for photographs as she presents a creation for Balenciaga during the Women's Spring-Summer 2022 Ready-to-Wear collection fashion show in Paris, as part of the Paris Fashion Week, on October 2, 2021. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) - Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 02: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Elliot Page poses on the runway during the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Theatre Du Chatelet on October 02, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images) - Peter White/Getty Images

Rick Owens' wife, the formidable Michele Lamy opened his show in Paris. - Ik Aldama/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Climate-friendly fashion

British designer Stella McCartney, well known for her early and consistent dedication to sustainable fashion design, made the last-minute decision to stage a show in Paris after holding a series of virtual events during the height of the pandemic. Set within a trippy modernist building designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the show opened with a voiceover by mycelium expert Paul Stamets, who starred in 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi about the healing, regenerative and sustainable properties of mushrooms, declaring that,In fashion, mushrooms are the future. On the runway, the brand presented its latest leather handbag made with Mylo, a trademarked material derived from mushrooms, developed by Bolt Threads. The new collection was made from 63% eco-friendly materials, according to a press release.

Stella McCartney showed her SS22 in an impressive Oscar Niemeyer-designed dome. - Ik Aldama/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 04: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) A model walks the runway during the Stella Mc Cartney Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 04, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images) - Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

At Louis Vuitton, where a series of elaborate headpieces and eyewear stood out amid a rich, heavily layered collection, a protester stormed the runway with a sign reading Overconsumption = Extinction, before being removed by security. Suspicious minds wondered if the brand was in on the stunt, but Louis Vuitton declined to comment on the incident.

A model walks the runway during the Louis Vuitton SS22 show. - Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

A model walks the runway during the Louis Vuitton SS22 show. - Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

A demonstrator is evicted by a security member at the Louis Vuitton show. - Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

Marine Serre, one of Frances most promising young designers, continued to prioritize conscious design with her latest collection, which she presented via a short film. As a starting point for this season, Serre wrote in the show notes that she wanted to imagine what the future could look like if we were to change our habits and think more deeply about the food we eat, the way we move through life and the clothes we wear. According to the brand, the collection was made from 45% recycled and 45% regenerated materials, making this its most sustainable effort yet.

A still from Marine Serre's latest digital film. - Marine Serre

Eve Powell-Jobs, daughter of the late Steve Jobs, walks the runway during the Coperni SS22 show. - Peter White/Getty Images

The return of sexy

In a stark departure from low-key pandemic dress codes, overtly sexy outfits were seen everywhere. Chanel presented a series of 90s inspired black-and-white swimsuits, while Miu Miu offered up low-slung miniskirts reminiscent of the ones worn by Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie at the height of their The Simple Life fame.

Miu Miu SS22. - Shutterstock

Chanel SS22. - Lucas Barioulet/AFP/Getty Images

Lacoste SS22. - Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images

Chloe SS22. - Kristy Sparow/Getty Images

Lacoste, Valentino and Chloe all presented belly-baring looks, and Stella McCartney had fun with cutouts in her breezy collection.

Valentino SS22. - Peter White/Getty Images

Stella McCartney SS22. - Ik Aldama/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Diversity did not prevail

While sexy was back it, seems it was back only for those with tiny, traditionally model-esque frames. Disabled people, older models, and plus-size figures were visibly underrepresented throughout the week in what felt like a step backward for the industry.

Devil in the details

This seasons sense of optimism was reflected in a number of whimsical details spotted throughout the week. At Loewe, a series of delightful heels shaped as nail varnish bottles, birthday candles and cracked eggs were a welcome surprise within a collection the brands creative director Jonathan Anderson described as neurotic, psychedelic, completely hysterical, in the show notes.

A detail from Loewe's SS22 collection. - Peter White/Getty Images

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 01: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) A model, shoe detail, walks the runway during the Loewe Womenswear Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 01, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images) - Peter White/Getty Images

Models walk in the Loewe spring 2022 fashion show in Paris, Oct. 1, 2021. In a fog of mystery, disco and breastplates at Rick Owens, Chloe, Raf Simons and Loewe at Paris Fashion Week. (Valerio Mezzanotti/The New York Times) - Valerio Mezzanotti/The New York Times/Redux

Neon eyeliner cut across the eye like mini lightning bolts at Chloe, while a chic double flick was seen on models in the Dior show. Schiaparelli provided an alternative for rainy summer days with its playful umbrella hat, paired with a striped, long-sleeved bodysuit.

Neon tangerine details at Chloe. - Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Double flicks at Dior. - Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Shiaparelli SS22. - Daniel-Roseberry/Schiaparelli

Farewell to a friend of the fashion industry

After a week of joy-inducing collection unveilings, fashion week closed with an emotional tribute to one of the industrys most beloved designers, Alber Elbaz, who died of Covid-19 in April, only months after launching his new brand, AZ Factory.

The "Love Brings Love" show in honor of Alber Elbaz yy AZ Factory. - Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images

On Tuesday night the fashion industry came together at the grand hall of Le Carreau du Temple to witness a special tribute show. Aptly named Love Brings Love, the event brought together 45 of fashions most noted designers and houses including Valentino and Loewe, who each contributed one look to the show. It was their love letter to Elbaz, whose generosity and spirit touched many. To me, Alber was heart, soulful and generosity, Valentinos creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, told CNN Style.

More from "Love Brings Love." - Laurent Vu/SIPA/Shutterstock

More from "Love Brings Love." - Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

The show opened with Elbazs longtime partner, Alex Koo, addressing the audience. Alber would have been incredibly honoured to be surrounded by his peers, colleagues, collaborators, friends and family, Koo said.

A look from Schiaparelli for "Love Brings Love." - Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images

He touched the hearts of everyone he has met with humour and plenty of generosity. He made us laugh. He made us cry. And he made us dream. His dream was to reunite the best talents of our industry to celebrate love, beauty, and hope. And tonight, his dream becomes a reality.

Top image: The finale at Chloe

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Part of a street in this York County town will be named to honor Dr. Martin Luther King

A decision by the S.C. Legislature will create a new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in York County.

A county subcommittee heard a request Monday to spend $500 in allocated state gas tax money for new memorial signs to go up along Pinckney Street in the city of York. Signs will honor the memory of King at the S.C. 49 and South Congress Street, and U.S. 321 intersections of Pinckney.

State Sen. Mike Fanning introduced a resolution this spring to designate Pinckney Street as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Fanning said Monday afternoon the designation wont officially change the road name. No residents will, for instance, have to alter their addresses.

The road will stay the same name, but the designation of that portion as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will also occur, Fanning said.

Fanning said its fitting, as York is an area with a proud history of celebrating Kings life. Fanning noted the longest-running Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade in the state happens in York. In January, organizers put on the 42nd annual event. The Pinckney Street designation is another way to honor the civil rights leaders work, but shouldnt be as disruptive as an official name change.

This just signifies a portion of a road  again the road name is not changing  will be designated and therell be a marker to that affect, Fanning said.

There is precedent in York County. More than a decade ago, a mile of Constitution Boulevard in Rock Hill became Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Boulevard. That designation in the largely Black Boyd Hill neighborhood happened along what is still called Constitution.

Rock Hill street named for MLK: But change only symbolic

As with that decision in Rock Hill, when the city wasnt involved, the new designation comes from the state and not the City of York. Dalton Pierce, who took over as city manager earlier this year, said Monday the road designation hadnt come up within the city.

The city has not had any involvement with this item, Pierce said.

Also like the Rock Hill decision years ago, the signs in York will go in a part of the city with a higher percentage of Black residents than most nearby areas.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black residents make up a little more than 18% of the overall York County population. The census tract that includes Pinckney Street is west of S.C. 49, Congress Street and U.S. 321, from just south of Sharon Road to just north of Alexander Love Highway. Black residents account for more than 45% of that census tracts population. Another 5% there are listed as two or more races, according to Census figures.

Pinckney is a common road name across South Carolina. According to a South Carolina Department of Transportation search, 25 of 46 counties statewide have at least one road that includes Pinckney. Many have multiple, up to almost a dozen variations in some counties.

Not far from Pinckney Street in York is Old Pinckney Road. Chester County has hundreds of addresses off either Pinckney Road or Pinckney Street. Lancaster County doesnt have a Pinckney.

The most famous Pinckney in state history is founding father, statesman and three-term governor Charles Pinckney. Pinckney also owned a plantation with slaves. In recent years there have been public calls locally and across South Carolina to disassociate some historical names and markers with ties either to slavery or the Confederacy.

One of the louder calls came three years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the death of George Floyd and other incidents sparked nationwide protests related to racial equality. Protesters gathered at Confederate Park in Fort Mill to demand its name be changed, and for road name changes in town. Charlotte set up a Legacy Commission in 2020 that eventually renamed nine streets there, including the change of prominent Stonewall Street uptown to Brooklyn Village Avenue.

The most 2020 protest yet just happened in Fort Mill. But what will the town do?

In South Carolina, decisions on names for roads, parks, monuments and other sites tied to historical figures are left to the state legislature. The Heritage Act requires general assembly approval for name changes, even for public parks or other facilities owned by towns or counties.

The portion of Pinckney Street in York between the two intersections where new MLK signs will go is about three-tenths of a mile. The full length of Pinckney Street is about half a mile. Its largely residential and dead ends on one side. Pinckney also has York One Academy, Parenting Partnerships and the Family Resource Center among York School District property. Theres also Jefferson Field that adds park space.
Child sexual abuse survivors pressed Pennsylvania lawmakers Monday to move ahead with opening a two-year window for them to file otherwise outdated lawsuits over their claims, but a partisan fight in the Legislature kept the proposal bottled up with no resolution in sight.

Amid the stalemate, survivors renewed calls for the Legislature to pass either version of the measure  one that would give voters final say on the window in the form of a constitutional amendment, the other legislation that would also need Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros signature.

Speaking at a rally on the Capitols exterior front steps, Amish, Mennonite and Plain people were among those who recounted abuse they had endured and urged passage of the window.

Here we are again fighting for our rights as victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have been waiting many, many years for the opportunity for justice, to find out the truth, to hold our perpetrators accountable, to hold institutions accountable, said Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat who has championed the legislation for years.

A grand jury report found in 2018 that hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children  and possibly many more  since the 1940s, and senior church officials, systematically covered up the abuse.

Following the report, and as lawmakers pursued legislation, the Pennsylvania diocese set up compensation funds and made payments to victims.

Both chambers have passed their own version of the measure that would temporarily waive the statute of limitations for sex abuse crimes, and the House voted for it with bipartisan support in February.

The Republican majority Senate bundled the measure with two GOP-favored initiatives: expanding voter ID requirements and lowering the threshold to invalidate state regulations pushed through by a governors administration. The three constitutional amendments passed the Senate on a nearly party-line vote in January.

The House took up the Senates version of the bill last month and stripped out the GOP-penned priorities. That bill would now have to be voted on in the Senate in its current form before it could go before voters. The Senate has shown no appetite for paring down its bundle of proposed amendments.

Kate Flessner, a spokeswoman for the Senate Republicans, said her caucus remains open to conversations about how to accomplish all three of the important constitutional amendments initially included in their version of the bill.

It marks another hurdle for effort, which legislators had passed with bipartisan support more than two years ago, but mishandling from the state meant it never went before voters, and legislators had to begin the process again.

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Paul Bernardo committed several violent acts against women in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s

Canada's prison service is reviewing its decision to move a notorious serial killer from a maximum-security prison to a medium-security facility.

Paul Bernardo was sent to the lower security facility last week, igniting outrage across the country.

Bernardo committed a series of sex crimes, rapes and murders in Toronto in the late 1980s and 1990s.

In 1995, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for at least 25 years.

Bernardo, 58, was handed the life sentence for kidnapping, torturing and killing two schoolgirls - Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Kristen French, 15. He was also found guilty of the manslaughter and rape of his sister-in-law, 15-year-old Tammy Homolka.

It is unclear why the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) decided to transfer Bernardo from Millhaven Institution, a maximum-security prison in Ontario, to La Macaza Institution, a medium-security-prison in Quebec.

The federal agency released a statement on Monday acknowledging the crimes as horrific, but failed to outline the reasons for the transfer.

"We are restricted by law in what we can divulge about an offender's case," the statement said.

"We regret any pain and concern this has caused."

The decision was met with intense backlash from many Canadians.

"(Bernardo) should rot in a maximum-security prison for the rest of his miserable existence," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a statement.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told the Globe and Mail that he was "profoundly concerned and shocked by this decision", and said he had expressed that to the federal corrections commissioner.

Bernardo was aided in his crimes by his wife Karla Homolka during the 90s. The media dubbed the duo the "Ken & Barbie killers" because of their looks.

Between 1987-1992, Bernardo raped or sexually assaulted at least 18 women, and killed three others, according to Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General.

The CSC has emphasised that Bernardo remains incarcerated in a secure and controlled institution, and is taking the necessary precautions to protect public security.

"We want Canadians to have confidence in our decisions," the agency said.
The White House Holds Daily Briefing On Coronavirus Pandemic

President Donald Trump speaks while Vice President Mike Pence listens during the daily briefing of the COVID-19 task force at the White House on April 23, 2020. Credit - Drew AngererGetty Images

The 2024 presidential campaign field, which already features the first former U.S. President ever to be criminally indicted, is about to get even more unprecedented. On Monday, Mike Pence filed paperwork to run for President, making him the first former Vice President to run against the President under whom he served in over 80 years, and only the third ever to do so. He will hold his first rally on Wednesday in Iowa, where the first Republican primary caucus will be held early next year.

We havent had anything like this before, says Joel Goldstein, an expert on the history of American Vice Presidents and law professor emeritus at Saint Louis University.

The earliest example of a sitting Vice President challenging a sitting President is arguably the election of 1800, when Thomas Jefferson challenged John Adams. In 1796, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were elected President and Vice President, though they were leaders of opposite parties. But the electoral system was completely different back then; the candidate with the most votes was elected President, and the candidate with the second most votes became Vice President. The 12th Amendment got rid of that system in 1804.

The closer parallel to the Trump-Pence situation is when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran for a third term in 1940, and Vice President John Nance Garner challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Six years into the job, Garnera Texan nicknamed Cactus Jackcame to represent a group of conservative Democrats who had grown disenchanted with FDRs liberal New Deal, which they believed expanded the role of the federal government too much. Nancy Beck Young, professor of History at the University of Houston, who consulted on a PBS documentary about Garner, tells TIME that Garners biggest concerns were that the federal government was supporting auto workers striking against General Motors in Michigan and deficit spending, which he said needed to be reigned in. Garner also opposed FDRs effort to increase the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

John Nance Garner (left) greets President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as he arrived at a Democratic party dinner. George Rinhart/Corbis Getty Images

TIME magazine summed up the tensions in a Mar. 20, 1939, cover story on the intraparty split headlined undeclared war: Party rebellion is no new thing in U.S. historyRebellion by the substantial leaders of a party against their leader-in-chief is rarer. And the rebellion which John Nance Garner now leads is rarer still in that it is, save in small things, almost intangibleless a rebellion than a resistance. It is nonetheless the biggest political struggle now going on in Washington.

At the 1940 Democratic National Convention, FDR received 946 of the delegate votes, while Garner received 61. At the end of the day, Garners challenge to FDR was not substantive, as Young puts it. Since the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939, World War II was ramping up, and FDRs two terms as commander-in-chief made him the clear frontrunner. FDR was re-elected with Henry Wallace as his running mate, and Garner retired from public life.

More from TIME

Pence was the governor of Indiana when Trump asked him to be his running mate in 2016. The public split between the two men happened near the end of Trumps term, amid his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens election victory. Citing false claims of voter fraud, Trump asked Pence not to perform his constitutional duty and certify the 2020 election results on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence insisted he had no legal power to comply Trumps request, and as a riot of Trump supporters broke out at the Capitol, some chanted Hang Mike Pence.

Read more: Why Pence Is Launching His Campaign in Iowa and Christie in New Hampshire

While Trump and Pence are both running to return to the White House, the race between Garner and FDR was different as both were running against each other while still in office. In addition, FDR was running for a third termbefore the 22nd Amendment made that illegal in 1951while Trump is eligible to serve a second term.

Some analysts have called Pences presidential bid a longshot. Goldstein says Vice Presidents who run for President are in a unique position, arguing, most Vice Presidents may have problems running for President. You inherit the baggage of your administration. Youre perceived as being a follower, not a leader. But one of the advantages is that you tend to inherit the support of people in the administration and the supporters of the President.

With reporting by Melissa August
Nine miles northwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, sits America's oldest drive-in movie theater, first opened in 1934.

While it was originally the second drive-in theater to open in America, Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre is now the only one left from the early 1930s. The theater was opened by Wilson Shankweiler, who originally called it Shankweilers Park-In Theatre.

There are around 300 drive-in movie theaters operating in the U.S., with 29 located in Pennslyvania. Since its opening, the theater has changed ownership multiple times and as the theater nears its 90th birthday, two new owners have taken control of the operation.

Lauren McChesney and Matthew McClanahan bought the theater in November 2022 after it was put on the market by previous owners Paul and Susan Geissinger, who had owned the Shankweiler's Drive-In since 1984.

McChesney said the theater, which was on the market for multiple years, was on the path to becoming a gas station. Hearing the news and knowing about the history of Shankweiler's, she said the couple decided it was the perfect time to buy the business.

Where to find drive-in theaters: Catch a flick at 10 of the best drive-ins in the Northeastern United States

In continuous operation since 1934

"It's been in continuous operation since (1934), so there was never a point where it closed and was abandoned or anything like that. It's been running. It's been up kept. It's been popular and well-attended ever since," McChesney said.

Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre was sold in November 2022, but the historic theater continues to draw crowds from across the U.S.

Both McChesney and McClanahan were no strangers to the movie theater industry when they decided to purchase and take over the historic theater. The couple runs a pop-up movie company, The Moving Picture Cinema, which specializes in creating outdoor movie experiences.

McClanahan said they formed the company in 2019, which took off during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was necessary for people to be outside and social distancing.

"We stepped in and helped indoor theaters stay open by doing outdoor programming for indoor theaters that were closed throughout the lockdowns, and then that sort of really grew our company," McClanahan said.

Helping other theaters stay open made the couple want to have a permanent space to keep movies alive. For McClanahan, who grew up in the Lehigh County area and still resides there with McChesney, purchasing Shankweiler's was a full-circle moment.

"I grew up coming to Shankweiler's in the '90s. So I grew up going to this drive-in, so we have a connection to it already and are in close proximity to it," McClanahan said. "It just made sense for us to go for it."

Since the couple bought the theater in November 2022, they have initiated new experiences at the drive-in while keeping its historical feel. Recently, the theater remained open during the winter months, where it screened holiday movies and brought in visitors from across the U.S. as one of the only drive-ins still operating.

Moving forward, McClanahan said the couple wants to continue to help the movie theater industry grow while exploring how to keep drive-in theaters classic, yet modern enough for the 21st century. For McChesney, she said she wants the drive-in movie theater industry to still be accessible for people.

"We know that there is a deep love of drive-ins across the country of people who grew up with it or people who went when they were kids," McChesney said. "We want to be able to provide that experience for people and that outlet for people and kind of revive that love for it."

National Drive-In Movie Day, on Tuesday, commemorates the opening of America's first drive-in theater. As Shankweiler's new owners gear up to celebrate their first June 6 at the helm, one of their favorite parts of the job is being able to continue the legacy that Shankweiler's has created.

"We're so honored to be part of that. I love it so much. I love that we get to be part of this," McChesney said.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: America's oldest drive-in is Shakweiler's near Allentown, PA
People who secured Rep. George Santos $500,000 bond must be identified, judge says

NEW YORK  A Long Island judge has ordered that the people who helped secure George Santos $500,000 bond be publicly identified.

Federal Court Magistrate Judge Anne Shields in an order Tuesday afternoon sided with several media outlets requesting the names of Santos suretors be unsealed.

Shields order describing her reasons is itself sealed, since shes giving Santos until Friday to appeal her decision. Such an appeal would likely go to District Judge Joanna Seybert, whos assigned to oversee Santos case.

Santos lawyer, Joe Murray, wrote Monday that his client would rather go to jail than subject his suretors to the public spotlight, and asked they get advance notice before their names are outed so they could back out of securing the bond.

Murray could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Santos pleaded not guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress.

Hes accused of collecting COVID-related unemployment funds while working as an investment firm director, running a bogus PAC and using campaign donor money to buy designer clothes and pay his personal debts, and a string of lies to Congress about his assets and income.

Santos notoriously campaigned in 2022 on lies about his education, religion, family history, professional experience and property ownership. bit.
Alex Cochran, Deseret News

The primary field for the Republican presidential nomination is rapidly growing, with three new candidates set to announce their intentions this week.

GOP primary voters have a choice to make: stick with the strategy that lost the 2020 election or embrace the new generation of Republican candidates. This is especially true on one key issue: climate.

We all know where Donald Trump stands on climate; he has called climate change a hoax and pulled out of the Paris Agreement. But what you may not know is the other candidates vying for the nomination have championed some real pro-climate policies. Despite the confusion and shock from folks when I express this sentiment on Twitter, its true: climate action can be conservative.

For starters, look at former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Its clear that environmental protection is important to all three if you look beyond the headlines.

DeSantis has made historic investments in the iconic Florida Everglades and even vetoed a measure from the state legislature that would have kneecapped the solar industry in the state. Scott co-sponsored legislation that incentivized American farmers to use climate-smart agricultural practices and has worked to promote clean energy. Haley has taken a pro-innovation approach to climate issues, promising to unleash American ingenuity, such as carbon-capture technology, to address the challenge.

And former Vice President Mike Pence, who on Monday filed paperwork to run, has openly said that human activity affects our natural environment and has encouraged activity that would decrease emissions while securing our energy future.

Even Republicans on the bench have strong legs to stand on when it comes to climate. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who announced Monday that he would not run for president in 2024, has been incredibly pro-clean energy, creating an economic environment in his state that has encouraged competition and low energy prices.

The point here is that the GOP is no longer the party of climate denial. It hasnt been for several years. Just because the Republicans approach looks different than the progressive solutions weve gotten used to hearing doesnt mean that the GOP doesnt have ideas. A pro-innovation, common-sense approach to the climate challenges we face is the true way forward, not a path paved by pretty promises and unrealistic goals.

Related

And as Ive written before, polls show that a majority of Republicans want action on climate, and younger Republicans  especially those between the ages of 18 and 39  are especially concerned about climate change and solutions. If the GOP wants to grow its base of young voters, it is imperative that its candidates have strong records on the environment, and not be afraid to tout them.

The reason the GOP has progressed from climate denial and skepticism to real environmental leadership is largely because of grassroots activists who have pushed the movement forward. Young conservatives, in particular, have been instrumental in this push and have demonstrated that there is significant momentum behind uniquely conservative environmental solutions.

As a young, conservative climate activist, I have a lot of hope for the future of the conservative movement and climate action. Next year, conservatives have a huge choice: to move forward or to look backward. All Americans want clean air, clean water and a safe environment to call home. Conservatives can be the ones to truly champion that message if they prioritize the issue on the campaign trail.

There has been a lot of discourse about conservatives and climate over the past few years, and 2024 is the time to prove that conservation and climate action are conservative values. The candidates already in the field, and those still considering a run, must prioritize being positive climate spokespeople  meeting both Republican primary voters and young people on the issue. Thats the path forward for the conservative climate movement.

Benji Backer is the president and founder of American Conservation Coalition Action. Follow him on Twitter @BenjiBacker.
Photos show the flooded destruction the Kakhovka dam break is causing for tens of thousands of people in Ukraine

This image made from video provided by Ukraine's Presidential Office shows the damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukraine's Presidential Office via AP

The Kakhovka dam was destroyed Tuesday, releasing water from a reservoir into the Dnipro River.

Photos show the destruction the floods are causing an estimated 38,000 people in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of blowing it up. Russia controls the area around the dam.

The Kakhovka dam is located in southern Ukraine, east and upstream of Kherson.

An infographic titled Major Kakhovka dam blown up in Kherson, flood risk in region'' created in Ankara, Turkiye on June 6, 2023. Evacuations begin due to flood risks after Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in southern Ukraine is breached. Yasin Demirci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The dam was destroyed on Tuesday, and water from the Kakhovka Reservoir it was containing began pouring into the Dnipro River.

This image made from video provided by Ukraine's Presidential Office shows the damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider  Video shows floods pouring into southern Ukraine's war zone after a major dam was destroyed, sparking a new flashpoint in the war

The floodwaters rushed over buildings.

This image made from video provided by Ukraine's Presidential Office shows the damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

The water engulfed houses.

This image made from video provided by Ukraine's Presidential Office shows the damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider

Ukraine and Russia both accused each other of destroying the dam and causing the flooding.

In this image taken from video released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office, water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider

But Russian forces control the area around the dam. Ukraine's president accused Russia of mining the dam in October.

This image made from video provided by Ukraine's Presidential Office shows the damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukraine's Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider  Mines are being swept away in the floodwaters and exploding after a key dam in Ukraine was destroyed

An estimated 22,000 people live in Russian-controlled areas that could be affected by the flooding, and about 16,000 live in areas Ukraine controls.

In this image taken from video released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office, water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: AP

The Kakhovka Reservoir holds about 4 trillion gallons of water.

In this image taken from video released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office, water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider

The reservoir serves as a cooling source for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and could pose a problem if it drains too much, though that risk is low.

In this image taken from video released by the Ukrainian Presidential Office, water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Source: Insider

Stephen Hall, a politics lecturer at the University of Bath, told Insider's Sophia Ankel the "humanitarian disaster" could affect people in the area for weeks to come.

An explosion at the Kakhovka dam has sent a wall of water downstream, flooding Ukrainian towns. Reuters

Source: Insider  Video from Ukraine shows an entire house washed away in floods after a crucial dam was destroyed

"It will take a while for the Dnipro to go back into its channel," Hall told Insider. "People will be flooded out, homes will be ruined."

Water runs through a gap in the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Kherson region on June 6, 2023 Zelenskyy Social Media Account / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Source: Insider

Hall also warned of the potential for waterborne diseases the floodwaters could spread.

Drone footage shows water gushing from the reservoir after the dam was breached. Screenshot/Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa

Source: Insider

Residents downstream from the dam were already wading through floodwaters on Tuesday.

A local resident gestures near his house, which was flooded after the Russian troops blew the Kakhovka dam overnight, in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP Photo/Nina Lyashonok

Many were forced to evacuate, bringing the belongings they could quickly pack and take with them.

People wait for an evacuation train at a railway station in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP Photo/Nina Lyashonok

It wasn't just humans who had to evacuate  this man led a cow down a flooded street in Kherson.

A man evacuates a cow, leading it through flooded a street on June 6, 2023, in Kherson, Ukraine, after the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was destroyed. Valentyna Gurova/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

And this man brought a dog with him to the train station.

People wait for an evacuation train at a railway station in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP Photo/Nina Lyashonok

Both Ukraine and Russia sent trains and buses to evacuate residents, and no injuries or deaths were reported.

People board an evacuation train at a railway station in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP Photo/Nina Lyashonok

Source: AP

Before the dam break, the waters had risen so high in the reservoir that they appeared to be spilling over the side, an AP analysis found, with heavy snowmelt and spring rains contributing.

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows an overview of the damage on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Planet Labs PBC via AP

Source: AP

Before the break, you can see a curved chunk of the dam still intact in this satellite image taken on May 28.

03_closer view of nova khakovka dam_ukraine_28may2023_wv2 Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologie

You can see the break in the dam in this satellite image.

The Nova Kakhovka Dam in Kherson on June 5. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

This satellite image shows the scale of the destruction from the floodwaters.

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows an overview of the damage on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Planet Labs PBC via AP

The floods also have the potential to destroy crops. Wheat prices jumped 3% after the dam break.

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows an overview of the damage on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Planet Labs PBC via AP

Source: AP

For people on the ground, it's another day of man-made devastation in the 16th month of war.

A local resident walks along the street, which was flooded after the Russian troops blew the Kakhovka dam overnight, in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP Photo/Nina Lyashonok

Read the original article on Business Insider
Photos show what life is like in the world's most isolated settlement, which sits at the foot of an active volcano in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean

The most remote settlement in the world is on a volcanic island in the middle of the South Atlantic. maloff/Shutterstock

The Edinburgh of the Seven Seas settlement is considered the most remote settlement in the world.

The settlement, which is on the island of Tristan da Cunha, is home to around 230 people.

It can only be reached after a nearly week-long boat trip departing from Cape Town, South Africa.

Sitting on the island of Tristan da Cunha, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, one of the British Overseas Territories, calls itself "the world's most isolated settlement."

Tristan da Cunha is actually an active volcanic island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The last time it erupted was in 1961, which forced islanders to evacuate to England.

The island is only accessible by boat  many of which depart from the nearest city of Cape Town, South Africa  and the journey to Tristan de Cunha takes nearly one week to complete.

Fewer than 300 islanders and visitors live there, but the remoteness grants the lucky few plenty of tranquility and safety.

The economy relies on the export of crawfish, known as Tristan rock lobster, but tourism also makes up a small part. However, there are no hotels on the island, so the government has created a homestay program for visitors.

Here is what life is like in the most remote settlement in the world.

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is known as the most remote settlement in the world.

All residents prefer to just call it "the Settlement." maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Smithsonian, Insider, Tristan da Cunha

It lies at the edge of an island, Tristan da Cunha, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Tristan de Cunha is actually an active volcanic island. Google Maps

Source: Tristan da Cunha, Insider

The island of Tristan da Cunha is more than 1,700 miles (nearly 2,800 kilometers) off the coast of Cape Town.

The volcanic island sits 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha, Insider

The island is one of Britain's 14 overseas territories.

A ship leaves Portsmouth Harbour in England to patrol the waters around Britain's territories in the South Atlantic. Chris Ison/PA Images/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: Britain's Treasure Islands, BBC

The settlement was named after the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria's second son, after he visited in 1867.

The Duke of Edinburgh. Print Collector/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: Traveler's Point, Tristan da Cunha

There are fewer than 300 islanders and visitors who currently live there, including descendants from original settlers to stationed researchers.

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Reuters

Source: Traveler's Point

Being the remotest settled island in the world is Tristan's claim to fame.

A sign in Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha, the world's remotest settlement. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The island is so remote that the government actually recommends visitors start to plan their trips a year in advance.

Visiting the island is not easy. Geoff Renner/robertharding/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Before even booking a flight, prospective visitors need to get their trip approved by the Tristan government. They need to email the Secretary to the Administrator, providing reasons for their visit.

British Governor residency in Edinburgh, Tristan da Cunha. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The island is only accessible by boat across the South Atlantic Ocean  most trips leave from Cape Town, South Africa.

Arriving to the island after a nearly week-long journey must feel incredible. Mark Hannaford/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The trip from Cape Town's port takes approximately six days, and the ships leave on an inconsistent schedule  sometimes they set sail multiple times per month and sometimes they skip a month entirely. The government suggests padding travel time in Cape Town with an additional two days.

The inconsistent shipping schedule is a big reason for needing to plan your trip way in advance. GuilhermeMesquita/Shutterstock

Source: Tristan da Cunha, Tristan da Cunha

Voyages are also listed on the South African National Antarctic Programme's schedule. The route isn't simple though and makes six stops in total.

A cargo ship arriving at Tristan da Cunha. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: South African National Antarctic Programme

The settlement is known for its high levels of hospitality and will welcome all visitors after the long journey.

The settlement does not have hotels, and most visitors stay with local residents. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Tristan da Cunha

One islander said that it's one giant family-like community: If someone kills a large animal for eating, they share it. If someone's home is destroyed, someone else will host them or help them repair it.

Mailbox on Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

The islander also said, "It's safe" in terms of criminal activity. Children can run around without supervision, and people don't lock their doors.

The community is safe, residents say. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

Another native islander was asked about what it was like to grow up on Tristan. He joked: "Pretty good, as long as you can find something to do."

Boats on Edinburgh of the Seas, Tristan da Cunha. maloff/Shutterstock

Source: Where's Andrew

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is a rural settlement, which sustains itself by growing mainly potatoes on patches of land about a mile away from the town.

Vegetable patches, Tristan da Cunha. Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

The farming part of life in Tristan allows islanders to grow their own food without having to import.

Potato patches, Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

There's one road that leads to the patches ...

The main road to the agricultural area in Edinburgh of the Seas. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

... and anyone can take the bus to get there.

The bus on Edinburgh of the Seas. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

Every family living on the island has a few fields to grow potatoes and other crops. They harvest inside "walled patches" made from volcanic rock, and use hand tools rather than harvesting machinery.

Fields on Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Each family can own livestock, but the numbers are controlled by the government to prevent overgrazing of the limited land. Currently, each household is allowed to own one cow.

Sheep on Tristan da Cunha, near Edinburgh of the Seas. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

More than 40% of the island's territory is declared a nature reserve. Animal life includes rare bird breeds and Northern Rockhopper penguins.

Rock-hopper penguin near 'Edinburgh of the Seven Seas' port, Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Britain's Treasure Islands

There are three different species of albatross native to the island, but the albatross are threatened by mice every year.

Pictured above is the yellow-nosed albatross. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Island Conservation, Tristan da Cunha

The same boats that brought people to the island brought mice and rats as well. In killing the chicks of native birds, the rodents could be eradicating a number of species.

Tristan islanders call the penguins "pinnamins." Auscape/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: RSPB, Tristan da Cunha

In fact, it's such a problem that the islanders have an entire holiday dedicated to ridding the island of the vermin  Ratting Day.

Teams of men compete on Ratting Day to remove the troublesome rats. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

On this holiday, men team up and compete to see who can catch the most, and the biggest, rats and mice  it was an idea thought up before mice repellent existed on the island.

On Ratting Day in 2019, a gong sounded at 7:00 am to alert the settlement that the day had begun. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Judges count the rats and measure the tails to decide which team wins. Teams then receive prizes and have a dance-filled celebration of the day.

The Medical, Veterinary, and Agricultural Officers act as judges. Courtesy of Tristan da Cunha Photo Portfolio

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The residents also celebrate traditional Catholic holidays, including Easter.

Residents at Saint Mary's Anglican Church on Easter Sunday. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The church was built in 1923 and was the first on the island.

The island has four churches in total. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Before the church was created, islanders held services in people's homes.

The church is a great way for islanders to come together in one communal space. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Islanders say they feel a sense of community while dealing with death just as much as they do while living and celebrating life.

If there is a death during the week, usually the workday will be cut short. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

"Whether family or not, a passing touches the hearts of the whole community, and this is when you see islanders not only as a community but as a family," wrote one islander, Dawn Repetto, on the community's website.

Ladies on the island usually collect flowers and make wreaths. Kent Kobersteen/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Roughly 70 families call Edinburgh of the Seven Seas home. Of the 232 people currently living on the island, 25 are not part of the permanent group of residents. And of the permanent islanders, there are only nine different last names.

Animals graze on communal pastures. Mark Hannaford/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha, Tristan da Cunha

Scientists visit the island to gather information on the rare plant and animal species living on the island among the volcanic rock.

There are plenty of rare botanic species for scientists to study. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Smithsonian

The settlement also has all the basics you would expect from any small town, such as a supermarket, a bar, an internet cafe, and bus stops.

A small bus stop to wait in. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Redfern Natural History Productions

There's also a school, St. Mary's, for students aged between 3 and 16. It has five classrooms, a library, a hall with stage, a computer room, and a science room.

The school in Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

The local economy depends largely on the harvest of rock lobster  which they sell internationally  and fish.

Lobster boats docked along the coast of the island. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

They also sell postage stamps to collectors abroad and make a limited amount through tourism.

Collectors worldwide are interested in buying stamps. RFStock/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

While some cruise ships have added the port to their route from Africa to Latin America so tourists can have a peek into this style of remote life, it's generally not somewhere people just pass through.

Tourists get a chance to see unusual and rare birds. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Smithsonian, Lonely Planet

But for the tourists that do make it to the island, there are a few options when it comes to tourist accommodations.

A view of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Some islanders open up their homes to visitors on a homestay basis. They collect 75% of the guest fees while the other 25% goes to the government.

Homestays are a great option to immerse yourself in the island culture. Peter Schaefer/EyeEm/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

There's a museum called "Traditional Thatched House Museum" that's available as a guesthouse for one night for two people. The price includes tea, coffee, milk, sugar, candles, sleeping bags, and a "traditional Tristan cooked meal" for lunch.

Shepherds' huts on Tristan da Cunha island. The museum is not pictured. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Tourists can climb the active volcano on their visit. This peaceful, quiet settlement was almost destroyed in 1961 when the volcano erupted and sent lava spewing down the mountains.

Tristan da Cunha. David Forman/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

You can see here how close the lava got to the settlement. It stopped before it reached the buildings.

Tristan da Cunha. Peter Schaefer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Islanders were forced to evacuate. Most went to England, where they got a taste of modern life.

When the islanders evacuated, the UK government assumed it was permanent. Terence Spencer/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

By November of 1963, all the islanders who chose to reject the swinging sixties in the UK had returned back to their settlement to carry on their legacy.

A boat filled with islanders returning home to Tristan da Cunha in 1963. Carl Mydans/Contributor/Getty Images

Source: Tristan da Cunha

Read the original article on Insider
Who will be crowned king of New England's best-known pirates? Vote in the final round.

Editor's note: In honor of the Cape Cod Pirate Festival continuing at the Yarmouth Fairgrounds this weekend, we decided to drum up some swashbuckling competition between the Cape Cod pirates of yore. Starting Tuesday, we asked readers to vote for their favorite pirate in our first-ever Cape Cod Times Pirate Bracket. You'll find polls throughout this article. Each day the winning pirates will move on to the next round, while the losers will be sent to the brig. Keep checking back each day for your chance to vote. The winner will be announced Friday.

Pirates aren't the first characters who come to mind when thinking about New England. But historically, it turns out quite a few pirates made calls here, and some even called it home  including Cape Cod.

According to the New England Pirate Museum, Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy, his one-time shipmate Blackbeard, and Captain Kidd were among some of the most well-known pirates who "roamed freely offshore plundering merchant ships."

"Like many of today's New Englanders, pirates spent their winters in the tropics and their summers here," the museum notes on its website, pointing out, too, that most 17th and 18th-century pirates were, in fact, New Englanders and New Yorkers who decided a pirate's life was for them.

"Pirates were welcomed visitors before the Revolution in areas such as Block Island, Rhode Island; Cape Cod and especially New York," said Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos of South Yarmouth, an historian, journalist and author whose book "The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd" delves into the region's pirate history.

"In 1695, the governor of New York, Benjamin Fletcher, encouraged pirates to come to Manhattan because they brought much needed currency  gold and silver coins called 'specie'  and exotic goods from far away places," she said.

Fletchers economic program, though, "was not viewed favorably by the British authorities," Geanacopoulos said, so he was replaced by "a law-and-order governor, Richard Coote, known as Lord Bellomont, who was tasked by the British authorities to stamp out piracy in the colonies."

Dennis resident Christopher Schultz, founder of the Cape Cod Pirate Festival who's also researched piracy, said there was an attraction to the freedom a pirate's life offered, and even today many people are drawn by pirate lore and the "romantic side" of pirate culture.

"I think it has a lot to do with the idea of the freedom and the sense of independence that comes with it," he said.

Here are a few of the historical pirates who were known here in New England.

Screenshot of an excerpt from a column that appeared in the Sept. 21-24, 1717 London Gazette's issue 5575 reports on activities of Samuel Bellamy and his crew off Cape Cod.

Samuel Bellamy

Aliases: Black Sam Bellamy, Black Bellamy, Robin Hood of the Sea, Prince of Pirates

DOB: c. Feb. 23, 1689

Place of birth: Devon, England

Death: April 26, 1717

Cause of death: Drowning in a shipwreck off Cape Cod

Flagship: Whydah Gally

Known for: Gallantry, fairness, being well dressed and groomed

N umber of ships taken or plundered: At least 54

Modern worth of his loot: About $120 million

He wore his long, black hair neatly tied back with a black satin ribbon, and often selected an elegant black coat. For this reason, Samuel Bellamy was known as "Black Sam Bellamy," and he had a particular connection to Cape Cod.

Along with Paulsgrave Williams, a middle-aged man he befriended, Bellamy was one of the most famous pirates to ply the New England coast and Cape Cod, said Geanacopoulos. His flagship, the Whydah, wrecked off the coast of Wellfleet during a heavy storm in 1717, and Bellamy drowned.

A 1717 map showing the location where the Whydah Gally sank off Wellfleet.

According to the NE Historical Society, he came to Cape Cod only about three years earlier, possibly to connect with relatives in Eastham. Cape lore says he fell in love with 15-year-old Mehitabel Hallett or Maria, and was eager to prove himself. After hearing about the Spanish treasure fleet's sinking in a hurricane off Florida in 1715, Bellamy headed south in hopes of salvaging some of the Spanish riches for himself. He was joined by Williams.

Unsuccessful in their quest, the duo instead joined privateer-turned-pirate Captain Benjamin Hornigold's crew in the West Indies. In 1716, Bellamy became a pirate captain when Hornigold gave him a captured ship.

From 1716-1717, Bellamy and his crew plundered at least 54 ships along the east coast and in the Caribbean. His last and greatest prize was the Whydah, a slave and trade ship carrying gold, rum, sugar, ivory and indigo back to Europe. Bellamy made the Whydah his flagship and turned toward Cape Cod, while Williams headed for Rhode Island to visit his family.

Schultz said Bellamy was notable for genteel manners, a democratic leadership style, and uniting a diverse crew.

"Bellamy was considered the prince of pirates," he said. "As long as you didn't put up any resistance, he'd just take your stuff and let you go."

The remains of the Whydah were found in 1984 by Barry Clifford of Brewster, Geanacopoulos said, "and over 200,000 artifacts have been recovered from the shipwreck" that spilled an estimated four tons of gold and silver. The artifacts are on display at the Whydah Pirate Museum on Route 28 in West Yarmouth.

Many pirates flew flags displaying skeletons or skulls and crossbones, like this one. The standard was called a 'Jolly Roger.'

Paulsgrave Williams

Aliases: None

DOB: c. 1675

Place of birth: Newport, Rhode Island

Death: Unknown

Cause of death: Unknown

Flagship: Marianne

Known for: Sailing with Black Sam Bellamy

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least 54 ships (with Black Sam Bellamy)

Modern worth of his loot: About $120 million (shared with Black Sam Bellamy)

Paulsgrave Williams was best known for his association with Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy, with whom he set out in 1715 in hopes of collecting salvage from the Spanish treasure fleet that sank in a hurricane off Florida. According to Geanacopoulos, he was a jeweler from Newport, Rhode Island with a wife and three children when he met Bellamy in Boston.

Unable to find any of the Spanish treasure, they turned to piracy in the Caribbean, eventually joining Captain Benjamin Hornigold. After Hornigold gave Bellamy command of one of their captured ships, Bellamy made Williams his quartermaster. Eventually, Hornigold was ousted and replaced by Bellamy, who gave Paulsgrave his own ship, the Marianne.

After taking the slave ship Whydah in 1717, the two headed back to New England. Paulsgrave sailed to Rhode Island, agreeing to meet up with Bellamy in Maine when he was done visiting his family.

After learning about the Whydah's loss in a storm off Cape Cod, and Bellamy's drowning, Paulsgrave sailed to the Bahamas, where he sold his ship and took a pardon King George was offering to pirates agreeing to surrender by September 1718.

Paulsgrave briefly returned to pirating off Africa with former comrades in 1720, but retired for good in 1723, when he remarried and began a new family.

Welcome to the brig. Here are the bracket results and historical pirates that will not be moving on to the next round.

Captain Edward Low in a hurricane, an illustration from Charles Johnson's 1720s 'A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates.'

Edward Low

Aliases: Ned Low

DOB: 1690

Place of birth: London, England

Death: Unknown

Cause of death: Unknown

Flagship: Various

Known for: Extreme cruelty

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least 100

Modern worth of his loot: $1.8 million

Ned Low, who settled in Boston in his 20s, was known for common thievery in his early life, according to World History Encyclopedia. Things looked briefly promising for him after he fell in love with and married Eliza Marble in Boston in 1714. The couple soon welcomed a son but lost him in infancy. Then Low lost his wife to childbirth in 1719. Their daughter survived, but Low was not interested and went to sea as a ship's rigger.

In 1722, Low and others attempted a mutiny and were put off their ship. A life of piracy ensued, as the men took a sloop off Rhode Island and proceeded to capture and plunder ships all along the coast. Low proved himself an exceptionally cruel pirate.

"Ned Low was horrible. He was what you think of when you think of a truly terrible pirate," said Schultz. "He was merciless. He cared nothing about hurting people because it gave him amusement."

During their reign of terror, Low and the others often traded smaller ships for larger ones. Low headed to the Caribbean and eventually the Azores. Emboldened by his successes, Low returned to the East Coast and attempted to take a British naval vessel off Long Island. The attempt was unsuccessful, but Low was not captured. He and his men embarked on a series of raids on whaling and fishing vessels off Nantucket and Rhode Island. Eventually they headed back to the Caribbean. Low increasingly turned his abuses on his crew and it is thought his men finally mutinied and marooned him on a deserted island sometime in 1724.

It is not known what became of Low, but there is at least one story about a French ship finding him and delivering him to his execution in Martinique.

William Kidd

Captain William Kidd, as portrayed in an 18th century portrait by James Thornhill.

Aliases: Captain Kidd

DOB: c. 1645

Place of birth: Dundee, Scotland

Death: May 23, 1701

Cause of death: Hanging in London

Flagship: Blessed William

Known for: Fighting alongside his men, getting hanged twice

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least six

Modern worth of his loot: About $12.5 million

William Kidd, who was living in New York, started out as a privateer in 1689, sailing the East Coast and Caribbean. In 1691, he met and married a wealthy young widow, Sarah Bradley Cox Oort, in New York, with whom he had two daughters. He engaged in some legitimate dealings as a respected merchant and rubbed elbows with the social elite.

According to history.org, Kidd was commissioned in 1695 by Richard Coote, the Earl of Bellomont and newly appointed governor of Massachusetts Bay, New Hamsphire and New York, to hunt pirates and French ships in the Indian Ocean. At first, his efforts were unsuccessful, and by 1697 he began behaving more like a pirate, attacking Dutch and Portuguese vessels, too.

In 1698, he took the Quedah Merchant off the coast of India, a vessel that, with the end of the Nine Years' War, was no longer considered fair game under Kidd's privateering commission. The ship was richly laden with goods valued at about $2.5 million in today's money. Kidd was now officially viewed as a pirate.

Hoping to clear his name, he went to see his one-time supporter, Coote, in Boston in 1699. Kidd was arrested, charged with piracy, and imprisoned in Boston. A year later he was sent to England to stand trial and was found guilty. Kidd endured two hangings, the first one failing to kill him after the noose broke.

Before his arrest in Boston, it is said that Kidd took the time to bury his treasures.

"They believe some of his treasure was buried on one of the islands they leveled and then filled for Logan Airport," said Schultz, adding he's also heard some of the treasure may also have been buried on Cape Cod, among other locations.

Edward Teach

Captain Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, as portrayed in an illustration from Charles Johnson's 1720s 'A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates.'

Aliases: Blackbeard

DOB: c. 1680

Place of birth: Uncertain, possibly Bristol, England

Death: Nov. 22, 1718

Cause of death: Multiple flintlock and cutlass wounds

Flagship: Queen Anne's Revenge

Known for: Fearsome appearance and manners, pillaging and burning ships, formidable fighter

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least 30

Modern worth of his loot: $12.5 million

Like Black Sam Bellamy, Edward Teach was a protege of Captain Benjamin Hornigold, who taught them both "the ropes of pirating," said Schultz.

"Blackbeard was on Hornigold's ship with Bellamy," he said. "There couldn't be two more different pirates, ever."

While Bellamy cultivated a charming persona, Teach styled himself as someone to be dreaded. He was so successful with promoting this image and building a merciless reputation that fear of him alone was enough to get him what he wanted.

According to a description in Captain Charles Johnson's 1720s A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates, Teach wore a thick black beard that grew up around his eyes and fell to his waist. Often his beard was braided and was tied with colorful ribbons, and he was said to put slow-burning fuses into it during engagements so that he appeared to be spewing smoke, conveying "such a figure that imagination cannot form an idea of a fury from hell to look more frightful."

Teach was killed during a battle with a British naval force at Ocracoke Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Rachel (Schmidt) Wall

Rachel Wall portrayed in a woodcut portrait that appeared in 'Buccaneers and Pirates of our coasts' in 1919.

Alias: None

DOB: c. 1760

Place of birth: Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Death: Oct. 8, 1789

Cause of death: Hanging on Boston Common

Flagship: Essex

Known for: Playing the damsel in distress to lure victims, stealing from docked ships at night

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least 12

Modern worth of her loot: About $12,000

When she was 16, Rachel left home and headed to Philadelphia, where she fell in love with and married a fisherman and former privateer, George Wall. They eventually settled in Boston.

According to the New England Historical Society, Wall started out working as a maid while her husband went on fishing expeditions. After a long absence, he returned in 1781 and persuaded Rachel to join him and some others in robbing vessels in the Gulf of Maine.

Their tactic was to set their schooner adrift after storms and have Rachel on deck acting the damsel in distress, calling for help from passing vessels. When help came, the rest of the pirate crew would overtake and kill their victims, steal their goods and scuttle their vessels to make it appear they'd been lost in the storm.

After George Wall drowned in a storm in 1782, Rachel began stealing from ships anchored at Long Wharf in Boston Harbor, slipping aboard while the crew slept.

Her thievery ended in 1789 after she was accused of mugging a 17-year-old girl for her shoes, buckles and bonnet. For that she was tried for and convicted of highway robbery, and sentenced to hang. In her last words and dying confession, she admitted to acts of piracy and other crimes "too numerous to mention," but stressed she never murdered anyone and insisted, "as to the crime of Robbery, for which I am in a few hours to suffer an ignominious death. I am entirely innocent to the truth of this declaration."

She was the last woman to be executed by hanging in Massachusetts.

Thomas Pound

Captain Thomas Pound as he was portrayed in a 1936 promotional trading card series. The cards were created by Pac-Kups Inc. for the Dixie Cup Company.

Aliases: None

DOB: Unknown

Place of birth: Probably England

Death: 1703

Cause of death: Unknown

Flagship: None

Known for: Deserting the Royal Navy to become a pirate, then later returning to the Navy with his own command

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least four

Modern worth of his loot: Unknown

Thomas Pound started out an officer in the Royal Navy stationed in Boston. In 1689, he joined other men in taking over a ship owned by Thomas Hawkins. For two months he and the others  including Hawkins  proceeded to attack vessels around New England, including off Cape Cod. They were captured in November off Naushon Island and later stood trial for piracy in Boston.

Pound and several others were sentenced to be hanged, but he and Hawkins had their sentences delayed when they were sent to England for their executions. On the way, the ship they were on was attacked by a French privateer. Pound was allowed to assist in the battle, and in the process earned a pardon, reinstatement of his naval rank, and eventually his own command. Hawkins was killed in the battle.

John Quelch

Aliases: Jack

DOB: 1666

Place of birth: London, England

Death: June 30, 1704

Cause of death: Hanging

Flagship: Charles

Known for: Going after Portuguese ships, which were friendly to England

Number of ships taken or plundered: At least nine

Modern worth of his loot: Unknown

John Quelch, also known as Jack, started out as a privateer but turned pirate after he joined in a mutiny with the crew of his ship, the Charles, and ousted their captain. Quelch was named the new captain and headed from his home base in Marblehead toward the Caribbean and South America, where he and his men attacked a number of Portuguese ships, according to the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Since Portugal was friendly with England, these actions were viewed as piracy, whereas Quelch was free to attack Spanish and French ships.

During their year of attacks, the pirates purloined many precious goods, from gold to sugar. In 1704, they returned to Massachusetts, and Quelch attempted to disguise his treasure as salvage from a Spanish shipwreck, but when Portuguese goods were found, his employers had him arrested. He and his crew were put on trial for piracy in Boston. Seven of the 20 were found guilty and were hanged.

Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world, in addition to news and features in Barnstable, Brewster and Falmouth Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on Twitter @HMcCarron_CCT

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said the winner of the bracket would be announced Saturday. The winner will be announced Friday instead.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod, New England pirates: Kidd, Black Sam Bellamy, Rachel Wall
'Pit Bull Ex-Prosecutor Predicts Exactly When And Where Donald Trump Will Be Charged

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann  once dubbed a legal pit bull for his tough tactics  predicted Donald Trump will be charged this week for mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

A zillion stories about Trump case  but bottom line is he is getting charged and it will be in DC. And this week, Weissmann tweeted on Monday.

He added: Open issues are whether others may be charged and whether they will be in DC or FLA.

A zillion stories about Trump case  but bottom line is he is getting charged and it will be in DC. And this week.

Open issues are whether others may be charged and whether they will be in DC or FLA.  Andrew Weissmann  (@AWeissmann_) June 5, 2023

Weissmann expanded on his prediction on Mondays broadcast of MSNBCs Deadline: White House.

Trump could actually be charged in Florida and not in Washington, Weissmann acknowledged to host Nicolle Wallace.

I dont think thatll be the case, he said. But I do think, the one thing I am pretty confident of, is that we are going to see charges with respect to the classified documents case. And it seems by all accounts its going to be this week, because I think that the DOJ will feel that internal pressure to move this along.

Watch the video here:

"The open issue is where the charges will be brought and who if anyone may be charged alongside Donald Trump...The one thing I am pretty confident of is that we are going to see charges... this week" - @AWeissmann_ w/ @NicolleDWallacepic.twitter.com/EjleBLJ2TI  Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) June 5, 2023

Trump himself on Monday suggested he was close to being charged, ranting on his Truth Social platform: How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong, when no other presidents were charged.

The investigation is one of a number of legal troubles plaguing the former president. He will face trial next year in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case. Criminal investigations into his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia and his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection are also ongoing.

Related...
A sign is pictured at the entrance to a Planned Parenthood building in New York

By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - Planned Parenthood on Tuesday sued to block a new Kansas law requiring healthcare providers to tell patients that medication abortion can be reversed, a potentially dangerous claim not supported by evidence.

The lawsuit in the District Court of Johnson County, filed against state and local authorities on behalf of a group of doctors, also challenges older mandates requiring providers to warn patients that abortion is linked to breast cancer, and to wait at last 30 minutes after meeting with a patient to perform an abortion.

Reviews of evidence by the U.S. National Cancer Institute have concluded that there is no link between abortion and breast cancer.

The office of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kansas Republican lawmakers passed the medication abortion reversal bill in April, amending a longstanding law that already required a raft of mandatory patient counseling and a waiting period before abortions. The legislature later overrode a veto by the state's Democratic governor, Laura Kelly.

Medication abortion involves taking the drug mifepristone followed by misoprostol. The Kansas law requires doctors to state that the effect of mifepristone, before misoprostol, can be reversed with a high dose of the hormone progesterone.

The only clinical trial of the process was halted early after three of 12 patients experienced severe bleeding requiring them to go to the hospital.

Planned Parenthood said in Tuesday's lawsuit that requiring doctors to suggest "experimental and potentially dangerous treatments violates medical ethics and subjects plaintiffs to potential disciplinary action or liability."

It also said the entire patient counseling law for abortion "undermines the principles of bodily integrity and decisional autonomy that underlie the doctrine of informed consent," and violates doctors' free speech rights.

Medication abortion has been in the national spotlight since a Texas federal judge suspended mifepristone's approval in April. The U.S. Supreme Court has put that ruling on hold while the Biden administration appeals.

Many Republican-led states have banned abortion since the Supreme Court eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion last year. Abortion remains legal in Kansas.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and David Gregorio)
Six juveniles have been arrested in connection to a string of car thefts in Johnson County, police said Monday.

Just after 2 a.m. Monday, Olathe police heard car tires squeal in the 1000 block of West Virginia Lane, Sgt. Joel Yeldell, a spokesman with the police department, said in a news release.

Police then saw several people running away from a 2020 Kia Optima, Yeldell said. Officers realized the Kia had been reported stolen out of Kansas City.

Six juveniles, whose names are not being released because they are children, were arrested in connection with the stolen Kia. Yeldell said theyve since also been connected to a second stolen vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata that was reported stolen in Overland Park.

Police are still investigating the thefts. Anyone with information is asked to call the Olathe Police Department at 913-971-6363 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Reports of stolen Kia and Hyundai cars have soared across the country over the past few months. This has been blamed, in part, on a challenge on TikTok teaching viewers how to steal Hyundais and Kias. KCPD spokespeople said Kansas City hasnt escaped the trend.

Last year in Kansas City, the police department recorded nearly 6,000 vehicle thefts. As of March, more than a third of vehicles stolen up to that point in Kansas City were Kia or Hyundai.

Last week, the Kansas City Police Department announced it is giving out free steering wheel locks, courtesy of the vehicle manufacturers, to help prevent these thefts.

In addition to the free steering wheel locks, Hyundai and Kia are still providing free vehicle updates to prevent future car thefts. In response to the widespread car thefts, both manufacturers developed theft-deterrent software for millions of vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hyundai or Kia owners who doesnt have a car immobilizer  an electronic device that prevents a car from starting unless you have the right key  can receive one for free.

These immobilizers update the cars theft alarm software to extend the alarms length from 30 seconds to one minute. The new software also requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the car on.

Hyundai owners can enter their vehicle identification number into an online tool to see when they are eligible to schedule their upgrade.

Kia has also said they are notifying owners by mail when software updates are available for their car. This requires they bring their car to a Kia dealership in order to get the free car immobilizer update.

Owners of the following Hyundai and Kia vehicles can get a free steering wheel lock from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday from the KCPD headquarters at 1125 Locust St. or at any of their six patrol stations:

Hyundai vehicles

2011-2022 Accent

2011-2022 Elantra

2013-2017 Elantra GT

2013-2014 Elantra Coupe

2011-2012 Elantra Touring

2011-2014 Genesis Coupe

2018-2022 Kona

2020-2021 Palisade

2011-2022 Santa Fe

2013-2019 Santa Fe XL

2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport

2011-2019 Sonata

2011-2022 Tucson

2012-2017 and 2019-2021 Veloster

2020-2021 Venue

Kia vehicles

2011-2021 Forte

2021-2022 K5

2011-2020 Optima

2011-2021 Rio

2011-2021 Sedona

2021-2022 Seltos

2010-2022 Soul

2011-2022 Sorento

2011-2022 Sportage

Starting today, we have free steering wheel locks for Kia and Hyundai owners.



This is in response to the theft of thousands of these vehicles across the U.S., including Kansas City, sparked by a social media challenge.



1/4 pic.twitter.com/yUBfFCMWE5  kcpolice (@kcpolice) May 31, 2023

TIPS TO AVOID CAR THEFT

A spokesperson with the NHTSA advises that drivers use common sense when parking and getting out of a vehicle by incorporating the following tips into their routine:

Take your vehicles key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.

Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.

Park in well-lit areas if possible.

Never leave valuables in your car, especially if theyre visible from the outside.

Never leave your car unoccupied and running, even for a short period of time.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY CAR IS STOLEN?

If your vehicle is stolen, the NHTSA advises that you contact your local police department immediately and file a stolen vehicle report.

You will need a copy of the police report or a case number to provide to your insurance company. You may also be asked to provide the following information:

License plate number;

Make, model, and color of your vehicle

VIN and any identifying characteristics

Contact your insurance company to file a claim within 24 hours of your vehicle being stolen.

If you find your vehicle before local authorities do, contact the police and your insurance company as soon as possible.

The Stars Joseph Hernandez contributed.
Police biker in Sophie Wessex escort could face criminal charges over fatal collision

Sophie offered her condolences to the family at the time (WPA Rota)

A police motorcyclist in the Duchess of Edinburghs escort could face criminal charges over a fatal collision.

Helen Holland, 81, died after she was hit by the officers vehicle during the incident in Earls Court on 10 May.

Announcing the criminal investigation into the death, Independent Office for Police Conduct director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death.

This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision-making of the officer under investigation.

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London (Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London on Wednesday)

More follows on this breaking news story....
Police: Girl with severe head trauma after overnight shooting has died

Police investigate an early morning shooting Tuesday at the Bridge at Harris Ridge Apartments in Northeast Austin. A juvenile girl died after the shooting.

A girl has died at Dell Children's Medical Center after suffering head trauma in an overnight shooting at a Northeast Austin apartment complex, police said Tuesday.

During a news conference, Austin police said they responded to a report of gunshots at the Bridge at Harris Ridge Apartment Complex, 1501 E. Howard Lane. Officers and medics discovered a juvenile girl suffering from head trauma. Shortly after, she was taken to the hospital.

Initially, police called the shooting a homicide investigation before correcting their error since the girl was still being treated at the time.

After her death, the case is now being investigated as Austin's 31st homicide of 2023.

Police did not say if anyone has been arrested.

Austin police responded to a shooting at the apartment complex on Oct. 24, 2021. In that case, officers and medics found a man and woman with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a local hospital.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin overnight shooting at apartment complex leaves girl dead
The Oklahoma City Police Department is investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide Sunday night into Monday morning.

Authorities are investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide in northwest Oklahoma City.

Shortly after 11:50 p.m. Sunday, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a call regarding a home near NW 38 and Key Place.

Police said they found the body of Carla Dawn Evans, 59, who appeared to have been beaten to death, inside the home.

About 12:30 a.m. Monday, police officers also were notified by Oklahoma Highway Patrol that a motorcycle had crashed into a cable barrier on Interstate 44, east of N Western Ave. The rider, pronounced dead at the scene, was identified as Ernest Harlow, 61.

More: A mass murder-suicide thrust Henryetta into the national spotlight. The town is struggling to cope

Police said Harlow had sent a text message to a family member, indicating he had killed the female and was going to take his own life, according to a news release from the department.

Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight said investigators consider Evans' and Harlow's deaths to be a murder-suicide, but he encouraged anyone with more information on the case to contact the Homicide Tip-Line at 405-297-1200.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Police investigating possible murder-suicide in OKC early Monday
The scene of the crash in west London - Jamie Lorriman

A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist could face criminal charges over the death of an 81-year-old woman who was killed in a collision with the officers vehicle last month while they were part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Helen Holland was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earls Court, west London, on the afternoon of May 10. She suffered serious injuries and died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct, although that does not mean that charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.

Helen Holland - UNPIXS

Amanda Rowe, director at the IOPC, said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death. This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision making of the officer under investigation.

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

The collision happened at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earls Court, west London on May 10 - Jamie Lorriman

Investigators attended the scene and police body worn video footage has been reviewed.

Witness accounts have also been taken following an appeal after the crash.

Following the crash, Ms Hollands son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

Her Royal Highnesss deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Hollands family.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Police search for man who wore Bart Simpson shirt when he threw bricks at Atlanta hospital

Atlanta police are searching for a man who was last seen in a Bart Simpson T-shirt, who is accused of throwing bricks at Grady Medical Center.

Police said on May 14, a man wearing yellow shorts and a Bart Simpson T-shirt damaged the Grady Health Center by throwing four bricks.

The man was last seen outside the health center located on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway.

Officers are asking for help finding him.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Information can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org .

You do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspect

TRENDING STORIES:

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Police shoot beloved pet after autocorrect sent them to wrong home, Texas cops say

A pet dog was shot and killed after police mistakenly responded to the wrong address, Texas cops said.

The Waco Police Department is saddened by the unfortunate shooting resulting in the death of Finn, a beloved pet, police wrote in a June 5 news release.

The regretful killing was the result of a technical error, police said.

Dispatchers received a report of a burglary on June 3 in which the caller screamed that her door had been kicked in.

After the call disconnected, dispatchers entered the callers address into their system, but it autocorrected to a separate address that was off by one letter.

Officers responded to the incorrect address and noticed the backdoor was ajar, corroborating what the caller had said.

Shortly after police announced their presence, several dogs walked toward the officers. One of them, a male named Finn, acted aggressively, lunging at an officer several times.

In response, the officer fired their weapon at Finn, striking him once.

Finns owner took him to a medical clinic, and he later died, police said. A police commander met the owner and family members there to express his sympathy.

Police said they are working with the manufacturer of their computer system to ensure that steps are taken to prevent any similar occurrence. Additionally, dispatchers will be instructed to double check addresses after inputting them in their system.

A GoFundMe was started so that Finns owners  who are obviously devastated  can hire a lawyer. This once peaceful little home (is) in complete tragedy and disarray, is says.

The original incident related to the burglary report was quickly handled, police said, adding that no one was arrested.

Waco is about 95 miles south of Dallas.

Body of 76-year-old angler found after parkgoer hears cries for help, Iowa officials say

Woman found dead on highway, New Hampshire cops say. A tattoo could help identify her

16-year-old boy shopping for drugs is fatally shot at homeless camp, Florida cops say
Law enforcement is searching for a Tropicana Bradenton employee accused of shooting a co-worker Monday night while on the job.

The Bradenton Police Department says it is searching for the suspect, identified as Demetrius Tyrone Bell, 50, who fled the scene in a black Camaro with license plate QUQF97 after the altercation. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is in stable condition.

Trending: California authorities blast DeSantis for migrant flight to Sacramento

Also: True crime TV series explores deaths of 3 North Port teens hypnotized by principal. How to watch

Authorities believe the two men were involved in a dispute, and Bell, who works a different shift, walked into the Tropicana Bradenton plant Monday night while the victim was working and shot him.

Warrants have been issued for Bell, who faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Anyone with information about Bell's wherabouts can contact Detective Jeff Beckley at 915-932-9356 or by emailing jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com.

Authorities are offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 for any tips that could lead to an arrest. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-634-8477 or visit manateecrimestoppers.com to send an E-Tip.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Police: Tropicana Bradenton employee shot by coworker; suspect sought
Police: Woman arrested in connection to stabbing in Cambridge

Cambridge Police arrested the suspect in connection to a Central Square stabbing on Monday afternoon.

Around 6 p.m. officers discovered a woman in her early 20s with a stab wound to her lower back in the area of the Star Variety and Subway in Central Square.

The woman was transported to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries, according to police. There is no word on the victims injuries.

A short while later officers, who remained on the scene to collect evidence, located the female suspect involved in the stabbing at Magazine & Auburn. A knife was also recovered & secured as evidence.

The suspect was placed into custody.

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
Political analyst says Kremlin may have sabotaged Kakhovka dam out of fear of Ukrainian counter-offensive

Flooding on the right bank of the Kherson region

Perhaps there was some military logic behind it, as the Kakhovka HPP is not just a power plant, but also a bridge across the Dnipro River, Koshelev said.

Read also: Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam could deprive Crimean residents of drinking water, says Yermak

Maybe they were driven by military considerations, fearing the Ukrainian counter-offensive. But as we have discussed, the Kremlin often makes emotional and ill-conceived decisions, without thinking ahead or calculating the consequences.

The analyst said this man-made catastrophe would foster global solidarity with Ukraine.

Im confident that such brutality can only unite the world, Koshelev said. It could influence the stance of countries that have maintained a position of conditional neutrality, where there are certain concerns about supplying weapons, fighter jets, and other armaments to Ukraine.

Read also: Dam waters ravage south Ukraine, military expert assesses catastrophic impact

Moreover, Koshelev said that Russias actions would further damage its international standing.

Does Russia benefit from this? It can only gain a tactical advantage (from it) in terms of offensive actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, strategically, Russia has suffered a significant loss. The world will turn away from it even more. The world will provide even more support to Ukraine.

Therefore, there is no logic in the actions of the Kremlin. But we also need to understand that we shouldnt always seek logic in the actions of Putin, his entourage, because often there is simply no logic there.

In the early hours of June 6, Russian forces detonated the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, putting downstream cities and towns at risk of flooding, Ukrainian authorities say. The peak of the flood was anticipated around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3). In response, the authorities of Kherson Oblast have declared an urgent evacuation.

Read also: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable  Energoatom

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the actions of the Russians, stating that their destructive act served as a stark reminder that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

He added that neither by water, nor by missiles, nor by anything else will the terrorists succeed in stopping Ukraine.

According to Ukrhydroenergo, the state-owned hydropower generation company, the Kakhovka plant has been completely destroyed and is beyond repair.

Read also:

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Pop, Rock and More! Head to Madrid for the Mad Cool Music Festival in July

Do you have any travel plans for July? Well, why not head to Madrid for the Mad Cool Music Festival? Yes, thats literally what its called, and theres an eclectic lineup of music artists across genres and eras.

This will be the festivals sixth year, and its considered to be one of the best in Europe.

The fun goes down from July 6 until July 8 at Espacio Mad Cool, an event venue in Madrids Villaverde district. Three-day passes are sold out, but single tickets are still available.

Who Is Performing?

The question should be who isnt performing? From rock to R&B, pop to electronica, the Mad Cool Festival is appropriately named because it really has it all.

July 6

Gen Zers and Millennials will appreciate Lizzo and Lil Nas X as the headline artists. They are joined by Robbie Williams and Machine Gun Kelly, along with a variety of other artists.

July 7

Day two kicks off with Sam Smith, The Black Keys, Queens of The Stone Age and Mumford and Sons. For all you electronica and dance music fans, RUFUS DU SOL will be playing some sweet summertime anthems just for you.

July 8

Janelle Monae already broke the internet not along ago, and shell be one of the headliners for the final day. Shes joined by Liam Gallagher of Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers and electronic music veterans The Prodigy. Its unclear how The Prodigy will manage without their powerhouse front man, Keith, who died in 2019.

Ava Max will also be there. If you pay attention to mainstream radio, youve probably heard My Heart and My Heart many times. Part of what makes that song catchy is the sampling of a track that defined the Eurodance craze of the early 2000s: Around The World (La La La La La) by ATC.

Dont forget to show love to the many indie artists performing each day.

Madrid Is a Fantastic City

Make sure to explore the Spanish capitalyou wont regret it. The Reina Sofia and El Prado are just two of its celebrated museums, while Retiro Park is the perfect place for a stroll and people-watching. Chow down on churros con chocolate, gorge yourself on tasty tapas, and spend some time in playful Chueca, the gay district.

If youve taken the train in New York or Paris, then Madrids metro will be a breeze. You dont need to speak Spanish to be able to read the maps in the stations, but learning a few phrases is a good idea if you want to ask for help.
Pope in hospital for tests, two months after bronchitis infection

Pope Francis in Rome on May 25, 2023

Pope Francis visited a Rome hospital for a medical check-up on Tuesday, the Vatican said, just over two months after he was hospitalised with bronchitis.

"This morning Pope Francis went to the Gemelli Polyclinic to undergo some clinical tests and returned to the Vatican before noon," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.

Francis, 86, was forced to take a day off at the end of last month with a fever, which the Vatican secretary of state blamed on tiredness.

The pope does not have public audiences scheduled on Tuesdays. His general audience at the Vatican was confirmed for Wednesday, according his official schedule.

The Vatican also released the schedule for Francis's next trip abroad, which will see him attend World Youth Day in Lisbon from August 2-6.

The examination had been pre-planned, the Repubblica newspaper said, citing a Vatican source. It added that the pontiff was undergoing specialised scans.

When Francis was hospitalised at the end of March, the Vatican initially said in a one-line statement that he had gone into the Gemelli for health checks that were previously scheduled.

It later emerged that he had been rushed in after suffering breathing difficulties.

He was diagnosed with bronchitis and stayed in hospital for three nights, before returning to the Vatican to preside over Easter services.

Asked how he felt, he quipped with a big smile, "I am still alive!"

Francis, who has been the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics for a decade, has suffered increasing health issues over the past year.

He has persistent pain in his right knee as well as sciatica, and his hospital stay for bronchitis sparked widespread concern.

- Just in time -

It also fuelled speculation over his future.

Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, who died in December, quit in 2013 due to failing health.

For about a year, the pope has had to rely on a wheelchair due to the recurring knee pain he has said cannot be treated through surgery.

Asked about his health in an interview with US Spanish-language network Telemundo broadcast in May, Francis said it was "much better".

"I can walk now. My knee has been mending. I could hardly walk beforehand. Now I can. Some days are more painful than others," the pope said.

Francis added that doctors had caught his bronchitis infection just in time.

"If we'd waited a few more hours, it would've been much more serious. But I was out (of hospital) in four days," he said.

Despite his health issues, Francis continues to travel widely.

But the pope acknowledged in July 2022 that he needed to slow down.

"At my age and with this limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church," he said then.

"Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside."

In March, however, he insisted that he had no current plans to quit.

Benedict XVI, who died on December 31 aged 95, surprised the world in 2013 when he announced he was stepping down, a radical move not taken by a pope since the Middle Ages.

ide/pvh
Several Pride Month events are happening in Fort Worth this June.

Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which was a tipping point in the gay liberation movement in the U.S., according to the Library of Congress. New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, roughing up its patrons and arresting some, which in turn sparked a series of protests by the gay community.

The Stonewall event led to Gay Pride Day being celebrated on the last Saturday of June, but quickly grew to encompass the whole month. In addition, back in June 2015 the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 states.

From picnics to movie screenings, heres where to celebrate Pride Month in Fort Worth:

Weird Wednesday Pride Month celebration

Weird Wednesday is a monthly night market and secret movie screening held at Southside Preservation Hall.

Junes theme is Pride Month with the secret movie screenings revolving around a LGBTQ+-themed film. Along with the movie, visitors can shop from 35 local vendors with food and drinks available on-site.

When: 5 p.m. Wednesday

Where: 1519 Lipscomb St.





Cost: Free

Pride movie screenings at Rooftop Cinema Club

The downtown Fort Worth rooftop theater is hosting several Pride Month screenings over June.

Patrons can check out Mamma Mia!, The Birdcage and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, among others films at the theater. The next pride screening is on Thursday and last one is on June 30. Find the movie selection here.

When: June 8-30

Where: 235 Throckmorton St.

Cost: Tickets start at $19.50

Arlington Pride 2023

Arlington Pride is hosting its 2023 celebration at the Levitt Pavilion.

This years festivities will feature performances by RuPaul Drag Race queens  Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Symone and Kennedy Davenport. Attendees can expect live music, food and a street full of local vendors.

When: 6-11 p.m. June 10

Where: 100 W Abram St., Arlington

Cost: Free

LGBTQ Saves Youth Pride Picnic

The Fort Worth-based group LGBTQ Saves has worked for more than a decade in providing a safe and welcoming community for LGBTQ youths from 12 to 24 years old.

To celebrate Pride Month, the group is hosting its annual youth picnic at Trinity Park. Attendees can expect free food, activities, gift bags and a welcoming space for both youth and families.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 17

Where: 2401 University Dr.

Cost: Free, but registration is required.

Trinity Pride Fest 2023

The annual one-day festival is back for another year of celebration.

Trinity Pride Fest is located in Magnolia Green Park and will be packed with live music and food from local eateries. Visitors can also shop from the vendor market set up around the park.
Pride flag doesnt belong at City Hall

I am a woman. I am gay. I have been in a stable relationship for decades. Legally married since 2013.

I strongly oppose the flying of the LBGTQ+ / rainbow flag at Arroyo Grande City Hall. Yet, according to the editorial in The Tribune, I am a bigot and intolerant. Go figure.

My reason for opposing the flag is simple: Lets fly flags that unite us. Every other flag excludes someone. When we fly the Rainbow flag, we exclude straights. If we fly the Black Lives Matter flag, we exclude other races. If we fly a Womens Rights flag, we exclude men.

But when we fly our nation, state, and county flags, we include everyone. Isnt that what good government is for? But The Tribune doesnt see it that way. The editorial board states, While some communities have taken the easy way out to avoid controversy  theyve decided to fly only official government flags  

I submit to you it is the Arroyo Grande City Council that is taking the easy way out. They are bowing to the bullies who yell, scream and threaten if they dont get their way. Most likely, some city council members are afraid of being canceled.

Personally, I would love to fly a pro-nuclear-power flag. But I wouldnt want the City Council to fly it over City Hall. Why? It divides us.

Our personal causes are just that. Personal. Our government represents all of us. Lets only fly the flags that unite us over City Hall.

Stacy Korsgaden, Grover Beach

Why pride flag matters

People seemed concerned about why there is gay pride and why fly a rainbow flag. Have you ever been spit on, called nasty names or been physically assaulted for being straight? Have you ever been murdered or forced to suicide because you are straight? Have you been arrested for just being in a straight bar and then beaten up by the cops? Have you ever been hassled by the cops just for being straight?

Has your straight meeting place ever been vandalized, shot at, dead animal parts thrown at it and then finally burned out (Orange County). Have you been denied housing or a job because you are straight? How about not being able to be married because you are straight couple? I could go on, but when a group of people is so oppressed, for them to find a little pride is uplifting and necessary.

Being gay is not a choice. That has been debunked so many times. It is also not a lifestyle. Gay people are everywhere, do every job and participate in every hobby. The colors of their flag mean something: red = life, orange = healing, yellow = sunlight, green = nature, blue/indigo = harmony, and violet = spirit. Pretty harmless flag, huh? But one that means so much.

Rick Tibben, Nipomo

Whos the intolerant one?

To Mr. Tim Stewart and others of like persuasion: From the American Heritage Dictionary: Bigot = A person of strong conviction or prejudice especially in matters of religion, race, or politics, who is intolerant of those who disagree with him.

Prejudice = An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.

A preconceived preference or idea; bias = The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.

Tolerate = To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit. To recognize and respect, as the rights, opinions, or practices of others, whether agreeing with them or not.

The Editorial Board of The Tribune has as much right to express their views as you do. Though they apparently disagree with whatever you wrote, they still printed it. So now who is being bigoted and intolerant?

Susan Levine, Templeton

Sexual orientation is not a lifestyle

In response to the letter by Tim Stewart on Sunday, May 28, 2023, LGBT lifestyles are not counter to biology. I urge Mr. Stewart to read about recent gender identity, sex and genetics research. I doubt he will, though, as many people are fearful of scientific findings that often refute the dualistic thinking that leaves us dangerously stuck, rigid, fearful and biased.

I hope Mr. Stewart remembers that there are not over 500 bills in recent legislatures against the rights of fathers, mothers and veterans in general that he worthily praises. Yet some of these laws actually call for taking children away from some mothers, fathers, and yes, even veterans who are biologically different from him.

Would he approve of denying human rights to those who were biologically different in, say, skin color? But, please, Mr. Stewart, school us on how we mustnt be intolerant of the ideology of bigotry and intolerance.

Mary Donnelly, San Luis Obispo

Make Europeans pay

North America was settled by Europeans beginning with the Spanish in 1565, followed by the British. In 1607, the London Company founded the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony.

Within 150 years the British had established 13 colonies.

The population was mostly English with a small number of African slaves. In the 18th century, other nations contributed to the ethnic mix such as the Dutch, Scots, Germans and French.

The Southern Colonies had the highest number of slaves in British America.

The American Revolutionary War lasted from April 19, 1775, to Sept. 3, 1783.

The Constitution became effective on March 4, 1789. The results were eight slave and five free states.

The Civil War, which ended slavery, ended May 9, 1865.

Slavery existed in the USA 76 years, from 1789 to 1865.

Conclusion: Reparations for slavery, if any are due, should be borne by European nations and not the population of the USA. If reparations are proposed in order to end prejudice/discrimination that is unrealistic. Prejudice/discrimination takes on many faces and will always plague the world.

Philip Mordaunt, San Luis Obispo

Thanks to MLK scholarship supporters

On behalf of the Martin Luther King Jr. High School Scholarship Fund Board, we would like to thank our community for its support of 17 scholarship recipients from San Luis Obispo High School, Mission College Prep and Pacific Beach High School.

Since 1968 its been our honor to raise funds to assist students as they realize their dreams.

Mary Matakovich, president

MLK Jr. High School Scholarship Fund Board
Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Prince Harry is due at a London court to testify against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. Harry alleges that journalists at the Daily Mirror and its sister papers used unlawful techniques on an "industrial scale" to get scoops. Publisher Mirror Group Newspapers is contesting the claims. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

LONDON (AP)  Prince Harry has arrived at a London court ahead of his testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping.

The prince arrived at the High Court in a black SUV.

Harry has made a mission of holding the U.K. press to account for what he sees as its hounding of him and his family.

This is the first of several lawsuits to go to trial. He accuses the publisher of the Daily Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an industrial scale to get scoops.

The 38-year-old son of King Charles III will be the first British royal since the 19th century to enter a courtroom witness box. He will face cross-examination by a lawyer for the defendant, Mirror Group Newspapers.
Prince Harry tells court: 'Nobody wants to be phone hacked' Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex's lawsuit against a newspaper group, in London

LONDON (Reuters) - Prince Harry finished giving evidence at the High Court in London on Wednesday during a second day of grilling over his allegations that British tabloids targeted him with phone-hacking and other unlawful behaviour.

Harry and others are suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror and other tabloids, accusing them of widespread unlawful activities. MGN is contesting the claims and denies senior figures were aware of wrongdoing.

Below are quotes and highlights from the courtroom where Harry has faced hours of cross-examination in the witness box over two days:

'IT'S A LOT'

At the conclusion of Harry's evidence, his lawyer David Sherborne asked him: "You have had to go through these articles and answer questions knowing this is a very public courtroom and the world's media are watching. How has that made you feel?"

Harry exhaled deeply and, appearing emotional, replied: "It's a lot."

PHONE-HACKING ON INDUSTRIAL SCALE

"If the court were to find that you were never hacked by any MGN journalist, would you be relieved or would you be disappointed?" MGN lawyer Andrew Green asked Harry.

"That would be speculating," Harry said. "I believe phone-hacking was on an industrial scale across at least three of the papers at the time and that is beyond doubt and to have a decision against me and any other people that come behind me with their claims given that Mirror Group have accepted hacking ... yes, I would feel some injustice."

Green suggested that Harry wanted "to have been phone hacked", to which the prince replied: "Nobody wants to be phone hacked."

STOP ABUSE OF MEGHAN

Harry said part of the reason he is pursuing his lawsuit against MGN, and a similar case against Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper arm News Group Newspapers (NGN), was to stop the abuse of his wife, Meghan.

Green asked whether, when Harry first approached lawyers, he was "discussing a claim against News Group or were you discussing a claim against News Group and MGN?"

Harry replied: "I think it was a discussion on how to somehow find a way to stop the abuse, intrusion and hate that was coming towards me and my wife and seeing if there was any other way to find a different course of action, rather than rely on the institution's lawyers."

ABSENCE OF CALL DATA

Green again asked Harry about the absence of call data suggesting MGN journalists listened to his voicemails, contrasting it with the amount of call data provided in his separate lawsuit against NGN.

He asked Harry if he accepted that "the absence of call data to your phone is at least suggestive that you were not hacked by Mirror Group", to which Harry replied: "Absolutely not."

Harry also said that he thought "burner phones" were used to intercept voicemails and that call data had been "destroyed".

When Harry was later asked by Sherborne whether the absence of call data meant no one had actually hacked his phone, he said: "I believe they would have gone to extreme lengths to cover their tracks."

INCREDIBLY DISTURBING

Harry told the court that a story about him attending a nightclub after breaking up with his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, was "incredibly disturbing".

He also said that the article with the headline "Hooray Harry Dumped", published in 2007, was "celebrating" the end of his relationship - which Green firmly denied.

"'Hooray Harry Dumped' was hurtful to say the least," Harry said. "That such a private moment was turned into a bit of a laugh and the fact that these payments (to private investigators) were referred to as 'Project Harry' is incredibly disturbing.

"The level of surveillance that I was under was quite something."

Green replied that the article quoted a friend of Harry's girlfriend as saying "she just got tired of his hooray lifestyle", adding: "It's not celebrating the demise of your relationship."

ROYAL SOURCE

Harry said that any quotes or information in articles about him which were attributed to a "royal source" made him suspicious about how the information was obtained.

In reference to a 2008 article about him not being allowed to return to combat in Afghanistan, Harry said: "It is suspicious that so much is attributed to a royal source."

Harry was also asked why he had not sued other newspapers which published similar information to that contained in articles about him by MGN.

"I'm quite busy with other litigation, my lord," Harry replied with a smile.

DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE

Harry also alleged there had been "industrial-scale destruction of evidence on all sides" after being repeatedly pressed about what evidence he had to support his claims.

Green said Harry's claim covered the period between 1996 and 2010, asking: "Is it your case that your phone was consistently being hacked?"

"I wouldn't know," said Harry.

Green asked: "Are you claiming damages on the basis that your phone was being hacked on a daily basis?"

"It could've been happening on a daily basis, I simply don't know."

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Sam Tobin and Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kate Holton)
REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

Prince Harry was cool, calm, and collected in court Tuesday.

While he didnt make any unforced errors, his grueling day on the stand showed the daunting task he faces in trying to prove Mirror Group Newspapers hacked his phone and published stories based on illegally obtained information.

Over and over again, the prince was effectively forced to concede that stories published by MGN about him may just as well have been obtained by legitimate means as illegitimate ones.

In one prime example, Harry complained about a December 2003 article in the Daily Mirror headlined Beach Bum Harry, which showed pictures of him swimming in the ocean in the Australian beach town of Noosa.

He wrote in his witness statement, I remember this day so clearly, we were staying in a house and, after visiting Steve Irwins Crocodile Zoo in the morning, we had gone out onto the beach in front of the house in the afternoon. It was a public beach but not busy or popular, so Im unclear how anyone had known we were there, to be in the right place at the right time to take photographs. I wasnt aware of anyone taking photographs at the time.

The fact that professional photographers took photographs of Harry swimming on a public beach, is, most would agree, hardly a surprising turn of events, but MGNs lawyer Andrew Green had a further trick up his sleeve.

He pulled up an article published a few days prior to the Mirror story, from the Evening Standard, that reported that Harry was in Noosa.

Anyone who wanted pictures of you or your friends just had to head to Noosa, didnt they?

Harry said that trying to find him on the towns large beaches would be a needle in a haystack situation, to which Green simply responded that many photographers may have been prepared to look for that needle.

Green said that while everyone has enormous sympathy for the extraordinary degree of press intrusion Harry has been subjected to over his lifetime, that doesnt mean he has been the victim of unlawful information gathering.

This, increasingly, became the pattern of the day: Green would select an article that Harry had highlighted in his written witness statement and effectively say to Harry, where is your proof that this was based on phone hacking? Who is to say it didnt come from other sources, either at the palace or elsewhere?

And Harry would be reduced to insisting that it must have come from illegal sources and that Green should ask the authors where it came frombut they have refused to appear in court and Harry should know full well that journalists never reveal their sources.

Green then repeatedly tore into Harrys essentially unsubstantiated claims that various articles simply must have been obtained by phone hacking.

Another article about his time in Australia was alleged by Harry to be based on illegally gathered information because it included a line about him staying inside watching videos.

In his statement, Harry said, Im not sure how they knew what I was doing inside, the whole purpose of me avoiding the cameras was to avoid everyone knowing what I was doing at all times. It was suffocating. I was only in Australia with a couple of U.K. bodyguards, so this is the kind of thing I would have moaned about over the phone and in voicemails.

Green also pointed out that there was other information in the piece that came from a palace spokesperson, and asked Harry if he accepted that was the case.

Yes. Some of it, yes, Harry said grudgingly.

Green was also handed an opportunity to use Harrys memoir, Spare, against him, which he took. In one part of his witness statement, Harry said he was firmly against meeting Princess Dianas former butler, Paul Burrell, whom he allegedly called a two-faced shit in a conversation with his brother, Prince William. But in his book, Green pointed out, Harry describes how he wanted a meeting with Burrell.

Theres no suggestion [here] that you were firmly against the meeting, Green said.

No, because I wrote it when I was 38 years oldin this story I was 18, Harry replied.

Green said that was not the point and asked whether his witness statement or his recollection in Spare was correct, a line of questioning that resulted in Harry conceding that he couldnt remember what he would have wanted at the time.

It was not a great look. Nor did Harry come off well from Greens suggestions that Harry didnt actually read many of the articles he is now complaining about, including one published when he was 11 years old.

Green asked, If you didnt read the article at the time how can you say this article caused you distress?

Harry replied, It had an effect on my life and the people around me. My mother in this case.

Green also pointed out that many of the articles Harry was complaining about were based on information already public, including an article about Diana visiting Harry at school on his birthday that was actually announced by the palace to a news agency the previous day.

Over and again, Harry said words to the effect that he was at a complete loss to understand how details in stories were obtained, and Green would reply that, upsetting as that may have been, it hardly counted as proof that journalists acted illegally.

One moment where Harry did score a point was when he described going to meet his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy off a flight only to find multiple photographers waiting for herand him.

Asked what made him think the photographers were there based on illegally gathered intelligence, as opposed to being tipped off by a legitimate source, Harry said there was no way her flight details would have been known outside a small group of trusted insiders, and they wouldnt have been leaked by them because it created a huge security risk.

The purpose of cross-examination is, officially, to poke holes in a witnesss story. Green did that effectively. But of course, a cross-examination is also about poking the defendants ego, and maybe getting them to snap or react in a way that makes them look bad.

The reality, of course, is that Harry only needs to establish one instance of unlawful information gathering to win his case. The Mirror needs to knock down every single allegation made by Harry. And the case is not being adjudicated by a jury, but by the single judge who is presiding over the court.

This was never going to be a great day for Harry, but it succeeded in failing to give his tormentors the satisfaction of seeing him rise to the bait. For that, his legal representatives will be giving thanksand hoping he can maintain the same equilibrium when the cross-examination resumes tomorrow.

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Prince Harry leaves the High Court - Max Mumby

The Duke of Sussex has been forced to admit his Spare memoir has contradicted claims made in the High Court during his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

The Duke told the High Court he couldnt remember whether he wanted to meet his mothers former butler Paul Burrell, despite his opposition apparently causing a rift with his brother the Prince of Wales.

On Monday, Harrys barrister, David Sherborne, said the article showed how seeds of discord had been created between the brothers, as he claimed unlawful information gathering by tabloid newspapers played a part in the deterioration of their relationship.



The 2003 article in the People newspapers claimed the brothers disagreed over whether to meet Mr Burrell with William wanting to in an attempt to prevent him selling further stories while Harry was against it because he was a two-faced s---.



But when the Duke was questioned on Tuesday about the report, it was pointed out to him that his apparent opposition was not included in his memoir. There is no suggestion in Spare that you were firmly against a meeting, said Mr Green.



Harry responded: No, because I wrote it when I was 38 years old and in this story I was 18. I assume I would have wanted a meetingId love to give him a piece of my mind, Harry told the High Court on Tuesday.



I cant remember whether I wanted a meeting or not, Harry says when Mr Green pressed him for a final time.

04:45 PM

Live blog has closed for the day

Thanks to everyone for following the Telegraphs live coverage of the Duke of Sussexs evidence against Mirror Group Newspapers on Tuesday.

The highlights from the day in the High Court include:

Duke admits his memoir contradicts legal claims

Piers Morgan subjected Harry and Meghan to horrific personal attacks and intimidation

Prince Harry says Government is at rock bottom in witness statement

We will be back on Wednesday for more live coverage as the Duke returns to the witness box for further cross-examination.

Until then, goodbye.

04:42 PM

Court closes for the day

The historic and at times gruelling court session has now closed, as lawyers ended Tuesdays proceedings by dealing with timetable matters with Mr Justice Fancourt.

I need time to re-examine the Duke of Sussex, Mr Sherborne told the court, after Mr Green said he will aim to finish cross-examining the Duke by lunchtime on Wednesday.

Mr Green, representing MGN, noted that he had gone through 21 of the 33 articles in the Dukes claim by the end of Tuesdays proceedings.

Before finishing, Mr Fancourt reminded the Duke not to discuss his evidence with anyone, even though it might feel peculiar to not share it.

The Duke quipped he wont be facetiming anybody. He will be back in the witness box for 10.30am on Wednesday.

04:36 PM

Chelsy phone call claims previously reported

Mr Green tells the court that an article in the Daily Star, published many months before the People one, revealed that Harry was spending hours on the phone to Chelsy.

The lawyer said this reveals extensive information about the phone calls between the couple.

Yes it does say that, the Duke admits.

He continued, The quotes that are attributed to an insider are what remain suspicious to me, but later admitted he could see !similarities between a Daily Mail article and the People story, which was published afterwards.

The level of intrusion and interest around our relationshipone quotes a passenger on a plane saying that Chelsy said she cant wait to see me, I dont think my girlfriend would have spoken to a passenger on a plane about our relationship, Harry told the court.

04:32 PM

'No-one knew details about Chelsy relationship'

Harry and Chelsy

The Duke insists no-one was privy to his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy after details emerged in a People article titled Chelsys gap EIIR in April 2005 about her plans to spend more time with him

Discussing the level of detail in the article, such as Harrys struggle being away from Chelsy and his trip to see her in South Africa, the Duke says In regards to spending hours on the phone to Chelsy, theres no way that anyone else would know that.

Our relationship was private, especially given the articles about us already.

04:25 PM

Revisiting articles has been 'stressful experience'

The Duke has described his appearance in the High Court to be cross-examined over articles he claims show evidence of unlawful information gathering as a stressful experience.

He made the remarks while being questioned over a Sunday Mirror article, You did what!, published in February 2005, which Mr Green argued came from prior reports.

The story is about the farm work the Duke had to do as a punishment imposed by his father, then the Prince of Wales, for dressing up as a Nazi to a party. Harrys legal team say the story involved a large number of invoices surrounding people close to the family, whose voicemails were targeted.

Would you agreethe private information about your punishment was not obtained by the Sunday Mirror by phone hacking or any unlawful means, Mr Green asks after listing other publications the story featured in beforehand.

But Harry responded the Mirrors article was a classic example of journalists attempting to further the story. I cant recall whether I read the article [at the time] but going back over it today has been a stressful experience, Harry told the court.

04:18 PM

'I wanted to spare friends from giving evidence'

The Duke has suggested he didnt ask friends to give evidence in the High Court over his claims of unlawful information gathering to spare them from the experience.

Harry was asked why friend Guy Pelly was not asked to support his claims in court in relation to a Mirror article about Chelsy Davy wanting to break up with him in 2005.

The Duke said the article revealed private information about his relationship.

The story reported Ms Davy wanted to end the relationship over Harrys decision to wear a Nazi uniform at a party and that he spent time in close proximity of an attractive brunette..

Asked about the brunette claim, he says: It never happened and therefore the quotes and everything written here has been specifically inserted to distract from the correct and true means of obtaining the information.

The article starts with she gave him a tongue lashing over the phone - I dont know how anyone would have known that, the Duke adds, saying he cant remember whether he actually did receive a tongue lashing from her.

He tells the court: It appears that someone working from MGN attempted to call Guy Pellytwo days prior to the publication of these articles.

I would want to spare most of my friends from this experience, the Duke told Mr Green when asked why he had not asked Guy Pelly to give evidence as a result.

04:06 PM

Mirror 'advertised my travel plans' during Mozambique holiday

Turning to a discussion on a 2004 Mirror article about the Duke meeting his then girlfriend Chelsy Davys parents, Harry said journalists checked into his hotel before he arrived and blagged information about his flight back from Africa.

Mr Green points out that Paul Davy, Chelsys uncle, gave an interview to the Mail on Sunday informing them that the Duke was about to meet her parents for the first time.

That doesnt mean its true, the Duke responds, adding that journalists checked into the hotel before I even got there.

Turning to Harrys witness statement, Mr Green says that he mentions that the Mirror article states him and Chelsy had been dating for eight months by that point - which was information already in the public domain.

Asked whether he believes this information was gathered unlawfully, the Duke responds that he does, particularly about his flight back on December 19 which was included in the article.

I cant begin to imagine how they had found that information out without flight blagging, he tells the court.

Harry then accuses the Mirror journalist Jane Kerr of advertising my travel plans, saying: Im at a complete loss as to how these details were obtained.

Its as distressing reading and looking at it now as it was when I first looked at it, Harry adds.

03:28 PM

'I can't remember if I wanted Burrell meeting'

The Duke has admitted he cannot remember if he wanted to meet with Mr Burrell when pressed by Andrew Green during cross-examination.

Mr Green repeatedly asked Harry about his feelings towards Mr Burrell after a contradiction was pointed out to him over whether he wanted to meet him or not.

There is no suggestion in Spare that you were firmly against a meeting, said Mr Green, in contrast to an earlier report.

Harry responded: No, because I wrote it when I was 38 years old and in this story I was 18.

I assume I would have wanted a meetingId love to give him a piece of my mind, Harry told the court.

After he gets pressed once again by Mr Green he seems to contradict himself, saying: At the time I was firmly against the meeting - I was in the middle of the Australian outbackhindsight is a very different thing.

I cant remember whether I wanted a meeting or not, Harry says when Mr Green presses him for a final time.

03:20 PM

I used 'distrust' in voicemails to brother over Paul Burrell row

The Duke is now being questioned about an article in the People which reported a disagreement between him and Prince William about whether to meet their mothers former butler .

It was an article that the Dukes lawyers yesterday claimed was the starting point of the rift between Harry and his brother that has ripped the Royal family apart.

This kind of article seeds distrust between brothers, the Duke says.

Those were the words that I used and I certainly left voicemails on my brothers phone [using that phrase], the Duke says, of the storys headline that he called Burrell a two-faced s.

The article being discussed is:

The People: Wills... Seeing Burrell is only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets. Harry no... Burrells a (Dec 28 2003)

03:11 PM

Late Queen intervened into gap trip intrusion

The Duke has told the High Court Queen Elizabeth II dispatched a senior aide to Australia where he was on a gap year following intrusion from the media.

It came as he was challenged on another article, entitled Beach bum Harry, published while he was in Noosa, Queensland, in December 2003.

Prince Harry says finding him in the Australian resort on the Queensland coast would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

I have no doubt that many photographers were prepared to look for that needle in a haystack, Mr Green responds.

Mr Green also tells the court: Everybody has enormous sympathy with the amount of press intrusion you have suffered in your life but it does not follow that it was obtained unlawfully.

My grandma had sent senior staff down because of the intrusion into my life, the Duke adds, of his time in Noosa, something that he also addresses in his witness statement.

I only learnt recently that the Queen had asked one of her Assistant Private Secretaries to fly out to Noosa and take a house down the road from where I was staying, without me knowing, he writes in his statement.

03:03 PM

Media fascination 'followed me to outback'

Continuing on the Dukes complaint against a Daily Mirror article about him quitting his gap year in Australia, Mr Green focuses on reports he had been inside watching videos to avoid the media.

Asking him whether Mark Dyer, previously described as a second dad to Harry, had revealed the TV line to the press, Harry responded: I dont accept that Mr Dyer would be freely speaking to the press.

Well he is plainly speaking to the press because he is appealing to Australian broadcasters to leave you alone, Mr Green points out.

The former senior aide, who arranged Harrys visit, was quoted as telling reporters Harry had been stuck inside to avoid all the press.

I see the similarities in all the stories youve shown me again proving the media fascination into my life, even when Im in the middle of the Australian outback, the Duke says.

03:01 PM

Harry questioned on witness statement

The Duke has been questioned on whether he wrote his witness statement as Mr Green KC asked the royal if he is just reading out something that has been drafted by your solicitors for you.

Harry replied: This whole statement was written by me after a series of video calls with my legal team while I was in California.

He says it involved long calls of two-and-a-half hours each time.

Im saying this witness statement is mine, Mr Green, he says

02:54 PM

'Private' gap year information published in multiple newspapers

Turning to the next article, a Daily Mirror story titled Harry is ready to quit Oz (Sept 27 2003), Mr Green points out that it quotes a St Jamess Palace spokesperson.

It is an article alleging that Prince Harry was considering abandoning his gap year in Australia due to unwanted media attention.

The Duke claims it was a reactionary statement from the Palace and says he was not aware that a similar article appeared in multiple other newspapers on the same day.

Mr Green argues the other publications have the same private information that is contained in the Daily Mirror article, to which the Duke responds yes.

It comes back to the level of competition between each of the publications, Harry tells the court.

02:44 PM

Duke challenged over phone hacking claims

The court has turned to the next article, Harry to lead cadets march (April 29 2003), from the Daily Mirror.

Mr Green says this is a three-sentence article, which reveals some details of Harry being selected to lead the military cadets at an Eton parade.

Harry says it is very suspicious that there is no byline on the Mirror article and refuses to rule out that it was obtained by phone hacking.

Mr Green asks him whether the Press Association story revealing the same information was an issue for him, to which he responded that there is no history of phone hacking to obtain stories at PA.

Are you suggesting that just because the Mirror has admitted one incident of phone hacking, that every other article was obtained by phone hacking? Mr Green then asks the Duke.

He responds no before going on to tell Mr Green that this particular article caused him no distress.

02:31 PM

Godfather article 'all in public domain' before publication

Discussing the tenth article in the claim, Mr Green says again that the information was all in the public domain before the Mirror title published it.

The People article, titled Matured Harry is a godfather (April 20 2003), is about his invitation to be the godfather of his former nannys child and his attendance at the childs christening

Mr Green says the information about Prince Harrys appointment as godfather had been published a week prior in the Sunday Telegraph, as had his expected attendance at the christening.

Again I see the similaritiesbut I dont know how it was all obtained, the Duke responds.

Bringing up an invoice, Mr Green says it appears that a freelancer had written up the story from the Sunday Telegraph and sold it on to The People for 200.

Ive never heard of anyone writing up a story already in the public domain and selling it for 200, Harry says.

Its not particularly enjoyable to go through this process again, the Duke says when asked if he found this article distressing.

02:24 PM

Duke told he is source of own complaint

Before moving on to the tenth article in the claim, Mr Green hammers home the point that Harry had revealed his birthday plans and other private information in his embargoed Press Association interview.

The position then is this - the private information of which you complain in the Daily Mirror article had been revealed by you and then published in other newspapers, Mr Green tells the court.

I see the similarities, of course, Harry responds, before adding that he believes the article was connected to an invoice and that the timing was suspicious.

02:20 PM

Sunday Mirror story was based on Harry interview

Mr Green has now moved on to a ninth article in question.

The story No Eton trifles for Harry, 18 was published by the Sunday Mirror in September 2002 and was based on an interview given Prince Harry to the Press Association two days before publication.

The interview, which was embargoed, was then published in various Sunday newspapers, including the Sunday Times, Mr Green tells the court.

It is a story about the details of how and when Prince Harry celebrated his 18th birthday with his family.

I see the similarities between the Sunday Times and the Sunday Mirror articles, the Duke tells the court after Mr Green points out the use of the same quotes from his interview with PA

02:18 PM

Analysis: Prince Harrys paranoia reveals a man who has failed to cope with his fame

Harry at court

Quite what call me Prince Harry was expecting when he strode confidently into the High Court just after 9.30am on Tuesday is anyones guess, writes Camilla Tominey.

As he was ushered into the Rolls Building from the back of a blacked out Range Rover, a phalanx of paparazzi snapping his every step, he even managed a smile at the press he claims has been hostile towards him since he was born.

But as he became the first member of the Royal family to appear in the witness box since Edward VII was at the centre of a baccarat scandal in 1891, it soon became apparent that Oprah Winfrey this wasnt.

For more analysis click here.

02:15 PM

Glandular fever article was 'highly personal and distressing'

Pressing the Duke on whether he checked with the Palace before stating whether they put the information about his glandular fever out freely or responded to a journalists question appears to cause some confusion in court.

Harry asserts that this was a request made by MGN to him and his lawyers specifically, to check with the Palace, saying: Yes and I believe you know that.

Mr Green moves on but before he does the Duke adds: Different spokespeople for the Palace work in different ways.

He says that public statements are only reserved for major events and insists that the Mirror article about glandular fever was highly personal and distressing.

Mr Green asks whether he found the same article in the Edinburgh Evening News and The Sun similarly distressing, to which the Duke responds: I didnt even know there was an Edinburgh Evening News todayI didnt see the [article] in the Sun.

02:08 PM

The 'kissing disease' article

The story currently being discussed in the High Court relates to the Dukes diagnosis of glandular fever

Daily Mirror: Harrys sick with kissing disease (March 29 2002)

MGN claims this story was obtained by Jane Kerr, a royal reporter who was well connected. They add that it was also during the period where the relationship between Mark Bolland, the then Prince of Wales deputy private secretary, and Piers Morgan, then Daily Mirror editor, was at its height, so it was likely disclosed by him. They said it was confirmed by a statement from a St James Palace spokesman, as quoted in the article.

02:06 PM

'Kissing disease' article examined

Andrew Green KC, representing the Mirror publisher, has jumped straight back into cross-examining Harry about the eighth article in question.

Titled Harrys sick with kissing disease (March 29 2002), the Daily Mirror article is about Prince Harrys diagnosis of glandular fever.

Mr Green points out that a St Jamess Palace spokeswoman is quoted in the article talking about Harrys condition.

This again was in reaction to a phone call from a journalistbased on the wording thats used here, the Duke interjects.

The Palace does not have a systemic habit of talking of private matters, in fact their job is quite the opposite, he adds.

02:05 PM

Court resumes after lunch

The court session has restarted after lunch

01:52 PM

Piers Morgan has subjected me to 'horrific personal attacks and intimidation'

Piers Morgan

As we await the afternoon session in the High Court, a notable mention of Piers Morgan is included in the Dukes 55-page witness statement.

In his statement, Harry attacked Mr Morgan who left Good Morning Britain for saying he did not believe claims made by the Duchess of Sussex during her and Harrys explosive Oprah Winfrey interview.

The Duke alleged Mr Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror, had been intimidating him and his wife since he launched legal proceedings against the publisher of the Mirror newspaper.

Harry said in his statement: Unfortunately, as a consequence of me bringing my Mirror Group claim, both myself and my wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, who was the editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004, presumably in retaliation and in the hope that I will back down, before being able to hold him properly accountable for his unlawful activity towards both me and my mother during his editorship.

01:03 PM

Court breaks for lunch

The court has now broken for lunch and will return at 2pm.

The highlights of the morning include the following claims.

Prince Harry says Government is at rock bottom in witness statement

Rumours King was not my father designed to oust me from Royal family

Doctors phone may have been hacked to uncover thumb injury

Well be back from 2pm for the afternoon session.

01:00 PM

'It's not my role to deconstruct articles'

The court has moved onto the seventh article in question, a Daily Mirror article titled Harrys cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties (Jan 14 2002) written by Jane Kerr.

Prince Harry, in his claim, has said he doesnt know where the words worried sick could have come from, in relation to his fathers response to his drug taking.

I dont think it is my role to deconstruct the articles, the Duke tells Mr Green after the lawyer attempted to establish whether the quote marks around worried sick in the article were intended to show direct quotation from Charles.

Pressed again by Mr Green about the fact that information was reported elsewhere first, Harry says: When an article comes out in my experience, journalists are under a huge amount of pressure to deliver the goods.

Asked whether the article itself or the breaking of the story impacted him, he tells the court: The headline itself is enough to create judgementthe headline itself let alone the article had a profound impact on me because even though I didnt read it, there are people around me who would have read it.

12:49 PM

Palace co-operated with press over drugs story

The court has now turned to the Dukes allegations that the Palace sometimes cooperated with the press on stories about him, as written in his memoir.

Mr Green brought up the editor of Britains biggest tabloid - the now defunct News of the World and its former editor Rebekah Brooks - calling the then Prince of Wales about his sons drug taking and allegedly negotiating with him.

Mr Green is reading from the Duke of Sussexs memoir, Spare, about the incident, which states that the Palace co-operated with the story and Mark Bolland, the spin doctor decided to spin [the Duke] right under the bus.

Im not entirely sure it was agreed by the Palace, but I know that was his approachI have no idea who was involved in that other than himself, the Duke tells the court.

Mr Green asks if the Palace sometimes co-operated with the press without your consent or knowledge on stories, to which the Duke agrees, but adds: I refer to just two occasions in my book.

This story would have been a red rag to a bull, he said, saying the Sunday Mirror would have done everything they could to further this story.

12:32 PM

'Harry took drugs' and 'Cool it Harry'

This is the latest story to be examined by MGN lawyer Andrew Green at the High Court.

Sunday Mirror: Harry took drugs and Cool it Harry (Jan 13 2002)

A story concerning allegations that the Duke smoked cannabis and his fathers reaction to this.

MGN says the information came from a series of articles published in the first edition of the News of the World the same day, adding that it was followed up by every other Sunday newspaper. They said the Palace had confirmed the story to the now-defunct News of the World, after the then Prince of Wales decided to cooperate with the title. The publisher adds that Prince Harry did not initially allege that the Sunday Mirror articles about this had been unlawfully sourced.

12:30 PM

Next articles to be examined

The court has now turned to the next articles in question, in the Sunday Mirror, titled Harry took drugs and Cool it Harry (Jan 13 2002).

These are stories concerning allegations that the Duke smoked cannabis and his fathers reaction to this.

The article says that the then Prince Charles gave Harry a stern warning but that he understood the need to appreciate teenage years.

Asked if he thinks this information was the result of phone hacking, Harry responds, unlawful information gathering, yes.

Mr Green says that the information about the Duke smoking cannabis came from a series of articles published in the first edition of the News of the World on the same day.

The untrue information, yes, the Duke says.

12:29 PM

Spare memoir contains haircut 'assumption'

The Duke has admitted a story about a haircut in Spare was an assumption.

As a kid at school, I could never have imagined how they got wind of that story so I made the assumption, said the Duke about the story he attributed to a friend at school in his memoir.

Many years later, it seems that wasnt the case, he tells the court.

The Duke adds: Unfortunately many of those friends, who became paranoid over the time, are no longer my friends.

The more this happens over time, the less you share with peopleI become paranoid about the people around me.

At the time of the article in question, Prince Harry was a schoolboy at the prestigious public school Eton College.

12:21 PM

Doctor's phone may have been hacked, Duke suggests

Prince Harry has now suggested that the doctors phone may have been hacked in order for the information about his broken thumb to have gotten out while he was at school.

Do you find it implausible that the information may have come from a fellow schoolmate? Mr Green, representing MGN, asks.

I do not, the Duke responds, but said he cant be sure.

Mr Green points out that in Spare, the Dukes memoir, he revealed that some school friends would reveal information about him to the press - for example, information about a haircut.

The Duke says he wrote the book in hindsight.

12:19 PM

Harry 'can't remember' reading article when published

Are we not in the realms of total speculation? Mr Green has asked Prince Harry about claims that someone was phone hacked to get the broken thumb story.

Im not the one who wrote the article, youd have to ask the journalist, the Duke responds.

He says he cant remember reading the article at the time, but adds: There were certain people that read the BBC, the Mirror, the Mail and just because a story has originated somewhere else it doesnt mean that the people around me havent read the information.

Everybody would have known that I broke my thumb at that point but I dont believe that any newspaper had the right to talk about it, he adds.

In response to a question about the palace spokespersons comments about his injury, he insists it would have been made in response to journalists.

12:16 PM

Thumb injury first reported by news agency

Mr Green has asked Prince Harry whether he has also complained to a press agency about reporting about his broken thumb.

Have you expressed any concerns to the Press Association about divulging information about the injury to your thumb? He asks the Duke.

I have not, Harry responds, adding that he is only now aware it was reported by PA first.

Mr Green then asks whether he has complained about the reporting of the same injury in the Evening Mail, the Evening Standard and the Edinburgh Evening News.

No I havent because its not systemic within the Edinburgh Evening News, I believeunlawful information gathering, he responds.

Reading some of the article in court that is attributed to a doctor, the Duke says: Not only do I have no idea how they would know that, but that instils all sorts of paranoia for a boy in school who needs to go to the medical centre but who now cant trust the doctors.

12:09 PM

Article four - Harry's thumb injury

Daily Mirror: Snap ... Harry breaks thumb like William; Exclusive (Nov 11 2000)

The story is about an injury Prince Harry sustained to his thumb, which he alleges is private information.

MGN said the information came from extensive prior reports in the public domain and had already been disclosed to the press by the Palace. They say it had been reported the day before by the Evening Standard, the Evening Mail and the Edinburgh Evening News - referring to what St Jamess Palace had said and included quotes from a Palace spokeswoman.

The Duke tells the court that he doesnt believe reporting about his broken thumb is  in the public interest.

12:08 PM

Going to pub gave me 'some semblance of life'

Prince Harry tells the court he wanted to have some semblance of a life by attending gastro pubs and restaurants and nightclubs with his friends.

I recall occasions like that when I was occasionally out and about wanting to have some semblance of a life but leaving a club, restaurant, pub and being photographed, the Duke tells the court, talking about the article from 2000 in the Daily Mirror.

The court has now moved on to another Daily Mirror article - the fourth to be examined by MGN lawyer Andrew Green KC.

12:06 PM

Duke's court sketch

Court sketch

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of the Duke of Sussex with his counsel David Sherborne giving evidence at the Rolls Buildings, with Mr Justice Fancourt looking on, during the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

12:03 PM

Photographer may have waited for me at pub

The Duke is being shown photographs taken of him during the day in 2000, which Mr Green has pointed out came from a photographer from an agency, which shares their pictures with newspapers.

Mr Green said the photographer might have been able to rush to the pub to take the pictures once he heard the Duke was there.

He could have been there before I got there, the Duke counters.

Mr Green then brings up that the chef at the gastropub is a famous celebrity chef, Ed Baines, who is quoted in news articles about Harrys appearance at his pub, saying that he could have called the press himself.

If those are indeed his quotes, the Duke interjects, adding that Baines, as the chef, was probably too busy to have done that.

12:00 PM

Harry asked to speak louder

As the judge returned to court after a short break, the Dukes barrister David Sherborne said hed been asked on behalf of a number of people in court and watching proceedings remotely if Harry could raise his voice.

Harry then laughed as Andrew Green KC, for MGN, joked: I hope not raise it in anger.

11:57 AM

Third article being examined

Daily Mirror: 3am - Harrys time at the bar (Sept 19 2000)

An article about Prince Harrys 16th birthday celebrations which he claims divulges private information regarding his personal life, including his whereabouts at a lunch in Chelsea, London, to celebrate his birthday with friends.

Mirror Group deny the claims and argue that photographers had been tipped off that Harry was in the pub and that he was photographed after being spotted and garnering considerable attention from people present at Sunday lunch. They say the story contains limited and banal information about his lunch, and that the paparazzi pictures were not published.

11:56 AM

'I don't walk down streets'

Prince Harrys cross-examination by Andrew Green KC, representing the Mirror publisher, has now turned to the third article in his claim against the three titles.

The article in the Daily Mirror, titled 3am - Harrys time at the bar (Sept 19 2000), about Prince Harrys birthday celebrations which he claims divulges private information regarding his personal life, including his whereabouts at a lunch in Chelsea, London, to celebrate his birthday with friends.

Mr Green points out that Sunday lunchtime on Fulham Road is a busy time and that people may have seen Prince Harry walking down the street.

No, I dont walk down streets, the Duke responds.

11:47 AM

Harry in court: 'licking his lips and fidgeting with suit'

Prince Harry has been struggling to find the various articles and documents in the many bundles of paperwork he has in front of him, writes Victoria Ward in the High Court.

He appears nervous, repeatedly licking his lips, fidgeting with his suit and clearing his throat.

Mr Green is determined to focus on the specific detail, forensically analysing each article as he tries to establish exactly which part of each article Harry believes was obtained unlawfully and how that was done.

The Duke has been forced to admit that he has little to go on - instead making several broader statements about press intrusion and the impact it caused.

Pressed on whether he believed one specific line in a story came from phone hacking, he said: I cant be sure. You would have to ask the journalists themselves.

Mr Green has pointed out that much of the information contained in the relevant articles was already in the public domain.

One concerned his plans to go rock climbing with Prince William.

But Prince Harry, there was no need for the Daily Mirror journalists to use unlawful means because the information had already been published by the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, Mr Green said.

That could be correct  came the reply.

11:44 AM

Court takes short break

Before the cross-examination moves onto the next article, the court has taken a short break.

11:44 AM

Phone hacking occurs even when stories are in public domain, Duke says

The Duke has insisted that Mirror journalists could still have obtained information from phone hacking, even in the case when some of the information was in the public domain in previous articles from other publications.

Based on my understanding and what I know, just because there was a story previously, doesnt stop a journalist from attempting to take it further, Prince Harry says.

Mr Green asks whether this doesnt strike the Duke as a little unfair.

11:39 AM

Newsroom competition drove 'desperate' need for royal stories

Asked by Mr Green if he was aware that MGN denies the unlawful gathering of information, the Duke says he is, but insists that it is impossible to believe.

He tells the court: Thats impossible to believe given the level of interest myself at the time as well as how desperate journalists were for something Royal.

Mirror Group has admitted to elements of phone hacking already, I believe, and the competition between newsrooms means theres going to be a desperate need to find out anything about our private lives, he adds.

Mr Green then shows the Duke a Daily Mail article, from July 15 2000, two days before the Daily Mirror article he is complaining about, that reveals the Princes were not going to be present at the Queen Mothers gala pageant.

11:33 AM

The second article

Daily Mirror: Princes take to the hills for gala (July 17 2000)

This article is about the Duke of Sussexs plans to go on a rock climbing trip with his brother rather than attending a gala pageant for the Queen Mother.

MGN denies getting this information unlawfully, saying that it had already been reported in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday stories beforehand which confirmed the brothers absence from the gala and their rock climbing plans. They say the non-attendance had already been confirmed by Buckingham Palace at that point.

11:32 AM

Second article being examined by MGN

The court has turned now to the second article in the Dukes claim, Princes take to the hills for gala (July 17 2000).

The Daily Mirror article is about the Duke of Sussexs plans to go on a rock climbing trip with his brother rather than attending a gala pageant for the Queen Mother.

Mr Green asks whether the Duke thinks that some of the information in this article is a result of phone hacking, asking whos mobile is likely to have been hacked.

I believe it could have been anyone from myself to my brother to Paddy Haverson, the Duke responds.

Mr Harverson is the former communications secretary for the then Prince of Wales, but Mr Green points out that he wasnt appointed until 2004 so would not be a possibility.

The Duke tells the court that theres quite a lot of quotes and suspicious information in the article, adding that part of the reason we were going rock climbing 270 miles away was because of press intrusion.

11:25 AM

MGN lawyer moves on from first article

Mr Green will now cross-examine the Duke on a second article.

Before he does so, the Duke claimed evidence of invoices to third parties such as private investigators has been destroyed.

Knowing what I know and in my experience, the vast majority of stories that appeared were the result of some form of unlawful activity, even if they appeared in other newspapers beforehand, the Duke tells the court.

In the case of the 1996 Daily Mirror article, Mr Green pushes that the Duke has no evidence of invoices relating to it.

I think a lot of the evidence was destroyed, the Duke says, adding that he finds the timing of the invoices incredibly suspicious.

11:18 AM

'I dont know how anyone would know that'

Mr Green now turns to the mention of Paddy Whiteland, the familys late former gardener who was in hospital at the time with cancer.

The 1996 article says that Prince Harry would probably be as distressed as his father at the gardeners illness.

I dont know how anyone would know that, Prince Harry responds, to which Mr Green brings up previous reports of the then Prince Charles discussing the familys warm relationship with the gardener.

Mr Green says that previous articles referred to the fact that Princes Harry and William would visit the gardener at his home often.

There were lots of people that worked on my fathers estate, the Duke says, but adds that as far as I can remember Mr Whitelands ill-health was upsetting to him.

The Duke later quips I feel like were doing a workout, as he is handed bundle after bundle to refer to during his cross-examination.

11:14 AM

Harry questioned over mother's statements

Still discussing the 1996 Daily Mirror article about Princess Dianas visit to Ludgrove, Mr Green asks the Duke where he thinks his mothers statements come from.

It seems my mother was responding to a question, but this was specifically PA and as I believe Ive said already - when anyone copies or repurposes any element of whats happened before, it goes to a wider audience so more people would find out about that, the Duke responds.

The explanation that my mother gave would probably have been like a red flag to a bull to any journalist, he adds.

The article itself refers to Princess Diana visiting Prince Harry at Ludgrove School on his 12th birthday.

The Duke alleges that private information was leaked about his family life, namely the details of his feelings regarding his parents divorce.

Mirror Group deny that this story was the result of unlawful information gathering, saying that the fact Diana was visiting her son at school had been publicly confirmed by her spokesman to the Press Association two days before.

11:08 AM

Mirror divorce story had 'no legitimacy'

Daily Mirror article

The Duke is responding to questions over an article published by the Daily Mirror in 1996 which mentions his feelings about the then Prince Charles and the late Princess of Waless divorce.

Like most children, I took their divorce badly. I dont think the quote is a guess, I think specific information was found outI wouldnt say it was an assumption, Prince Harry told the court.

He adds that the Daily Mirror article is littered with elements of private information.

Mr Green asks whether that information was likely to have come from phone hacking.

The article itself and every if not most of the elements in it were intrusive, and the journalist himself had no legitimacy to put it into a newspaper, the Duke responds, adding that the obtaining of that information seems incredibly suspicious to him.

11:05 AM

Diana's Eton visit reported by Press Association

Mr Green brings up the fact that the Press Association had reported that Princess Diana was due to visit the Prince for his 12th birthday at Ludgrove school before any of the Mirror titles did.

I wasnt aware of that, the Duke says. Mr Green points out that Dianas spokeswoman had confirmed her appearance to PA.

But the information there is vastly different to the information in the article itself, the Duke responds.

He told the court that observers coming to his school to catch a glimpse of his mother did not happen often.

I cant remember anyone being there on my birthday, he says, after Mr Green asks whether that was possible.

10:59 AM

Harry questioned over 'paranoid' claims

Mr Green, representing MGN, has asked the Duke how he became hugely paranoid if he didnt read the articles.

Many of the articles I did read, the Duke says, adding: The vast majority were attributed to a pal, a friend, a source, an onlooker, which actually creates more suspicion about where the articles come from.

As a child growing up and throughout my teenage years, I was under press invasion for most of my life up until this day, he adds.

10:52 AM

Stories played 'destructive' role in childhood, Duke tells High Court

Mr Green has asked the Duke again whether he was aware of the content of the articles at the time of publication - which this case concerns Mirror title articles from 1996 to 2011.

The claimant was upset at the time the articles were published, Mr Green reads from the court documents.

As a child, every single one of these articles played an important and destructive role in my growing up, the Duke responds, still insisting that he may not have been aware of the specific content of the articles.

Theres more than thousands, perhaps millions of articles that have been written about me since age 12, he adds.

Because its 20 years ago I simply cant speculate about how it wasI certainly saw a lot of articles at the time.

When private information that I have only shared with one or two people ends up on the front page of a newspaper - your circle of friends starts to shrink and diminish, the Duke tells the court.

10:49 AM

Harry's witness statement in full

10:47 AM

Harry questioned over witness statement

Turning now to the Dukes 55-page witness statement, the Duke confirms he is trying to hold people in the press to account.

Mr Green asks about the statement: How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone will put a stop to this madness, which the Duke wrote, referring to journalists.

Who has blood on their hands? Mr Green asked.

The Duke says: Some of the editors and journalists who are responsible for some of the pain and sadness and inadvertently death.

He adds that the statement was written more broadly towards the tabloid press itself than any particular people in the media.

I havent named the journalists in that particular paragraph, he says, saying his hope by giving evidence is to bring a stop to it all.

10:45 AM

'Press have been hostile since I was born'

The Duke has claimed he has experienced hostility from the press since he was born.

Asked whether it would be right to say that he had a longstanding hostility to the press due to the press intrusion in his life, the Duke said it would be.

Finding out about the unlawful methods of how the information of these articles was obtained certainly shocked me, he told the court.

10:43 AM

Duke asked whether he read articles in question

Mr Green is pressing the Duke on whether he read the articles in question at the time of publication, India McTaggart reports.

I didnt say that I didnt read them at the time, Harry says.

He adds: Newspapers are always in every single Palace, unfortunately, as well as that some of the articles I may have not remembered or seen at the time - the vast majority of them were read by other people in my circle.

As a result of the articles, he said their behaviour changed around me.

The era is somewhat different compared to now and in 1996, I was a child, I was at school. These articles are incredibly invasive and every single time these articles were written it had an effect on me, my life and the people around me - including my mother, he told Mr Green.

This is approximately 20 years ago, I would be speculating if I said I can remember exactly reading these articles when I was 12-years-old, he added, when pressed

10:40 AM

Prince Harry says Government is at rock bottom in witness statement

The Duke of Sussex has made an extraordinary intervention into politics, claiming that the Government is at rock bottom.

Prince Harry, 38, used the witness statement he lodged in a High Court case against a tabloid newspaper to liken the state of the Government to that of the press.

The 55-page statement was released on Tuesday as he began giving evidence in the case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking.

Read more here.

10:39 AM

Articles chosen by Harry 'showed most obvious elements of unlawful activity'

Mr Green, for the Mirror publishers, confirms that originally the claim brought 143 articles about the Prince published in the three Mirror titles, of which 33 were chosen.

I believe theres over 140 articles in total [in his claim] and 33 in question today, the Duke confirms.

He agrees that he selected the articles to bring to his claim together with his solicitors.

Asked what criteria was used to choose the articles in question, the Duke responds: The ones that showed the most obvious elements of intrusive and unlawful activity.

10:37 AM

Harry receives apology as cross-examination begins

Andrew Green KC, representing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has now begun his cross-examination of Prince Harry, urging him to say so if he considers a question too intrusive, India McTaggart reports.

He brings up MGNs unreserved apology to the Duke at the beginning of the trial, saying that one incident of unlawful information gathering the publisher admitted to should have never happened and it will not happen again.

10:32 AM

Harry enters witness box

The Duke of Sussex has made history today as he entered the witness box at 10:30am in Court 15 in the Rolls Building, the modern wing of the Royal Courts of Justice - becoming the first senior member of the Royal family to give evidence in 132 years.

He was invited to take the oath and poured himself a glass of water before his lawyer, David Sherborne, asked him how he would be preferred to be addressed.

Youd rather be called Prince Harry, he noted, to which the Duke nodded.

10:27 AM

Courtroom falls silent as Harry enters

The Duke has entered Court 15 of the Rolls Building, the High Courts modern annexe, Victoria Ward writes.

The packed courtroom fell silent as he entered and took a seat alongside his legal team.

10:25 AM

Analysis: Prince Harrys army training will help him during court case

Harry in Afghanistan

The Duke of Sussexs military training will help him cope with being cross-examined when he takes the stand in his court case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, according to a royal expert.

Ingrid Seward told GB News: The only thing that Harry does have on his side is hes got that army training. And if you believe what he said in his book were which I presume we all do, hes been through some very intense difficult moments during his army training.

They really got to him and said terrible things about his mother, this was training that he went through and he was abused. I think that will stand him in good stead because most people when they go to court havent got anything like that.

But I think Harry will find it absolutely exhausting and very scary and he cant deviate from what the judge is asking him so theres no point in rambling about anything else. Hes got to just answer the questions as asked.

In a discussion with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, she continued: The problem is that hes got no proof. Hes got he said that hes been hacked and we probably all believe him. But hes got to produce evidence and I think hes going to find that very difficult.

10:14 AM

Pictured: Harry arrives to give evidence

This is the landmark moment the Duke of Sussex arrived at the High Court to give evidence in his trial against Mirror Group Newspapers.

Harry will become the first senior royal to enter the witness box in court for 130 years when he is sworn in on Tuesday morning.

Harry

Harry

Harry

09:50 AM

Duke targeted by satirist outside High Court

Kaya Mar with his political artwork outside court

The Duke of Sussex has been targeted by a political satirist outside the High Court as he prepares to give evidence in his trial against Mirror Group Newspapers.

London-based caricaturist Kaya Mar is among the banks of photographers and reporters awaiting the Dukes arrival at court on Tuesday morning.



Mr Mar, who has previously targeted Boris Johnson and Theresa May with his political cartoons, told the Telegraph he created the artwork ahead of Harry and Meghans wedding. He said he aimed to show Harry as a primitive hunter who had brought back a wife.



He is a nuisance to the Royal family. The trouble with him and his wife is that they crave publicity so they cant have it both ways, he told the Telegraph.

09:45 AM

Harry due to be sworn in

Harry arrives at High Court

The Duke arrived at the High Court after being driven to the front entrance of the Rolls Building in front of waiting photographers.

He is due to be sworn in this morning before he is cross-examined by the Mirror Group Newspapers barrister Andrew Green KC.

Proceedings are due to start at 10.30am.

09:38 AM

Prince Harry arrives at High Court

Harry

The Duke of Sussex has arrived at the High Court

09:06 AM

Recap: Prince Harry cannot win his war against the media

Prince Harry is set to give evidence in his court case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for unlawful information gathering.

In this episode of Royal Insight, Camilla Tominey explains how the Dukes court cases are double-edged swords.

08:50 AM

Pictured: Media await Harry's arrival

Media

Photographers have started gathering outside the High Court in anticipation of the Duke of Sussexs arrival on Tuesday.

Proceedings on the second day of Harrys individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) is due to start at 10.30am.

08:18 AM

Harry's US visa to be challenged at court

Harry

While the Duke is in London, another legal case taking place across the Atlantic is set to take place concerning his US visa application.

The US Government is set to be challenged in court over its decision not to disclose the reasoning behind admitting the Duke of Sussex into the country, despite his admissions of illegal drug use.

Harrys reference to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare prompted a conservative Washington DC think tank to question why he was allowed into the US in 2020.

The Heritage Foundation brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after a Freedom of Information Act request was rejected - claiming it was of immense public interest.

But the DHS said swift release of the documents would not be in the public interest and questioned how widespread the media coverage of the issue had been.

Both parties are set to argue the case in a federal court for the first time in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Read more here.

07:52 AM

Harry faces court showdown with beast

Andrew Green KC

When Prince Harry steps into the witness box at the High Court he will be faced across the courtroom by a man described as a beast, Gordon Rayner writes.

Andrew Green KC was called to the bar when the Duke of Sussex was four-years-old, took silk 13 years ago and has built a formidable reputation as an inquisitor who eviscerates witnesses.

The Duke has already riled him  and appears to have annoyed the trial judge  by failing to show up on Monday, despite witnesses being told they should be in court on the day before they are due to give evidence in case the hearing goes quicker than expected.

So the Duke can expect no favours from a man described as an opponent to be feared by the Legal 500 law guide.

Read more here.

07:46 AM

Harry claims Piers Morgans Mirror hacked Princess Diana

Newspapers

Mirror journalists working under the editorship of Piers Morgan hacked the phone of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Duke of Sussexs barrister has claimed, Victoria Ward reports.

David Sherborne said it was obvious that Mr Morgan had obtained private information about the late Princess from her voice messages.

As the barrister opened the Dukes case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), he said the late Princess had become a huge target for the publisher, adding that its unlawful activities would have also affected her son.

He said: It is part of our case that the interception of her messages would necessarily have involved obtaining information about the young Prince.

Read more here.

07:44 AM

The 33 articles Mirror newspapers allegedly obtained unlawfully

The Duke of Sussex will be the first member of the Royal family to give evidence in court for 130 years on Tuesday in his case against the Mirror publisher, India McTaggart reports.

He alleges that 147 articles published between 1996 and 2010 by the Mirror titles contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these stories have been selected to be considered at the trial.

The stories cover the Dukes relationship with his family and ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, a few injuries and illnesses, his military service and allegations of drug use.

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) told the trial in London that it denies that 28 out of the 33 articles involved unlawful information gathering and that it was not admitted for the remaining five articles.

Read more here.

07:41 AM

Harry rebuked by judge for skipping first day of court

Harry

The Duke of Sussex was rebuked by a High Court judge on Monday for skipping the first day of his claim against a tabloid newspaper, Victoria Ward reports.

The Duke, 38, failed to appear for the opening of his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) as he spent Sunday celebrating his daughter Princess Lilibets second birthday with his family in California, the court was told.

Mr Justice Fancourt, the trial judge, said he was a little surprised that his directions had not been followed.

He said it had been anticipated that witnesses might be needed earlier than the draft timetable suggested, adding: Thats why I directed that the first witness should be available.

Read more here.

07:38 AM

Duke of Sussex to give evidence at High Court

Good morning and welcome to the Telegraphs live coverage of the Duke of Sussexs case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering.

Prince Harry is due to give evidence today after he missed the first day of proceedings.

Lets recap what happened in the High Court on Monday.

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Prince Harry made an appearance at a UK courtroom on Tuesday, when he swore to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accused of phone hacking.

The Duke of Sussex arrived at Londons High Court in a black SUV, passing by dozens of photographers and TV cameras. Inside, he held a Bible in one hand as he was sworn in. The 38-year-old is suing the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

The youngest son of King Charles III claimed the outlet used unlawful techniques on an "industrial scale" to get scoops on the British royal family. The father of two will face cross-examination by a lawyer for the defendant, Mirror Group Newspapers, which is contesting the claims.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of the Duke of Sussex (left) with his counsel David Sherborne (right) giving evidence at the Rolls Buildings in central London, with Justice Fancourt (center) looking on, during the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). A number of high-profile figures have brought claims against MGN over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles.

The prince wore a dark suit and tie as he sat in the witness box. He told Mirror Group attorney Andrew Green that he had "experienced hostility from the press since I was born." Harry also accused the tabloids of playing "a destructive role in my growing up."

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives to the Royal Courts of Justice, Britains High Court, in central London on June 6, 2023.

Harry is the first senior British royal since the 19th century to face questioning in court. His ancestor Prince Albert Edward, Queen Victorias eldest son who went on to become King Edward VII in 1901, appeared as a witness in a trial over a gambling scandal in 1891.

Harry has made it his lifes work to hold the UK press accountable for what he sees as its hounding of him and his family.

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In a witness statement released just as he entered court, Harry said the UK tabloids were responsible for "inciting hatred and harassment" in his private life.

He described how his decision to move to California with Meghan Markle, a former American actress, was "due to the constant intrusion, inciting of hatred and harassment by the tabloid press into every aspect of our private lives, which had a devastating impact on our mental health and wellbeing."

PRINCESS EUGENIE'S NEWBORN BABY KNOCKS PRINCE EDWARD DOWN LINE OF SUCCESSION TO BRITISH THRONE

Meghan Markle, an American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Prince Harry in 2018.

"We were also very concerned for the security and safety of our son," Harry added.

According to the prince, the "vile" behavior from the tabloids had him in a "downward spirit." He also said members of the royal family are "cast into a specific role by the tabloid press." As the "spare" to his brother Prince William, who is heir to the throne, he was cast as the "thicko," "cheat," "underage drinker" and "irresponsible drug taker."

"As a teenager and in my early 20s, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well do the crime, so to speak," said Harry.

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers," he explained. "Looking back on it now, such behavior on their part is utterly vile."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020. They now reside in California with their son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet.

"I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers," he noted.

Harry was forced almost immediately to acknowledge that he couldnt recall specific articles he was complaining about. Green pressed him on how they could have caused such distress if he couldnt remember having read them at the time.

"It isnt a specific article, it is all of the articles," Harry replied. "Every single article has caused me distress."

Green then asked Harry to identify what evidence he had of phone hacking in specific articles, and Harry said hed have to ask that question of the journalist who wrote it. He repeatedly said that the manner in which information had been obtained was highly or incredibly suspicious.

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Prince Harry has long blamed the paparazzi for the death of his mother, Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales passed away in 1997 from injuries she sustained in a Paris car crash. She was 36. At the time, the royal was being chased by photographers.

When asked how reporters could have hacked his phone for an article about his 12th birthday  a time when he admitted he didnt have a mobile phone  Harry suggested they may have hacked his mother's phone.

"Thats just speculation youve come up with now," Green suggested.

In the same article, Green pointed out that a reference to him taking his parents divorce badly was obvious.

"Like most children I think, yes," Harry said.

But the prince said it was not legitimate to report such information and "the methods in which it was obtained seem incredibly suspicious."

Princess Diana is seen here being interviewed by Martin Bashir for the program "Panorama" in 1995.

Green then pointed out that his mother previously made public comments to reporters about the difficulties of her children after the divorce.

Setting out the princes case in court on Monday, his lawyer David Sherborne said that from Harrys childhood, British newspapers used hacking and subterfuge to mine snippets of information that could be turned into front-page scoops.

According to Sherborne, stories about Harry were big sellers for the newspapers, and some 2,500 articles covered facets of his life during the time period of the case  from 1996 to 2011. The stories covered injuries at school, experimentation with marijuana and cocaine, as well as relationships with girlfriends.

PRINCE HARRY'S UK COURT SHOWDOWN: ROYAL FAILS TO SHOW UP FOR FIRST DAY, LEAVES JUDGE FRUSTRATED

Prince Harry is one of several claimants in a lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers related to allegations of unlawful information gathering in previous decades.

"Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds," said Sherborne.

In his written witness statement, Harry said he felt "as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely."

"I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," he said.

The Mirror Group has paid more than 100 million pounds ($125 million) to settle hundreds of unlawful information-gathering claims. It also printed an apology to phone hacking victims in 2015. However, the newspaper denies or has not admitted to any of Harrys claims, which relate to 33 published articles.

Prince Harry has made it his life's work to hold the UK press accountable.

Green said there was "simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis."

Green noted that he plans to question Harry for a day and a half.

Harry was expected in court on Monday for the opening of the hacking case. It is the first of his several lawsuits against the media to go to a full trial. However, Sherborne said the prince was absent because he had taken a flight on Sunday from Los Angeles after celebrating the birthday of his 2-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet.

"Im a little surprised," said Judge Timothy Fancourt concerning Harrys absence, noting he directed the prince to be prepared to testify.

Prince Harry detailed his fury against the British press in his memoir "Spare."

Harry has detailed his fury against the UK press in his memoir "Spare," which was published in January of this year. He has also spoken out in several televised interviews.

PRINCE HARRY SAYS 400 PAGES CUT FROM BOOK 'SPARE' BECAUSE WILLIAM, CHARLES WOULD NEVER FORGIVE HIM

He has long blamed the paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. The 36-year-old died from injuries she sustained in Paris while being chased by photographers. He also harassment and intrusion from the UK press, as well as alleged racist articles, prompted him and his wife to leave the country.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020. They now reside in California with their two young children.
TOBY MELVILLE

Prince Harry says he feared British tabloid journalists wanted to prove his father was James Hewitt so he could be ousted from the royal family.

Harry made the remarks in a witness statement that was released Tuesday morning as he became the first senior royal to give evidence and be cross examined in open court in over 130 years.

As part of his statement, Harry detailed dozens of articles that he believes Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) obtained by illegal means, including voicemail hacking.

One of these was an article published in 2002 in the Sunday People headlined: Plot to rob the DNA of Harry.

Harry said the article reported a plot to steal a sample of my DNA to test my parentage in the wake of multiple rumors that Hewitt was his father after his mother admitted to having an affair with him in her Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.

In his statement Harry said: Numerous newspapers had reported a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born. At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born. This timeline is something I only learnt of in around 2014, although I now understand this was common knowledge amongst the defendants journalists.

At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me. They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories. Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family?

Harry spoke about the rumors that Hewitt was his father in his memoir, Spare, writing: There was even talk that some reporters were seeking my DNA to prove itmy first intimation that, after tormenting my mother and sending her int hiding, they would soon be coming for me.

Harrys testimony was released after he arrived at the High Court Tuesday morning. He stepped out of a black SUV in central London shortly before 10 a.m. local time.

Harry was dressed in a dark suit and said, good morning to waiting reporters. He is giving evidence in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers, the publishers of the British tabloid the Daily Mirror, whom he accuses of publishing stories based on illegally obtained information.

Asked how he would like to be addressed by his own lawyer, David Sherborne, as he stepped onto the stand, Harry said that on the first occasion he would like to be addressed as Your Royal Highness and after that as Prince Harry.

After a brief recap of his own witness statement, cross examination was begun by MGN lawyer Andrew Green, with the process due to continue on Wednesday.

Green has been described by a prominent legal journal as a beast in court, with Legal 500 saying he was: A spectacular cross-examination master; his charming manner brings the judge onside and makes his evisceration of witnesses all the more devastating.

Harry had been due to attend court yesterday but didnt show up because he had been celebrating his daughters second birthday in California, leading to a reprimand from the surprised judge.

In his absence, his lawyer laid out Harrys case alleging that he was the subject of systematic surveillance by reporters and investigators working for MGN, which led to the breakdown of relationships as he wrongly suspected close friends were leaking intelligence to the newspapers.

Sherborne also alleged that MGN conducted surveillance of Harrys mother Diana, leading her to become paranoid and isolated.

This morning, as he was sworn in, his witness statement was released.

Harry said in the statement, which went through 33 articles published about him by MGN, that he was effectively assigned a role by the papers.

He wrote: My experience as a member of the Royal Family, each of us gets cast into a specific role by the tabloid press. You start off as a blank canvas while they work out what kind of person you are and what kind of problems and temptations you might have. They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible, especially if you are the spare to the heir. Youre then either the playboy prince, the failure, the drop out or, in my case, the thicko, the cheat, the underage drinker, the irresponsible drug taker, the list goes on.

As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well do the crime, so to speak.

It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behavior on their part is utterly vile.

Harry said the papers took pleasure in ruining his relationships, because as a single person he sold more newspapers and said, Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible... This twisted objective is still pursued to this day even though Im now married.

He added: At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal.

Harry argued that the publication of articles about me that were often wrong but interspersed with snippets of truth, which I now think were most likely gleaned from voicemail interception and/or unlawful information gatheringcreated an alternative and distorted version of me and my life to the general publicbeing those people that I had to serve and interact with as part of my role in the Royal Familyto the point where any one of the thousands of people that I met or was introduced to on any given day, could easily have gone you know what, youre an idiot. Ive read all the stories about you and Im now going to stab you.

Harry then moved on to a discussion of the 33 sample articles and why he believed they were based on illegally gathered information.

He said he thought he was first issued with a mobile phone by the Institutionwhen I first went to Eton, when I was still a minor. I have never been the named account holder for any mobile that I have had and have almost never received a phone bill. As far as I was aware, this was all dealt with by the Institution, presumably for security purposes although that now seems rather ironic.

He said: I wouldnt go into my voicemail unless the little envelope symbol flashed up on my phone signalling to me that I had a new message. Sometimes this symbol would vanish before I had a chance to listen to the voicemail. I dont know how long after theyd been listened to that the symbol vanished, presumably straight away. I also distinctly remember people saying to me did you not get my voicemail? on both a personal and a work-related level. I was like, no, and sometimes I would go back into my voicemail to look for it but still couldnt find it.

He said the hacking, created a huge amount of paranoia in my relationships. I would become immediately suspicious of anyone that was named in a story about me I felt that I couldnt trust anybody, which was an awful feeling for me especially at such a young age. As I am uncovering the extent of the unlawful activities carried out by MGNs journalist and senior executives towards me, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family had, in fact, been misplaced, although feel sad for how much it impacted my adolescence.

He also discussed the Mirror snooping on his mother Princess Dianas calls under then-editor Piers Morgan, saying, The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a nightmare time three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behavior.

He later attacked Morgan, who has become one of Harry and Meghans chief critics, again, saying: Unfortunately, as a consequence of me bringing my Mirror Group claim, both myself and my wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, who was the Editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004, presumably in retaliation and in the hope that I will back down, before being able to hold him properly accountable for his unlawful activity towards both me and my mother during his editorship.

In an extraordinary attack on the government, which makes clear how far Harry has departed from the usual royal protocols, Harry said he was bringing the case because, Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our governmentboth of which I believe are at rock bottom. Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo. I may not have a role within the Institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest. The country and the British public deserve to know the depths of what was actually happening then, and indeed now. We will be better off for it.

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Prince Harry Gives Evidence At The Mirror Group Newspapers Trial

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives to give evidence at the Mirror Group Phone hacking trial at the Rolls Building at High Court on June 6, 2023 in London, England. Credit - Neil MockfordGC Images via Getty Images

In what will be a spectacle not seen for over a century, Prince Harry takes the stand in Londons high court Tuesday, as part of a messy and yearslong battle with British tabloids over a major phone hacking scandal.

The rare courtroom appearance will see the Duke of Sussex, 38, deliver evidence against the Mirror newspaper groupowners of the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, and the Sunday People. Harry alleges that these titles hacked his personal phone a number of times from 1996 to 2011, in pursuit of unflattering and invasive stories about him.

By testifying, Harry opens himself up to potentially aggressive cross-examination that could reveal personal details that Buckingham Palace might prefer were not publicly aired. The last time a senior British royal took the stand was in 1891, when the future King Edward VII was involved in an illegal gambling scandal.

More from TIME

Clearly the royal familys avoidance of court appearances is linked to the concern that anything can, in theory, be raised in a court, Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, tells TIME. There is obviously concern that issues dealing with the royal familys relationship with the press will be raised. Harry has claimed there is collusion between them.

The royal family has typically opted to settle legal claims behind closed doors. In 2020, Prince William settled his own phone hacking case against News Grouppublishers of the Times, the Sunday Times, and the Sunand accepted an undisclosed payout. But Harry has refused to settle this time around amid growing frustration with the British press.

As Harry prepares to testify, heres everything we know about the case.

What are Harrys allegations?

Addressing editors of four British tabloid newspapers in April 2020shortly after stepping back as working royalsHarry and Meghan wrote a letter in which they outlined the human cost of their reporting methods. The couple wrote that the tabloids pull lives apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue.

This case is being seen by many as an extension of these frustrations. Harrys case brings forth 33 stories that he believes were facilitated by hacking his phone, as well as that of William and his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy throughout the early 2000s. The lawsuit alleges that senior executives at the company were aware of these activities.

Read More: Why Prince Harry, Elton John, and 5 Others Are Suing the Daily Mails Publisher

Harrys lawyer said these instances were widespread and habitual and led to the couple losing trust in numerous friends and experiencing undue pressure on their relationship. The case also outlines a number of suspicious calls to Davy days before British tabloids reported in intimate detail the couples plans to break up because she could not handle press intrusion.

The 33 stories noted in the trial go back as early as Harrys 12th birthday, in 1996, when it was reported that he felt badly about his parents divorce. Harry said that growing up with these insights into his life being published led to feelings or paranoia about who he could trust, as well as huge bouts of depression and paranoia.

The case further alleges that Piers Morgan, a vocal critic of Harry and Meghan Markle, was aware of unlawful techniques being used by reporters during his time as editor of the Mirror from 1995 to 2004.

What is the Mirror Group arguing?

Mirror Group Newspapers denies hacking Harrys phone, asserting that any stories it published were informed by legitimate reporting methods. The publisher has, however, apologized for hiring a private investigator to look into a night out that the royal spent in a bar, which resulted in a 2004 article headlined Sex on the beach with Harry. This story is, however, not one of the 33 articles that the case rests upon.

MGN also argues that the case should be thrown out because claims were not brought in the six-year window from when the alleged wrongdoings happened or when the plaintiff knew about it.

The publisher has already paid over $125 million in settlements over similar cases, and printed an apology to a victim of phone hacking in 2015. In reference to allegations that MGN intercepted voicemails between him and Davy, the publisher said the industry was already rocked by the aftermath of the phone hacking scandals, and that it is highly unlikely they would resort to these techniques.

The scandal first emerged in 2006 and saw Clive Goodman, the royal editor of the now defunct publication News of the World, as well as hacker Glenn Mulcaire, convicted of phone hacking the following year. Two years later, it emerged that the practice was more widespread than initially thought. The scandal blew up in 2011 when Met police found as many as 4,000 people were hacked by the publication.

What other legal disputes is Harry involved in?

At present, Harry is awaiting news on whether two other cases of illegal information gathering that he has brought will proceed to trial. He is suing News Group Newspapers, the parent company of The Sun, over claims the publication illegally hacked his voicemails during the 2000s.

The Duke is also involved in an ongoing libel case against Associated Newspapers Limited regarding its reporting of a lawsuit he lodged against the British Home Office concerning security arrangements for his family when they are in the U.K.

Harrys libel case is in reference to the Daily Mail headline claiming that he tried to conceal legal efforts to get the British government to provide police protection. The headline in question read: How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over police bodyguards a secret then  just minutes after the story broke  his PR machine tried to put a positive spin on the dispute.

Two judges are set to decide later this year if either of these lawsuits should progress to trial.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lived in the US since early 2020.

A federal judge has begun hearing arguments in a case that hopes to make public the Duke of Sussex's US immigration records.

The lawsuit, from the conservative Heritage Foundation, seeks to compel the government to release the records to show whether drug use was disclosed.

Prince Harry, 38, has publicly admitted to using cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

A decision in the case, being heard in Washington DC, may take weeks.

Application forms for US visas specifically ask about current and past drug use.

Drug use can lead to non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications being rejected, although immigration officers have discretion to make a final decision based on a number of factors.

It is not clear what visa Prince Harry used to enter the US. His wife, Meghan Markle, is a US citizen. The couple have lived in California since 2020.

At the heart of the Heritage Foundation's lawsuit is an admission by Prince Harry, in his memoir Spare, that he repeatedly used drugs as a teenager in the UK and as an adult.

In the lawsuit, the Heritage Foundation argues that "widespread" coverage of the duke's admitted drug use calls into question whether the government properly followed immigration law when it admitted him into the US, and whether he was given preferential treatment.

Current or past drug use could, in theory, make one inadmissible to the US.

During an hour-long court hearing on Tuesday, Heritage Foundation lawyer Samuel Dewey said the case was about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s "compliance with the law".

The judge in the case, Carl Nichols, will first have to determine whether DHS' headquarters must expedite the process of finding relevant documents. Several components of DHS, including Customs and Border Patrol, have already denied the foundation's request to reveal the documents, citing privacy concerns.

Judge Nichols told DHS to decide by 13 June whether it will release the documents or expedite a Freedom of Information Act request.

If they reject the request, he will hear arguments in court to determine whether it is in the public interest to make the immigration documents - or parts of them - available.

"We're not at that stage yet," Judge Nichols said.

DHS, for its part, has argued that there is no need for the rapid release of Prince Harry's documents.

It has also argued that that there was nothing to suggest "widespread" public interest in seeing the immigration documents.

A lawyer representing DHS in the case, John Bardo, said that the Heritage case was based on a "bunch of articles" in the British press that "simply speculate" about Prince Harry's visa status and do not call into question the government's integrity. He added that a person's visa status is confidential.

He argued that the issue of the duke's visa is only of interest to "certain social circles" in the US and has been largely ignored by mainstream US media outlets.

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher who works as a foreign policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, told BBC News last week that the foundation believes the case is "symbolically important".

"If Prince Harry was treated differently than anyone else applying, I think it would undermine confidence in the US immigration system and how it is enforced," he said.

"It's important that US officials are seen to be applying the law robustly, effectively and fairly," Mr Gardiner added. "Otherwise the system doesn't work at all."

Court documents filed by the Heritage Foundation cite a number of examples of British celebrities being refused entry or returned to the UK.

In 2010, for example, the documents said musician Pete Doherty was refused entry at an airport in New York and sent back to the UK, despite having a visa. Mr Doherty has several prior drug convictions.

In 2014, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson was prevented from boarding a flight from the UK to Los Angeles after admitting to taking cocaine "two times in my life" in evidence during an unrelated court case.

A spokeswoman for the US embassy in London said at the time: "There are several ways of legally travelling into the United States and Ms Lawson has been invited to come to the embassy and apply for a visa for travel to the US." Ms Lawson was eventually granted a visa.

The US case is separate from an ongoing civil case in the UK in which Harry has sued Mirror Group Newspapers over allegations of phone hacking.
Prince Harry railed against Britains government and press on Tuesday in another day of bombshell allegations at his phone-hacking case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

Abandoning the convention that royals do not comment on politics, the Duke of Sussex said both Rishi Sunaks administration and the media were at rock bottom and that it was harming British democracy.

Harry, the first royal to testify in court since 1891, claimed the government was scared of alienating British newspapers because position is power.

In a scathing broadside. he accused journalists of having blood staining their typing fingers.

It prompted some Tory MPs to call for Harry to renounce his title, arguing he had broken the golden rule of royals not getting involved in politics.

Harry alleges that 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) gathered using unlawful methods. But lawyers for MGN suggested the royals claims of phone hacking are in the realms of total speculation.

Prince Harry leaves after giving evidence at the Mirror Group Phone hacking trial (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

In a day of high court drama, it was also revealed:

Harry called Princess Dianas butler, Paul Burrell, a two-face s***

The Duke of Sussex feared false stories about James Hewitt being his father were an attempt to oust him from the Royal Family

The thought of Piers Morgan listening to his mothers voicemails made Harry physically sick

He claimed the former Daily Mirror editor subjected he and his wife Meghan Markle to horrific personal attacks and intimidation

He accused the tabloids of constant intrusion and of inciting hatred and harassment

Harry claimed he is only 5% funded by the taxpayer as he was a working royal

The Duke of Sussex said he has never received a mobile phone bill and that this was dealt with by the royal family

He said that he was worried Eton would kick him out after stories about drug-taking

The duke was singled out as a p***y by his peers following press reports of his injuries during his time at school and Sandhurst

In his witness statement, Harry said he was bringing his claim against MGN not because I hate the tabloid press but to hold account the people who have hijacked those privileges.

He added the British press has shown no willingness to change and he wanted to make sure that the alleged unlawful behaviour was exposed.

In the statement, he said: This has become a huge problem of which I have a unique perspective and experience perhaps, having had a front-row seat to it.

Because they have showed no willingness to change, I feel that I need to make sure that this unlawful behaviour is exposed, because obviously I dont want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level.

But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government, both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

The Duke of Sussex in an artists sketch being cross examined by Andrew Green KC (PA)

The royal added: If theyre supposedly policing society, who on earth is policing them, when even the government is scared of alienating them because position is power. It is incredibly worrying for the entire UK.

Henry Smith, a member of the Tory Common Sense Group, said he felt sorry for hardworking royals as the Duke of Sussex continues to cause them so much embarrassment.

The MP told The Independent: Its very unwise of him to stray into British political comment  but if he wants to he should renounce his title and stand for election. Sussex is disappointed with its absent Duke.

In other developments, Harry said he felt physically sick over eight payments to private investigators related to his late mother.

He said he also lost friendships entirely unnecessarily due to the paranoia caused by alleged unlawful informatio- gathering.

In his witness statement, the 38-year-old duke said MGNs alleged intrusion into his life contributed to a huge amount of paranoia in his relationships.

He and former girlfriend Chelsy Davy were never on our own and could never enjoy one anothers company away from the prying eyes of the tabloids, he wrote.

William (left) and Harry bow their heads as their mother's coffin is taken out of Westminster Abbey (AFP via Getty Images)

Harry accuses MGN of blagging the couples flight details and hotel bookings and/or intercepting their voicemails after journalists turned up while they holidayed on a small island off Mozambique.

He also said stories about rumours his father was Dianas former lover James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

In his witness statement, he referred to an article in People from 2002 with the headline Plot to rob the DNA of Harry which reported a bid to steal a sample of the dukes DNA to check his parentage.

At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me, he said.

They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories.

Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

He also hit out at former Mirror editor Piers Morgan, claiming he both he and his wife Meghan have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation.

The duke is suing MGN for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting the claims and argues some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
Prince Harry says tabloids have blood on their hands in historic testimony

Prince Harry has said that tabloid editors have blood on their hands as he spoke of the impact that newspaper articles had on his life and on his late mother, Diana, the Princess of Wales.

Harry made the accusation as he became the first high-ranking member of the British royal family to appear as a witness in court in 130 years, taking the stand Tuesday in Londons High Court to give evidence against the publishers of Britains Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper.

The prince and others have accused Mirror Group Newspapers of obtaining information about them illegally, through phone hacking and other unlawful methods. The Mirror Group has said it used documents, public statements and sources to legally report on the prince.

Prince Harry at the High Court in London (Wiktor Szymanowicz / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness? Mirror Groups lawyer, Andrew Green, quoted Harry as saying.

After being sworn in holding a Bible in one hand and wearing a dark suit and tie, Harry, who appeared soft-spoken at times, said he was referring to some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases, speaking personally, death.

The royal arrived at the High Court in London in a black SUV, entering via a modern wing and past dozens of TV cameras and photographers. The courtroom was full, and the spillover room also filled to capacity with members of the public.

The decision to allow himself to be cross-examined is a major step in what has been a long-running campaign against the tabloid press, with the Duke of Sussex holding the paparazzi culpable in the 1997 death of his mother, Princess Diana.

He has also accused the British media of racism in its coverage and hounding of his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, which prompted the couple to leave royal life and move to America.

The Duke of Sussex said the impact tabloid reporting has had on his life has been long-lasting.

As a child at school these articles were incredibly invasive, he said, asserting that reports also had an effect on those around him, including his mother.

In his witness statement, he also described how, particularly as a teenager and in his early 20s, he felt compelled to play up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes.

In my experience as a member of the royal family, each of us gets cast into a specific role by the tabloid press, Harry said. You start off as a blank canvas while they work out what kind of person you are and what kind of problems and temptations you might have.

They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible, especially if you are the spare to the heir, he said.

Youre then either the playboy prince, the failure, the drop out or, in my case, the thicko, the cheat, the underage drinker, the irresponsible drug taker, Harry added.

His testimony comes after the royal failed to show up for the opening day of proceedings on Monday. His lawyer, David Sherborne, said in court that the prince only left California on Sunday evening after celebrating the birthday of his 2-year-old daughter, Lilibet.

The royals attendance before would therefore be tricky, he said.

The judge, Timothy Fancourt, said he was surprised by Harrys absence, while Green, said it was absolutely extraordinary that Harry was a no-show.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Prince Harry visa case: Why is a US think-tank seeking the release of the Duke of Sussexs application form?

Prince Harry leaves the High Court in London after giving evidence (EPA)

Prince Harry has been giving evidence at the High Court in London this week as part of a landmark legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers, which he is suing for damages after alleging that journalists at its titles had resorted to underhand methods to secure stories about him and his family, including phone hacking, gaining information by deception and employing private investigators for unlawful activities.

How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness? he wrote in his 55-page witness statement, accusing the tabloid media of bad practice.

But the Duke of Sussex, 38, is also currently the subject of a second court case due to get underway on the other side of the Atlantic on Tuesday.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank, is bringing a case against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appealing for the release of the dukes visa application, submitted in advance of his relocation to California in January 2020.

A request for the form under the Freedom of Information Act was previously turned down by US Customs and Border Protection, which told the foundation that it would need Prince Harrys consent in order to do so.

The think-tank insists the application is of immense public interest in light of the dukes subsequent confessions of past illegal drug use as a teenager and as an adult, which he made in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan in his recent memoir Spare.

The duke wrote in Spare that he had taken cocaine but found it wasnt much fun, and it didnt make me particularly happy, as it seemed to make everyone around me and said of smoking cannabis while still a pupil at Eton, the prestigious Berkshire private school: Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.

A US DS160 visa application form explicitly asks the applicant to answer truthfully to the questions Have you ever been a drug abuser or addict? and Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances?

If the dukes application were to be published and reveal that his answers contradicted his later public revelations about his dalliances with drugs, the case would call into question the Biden administrations handling of the visa application process, the organisation contends.

In a statement, the Heritage Foundation said that it hopes to determine whether celebrity elites such as the Duke of Sussex were likely to receive preferential treatment and whether the DHS was operating fairly  without fear or favour.

Speaking to Sky News, its counsel Sam Dewey said: The [US] government has taken the position that theres nothing to see here.

Weve taken the position that no, if you look through all the details of his admissions, you look at the drug laws, you look at the laws on admissions, theres a real serious question as to whether or not he should have been admitted.

The alternative, if he didnt disclose the drug use  then theres a very serious question as to whether or not proceedings should have begun against him for that.

Responding, the DHS said the think-tank had failed to demonstrate the necessity of releasing the document and questioned whether there was truly widespread public interest in the matter.

Prince Harrys spokespeople have so far said they will not comment at this time.

The case is set to be heard in federal court in Washington DC and to take several weeks, although legal experts have predicted that the presiding judge is unlikely to side with the foundations argument because immigration documents contain a wealth of personal information about the applicant and so ordering the release of Prince Harrys would set a potentially dangerous precedent.

Stacy Cozart Martin, an immigration lawyer and professor at Case Western Reserve University, told the BBC: Those applications have a tonne of personal information on them. It would be very, very shocking, and I think a little frightening, if that were to be released to the public. Not only for him, but as a whole.
Prince Harry's lawyer said the British tabloids sowed mistrust between Harry and Prince William going back 20 years

Prince William and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018, in London, England. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Harry and William's strained relationship was mentioned at the phone hacking trial.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers as he alleges journalists hacked his voicemail in the '90s.

Harry's lawyer said on Monday that the tabloids contributed to mistrust between the brothers.

Prince Harry and Prince William's fractured relationship was brought up in the UK's High Court on Monday during the phone hacking trial between Prince Harry and the Mirror Group Newspapers, The Telegraph reports.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers over unlawful information gathering, alleging that journalists from several publications hacked his and other celebrities' voicemails in the 1990s and early 2000s and published the information they discovered.

Lawyers for Mirror Group Newspapers said that it "unreservedly apologizes" to the prince for one instance of unlawful information gathering in 2004 and accepts Prince Harry was entitled to "appropriate compensation," The Telegraph's India McTaggart reported on Tuesday. Mirror Group Newspapers denies the other allegations.

The prince arrived at London's High Court on Tuesday to provide a witness statement. But before the royal's arrival, Harry's barrister David Sherborne told the court on Monday that a story written by one of Mirror Group Newspapers' publications may have resulted in "mistrust" between the brothers.

In 2003, The People  a Mirror Group Newspapers publication  reported that Harry and William had a dispute over whether to meet with Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrel, who they had publicly accused of betraying her, according to The Telegraph.

A source told the publication that the brothers were at "loggerheads" during Harry's year abroad, The Telegraph added.

"Even at this very early formative stage the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown," Sherborne said, according to The Telegraph.

"Brothers can sometimes disagree but once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded. One can see how the mistrust can set in from an early age, exactly because of this type of activity," he added.

Prince William and Prince Harry in 2002. Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

Harry wrote about his strained relationship with William in his memoir, "Spare," which was released in January. In the book, Harry detailed disagreements they had over his relationship with Meghan Markle, and said that his brother's press office traded stories about him and Meghan.

The brothers have made only a handful of public appearances together in recent years, including the funerals of the Queen and Prince Philip and most recently, King Charles' coronation ceremony in May.

In a witness statement issued to the court on Tuesday, Harry spoke about the negative impact the British press has had on his life. He said that when he was in his 20s, paparazzi were "everywhere I went," and that the tabloids' coverage meant he had to face "judgments and opinions" from people regardless of whether the stories were true or not, The Guardian's Jim Waterson reports.

"Where historical wrongdoing has taken place, we have made admissions, take full responsibility and apologise unreservedly, but we will vigorously defend against allegations of wrongdoing where our journalists acted lawfully," a spokesperson for Reach Plc, publisher of Mirror News Group titles, said in a statement sent to Insider on Tuesday.

"MGN is now part of a very different company. We are committed to acting with integrity and our objective in this trial is to allow both the business and our journalists to move forward from events that took place many years ago," the statement added.

Harry is also suing News Group Newspapers as he alleges that journalists from The Sun newspaper obtained information through phone hacking. The company has denied any wrongdoing, according to a separate story by The Guardian.

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex, Prince William, and Reach Plc, owner of Mirror Group Newspapers, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Prince Harry's UK court battle: Royal says tabloids were 'main factor' for breakup with ex Chelsy Davy

Prince Harry has blamed the U.K. tabloids for the breakdown of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

On Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex stepped into a courtroom witness box to hold the British press accountable for its "destructive" role throughout his life. The 38-year-old is the first senior member of the British royal family to testify in over a century as he held a Bible in his right hand and, in a soft voice, swore to tell the "whole truth and nothing but the truth" in the High Court in London.

The youngest son of King Charles III accuses the publisher of the Daily Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an "industrial scale" to score front-page scoops on his life.

In a written testimony filed to the High Court in London, Harry said "the prying eyes of the tabloids" strained his relationship with the Zimbabwe-born businesswoman. He noted it was "the main factor" in why they decided to call it quits.

Prince Harry said tabloids were "the main factor" for his breakup with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

"Prince Harry is driving, looking in the rearview mirror," British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "His relationship with Chelsy was long before Meghan Markle. How on earth must Meghan be feeling that he is dwelling on a lost love to this day?"

According to Harry, the couple met in early 2004 and were in an on-and-off relationship until mid-2010.

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"Our relationship was long distance for the majority of the time we were together, with Chelsy and I often living in different countries, so we relied on communicating by phone a lot," Harry wrote. "We, naturally, spoke about all types of personal matters, including all aspects of our relationship and this was often through voicemail. As my girlfriend, I trusted Chelsy with the most private of information and vice versa."

PRINCE HARRY ENTERS WITNESS BOX FOR UK COURT SHOWDOWN, ACCUSES TABLOID OF PLAYING 'A DESTRUCTIVE ROLE'

Prince Harry arrives to give evidence at the Mirror Group Phone hacking trial at the Rolls Building at High Court on June 6, 2023, in London.

Much of Harrys case against Mirror Group Newspapers, focuses on details he believed were leaked concerning his relationship with Davy, 37, The New York Times reported. He claimed newspaper articles routinely mentioned private conversations that wouldnt have been obtained without using illicit means.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of the Duke of Sussex (left) with his counsel David Sherborne (right) giving evidence at the Rolls Buildings in central London, with Mr. Justice Fancourt (centre) looking on, during the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Harry pointed out one article that alleged Davy gave him "a tongue-lashing down the phone" for flirting with another woman at a party. In his written testimony, Harry said the details of their phone conversations werent attributed to sources. He also mentioned another article that described "an emotional phone call" involving Davy.

Harry said he was at a "complete loss" as to how such private details about his vacations with Davy would be obtained. He said both journalists and photographers would arrive at their hotel off the coast of Mozambique before they did.

"We met in about early 2004 and were in a relationship which continued, on and off, until around mid-2010," Prince Harry wrote in his testimony.

"I dont believe that my girlfriend would ever have spoken to a passenger on a plane about our relationship," Harry noted.

"We could also never understand how private elements of our life together were finding their way into the tabloids, and so our circle of friends became smaller and smaller," said Harry. "I remember finding it very hard to trust anyone, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia."

Harry admitted he regretted cutting friends out of his life out of fear they were the sources of the leaks.

The case dates from 1996 to 2011.

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Chelsy Davy is seen here at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

"I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," said Harry.

Davy, now Chelsy Yvonne Cutmore-Scott, married her boyfriend of three years, Sam Cutmore-Scott, in early 2022. They share a son named Leo. Davy, as well as Harrys other ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, were guests at Harrys wedding in 2018.

Meghan Markle, a former American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince.

"You have to wonder what Meghan makes of Harry's testimony regarding Chelsy," Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," said to Fox News Digital. "They were together for eight years and seemed headed for the altar. Is the assumption here that Chelsy was really Harry's first choice and that they would have married if it hadn't been for the intrusive tabloid press? Meghan can't be too happy about that, I would imagine."

Meghan Markle, an American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Prince Harry in 2018.

"Chelsy did say after their final breakup that all the tabloid press attention was crazy, full-on, just too much for her to bear," Andersen continued. "She was a free spirit and wanted something approaching a normal life  and she knew she'd never have that being Harry's wife. The specter of living her life in a royal fishbowl proved too much, and she fled back home to Zimbabwe."

"Chelsy Davy is incredibly private, rejected the limelight, and has a brand-new baby," Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, told Fox News Digital. "I highly doubt she enjoys Harry rehashing her youth as she navigates motherhood. And as a likely victim of such an egregious violation of her personal life... I do hope that she was warned or asked permission before Harry decided to reopen this wound."

In 2016, Davy admitted to The Times that she was "just a normal kid" while she was dating Harry, and it was "tough" to face the media scrutiny.

PRINCE HARRY'S UK COURT SHOWDOWN: ROYAL FAILS TO SHOW UP FOR FIRST DAY, LEAVES JUDGE FRUSTRATED

Chelsy Davy has previously spoken out about the struggles she endured being in the spotlight.

"It was horrible," she said. "It was nuts. Thats also why I wanted to go back to Africa. Now its calm, its fine."

Mirror Group Newspapers attorney Andrew Green asked Harry to identify what evidence he had of phone hacking in specific articles, and Harry repeatedly said hed have to ask that question of the journalist who wrote it. He continually insisted that the manner in which information had been obtained was highly or incredibly suspicious.

He said some of the journalists had been known for hacking or that there were invoices to third parties, including private investigators known for snooping, around the time of the articles.

Harry has made a mission of holding the U.K. media to account for what he sees as their hounding of him and his family.

Prince Harry has expressed his fury toward the British press in his memoir "Spare," which was published in January.

Setting out the princes case in court Monday, his lawyer, David Sherborne, said that from Harrys childhood, British newspapers used hacking and subterfuge to mine snippets of information that could be turned into front-page scoops.

He said stories about Harry were big sellers for the newspapers, and around 2,500 articles had covered all facets of his life during the time period of the case  1996 to 2011  from injuries at school to experimenting with marijuana and cocaine, to ups and downs with girlfriends.

"Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds" for the tabloids, the lawyer said.

Mirror Group has paid more than 100 million pounds ($125 million) to settle hundreds of unlawful information-gathering claims and printed an apology to phone hacking victims in 2015.

PRINCESS LILIBET TURNS 2: PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE'S DAUGHTER CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY AWAY FROM ROYAL FAMILY

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reside in California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They stepped down as senior royals in 2020.

But the newspaper denies or hasnt admitted any of Harrys claims.

Green said Monday there was "simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis."

The Duke of Sussex currently resides in California with his wife and their two young children.
(Bloomberg) -- California officials blame Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for sending two chartered flights of undocumented migrants to the state capital of Sacramento, ahead of the Republicans fundraising event there on June 19.

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About 20 migrants landed in Sacramento on Monday, after 16 people were flown there late last week, the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.

On Twitter, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, slammed DeSantis, who in May launched his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, as a small, pathetic man. Newsom suggested DeSantis could be liable for kidnapping charges.

The Florida governors office didnt respond to requests for comment. Last year, DeSantis ordered undocumented migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, an incident that he highlights in his 2024 presidential bid. Both flights to Sacramento appeared to use the same contractor hired by Florida for that trip, according to Bontas office.

Read more: NY, Chicago Mayor Slam Busing Migrants as Biden Visits Border

In May, DeSantis signed into law some of the strictest immigration policies in the US, including a $12 million budget to continue the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, which serves to relocate undocumented migrants to sanctuary jurisdictions.

The law also calls for the suspension of licenses for any businesses that are employing undocumented people. There are an estimated 800,000 undocumented immigrants living in Florida, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

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Allen County prosecutors charged a Fort Wayne man with intimidation and harassment of Congressman Jim Banks after he allegedly threatened the elected representative and his family.

Aaron L. Thompson, born in 1989, called Banks office at least eight times  once on April 6 and seven times on April 11  and left several threatening messages, according to a probable cause filing obtained by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Intimidation is a Level 6 felony in Indiana and harassment is a Class B misdemeanor.

Indiana politics: AG Todd Rokita's focus on abortion case reflects national trend

In an interview with the United States Capitol Police, Thompson admitted to being intoxicated and calling Banks because he disagreed with his political views. In his messages, Thompson said he owned a gun as allowed by the Constitution and told Banks to choose between himself or his daughters, according to the June 2 filing.

Heres the choice. Your daughters grow up without their dad or you grow old without your daughters, Thompson allegedly said.  boom, boom you pick 

To Banks specifically, Thompson said he hoped the representative died in a car crash or (got) his brains blown out, in an expletive-filled series of messages.

He was arrested Friday after Allen County Prosecutor Mike McAlexander filed charges. The Allen County Superior Court held an initial hearing Tuesday morning and issued five no contact orders in the case  presumably for each member of the Banks family. Thompsons next court date is Aug. 2.

In a statement, Banks said, The safety of my family is my top priority. Ive been instructed to refer all questions about the ongoing criminal investigation to the Allen County Prosecutors Office.

A larger problem

Intimidation and harassment of Congressional representatives has increased rapidly in recent years but few are ever prosecuted, as detailed by the Washington Post earlier this year.

Out of the roughly 7,500 threats reviewed by Capitol Police in 2022, fewer than two dozen people were charged. Reports spiked in 2021 at 9,600  more than double the 4,000 logged in 2017  and declined to 7,501 in 2022.

Threats can include letters sent to Congressional offices, online intimidation or harassment by phone. But the legal definition leaves room for interpretation.

In terms of the 7,501 threats cataloged in 2022, only 313 were sent to local federal prosecutors.

The attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband in their California home drove fears to a peak, with more members sharing their stories of intimidation and bemoaning the lack of security.

Indeed, most members of Congress dont have a security detail, which are reserved for senior members. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York City, told Axios last year that protection should be based on the volume of threats rather than the years served.

The surge in harassment hasnt been limited to the highest offices in the nation. Indeed, even judges and local election officials have reported an uptick in threats and intimidation.

State lawmakers advanced a bill this session that would prohibit picketing outside of an individuals home, citing the increased violent rhetoric and need to protect an individuals privacy inside their home. The bill passed in the Senate but died in the House.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit news site covering state government in Indiana. Follow Whitney Downard on Twitter @WhitneyDownard.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fort Wayne man charged with intimidating, harassing Rep. Jim Banks
A school that had its computer systems encrypted in a cyber attack last month has been unable to recover its data.

Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester said its screens and systems were locked after being targeted on 21 May.

It said the worst-case scenario would be a complete loss of data, including some students' BTEC and A-level assignments.

Head teacher Nick Rutherford warned the incident may also have resulted in a data breach.

The attack, which also disabled email and payment systems, was accompanied by a ransom demand, payable on the dark web, which the school has refused to pay.

It said it was working with exam boards to support affected A-level and BTEC students.

In a message to parents and carers, Mr Rutherford said: "We hold a large volume of data on staff, students and parents and are aware of the seriousness of any such data breach. We are following guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office and we will continue to keep you updated."

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A haze linked to smoke from nearby wildfires blankets Montreal, Canada's second-largest city

Canada's Quebec province, not used to the huge number, scale and strength of wildfires ravaging the rest of the country, has become the latest hotspot with about 160 fires burning on Tuesday, most of those out of control.

In the hardest-hit Abitibi-Temiscamingue region of the province, more than 650 kilometers (400 miles) north of Montreal, fires that have disrupted mining and forestry operations are "worrying," said Quebec Premier Francois Legault.

"We are experiencing a situation never seen... everywhere in Quebec," warned Francois Bonnardel, Quebec's public safety minister, stressing that a large number of these fires were sparked by human carelessness.

"Western Canada usually sees a lot of wildfire activity. Quebec doesn't," he noted. "But right now everything is on fire."

Some 4,400 evacuees were permitted to return to their homes in the northern city of Sept-Iles on the shores of the St. Lawrence River as rains arrived to help stall advancing blazes.

"We are very, very happy to see rain," Legault told a news conference.

But further north, he added, there's "a huge fire which will take weeks to extinguish completely, so we must remain cautious."

- Smoke and ash -

Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather in recent years, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to global warming.

After major flare-ups in the west of the country in May, notably in the prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, firefighting shifted in recent weeks to Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast, before turning to Quebec.

Dozens of fires are still burning in the west of the country: 62 in Alberta, 76 in westernmost British Columbia and 24 in Saskatchewan.

Quebec, meanwhile, has recorded 424 wildfires since the spring thaw -- more than double the average annual count over the past decade.

About 100 firefighters from France were scheduled to arrive by Friday to help fight the Quebec wildfires. This is on top of nearly 1,000 firefighters from Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States who have arrived or were en route to bolster firefighting efforts across Canada.

Wildfire smoke on Tuesday strangled the capital, Ottawa, prompting severe air quality alerts, and darkened skies above Montreal and Toronto. Officials urged residents to limit outdoor activities and said the smoke would not likely clear for another few days.

In Parliament, lawmakers complained about the smell of smoke and ash coating surfaces.

Ottawa resident Abe Bourgi told AFP he woke up to a yellowish haze over the city, and the sun a deep orange color.

"The smell of smoke is very strong," he said. "Many people are wearing masks in the streets and you have to close the doors and windows otherwise your apartment will smell like an ashtray."

Similar smoke conditions -- stemming from the Canadian fires -- were reported down the US Atlantic seaboard, triggering air quality alerts. In New York, the Manhattan skyline was barely visible from other boroughs.

bur/amc/nro
 Flash

Yu Bo (L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina inaugurate the opening of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26.

Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, said at the inauguration ceremony that Honduras seized the historic opportunity to make the important decision to recognize the one-China principle.

With this decision, Honduras became the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China, which China highly appreciated, Yu said.

"The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a widely recognized norm of international relations," he said.

Less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras, the two countries have accelerated coordination and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture, education and media, Yu said.

The Embassy of China in Honduras will do its best to fulfill the responsibility of being the window that opens relations between the two countries, the bridge that deepens bilateral cooperation and the link that connects the two peoples, he said.

Officials from China and Honduras and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina, who jointly inaugurated the opening of the embassy, congratulated the inauguration and emphasized that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was an independent choice made by Honduras.

He said that the decision diversifies Honduras' international relations and aligns with most countries that recognize the one-China principle.

Firmly abiding by the one-China principle, Honduras looks forward to jointly promoting trade cooperation with China to improve infrastructure, contribute to the well-being of the Honduran people and foster social prosperity, said Reina.

Nearly 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony, including Honduran Second Vice President Doris Gutierrez, other Honduran government officials and parliamentary representatives, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras, as well as representatives from Chinese institutions, companies and communities in the Central American country.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are coming together to bring attention to a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses after the stars of the documentary The Queen of Versailles urged the launch of National Naloxone Awareness Day.

The first awareness day dedicated to naloxone was recognized Tuesday, with a bipartisan congressional resolution denoting it as an annual event.

The aim of the day, according to the legislation introduced by Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), is to contribute to the ongoing efforts to educate the public, reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder, and promote access to lifesaving naloxone.

Too many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends have been lost to opioid poisoning in America, Scott said in a statement.

Naloxone saves lives and it is a critical tool in our fight to stop the loss caused by opioids in communities across our nation, he said, adding the day would bring awareness to the issue and educate Americans about this lifesaving drug.

Jackie and David Siegel  who were the focus of the 2012 documentary detailing the billionaires quest to build a Versailles-style mansion  helped make the push for the day following the 2015 overdose death of their 18-year-old daughter, Victoria. According to the Siegels, Victoria had a pulse but was unresponsive when first responders arrived. Had medical personnel been equipped with naloxone, the Siegels said, their daughter might still be alive.

Now the co-founders of the Victorias Voice Foundation, the Siegels said in a statement, We are committed to spreading awareness about the dangers of opioids and to expanding access to naloxone to prevent deaths and turn the tide on this crisis.

We are deeply grateful for the support from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill who introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring June 6 as National Naloxone Awareness Day, the couple said.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, the brand name version of naloxone, to be made available without a prescription in March. The medicine can help counter the effects of an overdose if administered within minutes of the first signs of an opioid overdose.

Updated at 12:08 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rachel Brosnahan is still moved by aunt Kate Spades magic, five years after her death.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel actor marked the anniversary of Spades passing in a tender Instagram post on Monday remembering the beloved fashion designer, who died by suicide at age 55 in June 2018.

Cant believe its been 5 years, wrote Brosnahan, whose mother Carol Brosnahan was Spades sister.

Ive been thinking about Katy a lot lately because 10 years ago, when I was making my Broadway debut, she let me crash in their extra bedroom while I figured out my living situation.

The House Of Cards actor recalled Spades warmth and kindness, continuing: She included me in family dinners every night while we were in rehearsals and would keep extra food for me in the fridge for when I came home from tech and previews.

She would always ask about the play and came with bells on (and the most fabulous outfit) to our opening night. She told me she sobbed through the bows because she was proud.

Brosnahan went on: But Im not alone in that experience. That was the magic of Katy. She loved so hard she was often moved to tears, and laughter that moved through her entire body and joy that radiated out her pores. She spread stardust over everyone she came into contact with. I was lucky to be in her orbit.

Kate Spade and Rachel Brosnahan attend opening night of 'The Woodsman' in New York on Feb. 8, 2016.

Kate Spade and Rachel Brosnahan attend opening night of 'The Woodsman' in New York on Feb. 8, 2016.

Years later, Spades niece said she still feels her presence. Its strange to be in New York without her. Its strange to be back on stage without her. But also, shes still here, Brosnahan finished.

The actor appeared devastated after her aunts death back in 2018, when she shared a video of the handbag mogul dancing and wrote: Knowing Katy, this is how she would want to be remembered. She had a light that words cant capture but touched everyone she came into contact with.

She was exceedingly kind, beautifully sensitive, insanely talented, funny as heck and one of the most generous people I have ever known. She was effervescent. Hug your loved ones extra tight today.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Related...
'Ray of hope': New advances in fighting a range of cancers

A daily pill has been shown to halve the risk of death from a certain type of lung cancer when taken daily after surgery

New advances in the fight against a range of cancers have been revealed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which wraps up in Chicago on Tuesday.

Here are some of the announcements that have most excited experts.

- Lung cancer -

One of the trial results that caused a stir in Chicago has raised hopes for a new weapon against lung cancer, the deadliest of all cancers.

The treatment osimertinib was shown to halve the risk of death from a certain type of lung cancer when taken daily after surgery to remove the tumour.

Developed by the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca, the daily pill targets patients with non-small cell cancer -- by far the most common type -- as well as a mutation of their epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR.

Iris Pauporte, head of research at France's League Against Cancer, told AFP the advance was a "big ray of hope" for this type of cancer, for which progress has been slow.

Muriel Dahan, head of research at Unicancer, said that if the results are confirmed, it "should change" common practice in treating this kind of lung cancer.

Systematic testing for the EGFR mutation would also become necessary for lung cancer patients, she added.

- Brain cancer -

Another treatment, called vorasidenib, was found to significantly prolong the progression-free survival of patients with brain tumour glioma, according to clinical trial results.

The daily pill, developed by French pharma firm Servier, aims to block an enzyme responsible for the progression of some brain cancers, which have been particularly difficult to treat.

Patrick Therasse, Servier's vice-president of oncology research, told AFP that there "have been few therapeutic advances for brain tumours over the last 20 years".

"Thanks to our targeted treatment, patients avoided cancer progression for 27.7 months, compared to 11.1 months" for those taking a placebo, he added.

Fabrice Andre, head of research at France's Gustave Roussy cancer centre, said "precision medicine opens a door for a disease for which there was nothing until now".

"It means that science can unblock situations that were catastrophic," he told AFP.

Unicancer's Dahan said it was important to "remain cautious" but added that "this could become the new therapeutic standard -- depending on further trials".

- Breast cancer -

Preliminary trial results also released in Chicago indicated the drug ribociclib reduced the risk of breast cancer recurring by 25 percent for a large group of early-stage survivors.

The drug, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis, is already widely approved around the world. It was tested in combination with hormonal therapy.

ASCO expert Rita Nanda said it was a "very important and practice-changing clinical trial".

- Cervical cancer -

There was also good news for patients with early-stage cervical cancer with a low risk of progression.

There was no greater risk of the cancer returning for patients who get a simple hysterectomy, in which the uterus and cervix are removed, than a radical hysterectomy, in which the uppermost part of the vagina is also removed, according to phase three trials.

League Against Cancer's Pauporte said this was "good news," adding that "it shows that it's not just progress involving drugs that was important".

- Ovarian cancer -

A trial also presented at ASCO showed that taking the antibody treatment mirvetuximab soravtansine significantly improved the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer, a particularly deadly form of cancer.

ASCO expert Merry Jennifer Markham said the treatment "demonstrates progress and offers hope for these patients".

- Rectal cancer -

Study results released in Chicago indicated that patients with locally advanced rectal cancer could receive chemotherapy without getting radiation therapy before undergoing surgery.

This would spare patients from the brutal side effects of radiation.

- Vaccines -

Vaccines that treat existing cancer have long been a goal of the medical community.

Preliminary studies announced at the ASCO meeting involved vaccines targeting lung cancer, head and neck cancers, brain tumour glioblastoma and the cancer-causing HPV virus.

Christophe Le Tourneau, an oncologist at France's Curie Institute which presented a study about a vaccine for a certain form of HPV, said there has been "significant technological progress" in the area recently.

"Therapeutic vaccines, we talk about them more and more, and there are more and more trials in progress," he said.

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[Source]

K-pop artists Irene and Seulgi from K-pop girl group Red Velvet were denied entry to a Beyonce concert, drawing the ire of fans.

What happened: Red Velvet had been on the European leg of their R to V tour, with their arrival in London coinciding with Beyonce's show at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium on June 4. Seulgi, a long-time fan of Beyonce, shared on DearU Bubble that she had managed to secure tickets for the concert.



Ticketing troubles: Irene and Seulgi, along with one of their staff members, made it to the venue, but fans spotted them appearing to deal with ticket-related issues at the entry gate.

Seulgi later revealed on Bubble that although they had successfully scanned their tickets, they encountered complications with the staff member accompanying them. They went to the ticket office to try and help the staff member, but when they attempted to re-enter the venue, security denied them access as their tickets had already been scanned.

More from NextShark: Chinese basketball star apologizes following backlash over sexist taunt

Fan support: Netizens took to social media to express their disappointment and empathy towards Irene and Seulgi's experience. Some fans even attempted to contact known staff members working closely with Beyonce to secure tickets for other shows, going as far as to encourage others to leave comments on her publicists Instagram posts.

A tour of their own: Red Velvets "R to V" tour kicked off in Seoul on April 1 and has taken them to various cities, such as Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam. Their most recent album, The ReVe Festival 2022 - Birthday, was released in November last year.

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'Don't insult Japan!': Miss Universe 2021 Japan's national costume is all wrong according to netizens
Officials in the United Kingdom suggested that artificial intelligence technology be regulated and require a government licensesimilar to pharmaceutical or nuclear power companies, according to a report by the Guardian.

That is the kind of model we should be thinking about, where you have to have a license in order to build these models, a digital spokesperson for the Labour Party, Lucy Powell, told the publication. These seem to me to be good examples of how this can be done.

Powell said policymakers should focus on regulating artificial intelligence at the developmental level instead of attempting to ban the technology. In March, citing privacy concerns, Italy banned ChatGPT before lifting the ban after OpenAI instituted new security measures in April.

My real point of concern is the lack of any regulation of the large language models that can then be applied across a range of AI tools, whether thats governing how they are built, how they are managed, or how they are controlled, Powell said.

British Parliament Fields Demands for Crypto Crackdown Amid Growing Concerns

Powell's comment echoes those of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who said during a congressional hearing in May that there should be an agency that can grant AI developers a license and also take it awayan idea with which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman agreed.

Altman even recommended creating a federal agency to set standards and practice.

"I would form a new agency that licenses any effort above a certain scale of capabilities, and that can take that license away and ensure compliance with safety standards," Altman said.

Invoking nuclear technology as a parallel to artificial intelligence is not new. In May, famed investor Warren Buffett likened AI to the atomic bomb.

"I know we won't be able to uninvent it and, you know, we did inventfor very, very good reasonthe atom bomb," Buffett said.

Meet Chaos-GPT: An AI Tool That Seeks to Destroy Humanity

That same month, artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton resigned from his position at Google in May so that he would be free to sound the alarm about the potential dangers of AI freely.

Last week, the Center for AI Safety published a letter saying, "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." Signatories included Altman, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque.

The rapid development and application of AI technology have also raised concerns about bias, discrimination, and surveillance, which Powell believes can be mitigated by requiring developers to be more open about their data.

This technology is moving so fast that it needs an active, interventionist government approach, rather than a laissez-faire one, Powell said.
It would be hard to find a better environmentalist or steward of our land than a farmer. Every farmer cares about land, maintaining the soil, maintaining clean water, and having a place to peacefully raise their family. It's part of the farmer's identity, and their way of life. Across Pennsylvania, there are nearly 53,000 farms, including almost 2,200 combined in Erie and Crawford Counties. Robert "Bob" Brace was one of these farmers.

If farmers are the heart of American conservation, then, we ask, why are federal and state governments so intent on regulating farmers out of business?

Robert Brace, a Waterford farmer, died on Friday, June 2, at the age of 84.

For decades, this is a cause Bob Brace embraced. Bob was known throughout Erie County as a stalwart supporter of farmers and property rights. He was the owner of Robert Brace Farms in Waterford and a relentless advocate for landowners. He crusaded against excess government that burdened and strained those who work every day and night to provide food and fiber to American families.

More: Despite losses, Waterford farmer Robert Brace appeals federal case over wetlands, again

Unfortunately, Erie County lost Bob Brace this week after he passed away from complications due to a vehicle accident. Bob was passionate about these issues and would be quick to let you know. "These are fundamental rights," he would often say, "and America can't function without the guarantee of personal liberty. The government has no business deciding my life or yours, or controlling my land."

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, of Centre County, R-15th Dist.

More: Robert Brace obituary

In support of Bob's principled defense of farmers and private property rights, H.R. 5799 the Bridging Responsible Agricultural Conservation Efforts, or BRACE Act, was introduced in the 116th Congress.

Just prior to Bob's passing the Supreme Court finally ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overreached in its attempt to regulate some "Waters of the United States'' (WOTUS) rule affirming Bob Brace was spot on with his decades long work. Even with this decision, however, regulations from the EPA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and others have farmers feeling pinched on all sides.

The ability to grow food for Americans, by Americans, has helped our nation survive tough moments. As this Administration, in our view, casts doubt on our economy, we should lean on our farmers to continue as our trusted suppliers. Our national security and independence starts on our farms. Our nation has shown resilience and strength that supports our economy and foreign policy, through our farmers and domestic agriculture.

More: 'I see you': Crawford County farmer shares common story of stress, depression

"America needs its farmers," Bob Brace would often say. "The government can't continue to push farmers out of business and expect our country to prosper."

And Bob was right. While the United States is blessed with an abundance of land suitable for farming, it requires dedicated, hardworking individuals. Even then, many farms have succumbed to growing prices and increased regulations. In 2008, there were over 63,000 farms across Pennsylvania, meaning that nearly 10,000 farms have disappeared in the last 15 years  including around 800 farms in Erie and Crawford Counties.

More: Biden wipes out $1.3 billion in farmers' debt through the Inflation Reduction Act

Our farmers are essential. Farming helped build America, dating back to its inception. As Americans, we should be thankful that whether its dairy products from Centre County or cabbage and potatoes from Erie County  our farmers are the best.

While we mourn Bob's passing and celebrate a life well lived, it would be fitting to "brace" ourselves to continue defending the hardworking farm families that meet our most essential needs.

Thank you, Bob, for being a champion for our nation's #1 industry  agriculture!

Darrell Owens is from Waterford and is the former national security advisor to former Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey. He is also an officer in the US Army Reserve. Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, of Centre County, represents Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. He is dean of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation, and the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Glenn GT Thompson praises Robert Brace, a champion for landowners
A new international report recently estimated that 258 million people worldwide are suffering from crisis-level hunger, with seven countries experiencing famine-like conditions.

Given all the challenges the world has faced recently  lingering problems from the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme droughts such as the one in Kansas, the ongoing turmoil between Russia and Ukraine, and the resulting spikes in food prices  its no wonder that global hunger is rising significantly. Still, that number  more than a quarter-billion people on the brink of starvation  is almost unfathomable. Today, if hunger were a single country, it would be the fifth-most-populous place on the planet.

Beyond this stark picture, global hunger and malnutrition create risks for the U.S., both in terms of our national security and economic prosperity. According to a recent report commissioned by the Farm Journal Foundation, food insecurity in developing countries contributes to a range of threats, including political unrest, radical extremism, terrorist activity and mass migration. America is the leader of the free world, which comes with certain responsibilities. Addressing global hunger is both the morally right and strategically wise thing to do.

Todays international food aid helps us avoid paying conflict of war-related dollars tomorrow, and when we invest in other countries to prevent starvation and war, we often end up with strong trading partners. International food aid has an enormously strong return on investment, which makes it the fiscally responsible course of action. Its a noble thing to feed people the world over, which we do through emergency food aid programs, but we should use the commodities of American producers while we do it.

As we invest in global food security, we must also support agricultural research and development, so agricultural producers both in the U.S. and abroad have access to technologies to increase their production even when challenges arise. My home state of Kansas has a long history of supporting global food security initiatives, and today, we are leading the country when it comes to agricultural innovation. My alma mater, Kansas State University, is home to four Feed the Future Innovation Labs that are conducting groundbreaking research into areas, including new heat-tolerant wheat varieties and higher-yielding sorghum. These innovations benefit farmers in the U.S. and abroad. As Kansas struggles with another year of drought, innovative seed and water technologies will be especially critical. Kansas is the No. 1 wheat-producing state in the nation, and that crop is one of the worlds most important staple foods. Much of the innovation in this market relies on public research conducted at universities.

Agricultural innovation can also help keep our food supplies safe, benefiting U.S. national security. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially opened its new, state-of-the-art National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas, which will conduct research into serious animal disease threats. It will be an important backstop in protecting our nations food supply.

Work like that happening in Kansas and at institutions around the country deserves more support, especially because agricultural innovation, like international food aid, provides substantial returns on investment. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, agricultural research returns $20 in benefits to the economy for every public dollar spent. In spite of this, federal funding for food and agricultural research has declined in real dollars over the past two decades, while support for other forms of research has increased.

Producers know that turning a profit means innovating, adapting and increasing efficiency, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this farm bill prioritizes innovation. In this farm bill, we need to support public agricultural research institutions, organizations that focus on innovation and public-private partnerships.

Recent global challenges have profoundly affected our food systems, driving hunger and malnutrition to unprecedented levels. Working to ease this crisis, and to mitigate those in the future, is not only in Americas best interest  its also the right thing to do. Congress needs to follow Kansas lead and prioritize global food security issues, especially investment in long-term solutions such as agricultural research and development. Farmers in the U.S. and abroad need access to innovations to face potential challenges that lie ahead and ensure a food-secure future for us all.

Tracey Mann represents Kansas 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus.
(Bloomberg) -- Family members of a prominent supporter of conservative Republican causes  including a Hamptons real estate agent  died Sunday when their private jet crashed after flying over sensitive government sites in Washington without permission, setting off a security scare.

Most Read from Bloomberg

US fighter aircraft triggered a sonic boom that rattled the area as they chased the unresponsive Cessna jet that flew over the region before eventually plunging to the ground in Virginia.

Whatever incapacitated the private jets pilot appeared to occur roughly 15 minutes after it took off from an airport in Tennessee as it climbed toward 31,000 feet (9,451 meters), according to initial data from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Read More: Loss of Oxygen May Have Led to Virginia Plane Crash, Expert Says

One of the areas NTSB investigators will examine is the potential for hypoxia, a lack of oxygen that can cause rapid loss of consciousness or disorientation, spokesman Eric Weiss said in an interview.

It dove at high speed into a remote, mountainous area in Virginia, according to flight-tracking data. The wreckage is very fragmented, Weiss said. The site requires an hours-long hike to reach, he said.

The plane, a Cessna 560 Citation V, was unresponsive when intercepted by fighter pilots as it traversed Washington and northern Virginia, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said in a statement. A NORAD pilot observed the Cessnas captain slumped over in the cockpit, Weiss said.

None of the four people aboard the plane survived, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. They included Adina Azarian, who sold real estate in New York and Long Island, and her two-year-old daughter, Aria, according to a statement from Keller Williams NYC, a franchise of Keller Williams Realty Inc., and news reports.

John Rumpel, whose Florida-based Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc. owns the plane, had adopted Azarian, he told the Washington Post. Her nanny was also aboard the plane, he told the paper.

The flight was piloted by Jeff Hefner, Rumpel told the paper. Hefner was a former captain with Southwest Airlines Co. who served as safety chairman with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association union. He retired in 2019, according to the unions Facebook page.

Rumpel and his wife, Barbara, have been frequent conservative donors, including to political campaigns for Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, according to the Open Secrets website. Barbara Rumpel is also a member of the National Rifle Association of America Womens Leadership Forum, according to the groups website.

Attempts to reach Encore Motors were unsuccessful.

The NORAD aircraft that scrambled to intercept the plane were permitted to fly at supersonic speeds, which can produce a loud concussion known as a sonic boom. Residents across the Washington region reported hearing the boom.

The US Capitol complex was briefly placed on alert and President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident. Airspace near Washington has been highly restricted since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Cessna Citation crashed in Montebello, Virginia, around 3:30 p.m., the FAA said. It had departed from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and was bound for Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York, the FAA said.

The crash occurred more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) to the southwest of Washington. NORAD attempted to establish contact with the pilot until the jet went down in Virginia, according to the statement.

Flight Path

The jet continued climbing after its pilot stopped talking to controllers. According to data provided by the tracking website Flightradar24, the Cessna reached an altitude of 34,000 feet (10,400 meters), a normal cruising altitude for the small jet, as it flew toward New York.

FAA officials notified military and homeland security agencies about the errant jet about eight minutes after the pilot stopped communicating, the transportation agency said in a statement.

It flew over several states before making a slight left turn as it reached the Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey and continued over the water toward its destination. It then turned and cruised directly over the Long Island airport at about 2:30 p.m. local time, but instead of descending or landing toward the southwest  the direction it had turned  it instead continued on a straight path for about the next 50 minutes.

The jets path took it over Washington near the highly sensitive US Capitol and White House, according to the Flightradar24 track.

Rapid Descent

The route suggests the autopilot steered the plane toward its destination without the pilots input, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, a consultant and former chief accident investigator with the FAA.

At least one possible explanation is that the jets cabin lost air pressure, either explosively or gradually, Guzzetti said. The plane would have had a supply of emergency oxygen, but if pilots dont act immediately it can lead rapidly to incapacitation, he said.

When youre at that altitude, 34,000 feet, and you suddenly lose pressure, you better get your mask on quickly or youre going to lose consciousness, he said.

Shortly after passing Charlottesville, Virginia, the jet went into a right turn and descended rapidly, going from 34,000 feet to 27,635 feet in about two minutes, Flightradar24 spokesman Ian Petchenik said. Just before it disappeared from the companys tracking system, it was plunging at about 20,000 feet per minute, Petchenik said.

Such descent speeds are highly unusual and could signal the plane ran out of fuel, Guzzetti said.

Investigators expect to spend three to four days at the scene examining the wreckage, NTSB said in a statement. The role of the planes autopilot will be one of the areas examined by the safety board, Weiss said.

--With assistance from John Gittelsohn.

(Updates with information on victims from first paragraph.)

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Ahron R. Foster

The most effective current advertisement against drinkingindeed a stark, brutally cautionary story of alcoholismis a 95-minute musical. Days of Wine and Roses (Atlantic Theater, to July 16), directed by Michael Greif and based on the play by JP Miller and 1962 film starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, is unusual for so many reasons, not least for being that rare creature, a feel-bad musical (actually, make that a feel-really-really-bad musical).

What also distinguishes it are its Broadway royalty-level, award-garlanded stars, Kelli OHara and Brian DArcy James (Tony-nominated this year for Into the Woods), who are more familiar to audiences for playing good or engaging lead characters. Instead, here they play a couple on a relentlessly degrading, depressing, downward spiral. As Kirsten Arnesen and Joe Clay, at least for the first 10 minutes, they represent the kind of sexy partnership who would ordinarily fizz and shineboth are attractive and charming performersbut in Days of Wine and Roses they fall to pieces in front of us, the most toxic of partnerships in free fall.

Broadway Star Kelli OHara: Theater Needs a Reckoning on #MeToo and Racism

The book by Craig Lucas, and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, do not try to bring any kind of musical theater levity to the piece; Days of Wine and Roses is a precipitous ski run of addiction and misery, and its raw display of both reverberated among the audience this critic sat among.

Polite, muted applause greeted the jagged, puzzling songs (a more rousing one greeted dArcy James as Joe sang his vow to finally give up the demon drink). He and OHara sing beautifully, but its hard to applaud any of their songs and anguished arias as they chart this couples destruction. There are outbreaks of cheery choreography (by Sergio Trujillo and Karla Puno Garcia) that similarly feel like cheery balloons at a somber funeral. Around me people sighed, as Joe and the even more self-destructive Kirsten sank lower and lower, making one terrible choice after another.

We meet them first in 1950 in New York, Joe back from serving in Korea and now a glad-handing PR man. A full glass is always in his hand. Kirsten, a coolly glamorous executive secretary, says she doesnt drink: I dont much see the point.

Makes you feel good, says Joe. I already feel good, she responds. Then he orders a Brandy Alexander for her, and thats itthe poison has been injected. Soon, she is feeling its effects. I had no idea what people were talking about, this [feeling... UH!] ... I want to just I want to run, I want to ... break the speed limit ...

(L-R) Caleb Eberhardt, Bob by Moreno, Shannon Tyo, Susannah Flood, Brittany Bradford (Monique Carboni). Monique Carboni

On that first night, the booze makes everything glisten, especially as their romance is fresh, but then the musical takes us through different tableaux from the years of their imploding marriage. A drunken, work-stressed Joe shouts he doesnt want to sleep with a fretful baby, he wants to sleep with his wife. We see Kirsten singing a loopy ditty as a daytime-smashed housewife whose carelessness with a match almost kills her and their daughter Lila (Ella Dane Morgan).

One flaw in the show is seeing the roots of Joes addiction clearlyPTSD from Korea, work pressures, trying at life so hardbut less so with Kirsten. Is her descent just because of the gateway drug of that Brandy Alexander? Is it Joes behavior in their marriage, or the demands of motherhood, or grief for her dead mom, or a mix of the above? Is it a physical addiction getting more and more out of control? The underpinnings of her alcoholism and unhappiness-drivers are less clearly sketched than his.

Joe and Kirsten try to get sober, but then slip, with Joe smashing up his father-in-laws greenhouse looking for stashed booze. Joe gets well, Kirsten gets worse (a special shoutout to David Brian Browns hair design which charts these shifts with polished and unkempt looks). Joe gets sober, with the help of the patient, sage-like alcoholic Jim (David Jennings), then Kirsten tempts Joe back to the dark side. She tries to get better, and then cant: The world looks so dirty to me when Im not drinking. Im sorry. Dont forget me! she says, as her exit line.

OHara and DArcy James are absolutely committed to playing the hell of being Kirsten and Joeand not twinkling, not making them palatable or nice when drink has them in its warping gripthough this a tough musical not just to watch, but also to gel with. The couple are terrible for each other. We do not want them to be together; we feel, as Kirstens father (a thunderous Byron Jennings), they should be very far from each other, even allowing for the love they share, underneath all the empty bottles, for Lila.

Their songs are like shards of glass, flashes of memory and pain, and determined cries of defiance. It is a rough jigsaw of elements, perhaps necessarily so given the subject matter. Rather like A Little Life, theres a porny prurience about watching things get terrible, then even more terriblebut, like that latter show, this becomes more an unbearable than compulsive proposition as things go from bad to worse to twelve-alarm grim.

The theater production does end, meaningfully differently, to the filmwith a hint of a positive-ish future, or at least a declaration of intent to make it better. Its a meager crumb, and absolutely in line with the uncompromising spirit of the show. You may leave the theater wanting a stiff drink, then end up ordering a chamomile tea.

The Comeuppance

There are elements of The Big Chill about Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play, The Comeuppance, directed by Eric Ting (Signature Theatre, to June 25). A group of friends from high school reunite twenty years after graduation in a Maryland suburband a few years since they all last saw each other.

Tonight is their 20th high school reunion, and members of the self-defined Multi-Ethnic Reject Group are meeting at Ursulas porch (Brittany Bradford) before heading off to the main event. Booze and spliffs are consumed, laughs are had, silliness erupts, flirting bubbles up, jealousy, pain, anger, and dark memories resurface, truths are told. Ursula has concocted powerful jugs of booze, which will fuel the emotional kindling of the evening as the group interrogates who they were, and who they are nowwith twisty litanies of marriages, relationships, children, jobs, ambitions, secrets, and lies.

Jacobs-Jenkins has grander intentions than just reuniting this group of friendsplayed with a beguiling naturalism by Bradford, Caleb Eberhardt (Emilio), Susannah Flood (Caitlin), Bobby Moreno (Francisco), and Shannon Tyo (Kristina). For one, as well as wrestling with personal demons, references to 9/11, the COVID pandemic, wars, and the political and cultural flashpoints of the last 20 years, Jacobs-Jenkins makes clear this is a play about a generation that feels adrift and harmfully stunned by what the world they have grown up into.

Closer to home, Emilio is furious to see Francisco and Caitlin reconnect romantically after what he feels of helping Caitlin clear up the damage done in high school when they were in a relationship. Emilios fury is the powder keg of the playespecially as he rounds on former soldier Francisco, even as the latter lies prone after having a fit.

Then there is Death.

Death is a character in the show whose distorted voice we hear first and last through Emilio, but who speaks through the other characters too. Death is there to remind us that fate and time will ultimately do for us all. In one great speech, Death tells us that during COVID it had noticed humans had not only become more aware of its near presence than ever before, but also that that presence had made people generally nicer for a time. What happened to you all since that softening time, Death asks us wryly, as it turns its attention to one particular character on stage as the lights come down.

Gently gripping and rangingly ruminative, The Comeuppance is a story of a generation trying to outrun its demonsand, while losing the race in increments with a stopwatch clicking remorselessly on, still running the race with as much intent, irony, and substance-aided bravado as it can muster.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Democratic presidential candidate and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr said during a Twitter Spaces event on Monday that he would not take away peoples guns as a solution to reducing mass shootings and instead pointed the finger at pharmaceutical drugs.

My position on the gun control is Im not going to take away anybodys guns, Mr Kennedy, 69, said in response to a listener-submitted question about gun control while speaking about his political platform with Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks. Im a constitutional absolutist. We can argue about whether the Second Amendment was intended to protect guns. That argument has now been settled by the Supreme Court.

Instead, Mr Kennedy made unfounded claims that psychiatric drugs are linked to mass shootings,

Theres something happening in our country right now that is not happening anywhere, that has never happened in human history, he said.

Guns, the proliferation, clearly, abets violence, but anybody who tells you that they can remove enough guns, AR-15s, by tinkering at the margins and get to the situation they have in western Europe is puling your leg, he added. Its not going to happen.

According to researchers, theres no evidence for a link between pharmaceutical drugs and mass shootings.

Over 10 per cent of the US population takes anti-depressants, and experts say if such medicines were linked to violence, one would expect to see more shootings, and more shootings committed by groups who are prescribed the treatments at a higher rate.

"If there was a connection or link, one would expect it to be pronounced, or at least much greater than we are seeing," Dr James Knoll, director of forensic psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, told Politifact. "Why do we not see increased violence in women? People over 60?"

In fact, according to a USA Today review of mass shootings, a minority of school shooters were prescribed medications.

"I am unaware of any consistent, credible accounts that provide strong evidence regarding the prevalence of SSRI usage in cases involving school shootings or a causal relationship between SSRIs and school shootings," Daniel Mears, a professor of criminology at Florida State University, told the paper.
 Flash

Qu Qingshan (2nd R), a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, meets with President of the Republican People's Party Hazem Omar (2nd L) in Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

At the invitation of the Egyptian Republican People's Party, a CPC delegation visited Egypt from Saturday to Monday.

The delegation was led by Qu Qingshan, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.

During the visit, Qu met with Speaker of the Egyptian Senate and Chairman of Nation's Future Party Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razeq, President of the Republican People's Party Hazem Omar, among others, and held discussions with members of the Coordination Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians.

He also attended the "From the Great Wall to the Pyramids" dialogue, giving a detailed introduction of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress to the Egyptian audience.

The Egyptian side highly appreciated the significance of the 20th CPC National Congress to the world and expressed willingness to work with China to jointly promote the development of the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
RFK Jr  live: Musk reveals Twitter revenue down by half as he hosts anti-vax 2024 White House hopeful

Democrat presidential candidate and notable anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr is set to join Elon Musk and David Sacks on Twitter Spaces on Monday (5 June) at 2pm for a conversation.

Set a reminder for my upcoming Spaces with Elon Musk and moderator David Sacks! Mr Kennedy tweeted a day ahead of the event.

Mr Kennedy will also be joined by Tulsi Gabbard, Balaji Srinivasan, Omeed Malik, Michael Shellenberger and Kelly Slater who will likely ask questions and keep the conversation flowing.

The Twitter Spaces comes just weeks after Mr Musk and Mr Sacks hosted and moderated a similar audio listening event with presidential candidate Ron DeSantis where he launched his campaign.

Notably, the Spaces was filled with technological glitches which Mr Sacks attributed to a high volume of listeners.

Following the event, Mr Musk welcomed all candidates onto Twitter and said he would be open to hosting other candidates on Twitter Spaces.

But some were unhappy with Mr Musks decision to host Mr Kennedy as he has been previously banned from social platforms for spreading misinformation.

Key Points

Elon Musk hosts Twitter Spaces with Robert F Kennedy Jr

Jack Dorsey endorses Robert F Kennedy Jr for president

Elon Musk criticised for hosting RFK Jr

RFK Jr calls traditional media organisations propaganda vessels

Twitter users mock RFK Jr and Elon Musks love fest Spaces event

Instagram reinstates Robert F Kennedy Jr

05:00 , Ariana Baio

Instagram reinstated the personal account of Robert F Kennedy Jr on Sunday 4 June, just one day ahead of his planned Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk.

Mr Kennedys personal account was banned in 2021 after he continuously posted misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines on his Instagram account.

But due to his recent bid for president, Mr Kennedys account has been reinstated.

As he is now an active candidate for president of the United States, we have restored access to Robert F Kennedy, Jrs, Instagram account, a spokesperson for Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta said in a statement to The Washington Post.

Check out The Independents previous reporting on this:

Infamous anti-vaxxer Robert Kennedy Jr removed from Instagram in Facebook crackdown

Jack Dorsey endorses Robert F Kennedy Jr for president

04:00 , Ariana Baio

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has seemingly endorsed Robert F Kennedy Jr for president in a tweet.

Mr Dorsey shared a YouTube link to a Fox News interview of John F Kennedys 69-year-old nephew on Sunday, titled Robert F Kennedy Jr argues he can beat Trump and DeSantis in 2024.

Mr Dorsey quote tweeted the link. He can and will, Mr Dorsey wrote.

He can and will https://t.co/zrKLc2BKhz  jack (@jack) June 4, 2023

Robert F Kennedy Jr snubbed by his own family at 2024 presidential campaign launch

03:00 , Ariana Baio

Anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr has officially declared himself to be a candidate in next years Democratic presidential primary, ending a four-decade stretch of presidential elections without a member of his famous family on the ballot.

Andrew Feinberg reports:

Robert F Kennedy Jr snubbed by his own family at 2024 presidential campaign launch

Cheryl Hines says her husband's campaign is at times, exciting

02:00 , Ariana Baio

Cheryl Hines, the wife of Robert F Kennedy Jr, joined his Twitter Space on Monday (5 June) to express her hesitant support for her husband.

Ms Hines, 57, was unexpectedly asked to contribute to the conversation by David Sacks and asked to comment on her husbands campaign.

Its been really interesting and at times exciting, Ms Hines said laughing. I know there will be challenges that I hope Im  I know Ill be strong enough to face.

Well get through them, Ms Hines said.

She described her husband as being in his element and said she feels confident he is meant to do this.

RFK Jr: I dont ever need to talk about vaccines again

01:00 , Ariana Baio

I don't ever need to talk about vaccines again. But if somebody asks me about vaccines, I'm gonna tell them the truth.



 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D) defends his anti-vaxx activism in a Twitter Spaces conversation with Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/UI0EvDuAdo  The Recount (@therecount) June 5, 2023

Musks strategy is becoming clearer: Flood the zone with BS

Tuesday 6 June 2023 00:32 , Graeme Massie

Musk knows we cant look away from his side show. So hes using it to throw as much misinformation as possible out there, writes Eric Garcia.

Musks strategy is becoming clearer: Flood the zone with BS

RFK Jr Twitter Spaces ends after two hours

Tuesday 6 June 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

After two hours of talking about his political positions and views, Robert F Kennedy Jrs Twitter Space with Elon Musk ended around 4.30pm EST on Monday, 5 June.

Throughout his long chat with Mr Musk, David Sacks and others, Mr Kennedy went on several tangents some where he praised Mr Musk others where he shared conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and the pharmaceutical industry.

At one point, Mr Kennedys wife, Cheryl Hines, jumped into the conversation to express hesitant support for her husbands campaign run.

Elon Musk promotes transphobic content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform

Monday 5 June 2023 23:41 , Graeme Massie

Twitters CEO pledges to lobby against gender-affirming care and wants to imprison doctors, as LGBT+ advocates and watchdog groups warn the platform is opening a door for abuse, Alex Woodward reports.

Elon Musk promotes anti-trans content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform

RFK Jr heaps praise on Elon Musk saying he is rescuing American Democracy during Twitter event

Monday 5 June 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr heaped praise on Twitter owner Elon Musk for defending free speech, during a Twitter spaces event with the executive on Monday afternoon.

Mr Kennedy, who has long promoted the discredited theory that vaccines play a role in causing autism, participated in a Twitter Spaces event on Monday and praised Mr Muk for his stewardship of the social media giant for supposedly stopping censorship of voices that dissent from orthodoxy.

I just want to tell you how much I admire you for that and how grateful I am on behalf of my country, he said. You would come here from another country and be a key instrument for rescuing American democracy and freedom of speech.

Eric Garcia reports:

RFK Jr praises Elon Musk for rescuing American Democracy during Twitter event

RFK Jr says Instagram misinformation ban had nothing to do with factual accuracy'

Monday 5 June 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

During his two-hour-long Twitter Spaces chat, Mr Kennedy told people that his ban from Instagram had nothing to do with... factual accuracy despite him circulating misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines.

I was evicted from Instagram  I was losing followers there all the time. They said it was because I was promoting misinformation, but the term misinformation had nothing to do with  factual accuracy.



 2024 candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (D) on his ban from Instagram pic.twitter.com/zGCXBqQGsv  The Recount (@therecount) June 5, 2023

On gun control, RFK Jr says he will take away anybodys guns

Monday 5 June 2023 21:20 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr said his position on gun control is that he is not going to take away anybodys guns and pointed his finger at psychiatric drugs as a possible cause of school shootings.

Mr Kennedy said taking away peoples guns was not the right thing when it comes to decreasing the number of school shootings and gun violence.

The 2024 presidential candidate said he understands firsthand the heartbreak many Americans experience from gun violence because his father and uncle both died due to guns.

However, he believes taking away guns will polarise the country further.

Instead, Mr Kennedy said the US should look into the use of psychiatric drugs in young people and their contribution to school shootings.

Mr Kennedy said if he is president he will look closely into the role of psychiatric drugs in those events.

RFK Jr spreads conspiracy about Covid calling it a bioweapons problem'

Monday 5 June 2023 20:42 , Ariana Baio

During his Twitter Spaces event, Mr Kennedy called Covid-19 a bioweapon problem and insinuated it was not a real disease.

Mr Kennedy went on a conspiracy tangent about other countries developing bioweapons against the United States, saying US leaders should be quick to negotiate and de-escalate tensions.

Covid was clearly a bioweapons problem, Mr Kennedy said. What if it was a real disease?

Mr Kennedy has spread misinformation about Covid-19 since the pandemic began. For years, he promoted anti-vaccine beliefs.

He was banned from Instagram in 2021 for posting debunked information about the Covid-19 vaccine. His account was reinstated this week due to his presidential campaign.

RFK Jr blames President Biden for steering Democrats toward war

Monday 5 June 2023 20:20 , Ariana Baio

Mr Kennedy reflected on the Democrat party of his father, Robert F Kennedy, and uncle, John F Kennedy, and said he blames President Joe Biden for steering Democrats toward war.

I attribute that directly to President Biden, Mr Kennedy said calling Democrats pro-war.

The 2024 presidential candidate said he liked Mr Biden but found he had a pugnacious approach to foreign politics.

He accused Mr Biden of believing, Violence is a legitimate political tool to achieving Americas objects abroad.

RFK Jr believes the US needs to seal the border

Monday 5 June 2023 20:15 , Ariana Baio

When speaking about immigration, 2024 candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr said he believes the US needs to, seal our border during Mondays Twitter Spaces event.

Mr Kennedy said that the US should focus on taking care of Americans who cannot afford to live before taking on those seeking asylum.

Though, he acknowledged that many people seeking asylum in the US from Central and South America are doing so as a direct result of, bad US politics in the South.

Mr Kennedy said he planned to go to the US-Mexico border on Monday night to meet with people on both sides.

RFK Jr says the solution to bad speech is more speech

Monday 5 June 2023 20:08 , Ariana Baio

Mr Kennedy called himself, pretty much a free-speech absolutist when asked about transparency and censorship.

The remedy for bad speech is more speech, Mr Kennedy said.

Robert F Kennedy Jrs voice disorder: spasmodic dysphonia

Monday 5 June 2023 20:01 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr told O, the Oprah Magazine, in 2007 that he has spasmodic dysphonia, a medical condition that causes his voice to tremble.

The condition is a voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the voice box. As a result, Mr Kennedys voice can break or sound strained.

Spasmodic dysphonia is a life-long condition but does not affect life expectancy.

"The disease didnt hit me until I was about 43, Mr Kennedy told O. I used to have a strong voice,"

It began as a mild tremble for a couple of years. After people would hear me speak, Id get all these letters, almost always from women: I saw you on TV and you were cryingit was so good seeing a man share his feelings! Id think, Oh God. I knew for every woman who wrote, there were ten men saying, Look at this friggin crybaby! Mr Kennedy said in 2007.

Twitter users mock RFK Jr and Elon Musks love fest Spaces event

Monday 5 June 2023 19:50 , Ariana Baio

The first 30 minutes of Robert F Kennedy Jr and Elon Musks Twitter Spaces event seemed to be dedicated to Mr Kennedy praising Mr Musk for his work on Twitter and other companies he owns.

On the social media platform, Twitter users mocked Mr Kennedy for gushing over Mr Musk.

RFK Jr. does know Elon cant be his running mate, right? This love fest is too much for me, one Twitter user wrote.

RFK Jr. does know Elon cant be his running mate, right?



This love fest is too much for me.  Trey Walsh (@ktreywalsh) June 5, 2023

"I really started admiring you when I saw an interview you did years ago" - #RFKJr is sucking up to Elon  Philip  (@PhilipOnHiatus) June 5, 2023

One Twitter user said they were interested in better understanding Mr Kennedys perspective and stances but were disappointed by the event.

Not to be disrespectful, but this space sounds like RFK Jr. is interviewing Musk- I for one would like a little more insight into RFK Jr.s stances. Am I the only one who feels this way? Tirah wrote.

Not to be disrespectful, but this space sounds like RFK Jr. is interviewing Musk- I for one would like a little more insight into RFK Jr.s stances. Am I the only one who feels this way?  Tirah Att (@TirahAtt) June 5, 2023

RFK Jr calls Elon Musk a key instrument for rescuing American democracy

Monday 5 June 2023 19:45 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr spent much of the first half of his Twitter Spaces praising Elon Musk and asking him questions about his ideas.

Mr Kennedy asked and praised Mr Musk for his work to decrease censorship on Twitter as well as his work with the neurotechnology company Neuralink.

I just want to tell you how much I admire you for that and how grateful I am on behalf of my country, Mr Kennedy said. You would come here from another country and be a key instrument for rescuing American Democracy and freedom of speech.

RFK Jr calls traditional media organisations propaganda vessels

Monday 5 June 2023 19:31 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr accused traditional media organisations of being propaganda vessels of the government and large corporations in the United States.

During Mondays Twitter Spaces event, host Elon Musk said the: Legacy of traditional media is also entirely, with some exceptions, working in lockstep with the government and with corporate America it is really their obligation to question the government, not go along with it and be their mouthpiece.

Mr Kennedy, a Democrat candidate, agreed with Mr Musk and said, Theyve become propaganda vessels.

RFK Jr begins by praising Elon Musk

Monday 5 June 2023 19:23 , Ariana Baio

Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr started his Twitter Spaces event by praising Elon Musk for advocating for free speech.

Your arrival at Twitter, Elon, has been, I think, a breath of fresh air for our country, Mr Kennedy said.

For the first several minutes of the event, Mr Kennedy gushed over Mr Musks work to bring total free speech to the platform  a goal that Mr Musk has been extremely vocal about.

However, a lack of censorship on the platform has led to some controversy from critics who believe it has given misinformation an opportunity to flourish.

Twitter Spaces event begins with elevator music after delays

Monday 5 June 2023 19:15 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jrs Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk went live several minutes after its scheduled 2pm EST time slot and kicked off with elevator music.

Approximately 23,000 people waited in the Spaces for nearly 15 minutes after 2pm until David Sacks kicked off the event.

How to listen to Robert F Kennedy Jr and Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces

Monday 5 June 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr will be joining Elon Musk and David Sacks in a conversation about the 2024 presidential election at 2pm EST on Twitter Spaces

To listen to their conversation you can click the link provided by Mr Kennedy or Mr Musk via Twitter here.

WATCH: Robert F Kennedy Jr announces presidential run

Monday 5 June 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr, known by his initials RFK Jr, launched his presidential campaign on 5 April. Watch his official announcement below.

Elon Musk criticised for hosting RFK Jr

Monday 5 June 2023 18:01 , Ariana Baio

Several Twitter users are unhappy that Elon Musk is hosting 2024 presidential candidate, and notably anti-vaccine advocate, Robert F Kennedy Jr on Twitter Spaces.

Musk will personally normalize a presidential candidate who runs a vicious anti-vax propaganda organization, publishes unhinged attacks against Dr. Fauci, and [sic] rubs elbows with the likes of Roger Stone at far right white nationalist events, Occupy Democrats tweeted.

BREAKING: Twitter owner escalates his war on truth, invites 2024 presidential candidate RFK Jr., a rabid anti-vaxxer who praised Hitler and constantly smears Dr. Fauci, to promote his campaign on Twitter Spaces  and RFK accepts his invite.



To add insult to injury, Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/fY0BzvXPCW  Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) June 4, 2023

Elon Musk has chosen to give RFK Jr a platform, Geoff Pilkington tweeted with a screenshot of a tweet criticising Mr Kennedys previous statements.

Elon Musk has chosen to give RFK Jr a platform. A reminder about RFK Jr below in recent tweet via @yashar: pic.twitter.com/ZXmrcQAL2T  Geoff Pilkington (@geoffpilkington) June 4, 2023

Mr Kennedy was banned from Instagram in 2021 for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines. For years, the nephew of John F Kennedy spread debunked theories about vaccines like their links to autism.

Robert F Kennedy Jr denies comparing Covid mandates to the Holocaust

Monday 5 June 2023 17:44 , Ariana Baio

Controversial presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr is beginning his campaign for the presidency with a move that no White House hopeful ever wants to have to make  by clarifying comments about the Holocaust.

According to Mr Kennedy, news companies incorrectly claimed that he had compared the Holocaust and specifically the treatment of Anne Frank to Covid vaccine mandates.

John Bowden reports:

Robert F Kennedy Jr denies comparing Covid mandates to the Holocaust

Jack Dorsey endorses Robert F Kennedy Jr for president

Monday 5 June 2023 17:15 , Ariana Baio

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has seemingly endorsed Robert F Kennedy Jr for president in a tweet.

Mr Dorsey shared a YouTube link to a Fox News interview of John F Kennedys 69-year-old nephew on Sunday, titled Robert F Kennedy Jr argues he can beat Trump and DeSantis in 2024.

Mr Dorsey quote tweeted the link. He can and will, wrote the Twitter co-founder.

He can and will https://t.co/zrKLc2BKhz  jack (@jack) June 4, 2023

RFK Jrs descent into conspiracy theories causing anguish for family and friends, report says

Monday 5 June 2023 16:41 , Ariana Baio

Friends and family of Robert F Kennedy Jr have said they are dismayed at his descent into fear-mongering by spreading anti-vaccine conspiracies.

Bevan Hurley reports:

RFK Jrs descent into conspiracy theories causing anguish for family and friends

Robert F Kennedy Jr Instagram account reactivated

Monday 5 June 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

Instagram reinstated the personal account of Robert F Kennedy Jr on Sunday 4 June, just one day ahead of his planned Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk.

Mr Kennedys personal account was banned in 2021 after he continuously posted misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines on his Instagram account.

But due to his recent bid for president, Mr Kennedys account has been reinstated.

As he is now an active candidate for president of the United States, we have restored access to Robert F Kennedy, Jrs, Instagram account, a spokesperson for Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta said in a statement to The Washington Post.

Who is running for president in 2024?

Monday 5 June 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio

Robert F Kennedy Jr joins a group of several other Republican and Democrat candidates seeking a 2024 White House bid.

Andrew Feinberg and Ariana Baio report:

Who is running for president in 2024?

Elon Musk says Twitter Spaces is being upgraded and tested ahead of event

Monday 5 June 2023 15:03 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk indicated Twitter Spaces was being upgraded and tested ahead of his event with presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr on Monday.

On Friday (2 June) Mr Musk tweeted that the feature was going to be stress-tested in advance - likely to avoid the same mistake as his Twitter Spaces with candidate Ron DeSantis in May.

During the Spaces with Mr DeSantis, Twitter continuously crashed and caused audio outages randomly which moderator David Sacks attributed to a high volume of listeners.

System is being upgraded & stress-tested in advance of @RobertKennedyJr interview on Monday!  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2023

Elon Musk hosts Twitter Spaces with Robert F Kennedy Jr

Monday 5 June 2023 14:51 , Ariana Baio

Elon Musk is set to host a Twitter Spaces event with 2024 presidential candidate, and outspoken anti-vaccine advocate, Robert F Kennedy Jr- just weeks after Ron DeSantis launched his campaign using the feature.

Mr Kennedy is set to speak with Mr Musk and David Sacks on 5 June at 2pm EST in an event poised to be similar to Mr DeSantis.

Ariana Baio reports:

Elon Musk hosting event with anti-vax 2024 candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr on Twitter
Sherry Pocknett made some culinary history last night. Pocknett, who cooks Indigenous cuisine from her Wampanoag culture at her Sly Fox Den Too restaurant in Charlestown, took home the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Northeast.

Chef Pocknett was a first-time nominee for the Beard award. They are considered the Oscars of the food world. She joins Al Forno's Johanne Killeen and the late George Germon, as the only Rhode Islanders to win the prestigious, regional best chef award. They won in 1993.

She accepted the award with graciousness and tears, saying she never expected the honor. Dressed in Native American clothing, she told the audience she has cancer. But added that she is almost through it. She spoke of family, too.

The culinary media company Eater streamed the awards live from the Lyric Opera.

Chef Sherry Pocknett with a platter of her food at Sly Fox Den, Too in Charlestown.

No reason not to dine al fresco: Restaurants in RI with a waterfront view

More: Explore Rhode Island's rich Native American history and culture, all in one day

Pocknett opened her Sly Fox Den Too, post COVID-19 in 2021 at 4349 South County Trail. The restaurant grew out of her Connecticut-based catering business. She focuses on local, seasonal ingredients. She grew up on Cape Cod, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. Her extended family ran The Flume restaurant, and she previously worked as food and beverage director at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center.

Sly Fox Den Too features a menu of Indigenous foods.

She was a finalist with four other New England chefs competing for the award. Two were from Boston: Valentine Howell of Krasi and Yisha Siu of Yunnan Kitchen. Two were based in Connecticut: Christian Hunter of Community Table in New Preston and Renee Touponce of The Port of Call in Mystic.

Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett and Olneyville New York System in Providence have been honored with Beard awards as "America's Classics."

Who won at the James Beard Awards 2023?

Outstanding Chef : Rob Rubba, Oyster Oyster, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant : Friday Saturday Sunday, Philadelphia

Best New Restaurant : Kann, Portland, Oregon

Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin, High Street Hospitality Group (Fork, a.kitchen + bar, High Street Philly, and others), Philadelphia

Outstanding Hospitality : The Quarry, Monson, Maine

Emerging Chef : Damarr Brown, Virtue, Chicago

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker : Margarita Manzke, Republique, Los Angeles

Outstanding Bakery : Yoli Tortilleria, Kansas City, Missouri

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program : Ototo, Los Angeles

Outstanding Bar : Bar Leather Apron, Honolulu

Best Chef: Midwest : Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, Fairchild, Madison, Wisconsin

Best Chef: Mountain : Kris Komori, KIN, Boise, Idaho

Best Chef: South : Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Best Chef: Northeast : Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, Rhode Island

Best Chef: Southwest : Andrew Black, Grey Sweater, Oklahoma City

Best Chef: Southeast : Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove, Decatur, Georgia

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic : Chutatip Nok Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia

Best Chef: New York State : Junghyun Park, Atomix, New York

Best Chef: California : Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks, California

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific : Vince Nguyen, Berlu, Portland, Oregon

Best Chef: Texas : Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen, Houston, Texas

Best Chef: Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, Kasama, Chicago

What are the James Beard Awards?

What is a Michelin star? Here's what to expect at a restaurant with the badge of honor.

The awards recognize "exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive," the organization said in a release in January.

The list of semifinalists, which came out in January, included dozens of chefs and restaurants from across the country in 23 categories. Nominees in the national and regional categories ran the gamut from established chefs and fine-dining restaurants to newcomers and mom-and-pops. A new category, outstanding bakery, was added this year. Finalists were revealed on March 29.

Contributing: Morgan Hines and Charles Trepany

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sly Fox Den Too chef wins 2023 James Beard award
Customers during the opening day at Smacked LLC, a legal marijuana dispensary in New York, on Jan 24, 2023. (Jose A. Alvarado/The New York Times)

When New York state began laying the groundwork for its recreational cannabis industry last year, officials cast atoning for the harm done by the war on drugs as a cornerstone of the ambitious plan  and promised to give people who were previously convicted of marijuana offenses the first opportunity to sell it legally.

Today, that effort appears to be foundering: Although Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested last fall that more than 100 dispensaries would be operating by this summer, just 12 have opened since regulators issued the first licenses in November.

In a letter to regulators and the governors office last month, a coalition of dozens of the prospective dispensary operators described being blocked by the state from selecting their own storefront locations. Some said that they felt pressured to accept inflated rents and construction costs, while others said that the state was withholding funding from those who wanted to lease space or handle matters on their own, according to the letter, which was also sent to The New York Times.

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The prospective sellers said that they appreciated how the states tight control over the program was meant to benefit them but added that, more often, it was holding them back.

We are now very clearly and quickly learning that it is now to our disadvantage in the current landscape, they said.

The outcry drew support from cannabis farmers, processors and others with a stake in the recreational marijuana industry who said the vision of a cannabis market that uses the licensing process to right old wrongs and promote small business is still far from being realized.

Gahrey Ovalle, a 47-year-old businessperson on Long Island and a retail licensee, signed the letter with his brother, whose previous conviction helped them to secure a license in April. The pair had sought advice from others who had started the process, only to learn that many of them had made little progress in opening their own shops and were afraid of speaking out against the regulators who controlled their fates.

What they were describing was, theyre in the same space as us and we came along six months later, Ovalle said in an interview. And that was very alarming to us.

The delays in opening the states first legal recreational marijuana dispensaries have reverberated through the supply chain, leaving farmers and processors holding hundreds of millions of dollars in crops that are slowly deteriorating. Some said they were facing the loss of their land and businesses.

The retail initiative was meant to help people convicted of marijuana offenses gain a foothold in the legal cannabis industry by making them the only ones eligible to sell weed legally for an initial, fixed period of time. It was to provide 150 of them with ready-to-open locations and a total of $200 million in low-interest loans. But a year after Hochul assigned leasing and financing tasks to the Dormitory Authority, a public construction behemoth, the agency has not found enough landlords willing to rent to dispensaries and has raised no money from investors for the loan fund.

The situation has taken on greater urgency since the Cannabis Control Board, which approves licenses and regulations, voted last month to allow the major cannabis firms behind the states medical marijuana program to wade into the recreational market in December  two years ahead of time.

When that occurs, it will put the smaller dispensaries run by people with past marijuana convictions, currently the only ones who can legally sell recreational marijuana, into direct competition with large companies that have all but shut out small players in other states. Some of those businesses have openly attacked the New York state program that awards retail licenses to people convicted of marijuana offenses.

The shift came without explanation, two months after some of the medical marijuana companies sued regulators to gain entry to the recreational market.

The Office of Cannabis Management, which issues licenses, and the Dormitory Authority declined interview requests. But the agencies leaders said in a joint statement that they would meet with the letters signers and make improvements to the program. The first such meeting was set to take place in Queens on Tuesday.

Kavita Pawria-Sanchez, CEO of CannaBronx, a grassroots policy organization that works on behalf of current and former dealers, said the outpouring of support demonstrated a growing sense that what legalization activists fought for was in peril.

I think folks are exhausted and understand that were at a make or break moment, and that if this ship doesnt change course, we arent going to see what we thought we would see, she said.

Some licensees have found locations on their own only to be outbid by the state or told it was too close to a location the agency was already interested in, the licensees said. Those who rely on the states help are offered spaces with high rents and renovation costs with few details or no room for negotiation.

One licensee said he found a place to rent for $9,000 a month, but the property owner changed his mind after the Dormitory Authority offered him $14,000 monthly to join its landlord pool instead. Another said he was charged $125,000 for a security system that normally costs $12,000. And several licensees said contractors were quoting renovation costs from $800,000 to $1.6 million for work that could be done for less than $300,000. The licensees spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation from regulators.

The licensees said costs make profit nearly impossible for dispensary owners, who do not have access to traditional financing and cannot deduct most business expenses from their taxes because selling cannabis remains a federal crime. They also face high state taxes and operating costs that make it difficult to compete with the illicit market.

Attempts to raise concerns with the Dormitory Authority and the fund managers have gone unanswered, licensees said, prompting them to write last months letter.

Carson Grant, 45, who owns a retail packaging and shipping business in Queens and who signed the letter, received one of the first dispensary licenses in November as part of a cohort that one official said was the top class of applicants.

Six months later, he said, officials have yet to answer his most basic questions  How much is this going to cost me? Where is my loan agreement?  and he was beginning to fear that licensees have been set up to fail.

Im just not being treated like a businessperson who makes business decisions, which to me could lead to my failure, my familys failure, he said. So, honestly, this whole scenario has been traumatic for all of us.

I have tears sometimes, he added. I cant sleep. Theres no clear direction. Theres no full transparency.

At a recent regulatory meeting, the president of the Dormitory Authority, Reuben McDaniel III, defended his agencys handling of the program. He said some licensees had negotiated worse deals than the state for the same properties.

Contractors quotes seem high because they include things such as cash machines and furniture that are not typically part of construction costs, he said. But all of the estimates have come down, one by as much as $400,000. He added that the loans do not require dispensary owners to put up collateral, which frees them to finance other parts of the business, such as inventory.

In Albany, Hochul signed a bill Thursday that would allow farmers and processors to continue delivering to dispensaries, avoiding an imminent interruption in the supply chain. But it remains unclear if other measures, including a bill that would provide loans to struggling farmers, will pass with less than a week left in the session.

Reginald Fluellen, senior consultant for the Cannabis Social Equity Coalition, a group representing Black and brown people harmed by the enforcement of anti-drug policies, said it is up to Hochul to salvage the rollout.

The governor needs to step in and use her influence to get course-correction, or replace them in order to correct whats going on here, he said.

Officials from the Office of Cannabis Management said in a recent meeting with growers that they hope to soon be able to allow farmers and retailers to start selling weed at farmers markets and events such as concerts.

For Katherine Miller, a farmer in Sharon Springs, west of Albany, time is of the essence.

She was one of 250 hemp farmers who grew the states first legal cannabis crop last year, and she had planned to use the proceeds of the harvest to finance a second season. But at a recent Cannabis Control Board meeting, she was among several farmers who described how having nowhere to sell their cannabis crop had turned what was supposed to be a lifeline, into a liability.

Miller, 50, recently planted a second round of seeds. But she said she fears losing the farm she has owned for 13 years, that is also her home.

Planting again is like my final Hail Mary, she said. Its like trying to believe this will come together, and that it will end up being profitable and worth it.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

Photo illustration: Jack Forbes/Yahoo News; photos: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images, Getty Images (2)

Whats happening

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading anti-vaccine conspiracist and descendent of the Kennedy political dynasty, has garnered a surprising amount of support in polls since announcing his bid to unseat President Biden in the Democratic presidential primary.

While theres no indication that Kennedy poses any significant threat to Bidens quest for reelection, hes received the backing of as much as 20 percent of Democratic-leaning voters in a handful of recent polls  an unexpected figure for anyone challenging an incumbent president, let alone someone best known for fringe beliefs that are well outside the Democratic mainstream.

Kennedys father served as U.S. attorney general and was a popular presidential candidate before being assassinated in 1968. He is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and longtime Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy. He first gained notoriety as an aggressive environmental lawyer before emerging as one of the most prominent anti-vaccine activists in the country.

Kennedy was among the most popular proponents of the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism, which helped fuel the rise to the modern anti-vaccine movement. He was also identified by researchers as one of the disinformation dozen, a small group of people responsible for spreading the majority of false claims about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Beyond vaccines, Kennedy has claimed that 5G networking technology will be used to control our behavior, blamed the U.S. and Ukraine for provoking Russias invasion, accused George W. Bush of stealing the 2004 presidential election, called for people who deny climate change to be jailed, suggested antidepressants may be causing school shootings, and strongly insinuated that both his father and uncle were murdered by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Why theres debate

At first blush, Kennedys beliefs can seem antithetical to a Democratic Party that has made combating misinformation such a key focus during the Trump era. But pundits have put forward a variety of theories to explain why up to one-fifth of left-leaning voters say they might support him.

The simplest and most common answer is that many voters simply dont know much about Kennedys fringe views, but have a strong affinity for the Kennedy name. Some commentators also believe that Kennedy's surprising strong polling comes from the fact that a large share of the Democratic base is hoping that Biden wont be their partys nominee and theyre eager to back any alternative theyre offered.

But others arent so quick to dismiss Kennedys support as purely the good fortune of having a famous name and running against a relatively unpopular incumbent. They argue that his anti-establishment views run deep in segments of both political parties. His medical conspiracies appeal to a small subset of the Democratic base that holds negative attitudes toward Big Pharma. Since announcing his run for president, he has tended to downplay his more controversial beliefs in favor of a more general populist message that would likely be more attractive to a wider range of voters.

Kennedy is also getting a boost from some high-profile figures who are well outside the Democratic mainstream. Twitter CEO Elon Musk hosted him for a lengthy conversation on Monday and the companys founder, Jack Dorsey, has recently endorsed Kennedy for president. Influential voices in right-wing media, including several hosts on Fox News and far-right personalities like Steve Bannon and Alex Jones, have also praised his candidacy  perhaps because they see it as a way of weakening Bidens chances at winning reelection.

Whats next

Biden remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination again. With the party not planning to hold any primary debates, there may be few opportunities for Kennedy or the other challenger in the race, self-help guru and author Marianne Williamson, to gain traction. In an odd twist, though, Kennedy may be in position to win one of the first Democratic primary contests thanks to infighting within the Democratic Party that could cause the president to not appear on the ballot in New Hampshire.

Perspectives

His support may be entirely the result of his famous last name

Theres plenty of reason to believe his early poll standing is significantly inflated by his famous name.  There is probably no name in American politics that is more golden, particularly among left-leaning Americans.  Aaron Blake, Washington Post

Most voters arent aware of Kennedys most extreme beliefs

Unfortunately for RFK Jr., it seems voters really dont know who he is, and his support will dwindle once they figure it out.  Ed Kilgore, New York

He is skilled at leveraging the support of his fringe followers without allowing them to define him

The Q-anon crowd likes RFK Jr. but hes smart enough not to openly endorse that particular lunacy. But like Trump, he lets the lunatics line up behind him. Also like Trump, he has a talent for promoting populist views.  Paul Mulshine, Star-Ledger (N.J.)

Democratic voters are searching for anyone other than Biden to be their nominee

Regardless of the preferences of the Democratic establishment, many Democratic voters are still not accepting the idea that theyre stuck with Joe Biden.  James Freeman, Wall Street Journal

Hes getting a boost from conservatives looking to hobble Biden

Perhaps Republicans are now boosting Kennedyan eco-warrior who wants to jail his opponents and shut down companies that disagree with himnot out of a sincere desire to see him prevail but to weaken Joe Biden. Or maybe jailing opponents and shutting down dissident companies are now tenets of American conservatism.  Joe Lancaster, Reason

Kennedy is seizing on widespread distrust of authority that has seeped into the U.S. electorate

The spread of disinformation about COVID vaccines has occurred in a society characterised by low institutional trust. Figures such as Kennedy  capitalise on this, appealing to those disillusioned with the governments official narrative. They present themselves as having access to privileged knowledge and understanding.  Stephanie Alice Baker, Chris Rojek and Eugene McLaughlin, The Conversation

Kennedys relative popularity shows how the conspiracist mindset has infected every wing of U.S. politics

I dont think RFK Jr., is about to defeator will likely even do serious damageto Joe Biden in 2024. My concern is about the post-Biden future. The sort of conspiratorial populism that Kennedy embraces is on the rise in America. Thats where the energy is. To some degree, we are now seeing that even in Democratic polls. Trump has already taken over the GOP. What happens if the Democratic Party also falls to the siren call of the populist zeitgeist?  Matt Lewis, The Daily Beast

The media is making him look like a serious candidate by failing to call out his lies

Major news networks are badly underprepared to interview Kennedy.  Kennedy is a sophisticated political figure, skilled at debate, highly media-trained, and clearly poised to use his presidential run to raise his profile and situate himself as a serious statesman, rather than the health crank he has shown himself to be for so many years. News networks that cant figure out how to interview someone like Kennedywhich is a matter of asking him about his actions and expressed beliefs and properly contextualizing them, the same as for any other subjectrun the risk of doing his advertising for him instead.  Anna Merlan, Vice

Outside of his zanier beliefs, Kennedy is a talented communicator with an appealing message

Itll be a serious challenge, if the Democratic establishment and its media allies cant quash him. Kennedy has real conviction and charisma, and hes fiercely independent of many of the partys reigning pieties  all of which should appeal.  Editorial, New York Post

Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event where he announced his run for president on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. | Josh Reynolds, Associated Press

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s campaign is gaining speed, as he is now the choice of 1 in 5 Democratic primary voters, according to recent polls.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk invited him on Twitter Spaces on Monday for a conversation on reclaiming democracy. According to Reuters, Kennedy praised Musk for how he is managing the social media platform.

I think if we dont protect free speech at all costs, we dont have a functioning democracy, Kennedy said.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan, entrepreneur Omeed Malik, author Michael Shellenberger and professional surfer Kelly Slater also joined the Twitter chat.

Related

Kennedy formally announced his bid to be the 2024 Democratic nominee for president in April.

Prior to his appearance on Twitter Spaces, a feature that allows live audio conversations, Instagram reinstated his account. Kennedy will once again have access to more than 750,000 followers.

As he is now an active candidate for President of the United States, we have restored access to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s, Instagram account, a spokesperson for Instagrams parent company Meta said in a statement, as first reported by The Washington Post

He was banned from Instagram in February 2021 for spreading vaccine misinformation. Meta didnt take away Kennedys access to Facebook.

Kennedy brings to the table his pedigree as being from one of Americas most famous political families  he is the son of U.S. attorney general and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Apart from his lineage, he is most known for his stance of being against vaccines, and for false statements he has made about their safety. Kennedy has, for at least a decade and a half, claimed that vaccines are unsafe. During the pandemic, he boosted his advocacy efforts and launched Childrens Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit.

As Instagram brought back Kennedy, Twitters former CEO, Jack Dorsey, offered an endorsement.

Dorsey posted a video titled Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. argues he can beat Trump and DeSantis in 2024, and wrote, He can and will.

He can and will https://t.co/zrKLc2BKhz  jack (@jack) June 4, 2023

The Democratic National Committee is showing support for President Joe Biden and isnt planning on hosting a primary debate.

But Kennedy, who hopes to revamp the Democratic Party, continues promoting his campaign.

They still treat me as a fringe candidate and they say he doesnt have a chance and they dont even put me in the polls a lot of times. And Im way ahead of (Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis). My numbers are much better than his but hes treated as a legitimate candidate, he said during his Memorial Day address in San Diego. Thats OK. They dont have to treat me different ... all we have to do is win the election.

Whether it is his name recognition as a Kennedy or his anti-vaccine stance, a prominent part of his campaign, Kennedy is pulling double-digit support in polls.

A Washington Post columnist wrote this week Kennedys campaign tests the conspiratorial appetite of Democrats.

Related
During his first full week of campaigning for president, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis increasingly touted his record on immigration, arguing that he is the true conservative on the issue as he sought to distinguish himself from his top GOP rival, former President Donald Trump.

In a recent interview with conservative radio host Ben Shapiro, DeSantis argued that this is a different guy than 2015, 2016. And the governors decision to send more than 1,100 state law enforcement agents and National Guard members to Texas border with Mexico signals a willingness to run to Trumps right on a subject long considered to be one of Trumps core political messages.

I think thats probably the case, said Ken Cuccinelli, a former top official in the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration who founded the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down. [Trump] accomplished far less than he could have. And that would be the case again.

Immigration became a central part of the governors stump speech to voters this past week in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Ive been hearing complaints about [the southern border] for so long, and yet its worse than ever today, DeSantis said Friday in Lexington, South Carolina. We are going to shut the border down. Were going to build a border wall. Were going to stop mass migration and we are going to hold the Mexican drug cartels accountable for the carnage that they have unleashed on this country.

Earlier in the week in Iowa, he went even further, touting his controversial migrant flights to Marthas Vineyard.

You cannot have a normal functioning society if you do not have control over the territorial integrity of your country, DeSantis said in Council Bluffs.

His rhetoric on immigration echoes some of the remarks from Trump during the early days of his 2016 presidential campaign, an issue that struck a chord with the Republican base and helped catapult the real estate mogul into the White House.

When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best, Trump famously said during his launch event in 2015. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

DeSantis remarks in Iowa referred to some migrants as criminal aliens and alleged some are on the terror watchlist. While hes been careful not to mention Trump by name in his stump speech, he has highlighted a frustration with Trumps inability to make good on his promises during his four-year term.

Ive heard a lot of promises about taking care of border security for years and years and years, DeSantis said Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire. And what I can pledge you to is this: When Im president, we will be the one to finally bring this issue to a conclusion.

It appears to be part of a broader attempt to attack Trump from his right flank on culture war issues that could be crucial to attracting conservative voters, particularly in the Iowa caucuses.

DeSantis has already broken with Trump on issues such as the former presidents response to the Covid pandemic as well as the so-called war on woke. After Trump last week said he didnt like the term woke and that many people couldnt define it, DeSantis pushed back by insisting it meant cultural Marxism and that he saw being woke as putting merit and achievement behind identity politics. The spat comes after the candidates sparred over DeSantis ongoing feud with Disney.

I do think, unfortunately, hes decided to move left on some of these issues, DeSantis told reporters Tuesday in Clive, Iowa.

For its part, the Trump campaign has unleashed a series of increasingly blunt attacks on DeSantis since his campaign launch, including mocking the glitchy rollout on Twitter Spaces and even highlighting the inconsistent pronunciation of DeSantis last name.

How can Ron DeSantis run anywhere when he cant even run his own political operation correctly? Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, said in a text message. The fact is that President Trump built hundreds and hundreds of miles of wall, implemented the Remain in Mexico policy, stopped deadly drugs from flowing into communities, and fought transnational gangs and cartels from terrorizing Americans. President Trump has laid out a bold strategy for his second term, which includes destroying the drug cartels once and for all, halting the invasion of the Southern Border, ending catch-and-release, and eliminating asylum fraud.

Trump still highlights immigration as a central theme on the trail. In 2015 and 2018, he called for ending birthright citizenship, and now he says hell sign an executive order to do it if re-elected president.

In a recently released campaign video, Trump used anti-immigrant rhetoric to underscore his reasoning for a ban on allowing children of immigrants lacking permanent legal status to automatically become citizens if they are born in the U.S.: Who wants to have people who are very sick coming into our country? People from mental institutions coming into our country?

DeSantis has been building his record on immigration for some time, culminating in the Florida Legislature recently passing a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration that critics have said is among the harshest in the nation. SB 1718 takes effect July 1, and its provisions include requiring hospitals that accept Medicaid to include a question on intake forms about the patients citizenship status. Also, the law increases penalties for human trafficking-related offenses and expands the use of E-Verify, the federal database employers can use to check a workers employment eligibility.

Theres a sense of panic, said Misael Santana, the pastor of a church in South Florida that ministers to immigrants lacking permanent legal status. The people have more fear now than with Trump.

Still, while the rightward shift on immigration may appeal to GOP primary voters, it will likely prove a tough sell to independents and moderate Democrats in a general election.

Yvette Cruz, the communications coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida, told NBC News that migrant workers are already quitting and leaving the state, leading to worries about a worker shortage.

Whos going to do the work that no one else is doing? she asked.

Even some conservative voters in South Florida are concerned. Homero Cruz is a Trump supporter who fully endorsed Trumps immigration policies but says that DeSantis are a big mistake.

I work in construction, he said. And theres a lot of people that need work, and theyre willing to work. And obviously I cannot hire them because they dont have a working permit. So we need to fix this problem.

Another woman, Lesby, said in an interview that she was undocumented and asked to withhold her last name for fear of being deported. She said she paid taxes and hasnt seen the rest of her family in Honduras in 16 years.

We just want to work freely, she said. We dont want to feel afraid that every time you leave the house something could happen.

Still, she had decided to stay in Florida, despite the new immigration law.

This is my state, my heart, where I planted roots, she said. And so we are going to keep fighting here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
When Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas appeared for the first time before the Florida Federalist Society in January 2020, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared to a large banquet audience on the Disney World grounds: I do think he is our greatest living justice.

Later that night, DeSantis and Thomas retreated to a private dinner at a steakhouse also at Disney with a few Federalist Society stalwarts, including Leonard Leo, a wealthy conservative activist who has influenced Supreme Court appointments more than anyone outside the White House and Senate.

Thomas and Leo had been friends for decades, and Leo had known DeSantis since the governor was at Harvard Law School in the early 2000s. After his 2018 gubernatorial election in Florida, Leo began advising him on state judicial appointments, just as he did for President Donald Trumps US Supreme Court nominees.

The private dinner helped seal the relationship between DeSantis and Thomas. That encounter deepened their knowledge of each other and the governors respect for the justice, Leo told CNN.

Ginni Thomas, the justices wife and a lifelong conservative activist, seemed to confirm her husbands close ties to DeSantis in emails obtained last year by American Oversight and published by Politico.

Emails written in 2021 revealed her efforts to win DeSantis participation in a meeting of a right-wing coalition with which she was working. As she communicated with the governors scheduling team, she said she had interviewed DeSantis for the Daily Caller when he was in the House of Representatives, that she had seen him at a state dinner at the Trump White House and  crucially  that my husband has been in contact with him too on various things of late.

Like Trump during his first campaign in 2016, DeSantis has put the Supreme Court at the center of his appeal to Republicans. He has predicted he could, if elected, secure a 7-2 conservative-liberal majority (the bench is now dominated 6-3 by conservatives). An emphasis on the future makeup of the court and the potential for his eight years in the White House, rather than only four more years for Trump, could help the Florida governor seize a key lane from his rival.

Irrespective of the squabbling between the two presidential contenders, DeSantis and Trump have operated in the same ideological orbit. Some of DeSantis state court appointees became Trump federal court appointees, and their entire approach to the bench is fueled by Federalist Society figures like Leo.

ProPublicas recent reports of Thomas undisclosed travel and other financial entanglements with Republican megadonor Harlan Crow have provoked public criticism and congressional scrutiny. But Thomas remains a hero to conservatives  evidenced by DeSantis repeatedly holding him up as a model  and Thomas stature on the bench has only been rising. Many other would-be presidential contenders, in fact, have also praised Thomas.

Thomas takes his seat during the conference. - Octavio Jones/Tampa Bay Times/Zuma Press

The longest serving member of the current court, Thomas, who will turn 75 this month, once found himself regularly in dissent on the right-wing fringe. Now, with the addition of three Trump-appointed justices, he has become the leader of the courts conservative axis.

Leo, a deep personal friend of Thomas whose well-moneyed network of right-wing advocacy has generated its own condemnation from Democrats, has not taken a public position on a GOP presidential candidate at this early primary stage. He has advised DeSantis over the years and said he admires his approach to the judiciary. But Leo, whose nonprofit last year received an unprecedented $1.6 billion from a single donor for his work, appears to be keeping his options open as the GOP presidential field grows.

DeSantis anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion rights and other culture war agenda items align at the high court with Thomas. The justice has voted against gay and transgender interests, and he provided one of the crucial five votes last year to reverse Roe v. Wade.

As governor, DeSantis has also regularly touted views from Thomas opinions, for example, favoring greater Second Amendment protection for firearms and seeking to diminish First Amendment coverage for press criticism of public officials. DeSantis has echoed Thomas in denouncing the 1964 landmark New York Times v. Sullivan decision, which shields potentially libelous statements unless they are made with knowledge they are false or with reckless disregard for the truth.

You have simply to hold your ground

The annual conference of Floridas chapter of the Federalist Society draws an impressive slate of state and national figures, although it lacks the glitz of the national Federalist Society convention held in Washington each November.

The January 2020 event featured several federal and state judges, as well as former White House counsel Don McGahn, who spoke about judicial nominations under Trump. But the headliner was Thomas.

Thomas sat for an informal Q-and-A with US Court of Appeals Judge Gregory Katsas, who had been a law clerk to Thomas on the DC Circuit and then on the Supreme Court once Thomas was confirmed in 1991. (Trump made Katsas his first appointee to the prominent DC Circuit court.)

The conversation ranged from Thomas impoverished roots in Georgia to his originalist approach to the law to the criticism he has confronted through much of his public life.

In his introduction, DeSantis cited Thomas courage in the face of outside pressure and some justices interest in calibrating decisions based on public expectations.

DeSantis speaks during the banquet. - Octavio Jones/Tampa Bay Times/Zuma Press

If the judicial oath means anything, the adherence to the Constitution and to that oath is more important than generating praise from observers in the cheap seats, DeSantis said, And I dont think anybody has embodied that as much as Justice Thomas.

Thomas referred back to that theme.

People are going to say things, and you cant worry about that, Thomas told Katsas. Whats important is we took an oath to God to do the job a certain way. We cannot let noise from the cheap seats give you a hard time. I agree with Gov. DeSantis that the background noise, the cognoscenti, the literati, cannot be people who force you to say that two plus two equals five. You have simply to hold your ground.

Thomas did not respond to CNNs questions about DeSantis.

A spokesman for DeSantis declined to comment on the Thomas relationship.

Using the Trump playbook

By using Leo for advice on state judicial appointments, DeSantis already is following a Trump playbook. Yet, DeSantis supporters say if he wins the White House, he would offer more than a Trump sequel for the federal bench.

The governor himself, given his course of study and  what he wrote a book about, has very well-developed views on his own of who would be a good justice, said Florida lawyer Jesse Panuccio, referring to DeSantis law degree and his 2011 book exploring the Constitutions first principles, Dreams from our Founding Fathers. I dont think he needs to be told by anybody what an excellent jurist looks like. Panuccio was master of ceremonies for the Orlando Federalist Society event that featured Thomas and also serves on a state commission that recommends judicial nominees to the governor.

Since taking office in 2019, DeSantis has remade the Florida courts with far-right appointees. He has filled a majority of the seats on the seven-member Florida Supreme Court, some twice over.

Two of his early appointees, Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck, were tapped later in 2019 by Trump for the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. (In September 2020 when Trump looked for a successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lagoa was rumored to be in contention. It turned out that Trump had quickly and privately offered the job to Amy Coney Barrett, although he kept it quiet for a week.)

Ive appointed a total of seven conservative justices to the Florida Supreme Court. I inherited the most liberal court in America, and we now have the most conservative constitutional Supreme Court of all 50 states, DeSantis said at a New Hampshire campaign event recently.

As candidate DeSantis now takes shots at Trump, he is emphasizing that, if elected, he could serve two terms and possibly fill multiple vacancies, while Trump would be limited to a single term because of his prior tenure.

Trump, of course, ran on the Supreme Court in 2016. He vowed to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade and carried through with that promise in the selection of three anti-abortion justices, Barrett and, earlier, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

But Trumps campaign pitch was enhanced by the fact that a vacancy was pending. GOP senators were blocking any action on then-President Barack Obamas effort to fill a seat opened by the February 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Trump himself was aware of the distinct potency of the high court in that 2016 campaign.

Midway through his term, he wrote on Twitter, The Supreme Court was one of the main reasons I got elected President.

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Ron DeSantis loses big in court as judge issues scathing ruling on his anti-trans healthcare law: 'Gender identity is real'

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

A federal judge blocked parts of Florida's new law prohibiting hormone treatments for trans minors.

Judge Robert Hinkle said 'gender identity is real' and endorsed medical treatment for trans kids.

The ruling is a temporary victory for civil-rights groups, but the broader law remains in effect.

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, ruling that the state had no rational basis for denying patients treatment and saying that "gender identity is real."

Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction and said three transgender children could continue receiving treatment. The lawsuit challenges the law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before announcing his presidential run.

"The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear," Hinkle wrote in his ruling, adding that even a witness for the state agreed. Transgender medical treatment for minors was increasingly under attack even though it had been available for more than a decade and was endorsed by major medical associations, Hinkle said.

The law bans treatment with "GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones" for minors. Hinkle wrote that the "treatments at issue are GnRH agonists, colloquially known as 'puberty blockers,' and cross-sex hormones."

"The overwhelming weight of medical authority supports treatment of transgender patients with GnRH agonists and cross-sex hormones in appropriate circumstances," Hinkle wrote. He said the plaintiffs would likely prevail as "qualified professionals have properly evaluated the children's medical conditions and needs in accordance with the well-established standards of care."

Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction against the defendants, writing that "the preliminarily enjoined parties must not take any steps to prevent the administration of GnRH agonists or cross-sex hormones" for the three children.

Hinkle said those who believed gender identity was a choice "tend to disapprove all things transgender and so oppose medical care that supports a person's transgender existence."

Banning treatment ignored risks to patients, Hinkle said. "There are risks attendant to not using these treatments, including the risk  in some instances, the near certainty  of anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation," he wrote.

Hinkle said hormone treatments and puberty blockers were often used to treat non-transgender children, which meant that the law allowed their use for some but not others.

Hinkle said the three children in the lawsuit would "suffer irreparable harm" without treatment. Conversely, he wrote, "The treatment will affect the patients themselves, nobody else, and will cause the defendants no harm."

A spokesman for the governor's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The injunction is a victory for civil-rights groups who argue the law discriminates against transgender people. But the ruling was narrowly focused on the three children, leaving the law in place for now. A trial is set for mid-2023.

Read the original article on Business Insider
FILE - Drag artist Vidalia Anne Gentry speaks during a news conference held by the Human Rights Campaign to draw attention to anti-drag bills in the Tennessee legislature, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. A federal judge says Tennessees first-in-the-nation law designed to place strict limits on drag shows is unconstitutional. In a 70-page ruling handed down late Friday night, June 2, 2023, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker wrote that the law was both unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad and encouraged discriminatory enforcement. (John Amis/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign via AP, File)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  As LGBTQ+ advocates celebrate a federal judge's ruling declaring Tennessee's so-called anti-drag show law unconstitutional, questions remain over whether the law will be enforced after the court declared that the decision only applied to the state's most populous county.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker ruled that the first-in-the-nation law was unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad," and encouraged discriminatory enforcement."

The ruling came just as many Pride events were scheduled across the heavily conservative state, including events where drag performers were expected to appear publicly and many of which were designated for all ages.

Yet even after Friday's ruling, questions remain about how prosecutors will respond. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that the law remains in effect outside of Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis. However, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that he believes district attorneys won't enforce a law that a federal judge says violates the First Amendment.

We are reviewing the order and expect to appeal at the appropriate time, Skrmetti said.

The lawsuit seeking to overturn the legislation was spearheaded by a Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater group, Friends of George, which argued that the law would negatively affect them because they produce drag-centric performances, comedy sketches, and plays with no age restrictions.

Initially, the complaint listed Mulroy, Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Skrmetti as defendants. The plaintiffs later agreed to dismiss the governor and the attorney general as defendants,  although Skrmetti continued to represent Mulroy.

Because Mulroy's authority only applies within Shelby County, Parker's ruling applied solely to that jurisdiction.

Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that the Trump-appointed judge was clear the statute violated the First Amendment.

"Therefore, I think it is unlikely, or should be unlikely, that other DAs around the state will enforce it," he said. And then, if they do attempt to enforce it, I think the defendant will have a very strong First Amendment defense.

Mulroy, a Democrat, added that he was probably never been happier to lose a lawsuit."

Ive always thought that the drag show bill was a solution in search of a problem and that by chilling free expression and making the LGBT community feel targeted has done more harm than good, he said.

Gov. Lee has refused to weigh in on whether district attorneys should continue enforcing the law. Instead, the Republican said he would defer to Skrmetti about enforcement.

Lee added that he had not spoken to the attorney general about Parker's ruling and that he no plans to because it's in the judicial branch.

"That bill was created to protect children for the state. Ill continue to do that whenever we can," Lee said.

Tennessees Republican-dominated Legislature advanced the anti-drag law earlier this year, with several GOP members pointing to drag performances in their hometowns as reasons why it was necessary to restrict such performances from taking place in public or where children could view them.

Notably the actual word drag doesnt appear in the statute. Instead lawmakers changed the states definition of adult cabaret to mean adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors. Furthermore, male or female impersonators were classified as a form of adult cabaret, akin to strippers or topless dancers.

The law banned adult cabaret performances from public property or anywhere minors might be present. Performers who broke the law risked being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a repeat offense.

While LGBTQ+ rights advocates praised the ruling, Republican lawmakers quickly urged Skrmetti to appeal the decision. So far, he hasn't.

The drag law marks the second major proposal targeting LGBTQ+ people passed by Tennessee lawmakers this year. Lee also signed into law GOP-backed legislation banning most gender-affirming care for minors, which is being challenged in court.

___

Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
CEO Karen Paolinelli stands outside a vacant critical care unit at the shuttered Madera Community Hospital. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she says, every ICU bed was filled. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

It was dinnertime when Sabrina Baker, a mother of six, felt the familiar twinge of contractions.

At first, she brushed it off as Braxton Hicks, false labor pains not uncommon in the late stages of pregnancy. But after dinner that night in early January, the pain sharpened and radiated to her back. The contractions intensified, and Baker knew this baby girl was coming fast.

She had a decision to make  and the options weren't good.

Two days earlier, Madera County's only general hospital had shut its doors. The abrupt closure of Madera Community Hospital and its affiliated medical clinics capped years of financial turmoil. Still, most residents in this rural county in California's geographic center were caught off guard, unaware of just how much was at stake until their hospital was gone.

The stains on her love seat cushion are a reminder for Sabrina Baker of her difficult delivery at home after Madera's general hospital shut its doors during her pregnancy. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Baker knew she couldn't make it to the next closest hospital, in Fresno, a roughly 45-minute drive.

Twenty-five minutes after the first contraction and two pushes later, she delivered her daughter, alone, on her tan love seat. The baby was breech, which upped the anguish and the risk during delivery. When it was over, Baker tied the umbilical cord with new shoelaces and wrapped Onax in a San Francisco 49ers blanket. An ambulance rolled up 20 minutes later to take mom and baby to the hospital.

"I mean, I'm lucky," Baker said, standing outside her home in a swath of Madera County surrounded by cropland and almond groves. "We could have died."

During its half-century run, Madera Community Hospital provided a crucial link to healthcare for the 160,000 people who call Madera County home. Spanning from the heavily farmed floor of the eastern San Joaquin Valley to the forested central Sierra, Madera is majority Latino, and 20% of the population live in poverty.

For most residents, the hospital was more than a place to go when disaster struck. Madera Community helped them sign up for Medi-Cal, the state's version of Medicaid insurance for low-income adults and children. It was readily accessible by bus, and it coordinated services with community clinics where residents could receive routine care and prescriptions. Sometimes the hospital was the only place people saw a doctor. Unlike the many private providers that exclude certain types of health insurance  including Medi-Cal, with its notoriously low reimbursement rates  Madera Community served everyone.

"It's the worst thing that could have happened to us," Tony Camarena said of the closure. Camarena runs a business that enables sending money abroad, and many of his customers made use of the hospitals services, he said.

Madera Community Hospital was a crucial link to both emergency and routine health services for Madera County residents. Its closure has left many locals without a clear plan for care. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Healthcare experts say Madera's closure  and the untenable financial realities that brought on the collapse  offer a case study on the challenges facing rural hospitals across the country. Nearly 30% of all rural hospitals in the U.S.  more than 600 of them  are at risk of closing, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform.

In California, nine rural hospitals have been shuttered since 2005, and 17 are at risk of closing. Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia, about an hour's drive from Madera and the largest hospital in rural Tulare County, is among those bowing under serious financial problems.

Experts in healthcare economics say rural counties generally have fewer patients than suburban and urban communities  and a high share of those patients are low-income and enrolled in Medi-Cal. That means there are fewer patients with private insurance whose payments can offset Medi-Cal's low reimbursement rates. Small hospitals also have less muscle than bigger ones to negotiate rates from private insurance companies.

COVID-19, which pummeled the San Joaquin Valley, exacerbated the financial decline. Farmworkers whose jobs were deemed essential worked at great risk of exposure. Hospitals across the valley were overwhelmed with surge after surge, and farming counties like Fresno and Madera saw some of the state's highest infection and death rates.

"Fifty-two percent of California's hospitals are operating in the red  they are losing money every day. That is unprecedented," said Carmela Coyle, president and chief executive officer of the California Hospital Assn. "And while there were hospitals losing money before the pandemic, the pandemic just sucked so many more hospitals into that financial hole that we are really now looking at crisis circumstances in many parts of the state."

Healthcare experts say the financial collapse that brought down Madera Community Hospital is indicative of the struggles of rural hospitals across the U.S. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

For Madera Community Hospital, already operating on thin margins, rising costs for medical equipment and the spike in salaries for traveling nurses who were in high demand during the pandemic proved too much to absorb.

Hospital leaders tried to broker a deal with Trinity Health, a nonprofit Catholic healthcare system that owns Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno. Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta conditionally approved the sale of the hospital but placed terms on the deal that would have required Trinity to set price caps on certain services, maintain charity care programs and commit to providing emergency care and clinic services for five years. Trinity Health pulled out of the deal in December.

Madera Community Hospital shut its doors and by March had filed for bankruptcy.

Residents were anxious. Many don't have cars and worried about how they would get to hospitals in other counties. Longer wait times at those remote emergency departments meant they would miss the work and pay they need to survive.

Time hasn't healed those concerns. It has created new ones.

It really put a community against the wall, said Linette Lomeli, executive director of the Madera Coalition for Community Justice, a grassroots organization that helps residents access food, housing, employment and, now, medical care.

The healthcare crisis created by the closure of Madera County's hospital has spilled over to neighboring Fresno County, where the Community Regional Medical Center is seeing long wait times for emergency care. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Along Highway 99, a main artery that bisects miles of farmland, Madera Community Hospital stands frozen in time. Three blue tarps hang over the entrance to what was once the emergency department. The grass outside is ankle high, and leaves are piled against the curb.

Inside, a haunting silence hung in the darkened hallways as hospital CEO Karen Paolinelli surveyed the place where she started her career four decades ago. She sighed as she pointed out the CT scanner the hospital had just purchased to replace a 15-year-old machine that was always breaking. The new one wasn't even plugged in when the hospital closed.

Respirators that were vital during the COVID-19 pandemic are wrapped in plastic inside the shuttered Madera Community Hospital. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Paolinelli walked past rows of empty beds in the intensive care unit, a place that was packed with patients during the pandemic, and thought about the doctors and nurses who stepped up during the terrifying heights. The hospital and its clinics were a lifeline for the community, she said.

In the weeks leading up to the closure, it was as if opportunities to save the hospital kept slipping from her grasp, she said. But she holds out hope that a potential partner might see value in helping Madera Community reopen.

"If we don't do it quickly, it may never open again," she said.

The fallout from the closure resonates beyond Madera County. On a recent weekday evening, the emergency department at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, 35 miles south, overflowed with patients. A security guard told those arriving they'd have to wait outside. There was simply no room.

The ER also spilled over at Fresno's Saint Agnes Medical Center, and rows of people sat outside under a white tent, hoping to be called.

Nurse Xiomara Russell said the Madera hospital closure has made crowding worse at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. "We have ambulance waits and a full lobby all the time," she says. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

"It's always been busy, but it's just snowballed," said Xiomara Russell, a licensed vocational nurse at Community Regional Medical Center who formerly worked at Madera Community. "We have ambulance waits and a full lobby all the time."

Russell said access to medical care was tenuous in Madera, and people used the emergency room as a way to get basic medical needs met. She worries people will delay getting care until their conditions are harder to treat. Like Paolinelli, she wants to see Madera Community reopen.

"It has to," she said. "There's so many people who need it."

State legislation could provide the first step.

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation creating the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which will provide $150 million in zero-interest loans to hospitals teetering on financial ruin. The aim, according to legislators, is to help struggling hospitals stay open and to assist with the reopening of recently closed ones like Madera Community.

There is no other option but to continue to push and fight and demand that these resources come to our community so that we do have a hospital that opens, said Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno), who co-authored the measure.

Still, it's not clear whether Madera's hospital will be able to access the funds, or whether they would be enough to reopen the doors anytime soon. Deidre da Silva, chair of the hospital's board of trustees, argued in a May 23 letter to lawmakers that the loan program won't "lead to fiscally viable operations" at rural hospitals unless the state also finds a way to raise Medi-Cal rates.

Cristina Guzman is among the residents who relied on Madera Community Hospital for ongoing care and prescriptions. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, residents like Cristina Guzman are struggling to find a replacement for the ongoing care and prescriptions they received through Madera Community. Guzman, who is Mixtec, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, a few years after she quit working in the fields in Madera because of her failing health. In recent years, she has turned to the hospital for help managing her asthma and an array of other debilitating conditions.

The hospital's reopening would be "glory to God," she said in Spanish. She stood in her yard, her hands outstretched and her eyes looking toward the sky as she pondered the idea. That would be very good for me.

After Madera Community Hospital closed, the Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities and the Jakara Movement, which provides outreach to Madera's Sikh community, conducted a survey of more than 300 residents to understand how these groups have been affected.

More than half of those surveyed said outlying hospitals pose a travel challenge, and many said they lacked transportation. Some Indigenous farmworkers had no idea the hospital had closed.

Kashwinder Basra, center, describes how difficult it has been for her family to get medical care since the closure of Madera Community Hospital. "There's no point in living here anymore," she says. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Kashwinder Basra, 29, who grew up in Madera, said the lack of a hospital has pushed her family to consider uprooting. Her aging mother has been diagnosed with arthritis and osteoporosis and needs more medical care than the area can provide.

Were planning to leave to go to Clovis, because its closer to the hospital, she said. With everything happening, there's no point in living here anymore.

Others fear that their lives are in danger without a hospital nearby.

Maria Rios has had Type 2 diabetes since she was 30, and at 59, she is dealing with the agonies of renal failure.

Rios used to work the fields of California and Florida, picking cucumbers, chiles, onions and tomatoes. But in recent years, her weeks have fallen into a familiar pattern: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she takes a van, paid for by Medi-Cal, to a dialysis center. For three hours, she receives treatment. She is restricted to one bottle of water each day.

When the symptoms of dehydration set in, as they frequently do, she would seek care at Madera Community Hospital, an eight-minute drive from her home. They would give her IV fluids and pain medicine, she said.

Maria Rios relied on Madera Community Hospital to help her deal with pain and dehydration related to her diabetes. She worries that she will die without ready access to hospital services. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Since the hospitals closure, Rios has turned to Fresnos Saint Agnes Medical Center. Twice now, her sons have taken off work to drive her to the hospital in search of something to ease her pain. Both times, she said, the waiting rooms were packed with people in distress. She waited hours to be seen, only to be told that the hospital was not authorized to prescribe her medications.

She went home and made herself mint tea instead.

Rios at home in Madera. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Rios said her friend Juana, who was also on dialysis, used to ride in the van with her to the center. But in May, she learned that Juana had died in an ambulance on the way to Fresno. She left behind two teenage daughters, who are living with their grandmother, Rios said.

She didnt make it to the hospital, Rios said in Spanish, staring down at the tattered Christmas tablecloth on her kitchen table. And they came back because she died on the way.

Rios, who is Zapotec, worries that she may be next. She has been on a waiting list for a kidney transplant for years, but she has not heard when an organ might be coming.

I told my sons, 'Prepare yourselves, because at any time, I could die from the pain,' she said. Without a hospital [in Madera], I wont come back.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Russia blows up Kakhovka HPP in southern Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian authorities say

Screenshot of the video showing the extent of the destruction of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam

The Kakhovka HPP was blown up by the Russian occupying forces, the Operational Command South reported on Facebook early on June 6.

Read also: Zelenskyy calls environmental devastation in Ukraine ecocide by Russian invaders

The scale of the destruction, the speed and volume of water, the probable areas of flooding are currently being clarified.

Both the Interior Ministry and the local authorities also reported on the situation at Kakhovka HPP.

Read also: Threat of Russian attack on Kakhovka HPP: Scenarios and consequences of dams destruction

The head of the Kherson Regional Council, Oleksandr Samoilenko, said the peak of flooding is expected around 11.00 a.m. Kyiv time.

The local authorities have announced evacuation by buses on the right bank of the Dnipro River in the city of Kherson and villages where flooding is expected.

The Ukrainian authorities also called on the residents of the occupied left-bank part of Kherson Oblast to take care of their safety.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook.

Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only Ukraine's victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else.

Zelenskyy also said that all emergency services are working at the scene.

I have convened the National Security and Defense Council, he said.

Please spread official and verified information only.

May 28, 2023 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

June 5, 2023 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

Read also: Video of bridge explosion near Kakhovka HPP posted online

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Is Russia buying back missile parts from India for use against Ukraine?

Russia may be buying back military components it exported to India so as to use them in its war against Ukraine.

Moscow may be re-importing parts specifically for tanks and missiles to improve its existing weapons, Nikkei Asia reported yesterday (June 5).

Read more

Russia may have reimported the parts for repairs, but there were no records of the items being sent back to India as of the end of March this year, it said.

Nikkei inferred this from an analysis of customs clearance data on defence-related shipments to Russia by a US-based research firm ImportGenius, along with data from Exim Trade Data of India and other sources.

The US, European countries (pdf) and Japan have banned supplies of goods to Russia, wary about their use for military purposes, especially since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.



Russia now hopes for cooperation from countries with which it has had longstanding military ties, like India whose arms import from Russia increased five-fold in 2022-2023 to $5.08 million.

What military equipment is Russia looking for?

Russias machine-building design bureau purchased six components for night-vision sight for its missiles from the Indian defense ministry in August and November 2022, Nikkei reported. Moscow exported them to India in 2013, it said.

These parts, manufactured by Russia, were valued at $150,000 and reportedly ensure that the missiles can perform at night and in low light.

Meanwhile, India is cutting its dependence on Russia for military supplies in an effort to become self-reliant. While it is pushing for indigenous production, New Delhi has also begun exporting equipment to more than 75 countries.

In the last fiscal year that ended in March 2023, Indias defence exports hit an all-time high of $1.9 billion, although that formed only a minuscule share of global arms exports. India remains the worlds largest arms importer.

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Russias destruction of Kakhovka dam will hurt global food security

The disaster will seriously impact the irrigation system in southern Ukraine, Yermak said.

Russians need hunger in the countries of the world, in particular, in Africa, he tweeted.

Yermak said the overnight destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraines southern Kherson Oblast by Russian invasion forces on June 6 could potentially affect water supplies to the residents of Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Read also: Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction  video

Ukrhydroenergo, the state-owned hydropower generation company, has said water intakes supplying drinking water to Nikopol, Marganets, and other cities, as well as the industrial water intakes of the Nikopol South Pipe Plant, along with approximately 50 small agricultural water intakes, would face disruptions.

The main Kakhovka irrigation canals and the Dnipro-Kryvyi Rih canal, which draw water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, and which have flow rates of 41 m3/s, will cease operations, Ukrhydroenergo warned. This has the potential to affect Ukraines agricultural output.

Read also: Kakhovka hydropower plant blown up by Russians from within, but not all of the dam destroyed

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam and the hydroelectric power plant on its eastern end by Russian forces occurred during the night of June 6, immediately placing cities and towns downstream on the Dnipro River at risk of flooding. The peak of the outflow from the reservoir was expected around noon.

The demolition of the Kakhovka HPP dam by Russians may have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, but as of 8.30 a.m. on June 6, the situation was under control, state nuclear power plant operator Energoatom reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that (the Russians) must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia says no threat 'for now' to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after dam breach

Russia says no threat 'for now' to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after dam breach FILE PHOTO: A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom said on Tuesday that the breach of a dam in southern Ukraine did not pose a threat to the Moscow-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant for now where it said the situation was being monitored.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other on Tuesday of blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam in part of Ukraine's Kherson region controlled by Russian forces unleashing a wall of floodwater.

Yury Chernichuk, director of the Russian-controlled power station, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging application that the situation at the nuclear plant was stable.

"At the moment there are no threats to the safety of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Five units are in "cold shutdown" state, 1 in "hot shutdown" state. The water level in the cooling pond has not changed and is 16.67 metres," he said.

Chernichuk said that water cooling the facility's spent nuclear fuel storage pools was on a closed circuit and had no direct contact with water coming from the Kakhovka Reservoir.

Nor, he said, was the heat removal system dependent on water from the reservoir and could be replenished with water from "several alternative sources."

Ukraine's state atomic energy agency said earlier on Tuesday that the situation at the plant was under control, but that the rapidly lowering level of the reservoir posed an "additional threat" to what is Europe's largest nuclear power plant because some of its systems relied on the reservoir's water to operate.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Viktoriia Lakezina

KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - A torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, flooding a swathe of the war zone, forcing villagers to flee and prompting finger-pointing from both sides.

Ukraine said Russia had committed a deliberate war crime in blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam, which powered a hydroelectric station. The Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive Moscow says is faltering.

Some Russian-installed officials said the dam had collapsed on its own, while Washington said it was uncertain who was responsible. But Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood told reporters it would not make sense for Ukraine to destroy the dam.

Neither side offered immediate public evidence of who was to blame. The Geneva Conventions ban targeting dams in war because of the danger to civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video address that his prosecutors had already approached the International Criminal Court about the dam incident. Earlier, he claimed on Telegram that Russian forces blew up the power plant from inside.

Buses, trains and private vehicles were marshalled to carry people to safety while some people waded in knee-deep water, carrying pets and luggage.

"Residents are sitting on the roofs of their homes waiting to be rescued.... This is a Russian crime against people, nature and life itself," Oleksiy Kuleba, a senior official on Zelenskiy's staff, said on Telegram.

Ukrainian officials reported well over 1,000 people rescued from Kherson city along with residents evacuated from flooded towns and villages.

A Russian-installed official said some 22,000 people in the Kherson region were at risk, RIA news agency said. Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram that 80 settlements were in the flood zone.

"More and more water is coming every hour. It's very dirty," Yevheniya, a woman in Nova Kakhovka on the Russian-controlled bank of the Dnipro, said by telephone.

It was not immediately clear if anyone died but U.S. spokesman John Kirby said it had probably caused "many deaths".

"Our local school and stadium downtown were flooded," Lidia Zubova, 67, told Reuters as she waited for a train out of Ukrainian-controlled Kherson city after abandoning her inundated village of Antonivka. "The road was completely flooded, our bus got stuck."

Ukrainian police released video of an officer carrying an elderly woman to safety and others rescuing dogs in villages being evacuated as the waters rose. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko accused Russia of shelling areas where people were being evacuated and said two police officers were wounded.

The flooding caused waters to rise by 3.5 meters (11-1/2 feet), Ukrainian official Kuleba said. Flooding would crest on Wednesday then levels would start to fall within three to four days, Ihor Syrota, head of Ukraine's hydroelectric power authority, told the U.S-funded radio station Donbas Realii.

Residents in Russian-controlled Nova Kakhovka told Reuters that some had decided to stay despite being ordered out.

"They say they are ready to shoot without warning," said one man, Hlib, describing encounters with Russian troops.

The Kazkova Dibrova zoo on the Russian-held riverbank was completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, a representative said via the zoo's Facebook account.

The dam supplies water to a wide area of southern Ukrainian farmland, including the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, as well as cooling the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

The vast reservoir behind the dam is one of the main geographic features of southern Ukraine, 240 km (150 miles) long and up to 23 km (14 miles) wide.

POISED FOR COUNTEROFFENSIVE

The dam's destruction threatened a new humanitarian disaster in the centre of the war zone and transformed front lines just as Ukraine prepares a long-awaited counteroffensive to drive Russian troops from its territory.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said his forces had thwarted the first three days of the offensive in battles that had left more than 3,700 Ukrainian soldiers dead or wounded.

Ukraine dismissed the Russian statements as lies but gave no details on the attacks.

Russia has controlled the dam since early in its 15-month-old invasion, although Ukrainian forces recaptured the Dnipro's northern bank last year. Both sides had long accused the other of plotting to destroy the dam.

"Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the dam's destruction "an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine".

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations had no independent information on how the dam was breached, describing it as "another devastating consequence" of Russia's invasion.

The U.N. Security Council was meeting to discuss the dam at the request of both Russia and Ukraine.

Russia cast it as an "act of sabotage carried out by Ukraine", according to the request seen by Reuters.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also blamed "deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side".

Earlier, Russian-installed officials had given conflicting accounts. Some said Ukrainian missiles hit the dam overnight, others said it collapsed due to earlier damage.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said the Zaporizhzhia power plant, upriver on the reservoir's Russian-occupied bank, should have enough water to cool its reactors for "some months" from a separate pond, even as the huge reservoir drains out.

(This story has been corrected to fix the name and title to Oleksiy Kuleba, a senior official on Zelenskiy's staff, not Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in paragraph 7 and remove the reference of foreign minister title to Kuleba in paragraph 14)

(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; writing by Stephen Coates, Gareth Jones, Nick Macfie and Cynthia Osterman; editing by Michael Perry, Peter Graff, Mark Heinrich and David Gregorio)
Russian officials warned that supplying Ukraine with U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets would escalate the war as it stretches into its 15th month.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the remarks while speaking at a military base in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

We must keep in mind that one of the modifications of the F-16 can accommodate nuclear weapons, Lavrov said Tuesday, according to Reuters.

If they do not understand this, then they are worthless as military strategists and planners, the top Russian official added.

Lavrovs comments are similar to the one Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko made last month when he told the Russian news agency TASS that Western countries will face enormous risks if they supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

We can see that Western countries continue to stick to an escalation scenario, which carries enormous risks for them. In any case, we will take it into account when making plans. We have all the necessary means to achieve our goals, Grushko told TASS.

President Biden informed other world leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit last month that the U.S. will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16s.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for months for Ukraines Western allies to provide the fourth-generation aircraft, a significant upgrade to the Soviet Union-era jets Ukrainian armed forces have been flying.

Jets like the F-16 could give Kyiv a strategic edge in providing air support for Ukrainian troops, intercepting Russian missiles and drones, attacking ground targets, and building back a gutted arsenal of Soviet-era planes.

But there are still obstacles to Ukrainian forces using the advanced fighters, such as obtaining the aircraft from its Western partners and training maintenance personnel on how to keep the warplanes in working order.

Experts say it will take months, at least, before the F-16s take to the skies above Ukraine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny looks at photographers standing behind a glass of the cage in the Babuskinsky District Court in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 20, 2021. Imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has voiced hope for a better future in Russia as his supporters held pickets and demonstrations to mark his birthday. Navalny turned 47 on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2023 while serving a nine-year sentence at a maximum-security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

MOSCOW (AP)  A Moscow court on Tuesday set the date for a new trial of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny that could keep him in prison for decades.

The Moscow City Court held a preliminary hearing behind closed doors to discuss technical issues related to the trial of the Kremlin's arch foe before it begins on June 19.

Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said that the trial will be held at a maximum security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow where Navalny is serving a nine-year sentence for fraud and contempt of court.

Navalny, 47, who exposed official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Navalny has said that the new extremism charges which he rejected as absurd could keep him in prison for another 30 years. He said an investigator told him that he would also face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence.

The new accusations come as Russian authorities are conducting an intensified crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Navalny has harshly criticized.

Navalny's supporters marked his birthday on Sunday by holding pickets and demonstrations, and more than 100 people were arrested.
(Bloomberg) -- Russian crude oil flows to international markets continue unabated, with no substantive sign of the output cuts that the Kremlin insists the country is making.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Four-week average seaborne shipments, which smooth out some of the volatility in weekly numbers, edged higher in the period to June 4, rising to 3.73 million barrels a day from a revised 3.68 million in the period to May 28.Flows to international markets are more than 1.4 million barrels a day higher than they were at the end of last year  more than can be accounted for by the diversion of pipeline flows or lower refinery runs. Shipments have also risen since February, the baseline month for the pledged production cut.

Moscows OPEC+ partners have sought clarity and transparency from Russia on the countrys crude production. They noted that Moscow has made a commitment to accept reassessment of Februarys production level by OPECs secondary sources. The assessment by those seven companies currently stands at 9.83 million barrels a day.

There is little evidence that the 500,000 barrels a day of cuts have been made. Moscow has cited the diversion of crude previously piped to Germany and Poland through the Druzhba pipeline as a reason for robust shipments; but that switch happened in January and February, before the output cut was due to come into effect. Flows of Russian crude through the pipeline, now limited to deliveries to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have been stable at about 240,000 barrels a day since February.And while Russian refineries cut their crude processing in the first part of May, runs recovered in the final week of the month, rising by about 180,000 barrels a day from the previous seven days. Despite the dip in refinery runs there is no sign of a corresponding drop in overseas shipments of refined products.

Russias revenues from oil are still being hit hard, despite robust overseas flows. Mays budget proceeds from oil taxes plunged 31% from a year ago to 426 billion rubles ($5.2 billion), according to Bloomberg calculations.

Russias Lifelines

The combined volume of crude on vessels heading to China and India plus smaller flows to Turkey and quantities on ships that havent yet shown a final destination remained virtually unchanged at a revised 3.62 million barrels a day in the latest four-week period.

Flows to China leaving Russia in March dipped from the highs seen in January and February. With the latest four-week average showing the equivalent of more than 650,000 barrels a day of crude on vessels yet to indicate a final destination, the picture for April- and May-loading cargoes remains subject to revision. Historical patterns suggest that most of the vessels currently signaling Unknown Asia destinations and heading for the Suez Canal will end up in India, while those loaded onto very large crude carriers off the north coast of Morocco or, more recently, in the Atlantic Ocean, will head to China.

Crude Flows by Destination

On a four-week average basis, overall seaborne exports in the period to June 4 were up by 50,000 barrels a day to 3.73 million barrels a day. More volatile weekly flows also rose, increasing by about 90,000 barrels a day to 3.69 million barrels a day from a revised 3.6 million barrels a day the previous week.

Weekly data are affected by the scheduling of tankers and loading delays caused by bad weather. Port maintenance can also disrupt exports for several days at a time.

All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Those are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk.

The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export grade. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies. Transit crude is specifically exempted from European Union sanctions.

Four-week average shipments to Russias Asian customers, plus those on vessels showing no final destination, crept up to 3.42 million barrels a day in the period to June 4 from 3.38 million barrels a day in the four weeks to May 28.

While the volumes heading to India appear to have declined from recent highs, history shows that most of the cargoes on ships without an initial destination eventually end up there or in China.

The equivalent of 384,000 barrels a day was on vessels showing destinations as either Port Said or Suez in Egypt, or which already have been or are expected to be transferred from one ship to another off the South Korean port of Yeosu. Those voyages typically end at ports in India or China and show up in the chart below as Unknown Asia until a final destination becomes apparent.

The Other Unknown volumes, running at 267,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to June 4, are those on tankers showing no clear destination. Most of those cargoes originate from Russias western ports and go on to transit the Suez Canal, but some could end up in Turkey, while other cargoes are transferred from one vessel to another, either in the Mediterranean or, more recently, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries edged higher to 83,000 barrels a day in the 28 days to June 4, with Bulgaria the sole destination. These figures do not include shipments to Turkey.

A market that consumed about 1.5 million barrels a day of short-haul seaborne crude, coming from export terminals in the Baltic, Black Sea and Arctic has been lost almost completely, to be replaced by long-haul destinations in Asia that are much more costly and time-consuming to serve.

No Russian crude was shipped to northern European countries in the four weeks to June 4.

Exports to Turkey, Russias only remaining Mediterranean customer, edged lower to 230,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to June 4; flows to the country had topped 425,000 barrels a day in October.

Flows to Bulgaria, now Russias only Black Sea market for crude, rose to 83,000 barrels a day. Shipments have averaged 77,000 barrels a day since March, down from more than 150,000 barrels a day in January.

Flows by Export Location

Aggregate flows of Russian crude edged higher to 3.69 million barrels a day in the seven days to June 4, from a revised 3.6 million barrels a day the previous week. A rebound in shipments from the Arctic was partly offset by a big drop in the flows from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, which took them back to more normal levels, and a smaller decline in the amount shipped through Pacific ports.

Figures exclude volumes from Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

Export Revenue

Inflows to the Kremlin's war chest from its crude-export duty rose by $3 million to $52 million in the seven days to June 4 from a revised figure for the previous week. Four-week average income increased by $2 million to $52 million.

President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to fine-tune existing indicators and establish additional ones to calculate oil prices for tax purposes in order to reduce the discount to global crude prices. Russias government calculates oil taxes using a discount to Brent, which sets the floor price for the nations crude for budget purposes. If Russian oil trades above that threshold, the Finance Ministry uses the market price for tax calculations, as has been the case in recent months. From July the discount is currently set at $25/bbl, though this may now be narrowed.

The duty rate for June has been set at $2.21 a barrel, based on an average Urals price of $55.97, which was $23.90 a barrel below Brent during the period between April 15 and May 14.

Origin-to-Location Flows

The following charts show the number of ships leaving each export terminal and the destinations of crude cargoes from the four export regions.

A total of 34 tankers loaded 25.8 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to June 4, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. Thats up by 610,000 barrels from the previous weeks revised figure. Destinations are based on where vessels signal they are heading at the time of writing, and some will almost certainly change as voyages progress. All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade.

The total volume on ships loading Russian crude from Baltic terminals was unchanged from the previous week at 1.67 million barrels a day.

Shipments of Russian crude from Novorossiysk in the Black Sea fell back to more normal levels after the previous weeks surge. One cargo of Kazakhstani crude was loaded at the port during the week.

As expected, Arctic shipments rebounded, with four tankers completing loading in the week to June 4. The flow was the second-highest since Bloomberg began tracking weekly shipments at the start of 2022, while the four-week average shipments from the port are the highest in the same period.

Ten tankers loaded at Russias three Pacific export terminals, down by one from the revised number for the previous week. The volume of crude shipped from the region remained above 1 million barrels a day for a tenth week. Flows of ESPO crude through the port of Kozmino have averaged about 845,000 barrels a day so far this year. That is up by 137,000 barrels a day, or 19%, from the first three months of 2022, before Moscow sought to maximize flows from its main eastern terminal.

The volumes heading to unknown destinations are mostly Sokol cargoes that recently have been transferred to other vessels at Yeosu, or are currently being shuttled to an area off the South Korean port from the loading terminal at De Kastri. Most of these are also ending up in India.

Some Sokol cargoes are now being transferred a second time in the waters off southern Malaysia. A small number of ESPO shipments are also being moved from one vessel to another in the same area. All of these cargoes have, so far, gone on to India.

NOTES

Note: This story forms part of a regular weekly series tracking shipments of crude from Russian export terminals and the export duty revenues earned from them by the Russian government.

Note: All figures exclude cargoes owned by Kazakhstans KazTransOil JSC, which transit Russia and are shipped from Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga as KEBCO grade crude.

Note: Weeks have been revised to run from Monday to Sunday, rather than Saturday to Friday. This change has been implemented throughout the data series and previous weeks figures have been revised.

Note: This story will not be published next week. The next update will be published on Tuesday June 20, with future updates also to be published on Tuesdays.

If you are reading this story on the Bloomberg terminal, click here for a link to a PDF file of four-week average flows from Russia to key destinations.

--With assistance from Sherry Su.

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Medical students from Russia are being taken to the occupied territories of Ukraine to undergo training with combat units.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported that Russian forces are suffering shortages of medical staff on all fronts. As a result, the Russians have begun to deploy medical students from the Russian Federation in various frontline medical establishments.

For example, a group of Russian medical students have recently started a 20-day rotation in Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where they will undergo medical training in combat units.

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Russian occupiers in Crimea speak of consequences for peninsula after destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) could have negative consequences for the Crimean peninsula, since the North Crimean Canal is likely to lose a lot of water, the invaders of Crimea said.

Source: Sergey Aksyonov, Russian collaborator and the so-called head of Crimea, on Telegram; Ihor Sirota, Head of Ukrhydroenergo, on air of the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Aksyonov: "Regarding the situation associated with the explosion on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station. There is no threat of flooding in Crimea. However, there is a risk that the North Crimean Canals water levels will [drastically  ed.] decrease. "

Details: At the same time, he assures that at present there are about 40 million cubic metres of water reserves in the canal, while the reservoirs, the filling of which previously had problems, are now allegedly filled by about 80%.

"There is more than enough drinking water. Work is underway to minimise water losses in the canal. In the coming days, the dynamics and possible risks will be clear," says the collaborator.

Details: In turn, the head of Ukrhydroenergo, Ihor Sirota, is confident that the Crimean Canal will remain without water, and thus there will be problems with water supply in temporarily occupied Crimea.

He added that after the liberation of Kherson Oblast and the Crimean peninsula, Ukraine will have to solve this issue, and "solve it very quickly".

Background:

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Russian proxy in Crimea claims no water shortages on peninsula

Moscow-installed head of occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, claimed on June 6 that the peninsula's water reservoirs were "about 80% full" following Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant supplying Crimea with water.

Aksyonov said there was no threat of flooding on the peninsula, but a 400-kilometer-long North Crimean Canal, linking occupied Crimea with the Dnipro River, might lose some water.

The canal currently holds about 40 million cubic meters of water, according to the Russian proxy. Aksyonov added the peninsula allegedly had "more than enough" drinking water supplies.

Several hours after the June 6 Kakhovka dam explosion, Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak reported that the water supply infrastructure of the occupied Crimea had been destroyed.

Earlier, he said that Russia's move could leave residents of Crimea and the southern part of Kherson Oblast without drinking water.

State Emergency Service: Nearly 1,300 people evacuated from Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam explosion The State Emergency Service reported that nearly 1,300 people have been evacuated from Kherson Oblast as of 3 p.m. local time after Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam on June 6. The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reported early on June 6 that Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Russian occupation authorities in Kherson Oblast initially denied the destruction, later saying that only "the upper part of the power plant" was damaged, blaming it on Ukraine's attack.

However, Ukraines military intelligence reported Russia having mined the plant twice last year, warning about the threat of the dams destruction.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said destroying the dam from the outside was impossible, reiterating that it had been mined by Russian forces.

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been occupied by Russian troops since the first days of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Oleh Synegubov

The pipeline was depressurized as a result of Russian strikes, he said, adding that regional authorities had deployed a field headquarters to eliminate the consequences.

Read also: Russian invaders shell ammonia plant in northwestern Ukraine, cause leak

All specialized services are working at the scene, the governor said.

Later Synegubov clarified that measurements do not indicate the presence of ammonia in the air in Kupyansk.

Experts also believe that there is no threat of the spread of dangerous substances in the Kupyansk territorial community.

Read also: Russia blows up Kakhovka HPP in southern Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian authorities say

Measurements are underway in the villages of Kucherivka, Sinkivka and Petropavlivka, which are closer to the border with Russia, Synegubov said.

We continue to monitor the level of pollution.

Earlier Synegubov highlighted the recent surge in shelling incidents in the oblast. On June 5, he said that within the past 24 hours alone, the enemy had targeted at least 26 settlements, resulting in two fatalities and three injuries.

The official also said there were continuous attempts by Russian forces to send sabotage and reconnaissance groups across the oblasts northern border.

Read also: Russian reconnaissance group tries to cross state border in Kharkiv Oblast, says General Staff

The Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration is considering ordering a mandatory evacuation of civilians from settlements near the border with Russia, the governor added.

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The Russian invaders have lost their nerve while waiting for the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to start, so they blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, hoping to stop it.

Source: Nataliia Humeniuk, head of the press centre of Operational Command Pivden (South), on Radio Liberty

Quote from Humeniuk: "They [the Russians  ed.] decided that they would be able to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive in this way. They are so tired of waiting to see from which front it will come [the counteroffensive  ed.] that any activity by the Defence Forces, including the intensification of counter-battery work, has led to them losing their nerve, and they are trying to increase the water surface area so that the Ukrainian Defence Forces will not resort to a forced crossing."

Details: Humeniuk said the occupiers no longer feel safe on the left bank of the Dnipro River. "They realise that there are no safe locations for them on the left bank. And that is why they are acting on the principle of Apres moi, le deluge (After me, the flood), if youll pardon the pun," she added.

Humeniuk said that after the blowing up of the hydroelectric power plant, the Russian occupiers' firing positions will move significantly.

"Because of this high water, they have to move as far away from the left bank as possible. This means that it will be a little easier for the residents of Kherson on the right bank in terms of shelling," the spokeswoman for the Southern Ukrainian Defence Forces stressed.

Background:

On 6 June 2023, the Russian occupiers blew up a dam at the Kakhovka Reservoir at about 02:30.

Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, has said that the evacuation of local residents from dangerous areas has begun. According to Prokudin, the water will reach a critical level in five hours.

Police noted that the potential flood zone on the right bank of the Dnipro River includes the villages of Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lvove, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Prydniprovske, Sadove and part of the city of Kherson  Korabel Island.

The electricity supply was cut off in the Korabel microdistrict in Kherson due to flooding caused by the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) by the Russian invaders.

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Ukraines Operational Command Pivden (South) has reported that the Russian occupation forces have blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), with Kherson Oblast Military Administration confirming this information.

Source: Operational Command Pivden (South); Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The scale of the destruction, the speed and volume of water, the probable areas of flooding are currently being determined.

All services are working. We are monitoring the situation."

Updated at 06:45. Prokudin recorded a video in which he confirmed the explosion at the Kakhovka HPP. He noted that they had started evacuation of the local population from dangerous areas.

Prokudin also noted that the water will reach a critical level in 5 hours.

Updated at 06:58. Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported that units of the National Police of Ukraine and Kherson Oblasts State Emergency Service had been alerted to warn and evacuate the civilian population from potential flood zones on the right bank of the Dnipro River, including the villages of Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Lovo, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove, and partly the city of Kherson  the Korabel microdistrict.

A resident of Kakhovka who evacuated to Ukraine-controlled territory has reported that there was only one explosion, and then the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant "collapsed like a house of cards".

He has said that the scale of the flooding is extensive, water is already in the town centre of Korsunka, and "coastal areas are being washed away".

         6 .   , ,  .   pic.twitter.com/yQkkQaI4Ac     (@ukrpravda_news) June 6, 2023

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The Russian occupiers have damaged an ammonia pipeline in an attack on the Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, on Facebook

Quote: "The pipeline was depressurised as a result of enemy strikes."

Details: According to Syniehubov, an emergency staff was created for the elimination of the aftermath in the oblast. All relevant services work at the scene.

The head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration promised to report all the details later.

Updated at 22:59: Later, Syniehubov stated that the measurements indicate that the air in the city of Kupiansk currently has no ammonia in it.

Quote from Syniehubov: "Early reports of the specialists working on the spot indicate that there is no threat of dangerous substances spreading over the Kupiansk hromada." [Hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.]

He added that measurements are being taken in the settlements of Kucherivka, Synkivka, and Petropavlivka closer to the border with Russia. The level of pollution is being continuously monitored.

Background: Earlier, Russian occupiers attacked the city of Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast with Smerch multiple rocket launchers, killing a man and injuring nine others.

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Russia's military falsely claimed to have shredded a Leopard tank. It looks more like abandoned farm equipment.

This is the German-made Leopard 2, the main battle tank Russian officials falsely claimed to have struck in Ukraine. Armin Weigel/Getty Images

Russia's military claimed a prize hit in Ukraine: the German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank.

But the video Russian officials released to prove it doesn't show a Leopard tank.

The recording does offer clues about what they attacked.

A Russian attack helicopter fired a missile at a vehicle lurking in a Ukrainian field. Footage shows a direct hit, a whoosh of fire and smoke. Russia's Ministry of Defense then released a video compiling two views of the hit and claimed a major prize: a first strike on a German-made Leopard tank.

But that was no Leopard 2, or even a tank for that matter.

Ukraine recently received the Leopard 2, a third-generation main battle tank whose 68-ton hulk is carried by two metal tank tracks that run the vehicle's length and carry it over terrain impassable by wheeled vehicles. In between them is an armored glacis plate built to protect against mines and missiles.

The vehicle seen in Russia's video lacks these features, as well as other distinctive elements like the real Leopard's 120mm barrel, or the secondary armament of a mounted machine gun that a crew member can fire from the hatch.

Beyond the visuals, the video also offers another indication this wasn't a Leopard tank.

Samuel Bendett, a Russian-speaking military expert at the nonprofit research group CNA, pointed out that an operator says, "Let's test on this." That's not the sort of thing any warfighter would likely say about targeting a top-tier tank thought to rival Russia's best.

So what did Russia destroy? We're not sure yet, but the Russian video offers clues. Fields, rounded elements at the vehicle's low corners. Maybe an abandoned tractor or combine with a lowered ladder, another victory in Russia's war against Ukrainian wheat?

Read the original article on Business Insider
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's defence minister said on Tuesday his forces had thwarted the first three days of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, alleging that they had killed or wounded more than 3,700 Ukrainian soldiers.

Unusually, Sergei Shoigu read a statement himself rather than leaving it to the ministry's regular spokesman.

Ukraine has maintained deliberate ambiguity about whether its long-expected counter-offensive is under way, and Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield claims.

"In the past three days, the Ukrainian regime launched a long-promised offensive in different sectors of the front," Shoigu said.

"The attempts at an offensive were thwarted, the enemy was stopped," he added. "The enemy did not achieve its goals but suffered significant and incomparable losses."

He said Ukraine had suffered 3,715 casualties over three days, as well as losing 52 tanks and 207 armoured vehicles.

But it was not clear how Russia could have such precise information about Ukraine's casualty numbers, and he offered no evidence for his assertions.

In its daily briefings, Russia's Defence Ministry often enumerates the losses of men and material that it says Ukraine has suffered, without providing evidence.

Shoigu said 71 Russian soldiers had been killed and 210 wounded in repelling the offensive, and that Russia had lost 15 tanks and nine armoured vehicles.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and does not generally release its own casualty figures, although it has also given high estimates of Russian losses in the past.

On Monday, Russia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine had begun its counter-offensive by attacking Russian lines at different points in the south of the Donetsk region, and that all the attacks had been repelled.

However, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian Wagner militia fighting in Ukraine and often at odds with Moscow, dismissed the ministry's claims of heavy Ukrainian losses as "wild and absurd science fiction".

Shoigu on Tuesday also accused Ukraine of destroying the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in the early hours of Tuesday, saying it was a tactic to enable Kyiv to redeploy defensive units from the area downstream of the dam into offensive operations.

The Kremlin had earlier accused Kyiv of carrying out the attack to distract from the alleged failure of its offensive and to cut off a key water supply route to Crimea.

Ukraine and its Western allies say it was Russia that blew up the dam.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by William Maclean)
A state agency has issued a penalty to Sacramento City Councilman Sean Loloee for the late filing of financial disclosure paperwork.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has fined Loloee $200 for the infraction, according to an agenda for an upcoming meeting posted Monday.

Loloee was about seven months late to file the paperwork, called a Statement of Economic Interest Form 700, to the city, an agency investigation found. Loloee, who was sworn into office in December 2020 to represent North Sacramento, was supposed to file the forms by Jan. 14, 2021, but did not file them until July 13, 2021, according to city documents.

The FPPC has once again confirmed there are no residency issues, Loloee said.

Timothy Smith, a resident of North Sacramentos Woodlake neighborhood, which Loloee represents, submitted the complaint last year to the FPPC citing a June 2022 story in The Sacramento Bee. That story reported it appeared Loloee was not living in the Hagginwood house where he said he lived and instead could be living with his family far outside the district in his wifes $1.4 million Granite Bay house.

In his complaint to the FPPC, Smith alleged Loloee was violating state law by excluding rental income from the Hagginwood house on the forms. The FPPC did not find proof that Loloee was in violation of that, but did find a violation for the late filing the 2021 form.

Loloee has asserted that he does not accept rent from employees living at his Hagginwood house with him. Karla Montoya, an employee who was staying in the house as of last summer, did not respond to a message seeking comment Monday asking whether she still lives there for free. Personal residences or vacation property does not have to be reported, only income generated by the property, such as rental or lease income or AirBnB income.

Rent from commercial buildings, if the building is in the city the person represents, is also required to be disclosed. Loloee under an LLC bought an apartment complex in August at 830 and 838 Lampasas Ave. and included the property in his April 1, 2023 Form 700. But he did not include any rental income from it. He checked a box to indicate he either receives no rental income, or that its a total of less than $10,000 annually. When a reporter visited Monday, it was unclear if the units were vacant. There were two vehicles in the parking lot, and there were items such as furniture and trash outside two units.

The form also did not include rental income from a Natomas office building on Duckhorn Drive that Loloee owns under an LLC. Its unclear if any businesses lease office space there other than his grocery store chain. An organization called The Humanity Center listed the address on its website, but did not immediately respond an inquiry asking whether it pays rent.

A man at the Hagginwood house told The Bee in June 2022 that he was Loloees tenant, and several neighbors told The Bee Loloee does not live there. A city investigation, which did not include interviews with neighbors, found that Loloee does indeed live there with his employees. There have been multiple 911 calls to the house, including for guns, and for multiple vehicles parked in the front yard. There has been an open code violation case at the house since June 2022 for structures built without permits in the backyard.

Loloee is registered to vote at the house, and he cast a vote from there in the November election, according to voter registration documents obtained by The Bee.

The state requires elected officials across California to submit the forms disclosing their financial interests so the public can know their representatives are making decisions in the best interest of the public and not enhancing their personal finances, according to a state web page.

Separately, Loloee is being sued by the U.S. Department of Labor, which alleges he threatened to deport his grocery store employees for cooperating with a federal investigation. That case is ongoing.

Loloee has filed papers to raise funds to run for re-election next year, but has not yet announced whether he is running. Two candidates have announced runs for the seat.

The FPPC may discuss Loloees late filing at its June 15 meeting.
Saks Fifth Avenue is revolutionizing its personal shopping and styling service, the Fifth Avenue Club. The retailer is introducing private, standalone suites in various destinations across the US, including Laguna Beach, Nashville, Orlando, and more.

These exquisite Fifth Avenue Club Suites mark the evolution of Saks existing Fifth Avenue Clubs. The Clubs were traditionally within Saks Fifth Avenue stores, offering customers the epitome of personalized service. To bring this vision to life, Saks has partnered with Marriott International and its portfolio of esteemed brands, including The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, to create private suites and intimate spaces within world-class hotels and resorts nationwide.

We are delighted to introduce customers to the next generation of the Fifth Avenue Club in leading luxury destinations across the country, said Larry Bruce, President of Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Expanding on the success of our iconic in-store Fifth Avenue Club experience, this innovative new format enables us to extend Saks Fifth Avenues highly personalized service into new markets, delivering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience tailored to our clients unique lifestyles.

Photo Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue

Personal Styling With Your Luxury Stay

The new Fifth Avenue Club Suites are open to local customers and hotel guests. Each Club offers personal shopping and styling appointments, exclusive events, trunk shows, and extraordinary shopping experiences. The company has enlisted skilled personal stylists in each location to provide clients with curated merchandise selections. From clothing and accessories to fine jewelry, stylists present various options from Saks Fifth Avenues luxury lifestyle assortment online and in stores.

Under this new concept, clients can request an initial consultation with a stylist either in-person or virtually. During the consultation, clients will discuss style preferences, wardrobe needs, sizing, and designer preferences. The stylist then curates a personalized merchandise selection, which is delivered to the styling suite and presented to each client. Clients can also seamlessly browse and shop on Saks.com should they require an alternative size, color, or style.

Saks Fifth Avenue Celebrates New Club Suites

To commemorate the expansion, Saks Fifth Avenue and Marriott International recently hosted an intimate dinner at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Guests received a firsthand experience of the new suite at this resort, overlooking Salt Creek Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, exemplifies the unique and elegant setting of the Fifth Avenue Club Suite.

Tina Edmundson, President of Luxury for Marriott International, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel served as the perfect setting to celebrate the expansion of the Fifth Avenue Club and our longstanding relationship with Saks Fifth Avenue. We are delighted to welcome the Fifth Avenue Club to select hotels and resorts within our luxury brand portfolio, and we are thrilled to provide our guests and locals alike with the bespoke experiences that both brands are known for.

The expansion of the Fifth Avenue Club encompasses Charleston, Honolulu, Laguna Beach, Maui, Napa Valley, Nashville, and several other cities.

RELATED: 7 Fashion Designers From Africa To Support For Your Travel Outfits
Salesforce Tells Employees It Will Donate $10 Per Day to Charity if They Come Back to the Office

Marc Benioff, Co-Chair, TIME, Chair and Co-CEO, Salesforce, speaks onstage at the TIME100 Summit 2022 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 7, 2022 in New York City.



Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff has previously decried low productivity among pandemic hires, citing a lack of office culture.

Business software monolith Salesforce is reportedly so desperate to see its employees back in the office that the company will donate a little less than the price of a McDonalds Big Mac meal to charity for every day workers physically drag themselves to the office.

Salesforce confirmed with Gizmodo that the company was hosting a global program to incentivize workers to come into the office, called Connect for Good. Fortune originally reported Tuesday based on an internal Slack channel that each employee who decides to actually come to the office between June 12 and 23 will make Salesforce donate $10 to a local charity. Some staff are still allowed to work from home depending on the team, and in those special cases when they attend a virtual event Salesforce will still donate $10.

Read more

The company hopes to raise between $1 million and a maximum of $2.5 million through this initiative, according to the report. Staff are meant to vote on their favorite local charities to receive donations.

A Salesforce spokesperson told Gizmodo Giving back is deeply embedded in everything we do, and were proud to introduce Connect for Good to encourage employees to help raise $1 million for local nonprofits.

The company has previously mandated that 65% of its workforce come to the office three or, in some cases, four days a week. The company plans to tally up workers initial badge swipes per day, but promised the survey wouldnt give them any info about how long staff stayed in the office or how many swipes they did per day.

Salesforce is the biggest name in the world for cloud-based sales software, and it became a strange creature in the Silicon Valley tech world for its routinely laid back company culture. That was until the post-pandemic era, and along with many big tech firms the company took the axe to 10% of its staff in January this year. At that time, the company had nearly 80,000 employees worldwide. Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff in a letter to workers cited hiring too many people leading into this economic downturn.

So even if Salesforce is down to just over 70,000 employees, that $10 a pop per hop into the office could be worth a hefty chunk of change, but it also puts the onus on workers to give up the freedom of work from home for the chance to again suck in the stale air of Salesforces notorious Ohana culture. Benioff even referenced that Ohana means family line in his letter to staff announcing layoffs.

But Salesforce may have lost its employees-first attitude altogether. The company continued to pay actor Matthew McConaughey big money for starring in company promotions while booting staff. Leaked messages in the companys Slack also revealed Salesforce execs were planning to rank employees on their productivity and fire the bottom performers, but Benioff reportedly squashed that plan after staff caught wind.

Benioff has complained heavily about the loss of tribal knowledge with new employees without an office culture due to work from home policies. According to leaked Slack messages from late last year seen by CNBC, he also complained about those hired during the pandemic not being productive enough.

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The state Supreme Court will decide whether the states new six-week abortion ban is constitutional.

Arguments in the case are scheduled for June 27.

Lawmakers last month approved a revised six-week abortion ban written specifically to respond to a court decision in January striking down the states previous six-week law.

The court said the the six-week ban violated the state constitutions right to privacy.

Both versions of the law banned abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected during a pregnancy, which is typically at the six-week mark.

Since the courts 3-2 decision in January, the courts only female justice, Kaye Hearn, has been replaced by Gary Hill, making the court all male. Hearn, who wrote the majority opinion in January, reached the the mandatory 72-year-old retirement age.

The revised law bans abortion after the six-week mark, but includes exceptions for rape, incest, to prevent the death of the mother and a fatal fetal anomaly. The exceptions for rape and incest are up to the 12-week mark under law passed this year.

Under the law previously struck down, the exceptions for rape and incest went up to 20 weeks.

The lawsuit challenging the revised law, filed by the Greenville Womens Clinic and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, was brought before Circuit Judge Clifton Newman, who prevented the law from being enforced. That kept the status quo in place to allow abortions to take place in South Carolina up to the 20th week of a pregnancy.

Out-of-state patients seeking to terminate a pregnancy have driven up South Carolinas abortion numbers because some other states are more restrictive. Among the reasons lawmakers pushed for the six-week law is to stop people from traveling to the state for an abortion.

Gov. Henry McMaster, who signed the new law last month, almost immediately asked the state Supreme Court to take up the case after Newman blocked the law.

Were pleased the Court granted our motion with such urgency. We look forward to making our arguments in court and defending the rule of law and right to life, Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement.

Opponents of the law say most women do not know they are pregnant before the six-week mark, effectively making the law effectively a complete ban.

Many women also do not have any of the physical indicators of pregnancy, including a missed period, during early pregnancy. Many women do not menstruate at regular intervals and/or sometimes go beyond 6 weeks without experiencing a menstrual period, and therefore may not realize they are pregnant when they miss a period for that reason, Dr. Terry Buffkin, a board-certified OBGYN who is licensed to practice in South Carolina and is the co-owner of the Greenville Womens Clinic, said in the lawsuit.

State legislatures have been able to enact abortion restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court in its Dobbs decision in June 2022 struck down the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the right to an abortion.
If it was just Burmese pythons, that would be bad enough.

But Florida is crawling with invasive animals: Sambar deer on St. Vincent Island, rhesus macaques in Ocala, Nile monitors in Cape Coral, Vervet monkeys near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and thousands of monk parakeets throughout the state.

AMAZING VIDEOS: Watch the best python videos from our archives.

They get here in a variety of ways: Smugglers. Owners who release their exotic pets when they get too big. Sometimes the animals just escape, or a violent storm gives them a jailbreak of sorts. Some people release them on purpose to establish a wild population.

Most invasive species, though a nuisance, arent likely to kill you. The problem is that just about anything that gets loose in Florida lives. So if what gets loose is dangerous, we have a big problem.

Tips: How you can humanely kill a Burmese python and other big snake tips and pointers

Python Week: How many wild critters does it take to grow a 13-foot python?

Deadly Burmese pythons: Summer means it's time for biologists to crank out necropsies

Female pythons targeted: Scout pythons help scientists battle spread of giant snakes as program passes 10th year

Theres always a risk that other dangerous species besides the Burmese python could get a foothold in Florida. If Burmese pythons from the other side of the world can become established here, why not the larger green anaconda, which comes from South America? Crocodiles? Venomous snakes?

Heres a list of some dangerous creatures that could end up in Florida swamps, forests, canals or ponds, maybe even your backyard. Warning: Some may already be here, even if not fully established.

Nile Crocodile. Kruger National Park. South Africa.

Nile crocodile

You've seen the frightening videos: a zebra or antelope tries to get a drink on an African riverbank when a Nile crocodile suddenly lunges out of the water, grabs them, spins them around and holds them underwater.

They are born hunters.

At least four Nile crocodiles have already been captured in Florida. A 2016 scientific report confirmed that Nile crocodiles had been found living wild in south Florida and that they could become established in the state.

In 1996 or 1997, a young crocodile escaped from its enclosure at Billie Swamp Safari in Hendry County. When it was recaptured in 2000 it measured 9 feet. In April 2009, Robert Freer captured a second Nile crocodile from a porch of a home in Miami.

A third, 4-foot crocodile was captured in October 2011 in Homestead. The fourth crocodile found in the wild was about 2 feet long when originally captured in March 2012 in a canal in Homestead. When the crocodile was recaptured in March 2014 in Everglades National Park it had grown to 5 feet long.

Crocodylus niloticus has several differences from American crocodiles. First, they can grow a bit larger. Male Nile crocodiles usually top out at 16.5 feet, about the same length as the largest American crocodiles, but some Nile crocodiles can grow to 20 feet long. Also, they live mainly in freshwater habitats, while American crocodiles generally prefer saltwater and live along the coast.

But what makes Nile crocodiles more of a threat is that they are more aggressive than American crocodiles, said Jim Beever, a Southwest Florida biologist and natural resources expert.

"American crocodiles are sweet by comparison," Beever said "I dont feel threatened by them." He said he's been in the water with them and they are much more interested in catching fish.

The Nile crocodile thinks everything is prey to them, he said.

"Alligators grab dogs walking by the water with their owners," he said. "A Nile crocodile would take the dog and the owner."

Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and, like the Nile crocodile, a killer of humans. It has the strongest bite of any animal on the planet.

It gets its name from its ability to tolerate salty water, but generally prefers coastal areas with brackish water. That often puts it in rivers and estuaries.

The natural range of Crocodylus porosus is enormous, stretching from India to Australia and many places between. And despite being called salties, they can tolerate brackish and freshwater.

If you find yourself in the water with a large saltie, it's a good bet you're considered prey.

In late April a 65-year-old man who was fishing at Kennedy Bend in northern Australia disappeared. His remains were soon found in two captured crocodiles, one 13.5 feet long, the other a 9-footer.

Know your enemy: Deadly Burmese pythons: Summer means it's time for biologists to crank out necropsies

Predator to prey: Fish and Wildlife Commission sets Burmese python hunt for 10 days in August; what we know

Be prepared: What should you do if you're bitten by a venomous snake in Florida?

The black caiman is the largest of the caiman species of crocodile and reaches sizes up to 17 feet long.

Black caiman

Black caimans (Melanosuchus niger) are the largest member of the family Alligatoridae (alligators and caimans) and live in South America. They can reach 19.5 feet long and sometimes attack humans, but not with the frequency of Nile and saltwater crocodiles.

Think they can't get established here? It's cousin, the spectacled caiman is already established here, due to escapes or releases, most likely due to the pet trade, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The spectacled caiman can reach 8 feet long but is generally only 6 feet long in Florida. It has been established with a breeding population in Broward and Dade counties for at least 10 years. That could be longer because they were first observed in Florida in the 1960s.

Like the Nile crocodile, three additional crocodilians have been reported in Florida but haven't established a breeding population yet.

Beever, the biologist, says invasive crocodilians would not necessarily have it easy while they are small. "Something thats similar to a creature we have here will still be preyed on," Beever said. For example, he said, great blue herons are used to eating baby alligators. They would just as easily eat a baby Nile crocodile.

Reticulated python

The reticulated python, Malayopython reticulatus, is the longest snake in the world, reaching lengths of 23 feet or more.

It has been reported in at least eight different areas of the state ranging from near Largo in Pinellas County to Dade County  and in Broward and Dade counties it's been found in at least two different locations. In 2011 one was spotted off US 41 in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Reticulated pythons are native to Southeast Asia and can range from India to China and down to Indonesia. They are one of the few snake species known to prey on people.

Shealy's Skunk Ape Headquarters and Trail Lakes Campground in Ochopee have regulated snake exhibits that include Goldie, a reticulated python that is at least 20 feet long. "Goldie is pretty tame, she has a good disposition but we keep her well fed so that's a big part of that," Jack Shealy said.

Shealy said reticulated pythons could get established if they are released in big enough numbers. He said a big part of the problem is pet owners who don't follow regulations.

"Over the years, South Florida has been a thriving ground for exotic species because of irresponsible pet owners, that's really what it comes down to," he said. "People take fish, they take lizards, they get things that they think they want to have and then they just don't exhibit the responsibility and they get dumped off."

Olive, a 15.2 foot green anaconda, is the longest snake that has ever lived at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Green anaconda

Green anacondas, the world's heaviest snakes at more than 300 pounds, have have also been sighted in Florida, usually around central Florida. They have been reported as far north as Gainesville and as far south as Miami near Everglades City.

Click this link to see where the species has been reported in Florida.

For example, one was found sunning itself outside a house's shed just north of Melbourne in 2016. It was 8.5 feet long.

In 2010, Osceola County deputies captured a 12-foot green anaconda at East Lake Fish Camp in northern Osceola. In 2004, a juvenile male was found in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve.

Eunectes murinus is an apex predator from South America capable of taking large prey in the same way Burmese pythons do. The FWC says seven green anacondas have been removed from Florida by the agency or its partners as of October 2020. It also says the state's climate is highly suitable for the species to get a foothold, although it is not yet established here.

Besides the Burmese python, two other constrictors already have become established in Florida: the red-tailed boa and the Northern African python.

A Black Mamba slithers along in the deserts' new Size, Speed, and Venom: Extreme Snakes exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo, Thursday, June 13, 2019.

Black mamba

The black mamba is the second longest venomous snake in the world, and its venom can kill humans in three to 16 hours if they are not treated with antivenom.

Could they get established here?

In January, FWC's Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) filed charges against eight people in connection with illegal trafficking of venomous and prohibited snakes.

Over the course of the investigation, nearly 200 snakes, representing 24 species, were bought or sold by FWC undercover investigators. Some of those species include the inland taipan, bushmaster, rhinoceros viper, African bush viper, Gaboon viper, green mamba, eyelash viper, multiple species of spitting cobra, forest cobra, puff adder and saw-scaled vipers.

The people involved showed a complete disregard for the regulatory framework designed to keep Floridians safe, the agency said.

Some of these snakes are among the most dangerous in the world, said Maj. Randy Bowlin, FWC DLE Investigations and Intelligence Section Leader, in a news release at the time.

Task force members noted that the particular antivenom needed might not be in place if there's no reason to expect that species of snake to be nearby.

With mambas, though, you have to consider competitors, Beever said. "The python thrived because there was nothing like it here."

King cobra

In 2017, a Monterery Park, California man was arrested on charges of smuggling three young king cobra snakes from Hong Kong in potato chip cannisters.

The King cobra, Ophiophagus hanna, is the largest venomous snake in the world. It can grow to 18 feet long, though it's usually about 8 to 10 feet. Its venom is a potent neurotoxin and can lead to death quickly if the victim doesn't receive antivenom.

It has been reported in the state back in the early 2000s, but has not become established.

In 2015, an Orlando-area man lost his king cobra. It wasn't the first time he'd lost a venomous snake. It was recovered in his neighbor's garage after being missing five weeks.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 7 deadly exotic species that could get a foothold in Florida
Schools should be banned from using religion as admissions criteria, says United Nations

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published a report on child rights in the UK - Rawpixel/iStockphoto

The United Nations has called for a ban on religion being used to select pupils in England, in what religious leaders and MPs have branded a secular-inspired attack on faith schools.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child published a report on child rights in the UK and concluded that preventing the use of religion as a selection criterion for schools admissions in England was a priority.

It also recommended repealing legal provisions for compulsory attendance in collective worship and called on the Government to establish statutory guidance to ensure that children have the right to withdraw from religious classes without parental consent.

However, the report has sparked a backlash from MPs, religious leaders and faith school providers who claim that it would be illiberal to deny religious families the basic right of a religious education and that it was inaccurate to claim that collective worship attendance is compulsory.

But Megan Manson, head of campaigns at the National Secular Society, welcomed the call for faith-based selection at schools to be abolished saying it was disgraceful that religious discrimination is permitted in the schools we all pay for and urged the Government to act on the reports conclusions.

Most types of faith schools in England qualify for exemptions from the Equality Act 2010, which enable them to prioritise children from families who share their faith if they are oversubscribed.

This can include requirements for parents and children to regularly attend a local place of worship or provide evidence of baptism. As a result, some parents are unable to send their children to their local state school.

Attack on institutions of faith

Responding to the UN report, Nick Fletcher, the Conservative MP for Don Valley and a member of the Education Select Committee, described it as an apparent attack on people and institutions of faith.

It does not seem to come from a position of tolerance but rather one of intolerance, he said. I have confidence that here in the UK we will continue to respect Christianity and the other great faiths and to recognise the huge benefit they and the institutions they run bring to our society.

Monsignor Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester, added: This sounds like a secular-inspired attack against faith and its influence in society. Parents are the primary persons responsible for their childrens upbringing  the state has only a supporting role.

By the way, would this committee not be spending its time more fruitfully working out how Afghan girls can go back to schools, what to do about children being brainwashed in extremist madrassas and the many children in our world who still have no access to education, instead of targeting the UK where there is universal access to a reasonable quality of education?

Their own religious framework

Paul Barber, Director of the Catholic Education Service, added: Parents have the right to raise and educate their children within their own religious framework and it would be illiberal to remove this basic right from them.

Catholic schools are more ethnically diverse and serve more of the pupils from the most deprived backgrounds than the state sector.

Nigel Genders, chief education officer at the Church of England, said that all of its schools are there to serve the whole community  including families of all faiths and none.

They added that when its schools are oversubscribed it provides places to those who regularly attend worship and there is an argument that this can offer an alternative to a simple postcode lottery.

A Church of England source also added that the institution was perplexed by the collective worship recommendation, saying that parents have been able to withdraw their children from collective worship since the 1944 Education Act and no recent legislation has affected this right.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: Like all other mainstream state funded schools, faith schools must admit all children who apply, without reference to faith, where there are places available.

Where they are oversubscribed, they may give priority for places within their oversubscription criteria to applicants on the basis of faith.

The most recent Chief Adjudicators report on School Admissions shows that the admissions system is working well, with 92.2% of families offered their first-choice primary school and 83.3% were offered their first-choice secondary school in 2022.

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The SEC is finally making good on its threats to rein in crypto

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sitting in a chair, raising a finger, while talking to a moderator at a conference



Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has become one of the biggest names in crypto.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued the crypto company Coinbase, one day after filing a lawsuit against Binance. Nearly a year after SEC chair Gary Gensler asserted that most cryptocurrencies are, in fact, securities, the agency is finally trying to bring the crypto industry into compliance.

In its complaint (pdf), filed June 6 in federal court in Manhattan, the SEC claims that Coinbase has operated illegally as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency.

Read more

You simply cant ignore the rules because you dont like them or because youd prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great, SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. As alleged in our complaint, Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them.

In a statement to Quartz, Coinbase chief legal officer and general counsel Paul Grewal criticized the SECs enforcement-only strategy for regulating crypto and called for fresh legislation.

The SECs reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting Americas economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance, Coinbases Grewal wrote. The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation. In the meantime, well continue to operate our business as usual.

What are the charges against Coinbase?

According to the SEC, Coinbase and its parent company, CGI, violated federal securities lawsboth the Exchange Act and the Securities Actby meeting the legal definition of a securities exchange, a broker, and a clearing house without registering as any with the agency.

The company also failed to register with the SEC its staking-as-a-service program, by which customers make money by locking up crypto for set periods.

Coinbase had some advance warning about the suit. In March, it received a Wells notice from the SEC, which the agency uses to notify a company of a potential lawsuit and give them time to preemptively respond or settle.

In bringing the suit, the SEC also implicated a number of cryptocurrencies that it claims are unregistered securities: solana (SOL), cardano (ADA), polygon (MATIC), filecoin (FIL), sandbox (SAND), Axie Infinity (AXS), chiliz, flow (FLOW), internet computer (ICP), near (NEAR), voyager (VGX), dash (DASH), and nexo (NEXO).

Yesterday (June 5), the SEC brought similar charges against Binance, the worlds largest crypto exchange by volume, for selling unregistered securities. Coinbase trails only Binance by that metric.

The twin lawsuits signal that after years of threatening to force the crypto industry into compliance, Gensler is finally going after the biggest fish.

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Ron Turcotte poses next to a statue of him and Secretariat in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Turcotte rose to the heights of the horse racing world, riding Secretariat to a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1973. (AP Photo/Stephen MacGillivray)

From the tiny village of Drummond, New Brunswick, Ron Turcotte rose to the top of horse racing, riding Secretariat to a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1973. Their triumphs ended a 25-year Triple Crown drought. Now 81, Turcotte is the last surviving member of Secretariat's team as he marks the 50th anniversary of their feat with the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

Here are some stories from his life and career, based on a recent interview with The Associated Press:

FROM LUMBERJACK TO JOCKEY

Turcotte is one of 12 children, including five brothers who also became jockeys. He grew up speaking French in Drummond, outside Grand Falls.

He left school at age 14 to work with his father as a lumberjack. He was slight in stature like his dad, who had him work with the draft horses that hauled the logs instead of doing the more dangerous work in the forest.

At 18, Turcotte and a friend headed to Toronto with $50 each in their pockets. He was going to join the roofing trade like his brother, but local carpenters were on strike, so they sought any work they could find.

The friends discovered a restaurant that fed them in exchange for washing dishes. To pay for a room, they picked nightcrawlers until the wee hours.

We got tired and discouraged, Turcotte recalled.

On the first Saturday in May 1960, the friends emerged from their attic quarters and found a crowd around the television watching the Kentucky Derby. They were cheering on Victoria Park, which finished third as the first Canadian horse to place in a Triple Crown race.

Turcotte asked a man what the Derby was. The biggest horse race there is in North America, he replied.

The man asked if Turcotte had found work yet. Told no, he suggested Turcotte try the local racetrack, Woodbine. The teenager made his way there, but got turned away by a guard for not having an entry pass.

Turcotte was told to try the newer Woodbine track located on the outskirts of Toronto. He hitchhiked there the next day. A trainer driving by picked him up and they were waved through the gate by the guard.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Turcotte made an important connection in 1960 when he met E.P. Taylor, a prominent owner, breeder and businessman regarded as a major force in the development of Canadian racing. He went to Taylors farm to learn about thoroughbreds.

He handed me the shank and said, Keep turning left, Turcotte said of cooling out horses after workouts. I kept turning left for about 30 minutes.

What Taylor had yet to discover was that Turcotte had spent five years cutting lumber and driving a team of draft horses. He also knew how to shoe horses.

I had never sat in a saddle before, Turcotte said.

To earn a living in the bitter Canadian winters, Turcotte galloped horses on the farm to keep them fit.

By 1962, Turcotte had won his first race. He was off and riding on his way to 3,032 career victories.

CREATING FAMILY

Turcotte married his childhood sweetheart, Gaetane, in 1964. The couple has four daughters: Tina, Anne, Lynn and Tammy. After his career ended prematurely, he returned to his hometown to live on his farm, where each of his daughters had their own horse.

BEFORE SECRETARIAT

In 1971, Turcotte took note of a colt named Riva Ridge. The horse was bumped in his first start and finished well back. He won his next two races before losing again.

Turcotte stopped by trainer Lucien Laurins barn and told him, You have the best 2-year-old in North America.

Laurin changed jockeys and hired Turcotte for Riva Ridges next start. They won despite the colt bolting to the outside after leaving the starting gate.

Turcotte realized the colt was afraid of close quarters after what happened in his first race. He asked Laurin to give him a month with Riva Ridge away from racing, believing he could help the colt overcome his fear.

He didnt want to give me 30 days but I insisted, Turcotte said. I needed to re-school him.

Turcottes instincts proved correct. Riva Ridge won four straight stakes races in the fall of 1971 and earned honors as that years 2-year-old champion. They teamed to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes the following year.

MEETING THE QUEEN

Turcotte met Queen Elizabeth II in 1970 after riding Fanfreluche to victory in the Manitoba Derby during the provinces 100th birthday. She presented him with the winners plate.

The mare was sired by Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby in 1964 who went on to become one of the sports greatest sires.

She was a Northern Dancer fan, Turcotte said of the horse-loving queen, so she had a lot of questions about Northern Dancer.

Five years earlier, he had met the Queen Mother.

My dad and mother were both very impressed, he said.

MEETING SECRETARIAT

Turcotte stopped by the Laurin's barn one day to visit Riva Ridge.

Two stalls down, a chestnut colt stuck his head out. Whos that pretty boy you have here? Turcotte asked.

Laurin replied, Hes too good-looking to be a racehorse.

Still, the trainer told Turcotte to get on Secretariat and give his opinion.

It was love at first sight and first ride, Turcotte said. He was so nice. He was like an older horse, he was quiet, very intelligent. Turcotte was soon getting on Secretariat regularly, teaching him to work in the mornings, increase his speed and learn how to break from the starting gate. The jockey was soon calling his new friend Big Red, a nickname that has stuck to this day. Youd teach him something one day and hed come back the next day and hed do it, Turcotte said. Not all horses are that intelligent. A MAN AND HIS HORSE Despite a singular focus on the racetrack, Turcotte described Secretariat as a very kind and loving horse. Still, the colt sometimes had a mind of his own. One morning, Secretariat suddenly reared up and tossed Turcotte over his head. The jockey landed on his feet, unhurt. He looked at me like, What are you doing there? Turcotte said. I walked up to him, grabbed the reins and hopped on him again. The jockey would visit Secretariat and also greet other horses in the barn. He was a little jealous, Turcotte said. If I talked to another horse in the next stall, hed reach over and grab my jacket and pull me back to him. A special bond existed between man and horse. One time he pinched me a little and I said, Ouch, you hurt me. He put his head down like he was so sad, Turcotte said. I said to him, Its OK, you didnt hurt me. His head popped up and his ears were pricked. He was a ham. TAKING A FAMOUS PEEK

After winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Secretariat put away the field early in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, using his long, loping strides to widen the gap to 20 lengths.

At that point, the race was against the clock.

With 70 yards remaining in the 1 1/2-mile race, Turcotte looked to his left at the infield teletimer.

I knew he was setting records all the way down the lane, he said. When youre alone like that, I could hear the announcer very well.

Secretariat won by an astonishing 31 lengths and his final time of 2:24 remains a record 50 years later.

A CAREER CUT SHORT

Turcottes riding career was cut short on July 13, 1978. He fell from his horse, Flag of Leyte Gulf, in his last race of the day at Belmont Park, the site of his Triple Crown triumph. A horse drifted toward the outside, crowding another. Sensing the danger, Turcotte stood in the saddle and yelled to the riders inside of him. His horse clipped heels and stumbled badly, tossing Turcotte over its head.

He wasnt trampled by any horses, but knew he had broken his neck when he couldnt feel his legs. Later that year, Turcotte sued several parties but the suit was dismissed in 1986 by New Yorks highest court, which cited the inherent risks taken by jockeys.

Turcotte spent many years making appearances at racetracks to raise money and awareness on behalf of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which provides help to his fellow injured riders.

In 2015, he broke both legs when the van he was driving flipped after hitting a snowbank in New Brunswick. He requested one blue cast and one white cast, the same colors as Secretariats silks. Turcotte and Secretariat are immortalized with a bronze statue in his hometown.

LONE SURVIVOR

Now 81, Turcotte is the last surviving member of Secretariats team. The irony isnt lost on him.

I thought Id be the first one to go, he said, having been a paraplegic since his accident.

Owner Penny Chenery died in 2017 at age 95. Laurin died in 2000.

He always told me, Use your better judgement,'" Turcotte said. He relied on me for a lot of things. He didnt always listen.

Groom Eddie Sweat died in 1998 and exercise rider Charlie Davis followed in 2018.

Charlie and Eddie were very good horsemen, he said. Sweat was beautiful with horses.

Secretariat died in 1989. He was euthanized after developing laminitis, a painful and debilitating hoof disease.

When it came to running, he could fly, Turcotte said. He was everything. Those memories never leave you.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) spoke of his newly announced presidential run Monday on

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) spoke of his newly announced presidential run Monday on "The View" on ABC.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) hopped in the 2024 presidential race Monday with a campaign speech in his hometown of North Charleston, South Carolina.



Scott employed language similar to every other Black evangelical politician: Victimhood or victory? I choose freedom, hope and opportunity. I disrupt their narrative. And more language suggested that he refuses to be defined by his Blackness.



In his most attention-grabbing comments, Scott diminished the existence of racism to what appears to be a largely white audience.



For those of you who wonder if America is a racist country, take a look at how all of Gods people come together because unconditional love binds hearts together, Scott said. We are not defined by the color of our skin; were defined by the content of our character. If anyone tells you anything different, theyre a-lyin!



Scott doubled down on this inherently flawed idea as a guest on Mondays episode of The View, suggesting that the American playing field is level because Black folks have achieved high-level jobs within the U.S. government and elsewhere (though the audience reserved their boos for when he regurgitated the asinine suggestion of his competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, that Disney is indoctrinating children with evil LGBTQ propaganda.)



Most sensible Black folks see through this bullshit like a Ziploc bag. For the woefully uninitiated, however, Ill put the snark on hold, just for a second: Racism is forever. And its everywhere, including America. That no one is dragging Black folks by their noosed necks behind moving cars in the open anymore doesnt suggest its completely nonexistent in all its forms.



Look no further than the 2016 election of Donald Trump, which galvanized the tiki-torch protesters and U.S. Capitol insurrectionists to say all the quiet parts very loudly in a manner I hadnt seen before in my life. Having working eyes and ears and suggesting that racism is a thing of the past is like passing the third grade convinced that the Earth is flat.



Yet, Scott is just one of several charisma-free, cookie-cutter conservative House Negroes propagating the notion that Black folks bucking up and letting go of that pesky racism issue that apparently hasnt been an issue since the mid-20th century is the true anodyne for all our problems. When these clowns vie for their respective political thrones, its almost always on the back of Black Democrats whom they insist are playing the race card as victims.



In 2004, Alan Keyes was installed by Illinois Republicans as a carpetbagger to challenge Barack Obama for the states U.S. Senate seat. An avowed evangelical Christian staunchly opposed to affirmative action and abortion, Keyes was curb-stomped by a young Obama during his unprecedented ascendancy. Keyes was a puppet for white Republicans, and everyone saw through him.



Despite his failed presidential bid, the late Herman Cain made his millions by slinging Godfathers Pizza and having a keen business and investment acumen. Though Cain made it a point to let everyone know that he got out of the mud all on his own despite having been born a Black man in the 1940s Deep South, his Black ass most assuredly benefited from affirmative action. May he rest in peace and all that.



Larry Elder, the patron saint of Black conservatives, has spent his decades-long radio career espousing the virtues of being a sellout. He even created a self-aggrandizing documentary, 2020s Uncle Tom, in the hope that people listening to all his buddies talk about how cool it is to be a Black conservative might influence more people to vote for Trump again.



Elder tried to take California Gov. Gavin Newsoms seat in a 2021 recall election. Hes running now for president in 2024, at which hell also fail.



I know I must include Herschel Walker in my polemic, since he was the loudest Black Republican candidate before Scott to downplay racism. But Im not sure if Ive ever seen such an obvious Uncle Ruckus-shaped pawn in my life, so despite the eye-wateringly amazing progress he made in last years Georgia Senate race before losing to Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock, I never took Walker to be a serious human.



These morons all have one thing in common: When its time to get elected, the white Republicans they courted drop them like used napkins and the Democrat they challenged ultimately gets the office.



(Perhaps the only exception to this rule is almost the most dangerous: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, has the power to constitutionally send America back to the late 1800s. All while being openly financially shady.)



Outside of politics, theres a gaggle of sellouts who, despite being born and raised to two Black parents in the 20th century, have built sizable social media followings spewing post-racial rhetoric so absurd that Im unconvinced that most of them actually believe their own hype.



Candace Owens is not a stupid woman  I dont believe shes achieved the success she has in her mid-30s while lacking a fundamental understanding of the limitations society will always attempt to heap upon a dark-skinned Black woman. Shes simply riding the white supremacist wave to secure a bag, which makes her worse than the nakedly racist white people we expect it from.



For my bread, the image of Owens and her buddy Ye  who, despite being a wildly successful billionaire, still longs for white acceptance  draped in White Lives Matter T-shirts last year is far more disgusting than a bunch of white incels hoisting tiki-torches.



I agree that Black people shouldnt embrace victimhood as a crutch to keep us from achieving the goals we desire. But theres a wide chasm between rejecting victimhood and suggesting that racism died with Jim Crow, or that were post-racial because we elected a Black man to the White House in 2008.



Racism is not our utter inability to accomplish the goals of our white counterparts. Its our need to work a bit harder to do so. To be more agreeable and palatable. To go the extra mile to prove that we belong in spaces in which were not traditionally expected spaces in which we literally werent allowed at a time when our parents walked the Earth.

Recognizing the perpetual existence of systemic racism and working to mitigate its effects should be part of every humans social contract  even for those who benefit from it.



Even if Trump manages to stay out of prison, Scott wont come within spitting distance of the Republican nomination in a race that includes Ron DeSantis. But as he goes through the process, hell learn just how squeaky-clean his closet must be to even be considered for the Oval Office as a Black man a lesson Obama had to learn before him.



Scott will be forced to compare his experience with all the ridiculous shit that Trump did, only to get elected anyway. Then perhaps hell finally understand racism.



CORRECTION: A prior version of this story referred to the incorrect President Bush in one instance.
Senegal temporarily shuts consulates abroad following attacks in several cities FILE PHOTO: Fresh protests rock Senegal as death toll climbs

DAKAR (Reuters) -Senegal has temporarily closed its consulates abroad following attacks on diplomatic missions in Bordeaux, Milan, Paris and New York among others, the foreign affairs ministry said on Tuesday.

The closures were announced in the wake of deadly unrest that broke out after a leading opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, was handed a two-year jail sentence last week that is likely to prevent him from running for president in elections next year.

At least 16 people were killed and hundreds injured as protesters clashed with security forces on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, making it the worst unrest to hit the West African country in decades.

Private and public structures and businesses were looted and destroyed during the riots, including university buildings, petrol stations, banks, supermarkets, administrative buildings and bus stops.

Access to mobile internet services, which the government restricted over the weekend, was restored on Tuesday following three days of calm.

The foreign affairs ministry did not link the attacks that justified provisionally closing Senegal's consulates to Sonko's sentence or the ensuing violence.

"This precautionary measure was taken following a series of aggressions ... that caused serious damage," it said in a statement.

The general consulate in Milan was hit particularly hard, with passport-making machines and identity cards destroyed, the ministry said.

Services will resume once working materials and security are restored, it added.

Italy's public broadcaster Rai News reported an assault on Milan's consulate on Monday during which it said around 40 Sonko supporters gathered outside the building with flags and anti-government signs.

They broke in and ransacked the premises, attacked the consul general and started a fire before police intervened.

Videos on social media on Friday showed a small group of protesters in Paris throwing flour at a Senegal embassy car and its passengers. Reuters did not verify the footage.

Sonko's Pastef party has repeatedly urged supporters to take to the streets in strongly worded statements that have also called on the diaspora to join the "resistance."

The legal issues embroiling Sonko first triggered protests in 2021, when he was briefly detained on rape charges he and his supporters denounce as a political ploy to prevent him from running. The government and justice system deny this.

Judges cleared him of rape last week but found him guilty of "corrupting youth" as the accusations involved a woman who was 20 at the time.

Sonko, who has become the face of growing frustration against President Macky Sall, is appealing the outcome of a separate libel case that could also hinder his political intentions.

Rights groups have accused security forces of using excessive force and firing live ammunition rounds at demonstrators, which they deny.

Professional league football matches were suspended until further notice on Tuesday due to the security situation, the national football federation said.

(Reporting by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Mark Porter)
Remotely monitoring customers without violating their privacy is a challenging task. But one co-founder believes that shes cracked the code.

On a recent episode of TechCrunch Live, TC's weekly event designed to help founders build better venture-backed businesses, Romi Gubes, the CEO of Sensi.AI, spoke about how she built a company that uses audio-based AI software to detect and predict anomalies that can impact the health of those receiving in-home care.

Gubes, a software engineer by training who's worked at Fortune 500 companies, including Cisco, Dell and Vonage, says that she was inspired to found Sensi.AI after an episode of abuse in her daughter's daycare center.

"It was one of the things in life that really changes your life," she said. "And I wanted to leverage my technological background in order to help those vulnerable individuals be safe in any kind of care environment."

That turned her on to the massive shortage of in-house care professionals in the U.S., as well as the effects that "aging in place" without the proper infrastructural support can have.

"As most of you know, as time goes by, there are more and more older adults and less younger people that can potentially take care of them," Gubes said. "Very soon, I understood how big the pain in the senior care industry is."

Sensi.AI TC Live

Image Credits: Sensi.AI

Sensi.AI, founded in 2018, grew rather quickly, scaling today to 70 employees across two countries -- the U.S. and Israel -- and to customers in 37 states serving thousands of individuals. Along the way, Sensi.AI raised $25 million from investors, including Sergey Gribov, a general partner at Flint Capital and a board member at Sensi.AI, who joined the TC Live discussion.

Bolstered by the pandemic, the market for remote care monitoring solutions is quite large. So how did Sensi.AI manage to stand out from the crowd? Gubes attributes it to the company's differentiated technology, which uses a combination of AI and audio monitoring to detect key events in and around clients' environments.

Sensi.AI spent years collecting data from the field to train its AI system. To date, the company has captured more than 10 million caregiver interactions from tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S., Gubes claims.

"For example, we know to detect if a caregiver has a specific problem with transitioning the older adult from bed to the chair, where this is a huge risk factor for both of them, actually," she explained. "We're more focused on the prevention layer in order to really allow professionals to act before something's happening."

But what about privacy -- both the privacy of the clients and of the caregivers?

Gubes pointed out that Sensi.AI doesn't use cameras for monitoring, unlike some of its competitors. On top of that, the system is compliant with HIPAA -- the major medical records privacy bill in the U.S. -- and anonymizes data so that the audio data isn't tied to any individual being monitored.

That contributed to Sensi.AI's funding success as well, according to Gribov. But the pandemic arguably played a larger role.

"When the pandemic hit, many caregivers weren't able to get to the homes of the older adult and really serve them, and older adults stayed at home by themselves," Gubes said. "And this is where the need for solutions such as Sensi was very, very clear."

Sensi.AI TC Live

Image Credits: Sensi.AI

One might assume that Sensi.AI's grand ambition is to replace care workers entirely. But Gubes asserts that this isn't the case. In fact, she thinks it isn't feasible from a technical standpoint -- and won't be for the foreseeable future. She hopes, rather, that Sensi.AI can grow into a care tool that clinicians -- and even children of older adults -- can use to keep track of what's going on in the home of a vulnerable patient.

"We can make their work much more efficient, and to get them make better decisions," Gubes said.
Jessie Purser often walked through the halls of Lewisville Middle School with a smile on her face, so its no surprise that she had a lot of friends and supporters.

Days after a crash that killed Purser, the community has been rocked, and her friends are grieving.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol says she was riding in a truck when the driver lost control and crashed into a lawnmower. Jessie was thrown from the truck and died. A local father on the lawnmower was also killed.

RELATED: Man on lawnmower, 13-year-old killed in York County crash; 2 others hurt

Channel 9s South Carolina Reporter Tina Terry spoke with Jessies middle school principal on Tuesday, who said she made an impact at her school.

She was going to be on our volleyball team next year, she was going to be a cheerleader, said Brian Edmond, the principal at Lewisville Middle School. She was an all-around young lady and she had lots of friends.

Those friends are all missing her now. Edmond says theyve been very sad, adding that many at the school are going through the grieving process.

Troopers say 19-year-old Christopher Mullis was driving on Homestead Road near Rock Hill around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. They say Mullis ran off the road, and his truck hit Christopher Kernaghan, killing him. Jessie was thrown from the truck.

Now, Principal Edmond and school counselor Alma Wilson are helping students here.

I just want them to remember Jessie as the sweet, smiling, young lady that she was, Wilson said. She loved everybody.

It just took me a moment to get myself together, emotionally, Edmond said following the crash.

The school administrators say a group of Jessies friends asked to hold a balloon release in her honor at the school. A Gofundme donation page has also been set up to help Jessies family with funeral expenses and medical bills.

>>Download WSOC's apps to keep up with news and weather wherever you go

The students need love, support, and if they need to grieve however they need to grieve, we just need to be there to support them, Wilson said.

Kernaghans wife says her son, who was also on the lawnmower, is in the intensive care unit with serious injuries. She says her husband was the only one who worked in their home, and they need help caring for their four children. A Gofundme donation page has been set up to help with their expenses.

Mullis is currently in jail facing felony DUI charges.

The balloon release at Lewisville Middle School will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

(WATCH: Plane crash survivor uses 2nd chance at life for philanthropy)
Sheboygan judge sentences man in overdose death. How the sentence compares to those imposed in similar cases.

SHEBOYGAN - A Sheboygan County judge has sentenced one man to prison and dismissed all charges against a woman in connection with the overdose death of a 55-year-old man.

After the mans death in Sheboygan last spring, prosecutors charged Jason Knoll, 46, with being party to a crime to first-degree reckless homicide involving drugs and charged Amy Jo Papendieck, 57, with delivering heroin and second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Prosecutors also charged Amber Rossmiller, 40, with being party to a crime to both delivering heroin and second-degree recklessly endangering safety  a case that is ongoing.

All charges against Papendieck were dismissed on District Attorney Joel Urmanskis motion in February.

Knoll pleaded no contest to the charges last month, and Sheboygan County Judge Samantha Bastil sentenced him to six years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision, with conditions including complete sobriety and any counseling or treatment deemed appropriate.

As part of Knolls plea agreement, charges of possession of an electric weapon, possession of meth, forgery and felony bail jumping were dismissed but read in, meaning Judge Bastil could consider them when determining Knolls sentence.

A jury trial for Rossmiller is scheduled for June 27-29.

The exterior of the Sheboygan County Courthouse as seen, Friday, May 13, 2022, in Sheboygan, Wis.

Prosecutors charged three people in connection to a man's death. Heres what happened.

Papendieck told police she and the victim struggled with addiction and had both injected heroin. She said the victim died while she was unconscious, according to a criminal complaint.

Papendieck told police they had obtained the heroin from Rossmiller, who said the victim had purchased the heroin from Knoll. Knoll told police he brought drugs to Sheboygan but denied delivering them to the victim, according to the criminal complaint.

Providing drugs to someone who fatally overdoses is considered first-degree reckless homicide in Wisconsin, even if the person charged does not deliver drugs directly to the victim.

More: How one Sheboygan man is using his 'another chance' in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction to spread positivity

Prosecutors dismissed charges against Papendieck, now in an addiction recovery program

A jury trial in Papendiecks case was first scheduled for the end of January, but Urmanski said he was not available for the trial about three weeks beforehand, according to court records.

Earlier that month, Papendiecks attorney, Bradley Jansen, had asked Judge Bastil to dismiss the case on account of the states undue delay and inexcusable neglect in advancing the case, Jansen wrote in a letter to the court.

In the three months before the scheduled jury trial, the state had not filed any motions, named any witnesses to be called at the trial, provided an offer to resolve the case or taken action of any kind, Jansen wrote.

Urmanski later moved to dismiss the case. He did so after a thorough review of the matter and decision that it would not be able to prove the case against the Defendant beyond a reasonable doubt and not because of Jansens motion to dismiss, Urmanski said.

Bastil dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning prosecutors can refile the same charges against Papendieck.

Urmanski said he could rei-issue the charges within the statute of limitations if more information is learned through the prosecution of related cases.

Papendieck was accepted into the Robby Dawson Home for Women in Milwaukee, an addiction rehabilitation center that houses up to 30 women at no charge, according to court documents. The program is run by the nonprofit Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge.

Judge Bastil had adjusted Papendiecks bond down to a $1,000 cash bond so Papendieck could join the program last summer.

More: Sheboygan County Home Builders Association's ex-director charged with stealing more than $100K from the association

More: Sheboygan Falls mother committed to life in a mental institution for killing her 8-year-old son

Reckless homicide sentences vary

Judge Daniel J. Borowski listens in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 5, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis.

In most cases over the past five years in which a person was found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide involving drugs, Sheboygan County judges sentenced defendants to between five to 12 years in prison, with additional years of extended supervision.

That excludes a case earlier this year in which Judge Daniel Borowski sentenced 32-year-old Dwayne Cannon to 23 years in prison for the same charges.

In a 2019 case, Judge Rebecca Persick also sentenced Damian Washington to 20 years in prison for reckless homicide. Washington, age 40, was found guilty of five other felonies, including maintaining a drug trafficking place, in the case.

Five cases of reckless homicide involving drugs are open in Sheboygan County courts. Four people who were charged with the crime between 2021 to early this year are being held in the Sheboygan County jail on a $150,000 to $500,000 cash bond. One posted a $1,500 cash bond.

This report is part of the Sheboygan Press's mission to follow criminal cases to their conclusion.

Reach Maya Hilty at 920-400-7485 or MHilty@sheboygan.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan judge sentences man for reckless homicide in drug overdose
Chinese premier meets with German Social Democratic Party delegation

Xinhua) 08:36, June 06, 2023

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Lars Klingbeil, the head of the SPD, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday met with a German Social Democratic Party (SPD) delegation led by Lars Klingbeil, chairman of the SPD.

Li said that as an important part of China-Germany relations, inter-party exchanges are of far-reaching significance for the two sides as they strengthen mutual learning and jointly promote prosperity and development.

China attaches great importance to its relations and cooperation with Germany, and it is important for the two major, influential countries to stay true to their original aspiration of cooperation and strengthen dialogue and coordination to bring more stability and certainty into the world, Li said.

He said the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the SPD to push the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership to a new level.

He said the CPC stands ready to work with the SPD to protect bilateral economic and trade cooperation, which is an important foundation for bilateral relations, and better safeguard the overall interests of bilateral cooperation and the interests of the two peoples.

China welcomes more German companies to come to China, and China will continue to expand market access, strengthen intellectual property rights protection, and foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, Li said.

"China is ready to work with Germany to maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, and hopes that the SPD will exert its influence in Germany and in Europe, maintain the general tone of its China policy featuring rationality, dialogue and cooperation, and promote the steady and sound development of China-Germany and China-EU relations," he said.

Klingbeil said Germany is actively preparing for the seventh round of inter-governmental consultations between the two countries, and expects fruitful results.

The SPD, which established relations with the CPC nearly 40 years ago, has been committed to maintaining dialogue with China and actively promoting the development of Germany-China relations, Klingbeil said, adding that Germany appreciates China's continued opening-up and believes that a "decoupling" is not an option in Germany-China relations.

The SPD is willing to strengthen strategic dialogue and communication with the CPC, expand Germany-China economic and trade cooperation, and make efforts toward the sustained and stable development of Germany-China relations and EU-China relations, Klingbeil said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Henderson County Sheriff's Office.

On June 6, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office posted on its Facebook page that a Hendersonville man has been apprehended and charged with murder following an investigation into the August 2022 fentanyl overdose death of Harold Anthony Plott II.

The Sheriff's Office posted that Saul Albert Hinson, 32, of Hendersonville was indicted on the charges of second degree murder distribution of drugs and death by distribution. On Aug. 17, 2022, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office responded to a call for service regarding a suspected drug overdose. The victim, Plott, was pronounced dead at the scene, and it was suspected that the cause of death was a fentanyl overdose.

The incident prompted an immediate and comprehensive investigation by detectives of the Henderson County Drug Task Force and Major Crimes Unit, according to the Facebook post. After months of tireless work, relentless pursuit of leads, and thorough investigation, detectives successfully identified the source responsible for distributing fentanyl to Plott.

The evidence collected confirmed that Plott died as a direct result of a fentanyl overdose. Detectives presented the case to a grand jury.

The Henderson County Drug Task Force and the United States Marshals Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended Hinson, who was taken into custody on June 5. According to the Sheriff's Office, Hinson currently remains in custody with a secured bond set at $725,000.

"I commend the hard work and dedication of our detectives, who tirelessly pursued justice in this case. We remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those responsible for distributing poison within our community, Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin said in the post.

"The Henderson County Sheriff's Office would also like to acknowledge the invaluable support and cooperation received from the United States Marshal Service Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force and express gratitude for their swift assistance in apprehending the suspect," the post said. "As we move forward, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office remains resolute in its mission to protect our community from the devastating effects of illicit drugs. We will continue to work diligently alongside our local, state, and federal partners to prevent further tragedies and safeguard the well-being of the citizens of Henderson County."

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: County man charged with murder in 2022 fentanyl overdose death
An investigation is underway after an incident of vandalism at Taylor High School in Cleves, according to the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office.

Three Rivers Local School District Communications Director Lisa Whitley said there are eye-witness accounts as well as video evidence and students' statements about the incident that happened on May 19.

A district letter sent to parents stated that the campus was severely vandalized that day with vulgar messages written in graffiti, foul language with inappropriate images, caution tape wrapped around entrances and garbage cans emptied around the property.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office is also investigating "extensive damage" at Ryle High School. The investigation there involved 75 students, according to the sheriff's office.

In the Taylor High School incident, a follow-up email from Whitley sent to the district on May 24 stated:

Eight Taylor students were implicated as participating in the vandalism while two individuals are enrolled in different school districts. Criminal charges for vandalism and trespassing are pending with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department as they continue to investigate this incident.

The message says the eight students were not allowed to attend graduation at the request of law enforcement.

Whitley said all the evidence had been turned over to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office says it cannot comment on the active investigation.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Taylor High School vandalism: Sheriff's Office investigating students
Shooter sought after a man was killed in his own auto body shop in Miami

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Ferris Phillips was arrested in Fort Lauderdale for the shooting of Nader Aweidah.

Police are looking for suspects in the fatal shooting of a man at a Liberty City auto body shop Tuesday morning.

Miami police say 46-year-old Nader Aweidah, 46 was shot around 11 a.m. at 7455 NW Seventh Ave., the address for Perfect Auto Paint & Body Shop and Perfect Motor Sports. State records say Aweidah runs Perfect Auto Body, which was first registered with the state in 1989.

Bubba, as he was known, owned the auto body shop, a nearby grocery store, and was a father of six, friends of Aweidah told NBC Miami.

He was just a great man, he looked out for the community. He did whatever he could for people, one friend told the TV station. He was a loving father, a great business owner, and its just a sad story.

Miami officer Kiara Delva told reporters near the crime scene that from our understanding the victim was a known and respected individual in the community.

Its another senseless shooting, she said. That has to stop.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Miami Police Departments Homicide Unit at (305) 603-6350. Those with information that wish to remain anonymous can contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers online or at (305) 471- TIPS (4877).
Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting at a Richmond, Virginia, park Tuesday after a high school graduation ceremony.

Police responded to the shooting near Virginia Commonwealth University around 5:15 p.m. local time after officers inside a theater where the graduation took place heard gunfire outside. Hundreds of families were gathered outside the venue, prompting mass panic as the attack took place.

Two people died from their wounds: Shawn Jackson, an 18-year-old who had graduated that day, and his father, 36-year-old Renzo Smith, NBC News reported.

One person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and four others were being treated for non-life-threatening wounds. One child was also struck by a car during the chaos at the scene, officials said, and was being treated at a local hospital. The injured range in age from 9 to 58 years old.

One suspect, a 19-year-old man, is in custody and expected to be charged with two counts of second-degree murder. More charges are expected, officials said, noting multiple handguns were recovered at the scene. No officers were injured during the shooting, and police didnt discharge any weapons before the suspect was detained.

Police believe the shooter knew at least one of the victims. Witnesses at the scene described hearing at least 20 gunshots in rapid succession, prompting a stampede as people rushed to find safety.

This should have been a safe space, people should have felt safe at a graduation, interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said at a press conference. Its incredibly tragic that someone decided to bring a gun to this incident and rain terror on our community.

Id like to express my concerns and sympathy for those who lost their lives today and those whose lives were forever changed today, Edwards added.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney echoed that sentiment earlier in the day, shortly after the graduation ceremony for Huguenot High School.

The question that comes in my mind right now is: Is nothing sacred any longer? Stoney said to reporters near the scene. A child should be able to go to the graduation ... and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families, he said.

Matthew Stanley with the Richmond Public Schools said another ceremony that was set to take place Tuesday evening had been canceled amid the attack.

This happened after the Huguenot High School graduation and took place in Monroe Park, Stanley said. We have canceled a graduation ceremony from another school scheduled later this evening.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the graduation ceremony was held outside the Altria Theater. It was held inside.

Related...
Shooting at Tropicana plant in Bradenton leaves one injured. Employee wanted by police

Bradenton police are looking for a Tropicana employee who shot another employee at the companys plant on Monday, police said in a press release Tuesday morning.

The shooting happened at 10:24 p.m. at the Tropicana plant, 9th St. E., Bradenton.

Employees said they saw Demitrius Tyrone Bell, 50, walked into the plant and shoot another employee.

Bell left the scene of the shooting in a 2015 black Camaro with Florida license plate QUQF97. Police are actively trying to track him down and are asking the public to contact them if they see him.

The man who was shot was taken to the hospital as a trauma patient, and police did not provide an update of his condition.

Police believe that Bell and the other employee had a disagreement which led to the shooting, according to the release. No other employees at the plant were injured.

Police search for Tropicana shooting suspect

Warrants have been issued for Bells arrest. He faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Tuesday afternoon, Bradenton police announced that they have launched a missing persons investigation for another one of Bells coworker.

Elecia Nicole Bing, 38, was last seen leaving the plant with Bell after the shooting, according to police. The police say they are concerned for her safety. Bing was last seen wearing a yellow safety shirt and blue jeans.

According to a description released by police, Bing is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 110 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

If you have information on Bells or Bings location, contact Detective Jeff Beckley at 941-932-9356 or jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com.

You can also leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000, call Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an anonymous E-Tip through manateecrimestoppers.com.

Bradenton Police Department detectives are actively looking for a suspect involved in a shooting that occurred on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Tropicana Bradenton plant, 9th St. E., Bradenton. pic.twitter.com/H0ipQIHjTS  Bradenton Police Department (@BradentonPD) June 6, 2023

Demitrius Tyrone Bell, 50, is wanted by police after he shot a co-worker at the Tropicana plant in Bradenton on Monday.
The parade ring at Kranji in 2015

Singapore's horse racing community spoke of its anger and heartbreak Tuesday with the city-state's only racecourse set to close, signalling the end of the sport there after more than 180 years.

The final race will be the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup in October next year, the Singapore Turf Club (STC) said, after which the land will be returned to the government for housing.

The club was founded in 1842 by a Scottish merchant and other horse-racing enthusiasts. The current racecourse at Kranji was opened in 2000, replacing the old Bukit Timah track.

"We are saddened by the decision of the government to close the club," STC's chairman Niam Chiang Meng said in a press release.

"At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation," he added.

The STC acknowledged that attendances at the racecourse had been declining over the past decade, but many of those within the close-knit industry were taken aback by Monday's announcement.

Jockey Jerlyn Seow said she felt "nauseous" when she heard the news.

"I felt I was living my dream but now it's shattered," the 29-year-old said, according to Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia.

"Why does the government want to close this historic industry when there isn't much recreation or entertainment in Singapore?

"It's a mistake."

Racehorse owners and trainers will be offered support for horse maintenance and exportation, the STC said.

There are about 700 racehorses at the club, according to local media.

The land will be returned to the government in 2027 and the 120-hectare (300 acres) site will be used for housing, including public housing.

"Singapore is a city-state with limited land," the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Finance said in a joint statement.

"The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today's needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations."

- Left reeling -

Singapore staged its first race in 1843 at the Farrer Park Racecourse but the sport outgrew the venue and racing moved to Bukit Timah.

According to the STC, it opened in 1933 to a 5,000-strong crowd.

In 1972 there was an estimated crowd of more than 26,000 for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, held in honour of the visiting monarch, who was a big racing fan. She visited the club on two occasions.

Prize money reached the millions in the 2000s, with the Sg$3 million (now $2.2 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup and the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer International Sprint. Both were discontinued in 2015.

Attendances also gradually dropped off. Indranee Rajah, a government second minister, said that race-day attendances fell from 11,000 in 2010 to 6,000 in 2019.

By the end of the pandemic, the number had fallen to 2,600, she wrote in a Facebook post.

"This is not unique to Singapore. The global horse racing scene is changing as new trends come about," she added.

But that was of little comfort to a racing community that was left reeling.

"The stakeholders and the whole industry were not consulted," Eric Koh of Team Cheval told The Straits Times.

Punters and racing fans also reacted with disappointment.

"What a shame! 180 years of tradition just gone like that? Was it really a difficult decision? What has been done to conserve it?" one wrote on STC's Facebook post announcing the closure.

cla-pst/pst
KYIV (Reuters) - The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but the situation at the facility is under control, Ukraine's state atomic power agency said on Tuesday.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant" which is also in southern Ukraine.

Explosions at the Soviet-era Kakhovka dam in Russian-occupied territory on Tuesday unleashed floodwater across an area that is now a war zone, according to both Ukrainian and Russian forces who blamed each other for the destruction.

Energoatom said the Russian invaders had blown up the dam.

It said the water level of the Kakhovka Reservoir was rapidly lowering, posing an "additional threat" to the Russian-occupied facility - Europe's largest nuclear power plant - which both sides have blamed one another for shelling.

"Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant)," Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

"Right now the station's cooling pond is full: as of 8:00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the station's needs."

"Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators," it said.

The head of Ukraine's presidential administration on Tuesday described the blast as an "ecocide" committed by Russian forces. Russia blamed Ukraine for the incident.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
SLO County man accused of trying to kill police officer asks judge to dismiss charges

A Pismo Beach man charged with trying to kill a police officer wants his charges dismissed, alleging law enforcement violated his protected constitutional rights.

He also wants to represent himself in court.

On Tuesday, a San Luis Obispo judge rejected the first request but said he will still consider the second.

Charles Ammons, 48, is accused of attempted murder of Pismo Beach police Officer Chris Siglin during an attempted traffic stop on April 15, 2022, court documents say.

Siglin tried to stop Ammons for a vehicle code violation, a Pismo Beach Police Department release said at the time, and Ammons continued to drive slowly in the 200 block of Pomeroy before pulling over.

When the officer opened Ammons door, police say, he pointed a semiautomatic pistol at Signlins head.

Siglin tried to wrestle the gun away, the news release said, and Ammons pulled the trigger during the struggle, attempting to shoot the officer. Police said the gun malfunctioned and didnt fire.

Ammons was then taken into custody.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office charged Ammons with seven crimes: attempted murder of a peace officer, assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic weapon, carrying a loaded handgun, having a concealed firearm, driving under the influence, driving with blood alcohol content higher than 0.08% and public intoxication.

The agency also tacked on sentencing enhancements for the use of a firearm, having a blood alcohol content higher than 0.15% and prior DUI-related convictions.

Attempted murder suspect claims his civil rights were violated

Ammons wants his charges dropped because he says his due process rights were violated during an August mental health diversion hearing, he said in a motion to dismiss. He claims it was held without him being personally present, which led to a time waiver on his behalf without his consent or knowledge.

The motion included Ammons own handwritten arguments and notes.

The defendant also claims he was in solitary confinement at San Luis Obispo County Jail with no booking, no bail, no phone, no bedding, no clothes from April 15, 2022, the date of his arrest, to April 18, 2022, when he says he was booked.

According to the jails online inmate database, Ammons was booked into jail on the date of his arrest.

Charges were filed against Ammons on April 19, 2022. Under California law, suspects cannot be held in jail for more than 48 hours without being charged with a crime, excluding Sundays and holidays.

Ammons was arrested on Good Friday, but was not charged until Wednesday. Its unclear if Easter weekend had an affect on the time it took to file charges.

The 48-hour rule is also a gray area of the law. Proscutors can argue for good cause when filing charges later, and arraignments largely depend on finding an available judge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had an effect on speedy arraignments.

If a judge does dismiss a case on the basis of a slow arraignment, charges can also be refiled almost immediately.

Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office, told The Tribune in an email Ammons claims are not accurate.

Ammons was booked into jail on April 15, 2022, following his arrest, Cipolla said, and was medically cleared by nursing and mental health staff. He was then placed in a safety cell at the direction of mental health staff.

This is not solitary confinement, Cipolla said. Phone use and other belongings are not allowed in the safety cell. Modesty clothing/bedding is allowed in a tamper-resistant material.

Cipolla said Ammons was cleared for processing and housed in a cell on April 17, 2022. He was arraigned on April 20, when his bail was changed from $500,000 to no bail.

Ammons claims the county violated his 14th Amendment right to equal protection, Sixth Amendment right to due process and Eighth Amendment protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

Defendant wants to represent himself

In court Tuesday, Ammons claimed he could not work with his court-appointed lawyer, Jeffry Radding. He said Radding would not argue on behalf of his civil rights, noting that Radding did not rewrite or add arguments to his motion to dismiss.

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino told Ammons it was his understanding that they had come to an agreement that Ammons could file his own motions and arguments and have Radding help him file it without adding anything if Radding did not find Ammons arguments legally sound.

The judge said he was not going to dismiss Ammons charges, adding that his motion was going to make no difference in his decision.

The motion has no merit, the judge said.

Marino noted that Ammons had gone through several lawyers. His first lawyer, Jeffry Stulberg, was relieved by the court after Ammons filed a motion for new counsel in October.

Thats when Ammons was appointed a public defender, Linden Mackaui, before Radding was eventually appointed to the case in December.

Ammons then hired Harold Mesick, who represented Ruben Flores in the Kristin Smart murder trial, by January. He then fired Mesick in February, and Radding was again appointed to the case.

Ammons was adamant that he did not want Radding to represent him.

There are a number of concerns I have with my civil rights, Ammons told Marino. Radding doesnt believe he needs to be representing those because he believes there is no issue.

Marino told Ammons he had two choices: Keep Radding as his appointed lawyer or represent himself in the criminal trial.

Ammons told Marino he would like to represent himself in the case, but Marino said he could not allow that at this time.

I have concerns about your ability to comply with court rules and understand the purpose of your hearings, Marino told Ammons.

Marino said he will consider a motion for new counsel and whether Ammons is able to represent himself at his next hearing on June 13. Ammons preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 22.
(Bloomberg) -- Demand for industrial park space in the Mexican northern cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez is so high that Prologis Property Mexico SA has wait-listed companies looking to set up shop or to expand their current space.

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The Mexican real estate investment trust commonly known as Fibra Prologis is planning to invest approximately $700 million this year in warehouses and already built parks, said managing director Hector Ibarzabal in an interview. Prologis Inc., which owns 43% of the Fibra, will invest another $500 million in undeveloped land that carries more risk, he said.

Many US companies are looking to cut supply chains and reduce transportation costs after extensive Covid lockdowns in China made it challenging to operate there through the pandemic. Mexico is set to benefit from the strategy, known as nearshoring, as its nearly 2,000-mile long border with the US offers proximity and cheaper logistics.

The entire Mexican border is seeing unprecedented levels of activity, Ibarzabal said. Ive been in this business for 30 years and these are historic records of net absorption, meaning rentals of new space. Prologis border markets in Reynosa, Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana are pretty much at capacity, he said.

Read More: Mexicos Foreign Investment Surges 48% as Nearshoring Booms

Amazons Landlord

Fibra Prologis raised $400 million in a May follow-on sale, Ibarzabal said. The company also recently amended a $400 million credit line with nine banks and has the option to increase the facility up to $500 million. Adding cash on hand, Fibra Prologis has about $850 million to spend, of which as much as $700 million will be spent by year end, he estimated. The Fibras investments are always focused on buildings and industrial parks that are known as stabilized assets, or assets that have already been built and are 95% rented.

The parent company, San Francisco-based Prologis, invests in land and absorbs the risk of developing and renting out the industrial parks that it then sells to the Fibra, Ibarzabal said. This year, he sees Prologis investing about $500 million.

Fibra Prologis has had a total return of about 270% since its 2014 initial public offering, compared with a 54% for the broader Mexican stock exchange. The company is currently worth 69.4 billion pesos ($4 billion).

Industrial real estate in Mexico is showing strong momentum as vacancy rates fall under 2%, marking a record, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a note last month in which they raised the recommendation on Fibra Prologis to overweight among other companies in the sector.

We expect momentum to continue, the analysts, led by Nikolaj Lippman, wrote. We estimate that Mexico needs [about] 13 million square feet of new inventory over the next five years an estimate that could easily prove to be conservative given the nearshoring demand.

Prologis is Amazon.com Inc.s biggest landlord globally, according to Ibarzabal. About 3% of the worlds gross domestic product happens in our warehouses, he said. Other big clients include MercadoLibre Inc. and Walmart Inc.

Challenges

Ibarzabal spoke of competitors who have switched from building office towers or malls to building industrial warehouses to grab a slice of the cake. Still, he said, the nearshoring boom could be three to four times bigger if it werent for the lack of electricity in some of these markets.

Electric infrastructure is our Achilles heel, he said. Theres no more energy to grow and water is also starting to become a significant problem.

Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2021 modified the law to enable state-owned utility Comision Federal de Electricidad, or CFE, to have transmission priority for its aging hydroelectric and thermal plants in the energy grid.

About 65% of the companys revenues are in US dollars, and the remaining 35% are in Mexican pesos, Ibarzabal said. A large part of the business still comes from US companies seeking labor in Mexico, he said.

Working inside an industrial warehouse isnt sexy, he said. Young people in the US arent interested in this kind of physical work thats not remote.

Ibarzabal said that companies now understand that being closer to the US is better, and thats not going to change any time soon. Were always subject to a new geopolitical conflict, a weather event, another pandemic, he said. Mexico is where companies can change their global supply chains and make them regional.

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Someone should face criminal charges over DeSantis' flights that dumped migrants on Martha's Vineyard: Texas sheriff

Rafael Eduardo (left), an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, hugs another immigrant outside of the Saint Andrews Episcopal Church on Martha's Vineyard. Dominic Chavez/The Washington Post via Getty Images

A Texas sheriff filed charges over a migrant flight to Martha's Vineyard that DeSantis arranged.

Florida helped organize the flights in 2022, sending 49 migrants to the wealthy Northeast island.

The Texas sheriff said someone should face felony and misdemeanor charges but didn't say who.

Someone should be criminally charged over the migrant flights arranged by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that dumped nearly 50 undocumented immigrants on Martha's Vineyard last year, a Texas sheriff says.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office filed kidnapping charges, a sheriff spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday, recommending that a local prosecutor charge someone for the flights.

"The charge filed is Unlawful Restraint and several accounts were filed, both misdemeanor and felony," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DA's office."

The sheriffs didn't say who they suggested should be charged over the flights to the wealthy Massachusetts enclave.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in a statement that prosecutors will conduct a "normal and meticulous intake review."

"The process of determining whether enough evidence exists to charge anyone with a crime and convince a jury of Bexar County citizens 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that a crime has been committed may be lengthy and labor-intensive under the best of circumstances," Gonzales said in the statement. "If a review of the facts reveal that a felony offense has been committed, we will present that case to a grand jury for their deliberation."

DeSantis at the time claimed credit for the flights and repeatedly said that migrants were sent there because Democrat-run states should shoulder more of the burden from migrants coming across the Southern border.

The 49 migrants were put onto two flights from San Antonio after a woman promised them they'd get expedited work permits in Boston, three of the migrants told NPR.

The migrants said they had no idea where they were when the chartered plane dropped them off in Martha's Vineyard, NPR reported. Massachusetts officials at the time said had no idea the migrants were coming and, according to the New York Times, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott didn't know about the flights either.

Though the migrant flights stopped after the Martha's Vineyard incident, migrants continued to be bused from Texas to other states. And the flights appear to be starting back up again.

California law enforcement announced this week that two flights carrying 36 migrants from the southern border landed in Sacramento, California. California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused DeSantis of orchestrating the latest flights and suggested he be charged with kidnapping.

The migrants involved in the latest flights were picked up in El Paso, Texas, and had paperwork connected to Florida's emergency management division, as well as contractor Vertol Systems Company, which administered the travel.

Still, DeSantis has not responded when asked if he is involved in the latest flights. His office also did not immediately respond when asked about the possible charges in Texas.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Something is happening to Cape Cod's beech trees. What you should know.

It's no day at the beach for beech trees on Cape Cod these days. A malady known as beech leaf disease (BLD), first detected in Ohio in 2012, has made its way to Massachusetts, where it was first seen in Plymouth in 2020, according to the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry.

Russell Norton, horticulturist at the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension wrote In an email to the Cape Cod Times, that BLD was confirmed on the Cape in 2022 and is now widespread in Barnstable County.

"From what has been seen already I think there is likely to be some mortality," wrote Norton, adding that it is too soon to know what the full impact of the disease might be.

Signs of beech leaf disease on a beech tree along the Cape Cod National Seashore's Beech Forest Trail in Provincetown.

How does beech leaf disease affect beech trees?

"The disease causes damage to a trees leaves, leading to reduced vigor and can eventually lead to tree mortality, according to the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry. There are still many unknowns about how the disease is spread, how new trees are infected or how long it takes for symptoms to develop. However, we do know that American beech, European beech and Oriental beech can be infected. Infected trees of all ages and in both urban and forested settings have been observed."

What causes beech leaf disease?

According to the Emerald Ash Borer Network, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, "this new disease complex is associated with a newly discovered nematode.  The nematode, also called a roundworm, causes damage to newly forming leaves inside beech tree leaf buds during the winter."

Penn State Extension describes nematodes this way: "Nematodes are thread-like roundworms that live in a wide range of environments including soil and fresh and salt water. There are species of nematodes that feed on fungi, bacteria, protozoans, other nematodes and plants. They can also parasitize insects, humans and animals."

Dark stripes on leaves are an early symptom of beech leaf disease, shown here on a beech tree along the Cape Cod National Seashore's Beech Forest Trail in Provincetown.

How can I identify beech leaf disease?

"Beech leaf disease can be identified by the distinctive leaf symptoms it causes," according to the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry. Early BLD symptoms will include dark stripes between the veins on leaves. When looking up at the tree canopy from underneath, you might notice dark green bands on the underside of the leaves. As the disease progresses, leaves may become withered, curled, or develop a leathery texture. A heavily impacted tree may appear to have a thinner canopy or have sections of branch dieback."

On a recent trip to the Cape Cod National Seashore's Beech Forest Trail in Provincetown, it was easy to see BLD's effect on the area's signature beech trees. Some exhibited early signs of the disease, with dark green stripes visible on leaves in the canopy. In other instances, the disease has progressed to significant swaths of brown and curled leaves.

"It looked horrendous this spring," Seashore plant ecologist Stephen Smith said. "I suspect what will happen is some of these trees will die."

Is there any treatment available for BLD-affected beech trees?

According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, "Currently, there is no known way to control or manage this disease."

But research efforts are underway to fight BLD. Peter Hanlon, an integrated pest management specialist and arborist representative for Bartlett Tree Experts on Cape Cod, said Bartlett's scientists had seen promising results in trials with a nematode-attacking fungicide product.

Hanlon, a big beech tree fan, first saw BLD in Cotuit last year.

"It's upsetting to us to see the trees get this disease," he said.

Hanlon's favorite beech tree on Cape Cod is the spectacular English weeping beech behind the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth in Yarmouth Port. He has visited it several times over recent months and said so far, it appears to be disease free.

Cape Cod Times reporter Eric Williams admires the splendid English weeping beech tree behind the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth in Yarmouth Port in 2008.

Should I report beech leaf disease?

The state is asking folks who observe beech leaf disease to fill out an online form that goes to the state's Forest Health Program. Include as many details as possible, including location, severity of the disease and photos. This will help the Forest Health Program monitor the progress of the disease in Massachusetts.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Beech trees on Cape Cod threatened by leaf disease
The Scoop

JOHANNESBURG  South Africa is considering hosting the headline meeting of leaders from BRICS nations entirely online to avoid Russian President Vladimir Putin participating in person, people familiar with the matter told Semafor Africa.

The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest in March for alleged war crimes in Ukraine which South Africa, as a member of the ICC, is officially obliged to enforce. Its hosting the 2023 annual summit of the BRICS nations  Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa  in late August, to which Putin is invited. But Pretoria would rather he not show up, to prevent a diplomatic headache.

The virtual summit approach has been discussed by a committee of ministers appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to resolve issues connected with Putins arrest warrant, three people with direct knowledge of the proposal  a senior civil servant and two business leaders  told Semafor Africa. Under the plan, most summit events would still take place in South Africa, such as the high profile BRICS Business Forum and the meeting of foreign ministers. The meeting of heads of state would be the only part held online.

The cabinet may make a decision on the proposal as early as this week, the people said.

South Africas foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.





Know More

South Africa is a signatory of the Rome Statute and a member of the ICC. That means the country would be theoretically obligated to arrest the Russian president if he entered the country.

The committee, appointed by Ramaphosa on April 28 and headed by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, includes Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. It is considering three other scenarios in addition to the virtual meeting: one in which Putin attends but it not arrested, another in which he is arrested and a third in which South Africa changes its laws to make it possible to ignore an arrest warrant that does not come through the United Nations Security Council, as is the case with Putin. However, it could take several months to change the laws.

Sam's view

An online gathering would neatly solve South Africa's Putin problem.

The government initially hoped it could dissuade Putin from attending. But if he agreed, it might convey weakness, undermining his carefully crafted image as a strong leader. South Africa also granted immunity to all the BRICS heads of state last month, but the government stated this was a technical procedure that did not guarantee Putin protection from arrest.

Still, South Africa would have to persuade its BRICS partners that an event with an online element is the best way to host a successful annual gathering.

Pretoria is mindful of alienating its partners in BRICS, as it tiptoes around various national interests. A no-show from Putin could spook other BRICS leaders, who may then opt to stay away. Beijing has apparently indicated to Pretoria that President Xi Jinping would not physically attend a summit if Putin was not physically present. Delhi has similar concerns, two of the people familiar with the matter said. In informal discussions between South African diplomats and their BRICS counterparts, it emerged that China did not like the idea of a virtual leaders meeting or a situation where Putin stayed away and others traveled to Johannesburg, according to two of my sources.

A BRICS gathering without Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping would not command the same status. Indian diplomats have said in informal talks that the gathering would be incomplete without the two, all three of my sources told me.

The other option would be for South Africa to give up the chance to host the annual conference for which hosting rights rotate, allowing a partner like China to host it  but Pretoria is keen to avoid losing the opportunity to organize the event. Foregoing hosting the gathering is not a popular option in South Africa as it comes with tourism, trade and deal-making opportunities on its sidelines.

Brazil would not be an option as an alternative host because it would likely face the same ICC problems as South Africa since it is also a signatory to the Rome Statute, unlike China and India.

Paradoxically, a virtual summit might yet serve the interests of Putin, especially if the Ukrainian summer offensive gains significant traction on the battlefield. Leaving Russia under such circumstances might not be an option.

Room for Disagreement

"A virtual meeting will not help much as South Africa's Brics partner will see it as a country with no backbone, said David Monyae, Director of the Centre for Africa  China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. Only if Putin willingly did not come will South Africa manage to host a decent conference."

The View From Pretoria

Sanusha Naidu, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Global Dialogue think-tank in Pretoria, said South Africa's options are limited. "It cannot deviate from its obligation to arrest Putin. Persuading Putin to stay away was South Africa's best option. It can try and convince Putin that perhaps being online is better than physical in attendance," she said.

Notable
By Jack Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Tuesday he has upgraded the country's alliance with the United States to one that is "nuclear-based" in the face of North Korea's growing military threat.

Yoon was referring to his talks with U.S. President Joe Biden in April on Washington's willingness to give Seoul more insight into its nuclear planning in the event of potential conflict with nuclear-armed North Korea.

"North Korea is enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, and has legislated the use of nuclear weapons," Yoon said in a speech marking South Korea's Memorial Day.

At their summit in Washington, the two leaders agreed to strengthen the so-called U.S. extended deterrence, which envisions the use of U.S. nuclear weapons to defend the South.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance has now been elevated to 'nuclear-based' alliance," Yoon said.

North Korea this year test-fired its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile and last week attempted to launch its first spy satellite, although the rocket and the payload plunged into the sea.

North Korea made a rare and swift admission of the launch's failure but vowed to try again and put a satellite in orbit to increase its military surveillance capabilities.

The launch was widely condemned as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the use of ballistic missile technology by the North.

Pyongyang has rejected the ban as an infringement of its sovereign right to self-defence and space development.

While Yoon characterised his talks with Biden as an agreement to use U.S. nuclear weapons in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, Biden reiterated a pledge "to make every effort to consult" with allies on the use of a nuclear weapon.

Yoon did not elaborate further on the subject and devoted most of his Memorial Day speech to honouring those who had made sacrifices in defence of the country.

South Korea's military has been undertaking a salvage operation at sea off the west coast to recover a substantial segment of the rocket launched by the North on May 31.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies and Lincoln Feast.)
Space-starved Singapore will end 180 years of horse racing to make way for housing

The space starved island state of Singapore is bringing the curtain down on more than 180 years of horse racing with its sole racecourse set to be handed back to the government to make way for public housing.

The final race at the Singapore Turf Club will be the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5th October 2024.

Located in the northwestern suburb of Kranji, the Southeast Asian nations racecourse sits on 300 acres of land  roughly more than 200 football fields.

It will be returned to government by 2027, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Development said in a joint statement Monday.

The site will be redeveloped to meet the countrys future needs for housing and potentially include venues for leisure and recreation, it added.

Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet todays needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations, the ministries said.

Singapore is densely packed with just under 6 million people living in a space slightly smaller than New York City. Over 80% of residents live in public housing and undeveloped land is scarce.

Niam Chiang Meng, the clubs chairman, said in a statement that they were saddened by the decision of the government to close the club.

Singapore Turf Club recognizes that the Kranji site is a valuable resource that can help meet the evolving needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and this transition will serve to optimize land use for the greater good of the local community and future generations, Niam said.

Jockeys sprint at Kranji Racecourse on May 25, 2019 in Singapore. - Lo Chun Kit/Getty Images

Despite its long history, horse racing in the city state has seen a decline in viewership over the past decade, the club added.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, who had an enduring passion for horse racing, visited the former British colony of Singapore in 1972 to present an inaugural cup in her name, and attended a race there for a second time in 2006, according to its official national archives.

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(Bloomberg) -- Spanish energy minister Teresa Ribera said that yielding to Frances request to reopen a European Union deal on scaling up renewable energy would be a very dangerous exercise that could jeopardize the blocs future decision-making capabilities.

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France is currently pressing the EUs executive arm and Sweden, which holds the blocs rotating presidency, to ensure a greater role for nuclear energy in meeting the blocs 2030 climate targets. Thats drawn the ire of a number of countries, including Germany, as well as the European Parliament, which had reached a deal on the rules in March.

It could be chaos, Ribera said in an interview in Brussels. This is horrible in terms of building confidence in the European way of solving problems. So no, we dont want to open the contents.

Read more: EU Spat Over Nuclear Energy Escalates as Key Vote Is Delayed

Frances move to secure more assurances on a key pillar of the EUs green deal comes after Germany tried a similar move to ensure a role for so-called e-fuels in the blocs planned combustion engine phase out. The EU is also facing pushback on a number of its other laws, including a plan to restore nature in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a regulatory pause.

Meanwhile 10 nations, including Germany and the Netherlands, called upon Sweden to conclude the final adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive as soon as possible, according to a letter seen by Bloomberg. Approval requires a qualified majority of member states.

We would like to underline our support for the agreement reached with the parliament, it said in the letter. This is key to swiftly kick off the necessary investments and to create legal certainty and predictability for investors in renewable energy.

Ribera said she hoped a deal could be reached when energy ministers from the EUs 27 member states gather in Luxembourg on June 19. Sweden also wants to reach agreement on a reform of the electricity market  something Ribera said may not be possible. Spain is set to take over the EU presidency in July.

Im not very optimistic of reaching a common approach on the 19th, she said. It needs more discussion.

(Updates with details of letter in fifth paragraph.)

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Spanish opposition leader agrees to face off against PM in two-way debate

FILE PHOTO: Spain's opposition People's Party (PP) leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo speaks during a session at the Spanish Senate in Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's conservative opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo on Tuesday agreed to hold a one-on-one debate against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the run-up to the general election on July 23.

Last week, Sanchez decided to dissolve parliament and call a snap election following heavy losses for his Socialist Party in local and regional votes held on May 28.

On Monday, Sanchez challenged his rival to hold six debates - one a week until the vote - but Feijoo's People's Party (PP) slammed the proposal as "eccentric".

The conservative candidate said on Tuesday he would take part in at least one debate, but added that the parties and their campaign managers should decide how many, when and where.

"I have no problem having a head-to-head debate with Mr Sanchez. There will be a debate between me and Mr Sanchez during the election campaign," Feijoo told Onda Cero radio station.

Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz, who seeks to play a key role in the new parliament with her newly-formed alliance of progressive parties Sumar, criticised Sanchez's proposal and said two-party politics was a thing of the past.

"Spain is more than a debate between two men," she said.

Polls show the PP is likely to win the parliamentary election, but it will need an alliance with far-right party VOX to obtain a working majority.

However, the polls also indicate the parliamentary balance could flip if left-wing Podemos, the junior partner in the Socialist-led coalition government, were to join forces with Sumar.

They have until Friday to decide whether they run together or separately.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; editing by David Latona and Ed Osmond)
Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

The web of life and destiny ties together the fates of many heroesand while Into the Spider-Verse introduced us and Miles Morales to quite a few, Across the Spider-Verse throws him into the deep end with a whole super group of them. There are plenty of new Spidey heroes in the sequel, but just as many are classic takes on the character from comics, games, and beyond. Heres who we spotted, from the big heroes to the blink-and-youll miss em.



Its not really a spoiler for Across the Spider-Verse to say theres a lot of Spider-people in it. Not only are there familiar faces from Into the Spider-Verse, but tons of nods to generations of Spider-hero comics and adaptations, alongside entirely new designs created for Across. Even then, whether theyre all-new or Easter eggs, many are in it for just a blink-and-youll miss it momentin fact, weve probably missed a few. If you noticed one we didnt include, let us know in the comments!

Read more

Of course, well briefly touch on these Spiders roles in the film too, if youve still not swung your way into theaters and want to keep the Spider-surprises to yourself, consider this your last warning to turn back...

Miles Morales, Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 1610

You know him, you love him, Brooklyns one and only Spider-Man was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli as the new Spider-Man to replace the Peter Parker of the Ultimate Marvel universe in 2011, after Peter died fighting the Green Goblin. Now ascendant as one of the most iconic versions of Spider-Man around, Miles has made his way in the comics over to the primary Marvel universe, Earth-616, as well as starring in his own video games and, well, you know, two wildly successful animated movies.

Gwen Stacy, Spider-Woman

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 65

Created for the first event in Marvels comics to be dubbed Spider-Verse in 2014, this version of Earth-616's most famous casualty of being a close friend of Spider-Man was so immediately popular that she began appearing in her own comic book series after Spider-Verse was over. Her popularity bolstered again by her appearance in Into the Spider-Verse, Gwencommonly known as Spider-Gwen, occasionally Spider-Woman, and even less so during that unfortunate time Marvel really wanted you to think her codename was Ghost-Spidertakes on a major role in Across.

Miguel OHara, Spider-Man 2099

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 928

The Spider-Man of the far-flung year 2099, Miguel OHara was created in 1992 as an Irish/Mexican-American scientist who found himself transformed into Spider-Man against his will by Alchemax, who also did a lot of horrible stuff like forcing Miguel into a drug habit in an attempt to keep him loyal to the company. It was a lot.



In Across, Miguels Earth and the futuristic city of Nueva York is home to the Spider-Society, a multiversal collection of Spider-heroes working together to maintain the canon that binds all Spiders across the web of life and destiny.

Jess Drew, Spider-Woman

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 404 (Across the Spider-Verse), 616 (comics)

Created as an attempt to stop rival companies from potentially cribbing off Spider-Mans success in the 70s, Jessica Drew has had many iterations of her origins in the comicsand Issa Raes version of the character in Across is no exception. This Jess, Miguels second-in-command, is heavily inspired by more recent comics, in particular the 2014 All-New, All-Different Spider-Woman costume created by Kris Anka (who also worked on Across the Spider-Verse, designing myriad of unique extra designs for the films Spider-People). Also lifted from that comic storyline: the fact that Jessica is pregnant.

Peter B. Parker, Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

The version of the ur-Peter seen in Into the Spider-Verse returns, now a father having re-established his marriage to Mary Jane Watson after the events of the movie. More on his kid shortly.

Pavitr Prabhakar, Spider-Man India

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 50101

Pavitr is the Spider-Man of Mumbattan in Across, but in the comics, he was created for the 2005 miniseries Spider-Man: India. He made major appearances in the Spider-Verse and Spider-Geddon comic events, before returning for a new miniseries this year to capitalize on his movie appearance.

Hobie Brown, Spider-Punk

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 138

One of the alternate Spider-heroes introduced in the run up to Spider-Verse in 2014's Edge of Spider-Verse anthology, Hobie is the Spider of a dystopian reality where Norman Osborn was the tyrannical president of the United States. Hes a close friend of Gwen in Across.

Mayday Parker, Spider-Girl

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616 (Across the Spider-Verse), 982 (comics)

Peter B.s little daughter lifts the name from the Spider-Girl of Earth-982, who first appeared in 1997's What If...? #105.

Ben Reilly, Scarlet Spider

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

Ben Reilly, star of the Clone Saga, former hero, former villain, former reformed Spider-Man, current villain again (and recently completely innocent doer of wrongs alongside fellow begrudged clone, Madelyne Pryor), is arguably the most famous clone in comic book history. The version we get here in Across is his iconic look as Scarlet Spider, complete with his hoodie, rather any of the other multitude of mantles Ben has taken on over the years.

Margo Kess, Spider-Byte

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 22191

Margo is the Spider-Societys tech specialist in Across, a virtual vigilante introduced in 2018's Vault of Spiders miniseries, the Edge of Spider-Verse-esque prelude series to Spider-Geddon. From a reality where people spent most of their lives plugged into a virtual cyberpsace, Margo took on the identity of Spider-Byte to become a digital vigilante to fight cybercrime before she was recruited into the multiversal Spider-Army.

Peter Parkedcar, the Spider-Mobile

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 53931

A riff on Spider-Mans goofy car, the Spider-Mobile, created in 1973 as a marketing deal between Spidey and the car company Corona Motors, the version we see in Across is actually a Spider-hero from an Earth of sentient vehicles created for the 2014 Spider-Verse comics event.

Pter Ptarker, Spider-Rex

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 66

Created last year for the End of Spider-Verse storyline, hes... well, hes a Spider-Man whos also a T.Rex. What more could you need to know?

Patrick OHara, Web-Slinger, and Widow the Horse

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 31913

Patrick and his horse Widow were both bitten by a spider doused in a mystical shamanic elixir, granting them Spider-powers, leading Patrick to use his powers and his sharpshooting talents as a vigilante hero called Web-Slinger. Hes not to be confused with Webslinger, the Medieval Marvel version of Spider-Man thats a bit more Spider than he is Man.

Peter Parker, the Insomniac Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 1048

The star of PlayStations Spider-Man games, this Peter is a long-time Spider-Man who wears a suit designed by himself and his mentor, Dr. Otto Octavius, before his transformation into the villainous Doc Ock. His name as the Insomniac Spider-Man in Across is not a reference to his lack of a consistent sleep schedule, but the developer of his games, Insomniac Games.

Max Borne, Spider-Man 2211

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 9500

A TimeSpinner from the year 2211, Max is a scientist who helps control the timeline of his universe. He has history with Miguel in the comics, after Spider-Man 2099 helped him defeat the Green Goblin of Earth-9500, who was none other than Maxs own daughter, Robin.

Charlotte Webber, Sun-Spider

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 20023

Created by Dayn Broder originally as a fan-art Spider-Sona, Charlotte made her comics debut in the third volume of Spider-Verse in 2020 alongside several other community-created Spider-heroes. Charlotte uses a wheelchair when out of costume, but as Sun-Spider, she uses a set of crutches for stability.

Lego Peter Parker, Lego Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 13122



Hes Spider-Man, but Lego! His sequences in Across were animated by 14-year-old Preston Mutanga, who had shot to viral fame for his recreations of the previous Spider-Verse trailers in Lego.

Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 120703

Andrew Garfields live-action version of Spider-Man makes a small but crucial appearance in Across, utilizing footage from the first Amazing Spider-Man film.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 26496

Star of the iconic 2008 animated series Spectacular Spider-Man, and owner of the best Spider-Man theme, Josh Keaton returns to voice his take on Peter in Across.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 96283

Like Garfields version of the hero, Tobey Maguires Spider-Man makes a brief appearance through archival footage from Sam Raimis first Spider-Man movie.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man Unlimited

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 751263

This is technically the Spider-Man of the 90s animated show, just in a much more obscure costume. Hoping to continue in the popular wake of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Unlimited followed Peter as he ventured to the Counter-Earth, a planet on the other side of the sun, in an attempt to rescue J. Jonah Jamesons astronaut son John. The suit, featuring stealth technology and anti-symbiote sonic weaponry, was designed with the help of Reed Richards.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man 1967

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 6799

Back off of his post-credits cameo in Into the Spider-Verse, the walking meme and star of the 1967 Spider-Man animated series has a similarly brief appearance in Across.

Spider-Cat

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 999

In the comics, poor Spider-Cat suffered a pretty miserable life. His primary foe was a pigeon named Venom, who took several of Spider-Cats nine lives, and then the feline lost his life for good when the Inheritors travelled to his reality during their campaign to kill all Spider-heroes, draining Spider-Cat of his life essence handily.

Mary Jane Watson-Parker and Anna-May Parker, Spinneret and AMP

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 18119

A duo of Spider-heroines that are none other than versions of Mary-Jane Parker and Anna-May Parker, the wife and daughter of the Peter Parker who didnt have Mephisto supernaturally erase his marriage from the timeline, as depicted in the Renew Your Vows comic series. They fight alongside Peter as partners in crime-fighting, with MJ taking on the name Spinneret, and Anna-May first taking on the pseudonym AMP, and eventually adopting a new costume and identity as Spiderling.

Maybelle Reilly, Lady Spider

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 803

Maybelle Reilly, the Lady-Spider, was first introduced in Edge of Spider-Verse, the prequel miniseries that gave us Spider-Gwen, and set the stage for the 2015 multiverse event that inspired Into the Spider-Verse in the first place, titled, well, Spider-Verse. A Victorian heiress, Maybelle fights villains with her powers and a self-made set of Iron-Spider-esque mechanical arms.

Peter Parker, the Bombastic Bag-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

While the one in Across is a little different from his comics versionin so much that hes actually wearing a Spider-suitthis is a clear reference to 1984's Amazing Spider-Man #258, where Peter has to return home from the Baxter Building after leaving his new symbiote suit for examination by Reed Richards. He wears a Fantastic Four spare gifted to him by Johnny Storm, with no footwear, and the bag-mask and a kick me sign on his back for good measure.

Julia Carpenter, Spider-Woman

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

Julia was the second Spider-Woman in Earth-616 after Jessica Drew. Genetically enhanced and experimented on by Valerie Cooper and the U.S. government to create their own superhero, Julia eventually joined the West Coast Avengers after being a member of Mystiques Freedom Force. Currently however, Julia is Madame Web, having inherited the psychic abilities and mantle from Cassandra Webb.

Flash Thompson, Captain Spider

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 78127

Although clad in a varsity jacket unlike his comics counterpart, Captain Spider was an alternate Spider-Man from the pages of What If #7, where it was Flash who was bitten by the radioactive spider rather than Peter.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man (The Last Stand)

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 312500

He was introduced in the comics in 2003 as a vision of an alternate future given to Earth-616's Spider-Man by Julia Carpenter, a world where Peter killed Kraven the Hunter and developed a darker, harsher vigilante persona that led to him being expelled from the Avengers, and ultimately dying in a brawl with the NYPD.

Cyborg Spider-Woman

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: Unknown

Newly created for Across, this hulking hero is an homage to the Cyborg Spider-Man of the Revenge of the Sinister Six arc in 1994, where a heavily injured Peter Parker was enhanced with a cybernetic arm cast and an eye piece so he could continue his battle against the Sinister Six.

Doppelganger

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

First created as an evil duplicate of Spider-Man by the Magus in the events of Infinity War, Doppelganger took on a life of his own when he was revived by the Demogoblin, creating a psychic link between the two, although they would eventually part ways. Doppelganger then fell in with Carnage and the other symbiotes alongside Demogoblin during the events of Maximum Carnage.

Spider-Cop (Sort of)

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 19119

This loosely hall-monitor looking character glimpsed in the films sprawling Spider-Society lobby is likely a nod to the Spider-Cop gag from Insomniacs game Marvels Spider-Man. In that gamewhich faced criticism for its portrayal of Spider-Man as a staunch accomplice of the NYPD, aiding them in the setup of an OSCORP-branded citywide surveillance systemPeter has a running bit with his NYPD contact, Yuri Watanabe, in which he adapts the tough detective persona of Spider-Cop.



Spider-Cop became comics canon in the 2018 Spider-Verse sequel event series Spider-Geddon, wearing a Spider-suit underneath an NYPD uniformbut unlike the character seen here, he also wore sunglasses, had a heavy moustache, and wore a police hat.

Web-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 57780

Briefly seen during the films massive chase sequence is a Spider-Man wearing the inverted blue-red colors of Web-Man, a mirrored duplicate of Spider-Man created by Doctor Doom for nefarious purposes.

Otto Octavius, Superior Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

Likewise briefly glimpsed in Across chase, Superior Spider-Man was introduced as part of a controversial story arc that climaxed in 2012's Amazing Spider-Man #700. In the story, Otto Octavius is dying of cancer and swaps minds with Peter Parker, taking over Peters body while letting the young mans mind seemingly perish in his own dying form (dont worry, everyone got better). While inhabiting Peters life, he transforms into the Superior Spider-Man in an attempt to be a better hero than his rival, and Octavius/Peter becomes an uncompromising warrior against injustice... no matter the cost.

The Spider-Armors, Mk I-III

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earths: 616

Although here given to separate Spider-people, three of Peters four Spider-Armor suits make appearances in Across. The original Spider-Armor debutedand was destroyedin Web of Spider-Man #100 in 1993, while the Mk. II and Mk. III first appeared in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Peter Parker, Mangaverse Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 2301

Created by Kaare Andrews in 2002, this Spider-Man was part of Marvels early attempts to capitalize on the popularity of Japanese media. Originally the last surviving ninja of the Spider-Clanand trained in martial arts by his mentor Benwhen the Mangaverse was briefly revived in 2006 Peter developed the ability to shoot webs, like his usual counterpart.

Peter Parker, Werewolf Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 7085

Another chase sequence star, this Peter Parker appeared in the 2007 crossover miniseries Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness. Having escaped the reality of the Marvel Zombies, Evil Deads Ash found himself on Earth-7085, only to discover that it had been taken over by a similar blight as the Zombieverse, where all the superheroes, Peter Parker included, had become werewolves.

Peter Parker, Spider-Monkey

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 8101

This Peter is the webslinging hero of the Ape-vengers in an all-intelligent Simian reality from the 2008 miniseries Marvel Apes. He is, of course, a Spider Monkey.

Tsum Tsum Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 616

Briefly seen being held by Spinneret in the Spider-Societys cafeteria, this adorable version of Spider-Man comes from Disneys Tsum Tsum line of plush toys.

Metro Boomin, Spider-Man

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: Unknown

This all new Spider-hero is actually the Spider-Sona of Metro Boomin, the music producer who helped develop Across the Spider-Verses soundtrack. Boomin plays a small role voicing the character (also designed by Kris Anka) when the Spider-Society thinks it has Miles cornered during the chase.

Peni Parker, SP//dr

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 14512

Peni makes a return from Into the Spider-Verse as first a member of the Spider-Society, and then as part of Gwens small rebel team at the films climax, featuring a new version of the SP//dr mecha, following its destruction in the first film.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man Noir

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 90214

Likewise, the Peter Parker of the literally black-and-white reality of the 20s and 30s makes a small appearance after starring in Into the Spider-Verse, another member of Gwens rebel team.

Peter Porker, Spider-Ham

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth: 8311



From a world where Peter was a spider bitten by a radioactive pig, Spider-Ham is the last returning character from Into the Spider-Verse who only appears during Across climactic formation of Gwens team. He gets a little less-explicit nod earlier in the film however, when Miguel notes to Gwen that the renaissance Vulture theyre battling also has the ability to use Hammerspacethe comical extra-dimensional void that holds many more objects than its user could actually carry, as Peter does with his mallet in Into the Spider-Verse.

Honorary Mention: Peter Parker, That Little Nerd From Earth-199999

Image: Sony Pictures/Marvel

Earth:... 199999

Tom Hollands Spider-Man doesnt appear alongside his other theatrical counterparts in Across, but he gets a referential drop alongside Benedict Cumberbatchs Doctor Strange early on in the film, as an exasperated Miguel explains to Gwen that his job is to stop disruptions to the multiverse like the one she and Miles witnessed in Into the Spider-Verse... and the one this Peter made during Spider-Man: No Way Home. Maybe theyre saving him for an actual appearance to give Miguel another rage-induced hernia in Beyond the Spider-Verse next year?









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Robert Hanssen was accused of spying for Russia (Getty)

An agent integral to spy Robert Hanssens capture has said the former FBI agent had blood on his hands  and that Hanssens death in prison this week left a chapter in his own life unresolved.

Eric ONeill, a so-called spycatcher who helped take down the career traitor, tweeted on Monday: BREAKING: I just heard that the FBIs most damaging spy Robert Hanssen, code name: Gray Day, passed away in his jail cell today. This closes the door on a huge moment in my life. I had hoped to confront him one last time, face to face.

The former agent continued: I had hoped to meet with #RobertHanssen one last time in his cell at Supermax in Colorado. With his death this morning, I wont be able to fully resolve the impact this spy had on my life.

I had hoped to meet with #RobertHanssen one last time in his cell at "Supermax" in Colorado. With his death this morning, I won't be able to fully resolve the impact this spy had on my life. A great lesson to never delay important actions. The future is always uncertain. I had pic.twitter.com/ZzTlZOjN9A  Eric O'Neill (@eoneill) June 5, 2023

A great lesson to never delay important actions, tweeted Mr ONeill, who authored 2019s Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose Americas First Cyber Spy. The future is always uncertain. I had hoped to one day revise the final chapter of Gray Day with a conversation with the spy who was one of the most influential people in my life.

Mr ONeill had been just 26 years old when his FBI bosses assigned him to work undercover as an assistant for Hanssen, who had become the focus of a long-term search for a mole within the agency. Hanssen, a conservative father of six, had been passing secrets to the Russians for 22 years by the time he was caught by the FBI.

He was found dead in his cell in Colorado on Monday at the age of 79.

Following news of his death, the International Spy Museum in Washington DC tweeted a photo of an electronic device thats on display within its walls.

Former FBI operative Eric ONeill @eoneill worked undercover as Robert Hanssens aide. His mission? To expose his boss as a Russian spy, the museum tweeted. ONeill acquired Hanssens PalmPilot which held an encrypted dead drop schedule... the smoking gun needed to take down Hanssen.

Mr ONeill also called attention to the device on Twitter on Tuesday, sharing a picture of a PalmPilot used in the 2007 movie Breach, which was based upon the thriller-esque true tale of Hanssens espionage and capture.

Robert Hanssen arrogantly felt that the FBI didnt appreciate him. The Soviets did. They paid him at least $500,000 in cash.



In @IntlSpyMuseum's collection & on display are the spoils from his life: Hanssens Rolex Watch, Walther PPK & the original Handcuffs from his arrest. pic.twitter.com/y8T98vlC6X  The Spy Museum (@IntlSpyMuseum) June 6, 2023

Hanssen was arrested on 18 February 2001 after leaving a dead drop location at a suburban Virginia park.

The spy, Mr ONeill tweeted on Tuesday, was directly responsible for deaths of our sources in Russia.

Hanssen certainly had blood on his hands. In 1984 and 1985 (what we call the year of the spy) Hanssen and Aldrich Ames are responsible for the loss of every asset we developed in Russia. We were blind.

When asked by a Twitter user about the cause of Hanssens death, he answered: Natural causes. He was 79 years old and Supermax is a horrible place.
Authorities say theyre working to determine whether the shooting was self-defense.

Ajike AJ Owens was fatally shot through a closed door in Ocala, Fla., on Friday following a dispute with a neighbor. (Ben Crump)

A controversial self-defense law is back in the spotlight after Ajike AJ Owens, a Black mother of four, was shot and killed through a closed door in Ocala, Fla., on Friday following a dispute with her neighbor.

These children have lost their mother in cold blood, the familys lawyer Anthony Thomas said during a press conference on Monday. This unjustified killing was done in front of the children, the children are the witnesses.

Authorities have not made any arrests and say that Floridas stand your ground law is a crucial piece of the puzzle in this case. Before an arrest can be made, he [Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods] needs probable cause, thats what he told me, Thomas said.

According to Woods, Owenss children were playing outside nearby and the shooter threw a pair of skates that hit one of them. Owens was confronting the neighbor when she was fatally shot.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Woods said during a news conference on Monday.

Since 2021, Owens, 35, and the shooter, who is white, have reached out to the police a number of times, according to Woods, who added that law enforcement has responded to at least six to eight incidents. This has been a neighborhood feud over time, he said.

The sheriffs office has not released the name of the shooter.

What happened to Ajike AJ Owens?

On June 2, a 58-year-old white woman yelled racial slurs at Owenss children, who are between 3 and 12 years old, while they were playing in a field near an Ocala apartment complex, according to a press release by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has been retained by the family along with Thomas.

The children left but accidentally left an iPad behind, which the woman took. When one of the children went to her residence to retrieve it, she threw it, hitting the boy and cracking the screen, the press release states.

After this incident, Owenss children allegedly told their mother what happened and she approached the shooters home.

Owens. (Ben Crump)

[Owens] knocked on the door once. When there was no answer she simply replied, I know you hear me. There was no confrontation. At the time that was said the shot rang, Thomas said.

But Woods says that according to one side of the story, there was a lot of aggressiveness back and forth  and at that moment [Owens] was shot through the door. It wasnt immediately clear whose account Woods was referring to.

In an interview with Joy Reid, Pamela Dias, Owenss mother, says her daughter approached the home unarmed and just wanted answers. My daughter did what any parent would do, want to talk to the adult to find out why she had his belongings, why she threw items at her child, she said.

Does stand your ground apply?

Woods says that law enforcement can not make an arrest because of Floridas stand your ground law.

What we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest, he explained. And sometimes it becomes difficult and sometimes it becomes an obstacle. But only a temporary obstacle because it will be moved and the final answer will come forward.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods at a news conference in Ocala on Monday. (Courtesy of Marion County Sheriffs Office via AP)

Cynthia Ward, a law professor at William and Mary and a stand your ground expert, told Yahoo News that from the facts available so far, this does not appear to be a valid case for a stand your ground defense.

Stand your ground allows an individual to use force against a person they believe puts them in imminent danger. And the stand your ground provision means that if those conditions apply, then they dont have to try to retreat, even if they knew they could safely retreat before using deadly force against the other person, she said.

Since Owens was shot through a closed door, Ward said, it seems improbable that the shooter would have a defense, based on the current information available.

But Bill Sheaffer, a legal expert for Channel 9, a local Florida news outlet, says the stand your ground law could be a factor in this case, adding that the sheriffs hands are tied.

Since the law provides greater protection for an individual thats in their home or in an automobile to use deadly force, one could argue that she was justified if she was in fear that this woman was breaking into her home, he said.

Shoot first and think later

Florida was among the first states to pass stand your ground legislation, in 2005, and now dozens of states across the country have similar laws in place.

Over a decade ago, the legislation sparked outrage when Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager who was walking home from the convenience store, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, who claimed self-defense.

Trayvon Martin, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Fla., in 2012. (Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Most recently, stand your ground drew national attention after Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager from Kansas City, Mo., was shot after he knocked on the wrong door to pick up his younger siblings. Four days later, the shooter was arrested on two felony charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Missouri has a stand your ground law that, like Floridas, does not require a person to retreat from danger.

I think theres widespread misunderstanding of what stand your ground provisions mean, Ward said. My fear is that people have mistaken stand your ground provisions for shoot first and think later provisions, and they are not meant to be that.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, an organization dedicated to gun safety, says Americas lack of gun laws has created a deadly environment for Black people.

Activists on Washington Square in New York on Jan. 28 protest police brutality after the killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Yet again, thanks to our countrys lax gun laws and hate-fueled violence, four children will grow up without a mother, Ferrell-Zabala told Yahoo News. All for what? Stand your ground laws and the shoot first culture they instill continue to put Black people and people of color in danger. These laws empower shooters to instigate violence or act on unjustified fear  and then claim self-defense and avoid accountability.

Whats next?

As Owenss children grieve her death, advocates and community members are calling for an arrest.

These children are never going to forget what happened to their mother, Thomas said.

Jerone Gamble, the first vice president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP, says he understands there is a legal process that must take place but that there is absolutely no reason for that kind of murder.

She killed this young woman by shooting her through the door. If this isnt stopped, youre going to be walking down the street and theyre going to shoot you through the window, he said.
Stanislaus County leaders on Tuesday unanimously approved a $1.5 million budget item to create a reentry program modeled after Southern Californias Homeboy Industries for people coming out of county jail or state prison.

The program inspired by Father Gregory Boyles work with gang members and former inmates will offer a supportive environment for the transition to living in the community.

The executive committee of the countys Community Corrections Partnership recommended a Homeboy-inspired program as an addition to the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Plan.

The county Board of Supervisors approved several additions Tuesday to the $41.5 million realignment budget including the Homeboy-inspired program. County departments that are recommended for funding still have to make funding requests for individual programs.

Under the Public Defenders Office, the proposed Homeboy program will address the post-incarceration needs of offenders, such as job skills training, mental health services and support from peers. According to a report for Tuesdays meeting, the goals are to prevent future arrests, reduce recidivism and relieve the burden on the criminal justice system.

Former inmates would play a key role in providing the support network for program participants.

Supervisor Terry Withrow said the county has wanted to launch a program since a visit to Homeboy Industries seven years ago, which led to Boyle giving inspirational talks in Ceres and Modesto Junior College.

One thing was missing in trying to plan for a Stanislaus version of Homeboy Industries. We did not have a Father Boyle, Withrow said. We are hoping now we have someone who might fit that description. That person is community activist Michael Baldwin.

The program could begin almost immediately because Baldwins Legacy Alliance Outreach already is working with people who are coming out of county jail or prison. The county would contract with Legacy to operate the program.

Michael Baldwin Sr. an activist and community leader in Modesto.

The nonprofit alliance is supporting 25 participants, helping them to get established in life after incarceration. Some of them were involved with a planning team that worked on a design and recommendations for the Stanislaus Homeboy program.

Baldwin said Boyles are enormous shoes to fill. Baldwin doesnt have a background in the Catholic Church and said one of his main qualifications was his desire to change after serving 26 years in prison. He said he knew Boyle from the Jesuit priests visits to people in prison.

Father G is a unique individual and I think I am a unique individual in my own way, Baldwin said.

Legacys executive director has the lived experience thats valued in Homeboy-like programs. The Chicago native disclosed that his double-life sentence was for kidnapping, robbery and attempted sexual assault. He was paroled in 2018 and has directed Legacy Alliance for a year and six months.

According to his LinkedIn page, Baldwin has served as vice chairman of the Juvenile Justice Commission in Stanislaus County and is a former director of community outreach for Mercy and Grace Ministries.

An important aspect of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles is an immediate job for those newly entering the program. The local program will need partnerships with employers willing to provide a second chance for those coming out of incarceration.

Baldwin said a couple of employers have hired Legacy participants for catering work and other jobs. Along with the 25 people in the program, 30 more are on a waiting list until funding is available to assist them with services.

Several speakers at Tuesdays board meeting said they supported efforts to give a second chance to people on parole. Californias prison population has shrunk from a peak of 173,000 inmates to less than 97,000 and, through the 2011 realignment, the state has shifted responsibility for many offenders to counties.

These programs that are helping people are very much needed, said Jesse Vargas, who identified himself as an ex-parolee. It is helping them to get back on their feet and accomplish their goals.

Baldwin said plans for the Stanislaus program include developing what Homeboy calls social enterprises. In Los Angeles, Homeboy-developed businesses, such as a bakery and diner, are operated by former incarcerated people.

Tattoo removal could be another service provided by the local Homeboy program.

County supervisors approved other additions to the Public Safety Realignment plan:
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, delivers a keynote speech at GMB Congress 2023 in Brighton

There are many Keir Starmers. There is the radical one, who promised to stand by ten of Jeremy Corbyns most left wing policies. There is the patriotic one, who urged his own members to put country before party. And there is the cautious, statesmanlike Starmer, who forbade his front benchers from standing on picket lines alongside striking workers.

Today it was the pro-trade union Starmer who took to the stage at the annual conference of one of Labours biggest and most important affiliates, the GMB. The union had, in the run-up to the Opposition leaders speech, made much of its unhappiness with Starmers decision, briefed last month, that a future Labour government would not grant licences for any new exploration or drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. Such a pledge, said general secretary Gary Smith, was naive and threatened the jobs of GMB members in the oil industry.

But despite the warning shot across Starmers bow, his speech was warmly welcomed by delegates, which will come as a relief to him. The unions may not be fully signed up to Starmers iteration of New Labour, with its many compromises and attempts at finding consensus across diverse voter alliances, but they have run out of patience with the current administration and yearn for a new tranche of ministers who will at least give trade union leaders the time of day.

Starmer knew what he needed to promise in order to escape from the venue unscathed: repealing the Tories minimum service levels legislation. And a Labour government would use its considerable financial heft to insist that contracts with the likes of Amazon, the online retail behemoth, would come with strings attached. Higher wages and union recognition would be part of any future relationship.

It all went down well with the brothers and sisters and Starmer can consider his time in Brighton to have been well spent.

There remains, however, discontent at the partys rush to endorse some of the policy positions advocated by the Just Stop Oil campaign. The promise of wall-to-wall green jobs has been something that has tripped off the tongue of any and all Labour shadow ministers for years now. Whenever the inevitable economic pain of moving Britains economy to a net zero one is raised, the reassuring cliches about offshore wind and dynamic industries is trotted out almost as if such nebulous hypotheticals cannot ever be challenged.

But as Gary Smith is doubtless aware, his members jobs are real and important; they sustain thousands of families. His members are trained professionals who know their industry. Retraining them in an essentially alien sector, largely unconnected with the oil and gas industry as it now exists, will not be an easy task  certainly not as easy or as intuitive as Labour spokespersons try to make it sound.

This is the challenge that politicians of all parties face, and they have, so far, been found wanting. The kind of radical reshaping of the economy that climate campaigners insist upon and which all mainstream parties have apparently bought into will be incredibly painful. It will mean the loss of livelihoods for thousands of workers. And since reimagining an economy from the ground up is nowhere near as fast or as nimble as turning an oil tanker, the periods of time needed in order to retrain existing workers, let alone recruit new workers to the workforce, will take a very, very long time. We are told repeatedly that this is necessary for the survival of the planet and that there is no alternative (a phrase that seems to be becoming fashionable again after decades of neglect).

And that is true. But politicians still havent joined the dots: if we need to reshape the economy and retrain everyone in green-friendly jobs, stop driving certain types of vehicles, stop flying, walk far more, pay fines for transgressing new laws and walk 15 minutes to do our shopping, then theres going to be a cost. And that cost will be measured in joblessness and a loss of earnings for a lot of people.

But thats something no politician wants to admit. Confessing that the policies youre pursuing are deliberately shaped in order to make the country less efficient, less productive and less rich, is not going to make it into anyones election manifesto.

Gary Smith is right not to welcome Starmers promise on North Sea oil, because it risks the jobs of Smiths members which he is expected to protect. And Starmers promises on green jobs and the green economy and the green new deal threaten those jobs.

It was a promise he made, we must assume, to try to attract the radical youth vote. But those young, privileged, middle class campaigners who seem to spend all their free time being angry are never going to be assuaged. They will never form a reliable coalition of Labour supporters because they are too ready, willing  and perhaps eager  to seek out and find evidence of betrayal among national leaders.

The trade union movement, on the other hand, is, or should be, Labours bread and butter. These are men and women who not only vote Labour but who help out at election time with their wallets and their shoe leather. They are also pragmatic people who understand, far more than climate activists, the necessary and inevitable compromises that every government, regardless of political colour, must make.

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A school board in Oklahoma has approved an application for a Catholic virtual charter school  a decision that would create the first publicly funded religious charter school in the nation  despite concerns over the plans constitutionality.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3 to 2 on Monday to approve an application for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Catholic Charter School, an online public school that would be administered by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded the boards decision, calling it a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state.

Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination, Stitt said in a statement.

But Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the decision was unconstitutional and legal action will likely follow if a contract for the school is signed.

The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers, Drummond said in a statement.

Its extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the State to potential legal action that could be costly, he said.

During Mondays three-hour meeting, board members debated the constitutionality of approving the decision, but decided to move forward and cast their votes. John Meiser, managing director for domestic litigation at the University of Notre Dames Religious Liberty Clinic, said there is precedent that the school should be approved  even with its religious affiliation.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear, three times in the last six years alone, that programs just like this cannot exclude religious organizations from participating. That is just fundamental First Amendment federal constitutional law, said Meiser, who assisted in the application for the school.

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is elated that the board agreed with our argument and application for the nations first religious charter school, spokesperson Avery Holt told CNN in a statement.

Parents continue to demand more options for their kids, and we are committed to help provide them.

Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which handles all government affairs and policy related issues for the two Catholic dioceses in the state, said supporters of the school are ready to take on potential legal battles.

Public dollars currently go to all kinds of religious institutions, whether theyre education institutions in the form of tax credits, or vouchers, or something like that, but also hospitals and all kinds of religiously sponsored public benefit institutions, he said.

FEMA relied heavily on Catholic Charities, Baptist relief services, and all sorts of things, and so thats just a long tradition in American history. So to suggest that somehow this is anathema and unconstitutional is to pose another question  where do you draw the line?

But opponents of the plan insist it is unconstitutional and a break with history.

Its hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nations first religious public charter school, Rachel Laser, president and CEO of the nonprofit Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement.

This is a sea change for American democracy. Americans United will work with our Oklahoma and national partners to take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state thats promised in both the Oklahoma and U.S. Constitutions.

The proposed school is now required to submit its approved application, a contract, and other documents to the Oklahoma Department of Education to finalize the process, according to information posted by the board.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a statement Monday that he supports the boards decision.

There are two dozen charter schools across Oklahoma, according to the states Department of Education.

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POKROVSK, Ukraine  Armies have been storming trench lines for more than 100 years, but for all the advances in military technology, it is no less harrowing now than it was when soldiers were crossing the muddy battlefields of World War I.

Assaults can be stealthy and surgical, employing surprise, or launched with overwhelming force, using drone strikes, or tanks and artillery. The goal is to breach a maze of protected firing positions and bunkers linked by sunken walkways and guarded by the enemy.

Ukrainian soldiers chose the louder option for an assault on a trench line in May. Some who participated described a fast, well-choreographed operation of a type that is likely to play a pivotal role in Ukraines long-anticipated counteroffensive, which U.S. officials suggested Monday has begun, and which will entail breaking through belts of Russian land mines, tank barriers and trenches.

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During the assault in May, Ukrainian mortar units bombarded the position. A tank rumbled out and opened fire. Then armored Humvees bounced forward over a field, firing machine guns, the men said. The assault group fired 3,000 bullets from two American-provided Browning machine guns, one commander named Kozak said, in an indication of the immense ammunition requirements for troops on the offensive.

By the time a squad of Ukrainian soldiers arrived at the rim of the Russian trench, soldiers who took part said in interviews, the defenders appeared deafened by the artillery explosions and too disoriented to fight back.

It really helped that our tank was working on them, said one member of the assault team, Sgt. Oleksandr.

An exploding drone also helped. Flown in by the Ukrainians ahead of the troops, it scared the Russians into their bunkers, leaving the approaches to the trench unguarded. They were all hiding, Oleksandr said.

For months, Ukraine has been training specialized units for such assaults, with allies like the United States and Britain instructing Ukrainian soldiers on how to coordinate artillery, armored vehicles and infantry. Ukraines army made available for interviews members of the squad that stormed the Russian trench on May 20 in eastern Ukraine, part of a reconnaissance unit of the 59th Brigade.

Capturing a trench fortification might seem a small-scale operation, especially when compared with one that involves a wave of tanks, air assaults or the thundering violence of artillery like HIMARS.

But taking a trench is difficult soldiering. It depends on careful planning around the peculiarities of the landscape and the weather and the actions of individual soldiers, said Kozak, the commander. He and his soldiers asked to be identified by their nicknames or first names only, for security reasons and in keeping with Ukrainian military rules.

The goal is to get as close as possible before the enemy has an opportunity to fire on the soldiers, who are open and vulnerable as they maneuver.

The attacks are sometimes stealthy. One video of an Ukrainian assault, filmed from a drone and used for training, shows two Ukrainians sneaking up on a trench in the early morning, as Russians apparently sleep, jumping in and walking to the entry of the bunker.

Alternatively, the goal is to force all those in the trench to keep their heads down with a cacophony of firepower. They should be sitting, hiding, unable to do anything, said Capt. Myron, the commander of an artillery battery that has supported infantry storming trenches.

Choreography is key, he said. The trick is to pound the trench until the infantry is as close as possible  without hitting your own soldiers. The faster they run, the more chances they have of success and surviving, Myron said.

Russias army has its own tactics for storming trenches, leaning on its advantage in the quantity of howitzers and other artillery, and on an abundance of soldiers.

One is called reconnaissance through combat. In this approach, armored vehicles drive toward a trench line to draw fire from the defenders. Once the firing points are revealed, artillery is called in to bombard the trenches.

Last year, in the battle for Bakhmut, Russia revived the World War II-era practice of sending several waves of a dozen or so convicts forward to overwhelm defenses, at tremendous risk to the attacking soldiers.

Over the winter, Russia formed specialized units of infantry specifically for storming trenches, called Storm units, partially recruited from among special forces veterans. They operate in combination with armored vehicles and artillery, similar to the way the Ukrainian army approaches the problem of capturing trench lines.

The trench at the center of the battle in May, which was near the town of Pisky, had been overrun by a Russian platoon, but the Ukrainians wanted it back, in part to rescue a wounded soldier.

The Ukrainians first tried creeping up, setting out about 1 a.m. on May 20. But the Russians spotted them and opened fire, wounding four of the eight soldiers in the assault group. They retreated, dragging their wounded with them.

Kozak, the commander, interviewed at a base well back from the front line where he and the assault group were resting, described that setback  then pivoted to trumpet the noisy assault of the following morning, when the Ukrainians deployed their full arsenal and reclaimed the trench.

By the time the Brownings stopped, the infantry was at the entry to the bunkers, Kozak said.

He said: You dont allow the enemy to get oriented, to put his head up, to work with grenades. By the time he understands, our guys are in his trenches.

At the entry to one bunker, Oleksandr shouted to the Russians: Come out and you will live!

The Russians started filing out, with their hands up, he said. The squad captured 22 Russians from the newly created storm units

The account could not be independently verified, but multiple Ukrainian soldiers described the details of the assault similarly, and videos provided by the military of interrogations of the prisoners corresponded to their accounts.

The Ukrainian military described the trench assault as a success because it led to the capture of a large number of prisoners, in contrast to the brutal, seesaw and often inconclusive skirmishing in most areas along the front line.

One Ukrainian soldier, who used the nickname Ryzhy, or Ginger, said the prisoners were given cigarettes, water and medical kits to treat their wounds. They all say the same thing: We didnt want to come here, he said.

The prisoners can be exchanged for captured Ukrainians, Ryzhy said. Every captured Russian is a hope for one of our soldiers to return from captivity, he said.

The soldiers were able to recover their wounded comrade, they said. Both his feet had been blown off in an explosion.

Its a miracle he didnt bleed to death, Ryzhy said. I cannot say he was happy to see us, as he was in a very bad state. He just kept asking for water.

For all the tactical planning necessary to capture a trench, something else is needed as well, the soldiers said.

We have a word in Ukrainian: fury, Ryzhy said. We dont need to be angry or evil. We need to be furious.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Strangers move in, make 79-year-old a prisoner in his own home, Texas officials say

A 79-year-old Texas man was made a prisoner in his own home for months after a trio of strangers moved in, according to investigators.

The man had gone to Louisiana for a funeral, and when he returned to his home in Tomball, Texas, in December, it was immediately clear that something wasnt right, according to a criminal complaint filed June 2 in Harris County.

His truck was missing from the driveway, and three brand new vehicles had taken its place, documents read. They had been financed in his name and without his knowledge, the complaint says.

He stuck his key in the front door but it wouldnt open because the locks had been changed.

Inside were three people, two women and a man, the complaint says.

The homeowner, a disabled veteran, had tried to help one of the suspects, he told TV station KHOU. Now he was paying for his kindness.

I wished a thousand times I never helped them, but I did, he said.

For several months, the trio controlled his home and his finances, documents say. When they needed money, or cash for gas, they would beat him with a plastic rod until he gave it to them, the complaint says.

His life continued like this until mid-February, when the man took one of the suspects to get an oil change, documents said. A witness noticed bruises all over his arms and asked where they came from, and the man wouldnt answer.

Worried, the witness later went to his home and took him to a doctor, where he opened up about what was being done to him, investigators said. She filed for an eviction on his behalf and police cleared the trio out of the home.

They stole a number of appliances during their stay at the house, the witness and friend, Patti Hallas, told KHOU.

They took the TVs, they took the wall oven, they took the refrigerator, they took everything, she said.

Two of the suspects, women ages 43 and 39, are facing charges of aggravated robbery, court documents show.

Their male accomplice is charged with injury to the elderly, KHOU reported.

Tomball is roughly 35 miles northwest of downtown Houston.

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Man runs over two women, then angry mob drags him out of truck, Texas police say

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Cop arrested after ex-girlfriend finds hidden camera in her home, Texas officials say
How a stubborn alligator halted traffic in the Florida Keys. Heres what the trapper said

Drivers in South Florida are used to traffic jams on the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1  the long section of highway connecting the states mainland to the Florida Keys.

Usually its because of a bad crash or a crush of cars on the weekend.

Animal trappers attempt to wrangle an alligator on the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 heading into the Florida Keys Monday, June 5, 2023.

On Monday night, it was an alligator that didnt want to move, according to witnesses and the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies and wildlife experts shut down the road for about half an hour as they wrangled the 10-foot gator to the side of the highway. Then they diverted traffic around the capture, said Kenie Rodriguez, of Key Largo, who was heading to the Keys around 6:30 p.m.

It was slow as molasses for about 20 minutes as we waited to pass it, Rodriguez told the Miami Herald/FLKeysnews.com.

Cars drive around an alligator on the side of the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 leading into the Florida Keys Monday, June 5, 2023.

Gator trapper Todd Hardwick of Pesky Critters Wildlife Control, out of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, said he was called by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to get the reptile off the road.

He said he and his team had the 250-pound gator under control in a little less than 30 minutes. A video from Hardwick shows he and his staff carefully roping the alligator, which aggressively tried to evade capture, before taping its mouth shut and placing it in the back of a pickup truck.

These animals have a lot of fight in them in the beginning, Hardwick said. You cant rush it.

The Stretch has underground culverts for animals to get from one side of the road to the other. But the gator pushed through the chain-link fence on the east side of the road and climbed the concrete barrier that separates northbound and southbound traffic, determined to get to the Everglades side of U.S. 1, Hardwick said.

Hes an unstoppable heat-seeking critter at that point, he said.

Unfortunately for the reptile, that was likely his last adventure. Florida law mandates that reptiles that size either be sent to a gator facility or be killed and the meat and hide harvested, Hardwick said.

Hardwick, 60, has become a celebrity trapper in South Florida since starting Pesky Critters 42 years ago  quoted in local news reports and appearing on the Tonight show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.

The Monroe County Sheriffs Office said one of its deputies, Jason Farr, assisted with the capture. And, it turns out, Hardwick wasnt the only celebrity trapper on the case.

Tre Huntoon, who was featured on Animal Planets Gator Boys reality TV show, poses with Monroe County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jason Farr Monday, June 5, 2023, after the two helped capture an alligator on the 18 Mile Stretch of U.S. 1 heading into the Florida Keys.

Tre Huntoon, who appeared on several episodes of Animal Planets Gator Boys, was driving out of the Keys and stopped to lend a hand, said sheriffs office spokesman Adam Linhardt.

Never a dull moment, the agency said in a Facebook post.
Photo by Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty

A Wisconsin college student at the center of a racial controversy involving a video in which she told Black people to pickcotton in the fieldsuntil they die has apologized after her antics sparked university-wide protests.

To the University of WisconsinMadison student body, faculty and community, I sincerely apologize for the harmful actions and comments I made towards African American individuals, Audrey Godlewski said Monday in an email to the University of WisconsinMadison student-run newspaper The Daily Cardinal. My words were utterly disgusting and unacceptable, whether in public or private. This is completely inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility for the pain and anger that I have caused across campus. Moreover, I know that no words can undo the hurt I have caused throughout the community, and for that I am deeply sorry. I commit myself to further reflection and learning to ensure I do not cause similar hurt in the future. Finally, I would like to apologize to the friends and family in my life that were directly affected by my choices."

The apology comes after nearly a month of protests and demands by Black students for the university administration to acknowledge racial inequities, and after an online petition was launched demanding Godlewski be expelled.

In the video, which went viral at the beginning of May, Godlewski was filmed dropping racial slurs while sitting in a room with friends.

Fuck you. Im going to kill myself, she said. I hope everyone fucking misses me because Im going to go back and haunt every fucking little n----- who fucking did me wrong. I literally hate all of them. Ill make them pick fucking cotton in the fields all day long until they fucking die of thirst. Their bodies are going to dry out because of how much cotton theyre picking for me.

The speech ended as Godlewski and a friend laughed together. It is unclear what led to the rant or how it ended up online.

Neither Godlewski, her family, nor a friend accused of filming the spiel immediately responded to The Daily Beasts requests for comments Tuesday. Godlewski graduated from West Salem High School in 2021, according to an online yearbook, and had plans to major in nursing at the UW-Madison.

Watch UW Madison Audrey Godlewski Video | university of wisconsin racist video goes viral | Audrey Godlewski instagram social media | Audrey Godlewski reddit full video| expell petition#viralvideo #AudreyGodlewski #UWMadison



Detailshttps://t.co/Yt1NGirIGb pic.twitter.com/7ZeFgIftlN  Daily Virals (@DailyViralsForU) May 3, 2023

The video caused widespread furor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Godlewski is a sophomore.

We will not stand for this nor condone this behavior and we need to take a stand, UW-Madison student Darius Lassiter wrote in a Change.org petition on May 1. We need to set an example for the future students to come and for the students who have done the same, but have not been caught.

As of Tuesday, the petition had more than 65,000 signatures.

UW-Madison Deputy Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion LaVar Charleston said in a statement that Godlewskis sentiments are not consistent with UW-Madison values.

Quite simply, this is not who we are: A few do not speak for the whole, Charleston wrote May 2. I, along with the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the entire UWMadison leadership team, strongly and unequivocally condemn the racist sentiments expressed in this video.

Hate in all its forms has no place on our campus. We must reject racism and discrimination. At the same time, as a public institution, we are bound by the First Amendment, which protects a persons right to say very offensive and hateful things. Some have called for the speaker of these racist words to be expelled. Some have called for worse. Simply stated, the law does not allow the university to take punitive action for words like these spoken in private spaces, even when those words are racist and hateful.

Charlestons statement seemingly did nothing to quell the frustration of students, and UW-Madison student group BLK PWR Coalition was created within 24 hours of Godlewskis video gaining traction, The Daily Cardinal reported. The group quickly organized a Black student town hall on May 2 and a series of demonstrations thereafter.

On May 3, hundreds of students staged a sit-in outside UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookins office with a list of demands, The Daily Cardinal previously reported. The demands included the expulsion of Godlewski, a public apology from school officials about the harm caused, an acknowledgment from administrators that systemic racism in the academic community has ensuing emotional effects, and more funding for safe spaces and diverse student groups. BLK PWR Coalition also made a push for the universitys diversity, equity, and inclusion departments to be re-evaluated, for a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, and for increased mental health services.

Later that day, students packed into a university hall to discuss the video, with many chastising the schools response, or lack thereof. According to The Daily Cardinal, students criticized Dean of Students Christina Olstad for appearing to brush off the situation by handing out ice cream coupons at the Black Cultural Center.

In a May 4 letter to the university community, Mnookin addressed BLK PWR Coalitions demands but claimed the school couldnt punish Godlewski because her rant was protected by free speech laws.

I want to again clearly state that I, and my leadership team, strongly and unequivocally condemn racism, including the blatantly racist slurs and sentiments expressed in the video, she wrote. [However,] there are numerous legal constraints both on what we can say and what we can do as a public university, even though the video is both hateful and harmful.

Students Lock Themselves Inside Building to Protest Colleges Diversity Scandal

The BLK PWR Coalition met again with university administrators and also brought up the racist incident during the schools graduation ceremony, The Daily Cardinal reported.

In a statement shared with The Daily Beast, the Coalition addressed Godlewskis apology and white supremacist remarks.

Although The Coalition is glad that she recognizes the harm that she caused our community, we are disappointed that she didnt directly apologize to us  the BLK PWR Coalition, and UW-Madisons Black population, the group wrote. Instead, she chose to release her apology to campus media before consulting with the people whom her comments directly impacted. The Coalition knows that white supremacy is bigger than her comments; What she ignited is the foundation on which this university stands.

We hope that she and all white students, faculty, staff, and administrators rid themselves of white supremacist ideologies and microaggressions. We hope that they join Black students as we continue to demand and conjure systematic change for ourselves and future generations.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment Tuesday.

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Student stabbed during fight on last day of school at Encina High, Sacramento sheriff says

A former student of Encina High School in Arden Arcade, expelled from the school a year ago for allegedly stabbing another student, returned to the campus Tuesday and allegedly stabbed the same victim five times on the last day of school, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

The suspect, a girl, had been involved in a physical altercation with another girl on May 2, 2022, that ended with the suspect stabbing the victim, Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said.

Following the stabbing, the suspect was expelled from Encina High, served time in juvenile hall and was ordered to pay restitution to the victim, Gandhi said.

The suspect, who had since been released from juvenile hall custody, on Tuesday morning arrived at the Encina High campus, located the same victim in a hallway and stabbed her multiple times, Gandhi said. A school staff member disarmed the suspect, who was then restrained and detained, Gandhi said.

The victim suffered five stab wounds that are not believed to be life-threatening, Gandhi said, and was taken to a hospital. The suspect was again booked into juvenile hall, he said. Her identity will not be released because she is a minor.

Encina High and nearby Katherine Johnson Middle School, on Bell Street near Arden Way, were placed on precautionary shelter-in-place orders around 10:20 a.m. following an altercation on the Encina campus, San Juan Unified School District said in a statement on its website.

The incident happened on the last day of school for Encina High and other San Juan Unified campuses.

At the time of last years stabbing, a San Juan Unified spokesperson said the victim was a ninth-grade student and the suspect an 11th-grade student during the 2021-22 school year.

San Juan Unified in an update just after 11 a.m. said the two schools would remain in shelter-in-place protocols through the end of the school day, which remained as scheduled at the campuses. The district also allowed parents to pick up their students earlier than scheduled dismissal time.

The family of the injured student has been contacted, the school district said. No other students or staff were hurt.
Subway already has some 3,500 locations in Asia, including this one at the Sanlitun Soho residential and commercial complex in Beijing.

Subway, one of the worlds largest fast-food chains, has announced a sprawling deal with a Shanghai development company to open nearly 4,000 new restaurants in mainland China over the next 20 years. Its the largest franchise deal in Subways history.

The sandwich chain reached an agreement with Shanghai Fu-Rui-Shi Corporate Development Co. to open the restaurants, as well as acquire the exclusive rights to manage all of the roughly 500 existing Subway locations in mainland China. The deal includes additional funding from a consortium of private investors, including Asia Investment Capital.

Read more

China is a key market with significant long-term growth opportunity, Subway CEO John Chidsey said in a press statement.

Subways global footprint, by the digits:

37,000: Approximate number of Subway restaurants around the world. By comparison, McDonalds has about 38,000.

9,000: Planned commitments to open new Subway stores worldwide.



20,000: Estimated number of franchisees who own Subway locations.

Fast food looks to Chinas massive consumer base

Subway has prioritized international expansion in recent years, opening stores in more than 100 countries even as it closed a number of US locations. The chain now has more than 3,500 restaurants in Asia and is looking to double its presence in the region in the next five years.

Other companies have followed suit, similarly targeting Chinas massive consumer base as a prime opportunity for expansion. Starbucks, another fast-food giant, plans to add about 1,000 stores in the country every year until 2025. The company already operates 6,100 locations in mainland China, with former CEO Howard Schultz predicting that China could one day be its largest market.

McDonalds announced aggressive plans to expand its locations in China this year, confirming that almost half of its proposed 1,900 new stores will be there. The burger chain already has more than 4,500 restaurants in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Related stories

China is ditching Western fast food joints for healthier options

Subway agrees to measure its footlong subs to make sure theyre really 12 inches

Subway is pulling artificial ingredients from its menu

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A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that loosened regulations for wetlands on the federal level is not expected to have much of an impact in Whatcom County.

Wetlands do exist in Washington State, and there is a large variety  from coastal bays, rivers and lakes, said John Rybczyk, professor of marine and coastal science at Western Washington University.

Pretty much every kind of separate wetland you can have, we have right here in Whatcom County, Rybczyk told the Bellingham Herald in an interview.

Wetlands provide habitat for a diverse collection of organisms, along with birds, fish and wildlife.

Wetlands near Lake Whatcom can clean the water, which saves money and time for the city when they need to purify it into a drinkable state, Rybczyk said. Lake Whatcom, and this purification process, provides water to 100,000 people or nearly half of Whatcom County.

Think of wetlands being a natural dam, Rybczyk said. When it rains a lot, wetlands are a place that absorbs all of that water and releases it slowly over time, instead of it being a giant pulse that floods out everything in the surrounding area.

On May 25, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency severely limiting the federal governments ability to protect wetlands and its tributaries. Specifically, wetlands that dont have a continuous surface connection with a navigable water are not protected under the Clean Water Act, the high court ruled.

While the decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency impacts federal regulations on the national level, local and state laws in Washington will continue to keep wetlands well protected.

Most of the dry land we know today was once wetlands. Development is one of the largest threats to wetlands in the modern day, Rybczyk said.

Take a look at a couple years back when the Nooksack (River) flooded pretty dramatically, Rybczyk said. Part of the problem there was that we had built on floodplains, where wetlands used to exist, so when we have big storms thats where the water goes.

The protections provided by the city of Bellingham itself are still being reviewed.

The City of Bellingham affirms its commitment to environmental protections, including wetlands. The degree to which the Courts ruling on the federal authority of the EPA under the Clean Water Act affects the regulations promulgated by the State of Washington and the City of Bellingham is uncertain and will require time to review, Eric Johnston, Bellingham Public Works director said.

At the state level, Washingtons Growth Management Act of 1990, the 1972 Shoreline Management Act, and the Water Pollution Control Act of 1945 all provide greater protections for wetlands than the federal regulations ever did, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Wetlands are critical for protecting water quality, reducing the impacts of flooding, and providing safe havens for endangered and threatened species, Laura Watson, ecologys director, said in a news release. Its important for people in Washington to know that state laws continue to provide the review and oversight needed to evaluate the impacts of proposed development.

However, there are many wetland regions across the nation that do not have the same local protections as exist in Washington.

My main concern are places that dont have any other protection in place other than at the federal level, Rybczyk said. We might come into situations where wetlands start to get developed that really shouldnt get developed.
Supreme Court is poised to dismantle an integral part of LBJ's Great Society  affirmative action

President Lyndon Johnson delivers the commencement address at Howard University on June 4, 1965.

Of all the civil rights policies enacted by U.S President Lyndon Johnson, affirmative action is arguably one of the most enduring  and most challenged.

Johnson made it clear during a commencement address at Howard University on June 4, 1965, where he stood.

In his speech, To Fulfill These Rights, Johnson argued that civil rights were only as secure as society and the government were willing to make them.

Nothing in any country touches us more profoundly, and nothing is more freighted with meaning for our own destiny than the revolution of the Negro American, Johnson said.

In my view as a scholar of the history of affirmative action, Johnsons speech and the legal structure it helped produce directly contradict those who would dismantle affirmative action and besmirch diversity programs today.

As the Supreme Court looks ready to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, its my belief that unlike the courts conservative majority, Johnson understood that the U.S. could not serve as a moral leader around the world if it did not acknowledge its past of racial injustices and try to make amends.

Equality as a result

Johnson knew that changing laws was only part of the solution to racial disparities and systemic racism.

Freedom is not enough, he declared. You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, you are free to compete with all the others, and still justly believe that you have been completely fair.

In proposing to address these injustices, Johnson laid out a phrase that would become a defense of affirmative action.

We seek not just legal equity but human ability, not just equality as a right and a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.

Achieving this latter goal, Johnson explained, would be the more profound stage of the battle for civil rights.

President Lyndon Johnson chats with Howard law professor Patricia Harris after Howards commencement on June 4, 1965. Bettmann/GettyImages

Johnson rejected the idea that individual merit was the sole basis for measuring equality.

Ability is stretched or stunted by the family that you live with, and the neighborhood you live in  by the school you go to and the poverty or the richness of your surroundings, Johnson said. It is the product of a hundred unseen forces playing upon the little infant, the child, and finally the man.

Johnson took a structural view of discrimination against Black Americans and explained that racial differences could not be understood as isolated infirmities.

They are a seamless web, Johnson said. They cause each other. They result from each other. They reinforce each other.

Negro poverty is not white poverty, Johnson said, but rather the consequence of ancient brutality, past injustice and present prejudice.

President Lyndon Johnson hands a pen to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6, 1965. Getty Images

Johnson also rejected comparisons to other minorities who immigrated to the U.S. and had allegedly overcome discrimination through assimilation.

They did not have the heritage of centuries to overcome, Johnson said, and they did not have a cultural tradition which had been twisted and battered by endless years of hatred and hopelessness, nor were they excluded  these others  because of race or color  a feeling whose dark intensity is matched by no other prejudice in our society.

A constant challenge

That profound battle over how to address the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow and modern-day inequalities is once again before the Supreme Court.

Though the court is the most diverse in American history  with three justices of color and four women  the conservatives, who have historically opposed affirmative action programs, hold a 6-3 majority.

And that majority has the power to ban the use of race when the court issues a decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. A decision is expected in June 2023.

The Supreme Court, from left in front row: Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan; and from left in back row: Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Alex Wong/Getty Images

At the time of Johnsons speech, the U.S. faced growing opposition to its escalating war in Vietnam and racial unrest across the country.

But Johnson was determined to achieve his goal of racial equality. During his commencement address, Johnson heralded the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that he signed into law on July 2, 1964, and prohibited workplace discrimination. He also promised passage of the Voting Rights Act that would ban discriminatory voting practices. Johnson signed that into law on Aug. 6, 1965.

And shortly after his speech, Johnson signed Executive Order 11246 on Sept. 24, 1965.

It charged the Department of Labor with taking affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed  without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

For Johnson, racial justice was attainable and, once achieved, would alleviate social strife at home and advance the United States standing abroad.

Despite urging civil rights activists to light that candle of understanding in the heart of all America, even Johnson became disillusioned with the racial politics of forming a more perfect union.

In the aftermath of urban riots in Newark, New Jersey, Detroit and other U.S. cities in 1967, Johnson created the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders  better known as the Kerner Commission  to investigate the causes of the riots and suggest remedies.

The commission recommended billions of dollars worth of new government programs, including sweeping federal initiatives directed at improving educational and employment opportunities, public services and housing in Black urban neighborhoods.

The commission found that white racism was the basic cause of the racial unrest.

Although the report was a bestseller, Johnson found the conclusions politically untenable and distanced himself from the commission report.

Torn between his need to balance Southern votes and his ambition to leave a strong civil rights legacy, Johnson proceeded along a very cautious path.

He did nothing about the report.

U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke, Black Massachusetts Republican, was one of the 11 members on the commission.

In his book Bridging the Divide, Brooke explained Johnsons reticence.

In retrospect, he wrote, I can see that our report was too strong for him to take. It suggested that all his great achievements  his civil rights legislation, his antipoverty programs, Head Start, housing legislation, and all the rest of it  had been only a beginning. It asked him, in an election year, to endorse the idea that white America bore much of the responsibility for black rioting and rebellion.

Even for a politician like Johnson, that proved too much to handle.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Travis Knoll, University of North Carolina  Charlotte.

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Travis Knoll does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
'Surprise' drop in sargassum seaweed for first time in over a decade, satellite data shows

'Surprise' drop in sargassum seaweed for first time in over a decade, satellite data shows

This summer was on track to be a record year for the massive piles of sargassum seaweed washing ashore on Florida's beaches. However, new data from the University of South Florida and NASA provide a surprisingly optimistic forecast for beaches with pungent seaweed.

Sargassum seaweed is a brown macroalga most known for its rotting smell that floats on the ocean surface. Since 2011, massive seaweed blooms have washed ashore, dominating beaches in Florida and Texas, causing problems for humans and sea life.

Not only does the seaweed stink up beaches, covering shores with its blooms, but sargassum can also carry bacteria and other threats to public health.

After a record-setting 13-million-ton seaweed blob in March, new data shows the amount of seaweed in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt  from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico  took a downward turn in May, according to the latest 2023 outlook by the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab.

The USF lab uses NASA MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data to monitor the blooms. It provides a general outlook for current and future bloom activity in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The outlooks are released at the end of each month.

According to the laboratory, the sargassum quantity in the eastern Atlantic Ocean from March to April dropped by half and then from April to May, it was halved again.

"Its certainly a surprise. Its never happened in the past years," USF marine scientist Dr. Chuanmin Hu told FOX Weather.

Researchers say a decrease for this time of year has not been documented in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt since 2011, when large amounts of sargassum seaweed began appearing in the Caribbean Sea.

Hu said past years had experienced an increase in sargassum from April to May.

The overall decrease of sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean by 15% can largely be attributed to the sharp drop in seaweed in the eastern Atlantic, according to Hu.

The new data comes as Florida expected historical levels of sargassum seaweed this summer, offering possible good news for residents and visitors on Floridas coasts.

"At the beginning of the year, we thought this could be a record year by June or July. But now it doesnt look like that," Hu said, adding, "It's still a major sargassum year."

Since 2011, 2023 still ranks in the top half of the worst sargassum seaweed seasons.

With the latest data, USF researchers say in June, sargassum will likely decrease in the Gulf of Mexico, meaning beachgoers may not have such a smelly experience. The USF lab forecasts the decrease to continue through August.

However, sargassum beaching events will likely continue throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

"Its good news, but we still need to be cautious," Hu said. "That doesnt mean the Florida beaches will be free of sargassum; they will still get some."

The decrease from April to May is another mystery surrounding the seaweed blooms.

Hu previously told FOX Weather there is still much unknown about sargassum, including where it started.

Still, Hu said there are some possible reasons for the drop in the stinky blooms. Wind, ocean circulation and nutrients from land or sea could all play a role in the size of seaweed blooms in the Atlantic.

Researchers are still investigating the cause behind the sharp decrease.
A survivor of Iowas deadly apartment building collapse sues, saying the owner and city didnt evacuate residents despite imminent danger

A resident of the Iowa apartment building that partially collapsed  killing three residents and destroying dozens of homes  is suing the buildings owner and the city of Davenport for negligence, saying they knew about the dangers but failed to warn residents.

The suit, filed by tenant Dayna Feuerbach, said the owners of the building, Andrew Wold and his companies, recognized the imminent danger residents faced, yet allowed the building to deteriorate while failing to warn residents that their lives were in danger.

In one instance, Feuerbach claimed in the lawsuit, the owners tried painting over cracked exterior walls of the six-story building to hide the imminent threat.

For the first time since the May 28 collapse, a representative for Wold responded to CNNs requests for comment.

We are devastated by the buildings collapse and our hearts go out to everyone involved, people displaced, people injured, and of course the people that lost their lives, Wolds spokesperson, Harlan Loeb, told CNN on Tuesday.

In response to the lawsuit, Loeb said he and Wold were aware of the litigation but said its certainly secondary to the (buildings) collapse.

When reached for comment, the city of Davenport said, On the advice of counsel, we cannot comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit names several other defendants, including contractors and engineers who worked on the building, known as The Davenport.

The suit says that after the purchase of the building in late 2020 or early 2021, Wold and his companies received numerous notifications about the deterioration of the building but completely and utterly failed to take any action to make the necessary repairs and protect the tenants.

The section of the wall that failed and initiated this collapse was known to be dangerous and in dire need of repair for years, the suit said.

Just days before part of the building came crashing down, inspectors noticed a brick facade had separated from the interior wall and appeared ready to fall imminently, according to a letter from an engineer dated May 24.

An engineer reported a brick facade had separated from an interior wall of the building days before the collapse. - City of Davenport

The brick facade is unlikely to be preserved in place, but it can be brought down in a safe, crontrolled manner, the engineer said in the letter.

The interior wall of the downtown building also appeared to be losing stability and was causing deformation, the engineer said.

A repair permit was issued the same day, according to city records. And a May 25 site visit confirmed repair work had started.

But on May 27, the day before the collapse, a 911 caller said part of a wall at the building was bulging out, the Quad-City Times reported, citing 911 audio obtained by the paper.

Then on May 28, the same part of the wall suddenly crumbled, according to a CNN review of property photos released by the city.

The catastrophe killed three residents  Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien.

From left: Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien. - From Facebook/City of Davenport

Mayor Mike Matson said the city has gotten inquiries about the 911 call made the day before the collapse and told reporters on Monday he wants to assure the public that we are looking into this.

Loeb did not answer CNNs questions about recent work that began on the building five days before its collapse.

We are working diligently to wrap our heads around all the building issues, Loeb said Tuesday.

New details have also emerged about the 10 minutes leading up to the collapse.

One of five support braces leaning against the wall started bending, and parts of the brick facade crumbled around it, according to surveillance video taken from the roof of a nearby building and obtained by CNN.

The video cuts off as the building collapses as power is knocked out, said the person who owns the camera, who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity.

The support braces match those identified in instructions from a structural engineers report in May that called for braces to be put in place to support and secure the brick facade.

The report, released by the city, was compiled by a private-sector engineer who accompanied city inspectors this year during visits to the building.

About two minutes and 43 seconds before the collapse, a large chunk of brick facade falls from underneath a second-floor window, the video shows.

Fifty-five seconds before the collapse, a lower portion of the wall near the ground appears to crumble.

One second before the video abruptly cuts off, the building is seen collapsing.

Despite knowledge of the inevitable nature of this collapse, neither Wold, the City of Davenport, nor the licensed engineers ordered the necessary evacuation of the building, Feuerbachs lawsuit states.

The suit does not include a specific amount of compensation sought. But the plaintiff is seeking an amount that will fairly and adequately compensate her for the damages described herein, as well as punitive damages, together and with interest and costs all as provided by law, the lawsuit states.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
From Syrian refugee to DePaul Law graduate: How he survived torture during revolution before fleeing to Chicago

He says he cant really describe torture or the night terrors that still creep up on him years later, but hell try. He starts out with a picture: a prison cell the size of a rug and a creaky door that he couldnt help but stare at. Every time it opened, he knew hed either be released or tortured once again.

When Emad Mahou tells the story of being imprisoned in Syria during the 2011 revolution, his voice has a heaviness, unlike the joy he exhibits when talking about not knowing how to order a Subway sandwich when he arrived in Chicago as a refugee.

With his hands he demonstrates the ups and downs of the last 12 years  from being released and offered refuge in America to graduating from the DePaul University School of Law. As his wife, 8-year-old daughter and his father stood in the stands, he walked across the stage with hopes of practicing human rights law to help other refugees coming into the country.

Mahous father, Shirkou Mahou, flew in from Lebanon to attend the May 20 ceremony on a visit visa.

Im seeing a part of my dad I didnt see before, Mahou said. Hes an old man. When I left he was much stronger, much younger.

On a May afternoon, days before the graduation ceremony, Mahous dad was sitting next to him on a couch in one of DePauls Loop campus law buildings, wearing a brown suit, white shirt and a prayer hat on his head.

Its his first time in America. His first time seeing his sons new life up close  so different from the life he left at age 21.

He cried audibly every now and then, especially when Mahou would translate for him into Arabic parts of what he was sharing about the Syria of his childhood versus the Syria he left behind.

I grew up in a loving, very beautiful, family-oriented environment. I miss going to my grandmas sisters house  my dads khalto, Mahou said. Life is so simple there. Wed all be sitting around this heating machine that burns oil and were sitting and playing cards and talking and telling stories, and its already 11 oclock. Kids will be sleeping on the bed or on the sofa and adults will be talking and its the middle of the winter. And that is almost a nightly thing.

Syria today is a country torn by civil war and I hate to say that, Mahou said. To leave my town, you have to go through a checkpoint where there is a tank and they will pull you over if youre wanted, and they will shoot you on the side of the road like a dog. Who lives like that? My cousin was pulled out of a bus and shot. Thats the Syria I left.

Somehow they got a tip that I might be hiding in this area

Mahou and his father were part of the rebellion during the Syrian revolution, which started roughly in February 2011 with the early stages of protests against Syrias government, which was led by President Bashar Assad. The rebels, as they called themselves, were taking to the streets to object to the authoritarian tactics of Assads regime, which was known for its pervasive censorship, surveillance and brutal violence against those who disagreed.

The uprising was noncombative at first, Mahou said, but by March, hubs of protesters were frequently met with heavy military weaponry.

Mahou said he and his family always had a target on their back, dating to when his paternal grandfather refused a high-ranking government appointment by Assads father. Mahou said his father was arrested several times for protesting, as was he.

During a raid toward the second half of 2011, military police came looking for Mahou. At that time, Mahous resistance entered a new phase. He was tapped by media outlets, likely because of his strong English skills, and became sort of a boots on the ground source, though his face and name were hidden anytime he was on air with reporters.

Mahou was hiding at a distant cousins house. She was a widow without children, therefore her home was an unlikely place for police to come barging in.

But somehow they got a tip that I might be hiding in this area, Mahou said. I was watching from the third-floor window and thinking ... theres no way Im making it out of there. I see a truck full of army men coming and Im like, Oh my God, what am I going to do? Im gonna get killed. From the roof, I jumped from her building onto the building next door and twisted my foot.

Mahou hid in a water tank until the sounds of footsteps and clunking AK-47s subsided.

Its like a movie  you wont believe what happened to us. And this is a story out of millions of stories similar to this, he said.

In October 2011, United Nations human rights officials estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed since the start of the protests in March, including nearly 200 children.

Mahou said from 2011 to the present day, he lost several loved ones.

Sitting forward in his seat, Mahou starts counting on his fingers, his immediate family members who died in protests, run-ins with military police and in jail.

He shows eight fingers. He then starts counting extended family, but quickly stops. Ill get to like 50 people if I keep going, he said.

His father, upon hearing the names of those who died, starts crying again.

It got to a point where mentally I was broken

Mahous memories of some of his arrests are blurry, except for one in which he was detained and tortured for three months. In June 2011, he said he spent 100 days in an underground cell the size of a rug. He didnt know it when he was thrown in, but this would also be the last time hed be imprisoned.

The torture was really over the limit at that point. I was really struggling with the pain, Mahou said. It was daily, continuous, degrading. One day in particular, they took turns urinating on me. It got to a point where mentally I was broken. You smell yourself and I felt really, really bad. I am used to a nice life. I showered daily. I was in college to be an architect.

Mahou stops and reminds himself that he had a full life in Zabadani, Syria, before the revolution. They all did.

At that point, I was almost done with college and I had a whole future ahead of me. And I just looked at where I am now. That day was my weakest day mentally. I was shattered. The humiliation went too far  like theyre using you as a toilet ... so I banged my head on the wall.

Mahou recalled falling to the ground after that and feeling the door open.

He felt a breeze. He remembered his cat, Sasha; he visualized the marble tiles of his familys home, the comforting chaos of his kitchen, his mom cooking a meal. It was a message that I shouldnt be dying here today. And I didnt die. I made it all the way out of Syria and I made it to Chicago, he said.

We all have those moments when you remember something and it saves you, Mahou said. I dont think God talks to us directly but I think God can guide us somehow. I think that was probably my guidance that, you know what, youre not dying here.

Thats when he was released from prison. But knowing that he could get picked up again by another security branch, Mahou, like many others in the rebellion, needed an escape.

Syrian security services began to increase pressure on activists and crack down on protesters. With the help of fellow rebels, Mahou was escorted to the southern border of Syria, where he fled to Jordan.

In Jordan, Mahou did what millions of people fleeing countries do: He registered as a refugee with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a United Nations refugee agency.

Refugees who are in the system can indicate their goals for resettlement, which for Mahou was the United States. Though it could take many months  years even  for an individual to get through the queue.

Mahou was connected with the U.S. Embassy in Amman shortly after his arrival in Jordan. He described to embassy staff how his work with Syrias opposition-affiliated media presented dangers to his personal safety in Jordan as well as to his family still in Syria. The embassy ultimately was able to work with the UN refugee agency to expedite his resettlement in Chicago.

Mahou was in Jordan from December 2011 until July 26, 2012, when he arrived at OHare International Airport.

Is there a point when I am no longer not from here?

When Mahou landed in Chicago, he had two small bags of belongings, $100 and a sealed envelope with do not open in bold letters across the front.

The official documents explaining his refugee status, he later learned, were only to be opened by immigration officials. After what felt like ages, Mahou said his documents were stamped, his fingerprints taken, his picture taken and he was free to pass the checkpoint.

You know how in Terminal 5 there are two exits? I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing, Mahou said. And I speak English, but it was not this English  not law school English. It was my English in 2011.

He said he walked out and spotted a representative from World Relief, the organization assigned to Mahous relocation services, holding a sign with his name. The World Relief representative reached into his pocket and gave Mahou $103 in cash after showing him a check of the same amount addressed to the organization.

So now I have $200  like, wow, I got some money, Mahou said with a laugh. I still remember how I spent those $200.

He was taken to a studio on Kimball Avenue, not far from the airport. It was $550 a month. Mahou said the U.S. government paid one month of the rent, World Relief paid half a month, and then he was on his own.

There was a kitchen, a table, two chairs, a twin bed mattress, one cover, one spoon, one fork, one knife, one shaving blade, one frying pan, Mahou said. And that whole night I was looking out the window and watching the airplanes because I couldnt drown them out. I was so far from home. I think I just sat there crying all night.

Very quickly, a disastrous attempt to order a Subway sandwich, a daunting bus ride where the driver wouldnt take the $5 Mahou was handing over, a costly T-Mobile 4G hot spot and more Subway sandwiches later, he ran out of money. He didnt have a resume because he worked at his fathers business all his life, but he still put on his dads old suit. His first job in America was providing wheelchair service in OHares Terminal 5. Something about it just felt safer than it had a month ago, Mahou said.

In 2013, while Mahou was still figuring out Chicagos color-coded train lines, his mom and now 25-year-old sister relocated to Lebanon and his father followed them a year later after being detained by the Syrian regime. According to the United States Institute of Peace, the Syrian conflict displaced an estimated 13 million people with over 6.2 million Syrians internally displaced. Approximately 5.6 million refugees now live in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

Mahou said he was in touch with his family as much as he could be.

He started attending community college at Harry Truman toward a degree in computer science in the fall of 2013, before transferring to DeVry. In 2017, he got a job as a web developer for the board of trustees at DePaul University. There he met law professor Craig Mousin, who sat in an office across from Mahou.

Mousin said when Mahou realized that he taught at the law school and that his specific area of teaching was asylum and refugee law, it piqued his interest.

Emad has intimate knowledge of how governments can use all the power and authority they have to stifle dissent, Mousin said. And sometimes in doing asylum and human rights cases, theres this built-in assumption that governments would not hurt their own citizens. And sometimes its very difficult for people in the United States who live with relative freedom to understand that. Emads felt the brunt of that failure.

With Mousins guidance, Mahou tapped into his experience of standing up for freedom in Syria and what he calls a rebel mentality to figure out that what he actually wants to do isnt web development, but rather become a lawyer. On May 20, he earned his juris doctorate.

I really want to learn about other peoples experiences in the system, said Mahou, who now lives in Oak Park. People who are fleeing persecution, traveling through dangerous paths to seek refuge, those are the people I want to help.

Mahou said hes now studying for the bar exam but was fortunate to get a taste of the kind of cases he would like to work on when he enrolled in DePauls Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, where he helped put together an asylum petition for a family.

As Mahou recounts his tale, he shares that hes seen his parents for a total of 20 days since 2011, during short visits to Lebanon. And now he was making up for lost time.

His father said it was OK that he had such limited time with his son because his visa expires Thursday. Alhamdulillah for everything, he said. Im grateful to God for his life.

Mahou agreed, though he wished some things could be different. Or maybe just easier.

He said for every person who looked at him like a Pokemon walking around when hed stumble through ordering food, paying for the bus or reloading his CTA card, there were always a few more who would stop to make sure he knew where he was going. When he first came to Chicago he was 21. Now at 34  with a job, a family, a law degree, a community of colleagues and friends  theres a part of him thats still a little unsettled.

I have been struggling with what is home for the past 12 years, Mahou says. How can I define home? Where can I find home? I cant say my daughter is my home because shes just too little to carry that burden. ... I have a passport that has the United States of America on it, I have my picture, my name  everything. And I still feel Im not from here. Is there a point when I am no longer not from here?

zsyed@chicagotribune.com
Five Tacoma firefighters were injured Monday night when a ceiling collapsed on them during an apartment fire. Two residents were also injured, according to the Tacoma Fire Department.

The two-alarm fire in the 7600 block of Pacific Ave. broke out just after 9 p.m. after a resident who was on supplemental oxygen lit a cigarette, according to fire spokesperson Joe Meinecke.

The two injured residents were transported to a hospital, as were two of the firefighters. Except for one resident, all were treated and released.

The first firefighters on scene reported heavy smoke and flames in a second story. The fire eventually entered an attic space. It took crews about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames, Meinecke said.

Five of the ten units were damaged and nine residents were displaced, according to Tacoma Fire.

Pure oxygen can greatly intensify flames as it did during Mondays fire, Meinecke said.

Its never OK to smoke while youre using your oxygen, Meinecke said.
Tallulah Willis said her mom Demi Moore's marriage to Ashton Kutcher sent her into 'a total dumpster fire': 'It was really hard'

Tallulah Willis with her then-stepfather, Ashton Kutcher, and her mother, Demi Moore, in 2007. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Tallulah Willis is "still unpacking" her mother Demi Moore's marriage to Ashton Kutcher.

The daughter of Moore and Bruce Willis spoke about having famous parents on Fox's "Stars on Mars."

The 29-year-old has talked openly about mental illnesses and using her platform to spread awareness.

Growing up with extremely famous parents has its privileges  see: the entire nepo-baby debate  but the tabloid scrutiny around your mother's relationships is not one of them.

Tallulah Willis, the 29-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, opened up about life in the limelight in the Monday premiere of the Fox reality show series "Stars on Mars."

In the show, celebrities compete to survive in a Mars-like simulation in Australia.

Willis in Fox's "Stars on Mars." Fox

When her competitor Ronda Rousey asked what it was like growing up with famous parents, the actor and entrepreneur was brutally honest.

"I grew up in Idaho. And I knew my parents had this job that made them this thing, and we got to do cool stuff, but I didn't fully understand," Tallulah said.

She said that it wasn't until her mother started dating Ashton Kutcher in 2003 that things became real.

"It was that moment, a lot going on, and I really went inside of myself, and that did send me into like a total dumpster fire. It was really hard, and I'm still unpacking," she said.

Tallulah said the silver lining was the bond she formed with her older sisters, Rumer Willis, 34, and Scout Willis, 31.

"I found the other side of that, which is like I really love myself now, and I love my family," she continued.

Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis, and Tallulah Willis in 2019. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for goop

Tallulah was 11 when Moore, then 42, married Kutcher, then 27, in September 2005.

The two split after six years of marriage in 2011 and finalized their divorce in 2013.

The Willises are close with their father, Bruce, who announced he was stepping away from acting because of his aphasia diagnosis in March 2022. Bruce married the model Emma Heming in 2009, and the couple share two daughters, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9.

Tallulah has talked openly about her struggles with anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphia, which she said were exacerbated by her parents' time in the spotlight.

In an essay in Vogue, she described a formative experience when photos of her at age 11 at an event with Moore and Kutcher were met online with a trove of negative comments about her body and appearance.

"I wanted to see if my outfit had made the party pages of any of the style websites," she wrote. "Then I found my way to the comments, hundreds of them, the words just burning off the screen."

Correction: June 7, 2023: An earlier version of this story misstated the ages Tallulah, Moore, and Kutcher were when Moore and Kutcher wed. They were 11, 42, and 27, respectively, not 8, 40, and 25.

Read the original article on Insider
Target's 'stunning collapse,' GOP senator goes toe-to-toe with the 'View' and more top headlines

LGBTQ advocate Heather Hester scolded Targets "rainbow capitalism" after the retailer dialed back Pride displays

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SIGNIFICANT FINDING - AI deep learning model could predict premature birth as early as 31 weeks. Continue reading 

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RARE CREATURE: A rare white bison was born in Wyoming in May. The coloring is the result of a mix of cattle and bison genetics, and mom is also white. See the adorable and unique baby bison! See video 

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The demonstrations have been dubbed "sita sita" (six six) as they are being staged on the sixth day of the sixth month

Kenyan police fired tear gas and arrested 11 protesters, AFP journalists said, during a march in Nairobi on Tuesday against a new finance bill that critics say will pile more economic hardship on ordinary people.

The proposed legislation calls for new or increased taxes on a wide range of items including fuel and food as well as beauty products, crypto currencies and social media influencers.

Police fired several volleys of tear gas and arrested 11 people, bundling them into a police truck, to try to disperse the demonstration, AFP journalists at the scene said.

"Down down finance bill," chanted protesters as a group of about 100 marched towards parliament, which resumed on Tuesday after a recess and is expected to debate the legislation this week.

"They want to kill us with hunger."

The demonstrations -- which the organisers said had been notified to the police -- have been dubbed "sita sita" (six six) as they were held on the sixth day of the sixth month.

Marchers waved placards reading "Will more taxation lead to low cost of living" and "Poverty is man-made".

"We are witnessing some chaos which is not right. We are being chased but we are fighting for our rights," said one of the protesters, Rodgers Obogi, a 23-year-old unemployed man.

"We are demonstrating to express our frustrations, people need money, that money is being taxed twice."

Amnesty Kenya called for the unconditional release of the 11 arrested, saying the right to protest, "express oneself, and participate in public discourse is sacred under our Constitution and international law".

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi denounced the arrests, writing on Twitter that "sending police to arrest peaceful protesters for exercising their right to be heard is dictatorial behaviour".

The intervention also drew rare public criticism from a senior civil servant.

"No peaceful protest, particularly one focused on an ongoing national economic conversation, should be disrupted nor should any arrests be carried out," said Korir Sing'oei, principal secretary at the foreign ministry.

- 'Cash crunch' -

President William Ruto is seeking to fill the government's depleted coffers and repair a heavily-indebted economy inherited from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, who splurged on major infrastructure projects.

His government has drawn up a 3.6-trillion shilling ($26.2-billion) budget for 2023/24 with the proposed new taxes expected to generate 289 billion shillings.

Critics accuse Ruto of rowing back on promises made during the August 2022 election campaign, when he declared himself the champion of impoverished Kenyans and pledged to improve their economic fortunes.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio party has denounced the bill, saying Ruto's government wanted to "take billions from the pockets of some of the poorest people in this country while expecting them to cheer".

"We have refused to sit back and watch as Kenyans are being harassed to fix cash crunch caused by economic mismanagement, wasteful spending, corruption and skewed and incompetent hiring into critical public positions," Azimio said in a statement on May 30.

Odinga earlier this year led a series of protests over Kenya's cost-of-living crisis and his complaint that victory was stolen from him in the presidential election.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a report last week that 12 people had been killed by police during the demonstrations in March.

According to government figures, three people were killed in the unrest, including a policeman.

ho/txw/ri
Fox News

No charges have been filed as a result of the Justice Departments investigation into former President Donald Trump potentially mishandling classified documents while out of office, but that didnt stop Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) from trying to frame a potential indictment around Attorney General Merrick Garland being bitter that hes not on the Supreme Court.

On Monday, Trumps lawyers met with top Justice Department officials in Washington, D.C. to ask that they not indict their clienta move indicating that a charging decision may be near. Garland was not present at the meeting, The Washington Post reported.

After Trump himself asked in an all-caps, grammatically challenged Truth Social post how he could possibly be charged, Cruz predicted it would happen.

Mark my words: I believe Merrick Garland will indict Donald Trump, Cruz told Fox News host Sean Hannity after smearing the nations top law enforcement officer as partisan and corrupt.

He wants to indict Donald Trump because he hates Donald Trump. He hates him. Hes angry, insisted Cruz. Merick Garland is angry that he wasnt confirmed to the Supreme Court. He wants to indict him.

Of course, it was Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2016 who refused, as Senate majority leader, to consider then-President Barack Obamas nomination of Garland to the high court more than seven months before that years presidential election. (Four years later, McConnell rushed to confirm Trump nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 26eight days before Americans voted Trump out of office.)

Additionally, it is the federal grand jury hearing testimony in Washington, D.C., that will vote on an indictment. The investigation is also being led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, whom Garland appointed after Trump declared his candidacy for president in November.

Cruz clarified that he believes Trump will be indicted for obstruction of justice for hiding the classified documents, which he later characterized dubiously as a crime about a non-crime.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A teen charged as one of the alleged shooters in a triple homicide in Lebanon, Pennsylvania is a person of interest in the unsolved shooting death of a 12-year-old in Rochester, according to police reports.

James Fernandez-Reyes, 16, is a person of interest in the death of 12-year-old Juan Lopez in 2022. Fernandez-Reyes is currently charged as an adult with homicide for the deaths of Sebastian Perez-Salome, 9, Jesus Perez-Salome, 8, and Joshua Lugo-Perez, 19, for the shootings on May 30.

Our Major Crimes Unit has been tirelessly investigating Lopezs murder and is currently coordinating with law enforcement officials in Lebanon in hopes of furthering that investigation, Rochester Police Lt. Greg Bello said in an email.

On Nov. 21, 2022, officers from the Rochester Police Department responded to Atkinson and Reynolds streets for multiple ShotSpotter activations. Once there, they found Lopez dead on the sidewalk from at least one gunshot wound to his upper body.

Lopez was a seventh-grader at the Benjamin Franklin Educational Campus on Norton Street. Officers discovered a 16-year-old boy with multiple gunshot wounds from the same incident two blocks east, who managed to recover from his injuries.

A memorial was set up on the front porch of where the shooting took place, June 1.

Fernandez-Reyes and Alex Torres-Santos, 22, were arrested Wednesday, May 31, after the Lebanon County SWAT team executed a search warrant in the 400 block of N. 9th St. Police are still seeking a third suspect they believe was involved in this shooting.

"At the time of his arrest for these heinous crimes in Pennsylvania, Fernandez-Reyes had an active warrant from Monroe County Family Court related to an arrest in the City of Rochester on September 20, 2022, in which he was issued an appearance ticket for being in possession of a loaded Kel-Tec .380 caliber handgun," Bello said.

'Enough is enough' Community, mayor react to killing of 12-year-old

Torres-Santos and Fernandez-Reyes have been charged with three counts of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, along with various gun-related offenses. Torres-Santos and Fernandez-Reyes also were charged with one count of aggravated assault for Louis Cancel, 33, of Lebanon, who was hit in the next-door residence by a stray bullet during the shooting.

Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said Friday she will be seeking the death penalty in Torres-Santos' case.

Suspect once focus of Amber Alert Missing Rochester teen found safe, home with family

Police located multiple .223 rifle rounds and 9mm shell casings that showed at least 27 gunshots fired at the North 5th Street home Tuesday. Officials said these shots came from two different caliber firearms.

A search of Torres-Santos' and Fernandez-Reyes' residence Wednesday revealed multiple firearms, including an AR-15 and a secondary weapon, which officials said was consistent with the shell casings located at the scene.

Torres-Santos and Fernandez-Reyes are being held without bail at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility. A third suspect in the case was being sought by police as of Friday afternoon.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: James Fernandez-Reyes charged in Pennsylvania triple homicide
Teen tried to hire hitman to kill 7-year-old, but the website was fake, Iowa cops say

A teenager is accused of trying to hire a hitman online to kill a 7-year-old, Iowa police told news outlets.

The 17-year-old Storm Lake girl visited rentahitman.com, which is a parody website, and tried to hire a professional killer to take on the job, Storm Lake police told KCAU.

She visited the website at least twice and shared information about the child, including their name and where they live, the outlet reported.

The webmaster for rentahitman.com reached out to police, and an investigation was launched, KTIV reported.

A police officer posing as a hitman contacted the teenager on Friday, June 2, police told the outlet. The teenager said she wanted the 7-year-old dead, and told where to find the child and when they would be home, the station reported.

Officers arrested the teen the same day on a charge of solicitation to commit murder, police told KCCI.

The child and their family were not harmed and were unaware that they were in any danger, the outlet reported.

Storm Lake police did not respond to a request for information from McClatchy News.

Storm Lake is roughly 160 miles northwest of downtown Des Moines.

Woman angry at man sought a hitman over the dark web to shoot him at work, feds say

Man gunned down in parking lot didnt notice gunman stalking him in store, Texas cops say

Cold-blooded hitman killed at random to confuse cops, officials say. Hes prison bound

Family receives chilling video after they cant pay 19-year-olds ransom, feds say
Tell your party not to discredit toxic air science, PM urged

London's air quality has become a political issue

Leading scientists have urged the prime minister to "tell your party colleagues" to stop discrediting scientific facts about toxic air.

In a letter, they accuse politicians in Parliament and the London Assembly of "not believing the science".

"We ask you to join us in making the case for urgent action on air pollution," they say to Rishi Sunak.

The government said it had delivered "significant improvements" in air quality but said there is "more to do".

It comes amid controversy over Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to also cover greater London from 29 August.

Neil Garratt AM, leader of the Conservatives at London's City Hall, said the party was committed to reducing air pollution and it was "irresponsible" to "conflate opposition to the ULEZ expansion with science denial".

The decision to charge drivers of the most polluting vehicles in outer London 12.50 a day will be subject to judicial review, the High Court has ruled.

Last month, it was revealed one in six cars registered in outer London did not meet ULEZ standards, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The London mayor's office and Transport for London (TfL) have quoted different figures, saying cameras show 90% of vehicles are compliant but without providing the exact data, including the number of vehicles captured.

Mr Sunak and other Conservatives, including five councils that are taking legal action, have opposed Mr Khan's ULEZ expansion plans.

Last month, former Conservative Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers urged MPs to back a law change, which would allow ministers to intervene on decisions about transport and air quality.

Nine-year-old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, of Lewisham, south-east London was the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a factor in the cause of her death in 2013, at an inquest.

'Scientists have been discredited'

The letter's 36 signatories, who include Prof Frank J Kelly and Prof Marta Blangiardo, of Imperial College London, urge Mr Sunak "to value science and understand the incredible advantages it bestows upon modern society".

They write: "Our colleagues in UK universities and institutions have uncovered the extent to which poor air quality contributes to the development of asthma, strokes, heart attacks, cancer and even dementia.

"Recently the facts have been questioned and scientists have been discredited in an attack on the very essence of our scientific community.

"Mainstream politicians have been attending rallies run by conspiracy theorists. They have been loudly repeating their dismissal of our science on social media accounts and broadcast interviews. They have spoken of not believing the science in the London Assembly and in Parliament.

"We urge you to disassociate from the merchants of doubt and, in no uncertain terms, to tell your party colleagues to not endorse them or emulate their pervasive claims that sow cynicism and undermine the factual and truth foundations of life."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said, nationally, emissions of fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides down by 10% and 45% respectively.

It added that, under its plans to further reduce emissions, it will "support progress towards our legally binding targets and deliver cleaner air for all."

Mr Garratt AM, leader of City Hall Conservatives, said: "We have been clear in our commitment to reducing air pollution and tackling climate change.

"The authors of the letter ask us to disavow false claims and the individuals making them, but they do not tell us which individuals or claims.

"It is irresponsible for anyone to conflate opposition to the ULEZ expansion with science denial."

Defra has been approached for a comment but is yet to respond.

Analysis

By Tom Edwards, BBC London environment correspondent

traffic on A13

This is quite an intervention from the scientific community that doesn't normally like to get involved in politics.

These scientists are concerned that their work linking pollution to serious diseases like asthma and dementia is being dismissed in the debate over ULEZ.

The background to this is that, at the moment, there is a heated debate going on around ULEZ expansion.

There is opposition to the mayor's scheme to get older, more polluting, vehicles to pay.

Five councils are legally challenging the speed of implementation, the scrappage scheme and how effective the expanded ULEZ will be.

But the scientists are very clear that their work showing the impact that poor air quality has on health should not be up for debate and action needs to be taken on air pollution.

City Hall Conservatives have already pushed back and say it is irresponsible for anyone to conflate opposition to the ULEZ expansion with science denial.

If anything, the temperature around ULEZ seems to be increasing.

The signatories are: Prof Frank J Kelly, Imperial College London; Dr Sean Beevers, Imperial College London; Prof Marta Blangiardo, Imperial College London; Dr Henry Burridge, Imperial College London; Dr Martin Cliff, Swansea University; Prof Shenna Cruickshank, University of Manchester; Dr Dimitris Evangelopoulos, Imperial College London; Dr Gary Fuller, UKRI Clean Air Champion, Imperial College London; Dr Julia Fussell, Imperial College London; Dr David Green, Imperial College London; Prof Chris Griffiths, Queen Mary University of London; Dr Yiqun Han, Imperial College London; Prof Roy Harrison, University of Birmingham; Dr James Haydon, University of Nottingham; Prof Mathew Heal, University of Edinburgh; Prof Sir Stephen Holgate, UKRI Clean Air Champion, University of Southampton; Prof Klea Katsouyanni, Imperial College London; Prof James Lee, University of York; Dr Joseph Levermore, Imperial College London; Dr Mathew Loxham, University of Southampton; Prof Eloise Marias, University College London; Dr Mark Miller, University of Edinburgh; Dr Ian Mudway, Imperial College London; Dr Audrey de Nazelle, Imperial College London; Prof Cath Noakes, University of Leeds; Dr Paul Pfeffer, Queen Mary University of London; Prof Francis Pope, University of Birmingham; Dr Heather Price, UKRI Regional Clean Air Champion for Scotland, University of Stirling; Prof Alison Tomlin, University of Leeds; Dr Diana Varaden, Imperial College London; Dr Stephanie Wright, Imperial College London; Dr Abigail White House, Queen Mary University of London; Dr Hanbin Zhang, Imperial College London.

Three international scientists also "indicated support if their inclusion is appropriate", the letter said. They are: Prof Barbara Hoffmann, University of Duesseldorf; Prof Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, IS Global, Barcelona Institute for Global Health; Prof John Wenger, University College Cork.

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Tennessee woman accused of hiring hitman on dark web to kill her hiking buddy's wife

A Tennessee woman is accused of paying a hitman from the dark web to kill the wife of a hiking buddy she met on Match.com and stalking the woman's whereabouts on a fitness app, court documents reveal.

Melody Sasser apparently didnt like it when her friend, identified in recently unsealed court documents by the initials D.W., told her he was getting married last fall.

I hope you both fall off a cliff and die, she told the man, according to an affidavit dated May 11.

Melody Sasser. (Melody Sasser / via Facebook)

Sasser was charged with murder for hire in U.S. District Court for Eastern Tennessee last month and faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted.

According to the affidavit, an outside law enforcement agency tipped off the Homeland Security Investigations unit in Birmingham, Alabama, about the alleged plot in April.

Investigators were given messages between an online user, cattree, and the administrator of the dark web site Online Killers Market, which offers hitmen for hire, court documents say.

Screenshots from the site showed that cattree ordered a murder for hire on Jan. 11, according to the criminal complaint.

Officials say she shared the name of the target, an address, the equivalent of $9,750 in bitcoin and a description saying: it needs to seem random or accident. Or plant drugs, do not want a long investigation. She recently moved in with her new husband.

Cattree also uploaded a photo of the target, identified by the initials J.W., the documents say.

Investigators alerted police in Prattville, Alabama, where the target lived, and sent patrols to the victims home.

When J.W. was notified of the alleged threat, she named Sasser as a suspect" and said Sasser and her husband were hiking friends before he moved to Alabama, the document says.

D.W. told investigators that he and Sasser met on the dating website Match.com and that she helped him with his Appalachian Trail hike by making reservations at hostels and rest points and watching his vehicle when he was gone, according to the affidavit.

After D.W. told Sasser last fall that he was engaged to J.W., Sasser traveled to his Alabama residence, it says.

J.W. reported that her car appeared to have been keyed and that she received unpleasant phone calls from a person using an electronic device to disguise their voice. The affidavit said the "threatening" calls came from untraceable computer-generated phone numbers and internet calls.

Sasser is accused of monitoring the couple's whereabouts and activities on the fitness app Strava, which was connected to their smartwatches and shared location data.

The criminal complaint alleges that Sasser as "cattree" had messaged Online Killers Market several times, expressing frustration that the job hadn't yet been completed.

On March 22, "cattree" sent a message saying, I have waited for 2 months and 11 days and the job is not completed," according to the court document.

"2 weeks ago you said it was been worked on and would be done in a week. The job is still not done. Does it need to be assigned to someone else. Will it be done. What is the delay. When will it be done, she added, according to the criminal complaint.

After some back and forth, the affidavit says, she agreed to pay more.

Sasser was arrested May 18 and is being held in jail pending her next court appearance Thursday.

Her attorney has not replied to requests for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Can Texans legally break a window to rescue a dog or cat in a hot car? What about a child?

A person or animal being left in a hot vehicle happens every year, but is it legal in Texas for someone to free them?

Fort Worth is nearing the wicked hot portion of a Texas summer with days in the mid- to high-90s in the forecast. The month of July is when North Texas sees days of triple digit temperatures, according to historical data from the National Weather Service.

A vehicles internal temperature can heat up well over the outside equivalent, leaving many as ovens rather than automobiles. But before you play the hero and free a person or animal inside a hot car, heres what Texas law says about the subject.

Is it legal to free a person from a hot car in Texas?

Yes, under the Texas Good Samaritan law it is legal to free a person from a hot car.

Section 74.151 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code states that A person who in good faith administers emergency care is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent.

This means that a person is legally able to break a window to save a person in an emergency, without being liable for damages to the vehicle. This also extends to people who administer emergency care through an external defibrillator.

However, it is illegal for Texans to administer emergency care in the hopes of being paid for their services.

Is it legal to free an animal from a hot car in Texas?

No, its illegal to break a vehicles window to save an animal such as a dog.

Former state Rep. Celia Israel attempted to pass legislation that would make it legal to free an animal from a hot vehicle during the 86th Texas Legislative Session. The legislation was filed during the 2019 session, but did not advance.

Israels House Bill 810 states, A person who, by force or otherwise, enters a motor vehicle for the purpose of removing a vulnerable individual or a domestic animal from the vehicle is immune from civil liability for damages resulting from that entry or removal.

The bill would have given Texans the same immunity from civil liability for rescuing domestic animals, as it does for people. No other bill like this has been filed with lawmakers since Israels attempt four years ago.

How many animals are left in hot cars every year?

In 2022 alone, over 50 animals suffered heat-related deaths and nearly 500 were rescued from hot weather situations nationwide, according to PETA.

Of the 54 heat-related animal deaths, 10 of those occurred in Texas, from Houston and Round Rock to Parker County. Of the 469 animals rescued from the heat and reported to PETA, only four dogs from Houston made the list.

What can you do to help animals in hot cars?

There are things everyone can do to help animals in hot cars, according to The Humane Society of the United States:
The U.S. and Texas flags fly over the Capitol last week. Lawmakers have decisions to make about a $33 billion budget surplus.

After months of negotiation, the state budget has been adopted and El Paso can now look forward to a windfall of new state investments in our community.

Going into this session, we had over $188 billion available for the 2023-2025 budget  a $33 billion surplus  far more money than the Texas Legislature has ever had at our disposal. While every lawmaker inside the pink dome was fighting hard for their communitys piece of the pie, both sides of the chamber have come together to craft a balanced budget that will positively impact El Pasoans for generations to come.

During the interim, I spent a lot of time traveling across the district and have had numerous conversations with constituents and local leaders concerned with substantive kitchen table issues that impact them daily, such as general economic security and infrastructure, including water, transportation and broadband. One of the biggest concerns across the state is skyrocketing property taxes and rising costs of living that have forced families to make impossible decisions. Most notably, this budget includes $17.6 billion in property tax relief for homeowners. The first called special session will determine how that property tax relief reaches families and taxpayers.

More: El Paso lawmakers saw success in Texas legislative session

Bold and historic investments

Im proud to report that this budget also makes bold and historic investments, including $2 billion to expand mental health care, $1.6 billion for water security, $1.5 billion for broadband access, $1.5 billion to expand state park systems, and $5.5 billion for retired teachers' Cost of Living Adjustment.

In addition, the Supplemental Appropriations Act makes investments in the current fiscal year to create a new higher education endowment for research universities, school safety grants, state employee pay raises, enhanced retirement benefits for teachers, mental health hospitals, border security, flood mitigation and water infrastructure, Medicaid costs, state debt reduction and other items. These bold investments demonstrate our commitment to improving the well-being and quality of life for families and communities across the state.

More: 'Uphold the public trust': El Paso legislators explain vote to impeach Texas AG Ken Paxton

El Paso won big

In the Texas Senate, I worked with the Senate Committee on Finance advocating for local funding priorities, while the House delegation worked with the House Appropriations Committee. As a result, El Paso won big this session!

Mental health providers were already in short supply before the pandemic, but increased demand for services has left patients without help. According to a behavioral health assessment conducted in 2021, patients admitted to the El Paso Psychiatric Center spent more than 520 days waiting for a forensic bed  more than two times the wait at any other state hospital. To address this issue, we secured $50 million to add more mental health care beds and fund the design and construction of a new modern facility to better meet the mental health needs of our community.

Today, cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Despite having the second-highest cancer incidence rate among Texas urban counties, El Paso currently lacks a comprehensive cancer treatment center. Today, many El Pasoans are left with no choice but to make costly trips for the care they need or simply go without, placing undue financial and emotional hardships on the patients and their families. Recognizing this glaring disparity and the urgent need to improve accessible quality cancer care, we successfully secured $65 million to establish a state-of-the-art cancer center at the University Medical Center of El Paso and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. With this transformative investment, we can revolutionize cancer care in the Borderplex region, while alleviating the taxpayer burden, to ensure that patients affected by cancer in our community receive the exceptional treatment they deserve.

State Sen. Cesar Blanco poses with patient advocates and survivors after announcing his Healthcare Expanded and Accessed Locally for Texans Act  also known as the HEAL Texans Act  in early March.

Providing students with a brighter future

As a catalyst for economic growth, El Pasos higher education institutions train tomorrows leaders, providing students with a brighter future. This budget includes an increase of $35.5 million for a total of $420 million for UTEP and Texas Tech El Paso, $60 million in general funding for El Paso Community College, and a new performance-based funding model for community colleges. The investments we made in our universities and health sciences center will bolster our workforce, strengthen our economy and help improve access to care in the region.

Moreover, considering that El Paso is the only Top 50 metropolitan city in the United States without a law school, our community is underserved by the legal profession. To address this issue, we have secured $250,000 to conduct a planning study to establish a law school in El Paso. This investment will highlight the significant need for a law school in our region.

In order to enhance public safety, we worked to allocate $1 million for interventions for at-risk youth in El Paso and $10 million for the planning and development of a new El Paso-based Regional Headquarters for the Department of Public Safety. Establishing this new DPS headquarters will facilitate the integration of a larger and state-of-the-art crime lab and enhance constituent services such as streamlined processes for driver's license applications and renewals.

We also secured major funding to promote local economic development and tourism and improve our communitys overall quality of life. Most notably, this session we appropriated another $10 million to the Wyler Aerial Tramway to cover repair and construction costs for this local treasure and asset, bringing the states total contribution to $20 million. This funding will get us one step closer to the finish line to reopen our cherished local gem. Our region will also receive $5 million for capital improvements at Hueco Tanks State Park and $4 million for the restoration of the Magoffin Home State Historic Site, and $200,000 to promote economic development in the Borderland.

Ensuring our Texas border region gets its fair share of infrastructure funding is critical for our economic development. In addition to broadband and water infrastructure funding, this funding includes $32 million for our ports of entry and a new Texas Department of Transportation funding category to fund projects in the Border Transportation Master Plan.

This budget is a culmination of hard work and relentless advocacy from El Pasos delegation and our community leaders. This substantial level of funding is a catalyst for a profoundly transformative future for El Paso and paves the way for a healthier, wealthier and brighter future for our community and families!

State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, represents District 29.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sen. Cesar Blanco: El Paso to get windfall of new state investments
Fairfield Lake State Park and the surrounding property is now officially in the hands of a Dallas-based developer.

The land has been under contract with development firm Todd Interests, which intends to transform the property into a gated community.

Both Shawn Todd, the founder of Todd Interests, and a spokesperson for Vistra Corp., which sold the property, told the Star-Telegram on Tuesday afternoon that the deal closed. Todd said the sale was finalized on June 1.

On that same day, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offered Vistra Corp. to purchase Fairfield Lake State Park and surrounding property for $95 million. In a letter dated June 1, the department told Vistra it was prepared to offer the $95 million for the 5,000 acres, and close by the end of July.

The state has leased the park land for about five decades while Vistra owned the property. But Todd Interests is not carrying through that lease. As the sale date approached, the state at the end of May also offered Todd Interests $25 million to walk away from the purchase.

Marketing materials from Todd Interests outline the developers plans to build an exclusive and private community on Fairfield Lake, which is currently publicly accessible through Fairfield Lake State Park.

The $95 million offer, made days later to Vistra, was meant to come into play if Todd Interests didnt close on its purchase or if the firm agreed to sell the contract rights to the state, according to Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Arch Aplin III.

Todd Interests did neither of those things, and instead moved forward with the purchase of the property. The states lease on the park land ends on June 13.

Vistra and Todd Interests have not publicly disclosed their contracts sale price, but the land about 90 minutes southeast of Dallas had been listed for $110 million.

With the sale now final and the lease end date approaching, he state closed the park earlier this week. But state officials are still pursuing one option to obtaining the land: eminent domain. The commission is slated to discuss authorizing the use of eminent domain to take back the lane in a specially called June 10 meeting.

Fairfield Lake State Park, in Freestone County, has been open to the public since 1976. But under a pending sale of the land to a developer, the park could soon close.

Todd has lambasted the state in recent weeks, alluding to costly legal action and accusing Parks and Wildlife officials of not being fully honest.

Fairfield Lake State Park has been public for about 50 years. The private landowner intends to sell the property to a private developer.

On Tuesday, Todd made it clear he doesnt intend to back down or walk away from the property.

He and his sons, who are partners in the development firm, denounced the states consideration of eminent domain and the states overall reaction to the land sale.

In a statement to the Star-Telegram, the Todds emphasized that the Park and Wildlife Department didnt make a formal offer on the property until Todd Interests was already moving to purchase the land. They also accused state officials of interference and efforts of sabotage.

Is this how you fulfill Governor Abbotts promise that Texas is wide open for business? As a family-owned, Texas-based business and longtime supporters of our states pro-business policies, we sincerely hope not, the statement said.

The Todds statement also warned of a national precedent that the Parks and Wildlife Commission would be setting if it moved to condemn and take back the lake property.

A state once considered the vanguard of private property rights would now take from its citizens and diminish the rights of sellers, buyers, and private-property owners of every order, the Todds statement said.

The Todds also received a letter in late May from the state Attorney Generals Office that directed the firm to preserve evidence  which the Todds labeled as an effort of intimidation and simply theatrics for the media.

Until recent weeks, the Todds have largely stayed out of the public debate surrounding the Fairfield Lake property. Todd and representatives of his firm did appear in front of the state legislature during the regular session, however, when state lawmakers were considering ways to halt or slow the sale of the land.
A Texas sheriffs office is calling for criminal charges in the cruel political stunt involving the transportation of 49 migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard on false pretenses last September.

While the Bexar County Sheriffs Office has not identified suspects in the case, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) previously took credit for the scheme.

DeSantis allegedly used funds from a state program in Florida to pay for the flights that took migrants to the wealthy Massachusetts island.

The charge filed is Unlawful Restraint and several accounts were filed, both misdemeanor and felony, the sheriffs office said in a statement to HuffPost. At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DAs office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public.

The migrants, most of whom were from Venezuela, were lured away from the Texas facility by a hired scout, which The New York Times identified as Perla Huerta, and told they would be flown to Boston where they would receive expedited work papers. Instead, they were boarded on planes destined for Marthas Vineyard.

The scheme drew the condemnation last year of Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, whose office thereafter opened an investigation into the events.

I believe that they were preyed upon, Salazar said of the migrants at the time. Somebody came from out of state, preyed upon these people, lured them with promises of a better life, which is what they were absolutely looking for.

A spokesperson for DeSantis had confirmed the flights were paid for by a state program.

States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as sanctuary states and support for the Biden administrations open border policies, Taryn M. Fenske, DeSantis communications director, said at the time.

Republicans, including DeSantis, who recently announced he is running for president, have been using these tactics to draw attention to what they describe as lax immigration policies by Democrats.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has bused migrants from his state to Democratic-led cities, including New York and Chicago, despite criticism.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is reportedly facing an investigation from the state of California into whether he was involved in organizing migrant flights in recent weeks from the Texas border to Sacramento.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said a second flight of migrants landed in the states capital Monday, following the arrival of over a dozen migrants in the city last week.

The flights were operated by the company Vertol Systems Inc., which was commissioned by Florida to transport the asylum-seekers to Marthas Vineyard last year, Bonta said, according to The Associated Press.

This morning, a second flight of asylum seekers touched down in Sacramento.



We're investigating the circumstances by which they were brought to California.

State-sanctioned kidnapping is immoral.  Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) June 6, 2023

In an interview with KCRA 3, Bonta explained that many migrants were told Vertol Systems would help them find jobs if they got on the plane and traveled to where there were being taken.

We learned that many of them didnt know where they were being taken and didnt know where they were until they arrived, Bonta added.

Californias attorney general issued a statement Saturday saying the asylum-seekers who landed in the state were in possession of documentation purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida.

We are investigating the circumstances by which these individuals were brought to California, Bonta said. We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has spatted with DeSantis in the past, suggested the Republican governor could face kidnapping charges over his alleged involvement.

You small, pathetic man, Newsom wrote on Twitter. This isnt Marthas Vineyard.

DeSantis has so far remained silent on the issue.
The sheriff of Bexar County, Texas is recommending criminal charges against those involved with flights that sent 49 mostly Venezuelan migrants from El Paso to Marthas Vineyard last year, what was widely derided as a political stunt orchestrated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

A statement from the sheriffs office says it has completed an investigation launched last September and recommended several counts of unlawful restraint, both misdemeanors and felonies, to the office of the Bexar County district attorney.

At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DAs office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public, the statement said. The sheriffs office has not named suspects.

The flights faced international scrutiny following allegations that migrants and their families, who were in the country with legal permission, were deceptively lured into planes out of state after they were processed in the US after crossing the southern border with Mexico, with their asylum cases pending in Texas.

What infuriates me the most about this case is that here we have 48 people who are already on hard times, they are here legally in the country at that point, sheriff Javier Salazar said in a statement announcing the investigation last year.

They have every right to be where they are, and I believe they were preyed upon  somebody came from out of state, preyed upon these people, lured them with promises of a better life, which is what they were absolutely looking for, with the knowledge that they were going to cling to whatever hope they could be offered ... to just be exploited and hoodwinked into making this trip, he said.

A federal lawsuit filed by attorneys for a group of migrants last year alleges that the DeSantis administration supervised a fraudulent and discriminatory scheme to collect migrants and fly them, unannounced, hundreds of miles out of state.

The lawsuit alleges the governor and members of his administration targeted immigrants who were recently released from shelters with false promises of job opportunities, education and financial assistance before they landed on the island with only volunteer support from local groups and emergency assistance from state agencies.

The lawsuit includes two unnamed defendants who targeted many of the people who boarded the flights, as well as three other unnamed defendants who participated in the alleged scheme, who manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process and equal protection under the law, according to the complaint.

Those allegations mirror claims from migrants who spoke with reporters about the ordeal, including multiple allegations that a woman identified only as Perla was central to an alleged effort to coerce migrants to board the planes, providing cash and McDonalds gift cards to help recruit others.

Mr DeSantis has taken credit for the flight, and his administration has supported legislative efforts to secure $12m in funding for similar operations. The administration has spent more than $1.5m on such flights, according to state records.

The sheriffs announcement follows more migrant flights from Texas to California, which California Attorney General Rob Bonta has likened to state-sanctioned kidnapping. Officials and civil rights attorneys are investigating whether the DeSantis administration was also behind those flights; Mr Bonta has stated that the migrants had what appeared to be Florida government documents.

We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants, he said in a statement this week. While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting.

The Independent has requested comment from the DeSantis administration.
(Bloomberg) -- Thailands prime minister front-runner Pita Limjaroenrat said he was prepared to fight a legal complaint over ownership of shares in a defunct media firm, which some analysts say can derail his bid to become the countrys next leader.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Pita, who heads an eight-party coalition of pro-democracy parties that swept the May 14 election, said on Tuesday that he had transferred the shares of ITV Pcl late last month to avoid them being used as a ground to disqualify him for the premier job as attempts were being made to revive the company.

The leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, which bagged the largest number of seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, said he had only managed the shares, which were part of an estate left behind by his late father to his family. ITV hadnt operated in the media industry since 2007, when its government contract was ended and it lost access to telecommunications frequency, he said.

Read: Heres How Thailands PM Race Could Play Out as Talks Drag On

Pitas comment sought to reassure his supporters amid speculation that a pro-military administration may use the share ownership issue to scupper his chances of taking power. The Pita-led alliance  even with a clear majority of 312 lawmakers in the lower house  is still short of the threshold of 376 votes needed to ensure his win in a joint sitting with the 250-member Senate.

Im confident of my past legal compliance and evidence, but its possible that there will be efforts to revive ITV in the future, whether for business or political reasons, Pita told reporters after a meeting with coalition parties on Tuesday. So Ive decided to transfer the shares.

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a political activist, last month petitioned the Election Commission to look into Pitas alleged ownership of 42,000 ITV shares and if it was in violation of election rules.

The Election Commission, which has until July 13 to certify results, has yet to accept or dismiss the complaint. It can probe the allegation and refer the case to the Constitutional Court for a ruling.

Pita said in a separate statement on Facebook that the complaint was politically motivated to hurt his candidacy. He reiterated that he had declared the shares to the countrys anti-corruption agency when taking office as a lawmaker of now-disbanded Future Forward Party after the 2019 election.

The question over Pitas share ownership is one of many legal challenges which can potentially lead to his disqualification or the dissolution of Move Forward Party. But the Harvard alumnus said for now, hes focused on preparing for a transition of power and form a Move Forward-led government.

Read: Thailands Move Forward Faces New Legal Threat to Coalition Bid

The party is in talks with members of the powerful Senate, stacked with allies of the pro-military royalist establishment, to drum up support for Pita. A majority of the Senate opposes Pita as his party has pledged to to amend the lese majeste law, which punishes criticism against the countrys king by up to 15 years in prison.

No one or no power dares to block the peoples consensus, Pita said in the Facebook post. Please rest assured and move forward to change the country together.

(Updates with details throughout.)

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More than a thousand women gathered in front of the Colorado Capitol on Monday as part of a multiday sit-in demanding action on gun violence, including calls for the governor to move to ban all firearms in the state.

The event was organized by a group called Here 4 the Kids, which was founded in March after a mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, left six people, including three children, dead. The group has called on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) to issue an executive order to unilaterally ban guns and implement a statewide buyback program, a strategy its founders acknowledge is far-fetched but reflective of the urgent need for reform.

This obviously flies in the face of the Constitution  of the Second Amendment, Saira Rao, a founder of the group, told Colorado Public Radio. We would like to see the 28th Amendment repealing the Second Amendment. So yes, we are not morons. We are very well aware that this is unconstitutional, and this is how change happens.

Here 4 the Kids, a group of mostly moms, staged a sit-in Monday in Denver asking for an executive order to ban guns in Colorado. Over a thousand people took part in the rally outside the Colorado Capitol.

Here 4 the Kids, a group of mostly moms, staged a sit-in Monday in Denver asking for an executive order to ban guns in Colorado. Over a thousand people took part in the rally outside the Colorado Capitol.

Rao and her co-founder, Tina Strawn, are both women of color but specifically called on white women to join the sit-in to leverage their privilege and their power. Here 4 the Kids plans to organize similar events around the country and hopes to ultimately see 25,000 women show up.

We respectfully ask white women to put their bodies on the ground as marginalized communities have always done and continue to do, the group said in a statement before the event. As we prioritize the safety of historically marginalized and vulnerable populations such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, non-citizens, and disabled folks whose bodies are often on the front lines fighting for human and civil rights, we invite white women to take part in this act of civil disobedience.

By Monday afternoon, about 2,000 people had gathered outside the Capitol for the peaceful event. Some carried signs reading Choose kids over guns and Save a 2nd grader, repeal the 2nd amendment, while the group held moments of silence throughout the day for victims of gun violence, according to The Denver Post.

The effort also attracted the attention of some celebrities, including actresses Lake Bell and Michaela Watkins, who both traveled to Colorado.

"I don't think you have to be a mother to see the logic in prioritizing children's lives over gun ownership."



Actress Lake Bell and Co-Host and Managing Editor of "Daily Blast Live," Sam Schacher-- two moms who are in Denver to support a total ban on guns there: pic.twitter.com/O6xyQBY0BR  CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) June 5, 2023

Polis office said the governor shared concerns about gun violence, but rejected calls for an outright ban on firearms, saying an executive order on the matter would violate the Second Amendment. Other state Democrats have also criticized what they called drastic measures to address gun violence, saying such proposals are counterproductive in the long-term fight for change.

The Governor takes the weighty responsibility of executive action and the trust Coloradans placed in him to govern responsibly seriously, and will not issue an unconstitutional order that will be struck down in court simply to make a public relations statement, his office said. These individuals calls to improve safety and prevent gun violence through their specific requests for an executive order banning all guns would simply be unconstitutional.

Gun violence has continued to surge around America. There have been at least 278 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Related...
Thousands of state jobs could move from downtown Columbia. What it could mean for the city

Hundreds if not thousands of state employees at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, and potentially thousands more workers from other agencies, could be on the move out of their longtime Bull Street facilities, opening up significant parcels of land for potential redevelopment along the northern gateway to downtown Columbia.

Lawmakers want the state Department of Administration to find options to relocate DHEC, which is slated to be split into separate public health and environmental agencies, and potentially other agencies that currently have offices along Bull Street.

The request for proposals is included in a proviso, a one-year law attached to the annual spending plan proposal still being finalized by House and Senate budget writers.

Although lawmakers say the impetus to seek proposals for moving offices is because DHECs facility is in desperate need of upgrades, the proviso says the state also could look at relocating one or all of the state agencies or their successor agencies currently located on Bull Street in the City of Columbia.

The Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, the Commission of the Blind and the Department of Administration also have offices along or near Bull Street. A total number of state workers at those offices was not immediately available.

The State newspaper also has requested information about how many of DHECs 3,500 employees currently work in Bull Street offices.

Moving state agencies off of Bull Street could put the properties back onto the tax rolls for the city of Columbia, especially as the surrounding area is redeveloped. The city has historically borne the weight of a significant amount of untaxed property, from government agencies and nonprofits to colleges and the military.

Columbias burgeoning BullStreet District on the former state mental hospital campus is the site of one of the most significant development projects in city history, including ongoing construction around Segra Park and planned construction of the University of South Carolinas Health and Sciences campus.

Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, who was unaware of the proviso before it was introduced by state budget writers, said he would be supportive of state agencies moving off of the property and hopes the state would donate the land to the city so it could be marketed to a private developer to build downtown housing.

We need an opportunity where we could use donated land to drive down the price so that could put in a mixed-income neighborhood, Rickenmann said. We can have a mix of workforce attainable housing and market rate in the core center, and thats pretty much the core center of town.

Lawmakers want a new location for state offices that is off of an interstate, has multiple buildings on the same parcel or adjacent parcels with a common main entrance.

Any space will need a large amount of parking and a large group meeting space, and other amenities to support agency mission, amenities and conditions conducive to employee health and recruitment, employee and visitor safety and security.

But lawmakers also want the Department of Administration to consider whether its practical to have locations large enough to house state employees in the Columbia area, but arent based on Bull Street, according to the proviso.

Requesting proposals allows the state determine if its best to abandon the DHEC facilities and set aside the properties for redevelopment, or refurbish the facilities to make them better for state employees, said Bruce Bannister, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

DHEC, which led the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic and oversees environmental regulations, is slated to be split. The large agency that has trouble hiring employees to come work at its current location.

Were hoping we could right the ship on that agency, Bannister said.

Whether other agencies on Bull Street could also be moved depends on if we found spots for them to go that are nicer than where they are and would work, Bannister said.

Lawmakers want the Department of Administration to present lease options by Nov. 1.
This image released by Grapevine Public Relations shows Betsy Wolfe, foreground, during a performance of "& Juliet" in New York. (Matthew Murphy/Grapevine Public Relations via AP)

NEW YORK (AP)  One recent day, Broadway star Betsy Wolfe was up at 4 a.m. to perform on Good Morning America. Then there was a formal gala lunch and a few snuggle hours with her young daughter. Finally, as the sun set, her main job beckoned: A big new musical that needed her voice.

Such is the life of a Tony nominee, something Wolfe has earned this season for the first time. The most grateful exhaustion is the best way I can possibly describe it, she says with a laugh. I am drinking way too much coffee this time in life.

Wolfe stars in & Juliet a Tony-nominated musical which reimagines what would happen if "Romeo and Juliet didn't end so sadly and adds some of the biggest pop hits of the past few decades by the likes of Britney Spears and Katy Perry. Wait, a jukebox musical on top of Shakespeare?

Theres a healthy amount of doubt that everyone has when you first hear about this piece. Weve seen jukebox musicals before. Ive been in them, she says. But theres something about this one  its truly a unicorn.

Wolfe plays Williams Shakespeares wife, Anne, who in playwright David West Read's book challenges her husband to change Juliet's story for future generations, and it changes her life, too.

Women often shrink themselves  to not intimidate, to not threaten their partner. And so to be able to come out within the first five minutes of the show and not do any of that, but just be fearless, saying, I think we can make this better.

Wolfe, whose Broadway credits include Waitress and Bullets Over Broadway and revivals of Falsettos and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, has often played a girlfriend or a wife of a more successful artist but is one of the two heroines now. Where most of my roles have seemingly ended in the first five pages, this one began.

The musical's crowning achievement is its ability to use massive pop hits by Max Martin, who had a hand in Backstreet Boys' Larger Than Life, Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone, Celine Dion's Thats The Way It Is and Justin Timberlake's Cant Stop the Feeling.

In one special move, Spears' Im Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman is sung by Juliets nonbinary friend, May, played by genderqueer Justin David Sullivan. Its a landmark moment for Broadway, allowing a nonbinary main character to talk about being misgendered and what its like to date while trans.

It is the first project Wolfe has tackled since the pandemic and the birth of her child, 3-year-old Poppy, with husband Adam Krauthamer, a Broadway musician. She was six months pregnant when the pandemic began, and Poppy was 18 months old when Wolfe agreed to do the show, taking the family to Toronto during its first runs.

I knew that the projects that I would choose from here on out would be shaped by the fact that it had to be worth the time and the sacrifice that it takes from all parties involved. And this story in particular just really spoke to me, she says.

I went in doubting how it could possibly work and honestly, by Page 3, maybe four, I was cracking up and I had this feeling in my gut that this was the next show that I wanted to do. This was the story I wanted to tell, and this was a show that I needed to see.

Some audience members have walked out on her show, unhappy with the direction of a feminist Romeo and Juliet or the pro-transgender-rights theme.

Occasionally, for some people its too much. And thats OK. But the point is this: I think that were pushing the conversation forward in a thoughtful way, she says.

Stark Sands, who plays William Shakespeare, calls Wolfe the best scene partner I could ever ask for. He says she's playful, genuinely funny and surprising  constantly trying new ways to deliver.

She knew that when she looked in the audience and saw moms and their daughters watching this, she knew what it could mean, he says. This is her opportunity to have an impact in a story about empowerment.

On Sunday, Wolfe faces-off in the category of best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical with Julia Lester from Into the Woods, Ruthie Ann Miles in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Bonnie Milligan of Kimberly Akimbo and NaTasha Yvette Williams from Some Like It Hot."

But even if she doesn't win, she's gotten the approval of one person that means the world to her  her daughter. Poppy just saw the show for the first time, loves singing Roar and hanging out with Juliet, played by Lorna Courtney.

I was thinking like, Oh, this will be so enlightening. Like, Shell get to see this really cool rewrite. And whats even sweeter for me is this just might be the world that she thinks is normal, Wolfe says.

This is not a rewrite for her. This is the world and how beautiful that this story becomes her normal. And if thats the starting place for maybe a generation, that's actually the coolest gift that I could give her.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Top U.S. and China officials had candid and productive talks Monday in Beijing amid tensions between the countries.

Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Sarah Beran, National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan affairs, joined U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in the meeting with Chinese officials, the State Department announced Tuesday.

The agency said the two sides had candid and productive discussions as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries.

The China officials in attendance were Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, director general of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department, according to the State Department.

The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral relationship, cross-Strait issues, channels of communication, and other matters, the release reads. U.S. officials made clear that the United States would compete vigorously and stand up for U.S. interests and values.

Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the officials had candid, constructive and productive communication on improving bilateral relations and managing differences appropriately.

Wenbin added that China during the talks stated its serious position on Taiwan and other major issues of principle and the two sides agreed to maintain communication.

The visit comes a couple of months after Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a trip to China amid tensions over a Chinese surveillance balloon shot down by the U.S. after floating through American airspace.

The U.S.-China relationship has also been strained by Chinas ties to Russia amid its war on Ukraine and by Beijings recent aggression in the Indo-Pacific as it stresses its stance on Taiwan.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Blinken has plans to visit China in the coming weeks, though the State Department has not publicly announced a trip.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week that his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, refused to meet while they both attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

The two later spoke briefly on the sidelines of the security conference  but Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the pair did not have a substantive exchange.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tough 10-year-old found after vanishing for 24 hours in remote Washington mountains

A 10-year-old girl was found safe more than a day after she went missing from family on a remote Washington trail, according to a sheriffs office.

The girl was last seen playing near the foot bridge over the Cle Elum River near the Cathedral Rock trailhead around noon on Sunday, June 4, the Kittitas County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

After arriving at a parking lot to have lunch, the girls mother realized she was missing, the girls uncle told KOMO News.

Then (her father) ran back to the other side of the river and started shouting her name, the uncle told the outlet.

The girls family searched for her before sending someone to drive out, get cell signal and call for help, deputies said.

Multiple agencies responded to look for the girl, according to the sheriffs office. However, teams conducting ground and aerial searches did not find the girl.

While searching the following day, a team searching by foot found the girl with only minor injuries, deputies said.

She was found about a mile and a half from where she disappeared, KIRO 7 News reported.

Despite spending the night alone in the mountains, the girl is expected to be fine, the sheriffs office said.

She must be a tough little girl, Kittitas County Sheriffs Inspector Chris Whittsett told KIRO 7 News.

Girl was missing for 6 years  until worker 600 miles away in NC spotted her, cops say

Missing sisters found safe after 3 years, Pennsylvania cops say. Mom now charged

Woman who disappeared driving cross country with boyfriend found after weeks, cops say
Scott Peyton

In recent opinion articles surrounding Mississippi's criminal justice system, there are those who falsely claim that Mississippi quit locking up bad people. Its a simplistic accusation that undermines our entire criminal justice system and jeopardizes data-based reform efforts to reduce crime and create stronger Mississippi communities.

A close examination reveals a more nuanced perspective. By taking an accurate look at Mississippi's incarceration rates and the challenges the state faces we can dispel these misconceptions and shed light on the state's conservative, balanced approach to incarceration while prioritizing public safety.

Mississippi has higher incarceration rates compared to national averages. The easy way out is to simply assert that Mississippians are more prone to criminal activity than other Americans. Historically, the state has faced challenges with poverty, limited educational opportunities, and substance abuse which undoubtedly contribute to higher crime rates. It is crucial to acknowledge these factors while also recognizing the state's commitment to addressing them.

Although Mississippi prisons hold many violent offenders, in 2021, 73% of prison admissions were for drug or other nonviolent crimes. Contrary to what recent opinion pieces have pointed out, the prison population in Mississippi is on the rise. As of May 1, 2023, there were 21,616 in MDOC custody.

As one of those other opinion pieces notes, it makes a lot more sense to invest in police officers up front than it does to pay the staggering costs of crime down the road. But this money has to come from somewhere. It costs nearly as much ($21,622) to incarcerate a non-violent offender in MDOC custody as it does to hire a new police officer in Jackson ($30,000). If we can do a better job of figuring out who doesnt need to be in MDOC custody, then we can hire more police officers to keep us safe from those that very much do need to be in prison.

Today, there is nothing easy about expressing and implementing conservative principles, especially when it comes to criminal justice policy. Mississippis legislature understands that a comprehensive approach is necessary to address the root causes of criminal behavior. By acknowledging and tackling underlying issues, the state aims to implement solutions that focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and community support alongside appropriate measures to ensure public safety.

Mississippi's criminal justice system must balance punishment and rehabilitation. Sentencing reforms have been implemented to ensure that individuals receive appropriate, proportional sentences while also providing opportunities for rehabilitation, redemption, and successful reentry. By utilizing diversion programs, drug courts and alternative sentencing options, Mississippi aims to protect public safety, address individual needs and promote positive change.

In my work, I witness Mississippians committed to enacting meaningful criminal justice reforms that prioritize public safety and support victims.

Saving money should not be the primary focus of criminal justice policy, nor should arbitrarily reducing the prison population. However, when the state adopts evidence-based practices and provides support and reentry services to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior, it can lead to lower crime rates, reduced recidivism, lower tax-payer costs, and lower incarceration rates.

By reserving incarceration for those who pose a genuine threat to public safety, Mississippi strives to create a safer environment for its residents. Public safety can be achieved by ensuring that our criminal justice produces results  lower crime rates  while being cost-effective. Investing in law enforcement, community resources and targeting the underlying issues of crime is tough on crime.

The state faces many challenges related to crime, incarceration rates, and high recidivism rates that pre-date Mississippis 2014 and 2021 reforms, mislabeled by others as mis-guided criminal justice reforms.

Neither are these challenges unique to Mississippi. Since 2020, the nation has seen a rise in violent crime even in many states that did not pass reforms. Mississippis reform efforts have been guided and focused on public safety, rehabilitation, and community support.

By addressing root causes, striking a balance between punishment and rehabilitation, and implementing evidence-based practices, the state aims to create safer communities while promoting positive change. It is crucial that we dispel misconceptions and recognize Mississippi's commitment to a fair and effective criminal justice system that prioritizes public safety.

 Scott Peyton is Mississippi Director of Right On Crime.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Must reduce crime, hold Mississippis criminal justice system accountable
While obtaining her two degrees from Penn State Harrisburg, Atika Syed says she often struggled to feel seen.

Syed, a Muslim woman, immigrated to Hershey, Pennsylvania, from Pakistan in 2010 because of her husbands job and started school as a mother of two, eventually obtaining a bachelors degree in sociology and a masters in community psychology and social change.

I would often feel like I had to actually, actively explain to people at the university what certain religious requirements were, what was deemed important in my religion and culture. And that was a very tedious process, Syed said. It made me feel like an outsider. And thats the last thing you need when youre in a place that you spend most of your waking hours.

In an attempt to ensure that other students dont have the same experience, Syed works as the Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and Desi American (APIMEDA) coordinator at Towson Universitys Center for Student Diversity. Shes the first person to hold the position. (Desi describes people of the Indian subcontinent, including those from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.)

The Center for Student Diversity was established in 1969 as the Office of Minority Affairs to integrate Black students into Towson, according to the centers website. The center has changed names several times since then.

According to a university spokesperson, in spring 2023, there were about 1,180 students in the APIMEDA community out of 18,306 students across the undergraduate and graduate populations.

Syed, 46, capped off her inaugural year in the role by overseeing a first-of-its-kind graduation ceremony for APIMEDA students May 19. Over 50 graduates received navy blue and gold stoles while surrounded by dishes piled high with vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken and samosas.

Ava Askandarian, 22, was one of those students. She said it was eye-opening to sit in a room surrounded by other students in the APIMEDA community, and that it made her feel proud.

Askandarian, who studied psychology and theater arts, immigrated from Iran while in elementary school. At Towson, she was constantly looking for a place she belonged. She started working as a student office assistant at the Center for Student Diversity in September 2021, a little less than a year before Syed started. Askandarian said Syed being in the office was a catalyst for the APIMEDA communitys growth.

All the students who identify as APIMEDA are slowly starting to find a place where they feel like they belong, Askandarian said. APIMEDA ... is a huge umbrella term with so many different backgrounds and cultures. I feel like having a coordinator who understands that is so important, so the students feel as though they are at home.

At the beginning of the year, Syed focused on building relationships with individual students and student organizations, she said. Students often offer to help her with events such as the graduation ceremony. And theyve come to see Syeds office as a safe space where she helps them prioritize their mental and physical health while managing course loads.

The relationship has blossomed so much so that they actually, when they dont have classes, they often hang out in my office all the time, Syed said. Theres hardly any time when Im by myself in my office.

Askandarian said shes grateful that Syeds door is always open. While grappling with watching her country undergo a woman-led revolution from afar, Askandarian found comfort in being able to go to Syed for support.

In addition to the graduation ceremony, Syed has hosted other events for APIMEDA students, such as two welcome events at the beginning of the fall semester, an author talk and book signing with a Pakistani writer and a stop Asian hate panel discussion. She has collaborated with offices such as the Asian Arts & Culture Center and the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility.

Before Syed started at the Center for Student Diversity, she worked as a social justice coordinator at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg in Pennsylvania and as a homicide survivor advocate at Robertas House, a family grief support center, in Baltimore.

At the Center for Student Diversity, Syed is one of several employees who connect with students from traditionally underserved communities, such as the Latine, African American and LGBTQ+ communities.

By providing the services of the center, we are able to ensure that the students are also retaining and graduating because they have identified a sense of community on campus, said Rhea Roper Nedd, the centers director. Being on campus away from home can be challenging, but knowing that you have a community, a support system, and a ... faculty member that can serve as your mentor and your advocate and your ally certainly changes or shifts the experience that youre having on a college campus.

When she was a Penn State Harrisburg student, Syed didnt know she could bring her children to class if she couldnt find a babysitter or that she could ask professors to let her eat to break her Ramadan fast during class. Even though she had understanding professors, Syed said she didnt feel comfortable asking for help.

Syeds daughter, Adeena, graduated from both Penn State and Temple universities. Like her mother, Adeena struggled to find someone she could relate to in the administration, Syed said.

When this opportunity came my way, my daughter was the first one to say, Please, do not pass it up, Syed said. She was like, I wish I had someone like that. You have no idea how much your students are going to appreciate having someone like you in that position and youre going to establish some great relationships. And almost a year into it, I can see that she was right.

This article is part of our Newsmaker series, which profiles notable people in the Baltimore region who are having an impact in our diverse communities. If youd like to suggest someone who should be profiled, please send their name and a short description of what they are doing to make a difference to: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Editor Kamau High at khigh@baltsun.com.
A 24-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, woman wanted in the shooting of a man and child at a Blue Springs hotel last month was arrested on Monday night, a police spokeswoman said.

Details of the arrest were not immediately available. However, Platte County jail records show that Samantha J. Thrasher was booked into the jail shortly after midnight and was being held on no bond.

The Jackson County Prosecutors Office charged Thrasher last week with two counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting that injured a 36-year-old man and a 7-year-old girl. The shooting occurred shortly before midnight on May 20 at the SureStay Plus Hotel at 701 N.W. South Outer Road.

Blue Springs police released a flyer along with photos on Thursday asking for help locating Thrasher, saying she was very dangerous and was considered armed.

According to court documents, Thrasher first encountered the victims as they walking into the hotel. A witness told police that Thrasher nearly struck them as she drove up onto the curb in front of the hotel.

Thrasher then went into the hotel and allegedly demanded a refund for her room. The hotel employee responded that only a manager could do so. A verbal altercation ensued, and Thrasher allegedly grabbed the hotel employee by the hair and struck her, according to court documents.

The man intervened and escorted Thrasher out of the hotel. Then, Thrasher swung at the man with closed fist and walked to her SUV.

Hotel surveillance video allegedly captured Thrasher pulling out a handgun from inside the vehicle and returning to the hotel lobby, where she allegedly fired multiple shots at the man, striking him. One of the rounds went through a couch and passed through the girls elbow.

Thrasher then fled in her 2003 Chevrolet Tahoo.
Troopers from the Milan post of the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Bucyrus District Office of Investigative Services are seeking the public's help in finding the suspected vehicle and driver in a road rage incident on Ohio Turnpike on May 9 near Ohio 4 in Groton Township.

MILAN - Troopers from the Milan post of the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Bucyrus District Office of Investigative Services are seeking the public's help in finding a vehicle and driver suspected to have been involved in a road rage incident on May 9.

Just after 7 p.m. May 9, troopers responded to reports of shots fired following a road rage incident near Ohio 4 in Groton Township, according to a news release from the patrol. The victim, who was not injured, was able to provide a description of the vehicle, a white, four-door sedan; and the driver, a black male, approximately 35 to 40 years old, wearing a hat.

Troopers checked the area, but were unable to find the vehicle. They later reviewed surveillance video and found images of the suspected vehicle exiting the turnpike at U.S. 250, minutes after the incident occurred.

Troopers have not been able to determine the identity of the driver or the location of the vehicle. Anyone with information regarding this incident, the location of the vehicle, or the identity of the driver is asked to call the Milan Post at 440-234-2096.

Troopers from the Milan post of the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Bucyrus District Office of Investigative Services are seeking the public's help in finding the suspected vehicle and driver in a road rage incident on Ohio Turnpike on May 9 near Ohio 4 in Groton Township.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Public asked to help ID suspect in turnpike road rage incident
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie presents a unique challenge to frontrunnner Donald Trump

Republican former New Jersey governor Chris Christie jumped into the 2024 race for the White House on Tuesday, positioning himself as a political knife-fighter and the only candidate willing to take on frontrunner Donald Trump.

Christie, who filed his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission before an evening announcement in Manchester, New Hampshire, presents a novel challenge as the only Republican contender so far willing to land genuinely damaging blows on the former president.

The 60-year-old Newark native came sixth in New Hampshire seven years ago and eventually endorsed Trump, serving as a key advisor before the pair fell out over the tycoon's refusal to accept his 2020 election defeat.

At his announcement in New Hampshire Tuesday evening, Christie depicted Trump as self-obsessed and dishonest.

The former US president, Christie said "always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong, but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right."

And Christie argued last month that the de facto Republican leader was "afraid" of debating serious opponents.

Trump has indicated that he may skip at least one of the first two Republican primary debates, expressing a reluctance to share the limelight with lower-polling rivals.

"If he really cares about the country -- and I have deep questions about that -- but if he really cares about the country, then he's going to get up there, and he shouldn't be afraid," Christie told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Christie has assailed Trump on all manner of issues, highlighting the escalating criminal probes targeting the embattled billionaire, trashing his false claims of election fraud and dubbing him "Putin's puppet" over his isolationist stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

John Ellis, a former head of the Fox News Election Night Decision Desk, told AFP that while a bigger field benefits Trump, Christie's candidacy could put the top-polling candidate on the back foot.

"Because he will attack Trump relentlessly, Christie's campaign will get a ton of coverage in the mainstream press, which may help him do well in New Hampshire," said Ellis.

Christie's launch comes a day after former vice president Mike Pence filed the paperwork for his own White House bid, setting up an unusual scenario in which two former running mates becoming rivals.

The evangelical Christian plans an official campaign launch on Wednesday in the early voting state of Iowa -- joining an already crowded field that includes Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Trump's closest competition.

Former governors Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson are also in the race, while North Dakota's chief executive Doug Burgam is due to announce on Wednesday.

Polls show Trump as the overwhelming early frontrunner, regularly posting leads on DeSantis in excess of 30 points. None of the other candidates is achieving double figures.

But the former president is engulfed by multiple criminal investigations into his personal and professional conduct that have already yielded dozens of felony charges in New York.

Legal watchers expect Trump to face further indictment in the coming days over the mishandling of government documents taken without permission from the White House and stashed improperly at his residence in Florida.

ft/caw/md/caw
Former President Trump unleashed a torrent of angry social media posts Tuesday about the investigations into his conduct, the day after his lawyers met with Justice Department (DOJ) officials.

Trump posted several times on Truth Social, levying claims that he is being politically targeted and offering up misleading comparisons between his own case and President Bidens when it comes to handling classified material.

The Marxists and Fascists in the DOJ & FBI are going after me at a level and speed never seen before in our Country, and I did nothing wrong, he wrote in one post. Joe Biden kept (keeps) thousand of documents, in many locations, some illegally taken from skiffs while he was a Senator, a big portion of which were classified. He didnt want to give them back, and still doesnt. Nothing happens to him, with same reasonable prosecutor who correctly exonerated Mike Pence. I have a much different prosecutor, a Trump hater!

Jack Smith, a DOJ special counsel, is investigating Trumps handling of classified materials after dozens of sensitive documents were found at his Mar-a-Lago estate last summer. Those documents were found in an FBI raid that came after Trump refused to turn the documents over to the National Archives.

A separate special counsel is investigating Bidens handling of classified material after documents were found at his Wilmington, Del., home and an old Washington, D.C., office from his time as vice president. Bidens team alerted federal officials upon discovering the documents and turned them over.

The Justice Department last week also cleared former Vice President Mike Pence of any wrongdoing after a small number of classified documents were found at his Indiana home in January.

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In several other posts, Trump claimed that the investigations into his conduct amounted to election interference as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Its all about ELECTION INTERFERENCE. They dont want to run against me, he wrote. I ran twice, I did much better the second time, getting millions and millions more votes than the first, a record for a sitting President, and am leading Biden in the polls, by a lot. They are the Party of Disinformation! They are using the DOJ & FBI against me to Rigg the 2024 Election.

They are also going after me as RETRIBUTION for the Republicans in Congress going after them, Trump wrote in a separate post. The difference is, they have created major crimes, I have created none!

A day prior to Trumps lashing out, his lawyers met with DOJ officials to discuss the ongoing case against him, according to multiple outlets.

More Trump coverage from The Hill:

ABC News reported the meeting included Smith, who  in addition to the document case  is also probing Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and remain in power, including his part in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

In addition to the special counsel investigation, Trump is under legal scrutiny in Georgia, where a state prosecutor is looking into his teams efforts to overturn the states 2020 election results.

And the Manhattan district attorney in April charged Trump with more than 30 felony counts related to a hush money scheme to keep quiet an alleged affair with a porn star during the 2016 campaign. Trump has denied the allegations.

Trump is currently leading the GOP primary field in most national polls, though polls have been mixed for him at the state level and in head-to-head matchups with Biden. A Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll released last month showed Trump leading Biden by 7 percentage points in a hypothetical matchup, though a Quinnipiac University poll released late last month showed Biden ahead by 2 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump lawyers meet with DOJ as decision nears on whether to bring charges in Mar-a-Lago case

Trump Classified Documents (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Lawyers for Donald Trump were meeting with Justice Department officials on Monday as a decision nears on whether to bring charges over the handling of classified documents at the former presidents Florida estate.

The Trump lawyers two weeks ago requested a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to raise concerns about what they alleged was prosecutorial misconduct and overreach by the team led by special counsel Jack Smith. But a defense attorney meeting with Justice Department officials is also often used as an opportunity to try to persuade them against bringing criminal charges.

A CBS News reporter posted a photo on Twitter of Trumps lawyers entering the Justice Department headquarters in Washington. It was not immediately clear who the lawyers were meeting with.

The investigation into the potential mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago is believed to be near its end, with a charging decision likely soon. Prosecutors have placed a broad cross section of witnesses, including lawyers for Trump and close aides, before a grand jury.
Former President Trump is slated to sit for an extensive interview with Fox Newss Bret Baier later this month, The Hill has learned.

The taped interview, which is set to air June 19 during Baiers Special Report program, will be Trumps first with one of the networks straight-news journalists since his 2020 election loss. He has repeatedly attacked the top-watched cable outlet recently as he makes another bid for the White House.

Trump has ridiculed Fox and its corporate ownership over its coverage of his false claims about the 2020 election for months and has accused the cable giants effort to boost the political ascendance of rival presidential primary candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In his most recent attack on the network, the former president went after his own former press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, whos now a host on Fox News.

Kayleigh Milktoast McEnany just gave out the wrong poll numbers on FoxNews, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last week, referencing her commentary on DeSantiss poll numbers. She knew the number was corrected upwards by the group that did the poll. The RINOS & Globalists can have her. FoxNews should only use REAL Stars!!!

Trump has nonetheless made a number of recent appearances on the networks prime-time opinion shows with hosts who are vocally supportive of him and his political agenda.

Last week, he participated in a prerecorded town hall event from the campaign trail in Iowa with top Fox pundit and longtime personal friend Sean Hannity.

For all the bluster, we are finalizing an interview in the next couple of weeks, a source within the networks news division told The Hill earlier this month. Its going to be fair, but its not going to be easy.

Trump most recently faced tough questioning during a town hall with CNN in May, a media spectacle that was his first appearance on the channel in years at times took on the feel of one of his campaign rallies.

Trump agreeing to an interview with Baier is significant given recent reports that he is considering not participating in the first Republican primary debate, which will be hosted by and aired on Fox. Baier is widely viewed as a leading candidate to moderate the August debate.

A New York Times report last month cited a member of Trumps inner circle who said the former president had specifically taken issue with the prospect of being questioned by Baier.

Baier, on his nightly Special Report program, has aired a number of segments refuting Trumps false claims of voter fraud and fact-checking his misleading characterizations of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Why would I have Bret Baier question me, Trump recently asked the associate, according to The Times.

I think the debate talk is more about him being up by 40 points than it is about Bret Baiers questions, the network source said of Trumps noncommittal posture on the GOP debates.

Much of the consternation between Trump and Fox can be traced back to the networks relatively early race call of Arizona for President Biden on election night 2020.

Internal communications from Foxs top talent and executives from around the time of the 2020 election  which were made public as part of a recent defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems  show staffers scrambling to deal with incoming criticism from Trump and his supporters while his campaign floated unproven claims about voter fraud.

A couple of texts in the heat of the aftermath of a crazy election does not equal the integrity of 26 years of reporting the news, the source, who was also an integral part of the networks election coverage, said, noting Fox never considered changing or reversing the Arizona race call on air.

The network settled with Dominion last month for $787 million and is defending itself from separate litigation with Smartmatic, another voting systems company that alleges the company defamed it by airing false claims about its software being promoted by Trumps allies.

We will be ready to defend this case surrounding extremely newsworthy events when it goes to trial, likely in 2025, a spokesperson for the network said in its most recent statement about the case. As a report prepared by our financial expert shows, Smartmatics damages claims are implausible, disconnected from reality, and on its face intended to chill First Amendment freedoms.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Special Counsel Jack Smiths office in recent weeks has issued federal grand jury subpoenas out of southern Florida to multiple witnesses linked to the classified documents probe involving former President Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the investigative steps.

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One witness is expected to testify this week before a grand jury in Florida, the people said, and at least one additional witness already has appeared, according to one of the people. Both sources requested anonymity to discuss nonpublic court activity.

Smiths presence in Florida, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, marks a new front for the Justice Departments records investigation, which for more than a year has unfolded in secret grand jury proceedings in federal district court in Washington. Prosecutors have been exploring whether Trump or anyone else mishandled sensitive national security information or tried to obstruct the governments efforts to retrieve documents taken when he left the White House.

Read more: Trump Lawyers Meet With DOJ Officials in Records Probe

It wasnt immediately clear what the Florida activity means for the future direction of Smiths work. Justice Department rules generally state that prosecutors can only present a case for indictment to a grand jury in the district where a particular offense took place, although they can use evidence theyve collected in front of panels sitting elsewhere. Its possible, for instance, that Smiths office could pursue indictments against certain people in Florida and others in Washington.

The latest action in Florida comes as Smiths office appeared to be wrapping up the records probe heading into the summer. A second investigation being run by Smith into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election is ongoing.

A spokesperson for Trump did not return a request for comment. Smiths office declined to comment.

The documents investigation has largely focused on Trumps handling of government records stored at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. After FBI agents executed a court-authorized search warrant there last August, Trumps lawyers waged an unsuccessful fight in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida to stop investigators from using some or all of the thousands of pages of seized material.

On Monday, three of Trumps lawyers appeared at the Justice Department headquarters in Washington for a meeting with senior officials to discuss the documents investigation  a meeting that included Smith, but not Attorney General Merrick Garland or Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, according to a person familiar with the events.

Trumps team previously had sent a letter asking for a sit-down with Garland to lodge complaints about Smiths work.

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Truro man pleads guilty in federal court to illegal gun sales. Here's what to know

A Truro man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Boston to illegally selling more than 20 guns on Cape Cod.

James McNulty, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license, according to U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts spokesperson Caroline E. Ferguson. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11.

Ferguson declined to comment further.

Federal investigators said McNulty sold at least 23 guns that did not belong to him from January 2021 to April 2021. McNulty personally sold the firearms for cash to individuals from his Truro residence. He does not have a license to import, manufacture or deal firearms.

McNulty's lawyer, Jane Peachy, told the Times in an email Tuesday that the "plea agreement, in which the government has agreed to ask for a non-custodial sentence, reflects some of the unusual and mitigating circumstances surrounding the offense."

Also in Truro this year: 'Resilience and luck' as Truro family picks up the pieces after devastating explosion

McNulty was arrested in February of last year.

The charge of dealing in firearms without a license has a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 23 guns for cash: Truro man pleads guilty in federal court
By turning immigrants into crime victims for publicity, DeSantis guarantees their stay | Opinion

The peoples diversity in The Golden State is as splendid as the weather.

The South American immigrants Gov. Ron DeSantis has flown to sanctuary city Sacramento, in yet another inhumane stunt, will be fine in the long run.

The state of the Florida governors standing, on the other hand, is another story.

Not having picked up any human-decency skills from the Marthas Vineyard experience, DeSantis has again toyed with immigrants lives.

Twice in four days, Florida  whose Legislature indulged the governors hate and funded with an additional $12 million in taxpayer dollars secretive and legally questionable migrant flights  recruited new groups of immigrants in Texas to ship to California.

Again, flights were unannounced in order to create chaos when no one is at the drop-off point to receive asylum-seekers legally processed at the U.S.-Mexico border.

You small, pathetic man, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called DeSantis, homing in with a surgeons precision on our governors essence.

But DeSantis has more than a political foes words to worry about.

If the Texas sheriff recommendation that criminal charges be filed in the case of DeSantis migrant flights from San Antonio to Massachusetts prevails, perhaps he might also rise to the category of human trafficker.

Newsom also vowed to seek kidnapping charges.

READ MORE: Texas sheriff recommends criminal charges in DeSantis migrant flights to Marthas Vineyard

Flights backfire

DeSantis record of oppressing the least powerful in society is impressive.

But, on immigration, a matter of federal, not state, jurisdiction, DeSantis excesses might just cost him more than he anticipated, starting with egg on his face.

His flights might become the ticket through which migrants he exploited for political points get to stay in this country forever.

If victims of a crime, legal and undocumented immigrants are protected by U.S. law from deportation.

Many immigrants are fearful of admitting that they have been a victim of a crime, in part, because they believe they will be removed (deported) from the United States if they report the crime, the Department of Homeland Security website explains. U.S. law provides several protections for legal and undocumented immigrants who have been victims of a crime. There are specific protections for victims of domestic violence, victims of certain crimes, and victims of human trafficking.

To conduct his Texas investigation, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar needed the witness testimony of the 48 migrants DeSantis flew from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard. To get their cooperation as witnesses, they were granted protections under the victims of human trafficking provision of the Homeland Security laws.

And talk, they did.

One document obtained by the Miami Herald alleges DeSantis operation lured migrants onto the flights with false promises of jobs, housing and other opportunities. The sheriff is now recommending that the district attorney file criminal charges.

If the case progresses, Florida, once again, will have to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to defend DeSantis violations of peoples rights.

And the immigrants now not only have legal cases for asylum with which to proceed, but also the peace and protection the law confers on them of being witnesses to a potential crime. They will most likely get to stay.

Newsom also vowed to prosecute under human-trafficking laws those responsible for the flights to Californias capital city, one DeSantis has mocked for being an immigrant sanctuary.

Again, the immigrants DeSantis sought to hurt win on his dime.

Floridas governor, it turns out, may be good at stoking the Trump crowds hatred of immigrants this labor-short nation needs, but hes also pathetically incompetent.

He doesnt look ahead when he acts upon his campaign needs and impulses. And Florida taxpayers foot his bill for all of it.

DeSantis extremism also has Floridas agriculture, tourism and construction industries nervous and displeased. They need the immigrant labor. They need the tourism of Blacks and Hispanics turned off of the state by DeSantis discriminatory laws. Instead, organizations are issuing travel advisories.

READ MORE: Except for Disney, tourism officials let DeSantis run amok. Why are they concerned now? | Opinion

Legacy of cruelty

What a legacy to leave to his three, cute little children, for whom DeSantis was buying chocolate and strawberry ice cream at Jonis Roast & Ride in Iowa in front of C-SPAN cameras.

Theyll grow up and judge him for what hes gratuitously doing to other humans fleeing misfortune Americans, hopefully, will never know. His children will look back, see how DeSantis used them, too, as anti-immigrant props when he made a campaign video of them playing with blocks as if they were helping ex-President Donald Trump build his wall.

Not a bit of smarts went into DeSantis sending two small groups of infinitesimal importance to a state that, until 1848, was part of Mexico, to where many whites trace their heritage. A state with a $3 trillion-plus GDP, where almost 40% of the people are Hispanic and another 16% are Asian.

Any immigrant would feel at home here.

DeSantis is small and pathetic, indeed. But is that any surprise?
After two days in trees at Lake Eola Park, bear wandered off overnight, FWC says

After two days spent in trees at Orlandos signature park, a young bear that repeatedly drew onlookers, first responders and wildlife officials to Lake Eola Park since Sunday left the area overnight, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Lisa Thompson, a spokesperson for FWC, said Tuesday morning that the bear left its latest tree about 1 a.m. and has dispersed from the area. Its unclear where the animal went from there, but state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who has been monitoring and providing updates on the bear she dubbed Blaze, said in a social media post it was headed east.

The bear was first spotted up a tree at the park on Sunday, drawing crowds of onlookers from a nearby farmers market. According to officials, it left that tree early Monday but got spooked by a bicyclist and climbed a different tree near Osphere Grill and Bar, where it spent the day.

During this time of year, bears are more active. Juvenile bears are starting to disperse and leave their mothers home range and may be seen in unexpected areas as they try to find a new home, Thompson said in an email. Typically, these bears will move away on their own. If you see a bear, give it space, dont try to approach it, and never feed it.

After each sighting, police responded to tape off the area and FWC staff came out, hoping to trap the bear and release it in the Ocala National Forest area.

Black bears have been seen in downtown neighborhoods before.

In April, a young bear was spotted in the College Park neighborhood. The bear was killed when it crossed West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park.

This is the time of year, between spring and summer, that juvenile black bears between the ages of 1.5 and 2.5 years old often go off on their own, the process known as dispersing. Bears are not generally aggressive but can become defensive if they feel threatened.

Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm, Thompson said Monday. However, it is important that residents secure food attractants so that bears do not linger in the area. If a bear is not able to find food, it will move on.
Two Lexington businessmen have pleaded guilty in connection with selling counterfeit protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adam K. Sloan, chief commercial officer for Old World Timber, pleaded guilty June 1 in federal court in Lexington to a charge of introducing a misbranded device into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead.

Nathan Brown, founder and chief executive officer of the company, pleaded guilty to the same charge in April.

The plea agreements for both men call for a sentence of at least five months in jail but not more than 10 months.

Old Word Timber, which has its manufacturing facility in Lexington, specializes in turning wood from old barns and other structures into flooring, wallboard, stair treads and other products.

The business has made a point of providing job opportunities to people who have overcome substance abuse or had criminal convictions, making second chance wood by second chance people, as its website says.

In the fall of 2020, Brown decided to import and sell 3M company medical-grade masks, called N95 masks, according to the court record.

At the time, health officials were urging people to wear masks to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and the need for masks in healthcare facilities had gone up.

Masks from China

Old World Timber obtained masks from two companies in China, but one provided invalid documentation on whether the masks were legitimate 3M products, so Brown stopped selling them and refunded customers money, according to his plea agreement.

The second Chinese company said it had a deal with a medical-supply company that was an authorized 3M dealer in Hong Kong and provided documentation on the authenticity of the masks.

After Old World Timber started selling the masks, however, Brown and Sloan began to learn various facts that raised questions about whether they were authentic, according to their plea agreements.

Sloan had sent information on the masks in December 2020 to a 3M team aimed at reducing fraud and counterfeiting. In a response a few days later, the company said some of the documentation Old World Timber had received was fake.

In February 2021, 3M issued several alerts about counterfeit masks that included lot codes for some of the masks Old World Timber had bought.

One alert said 3M masks exported from China of the same model Old World Timber had bought should be viewed as counterfeit.

Removing a seal

The masks had a type of seal on them that indicated they were likely counterfeit, according to the court record.

On March 3, 2021, Brown had those seals removed from some of the masks, according to his plea agreement.

In a motion in a separate bankruptcy case, a federal official said Old World Timber employees used heat from a hair dryer to remove the seals.

The company took active steps to hide that the masks it was selling were counterfeit, that motion alleged.

Old World Timber kept selling the masks until April 9, 2021, and made no effort to follow up with the anti-counterfeit unit at 3M, according to their plea agreements.

The two men acknowledged that by March 3, 2021, they were deliberately ignoring a high probability the masks Old World Timber had were not genuine.

Their plea agreements covered sales from March and April 2021.

Emergency circumstances

In the separate bankruptcy case, an attorney for the acting U.S. Trustee  an office whose job includes detecting fraud in bankruptcy cases  said in a motion that Old World Timber sold $584,980 worth of masks in 2020 and just over $1 million worth of masks in 2021, before federal authorities seized them.

That upshot was that Old World Timber significantly stepped up sales after 3M first told the company some documents it had received raised questions about whether the masks were counterfeit, the trustees motion said.

In a response at the time, attorneys for Old World Timber said the company disputed any allegation of intentional deception.

Old World Timber was operating under emergency circumstances to try to increase access to (protective gear) that it believed to be authentic and reliable, its attorney said.

That was before Brown and Sloan entered guilty pleas.

3M sued Old World Timber in May 2021, alleging the company was deceiving customers by selling counterfeit masks.

The Lexington company agreed in July 2021 to an injunction to stop selling the masks, and ultimately agreed to pay 3M a total of $451,277, covering 3Ms costs in the case and a portion of what Old World Timber made from mask sales.
Two men charged nearly one year after Lexington car crash that left 26-year-old dead

Two men have recently been charged in connection to a fatal crash that happened more than one year ago, according to Lexington police.

Eury Peralta, a 34-year-old West Chester, Ohio resident and Dustin Johnson, 24, of Lexington, were both indicted on March 20 for their roles in the collision, according to court records. Court documents say Peralta faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, DUI and second-degree assault while Johnson faces charges of DUI and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

The crash happened on March 27, 2022 on Versailles Road near Westmorland Road, according to WKYT, the Herald-Leaders news-reporting partner. WKYT reported two cars collided, leaving one person dead and three others injured.

Peraltas indictment says he caused the death of Morgan Powell by wantonly operating a motor vehicle. It also said he caused serious physical injuries to another victim in the crash.

Johnsons indictment says he was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, causing the collision.

Powell was a 26-year-old woman from Corbin who loved being outdoors and on the lake, according to her obituary.

Both Peralta and Johnson were arrested shortly after the indictments came out. Johnson was released from the Fayette County Detention Center seven days later after posting a $6,000 bond, while Peralta was in jail a little over a month before posting an $11,000 bond, according to court records.

Peralta is due back in court June 29 for a pretrial conference, according to court records. Johnson is scheduled to return to court on June 23 for a status hearing.

Peraltas lawyer, Derrick Harris, said he believes his client is innocent in the case.

Obviously when there is a loss of life that is a tragedy, Harris told the Herald-Leader. I do believe that it is important to note that the other driver involved was charged with driving under the influence. We have not received the Commonwealths evidence including an accident reconstruction. At this time there is very little evidence to make any further statements about the case.

I believe once we get the evidence, and our experts review the accident reconstruction and all other pertinent information, that my clients side of the story will be corroborated. I believe my client when he says he is innocent and will do everything in my power to prove it.

Johnsons attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two planes of migrants landed in California within a weekboth flown by the same air charter company

Gavin Newsom warned Ron DeSantis against violating the law.

Days after a planeload of Latin American migrants arrived on a private jet at a small Sacramento airport, a second such group has landed in Californias capital.



Twenty more migrants, on top of the 16 who were abandoned outside a church last Friday (June 2), arrived yesterday (June 5), the New York Times reported. The migrants, mostly from Venezuela, took the same route as the previous batch: flown to Sacramento from the same airport in New Mexico. Like the earlier cohort, they had been approached at a shelter in El Paso, Texas, with the promise of securing work, shelter, and food in California.

Read more

Since the migrants came with Florida paperwork, California state authorities have accused the Florida government of being behind these migrant flights. Moreover, the company organizing the chartered flights, Vertol Systems Company, has strong ties to Florida.

Manipulating & exploiting vulnerable human beings for cheap political points is cruel, morally bankrupt, & un-American, Rob Bonta, the California attorney general who has opened an investigation into these flights, wrote in a tweet yesterday.



Is Florida kidnapping migrants?



Gavin Newsom, the California governor, took a more targeted dig at Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful.

Ron DeSantis, you small, pathetic man. This isnt Marthas Vineyard. Kidnapping charges? Newsom tweeted, alongside a screenshot of Californias criminal code, which states anyone who transports a person by fraud to the state is guilty of kidnapping.

Florida lawmakers expanded the states relocation program in February, giving DeSantis the powers to decide to fly migrants from anywherenot just Floridato Democratic-led cities and states. Three months later, Florida handpicked a number of companies to execute this phase of DeSantiss plan. So far, DeSantis has kept mum on his alleged involvement in the two California flights. He might address them on June 19, when hes scheduled to meet wealthy donors at Sacramento fundraiser, with tickets going for $3,300 a piece.

Company of interest: Vertol Systems Company

In an interview, Bonta said that the second flight appeared to be part of the same scheme, the same official policy of the state of Florida whereby the state of Florida used public tax dollars to fund this program, the so-called voluntary transportation program. Bonta linked both the Friday and Monday flights to Vertol.

Thats not all. Last September, DeSantis paid to charter two planes to fly nearly 50 migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard. Those flights were also organized by Vertol. DeSantis, on his presidential campaign trail, has been boasting of the innovative migrant flights he sent to Marthas Vineyard.

Oregon-based Vertols connection to Florida is much stronger than one-off contractual jobs. It has been known to back DeSantis allies and was once legally represented by Matt Gaetza crucial member of DeSantiss transition team in 2018. Gaetzs former law firm partner, Larry Keefe, is Floridas public safety czar, overseeing immigration policy.

One big number: Floridas payment to Vertol



$1.56 million: The sum that Vertol received from Floridas Division of Emergency Management last year to fly migrants and asylum seekers from Texas to Marthas Vineyard. The flights cost $615,000; another $950,000 was allocated to flights to Delaware and Illinois, but these never transpired, Florida records show. In total, the Florida legislature has set aside $12 million for these relocation schemes, much or all of it carved out of federal covid-19 relief funds.

Person of interest: Greg Abbott, governor of Texas



Like DeSantis, Abbott, the governor of another red state, has been running migrant relocation programs of his own. In April 2022, Texas started busing migrants to major cities led by Democrats, such as Washington DC, Illinois, New York, and, most recently, Denver. Abbott has blamed Bidens reckless open border policies for burdening Texas small border towns. Representatives for Abbott have denied involvement in the two flights sent to California, though.



Quotable: White House condemns deceitfully transporting migrants

[B]using or flying migrants around the country without any coordination with the federal government...is dangerous and unacceptable because youre putting peoples lives at risk. And its dangerous and its unacceptable because youre actually putting a lot of pressure on these states and local areas. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre, during a June 5 press briefing.

One  thing

Florida and its contractors are already facing a federal class-action lawsuit from the migrants flown to Marthas Vinyard. They may also at the center of a criminal investigation by Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County, Texas. Salazars office yesterday recommended criminal action on account of felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, although it didnt specify against whom these charges would be levied.

Related stories

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 Ron DeSantiss 2024 presidential race got off to a glitchy start

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Tyler James Williams cleared the air about rumors surrounding his sexuality in a message of solidarity during Pride Month.

In several since-expired posts shared to his Instagram Story over the weekend, the Abbott Elementary actor noted that he usually wouldnt address stuff like this but felt the conversation is bigger than me, People reported.

Im not gay, but I think the culture of trying to find some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closed person let slip is very dangerous, the 30-year-old wrote, condemning people who try to label others as queer before theyre ready to disclose their sexuality.

Overanalyzing someones behavior in an attempt to catch them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer-questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth, the Emmy nominee explained. It makes the most pedestrian of conversations and interactions in spaces feel less safe for our gay brothers and sisters and those who may be questioning.

Tyler James Williams stars in ABC's

Tyler James Williams stars in ABC's "Abbott Elementary."

The former child star of Everybody Hates Chris noted that making assumptions about someones sexuality based on stereotypical characteristics also reinforces an archetype many straight men have to live under that is oftentimes unrealistic, less free, and limits individual expression.

Adding that being gay or straight doesnt look one way, he warned that what may seem like harmless fun and conversation may actually be sending a dangerous message.

Williams, who once played a gay character in 2014s Dear White People, wrapped up his message by wishing Happy Pride to all of my queer and questioning brothers, sisters, and individuals.

I pray that you feel seen in ways that make you feel safe in the celebration that is this month, the actor added before promising to help the world get to a future where we are all accepted and given permission to be ourselves.

After Williams post began making the rounds on social media, some Twitter users offered their support and praised his words.

i hope everyone reads tyler james williams stories and takes notes pic.twitter.com/AgWIxgYTO2  cait atreides (@timcqthe) June 4, 2023

this is so important tyler james williams i love you pic.twitter.com/KdQnyck3Lf  ad (@Iedtasso) June 4, 2023

Tyler James Williams IG story is everything https://t.co/mcK9nUtTx9  Olenka Sayko (@coco_chatel) June 4, 2023

Tyler James Williams is a KING! pic.twitter.com/QTeGTDmDZ2  hailey  (@sn0angel) June 4, 2023

The Wedding Year actors message also garnered support from his younger brother, 26-year-old Tyrel Jackson Williams.

The way he handled my and our younger brothers coming out should be studied. He COMPLETELY deconstructed his views on masculinity and made sure to build spaces for us to be comfortable and seen until we were ready to tell our friends/family, the Lab Rats alum wrote in part of a lengthy Twitter thread that also referenced the pairs younger sibling, 21-year-old Tylen Jacob Williams.

2/10 The way he handled my and our younger brothers coming out should be studied. He COMPLETELY deconstructed his views on masculinity and made sure to build spaces for us to be comfortable and seen until we were ready to tell our friends/family  the one named tyrel (@Tyreljwill) June 4, 2023

Related...
The Abbott Elementary stars younger brother Tyrel Jackson Williams shares how his big brother embraced him when he came out.

Tyler James Williams younger brother Tyrel Jackson is giving his big brother his flowers this Pride Month.

In a recent thread on Twitter, Tyrel opens up about how Williams reacted when he and their other younger brother first came out to Williams as gay. Tyrel said the way Williams handled their coming out should be studied.

He COMPLETELY deconstructed his views on masculinity, Tyrel wrote. And made sure to build spaces for us to be comfortable and seen until we were ready to tell our friends/family.

Tyrel Jackson Williams attends Disneys Hollywood Stargirl Premiere at El Capitan Theatre on May 23, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

According to Tyrel, Williams sought out literature on the subject, like We Real Cool and The Will To Change by bell hooks, and went as far as to discuss the texts with his younger brothers. Williams was also a listening ear and gave advice when he could and remained honest and empathetic when he couldnt.

We all rebuilt our definition of manhood together, brick-by-brick. And it was not easy work. But we werent doing it alone, Tyrel explained.

Tyrel said one of the lesser-known joys of queerness is the process of complete reconstruction of ones ego. This process, he explained, involves stepping into the realization that part of identifying as queer is taking back control over how you exist and show up. Its also about embracing that there arent predestined rules for the person youre becoming, so you get to create yourself.

He said his big brother demonstrated positive and effective allyship by providing resources and then stepping back and allowing his younger brothers to engage how they saw best.

He added, We taught each other just how big the world can be when you decide for yourself who and what you are. What is authentic to you. That is how you be a f ally.

He concluded his thread by saying, So I want to give Ty his flowers this pride month. A true representation of healthy masculinity and effective allyship. Give him all of the awards forever.

This thread comes on the heels of Williams own Pride Month message. As previously reported by theGrio, in a message posted to his Instagram stories, the Abbott Elementary star addressed speculation about his sexuality and showed his support for the LGBTQ community.

Williams wrote, Im not gay, but I think the culture of trying to find some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closed person let slip is very dangerous.

He continued by explaining that behavior also reinforces unhealthy standards for masculinity and that he uses his platform to push against those archetypes. The Golden Globe winner wished a Happy Pride to his queer and questioning brothers and sisters and expressed hope that they felt seen and heard this month.

He concluded his message, As an ally, I continue to be committed to assisting in that where I can and helping to cultivate a future where we are all accepted and given permission to be ourselves.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai.

The post Tyler James Williams allyship is praised by his little brother appeared first on TheGrio.
Tyler James Williams, star of Abbott Elementary, has been a beacon of light when it comes to Black men switching up what masculinity means. When he shows up to red carpets, photoshoots and interviews, he is often wearing gender-neutral or femme-leaning clothing and looks amazing every time. Lately, however, users on social media have been questioning Williams sexuality and the actor has finally opened up to school many people on the art of minding their business.

i hope everyone reads tyler james williams stories and takes notes pic.twitter.com/AgWIxgYTO2  cait atreides (@timcqthe) June 4, 2023

Tyler James Williams On Sexuality

The actor took to social media to explain his sexuality  not that it was anyones business.

Usually I wouldnt address stuff like this but I feel like it as a conversation is bigger than me, Williams wrote. Im not gay; but I think the culture of trying to find some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closeted person let slip is very dangerous.

He then goes on to explain how overanalyzing someones mannerisms to see if theyre gay makes it hard for those who are gay or questioning, to feel comfortable.

[It] contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer-questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth. It makes the most pedestrian of conversations and interactions in spaces feel less safe in our gay brothers and sister and those who may be questioning.

Continuously An Ally

This behavior is nothing new for the actor. According to new tweets from his little brother, Tyrel Jackson Williams, the actor has always created space for men to be whoever they wanted to be.

I love seeing people realize the caliber of person my older brother is. Hes always been like this. He is genuinely one of my favorite people.



because yall need to hear this.

1/10 https://t.co/P839cmhfbC  the one named tyrel (@Tyreljwill) June 4, 2023

In the ten-tweet thread, Tyrel explains his journey with his brother when it came to his own coming out.

The way he handled my and our younger brothers coming out should be studied. He COMPLETELY deconstructed his views on masculinity and made sure to build spaces for us to be comfortable and seen until we were ready to tell our friends/family, he explained.

Tyrel goes on to say that they all rebuilt their definition of manhood together.

Brick-by-brick. And it was not easy work. But we werent doing it alone. THAT is gender affirming care. Someone allowing you space to, not only express, but discover yourself, he wrote.

Tyrel ended the thread by simply expressing that his brother deserves all the recognition. A true representation of healthy masculinity and effective allyship. Give him all of the awards forever.

The post Tyler James Williams Challenges Societal Norms of Masculinity appeared first on 21Ninety.
United States scientists documented the highest level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in millions of years, at the same time as record wildfires blazed through Canada, lacing the air from the Midwest to the East Coast in a blanket of smoke with enough disease-causing particles to make venturing outside unsafe for people with breathing problems.

Carbon dioxide levels measured at the federal governments Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory in Hawaii reached concentrations of 424 parts per million in May, the month when the heat-trapping gas typically peaks in the Northern Hemisphere.

Thats more than 50% higher than before the industrial era began roughly 250 years ago and 3 parts per million higher than what federal scientists counted in May 2022. It represents the fourth-largest annual increase since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration started its tally 65 years ago. In a separate analysis, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego announced almost identical findings.

The eruption of Mauna Loa volcano on Nov. 29, 2022, buried over a mile of access road and destroyed transmission lines delivering electricity to the observatory campus for 10 days. But NOAA restored its measuring operation with temporary equipment installed on the deck of the University of Hawaiis observatory, located near the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano. Scripps began collecting air samples at Mauna Kea six days later, and resumed sampling at Mauna Loa on March 9.

The University of California researchers collected samples from both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea every day during May and found nearly identical results: Mauna Loa showed 423.78 parts per million carbon dioxide, Mauna Kea indicated 423.83 parts per million.

While NOAAs satellites monitor wildfire smoke, the carbon concentrations recorded in Hawaii represent centuries of emissions into the atmosphere which have increased dramatically in total annual volume in recent decades. Increasingly catastrophic blazes like those in North America are one of many symptoms of global temperatures rising as increased carbon dioxide traps more of the suns heat within the Earths atmosphere.

The result announced Monday amounts to what the federal research agency called a broken record, an apparent reference to both its unprecedented new height and the routineness with which each passing year brings higher carbon dioxide levels than the previous.

Every year we see carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere increase as a direct result of human activity, NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, a veteran oceanographer whose research received awards from presidents from both parties, said in a statement.

An infographic titled

An infographic titled "Canadian wildfires continue'' created in Ankara, Turkey, on June 6. Canada has been battling wildfires that started in Alberta since the beginning of May. Wildfires spread to several other provinces, as extinguishing efforts still underway.

Every year, we see the impacts of climate change in the heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and storms happening all around us. While we will have to adapt to the climate impacts we cannot avoid, we must expend every effort to slash carbon pollution and safeguard this planet and the life that calls it home, he said.

The sobering report came at the same time as massive plumes of smoke from wildfires in Canada took aim at the eastern half of the United States, including densely populated regions that, unlike the drought-parched western half of North America, have typically been spared the worst effects of large-scale blazes.

Canadian officials have called the start of this years wildfire season unprecedented. So far, nearly 7 million acres  an area roughly the size of Massachusetts  have gone up in flames.

The #wildfires in #Canada have been history this year.



Below is a @CBCNews plot of how this years wildfire impacts compare to prior years - in terms of acres burned to date.https://t.co/M4j3pZfg3gpic.twitter.com/dyz9vkZ1YW  Andrew Whelton  (@TheWheltonGroup) June 6, 2023

As of Monday, more than 400 active fires were burning across multiple provinces, and Canadian officials are forecasting a bleak summer.

Our modeling shows this may be an especially severe wildfire season throughout this summer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Monday. This is a scary time for a lot of people.

Bill Blair, Canadas minister of emergency preparedness, said Monday that an estimated 26,000 people remained evacuated from their homes. He called the current wildfire activity some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada.

Since mid-May, smoke plumes from fires in western Canada have moved into the U.S. Northeast, bringing hazy skies and air quality warnings. Fiery sunsets and reddish-looking moons have been common across Maine and other states this spring.

HuffPost visited a salt marsh near the eastern tip of New Yorks Long Island on Saturday and spoke to a fisherman visiting from Colorado, who detected the distinct smell of wildfire smoke hanging in the air. By Tuesday, National Weather Service officials in New York City issued a red flag alert for unhealthy air as smoke cast a visible gray pale from the Verrazzano Bridge to the Manhattan skyline.

This experimental High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model predicts where the wildfire smoke in the atmosphere is expected to move through tonight. The red and purple colors represent the highest levels of smoke. pic.twitter.com/57DiaDzLWA  NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 5, 2023

Breathing in the particulate matter from wildfire smokes and the exhaust from burning fossil fuels is linked to all kinds of ailments, from lung cancer and heart attacks to dementia and erectile dysfunction. Harvard University researchers estimate that air pollution from fossil fuels alone causes 20% of all deaths worldwide. At least 33,000 people globally die each year just from wildfire smoke, particularly in Central and South America, according to a 2021 study published in the journal Lancet.

Related...
Flames come out of a domestic gas ring on a stove in Manchester

By Richard Cowan and Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A small group of Republicans in the House of Representatives on Tuesday stopped their leaders' drive to protect gas-fueled stoves from regulation, raising questions about the party's ability to advance other legislation this year.

The revolt had nothing to do with the kitchen appliances, stemming instead from lingering bitterness over a deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling.

In a surprise move, roughly a dozen conservatives sided with Democrats in a 220-206 vote that prevented the House from taking up a gas-stove bill backed by Republican leadership.

The effort underscored the ability of a handful of conservatives to challenge the leadership of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who presides over a narrow Republican

The next steps are unclear. McCarthy met with some of the rebels behind closed doors after the failed vote, but the chamber wrapped up business for the day without announcing whether they would try again.

Some state and local governments have begun prohibiting gas-fueled furnaces, water heaters and stoves in new buildings as a way of reducing fossil-fuel emissions contributing to climate change.

The Republican bill, if passed by the House, could have faced resistance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

One of the conservative House Republicans who voted "no," Representative Ralph Norman, accused McCarthy of a "bait and switch" in his negotiations to raise the debt ceiling with Democratic President Joe Biden. Norman and other far-right Republicans had pushed for far deeper spending cuts than the $1.3 trillion that were enacted into law.

Others said they were angry over McCarthy's handling of an unrelated bill designed to roll back new federal restrictions on certain pistols.

"Were not going to live in the era of the imperial speaker anymore," said Republican Representative Matt Gaetz.

The House had been scheduled on Tuesday to vote on a bill that would prohibit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from declaring gas stoves to be hazardous or otherwise restrict their sale.

Another bill, scheduled for Wednesday, would restrict energy conservation standards and block the Department of Energy from issuing rules that would raise the price of gas stoves or force them off the market.

Throughout this summer McCarthy will be responsible for passing spending bills through the House ahead of the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Failure to do so could lead to the risk of a partial government shutdown, as has happened several times over the past decade.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton and David Morgan in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Stephen Coates)
U.S. Post Office carrier robbed at mobile home park in Augusta, $50,000 reward offered

The United States Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward up to $50,000 for information about a robbery of a USPS letter carrier at a mobile home park in Augusta.

The robbery occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday near the mailboxes on Carmell Circle in the Rocky Creek Mobile Home Park in Augusta, according to a release from the postal service.

The large reward will be given for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the those involved in the robbery, according to the release.

Anyone with information should contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 and say "Law Enforcement." The reference case number is 4049304.

All information will be kept strictly confidential, according to the release.

Augusta network hack: Alleged perpetrators threaten to release more data

Gang indictment: Members of Outcast motorcycle gang, which is tied to Augusta mass shooting, indicted

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Reward offered for robber who stole from Augusta USPS letter carrier
An issue plaguing the U.S. Senate could soon see some improvements. Currently there are no Black women U.S. Senators. In fact, there have only been two Black women to ever serve in the Senate.

There are currently 0 black women in the U.S. Senate. @BarbaraLeeForCA is trying to change that w Californias race.



She says black women have a different understanding of issues and deserve a seat at the table.



Watch the full interview: https://t.co/TS1hQNIEPn pic.twitter.com/S8i3FdK4ad  Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) June 2, 2023

The first Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate was back in 1993. Senator Carol Moseley Braun represented the state of Illinois up until 1998. The next Black woman came almost 20 years later with Vice President, Kamala Harris. Since her departure in 2021, there has been no representation of Black women. Now, with upcoming elections, more Black women than ever could join the Senate to make U.S. government history.

Black Women in The Senate

Meet Representative Lisa Blount Rochester. There is currently an open seat in the Senate for the state of Delaware and according to her advisors, she plans on launching a bid for the spot this month. She joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 and has been serving since. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) made his announcement last week that he would retire after four terms in the chamber and endorsed Blunt Rochester during the announcement.

Representative Barbara Lee is up next on the list of Black women who could make history in the 2024 election. California Senator, Dianne Feinstein has announced her retirement from the Senate, freeing up a seat that Lee could take. Although Lee could win the election in 2024, there is a possibility that a Black woman could take the seat prior to then. In the event that Feinstein cant complete her term due to healthcare issues, Governor Gavin Newson has already promised to appoint a Black woman as her replacement.

Last up on the list of Black women who could accomplish great things in next years Senate elections is Angela Alsobrooks. As the Executive of Prince Georges County, Maryland, she is ready to take the seat to represent the state. After Senator Ben Cardin announced his retirement, Alsbobrooks announced her bid in May.

There arent enough people in the U.S. Senate who live like, think like and look like the people theyre supposed to represent, Alsobrooks wrote in her annoucnement on Twitter. My Great-Grandma told me, if you dont like something, go farther and do better.

The post The U.S. Senate Could See More Black Women And Soon appeared first on 21Ninety.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

SUPREME COURT WONT HEAR FRACKING-RELATED CASE

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case involving a legal dispute over oil production off the California coast.

The matter came before the court after environmental groups said federal agencies had inadequately assessed the effects of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

A federal appeals court agreed with the groups and prevented the agencies from approving permits until they conducted a more thorough review.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, and oil companies, argued the appeals court had overstepped its bounds. They asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

By deciding not to hear the matter, the Supreme Court left in place the ruling by the appeals court.

Todays decision is a victory for Californias coast and ocean, California Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge said in a statement.

The American Petroleum Institute said it would continue to push for oil production off the coast.

Access to the vast energy resources offshore is essential for meeting the growing demand for affordable, reliable energy while achieving our climate goals, Holly Hopkins, a vice president of upstream policy for the group, said in a statement.

GROUPS CALL FOR SUPPORT OF NEWSOM PLAN

Business, industry and labor groups from across the state called on the Legislature Monday to back an effort by Gov. Gavin Newsom to speed up infrastructure projects.

Newsom last month unveiled proposed changes to the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, that he said would expedite the work. He had wanted those changes to be included in next years budget.

Lawmakers must approve that budget by June 15. A letter from the groups urged them to get moving.

Simply put, our current system is burdened with systemic delays, red tape and roadblocks that make it too difficult to build the critical infrastructure our state needs, the letter said. We must do better. The Governors infrastructure streamlining proposals do just that. 

Daniel Villasenor, a deputy press secretary for the Governors Office, said in an email there were no specific bills yet associated with the proposals. Committees in both the Assembly and Senate were expected to discuss the ideas this week.

The letter comes after Newsoms plan was met with concern from environmental groups. At the time he announced it, Sierra Club California Director Brandon Dawson said the governors attempt to rush legislative language through the opaque trailer bill process in under a month is worrying at best.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

.@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man.

This isnt Marthas Vineyard.

Kidnapping charges?

Read the following. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=207.&lawCode=PEN

- Newsom on Twitter following the arrival Monday of a second flight of migrants to Sacramento in recent days. Newsom, and Attorney General Rob Bonta, are accusing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of being involved.

Best of The Bee:
A whistleblower who served in the U.S. military and in several intelligence roles says the federal government has multiple craft of non-human origin  and has been working overtime to cover it up.

These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, David Grusch told NewsNation on Monday evening.

In some cases, agents found more than just vehicles.

Well, naturally, when you recover something thats either landed or crashed, sometimes you encounter dead pilots and, believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, its true, he said.

Earlier in the day, The Debrief reported that Grusch has told both Congress and the U.S. Inspector General that this information was illegally withheld from lawmakers, who have recently held hearings on UFO activity.

The U.S. military now prefers the abbreviation UAP, for unidentified aerial phenomena or unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Grusch  who saw combat in Afghanistan, served several roles in the U.S. intelligence community and was the National Reconnaissance Offices representative to the UAP Task Force  told The Debrief the U.S. government and its contractors have been retrieving material for decades.

The material includes intact and partially intact vehicles, he told the website, which said the objects were analyzed and determined to be from non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin.

He said he is already facing retaliation and has hired an attorney as he seeks whistleblower protection.

Grusch told NewsNation hes not alone.

People started to confide in me. Approach me. I have plenty of senior, former intelligence officers that came to me, many of which I knew almost my whole career, that confided in me that they were part of a program, he said.

Gruschs claim is backed by reports from others, including a defense contractor who The New York Times reported in 2020 had briefed Defense Department officials on a range of discoveries such as items retrieved from off-world vehicles not made on this Earth.

It also comes amid a remarkable period in which the U.S. military has for the first time admitted to encounters with objects that seem to defy known technology.

In a 2014 incident, a Navy Super Hornet pilot almost collided with an unidentified flying object during a mission near Virginia Beach, Virginia. Footage from 2015 shows two Navy pilots tracking an unidentified object flying off the East Coast.

Wow! What is that, man? Look at that flying! one of the pilots said in the clip.

Another clip released in recent years shows what has come to be known as the Tic Tac, or a craft that resembles the minty candies flying off the coast of California in footage first revealed in 2017 by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The Navy later verified the authenticity of the footage.

My personal belief is that there is very compelling evidence that we may not be alone, Luis Elizondo, the former military intelligence official who led a government UFO program, told CNN in 2017.

Grusch told NewsNation the feds have known about all this for decades  and have been lying to the public about it.

There is a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populace which is extremely unethical and immoral, he said.
UK Defence Intelligence has reported an intensification of hostilities in many parts of the frontline and at the same time focused on maximising the enmity between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Source: Defence Intelligence review from the UK Ministry of Defence on 6 June, as reported by European Pravda.

UK Defence Intelligence notes that over the past 48 hours, there has been a significant increase in hostilities in many parts of the frontline, including those that had been relatively quiet for several months.

At the same time, the hostility between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defence has reached an unprecedented level.

For the first time, Wagner's owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated that the army had deliberately used lethal weapons against Wagner's units. The review also mentions the detention of a Russian army brigade commander by Wagner.

"Most of Wagner's forces have now been withdrawn from Bakhmut. As Russia lacks reserve units, the extent to which Wagner obeys the MoD will be a key factor in the conflict over the coming weeks," the report says.

Previously: One of the previous reviews stated that due to the actions of guerrilla groups near the Russian border town of Shebekino, the Russian leadership is facing a dilemma: whether to deploy additional forces to the front line or to strengthen the defence of its own border, according to UK Defence Intelligence.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
FILE - Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh speaks with guests during a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London, Wednesday May 3, 2023, in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III on May 6. The Duchess of Edinburgh expressed her condolences Wednesday, May 24, 2023 after the death of an 81-year-old woman who was hit by a motorcycle that was part of the UK royal's police escort. Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward, expressed her sympathies for the death of Helen Holland, who was struck at a west London intersection May 10. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LONDON (AP)  A British police motorcyclist faced a criminal investigation Tuesday over the death of a woman who was struck in a collision with the officer's vehicle, which was escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, at the time.

Helen Holland, 81, was hit in west London on May 10. She suffered serious injuries and died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said the constable was told a criminal investigation was underway for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

The officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct.

Following the crash, Hollands son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries." He said she was using a pedestrian crossing when she was struck by the motorcycle.

Sophie, who is the wife of Prince Edward, King Charles III's younger brother, has said she was deeply saddened that Holland died.
KHERSON, Ukraine (AP)  A major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which sits on the Dnieper River in an area Moscow has controlled for more than a year. Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area, where the river separates the two sides.

It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting claims.

Russian and Ukrainian officials used terms like ecological disaster and terrorist act to describe the torrent of water gushing through the broken dam and beginning to empty an upstream reservoir that is one of the world's largest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As homes, streets and businesses flooded, authorities expressed concerns about drinking water supplies and emergency crews evacuated thousands of people from Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

In the downstream city of Kherson, angry residents cursed as they tried to preserve their pets and belongings. A woman who gave her name only as Tetyana waded through thigh-deep water to reach her flooded house and rescue her dogs. They were standing on any dry surface they could find but one pregnant dog was missing. Its a nightmare, she kept repeating, declining to give her full name.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses to move residents to safety. About 25,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 17,000 in Ukrainian-held territory should be evacuated, Ukraines deputy chief prosecutor Viktoriia Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

A satellite photo Tuesday morning by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed more than 600 meters (over 1,900 feet) missing from the wall of the 1950s-era dam.

The dam break, which both sides long feared, added a stunning new dimension to Russias war, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear why either side might destroy the dam, and its collapse might have resulted from gradual degradation. Both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands were at risk.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. He claimed Ukraine had lost 3,715 troops and 52 tanks since Sunday, and  in a rare acknowledgment of Russias own losses  said 71 Russian troops were killed and 210 wounded. Ukraine followed its standard practice of not commenting on its casualties.

Zelenskyy told reporters his government knew last year that Russia had mined the dam, so there may come a moment when an explosion occurs. Other Ukrainian officials alleged Russia blew up the dam to hinder Kyiv's counteroffensive, even though observers note that crossing the broad Dnieper would be extremely challenging. Other sectors of the front line are more likely avenues of attack, analysts say.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the alleged Russian destruction of the dam a profoundly defensive measure" showing "the lack of confidence in Russias longer-term prospects in the war.

Experts have previously said the dam was in disrepair, which could also have led to the breach. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir, said in an email it wasnt clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect by occupying Russian forces.

But Helms also noted a Russian history of attacking dams.

Underscoring the global repercussions, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse. Its unclear whether the surge was due to a real threat of floodwaters destroying crops. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Authorities, experts and residents have been concerned for months about water flowing through  and over  the Kakhovka dam. After heavy rains and snowmelt last month, water levels rose beyond normal, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Zelenskyy alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Monday, 7:50 p.m. EDT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side" aimed at cutting water to Crimea.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. cannot say conclusively what happened and declined to assess the impact on Ukraines counteroffensive.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster from polluted waters partly caused by oil leaking from the dam's machinery and farmland deprived of irrigation.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers western bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave.

The Russia-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which had a prewar population of about 45,000, said the city was being evacuated.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes biggest, relies in large part on water from the dam's now-emptying reservoir. The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency reported no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, whose six reactors have been shut down for months but still need water for cooling. It said the rate of the drop in the dam's reservoir level increased from 5 centimeters (2 inches) to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) an hour and could be depleted in a couple of days. The plant has alternate water sources that can last for months, according to the IAEA.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash a volume of water estimated as nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S state of Utah.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, warned "thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply and that of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of attacking the dam.

___

Blann reported from Kyiv. Associated Press writer Danica Kirka in London contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River early Tuesday, sending a Great Salt Lake's worth of water downstream to flood communities and wreak massive ecological damage in both Ukrainian and Russian-occupied Kherson province. The dam, a major hydroelectric power station and the only Dnipro crossing in the region, has been under Russian control since last year. The Russian-appointed mayor of nearby Nova Kakhovka said overnight shelling caused the dam's collapse, though he did not say whether the shells were fired by Ukraine or Russia.

Ukraine said 16,000 civilians on the West side of the river, which it controls, are at critical risk from flooding. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant upstream is also in eventual danger as it uses water from the draining Kakhovka Reservoir to cool the plant's six reactors, which have been in cold shutdown mode for months. The Kakhovka dam power station, ruined beyond repair, provided electricity to three million people.

"Russian terrorists," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land." Russian occupiers "blew up the Kakhovka Reservoir dam in panic," Ukraine's Defense Intelligence department suggested. "This terrorist act is a sign of the Putin regime's panic."

The demolition of Kakhovka dam coincided with what Russian and U.S. officials said was the start of Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied land. The dam's destruction "could win Russia time to reconfigure its defenses while at the same time depriving Ukraine of some options," The Wall Street Journal noted. Ukraine can now no longer cross the Dnipro along that stretch of the front line, for example, so Russia could redeploy forces in the area to defend sections further north.

But "in the longer term, the flooding could also wash away fortifications put up by Russian forces in the area," the Journal said. And some Russian pro-military bloggers suggested that the lower Dnipro water levels upstream could allow Ukrainian forces to cross into Russian occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The reservoir also supplied a canal that brought drinking water to Russian-occupied Crimea, and the "devastating consequences" from dam's destruction will include "a decadelong water shortage" on the peninsula, said Mustafa Nayyem, the head of Ukraine's State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development.

Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam

Yasin Demirci / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

European Council president Charles Michel said the "unprecedented attack" on civilian infrastructure "clearly qualifies as a war crime  and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable." British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Reuters from Ukraine that "it's too early to make any kind of meaningful assessment of the details," but "it's worth remembering that the only reason this is an issue at all is because of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

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Ukrainian official Anton Korynevych (R) told the ICJ that Russia was a "terrorist state"

Ukraine branded Russia a "terrorist state" at the UN's top court on Tuesday, accusing Moscow of blowing up a major dam as part of a campaign to wipe it off the map.

The two sides faced off at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a case brought by Kyiv alleging that Moscow backed rebels for eight years before last year's invasion.

Russia's support for separatist fighters from 2014 made a mockery of international law and was a harbinger of the February 2022 invasion, Ukrainian officials told the court.

"Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian iinfrastructure to try to freeze us into submission. Just today, Russia blew up a major dam located in Nova Kakhovka," Ukrainian diplomat Anton Korynevych said.

"Russia's actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue," he added in his opening remarks.

"They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court's attention back in 2017" when it originally filed the case.

Russia denies funding or supporting the rebels. Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame for the destruction of the dam in southern Ukraine, which has unleashed a torrent of flooding.

- 'Cultural erasure' -

Ukraine alleges that Russia breached UN conventions on financing terrorism and on racial discrimination, and is seeking damages for attacks by pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Fighting broke out after pro-EU protests overthrew Ukraine's Moscow-allied government, and Russia then annexed Crimea.

About 13,000 people died in the violence including 298 who were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine with a Russian-made missile in July 2014.

Ukraine has filed a separate case related to Russia's February 2022 invasion, accusing Moscow of planning genocide. The ICJ in that case ordered Russia to suspend the invasion.

But Korynevych, an ambassador-at-large in Ukraine's foreign ministry, said that "Russia's contempt for international law didn't start in 2022."

"Beginning in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Crimea and then engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars," he said.

Russia's invasion was now "trying to wipe us from the map" completely, said Korynevych.

"The lesson this case teaches is simple: the past is prologue."

Moscow's lawyers will present their arguments on Thursday. Ukraine will then reply on June 12 and Russia on June 14.

- 'Reign of terror' -

Ukraine's lawyers pointed to a Dutch court verdict last year, which sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17.

Russian officials were "guilty of terrorism financing" as they had supplied the missile in the knowledge that rebels would use it to shoot down an aircraft, they said.

"The destruction of flight MH17 is another tragic exmaple of the consequences of Russia's total non cooperation" with the UN terrorism convention, lawyer David Zionts told the court.

Russia had also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a "reign of terror" on civilians in eastern Ukrainian cities in 2015, lawyer Marney Cheek said.

"What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing," she said.

A verdict in the case could take years to come from the ICJ, which was created after World War II to deal with disputes between UN member states.

Moscow meanwhile faces a wider campaign of "lawfare" -- the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimise an opponent -- over the situation in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) -- a separate war crimes tribunal which like the ICJ is also based in The Hague -- issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March.

dk/ach
Ukraine's official Twitter account has congratulated the United Nations on Russian Language Day, as the organisation has yet to respond to the Russian occupiers' blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP).

Source: Twitter pages of Ukraine and the UN

Details: The UN posted a message about "Russian Language Day" on the morning of 6 June in the wake of reports that Russia had blown up the occupied Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

It is noteworthy that Ukraine used an illustration of the UN General Assembly hall being flooded with water as a "greeting".

By the afternoon, the organisation had failed to condemn the invaders actions or otherwise respond to the ecocide in Ukraine.

An abstract post appeared on the official UN website at around 14:00 without mentioning the Russian aggression.

Thirteen hours after the blowing up of the KHPP, the UN stated that "civilians and civilian infrastructure are not a target. They must be protected. At all times. Everywhere."

Civilians and civilian infrastructure are #NotATarget.



They must be protected.



At all times.



Everywhere. pic.twitter.com/FxH6dmSR6m  United Nations (@UN) June 6, 2023

The UN's caution and lack of response have outraged users on social media.

Read also: UN "celebrates" Russian Language Day after Russia blows up Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station

Flooded South: the consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka dam (in brief)

Houses with water up to the roofs, swans swimming in the square  this is what flooded cities and villages look like

Background:

Ukraine's Armed Forces have stated that the Russians blowing up of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant will not prevent the Defence Forces from continuing to liberate the occupied territories.

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Water flowing through the damaged Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that the partial destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine was "another devastating consequence" of Russia's invasion of its neighbor.

An attack on the major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine unleashed a torrent of water that flooded a small city, inundated two dozen villages and sparked the evacuation of 17,000 people.

"Today's tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

"The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop," he added.

Moscow and Kyiv traded blame for ripping a gaping hole in the dam in what Kyiv said was an attempt by Russia to hamper Ukraine's long-awaited offensive.

Guterres said the UN "has no access to independent information on the circumstances that led to the destruction" of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam.

"But one thing is clear," he added. "This is another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Guterres, who since the start of Russia's invasion has condemned Moscow for violating the UN charter, said attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure "must stop."

"We have all seen the tragic images coming out today of the monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe in the Kherson region of Ukraine," the secretary-general said.

"The United Nations and humanitarian partners are rushing support in coordination with the government of Ukraine -- including drinking water and water purification tablets and other critical assistance," he added.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting devoted to the dam blast, humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the destruction of the dam was a "massive blow" to food production in the region, as well as carried significant risks of mines and explosives being shifted by water to areas previously deemed safe.

The destruction of the dam "will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine  on both sides of the front line  through the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods."

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said the dam blast was caused by a "deliberate sabotage undertaken by Kyiv."

"It is the criminal Kyiv regime and the Western patrons obstinately pumping it full of weapons who bear full responsibility for the unfolding tragedy," Nebenzya said.

Ukraine's envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya said Moscow was "blaming the victim for your own crimes."

"The explosion of the dam of the Kakhovka (hydroelectric power plant) is an act of ecological and technological terrorism," he told the Council.

abd-pdh/mlm/md/caw
What we know about the Ukraine dam explosion

Streets are flooded in Kherson, Ukraine, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed. Residents of southern Ukraine, some who spent the night on rooftops, braced for a second day of swelling floodwaters on Wednesday as authorities warned that a Dnieper River dam breach would continue to unleash pent-up waters from a giant reservoir. | Libkos, Associated Press

A major dam experienced a wall collapsing in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, causing floods and threatening water supplies. Russia and Ukraine each blamed the other for the incident. A state of emergency has been declared.

The Khakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is located on the Dnieper River, where Russia has taken control. The incident also threatens Europes largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, because it endangers water supplies that cool it. The volume of water the dam holds back is comparable to the size of the Great Salt Lake, per BBC.

The head of International Atomic Energy said that there is no immediate risk to the plants safety, according to The Washington Post.

Emergency crews have started evacuations  there are 22,000 people in Russian-controlled areas at risk of flooding, while there are 16,000 who live in the critical zone in Ukrainian territory at risk, The Associated Press reported.

Floodwaters swept over homes in nearby communities Wednesday, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to drinking water, per Reuters.

Everything is submerged in water, all the furniture, the fridge, food, all flowers, everything is floating. I do not know what to do, Oksana, a 53-year-old resident of Kherson, one of the cities downriver from the dam, told Reuters.

People who werent able to evacuate are being warned of floating mines and the threat of disease from the floodwaters and damage incurred from the flooding, according to NBC News.

Who damaged the dam in Ukraine?

Determining who caused the collapse has proven difficult, as it is not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam  it could hinder Ukraines counteroffensive in the south and distract its government, while Russia depends on the dam to supply water to Crimea, per AP.

According to The New York Times, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russian terrorists, and Kremlins spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, blamed Ukrainian forces, describing what happened as a sabotage attack.

Who stands to benefit or hurt most from Ukrainian dam damage?

The flooding in the area could slow Ukraines counteroffensive plans, allowing Russia to break Ukraines momentum, but it could also be helpful for Ukraines counteroffensive by washing away Russian fortifications and minefields in the region.

Russia insists that the damage was sabotage and that it was aimed to deprive Crimea of water and distract attention from the failure of the Ukrainian offensive, according to Peskov, per The Wall Street Journal.

But some experts say the incident is more beneficial to Russia than Ukraine.

Russia can now ... reinforce the front line in the Zaporizhia region, and possibly to the east as well, because there is no longer a threat of Ukraine actually crossing the Dneiper, former German Defense Ministry official Nico Lange told the Journal.
Region-Wide Evacuations Underway After Attack on Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka Dam. Heres What We Know So Far

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight, in Kherson, Ukraine, on Jun 6.

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight, in Kherson, Ukraine, on Jun 6. Credit - Evgeniy MaloletkaAP

The collapse of a huge dam in a Russian-occupied region of southern Ukraine has triggered flooding, with both Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for its strategic destruction.

The Nova Kakhovka dam, built in 1956 on the Dnieper River30 km east of the city of Khersonwas breached as the result of an explosion Tuesday morning. Ukraine accuses Russian forces of blowing up the dam, which could also impact the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, while Russian officials say Ukrainian military strikes in the contested region caused the damage, according to the Associated Press.

The Russian-installed mayor of Kherson, Vladimir Leontyev, called the explosion a terrorist act. At present, it is unclear which nation is responsible or what either side would serve to gain from damaging the dam, which is said to have already been in a state of disrepair.

More from TIME

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has coordinated an urgent meeting of the National Security Council in response to Tuesdays attack. In October, Zelensky urged Western allies to warn Russia not to attack the dam, noting that it would cause a large-scale disaster. At the time, the leader suspected Russian forces had planted explosives in the dam.

Below, what to know about the attack, and more.

Why is the Nova Kakhovka dam significant?

The dam is 30 meters (98 ft.) in height and 3.2km (2 mi.) in width, containing a reservoir of around 18 cubic kilometers (4.3 cubic mi.) of water, about the same as the Great Salt Lake in Utah. As such, there are growing concerns that the sheer volume of water will severely damage nearby homes and low lying areas.

An overview of Nova Khakovka dam in south Ukraine on June 5. Maxar Technologies/AFP/Getty Images

Residents in 10 nearby villages and parts of Kherson have been advised by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry to gather essential items and evacuate the area. Polluted water supplies and wider environmental consequences are anticipated as a result of the incident. Water levels were expected to reach a critical level within 5 hours of the collapse.

But water from the dams reserve supplies the Crimean peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, in addition to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europes largest. The dam also helps power the local hydroelectric plant in Kakhovka.

No immediate risk to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant relies on water from the Dnieper River to cool its emergency diesel generators and reactors. Currently, the water reservoir is falling by two inches per hour, meaning that the supply of cooling water should last at least a few days. The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in a statement that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant.

The IAEAs director Rafael Mariano Grossi also said that there were additional water sources that officials could turn to, including a large cooling pond near the nuclear site that is above the height of the reservoir. The agency is hopeful that this pond may be able to cool reactors and diesel generators for several months, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said via Telegram echoed the IAEAs assessment, saying that the dam attack could have negative consequences for Zaporizhzhia but that the situation is controllable.

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight, in Kherson, Ukraine, on Jun 6. Evgeniy MaloletkaAP

This is not the first time that the Zaporizhzhia plant has become a focal point of the war. In March 2022, fighting caused a fire to break out at the facility that was extinguished just a few hours later when Russia officially captured the plant from Ukraine. The nuclear plant is capable of producing up to 6,000 megawatts of electricity, powering up to 4 million homes.

However, there is a chance that nuclear waste from the Chernopyl disaster could be disturbed by the flooding, according to Vlad Mykhnenko, professor at Oxford University who studies the urban development of post-Soviet countries.

There is potential that those deep reservoirs in the Dnieper River have quite a bit of nuclear waste, Mykhnenko told TIME. All those deposits could be moved around through wind and dust.

What the attack means for Ukraines spring counteroffensive

The destruction of the dam has negative consequences for both Russia and Ukraine, with both countries racing to conduct evacuations of nearby residents. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky, has claimed that the destruction of the dam primarily benefits Russia, according to the Financial Times.

The purpose is obvious: to create insurmountable obstacles in the way of the advancing Ukrainian armed forces, said Podolyak.

David Helms, a retired American scientist who has been studying the dam since the war began, told the Associated Press that Russia has a history of attacking dams.

But the dams destruction also poses issues for Russia since the flooding will impact Russias defense forces in Kherson on the east of the Dnieper river.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (C) convenes an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in Kyiv, Ukraine on June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidency HandoutAnadolu Agency/Getty Images

Ukraine has long been expected by many experts to announce a counter offensive attack soon to try and break the land bridge connecting mainland Russia with other Russian captured territories like the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces, though the military has not officially revealed any information about such a plan. Breaking this land bridge would make it much more difficult for Russia to provide supplies and coordinate plans with captured Ukrainian territories. The flooding in the region would make that plan much more difficult to execute.

Basically, it denies any ability for us to cross the river and move equipment in that area. Essentially, thats why most likely Russia did it, particularly now, Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian defense minister told the Financial Times.

However, some experts believe that the dams destruction wont impact Ukraines plans significantly.

There is not a lot of evidence that Ukraine was actually planning to cross the Dnieper because that would require a significant amount of ships and equipment, Mykhnenko told TIME. So I dont think it will really significantly affect the Ukrainian offensive operations. 

Nevertheless, even if the dams destruction has little impact on Ukraines tactical plans, Mykhnenko expects the humanitarian impact to be severe.

The river was providing drinking water to a lot of people and that will obviously lead to drought and massive damage to farming in those areas, which are quite fertile for grain production, Mykhnenko says. I think well probably have more damage than we expect from this disaster,

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Ukraine has evidence Russia blew Kakhovka dam by remote control, intelligence says

The Kakhovskaya HPP dam blown up by the Russians, June 6, 2023

Russian troops were previously observed transporting explosives and equipment for the planned controlled explosion, Yusov said.

There will be accurate estimates of the power of explosions, how much explosives were needed for this  all this will be calculated, Yusov said.

But the facts of the movement of explosives and the equipment by the Russians for carrying out a controlled remote explosion, certainly such facts and evidence exist. They were repeatedly made public by Ukraine.

Read also: Russian destruction of Kakhovka dam could deprive Crimean residents of drinking water, says Yermak

Kakhovka HPP  what is known about the explosion

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Administration to declare an urgent evacuation.

The east bank of the region, which is controlled by the Russian forces, will also be badly affected, as it is low-lying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

The demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam could also have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Water from the dam is needed for the plant to receive water for turbine condensers and safety systems.

Read also: Animal rights activists explain rules for evacuation with pets after blast at Kakhovka dam

Ukrhydroenergo, the state hydroelectric power company, has reported that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been completely destroyed and cannot be repaired.

At the same time, Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said the Russian military had blown up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant from the inside, but not all of the dam structure had been destroyed.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal earlier announced there was a threat of the flooding of up to 80 settlements.

The Office of the Prosecutor General has launched an investigation under the article ecocide.

Read also: Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction  video

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Let us examine why ideas about so-called security guarantees for Ukraine are not a panacea.

First, security guarantees for Ukraine are not a matter of peace, but of war. In the concepts currently being discussed, these guarantees are aimed at our states capability to hold its own against a much stronger enemy in terms of resources. The key term here is on its own, even if there is material assistance coming from our allies. Therefore, this would be exclusively a matter of international assistance to Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defense in accordance with the UN Charter. And nothing more.

Read also: Ukraines NATO membership is key to lasting peace, Latvian PM says

Second, such guarantees are not about deterring a new aggression, but indeed about inviting it. An effective deterrence strategy can only be achieved with collective efforts, not alone. Even if Ukraine is as capable, militarily developed, and experienced on the battlefield as it can be, it will still be subject to armed encroachment by expansionist and revanchist Russia. Only our country's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance will be able to discourage the Kremlin from new adventures. This has been proven by years of confrontation. Moreover, being constantly in a state of preparing for an upcoming war is not the best incentive for foreign investments and the development of a qualitatively new economy in line with EU standards.

The NATO summit in Vilnius is already fated to be a historic one

Third, Israel's experience is not an option for Ukraine. Our countries are in different geographical conditions and terrains, as well as in different classes of strength for both our countries and our enemies. Scaling up Israel in Ukraine in terms of security will not work and is hardly necessary. On the contrary, the Middle East conflict and experience of dealing with it confirm that a confrontation can last for decades. But is this really necessary in Eastern Europe? With just one move, Ukraine's membership in NATO can resolve what has not been resolved for half a century in the Middle East.

Read also: China-Central Asia Summit heralds the end of Russian leadership in the region

Fourth, security guarantees for Ukraine are expensive both economically and politically. It has been proven that collective defense is not only more effective but also more cost-effective. The security guarantees for Ukraine that are under discussion will invite long-term and quite tangible financial investments  not only from Washington, but also from other members of the Western alliance. And where there are significant costs, there must be and always remain the appropriate political will behind the imperative to pay them, which is not a constant in democratic debates. For Russia, it would also create a new battlefield to undermine internal stability in the states that have pledged to support Ukraine. In addition, such guarantees would also require approval by the national parliaments of the guarantor countries  something that by its symbolic and semantic measure could actually turn into a vote for/against Ukraine in NATO.

Read also: Update from Pavlohrad, Ukraines hopes for NATO Summit, Kuleba on Diplomacy of Victory

Fifth, Ukraine's membership in NATO is necessary for both Ukraine and the Alliance, and, paradoxically, for Russia. A strong and experienced Ukraine will be an important asset to the Alliance and a guarantee of effective defense against open Russian aggression. The Kremlin will have to come to terms with the new reality and stop looking for adventures in Eastern Europe, which will contribute to stability, not destabilization or escalation. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has proven that the last thing the Kremlin wants is an open war with NATO. Beyond that, Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic success will stimulate pro-Western processes in Belarus and the South Caucasus.

Read also: Kyiv Security Forum says clear path to NATO membership for Ukraine at Vilnius Summit is only option

Whatever the final outcome, the NATO summit in Vilnius is already fated to be a historic one. For Ukraine, it can either be a flashback to the Budapest-1994 (with its security assurances), or the idling at Bucharest-2008 (with a photocopy of beautiful but empty statements about "open doors"), or a leap right into Washington-1949 (especially since next year's NATO anniversary summit will be held in Washington). Ensuring the right decision is the task of Ukraines president, who must attend the NATO summit in Vilnius.

In conclusion, no bilateral or multilateral security guarantees for Ukraine will guarantee sustainable peace, security, and stability, and they will not restrain the Kremlin's neo-imperial appetites. Instead, they will serve as an eternal irritant for Russia. They may work in the short term as a mechanism for strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities in operational terms, but at the strategic level, there needs to be a path to Ukrainian NATO membership. The fairy tale of guarantees must not repeat the experience of the Eastern Partnership, which, as we all know, did not provide for an invitation to the EU. Therefore, any agreements on security guarantees must further guarantee Ukraine's membership in NATO. After all, only NATO membership is a true guarantee of security for our country, our allies, and the entire European continent. Only when Ukraine becomes a member of the Alliance can we talk about our final victory.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mykhailo Podolyak

A tweet announcing the UN special day appeared on the organization's page after Ukraine said Russia had destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam, causing a massive human and environmental catastrophe in Ukraine.

The Zelenskyy administration says that by blowing up the Kakhovka HPP, Russia is creating the largest environmental disaster in Europe in recent decades, which will wash away entire settlements and kill civilians.

Read also: Russias destruction of Kakhovka dam will hurt global food security

Podolyak was outraged by the inaction of the UN, which did not write anything about the Russian terrorist attack, instead declaring Russian Language Day, and called the organization a "global parody."

"Is this a joke?" he wrote

Are you serious? Will there be any other reaction to today's terrorist attack? The organization that is supposed to ensure global security is increasingly turning into a global parody.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleg Nikolenko, also responded to the UN announcement.

"Russian commanders will have given the order to blow up the Kakhovka Dam in Russian," the diplomat tweeted.

What a day at the UN to celebrate Russian language! @UnitedNationsRU tweets about cultural diversity, ignoring the biggest catastrophe in Europe in decades caused solely by Russia. Why be silent?

The UN posted a Russian Language Day greeting on Twitter as Russia blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, provoking outrage in Ukraine. The timing of the UN's post, on June 6 which Russia celebrates as Russian Language Day, drew ire in Ukraine amid Russias attack and subsequent destruction of the Kakhovka HPP.

The UNs tweet attracted thousands of comments and quote tweets  the overwhelming majority of them negative, and many containing images of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

Read also: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable  Energoatom

Explosion at Kakhovka HPP  what is known

During the night of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Station dam, triggering widespread flooding and posing a grave threat to downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, Ukrainian authorities say. The floodwaters were expected to peak around noon Kyiv time (GMT+3), prompting the Kherson Oblast Military Administration to declare an urgent evacuation.

According to the state NPP operator Energoatom, the demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam could have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. However, as of 8.30 a.m. on June 6, the situation remained under control.

Read also: Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction  video

The agency explained that the rapid decline in the water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, as water from there is needed to feed the plants turbine condensers and safety systems.

Ukrhydroenergo stated that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was completely destroyed as a result of the explosion conducted by the Russians and cannot be restored. However, according to Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Southern Defense Forces, the dam was not completely destroyed.

At an urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, President Zelenskyy ordered the evacuation of at-risk areas and the provision of drinking water to towns and villages served by the affected Kakhovka Reservoir.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Key developments on June 6:

Russian forces destroy Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

Large-scale flooding triggers evacuations from Kherson Oblast

Kakhovka dam breach causes damage to environment, infrastructure

World leaders denounce Kakhovka dam breach as war crime

Zelensky: Ukraine to receive 'significant number' of F-16 fighter jets

The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russia, was destroyed in the early morning hours of June 6, sparking a humanitarian and environmental disaster in southern regions of Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's Southern Operational Command, the dam was destroyed by Russian forces. Later on, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov said that it was blown up by Russia's 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade.

The Russia-installed proxy in Nova Kakhovka first denied that the dam was destroyed, only to claim later that it was targeted by Ukrainian shelling.

Danilov refuted Russia's claims, saying that the Kremlin prepared plans for the sabotage already in the fall of 2022.

According to Ukrainian officials, the dam was mined in October 2022 when Ukrainian forces were advancing in Kherson Oblast.

Russian forces destroy Kakhovka dam, triggering humanitarian disaster The dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant across the Dnipro River, occupied by Russian forces, was destroyed on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. Ukraines Southern Operational Command reported early in the morning The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

The breach released floodwaters toward villages and towns downstream of the dam, leading authorities to order evacuations.

At 9 a.m., Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced that the villages of Tiahinka, Lvove, Odradokamianka, Ivanivka, Mykilske, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Bilozerka, and the Ostriv district in Kherson were "fully or partially flooded."

As of yet, no civilian or military deaths have been reported as a result of the event.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, between 35 and 70 settlements can be flooded.

Large-scale flooding triggers evacuations from Kherson Oblast

By the evening of June 6, at least 1,335 houses were flooded on the Ukraine-controlled west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. local time.

"As of this hour, we know of 1,335 houses on the right bank that are underwater. On the left bank, (Russian-occupied) Pischchane, Stara Zburivka, Kozachi Laheri, Kardashynka, Krynky, Hola Prystan, and Oleshky are partially flooded. Korsunka and Dnipriany are completely flooded," Prokudin said.

Some 1,368 people have been evacuated from the region by 6 p.m. local time, according to the governor.

In the city of Kherson, two districts have been flooded and over 600 residents have been evacuated, Kherson City Military Administration Head Roman Mrochko announced in the afternoon of June 6.

Governor: At least 1,335 houses flooded in Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson Oblast At least 1,335 houses were flooded on the Ukraine-controlled west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on June 6 around 7:30 p.m. local time. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Victims of the flood are being evacuated to other cities in Ukraine. The evacuation is ongoing.

There is also an increased danger to life in the oblast due to mines that may have been dislodged by the flooding.

Kakhovka dam breach causes damage to environment, infrastructure

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam represents not only direct damage to Ukraine's infrastructure but can have serious ecological and economic consequences.

As the most immediate effect, the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was completely destroyed by the explosion.

The flooding from the breached dam also puts Kherson Thermal Power Plant at risk, Energy Ministry reported on June 6.

What are the consequences of the Kakhovka dams demolition? The destruction of the Kakhovka dam can lead to serious humanitarian, ecological, economic, military, and legal consequences. The demolition was carried out by Russian forces in southern Ukraine in the early hours of June 6. And its among the most dramatic violations of the Geneva Conventions in The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov

The Kakhovka Reservoir, covering an area of 2,155 square kilometers and with roughly the same volume of water as the Great Salt Lake in the U.S., is expected to disappear in the next two to four days as a result of the breach.

The reservoir was an important water source for southern Ukraine, as well as for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's biggest nuclear plant.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is monitoring the situation at the nuclear station, there is no immediate danger of a nuclear disaster.

The draining of the reservoir will, however, lead to much of the agricultural land in southern Ukraine losing its main source of water.

Some experts believe that vegetable growers in the affected region may lose 20,000 hectares of productive land, and the price of wheat has already risen by 3% following the disaster.

According to Zelensky, the dam destruction will also cause large issues with drinking water even for those areas that haven't been flooded, including in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

The environmental damage is further aggravated by the 150 tons of machine oil released into the Dnipro River.

The real extent of consequences will be better known once the flood level recedes roughly in a week, Zelensky added.

World leaders denounce Kakhovka dam breach as war crime

Many world leaders and international organizations have condemned the Kakhovka dam's destruction as Russia's war crime.

"The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable," European Council President Charles Michel wrote.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called it "an outrageous act which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine."

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, civilian infrastructure should not be a target during wartime.

The European Union has already pledged to support Ukraine through its Civil Protection Mechanism, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on the evening of June 6.

In cooperation with its member states, the EU will supply dirt water pumps, fire hoses, mobile water purification stations, and boats.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has called for further actions, namely sanctions against Russia's missile and nuclear industries.

Kyiv also plans to bring the matter forward at a UN Security Council meeting and to the IAEA Governing Council.

White House: We cannot say conclusively who is responsible for Kakhovka dam breach U.S. President Joe Bidens administration cannot say conclusively who was responsible for the breach of the Kakhovka dam, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told the media on June 6. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Zelensky: Ukraine to receive 'significant number' of F-16 fighter jets



President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference that Ukraine will receive a "significant number" of F-16 fighter jets, based on discussions with European partners, Suspilne reported on June 6.

"I am very glad to receive the information, I had a lucky day. Usually, we have to negotiate for one or two at a time, but now we received a significant offer," Zelensky said.

The president added that the deal still requires consent from the U.S., which manufactures F-16s, and no details or specifics are currently being disclosed.

The U.K. and the Netherlands agreed on May 17 to build the "jet fighter coalition" to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft and train Ukrainian pilots. By now, the initiative includes eight European countries and the U.S.

Zelensky hopes to make the coalition official under the name "Ukraine's Sky Shield" during the next Rammstein Summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Independently, Australia may also supply Ukraine with its own fighter jets.

The Australian Financial Review reported on June 6 that Canberra is considering sending 41 of its F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, which are currently intended for sale or scrapyard.

Media: Australia considers sending F/A-18 fighter jets to Ukraine Australia may send its 41 retired F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine, the Australian Financial Review reported on June 6. Canberra is reportedly discussing this possibility with the American and Ukrainian partners. The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek




















Ukraine war: US intelligence 'points to Russia' being behind dam attack

The US government has intelligence leaning towards blaming Russia for the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Tuesday.

The Biden administration is working to declassify some of the intelligence, the US network said.

However, in a White House briefing, spokesperson John Kirby appeared to refute those claims, saying Washington could not say conclusively who was responsible.

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has denounced the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as a war crime as thousands fled the region.

Mr Cleverly also hinted Russia was behind the abhorrent act, saying: Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

Ukraine on Tuesday said Russian forces were shelling civilians as they fled the surging waters in Kherson city.

Moscow has denied the claims and urged the world to condemn criminal acts of Ukraine after the dam damage.

07:40 PM

That's all for today

Thanks for joining us on another busy news day in Ukraine.

A recap of the highlights:

The White House said the US could not conclusively say who was responsible for the attack

Washington said it was clear that the destruction on the Dnipro River had likely caused many deaths and the evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians

The destruction could have a devastating impact on Ukraines energy security, the White House said

Germanys chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said appeared to blame Moscow, saying: This is an aggression by the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive

06:44 PM

White House: 'Too soon to know what effect blast will have on Ukraine's counter offensive'

Speaking from the White House press podium, Mr Kirby said it was too soon to know what effect the dam blast will have on Ukraines counteroffensive operations.

Mr Kirby said the White House was assessing what impact an attack would have on supplemental funding from the US.

He said: If we feel like we need to go back to Congress for additional funding for Ukraine, well do that.

But well do that at the appropriate time, and now is not the appropriate time to have that conversation.

06:39 PM

US: Dam destruction could have 'devastating impact' on Ukraine's energy security

John Kirby, one of Mr Bidens main spokesmen on the Ukraine war, is currently briefing White House reporters.

Mr Kirby said the US is closely monitoring the impact of the dam attack but could not say conclusively who was responsible.

He said: Weve seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam, which I would remind, Russian forces took over illegally last year, and have been occupying since.

Were doing the best we can to assess those reports. We are working with Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened.

The spokesman said it was clear that the destruction on the Dnipro River had likely caused many deaths and the evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians.

Mr Kirby added: Its destruction could very well have a devastating impact on Ukraines energy security and it will certainly have an impact on Ukraines canal system.

06:25 PM

Germany: 'This is an aggression by the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is blaming Russia for the attack on the Kakhovka dam, saying the long-feared move represented a new dimension in the conflict.

By all accounts, this is aggression by the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive, to defend its own country. This shows that this is a new dimension, Mr Scholz said at a townhall organised by broadcaster RTL.

Mr Scholz said he intended to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin again, although he had not done so for a long time and now was not the right time.

05:51 PM

US intelligence: Moscow behind dam attack

US intelligence is pointing to Russia being behind the destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Tuesday.

A torrent of water burst through the massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, flooding a swathe of the war zone and forcing villagers to flee.

Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam while the Kremlin said it was Ukraine that had sabotaged the dam.

05:20 PM

UN: Dam burst 'another devastating consequence' of Russian invasion

We have resumed our live blog to bring you the latest developments as it emerges the US and Europe knew about a Ukrainian plot to bomb the Nord Stream pipeline months before the attack.

You can read the full details of that story here.

Meanwhile, the United Nation has described the Ukrainian dam burst as another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The UN Security Council will meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam at the request of both Russia and Ukraine.

Well keep you updated with all the latest developments.

02:59 PM

Trudeau: Ukraine dam collapse another horrific consequence of Russian war

We are getting more international reaction to news of the dam.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minsiter, said the destruction of a Ukrainian dam was another example of the horrific consequences of Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Trudeau, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, said the disaster was absolutely devastating for lives and livelihoods across the region.

02:35 PM

Watch: Civilians search for neighbours in the flooded streets of Kherson as shelling continues

02:11 PM

Ukraine names Russian unit it claims blew up dam

Oleksii Danilov, the Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, has named a Russian unit it claims blew up the Kakhovka dam.

He claimed that the dam was blown up by Russias 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade.

In comments made to Ukrainian news outlet Liga, he claimed that brigade members were stationed at the power plant near Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka and controlled the facility.

01:47 PM

EU's Borrell says Russia takes aggression to new level with dam blast

Russia has taken its aggression against Ukraine to a new level with the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in the south of Ukraine, the EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell has said.

Russias attacks against Ukrainian civilian critical infrastructure reached an unprecedented level today with the destruction of the dam at Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, Borrell said in a statement.

The European Union condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms. It represents a new dimension of Russian atrocities and may constitute a violation of international law, notably international humanitarian law.

Ukraine and its Western allies accused Russia of blowing up the dam in a deliberate war crime.

01:46 PM

Zelensky says 'world must react' to Kakhovka dam attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the world must react to the Kakhovka dam attack, blaming Russia for the breach which has caused extensive flooding.

The world must react, he said, adding that Russia had carried out an internal explosion of the structures of the plant at 2:50 am local time (2350 GMT).

This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime, he added, accusing Russia of committing an act of ecocide.

Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilisation, he added. Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror.

12:55 PM

Estonian PM: We must stop this cycle of aggression

Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, has reacted to news of the attack.

Terrorist state Russia has now turned water into a weapon. Destroying #NovaKakhovka dam is a war crime affecting countless civilians and bringing ecocide and mass destruction.



We must stop this cycle of aggression by helping Ukraine to victory and delivering full accountability.  Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 6, 2023

12:47 PM

'Water is rising'

The Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka in southern Ukraine - home to the dam that Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of attacking - is flooded, officials said Tuesday.

Russian television showed images of the city that lies on the Dnipro river with its central square entirely flooded and swans swimming near the main Soviet-era house of culture.

Water is rising, Vladimir Leontyev, the Russian-installed head of the city administration, said on Telegram.

He said 53 buses were being sent by authorities to take people from Novaya Kakhovka and two nearby settlements to safe areas.

We are organising temporary accommodation centres with hot meals, he said.

Emergency rescuers, city administration workers and soldiers are at work, he said. Help will be given to all those who need it.

Leontyev posted a video of himself looking at the city from a high-rise building with the flooded central square and the Dnipro river in the background.

12:35 PM

European court condemns Russia over Navalny 2020 poisoning

Europes top rights court has condemned Russia for failing to properly investigate the 2020 poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny which the West says was an assassination bid.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said Russia had notably failed to explore the allegations of a possible political motive for the attempted murder, as well as possible involvement of state agents, unanimously finding Russia had violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

It said Russia had refused to open criminal proceedings into the poisoning, which led to Navalny falling into a coma and being put on life support.

The anti-corruption campaigner, seen by supporters as a potential political rival of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill while on a domestic flight from Siberia.

Navalny was later evacuated to Germany where he recovered. He has been behind bars since he returned to Moscow in early 2021.

The ECHR noted that tests by the German government had shown definite proof of the presence of the Soviet-era chemical nerve agent Novichok in Navalnys system.

The court said the inquiry by Russia was not open to scrutiny and Navalny had not been allowed to participate.

12:14 PM

Kremlin claims that Kakhovka dam attack 'deliberate sabotage' by Kyiv

The Kremlin has claimed that the attack on a major dam in Moscow-occupied southern Ukraine was deliberate sabotage by Kyiv, which wanted to cut off Russian-occupied Crimea from water.

Russia and Ukraine have traded accusations over damage to the major Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River.

We can already unequivocally declare (this was) deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, claiming that one of the aims was to deprive Crimea of water.

He said the Kremlin decisively rejected accusations by Ukraine and the West that Moscows forces were behind a blast that caused the damage.

Ukraines Foreign Ministry has called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what it called a Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine.

Volodymr Zelensky has condemned Russian forces as terrorists following the destruction of the dam.

12:01 PM

EU says dam blast shows "barbaric" nature of Russian aggression

The EU has condemned the destruction of a major hydroelectric dam in the south of Ukraine as a new example of the barbaric aggression by Russia against Ukraine.

This is a new sign of escalation, bringing the horrific and barbaric nature of Russian aggression against Ukraine to unprecedented levels, EU Commission spokesman Peter Stano said at a press conference in Brussels.

11:59 AM

Russian-installed authorities plan to evacuate three districts after dam breach

The Russian-installed administration of Ukraines Kherson region said that it was preparing to evacuate three districts after the overnight breach of the Kakhovka dam, holding 18 cubic km of water.

In a statement on Telegram, the administration said evacuations were being prepared in the Nova Kakhovka, Golo Pristan and Oleshky districts, the latter two across the mouth of the Dnipro river from the Ukrainian-held regional capital, Kherson.

Russia controls the left, eastern bank of the Dnipro, and Ukraine the other side.

11:39 AM

Houses floating under water

11:38 AM

Nato chief says Russia cannot block Ukraine's membership

Russia does not have a veto on Ukraines eventual membership of the Western defence alliance Nato, its chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

All allies agree that Natos door remains open, that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance and that Russia does not have a veto, he said.

The Nato chief was in the Slovakia capital Bratislava for talks with the presidents of the alliances eastern flank, the so-called Bucharest Nine group.

The Bratislava talks came ahead of next months Nato summit in Vilnius, where Stoltenberg said the alliance will take very significant decisions.

We will strengthen our support for Ukraine with a multi-year package of assistance to help them transition from Soviet-era to Nato standards, and bring Ukraine closer to Nato, he said.

We must also agree a stronger commitment to increase defence investments, with two percent of GDP as a minimum, he added.

11:33 AM

150 tonnes of engine oil in river after dam attack

Ukraine said 150 tonnes of engine oil had spilled into the Dnipro river after an attack on the Kakhovka dam and warned of a negative impact for the environment.

One hundred fifty tonnes of engine oil got into the Dnipro river due to the explosion, Daria Zarivna, communications adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidents office, said on social media.

11:28 AM

Ukraine seeks UN Security Council meeting on dam blast

Ukraines Foreign Ministry called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what it called a Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine.

The ministry also called in a statement for the U.N. nuclear watchdogs board of governors to discuss the incident and demanded new international sanctions on Russia, and in particular the Russian missile industry and nuclear sector.

11:17 AM

Kakhovka dam blast will not prevent Ukraine's counteroffensive, says general

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine will not prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing, a senior Ukrainian commander said.

As for preventing our offensive actions, the military command has taken into full account such treacherous enemy actions, and it should not prevent our advance in those directions where there may be spillage of water, Serhiy Naev, commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was quoted as saying by the state news agency Ukrinform.

10:56 AM

Ukraine investigating dam blast as war crime, prosecutors say

Ukraine is investigating the blast at a major hydroelectric dam in the south of the country as a war crime and as possible criminal environmental destruction, or ecocide, the office of its prosecutor general said.

The prosecutors said in comments sent to Reuters that they had started urgent investigations into the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam.

Ukraine is one of a small number of states, including Russia, that have criminalised ecocide through domestic legislation.

Kyiv defines ecocide as mass destruction of flora and fauna, poisoning of air or water resources, and also any other actions that may cause an environmental disaster in Article 441 of its criminal code.

10:50 AM

Aftermath of flooding in pictures:

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destructions of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant - east2west news/east2west news

Swans are currently swimming around the administrative center in Nova Kakhovka

Ukrainian media share pictures of rescued wild animals and pets following the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant flood - east2west news/east2west news

Ukrainian media share pictures of rescued wild animals and pets following the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant flood - east2west news

10:39 AM

Kyiv accuses Russia of blowing up dam to stop Ukrainian forces crossing Dnipro

Russia blew up the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine to prevent Ukrainian forces crossing the Dnipro river, the spokesperson for Ukraines southern military command said.

This is a hysterical reaction, spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk told an online briefing. They were aware that the movement of the (Ukrainian) defence forces would take place and in this way tried to influence the defence forces so that the crossing of the Dnipro, which they feared, would not happen.

10:32 AM

Ukraine says situation at nuclear plant not critical after dam blast

The situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine is not critical after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the head of Ukraines state nuclear energy company has said.

Energoatom chief Petro Kotin said the fall in the levels of the Kakhovka reservoir would not affect the level of water in cooling ponds at the facilitys spent nuclear fuel storage pools.

09:58 AM

Where is the Kakhovka dam?

09:43 AM

Zelensky: Russian forces blew up Kakhovka hydro station from inside

Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in southern Ukraine overnight from inside the facility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

Tonight at 02:50, Russian terrorists carried out an internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP. About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding, he said

09:37 AM

'A new stage of Russian aggression'

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine is a fundamentally new stage of Russian aggression, a senior Ukrainian security official said.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, said Russia had moved from trying to justify its invasion of Ukraine with what he called propaganda myths to declaring its true objectives openly - to ruin Ukraine, kill Ukrainians, destroy the economy and civilian life-support structures.

09:34 AM

Pictured: Foreign Secretary James Cleverly operates an unmanned demining vehicle in Kyiv

James Cleverly operates an unmanned demining vehicle as he visits members of the Halo Trust non-commercial charity organisation for demining - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly operates an unmanned demining vehicle as he visits members of the Halo Trust non-commercial charity organisation for demining - VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS

09:27 AM

Thousands of civilians at risk, says Nato secretary general

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, has condemned the outrageous destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage.

This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of #Russias war in #Ukraine.  Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) June 6, 2023

09:21 AM

Beavers spotted in Kherson

Beavers have been spotted on the streets of Kherson after the dam was blown up.

Beavers have been spotted in Kherson after the dam was blown up, per Ukrainian social media. pic.twitter.com/ipot5v14Hg  max seddon (@maxseddon) June 6, 2023

09:18 AM

'The biggest environmental disaster in decades'

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, has commented on the news that the Kakhovka power plant has blown up.

#Russia blows up the #Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and creates the biggest environmental disaster in #Europe in decades. As a result of the act of terrorism, many settlements will disappear from the map. People will die. What does the #UN do on the same day? It declares on    (@Podolyak_M) June 6, 2023

08:52 AM

Pictured: Beavers on the streets of Kherson

Beavers pictured on the streets of Kherson as flooding begins in the occupied Kherson and Kherson region after the destructions of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant - east2west news/east2west news

08:51 AM

Kakhovka dam blast is Russian attempt to 'raise the stakes', says Zelensky aide

The destruction of a dam in a Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraine is an attempt by Moscow to raise the stakes in its full-scale invasion and stoke fears of a nuclear catastrophe, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Today, the world must...understand that this is an attempt by terrorists to raise the stakes and scare everyone with a possible nuclear disaster, Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiys administration, wrote on Telegram.

08:27 AM

Crimea head says dam blast could lead to water supply problems for peninsula

The Russian-backed governor of Crimea said that there is a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnipro river, could fall after the blast at the Nova Kakhovka dam.

In a statement on Telegram, Sergei Aksyonov said that Crimea had sufficient water reserves for the moment, and that the level of risk would become clear in the coming days.

Crimea is heavily dependent on water from the canal, which carries water from the Dnipro river, upstream of the dam.

The canal was blocked by Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The blockade led to acute water shortages on the peninsula that ended only after Russian forces seized the canal in March 2022.

08:21 AM

European Council President blames Russia for the attack

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, has reacted to news of the attack.

Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam.



The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.  Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 6, 2023

08:08 AM

Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up dam to slow offensive

Kyiv has accused Moscow of destroying a dam in order to slow down a Ukrainian offensive, saying the consequences were already catastrophic.

A satellite image shows Nova Khakovka Damn in Kherson region - MAXARA TECHNOLOGIES/via REUTERS

A satellite image shows Nova Khakovka Dam in Kherson region - MAXARA TECHNOLOGIES/via REUTERS

The terrorists goal is obvious - to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

08:04 AM

Kakhovka hydro plant 'totally destroyed' after blast in engine room

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in a Russian-occupied area of southern Ukraine has been destroyed completely and cannot be restored after a detonation inside the engine room, Ukraines state hydroelectric company said.

In a statement from the company, shared by a Ukrainian adviser on Twitter, the company said the reservoir was expected to run out within the next four days.

Statement by UkrHydroEnergo:



Russia blew up Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in the early hours of 6th June.



Its engine room has been destroyed completely. The station cannot be restored.



By preliminary forecast, the reservoir is expected to run out within the next 4 days. pic.twitter.com/BD1Aj9Q3SA  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 6, 2023

08:00 AM

Foreign Secretary blames dam blast on Russian invasion

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has blamed the destruction of a dam in southern Ukraine on Russias invasion.

Ive heard reports of the explosion on the dam and the risk of flooding. Its too early to make any kind of meaningful assessment of the details. But its worth remembering that the only reason this is an issue at all is because of Russias unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he said while visiting Ukraine.

Well continue to assess the developing situation, but the best thing Russia could do now is withdraw their troops immediately.

07:54 AM

Ukraine says Russian forces blew up Kakhovka dam in 'panic'

Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam in a Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraine in a panic, Ukraines military intelligence agency has said.

The occupiers blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Reservoir in a panic - this is an obvious act of terrorism and a war crime, which will be evidence in an international tribunal, it said in a statement on Telegram.

07:45 AM

16,000 people in 'critical zone'

Anton Geraschchenko, an interior ministry adviser, has said that evacuation trains will transport people to safety from Kherson.

About 16,000 people are in "critical zone" in Kherson region on the right bank of the Dnieper river - head of Kherson regional military administration.



Evacuation trains will take people to safety from Kherson. pic.twitter.com/rmltVcc9yI  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 6, 2023

There was flooding in eight areas along the Dnipro river, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson miliary administration, said.

07:33 AM

Upto 80 settlements at risk of flooding

New footage of the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam pic.twitter.com/tafFBn88bf  Faytuks News  (@Faytuks) June 6, 2023

The dam, 30 metres tall and 3.2 km long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river.

It holds water equal to that in the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah and also supplies water to Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified, the Ukrainian military said.

Separately, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding after what he described as the destruction of the stations dam by Russian forces.

07:23 AM

Situation at nuclear plant 'under control' after dam blast

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam by Russian forces in southern Ukraine poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but the situation at the facility is under control, Ukraines state atomic power agency has said.

Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP, Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said. Right now the stations cooling pond is full: as of 8:00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the stations needs.

Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators, it said.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency said that its experts were closely monitoring the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant upstream, and there was no immediate nuclear safety risk at the facility.

According to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, a total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the left bank and a severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the nuclear plant of crucial cooling, as well as dry up the water supply in northern Crimea.

07:20 AM

Zelensky blames Russia for the damage

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH    (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

06:42 AM

Ukrainians told to evacuate

People living near the dam have been told to leave.

Authorities in Kherson are predicting that water levels will reach critical point in the next five hours.

Thousands of Ukrainian residents had already been encountering flooding risk as water levels rise in Dnipro river, and Russian forces flooded and mined fields in recent weeks ahead of Ukraines counter-offensive.

New satellite imagery of the Khakovka dam from June 5 shows evidence that a section of the roadway and sluice gates had been recently damaged or destroyed.



(Left: May 28, Right: June 5)



: @Maxar pic.twitter.com/o6StIwIoJr  Evan Hill (@evanhill) June 6, 2023

06:15 AM

Dam blast would be blow to counter-offensive

President Zelensky has previously suggested that Russia would not hesitate to cause an environmental disaster for the sake of gaining a military advantage.

As Ukraine plans its counter-offensive, any flooding if Kherson could complicate plans for attacks in the contested southern region.

The Kakhovka dam has long been considered a possible military target.

Consider the damage that 18 million cubic metres of water could create while engulfing nearby villages and any of the remaining 284,000 people who lived nearby before the invasion.

Destroying the infrastructure could cut the whole of southern Ukraine of its water supply. That includes the water usually supplied to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant.

05:56 AM

Zelensky to hold emergency talks

Were now hearing that Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, is calling security advisors together for an emergency meeting.

Ukrainians are waking to the news that a major dam has been damaged overnight. Their government is yet to confirm the extent of the destruction.

05:27 AM

Nova Kakhovka Dam 'attacked'

The large Nova Kakhovka Dam in the Russia-controlled parts of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine was destroyed and the territory is flooding, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed source close to the matter.

TASS cited the source as saying that it was a quiet night and that there were no air strikes on the dam overnight.

Kyiv and Moscow are each blaming the other side for the damage.

The Kakhovka (dam) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces, the South command of Ukraines Armed Forces said on Tuesday on its Facebook page.

The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified.

Russian news agencies said the dam, controlled by Russian forces, had been destroyed in shelling while a Russian-installed official said it was a terrorist attack - Russian shorthand for an attack by Ukraine.

05:25 AM

Good morning

Follow the live blog for the latest news out of Ukraine on Tuesday.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine using Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles on the night of 6 June 2023, between 00:30 and 04:00, and all 35 Russian missiles were destroyed by air defence.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force

Details: The Ukrainian Air Force said that the Russians attacked as they usually do  from the Caspian Sea area, with six Tu-95ms strategic bombers.

All 35 cruise missiles were destroyed by air defence assets and personnel from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Most of the Kh-101/Kh-555 were headed in the direction of the capital, in the area of responsibility of Air Command Tsentr (Centre).

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An increase in operations in eastern and southeastern Ukraine in recent days appears to signal the opening phases of Ukraine's expected counteroffensive against Russia are underway, but the main push has not yet begun, according to U.S. officials.

A Western official told reporters Tuesday that Ukrainian forces are conducting operations around Bakhmut and south of Donetsk city, and the activity south of Donetsk appears to be a new effort.

Ukraine has kept quiet about how its counteroffensive might start. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry released a video with soldiers holding fingers to their lips in a "shh" gesture, accompanied by text that read, "Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the beginning."

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Monday that part of defending Ukrainian territory includes conducting "counteroffensive actions," but downplayed Russian claims that the broader counteroffensive had begun. She noted Ukrainian advances in villages near Bakhmut and said Ukrainian forces now have the high ground near the symbolic city.

The U.S. and allies have trained Ukrainian forces for months in combined arms maneuvers for the counteroffensive. The training produced nine additional armored and mechanized Ukrainian brigades that are in Ukraine now and three more brigades that are currently training in Germany.

Videos on social media of activity in Ukraine do not appear to show western equipment, like the Bradley or Stryker armored vehicles that would likely be a part of these American-trained brigades and could signal that the main thrust of the counteroffensive has begun.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him over the weekend that "there will be stops and starts" to Ukraine's counteroffensive, but the Ukrainians are well-prepared.

The destruction of the Kakhova Dam near Zaporizhia may hinder Ukraine's counteroffensive, making it difficult to conduct bridging operations and causing the evacuation of thousands of residents in the flood zone.

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The Pentagon has stated that, despite strong and deep fortifications in many places, the Russians will not be able to withstand a counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces along the entire front line, and the Ukrainians must find these gaps and exploit them to achieve success.

Source: Ukrinform citing Lloyd Austin, United States Defense Secretary, during a press conference in New Delhi

Quote: "It has been widely reported that Russia has constructed defences along the border of the occupied territory, and those defence, in many cases, are defences in depth, so we see several lines of fortifications, ditches, dragon's teeth, prepared positions, those kinds of things."

Details: Austin continued that the Russians have to hold back the offensive over a sufficiently long area.

"So, they [the Russians  ed.] probably cant be strong in every place. So it is incumbent upon the Ukrainians to find the points of advantage where they can leverage and exploit," the US Secretary of Defense noted.

Meanwhile, he did not comment on the Armed Forces' readiness for a large-scale counteroffensive operation, noting that the Ukrainian side will talk about this when the time comes.

Background: Ukraines Defence Ministry reported that the Ukrainian army is successfully advancing across a wide stretch of the Bakhmut front.

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F-16 loadout ukraine

Now that debate around Ukraine getting F-16s is largely concluded, the questions of where the jets will come from and what weapons will be provided with them loom large.

There has been a remarkable amount of precedent already set for transferring advanced weapons to Ukraine that can be used by the F-16.

Weapons delivered to Ukraine so far that would be suitable for the F-16 include:

-AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). The F-16 will be able to use this weapon far more dynamically and effectively than how it is currently being employed by Ukraine's Soviet-designed tactical aircraft. This will mark a major enhancement in capability and a big threat increase to many Russian air defense systems deployed in occupied areas.

-AIM-120 AMRAAM. The AIM-120 is already in service in Ukraine via its NASAMS air defense systems. They are likely using AIM-120A/Bs, at least for the time being. So giving Ukraine AMRAAM capability on its F-16s is all but a given. This is quite remarkable considering Egypt, one of the world's largest F-16 operators, still is not cleared for AMRAAM, and neither is Iraq, although there are a number of reasons for this beyond technological risk. The big question is if Ukraine will get the more capable AIM-120C variant, which we will discuss in a moment. Our feature on the implications of AMRAAM being approved for NASAMS use in Ukraine can be found here and another on arming Ukraine's existing fighters with AIM-120 here.

An AIM-120B loaded on the wingtip of an F-16C ahead of a mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sheila deVera)

-GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). SDB has already been cleared for use in Ukraine via the Ground-Launched SDB (GLSDB) system, of which the exact status remains unclear. But SDB will be a critical weapon for Ukraine's F-16s due to its accuracy, standoff range, ability to strike semi-hardened static targets, and the large numbers in NATO stockpiles to draw from.

-AIM-9 Sidewinder. Canada is providing AIM-9s to Ukraine. Exactly what variant of AIM-9 this will be is unclear, but they are likely AIM-9Xs for use with the NASAMS air defense system. AIM-9X is now a core munitions capability of NASAMS and would be very effective against short-range, low-flying threats like drones and cruise missiles that are being lobbed by Russia daily. It's also possible these could be older AIM-9L/Ms in Canada's inventory for Ukraine's fighter aircraft, although there has been no word that the Sidewinder is being integrated onto those Soviet-designed jets. With a lack of within visual range air combat, it seems odd this would be a priority at this time.

AIM-9X would also provide Ukraine with a very potent short-range air-to-air missile that can also be used with their F-16s' Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) for high off-boresight (HOBS) engagements. Even if they do not get JHMCS along with their aircraft, which will be capable of using it, the AIM-9X is a major capability for the Vipers and would be very helpful in defending against drones and cruise missiles. You can read all about employing AIM-9X without a helmet-mounted sight here.

-IRIS-T. This short-to-intermediate-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile is highly capable and can take the place of, or even augment the AIM-9X. IRIST-T (also known as AIM-2000) is already in service with Ukraine via the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense systems that have proven to be extremely effective against low-flying drones and cruise missiles. It is also capable of short-range HOBS engagement and has a long range for its class, providing it with some beyond-visual-range abilities.

An IRIS-T (AIM-2000), 500-pound JDAM, and AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare pod loaded on a Norwegian F-16A MLU. (Torbjrn Kjosvold / Forsvaret)

-JDAM-ER/JDAM. Ukraine is already employing JDAM-ERs  JDAMs with range-extending wing kits  against Russian targets. The addition of the F-16 will allow these weapons to be employed much more dynamically than they are now. You can read all about what JDAM-ER brings to Ukraine's fight here.

-Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). These laser-guided rockets that use the 70mm Hydra as a base offer an incredibly accurate, low-yield solution for targets like vehicles on the move or troops, even those standing in windows or doorways. They are already in service in Ukraine in ground-launched form, with new firing platforms coming soon. Their application via the F-16 would be limited, at least at this time, due to Russia's air defenses near the front lines, though. Morphing battlefield realities could change this in the future. There has also been experimental work done to use them in the air-to-air role against drones and cruise missiles.

-Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD). ADM-160s are thought to be in use in Ukraine and maybe being used in coordination with Storm Shadow missile attacks. MALD is fully integrated with the F-16 and it could prove vital to ensuring the success of standoff strikes and for breaking down Russia's anti-air umbrella.

MALD loaded on an F-16 for a test flight. (USAF)

-AIM-7 Sparrow. While certainly far from cutting edge in the domain of air-to-air combat, the Sparrow is still a capable weapon and remains in service with a number of air arms, including Israel. For some targets, it can even have unique advantages, and it could be used against low-flying drones and cruise missiles. Ukraine already is fielding the AIM-7 Sparrow and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow for use on their SA-11 'Buk' mobile air defense systems as the missile stocks for the SAM batteries run dry.

-AGM-84 Harpoon. Ukraine has had ground-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles for months now. Those weapons have about a 70-mile range, but when you put them on a tactical aircraft that equation changes drastically. F-16s can work as both targeting and delivery platforms for Harpoons, which could greatly complicate Russia's Black Sea Fleet operational calculus.

A Taiwanese F-16 takes off loaded with AGM-84 Harpoons. (ROCAF)

Beyond these preexisting weapons already in use or soon to be in use with Ukraine, there is no reason why Paveway laser-guided bombs and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles could not be provided as well. As noted before, 70mm Hydra rockets would be made available along with the entire Mk 80 series of dumb bombs, including 500-pound Mk 82s, 1,000-pound Mk 83s, and 2,000-pound Mk 84s.

The use of any of these weapons will likely be very limited, at least based on normal battlefield circumstances today. All of them require the launching platform to be in close proximity to its target and some altitude is usually required to employ them under most scenarios, although there are some caveats. At this time, the F-16 would not be highly survivable when in a position to employ them. Once again, this is under most circumstances along the front lines, but there are some tactics that could be employed in certain situations to mitigate these risks. A ground offensive paired with a destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD) campaign that pushes back Russian forces could possibly provide areas where tactical fixed-wing jets could operate closer to their targets to bring direct fires to bear.

An F-16C fires an AGM-65 Maverick. (USAF)

Targeting pods, such as Sniper and LITENING, which can be used to laser designate and/or provide precise coordinates of targets on the ground are also likely to come with Ukraine's F-16s. They can also provide non-traditional reconnaissance and air-to-air detection and long-range visual identification functions, which may be even more valuable depending on the unique threat circumstances near the front lines at the time when they arrive.

AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) is perhaps the most likely and exciting new advanced weapon Ukraine would receive with its Vipers. It is very well suited for the unique combat environment in Ukraine. It can autonomously glide to its target from over 70 miles away when launched at altitude or over a dozen miles when launched at low altitude. It could be especially useful for target geolocated static/semi-static air defense systems and its imaging infrared sensor it uses for terminal homing is impervious to radio-frequency jamming. It has a very small signature, as well, making it that much harder for Russian air defenses to shoot down.

Hellenic Air Force F-16C Block 52+ Advanced with two JSOWs on one pylon under the port wing. (Ioannis Lekkas)

The Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) paired with a sensor-fuzed weapon, otherwise known as the CBU-105, could be devastating to Russian armor on or near the front lines. Due to its limited range, around a dozen miles maximum, employing it will be tricky. Although a range-extending wing kit concept does exist for it that drastically expands its reach, we are not aware of any of those kits being available. Still, WCMD provides some enhanced accuracy over distance and would be extremely valuable if it could be employed without very high risk to its launch platform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BCaOP9xOfk

Arguably the most valuable thing the F-16 provides Ukraine is a high-performance aerial platform with a NATO-compatible databus architecture that not only allows it to use most of the weapons in the NATO tactical jet munitions inventory but also the ability to more rapidly integrate new ones. This is something we have highlighted for over a year.

The F-16's standardized databus architecture allows the weapons to 'talk' to the jet and the jet to talk to the weapons, and in doing so, it provides the crew with full functionality of the weapons for maximum employment flexibility. Using workarounds to arm Ukraine's aging Soviet-designed jets with Western weapons has severely limited their feature sets.

This also means new capabilities can be more rapidly integrated in the F-16, which is very important considering the scarcity of certain types of munitions and the need to integrate new solutions to tactical problems quickly as the conditions on the battlefield change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiim2adsLtA

The F-16's databus also means missiles like Storm Shadow, SCALP-EG, and possibly Taurus, could find their way onto F-16s, although they would be near the limits of what the F-16 can carry in terms of weapons station weight and size. Storm Shadow is already being used by Ukraine via an improvised integration aboard the Su-24 Fencer. The same type of arrangement will likely be used for France's SCALP-EG and Germany's Taurus, if indeed they receive the latter. But it also means that other weapons can be integrated as needed. Brimstone, which Ukraine has been using for quite some time now, is one possible example. Although integrating new munitions is never easy and software alterations and testing take time, we are likely to see new weapons strapped onto Ukrainian F-16s that are currently not being used by the majority of NATO F-16 operators.

All that being said, one could argue the biggest questions about a Ukrainian F-16 fleet's armament surround two weapons in particular  the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AGM-158 JASSM.

On the AIM-120 side, it comes down to which version Ukraine will get. The A/B variants are already a given, but the AIM-120C is the big unknown.

The AIM-120C is a major enhancement over the weapon's first-generation A/B models, and it comes with various different capabilities, a result of the constant evolution of the sub-variant and the AIM-120 in general. Even in its most basic, first sub-generation form, enhancements in range, guidance, resistance to countermeasures, and more are significant. Considering Ukraine's air force is being haunted by the long-range R-37 air-to-air missile, which Russian aircraft are firing at Ukrainian aircraft at great distances to limit their own risk, giving Ukraine a longer stick  any longer stick  would certainly be prized. It is what Ukraine fighter pilots seem to believe would make the biggest difference, too.

F-16 firing an AIM-120C. (USAF)

Then there is the F-16's radar. The F-16A/B MLUs, which Ukraine is likely to receive, have extensively upgraded AN/APG-66 pulse-Doppler radars. The F-16C/D models have the even more capable AN/APG-68. So pairing the missile with the radar capability is also important here, and the earlier C variants matched with the AN/APG-66 would be a fine fit. But once again, any active air-to-air missile would be hugely welcome as Ukraine's own fighter pilots have been pleading for them since the war began. Even the AIM-120A/B would be a huge upgrade, especially when paired with the F-16's many other advantages over their Soviet-designed MiG-29s and Su-27s.

There is also the idea being passed around that Ukraine could receive F-16s with upgraded AESA radars. I find this highly unlikely, especially in the near term, due to availability, timeline, and technological risk.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, the Director of the Air National Guard, at right, listens to details about the AN/APG-83 radar, as seen here install in an F-16. This picture was taken at a ceremony to mark the completion of an upgrade program to add these radars to 72 Air National Guard jets. Northrop Grumman

Still, such an upgrade would provide a huge leap in sensor capability for their F-16s and would bring the best out of the AIM-120C and make it that much more effective in Ukraine's challenging combat environment. In fact, the radar would outclass the missile, with the newer and greatly enhanced AIM-120D, or the new AIM-120C-8 variant, or even the AIM-120C-7, being better matched with its capabilities.

Now we come to the biggest wild card of them all  the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile or JASSM. First introduced into service 20 years ago, this is a high-end, low-observable (stealth), complex, and survivable air-launched cruise missile even in its most dated form. I find it unlikely that these weapons would be transferred to Ukraine based on the technological risk involved in doing so.

A USAF F-16C carrying a JASSM-ER during a test flight. (U.S. Air Force Photo by 1st Lt Savanah Bray)

The JASSM family is quickly growing, with longer-ranged and more advanced versions already in the inventory (JASSM-ER) and even more capable and longer-reaching ones in the works. The Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) is also a direct, advanced offshoot of JASSM and the U.S. has bet big on it should a major maritime fight come to pass. The idea of these weapons being compromised via landing partially intact behind enemy lines or even espionage is likely too troubling to risk. Even in Syria, they have been used in a country where the U.S. can and does openly operate. The U.S. has no such luxury in occupied parts of Ukraine if a worst-case scenario were to come to pass. Also, the weapon's range is far in excess of Ukraine's needs, although this could potentially be altered.

The missile's high survivability, heavy punch, and imaging infrared terminal targeting sensor with autonomous image-matching make it far less susceptible to GPS jamming and other electronic warfare tactics, which would certainly make it a prized weapon for Ukraine, but I just don't see it happening at this time.

Another key aspect of this is numbers. While there are thousands in the U.S. inventory, JASSMs are prized weapons that would be essential in a fight with China, one in which the target sets will be numbered in the tens of thousands, and standoff weaponry will be critical well beyond the opening days of the conflict. As such, turning them over in any significant numbers to Ukraine would invite risk for the U.S. on the contingency side.

That being said, it's definitely still a possibility. If we have learned anything in this conflict it's that it's unwise to consider any given weapon system is off the table completely.

Even if the U.S. won't provide them, but is willing to approve their use against Russian targets, other NATO members that have given great military support to Ukraine use JASSM  specifically, Finland and Poland. It's possible that a coalition could come together to donate smaller numbers of weapons for especially critical target sets.

If Ukraine were given cruise missiles for their F-16s by the U.S., I believe it will come in the form of a weapon not currently carried by U.S. F-16s  AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack MissileExpanded Response, better known as SLAM-ER. This is because the USAF lacks an intermediate class of air-launched cruise missiles like SCALP-EG, Taurus, or Storm Shadow. But SLAM-ER could be a great fit for some of Ukraine's needs and these weapons would be coming from U.S. Navy stocks. While this is not a common F-16 weapon by any means, work has already been done to integrate it onto the F-16 for Turkey.

A Turkish F-16 carrying a SLAM-ER captive round during integration work. (Lockheed Martin)

https://twitter.com/AceJaceu/status/1368953797163286528?s=20

SLAM-ER, one of the most accurate standoff weapons in existence, can be employed in two primary manners. One, autonomously against a known target in a fire-and-forget manner. The missile will navigate on its own to the target and will use image matching to identify it and strike it. This is also a big plus for GPS-degraded combat environments and especially near key targets where GPS jamming is heavy. The other mode includes a 'man-in-the-loop' (MITL) control concept.

Rendering of SLAM-ER in flight. (Boeing)

A two-way datalink pod on the firing or other aircraft allows the missile to be manually steered to its final impact point after it makes its way autonomously to the target area. This means that instead of a building being hit, the missile can strike a certain window or feature. It also means that it can be re-targeted in real-time and even hit moving targets under some circumstances.

Aviation Ordnancemen download an AN/AWW-13 Advanced Data Link pod from a weapons pylon on a P-3C Orion in Okinawa, Japan. The AN/AWW-13 Advanced Data Link allows the operator to select an aim point for weapon impact and provides the only currently available link between munition seekers and humans. The pod is typically used by the Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missile. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Shannon R. Smith)

Using an active datalink for MITL control does have some drawbacks, including the need to maintain line-of-sight with the missile during its terminal stage of the attack. This could require the launching and controlling platform to fly at a higher altitude as the weapon can hit targets 170 miles away. This is not a problem for more shallow strikes but could be an issue for ones that want to strike deep into Russian-controlled territory. This could change over time as more ground is retaken and Russia's air defense network gets rolled back. The autonomous mode is also available, regardless. The datalink could also be a vector for an enemy electronic attack response.

South Korea, which is warming to providing Ukraine with deadly weaponry, also has stocks of SLAM-ERs, as they equip its F-15K SLAM Eagles, that could potentially also be leveraged.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rVMEjkedF8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRyJ86mkODo&t=19s

There are other standoff weapons that could be donated, although their stockpiles would be more limited if not possibly non-existent. It really depends on what is left in storage or in particular air arms' inventories.

The TV-guided AGM-142 Popeye/Have Nap could also be useful, although it is unlikely that the U.S. still has them lying around in storage as they were retired nearly two decades ago. While much more limited in range  around 50 miles  it could be an effective weapon against targets not too far from the front lines and in highly degraded GPS situations. Turkey does still use these missiles actively and has a stockpile of them. South Korea may as well.

A USAF test F-16 releasing a version of the Have Nap/Popeye missile. Note the datalink pod on its centerline pylon. (USAF)

The AGM-130  a rocket-powered GBU-15 variant  is another such weapon that could provide some standoff capability with a major punch and low technological risk. The AGM-130 was never built in great numbers and was retired from U.S. service a decade ago. If there are still some laying around in storage, it could provide a relevant weapon for Ukraine, even if limited in number, but it may be too big to be carried by F-16s as it was primarily a weapon used by the F-15E and F-111.

There are other standoff weapons that are already integrated onto F-16s but are not in U.S. inventory, such as the UAE's Hakeem missile, that could be useful. The Joint Strike Missile is another great fit for Ukraine, but it is not yet in widespread service and it too is a high-priority weapon for those that are buying it, including the United States.

There is also the possibility of modifying AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles to hit GPS coordinates or certain structures on land with unique and prominent radar signatures, although this is theoretical. Even converting old Harpoons into something similar to an original SLAM missile could be attractive.

F-16 with a Joint Strike Missile mounted. (USAF)

But with all that being said, the cold hard truth here is the standoff weapons Ukraine could really use for their F-16s are built by Israel.

From various Spice glide bombs to smaller cruise missiles like Delilah to air-launched ballistic rockets and much more, Israel's indigenous air combat munitions seem almost tailor-built for Ukraine. Israel also has deep stockpiles of many of these weapons and very warm production lines capable of building more. The issue is that Israel will not supply Kyiv with any deadly weaponry as it doesn't want to fracture its fragile relationship with Moscow, which is critical to allowing Israel to operate over Syria in order to strike arms transfers from Iran to militant proxy forces. So, barring a major shift in geopolitical winds, at least for now, that perfect match of capability and availability will remain theoretical only.

Delilah cruise missile, a staple weapon for Israeli F-16s. (KGyST/Wikicommons)

Turkey has also drastically expanded its domestic aerial munitions product lines to include a huge array of types, from glide bomb kits much like JDAM-ER to SDB clones to to small cruise missiles and more. Some of these may be available and could be produced in larger quantities, like glide bomb kits, others are quite newer and in development. While the exact efficacy of these systems is not known, they could be a huge help to Ukraine's F-16 fleet, even if just guided glide bombs.

KGK-SIHA-82 is very similar to the 500lb version of the JDAM-ER.

In addition, Turkey provided Ukraine with air-to-ground munitions and drones during the conflict, despite its ongoing relationship with Moscow, so it is possible that we could see some Turkish weapons hanging off the wings of Ukraine's F-16s.

Another major question is what type of electronic warfare capabilities will be given to Ukraine with their F-16s  if any at all. Podded self-protection systems would provide Ukraine with an extra layer of survivability against certain threats. Pods like the AN/ALQ-131 are in service with NATO operators, including those that could transfer aircraft to Ukraine. These systems have no use on F-35s, so giving at least some of them away would make sense. They would be helpful in shrinking the reach  even if to a limited degree  of some of Russia's most troubling anti-air systems and would better allow Ukrainian F-16s to operate at altitude, which would be critical for extending their standoff striking abilities.

An F-16C sporting an AN/ALQ-131 self-protection pod on its centerline station. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)

Israel, once again, has some of the best pods for exactly this functionality, and a number of them are used by various air arms with remarkable success, including the USAF's own aggressor force. It's possible we could see them appear in Ukraine as they are non-kinetic and oriented for defensive applications. Israel has proved counter-drone electronic warfare systems to Ukraine for instance, but it is still an unlikely source.

Missile approach warning and countermeasure pylons would be of great use to Ukraine, especially in the very restrictive and dangerous counter-air environment their F-16s will operate in. They provide near-spherical coverage that alerts pilots to incoming missiles and are integrated into the jet's countermeasures system to release expendable decoy flares or chaff as needed. They also hold extra expendables. Some come with onboard electronic warfare capabilities as well. These systems are in use by some NATO F-16s operators and could very well end up on Ukrainian Vipers.

One of Terma's countermeasures pylons which include warning, jamming, and decoys. (Terma)

Other stores, like the HARM Target System (HTS) pod, would be very helpful in detecting, geolocating, and suppressing or destroying Russian anti-aircraft systems. If anything, HTS could provide enhanced situational awareness, but we are unlikely to see it in Ukraine anytime soon. They take additional tactics work to employ in the Wild Weasel role, as well as advanced training, and time is not really a luxury Ukraine has right now, but that could change if the war drags on. There are also technological sensitives that likely go with this system and its digital backbone.

A trio of USAF Block 50 F-16Cs equipped with both the HTS and Sniper pods ready for a flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Tristan McIntire)

Reconnaissance pods, like the DB110, are another capability that could be useful for Ukrainian F-16s, but once again, the counter-air threat could limit how they are employed at this time.

We will have to wait and see exactly how the F-16 deal for Ukraine pans out, but hopefully, this gives a general overview of what could end up being delivered with those aircraft and what could possibly show up in the future. Of course, it also depends on how long this war lasts. Ukraine would not need these weapons as urgently if hostilities come to an end or even a pause, but being able to protect its sovereign territory from the air is a mission that will exist as long as Ukraine remains an independent nation. And as always, predictions are just that. This conflict has proven that what seems highly unlikely one day can turn into reality on another.

Regardless, the arrival of F-16s will be an important boost to Ukraine's warfighting capability. The weapons received for use with the F-16s will largely dictate their true value in the near term. But the donation of F-16s really represents a bigger investment in the country's long-term security than anything else.

Contact the editor: tyler@thedrive.com
Military mobility continues in Bakhmut frontline

A Ukrainian soldier scouts the area with binoculars on the frontline in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 29, 2023. Credit - Muhammed Enes YildirimAnadolu Agency via Getty Images

For months, observers have wondered when and where Ukraine might finally launch its long-anticipated spring counteroffensive to wrest back control of territory captured by Russia. We are ready, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal in a Jun. 3 interview, without specifying a start date. But he indicated that the campaign would be imminent. We would like to have certain things, he said, in an apparent reference to further Western-supplied weapons, such as fighter jets, but we cant wait for months.

Just a day later, on Sunday, the Russian government claimed to repel what it described as a large-scale offensive by Ukrainian forces in the southeastern region of Donetskone of four Ukrainian provinces illegally annexed by Moscow following sham referenda last year. While a number of international news outlets have reported that the counteroffensive appears to be underway, citing Western officials and observers, Kyiv has so far refused to confirm and dismissed Russias claims as disinformation.

Then, two days after that, on Tuesday, the Nova Kakhovka dam was destroyed in Russian-controlled territories of Ukraines Kherson region in the early morning hours, prompting further speculation about whether the counteroffensive began and the potential impact that the dams destruction could have on its success. The dam breach, which both Ukraine and Russia blame each other for, stands to be the single most damaging event of the war so far.

Read More: Ukraine Declares State of Emergency After Nova Kakhovka Dam Attack. Heres What We Know So Far

It remains unclear who or what was responsible for the dams destruction. However, the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War think tank forecasted the possibility of Russia targeting the dam in October. Ukraine has no material interest in blowing the dam, which could flood 80 Ukrainian cities and displace hundreds of thousands of people while damaging Ukraines already-tenuous electricity supply, ISW wrote at the time. Russia, however, has every reason to attempt to provide cover to its retreating forces and to widen the Dnipro River, which Ukrainian forces would need to cross to continue their counteroffensive. (While ISW stands by its reasoning in October, it said on Tuesday it could not assess that Russia was responsible for the attack at this stage.)

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter that the goal of the dams destruction was evident: to create insurmountable obstacles on the way of the advancing [Ukrainian army]  to slow down the fair final of the war.

Below, what to know about the high-stakes counterattack.

Where do things stand in the fighting?

Fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops is taking place along large parts of the 600-mile eastern frontline, according to ISW, from Kharkiv Oblast in the northeast of Ukraine down to Donetsk Oblast in the southwest. This includes areas around the besieged eastern city of Bakhmutthe site of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war so far that Russia recently claimed to have captured after months of intense fightingas well as parts of Russian-occupied Luhansk and Zaporizhia Oblasts.

Ukraines plans for ejecting Russian troops from its territory have been shrouded in secrecyperhaps because so much is riding on its success. As Kyiv sees it, there is no incentive in broadcasting its plans. Words are very unnecessary / They can only do harm, the countrys defense minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a not-so-cryptic tweet on Sunday, quoting the English band Depeche Modes song Enjoy the Silence. An attached video depicted Ukrainian soldiers holding fingers to their lips. Its tagline: Plans love silence. There will be no announcement about the start.

While Ukraine has, for obvious reasons, not forecast its plans for its counteroffensive, many observers expect Ukrainian forces to push south toward the Sea of Azov in a bid to cut off the so-called land bridge connecting Crimea (which has been occupied by Russia since 2014) and mainland Russia. Other options involve Ukraine attempting to encircle Russian troops in Bakhmut.

What is the Ukrainian government saying about the counteroffensive?

Not a lot. The Ukrainian government remains tight-lipped about its plans, even after the Nova Kakhovka dam attack. But there has been recent confirmation that some offensive measures are currently underway. Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram on Monday that Ukrainian troops are carrying out offensive actions in multiple locations along the eastern front, noting that Bakhmut remains the epicenter of hostilities. Maliar also said that Russian claims about the start of the counteroffensive were designed to divert attention from Bakhmut, where Moscow has reportedly lost ground, according to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.

We know that Russians are preparing a number of disinformation campaigns on our counteroffensive, Ukrainian parliamentarian Alona Shkrum tells TIME, adding that people should not believe Russian Telegram channels and other fake news, which are used as war strategies. Ukraine, for its part, has also been known to include disinformation in its wartime arsenalmost notably last September, when Kyiv staged a counteroffensive in the northeast of the country after announcing a much-publicized southern offensive designed to catch Moscow off guard.

The Ukrainians want to achieve operational surprise, says Karolina Hird, a Russia analyst at ISWa strategy that involves maintaining the fog of war as long as strategically possible. As for when well know that the counteroffensive has begun, Hird says that there isnt likely to be a single moment or event. Defining one set of tactical actions as the counteroffensive doesnt really track with the reality on the ground, she says, noting that past Ukrainian efforts to reclaim Russian-occupied territory were not limited to single offensive actions. This counteroffensive, whenever it may be, will be a series of simultaneous and successive operations that happen across the entire theater.

What is at stake in the spring counteroffensive?

The counteroffensive stands to mark a pivotal moment in the nearly 16-month war. For Kyiv, it will be the culmination of months of grinding, attritional conflictone that, if successful, could see Ukraine retake significant swathes of Russian-occupied territory for the first time since November and, ultimately, shape the outcome of the war.

For its allies in the West, which have provided billions in military and financial aid to the Ukrainian war effort, the success of the campaign could lead to further pledges of assistance and longer-term commitments for Kyiv. Should it fail, however, it could prompt Ukraines partners, which have so far been loath to push Kyiv toward negotiating with Moscow, to question whether Ukraine can retake all of its captured territory at all.
Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs explains the evacuation process near Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

A mobile operative group of specialists was sent from Kyiv to deal with the aftermath of the explosion on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP); 718 police officers are involved as well.

Source: press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Details: The mobile operational group includes emergency services specialists, all-terrain vehicles, and additional forces and equipment: boats, Bogun waders, floating transporters, generators, mobile water treatment equipment, and drinking water delivery vehicles.

In particular, 718 police officers are involved to deal with the aftermath of the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP, and they assist in the evacuation.

Police officers continue to assist in the resettlement of citizens from places that are dangerous for habitation, and ensure evacuation routes and maintain order in places of mass gathering of citizens at evacuation points and in areas where evacuees are accommodated.

Acting head of the National Police, Ivan Vyhivskyi, notes that a reserve of police officers has been prepared in case the situation worsens.

Read also: Flooded South: the consequences of blowing up the Kakhovka dam (in brief)

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The fallout from the breach of a river dam along a front line of Russia's war in Ukraine continued to wreak havoc on lives, livelihoods and the environment on Wednesday.

When the Kakhovka dam ruptured on Tuesday, it sent a torrent of water from Ukraine's largest reservoir into streets and homes downstream on the Dnieper River where tens of thousands of people live  in the thick of a combat zone where shelling regularly takes place.

It's not clear what caused the breach: the structure had already been damaged in the war.

Ukraine's government, which controls the river's western bank and the city of Kherson, has accused Russian forces of blowing up the facility.

Officials in Russia, which controls the eastern bank for about the last 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) before the river reaches the Black Sea, has blamed Ukrainian military strikes.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS?

Authorities and rescue workers on both sides stepped up efforts Wednesday to pull beleaguered residents to higher and drier ground.

Volunteers in the city of Kherson buzzed around in inflatable motor boats to ferry people to safety or gather belongings left behind a day before.

Around 3,000 people were evacuated from both sides of the river, and water levels were continuing to rise, officials said.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional administration, said some 1,700 people had been evacuated in Ukraine-controlled areas by early afternoon on Wednesday. Hundreds of calls for help were still pouring in to a government hotline, he said. The area has a population of about 42,000.

On the Russia-controlled bank, Moscow-appointed regional governor Vladimir Saldo said that 22,000 to 40,000 people remained in flooded areas. His deputy, Tatyana Kuzmich, said 1,274 people had been evacuated, and that the emergency response would last at least 10 days.

The head of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, tweeted about concerning developments in the wake of the dam breach. He said he would travel next week to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which sits upstream on the edge of the reservoir.

Water from the river is used for cooling at the nuclear plant  Europe's largest  but officials have said the dam breach poses no immediate risk to its safety.

WHO AND WHAT REMAINS AT RISK?

The office of Ukraines general prosecutor said water levels downstream from the dam rose as much as 12 meters (39 feet) above normal levels, causing flooding in more than two dozen villages and towns in liberated areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that hundreds of thousands of people were without normal access to drinking water. Evacuation efforts in occupied areas had completely failed, he wrote, and Kyiv would appeal for international support.

Experts warned about the possibility of an environmental disaster for wildlife and ecosystems. Some of the biggest minefields in Ukraine were inundated, raising the prospect that the explosives could be moved around.

Ukrainian authorities urged locals to drink only bottled water and avoid eating fish from the river, among other warnings.

WHY IS THE DAM IMPORTANT?

Operational since the mid-1950s under the Soviet Union, the dam and its associated hydroelectric power station are located about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of the city of Kherson, and help bring electricity, irrigation and drinking water to a wide swath of southern Ukraine.

Water in the reservoir is also channeled through a long canal that stretches to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed nine years ago.

Ukraines vast agricultural heartland, which is partially fed by the Dnieper River, is crucial to worldwide supplies of grain, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces shot down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Our warriors shot down an enemy Ka-52 helicopter yesterday on the Shakhtarsk front."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Filipp Lebedev and Lucy Papachristou

(Reuters) - Russian occupation authorities ordered residents of three districts to leave their homes on Tuesday after the huge Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was breached in the early hours, but some locals said they would stay despite the rising waters.

Residents contacted by Reuters said the mood was tense in the town of Nova Kakhovka, which sits on the Russian-controlled southern bank of the Dnipro River, on the downriver side of the dam.

Russian soldiers were patrolling the streets, several local people said.

"All approaches to the river are blocked for the local population by Russian invaders. Getting close, and especially taking a photo or video, is deadly. They say they are ready to shoot without warning," said one local man, Hlib.

"If you come a metre closer than allowed, they immediately start yelling obscenities. We're still allowed to go to the store, but we don't know what orders will be given next."

Yevheniya, a female resident, said the water was up to the knees of Russian soldiers walking the main street in high rubber boots. "If you try to go somewhere they don't allow, they immediately point their machine guns at you," she said.

"More and more water is coming every hour, it's very dirty."

Ukraine and Russia each accused the other of blowing up the dam.

The Russian-installed administration in Ukraine's Kherson region, which Moscow has unilaterally claimed as its own but only partly controls, issued evacuation instructions to residents of the Nova Kakhovka, Oleshky and Hola Prystan districts.

It told them to "collect personal belongings and documents, take food for 3 days and drinking water. Turn off gas and water before leaving your residential buildings".

RESIDENTS PLAN TO STAY

One resident, Serhii, said many were planning to stay, however, and were stocking up.

Another, Kirill, said he had been out of town on Monday night, but that his elderly grandparents had been woken by an explosion between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

He said they were staying indoors to avoid soldiers.

"They are in a slightly panicky mood. There have been no evacuation notices yet, but they were looking through their things and documents at six in the morning," Kirill said. "We are preparing for the worst."

A zoo called Kazkova Dibrova, located right on the bank of the Dnipro, was completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, a representative said via the zoo's Facebook account.

"The park was mined and it was impossible to evacuate the animals. We tried to save them. Every day, under fire, two workers risked their lives to go to Dibrova to feed the animals," the representative said. "Now Russia has destroyed everything. Our soul is torn by pain."

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said the water level was continuing to rise.

"An evacuation is being carried out of civilians from the adjacent flooded zones to preserve all lives," he said in a video message. "There is no panic in the town."

Nova Kakhovka still had electricity, but two villages downstream were taken off the grid for safety reasons, Leontyev said.

An emergencies official alongside him said the water below the dam was expected to keep rising for 72 hours before subsiding and allowing a clean-up operation.

Images posted on social media showed a flooded central square in Nova Kakhovka, with waters halfway up the entrance doors to its neo-classical cultural centre.

Yevheniya, the female resident, said she was planning to stay.

"I have a bedridden grandmother - 95 years old, she's a veteran of the Second World War," she said.

"Where will I go? Who will I leave her to? I am her guardian, and you have to follow your conscience."

(Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
People's Republic of China inaugurates embassy in Republic of Honduras

Xinhua) 08:46, June 06, 2023

Yu Bo (L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina inaugurate the opening of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

TEGUCIGALPA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26.

Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, said at the inauguration ceremony that Honduras seized the historic opportunity to make the important decision to recognize the one-China principle.

With this decision, Honduras became the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China, which China highly appreciated, Yu said.

"The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a widely recognized norm of international relations," he said.

Less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras, the two countries have accelerated coordination and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture, education and media, Yu said.

The Embassy of China in Honduras will do its best to fulfill the responsibility of being the window that opens relations between the two countries, the bridge that deepens bilateral cooperation and the link that connects the two peoples, he said.

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina, who jointly inaugurated the opening of the embassy, congratulated the inauguration and emphasized that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was an independent choice made by Honduras.

He said that the decision diversifies Honduras' international relations and aligns with most countries that recognize the one-China principle.

Firmly abiding by the one-China principle, Honduras looks forward to jointly promoting trade cooperation with China to improve infrastructure, contribute to the well-being of the Honduran people and foster social prosperity, said Reina.

Nearly 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony, including Honduran Second Vice President Doris Gutierrez, other Honduran government officials and parliamentary representatives, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras, as well as representatives from Chinese institutions, companies and communities in the Central American country.

Officials from China and Honduras and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Yu Bo (2nd L, Front), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina (3rd L, Front) attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina (1st L) speaks at the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
SHIJIAZHUANG, June 5 (Xinhua) -- After visiting the Xushui manufacturing base of the Great Wall Motor Company Limited (GWM), Ambassador of Comoros to China Maoulana Charif decided to buy a GWM car and bring it back to his country.

He said that Chinese cars are not yet sold in the Comoros and he was going to bring the first one. This is going to help locals learn more about China-made products, he said.

Charif is one of a number of diplomats from 24 countries and international organizations who have just completed a four-day tour of north China's Hebei Province, where they were shown around factories, villages and scenic attractions.

Like Charif, Ambassador of Botswana to China Batlang Comma Serema was impressed by the modernization of the factories.

He said he had hardly seen workers in the plants. Instead, robots and robotic arms were working there, epitomizing China's high-quality development and giving him confidence in the future of the "Made in China" manufacturing strategy.

Gabonese Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong Ella said that China's efforts and achievements in green energy have been witnessed by the world. He said he hopes that more Chinese enterprises will participate in the development of Gabon.

Tayuanzhuang Village in Zhengding County was once impoverished. Now, with its transformation from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture, the village has shaken off poverty.

It is a tradition for the residents of Tayuanzhuang to take a group photo every three years. Nicaraguan Ambassador Michael Rene Campbell Hooker said that from the photos, he could see that the people there are energetic and happy.

Ambassador of Cyprus to China Martha Mavrommati noted that seeing the development of Tayuanzhuang helped her to understand the governance philosophy of the Communist Party of China, which is to put people at the center. It is key to China's poverty alleviation campaign.

She also marveled at China's profound culture while visiting the ancient city wall of Zhengding and the local temples dating back more than 1,000 years.

The envoys also watched folk art performances and visited an exhibition of ceramics. 
Kakhovka HPP

Ukrhydroenergo early as 2020 predicted what would happen if there was a large-scale water release from the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant as, the company states on its website.

Read also: Dam waters ravage south Ukraine, military expert assesses catastrophic impact

Following reports of the dams destruction, Ukrhydroenergo said that the water intakes supplying drinking water to Nikopol, Marganets, and other cities, as well as the industrial water intakes of the Nikopol South Pipe Plant, along with approximately 50 small agricultural water intakes, would face disruptions.

The main Kakhovka irrigation canals and the Dnipro-Kryvyi Rih canal, which draw water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, and which have flow rates of 41 m3/s, will cease operations. This has the potential to affect Ukraines agricultural output.

Read also: Political analyst says Kremlin may have sabotaged Kakhovka dam out of fear of Ukrainian counter-offensive

It is also important to note that the initial forecast anticipated a controlled water release  not the catastrophic flooding caused by the destruction of the dam.

Russian forces deliberately destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the early hours of June 6, destroying its dam, Ukrainian authorities say. Authorities in Kherson Oblast have issued an urgent evacuation order, as flooding poses a threat to downstream towns and settlements along the Dnipro River. The peak of the flooding was expected around noon Kyiv time (GMT +3).

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in response to the dam explosion.

Read also: Danilov spells out consequences of Russias possible destruction of Kakhovka dam

Energoatom, the nuclear power plant operator, stated that the Russian-initiated destruction of the Kakhovka dam may have adverse effects on the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. However, as of 8.30 a.m. on June 6, the situation there was reported to be under control.

Energoatom said that the rapid decrease in water level in the Kakhovka reservoir poses a threat to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, as water from the reservoir is vital for the operation of turbine condensers and safety systems at the plant.

While Ukrhydroenergo officials said that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has been completely destroyed due to the explosion caused by Russian occupiers and is beyond repair, Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said not all of the dam has been destroyed.

Read also: Mykolaiv ready to aid Kherson Oblast evacuees, mayor says city can provide transit to safety

Ukraines state electricity transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, reported that the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and the resulting destruction have not affected the stable operation of Ukraines power system  the hydroelectric plant at Nova Kakhovka was not operating when it was destroyed.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette contributed about $2.7 billion to the statewide economy during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, an independent economic impact study found.

The analysis found that UL Lafayettes economic contributions support more than 34,600 jobs, which is about one out of every 78 jobs in Louisiana. In Acadiana, UL Lafayette has an economic impact of $1.7 billion, which supports more than 25,100 jobs  one out of every 15 in the region.

Louisiana workers made an average of $1,134 per week at the end of 2022

The study was commissioned by UL Lafayette President Joseph Savoie and was conducted by global consulting firm Lightcast. Savoie said in a release that the report shows the university as a powerful, vital engine for economic and workforce development.

The $2.7 billion in economic impact represents about 1% of the states gross domestic product (GDP).

The report represents our strength as a significant contributor to the economic health of the region and state, and underscores opportunities for increasing our contributions, Savoie said. It also indicates that state funds provided to the University are investments that pay measurable dividends.

During the year, UL Lafayette spent about $188.4 million on payroll and benefits for 2,762 full-time and part-time employees. The university also spent about $154.8 million on goods and services for its day-to-day operations.

Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayettes vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, said the report shows the university is a good investment.

Louisiana cities expected to see slower job growth in late 2023

The scope and reach of our impact and influence extends far beyond campus, Kolluru said. And that instills confidence in our students, in our industry partners and in our research collaborators. It also signals that we are better positioned than at any time in our history to grow exponentially in a range of areas, including scholarship, research and collaboration with outside entities.

Alumni of UL Lafayette generated about $2.2 billion in added income for the states economy. Students who attended the university during the year are projected to earn $1.1 billion more over the course of their careers.

The universitys spending on research generated about $141.7 million in added income for Louisiana. Community service by students, faculty and staff generated an impact of $1.8 million, and university events and activities generated around $1.4 million from visitors outside the state.

CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: UL Lafayette added $2.7 billion to Louisiana economy
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations does not have any independent information on how a Ukrainian dam burst, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday, describing it as "another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

The U.N. Security Council will meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam at the request of both Russia and Ukraine.

"Attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure must stop. We must act to ensure accountability and respect for international humanitarian law," Guterres told reporters.

A torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine, flooding a swathe of the war zone and forcing villagers to flee.

According to the Security Council meeting requests seen by Reuters, Ukraine accused Russia of an "ecological and technological act of terrorism", while Russia described it as an "act of sabotage carried out by Ukraine."

Guterres said it was a "monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe."

"At least 16,000 people have already lost their homes - with safe and clean drinking water supplies at risk for many thousands more," he said, adding that the United Nations was coordinating with the Ukrainian government to send support including drinking water and water purification tablets.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Rami Ayyub and David Gregorio)
UN Climate executive secretary Simon Stiell is the former environment minister of Grenada

The UN's top climate official hailed the "unique insight" of a UAE oil executive whose naming as president of the key COP28 climate summit has outraged advocates and experts.

Speaking to AFP at climate negotiations in Germany, UN Climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said Sultan al-Jaber, who heads the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, also has experience in developing renewable energy and is deeply familiar with the long-running UN talks.

The process under which nearly 200 nations are grappling with how to stop global warming and cope with its impacts "is an inclusive one," Stiell said six months ahead of the crucial COP28 summit in Dubai.

"One person, one entity, one country doesn't have all of the answers, it requires the input and knowledge of all," he added.

"Having Dr. Sultan's experience, his knowledge of the industry, what he has done both in terms of the oil and gas sector but also renewables, gives him a unique insight."

Reaction to host United Arab Emirates' appointment of al-Jaber in January as president of the COP28 summit in December has caused a furor among green groups and climate experts, as well as calls for him to step aside.

In May, more than 100 lawmakers from the United States and in the European Union signed an open letter to US president Joe Biden and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen asking them to pressure the UAE to replace al-Jaber.

Burning fossil fuels is by far the single largest driver of global warming, and his position as an oil executive in one of the world's largest oil and gas companies is seen by many as conflicting with the core mission of the UN talks.

- 'Way off track' -

At the same time, Al-Jaber has gotten ringing endorsements from climate stalwarts such as US climate envoy John Kerry, and former New York Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg.

Stiell himself knows al-Jaber from the climate circuit, where -- as the environment minister from Grenada for five years -- he pushed aggressively for rapid decarbonisation and spoke on behalf of the world's most climate vulnerable nations.

The UN chief said the controversy surrounding al-Jaber could be an "opportunity" to confront head-on the question of how to deal with fossil fuels, which are not even mentioned in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

"The science is clear: we need to phase down and phase out all fossil fuels," Stiell said. "We also need to ramp up renewable energy deployment. There are two sides of the equation."

"Whether parties take advantage of that opportunity to explore and to come up with decisions that are aligned with the science, that remains to be seen," he added.

COP28 will see the first-ever Global Stocktake of progress made towards the goals laid out in the 2015 Paris Agreement, which calls for capping global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius, and 1.5C if possible.

"The conclusion of the global stocktake is a moment of truth," Stiell said. "We know that we are way off track, that the gap between where we need to be and where we are is massive."

"How do we respond to those truths?"

Despite this underlying urgency, the technical talks in Bonn, Germany began with a stand-off on whether the forum's so-called Mitigation Work Programme -- set up to accelerate emissions reduction -- will even appear on the formal agenda.

"Trying to get close to 200 countries to point in the same direction isn't an easy thing," Stiell said when asked about the stalemate.

"You'll often have agenda items that are held hostage, not because there is anything offensive about it but because some parties believe they have something else to gain later on in the negotiations."

Controversy has also flared around the enthusiasm expressed by oil and gas exporting states, including the UAE, for technological solutions that would draw down carbon emissions without phasing out the use of fossil fuels themselves.

"To achieve dramatic reductions in emissions, all technologies and all levers available need to be used," Stiell acknowledged.

"We're in very difficult times, but there is hope," he said, pointing to the rapid development of renewable energy, which now attracts significantly more investment each year that new fossil fuel energy.

bl/mh/jmm
Former President Donald Trump vowed Monday to create a special presidential commission to investigate a decadeslong increase in chronic illnesses as some of his White House rivals run to his right on vaccine safety.

Trump blamed Big Pharma, the term members of both parties use to deride the worlds pharmaceutical giants, for the well-documented rise in the percentage of children and adults reporting chronic illnesses over the last several decades. His remarks were a dog whistle to vaccine-skeptical Republicans, who are more likely than Democrats to believe misinformation about vaccines and remain unvaccinated.

Too often, our public health establishment is too close to Big Pharma  they make a lot of money, Big Pharma  big corporations, and other special interests, and does not want to ask the tough questions about what is happening to our childrens health, Trump said in a video posted Monday on the platform Rumble. He promised to prioritize his commission when Im back in the White House.

There has been an unexplained and alarming growth in the prevalence of chronic illnesses and health problems, especially in children, Trump continued. Weve seen a stunning rise in autism, auto-immune disorders, obesity, infertility, serious allergies and respiratory challenges.

Its not a coincidence Trump mentions autism first: The false belief that vaccines cause autism is a cornerstone of anti-vaccine movements and conspiracy theories. In general, chronic medical conditions have many causes, but vaccines arent one of them.

Trumps biggest rival for the GOP nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is hitting the former president for embracing the COVID vaccine in an attempt to siphon support from vaccine opponents.

Former President Donald Trump said he wants to investigate chronic illnesses once he

Former President Donald Trump said he wants to investigate chronic illnesses once he "returns to the White House."

Trumps administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed to get shots in arms at a time when Americans had little other protection against the coronavirus. Even so, Trump himself got the shot in private so he wouldnt alienate the vaccine skeptics in his base. Hes even gotten booed at rallies for telling his supporters to get the vaccine.

An account affiliated with the presidential campaign for DeSantis  an advocate of medical freedom who called for a grand jury investigation into vaccine safety  has noted Trumps embrace of vaccines and tweeted about Trumps recent interaction with an Iowa voter who claimed, people died because you supported the jab. Trump defended his record and replied that many Americans viewed the shot as a great thing.

DeSantis political profile exploded after he became a critic of COVID lockdowns and mandated vaccinations, which hes putting front and center to voters as he competes against Trump.

Trump is also getting squeezed on the vaccine skeptic front by Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious opponent of vaccines who is challenging President Joe Biden in a longshot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Kennedy had been banned from social media for attempting to link vaccines to autism and comparing forced vaccination to Nazi Germany. He complained this week in a live Twitter interview with the sites owner, Elon Musk, that social media sites had silenced him for his views, which violated their terms of service against spreading misinformation.

During Trumps presidential transition, Kennedy claimed Trump offered him a job leading a commission on vaccine safety, while Trump officials said no final decision had been made. The job, and the commission, never materialized.

Despite running in a race for the Democratic nomination, Kennedy has become a darling of the right. Hes also managed to reach 20% support in polls of the Democratic primary, suggesting an uneasiness with Bidens advanced age.

Trump didnt mention vaccines specifically in his video, but his message was clear. If Big Pharma defrauds American patients and taxpayers or puts profits above people, they must be investigated and held accountable, he said.
Map of eastern Australia showing the Great Barrier Reef.

The UN's cultural agency UNESCO welcomed on Tuesday commitments from Australia to protect the Great Barrier Reef, with the government pledging 4.4 billion Australian dollars ($2.9 billion) to safeguard the natural wonder.

The fate of the reef has been a recurrent source of tension between UNESCO and Australian authorities in recent years, with the UN agency threatening to put the world's largest coral system on a list of "in danger" global heritage sites.

Behind-the-scenes diplomacy from Australia has averted such a move while fresh commitments from the Labor government of Anthony Albanese, made in a letter seen by AFP, drew praise from the Paris-based organisation on Tuesday.

"UNESCO welcomes Australia's decision to implement urgent new protection measures to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef recommended by UNESCO," UNESCO said in a statement sent to AFP.

Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced on Monday that gillnets -- vertical nets that can be up to kilometre long -- are to be phased out by 2027 in a bid to conserve fish populations and prevent the deaths of turtles and dolphins.

In a letter sent to UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay last week, Plibersek also pledged "combined investment of 4.4 billion Australian dollars" ($2.9 billion) from the state Queensland and federal governments to protect the reef.

"Our governments are pleased to further commit substantial actions to secure the future of the Reef," Plibersek wrote on May 25.

Albanese's centre-left government, which ended nearly a decade of conservative rule in May last year, has implemented a series of ambitious policies to protect the environment and commit Australia to more demanding climate change targets.

In February, it blocked a planned coal mine around 10 kilometres from the reef and last year it scrapped funding for two dams, including one called the Hells Gates project in Queensland.

There has been a "radical change" in approach under Albanese compared with his rightwing predecessor Scott Morrison, one UNESCO diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The reaction from the conservative Australian government was unusually strong," he added. "It wasn't possible to have a dialogue with them. We had a position based on scientific observation and they made it all about diplomacy."

- UNESCO power -

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's premier tourist drawcards.

A decision by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee to put it on the "in-danger" list was seen as a potentially embarrassing PR blow that would risk putting off international visitors.

UNESCO began a monitoring mission there in March 2022 to assess the impact of pollution, fishing, climate change and coral-bleaching that are seen as imperilling one of the world's most complex ecosystems.

"For many years, UNESCO has not ceased alerting the world to the risk of this site losing its universal value forever," Azoulay said in the statement on Tuesday.

Australian commitments include the creation of "no fishing" zones for around a third of the reef by 2025, a "considerable" reduction in agricultural and industrial pollution, as well as a reduction in the country's carbon emissions.

UNESCO runs a list of sites with World Heritage status around the world, a prestigious title that countries compete to bestow on their most famous natural and man-made locations.

A listing can help boost tourism -- but it comes with obligations to protect the site.

The port city of Liverpool in northwest England lost its World Heritage status for its docks in 2021 after UNESCO experts concluded that new real estate developments in the city had taken too much of a toll on its historical fabric.

Other places seen as "in danger" include the historic centre of Austrian capital Vienna, villages in war-wracked Syria, as well as a host of national parks and nature reserves from Indonesia to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Australia is one of the world's biggest raw material and gas producers, while its carbon dioxide emissions per person are among the highest in the world at 15.3 tonnes, surpassing United States levels, World Bank figures show.

jf-adp/gw
The University of Dayton has been awarded a federal grant by the National Science Foundation.

>>RELATED: UD, Wright State to receive part of nearly $1.6M grant for cyber-security research

The grant of more than $700,000 will be used to research methods for improving math education for preschool-aged children, Senator Sherrod Browns office announced.

We need to set Ohio students up for success in math, and that starts with strong pre-K programs, Brown said. This award will help students at the University of Dayton work to improve math education for the youngest Ohioans, and ensure that the next generation is prepared to lead in the industries of the future.

The NSF supports research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering.
Unpermitted event may take place at Tybee Island months after Orange Crush, officials to discuss

According to the City of Tybee, they have received credible evidence that a pop-up event is slated to take place in late June into early July, WJCL reports.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A flyer has been circulating on social media about a July 4th weekend event called Turnt Island which is organized by the same people who planned the unpermitted 2023 Orange Crush event.

On Thursday, city leaders are supposed to discuss a resolution that would allow them to request members of the local delegation to sponsor and support legislation that would expand the powers of the city, according to WJCL.

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WJCL, the ABC affiliate in Savannah, said the department made 18 arrests during the 2023 Orange Crush event. Police said they also issued 37 traffic citations and 53 code enforcement violations.

The event returned to Tybee Island in full force after its relocation to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, two years ago.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
People pass through Salt Lake City International Airport in January. Federal officials referred more than 250 unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution in April, including one in March, when a man tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon. (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)

With air travel recovering from the pandemic, a new study found that bad behavior among airline passengers has continued to rise.

A new analysis by the International Air Transport Assn. shows that unruly-passenger incidents on airplanes increased 47% from 2021 to 2022, from one incident per 835 flights to one incident per 568 flights.

Though incidents of physical abuse often draw the most attention, the most common types of incidents were "non-compliance, verbal abuse and intoxication," according to the report. Other misdeeds included bringing outside alcoholic drinks into the cabin, failing to wear a seat belt and packing too much baggage.

Physical abuse incidents occurred on 1 in every 17,200 flights, a small fraction, but still an increase of 61% over the prior year. By comparison, the odds of a person being struck by lightning in their lifetime are 1 in 15,300, according to the National Weather Service.

The rise of incidents comes despite the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a zero-tolerance order in 2021 against unruly behavior. Instead of receiving warnings or being required to seek counseling, violators began to face criminal prosecution or fines of as much as $35,000. Airlines also have the authority to ban an unruly passenger from flying on their carrier in the future.

Passengers and crew are entitled to a safe and hassle-free experience on board," said IATA Deputy Director General Conrad Clifford. "While our professional crews are well trained to manage unruly passenger scenarios, there is no excuse for not following the instructions of the crew.

The FAA said in April that it had sent 250 cases of unruly passengers to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution, including one in March, when a man tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon.

FAA numbers showed that about two-thirds of unruly-passenger reports were related to face masks before April 2022, when a federal judge struck down masking requirements on planes and public transportation.

Incidents of passengers failing to comply with the flight crew, the most common category in 2022, were up 37% over 2021 and included smoking and vaping in lavatories, "failure to faster seat belts when instructed," carrying on too much baggage or failing to store it, and consumption of outside alcohol on the plane, according to the IATA.

The data come from more than 20,000 reports submitted by some 40 airlines.

No one wants to stop people having a good time when they go on holiday  but we all have a responsibility to behave with respect for other passengers and the crew, Clifford said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WELLINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Transport Minister Michael Wood resigned on Tuesday due to controversy of his Auckland airport shares.

Wood did not declare his shares immediately when he became a member of Parliament (MP) or when he became the transport minister, according to local media.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins spoke to Wood on Tuesday on the issue and advised him that he step down as transport minister while any remaining issues around his conflicts are appropriately resolved.

The minister purchased the shares of the Auckland International Airport, worth about 13,000 NZ dollars (7,900 U.S. dollars) when he was a teenager in the 1990s.

He declared the shares to the Cabinet Office when he became a minister in 2020. However, he failed to declare them in the public register of MPs' assets and other interests until 2022, local media reported.

Wood said he did not disclose them as he thought the shares had been sold.

Hipkins said Wood would sell the shares of Auckland International Airport "as soon as possible" and will work with the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests to resolve the issues around his past declarations.

Kieran McAnulty will be the acting transport minister. 
Shortly after David Gibbons was promoted to UPMC Hamot president, he told the Erie Times-News that "not a whole lot was going to change. It's business as usual."

Gibbons, 59, was referring specifically to the transition from former Hamot president Jim Fiorenzo, but Gibbons smiled at the thought of everything that has happened in health care since he became the Erie hospital's leader in 2017.

It hasn't been business as usual.

UPMC Hamot President David Gibbons has been promoted to regional president, overseeing the Pittsburgh-based health system's central Pennsylvania hospitals in addition to the ones he already oversees in north central Pennsylvania, and northwestern Pennsylvania and New York state. A national search will soon begin for a new Hamot president.

Gibbons, who is leaving Hamot to become regional president for the Pittsburgh-based health system's Health Services Division, has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Highmark-UPMC consent decree battle, a nationwide nursing shortage and the largest building project in Hamot's history.

"What I recall is that we really became better acquainted with the community," Gibbons said. "Early in the pandemic, we went door to door distributing face masks in east Erie neighborhoods with some community organizations. Getting people face masks, providing COVID vaccinations, working with the community centers, those have been highlights for me."

More: 10 years later: A look back at UPMC Hamot's affiliation with the Pittsburgh health system

Now Gibbons will help Hamot prepare for a new president as he takes on the responsibility of adding seven more UPMC hospitals to the 11 he already oversees.

Gibbons will work with hospital presidents, and other clinical and operational leaders, from Erie to Harrisburg. He will be responsible for three of UPMC's five U.S. geographical regions: northwestern Pennsylvania and New York state, north central Pennsylvania, and central Pennsylvania.

"I'm adding the central region, which is the Harrisburg area," Gibbons said. "It's a fast-growing area, a competitive market with different (health insurance) payers."

UPMC Hamot President David Gibbons, left, shown in a 2017 file photo with then Gov. Tom Wolf, has been promoted to regional president of UPMC's Health Services Division. UPMC will conduct a national search for Hamot's next president.

Gibbons will remain Hamot's president until a successor is found. UPMC will start a national search, which will likely take at least six months.

"Priority is finding the absolute right replacement for David, who shares UPMC's commitment to the Erie market and communities served by our hospitals in northern Pennsylvania and western New York," said Joel Yuhas, president of UPMC's Health Services Division.

Gibbons joined UPMC in 2009, arrived at Hamot in 2012

Gibbons joined UPMC in 2009 as president of UPMC Northwest in Venango County. He was named Hamot's chief operating officer in 2012.

Besides being Hamot's president, Gibbons also oversaw all UPMC hospitals in northwestern Pennsylvania, north central Pennsylvania, and UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown, New York.

"David has led an unprecedented period of sustained excellence, growth, and expansion, especially with respect to (Hamot's) service excellence and clinical capabilities," Yuhas said in an email. "Nearly half of David's tenure included a pandemic and his accomplishments never ceased during that time."

More: UPMC's first female leader, Leslie Davis, discusses UPMC Hamot, hospital challenges

Yuhas mentioned the construction of Hamot's $111 million, seven-story patient tower, which was completed in 2020 and includes 64 intensive care unit beds.

But Gibbons pointed with pride to the creation of the Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot, and the UPMC School of Surgical Technology at the Erie County Community College. Both institutions were created in recent years to deal with staffing shortages.

"A building project is great but it's a building," Gibbons said. "The nursing school and the surgical tech school, that's building people, building the future."

More: From candy striper to CEO: Corry Memorial Hospital's Barb Nichols retires after 6 decades

The most difficult aspect of the promotion is leaving his team at Hamot, said Gibbons, who will be moving to Mechanicsburg later this year. He will return to Erie at least monthly as part of his new duties.

He credited his fellow Hamot employees not only with helping the community through the COVID-19 pandemic, but helping him deal with his elderly parents.

"The UPMC Hamot family was my family," Gibbons said. "They helped me navigate the care for my parents and they were there to support me during their final days. I will never forget that."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: UPMC Hamot President David Gibbons promoted, to leave Erie
Millions of Americans are exposed to unsafe air quality levels as Eastern Canada experiences one of its worst reported wildfires.

More than 6.7 million Canadian acres have already burned in 2023, federal officials announced last week, marking one of the worst starts to wildfire season. Around 14,000 people were forced to evacuate Quebec with over 150 fires, CBC News reported. Officials said firefighters contained a wildfire in Nova Scotia on Sunday but that another one was still burning out of control covering nearly 100 square miles, according to the Associated Press.

Blazes from Quebec and Nova Scotia have caused hazy skies from the Ohio Valley to North Carolina and South Carolina. Parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Southeastern Minnesota and all of Wisconsin have air quality advisories in effect Monday.

Today's air quality advisory has been extended to the entire state of Wisconsin, ending at 11:59 p.m., due to wildfire smoke originating from Canada, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tweeted Monday afternoon.

Smoke from a fire in Nova Scotia drifts southward on May 29, 2023.

Minnesotas Pollution Control Agency tweeted that the Quebec wildfires continue to linger across east central and southeast Minnesota today due to very light winds. The agency added that evening thunderstorms should improve the air quality by dispersing smoke particles.

Americans from the Midwest and the Northeast received alerts about the air quality in their areas, particularly warning sensitive groups such as older adults, children or those with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma.

The health risk of air pollution caused by wildfire smoke continues to worsen. The number of people who experienced at least one day with unhealthy air quality because of smoke increased over 27 times over the last decade, according to a Stanford University research study published last fall.

Air pollution can cause inflammation, weakens someones immune system and can increase the risk of asthma, lung cancer or other chronic lung diseases.

Map: Wildfire, smoke impacts United States, Canada

More coverage from USA TODAY Network

US wildfires Wildfire near Grayling, Michigan, burns more than 3,000 acres; 85% contained

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada wildfires worsen air pollution in Midwest and northeastern US
FILE - Judge Thomas Hardiman pauses during a meeting with The Associated Press, March 8, 2017, in Philadelphia. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, June 6, 2023, that nonviolent offenders should not be subject to lifetime gun bans, given a recent Supreme Court ruling that instructs judges to look to historical tradition, not competing interests, to decide cases. Judge Hardiman authored the majority opinion. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday that nonviolent offenders should not be subject to lifetime gun bans, the latest fallout from a recent Supreme Court decision that instructs judges to look to history and tradition to weigh the constitutionality of gun control laws.

In an 11-4 vote, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a man who had pleaded guilty to misstating his income to receive about $2,500 in food stamps for his family in 1995.

While the case involved a misdemeanor, and Bryan Range received only probation, he faced up to five years in prison. That potential penalty triggered a Pennsylvania ban on gun possession for people facing at least a year in prison.

The 11-4 majority  reversing a lower court decision in the wake of the Supreme Court's Bruen decision  looked to gun laws dating to the 18th century for guidance and found none that contemplated lifetime weapons bans for nonviolent criminals.

Even rebels who took part in the 1787 tax uprising in Massachusetts known as Shays' Rebellion could generally get their weapons back after three years, Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman noted in a footnote to his majority opinion, which called the ruling a narrow one.

Range remains one of the people protected by the Second Amendment, and his eligibility to lawfully purchase a rifle and a shotgun is protected by his right to keep and bear arms, wrote Hardiman, who was on the short list for a Supreme Court nomination in 2017, when President Trump instead selected Justice Neil Gorsuch.

In the Bruen decision last year, the Supreme Court tossed aside the balancing test that lower courts had long used to decide gun control cases. Judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like promoting public safety, but must instead find the ban consistent with the countrys historical tradition of firearm regulation. The ruling has led courts to overturn gun bans designed to keep weapons away from domestic abusers, felony defendants and marijuana users.

Legal experts say the confusion and conflicting opinions that have ensued may lead the high court to revisit the issue.

In a dissent Tuesday, Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, an appointee of President Obama, said that history and tradition may be apt if the weapons bans involved muskets and flintlock pistols.

Instead, she said, our divided nation is awash in assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic handguns, while mass shootings are "a daily occurrence." She argued that lawmakers, as elected representatives, bear the heavy responsibility of enacting legislation that preserves the right to armed self-defense while ensuring public safety.

Although they face evolving challenges in pursuing those twin aims, striking that delicate balance has long been a core function of the legislature in our system of separated powers," Krause said, "and legislatures authority to disarm those who cannot be trusted to follow the laws has long been crucial to that endeavor.

___

Follow Legal Affairs Writer Maryclaire Dale on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Maryclairedale
Pink Floyd cofounder Roger Waters says his recent Berlin performance, in which he donned Nazi-like garb, was a statement against fascism

The US government on Tuesday joined the accusations of anti-Semitism lodged against Roger Waters after the rock legend wore a Nazi-style uniform at a Berlin concert in what he called a statement against fascism.

Berlin police are investigating whether the Pink Floyd cofounder, a vocal critic of Israel, incited hatred through the May concert in which he wore a long, black coat with armbands.

The State Department weighed in by saying that the concert "contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust."

"The artist in question has a long track record of using anti-Semitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people," the State Department said in written response to questions.

Germany has strict laws on portrayal of the Holocaust, but Waters noted his demagogic role on stage wasn't new.

Waters, one of the highest-grossing touring artists of all time, has long taken to the stage in the guise of a dictator as part of a hallucinatory plot twist in performing "The Wall," the acclaimed 1979 Pink Floyd album that touches on isolation, mental illness and political extremism.

"My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad-faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles," he said in the statement after police opened the probe.

Waters has long criticized Israel, urging a cultural boycott and flying an inflatable pig emblazoned with the Star of David at his concerts.

The rocker, born in Britain and a longtime New York resident, has also triggered controversy by accusing Ukraine of provoking its invasion by Russia.

At the same Berlin concert, Waters appeared to draw parallels between the deaths of several people by flashing their names on a large screen, including those of Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp, and Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American journalist shot dead last year while covering an Israeli raid.

The State Department comment was in support of its envoy on combating anti-Semitism, Deborah Lipstadt, who condemned the rocker's "despicable Holocaust distortion."

Her commentary was in turn a response to her counterpart from the European Union, Katharina von Schnurbein, who said she was "sick and disgusted by Roger Waters' obsession to belittle and trivialize the Shoah," using the Hebrew term for the Holocaust.

Decades before the present controversy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was such a fan of Pink Floyd that he quoted the song "Another Brick in the Wall" in his high school yearbook.

sct/nro
US cannot ban people convicted of non-violent crimes from owning guns-appeals court

US cannot ban people convicted of non-violent crimes from owning guns-appeals court FILE PHOTO: Statehouse expulsions cause political turmoil in Tennessee

By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - The U.S. government cannot ban people convicted of non-violent crimes from possessing guns, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

The 11-4 ruling from the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest defeat for gun control laws in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year expanding gun rights nationwide.

The decision stems from a 2020 lawsuit by a Pennsylvania man, Bryan Range, who was barred under federal law from possessing a gun after pleading guilty to welfare fraud. He claimed the prohibition violated his right to bear arms under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"We are very pleased that the 3rd Circuit has vindicated the rights of our client by faithfully applying the Supreme Court's decision," Range's lawyer, Peter Patterson, said in an email.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces federal gun laws, declined to comment.

Range pleaded guilty in 1995 to committing welfare fraud in Pennsylvania in order to obtain $2,458 of food stamps, a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. He was sentenced to three years of probation.

Federal criminal law generally bars people convicted of crimes punishable by more than a year in prison from possessing guns. Such crimes are usually felonies, but the law also includes some state misdemeanors, like Range's.

A federal judge ruled against Range in 2021. Last June, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects individuals' right to carry guns in public for self-defense, and that any restrictions on that right must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of gun regulation.

Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman wrote for the majority on Tuesday that the government had failed to point to any laws from the United States' founding establishing a tradition of disarming non-violent criminals.

Four judges dissented.

"Where, as here, the legislature has made a reasonable and considered judgment to disarm those who show disrespect for the law, it is not the place of unelected judges to substitute that judgment with their own," wrote Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, one of the dissenters.

(This story has been corrected to rectify the author of majority opinion in paragraph 9)

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by David Gregorio, Alexia Garamfalvi and Leslie Adler)
(Bloomberg) -- Senior US and Chinese officials held candid talks in Beijing, days after the two countries defense chiefs squared off at a fraught security forum exposing limits in mending the bilateral relationship.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US State Department official for Asia, met with Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Monday, becoming the most senior US official to publicly travel to Beijing since an alleged Chinese spy balloon derailed ties in February.

Both sides described the talks as candid and productive in their readouts, with the US State Department saying in a Monday release that the exchange was part of ongoing efforts to restore high-level diplomacy. The Chinese side called the exchange constructive in a statement on Tuesday.

Sarah Beran, the National Security Councils senior director for China and Taiwan affairs, and Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, were also present at the meeting, along with Yang Tao, director general of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department, according to the statements.

Read more: White House Sees Growing Aggressiveness by Chinese Forces

The meeting was the latest exchange in a flurry of high-level diplomacy as the worlds two largest economies try to find common ground for dialog, potentially laying the groundwork for a call between President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Last month, CIA Director William Burns made a secret visit to Beijing, while Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sat down with top diplomat Wang Yi for two days in Europe.

Despite those efforts, the relationship remains strained over a series of ongoing flashpoints, such as Beijings territorial claims over the self-ruled island of Taiwan and Washingtons campaign to isolate China from high-tech chips with potential military applications.

Read more: US-China Handshake Fails to Stem Fears of Conflict in Asia

Chinas Defense Minister Li Shangfu refused to meet his US counterpart at a conference in Singapore at the weekend, using a speech there to attack Washingtons strategy in the Indo-Pacific. A Chinese warship crossed the bow of an American one in the Taiwan Strait at a distance of around 150 yards, the Pentagon said Saturday, as tensions simmered.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin criticized the US for sending warships halfway around the world to Chinas doorstep in a provocative way, at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

On Monday, Kritenbrink discussed cross-Strait issues with Chinese officials, according to the US statement, while China said that it stated its solemn position on Taiwan and other major principles.

--With assistance from Colum Murphy.

(Updates with Chinese Foreign Ministry comment in the penultimate paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
US, Chinese warships' near miss in Taiwan Strait hints at ongoing troubled diplomatic waters, despite chatter about talks

The USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship cross into its path. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. Richard/U.S. Navy via AP

An encounter in which a Chinese naval ship cut across the path of a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on June 3, 2023, has both Beijing and Washington pointing fingers at each other.

It was the second near miss in the space of just a few weeks; in late May a Chinese plane crossed in front of an American surveillance aircraft above the South China Sea.

Meredith Oyen, an expert on China-U.S. relations at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, helps explain the context of the recent encounters and how they fit within growing tensions between the two countries.

What do we know about the Taiwan Strait incident?

It came as the U.S. and Canada were conducting a joint transit of the Taiwan Strait  a body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from mainland China. Washington does these transits fairly regularly, but not usually with another country.

As the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal traveled up the channel, a Chinese warship passed and veered across the U.S. vessels path at a pretty close range, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. As a result, the USS Chung-Hoon had to reduce its speed to avoid a collision.

The U.S. has characterized the incident as an unsafe maneuver on behalf of the Chinese and protested that it took place in international waters.

The perspective from Beijing is that the U.S. and Canada were deliberately provoking risk by sailing a warship through Chinese waters.

Who is right? Did it take place in international or Chinese waters?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that a countrys territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles off its coast  anything above or on the sea in that zone is considered part of the countrys territory. After that, there is a further 12-mile contiguous zone, over which a coastal state has rights to prevent infringement of the countrys customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws, according to the UN treaty.

Complicating matters, Beijing  a signatory to the Convention on the Law of the Sea, unlike the U.S.  claims the island of Taiwan as part of China. Under the U.N. conventions stipulations, this would also mean Beijing can claim the 12 miles of territorial waters off Taiwans coast, as well as a 12-mile contiguous zone.

But even at its narrowest point, the Taiwan Strait is around 86 miles wide. So even accepting Beijings territorial claim, there would, under U.N. law, be a channel that falls outside its territory.

Nonetheless, Beijing claims sovereignty of the entirety of the waters between Taiwan and China under its exclusive economic zone.

Despite not signing the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the U.S. abides by the 12-mile standard and views a large chunk of the strait as international waters.

How common are these near misses?

The United States has regularly sailed vessels through the Taiwan Strait for decades. At times of tension  notably during the Korean War and Taiwan Straits crises of 1954-55, 1958 and 1962  the U.S. has deployed destroyers in the channel as a deliberate show of military strength and support for Taiwan.

This continued after the U.S. normalized relations with China in 1978 until today, with few incidents that caused the level of tit-for-tat recriminations such as in the latest case. But there have been near misses in the sky, noticeably the recent airplane-to-airplane encounter that preceded this incident.

What we have increasingly seen, though, is Chinese officials protest these Taiwan Strait transits by the U.S. And the number of protests by China has increased in recent years, as tension over Taiwan has increased.

How does this incident fit growing maritime tension in the region?

The past few years have seen a deterioration in U.S.-China relations. There have been no direct, high-level military talks between the two countries since 2019. Meanwhile, relations have further soured on other topics, such as the ongoing trade war, the issue of Taiwan and allegations relating to the spread of COVID-19.

At times of better relations between Beijing and Washington, military transits such as the one in the Taiwan Strait might have gone largely unremarked upon. But amid such tensions, any incident is elevated to the level of uniquely bad provocation.

The broader context is that the U.S. regularly holds military drills and freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. These activities are used by the U.S. Department of Defense to demonstrate that the U.S. has a right to sail in waters it views as international, even if they are claimed by nation states.

The concern is that with tensions as they are  and with no official direct line of dialogue  a near miss during such a drill, or, worse still, an actual collision, could escalate beyond control, leading to military conflict.

Any significance over why this happened now?

The near miss came at a curious time  while top diplomats and defense chiefs from both the U.S. and China were attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

At that security summit, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shook the hand of his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu. But they didnt hold a side meeting  as some observers had hoped.

Austin also underscored the importance of the Taiwan Strait to Washington: The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation worldwide. Make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating.

Washington has suggested that it wants to resume official talks with Beijing. Incidents such as that in the Taiwan Strait underscore the potential need for such discussions, if only to avoid encounters escalating into something more serious.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Meredith Oyen, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

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Meredith Oyen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The U.S. government has intelligence that is leaning toward Russia as the culprit behind the destruction of Ukraines Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant in the early hours of June 6, according to a report by NBC News.

The dam across the Dnipro River, one of the countrys major waterways, was all but gone in video and satellite footage that has emerged over the last 18 hours. The Kakhovka Reservoir has been emptying into the river all day, causing catastrophic flooding downstream in the Ukrainian region of Kherson. Water from the reservoir is also used by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to cool its reactors. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, there is at present no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant.

Widespread flooding

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Upward of 40,000 people are now in danger due to floodwaters, according to the Ukrainian government. As many as 70 towns along the Dnipro are at risk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

Footage from Kherson showed rooftops floating down the river and other homes half submerged, and flood waters are expected to peak by Wednesday. Tragically, most of the animals at a zoo in the settlement of Nova Kakhovka, which is under Russian occupation, have drowned, according to the zoos management.

Even as rescue work continued, noise from Russian artillery could be heard nearby, a grim reminder that a mass ecological disaster is occurring amid the backdrop of war.

Timing of the dam incident

An aerial view of the damage at the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Ukrainian analysts have linked the alleged Russian dam destruction to the much anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, which may already be in progress. In the course of the Kharkiv counteroffensive operation, the Russians destroyed the dam over Oskil reservoir, Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at National Institute for Strategic Studies, a government-funded think tank, told Yahoo News, referring to the Ukrainian militarys recapture of thousands of square miles of terrain in September. So there is precedent here.

Although one reason might be to impede the Ukrainian offensive, the Russians also have established an historical pattern of destroying infrastructure in areas they do not control  such as Kyiv  and areas they must leave behind when retreating, signaling that, if they cannot control it, no one else will be allowed to possess it, said Dr. Alex Crowther, a retired U.S. Army colonel and strategist. In short, the Russians did this for spite.

The Ukrainian government was itself quick to blame Russian occupiers for blowing up the dam, originally built by the Soviets in 1956. Oleksii Danilov, chairman of Ukraines National Security Council, attributed the sabotage to Russias 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade, suggesting Kyiv was in possession of specific intelligence confirming that claim. In October 2022, a Telegram channel, purportedly belonging to a member of the 205th, outlined plans to mine and undermine the structure, with instructions for local residents in the event of dam failure.

Eyewitnesses have also come forward, describing hearing loud bangs at the dam they say indicate the use of large explosives.

An outrageous act

Tetiana, a resident of Kherson, inside her damaged house after the Kakhovka dam was blown up overnight. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Ukraines Western partners wasted little time placing blame on Russian forces.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted hours after the dam was destroyed. This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, described the catastrophe as a new dimension of Russian atrocities. Michael Carpenter, the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, commented: The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam is an outrageous act of environmental destruction that imperils the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, as well as the natural environment.

How will the West respond?

The House of Culture in Kherson is partially submerged after the nearby dam was attacked. (Alexey Konovalov/TASS/Handout via Reuters)

Previous large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have almost always led to significant increases in weapon systems from Western allies.

Most recently, after Russia began its campaign of aerial bombardment of Ukrainian power stations and energy plants in October 2022, the U.S. and other Western nations responded by sending their most advanced air defense systems, such as the Patriot platform, to Kyiv.

The Russian response, meanwhile, started with an unequivocal denial that anything untoward had happened to the Kakhovka dam, then segued into accusations that Ukraine destroyed its own critical infrastructure. Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, claimed without evidence that Kyiv was behind this act of apparent sabotage and that it would result in very severe consequences for local residents and the environment. Meanwhile, Russias Investigative Committee  tantamount to the FBI  said it had launched a criminal investigation.

Meanwhile, the Russia-appointed governor of Kherson Oblast, Vladimir Saldo, gave a surreal interview, filmed against the backdrop of Nova Kakhovka, visibly underwater. Everything is fine in Nova Kakhovka, he said. People go about their daily business like any day.
Armed Philippine Coast Guard personnel board the PCG Melchora Aquino ship during a Coast Guard drill off the waters of Bataan, Philippines., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Philippines, U.S. and Japanese coast guard participated in exercises which involved drills on maritime law enforcement and security.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

ABOARD BRP CABRA, Philippines (AP)  U.S., Japanese and Philippine coast guard ships staged law enforcement drills in waters near the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday as Washington presses efforts to reinforce alliances in Asia amid an increasingly tense rivalry with China.

Witnessed by journalists onboard a Philippine coast guard patrol boat, the BRP Cabra, the drills focused on a scenario involving the interdiction and boarding of a vessel suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction off the Bataan Peninsula, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said.

Shots rang out as heavily armed coast guard personnel rapidly boarded the vessel from a speedboat and herded the crew members toward the stern. A helicopter hovered as U.S. and Japanese coast guard ships helped rescue crew members who jumped off the target vessel during the mock assault.

We are not just all display, Philippine coast guard deputy spokesperson John Ybanez said. All these exercises that we do will help us help each other in possible scenarios in the future.

The U.S. Coast Guard deployed one of its most advanced cutters, the 418-foot (127-meter) Stratton, in the June 1-7 exercises hosted by the Philippines, Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia. The Stratton has been conducting exercises in the region to share expertise in search and rescue and law enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

This first trilateral engagement between the coast guards of these nations will provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen global maritime governance though professional exchanges and combined operations, the Strattons commanding officer, Capt. Brian Krautler, said at the start of the exercises. "Together well demonstrate professional, rules-based standards of maritime operations with our steadfast partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Japan deployed a large coast guard ship, the Akitsushima, while four Philippine coast guard vessels joined the exercises.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in the South China Sea and in any future confrontation over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing regards as a Chinese province.

Washington lays no claims to the strategic South China Sea, where China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysian, Taiwan and Brunei have been locked in tense territorial stand-offs for decades. But the U.S. says freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the busy waterway are in its national interest.

Philippine officials say such joint exercises with U.S. forces do not target any country. But China has warned that increased U.S. security deployments in Asia target Beijings interests and undermine regional stability.

The U.S. Pacific Command said over the weekend that a U.S. guided-missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate were intercepted by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese vessel overtook the American ship and veered across its bow at a distance of 150 yards (about 140 meters) in an unsafe manner," it said.

Last month, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft flew directly in front of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 plane in an an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver while the American reconnaissance plane was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law."

In April, Japan adopted a new five-year ocean policy that calls for stronger maritime security, including bolstering its coast guards capability and cooperation with the military. It cited a list of threats, including repeated intrusions by Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters.

The Philippine coast guard, meanwhile, has intensified patrols in the South China Sea and taken extra efforts to document and publicize assertive Chinese behavior in the waterway following a Feb. 6 incident in which a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members on a Philippine patrol boat off a disputed reef.

___

Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on a trip to strengthen strained ties with the long-time ally as the oil-rich kingdom forges closer (Amer Hilabi/Pool Photo via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and later met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

Blinken's trip, his second to Saudi Arabia since becoming America's top diplomat, comes after the kingdom under Prince Mohammed has been more willing to disregard the U.S. in striking its own decisions. Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with President Joe Biden on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and reaching a detente with Iran mediated by China. Biden also pledged to make Saudi Arabia a pariah over the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, Saudi Arabia still relies  like other Gulf Arab nations  on the U.S. to be the security guarantor for the wider Middle East as tensions over Iran's nuclear program in recent years have spilled over into a series of attacks. Riyadh and Washington also have been working in tandem to try and strike a lasting cease-fire in Sudan, which has been elusive during weeks of fighting between that country's military and a rival paramilitary force. And Saudi Arabia wants to end its war in Yemen, something also sought by the U.S.

Under the hood, especially when it comes to security and a few other matters like that, the relationship is stronger than it was a year ago, said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. It looks more strained  and in some superficial ways it is  but it is overall stronger.

Blinken arrived to a Saudi Arabia more eager to engage internationally, particularly after being involved in prisoner swaps in Moscow's war on Ukraine. The kingdom hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month at an Arab League summit, then Russia's sanctioned interior minister immediately after.

With oil prices well below $100 a barrel, the Biden administration doesnt have an immediate concern over prices at the pump in the summer driving season. Washington likely does hope to leverage its security relationship with Saudi Arabia as it gets warmer with China and Russia. However, the Saudis likely want guarantees that Biden can't provide when it comes to Congress stopping arms sales to the kingdom, Ibish said.

Khashoggi still haunts the halls of Congress. I dont think thats over in Washington, Ibish said. The rest of the world has moved on, but I dont think that Congress has moved on.

Asked about Blinken bringing up human rights issues, including Khashoggi's death, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim told journalists last week that human rights are a pillar of how this administration engages with countries around the world and in this region. Benaim declined to discuss specifics.

I think what youll see on this trip is a vision of the U.S.-Saudi relationship thats both rooted in our historic mainstays of cooperation in areas like defense and security and counterterrorism, includes ongoing important regional diplomacy when it comes to Yemen and Sudan, and looks for opportunities for regional de-escalation and regional integration, Benaim said.

He added: We will not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region.

Blinken met Prince Mohammed early Wednesday, with State Department saying they discussed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond.

The secretary also emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights, a statement added.

A Saudi statement acknowledged the meeting, but offered no specifics.

Blinken's visit comes after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, traveled to Jeddah in May and met Prince Mohammed. The prince also hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime foe of America, for a meeting late Monday, Saudi state television reported.

Outside of meeting Prince Mohammed and other Saudi officials, Blinken also will attend an anti-Islamic State meeting in Riyadh and meet with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The six-nation GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A deeper diplomatic engagement by the United States is likely to produce better outcomes in the long run than simply washing our hands and pulling back from the region, wrote Brian Katulis, the vice president of policy for the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

However, the challenges are many.

The Yemen war continues despite prisoner swaps and efforts to end the conflict. Meanwhile, both sides likely have wants that won't be fulfilled. Saudi Arabia increasingly has pushed for a nuclear cooperation that includes America allowing it to enrich uranium in the kingdom  something that worries nonproliferation experts as spinning centrifuges opens the door to a possible weapons program. Prince Mohammed has said the kingdom would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran had one.

Blinken on Monday night told a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that the Biden administration continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to verifiably, effectively, and sustainably prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. However, he added: All options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Blinken first traveled to Saudi Arabia as America's top diplomat last year as part of Bidens trip there. That trip saw Biden fly directly from Israel to the kingdom. Just before it, Saudi Arabia allowed overflight rights to Israeli airlines heading to Asia  a major move allowing them to save both flying time and jet fuel.

A diplomatic recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia though appears unlikely at the moment, despite neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognizing Israel in 2020. Saudi Arabia under King Salman has repeatedly called on Israel to allow the Palestinians to create a state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now oversees the most right-wing and religious government in Israels history, making such a move highly unlikely given heightened violence and tensions there.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
WELLINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has arrived in New Zealand on Monday for his first official visit in a quarter of a century, Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday.

"Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998 over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again," Hipkins said.

New Zealand and Fiji have a long-standing relationship based on close cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as climate change, and ensuring a safe, secure and economically prosperous Pacific region, Hipkins said.

While in New Zealand, Rabuka will undertake a series of formal engagements in Auckland and Wellington, including bilateral meetings and a ceremonial visit to the National War Memorial and Pacific War Memorial. 
US securities regulators sued Coinbase in the latest crackdown by authorities on the cryptocurrency market

US securities regulators sued Coinbase on Tuesday, alleging that the cryptocurrency platform's failure to register as a securities exchange venue exposed investors to risk.

The complaint -- which sent Coinbase shares sharply lower -- comes on the heels of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges filed Monday against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao for numerous securities law violations, including running an unregistered national securities exchange.

"Since at least 2019, Coinbase has made billions of dollars unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities," said the SEC in a statement.

The largest crypto assets trading platform in the United States, Coinbase had 110 million users and $80 billion in assets at the end of 2022.

In filing a complaint in federal court, the SEC said Coinbase's failure to register "has deprived investors of significant protections, including inspection by the SEC, record-keeping requirements, and safeguards against conflicts of interest, among others."

In the absence of congressional action, the US regulator has stepped up its oversight of cryptocurrency, an approach that Coinbase slammed on Tuesday.

"The SEC's reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting America's economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance," said Paul Grewal, general counsel of Coinbase.

"The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation," Grewal said. "In the meantime, we'll continue to operate our business as usual."

Grewal was scheduled to testify before a House of Representatives panel later on Tuesday at a hearing on the "future of digital assets."

Binance on Monday also blasted the SEC for responding to the industry with "the blunt weapons of enforcement and litigation" rather than a more "nuanced" approach.

The SEC said Coinbase's "staking-as-a-service" program should have been registered as a securities offering.

Under the program, Coinbase pools customers' crypto assets, uses those assets to perform blockchain transaction validation services and provides a portion of the rewards back to customers.

"Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them," said SEC director of enforcement, Gurbir Grewal.

"While Coinbase's calculated decisions may have allowed it to earn billions, it's done so at the expense of investors by depriving them of the protections to which they are entitled," Grewal added.

Coinbase shares fell 14.7 percent to $50.07 in morning trading.

jmb/mlm
By Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday on more than a dozen people and entities in China, Hong Kong and Iran, including Iran's defense attache in Beijing, over accusations they helped procure parts and technology for key actors in Iran's ballistic missile development.

Earlier on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported Iran had presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.

The United States will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Irans ballistic missile production and other military programs," Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement.

Washington has imposed extensive sanctions on Iran over the years, including over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and accusations of human rights abuse.

The Treasury statement accused Iran's defense attache in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, of coordinating military-related procurements from China for Iranian end-users, including subsidiaries of Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Washington targeted centrifuge sales to Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI), dual-use metals sales to its intermediary, P.B. Sadr, and MODAFL's electronics procurement in Tuesday's action, according to the statement. Both PCI and P.B. Sadr were previously hit with sanctions by the United States.

Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York and China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China and Iran in March 2021 signed a 25-year cooperation agreement to strengthen their longstanding economic and political alliance. China has been a major buyer of Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions designed to choke off these exports.

Among those targeted were China-based Zhejiang Qingji Ind Co, Ltd, which the Treasury accused of selling centrifuges and other equipment and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to PCI with P.B. Sadr as an intermediary.

Also among those sanctioned were Hong Kong Ke.Do International Trade Co., Limited and China-based Qingdao Zhongrongtong Trade Development Co, Ltd, which the Treasury accused of engaging in the sale of tens of millions of dollars worth of dual-use, nonferrous metals to P.B. Sadr.

Zhejiang Qingji did not immediately respond to a request for comment. P.B. Sadr and PCI, as well as the other companies, could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Arshad Mohammed and David Brunnstrom; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich and Howard Goller)
US securities regulators sued Coinbase in the latest crackdown by authorities on the cryptocurrency market

In their second major action against a big crypto player in two days, US regulators sued Coinbase on Tuesday, alleging its failure to register as a securities exchange venue exposed investors to risk.

The Securities and Exchange Commission charged that the largest digital currency trading platform in the United States had made billions of dollars by "unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities."

Shares of Coinbase tumbled on news of the lawsuit, which comes on the heels of charges unveiled Monday against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao for numerous alleged securities law violations.

Coinbase slammed the SEC for turning the screws on a market that is still largely unregulated, a criticism that was levied by Binance the day before.

"The SEC's reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting America's economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance," said Paul Grewal, general counsel of Coinbase.

At a congressional hearing later Tuesday, Grewal called for "legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently" without litigation.

But more than six months after the spectacular failure of crypto exchange giant FTX and its boss Sam Bankman-Fried, Washington is still grappling with how to tighten oversight of a market that has been likened to the "Wild West."

- Need for oversight -

The largest crypto asset trading platform in the United States, Coinbase had 110 million users and $80 billion in assets at the end of 2022.

Filing a complaint in federal court, the SEC said Coinbase's failure to register as a securities exchange "has deprived investors of significant protections, including inspection by the SEC, record-keeping requirements, and safeguards against conflicts of interest, among others."

The suit follows Monday's move against Binance and Zhao for operating what the SEC called "an extensive web of deception" and "calculated evasion of the law."

On Tuesday, the SEC asked the federal court to freeze assets affiliated with Binance and Zhao.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler told CNBC the crackdown was needed to protect US financial markets, the world's biggest.

"We punch above our weight class in the capital markets in part because of robust oversight in the markets," said Gensler.

Oversight "builds trust in the investing public, you become the destination of choice," Gensler said. "The crypto markets are undermining that trust."

But Gensler's approach to cryptocurrency has come under fire from House Republicans, in part over criticism that his agency has overstepped its domain.

Under the US system, securities are regulated by the SEC, while commodities are overseen by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Ahead of its hearing Tuesday, the Republican-led House Agriculture Committee, while declining to comment on the specifics of the Coinbase case, tweeted that "regulation by enforcement is not an appropriate way to govern a market, adequately protect customers, or promote innovation."

At Tuesday's hearing, CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam highlighted key problems at the center of recent failures of crypto entities, including undisclosed conflicts of interest and the comingling of funds among entities.

"This is the reason we're here. There is confusion and uncertainty," he said. "Hopefully we can clear that up."

These issues are at the heart of the US criminal case against Bankman-Fried, who is scheduled to be tried in October in New York.

James Angel, a Georgetown University professor specializing in financial markets and fintech, said the SEC's suits -- while protective of investors -- fall short of the comprehensive regulatory design needed for an evolving market.

"This Johnny-come-lately action is not the sign of a healthy regulatory apparatus, but it's sort of the best we can do at this time," said Angel, who sees little chance for congressional passage of legislation on digital oversight given the current political polarization.

Coinbase shares fell 12.1 percent to $51.61.

jmb/nro
Coinbase staff in New York ahead of the crypto firm's listing on the Nasdaq in 2021

The US has charged the biggest crypto trading platform in the country with operating illegally, widening its crackdown on the industry.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Coinbase had acted as a broker, exchange and clearing agency for investments that are subject to SEC rules, without properly registering.

The regulator said that had allowed the firm to escape oversight, including guards against conflicts of interest.

Coinbase said the rules were not clear.

"The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation," said Paul Grewal, Coinbase's chief legal officer. "In the meantime, we'll continue to operate our business as usual."

The complaint against Coinbase comes a day after the SEC sued Binance, the world's largest crypto trading platform, accusing the firm of mishandling customer funds, artificially inflating trading volume on the site and taking steps to evade US regulation.

Authorities have pledged to police the industry more aggressively using existing rules, arguing that many crypto assets function like other investments which are subject to oversight.

Efforts to increase scrutiny have picked up after last year's dramatic collapse of another major exchange, FTX, which left many customers unable to access their funds.

On Tuesday, financial regulators from 10 states, including California and Alabama, also filed legal actions alleging that Coinbase was operating as an unregistered securities dealer.

"As alleged in our complaint, Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them," said Gurbir S Grewal, director of the SEC's division of enforcement.

"You simply can't ignore the rules because you don't like them or because you'd prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great."

Person looking at Coinbase sign

Founded in 2012, Coinbase says it has more than 100 million customers and billions of dollars worth in trading volumes of digital assets such as Bitcoin each day.

The firm fetched a market value of nearly $100bn when it listed on the stock exchange in 2021 at the height of the crypto frenzy.

But shares in Coinbase have sunk significantly since crypto values plunged last year. It is now worth less than $12bn.

Shares in the firm sank on news of the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in New York.

They ended the day down 12%, while Nansen, which tracks crypto flows, reported that customers had pulled nearly $1.3bn on net from the platform following the lawsuit.

In March, Coinbase had warned that the SEC might take legal action against the firm. At the time, it called the development disappointing and said it had repeatedly tried to work with authorities to register, but that there was no clear path for crypto firms to do so. It has also threatened to relocate out of the US to London or elsewhere.

On Tuesday, Mr Grewal said: "The SEC's reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting America's economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance."

The chief executive of the Blockchain Association, an industry group, pointed to continuing discussions in Congress as evidence that laws governing the industry remain in flux and that the SEC did not have a case.

The same day that the SEC filed its suit against Coinbase, Mr Grewal was due to testify in Washington at a hearing about crafting laws to oversee certain types of digital assets.

In prepared remarks for that hearing, Mr Grewal said Coinbase carefully reviewed assets offered on its platform to see if they could be considered securities regulated by the SEC. He said it did not list securities and rejected the "vast majority" of proposals.

"The SEC doesn't make the law - it only makes accusations - and we're confident the courts will prove [SEC chairman Gary] Gensler wrong in due time," said Blockchain Association chief executive Kristin Smith.
US trial for exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui set for April 2024

FILE PHOTO: Guo Wengui (also known as Miles Kwok) holds a news conference with Steve Bannon in New York

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui will face trial starting April 8, 2024 on U.S. charges of leading a more than $1 billion fraud.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres set the date at a Tuesday hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Guo is a prominent critic of China's Communist Party, and business associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump's onetime adviser Steve Bannon.

He has been jailed since his March arrest, when prosecutors accused him of defrauding thousands of followers by promising "outsized" investment returns, and diverting much of their money to fund lavish lifestyles for himself and his family.

Guo, whose other names include Ho Wan Kwok and Miles Kwok, has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges including securities fraud, wire fraud and concealing money laundering.

Upon entering the crowded courtroom, a handcuffed Guo appeared to make eye contact with several audience members of the audience, and clasped his hands in a prayer motion. More than a dozen audience members waved back.

Prosecutor Ryan Finkel estimated that the government's case could take four weeks, while Guo's lawyer Stephen Cook said the defense case would take two to three weeks.

Torres granted Guo's request for a laptop to review evidence while he is held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Guo is appealing Torres' denial of his proposed $25 million bail package.

Guo left China in 2014 during an anti-corruption crackdown under President Xi Jinping.

Officials there have accused Guo of crimes including bribery and money laundering. Guo has denied wrongdoing.

Bannon had himself been arrested in a 2020 fraud case while aboard Guo's yacht. Trump later pardoned Bannon.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
USC wants to buy more property downtown. Heres how the land may be used

The Greek Village is home to 20 fraternities and sororities and more than 700 students at the University of South Carolina. If the university can get its hands on several adjacent properties, it could be expanding.

The university is eyeing more than 3 acres of property located at the south end of campus. Sandwiched between the Greek Village and the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, four parcels of land between Assembly and Lincoln streets are owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway. Currently, they are being used as recreational fields or for parking.

USC already leases these properties, according to USC documents presented to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, but the university is looking to do a land appraisal and an environmental study ahead of a potential purchase. USC has allocated $20,000 to do so, and plans to use a combination of institutional funds and Wellness Center reserve funds to further finance the project. The commission granted its recommendation for this plan last week.

While the owners may be interested in selling the property, according to USC documents, they have yet to agree on a price for the four parcels.

Concrete plans for an expansion of the Greek Village have yet to be seen  for the time being, USC is mostly concerned with the consolidation of university property in the area, according to USC documents. And university spokesman Jeff Stensland said the land will remain recreational fields for the foreseeable future.

But the universitys latest campus master plan update designated the area for future Greek Village development, and it would be an optimal location if the Greek Village were to expand, documents show. The plan proposes three mansion-style houses and three to four townhouse-style residences on the Norfolk Southern Railway property.

Greek Villages 20 housing facilities accommodate less than half of USCs 47 Greek life organizations. While these houses sit on university property, they are owned and managed by USCs fraternities and sororities.

Two more fraternities, Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, will return to campus this fall following suspensions. The two fraternities Greek Village houses have been leased by two sororities, who are now in limbo, according to The Daily Gamecock, USCs student-run newspaper. The sororities, Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Gamma Delta, had to move out for good at the end of the spring semester.
Uttar Pradesh: Why it took 42 years to convict a 90-year-old in India

Premvati's two sons and a daughter were killed during the attack

Last week, a 90-year-old Indian villager was sentenced for life in prison for the murder of 10 people in a caste crime that took place 42 years ago. Families of the victims say the court judgement has come far too late to hold any meaning for them and legal experts say this is a classic case of "justice delayed, justice denied".

The evening of 30 December 1981 is etched in the memory of the oldest residents of Sadhupur village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

"A group of men entered the compound of my house around 6:30pm and started firing," says Premvati. She's not sure about her age but believes she's around 75 years.

"They didn't ask me anything, they just began spraying bullets at us," she says, adding that within minutes, three of her children - sons 10 and eight years old and a 14-year-old daughter - lay dead around her.

To photographers and cameramen who visited the village after the court order, Premvati showed her right leg where she had received a bullet injury. The wound has healed, but the scar remains.

Her children were among the 10 members of the Dalit community (formerly untouchables) who were killed that evening. Premvati was among two women who were injured.

The sole surviving accused Ganga Dayal (centre) has been sentenced for life in prison

Last Wednesday, Judge Harvir Singh of the district court in the town of Firozabad sentenced the only surviving accused Ganga Dayal, a member of the Yadav caste, to life imprisonment. Dayal was also ordered to pay a fine of 55,000 rupees ($668; 533) - if he failed to pay up, he would have to spend an additional 13 months in jail.

The judgement noted that nine of the 10 accused had died during the course of the trial. Lawyer Rajeev Upadhyay who represented the government in court told me that many of the prosecution and defence witnesses also died in the interim.

With more than four decades passed between crime and punishment, the contours of the case have become rather fuzzy.

Premvati and other Dalit villagers insist that their families had no enmity with anyone. But Mr Upadhyay said it was believed that relations between the castes had soured after some Dalits had complained about a ration shop owned by a member of the Yadav caste and that led to the violence.

The crime had made headlines at the time and villagers said they were visited by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi and the state's chief minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh who had promised them justice.

Senior leader from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party Atal Bihari Vajpayee - who later served as India's prime minister - had marched to the village to protest against the murders.

"He said he couldn't bring our dead back to life, but promised to help us get justice," Premvati said, adding that the villagers found out about the conviction from journalists who came to ask for their response to the court verdict.

"Only God knows if this is justice," she told them.

The Dalit families say they learnt about the court order from journalists who visited them to seek their reaction

Maharaj Singh, Premvati's much younger neighbour who also lost family members and grew up hearing stories of "that evening's carnage", said "we appreciate that we have finally got justice, but it didn't come at the right time. We would have been happier if we had received justice in time".

"It took the courts 42 years to deliver justice. If a conviction had come in five-six years, then our elders would have died in peace," he added.

Mr Upadhyay says the case took so long to come to conclusion because at the time of the murders, the village where the crime took place was part of a district called Mainpuri. But in 1989, it became a part of the newly-created Firozabad district.

The case files lay forgotten in Mainpuri until 2001 when it was moved to the Firozabad court on orders from the Allahabad high court.

The hearings, Mr Upadhyay says, began only in 2021 as part of a government drive to clear out the backlog in courts and conclude old cases on an urgent basis.

"The government and the judiciary are trying to send a message to the public that law will catch up with you if you commit a crime," he says.

Premvati shows the scar from the bullet injury on her leg

Lawyer Akshat Bajpai, however, says justice has to be timely.

"This is indeed a case of justice delayed, justice denied. People can appreciate a delay of two-three years, but 40 years?"

Mr Bajpai says "the state has the responsibility to deliver timely justice especially to people like Premvati as they are Dalits who are among the most marginalised people" in the country.

"It's the failure of India's criminal justice system that the victims and their families had to live in agony for 42 years," he adds.

This is not the only court case that has taken so long to come to fruition. Indian criminal justice is known for being tardy and many citizens say they resent the fact that court cases often go on for years, even decades.

Maharaj Singh says the villagers would have been happier if they had received justice in time

This has led to a massive backlog of unresolved cases. In February, the government informed the parliament that there were nearly 50 million pending cases across Indian courts.

MA Rashid, an expert on Indian criminal law and founder of Live Law website, says the biggest cause for delay is the lack of adequate number of judges.

"The judge to people ratio in India is very low and the load per judge is humungous. So trials take a long time to conclude."

Mr Rashid also blames "archaic procedures" which are time consuming and delay the examination of witnesses - for instance, a judge still has to write down with hand the testimonies despite the advent of technology.

Appeals, he says, in the high court usually take at least five to 10 years to get listed for a final hearing - and then an equal number of years in the Supreme Court.

"So cases where convicts get acquitted after 20 or 30 years at the appellate stage are also not uncommon in India," he adds.

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Read more India stories from the BBC:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison was the center of controversy last month when a student appeared on a video on social media making racist comments. Hundreds of students participated in a sit-in at Bascom Hall, pictured, to demand action by the university.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison student at the center of a racist social media video that caused outrage and protests on campus last month came forward Monday to apologize for her comments.

Audrey Godlewski, who has not responded to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel inquiries last month or this week, told The Daily Cardinal, a student newspaper, that she will reflect and learn so she doesn't cause similar harm in the future. The Journal Sentinel did not name the student last month because it was unable to independently verify the student's identity but is naming her now because she came forward to campus media.

"My words were utterly disgusting and unacceptable, whether in public or private," Godlewski said. "This is completely inexcusable, and I accept full responsibility for the pain and anger that I have caused across campus. Moreover, I know that no words can undo the hurt I have caused throughout the community, and for that I am deeply sorry."

More than 65,000 people signed an online petition calling for Godlewski's expulsion after a video surfaced on several social media platforms in early May. The video showed her using racist slurs and saying she wanted to return Black people to slavery and abuse them.

UW-Madison condemned the language, calling it deeply racist and offensive. But university officials also said that, as a public institution, UW-Madison is bound by the First Amendment, which protects a person's right to say hateful things on personal social media accounts.

UW-Madison also encouraged students to rise above their anger and respond in a peaceful manner, citing reports about Godlewski receiving threats of violence and harm.

The university's response frustrated many Black students. Hundreds held a sit-in in Bascom Hall, where the Chancellor's Office is housed, to demand more.

The Blk Pwr Coalition, a new student group that formed the week Godlewski's video swept across campus, met with campus administrators to improve the campus climate. The group said it was glad to hear Godlewski apologized but also expressed disappointment that she had released a statement to campus media before consulting and apologizing directly to Black students.

"In short, we are tired of people reflecting and learning from the trauma that they inflict upon us," the Blk Pwr Coalition said in a statement posted on Instagram. "It is time for white people to divorce themselves of their privilege and power. It is time for a redistribution of resources. It is time for people to stand firmly behind Black Student Leadership."

Godlewski is listed as a nurse aide in the state caregiver registry.

In La Crosse County, where Godlewski previously worked but hadn't been on the schedule since January, officials investigated her employment status, a county official told the Journal Sentinel on May 4. By the middle of the month, she was no longer employed there. A La Crosse County official wouldn't specify which facility she worked at nor say whether she had resigned or been fired.

"We are aware of the video and condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist and harmful slurs it contains, which do not represent our values," the statement said. "La Crosse County is committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees and the public."

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Madison student Audrey Godlewski apologizes for racist social media video
These Are The Vaccines You Need If You're Over 50

The flu shot, the shingles vaccine and Tdap are just a few of the recommended shots.

The flu shot, the shingles vaccine and Tdap are just a few of the recommended shots.

Aging brings a bunch of changes to your body, both physically and mentally. To keep up with those changes, your medical needs shift as you get older.

Our immune system changes as we get older, and it starts ... sooner than you would think, sort of in our 50s is when it starts ... and then it peaks by the age of 80, said Dr. Ardeshir Hashmi, section chief of the center for geriatric medicine at Cleveland Clinic.

Within that three-decade period, our body is impacted by immunosenescence, which is the worsening of our immune response, Hashmi noted. So, as we age, we become more susceptible to infections, he said. This means its important to be protected against viruses that can be avoided. One way to do that is through vaccination.

Which shots do you need if you fall in this category? Below, experts share what vaccines you should consider getting if youre over the age of 50.

The Shingles Vaccine

The first vaccine that comes to mind when people reach age 50 is the vaccine against shingles, said Dr. Julie Thai, a geriatrician at the senior care clinic at Stanford University.

Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that protects against shingles and is the new, more effective formulation of the vaccine, according to Thai. The old vaccine, Zostavax, is no longer available or recommended in the U.S. If youve only had the Zostavax shingles vaccine, you should get the new shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Thai said most of her patients have had the vaccine, but for those who dont remember if theyve been vaccinated (or if theyve had the old formulation), she tells them to get the Shingrix shot.

Thats really important because shingles is painful and its one of those infections that just has these long-term effects, Thai explained. People have this neuropathic pain that can last for years ... if they dont get treated early enough in the disease course.

Hashmi added that while both people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated can get the rash, its only the unvaccinated folks who would have this ongoing neuropathic, burning pain.

The Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine is important for people 65 and older, Thai said. It will protect them against severe cases of pneumonia.

Additionally, the vaccine is recommended for younger people who are at high risk for severe pneumonia because of chronic illnesses like diabetes, Thai added. So, you can check with your doctor if youre under 65 but concerned about your pneumonia risk because of preexisting conditions.

A Tdap Vaccine

The one that really comes to mind to me is tetanus, so the tetanus-diphtheria booster ... if you look at data, its really actually people who are over 50  especially women  who have low immunity to tetanus and diphtheria, said Dr. Trish Perl, a professor in the department of internal medicine who specializes in infectious diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

To account for this, you can get the Tdap vaccine, which also targets pertussis, she said. That is especially important for people who are going to be around young children  like grandparents  because pertussis is a big problem in younger children, but its actually adults who ... are the ones who will be transmitting pertussis, Perl stated.

For the Tdap shot, everyone requires a booster every 10 years. And this one, I feel people dont take that seriously, Thai said.

Beyond the recommended vaccines, people who frequently travel internationally may require additional shots.

Beyond the recommended vaccines, people who frequently travel internationally may require additional shots.

The COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is the newest necessary vaccine for folks, according to Hashmi.

Older people have a higher chance of getting very sick from COVID-19 if theyre unvaccinated, resulting in severe outcomes like hospitalization or death, according to the CDC. And if you are older and have underlying conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, youre even more at risk.

People who are 50 and up are eligible to get the updated bivalent vaccine and can get boosted if its been at least four months since their last shot, according to the CDC.

The Flu Shot

The flu shot is important for everyone, not just for folks over 50. In fact, the CDC says everyone 6 months and up should get this shot each season.

I always advise people to get vaccinated against seasonal flu because it really can put you out ... especially now coupled with COVID, Thai said. I think people sometimes are dismissive of it, but it is really important that at any age to get the influenza vaccine.

Hashmi added that the illnesses that have a lot of inflammation involved  like the flu, COVID, shingles and pneumonia  are worse in older patients.

Because if you get the illness, the response to it is not robust because our natural immunity has gone down, Hashmi said. So, unless you supplement that with these vaccines, not only will the diseases happen  they will happen with much more severity than if you were, lets say, a young adult or someone between age 20 and age 50.

The Hepatitis B Vaccine

If you have certain risk factors, some of our seniors also merit the Hepatitis B vaccine, Hashmi said. Those risk factors include intravenous drug use at any point and people who are incarcerated.

The vaccine is also available to people with certain health conditions. Hepatitis B is important. Its usually people who are immunocompromised ... or who are older than 60 is usually when we start recommending it, Thai noted.

If you are an avid international traveler, you may need additional vaccinations.

I do think a lot of people at this age group also travel and so that may be another twist, Perl said.

According to Perl, your vaccine needs will differ depending on what countries you visit. She recommends the Hepatitis A vaccine for people who travel, particularly if you eat street food and arent checking whether something is cooked all the way through, because you can get pretty sick from Hepatitis A and especially you dont want to get sick if youre traveling.

For other kinds of travel, recommended vaccines may include the meningococcal vaccine, polio vaccine, rabies and yellow fever, she said. To figure out what vaccines you may need for upcoming trips, talk to your primary care doctor. Your physician should be able to vaccinate you or refer you to a travel medicine center.

Talk to your doctor about what vaccines are right for you.

Vaccine needs vary from person to person  and some people may require more information before going through with the jab. Talk to your doctor about what vaccines you need to stay protected well past your middle-age years.

I think its important for every patient to sit with their doctors and ask questions and, you know, make an informed decision based on what answers they get, Thai said.

She added that your physician can help explain the science behind some of these vaccines, address your concerns and help debunk any myths.

Most of these vaccines have been around for years and years and years and are well studied, or the technology behind them is well studied, Perl noted. Theyre actually much safer than getting these underlying diseases.

And if you are vaccinated but still end up getting sick, youll be better off.

Its not like you are never going to get these illnesses. You could still get them. However, you will get a much milder version of any of these illnesses, Hashmi explained.

These vaccines can help you live a fuller life, too. People are living longer, theyre living better [and] the quality of life is also improved if youve stayed up to date with these vaccines, Hashmi said.

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Vanuatu says security deal with Australia to be ratified later this year

U.N. General Assembly to vote on whether to ask top global court to issue opinion on climate responsibility

By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -The Pacific Islands nation of Vanuatu said on Tuesday a security treaty with Australia would be put to parliament before the end of 2023, as concerns over China in the region saw neighbouring Papua New Guinea delay signing another such treaty.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said, during a visit by Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles, that a security treaty signed with Australia in December 2022 is still being examined.

Some Vanuatu politicians who favour ties with China have expressed concern over the deal.

Vanuatu's National Security Council was "going through the text" and it will next be considered by his government's Council of Ministers, Kalsakau said in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila.

"It will be presented for ratification before the end of this year in Parliament," he said.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) said a proposed security treaty with Australia will be delayed as it considers the impact on its sovereignty.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape told parliament on Tuesday an upgraded Australian security treaty was "a work in progress".

PNG last month signed a defence cooperation agreement with the United States, prompting some domestic political backlash, amid concerns it could embroil PNG in strategic competition between the U.S. and China. Marape denied it compromised PNG's other foreign relationships, and urged the public not to be misled by social media.

Pacific Islands nations are being courted by China, a major infrastructure lender which struck a security pact with Solomon Islands last year, and the United States, which is re-opening embassies closed since the Cold War.

Washington and its allies are concerned about Beijing's naval ambitions in a region occupying vital sea lanes, that played a pivotal role in World War Two.

On Tuesday, Marles said Australia was happy with the progress being made on the Vanuatu security agreement and that

it was "a profoundly important principle" that "the Pacific's security has to come from the Pacific family itself".

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Michael Perry and Sharon Singleton)
VIENNA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese officials on Monday lambasted Japan's plan to discharge radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, calling it "irresponsible."

Zhang Kejian, chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors that Japan's plan is not the country's private matter, but a major issue that has an effect on the global marine environment and public health.

In disregard of the legitimate concerns of its own people and other countries, Japan has neither provided a scientific and credible answer to the concerns of all parties nor fully consulted with its neighbors and other stakeholders, Zhang said, adding that it is "extremely irresponsible" for Japan to arbitrarily proceed with its nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan.

On Monday afternoon, Japan started to send seawater into an underwater tunnel built to release radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima plants into the ocean without any prior announcement, according to local media reports.

Zhang noted that Japan's discharge plan is unprecedented in terms of the large amount of nuclear-contaminated water, the complexity of the wastewater's composition and the long disposal period. The treated wastewater still has multiple types of radionuclides that exceed standards, and the effectiveness of relevant technology remains to be verified.

It is "unacceptable" for Japan to push ahead with the discharge plan without verifying the long-term reliability of relevant technology and purification equipment, Zhang said.

The Chinese official urged Japan to pay attention to the concerns of the international community, fulfill its international obligations, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, open, transparent and safe manner.

Japan should accept strict international supervision and should not undermine the authority of the IAEA technical task force or distort the task force's reports to justify its wastewater discharge plan, Zhang added.

Zhang also urged the IAEA to continue upholding an objective and impartial stance, fully listen to parties concerned and strictly implement relevant international safety standards and good practices.

The final report of the IAEA task force should not endorse Japan's wastewater discharge plan, he said.

A Japanese representative said at Monday's IAEA board meeting that the treated Fukushima wastewater is no different from the water discharged from a normally operating nuclear power plant, and that Japan's wastewater discharge plan is scientific and has been reviewed and certified by the IAEA.

In response, Li Song, China's permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, asked that "If the treated wastewater is truly harmless, why has Japan insisted on dumping it into the ocean?"

Li noted that Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had proposed five plans for the disposal of the Fukushima wastewater along with other plans presented by experts from Japan's neighboring countries. Yet, Japan unilaterally decided to release the wastewater into the ocean without fully deliberating on the other options.

"The Japanese government's expert committee has given a clear explanation for the discharge plan: it is the cheapest option with minimum pollution risks for Japan itself," Li said, adding that Japan's selfish act will transfer pollution risk to its neighbors and surrounding environment.

He also noted that Japan had invited the IAEA task force to visit Japan for the sole purpose of assessing the wastewater discharge plan, instead of addressing all other options.

"Under this circumstance, whatever assessment or conclusion the IAEA task force may make, it will not mean that the discharge plan is the only, safest and most reliable option," he said. "Nor can any work conducted by the task force be used to justify the discharge plan."

The Chinese envoy urged Japan to address the serious concerns of the international community, dispose of the Fukushima wastewater in the safest and most prudent way and accept strict international supervision to ensure that the wastewater will not bring long-term harm to the world. 
The Virginia man charged with the murder of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour is not expected to be returned to New Jersey for several weeks.

The extradition hearing for Rashid Ali Bynum, 29, of Portsmouth, Virginia, is scheduled for June 29.

Court records do not indicate which judge will be handling the case, but Erik Mussoni, the Chesapeake Public Defender's Office's senior trial attorney, is listed as his lawyer.

Bynum was arrested last week in Chesapeake City, Virginia and charged with murder, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose in the February killing of Dwumfour, a Republican and Sayreville's first Black elected official.

A warrant for Bynum's arrest was authorized May 29 by a Superior Court judge in Middlesex County, according to the criminal complaint.

Bynum has already had two court appearances in Virginia, an arraignment on May 31 and a bond hearing on June 2, both of which were continued, according to court records.

No motive for the killing has been announced and the investigation continues.

Former Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour

In his first Facebook post since Bynum was arrested and charged, Dwumfour's husband, Ezechukwu Peter Akwue, who goes by Eze Kings on social media, referenced that the people responsible for her death can run, but cannot hide. The post also featured a photo of the couple both wearing light-colored suit jackets.

On Feb. 1 Sayreville police received several 911 calls reporting a shooting in the area of Check Avenue in the Parlin section of the borough. When officers arrived, they found Dwumfour in her vehicle outside her home with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Surveillance video captured a suspect fleeing the scene in the area of Ernston Road, and witnesses reported seeing a thin man, about 6 feet tall with ear-length braids or dreadlocks and a suspicious white Hyundai on Gondek Drive minutes before the shooting. Video footage showed a person walking from the vehicle on Gondek Drive toward Check Avenue just before the shooting.

More: Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour's life 'embodied the American Dream'

Court papers describe an "extensive investigation" during which it was determined a cellphone associated with Bynum traveled from Virginia to New Jersey and then back to Virginia on Feb. 1, and the phone was in the area of Gondek Drive and Ernston Road just before the shooting.

In Dwumfour's cellphone, investigators found a listing for "King Rah FCF," with the acronym believed to stand for Fire Congress Fellowship, a church the councilwoman had previously been associated with, which is also associated with Champion Royal Assembly, her latest church, the criminal complaint says.

The investigation also revealed that on the day of the slaying, Bynum allegedly searched the internet for information about Sayreville, Champion Royal Assembly Church, and the types of magazines compatible with a certain handgun.

Records also showed Bynum's cellphone traveled through E-ZPass locations in Newark, Woodbridge and Linden at the same time as a white Hyundai Elantra with a Virginia license plate. Police learned one of the registered owners of the vehicle had listed it online for rent, and Bynum's cellphone records indicate he contacted the vehicle owner the day before the slaying, according to the criminal complaint

A handgun was recovered at a Smithfield, Virginia address that Bynam apparently returned to after the shooting, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Eunice Dwumfour murder: Extradition hearing set for Rashid Ali Bynum
U.S. fighter pilots who intercepted a Cessna plane that flew over restricted airspace in Washington, D.C., on Sunday found the pilot "slumped over" before the business jet crashed in a remote mountainous area in Virginia, killing all four people on board, Fox News has learned.

National Guard F-16 pilots confirmed the civilian pilot was unresponsive after trying to get the pilots attention for 30 minutes before the plane went down around 3 p.m. near the sparsely populated town of Montebello, Virginia, military officials said.

"The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the pilot did not respond to air traffic control instruction around 1:28 p.m. EDT," North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a statement. "Subsequently, the NORAD pilots visually inspected the Cessna as it was still airborne and confirmed that the pilot was unresponsive. NORAD pilots described the Cessna pilot as being slumped over."

Air traffic control audio from the half-hour before the Cessna Citation crashed captured voices that identified themselves as military pilots trying to communicate with the pilot of the private plane, The Associated Press reported, citing recordings on LiveATC.net.

PROMINENT FLORIDA FAMILY LINKED TO PLANE THAT FLEW OVER DC, CRASHED IN VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS

"If you hear this transmission, contact us," said one pilot who identified herself as being with the Air National Guard. Several minutes go by without a response when a military pilot said, "You have been intercepted. Contact me."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

To intercept the Cessna aircraft, the U.S. deployed six F-16 jets, including two from Washington, D.C., two out of New Jersey and an additional two out of South Carolina, officials said. A supersonic boom heard across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area was from one of the D.C. National Guard F-16 jets trying to catch up with the Cessna.

WASHINGTON DC AREA EXPLOSION SOIND CAUSED BY MILITARY JETS PURSUING UNRESPONSIVE PLANE BEFORE DEADLY CRASH

While authorities have not confirmed the identities of those aboard the plane or what caused the crash, the planes owner, John Rumpel, told The New York Times and Newsday that his daughter, Adina Azarian, and 2-year-old granddaughter Aria, were aboard the flight.

Barbara Rumpel, pictured left, wrote on Facebook that her daughter, rightmost, and granddaughter, center, were "gone" following an outpouring of condolences after a Cessna plane crashed in Virginia with four people on board.

Azarian, 49, was well-known in real estate circles both in New York City and Long Island, described by friends and relatives as a competitive entrepreneur who started her own brokerage and was raising her daughter as a single parent.

Rumpel, a pilot who runs the Florida-based company Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc., to which the crashed plane was reportedly registered, said his family was returning to their home in East Hampton, on Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is "highly fragmented." He said the plane is not required to have a flight recorder but that it may have other avionics equipment with data that they can examine.

Investigators are now seeking answers as to how long the pilot could have been unresponsive and what caused the wayward aircraft to turn around over Long Island and head back toward Tennessee.

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Experts theorize that the plane could have lost pressurization, causing hypoxia, a condition that occurs when someones brain is deprived of adequate oxygen.

Fox News' Liz Friden and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Protesters stand outside of the Senate chamber at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 22, 2023, in Indianapolis. The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday, June 6 and a released a guidebook summarizing what it calls discriminatory laws in each state, along with know your rights information and health and safety resources. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The words chilled my blood: If you decide to stay.

Not how to effect change. Not how to build community. But what to do if, despite the dire warnings and perhaps your own better judgment, you decide to remain in a hositle environment.

This is not a State Department bulletin for Americans in a war zone. It is a new alert from the Human Rights Campaign, the nations preeminent LGBT+ rights organization, which today issued a state of emergency for LGBT+ Americans . Citing an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year  a record 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law in 2023  the HRC warns bluntly that our community is in danger.

In a detailed report accompanying the emergency declaration, the HRC chronicles a rash of anti-LGBT+ rhetoric and policy being peddled in state capitals from sea to shining sea.

Many of these bills, an HRC report points out , rely on copy-and-pasted language from model legislation proposed by a national coalition of groups including the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance and Alliance Defending Freedom, all of which have long histories of spreading anti-LGBT+ messaging and opposing equality.

These folks have one goal: eliminate cultural and legal acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, the report warns.

Despite what many on the right will no doubt try to tell you, this is not hyperbole. This tracks with what I wrote last week with regards to the attacks on Targets Pride merchandise . We have reached a point of mainstream acceptance for LGBT+ people  most Americans believe companies should support the LGBT+ community while support among the general public for LGBT+ rights continues to rise , with 80 per cent of Americans supporting nondiscrimination laws  that has caused this violent and hateful backlash from those who recognize they are on the losing side of history.

To stem the tide of acceptance in the face of such overwhelming public opposition to their hateful agenda, far-right politicians across the country have turned to increasingly anti-democratic methods to enact their laws. In many states, anti-equality elected officials subverted the democratic process to pass discriminatory legislation, the HRC reports. This includes censoring and removing State Representative Zooey Zephyr in Montana and State Representative Maurie Turner in Oklahoma; expelling State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson in Tennessee; changing procedural rules at the last minute to pass anti-LGBT+ bills in Kentucky; ignoring procedural rules in Nebraska; and removing peaceful protesters in statehouses across the nation.

The report explains, in stark terms, the consequences of such laws. Citing internal polling, the HRC found that states without LGBT+-inclusive curriculums had higher rates of bullying against LGBT+ students , including higher rates of both verbal and physical harassment. Thousands of students now live in states where laws require teachers and school administrators to out youth who adopt new chosen names and/or pronouns, a practice which has horrific effects on LGBT+ students mental and physical well-being .

This is particularly true when the child has parents who are not accepting of gender nonconformity or homosexuality or bisexuality; a 2020 study from UCLAs Williams Institute found that up to 45 per cent of homeless teens identify as LGBT+, while LGBT+ young adults aged 18 to 25 are 2.2 times more likely to experience homelessness.

Other statistics cited in the report are equally alarming. More than a quarter of LGBT+ workers have left a job because of prejudice in the workplace, with nearly a 10th of all LGBTQ+ workers reporting having been fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. A 2022 study from the Center for American Progress found that 15 per cent of LGBT+ and a third of transgender Americans were denied care by a doctor because of their identity. A study last year by the University of Connecticut and the HRC found that more than half of LGBTQ youth were bullied in school for their sexual orientation or gender expression in the past year alone.

This is, of course, being exasperated by the relentless attacks of far-right politicians and pundits spreading hate and lies about LGBT+ Americans, which in turn leads to literal attacks on LGBT+ people and groups.

Armed far-right street gangs have been intimidating and harassing drag queens . Last year, an alleged neo-Nazi murdered five people at a gay club in Colorado . It has gotten so dangerous for LGBT+ Americans that the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that our community is at threat from terrorist attacks .

It is frightening. Being a gender-nonconforming gay man in the South, I feel that fear every day. It is why I am unsure whether I want to or even can safely remain in Tennessee  a state with one of the most homophobic and transphobic state governments in the nation. I have not decided if I will stay here long-term, or even if I can stomach living in Kentucky, which is only marginally better. The truth is, both states  where my familys roots run back more than 200 years  have made it clear that I am unwelcome and unsafe within their borders.

I will not be the only one assessing whether it is worth, or even sensible, remaining in a state that is so openly hostile to our very existence. It is unsurprising, then, that the HRC includes an entire section on things LGBT+ people in hostile states should consider if they are going to move. No doubt many will. No doubt that is what Republican leaders in those states want.

It is a damning indictment of our states, though, that any American needs to consider where they live based on whether or not they will be granted equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the US Constitution, or whether their children will be subjected to state-sanctioned bullying and violence in their own schools. Yet here we are.

LGBT+ Americans are increasingly unsafe in large swathes of this country. Far from hyperbolic, the HRC is sounding the alarm on just how these state legislatures are endangering our community and eroding the civil rights and liberties of not only LGBT+ Americans, but any American who does not conform to the rigid binaries patriarchal white Christian nationalists proscribe.

By framing the existence of LGBTQ+ people as inherently vulgar, and suggesting that some people should have the ability to refuse to comply with the laws that govern basic civility in our public square based on a belief that LGBTQ+ people cannot or should not exist, our opponents seek to impose their worldview  to which they are, of course, entitled  upon the rest of the country and the world, the HRCs declaration warns.

If that is not an emergency, I dont know what is.
The United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., this March. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Its crunch time for the U.S. Supreme Court, as the justices must issue opinions on dozens of cases before they break for recess around the end of June or beginning of July.

Among the highly anticipated rulings that have yet to be announced are some in cases involving affirmative action, LGBTQ+ rights and student debt relief.

Here is a preview of five key SCOTUS decisions to watch for in the coming weeks.

Affirmative action

(Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University)

Supporters of affirmative action policies rally outside the Supreme Court on Oct. 31, 2022. (The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Decades of progress on campus diversity could come to an end, given that the courts 6-3 conservative majority has signaled its skepticism over race-based college admissions policies.

According to a recent poll, a majority of Americans said the high court should not block colleges from taking an applicants race and ethnicity into account during the admissions process.

The justices are considering two challenges to race-based admissions policies, at Harvard and at the University of North Carolina.

The plaintiff in both cases, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a landmark 2003 decision that allowed the narrow use of race in college admissions decisions. SFFA argues that Harvards policy violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating based on race.

In the UNC case, SFFA argues that the universitys policy violates Title VI, in addition to violating the 14th Amendments guarantee of a person's equal protection under the law, which covers state universities.

Student loan forgiveness

(Biden v. Nebraska and Dept. of Education v. Brown)

A sign reading Cancel Student Debt is staged outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday February 28, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The lives of 40 million U.S. student loan borrowers could be significantly affected when the high court rules on President Bidens plan to cancel $400 billion in student debt.

Bidens plan, currently on hold, would cancel up to $20,000 in loans for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers, for those whose income is less than $125,000.

The justices are considering two separate challenges to the program: one from six GOP-led states (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina) and the other from two student loan borrowers who do not qualify for student debt forgiveness under the presidents plan.

The core issue in both cases is whether Biden overstepped his executive power.

In February, the conservative justices appeared to signal that they believed he had done so.

We take very seriously the idea of separation of powers and that power should be divided to prevent its abuse, Chief Justice John Roberts said during oral arguments.

However, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett notably joined the liberal justices in grilling the plaintiffs about whether they had standing to sue in the first place. Its possible the court could throw out the cases altogether.

Voting rights

(Merrill v. Milligan)

The Alabama Capital Building in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. The US Supreme Court will decide whether Republican-led Alabama discriminates against Black voters by drawing congressional districts that favor White candidates. (Andi Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The justices will decide whether Alabama violated the Voting Rights Act when the congressional district map was drawn. The outcome could weaken the Voting Rights Act and its long-standing protections for communities of color against racial discrimination in voting.

Alabama lawmakers passed a new map last year that has only one majority-Black district, even though Black residents make up 27% of the states population. The remaining Black voters are dispersed among the other six congressional districts.

The challengers allege that GOP state lawmakers deliberately designed the map this way to dilute the power of Black voters.

A lower court ruled that the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on race, and said GOP state lawmakers could have drawn the map with two congressional districts of majority-Black voters.

Alabama asked the Supreme Court to overturn the lower courts ruling, arguing that race shouldnt be a consideration when congressional maps are drawn.

Freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights

(303 Creative v. Elenis)

Supporters of web designer Lorie Smith and counter-protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on December 05, 2022 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments from cases including one involving Lorie Smith, the owner of 303 Creative, a website design company in Colorado who refuses to create websites for same-sex weddings despite a state anti-discrimination law. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Freedom of speech is being pitted against LGBTQ+ rights in a case that involves a business owners rights to refuse services to same-sex couples.

A Colorado website designer, Lorie Smith, is planning to expand her business to creating custom wedding websites, but wants to be able not to work for gay couples, citing her evangelical Christian beliefs. Colorados public accommodations law says that a business cant discriminate against customers based on their sexual orientation, with fines of up to $500 for each violation.

Smith is seeking an exemption from the law, arguing that it would infringe on her First Amendment rights by forcing her to create something she finds objectionable.

Meanwhile, the state and civil rights groups say that Smith is seeking a license to discriminate.

In a similar case in 2018, the Supreme Court issued a narrow ruling in favor of a Colorado bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake, but the majority opinion only addressed the specific case. Now the justices must decide whether creative businesses like Smiths are protected under the First Amendment.

Election regulations

(Moore v. Harper)

Voting rights activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in the Moore v. Harper case Dec. 7, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

This case could have far-reaching implications for the way our elections are run.

The North Carolina Supreme Court threw out the states 2022 congressional map, saying it was the result of partisan gerrymandering and violated the state constitutions guarantee to free and fair elections.

The GOP-led state Legislature appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the state Supreme Court had overstepped its authority. In the Moore v. Harper case, the North Carolina lawmakers are asking the justices to endorse an obscure interpretation of the U.S. Constitution's election clause, which would grant state legislatures near-total control over federal elections.

This theory was promoted by supporters of Donald Trump after the 2020 presidential election.

The justices may ultimately conclude that theres nothing for them to rule on.

During the 2022 midterms, North Carolina Republicans gained control of the state Supreme Court, which overturned its earlier decision on the congressional map after oral arguments were presented in this case last December.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who spent months on the ground in Bakhmut, said the Kremlin's claims about inflicting heavy losses on Ukraine are 'wild and absurd science fiction'

The Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. SERGEI ILNITSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Wagner Company leader Yevgeny Prigozhin scoffed at the Kremlin's reports of big wins in Ukraine.

To kill 1,500 soldiers, as Moscow claimed, he said Russia would need to take 93 miles of land daily.

He said the tally was "wild and absurd science fiction," further antagonizing the Kremlin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary company that fought in Bakhmut, said he wasn't buying Moscow's claims that it inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian troops in Donetsk.

Russia's defense ministry said on Monday that it had quashed a major offensive by Ukraine, wiping out 1,500 enemy soldiers, 109 armored vehicles, and 28 tanks  including eight Leopard tanks provided by Germany and three AMX-10 reconnaissance vehicles from France.

But in a Monday statement from his press service, Prigozhin said the Kremlin's tally was "wild and absurd science fiction."

To kill 1,500 soldiers, the Wagner Group boss said Russia would have to advance 93 miles every day.

"Therefore, I believe that this is simply wild and absurd science fiction," Prigozhin said.

The numbers the defense ministry's spokesperson gave would mean that Russia's army would have "just destroyed the entire planet Earth five times over" and "reached the aliens," he added.

Prigozhin, who was on the ground for months with his troops in a region devastated by war, didn't give detail on how he drew these conclusions.

But his latest criticism of the Kremlin further intensifies the existing animosity between the mercenary boss and Moscow's top military leaders.

The Wagner leader recently attacked Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, saying in May that Shoigu's children and the Russian elite lived in luxury while ordinary citizens were dying in Ukraine.

Earlier that month, he screamed insults and curses at Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the Russian army's chief of the general staff, in an expletive-filled video where he raged about ammo shortages and heavy casualties.

On Friday, he accused the Kremlin of leaving landmines in the way of his withdrawing troops and questioned why they were placed in their way. With the mines so far in the rear, they could neither have been planted by Ukraine nor laid with the intention of destroying Ukrainian forces, Prigozhin said.

He released an hour-long interview on Monday in which he asked the Kremlin's top leaders to visit the war zone and be with their troops.

Ukraine's and Russia's Defense Ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

June 7, 2023: An earlier version of this story misstated when the Defense Ministry issued its statement. It issued on Monday, not Tuesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Walgreens has redesigned a Chicago store to put most of the products behind counters, and it could help cut down on theft

Walgreens' newly designed store has just two low-rise aisles stocking low-cost essentials. Chicago Tribune / Getty Images

Walgreens renovated a store in Chicago and moved most of the products off the shop floor.

Customers have to order non-essential items from a kiosk and then collect them from a staffed counter.

This could help the company cut down on theft amid a rise in organized retail crime.

Walgreens has redesigned a store in downtown Chicago and put most of the products behind counters, which could help the company cut down on theft amid a rise in organized retail crime.

The converted store, which is located in the city's South Loop area, has just two low-rise aisles with low-cost essentials such as groceries, bandages, soap, and cosmetics. CWB Chicago reported that the shelves are no taller than five feet  meaning that staff are able to watch customers shopping.

CWB's photos of the new-look store show shoplifting sensors at the entrance of this section of the store. Customers can buy these items at self-checkout stations.

To get anything else, customers have to order it using an in-store tablet  accompanied by a sign saying: "Let us do the shopping." The customer will then pick these items up from a member of staff at the counter. This is the same for both retail items and pharmacy prescriptions, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The company told the Sun-Times that the redesigned store in South Loop had more staff than the average store.

Some customers told local news site Block Club Chicago that they felt the store had been redesigned to cut down on theft. Walgreens did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of normal working hours, on whether the new store design was specifically intended to reduce shoplifting.

A company spokesperson told Insider that Walgreens is "testing a new experience at this store with new concepts, technologies, and practices to enhance the experiences of our customers and team members." They said that the store would still offer the same services, "just with a new look and feel that focuses on shopping digitally for convenience."

Walgreens execs spoke out in January 2022 about a rise in organized retail crime, which the company said had led to a jump in shrink  the amount of inventory lost to fraud, theft, and damage.

"This is not petty theft," CFO James Kehoe told investors. "It's not somebody who can't afford to eat tomorrow. These are gangs that actually go in and empty our stores of beauty products. And it's a real issue."

In response, Walgreens added more security to its stores and began to lock up more items to prevent theft.

But the security companies it hired ended up being "largely ineffective," Kehoe said at the company's earnings call this January, and Walgreens is turning to more law enforcement in its stores instead.

Moreover, Kehoe said that theft isn't as much of a problem at Walgreens stores as it was. "Maybe we cried too much last year," he told investors. "We're quite happy with where we are."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Do you want restricted books? Heres where to find them for free in the Miami-area

A local bookshop is hosting a giveaway and reading of books that have been restricted in a Miami-Dade County school library. Among the works is The Hill We Climb by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman.

Founder of Books & Books Mitch Kaplan told the Miami New Times that the event is a response to the four titles that a committee at the K-8 Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes said were more suitable for middle school students, not elementary students.

The books were not banned, but were moved to an area only accessible to middle school students.

Gorman recited The Hill We Climb at President Joe Bidens 2020 inauguration.

Miami-Dade is one of the many counties in Florida confronting issues of censorship in schools as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act. Its among other controversial laws, including a ban on drag shows, that came out of the legislative session.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade K-8 bars elementary students from 4 library titles following parent complaint

Tuesdays event will be at the Sanctuary for Banned Books inside the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd, at 6 p.m. (June 6). Its free and open to the public.

Miami-Dade Countys Poet Laureate and former President Barack Obamas inaugural poet Richard Blanco will read Gormans poem at the event.

Books & Books will give away 1,200 copies of The Hill We Climb, The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer, and Love to Langston by Tony Medina and R. Gregory Christie  which were also among the disputed materials.
The damage incurred by the Danville abortion clinic site

At the end of May, an independent abortion clinic under construction in Danville, Illinois, was attacked by a 73-year-old man who repeatedly drove his car into the walls of the building structure, destroying most of the front lobby and the back of the clinic site, prosecutors say. The building is meant to house Affirmative Care Solutions, a sister clinic to Indianas Clinic for Women. Officials said the man was arrested before he got a chance to set the building on fire.



Then on Monday, Abortion Care Network (ACN), an organization of independent clinics including Affirmative Care Solutions, shared that the under-construction clinic faced another attack from a different vandal just two weeks after the first. Per a GoFundMe organized by ACNs Midwest Reproductive Freedom Fighters to fundraise for the Danville clinic, the extremist in question tore down the temporary repairs to the back wall of the building and may have tried to get in the building. The clinic now needs to hire security guards, rebuild destroyed walls and the lobby, and fortify and refurbish the entire structure.

Read more

In a statement to Jezebel, LaDonna Prince, the Danville clinic property owner, characterized the first attack on the clinic as the work of an anti-abortion terrorist and said the second attack has [caused] another wave of panic and fear. Attacks like this, Prince said, are meant to intimidate and terrorize us out of providing abortion care.

The attacks on the Danville clinic site are delaying its opening at a time when Illinoisa rare abortion haven in the Midwestis being inundated with out-of-state abortion seekers. Illinois faced the second-highest increase in abortions in any state since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, seeing a 28% increase in abortions between April and August in 2022. Self-reported data from Illinois abortion providers show the proportion of out-of-state patients theyve offered care to increased from 6% before the fall of Roe to one-third after, per a December report in Chicago Tribune.



Prince noted that while Clinic for Women in Indiana remains able to provide quality reproductive health care in Indianapolis, we dont know what the future holds for legal abortion in Indiana. The states Supreme Court is currently weighing the legality of a near-total abortion ban in the statewhich is temporarily blocked.

Another act of anti-abortion extremism at one of our member clinics. Clinic for Women/ Affirmative Care Solutions needs your support to repair their building in IL, which was vandalized *twice* by extremists: https://t.co/44T9RVpaPx #KeepOurClinics  AbortionCareNetwork (@AbortionCare) June 6, 2023

Small, independent providers do not have the name recognition or resources to fall back on for funding like national organizations, the GoFundMe continues. Independent clinics provide abortion services to nearly 60% of abortion patients, ACN has reported, but most lack the resources, funding, and public support that larger organizations like Planned Parenthood receive.

In May, Rolling Stone reported that the Danville clinic sites repurposing to become an abortion clinic wasnt public or well-known informationuntil high-profile anti-abortion activists including Lee Dickson and lawyer Jonathan Mitchell (the architect behind Texas famous bounty hunter abortion law) began organizing against the construction of the clinic. Yet, after the 73-year-old man, Philip J. Buyno, allegedly drove into the building, Dickson quickly tried to distance himself from Buyno in an email to Rolling Stone: Phil Buyno does not represent the peaceful, non-violent, and non-destructive pro-life movement that I am a part of. I find it despicable that someone who claims to value life would do something so stupid to risk both his own life and the lives of others, he wrote. Back in 2019, Buyno was arrested three times for trespassing on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Peoria, Illinois.

Brooke Thomson, development director at ACN, told Jezebel in a statement that despite indie clinics essential role in providing and protecting abortion care in the US, most peopleexcept anti-abortion extremists who target and harass these clinicsdont even know these clinics exist.

The people who work at indie clinics typically pour every dollar and every spare minute into caring for patients, running their clinics, and navigating politically-imposed restrictionsleaving them little time to do the fundraising and sustainability work necessary to keep their doors open, Thomson continued. Dealing with harassment and vandalism demands even more time from indie providerstime they should be able to spend with patients.

The consecutive attacks on the Danville clinic site come at a time of mounting hostility toward abortion access in the region, as providers from states that have banned abortion migrate to Illinois and both out-of-state patients and protesters follow them. Early last month, Danville city council members voted to instate a ban on mailing abortion pills, which Democratic lawmakers in the state have said is illegal. And across Illinois, providers have reported a surge in anti-abortion violence, including the January firebombing of the same Peoria Planned Parenthood where Buyno was arrested in 2019.



This tracks with a May report from the National Abortion Federation that showed anti-abortion violence targeting clinics surged everywhere in 2022, but especially in the dwindling states where abortion clinics have remained open. As more and more clinics shut down, those remaining become more vulnerable to anti-abortion violence.

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A Larimer Humane Society staff member performs a health exam on a dog during a transfer intake at the Larimer Humane Society in Loveland in 2020. The Larimer Humane Society will take over operations of the Humane Society of Weld County later this year.

The Humane Society of Weld County is set to dissolve later this year, with Larimer Humane Society taking over its operations and shelter building, Larimer Humane Society announced Tuesday.

The announcement comes nearly six months after the Larimer Humane Society started assisting its Weld counterpart, which has been struggling to meet the needs of its growing community, according to Larimer Humane Society CEO Judy Calhoun.

With Weld County among the fastest-growing counties in Colorado, "I think, for the Humane Society of Weld County, there just were a number of factors that kind of came together," Calhoun said.

Weld County's population grew by more than 30% from 2010 to 2020 and surged an additional 6.4% between April 2020 and July 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data and estimates.

The Humane Society of Weld County saw an uptick of its own when it recorded a 23% increase in animal intakes in 2022, according to Calhoun.

Puppies Max and Lady play in a holding area at the Larimer Humane Society in this file photo. The two dogs were brought to the center as strays. The Larimer Humane Society is planning to take over operations of the neighboring Humane Society of Weld County later this year.

More: Timnath, Weld County are population growth leaders while Fort Collins is stagnant

The Humane Society of Weld County has also been hindered by its small, aging shelter facility in Evans, Calhoun said. The Weld shelter, which was built in 1999, is approximately 14,000 square feet, compared with Larimer's 39,000 square feet.

Financial issues also appear to be a factor, with the Humane Society of Weld County operating in the red since 2015, according to its tax filings.

The Weld shelter came to Larimer Humane Society for help late last year and, since then, Larimer Humane Society has been assisting them with supplies and coordinating transfers for its animals to other shelter partners across the Front Range.

The history of Larimer Humane Society: How Fort Collins went from a gravel 'lost dog' lot to a sprawling, sunlit shelter

Meanwhile, Larimer Humane Society has also been seeing a surge in owner-surrendered or stray pets being brought to them from Weld County. In the first five months of this year, Larimer Humane Society recorded 545 animals coming from Weld County  not including Windsor and Johnstown, which Larimer Humane Society has existing contracts with.

Last year, during that same five-month time period, 191 animals were brought in from that same area, marking a more than 180% increase in 2023, according to Calhoun.

Both shelters started having "more intense conversations" about the future of the Humane Society of Weld County in March, eventually making plans to officially dissolve the Weld shelter and transfer its assets  including its Evans shelter building  to Larimer Humane Society by early October, according to Calhoun.

Larimer County residents won't see any change in Larimer Humane Society's operations, Calhoun added.

A happy ending: This Fort Collins cat was missing for 22 months. Here's how she found her way home

"Increasing intake, that aging infrastructure, a growing community  those are challenges that many organizations would have struggled with," Calhoun said of the Humane Society of Weld County. "Theyve done, I think, a yeomans job on really trying to do their best to provide services.

As part of its ambitious four-month transition plan, Larimer Humane Society will soon start negotiating sheltering contracts with Weld County, the city of Greeley and the city of Evans, Calhoun said. They plan to hire approximately 35 people to work at the Evans shelter, with current Humane Society of Weld County staff able to reapply for their jobs, according to Calhoun.

Larimer Humane Society will also assess any maintenance needs of the Evans shelter, with the hope of eventually building a new shelter building in Weld County, and reach out to the community as big changes are broached.

We want to hear from the community," Calhoun said. "This is not Larimer Humane Society going in and telling Weld County how to do it. We want to be providing the services, but we want to be providing the services the community says they need to the best of our ability.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Weld County's Humane Society is dissolving into Larimer Humane Society
KHARTOUM, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan reaffirmed on Tuesday confidence that the negotiations in Jeddah under the Saudi-U.S. patronage will achieve sustainable peace.

Al-Burhan made the remarks when he received a phone call from Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council chaired by Al-Burhan said in a statement.

In order for the Jeddah talks to succeed, the "rebels" need to be committed to leaving hospitals, service centers and citizens' homes as well as evacuating the wounded and opening passages for delivery of humanitarian aid, he noted.

Saudi Arabia and the United States have been leading talks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Saudi port city of Jeddah that resulted in the signing of the Agreement on a Short-Term Cease-fire and Humanitarian Arrangements which expired on June 3.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and the United States announced the suspension of the Jeddah peace talks between the Sudanese army and the RSF.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the army and the RSF in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which has left 863 people dead and 3,531 others injured, according to the Sudanese Doctors Union's update.

At least 1.6 million people have been displaced, fleeing to safer locations inside and outside Sudan, according to the UN figures. 
Before we get into this one, let's just say that we're deeply skeptical.

But there's no getting around the key claims of this story: an Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency named David Grusch has come forward, alleging in a series of interviews that the US government has secretly recovered alien spacecraft  and even dead "pilots" inside them  for decades as part of a top-secret UFO retrieval program.

Let's pause for a moment to point out that this is all unbelievably far-fetched. Even supposing that the government could successfully keep such an explosive secret for such a long time, the broader premise just doesn't make much sense. If aliens had the incredibly advanced technology to visit Earth, presumably from another star system, wouldn't they have the tech for the ships to be piloted autonomously, rather than wasting untold decades in transit? And why would they fly these incredibly advanced vessels to Earth, only to crash them? Are they interstellar drunk drivers?

At the very least, though, the whole thing is a fascinating dustup with the potential for a glimpse into secretive parts of the government. Grusch filed a whistleblower complaint, The Debrief reports, stating that he already gave classified "proof" to Congress that the government has been excluding Grusch and the rest of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force from accessing its program about the retrieval of non-human craft.

Grusch told the Debrief that the retrieved objects are "of exotic origin (non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin) based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures."

He added that the recovered material "includes intact and partially intact vehicles," adding that "these are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed."

"Were definitely not alone," Grusch later told NewsNation the evening after the Debrief story was published. "The data points, quite empirically that were not alone."

In short, it sounds like we're talking about a full-blown UFO conspiracy theory that not only suggests we've been visited by numerous aliens, but that the government has actively been trying to cover up the evidence for decades.

Adding to the drama, the Air Force veteran went as far as to claim that the government managed to recover dead aliens inside the crash-landed spacecraft.

"Well, naturally, when you recover something thats either landed or crashed," he told NewsNation. "Sometimes you encounter dead pilots and believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, its true."

And why's he coming forward now? To prepare the public for an "unexpected, non-human intelligence contact scenario," he told the Debrief. Grusch also said that "this is a global phenomenon, and yet a global solution continues to elude us." (Skeptics, of course, will point out that if multiple governments are in on the supposed coverup, it seems even more implausible that they could have managed to suppress evidence for all these years.)

That said, there are reasons why it's hard to outright dismiss the story. For instance, Grusch's account was corroborated by Christopher Mellon, who served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and worked with Congress on UAP reports.

Mellon told the Debrief that a "number of well-placed current and former officials have shared detailed information with me regarding this alleged program, including insights into the history, governing documents and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered."

According to the report, Grusch, who left the government earlier this year, "remains well-supported within intelligence circles, and numerous sources have vouched for his credibility."

Another detail that bolsters the Debrief's report is that it was authored by investigative journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal. Neither are cranks; both authored a front-page New York Times article in 2017 that first uncovered a "shadowy" Defense Department UFO program that had been operating for years (of course, doubters could flip that data point around as well  for whatever reason, this latest story didn't end up in the NYT.)

That 2017 report was accompanied by several grainy black-and-white videos that show encounters between Navy fighter pilots and erratically-moving objects.

Since then, though, officials have come forward to throw cold water on circulating theories that suggest these crafts are able to defy the laws of physics.

Nonetheless, the Pentagon has actively worked on collecting data on unusual sightings and other UAPs, and the Navy has established new guidelines on how its pilots should report encounters with "unidentified aircraft." Even NASA administrator Bill Nelson has said that the space agency has begun investigating UFO sightings.

On a certain level, it's tantalizing to imagine that the US government has been covering up the existence of recovered alien spacecraft. Compared to the grim realities of climate change and AI-driven job loss, it feels like a peek at a fun, hopeful future in which we could reverse-engineer alien tech and explore the stars ourselves. What if we already made contact decades ago? What if we're not actually alone in the universe?

We remain extremely skeptical, but you have to admit that the concept is the stuff of golden age sci-fi  or at the very least, "The X-Files."

More on UFOs: Military Says the UFOs They Shot Down Aren't Aliens
The response to Corterra Healthcare Ventures new 24-bed geriatric psychiatric hospital, which opens late this month on the west side, has chairman Erik Hatten feeling some conflicting emotions.

We thought this would be a very good solution for the community, he said of helping seniors through temporary behavioral health issues.

But its also heartbreaking, Hatten said of the overwhelming need.

He said there have been more than 250 referral calls for Corterra of Wichita since March from local physicians, health facilities and families seeking help for seniors.

The majority will come from senior living entities that are in and around the area.

Construction is completed at the 21,000-square-foot facility at 7447 W. Village Circle, which is in North Ridge Pointe, near K-96 and Ridge Road, and Corterra is finalizing staffing and conducting training.

Were designed to be a short-stay solution, Hatten said.

The hospital will help people who have issues related to dementia and Alzheimers disease, such as those who are having physical outbursts.

Hatten said the plan is to get them back to their previous level.

The rooms are all private. Hatten said most stays will be in the range of 10 to 14 days.

Well keep them as long as needed.

Hatten expects to help between 400 and 500 people a year. There eventually will be outpatient services as well.

Also, Hatten wants Corterra to be a resource for places such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the area to alleviate some of the pressures they face when caring for seniors.

Hatten at one time was CEO for Via Christi Villages and said hes seen all aspects of care for seniors. He said his own providers faced issues when mental health situations arose, and hes seen that at other senior care facilities as well.

After doing an initial assessment of needs and services in the area, Hatten said he found a high need and a substantial lack of services.

Hatten said he began thinking of the idea for the hospital after running a Tennessee company that had a division that included a senior psychiatric hospital similar to what Corterra will be.

Partners include Corterra Healthcare Partners, a consultant to providers and payors of senior healthcare here and in other states, and Scenic Development, which has 11 senior care housing communities in Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

Last year, the Wichita City Council approved $8.85 million in industrial revenue bonds to pay for the $10 million Corterra building and equipment along with up to 10 years of sales and property tax abatement. The taxes wont have to be paid back as long as Corterra meets certain criteria.

Hatten said Corterra of Wichita will be the flagship hospital of what will become a chain of them around Kansas and the Heartland.

He said he hopes to start more soon but wants to build a strong foundation with the initial one first.

As Hatten said last year when announcing Corterra, its all about helping the people who helped build the United States.

Thats really the history of our country.
Western journalists speculate that it might not have been explosion that destroyed dam at hydroelectric power plant

Based on satellite images taken before the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) burst, journalists from leading international media outlets have come to the conclusion that the dam may have collapsed due to previously sustained damage rather than as a result of the explosion.

Source: Christopher Miller of The Financial Times; Evan Hill of The Washington Post; Oliver Carroll of The Economist

Details: Miller pointed out that satellite images made by Maxar in recent weeks showed recent damage to the Nova Kakhovka dams sluice gates and a section of roadway running across it.

Satellite images made by @Maxar on June 5 showed recent damage to the Nova Khakova dams sluice gates and a section of roadway running across it. Before images (1 and 3) made on May 28. After images (2 and 4) made June 5, around 12:15pm. pic.twitter.com/Qi7dY6M2yM  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 6, 2023

Hill pointed out that shortly before the dam burst, the water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir had reached unprecedented levels. The New York Times said this could have happened because Russia, which controlled the hydroelectric power plant, kept too few floodgates open.

Prior to whatever happened overnight, the Kakhovka Reservoir had reached unprecedentedly high levels. This was likely due to Russian forces keeping too few gates open, the NYT reported, just months after letting the reservoir sink to historic lows: https://t.co/g9sGjPNTt9 pic.twitter.com/mKuGFakb3M  Evan Hill (@evanhill) June 6, 2023

At the same time, Economist journalist Oliver Carroll reported that eyewitnesses had told the newspaper about a "deafening explosion" that was heard in the early morning in Kakhovka.

Eyewitnesses told us that there was a deafening explosion from #Kakhovka in the early morning, with sky turned to white and windows breaking as far as 80 km away.  Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 6, 2023

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This years Pride Night for the Los Angeles Dodgers is not until June 16th, so the team has time to invite and uninvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence a few more times before then. But wherever theyve landed when the first pitch is thrown, they will have succeeded in agitating both many Catholics and those who see nothing wrong with attacking them just for being who they are and believing what they believe.

What Im about to say is not going to please either the Catholic League or the defenders of the sisters, either, though not because Im pulling a muscle trying to please everyone.

First, Ive been aware of the group of gay and trans men dressed as nuns almost as long as theyve been in existence. When I moved to San Francisco right after college in 1980, they were already a big deal in the Castro, which I walked through every day on my way to and from my job in the Mission District, where I worked with some actual sisters in the center theyd founded for women leaving violent relationships.

As a young woman, this daily trek through the gay mecca could not have felt safer, and the sisters were far from the wildest act in that pre-AIDS boys town of refugees from someplace less accepting. Then as now, drag performers posed no threat to me, though I later did wonder why Rudy Giuliani never seemed to pass up a chance to put on a dress and full makeup.

So I doubt that I ever thought to mention the faux nuns, who went by names like Sister Hysterectoria and Sister Missionary Position, to the real ones. I dont recall Rebecca Rodriguez, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, or Catherine Donnelly, of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, ever bringing up their imitators, either; as Tina Fey said in her SNL skit in praise of sisters and other b-word badasses, Rebecca and Catherine were busy getting stuff done. They served mostly Latinas from the neighborhood, along with some sex-trafficked and homeless women from the Tenderloin, giving them job training and then employment. (Also, love.)

Every day, I saw women whod come to us in terrible shape holding their heads up again, which is how I know thats not just an expression. Sometimes, this new confidence made them all but unrecognizable, and the whole thing was gorgeous to witness, right up until the day the Reagan administration killed the Quest Center, along with other federally subsidized job training programs.

All that, of course, was a lifetime ago. But everything thats happened between then and now for real sisters like my first boss Rebecca, who died five years ago, makes me wish that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence would rethink satirizing some of the best allies the LGBTQ+ community ever had.

When no one else would care for indigent AIDS patients, who did? The Sisters of Charity of New York, at their now defunct St. Vincents Hospital in Manhattan.

That order, like others, recently announced that their ranks have so thinned that theyre nearing completion. In secular terms, they are going out of business.

Sisters of Mercy left Kansas City

Two years ago, I wrote about the last Sister of Mercy, from an order that had served here for 134 years, leaving Kansas City. On her way out of town, Sister Jeanne Christensen, who spent most of her career in affordable housing and still works to combat human trafficking, liberated the statue of the Virgin Mary from the groups abandoned original convent, and took it with her back to Omaha. Should her orders always progressive service to the powerless be belittled?

Im with Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who said his problem with his team honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has nothing to do with the LGBTQ community or Pride, which caused no controversy the last nine years, or anything like that. This is simply a group that was making fun of a religion, and thats something, he said, that I dont agree with.

Would you be all for honoring a group derisively dressed up like rabbis or imams? No, surely. And that the target is not the powerful but those who have stood with the community in the margins make the slap even less defensible.

These are women who not only took a vow of poverty but in many cases never drew a salary, which is why so many are now indigent themselves. Women who taught and nursed and fed and clothed the poor never deserved this groups satire, though Id call it by a different name.

And now that the sisters and their orders, too, are the ones who are dying, the dismissal of all they are and have done is less amusing than ever.

The website for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence describes the group as a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns who believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty. Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. We use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.

Their site also says that since our founding in 1979, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have raised and distributed over one million dollars to non-profit organizations that serve needy communities. Each year, we raise thousands more. Giving away thousands of dollars a year is all to the good, even if their defenders have been making them sound like a gay United Way. They without any question deserve all kinds of credit for throwing the worlds first benefit for an AIDS organization. And in the early years in particular, their service in educating their community about safe sex no doubt saved many lives.

But as Sister Luisa Derouen, a Dominican Sister of Peace who has ministered in the trans community since 1999, asked in an interview with the National Catholic Reporter, why did they and do they have to demean her in the process?

Women religious have been, and continue to be, (their) best allies in the Catholic Church, Derouen said. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do marvelous work. I dont deny that at all, she said. Then her voice cracked as she asked, But why do they do it at our expense? Why do they have to degrade my life to do it? To me, it feels like dragging my life in the mud. We dont deserve that.

No, they dont.

Using bigotry to protest bigotry

Several other sisters who minister to the LGBTQ+ community told NCR they were not offended. One of them, Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick, said thats in part because so many members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been wounded by the institutional church  told they were going to hell, thrown out of the confessional and more. This is their way of expressing their hurt, she said. My discomfort over their appropriation of the wimple and scapular is real, but nothing compared to what some of these individuals have suffered.

Only, they havent been made to suffer by these women, who in not a few cases have been as mistreated by the church theyve served as anyone.

Making women religious an object of derision over the sins of some of the same men who have also marginalized and investigated and ignored and exploited real sisters is neither fitting nor fair, and its certainly not using wit to expose the forces of bigotry. Instead, it is bigotry.

There are a few bishops I can think of, like the one in Fort Worth, Texas, who is being sued by some cloistered Carmelite nuns over his alleged pressure campaign to get a sister so ill shes on a feeding tube to confirm a report that shed broken her vow of chastity at some point  an accusation she absolutely denies  who would at least make more deserving targets.

They wouldnt have to change their look too drastically, and even the pope has suggested that some of those in the clerical club have become vain about their lace cuffs and jaunty hats.

But no, that would still be mocking people for their religion, which is no more OK than deriding them for their orientation or identity. And whatever the Dodgers do, the sisters will still owe the sisters the same respect they claim to want for everyone.
Where Bud Light erred, this brand shows how to do DEI without woke activism | Opinion

Political lenses are focused sharply on corporate America these days, with eyes peeled for the spread of DEI initiatives  diversity, equity and inclusion. Liberals stand ready to punish companies failing to add such a department, while conservatives are prepared to push back against those who do.

The reasons are simple. The right prefers a focus on merit, without regard to race or other perceived irrelevancies, while the left clings to its devotion to identity politics. From Disney to Bud Light, the headlines are filled with stories of companies paying a price as conservatives seek a marketplace punishment for woke activism.

But what happens when the storyline involves the discovery of a DEI officer at one of Americas hallmark conservative brands? Reactions are expectedly conflicted, and the early sloppiness of the story was of no help in achieving clarity.

A political strategist named Joey Mannarino tweeted May 29 that Chick-Fil-A, longtime purveyor of chicken and conservative values, had just hired a DEI vice president. While some predictable gasps followed, facts trickled in. The official in question, Erick McReynolds, has had that title at Chick-Fil-A since November 2021, having served as executive director of that department since July 2020.

Based in College Park, Georgia, Chick-fil-A is the nations biggest chain specializing in chicken sandwiches.

Thats nearly three years at the very least that one of Americas hallmark family-values brands has had a DEI office, so this is nothing new. But it is different. The various companies that have been recently outed for over-the-top woke posturing have been uniformly aligned with liberalism. Its easy to find video posts of managers bursting with pride as their companies adopt positions teeming with social justice extremism and revolutionary sexual attitudes.

So what is Chick-Fil-A doing swimming in the DEI pool? A visit to their own DEI webpage is instructive.

Alongside a smiling picture of McReynolds, the company proudly touts its commitment to being better at together and fostering a culture of belonging.

It describes recruitment partnerships with the Womens Foodservice Forum, The National Black MBA Association and the Association of Latino Professionals of America. Community group membership options for employees include Women in Business and the Black Employee Resource Group.

This openness extends to the supply chain necessary to operate the most popular fast-food chain in America for eight years running, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. We are developing mentorship and partnership opportunities for minority owned businesses  and are working to provide additional support through the launch of several supplier diversity efforts, the page says.

Nowhere on the page does it suggest that male employees can become female, or vice-versa. Nowhere does it suggest that America is a racist cauldron in dire need of modern atonement in the form of racial revenge policies.

Chick-Fil-As brand of DEI is a testament to the companys efforts to operate in a manner that displays genuine fairness and openness toward customers and employees without thwarting the Christian values set forth by founder S. Truett Cathy in 1947.

Diversity should mean welcoming employees and customers without regard to religion, race, politics or sexual stances. It should not mean scrapping merit as a hiring criterion in order to meet some arbitrary racial standard.

Equity should mean equality of opportunity, not rigging the landscape to yield equality of result.

Inclusion should mean welcoming employees who meet the qualifications for each job without flouting the companys principles. This is a two-way street; I recently supported a liberal Texas baker who punted a vocally conservative employee who didnt exactly fit in a shop festooned with rainbow flags and Beto ORourke campaign signs.

What seems to have happened at Chick-Fil-A is the establishment of an office that may carry the DEI label without the accompanying leftist dogma that has marked the tilt of so many other companies.

One might wonder why Chick-Fil-A would risk the negative attention in the first place. Maybe its because this brief dust-up is nothing compared to the firestorm that awaits companies failing to create DEI departments and job titles.

In what may prove a masterstroke of marketing, Chick-Fil-A is able to say it has a DEI division wholly without the repellent radicalism that has caused rampant self-inflicted wounds elsewhere.

No company needs some ill-defined office or executive to practice simple fairness and decency; DEI as widely practiced today often violates those values. But companies need not buckle under pressure from todays woke bullies. If they feel they must throw the mob a bone, the Chick-Fil-A example proves that a company can put DEI on an office door and some business cards and define the terms in that abbreviation more truthfully.

Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @markdavis.
Screenshot: Ben Crump/Twitter, 10 Tampa Bay/YouTube

A 58-year-old, unnamed white woman in Florida has yet to face arrest for shooting and killing her Black woman neighbor, Ajike Owens, through her locked front door on Friday evening.



Pressure from local activists and community members is mounting on the Marion County Sheriffs office to make an arrest, after Sheriff Billy Woods confirmed at a Monday press conference that his investigators are still determining whether the 58-year-old woman was abiding by the states Stand Your Ground laws. Stand Your Ground laws permit citizens to defend themselves with deadly force if they fear theyre in imminent dangerbut Owens was unarmed and in the presence of her young children, and her white neighbor was behind a locked door.

Read more

Ben Crump, an attorney for Owens family, said in a statement on Monday that the conflict began when Owens young children were playing in a field near their apartment complex. Their 58-year-old neighbor allegedlybegan yelling at them to get off her land and calling them racial slurs. The children then fled the field and accidentally left behind an iPad, which the neighbor took for herself. When the kids went to her home to retrieve it, Crump says the white woman threw it, hitting one of the children and cracking the screen.

This confrontation between the kids and the 58-year-old woman prompted Owens to come to her neighbors home. She knocked on the door, and at that point, the woman allegedly shot through the door, hitting AJ, who later died from her injuries, Crump said.

MEDIA ALERT: @AttorneyCrump, attorney Anthony D. Thomas, and the family of AJ Owens  a mother who was shot after knocking on an unidentified womans door  will hold a news conference today (6/5) to demand that the shooter be arrested for this unjustified killing. pic.twitter.com/BfmTundS4p  Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) June 5, 2023

Woods on Monday declined to confirm or dispute this version of events at a press conference, telling reporters the case is still under investigation. Owens kids, he said, are a big part of answering a lot [of] our questions. According to Woods, there was a heated confrontation between Owens and the neighbor through the door, and two of Owens four children may have witnessed the shooting.

This is not a whodunnit. We know who did the shooting, Woods said, adding that he [wished] our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands. Despite this, the sheriff said the shooter has not yet been arrested due to the states Stand Your Ground laws. Any time that we think or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest. The law specifically says that, he said, adding, What we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest.

Ben Crump Law did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Jezebel on the case. Anthony D. Thomas, another attorney working with the Owens family at Crumps firm, on Monday called for Owens neighbor to be arrested and charged for Owens death at a press conference. Make no mistake about it. We do support our sheriff. But at the same time, we want him to do the job that he promised that he would do, and we want swift justice, Thomas told reporters.

This is Ajike AJ Owens  a mother of 4 fatally shot after she reportedly knocked on the door of a white womans residence to retrieve her childs iPad. Its believed that Owens children accidentally left the device behind in a field they were playing in, & the woman took it. pic.twitter.com/jfC6JJdQCS  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 5, 2023

The Marion County NAACP president, Bishop J. David Stockton III, also spoke in support of Owens family and criticized the culture of racist violence that precipitated Owens killing. The truth is weve gotten to a point where Black folks are almost living in a day where we are afraid to go outside, Stockton told reporters. Our children and adults deserve to live in a world where they do not live in fear of their neighbors.

Owens tragic shooting death in front of her children comes after a wave of national headlines about shootings and killings of people for sometimes accidentally stepping on an armed homeowners property. Race has often played a role in whos targeted and perceived by homeowners as dangerous. Before Owens was shot by a white woman who allegedly spewed racial slurs at her children, in April, a teenager named Ralph Yarl was shot by an 84-year-old white homeowner who claimed Yarl had threatened his life by merely ringing his doorbell.

As the Marion County Sheriffs office investigates whether Owens neighbor abided by Floridas Stand Your Ground laws, these laws have historically been used to justify racist killings or enable political violence, as we saw when Kyle Rittenhouse was permitted to walk free after killing several Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020. Southern Poverty Law Center has said that Stand Your Ground Laws allow for highly uneven application by law enforcement and the legal system and race and gender are significant factors in who is and isnt punished for supposed self-defense.

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The White House on Tuesday expressed opposition to GOP bills aimed at restricting gas stove regulations, but it stopped short of threatening to veto them.

The two bills are slated for votes on Tuesday and Wednesday. One would prevent the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves or implementing regulations that substantially increase their cost. The other would block a proposed efficiency rule from the Energy Department.

In a formal Statement of Administration Policy, the White House says it strongly opposes the two bills, but the statement does not contain language threatening a veto as it often does for bills that it opposes.

The statement says that while the administration does not support any attempt to ban the use of gas stoves it also opposes the Consumer Product Safety Commission bill because it would undermine the Commissions ability to make science-based decisions to protect the public.

It opposes the bill concerning the Energy Department because it would deny the American people the savings that come with having more efficient new appliances on the market, the statement said.

However, a statement of opposition does not necessarily guarantee a veto if the legislation were to make it to Bidens desk, given that the White House initially put out a statement expressing opposition to a resolution to overturn a D.C. crime bill that he later signed.

But, the gas stove bills could still face a tough road ahead in the Democrat-led Senate and may not make it to Bidens desk.

The Biden administration has sought to distance itself from calls for a gas stove ban amid a political firestorm earlier this year over the issue. Republicans seized on comments from Consumer Product Safety Commission member Richard Trumka Jr. saying that a ban on new gas stoves was possible.

The president does not support banning gas stoves and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, is not banning gas stoves, White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre told reporters in January.

Trumka has also come out against the idea of a ban, and the commission appears unlikely to take one up. However, it may seek to impose other regulations on the stoves because they have been linked to health impacts like asthma.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
White House says it wasnt behind Pentagon decision to cancel drag shows

The White House said on Monday it wasnt behind a Defense Department decision to cancel drag events at US military bases.

Late last week, DoD announced that drag events, which have been performed at US military installations for decades, wouldnt continue because they arent a suitable use of military resources.

The Pentagon said in a statement that certain criteria must be met for persons or organizations acting in nonfederal capacity.

Biden administration press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday at a press conference that the White House supports LGBTQ+ members of the military.

The Biden-Harris administration will celebrate LGBTQI plus service members contributions with pride across federal agencies, including at the Department of Defense, she said.

The Pentagon decision has already led to the cancellation of at least one planned drag show, a family-friendly event at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada featuring performer Coco Montrese, a former contestant on RuPauls Drag Race. The base has hosted drag events in 2021 and 2022, planned by the facilitys Pride committee.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday on CNN canceling the events was the absolute right thing to do and said drag events were never part of DOD policy to begin with and theyre certainly not funded by federal funds.

Capitol Hill Republicans questioned Mr Milley and other military leaders in March at a House Armed Services Committee hearing in March, and have since raised inquiries about potential funds going to such events.

US military members have performed in drag at bases since at least World War I, including during the famed USO shows of WWII, according to the New York Times

Ensuring our ranks reflect the diversity of the American people is essential to morale and cohesion, the Modern Military Association of America, a nonprofit representing LGBTQ+ servicemembers, told the paper. It affects recruiting and retention of service members who do not feel welcome due to their sexual and gender identities.

Across the country, Republican-led legislatures have passed laws targeting drag shows, and drag events have been the subject of armed threats, part of a wider wave of GOP attacks on LGBTQ+ people.
Abortion rights demonstrators attend a rally at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, May 14, 2022. (Eric Gay/AP)

This week, the Republican presidential field will considerably expand, with the entry of former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

The candidates will encounter a Republican base that is not satisfied by the fact that access to abortion remains in many parts of the country and is energized by the possibility of a strict nationwide ban.

That could prove an enormous problem in the weeks and months to come. The promises candidates make to evangelical voters in early-voting states like Iowa and South Carolina could come back to haunt them in the general election against incumbent President Biden, who has made protecting abortion rights a signature issue.

Republicans will then have to either break their promises to conservatives or keep those promises and maintain a strong stance against abortion, alienating moderates, without whom they cannot win a general election.

How did the Republicans arrive at this challenging crossroads?

Victory brings new problems

Anti-abortion demonstrators celebrate outside the United States Supreme Court as the court rules in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization abortion case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision in Washington, U.S., June 24, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein /Reuters)

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, conservatives achieved a momentous victory they had been aiming toward for decades. Ever since the 1973 ruling legalized abortion nationwide, the religious and political right had worked tirelessly to influence elections and judicial nominations on the issue.

They got their wish with the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, which returned the power to regulate abortion to individual states.

But that victory always carried with it more than a hint of danger, because the vast majority of Americans support some measure of reproductive freedom.

Read more from Yahoo News: Has the Supreme Court found its limit on abortion?

What the American people say

Protestors demonstrate at the March for Reproductive Rights organized by Womenas March L.A. on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Most Americans are in favor of keeping abortion legal  with some limitations. That puts them well to the left of conservatives who want to ban the procedure and to the right of progressives who favor minimal restrictions.

After a draft Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs case was leaked to Politico, polling found that only 30% of Americans supported reversing Roe, and 54% thought abortion should remain legal across the country.

Since then, as Republican governors and conservative judges have moved to restrict abortion access, support for the protection of reproductive rights has only grown. A poll in May found that 58% of Americans wanted Congress to pass a law to protect abortion.

In other words, Republicans now own a position that is not supported by most Americans. After a Democratic candidate won a crucial judicial race in Wisconsin by promising to protect reproductive freedom, Politico dubbed abortion Republican quicksand.

Read more from Yahoo News: America's religious leaders sharply divided over abortion, a year after Roe v Wade's reversal, via AP

What the Republican candidates say theyll do

Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up the newly signed bill that will ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks at a news conference on April 14, 2022. (Willie J. Allen Jr/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire)

Republican presidential candidates face something of a political head-scratcher. In the upcoming primary contests, they have to appeal to a GOP base that does support strict abortion restrictions, including a national ban.

Then, whoever emerges from the primary will have to quickly pivot to the general election and persuade moderate voters that they do not need to fear a national ban, or similar anti-abortion measures that are popular only with conservatives.

The candidates upcoming struggles are perhaps best represented by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who recently signed a six-week abortion ban at a midnight ceremony that was not publicized. DeSantis touted the new law in Iowa, where evangelical voters could decide next years caucus, but avoided the issue altogether in libertarian New Hampshire.

The front runner, Donald Trump, has routinely bragged about appointing the three Supreme Court justices whose presence on the high court helped to secure the reversal of Roe.

I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, Trump recently said. At the same time, he has described a six-week ban, like the one passed by his rival DeSantis, as too harsh.

If those are seemingly inconsistent views, they are still somehow consistent with Trumps record of saying whatever suits him at the moment, without regard to any ideological or political commitments.

Candidates now trailing Trump and DeSantis in early polls hope that abortion-themed appeals might propel them to a victory in Iowa next year. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, himself a devout Christian, has said that, as president, he would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has said that he favors a six-week ban.

At the very least, none of the presidential candidates seems to agree with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who recently said that her party would suffer for its increasingly restrictive stance on abortion.

Read more from Yahoo News: Nancy Mace finds herself on a lonely GOP island, via The Hill

How the Democrats will respond

President Joe Biden speaks about abortion access during a Democratic National Committee event at the Howard Theatre, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. (Evan Vucci)/AP)

Democrats agree with Mace and are doing everything they can to make sure that her prediction comes true next year, both in the presidential and congressional races.

Making abortion a centerpiece of their 2022 strategy helped Democrats avoid a much-expected midterm rout by Republicans, and since the stakes will be even higher in 2024, there is every reason to believe that abortion will remain a centerpiece of the Democratic platform.

Republicans are rushing to establish themselves as the most anti-choice extremists in the MAGA primary, Ammar Moussa, a Democratic National Committee spokesman, told Yahoo News. Led by Donald Trump, whos proud of his anti-choice record, MAGA Republicans are poised to again be rejected by the American people who want women to have the freedom to make their own health care decisions."

Read more from Yahoo News: Democrats see abortion as winning issue with 2024 Biden reelection launch, via CBS News
Why this St. Petersburg gallery draws glass artists from all over the world

ST. PETERSBURG  When Canadian artist Stephen Pon pulled his 6-foot sculpture Tower of Babel from the kiln at the Duncan McClellan Gallery in March, it had been weeks in the making.

Pon used a lost-wax technique to make it, a lengthy process that involved sculpting wax figures of men climbing in a semi-chaotic manner up a tower-shaped form. It took weeks.

Eventually, the glass sculpture went into a large kiln at McClellans gallery, where it stayed for 17 days. Pon employed the help of a few others to take the sculpture out of the kiln and break the mold encasing it in water, very carefully. Then it took hours to clean the piece.

Pon is one of many artists from around the world who come to St. Petersburg to work in glass art, and specifically at McClellans gallery, which has helped turn the city into a mecca for glass art and establish the Warehouse Arts District.

The gallery not only showcases dazzling glass creations and provides glassblowing demonstrations to tens of thousands of viewers both onsite and on location, it is also the home of an artist residency program.

Pon was here in March, and his residence coincided with the exhibition Masters of the North, which showcased his work and that of other Canadian artists, curated by his wife, Fabienne Carbonneau.

With Tower of Babel, Pon said, he tried to create confusion over whether the figures are trying to help each other. He said he explores humanity through his works that feature intricate figures.

The artist-in-residence program provides career mentoring to emerging and professional artists who apply on a project-to-project basis. It attracts them due in part to the gallerys massive kiln, where large-scale sculptures can cook for weeks.

McClellan said the residence program is important for artists because studio costs have risen to astronomical levels, and many studios closed due to the pandemic. The residency covers most of an artists costs, although in some cases artists pay for some materials.

The gallery also recently partnered with St. Petersburgs Florida CraftArt to host a collaboration between artists Natalie Tyler and Kiki Dufault.

Tyler and Dufault were the artists in residence in May, coinciding with the exhibition The Alchemy of Art at Florida CraftArt, curated by Elizabeth Brincklow and Mary Childs. Tylers cast glass sculptures are on display in that show, and her piece Eagles Nest was awarded first place.

Tyler lives in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts but originally hails from California. She invited Dufault, a San Francisco-based abstract painter, to collaborate with her during the residency. Two small pieces resulting from their collaboration are on display at Florida CraftArt, and they worked on a large-panel glass painting that was partially revealed during a recent artist talk at McClellans gallery.

Dufault said working in glass was a new way to work with color and to see the way light moves through transparency rather than reflecting the way it does with paint.

Color also becomes suspended in the glass, making it three-dimensional, Tyler said. She described a happy accident of sorts in which they thought the glass was clear, but as the different glasses mixed together  bubbling up and melting down  they reacted to each other, resulting in surprising colors.

Thinking about their larger pieces, which were still cooling in the kiln, Tyler said they experimented with color schemes.

It was an alchemy of art in a way because we were looking for that reaction.

Dufault added: Im super excited and very eager ... because we havent yet seen the end result from our collaboration itself.

Guests got a very brief sneak peek at the piece after a dramatic opening of the kiln, as the giant lid rolled up.

The artists decided the piece needed more time to cure, so they were going to bring the temperature up again. About two weeks later, after Tyler and Dufault had returned home, the pieces were ready to be unloaded.

Hot shop staff members Kevin Daigle and Raymon Love pulled the large panels from the kiln.

McClellan helped clean the piece after it was removed. Its available for sale at McClellans gallery, where more residencies are on the horizon.

Where to view glass art created during residency

Duncan McClellan Gallery, 2342 Emerson Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Saturday, all other hours by appointment only. Masters of the North remains on display through the summer. 1-855-436-4527. dmglass.com. The Alchemy of Art remains on view at Florida CraftArt through June 24. Free. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-821-7391. floridacraftart.org.
KAMPALA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday marked World Environment Day and International Day for Biodiversity amid celebrations of the reduction of forest cover loss and the increasing number of wildlife species.

World Environment Day, which annually falls on June 5, and International Day for Biological Diversity, were marked under the national theme "Stop Plastic Pollution Today" and "From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity," respectively. International Day for Biological Diversity is globally marked on May 22.

Sam Cheptoris, minister of water and environment, at the celebrations held here, said the country has made tremendous progress in reversing the loss of forest cover.

"We have been able to reverse the negative trend of our forest cover from only 9.5 percent of the land surface in 2015 to now 13.3 percent," Cheptoris said.

He attributed the success to efforts in protecting the gazetted forests and citizens responding to calls for the restoration of forests on private land and partnering with the government to restore gazetted areas.

"There is also significant progress made to recover most of our wildlife species, including rhinos, gorillas, elephants, and many others," the minister said.

He said the success in forest and wildlife recovery needs to be replicated in the conservation of our wetlands.

"We must work together to stop further loss of wetlands. Without wetlands and forests, we shall not have water to support life, no clean air to breathe, no pollinators to support agricultural production, no water to support hydro-power generation, raw materials for wood industry and crafts," he said.

The minister attributed the recent climate-induced disasters, like landslides and floods to the degradation of the environment. "The good news is that if we work together, we can restore nature and prevent such disasters. If every one of us planted and raised one single tree every year, within five years, we would be very far," he said.

He said the government is working with the private sector and other partners, where every citizen will plant and raise a tree every year. The target is to have at least 40 million trees raised annually, according to the official.

"My appeal to all of us here and the entire country is to explore all ways of ensuring that we bring plastic pollution to a stop as well as protect, value, wisely use biodiversity and restore nature," he said.

The ministry's figures show that plastic pollution is a serious challenge in Uganda. It is estimated that 135,800 tons of plastic waste are generated per year, but only 42 percent are collected. This means that about 78,000 tons of plastic waste are left scattered in the environment, most of it ending up on land, in water bodies, and in aquatic ecosystems like wetlands.

James Okot-Okumu, board chairperson of directors of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), said conservation agencies need adequate funding in order to succeed in environment management. He cited NEMA, whose staff level is at 30 percent, and yet it is the country's lead environment watchdog.

Okot-Okumu hailed the government for reviving the National Environment Fund, which is critical in the funding of activities geared toward environmental management.

"The National Environment Fund thus provides an opportunity for mobilization of additional financial resources for the effective operation of NEMA and lead agencies," he said. 
Killer whales have been attacking ships off the Iberian Peninsula since May 2020, and scientists are perplexed. So far, three yachts have sunk, the most recent on May 4. Many more had to be towed away after orcas rammed the boats, with the most recent on May 25.

"We just don't know. And in fact, we may never know. What is for sure is that these whales have picked up the behavior from each other," marine mammal biologist and author of The Killer Whale Journals," Hanne Strager told FOX Weather.

"So in the beginning, they were not very many participating in it, and now at least half the population is doing it," she continued. "So they're learning this behavior from each other and doing it."

KILLER WHALES ATTACK ON TWO GRAY WHALES CAPTURED IN STUNNING VIDEO OFF CALIFORNIA

This is the latest ship sunk after an orca attack. It was recovered and pulled to shore.

Early on May 25, a group of at least three killer whales rammed a 66-foot sailboat named the Mustique. The whales broke the rudder and pierced the hull, according to Reuters. The crew of four summoned help for the sinking ship, and the Mustique was towed to shore. That was just one out of 20 ship-orca interactions reported in May 2023 alone.

Another sailor took a video of a pod attacking his boat off of Portugal in October 2021. It shows adults and juveniles circling and ramming the boat, knocking parts off.

"The larger pair in the orca pod would batter the boat with their heads, turning it 90 degrees, while the younger pair would attack the rudder," Matt Johnson told Storyful.

A 2022 study found that out of 49 attacks that year, whales damaged ships in about 73% of interactions. And 25% of those had to be towed back to port.

The study's author told Live Science that whales target about one out of every 100 ships passing around the peninsula.

The Cruising Association with Grupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica (GOTA) has been following and studying the subpopulation of less than 50 endangered killer whales. The scientists report that about 15 are troublemakers.

WATCH: SPECTACULAR UNDERWATER FOOTAGE CAPTURES ORCA ORCHESTRA IN ICY ANTARCTICA WATERS

A technician repairs the damaged rudder of the Mustique.

The groups collected over 130 reports of attacks in just three years from sailors around Spain and Portugal and over 500 reports of interactions. They believe many more attacks went unreported. About 86% of the boats are sailboats, and 3% are fishing boats. The vast majority of the attacks are in the western Strait of Gibraltar.

NO FLUKE: WHALE WITHOUT TAIL SPOTTED OFF CALIFORNIA COAST

This is the orca interaction map since 2020. Go to theca.org.uk/orcas/reports to zoom in and read eyewitness accounts.

Strager told FOX Weather that there are three theories for why whales might attack.

"Maybe one whale, several whales have had an incident with a boat that may be a collision, maybe an animal was hurt or even killed," Stager discussed in one paper. "And then the rest of the group sort of feel that now sailing vessel have become dangerous, and they ram them."

The revenge hypothesis surmises that a mother was injured by fishing lines or a rudder and taught her young.

"Another hypothesis is that these whales live in an environment that's very stressful," Strager said. "There's a lot of ship traffic; there's a lot of noise; there are a lot of pollutants; so that it's a reaction to a stressful life."

SPECTATORS GATHER AS KILLER WHALE WASHES ASHORE FLORIDA COAST

File: Other orca populations worldwide don't routinely attack boats.

Scientists feel that the mechanical sounds coming from the rudder, autopilot and depth sounder attract the orcas, which learned without a rudder, boats can't sail.

"And the third hypothesis is, believe it or not, that they're doing it for fun, that they are playing around with the sailing vessels and the riders," Strager said. "They just think it's fun to ram the boat. And that may very likely be could very likely be the explanation."

Any explanation is concerning, wrote a GOTA scientist in a paper.

"We cannot discard that more individuals are going to learn this new behavior, interacting with the vessels, and that probably the situation is going to aggravate," the paper stated.

File: An orca showing its teeth.

"If this situation continues or intensifies, it could become a real concern for the mariner's safety and a conservation issue for this endangered subpopulation of killer whales (rather by self-induced injuries or mariners protecting their assets and harming the whales), especially in regions characterized by intense maritime traffic, as the Strait of Gibraltar," the paper continued.

Other populations of orcas around the world don't exhibit the same aggressive behavior.

File: An orca breaches in Antarctica.

The coordinated attacks follow a pattern.

Phases of attack, according to GOTA:

Approach: A quick and stealthy approach surprises the crew. Contact and steering: Under the boat, the whales start touching the boat, apparently curious. The contact usually focuses on the rudder, which whales push with their heads and bodies. The boat spins. The harder the crew fights back against the whale attack with steering, the harder and more frequent the whale pushes become. Stopping: Whales continually hit the boat until the captain stops it or the broken rudder prevents movement. Disinterest: Whales lose interest and swim away.

Damage to the Mustique.

Eyewitness reports tracked by the Cruising Association show that the average attack last around half an hour, but some stretched out closer to an hour and a half and some were quicker than 5 minutes.

"Everything was very fast," wrote a captain who said the attack was less than 5 minutes. "They focused on the rudders and nothing else. No jumping, no demonstration to impress."

In most reports, the crews and passengers say that the whales only seem interested in attacking the boat, not people.

"There (have) been three boats that (have) been sunk because there's been damage to the rudders. Everybody on board these three vessels (was) rescued," Stanger said. "And the people who have experienced it most say that they don't feel any aggression from the whales, that the whales are interested in the boats, but not in the people. So nobody has been hurt, but a lot of vessels have actually been wrecked."

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

File: Orca swimming.

A behavioral scientist working with GOTA suggested that the whales want to get a response from people. The scientist studied orcas in captivity.

"They will hide from their keepers beneath an overhang in their aquarium, only to splash them when they peer over to look for the orcas," wrote the Cruising Association. "This is why the Safety Protocol advises to keep a low profile in order to minimize interest level."

The association also recommends sailing in shallow water, less than 130 feet deep and not more than 2 miles from shore. Sail during the day, although a few attacks happened at night. Turn off autopilot. Play dead, and hopefully whales will lose interest sooner.

The group also noted that a black hull color may increase the impact of the interaction, while copper may reduce it.
British actor Rowan Atkinson, dressed as Mr. Bean, sits on top of a Mini Cooper to promote the 25th anniversary of "Mr. Bean" in London in 2015. (Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)

Known primarily for his portrayal of the dim-witted character Mr. Bean on television and in films, British actor Rowan Atkinson may not seem like the world's foremost expert on climate change and electric vehicles. But an op-ed he published over the weekend that declared "our honeymoon with electric cars is coming to an end" has thrust him into the center of a global debate and ignited a backlash among environmentalists and electric vehicle experts.

Electric vehicles may be a bit soulless, but theyre wonderful mechanisms: fast, quiet and, until recently, very cheap to run. But increasingly, I feel a little duped," Atkinson wrote in his piece in the Guardian. "When you start to drill into the facts, electric motoring doesnt seem to be quite the environmental panacea it is claimed to be.

An early adopter of electric vehicles who also owns a collection of vintage gas cars, Atkinson cites a number of common critiques of EVs, including that manufacturing them produces more emissions than manufacturing gasoline vehicles. He also argues that, given the environmental harm caused by mining rare- earth minerals for the lithium ion batteries used in EVs, it would be better to wait for the development of hydrogen-powered cars and trucks and keep using gasoline in the meantime.

Atkinson's piece comes as the United Kingdom is considering a ban on the sale of gasoline cars by 2030 in order to slash greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. The European Union and California have also approved measures that phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.

Genie out of the bottle

Employees work on the assembly line of an C11 electric SUV in a factory of Chinese EV startup Leapmotor in China in April. (Hu Xiaofei/VCG via Getty Images)

The speed at which the world is switching from gasoline-powered cars to EVs has been remarkable. In 2022, according to the International Energy Agency, 14% of new cars sold were EVs, up 9% from 2021. In China, roughly 1,400 EVs were sold in 2010, compared with 5.9 million in 2022.

Automakers have seen the writing on the wall and plan to spend $1.2 trillion on electric vehicle and battery production over the next seven years. That investment is spurring innovation, which, in turn, is helping to make manufacturing EV batteries friendlier for the environment.

"The EV carbon footprint is plummeting across the three great industrial zones of Europe, America, and China. A deepdive by McKinsey concluded that the emissions of leading battery suppliers would fall by 75pc over the next five to seven years," Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, world economy editor of the Daily Telegraph, wrote Tuesday on the rapidly changing landscape for the production of electric car batteries. "Batteries are already being made that no longer require cobalt. By late-decade we will start to see solid-state batteries that are four to six times more efficient, so efficient that they can run on sodium instead of lithium for routine run-about cars."

Lifetime emissions

A Tesla electronic vehicle is charged at a Tesla charging station in Nashville in May. (George Walker IV/AP)

On its website, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that "the greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing."

Auke Hoekstra, a professor at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands who has conducted research comparing lifetime emissions of EVs and gas-powered cars, was one of several experts to weigh in on Atkinson's article.

To summarize:



Atkinson is a great comedian but doesn't understand the environmental impacts of EVs



The @guardian quality control should have picked this up



EVs emit 3x less CO2 over their lifetime currently



EVs sold in 2050 will emit 10x less



/end  AukeHoekstra (@AukeHoekstra) June 4, 2023

British-based climate tech analyst Gniewomir Flis also rebutted Atkinson's claims.

"High embodied emissions do mean a battery car is more carbon intensive out of the factory than a gasoline car. But with distance driven, gasoline cars emit far more emissions. Reuters calculates that after 21,000 km, battery cars start reducing CO2," Flis wrote in a Twitter thread.

Leah Stokes, professor of climate and energy policy at the University of California, Santa Barbara, summed up the view of many experts.
Why Pence Launched His Campaign in Iowa and Christie in New Hampshire

A side by side pairing of images showing former Vice President Mike Pence on the left and Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on the right, both have neutral expressions and are looking off in different directions

Former Vice President Mike Pence; Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Credit - Drew AngererGetty Images; Richard RodriguezGetty Images

For two of the newest entrants into the presidential race, the location of their announcements was as revealing as their message.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie launched his bid Tuesday evening in New Hampshire, where he will start to court the states pragmatic moderates. A day later, former Vice President Mike Pence formally announced his presidential bid in Iowa focusing on a different key constituency: evangelical voters. The contrast demonstrates the differing tacks the two men are taking as the race grows more crowded.

For Christie, New Hampshire is a natural fit. As other candidates in the race have been cautious about criticizing former President Donald Trump, who remains a dominant force in the Republican Party, Christie has signaled that he will have no such qualms. To make any headway in the primary, hell need to court voters who are willing to hear him out and New Hampshire is as good a place as any to find them. Voters in the state are known to be independent-minded.

Given that the state is a potential battleground next November, New Hampshire Republicans are also sure to be considering the pitfalls of another Trump candidacy in a general election. And theyre ready to listen to the contenders who take the time to talk to them.

I think that our voters resonate with a candidate who comes in and does town halls, talks to individual people and answers questions in an unfiltered way, says New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager.

That could be especially beneficial for Christie, who is barely registering in the polls so far and will have to be especially strategic in where he uses his resources.

If a candidate wants to be noticed early, you dont need as much money to get your message out in New Hampshire, Ager says. Its not a big, very expensive media market.

New Hampshire was a centerpiece of Christies previous campaign for president in 2016. The former New Jersey governor kicked off that bid with almost a dozen events in the Granite State. Ultimately, he dropped out of the race after performing poorly in the state. One factor was Bridgegate, the lane closure scandal involving members of his gubernatorial administration, which New Hampshire voters criticized him for way back in 2016.

Asked about what issue will matter most to New Hampshire Republicans this cycle, Ager immediately replies, Number one is winning. He then adds that the state I think New Hampshire has a very fiscally responsible electorate, and our government reflects that. , Ager continues. I think thats going to be the top issue. And there is concern about foreign entanglements and how the prestige of the U.S. in decline could embolden some of our enemies.

Iowa Republicans are similarly known for being independent-minded and often focused on how candidates discuss the economy. But for Pence, the states evangelical constituency is particularly appealing as he launches his 2024 bid.

The former Vice President was the governor of Indiana when Trump picked as his running mate in 2016, partly to help win over religious conservatives wary of the celebrity businessman. Eight years later, Pence has maintained his ultraconservative reputation, especially when it comes to abortion.

As other Republicans have taken more measured stances on the issue after the fall of Roe v. Wade, Pence has said he would back any pro-life legislation that Congress would take up and that, We must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land.

More from TIME Embed w/ Autoplay:

More from TIME

That kind of positioning could help Pence in the Hawkeye State given the large evangelical constituency there. Back in 2016, two-thirds of Iowa caucus-goers were evangelicals, compared to only about one quarter of Republican primary voters in New Hampshire. The state is also more Republican-leaning than New Hampshire in general.

Gloria Mazza, chair of the Republican Party of Polk County, Iowas most populous, tells TIME that she saw Pence at a party fundraiser last month and at the annual Roast and Ride political rally this past weekend.

Hes very well liked and very well respected here, Mazza says. A lot of people understand what happened. He was a great leader as far as a vice president.

Pences reputation with Trump voters took a hit after the two men split over the validity of the 2020 election results and the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. On that day, Trump falsely told supporters that Pence had the power to return Trump to the presidency. Later, some members of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the building issued chants of Hang Mike Pence.

Read more: How Trump Pressured Pence With Taunts, Lies and an Angry Mob

The Hawkeye State could be the perfect place for him to reestablish himself; one Iowa Republican strategist who spoke to TIME said that they were surprised and impressed by the support Pence has already built in the state.

As polling shows Trump remains the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, Pence is making clear to Iowa voters that they have the power to change the narrative.

I believe as conservatives, men and women, you have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to shape the leadership of this party in ways that will shape the nation as never before, Pence told Iowa voters on Saturday.
The plastic widget was developed by Guinness in 1969 to give their canned brews a silky, creamy head. Duk/Wikimedia Commons

The Guinness widget is a tiny, plastic ball inside beer cans.

During canning, pressurized nitrogen is added to the brew, which trickles into a hole in the widget.

Once opened, the widget's nitrogenated beer squirts into the rest of the beer giving it a velvety texture.

Have you ever noticed the clink-clank of a tiny object rattling around the inside of an empty Guinness bottle or can?

That little gadget is called a widget, and you should be thankful for it. It's making your beer taste like it was just poured fresh from the tap.

How the Guinness widget works

A widget is a hollow, spherical piece of food-grade plastic with a tiny hole in it, Guinness representatives told Insider over email.

It basically looks like a little ping pong ball.

During the canning process, brewers add liquid nitrogen to the beer immediately before sealing it up. The liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates in the container. But since the can is sealed, this creates pressure inside it, which then forces gas and liquid into the widget through its tiny hole, per Guinness.

Then, when you open the can, you should hear a "pssshhh" sound. That's the gas and liquid leaving the widget, which mixes with the beer, creating that foamy head so iconic in a Guinness draft, Guinness said.

For canned Guinness, you should pour the beer into a glass after opening, but the bottle widget (which is shaped like a rocket) is designed for you to enjoy the beer straight from the bottle.

Guinness released its first-generation widget in 1989

Guinness brewers first patented the idea of the widget in 1969. But it wasn't until 1989 when they released their first-generation widget, Popular Science reported.

This first-generation widget was a flattened disc that sat at the bottom of the can. It did its job well when serving the beer cold, but if the beer was warm, it could overflow after the can was cracked open, per Cool Material.

In 1997, Guinness released the floating, spherical widget you can find in cans today  which they call the "smoothifier"  to fix this problem.

Carbon dioxide vs. nitrogen in beer

Breweries typically use carbon dioxide to give a beer its quintessential bitter fizz, but when a drink calls for a sweeter, silkier experience  like when drinking a Guinness  brewers infuse the ale with nitrogen rather than with carbon dioxide.

In fact, Guinness was the world's first nitro beer. Nitrogen bubbles are smaller than CO2 bubbles, so the resulting head and taste is smoother and more delicate.

Fergal Murray, a Head Brewer at Dublin City Brewing Co., told Forbes that there are 300 million bubbles in a pint of Guinness compared to the up to 2 million bubbles in a typical lager.

Also because nitrogen bubbles are smaller, they're more stable. Therefore, when you crack open a beer, more of the tiny bubbles will stay intact. This  along with the smaller bubbles  gives the brew a thicker, more velvety "mouthfeel" without the acidic bite of carbonation with CO2, per Home Brew Advice.

Because of the fleeting nature of nitrogen gas in liquid, it's hard to maintain tasty levels of the gas in packaged beers once you open them. That's where Guinness' widget comes into play, because of how it's able to slowly release nitrogen into the beer upon opening.

The popularity of widgets have caught on since Guinness introduced them in the late '80s. Other beers, such as Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Murphy's Stout, and Boddingtons Pub Ale, all have widgets in their cans.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Why working in China is getting "very risky" for some U.S. companies

The risks of doing business in China are increasing for foreign companies. The offices of Capvision, a consulting firm with offices in New York and Shanghai, and two American firms have been raided in recent weeks as Chinese authorities exercise their power under a new security law.

Police showed up out of the blue in early May at the Chinese offices of Capvision, searched the premises and questioned employees.

Navy releases video of U.S. destroyer's close call with Chinese warship

Earlier this spring, U.S. firms Bain & Company and the Mintz Group also had their Chinese offices raided. Five of Mintz's Chinese employees were detained.

All three companies did business gathering information on Chinese companies for U.S. investors.

An image from video aired on China's state-run CCTV network shows authorities carrying out an investigation at the Shanghai office of international consulting firm Capvision Partners, May 9, 2023. / Credit: Reuters/CCTV

After the Capvision raid, Chinese state TV even aired a special report alleging, without presenting any hard evidence, that the company had lured Chinese citizens to spill state secrets.

Capvision kept its response to the raid low-key, saying on social media that it would "review its practices," with direction from China's security authorities.

But James Zimmerman, a business lawyer who works in Beijing, told CBS News the raids have spooked foreign businesses.

"Everything's a threat, you know," Zimmerman said. "Unfortunately, in that kind of environment it's very difficult to operate  when everything is viewed as a national security matter and it looks as if. anything you do could be considered to be spying."

China calls U.S. concern over spying cargo cranes "paranoid"

The billionaire boss of Twitter and Tesla, Elon Musk, was lionized when he visited China last week. He had a meeting with China's top vice premier and got a rapturous welcome from employees at his Tesla facility in Shanghai.

He and other big players in China, including the bosses of American giants like Apple and Starbucks, may be untouchable, but smaller businesses are worried.

"A lot of folks are starting to, you know, rewrite their strategic plans just because of the tension," said Zimmerman, noting that the increasing crackdown by Chinese authorities "makes it politically very risky for them."

Paradoxically, China recently launched a campaign to attract new business from overseas. But many investors have cold feet. A new counterespionage law is due to take effect on July 1, and they worry it may be used as a political weapon to punish certain firms by redefining legitimate due diligence as spying.

Robert Hanssen | 60 Minutes Archive

George Santos bail backers to be revealed, judge orders

Why the PGA Tour and LIV Golf agreed to merge
Kansas could start to see some relief from dry conditions by the end of summer, but not enough to end the drought, according to a local forecaster.

The Wichita area is about 5 inches below precipitation normals for the year. Wichita normally experiences 13.51 inches of precipitation this time of year, but so far the area has only seen 8.28 inches as of Monday. This time last year, Wichita had received 20.12 inches, the National Weather Service told the Eagle Tuesday.

With this low amount of rainfall, Wichita is labeled as experiencing an exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Compared to the rest of the state, Wichita is one of the worst areas and among those experiencing the most severe drought.

You can see south-central Kansas, where we are, in that exceptional drought area, Kelly Butler, National Weather Service forecaster, told the Eagle Monday. That extends into portions of western-central Kansas.

Even with recent heavy rainfall over the past week, including the 1.28 inches recorded Monday, the drought still remains a concern.

Last week, Wichita officials expressed concern with the ongoing drought, sharing efforts the city is taking to preserve as much water as possible, including the possibility of entering the second stage of the citys drought plan by the end of the year.

Heres what to know about the current state of Kansas drought and when the state might see relief.

Note: This graphic will automatically update as new data become available.

Will Kansas residents see a broiling wet summer? Heres one prediction for the season

When will the state see relief from drought?

Kansas has been experiencing drought-like conditions for more than a year, Janet Salazar, hydrologist with the NWS, said. As for Wichita, the area has been seeing dry conditions for about 10 months.

Id say about August of last year, we started to see more noticeable impacts of extreme to moderate drought in [the] southern, southeastern part of Kansas, [and] it just spread out, Salazar said.

In the last four weeks, conditions in the Wichita area havent seen much change. But in far western Kansas, Butler said you see minor changes due to frequent showers in that area.

Thats actually been helping ... not enough to cause significant change, given the exceptional drought that the majority of us are in, but its definitely trying to chip away, the forecaster noted.

Butler said the best way to end a drought is an influx of major showers, but thats not something you can bet on.

Usually were banking on your severe storms ... that kind of move across the state and dump a bunch of water, Butler said. But we just havent seen that so far.

Salazar said by the end of the summer, the state could see some relief from the drought, but not enough to cause significant change.

Its looking like some improvement, a little bit of relief, but its not going to be taken away, Salazar said. Just the outer fringes of the drought, where its either normal or abnormally dry, that may drop off but overall its looking like the droughts going to stay, just slightly improved.

The transition to an El Nino, which favors lower-than-average temperatures for the area, could bring some relief to the state in the fall season, but exactly when those effects occur depend on the strength of the climate pattern.

An El Nino is a weather pattern that occurs when water in the central Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than usual, which can affect the weather worldwide.

El Nino is likely on its way. Heres what it could mean for Kansas weather this summer

How you can preserve water during the drought in Kansas

Water preservation is the best thing you can do to help with during a drought.

The city of Wichita has an online list of ways you can save water this summer. According to city officials, 20% of someones water usage is for outdoor purposes.

Here are some tips from the city on how to use less while outside:

If you water your grass, do so before 10 a.m.

Water your grass less often, and instead water deeper

Keep your grass an inch higher than past summers

Visit a carwash instead of washing a car at home

Try different ways to clean without using water

You can visit savewichitawater.com to see more tips and what the city is doing to preserve the resource.
Winning Powerball ticket sold in PA is worth $150K, but the chance to claim expires soon

If you bought a Powerball ticket in Philadelphia last July, you could be a winner.

A ticket sold by Posh Fuel & Food July 30, 2022, is worth $150,000, according to a Tuesday Pennsylvania Lottery release, but the deadline to claim the large prize is drawing near.

The winning Powerball tickets numbers are 4, 17, 57, 58, 68 and red Powerball 12, and the player paid an additional $1 for the Power Play option, which multiplied winnings.

The overall odds of any win on Powerball are 1 in 24.87, according to the state lottery.

Pennsylvania law allows prizes to be claimed on any business day up to a year after the drawing. In this case, the winner has until Sunday, July 30 to claim the $150,000 prize, either through mail or in person.

The state lottery encourages the winner to sign the back of the ticket and set up an appointment at any of the organizations seven offices, open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Lottery reminds all players to check all of their tickets.

If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
A woman who was denied boarding by Spirit Airlines for being 'too intoxicated' slapped a gate agent, local media reports

A woman was arrested after slapping a Spirit Airlines gate agent at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Carlos Barria/Reuters

A woman at Atlanta airport was denied boarding on a Spirit Airlines flight for being "too intoxicated."

She then slapped a gate agent, per a police report cited by local media.

The woman was subsequently arrested and charged with simple assault, local outlet WSBTV reported.

A woman was arrested after she was stopped from boarding a Spirit Airlines flight in Atlanta because she was "too intoxicated" and slapped a staff member, according to a number of media reports.

The woman was angry after being told she wouldn't be allowed to board a Spirit Airlines flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Gate E-3 on May 11, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

She then reportedly slapped the gate agent in the face and tried to push her way through boarding to get on the flight, per the news channel. Another local outlet, WSBTV, reported that an airport staff member told police they saw the woman punch the agent.

Officers were dispatched after hearing that a woman was "trying to push her way through the gates and onto the jet bridge," according to an incident report by Atlanta Police Department cited by The Independent.

The woman had been turned away because she was "too intoxicated," per The Independent.

Bodycam footage and images released by the police and posted by Fox 5 Atlanta shows a middle-aged woman, wearing a grey tank top with jeans, and a pink backpack.

Police can be seen detaining her in the clips, removing her backpack and a watch from her arms, and cuffing her hands behind her back.

She was taken to Clayton County Jail, per Fox5. While the gate agent was not seriously harmed during the incident, the woman was charged with simple assault, WSBTV reported.

Insider contacted Spirit Airlines and Atlanta International Airport for comment about the incident, but did not immediately hear back outside of regular business hours.

Another intoxicated Spirit Airlines passenger had to be physically removed from a flight by three police officers after acting aggressively on May 26, a viral TikTok video with three million views showed.

The woman can be seen in the video walking through the plane aisle, shouting, riling up other passengers, and arguing with them.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Woman vanishes underwater while trying to save dog, Oregon cops say. Now body is found

A womans body was pulled from a river she went missing in weeks ago, Oregon officials said.

On May 12, Josephine County Sheriff officials responded to reports of a man and woman in distress near the boat ramp at Indian Mary Park in Merlin, according to a news release by the department.

Lynn Boyum was with a man, identified by family in a GoFundMe as Danny Boyum, when their dog went into the river, swam to the other side and then refused to swim back, deputies said.

Boyum went into the river to save the dog when she was overwhelmed by the swift current, according to the release.

The man attempted to throw Boyum a rope but it didnt work, deputies said. He eventually entered the water and was also grabbed by the current.

Witnesses pulled Danny Boyum from the water and started CPR but he later died at the hospital, officials said.

Lynn Boyum was last seen floating down the river, the release said.

After searching that day for Boyum, the search was called off until the next morning, deputies said. After hours of searching, it was called off again.

Lynn made strangers feel welcome and always made room at the table or in their home to make sure you were never alone, according to a GoFundMe page setup by loved ones after she went missing.

On June 3, Boyums body was found in the river near Argo Recreation Site and positively identified, the release said.

Lynn was a mom and grandma to many of us here in the community. She spoke life and encouragement into so many of us the GoFundMe page said.

Merlin is about 240 southwest of Portland.

16-year-olds drown after being swept away in rivers current, Indiana officials say

25-year-old naked man drowns trying to swim across lake after party, Illinois cops say

Body of child pulled from river after familys boat capsizes, Colorado officials say

17-year-old swimmer dies after being swept in undertow at waterfall, Oregon cops say
FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Republican who scaled the ranks of the Justice Department with nominations from two GOP presidents, is locked in a contentious battle with his own party, which has set its sights on an FBI they accuse of improperly targeting conservatives.

Wray now finds himself at the center of a years-long grudge match, with House Republicans gearing up to hold Wray in contempt of Congress amid a dispute over a subpoena for an unverified tip on President Biden.

The House GOP has launched a number of probes into the FBI since taking power this year, attacking the governments foremost law enforcement agency. But its an effort to secure a document detailing a report from a confidential informant about Biden that has spurred the GOPs contempt effort against Wray, slated to begin this week.

The FBI again refused to hand over the unclassified record to the custody of the House Oversight Committee, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who is leading the contempt effort, said Monday after a 90-minute briefing to review the document.

We will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday. Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further. Americans have lost trust in the FBIs ability to enforce the law impartially, Comer said.

Democrats see the contempt vote as a foregone decision for Republicans  one that allows them to appeal to former President Trump while aiding their narrative that the FBI is concealing misdeeds by both the FBI and Biden.

Donald Trump, of course, appointed Christopher Wray. And so at one point, Donald Trump liked him, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) told The Hill.

Now that Christopher Wray is investigating Donald Trump, he doesnt like him as much. And its quite transparent whats going on here. And its just disappointing to see the House Republicans falling for this obvious trap, he said.

In recent appearances before Congress, Wray has faced allegations of FBI bias  a claim that stems from numerous grievances, including the fallout of Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutions to rage over a memo offering assistance to school districts where officials were being threatened following the implementation of COVID policies.

Whatever the claim, Wrays response has largely been the same, that the FBI is committed to doing the right thing the right way.

I realize that this is not a job for the faint of heart. And I can assure the American people that I am not faint of heart, Wray, who was nominated by Trump to be FBI director and by former President George W. Bush to serve as an assistant attorney general, said in an April interview with CBSs 60 Minutes.

I was inspired to come back and take on this job because I believe deeply in the work, the mission of protecting American people and upholding the Constitution, and the people of the FBI.

Wray is just a little more than halfway through his 10-year tenure at the helm of the FBI, leading the agency through one of its most heavily scrutinized periods.

It is an incredibly challenging job and all FBI directors  and I worked for two  face waves of difficult decisions and vexing problems, Chuck Rosenberg, a former senior FBI official, told The Hill.

They are in rough waters right now, but that is not a new phenomenon. Chris is a good man and a thoughtful guy  and the institution has remarkably able and dedicated people  and they will work through this.

Wray is facing a litany of investigations.

House Republicans have established a subcommittee to explore the weaponization of the government. That panel is housed within the broader Judiciary Committee, which has become the clearinghouse for most of the FBI probes.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has long accused the FBI of seeking to label parents as domestic terrorists following the 2021 school board memo that asked the FBI to coordinate with local law authorities about threats against officials.

Hes also faced fallout over Jan. 6 prosecutions and a memo from the Richmond, Va., FBI field office detailing growing overlap between white nationalist groups and Radical-Traditionalist Catholics, which it identifies as a small minority within the church. Jordan and others have used it as a basis for arguing the FBI has an anti-Catholic bias in the wake of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Those who have worked closely with Wray describe him as a serious public servant who is unflappable in the face of pointed criticism and cares deeply about the agency and its role in American life.

He keeps a mug on his desk that reads Keep calm and tackle hard but is also known to visit the two dogs the FBI keeps as emotional support animals in their victims services unit.

What people miss is hes an understated guy. Hes not flashy. He doesnt get upset.  Hes not one to get ruffled, said Jill Tyson, who until 2022 led the agencys Office of Congressional Affairs and now serves as president of Tyson Global Advisors.

I think as a result, because hes not flashy, he doesnt get all spun up, certainly doesnt get spun up in public, I think people sort of underestimate that or read that wrong  In multiple hearings hes said, Dont take my calm demeanor to mean that I dont care about this or that Im not upset about this. And so, I think people sort of misunderstand the steadiness, she said.

That steady hand of his, that even, cool, calm, collected guy is exactly whats needed during this tumultuous time. Hes there to do the right thing.

The inquiries underlie the GOPs central theme: that the FBI is too focused on the ideological right.

Michael German, a former FBI agent who worked on domestic terrorism and has criticized the FBIs response to rising extremism, rejected the notion it is unfairly targeting conservatives.

I think part of the problem is the politicization of the criticism in a way that distracts from the real problems. The FBI is still predominantly white male despite consecutive FBI directors acknowledging that the lack of diversity within the FBI undermines its ability to perform its mission effectively, German said. So, the idea that the organization is institutionally biased against white people, or conservatives, I think conflicts with substantial evidence to the controversy.

Even with all that tension, its a specific battle with Comer that is tipping into a possible contempt charge.

Comer issued a subpoena earlier this month compelling Wray to produce any FD-1023 forms  records of interactions with confidential sources  from June 2020 that contain the word Biden.

Comer has claimed the form contains information related to an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions.

Tyson said inquiries like that are among the most difficult for the FBI to respond to, even as it strives to give Congress information to which it is legally entitled.

Thats exactly the time when the FBI really clams up and gets worried about its information being used for political purposes, she said.

To the extent that there is some sort of narrative that Congress wants to push forward that may be political in nature, and theyre trying to get, for example, law enforcement information to further their narrative, thats a very, very dangerous place for the FBI to be.

The FBI on Monday allowed Comer and Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the weaponization panel, to view the document, itself a drawn-out negotiation that was eventually held in a secure House facility rather than FBI headquarters. The arrangement would not permit them to take a copy.

While Comer said the document provided insight into an ongoing investigation, Raskin said FBI officials who followed up on the tip  unable to corroborate the information the source heard from another party  determined the investigation should not be elevated to a second phase.

But Raskin told The Hill the targeting of Wray shows the grip Trump still has on the GOP.

The Republicans should stop working the refs and stop denouncing law enforcement just for doing their jobs, he said. Its gotten extreme in that they devour their own members if they refuse to follow Donald Trumps supporters.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CAIRO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi began on Tuesday an African tour that will take him to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.

"The president's tour to the Southern Africa region is driven by Egypt's keenness to intensify engagement and coordination with the African countries," said the president's office in a statement.

The tour also seeks to cultivate closer cooperation at the economic, trade, and investment levels and address the concerns of the African continent, it added.

Sisi's talks with the leaders of the three African countries will also cover the efforts to develop joint African action to boost economic integration in the continent, the statement noted.

During his visit to Zambia's capital Lusaka, Sisi will participate in the 22nd summit of The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). 
New York man pleads guilty to 2021 fatal shooting of 31-year-old, captured on video

An East Islip, New York, man pleaded guilty to murder and firearm charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old man in 2021, that was captured on video.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Ismael Rodriguez-Rosado pleaded guilty to killing German Ariel Montes De Oca Ramirez of Bay Shore outside a restaurant in August 2021.

Investigators learned that at about 1 a.m. on Aug. 2, 2021, Rodriguez-Rosado and Montes De Oca Ramirez got into an argument outside of Mi Nueva Encanto Restaurant and Bar in Central Islip.

NEW YORK TROOPER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER FOR KILLING UNARMED MOTORIST IN BUFFALO

During the argument, Rodriguez-Rosado shot Montes De Oca Ramirez four times with a 9 mm pistol, killing him.

One witness dialed 911 to say shots were fired outside the bar and that a red Ford Edge SUV was seen leaving the scene southbound on Carleton Avenue.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Inside a courtroom with gavel in view.

According to the investigation, Rodriguez-Rosado drove the SUV to a gas station, where undercover officers spotted the vehicle and attempted to block it from leaving. But Rodriguez-Rosado struck the undercover vehicle and escaped the parking lot.

NEW YORK WOMAN LUNGES AT MOTHER AND BABY IN PARK DURING VIOLENT RAMPAGE: VIDEO

He then led police down Commack Road, where Rodriguez-Rosado reportedly drove erratically down the center of the road toward oncoming vehicles.

The officer struck the rear wheel of Rodriguez-Rosados vehicle, causing it to spin and come to a stop. He was then placed under arrest.

A view of a Suffolk County police vehicle.

Investigators located the murder weapon with help of the Suffolk County Police K-9 unit, about a mile from where Rodriguez-Rosado was arrested.

NEW YORK SENIOR CITIZEN CHARGED IN MUGGER'S SHOOTING DEATH HAD WARNED LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF RISING CRIME

The investigators also recovered and reviewed surveillance footage that captured the homicide as it happened.

Tierney said Rodriguez-Rosado was convicted of first-degree attempted robbery in 2016, which he was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision.

On Monday, he appeared before Suffolk County Court Judge Stephen Braslow and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

"This defendant took the life of Mr. Montes De Oca Ramirez in cold blood and then attempted to flee without answering for his actions," Tierney said. "Thankfully, because of the amazing work of Suffolk County police officers, this defendant was quickly arrested after leading police on a high-speed violent chase. Moreover, a K-9 unit located the murder weapon and detectives found video recordings of the murder. This was textbook policing."
New York quietly cracks down on inmates being paid for journalism, art

A new policy in state prisons in New York bars inmates from profiting from artwork or writing that is not specifically approved by prison officials, according to a Tuesday report.

The new directive, handed down by the states Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, states that inmates must adhere to a strict approval process before profiting in any way from their work.

It also places limits on what inmates can publish like what crime they went to prison for or any information that prison officials could pose a threat to staff or facility security.

The policy was the subject of a report in New York Focus, a nonprofit investigative newsroom, which interviewed a number of inmates who said the state prison system is blocking their creative works from seeing the light of day.

One of them, John J. Lennon, went to prison at age 24 and recently penned a long-form essay for The New York Times this spring on how people released from prison find housing.

Lets be clear, Lennon told the outlet of the new policy from the Sullivan Correctional Facility. This directive will hinder the most creative minds in New York prisons from producing any work.

This is going to make prison a black box, he added.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Atlanta rapper Unfoonk has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison. (Paras Griffin / Getty Images)

The brother of Atlanta rapper Young Thug, arrested last month on gun charges, has been sentenced to 9 years in prison, Atlanta's WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Monday.

Quantavious Grier, who raps under the name Unfoonk, was arrested May 4 in Atlanta on suspicion of crimes including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to WSB-TV, investigators determined that Grier violated the terms of his probation as part of a plea deal he struck last year.

Grier, 34, pleaded guilty in December to theft and to violating Georgia's RICO act. He was among 28 people  including Young Thug  arrested on charges of participating in gang activity and violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, stands accused of co-founding Young Slime Life (YSL), a local gang established in 2012 that claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang.

The terms of Grier's 10-year probation prohibited the "Running Out of Patience" artist from contacting other defendants in the case (including his brother), required him to perform 750 hours of community service, placed him under a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and prevented him from possessing a gun, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Now he will serve the remainder of his probation sentence in prison.

In early May, an Atlanta police officer discovered a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun inside Grier's Mercedes after approaching him for an alleged window tint violation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The report noted that Grier informed the police that the weapon was registered without mentioning the terms of his probation.

"All you had to do was complete your probation and do what you were supposed to do," Fulton County judge Ural Glanville told Grier on Monday, according to the Journal-Constitution.

"Instead, you were out riding around with a gun in your car."

Grier's attorney, Nicole Moorman, asked Glanville to sentence the "My Struggle" musician to two years in prison, arguing that the YSL case marked her client's first felony conviction.

When prosecutors tried to paint the BP gas station where Grier was arrested as a "YSL stronghold," Moorman countered, "This is Mr. Grier's community. This is all he knows."

"He's never had anybody leading him, he's never had anybody guiding him," Moorman told the judge, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Jury selection for the YSL trial began in January.

Times news researcher Jennifer Arcand contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A ragtag group of heroes, generals, pirates and more join forces to stop an evil empire.

In the early 2010s, not long after Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder met with Lucasfilm to pitch a stand-alone Star Wars movie to be directed by him. The partnership didnt work out, but a decade later, Netflix embraced the idea with open arms, a sizable budget, and the option to turn Rebel Moon into two movies. But the bones of Star Wars, like the rusting remains of an AT-AT, still remain inside. The question is, how much does Snyder realize theyre still there?



In a sprawling look at the film over at Vanity Fair, Snyder and his partner/producer Deborah Snyder discuss the film in detail, starting with its most basic premise: a bunch of ragtag rebels (on a moon) rise up against a giant, evil Empire (here called the Imperium, which is Latin for... empire). Its obviously just a touch familiar, but I dont think its anything to give Snyder shade for; about 90 percent of all sci-fantasy stories seem to be about rebels who fight powerful, evil governments.

Read more

What I think we can poke fun at, however, is Snyders explanation of what makes the galaxy of Rebel Moon so unique compared to Star Wars:

[Snyder] feels that constructing his worlds in real life makes the otherworldly feel more immersive. This movie was me going, Of course its a space opera, but lets not lens it that way. Lets lens it in a more intimate way, so that the sci-fi elements feel more grounded. Were not always saying, Look at how big our spaceships are or how weird our planets look! That happens, but it happens as an organic part of the world youre in. Youre there, and so the things you see on that journey are not forced upon you or spoon-fed to you.

Obviously, part of the huge draw of the Star Wars franchise has been how its been able to take the trappings of a space opera and reframe them through a grounded lenswhere things are used, they feel lived-in and real, where the crazy aliens and planets and technology feels organic and natural to the setting. But lets hear Snyder describe one of the Imperiums ships...

One such starship that looms large in Rebel Moon is The Kings Gaze. That ship is a world destroyer. Theres, like, 8,000 soldiers on that ship. Theyve got, like, 200 dropships and 100 tanks, and it has this huge boom-boom howitzer, Snyder says. It could raze the surface of a planet. If they just fired on a planet for three days straight, thered be nothing left. They do that a lot.

Hmm. A world destroyer, you say. Well, at least the Imperium probably isnt made up of Space Nazis

Photo: Clay Enos/Netflix

oh. Thats Deadpools Ed Skrein as the Imperiums Admiral Noble, a cruel villain without any redeeming features or vestiges of humanity. Well, at least there dont seem to be any lightsabe



Another member with an axe to grind actually wields two flaming swords. South Korean actor Doona Bae plays Nemesis, a swordmaster who is partly mechanical. These swords are powered by the gauntlets that she holds. The gauntlets are these ancient [artifacts] from her home world, and part of the rite of passage of being a warrior in her world is you have to cut your arm off, and then you put these kind of robot arms on. That allows you to wield these molten-metal blades, Snyder says.

Well, hell.

I kid, I kid! Look, its not like Star Wars movies have had a great track record recently, and even a pastiche of one could go down smooth right about now. Plus, Snyder has many more original ideas littering Rebel Moon, like the Imperiums terrifying Scribes:

Their purpose is, they write down information, Snyder says. But instead of text, they use living human beings as their paper and implant memories and images into them... You are put in stasis if youre a page, and your body just becomes like a hard drive. The Scribes have the ability to transfer what they see, [but theyre] manipulated by politics, and they write down only what theyre supposed to.

Fun! Besides, the biggest inspiration for Rebel Moon clearly isnt Star Wars, but Akira Kurosawas masterpiece Seven Samurai, where a band of ragtag samurai come together to defend a small farming village from an overwhelming force of bandits. Theyre been talk of a Seven Samurai-inspired Star Wars movie proper for more than a decade; now it sounds like were getting one, we just dont have to see Jedi run around and be bad people while we watch it.

For more on Rebel Moon, and its myriad characters, head over to Vanity Fair for more. As for the movie itself, it arrives on Netflix on December 22, presumably in a manner that is not hyperspace travel but not entirely unakin to it, either.





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable  Energoatom

Zaporizhzhya NPP

Read also: Danilov spells out consequences of Russias possible destruction of Kakhovka dam

As a result of the explosion, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir is rapidly decreasing, which is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, Energoatom explained. Water from the reservoir is necessary for the plant to receive power for turbine condensers and safety systems.

"Now the plant's cooling pond is full: as of 8.00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is enough for the needs of the plant," Energoatom said.

Read also: Video of bridge explosion near Kakhovka HPP posted online

The state enterprise is currently monitoring the situation and following the actions of the Russian military at the plant together with other international organizations present there, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN body promoting international cooperation in the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technologies.

In the early hours of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam, Ukrainian authorities say. Cities and towns down the Dnipro River are at risk of flooding, which is expected to peak in five hours, around noon, Kyiv time. The Kherson Oblast administration announced an urgent evacuation of residents from dangerous areas.

Read also: Russia blows up Kakhovka HPP in southern Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian authorities say

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened an emergency meeting of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Zelenskiy says Russia must be held to account over Kakhovka dam blast

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces on Tuesday of blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station after mining the facility, and said Moscow must be held to account for a "terrorist attack".

A Ukrainian military spokesperson said Russia's aim was to prevent Ukrainian troops crossing the Dnipro river to attack Russian occupying forces.

Russian-installed officials gave conflicting accounts, some blaming Ukrainian shelling, others saying the dam on the Dnipro had burst on its own.

"Tonight at 02:50, Russian terrorists carried out an internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP (hydroelectric power plant)," Zelenskiy said after an emergency meeting of senior officials.

He said "a set of international and security measures was agreed upon (at the meeting) to hold Russia accountable for this terrorist attack."

In a later video address to a summit of European countries in the Bucharest Nine group, Zelenskiy said Russia had controlled the dam and hydroelectric plant for over a year.

"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside - with shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers and blown up by them," he said.

Zelenskiy, whose country wants to join NATO, urged members of the military alliance meeting in Vilnius next month to show "there will be no weakness in Europe" and demonstrate to Russia that "terror is not a tool to influence NATO's decisions".

The Foreign Ministry called for an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting and new sanctions on Russia, in particular on its missile industry and nuclear sector.

Serhiy Naev, commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said the dam's destruction "should not prevent our advance in those directions where there may be spillage of water."

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a special representative of Pope Francis, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, in Kyiv on June 6.

Zelensky called on the Holy See to support Ukraine's peace formula, adding that Russia continues committing war crimes in Ukraine, the latest of which was the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Kherson Oblast.

"This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people's lives and the environment," said Zelensky.

Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's dam on the Dnipro River on the morning of June 6, sparking a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's Presidential Office, Zelensky told Cardinal Zuppi that an immediate ceasefire and freezing of Russia's war will not lead to sustainable peace, reiterating that Kyiv sees its peace formula as the only effective plan.

"The enemy will take advantage of the pause for capacity building and further offensive, for a new wave of crimes and terror. Russia must withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," he said.

Poll: Most Ukrainians dislike, ignore Pope Francis stance on war The poll, published on the same day President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with Pope Francis, showed that most Ukrainians either disagree with the Popes stance on the war, or find it irrelevant, or dont know about it. The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Only joint efforts, diplomatic isolation, and pressure on Russia can influence Moscow and bring a just peace, according to Zelensky.

Ukraine's president believes the Holy See could help with the release of Ukrainian prisoners, the return of Russia-deported children, and the restoration of justice.

The Holy See Press Office reported on May 20 that Pope Francis had entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, to lead a peace mission in Ukraine. The Vatican aims to leverage Cardinal Zuppi's diplomatic skills and vast network to contribute to de-escalating tensions and paving the way for a lasting resolution in Ukraine.

On May 13, Zelensky met with Pope Francis in the Vatican for the first time since 2020, asking the Pope to condemn Russia's war crimes.

Pope Francis has previously said that the Vatican is ready to mediate for Ukraine and Russia but has shown signals that he doesn't see the invasion as a one-sided war of aggression. He said in March he believes the war is driven by multiple "empires" besides just Russia and stated his readiness to talk to Putin.

Yet Pope Francis also said he's working on a secret mission to halt the war and return the children that Russia abducted from Ukraine.
Zelenskyy about the Bakhmut front: Thank you for moving forward

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanking the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and the 57th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade, hinted that Ukrainian defenders have moved forward on the Bakhmut front.

Source: Zelensky in a video address

Quote: "Separately, as yesterday, I want to celebrate today our heroes on the Bakhmut front... Well done, soldiers! The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade  thank you! Thank you for moving forward!".

Background:

On 5 June, the Ministry of Defence reported that the Ukrainian army was successfully advancing across a wide stretch of the Bakhmut front.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Zelenskyy on defence of Bakhmut: All latest equipment was sent there

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the defence of Bakhmut and said that all the latest equipment that Ukraine received was sent to the Bakhmut front.

Source: Zelenskyy, responding to the question of Ukrainska Pravda on the improper preparation of fortifications in and around Bakhmut, which the military complained about during the work of UP journalists in the east.

Quote: "21,000 Wagner mercenaries were killed in Bakhmut, 60,000 were wounded, that is, their losses amount to 81,000 Wagnerites" Is that serious defence? Are there powerful soldiers, powerful commanders? Moreover, we understand how many losses we had. Unfortunately, we had losses. But it is impossible to even compare.

I don't want to talk about the details, but the soldiers on this front received all the best, all the latest [equipment - ed.]. The best systems, the best artillery, all the best.

I think this was the most powerful defence that could have been planned out. Everyone understood that Bakhmut would stand... Do you understand that we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people? Not about thousands, not about tens of thousands, but about hundreds of thousands. This front just contains a large, large number of soldiers. If there was no one there, would this be possible?"

Details: The President noted that what he sees as a defensive line is not a wall or concrete, but people and weapons. According to him, Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Excalibur high-precision shells, French self-propelled CAESAR howitzers, 155-calibre artillery, and Himars multiple-launch missile systems were sent to the Bakhmut front.

Quote: "There are destroyed buildings... How do you want to strengthen a five-storey building when it is being bombed by 122, 152 [calibre - ed.]? 50,000 shells a day What are citys fortifications against this? What can be done with a building which is being constantly hit by artillery?

We need to get people out of this building. Not to strengthen it, but to withdraw from it. To save people.

Entrances to the city are strengthened - yes, but it is another thing. Bakhmut was not prepared for a full-scale war, Bakhmut is one town, but such [formidable - ed.] forces clashed there... And it is clear that Bakhmut would assume the function of a magnet - this is the whole story. "

Additionally: Responding to the question of Ukrainska Pravda on who led the preparation of the city for street battles, the president replied: You know who commands "Khortytsia" [operational-strategic grouping of troops - ed.], - General Syrskyi."

Background: In early May, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda a soldier from the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the call sign Foka said that proper fortifications were not prepared for warfare in Bakhmut, which received the media status of a "fortified city," and beyond Bakhmut towards Chasovyi Yar.

"I would believe that Bakhmut is a fortress if this fortress was built," Foka said.

UP repeatedly heard similar statements from the military, fighting on the Bakhmut front.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that while the Russians had damaged an ammonia pipeline in the "grey zone" in the course of hostilities, they blew up the hydroelectric power station in Kakhovka deliberately.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference on 6 June

Quote: "Everyone is thinking about what to do with the ammonia so that the whole world is not affected  and it was just that something was fired from Russia and that's all. It is very important that the point of entry is located on the territory where they [the Russians] are located, this is a grey zone between us and them," Zelenskyy said.

Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that there is a big difference between blowing up a hydroelectric power station and damaging an ammonia pipeline, as happened in the Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast, on 5 June.

The President noted that he has been reaching out to the leaders of other countries regarding the Kakhovka disaster, not so much for help as for documentation purposes.

Quote: "Its one story when you have no evidence of sabotage and when it is clear that there is a war going on there, and there is a grey zone, and in the grey zone one weapon or another could have been used  most likely, artillery. It's one story when its the consequences of war. Yes, the Russian Federation is to blame, but those are the consequences of war.

But here [in Kakhovka  ed.], we understand that this is terrorism. They mined it in advance and did it with their own hands [blew up the hydroelectric power plant - ed.]. We see this as a completely different categorisation."

Details: The ammonia pipeline came under Russian artillery fire.

During the press conference, Zelenskyy said that the authorities had prepared transport to evacuate the residents from three liberated villages in Kharkiv Oblast who had not wanted to leave prior to the ammonia pipeline being blown up, so the Ukrainians are safe.

The president added that there was damage to part of the ammonia pipeline "which everyone is talking about so much, but you see how the issues are being resolved".

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to restore the operation of the ammonia pipeline if necessary.

Zelenskyy also said that with regard to the explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Ukraine has contacted the EU, NATO and OSCE, will convene the UN Security Council, will appeal to the International Criminal Court, and will make efforts to prove ecocide by the Russians.

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PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Tuesday launched the second phase of cross-border QR code payments, which will allow Thai nationals to shop in Cambodia using the Thai currency baht.

Chea Chanto, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, visiting governor of the Bank of Thailand, presided over the launching event in Phnom Penh, said a NBC's press statement.

The launch of cross-border QR code payments "aims to promote the usage of local currencies and financial inclusion, facilitate cross border trade activities, and boost tourism in both countries", the statement said.

"As the first phase of this project, launched in 2020, allowed Cambodians to be able to pay for goods or services through mobile banking application by scanning QR code at retail merchants in Thailand and vice versa on the second phase starting from June 6, 2023 onward," it added.

The two neighboring countries' central banks have worked together since 2018 to develop a QR code payment app in order to allow people to shop in each other's countries using the currency of their own country.

With the app, Cambodians will be able to use riel to purchase goods in Thailand, while Thais travelling in Cambodia will be able to pay in baht. The users of the QR code payment system will be required to have a bank account in their local currency.

Cambodia's official figures show that there are currently more than 1 million Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, and that more than 424,000 Thais visited Cambodia in the first three months of 2023. 
Zelenskyy meets with Pope Francis special envoy in Kyiv

The Ukrainian president and the special envoy discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Holy See in the framework of the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia continues to commit horrific war crimes against Ukraine, the latest of which is the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.

Read also: Pope sends cardinal to Kyiv to discuss 'just peace' with Ukrainian leadership, Vatican says

This crime poses enormous threats and will have terrible consequences for peoples lives and the environment, Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader also emphasized that the ceasefire and freezing of the conflict would not lead to peace.

The enemy will take advantage of the pause to build up its capabilities and further attack, to conduct a new wave of crimes and terror, he said.

Russia must withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Read also: Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction  video

Zelenskyy and Cardinal Zuppi also discussed in detail the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the need to involve the widest possible range of countries, including the Global South, in the Global Peace Summit.

For his part, the Cardinal expressed Pope Francis solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assured them of the Holy Sees readiness to join in finding ways to implement these humanitarian initiatives.

Matteo Zuppi handed over a letter from Pope Francis to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the press service said.

Read also: Kakhovka hydropower plant blown up by Russians from within, but not all of the dam destroyed

On May 13, Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and requested that the pontiff condemn Russian crimes in Ukraine. The president also outlined Ukraines peace proposal to the pope and stressed that it represents the only viable framework for achieving a just peace.

After his visit to Hungary on April 30, Pope Francis announced that the Vatican is taking part in a secret peace mission to try and end Russias war against Ukraine.

An official close to the Ukrainian Presidents Office told CNN that Ukraine knows nothing about this mission.

Earlier, the Catholic portal Il Sismografo, which covers the activities of the Vatican, reported that Pope Francis wants to send envoys to Kyiv and Moscow to discuss the possibility of starting ceasefire negotiations with Russia.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Some 3,300 Centra patients were mailed a letter late last week that was sent in error, according to a Centra Health news release.

The letter told patients that as of July 1, the health care company no longer would accept Virginia Premier, which covers Medicaid and Medicare patients, according to the release. That information is not correct.

Centra did not stop accepting Virginia Premier and continues to accept the insurance of Medicaid and Medicare patients who are covered through Virginia Premier, the release states.

Centra officials have been in contact with Virginia Premier and determined an administrative error is to blame for the letter, according to the release.

For information regarding coverage through Virginia Premier, call 1-800-727-7536. Financial information can be found on Centras website at: www.centrahealth.com/financial-policy/medicare-insurance.

Staff report
By Nsikak Nseyen

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, awarded a N20 million fine against Chuks Nwachukwu, a lawyer representing five FCT residents in a suit seeking an order to stop the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, struck out the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to institute the matter.

I make an order striking out this action on grounds of lack of locus standi of the plaintiffs, lack of jurisdiction of the court and failure of the plaintiffs to demonstrate to this court that similar subject is not pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which proceedings are on-going, he declared.

Justice Ekwo consequently ordered the lawyer to pay the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), listed as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case, the sum of N10 million each.

He directed that until Nwachukwu paid off the N20 million fine, no further action should be taken on the matter.

The judge, who condemned Nwachukwus comments in the media, said with his interview, if the lawyer was in the courtroom, he would have been barred from practising until he appears before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practise the profession.

But since he is not in court, I made an order, directing the registrar to forward all the processes to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practise the profession, he declared.

He also directed that the order of the court be served on the chief registrar of the Supreme Court, the AGF and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five FCT residents: Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Uche, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had filed the suit through their lawyer, for an order of the court to stop the inauguration of Tinubu and his vice, Sen. Kassim Shettima, slated for May 29.

The plaintiffs had sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 and filed on April 28, the plaintiffs averred that Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in the FCT.

They, therefore, sought an order of court restraining the CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the Feb. 25 presidential election as president or vice president, among other prayers.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo said upon reading the affidavit attached to the application, I can discern that the averments thereof are merely the voice of Esau and the hands of Jacob.

It means that the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel for the plaintiffs instigated this suit and merely got the plaintiffs to stand in as parties while he handles the suit as a lawyer.

This is an unprofessional conduct on the part of the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel of the plaintiffs.

It is unfortunate that lawyers like Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel to the plaintiffs continue to engage in this sort of activity by procuring innocent citizens to act as fronts in litigations which are actually their personal cases.

This is done with such impunity and lack of fear of the consequence to the chagrin and ruin of the reputation of the legal system in this country.

It is so because the learned counsel has made himself to believe that he can flout the Rule of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners without any consequence.

On the whole I find that this action is premised on recklessness, frivolity and complete lack of knowledge of elementary principle of law as it relates to the Constitution and Electoral Act, 2022, he said.

According to the judge, in my opinion, this action was willfully initiated to not just circumvent but to overreach the on-going proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The aim thereof which cannot be denied, is to plunge this country into unprecedented constitutional anarchy capable of causing bloodshed and genocide.

The plaintiffs and their lawyer ought to be deprecated in the strongest term for this type of adventure and I so do, Justice Ekwo declared.

NAN reports that Nwachukwu had granted an interview in the media, accusing the judge of shying away from delivering the judgment in his suit.

The lawyer, who accused the judge of deliberately abandoning his duty, threatened to sue him up to the Supreme Court.

But Justice Ekwo, before delivering the judgment, said he could not hear the matter on May 26 because he was on official duty.

NAN had earlier reported that the judge had been away for some days due to official engagement.

The development had forced the court to adjourn cases, including high profile and election-related matters, before it.

This was also contrary to the rumour going the round that Justice Ekwos absence to hear the suit on May 26 was a ploy to comply with alleged standing order handed down by the FHC Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, to all judges of the courts divisions across the country, directing them not to entertain cases bothering on presidential election or swearing-in of Tinubu and Shettima.

NAN reported that a sister court presided over by Justice James Omotosho had, on same May 26, delivered a judgment in another suit filed by three applicants seeking to stop the swearing-in of Tinubu on May 29 as fifth Nigerias democratic president.

The judge had awarded a total sum of N17 million against the three applicants: Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac and Dr Anongu Moses, including their lawyer, Daniel Elombah, for filing a suit considered to be frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court processes.

DAILY POST
Ibrahim Gambari, President Bola Tinubu and Femi Gbajabiamila pose for pictures during the handover session at the villa in Abuja on 5th June 2023

The session which showcased the handover document took place on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu.

The Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, has handed over to the outgoing speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who takes up the mantle.

Gambari held the position from 2020 to 2023 after the death of his predecessor Abba Kyari in April 2020.

The session which showcased the handover document took place on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu last week announced the appointment of Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff, while Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff.
Team Offutt members gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Installation Control Center and Air Combat Commands sole nuclear command and control watch floor May 23 at Offutt Air Force Base.

The plan to rebuild the facility began in 2014. However, it was accelerated after the 2019 flood which destroyed more than 1.2 million square feet of office space across the southeastern part of base.

After being displaced, the ICC began to work in the basement of the Language Learning Center and later moved into a makeshift room that was less than 300 square feet inside the wing headquarters building.

We were missing quite a bit of our systems; we had to get them set up and running, said Senior Airman Chadwick Shinabargar, 55th Wing command post. The alternate building we have, it is literally a dungeon, and it really has been a long process of recovering a lot of the capabilities we use to have.

The development of the new state-of-the-art facility began in 2021. The facility spans 8,119 square feet. It cost approximately $20 million in construction and specialized equipment. Senior Master Sgt. Michaela Simms, 55th Wing command post superintendent, is happy to see the project completed and the new amenities available to her Airmen.

As a command post superintendent, morale and welfare are some of my primary concerns, Simms said. Knowing that starting in June, controllers will have a premier facility fitness center, restroom/shower, advanced technology, and of course windows, brings me much joy and peace. Our team is ecstatic about the new facility.

The 55th Civil Engineer Squadron and 55th Cyber Squadron will help with the final touches needed to wrap up the project.
There arent always satisfying answers to mysteries.

After reading the Nonpareils story about Native American remains found at the Lewis Central School (now Titan Hill Intermediate) archaeological site, the bioarchaeology director in the Office of the State Archeologist, reached out with an update to the story.

Lara K. Noldner provided the Nonpareil with an article describing how, in the seven months following the discovery of the Lewis Central School site, meetings were held between State Archeologist John Hotopp, the States historic preservation officer and the assistant attorney general.

The meetings resulted in a list of proposed changes to Iowa Code, which were then sent to the Legislative Service Bureau for drafting.

One of the changes to the Iowa Code is outlined in Chapter 263B, Section 8: The state archaeologist shall establish, with the approval of the executive council, a cemetery on existing state lands for the reburial of ancient human remains found in the state. The cemetery shall not be open to the public. The state archaeologist in cooperation with the department of natural resources shall be responsible for coordinating interment in the cemetery.

Despite initial reports indicating that archaic remains would be reburied in Lewis Township cemetery, this change to Iowa Code resulted in the creation of state-run unmarked burial grounds used to rebury Indigenous remains following excavation and study.

According to a 1978 article by Duane C. Anderson, Michael Finnegan, John Hotopp and Alton K. Fisher titled The Lewis Central School Site (13PW5): A resolution of ideological conflicts at an archaic ossuary in western Iowa, excavation and investigation of ancient cemeteries is only permitted when the site is threatened with destruction.

The article also states that Native American tribes will not tolerate research projects that involve digging into burial grounds that are in a good state of preservation.

Noldner told the Nonpareil that all 26 individual remains from the Lewis Central site were reburied in western Iowa in May 1977. Asked by the paper, she declined to provide any documentation to support that assertion.

The burial of the archaic remains discovered at the Lewis Central School site is protected from the public domain out of respect for Native American tribes and to ensure the remains are never bulldozed, disinterred or looted again.
Plans to discontinue the Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey and a new barrier for surveying Iowa students pose a threat to data collected on youth behaviors, advocates say, specifically young transgender Iowans.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has no plans to administer the Youth Risk Behavior Survey this academic year, the first time since the survey started in 1991.

In a letter sent to Youth Risk Behavior Survey advisory committee members, Robert Kruse, the state medical director for the Iowa Department of HHS, announced Iowa will not participate in the 2023 Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) youth risk behavior survey.

The Iowa Department of HHS will not be participating in the CDCs Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2023 in order to focus our efforts on maximizing the state administered Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) and improving survey participation, Kruses Jan. 27 letter to YRBS advisory committee members said.

The nationwide survey overseen by the CDC is administered every two years and asks students about their behaviors and relationships with authority figures, drugs, alcohol, sexual activity and gambling, to name a few.

Although students in Iowa will still be offered the IYS, they can not take it unless a parent has seen the survey in advance and given permission for their student to take it.

Parental permission

Senate File 496, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 26, requires that students must receive permission from their parents before taking a survey at school. The law prevents students from taking surveys designed to assess the students mental, emotional or physical health that is not required by state or federal law without first acquiring the written consent of the students parent or guardian.

Parents must receive at least seven days notice of the survey, as well as a copy of the survey.

The law alsobans school library books containing written or visual sex acts, prohibits schools from teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation before sixth grade, prohibits a student from using a name or pronoun than they were given at birth and prevents teachers from knowingly providing false or misleading information on a childs gender identity to their parents.

Jenn Turner, chapter chair for the Polk County Moms For Liberty, sees student surveys as a way for young people to get ideas about things they may not have thought about before.

We have found that many parents are not aware of what questions are being asked, Turner said. It ranges from what vegetables you eat to how many sexual partners to if you have considered suicide for children as young as 11. Some parents may determine that these questions are too mature, or cover topics their children are not ready for or do not understand.

Turner and Moms For Liberty support the recent law change, saying that it gives control to parents and allows for more transparency about what is going on in school.

Parents are the number one advocates for their children, Turner said. They should ultimately be making these decisions for their children. This law provides another tool to help parents understand what is presented to their children in school.

Advocates of the IYS say this law will limit participation and usable data. The extra step of taking home a permission slip and having it signed and returned to a classroom will keep some students from taking the survey, in addition to parents who do not permit their children to take the survey.

Anne Discher, executive director of Common Good Iowa and member of the Iowa YRBS advisory committee, acknowledges permission from parents during school registration as reasonable but believes useful data could be harder to collect with permission required for individual surveys throughout the year.

Parental permission could skew results in another way, according to Discher.

Certainly one might assume that the types of parents who would opt out might have things in common, Discher said. It could skew the survey and I think generally speaking the concern would be that participation would be so low you might not get useful data anyway.

In a Feb. 23 committee meeting for Senate File 496, State Sen. Herman Quirmbach raised a potential unintended consequence he sees with parental permission.

The unintended consequence of that may be to protect child molesters, Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. If a survey to a student asking about that students mental state or their social state, if the parent can deny their student the ability to participate in that survey, then an abusive parent can use that denial to help shield them from any consequence of their child abuse.

The surveys are anonymous, but survey data could skew if Quirmbachs speculation is correct, ultimately affecting future legislation and policy decisions.

Data disaggregation

Surveys like the risk behavior survey and the IYS are used by health departments, educators, lawmakers, doctors and community organizations to make policy decisions, direct campaigns and give direction to research.

The most recent risk behavior survey asked students about their gender identity; the IYS did not.

According to Discher, one of the goals of the Department of HHS in the past was to increase participation in student surveys to allow for the disaggregation of data.

It was a strong goal to be able to disaggregate it by race and ethnicity, for example, or by LGBTQ+ status, Discher said. The conversations we had always had were how can we get more schools to participate so we can have better data for subgroups.

Eventually, there was a sense of pushback contrary to the former beliefs and goals of the department, Discher says.

I find that this pushback which came from somewhere in the department or maybe not in the department, Discher said. I dont know where the push for all of this came from, but it is very much counter to all of the work that we had seen the department do up to this point, which was try to get more data, better data, to disaggregate the data so they could really understand what was happening with youth in Iowa.

According to Kruses letter to the committee, the Iowa Youth Survey will be revised, but the revisions are not currently public, if finished. It is unclear if the IYS will enable disaggregation of data for students who identify as transgender.

In advance of IYS in the fall of 2023, HHS will conduct a comprehensive review of survey administration, Kruse said. Most importantly, we are reviewing the analysis-to-action strategy and how HHS can tailor the data collection to inform how we meet the needs of Iowa youth, families, schools and communities.

Without the Iowa youth risk behavior survey, and if the IYS is not revised to include a question about gender identity, disaggregating data for trans youth will not be possible.

I find it sad that thats a piece of data that we are going to lose, Discher said. I find it kind of cynical that the state Legislature took all of these moves to make life worse, in particular for trans kids. To deny them gender-affirming care, to make them feel less like theyre an important member of their community and now we arent going to collect data on mental health for that group.

Although the letter sent to YRBS committee members stated Iowa would not participate in the risk behavior survey to focus efforts on maximizing the IYS participation, the survey switch-up feels more intentional than maximizing efforts, according to Discher.

It is very hard for me to look at it and not understand it as part of a larger anti-trans push in our state, Discher said. In the Legislature, we passed a lot of very punitive, harmful bills and now were going to stop collecting data on the well-being of the kids that theyre harming. Did anyone sit and think of it in that exact way? I dont know, but its very hard to not interpret it that way.

The 2021, IYS did include a question asking students their sexual orientation, with answer options of straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, another identity or not sure.

Explaining the examinations

The survey was first administered in 1991, with 26 states participating. Survey participation peaked at 47 four times; 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Iowa will be one of seven states not participating in the survey in 2023, joining Colorado, Idaho, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

The reasoning for participation varies from state to state and many states have their own survey as a replacement or in addition to the CDCs survey.

According to CDC.gov, the youth risk behavior data helps health departments, educators, lawmakers, doctors and community organizations to inform school and community programs, communications campaigns and other efforts. The survey measures health-related behaviors and experiences that may lead to death and disability among youth and adults.

Although the IYS asks similar questions as the risk behavior survey, IYS is only taken statewide, so results cannot be easily compared among other states. Data from the IYS, though, can be broken up into smaller regions of Iowa, compared to the risk behavior survey, which gives data for youth in the state as a whole.

The national survey only reports state-level data which makes it impossible to identify areas of the state with the greatest needs, Alex Carfrae, public information officer for the Iowa Department of HHS said in an email response to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

IYS data is reported and analyzed at multiple jurisdiction levels, allowing more specific, targeted decisions to be made for specific areas such as counties, judicial districts and Area Education Agencies.

The two surveys have a history in Iowa, with the youth risk behavior survey taken every other year since 1991 and the Iowa youth survey taken every other year since 1999.

The IYS is answered by students in grades 6, 8 and 11, where the youth risk behavior survey has only been offered to students in grades 9-12. The CDC does offer a middle school version of the youth risk behavior survey, but Iowa has never participated.

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SOFIA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's legislators on Tuesday elected a new government led by Nikolai Denkov, who was nominated by the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, more than two months after the country's early parliamentary elections.

Denkov, 60, is a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and a world-renowned scientist in the field of chemistry. He was caretaker minister of education and science from January to May 2017, and held the same post in Kiril Petkov's government from May to December 2021.

"Today we break the long streak of fruitless elections ... to give hope to the millions of Bulgarians who want Bulgaria to have a regular government and Parliament working for the benefit of people and businesses," Denkov told the legislators.

"This is a government for the European development of Bulgaria. That's its goal," he said.

The cabinet was backed by 131 deputies in the 240-seat National Assembly, with 61 of them belonging to PP-DB and 68 to the largest parliamentary group, the GERB-UDF coalition. Two deputies of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms also supported the government.

GERB-UDF's support was not gratuitous. According to an agreement reached by the two coalitions, GERB-UDF's representative, Mariya Gabriel, recent European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth, became the only deputy prime minister in the cabinet as well as foreign minister. She will take over from Denkov as prime minister after nine months.

This was Bulgaria's fifth parliamentary election in two years. Three of the previous four Parliaments had to be dissolved. A coalition cabinet led by Petkov, without the participation of the GERB-UDF, was formed after the elections held on Nov. 14, 2021, but it was ousted by a no-confidence vote in June 2022.

Kolyo Kolev, director of the Mediana polling agency and a leading political analyst, told Xinhua just after the elections that at first glance it seemed impossible for the GERB-UDF and the PP-DB to form a coalition because they had held their campaigns on the total negation of each other.

However, "this is the fifth election in two years," and a large part of the electorate was already fed up with such confrontation, so a coalition leading to a new government is also possible, Kolev said. 
Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will start today Tuesday an official visit to Tunisia, the office of Tunisias leader Kais Saied announced Monday.

Italys Prime Minister to pay a friendly working visit to Tunisia, Tuesday, June 6, it said in a statement.

The office did not provide details on the visit but it follows a telephone conversation both leaders had last Friday on several topics including illegal immigration. Rome is very concerned about waves of illegal migrants including Tunisians departing from the coasts of the North African country for Europes shores, mainly Italy.

The European country inked in April a deal with Tunisia to recruit 4,000 Tunisian workers, as the two countries move to spur regular migration. The future recruits will be trained in Tunisia before deployment in the European country. The recruitment program dubbed Decreto flussi is an Italian government law that sets how many non-European citizens can enter Italy for work.

The program will help promote regular migration at the expense of illegal migration. Two Italian diplomatic sources on condition of anonymity told Zawya that Meloni is also travelling to make progress in unblocking loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Tunisia.

The North African country is facing an economic and financial crisis  result of the pandemic  has turned to IMF for a $1.9 billion loan, but talks have stalled over Tunisian authorities refusal of conditions that they believe are crossing redlines.

Italy believes that should the talks fail, it will furthermore take the brunt of the illegal migration.

A government source, Zawya reported, in Rome, said Italy wanted to start unblocking part of the international financing to Tunisia in exchange for progressive reforms, in an effort to swiftly improve the economic situation of the country.
The United Nations and African Union have called for calm in Senegal after at least 15 people were killed in an outbreak of violence following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.

The sentencing of opposition politician Sonko for two years in jail on charges of corrupting youth sparked some of the deadliest violence in the West African country in recent years. Authorities have deployed the army on the streets of the capital, Dakar, and other cities as the death toll rose to 15. Many protestors fear that Sonkos sentencing may bar him from running in the 2024 presidential elections. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence and urged all those involved to  exercise restraint, a spokesman said. The African Union (AU) Commission President, Moussa Faki Mahamat, strongly condemned the violence and urged leaders to avoid acts, which tarnish the face of Senegalese democracy, of which Africa has always been proud, the AU said in a statement. Also the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union and France, Senegals former colonial power, expressed concern over the violence.

Meanwhile, Senegals government limited access to mobile internet services in certain areas on Sunday (4 June), citing deadly rioting in which hateful and subversive messages have been posted online. Residents across the capital city were reportedly not unable to access the Internet without a wi-fi connection. Because of the spread of hateful and subversive messages  mobile Internet is temporarily suspended at certain hours of the day, the statement by the authorities said. Rights groups have slammed the move not only because it violates freedom of speech but can also dent the already fragile economy. Also authorities in other African countries, such as Gabon, Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, have cut Internet access at times of instability.
West African leaders have affirmed their commitment to accelerate investments and reforms to make fertilizers more accessible and affordable during the recent high-level roundtable jointly organized by the World Bank, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Togolese government.

During the event (31 May), held in Togos capital, Lome, industry leaders and development partners from the Economic Community of West Africa Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) reaffirmed their commitments to the development of an innovative and integrated approach for sustainable soil fertility management. The World Bank Group has announced an additional 1.5 billion dollars by 2024, on top of the 4 billion already committed and under implementation to 5.5 billion dollars. It includes continued support for reforms needed to improve soil health and strengthen the fertilizer sector in terms of subsidy management, quality control and traceability through policy development operations and green fertilizer production projects. The Netherlands also pledged 100 million euros to support the sector in West Africa over the next decade.

Through the adoption of a common roadmap, ECOWAS countries are committing to improve access to mineral and organic fertilizers for smallholder farmers, with a focus on crops that ensure food security and sovereignty for people and the implementation of the priority actions, said Omar Alieu Touray, ECOWAS Commission President. In a call to strengthen the resilience of agricultural and food systems, regional leaders also approved a declaration covering a series of concrete objectives and measures, including the tripling the consumption of fertilizers and doubling agricultural production by 2035 by adopting an integrated approach to land management and soil health restoration; improving access to mineral and organic fertilizers for small-scale farmers; and adopting policy measures to facilitate access and use of fertilizers by eliminating customs duties and taxes.
An Israeli elite unit is taking part for the first time in the African Lion military games on Moroccan soil, Israeli defense forces spokesman Avichai Adraee said.

Israel will send a delegation of 12 soldiers and a commander of the Israel Defense Forces to the African Lion, which brings together 8000 soldiers from 18 countries.

The annual military exercise, the largest of its kind in Africa, is intended to train soldiers on various battlefield scenarios, including infantry warfare and underground warfare  in which the Israeli unit specializes  and will conclude with a common exercise for all armies.

This years exercise features multiple combined arms live fire exercises; maritime and air exercises; field training exercise; two chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear response exercises; and three humanitarian civic assistance program events.

Morocco and Israel have signed a defense cooperation pact following the resumption of diplomatic ties in 2020. Since then senior defense officials from the two countries exchanged visits and signed cooperation, training and supply deals.
A Colorado man was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison Monday in Lincoln County District Court for charges stemming from a high speed chase in late December.

Ronald Gonzales, 31, of Loveland, Colorado, pleaded no contest in March to two counts of felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possessing or receiving a stolen firearm.

He was sentenced on the first two counts to six to 10 years, and on the third count to two to four years. The sentences will be served at the same time.

District Judge Michael Piccolo credited Gonzales with 164 days served in the Lincoln County Detention Center. He will be eligible for parole after 4 1/2 years.

As part of the plea deal, charges of felony possession of a deadly weapon, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and two charges of possession of a controlled substance were dropped.

His fiancee, Hannah Stengel, 34, of Windsor, Colorado, pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine.

As part of a plea deal, several other charges were dismissed: two counts of felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of possession or receiving a stolen firearm and theft by receiving stolen property, $5,000 or more.

Piccolo sentenced her to 180 days in the Lincoln County Detention Center, credited with 163 days served. She has warrants in another state, so she will be transported there after completing her sentence here.

In court, Gonzales said Stengel initially claimed the firearms as hers and he wanted to make clear that claim was not true. He was concerned about the firearms charges against her before sentencing.

The prosecution said the states requested sentence for Stengel was so light because Gonzalez exonerated her with a signed affidavit claiming his ownership of the firearms.

For additional coverage of Mondays district court motion day round-up, check back with Wednesdays Telegraph.
The Lincoln County commissioners selected nine people to lead the new Nebraska International Port of the Plains outside Hershey, also affirming the name in a separate vote Monday.

Vince Dugan, Dwight Porter and Kirk Olson will serve three-year terms on the new board. Jim Hawks, J. Patrick Keenan and Kimberly Steger will serve two years terms, and Michael Steele, Leann Ellis and Kevin Tighe will serve a one-year term.

After the motion to accept the name was made and seconded, each commissioner, in turn, voiced aye, until Board Assistant Tammy White said, Woodruff, at which time Commissioner Chair Jerry Woodruff called out, Damn right.

That ended several weeks during which people submitted applications to serve on the board, and suggested names for the port through the countys website.

Its a truly historic and monumental task in front of us, said Commissioner Chris Bruns, before commissioners made the selections. He and Commissioner Kent Weems serve on a subcommittee tasked with developing the application protocol and accepting applications.

Bruns said all the candidates understand the vision and potential impact on the entire region of the port as it develops and all are very civic minded. As to the idea of selecting only nine to serve on the board, Ive wrestled with this over the last couple of weeks, he said.

This is a difficult choice, Woodruff agreed.

There were nearly two dozen applicants, Bruns said. A couple had to drop out after consulting Nebraska Accountability Commission guidelines and determining there were potential conflicts of interest.

The pool of candidates had outstanding credentials, said Gary Person, president and CEO of North Platte Area Chamber and Development. Person, who had a role in advocating for the formation of the port, was also at Mondays meeting.

It was the commissioners who made the final selection. Each had had an opportunity to review carefully the candidates qualifications. They each went through the short list of candidates, ranking their selections on paper before showing agreement by voice vote.

They followed a similar ranking process before settling on a name for the port. In discussion prior to the ranking, commissioners said they wanted the name to clearly identify to people worldwide the ports location and that it is an international port.

Normally board members will serve for three-year terms, and there is no limit on the number of terms to which each may be appointed. However, three of the initial appointments are for one year, three for two years and three for three years. Each year hereafter, three members will be up for re-appointment or replacement.

All other applicants were going to be encouraged to remain in a pool for consideration in case a vacancy would need to be filled, Bruns said. County commissioners will retain appointment authority.

Its just the beginning, Bruns said.

The benefits will extend into other states and regions, added Commissioner Micaela Wuehler.

Hewgley expressed appreciation to a lot of individuals in the Legislature (who) made this possible, by establishing protocols and allocating funding.

There was broad consensus in the Legislature, and a lack of the rural/urban divide, that so often expresses itself in legislative proceedings, Bruns said.

He said he felt the selection of candidates to serve on the board will answer collective needs for expertise related to rail, trucking and air logistics; legal, auditing and accounting skills; construction and infrastructure experience; knowledge of agricultural industry that would be involved; and planning, zoning and industrial development expertise.

They will need to establish bylaws, and may establish a non-voting advisory board.

In other business, the commissioners:

Approved claims and treasurers receipts.

Approved cancellation of the June 12 budget hearing on matters related to the current years budget, as it was determined that the hearing was not needed.

Approved certificates of correction and refund as submitted by County Assessor Julie Stenger. The adjustments were due to action originating in 2014-15 Tax Equalization and Review cases  disputes regarding several rental properties. The cases were settled and the eight resulting confessions of judgement allowed the adjustments to be made.

Approved 18 Homestead Exemption adjustments. Homestead exemptions reduce or eliminate property taxes for residents over 65 years old who meet income parameters.

Approved two valuation changes on real property, due to clerical corrections or adjustments based on property tax protests. Stenger said state law requires residential and commercial property to be assessed at 100% value and agricultural land to be assessed on 70% of its actual value.

Approved one-year renewals of the WebGIS subscription and technical support for the assessors office.

Tabled setting a date to accept bids for a multi-use building for Region 51 Emergency Management and other county offices. Commissioner Joe Hewgley had developed preliminary drawings for a 60 by 40 foot building that would sit near the noxious weed office on the countys property at 1621 W. 10th St.

The building would include space for the sheriffs office to store evidence, including vehicles, and for various county offices to store materials.

Commissioners felt they needed to gather more information before soliciting proposals from contractors. The money for the building will come from the current years budget.

Voted to decline a contract amendment from Summit Foods for meals at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Sheriff Jerome Kramer, speaking to the commissioners, said they serve approximately 450 meals per day, and Summits proposal would place the cost of each of those meals about 26 cents higher than other Summit clients.

He also said Summit has never held up their end of the contract, since the county began using their services in 2019.

Deputy County Attorney Tyler Volkmer recommended refusing the amendment and advising Summit Foods that any increases need to be based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.

The vote not to approve the contract authorized the sheriff and county attorneys office to negotiate with Summit Foods based on the wording of the contract.
Mid-Plains Community College has become the first community college in Nebraska to have its early entry program accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.

It is the second college in the state to achieve the status, which makes it easier for high school students to transfer credits in college-level courses to postsecondary institutions. MPCCs accreditation is good through the 2027-28 academic year.

MPCC has strived for years to provide quality dual credit opportunities to our high schools and their students, said Jody Tomanek, vice president of academic affairs and North Platte Community College. This accreditation recognizes the work that our faculty and staff have put in to ensure that high school students receive college credit with exceptional quality and that the courses we provide are rigorous and meet national standards.

As the nations only accrediting body for concurrent enrollment programs, NACEPs standards serve as the model for ensuring parity in faculty, course content, student outcomes and support.

Receiving accreditation means an institution has met the nations most rigorous standard in concurrent enrollment program development, management and evaluation across multiple, multifaceted program areas.

NACEP accreditation ensures that students have a seamless transition to college by allowing them to experience college courses at their high schools, said Kayla Thurman, director of early entry and program development at MPCC. A national accreditation will also assist in improving transferability to colleges and universities. MPCC is excited to offer dozens of dual credit opportunities to area students.

Altogether, there are 133 NACEP-accredited programs in 26 states. Mid-Plains was one of seven dual and concurrent enrollment programs to earn the recognition this year.

Congratulations to all the institutions receiving NACEP accreditation, said Mike Altomari, associate chair of the NACEP Accreditation Commission. Your commitment to meeting these standards shows the value your institution has for providing high school students with rigorous coursework that will help ease their transition from high school to postsecondary.

NACEP will recognize the newly accredited programs and their accomplishments at its 2023 national conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 22-24.

More information about MPCC and its early entry program is available at mpcc.edu/admissions/early-entry-high-school-students.php.
Photo: JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Ask the owners and employees of the citys many unlicensed cannabis dispensaries what they think of Sheriff Anthony Miranda, and theyll paint you a picture of a general fighting the last battle in the war on drugs. According to the men behind the glass display cases (theyre almost all men), selling weed without a license is a bit like serving beer in the final days of Prohibition and enforcement of laws against doing so is immoral and pointless  a genuine waste of taxpayer money. The sheriff disagrees.

Nah, Miranda said with a chuckle recently, sitting in a conference room in his agencys Long Island City headquarters. Theyve conscientiously made a decision not to follow the law, and we are enforcers of the law.

Miranda has overseen this small, obscure law-enforcement agency since Mayor Eric Adams appointed him sheriff in May 2022. An arm of the Department of Finance, the sheriffs office normally handles civil matters  property seizures, civil-court judgments, evictions  leaving the NYPD to deal with criminal investigations. The agency gained a measure of notoriety in 2020, before Miranda was appointed, when sheriffs deputies were the citys wet blankets tasked with shutting down boat cruises, sex clubs, and warehouse parties for not following COVID-19 protocols. (Coincidentally, hours before our scheduled interview, The City reported that Miranda once pedaled a bogus device that claimed to ward off COVID  an allegation Miranda declined to address during our conversation.)

In December, just as New York was about to issue the first batch of retail cannabis licenses to people who had been affected by the war on drugs, Adams announced an interagency task force to crack down on the estimated 1,500 unlicensed dispensaries. By then, the neon-lit smoke shops with punny names selling pre-rolls alongside bongs, Cheetos, and WAP gel had popped up like bamboo across the city. Adams put the sheriffs office in charge of the effort. One of the agencys primary responsibilities is watching over tobacco shops, checking licenses, and sniffing out counterfeit and untaxed cigarettes, and because so many cigarette vendors started selling weed after the state legalized cannabis in 2021, the sheriffs office was a natural fit for the pedantic work of enforcing the new rules and regulations.

We are uniquely qualified and in a position to do both things  we have the power of civil enforcement as well as the power of criminal enforcement, Miranda said. Some agencies dont have the capacity to seize the product. Other agencies issue fines but the product stays on the shelf. Other people take the product and dont issue summonses. Were able to do all of the things necessary to have the proper enforcement.

So far this year, with the help of its partners in the NYPD, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and Office of Cannabis Management, the sheriffs office has conducted 207 inspections, made 98 arrests, issued 7,959 violations, and seized some $10 million of unregulated cannabis products. Its an impressive haul for an agency with only 150 employees  far smaller than a single NYPD precinct.

But weed-bodega owners have shrugged their shoulders and adapted. Stores that have been raided multiple times continue to operate. Others ignore costly liens. Some store owners now keep only CBD products on display. One Brooklyn shop employee said his cannabis products were taped off in a back room with a not for sale sign, hoping this would limit his legal exposure. He would only sell the weed to buyers he felt sure werent narcs. Theres risk in every business, an operator in Park Slope said. But this stuff is addictive, and people will keep buying it, so were going to keep selling.

When I asked Miranda about the sheer futility of the task at hand (150 or so officers cracking down on 1,500 shops), he demurred and emphasized the need to disrupt stores pushing products tainted by E. coli or lead or selling to minors  a problem that teachers say has reached a tipping point at schools. The initial response from people was Oh my God, youre going after the marijuana people all over again? Miranda said. Then people are having an oh shit moment when I tell them what theyre mixing it with. How people are ending up in the hospital, about this packaging for the kids. Theyre using every kids-product name right now. How is this positive for our community?

This may sound like drug-war rhetoric, but the stakes are far lower for smoke-shop owners who get caught. In Brooklyn, sting operations carried out by the task force rarely yield anything more than a court summons or fine. Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalezs office charged just one illegal-smoke-shop owner for possession of marijuana in recent months, and Queens district attorney Melinda Katz has charged 55 people since November. But Miranda recently got a new tool in his fight against the unregulated shops. Last week, the citys Office of Cannabis Management approved state-enforcement measures that will allow the task force, in some instances, to shut down unregulated smoke shops on the spot.

Tiny holes-in-the-wall are making $2,500 to $3,000 a day in profit. What would happen if we magically, tonight at midnight, closed every single smoke shop in the city? Where would that business go? said Paula Collins, an attorney who represents smoke shops across the city. Collins sees the enforcement push as representative less of safety or concern for licensed cannabis peddlers businesses and more about eyesores on the urban landscape. There are a lot of transactions that go on in brick-and-mortar stores that you would never know  bookstores, art galleries, coffee shops. The neon pot signs are what concern the public, she said.

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Photo: Mark Bonifacio/New York Daily News/TNS via Getty Images

When Mayor Eric Adams announced last year that he would revive the NYPDs anti-crime units, critics were concerned because of the units history of brutality. They had been disbanded in 2020 following weeks of protests after the murder of George Floyd, as they were frequently subject to complaints of racial profiling and aggressive tactics.

Adams insisted these new Neighborhood Safety Teams would be more skilled and better trained to avoid any possible infringement on the rights of New Yorkers. We are going to learn from the past so we dont repeat the past, and we will never use, under my administration, any abusive targeting tactics that go after people based on their ethnicity and where they live, he said in an interview at the time.

Now, a new report issued by the departments federal monitor suggests that critics fears have been validated. In her report, released on Monday, Mylan Denerstein writes that officers with the Neighborhood Safety Teams are stopping, frisking, and searching members of the public at an unsatisfactory level of compliance, adding that the departments oversight of these tactics is inadequate at all levels.

Denersteins team audited reports and recordings of stops made by the units for six months of 2022 and found Neighborhood Safety Team officers had reasonable suspicion for 76 percent of stops, meaning nearly a quarter of stops had been made unlawfully. The report also determined that illegal stops were made at a rate nine percentage points higher than the 2020 rate for the department as a whole. Of the people stopped by police in these encounters, more than 97 percent were Black or Hispanic.

Some of those incidents include officers stopping someone based on an officers observation of a bulge on a person without further description or simply because a person looked back at an officer or changed the direction in which they were going. Notably, in 230 car stops, only two searches found weapons, while another two uncovered unidentified contraband.

The rates were worse in some areas: In the 43rd Precinct, which covers the Longwood and Hunts Point neighborhoods in the Bronx, 59 percent of their stops were unlawful and 68 percent of frisks were conducted without sufficient evidence that the person was armed.

Denerstein concludes that, though some units have better compliance than others, the department must take corrective action immediately and increase accountability. Her team plans to conduct a more extensive audit as a result.

During a press conference following the reports release, Adams held up the obituary of Claudia Quaatey, a 16-year-old girl shot and killed by a stray bullet in Queens while sitting in her friends car last month, saying that everyone should read it.

These are the people, these are the children Im talking about. So when the monitor writes her report, we should also talk about how many of the almost 10,000 illegal guns we removed off our streets, he said.

He continued, So, good, great, be your statistician, but I got to stop Claudias from losing their lives and thats what I hear from the public.

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One of these two debaters in 2015 soon vanished from sight. It wasnt Donald Trump. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

There is a fantasy that underlies the ever-growing 2024 Republican presidential field: Governor X or Senator Y or Outsider Entrepreneur Z gets into a televised debate and tears Donald Trump a new one, becoming an overnight sensation awash in new donors, volunteers for Iowa and New Hampshire, and adulation in the mainstream media.

Its very unlikely to happen. Yes, once in a blue moon a presidential debate proves totally triumphant for one candidate and disastrous for another, but the kind of knockout punch that Elizabeth Warren dealt to Michael Bloomberg in 2020 requires not only an underdog with debating chops but an overdog with a glass jaw. If the 2015-2016 Republican debates are any indication, Trumps jaw is as tough as tungsten. And his dominance of the GOP since his hostile takeover of the party in 2016 creates an almost unsolvable dilemma for anyone hoping to topple him during a debate.

The very first 2015 debate illustrated Trumps ability to turn such events into a MAGA circus in which he is the ringmaster and his rivals come and go like tamed lions or clowns. His very presence swelled the debate audience into the highest-rated presidential primary debate ever and among the most-viewed events in cable TV history, as the New York Times noted at the time. Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate leading in the polls, drawing the most airtime and providing some of the nights most memorable moments. And his lead in the polls ballooned accordingly.

So long as Trump is the overwhelming front-runner in the 2024 nomination contest, there is inevitably a Gulliver among the Lilliputians atmosphere in the race, and in any encounter between the candidates. Trumps popularity among the GOP rank-and-file, moreover (even among those who prefer other candidates), constrains any criticism from a debate podium. And his own lacerating style, with which debate viewers are thoroughly familiar, means that any rival who takes him on is likely to suffer direct, headline-grabbing ripostes from the 45th president. Theyre inevitably going to be fighting him with an arm tied behind their backs and a chin exposed to a counter-punch. The safest approach, then, is for the other candidates to battle each other for a place in the ultimately reduced field and leave Trump in an unchallenged position until such time as he loses a caucus or a primary.

More fundamentally, though, RNC-sponsored debates offer Trump the opportunity to marginalize his opponents either by refusing to participate in one or more of them (as he did with a January 2016 Fox News debate after a dust-up with moderator Megyn Kelly), or by letting the RNC consign some of them to a secondary debate (like those in 2015) that will be mocked more than it is watched. The newly announced criteria for making the stage for the first sanctioned debate on August 23 (which will likely become more stringent for future debates) directly threaten some candidates with exclusion altogether. Politico suggests late entries like Doug Burgum will struggle to meet the required conditions, and better-known aspirants like Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, and even Mike Pence may be on the bubble for making it in.

All in all, those praying that Donald Trumps wont be the Republicans 2024 nominee should hope that the 2024 debates quickly cull the field and produce a few serious challengers (likely Ron DeSantis and one or two dark horses) with a chance to upset the front-runner once voters begin voting. Yes, its possible Trump could say or do something in a debate that would shock the Republican world into reassessing its affection for the ex-president. But its hard to imagine what that might be. I personally thought Trump was toast before the first 2015 debate when he defied one of Americas most sacred cows, the patriotism of POWs, by calling John McCain a loser who forfeited any claim to hero status by getting captured (and subsequently tortured) in Vietnam. It just made him stronger. It may be hard to understand, but it should no longer be doubted.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Low-cost carrier AirAsia is targeting to resolve the unpaid refunds for canceled flights in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by the last quarter of 2023, its top official said Monday.

In a briefing with reporters at the Philippines AirAsia headquarters in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia's mother company Capital A Group, said refunding is their top priority.

We owe people money in the Philippines. We have a lot of refunds we need to pay back. I'm hoping to sort that out by October or November, he said.

Philippines AirAsia has yet to give information as to the total of unpaid refunds to a still undisclosed number of customers.

With the improving business climate in the aviation industry, Fernandes wanted to expand AirAsia's operation in the Philippines.

He said the company is also looking at airports outside Metro Manila like Clark but infrastructure projects must also follow to connect the airport in Metro Manila.

It's not just the airport that must be built, the infrastructure to the airport, the trains, the roads are equally as important. I think Clark is a great airport, and I hope the government will build a train to Clark and better buses to Clark. That's a quicker way to ease the congestion to NAIA, the executive said.

Speculations on the change in the ownership of Philippines AirAsia are swirling in the industry.

When asked about the issue, Fernandes said he may answer the question in one-and-a-half months.

Sixty percent of Philippines AirAsia is owned by a joint venture of three Filipino businessmen while the remaining 40% is owned by Fernandes' Malaysia-based AirAsia Aviation Limited.

The businessman said he wants to invest more in the Philippines, particularly in financial technology, logistics and aviation engineering.
Paltrow at an event honoring her career in May 2023. Photo: Yekaterina Gyadu for Pregnancy Justice

At a single table in Manhattan last Wednesday sat Chelsea Becker, who was charged with murder and jailed for more than a year after prosecutors blamed her stillbirth on methamphetamine use; Rinat Dray, who has spent much of the past decade suing Staten Island University Hospital for, according to its own notes, overriding her refusal to have a Cesarean birth; Tammy Loertscher, who was jailed and whose fetus was assigned an attorney by the state of Wisconsin after she disclosed past drug use to doctors; and Julie Burkhart, who operates abortion clinics in Wyoming and Illinois, having previously done so in Kansas and Oklahoma.

They had come together to salute Lynn Paltrow, who had just stepped down from the leadership of the recently renamed Pregnancy Justice, which she founded as the National Advocates for Pregnant Women more than two decades ago. (Pregnancy Justice is much shorter and hopefully more memorable, she said.) Though primarily a legal advocacy group, it describes its mission as working to ensure that no one loses their rights because of pregnancy or because of their capacity for pregnancy, focusing on pregnant people who are most at risk of state control and criminalization: those who are low-income, of color, and drug-using. Paltrow, who got her start in mainstream reproductive-rights groups, opened her own shop, still a relatively small and scrappy group with outsize influence, because, she said that night, I could not think of any other way that I would be able to carry out the work that didnt fit. Shes now ready to pass the torch.

At the podium, Becker remembered being held on a $5 million bail she had no way of paying, then receiving a letter from Paltrow and her team. It said, We want to help you and we will not charge you for this help. Write back if you want us to help you. Paltrow, she said, was more than just the lawyer who helped get those murder charges dismissed; shed encouraged Becker on her path to sobriety and to community college and had never forgotten Beckers birthday. She pointed out it was Paltrows 65th birthday that day. Burkhart recalled that after an anti-abortion activist murdered her former boss, abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, in church, Paltrow dropped everything to come to Wichita and be at her side. Onscreen, reproductive-justice legend Dorothy Roberts called Paltrow perhaps my longest ally in the fight for reproductive justice, and onstage, SisterSong executive director Monica Raye Simpson sang part of a song she wrote: Weve got to keep on pushing. Weve got to feel the fire deep within.

Paltrows instinct to keep pushing has often made her less popular than she was inside that room that night. For decades, defending pregnant people who use drugs or disobey doctors was off-message for a movement that was focused on persuading Democratic politicians and Republican-appointed judges to keep abortion legal on paper. Paltrows argument, which has proved prescient since Roe v. Wade was overturned, is that these cases, however unfavorable the optics may be, were the first round of a fight for the fundamental control of people who could get pregnant. I spoke to her recently about her work and what comes after the Dobbs decision.

How did you first come to understand what the work of Pregnancy Justice would be?

Pregnancy has been the primary way in which in the United States, women are being policed and limited in their basic rights. And why they have in fact, never been recognized as full persons under the law. I started the organization in part because it was the only way I could continue to work on the cases that I thought needed to be addressed in a more comprehensive way. Not just lawyering, but also organizing and education. I continue to understand the extent to which pregnancy is the mechanism by which sexism and misogyny are carried out in a country where sexism is at least somewhat taboo. You cant do the controlling directly, so you do it through regulating pregnancy.

Cases about drug use or forced interventions during pregnancy are not what I associate with traditional reproductive rights litigation  challenging state laws that restrict abortion.

I started out as a lawyer defending the right to choose abortion. And then while I was at the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom project, I started getting the cases where anti-abortion arguments were also being used to hurt women who did not want to end their pregnancies.

One day in 1985  Im in my late 20s and only a few years out of law school  a call comes in from a reporter. And it was a journalist saying something like, A womans been arrested in California. Theyre saying that she committed a crime, a kind of child abuse, because of what she did while she was pregnant. Do you have any comment? Pamela Rae Stewart is a rural, poor, low income white woman in California who gives birth and she almost bleeds to death. The babys born with severe brain damage, and shes arrested and charged with a crime for failing to get to the hospital quickly enough on the day of delivery, not following her doctors advice to get bedrest  a mother of two living in a trailer and allegedly not taking medication her doctor recommended. Stewart was also charged because she had intercourse with her husband on the morning of the day of delivery, which they alleged caused the bleeding. And she allegedly used drugs, although as the case progressed, that became the most salient factor. So everything that made her a criminal in relationship to her pregnancy were things that had nothing to do with crimes. They just had to do with living and having the right to make your own medical decisions.

And then Angela Carders case happened within a year. While comatose, she is forced to have Cesarean surgery that she does not want, that her family says she does not want, even though the judge knows that it could kill her. In her case, a guardian, a lawyer, was appointed for her fetus. And it just so happened that corporation counsel for the District of Columbia also showed up and argued for the fetus. [Within two days of the surgery, both Carder and her baby died.]

Both of those cases made very clear that all of the anti-abortion arguments could be used as a mechanism for controlling and penalizing any pregnant person, whatever their intent is, whatever the outcome of their pregnancies were. Those two cases basically laid out every possible consequence of viewing the unborn as separate persons and the ongoing reality of the doubt that we have as a society about the personhood of the people who get pregnant.

I am optimistic enough to believe that people do not like having their rights taken away.

Did you get asked by your colleagues, what does this have to do with what were doing here?

My experience at a number of the leading reproductive rights organizations is that their focus was defending the right to abortion and the doctors who performed those abortions. It was controversial for me to take these cases involving arrests of women who were going to term or seeking to go to term. It was not intuitive to even the people who were doing reproductive rights law. And even to this day, the leading groups defending the right to choose abortion, they have their hands full, and we need them to be defending the right to abortion. But what Ive noticed is that the human brain is a binary one. We see things very simply, black and white. People find it difficult to recognize that abortion is about pregnancy. I found these letters from when I was at the ACLU from members, very upset that we were doing those cases.

I literally had a bioethicist say to me many years after I left the ACLU and was running Pregnancy Justice, I remember when you used to work at the Reproductive Freedom Project and you were working on abortion. Why did you switch to working on pregnant women?

What?

The idea is that people who end their pregnancies are different from the people who continue. And part of that is what I would call defamatory rhetoric of murder and killing that the anti-abortion movement has been so persistent in promoting. People, I think, very much had this idea that there were a certain kind of women who had abortions and killed their babies, and a different kind of women who got pregnant and went to term. Except theyre all the same women, just at different moments of their lives. But the people who sometimes need abortions are also the people who get pregnant or have the capacity for pregnancy. And they always need to be treated with dignity. They always need to have their rights respected. And it was through cases like Pamela Rae Stewart and Angela Carder that I became more committed to finding ways to ensure that connection was not broken. I was getting cases involving miscarriage and stillbirth.

Right. That were about criminalizing conduct.

I always push back on that, and heres why. Its not wrong. But its not the conduct really, thats criminalized. Its the pregnancy. Its the status of being pregnant. Theres a 15 to 25 percent chance of miscarriage in every pregnancy. So from the moment you become pregnant, youre endangering an unborn child. Some of these cases involved miscarriages and stillbirths in which women are arrested, charged with murder. And the claim is they caused the pregnancy loss by some drug that they took  cocaine, methamphetamine. The fact is that none of the criminalized drugs are abortifacients. None of them are good at causing pregnancy loss. If they were, Id be shipping them to Texas.

There are people who are nominally pro-choice, who are comfortable at least theoretically with abortion, but would not be comfortable with that. For example, well, why are you doing drugs? Or even, why are you choosing to go against medical advice for how you would like to conduct your pregnancy or your birth? So youre sort of forcing people to think more deeply about what it means to be quote unquote pro-choice.

Were completely selective about what risks to fetal life were going to address and how were going to address them. So it is certainly much more politically advantageous to focus on the pregnant person than the environment and social circumstances that they live in. Their lack of access to adequate nutrition, their lack of access to adequate health care.

It was really shortly after the Stewart and Carter cases  so that was 1986, 1987  that the avalanche of arrests, particularly targeting poor Black mothers accused of using the smokable form of cocaine, came raining down on those women. And so the pushback partly came from the fact that it involved drugs. Why would we defend somebody using drugs? Well, we were just defending people who were being human. Some of them had true addiction problems and could have really used the help. Some of them, and this is increasingly true, just falsely tested positive. Each of those cases involved racism, they involved sexism, they involved the war on drugs and the dehumanization of people for all, for being pregnant, for being Black, for using drugs. But in single issue politics, theres a real fear that focusing on anything but just abortion could be hurtful.

What was your reaction when the Dobbs decision came down, overturning Roe v. Wade?

I reread Frederick Douglasss speech after the Dred Scott decision came down. It was the Supreme Court decision that was supposed to resolve once and for all the issue of slavery by upholding slavery and keeping those who had been in bondage, always in bondage. And Frederick Douglass did not go into a state of despair. He did not stop with hopelessness. He gave a speech that talked about how the Supreme Court is not the last word on the freedom of Black people. And it is not the last word on the freedom of the people who get pregnant. And we will see this will not last, because you cannot deprive that many people of their humanity, their dignity, and their fundamental rights, and survive.

Were almost a year out. Whats your read on where things stand now?

Ive heard people say things have to get worse before theyll get better. I think theyre gonna keep getting way worse as we see all of the consequences, including maternal deaths and infant deaths because of the loss of health care and the loss of health care based on science. When people talk about how it has to get worse before it gets better, I think we really have to work hard in figuring out what that better looks like. What is it that we really want? And is it a vision that includes everybody? The people who get pregnant, the people who need abortions, people who need trans care  it has to include everybody. I am optimistic enough to believe that people do not like having their rights taken away. And so I do think we will eventually win back our rights. But I hope it is about much more than abortion, that its about the underlying question: Are the people who get pregnant a subordinate second class of persons? Or are they full and equal citizens? And how do we make sure their health care is provided and respected and thought of as no different than the health care the people who cant get pregnant are entitled to?
The Birmingham-based sandwich shop Melt will open a new location in Auburn in early 2024.

Laura Kowalczyk and her daughter Laura Lou Huddleston will own the new Melt at The Village at Samford Trace on East Samford Avenue, across from Auburn High School. They expect construction to begin in early July. Further details about the opening arent available at this time.

My mom and I are so excited to bring Melt to Auburn, Huddleston said. This venture will give us something different. It will give us something that people are really, really excited about.

Melt serves up a mix of modern takes on toasted sandwiches, hamburgers, sides, salads and appetizers. They also serve vegan and gluten-free options. Customers can enjoy a wide a range of drinks including Adult Capri Suns (pina coladas,) Necessary Evils (domestic beers) and craft beers on tap.

Huddleston said they will have a rotating menu that will match the farming seasons. They are also planning menu items tailored to specifically to the Auburn-Opelika community.

The Auburn site will mark Melts fourth brick and mortar restaurant in Alabama. They also have locations in Birmingham, Hoover, and Huntsville. The 2,800-square-foot restaurant will feature a full bar, a covered patio, board games and an area out front for the lawn game cornhole.

It encourages families to maybe put away their phones for a little bit and play games before they get their food, Huddleston said.

Huddleston and Kowalczyk have a long history with Melt. Huddleston worked for the restaurant for two years while attending nursing school in Birmingham. Kowalczyk grew up with Melt co-founder Harriet Despinakis.

Im just very, very proud of my friend for everything shes done and created, Kowalczyk said of Despinakis. Lou and I have always talked about doing something together, and this just seemed to be a great way to jump into that.

Despinakis and business partner Paget Pizitz began Melt as a food truck in 2011 before opening the first stationary restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood of Birmingham. Huddleston wants the Auburn sandwich shop to be somewhere where families can feel safe.

Theres a huge community that lives in Auburn and Opelika outside of the university. I think it was just really important to make sure that that community in particular felt really comfortable at our restaurant, Huddleston said.

Kowalczyk said they also want to create an environment thats warm and welcoming.

Wed like to embrace the community and the community embrace us. The huge appeal for me is its just a fun and welcoming environment where you can get some good food at the same time, Kowalczyk said.

The Village at Samford Trace is expected to have 35,000 square feet of retail and office space. Iron Tribe Fitness, owned by former Auburn University Cheerleader, Forrest Walden, is also scheduled to open in the complex once construction is finished.
Can you hear the people sing scream 

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the moral whiplash I feel when it comes to stories about Disney these days lol

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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I'm loving all the organizations striking, just hoping they can reach the deals they want! I didn't even realize until recently how horribly underpaid Disney workers were.

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Disneyworld workers should strike too, they get paid peanuts

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PAY YOUR FUCKING WORKERS

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Sleepy Hollow Created an Us Against Her Environment for Star Nicole Beharie, Burn It Down Book Claims https://t.co/J2FJP7z7XK  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 6, 2023

The Hollywood expose Burn It Down from Maureen Ryan, which hit shelves on Tuesday, alleges that Nicole Beharie and Tom Mison  who played detective Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane, respectively  did not want to have a whole lot to do with each other, according to one source who worked on the show, allegedly resulting in Misons characters famous courtly bow, because the co-stars did not want to hug each other.That also allegedly translated to their onscreen narratives, according to showrunner Clifton Campbell, who told Ryan that Mison and Beharie believed that the relationship between the characters should not evolve into a romantic relationship, despite fan calls for one. (Neither Beharie nor Mison commented for the book.)  Burn It Down also claims that following alleged conflict between co-creator and director Len Wiseman and Beharie while filming the pilot, actress Lyndie Greenwood  who portrayed Beharies sister, Jenny Mills  was brought on as a potential replacement. Part of the drama, the book alleges, was driven by the happenings within the writers room, which Ryan notes had three people of color in season one, but had returned for season two with an all-white male team outside a sole woman of color. Multiple sources told Ryan that people with power on the show claimed from early on they did not have a good experience with Nicole, but then spread that to others, including writers who had not worked with her.It was a double standard as co-star Orlando Jones described it, with another source sensing she felt alone. Especially if that person is a woman and a woman of color  those are two groups that already have challenges to begin with, that same source told Ryan. It created a very us-against-her environment from day one. Beharie was said to have prefaced statements with Im not trying to be difficult, despite one source saying they never witnessed her being so. Or at least no more than Mison, who was allegedly described by a producer as the star and who another source described as a handful as well. He had his own set of issues, they said. Ive always said that on any other show, he wouldve been the biggest problem. According to sources, Beharie showed a trepidation about the role, a massive and potentially multiyear undertaking. Also, both she and Mison showed difficulty adjusting to being the leads of the show, with co-star Jones telling Ryan that both were out of their depths and no one was helping them. As both Mison and Beharie went through steep learning curves that sometimes involved friction with colleagues wrote Ryan, Beharies growing pains were treated differently.When a bunch of white guys say a person of color is difficult, I tend to assume that theres a lot more to that story, one source said. I found her to be pleasant, extremely talented, and an actor who was adjusting to being a lead. There are growing pains with that. In the time I was there, where the discrepancy came in was how their growing pains were viewed and handled. Writer Shernold Edwards was hired on the show and described the experience as hellish with a miserable vibe on set. When she suggested she and Beharie get together to talk, showrunner Campbell went off, telling her she couldnt talk to Beharie and calling the actress crazy. (Campbell denied he called Beharie crazy, stating that the allegation was patently false and that she was professional and cordial and fun.) Campbell also told Ryan that Mison and Beharie were treated the same on set during his season and to protect evolving conversations as the studio began to look past season three and the ramifications for any subsequent seasons, I told the entire room not to share these ongoing discussions with any cast or crew. A source who worked with Sleepy Hollows first showrunner, Mark Goffman, also alleged that there were times when serious issues were brought not just to Mark, but to the powers that be and they either brushed them aside or they were just not handled. The book also addresses season one reports that Beharie had bitten a hairstylist on the shows set. That stylist, Jones said, had been brought to address issues Beharie had raised about how much money Sleepy Hollow was putting towards her wig versus Misons. Jones maintains he was with her in the hair and makeup trailer and never saw the incident, though he has a photo on his phone in which Beharie pretended to bite him as part of a joke. He also expressed that no physical altercation could have occurred without someone seeing or noticing,The stylist declined to discuss in detail what happened on Sleepy Hollow with Beharie, adding that I am writing about my experiences as well. She went to call her time on the show one of the worst projects I have worked on as a hairstylist. Other incidents include Campbell becoming unproductively emotional and defensive at times when Black writers made suggestions around elements of the scripts, potential unconscious bias being addressed by HR in terms of script assignments and fans criticizing the show for its treatment of Beharies character. The show had high turnover among its employees, with on-set hours often brutal."
Doug Parker Returns to Safety 2023 to Provide an OSHA Update

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health will deliver a recently added special general session on June 7.

Doug Parker, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, will deliver a recently added special general session this Wednesday at the 62nd annual Safety 2023 in San Antonio, Texas.

Speaking at 10:30 a.m. CT on Wed., June 7, Parker will discuss the latest activities and future plans of OSHA to protect U.S. workers. The special session will be held in the Stars at Night Ballroom at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Parkers 60-minute OSHA Update will cover regulatory priorities, enforcement actions and outreach initiatives. The session will include an interactive Q&A with questions submitted via text by attendees of this weeks American Society of Safety Professionals conference and expo. Afterward, Parker will meet with journalists at 11:45 a.m.

Parker was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Labor in 2021 and previously served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration. He has also held positions as a senior policy advisor and special assistant at the Department of Labor, and most recently served as chief of Californias Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

Parker participated in a similar session last June at Safety 2022 in Chicago.
Safety 2023 Returns to San Antonio

The annual ASSP event aims to provide "valuable experiences" to safety professionals attending the June 5-7 conference and expo.

Thousands of safety professionals arrived for the first day of Safety 2023, which runs June 5 to 7, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The 2023 edition of the annual American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) conference and expo marks its return to San Antonio after five years, a period that included the COVID-19 public health emergency, which impacted safety professionals in various industries.

You know, the last time we were in San Antonio was 2018, said ASSP CEO Jennifer McNelly, CAE, during Monday morning's opening general session. Now weve returned, and boy, the world has changed. Its very, very different. But what inspires me today is your resilience and your dedication to safety and health.

The event features full days of conference sessions across a variety of disciplines, an expo floor featuring more than 540 companies and organizations, keynote and plenary sessions and multiple networking events.

ASSP is more focused than ever on providing you with valuable experiences that will change your thinking, advance your career, and help you better protect workers everywhere, McNelly told attendees. You made the right choice to be here at Safety 2023. The conference and expo were truly designed for you.
CPC delegation visits Egypt

Xinhua) 09:02, June 06, 2023

Qu Qingshan (2nd R), a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, meets with President of the Republican People's Party Hazem Omar (2nd L) in Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, June 5 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Egyptian Republican People's Party, a CPC delegation visited Egypt from Saturday to Monday.

The delegation was led by Qu Qingshan, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.

During the visit, Qu met with Speaker of the Egyptian Senate and Chairman of Nation's Future Party Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razeq, President of the Republican People's Party Hazem Omar, among others, and held discussions with members of the Coordination Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians.

He also attended the "From the Great Wall to the Pyramids" dialogue, giving a detailed introduction of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress to the Egyptian audience.

The Egyptian side highly appreciated the significance of the 20th CPC National Congress to the world and expressed willingness to work with China to jointly promote the development of the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Qu Qingshan (3rd L, back), a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, holds discussions with members of the Coordination Committee of Party's Youth Leaders and Politicians in Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Qu Qingshan (L), a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Speaker of the Egyptian Senate and Chairman of Nation's Future Party Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razeq in Cairo, Egypt, June 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said Tuesday he will travel to Brussels by the latter part of June to push for the countrys proposed free trade agreement with the European Union (EU).

During a Palace briefing, Pascual said that he would follow up on the EU-GSP+ that is set to lapse by the end of 2023.

Under the European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the Philippines can export over 6,200 eligible products duty-free to the EU market.

Yung GSP+, its available to the Philippines now given that the Philippines is a low middle-income country. Kapag naging upper middle-income country ang Pilipinas, hindi na tayo eligible sa GSP+ (Once the Philippines becomes an upper middle-income country, were no longer eligible under the GSP+), Pascual said.

Kaya sabi ko kailangan mag-umpisa na tayo mag-negotiate para sa free trade agreement, he added.

[Translation: So I said we need to start negotiating for a free trade agreement.]

RELATED: Marcos: Time is ripe to resume 'win-win' PH-EU free trade talks

According to Pascual, businesses from Europe that are operating here and some members of the parliament of the EU have already expressed support for the Philippines.
Following the recent slew of major cooperation agreements (including in energy, security, and logistics) between various permutations of Iran, Iraq, Russia, and China, another set of agreements  this time between Iran and Oman  allows Beijing to further consolidate its grip over the principal oil transit routes from the Middle East. It also allows it the opportunity to develop another major source of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, to the detriment of the U.S.s key allies in Europe.

Four deals were signed within the last week or so, focused on the economic, investment, free trade, and energy sectors. Most notable of the energy sector deals made public was for the joint study of the Hengam oil and gas field. This is the first publicised agreement on cooperation between Iran and a neighbouring country in a shared field, although, as analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order, Iran and Iraq have been closely cooperating on their many shared fields for decades. The Hengam field lies around 70 kilometres off the southern Iranian coast, to the north of Oman, at the juncture of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that sits almost exactly in the centre of the Strait of Hormuz. This point is the key global transit route for around 30-40 percent of all the worlds oil at any given moment.

This is one of the two key reasons why this deal is so important to China, Iran, and to the global oil markets - far more than the estimated 700 million barrels of oil and two trillion cubic feet of gas that the Hengam field contains. One of Chinas core strategic aims as exercised in practice through its One Belt, One Road multi-generational power-grab project is to control all of the transport routes for the worlds oil and LNG supplies that come out of the Middle East, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order. China already had much control over the Strait of Hormuz through its all-encompassing 25-year deal with Iran, first reported exclusively by me back in September 2019. The same deal also gives China a hold over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which crude oil is shipped upwards through the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal before moving into the Mediterranean and then westwards. This has been achieved as it lies between Yemen - formerly heavily controlled by Iran-backed Houthis, but also now subject to the new China-brokered relationship deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia - and Djibouti, over which China has also established a stranglehold. What the recent seizure by Iran of the Advantage Sweet oil tanker also showed is that the Gulf of Oman can no longer be regarded as a safe alternative transport route for oil tankers either. This new deal for the Hengam oil and gas field will further cement Chinas grip over all Middle Eastern oil and LNG transit routes.

Related: Shell Halts Unit At Europes Biggest Refinery Due To Leak

It is important to reiterate at this point that all the Middle Easts oil and gas exports are at a once-in-a-lifetime tipping point as to where they would be sent in the event of a major crisis between the U.S. and its allies, and China and its allies, such as occurred on a more limited scale after Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This crucial part of the new global oil market order, as analysed in my new book on that very subject, saw the U.S. make great efforts to secure for its allies in Europe crucial new energy supplies from the Middle East and North Africa to make up for previous Russian supplies lost due to sanctions. It also saw China, a net energy importer itself, do the same. This re-ordering of the alliances of the major Middle Eastern oil and gas producers is still ongoing, but China had great success in broadening and deepening its relationships with several key Middle Eastern countries from 2018 to 2022. This period saw the U.S. step back from its previous role of being the global policeman, as the Truman Doctrine implied.

Specifically, as also analysed in my new book, after the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and the subsequent withdrawals from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, China had been so successful in stepping into the power vacuum created that it was able to broker the impossible deal  the resumption of relations between the historical enemies of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Chinas interim progress in this regard can also be seen from a series of meetings in Beijing at the end of December 2021/beginning of January 2022 between senior officials from the Chinese government and foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, plus the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At these meetings, the principal topics of conversation were to finally seal a China-GCC FTA and to forge a deeper strategic cooperation in a region where U.S. dominance is showing signs of retreat. Additionally, Saudi Arabias very public announcement in April this year that its cabinet had approved a plan to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue partner is the surest sign yet that any U.S. efforts to keep it out of the China-Russia sphere of influence may now be futile.

With the Iran-Oman relationship now even tighter  a move long opposed by the U.S.  China can move ahead with plans to build out Irans LNG capabilities, which will marry Irans vast gas resources with Omans underused LNG production facilities. This is again much more important than just finally giving Iran an LNG industry, for two key reasons. First, LNG is the new emergency energy staple of the U.S.s key allies in Europe, as was evidenced in the desperate scramble to secure such supplies for Germany in the immediate aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If these new LNG deals had not been secured by the U.S. for Germany at that time then there was little doubt that the European Union (E.U.) would have done nothing significant to punish Russia for the invasion. Indeed, it was the E.U.s fear of losing cheap plentiful supplies of Russian gas and oil that was the primary reason why it allowed Russia to annex all of Ukraines Crimea region back in 2014 with no real consequences, as also analysed in depth in my new book on the new global oil market order.

The second key reason why this creation by China of a major Iranian LNG capability is so important is that it will give China more leverage to keep the worlds biggest exporter of LNG  Qatar  firmly on its side when the crunch point comes between the U.S. and China. This leverage will accrue from the fact that Iranian LNG will come not just from the giant North Pars gas field but also from the supergiant South Pars gas field, which is one part of the two parts of the worlds largest gas reservoir that it shares with neighbouring Qatar (in the form of the North Dome, or North Field). The North Dome is by far Qatars chief source of income, and the manner of Iranian gas production from the South Pars field has a direct consequence on the output and longevity of gas from Qatars side of the shared reservoir. Additionally confirming its hold over Qatar, both before and during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China made a series of long-term deals with Qatar for massive supplies of LNG.

It is little wonder then that Irans President Ebrahim Raisi announced in the last week or so that Iran-Oman relations have been promoted from commercial stage to investment phase. The Iranian president added that the sectors of energy, industry, trade, communications, defence and security affairs, road and rail lines, maritime transport and transit, and financial and monetary exchanges  all key areas of Chinas own 25-year deal with Iran, and crucial parts of its One Belt, One Road program - are all areas in which the two countries will expand their cooperation.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Following a suspense-filled weekend in Vienna, where OPEC oil ministers attempted to downplay media attention, global oil markets remain uncertain about the direction of oil prices. The recent "surprise" oil production cut announced by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdelaziz bin Salman, has failed to restore confidence in the increasingly fragile OPEC+ alliance. Pressured by his own remarks and attempts to limit coverage by critical reporters, OPEC's leading member had no choice but to bear the burden of yet another production cut. Many analysts expected OPEC+ to extend the existing cuts, while neglecting the real underlying issue. The lack of transparency from Russia regarding its oil production and exports, coupled with Moscow's refusal to discuss potential new cuts, has placed a strain on the OPEC+ alliance. While all members have managed to mitigate the damage temporarily, the outcomes and statements suggest a scorching summer ahead. Diverting attention to 2024 deflects from the pressing concerns at hand.

Over the past week, global oil markets have been dominated by the statements of Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdelaziz bin Salman, particularly his comments on short sellers during a summit in Doha, Qatar. These remarks sparked optimism among bullish traders, who interpreted them as a signal of potential production cuts. However, Prince Abdelaziz's stance on critical journalism, particularly with renowned media outlets like Bloomberg, exposed the fragile internal cohesion within OPEC. Russian Energy Minister Novak's statement that there is no need for additional cuts further aggravated Saudi concerns, undermining any prospects of genuine cooperation between the two parties and leaving the OPEC+ alliance hanging by a thread. Related: ExxonMobil: New Fracking Technology Can Double Oil Output

Simultaneously, other key OPEC members, notably the UAE and various African nations, have been pushing in the opposite direction. Abu Dhabi, having made substantial investments in its upstream sector, is seeking ways to capitalize on its increased production capacity in the coming years. OPEC's current production cuts hinder this objective, as future volume increases will be restricted. Similarly, African members like Nigeria and Angola find themselves in a similar position, with their current production volumes not aligning with their nominal production capacities. OPEC's move to reassess African quotas based on their actual production levels is perceived as a direct threat to their future prospects.

The dynamics within OPEC are fraught with tensions, as conflicting interests and divergent objectives strain the alliance. The delicate balance between short sellers, critical journalism, production cuts, and individual member ambitions has pushed OPEC to the brink, jeopardizing its future stability.

Although Saudi Prince Abdulaziz expressed trust in Russia's commitment to the production cuts in a recent interview, emphasizing the need to "trust but verify" with the assistance of secondary sources, this statement should not be underestimated. Russias current production and export strategy starkly contradicts the existing agreement. It is evident that Moscow is unwilling to curtail its exports, as it requires substantial funds to fund its war in Ukraine, all the while witnessing a gradual erosion of its regional power base. Financing is crucial for the survival of Putin's regime, particularly in the light of the potential offensive by Ukraine's armed forces to push back Russian troops in the occupied territories.

Until now, Saudi Arabia has remained committed to sustaining the pro-Russian cooperation within OPEC+, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that Riyadh is slowly realizing the limitations imposed upon itself by aligning closely with Putin's interests. The implications of this association are being recognized by Saudi Arabia, highlighting the constraints it has placed on its own decision-making and strategic maneuverability.

Another major concern is the increasingly difficult oil market cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While speculations about the UAE leaving OPEC remain unfounded, internal tensions within the alliance are apparent. UAE's Energy Minister, Suhail, stated that Abu Dhabi will extend its voluntary cut of 144,000 bpd until the end of December 2024, as a precautionary measure in coordination with other participating countries in the OPEC+ agreement. He reiterated that this cut would be from the required production level agreed upon at the thirty-fifth ministerial meeting of OPEC+ on June 4, 2023. It is essential to view this statement as a diplomatic gesture towards Saudi Arabia, rather than openly questioning the UAE's commitment to cooperation.

However, in reality, this voluntary cut is minimal and places extreme pressure on the leadership in Abu Dhabi to navigate a challenging path. Sustaining the cuts until the end of 2024 is unrealistic, both for OPEC and global oil supply. Undoubtedly, there will be an increase in demand in 2023, even if the anticipated 800,000 bpd demand increase from China falls short of expectations.

The UAEs balancing act poses significant challenges. The sustainability of the extended cuts and the broader cohesion within OPEC remain uncertain amidst shifting market dynamics and divergent objectives among member countries.

In the short term, some upward price movements will be seen. A cut normally always has some bullish impact. However, when the bearish narrative of recession fears reemerges, the sentiment in oil markets could turn sour once again.

Overall, the risk for the oil market cannot be underestimated. Instability within OPEC+ bad news. Saudi Arabia needed to put its money where its mouth was last week, but forgot that the reactions from its OPEC peers might not be positive at all, and that additional cuts do not necessarily guarantee higher oil revenues. The escalating crisis between Saudi Arabia and Russia has now become apparent for all to see. What was once dubbed an "unholy alliance" by some has unraveled due to Moscow's increasing desperation for cash and geopolitical influence, which no longer aligns with the interests of the other parties involved. Prince Abdulaziz will soon find himself in a position where he must address his own brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and explain why the current course of action will fail to generate additional revenues. The success of Saudi Vision 2030 is pivotal, not only for the stability of crude oil prices but also for the future trajectory of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself.

This uncertainty may bring the return of the more self-centered production policies, such as weve seen in 2020. If some OPEC+ members will decide to unilaterally increase their own export volumes, this may upset other OPEC+ members which could opt to do the same, causing oil prices to plunge as a result.

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By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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Its a good time to look at energy stocks again, now that oil prices have rallied in Monday's session after Saudi Arabia pledged big production cuts and OPEC+ extended its existing cuts to 2024.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz said the country would cut another 1 million barrels per day with its output dropping to 9 million barrels per day in July, the lowest level in years. The pledges have come barely a week after Prince Abdulaziz warned speculators and short sellers they could soon find themselves in a world of pain. Rampant short-selling has also been putting a lot of pressure on the oil markets, with commodity experts at Standard Chartered reporting that speculative positioning in crude oil has now returned to its March bearish extreme despite the OPEC+ cuts taking effect in May.

Oil futures have generally been bearish over the past couple of months despite the physical markets remaining in relatively good shape. But the shorts were in for another big short squeeze, with Saudi Arabia and OPEC+ no longer interested in staying in Washingtons good books and willing to do anything in their power to keep oil prices high.

"Speculators, like in any market they are there to stay, I keep advising them that they will be ouching, they did ouch in April, I don't have to show my cards I'm not a poker player... but I would just tell them watch out," Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Wednesday as quoted by Reuters.

The Biden administration has also been frustrated by the inability or unwillingness by domestic producers to ramp up production in a bid to lower fuel prices. U.S. shale producers have opted to return excess cash to shareholders instead of drilling more. The much-touted second shale boom has lately been getting a reality check as equipment demand declines sharply, a worrying sign that drilling in U.S. shale energy regions is leveling off. The Financial Times has reported that next week, Texas auctioneer Kruse Asset Management will auction off two unused, top-of-the-line drilling rigs valued at $40 million and $30 million when built in 2019 at starting bids of just $12.9M and $2.3M, respectively. Related: Saudi Arabia Raises Arab Light Prices For Asia

Theres no reason for them to be so cheap, but theres just no demand, Dan Kruse, chief executive of Kruse Asset Management, has told the Financial Times.

After a dizzying run in 2022, oil stocks have lagged badly in the current year with the sectors key benchmark the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLE) down 5.7% in the year-to-date compared to a 12.4% gain by the S&P 500. Luckily for the bulls, oil experts remain bullish, with many predicting oil prices above $80 a barrel over the coming years--well above the $58-a-barrel average price between 2015 and 2021. Here are three energy stocks to play the coming rally.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.

Market Cap: $14.9B

YTD Returns: 21.9%

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (NYSE:BEP) owns a portfolio of renewable power generating facilities primarily in North America. The companys impressive portfolio of renewable energy assets has been helping the company maintain decent growth.

With more money set to flow into the solar sector than the oil sector in the current year, renewable energy companies with large solar portfolios like Brookfield have been surging.

In its latest results, Brookfield Renewable reported Q1 revenue of $1.33B (+16.7% Y/Y), beating the Wall Street consensus by $50M while Q1 FFO of $0.43 beat by $0.02. Better still, the company could continue to exceed expectations,"We acquired a scarce platform which we know well and remains well-positioned to continue to deliver returns within or above our target range. Based on our acquisition price for the remaining 50%, which we expect will deliver mid-to-high teen returns, our initial investment has generated an IRR of almost 30% and over two times invested capital in our three years of ownership," the companys management said during its earnings call.

BEP is one of the few renewable energy companies that pay a dividend, with the yield currently at 4.3%.

Chevron Corp.

Market Cap: $296.1B

YTD Returns: -10.2%

Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) has come into the limelight after its merger with PDC Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $6.3 billion earned it a flurry of upgrades.

RBC Capital has upgraded CVX to Outperform from Sector Perform with a $180 price target, raised from $165 after Chevron shares underperformed ExxonMobil Corp.(NYSE:XOM) by more than 30% since the beginning of 2023. According to RBC Capital's Biraj Borkhataria, Chevron's "defensiveness" has been viewed negatively in bullish commodity markets while well productivity issues in the Permian Basin have also been weighed on sentiment. However, the analyst says the companys upstream heavy weighting combined with its strong balance sheet as well as a commitment to capital discipline make the company well placed to weather markt malaise.

The upgrade came a day after J.P. Morgan upgraded the stock to Buy, with the Wall Street bank saying that "defensive characteristics" make CVX well positioned for economic uncertainty.

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Devon Energy Corp.

Market Cap: $31.1B

YTD Returns: -15.5%

Hedging is a popular trading strategy frequently used by oil and gas producers, airlines, and other heavy consumers of energy commodities to protect themselves against market fluctuations. During times of falling crude prices, oil producers normally use a short hedge to lock in oil prices if they believe prices are likely to go even lower in the future. Last year, with oil and gas prices hitting multi-year highs, producers that typically lock up prices preferred to hedge only lightly, or not at all, to avoid leaving money on the table if crude continued to soar.

The same thing is happening this year, with hedge ratios remaining low. Indeed, some Big Oil companies are so confident that high oil prices are here to stay that they have completely ditched their hedges, with Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) one of them. Devon Energy Corp. is only about 20% hedged, way lower than the companys ~50% normally. The company is, therefore, well set to capture any run-up in prices, which should help this stock rally during the second half of the year.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Several buyers in Asia are looking to buy spot oil cargoes from Russia, Africa, Brazil, or the United States after the worlds top crude exporter, Saudi Arabia, unexpectedly raised its official selling prices for its crude going to Asia in July.

At least three refiners in Asia are looking to nominate lower volumes of Saudi crude for next month  as per the contract allowance  and boost purchases from outside Saudi Arabia, including cheaper spot cargoes from Russia, sources with knowledge of the refiners buying strategies told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the OPEC+ producers decided to keep the current cuts until the end of 2024, while OPECs top producer, Saudi Arabia, said it would voluntarily reduce its production by 1 million bpd in July, to around 9 million bpd.

On the following day, Saudi Arabia raised the official selling price (OSP) for its flagship grade Arab Light for Asia by $0.45 per barrel to a premium of $3.00 over the Oman/Dubai average, off which Middle East crude for Asia is priced.

The price hike from Saudi Arabia surprised the market, which before the Saudi production cut had expected lower prices in a Reuters poll.

Saudi Arabia, however, seems to be looking to boost revenues by offering lower volumes in July but at higher prices.

So, some Asian refiners are on the prowl for cheaper cargoes, although spot supply for July may not be readily available as the typical trading cycle for next months loadings has expired, traders told Bloomberg.

Some Chinese refiners sent their nominations for July before the announcement of the Saudi cut, so they may not be able to change those.

One large buyer that is not particularly concerned with more expensive Saudi crude is India. The worlds third-largest crude oil importer has reduced purchases of crude from the Middle East in recent months, as cheaper Russian spot barrels are making their way to Indian refiners.

India is estimated to have imported record volumes of Russian crude in May, more than its combined imports from the next four largest suppliers - Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the U.S.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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This Monday saw what was perhaps one of the shortest oil price rallies following an OPEC+ meeting.

The announcement of an additional production cut of around 800,000 bpd by the oil-producing group pushed Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate slightly higher during the day but by Tuesday morning the momentum had fizzled out and both key benchmarks were down.

At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $76.52 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $71.93 per barrel, both down, although by less than half a percentage point from yesterday. During the Monday session, Brent crude added some $2.60 per barrel and WTI jumped by over $3 per barrel.

It appears that traders are unconvinced about the importance of any further cuts from OPEC+ as worry about the state of the global economy prevails. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced that it would implement voluntary cuts of 1 million bpd but the UAE was allowed to raise its output by about 200,000 bpd.

"Supply side issues took centre stage following OPECs production cuts. However, the gains were limited amid ongoing concerns over the economic backdrop," analysts from ANZ said in a note cited by Reuters earlier today.

On the other hand, "the U.S. economy is about to show a very robust summer travel season that should mean gasoline and jet fuel demand is going to be very strong," according to Edward Moya from OANDA, also cited by Reuters.

According to U.S. manufacturing sector data, the industry has been shrinking for seven months in a row, which fits in with the definition of a recession, which has dampened demand for fuels and reinforced a bearish sentiment among oil traders.

On the other hand, summer driving season is peak demand season and with prices at the pump much lower than they were this time last year, it could live up to its name, possibly changing traders sentiment.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Shell has recently confirmed its decision to exit the retail energy markets in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands due to poor returns.

This move comes as part of Shell's strategic review of its European retail businesses, which was initiated earlier this year in response to challenging market conditions.

That review has now concluded and as a consequence, we intend to exit those businesses. A sales process is already underway, with the intent to reach an agreement with a potential buyer in the coming months, Shell said in a statement.

The company's intention is to sell these businesses, and a sales process is already underway, with the aim of reaching an agreement with a potential buyer in the coming months.

This decision by Shell signifies a significant departure from its traditional role as a prominent player in the energy industry.

While Shell has previously adapted to changes in the energy landscape, the exit from the retail energy sector in these three countries highlights the considerable challenges and narrowing profit margins faced by these businesses in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market.

The announcement of Shell's departure has attracted the attention of major power providers.

Octopus Energy and Ovo, two leading contenders in the UK energy market, have progressed to the second round of bidding. Both companies have expressed a keen interest in expanding their operations and acquiring Shell's retail business, which boasts a substantial customer base. Such an acquisition would greatly support their growth ambitions.

Shell's exit will have implications beyond the interested buyers. It is likely to trigger a significant reshuffling in the energy markets of the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The departure of such a major player may create a void that other energy providers will be eager to fill.

The industry will closely watch the coming months to see which companies step up to take Shell's place and how this will impact competition and energy prices in these markets.

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By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Chinas economic recovery is sputtering, prompting renewed concerns about crude oil and other commodities demand that could result in slower-than-expected global oil demand growth this year and weigh on oil prices.

After the reopening from the Covid-related restrictions, China is expected to account for more than half of the worlds oil demand growth in 2023. However, last weeks Chinese factory output data came below expectations and triggered concerns that weaker manufacturing activity could weigh on Chinese imports for all kinds of commodities later this year.

Chinas purchasing managers index (PMI) dropped in May to a five-month low of 48.8, pointing to a sharper-than-expected contraction in factory activity. Manufacturing activity was below estimates for a second consecutive month.

The weaker-than-expected Chinese economic data could start showing up in lower commodity exports in a few months as actual imports lag purchases, Reuters columnist Clyde Russell argues.

The question for the market and for analysts is whether estimates about Chinas oil demand growth this year have been too optimistic.

Despite underwhelming economic data from China that have depressed oil market sentiment in recent weeks, no one has made any material downward revisions to their forecasts for Chinas oil demand growth. Almost everyone expects China to rebound in the second half of this year, supporting oil prices, together with supply cuts from the OPEC+ producers. Related: Saudi Arabia Raises Arab Light Prices For Asia

In light of the underwhelming Chinese recovery, the authorities could opt for additional fiscal stimulus and policy easing to put economic growth back on the targeted track, economists told CNBC last week.

Further stimulus could spur more infrastructure activity, boosting demand for commodities.

Analysts and major forecasters continue to believe that the true Chinese rebound will take place in the second half of the year, with higher jet fuel and gasoline demand thanks to increased mobility, strong demand for petrochemicals feedstock, and a recovery in infrastructure and construction activities.

Both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) were upbeat on Chinese demand in their latest monthly reports for May.

OPEC sees China leading the expected 2.3 million bpd global oil demand growth, while the IEA noted that Chinese oil consumption in March set an all-time record-high at 16 million bpd.

The Chinese recovery continues to exceed expectations, the IEA said in its Oil Market Report last week and raised its global oil demand growth forecast for 2023.

The worlds oil demand is set to rise by 2.2 million bpd this year to a record 102 million bpd, said the IEA, which revised up its growth forecast by 200,000 bpd compared to the previous months assessment.

China is expected to account for over 1 million bpd of the estimated 1.9 million-bpd global oil demand growth this year, Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy at ING, said in a note last week.

The fact that such a large share of demand growth is expected to come from just one country is a risk. And clearly, in recent months there have been concerns over the strength in Chinas broader recovery, Patterson wrote.

If Chinese oil demand disappoints, this could change the global balance significantly, with the market not as tight as expected.

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But he added, However, up until now, Chinese oil demand indicators have been looking fairly strong, with higher crude oil imports year-on-year and apparent record oil demand in recent months.

A recession in the United States, however, could also leave the oil market less tight than currently expected, ING says. The bank is already taking a cautious view on U.S. oil demand over the latter part of the year, and assumes in its balances that Americas oil demand will be flat year-on-year in 2023.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Kazakhstan is the largest producer and exporter of uranium globally, mining and exporting more than 40 percent of the worlds supply. Up to now, it has been the major supplier for Russia and before that the Soviet Union. But today, other countries are becoming involved, including Western countries such as the United States, which wants to limit its imports of Russian-processed uranium, and China, which hopes to transition from the coal-fired production of electricity to a heavy reliance on nuclear power plants over the next decade. That, in turn, has triggered a geo-economic competition that is rapidly growing into a geopolitical onegiven that, at least in the short term, Kazakhstan may not be able to increase exports to one country without reducing them to another, or at least holding the latter roughly constant.

Two decisions in Astana in May 2023 have both highlighted and exacerbated the situation, though they are likely to be dismissed by some as yet another example of Astanas efforts to maintain a balance between Moscow and Beijing. In the first decision, the Kazakhstani authorities allowed a Russian firm to take control of a uranium mine. Senior officials at Kazatomprom, Kazakhstans atomic industry agency, were opposed; and several of them publicly resigned in the wake of that decision (Kaztag.kz, May 17). They had compelling reasons to do so: Once this mine is fully operational, Kazatomproms control of the uranium industry in Kazakhstan will be reduced from its current 50-percent dominance and will ensure that Moscow can acquire at least some of the supplies it needs. Currently, Russia uses more than twice as many tons of uranium as its domestic mines produce, 5,500 tons against 2,500 for last year (World-nuclear.org, accessed May 31, [1]; [2]). That will also have the effect of bypassing Western sanctions at a time when the US is trying to tighten them (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, May 16).

The second, and likely more important reason given the length of time it will take before Russia can make the mine operational, involves Astana agreeing to sell Beijing more than 30 tons of atomic power station fuel over the coming decades to allow China to shift from coal to atomic power by the mid-2030s (Kazatomprom.kz, Kapital.kz, May 31). To meet this commitment, Kazakhstan has decided to increase its production of uranium and processed uranium components by more than 50 percent, a dramatic turnaround given its statement two years ago that it was cutting production by 10 percent to maintain prices given the declining demand for nuclear power plant fuel. Given that China is even more dependent than Russia on imported uraniumBeijing produces little of its ownthis will link those two countries more tightly together in ways at least as important as the construction of new rail routes (EADaily.com, May 26).

At present, China and Russia remain the two largest purchasers of Kazakhstani uranium. However, their competition for this increasingly scarce resource is growing, and that is further complicated by the fact that Astana is exporting processed uranium to other countries as well, albeit in smaller amounts. Among these are Uzbekistan, Turkey, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Afghanistan (Zakon.kz, May 22). All are likely to be affected by the intensified competition between Russia and China for Kazakhstans uranium.

These latest moves highlight three important realities about Central Asia and its relationship to outside actors that are often overlooked. First, China has interests in the region that are far larger than just building transportation routes to carry goods across and from Europe. Most, but not all, discussions not surprisingly focus on this. (See, for example, EDM, April 10, May 24.) Uranium is one of them, but it is hardly the only one. China also looks to Central Asia as a key market for Chinese-produced consumer goods and as a source of various minerals and, increasingly, water (Ritmeurasia.org, November 23, 2011; Cabar.asia, July 29, 2021).

Second, Beijings interest in these additional factors will only add to the differences it has with Moscow on how to deal with the Central Asian countries. Indeed, the Kremlin may be more worried about Chinese involvement within these countries on behalf of its interests than it is by Chinas promotion of rail and highway routes bypassing Russia. The former will cement these countries far more closely to Beijing than the latter, which, after all, is directed not primarily at Central Asian markets but at European ones. Consequently, while Moscow may complain loudly about all the projects that seek to route goods around Russia rather than through it, Beijings plans with Astanas uranium supplies will matter far more in tying countries of the region to China rather than to Russiaall the more so due to Moscows rapidly declining influence within these countries (see EDM, November 15, 2022).

And third, the focus of outsiders on the resources of the Central Asian countries is a reminder of two things that seem to be forgotten even more often than the impact of Chinese interests and actions in the countries of the region. On the one hand, the Central Asian states have significant resources that make them critical to the world at-large. Kazakhstan is a superpower in terms of raw and processed uraniumnot just one of the stans as some often treat it. And on the other, what happens in Central Asia as a result of these abundant resources will have a major impact on many countries, including those far away whose elites may not be fully aware of how these lines of influence work. For them, tensions over Kazakhstans uranium and which countries will have access to it should be a wake-up call for them to pay closer attention to a region that, in recent years, has been all too often neglected.

By the Jamestown Foundation

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Cenovus Energy has restarted some 62,000 bpd of daily crude oil production following a temporary shutdown caused by the wildfires in Alberta.

The company shut down a total of 85,000 bpd of production because of the wildfires last month, along with many other oil sands producers. The remainder should be back online within a week to ten days, according to the company.

Cenovus said it would need to wait for the reconstruction of power infrastructure in the area of the affected production that remains offline.

The wildfires that set Alberta aflame last month caused the shutdown of more than 300,000 barrels of oil in daily production in Canadas oil heartland. The emergency caused oil prices to jump at the time.

The shut-down production accounted for almost 4% of Canadas total oil output and prompted Alberta to declare a state of emergency in early May. Processing plants were also shut down because of the fires. Natural gas production also dropped because of the shutdowns, affecting exports to the United States.

By mid-May the wildfires began to subside and oil sands operators started reopening shut-down production.

Assuming the current wildfire conditions continue, Rainbow Lake operations are expected to return to production within seven to 10 days, which represents approximately 20,000 BOE/d, Cenovus said in an update late on Monday. About 3,000 BOE/d remains offline awaiting power infrastructure to be rebuilt in various remote locations, the company added.

Cenovus added that no major damage to its operations has been found by staff returning to the production sites and that it would continue to monitor the situation.

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Cenovus is one of the largest oil sands operators in Canada. At the release of its first-quarter performance figures the company lowered its production guidance for the year after posting a lower than expected net profit for the three-month period.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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While many analysts see the latest Saudi oil cut surprise as bullish or at least moderately bullish for prices, Citigroup thinks that the 1 million bpd cut from the worlds top crude exporter is not likely to result in an oil price run-up to the high $80s or low $90s per barrel.

The likelihood that Saudi Arabia would tackle this on its own on a sustained basis is quite low, Citi said in a note on Tuesday carried by Reuters.

The bank, like other investment banks, believes the cut will lead to a wider deficit on the market in the second half of this year. But this doesnt mean that prices will go up, according to Citi.

The bank, whose analysts have been bearish on oil this year, considers that the possibility for lower  instead of higher  prices could be greater, due to possible weaker demand due to recessions in the U.S. and Europe, weaker recovery in China, and higher supply from non-OPEC producers by the end of the year.

After the previous OPEC+ surprise for the market, when several large producers announced in early April additional cuts through the end of 2023, Citi was also contrarian and said it expected oil prices to dip instead of rally further despite OPEC+s efforts in that direction.

Analysts reiterated on Monday calls for higher prices, following Sundays OPEC+ meeting after which Saudi Arabia said it would voluntarily reduce its production by 1 million bpd in July to around 9 million bpd.

ANZ analysts Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari reiterated their $100 per barrel Brent target for the end of the year, saying that Investors are likely to add bullish bets, comfortable that Saudi Arabia and OPEC will provide a backstop should the market hit any hurdles.

Goldman Sachs, which sees Brent at $95 per barrel in December, described OPEC+s meeting as moderately bullish to its forecast and offsetting some bearish downside risks such as higher supply from sanctioned Russia, Iran, and Venezuela and weaker-than-thought Chinese demand.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the proposed plan aimed at making the Philippines a major player in the global export market, according to Trade Chief Alfredo Pascual.

During a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Pascual said the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028 secured Marcos greenlight. Under the plan, the government would implement industry-level interventions to keep up with neighboring nations.

The Philippines is lagging behind its neighbors when it comes to exports. We can consider ourselves as laggards so this plan will help us uplift the Philippines performance in exports, he said.

The Philippines continued to record a widening trade deficit, which happens when a country has more imports than exports. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the deficit in March stood at $4.927 billion following a 9% drop in exports.

Some of the major commodity groups that the country exports include electronic products, wiring sets used in vehicles, machinery, chemicals, and coconut oil, among others.

However, the Philippines, despite being a known agricultural country, has also been dependent on food imports. For the third quarter of 2022 alone, agricultural imports reached $5.17 billion versus exports totaling $1.86 billion.

But Pascual kept his bullishness that the plan can make local enterprises competitive in the global market.

Under the PEDP, the official said the government would closely work with firms which show export potential, in identifying challenges.

Those that are cresting and still at the ripple stage would secure a significant amount of support from the government, he noted.

Pascual said the government would help the firms boost their production and quality, as well as increase their skilled manpower.

The competitiveness of the Philippines lies in the competitiveness of the firms themselves, he said.

We are laggards because we have firms that are not able to come up with the quantity and quality of exportable products, Pascual added.

Pascual said the PEDP identified priority industry clustersindustrial machinery and transport; technology, media, and telecommunications; and health and life sciences.

Aside from beefing up local firms, Pascual said the government would also increase its promotional efforts.

Its raising awareness about the Philippine investment climates, the potential businesses that can be pursued in our country by foreign investors. Expos, participation in expos for example is one way to promote our exports or holding trade fairs, he said.
Shell said on Tuesday that it had halted a unit at Europes largest oil refinery, Pernis in Rotterdam, due to a leak.

Due to a leak on one of our units, it was decided to temporarily take it out of service for repair, the UK-based supermajor said in a statement carried by Reuters.

Shell declined to comment for Reuters on what type the leak was, which unit was halted, or how long the outage would last.

Pernis is the largest oil refinery in Europe and has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Last autumn, during the height of the fuel and energy crisis in Europe, the Pernis refinery suffered a malfunction, which exacerbated an already worsening fuel supply situation in northwest Europe due to strikes in France.

Before the latest unit halt, the Pernis refinery had undergone major maintenance that lasted nearly two months. Shell began major maintenance of a number of installations at the refinery in early March. The facility was scheduled to see maintenance work completed by the end of May.

Unlike last year, the fuel market in Europe is not as tight and refining margins have slipped in recent months.

The reduced flows and muted demand growth both locally and in key export markets have taken a toll on values including narrower refining margins and EBOB-RBOB spreads, Refinitiv analyst Raj Rajendran told Reuters last week.

Gasoline refining margins in northwest Europe fell to $20.70 a barrel as of June 2 due to lower exports from the region to West Africa.

In the week to May 31, total fuel stocks held at the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) oil trading hub declined amid higher demand for road fuels, according to Insights Global, which had noted that Shells Pernis refinery appears to be back online after an extensive maintenance period, according to market participants.

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By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday blamed each other for blowing up a hydroelectric dam in Ukraines Kherson region, currently under Russian occupation, which prompted evacuation after flooding followed the collapse of the dam.

The collapse of the dam in Nova Kakhovka could affect the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europes largest.

Energoatom, the Ukrainian nuclear operator, said in a Telegram post, On the night of June 6, 2023, the Russian occupationists blew up the Kakhovka dam.

Water from the Kakhovka reservoir is needed for the plant to receive power for ZNPP turbine capacitors and safety systems, Energoatom said, adding that the Kakhovka dam collapse may have negative consequences for ZNPP but the situation is under control.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday that the Nova Kakhovka dam was severely damaged leading to a significant reduction in the level of the reservoir used to supply cooling water to the ZNPP.

But the agencys Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, Our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has been controlling the dam and the entire Kakhovka HPP for more than a year. It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside, by shelling. It was mined by the Russian occupiers. And they blew it up.

This is the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades, he added on Twitter.

The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for the sabotage, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, We can state unequivocally that we are talking about deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side.

The Kyiv regime should bear full responsibility for all the consequences, Peskov said, adding that Ukraine aims to cut off Crimea  controlled by Russia  from fresh water, and to distract from its faltering counter-offensive.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The CIA was warned in June that Ukrainian special forces had planned an attack on Russias Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, according to an exclusive from the Washington Post.

The heads-up from a European spy agency came months before the Nord Stream gas pipeline suffered at the hands of what most official investigations deemed gross sabotage. The warning said that the attacks would be carried out by a small team of divers who reportedly directly to the commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Washington Post suggests.

The intelligence report was shared on Discord, WaPo said, allegedly from Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira. The intelligence was based on information from a Ukrainian individual, although WaPo was unable to corroborate the sources information. The CIA, however, did share back in June its report with Germany and other European countries, sources familiar with the matter told WaPo.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Germany and several other governments set out to investigate the cause of the explosions but have failed to reach any conclusion.

The Nord Stream pipelines were sabotaged in late September in still unexplained circumstances. Nord Stream 1 was carrying gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, while Nord Stream 2 was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia, for its part, shut down Nord Stream 1 indefinitely in early September, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions.

Russia has called for an international investigation into the Nord Stream sabotage after a U.S. investigative journalist wrote in February that the United States had planted explosives on the bottom of the Baltic Sea to blow up the pipelines, although Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said last month that the chances of finding and bringing the Nord Stream attack perpetrators to justice were negligible.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Shoppers should plan to be in downtown Gretna on Saturday morning.

A trio of events are scheduled: the brand-new Gretna Farmers Market, the Gretna Area Chamber of Commerces annual Business Expo and the fifth annual McKenna Market Mania flea market and craft show.

The Gretna Farmers Market will bring 20 to vendors from 8 a.m. to noon, while the chambers Business Expo invites area businesses to set up tents during the same time and share information. Face painting will be offered, too.

The Business Expo was reimagined last year, outside with food trucks and the craft fair, the chamber said in a flyer. It was a hit so we are doing it again!

The Business Expo raises funds for the chambers activities, including Gretna Days.

McKenna Market Mania, a fundraiser for the Gretna Neighbors Food Pantry, will start Friday and continue Saturday along McKenna Avenues red brick road. It features antiques, vintage products, handmade goods, art and food. Market Mania runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

Find more on the farmers market at facebook.com/GretnaNEFarmersMarket. Find more on the Business Expo at facebook.com/gretnachamber. Find more on the Market Mania at face book.com/mckennamarket.
UNICO Group Welcomes Amy Hruska as Private Client Advisor UNICO Group, a client-focused insurance broker, is pleased to announce Amy Hruska has joined the Omaha team as a Private Client Advisor. Amy comes to UNICO with 38 years of experience in the private client industry. Most recently serving as a Private Client Advisor in the Omaha office of a global insurance broker. As UNICO continues to expand both geographically and its target market, we have recognized a demand among our clientele. Expanding our reach in the private client market enables us to partner with additional insurance providers who are experts in managing risks associated with high net-worth individuals. In this role, Amy will provide private client insurance to individuals in the higher-end market, offering comprehensive coverage on personal assets that exceeds the maximum coverage limit of standard insurance carriers. When asked why Amy chose to join UNICO Group, she answered "UNICO is privately held and locally owned, yet their reach is vast. Being affiliated with a local independent agency, I can deliver a more personal experience to those in my backyard, but at the same time, I can compete with national firms across the country." Amy is a past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Omaha Association and currently holds the position of Secretary/Treasurer for the Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska Association. About UNICO Group UNICO Group is a client-focused insurance broker headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our consultative and relational approach develops customized solutions for clients all around the nation. For more information, call 402.434.7200 or visit unicogroup.com.
A vacant business bay at Nebraska Crossing shopping center is decorated as if a Lego toy store may be on its way.

The storefront in the Gretna center is postered with images of the brightly colored brick toys and of the squat, claw-handed human figures from the toy sets.

Above the door is a Lego logo, and below it the companys website address, Lego.com.

Officials remained silent Tuesday, however, on whether Lego has indeed settled on Gretna for a new store. Neither the toy company nor the shopping mall would confirm that a deal has been struck.

Rumors have been flying for months about Nebraska getting its first Lego store. A website that highlights metro area development happenings ignited the speculation. The Grow Omaha website, in its weekly market report March 16, said that Lego representatives visited the city.

Representatives from Lego were in town last week touring various retail properties, the site reported.

The closest Lego stores are in Kansas City and Minneapolis.

Lego officials back then wouldnt even confirm the visit.

The World-Herald Tuesday contacted Lego public affairs again for comment, but a representative wasnt ready to spill the beans  or in this case, the Lego bricks.

Thank you for reaching out, but Im afraid the answer remains the same: We do not comment on future store plans and deliberations, said spokesperson Andreas Friias.

A spokesperson for Nebraska Crossing was similarly mum. Johanna Boston would only say that Lego is looking in the market.

Nothing is confirmed, Boston said.

During 2022, Lego grew its global network of stores, opening 155 new stores together with partners, taking total stores globally to 904, according to the companys 2022 annual report.

In 2023, we will continue to make significant investments in our retail platforms to reach and inspire even more shoppers, the report said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
A 19-year-old Omaha man was sentenced to decades in prison on Tuesday for being the getaway driver in a fatal 2021 drive-by shooting.

Elijah Robinson was sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison for his role in the 2021 murder of 18-year-old KorVanta Hill. Robinson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder earlier this year in exchange for prosecutors dismissing a gun charge.

Robinsons co-defendant and the alleged shooter, 20-year-old Justyn Wagner, is set to stand trial on first-degree murder and gun use charges in July. If found guilty of first-degree murder, he will receive an automatic life sentence.

According to detectives who testified at initial court appearances, Robinson and Wagner, who is now 20, were driving around and casing a known Crips neighborhood on the evening of Oct. 18, 2021.

Robinson was the driver, with a teen girl who later cooperated with police in the passenger seat and Wagner in the back. Minutes before the shooting, all three turned off their cellphones.

Near 39th and Pratt Streets, they came upon Hill taking a walk around the neighborhood with his stepfather. Wagner allegedly got out of the car and fired 10 times, striking Hill in the chest once.

Hill was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition. The bullet had entered his back and struck his spleen, liver and heart. He died later that night.

According to detectives, Hill had no gang associations.

Its a case of mistaken identity, Detective Matei Jackson with the Omaha Police Department previously testified.

Under Nebraskas good time law, Robinson will serve 20 years before he is eligible for parole.
The leader of the Bellevue Public Schools will receive a 2.8% raise following school board approval Monday.

Effective July 1, Superintendent Jeff Rippe's salary will increase from $257,439 to $264,647 for the 2023-24 school year, according to school board documents. The pay increase follows Rippe's 3.4% raise he received last year.

His total compensation will be $372,638, which includes $25,000 in stipends and $1,150 in membership dues, along with health care and retirement funds. Last year, Rippe's total compensation package was $371,623.

The board also extended the contract by one year. The three-year contract now will expire June 30, 2026.

Rippe was named Bellevue superintendent in 2016, replacing Frank Harwood, who took a job in Kansas.

Photos: 'Flying Nun' house is mid-century time capsule in Bellevue
The family of an elementary student who was assaulted by a former security guard while at school has settled with the Omaha Public Schools for $150,000.

During a Monday meeting, the school board approved the claim, which would be compensation for the students emotional trauma and psychological symptoms, according to settlement documents.

Carlos J. Ornelas Ramirez, 24, was employed as a security guard for the Omaha Public Schools and worked at Pawnee Elementary in Bellevue. According to police, on Dec. 10, 2021, Ornelas Ramirez and a student entered a portable classroom at the school where he assaulted the student.

Ornelas Ramirez had been working at the school for a little more than two months at the time. According to the settlement, he also had entered a grooming relationship with the student during the fall of 2021.

School staff contacted police Dec. 14, 2021, after receiving information that a guard might have had sexual contact with a student on school property. Ornelas Ramirez was placed on leave immediately after the district learned of the reported misconduct.

Ornelas Ramirez pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree sexual assault in Sarpy County Court in February. In May, his sentencing was continued to June 27.

First-degree sexual assault carries a minimum sentence of one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 50 years.
The bronze sculpture of Willa Cather shows her holding a walking stick in one hand and paper with her writing in another.

Cather is taking a step through Nebraskas prairie, her gaze straight ahead under a wide-brimmed hat.

This sculpture of the author will be unveiled Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the U.S. Capitols National Statuary Hall. The ceremony will be broadcast live on C-Span and on the website of the speaker of the House.

The public is also invited to viewing parties at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln and at the National Willa Cather Centers Opera House in Red Cloud. The events are free and open to everyone.

Each state has two statues at the U.S. Capitol as part of the Statuary Hall collection, although overcrowding has resulted in many of the statues being placed in various other spots around the Capitol complex. Back in 1937, Nebraska opted for statues of Julius Sterling Morton and William Jennings Bryan.

Then in 2018, the Nebraska Legislature voted to replace Morton with a statue of Cather and to swap Bryan for Standing Bear, the Ponca chief whose stirring appearance in federal court led to legal recognition of Indians as human beings.

The statue of Standing Bear is already in the U.S. Capitol after being unveiled in 2019. Getting Cathers statue to D.C. took longer than initially expected because of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

But the timing of the installation ceremony comes at a meaningful time for Cather. Its exactly six months before her 150th birthday on Dec. 7 and 100 years after she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel One of Ours.

Cather, who also authored My Antonia and O Pioneers, spent her formative years in Red Cloud and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1895.

Littleton Alston, a professor of sculpture at Creighton University, beat out more than 70 other artists to create the Cather statue. He will be the first African American to have a sculpture in the Statuary Hall Collection, according to a press release.

Like Cather, Alston was born in Virginia but came west to Nebraska. Alston said in an interview he considers himself a Nebraskan now after living in the state for more than 30 years.

Being the first African American sculptor in that Statuary Hall collection is a huge honor especially since I grew up in poverty in Washington D.C., Alston said. To have a work placed there is a true honorand rounding out this perfect circle that my life has worked towards.

To create the Cather statue, Alston read her writings, notes and letters. He also visited the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud and looked at the authors possessions that are in the museum collection.

In Alstons sculpture, Cather is wearing a jacket that was a gift from her publisher and a gold snake ring that she wore often throughout her life. Behind Cather, a wagon wheel is partially buried in the soil.

I used the wagon wheel as a symbol of moving through the land, understanding the land but then also being deeply rooted in the land, partially buried in land, Alston said.

Ashley Olson, executive director of the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud, said Alston took the time to introduce elements into the sculpture and it make it personal in a way other depictions of Cather have not.

Olson said Cathers writing spans settings that include the desert Southwest, 17th-century Quebec and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but her most well-known stories are about Nebraska and its people.

Her books really spotlight human stories with themes that are present in our lives today, Olson said. Things were still dealing with like love and loss, frustration and determination, tragedy and discovery.

Cather also created a sense of place in her work in the way she wrote about the Nebraska landscape, Olson said.

When she writes about the Nebraska landscape, its in a way that I think we as Nebraskans can really appreciate this wonderful place we get to call home, Olson said. But shes also done us a real service by making people outside of the state of Nebraska know and understand the state in a way they wouldnt have without her literature.

Olson encouraged people who are interested in learning more about Cather to visit the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud, which opened in 2017. Theres a public museum, archive, research center, bookstore, art gallery and the Red Cloud Opera House. Five miles south of Red Cloud is the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, which is 612 acres of native prairie being returned to its 19th century conditions.

There also will be events throughout the year to celebrate Cathers 150th birthday. For more information, visit willacather.org.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2023
Maybe theres no better way to start discussing this matter than to read a poem. Lets start off with The Invention by the English poet Philip Larkin:

Money is a thing you earn by the sweat of your brow

And thats how it should be.

Or you can steal it, and go to jail;

Or inherit it, and be set for life;

Or win it on the pools, which is luck;

Or marry it, which is what I did.

And that is how it should be, too.

But now this ideas come up

Of inventing money, just like that.

I ask you, is nothing sacred?

Here we find Larkins lyrical clarity, which hes famous for: the entire poem is written in direct, ordinary language. Take note also of his signature wit present throughout the poem, as well as the quiet, ironic reflection at the end  playful and pessimistic at the same time, classic Larkin.

Except that the poem isnt Larkins. It was generated by an early OpenAI program prompted to write a poem about cryptocurrency in the style of Philip Larkin, a couple of months before OpenAI launched ChatGPT.

The unexpected speed and magnitude at which AI technologies have improved in the past few months have of course prompted artists, intellectuals, and normal people alike to ask questions about its artistic, intellectual, and social implications. Even Elon Musk, who was one of the founders of OpenAI, joined technology experts in their call for a global pause on AI development due to its potential and unforeseeable risks to society. (Musk, however, is reportedly planning to work on an AI technology that would rival OpenAIs.)

Among artists, to whom poets belong, the key question has been whether AI technology can replace human creativity. Its no surprise that the English mathematician Alan Turing, who famously devised a method of testing AI to determine if it can think like a human being, imagined posing this question to a computer: Please write me a sonnet on the subject of the Forth Bridge.

ChatGPT and its ilk pose an existential threat to poets. If computer algorithms can pen texts indistinguishable from the ones written by actual poets, what do we need poets for? Plato would surely be glad, for hed get yet another reason to banish them from society.

But remember that despite the long history of technological inventions, poetry has persisted and has had its own long history.

Poetry existed initially as an oral art form, but the invention of writing, and eventually printing, only made it more widely available. The early 2000s saw the emergence of poetic movements strongly influenced by the Internet, such as Flarf and alt-lit; their proponents  the poets Gary Sullivan and Tao Lin, to name a few  viewed the internet as both material and medium. In "Citizen: An American Lyric," published in 2014, the American poet Claudia Rankine, drawing on the visual language of television and film, incorporates video stills and other graphic elements to create a hybrid literary work.

Although poetrys popularity may be eclipsed by newer art forms and mediums, therefore, it will never be obsolete. The history of poetry is one of constant reinvention.

Theres a reason why ChatGPT and similar AI programs are usually called generative instead of creative. They can only generate ideas from the data and the prompts they are fed with. They are, at least as of this writing, incapable of creating original ideas. They are simply good imitators.

The Invention, the AI-generated poem I mentioned at the beginning of this piece, is only an imitation of Larkin, not and will never be Larkins. I assume that the moment you found out the poem was not Larkins but AI-generated, your attitude towards it changed. It may be akin to the feeling you will have if you discover that the designer bag or pair of sneakers somebody gave you is actually fake.

The difference between your reaction toward a Larkin poem and a mere imitation of it is what lies at the heart of the aesthetic experience: an encounter with authenticity.

In his famous essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, the German critic Walter Benjamin argues that the mechanical and mass reproduction of art objects reduces their authenticity.

Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art, he writes, is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. For Benjamin the value of an artwork is embedded in the fabric of tradition. Its meaning is inseparable from and produced by the historical context and material conditions in which it was created.

Using Benjamins criteria, what value can we get from a poem that is AI-generated? What did the AI program have to go through to be able to compose the poem?

To illustrate this point lets take This Be The Verse, a poem Larkin actually wrote:

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had

And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn

By fools in old-style hats and coats,

Who half the time were soppy-stern

And half at one anothers throats.

Man hands on misery to man.

It deepens like a coastal shelf.

Get out as early as you can,

And dont have any kids yourself.

The poem tackles generational trauma. Larkins father Sydney was a Nazi-sympathizing disciplinarian. Of him Larkin wrote: His personality had imposed that taut ungenerous defeated pattern of life on the family, and it was only to be expected that it would make them miserable and that their misery would react on him. On the other hand, although Larkin also said unflattering words about his mother Eva, he maintained a close relationship with her. He wrote her letters twice weekly for more than 30 years.

All this probably explains why, despite the accusatory tone of the first paragraph of Larkins poem, it reveals an understanding, almost forgiving attitude in the second: your parents fuck you up because their own parents fucked them up as well. Hence the poem ends on a compassionate and poignant note: put an end to generational trauma by not bearing children.

As readers we relate to the poem because we know an actual person wrote it and because we suppose that Larkin was able to express such emotions because of his own fraught relationship with his parents. A literary critic next to you may call this intentional fallacy or cite Roland Barthess The Death of the Author, but its undeniable that what we look for and appreciate in a poem or any work of art is a sense of shared humanity.

Now ask ChatGPT to write a poem about generational trauma, and no matter how good it may sound, it will ultimately be false and hollow. It will lack authenticity. Why? Nobody fucked it up.

The Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, ever the literary clairvoyant, might as well have been discussing texts generated by the algorithms of AI language models and not George Bernard Shaws work when he wrote: If literature were nothing but verbal algebra, anyone could produce any book simply by practicing variations.

According to Borges, texts produced via statistical prediction and combination, as what ChatGPT does, lack value and even meaning. Like Benjamin, Borges argues that literature is a dialogue and a narration. When we create art, we engage in a conversation with the artworks and artists that came before us, and in this process we write our place in history.

A quote often attributed to Borges goes this way: Art is fire plus algebra. ChatGPT and other AI tools are just that: tools, algebra. They can never replace poets. As poets we may use them as devices, but in the end the value of our poems is generated by our own genuine dreams, fears, successes, and fuckups  by our authenticity, our fire.

In a world that seems to reward speed and artificiality, distraction over contemplation, the poets primary role is to remind others of the significance of taking things slow and keeping it real.
LINCOLN  Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen learned the hard way how vulnerable modern agriculture can be to those with malicious intent.

One week before COVID reached Nebraska in 2020, a hacker knocked out the computers at Pillen Farms. The attack shut down the entire genetic database, kept workers from being able to make feed, and affected pretty much all activity at agribusiness operation.

You talk about sobering, the governor said Tuesday, while kicking off a two-day symposium focused on threats to agriculture.

The event, held at the Nebraska Innovation Campus, was hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and brought together more than 400 people from some 19 states, representing a variety of agriculture entities and law enforcement.

Gene Kowel, special agent in charge of the FBIs Omaha Field Office, said the FBI is concerned about agriculture because it is one of the nations 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Those are sectors whose incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on national security, economic security or public health.

He said that agricultures growing use of technology has increased the risks to that sector, whether from criminals, terrorists or hostile foreign countries.

We know that the cyber-risk to our farms, our ranches, our food processing facilities is growing exponentially every day, every year, he said. Cyber risk is business risk and cyber security is national security.

Kowel described four main threats. The first is malicious cyber activity that can shut down agricultural operations. This can include ransomware attacks or other malware, which can be especially harmful during planting and harvesting time.

The theft of data or technology is the second threat. He said China, in particular, has set out to build its technological abilities by stealing from other countries.

A third threat comes from countries, criminals or terrorists trying to take control of agricultural processes, whether to stop production, alter production, manipulate markets or to have an ecological effect.

Finally, he said, there is a risk of bioterrorism or bio-warfare, in which diseases or toxic agents are used to target food production.

Mark McHargue, Nebraska Farm Bureau president, said farmers and ranchers have been able to do more with less by adopting precision agriculture, which depends on using detailed data to direct sophisticated equipment or tailor the care of livestock. Theres also new technologies as laser-equipped weed-killing robots or drones for spraying crops.

But those technologies all come with their share of risk. He said people in agriculture need to be aware of the potential and to develop a plan to prepare for and prevent problems. He also said he hopes the conference will result in a coalition of agricultural producers and food processers who can collaborate on deciding how best to protect the food supply system.

McHargue and Kowel said that people can find resources through websites for the FBI, Farm Bureau or the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
A 64-year-old man died Sunday after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a deer south of Ashland, Nebraska.

Michael Kellogg of Ashland was taken to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Omaha hospital.

Investigators determined that Kellogg was southbound on 238th Street near Davey Road on a 2002 Honda motorcycle at 7 a.m. A deer ran onto the roadway and collided with the motorcycle.

Cass County deputies were assisted at the scene by Ashland police and fire personnel.
LINCOLN  Exactly one week after Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed a bill incentivizing donations to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools, Nebraska public school supporters launched an effort to repeal it.

Educators, nonprofits and several other local groups banded together under the organization Support our Schools Nebraska for the petition drive against Legislative Bill 753, which just passed the Nebraska Legislature. The petition aims to put the repeal of LB 753 on the 2024 ballot.

The people of Nebraska are going to do what the legislators of this building should have done, which is say no, said the leader of the effort, Tim Royers, at the petitions kickoff rally at the Capitol on Tuesday.

LB 753 will provide tax credits for individuals and entities making donations to scholarship funds intended to help students attend private and parochial schools. Under the bill, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, $25 million will be available for credits in 2024, with the same amount available for the next two years. After that, the limit for credits will grow to a maximum of $100 million per year.

Individuals and businesses could not receive more than $100,000 in annual credits, while estates and trusts would be capped at $1 million per year.

Linehan and other supporters say that LB 753 is needed to help families, particularly those with lower incomes, have a range of educational opportunities. That way, backers say, families will have the ability to select the best options for their childrens needs.

Public school teachers have opposed such proposals, arguing that they deplete funding for public education and will primarily benefit Nebraskas wealthiest residents.

Molly Gross, legislative chair of the Nebraska Parent Teacher Association, said during the kickoff rally that the opposition effort was foretold at a previous rally in which hundreds of educators showed up at the Capitol to protest LB 753 while it was still being debated.

We stood here on these steps five weeks ago, and we rallied to support our public schools, Gross said. We promised that wed be back if this bill was signed into law. And here we are, just as we promised, because our kids are watching.

To place the repeal of LB 753 on the 2024 ballot, the petition drive must gather signatures from at least 5% of Nebraskas registered voters  just over 60,000 authorized signatures  by the time the law takes effect around late August.

Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said the goal is to get 90,000 signatures over the next 90 days. Support our Schools Nebraska has several events planned to collect signatures over the next week in different regions across Nebraska.

The Rev. T. Michael Williams of Omaha, the first official signature on the petition, said he believes LB 753 is unfair to students, and will only sow more division across the state.

We have enough division in our society, enough division economically and socially, said Williams, who is president of the Omaha NAACP. I think this is going to create more.

Along with the NSEA and Nebraska PTA, other organizations backing the effort include the OpenSky Policy Institute, Stand for Schools and Arc of Nebraska. Several local school board members also spoke in support of the petition, including Milford school board member Dave Welsch, who criticized LB 753 for incentivizing a specific type of charitable donation while neglecting others.

This bill is not about providing school choice to students in our state, Welsch said. That has always been an option to students, for them to choose where they want to be educated.

Linehan and other LB 753 supporters issued statements last week criticizing the petition. On Tuesday, Linehan said she was dumbfounded by it, noting that lawmakers also passed increases to public education funding this year. Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said those involved with the petition are engaged in all-out political warfare against children.

Rather than respecting parents as the primary educators of their children, the teachers union is literally stripping educational opportunities out of the hands of low-income students, military families, students with disabilities, kids whove been bullied, and children in the foster care system, Venzor said in an email statement.

In response, Royers said LB 753 supporters should have no reason to be afraid of the petition drive if the new law is truly what the states voters want.

Linehan said she isnt against bringing the issue to the voters, but she is concerned that opponents will be dishonest.

I trust the people, Linehan said. I dont trust the union.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
LINCOLN  The chapel at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery holds 216 seats. On Monday at 10 a.m., nearly all were filled, as the Lincoln community came together to honor the memory of a fallen soldier lost in a war more than 50 years ago.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Larry Alfred Zich, a Lincoln pilot who went missing in action in 1972 during the Vietnam War, was buried Monday in a memorial service with full military honors.

Officiated by the Nebraska National Guard, the ceremony was attended by Zichs family and friends, along with members of the Patriot Guard Riders, VFW Post 4626, American Legion Post 3, Nebraska Veterans Affairs and the Daughters of American Revolution-Deborah Avery Chapter.

Shortly before the service began, as family, friends and community members huddled inside the funeral home lobby, members of the Patriot Guard Riders, each holding an American flag, lined the entrance outside.

As mourners began to take their seats, Zichs sister, Waltina Tina Mueller, and widow, Debbie Zich Peters, were visibly emotional in the front row.

Zich was described as loving, caring and brave  but almost above all, as playful.

Larry was known to make sure everyone was smiling, said Chaplain Jillian Peterson, who officiated the ceremony. When he was cracking jokes or plotting a playful prank, he did it with the utmost care of the people around him.

Zich, a native of Sturgis, South Dakota, went missing on April 3, 1972  his 24th birthday  when the Huey helicopter he was co-piloting with three other crew members was lost during a combat support mission that departed Marble Mountain in Da Nang, South Vietnam.

At the time, neither Zichs remains nor the helicopter were recovered. In 1988, a Vietnamese refugee brought the Defense Intelligence Agency nine packets of human remains from individuals who reportedly died in an aircraft crash and were buried in Quang Nam province. Some of those remains belonged to Zich.

But it wasnt until Oct. 25, 2022  nearly 35 years later  that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conclusively confirmed that they were his remains.

Sad and relieved is how Mueller described Mondays service.

Theres still questions, she said.

Toward the back of the chapel, a table displayed Zichs memorabilia: graduation certificates, diplomas, photographs, cameras and Zichs old flight gloves.

When the chapel service was over, mourners proceeded outside to Zichs gravesite, where he received full military honors and Peterson read her final remarks, followed by a prayer and a salute. A flyover by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was done by the National Guard.

For Genenne Gibson Didier, an old friend and neighbor of the Zichs, Mondays service represented progress.

Its one more step (forward) for everyone, Didier said.

Didier, who was 10 years old in 1972, had fond memories of the Zichs, including when Larrys father, Walter, attended one of her birthday parties.

I invited him to my birthday party when I was 5 years old and he came in a suit, Didier said. Very close family and very sweet.

And 51 years after his disappearance, Larry Alfred Zich  father, brother, friend  is finally home.

This one is kind of special, said Jim Mather, a ride captain with the Patriot Guard Riders. Another name comes off the wall.
A Tecumseh, Nebraska, woman pleaded guilty Monday in Johnson County District Court to felony motor vehicle homicide.

Chelsy Kress, 36, admitted to causing the death of Logan Ascheman, 22, of Tecumseh on March 16 by driving recklessly. She also pleaded guilty to failure to stop and render aid as well as being in possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.

Deputies from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in south-central Nebraska responded to a call from Kress about 2:30 a.m. March 17. According to an affidavit, Kress called the Sheriff's Office to say that "she believed she hit someone with her vehicle."

A deputy went to the area of First Street and the railroad tracks in Tecumseh and located Ascheman, who was deceased. The deputy then went to Kress' home and found damage to her vehicle "consistent with striking a pedestrian."

Investigators said surveillance video shows Kress traveling northbound on First Street about 10 p.m. on March 16. Kress, they said, struck Ascheman with her vehicle and left the area without stopping to render aid.

Kress then returned home and did not contact law enforcement for 4 hours after the incident, authorities say.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Lawyers for Ukraine told the United Nations' top court Tuesday that Russia bankrolled a campaign of intimidation and terror by rebels in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014 and sought to replace Crimea's multiethnic community with discriminatory Russian nationalism after its occupation and annexation of the region.

The claims came at hearings at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscows 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Four days of hearings in the courts ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice opened against a backdrop of Europes deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia were trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Lawyers for Kyiv presented legal arguments to support their case Tuesday. Russia's lawyers will address judges Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.

When it could have instructed its officials not to fund groups committing violence against civilians, Russia did nothing, Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, told judges. Instead, as more deadly weapons arrived in Ukraine and more Ukrainian civilians suffered atrocities, Russian officials escalated their illegal supply of monies and weapons sending."

Koh said that in July 2014, a Buk anti-aircraft system was sent into Ukraine "after which Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed.

Another lawyer on Ukraine's team, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fueled this campaign.

The Ukrainian legal team said Russia did nothing to prevent or help Ukraine investigate the financial streams.

Turning to alleged breaches in Crimea of a convention to combat racial discrimination, Koh said that, following its illegal occupation and annexation of the peninsula, Russia sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterized Crimea before Russias intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism.

He told judges that Russian policies amount to "a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians Ukrainians and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars.

The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russias illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities  a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored.

In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court doesn't have jurisdiction.

Not far away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia isn't a member of the court and doesn't recognize its jurisdiction.

A Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has contempt for international law, a senior Ukrainian diplomat, Anton Korynevych, said. Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said God personally intervened in the electoral turbulence to give the state a desired victory.

A statement by the governors media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said he spoke at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a solidarity and thanksgiving service by the Anglican Bishops of the Province of Niger Delta.

Wike said he saw the mighty working hand of God during the elections.

He said: We give God the glory for what has happened. During the turbulence, the Church prayed and God heard. God came down and intervened on our behalf. Our thanksgiving to God will never be enough. But for the intervention of God, there is nothing anyone would have done.

All the conspiracies and gang-ups were heavy, but God showed his presence. When you have challenges, then you know there is God.

The governor urged the clergy to pray for God to give him the wisdom to appoint officials who will be committed to the development of Rivers State in his second term.

Read Also: Wike appoints SSG, Chief of Staff

I need your prayers for God to bring to me the right people who will work with me; people who will work with me for the good of our state. People do all manner of things these days to manipulate the system. We need Gods guidance for people who will be sincere to work for the state, he added.

Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta Rev. Tunde Adeleye said they were in the Government House to thank God for giving Wike victory following their prayers.

According to him, God intervened in the face of the several plots against Wike because the governor works for the growth of Christianity.

He said: We prayed intensely because God revealed to us the battle ahead. You fought, but the Lord was on your side and you were on the side of God, and the battle was won.

The cleric said the Church was concerned because Wike has always identified with it, by professing Christianity at every point.

He urged Wike to remain vigilant as he receives goodwill messages, and prayed God to give him the spirit to know the right direction to lead the state.

Wike on Wednesday inspected ongoing projects in Port and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

He inspected the ongoing construction of Rumuepirikom Internal Roads, where he directed the contractors to intensify work.

The governor inspected the progress of work on Birabi Street, which is the route to the Headquarters of the Salvation Ministry. He also monitored the level of work at the judges quarters where the contractors are putting finishing touches to the 20 duplexes.

The governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, Head of Service Rufus Godwins, Attorney-General Zaccheus Adangor, Commissioner for Finance Isaac Kamalu, project contractors and officials of the Ministry of Works.
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By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) has called for elimination of barriers, stigmatization and segregation against persons with disability, while also advocating an inclusive education for them.

The State Chairman of the group in Anambra, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke made the call while speaking at a one-day advocacy and capacity building program organized by JONAPWD, which held in Awka, the State capital.

Tagged Advocacy and Capacity Strengthening of Young Persons with Disabilities on Inclusive Education Framework in Nigeria, the event was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Palladium, and carried out by the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Nigeria. It also has dignitaries and stakeholders from different sectors of the State in attendance.

In his address of welcome, Comrade Okeke said that the advocacy for inclusive education for persons with disability was one of utmost importance and required urgent attention, given the place of education in human development.

According to him, quality education remains a major tool for the empowerment of persons with disability, whom, he said, are often denied access education

He maintained that the issue of inclusive education cannot be relegated to the background, because quality education remains the major tool for the empowerment of persons with disability.

Further underscoring the importance of inclusive education Comrade Okoli called for strategic plans on how to make education in Nigeria inclusive for persons with disability, adding that there is no way persons with disability can can have quality education without Inclusive education.

In his keynote address, the Director, Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research (CENDASNER), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Williams Emeka Obiozor recounted the successes so far recorded by the Centre, even as he commended the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Charles Esimone who established the Centre in 2019 when he assumed office, based on his understanding that there is ability in disability.

While noting that the Center, which started with just 7 students at its inception, now has over 70 students fully registered with them; Prof. Obiozor also said the Centre had attracted grants worth millions of naira from Afrexin Bank, which was used for the purchase of learning materials to aid students with disabilities in the school, and disbursed 50,000 scholarship to each student with disability in the school. He also said there was an ongoing disability policy being attended to by the University, and an ongoing skill acquisition centre for all students in the school.

On his own part, the Program Officer, Mr. Usman Umoro explained Inclusive Education as the removal of barriers to learning, and involvement of all learners who otherwise would have been excluded through marginalization and segregation.

According to him, students with disabilities would perform effectively well if the barriers are completely eliminated.

In his closing remark, the JONAPWD Project Officer on Inclusive Education in Anambra State, Mr Onyekachi Ololo said achieving inclusive education in the State would go a long way in helping the State Government of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to achieve his vision of making Anambra State a liveable and prosperous homeland.

He further appreciated the stakeholders for their concern and commitment in making case for inclusive education, while calling for the sustenance of the advocacy.

The event featured goodwill messages from representative of the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Patrick Iwuanya; representatives of the Anambra State, Civil Society Organizations, and other stakeholders and members of the disability community in the State.

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Justice James Omotosho, the presiding judge at a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, awarded a N10 million fine against Festus Keyamo, the immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, for filing a frivolous suit against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The judge, in a ruling, awarded a N5 million fine each in favour of Abubakar and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, totaling a N10 million against Keyamo.

Justice Omotosho, who described the suit as frivolous, vexatious and abuse of court processes, directed that the fine should be paid at 10 per cent per annum until the cost is finally liquidated.

The order followed an oral application by the counsel for Atiku, Benson Igbanoi, and that of the ICPC, Oluwakemi Odogun, asking for cost after the matter was dismissed.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Keyamo, who was also the spokesperson of the dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 on 20 January.

In the application, he had sought an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to probe and prosecute Abubakar.

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On June 2, 2023, at exactly 9:00 am prompt, Justice Mohammed Madugu of the FCT Court 40 Bwari rose to hear Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023 which has Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan (National Vice Chairman Southwest of APGA) and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha (National Welfare Officer of APGA) are Claimants and Chief Victor Oye and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 1st Respondent 2nd Respondents.

The two Claimants being executives of APGA under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku (whom the Supreme Court had on March 24, 2023 reaffirmed and reconfirmed as the authentic National Chairman of APGA, with Consequential Orders, whilst deleting the name of Chief Victor Oye from the Judgment and clearly stating that the latter had no business with APGA).

Appropriately, the Supreme Court served the Enrolment Order of its judgment on INEC on April 5, 2023. However, despite being in reception of the Supreme Court Enrolment Order, the Commission (which has continued to conduct itself poorly, especially, since the APGA leadership crisis) refused to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA as contained in the consequential orders of the Court.

Since April 5, 2023, INEC under the leadership of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, by act of omission and commission, have shown the world that it has enormous powers; this includes powers to suppress a Supreme Court Judgment and appoint a National Chairman for any political party, as it so wishes. It is befuddling that a Commission which was created by law and funded by Tax Payers money would be leading a subversive crusade the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE BY JUSTICE OMOTOSHO OF FHC AGAINST SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON APGA LEADERSHIP

Sequel to the Supreme Court Judgment, APGA candidates in the 2023 General Election under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku filed Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1750/2022 before Hon. Justice J.K Omotosho praying the Court to be declared the authentic candidates of the Party.

Reprehensibly, on March 28, 2023, without recourse to the corrected Judgment of the Apex Court (in Suit No: SC/CV/687/2021), J.K Omotosho, irritably and impertinently, like a hatchet man, abandoned the detailed corrected version of the Judgment and its consequential orders and exhumed the October 14, 2021 Judgment and relied on it to embarrass the Supreme Court.

Provocatively, Oyes Counsel without sighting the corrected version of the Apex Court Judgment of March 24, 2013 derailed the Courts thought process by claiming that the corrected Judgment was merely about accidental slip and typographical error and had no bearing on the substance of the matter. By way of assumption, Omotosho concluded that it is impossible for Chief Edozie Njoku to lay claims to any benefit to the March 24, 2023 Judgment.

Notably, the grey area in the APGA matter is simply about two conventions  Awka and Owerri Conventions that held on the same date  May 31, 2019. Impressively, the two Supreme Court decisions on October 14, 2019 and March 24, 2023 NEVER MENTIONED anything about Awka. They were all about Owerri Convention and Oye had no business with Owerri Convention.

Instructively, it beggars disbelief that whilst the Supreme Court has categorically and expressly stated that Victor Oyes name be deleted from any document that has to do with APGA, one wonders on what strength of logic that INEC is still obliging Oye recognition, even when the Supreme Court Judgment has pronounced anathema sit on Ozonkpu Victor Oye.

Peevishly, Omotoshos hand-carry Judgment was a pervasive attempt to reopen and retry a matter that the Apex Court had already laid to rest. The Judge claimed Chief Edozie Njoku was not a party to the Suit and that the Supreme Court had dismissed matter.

Armed with J.K Omotoshos Judgment Oye ran to INEC claiming that the Supreme Courts Judgment of March 24, 2023 had been interpreted in his favor.

Contemptibly, Omotosho gave his Judgment on March 28, 2023, whereas, the CTC of the Supreme Court Judgment came out on March 29, 2023. So, how possible is it that Omotoshos Judgment represented the opinion of the Supreme Court, when he gave his Judgment without setting his eyes on the Judgment of the Apex Court?

Therefore, the claim that Omotoshos purported Judgment is an interpretation of the Supreme Court Judgment of March 24, 2023, is an orchestrated attempt to convert the Judiciary into Amphitheater.

Simply put, J.K Omotosho by his Judgment, elected to mock the Supreme Court and make the Justices in that Panel, who invested their time and energy to resolve the APGA leadership impasse look like worshippers of Baal.

FESTUS OKOYE: THE FESTERING SORE OF INEC

Armed with the incongruous Judgment of Omotosho, Oye ran to Festus Okoye and like Squealer, in the Orwellian satire, Animal Farm, Mr. Festus convinced the National Commissioners and the Legal Department of the Commission (which has outsourced its thinking faculty to him) that a Federal High Judgment potentially overrides and supersedes a Supreme Court Judgment.

Brazenly, Oyes name was retained on INEC website on the irreconcilable logic that the Commission holds a Federal High Judgment far and above a Supreme Court Judgment.

Strangely, having usurped the responsibilities of the Legal Department of INEC, Festus Okoye issued one of the most embarrassing public notices on behalf of the Commission on May 9, 2023.

Surprisingly, it is one month since Festus Okoye committed a millennial blunder via his Public Notice on APGA Leadership (by stating to the contrary that Alhaji Garba Aliyu was the beneficiary of the Jigawa Judgment, whereas the Commission recognized Jude Okeke as the Acting National Chairman of APGA on June 30, 2021 and obliged him the privilege to field the name of Hon. Chuma Umeoji as the Partys candidate for Anambra Governorship Election of November, 2021).

That the Commission is mute on this most embarrassing public notice exposes the Commission under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as a transactional establishment.

Given Festus Okoyes pedigree as a seasoned gentleman, a lawyer and an activist of repute and a man of noble birth, one had expected that a man in his mould, would have simply opted for a hara-kiri just like the typical Samurai monk or Zen; that would be the best way to make up for his sins.

ON OWERRI WE STAND

Recall that the leadership of APGA under Chief Edozie Njoku had statutorily notified INEC 21Days earlier of its National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting slated for May 5, 2023.

On May 3, 2023 Chief Njokus lawyer wrote to INEC to remind them of its earlier memo on NEC Meeting. Strangely, Mr. Aminu Idris, the Director Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) of INEC bluntly refused to accept further letters from Njokus lawyers; thereby forcing them to resort to sending letters to the Commission via DHL courier service.

On May 5, 2023, owing to the crisis in the Party, the entire NEC and NWC rallied round Chief Edozie Njoku, invoked the extant provisions of the Owerri Constitution of APGA which emerged from the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019 (often referred to as ON OWERRI WE STAND by dedicated and loyal Party men and women) and extended the tenure of all the Executives at all levels, by one year.

Recall that tenure extension is not new in APGA. In 2014, during Victor Umehs administration, the leadership tussle between Chief Victor Umeh led Exco and Chief Barr Maxi Okwu led faction, the tenure of Chief Victor Umeh Excos were validly extended from 2014 to 2015. Thus paving way for the Congresses and Convention that produced Chief Victor Oye in May 2015.

APGAs constitution made this provision to take care of a situation that may create leadership lacuna in the Party, which may arise as a result of crisis or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

Conscientiously, the tenure of the Chief Edozie Njokus led executives from the Ward, Local Government, State and National Levels were formally, officially and lawfully extended for another one year.

Instructively, the ONLY Constitution permissible by law in APGA is the Owerri Constitution of 2019 which was adopted and ratified at the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019.

Unarguably, Owerri Convention is the only Convention affirmed and adopted by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Expectedly, Chief Edozie Njokus lawyers transmitted this information to INEC.

Having secured tenure extension for all the Executives, some members of the NWC under Chief Edozie Njoku went to Court and got an Order stopping Oye from his illegal Congresses and Convention.

It was this profound strategic move, by Chief Edozie Njoku led APGA that rattled and disorganized the plots of Oye and INEC; thereby putting them under undue pressure which led them into disobeying a Court Order.

MAY 10, 2023 COURT ORDER STOPPING OYE FROM HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH APGA.

It is quite obvious that Njoku had lured Oye into another trap just as he did in 2019. Since 2019, Oye had been in and out of Courts to give legal backing to the illegal Awka Convention to no avail.

So, when the Court slammed Court Order on Oye on May 10, 2023, it became clear that Njoku has once more lured Oye into another deadly trap which saw him disobeying and discarding a subsisting Court Order. But, this time, there is a difference.

Previously, Oye and his co travelers had disobeyed Court Order without any iota of penalty. But, this time around, there is a world of difference, especially with the Court serving Oye and INEC Chairman Forms 48 & 49 for the commencement of committal proceedings on them.

COMMITTAL RPOCEEDINGS AGAINST INEC CHAIRMAN AND VICTOR OYE: COURT RESERVES JUDGMENT

After an extensive, in-depth and profound research, Justice Mohamed Madugu gave his ruling on June 2, 2023 and ruled that the application by Onyechi Ikpeazus for the Court to adjourn sine dine (with regards to his address on the jurisdiction of the Court) pending the outcome of the Interlocutory Appeal was frivolous and an attempt to lead the Court astray. The Court frowned at Onyechi Ikpeazus attempt to be smart by half and queried why he did not seek Leave of Court to stand down further proceedings on the matter.

The Judges Ruling cited impeccable authorities that the suit should go on, bearing in mind that the letter from the FCT Court 40 Appeal section clearly indicted Onyechi Ikpeazus purported Appeal for not following due process of the Court.

Going by the letter tendered at the Court, the Chief Registrar of the Apo High Court Division made it clear that the transmission of Appeal Process for CA/ABJ/CV/582/2023 did not follow the proper Appeal procedure.

The Court went ahead to further rule that it shall take both the Preliminary Objection and the Originating Summons.

The lawyer standing in for Onyechi Ikpeazu requested the Court to adjourn till June 7, 2023 to allow the Learned Silk to be present, as he is currently in the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT).

Counsel to Otunba Camaru, Mike Ajara responded with abundant references that a Counsel before the Court, by way of representation is deemed fit and capable to withstand any legal fireworks. He insisted that the request made by Oyes Counsel to adjourn till June 7, 2023 was another ploy to derail the Court.

After heated arguments, on whether or not to proceed, the Court agreed to take both the Preliminary Objection and Originating Summons on June 2, 2023.

Ikpeazus representative told the Court that they have a Judgment Order from Hon. Justice H.O Ozoh of the Anambra State High Court Otuocha Division (Suit No: OT/79/2023) which authorized them to go on with the Congresses and Convention at Awka.

Interestingly, this Judgment was gotten on May 12, 2023. That is barely 48hrs after the Bwari Court gave its Orders on May 10, 2023. Finally, the Court reserved Judgment for a date to be given to the Parties. But, how Onyechi Ikpeazu was able to procure a Judgment of Court within 48hours is really and truly intriguing.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Tuesday urged pilots to avoid flying near Kanlaon Volcano, the third restive volcano in the country that airmen are being warned about.

"Flight operators are strongly advised to avoid flying in close proximity to the volcano's summit due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions," CAAP said in a statement. "Such eruptions may pose a significant hazard to aircraft from the surface up to 10,000 feet."

Entry has also been prohibited within the 4-kilometer radius of Kanlaon's permanent danger zone.

The volcano located on Negros Island is currently under Alert Level 1, which means "low-level unrest."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said this means that "hydrothermal, magmatic, or tectonic disturbances may be underway. The source of activity may be shallow, near the summit crater or in the vicinity of the edifice."

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of Phivolcs volcano monitoring and eruption prediction division, said the volcano has been producing low-frequency quakes in the past months.

From 5 a.m. on Monday until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Phivolcs said it recorded five volcanic quakes in the area.

Its sulfur dioxide emission also significantly rose to 1,089 tons per day on Monday from normally 50 tons a day, Bornas noted.

On Monday, CAAP also notified pilots not to fly near Mayon Volcano in Albay and Taal Volcano in Batangas due to their continued unrest.

RELATED: Phivolcs: Higher sulfur dioxide emission recorded in Taal; lesser danger seen in Mayon
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All protocols observed.

I sincerely thank the organizers of this event for the kind invitation extended to me, to speak on this all-important subject, themed: The Appropriateness of Electing Nigerias 10th Senate President.

Thank you, once again.

I want to say (that), it is not a matter for debate. Every Nigerian who met the constitutional requirements of being a member of our National Assembly particularly, a person, elected in the Upper Chamber; is unquestionably, qualified to aspire to occupy the position of the Senate President.

Be that as it may, I must say, without fear of contradiction, that there ara a number of Senators who are eminently qualified to aspire to that very position of the 10th Senate President.

Yes.

At the moment, I do not know all the personalities that are interested in aspiring to occupy the position. I do not know their pedigree, their numbers, and where they come from.

Our country is a very unique combination.

You dont need to belabour yourself in looking for a competent Nigerian to be elected into the position of the number three citizen of our country; in this moment of history.

They are many in Nigeria. How do we pick one person in the array of the multitude?

You can get them from every part of the North and the South of our dear country.

But we need unity by representation.

We have a President from the South-West; Vice president from the North-East; the chairman of the ruling party from the North-Central; Speaker North-West; Deputy-Speaker, South-East.

It can only be fair the Senate President to emerge from the South-South.

Even though the other three key positions are all muslem; I make bold to say that it will be fair and just; for the unity of our great country for a Christian to emerge as the Senate President.

Mind you! I am not a religious bigot.

This is the reason I have difficulties in this task to speak to this gathering.

However, as I face all of you today, my task has become easy! We know the personality

Senator Godswill Akpabio: two-time Governor of Akwa Ibom state; former Minister; a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He is a bridge-buikder.

Is he not popular?

There is no gainsaying the fact that Senator Akpabio has proved his onions in all the positions of leadership he has occupied. Both elective and appointment.

He has shown traits of being a symbol of National Unity.

As an elder statesman , my job is to monitor people and eventsgive my candid advise, or opinion; on how best to drive the vehicle of our great nation to the best destination.

Senator Akpabio is from the South-South. Though I may not guess his age and antecedents of growing up, but my several encounter and interactions with him convinced me that he came from a humble background.

He has been favoured by the leadership of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He has also been favoured by our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In political calculations across the globe, it is always a norm that the ruling party shops for persons of strong character within the Executive and Legislature who can work with one mind and spirit in delivering its manifesto.

I speak out of experience , as a one-time Adviser to the President, on National Assembly Matters. That was in the Second Republic.

Going forward, I seize this opportunity to appeal to other contestants to reason with the decision of their party leadership.

They should do so to avoid hitting up the polity.

They should show respect and display loyalty to their party so that their manifesto will sail even higher; and Nigerians will enjoy the dividends of democracy.

I make bold to say that I am like a father to Senator Akpabio, just like to many of us here. I need not to border you with the positions I have held in rendering services to our dear country.

But I have to give you a little background of my humble self. I was born in Kano City in the year 1925, about 98 years now.

I am the only one surviving out of the three children of my father. I am the only male child. The last born!

The other two who are my elder sisters, unfortunately, died many years ago. One left a baby boy to the family, while the other left a baby boy.

But God is great! He decided to compensate my family by giving me a total of 23 children; all to myself. Out of the 23 children , the Almighty God gave to me, I lost four.

Today, a total of 19 of my children are alive. They are made up of 12 male and seven female.

Eighteen of the 19 children have children of their own, totaling 50 grand children to me; as a single individual.

But one of my children is still praying for a favour of the Almighty to have a child of his own.

I am confident that God the Almighty will listen to our prayers.

He shall favour our family. My child will also have a child of his own.

We are not choosy. We will be ever grateful if it pleases God to give us a boy and or a girl.

The entire family will eternally be grateful as ever to Almighty God for His mercy.

God bless Nigeria.

Thank you.

Being an address delivered during a meeting of APC Non-serving Senators held at Sharaton Hotel Conference Centre, Abuja.

Thursday, June 1, 2023.

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A Federal High Court has granted an interim order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), from embarking on a nationwide strike as planned, over the removal of fuel subsidy.

The order was issued by Justice O. Y. Anuwe, on Monday. He also adjourned further hearing till 19 June.

The Justice gave the order on Monday while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) which was moved by Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, Director Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to Justice Anuwe, the order shall remain in force pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice dated June 5 which was filed by the Federal Government through the office of the AGF.

The judge noted that her action was informed by the argument by the Federal Governments lawyer that the strike, if allowed, will occasion incalculable damage to the nation.

She said: Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders:

The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 5th June 2023.

It is ordered that the defendant/ respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the motion on notice and the order of this court hereby made.

The motion on notice is hereby fixed for a hearing for 19th June 2023. Hearing notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/respondents along with the other processes.

The suit marked: NCIN/ABJ/158/2023 has as defendants, the NLC and TUC, while the Federal Government of Nigeria and the AGF are listed as the claimants.

In the ruling, Justice Anuwe, said the applicants pointed out that the proposed strike action is capable of disrupting economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector.

She said by Section 7(b) of the National Industrial Court (NIC) Act 2006, her court is empowered and indeed is clothed with exclusive jurisdiction in matters relating to the grant of any order to restrain any person or body from taking part in any strike, lockout or any industrial action or any conduct in contemplation or in furtherance of the strike, lockout or any industrial action.

She added that Sections 16 and 19(a) of the NIC Act 2006 also empower this court to make orders or grant urgent interim reliefs.

The urgency enumerated in the affidavit of urgency and in counsels submission reveals a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and indeed the well-being of the nation at large.

Counsel has pointed out that students of Secondary Schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst other sectors; and above all, the economy of the nation.

In my view, this is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court, Justice Anuwe said.

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The removal of petroleum subsidy by the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again brought to the fore this issue that has bedeviled Nigerias oil sector for several years. What started as a simple intervention of the Federal Government to make petroleum products affordable to Nigerians at a reasonable rate, has turned out to be a monster choking the Nigerian system.

Subsidy in the Nigerian context is the money the Nigerian Government pays to oil marketers for Nigerians to get petroleum products at a subsidized rate. This practice has been since the late 70s, which was just a minute fraction as Nigeria could no longer refine the quantity of petroleum products required for the entire nation. Over the years, the amounts required to subsidize petroleum products have been on the increase which the government now believes it can no longer bear. As of 2012, when the government of President Goodluck removed the subsidy, the price of PMS moved from N65 to about N145. This led to a massive protest by NLC, TUC, and several other civil society groups that literally brought Nigeria to a standstill. Upon several deliberations, the price of PMS was reduced to N97 per litre while the government still bears the remaining burden. Fast forward to 11 years after, the amount government is allegedly subsidizing PMS is a difference of N537 per litre and N195 per litre, which is about N342 per litre on average.

Looking at the history of Nigeria and the fact that Nigeria has been blessed with crude oil in abundance, should the word Subsidy for petroleum products be heard in Nigeria? The reason why the Nigerian government has to pay subsidy is that when the crude oil is refined and brought to Nigeria, it is brought at an exorbitant price which is not affordable to Nigerians. The government now pays off part of the selling price of the product and then allows Nigerians to have it at a fairly low price.

One unanswered question over the decades for the Nigerian government is Why is Nigeria not refining its crude oil within its borders and selling the same to Nigerians at a price convenient to the government and to the people? This question leads us to the topic of this article, visiting the failure of governance on the masses.

Despite the abundance of resources (both human capital and material), the various governments of Nigeria over the years, have failed in their responsibilities in meeting the needs of Nigerians with regard to the supply of refined petroleum products. Nigeria has four government-owned refineries located in Port-Harcourt in Rivers State, Warri in Delta State, and Kaduna in Kaduna State. These refineries when at their combined maximum capacity, can shoulder the responsibility of refining all the crude oil Nigeria needs for consumption and even for exportation. Unfortunately, these refineries have been in a state of comatose for the past decade and successive governments have not been able to bring these refineries back to life and maximum performing capacity.

Just in the recent past, Nigeria had a set of leaders that were at the helm of affairs for 8 years. They had promised to build one refinery per year in addition to the existing 4 refineries for Nigerians. The Head of the Government incidentally doubled as the Minister of Petroleum for the said eight years. I remember a plenary session in the Senate where there were many questions to be answered regarding the oil sector and the attention of the Minister of Petroleum was needed. A Senator stood up to move a motion to have the Minister of Petroleum summoned to the floor of the house to answer the questions, which automatically meant inviting the President to the floor of the house to be bombarded with questions from the Senators. The move was immediately exasperated as the members of the Presidents party would not afford to allow the President to be brought to the floor of the house to be ridiculed by embarrassing questions, particularly from Senators in the opposition parties. Incidentally, throughout the lifespan of the immediately said government, proposals were made to repair the refineries. As usual, the amount proposed for the repair of the refineries was more than enough to build new refineries for the country, but none of these (whether repairs or new refineries), saw the light of the day until 8 years swept by.

Now with the failure of the government to put the refineries in a working state or to build new ones at bragged, the country resorted to exporting 100% of its crude oil and oil marketers now bring back the refined products into Nigeria, factoring in the cost of refining, transportation and other logistics, to slam a price on Nigerians. This price is what the government has tried over the years to subsidize to make refined products available and affordable to Nigerians. Now that government has removed its hands of fellowship, the people are forced to bear the entire burden of purchasing refined products at the price fixed by the marketers. The people are now forced to bear the consequence of the ineptitude of the government. Is it the peoples fault that refineries were not maintained and used properly? Is it the peoples fault that the government failed to build new refineries as promised? Is it the peoples fault that the subsidy ever existed? Why should the people now bear the brunt?

Now to the harsh reality of buying PMS at the international market value, what are the modalities put in place by the administration to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy? Did the administration think of the ripple effect of the removal? Automatically, the prices of all the goods and services in Nigeria will skyrocket. The first victims are commercial travelers who now have to pay extra costs to travel, then purchasers of goods and services will be required to cough out more funds to transport their goods and services to the location of the consumer which again automatically leads to a rise in the price of the goods and services. There were no transportation buses, trains, etc, made available to ease the pains of the subsidy removal, what then does the ordinary Nigerian stand to gain? The administration provided no palliative whatsoever to cushion the effect of the increment which would have doused the tension of Nigerians. The ripple effect of this subsidy removal will haunt Nigeria for several years because the prices of virtually everything will go up.

My position on subsidy has never changed and still remains as it has always been since the topic became popular during the era of President Goodluck Jonathan. One of the only few things that the common man directly benefits from the government in Nigeria is the subsidization of petroleum products. When you take that away, there is literally nothing left. Education has become nearly unaffordable to the average Nigerian. The power supply is nearly nonexistent; Nigeria is powered by generators and private power plants. Both small and large-scale businesses depend heavily on power to function, this is not provided for by the government. Pipe-borne water is mostly provided for by individuals through personal boreholes, the roads are in their typical state of dilapidation. Security in Nigeria is at its lowest. In all, the only thing Nigerians can point to that government is doing for them is subsidy. When that is taken away, what then is left of the government to do?

From a personal view, the removal of fuel subsidy is not the solution to the problem, it would not make the government richer because there are persons already waiting to loot the resources of Nigeria. We will only hear of the things they hoped to do with the money saved from the subsidy but might never see what they used the monies to do. When the subsidy was partially removed in 2012, the next thing we saw in the media was the subsidy scandal. The monies the government had saved at that time had been looted by those who were supposed to remit the funds to the Federal Government. The prosecution of these persons never saw the light of day as everything was swept under the carpet. What then is the guarantee that the funds saved will be used for visible purposes? This is not the first time that subsidy has been removed by the government. What happened to the funds saved or allegedly saved?

In conclusion

Until government fixes its refineries or builds new ones, international forces will always determine how much PMS is being sold which will make the price of PMS to fluctuate. But when our refineries are working and we can refine our own crude oil, the government will be able to determine the amount PMS will be sold to Nigerians, which price does not necessarily have to be the same with the international market. Until government stands up to its responsibility and fixes its refineries or build new ones, subsidy will forever be an unresolved issue in Nigeria.

Akintayo Balogun Esq., LL.B (Hons), BL, LL.M, is a legal practitioner in private practice and based in Abuja, FCT. A prolific writer, public affairs analyst and commentator on national issues. akinson6@gmail.com , 08051051659

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have decided to suspend their planned nationwide strike, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the decision came after a crucial meeting held on Monday night between representatives of the Federal Government and the Organised Labour at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, proved to be instrumental in breaking the deadlock and finding common ground on the issue of fuel subsidy removal.

As a result, both the NLC and TUC have agreed to suspend their strike action.

Femi Gbajabiamila addressed State House correspondents and shared the details of the discussions. He read a communique that outlined the agreement reached between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the team established by President Bola Tinubu to address the issues stemming from the subsidy removal.

The key points highlighted in the communique are as follows:

1. Establishment of a Joint Committee: The Federal Government, TUC, and NLC will form a joint committee to review proposals related to wage increases or awards. The committee will also establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

2. Inclusion of Low-Income Earners: The World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme will be reviewed, with a focus on proposing the inclusion of low-income earners in the program.

3. Revival of CNG Conversion Program: The CNG conversion program, previously agreed upon with labour centres in 2021, will be revived. Detailed plans for implementation and timing will be developed.

4. Improvement of the Education Sector: The education sector will be thoroughly reviewed to address issues hindering effective delivery. The joint committee will propose solutions for implementation.

5. Rehabilitation of Refineries: A review will be conducted to establish a framework for completing the rehabilitation of the nations refineries.

6. Road Maintenance and Rail Network Expansion: The Federal Government will provide a framework for road maintenance and the expansion of rail networks throughout the country.

7. Assessment of Other Demands: The joint committee will assess all other demands presented by the TUC to the Federal Government.

Based on these discussions, the following agreements were reached:

 Immediate Suspension of Strike Notice: The NLC will suspend the strike notice to allow for further consultations.

 Continued Engagements: The TUC and NLC will maintain ongoing discussions with the Federal Government to ensure the resolution of the above-mentioned matters.

 Implementation Framework Meeting: A meeting between the Labour Centers and the Federal Government will take place on June 19, 2023, to finalise an implementation framework.

Adding weight to this development, the National Industrial Court had earlier on Monday issued a restraining order against the Organised Labour, preventing them from embarking on any form of strike.

The order was made in response to an ex parte application filed before the court, with Justice O.Y. Anuwe presiding over the case.

Justice Anuwes ruling restrains the TUC and the NLC from proceeding with their planned nationwide strike on Wednesday, pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice filed on June 5, 2023.

Furthermore, the judge has ordered that the defendants (the TUC and the NLC) be promptly served with the necessary court documents, including the originating processes, the motion on notice, and the courts order.
Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has slammed critics over the current loggerheads with the Lagos State government.

Naija News earlier reported that the thespian challenged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over a threat to arrest her.

This came after the state government ordered her to pay a total sum of N18,640,092.00 as personal income tax within seven days or face arrest.

According to the assessment notice, Iyabo Ojo has a tax liability of N7,376,000.00 for the year 2022 and an outstanding liability of N11,264,092 for the 2021 income year.

She was given a 7-day ultimatum to make the payment or face the consequences.

Reacting via a lengthy post on her Instagram page, Iyabo Ojo expressed displeasure at how the government comes up with such an outrageous amount.

The actress noted she had earlier filed a complaint regarding the tax issue and nothing was done.

Iyabo Ojo added that she isnt paying anything and the Sanwo-Olu can arrest, jail, or kill her because she is not afraid to die.

Some netizens mocked and taunted her over the issue while reminding her of her support for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The actress who later deleted the social media post calling out Sanwo-Olu shared another post saying she would not bow down to any tribal bigots.

She also reiterated her support for Peter Obi, stating her desire is for a better Nigeria and will not be afraid to speak.

Iyabo Ojo added that her belief will only change if after 8 years Nigeria has renewed hope.

She wrote: I stand & re stan obediently on my beliefs.. I can never be pressured nor shaken . I will never bow down to tribal bigots. I want a better Nigeria, i dont care whose ego gets bruised. we can not all believe in the same thing

I see no tribe. I only see my country, Im a Nigerian. I am not afraid of death, for that is inevitable

I will never be afraid to air my opinion, for that is my right.

I have no enemies, We may not all believe in the same course, we may not see things the same way but youre not my enemy bcos at the end of the day, either, good or bad.. were in it together . were all citizens of Nigeria.

I have empathy for my country & not for stomach infrastructure. If after 8 years Nigeria has a renewed hope, then my beliefs may change, but till then, i obediently stand on my beliefs .. if you didnt make me, you cant break me, you can take the body but never my soul.
 Egbedun To Emerge Speaker

Sodiq Yusuf

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has settled principal officer positions for the State of Osun House of Assembly members-elect.

The 26 members-elect will be inaugurated today by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that all is set for the election of Hon. Adewale Egbedun as the Speaker of the 8th assembly.

Egbedun

The medium exclusively gathered that the decision was reached after deliberations by stakeholders of the party, with the approval of Governor Adeleke.

Egbedun is a Lawmaker-elect from Odo-Otin State Constituency. It is the first time a first-timer will be elected Speaker of the Assembly since the return of democracy in 1999.

The position has always been by parliamentary convention and law reserved for experienced lawmakers who have been elected at least for a term of four years.

The Osun State House of Assembly standing rule 4(a) prescribes that: A Member-elect, addressing the Clerk, shall propose a ranking member-elect from the majority party that such member-elect, do take the Chair of the House as Speaker of the House of Assembly, provided such a nomination shall be seconded by another Member-elect.

However, with the present arrangement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the new Speaker, who will be sworn-in alongside his 25 colleagues, will be elected alongside other principal officers of the assembly.

In the arrangement exclusively obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, the lawmaker-elect from Ife North State Constituency, Akinyode Oyewusi will become the Deputy Speaker.

Other principal officers expected to be elected today are: Hon. Babajide Kofoworola from Ede North Constituency  Majority Leader, Adekunle Oladimeji from Irepodun/Orolu Constituency  Deputy Majority Leader, Olawale Akerele from Ilesa West  Chief Whip and Afeez Ibrahim from Olaoluwa Constituency will become the Deputy Chief Whip.

Folorunso Ogundare representing Ayedaade constituency would be elected as the Leader (West Senatorial District), Kanmi Ajibola, Leader (East Senatorial District) while the

Leader (Central Senatorial District) is Kasope Abolarin from Ifedayo State Constituency.

Expectedly, the immediate-past Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Popoola will become the Minority Leader, as he is the only member of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 8th Assembly.

The Lawmakers-elect are expected to be inaugurated by Governor Ademola Adeleke through a proclamation already sent to the Clerk of the parliament last Friday.
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Nigerians have long yearned for the re-establishment of a national carrier that will fly the nations flag around Nigeria, and to other countries of the world. This aspiration is strategic as it relates to our national pride and identity. Aviation industry stakeholders estimate that by not having a national carrier, Nigeria may have suffered a huge loss of over $2 billion through capital flight over the years. This is the money that foreign airlines operating in Nigeria repatriate to their home countries.

It is in Nigerias national interest to establish a national carrier. Establishing a national carrier would lead to massive job creation, increase in foreign direct investment, continued development of the aviation sector, increased competition as against monopolistic practices by some operators to the disadvantage of air travellers, foreign exchange earnings by the government, setting up of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria, training opportunities for local aviation industry staff, effective utilisation of all the airport facilities in Nigeria, and full utilisation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) that Nigeria has signed.

It is as a result of all these and other reasons that sometime in October 2016, the Government approved the Federal Ministry of Aviations Aviation Road Map Projects. The listed projects included amongst other projects the establishment and operation of a national carrier. The national carrier was structured to be a joint venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector. The national carrier is to develop and operate flight operations on domestic, regional and international routes, based on commercial viability of the selected routes and will in no way affect the fortunes of the existing airlines.

Following the approval, the following activities were carried out:

(1) Appointment of Transaction Advisers

In 2017, the Federal Ministry of Aviation appointed a consortium comprising the Airline Management Group Limited, United Kingdom, Tianaero FZE and Avia Solutions as Transaction Advisers/Consultants to develop an Outline Business Case (OBC), assist with the procurement of a private partner and subsequently prepare a Full Business Case in line with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC)s regulations.

(2) Development and Approval of the Outline Business Case

A detailed Outline Business Case (OBC) demonstrating the economic, technical and financial viability of the project (Nigeria Air) was prepared by the Transaction Advisers/Consultants. The business case report presented the results of the economic, technical and financial analyses conducted, as well as the suitable structure for the project.

The Outline Business Case (OBC) was submitted to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) by the Ministry of Aviation. Following ICRCs review, a certificate of compliance was issued. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the Outline Business Case (OBC) was granted on November 24, 2021. Subsequently, Mr. President approved a One  Stage Procurement Phase (which combines the Pre-qualification and Request for Proposal requirements) to expedite the procurement process.

(3) Request for Proposals (RFP)

The Request for Proposals (RFP) advertisement for the establishment of a National Carrier for Nigeria was published in both local and international newspapers/magazines on the 10th of March 2022. The RFP package and Project Information Memorandum (PIM) inviting potential bidders to submit a Technical and Financial Proposal was made available to prospective bidders on the same day via the website  https://www.nigerianaviationppprojects.com. The deadline for the submission of the RFP bids was scheduled for 20th April 2022. The deadline was later extended to the 10th of June 2022 on the request of some investors, to allow them enough time to submit a responsive bid. The bid submission closed on the 10th of June 2022. The bid opening was conducted in the presence of officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Transaction Adviser.

(4) Evaluation Of Request For Proposal

In accordance with ICRCs guidelines, an Evaluation Committee was constituted comprising of Representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) namely: Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) and the Transaction Advisers, to evaluate the Technical and Financial proposal received.

The evaluation of the technical proposal was held between 20th to 21st July, 2022, while the financial proposal was opened and evaluated on the 2nd of August 2022. With a total score of 86.7%, the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortiums proposal was considered responsive by the Evaluation Team having met all the requirements of the RFP Package. The bid by Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium scored 86.7% and was deemed successful having exceeded the pass mark of 70%, therefore, the Evaluation Team declared the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium as the Preferred Bidder for the project. This is in line with ICRCs guidelines for PPP Procurement.

(5) Due Diligence and Negotiations

Following the successful emergence of Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium as the Preferred Bidder, it was necessary to conduct due diligence on the Preferred Bidder in line with ICRCs guidelines to ascertain its technical, financial and managerial capacity to undertake the National Carrier project. The Due Diligence was conducted between September 12  14, 2022. The Due Diligence Team concluded that Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium have the required technical, financial and managerial capacity to successfully deliver the project. Thereafter, negotiations were held on the 28th of October 2022 with representatives from the relevant MDAs, Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium and Transaction Advisers in attendance.

(6) Development Of Full Business Case and Draft Agreement

The Outline Business Case (OBC) was then updated with the outcomes of the Preferred Bidders Business Plan and the negotiations with the Consortium to develop a Full Business Case. The draft agreement was thereafter updated with the terms and conditions agreed during the negotiations. Subsequently Mr President granted anticipatory approval to the Ministry of Aviation for the Full Business Case and subsequently approved that the Ministry approach Ministry of Justice for review and approval of the Establishment and Operations Agreement and for Nigeria to conclude all activities required for the grant of an AOC.

(7) Airline Operators Of Nigerias (AON) Case Against Ministry Of Aviation

Sometime in November 2022, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) approached a Federal High Court in Lagos to obtain an interim injunction to prevent the Ministry of Aviation from progressing with the launch of the new national carrier. The AON is of the opinion that the National Carrier will stifle the growth of domestic airlines by taking control of the various domestic, regional and international routes. In addition, AON claimed that Ethiopian Airlines will have undue advantage and that the procurement process was not right.

The aim of establishing a national carrier is to improve service delivery and promote competition that will offer best value to Nigerian air travellers, promote national image and prestige, as well as engender multiplier effects on the economy. Nigeria Air has been structured based on the results of the various analyses conducted and in line with extant international laws with respect to composition of a flag bearer. The project was properly advertised in local and international publications and some of the members of AON participated in the RFP process but did not submit a bid. The procurement process was in line with ICRCs guidelines for Public Private Partnership in Nigeria.

(8) Unveiling Of the National Carrier Aircraft

The Ministry of Aviation unveiled the first aircraft for Nigeria Air, the countrys National Carrier at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Friday, 26th of May 2023. The unveiling is a fulfilment of the Governments promise to establish a National Carrier to replace Nigeria Airways, and an important part of the Aviation roadmap that was approved in 2016, which has been diligently pursued by the Ministry of Aviation. The first aircraft was part of the contribution of the Strategic Equity Partner Ethiopian Airline Group towards establishing Nigeria Air, it is common practice in Aviation for start up airlines to lease aircraft to commence operations and as they achieve financial stability acquire their own aircraft.

To establish the National Carrier, the Ministry of Aviation followed all existing extant laws that guide Public Private Partnerships in Nigeria and international best practices. At the end of the process, Ethiopian Airlines Consortium was declared the preferred bidder, with Ethiopian Airline Consortium having 49% shareholding in the joint venture, Nigerian Institutional investors have 46% while the Federal Government of Nigeria has 5% shareholding in the new National Carrier with all shareholders contributing cash or its equivalent for their shares except FGN whose equity contribution will be by services already provided and to be provided. Ethiopian Airlines has 77 years of successful global airline experience. They are by far the largest carrier in Africa and are amongst the 30 largest airlines in the world. They grossed $6 billion in revenue, almost $1 billion in profits in 2022, and have over 140 modern aircrafts in their fleet. Ethiopian Airlines has serviced Nigerian passengers uninterrupted since the countrys independence.

Nigeria Air at commencement of operations will operate both domestic and international routes with modern Boeing 737 Max and 787 aircraft, thus giving Nigerians and other passengers the best in terms of quality service and on-time departures. Nigeria Air will not only meet international standards, but will provide competitive alternative to international passengers, and also domestic passengers that have had to contend with poor quality service, incessant delays and cancellations of booked flights over the years. When fully operational, Nigeria Air will have in its fleet over 30 modern aircraft consisting of Boeing 737 MAXs for regional and local flights and 787 Dreamliner wide-bodies for long haul international flights to New York, London, Dubai, China and many other destinations. An aviation academy will be setup in Abuja, Nigeria, and there will be hundreds of well-paying job opportunities for Nigerians including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians and many other staff. A modern Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility will be established in Abuja. Revenue projections for Nigeria Air within 5 years is over US$1.0 billion.

(9) Moving Forward

The Ministry of Aviation and Nigeria Air sought legal advice and the Ministry has been briefed that by unveiling Nigeria Air aircraft, the Ministry is not in contempt of court. Nigeria Air has existing approvals by the Federal Government to seek leases to commence operations pending when it acquires its own aircraft.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has followed its regulations and processes diligently in processing both the Nigeria Air Transport Licence and Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Nigeria Air has met and surpassed all the requirements. The AOC process is ongoing and there is no intention not to comply with any of the requirements for the granting of an AOC.

Nigeria Air is an addition to other airlines operating in Nigeria. It was not established to create a monopoly but to improve the standards in the Nigerian Aviation industry, create jobs for Nigerians and reduce capital flight that currently occurs due to most international routes being operated by foreign carriers.

Nigeria Air is for Nigerians and other passengers. We must all come together and protect it alongside other airlines. It is a source of national pride for all of us that we can now do what other countries such as Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda etc have done over the years, which is to fly their countrys flag to major international destinations, offering Nigerians and other passengers cheaper and reliable flights.

Nigeria Air presents opportunities for Nigeria to further improve Nigerian passengers air travel experience, promote our national image and prestige, grow the aviation industrys contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP), as well as improve the attractiveness of the country as an aviation hub, amongst others.

The project is the cornerstone of the aviation roadmap projects because it will provide markets for aircraft leasing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), facility and other aviation  related businesses. It will also provide employment opportunities for Nigerians in line with the mandate by the federal government of Nigeria (FGN).

Having successfully conducted Nigeria Air unveiling on Friday, 26th May, 2023, these are the planned next steps by Nigeria Air:

1. Continuation of the AOC process in line with extant laws.

2. Announcement in key national newspapers of job openings for pilots, engineers, cabin crew and other positions. The vacancy advertisements will also be posted on Nigeria Air website and social media platforms.

3. Projected first commercial passenger flight by Nigeria Air is planned for 3rd Quarter of 2023

For enquiries:

Email: csm@flynigeriaair.world | Website: www.flynigeriaair.world

Phone Numbers| +2349155878155 | +2347031019197

Corporate Office| Nigeria Air, Operational Control Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

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By Abdulateef Bamgbose

There is growing public outcry over the Benue State Governments commissioning of a security outfit in Makurdi on Saturday June 3, 2023.

The security organization known as Al-Tershak Global Security Ltd was established by Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku, who had in the past been arrested over alleged links with Boko Haram.

An online newspaper, National Record reported that the commissioning of the security organization was performed by the Benue State Deputy Governor, Sam Ode who was represented by his Chief Protocol Officer, Gabriel Igoche.

What was curious during the inauguration of the security outfit and which has sparked concerns among people in the state was the huge number of Fulani personnel with many of them appointed as heads of key units within the organization.

The online newspaper reported, National Record observed during the inauguration that the membership of the security outfit was dominated by the Fulani based on the names the Director called out and looking at the number of the officers who were physically present.

This newspaper decided to sample the reactions of residents of Makurdi following the launch of the new security organization. What was more disturbing to those who spoke with us was the fact that the organization is dominated by men of Fulani extraction considering the sour relationship between them and indigenous people of the state in recent years.

Terdue Asongu, a resident of North Bank, Makurdi who was the first to react, described the development as suspicious and cautioned the Benue State Government to retract its steps and stop the Al-Tershak Global Security Ltd from commencing operations. He feared that the presence of men who have questionable backgrounds in the state in charge of security would spell doom for innocent people.

When I read the news that a security outfit controlled by Fulani men had been approved by the Benue State Government, a cold shiver ran through my spine. Even when Fulanis were not in control of security in the state, our people saw hell. What will happen now that they have formally been asked to take charge of our security?, Asongu queried.

Another respondent James Gbagir who works at the Tipper Park in Wurukum said Someone should tell Governor Rev Fr Alia that we will not accept this new security formation. He should not make us regret voting for him. We ignored rumours that Fulani people were sponsoring his election and voted for him. Is he now telling us that we were wrong?, Gbagir wondered.

A public affairs analyst, elder Peter Shange who has constantly written against attempts by Fulani to occupy Benue lands advised the present government of the state to follow the example of Governor Ortom and come clean on the rumours that it is in cahoots with those who have vowed to displace indigenous people of the state from their ancestral lands and take over.

Shange reminded the Alia government that the state already has a lawfully recognized security outfit known as Community Volunteer Guards who were drawn from each community of the state by the people through traditional rulers. He condemned the launch of an alternative outfit which origin and ownership are suspicious.

Let me advise Governor Hyacinth Alia to listen to good counsel and resist the pressure from those who might have funded his election, if the story is anything to go by. Allowing Aliyu Tershaku to float a Fulani controlled security organization in the state at this time is as good as sitting on a time bomb. Those guys will wake up one day and ask him (Governor) to vacate the Government House and give them the keys. No one goes to bed with a known enemy, he stated.

Other respondents who pleaded anonymity alleged that the new government in Benue State has brought Aliyu Tershaku with his security organization to fight their political opponents.

It will be recalled that Tershaku was arrested in 2018 by the Nigerian Army in connection with the killings in Benue State. He had stayed away from the state until last year when he returned and contested for the Makurdi/Guma House of Representatives seat in the 2023 election. Even at that, he was not seen campaigning anywhere until he surfaced at the polling unit on the day of the election. He did not get single vote in the election.

Tershaku, though a Tiv man who went wild and became a Boko Haram kingpin is believed to be a Fulani agent who has been sent on a mission by his sponsors to capture Benue State for them.

His return to the state and endorsement by the Alia administration is surely not going down well with the people of the state.

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By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, on June 13th, Stakeholders from the North Central under the aegis of the North Central Peoples Forum, NCPF has told President Bola Tinubu that as a zone, they are not satisfied with the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.

The North Central forum said that while they are grateful for the appointment of former State Governor, Senator George Akume as the SGF was not enough to appease them, saying that someone from the zone should be the next Deputy Senate President and an indigene of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT should get a ministerial slot of any portfolio, but preferably the FCT minister.

According to NCPF, with the quantum of votes given to Tinubu in the February 25th Presidential election, the zone should be given the office of the deputy Senate President and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Hon Audu Sule,

NCPF said that the people of the North Central, including Abuja, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and Kwara States, know very well that one of them should be appointed the FCT minister.

Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC had announced the endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio and three others for the topmost positions in the National Assembly. Senator Akpabio from South-South was endorsed for Senate President, Senator Jubrin Barau from the North-west for Deputy Senate President, Honourable Tajudeen Abass, North-west for Speaker, House of Representatives and Hon. Kanu, South-East for Deputy Speaker.

This has not gone down well with some members of the party and especially those aspiring for the position of Presiding offices in both the Senate and the House of Representatives as have been protests, condemnations and strong criticisms across the country.

The APCs zoning was highly criticized as to why a party would allow two of the six presiding offices in the National Assembly to a zone and leave the North Central without any position, even as many others criticized the zoning of Deputy Speaker to the South-East instead of Presidency of the Senate generally believed to be due to the zone.

Recall that President Tinubu had last week appointed Senator Akume, as the SGF apparently as a move to placate the North-central zone and influence the tussle for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

The coming on board of Akume may be Tinubus move to appease the zone, which was overlooked in the choice of candidates endorsed by the APC to fill the top four presiding officers positions in the National Assembly, but the North Central zone is saying no as the position of SGF cannot be a substitute for the office of Deputy Senate President, a Presiding office in the Senate.

According to the group, the Chairman of, the Senate Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East is in the race to be deputy Senate President and has the backing of Senators-elect from the region. While the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, is in the race for Speaker and has remained steadfast in his determination to run for the number four seat.

NCPF said that the appointment of Akume as SGF may have been done to pave the way for Hon Abbas from the North West to become Speaker.

Audu Sule said, First of all we thank Mr President for appointing one of our sons, father and brother as the SGF. We want to particularly congratulate Sen George Akume for the appointment because he is eminently qualified.

But that is not enough to pacify us. If you look at the vote the APC pulled in North Central it was massive. We were able to lead in all the states except for Plateau and FCT which went to the Labour Party.

We want the office of the deputy Senate president to go to the North Central. That is the office we have not occupied. In the past, military governments appointed ministers of FCT from the North Central. Thats what we want from the present administration.

Also, if you check in the previous government, the North East had a Senate President and the SGF. So, we want the office of the deputy Senate president. It will be good for the north central to get it because out of the seven states, we give five to the APC.

We are also calling for the North Central state to be considered for the office of the FCT minister because the people understand the area very well. Also, the FCT should be given a ministerial appointment.

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The leader of the Yoruba groups, Mr Razak Olokoba, said that Nigeria cannot continue to budget trillions of naira on fuel subsidy alone.

The Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The leader of the Yoruba groups, Mr Razak Olokoba, while speaking in a joint press conference held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, said Nigeria cannot continue to budget trillions of naira on fuel subsidy alone.

He said, For this year, 2023, Nigeria budgeted N11 trillion of its oil revenue on subsidising petrol alone. This cannot continue. This is good money going down the drain, with little or nothing to show for it.

This huge amount can be channelled into solving our several deficits, including, infrastructural, housing, education, healthcare and generally upgrading the quality of life for Nigerians. It will also help strengthen the naira.

Olokoba stressed that Nigerias economy depends 90 per cent on petroleum exports for its revenue and one-third of its Gross Domestic Product has been zero revenue from the sector, adding, Tinubu said he inherited the assets and liabilities of the last regime. Nigeria currently owes massive local and foreign debts to the tune of N71 trillion.

The groups leader maintained that if the subsidy is not killed, it will kill Nigerians while explaining that since the year 2000 when the Nigerian government gave 20 refinery licences to private companies, adding that none was built apart from Dangotes recently inaugurated.

Olokoba further encouraged competition in the oil sector, noting that it will bring about lower prices.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  The country on Monday night launched two locally-built cube satellites (CubeStats)  Maya-5 and Maya-6  to the International Space Station (ISS), the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) announced on Tuesday.

The two cubes, weighing approximately 1.15 kilograms each, boarded the SpaceX Falcon 9.

Maya-5 and Maya-6 are expected to move along an orbit at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers once they are released into space, said PhilSA.

The agency said the satellites were launched to "provide local opportunities to acquire space technology know-how and hands-on experience in satellite development."

"It is also geared towards increased utilization of domestic capabilities by transitioning to locally available components, fabricated boards, and manufactured structural frames," the PhilSA said.

The CubeStats were built under the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships project of the STAMINA4Space Program, which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology.

Maya-5 and Maya-6 were developed by the students at the University of the Philippines Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute as part of the nanosatellite engineering track.

"The Maya-5 and Maya-6 CubeSats are a technology demonstration and educational platform developed for remote data collection through Store-and-Forward (S&F) Mechanism, similar to its predecessor from Kyutech's 4th Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite (BIRDS-4) Project, Maya-2, which was decommissioned on 5 July 2022," said PhilSA.

The first Filipino-made cube satellites Maya-3 and Maya-4 were launched to the ISS in August 2021 and returned to Earth a year after.
Nyesom Wike

The immediate-past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has reacted to the emergence of Bala Mohammed as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

The Bauchi state governor Mohammed emerged as the Chairman at a retreat for elected PDP Governors and members-elect of the National Assembly held last Saturday at the Government House Bauchi.

While Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State emerged as the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

Speaking with selected reporters on Monday in Port Harcourt, Wike said the PDP should have zoned the chairmanship position to the South after the tenure of former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

Wike said the opposition party has again failed to adhere to the rules and regulations by electing Mohammed as the chairman of the PDP governor forum.

The former Rivers governor, however, said he does not have any problem with the Bauchi governor personally.
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike has taken to social media to share a list of valuable life lessons she learned in her 38 years on Earth.

In the post on her Instagram page, Tonto Dikeh emphasizes the importance of discretion, self-care, financial privacy, and personal growth. Here is a summary of her insightful advice.

The mum of one said that people should never tell their family or friends everything, as it will backfire. She also stated that finding closure is a scam as it is better to move on and rebuild oneself.

She wrote, Things I have learnt in 38years

-Never tell your family everything, it will back fire.

-Never tell your friends everything, it will back fire.

-Never tell anyone how much you have in the bank, thats for you and the bank alone.

-DONT BE TOO NICE, not everyone has your heart. Be a GOOD PERSON BUT NOT A TOO NICE PERSON.

-No one is like you, Embrace your uniqueness..

-Show yourself as much love as you can!!

-Be selfish with your Space, Boundaries, Love and Trust.

-Multiple streams of income is the new SELF LOVE, SELFCARE AND BIGGEST BOSS MOVE.

-No matter how little start something that brings daily income

-Fixed deposits is the biggest scam, next time ask your bank you want to invest with them and watch your self become a billionaire

-Finding closure is a scam,Move on and Rebuild. Be your own motivation to be better and do better.

KanyiDaily recalls that Tonto Dikeh recently expressed her determination to live a long and fulfilling life despite her battle with a medical heart condition.

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Prince Andrew is facing new questions about his association with Jeffrey Epstein after emails surfaced claiming he lied about it in a BBC Newsnight interview.

Despite the king claiming to have ceased all contact in 2010, a note sent by the late wealthy paedophile and disclosed as part of a legal case in the US showed he was promoting Andrew, 63, as a potential investment in 2011.

Epsteins victims demanded yesterday night that he talk with the FBI, which he has so far refused to do. Its unclear whether Andrew, who was seen riding in Windsor today, was aware Epstein had referenced him in the email discussion.

It looks that either Epstein was greatly exaggerating his relationship with Prince Andrew or that the duke may not have been totally accurate about when his acquaintance ended, said the victims agent, US attorney Spencer Kuvin, to the Mirror.

READ: Bamise: How I Escaped Being Rped By BRT Driver, Andrew Nice  Onyinyechi Anoke

The emails raise serious doubts, said one victim who received money through the Epstein victims compensation program. How could Jeffrey praise him as an investment if he was no longer in contact with him?

On August 31, 2011, Epstein sent an email to JP Morgan suggesting Andrew as a potential investment partner since he is now allowed to make money.

It was revealed as part of a lawsuit filed by the US Virgin Islands against the bank, which says it was complicit in Jeffrey Epsteins crimes.

JP Morgan accuses the territorys leaders of accepting money and favors from Epstein in exchange for turning a blind eye as he molested women on the island in a counterclaim.

Andrew told the BBCs Emily Maitlis in 2019 that he lost communication with Epstein after meeting him in New York in December 2010.

Did you ever see or speak to him again? The duke said, No.

In 2008, Epstein was sentenced to nearly 13 months in prison after being convicted of soliciting a child for prostitution and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

However, after the criminal was released, Prince Andrew maintained his friendship with him.

In 2019, he told the BBC that his friendship with Epstein and the possibilities he was given were very useful, and that he didnt recall the photo of him with his arm around Virginia Roberts  now Virginia Giuffre  ever being taken.

Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in jail in 2019.

Epsteins ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also Andrews buddy and appears in the background of the photo of him with Ms Giuffre, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

It comes after allegations that the monarch faced being evicted from his monarch Lodge house by his brother, King Charles.

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Carol King, a Nigerian actress, took to social media to accuse her housekeeper of stealing $700 and 40 from her.

Carol King identified the housekeeper as Glory Effiong and stated that she went AWOL (absent without official leave) after only five months on the job.

The Nollywood actress shared images of the alleged housekeeper and wrote:

Read: Caroline Danjuma Reveals Why She Named Her Daughter After Queen Elizabeth

My name is Glory Effiong. For the past five months, she has been my maid. Last Friday, she left for work. When she didnt return as expected today, I became concerned, fearing shed had an accident, so I contacted her phone, but she didnt answer.

I called the agent who brought her to inform him that she had gone missing. I then remembered having a nasty dream about her that I discussed with my husband, which piqued my interest, so I went to her room to find that she had stolen all of her belongings.

As I looked around for what she could have stolen, I discovered she had stolen 700 dollars and 40 Euros from my purse. Please take note of her face so you dont become a victim of her theft.

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Former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to believe that we are all one and hope that the incumbent administration of President Bola Tinubu will run smoothly.

Naija News reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said this on Tuesday, June 6, during a live media chat at the state house in Port Harcourt, where he expressed his views on the zoning policies of the current administration.

Wike stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be grateful to God that He gave them a second chance to redeem themselves of what he described as their past misdeeds against Nigerians.

The former governor faulted PDPs reliance on the numbers and for failing to follow its zoning principle, which according to him cost them the February 25 presidential election and handed the APC a straight win.

APC should be jubilating that God has given them an opportunity at the cost of PDP. God gave APC the opportunity to repent from the sins they committed against Nigerians, Wike said.

Commenting on Tinubus presidential victory in line with the laid-down zoning formula of his party, Wike debunked claims that the President had a Muslim agenda in his choice of vice-president, insisting these were machinations and accusations of lazy politicians.

Recall that Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, were criticized during the 2023 electioneering period. The duo, however, were declared the winner of the February 25th election despite the criticism of their same-faith ticket.

Sounding a note of warning to critics in the APC to show support for the President and not stifle his administration, Wike underscored that Nigerians would be the beneficiaries.

The former Governor of Rivers State said: God gave them this opportunity now and they want to bungle it again by bringing in crisis.

If Mr President doesnt have a smooth administration, at the end of the day, who suffers? Is it not Nigerians? Let us believe that we are all one, let us give everyone a sense of belonging.
Gunmen have killed Opeyemi Ajewole, a Professor of Social and Environmental Forestry at the University of Ibadan (UI)

Ajewole was murdered on the night of Monday, June 5 by yet-to-be-identified gunmen

The late professor was reportedly returning home when his killers struck in Ojoo area of Ibadan, Oyo state

Ibadan, Oyo state  Some gunmen have killed a top staff of the University of Ibadan (UI), Opeyemi Ajewole.

Ajewole, who was a professor of social and environmental forestry, was murdered at Olororo, Ojoo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, The Punch reported.

Gunmen have killed Opeyemi Ajewole, a Professor of Social and Environmental Forestry at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan in Oyo State. Photo credit: Opeyemi Ajewole

Source: Facebook

The killing reportedly happened at about 9 pm on Monday, June 5 when the scholar was heading home.

According to Nigerian Tribune, the assailants were said to have also stolen the late professors Toyota Corolla vehicle.

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The Nation quoted a fellow staff of the university as saying:

Its true. He was killed last night when he was returning home at Olororo area near Ojoo.

The incident happened around 9 pm and they took away his car.

Netizens react to killing of UI prof

The news of the professors demise has been received with tears and mourning. Twitter users sympathised with the family of the deceased.

Seyyidah Shukurat Gbaletami Bello wrote on Facebook:

An Iroko has fallen, Prof Opeyemi Ajewole is no more. Our daddy at the department of Forest Resources Management University Of Ibadan.

May Allah forgive your shortcomings Prof.

Sad day in the University of Ibadan.

Nkiruka Juliet said:

Nawa o.

Vincent Reigns Biden wrote:

What a painful exit.

Omolabake Aremu wrote:

May his soul rest in peace aljana fridaos for him.

Police speak on killing

Adewale Osifeso, the Oyo state police commands public relations officer, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, June 6, adding that investigation is ongoing.

According to PM News, Osifeso said:

The matter is under investigation. Updates would be provided accordingly.

Huge tragedy as robbers invade University of Ibadan, kill top NECO official

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that armed robbers invaded the staff quarters of the University of Ibadan, killing Vincent Odinko, an occupant of one of the buildings.

The unfortunate incident occurred in the night, according to sources.

Source: Legit.ng
News

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Its a fraud: FG breaks silence confirms Nigeria Air aircraft was borrowed fro

Webby - June 7, 2023

The FG has broken its silence and confirmed that the aircraft used for the Nigeria Air unveiling was borrowed from
In the first quarter of 2023, Nigeria recorded N6.49 trillion in export trade, which is an 8.7% decline year-on-year when compared to N7.1 trillion in Q1 2022.

Although, the value of export trade inched higher quarter-on-quarter, as the N6.49 trillion recorded in Q1 2023 is above the N6.36 trillion recorded in Q4 2022.

During the quarter in review, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Spain, France and India were Nigerias top five export destinations.

The Netherlands accounted for N837.65 billion, the United States contributed N579.35 billion, and Spain received exports worth N488.17 billion.

READ ALSO: Forex traders report drop in Dollar rate, struggle to obtain FX

France was next with N487.34 billion, and India completed the list with N456.69 billion, according to the foreign trade report obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.

The top leading export products are Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, Liquefied Natural Gas and Urea.

Meanwhile, the total value of foreign trade, which is import and export combined, was N12.05 trillion. This falls short of the N14.6 trillion recorded in Q1 2022, indicating a 17.5% year-on-year decrease.

However, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, foreign trade value rose by 2.8%, against the N11.72 trillion recorded in Q4 2022.

Import trade accounted for N5.56 trillion of the total foreign trade value, surpassing the N5.36 trillion reported in Q4 last year, but below the N7.49 trillion recorded in Q1 2022.
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By Lateef Taiwo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan, have told the gubernatorial election petition court (Tribunal) that they will call no fewer than 25 witnesses in their petition.

Counsel to the petitioners, Samuel Atung (SAN) disclosed this during the proceedings of the pre-hearing phase before the courts three justices in Kaduna on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, he averred that 23 electoral officers were part of the witnesses to be presented before the court for examination- in-chief, cross-examination, and re-examination.

The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Victor Oviawe, after extensive deliberations alloted seven minutes to examination in-chief, 12 minutes to cross-examination, while three minutes were alloted to re-examination respectively.

However, counsels to the 1st respondent; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN), 2nd respondent; Gov. Uba Sani, Sunusi Musa (SAN) and that of the 3rd respondent; APC, Muhd Sani Katu were at the court, as they all pleaded with the court for the service of an interpreters.

The court directed that all interlocutory applications be filed before the close of work on Wednesday ( tomorrow), saying that the court is time- bound.

Meanwhile, counsels in the matter adopted all answers documents filed, just as the court directed the PDP counsel to respond within four days upon service of application by the respondents counsels, while two days were alloted to respondents counsels to also respond.

The court adjourned the case till 15th June, 2023 for hearing of the matter.

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Manchester Uniteds all summer target, Bruno Fernandes is reportedly nearing a transfer exit from Sportiing Lisbon as he reportedly left the training ground on Friday after meeting to finalise his transfer .

National Daily learnt that Fernandes and his agent Miguel Pinho met club president Federico Varandas and Sporting director Hugo Viana on Friday morning.

Though the Portuguese free-scoring midfielder has remained a target for United all summer, but there was a twist on Thursday as Tottenham reportedly sent a representative to Portugal to discuss a deal for Fernandes.

Meanwhile, the midfielder was filmed on Friday by CMTV leaving the training ground after a meeting which is believed to have been to confirm details of his departure  although his next destination between United and Tottenham is unknown yet.

Fernandes was expected to play his final game for Sporting in the Super Cup against Benfica on Sunday.

He left their previous pre-season game in tears at the prospect of playing his last home game for the club.

But Sportings manager, Marcel Keizer, has now admitted he is uncertain whether he will appear on at the weekend as he nears a move to the Premier League.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  The state-run Social Security System (SSS) is crafting a new pension scheme that will allow its members to build a bigger nest egg come their retirement.

Once approved by the SSS policy-making body of commissioners, the monthly retirement pension will breach the current 20,000 ceiling, its top official said on Tuesday. The plan will not need an executive order from Malacanang or any congressional approval.

"The pension will be increased from the current say 5 [thousand pesos], 10 [thousand pesos], to as high as 30,000 40,000," SSS President Rolando Macasaet told reporters.

The SSS has set a timetable of two to three months to roll out the larger pension program, but the chief executive officer clarified that the higher pension scheme is voluntary.

"Voluntary lang ito. Pero ang mga employers, kung gusto nilang mag-share, puwede din lalo na for their employees na gusto nilang i-retain," Macasaet explained.

[Translation: This is voluntary. But if the employers want to share, they can share especially for the employees they want to retain.]

The existing setup is that retirees get a pension within the 4,000 to 20,000 range per month, depending on how much they contributed to the fund.

The logic is that the bigger amount of premium the member voluntarily contributes, the greater the benefit when he or she retires, unlike the current maximum monthly pension of just 20,000.

The agency previously increased the contribution rate of its members to 14% from 13% last year.

READ: SSS implements hike in member contributions

The SSS has about 41 million members and the new leadership wants to bring that count to half of the 110-million Filipino population. More member contributions effectively would prolong the fund's actuarial life that is scheduled to last until 2039.

The pension fund also launched a program called "SSS Service on Wheels" targeted at poorer households in far-flung areas, tapping the help of local government executives.

Before setting up another satellite at a Robinsons mall in Sta. Rosa, the agency had 27 centers at Robinsons malls nationwide where members can have SSS-related offsite transactions.
A Zamfara lawmaker, Alhaji Manir Gidanjaja who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) three weeks ago has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crying bitterly and begging for forgiveness amidst tears.

During the APCs stakeholders meeting held over the weekend at the residence of former governor, Abdulaziz Yari in Talata-Mafara, Gidanjaja was seen weeping and begging for forgiveness from APC leaders as people held him begging him to stop crying.

[PLEASE FORGIVE ME!] A former lawmaker in Zamfara, Alhaji Manir Gidanjaja, who defected to the predatory @OfficialPDPNig 3 weeks ago, has dumped the party and scampered back to @OfficialAPCNg, weeping & begging for forgiveness. ?WELCOME BACK HOME PRODIGAL SON! pic.twitter.com/BtjuTgPmWi  APC United Kingdom (@APCUKingdom) September 3, 2019

Speaking about his defection, Gidanjaja said he joined PDP last month due to some reasons beyond his control. He alleged that ever since defected to PDP, he hasnt been recognized .

The Former lawmaker also claimed that he hasnt seen any good political leadership in the opposition party. Gidanjaja said:

I am happy to be here today to clear myself from some circumstances I found myself. I want to tell the entire people of Zamfara State and Nigeria that I have returned from PDP to the APC. I returned to APC because my political supporters are not willing to join PDP. I want to use this opportunity to apologise to our APC leader in the state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, state APC Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Liman and entire APC members in this state over what happened. I am seeking your forgiveness over what happened. I am sure those very close to me are aware of the circumstances I found myself which led to my defection to PDP. I joined PDP last month due to some reasons beyond my control and since my defection, I have not been recognized, I have not seen good political leadership in PDP. I am advising my colleagues, the APC supporters in the state, that you should remain calm and be patient. I am aware PDP will be looking for you to defect from APC, I am advising you not to do so. I am advising you based on experience, I know what I experienced after my defection to PDP.

Liman, the state APC Chairman in his remark thanked the lawmaker for returning to the party. He concluded saying the party has remained strong despite losing leadership of the state following a Supreme Court judgement.

As I always say, no political party has supporters and followers like APC in this state, therefore, we are not afraid of going to the ballot box even tomorrow, he said.

According to Liman, the meeting was organised by the state leadership of the party to show their solidarity with Yari.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said every Nigerian is eligible for the issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN) free of charge irrespective of the age.

This came after the public outcry last week that greeted the move by NIMC to charge N5,000 for the renewal of N5,000 National Identity Card.

Hadiza Dagabana, acting director-general, NIMC at the weekend however stated that the NIN was a prerequisite for every Nigerian and legal residents in order to access government services.

Identity is one of the key point under the United Nations Development Goals, whereby each country is expected to ensure that they identify their citizens and legal residents within a particular period.

So we are working toward achieving that with the support our partners are giving us, so as to enable us enroll and issue digital identity in the form of NIN.

Therefore, whether you have it on a piece of paper or you cant even remember it you should have the ability to be verified in the national identity database at any given time.

The NIN slip which Nigerians identify as temporary is not temporary, because your NIN is written on that document, it is not temporary, it is a unique ID for that particular person for life, she said.

According to Dagabana, the National Identification Number does not have expiry date, adding that It is only when a person dies that the number will be rested in a soft database for such person.

By that way, we will be able to determine the living people in the country and with that number government can plan effectively for better service delivery, she said.

She also noted that for the under-16 registration, parents and guardians must present their NIN and their childrens birth certificate before the children or wards could be enrolled and issued NIN.

But the childs biometrics will be tied to his or her parent biometrics until the child turns 16 years when he or she can now come for the biometric capturing, the acting DG said.

She, then advised Nigerians to seize the opportunity to get registered, adding that NIN had many social benefits, which included access to government services. Currently we are registering from 164 locations in Nigeria both our offices and some special centres where we are collaborating with federal and state governments, including some service providers. We have our officials there to enroll Nigerians and it is free of charge. When you enroll, the first thing you get is the National Identification Number (NIN), she explained
A Corporal of the Nigerian Army deployed to be part of the Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Army Super Camp 15, at Malam Fatori appeared to be on suicide mission in the barrack. The soldier had opened fire on other soldiers in the same formation in early hours of Wednesday killing four of his colleagues, then shot himself dead.

ALSO READ: Soldier blasts MOPOL officers with anti-aircraft gun because of girlfriend; heres the devastation

Report indicated that two other soldiers sustained serious injuries from the shooting of their colleague. They were said to be currently in stable condition in a hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State.

It was gathered that efforts are ongoing to contact the families of the dead soldiers while investigation into the solo shoot out has since been instituted to determine the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

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Suspected thugs imported from another state have been apprehended in Akwa Ibom state, ahead of this Saturdays governorship election. The suspects were rounded up on Thursday morning by agile youths who stormed EverBee Hotel along Idoro road in Uyo, the state capital.

Over 32 of the suspected political tugs were nabbed. According to the youths, the suspects will be handed over to the police as the law demands.

One of the suspects who revealed hes from Benin city in Edo state, claimed that they were brought to the state to monitor the election as observers of INEC. He also revealed that they were at the hotel to receive the money that will be shared to them.

This is coming after many thugs in buses were arrested by police few days ago in same Akwa Ibom.

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The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has declared Emeka Ihedioha authentic winner of Imo gubernatorial poll.

The Tribunal Saturday dismissed the petition filed against Ihedioha by three political parties  Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The parties alongside their governorship candidates, Uche Nwosu, Hope Uzodinma and Ifeanyi Ararume had asked the tribunal to the nullify the election of Ihedioha on the ground that he was unlawfully declared as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
NORMAL  Midwest Food Bank CEO Eric Hodel is headed to Washington D.C. to testify before the House Committee on Agriculture on Wednesday, June 7.

According to a Tuesday press release, "Hodel plans to ask the Committee on Agriculture to commit to equitable policies that channel government resources to independent food banks able to meet program requirements."

Hodel said in the press release, "Alleviating hunger and malnutrition is a complex challenge requiring a multi-faceted solution."

On Tuesday, before boarding his flight, Hodel told The Pantagraph he is "hopeful that our (Midwest Food Bank's) model and the volunteer work is recognized."

Hodel said he "look(s) forward to the opportunity to share the work and the mission  how we operate."

The hearing can be viewed live at bit.ly/houseag.

Close Mackenzie Minter, 6, of Funks Grove caught a catfish and several bluegill at the Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Mackenzie Minter, 6, of Funks Grove at the annual Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Kolton Orrick, 6, of Bloomington shows off his catfish he named "Big" at the Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park. Leveon Evans, 2, and his mom, Alysha Orrick, of Bloomington, hold the bluegill that he caught Saturday at the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Almost 100 families showed up Saturday to the annual Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Jaxon Lewis, 7, of Bloomington reels in a catfish on Saturday with the help of Bill Lewis while Montana Brown, 6, right, and DJ Raggs, left, look on. The family participated in the annual Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Montana Brown, 6, of Bloomington watches his grandfather, Bill Lewis, measure the catfish that his cousin Jaxon Lewis, 7, not pictured, caught on Saturday at the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park. Jaxon Lewis, 7, of Bloomington, snapped his fishing rod while reeling in a catfish Saturday as part of the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park. 2023 Kid's Fishing Derby Mackenzie Minter, 6, of Funks Grove caught a catfish and several bluegill at the Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Mackenzie Minter, 6, of Funks Grove at the annual Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Kolton Orrick, 6, of Bloomington shows off his catfish he named "Big" at the Kid's Fishing Derby on Saturday, hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park. Leveon Evans, 2, and his mom, Alysha Orrick, of Bloomington, hold the bluegill that he caught Saturday at the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Almost 100 families showed up Saturday to the annual Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Jaxon Lewis, 7, of Bloomington reels in a catfish on Saturday with the help of Bill Lewis while Montana Brown, 6, right, and DJ Raggs, left, look on. The family participated in the annual Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park in Bloomington. Montana Brown, 6, of Bloomington watches his grandfather, Bill Lewis, measure the catfish that his cousin Jaxon Lewis, 7, not pictured, caught on Saturday at the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park. Jaxon Lewis, 7, of Bloomington, snapped his fishing rod while reeling in a catfish Saturday as part of the Kid's Fishing Derby hosted by the McLean County Sportsmen's Association at Miller Park.
BLOOMINGTON  A 20-year-old Champaign man was sentenced Tuesday in McLean County court to two years in prison for illegally possessing a loaded weapon.

Corey K. Butler pleaded guilty that day to a Class 4 felony charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. As part of his plea agreement, accepted by Judge Jason Chambers, two additional weapons charges were dropped. Those now-dismissed charges were possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony, and a second Class 4 felony offense of aggravated UUW.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorney Jeffrey Horve, who told the court Butler was arrested March 12, 2022. He said a person told dispatchers a suspicious, potentially armed person was at an apartment complex on Goose Creek Drive in Bloomington. Horve said the caller pointed out Butler to arriving officers, who found him with a loaded 9 mm gun in his waistband. He did not have a valid FOID card.

Butler was credited for 33 days already served. Chambers said the sentence is expected to be served at 50%. The judge noted that Butler had no prior criminal record, and told him he hoped he would make better choices after his release from prison.

Assistant Public Defender Brian McEldowney represented Butler. Asked to comment on the outcome, he described the case as an isolated incident.

Echoing Chambers' comment about Butler's lack of prior record, McEldowney said it was a shame that statutory requirements did not allow the court to have discretion when sentencing someone in Butler's position, and that he had to be sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

McEldowney said a prison sentence for the charge Butler pleaded guilty to is mandated by state law.

The weapons being used in the Russia-Ukraine war Warplanes and missiles: Kalibr Warplanes and missiles: Iskander Rockets: Grad Rockets: Smerch and Uragan Cluster munitions and thermobaric weapons Russian rockets and artillery Ukraine's arsenal: NLAW anti-tank missiles Ukraine's arsenal: US javelin missiles Ukraine's arsenal: Bayraktar TB2 drone Russian missiles: Iskander Russian howitzers Russian howitzers Russian howitzers Russian self-propelled artillery Why ethical behavior matters even in the fog of war
NORMAL  Heartland Community College student Rodney Billerbeck II was awarded the 2023 Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Scholarship.

Billerbeck was the former student trustee at Heartland from 2022 to 2023. During his tenure, he was actively involved on campus, serving as a student ambassador and participating in Professional Agriculture Students and Collegiate Future Business Leaders of America. He won national titles in both clubs.

He will pursue an agriculture business degree at Illinois State University in the fall.

The scholarship recognizes the Illinois community college system's outstanding student board members. The scholarship award is presented by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.

According to HCC, to achieve this award, Billerbeck made notable efforts to communicate with students and provide a viable means for feedback from the student body; was a functioning member of the board of trustees; took part in discussions at both open meetings and closed sessions; and devoted a significant amount of time to community serving during his enrollment.

He also acted in the best interest of students, the college and the system; has knowledge of the issues students face through interaction with student government and campus organizations; has reported on the problems and accomplishments of individual students and student organizations at board meetings; and was an asset to the board and the college, HCC said.

Billerbeck was recognized for this achievement at the Annual Illinois Community College Trustees Association Award Banquet that was held at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, where he was presented with a $500 scholarship award.

Heartland Community College Day of Service HEARTLAND DAY OF SERVICE 042923-blm-loc-service2 042923-blm-loc-service3 042923-blm-loc-service4 042923-blm-loc-service5 042923-blm-loc-service6
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

June 4, 1923: Today is alumni day at the Illinois State Normal University, and scores of graduates of other years will return to meet their classmates of yore. Of the class of 1873, the best known in Illinois is probably Dr. Edmund J. James, on account of his long connection with the University of Illinois as president of that institution. He now lives a few miles east of Los Angeles.

75 years ago

June 3, 1948: A new state-approved sewage disposal system will be in operation at Camp Heffernan on Lake Bloomington when Boy Scout campers come next week. The system is the first entirely sanitary system at the Lake. Two tanks collect drainage from kitchens, toilets and the shower house.

50 years ago

June 3, 1973: Bloomington firefighters voted 5-1 against a new contract proposal offered by the city. Neither side would reveal terms of the proposal. A representative of the firefighters' union would only say that the "contract as a whole was turned down 5 to 1."

25 years ago

June 6, 1998: Tempa Bevington, a former engineer at General Motors who moved to Danvers in retirement, pinched pennies during her life and left an estate of roughly $450,000 after her death in 1996. About half was left to residents of Danvers Township, who can now use it to take adult education classes. Guardian Darwin Stubblefield said Bevington particularly felt it was vital that women be educated so they could take care of themselves financially.

101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup'
Editor's note: The following editorial appeared in The Pantagraph on June 6, 1944, under the headline "The Liberation of Europe Begins." Nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations landed in Normandy on that date, an invasion widely known as D-Day.

"According to plan."

The words had an ominous ring once, for they were used many times in the early days of the war by the German high command.

They have a different ring to our ears today, particularly coming from Prime Minister Churchill to describe United Nations landings on the coast of France.

"According to plan."

Certainly no endeavor has ever been more carefully planned, more publicized in advance, or more anxiously awaited than the invasion which now has been launched. To describe it as the greatest single military feat in history is to be entirely accurate.

When Hitler began his attack on France May 10, 1940, he told his armies that the fate of Germany for 1,000 years depended on the battle. He was wrong if he meant that victory would assure Germany's security for 1,000 years. But it can truly be said that the fate of Germany for many years will be decided in the battle which was joined in the early hours of today.

What that fate will be is a foregone conclusion in American minds. No matter what anxious hours lie ahead  and there will be many anxious ones  we know victory is certain in the end. There have been failures at Cassino, anxious hours of doubt at Anzio, heavy losses at Dieppe. An undertaking as gigantic as this new invasion cannot be conducted without such setbacks as these, and perhaps much greater ones. But the American homefront is wiser about war than it was a year ago. It is just as confident of victory but it knows the path is not a smooth one.

Every American heart goes out today to our fighting men stationed in England. For the soldiers and sailors and airmen, it is the hour toward which their training has pointed. To those who love them here at home, it is the hour of mixed apprehension and relief. These latter, the mothers, the fathers, the wives and sweethearts, should be included in the prayers which will go up today and in following days from American homes and churches.

Their trial will be a terrible one. They will not think of the invasion in terms of glory, or of military strategy, or historical significance, but in terms as simple as, "I wonder whether Jim is safe."

Confident of victory, as we are, awed in the presence of a historical event, and relieved that the necessary fighting has finally begun, let us nevertheless remember the anxious hours which lie ahead and show by our consideration that we understand the deep personal nature of the news to those with relatives in the fighting.

From the Archives: Remembering D-Day British troops moved on the Normandy Shore Thousands of U.S. 3rd Division troops British WWII veterans attend a ceremony Celebrating D-Day, the turning point of WWII Museum remembers D-Day "A Foreign Field", a fictional reunion in France on the anniversary of D-Day French amphibious landing craft hits the shore at Omaha Beach A U.S. coast guard-manned USS LST-21 President Clinton looked over the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc Royal D-Day row reveals divide over WWII roles D-Day veterans stand during a prayer D-Day - The Longest Day - 30 years later Germans quietly remember significance of D-Day U.S. Army infantrymen "The Braves", erected at Omaha Beach Remembrance of war at sea
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  A doctors' group listed some areas that should be prioritized by Ted Herbosa, who took his oath on Tuesday as the new head of the Department of Health (DOH).

We still have the pandemic, for me that is the number one priority, Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) President Rontgene Solante told CNN Philippines The Source.

Despite the World Health Organizations lifting of the public health emergency, Solante said the new health secretary should lay out long-term plans for vaccination, and improve health care facilities for possible pandemics in the future.

To further strengthen the countrys healthcare system, the DOH should also iron out plans for the establishment of different major facilities like the countrys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Virology Institute of the Philippines, and diagnostic centers across the country, he added.

These are things that will make us more concrete in terms of how should we be in the next 5-6 years and how we will cope up with the next pandemic, Solante said.

Another important matter that Herbosa should focus on is the implementation of the Universal Health Care law, Solante added.

This a law that will really put something in terms of delivery of health towards the poor and equality of these services, including those who are in the far-flung areas and the needy, he noted.

The PCP president said the top causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines are related to chronic diseases, like heart disease, and diabetes.

The Universal Health Care law will focus on preventing this, and putting this measure into implementation will be vital in curbing morbidity and mortality related to these diseases, he explained.

To utilize the benefits of the law, Solante said the DOH should start implementing different healthcare networks across the country.

This is also a way on how we can strengthen the healthcare system because when you improve the healthcare delivery, it goes with it that you will also improve the healthcare facilities, he pointed out. Health consultation and care will now be accessible in any part of the country.

Solante also emphasized the need to strengthen the role of healthcare workers and implement programs that will encourage them to work in the Philippines and not abroad.
TOWANDA  Eighty-one years ago, on Dec. 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese Empire, Roy Lee Redding's mother drove him to the U.S. Navy recruitment office.

Redding, who turns 103 this year, was born and raised in Kansas but lives in Towanda now. He said his mother did not want him to get drafted.

"1941, Pearl Harbor Day. She took me to Kansas City to sign me up for the Navy," Redding said, sitting for an interview with The Pantagraph on Thursday, June 1, at his home.

"She didn't want me in the Army. She had two brothers in the Army, and they didn't like it," he said.

Redding is one of a dwindling number of World War II veterans still alive. More significantly, too, is that his ship saw action in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944  D-Day.

Redding moved with his wife and growing family to Towanda in 1955, and he retired from State Farm in 1985, according to information provided by his family. He also served as village president of Towanda for several years.

For decades, he has been part of the community's Fourth of July parade.

These days, he spends his time relaxing at the family home, with his great-grandson Aidan Domkuski and family helping to take care of him.

Redding remembers his time in the Navy fondly.

"I enjoyed the Navy," he said, relaxing in the sunroom, wearing headphones to amplify the conversation. "I was a gunnery officer."

During the war, Redding was a junior officer stationed on a troop and equipment transport ship, LST-504.

"I had a good crew, and we worked together real good. Had to keep the guns all cleaned up. That was a chore," he said with a chuckle. "But it was a happy time, really. Everybody just seemed to pull together. (That) made it a lot better."

Redding said his ship sailed to England from the U.S. in "one of the largest convoys that they ever sent across.

"I don't know how many ships we had. There was just ships all over the place, and they'd get out of position at night. And then, in the morning, it'd take them half of a day to get back in shape where they belonged," he laughed.

Redding said he enjoyed sailing; "I like the sea. It's calm, unless you're in a storm."

The soldiers he transported, though, felt a little different.

"A lot of them got (sea) sick," he said, smiling.

"I was fortunate with that; I never did get sick," Redding said, adding that he would get a little queasy below decks, "but if I was up in the air and got the breeze, I never got sick. So I stayed upstairs most of the time."

Redding said, despite their penchant for sea-sickness, he enjoyed the soldiers on his ship because they were from Kansas, like him.

"(Fort) Leavenworth, Kansas was close to where we lived. There was a bunch of soldiers on our ship that was from Leavenworth," he said. "That was kind of neat to see those guys who were from your hometown."

Redding said one of the few things he did not enjoy about the Navy were the drills he had to run.

But he said his sailors were "real good at taking orders and stuff. You learn a lot of discipline there."

However, smooth sailing only lasts so long.

"We had one boy, just a kid. He's 18 years old," Redding said. "He joined the Navy, and then he got scared. And it really bothered him.

"So, he took a chance and, I don't know where we were, but he, what they called 'jumped ship.' He took leave at night, and he didn't come back."

Redding said the military police had to go to his home and pick him up.

"Then he finally got settled down. You know, he was just a kid. He was scared, he really was."

While Redding said he was never scared, per se, because of the size of his convoy, there were things that bothered him.

"We had these bombers come over every night, every night," Redding said. "The same time, they'd come around bombing us, but they weren't very accurate with their bombing."

But there was something else that struck a chord and stuck with Redding all these decades later.

"One of the reflections that I have, that keeps coming back into my mind," he said, shifting in his chair, "was the first time I ever saw a dead body floating in the ocean.

"I don't know what the occasion was," he said slowly, gathering his thoughts. "But that was kind of  we wasn't expecting to see it. Kind of shocked you."

He said his sailors weren't scared before: "But seeing a dead body floating in the ocean, that scares everybody. I don't care who you are. It makes you wonder ... that was a bad feeling there. It's a feeling you never get over."

"People don't seem to be too interested," Redding said. "It was a long time ago ... very few people ask me what it was like ... very few people are interested in it."

There was a pause before Redding pivoted, "It wasn't all bad." His smile returned, and he said, "there was a lot of good times, too."

He said the ships in convoy would trade rations to suit their crews' appetites. He said they would trade canned chicken for things like eggs or potatoes.

"Trading back and forth, which was good, keeping everybody happy," he said. "That was the main thing, keep 'em happy."

After the war, Redding said he remembers climbing on ladders in New York City to watch the Victory Parades and being awed at the spectacle.

Redding separated from the Navy on Jan. 17, 1946.

His ship, LST-504, never received a proper name during wartime service. According to Naval History and Heritage Command, the ship was designated as U.S.S. Buchanan County in 1955.

It was sunk a year later as target practice.

"I remember seeing them bomb that ship when they mothballed it and gutted it  cleaned all of it and took everything out of it," Redding said. "Off the coast of New York over there, and they bombed it and sunk it. They got rid of it ... I didn't like that. I kind of liked that old ship."

Redding said he would have liked to stay in the service, but other priorities creeped up on him.

"I would have stayed in if it wasn't for my wife having a kid coming," he said. "I felt like my duty was to be home with them."

That kid was Sam Redding.

Organizers in Towanda are planning to get the old sailor back in the Independence Day Parade this year.

50 facts and figures about D-Day 50 facts and figures about D-Day It was the largest amphibious assault in history The D in D-Day is redundant Secrecy and deception were key The practice run turned deadly German defenses were the wars biggest construction project Forces landed on five code-named beaches Omaha Beach was the hardest fought A massive bombardment preceded the invasion Thousands of paratroopers landed first Canadian forces captured the most ground The operation had a code name D-Day involved nearly 7,000 Allied ships... and more than 11,500 Allied aircraft There were 73,000 Americans at D-Day Comanche code-talkers joined the siege The Allies faced 50,000 German defenders The battle lasted until August The exact number of fallen is unknown Most Allied troops arrived after D-Day The operation led to the liberation of Paris A memorial cemetery sits on US soil in France Families foughtand diedtogether Around 14,000 corpses were returned home The Allies lost more than 11% of their troops German casualties exceeded 240,000 The action was far from consistent The tide was a double-edged sword The beach was a minefield D-Day was the result of trial and error The Germans almost guessed it right It was supposed to happen a month earlier Nature played a key role Higgins boats whisked many troops to shore D-Day films have become part of American popular culture A D-Day movie star served on D-Day Many other famous people served on D-Day Gargantuan supply shipments preceded the invasion 17 million maps were needed The landings opened a supply line Artificial harbors supported the supply lines The Army attacked with 6 divisions 500 gliders took to the air A separate battle raged high above the beach The mighty Atlantic Wall fell in a day The day produced 12 Medals of Honor Heavy packs encumbered troops Boat ramps served as shields One African American combat unit participated That units medic is an unsung hero Germany surrendered less than one year later 50 facts and figures about D-Day
PONTIAC  The Livingston County Sheriff's Office was called to East Timber Street on Monday for a possible lead on a decades-old double homicide case that has gone cold, authorities said.

Deputies were joined by the Illinois State Police to conduct a follow-up investigation into the murders of Robert and Marcia Edwards in January 1983, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

A University of Illinois team also was on the scene to conduct a scan using ground-penetrating radar technology. This was performed based off of information from past investigative interviews with the intent of being as thorough as possible, the release said.

The results of the radar scans will take time to process before being sent back to the sheriff's office, according to the release. However, authorities do not anticipate the scan to reveal any new evidence.

Police have long suspected that the Edwards' adoptive son, Joe Sinnott Edwards, committed the crime. Authorities also have said he may have been working with an accomplice, citing a message that was believed to have been written by Marcia Edwards before her death.

A wanted poster for Edwards remains on the sheriff's office's website and offers a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The poster says that it is highly likely Edwards has been arrested and incarcerated under an assumed identity since the murders.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Andrea M. Sheets
About this story This story is part of a series looking at area lawmakers' takeaways from the recent legislative session.

Dave Koehler is a Democrat who resides in Peoria and represents the 46th Senate District. He is an ordained minister and was the longtime executive director of the Peoria Area Labor Management Council. He previously served on the Peoria County Board and the Peoria City Council. He has served in the Illinois Senate since 2006 and is an assistant majority leader.

Key votes

State budget: Yes.

Withhold state funds from libraries that ban books: Yes.

Permitting all-gender, multi-occupancy bathrooms: Yes.

Barring deceptive practices from anti-abortion pregnancy centers: Yes.

Lifting moratorium on new nuclear plants: Yes.

Bills sponsored

Senate Bill 380 : Creates the Illinois Fertility Fraud Act, allowing people to bring action against doctors who knowingly use their own sperm or eggs in fertility treatment without the patients consent. (passed)

: Creates the Illinois Fertility Fraud Act, allowing people to bring action against doctors who knowingly use their own sperm or eggs in fertility treatment without the patients consent. (passed) Senate Bill 1623 : Forms the Underground Railroad Task Force (passed)

: Forms the Underground Railroad Task Force (passed) Senate Bill 1782: A minor is entitled to a share of revenue from vlogging if featured in at least 30% of revenue-generating content; share placed in trust fund until minor turns 18 (passed)

Successes from session

Koehler characterized the session as productive, pointing to the passage of a Medicaid bill that raises reimbursement rates for hospitals and legislation that incentivizes the use of hydrogen as an energy source. He was also satisfied with the budget process, which included Senate Republicans despite a Democratic supermajority. They weren't happy with some of the outcomes, but that's going to be just a difference of opinion and philosophy. That's going to happen. But, at least, what I heard loud and clear is that they felt like they were included and they were listened to.

Disappointments from session

Koehler said he was disappointed that a cannabis industry reform bill didnt get called. He said lawmakers specifically need to get real about delta-8 THC, a psychoactive substance typically manufactured from hemp-derived CBD. If we don't deal with it, number one, it's dangerous out there because kids get a hold of it. Number two, it really threatens to destroy the cannabis industry. That's a heavily-regulated, heavily-taxed industry. And we allow something else to kind of crowd it out and not regulate it.

Another priority will be reforming the estate tax. Illinois estates worth less than $4 million are exempt from the tax, a threshold that's difficult for many family farms to meet. We need to do something on the estate tax, there's just no doubt about it. And that's a broad area, but we also need to look especially as it relates to small family farms. Koehler said conversations have started among downstate members, but were too late for inclusion in this years budget.

Koehler said he plans to continue work on legislation he introduced to create a new clean fuel standard that aims to reduce carbon intensity in the states transportation sector 20% by 2038.

Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term
What happened to Republican support for law and order, private businesses, individual freedom and responsibility plus state and local governmental control of their own affairs? They once said big government was the problem. Now theyre advocating an all-powerful government that micro-manages our personal lives, gives huge tax breaks to wealthy supporters, pardons their friends and officials who commit crimes and promotes unrelenting proliferation of guns.

Their leading presidential candidate plotted a coup when he lost to Biden in 2020, is facing indictment and investigation galore and was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation of his victim and owes $5 million in damages.

Another leading candidate wants to run America like hes running Florida, by meddling in private sector businesses, banning abortion, supporting unrestricted gun use, indoctrinating students with curricula that distorts reality, banning books, disrespecting minorities and immigrants, restricting voting and expecting lobbyists to finance his campaign., so naturally Congressman LaHood has endorsed him for president.

GOP governors are signing laws allowing children to work longer in more dangerous jobs instead of focusing on education. No wonder GOP candidates are advised when making campaign speeches to use language third-graders understand.

Meanwhile, the Texas governor wants public schools to promote Christianity by praying and reading the Bible as he refuses to protect schools and houses of worship from mass shootings.

National security experts say the greatest threats to America are domestic not foreign, yet many Republican elected officials and Supreme Court justices remain complictly silent while others are actively encouraging mob and gun violence, disinformation, defunding government agencies and replacing our constitutional republic with a white Christian nationalist fascist dictatorship.

Enemies of America are dividing us, so we must unite or they will conquer us.

Linda Doenitz, Bloomington
The global cocoa market experienced a surge in prices during April 2023, reaching a six-year high in both the London and New York markets, according to the April 2023 cocoa report by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO).



Prices of the front-month [May 2023] cocoa futures contract rose by 5 percent in London from US$2,630 to US$2,773 per tonne, and by 11 percent in New York from US$2,868 to US$3,177 per tonne for the May-23 contract.



ICCO highlighted various factors that contributed to the upward trend in cocoa prices, on the back of concerns over the availability of cocoa beans and weather-related challenges in key cocoa-producing regions.



There has been a global supply deficit resulting from a low level of cocoa bean supply from West Africa, particularly Cote dIvoire. This deficit played a significant role in triggering the price hikes. Cocoa farmers continue to struggle with lack of fertiliser and pesticides as the war in Ukraine has limited Russian exports of potash and other fertiliser worldwide.



On one hand, the persisting spectrum of a global supply deficit that resulted from the current year-on-year low level of cocoa beans supply from West Africa contributed to triggering the price hikes. On the other hand, the abundant rains that were recorded in Cote dIvoires main cocoa-growing regions raised concerns over a possible delay of the countrys mid-crop, ICCO mentioned.



The excess humidity in cocoa plantations stemming from the massive rains in cocoa growing areas heightened the likelihood of a potential outbreak of the black pod disease, which is detrimental to the crop, the report added.



Production



ICCO notes that available information on crop sizes in main cocoa-origin countries in West Africa suggests that compared to the 2021/22 cocoa year, the 2022/23 cocoa season is heading toward a supply deficit due to a reduction in production.



The current year-on-year reduction of 137,000 tonnes for cumulative arrivals in Cote dIvoire combined with the year-on-year increase of 53,013 tonnes in Ghana and 6,286 tonnes in Brazil resulted in a shortfall of 77,701 tonnes of cocoa beans. This decline represents a larger reduction of over seven times the year-on-year decline of 10,672 tonnes observed in grindings for the three main regional cocoa associations during the first-half of 2022/23 year.



Indeed, as of the end of April 2023, arrivals at Cote dIvoire ports of exports were reported to lag behind volumes recorded during the corresponding period of the previous season. By 7 May 2023, cumulative arrivals of cocoa beans in the country were seen at 1.945 million tonnes, down by 7.04 percent (-137,000 tonnes) compared to 2.082 million tonnes seen over the same period of the previous cocoa year.



In addition, the countrys exports of cocoa beans from October 2022 to March 2023 were reported at 1,005,510 tonnes, slightly down by 0.5 percent compared to 1,010,080 tonnes exported from October 2021 to March 2022.



In Ghana, the production of cocoa beans in 2022/23 is envisaged to overtake the level recorded during 2021/22. The latest information indicates that the volumes of graded and sealed cocoa beans purchased in Ghana were estimated at 576,738 tonnes from October 2022 to March 2023, up by 10.1 percent (+53,013 tonnes) compared with 523,725 tonnes purchased during the previous seasons corresponding period.



In Brazil, the cocoa production data published by AIPC indicated that over the first six months of the 2022/23 cocoa season, the Brazilian cocoa crop output reached 79,313 tonnes, up by 9 percent year-on-year (+ 6,286 tonnes) compared to 73,027 tonnes.

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.

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Amid growing concern over the recruitment practices of high-income nations, the head of one of the world's largest nursing groups has expressed alarm at the "out of control" situation.



Evidence gathered by the BBC reveals the detrimental impact of Ghana's struggling health system due to the ongoing 'brain drain' of its specialist nurses.



The West African country has witnessed a significant exodus of highly skilled nurses who seek better remuneration abroad.



A BBC report states that in 2022 alone, over 1,200 Ghanaian nurses joined the nursing register of the United Kingdom, one of the countries actively recruiting from Ghana.



Despite the UK government stating that active recruitment in Ghana is prohibited, the widespread availability of information through social media platforms enables nurses to easily access and apply for vacancies in NHS trusts.



Ghana's dire economic circumstances act as a compelling push factor for many nurses seeking improved opportunities abroad.



Howard Catton, representing the International Council of Nurses (ICN), has expressed deep concern regarding the magnitude of nurses leaving countries such as Ghana.



The scale of this phenomenon not only negatively impacts the local health system but also perpetuates the inequalities in healthcare provision between richer and poorer nations.



Organizations like the ICN emphasize the urgent need for collaborative efforts between governments, nursing associations, and international bodies to address the root causes of this brain drain and develop strategies to strengthen healthcare systems in source countries.



Howard Catton from the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is concerned about the scale of the numbers leaving countries like Ghana.



"I sense that the situation currently is out of control," he told the BBC.



"We have intense recruitment taking place mainly driven by six or seven high-income countries but with recruitment from countries which are some of the weakest and most vulnerable which can ill-afford to lose their nurses."



Gifty Aryee, the head of nursing at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has expressed the serious consequences resulting from the brain drain phenomenon. During an interview with the BBC, she disclosed that her Intensive Care Unit has experienced a significant loss of 20 nurses to the United Kingdom and the United States in the past six months.



"Care is affected as we are not able to take any more patients. There are delays and it costs more in mortality - patients die," she said.



Gifty Aryee highlighted the prolonged suffering of seriously ill patients in the emergency department as a direct consequence of nursing shortages.



Additionally, a nurse at the hospital estimated that approximately half of her fellow graduates had already left the country, and she expressed a desire to join them.



This alarming trend further emphasizes the pressing need to address the nursing shortage crisis to provide timely and adequate care to those in critical condition.



Hospitals like Cape Coast Municipal Hospital are also losing experienced nurses, resulting in a lack of critical care staff and the need for repeated training.



Smaller clinics are also affected, as even the departure of a single nurse can have significant repercussions, impacting services such as immunizations for children.



Many nurses expressed their desire to leave Ghana due to poor working conditions and the significantly higher salaries offered elsewhere.



Caroline Agbodza, the deputy head of nursing services at Cape Coast Municipal Hospital, revealed, "All our critical care nurses, our experienced nurses, have gone. So we end up having nothing - no experienced staff to work with. Even if the government recruits, we have to go through the pain of training nurses again."



Dr. Justice Arthur, the chief doctor at Ewim Health Clinic in Cape Coast, emphasized the dire consequences, stating, "Let's take services like immunization of children. If we lose public health nurses, then the babies that have to be immunized will not get their immunization and we are going to have babies die."



The exodus of nurses is primarily driven by the significant salary disparity, as nurses in the UK reportedly earn over seven times more than their counterparts in Ghana. Mercy Asare Afriyie from Kwaso healthcare centre near Kumasi expressed her motivation to find a job in the UK, citing the poor conditions of service and inadequate salaries in Ghana.



Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo from Ghana's Nurses and Midwives Association stressed the ethical concerns of recruitment from Ghana, highlighting the disproportionate ratio of professional nurses to trainee or auxiliary nurses.



While she acknowledged the right to migrate, Ofori-Ampofo called on the Ghanaian government to take stronger measures to retain nurses and address the healthcare system's challenges.



The Ghanaian health ministry in Accra declined to comment on the situation.



The increasing departure of nurses from Ghana raises urgent concerns and underlines the need for comprehensive efforts to improve working conditions, offer competitive salaries, and implement strategies to retain healthcare professionals, ensuring the provision of quality care for the population.



Ghana, categorized as a vulnerable country on the World Health Organization's list due to low nurse-to-population ratios, is facing challenges with systematic recruitment from high-income countries.



The UK government has provided 15m ($18.6m) to Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya to strengthen their healthcare workforces.



While the UK is considering a formal agreement with Ghana to facilitate proactive recruitment in exchange for financial support per nurse, Howard Catton from the International Council of Nurses questions whether such deals truly consider the costs incurred by source countries.



Brexit's impact on the UK labor market has led to a shift towards African countries to address nursing vacancies in the National Health Service, as explained by Jim Campbell, the WHO's Director of Health Workforce.



"The labour market is extremely competitive around the world and, having closed off the potential labour market from European freedom of movement, what we're seeing is the consequences of that in terms of attracting people from the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions."





















Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, replied those questioning his Christianity over his fight against the building of the National Cathedral has already cost the country some Four Hundred Million Dollars.



According to him, his war against the building is not borne out of the fact that he is not a Christian, but doing his work as a Parliamentarian, which requires him to keep the other arms of government including the Executive in check.



I am still a Christian. We are all Christians and when you take a look at the population census, we profess that we are Christians because 70% of Ghanaians profess to be Christians and I subscribe to Christianity too.



"Since I started delving into matters concerning the building of the National Cathedral as part of my constitutional mandate, when constituents vote for MPs, they vote for them to carry an oversight. The whole concept is an oversight, as Baron De Montesquieu espoused many years ago.



"For Democracy to function effectively, the three arms of government should check the others. Last week the Supreme Court made a major pronouncement on the treatment meted to the former Auditor General by the President.



"The Supreme Court said the President did not act in good faith. Those are the checks and balances we are talking about.



"So you can be the President, but the Supreme Court can let you know that what you did was wrong and so going forward youll need to do better. Thats the same thing with the responsibility of the Legislature, he said on Accra-based Okay Fm.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
A four-lane concrete bridge being built across the River Ganges in the east Indian state of Bihar has collapsed for the second time in just over a year, once again raising questions about the quality of its construction.



Video shows the 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) bridge dramatically crashing into the river on Sunday, sending a plume of debris and dust into the sky and waves rippling across the holy river.



The Sultanganj Bridge has collapsed twice since construction began in 2017, the first time in April last year before Sundays catastrophic failure. Its not clear why the bridge collapsed last year or if those problems had been rectified.



Crowds of people on the river bank can be seen filming the bridge and shouting as it tumbles down. CNN has not been able to confirm reports of any injuries.



On Monday, Bihars chief minister Nitish Kumar said he had ordered an inquiry into the incident.



In a statement Monday, the Canadian design and engineering firm behind the bridge, McElhanney, it was aware of the partial collapse of the bridge and is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of those affected by the incident.



Read Full Story .... HERE >>> :









Source: CNN









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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General Overseer of Life Assembly Worship Centre, Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly called 'Osofo Kyiri Abosom', says the one-week fast and prayer declaration by the Perez Chapel over the Nogokpo controversy involving the church is a complete "waste of time".



He wondered why the church would embark on a fast and prayer for their Head Pastor, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, because the people of Nogokpo has threatened to take action against him regarding a sermon he delivered in church concerning Nogokpo.



Preaching to the congregants at the Perez Chapel, the Archbishop narrated an experience he had with some demonic entities on his journey in Nogokpo.



His comments infuriated the residents in the community who found Archbishop Agyinasare to be stereotyping them as a hub of withcraft, a notion they seek to clear from the minds of Ghanaians.



They leaders in the community released a press statement demanding an unqualified apology from the Archbishop or face their wrath.



Fast and Prayers For Archbishop Charles Agyinasare



On Sunday, June 4, the Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel International, Benjamin Ohene Aboagye, declared a weeklong fast and prayers to protect their Head Pastor.



On the 25th of last month, during our Supernatural Empowerment Summit, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare made a statement concerning the Nogokpo issue. I think we are all aware of the issue in Ghana. It is trending on social media and other platforms. We, the Perez Council, on behalf of the Executive Council, have taken notice of all these things and this is what the Executive Council is saying.



We are declaring a one-week fast from the 5th to the 11th of this month, and we expect all pastors, elders, deacons, deaconesses, and all our churches to participate in this fast for one week. We believe that God is our helper. He is our rock. He is the one we look up to. So this is the decision we have taken for now. We expect everyone [in all our branches] to take part in this fast, he said.



Declaring Fast and Prayer, Very 'Useless'



But Osofo Kyiri Abosom has expressed shock that the Perez Chapel would declare a period of fast and prayer for their Pastor over a threat by Nogokpo.



"Fasting for one week, it's a waste of time. Agyinasare, wherever you are, your fasting for one week is useless. We already have God's power; it's not the fasting that will clear anything. If you have the power, there is no need to fast for something of that sort," he told Peace News.



To him, if the church adhere to this instruction, it means they believe in the spirit of Nogokpo.



"Does this mean you believe in the spirit of Nogokpo?", he questioned.

Agyinasare Vs Nogokpo

On Sunday, May 28, Archbishop Charles Agyinasare said he has no intention to cast a slur on the people of Nogokpo and the Volta Region and that his earlier comments were in reference to an incident that happened after a crusade held in the area.



To drive home my point, I made reference to several instances where I have encountered manifestations of demonic powers in my crusades, which have taken me to over 92 countries of the world.



I gave an example of people who were seeking to levitate during a crusade in India. I gave an example of an attack I suffered as a very young pastor who had gone to preach at a bus stop around Korle Bu.



In reference to Nogokpo, I wish to clarify that I never intended to refer to the town but an incident that happened after a crusade at Aflao  I had absolutely no intention to cast a slur on the people of Nogokpo town and the Volta Region as a whole, the archbishop explained.



He added; I have had a cordial relationship with the people of the Volta Region  my wife of 38 years is an Ewe from Keta and two of my biological children bear Ewe names  all the examples I gave were not intended to denigrate any of the towns and their people, but to elucidate the principles of divine protection to congregants.



However, the Chief of Nogokpo and his elders have called for the presence of Archbishop Charles Agyinasare before them to resolve the matter.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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His Majesty King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council of Accra, Ghana and Ga Amanklado, Nii Adote Otintor II and other paramount chiefs has engaged with Gas leaving in diaspora in MinneapolisSaint Paul in the United States Of America.



The aim of the gathering is to help further unify the Ga state.



Speaking at a conference over the weekend with under the theme: The Restoration of Our Heritage Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II said  This is part of the effort towards the consolidation and unification of the Ga state.



The Ga Mantse, on Friday (October 22, 2021) met the president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to help change the name of the Greater Accra Region to the Ga-Adangbe Region.



Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II in his speech said, Ga Dangbe is sad, sad because of a lot of things that are being done against us.



According to the Ga King, his people are sad about the situation.



We are sad about the way we are being treated in the capital. People just get up, go to a places and start building without even consulting a traditional authority, he said.



The Ga Mantse also called on authorities to intervene in what he called the gradual phasing out of the Ga Adange language in schools in the region.



The Ga language has been threatened in recent years. Indeed, many schools do not teach Ga anymore in the Greater Accra Region.



Today, it is a big threat to our very existence and our culture because we evolve from it. We are asking that teachers that are trained to teach Ga to be posted to our Ga communities, he said.



He stated that Gas have the ability to decide the outcome of the 2024 general election, thus should be recognised as key stakeholders in the affairs of the country.



We will decide this election in 2024 because Accra is the pivot of the election. Accra is Ghana and Ghana is Accra, dont take us for granted he pointed out.





Source: Daily post









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has ordered the temporary closure of Kawasan Falls until hazardous debris and abandoned structures in the area are removed and new guidelines are in place.

Last week, Garcia issued an executive order halting canyoneering activities in the area until the Matutinao River in Kawasan is also cleared.

After a meeting with Badian officials Monday afternoon, Garcia said the provincial government is taking over the administration of Kawasan Falls.

"That is a disaster waiting to happen," she said. "And I don't want a black mark on Cebu's tourism, particularly Kawasan Falls which is recognized as one of the most beautiful falls in the world."

"So that rather than allow that disaster to happen, we might as well take that preventive action," the governor added.

Garcia said there are debris from structures destroyed by Typhoon Odette as well as abandoned structures near the Matutinao River and at the falls that pose danger to tourists.

One of the structures is an abandoned dam with sprouting metal rods, which could injure those swimming or joining the canyoneering activities.

"For that reason, the Province of Cebu is temporarily taking over the clearing of the Kawasan Falls and the eventual re-presentation to the public," Garcia said. "We will do everything that needs to be done."

She also said tour operators in Kawasan Falls need to organize to come up with standards.

The rates should be reviewed because some tourists do not want to pay 1,500 each for canyoneering, the governor also said, adding there will also be retraining of tour guides.

Garcia clarified that the canyoneering activities in the neighboring town of Alegria will continue. It is only in Badian where activities are temporarily suspended.

Kawasan Falls is one of the tourist spots in the country frequented by foreign and local tourists. It flows through Matutinao River in Badian, some 105 kilometers southwest of Cebu City or about a three-hour drive from the province's capital.
Lariba Zuweira Abudu, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, says Caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme will receive payments of their arrears for the third term of the 2022 academic year by next week.



She said her Ministry together with the Ministry of Finance as of April 2023 had paid all areas for the first and second terms of the 2022 academic year.



The Minister said this when he addressed the press on the status of the programme in Accra.



Madam Abudu said so far, 11,052 caterers files had been cleared for payment.



She added that 76 caterers payments were pending due to challenges with their e-zwich payment platforms.



She said some caterers did not cook within the period and, therefore, would not be paid, saying, they were being paid on the number of days they cooked within a term.



Madam Abudu said beneficiary pupils of the programme had increased from 1,611,777 in 2016 to 3,801,491 in 2023 covering 10,832 public basic schools nationwide.



She added that the cost per meal per child per day had been proposed at GHC 1.20 from the current GHC 1.00.



The programme continues to provide employment for 34,350 caterers and cooks especially women to enable them to take care of their families.



Also, the programme has created a ready market for local farmers thereby boosting the local economy, she said.



The Minister said the programme was currently running an electronic monitoring system, which provided real-time data to enhance programme delivery.



The Ghana School Feeding Programme is an intervention by the Government of Ghana started in 2005 to provide food to children in public basic schools from kindergarten to primary six.



The programme aims to increase school enrolment, attendance and retention, reduce short-term hunger and malnutrition and boost domestic food production.





Source: GNA









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An Accra High Court has given Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, former Chief Director at the Ministry for Water Resources, Works and Housing, 48 hours to show up before it for his pleas to be taken in connection with charges relating to causing financial loss to the state in the $200 million Saglemi Housing project scandal.



The accused has been absent from the trial a number of times due to ill health and his counsel, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has consistently presented the prosecution and the court with a medical report indicating that he would not be able to attend court unaided.



Alhaji Yakubu is standing trial together with former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who doubles as NDC MP for Asutifi, over 70 charges of causing financial loss to the state among others.



The prosecution has amended the charges against the accused persons and the case has been placed before a new court differently constituted and presided over by Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge.



The court on May 31, 2023, took the pleas of Alhaji Collins Dauda, Agyeman-Mensah, a former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing; businessman Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited as well as Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, who all pleaded not guilty.



The court could however, not take the pleas of Alhaji Yakubu who was absent on that day, and subsequently adjourned the case to yesterday to hear arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel with respect to Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution and decide on how to proceed with the accused person.



Mr. Tameklo, counsel for Alhaji Yakubu, yesterday told the court that it was not a willful decision by the accused person to be absent in court and prayed the court that based on the medical report, the accused should be given time to recover from his illness.



Alternatively, he prayed the court to make other facilities available to the accused either by way of video conference at the Tamale or Yendi Office of the Attorney General so that he can duly participate in the proceedings of the court.



He further suggested that in view of the fact that the fair trial rules requires that the trial be conducted in the presence of the accused person, video conferencing facility would achieve the same end of the constitutional provision which requires that the trial be done in his presence.



Hilda Craig, a Principal State Attorney said that all the medical reports that were submitted to the court indicate that the accused could not walk without any support and therefore suggested that Alhaji Yakubu could be supported to come to court at least for his plea to be taken given the fact that he is facing a bulk of the charges.



She said the accused could be duly represented by his counsel at subsequent sittings if he would not be able to appear in person.



She also told the court that neither the Tamale office of the Attorney General nor the Tamale High Court has the facility to allow the plea of the accused to be taken via a live video feed.



Justice Owusu-Dapaa, in his ruling, said it is only death that prevents an accused from standing trial or when there is a proper medical report pointing to the fact that the accused is not mentally sound.



He said conducting a separate trial for Alhaji Yakubu will not favour the other accused persons and, therefore, ordered him to appear before the court on June 7, 2023, for his plea to be taken while a decision is taken on his subsequent appearances.



Meanwhile, the court has given the prosecution up to June 9, 2023, to file the witness statements for their remaining two witnesses.

Source: Gibril Abdul Razak/Daily Guide









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Samsung Electronics Samsung Knox security platform is 10 years old! Namedafter one of the most heavily guarded places, it was first introduced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2013.



That is a decade of cutting-edge mobile protection for users around the world, during which Samsung Knox evolved into a holistic security platform synonymous with safeguarding billions of consumers and businesses. And now, Samsung is addressing the next frontier of device security with Knox Matrix.



Bringing Security to an Increasingly Connected World



Knox Matrix is Samsungs vision for a future where devices connected in an ecosystem can protect each other  as well as their users. It is a comprehensive approach to security, which will become increasingly essential as more devices and aspects of our lives become connected.



Many users around the world already own an array of connected devices, from mobile devices and TVs to refrigerators and robot vacuum cleaners. The presence of over 14 billion connected devices on the market demonstrates the vastness of this landscape, which shows no signs of shrinking.



Samsung is aware that despite the benefits, increased connectivity has the potential to lead to more exploitations. Traditional security infrastructure that protects single devices will be unable to keep up, as one compromised device stands the chance of impacting others within the same ecosystem. Knox Matrix will address this challenge through a revolutionary concept that paves the way for multi-device security for mobile phones, TVs, home appliances, and more.



Samsung devices that are empowered with Knox Matrix work to protect one another in a trusted network. If one element is compromised, Knox Matrix will isolate it from the ecosystem in order to protect the others. Having Knox Matrix supported across devices can effectively turn a smart home into a smart shield  the more devices a user has connected, the stronger their overall security.



There are currently three critical features of Knox Matrix that ensure its success. Trust Chain has devices monitoring each other for threats. Credential Sync secures user information as data is moved between devices; and Cross Platform SDK will enable devices on various operating systems and platforms (including but not limited to Android, Tizen and Windows) to join Knox Matrix with consistent security standards. This way, we can keep devices safe even in a hyper-connected world.



Knox Matrix manages all this within a private blockchain, allowing compatible devices to check each other for breaches and ensure safety with intelligent threat monitoring. With these steps in place and more features to be introduced, users will be able to enjoy multiple connected devices safely and conveniently.



The Path to the Next Frontier: Stronger Together



Creating the foundations for the next era of device security requires careful consideration. Knox Matrixs development is going strong, but there are challenges on the way to the next frontier. These include reconciling the many different types of products, with varying operating systems and security standards, into a frictionless system able to work as one.



As devices become more connected, Samsung must also ensure they are not more complicated to use. With Knox Matrix, we are working to offer users transparency and choice along with protection. Users should be safe in the knowledge that they can make informed decisions about their devices, so they can be protected without hassle. We anticipate that Knox Matrix will alert users of potentially unsafe situations, such as the use of old firmware, offering suggestions for any next steps.



The power of Knox Matrix to protect connected ecosystems will be demonstrated in phases, starting with Samsung Galaxy products, such as smartphones and tablets. Knox Matrix-compatible models will be available from 2024, initially with the three core features mentioned above and more expected to follow via updates. This will expand to cover Samsungs home appliance devices within the next two to three years, followed by partner devices. Development is already underway for partner device compatibility.



A Trusted Record of Secure Innovations



Samsung already has a long history of enabling different kinds of devices to work seamlessly together through SmartThings. In line with the companys philosophy of open collaboration, Samsung has also been working closely with the most trusted industry partners and the wider security community to define and expand security standards, by better identifying flaws before they become problematic.



More eyes, more heads, better solutions. This background serves as a key foundation for all Samsung Galaxy devices, along with end-to-end protection and real-time threat detection that is built into every single layer of its products.



Knox Matrix is just the latest development in the innovative history of Samsung Knox security. Samsung most recently introduced Knox Vault, a key security solution that isolates users most sensitive data to ensure it never falls into the wrong hands.



Previous evolutions included TrustZone, which provided a secure environment within the main operating system to run sensitive applications and processes separately from regular software. As such, work and play could coexist securely on the same device. Samsung Knox also evolved into Knox Suite[1] in order to help businesses and key institutions around the world efficiently secure, deploy and manage their fleet of devices with customisable, easy-to-manage software and end-to-end security.



Samsung can proudlysay that Knox is one of the most trusted security platforms - thanks to its defense-grade security. We are confident Samsung Knox is best placed to provide one of the best device security systems. Connected technology will help us create better lives and better experiences  and more connectivity does not necessarily have to mean more risk. With Samsung Knox, Samsung is setting the foundation for a safer tomorrow to be stronger together.



















Disclaimer:



[1] Requires separate license key (purchased separately).

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A group, Concerned Ghanaian Youths in the UK has called on Ghanaians to support the digitization drive by the government as the surest path towards Ghana's development.



In a statement, the group said the youth must embrace digitalization to help transform the country.



We hereby state our embracing cutting-edge technologies which is aimed at empowering Ghana's youth to bridge the digital divide for a prosperous nation. Ghana has been making significant strides in implementing various policies to modernize its systems and promote economic growth. Portion of the statement read.



Read statement below...





Your browser does not support iframes.

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Minority in Parliament is demanding for evidence from the World Bank Country Director, Frank Laporte Pierre over his claims on the take-or-pay agreements in the countrys energy sector.



According to the Minority, the World Bank Country Director should provide them with evidence of peer countries where would-be investors are willing to invest $300 million and above in Gas-to-power projects at that time of emergency without demanding some form of supply and payment guarantees.



The Minority at a press conference addressed by John Jinapor. Ranking member on the Mine and Energy Committee also rejects the idea that Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) approved under the Mahama administration are the cause of Ghanas current energy sector problems.



They point out that the NPP minority in Parliament approved all these agreements, including early power, Amandi, AKSA, and Ameri, without objecting.



Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday June 6, the Minority also refutes Vice-President Bawumias recent claim that Ghanas electricity tariffs are the highest in the sub-region.



They stated that the tariffs are within the lower bracket and publish a comparative analysis of ECOWAS member countries to support their claim.



The press conference follows controversy surrounding a video recording of the World Bank country director, Mr Laporte.

The Minority believes that NPP pro-government media have extensively twisted Mr Laportes statements to place blame on former President Mahama for the countrys current economic crisis.



The Minority also provides details on payments to cover fuel consumption, technical and commercial losses, forex losses, required reserve margins, and outstanding electricity bills, which have been misrepresented as excess payments by the government.



The Minority also questions the governments justification for signing a new 15-year PPA with AKSA for the same plant and a completely new 207MW PPA with AKSA for a 20-year period. The contracts contain take-or-pay clauses.



They raised concerns about the pricing formula of the Tema LNG gas contract signed by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government and indexed to crude price, making it the most expensive gas contract in Ghana. The Minority accuses the government of reckless borrowing and economic mismanagement.



The press conference also highlights President Mahamas record in the energy sector, including the Sankofa Gas project, the 250MW Ameri power plant, and the bequeathing of the ESLA to the current government, which has accrued revenues of about 24 billion Cedis.



The press conference accuses the current government of unnecessary and flimsy blame games and a failure to accept responsibility for the economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian.



The Minority calls on the government to find reasonable solutions to current issues in the energy sector.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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New Patriotic Party flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has responded to Majority Chief Whip of Parliament, Frank Annoh Dompreh, who allegedly stated that Agyapong is not suited for the presidency.



In an audio clip where Kennedy Agyapong was addressing NPP delegates during his ongoing campaign, the Member of Parliament for Assin North criticized the lack of development in mining communities across the country while calling out the Majority Chief Whip.



"When you come here to mine gold, the first thing we should negotiate is your corporate social responsibility. Ensure that the people in the mining areas are taken care of. One of my chairmen is from Abirem, and when you visit Kenyasi and Babiani and witness the gold being mined there compared to the living conditions of the people, even the poor are being evicted from their homes. Jesus Christ! I, Kennedy Agyapong, will not tolerate this. That will not work. I believe in Ghana; Ghana first. We will enter into an agreement, and if you're not going to bring peace to Ghana, leave the gold in the ground," he stated in the audio shared on YouTube by Oman Channel.



Kennedy Agyapong, who is also a business magnate, has been criticized by his opponents for being nonconformist. Referring to Annoh Dompreh sharing a similar opinion about his personality, Agyapong questioned how he could have achieved success in business if he were unpresidential.



"Today, Newmont wants to divert the Sunyani Road. Ask yourself why they transport the gold by helicopter. Go to South Africa and see what gold mining has done for South Africans. What is wrong with Ghanaians? We are only concerned about speaking English. Annoh Dompreh gets up and says I am not a presidential material. Have you ever seen a foolish rich man?" Kennedy Agyapong questioned.



During another campaign interaction, Kennedy Agyapong revealed an alleged attempt by Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Frank Annoh Dompreh, to sabotage his campaign.



According to the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Dompreh is questioning the basis for some party chairmen supporting Agyapong because he believes Agyapong is unfit for the presidency.



"Do you know something? Annoh Dompreh, who is the Majority Whip in Parliament, has the audacity to call chairmen and tell them that 'you are supporting Kennedy Agyapong, he is not presidential material'," Agyapong said.



However, Agyapong questioned the chief whip's justification for describing him as unpresidential. Presenting himself as a better candidate, Agyapong argued that his successful business track record proves his capability to lead Ghana towards development if elected as flagbearer and subsequently president.



He emphasized that he is the only candidate who has prioritized the interests of the party's delegates and will work for their welfare instead of using financial means to secure the nomination.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Among Parliaments agenda as it resumes from recess today, June 6, 2023, is the consideration of five financial/tax bills.



These include:

1. Customs (Amendment) Act.

2. Revenue Administration Regulations, 2023.

3. Income Tax (Amendment) Regulations.

4. VAT (Amendment) Regulations.

5. Insurance Regulations, 2023.



Parliament went on recess on March 31, 2023, after the passage of the three revenue bills.



These were the Excise Amendment Act, 2023; Income Tax Amendment Act, 2023; and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act.



The House is, however, expected to resume on June 6, 2023.



Members of Parliament will return to Parliament on June 6, 2023, after going on recess on March 31.



In a statement, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin recalling the MPs for the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament said the House will commence proceedings at 10:00 am.



The Ministry of Health is scheduled to present these bills:



1. Ghana Red Cross Society Bill.

2. Traditional & Alternative Medicine Bill.

3. Health Security Bill.

4. Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill.

5. Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Bill.

Etc.



The Ministry of Education will present these bills & regulations as:



1. Ghana Book Development Agency Bill.

2. Ghana National Service Authority Bill

3. Ghana Library Service bill.

4. Institute of Directors, Ghana Bill.

Etc...







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Minister for Railways Development, John Peter Amewu, has endorsed the candidature of former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen.



In his view, Mr Kyerematen is the only person in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ghanaians are waiting to vote for in the 2024 general election.



Speaking at a gathering of NPP delegates and functionaries in Ho, Mr Amewu made the case that he supported President Nana Akufo-Addo in the past because he was of the view that Ghanaians were waiting to vote for him.



It is against the same principle coupled with the fact that Mr Kyerematen is the most qualified amongst the lot who have picked nomination forms to win power for the NPP and also lead the country well that he is rooting for him.



The former NPP Volta Regional Chairman admonished the teeming delegates that had gathered to vote massively for Mr Kyerematen in the upcoming flagbearership election slated for the 4th of November, 2023.



The delegates, who were gathered at the meeting, received the news from the minister with great enthusiasm and vowed to ensure that Mr Kyerematen gets not less than 90% in the Volta Region.



The delegates averred that they have since 2007 stood by Mr Kyerematen and this is not the time they were going to turn their back on him.







Source: adomonline.com









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London (CNN)  Prince Harry will take to the witness stand Tuesday as his years-long battle against Britains tabloid media reaches its most dramatic stage so far.

The royal is preparing to face questions in a London court as part of his case against a major newspaper publisher.

The appearance of a British royal in a witness box will be an exceptionally rare event. But Harry has long railed against the tactics of the tabloid media in covering his life, and he will now have the opportunity to lay out his arguments, under oath, during cross-examination from MGNs lawyers.

Its likely to be a tense and defining appearance for the duke as he forges his own path further from the rest of the royal family.

Heres what you need to know about the trial.

What is the case about?

The Duke of Sussex and three other claimants representing dozens of celebrities are suing MGN, accusing its titles of obtaining private information by phone hacking and through other illicit means, including private investigators, between 1991 and 2011.

The trial started on May 10, and is expected to last seven weeks.

MGN is contesting most of the allegations, arguing in its court filings that some claims have been brought too late and that in all four cases there is insufficient evidence of phone hacking.

In court documents published last month, the publisher did apologize for one instance of unlawful information gathering nearly 20 years ago. That incident involved a private investigator, who was paid 75 ($95) in 2004 by the Sunday People, a tabloid owned by the same group, to gather information about the Duke of Sussex while at a London nightclub.

Harrys lawyer David Sherborne has said his claim against MGN, which covers incidences from 1995 to 2011, is significant not just in terms of time span but in the range of activity it covers.

Harry was subject to the most intrusive methods of obtaining personal information, Sherborne said, arguing that no one should be subjected to that. The unlawful methods were habitual and widespread among the journalists, Sherborne added.

What happened on Monday?

A huge crowd of media gathered outside the doors to the High Court on Monday morning, hoping for a glimpse of the duke  whom it was later revealed wouldnt be present until Tuesday.

Inside the court, Sherborne laid out parts of Harrys case, introducing some of the articles that will be considered at the trial.

The barrister said that unlawful activities to gather information acted like a web around Harry and took place beneath the radar at MGN newspapers, according to the PA Media news agency.

The first article, from September 1996, was headlined Diana so sad on Harrys big day, and detailed a visit from Princess Diana to see Harry on his 12th birthday, according to PA Media. MGN denies was the result of unlawful activity and argues the information was in the public domain already, PA reported.

Another story discussed touched on the relationship between Harry and Prince William in 2003.

What will Harry say?

When Harry enters the witness box on Tuesday he can expect a tough examination from the publishers lawyers.

The prince alleges that about 140 articles published in titles belonging to the group contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of those articles have been selected to be considered at the trial, according to PA Media.

Its likely that details of those stories will be parsed over at great length.

And while this is Harrys first appearance in a court case against the British media, it may not be his last.

The case against MGN is one of several lawsuits filed by Harry and his wife, Meghan, in their long-running battle with British tabloids, which they have accused of breaches of privacy and publishing false stories.

The pair has filed at least seven lawsuits against British and US media organizations since 2019, including Rupert Murdochs News Group Newspapers (NGN), according to Reuters. NGN publishes the Sun and used to produce News of the World, which was shut down in 2011 over a phone hacking scandal.

In March, Harry appeared at a court hearing in his case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering, which that group has denied.

How will this impact the royals?

Harrys appearance in court is extremely rare. This is thought to be the first time a senior British royal will personally appear since 2002, when Princess Anne pleaded guilty after her dog bit two children in a Windsor park, according to PA Media.

It is more than 130 years since a senior member of the royal family gave evidence in court, when Edward VII was a witness in a slander trial over a card game in 1891, before he became king, Reuters reported.

Its not yet clear whether Harrys testimony will touch on other royals or his relationships with members of the family. But his brother and heir to the throne, Prince William, has recently been brought into the fray in another of Harrys cases.

Documents published in April as part of Harrys lawsuit against NGN allege that the publisher privately reached an undisclosed settlement with Prince William over historical phone hacking claims. It is unclear how Prince Harry is aware of his brothers settlement, but in his court response he writes that his information is based on a redacted document through which he is inferring that Prince William signed onto the agreement.

Officials at Kensington Palace, which represents Prince William, told CNN it does not comment on legal proceedings. Buckingham Palace reiterated that same position. Prince Harry states that his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was aware of settlement talks.

Whether this weeks case will similarly bring questions for other members of the royal family remains to be seen. But it marks a watershed moment in Harrys efforts against major players in Britains media, and his appearance is likely to dominate headlines in the days to come.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Prince Harry set to give evidence in phone hacking trial."
Minority NDC MPs on the Appointments Committee of Parliament have by consensus approved the appointment of Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkonoo as Chief Justice.



In a statement by Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Governs Kwame Agbodza, MP for Adaklu Constituency in the Volta Region, "the members of the Appointments Committee representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not withhold our approval of the Chief Justice nominee by consensus".



"Her curriculum vitae reveals a person of considerable experience having served as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and ultimately at the Supreme Court. Women who have acquitted themselves should be given opportunities to occupy key national offices. Even as we disagree with her jurisprudence, we find her qualified to occupy the high office of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana," the statement added.



According to the Minority Caucus, the image of the judiciary is not in a good shape as several opinion polls show that, as such they hope that Justice Gertrude, as a lady Chief Justice, will restore the dignity of the judiciary.



No Vote Until Reasoned Judgment



The Minority Caucus in Parliament requested for the details of the judgement on James Gyakye Quayson, a former Assin North MP to be made available by June 7 before it can pass a vote on the presidents Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.



In a statement signed by Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Caucus refrained from passing a vote on the nominee after the Appointments Committee of Parliament met after vetting the Supreme Court Justice.



"It is important to state that the Appointments Committee not long ago in 2019 vetted and approved this same nominee as a justice of the Supreme Court. However, it was imperative for Members of the Minority on the Committee to evaluate the decisions of the nomince on all other cases, including the James Gyakye Quayson case since the vetting in 2019," he stated.



Supreme Court's Full Judgement



The Supreme Court on Monday, June 5, 2023 released the full judgement in which it declared as unconstitutional the election of James Gyakye Quayson as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North constituency in the Central Region.



This was after a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records.



Presiding Judge, Justice Jones Dotse on Wednesday, May 17, ruled that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.



Read below the Minority's full statement

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The Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has rejected assertions that one of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) contenders for the Assin North by-election, Charles Opoku, is not qualified to take part in the election.



According to the majority leader, this assertion is being driven by members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), including the partys National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, because Charles Opoku is not a voter in Assin North.



Speaking in an interview on Sompa FM on Monday, June 5, 2023, monitored by GhanaWeb, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that one can contest parliamentary elections in a constituency even if the person is not a registered voter there.



Article 94 (of the Constitution) says: that subject to the provisions of this Article a person shall not qualify to be a member of parliament (MP) unless he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of 21 years and is a registered voter.



The person must be a resident of the constituency in which he stands as a candidate. So, the condition is that you have to be a Ghanaian, a registered voter and a resident of the constituency he wants to contest in. The person we are talking about meets all these requirements.



Even if you are not a resident of the constituency, you must have stayed there for at least 5 years of the 10 years immediately preceding the election you what to contest in. You can even contest even if you are not a resident but are a native of the constituency, he said in the Twi.



If there are laws which go contrary to the constitution, those laws are null and void. This is what I can tell my little brother, the majority leader and Member of Parliament for Suame added while referring to Sammy Gyamfi.



He also said that persons who do not pay their taxes, have been convicted of high crimes and own loyalty to other countries are disqualified from becoming MPs.



Meanwhile, two people will be contesting in the parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to choose the partys candidate for the ensuing Assin North by-elections.



The two, Charles Opoku and Frederick Freeman Amoah-Kyei picked their nomination forms for the party's primaries which is scheduled for June 7, 2023, graphic.com.gh reports.



The Electoral Commission of Ghana has set Tuesday, June 27, 2023, for the by-election.



The National Democratic Congress has indicated that its candidate for the upcoming Assin North by-election, is the ousted Member of Parliament for the constituency, James Gyakye Quayson.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Schematic and sequence of the DX motif. Credit: Small (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300040

Researchers at the University at Albany's RNA Institute have demonstrated a new approach to DNA nanostructure assembly that does not require magnesium. The method improves the biostability of the structures, making them more useful and reliable in a range of applications. The work appears in the journal Small this month.

When we think of DNA, the first association that comes to mind is likely geneticsthe double helix structure within cells that houses an organism's blueprint for growth and reproduction. A rapidly evolving area of DNA research is that of DNA nanostructuressynthetic molecules made up of the same building blocks as the DNA found in living cells, which are being engineered to solve critical challenges in applications ranging from medical diagnostics and drug delivery to materials science and data storage.

"In this work, we assembled DNA nanostructures without using magnesium, which is typically used in this process but comes with challenges that ultimately reduce the utility of the nanostructures that are produced," said Arun Richard Chandrasekaran, corresponding author of the study and senior research scientist at the RNA Institute.

"For example, magnesium can cause DNA nanoparticles to clump together, which alters the characteristics of the drug being delivered. This can interfere with drug loading in the body, ultimately reducing the drug's efficacy. Magnesium can also enhance the activity of enzymes in the body that degrade DNA, thus reducing the lifespan of the nanostructures in the body."

The research team, which included scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, assembled four types of DNA nanostructures in six different metal ions including calcium, barium, sodium, potassium and lithium, as well as magnesium.

"We found that DNA nanostructures assembled in monovalent ions (sodium, potassium, lithium) are much more biostable compared to those assembled in divalent ions (magnesium and calcium)," said Chandrasekaran.

"We demonstrated the wide applicability of our findings by assembling four types of DNA nanostructures of different complexities and sizes using these different ions. These ranged from small DNA motifs such as the double crossover motif and the three-point-star motif to larger assemblies such as a DNA tetrahedron and a DNA origami triangle."

"Assembly of structures that can withstand degradation by nucleases, such as those we've assembled here, would be useful in biological applications such as in drug delivery where DNA nanostructures used as drug carriers need to be intact until they deliver the drug at the target sites."

"Our work focuses on identifying conditions that can be used to build effective drug delivery systems," said Arlin Rodriguez, first author of the study and a research support specialist in Chandrasekaran's lab at the RNA Institute.

"One important aspect highlighted in this study is the resistance of nanostructures assembled in monovalent ions against nuclease degradation, which is useful in preventing damage to these structures in the presence of a nuclease. This improvement in nanostructure durability can help optimize drug release in the body."

"Magnesium has traditionally been the primary ion employed in the assembly of DNA nanostructures," said co-first author Dhanush Gandavadi, a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "However, by restricting ourselves solely to magnesium, we have overlooked possibilities for assembling DNA nanostructures using alternative ions."

"Our study expands the horizons of DNA nanostructure design and facilitates the development of superior drug delivery systems by exploring diverse ions," said co-corresponding author Xing Wang, a bioengineering and chemistry faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

"Furthermore, our study sheds light on the influence of various ions on the stability and compactness of DNA origami nanostructures, thereby widening our understanding of their fundamental properties."

Next, the team plans to further optimize nanostructure assembly in a variety of metal ions for higher assembly yields, and to test the biostability of structures assembled in the absence of magnesium within cells.

More information: Arlin Rodriguez et al, SelfAssembly of DNA Nanostructures in Different Cations, Small (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300040 Journal information: Small
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The red supergiant Betelgeuse. Its activity can be confounding, and the current brightening isn't helping. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/E. OGorman/P. Kervella

Whenever something happens with Betelgeuse, speculations about it exploding as a supernova proliferate. It would be cool if it did. We're far enough away to suffer no consequences, so it's fun to imagine the sky lighting up like that for months.

Now the red supergiant star has brightened by almost 50%, and that has the speculation ramping up again.

Betelgeuse will explode as a supernova. On that, there is universal agreement. But the question of when is less certain. The star's behavior is confounding. How can puny humans find out?

Betelgeuse isn't only a red supergiant, it's also a pulsating semiregular variable star. That means there's some periodicity in its brightness changes, though the amplitudes can vary. It has an approximately 400-day cycle where its brightness changes. It also has a shorter 125-day cycle, another 230-day cycle, and a whopping 2,200-day cycle, all determined by pulsations. All those cycles can make the star difficult to understand clearly.

A couple of years ago, Betelgeuse dimmed, and people wondered what that meant. It turns out that the star's brightness didn't actually change. Instead, the star had ejected material from its surface that cooled into a dust cloud and blocked the light. The episode is called "The Great Dimming."

This graphic shows what likely caused Betelgeuse to become dimmer for a time in 2019. Credit: NASA, ESA, and E. Wheatley (STScI)

Now that it's brightening, it's attracting scientists' attention again. They want to know what evolutionary stage it's in and what all this activity signifies. New research shows that it could explode as a supernova sooner than anyone expected.

The new paper is "The evolutionary stage of Betelgeuse inferred from its pulsation periods," and the first author is Hideyuki Saio from the Astronomical Institute, Graduate School of Science, at Tohoku University in Japan. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomy Society has accepted the paper for publication, and a version of the paper is available on the arXiv preprint server.

The juiciest parts of new research often grab the headlines. No sense railing against that. That's how humanity rolls.

We're not picking on Dr. Eldridge. She's not wrong. It's just that the paper says that's only one possible outcome. It outlines several others.

In their paper, the authors say that Betelgeuse could be the Milky Way's next supernova, regardless of which of their outcomes might prove to be true. "We conclude that Betelgeuse is in the late stage of core carbon burning, and a good candidate for the next galactic supernova," they write.

As a red supergiant, Betelgeuse has left the main sequence. Throughout its long 8 to 8.5 million-year history, it used up vast quantities of hydrogen by fusing it into helium and releasing the lost mass from that fusion as energy. (Thanks Einstein.) That means it's not fusing hydrogen into helium anymore like the sun is. When stars like Betelgeuse lose mass, their gravity can no longer contain their outward pressure, and they expand into a more voluminous envelope. So despite losing mass, they grow in size.

This schematic shows the scale of the red supergiant Betelgeuse and its circumstellar medium compared to that of the solar system. Credit: L. Calcada, European Southern Observatory (ESO)

After stars like Betelgeuse leave the main sequence and no longer fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores, things change dramatically. During the helium fusion stage that follows, carbon builds up in their cores. Then they begin a core carbon-burning period that produces other elements. The authors of the new paper say that Betelgeuse is in the late stages of that period.

But how late? How much time is left? There's no exact answer for that yet.

"Despite the relatively small distance from Earth, and in some sense because of it, it has been difficult to obtain tight constraints on the distance, luminosity, radius, current and Zero Age Main Sequence (ZAMS) masses, and information about the internal rotational state and associated mixing and hence on the evolutionary state of Betelgeuse and when it might explode," write the authors of a new review of Betelgeuse. ZAMS is particularly critical to understanding the evolutionary stage of particular stars. It's fundamental, though not solely responsible.

But the study presents some solid possibilities.

The work is a combination of observations and models that each suit the observations in different ways. It's a tricky business, which is why headlines claiming it could explode in tens of years are a little misleading. Nuance seldom attracts attention.

This image is based on data from the Herschel mission and shows the circumstellar medium (CSM) surrounding Betelgeuse as it speeds through space. Theres a prominent bow shock at 7 arc min, evidence of its movement. Theres also another feature in the CSM at 9 arc minutes that could be evidence of a past merger or material expulsion from Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is complex and difficult to understand. Credit: Decin et al. 2012

The core carbon-burning period has several stages. The difficulty in determining when Betelgeuse will go supernova comes partly from determining which of those stages it's in. Betelgeuse pulses, ejects material, rotates, and on top of that, is a runaway star speeding through space. Its distance from us is also subject to debate. "Although it lies only ~200 parsecs from Earth, and hence can be spatially resolved with appropriate instrumentation, uncertainties in its distance remain a critical impediment to deeper understanding," the Betelgeuse review explains.

What's attracted everyone's attention is these two sentences from the research: "According to this figure, the core will collapse in a few tens years after the carbon exhaustion. This indicates Betelgeuse to be a very good candidate for the next galactic supernova, which occurs very near to us."

This is the figure they're talking about.

This figure from the study shows the abundance of different elements in Betelgeuse. Elemental abundances are like a fingerprint or snapshot of whats happening inside the core, what stage of carbon-burning the stars in, and when it will explode. Fusion products from the core are periodically dredged up from the core to the surface by convection, giving researchers a glimpse into the core. But nailing down when itll explode also depends on knowing the stars initial mass, how quickly its rotating, and a host of other factors, all of which are difficult to determine to varying degrees. Credit: Saio et al. 2023

But what hasn't attracted as much attention is the following part of the paper.

"In fact, it is not possible to determine the exact evolutionary stage, because surface conditions hardly change in the late stage close to the carbon exhaustion and beyond," the researchers write. Astronomers can only see the surface, but it's what's happening deep inside the star that tells the tale.

The authors of the paper are really saying that according to observations, data, and modeling, Betelgeuse could explode sooner than thought. Butand this is criticalthey don't know what stage of core carbon-burning the star's in. Carbon burning could go on for a long time, according to some of the models that fit the data.

But not everyone agrees that Betelgeuse is even in the core carbon-burning stage. The authors of the Betelgeuse review say that the star is still in the helium phase. "Since core helium burning is far longer than subsequent burning phases, Betelgeuse is most likely in core helium burning. The pulsation period likely constrains the radius and distance and the evolutionary state to core helium burning," they write, while acknowledging that there are "arguments to the contrary."

Another way the researchers tried to determine the timing of Betelgeuse's supernova explosion is by matching its periodic pulsations with models of the same.

This figure from the research presents four models that match Betelgeuses (alpha Ori) four cycles or periods. If youre not an astrophysicist, its confusing. (Im not one, and Im confused.) But it does help illustrate the complexity behind predicting Betelgeuses explosion, and the uncertainty. Credit: Saio et al. 2023

When it finally explodesand nobody disagrees with its eventual explosion as a supernovait's not likely to produce a deadly gamma-ray burst as some supernovae do. And while it will eject material and produce powerful X-ray and UV radiation, we're too far away to be affected. Instead, it'll be a light show visible to the entirety of humanity, and that will change the Orion constellation forever. Scientists say it'll probably leave behind a neutron star, maybe a pulsar that will be visible for millions of years. The entire event, from start to finish, will be an unprecedented opportunity to study stellar evolution, supernovae, and stellar remnants. Scientists will be able to work backwards from the explosion to all the research done and all the observations and data and pinpoint where they were correct and where they were wrong. Old Betelgeuse will teach them a lot.

The shock wave from the supernova will arrive in about 100,000 years and will be easily deflected by our sun's solar magnetosphere. The biggest effect on Earth will be an increase in cosmic rays striking our upper atmosphere.

Most of us will behold this calamitous explosion and sit in rapt awe of nature's power, we hope, while others will degenerate into weird conspiracy theories or quasi-religious, pseudo-scientific, cult-like reverence.

If, that is, humanity is still around when the blessed event occurs.

More information: Hideyuki Saio et al, The evolutionary stage of Betelgeuse inferred from its pulsation periods, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2306.00287 Journal information: arXiv
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Buildings in lower Manhattan in New York are partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison

Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern U.S. in a dystopian haze, turning the air acrid, the sky yellowish gray and prompting warnings for vulnerable populations to stay inside.

The effects of hundreds of wildfires burning across the western provinces to Quebec could be felt as far away as New York City and New England, blotting out skylines and irritating throats.

U.S. authorities issued air quality alerts. Hazy conditions and smoke from the wildfires were reported across the Great Lakes region from Cleveland to Buffalo.

A smoky haze that hung over New York City much of the day Tuesday thickened in the late afternoon, obscuring views of New Jersey across the Hudson River and making the setting sun look like a reddish orb. In the Philadelphia area, dusk brought more of a lavender haze.

Sal and Lilly Murphy, of Brooklyn, likened the burning scent to a campfire. They said they could even smell the smoke indoors, in a Manhattan restaurant, then walked outside and saw a sky that looked like it was about to stormbut was rainless. Lilly wore a mask for protection.

"It's a little scary," Sal Murphy said.

Smoke from the fires has wafted through northeast U.S. states for weeks now, but it's only recently been noticeable in most places.

Buildings in Jersey City, N.J. are partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires as a ferry travels up the Hudson River, seen from the Manhattan borough of New York on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday's hazy skies "were hard to miss," and New York City Mayor Eric Adams encouraged residents to limit outdoor activities "to the absolute necessities."

Here's a closer look at what's happening and some suggested precautions for dealing with the haze:

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Smoke from Canada's wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said hazy skies, reduced visibility and the odor of burning wood are likely, and that the smoke will linger for a few days in northern states.

"It's not unusual for us to get fire smoke in our area. It's very typical in terms of northwest Canada," said Darren Austin, a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. But, usually, the smoke has been aloft and hasn't affected people's health, he said.

The New York City Skyline is seen through haze Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The Quebec-area fires are big and relatively close, about 500 to 600 miles (roughly 800 to 970 kilometers) away from Rhode Island. And they followed wildfires in Nova Scotia, which resulted in a short-lived air quality alert on May 30, Austin said.

Jay Engle, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Upton, Long Island, said the wind trajectory that allowed smoke and hazy conditions to be seen in the New York City area could continue for the next few days. Of course, he said, the main driver of conditions is the fires themselves. If they diminish, the haze would too.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN?

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollutionknown as "PM 2.5"which can irritate the lungs.

"We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses," said Dr. David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association's National Board of Directors. "When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them."

Buildings in Jersey City, N.J. are partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires as ferries travel up the Hudson River, seen from the Manhattan borough of New York on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison

Trent Ford, the state climatologist in Illinois, said the atmospheric conditions in the upper Midwest creating dry, warm weather made it possible for small particulates to travel hundreds of miles from the Canadian wildfires and linger for days.

"It's a good example of how complex the climate system is but also how connected it is," Ford said.

WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL?

Exposure to elevated fine particle pollution levels can affect the lungs and heart.

The air quality alerts caution "sensitive groups," a big category that includes children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Kids, who often are encouraged to go out and play, "are more susceptible to smoke for a number of reasons," said Laura Kate Bender, the lung association's National Assistant Vice President, healthy air. "Their lungs are still developing, they breathe in more air per unit of body weight."

Buildings in Jersey City, N.J. are partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires as boats travel on the Hudson River, seen from the Manhattan borough of New York on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison

A commuter steps into the subway as smoke from wildfires in Canada partially obscure One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Daniel P. Derella

Buildings in Jersey City, N.J. are partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires, seen from the Manhattan borough of New York on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Sison

Fishermen, surrounded by a smoky haze, spend an afternoon on Owasco Lake, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Owasco, N.Y. Smoke from Canada's wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days. Credit: Kevin Rivoli/The Citizen via AP

A cyclist wears a mask due to poor air quality conditions as smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec hangs over Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

In this GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken Monday, June 5, 2023 at 7 p.m. EDT and provided by CIRA/NOAA, smoke from wildfires burning in Quebec, Canada, top center, drifts southward. Credit: CIRA/NOAA via AP

A woman walks her dog along the Ottawa River in Ottawa as smoke from wildfires obscures Gatineau, Que., in the distance on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

A commuter steps into the subway as smoke from wildfires in Canada partially obscure One World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Daniel P. Derella

Smoke from wildfires hangs over Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

New York Yankees' Clarke Schmidt pitches to Chicago White Sox's Tim Anderson during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has traveled into the United States, resulting in a number of air quality alerts issued since May. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

A cyclist wears a mask due to poor air quality conditions as smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec is shown in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP

The city of Pottsville, Pa., is surrounded by smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires on Tuesday evening, June 6, 2023. Credit: Jacqueline Dormer/ Republican-Herald via AP

The New York City Skyline is seen from the Great Hall at Yankee Stadium during a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The New York City Skyline is seen through haze from Yankee Stadium during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR NOW?

It's a good time to put off that yard work and outdoor exercise. If you go out, consider wearing an N95 mask to reduce your exposure to pollutants.

Stay inside, keeping your doors, windows and fireplaces shut. It's recommended that you run the air conditioning on a recirculation setting.

"If you have filters on your home HVAC system, you should make sure they're up to date and high quality," Hill said. "Some people, particularly those with underlying lung disease, or heart disease, should consider investing in in air purifiers for their homes."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Catalysis under the microscope. Credit: Vienna University of Technology

Catalysts composed from tiny metal particles play an important role in many areas of technologyfrom fuel cells to production of synthetic fuels for energy storage. The exact behavior of catalysts depends, however, on many fine details and their interplay is often difficult to understand. Even when preparing exactly the same catalyst twice, it often occurs that these two will differ in minute aspects and therefore behave very different chemically.

At TU Wien, scientists try to identify reasons for such effects by imaging the catalytic reactions taking place on various locations on these catalysts, applying several different microscopy techniques. Such an approach yields a reliable, microscopically correct understanding of the catalytic processes.

In doing so, it appeared that even relatively "simple" catalytic systems were more complex than expected. For example, it is not only the size of the employed metal particles or the chemical nature of the support material that define the catalytic properties. Even within a single metal particle, different scenarios can prevail on the micrometer scale. In combination with numeric simulations, the behavior of different catalysts could then be explained and correctly predicted.

Not all particles are the same

"We investigate the combustion of the possible future energy carrier hydrogen with oxygen, forming pure water, by using rhodium particles as catalysts," explains Prof. Gunther Rupprechter from the Institute of Materials Chemistry at TU Wien. Various parameters play an important role in this process: How big are the individual rhodium particles? Which support material do they bind to? At which temperature and which reactant pressures does the reaction take place?

"The catalyst is made from supported rhodium particles, but it does not behave like a uniform object which can be described by a few simple parameters, as often tried in the past," highlights Gunther Rupprechter. "It soon became clear, that the catalytic behavior strongly varies at different catalyst locations. A given area on a given rhodium particle may be catalytically active, whereas another one, just micrometers away, maybe catalytically inactive. And a few minutes later, the situation may even have reversed."

Nine catalysts at one sweep

For the experiments, Dr. Philipp Winkler, the first author of the study published in the journal ACS Catalysis, prepared a stunning catalyst sample, comprising nine different catalysts with differently sized metal particles and varying support materials. In a dedicated apparatus, all catalysts could therefore be observed and compared simultaneously in a single experiment.

"With our microscopes, we can determine if the catalyst is catalytically active, its chemical composition and electronic propertiesand this for each and every individual spot on the sample," says Winkler. "In contrast, traditional methods usually just measure an average value for the entire sample. However, as we have demonstrated, this is often by far not sufficient."

Even more complex than anticipated

Chemical analysis on the microscopic scale has shown that the catalyst composition can vary locally even more than expected: Even within the individual metal particles strong differences were observed. "Atoms of the support material can migrate onto or in the particles, or even form surface alloys," states Rupprechter. "At some point, there is even no clear boundary anymore, but rather a continuous transition between catalyst particle and support material. It is crucial to consider this factbecause it also affects the chemical activity."

In a next step, the team at TU Wien will apply the gained insights and the successful methods to tackle even more complex catalytic processes, in their continuing mission to explain processes on a microscopic scale, to contribute to the development of improved catalysts, and to search for new catalysts.

More information: Philipp Winkler et al, Imaging Interface and Particle Size Effects by In Situ Correlative Microscopy of a Catalytic Reaction, ACS Catalysis (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c00060 Journal information: ACS Catalysis
For more accurate forecasting, climate models also need to accurately map small, local thunderstorm cells. Credit: Juergen Freund / Nature Picture Library / Science Photo Library

For Christoph Schar, ETH Zurich's Professor of Climate and Water Cycle, "global warming" is not quite accurate when it comes to describing the driver of climate change. "A better term would be 'climate humidification,'" he explains. "Most of the solar energy that reaches the Earth serves to evaporate water and thereby drives the hydrological cycle." Properly accounting for the implications of this is the most challenging task of all for climate modelers.

In order to build a global climate model, grid points spaced around 50 to 100 kilometers apart are used. This scale is too coarse to map small-scale, local thunderstorm cells. Yet it is precisely these thunderstorm cellsand where they occurthat drive atmospheric circulation, especially in the tropics, where solar radiation is highest.

The workaround, at present, is to add extra parameters to the model in order to map clouds. "But predicting future climate change is still pretty imprecise," Schar says. "If we don't know how many clouds are forming in the tropics, then we don't know how much sunlight is hitting the earth's surfaceand hence we don't know the actual size of the global energy balance."

Amazing precision

Over the next few years, scientists hope to address this imprecision. Schar, for example, is now working with models at a much higher resolution1 to 2 kilometerswhich provide a much more accurate picture of meteorological activity. To illustrate this, he and his group run a sequence on a supercomputer that simulates weather events in the Tropical Atlantic over a period of years to decades.

The visualization is strikingly similar to a satellite image: rain fronts shift from east to west across Africa; finely structured cloud fields form off the coast of Brazil; hurricanes develop in the middle of the Atlantic and then head north. "The model doesn't know anything at all about the tropical climate," Schar enthuses. "But based on the laws of physics alone, it can still provide us with a realistic picture of what's going on." It is still not feasible to create longer-term scenarios with such high-resolution models, but they do serve to make current global models more accurate.

Using the example of southwestern Europe, Schar shows how high-resolution models are also able to predict extreme weather events much more accurately. Current models massively underestimate the amount of rain that can fall in an hour. By contrast, high-resolution models generate highly realistic distributions and correctly identify that in autumn, for example, there is a strong likelihood of especially heavy rainfall and flooding on the southern edge of the Alps, along the Ligurian coast and in Provence.

Today's projections of extreme precipitation events are consistent with a physical law formulated in the 19th century by Rudolf Clausius and Emile Clapeyron. "They were just doing basic research," Schar explains. "Practical applications in climate change weren't even on their radar back then." The Clausius-Clapeyron relation says that the atmosphere can hold around 6% more water vapor per degree Celsius of warming. In other words, we can expect to see substantially heavier precipitation events in future. "That will have consequences for flood prevention," says Schar. "We'll no longer be able to design flood protection on the basis of past events."

The laws of physics tell us that a warmer atmosphere will absorb more water vapor. Despite this, many regions are expected to suffer from water shortages. Schar explains the apparent paradox: "The absolute moisture content of the atmosphere is rising overall, but relative humidity can also fall regionally. In other words, more water will evaporate from the ground; but at the same time, cloud formation will also decline in certain regions, where there will then be less precipitation." This will have serious consequences not only for southern Europe, says Schar, but also for North African countries, which are already struggling with water shortages.

Floods and forest fires

Too much water, or too little, is likewise a key concern for hydrologist Manuela Brunner. An assistant professor at ETH, she focuses on the impact of extreme climate events on mountain regions. "Mountain water plays a central role in the development of both flooding and drought," she explains. "And mountains are especially impacted by climate change because temperatures there rise more than they do in lowland regions."

To investigate whether flooding is likely to become more frequent and more intense in the future, Brunner uses a combination of observational data and model-based simulations. "In the Alps, it's very much a mixed picture for the kind of moderate flooding that typically occurs once every 10 to 20 years," she explains. "In some areas, this risk has increased; in others, it's actually declining." One key factor here is the state of the soil. "If the soil is dry, it can absorb a lot of water and thereby mitigate flooding. But if the ground is already saturated, this effect is lost."

However, Brunner expects an increasing risk of extreme, 100-year flood events across the entire Alpine region. "In that case, there's so much rainfall that the condition of the ground doesn't make much difference," she says. And while we know the individual factors that can cause flooding, she explains, we still lack the understanding of how they interact. "What happens, for example, when there's heavy rainfall during snowmelt?" she asks. "When does this develop into an extreme event? And how often will we see this combination?"

Flooding is not the only threat facing the Alpine region. "In future, we're going to see more frequent periods of drought on the northern flank of the Alps and possibly even forest fires," Brunner says. A number of factors come into play here: firstly, rainfall in summer is decreasing; secondly, soil evaporation is increasing because of higher temperatures; and thirdly, snow levels in spring are declining, which in turn means that vegetation is more prone to drying out.

"Although precipitation in the winter months is generally increasing, higher temperatures mean that less and less of this is stored in the form of snow," Brunner explains. "And if there's less snow cover in spring, as we enter the warmer months, this can aggravate water shortages during dry summers."

Brunner is particularly alarmed by the prospect of drought periods lasting several years. "In the past, we didn't have to worry after a dry summer in the Alps, because there was always enough precipitation by the end of the following winter to compensate," she says. "But in future, water shortages may in fact worsen over the winter."

How fast are Glaciers melting?

To make matters worse, it is now clear that glaciers will soon cease to deliver the same amount of meltwater in summer as they have done in the past. "In a best-case scenario, Switzerland will still have 40% of its current glacier volume by the year 2100," says Daniel Farinotti, Professor of Glaciology at ETH Zurich. "In the worst case, only a few percent will be left." Whatever the case, he is confident in Switzerland's ability to track these changes. "We know exactly how much ice is still there because we've already done radar surveys on most of the glaciers."

Things are more complicated in the Himalayas, where Farinotti and his team are also running a project. There, the glaciers lie at a much greater altitude, which makes a survey more difficult. At the same time, surrounding countries are reluctant to provide data for research because of strategic and geopolitical reasons. Forecasts of when glacier melt will peak in the Himalayas can therefore vary by as much as a decade. "For the lowlands, which are much more densely populated, that makes a huge difference," he says.

In Switzerland, too, there is an urgent need to know how much water will be contributed by glacier melt in futurenot least because the concessions for a number of hydropower plants are up for renewal in the next few years. Such operators not only need to know how much water will be available to them in the future; they also require detailed forecasts regarding extreme weather events. "They're anxious about whether water intakes have sufficient capacity," Farinotti explains.

Another issue is of even graver concern: the melting of the polar ice sheets. "In our group, we're currently building a detailed flow model of the Greenland Ice Sheet based entirely on physical processes," Farinotti explains. "We're mapping the ice masses to a resolution of 25 meters in order to assess what will happen to the ice sheet over the next few decades." To run this complex simulation, the team is set to make use of LUMI, Europe's fastest supercomputer.

Alongside other researchers, Farinotti's group is also investigating the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which faces a number of threats. In particular, there are issues with the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet, which rests on bedrock beneath the surface of the ocean. "The topography of this bedrock plays a key role in how quickly the ice will retreat," he explains.

This is, without doubt, a vital question for a number of coastal regions around the world. "If the West Antarctic Ice Sheet starts melting, sea levels could rise by as much as 1 meter by the end of the 21st century," Farinotti says. With 250 million people living in areas that would then be underwater, there's no need to ask why the future of the polar ice sheets is also of such importance at lower latitudes.
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Global cobalt mining and processing facilities. Credit: Geology (2023). DOI: 10.1130/G51160.1

A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt (ICB) of east-central Idaho, using a detailed study of the Iron Creek deposit. The ICB hosts the second-largest known domestic resource of the critical mineral cobalt, one of the key ingredients in many rechargeable batteries needed for the green energy transition.

Demand for cobalt is projected to increase more than 500% by 2050. Roughly 70% of the cobalt mined globally is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mining practices have been criticized for human rights violations including hazardous working conditions, child labor, and human trafficking. The Biden administration has prioritized increasing the domestic production of critical minerals in the United States, invoking the Defense Production Act in 2022 to increase mineral development, and generating renewed interest in the ICB.

Understanding the mineralogy of the Iron Creek deposit is core to evaluating the amount of cobalt and other critical minerals that could be extracted from the site, and what methods are best for processing the ore. Cobalt was mined intermittently in the ICB during the 1900s, and the Blackbird Mine was designated as a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after closing. In 2022, the Australian mining company Jervois commenced mining at another site in the ICB. The Canadian company Electra Battery Materials has been exploring the Iron Creek deposit.

The rocks at Iron Creek are metasedimentary rocks of the Apple Creek Formation in the southwest Belt-Purcell Basin. The rocks of the Belt-Purcell Basin, which stretches between the U.S. and Canada, are more than one billion years old and have historically been mined for lead, zinc, silver, copper, cobalt, and gold.

The Iron Creek site could produce at least 6,000 metric tons of cobalt, but possibly much more. According to the new study, the cobalt at Iron Creek is mainly found in cobaltiferous pyrite. Other deposits in the ICB host cobalt in two other mineralscobaltiferous arsenopyrite and cobaltite. In Iron Creek pyrite, the cobalt is bound up in the crystal lattice where it is substituted for iron, which has the same elemental charge as cobalt. Elizabeth Holley, Associate Professor of Mining Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, and lead author of the study explains, "The cobalt is sitting in the pyrite itself, which means that in order to get it out, you essentially have to wreck the pyrite structure."

ICB hosts the second largest known domestic resource of cobalt. Credit: Iron Creek deposit location, Idaho cobalt belt / Electra Battery Materials (2022)

The researchers also found inclusions within the pyrite of other critical minerals like tellurium, silver, and bismuth, but likely not enough to be economically viable for extraction under today's economic and technical constraints. Chalcopyrite in the rocks is also a potential source for copper. Despite renewed interest in domestic mining, the U.S. currently lacks the facilities needed to process the ore from the ICB into usable cobalt.

Holley explains, "If indeed the U.S. is interested in domestic supply chains for mining and processing of critical minerals, we don't have the infrastructure in the United States to process the cobalt that would come from the Idaho Cobalt Belt."

The study authors conclude that the ore from Idaho should be divided and processed for copper and cobalt separately. Chalcopyrite can be processed for copper in existing copper smelting facilities within the U.S., and minerals with cobalt would ideally be processed in an autoclaveeither an existing facility in Canada, or a new one to be built in the U.S.

The study also documents existing global cobalt mining and processing facilities and the connections between themhighlighting that the vast majority of the global cobalt supply is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and then processed in China.

Despite a high projected need for cobalt, battery technologies that use other ingredients have been gaining attention and popularity, such as lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, also called LFPs.

"Technology is evolving, and one of the new trendy research areas focuses on reducing the amount of cobalt in batteries. Will we still need the projected amounts of cobalt in the future? We don't know." says Holley.

More information: E.A. Holley et al, Cobalt mineralogy at the Iron Creek deposit, Idaho cobalt belt, USA: Implications for domestic critical mineral production, Geology (2023). DOI: 10.1130/G51160.1 Journal information: Geology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A plastic sandwich wrapper bobs in the water where the Limmat River flows out of Lake Zurich. The current carries it downstream through Zurich's historic center before eventually depositing it on the bank of Werd island. Exposed to sunlight, it gradually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, which the rain then washes back into the river. Pebbles on the bed of the Limmat grind the fragments of plastic into even smaller pieces until they are all but invisible to the naked eye. What started out as a sandwich wrapper has now turned into microplastic.

Microplasticstiny pieces of plastic that are smaller than 5 millimeters in sizeare now ubiquitous. "You find microplastic particles everywhere, from mountain lakes and spring water to the most remote regions of the world's oceans," says Denise Mitrano, Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry of Anthropogenic Materials at ETH Zurich. She studies where microplastics come from, how they behave in the environment and whether they pose a risk to aquatic organisms.

Microplastic pollution stems not only from discarded plastic waste, but also from tire abrasion, textiles and personal care products such as shower gels and toothpaste that use plastic microbeads as an exfoliating or scrubbing agent.

The entire nutrient cycle

Researchers are currently investigating how harmful microplastics are to humans, animals and the broader ecosystem. One of the biggest challenges is establishing how much microplastic is present in the environment. To make this task easier, Mitrano and her colleagues have developed a new analytical method involving a polymer to which a metal has been added. This metal-enhanced plastic is ground into particles on the micro and even nano scale, some of which are far smaller than a micrometer in size. By analyzing the metal contained in these particles, researchers can measure the quantity of microplastics in water, soil and tissue samples. This allows them to study the transport and fate of microplastic particles as they pass through organisms and accumulate there or in the environment.

In one of her experiments, Mitrano examined whether nanoplastics harm daphnia. Commonly known as water fleas, these tiny crustaceans filter plankton from the water for food. In doing so, they also ingest plastic particles. Her study confirmed that daphnia do indeed ingest nanoplastics but that they subsequently excrete them, seemingly unharmed. There appears to be no impact on their reproduction or growth. It is only after a few generations that impairments to their energy metabolism begin to show.

Mitrano's research has also shown how nanoplastics can cross the intestinal barrier in fish and end up in muscle tissue. "This didn't result in the fish dying, so it's likely that the particles are not acutely toxic," says Mitrano.

But that doesn't mean we can lower our guard, Mitrano adds. She explains how microplastics form clumps with planktonic algae in both freshwater and seawater, speeding up the algae's sedimentation rate. This is just one example of how microplastics can affect the entire nutrient cycle of a body of wateran indirect polluting effect that is often underestimated. "Microplastic research to date has primarily focused on direct effects. We need to expand our research to include evaluations of negative impacts at the ecosystem level and to analyze the ecological implications," says Mitrano.

Microplastics also have other indirect effects, such as their tendency to release toxic substances. Manufacturers incorporate hundreds of additives into polymers to give them the desired properties. "We should therefore be asking what's really causing the harm: the polymers themselves, the shape and size of the microplastic particles, or the additives released by the polymers," she says.

Countless chemicals

Substances that leach from microplastics are far from being the only chemicals in the water. Over the past few decades, the chemical industry has created hundreds of thousands of compounds. In Europe alone, 26,000 new substances in quantities of at least one metric ton come onto the market each year. In most cases, their eventual fate remains unclear.

Kris McNeill, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at ETH Zurich, has long been interested in such questions. His research focuses on how synthetic organic moleculesparticularly, active pharmaceutical ingredientsact as toxins in the environment and how they degrade. "From drugs and cosmetics to pesticides and fertilizers, everything we use in everyday life eventually ends up in rivers and oceans," he says.

Triclosan, an antimicrobial agent, is a good example. Originally used in hospital hand sanitizers in the U.S., it gradually found its way into numerous consumer products during the 1970s. By early 2000, 95% of all liquid hand soaps in the U.S. contained triclosan. Only later did it become clear how unnecessary this ingredient actually was.

McNeill and his colleague William Arnold were able to demonstrate how sunlight breaks down triclosan in wastewater into dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemical compounds. "Sunlight can render many toxic substances harmless. But in this case, you end up with something much worse," says McNeill. Minnesota, where they conducted their research, became the first U.S. state to prohibit the use of triclosan in consumer products. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on triclosan and other antimicrobial agents in certain productsa rare victory for the environmental chemist. "It's great to see that our results played such an important role in that decision," he says.

This case illustrates how environmental chemistry tends to lag behind the chemical industry. First, chemical companies invent new substances that rapidly enter into widespread use. Years later, environmental chemists such as McNeill discover that the chemicals are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. "It takes 30 to 40 years for the authorities to put regulations in place or announce a complete ban based on scientific studies," says McNeill. He argues that the process should be reversed, requiring the chemicals to be scientifically assessed before they are used. "This is the only way that we as a society can prevent a repetition of tragedies caused by chemicals like triclosan and all the other environmental toxins such as the industrial chemical PCB and the insecticide DDT," he says.
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Male American kestrel, marked with a wing tag, flying over Sussex County, New Jersey. Credit: Herb Houghton

The American kestrel, a colorful and charismatic falcon, has kept researchers scratching their heads for years. Population declines are confirmed across North America, but who or what to blame has remained elusive.

A new paper, "Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research Into Causal Factors," published in the Journal of Raptor Research, provides needed updates on the status of kestrel populations at the regional scale, and offers a comprehensive discussion on the potential causes for the species' decline.

Importantly, the authors point out that kestrels could be experiencing trouble outside of the breeding season, a part of their annual cycle that is arguably understudied. This paper provides an updated common ground for raptor researchers through which they can streamline study priorities, an important recalibration if this beloved falcon is to remain numerous in our skies.

Authors David M. Bird and John A. Smallwood posit that multiple factors are likely causing kestrel declines, evidenced by the fact that while many populations are declining, some are rebounding or stabilizing. Not all kestrels are encountering the same challenges.

Bird and Smallwood present essential research pathways moving forward, including investigating the impact of Cooper's Hawks on kestrel distributions and survival, assessing habitat degradation on the kestrel's wintering grounds (which often fall outside of U.S. borders), looking at fine-scale changes in habitat quality on the breeding grounds, examining the impacts of climate change on the availability of prey species for kestrels, determining how important grasshoppers are as a prey species, and studying the impacts of rodenticides and pesticides on the health of kestrel populations.

Not only are focused research recommendations put forth in this paper, but several theories about the kestrel decline are put to rest. West Nile virus and competition for nesting cavities from European starlings are no longer considered significant threats to kestrel success.

Researcher monitoring a kestrel nest box in Hope Township, New Jersey. Credit: Mary Anne Smallwood

Raptors serve as bioindicators, meaning they shed light on the overall health of the ecosystems in which they reside. The American kestrel is no exception. To support these birds in their quest for survival is to support environmental health across North America, and this is not just a cause for experts. Citizen scientists collect essential data on various aspects of the kestrel picture by participating in projects like the Breeding Bird Survey. Without public participation, our understanding of the decline of this species would be far less comprehensive.

Proof of this lies in the study design of Bird and Smallwood's work. They analyzed four types of data that spanned between 38 and 55 years and depended on the participation of citizen scientists: the Breeding Bird Survey, Christmas Bird Count, migration data from two sites located along flyways in the east, and nest box monitoring programs. The latter, according to Smallwood, "has generated an invaluable database that allows us to examine not only population trends but also lots of aspects of kestrel behavior and ecology."

Female American kestrel protecting her brood in a nest box in northwestern New Jersey. Credit: John Smallwood

Notably, Breeding Bird Surveys revealed that kestrel declines have been observed in 23 of 25 bird conservation regions, with the mid-Atlantic seeing the worst of it. Surveys across Canada also showed high rates of decline. Population increases occurred in only 3 of these conservation regions, including the Chihuahuan Desert. The authors' further assessment of these trends suggests that the magnitude of decline may be lessening, meaning the declines are real, but that extinction is not the only possible outcome. We may just see fewer and fewer kestrels, until we consistently see fewa quieter, blander, sparsely-falconed landscape.

Smallwood and Bird bring to light the nuanced reality of conservation by showing just how interwoven threats to wildlife can be. This assessment of casual factors in the American kestrel's decline illustrates that human activities are making life difficult for this beloved falcon, yet no single issue is to blame.

"That the population has experienced such a marked decline should be a wake-up call," says Smallwood. "Something is out of kilter across North American ecosystems and the problem could be much more widespread than for just this remarkable species."

More information: David M. Bird et al, Evidence of Continuing Downward Trends in American Kestrel Populations and Recommendations for Research into Causal Factors, Journal of Raptor Research (2023). DOI: 10.3356/JRR-22-35

Provided by Raptor Research Foundation
(CNN)  A major dam in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine was destroyed early Tuesday, prompting mass evacuations and fears for large-scale devastation as Ukraine accused Moscows forces of committing an act of ecocide.

Residents downstream from the Nova Kakhova dam on the Dnipro River in Kherson were told to do everything you can to save your life, according to the head of Ukraines Kherson region military administration, as video showed a deluge of water gushing from a huge breach in the dam.

Two videos posted to social media and geolocated by CNN showed the destroyed dam wall and fast-moving torrents of water flowing out into the river. Multiple buildings at the entrance to the dam were also heavily damaged.

The critical Nova Kakhova dam spans the Dnipro River, a major waterway running through southeastern Ukraine and there are multiple towns and cities downstream, including Kherson, a city of some 300,000 people before Moscows invasion of its neighbor.

Ukraines Operational Command South on Tuesday confirmed the dams destruction in a post on its official Facebook page, saying they were assessing the scale of the damage and calculating likely areas of flooding.

Following the dam breach, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said its destruction only confirms for the whole world that Russian forces must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

He also convened an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

Other senior Ukrainian officials blamed Russia.

This is ecocide, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said of the dams destruction.

The Russians will be responsible for the possible deprivation of drinking water for people in the south of Kherson region and in Crimea, the possible destruction of some settlements and the biosphere, he added.

Save your life

In a video statement posted on Telegram, Oleksandr Prokudin, the Ukraine-appointed head of the Kherson region military administration, said the water will reach critical level in five hours.

The Russian Army has committed another act of terror. It has blown up Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant Evacuation in the area of danger has started, he said.

Prokudin said evacuations in the area of danger around the dam had started and asked citizens to collect your documents and most needed belongings and wait for evacuation buses.

I ask you to do everything you can to save your life. Leave the dangerous areas immediately, he added.

Units of Ukraines National Police and the state emergency service of the Kherson region have been put on alert to warn and evacuate civilians from potential flood zones, Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

Those zones are on the west bank of the Dnipro River, including the villages of Mykolaivka, Olhivka, Liovo, Tiahynka, Poniativka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Prydniprovske, Sadove, and part of the city of Kherson  Korabel Island, the ministry said.

With the water level rising, authorities urged everyone in the flood zone to turn off all electrical appliances, take documents and essentials, take care of loved ones and pets, and follow the instructions of rescuers and police.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontiev, initially on Tuesday denied information about the dam collapsing in an interview with Russian state media RIA Novosti, calling it nonsense.

He later confirmed the destruction of parts of the dam in what he called a serious terrorist act but said there was no need to evacuate.

Overnight strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant destroyed gate valves, causing water to be spilled downstream uncontrollably, Leontyev said.

CNN was not immediately able to verify the claims made by Ukrainian and Russian officials attributing blame.

Throughout the course of the war in Ukraine both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of plotting to blow up the Soviet-era dam.

The escaping torrent of water has the potential to cause major destruction around Kherson city and other populated areas along the Dnipro River, according to analysts who have been fearing a breach could occur in the fighting.

And President Zelensky had previously warned that a breach of the dam could have catastrophic consequences for those living downstream.

Destroying the dam would mean a large-scale disaster, he said in October last year.

However, a Russian-installed Kherson official Andrey Alekseenko said the situation along the areas of the banks of Dnipro was under control.

There is no threat to peoples lives, Alekseenko said, adding that Ministry of Emergency Situation staff are in control of water levels in the river.

If necessary, we are ready to evacuate the residents of embankment villages, buses are prepared, Alekseenko added.

No immediate nuclear safety risk

The dam is a critical piece of infrastructure, holding around 18 cubic kilometers in the Kakhovka Reservoir, about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah, according to Reuters news agency.

The 30-meter-high, 3.2-kilometer (2 miles)-long structure is one of six dams along the Dnipro and supplies water for much of southeastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

It also supplies water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which lies upstream and is also under Russian control.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Ukraines southern command said the dams destruction will certainly affect the operation of the nuclear power plant but there was no need to escalate the situation now and draw the most critical conclusions.

Because all experts are involved and will try to create better conditions to avoid the next technogenic catastrophe, said Natalia Humeniuk, adding that the situation is currently under control.

And the International Atomic Energy agency said no immediate nuclear safety risk exists at the Zaporizhzhia plant and their experts are closely monitoring the situation.

In November, the Nova Kakhovka dam was damaged in shelling and satellite images from Maxar Technologies obtained by CNN showed water flowing out of three sluice gates at the dam.
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In France's Aquitaine region, pine plantations are endangered by global warming. Credit: Pack-Shot, Shutterstock.com

Efforts to improve biodiversity in Europe's woodlands will help them better withstand the stresses of climate change.

In a vast sandy pine forest bordering the Atlantic Ocean in south-west France, an innovation is taking root. A corner of the million hectares of towering maritime pines is part of an EU-funded project offering a new vision of reforestation.

The Aquitaine site in the SUPERB project is growing a "green shield" hedgerow made of broad-leaf shrubs and trees such as oak. The goal is to create habitats for communities of birds, animals and insects and to give scientists a chance to assess improvements in biodiversity.

Big ambitions

While the pine trees are thriving, monocultures like this with just a single species don't lend themselves to a diverse population of birds and animals. This makes the trees more vulnerable to invasive pest outbreaks, which are likely to increase as temperatures rise.

In response, 10 kilometers of hedgerow are being planted in "corridors" across 20,000 hectares to connect pockets of existing broad-leaf species. The idea is to form a physical barrier to increase resilience to pests and diseases and potentially other threats that may increase with a warming planet such as winds, storms, wildfires and drought.

"No project before has been so ambitious in upscaling," said Christophe Orazio, chief executive officer of the France-based European Institute of Planted Forest and one of the SUPERB coordinators.

Demo dozen

Aquitaine is one of 12 pilot sites across Europe coordinated through SUPERB, which has 36 partners in 16 countries. The project runs for four years through November 2025.

Led by the European Forest Institute (EFI), the 20 million initiative aims to restore thousands of hectares of forest spanning diverse landscapes from the old-growth mountain forests of the Carpathian mountains to the deciduous woodlands of the floodplains and agricultural lands of the south.

The 12 demonstration sites were selected to represent different types of forest and understand the distinct stressors that threaten the survival of these woodlands.

In the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the project aims to replant hundreds of thousands of acres of forest devastated by bark beetle infestations. The dieback is so great in some regions that forest owners are financially unable to manage restoration without assistance.

By comparison, restoration of the Serbian-Croatian floodplain forest will be on a far more modest scale. Nonetheless, by diversifying species, it will reverse habitat loss, improve flood control for agriculture and make the forest more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Under SUPERB, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, or INRAE, is carrying out a mass biodiversity inventory over the next two years.

"The results could make a difference for the future health of forests here and in countries with significant forest plantations such as Sweden, Portugal and Spain," Orazio said.

Numerous partners

Interaction with local organizations, political partners and financial backers under the project ensure that restoration efforts can be expanded and sustainably funded beyond 2025.

Multiple local organizations have committed in-kind contributions of 90 million to explore successful forest restoration and lay the ground for replicating the learning on a larger scale.

Funders have been drawn to the project's approach to restoration that goes beyond carbon offsetting. It now plans to set up a "marketplace" to match donors with new reforestation initiatives.

"Restoration is happening in a lot of areas of the world, but maintaining and sustainably managing projects in the longer term is often a very big problem," said Gert-Jan Nabuurs, professor of European forest resources at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and co-coordinator of SUPERB.

Almost 100 "associated partners" have already pledged to apply the project's restoration methods on their land. Detailed work plans and careful data collection mean progress can be closely monitored.

SUPERB also has three sister projects allied to different ecosystemsWaterLANDS, MERLIN, REST-COASTand draws on their experiences.

Economic stakes

While the project seeks to foster a sense of ownership by local communities, some landowners are reluctant to engage because they fear the impact of environmental measures on the forestry trade.

"People can think science is out to limit the profitability of the forest, but in fact it's the opposite," said Professor Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, principle scientist at EFI and part of the SUPERB coordination team. "We care about the sustainability of the forest and that means its income too. Our goal is to help people manage it so that it's here for the future to continue providing its wide range of ecosystem services."

The project is keen to help people better understand the importance of forest restoration.

Forests have long been a source of storytelling inspiration and SUPERB is drawing on this tradition to share "restoration stories" in online blogs penned by individual project researchers. Putting human faces to the activities being carried out helps to convey the overall benefits.

"Restoration will help us to have stronger, more beautiful forests we can all enjoy," said Nabuurs.

He also stressed the economic value of European forests, saying they are the source of commodities such as wood and paper.

As the impact of climate change is increasingly felt across Europe, the stakes are high for the project.

Bou Dagher Kharrat said global warming has given forest replanting a whole new context.

"Restoration was once about trying to take a forest back to a point in the past," she said. "Now restoration must look forward in the face of climate change. We call it "pre-storation"combining restoration and adaptation so that our forests can withstand future challenges for the benefit of people and planet."
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None of the six adult female cats that received the contraceptive (right) conceived during the two four-months long mating trials while the three control females (left) all delivered kittens. Treated females did not ovulate and presented lower levels of progesterone than controls. Credit: Philippe Godin and Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn. Created with BioRender.com

Currently there are no contraceptives capable of producing permanent sterilization in companion animals. Spaying, the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus, is the most widely used strategy to control unwanted reproduction in female cats.

For the first time, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham (MGB), and their collaborators have demonstrated that a single dose of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) gene therapy can induce long-term contraception in the domestic cat, potentially providing a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying. The research is published in Nature Communications.

During previous research to evaluate AMH (also known as mullerian inhibiting substance, or MIS) as a method to protect ovarian reserve in women undergoing chemotherapy, senior author David Pepin, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School discovered that raising the level of AMH beyond a certain threshold suppressed the growth of ovarian follicles, effectively preventing ovulation and conception.

"AMH is a naturally occurring non-steroidal hormone produced by the ovaries in human females and other mammals, and in the testes in males," says Patricia K. Donahoe, MD, a co-author of this study and the Director of Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories and Chief Emerita of Pediatric Surgical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 2017, Pepin and his collaborators were the first to publish the contraceptive potential of AMH in rodents.

The team then turned their attention to felines. To raise AMH levels in female domestic cats, the researchers created an adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy vector with a slightly altered version of the feline AMH gene. Human therapies using similar AAV vectors to deliver various therapeutic genes have proven to be safe and effective and have been approved by the FDA.

"A single injection of the gene therapy vector causes the cat's muscles to produce AMH, which is normally only produced in the ovaries, and raises the overall level of AMH about 100 times higher than normal," says Pepin.

The researchers treated six female cats with the gene therapy at two different doses, and three cats served as controls. A male cat was brought into the female colony for two, four-month-long mating trials. The researchers followed the female cats for more than two years, assessing the effect of the treatment on reproductive hormones, ovarian cycles, and fertility.

All the control cats produced kittens, but none of the cats treated with the gene therapy got pregnant. Suppressing ovarian follicle development and ovulation did not affect important hormones such as estrogen. There were no adverse effects observed in any of the treated female cats, demonstrating that at the doses tested, the gene therapy was safe and well tolerated.

"The treatment maintained high AMH levels for over two years, and we're confident that those contraceptive levels will be sustained in the animals for much longer," says veterinarian Philippe Godin, DVM, Ph.D., co-author and research fellow at MGH. Additional studies in a larger number of cats are needed to confirm these promising findings, he adds.

"A non-surgical sterilant for community and companion animals is long overdue and will transform animal welfare," said Gary K. Michelson, MD, founder and co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies and the Michelson Found Animals Foundation. "This breakthrough discovery is a major milestone in our quest to provide pet owners with an alternative to surgical spay and neuter."

"This technology may be a little ahead of its time," acknowledges Pepin, noting that the infrastructure needed to produce enough doses to sterilize millions of cats via gene therapy does not yet exist. "Our goal is to show that safe and effective permanent contraception in companion animals can be achieved using gene therapy. And we hope that as the manufacturing capability of producing viral vectors increases with the rise of gene therapy in humans, delivering this contraceptive in the field to control unowned outdoor cat populations will become feasible."

Co-authors include Lindsey M. Vansandt, Marie-Charlotte Meinsohn, Guangping Gao, Dan Wang, and William F. Swanson.

More information: William Swanson, Durable contraception in the female domestic cat using viral-vectored delivery of a feline anti-Mullerian hormone transgene, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38721-0. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38721-0 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Schematic illustration of the research activities conducted by the consortium in the German Bight. The tributaries are marked with bold letters: Elbe (A), Weser (B), and Ems (C). Numerical grids are shown as black boxes with increasing lateral resolution towards the coast. Satellite-tracked surface drifters (1) are shown in orange and the wooden drifters (2) are displayed as small brown plates. Hydrodynamic and atmospheric forces (3) are exemplarily shown in the illustration. River monitoring sites are indicated with small person (4). Research activities such as bottom trawling and the collection of in-situ hydrodynamic data are represented by the research vessel (5). The stakeholder analysis is shown with the pie chart (6) including the interests of various stakeholders (fisheries (6a), tourism (6b), industry (6c), and harbor activities (6d)). Credit: Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1148714

The dispersal pathways of plastic waste in the southern North Sea have been investigated by an interdisciplinary research team led by the University of Oldenburg. A key part of the "Macroplastics" project was the participation of citizens. The volunteers could use a special website to report the discovery of wooden plates that the team had released in the open sea and along the coast.

Two key findings are that there are no areas in the North Sea or the Skagerrak where plastic waste accumulates permanently and that a large proportion of the particles are quickly washed ashore.

Where do large plastic items such as shopping bags and disposable bottles which end up in the German Bight come from, and how do they get there? This was the key question addressed by a multidisciplinary team of the University of Oldenburg, Germany. In the research project "Macroplastics in the southern North SeaSources, Sinks and Abatement Strategies," the team conducted a comprehensive study to gain a better understanding of the problem and examine strategies for dealing with it.

The researchers also relied on the participation of local citizens to help track the distribution pathways of the plastic debris. An overview of the results has now been published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Two key findings are that there are no areas in the North Sea or the Skagerrak where plastic waste accumulates permanently and that a large proportion of the particles are quickly washed ashore.

The team, which was made up of 15 scientists from the fields of marine science, geography and environmental planning began the project in 2016. The researchers employed an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how plastic items with a diameter of more than five millimeters are dispersed in the North Sea.

They conducted field experiments and calculated the pathways of virtual litter particles using numerical models. The team also recorded the plastic waste deposited on coastlines, in estuaries and on the seabed and deployed satellite-tracked surface drifters which floated on the sea surface, mimicking plastic debris. In addition, approximately 63,000 biodegradable wooden plates of around 8 by 10 centimeters in size were released from off-shore locations and land-based sites along the coast.

Local citizens who came across beached drifters were encouraged to report their find on a dedicated website. An analysis of the various stakeholders including the tourism sector, fisheries, industry and ports was also conducted as part of the study.

By combining their observations and model calculations the team obtained an overview of both the spatial distribution of the litter sources and the role played by different sectors such as tourism and industry. The results confirm that fisheries and municipal solid waste are the main sources of the litter, as previous studies had already shown.

A significant portion of the debris comes from the larger municipalities along the North Sea coastline and at the mouths of the Elbe, Weser and Ems rivers. Most of the wooden plates released in rivers was washed ashore while still in the waterwaysjust under half in the Elbe and almost 90 percent in the Ems. Moreover, the litter that washes up on the coast mainly comes from nearby sources.

In the coastal areas of the North Sea the main sources of litter were Germany and the Netherlands, whereas in the open sea most of the plastic particles came from the UK, France and the Netherlands.

The analyses of the dispersal pathways showed that two thirds of the wooden plates released from coastal and riverine locations were washed ashore again within 25 kilometers of the release site. Drifters released off-shore, however, traveled longer distances, with 30 percent floating across more than 250 kilometers before being beached.

Members of the public reported finding more than 27,000 drifters via the websiteaccounting for around 43 percent of those released. "This result underlines the significant role that citizen science can play in generating large data sets," the principal investigator Professor Dr. Jorg-Olaf Wolff says.

Another key finding was that litter particles can remain trapped for extended periods at oceanographic fronts. "These are zones where, for example, freshwater from a river meets salty seawater. Things can often get very turbulent there," explains oceanographer Dr. Jens Meyerjurgens from the University of Oldenburg's Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM).

Together with Dr. Marcel Ricker from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in Geesthacht, he was the lead author of the recently published study. The data from the advanced satellite-tracked drifters showed that the devices often got stuck at these fronts for several days or even weeks, until the wind gained enough force to dislodge them.

This meant that more plastic particles were found on the seabed below these fronts than elsewhere. However, the researchers did not detect any permanent garbage patches in the North Sea like those that exist in the Pacific or the Atlantic.

The scientists also examined various strategies for reducing plastic litter inputs. According to the study the most promising step would be for municipalities to ban the use of disposable plastics such as plastic cups and cutlery at large events.

Stricter storage regulations at ports would also be a sensible measure since port operations account for around eight percent of the plastic waste in the North Sea. The researchers also see campaigns to raise awareness of the problem as important and emphasize that these efforts should focus on the fishing sector as a major source of marine litter.

Overall, the team is happy with the results of the study: "We received a lot of positive feedback on the wooden plates and surface drifters and observed an increased awareness of the problem among the population," says Dr. Thomas Badewien, a scientist at the ICBM and one of the lead researchers in the project. These are positive developments that give hope for the future, he added.

The interdisciplinary project team was made up of researchers from the ICBM and the Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences (IBU) at the University of Oldenburg. The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon was among the scientific partners. The project leader was Oldenburg oceanographer Prof. Dr. Jorg-Olaf Wolff.

More information: Jens Meyerjurgens et al, Sources, pathways, and abatement strategies of macroplastic pollution: an interdisciplinary approach for the southern North Sea, Frontiers in Marine Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1148714 Journal information: Frontiers in Marine Science

Provided by Carl von Ossietzky-Universitat Oldenburg
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A satellite view of Amsterdam. Credit: lavizzara/Shutterstock

Science fiction has always been a tool for processing life on Earth. Norwegian sci-fi expert Karl Kristian Swane Bambini has said that the space-bound genre is well placed to "interrogate and reimagine real-world economic disparities".

He gives the examples of, among other things, the 2013 blockbuster Elysium, wherein healthcare is only accessible off-world, to people with spaceships, and Kim Stanley Robinson's 1990s Mars trilogy of novels, which opposes the egalitarianism of a Martian society to Earth's capitalist dystopia.

Regional development is about tackling spatial injusticethat is, regional inequalities. Doing so, though, isn't just about measuring the difference between today's haves and have-nots to determine whether that gap might narrow or widen.

Our idea of what is fair changes over time. Circumstances change, too. New inequalities emerge.

My colleagues and I at the Imajine project were tasked with exploring spatial justice across Europe and the UK: whether different regions are treated fairly.

We created four scenarios, set in 2048, to help policymakers come up with new ways to combat regional inequality. In devising these scenarios, we found that outer space isn't only useful as a literary device.

Real future activity in outer space actually has significant potential to affect regional inequality back on Earth.

Four scenarios for Europe's future

Our first scenario is labeled Silver Citadel. It posits that by 2048, Europe has formed a single bloc. Politically, populism has given way to pan-European solidarity, with policies made by centralized artificial intelligence.

The EU is now a big player in outer space. Environmental protection on Earth is prioritized as crucial to economic growth and the bloc is relegating polluting industries to orbital locations and beyond.

The economic benefits of these activities are shared out automatically among the bloc's members. But for individual regions to gain any advantage, local politicians have to figure out how to game the AI-led system and be included in centralized decision-making.

In the second scenario, Green Guardian, climate catastrophe forces the world to refocus on sustainability and survival. As a result, the rural-urban divide has reversed, with metropolitan areas in decline while the countryside thrives. In this world, economists no longer prioritize profit and net worth. Instead they focus on well-being and fair share.

Satellite-enabled tech is increasingly valuable, with space activity strictly regulated. Climate data gathered in environmental research helps better-off regions to assist those which are suffering the most. Space-based nuclear power is on the rise and outer-space geopolitics ever more complex.

In Silicon Scaffold, the third scenario, Europe is highly fragmented into city-states and other jurisdictions. Transnational corporations have taken over much of the role of government.

People can now be citizens of virtual spaces as well as physical nations - including digital jurisdictions hosted in outer space. Regional inequality has become a question of which privatized platforms citizens can live, work and play inand outer space is crucial in enabling life in the digital space.

Wealthier regions and cities are governed by intense self-interest. In poorer regions, there is a return to traditional exploitative activities including heavy industry and intensive farming. The corporations, meanwhile, increasingly devise new ways to relocate their destructive or pollutant activities to more remote locations on Earth and in outer space.

Finally, the fourth scenario, labeled Patchwork Rainbow, sees Europe fragmented under the weight of mutual mistrust and diverging cultural values. Local communities seek international sponsors to help them prosper. And the private sector's influence extends into outer space.

The space race becomes a question not just of which countries, but which regions, have the ability to operate off-planet. Conflict on Earth spreads to outer space. Further inequality stems from who can access space, and benefit from space knowledge.

Implications for the present

The scenarios extend across the UK and the European Union but are grounded in the work of the European Union's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG-Regio), which is responsible for disbursing regional development funds to many institutions and communities. Even after Brexit, British development funds were being compared to the amount DG-Regio would have spent on UK regions.

We set these scenarios in the year 2048that is, four of DG-Regio's seven-year funding cycles from the project's start date. To build them, we mapped out the institutions and communities with which DG-Regio interacts and explored the uncertainties shaping their decisions. These include climate change, technological advances including AI and space travel, shifts in social values and geopolitical tensions.

Our scenarios are not predictions of what will happen, nor are they visions of what we'd like to see. They are plausible futures, designed to challenge assumptions about what lies ahead for Europe's regions. They help us rethink whether the future will play out in the way we currently expect.

The perspective they provide helps to better assess our changing context today, in particular by amplifying weaker signals of potential change in our environmentthose that are new or as yet unrecognized. They identify activity in outer space as one such signal.

Research on space economics has found that the sustainability and environmental impact of space activity is already an urgent global challenge.

Satellite services like Starlink are increasing digital access for remote regions. This could have knock-on effects for the expansion of telehealth, improving healthcare provision across Europe.

As we use ever more data to monitor climate impacts, access to satellite coverage might also become a deciding factor in the quality of response to new disasters, and the safety of local communities.

In the UK, Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands have competed for new spaceports to kick-start economic development. Sweden, meanwhile, recently inaugurated the Esrange spaceport, near Kiruna in the Arctic, ahead of its first satellite launch planned for March 2024.

And further spaceports are under construction on Andya in Norway and on Santa Maria, in the Azores archipelago of Portugal.

Savvy regional leaders elsewhere may similarly look to the space sector for their community's next opportunity. Local people will need to consider how they have their say.

As more nation states and corporations enter the space race, their activity will impact the regions down below. The economic sociologist Marc Ventresca puts it plainly:

"It's no longer just about launching rockets to explore the cosmos. It will increasingly be about solving problems back on Earth. Or as some people might say, 'There's space for space. And there's space for Earth.'"

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Geochemistry of 14 hot springs in the flat-slab and back-arc regions of Peru. a Piper diagram showing the major ion chemistry and TDS for flat-slab springs (FSS) and back-arc springs (BAS; note Sp. 4 TDS). b Principal component analysis (PCA) based on the measured aqueous, gas, and isotope geochemistry. Springs separate into four groups FSS into A&B; BAS into C&D, with one major exception (Sp. 9). This lower temperature BAS falls into PCA group A. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00787-5

South America's Andes Mountains, the world's longest mountain range and home to some of the planet's highest peaks, feature thousands of hot springs. Driven by plate tectonics and fueled by hot rock and fluids, these thermal discharges vary widely in geochemistry and microbial diversity.

Utah State University geoscientists, along with colleagues from Montana State University, examined 14 hot springs within the southern Andes in Peru and discovered microbial community composition is distinctly different in two tectonic settings.

Dennis Newell, associate professor in USU's Department of Geosciences, and recent USU graduate Heather Upin, MS 2020, report findings in Communications Earth & Environment.

"We know tectonic processes control hot spring temperature and geochemistry, yet how this, in turn, shapes microbial community composition is poorly understood," says Newell, USU Geosciences graduate director.

The scientists collected geochemical and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing data from hot springs in regions with contrasting styles of subductionflat-slab and back-arcand noted similarities in pH but found differences in geochemistry and microbiology.

"Flat-slab hot springs were chemically heterogeneous, had modest surface temperatures and were dominated by members of the metabolically diverse phylum Proteobacteria," Newell says.

Utah State University geoscientist Heather Upin collects a microbial sample from Aguas Calientas Pinaya in Peru's southern Andes. She and USU colleague Dennis Newell published findings about microbial diversity in Peruvian hot springs. Credit: Dennis Newell/USU

In contrast, the back-arc hot springs were more geochemically homogenous, had hotter water, exhibited high concentrations of dissolved metals and gases, and were home to heat-loving archaeal and bacterial organisms.

"These results tell us tectonics matter when it comes microbial community make-up, but little research has been conducted around the world to demonstrate this," Newell says.

Further investigation, with efficient genomic research, at sites around the globe could reveal how microbes have evolved in tectonically diverse environments, he says.

More information: Heather E. Upin et al, Tectonic settings influence the geochemical and microbial diversity of Peru hot springs, Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00787-5 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment
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A juvenile tiger shark. Credit: Albert Kok/Wikipedia

A team of marine biologists and oceanologists from The University of Western Australia and Ocean Park Aquarium, also in Australia, has tracked a juvenile tiger shark in the open ocean after its release from two years in captivity. In their study, reported in the Journal of Fish Biology, the group tagged the shark and tracked it before and after release.

Most big sharks in marine parks are temporary residents. They are typically caught in the wild and then held at the park for just one or two years. After that, they are returned to where they were captured. This is because large sharks do not survive long in captivity. In this new effort, the research team noted that few studies have explored how well the sharks fare after they are released back into the wild.

To learn more about the well-being of these sharks, the research team chose a specific subject; one 2.2-meter juvenile tiger shark living at the Ocean Park Aquarium. Tiger sharks have been known to grow to 4.5 meters long. The shark in the study was tagged while still at the aquarium to gain a baseline for its movements. The team also tagged a wild tiger shark that had never lived in captivity for comparison purpose. After giving the shark time to adjust to the tag (10 hours), the team released it into the wild off the west coast of Australia.

The researchers found that the shark's activity was higher for the first two hours while still in the tank. Such activity was attributed to the shark adjusting to the drag caused by the tag. In comparing movement of the captive shark with the wild shark, the team found some slight differences in turning rates and vertical velocityboth were attributed to living within the confines of a tank. The team found that the small differences in movements continued after the shark was released but did not hamper its ability to survive. They conclude that after some minor adjustments, the shark survived its transfer to the sea.

More information: Oliver J. D. Jewell et al, Back to the wild: movements of a juvenile tiger shark released from a public aquarium, Journal of Fish Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15464 Journal information: Journal of Fish Biology

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World Vegetable Center in Taiwan tests different genetic materials to cultivate and breed mung beans. The new USC Dornsife research will enlighten what genetic materials to use for optimal breeding and cultivation. Credit: World Vegetable Center, Taiwan

The mung bean, commonly known as green gram, has played a pivotal role as a cheap protein source in regions where access to meat is limited. Spanning over 4,500 years, the cultivation of this humble legume has sustained civilizations throughout its history. While its migration routes and cultivation expansion have been a mystery, a new study by researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences that was published in eLife reveals insights into the circuitous odyssey of this resilient crop.

The study, co-led by Sergey Nuzhdin, professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife, employed cutting-edge genomic techniques to trace the evolutionary trajectory of the mung bean. The team analyzed mung bean seeds from three global seed banks, including the Australian Diversity Panel, the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan and the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in Russia.

The research unveiled a distinctive path of cultivation and shed light on the factors influencing its expansion. Contrary to previous assumptionsbased on the geographical proximity between South and Central Asiagenetic evidence suggests that the mung bean first spread from South Asia to Southeast Asia, and then finally reached Central Asia, including Western China, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran and Russia.

Adapting to climate

Nuzhdin and his team of international scientists used an interdisciplinary approach that looked at population information, environmental conditions, empirical field and laboratory investigation, and historical records from ancient Chinese sources. Through this analysis, they discovered that divergent climatic conditions and farming practices across Asia shaped the mung bean's unique trajectory, not deliberate human cultivation choices.

Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in Russia. Credit: Eric J. Von Wettberg

Nuzhdin was surprised that the evolution was not solely driven by human activity through domestication but instead was intricately intertwined with the mung bean's adaptation to diverse climates encountered throughout its journey.

What the research unraveled was the existence of two distinct adaptations of the mung bean, each favored in specific geographic locations. The southern variant, originating in South Asia before 1068-1077 CE, is characterized by larger seeds, favoring higher yields in regions with scorching climates. In contrast, the northern variant, originating in northern China around 544 CE exhibited drought tolerance and a short vegetative period during the summer planting season. The mung bean later spread to the rest of China and Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Genetic variations

While the study's historical revelations are compelling in their own right, their implications have relevance to new ways of breeding crops. The mung bean's genetic makeup, including its short growing season and resilience to extreme heat, hold significant potential for mitigating the impact of climate change on agriculture. Particularly in Southeast Asia, where prolonged heat waves and the severity and impact of flooding threaten valuable agricultural areas, these genetic variants could prove to be a game-changer in the face of climate change.

"Our findings offer a critical roadmap for breeders aiming to enhance mung bean production in the face of climate change predictions, especially in the southern regions. This fundamental research holds immense importance in guiding the selection of genetic materials for breeding programs," Nuzhdin said.

More information: Pei-Wen Ong et al, Environment as a limiting factor of the historical global spread of mungbean, eLife (2023). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.85725 Journal information: eLife
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The data used to produce this figure come from the Major Land Uses dataset. Credit: USDA Economic Research Service. 2017. Major Land Uses [CSV Format of Historical Data]. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Rarely do we ever know how much food is actually grown, produced, and then circulated from within a sub-national region. But researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently participated in a cross-institutional study involving 16 researchers to determine what it would take for New England states to increase its regional self-reliance to 30% by 2030.

The research shows that New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) produces a small number of foods, like cranberries and potatoes, in large amounts relative to consumption, but for most foods, regional production is quite low.

"Doesn't everyone want to know where their food is from?" said Christian Peters, ARS' research leader for the Food Systems Research Unit in Burlington, Vt. "This research addresses the current and potential capacity of New England to source its own food. It's important that we understand the current balance of production to consumption to avoid being unduly pessimistic or overly optimistic about the role of local and regional production in the overall food supply."

Peters and the research team contributed to the New England Feeding New England study, released today, June 5, 2023, by constructing a model to explore New England's potential to increase its self-reliance. Copies of the research can be downloaded at: https://nefoodsystemplanners.org/projects/report-components/.

The model starts with assumptions about what people will eat and targets how much of that food will be supplied within the region. It then calculates the amount of food commodities required to supply the food people eat (in both servings and kilocalories), accounting for losses and waste that occur between the farm and the fork. Next, researchers calculated the area of land required to produce each food commodity based on regional crop yields and the feed requirements for raising livestock.

While developing the model, the research team also conducted a series of focus groups with producers from different sectors of the region's food system to get stakeholder input on New England's barriers and opportunities to produce a greater share of its food than it does in currently. The team then used this model to estimate how much food could be produced on existing agricultural land and how much additional land would be needed to supply 30% of the region's food by 2030. Information from these focus groups helped place the model results in context.

The study found that reaching 30% self-reliance would require bringing close to 1 million acres of farmland into production (400,000 from farmland that is currently underutilized or idle and 590,000 in land that was once farmed but has returned to trees), reversing a century-long trend of land leaving agriculture. Total land in cropland and grassland pasture across the six-state region has hovered around 1.9 million acres since 1997. A possible pathway to increasing food self-reliance, without clearing new land, involves leaving less land idle and converting to crops that require more intensive cultivation (e.g., field crops or vegetables vs. hay crops or grazing land).

Other factors affecting self-reliance include land costs, competition with other land uses, and a shifting age demographic among farming and seafaring producers throughout New England.

Scientists at the Food System Research Unit are currently developing a five-year plan for research and considering how questions raised by the New England study might be pursued in greater depth. For example, where might additional land be brought into production and at what economic and environmental cost?

"Our research model allows us to consider changes in crop productivity, livestock management, and the use of agricultural land," said Peters. "The Food Systems Research Unit will continue to build an interdisciplinary team and to explore the benefits and drawbacks of New England meeting this benchmark by 2030."
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Credit: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Women environmental defenders were victims of murder, displacement, repression, criminal prosecution, and physical harassment, reports a Nature Sustainability paper based on an analysis of 523 cases from a global database of environmental conflicts. This issue is predominantly concentrated in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, but also occurs in North America and Europe.

Environmental conflicts typically occur when projects extracting natural resources for exportation entail land grabbing and ecological destruction that threaten the cultural and physical existence of local communities. When environmental defenders facing violent retaliation are women, incidents are often not documented due to censorship and lack of data. As a result, violence against women environmental defenders is largely underestimated.

Dalena Tran and Ksenija Hanacek examined all available cases as of January 2022 in the Environmental Justice Atlas, the largest online database of global environmental conflicts, spanning conflicts including those over water, fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation. The authors identified 523 cases involving women environmental defenders and indicate that they were concentrated among mining, agribusiness and industrial conflicts in the geographical South.

They note that in 81 cases, women were assassinated for their environmental advocacy and suggest that this is an extreme yet common outcome when conflict violence worsens. Of the 81 cases reporting murders, 19 occurred in the Philippines, with large concentrations also occurring in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Murders were not confined to the Global South, as six assassinations occurred in the U.S. and Europe. The authors also suggest that women defenders were subject to high rates of violence irrespective of countries' governance accountability and gender equality.

The authors note that data tracking violence against environmental defenders are rarely disaggregated by gender; therefore, there might be as many killings of women environmental defenders as men environmental defenders. They conclude that better documentation and further analysis are also needed to explore how violence against women occurs and to identify patterns of violence against diverse groups of women, such as Indigenous women environmental defenders.

More information: Dalena Tran et al, A global analysis of violence against women defenders in environmental conflicts, Nature Sustainability (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01126-4 Journal information: Nature Sustainability
Students urged to remain cautious over COVID

09:03, June 06, 2023 By Chen Meiling ( China Daily

Students preparing for the upcoming national college entrance exam should monitor their health and keep in good physical condition as a new wave of COVID-19 hits the country, experts said. However, they added that the students should not be overly concerned about the virus.

Wednesday marks the beginning of the exam, or gaokao, which many students view as the most important assessment they will ever undergo, as the results often determine their education path and career.

A record 12.91 million students have signed up for this year's exam, up by 980,000 from 2022, according to the Ministry of Education.

This year sees the first gaokao after the management of COVID-19 was optimized. Local authorities have removed strict epidemic prevention and control measures such as wearing masks during the exams. However, some have issued notices reminding students to manage and monitor their health.

Beijing, which will hold the exam from Wednesday to Saturday, suggested those taking the exams enhance their health protection, avoid or reduce visits to crowded public areas and wear a mask if they have to, according to a notice released by the Beijing Education Examinations Authority. Examinees should also report to their school if they show symptoms such as a fever or a cough.

Shandong province has asked those taking the exam to monitor their health for three days before the test. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should contact local authorities and take the gaokao in a separate classroom, where mask-wearing is required.

Fujian province said that students won't be allowed to wear their own face masks inside the exam rooms, and if they choose to wear one, it must be provided by a supervisor.

Most people infected with COVID-19 in China were hit by the wave in December, but there have been increasing infections in May and June.

The infectious diseases department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing said it had received 300 to 400 suspected cases a day recently, with 90 percent of those infected with COVID-19. This compared with 600 to 800 a day in December, said Yuan Lichao, a doctor at the department.

In the first half of May, most of his COVID-19 patients were young people who frequently engaged in social activities, followed by infected elderly patients. Few of the young people had pneumonia.

Yuan suggested examinees try to avoid contact with others and wear masks during their exams. "Most people have got used to face masks. The test rooms will offer air conditioning so they will not feel stuffy," he said, adding that if infected, students should see a doctor as soon as possible to control and ease their symptoms.

A Beijing mother, surnamed Han, said all her family members have had COVID. She said neither she nor her daughter, who is due to take the exam, was worried. "She performed well three years ago at the senior high school entrance examination when the epidemic was serious, and spent most of the time studying online after that. So she looks quite relaxed now, both about the test and the virus, at least on the face of it," she said.

Han and her daughter have moved into a hotel a week before the gaokao, to be in a quiet and healthy environment. Han's husband, who frequently travels for business, is taking care of their younger son at home.

Han said to cope with COVID-19, the family has developed good hygiene habits such as using serving chopsticks at home, wearing masks and frequently washing their hands.

Han said her daughter is sleeping well at the hotel, and even shot a vlog about her experiences.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
(CNN)  A Ukrainian offensive is taking place in several directions, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told Ukrainian television on Monday, heightening speculation that a major push by Kyiv to recapture land held by Russias occupying forces could be getting underway.

It is not only about Bakhmut. The offensive is taking place in several directions. We are happy about every meter. Today is a successful day for our forces, she said.

Recent weeks have seen Ukraines military stepping up shaping operations  attacks on Russian targets like fuel depots and weapons dumps far behind frontlines  which typically precede a major advance by ground forces. But government officials in Kyiv have been at pains to say the start of any counteroffensive would not be announced.

Both Ukraine and Russia have engaged in intense information campaigns to sway public opinion and mislead their opponents about their battle plans.

Maliars comments came after the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its troops resisted a large-scale attack from Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donetsk region. The Russian military claimed in a statement to have killed 250 Ukrainians and destroyed armored vehicles used in the assault, but provided scant evidence.

Moscow is known to make inflated claims about Ukrainian losses. CNN has been unable to independently verify the claim.

A spokesperson for the Ukraine Armed Forces, Bohdan Senyk, told CNN that Ukraine does not have information on a purported large-scale offensive in Donetsk.

In a post on its official Telegram feed, the Russian Defense ministry said the assault took place at five section of the front in the southern Donetsk direction.

The ministry claimed the goal of the Ukrainian operation was to break through Russian defenses in what it considered to be the most vulnerable area of the front.

At the time of the attack, Russias top general Valery Gerasimov was at one of the forward command and control posts, the statement added.

Gerasimov, who is chief of Russias General Staff, was put in overall command of Russian military operations in Ukraine early this year. He has come under public criticism from the head of the Russian private military company Wagner for supposedly running the war from a comfortable office.

Further south, a Russian-appointed official in Zaporizhzhia said Ukrainian troops were attempting to break through a defense line to reach the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The goal of the [Ukraine Armed Forces] militants is to reach the Azov Sea coast and cut the land corridor, Vladimir Rogov said, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.

He claimed that Ukrainian troops have increased the intensity of their shelling, and fired Storm Shadow missiles. They are launched in large quantities, which means Ukrainian militants and terrorists have ammunition in sufficient quantity.

Rogov said he did not think a full-scale counteroffensive had begun.

Offensive actions

In a Monday Telegram post, Maliar said the countrys troops were carrying out offensive actions on the eastern front and had advanced in several directions around the city of Bakhmut: near the settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Paraskoviivka to the north, and near Ivanivske and Klishchiivka to the southwest.

Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also spoke of an offensive assault by the Ukrainians on the southern and northern flanks of Bakhmut on national TV on Monday.

These actions were successful, Cherevatyi said. Despite the enemys fierce resistance, our airborne assault and mechanised units managed to advance along the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal in the direction of Klishchiivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Zaliznianske, and Bohdanivka to a distance of 300 meters to 1 km in various parts of the frontline.

CNN cannot verify the battlefield reports.

It comes after Maliar and other officials posted a social media video urging silence over any potential news of a counteroffensive.

The video shows several soldiers in full combat gear putting a finger to their lips and saying shhh followed by the text: Plans love silence. The beginning [of the counteroffensive] will not be announced.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised troops fighting around the embattled city of Bakhmut during his nightly address, saying: I am grateful to every warrior, to all our defenders, who provided us today with the news we have all been waiting for in the Bakhmut direction. Well done, warriors!

Days before, Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that Kyiv was ready to launch the long-awaited military maneuvers.

I think that, as of today, we are ready to do it. We would like to have certain things, but we cant wait for it for months, Zelensky said in an exclusive video interview published Saturday.

The president said he believed the counteroffensive will be successful but was not sure how long it will take.

Everyone knows perfectly well that any counteroffensive in the world without control in the skies is very dangerous. Imagine what a military man feels, knowing he does not have a roof and he cant understand how neighboring countries have that, Zelensky said about his dogged campaign for allies to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

According to the WSJ, Zelensky acknowledged Russias superiority in the skies, adding that a lack of protection against Moscows air power means a large number of soldiers will die during the counteroffensive.

If everybody knows we need the protection for our skies, then whats the issue with [giving us] the modern jets? What is the issue? he implored.

The Ukrainian leader has spent months courting Western allies to provide Kyiv with fighter jets and weapons to help control the skies and help limit the number of casualties to Ukrainian fighters during any potential counteroffensive.

Earlier this week, Jake Sullivan  US President Joe Bidens national security adviser  said Washington believed the counteroffensive would help Kyiv retake strategically significant territory.

Exactly how much, in what places  that will be up to developments on the ground as the Ukrainians get this counteroffensive underway, Sullivan told CNNs Fareed Zakaria. But we believe that the Ukrainians will meet with success in this counteroffensive.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Ukrainian offensive is taking place in several directions, says official."
By Saio Marrah

34-year-old accused Herbalist, Ibrahim M. Kaloko, has appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 over the killing of Fourah Bay College (FBC) lecturer, Kabba Santigie Bangura, with one count of murder levied against him.

The charge sheet states that on Monday 6th March 2023, Kaloko allegedly murdered Bangura at Shebora Town in Waterloo.

The Wife of the deceased, Rosaline Ya Alimamy Bangura, who is the first prosecution witness (PW1), was in court but could not testify telling prosecutors she was not in a good state of mind.

The widow of the slain lecturer, who said they have four kids together, burst into tears as she was accompanied out of the courtroom.

An earlier press release from the Waterloo Police Division stated that an unidentified body was discovered at the shrine of the herbalist on 16 April this year. It also confirmed that a group of people from Freetown identified the body as that of the lecturer from the Geography/Geology department at FBC.

The discovery of Kalokos remains happened 40 days after he went missing.

Some of the personal belongings of the lecturer, including his trousers and T-shirt were also found in the shrine.

A Statement dated 17th April from the University of Sierra Leone Administration, of which FBC is one of the constituent colleges, said it was appalled at the sad news about the discovery of the body of the lecturer.

The statement further expressed the administrations strong and unequivocal condemnation of his killing and urged for a speedy investigation.

Cyber Unit of the same Waterloo Police Station had arrested two men in connection with the mysterious disappearance of the lecturer.

Copyright  2023 Politico (31/05/23)
LAKE GEORGE  Officials in the Town of Lake George are hosting an open house to gather community input and suggestions for state revitalization funding the town is now actively pursuing.

The town is hoping to secure funds through the NY Forward/Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Locally, the City of Glens Falls has secured DRI funds while the Village of Cambridge landed an NY Forward award. The economic development programs aim to provide state grants to support private sector investments that lead to sustained prosperity.

The downtown area of Lake George has already witnessed significant positive changes, with private investments and the establishment of new businesses, as well as the restoration of sidewalks along Canada Street. Additionally, public improvements have been made to the Charles R. Wood Environmental Park, the Lakefront Walkway and the Route 9 Gateway Corridor in the town.

We truly feel this money will continue recent momentum and help Lake George realize its full economic potential in the downtown area, and hopefully bring about more positive change to further encourage a year-round community, said Lake George Planning and Zoning Director Dan Barusch in the announcement on Monday.

The village and town are actively seeking input from the public in order to craft a compelling application.

The joint village and town open house event is Wednesday, June 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Carriage House, located at 48 Canada St. on the Fort William Henry Hotel property.

Residents, business owners and visitors are encouraged to attend and participate in learning about the DRI and NY Forward programs, sharing project ideas and expressing their vision for downtown Lake George.

For more information about the development of Lake Georges DRI/NY Forward Application, visit https://www.lakegeorgedri.com/.
The Ambrosia Diner in Queensbury has partnered with Avery Kellington, actress and producer, and Peter Fenton, playwright and producer, who are bringing Fentons dramedy play Abandon All Hope to the stage in New York City.

Kellington, Fenton and Gorman Ruggiero, Abandon All Hope director and longtime Painted Pony Ranch owner, will host a dinner for the cast at The Ambrosia Diner on Wednesday.

The diner owners will be offering a special dessert named in honor of the plays leading role, a devilish demon portrayed by Kellington, whose earthly name was Hope Ambrosia.

Kellington said she has fallen in love with the play due to the originality of the characters and their relationships.

From the moment Peter shared an early draft of the script with me, Ive been entranced by Teresa (Hope) and the intense, provocative world of Abandon All Hope, Kellington said.

Our cast is rehearsing here  and we are grateful to the Ambrosia Diner of Queensbury to be open to hosting our dinner and creating a special dessert for our show.

Fenton said they could not have picked out a better diner to partner with and is excited to see where they can take the show from Off-Broadway.

Part of what I love to see in the development of this play is how weve been able to bring people together in a way that just fits, he said.

Dinner with the cast will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. Fenton and Kellington will be posting on social media and hope to pack the diner.

Were keeping the dessert under wraps, much like the ending of Abandon All Hope, Kellington said. But I guarantee it will be sinfully delicious.

Abandon All Hope will be staged as part of the fifth annual Rogue Theater Festival, which will be held at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City.

The show takes inspiration from The Good Place, Knives Out, and Jean-Paul Sartres No Exit as it explores ethics, organized Christianity, and identity with clever wit and a streak of dark comedy.

The play is directed by actor and New York City theater veteran Gorman Ruggiero. Ruggiero has worked on shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and short-film Calf Rope.

The Abandon All Hope world premiere will be a sold-out single performance at Theatre Row on Saturday at 7 p.m. Fenton and Kellington are seeking opportunities for the play to continue its run Off-Broadway or regionally, with eyes on a potential Broadway run sometime in the future.
ARGYLE  Three people were arrested on felony drug charges in Washington County on Thursday.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office said a police investigation uncovered the alleged sales of narcotics throughout Washington County.

Manuel Cruz, 45, of Cohoes, was charged with felony counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Cruz was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment and release on his own recognizance with a ticket for Argyle Town Court on a later date.

Brittne Graham, 38, of Argyle, was also charged with felony counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Graham was arraigned in Washington County Court and released on her own recognizance.

Deborah Marciano, 56, of Glens Falls, was also charged with felony counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and was held in jail to be arraigned in Washington County Court due to previous convictions.

Police said a fourth person was charged with a misdemeanor, criminally using drug paraphernalia.

Other arrests are likely in this investigation, according to the news release.
WARRENSBURG  A woman was arrested on Saturday after police said she caused a car crash while driving drunk, with a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit.

On Saturday at 3:40 p.m., New York State Police responded to the area of Route 9 in the Town of Warrensburg for the report of a three-car crash with injuries. According to police, Heather E. Charon, 41, of Warrensburg, was operating a vehicle northbound when she struck a parked car, pushing it into another parked car. The vehicle initially struck was occupied by a child who sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

State police of Chestertown arrested Charon, 41, and charged her with aggravated driving while intoxicated and other vehicle and traffic law violations.

During processing, Charon recorded a 0.32% BAC, four times the legal limit of 0.08%, troopers said. She was issued tickets for the Warrensburg Town Court on June 21 and released to a sober party.
EGG HARBOR CITY  A group of students at Cedar Creek High School have taken the lead in advancing environmental initiatives in their school district.

The Greater Egg Harbor Regional Board of Education issued a resolution last month creating the Cedar Creek Green Schools Committee. The new body is to advise the school board on environmental matters, making policy recommendations on how to adhere to state environmental standards, reduce the district's environmental footprint and engage the student body in environmental causes.

Cedar Creek senior Isabella Catalina launched and led the project to create the Green Schools Committee. She said the committee could benefit the school district environmentally and financially, while making for a better educational environment.

The resolution is meant to set a standard that demonstrates the school districts commitment to environmental stewardship, economic, social and just practices that reduce things like operating costs but also reduce the waste that our school creates, Catalina said. The framework is supposed to create a long-term vision that integrates this policy into everything that we do.

Catalina developed the committee as part of her coursework in the new Cedar Creek sustainability internship class. Students apply for entry to the class and then work to develop an environmental or nutritional project that helps promote sustainability in the school district.

Erin Sharpe, a Cedar Creek science teacher who leads the class, said the course is being used to help Greater Egg Harbor schools pursue their goals under the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program from the New Jersey School Boards Association. While Oakcrest, Absegami and Cedar Creek high schools have each worked individually in the past six years to meet Sustainable Jersey standards, Sharpe said it was important to form a body that could steer environmental policy districtwide. Catalina, who was elected the Cedar Creek student representative to the Board of Education, was chosen to work with the school board to develop this new green endeavor.

When we were looking at action that would increase our sustainability as a school, one of the things we looked at that was a priority action was to implement board-level change, Sharpe said. Each of the schools works very hard, each of them is certified, this next step now gives us a group that will meet and will help with district-level achievements, actions and goals.

Catalina researched the Sustainable Jersey standards as well as comparable school environmental efforts throughout the country when creating the new committee. She said many of these other projects focused on sustainable practices when constructing new buildings. With no construction projects of that magnitude on the horizon for Greater Egg Harbor, Catalina said she tailored the mission of the committee so it would focus on smaller purchases and implement sustainable practices into the districts everyday operations.

A lot of it took inspiration from other schools that did these certain (environmental-standard projects), Catalina said. And we sort of cherrypicked different things that we liked from each of them, as well as things that were very personal to our school and our school district.

Catalina, who worked on plans for the committee with Sharpe and Superintendent James Reina, said the committee will have several environmental and educational mandates.

The committee is to devise a purchasing policy to guide the districts operating standards so as to optimize Greater Egg Harbor schools impact on the environment.

The committee will consist of one Green Team member from each the three Greater Egg Harbor schools, an AtlantiCare wellness adviser, four administrators, two custodians and an employee from Maschio's Food Services. The resolution indicates that up to six students, two from each Greater Egg Harbor school, will round out the committee. Sharpe said the composition of the committee was meant to bring different district stakeholders together to collaborate on a plan.

We are all meeting and bringing the buildings together to say  whats best for all of us in terms of green education and sustainable teaching, Sharpe said.

Cape May theater company raising funds to renovate former church CAPE MAY  The East Lynne Theater Company has started raising money to begin renovations at 

The Cedar Creek Green Schools Committee will convene quarterly. It will deliver an annual report to the Board of Education sometime around Earth Day that is to review the districts progress toward environmental sustainability.

Greater Egg Harbor school board members and administrators expressed enthusiasm for the program during their meeting last month. At the April school board meeting, Cedar Creek Principal Scott Parker designated Sharpe as the schools Teacher of the Year.

Sharpe said the goal of each project was ensuring it could be continued for future generations of Greater Egg Harbor students.

Catalina said the district has taken steps toward improving sustainability and that the committee will help establish goals for the district to pursue.

The resolution incorporates things that we already practice and things that we are going to be practicing in the future, Catalina said.

Catalina said the committee will also explore ways to incorporate green lessons into the classroom. The resolution said the district had a tremendous opportunity to teach students about sustainable environmental practices in its arts, math, science and social studies classes.

Not only is it helping with our school to reduce waste, but its also making sure that our curriculum implements things that are about environmental leadership and sustainability within all of our courses, Catalina said.

Catalinas project to create the committee came alongside a host of other environmental projects pursued by Cedar Creek seniors in their sustainability internship class.

Pleasantville councilwoman to face off against community organizer PLEASANTVILLE  With few competitive races in Atlantic County, eyes are focused on a contest

Dylan Branca was tasked with planning a living wall for Cedar Creek, which will feature an assemblage of different plants and flowers.

Brooke Sheehan launched a nutritional project evaluating food insecurity among families in the district and expanding its food pantry. She said the augmented pantry includes more food and clothes, as well as a washer and dryer for students in need.

Mac Smith studied the biodiversity of the Cedar Creek campus and recommended ways to improve it.

It was a long process, but it was worth it, said Smith, who said she aspires to get her doctorate in environmental science. Science has always been really important to me, so this class was definitely the right way to go.

Catalina, who applied to attend Cedar Creek for its environmental-science offerings, said she had long been passionate about protecting the environment. She is set to attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut this fall, where she hopes to major in either psychology or environmental science.

In a lot of the classes that we take, its always talking about the problems in the environment, the challenges that were facing, Catalina said. This class actually gives us a chance to do something about it.
Atlantic County voters on Tuesday had a first chance to use new polling machines purchased through a bond ordinance late last year.

The new machines were used in all 151 voting districts during the primary election.

"It's easy, and it's basically foolproof," Valerie Tyrone, 76, of Mays Landing, said while heading to her car with her husband, Ralph Tyrone, 65, after leaving the Fairways Clubhouse off Cates Road.

Last year, Atlantic County commissioners voted to bond for $3.4 million to buy 325 new voting machines that include a paper audit trail.

The new machines, purchased from Election Systems & Services of Omaha, Nebraska, add to ones that were used for early voting at seven sites in the county during the past two years.

The purchases replace voting machines that were about 20 years old, county officials said.

Favored by multiple voters Tuesday was a prompt on the machines that allows selections to be double-checked before a ballot is submitted.

As a voter nearly "all her life," Barbara Cohler, 87, left Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Egg Harbor Township about 11 a.m. satisfied with her experience with the new machines.

Durr, Codey fend off challenges in NJ Senate primaries TRENTON  Fending off a conservative rival and fellow incumbent just two years after he won 

"I just think it's more careful, the whole voting method," Cohler said. "They're double-checking you, so it's more precise."

The machines provide a contrast component that helps visually impaired voters cast ballots independently, county officials said.

While John Barbieri sees the benefits of having the machines help limit voter errors, he believes using them will be an adjustment.

"I think the old machines were a lot easier," Barbieri, 83, of Linwood, said outside City Hall. "The technology is great, but my opinion is that I'd rather have the old voting machines. They're just easier to use."

Both Barbieri and Michele Bucci, 77, of Linwood, said they're hopeful more people will become acclimated to the machines as they become routine.

Polling locations were mostly quiet Tuesday morning, except for the occasional voter making their way through the doors, staying inside for about five minutes to cast a ballot and leave.

Primary elections often don't see large turnouts, especially in years with few contested races.

However, having a right to participate makes them unskippable, several Atlantic County voters said after leaving their respective polling places.

Tuesday's primary election a trial run for new voting machines Tuesdays primary election will be historic in Atlantic County  the first to use new electr

"Every election from grassroots on up is important," Bucci said outside Linwood City Hall. "It's not a matter of who wins, it's a matter of doing your duty."

During primary elections, voters registered with one of the two major political parties choose which members of their party will go on to the general election in November.

All state Assembly and Senate seats are on the ballot, as well as many county and local offices, but there were no contested primaries in the 1st or 2nd legislative districts this year.

The most exciting races in Atlantic County were in Pleasantville and Atlantic City, where Democrats are battling for council seats. Democrats dominate in both towns  no Republicans filed petitions to run in Pleasantville and in two of six Atlantic City ward races. So the primary will likely decide Novembers winners there.

Cohler has lived through many elections in American history, but she's only been voting in the primaries for the past nearly 15 years. Passionate about a candidate at the time, she registered with a party to participate, doing every year since, she said.

"I just feel it's an American duty to do," Cohler said.

GALLERY: Primary voting in Northfield
OCEAN CITY  As Mayor Jay Gillian rolled out new rules aimed at curbing crowds of unruly teens in the resort, he said multiple times he would not seek to cast blame, not against the state, or the police, or the parents or even the teens themselves.

Instead, he said, he just wants the problems addressed.

He said his town is nonpartisan, and that the city administration gets along with everyone.

We need help up in Trenton, Gillian said. The governors a good guy. The attorney generals a good guy. But at the end of the day, youre only as good as the information given.

He hoped a news conference held Thursday on the Boardwalk would help build support for changes to state laws that city officials say contributed to the problems, especially those governing underage possession of alcohol.

Police Chief Jay Prettyman said the state has essentially legalized underage drinking as part of the laws put into effect legalizing cannabis. For instance, police can only issue warnings to those under 18 found with alcohol or weed. They cannot search a juvenile based on suspicion of possession of alcohol.

Tyler Jones, Gov. Phil Murphys deputy press secretary, said Friday the governor would work with towns to address the issues.

Our office understands that large-scale youth gatherings have raised public safety concerns over the past few years, Tyler said. In order to ensure that the safe enjoyment of the Jersey Shore is available to every family and resident, this administration will continue to work with the local elected officials and law enforcement officials of our shore towns to address this issue fairly and responsibly.

Ocean City police chief: Change in juvenile alcohol laws source of teen problems OCEAN CITY  Its still light at 8 p.m. this time of year, but the public will be required t

Alcohol and weed are for adults only, Jones said.

On Friday, state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, called on the state Legislature to amend the criminal justice bills, citing lawlessness by drunk and rowdy teenagers. He namechecked Ocean City in the release.

Testa did not say Gov. Phil Murphy was a good guy, or shy away from placing blame.

The Murphy administrations continued inaction in helping shore towns respond to pop-up parties is disturbing, Testa said. I fully support Ocean Citys efforts, but there arent many small towns that can maintain public safety and effectively protect their communities when thousands of rowdy people suddenly show up with little or no warning. New Jerseyans are tired of the governor kicking the can down the road. Its time for the Legislature to act like the co-equal branch of government that it is and pass sweeping new public safety reforms to protect our shore communities.

Testa said he has sponsored a number of criminal justice reform bills, including one that would remove the potential of criminal liability for a police officer investigating underage possession of alcohol or marijuana unless civil rights are violated.

Many shore town politicians and police have said that provision of a juvenile justice reform package approved as New Jersey set the legislative framework for a legal cannabis industry went too far, describing it as handcuffing police in their handling of juveniles.

Other bills proposed by Testa allow towns to establish alcohol- and cannabis-free areas and urge the governor and attorney general to help towns respond to mass gatherings, such as a pop-up car rally in Wildwood last year that had deadly results.

State officials say law enforcement officers are not prohibited from interacting with juveniles engaged in delinquent activity, including those who are publicly intoxicated or smoking where prohibited.

Ocean City Council sets emergency meeting to address rowdy teens OCEAN CITY  After a Memorial Day weekend marred by vandalism, assaults, a confiscated firea

But Prettyman said Thursday that police can only issue warnings for those underage, and since they cannot search a juvenile, if the teen puts, say, the beer in a backpack, police cannot confiscate it.

Several sources, including local officials, described the crowds of teens on the beach, Boardwalk and elsewhere in town as out of control. There were close to 1,000 police interactions with teens over Memorial Day weekend, according to city reports, and several juveniles were treated after drinking themselves unconscious.

The lawlessness that I saw play out in our shore towns over Memorial Day weekend was shocking. Large crowds and pop-up parties continue to cause damage to local communities, and it will only get worse as summer approaches, Testa said. Underage drinking, vandalism and drug use were all on display with very little consequences to those in attendance. Residents and tourists fear for their safety, and business owners will suffer the consequences unless the Legislature and the governor step up and address this issue head on.

Local support for changes

It is unclear how far a Republican senator will get with his proposals in a Democratic statehouse. No one from the office of Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Middlesex, Somerset, Union, responded to a request for comment.

No one was available for an interview from the office of Attorney General Matthew Platkin either.

Ami Kachalia, a campaign strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said the change in state law came based on what happened in other states after the legalization of cannabis, where she said arrests of teenagers, especially Black and Latino youth, increased after adults were allowed to possess the drug.

Youth, particularly youth of color, became a target, Kachalia said Monday. We wanted to make sure there wasnt unintended consequences in the increase of criminalization of young people.

Memorial Day weekend signals strong summer ahead for shore businesses Jersey Shore businesses anticipate a productive, profitable summer based on what they saw ov

The intent of the state law was to avoid increasing the harm done to juveniles, she said, adding there are more effective ways of addressing the risks of alcohol and cannabis consumption among young people than criminalization.

Multiple shore town officials have argued that the reforms went too far, leading to other unintended consequences in their communities.

Ocean City spokesperson Doug Bergen said things were quiet last weekend, but the real test will arrive in the coming weeks.

Last week, the city introduced several new regulations in response to the problems, including earlier curfews and a ban on bringing backpacks and other bags to the Boardwalk after 8 p.m. through Sept. 15. People are now kept off the beach starting at 8 p.m., and the Boardwalk bathrooms close at 10, under Gillians order. A final City Council vote on moving the curfew for juveniles from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. and the ban on bags are set to take place before Fathers Day weekend, expected to be the next exceptionally busy weekend.

There are some exceptions. For instance, teens heading home from work or from church or community activities after curfew will not be in trouble, and there are exceptions to the bag ban for medical devices and other equipment.

Juveniles would get at least two warnings for violations before being taken to the police station, where a parent or guardian would have to collect them. The teen would not get a summons, but the parents could get a fine.

It seemed that residents were in support of the changes. Bergen said the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Nine residents, tourists and business owners who spoke with The Press on Sunday all voiced approval for the new rules.

Connie Brown, of Richmond, Virginia, was visiting her brother in the city with 23 family members, including 13 grandchildren. She said she appreciated the work of the city to empower the police to rein in what she considers unruly behavior.

Jersey Shore towns prepare to keep order in summer Nearly all Jersey Shore visitors and residents enjoy the summer and wouldnt think of doing 

We are glad that theyre going against New Jersey, (because) New Jerseys really making the rules, Brown said. So if the mayor has to do it, good for him.

Jamie Longo, who has a summer house in the city and lives in Passaic County, said the 8 p.m. beach closure and bag ban could prove cumbersome for families looking to watch the sunset on the beach. But overall, Longo said she was supportive of new rules to limit disruption, which she attributed to state law, saying it could discourage families from visiting.

Eight o clock is a prime time to be out to be taking pictures of your family and taking a nice walk on the beach, thats what makes Ocean City Ocean City, Longo said. But on the other hand ... its a real problem. Ive seen people on Facebook asking, Should I bring my family this summer?

There was some sympathy for the rules among the younger crowd.

Its pretty reasonable, said Bronc Cossaboon, 18, of Port Norris in Commercial Township.

I feel safer with my kids coming here, said his mother, Darlin Klawitter, of the new rules.

Businesses on the Boardwalk said the new rules were overdue.

Eli Romy, owner of Shirt World, said he had thefts over Memorial Day weekend. Rowdy crowds of young people come in large groups, leaving him overwhelmed.

Citing juvenile problems, Lower Township plans to start enforcing curfew LOWER TOWNSHIP  Nothing good happens after midnight, at least according to Police Chief Kev

So significant were his losses, Romy said, that he was forced to close early on nights over Memorial Day weekend.

It was getting out of control, he said. I think its a good thing to clean up the town because if you let things get out of control, then theyre never going to get better. Its only going to get worse and worse.

Denise Callahan, of Ocean Treasure and Ocean Paradise, said she was hopeful the new bag ban at 8 p.m. could make shoplifting harder to conceal.

Bill Westerman, of Georges Candies, Georges Beach, Georges Ice Cream and Georges Surfside Grille, said he had experienced about a fourfold increase in shoplifting over the past several years, which he attributed to new state laws.

Now its time to crack down on it because its getting out of hand, Westerman said. Some of the kids need protection from themselves.

Enough is enough

City officials described the steps it took last week as necessary for public safety.

After what we witnessed last weekend, enough is enough, Gillian said in his weekly message to residents Friday. The behavior of many of these young people poses a serious threat not only to their own health and safety but to the future of Ocean City as Americas Greatest Family Resort.

He said no other issue has sparked as strong a response in his 13 years as mayor.

This is not a reaction to one weekend. Its become clear over the past two summers that these crowds will only grow larger and unrulier unless something changes, Gillian said.

So I am asking everybody who loves Ocean City to join together to help turn the tide. Young people and their parents should know that the party is over, he continued. Everybody else in the community can help by respecting the new laws and policies that we have implemented: leaving the beach by 8 p.m., not carrying a backpack on the Boardwalk after 8 p.m. and having juveniles off the streets by 11 p.m.

The sooner we can get things under control, the sooner we can get back to normal, Gillian said.

Staff Writer Chris Doyle contributed to this report.
(CNN)  Senior American and Chinese officials had candid and productive discussions on Monday in China, according to read-outs from both Washington and Beijing, as the two countries grapple with how to maintain communication amid intense friction.

Top US State Department and National Security Council officials met with Chinese officials in Beijing on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries, according to a readout from the US State Department.

The trip by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and NSC Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs Sarah Beran to the Chinese capital comes as the Biden administration works to navigate its complicated relationship with Beijing.

There have been a number of exchanges as the United States works to rectify normal channels of communications amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, including two military-related incidents in the past week.

According to the readout from the State Department, Kritenbrink and Beran, accompanied by US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Director General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Yang Tao. They also met with members of the U.S. Embassy community.

The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral relationship, cross-Strait issues, channels of communication, and other matters. U.S. officials made clear that the United States would compete vigorously and stand up for U.S. interests and values, the readout said.

Chinas Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the two sides had candid, constructive, and productive communication on improving China-US relations and properly managing differences in line with the consensus reached by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, who met on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali in November.

China also clarified its solemn position on Taiwan and other major issues of principle, according to its readout, which added that the two sides agreed to continue communication.

The self-governing democracy of Taiwan has become a key source of tension between the two countries. Chinas ruling Communist Party claims the island as its own, despite never having controlled it and has not ruled out using force to take it.

On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating and affect the global economy in ways we cannot imagine, while underlining US support for the island democracy and the importance of deterrence.

State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Monday that other bilateral issues discussed in Mondays meeting included climate change, precursor chemicals from China that are used in fentanyl production, human rights, and wrongfully detained American citizens. There are three Americans publicly known to be wrongfully detained in China: Mark Swidan, Kai Li and David Lin.

Patel did not say if the meeting in Beijing yielded progress on rescheduling Secretary of State Antony Blinkens own visit to the Chinese capital, which was postponed after the spy balloon incident earlier this year. Instead, Patel reiterated that the department hoped to schedule the trip when conditions allow.

US officials have emphasized their desire to maintain open channels of communication with China as a means to prevent the competitive relationship from veering into conflict. China rebuffed a formal meeting of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu while they were both in Singapore, though the two ministers shook hands and spoke briefly, the Pentagon said.

The most dangerous thing is not to communicate and as a result, to have a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, Blinken said at a press availability in Sweden last week after the US asserted that a Chinese fighter jet conducted an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver during an intercept of a US spy plane in international airspace.

On Sunday, the US accused a Chinese warship of cutting in front of an American vessel that was taking part in a joint exercise with the Canadian navy in the Taiwan Strait, forcing the American vessel to slow down to avoid a collision. The Chinese defense minister accused the US of provocation.

John Kirby of the US National Security Council on Monday attributed the incidents to an increasing level of aggressiveness by Chinas military.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Top US officials have candid and productive discussions in Beijing amid ongoing tensions."
Tuesdays primary election will be historic in Atlantic County  the first to use new electronic voting machines in all 151 voting districts.

We have amply prepared the poll workers across the county for the official unveiling of our new voting machine fleet and ballot card printers, that will pair with the electronic polls books, Superintendent of Elections Maureen Bugdon said Monday.

Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, when voters will choose who will officially represent the Democratic and Republican parties in a host of races in Novembers general election.

Workers will arrive a little earlier than usual to give them more time to set up the new machines and systems, Bugdon said.

We are excited to introduce this new technology that has served us so well during early voting, and ask for everyones patience and understanding, Bugdon said. Its extremely user friendly ... and so far its been fantastically received by voters and poll workers.

Atlantic County commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance last year to bond $3.4 million to buy 325 new voting machines that will provide a paper audit trail.

The new voting machines are the same machines that have been used for two years in seven sites for early voting in the county.

Board of Elections Chair Lynn Caterson encouraged all those voting in person in the primary to check their sample ballots for their polling places. Some polling places have changed, she said.

Voters can also see their polling places by using the Polling Place Search Tool on the state website at nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml.

Put in your home address, and your polling place will be provided.

All state Assembly and Senate seats are on the ballot, as well as many county and local offices, but there are no contested primaries in the 1st or 2nd legislative districts this year.

The most exciting races are in Pleasantville and Atlantic City, where Democrats are battling for council seats. Democrats dominate in both towns  no Republicans even filed petitions to run in Pleasantville and in two of six Atlantic City ward races. So the primary will likely decide Novembers winners there.

Those registered as Democrats can only vote in the Democratic primary, and those registered as Republicans can only vote in the Republican primary. Its too late to change party affiliation for this election, Caterson said, but those registered as unaffiliated can vote in either primary.

Once you do this (vote in a primary), the party you declare is your party until or unless you do something official to change it, Caterson said in an email explanation of the rules. If you are not registered to vote at all it is too late to register for this Primary.

The voter registration deadline for the primary was May 16.

The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is Oct. 17. The easiest way to do it is through the state website at state.nj.us/state/elections/voter-registration.shtml.

Pleasantville councilwoman to face off against community organizer PLEASANTVILLE  With few competitive races in Atlantic County, eyes are focused on a contest

To find out whether you are already registered, visit voter.svrs.nj.gov/registration-check.

In Pleasantvilles Ward 1 Council race, Democrat Charles Oglesby is running unopposed, while in Ward 2 Democratic incumbent Councilwoman Joanne Famularo faces a challenge from Democrat Irvin O. Moreno-Rodriguez.

In Atlantic City there are contested races on the Democratic side in wards 2 through 5, but in the 1st Ward, incumbent Councilman Aaron Sporty Randolph is unopposed.

On the Republican side all City Council races are uncontested, and in wards 2 and 3 no Republican filed a petition to run.

Running for state Senate in the 1st Legislative District is incumbent Republican state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic.

On the Democratic side, Charles R. Laspata, of Vineland, is running unopposed to challenge Testa.

Running for Assembly on the GOP side are incumbent Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen, both R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic.

Democrats Damita White-Morris, of Bridgeton, and Eddie L. Bonner, of Vineland, are running to challenge the incumbents.

Running for state Senate in the 2nd Legislative District is incumbent Republican state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic.

Democrat Victor Carmona, a Pleasantville councilman, is running to challenge Polistina in the fall.

Assemblywoman Claire Swift and Assemblyman Don Guardian, both R-Atlantic, are running to stay in their seats.

Democrats Caren Fitzpatrick, of Linwood, and Alphonso Harrell, of Egg Harbor Township, are running to challenge the Republicans in the fall. Fitzpatrick is a current Atlantic County commissioner.

In Cape May County, only Republicans in Stone Harbor will have a decision to make in the primary, with three candidates for two seats on the Borough Council. Other than that, there are no challenges at the municipal level.

Robin Casper, Reese Moore and Tim Carney are each after the Republican nomination for two seats on Stone Harbors governing body, according to the countys election website. The top two candidates will move on to the November election.

Mail-in ballots can be returned in several ways:

hand-delivered to the Board of Elections in the voters home county by 8 p.m. June 6

through the U.S. mail, postmarked by June 6, and if postmarked June 6 or earlier they can be received through June 12

through one of many secure drop boxes around the voters home county up to 8 p.m. election day

Videos help voters understand NJ election, voting process TRENTON  The first in a state series of animated educational videos on the voting and elect

For a list of drop box locations in your home county, visit nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml.

Staff Writer Bill Barlow contributed to this report.
Pete Byron, the mayor of Wildwood, is a convicted felon.

In March, he pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud for not reporting more than $40,000 in income to the Internal Revenue Service. For this alone he faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Many people assume that conviction of a federal felony crime while serving the public would be enough to eject a New Jersey politician from office. Theyre mistaken. The law enacted by New Jersey politicians says convicted felons can stay in office, keep getting paid and use their public servant benefits as long as their crime didnt involve or touch on their governmental office.

Byron didnt use his office to commit tax fraud in 2017 and 2018. But a state grand jury last year charged him with fraudulently getting government worker health coverage for a job that was less than full time. Thats a crime directly involving his office and if hes convicted, he wont be able to cling to the Wildwood mayoralty.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said Byron was charged with theft by unlawful taking (from the State Health Benefits Program) and with tampering with public records (for his attempts to make it look like he had worked full time). Platkin said getting unwarranted paid health coverage is a breach of the public trust and he pledged, We will work tirelessly to root out public corruption and restore faith in our institutions.

The Attorney Generals Office said the state investigation found Byron was never a full-time employee as defined by state law. He did not receive vacation, sick or personal days, and he maintained no regular schedule. Platkin said Byron falsely signed and submitted timesheets to the city indicating he worked full days Monday through Friday. As a result, Wildwood and the state plan paid more than $608,900 in premiums and claims on his behalf from July 2011 through 2021.

Byron has pleaded not guilty to the state grand jury indictment and his attorney has said he will take that case to trial.

The right thing for Byron to do is resign. The federal conviction for fraud should be enough. Even if he escapes conviction on the state fraud charges, hes still a convicted felony criminal awaiting federal punishment.

Byron has vowed not to resign. He said hes still deciding whether he will run for reelection this year. Perhaps he thinks there are plenty of people in Wildwood who would vote for someone criminally convicted while in office. Byron is scheduled for sentencing on the federal conviction on Aug. 2. Even New Jersey doesnt let officials serve from prison.

Byron should resign now, or be pushed out by the people and businesses of Wildwood and its municipal government.

Wildwood is a famous tourism destination and this is the start of the all-important summer vacation season. The city cant risk the awful publicity of being led by someone freshly convicted on federal criminal charges and facing a state trial on unrelated criminal fraud charges.

Wildwood and Byron are very likely to be in the news this summer and when they are, merciless online commenters will say the beach and boardwalk resorts new slogan must be Come to the Wildwoods, where fraud rules!

And if something goes wrong, as can happen anywhere anytime, the community could get a reputation for supporting and tolerating corruption. Even if nothing else goes wrong, headlines about the Wildwood mayors sentencing would cap its summer season.

Byron has shown a strong interest in serving himself, even unlawfully, at the expense of the public. Resigning could show he at least has some concern for Wildwood and its businesses, residents and workers.

Maybe his fellow City Commissioners could put him on leave until his state charges are adjudicated or he goes to prison. That would be worth doing even if it had to be paid leave, but well leave it to them to explain why that would be necessary.

The Jersey Shore looks like it might have its best summer this year. Someone in Wildwood better start thinking about how this looks to potential visitors.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump while launching his presidential campaign on Tuesday, calling the former president and current Republican primary front-runner a lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog" and arguing that he's the only one who can stop him.

Christie began his run with a town hall in New Hampshire. The former governor and federal prosecutor ran for president and lost to Trump in 2016 and went on to become a close off-and-on adviser before breaking with the former president over his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

Now that Trump is trying again for the White House, Christie is out to do everything in his power to deny him. After criticizing other Republican primary rivals for being afraid to directly challenge Trump, Christie made clear that he had no such concerns.

The person I am talking about, who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault, who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong  but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right  is Donald Trump," he told a small, mostly friendly crowd at Saint Anselm College.

A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader, Christie said, saying Trump made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting us one against the other.

But he also said President Joe Biden is doing the same thing, just on the other side. He noted that he'd known Biden for decades and said the president is out of his depth because hes not the guy he used to be, referencing the 80-year-old Biden's advanced age.

But Christie's chief target was Trump.

Theres a big argument in our country right now about whether character matters, and we have leaders who have shown us over and over again that not only are they devoid of character, they dont care. Christie said. We cant dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve, and we will have to own it.

Christie enters a growing primary field that already includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will be formally launching his own campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.

During his time as governor, Christie established a reputation as a fighter with a knack for creating viral moments of confrontation. But he faces an uphill battle to the nomination in a party that remains closely aligned with the former president, despite Trump's reelection loss in 2020 and Republicans' poorer-than-expected showing in the 2022 midterm elections.

Christie argues that unless top Republicans dare confront Trump, there will be a repeat of the 2016 GOP primary, when Trump rolled over a host of alternatives with more political experience who split the support of voters opposing him.

Christie said Tuesday that the only way to win the GOP nomination was to topple Trump, but he was in the race to win the White House, not just the primary. He made fun of Trump's failed promise to wall off the entire southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for it but said that voters who believed Trump in 2016 now knew better.

Anti-Trump Republicans are particularly eager to see Christie spar with Trump on a debate stage  if, of course, Trump agrees to participate in primary debates and Christie meets the stringent fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee for participation.

JP Marzullo, a former state representative and former vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, previously backed Trump but is now supporting Christie.

I think hell actually unite some of the voters, and hell get to independents, Marzullo said of the former governor, adding, I think its time for a change."

Christie's campaign will test the appetite among Republican voters for someone who has expressed support for many of Trump's policies but has criticized the former president's conduct. The former governor has rejected Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen and has urged the party to move on or risk future losses.

Other Republicans with similar views, including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, have opted against their own campaigns, expressing concerns that having more candidates in the race will only benefit Trump.

Christie was at one point seen as one of the Republican Partys brightest political stars as the popular Republican governor of a Democratic state. But despite persistent urging from top donors and party officials, he declined to run for president in 2012. By the time he announced in 2016, his reputation had been tarnished by the Bridgegate scandal in which aides were accused of wreaking traffic havoc in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in an apparent effort to punish the citys mayor for failing to endorse his reelection bid.

In the packed 2016 GOP primary, Christie portrayed himself as a brash, tough-talking East Coaster who could tell it like it is  only to be eclipsed by the brasher Trump.

Christie opting to start his 2024 bid at a New Hampshire town hall recalled his first run at the White House, when he focused on the state, holding dozens of New Hampshire town hall events only to finish sixth in its primary. He dropped out of that race afterward.

Two weeks later, Christie stunned even some former aides when he endorsed Trump, becoming the first sitting governor and former rival to get behind the emerging GOP front-runner. His announcement undercut rival Marco Rubio at a crucial moment  the day after a debate that had been seen as a possible turning point in the race  helping to pave the way for Trumps nomination and eventual win.

The line of supporting Donald Trump starts behind me, Christie has said.

The former governor, who has known Trump for nearly 20 years, has had a complicated friendship with the former developer and reality TV star. At times, he was one of Trumps closest advisers: He was on the shortlist to serve as Trumps vice president, oversaw Trumps early White House transition efforts, said he was offered  and turned down  multiple Cabinet positions, and helped Trump prepare for each of his general election debates in 2016 and 2020. (It was during those debate preparations that Christie believes he caught COVID-19, landing him in intensive care.)

But Christie also clashed with Trump at times and has described the former presidents refusal to accept his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden as a breaking point. In appearances and interviews, Christie says he was incredibly disappointed and disillusioned by Trumps refusal to concede, which culminated in his followers violent storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an effort to halt the certification of Bidens win.
What's Happening in the Region

The Growl of the Colonial Russian Bear

While the Kremlin is focusing much of its attention on its full-scale war in Ukraine, Russian government officials are also keeping track of legislation in Central Asia.

Sergei Mironov, a deputy in Russias State Duma, the lower house of parliament, posted a video on Twitter where he criticizes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan for laws that punish citizens for fighting Russias war in Ukraine.

On May 16, a Kyrgyz court sentenced a 32-year-old Kyrgyz citizen to 10 years in prison for fighting with Russian forces in eastern Ukraine in 2022.



Mironov says the three Central Asian countries are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and if these countries citizens wish to help another country in that union, why would that person face criminal charges?

Uzbekistan is an observer country, but not a full EAEU member.

Kyrgyz parliamentary deputy Dastan Bekeshev replied on Twitter that the EAEU is an economic union, not a military bloc.

On May 31, Kyrgyzstans parliament passed a law making use of Kyrgyz language in government activities mandatory and knowledge of the state language by civil servants, deputies, teachers, judges, and prosecutors compulsory.

On June 1, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia had been in contact with Kyrgyz officials repeatedly about this issue.

Zakharova expressed concern that the adoption of the law may undesirably affect the situation with the rights of the non-titular population, including our (Russian) compatriots.

According to Kyrgyzstans National Statistics Committee, the population of Kyrgyzstan in 2022 was 6,747,323 of which 335,237 were ethnic Russians.

Kyrgyzstan is one of four countries that have Russian as an official language. The other three are Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia.

Why Its Important: There is a growing debate among Central Asians on social networks, at academic conferences, and elsewhere about how Russias role in Central Asia in history should be viewed.

There is growing sentiment among Central Asians that Russia was a colonizer and the colonial process caused great harm to Central Asia and its people.

Some people from Central Asia are saying Russia continues to treat their countries like colonies.

Mironov and Zakharovas comments, which could be considered interference in another countrys internal affairs, seem to support those in Central Asia who say Russia is an unrepentant colonizer.

Kyrgyz Government Claims It Prevented a Coup

On June 5, Kyrgyzstans State Committee for National Security (GKNB) detained more than 30 people who the government alleges were planning to overthrow the government.

The GKNB has not provided many details of the plot. What the GKNB did say does not seem to indicate this was a serious attempt to stage a coup.

According to the GKNB, a previously unknown group calling itself the Eldik Kenesh, or Peoples Council, had been preparing for the last year to organize mass protests and create disorder during which the group planned to seize power.

Over the course of the last year, Eldik Kenesh recruited more than 100 people from different segments of society and different regions of the country.

The leader of Eldik Kenesh is Roza Nurmatova, who was born in 1959. At least in the past, Nuramtova was a supporter of current President Sadyr Japarov and current GKNB chief Kamchybek Tashiev.

According to the GKNB, the group was close to carrying out their plan and was only waiting to receive significant funding from foreign sources.

There is no hint as to who or what these foreign sources are.

Kyrgyz independent media outlet Kaktus Media reported at a roundtable discussion on March 31 that Nurmatova railed against the crude imposition of Western values -- same-sex marriages transgender, asexuality, (and) bestiality.

Why Its Important: Until more information is released, it is difficult to escape the thought that the situation surrounding the Eldik Kenesh case is an attempt by the government to distract attention from more important matters.

Kyrgyzstans population in 2023 has grown to more than seven million.

Some 100 people from an obscure group are unlikely to topple Kyrgyzstans government.

There seems to be more to this bizarre event than an alleged coup attempt by a small group of people.

The Latest Majlis Podcast

This weeks Majlis podcast discusses proposed laws on NGOs and the media that Kyrgyzstans parliament is currently considering. Rights activists and others say the pending legislation echoes Russias foreign agent laws aimed at silencing critics of the government.

The draft laws tighten controls over nongovernment organizations that receive foreign funding, and over media.

This weeks guests are:

Svetlana Dzardanova, a human rights and corruption researcher at Freedom for Eurasia; and

Syinat Sultanalieva, Central Asia researcher for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at Human Rights Watch.

What I'm Following

Water Shortage in the Kyrgyz Capital

Officials in Kyrgyzstans capital Bishkek ordered the temporary closure of bathhouses, car washes, and swimming pools due to a water shortage.

Officials blame Bishkek residents for uncontrolled and irrational use of water, saying the average daily use of water per capita has risen from some 45 gallons to some 108 gallons (about 409 L).

Ammonia Spill in Kazakh Farmland

People in the Afanasyev rural district of North Kazakhstan Province are facing an environmental crisis after 180 tons of ammonia leaked from the property of a local company.

A video posted on the Internet shows trees and other vegetation are turning yellow and withering in the area of the spill.

Local officials say the spill does not pose any hazards to the nearby farming community, but Kazakh officials have downplayed concerns about environmental problems before.

In northwestern Kazakhstan, residents of the village of Berezovka complained for years the fumes from nearby oil fields were responsible for Berezovka residents suddenly losing consciousness.

In 2016, authorities finally conceded that proximity to the oil field was causing health problems and resettled Berezovka residents in another village.

Fact of the Week

Kazakhstans Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliev said on June 5 that technical work on natural gas pipelines will be completed by autumn or winter 2024, allowing Russia to ship gas through Kazakhstan to customers in Uzbekistan.

Get in Touch

Thanks for reading this weeks newsletter.



Feel free to contact me on Twitter @BrucePannier or click reply if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to connect with me about topics concerning Central Asia.



Please consider filling out this brief survey so that I can better understand how this newsletter can be useful for you.



See you next week for more on whats happening in Central Asia.

Until next time,

Bruce
A heinous crime has come to light where a mother-daughter duo allegedly killed a man and burnt his body to destroy evidence. The incident took place in shirur area on June 1. The deceased is identified as, Johnson Lobo, whose wife Sandra Johnson Lobo (43) and their daughter conspired and killed him. The duo killed the man as he did not approve daughters relationship with a person named Aggel Kasbe (24).

The accused committed the crime taking inspiration from a crime web series. The duo had burnt the body after killing him to destroy the evidence therefore police had a tough time cracking the case. However, police nabbed the three suspect and thorough investigation into the case lead them to clues to solve the murder case.

The police had found the burnt body on June 1 and filled a case of an accident, the police then launched a probe into the case as a car was also found near the scene. Meanwhile the police also received information that Johnson Lobo was missing for four days. The CCTV footages revealed that the car was used by Aggel Kasbe, and the police also found out that the victim did not approve his daughter and Aggel relationship therfore they commited the crime. The accused therefore planned a murder and after killing him they put the body in a sack and transported it to Sanswadi in a car and then put the body on fire after pouring petrol on it.

The trio were arrested from Wadgaon Sheri area and the three appeared before the court, and are remanded to police custody till June 9. The probe into the case is underway.
Three families no longer live in the limbo of not knowing. Now there's just grief, exhaustion and a numbness.

DeSiree Banks started crying Monday morning when she heard the news that three victims were recovered from the May 28 partial collapse of the apartment building called The Davenport.

Banks knew Branden Colvin Sr. was among those killed; she learned of the recovery of his body late Saturday. But she didn't know the fates of Ryan Hitchcock and Dan Prien until after Monday's news conference inside the Davenport Police Station.

Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel told her. Banks burst into tears, and Bladel held her in his arms for a long time.

"I feel so bad for those families," she said. "I just wish someone had lived. All of us are together. We have to support each other."

Banks has two children with Colvin Sr.: Brittany Colvin, 19, and Branden Colvin Jr., 18.

"We didn't tell the media much about Brittany," Banks said. "She's just been having a really hard time with everything that's going on. She hasn't wanted to talk about it and, really, I don't know if she can.

"She is devastated."

Banks said she had to leave Sunday night's vigil outside City Hall.

"I had been OK with the questions and the cameras and everything," she said. "But last night it was too much. I couldn't see another camera. I couldn't see them filming what was going on.

"I had to leave because I didn't want to make anything about me. I just had to walk away from this place."

'I'm just numb'

Nancy Frezza didn't find out about the recovery of Prien's body until Monday's news conference. He was her father.

"My husband told me about it during the press conference, and I looked at it," Frezza said. "I'm still in shock. I'm just numb."

The 26-year-old Frezza lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and didn't meet Prien in person until 2019. They had managed to be close in some ways.

"I was a little surprised I didn't hear anything," she said. "I asked that if they found him that I be told before the media, but that didn't happen.

Frezza said she still had hopes that her father, who lived a good portion of his life with no permanent address, was away from the building on the day it fell.

"Honestly, the whole time a part of me knew he would be down there in that rubble," she said. "He was finally in a place that was his own, and I thought he was safe.

"I'm just numb now. It's just overwhelming."

'One big family'

Banks took a moment to recall her favorite memory of Colvin Sr.

"That's easy," she said. "I wouldn't have finished high school if it wasn't for Branden Senior."

Banks smiled.

"I was a young mother and he didn't let off me to finish high school and get that degree," she said. "Brittany and Branden Junior were close together. They're my Irish twins. And Branden Senior had Darius (Nelson), his other son. Branden Senior took care of the kids while I did school and summer school. He was there so I could get it done.

"But see, we raised up Darius, too. With all of Branden Senior's kids, we were one big family. It wasn't always easy, but we made it work."

Banks said the experience taught her how to be a parent, co-parent and supportive of Colvin Sr.'s other children.

"We all love each other," she said. "Branden Senior, he brought us all together in a way. We look after the kids and we respect each other."

As Banks finished talking, Mike Collier approached. He is Colvin Sr.'s cousin. He kissed her cheek and the two talked about the night.

"I think I might have slept, a bit," Collier said.

"I tried, but I was scared," Banks said. "I don't know what was going on with me, but I was scared."

Banks then told Collier about the recovery of the bodies of Hitchcock and Prien.

"Is there more?" Collier asked. "Do they think there's more?"

Collier's body started to shake. Tears spilled from his eyes. Banks pulled him close in a hug, and he buried his head in her shoulder.

"Oh, sweetie, they said they didn't find anyone else," she said into Collier's ear. "They said there was no one else. Sweetie, they said there was no one else."

The two hugged for a long time as Banks softly repeated "They said there was no one else."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker stopped Tuesday at Black Hawk College in Moline to tout the fiscal year 2024 budget lawmakers recently passed that includes increased spending on education.

The $50.6 billion budget, which has yet to be signed by Pritzker, includes investments in early childhood, K-12 schools, higher education, workforce development and efforts to fight violence and poverty.

The state's needs-based Monetary Award Program, or MAP grants, received a $100 million increase bringing the total funding to $701 million.

Lauren Rogan has attended Black Hawk College for the past two years. The cost of college was a big concern for her when she made the decision to continue her education.

She did not want to end up with massive debt. Her first two months she was working a full-time job while trying to juggle being a full-time student.

"I received a MAP grant, and I was able to take a part-time job at the school (Black Hawk) and focus on my studies," Rogan said. "Most importantly, I was able graduate debt free."

Rogan said she would continue her studies at University of Illinois - Springfield.

The MAP grants are increasing by 75% for the first time since 2019.

Pritzker touted the budget increase, saying this will directly impact students at Black Hawk and Western Illinois University in Moline.

"We are making it possible for nearly every student from a low-, moderate- or middle-income family to get a degree or certification," he said. "Students now can get a college education in Illinois without being strapped with debt for the rest of their lives."

The budget also includes a $100 million increase for public universities and community colleges.

Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, said providing more funding for higher education institutions remained a top priority for him since taking office in January 2017 as a house representative.

Halpin said he was proud of leading the push for expanding funds for the AIM High merit-based scholarship program, providing funding to ease the price of textbooks at colleges and universities, and recruiting more teachers from minority communities.

The AIM High merit-based scholarship program received a $15 million increase.

The budget also increases the statutorily required annual $350 million increase in the Evidence Based Funding formula for K-12. The money is distributed to public schools.

Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, who took office in January, said his main priority had been funding education at every level.

"When you have a child it really becomes crystal clear," he said. "Building a better world and making sure that my daughter, her friends or peers and that every single one of them has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential."

A new plan also is included in the budget.

Smart Start Illinois is a multi-year plan that invests $250 million to eliminate preschool deserts, stabilize the child care workforce and expand early intervention and home visiting programs.

It also will create 5,000 new preschool spots for low-income students and address the teacher shortage.

In February, Pritzker stopped in Rock Island at Skip-a-Long day care touting the new program and was joined with other officials. Director of Skip-a-Long Pat Allison said during the news conference that it would help open three classrooms that were closed because of staffing shortages, increase staff wages and retain employees who could support children's individual needs.

The budget passed on partisan lines.

Senate Republicans during floor debate thanked Democrats for including them in the budget process and allowing for bipartisan input. But they unanimously voted against it.

Senate Republicans said there were good things included in the budget but were upset that Democrats did not agree to a $4 raise for direct support for professionals helping people with developmental disabilities. They also were frustrated over the choice not to appropriate funding for the Invest in Kids scholarship program that helps low-income students go to private schools.

House Republicans also voted against it, with some saying that they are concerned about whether the new spending  including K-12 education and early childhood programs  would be sustainable in future years.

In response to Republicans, Pritzker said when he took office the cupboards were bare and since then, the state has had five balanced budgets that do prioritize where funding is needed the most.
It was quieter on the scene of 324 Main St. on Tuesday, nine days after the six-story building partially collapsed.

Trucks, vehicles, tents and people in hard hats from the Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue that had set up on 3rd Street were gone, having demobilized Monday evening, according to the city of Davenport.

Harrison Street, the south-bound one-way that's been mostly closed since May 28 for emergency response vehicles and personnel, reopened Tuesday midday.

The remains of three men were found over the weekend in the downtown Davenport apartment building. On Monday evening the urban search and rescue team "determined that the building is clear of collapse victims" and demobilized. The city said that collapsed building material from the foundation of 324 had been removed.

Pictures of the site taken Monday evening and Tuesday show gaping holes at the site of the foundation, clear of rubble that is off to the side. Machinery labeled as property of demolition company D.W. Zinser picked up beams and other debris and placed them in what appeared to be a large dumpster.

"Crews have cleared the debris pile to the foundation floor and will continue removing debris from the site today," Davenport Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Ott wrote in an email update Tuesday.

The Davenport not a common place for the homeless, social service agency leader says

Rumors circled on social media that people who were homeless stayed in the basement or ground floor of The Davenport.

But Ashley Velez, executive director of Humility Homes and Services, said in the past 15 years, The Davenport building had never been a place her street outreach team had gone to contact people living on the street.

Sometimes, she said, people would wait outside for the nearby library, where a social worker is available, or St. Anthony's, which served meals, to open.

"To my knowledge, that information is false," Velez said of the rumors.

At the time of the collapse, 12 units at The Davenport were being rented by individual or family clients of Humility Homes and Services, Velez said. Leases were in the tenants' names, Velez said.

She called the city's use of the description of the building having a "history of transient population" in a news release "incorrect" as the clients Humility Homes served were tenants of the building.

"These were individuals who were formerly homeless and were tenants who were receiving rental assistance," Velez said.

Alderman Marion Meginnis and Police Chief Jeff Bladel reached Humility Homes the day of the collapse, Velez said, because they knew some clients of Humility Homes rented there, and she provided them with the list of the names of renters of the 12 units.

Velez said Humility Homes then paid for their clients to stay in hotel rooms for the week to provide a "safe and quiet place."

Humility Homes and Services was one agency among several at a Multi-Agency Resource Center on Saturday at the downtown YMCA branch.

In front of City Hall on Tuesday, new clothes, hygiene products, food items and water were being handed out at the corner of 4th and Harrison, Mike Collier said in a livestream to Facebook. He opened several cardboard boxes with new T-shirts, jeans, underwear, hygiene products and more that he said would be handed out for free.

Desiree Banks, the mother of Branden Colvin Jr., said people and groups had dropped off food, water and personal items all week.

"We don't know these people," Banks said. "It really is amazing, and we appreciate it for real. This is our community. Everyone has been here for us."

A Salvation Army representative said the agency had been serving more than 200 meals per day to emergency responders from Thursday through Monday.

Kelle Larned, director of operations and programming with the Salvation Army, said its organization was offering vouchers for clothing and furniture at its Brady Street store, and provided residents with a list of landlords who had contacted the Salvation Army offering to help place individuals displaced because of the collapse.

The agency encourages people who need assistance to call 563-324-4808.

She estimated the Salvation Army handed out about 50 packets to residents of the building on Saturday and said residents can continue to contact the Salvation Army for help. She said the agency also was offering to pay for the first month of rent at a new place for tenants.

But moving forward, Larned said, a challenge will be making sure tenants are connected with a place where they can afford what new landlords are asking.

"This puts us back even further in the housing crisis," Larned said.

Photos: One week after the partial collapse of The Davenport
After eight-and-a-half hours of deliberation Monday, a Pennington County jury found 28-year-old Dion Bordeaux guilty of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend on New Year's Day in 2020.

When the jury foreperson stood up and said guilty of first-degree murder, the victims family began to sob. Tears from Bordeauxs supporters followed shortly after.

Jeanette Jumping Eagle, a 22-year-old mother of three, died from a single bullet to the head on Jan. 1, 2020, in a room at the Microtel Hotel in north Rapid City. Her bloody hand rested on top of her 9mm pistol, which sat in her lap with the safety on.

Initially, law enforcement didnt know if she died by suicide or homicide. About eight months later, the state charged Bordeaux, who was one of two people in the room other than Jumping Eagle.

The state also originally charged Bordeauxs younger brother, Giovanni Bordeaux, with accessory to a crime as well. The state dropped those charges. He later agreed to testify.

Giovanni said the three were drinking together on New Year's Eve. The couple was bickering, and he thought they were breaking up. He asked coworkers to come pick him up because of the awkward situation.

Giovanni said he was in the bathroom when he heard the gunshot. When he came out, he heard his brother freaking out and saying babe several times. When he asked Bordeaux what happened, he said I dont know several times.

Deputy Pennington County States Attorney Kevin Krull said Giovanni, is trying to protect his brother by saying he didnt see the gun or see whether Dion moved Jumping Eagles arm.

Video footage showed the two walking away from the hotel room just after 3:30 a.m. Bordeaux called 911 from the Runnings parking lot on North Lacrosse Street, about a half mile away from the hotel. Giovanni had coworkers pick him up across the street at Walgreens and bring him back to the hotel.

Bordeaux initially told law enforcement he ran from the room when he heard the gunshot because he thought Jumping Eagle shot at him. About two weeks later, he told Rapid City Police Department Detective Dan Trainer that Jumping Eagle shot herself, and he tried to help her. He then washed his hands in the hotel sink and left the hotel room before deciding to call 911.

Krull called his statements self-serving and contradictory during closing arguments Monday morning, which followed three days of testimony. He noted testimony during the trial from a blood splatter expert who said Jumping Eagles arm had been moved after she was shot.

The expert, Paulette Sutton, traveled from Tennessee to testify in the trial. Sutton said the blood on Jumping Eagles hand and the gun were transfer stains, meaning they resulted from a bloody surface touching a non-bloody surface. Sutton explained other types of stains include drip-stains and pools.

Krull emphasized the angle of the bullet when arguing for a guilty verdict. Don Habbe, a forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Jumping Eagle, testified the bullet entered above her right eyebrow from a slightly upward angle in a straight path. It did not exit her head.

Habbe said the gun was not pressed against her skin, which is common in suicides. He also testified he could not determine if the death was a suicide or a homicide, but most suicide gunshot wounds occur in the temple, under the chin, or in the mouth.

This doesnt fit a suicide, Krull said.

The attorney also compared an incident in September 2019 when Bordeaux stabbed a friend nine times. The mans girlfriend took the stand during trial and testified to witnessing the stabbing.

Krull said it was similar because Bordeaux had been drinking, grabbed a weapon, and attacked someone he knew.

Angela Colbath, Bordeauxs defense attorney, called Jumping Eagles death a tragedy and alluded to the possibility someone other than Bordeaux could have turned the safety on.

Colbath pointed to inconsistent testimony about what happened with the gun. Forensic Examiner Bincy Thankachan testified she placed the gun inside an evidence bag at the scene before removing the magazine or unloading the gun.

Rapid City Police Department Det. Justin Gizzy testified he attempted to rack the slide of the gun back at the scene, only to discover it wouldnt move because the safety was on.

Colbath told the jury the state wanted them to believe it was a small inconsistency.

I dont know who took that firearm, and the bottom line is you dont either, Colbath said.

While the state said Bordeauxs actions didnt line up with someone who had just witnessed their girlfriend commit suicide, Colbath argued otherwise.

She said if Bordeaux wanted to cover up a murder, he wouldnt have touched Bordeaux, getting blood on his hands. She also noted Bordeaux called the cops, told police what he was wearing, and left behind Jumping Eagles cell phone, which contained a text message where he threatened to kill her.

Colbath argued if Bordeaux had been serious with the threat, he wouldnt have left behind evidence of it. She also stated her client's actions made sense in a state of shock and fear, and he left the scene initially because he was afraid no one would believe him.

Apparently his feeling that he wouldnt be believed was right, Colbath said.

A sentencing date is pending for Bordeaux, but first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in South Dakota.
Around half of the Political Action Committees donating to candidates in Rapid City's municipal election missed the city's statutory filing deadline, according to the City's Legal Department.

Rapid City's municipal code requires campaign finance disclosure statements be filed no later than 5 p.m. the Tuesday prior to an election  in this case, May 30. It was late last week before City legal officials caught wind of the missed deadline.

Assistant City Attorney Justin Williams said he believes the reason is statewide PACs who were unaware of Rapid City's specific filing requirements.

"It just so happens that this election, there isn't any statewide election going on, and so a lot of these PACs, I think, were unaware of the requirements...but then once they became aware of it, they were more than willing to comply," Williams said.

South Dakota's campaign finance laws require a pre-primary filing 15 days before the election. In the event there is a statewide election on the same day as a municipal election, Rapid City doesn't require PACs to file again with them, Williams said. As of Monday morning, several PACs still had not filed with the city, something Williams believes is likely to be resolved by the end of the day.

Having the filing deadline so close to the election might seem risky, but it allows the campaign contribution forms to reflect as much of the contributions as possible, he said.

"I think the idea is to allow the reports to capture as much of those contributions as possible," he said. "If you have the deadline be earlier, then there arguably would be less transparency, because you're not catching a lot of those contributions that might happen shortly before the election."

There is a civil penalty for campaign finance violations, which can increase to misdemeanor charges in some cases. The repercussions from such violations fall only on the PAC, not the candidate, Williams clarified.

"Basically at this point, our goal was really not to bring in any civil penalties unless they're just thumbing their nose at us," Williams said. "We're just trying to get compliance at this point."

The City and Rapid City Area School District contracts with Pennington County to handle their elections to be efficient with taxpayers' money, according to the City Finance Department. The contract allows for the purchase of one set of equipment, one group of poll workers, and one group of workers for counting of the ballots.

Rapid City's municipal elections operate on plurality, meaning the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner. There will be no runoff elections.

Rapid City's municipal election will take place on Tuesday, June 6. Those candidates winning their races will take office on July 3 at the Council meeting.
A trucker whose semi-tractor trailer rig struck and killed a yearling grizzly bear on Highway 191 in the Gallatin Canyon on May 26 narrowly averted being attacked by the bears protective mother.

I dont know how he made it away from his vehicle to walk those couple hundred yards down the road with mom standing right there, said David Reeves, a Yellowstone National Park tour guide. I cant believe she didnt attack him when he was walking down to the Cinnamon Lodge.

It was while the trucker was standing in the driveway near the lodge  located just south of Big Sky  around 5 a.m. that day that Reeves saw the man and asked if he needed any help. The driver recounted how he had hit a small animal. Although the big semi rig looked undamaged, the collision resulted in the trucks air bags being deployed. The trucker was calling his company to report the collision and waiting for a tow truck to arrive.

Reeves, who has worked for Yellowstone Tour Guides for 16 years, was on his way to West Yellowstone to pick up a group for a daily tour of the park, so he offered the man a ride back to his disabled truck. The driver declined, saying he would walk the short distance.

I took off and started driving down the road, Reeves recounted. And when I got to his truck there was a big grizzly bear in the middle of the road. She was over the carcass of the cub. And as I pulled up she kind of bluff charged at the vehicle. So I quick turned around because I was like, Theres no way I can let that guy walk into that. Shell kill him.

Reeves drove back, convincing the truck driver to agree to being shuttled back to his vehicle.

So I drove him back down to his truck and showed him mom and showed him the cub, he said, making the danger of the situation apparent. Then I turned around and positioned the vehicle so he could safely get into the cab of his truck. As I drove away the sow was starting to walk up the hill to the west.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Nathaniel Ashbey responded to the truck drivers report of the incident. The yearling bear, after being struck, apparently tore loose the trucks air system. Ashbey said the driver told him the sow might still be around, so he quickly documented the scene but never saw the mother grizzly.

The dead yearling was picked up by Montana Department of Transportation workers and given to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Bozeman.

It's been bad news for bears recently. Along the same Gallatin Canyon highway, farther south where it cuts through a corner of Yellowstone, two black bears were struck and killed by vehicles two days after the incident Reeves witnessed. On May 1, a dead grizzly bear was found along the North Fork highway between Cody, Wyoming, and Yellowstones East Entrance. The bear had been shot by a hunter who later turned himself in.

Reeves said there had been sightings of the grizzly sow and yearling in the busy Gallatin River Canyon prior to the accident. A Big Sky photographer said he saw the sow and yearling before the accident close to the highway, crossing the road a couple of times before wandering off into the adjoining forest.

As a professional photographer, Reeves also guides tourists to see bears in Yellowstone after they come out of hibernation and eagerly seek their first meals, making them more visible.

Thirty years ago, when grizzly bears were scarce, Reeves said his employer might see 10 bears in the entire summer. Now, Reeves will see 10 to 20 bears on a good day.
With one week remaining before a high-profile climate change trial kicks off in Helena, Attorney General Austin Knudsen is asking the Montana Supreme Court to step in and send the case back to the drawing board.

Knudsen, a Republican, filed the writ of supervisory control Monday morning, asking the high court to vacate the two-week trial, scheduled to begin June 12 in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Knudsen argues the lawsuit, filed in 2020 by 16 youth plaintiffs represented by Our Childrens Trust, challenges a state law that has since been rewritten enough to warrant a new case.

Two weeks ago, district court Judge Kathy Seeley tossed out one of the plaintiffs claims, which challenged the states energy policy. Because that statute was repealed by the Legislature in 2023, she concluded, there was no legal remedy available to that portion of the lawsuit.

But Seeley is allowing the remaining portion of the case to move forward to trial. The lawsuit challenges the Montana Environmental Policy Acts provision barring state agencies from considering the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change and its effects on Montana.

The Legislature also tinkered with that law during the session that wrapped up earlier this year. The Republican-dominated body didnt repeal it, but instead rewrote portions of it to more explicitly forbid the state from evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate in the state or beyond its borders. Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed those changes into law on May 10.

Knudsen, who is named alongside the state, governor and several agencies in the lawsuit, has maintained thats enough to get the lawsuit tossed out.

There is nothing left to try, and this court should step in to prevent a massive expenditure of wasted time and resources by all concerned, the writ states.

In her May 23 order, Seeley wrote that if the plaintiffs succeed at trial, she could potentially find the language barring the state from considering the impacts of climate-disrupting emissions unconstitutional. But Knudsen wrote that the state would still have no authority to regulate those emissions. That authority exists elsewhere, he argues.

If the district courts intent is to force Montana to regulate (greenhouse gases), that would require amending the Clean Air Act or one of the other permitting statutes, he wrote.

If it goes forward as scheduled next week, the trial will give the plaintiffs a chance to show whether the Montana Constitutions guarantee of the right to a clean and healthful environment requires the state to consider the effects of climate change on its residents. They argue that the state governments support for the extraction and burning of fossil fuels is at odds with that constitutional guarantee.
A proposal to build a $39 million hospital in Hanover County has hit a roadblock.

The state health department has recommended denying the project, and the health system that wants to build it, HCA Healthcare, has tweaked its proposal.

If the hospital is not approved, HCA wants to build a freestanding emergency room in the same location.

The areas two competing health systems, Bon Secours and Virginia Commonwealth University Health, oppose the hospitals construction, saying HCA has not demonstrated a need for it. New hospitals must be approved by the state health commissioner in order to receive a Certificate of Public Need.

Earlier this year, HCA proposed building a 60-bed hospital in Hanover. Though it is being called Ashland Hospital, the facility would be on Sliding Hill Road near Interstate 95, a few miles south of Ashland.

A new hospital would better serve patients of Henrico Doctors Hospital, who sometimes travel 30 minutes or more from Hanover and locations farther north, HCA said. Traffic on Interstate 95 slows them down, and they would benefit from a closer facility.

Im acutely aware of how minutes matter, said Dr. Debra Vinton, an emergency room physician and medical director at HCA, noting how a stroke victim suffers unrecoverable brain loss every minute without treatment.

The proposal won the approval of Hanover Countys board of supervisors, insurer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and other physician groups.

But VCU and Bon Secours opposed the project, saying HCA never claimed there was a need for a new hospital and never claimed its current hospitals were overflowing. The state health department sided with VCU Health and Bon Secours, recommending the project be denied.

So HCA crafted a new proposal  a freestanding emergency room at the same location in the event that the hospital is rejected. HCA does not need state approval to build a freestanding ER, but it does need permission to place a CT scanner or MRI machine in the facility.

HCA said it could open the freestanding ER now and a full hospital on the 39-acre plot later as Hanover continues to grow.

The state health department will issue a recommendation on the new proposal in July, said Erik Bodin, who oversees the states Certificate of Public Need program. The state health commissioner, Dr. Karen Shelton, will make a ruling after that.

Hanover County still needs to rezone the land and plans to hold public hearings before doing so.

There is already one freestanding ER owned by HCA in Hanover  the Hanover Emergency Center, about 5 miles southeast of the proposed hospital location. Ryan Stuhlreyer, a vice president for Bon Secours, said there is no need for two HCA emergency rooms so close to one another.

HCA is not the only health system that wants to build in Hanover County. Bon Secours plans to build a freestanding ER of its own farther north on Lewistown Road. It needs state approval to place a CT scanner or MRI machine there.

HCA called Bon Secours plan for a freestanding ER a clear reaction to HCAs own plan for a hospital.
The proposed 7,500-person amphitheater at Tredegar Iron Works along the James River could soon become a reality as the project makes its way through the Richmond City Council.

The Organizational Development Committee offered its latest seal of approval and unanimously recommended the project at its Monday afternoon meeting. The project now goes to the full council for a vote.

According to Leonard Sledge, the citys economic development director, the $30 million project will sit on 4 acres of a 9-acre parcel on the hillside next to the American Civil War Museum and will house fixed seats, lawn seats and a stage as well as concessions.

Quite frankly, this is the type of economic uplift that a post-COVID downtown needs, Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch said. We dont have many tools in our toolbox in the city, and we are getting a really great investment that we dont have to spend a dime of city general fund revenue.

The property is owned by NewMarket Corp., which plans to lease the site to Red Light Ventures, the entity that will manage the facility.

After the committee vote, the proposal will go before the council for a final vote. If it receives the go-ahead, Red Light Ventures anticipates breaking ground this year and hosting its first show in spring 2025 for up to 7,500 people. The group also expects the facility to host an average 25 to 35 performances annually.

It can be a great asset to all the good momentum that you have in Richmond going on right now and all the goals that I feel yall have on the riverfront there, said Coran Capshaw, Red Light Ventures founder. Well be a good neighbor to the community and a good asset that yall can be proud of.

The project is in line with the Richmond 300 master plan that serves as the citys roadmap for development. The city anticipates the project will increase tourism, bring in tax revenue and promote riverfront activities, Sledge said.

The decision did not come without pushback, however, as several people came forward to share their concerns regarding noise, parking spaces and environmental impact.

Among them was Clay Mountcastle, director of the Virginia War Memorial, who pushed for the city to continue the proposal in order to address how it will affect the museum that also offers events.

The impact of this amphitheater will be very big on the Virginia War Memorial. So all were asking for is time, Mountcastle said.

According to the planning department, the locations current zoning does not require parking, and the city has found, through various events at Browns Isle, that it will manage. The project has also agreed to meet various decibel and noise restrictions.

The project is set to go before the City Council at its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. Before making a final decision, the council will hear from residents during a public comment period.

Close In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents  who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal  had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians  including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell  among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. 29 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the schools 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames. In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents  who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal  had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday. In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond. In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities. In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons. This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city. In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmonds Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm. In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname candy striper came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers. In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the states Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition. In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmonds Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children. In April 1979, the St. Marys Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital. In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was Little Joe Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964. In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute. In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Warings Pleasure Time radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in Nanny and the Professor, Room 222 and the Benji movie series. In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Pettys car hit Dale Earnhardts, with Petty getting the worst of it. In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived. In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia. In June 1941, Patrick Henrys Give me liberty or give me death speech was re-enacted at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741. In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond. In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a Welcome to Richmond sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people. This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally. In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft. In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican. In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line. In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farms owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido. In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scoutings growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year. In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians  including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell  among the more than 3,500 attendees that year. In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp. In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road.
Remembering D-Day: Key facts and figures about epochal World War II invasion

The D-Day invasion that helped change the course of World War II was unprecedented in scale and audacity. As veterans and world dignitaries commemorate the 79th anniversary of the operation, heres a look at some details about what happened:

WHO TOOK PART

Nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Of those, 73,000 were from the United States, 83,000 from Britain and Canada. Forces from several other countries were also involved, including French troops fighting with Gen. Charles de Gaulle against the Nazi occupation.

They faced around 50,000 German forces.

More than 2 million Allied soldiers, sailors, pilots, medics and other people from a dozen countries were involved in the overall Operation Overlord, the battle to wrest western France from Nazi control that started on D-Day.

WHERE AND WHEN

The sea landings started at 6:30 a.m. local time, just after dawn, targeting five code-named beaches, one after the other: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword, Juno.

The operation also included actions inland, including overnight parachute landings on strategic German sites and U.S. Army Rangers scaling cliffs to take out German gun positions.

Around 11,000 Allied aircraft, 7,000 ships and boats, and thousands of other vehicles were involved in the invasion.

VICTIMS ON ALL SIDES

A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.

In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded. The battle  and especially Allied bombings of French villages and cities  killed around 20,000 French civilians.

The exact German casualties aren't known, but historians estimate between 4,000 and 9,000 men were killed, wounded or missing during the D-Day invasion alone. About 22,000 German soldiers are among the many buried around Normandy.

SURVIVORS

A few thousand D-Day veterans may be still alive; the youngest are in their late 90s. A few dozen are in Normandy for the 79th anniversary. Charity organizations and local French residents helped organize their trip back to the beaches of D-Day, including providing travel and housing to ensure they could make the journey.

Next year, world leaders are expected for major commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the invasion.
Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent and Virginia resident who took more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Moscow in one of the most notorious spying cases in American history, died in prison Monday. The death came 22 years after he was arrested in a Fairfax County park.

Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, and later pronounced dead, prison officials said. He is believed to have died of natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of Hanssens death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole since 2002, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges.

Hanssen had divulged a wealth of information about American intelligence gathering, including extensive details about how U.S. officials had tapped into Russian spy operations, since at least 1985.

He was believed to have been partly responsible for the deaths of at least three Soviet officers who were working for U.S. intelligence and were executed after being exposed.

He got more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, diamonds and Rolex watches in exchange for providing highly classified national security information to the Soviet Union and later Russia.

He did not adopt an obviously lavish lifestyle, instead living in a modest suburban home in Vienna with his family of six children and driving a Taurus and a minivan.

Hanssen would later say he was motivated by money rather than ideology, but a letter written to his Soviet handlers in 1985 explains a large payoff could have caused complications because he could not spend it without setting off warning bells.

Using the alias Ramon Garcia, he passed some 6,000 documents and 26 computer disks to his handlers, authorities said. They detailed eavesdropping techniques, helped to confirm the identity of Russian double agents, and spilled other secrets. Officials also believed he tipped off Moscow to a secret tunnel the Americans built under the Soviet Embassy in Washington for eavesdropping.

He went undetected for years, but later investigations found missed red flags. After he became the focus of a hunt for a Russian mole, Hanssen was caught taping a garbage bag full of secrets to the underside of a footbridge in Foxstone Park near his home in a dead drop for Russian handlers.

The story was made into a movie titled Breach in 2007, staring Chris Cooper as Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe as a young bureau operative who helps bring him down.

The FBI has been notified of Hanssens death, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
Over 500 stalls burned in massive Acapulco Central Market fire

Acapulco, Guerrero  More than 500 market stalls were burned beyond saving in a massive blaze in the seaport city of Acapulco. The fire happened around 1:00 a.m. Monday in the Central Market of Acapulco.

Acapulco Mayor Abelina Lopez Rodriguez reported that authorities were working in coordination to attend to the emergency. At last count, more than 570 market stalls were affected by the large blocks-long fire.

The Acapulco Fire Department, with support from the Government of Guerrero, the Navy, Sedena and the National Guard, worked until 4:00 a.m. to control the massive blaze that happened along 2 de Agosto Street.

Hundreds of market stalls burned in the blocks-long fire. Photo: RTG Noticias June 5, 2023.

More than 11,000 square meters of market caught fire. Stalls in other areas of the Central Market located along Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, Feliciano Radilla and Constituyentes Streets were also affected.

There were no reports of people injured. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Pair found with bags of cocaine products jailed in Cozumel

Cozumel, Q.R.  Two people who were seen handling bags of narcotics on a Cozumel street landed themselves in jail. On Sunday, elements of the Municipal Police arrested two people who were transporting various prohibited substances and cash.

They were spotted by officers at 2:14 a.m. on 12th Street between 23 and 21 of the San Miguel II neighborhood. It was the woman police saw handeling bags of cocaine powder as she handed them to the male she was with.

A failed attempt to flee the area when they saw police lead to a search. Arresting officers reported finding more than 20 bags of various cocaine products along with

of 6,739 pesos and $53 US dollars.

Jailed was a 36-year-old woman and her 28-year-old male companion.
Three more CFE trucks being held as collateral until power issues resolved

Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R.  More residents of Jose Maria Morelos have retained three additional CFE vehicles. The federal trucks are being held as collateral until the towns electrical issues are resolved.

The vehicles were seized by upset residents after staff arrived in the trucks arrived to review the issues. Since the matter was not resolved, residents refused to allow the trucks to leave until CFE personnel fix the problem.

Last week, residents of Plan de la Noria Poniente kept a CFE truck as insurance. Area residents say they are tired of the ongoing electrical problems and will give the truck back once service is improved.

It is the fourth Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) vehicle to be held by angry residents in two weeks.

Last month, dozens of area residents protested along the highway due to the ongoing blackouts that they say happen near daily and lasts for hours at a time.
Three suspects detained in Veracruz in PDC shooting death of Italian woman

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Three suspects have been detained in the fatal shooting of an Italian woman in Playa del Carmen. On Monday, Oscar Montes de Oca, head of the Quintana Roo FGE, reported the arrests of the three men in Veracruz.

He made the announcement during his regular Monday morning press conference. According to Montes de Oca, the three men were taken into custody as persons of interest in the targeted May 30 shooting of 40-year-old Ornella S.

The shooting happened in the morning inside a centrally located Playa del Carmen cafe. Ornella S was shot and killed by a gunman who fled on a motorcycle. The motorcycle was located later that same day, but not the shooter.

The cafe where the shooting took place was shut by authorities. Photo: FGE May 30, 2023.

He also clarified that police do not believe the shooting was extortion related. It has been ruled out that it was due to extortion. It is a fact related to her individual, personal work or patrimonial context since from what we have investigated it was a direct attack.

Three men believed involved in the murder have been detained in Veracruz.

Montes de Oca said that along with the three arrests, one vehicle was seized. The men were taken into custody by Veracruz authorities who are expected to hand them over to Quintana Roo police in coming days.
A new Freedom House report on Free, Partly Free, and Not Free countries is out, and liberty appears to be on the decline. Yet there is still hope that 2023 can turn out to be a turning point toward greater liberty and democracy, one country at a time.

For those of us old enough to have grown up during the Cold War, 1989 stood out as the eras transformational miracle year. Hungary recognized the 1956 revolutionaries and opened its border with Austria. The Polish communists held a free election, scoring 0 out of 100 seats contested. The Czech politburo resigned, leaving dissident playwright Vaclav Havel to ascend to the presidency. The Berlin Wall fell. And Romanias odious power couple, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, were executed by a drumhead court martial on Christmas Day.

Soon even the Soviet Union was gone, tossed into historys dustbin. It was another Christmas, this one in 1991, when the Soviet flag over the Kremlin was lowered for the last time. What Ronald Reagan had famouslyand accuratelylabeled the Evil Empire was gone. Many terrible memories remained, but tyrannical rule over hundreds of millions of people had been swept away almost entirely peacefully.

The future looked bright. Yet by the mid-2000s, political liberty began a long reverse. The latest Freedom House survey is out and records the 17th straight decline in freedom around the world. The organization explains:

Moscows war of aggression led to devastating human rights atrocities in Ukraine. New coups and other attempts to undermine representative government destabilized Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Peru, and Brazil. Previous years coups and ongoing repression continued to diminish basic liberties in Guinea and constrain those in Turkey, Myanmar, and Thailand, among others. Two countries suffered downgrades in their overall freedom status: Peru moved from Free to Partly Free, and Burkina Faso moved from Partly Free to Not Free.

From the American standpoint, the greatest disappointment may be the number of U.S. allies and partners, as the phrase goes, that are long-time dictatorships or declining democracies. The previously mentioned Thailand and Turkey are nowhere near the worst. Saudi Arabia remains a bottom dweller, rated lower than Russia, Iran, and even China. The Mideast is filled with other brutal friends, including Egypt, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates. The problem is not so much hypocrisy, which is a diplomatic constant, but sanctimony, as U.S. officials engage in moral preening around the globe.

Amid an otherwise disheartening deterioration, Freedom House notes some good news. The rate of decline has slowed, as the gap between gains and losses was the smallest in 17 years: Thirty-four countries made improvements, and the tally of countries with declines, at 35, was the smallest recorded since the negative pattern began. (Last year, the numbers were a shocking 25 and 60, respectively.)

Of course, there is still plenty of bad news and the gap could grow again in the future. Over the past two decades, however, the most vulnerable countries may have suffered their worst. Seeming political stabilization, even at a lower level, may increase chances of a democratic revival.

Also important was the continuing resistance to oppression, often at great personal cost and risk. Freedom House contends that ongoing protests against repression in Iran, Cuba, China, and other authoritarian countries suggest that peoples desire for freedom is enduring, and that no setback should be regarded as permanent. In these and other nations, brutal regimes were shaken by strong, even heroic resistance.

Finally, the organization concludes that the most significant positive developments were driven by competitive elections in Latin America and Africa, with politicians and ordinary people in the affected countries reaffirming their commitment to the democratic process. Usually younger generations led the fight for change and against authoritarian rule, unwilling to accept what always has been as what always must be.

The worst setbacks last year reflected wars, most dramatically Russias invasion of Ukraine, with all of the resulting horrors. Indeed, Russias abuses were significant even before invading Ukraine last February. Freedom House points out that Moscows occupation of Crimea and eastern Donbas has entailed a long-standing campaign of forced ethnic change in those Ukrainian territories. Since 2014, many Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians have left the regions, driven not only by political persecution and the violence of war but also by overt policies of Russification. The Putin government has extended many of these policies to new lands occupied over the past 14-plus months.

Another terrible tragedy was Ethiopia: The ongoing civil conflict centered on the northern Tigray region has resulted in, among other abuses, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes on the basis of their ethnicity.

Alas, nominal peace can be as bad as war for residents, especially when ideologues untethered to reality take control. For instance, Afghanistans situation has continued to deteriorate: Since overthrowing Afghanistans elected government in 2021, the Taliban have presided over a catastrophic economic collapse, a surge in hunger and poverty, and mass emigration. Rather than taking steps that would reduce its international isolation, however, the regime has moved in the opposite direction.

Another source of tyranny is coups, overt in Burkina Faso and self-directed in Peru last year. Earlier military takeovers, most notably in Burma/Myanmar, Guinea, and Thailand, continued to undermine democratic freedoms. In Burma the military completely dismantled the limited democratic institutions it had established a decade before. And President Recep Tayyip Erdogan still used Turkeys attempted coup of 2016 as a justification for his slow march to dictatorship.

Elected officials also often undermined the very democratic processes that brought them to power. Ostentatiously abusing their power to fulfill grand, autocratic visions at their peoples expense were leaders of Brazil, El Salvador, Hungary, and Tunisia. Some, such as Brazils Jair Bolsonaro, largely backed down from their abusive rhetoric. In contrast, in Tunisia, President Kais Saied appears headed toward a full scale dictatorship, with widespread arrests of political critics and opponents.

One unsettling change, notes Freedom House, is that it has become more difficult to consolidate nascent democratic institutions in recent decades. More and more countries have remained Partly Free instead of moving toward full democratization. Too many have become stuck, lacking critical values, practices, and institutions.

The transition away from autocracy is a key moment. Countries such as South Korea and Taiwan evolved from dictatorships into vibrant, sometimes tempestuous democracies. Advocates of liberal societies need to identify how to help newly democratic systems deepen their popular legitimacy and institutional foundations.

Freedom House hopes that 2023 will turn out to be a turning point toward greater liberty and democracy. However, the battle for a better, freer future may be one of years and decades. As Freedom House itself acknowledges: In 1973, when Freedom House published its first comprehensive assessment of political rights and civil liberties, only 44 of 148 countries were classified as Free. Today, 84 of 195 countries are Free. The varied paths that these countries followed show there is no single method for improving or protecting political rights and civil liberties.

In the mid-1980s there were almost equal numbers of Free, Partly Free, and Not Free nations. The events surrounding 1989 freed hundreds of millions of people in one go. Today we face the tougher task of advancing liberty one people and country at a time, starting with our own. And having achieved a freer society, we must never take its fruits for granted.
You may recall the story about the missing safe-deposit box at Wells Fargos Tanglewood branch. It was rented by Sally Gravely of Roanoke, sister of Archer Twig Gravely III. She died Dec. 30. The contents of her box have been missing since March, and perhaps longer.

Turns out, theres another missing box at the same Wells Fargo branch. It was leased by a Roanoke County woman named Janet Neighbors. She died in 2018. Her son, David Peters, said there are eerie similarities between what happened to Gravelys box and his moms.

Twig Gravely could not find his sisters safe-deposit key after her death. Eventually, he secured a court order appointing him administrator of Sallys estate. Subsequently, he and the bank set an appointment back in mid-March to have a locksmith drill the box.

When that day and time came, Gravely, the locksmith and some bank personnel found the box had already been drilled.

It was empty, and the bank employees told Gravely they had no idea what had happened to the contents. They could not tell Gravely when it had been previously drilled, or by whom. He said bank personnel told him the bank has no records relating to the earlier drilling.

That seems odd, because such activity is closely regulated by Virginia law.

Anyway, I raised Gravelys concerns with a spokesman for Wells Fargo, Kenrick Thomas. And since then, Gravely received yet another form letter from the banks Enterprise Complaints Management Office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Laura E. was the signature.

Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. We know this needs our attention, and were looking into it for you. Well respond within 10 business days from the date you contacted us. If we need more time to research and respond to you, well let you know.

Reading about Gravelys case gave David Peters of Buchanan a feeling of deja vu. The contents of his mothers Wells Fargo safe-deposit box at the same branch disappeared mysteriously, too.

Janet Neighbors had worked as a purchasing agent for a paint and varnish company in Roanokes Norwich neighborhood. She lived in the Bonsack area of eastern Roanoke County and was 77 when she died nearly five years ago.

Neighbors was divorced, and Peters is her only offspring. He said her will named him executor of her estate.

It took him more than a year after Neighbors passing to locate her safe-deposit box keys, to box No. 3645. He took the keys to Wells Fargos Tanglewood branch in late 2019 or early 2020, Peters said. He cant recall the exact date.

We went back in the vault, and the door to her box was already open, Peters said. There wasnt even a box in there.

The lock had already been drilled, as was the case with Gravelys sisters box. Peters said the branch personnel could not explain that. A representative named Amanda helped him file a complaint, and furnished him with an 18-digit complaint number.

He later received a letter from Wells Fargo in Sioux Falls, saying the bank was investigating.

I called a few times, and they would say, Oh, were still looking. He mostly forgot about the matter until this past fall.

Nearly two years passed. Then on Oct. 31, 2022, Wells Fargo sent a letter to Janet Neighbors at Peters address in Buchanan.

Dear Janet W. Neighbors, it began. We want to let you know your annual payment for your safe-deposit box* is now past due. To ensure you have continued access to your box, please make your payment right away.

The asterisk seemed to indicate box rental details printed at the bottom of the letter. Those identified the bank branch as Tanglewood and the box by its number.

The letter said $10 was overdue on the boxs lease, which cost $40 annually. Wells Fargo sent another letter at the end of November. The second letter was the same as the first, except that it noted Neighbors was $20 in arrears on the box rental. The term of the lease was specified as Sept. 29, 2022 through Sept. 29, 2023.

Peters called Wells Fargo and asked why they were sending him bills for a safe-deposit box that had mysteriously disappeared at least two years ago. And on Feb. 20, 2023, Wells Fargos Enterprise Complaints Management Office sent him an unsigned letter offering to help.

He hasnt heard from them since.

Peters said his mother had told him she had a cache of silver dollars in her safe-deposit box.

Peters believes the box once held about 30 of the coins. Its hard to fix a precise value on them without the mint dates and the coins conditions.

One reader I heard from regarding this issue was Connie Stanley, who worked in Roanoke Valley banks for 43 years, initially at First Virginia Bank and later at Valley Bank, where she was chief of retail banking.

In an email, Stanley said that when she was still working Safe Deposit procedures were the most closely and frequently audited area of the Branch. Heads would roll if significant errors were found in an audit. We later talked on the phone.

She also sent me a link to Virginia Code Chapter 23, which is titled Safe Deposit Boxes. It goes on for nearly 2,700 words and is quite detailed.

Among other things, it sets standards for access to boxes by leaseholders and their survivors.

It says that when rental fees for safe-deposit boxes are more than one year past due, a bank must notify the lessee of the outstanding bill. If theres no reply after 60 days, the bank can open the box and inventory the contents in the presence of a notary public who is employed by the bank.

At that point, the contents are supposed to be packaged and sealed by the notary public, and placed in a general vault or box at the branch. And the branch is supposed to send the boxholder a certificate attesting that the box had been opened.

Under the law, the bank must safeguard the contents for two years, during which the leaseholder or survivors may claim them. At the end of that, the law allows the bank to sell the contents, provided it first notifies the lessee in writing, via Certified Mail, return receipt requested.

Neither Gravely nor Peters have received any correspondence like that, they said.

Neither Gravely nor Peters have received any correspondence like that, they said.

I contacted Wells Fargo about Peters case Monday.

We are conducting a review, and will be communicating directly with Mr. Gravely and Mr. Peters about their respective matters, said bank spokesman Kenrick P. Thomas.

The letter Wells Fargo sent Peters in February asked for documentation that he was the administrator of his mothers estate. Peters told me he shared those documents with the bank years ago, when he took the keys there to open his moms box, which by then was open and empty. He said hell send them copies by mail, but wonders what good that could do.

Stanley also suggested both men file complaints with the State Corporation Commission in Richmond, which regulates banks and other financial institutions in Virginia.

The SCC is the best way to get [Wells Fargos] attention, Stanley said.
A woman who removed a child from her foster familys care, then later brought the same girl and another juvenile to Pulaski County  where a man is accused of sexually abusing them  was sentenced Monday to 12 months in jail.

Melissa Dawn Trainer, 47, of Pulaski was in court for a second set of charges stemming from the incidents. At a hearing in Pulaski County General District Court, she was found guilty of making a false statement to a law enforcement officer.

Mondays conviction and sentence came almost a month after Trainer was found guilty in the countys Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of two counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors and was also sentenced to serve 12 months.

Defense attorney Robert Canard of Christiansburg noted that it was unusual for someone like Trainer, with no prior convictions, to receive the maximum penalty after being found guilty of a misdemeanor. But Judge Erin DeHart said the punishment was warranted.

According to testimony from county sheriffs office Investigator Rose Ellis, on Oct. 13 Trainer gave a ride to a girl after Pulaski County High School dismissed and kept her overnight. The girl was supposed to be with a foster family, Ellis said.

Ellis said that she had known Trainer from prior investigations. After the girl was reported missing, Ellis said, she called Trainer and asked if Trainer knew the girls whereabouts. Trainer said no. The next day, Ellis said, Trainer admitted that the girl was with her and that she had taken her from the school.

Similarly, on March 20, Trainer picked up the same girl and another juvenile in Franklin County and brought them to Pulaski County. Ellis said that she again contacted Trainer, who initially denied transporting the minors, but did tell the investigator that they were at a house on Thaxton Road, in the company of Thomas Anthony Morris.

Morris has been charged with rape, sexual penetration, abduction and indecent acts with a child, with a grand jury scheduled to consider next month if he should be tried in the countys circuit court.

On Monday, Trainer initially faced three obstruction of justice charges but Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Dina Branco asked DeHart to drop one of the counts, and amended the other two to making false statements to an officer.

Canard argued that Trainers denials were made to avoid implicating herself, and that she essentially had a right to lie all day long in those circumstances. He asked DeHart to dismiss both false statement charges.

After some discussion about Ellis investigation and questioning of Trainer, DeHart said that she agreed with Canards point about the second incident.

Trainer told Ellis where the girls were  which was the relevant point  and her initial denial of bringing them from Franklin County was inconsequential to locating the juveniles, the judge said, then dismissed one of the false statement charges.

But in the first incident, when Trainer denied that she knew the missing juveniles location and kept the girl away from her foster family, was a consequence DeHart called quite serious. That action went directly against what a court had decided was the childs best interest, the judge said.
A black bear skull and a pair of turkey eyeballs were at the center of an unusual court case Tuesday in Montgomery County  but the confusion surrounding the sale of such items is all too common, a conservation police officer said.

Edgar Leon Miller Jr., 64, of Christiansburg was charged last year with selling wild game after police were tipped that the animal parts were among the knickknacks displayed in Millers booth at Cambria Station Antiques. In December, investigators visited Millers booth and found the skull and eyeballs  the latter in a liquid-filled jar, according to a search warrant.

Officers made a controlled buy of the bear skull, paying $315.89 for it.

In Montgomery County General District Court, Miller resolved the charge without a conviction. Under an agreement presented by Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nic Lauer and defense attorney Dennis Nagel of Christiansburg, Millers charge was taken under advisement. It was to be dismissed as soon as he repaid the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources the money for the skull, and paid his court costs.

Miller paid the money immediately after Judge Randal Duncan approved the agreement.

Nagel said before the hearing that Miller bought the bear skull from a New York-based taxidermy website without realizing that it would be illegal to re-sell it in Virginia. Nagel did not recall where the turkey eyeballs came from.

Outside the courtroom, Ron Wood, an officer of the state wildlife agency, said that people often do not realize they are doing anything wrong when they sell products made from wild animal parts.

The law is very convoluted, Wood said. The broad generalization is that it is unlawful to commercialize Virginias wildlife.

Yet there are numerous exceptions, including allowances for the sale of items made from deer antlers, or from feathers and fur of lawfully hunted animals, Wood said.

Another point that may be misunderstood is that it is lawful to possess many of these items but not to sell them, Wood added. So venison can be donated or otherwise given as gifts, but not sold, he said.

When someone is charged with selling wildlife parts, the punishment depends on the value of the sale. If it is under $1,000, such as Millers bear skull, the crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Higher-valued sales are felonies that could bring up to five years in prison.

Wood invited anyone with questions about wildlife sales or related issues to call the departments regional office at (276) 783-4860.

We understand  that the nuances of our laws arent dealt with too often, Wood said. We love to answer those questions and point people in the right direction.
Environmentalists are frustrated that President Joe Biden agreed to greenlight the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, or MVP, as part of the bipartisan deal that resolved the debt ceiling standoff. But by the time the deal was announced, a new decision authored by Justice Samuel Alito had already made it far harder for environmentalists to raise concerns about projects like the MVP.

In light of that legal development, it might have been an understandable concession for Biden to offer. After all, it was one that had been partially lost in litigation just a week earlier.

On May 25, the Supreme Court dropped a bombshell with its majority opinion in Sackett v. EPA, a Clean Water Act case considering whether wetlands 300 feet from Priest Lake, Idaho, should be considered adjacent to the lake and thus protected as part of the waters of the United States.

In tackling this question, the court was not writing on a blank slate. Congress, in 1977, had explicitly directed that at least some wetlands adjacent thereto should be preserved to restore the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nations waters.

And eight straight U.S. presidents  from Carter through Biden and even including former President Trump  had agreed that wetlands that do not physically abut a navigable water  those separated from a lake by a berm or road, for example  could still qualify as adjacent and be covered under federal law.

This consensus between Congress and the Executive was no surprise. As a brief filed by the American Fisheries Society and other scientific organizations explained, wetlands play an essential role in filtering pollutants to improve our water quality. They also act like sponges, absorbing water to limit flooding after storms and recharging aquifers during times of drought.

Yet shockingly, Justice Alitos opinion on behalf of a five-justice majority rejected even the narrowest definition of wetlands adjacent thereto that the other two co-equal branches of government had never disputed in 45 years of Clean Water Act enforcement.

In the Supreme Courts view, wetlands are now only adjacent if they maintain a continuous surface connection to a navigable waterway so that they are indistinguishable from those waters. This represents a dramatic and unprecedented retreat from protections afforded by the Clean Water Act for half a century. Sackett is therefore a massively important Clean Water Act case.

But it is much more than that. This is because the courts anti-regulatory rollback will ripple out to affect other holistic environmental laws, like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. Reviews under those statutes are often only triggered by a jurisdictional determination on adjacent wetlands under the Clean Water Act.

Bad projects can be nipped in the bud if regulators find unacceptably harmful impacts to federally protected resources. Yet those impacts might never be evaluated if a developer does not need a Clean Water Act permit to begin with.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a proposed methane-gas project that represents a troubling expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure at a time when we need to speed the transition to zero-carbon energy alternatives. The MVP has also drawn objections because it would extend roughly 300 miles through Appalachia and cross hundreds of wetlands and streams along the way.

But if those wetlands lose Clean Water Act safeguards after Sackett  and it seems that many of them will  then there would be fewer opportunities to raise environmental, climate-related, and other public-interest concerns under other federal laws.

Perhaps President Biden, in acceding to Speaker McCarthys request to guarantee approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, surmised that he was giving away something that the Sackett decision had already taken.
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" " Tsar Bomba, the largest and most powerful nuclear bomb ever created, shown here in a photo from the Russian Atomic Weapon Museum in Sarov, was detonated in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in October 1961. TASS/Getty Images

On Oct. 30, 1961, a specially equipped Soviet Tu-95 bomber flew toward Novaya Zemlya, a remote chain of islands in the Arctic Ocean. It was a site that the Soviet Union frequently used for nuclear tests. It was accompanied by a smaller plane equipped with a movie camera and instruments for monitoring air samples and nuclear fallout.

But this wasn't just a routine nuclear test. Attached to the underside of the plane was a thermonuclear bomb that was so big it wouldn't fit inside the normal interior bomb bay. The cylindrical device was 26 feet (8 meters) long and weighed nearly 59,525 pounds (27 metric tons).

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The nuclear bomb had the prosaic official name of izdeliye 602 ("item 602"), but it's gone down in history with the nickname of Tsar Bomba  the Russian way of calling it the emperor of nuclear bombs.

That name was no exaggeration. Tsar Bomba's yield is estimated to have been roughly 57 megatons, about 1,500 times the combined power of the atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

On that day in 1961, it was released on a parachute in order to slow its descent and give the bomber and its crew and observer planes time to escape.

When the giant bomb finally detonated about 13,000 feet (4 kilometers) over its target, the blast was so powerful that it destroyed everything within a nearly 22-mile (35-kilometer) radius, and generated a mushroom cloud that towered nearly 200,000 feet (60 kilometers).

In Soviet towns 100 miles (160 kilometers) from ground zero, wooden houses were destroyed, and brick and stone structures suffered damage.

After being largely forgotten for many years, Tsar Bomba was back in the news in August 2020, when Russian state nuclear power company Rosatom posted on YouTube a vintage film that showed an aerial view of the explosion and the towering mushroom cloud it created.

A Soviet cameraman who recorded the event described the bomb as creating "a powerful flash over the horizon and after a long period of time he heard a remote, indistinct and heavy blow, as if the Earth has been killed." The blast was so powerful that its shock wave caused the release plane to immediately drop 3,281 feet (1 kilometer) in altitude, though the pilot regained control and got the plane back to its base safely.
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The Many Faces of Inspiration
 A long-form account of one small part of modern stories about compassionate release for dying federal prisoners | Main | Missouri completes execution of man who murdered two jail guards back in the year 2000 

June 6, 2023

Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth reporting that "1,000 individuals who were sentenced to life in prison as children are now free"

I received an email this morning from The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) reporting in this way on what seems like a notable resentencing milestone:

As of June 6, 2023, weve reached an incredible milestone: 1,000 individuals who were sentenced to life in prison as children are now FREE! Since 2009, we have been fighting alongside family members, formerly incarcerated individuals, survivors of violence, lawyers, legislators, and advocates to reach this landmark. Today, we celebrate alongside each of you and affirm once again that No Child Is Born Bad.

The CFSY website also provides these notable particulars on the freed group:

What do you know about these 1000 individuals who were told as children they would die in prison serving life without parole and are now free? Their recidivism rates are exceedingly low, while the time they served is exceedingly high.... RECIDIVISM RATES OF FORMER JUVENILE LIFERS ARE EXTREMELY LOW: BETWEEN 0 AND 2%. A study in Louisiana found the recidivism rate of those who were sentenced to juvenile life without parole to be 0% while a study in Pennsylvania found it to be 1.14%. the national recidivism rate is reported to be between 40% and 68%. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF YEARS THESE 1000 FORMER JUVENILE LIFERS SERVED IS EXTREMELY HIGH: 30 YEARS. The median time served for homicide in the U.S. is 17 years according to statistics from the federal bureau of justice  up from less than six years before the year 2000. THE AVERAGE AGE UPON RELEASE: 47 YEARS OLD. While teenagers are more prone to break the law, most who commit serious crimes mature out of a tendency to break laws around 25 years old, according to criminologists, biological brain researchers, and decades of experience. AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THESE 1000 HAVE A CAPACITY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE: 70%. Over two-thirds of Americans agree that children who receive lengthy sentences should have their sentences reviewed by a judge or parole board after no more than 15 years, with the opportunity for release. This majority holds across race, age, gender, political affiliation, and education. THE LONGEST SERVING AND OLDEST TO BE FREED: JOE LIGON. Locked up at age 15, Joe Ligon became the nations longest-serving juvenile lifer. at 83, he became the oldest to be freed.

June 6, 2023 at 09:57 AM | Permalink

Comments

Ha ha. "The median time served for homicide in the U.S. is 17 years according to statistics from the federal bureau of justice  up from less than six years before the year 2000."

Homicide ain't murder. Why do these people insist on trying to deceive? What other nonsense are they foisting on the public?

And the victims stay dead.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 6, 2023 1:36:20 PM

Here is a link to the 2021 BJS document linked by CFSY to support the claim you flag: https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/tssp18.pdf

That document states: "The average time served by state prisoners released in 2018, from their date of initial admission to their date of initial release, was 2.7 years. The median amount of time served (the middle value in the range of time served, with 50% of offenders serving more and 50% serving less) was 1.3 years. By offense type, the median time served was 17.5 years for murder .... "

Posted by: Doug B | Jun 6, 2023 2:43:34 PM

Hmmmm. OK. But there are varying degrees of "murder" also. But the point is well-taken. For the knowing or intentional unlawful killing of a human being, 17.5 years seems way way low. And 50% of people got less. The other misleading point about this that I just thought of is that it really isn't right to look at all murders in US. Should look at states with juvie LWOP, not lenient states like New York.

And the victims stay dead. By the way, I wonder how that Pa. redhead kid who killed the 5 year old is doing.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 6, 2023 3:43:12 PM

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eric-smith-murderer-parole-derrick-robie/

Answered my own question.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 6, 2023 3:46:23 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/02/19/joe-ligon-release/

On Joe Ligon

Posted by: federalist | Jun 6, 2023 4:09:12 PM

Doug, here's one for you--15 years in a cage?

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2020/01/15/lesbian-attorney-biased-man-sentenced-16-years-burning-gay-pride-flag-argued/4444888002/

Does this sentence show that we are not as all-in on freedom as we should be?

Posted by: federalist | Jun 6, 2023 5:56:23 PM

"As of June 6, 2023, weve reached an incredible milestone: 1,000 individuals who were sentenced to life in prison as children are now FREE! Since 2009, we have been fighting alongside family members, formerly incarcerated individuals, survivors of violence, lawyers, legislators, and advocates to reach this landmark. Today, we celebrate alongside each of you and affirm once again that No Child Is Born Bad.

If the cited stats are correct, that's a wonderful result. Congrats to the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jun 6, 2023 8:48:55 PM

federalist: 16 years seems like a very long time imprisoned for burning a flag, though I'd want to know more about his priors to be fully informed. But do you disagree that 16 years is a very long time to be imprisoned for burning a flag?

Posted by: Doug B | Jun 6, 2023 9:19:34 PM

That statistic is misleading, since it only counts people who are released. If one person is released after 17 years, another dies in prison, and a third is executed, it's very misleading to say the average sentence served was 17 years.

I'd also want to know how they count people who are released because they're exonerated, people who were convicted of manslaughter rather than murder (both count as homicide), people who were released after killing multiple people (do they divide the total sentence served by the number of victims?), people who were juveniles when they killed, people who were released because they were terminally ill, and people only guilty of felony murder, e.g. he and his co-conspirator were both unarmed, and a cop killed the co-conspirator.



Posted by: Keith Lynch | Jun 6, 2023 11:12:06 PM

Doug, I don't know. There's a hate crime piece, and I think that hate-crime enhancements for low-level crimes are ok. But I wanted to bring this one to your attention/

Posted by: federalist | Jun 7, 2023 11:07:02 AM

I share your sense, federalist, that hate-crime enhancements are ok even for low-level offenses. Pushing persons down while screaming racial insults at them seems to me a crime worthy of more punishment than just pushing folks down. But 16 years still seem a very long time to imprison someone even for hateful flag burning. And thanks for bringing the interesting case to my attention.

Posted by: Doug B | Jun 7, 2023 2:29:03 PM

I think, honestly, that a hate-crime enhancement has to be more tailored to what actually happened. There's a huge difference between burning a pride flag stolen this way and burning a cross on someone's lawn. Hate crimes can be very pernicious, as they can create a sense in people that they are singled out or targeted for violence. And while people are free to have whatever views they want to have of others, communicating hatred through unlawful in your face/violent means creates a wider circle of victims. Hate crimes are ugly. And sentences should reflect that ugliness. But we also need to be careful that sentencing doesn't become a form of virtue-signaling. I also think that for non-violent crimes with a hate enhancement a look at the age of the offender is appropriate. People can unlearn this crap. And anti-white and anti-Asian violence needs to be treated the same as other hate crimes.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 7, 2023 3:44:56 PM

Doug, federalist,

There is no such thing as a hate crime.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 9, 2023 9:42:10 PM

As I trust you know, Master Tarls, there are lots of laws in lots of states that require or allow enhancing punishments based on the crime's wrongful motives directed at certain groups or individuals. Here is recent accounting of those laws I was able to find: https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/naacp_hate_crime_laws_by_state.pdf

I read your comment, Master Tarls, as reflecting your feeling that these (now very common) criminal laws ought to be repealed. That leads me to consider you a criminal justice reform advocate, at least in this arena.

Posted by: Doug B | Jun 10, 2023 2:44:31 PM

Doug,

In more than one area. For example, civil forfeiture should be scaled back. I dont mind taking the criminals things, but not grandmas car that the criminal was using at the time of the crime. I also believe that the assets should be sold and donated to victim organizations. Letting law enforcement keep it incentivizes forfeiture in borderline cases.

Hate crimes are bogus. They all come from hate and greed and dont need a special enhancement. Judges would already have the ability to give a higher sentence, in most cases, if the details of the crime warrant it.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 10, 2023 3:43:41 PM

Good to hear about your reform recommendations, Master Tarls. Your last sentence --- "Judges would already have the ability to give a higher sentence, in most cases, if the details of the crime warrant it" --- is fundamentally the basis for much of the advocacy against ALL mandatory minimums (MMs) and against lots of other sentence enhancements (eg, the "aggravated identity theft" enhancement just narrowed by SCOTUS, the extreme (especially when stacked) 924(c) gun enhancements).

Bill often couches his support for MMs around the notion that judges cannot and should not be trusted to sentence properly in some settings. I sense the fans of hate crime enhancements largely embrace that notion.

Posted by: Doug B | Jun 11, 2023 10:27:50 AM

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Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican, has joined another multistate lawsuit against Democratic President Joe Biden, this one over the administrations border policies.

Bird also in a news release endorsed Republican-led federal legislation that would make lab-based fentanyl copycats Schedule I drugs.

Iowa is among 22 states to sign onto a letter, initiated by Florida and Virginia, that calls on Congress to pass H.R. 467, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or the HALT Fentanyl Act.

By reclassifying fentanyl copies as Schedule I drugs, they also would become illegal to sell or distribute.

In 2022, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues caused about 66 percent of drug overdose deaths, and fentanyl analogues often are more potent than fentanyl itself, according to the Iowa AGs office.

Criminalizing fentanyl analogues will give law enforcement the tools they need to fight the deadly fentanyl epidemic, crack down on drug dealers, and save lives, Bird said in a news release issued late last week.

Also late last week, Bird joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Biden administrations new immigration asylum rules.

The rules, put in place after the recent expiration of the pandemic-era Title 42, mean federal officials can turn away asylum-seekers who did not meet certain criteria, including migrants who passed through another country to reach the U.S. without applying for asylum there.

Most migrants found violating the policy will be banned from re-entry for five years.

Migrants also can schedule a time to present at an entry port with an app, or prove that it was not possible to use the app due to a language barrier or other obstacle. The states argued those exceptions will allow more migrants to cross the border illegally.

This open border rule turns every state into a border state. It strains our already-overburdened border security and invites an increase of illegal drugs, crime, and human trafficking into our communities, Bird said in a news release. We must take urgent action to secure our border and keep the Biden Administration in check.

The Indiana-led lawsuit includes 19 states.
The free summer food program for low-income students will be available at nearly 500 sites across the state, the Iowa Department of Education announced.

The program was created to help ensure low-income students who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year dont go hungry during the summer, the department said. Students ages 18 and younger will be able to receive free meals at a variety of locations, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries, housing complexes and camps.

Iowans can find summer meal sites at www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids, by texting Food or Comida to 304-304, or by calling any of these numbers: 2-1-1; 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479) for English;

877-8-HAMBRE (877-842-6273) for Spanish.

The program is funded by the federal agriculture department and operated by the state education department.
SIOUX CITY  Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools is holding events for families interested in utilizing the new Students First Educational Savings Accounts and sending their kids to a private school.

The events will allow parents to learn more about Educational Savings Accounts and get assistance in filling out an application.

Were going to help them through the process because its new to them and its new to us, said Bishop Heelan Director of Enrollment Laurie Dougherty.

The state-funded private school financial assistance program was signed into law by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in January. It allows parents to enroll their children in accredited non-public schools and receive an amount equal to the per-pupil funding allocated to public school districts for each eligible child.

Since the program was signed into law, Dougherty said she has spoken to numerous interested families, sometimes as many as 15 families a day.

This is really a wonderful opportunity for a lot of families that need another option, she said. She added that, in her opinion, the state is obligated to educate children, but how that happens should be up to the families.

Dougherty said Bishop Heelan schools have room in every classroom and will be accepting students on a first come, first served basis. She estimates the district will receive around 150-170 new students.

Who knows whats going to happen? We could end up with more, we could end up with less, she said.

John Flanery, Bishop Heelan president, said there is a misconception that all families who send their kids to private schools are well-to-do. He said Bishop Heelan has families on tuition assistance, and who work two or three jobs to be able to send their kids to private school.

He said the ESA is less about recruiting new students, and more about helping current families that have been sacrificing to send their kids to the schools.

This ESA will enable them to be able to breathe a little bit, he said.

Around 400 existing Bishop Heelan families will qualify for the program  around 20 percent of the student population  but Dougherty said a bulk of the people reaching out to her are new families.

For the 2023-24 school year, parents and guardians will receive $7,635. Half of the money will be available to pay tuition and approved expenses for the fall semester and the remaining half will be available for the spring semester.

Bishop Heelans high school 2023-24 full cost will be $9,900, so with the ESA parents would pay $2,265 out of pocket. That amount is payable over 10 months starting in August, Dougherty said.

Bishop Heelans high school 2022-23 full cost was $9,200, Dougherty said. The increase was not due to the Educational Savings Accounts and would have happened whether or not the legislation passed, she said. The tuition increase, she added, was largely due to recruiting and retaining teachers.

This year were giving a 10 percent raise to all of our faculty, Dougherty said. In our 74-year history we have never given more than 2 percent, so this has been really wonderful.

Families at Bishop Heelan pay a variety of different tuition rates, depending on the level of assistance they need, Dougherty said. Around 25 percent of families require significant assistance and around 50 percent require some assistance, she added.

Applications for Students First Education Savings Accounts will be accepted through June 30. Dougherty said if a family is even slightly interested in utilizing the program, they must apply by that date. They can choose to turn down the funding if they decided not to switch to a private school.

The application is easy, Dougherty said. Parents can stop by any of the events and fill out the application with help.

They dont need to bring a W-2 or any other financial information; they just need to know their social security number, legal names of guardians and children, and proof of Iowa residents, she said. It is one application per family, regardless of how many students they have.

I think it might be more challenging to get a Netflix account, Dougherty said.

In 30 minutes, the family can find out if they qualify.

To qualify for the ESA you must:

- Be an Iowa resident;

- Be an incoming kindergartener or;

- Be a transfer student to the schools or;

- Have a family income below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.

At this point in the process, parents and guardians will not be asked to provide a name for an accredited private school. After applications are approved, they will be asked to supply that specific information starting July 15.

Dougherty said the Educational Savings Accounts are not a threat to the public schools. Roughly 4 percent of Iowa students attend private schools, she said.

Public schools will lose out on the per-pupil funding for any student who chooses to utilize the program, but they will get $1,200 in state funding for each student who leaves the public school system, money they wouldnt have otherwise gotten if a student left for a different school.

The money being used for the ESA is also not coming from public school funding  it is a separate pot of money, Flanery said.

The remaining Bishop Heelan sign-up events will take place:

- Wednesday, June 7, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart School, 5010 Military Road;

- Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Michaels School, 4105 Harrison Street;

- Monday, June 12, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament School, 3030 Jackson Street;

- Wednesday, June 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Immaculate Conception School, 3719 Ridge Ave;

- Friday, June 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cathedral Dual Language Academy, 1000 Douglas Street and;

- Monday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nativity School, 4243 Natalia Way.

The ESA program will be phased in over four years until all K-12 students in Iowa will be eligible for roughly $7,600 per year in public funding to put toward private school tuition or other private school expenses.

The program is expected to cost $107 million in the first year and $345 million by 2027 when fully implemented. In total, over the course of four years, the program would cost the state an estimated $879 million.

Parents and guardians can access the application on the Iowa Department of Educations ESA website at educateiowa.gov. The link redirects them to the Students First ESA platform managed by Odyssey. Applications are in English or Spanish.

Tom Barton Journal Des Moines Bureau contributed reporting.
SIOUX CITY  As part of his work with the Sioux City division of the Iowa Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team, Lt. Joe Rodriguez has done extensive, specialized training on how to navigate structure collapses.

Rodriguez said the collapsed Davenport apartment building he and 12 other area personnel had to sift through from Friday morning through Monday was bigger and had significantly more debris than other structures he and his fellow crewmembers have been in.

"There's a lot more rubble. A lot of steel. A lot of perimeters. We had to maintain the safety of our crews and everybody in that situation. We had to wear everything we normally wear plus our respirators and everything that goes with it."

Thirteen total members of the Sioux City branch of Iowa Task Force 1's Search and Rescue Team deployed to Davenport, before about 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, to find and locate three residents of the Davenport apartments which collapsed around 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 28. The deployment came after the Iowa Department of Homeland Security notified the Sioux City team at 3:26 p.m. that their assistance was needed.

Rodriguez said his team, which included members of Sioux City Fire Rescue and crews from surrounding communities, met up with its Cedar Rapids counterpart at 6:30 a.m, Friday morning and then worked a shift from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

"Then the other half of the team relieved us for the night operation. Continuous 24 hour operations," Rodriguez said.

He said the biggest issue with all of the rubble was making sure everyone was safe at all times. According to Rodriguez, the scene had structural engineers monitoring the movement of the building and heavy equipment to remove possible debris in the floors above the rescue teams.

"There were engineers constantly monitoring the building for any shifting in those areas."

On Monday, Jeff Bladel, the Davenport police chief, announced emergency workers had recovered the bodies of Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien from the rubble of the Davenport.

The Quad City Times reported that Colvin Sr. was found Saturday, Ryan Hitchcock was found Sunday and Daniel Prien was found early Monday morning. Families of all three were contacted. Another resident, Quanishia White-Berry, was found on Monday, May 29 and had to have her leg amputated to free her.

"We wanted those families to have that closure ... It was very important for us as a team when we came together" Rodriguez said about the mission. "Now they're able to move on with the grieving process."

During the Monday morning press conference in Davenport, the city's mayor, Mike Matson said officials were "looking into a 911 call which was placed May 27, in which the caller said he had heard the building wall was bulging and could be dangerous" (per the Quad City Times).

Sunday night, Davenport citizens held a candlelight vigil to mourn the victims. At the event, Mike Collier, a cousin of Colvin Sr., prayed people would have the strength to seek justice.

On Friday, a tenant of the Davenport, Mildred Harrington, and a Rijeh Garnett, a resident of a nearby building impacted by the collapse, filed a lawsuit in Scott County against the company that manages the apartment building.

"The suit accuses Davenport Hotel LLC of failing in its responsibility to the plaintiffs in numerous ways, including failing to maintain the building in a reasonably safe condition and failing to warn residents of structural concerns associated with the building," the Quad City Times reported.

On May 31, the Quad City Times reported that about three months before the partial collapse, and again two days before, a masonry company owner said he predicted the Davenport was coming down.
Gov. Jim Pillen on Monday named K.C. Belitz of Columbus, CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, to be the new director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Belitz, who led community development efforts in the Columbus region for 18 years as president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, will fill the vacancy in state government created by the resignation of Tony Goins.

Goins resigned in April following what he described as "false attacks" about a potential conflict of interest tied to his ownership of a Lincoln cigar bar. He had been named economic development director by former Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2019.

Pillen said Belitz will focus on "growing Nebraska" as the state confronts a major workforce shortage that ranges up to 80,000 unfilled jobs.

His position will be "chief bragging officer," the governor said during a news conference at the Capitol.

Belitz can point to Nebraska's "quality of life and incredible workforce," Pillen said, along with its "talented innovators, entrepreneurs and risk-takers" in attracting business development.

The new director understands both rural and urban needs, the governor said.

"This is the time for us to brag about Nebraska," Belitz said.

"And people attraction has to be Job One," he said.

Belitz said the effort "starts with our kids," who Nebraska needs to retain.

Housing and child care will be important factors in attracting and growing the workforce along with the state, he said.

Belitz will assume his new position on July 5.

Pillen also hails from Columbus, where he headed Pillen Family Farms.

Photos: Jim Pillen marks 100 days in governor's office
Two people died Friday night in a head-on collision about 20 miles south of Columbus on U.S. Highway 81.

Viola Peace, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene just east of the village of Shelby, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Jesse Vasquez Espinoza, 42, was flown to a Lincoln hospital, where he died.

Investigators determined that Espinoza, a North Dakota resident, fell asleep while driving a 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck westbound on Highway 81. The pickup veered across the center line and collided with an eastbound 1999 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Peace, a Polk County resident, about 10 p.m.

Sheriff Dwaine Ladwig said both drivers were trapped inside their vehicles and had to be extricated. Espinoza was wearing his seat belt, but Peace was not, he said.

Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry
In the spring of 2020, the earliest days and weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, our community experienced many creative acts of kindness and caring. I remember being surprised and delighted by the dozens of colorful yard signs that appeared one morning on Country Club Boulevard in front of Perry Creek Elementary School.

The school yard and parking lot were empty. Only those making occasional trips to the grocery store, or welcomed outside walks on warm spring days, were the extent of traffic.

These colorful yard signs were greetings and encouragement from teachers to students. Mrs. Kolbush, a Perry Creek Elementary teacher, shared this sign:

You Matter

You Are Loved

Everything Will Be Okay!

Another sign had a vocabulary lesson (teachers never miss an opportunity to teach and learn!). The sign said FIKA (fee-ka) Swedish  and then gave the timely definition of the word: A moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life.

The past three years have surely given us all the opportunity to slow down and appreciate the good things in life. Also, we have all experienced the challenges and changes that this once-in-a-generation public health crisis provided.

Ive wondered how we, as a community, are, and will continue to be, interpreting and understanding this chapter of history which all have experienced. And, Im glad for those who are helping us do so.

The Sioux City Art Center is a community treasure. The Art Centers mission is to enrich our regions quality of life by bringing the excitement of the visual arts to our community through education, exhibition and permanent collection. One of the most enriching exhibitions is available for all to experience now.

Facing a Changed World is an exhibition of photography and story currently at the Art Center (now through July 30). Mark Munger of Siouxland Public Media, local photographer Ron Johns, and Todd Behrens and the staff of the Art Center have done an excellent collaboration which tells about living, coping, hope, and recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 restrictions and in the days and months following.

A group of diverse Siouxland neighbors were interviewed and photographed. As you enter the third floor of the Art Center you will read this: Each of the interviewees navigated this time in a different way but they all had the courage to speak up and talk about what they went through. Some of the stories youll hear in the exhibition are heartbreakingly familiar and others intensely personal.

"Each recorded interview is accompanied by Rons beautifully spare black and white photographs. The images give each person a presence ... When all 30 photos are seen together, they introduce us to and represent a coming together of our diverse community members, which includes business owners, creative professionals, religious leaders, and academics. Its easy to see that Ron has an immediate connection with his sitters, making them comfortable while they share their story.

At the Art Center, every photograph is accompanied by a digitally-recorded interview, which can be heard by scanning the QR code with a smartphone. Some of the photographs and interviews are also available on the Siouxland Public Media website.

A sampling of the interviews:

Terry Brooks  Coming out of COVID, I love music even more.

Dwight Howe  I think it made us less effective, because it made us more individuals and isolated than ever before. And being a communal people, it was counterproductive.

Wynema Morris  I think its going to be noted and remembered as a very difficult timea time of mourning, loss and grief.

Rosie Kuehne  Try to learn how to be quiet, to go from an active to a contemplative life, and to not resent it, because its the only life I had. And I could either make the most of it or I could complain and feel bad about it. So, I decided that I was going to make my life valuable in any way that I could.

Rev. David Esquiliano  The mass, our mass is a dialogue. It has a dialogue part. And there are parts where you would say, The Lord be with you. And theres nobody to reply.

Facing a Changed World poignantly gives voice and presence to our community that continues to heal.

Another gathering of COVID-time stories are collected in a new book called Resilient Kitchens: American Immigrant Cooking in a Time of Crisis (edited by Philip Gleissner and Harry Eli Kashdan, published by Rutgers University Press). Here you will find essays, recipes, and photographs from around the United States. Immigrants from Belarus, Mexico, India, Syria, Venezuela, Palestine, Philipines, and Germany write with eloquence.

The story tellers are restaurant owners, local food writers, chefs, and food scholars. The essays tell of how cooking, eating, and drinking became practices of spiritual survival during the pandemic. Gathering around a table, either in person or on zoom, was surely a way to break out of the times of isolation by connecting with our communities, identifies, and heritages through our kitchens.

The recipes, with photographs, feature Red Chilaquiles, German-Greek bread, Butter Chicken, Hot Walnut Soup, Sour Cream Pound Cake, Vietnamese-style Iced Coffee, and more.

After more than three years most social distancing restrictions in our lives have been removed. Vaccines and boosters have helped stop the spread of the virus and saved countless lives all over the world. However, the realities of our common pandemic experiences will always linger in different ways. We will do better and be better if we continue to tell the stories of our experiences, and honor and celebrate the diversity of our communities.
Whats next for you? Come graduation season, were all faced with the universally dreaded question, but I was one of the lucky few who actually had an answer to it. I told everyone I had landed an internship at Slate and secured a New York sublet. Even if it was a short-term plan, no one really pressed any further.

It is now a year postcollege graduation for me. I still get the same question, but this time, Im coming up short.

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Ive certainly nailed down my rehearsed disclaimer: I graduated in May has been my default explanation for the disparate ventures Ive pursued since leaving school. Ive lived for a summer in Brooklyn, spent the fall traveling across Europe, and am now back in D.C., living in and working from my childhood bedroom. And no, I dont know whats next.

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A year ago, I imagined I would be working full time for a publication and would have moved out of my parents house by now. Neither of those expectations panned out, but thats OK. When life is no longer dictated by an academic calendar, time works differently. A year might feel long and consequential in school, but it is only a blip in the grand scheme of things.

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This revelation was extremely daunting at first, but it has also provided me with a kind of relief. If youve just graduated, whatever your plans are, just know that they dont have to be perfect. You dont even need to have an answer to the infamous question. You have time to figure it outa lot of it. And while youre taking my word for it, heres some more advice for surviving your first year as a new grad.

What a Way to Make a Living

1. Very few people have their dream job right out of college. Its OK to spend some time working a job that isnt perfect (as long as its not a fraught work environment). Often, that imperfect job will help you understand what you door dontwant to pursue in the future.

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2. Although networking can feel forced and make you cringe, its a good way to see what options are out there.

3. In school, you know how youre doing based on grades and written feedback. While performance reviews are usually worked into the job, theyre less frequent, so it doesnt hurt to check in with your manager if you want to go over how youre doing. It will give you a good sense of how you can improve, and also shows your investment in the job.

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4. Set goals for yourself. They dont need to be lofty, but having something to work toward will motivate you. Its not all about your career, either. I set goals in all areas of my lifefrom where I wanted to land a byline to how many books I wanted to read by the end of the year.

Missed Connections

5. Meeting people post-grad is hard, especially if youre like me and work remotely. Going to happy hours, trivia nights, and book clubs helps.

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6. Take advantage of friend-of-a-friend connections in your city. Its much less intimidating to meet someone new when you know you have something in common (your friend), plus you know theyve been vetted by someone you get along with.

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7. Constant social interaction and putting yourself out there can be draining. Take some time each week to recharge by reading, going on walks, or simply lying in bed scrolling on TikTok. Who cares if its seen as brain-numbing? Sometimes thats what you need.

8. Its OK to not be in constant contact with good friends from college. There are certain people I text daily and others with whom I have sporadic conversations. The lack of communication doesnt mean youre not still friends, there are just different types of friendships.

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9. Given that I went to a small school with very few eligible bachelors, I was excited to start dating in a big city. Learn from me and solidify your community in a new place before diving right in! Sure, going on Hinge dates is one way to meet people, but its a lot easier to deal with dating drama when you have a support system thats located nearby.

Extracurriculars

10. Take advantage of all the weird experiences that you can do before you settle down. I spent some of the fall taking care of strangers pets in Europe.

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11. Get a library card. You will save so much money.

12. If youre living and working at home, make sure to spend some time outside of the house. Coffee shops are great, but the library is a good work venue, too. Just dont go after 3:15 p.m. unless you want to run into schoolchildren.

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13. Visiting friends in their new cities can be fun, but dont overdo it. Youre going to want some weekends to be present wherever youre living.

14. If youre not a gym rat but still want to work out, get Class Pass. You can try out all sorts of classes, and I find that its more cost-effective than a gym membership. My primary form of exercise is running in the park, but I spend about $20 a month for ClassPass Lite so I can visit my local gym whenever I feel like lifting or using the elliptical.

15. Treat yourself. It doesnt need to be a huge spend. I take myself out to Chipotle every few weeks. Post-grad is hardthe smallest pick-me-ups can do wonders.
Mike Pence is officially running for president. Why?

Well, because he wants to be presidentthat much has been clear since he accepted an invitation to be Donald Trumps running mate in 2016 despite his obvious incompatibility with Trump as a matter of both personal comportment and ideology. Among other things, Pence was a traditional family values guy and national security hawk vis-a-vis figures like Vladimir Putin; joining the Trump campaign was pretty obviously a case of careerism over principle. And when youre ambitious, and youre the vice president, the next job youre probably looking for is the big one!

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But why does Pence think he has a chance of becoming president? This was a good question even before the events of Jan. 6, 2021. His record is extremely conservative even by Republican standards; he criticized George H.W. Bush for signing civil rights legislation and raising taxes and, in 2003, warned that a Medicare prescription drug benefit supported by the younger Bush would potentially usher in the beginning of socialized medicine in America. His most high-profile act as governor of Indiana was signing a bill intended to allow businesses to refuse service to gay customers.

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This is why Trump selected him as a VP candidateto give the 2016 Republican ticket credibility among the kinds of free-market evangelicals once thought of as the GOP base. But the idea of someone as fiscally and socially conservative as Pence winning a national election in 2024, or really at any point in modern U.S. history, is far-fetched, especially when you consider that conservative figures like George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan were at least considered personally charming by many middle-of-the-road voters. (Pence is, to my knowledge, not considered charming by any statistically significant group of Americans. He speaks in a plodding cadence, and his signature expressionyoud be forgiven for wondering whether its his only expressionis a kind of squinting grimace that, to paraphrase the writer Moira Donegan, seems confused about whether its supposed to be conveying swaggering alpha aggressiveness or restrained moral piety.)

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Those are just the reasons to believe Pence wouldnt win a general election. In the Republican primary, hes now contending with a huge number of voters who believe he betrayed the party by refusing to help overturn 2020. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has more money than Pence, is polling way ahead of him, and has been targeting the religious and social conservatives Pence would need to form a winning coalition. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is running on a return-to-traditional-Republican-values theme, which is expected to be the theme of Pences campaign as well, without any of Pences Trump-related baggage.

If you really had to make a case that there was a Mike Pence path to victorylets say someone put a gun to your head, or you were his campaign managerit would probably have to unfold in the following way:

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 Pence spends the next seven months in Iowa convincing the portion of the states evangelical voters who havent written him off because of 2020 that hes the most authentic representative of their values.

 DeSantis drops out before voting starts to save face after his much-hyped, expensive campaign fails to gain any ground against Trump.

 Pence finishes in what pundits call a strong second place in Iowa, establishing media momentum and perhaps the support of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers donor network that hes worked with in the past (and which says it will be endorsing a non-Trump candidate).

 Trump is indicted for so many different alleged crimes that hes logistically unable to campaign (and falls well behind Joe Biden in head-to-head general election polling), leaving Pence as the Republican front-runner and, eventually, nominee.

 Biden suffers some sort of health problem that calls his fitness to serve into serious question, but doesnt drop out of the race.

 Pence appeals to swing voters by touting his Jan. 6 stand on behalf of democracy and wins the lowest-turnout presidential election ever.

Could that happen? Yes. Will it? No. But what has Mike Pence ever demonstrated as a public figure if not an immense capacity for self-delusion?
Its more fun via email (promise). This article first appeared in our Slatest evening newsletter, which seeks to surface the best pieces published across Slates digital and audio journalism. We publish it there to help you cut to the chase at the end of each day. To get it in your inbox, along with more of the best work we published that day, sign up below.

In a taped 2021 interview, Donald Trump said he was in possession of a classified document about American military operations in Iran. His lawyers later told special counsel Jack Smith they cant find the document. The revelation is horrible news for Trump, Dennis Aftergut argues. He breaks down how this will undermine possible defenses Trumps legal team could mount in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.

The future is now

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The future that Hollywood actors fear is, in some ways, already here. Heather Tal Murphy runs down four concrete ways A.I. doppelgangers of real people are already being used on screen.

The job aint finished

We didnt quite do it, Joe! The debt ceiling has been raised until 2025, but well be right back here again before you know itnext time with even more crushing downsides for social spending, inequality, and administrative functioning, Alexander Sammon writes. He explains what Biden needs to do to actually finish the job.

Also: Sol Werthan looks at the nerdiest, coolest thing to come out of the debt ceiling fight.

Plus: Do work requirementseven work? What Next examines how the debt ceiling deal will make getting government benefits harder for a growing, vulnerable population.

Leave Ted alone!

Dahlia Lithwick has a bone to pick with Ted Lassos critics.

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Criticsand I mean a whole lotta critics, including in this magazinehave argued that the show has jumped the shark, crawling toward the finish line of its three-season run as just a mass of broken jokes and half-formed plotlines, she writes.

But the series never stopped working, Lithwick arguesit just changed to meet the moment.

Mostly preposterous

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How bad is James Comeys new crime novel, really? Ankush Khardori was surprised to discover it isnt totally awfulmore like a decent but forgettable episode of Law & Order. He walks us through the books mostly preposterous plot.

Plus: A prolific novelist takes a breather. Longtime mystery writer Ellen Hart tells the Working podcast why shes writing less and less.

Steve would never

Apple is doing something Steve Jobs never would have done: rolling out a VR headset thats bulky, imperfect, and not an obvious game changer. Alex Kantrowitz asks: What gives?

Today, Slate is COMMITTED TO GOOD SERVICE*

unlike many airlines that might cause you headaches this summer. Gad Allon tells us how flying is about to get much more frustratingand how to fix it.

Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow.
A version of this article originally appeared in Issues in Science and Technology.

Kindergarten may seem like a counterintuitive place to fight fake newsbut not for Finland. In 2014, at the time of the national and European elections, the country observed an increasing flood of Russian propaganda, medical disinformation, climate change denialism, and other misleading online content. That year, the Finnish nonprofit Faktabaari launched to provide fact-checking information about the elections. But it was quickly apparent that the service was inefficient, as people are much more likely to access misleading content than the relevant fact-checking material that goes with it. The better route was to teach people to be their own fact-checkers with a program of digital literacy.

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As a director of a school in Helsinki with more than 800 students from ages 5 to 18, I was excited to collaborate. A new Finnish curriculum was launched in 2016 with an element called multiliteracy, which involved making sure children could competently navigate online media and social platforms. We realized quite quickly that fact-checking concepts and methods could be adapted to the school environment to support the new curriculum. Since 2017, as a pro bono expert, I have been leading Faktabaari EDU, a project that extends fact-checking skills into the classroom. In math lessons at my school, kids learn about how statistics can be deceptive; in history, they study propaganda campaigns from the past. Even folklore classes (in which wily foxes try to trick their victims) reinforce the idea that active critical thinking should be a regular part of ordinary life.

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We soon discovered that children enjoyed playing Sherlock Holmes when fact-checking the claims teachers gave them to verify. After some trial and error, the teachers building the curriculum boiled down complex fact-checking methods into three fundamental questions: Whos behind the information? Whats the evidence? What do other sources say? These questions are folded in throughout the curriculum, across subjects, and there is continuity from year to year. Young children may learn to tell the difference between a mistake and a hoax, while older students may undertake more advanced projects on elections and threats to democracy.

To be sure, in some ways Finland is an outlier. Our resilience is partly cultural, but it has been developed intentionally during recent decades, in part because education is seen as part of collective civil defense. Our population is highly educated, with strong levels of trust in other people, public news sources, and civic institutions. Since the 1980s, educational standards have required Finnish teachers to have a masters degree, which means they are all familiar with the research process. These teachers bring a culture of research into their classrooms and are empowered to design activities around students ideas rather than relying on rote lesson plans.

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In addition, Finlands education system reflects deep cultural values. International visitors to my school have been surprised to see that, in early childhood education, pupils spend nearly half of the day outdoors in the schoolyard or in the nearby forest, exploring and having fun. According to the Finnish national curriculum for early childhood education, children have the right to play, to learn through play, to enjoy what they learn, and to build a sense of themselves, their identity, and the world according to their own starting points. Last year, the Finnish National Agency for Education launched new curriculum guidelines for early childhood education, establishing that teachers should work with children to determine the reliability and truthfulness of media content related to their lives. The goal is to help kids develop and practice their source and media criticism playfully in safe environments. In other words, students in our classrooms are expected to think and to enjoy thinking. In secondary education, students have lessons in separate science subjectsbut with the same hands-on experimental spirit.

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It would take a lot of time to copy the Finnish approach fully, but a host of experiments in the European Union and beyond suggest that the basic idea can be replicated. The European Commission Expert Group, on which I serve, has explored how education and training initiatives can tackle disinformation through digital literacy in schools throughout Europe. We have produced a report and practical guidelines for teachers and other educators on tackling disinformation, which include activity plans and insights on how to create student-centered approaches. One of the central challenges is that teachers need training, guidance, and support, as well as ways to measure the effectiveness of these lessons.

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Although much work remains to be done in developing an evidence-based curriculum, the evidence is accumulating that these interventions are effective. A study conducted in 2019 with nearly 500 high school students in a U.S. school district found that just a half-dozen 50-minute lessons could help students demonstrate appropriate skepticism of online information. One exercise asked students to look at a tweet of a child supposedly in Syria lying between two mounds described as his parents graves. (In fact, the child was in Saudi Arabia posing for an art project between piles of rocks.) Students received credit for noting that the post did not identify the tweets author and for questioning what the image really showed. Another exercise involved tracking a websites sponsor to an oil company.

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Related from Slate Lisa Guernsey Confused About Screen Time and Disinformation? You Arent Alone. Read More

Wealthy countries are not the only ones that can use these interventions. A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Uganda found that a series of nine 80-minute lessons given to 10- to 12-year-olds could help them assess claims about health treatments. (Schools in the program received two days of teacher training in the curriculum, a textbook, teachers guide, and other materials developed in consultation with Ugandan teachers.) A commentary in the Lancet praised the program for showing such education was possible even in resource-poor settings with large student to teacher ratios.

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But this kind of curriculum is far from mainstream. A recent Stanford Universityled study that resulted in the report Science Education in an Age of Misinformation brought together more than a dozen international experts, including me, to consider the problem. One of our conclusions was that classroom instruction too often focuses on transmitting simple facts. Science educators have a new, critical responsibility to ensure that their students are equipped with skills that can guard them against pseudoscientific online claims.

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In practice, that means science teachers should explain how knowledge is established in science and how science is committed to producing knowledge based on testing evidenceand thats why scientific knowledge can be trusted. The Stanford study recommended revisions toward this end in educational standards, curricula, and teacher training. Moreover, assessments must be revamped to test whether students can find flaws in scientific arguments and evaluate the credibility of sources.

Of course, schools alone will not eradicate misleading information or peoples susceptibility to it. But teacher guidelines, focused curricula, and educational standards are an essential part of the solution. Society must pay at least as much attention to childrens minds as to social media algorithms.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
As a counter-intelligence agent, he had excellent access to information that was very useful to the Russians. He compromised dozens of Soviet employees who were spying for the United States, and some were executed. He provided details of several US operations, such as wiretapping, surveillance and interception of communications. He provided the Soviets with plans for how the United States would respond to a nuclear attack, both in terms of protecting top government officials and retaliating.

Hanssen became an FBI employee on January 12, 1976 and had access to classified information. In 1985, he started sending information and material to Russia and the former Soviet Union. He used the alias Ramon Garcia when corresponding with his superiors.

Received more than 1.4 million dollars in Russian accounts

He was not caught for several years, although there were several unusual situations around him. In 1994, the FBI arrested a spy by Aldrich Hazen Ames, but the bureau found that classified information was still being leaked. They launched an investigation into Hanssen and rushed it as his retirement was approaching. The ultimate goal was to catch him in the act.

In order to lure him back to FBI headquarters where he could be monitored more closely, he was given a bogus assignment. In January 2001, he began working in his new office at FBI headquarters, which was equipped with hidden cameras and microphones.

A month later, they found that he went to Foxstone Park, which he otherwise often visited, and he had with him a plastic bag with classified material, which was supposed to be taken by another person. When he was returning to his vehicle, however, he was arrested. During the arrest, he asked FBI agents: Why did it take you so long?

Hanssen, 79, received more than $1.4 million (1.3 million) in cash, diamonds and money into his Russian accounts. 300 agents worked on his case. Before his arrest, he lived with his family, his wife and six children, in a modest house in the suburbs of Virginia.

He later admitted that the FBI had very poor security and that he participated in espionage to avoid the death penalty.

They also made a movie based on it

Hanssens revelation shocked his friends and neighbours, who described him as quiet and unassuming despite being a strict father.

However, he had another negative side  a sexual obsession. He secretly recorded pornographic videos of his wife and showed them to a friend, he also allegedly often went to strip clubs, where he tried to convert the strippers to Catholicism.

In addition, he allegedly posted sexually explicit stories about himself and his wife online and shared nude photos of her.

In 2002, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In one of his letters to his Russian colleagues, he wrote that he decided on this path when he was 14 years old. At sentencing, he apologized and said he was ashamed of his actions. A movie was also made about his story in the USA.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, Hanssen was found unresponsive Monday morning. Despite attempts to revive him, he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death is not yet known.
In 2023, small business owners face various risks that necessitate the protection of reliable insurance coverage. Choosing the best small business insurance provider can make a significant difference in safeguarding the interests of these entrepreneurs.

This article highlights the top insurance companies specializing in small business coverage to aid in this decision-making process. Businesses can confidently select the best small business insurance provider for their specific needs by evaluating their comprehensive policies, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service.

What is the Best Small Business Insurance Company in 2023?

Next is the best small business insurance company in 2023, offering affordable, customizable coverage entirely online. With a quick 10-minute application, live certificate of insurance, and U.S.-based advisor option, they prioritize convenience and personalization.

Next has received positive customer feedback and offers up to a 10% discount for bundled policies. Their fully-digital experience allows for easy management, claims filing, and support. For affordable, flexible, and hassle-free small business insurance, choose Next today and confidently protect your business.

The Best Small Business Insurance Companies of 2023

When it comes to finding the best small business insurance, its important to consider reputable insurance companies that offer comprehensive coverage and excellent customer service. In this section, we highlight some of the top small business insurance providers of 2023, helping you make an informed decision to protect your businesss interests.

1. Next

Rating: 5 out of 5

NEXT is an online platform that offers small business insurance tailored to different business structures. They provide coverage options such as general liability, professional liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, tools and equipment, commercial property, and business owners policy.

Their streamlined process allows businesses to get a customized insurance quote online quickly and easily, with easy monthly payments and the option to speak with licensed advisors.

NEXT Pros

Live certificate of insurance for easy sharing.

Customizable business insurance policies with various coverages.

100% online quote and application process with available assistance.

Fewer commercial property and business auto insurance complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

Up to 10% discount for purchasing multiple policies.

Digital certificate of insurance for easy access and sharing.

NEXT Cons

Limited coverage options for specialized needs.

Lack of key person insurance coverage.

Inconvenience for traditional business owners who prefer paper records due to the digital claim process.

2. Travelers

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Travelers Insurance provides a wide range of commercial insurance options to help businesses in various industries identify and reduce risks. They offer coverage for commercial auto, cyber liability, general liability, management and professional liability, property, small business owners, surety bonds, and workers compensation.

Travelers specializes in industry-specific coverage for agriculture, construction, education, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, transportation, and more. They provide expertise, fast claim services, and a solid financial strength rating.

Travelers Pros

Wide range of coverages, including specialized options like key person insurance and surety bonds.

Fewer complaints for commercial property and auto insurance compared to peers.

Online portal for accessing certificates of insurance and tracking claims.

Online portal for all parties involved in workers comp claims.

Nationwide coverage in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

Extensive risk management resources are available.

Travelers Cons

Limited convenience with no online quotes available for business policies.

The inconvenience of having to contact your agent for various policy management tasks.

Dependency on independent agents for obtaining quotes and purchasing policies.

Lack of online quoting options specifically for business insurance.

Uncertainty due to mixed online reviews and the absence of BBB accreditation.

3. Allstate

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Allstate offers tailored business insurance solutions to protect small businesses from financial setbacks. Their commercial auto insurance covers various industries, including contractors, doctors, and lawyers. They provide custom protection for sectors like accounting, medical offices, and retailers.

Allstate processes insurance claims quickly and covers risks such as theft, fire, vandalism, and equipment breakdown. Business owners can explore coverage options and get a fast quote for business insurance.

Allstate Pros

Diverse coverage for business insurance, including industry-specific policies.

Encompassing retailers, food and beverage, medical, photography, and more.

Insurance is available for home-based small businesses.

Commercial auto insurance for various industries.

A nationwide network of agents for personalized assistance in finding the right coverage.

Allstate Cons

Limited coverage options for specific types of businesses.

Inconsistent availability of coverage across different states.

The inconvenience of having to file claims over the phone instead of online.

Lack of flexibility to purchase a general liability policy.

Below-average customer service experience.

4. Chubb

Rating: 4 out of 5

Chubb is a global leader in tailored property and casualty insurance for businesses of all sizes. Their operations in 54 countries provide personalized service and problem-solving for diverse industries. Chubbs global reach and extensive distribution capabilities ensure comprehensive coverage.

Known for its financial strength, exceptional service, and underwriting excellence, Chubb aims to protect businesses, individuals, and their possessions. They embrace a culture of precision and digital transformation to stay compelling in the modern age.

Chubb Pros

Wide range of policies available, catering to diverse business needs.

Convenient online purchasing option for certain policies.

Supports businesses with revenue up to $30 million.

Minimal complaints compared to Chubbs market share.

Highest financial strength rating, ensuring stability and security.

Extensive customization options are available to tailor the coverage to specific needs.

Chubb Cons

Certificates of insurance may not be readily available, requiring manual requests through an online portal.

Phone support is exclusive to direct policy purchasers; agent-supported policyholders lack this option and no live chat alternative exists.

The website lacks a transparent pricing structure, making it difficult to assess costs upfront.

A live chat feature is absent, limiting instant assistance and communication with Chubb representatives.

Some businesses might consider Chubbs coverage options overly comprehensive and costly for their specific requirements.

5. Hiscox

Rating: 4 out of 5

Hiscox is a leading small business insurer, offering fast and affordable coverage for over 500,000 small businesses. They provide tailored insurance policies for various professions, including general liability, professional liability, business owners policy, cyber security, short-term liability, medical malpractice, workers compensation, and more.

With a history dating back to 1901, Hiscox has the expertise and experience to support businesses and protect against risks. They offer simple and fast quotes, instant coverage, and quick claims processing. Hiscox encourages courage in its customers and aims to inspire and protect businesses as they grow.

See Also: Amazon Has Early Black Friday Deals for Your Small Business

Hiscox Pros

Extensive coverage options tailored to meet diverse business needs.

Convenient and quick online quoting and purchasing process.

Flexibility to connect with knowledgeable agents or brokers, ensuring personalized assistance.

Customizable policies designed specifically for independent contractors.

Flexible monthly payment options without additional fees.

Specialized short-term liability insurance to address temporary business requirements.

Hiscox Cons

Limited coverage options for your business.

Requires working with multiple providers for comprehensive protection.

Lacks a local agent network for personalized support.

Restricted availability of business owners policies to companies with 10 or fewer employees.

Available in all states except Alaska

6. State Farm

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

State Farm provides tailored business insurance to meet unique needs. They offer a range of coverages to keep businesses safe, including commercial auto insurance, liability umbrella policies, workers compensation, surety & fidelity bonds, and builders risk insurance.

Their Business Owners Policy (BOP) combines liability and property coverages. State Farm offers customizable insurance and its mission is to help people manage risks, recover from unexpected events, and realize their dreams.

State Farm Pros

Flexible options for customizing business owners policies to suit specific coverage needs.

Industry-specific packages are available, offering specialized coverage for various professions.

Professional liability insurance can be seamlessly added to business owners policies for comprehensive protection.

State Farm offers retirement savings vehicles, ensuring long-term financial security for both business owners and employees.

Consistently recognized as a top-ranked company by J.D. Power, reflecting high customer satisfaction and service quality.

State Farm Cons

State Farm may not offer specific coverage options or tailored packages for your industrys unique risks, resulting in a lack of comprehensive protection.

Their business insurance premiums can be relatively higher than competitors, potentially increasing overall insurance costs.

The online tools for managing your policies may lack functionality compared to other insurers, limiting your digital experience.

State Farms focus on personal insurance may result in a lack of expertise for specialized industries or niche businesses.

Customer service for their business insurance has mixed reviews, with complaints about slow claims processing and unresponsive agents.

What Type of Insurance Does a Small Business Need?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the type of business insurance coverage a small business needs depends on the specific industry and risks involved. However, there are some types of commercial insurance you may need such as:

General liability insurance

This insurance is important for small businesses as it protects against third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and advertising mistakes. It safeguards businesses from potential legal liabilities and covers costs related to lawsuits, settlements, and medical expenses.

Professional liability insurance

Also known as errors and omissions insurance, professional liability coverage is essential for businesses that provide professional services. It protects against claims of negligence, errors, or omissions that may result in financial loss for clients. This business liability insurance covers legal expenses and damages incurred due to professional mistakes.

Commercial property insurance

Small businesses need business property insurance to protect their physical assets, including buildings, equipment, inventory, and furniture, from perils such as fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters. This property coverage covers repair or replacement costs, ensuring continuity of operations and minimizing financial losses.

Commercial auto insurance

Commercial auto insurance is necessary for businesses that use vehicles for business purposes. It covers vehicles used for business operations, including accidents, theft, vandalism, and liability for bodily injury or property damage caused by business-owned vehicles.

Cyber insurance

In the digital age, small businesses must safeguard against cyber threats. Cyber insurance, or data breach insurance, covers financial losses resulting from data breaches, cyberattacks, or other malicious activities. It helps businesses manage the costs of forensic investigations, customer notification, legal fees, and data recovery.

Workers compensation insurance

Required by law in many jurisdictions, workers compensation insurance protects employees in case of work-related injuries or illnesses. It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs for injured or sick employees, reducing the financial strain on both the business and the employee.

Business interruption insurance

This business income insurance coverage is important for small businesses that rely heavily on physical locations for their operations. Business interruption insurance is a type of business hazard insurance that compensates for lost income and ongoing expenses if a covered event, such as fire or natural disaster, forces the business to suspend operations temporarily. It helps businesses stay afloat during recovery and ensures minimal disruption to cash flow.

What Insurance Coverage to Get

Determining the appropriate small business insurance coverage is important for protecting your business from potential risks.

Key considerations include general liability insurance to cover third-party claims, professional liability insurance for service providers, commercial property insurance or business renters insurance to safeguard physical assets, commercial auto insurance for business-owned vehicles, cyber insurance for digital threats, workers compensation insurance for employee protection, and insurance for natural disasters or business interruption insurance to mitigate income loss during disruptions.

Assess your specific needs to ensure comprehensive coverage that safeguards your business and financial stability.

How to Choose the Best Companies for Small Business Insurance

When selecting the best companies for small business insurance, several key factors should guide your decision. Evaluating these aspects will help you make an informed choice. Here are the five best ways to choose the best company for small business insurance:

Reputation

Consider the reputation of insurance companies, including their track record in the industry and customer reviews. Look for companies with a strong reputation for reliability, trustworthiness, and excellent customer service.

Coverage Options

Evaluate the range of coverage options offered by different insurance companies. Ensure they provide comprehensive coverage tailored to the specific needs of your small business, including the essential types of insurance mentioned earlier.

Pricing

Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure you are getting competitive pricing. However, remember that price should not be the sole determining factor. Consider the value of coverage and the overall benefits offered by each company.

Customer Service

Look for insurance companies that prioritize exceptional customer service. Accessible and knowledgeable customer support can make a significant difference in managing claims and addressing any concerns or inquiries that may arise.

Financial Stability

Assess the financial stability of insurance companies by reviewing their ratings from independent rating agencies. A financially stable company is more likely to honor claims and provide the necessary support in times of need, ensuring your business remains protected.

How Much Does Small Business Insurance Cost?

How much does business insurance cost? Small business insurance costs vary depending on several factors, including the type of coverage, industry, business size, and location. Generally, premiums are influenced by risk factors specific to the business.

Its advisable to obtain quotes from multiple insurance providers to compare prices and find a policy that offers adequate coverage at a competitive rate. Check out the small business insurance FAQ below for answers to more insurance questions for your business.

What is small-business insurance?

Small-business insurance refers to a range of insurance policies designed to protect small businesses from various risks and liabilities. It typically includes coverage options such as general liability, professional liability, property insurance, workers compensation insurance, and more.

Small-business insurance provides financial protection for property damage, lawsuits, injuries, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Do I need small-business insurance?

Yes, small-business insurance is crucial for protecting your business from potential risks. It helps safeguard against liability claims, property damage, lawsuits, and other unforeseen events that could financially cripple your business.

Even a single incident can significantly impact a small business, making insurance coverage essential for its survival and continued operations.

What does business insurance cover?

Many different types of business insurance cover a wide range of risks and liabilities faced by businesses. It typically includes coverage for property damage, bodily injury, advertising mistakes, professional errors, data breaches, employee injuries, and business interruptions.

The specific coverage depends on the policy type and the business needs. It is important to review policy details and exclusions with your insurance provider. Umbrella insurance may cover things that are excluded under other policies.

What does business insurance exclude?

While business insurance provides extensive coverage, certain exclusions may apply. These exclusions vary depending on the policy and insurance provider. Common exclusions can include intentional acts, criminal activities, pollution-related damages, and certain high-risk activities.

It is crucial to review your policy carefully and consult with your insurance provider to understand the specific exclusions and any additional coverage that may be required.

Do I need small business insurance if I work from home?

Yes, even if you operate your business from home, you may still need small business insurance. Homeowners insurance typically does not provide sufficient coverage for business-related risks.

Small business insurance can protect your business assets and liabilities, and provide coverage for home-based business operations.

Does small business insurance cover remote workers?

Yes, small business insurance policies can often provide coverage for remote workers. However, the specific coverage may vary depending on the policy and insurance provider.

Its important to discuss your business structure and remote work arrangements with your insurance provider to ensure appropriate coverage for remote employees.

How do I save money on a small business insurance policy?

Consider bundling multiple policies with the same insurance provider to save money on a small business insurance policy.

Implement risk management practices, maintain a safe work environment, and invest in training programs to reduce claims and demonstrate your commitment to risk mitigation.

Regularly review and compare insurance quotes to ensure you get the best coverage at a competitive price.

Do I need business insurance for an LLC?

While requirements may vary based on jurisdiction, it is generally recommended for LLCs to have business insurance.

Even though an LLC structure provides personal liability protection, there are many business insurance benefits for having an additional layer of protection for the assets and operations of the LLC. Business insurance for an LLC helps safeguard against potential risks and liabilities that could impact the business and its owners.

What is the best LLC insurance company?

Determining the best LLC insurance company depends on various factors, including the specific needs of your business, coverage options, pricing, customer service, and financial stability.

Its essential to research and compare insurance providers, read reviews, and consider factors important to your business before selecting the best LLC insurance company.

What is the cheapest small business insurance?

The cost of small business insurance can vary significantly depending on factors such as the size of the business, industry, coverage needs, and location. While it is difficult to pinpoint the cheapest small business insurance provider universally, there are ways to find affordable coverage.

To secure cost-effective insurance plans, comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies, assessing the coverage options offered, considering bundling policies, implementing risk management strategies, and maintaining a favorable claims history is advisable. Check out the list above for where to buy small business insurance online.
Tel Aviv-based startup, ByondPitch, is piloting an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform in Israel, aimed at transforming remote video sales meetings. The platform enhances sales conversions by providing sales representatives with a real-time playbook that combines advanced technology with the human touch to deliver superior customer experiences.

As part of its initial pilot, ByondPitch has partnered with seven companies, including leading real estate firm Ashdar. Thousands of users are now utilizing the platform. Looking ahead, ByondPitch plans to roll out its service in the United States by the end of 2023, with a focus on businesses across diverse sectors that use remote video technology for sales.

ByondPitchs platform seeks to improve salespeoples abilities in real-time, assisting them to adapt and respond more effectively to customer concerns on the fly. The platform provides real-time sales data, guiding the sales process by suggesting appropriate messages, supplying relevant information, and analyzing speaking time ratios.

Nadav Bariah, co-founder of ByondPitch and CEO of Be Nadlan, one of Israels top real estate marketing companies, said, With a career deeply rooted in sales, sales management, and training salespeople, I understand the challenges companies face in this realm. Bariah added that while many competitors offer data and analysis on past performance, they fail to provide real-time assistance, a gap that ByondPitch seeks to fill.

The companys other co-founder, Guy Kedem, also brings an impressive resume as an entrepreneur with expertise in real estate, technology, and cryptocurrencies, in addition to his role as CEO of Be Nadlan. Kedem highlighted the vision behind ByondPitch, which is to use their combined experience and insights to create a platform that boosts sales performance while reducing costs. He said, We strive to empower salespeople with a sort of superpower, enabling them to forge meaningful connections, exceed expectations, and elevate the customer experience in an increasingly digital world.

ByondPitch is harnessing cutting-edge intelligence to provide real-time support that propels salespeople to new heights. This advancement is paving the way for smoother, smarter meetings, reshaping video meetings into intuitive, extraordinary experiences.

This AI-powered platform represents an opportunity for small businesses that rely heavily on remote sales meetings. The ability to respond to customer concerns more effectively in real-time and utilize data to guide the sales process could significantly boost sales conversions. With its planned expansion to the US, ByondPitch is poised to make a significant impact on how businesses conduct remote video sales meetings.

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Choosing the right woodworking business name is important in the startup process. The name serves as your brands identity, and a memorable one can differentiate your business from competitors. Moreover, it can leave a lasting impression on potential customers, contributing to their decision to select your services.

Tips for Coming up with a Memorable and Effective Woodworking Business Name

To create a memorable and effective woodworking business name, you should aim for a name that is unique, easy to spell and pronounce, conveys the nature of your business, and reflects your brand personality. Additionally, consider checking the domains availability for a consistent online presence.

General Woodworking Business Name Ideas

When starting a woodworking business, choosing the right name is crucial to make a lasting impression on your customers. A general woodworking business name should capture the essence of your craft and showcase your expertise. Here are 30 general woodworking business name ideas to inspire you:

Crafted Creations Woodworks

Masterpiece Woodcraft

Precision Woodworks

Artisan Carpentry

Woodcraft Essentials

TimberWorks Studio

Custom Wood Design

Creative Carpenters

Quality Woodcrafters

The Wood Workshop

Elite Woodworking

Handcrafted Treasures

Artful Joinery

Custom Carpenters

The Woodsmiths

Fine Wood Finishes

Classic Wood Creations

Expert Woodcraft

Master Carpenters

Rustic Woodworks

Legacy Woodcrafters

The Wood Studio

Artisanal Carpentry

Handmade Woodworks

Woodcraft Specialists

Custom Timberworks

Timber & Crafts

The Carpenters Touch

Woodworks Unlimited

Craftsmanship Carpentry

These general woodworking business names reflect your dedication to quality craftsmanship and the artistry of working with wood. Choose a name that resonates with your brand values and appeals to your target audience.

Catchy Woodworking Business Names

Crafted Creations

TimberCraft Woodworks

WoodWonders

Artisanal Woodcraft

Sawdust & Splinters

The Wooden Workshop

CarveCraft Carpentry

Woodland Craftsmen

TimberTrove

Creative Carvings

Masterful Woodworks

Wood Essence Designs

The Crafted Grain

Whittlers Workshop

Wood Enchantments

Carve & Craft Co.

Rustic Roots Carpentry

Woodland Magic

The Carpentry Collective

Custom Timberworks

Fine Woodworking Co.

Craftsmen Carpentry

Wooden Legacy

Saw & Plane Carpentry

WoodArt Studios

The Carved Edge

WhittleWorks

Crafted Timber Co.

Woodland Dreams Carpentry

The Woodwork Gallery

wood Whisperer

These catchy woodworking business names capture the essence of craftsmanship, creativity, and quality associated with the woodworking industry. They are memorable and appealing, leaving a lasting impression on customers and helping your business stand out. Choose a name that aligns with your brand vision and resonates with your target audience, showcasing your unique woodworking services.

Classic Woodworking Business Name Ideas

In the world of woodworking, classic business names evoke a sense of timeless craftsmanship and enduring beauty. These names capture the essence of tradition, quality, and expertise, appealing to customers who appreciate the artistry and heritage of woodworking. Here are 30 classic woodworking business name ideas:

Oak & Iron Carpentry

Craftsman Woodworks

Heritage Joinery

Fine Woodcrafters

Vintage Woodworks

Traditional Timber Co.

Artisan Wood Creations

Classic Craft Carpentry

Rustic Oak Woodworks

Handcrafted Hardwoods

Masterful Millwork

Noble Woodcraft

Timeless Artisan Carpentry

Old World Woodworks

Vintage Timber Designs

Signature Woodcraft

Classic Carpenters

Old Mill Woodworks

Fine Wood Finishes

Noble Oak Carpentry

Vintage Craftsmen

Traditional Woodcarvers

Legacy Woodworks

Artful Joinery

Classic Cabinetmakers

Old-Fashioned Woodcraft

Antique Woodworks

Crafted with Care Carpentry

Traditional Wood Specialists

Time-Honored Woodcraft

Hollow Oak Wood Crafts

Spectrum Fine Woodworking

These classic woodworking business names capture the essence of traditional craftsmanship and the enduring appeal of woodworking. They convey a sense of quality, authenticity, and timeless beauty, appealing to customers who appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of classic woodworking.

Creative Woodworking Business Name Ideas

Wood Whittling Wonders

Splintered Sparrow Studios

Birch & Bumble

Sawdust & Sparkles Woodwork

Crafted Curls Carpentry

Knot Your Average Woodworks

Timber & Twine Designs

Whiskered Woodworks

Ponderosa Pine Artistry

Woodland Whimsy Creations

Forest Fairy Woodworks

Bonsai Birch Woodcraft

Lark & Lumber Creations

Hazel & Hemlock Woodworks

Dreamy Driftwood Designs

Wood Whittling Wonders

Splintered Sparrow Studios

Birch & Bumble

Sawdust & Sparkles Woodwork

Crafted Curls Carpentry

Knot Your Average Woodworks

Timber & Twine Designs

Whiskered Woodworks

Ponderosa Pine Artistry

Woodland Whimsy Creations

Forest Fairy Woodworks

Bonsai Birch Woodcraft

Lark & Lumber Creations

Hazel & Hemlock Woodworks

Dreamy Driftwood Designs

Mr. Hammer Wood Studios

Interior Wood Protection Services

J G Machinery Inc

Modern Woodworking Business Name Ideas

Incorporating a modern touch into woodworking business names can showcase your commitment to contemporary design, innovation, and forward-thinking craftsmanship. Here are 15 additional modern woodworking business name ideas:

ModWood Designs

Urban Oak Artistry

Twenty-First Century Timbers

NeoNest Woodworks

Sleek Sequoia Studios

Ultra Urban Carpentry

Industrial Pine Co.

New Wave Woodworks

Future Forest Creations

Vanguard Veneers

Pinnacle Pine Co.

New Age Artisan Woodcraft

Cutting Edge Carpentry

MetaModern Maple Studios

NextGen Woodworking

ModWood Designs

Urban Oak Artistry

Twenty-First Century Timbers

NeoNest Woodworks

Sleek Sequoia Studios

Ultra Urban Carpentry

Industrial Pine Co.

New Wave Woodworks

Future Forest Creations

Vanguard Veneers

Pinnacle Pine Co.

New Age Artisan Woodcraft

Cutting Edge Carpentry

MetaModern Maple Studios

NextGen Woodworking

Advanced Cabinet Systems

These modern woodworking business names reflect your dedication to contemporary design, innovation, and craftsmanship. They appeal to customers who appreciate the fusion of modern aesthetics with traditional woodworking techniques, setting your business apart in the industry.

Minimalist Woodworking Business Name Ideas

Embracing a minimalist approach to woodworking business names can convey a sense of elegance, simplicity, and craftsmanship. Here are 15 additional minimalist woodworking business name ideas:

Oak

Birch

Pine Co.

Elm

Cedar

Redwood

Sequoia Studios

Maple

Fir Co.

Spruce

Ash

Willow Workshops

Sycamore

Chestnut Creations

Aspen Artistry

TimberCraft

Walnut Workshop

Birch & Co.

Cedarwood Designs

Oak & Ash

Pine Grove Carpentry

Elmwood Studios

Redwood Artisans

Maple Leaf Crafts

Spruce & Fir

Sycamore Studio

Chestnut Works

Aspen Artisans

Willow Woodworks

Sequoia Studio

These minimalist woodworking business names showcase the beauty of different wood types while maintaining a clean and refined aesthetic. They reflect the mastery and attention to detail that goes into each woodworking creation, attracting customers who appreciate the simplicity and craftsmanship of minimalist designs.

One Word Woodworking Business Name Ideas

When it comes to woodworking businesses, a simple yet impactful one-word name can make a memorable statement. It captures the essence of your craft concisely and powerfully. Here are 30 one-word woodworking business name ideas to inspire you:

TimberCraft

Artwood

CarveWorks

GrainMakers

WoodSmith

Sawdust

Whittle

WoodWorx

CraftMasters

GrainCraft

Carpenter

Woodworks

Artisan

Rustic

SolidWood

TimberArt

Woodland

GrainWood

Craftify

CarveLine

Sawmill

WhittleWoods

GrainArt

Woodify

TimberLine

CarveCraft

SawCraft

WhittleCraft

TimberArtisans

WoodlandCraft

These one-word woodworking business names capture the essence of your craft and leave a lasting impression. Choose a name that resonates with your brand values and evokes the beauty and skill of woodworking.

Playful Woodworking Business Name Ideas

Woodworking businesses often have a playful and creative spirit, and incorporating playful names can add a touch of fun and whimsy to your brand. Here are 15 additional playful woodworking business name ideas:

Chip Off the Old Block

Sawdust Symphony

Twisted Timber

Knot Kidding Woodworks

Plane & Simple Carpentry

Board Silly Woodworking

Whittle Me This

Wood You Believe It Creations

Grain of Truth Woodworks

Against the Grain Carpentry

Cant Saw Its Not Wood

Knot What It Seams

Barking Up the Wrong Tree Carpentry

Lumber Puns Co.

Just Plane Wood

Splintered Delights

Crafty Carvings

Knot a Problem Carpentry

Sawdust Wizards

Woodworks Wonderland

Timber Tales

Whimsical Woodcrafts

Knotorious Carpentry

Plane Magic

Woodland Wonders

Sawdust & Shenanigans

Carpentree Creations

Timberland Treasures

Wooden Whimsies

Splendid Sawmills

These playful woodworking business names reflect the creativity and joy that can be found in the craft. They create a sense of excitement and capture the attention of customers who appreciate the unique and playful side of woodworking.

One Word Woodwork Business Name Ideas Inspired by Industry Terms

Drawing inspiration from industry terms can add a touch of authenticity and expertise to your woodworking business name. These one-word names inspired by industry terms reflect your knowledge and skill in the woodworking field. Here are 30 one-word woodwork business name ideas:

Joinery

Carpentry

Millwork

Cabinetry

Turnings

Veneer

Inlays

Carvings

Scrollwork

Moulding

Shaping

Resawing

Planing

Sanding

Routing

Doweling

Chamfer

Jigging

Laminating

Fretwork

Slabbing

Dovetail

Downdraft

Routing

Tenon

Miter

Chiseling

Spindle

Staining

Inspired by industry terms, these one-word woodwork business names capture the essence of your craft and highlight your specialization in specific woodworking techniques. Choose a name that aligns with your expertise and showcases your unique skills in the woodworking industry.

Word Woodworking Business Name Ideas Inspired by Location

Coastal Craftsman

Timberland Creations

Urban Woodworks

Mountain Sawdust

Lakeside Carvings

City Woodcraft

Riverside Rustic

Valley Woodworks

Harbor Carpentry

Forest Furniture

Woodland Workshop

Village Veneers

Hillside Handiwork

Desert Woodcraft

Seaside Sawmills

Prairie Woodworks

Island Carpenters

Valley View Carpentry

Canyon Craftsmen

Lakeshore Lumber

Mountain Timberworks

Cityscape Carvings

Coastal Carpentry

Riverside Rustic

Forest Craftsmanship

Harbor Woodworks

Village Carvings

Hillside Handcrafts

Desert Timberworks

Seaside Sawdust

arizona custom furniture

These location-inspired woodworking business names add a touch of uniqueness and local flair to your brand. They evoke a sense of place and connection to the specific area, making them memorable and appealing to customers in that region. Choose a name that reflects your locations surroundings, landscape, or cultural aspects to establish a strong local presence for your woodworking business.

One Word Woodworking Business Name Ideas Inspired by Foreign Languages

Incorporating foreign language elements into your woodworking business name can add a touch of intrigue and global appeal. These one-word names inspired by foreign languages infuse your brand with cultural richness and craftsmanship. Here are 30 one-word woodworking business name ideas inspired by foreign languages:

Ebur (Latin for ivory)

Cedre (French for cedar)

Zelkova (Japanese for a type of hardwood tree)

Faggio (Italian for beech)

Tjarn (Swedish for tar)

Teak (Indonesian for wood of the gods)

Ebano (Spanish for ebony)

Balsa (Spanish for a type of lightweight wood)

Haya (Spanish for beech)

Cipres (Spanish for cypress)

Larch (German for larch tree)

Erable (French for maple)

Koa (Hawaiian for a type of wood)

Mahogany (Spanish for mahogany)

Sorbo (Italian for service tree)

Elm (Dutch for elm)

Ziricote (Spanish for a type of hardwood tree)

Sakura (Japanese for cherry blossom)

Acajou (French for mahogany)

Olmo (Italian for elm)

Pino (Italian for pine)

Platano (Spanish for plane tree)

Sequoia (Native American name for a type of tree)

Tineo (Spanish for a type of hardwood tree)

Meleze (French for larch)

Nogal (Spanish for walnut)

Abeto (Spanish for fir)

Doussie (Italian for a type of hardwood tree)

Kiri (Japanese for paulownia)

Jatoba (Portuguese for a type of hardwood tree)

These one-word woodworking business names inspired by foreign languages add an international flair to your brand, evoking a sense of craftsmanship and cultural richness. Choose a name that resonates with your brand values and appeals to your target audience.

See Also: 16 Side Business Ideas

One Word Woodworking Business Name Ideas with Acronyms or Abbreviations

Creating an acronym or abbreviation for your woodworking business name can add a touch of uniqueness and memorability. These one-word woodworking business names with acronyms or abbreviations bring a modern twist to your brand while still capturing the essence of your craft. Here are 30 ideas to inspire you:

WOODcraft

CARPentry

ARTwood

CRAFTwork

WOODMasters

TIMBERworks

CARVing

SAWmill

FURNcraft

WOODLab

JOINery

CARVErs

SAWdust

DESIGNwood

WOODART

SHAPers

WOODline

CREATwood

WOODworkz

FINISHwood

WOODworks

PLANEwood

CRAFTwood

ARTISwood

WOODzone

EDGEwood

STYLEwood

VINTwood

CREAwood

MASTERSwood

These one-word woodworking business names with acronyms or abbreviations bring a modern and sleek vibe to your brand, while still conveying your expertise in woodworking. Choose a name that reflects your unique style and resonates with your target audience, leaving a lasting impression.

Woodworking Business Name Ideas with Puns or Wordplay

Infusing puns and wordplay into your woodworking business name can add a touch of creativity and playfulness to your brand. These clever names showcase your woodworking skills and bring a smile to peoples faces. Here are 30 woodworking business name ideas with puns or wordplay:

Sawdust & Sparkle

Plane Genius

Wood Chuckers

Board to Pieces

Knot Your Average Woodworks

Whittle Me This

Splintered Creations

Grain Gain Woodworks

Carve Diem

Sawdust Syndicate

Splendid Splinters

Timber Tales

Carpent-hers

Planely Perfect

Masterpieces in Wood

These woodworking business names with puns or wordplay infuse your brand with creativity and lightheartedness, making a memorable impression on customers. Choose a name that reflects your brand personality and resonates with your target audience, showcasing your woodworking businesss fun and skillful nature.

The Process of Naming Your Woodworking Business

Naming your woodworking business is an important step in establishing your brand identity. Follow this step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Define Your Brand: Start by clarifying your business values, target audience, and unique selling points. This will shape the direction of your business name.

Brainstorm Keywords: Make a list of relevant keywords related to woodworking, such as craftsmanship, design, or specific wood types. These keywords will inspire and guide your name creation.

Create Name Variations: Combine and rearrange your keywords to form different name variations. Experiment with different word combinations to find a name that captures the essence of your business.

Consider Brand Personality: Think about the tone and style you want your business name to convey. Whether its traditional, modern, playful, or elegant, align the name with your brand personality.

Check Availability: Conduct thorough research to ensure the name is not already in use by another business. Check domain availability as well to secure a matching website address.

Test and Gather Feedback: Share your top name choices with trusted friends, family, or colleagues to get their feedback. Consider their opinions and reactions before making a final decision.

Register Your Name: Once youve selected the perfect name, register it with the appropriate authorities to protect your brand and secure legal rights.

Remember, a well-chosen woodworking business name reflects your brand identity, appeals to your target audience, and sets you apart from the competition. Take your time, be creative, and select a name representing the essence of your woodworking craftsmanship.

How to Check for Business Name Availability

Before you finalize your woodworking business name, ensure that it is unique and available. Its also good to check if the corresponding domain name is available if you plan to set up a website. You can search for your chosen name in the trademark database on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices website.

Woodworking Business Name Generators

Woodworking name generators can be valuable tools for brainstorming and finding the perfect name for your woodworking business. These generators use various algorithms and databases to generate unique and creative name suggestions based on your preferences. They can save you time and provide a wide range of options. Here are two recommended woodworking name generators that can help you in your search for the ideal business name:

Woodcraft Name Generator: This name generator specializes in creating woodworking-related names. It allows you to input specific keywords or preferences related to your business, such as wood types, craftsmanship, or design styles. The generator then generates a list of relevant and creative name ideas for your woodworking business. Its a helpful tool for exploring different combinations and variations that align with your brand vision.

Crafted Names: Crafted Names is a versatile business name generator that covers a wide range of industries, including woodworking. It offers a simple and user-friendly interface where you can input keywords related to your woodworking business. The generator then generates a list of unique and creative name ideas based on your inputs. You can easily browse through the suggestions and select the ones that resonate with your brand identity and target audience.

Using woodworking name generators like Woodcraft Name Generator and Crafted Names can provide you with a wealth of creative options and spark new ideas for your woodworking business name. Remember to consider your brand identity, target audience, and industry when evaluating the generated company names. These generators can be valuable tools in your quest to find the perfect name that reflects the essence of your woodworking craftsmanship.

Tips for Creating Woodworking Business Names

When it comes to naming your woodworking business, selecting the right name is vital in establishing a strong brand identity. Consideration of key factors will ensure that your business name effectively reflects your woodcraft, resonates with your target audience, and distinguishes you from competitors. To help you in this process, here are some essential tips for creating a successful woodworking business name:

Reflect your craft: Ensure that your business name clearly communicates the essence of your woodworking brand. Incorporate words like woodcraft, woodworking, or custom furniture to represent your expertise and services accurately.

Utilize a woodworking business name generator: Explore the use of woodworking business name generators to spark creative ideas and discover unique name options. These tools can provide you with a range of suggestions that align with your woodcraft and resonate with your target audience.

Connect with your audience: Consider your target audiences preferences, values, and interests when crafting your business name. A name that speaks directly to their needs and desires will create a stronger connection and enhance brand loyalty.

Check for availability: Before finalizing your woodworking business name, conduct thorough research to ensure its availability. Check for existing trademarks, domain names, and social media handles to secure a consistent and unified online presence.

Strive for memorability: Aim for a memorable name that is easy to recall. A distinctive and catchy business name will help your woodworking brand stay top of mind and attract potential customers.

Showcase your uniqueness: Differentiate your woodworking business by choosing a name highlighting your unique selling points. Emphasize your craftsmanship, attention to detail, or specialization in a particular area of woodworking.

Consider your location: If you operate in Arizona or have a focus on custom furniture, consider incorporating location-specific or industry-related terms in your business name. This can help create a sense of local identity and attract customers searching for specific services in your area.

Remember, naming your woodworking business is an opportunity to establish a strong brand identity and create a lasting impression. By considering these tips, youll be on your way to selecting a compelling and effective name that reflects your wood craft, resonates with your target audience, and positions your woodworking brand for success.

Consider SEO When Naming Your Woodworking Business

When naming your woodworking business, its essential to consider search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure that your business can be easily discovered online. Optimizing your business name for search engines can significantly improve your online visibility and attract more potential customers. Here are a few key factors to consider when it comes to SEO and naming your woodworking business:

Firstly, include relevant keywords in your business name. Consider the terms people may use when searching for woodworking services or products. Incorporating keywords such as woodworking, custom woodworking, carpentry, custom furniture, woodcraft, or specific wood types can help search engines understand the nature of your business and match it with relevant search queries.

Secondly, aim for a unique and memorable business name. Standing out from the competition is crucial; a distinctive name can help you achieve that. Ensure that your name is easy to remember and spell, allowing customers to find you quickly. Avoid generic or common terms that may make it difficult for your business to rank well in search results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can two woodworking businesses have the same name?

While its possible, its not advisable. Having the same name can cause confusion among your potential customers and could lead to legal issues if the name is trademarked.

What makes a good woodworking business name?

A good woodworking business name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and reflective of your brands identity. It should also be unique to distinguish your business from the competition.

Remember, your woodworking business name is the first step in building your woodworking brand identity. A strong, memorable name can help set you up for success and help you attract your target market. Happy naming!
Jaleisa Lynn Wilcox, 33, of Lusby, MD, passed away on May 31, 2023. Her death was completely unexpected, leaving the family devastated and deeply saddened by her loss.



Jaleisa was born on February 7, 1990, to Anthony Palmer and Lucinda Wilcox in Ft. Myers, FL. After Jaleisa graduated from Cape Coral High, she moved to Western Massachusetts to reconnect with her family while evolving into a loving and caring mother of four children. She was very passionate about spending time with her kids.



Jaleisa was an entrepreneur and the owner of Quality Cleaners LLC. She loved what she did for a living and enjoyed connecting with her clients but was very straightforward and to the point and was the one who would tell you what you needed to hear and not what you wanted to hear. Jaleisa also spent her time helping others out when they needed it, the beach and camping with family at her "Happy Place" and most of all being a mother. She loved her children with all her heart.



Anyone who knew Jaleisa knew that she was loving, kind, compassionate, and always a source of positivity. Jaleisa's family and friends will miss her more than words can ever describe.



On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the family will receive friends or the memorial gathering from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with the memorial service beginning at 11:00 am at Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Interment will be private.



In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the funeral home to help cover the expenses.
Volunteers from the Night Watch patrol Bratislavas city centre.

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Nightlife in Bratislava has become safer after the city launched the Night Watch last year. Night Watch volunteers patrol streets where people gather and lend a helping hand to those who need help. This particularly goes for anyone who might be vulnerable, but the situation does not require calling the police or paramedics. They assist those who need to be accompanied home, have lost their phone or handbag, or are afraid to wait for the bus alone. With the launching of this non-repressive activity the city follows the example of other cities. The Street Angels patrol in Bradford, the Night Owls in Nottingham, or Nightsafe in York in in United Kingdom, just to mention a few.

Most of us have found ourselves in a situation where we needed some help, said Romana Radaciova, as cited by In.ba magazine. Although she is professionally involved in IT, she enrolled last year as a volunteer in the Night Watch service. This year she is one of its coordinators. I have travelled a lot of the world and found myself in similar situations. Thats why I appreciate this form of helping people who may have not thought through their options.

Night Watch in 2022

People on the streets received them very well, Radaciova said, when evaluating the first season of Night Watch. Most often they were finding out if people were okay, directing them, answering their questions, or referring them to other services in the city. They assisted people with getting a ride home when they had a glass or two of alcohol more that they could handle, or lost their shoes, for example. Most often they helped young people on Obchodna and Venturska Streets in the Old Town.

Last year 16 people showed interest in joining the Night Watch. Of them, six volunteers and two coordinators completed necessary training. They patrolled the streets of Bratislava since July until the end of September, on Friday and Saturday nights from 23:00 until 3:00. At the same time, three city staff members were also trained to provide professional and methodological guidance for the activity, as well as project coordination, also participating in the field service. Thus, 11 people in total helped in the streets of the city, Stanislava Nichtova, from the Department of Prevention and Risk Reduction for Vulnerable Groups at the Bratislava city council, explained for the magazine.

The Night Watch season starts earlier this year

In 2023, volunteers began to patrol the Bratislava streets in May, offering a helping hand to those in need before the end of summer semester at universities. Volunteers passed accredited training in first aid, anti-conflict behaviour, night field assistance, and training on the effects of narcotics on people in April, so they are ready to help on the streets at night.

We have provided new facilities for the volunteers and expanded the training to include situations the volunteers encountered in the field last year, said Nichtova. At the same time, compared to last year, we are offering volunteers the opportunity to complete a volunteer internship with us, which can be very interesting for students of psychology or social work.
Its decarbonisation plan based on installation of electric arc furnaces has a price tag exceeding 1 billion.

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The steelmaker U.S. Steel Kosice, one of the biggest green gas emitters in Slovakia, welcomes the allocation of 300 million from the EUs Recovery and Resilience Plan to decarbonise its steel production. But this amount will cover only a portion of expected costs estimated to exceed 1 billion.

This is the first of several steps necessary for the thorough consideration of a potential investment into USSK, said Jan Baca, USSK spokesperson as cited by the TASR newswire, when responding to the information that USSK had succeeded, as one of three companies, in applying for a grant from the Recovery Plan.

Any potential future investments into decarbonisation hinge on additional conditions, such as the grant support via the Modernisation Fund, the extension of the timetable to draw from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the identification of investment partners, competitive long-term electricity prices, and approval by the Unites States Steel Corporations board of directors, noted Baca.

Replacing blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces

The Kosice-based steelmaker, to make its steel production green, plans to replace two of its three blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces. Electric furnaces would also significantly reduce its dependence on ore and coke imports from Russia and Ukraine, and lower costs on emission allowances. They will mainly smelt scrap from Slovakia and neighbouring countries.

Based on the plan submitted for the environmental impact assessment last year, the total cost of modernising the factory could reach 1.3 billion. Under it, USSK plans to build a new metallurgical plant, which will combine production, and casting and rolling of steel with new progressive technologies. It will consist of two electric arc furnaces, off-site steel processing facilities and one continuous casting and hot rolling line with a steel production capacity of up to 3.1 million tonnes per year.

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Related article Slovakias industry strives to be greener, needs more money and time Read more

Three companies qualified

The Environment Ministry announced on Monday that it would allocate a total of 317 million to three companies for green investments. The money will be divided among USSK, the cement producer Danucem Slovensko and bricks producer Wienerberger. Each of the latter will receive 8.4 million.

Through these projects, Slovakia will be able to cut its emissions by more than 3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by 2026 at the very latest, said Environment Minister Milan Chrenko. This is a comparable volume of greenhouse gas emissions that half a million Slovaks produce annually. These measures will also ensure a one-fifth reduction in all carbon dioxide emissions emitted here by companies participating in emission trading last year.
Were all alike, says organiser.

Bardejov will hold its first pride parade to support the rights of LGBT+ people in Slovakia. (Source: Courtesy of Pride Bardejov)

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There used to be three pride parades in Slovakia - one for each major part of the country. After Bratislava, Kosice and Banska Bystrica Bardejov will now have its first parade, which was organised by three parents.

Were the first pride parade that flies three flags: the rainbow flag for queer pride, Bardejov flag for the city, and a Slovak one for the country, Adam Dzamba, 43, told The Slovak Spectator. Along with Erika Fricka and Lubor Balovic, Dzamba is one of the three parents and organising forces behind the Bardejov pride parade.

Dzamba explains that people should not be afraid to fly the Slovak flag. First, were all Slovak. That makes us alike, it makes us closer, says the parent.

Reclaiming the flag from extremist demonstrations to use in queer parades is a sign of resistance, Dzamba reckons. When participants show up and see all the queer and non-queer people, then notice the three flags above them, they might change their point of view. Suddenly, queer people are not some vague, mysterious group, they are their neighbours, friends, nurses, bakers, drivers and children from Bardejov, united all together.

Not afraid
While Amsterdams famed coffeeshopscafes where the coffee is normally pretty bad but at least you can buy a rollieare currently in limbo, at least as far whether or not they will remain open to tourists, they may soon find a new home across the pond. Like, way across it, in California. A bill is working its way through the state government that would allow Amsterdam-style cannabis coffeeshops to operate.

As reported by KTLA, the bill, AB 374, was proposed by Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco and has passed through the State Assembly with a vote of 64 to 9, receiving sweeping bipartisan support. Under current California law, marijuana purveyors can only operate under the dispensary model; you buy what you want and you take it home. AB 374 would allow locations to diversify their offerings away from the cannabis-only model they are currently allowed. Coffee, food, and live music are all offered as potential revenue streams for cannabis sellers in the press release from Haneys office.

AB 374 will allow struggling cannabis businesses to diversity away from the marijuana-only dispensary model and bring much-needed tourist dollars into empty downtowns Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others, said Haney. And many people want to do that while sipping coffee, eating a scone, or listening to music. Theres absolutely no good reason from an economic, health, or safety standpoint that the state should make that illegal.

Per KTLA, the cannabis industry in California has struggled, due to high taxes and a thriving black market. With AB 374, Haney hopes that statewide cannabis shops will see an influx of capital similar to that of Amsterdams, where the 700 coffeeshops account for over $1 billion in sales per year, much of it from tourists.

Still, AB 374 has a few more hurdles to clear before it can be enacted into law, including sign-off from the governor, but it is off to a promising start. One can but hope that California can improve upon Amsterdams coffeeshop model in one key way: make the coffee actually good. There are too many world-class coffee scenes and roasters in California for bad coffee to be served, well, anywhere. But should you find yourself in Amsterdam looking for the perfect nexus of cannabis and coffee, dont worry, weve got you covered.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
When you think of Scotland, whats the first city that comes to mind? Okay fine, what about the second? After that? Aberdeen is Scotlands third largest city, but even with a population of nearly 200,000 and two prestigious universities it can often feel a world away from Edinburgh and Glasgow just a couple of hours to the south.

For one thing, its very far norththe city shares a latitude with Sitka, Alaska, and is much further north than both Edmonton and Calgaryand its location hunkered on the shores of the North Sea gives it a wild, windy, and unpredictable climate. When the sun does shine, however, Aberdeens granite buildings glitter silver, leading to its nickname the silver city with the golden sands.

Good coffee has taken its time to reach the cityagain, very far northbut the last few years has seen an increase in the number of specialty cafes popping up around town.

While once it was a major fishing, textile, and shipbuilding hub, Aberdeen is today known as the capital of North Sea oil and gas. Coffee is of course often (apocryphally) said to be the second-most traded commodity after oil, so the next time youre in far northeast Scotland be on the lookout for these coffee shops serving the other black gold.

Foodstory

What began as a tiny Kickstarted cafe back in 2013 has grown into a mini-chain of sorts including a coffee hut at the beach, a zero-waste cafe near the university in Old Aberdeen, and most recently a satellite location in Edinburgh.

Foodstorys flagship cafe on Thistle Street in the west end is a rambling, atmospheric space with big windows along the front and a collage of mismatched furniture dotted about. A hulking reclaimed wood bar runs along the back wall, which is covered in chalkboards denoting the food and coffee options.

Pride of place on the bar is a La Marzocco Linea PB, providing espresso-based drinks with assistance from Victoria Arduino and Mazzer grinders while non-spro options include Moccamaster drip brewers as well as an assortment of manual brew methods. A Mahlkonig EK43 is on hand ready to grind the coffee, which comes from a variety of Scotlands best roasters including Dear Green and Obadiah Coffee.

Theres an extensive plant-based menu from morning till night, while upstairs an event space hosts everything from yoga to second-hand clothes sales to reggae dance parties.

The Cult of Coffee

Just a couple of blocks north of Foodstory on Esslemont Ave, the Cult of Coffee focuses less on food and more on cake alongside the coffee. The occult-inspired logos adorning the windows and the symbols decorating the bars subway tile facade offer nods to the cafes name, but other than that its all pretty much as expectedanyone hoping for be-robed baristas, pentagrams, and candlelit interiors will come away disappointed.

The cafes corner location means there are four huge windows illuminating the space, which is dominated by a line of booths down one wall, a wood-burning stove against the other, and in the middle a big floating shelf that holds retail coffee and brewing equipment. Behind that, towards the back of the cafe, is the bar which is itself dominated by an array of glass domes displaying the latest cake options.

Against the back wall is the espresso setup, a La Marzocco Linea PB with a Mahlkonig E80s and Mazzer Luigi Spa grinders for company, while Hario V60 and Moccamaster drip brews are available, ground via a Mahlkonig EK43. Coffee is provided by Ediburghs Artisan Roast, although there is always a rotating selection of guest roasters available from across the UK.

Figment Coffee

One of the newer cafes on this list, Figment Coffee was started in 2018 by Neil Glover who was looking for a change after a career in oil and gas. Having spent a lot of time in Texas for work, Glover was inspired by the states specialty coffee scene and vowed to bring a slice back to northeast Scotland.

The result is a big, airy, minimalist space that wouldnt feel out of place across the pond. What was formerly a Blockbuster Video has been transformed, with exposed steel beams and painted brick offset by lots of slatted blonde wood and low-hanging, intimate lighting. Coffee is roasted in-house on a Diedrich IR-12, and then brewed on a Synesso MVP Hydra three-group or a Wilbur Curtis Gold Cup, depending on your preference, with support from Mahlkonig EK43 and Peak grinders.

The other thing Glover wanted to bring back to Scotland was a proper American brunch, so Figment also offers a seasonally-changing range of morning fare as well as guest pop-ups from local food trucks, while an extended evening food and wine menu is in the works.

Mount Cafe

Definitely the newest cafe on this list, Mount opened its doors on Upperkirkgate in the heart of Aberdeen in October 2022. Founded by two avid hillwalkers and inspired by a mission to create an outdoor experience, inside, Mount is also a self-styled lifestyle store and offers a thoughtfully-designed interior full of goods from local makers.

The space revolves around a central bar clad in vertical wooden strips set between white block pillars. Seating takes the form of simple tables which line the right hand wall, stools along the front window (which has an amazing view of Marischal College, pictured at the top of this article), and a comfy sofa setup semi-secretly tucked around the back of the bar.

Coffee is provided by local roaster Long Walk Coffee and brewed using a custom-painted green La Marzocco Linea and a Compak grinder. For those with a sweet tooth theres an ever-changing array of baked goods arriving from local partner baker Just One More.

The Coffee Apothecary

Okay so this one technically isnt in Aberdeen, but just a short (and glorious) drive north brings you to the tiny village of Udny and the north-easts hidden gem, the Coffee Apothecary.

Actually it might not be a hidden gem anymoreits been featured on Sprudge and has become a must-stop for cyclists and anyone else visiting the area. The cafes rural setting and welcoming atmosphere belies a modern approach to coffee and food presented by its husband-and-wife team.

Coffee is provided by Artisan Roast (for the time being, more details to come) and prepared using a by-now-ubiquitous La Marzocco Linea PB or, for those looking for something different, a Marco SP9 automated pour-over. All this is supported by Ceado E37T and Mahlkonig EK43 grinders. The locally sourced, seasonal food menu ranges from hearty breakfasts to more refined evening fare, and theres plenty of cake offerings for those who visit in the afternoons.

The Coffee Apothecary has become so popular that theres now a second location in the comparatively bustling town of Ellon to the east, and the owners were able to crowdfund a brand-new roastery that is beginning to take shape behind the Udny cafe.

Fionn Pooler is a journalist based in Scotland, and the publisher of The Pourover. Read more Fionn Pooler on Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/russian-fm-lavrov-the-wests-anti-russian-plans-will-not-come-true-1110936777.html

Russian FM Lavrov: The West's Anti-Russian Plans 'Will Not Come True'

Russian FM Lavrov: The West's Anti-Russian Plans 'Will Not Come True'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Tajikistan on Monday, speaking about a variety of topics, Including relations between Russia and Europe and the destructive influence of the US.

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During a speech to staff at a Russian military base, Lavrov noted that anti-Russian plans of the West will never come true.Lavrov further indicated that the West is always looking to open a second or even third front against Russia, including in Central Asia."The West is constantly looking for additional directions from which to irritate the Russia, open the second and third fronts," said Lavrov, adding that Central Asia is also being considered as a potential front against Russia in addition to South Caucasus.Lavrov also took the opportunity to mention that the US is not interested in seeing peace and calm in Afghanistan, adding that Washington supports terrorist groups.Lavrov also highlighted the fact that Europe has decided to wage a war against Russia, and Moscow needs to achieve its goals in this war.Russian top diplomat also stated that delivering F-16 jets to Ukraine is another escalation as the fighter has one modification that is nuclear-capable.According to Lavrov, nothing is ruled out when it comes to Western military aid to Ukraine.In conclusion, Lavrov pointed out that "the determination has accumulated [in Russia] never to be led by the rules that Washington imposes. For a long time, if not quickly, but steadily, it [the US] is losing its role, more and more countries are disappointed in them."Lavrov is also scheduled to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and hold talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirodjiddin Mukhriddin. The Russian foreign minister's visit will last two days, during which he will also address the Russian-Tajik University.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia**Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/russias-lavrov-to-hold-talks-with-tajik-president-foreign-minister-1110936645.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/americans-might-understand-pushkin-more-easily-than-byron---us-poet-1110950242.html

Americans Might Understand Pushkin More Easily Than Byron - US Poet

Americans Might Understand Pushkin More Easily Than Byron - US Poet

Americans might more easily understand "Eugene Onegin," the masterpiece of renowned Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, than Lord Byrons Don Juan, US translator of Pushkins works and poet Julian Henry Lowenfeld told Sputnik.

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On June 6, Pushkin's birthday, Russia and the United Nations annually observe Russian Language Day. Lowenfeld has just completed his translation of the masterpiece that Pushkin began writing 200 years ago. "By chance, Pushkin began writing Onegin on May 9, 1823. And I chanced to finish translating it on May 9, 2023. Curious little way to celebrate the bicentennial," he said. Lowenfeld noted that nowadays, the novel is universally acknowledged to be the crown jewel of Russian literature, but during his lifetime, Pushkin was twice exiled and experienced problems with censorship. Some of the chapters published serially received terrible reviews from critics, Lowenfeld said. At the same time, many obvious things then will now be difficult for a modern reader to understand without comments and notes. For example, the use of the term "bolivar," referring to a hat named after the South American revolutionary leader Simon Bolivar. Lowenfeld said that by wearing such a hat, Onegin, and thereby Pushkin, is sending a message: down with the monarchists, down with the Tsar. "The readers of the time understood that but we would not," he said. Lowenfeld emphasized that "Eugene Onegin" is the "greatest work of the greatest poet in the Russian language, but for all of its surpassing beauty, it is quite an indictment of Russian society." Lowenfeld also said, while acknowledging some doubt, that Pushkin could become a cultural bridge between Russians and Americans. "Pushkin had a Jeffersonian belief in human dignity and freedom; he wrote odes to liberty. Its no accident that whenever people try to organize some sort of democratic protest in Russia, they usually go to Pushkin Square in Moscow to express their views near his monument," he said. "Pushkin was for love and freedom: absolutely universal human values," Lowenfeld added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20150907/lowenfeld-pushkin-poetry-1026694653.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ankara-to-continue-dialogue-with-un-to-remove-obstacles-on-grain-deal---source-1110951000.html

Ankara to Continue Dialogue With UN to Remove Obstacles on Grain Deal - Source

Ankara to Continue Dialogue With UN to Remove Obstacles on Grain Deal - Source

Ankara is aware of Russia's position on the lack of prospects for extending the grain deal and will continue to work together with the UN to remove obstacles, a source familiar with the talks told Sputnik on Tuesday.

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On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said that Moscow sees no prospects for extending the grain deal. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, in turn, said on Monday that the United Nations continues "constant discussions" over the Black Sea Grain Deal with its partners, including Russia and Ukraine."The discussions are going on, we keep constant discussions with our partners within the framework of the JCC [Joint Coordination Center], including the Russian Federation and Ukraine," Dujarric told reporters when asked to comment on the statement of Russian Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin that Moscow sees no prospects for extending the grain deal.Dujarric pointed out that the grain initiative is critical to address a world food crisis and hunger. He also underscored the importance of the memorandum of understanding the UN signed with Russia on fertilizers.In mid-May, the grain deal was extended until July 17 without any changes. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that if the problematic issues with the deal, including Moscow's demand to reconnect the Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT system and relaunch the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, are not addressed within two months, the deal will be terminated after July 17.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230522/kremlin-on-grain-deal-position-of-western-countries-complicates-process-1110517064.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/australia-plans-to-supply-ukraine-with-hawkei-armored-cars-in-new-support-package---reports-1110947226.html

Australia Plans to Supply Ukraine With Hawkei Armored Cars in New Support Package - Reports

Australia Plans to Supply Ukraine With Hawkei Armored Cars in New Support Package - Reports

Australia plans to provide Ukraine with light protected vehicles Hawkei as part of a new package of military support, a Australian daily reported on Tuesday citing unnamed sources familiar with the issue.

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The formal deal between Canberra and Kiev is yet to be sealed, but the sides have reached an agreement, the sources told the newspaper. The supply is expected to be announced before Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's trip to NATO summit in Lithuania in July, the report added. The newspaper said that the Australian army opposed supplying the vehicles due to brakes malfunction and necessity to provide Kiev with many spare parts. However, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that it did not care about the brakes issues. In April, the ministry pleaded Canberra for the supply as the Hawkei was "a new crush" of Ukrainian troops. Earlier in the day, Australian Financial Review reported that Canberra considered providing 41 retired fighter jets F/A 18-Hornet for Kiev instead of sending them to the scrapheap. Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various types of weapon systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev, saying they would be regarded as a legitimate military target.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/blinken-dismisses-calls-for-ceasefire-as-ukraine-offensive-flops-1110937503.html

Blinken Dismisses Calls for Ceasefire as Ukraine Offensive Flops

Blinken Dismisses Calls for Ceasefire as Ukraine Offensive Flops

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pushed back against international calls for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

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Blinken Dismisses Calls For Ceasefire as Ukraine Offensive Flops US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pushed back against international calls for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pushed back against international calls for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Also, NATO weapons were used in attacks on Russian soil.KJ Noh, writer, teacher, and activist, Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, joins us to discuss China. The US-China war would be a global disaster. Also, the US CIA chief took a secret trip to Beijing.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss the US Empire. The G7 meeting demonstrated that the US Empire is using its vassals for cold war attacks but some of the colonies are starting to push back.Misty Winston, radio host and free speech and press freedom activist, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The FBI is playing for team Biden. Also, questions about the validity of the Durham investigation are rising.Laith Marouf, broadcaster, and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Israel's crisis of democracy is that many of its citizens do not have representation and face extreme oppression.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Weapons shipped to Ukraine are showing up in the hands of Mexican drug gangs. Also, the US Empire is a pile of steaming dollar debt.Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economy. The CEO of Lockheed Martin is celebrating the debt deal.Kim Ives, filmmaker, journalist, and editor at Haiti Liberte, joins us to discuss Haiti. In a recent interview, Haiti Liberte publisher Kim Ives argues that Haiti's political solution must be revolutionary.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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the critical hour, ukraine counteroffensive, are nato weapons used in attacks on russia, is us-china war possible, mexican drug gangs
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/chinese-us-senior-diplomats-discuss-improving-bilateral-relations-1110947475.html

Chinese, US Senior Diplomats Discuss Improving Bilateral Relations

Chinese, US Senior Diplomats Discuss Improving Bilateral Relations

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink held a constructive discussion on improving bilateral relations and managing differences during their meeting in Beijing on June 5, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

2023-06-06T12:37+0000

2023-06-06T12:37+0000

2023-06-06T12:37+0000

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"The two sides held frank, constructive and productive communication to promote the improvement of Sino-US relations and the proper management and control of differences in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Bali last November," the ministry said in a statement.China also clarified its position on Taiwan and other major foreign policy issues, according to the statement. Both sides agreed to continue their exchanges. Kritenbrink was accompanied by Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs of the US National Security Council Sarah Beran. Kritenbrinks visit to Beijing is part of his June 4-10 tour, during which he is also scheduled to visit New Zealand. The Biden administration has expressed interest in rescheduling Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China, which was canceled in the wake of the balloon incident in early February, but is still awaiting a response from Beijing.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230518/washington-mulling-possibility-of-sending-us-officials-on-visit-to-china---reports-1110434626.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ex-intel-officer-scott-ritter-portrays-ukraines-counter-offensive-as-dead-end-1110956743.html

Ex-Intel Officer Scott Ritter Portrays Ukraine's Counter-Offensive as Dead End

Ex-Intel Officer Scott Ritter Portrays Ukraine's Counter-Offensive as Dead End

According to Scott Ritter, the idea of a possible victory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their counter-offensive against Russia belongs to the annals of the bizarre fantasy world of neocons in the West. Given Russia's modernized military capacity and capability, it is practically impossible to envisage such a possibility.

2023-06-06T16:11+0000

2023-06-06T16:11+0000

2023-06-06T16:11+0000

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Scott Ritter unpacked the motives that culminated in Ukraine's counter-offensive plan while reacting to a Victoria Nuland's speech on the subject during the 15th Annual Kiev Security Forum for Our and Your Freedom/Fighting for NATO held on May 25-26. He criticized Nuland's posturing as "not to achieve the Ukrainian goal and objective," but clearly disguised as "the ultimate American goal of destroying Russia." Before the end of the summer of 2023, Scott Ritter believes there will be nothing left of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This is against the backdrop of steady flows of military and financial support from the US, NATO, and other partners in the West. In the meantime, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale offensive on June 4, 2023, but they were handed heavy losses - a predictable fate that the ex-intelligence officer foresaw."You would not commit the best forces you have into a battle that isn't your primary focus of effort. [...] Well, the brigades that Ukraine is preparing to throw into the battle are 9 to 12 brigades that have been created. These brigades have been being formed since October and November of last year. There's no other brigades and there's nothing being prepared to replace them. [...] It's not as though, you know, when these 12 brigades get destroyed and they're getting destroyed as we speak, it's not like we got another 12 out there ready to go," Ritter opined.For more in-depth analysis of current affairs, check out our Sputnik News show Fault Lines.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ukraine-launches-long-awaited-offensive-in-several-directions-fails-in-all---russian-defense-chief-1110954414.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ex-new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-files-paperwork-for-2024-presidential-bid-1110965062.html

Ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Announces 2024 Presidential Bid

Ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Announces 2024 Presidential Bid

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie officially announced on Tuesday that he will join the 2024 Republican presidential primary race.

2023-06-06T19:54+0000

2023-06-06T19:54+0000

2023-06-07T00:04+0000

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"I intend to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2024 and I want your support," Christie said Tuesday evening.Christie in a tweet after the announcement said he is running "because the truth still matters."Hours earlier, the one-time governor officially filed paperwork to run for US president in the 2024 election, a Federal Election Commission filing had revealed. "I hereby designate the following named political committee as my Principal Campaign Committee for the 2024 election(s), CHRIS CHRISTIE FOR PRESIDENT, INC.," the filing said. Christie joins a crowded race for the Republican nomination in the presidential election that includes former President Donald Trump, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork to run for president on Monday, but is expected to officially announce his bid soon. Christie ran against Trump during the 2020 presidential race and later became an aide for his campaign.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/mike-pence-files-paperwork-to-run-for-us-president-1110927408.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/ex-pentagon-analyst-kievs-terror-attack-on-kakhovka-dam-may-disrupt-western-support-1110960556.html

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Kiev's Terror Attack on Kakhovka Dam May Disrupt Western Support

Ex-Pentagon Analyst: Kiev's Terror Attack on Kakhovka Dam May Disrupt Western Support

The destruction of Novaya Kakhovka dam by the Ukrainian military poses a danger to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and might become the tipping point for consolidated US political and military support for Kiev, retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski told Sputnik.

2023-06-06T17:47+0000

2023-06-06T17:47+0000

2023-06-06T17:47+0000

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"It was shocking to see the video of the damaged dam, and more shocking to realize not just the potential for downstream damage to people but the damage that may have been done to water supplies needed to cool the Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant," retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik. "Like many Americans, I may have underestimated the Ukrainian leadership's desire to physically harm and destroy the Russian-controlled and populated regions in the east."The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant's (HPP) dam was heavily hit on Tuesday morning by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, releasing a huge amount of water down the Dnepr River. The HPP is located five kilometers away from the city of Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson region, which joined Russia along with other territories last year following a series of referendums. The destruction of the dam endangers 14 settlements and 22,000 residents; may create irrigation and water feed problems for Crimea and other southern Russian regions; and poses a risk to the cooling system of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), controlled by Russia.Kwiatkowski drew attention to the fact that Kiev's attack on the HPP was preceded by months of the Ukrainian military attacks against the Russian-held Zaporozhye NPP, despite the obvious risk of a nuclear meltdown, impacting the region and beyond.According to the former Pentagon analyst, "this attack, like other recent actions of Ukraine, have all the characteristics of a terror attack, impacting civilians and civilian life, and not geared towards recovering lost land or assets, but destroying them."Per Kwiatkowski, the attack on the Kakhovka HPP is the logical continuation of Ukraine's recent terror attacks on Russia's Belgorod region; and increased drone attacks on Russian cities, including Moscow, ahead of the much discussed Ukrainian "counteroffensive."Kiev Has Record of Terror Attacks on Russia and US Media is Aware of ThatEarlier, the Kiev regime resorted to bombing attacks against on the Crimean Bridge, connecting the Russian peninsula and the mainland, Russias Saki Air Base on the western coast of Crimea, December 2022 drone strikes against Russian military bases in Ryazan and Engels, and an August 2022 car bomb that killed Daria Dugina, the daughter of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin. At the time, Washington distanced itself from the attacks, claiming that Kiev is "not always transparent with their American counterparts about their military operations," which "have frustrated US officials," as per US mainstream media reports.As per another document, cited by the media, Zelensky "expressed concern" that "Ukraine does not have long-range missiles capable of reaching Russian troop deployments in Russia nor anything with which to attack them"; he then "suggested that Ukraine attack unspecified deployment locations in Rostov," a western Russian city. The US media outlet remarked that the troves "reveal a leader with aggressive instincts that sharply contrast with his public-facing image as the calm and stoic statesman."Support for Kiev is Already WaningMeanwhile, the Western mainstream press has jumped at the opportunity to point the finger at Russia once the Kiev regime blamed the destruction of the dam on Moscow. However, according to Kwiatkowski, there is not as much unity within the Pentagon ranks about the perception of what's going on in Ukraine as there was at the beginning of the conflict.She suspects that "the US security decision-makers are coming undone, and beginning to finger-point between the Biden appointees and the Pentagon professionals." There is also a group of US lawmakers which is publicly questioning Washington's support for the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, "in an era of tight budgets and economic downturns."On top of that, Joe Biden's main competitors in the 2024 race, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Robert Kennedy Jr., "oppose the US proxy war in Ukraine," she added.Destruction of Dam May Become Point of No Return for KievWhen the dust settles and it is ultimately clear that the dam was destroyed by the Ukrainian military, both US neocons and the Kiev regime will find themselves between a rock and a hard place, according to the retired lieutenant colonel."My personal sense is that the US is and has been seeking a way to extricate itself from the insanity of the Kiev-Washington-neocon axis," Kwiatkowski said. "I suspect that Zelensky is very aware of this, as he has been facing serious snubs from erstwhile political allies in several recent international meetings of heads of state, and his best ally Joe Biden is increasingly viewed as feeble and one to fall away from early retirement."As per Kwiatkowski, the Ukrainian attack on the Kakhovka HPP "might be the tipping point for consolidated US political and military support for Kiev, and also be enough to finally get the European and NATO leaders to start listening to their own people."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/what-do-we-know-about-kakhovka-hydroelectric-power-plant-attacked-by-kiev-forces-1110941220.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/fact-check-who-attacked-novaya-kakhovka-dam-1110946820.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/scott-ritter-kakhovka-dam-attack-designed-to-cure-wests-ukraine-fatigue-1110958667.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230525/ex-pentagon-analyst-biden-faces-shrinking-options-on-ukraine-1110580213.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/kakhovka-dam-attack-mapping-the-fallout-from-ukrainian-strike-1110949069.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/fbi-director-chris-wray-will-face-contempt-of-congress-charges-1110936548.html

FBI Director Chris Wray Will Face Contempt of Congress Charges

FBI Director Chris Wray Will Face Contempt of Congress Charges

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including FBI director Chris Wray being held in contempt of Congress, and Former FBI agent Robert Hanssen passing away in prison.

2023-06-06T04:06+0000

2023-06-06T04:06+0000

2023-06-06T10:51+0000

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FBI Director Chris Wray will Face Contempt of Congress Charges On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including FBI director Chris Wray being held in contempt of Congress, and Former FBI agent Robert Hanssen passing away in prison.

Ian Shilling - Geopolitical Analyst, Researcher, and Blogger | Don't Bash Dr. Fauci, The Modern Media Hate Facts, and Things that Don't Make SenseJim Hoft - Founder of The Gateway Pundit | The Biden Crime Family Scandal, Contempt Charges, and the FBI protects the Biden crime family In the first hour, Lee spoke with Ian Shilling about the media defense for Dr. Fauci, how COVID-19 enriched the big pharma industry, and independent media. Ian explained the patents held by Dr. Fauci and the media avoiding the fact Dr. Fauci owns patents on certain vaccines. Ian explained the facts in the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. book and how facts are dangerous against the establishment. In the second hour, Lee spoke with Jim Hoft about the prison term for Steve Bannon, FBI misconduct, and pardons for January 6th prisoners. Jim commented on the Democrat defense for the FBI and the uniparty in Washington DC. Jim spoke about the issues within the Republican party and the corruption within the US government.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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the backstory, the biden crime family scandal, fbi protects the biden family, big pharma industry, january 6th prisoners
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/finland-informs-russian-charge-daffaires-about-expulsion-of-diplomats-1110959476.html

Finland Informs Russian Charge d'Affaires About Expulsion of Diplomats

Finland Informs Russian Charge d'Affaires About Expulsion of Diplomats

The Finnish Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it summoned the Russian charge daffaires to inform him about the expulsion of nine employees of the Russian embassy.

2023-06-06T16:38+0000

2023-06-06T16:38+0000

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Today, the Finnish Foreign Ministry summoned the charge daffaires of Russia, who was notified of the expulsion of nine people working in the Russian embassy and identified as intelligence officers, the ministry said in a statement.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/france-warns-japans-nato-office-bid-would-worsen-tension-with-china---report-1110938917.html

France Warns Japan's NATO Office Bid Would Worsen 'Tension With China' - Report

France Warns Japan's NATO Office Bid Would Worsen 'Tension With China' - Report

France is reluctant to approve plans for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to open an office in Tokyo, Japan, next year, according to a US report.

2023-06-06T08:12+0000

2023-06-06T08:12+0000

2023-06-06T08:12+0000

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France is reluctant to approve plans for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to open an office in Tokyo, Japan, next year, according to a US report.Paris purportedly believes that NATO should limit its reach to the region set out specifically in the blocs charter  the North Atlantic. Frances leader, President Emmanuel Macron, was leery of getting on board with any plan that contributes to NATO-China tension, an insider was cited as saying.Furthermore, the alliances would-be liaison office in Japan could ostensibly undermine European credibility with the People's Republic of China (PRC) amid efforts to drive a wedge between Beijing and Moscow. Earlier in the year, the EU accused the PRC of mulling supplying lethal support to Moscow amid the Ukraine conflagration  something that China has rejected. Beijing has underscored that it was the United States and not China that is endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield.Macron was also cited as saying just a week earlier that, "If . . . we push NATO to enlarge the spectrum and the geography, we will make a big mistake."Indo-Pacific 'Engagement'The US report added that if NATO did establish a Tokyo office, it would make the alliance's "Indo-Pacific engagement" formal and sustainable. However, establishing a new NATO office would require unanimous support from all members of the bloc's North Atlantic Council. There has not yet been any official comment on the issue beyond the confirmation of "ongoing deliberations." But Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told US media on May 10 that Tokyo is in talks to open a NATO liaison bureau, which would be the first of its kind in Asia. "We are already in discussions, but no details (have been) finalized yet" the top Japanese official said. Japanese Ambassador to the US Koji Tomita similarly told reporters that the country was "working" towards opening such an office but provided no further details.NATO has liaison offices scattered across the globe, and Japan and the bloc have been cited as discussing the opening of a Tokyo office since 2007, when then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the military bloc's headquarters. Tokyo, which is not a formal member of the 31-nation collective defense alliance, but is its "global partner," has been bolstering its ties with NATO of late, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida becoming the first Japanese leader to attend an alliance summit in June 2022. The government of Japanese PM Kishida has approved a spate of policy documents which envisage doubling the nation's defense expenditures within the next five years. The French hesitance to greenlight the move comes as back in April, following Macron's visit to Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials, the French leader let forth a string of statements that set him up for a barrage of heavy flak from politicians in Washington and Pariss allies in Europe. Macron had urged the EU not to allow itself to be sucked into the confrontation between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, stating that Europe must diminish its dependency on the US and build up its "strategic autonomy". Europe should avoid being "caught up in crises that are not ours," the French president had said, implying China-US tensions over Taiwan.After the swift backlash, Macron doubled down, clarifying that being an ally of Washington does not mean being a vassaldoes not mean that we dont have the right to think for ourselves. Paris, he said, supports the One China policy and the search for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan tensions, and should not be followers of Washingtons agenda.The French president is also known for his 2019 claim that NATO was experiencing what he called "brain death", as the US under then-President Donald Trump was scaling down its defense commitments in Europe. The French head of state also pushed for Europe to build up its own defense capabilities and a more independent foreign policy. However, he backtracked on his statements following the inauguration of Joe Biden.Meanwhile, amid spiraling US-China tensions over Washington's ties with Taiwan, NATO allies have been bolstering their presence in the Indo-Pacific region, whether it is the alliances, such as AUKUS, which groups the country with Australia and the UK, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) with Australia, India and Japan. On top of that, Washington is part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) initiative, which was established in May 2022 and now includes 13 other members, such as Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand. The United States argued it was not trying to create a NATO-like alliance in the Indo-Pacific region, with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin saying at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that it was, "rightful that European countries would remain interested in making sure that we have good relationship with countries in the region.However, China has warned that such a policy is fraught with consequences for the region.Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore, China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu argued that "in essence, to push for" such alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is "a way of kidnapping regional countries and fuelling confrontation, which will only plunge the Asia-Pacific into a whirlpool of disputes and conflicts."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/natos-liaison-office-in-japan-part-of-plan-to-destabilize-china-and-russia-1110263884.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/macrons-push-for-ukraine-and-taiwan-peace-genuine-attempt-to-escape-us-vassalage-or-pr-stunt-1109711566.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230603/us-not-trying-to-create-nato-like-alliance-in-indo-pacific-region---defense-chief-1110868816.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230604/china-warns-nato-like-alliances-in-asia-may-plunge-region-into-whirlpool-of-conflicts-1110897321.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/iran-eyes-regional-energy-hub-status-through-cooperation-with-turkmenistan-1110962353.html

Iran Eyes Regional Energy Hub Status Through Cooperation With Turkmenistan

Iran Eyes Regional Energy Hub Status Through Cooperation With Turkmenistan

Iran is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world, selling most of its energy to Asian markets amid US threats of secondary sanctions. In light of the restrictions, the Islamic Republic has pushed to dramatically ramp up its economic, energy, and security cooperation with its Eurasian neighbors.

2023-06-06T18:05+0000

2023-06-06T18:05+0000

2023-06-06T18:20+0000

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gurbanguly berdimuhamedow

iran

turkmenistan

russia

gas

oil and gas

energy

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Iran is interested in becoming a major regional energy hub by making effective use of a gas swap agreement with Turkmenistan.While the previous administration had concentrated its economic activities on Western countries, the current administration activated the energy diplomacy and revived its trade cooperation with neighboring countries, especially Turkmenistan, Malek Shariati, a spokesman for the Iranian parliaments Energy Commission, was quoted as saying by local media.Increasing gas cooperation between Tehran and Ashgabat would serve two purposes, according to the spokesman: turning Iran into an energy hub, and helping to meet growing demand for gas in Irans northern and northeastern provinces.Iran has the capacity to import between 40 and 50 million cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan per day, according to Shariati.Iran, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan signed a 1.5-2 billion cubic meter trilateral gas swap agreement in 2021, under which Iran would receive natural gas from Turkmenistan and export an equivalent amount to Azerbaijan. The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding to double the swamp amount last year.Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow last Wednesday, saying there was tremendous potential for expanded economic cooperation between Tehran and Ashkhabad in electricity, gas, roads, and water. The Islamic Republic is ready for cooperation in these areas, Khamenei said.Turkmenistan has over 19.5 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves, fourth largest in the world after Russia, Iran, and Qatar. Iran has over 34 trillion cubic meters of proven natural gas, but its major gas fields are concentrated in the countrys south, hence the need for imports from its neighbor, particularly in the winter months.Energy HubIran has expressed ambitions for energy hub status amid efforts to integrate more closely with Eurasian economic and political organizations, and a rethink of hopes to restore cooperation with Western energy buyers as its oil and gas continue to hang under the Sword of Damocles of American secondary sanctions threats. Last year, Parliamentary Energy Commission member Mustafa Nakhai said Irans membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would become an opportunityto improve Irans position in the field of energy and become the energy hub of the region.Last October, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said oil and gas cooperation with Russia would also assist in the Islamic Republics energy hub ambitions. Owji pointed to joint Russian-Iranian investments in exploration and production, technology swap agreements, and a deal seeing Iran and Russia jointly building oil pipelines from Iran to Oman and Iran to Pakistan. The minister estimated that agreements between Iran and Russia in the energy sector amount to some $40 billion.Tehran and Moscow signed two major cooperation agreements and eight memorandums of understanding in talks in Tehran last month, covering everything from energy and technology to the creation of a joint market, including an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the Rasht-Astana railway line. The latter, to be built over the next three years, is expected to boost trade via the international North-South Transport Corridor  an ambitious 7,200 km trade route linking the Caspian Sea neighbors and Russia to the Persian Gulf and India, without using Western-controlled sea lanes.Russian President Vladimir Putin expects the new route to cut the transit time of goods from northern Russia and India by 2/3 or even more compared to traditional routes when completed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/how-will-saudi-arabias-oil-cuts-affect-energy-market-and-when-will-brent-hit-100-1110928109.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/pepe-escobar-eurasian-heartland-rises-to-challenge-the-west-1110600622.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230517/russian-deputy-pm-novak-reveals-details-of-ambitious-eurasian-trade-route-1110423788.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/iran-reopens-embassy-in-saudi-arabia---reports-1110959248.html

Iran Reopens Embassy in Saudi Arabia - Reports

Iran Reopens Embassy in Saudi Arabia - Reports

Iran reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabias Riyadh on Tuesday as the countries restored diplomatic ties following a seven-year rift, an Arabic news television channelreported.

2023-06-06T16:32+0000

2023-06-06T16:32+0000

2023-06-06T16:32+0000

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According to the broadcaster, diplomats from both countries attended the opening ceremony of the fully renovated Iranian embassy in the Saudi capital. In early March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with China's mediation, agreed to resume diplomatic relations that were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked following the execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr. The agreement on the restoration of diplomatic ties and preparation for the opening of diplomatic missions was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries at a festive ceremony in April. The deal provides, in particular, for the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, mutual visits of top diplomats and security cooperation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230418/g7-foreign-ministers-welcome-iran-saudi-arabia-restoring-relationships-1109613341.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/iran-to-gain-access-to-around-24bln-of-frozen-assets-in-near-future---reports-1110963425.html

Iran to Gain Access to Around $24Bln of Frozen Assets in Near Future - Reports

Iran to Gain Access to Around $24Bln of Frozen Assets in Near Future - Reports

Iran will soon gain access to around $24 billion of its frozen assets in Iraq and South Korea, as well as funds under Tehran's special drawing rights in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) thanks to Oman's mediation efforts and the Iranian government's economic diplomacy, a Iranian news agency reported on Tuesday.

2023-06-06T18:35+0000

2023-06-06T18:35+0000

2023-06-06T18:35+0000

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In particular, $7 billion assets of Iran's frozen assets will be released from South Korea and more than $10 billion from Iraq. In addition, Tehran will gain access to $6,7 billion of its special drawing rights in the IMF as a result of the recent talks between Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Mohammad Reza Farzin and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington, the report said. Earlier in June, 2 billion dollars were also allocated from Iran's blocked funds for the purchase of basic goods, Ali Shariati, a member of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, said. Iran has been under US sanctions for several years because of the development of its nuclear program. The sanctions restrict oil exports from Iran and block accounts of the Iranian authorities, as well as high-ranking officials and legal entities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/international-court-of-justice-declares-freezing-of-part-of-irans-assets-by-us-illegal-1108967551.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/kakhovka-dam-attack-mapping-the-fallout-from-ukrainian-strike-1110949069.html

Kakhovka Dam Attack: Mapping the Fallout From Ukrainian Strike

Kakhovka Dam Attack: Mapping the Fallout From Ukrainian Strike

The Kakhovka Hydroectric Power Plant's dam has been breached, unleashing millions of tons of freshwater from its reservoir and threatening to cause a regional catastrophe affecting settlements along the Dnepr River, wildlife, and the Zaporozhye nuclear plant. The attack comes after a year of Russian warnings about Ukrainian attacks on the dam.

2023-06-06T13:23+0000

2023-06-06T13:23+0000

2023-06-06T13:32+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

attack on novaya kakhovka dam

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ukraine

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Tuesday morning's Ukrainian missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroplant was a deliberate act of sabotage by Kiev, and could lead to severe consequences for local residents and the environment, the Kremlin has said.Multiple local settlements have been completely flooded, with authorities in Russian Kherson carrying out evacuations and introducing a state of emergency. Authorities in Crimea have also taken steps to ensure freshwater supplies amid risks of the North Crimean Canal losing much of its reserves.International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi expressed concern over the situation, saying the damage to the dam has led to a "significant reduction in the level of reservoir used to supply cooling water to the ZNPP."Ukrainian authorities ordered their own mass evacuations, and blamed Russia for the terror attack. Moscow dismissed these allegations, and stressed that Kiev must bear full responsibility.Kiev's Western patrons ignored Russian warnings about attacks on the Kakhovka hydropower plant and its dam for more than 15 months, turning a blind eye to concerns about the consequences that would be unleashed should its dam be breached.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/medieval-town-swallowed-by-sea-for-prodigious-sins-found-off-coast-of-germany---1110945636.html

Medieval Town Swallowed by Sea For 'Prodigious Sins' Found Off Coast of Germany

Medieval Town Swallowed by Sea For 'Prodigious Sins' Found Off Coast of Germany

A medieval German city swallowed up by the North sea back in 1362 appears to have been discovered by a team of researchers.

2023-06-06T13:38+0000

2023-06-06T13:38+0000

2023-06-06T13:38+0000

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archaeology

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A city swallowed by the North Sea back in 1362 appears to have been discovered by a team of researchers.The church of what was once a medieval German trading hub - Rungholt - was found in the mud flats of the Wadden Sea, about 10 miles off the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein during low tide. There is also a wealth of mysterious lore and legend linked to the now-submerged town. But first, let's take a closer look at how the remarkable discovery was made.A team led by archaeologists from Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, were mapping the site in question resorting to a geophysical survey when they came across a series of medieval mounds. These protrusions were circling an island which is currently named Sudfall. An investigation of the tidal flats revealed a large church, that measured 40m by 15m, channels for drainage, a dyke designed to ward off floods, and a harbor with a system of tidal gates made of wood.The collaborating team of experts at Kiel University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Center for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, and the State Archaeology Department Schleswig-Holstein in Germany seems to prove the truth of what the late local farmer/historian Andreas Busch believed as far back as in the Twenties - that Rungholt was hidden in the silt off the coast of northern Germany.Rungholt was first settled by people from the Frisian mainland sometime in the 8th century. The previous findings indicate that traders would bring weaponry, pottery, and jewelry here from as far as Spain. According to legend, the residents of the then-thriving town led such a sybaritic life of wealth that they indulged in a plethora of sins, such as drunkenness, arrogance and impiety.One enormity said to have been perpetrated in the town occurred around Christmas when a bunch of rowdy, intoxicated youths tried to force a priest to give a pig the last sacrament at a local inn. After the cleric prayed to God to punish the young men, a relentless storm destroyed Rungholt and thousands perished in the waves.According to lore, the sound of its bell tower could be heard from the depths of the North Sea.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/moldova-signs-55-million-loan-agreement-with-world-bank---agriculture-ministry-1110937741.html

Moldova Signs $55 Million Loan Agreement With World Bank - Agriculture Ministry

Moldova Signs $55 Million Loan Agreement With World Bank - Agriculture Ministry

CHISINAU (Sputnik) - The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the main lending institution of the World Bank, will provide a $55... 06.06.2023, Sputnik International

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A relevant agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister Vladimir Bolea and World Bank Country Manager for Moldova Inguna Dobraja. Earlier, the World Bank reported that its Board of Executive Directors approved the allocation of $55 million to finance the Agriculture Governance, Growth and Resilience Investment (AGGRI) project for Moldova. Investment will in particular be directed to the development of low-efficient areas of agriculture, the creation of jobs and market opportunities, the introduction of sustainable agricultural practices and the promotion of environmentally friendly production. Since Moldova joined the World Bank in 1992, more than $1.3 billion has been allocated to Moldova.

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California officials believe Florida coordinated the private chartered flight that brought over a dozen South American migrants from New Mexico to Sacramento.

Florida appears to have arranged for a group of South American migrants to be transported from Texas to California and dropped off in Sacramento, the attorney general of California stated, adding that he is investigating whether any crimes were committed.

If true, the 16 Colombian and Venezuelan migrants who arrived at the Roman Catholic Church diocesan headquarters in Sacramento on Friday would be the most recent to be relocated from a Republican-led state to a Democratic-led state.

California Blames Florida for Migrant Charter Flight

Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that although the circumstances surrounding the migrants' presence in the capital of California are still being investigated, the migrants possessed documents that appeared to have been issued in Florida.

In addition, he stated that he is determining whether civil or criminal law was broken. They entered the United States through Texas, CBS News reported.

Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California, a faith-based organization that aids migrants, stated that US immigration officials had already processed the young women and men and given them court dates for their asylum cases before "individuals representing a private contractor" approached them outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, and offered to help them find jobs and travel to their final destinations.

The migrants were transported from Texas to New Mexico and then flown to California's capital by charter aircraft, where they were dropped off in front of the diocese's headquarters, according to California officials.

Last year, DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, unannouncedly transported 50 mostly Venezuelan immigrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Per NBC News, DeSantis stated that the flight was intended to emphasize the crisis at the southern border, whereas Democrats and immigration activists claimed that it used vulnerable asylum-seekers as political pawns.

Despite the fact that Florida's migrant transport program has been largely inactive since last year's flights, the DeSantis administration has subtly signaled that it may resume.

The governor's administration has selected three vendors, including Vertol Systems Co., which conducted the September flights to Martha's Vineyard, to assist with the migrant transfer program.

In February, the Florida legislature enacted a bill expanding DeSantis' program to allow government officials to fly migrants to destinations in blue states with sanctuary policies.

The Republican-dominated Legislature granted the DeSantis administration $10 million for the program during a special legislative session in February, and an additional $12 million during the recently concluded legislative session of 2023.

Last month, DeSantis also signed a comprehensive immigration reform measure, weeks before he declared his presidential campaign and one day before the Biden administration ended Title 42, a Covid restriction that made it easier to deport migrants at the southern border.

Read Also: US, UK Navies Respond to 'Distressed Call' as Iran Revolutionary Guard Allegedly Harassed Ship

Newsom Called DeSantis 'Small, Pathetic Man'

On Monday, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated his war of words with Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, labeling him a "small, pathetic man" and threatening to file kidnapping charges over a flight of migrants sent to his state.

The Democratic governor launched the tweets in response to California's attorney general's assertion that Florida's government appeared to be behind a flight of South American migrants that arrived in Sacramento last week.

DeSantis has not claimed responsibility for the incident, but he and other Republican governors have bused or flown migrants to Democratic-led communities across the United States in protest of border policies and security.

Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) tweeted that the state alone had bused over 17,000 migrants to "sanctuary cities." DeSantis, who is now a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, sent two planes of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, in the autumn of 2018.

Per The Hill, it is unknown whether Florida is behind the latest flight to Sacramento, or what the migrants knew about their journey.

Related Article: Tennessee Judge Rules Drag Show Ban as Too Broad, Unconstitutional

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/moscow-lodges-protest-to-brussels-over-use-of-belgian-weapons-in-belgorod-region-attack-1110962200.html

Moscow Lodges Protest to Brussels Over Use of Belgian Weapons in Belgorod Region Attack

Moscow Lodges Protest to Brussels Over Use of Belgian Weapons in Belgorod Region Attack

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Belgian ambassador in Moscow Mark Michielsen to protest the use of Belgian weapons in the sabotage attack on the Belgorod region on May 22.

2023-06-06T17:40+0000

2023-06-06T17:40+0000

2023-06-06T17:43+0000

ukrainian attacks on belgorod region

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On June 6, Belgian ambassador to Moscow M. Michielsen was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, who was strongly protested in connection with the revealed facts of the use of Belgian-made weapons by sabotage groups that carried out terrorist attacks on the territory of the Belgorod Region on May 22, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also called on Belgium not to turn a blind eye on the growing evidence of Kiev regimes support of terrorists.The Russian military said a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group entered the western Russian region of Belgorod on May 22, killing a civilian and wounding 13 others. Russian troops killed more than 70 militants. A Polish armed group confirmed on Sunday that it took part in the raid.The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing US officials familiar with intelligence findings, that Ukrainian militants were armed with Belgian and Czech rifles and at least one AT-3 anti-tank weapon, which is used by US and allied troops. The Ukrainians drove mine-resistant MRAP armored vehicles donated to Ukraine by the US and Poland.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/brussels-probes-whether-weapons-it-sent-to-kiev-were-used-in-terror-attack-against-russia-1110914739.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/most-asian-states-oppose-natos-expansion-to-indo-pacific---chinese-foreign-ministry-1110957141.html

Most Asian States Oppose NATO's Expansion to Indo-Pacific - Chinese Foreign Ministry

Most Asian States Oppose NATO's Expansion to Indo-Pacific - Chinese Foreign Ministry

Most Asian countries oppose NATO's expansion to the east in Indo-Pacific and the creation of the alliance's military replicas in the region, as it incites bloc confrontation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

2023-06-06T15:02+0000

2023-06-06T15:02+0000

2023-06-06T15:02+0000

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Earlier in the day, a British business newspaper reported, citing sources, that French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed his opposition to NATO's idea to open an office in Tokyo, saying that it would damage relations between NATO and China. Paris believes the alliance should not extend its geographic reach beyond its own North Atlantic region, the report said. He added that NATO's actions "call for high vigilance" in the international community, particularly among Asian countries. The spokesperson also said that the alliance needed to be discreet in this regard, and Japan should "make the right call" for the stability and sustainable development of the region, as well as refrain from actions that could "undermine mutual trust between regional countries and peace and stability in the region." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in May the alliance was planning to open an office in Tokyo. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi later confirmed the information about the would-be NATO office, saying that Tokyo was in talks to open it. It would be the first NATO liaison office in Asia. Previously, such agencies had been only opened in Georgia and Ukraine. Aside from Japan, NATO is also considering South Korea and Australia as potential partners in the Indo-Pacific, Stoltenberg said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230604/china-warns-nato-like-alliances-in-asia-may-plunge-region-into-whirlpool-of-conflicts-1110897321.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/nato-reinforcements-start-arriving-in-self-proclaimed-kosovo-1110938424.html

NATO Reinforcements Start Arriving in Self-Proclaimed Kosovo

NATO Reinforcements Start Arriving in Self-Proclaimed Kosovo

NATO reinforcements have arrived in the self-proclaimed area of Kosovo after clashes between protesters and police forces left dozens injured.

2023-06-06T03:45+0000

2023-06-06T03:45+0000

2023-06-06T03:45+0000

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"NATO reinforcements started to arrive in Kosovo on Monday (5 June 2023), following the unprovoked and unacceptable violence which left almost 40 KFOR peacekeeping troops injured in clashes last week. Around 500 Turkish service members from Turkiyes 65th mechanized infantry brigade will make up the bulk of the NATO reinforcements," it said. According to the statement, the Turkish Battalion will be deployed in Kosovo for as long as necessary, whereas an additional battalion of NATO reserve forces has also been put on higher alert to be deployed if required. On May 29, thousands of Kosovo Serbs came to the local administration buildings in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, demanding the withdrawal of Kosovar police and the removal of ethnic Albanian mayors who took office following elections with an extremely low voter turnout of under 3.5% boycotted by the Serbs. Troops of NATO's local KFOR contingent, equipped with crowd dispersal devices, were also deployed. Police used tear gas to break up the demonstrations and escort the mayors into town halls. At least 52 Serbs were injured in the clashes in Kosovo. Media reported that some 41 soldiers from the KFOR contingent were also injured.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/nato-forces-remove-barbed-wire-in-northern-kosovo---reports-1110926648.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/nato-to-expand-its-headquarters-to-make-room-for-future-members---reports-1110937855.html

NATO to Expand Its Headquarters to Make Room for Future Members - Reports

NATO to Expand Its Headquarters to Make Room for Future Members - Reports

NATO is considering expanding its headquarters in order to make room for potential new members.

2023-06-06T01:33+0000

2023-06-06T01:33+0000

2023-06-06T01:33+0000

world

nato

brussels

science & tech

sweden

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Finlands move into NATOs headquarters will be completed in the coming weeks and months, a NATO official said. According to two unnamed NATO diplomats, a solution the alliances leadership considered is constructing an additional building on NATO's campus, which could host the alliance's international staff and agencies. This would be a "temporary solution." The expansion of the new headquarters with an extra wing, which was planned originally, would be only plan B, NATO diplomats said, adding that such a decision would be too costly. Sweden, along with Finland, submitted its NATO application in May 2022, several months after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. Finland became a member of the alliance in April 2023. Sweden's application is still pending approval from Hungary and Turkey.

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nato, headquarters, new members, campus, brussels
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/russias-lavrov-urges-central-asia-to-critically-assess-military-cooperation-with-west-1110946133.html

Russias Lavrov Urges Central Asia to Critically Assess Military Cooperation With West

Russias Lavrov Urges Central Asia to Critically Assess Military Cooperation With West

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday urged Central Asian countries to critically assess Western military cooperation programs as they are being used to establish control over region.

2023-06-06T11:43+0000

2023-06-06T11:43+0000

2023-06-06T11:43+0000

world

sergey lavrov

russia

central asia

tajikistan

dushanbe

collective security treaty organization (csto)

russian foreign ministry

emomali rahmon

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"Today there are deliberate efforts by the West on assertive invasion, including humanitarian and military one, into Central Asia ... The development assistance programs promoted by Western geopolitical engineers are in fact instruments of controlling and reformatting the political-economic landscape of the region as they see fit. We urge our friends to critically consider military cooperation and law enforcement training programs imposed by the West," Lavrov said at the Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University in Dushanbe. Earlier, speaking at a joint press-conference with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the Russia's top diplomat noted that Russia and Tajikistan highly value their cooperation and will continue to fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.Muhriddin, in turn, said the situation in Afghanistan was one of the main topics of discussions."We discussed regional security issues with a focus on the situation in Afghanistan. We are united in our assessment of the security challenges and threats posed by the growing number of various terrorist groups in the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan," he said.The Tajik minister added that both countries would continue to take necessary steps to maintain a high level of bilateral relations.Moscow will also carry on supporting the modernization of the armed forces of Tajikistan, Lavrov highlighted."We talked about the implementation of agreements on military and military-technical cooperation, including the implementation of the program of modernization of Tajikistan's armed forces. We will continue to provide appropriate assistance to Dushanbe. All the planned amounts [of support] will be fulfilled," Lavrov said after the meeting with Muhriddin.Russia is grateful to Tajikistan for creating conditions for its 201st Military Base and for carrying out activities there, the minister added.Tajikistan hosts Russian 201st Military Base, one of Russia's largest foreign military facilities, which is deployed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The number of military personnel is about 7,500. Lavrov visited the base on June 5.Earlier in the day, Sergey Lavrov held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.Lavrov arrived in Dushanbe on a visit on June 5. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, during the talks the sides will discuss bilateral relations, prospects for further development of allied relations between Moscow and Dushanbe in political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres.The Russian minister also plans to touch upon issues on the international and regional agendas. Another topic of the talks will be the deepening of foreign policy coordination between Russia and Tajikistan in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the CIS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as well as the UN and the OSCE.Tajikistan hosts the 201st Russian military base, one of Russia's largest foreign military facilities, which is deployed in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The number of military personnel is about 7,500.Under the agreement on the status and conditions for the presence of the Russian military base on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan (2012), the stay of the Russian base in the republic has been extended until 2042.Lavrov visited the base on June 5, the day of his arrival in Tajikistan.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/russian-fm-lavrov-the-wests-anti-russian-plans-will-not-come-true-1110936777.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210910/russian-military-base-in-tajikistan-to-receive-30-modern-tanks-by-year-end-1088939914.html

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sergey lavrov, russia, russia-tajikistan cooperation, military cooperation, defense cooperation, russian-tajik bilateral relations, emomali rahmon
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/scientists-collect-first-ever-samples-from-earths-mantle-1110965180.html

Scientists Collect First-Ever Samples From Earths Mantle

Scientists Collect First-Ever Samples From Earths Mantle

A group of scientists working from a drilling ship off the coast of the Azores have collected the first-ever core samples taken from Earths mantle, the molten area that surrounds the planets core.

2023-06-06T20:23+0000

2023-06-06T20:23+0000

2023-06-06T20:23+0000

beyond politics

science & tech

earth

earth mantle

core

samples

geology

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The scientific triumph was made thanks to a rare spot on the Atlantic seafloor where the mantle, which is normally buried beneath miles of the crust, pokes through and can be sampled. Past efforts have focused on drilling down through the crust, which can be 20 or more miles thick.However, at Atlantis Massif, an underwater mountain the size of Mount Rainier, the scientists only had to drill through about 4,100 feet of seafloor - less than a mile. They used a drilling ship called the JOIDES [Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling] Resolution.According to the scientists, their success was far more than theyd anticipated, and what was expected to be a small sample turned into huge volumes of it.Weve achieved an ambition thats been feeding the science community for many decades, McCaig said.What they reached technically wasnt the mantle itself, but the barrier region between the mantle and the crust known as the Moho, after Croatian seismologist Andrija Mohorovicic, who discovered it in 1909. Nonetheless, they were able to collect samples of mantle rock called peridotite in a relatively untarnished form. The mantle rock can sometimes be found after its been blasted out of volcanoes, but it arrives on the surface damaged by its violent trip.Three other efforts to reach the Earths mantle have failed. One, an American project in the early 1960s off the coast of Mexico called Project Mohole, reached a depth of 601 feet below the seafloor beneath 11,700 feet of water. A German effort in Bavaria from 1987 to 1995, the KTB superdeep borehole, reached a depth of 29,859 feet, halting when it hit rock 500 degrees Fahrenheit.However, the deepest point man has ever reached was the Soviet Unions Kola Superdeep Borehole, drilled in the countrys far northwest between 1970 and 1995, which reached an astonishing depth of 40,230 feet, or 7.6 miles down. The Kola drillers could reach no further because the molten rock kept melting their drill bits.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230222/we-need-to-go-deeper-earth-has-one-more-layer-and-its-leviathan-iron-core-study-says-1107691509.html

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geology; sample; drill; mantle; earth; crust
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/us--its-himars-provided-to-criminal-kiev-regime-responsible-for-kakhovka-hpp-attack-1110947364.html

US & Its HIMARS Provided to 'Criminal' Kiev Regime 'Responsible' for Kakhovka HPP Attack

US & Its HIMARS Provided to 'Criminal' Kiev Regime 'Responsible' for Kakhovka HPP Attack

The United States, which supplied weapons systems like HIMARS to the criminal Kiev regime, is responsible for attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on June 6, Vladimir Evseyev, a military expert, told Sputnik.

2023-06-06T14:43+0000

2023-06-06T14:43+0000

2023-06-06T14:43+0000

ukraine

kherson

analysis

charles michel

european council

attack on novaya kakhovka dam

high mobility artillery rocket system (himars)

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The United States, which has supplied weapons systems like HIMARS to the criminal Kiev regime, is responsible for the attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on June 6, Vladimir Evseyev, a military expert, told Sputnik.There are numerous facts confirming that volleys of shelling by US HIMARS light multiple rocket launchers have been carried out by Ukraines forces since 2022, deliberately targeting the Kakhovka HPP. Other systems have also been utilized, but use of American-made ones clearly indicates who is to blame, said the department head at the Institute of CIS Countries. As for the West and its attempt to pin the blame on Russia - this is further proof that it is exclusively "engaged in propaganda based on falsehoods."This is evidenced by the recent anti-Russian tropes by a spate of officials and by mainstream media headlines in connection with the attack on the Kakhovka HPP. Not a single Russian source was cited in the tabloids amid the media frenzy. Part of the structure of the Kakhovka dam was destroyed as a result of Ukrainian shelling, causing three spans to buckle under water pressure. After multiple senior Ukrainian officials and military figures predictably accused Russia of having sabotaged the Kakhovka HPP dam, Western media wasted no time feeding into this frenzied narrative. Official European figures followed suit, appearing to blame Russia."I think this is pure propaganda," Vladimir Evseyev stated, adding that it was evident who profited from such an attack and masterminded it.'Groundwork Laid in Advance'The Kiev regime and its handlers in the West had several reasons to want to destroy the Kakhovka HPP dam, and the groundwork for the critical situation preceding the events of June 6 was laid well in advance, said Evseyev.Furthermore, for a long time there had been evidence of a massive discharge of water upstream in order to create a critical situation at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, the site of which had already been damaged during previous strikes and shelling carried out by Ukrainian forces, primarily using US-supplied HIMARS, and targeting the gate valves, Vladimir Evseyev clarified. In other words, a breach might have happened even without things coming to a head as they did on June 6, Evseyev said. He added that in the conditions that were preset by Kiev's actions, parts of the dam might have given way long before. West's Behind-the-Scenes PlottingThere were also other goals pursued by targeting the Kakhovka HPP and its dam, besides those cited above. Flooding triggered by inflicted damage would mainly affect the left bank, which is lower than the right one. "This could be seen as putting pressure on the population that lives on territory controlled by the Russian Federation," said the military expert.Another long-term goal for the enemy would be to lower the water supply reaching the North Crimean Canal at the start of summer. Water from the Kakhovka reservoir irrigates arid regions of the Kherson region and the Crimean Peninsula via the canal. Back in 2014, after the Crimea voted overwhelmingly to reunite with Russia in a referendum, Ukraine shut down the canal, and only Moscow was finally able to solve the water supply problems for the Russian region in March 2022 as part of its ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. As for the impact for the Zaporozhye NPP cooling system, or the operation of the nuclear power plant in general, the military expert does not think the fallout from the attack on the Kakhovka HPP will affect it at all. "Firstly, the Zaporozhye NPP is located upstream. Basically, the lowering of the level occurs precisely after the cascade of the Kakhovka HPP, while Zaporozhye NPP is upstream," he stated. The expert clarified that the Zaporozhye plant is shut down, and in this mode it requires less water than it would if it were running.The military expert weighed in on how the situation at the Kakhovka power plant could affect the course of the Ukraine conflagration. Not only will Kiev's forces be unable to force the Dnepr, but, by fall, will most likely not be ready for any large-scale, much-hyped counteroffensive, Vladimir Evseyev concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/fact-check-who-attacked-novaya-kakhovka-dam-1110946820.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/what-do-we-know-about-kakhovka-hydroelectric-power-plant-attacked-by-kiev-forces-1110941220.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230605/west-encourages-use-of-weapons-supplied-to-ukraine-for-attacks-on-russian-territory-1110920868.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/us-has-not-given-up-on-fully-denuclearizing-north-korea---arms-control-official-1110963854.html

US Has Not Given Up on Fully Denuclearizing North Korea - Arms Control Official

US Has Not Given Up on Fully Denuclearizing North Korea - Arms Control Official

The United States continues to insist on full denuclearization of North Korea despite Pyongyang's lack of response to diplomatic outreach, State Department Under Secretary for Arms Control Bonnie Jenkins said on Tuesday.

2023-06-06T18:43+0000

2023-06-06T18:43+0000

2023-06-06T18:43+0000

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"We have not given up on denuclearization. We still want North Korea to denuclearize," Jenkins said during a conversation at the Center for a New American Security when the audience asked her whether the US is no longer pursuing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. Jenkins reminded that US President Joe Biden clearly shows from the very beginning his readiness to engage with North Korea, but Pyongyang has not responded to his initiatives to discuss all the issues. She also pointed out that arms control promotes predictability and helps countries to find a way to regulate, verify and destroy particular types of arms. Jenkins said the recent launches conducted by North Korea are gross violations of the UN Security Council decisions. She also said that the positions of Russia and China are contradicting the other three permanent members of the Security Council. The US is continuing to work with other like-minded countries on improving and strengthening sanctions against North Korea, she added. On Wednesday, North Korea unsuccessfully launched the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite mounted on a Chollima-1 carrier rocket. After the separation of the first stage, the engine of the second stage failed to ignite, causing the rocket to lose thrust and fall into the Yellow Sea, North Korea's space agency said. On Friday, Anna Yevstigneeva, the Russian deputy ambassador to the UN, said that the root cause of tensions on the Korean Peninsula was the desire of the US and its allies to increase pressure on Pyongyang.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220819/north-korea-rejects-seouls-offer-of-economic-aid-in-exchange-for-denuclearization--1099750405.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/us-received-info-in-2022-claiming-ukraine-planned-to-attack-nord-stream-pipeline---reports-1110960805.html

US Received Info in 2022 Claiming Ukraine Planned to Attack Nord Stream Pipeline - Reports

US Received Info in 2022 Claiming Ukraine Planned to Attack Nord Stream Pipeline - Reports

The United States received information last June from a European intelligence agency about Ukraine's plans to conduct a covert operation to sabotage Russia's Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which eventually took place in September, an American daily reported on Tuesday.

2023-06-06T17:18+0000

2023-06-06T17:18+0000

2023-06-06T17:18+0000

nord stream sabotage

jack teixeira

ukraine

russia

cia

pentagon

white house

nord stream

nord stream 2

nord stream pipeline

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The newspaper said it agreed to a request from government officials to withhold naming the European country and additional details about the plan in order to avoid compromising sources and operations. Ukrainian officials did not respond to requests for comment, and the White House and the CIA declined to comment on the matter. The European spy agency received the intelligence from an individual in Ukraine, and the United States shared it with Germany and other European countries last June as well, the report said. The report said the details of this matter were allegedly revealed by the Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira on the chat platform Discord. The plans, according to the report, indicated a six-person team from Ukraine's special operations forces intended to sabotage the Nord Stream pipeline network and would report directly to the commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces. Immediately after the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines in September, Western countries denied having any responsibility or knowing who was behind the attack. However, the New York Times reported in March that US officials reviewed new intelligence suggesting that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the covert operation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230418/us-tries-to-control-energy-and-info-flow-with-nord-stream-bombing-cover-up-1109621776.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/what-do-we-know-about-kakhovka-hydroelectric-power-plant-attacked-by-kiev-forces-1110941220.html

What Do We Know About Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Attacked by Kiev Forces?

What Do We Know About Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Attacked by Kiev Forces?

Here is what we know about the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in Russia's Kherson Region.

2023-06-06T11:23+0000

2023-06-06T11:23+0000

2023-06-06T14:38+0000

ukraine

russia's special operation in ukraine

kherson

russia

vladimir leontyev

attacks

zaporozhye npp

crimea

seymour hersh

zaporozhye

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The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in Russia's Kherson region came under shelling by Ukrainian forces on June 6, with its upper part destroyed, according to Novaya Kakhovka city Mayor Vladimir Leontyev.He added that water level after the destruction rose by 10 meters (32.8 feet). With water uncontrollably discharged through the destroyed structures, local authorities have prepared buses in case they need to rescue people from possible flooding. According to Novaya Kakhovka's mayor, at least 300 homes could be affected by the partial destruction of the HPP.Sputnik takes a closer look at the Kakhovka HPP, its importance for the region, and the attacks it has been under by Ukraine's forces.Facts & Figures About Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power PlantWhere is Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant Located?The Kakhovka HPP is situated on the Dnepr River, five kilometers away from the city of Novaya Kakhovka in Russia's Kherson region. This is the sixth and lowest-situated of the cascade of HPPs on the huge waterway. Novaya Kakhovka, a port city perched on the reservoir's southern bank, came under the control of the Russian forces in March, 2022 as part of the special military operation in Ukraine. The Kherson region voted in a referendum in September to become part of Russia. Accession referendums were also held in the Zaporozhye region, as well as the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. All four regions were formally accepted under Russian jurisdiction in October 2022.When Was Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant Built?Construction of the Kakhovka HPP began in September 1950. After the last generator was commissioned in October 1956, the Kakhovka complex elevated the water level in the Dnepr River to 16 meters, forming the Kakhovka reservoir, boasting a volume of 18.19 km.The Kakhovka hydroelectric complex includes:Why is Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant Dam Important?The Kakhovka dam, erected in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka HPP, stands 30 meters high. The length of the dam is almost 4 km, and its height is 16.5 meters. It is operated by 28 hydraulic locks measuring 12 by 9 meters. Water from the Kakhovka reservoir cools the 5.7 GW Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. Furthermore, its waters feed the arid regions of the Kherson region and the Crimean Peninsula via the North Crimean Canal.The dam, besides hydroelectric power generation and irrigation, has also facilitated navigation, with the deep water allowing shipping up and down river. The dam itself has a road and a railway crossing it.What Are Risks If Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is Damaged?There are a number of risks linked with damage to the Kakhovka HPP and its dam from Ukraine's shelling.FloodingFirst, bursting the dam could send a huge amount of water down the river Dnepr, flooding settlements below it, threatening lives. As a result of the Kiev attack on June 6, 14 settlements and 22,000 residents are at risk of flooding, Novaya Kakhovka city Mayor Vladimir Leontyev underscored. While it is difficult to destroy a dam such as Kakhovka, Russian experts claim, if this were to happen, a destructive wave might be generated, with a speed of 50 km/h, and reach the city of Kherson. According to media-cited experts, if water flows along the lower part of the Dnepr, the level would rise by 1-1.5 m, damaging infrastructure and fields. The destruction would affect both the left bank and the higher, right bank, of the waterway. Another consequence would be absence of a land crossing between the right and left banks of the Dnepr for 200 km around. Water Supply & Irrigation Second, the dam's irrigation function could be disrupted due to damage to the system of canals that feed southern Ukraine, as well as Russia's Crimea. After the Crimean Peninsula voted overwhelmingly to reunite with Russia in the 2014 referendum, Ukraine shut down the canal, resulting in water supply problems for the Russian region.Moscow was able to restore the flow of water in March 2022 as part of its ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. Some studies indicate that the canal provided 85% of Crimea's water prior to the 2014 blockade by Ukraine. At present, thanks to the North Crimean Canal, up to two million cubic meters of water are supplied to the peninsula daily, mainly for agricultural work.Now, with the damage sustained on Monday after Ukraine's attack, there is a risk that "the North Crimean Canal will become shallow," the regions head, Sergey Aksyonov, said on Telegram.Zaporozhye NPPThird, but certainly not least important, there have been warnings that the shelling of the Kakhovka HPP could be fraught with catastrophe at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Both facilities are linked to the same energy grid of Ukraine, Arseny Zelensky, the HPP's deputy director for reconstruction, said in 2022.Located on the left bank of the Dnepr River, the Zaporozhye NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe by number of units and energy output. It came under the control of Russian forces in early March 2022 and has since been repeatedly shelled, raising international concerns over a possible nuclear incident. On October 5, the Zaporozhye NPP was placed under the control of Russian institutions in line with instructions from President Vladimir Putin.A plethora of Russian experts have told local media that the Zaporozhye NPP is located upstream, and all three circuits of the station's cooling system operate in isolation, which means that the water for cooling the power units at the station will not disappear after the current damage to the Kakhovka HPP dam.What Has Been Happening to Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant?The Kakhovka HPP has been repeatedly shelled by Ukraine's forces since 2022, ever since the territory where it is situated came under the control of Russian forces in March last year. In August 2022, Ukrainian forces shelled the HPP with HIMARS rockets, but the attack was repelled with no critical damage caused.In October 2022, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzya presented the UN Security Council with a letter calling to prevent Ukrainian provocations at the Kakhovka HPP. Nebenzya underscored that under the patronage of its "Western curators," the Zelensky regime was consistently striking at the civilian infrastructure, with "up to 120 missiles arriving per day. Russia's statement warned of the need to prevent a "monstrous provocation." The Russian envoy pointed out that most of the rockets hitting the territory of Novaya Kakhovka and the HPP were US-made HIMARS. Were the dam to be breached, Moscow warned, thousands of civilians could die.In May, Novaya Kakhovka city Mayor Vladimir Leontyev said that Ukrainian troops attacking the Kakhovka HPP were preventing repairs from being carried out.West's Blame GameWestern mainstream media has been quick to jump on the bandwagon of the Ukrainian narrative, attempting to pin the blame for the destruction of parts of the Kakhovka plant on June 6 on Russian forces. Multiple senior Ukrainian officials and military figures have claimed that Russia sabotaged the dam.Such swift, blatantly unsubstantiated redirection of blame is nothing new for the so-called collective West. Developments ranging from the 2014 "genocide" carried out by Kiev authorities in Donbass under the guiding hand of their Western puppet masters, to attacks on Crimea's infrastructure, and the Nord Stream sabotage are glaring proof of the tactics plied by them.Incidentally, after the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines across the Baltic Sea were blown up on September 26, and the ensuing long-winded "investigation" launched by Denmark, Germany, and Sweden led nowhere, veteran US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh later revealed direct US culpability in that act of sabotage and terrorism. However, the Western mainstream media nonetheless tinkled with speculation that Russia itself was responsible for the blasts. The Western press also latched upon another yarn it willingly disseminated to conceal the truth.The current developments at the Kakhovka HPP feed into the patchwork of events that have been spawned by the NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, replete with sabotage and terrorism.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230531/ukrainian-shelling-could-turn-europe-into-uninhabitable-radioactive-ruin-heres-why-1110822308.html

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On Friday evening in eastern India, a collision involving three trains murdered 275 people and injured about 1,000.

The first of dozens of trains to pass the Bahanaga Bazar rail station, the site of one of the deadliest railway accidents in India's history, after midnight on Monday was a coal train honking its siren in the darkness.

The restoration of the important rail route, which was observed by senior train officials and a large audience, was a step toward mitigating the disruption caused by the catastrophic accident that claimed the lives of at least 275 people and injured more than 1,300 others.

India Train Crash in Odisha

According to NY Times, workers labored over the weekend to remove the wreckage and repair the damaged tracks. With its return, however, officials refocused their efforts on a grim task: identifying approximately one hundred victims whose bodies remain unclaimed in morgues and hospitals.

As of Monday, approximately 170 of the bodies had been identified, according to the chief secretary of the state of Odisha, Pradeep Jena, who added that assistance lines set up for the families of the missing were still receiving calls.

Jena stated that officials hoped to determine the ultimate mortality toll by Monday evening, but they were taking no chances. Monday, the state government posted online a 168-page document containing images of the deceased as well as lists of those being treated in hospitals.

The halted train service prevented the victims' families from traveling to Balasore, in the state of Odisha, to claim their loved ones. On Monday morning, some had arrived via special train services, while others had arrived in vehicles furnished by their local governments. Others had yet to complete the voyage.

Involved in the collision were three separate trains. Friday at approximately 7 p.m. local time in India's eastern state of Odisha, the Coromandel Express train, carrying passengers traveling along India's eastern coast, veered off the correct route and collided with a freight train.

The Superfast Express, transporting approximately 1,000 passengers, struck the two derailed trains shortly thereafter. The Superfast Express traveled between Bangalore and Howrah.

The Indian Railways' flagship Coromandel Express train was traveling from Howrah to Chennai. The high-speed trains collided "head-on," according to the director of fire and emergency services, Sudhanshu Sarangi.

Aditya Kumar Chaudhary, spokesman for the South Eastern Railway zone, said that seventeen passenger compartments derailed. The investigation is still active.

Per Washington Post, initial reports indicate that the problem may be related to problems with railroad signaling systems that instruct drivers to halt, slow down, or transfer tracks. As injured people cried out for assistance, more than 300 rescue workers extracted survivors from the twisted metal and overturned train carriages, according to witnesses.

Local villagers were among the first to assist in the search and rescue, according to West Bengal lawmaker Dola Sen. At a nearby school, emergency teams draped the corpses in white linens in rows for family members to retrieve.

Read Also: US, UK Navies Respond to 'Distressed Call' as Iran Revolutionary Guard Allegedly Harassed Ship

India's Rail Networks

According to government statistics, India has one of the world's greatest rail networks, which transports 22 million passengers daily on 11,000 trains across a 67,000-mile network. Attempts have been made to modernize the system, but the rail network's foundations were laid by the British in the nineteenth century.

The accident occurred the day before Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate a new high-speed train between Mumbai and Goa. Modi canceled the event in order to visit the accident site and a hospital.

Modi, who confronts a general election next year, has vowed to revamp state-run railways while in office, including the renovation of extant stations, the introduction of the country's first domestic rail service, and the launch of the nation's first bullet train by 2026.

However, the accident has raised concerns about the need for the leader to prioritize the improvement of extant infrastructure over the launch of new high-tech projects. Experts have warned that if older infrastructure remains unaltered, the rapid construction of modern railroads could lead to accidents.

Families of the 275 victims filled a hospital in the city of Bhubaneswart to identify their relatives' bodies, as officials recommended a criminal investigation into the crash, USA Today reported.

Related Article: Israel Urges Egypt To Help in Probe of Deadly Attack on Border That Killed 3 Soldiers

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World Bank Leaves Russia's Growth Forecast for 2023, 2024 Unchanged

World Bank Leaves Russia's Growth Forecast for 2023, 2024 Unchanged

The World Bank left unchanged the economic growth forecast for Russia in this and next year, saying it will contract by 0.2% in 2023, but will turn positive at 1.2% in 2024.

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"Output in Russia is projected to contract slightly, by 0.2 percent in 2023, a 3.1 percentage point upgrade from the January 2023 forecast, the World Bank said in its Global Economic Prospects report on Tuesday. The bank expects that contractions in export, along with sanctions, weak domestic demand, and other challenges, will continue to apply pressure on economic activity. In 2024, growth is expected to turn positive, but remain modest at only 1.2 percent, which is lower than the average pace of growth in the 2010s, the report added. At the same time, the Russian economy will face less contraction than anticipated in January because of oil production, mainly due to more resilient than expected oil production and higher than expected growth momentum from 2022, according to the report. The bank also noted that the continued flow of energy exports allowed Russia to improve the situation in its economy.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230606/zelensky-tells-papal-envoy-only-ukraines-peace-plan-is-acceptable-1110959353.html

Zelensky Tells Papal Envoy Only Ukraine's Peace Plan is Acceptable

Zelensky Tells Papal Envoy Only Ukraine's Peace Plan is Acceptable

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told the papal envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, that Ukraine would not consider peace plans other than the one he outlined in November.

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"We welcome the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but as the war continues on the territory of Ukraine, the algorithm for achieving peace can be Ukrainian only," Zelesnky said during a meeting in Kiev. The president emphasized that a ceasefire would not lead to peace because it would only freeze the conflict with Russia. Zelensky and Zuppi discussed ways of getting the Global South behind Ukraine's 10-point "peace formula," which includes an all-for-all prisoner swap, security guarantees for Ukraine and a return to pre-2014 borders. Russia said it was open to peace negotiations as long as Ukraine recognized the facts on the ground. Ukraines Western donors have been calling for peace talks despite Kiev banning its officials from engaging the Russians.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230329/ukraine-conflict-far-from-peace-amid-lack-of-diplomatic-effort-from-west---polyanskiy-1108889474.html

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Meadowlands Racetrack has announced the hiring of its new Executive Chef, Chris Burnett.

Burnett was hired in mid-May and will officially take over the menu planning and buffet execution on Friday, June 9.

Chef Burnett has over 21 years of experience in the culinary world and has worked at some a number of New Jersey restaurants including Asbury Ale House, Brickhouse Tavern and Tap in Tinton Falls and Old Town Pub in Bordentown. In 2015, he started his own catering business under the name Handsome Creations Catering, LLC.

Burnetts culinary journey began in his mothers kitchen.

I was always cooking, from age three, said Burnett, who is the father of an 11-year-old daughter. My mom showed me; the first thing I cooked was an omelet.

In 2017, Burnett appear on the Food Networks culinary competition show Chopped.

On the show, Burnett prepared an appetizer of Japanese whiskey barbecue wings with Chinese broccoli salad. The judges loved the dish, especially judge and Food Network host Aaron Sanchez who said, Its pretty easy to fall in love with this sauce.

I came a long way, he said upon his competition exit, and to make it on Chopped was one of my biggest accomplishments.

We are excited for our guests to see what Chef Chris can bring Pink and Trotters dining rooms, said Jason Settlemoir, COO & GMO of the Meadowlands Racetrack. Chef loves utilizing seasonal ingredients and prime cuts of meat, which is exactly what our clientele enjoys.

In his free time, Burnett is an avid traveller and foodie who enjoys giving back to his community by donating his time for local school future chef competitions.

Upcoming menus can be viewed on playmeadowlands.com. Dining reservations for Friday and Saturday evenings during live racing can be made by calling 201-The-BigM.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)
After eight months on the market, the former Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services building in Gering has been sold.

Scotts Bluff County commissioners approved the sale of the building at 1600 10th St. to The Bozrah Projects LLC. Scottsbluff lawyer Phil Kelly, who represented the county in the sale, said the purchaser had already deposited the funds for the purchase in an account with the title company prior to the meeting.

County commissioners accepted an offer of $500,000 for the building.

Commissioners first set the minimum bid at $650,000 when it put the former Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services building up for sale in September 2022.

Kelly explained that the board had first attempted to get bids for the building. He said the board didnt receive any bids, allowing the board to negotiate with a potential buyer.

Before DHHS, the building had housed offices for US Bank and prior to that, Gering National Bank & Trust Co. When US Bank vacated the building, the county purchased it for $585,000 more than 20 years ago. At the time of the purchase, the county and other entities had discussed using it as a consolidated location for law enforcement.

The commissioners also approved the sale of property on South Beltline Highway on the east end of Scottsbluff to the City of Scottsbluff for $20,000.

In other action, the commissioners discussed and approved eight personnel policies, including one implementing changes to its step process for employee raises. Personnel committee members Heather Hauschild, Tim White and HR director Lisa Rien outlined the proposal that made changes to ensure equitable raises and added more steps before they would top out on the step schedule.

Commissioners also approved a $10,000 tourism grant to Hauge Rodeo, which will host a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell this summer. The first event last year was successful, tourism director Brenda Leisy said, and the county got nationwide exposure because it was televised on The Cowboy Channel.

Commissioners Chairman Ken Meyers and Commissioner Charlie Knapper both praised last years event.

It was awesome, Meyer said, saying the staff was professional and praising other attributes. Everything was top notch.

This year, grant funds will support improvements to the sound system for broadcasting the event. Leisy said last years broadcast had poor quality and they will rent equipment to improve it.

Commissioners also approved modification of its contract with the U.S. Marshals Service, including North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. Vonnie Cotant, program director, said the detention center has already been providing services for inmates from those programs, but the contract formalizes that.

The county also approved an update to its APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services) contract with the USDA, which is for the services of a wildlife specialist for controlling predators and pests in the county. Matt Anderson, USDA wildlife specialist for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, said the contract had a slight increase of 5% for services. But commissioners noted the the value of the contract, saying they had learned last year that farmers could submit their own bills for controlling predators to the county if they did contract to offer the services.

Elaine Menzel, legal counsel for the Nebraska Association of County Officials, briefly updated the commissioners on the organizations activities. NACO is hosting training events for county officials in the Panhandle, she said, including events in Gering and Bridgeport. Last week, NACO opened offices in Ogallala.

The commissioners also discussed changing the designation of the countys official newspaper when it comes up for reconsideration at the beginning of the year. The Star-Herald is the current newspaper designated for the publication of county meeting notices and minutes, but commissioners questioned recently announced changes to the print product. Though County Clerk Kelly Sides said she had some questions about legal-notice deadlines for the publication, she didnt expect much impact from the Star-Heralds change, beginning June 13, to three days of print publication per week. The Star-Herald also will publish an online edition seven days a week.
A sculpture honoring University of Nebraska alumna Willa Cather will be unveiled next week in Washington, D.C.

On June 7 at 10 a.m., Cathers 7-foot sculpture will be dedicated and unveiled in the National Statuary Hall in the United States Capital.

Live viewing parties of the dedication ceremony are planned at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln and the National Willa Cather Centers Opera House in Red Cloud. Both events are free and open to the public. The ceremony will also be available on C-Span and on the website of the Speaker of the House for a live broadcast.

Littleton Alston from Red Cloud was selected from more than 70 artists to design Cathers sculpture. Alston is an associate professor of sculpture at Creighton University in Omaha and is the first African American artist to have a sculpture in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

It was an immense honor to create the Willa Cather sculpture for Statuary Hall, Alston said in a Nebraska Today article. Im thrilled that Nebraska will finally have a literary heroine representing our state in the U.S. Capitol.

Cather, a world-renowned author, will be the first Pulitzer Prize Winner and 12th woman represented in the collection. She began her time at the University of Nebraska in 1890, where her writing talents drove her into journalism and criticism. That included a stint at the Nebraska State Journal in Lincoln, where Cather served as an art critic from 1893-1896. She would later receive the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for her novel, "One of Ours." Her sculpture will join the one of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, which was installed in 2019.

Andrew Jewell, co-director of University of Nebraska-Lincolns Center for Digital Research in the Humanities and advisory editor to the Cather Archive said in the Nebraska Today article that Cather is a key voice in our states storytelling.

Willa Cather very explicitly represents Nebraska and Nebraskans in multiple works, said Jewell. To have her statue alongside that of Chief Standing Bear in the U.S. Capitol reflects the complex history of Nebraska. Their stories represent very different experiences and, as a Nebraskan, Im thrilled that they will be there together.

Close Willa Cather A visitor takes in one of the displays at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather This desk and silk velvet opera coat owned by Willa Cather are displayed in the study room at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Education director and archivist Tracy Tucker is available to help researchers at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Visitors peruse the gift shop at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center A visitor, a photo of Willa Cather and Cather's handwriting are all visible in the reflections of a display case at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather A passport and passenger book are among the artifacts on display at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather This mahogany desk is one of two in the collection at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather The Cather family bible is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Personal belongings are arranged on a desk that was owned by Willa Cather at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Bruce Larsen, of Clay Center, check out a timeline of the author's life at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather A dress and velvet coat that belonged to Willa Cather and came from high-end, New York City clothier Jay Thorpe, is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather The calling card holder described in "A Lost Lady" is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center A portrait of the author looks out onto North Webster Street at the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center An original illustration from "My Antonia" is on display at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Photos: Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and Educational Foundation Willa Cather A visitor takes in one of the displays at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather This desk and silk velvet opera coat owned by Willa Cather are displayed in the study room at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Education director and archivist Tracy Tucker is available to help researchers at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Visitors peruse the gift shop at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center A visitor, a photo of Willa Cather and Cather's handwriting are all visible in the reflections of a display case at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather A passport and passenger book are among the artifacts on display at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather This mahogany desk is one of two in the collection at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather The Cather family bible is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Personal belongings are arranged on a desk that was owned by Willa Cather at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Bruce Larsen, of Clay Center, check out a timeline of the author's life at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather A dress and velvet coat that belonged to Willa Cather and came from high-end, New York City clothier Jay Thorpe, is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather The calling card holder described in "A Lost Lady" is among the artifacts on display at the newly built National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center A portrait of the author looks out onto North Webster Street at the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. Willa Cather Center An original illustration from "My Antonia" is on display at the new National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud.
Editors note: The News Herald is republishing some information about World War II veteran James Hamby in honor of the 79th anniversary of D-Day.

Lenoir native and later Valdese resident James Hamby stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944  but that wasnt Hambys only trip to France.

A retired Army private first class, Hamby returned twice to Normandy for D-Day celebrations, serving as the grand marshal and guest of honor for the National D-Day Commemorative Parade in Cherbourg, France, in 2017. Before that, Hamby had traveled to France in 2014 with East Burke High Schools marching band for the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Hamby hoped to visit again for the 2019 celebration, but died at the age of 93 just a few months prior.

His son, Dan, told The News Herald about Hambys bravery when volunteering for the draft.

He looked for ways to make an impact, Dan said. He started out as a truck or jeep driver and he ended up at headquarters battery driving for a general. He wanted to be out on the front line and he wanted to be out there helping. He asked his commander if he could put him in the liaison portion of the infantry.

Those are the people who are out front ahead of everyone, telling the artillery, Heres where you need to aim your shells. He did that for the biggest part of the war, even though his (military occupation specialty) was a truck driver. He felt like that was where he needed to be. That was his way of helping protect the army.

Hamby was honored with the title of a Knight of the French Legion of Honor at a ceremony in Raleigh in 2015. The honor historically was only given to French citizens, but in recent history has been given to American veterans of World War II.

Before returning to France in 2017, Hamby told The News Herald he wanted to talk to the French and hear their stories, something he accomplished when he met Michelle Letourneur. She was a child during the invasion, and a German grenade almost took one of her arms.

They heard them in the hedgerow and a German threw one of the grenades that they have and it almost tore this little girls (Letourneur) arm off, Hamby told The News Herald after the trip. The American GIs got her and took her to the first-aid station and fixed up her arm.

When Hamby died in 2019, his son recalled his perseverance.

He was one of those people who would never give up, whether it was a chore around the house or if it was his career as an electrician. He stayed with it until the job was complete, Dan said. He was very strong in his thoughts that you treat people honestly and give them a good hard days work so that their payment to you has a good value.

Loyalty, naturally, because of his time in the service, in that you make a commitment and you stay loyal to it. And just a good work ethic  he was a hard worker, and he instilled that in his children.
Victoria's Secret Armenian model Rubina Khanzadyan is getting ready for her wedding.

The model made a post on Instagram stories in which one can see what kind of a bride to be event her friends organized for her.

"Most epic Bachelorette trip I couldve asked for!" Rubina wrote.

The model usually does not publicize her personal life on social media, but her friends often mention her in joint photos with her boyfriend, Gabriel Rosen.

Rubina was born in Armenias Yerevan, but moved to Spain as a child, and she lived there for 13 years, until her family decided to leave for the United States. In an exclusive interview with NEWS.am STYLE, the model had said as follows referring to her Armenian roots: Since my family and I moved from Yerevan when I was so little, I did not get a chance to grow up in my country, but I did get a chance to visit several times when living in Barcelona and my parents always made sure our Armenian culture, language, and traditions remained in our family no matter where we lived. That is why, I still feel so close and identified in many ways with my nation.

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Federal funds will kickstart cleanup projects on at least two properties in Kelso after the city received $500,000 to spot and address contamination in an effort to revive the areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week it would funnel $7.5 million into seven Washington state projects, with grant money ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.

In Kelso, the money will focus on two privately owned sites near the Cowlitz River: an older downtown building and empty property that once held a scrap metal yard.

The grants aim to help communities, especially those in underserved areas, clean up contaminated sites as a catalyst for revitalization, according to an EPA press release.

The sites

One priority site is the nearly century-old 7,000-square-foot Kelso American Legion building at 301 Allen St., which is still used but has faced issues with a crumbling building, states a 2019 report from The Daily News.

Dan Halverson, member of the the Kelso American Legion Guy Rathbun Post 25, said they assessed the property back in 2018 and found traces of lead paint. The Legion worked with the city to figure out the best way to fix some of these issues and agreed to piggyback off the citys application for the EPA grant.

Halverson said addressing the lead paint is the first step to fixing the facade of the tan and brown building, owned by the group since 1946.

The building historically held a photo development studio and a carpentry shop, according to a press release by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

The other site is nearly 3-acres of land once home to a scrap metal and salvage yard located at 1610 South River Rd. in South Kelso.

The undeveloped land is now owned by the Longview-based nonprofit Love Overwhelming, which proposed in 2018 to build affordable housing on the site. Love Overwhelming could not be reached before deadline to discuss current plans for the area.

The grant initially covered three properties, but Kelso City Manager Andrew Hamilton said the owners of the third site declined to participate in the assessment.

Funding

The $500,000 will pay for environmental site assessments, which could help clean the properties of any toxic waste or unsafe conditions.

Kelso Mayor Mike Karnofski said the city expects the grant to fund the entire assessment part as an effort to redevelop the areas for economic growth. Beyond that, they will have to apply for a separate grant to pay for the actual cleanup.

The city applied for the grant essentially on behalf of the owners to begin the process of repurposing and cleaning up the sites, but future plans are not set yet.

Its hard for us to talk on it now, because until its assessed and blessed by the EPA, nothing can be done, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said this grant, like all government grants, will move slowly.

They will get the funds in October, hire a third-party expert, develop a work plan, and do the assessments through December. It will be up to the property owners how to move forward after the seeing the findings, Hamilton noted.

The grants are part of the EPAs Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant  MARC for short  programs. Other sites to get funding include a former gas station on Port Orchards waterfront, a former log yard on the Colville reservation and a vacant hospital in Colfax.

These funds will give communities across the State of Washington a head start as they plan to clean up and repurpose former industrial sites, Cantwell said in the news release Wednesday. Many brownfield sites are near the center of cities and towns and cleaning them can help communities revitalize their business districts. And thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the state is receiving more than triple the funding from last year.

Last year, the MARC program gave about $1.5 million in grants for three similar projects in the state, none of which went to Cowlitz County communities. Cantwell said in the news release the increased amount this year came from the reinstatement of Superfund chemical excise taxes.

The excise taxes are imposed on the sale or use of certain chemicals and imported substances, according to the IRS. The taxes were reinstated in July 2022 after they previously expired in 1995.
South Africa: President extends condolences to Joemat-Pettersson family

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the family of former Minister and Member of Parliament Tina Joemat-Pettersson, following her death on Monday.

Joemat-Pettersson was Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Police in the National Assembly at the time of her death at the age of 59.

We have lost a remarkable leader who dedicated herself to improving the quality of life in her home province of the Northern Cape in the early years of our democracy before assuming national responsibilities in key portfolios.

We will miss the passion and vigour with which Tina Joemat-Pettersson fought for a better South Africa from the rural villages of the Northern Cape to the benches of Parliament and international platforms. May her soul rest in peace, President Ramaphosa said.

The Presidency reflected on Joemat-Petterssons time in government.

At the time of her passing, Ms Joemat-Pettersson was Chair of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Police, having previously served the nation as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Minister of Energy.

President Ramaphosa offers his sincere condolences to the family of the former Minister, and especially her sons Austin and Terrence. The President extends his sympathy to the friends, comrades and parliamentary colleagues of the late leader who was born in Kimberley and served as MEC for Education from 1994, the Presidency said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Commentary: China seeks sustainable growth in harmony with nature

Xinhua) 09:13, June 06, 2023

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China defines the harmony between humanity and nature as a key feature of its drive to advance Chinese modernization.

This revolutionary development philosophy is worthy of awe on the occasion of World Environment Day, a United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the planet's environment, which fell on Monday this year.

China's endeavor to modernize itself is different from some countries in that it does not regard ecological conservation as tending to run counter to or as a burden on economic growth.

A majority of Western countries followed a "grow first, clean up later" path when they became industrialized. But such a model revealed itself to be more and more unsustainable, with diminished ecological resources and global warming proving increasingly constraining.

While asserting its right to development, China is committed to tapping greater growth potential in green and low-carbon development. One of its beliefs is that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

China has incorporated people's growing demands for a beautiful eco-environment as an integral part of its strategy to achieve high-quality development that is more efficient, equitable, sustainable and secure. Therefore, on its path to modernization, economic growth and ecological conservation are seen and pursued as complementary components.

China, as an active proponent in the signing, effecting and implementation of the Paris Agreement, aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. These two goals are considered essential to the country's new development philosophy and key to building a new pattern of development and promoting high-quality development.

According to NASA's satellite data, from 2000 to 2017, China contributed about a quarter of the newly-added vegetation area across the whole planet.

Afforestation is only a part of China's intensified greening efforts, which also include industrial upgrading, large-scale use of clean energy, the launch of a national carbon trading market, a clear roadmap to improve biodiversity, as well as powerful action plans to curb pollution.

The country has vowed to adopt a holistic approach to improving its ecosystems by promoting the integrated conservation and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts. It has been stepping up legislation on ecological conservation in recent years.

A law on the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin came into effect in April this year, following a similar one to conserve the Yangtze River -- China's first national law on a specific river basin, which was put into practice in March 2021.

China's top legislature adopted a law on April 26 to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as "the roof of the world," which will come into force on Sept. 1.

China is exploring and has made headway in its efforts to create a model of sound development featuring increased production, higher living standards and healthy ecosystems.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Ukraine counter-attack recreates World War One (WWI)-style images as Russian troops were seen "fleeing Bakhmut' in a new video.

A footage showing a wave of Ukrainian troops valiantly advancing to the positions of Russian soldiers is now making waves online.

Ukraine Counter-Attack Creates WWI-Style Images

According to a report by The Sun Australia, new footage showcases how Ukraine soldiers are counter-attacking Russian troops in the country's eastern region. Russian troops are reportedly "fleeing" Bakhmut following the fierce counter-attack of the Ukrainian forces.

The photos, which were reportedly taken in the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, show soldiers running across a field toward enemy lines. The troops are seen carrying rifles while sporting helmets. Some were also wearing gas masks.

The images have been shared widely on social media, and many people have commented on how they resemble photos from the historical World War One. Some responses point out that the Ukrainian troops are advancing to the positions of Russia ala World War One. The First World War was a trench warfare conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918, and it was characterized by horrific casualties.

The images come as Ukrainian forces launch a counter-offensive against Russian troops in the east of the country. The Ukrainian military has said that it has made significant gains in recent days, and it is now pushing Russian forces back toward the border.



The Russian military has yet to comment on the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Read Also: Heavy Bombardment Happens in Ukraine After Russia Attacked Dnipro Medical Facility, Killing 2, Injuring Dozens

Ukraine Troops Retake Berkhivka

As per The Sun UK, no less than the leader of the Wagner Group mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, confirmed that the Ukrainian troops have successfully retaken Berkhivka from the hands of the Russian military.

The Wagner Group boss called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring his military chief to the frontline of the Ukraine invasion to have a first-hand look at the oversight from their own eyes.

The Sun notes that the mercenary group claimed to have taken over Bakhmut in May. After this, they handed over the eastern Ukraine city to the Russian troops.

But since then, Ukraine's military has counter-attacked against Russia in the devastated city.

The Wagner Group leader himself says that "part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away. Prigozhin slammed the victory of Ukraine troops as a "disgrace" to the Russian army.

But despite that, the Evening Standard UK reports that one of the top diplomats of Ukraine admits the reality of their counteroffensive tactics.

The deputy head of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Igor Zhovkva, discloses that they do not "have enough" weapons to carry out their plans.

And as such, Zhovkva, Ukraine's chief foreign affairs adviser, assures that he is now gearing up to obtain more weapons and ammunition, as well as support, for a successful counterattack against the Russian troops.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Offers Nuclear Weapons To Anyone That Will Join Russia Against Ukraine, Ally Says

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NASA uses telescopes, such as Pans-STARRS1 in Maui, Hawaii, and Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, to detect near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets. To collect accurate information about an asteroid's trajectory and attributes, it employs its ground-based radar. While these space rocks are far-off in space, NASA tech helps to observe and track them for any potential danger. NASA's space-based observatory, NEOWISE, has also identified hundreds of asteroids by scanning the skies with near-infrared wavelengths of light from its orbit around Earth's poles.

NASA, with the help of this advanced technology, has recently discovered another asteroid that could potentially come close to Earth soon.

Asteroid 1994 XD information

NASA has issued a warning about a particular asteroid called Asteroid 1994 XD, as it will be approaching very close to Earth. The asteroid is currently traveling at a speed of almost 77301 kilometers per hour and is set to make its closest approach to Earth on June 12 at a distance of just 3.1 million kilometers!

While this asteroid is not a planet-killer, it has become a cause for concern due to its sheer size and has been declared a Potentially Hazardous Object. Scientists estimate that it is around 1500 feet wide, making it almost as big as a bridge! NASA has revealed that it made its very first approach to Earth back on May 31, 1904, at a distance of 2.5 million kilometers, while its last approach was on November 27, 2012.

It belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids which are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes larger than Earth's.

Asteroid Apophis

NASA and other space agencies have kept a watchful eye on a particular asteroid that was previously expected to impact Earth. Although it has now been determined that the asteroid will not crash into the planet's surface, it will make an extremely close approach this decade, giving scientists a chance to study it.

This asteroid is named 99942 Apophis and has been given the designation Asteroid 2004 MN4 by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. According to NASA, the Asteroid 99942 Apophis asteroid will make an extremely close trip to Earth on April 13, 2029. On that day, this space rock will come as close as 38000 kilometers to Earth's surface. This is closer than many geostationary satellites orbiting the planet.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Moinis team seeks to better understand the strengths and limits of printed cements. Credit: Princeton University

Engineers at Princeton University are deploying lasers to precisely evaluate a major drawback of 3D-printed cementthe material's resistance to fracture. The researchers hope that progress in this area could lead to a wider use of additive manufacturing in cement-based structures. The long-term goal is to develop better materials using additive techniques that lead to innovative designs and functions.

Cement is the major ingredient in the concrete that makes up much of modern constructionincluding buildings, roads, runways, bridges and dams. In recent years, as 3D printing has demonstrated advantages in efficiency and versatility, there has been a growing interest in applying the technology to construction.

But compared to conventionally cast concrete, the 3D-printed alternatives can be subject to cracking, particularly in areas between different layers of concrete. Researchers attribute this to non-uniform microstructures introduced by the layering process used in 3D printing. Princeton researchers have used a new test to better understand this cracking at a microscopic level. Their findings suggest that by properly characterizing the fracturing properties, 3D-printed concrete could be just as strong or even stronger than cast concrete.

In a study in the journal Cement and Concrete Composites, Princeton researchers demonstrate a new testing method that uses lasers to cut precisely located grooves in 3D-printed cements. By controlling the power and speed of the laser, the researchers can control critical features such as the grooves' depth and shape. This control allows for far more accurate testing than conventional methods.

"We can now gain a more thorough understanding of the fracture properties of 3D-printed cement-based materials under various modes of failure, which is important for eventually scaling up this technology," said Reza Moini, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton and senior author of the study. "There are new opportunities to make stronger and tougher materials by leveraging the design of materials architecture and fabrication freedom that comes with additive technologies."

Princeton researchers work to improve the use of additive manufacturing for concrete and other cement-based materials. The research team, from left to right, Arjun Prihar, Reza Moini, Shashank Gupta, and Hadi Esmaeeli. Credit: Sameer Khan/Fotobuddy

The study's other Princeton authors, all members of Moini's lab, are Shashank Gupta and Arjun Prihar, both Ph.D. students, and Hadi Esmaeeli, a former associate research scholar.

Unlike cast concrete, which is poured into a form and hardened, 3D-printed concrete involves a nozzle that extrudes a cement paste one strand at a time. The nozzle moves back and forth, building up the concrete strand by strand and eventually layer by layer.

One challenge is that during extrusion, a thin, water-rich film tends to form around each printed strand to facilitate flow. Those water-rich films can lead to significant internal flaws and heterogeneities between strands of the 3D-printed material, contributing to structural weakness.

The Princeton researchers examined these interfaces in more detail to understand their relationship with fracture properties. The research team initially fabricated and cured samples for testing using a customized 3D printer that extruded cement paste. Traditional testing usually involves cutting notches into the material, often with circular saws. For studying the microstructures, though, those saws can act as blunt instruments often leading to non-sharp notches. This can make testing difficult and imprecise.

Instead of using a physical tool such as a saw to cut notches, Moini and colleagues opted to use a laboratory laser. Their approach cuts testing notches right to where it is needed, for instance at the interface between the printed layers.

Graphical abstract. Credit: Cement and Concrete Composites (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105034

"The advantage of this test for brittle 3D-printed materials is that using the same sample geometry, one can capture the resistance to cracking under tension, shear, or any combination of the two," Moini said.

Shashank Gupta, the paper's first author, emphasized that "this approach can help inform the material properties as researchers are working with industry to scale up concrete additive manufacturing processes for structural and nonstructural applications."

Graduate students in Moini's lab are furthering these ends, investigating architected materials and fracture characteristics. Recently, at the spring convention of the American Concrete Institute in San Francisco in April, paper co-author Arjun Prihar won a third-place poster award and graduate student Krystal Delnoce won first place. Prihar's research has focused on understanding the fracture mechanics of sinusoidally architected designs of concrete materials using experiment and simulation. Delnoce's research has focused on adapting a new fracture test method for 3D-printed materials by developing a notch within the toolpath.

"Our work is helping to solve fundamental questions about the fracture behavior of 3D-printed concrete," said Moini.

More information: Shashank Gupta et al, Fracture and transport analysis of heterogeneous 3D-Printed lamellar cementitious materials, Cement and Concrete Composites (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105034
The former United States Vice President, Mike Pence, jumped into the 2024 US Republican Presidential race.

The ex-VP faces other Republican hotshots, such as his former running mate, ex-President Donald Trump, and the rising star Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Ex-VP Mike Pence Formally Joins the 2024 US Presidential Race

The former VP, Pence, has joined the heated 2024 Presidential race. According to ABC News Go, the ex-running mate of Trump has filed his paperwork for the launch of his presidential campaign at the Federal Election Commission on Monday, June 5.

The recently filed paperwork confirms the long-awaited entry of Pence in the 2024 presidential race. ABC notes that the former VP is set to formally launch his Republican nomination on June 7, Wednesday, in Moines, Iowa. His official announcement coincidentally marks the celebration of his 64th birthday.

As per The Guardian, the former POTUS Trump chose Pence as his 2016 running mate while he was still the governor of Indiana. Bystanders suggest that the move sought to secure votes from the conservative and evangelical voices who were wary of the businessman's brashness.

Pence stayed loyal to Trump for the past four years in the White House. But when the former President refused to accept his defeat from Joe Biden in 2020, it made a dent in their unwavering relationship.

Trump's ex-running mate resisted calls for him to refuse to certify the electoral college results last January 6, 2021, which mandates Biden's presidential win. The former vice president proceeded with the certification despite the Capitol mob chanting, "Hang Mike Pence."

Pence says, "President Trump was wrong." He notes that he "had no right to overturn the election," adding that the words of Trump have endangered the folks at Capitol and his beloved family.

Read Also: Mike Pence Testifies Before Grand Jury Over Investigation of Donald Trump

Mike Pence vs. Donald Trump vs. Ron DeSantis

The Straits Times reports that Pence's declaration of candidacy filing kicks off his fight against his former running mate Trump.

The ex-VP goes against a crowded field of Republican challengers, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Besides these Republican figures, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are also expected to klaunchtheir campaigns in the same week as Pence.

Pence's entry into the race will likely energize the Republican base as he is popular among conservatives.

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a competitive race. Pence is one of several Republicans who have announced their intention to run, and the field is expected to grow in the coming months.

Meanwhile, in the Democrat arena, President Biden formally announced his 2024 presidential bid last April.

Related Article: Former VP Mike Pence Set to Launch Presidential Campaign Next Week

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Vice President Kamala Harris met today at the White House with World Bank President Ajay Banga. This meeting was the first official U.S. engagement since President Banga took office.

The Vice President underscored the Biden-Harris Administration's strong support for World Bank efforts to make investments and spur policy reforms that reduce poverty and advance achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. She praised the steps taken to evolve the World Bank-including expanding its mission to include building resilience to global challenges like climate change, pandemics, fragility and conflict.

She underscored that addressing these global challenges is interlinked with and indivisible from the Bank's work to eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The Vice President welcomed President Banga's commitment and high ambition in driving forward this evolution initiative.

READ NEXT: Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's Call with Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti



The Vice President conveyed the United States' intention to work with World Bank shareholders and President Banga in the leadup to the September G20 Leaders Summit to agree to steps we will jointly take to deliver:

Significant new concessional World Bank financing delivered through a new window or other innovative mechanisms to incentivize action on global challenges across all borrower countries. A new framework and principles for the targeted use of concessional resources will help deploy new financing to where it is most additional and has the highest impact.

Enhanced support for addressing the urgent needs of low-income countries, including through contributions to support crisis response in International Development Association recipient countries.

Recognizing that the public sector alone cannot meet the immense development needs, the Vice President also underscored our commitment to work with the World Bank and other shareholders to develop and implement an action plan to raise the level of ambition in mobilizing private investment.



The Vice President discussed with President Banga her work around the world, from Southeast Asia to Africa to the Caribbean. In particular, as the Vice President has made clear in this and other meetings, countries should have access to the finance and tools they need to accelerate the clean energy transition and build resilience to shocks.

The Vice President and President Banga also discussed ongoing work to galvanize private investment in developing countries, particularly in Central America and Africa. This meeting comes just before the Vice President's upcoming trip to the Bahamas on June 8 to participate in the U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting, alongside President Banga, where she will further discuss the U.S. commitment and actions to support sustainable and inclusive economic development in the Caribbean. To this end, she raised the importance of all creditors offering Climate Resilient Debt Clauses to allow a temporary suspension of debt service after a natural disaster.

READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Deadly Train Crash in India

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A College Station man was killed in a Monday night shooting in Bryan, according to the Bryan Police Department.

Police identified the man as 22-year-old Courtaney Jermaine O'Bryant on Tuesday afternoon. No arrests have been made and detectives are still following leads, but police said they believe it is an isolated incident.

Bryan police were dispatched to the 3300 block of South College Avenue after reports of shots fired. Officers found one victim, now identified as O'Bryant, with life-threatening injuries who was transported to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead.
Core Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 28,914 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $320,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 326,822,162 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,144,788,000 after buying an additional 3,920,830 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 20.9% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 105,621,983 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,248,626,000 after purchasing an additional 18,252,701 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 67,816,895 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,795,394,000 after acquiring an additional 729,359 shares in the last quarter. Sanders Capital LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 25,041,576 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,007,172,000 after acquiring an additional 416,171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 21,901,706 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,061,357,000 after acquiring an additional 64,080 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.24% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance

Shares of WFC traded up $0.63 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $41.08. 10,287,921 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 23,318,123. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $48.84. The company has a market cap of $154.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.12. The firms fifty day moving average is $39.46 and its 200 day moving average is $42.34.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.08. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.93% and a return on equity of 10.07%. The business had revenue of $20.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.88 earnings per share. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 5th were issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.92%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 4th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 34.38%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WFC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 10th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $47.00 to $46.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.45.

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Get Rating)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management.

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Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP  Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Sunday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $6.00-$6.50 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.64. The company issued revenue guidance of $11.20 billion-$11.30 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $11.43 billion.

Advance Auto Parts Trading Down 2.9 %

AAP opened at $65.59 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $117.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $134.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.75, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.24. Advance Auto Parts has a one year low of $65.56 and a one year high of $212.25.

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Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by ($1.88). Advance Auto Parts had a return on equity of 22.67% and a net margin of 3.61%. The firm had revenue of $3.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.43 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.57 EPS. Analysts predict that Advance Auto Parts will post 6.5 EPS for the current year.

Advance Auto Parts Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.52%. Advance Auto Partss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.15%.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $80.00 to $70.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 1st. 92 Resources restated a maintains rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Wedbush cut their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $115.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Truist Financial cut their price target on Advance Auto Parts from $144.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Argus downgraded Advance Auto Parts from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Advance Auto Parts presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $103.89.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Toroso Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 107.8% during the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 4,646 shares of the companys stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 2,410 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC grew its position in Advance Auto Parts by 49.0% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the companys stock worth $147,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in Advance Auto Parts by 1,844.8% in the first quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 50,079 shares of the companys stock worth $6,090,000 after acquiring an additional 47,504 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its position in Advance Auto Parts by 4.7% in the first quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 6,523 shares of the companys stock worth $793,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Advance Auto Parts in the first quarter worth about $4,778,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.04% of the companys stock.

About Advance Auto Parts

(Get Rating)

Advance Auto Parts, Inc engages in the supply and distribution of aftermarket automotive products for both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. It operates through the following segments: Advance Auto Parts/Carquest U.S., Carquest Canada, Worldpac, and Independents. The company was founded by Arthur Taubman in 1929 and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

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Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE:TRI  Get Rating) (TSE:TRI) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the sixteen ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have given a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $131.22.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Thomson Reuters from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Thomson Reuters from $161.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on Thomson Reuters from $138.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. 51job reissued a downgrade rating on shares of Thomson Reuters in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Thomson Reuters from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $100.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st.

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Thomson Reuters Stock Up 0.1 %

TRI stock opened at $123.61 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.22 billion, a PE ratio of 51.29, a PEG ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $127.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $121.56. Thomson Reuters has a 1-year low of $94.94 and a 1-year high of $133.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Thomson Reuters Cuts Dividend

Thomson Reuters ( NYSE:TRI Get Rating ) (TSE:TRI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The business services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.73 billion. Thomson Reuters had a return on equity of 10.55% and a net margin of 17.20%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.66 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Thomson Reuters will post 3.31 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.362 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $1.45 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. Thomson Reuterss payout ratio is 81.33%.

Institutional Trading of Thomson Reuters

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRI. Level Four Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Thomson Reuters during the 1st quarter worth approximately $218,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its position in Thomson Reuters by 26.7% during the first quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 16,875 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,260,000 after purchasing an additional 3,552 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. purchased a new position in Thomson Reuters in the 1st quarter worth approximately $640,000. Empower Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Thomson Reuters in the first quarter worth approximately $208,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Thomson Reuters by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 891,791 shares of the business services providers stock worth $116,041,000 after acquiring an additional 201,393 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 20.84% of the companys stock.

About Thomson Reuters

(Get Rating)

Thomson Reuters Corp. engages in the provision of news and information for professional markets. It operates through the following segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax and Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment provides research and workflow products to law firms and government.

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Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSE:WCP  Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Buy by the eleven analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$14.91.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on WCP shares. ATB Capital decreased their target price on Whitecap Resources from C$16.00 to C$15.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$14.50 in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. National Bankshares lifted their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$15.50 to C$16.50 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$13.50 to C$14.00 in a research report on Friday, February 24th.

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Insider Activity

In other news, Director Grant Bradley Fagerheim acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$10.14 per share, for a total transaction of C$101,400.00. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock.

Whitecap Resources Stock Down 0.6 %

Whitecap Resources Dividend Announcement

Shares of TSE WCP opened at C$9.64 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$10.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$10.40. The company has a market capitalization of C$5.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 2.89. Whitecap Resources has a 1 year low of C$7.70 and a 1 year high of C$12.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.28, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.048 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.98%. Whitecap Resourcess payout ratio is 26.48%.

Whitecap Resources Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Whitecap Resources Inc, oil and gas company, acquires and develops petroleum and natural gas properties in Canada. Its principal properties are located in West Central Alberta, British Columbia, Southeast Saskatchewan, West Central Saskatchewan, and Southwest Saskatchewan. As of February 14, 2022, it had a total proved plus probable reserves of 701,829 thousand barrels of oil equivalent.

Further Reading

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Apriem Advisors reduced its position in shares of Eneti Inc. (NYSE:NETI  Get Rating) by 10.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,000 shares during the quarter. Apriem Advisors holdings in Eneti were worth $181,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of NETI. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Eneti by 497.6% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,946 shares of the companys stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 4,951 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its position in shares of Eneti by 31.6% during the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 10,400 shares of the companys stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares during the last quarter. American International Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eneti during the 2nd quarter worth about $66,000. Toroso Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eneti during the 1st quarter worth about $67,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eneti during the 1st quarter worth about $94,000. 65.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Eneti Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE NETI traded up $0.19 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $9.81. 139,218 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 416,109. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $9.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $379.16 million, a P/E ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 3.63 and a current ratio of 3.75. Eneti Inc. has a twelve month low of $5.13 and a twelve month high of $11.20.

Eneti Announces Dividend

Eneti ( NYSE:NETI Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported ($0.48) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.84) by $0.36. The business had revenue of $13.82 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.74 million. Eneti had a net margin of 43.52% and a return on equity of 6.63%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Eneti Inc. will post -0.09 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Enetis dividend payout ratio is currently 1.86%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Eneti from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Pareto Securities assumed coverage on shares of Eneti in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $13.00 price objective for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $13.40.

Eneti Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Eneti, Inc engages in the development of offshore wind and marine-based renewable energy and has invested in the next generation of wind turbine installation vessels. It provides innovative maritime solutions to a wide variety of customers. The company was founded by Emanuele A. Lauro and Robert L. Bugbee on March 20, 2013 and is headquartered in Monaco.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NETI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eneti Inc. (NYSE:NETI  Get Rating).

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Auto Trader Group (LON:AUTO  Get Rating)s stock had its buy rating restated by investment analysts at Shore Capital in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Digital Look reports.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Auto Trader Group in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 725 ($9.01) price target on shares of Auto Trader Group in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 630 ($7.83) price objective on shares of Auto Trader Group in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 624.86 ($7.77).

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Auto Trader Group Stock Performance

AUTO stock traded up GBX 7.60 ($0.09) during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching GBX 616.20 ($7.66). 424,549 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,325,160. Auto Trader Group has a 52 week low of GBX 479.80 ($5.96) and a 52 week high of GBX 681 ($8.47). The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 622.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 592.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.76, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.61. The firm has a market capitalization of 5.64 billion, a PE ratio of 2,369.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.61.

About Auto Trader Group

Auto Trader Group plc operates in the digital automotive marketplace in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company provides vehicle advertisement on its websites for private sellers, as well as insurance and loan financing products to consumers; and display advertising on its websites for manufacturers and their advertising agencies.

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Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN  Get Rating) and Broadmark Realty Capital (NYSE:BRMK  Get Rating) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

90.8% of Brandywine Realty Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.5% of Broadmark Realty Capital shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.0% of Brandywine Realty Trust shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.9% of Broadmark Realty Capital shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares Brandywine Realty Trust and Broadmark Realty Capitals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brandywine Realty Trust 8.36% 2.61% 1.08% Broadmark Realty Capital -128.10% 5.69% 5.07%

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brandywine Realty Trust 1 1 1 0 2.00 Broadmark Realty Capital 0 3 0 0 2.00

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Brandywine Realty Trust and Broadmark Realty Capital, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Brandywine Realty Trust currently has a consensus price target of $6.44, indicating a potential upside of 59.34%. Broadmark Realty Capital has a consensus price target of $6.00, indicating a potential upside of 24.48%. Given Brandywine Realty Trusts higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Brandywine Realty Trust is more favorable than Broadmark Realty Capital.

Risk and Volatility

Brandywine Realty Trust has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Broadmark Realty Capital has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Brandywine Realty Trust pays an annual dividend of $0.76 per share and has a dividend yield of 18.8%. Broadmark Realty Capital pays an annual dividend of $0.42 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.7%. Brandywine Realty Trust pays out 304.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Broadmark Realty Capital pays out -42.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Brandywine Realty Trust and Broadmark Realty Capitals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brandywine Realty Trust $506.10 million 1.37 $53.82 million $0.25 16.16 Broadmark Realty Capital $108.88 million 5.83 -$116.39 million ($0.98) -4.92

Brandywine Realty Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Broadmark Realty Capital. Broadmark Realty Capital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Brandywine Realty Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Brandywine Realty Trust beats Broadmark Realty Capital on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Brandywine Realty Trust

(Get Rating)

Brandywine Realty Trust engages in the acquisition, development, redevelopment, ownership, management, and operation of a portfolio of office, life science/lab, residential, and mixed-use properties. It operates through the following business segments: Philadelphia Central Business District, Pennsylvania Suburbs, Austin, Texas, Metropolitan Washington, D.C., and Other. The Philadelphia Central Business District segment includes properties located in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Suburbs segment consists of properties in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The Austin, Texas segment focuses on properties in the City of Austin, Texas. The Metropolitan Washington D.C. segment focuses on properties in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Southern Maryland. The Other segment offers properties located in Camden County, New Jersey and in New Castle County, Delaware. The company was founded by Gerard H. Sweeney in 1986 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.

About Broadmark Realty Capital

(Get Rating)

Broadmark Realty Capital Inc. operates as a commercial real estate finance company in the United States. It engages in underwriting, funding, servicing, and managing a portfolio of short-term trust loans to fund the construction and development, or investment in residential or commercial properties. The company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust. As a result, it would not be subject to corporate income tax on that portion of its net income that is distributed to shareholders. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

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Bokf Na lessened its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Get Rating) by 4.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 100,335 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,778 shares during the quarter. Bokf Nas holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $7,905,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of CL. Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 158.2% during the 3rd quarter. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. now owns 408 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. RFP Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC lifted its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 36.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 704 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.63% of the companys stock.

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Colgate-Palmolive Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock traded down $0.58 on Tuesday, reaching $75.67. 1,187,025 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,876,715. Colgate-Palmolive has a 1-year low of $67.84 and a 1-year high of $83.81. The company has a market cap of $62.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.90 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.87, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $77.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $76.29.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

Colgate-Palmolive ( NYSE:CL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $4.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 348.63% and a net margin of 8.71%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.14 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st were paid a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 20th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.54%. This is a boost from Colgate-Palmolives previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Colgate-Palmolives payout ratio is currently 100.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $88.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $76.00 to $81.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $91.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $85.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $84.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at Colgate-Palmolive

In other news, Director John P. Bilbrey sold 5,703 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.81, for a total transaction of $460,859.43. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,257 shares in the company, valued at $2,121,828.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Colgate-Palmolive news, Director John P. Bilbrey sold 5,703 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.81, for a total value of $460,859.43. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 26,257 shares in the company, valued at $2,121,828.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Sally Massey sold 17,239 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.16, for a total value of $1,399,117.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,615 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $699,193.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 187,748 shares of company stock worth $15,138,660. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Colgate-Palmolive

(Get Rating)

Colgate-Palmolive Co is engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of consumer products. It operates through the Oral, Personal and Home Care, and Pet Nutrition segments. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment represents North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa or Eurasia, all of which sell to a variety of retail and wholesale customers and distributors.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Get Rating).

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Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) is one of 53 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery stores industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Sendas Distribuidora to similar companies based on the strength of its profitability, valuation, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk and institutional ownership.

Dividends

Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Sendas Distribuidora pays out 10.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Grocery stores companies pay a dividend yield of 3.4% and pay out 57.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion $236.31 million 14.51 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors $28.01 billion $661.98 million 214.65

Profitability

Sendas Distribuidoras rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Sendas Distribuidora. Sendas Distribuidora is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88% Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1.80% 15.77% 4.55%

Volatility & Risk

Sendas Distribuidora has a beta of 0.77, indicating that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sendas Distribuidoras rivals have a beta of 0.53, indicating that their average stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Sendas Distribuidora and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1099 2669 2847 112 2.29

As a group, Grocery stores companies have a potential upside of 18.52%. Given Sendas Distribuidoras rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Sendas Distribuidora has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.1% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 20.9% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Sendas Distribuidora rivals beat Sendas Distribuidora on 11 of the 15 factors compared.

Sendas Distribuidora Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Sendas Distribuidora S.A. engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. As of March 31, 2022, the company operated 216 stores under the Assai banner, as well as 13 distribution centers. It serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. The company sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. Sendas Distribuidora S.A. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Monday, Brooklyn officials launched New York City's first public health vending machine.

A new vending machine in Brooklyn is stocked with Naloxone and fentanyl test samples instead of food.

The potentially lifesaving products are offered for free at the intersection of Broadway and Decatur Avenue in Ocean Hill, where drug overdoses remain a problem. Health officials stated that a new approach was necessary.

NYC's First Public Health Vending Machine is Now Open

This is the first of four vending machines that will be installed in New York City communities with the greatest overdose rates. Users only need to input their zip code and select their desired product, CBS News reported.

In 2021, the city recorded a record 2,668 overdose fatalities, and 2022 is anticipated to be even worse. Elan Quashie of the non-profit Services for the UnderServed stated that these vending machine products are essential. His organization is responsible for stocking the vending devices.

Some Ocean Hill residents were opposed to the vending machine because they believed it would attract criminals.

Advocates have expressed the expectation that vending machine users will seek long-term care. When they are ready, they can communicate with the vending devices by scanning a QR code.

According to the health commissioner, the free, round-the-clock distribution is intended to reduce the record-high drug overdose rate in New York City. However, some nearby residents are concerned that the machine's positive intentions will misfire.

As part of its unveiling on Monday, Elon Quashie demonstrated how the vending machine operates. The vending machine contained a variety of healthcare products, such as nicotine gum, contraceptives, and secure puffing supplies. However, many of the items available were overdose protection kits, according to PIX11.

As he opened one of the kits, Quashie explained, "Every kit contains two dosages."

Instructions, surgical gloves, and two doses of naloxone were included, The New York City Health Commissioner, Ashwin Vasan, was present at the machine and praised its ability to save lives by making resources readily accessible.

Nevertheless, some of the residents dissented. Keisha Devaughn stated, "This is not needed on our block."

She stated that she had lived on the same block where the vending machine spent its first few hours for more than two decades. Devaughn added that she had witnessed frequent medical emergencies in the building, though they were not inherently related to illegal drug use.

Other residents have divergent opinions. Rose Meredith utilized the machine and obtained a standard health kit. Another neighborhood resident, Luis Mordo, shared Meredith's sentiments after receiving a health bundle from the machine.

The machine is the first of at least two more that the city intends to install in various locations. When similar devices have been installed in other US, European, and Australian cities, there have been documented decreases in overdose cases in the surrounding areas.

Read Also: Deadly India Train Crash Cause Revealed; Here's What We Know So Far!

New York Drug Overdose Crisis

In addition to fentanyl test strips and naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses, the vending machine will contain hygiene kits, maxi pads, Vitamin C, first aid kits, wound care kits, COVID-19 tests, and supplies for smoking, snorting, and injecting narcotics more securely. It will not contain syringes.

Toni Smith, the state director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York, stated that the vending machines are intended to reduce barriers to obtaining supplies while normalizing harm reduction as an effective public health strategy.

In 2021, the most recent full year for which data is available, 2,668 fatal overdoses occurred in the five boroughs. This is an increase from 2,103 in 2020. With 1,370 verified overdose fatalities in the first six months of 2022, it is expected to be the deadliest year on record.

Fentanyl was responsible for 80% of overdose fatalities. The substance is commonly used in medical settings despite being a lethal, extremely potent drug. It is approximately 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin, and it has contaminated the national drug supply.

The crisis has created a new sense of urgency for the city to implement harm reduction strategies, which seek to prevent drug-related fatalities through the provision of treatment and services - as opposed to promoting policies that emphasize sobriety.

The machine was distributed in March as part of Mayor Adams' mental health initiative. The plan's objective is to reduce overdose fatalities by 15% by 2025. The machines will be installed in areas where overdose fatalities are most prevalent.

Per NY Daily News, Ocean Hill-Brownsville had one of the greatest rates of overdose fatalities in 2021, although East New York is the neighborhood in Brooklyn most affected by this issue.

Related Article: California Officials Blame 'Small, Pathetic Man' DeSantis for Chartered Migrants Flight

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Core Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 11,854 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $854,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. RB Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 5,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $282,000 after buying an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 36,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,868,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. United Bank raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 46,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,416,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 136.3% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 36,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,903,000 after purchasing an additional 21,209 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,337,418 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $69,238,000 after purchasing an additional 79,887 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.62% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PFE shares. Daiwa Capital Markets lowered shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $38.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Pfizer from $43.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.33.

Pfizer Stock Performance

NYSE PFE traded down $0.09 on Tuesday, hitting $38.56. The stock had a trading volume of 9,935,282 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,992,445. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $36.17 and a one year high of $54.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a market cap of $217.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.64. The companys 50-day moving average is $39.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.64.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 37.53%. The businesss revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.62 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be issued a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.28%.

Insider Activity

In other Pfizer news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc bought 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, with a total value of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at $16,428,245.88. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 1,000 shares of Pfizer stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $38,580.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $231,480. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 1,813,594 shares of company stock worth $5,076,999 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Profile

(Get Rating)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FMCB  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Friday, June 2nd, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of 8.30 per share by the bank on Saturday, July 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:FMCB opened at $984.99 on Tuesday. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has a fifty-two week low of $914.01 and a fifty-two week high of $1,088.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $982.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $999.25.

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Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FMCB  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The bank reported $30.80 earnings per share for the quarter.

About Farmers & Merchants Bancorp

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses. Its services include commercial, commercial real estate, real estate construction, agribusiness, consumer, credit card, residential real estate loans, and equipment leases.

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Freestone Capital Holdings LLC grew its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Get Rating) by 16.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 19,743 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 2,859 shares during the quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $3,442,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of IWM. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 12,616.2% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 7,756,010 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,279,086,000 after acquiring an additional 7,695,017 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 32,819.0% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,119,653 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $369,583,000 after acquiring an additional 2,113,214 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 14,581,100 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,404,715,000 after acquiring an additional 1,192,100 shares in the last quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 70.7% during the 4th quarter. Factory Mutual Insurance Co. now owns 1,450,190 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $252,855,000 after acquiring an additional 600,749 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 69.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,445,383 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $238,373,000 after purchasing an additional 591,463 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 2.8 %

Shares of IWM stock traded up $5.09 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $184.67. The companys stock had a trading volume of 24,071,192 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,749,154. The company has a 50 day moving average of $175.49 and a 200 day moving average of $180.32. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 12-month low of $162.50 and a 12-month high of $201.99.

iShares Russell 2000 ETF Profile

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Shares of Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC  Get Rating) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the nine analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have assigned a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $14.71.

A number of analysts recently commented on HTGC shares. JMP Securities dropped their target price on shares of Hercules Capital from $18.00 to $15.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Hercules Capital from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $16.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Hercules Capital in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Hercules Capital from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of Hercules Capital from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $14.50 to $10.50 in a research report on Monday, March 13th.

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Insider Activity at Hercules Capital

In other Hercules Capital news, Director Gayle A. Crowell acquired 7,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $13.66 per share, for a total transaction of $98,352.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 38,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $530,622.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Hercules Capital news, Director Gayle A. Crowell acquired 7,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was bought at an average price of $13.66 per share, for a total transaction of $98,352.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 38,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $530,622.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Wade Loo acquired 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $11.95 per share, with a total value of $47,800.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 8,059 shares in the company, valued at approximately $96,305.05. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased a total of 11,655 shares of company stock worth $152,399 in the last ninety days. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital Stock Up 0.5 %

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. ProShare Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hercules Capital in the 1st quarter worth about $283,000. Toroso Investments LLC grew its holdings in Hercules Capital by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 53,262 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $687,000 after acquiring an additional 6,119 shares during the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC grew its holdings in Hercules Capital by 328.7% during the 1st quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 112,180 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,446,000 after acquiring an additional 86,011 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Hercules Capital by 24.5% during the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,529,000 after acquiring an additional 23,378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Hercules Capital by 29.7% during the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 17,991 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $232,000 after acquiring an additional 4,118 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.77% of the companys stock.

HTGC stock opened at $14.77 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.31, a quick ratio of 3.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firms 50-day moving average is $13.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $13.71. Hercules Capital has a 52 week low of $10.94 and a 52 week high of $16.28. The company has a market capitalization of $2.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.05 and a beta of 1.41.

Hercules Capital Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. This is a boost from Hercules Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. Hercules Capitals dividend payout ratio is presently 106.12%.

About Hercules Capital

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Hercules is the largest non-bank lender to venture capital-backed companies at all stages of development in a broadly diversified variety of technology, life sciences, and sustainable and renewable technology industries. With over a decade of experience in venture debt, Hercules is uniquely positioned to quickly create innovative financing solutions that perfectly fit within a companys existing capital structure and map to its business objectives.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Friday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on ITW. UBS Group lifted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $227.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $222.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $232.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $228.21.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Shares of ITW stock opened at $225.60 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $231.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $230.13. Illinois Tool Works has a 12-month low of $173.52 and a 12-month high of $253.37. The company has a market capitalization of $68.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.10. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 92.13% and a net margin of 19.27%. The business had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.98 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.11 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.40%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. EP Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,561,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 116.6% during the first quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 2,172 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $529,000 after buying an additional 1,169 shares during the last quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 1st quarter worth $205,000. Empower Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the first quarter valued at about $98,503,000. Finally, Old North State Trust LLC boosted its position in Illinois Tool Works by 635.2% during the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 1,713 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 1,480 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.83% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications.

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Masonite International Co. (NYSE:DOOR  Get Rating) CAO Catherine Anne Shellabarger sold 803 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.50, for a total value of $75,080.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,769 shares in the company, valued at approximately $352,401.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Masonite International Price Performance

NYSE DOOR traded up $4.13 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $100.50. The stock had a trading volume of 139,415 shares, compared to its average volume of 132,727. The firms 50 day moving average is $90.61 and its 200 day moving average is $86.23. Masonite International Co. has a twelve month low of $65.71 and a twelve month high of $101.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 3.39 and a quick ratio of 2.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.74 and a beta of 1.60.

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Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.30. Masonite International had a return on equity of 27.22% and a net margin of 6.40%. The firm had revenue of $726.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $688.20 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.89 EPS. The firms revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Masonite International Co. will post 7.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Masonite International

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in Masonite International by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 22,733 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,746,000 after buying an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 5,969 shares of the companys stock worth $481,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the period. PFS Investments Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. PFS Investments Inc. now owns 2,857 shares of the companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 9,381 shares of the companys stock worth $756,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Masonite International by 55.0% during the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 513 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the period. 98.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on DOOR shares. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Masonite International from $110.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. StockNews.com downgraded Masonite International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Masonite International from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Masonite International from $102.00 to $115.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $106.43.

About Masonite International

(Get Rating)

Masonite International Corp. engages in the manufacture of interior and exterior doors for residential and architectural use. It operates through the following geographical segments: North American Residential, Europe, Architectural, and Corporate and Other. The Corporate and other segment includes unallocated corporate costs and the results of immaterial operating segments.

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Itau BBA Securities upgraded shares of Banco de Chile (NYSE:BCH  Get Rating) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report issued on Friday, MarketBeat.com reports. Itau BBA Securities currently has $24.00 price target on the banks stock.

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Banco de Chile in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Banco de Chile has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $22.33.

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Banco de Chile Trading Up 0.3 %

BCH opened at $21.72 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average is $20.76 and its 200-day moving average is $20.46. Banco de Chile has a 1-year low of $15.64 and a 1-year high of $22.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.16. The company has a market cap of $10.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.72, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.37.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Banco de Chile Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Banco de Chile by 252.3% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 685,643 shares of the banks stock valued at $13,384,000 after buying an additional 491,004 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Banco de Chile by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 597,813 shares of the banks stock valued at $12,795,000 after buying an additional 7,462 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Banco de Chile by 14.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 366,782 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,636,000 after buying an additional 46,819 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Banco de Chile by 17.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 340,008 shares of the banks stock valued at $6,637,000 after buying an additional 51,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in Banco de Chile by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 253,930 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,957,000 after buying an additional 14,580 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 0.99% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Banco de Chile SA engages in the provision of banking services. It operates through the following segments: Retail, Wholesale, Treasury, and Subsidiaries. The Retail segment consists of consumer loans, commercial loans, checking accounts, credit cards, credit lines, and mortgage loans. The Wholesale segment includes corporate clients and large companies where the product offering focuses on commercial loans, checking accounts and liquidity management services, debt instruments, foreign trade, derivative contracts, and leases.

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National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NABPE  Get Rating) declared a interim dividend on Monday, June 5th, MarketIndexAU reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be given a dividend of 1.484 per share on Monday, June 19th. This represents a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 7th. This is an increase from National Australia Banks previous interim dividend of $1.33.

National Australia Bank Price Performance

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Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. lessened its holdings in Invitae Co. (NYSE:NVTA  Get Rating) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 17,256,161 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 19,190 shares during the period. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. owned approximately 0.07% of Invitae worth $32,096,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its holdings in Invitae by 9.7% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 32,282 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 2,845 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Invitae by 2.9% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 112,499 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 3,175 shares during the last quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management purchased a new position in shares of Invitae in the third quarter worth about $206,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invitae by 6.2% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 75,269 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 4,386 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviva PLC raised its stake in shares of Invitae by 22.9% in the first quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 26,594 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $212,000 after purchasing an additional 4,954 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.79% of the companys stock.

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Invitae Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NVTA traded up $0.19 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $1.25. The stock had a trading volume of 10,507,284 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,328,192. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.68, a quick ratio of 2.55 and a current ratio of 2.65. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $1.83. The stock has a market cap of $326.05 million, a PE ratio of -0.09 and a beta of 1.75. Invitae Co. has a 1-year low of $1.02 and a 1-year high of $9.00.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Invitae ( NYSE:NVTA Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The medical research company reported ($0.37) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.41) by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $117.36 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $116.57 million. Invitae had a negative return on equity of 285.28% and a negative net margin of 611.14%. The businesss revenue was down 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.78) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Invitae Co. will post -1.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Invitae from $1.75 to $1.50 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Raymond James cut Invitae from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Invitae in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $3.88.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Invitae news, insider Robert L. Nussbaum sold 26,476 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.20, for a total transaction of $31,771.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 576,431 shares of the companys stock, valued at $691,717.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, insider Robert L. Nussbaum sold 26,476 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.20, for a total value of $31,771.20. Following the sale, the insider now owns 576,431 shares in the company, valued at approximately $691,717.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Yafei Wen sold 43,452 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.99, for a total value of $86,469.48. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 700,297 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,393,591.03. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 136,919 shares of company stock valued at $198,630. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Invitae Company Profile

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Invitae Corp. engages in the provision of genetic information into mainstream medical practice. It includes comprehensive panels for hereditary conditions in cancer, cardiology, neurology, pediatric, and rare diseases. The company was founded by Randal W. Scott and Sean E. George on January 13, 2010 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

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Phreesia (NYSE:PHR  Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Robert W. Baird from $41.00 to $40.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, The Fly reports.

Several other research analysts have also issued reports on PHR. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Phreesia from $45.00 to $40.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. JMP Securities upped their target price on Phreesia from $34.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Phreesia from $26.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Stephens started coverage on Phreesia in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. They issued an overweight rating and a $37.00 price target on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their price objective on shares of Phreesia from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $37.64.

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Phreesia Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PHR opened at $32.90 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.76 billion, a PE ratio of -10.72 and a beta of 0.62. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $31.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $32.65. The company has a quick ratio of 2.89, a current ratio of 2.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Phreesia has a twelve month low of $16.78 and a twelve month high of $40.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

Phreesia ( NYSE:PHR Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The company reported ($0.70) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.80) by $0.10. Phreesia had a negative net margin of 53.89% and a negative return on equity of 53.25%. The firm had revenue of $83.85 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $80.64 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.99) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Phreesia will post -2.82 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CFO Balaji Gandhi sold 2,113 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.83, for a total value of $67,256.79. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 85,738 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,729,040.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Phreesia news, CFO Balaji Gandhi sold 2,113 shares of Phreesia stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.83, for a total transaction of $67,256.79. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 85,738 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,729,040.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Mark Douglas Smith sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.77, for a total transaction of $215,390.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,112 shares in the company, valued at $495,766.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 26,863 shares of company stock worth $834,743 over the last ninety days. 5.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Phreesia

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in PHR. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Phreesia during the 1st quarter worth $43,000. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Phreesia by 154.6% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,426 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 866 shares during the period. FourThought Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Phreesia by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. FourThought Financial LLC now owns 3,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in shares of Phreesia by 85.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,137 shares of the companys stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 1,445 shares during the period. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Phreesia during the first quarter worth $127,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.23% of the companys stock.

Phreesia Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Phreesia, Inc engages in the provision of patient check-in solutions for medical practices. The firm offers appointments, clinical support, integration, registration, patient activation, analytics and reports, revenue cycle, patient surveys, and privacy and security products. Its solutions include health systems, multi-specialty, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

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A driver in Finland faces a staggering $130,000 fine for speeding.

Besides the fine, the wealthy driver is grappling with the suspension of his driver's license for the next ten days.

Finland Driver Fined Over $130,000 For Speeding

One driver in Finland just learned the hard way that speed is costly. According to ABC Australia, A Finnish driver has been fined a whopping 21,000 euros or roughly USD 130,000 for speeding.

Finland's law enforcement authorities delivered an astronomical slap on the wrist to a motorist driving way too fast. The driver, Anders Wiklof, reportedly drove as fast as 82 kilometers per hour or around 51 miles per hour last weekend when the authorities stopped him and issued him a ticket. However, the speed limit is only 50 kilometers per hour (31 miles per hour).

Wiklof apologetically spoke to a news outlet in Aaland Islands, Finland's autonomous region in the Baltic Sea. The wealthy driver says, "I really regret the matter."

As per ABC News Go, it is not the first instance Wiklof figured in such a speeding incident. A few years ago, or in 2018, to be exact, the driver faced another staggering fine worth the tune of $68,176. Five years before that, he also paid a hefty $102,000 fine.

The Aaland native turns out to be the holding company chairman. His firm dives into various businesses, such as real estate, tourism, trade, and logistics. The company also offers to transport services via a chopper.

Read Also: Finland Experiences Cold Summer

Fines Based on Income

The high fine is due to Finland's strict traffic laws. The country has a zero-tolerance policy for speeding. And fines are based on a driver's income. But the driver's high income resulted in a pretty hefty fine in this case.

According to Euro News, fines in Finland, unlike most countries across the globe, have no fixed price. It could be cheaper or astronomically expensive. And besides basing it on the suspect's income, it also depends on how fast you go. The more you exceed the speed limit, you will receive fines for more days, determining the overall pricing.

A police officer told Euro News, "If you are in a good job, you have a quite high income, the ticket is higher." The authority further explains that "the minimum is six euros per day fine, so it is always at least that, but it can go all the way to tens of thousands."

The high fine has raised some eyebrows, but it has also served as a reminder of the importance of following traffic laws. Switzerland also applies the same measure, apart from Finland.

Related Article: Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin Files for Divorce Following Party Scandal

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Duolingo, Inc. (NYSE:DUOL  Get Rating) insider Robert Meese sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.20, for a total value of $801,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 200,188 shares in the company, valued at $32,070,117.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Robert Meese also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, May 18th, Robert Meese sold 4,600 shares of Duolingo stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.07, for a total value of $690,322.00.

On Monday, May 15th, Robert Meese sold 763 shares of Duolingo stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.83, for a total value of $107,453.29.

On Thursday, May 11th, Robert Meese sold 400 shares of Duolingo stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.00, for a total value of $60,000.00.

On Friday, March 31st, Robert Meese sold 5,000 shares of Duolingo stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.25, for a total value of $701,250.00.

Duolingo Stock Up 3.4 %

Shares of Duolingo stock traded up $5.43 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $167.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 791,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 611,543. Duolingo, Inc. has a one year low of $64.73 and a one year high of $168.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.65, a quick ratio of 3.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $140.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.43.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Duolingo ( NYSE:DUOL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.24) by $0.18. The company had revenue of $115.66 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $112.86 million. Duolingo had a negative return on equity of 9.22% and a negative net margin of 12.38%. The companys revenue was up 42.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.31) EPS. Analysts forecast that Duolingo, Inc. will post -0.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Duolingo from $127.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. JMP Securities lifted their target price on Duolingo from $128.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on Duolingo from $115.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Raymond James lifted their target price on Duolingo from $109.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Duolingo from $92.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $142.38.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Credit Suisse AG lifted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 136,964 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,043,000 after purchasing an additional 8,018 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 13.0% during the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 44,300 shares of the companys stock worth $3,151,000 after buying an additional 5,100 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Duolingo by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 35,445 shares of the companys stock worth $3,375,000 after buying an additional 3,425 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Duolingo by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 3,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Long Walk Management LP lifted its stake in Duolingo by 41.9% in the 4th quarter. Long Walk Management LP now owns 129,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,211,000 after purchasing an additional 38,250 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.16% of the companys stock.

Duolingo Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Duolingo, Inc develops a language-learning website and mobile app in the United States and China. The company offers courses in 40 different languages, including Spanish, English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, and others. It also provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam.

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Roundview Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 13.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,120 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 5,521 shares during the quarter. Roundview Capital LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $3,923,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,847,000 after purchasing an additional 1,452 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $528,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 25.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,101,000 after acquiring an additional 2,648 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. 73.49% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In related news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger purchased 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of $59.31 per share, for a total transaction of $2,965,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Walter W. Bettinger acquired 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,937,074.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,706,960. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $81.50 to $67.50 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Morgan Stanley lowered Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Raymond James upgraded Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.04.

Shares of Charles Schwab stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $54.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,972,290 shares, compared to its average volume of 20,768,246. The stock has a market cap of $96.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.88. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $51.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.96. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.77 earnings per share. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.84%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 27.32%.

About Charles Schwab

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corp. is a savings and loan holding company, which engages in the provision of wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. It operates through the Investor Services and Advisor Services segments. The Investor Services segment includes retail brokerage and banking services to individual investors, and retirement plan services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Embraer (NYSE:ERJ  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Friday.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on ERJ. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Embraer from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Embraer from $11.75 to $17.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Embraer from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Embraer from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.25.

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Embraer Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE ERJ opened at $15.62 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $15.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Embraer has a 12-month low of $7.91 and a 12-month high of $16.75. The company has a market cap of $2.87 billion, a P/E ratio of -520.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.28.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Embraer ( NYSE:ERJ Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, March 10th. The aerospace company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.06). Embraer had a negative net margin of 0.08% and a positive return on equity of 0.65%. The company had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.02 billion. Research analysts anticipate that Embraer will post 1.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Toroso Investments LLC boosted its stake in Embraer by 60.7% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 78,734 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,289,000 after purchasing an additional 29,732 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Embraer by 16.5% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 13,005 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $213,000 after buying an additional 1,846 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Embraer by 12.9% during the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 29,474 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $482,000 after buying an additional 3,370 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans purchased a new stake in Embraer during the first quarter valued at about $349,000. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Embraer by 427.0% during the 1st quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 23,207 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $380,000 after purchasing an additional 18,803 shares during the period. 37.89% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Embraer Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing.

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Edgar Lomax Co. VA lowered its position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,134,537 shares of the companys stock after selling 6,510 shares during the quarter. Coca-Cola accounts for approximately 4.4% of Edgar Lomax Co. VAs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Edgar Lomax Co. VAs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $72,168,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Altus Wealth Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $203,000. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 11.1% in the 4th quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,161 shares of the companys stock worth $454,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares in the last quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 7,265 shares of the companys stock worth $462,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Silver Lake Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Silver Lake Advisory LLC now owns 31,630 shares of the companys stock worth $2,012,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 27,631 shares of the companys stock worth $1,560,000 after purchasing an additional 854 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.74% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

KO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays raised their price objective on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. UBS Group raised their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 target price on Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Coca-Cola has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Coca-Cola Price Performance

In other Coca-Cola news, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total value of $9,649,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $28,468,984.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 150,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.33, for a total transaction of $9,649,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,468,984.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, insider Henrique Braun sold 16,950 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.03, for a total value of $1,085,308.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,272 shares in the company, valued at $1,682,196.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 420,052 shares of company stock valued at $26,839,689 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

NYSE:KO traded down $0.53 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $60.22. The stock had a trading volume of 5,131,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,246,565. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $62.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $260.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.38, a P/E/G ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 0.55. The Coca-Cola Company has a one year low of $54.01 and a one year high of $65.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.15.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. Coca-Colas quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.64 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Coca-Cola Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.06%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 80.70%.

About Coca-Cola

(Get Rating)

The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

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Unity Software Inc. (NYSE:U  Get Rating)s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $36.32, but opened at $37.57. Unity Software shares last traded at $35.92, with a volume of 8,500,288 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer lowered Unity Software from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $44.00 price target on shares of Unity Software in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of Unity Software from $33.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Unity Software from $35.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on Unity Software from $32.00 to $31.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.06.

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Unity Software Stock Down 3.2 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 2.39 and a current ratio of 2.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.32 billion, a PE ratio of -12.02 and a beta of 2.15. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $29.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.29.

Insider Activity at Unity Software

Unity Software ( NYSE:U Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported ($0.37) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.49) by $0.12. Unity Software had a negative return on equity of 23.63% and a negative net margin of 63.42%. The business had revenue of $500.36 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $477.42 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Unity Software Inc. will post -1.12 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, Director Shlomo Dovrat sold 116,775 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.91, for a total transaction of $3,492,740.25. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 105,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,150,420.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Unity Software news, CMO Carol W. Carpenter sold 8,810 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.72, for a total transaction of $244,213.20. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 391,928 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,864,244.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Shlomo Dovrat sold 116,775 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.91, for a total transaction of $3,492,740.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 105,330 shares in the company, valued at $3,150,420.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 300,551 shares of company stock worth $9,131,702. 9.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unity Software

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Credit Suisse AG grew its position in shares of Unity Software by 19.7% in the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 711,992 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,683,000 after buying an additional 117,106 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in shares of Unity Software by 16.7% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 38,623 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,231,000 after buying an additional 5,535 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board grew its stake in Unity Software by 50.1% during the 3rd quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 14,132 shares of the companys stock worth $450,000 after buying an additional 4,720 shares during the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc grew its stake in Unity Software by 55.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 78,026 shares of the companys stock worth $2,487,000 after buying an additional 27,800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aviance Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Unity Software during the 4th quarter worth approximately $286,000. 82.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Unity Software

(Get Rating)

Unity Software Inc operates a real-time 3D development platform. Its platform provides software solutions to create, run, and monetize interactive, real-time 2D and 3D content for mobile phones, tablets, PCs, consoles, and augmented and virtual reality devices. The company offers its solutions directly through its online store and field sales operations in North America, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, and South Korea, as well as indirectly through independent distributors and resellers worldwide.

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West Michigan Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWD  Get Rating) by 3.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,136 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 286 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF were worth $1,082,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Magnolia Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF during the first quarter worth about $214,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 123.6% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 181,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,141,000 after purchasing an additional 100,236 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 284.4% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 184,280 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,587,000 after purchasing an additional 136,345 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 43,099 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $7,154,000 after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $2,529,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of IWD traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $152.75. The company had a trading volume of 822,686 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,930,271. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF has a fifty-two week low of $134.09 and a fifty-two week high of $162.12. The stock has a market cap of $49.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.53 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $151.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $153.58.

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the large capitalization value sector of the U.S. equity market, as represented by the Russell 1000 Value Index (the Index).

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Roanoke College, Salem City Schools and Virginia Western Community College are teaming up to pursue a statewide goal of opening lab schools.

Roanoke College announced Monday it received one of 16 lab school planning grants from the Virginia Department of Education, worth $192,000. That money comes as part of a state government initiative to start up public lab schools operated by colleges and universities for K-12 students.

Planning grant money will be used during the next year to devise strategies and best practices for opening a lab school at Roanoke College, officials said.

The idea is to serve high school students who might not otherwise have access to help with college preparation and career readiness, said Kathy Wolfe, Roanoke College v ice president for academic affairs.

Lab schools are intended to foster innovation and collaboration among educators, Wolfe said. We are really committed to improving college access and affordability for more students in the Roanoke Valley.

The planning grant to Roanoke College is part of $5 million in state funds bookmarked to strategize creation of lab schools across Virginia, according to the college. A further $20 million from the state is available for initial lab school start-up grants, plus $75 million for per-pupil operating grants once the lab schools get going.

Our plan is to create a dual-enrollment model in which high school students can receive college credit courses in three thematic career pathways: education and global studies, STEM and health, and communication and civic engagement, Wolfe said. Each career pathway will include experiential community engagement opportunities, with optional project-based capstone courses in which students will get to share their work with community leaders.

Salem Superintendent Curtis Hicks said a lab school could benefit the local public school system by offering new programs, addressing workforce shortages across various professions, helping with teacher training and encouraging students to pursue higher education.

Research shows that if students take just one college course when theyre in high school, theyre more likely to at some point in their life return to college, Hicks said. Even more than that, getting them on to a college campus and demonstrating that they do have what it takes to be in the college arena its more likely to lead those students if not to Roanoke [College], then somewhere else that could be a benefit in their lives forever.

Groups involved with the planning process are meeting Tuesday to kick things off, said Lisa Stoneman, chair of Roanoke Colleges Education Department. She said Roanoke College in the past has not really offered many dual-enrollment opportunities to high schoolers.

This lab school is an opportunity, though its not fully fleshed out yet, Stoneman said. Our community partners are really helping us drive this, and were going to look at some other lab schools that are operating.

The lab school is not expected to require any new facilities, a Roanoke College spokesperson said. It would be integrated into already existing facilities on the campus.

We have a year to plan this out, Stoneman said. And we anticipate hopefully running it in the year after that, so its a pretty quick turnaround.

This planning for a lab school comes at a time when Roanoke College is examining and expanding its educational offerings to meet evolving community, workforce and student demands, said college President Frank Shushok.

He said Roanoke College wants to contribute to forward mobility for all of Southwest Virginia.

We want to be the partner that lifts everybody up, Shushok said. We think thats an incredibly important role of American higher education and Roanoke College, and were looking forward to partnering with all our local community.
The hearing that had been slated for Tuesday morning for Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, the Albemarle County mother and socialite charged with child enticement and child pornography, appears likely to be continued, according to an unopposed motion in federal court in Washington, D.C.

The defense needs additional time to review discovery, meet with Ms. Hoppe, obtain relevant records, and perform necessary investigation, wrote Assistant Federal Public Defender Ned Smock in the motion. This adjournment will allow the defense adequate time to prepare.

Hoppe, who was once married to Charlottesville-based federal Judge Joel Hoppe, faces a potential life sentence on the most serious of one of her three federal charges: enticement of a minor.

Federal investigators allege that Eleanor Hoppe used encrypted communications to plan a rendezvous at a Warrenton motel with someone she thought was a perverted parent. But when she arrived at the motel in late March, she was arrested.

Reached by telephone Monday, her attorney Smock declined comment to the Daily Progress.

The court records do not include a written account of why the defendant, who attended a private Richmond girls school called St. Catherines and whose family founded what became Richmonds largest law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth, qualified for the services of a public defender.

Smocks motion requests a delay in the case of 60 days.

While the motion to continue the case was unopposed, it was not yet ruled on by the close of business Monday evening, according to Patty Hartman, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.

How did an alleged pedophile slip through the cracks? The recent arrest of a prominent local woman on child pornography and enticement charges continues to send shockwaves through the community. While Charlottesville and Albemarle County courts deal each year with a handful of male child pornography users, a woman accused of such crimes is much rarer.
The Augusta County Sheriffs Office and Augusta County Animal Control found nearly 30 dead dogs and cats at a Stuarts Draft residence they went to Friday afternoon.

The animals owner, Carl Rudolph Lentz, 59, of the 700 block of Augusta Farms Road, has been charged with six counts of felony animal cruelty. He was being held without bond Tuesday at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.

Augusta County Animal Control seized 28 dogs, 13 cats and six ducks from the residence in the 700 block of Augusta Farms Road Friday. As of Monday, four cats had to be euthanized, and one of the dogs needed a leg amputation. The surviving animals are being housed in a temporary shelter at the Augusta County Government Center. Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center staff are caring for the animals.

After an anonymous call Friday, the Sheriffs Office and Augusta County Animal Control went to the Stuarts Draft location. A search warrant was obtained. The call to authorities came from someone who had recently purchased a dog from Lentz.

Sheriff Donald Smith said upon arrival, the Sheriffs Office found two dogs living inside a vehicle without food or water. The vehicle temperature was 89.6 degrees. The vehicle was also found covered in feces.

Several other dogs appeared in poor condition. The 20 dead cats and eight dead dogs were found after a search of the property.

Smith said the investigation continues. If you have purchased any animals from Mr. Lentz in the past or have knowledge of the living conditions at this location, please contact the Augusta County Sheriffs Office, he said. The contact number is (540) 245-5333.

Also assisting in the case were Waynesboro Animal Control, the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center and the Augusta County Commonwealths Attorneys office.
A recent malware campaign has been found to leverage Satacom downloader as a conduit to deploy stealthy malware capable of siphoning cryptocurrency using a rogue extension for Chromium-based browsers.

"The main purpose of the malware that is dropped by the Satacom downloader is to steal BTC from the victim's account by performing web injections into targeted cryptocurrency websites," Kaspersky researchers Haim Zigel and Oleg Kupreev said.

Targets of the campaign include Coinbase, Bybit, KuCoin, Huobi, and Binance users primarily located in Brazil, Algeria, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Egypt, and Mexico.

Satacom downloader, also called Legion Loader, first emerged in 2019 as a dropper for next-stage payloads, including information stealers and cryptocurrency miners.

Infection chains involving the malware begin when users searching for cracked software are redirected to bogus websites that host ZIP archive files containing the malware.

"Various types of websites are used to spread the malware," the researchers explained. "Some of them are malicious websites with a hardcoded download link, while others have the 'Download' button injected through a legitimate ad plugin."

Present within the archive file is an executable called "Setup.exe" that's about 5 MB in size but inflated to roughly 450 MB with null bytes in an attempt to evade analysis and detection.

Launching the binary initiates the malware routine, culminating in the execution of the Satacom downloader that, in turn, uses DNS requests as a command-and-control (C2) method to fetch the URL that hosts the actual malware.

The campaign documented by Kaspersky leads to a PowerShell script, which downloads the browser add-on from a remote third-party server. It also searches for browser shortcut (.LNK) files in the compromised host and modifies the "Target" parameter with the "--load-extension" flag to launch the browser with the downloaded extension.

What's more, the add-on masquerades as a Google Drive extension and employs web injections sent by the C2 server when the victim is visiting one of the targeted cryptocurrency websites to manipulate the content and steal crypto.

The C2 address is concealed within the script and addr fields of the most recent bitcoin transaction associated with an actor-controlled wallet address, employing the same technique as the Glupteba botnet malware to get around domain blockades or takedowns.

"The extension performs various actions on the account in order to remotely control it using the web inject scripts, and eventually the extension tries to withdraw the BTC currency to the threat actors' wallet," the researchers said.

In an additional attempt to conceal its activity, the malicious extension contains scripts to conceal the email confirmation of the fraudulent transaction across Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! services by means of an HTML code injection.

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A consequence of this injection is that the victim is unaware that an illicit transfer to the threat actors' wallet was made. Another notable aspect of the add-on is its ability to extract system metadata, cookies, browser history, screenshots of opened tabs, and even receive commands from the C2 server.

"The extension can update its functionality due to the technique used to retrieve the C2 server via the last transaction of a specific BTC wallet, which can be modified at any time by making another transaction to this wallet," the researchers said.

"This allows the threat actors to change the domain URL to a different one in case it's banned or blocked by antivirus vendors."

The development comes as several booby-trapped extensions posing as legitimate utilities have been unearthed on the Chrome Web Store with capabilities to spread adware and hijack search results to display sponsored links, paid search results, and potentially malicious links.

The extensions, while offering the promised features, contained obfuscated code that allowed a third-party website to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into all websites that a user visited without their knowledge.
(Photo : SERGIY DOLLAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian forces "must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land" after the Nova Kakhovka dam attack.

Millions of liters of water leaked through a gaping breach in a Russian-controlled dam, flooding a swath of the conflict zone in southern Ukraine, endangering dozens of villages, and severing water supplies.

Ukrainian and Russian forces placed responsibility for the violation on each other. The Nova Kakhovka dam, which contains as much water as the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah, provides water to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility, which is also under Russian control.

Ukraine Dam Attack

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear overseer, stated on Twitter that it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was "no imminent nuclear safety risk at (the) facility," which is also located in southern Ukraine.

However, Ukraine's state atomic power agency Energoatom reported that the Kakhovka Reservoir was swiftly losing water, posing an "additional hazard" to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, as per Reuters.

Approximately 22,000 people residing in 14 localities in the southern Kherson region of Ukraine are at risk of flooding, the Moscow-appointed chief of the region was quoted as saying by Russia's RIA news agency.

Per BBC, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attack on the Nova Kakhovka dam demonstrates that Russian troops "must be expelled from every inch of Ukrainian territory."

"Terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles, or anything else," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Despite the damage, all services are still operational, according to Zelensky, who also urges anyone reading his update to "spread only official and verified information."

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, is "shocked" by the unprecedented attack on the dam in the Kherson region. Michel accuses Russia for the attack and declares that the EU council will hold Moscow accountable for its actions.

Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out the attack in the Moscow-occupied town of Novo Kakhova, while the Moscow-appointed mayor has blamed Ukraine.

Read Also: Deadly India Train Crash Cause Revealed; Here's What We Know So Far!

Video Shows Kakhovka Dam Blown Up

Russia asserted that the Ukrainian military was responsible for the destruction of the Nova Kachahovka Dam. The two parties could not even concur on the severity of the regional threat, according to CBS News. A Moscow-appointed local official stated on Tuesday that there was "no concern" of significant population centers being flooded.

However, Ukrainian officials have warned that the breach could have far-reaching effects, including the flooding of homes, streets, and businesses downstream, the depletion of water levels upstream that help cool Europe's largest nuclear power plant, and the depletion of drinking water supplies for the Crimean peninsula's south, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

The breach of the dam added a complex new element to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, which is now in its sixteenth month, as Ukrainian forces were widely perceived to be advancing with a long-awaited counteroffensive along more than 1,000 miles of front line in the country's east and south.

Moscow-controlled authorities in the region claimed the dam was partially devastated by "multiple attacks" launched by Ukrainian forces during the night, resulting in a "uncontrollable" flow of water. Online videos began to testify to the breach. One depicted floodwaters inundating a long roadway, while the other depicted a beaver fleeing to higher ground due to rising water levels.

Ukrainian authorities have long warned that the dam's failure could release 4.8 billion gallons of water and flood the southern Kherson region and dozens of other areas where hundreds of thousands of people live, as well as threaten a meltdown at a nuclear power plant 93 miles away that is occupied by Russia.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who appeared live on the BBC Tuesday morning, stated that 16,000 people were ordered to evacuate towns and villages in the dam's immediate danger zone.

The state atomic agency of Ukraine said the dam's devastation posed a threat to the nuclear power facility but that the situation was under control. The International Atomic Energy Association tweeted that the plant posed "no imminent nuclear safety concern."

The Kakhovka dam holds back an extensive reservoir that provides water to a number of communities upstream, so it could have an impact on the water supplies of those communities. It also provides cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's largest, approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) upstream, which is under Russian control and is dependent on the reservoir.

It was constructed during the Soviet era and is one of six dams that lie along the Dnipro river, which flows from the extreme north of the nation to the south coast.

Related Article: Russia Claims It Repelled Large-Scale Ukraine Attack, Kills Hundreds

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Northwest Public Schools legal team has volleyed back at a lawsuit alleging the district violated the First Amendment.

In late March, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska filed a lawsuit in district court, saying school officials decision to cancel the high school student newspaper violated the First Amendment on three counts: the right to be free of viewpoint discrimination, free of retaliation and their right to be free of viewpoint discrimination, freedom from retaliation and the right to receive information.

Statements from students, faculty, staff and school board members have indicated the publication, which existed in paper form for 50-plus years, was cancelled because of LGBTQ+ content.

Last week, Northwests legal team filed a motion to dismiss, saying Northwest Public Schools calendar and co-plaintiff Marcus Pennells graduation date bring the validity of the plaintiffs (Pennell and the Nebraska High School Press Association) into question.

The motion also states the case against Northwest and Superintendent Jeff Edwards has no standing because the newspaper returned in a digital form after nothing more than a one-semester pause.

The defendants also said the government has a right to close a public forum, in this case the Northwest High School Saga. The motion to dismiss cites the case based on International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Inc. v. Lee. In some sense the government always retains authority to close a public forum, by selling the property, changing its physical character, or changing its principal use, the U.S. Supreme Court found.

Lily Amare, an attorney representing Northwest Public Schools and Edwards, declined to comment when reached by The Independent on Monday.

In a statement, ACLU of Nebraska legal counsel Rose Godinez said: It is disappointing to see Northwest Public Schools refuse to take accountability for violating our clients First Amendment rights. The Constitution is clear. Students have a right to learn and communicate free from discriminatory retaliation. They also have a right to receive information. The districts decision to shut down the Viking Saga solely based on its LGBTQ+ coverage violated our clients rights and sent a chilling message to all students. We look forward to making our reply to the districts motion. Our focus remains making the best case we can to achieve accountability and to ensure that students free speech rights are respected and protected throughout the district.

ACLU of Nebraska has until June 20, 2023, to file a response to the motion to dismiss.
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Tucked away in the hills of Union County is a farm growing the sweet-smelling specialty crop called lavender. Doug and Charlotte Clover of Shawnee Hills Lavender Farm have opened their farm to the public for lavender picking each year since 2016.

Lavender has suffered the same malady as the Southern Illinois peach crop this year. Cold weather at the end of the year damaged some of the lavender plants.

We never know what we will have until about April 15, Charlotte Clover said.

The average last frost date in Southern Illinois is April 15. The Clovers gave the crop a couple more weeks to see what kind of damage they had.

Charlotte Clover said lavender plants are dormant in winter. They turn a gray color until they start growing in the spring. Usually, they will turn a nice green around May 1. This year, the plants have a lot more gray than usual.

The farms lavender is planted on a hillside, in front of their home.

The farm is only open three weekends a year for people to come and pick lavender blooms. June 3 and 4 was their first weekend this year. The farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday this weekend, June 10 and 11 and next week, June 17 and 18.

Much like the peach farms, there will be enough lavender for local customers to pick. The Clovers say their harvest, which comes after the farm is open to the public, will yield less lavender.

The property used for growing lavender has been in Charlotte Clovers family, the Landreth family, since 1820. Charlotte is the seventh generation to farm the land. Charlotte and Dougs children are the eighth.

Each year, family and close friends come to the farm to help with lavender sales. Doug Clovers father helps park cars. Both of their mothers help with refreshments. Their children and grandchildren also help.

The lavender field has several places for photos, including two purple bicycles and several other benches.

Brightly colored butterfly wings are located at the bottom of the hill. Charlotte Clover said they had a spare piece of plywood and their daughter-in-law Lisa Clover suggested they built butterfly wings. Doug Clover drew and cut the wings from the plywood. Lisa Clover told them how they should paint the wings.

Charlotte Clover said when they left that weekend, the cut out wings went with them. They returned with the wings painted and ready to install for the following years "U-pick" days.

They also have a pop-up lavender gift shop on the farm. Items available either use lavender, depict lavender or have a lavender color. Many are made by local artisans.

We try to promote local as much as we can, Charlotte Clover said.

Some of the items in the shop include: Dried lavender bundles and sachets, Dainty Design earrings from Cobden, Girlie Nature Soap from Dongola, Charlotte Clover and her daughter make bracelets, Clay Lick Creek Pottery by Karen Fiorino, Beth Libby tiles and 618 lavender melts, among other items like T-shirts, books, toys and household goods.

We add things to the gift shop every year. Every time we find something new in lavender, Charlotte Clover said.

Doug Clover said the shop has expanded enough to move into the pole barn by their home. The front part of the barn is used for their pop up gift shop, the back is air-conditioned and humidity controlled for drying bundles of lavender they harvest.

The farm also has lavender plants available for purchase. They send lavender plugs to Eric Stalheber who grows them into plants.

They also have a gift shop display at the Annabelle Market in Anna.

Shawnee Hills Lavender Farm is located at 480 Brown Section Road, (off Illinois 127) in Cobden. More information is available at shawneehillslavender.com.
With a format similar to speed dating, an event planned for Southern Illinois University Carbondale hopes to connect local companies with government departments and entities looking to do business.

The Illinois Apex Accelerator Matchmaking event is set for 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 29 and will feature government procurement entities including local, state and federal agencies as well as prime contractors and others who work with government projects.

The goal, said Brenda Henderson, center director for the Illinois Apex Accelerators/Procurement Technical Assistance Center at SIU, is to help local business develop relationships  much like a speed dating situation.

I know there are government entities that are struggling to find small businesses that they can work with right now in Southern Illinois, she said. The goal is to bring the government agencies and prime contractors together with small businesses to be able to network and discover ways that the businesses can help the governmental entities fulfill goals.

Henderson said entities will share their needs during the event and businesses can choose which agencies they would like to talk with during 20-minute get to know you sessions to make connections with up to six agencies. Henderson added that she anticipates as many as 12 different governmental bodies to participate in the event.

This will help you get your toe into the governmental contracting world, she said, adding there will be opportunities for businesses in such industries as heating and cooling, gaming supplies, janitorial and window cleaning, kitchen vent hood maintenance, pest control and more.

Henderson said participating businesses do not have to be registered as a government supplier to participate in the matchmaking event.

Hendersons office is in the process of a name change to the Illinois Apex Accelerators Program from the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, she explained.

It is due to the fact that we are now under the management of the Department of Defenses Office of Small Business Programs, she said. Same mission with higher goals.

The office provides no-cost, confidential assistance to businesses interested in doing business with governmental entities.

Businesses interesting in participating in the matchmaking event should call the office at 618-536-2355.

Close PHOTOS | Hundreds gather for the final lighting of Carbondale's iconic Dairy Queen sign Operator Mark Waicukauski was informed last week of a cease-and-desist from the Minnesota-based American Dairy Queen Corporation, preventing the over 70-year-old franchise from doing business under the DQ brand. Waicukauski lit up Illinois Avenue one last time on Wednesday night as community members gathered together to take a walk down memory lane.
At times, the location of the firefighters was marked only by thin streams of water shooting up through the dense, black smoke, the late Joyce Milkie wrote.

Water turned to steam almost as soon as it left the nozzles of the hoses, she said. In the middle of the smoke, a vivid rainbow formed over Market Street. A sad rainbow, one observer called it.

Milkie was one of the staffers who watched the almost complete destruction of The Times and Democrats building on Sunday, Oct. 8, 1972.

The situation appeared to be a desperate one for the paper that served some 13,000 households at the time, yet it soon became apparent that The T&D was more than a physical site. It was the employees who worked there, and they werent defeated.

With their support, the paper continued to operate without missing a single days publication.

After getting a call that the newspaper was on fire, then-Publisher Dean Livingston rushed down to find the top floor of the Broughton Street building completely destroyed. The press, which was on the bottom floor, was inoperable. But Livingston never considered missing an edition.

The T&D had a long-standing relationship with the Sumter Daily Item, and Livingston called on that paper for help. The publisher agreed to print the paper for The T&D, Livingston said.

He quickly pulled together a staff and by the time the fire trucks had left the scene of the fire, the employees were already in Sumter helping produce Mondays edition of the paper.

Recollections of the fire and the following days still burns in the memories of those who were there.

Employees hurried to the scene when they heard about the blaze. They watched from a parking lot across the street as their home away from home burned.

Once the blaze was under control, they went to work cleaning and salvaging what they could.

Cathy Hughes (T&D publisher from 1999 to 2022), had been working at the paper for just 10 months at the time of the fire.

She headed straight there after getting a call from Society Editor Becky Puckett.

My husband, Randy, and I ... got to Orangeburg as quickly as possible, she said. We were standing in the parking lot across the street, watching it burn. I cant even describe my feelings until this day.

As they stood watching the smoke billowing up out of the building, they were already thinking, What are we going to do about tomorrows paper? she said.

Her most vivid memory is feeling that, Boy, Im really needed now. Ive got to work hard. ... A lot depends on how good a job I do, and I think everybody felt that.

The first floor of the building held the press and the production area, Hughes said. It wasnt burned, but almost everything was ruined by water damage and things falling from the second floor.

After the fire department had the blaze under control, Hughes went into the lower level of the building. She pulled out ads that were ready for Mondays paper and sent them to Sumter.

Billy Rickenbaker, who made ads and put the paper together, learned from a friend that The T&D was burning.

I jumped in my car, he said. I was coming down (Highway) 301 and I happened to look to the left and I could see a bunch of black smoke in the air.

When he arrived at the paper, there were fire trucks everywhere.

Who could ever forget a fire like that? he said.

Rickenbaker stayed around that afternoon and helped haul things out of the bottom floor.

They had to break the glass door to the building, and there was so much water in there it came out like a waterfall, he said.

Assistant Press Foreman Charlie Garrick, who later became press foreman, had worked the night before and into the early hours of Sunday morning. He was sleeping when his wife came into the bedroom and told him she thought the newspaper was on fire.

He lived a couple of blocks away from the paper and could see the black smoke from his yard.

I said I cant believe its The T&D, Garrick said. But I got up and went up there, and sure enough it was The T&D.

Garrick checked out the press and found it was inoperable.

Employees were worried about their jobs, but Livingston called them together that night and assured them that there was enough work for everyone, Garrick said. Livingston also said he would hire extra workers to help get the paper back on track.

Fortunately, Livingston had insured the paper well and the insurance adjusters flew in almost immediately after the fire.

I guess one of the wisest things that Ive ever done was I always made sure we had plenty of insurance, Livingston said.

The Sumter Item continued to print The T&D during the week while the Rock Hill Herald produced the weekend papers.

Livingston moved local production of the paper into the Hotel Eutaw and later the Sifly Building, both on Russell Street, but he still needed to find a printing press and rebuild.

They dont have showcases for such presses, Livingston said. Instead, you give the company your specifications and they build it.

Then, almost miraculously, he found one that seemed to be made to order for The T&D. The press, which was built for a paper in the Philippines, was on a loading dock in Chicago waiting to be shipped overseas. However, the Philippine paper was willing to give up its rights for a payment.

We had to pay $30,000 extra to get that press, Livingston said. But it could take as long as a year to manufacture a press that size. We were very fortunate to get ... the people in the Philippines to do that.

Within one week of the fire, the press was being shipped to The T&D.

Once the press arrived in Orangeburg, one team of workers began putting it together while another team put up the building around it. For a time there were walls, but no roof, Livingston said.

Once again, the paper was the beneficiary of a miracle or good luck. Absolutely no moisture fell from the sky during the month it took to complete the building, Livingston said. That could have ruined the press.

We didnt have any rain, so we were able to work under dry conditions outdoors, he said.

At the end of a month, The T&D was again printing its own paper, he said. The T&D continues to use that press built for the Philippines today.

One reason the paper operated so well under such obstacles was the ability and willingness of the T&D employees to work together as a team, Livingston said.

Everybody was so well trained, and we had a good operation as yall do now, he said.

According to Hughes, the very nature of the creature enabled the staff to meet stressful deadlines.

People who work in a newspaper are used to working under pressure, she said. Theyre flexible and dont need a lot of supervision. The deadlines provide the pressure that ensures the work is completed in a timely manner.

If you learn to be anything at a newspaper, you learn to be efficient, she said.

Forty years after the fire, Hughes says she sees it as a defining moment for her and the paper.

It instilled in all of us who were there ... you dont give up. You get the paper out, no matter what, she said.

We still pride ourselves that weve never missed an edition through snowstorms and ice storms and hurricanes and even a fire that for all intents and purposes burned the building down.

Operating during the month after the fire was a difficult task, but it was one that built a bond and camaraderie among staffers that could not have been created under normal circumstances, Hughes said.

We had the same job to do as in the past, but at the same time, we had to get it to another town, get it printed, bring it back to Orangeburg and deliver it, all in the same amount of time, she said.

It was a challenge, but it was a motivating challenge, she said. We had important work to do and we had to do it under harder circumstances.

Both Livingston and Hughes say the graciousness of the community, companies and papers across the state also enabled The T&D to operate. Items such as desks and typewriters and many other items were loaned to the paper, they said.
Continued growth in The T&D Region depends on responsible stewardship of its water resources, the Edisto River Basin Council says.

The 21-member council spent three years compiling a 300-page plan for the management of the surface and groundwater in the basin.

A public hearing on the final document was conducted Thursday evening, June 1, at the Clemson Edisto Research and Education Center west of Blackville.

We live in a water-rich state, said Scott Harder, head of the hydrology section at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Council members said they want to help keep it that way despite the states rapid agricultural, business, industrial, and residential growth.

They are alarmed by widespread water shortages in Western states. For example, officials in Phoenix, Arizona, recently denied permits for a new housing development, citing a lack of water supply, council member Laura Bagwell said.

We want to avoid having that happen here, she said.

Council member Jason Thompson, the Charleston Water Systems source water manager, agreed.

We dont want to be like the West Coast. I think we can avoid that, Thompson said, citing South Carolinas proactive approach to water management and decades of data collection.

We have over 80 years of stream flow statistics. These statistics can really guide us to a future that is sustainable and respectful of the growth that we need in this state to supply food and the manufactured goods that we need, he said.

Follow the data, Thompson continued. Its a matter of looking at it together and accepting what its telling us. That is going to unify the stakeholders to sustain the East Coast long into the future.

The original South Carolina Water Plan was published in 1998 and revised in 2004 after the historic drought of 2002.

The revised plan recommended the creation of regional water plans for each of the states eight major river basins. The General Assembly then provided the authorization and the money.

The legislators took the highly unusual approach of creating river basin councils comprised mostly of laypersons who have discussions with a variety of experts and then craft their own plans, council Chairman Hank Stallworth said.

The council for the Edisto River was the first to be formed. Its members had more than 30 multiple-hour meetings and took several field trips, including a canoe trip down the river and a visit to a mega-farm.

It was the first to complete its report, which has a 50-year planning horizon.

Im not going to tell you it was easy. It wasnt, Stallworth said. One reason is that the council members represented nearly all types of water users in the basin, and the council was instructed to obtain consensus whenever possible.

He explained that getting consensus on a statement or recommendation meant that every council member might not agree wholeheartedly with it, but could at least live with it.

State Rep. Bill Taylor of Aiken complimented the council for reaching a consensus on a high percentage of its statements and recommendations.

How in the hell would the Legislature use the consensus approach to anything? he asked. We have trouble getting even a majority.

Taylor said he attended the hearing because I had to see this for myself. I wanted to hear yall talk about it because its so dang important.

Council member and Friends of the Edisto Riverkeeper Hugo Krispyn said the issuance of the final report marks an important milestone.

But were not at the end. Were at the beginning of a move toward an effective and sustainable management of this resource, not just in the Edisto but statewide, he said.

Krispyn added that, although he does not disagree with any of the reports recommendations, he believes it is incomplete.

He said certain important issues were not addressed and cannot be ignored indefinitely. He said theyll have to be dealt with in some way in the future.

Also, he said the report focuses almost exclusively on water quantity and says simply that the water quality should be studied later. Krispyn believes the council should have studied quality and quantity in tandem.

The river basins inhabitants appear to be biologically diverse and resilient enough to adapt to moderate changes, said council member Dr. David Bishop of The Nature Conservancy.

While Edisto was the first river basin council to be formed, the neighboring Santee River Basin Council  including lakes Marion and Moultrie  will be the last. It is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024, after two upriver councils have completed their work.

When all eight river basin councils complete their initial work, their reports will form the foundation for a third iteration of the state water plan, Harder said.

Meanwhile, the river basin councils will continue to operate. Each will review and revise its basins report on a five-year cycle. Nearly all of the Edisto councils members have asked for the opportunity to remain on the council.

The river basin reports are not regulatory documents. They have no force of law. But they form talking points for legislative initiatives to improve water management policies.

Take advantage of what we learned, and take it to decision-makers and have them do something with it, Stallworth urged the council members.

The Edisto councils report asks the largest water users to voluntarily curtail their draws on the uncommon occasions of drought or low flows.

Taylor said his fellow legislators need to consider imposing mandatory curtailments during extreme drought conditions, in fairness to smaller users. That sounds like big government, but its about the good for everybody, he said.

The report notes that all of the available water allocations for the Edisto River have been snapped up  but only 17 percent of the total amount of the allocations is actually being drawn, and even the most aggressive growth scenario anticipates that number remaining below 35 percent.

As a result, theres plenty of water available, but anyone else who wants to draw some of it must go through a permitting process, which is more arduous and costly.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is considering conceptual revisions replacing allocations issued in-perpetuity with 30-year allocation terms that are reviewed every 10 years, Stallworth said.

The whole registration and permitting issue has been on our radar screen for a long time, Rep. Taylor said. Weve all felt that needs to be addressed. Im happy to help. Were in a position to address it. Does it need to be addressed?

Several people replied in the affirmative. The most succinct answer came from Robert Devlin of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Yes, it needs to be addressed, he said. We cant allow a few people to hold the river hostage. I know why it was done  to help protect the river  but there are loopholes, so there is probably a need to make some changes.

The Edisto River Basin Councils report lists six objectives:

Reduce demand for water by utilizing conservation measures, most of which have the added benefit of saving consumers money.

Conserve surface water during low flow conditions. Users who can switch to groundwater sources when the river is low are encouraged to do so.

Augment sources of supply, such as encouraging people to create ponds.

Protect the groundwater supply and existing users, many of whom have made significant financial investments that rely on having groundwater available.

Improve technical understanding of water resource management issues.

Communicate river basin council findings and recommendations effectively.

Conservation measures would allow more people or entities to get access to water. That could reduce or postpone the difficult and sometimes contentious conversations about balancing growth vs. resources, including allegations that officials are anti-growth and anti-development, Bagwell said.

Conservation can be achieved by educating water users about new high-tech equipment as well as tried-and-true measures that save water  and dollars.

A toolbox of recommendations for more efficient water use management is included in the report, said John Boyer, the councils facilitator.

The full report  along with a much shorter executive summary  can be found at https://hydrology.dnr.sc.gov/edisto-river-basin-plan.html

Additional information about river basin councils across the state can be found at https://hydrology.dnr.sc.gov/state-and-river-basin-planning.html
Retired educator and music minister Thurman D. Shulers appreciation for South Carolina State Universitys role in his success is evident in his generosity.

Having already been inducted into the prestigious Thomas E. Miller Society, which recognizes donors who have contributed $100,000 or more to SC State, the two-time SC State graduate recently contributed another $65,000 to the SC State Foundation.

Mr. Shuler has gone above and beyond for his alma with his repeated, abundant generosity, SC State President Alexander Conyers said. Sharing the fruits of his labor from more than 45 years in education and the ministry shows how dedicated he is to the institution that prepared him for that service.

Mr. Shuler is a remarkable success story, and he is a role model for our students looking to pave their own way into the world, as well as a fine example of what it means to be a loyal Bulldog, Conyers said. We are especially appreciative to Mr. Shuler for taking this extra step, and SC State is blessed to have him in our corner.

In 1957, Shuler graduated from South Carolina State College (now university) with a bachelor of arts in English education, setting the course for his success at the head of local classrooms and the conductors podium. He has been a member of the Miller Society since 2018.

I continue to support the university because the university has done so much for me, Shuler said. That I have and hope to have  the university is responsible for that.

The Orangeburg native attended Riverside Elementary School and Dunton Memorial Elementary School and graduated from Wilkinson High School (now Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School).

As he graduated from SC State, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Artillery Branch of the U.S. Army. His military tour of duty included Fort Bliss, Texas; Karlsruhe, Germany; and Dreux, France.

In 1965, he earned a master of education from SC State and completed further study in the University of South Carolina's doctoral program in British literature.

Shuler's love for music began at Wilkinson High School, where his extracurricular activities included the marching and concert bands, the chorus and the safety patrol. He continued his musical aspirations by joining the SC States marching, concert, and ROTC bands.

He also took courses in theory and practical music, where he studied piano and organ. Music was not his only passion. He also reserved time as a college student to become a member of the Countee Cullen Literary Society, the Bulldog staff, The Collegian, the Physical Education dance group, Scabbard and Blade Honorary Society, and Future Teachers of America.

Shuler retired after 31 years of teaching in South Carolina public schools. During his tenure as an educator, he also worked as a high school band and choir director.

A musician for most of his life, Shuler served for 47 years as minister of music for Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Orangeburg. After retiring from Mount Calvary, he published his poetry and writing in Potpourri: A Medley of Literary Works in 2010. He has been a member of his church for 72 years.

Shuler's community commitments as a musician include volunteering for 12 years at Andrew Chapel Christian Academy, Orangeburg, and for 20 years as a musician for the Orangeburg County Council on Aging. His civic affiliations include a member of the Concerned Citizens of Whittaker Heights, Inc. and the Retired Orangeburg-Calhoun Educators Association.

Shuler is a dedicated servant for his church, a Sunday Church School musician, Church School adult class teacher, and a Benevolent Committee member.

Shuler is an avid and loyal supporter of SC State and other community organizations on the local and national levels. He is an active member of the SC State Orangeburg County Alumni Chapter, a life member of the SC State University National Alumni Association, and a life member of the NAACP.

Shuler has enjoyed a life of educating others and sharing his musical talents and has traveled to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, Canada, Germany, France, and Austria.

For more information about contributing to any of SC States scholarship funds and programs, as well as qualifying for the Thomas E. Miller Society, you may contact:

Adrian L. Scott, associate vice president of development, ascott64@scsu.edu .

. Angelia Jackson, director of operations, institutional advancement, ajackson@scsu.edu.
(TBTCO) - Cac nha hoach inh chinh sach cua Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) a phat tin hieu uu tien tu bo viec tang lai suat trong cuoc hop hai ngay, dien ra vao ngay 13-14/6 toi, trong khi van e ngo kha nang that chat hon nua. O nhung noi khac tren the gioi, ECB co kha nang tiep tuc tang lai suat, trong khi BoJ tiep tuc giu lai suat va cac quan chuc tien te Trung Quoc co the tranh bo sung cac bien phap kich thich vao luc nay.
The government of Hong Kong has announced that they are taking legal action to prevent the broadcasting or sharing of the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong," which was accidentally played instead of the city's official anthem at multiple international sporting events over the last year.

The Department of Justice has requested a court order to prevent any illegal activities associated with the song that became a symbol of the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations. The department is waiting for the court's decision and a hearing date to be scheduled, as reported by APNews.

The authorities have stated that the song's lyrics include phrases that have been determined by the court to promote separatism. They also believe the song will continue to be popular since it was played as Hong Kong's anthem instead of China's national anthem, "March of the Volunteers."

Promoting Separatism?

In 2021, the government made it illegal to use the protest phrase "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" as it was seen as promoting separatism and undermining the state. The lyrics of "Glory to Hong Kong" include elements of this slogan, which resulted in it being widely perceived as prohibited.

Hong Kong aimed to forbid individuals from sharing, selling, distributing, or promoting the protest song or any version that closely resembles the original in its lyrics and melody.

The injunction applies explicitly to those who use the song "Glory to Hong Kong" to promote the separation of Hong Kong from China, encourage others to commit acts of rebellion or sedition, claim that Hong Kong is independent, or criticize the national anthem.

The injunction aims to prevent those who enable others to commit similar acts. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government acknowledges and values the rights and freedoms protected by the Basic Law, including freedom of speech, but emphasizes that this freedom is not absolute. According to the statement attached, the injunction is necessary to protect national security and is reasonable, legitimate, and consistent with the Bill of Rights.

Read also: Massive Demand for Free Flights to Hong Kong: Thousands Compete in Global Tourism Drive

An Ongoing Struggle

The decision to ban the protest phrase and song has been controversial, with some arguing that it violates freedom of speech. However, others argue that promoting separatism undermines the unity and stability of Hong Kong as part of China.

In recent years, there have been ongoing protests in Hong Kong over concerns about increasing Chinese influence and the erosion of democratic freedoms. The government's response to these protests has often involved cracking down on dissenting voices through arrests and censorship.

Despite this crackdown, many protesters express their views through peaceful demonstrations or online activism. Some have also turned to alternative forms of expression, such as art or music.

It remains unclear how effective the injunction will be at stopping people from sharing "Glory to Hong Kong" or other similar content related to the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, it highlights an ongoing struggle between those seeking greater autonomy for Hong Kong and those advocating closer ties with mainland China.

Related article: WATCH: Massive Blaze Engulfs Hong Kong High-Rise Construction Building

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Doctors are fleeing Russia in their thousands, some to escape the army, others to seek safety for themselves and their families.

Within days after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, medical professionals started to flee Russia, seeking refuge in neighboring countries and beyond.

Among the departing medical professionals are doctors with international reputations, chief physicians from reputable Russian hospitals, researchers, and educators, according to RFE/RLs Current Time news channel, saying that 1% to 2% of the countrys doctors may have fled.

How many doctors have emigrated is hard to say with any certainty. What is known is that doctors are just part of a much larger exodus of highly skilled professionals. Along with young men fearful of being drafted, these groups make up a significant fraction of the approximately 1 million emigres  the biggest wave of emigrants from Russia since the Soviet Union fell apart, and possibly even since the Russian Revolution, The Moscow Times says.

Popular destinations for Russian doctors include such post-Soviet countries as Georgia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan, while others venture to Israel or Europe. Although some are able to successfully validate their diplomas and continue practicing, others find themselves compelled to seek employment in unrelated fields or resort to practicing illegally.

Doctors Choose Mobility Over Mobilization

The outflow of doctors took a big jump when President Vladimir Putin announced a military call-up in September 2022 as Russian combat losses mounted. Medical professionals were included in the conscription drive, although the chairman of the State Duma healthcare committee, Badma Bashankaev, stated that the mobilization of doctors should be done reasonably and without excesses.

No more than 3,000 medical workers would be mobilized, Bashankaev said, beginning with graduates of military medical universities with training in field medicine and doctors with combat experience. The military would also need surgeons, anesthesiologists, and trauma specialists, he said.

Thousands of Russian citizens, many of them men of military age, crossed the border into Georgia in the days and weeks after the Russian military began conscripting civilians on 21 September 2022. Some arrived at the border after walking or cycling for hours, as seen here at the Lars crossing on 28 September 2022. Reuters video.

The independent Russian news outlet Meduza reported that doctors started receiving call-up notices on the first day of mobilization. Doctors said they were handed a summons at work or home, while others received a call from a military recruitment office asking them to turn up. Some had previously served in the military; others had not.

Given the scarcity of official information, estimating the number of medical professionals called up for military service is guesswork.

Yanina Sartison of Free Russians, a group representing the interests of Russian speakers in Germany, said last year that hundreds of doctors had approached the organization for relocation assistance.

Doctors have sometimes found creative ways to leave Russia. A Forbes list billionaire chartered a plane for 250 doctors last September, Current Time reported. For a nominal payment of 40,000 rubles (about 460 euros), the doctors received forged invitations to a nonexistent medical congress in Yerevan. When the burgeoning number of charter flights forced the airport in Yerevan to stop granting them landing privileges, the medical aircrafts destination was swiftly relocated to the Kazakh capital, Astana.

One estimate of the impact of the mobilization call on the medical profession was made by HeadHunter, a major Russian job recruitment company. In the month following the start of the conscription drive, it reported a 42% surge in job vacancies for medical professionals. Sparsely populated regions faced the most challenging situation, with vacancies in some Siberian and Far Eastern regions soaring threefold or more, while the figures were less than 30% in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In the Transbaikal region, a huge territory with just 1 million inhabitants that was already facing a shortfall of doctors, almost 100 medical personnel including 21 doctors were assigned to serve in Ukraine, including the chief physician of a large regional hospital, Transbaikal Deputy Prime Minister Inna Shcheglova said in March 2023.

Some medical schools were also involved in disseminating military propaganda, according to Meduza. A student at Dagestan State Medical University said that students there were threatened with expulsion for participating in protests against mobilization. If I received a notice, and there was a choice between mobilization and prison, then, probably, it would be prison, he said.

Why the Best Are Leaving

There are many reasons for the spike in emigration by medical professionals, as several Russian publications have reported.

The Insider wrote that young doctors, especially those from large cities and unburdened by childcare responsibilities, are leaving to restart their professional lives abroad. While opposition to the war in Ukraine is motivating some doctors to flee, others have fled to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Ilya Fomintsev, an oncologist and the founder of a professional training organization for his specialty, as well as the cancer charity Not in Vain, took the difficult decision to emigrate after being targeted by the security forces. Earlier, he had been arrested and detained for 20 days for participating in protests against the war. Initially torn between his commitment to his colleagues and ongoing projects, the presence of security forces near his home compelled him to relocate with his family and children.

Prominent oncologist Ilya Fomintsev left Russia for Israel, the destination for a number of Russian doctors since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Photo via his Facebook page.

In an interview with the independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta soon after he and his family moved to Israel, Fomintsev gave his opinion that hundreds of highly qualified medical professionals were fleeing Russia, worsening the already damaging brain drain in the medical field.

The list of doctors reported by Russian media to have emigrated features notable names. Alexei Svet, the chief physician of the First City Hospital in Moscow, resigned his post after the start of the war and left the country. Vascular surgeon Alexander Vanyukov, a signatory of a doctors letter urging the authorities to end the brutal treatment of jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny, also left the country, according to Current Time. Renowned pediatrician Fedor Katasonov and oncologist Mikhail Laskov have also left the country.

Life After Emigration

Physicians who take the decision to relocate often go through a complex and convoluted process to obtain recognition of their Russian medical degree. Different medical educational systems, varying medical standards, and divergent healthcare systems create significant barriers.

Finding a job in their field can be even more challenging.

It is very difficult for a doctor to get a job in Europe, and in France in particular, an ophthalmologist using the pseudonym Faina told the magazine Holod late last year.

The Russian medical diploma is not recognized practically anywhere in Europe: almost everywhere you need to pass an exam to confirm your medical skills, and this exam in France is very difficult, said Faina. She and her husband, who had joined antiwar protests and been arrested, opted to emigrate shortly after the war began.

Faina had no illusions about the chances of restarting a successful medical career in France. Emigration sets doctors back 10 years in their professional career and achieving the level of their former Russian income can take up to eight years, according to Current Time.

A similar situation applies in Israel. Although validating a diploma is a time-consuming enterprise, finding a job can be even more complicated, a pediatrician named Katasonov says he discovered in an interview with the Berlin-based Russian language TV channel Ost West. In his view, the current wave of emigration of Russian doctors to Israel is the largest since the 1990s, with a correspondingly strong competition for open positions in health care.

One country where Russian emigres have arrived in large numbers is longtime Moscow friend Serbia, whose government has not joined European sanctions against Moscow and where Russians can travel relatively easily. Since the onset of the war, approximately 200,000 Russians have made their way to Serbia.

BBC Russia reported that a gray market for medical services has emerged in the country, largely because the lack of fluency in either Serbian or English makes it difficult for many new arrivals to interact with the health system.

In a makeshift network involving hundreds of doctors and thousands of patients, the BBC says, unlicensed Russian doctors visit Russian-speaking patients at their homes.

Although around a hundred Russian doctors have applied to have their medical diplomas recognized in Serbia, the process is lengthy. A doctor who moved to Belgrade in 2022 explained to the BBC that recognition of a diploma is only the first step, and it takes at least eight months for medical workers to obtain all the necessary permits. Many medical workers who have moved from Russia in recent months have been forced to work illegally just to survive.

A Smoother Path in the CIS

The process of obtaining the necessary documents and licenses appears to be less onerous for Russian doctors who have relocated in the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional association of countries that were once part of the Soviet Union).

According to Fomintsev, two main factors have contributed to this disparity: the similarity between the educational systems of Russia and some former Soviet republics, which eliminates the need for diploma validation, and the high regard for the medical expertise of immigrant doctors.

Russia-trained doctors are particularly welcome in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, says Fomintsev, who added: When doctors from Moscow and St. Petersburg leave and go there, they become superstars because the level of medicine there is 20 years behind Russia.

Drawing definitive conclusions regarding the repercussions of doctors fleeing Russia is challenging. Clearly, the departure of several thousand doctors, among them prominent specialists and researchers, means a significant loss for the Russian healthcare system and its future development. This medical brain drain can have long-term consequences for Russia once the war is over.



Masha Denisova is a doctoral researcher in the Department of Health, Ethics, and Society at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Her research looks at health care and new knowledge practices in the medical field, particularly in the post-socialist states. She is a fellow of the Innovative Training Network  MARKETS project funded by the European Union.
Three California men accused of driving to Wyoming to rob a Casper Walgreens waived their right to hear the prosecutions case against them Tuesday morning but continued to seek a lower bond so they could leave jail and return to their home state.

The flight risk on all three ... they have zero ties to Wyoming and made the decision to come here, Natrona County Circuit Judge Michael Patchen said in the courtroom.

Curtis Green, Joshua Slaughter and Charles Jemison, who are all high school friends, had their preliminary hearing Tuesday morning in Natrona County Circuit Court. The three men never spoke, but their public defenders argued for a lower bond  Greens and Slaughters bonds were set at $150,000, and Jemisons bond was set at $200,000 last week.

They are facing decades in prison for allegedly robbing a Casper Walgreens on May 26 and insinuating they had a gun to take more than 3,500 opioid pills, which they intended to sell back in California.

Jemison, who is believed to have carried out the robbery and confined the workers in the store, asked for his bond to be lowered to $50,000. Patchen instead lowered his bond to $150,000 to match his co-defendants.

Slaughter and Jemisons bonds remained the same. Their attorneys argued that all three co-defendants have cooperated with law enforcement thus far, so theres no reason to believe that would change.

The men have no prior criminal history besides Slaughter, who had a misdemeanor vandalism charge in 2019.

Prosecutor Blaine Nelson agreed to all three men having the same bond of $150,000, but thats the lowest the state would go, he said in court. There are many serious aggravators including workers being threatened, an attempt to flea and having zero ties to Wyoming, said Nelson.

All three men are charged with felony aggravated robbery and felony conspiracy to deliver hydrocodone, oxycodone and methadone. Jemison is facing a third felony charge for kidnapping.

According to a police investigators affidavit, the friends plan to rob Walgreens was inspired by an Instagram video, which showed them how to go for hydros at the pharmacy.

They allegedly drove over 1,000 miles from California to commit the robbery.

Jemison, 23, is accused of entering the Wyoming Boulevard Walgreens on May 26, jumping behind the counter and robbing the pharmacy, taking a bag of oxycodone and everything in the safe, according to a police investigators affidavit.

At the same time, Slaughter, 23, was allegedly watching to make sure no one saw Jemison jumping the counter or called authorities.

The pair jumped in a getaway car, which police believe was driven by Green, 20, the affidavit states. The white Kia Forte sped through Casper before fleeing on Interstate 25.

One of the pharmacy employees said he was pushed towards the back of the pharmacy and believed Jemison had a gun, which he reported to a Casper police sergeant after the incident.

Once the safe was open, the male began taking all the Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, and Methadone, the affidavit states. ...[The employee] saw the suspect males hand in his hoodie pocket and it appeared the suspect male was holding a gun.

Officers later found a small pistol magazine and rifle ammunition while executing a search warrant on their car, but there was no evidence a gun was actually brought inside the store, the affidavit shows.

The stolen pills were worth about $4,715.

Green, Slaughter and Jemison were apprehended in Converse County and transferred to the Natrona County Detention Center, where they remained jailed as of Tuesday.

During an interview with Casper police, Green was not sure why the trio selected Wyoming and admitted he never heard of the state before this, the affidavit states. He made a stupid decision because he needed the money.

[He] expressed to the group that they should go home, but they had driven 15 hours to get to Casper, so [they] talked themselves into robbing a store, the affidavit states. They talked themselves into trying as they had never tried to rob a store and it didnt hurt to try.
Officials continued to search Tuesday for a Wyoming Honor and Conservation Camp inmate who escaped from a work detail a day earlier in northeastern Wyoming, authorities said.

John E. Handy was working at a forestry site east of the facility alongside other inmates when a supervisor noticed he was missing, the Wyoming Department of Corrections announced Tuesday. The specifics of his job detail were not disclosed.

Crews searched through the night and found no signs of Handy, Weston County Emergency Management posted on Facebook. A search and rescue drone and tracking dogs were being utilized, but so far have not turned up any evidence of his whereabouts.

It may be that he had a good lead time to start his journey to get away, the statement said.

Three forestry work details left the Newcastle facility on Monday morning  two details had 10 inmates and one supervisor each, and one detail had five inmates and one supervisor, the Department of Corrections said in a statement. Inmates duties can range from tree planting to wildland firefighting inside the state and in the nearby Black Hills of South Dakota.

A work detail supervisor realized Handy was not where he was required to be at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the statement said.

An effort was made to located him, without success, the statement said.

The work detail supervisor contacted the facility about 30 minutes later to report Handy was not with his assigned work detail. At this point, authorities initiated escape procedures.

Handy had still not been located as of Tuesday morning, and a multi-agency effort to find him was underway, the statement said. Local law enforcement, correctional staff and tracking teams were working to recover Handy.

He is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds.

Handy was sentenced to a five- to seven-year sentence in Sublette County for unlawfully manufacturing or delivering marijuana, the Department of Corrections said in its statement.

On Tuesday morning, correctional staff was doing a grid search of the work area where he was last seen, emergency management said.

The public is urged to report any possible sightings of Handy and warned not to approach him, the statement said.

If you live in the area please keep your vehicles and your homes locked and stay vigilant, the statement said. Keep your eyes open and if you see anything suspicious or you see the escapee call 911.
Authorities are searching for a Wyoming Honor and Conservation Camp inmate who escaped from a work detail late Monday afternoon in northeastern Wyoming.

John E. Handy escaped at about 4 p.m. from an area near the South Dakota border, Weston County Emergency Management posted on Facebook.

Handy is part of the forestry work crew in Weston County, the Wyoming Department of Corrections said in a statement. The statement did not offer information about how he escaped.

Inmates at the conservation camp work on forestry, firefighting, community service and federal projects; duties range from cutting wood into posts to controlled burns, the department's website states.

Handy was sentenced to a five- to seven-year sentence in Sublette County for unlawfully manufacturing or delivering marijuana, the Wyoming Department of Corrections said in a statement.

He is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds.

The public is asked to report any possible sightings of Handy to the Weston County Sherriff's Office.

Authorities were "on the street" as of 5 p.m. searching for Handy, so no one was available to provide information about the events surrounding his escape Monday night, a Weston County Sheriff's Office dispatcher said.

Stephanie Kiger, spokesperson for the state's correctional department, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.
Compared to controversial former State Superintendent Brian Schroeder, who focused much of his campaign on fears that kids are being sexualized in public schools, Megan Degenfelder, the current head of Wyoming public education, didnt make hot-button topics like library books and transgender issues the center of her campaign last year.

But the state superintendent hasnt stayed completely out of the fray.

On Saturday, Degenfelder will speak at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver during a session that includes other speakers such as Moms for Liberty cofounder Tina Descovich, swimmer Riley Gaines, who campaigns against the inclusion of trans women in womens sports, and Turning Point USA Florida field coordinator Amanda Spiers.

Its not clear what Degenfelder will address during the session. Degenfelder was traveling, a spokesperson said, and unable to respond for comment by deadline about her participation in the summit.

Degenfelder will be joined at the summit by Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman and Wyoming Family Alliance President and former state lawmaker Nathan Winters.

Hageman isnt any stranger to these circles. Last year, she appeared onstage with former President Donald Trump at a Casper rally that featured politicians like Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, who will also speak at the Western Conservative Summit on Friday. In December, Hageman also sat for an interview and celebrated her win against former Rep. Liz Cheney at Turning Point Actions AmericaFest conference in Phoenix. Her spokesperson didnt immediately respond to the Star-Tribune to clarify what she will be addressing at the summit.

Winters  who lobbied during this years session in favor of new abortion restrictions and a bill modeled after Floridas Dont Say Gay law, among other legislation  will present a workshop during the conference discussing challenges to educational freedom in conservative states, according to a newsletter from the Wyoming Family Alliance.

The Western Conservative Summit is an annual conference organized by the Colorado Christian University and its think tank, the Centennial Institute, that aims to educate Americans on the key issues facing the West and our nation, equipping individuals to stand for faith, family, and freedom and training up the next generation of conservatives.

The summits theme, Western Strong, is meant to demonstrate the importance of the great Western tradition  from the foundational principles of Western civilization to the rugged individualism that characterizes the American West.

At a time when Western Civilization is being denigrated by the left, we want to remind attendees that it is our strong Western roots that make America the free nation that it is today, the summits webpage says.

Compared to her primary Republican opponent Schroeder, who was recently named principal of a charter school in Arizona amid controversy, Degenfelder was less of a firebrand in terms of raising the rallying cry around controversial topics, focusing instead on traditional education issues like student performance as well as more innovative ideas like increasing industry partnerships in public education

Perhaps for those reasons, Degenfelder wasnt able to win the favor of some big political players. Despite being a former top official at the Wyoming Department of Education, she wasnt among the three candidates, which included Schroeder, that the Wyoming GOP chose as options to temporarily fill the state superintendent post last year. Nor did Degenfelder receive the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who instead backed Schroeder, for the state superintendent position.

That being said, Degenfelder showed up in person at an October Natrona County School Board meeting to weigh in on the districts debate over library books, saying the books in question werent appropriate for children but also stressing her support for the school boards local control.

Last month, Degenfelder joined education officials from other states in signing a letter calling for the Biden administration to retract a proposed rule that could overrule Wyomings ban on transgender women and girls in school sports, which is set to take effect next month.

Her education reform plan released last month also in part addresses controversial topics that Wyoming Republicans have focused their attention on in recent years, like parental rights, school choice and the elimination of perceived political bias in public education.

Were not shying away from those difficult hot-button topics, Degenfelder said. Were really rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on those because from my experience on the campaign trail I know that they matter to Wyoming people, and as a state education leader it is incumbent on me to take action in those areas.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOS Heritage and Stabilisation Fund made a loss of US$913.5 million last financial year, its recently published annual report has revealed.

Since its establishment in 2007, this is the first time the sovereign wealth fund has recorded a total comprehensive loss for the year.
Imagine a world where we aggressively harness the power of the arts to foster individual growth, social development, economic progress and counter poverty, disenfranchisement, and crime.

This is the challenge being extended by Dave Williams, artistic drector of the Council for Arts, Aesthetics & Identity (CAAI).
The local government election bell has been rung and citizens will go to the polls on August 14, 2023.

The election comes after the Privy Council decision that the extension of the life of local government bodies proposed in the Local Government Amendment bill did not apply to incumbent councillors and aldermen.
THEY came wishing on a star, hoping to walk away with a smartphone or laptop for only $1.

But instead, hundreds of people were left frustrated, angry and empty-handed.
The European Union urges those who have signed their Code of Practice on Online Disinformation to identify and label deepfakes and other content created using artificial intelligence. The EU's commissioner for values and transparency, Vera Jourova, announced this during a meeting with the Code's more than 40 signatories. She advised that measures should be taken to detect AI-generated content and make it easily recognizable to users.

The EU made changes to the current version of the Code last summer, and it plans to make the voluntary instrument a mitigation measure that complies with the legally binding Digital Services Act (DSA), as reported by TechCrunch. However, the current version of the Code doesn't require identifying and labeling deepfakes. The Commission aims to amend this and include provisions for identifying and labeling deepfakes.

Two Ways to Address the Issue

The EU commissioner has suggested two ways to address the issue of AI-generated content in the Code. The first is to ensure that services using generative AI like Microsoft's New Bing or Google's Bard AI-augmented search services have safeguards to prevent disinformation spread. The second is requiring signatories to implement technology that detects AI-generated disinformation and labels it clearly for users.

Jourova talked with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who informed her that Google has the technology to identify AI-generated text content. However, Google is still working on improving this technology. During a press Q&A, Jourova stated that the EU wants clear and quick labels for deepfakes and other AI-generated content. The goal is to ensure that regular users can immediately recognize whether a machine or a person created the content they see. Jourova emphasized that the Commission wants platforms to implement these labels immediately.

The DSA has rules requiring big online platforms to label manipulated audio and imagery. However, Jourova thinks that adding this labeling requirement to the disinformation Code could happen even before the August 25 deadline for compliance with the DSA.

The Commission is anticipating progress on reporting the risks of disinformation generated by AI next month. Jourova suggests that those signatories concerned should utilize the July reports to inform the public about the safeguards they are implementing to prevent the misuse of generative AI in spreading disinformation.

The disinformation Code now has 44 signatories in all - which includes tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, as well as smaller adtech entities and civil society organizations - a tally that's up from 34 who had signed to the commitments as of June 2022. However, late last month, Twitter took the unusual step of withdrawing from the voluntary EU Code.

Read also: Renowned Tech Experts Highlight Critical Risks of AI, Suggest Possible Regulations

A Warning to Social Media Platforms

The EU has warned social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, to do more to combat disinformation and propaganda, especially from Russian sources. The EU's commissioner for values and transparency, Vera Jourova, also called for consistent moderation and fact-checking, better election security, and increased access to data for researchers.

The commissioner criticized fact-checking efforts for not being applied to all languages spoken in EU member states and warned that smaller nations were particularly vulnerable to disinformation. Jourova also cautioned Twitter, following Elon Musk's decision to remove his account from the platform, that it could face enforcement action under the Digital Services Act.

The EU has criticized Twitter for withdrawing from the Code of Practice on Disinformation and warned that the platform would be assessed for compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) in August. The DSA imposes a legal requirement on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) to assess and mitigate societal risks like disinformation. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover. While Twitter's Community Notes approach may be considered, it will be up to the Commission enforcers to determine compliance with the DSA.

Related article: Elon Musk Urges Regulation of AI, Warns of Impending Impact 'Like an Asteroid' on Society

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In what may be described as a case of smartmen and smartphones, a deal that looked too good to be true has turned out to be exactly that.

If the marketing gimmick of $1 phones and laptops was meant to establish brand recognition for Star Networks Blue Mobile Network which turned out to be no mobile network at all, it certainly workedif only for all the wrong reasons.
HOLBROOK  A former Tucson middle school teacher was sentenced Tuesday to 2  years in prison after pleading guilty to making a death threat against Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers.

Donald Glenn Brown pleaded guilty in April to a charge of attempting to make a terroristic threat and was sentenced Tuesday in Navajo County Superior Court.

The Arizona Republic reported that Brown was accused of sending the threatening email to a store in Show Low last July Fourth from a fake account.

Rogers, a far-right Republican who took office in January 2021 and represents Arizonas 7th legislative district that includes Flagstaff, was in Show Low at that time for an Independence Day parade.

According to an Arizona Department of Public Safety report, Brown threatened to fatally shoot Rogers and then shoot up the store.

In a statement to the court included in a presentence report, the Republic reported that Brown wrote that he was utterly and terribly ashamed of his actions and had no intent of acting upon them.

Brown, a former music teacher, resigned from the Tucson Unified School District after he was arrested and charged in the case.
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2023.

When school ends, meals at school dont have to.

School districts and community organizations across the Tucson area are working hard alongside parents to ensure all kids can stay healthy and fed this summer.

Many organizations participate in a federal summer meal program funded by the USDA. Use this map to find the location nearest you.

You can access these programs for your kids no matter your income or where you live. In many districts, enrollment in that school district is not a requirement. Any child can eat nutritious meals for free when schools out.

Below, find information on free meals from schools, in addition to other resources for families.

School districts

Select school districts across the Tucson area will provide breakfast and lunch for ALL kids 18 and under. Meal program dates and hours vary by location. For more information, check out the sites for your nearest school district:

TUSD's summer meal program provides free breakfast and lunch to kids attending summer programs, plus those who live in the neighborhood. Available through July 28.

The Marana Cares Mobile runs Monday-Friday through July 28 at two different locations. For meals served at six select schools, dates and times vary but most serve breakfast and lunch Monday-Thursday.

Breakfast and lunch are available at select locations. Times and dates vary, but June 26 is the last date listed for this summer's program.

Community Food Bank partners

While school districts serve meals just for kids weekdays during the summer, these Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona partners will serve meals to the whole family year-round.

The Community Food Bank is only able to serve meals to people who are present at the facility. Unfortunately, individuals can't pick up multiple meals to bring home to their family. Visit the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizonas website for more information.

Caridad Community Kitchen

Hours: 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday

Holy Family Church

Hours: 3-4 p.m. Sunday

Life in Christ Community Church

Hours: 5-6 p.m. Saturday

Living Faith Christian Center

Hours: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday

Northminster Presbyterian

Hours: 5-6 p.m. Monday

Saguaro Christian Church

Hours: 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday

Southside Presbyterian

Hours: 7:30-9 a.m. Monday and Friday

Pima County Public Libraries

Kids under age 18 can find breakfast-type snacks at Pima County Public Libraries through early August. The snacks are provided in partnership by the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education and the USDA. Check out the library's snacks and meals event listings for more information.

Additional resources
The Human Rights Campaign - America's biggest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights group - declared a national state of emergency for those within the LGBTQ+ community on Tuesday, June 6.

According to CNN, this is the first time such a declaration has been made in the organization's four-decade existence.

In a State of Emergency

"LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived - they are real, tangible and dangerous," Kelley Robinson, the organization's president, said.

"In many cases they are resulting in violence against LGBTQ+ people, forcing families to uproot their lives and flee their homes in search of safer states, and triggering a tidal wave of increased homophobia and transphobia that puts the safety of each and every one of us at risk."

Along with the emergency announcement, the organization said it would publish a digital guidebook with health and safety information, a breakdown of state-by-state regulations, "know your rights" details, and other materials meant to help LGBTQ+ travelers and individuals residing in hostile environments.

See Also: North Dakota Rights Advocate Condemns School Board for Concealing Kids' Gender Identities From Parents

Record Number of Anti-LGBTQ Bills

The historic declaration came just days into Pride Month in response to what the Human Rights Campaign calls "an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023." This has been prompted by the continued violence against LGBTQ people and the fact that the rights of this group have become a flashpoint in the 2024 election.

Years after 49 people were slain at the Pulse gay nightclub in Florida, a shooting at a cherished LGBTQ "safe space" occurred in November 2022 at Club Q in Colorado.

Just last month, the Human Rights Campaign issued an updated travel advisory for Florida. This detailed the possible implications of six measures recently enacted there, several of which had already been signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

The American Civil Liberties Union reports that a record 417 anti-LGBTQ measures were proposed in state legislatures throughout the US in the first quarter of 2023. This is more than double the number of such laws introduced in any other year.

Human Rights Campaign claims that the number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed into law this year is already more than twice the amount enacted into law in 2022, which was already the highest number on record. Among them are "don't say LGBTQ+" legislation, pronoun refusal statutes, student outing mandates, anti-drag ordinances, and pronoun refusal laws.

Meanwhile, CNN said that the US Supreme Court will soon rule on a case that might have far-reaching implications for businesses that discriminate against LGBTQ consumers.

And although Human Rights Campaign has been vocal about its concerns, it has also made it clear that it would not back down from its fight against those who would want to silence the community.

See Also: [Timeline] Dylan Mulvaney: From Theatrical Performer to TikTok Trans Advocate - Now a Lesbian

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(CNN)  After weeks of reporting about the wildfires in Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, Quebec is now the latest hotspot for fires in Canada.

More than 8 million acres have burned this year across Canada, with nearly half a million acres in Quebec alone, which is sending thick smoke south and east into the US, affecting air quality for millions.

Air quality alerts are in effect Monday for portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern Illinois, including places like Milwaukee, Green Bay and Chicago.

Weather conditions are such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the unhealthy for sensitive groups category of the air quality index, the National Weather Service in Chicago said. Active children and adults especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor activity.

In the Northeast, the smoke is at higher altitudes, which is creating hazy skies and keeping temperatures slightly cooler.

A cold front will move south over the next few days, bringing northerly winds and pushing smoke-filled Canadian air even farther south and east through the week.

By Tuesday afternoon, thicker smoke will push into some of the bigger cities like New York, Boston and Washington, DC, especially affecting people who have respiratory problems.

While the smoke shouldnt cause visibility issues, the weather service in New York City said haze aloft and the smell of smoke are likely.

More than 400 wildfires continue to rage across Canada, with an estimated 26,000 people still displaced from their homes after being forced to evacuate, according to Canadas federal government in a news conference held today.

I will acknowledge the images that we have seen so far this season, are some of the most severe we have witnessed in Canada, Bill Blair, Canadas minister of public safety said. The current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher than normal fire activity.

In Quebec, more than 150 active wildfires are burning, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center., which is more than double the number of fires currently burning in any other Canadian province. They are the fires largely responsible for the poor air quality in the US at the moment.

The amount of land burned is far more than normal. Quebec has seen 10 times the number of acres burned this year compared to average, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.

Just last week, fires were burning out of control across Nova Scotia, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes as crews worked tirelessly to put out the flames.

Nova Scotia has seen more than 200 wildfires this year alone, which have burned more than 65 thousand acres.

Year after year, with climate change, were seeing more and more intense wildfires and in places where they dont normally happen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in todays news conference.

The-CNN-Wire
DAVENPORT, Iowa  The remains of three victims have been recovered from a collapsed apartment building, Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel said at a Monday news conference as the first of what could be numerous lawsuits by residents and their families was filed.

Dayna Feuerbach escaped her fifth-floor Davenport apartment during the buildings partial collapse on the afternoon of May 28 with just her purse in hand.

Everything else she kept in her home of 20 years was gone.

Feuerbach filed a lawsuit Monday against building owner Andrew Wold and others. She is represented by attorney Jeffery Goodman of the Philadelphia-based firm of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, as well as Christopher D. Stombaugh of Platteville-based firm DiCello Levitt.

Goodman specializes in structural collapse cases and represented victims in a 2021 Surfside condominium collapse in Florida that ultimately resulted in a $1.2 billion settlement.

The city had warning after warning, Goodman told The Associated Press. He called it a common trend in major structural collapses hes seen. They had the responsibility to make sure that the safety of the citizens comes first. It is very clear that the city of Davenport didnt do that.

Feuerbach spoke with The Quad-City Times in the days after the collapse.

When it first happened, I don't know, I didn't realize the finality of it, Feuerbach said. I guess I thought, well, this is awful, but somehow there'll be repairs and we'll go on living back in the building. But then we realized pretty soon that that was it, that the building was going to be coming down, but we'd never get back in again and wed lose everything, and, boy, that realization was awful.

A news release from Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky said "the owner and the City of Davenports inspectors were warned on May 24, 2023 that the building appeared 'ready to fall imminently.'"

This disaster in Davenport was a preventable tragedy; all the victims and their families are in our hearts, and they all deserve justice," Goodman said. "This lawsuit is the first step towards seeking justice and answers on behalf of the victims."

Goodman said the "red flags and warnings of danger that went ignored by everyone involved is simply outrageous. In terms of ensuring safety, the conduct of the building owner, its engineer, and the city of Davenport, was incompetent beyond belief.

Bladel said Branden Colvin Sr.s body was recovered Saturday. The body of Ryan Hitchcock was recovered Sunday and Daniel Prien early Monday. City officials had said earlier that Colvin, 42; Hitchcock, 51; and Prien, 60; had high probability of being home at the time of the collapse.

The discoveries came after authorities announced that the search for survivors had been completed. The remains of the apartment building were constantly in motion in the first 24 to 36 hours after it collapsed on May 28, putting rescuers at great risk, but since the area has been stabilized, crews were using an excavator and other heavy equipment to pull out parts of a debris pile.

Davenport officials said they were consulting with experts about how to safely bring down the rest of the structure. The city fire marshal earlier said explosives would not be used because its close to other buildings in a busy part of downtown Davenport.

County records show Davenport Hotel LLC acquired the building in a 2021 deal worth $4.2 million.

Bladel said the Davenport fire marshals office had begun an investigation of the building collapse with help from the state Division of Criminal Investigation, Davenport police and the medical examiners office.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds toured the site Monday morning, and tweeted later that the state is providing support and resources while working with city officials. Thank you to the first responders for putting their lives at risk to help their community, she wrote.

A vigil for the victims was held Sunday evening.

The building, built as a hotel in 1907, had been converted into about 80 apartment units that were home to roughly 50 people.

The Quad-City Times and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PHOENIX  A GOP-led Senate panel voted Tuesday to recommend confirmation of a new head of the state prison system after he assured them his department is ready to again start executing inmates on death row.

It will be months if not longer until executions resume, however, due to policies set by Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, Democrats who took office in January.

The issue of Ryan Thornell's willingness to carry out the ultimate penalty is crucial to lawmakers because he was the one who told the Arizona Supreme Court earlier this year his department was not prepared to put Aaron Gunches to death as scheduled on April 6.

In a March 15 affidavit, Thornell, Hobbs' choice to head the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, told the justices that when he took over in January he lacked information on everything from how executions were carried out in the past, to questions about whether there are people available with the expertise to insert intravenous lines to administer the lethal drugs.

There were also issues about whether the drugs could be prepared, he said.

"My inquiries have revealed cause for concern with the department's present ability to carry out an execution consistent with its constitutional and legal obligations,'' Thornell told the court.

As a result, the original warrant expired and the Supreme Court refused to extend the date. Gunches, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2002 death of Mesa resident Ted Price, remains incarcerated.

'Authorization, not an order'

Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, who heads the committee tasked with reviewing the governor's nominations to head state agencies, asked Thornell whether he was disregarding the warrant to execute Gunches.

"We want departments and department heads, specifically, that will follow the law,'' Hoffman said.

Thornell said he did no such thing. "The warrant of execution was an authorization, not an order,'' allowing  but not requiring  his department to execute Gunches, he told Hoffman. He said that position was backed by the governor and attorney general.

With no active warrants against Gunches or any other inmates on death row, that returned the situation to the way it was in January, when Hobbs issued an executive order to study the processes and procedures used to put people to death.

Arizona resumed executions last year after an eight-year pause following a botched procedure when Joseph Wood was given 15 doses of a two-drug combination over two hours. Three inmates were put to death in 2022.

Study ordered by Hobbs

Hobbs, in ordering the study, said the process has remained plagued by questions. "Recent executions have been embroiled in controversy,'' she said.

There were reports that prison employees had repeated problems in placing intravenous lines into the veins of condemned men.

"The death penalty is a controversial issue to begin with,'' Hobbs said. "We just want to make sure the practices are sound and that we don't end up with botched executions like we've seen recently.''

Hobbs appointed David Duncan, a retired federal magistrate, to conduct the study. She has not placed any deadline on Duncan to report, meaning no one will be executed at least until that is done.

Mayes, in tandem, announced she would not seek additional warrants until that study is completed.

Issues resolved, nominee says

Thornell assured lawmakers he's not the one standing in the way of executions. He said the issues that left his department unprepared to put Gunches to death in April have been resolved.

"We have gone through all of our review, all of our preparation,'' he said. That includes putting the necessary staff in place and contacting the individuals who can insert the intravenous lines, ensure they work, and monitor administration of the drugs.

The final step, Thornell said, depends on the Arizona Supreme Court issuing a new warrant of execution, whether for Gunches or any of the other 107 men and three women on death row.

Compounding of the necessary drugs needs to be properly timed because of the shelf life of the chemicals, he said.

Thornell reassured lawmakers that, while he came to Arizona from the Maine prison system, which has no death penalty, he is not opposed to executions.

The nominee, who now needs a vote of the full Republican-led Senate to be confirmed, faced other questions Tuesday, as well.

Questions on rehab, use of force

Hoffman said he understands that the goal of providing educational opportunities for inmates is to help them "pull themselves up so they don't end up coming back in.'' But he questioned why the state should spend money on felons.

"People that haven't been incarcerated are expected to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps'' without state dollars, Hoffman said.

"It's what our responsibility is,'' Thornell responded, noting the word "rehabilitation'' was added to the name of the department in 2020 by then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican.

"I understand there's always going to be public perspective that people who are incarcerated don't deserve any opportunities, access to things,'' Thornell said. "But if we're going to reduce future victims, if we're going to reduce recidivism, the only way to do that while they're incarcerated with us is, we have to invest the resources.''

Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, questioned Thornell's views on the use of force to keep order and discipline within the prison system.

"You can't say, 'Do that again, I'm going to throw you in prison' because they're already there,'' said Kavanagh, a former police officer. That often leaves solitary confinement as the option, Kavanagh said.

"I firmly support the use of force,'' Thornell responded. "It is necessary. We are incarcerating felons, dangerous felons.''

But he said there are a "whole host of strategies'' that can be employed in a prison to keep order.

"It doesn't always have to result in a placement in solitary confinement or a removal from the general population,'' Thornell said.

A system can provide incentives for good behavior, he said. "They earn their way toward release, they earn their way towards televisions, communications devices, technology access,'' he said.

Still, Thornell said, solitary confinement must be in the mix.

"It's been over-utilized in the past, which is why it's been focused on significantly in recent years,'' he said. "What I see solitary confinement, restrictive housing, being used for here is in response to dangerous incidents, dangerous individuals, incidents that threaten other inmates, that threaten staff.

"And then we use it for the duration that's necessary and then they go back out into general population and get put into an environment where they then have to earn their incentives back.''

Thornell acknowledged there is a separate problem of actions by corrections officers.

"There has been a string in the last 60 days of use-of-force incidents in our complexes that went outside the scope of our use-of-force policies,'' he said. He said these have occurred in the prisons run and staffed by the state, as well as in the private prisons that have contracts to house inmates.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has now vetoed 106 bills in 2023. In this picture, she is vetoing a Republican-backed "skinny budget" proposal on Feb. 16, 2023. Photo courtesy Arizona Governor's Office

Gov. Katie Hobbs has officially racked up more than 100 vetoes, rejecting Republican-backed bills on Monday that criminalized homelessness and banned ranked-choice voting.

With seven measures added to her tally on Monday, 106 bills have now met their end by Hobbs veto stamp, far surpassing the rejection rates of her predecessors. Former Gov. Janet Napolitano last held the record, at 58 vetoes.

Senate Bill 1413 would have forced city officials to tear down homeless encampments and charge people living in them with criminal trespassing  a misdemeanor charge that, depending on the severity, can be punished with jail time and fines. Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, justified the measure by saying unhoused people shouldnt be treated compassionately because they arent our neighbors and dont pay taxes.

In an emailed statement denouncing Hobbs veto, Wadsack doubled down, accusing homeless Arizonans of being the source of rampant crime and calling Hobbs decision an irresponsible move against public safety.

In her veto letter, Hobbs criticized the bill for ignoring the core causes of homelessness and failing to advocate for any real solutions besides punishment.

People become and remain unsheltered for a variety of reasons, she wrote. This legislation addresses none of those root causes, offers no pathways to assistance and effectively criminalizes experiencing homelessness. I invite you to join me in pursuing more productive solutions that respect human and constitutional rights.

Also vetoed was Senate Bill 1265, which would have outlawed the use of ranked-choice voting throughout Arizona, despite the fact that it currently doesnt exist anywhere in the state.

The bill was a preemptive prohibition from a cadre of Republican lawmakers who are vehemently opposed to the voting styles possible placement on the 2024 ballot. An identical version of the bill was already vetoed in April.

In another rejection that stung Republican lawmakers, Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1696, which sought to make it a class 5 felony to film sexually explicit acts on government-owned property, including schools. The bill was drafted in response to a single incident that occurred in Mohave County, in which two married teachers filmed pornographic content in a classroom for an OnlyFans account.

While the bills sponsor, Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, framed it as a protection of students, the proposal went far beyond the penalties for filming sexually explicit acts on school property. It also would have added the referral of students to sexually explicit materials, such as books, to the same violations for which a teacher or librarian could be punished with 2 years in prison.

Hoffman, who leads the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, called Hobbs veto a result of her far-left extremism and said her failure to criminalize the despicable use of government resources demonstrated by the Mohave County teachers was shameful.

Hobbs, however, dismissed the bill for its potential to lead teachers and librarians to pull books from school shelves.

While I agree that not all content is appropriate for minors, this bill is a poor way to address those concerns, she wrote. The sponsor has stated that this bill was aimed at preventing a specific action from reoccurring, while in reality it is written in such a vague manner that it serves as little more than a thinly veiled effort to ban books.

Four more bills were vetoed by Hobbs on Monday, including:

Three bills succeeded in earning Hobbs approval and were signed into law. Among them were Senate Bill 1221, which allows hospitals to seek the help of criminal justice agencies like the court or detention officials to identify incapacitated or deceased patients, and Senate Bill 1401, which allows certified acupuncturists to also treat animals.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian forces were making a major effort to end a battlefield stalemate and punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second day Monday in what may herald the start of a long-anticipated counteroffensive after 15 months of war.

Russian officials seemed to be trying to portray the Ukrainian attacks as the start of the counteroffensive, saying that Moscows forces foiled at least one assault. While not explicitly confirming such a large-scale effort, Kyiv authorities said their forces were indeed increasing offensive operations and making gains, but suggested some of the Russian announcements were misinformation.

Vladimir Rogov, an official in the Russia-backed administration of Ukraines partly occupied Zaporizhzhia province, said fighting resumed on its border with the eastern Donetsk province Monday after Russian defenses beat back a Ukrainian advance the previous day.

The enemy threw an even bigger force into the attack than yesterday (Sunday), and the new attempt to break through the front line was more large-scale and organized, Rogov said, adding: A battle is underway.

Rogov interpreted the Ukrainian military movements as part of an effort to reach the Sea of Azov coast and sever the land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Analysts have long viewed that strategy as likely because it would cut the Russian forces in two and severely strain supplies to Crimea, which has served as a key Russian military hub in the war that started Feb. 24, 2022.

Rogovs comments came after Moscow also said its forces thwarted large Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk province, near its border with the Zaporizhzhia province.

Reacting to Russias declarations that it repelled Ukrainian offensives, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters: We have no reason to believe any Russian action has had any spoiling effect on pending or ongoing Ukraine operations.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the Ukrainian military has scored gains.

Despite fierce resistance and attempts of the enemy to hold the occupied lines and positions, our units moved forward in several directions during the fighting, she said.

Malyar drew no distinctions between phases of the war, insisting that Ukraines defense against Russias invasion contains everything, including counter-offensive actions. She acknowledged that Kyivs forces in some areas  are shifting to offensive operations.

Sir Richard Barrons, a general who is a former commander of the U.K. Joint Forces Command, said that Ukraine was clearly in the preliminary phase of its counteroffensive and would probe Russian defenses to find weak spots, then focus its resources to ram through them and hold ground. Barrons, now co-chair of the U.K.-based strategic consulting firm Universal Defence & Security Solutions, told The Associated Press the Ukrainians are trying to increase the chances of surprise about when you do it, where you do it and how you do it.

Commenting on the Russian militarys assertion that it thwarted a big Ukrainian attack, he said it could be part of Ukrainian efforts to probe Russian defenses and test its units in combat. He added that Moscow could have exaggerated the scale of the fighting and claimed victory to assuage its domestic Russian audience.

Barrons predicted that the Ukrainian counteroffensive would involve a series of moves and take weeks.

Its a process, not an event, he said.

Ukraine often waits until the completion of its military operations to confirm its actions.

A Ukrainian Defense Ministry video showed soldiers putting a finger to their lips in a sign to keep quiet. Plans love silence, it said on the screen. There will be no announcement of the start.

Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk are two of the four provinces that President Vladimir Putin claimed as Russian territory last fall and which Moscow partially controls.

Russias Defense Ministry said it had pushed back a large-scale assault Sunday at five places in Donetsk province. The announcement couldnt be independently verified, and while Ukrainian officials reported fighting in that area, they didnt confirm a retreat.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an unusual overnight video that 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed in the fighting in Donetsk province, and 16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored combat vehicles were destroyed.

In response, the Center for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Russian forces were stepping up their information and psychological operations.

Ukrainian officials have said for months that a spring campaign with advanced weapons supplied by Western allies to reclaim territory seized by Russia during the war was planned, but they have kept quiet about when, how and where it might start, or whether it had already been launched.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russians overreacted to its latest push.
WASHINGTON  The pilot of a business jet that flew over Washington and crashed in a remote part of Virginia appeared to be slumped over and unresponsive, three U.S. officials said Monday, recounting observations by fighter pilots who intercepted the wayward flight.

The revelations came as federal investigators trudged through rugged terrain to reach the site where the plane slammed into a mountain Sunday, killing four people. The officials who said that the fighter pilots saw the civilian pilot slumped over had been briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation.

The planes owner told news outlets that his daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter were aboard.

On Sunday, the New York-bound plane took an erratic flight path  inexplicably, turning around over Long Island to fly directly over the nations capital  prompted the military to scramble fighter jets. This caused a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

Remote terrain around the crash site posed major challenges to the investigation. It took investigators several hours to hike into the rural area near the community of Montebello, about 60 miles southwest of Charlottesville, said NTSB spokesperson Eric Weiss. They expect to be on the scene for at least three to four days.

Speaking at a briefing Monday morning, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is highly fragmented and investigators will examine the most delicate evidence at the site, after which the wreckage will be moved, perhaps by helicopter, to Delaware, where it can be further examined. The plane is not required to have a flight recorder but it is possible that there are other avionics equipment that will have data that they can examine, Gerhardt said.

The Virginia State Police issued a statement saying that because of the severity of the crash, human remains will be transported to the state medical examiners office for autopsy and identification. The Federal Aviation Administration said that the victims included the pilot and three passengers but didnt release their names. There were no survivors.

Investigators will look at when the pilot became unresponsive and why the aircraft flew the path that it did, Gerhardt said. They will consider several factors that are routinely examined in such probes including the plane, its engines, weather conditions, pilot qualifications and maintenance records, he said. A preliminary report will be released in 10 days.

According to a timetable released late Monday by NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris, the plane took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. Sunday, headed for MacArthur Airport in Long Island, N.Y. Air Traffic Control lost communication with the airplane during its ascent.

Preliminary information indicates the last ATC communication attempt with the airplane was at about 1:28 p.m., when the plane was at 31,000 feet. The plane climbed to 34,000 feet, where it remained for the rest of the flight until 3:23 p.m. when it began to descend and crashed about nine minutes later. The plane was flying at 34,000 feet, when it flew over MacArthur Airport at 2:33 p.m., the NTSB said.

The White House expressed its deepest condolences on Monday to the family of those on board the plane.

We need to keep them front and center, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Kirby deferred questions about a follow-up report on the security response over Washington airspace to the Pentagon and U.S. Secret Service. But he said, What I saw was just a classic, textbook response.

The White House was continuously informed as the military jets tried to contact the pilot of the civilian plane and monitored the small aircrafts path from Washington airspace to rural Virginia, Kirby said.

Air Traffic Control audio from the half-hour before the plane crashed captures voices that identify themselves as military pilots trying to communicate with the pilot of the private plane, according to recordings on LiveATC.net.

If you hear this transmission, contact us, said one pilot who identifies herself as being with the Air National Guard.

Several minutes later, a military pilot says: You have been intercepted. Contact me.

The plane flew directly over the nations capital. According to the Pentagon, six F-16 fighter jets were immediately deployed to intercept the plane. Two aircraft from the 113th Fighter Wing, out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, were the first to reach the Cessna Citation to begin attempts to contact the pilot. Two F-16 aircraft out of New Jersey and two from South Carolina also responded.

Flight tracking sites showed the plane suffered a rapid spiraling descent, dropping at one point at a rate of more than 30,000 feet per minute before crashing in the St. Marys Wilderness.

The plane that crashed was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc., which is based in Florida. John Rumpel, a pilot who runs the company, said his family was returning to their home in East Hampton, on Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina.

In interviews with the Times and Newsday, Rumpel identified his daughter, Adina Azarian, and 2-year-old granddaughter Aria, as two of the victims.

Azarian, 49, was well-known in real estate circles both in New York City and Long Island, described by friends and relatives as a fiercely competitive entrepreneur who started her own brokerage and was raising her daughter as a single parent.
COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP)  A man sentenced to 200 days in jail for a probation violation bolted from a southern Indiana courtroom and tried to escape before two shocks from a stun gun brought him down, police said.

Trevin Littlejohn, 35, of Columbus, faces a new charge of resisting law enforcement following the episode Monday.

After Littlejohn was read his sentence, he declared he would not go to jail and fled from the courtroom, using chairs to obstruct an officer in the court, said Sgt. Dane Duke of the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department.

Littlejohn escaped the grasp of another officer and was shocked with a stun gun but kept going, fleeing down a flight of stairs before a second shock floored him, Duke said. Officers then placed him in handcuffs.

After being treated at a hospital, Littlejohn was lodged in the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus.

Littlejohns attorney J. Grant Tucker said he had no comment on the incident.
HOLBROOK, Ariz. (AP)  A former Tucson middle school teacher was sentenced Tuesday to 2  years in prison after pleading guilty to making a death threat against Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers.

Donald Glenn Brown pleaded guilty in April to a charge of attempting to make a terroristic threat and was sentenced Tuesday in Navajo County Superior Court.

The Arizona Republic reported that Brown was accused of sending the threatening email to a store in Show Low last July Fourth from a fake account.

Rogers, a far-right Republican who took office in January 2021 and represents Arizonas 7th legislative district that includes Flagstaff, was in Show Low at that time for an Independence Day parade.

According to an Arizona Department of Public Safety report, Brown threatened to fatally shoot Rogers and then shoot up the store.

In a statement to the court included in a presentence report, the Republic reported that Brown wrote that he was utterly and terribly ashamed of his actions and had no intent of acting upon them.

Brown, a former music teacher, resigned from the Tucson Unified School District after he was arrested and charged in the case.

Rogers and the store owners asked the judge to impose a prison sentence rather than probation for Brown.
All you really need to see to appreciate Disneys The Lion King fully is contained in the shows first few minutes.

The show, which is currently in residence at the Tulsa PAC for much of the month of June, opens with its best-known song, Circle of Life, during which most of the characters that populate this mostly peaceable kingdom begin to gather.

Giraffes and cheetahs stalk across the stage, gazelles leap about and birds flutter and twirl through the air, as parades of pachyderms and other creatures make their stately way through the Chapman Music Hall (several dozen seats were removed to make way for the processional), all answering the call of the shaman-like baboon Rafiki (Gugwana Dlamini).

Once all the creatures are assembled, and the new son of the sovereign of the savannahs is presented, the number ends with a bang and a blackout.

And one could walk out of the theater right then and feel they have had a complete theatrical experience. Thats because director Julie Taymors distinctive vision for this adaptation of the Disney animated film is one that exploits the many ways to tell a story without relying solely on words.

In the case of the performance of The Lion King we attended, that was especially appropriate, as the sound was woefully unbalanced. Solo songs were understandable, but whenever two or more gathered together, the result was mellifluous noise.

But, honestly, I didnt mind. The Lion King tells a simple, elemental story  the sort of heros journey tale weve heard time and again  and its characters are so carefully delineated by how they look and move, that one hardly needs dialogue to know who is who and what is what.

Taymors use of masks and puppetry to create and embellish character, while also recognizing ancient theatrical traditions from around the world, still retains its expressive power, and the multi-racial cast that manipulate these creations do so in ways that, no matter how many times one may have seen The Lion King, are still breathtaking.

As for that who is who and what is what, The Lion King is the story of a young lion named Simba (Mason Lawson in his younger incarnation, Darian Sanders as the grown-up version) who is to become the king of the jungle, following in the paw prints of his father, Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey).

This line of succession does not sit well with Mufasas brother, Scar (Peter Hargrave), who views his new nephew as one more obstacle to usurping the throne.

Scar engineers Mufasas murder at the hooves of rampaging wildebeests and convinces Simba that this tragic turn of events is all his fault, forcing Simba to flee into the company of Timon, a meerkat seemingly from New Jersey (Nick Cordileone), and his flatulent friend, the warthog Pumbaa (John E. Brady).

As this is a Disney show, all will end happily, with yet another rendition of Circle of Life. Along the way there will be references to local cuisine, and the ubiquity of a certain song from another Disney property, that are cute but distracting.

The cast is good: Ramsey conveys the proper gravitas as Mufasa, while Sanders and Khalifa White as Nala are youthfully antic. Nick LaMedica didnt quite have elements of his puppet under control, but he certainly give Zazu the hornbill the proper fussbudget attitude, while Hargraves villainy was very much of the cartoon variety.

Karl Shymanovitz led the orchestra, which featured multiple flutes performed by Darlene Drew, and on-stage percussionists Raphael Torn and Reuven Weizberg.

The Lion King continues with performances through June 17 at the Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. For tickets: 918-596-7111, tulsapac.com.

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The City Council has signed off on a revision of a project to add a right-turn lane from northbound Oklahoma 97 just north of the Arkansas River Bridge onto eastbound Main Street.

Although the revision will cost an additional $172,786.25 now, the work will be done in one phase instead of two; it ultimately will cost less than if done in two phases; it wont take any longer than originally planned; and motorists will be far happier with the result, city leaders said.

The council agreed to the revision at its May 22 meeting. The contract for construction on the project originally had been awarded at the councils Feb. 27 meeting.

Under the original design, vehicles in the right-turn lane still would have been subject to delays from trains as a result of the location of the railroad crossing arm, said Public Works Director and City Engineer Derek Campbell.

We were going to do it in two phases, with the second phase to come later, perhaps in a couple of years, he said.

We were trying to get the first phase done before the Highway 97 widening began, he said, referring to a $15 million Oklahoma Department of Transportation project to widen and rehabilitate Oklahoma 97 from Second Street north of U.S. 412 running south to where it intersects with the newly opened stretch of Main Street just north of the river.

After the original contract for the right-turn lane had been awarded, several major delays related to train traffic led members of the Public Works Advisory Committee to express concern and ask city Public Works officials to take another look to see whether the job could be completed in one phase.

Planners literally went back to the drawing board.

Campbell asked consultant Kevin Kriewall of Craig & Keithline to draw up a revised proposal. City Manager Mike Carter took the plan to the trustees of the Sand Springs Home, which owns the property adjacent to the right-turn lane.

Within just a couple of weeks, Carter had secured the easement necessary for the changed plan. Then ODOT reviewed and approved the plan, and the contractors reviewed the new design and agreed to it.

The stars aligned, and we were able to make it happen, Campbell said. It wasnt that we didnt think about it. We didnt think we could accomplish it that quick and get the land that we needed for it.

The new design is going to be much better, he said. The difference  is the fact that (traffic) now will turn behind the crossarm, so anytime we have the crossarms down, people will be able to continue on to Main Street.

The dedicated right-turn lane at that location was envisioned years ago, but a previous ODOT administration hadnt seen the need for it.

The current ODOT administration, which Carter said has been wonderful to work with, agreed that the turn lane was needed and said that if the city would pay for it, the agency would allow it.

Carter praised the Sand Springs Home for giving the city the easement for the additional property at no cost, saying all three trustees were excited to help clear up the congestion on Oklahoma 97.

The construction timeline for the project remains 60 days, barring any delays, officials said.

FY24 budget adopted

Also at the May 22 meeting, city councilors approved a resolution to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, with total resources available in the amount of $70,659,709 and total fund/departmental appropriations in the amount of $51,166,288.

A public hearing on the budget was held during the March 27 regular City Council meeting, city Finance Director Kelly Lamberson noted.

Councilors also unanimously approved the Master Fee Schedule following an annual review of fees assessed citywide. The only change for FY24 will come in utility rate increases.

Water, wasterwater, solid waste and stormwater rates will be increased by 3%, Lamberson said.

EMSA, Tulsa Transit increases

Lamberson said the citys EMSA ambulance service contract increased by $21,000 for FY24 over last year, representing an increase of 12%.

The council also approved the annual service agreement with the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority for its share of the citys bus service and Lift service.

The agreement for $64,062  or $5,338.50 per month  is an increase of 5%, or $3,051, over last year.

The city contracts with Tulsa Transit to provide one fixed route  Route 114  plus the paratransit Lift service.

RiverWest update

Mayor Jim Spoon gave a brief RiverWest development update and said a ribbon-cutting was held May 26 at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

He said preliminary building permit documents for a new Planet Fitness location in the area had been received and said construction on the new Chilis restaurant in RiverWests northeast corner is expected to start in early July and be completed by late fall.

Downtown construction, trash cleanup

Carter updated councilors on Phase 1 of the downtown streetscape project, noting that construction is continuing along Main Street between First and Second streets, as it is along Second Street as part of an ODOT sidewalk project.

He also said a new program to pay civic groups to pick up trash in the city now has a name.

Clean for a Cause began June 1. Local civic groups, school clubs, churches and other organizations can apply to be paid $500 to clean up litter in areas of town selected by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Guidelines and information about the program can be found on the citys website at sandspringsok.org or by calling the city at 918-246-2500.
Slovenia was elected to take a seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Tuesday, June 6, after overwhelmingly defeating Russia-aligned Belarus.

In a 153-38 vote, the European Union member state will take its seat at the UN's most powerful body alongside Guyana, Sierra Leone, Algeria, and South Korea beginning in January 2024.

The five new member nations would replace Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates upon the end of their terms on December 31.

Ten of the council's 15 seats are voted upon by member nations for a two-year term, while the remaining five are permanently filled by representatives of the United States, the UK, France, China, and Russia, representing the victors of World War II.

The 10 non-permanent seats on the council are allotted to regional groups, who usually select candidates, but sometimes cannot agree on an uncontested slate.

Read Also: South Korea Alarmed by China-Russian Air Patrol!

Slovenia's Win A Blow to Russian Hegemony in UN

Belarus has been an unopposed candidate since 2007, but the brutal crackdown of Belorussian authorities on protesters opposing its 2020 presidential election prompted Slovenia to contest the seat in 2021. Moscow also used Belarus to stage its failed attack on Kyiv during the opening phases of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Last month, Russia initiated the mobilization of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. This was the Kremlin's first deployment of such weapons outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

"The Russians have always argued that a lot of states support Ukraine in public at the UN, but sympathize with Russia in private," UN International Crisis Group Director Richard Gowan said. "But this secret ballot does not support that claim at all."

Related Article: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Blowing Up Major Dam in Kherson

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Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education approved the districts preliminary budget for the coming fiscal year late Monday.

As approved, the budget calls for the district to have $696,575,613 in expenditures and $755,367,103 in revenue for fiscal year 2024.

Under state law, districts must approve at least a preliminary budget before the start of the fiscal year on July 1 but can make revisions during the fiscal year as conditions warrant.

Along with a projected slight increase in enrollment, the budget takes into account additional state funding allocated by the Legislature during the 2023 session. Between pay raises for certified staff and adjustments to the funding formula, the district is projected to receive an additional $20.2 million in state funding for the coming year as compared to 2022-23.

Adjustments made to the state aid formula during the recent legislative session increase the weight for the number of low-income students served by a school district and increase the supplemental funding for transportation costs. Those adjustments alone are projected to account for an additional $5.5 million for TPS.

Since a 2023-24 collective bargaining agreement was reached before the Legislature approved pay raises for certified staff, Chief Financial Officer Jorge Robles told the board Monday night that the district will enter new negotiations with the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association to accommodate those increases.

Although the increased funding is accounted for in the preliminary budget, Robles and other district administrators acknowledged that the budgetary effects of some of the other measures approved by the Legislature this year are still unknown.

Along with questions about the financial logistics of implementing paid maternity leave, TPS officials said it is too early to determine how the tax credit program that provides up to $7,500 per child attending private school and $1,000 for home schooled children will impact the districts enrollment and funding.

We have looked at the impact on budgets and enrollment in other states that have enacted private school choice opportunities, but it is difficult to know, Superintendent Deborah Gist said. Until it is in place here for a few years, we just wont know what the impact will be.

With federal funds accounting for $95.9 million in district revenue, also still undetermined is the impact should the Oklahoma State Department of Education not seek federal funds or miss federal grant deadlines.

A measure filed during the Legislatures special session requiring the State Department of Education to get joint approval from the Senate president pro tem and the House speaker before forgoing any federal education grants previously won by the state of Oklahoma became law Friday without the governors signature.



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Conveyed with a sense of urgency, a new national advisory on the harmful impact of social media on youth mental health hopefully can inspire a more united effort for solutions, officials say.

Noting the growth in evidence that social media use is fueling the nations youth mental health crisis, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on May 23 in which he called for immediate action and outlined roles that lawmakers, tech companies, researchers and parents each can play.

Among organizations that see the issue firsthand, officials with Tulsas Family & Childrens Services, which provides outpatient mental health care, welcomed Murthys call to action.

The agency is on pace this year to serve 6,000 youth and families, a 30% increase over last year.

I dont want to point the finger at social media and say its just that. Its one piece of it, said Dee Harris, F&CS chief strategic engagement officer.

But social media  the algorithms, the addictiveness  is definitely part of why our youth are suffering.

Cheryl Delk, manager of Mental Health Association Oklahomas youth mental health program, agreed that social media is just one factor in the crisis. But because everyones involved in it, it has great influence, she said. Thats why we need to take action.

As pointed out in the advisory, social media use by young people is nearly universal. Up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 report using a social media platform and more than a third say they use social media almost constantly.

Murthy said a growing body of research suggests that social media poses a profound risk to young peoples mental health, potentially exposing them to violent and sexual content, bullying and harassment.

The surgeon general said: We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis  one that we must urgently address.

Murthy said everyone has a part to play. He urged technology companies and lawmakers to come up with policies to protect young people from addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content.

He said policymakers need to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate such items as car seats, baby formula, medication and other products for children.

Parent involvement is key

Harris, a member of the Tulsa Worlds Community Advisory Board who has studied and written about the issue, said the surgeon generals advisory really lays out what different groups can do. That hasnt been done before. Its taking it to another level.

And the group with the most direct role to play is still critical, she said.

Parental involvement is a key, key part of it, Harris said. Because policy is not going to move fast enough to fix this.

Parents might be tempted to prohibit smartphones to limit access to social media, but thats not the best solution, Harris said.

Its not about parents saying you cant get on your phone. Thats not teaching them how to cross the street, so to speak. I really do liken it to crossing a highway. How are they going to navigate the dangers if youre not teaching them and giving them a chance to try it?

A better approach, Harris said, includes being fully engaged and aware, having conversations with your kids, and allowing them to ask questions.

Also important is for parents to model proper use with their own online habits, Harris said.

As a society, digital literacy and healthier online habits must be prioritized because technology is not going away, she added.

Delk agreed that parents must lead the way.

We have got to set the standard with our own behaviors, she said. Kids are more likely to do what you do instead of what you say.

A big part of the problem, Delk added, is that kids are still using an adolescent brain.

As a former researcher, brain development is whats important here, she said. Adolescence is a time when your brain is still developing. Its changing swiftly. Critical thinking is not mature. That has to be understood and taken into account.

The surgeon generals advisory comes on the heels of a related CDC report in February.

Using data from 2009-2021, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report confirms that a decline in youth mental health nationally has occurred alongside the rise of social media and smartphones.

Since 2011, mental health conditions and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in teens have increased, with teen girls experiencing the most sadness or hopelessness at 57% (up from 36% in 2011) and 30% saying that they have seriously considered suicide (up from 19% in 2011).

Murthy said: Our children and adolescents dont have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social medias impact. Their childhoods and development are happening now.

Delk said whether they are lawmakers, social media companies, parents or teachers, its up to the adults to address the problems caused by social media.

I think as adults were all responsible for the welfare and benefit of the youth of America today, Delk said. I think if everybodys on the same page its a lot better to turn those pages into a book thats congruent and healthy and positive.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  A murder victims survivors and prosecutors have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let Richard Glossips execution move forward.

The friend of the court brief was filed Monday on behalf of the victims family and the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association.

The action came after the nations high court gave Glossip a stay when Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Glossip needs a third trial due to prosecutorial errors.

Glossip was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1997 beating death of his boss, Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese.

Glossip has maintained his innocence and said he was set up by Justin Sneed, who is serving life without parole after testifying that Glossip hired him to kill Van Treese.

In an unusual move, Drummond asked the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to recommend that Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency, which the panel declined to do. He gave his remaining time to speak to the board to Glossip supporters.

Drummond asked the Supreme Court to block Glossips execution, which was set for May 18. The request was granted, although the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals had declined to grant relief.

Two juries have found Glossip guilty and sentenced him to death.

According to Mondays brief from Van Treeses family and state prosecutors, Glossip is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt the novel theory that, when a state Attorney General personally disagrees with a decision below, that unhappiness trumps all other procedural requirements.

The U.S. Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to review the case, the brief says.

Against an overwhelming record, Glossip and his comrade-in-arms (Oklahomas Attorney General) end up relying almost exclusively on one purported piece of evidence: the Attorney Generals confession of error, the brief says. But the Attorney Generals opinion about the evidence is not itself evidence.

Under state law, Drummond does not have the last word on the validity of the conviction, which is up to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the brief says.

Adopting the Attorney Generals position would transfer the last word from five judges with protection against political influence to a single, politically elected officer, the brief continues.

Derek Van Treese, Barry Van Treeses son, said Drummond does not have the power to unilaterally decide the fairness of a sentence.

While the office of attorney general is the highest law enforcement position in the state, this isnt the wild west and the attorney general does not have the power of judge, jury, and executioner, Van Treese said.

My family hopes and prays that the U.S. Supreme Court will deny the petition and bring this case to a conclusion after 26 long years, Van Treese said.

Drummond has said Glossips conviction was impugned by a litany of errors that when taken in total would have resulted in reasonable doubt.

As I have told the Van Treese family, the pain they have experienced and continue to endure is unfathomable, Drummond said. My heart truly hurts for them, and I would relieve their pain if I could.

However, I also took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and ensure justice is served.



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Although the 2023-2024 school year does not start for at least two months, area school districts are already hustling to fill staffing vacancies for the coming school year.

Weve always been having to hustle, Union Public Schools Executive Director of Human Resources Jay Loegering said. If you take the baseline that were 4,000 teachers short in Oklahoma based on the number of emergency certifications, everyone is fighting for a pool thats not there.

As of Friday afternoon, Union has 52 known certified openings for the 2023-2024 school year. However, those numbers could fluctuate, as the districts current teachers have until mid-month to advise on whether they will return next year.

Across town, Tulsa Public Schools has already brought on 250 new teachers for the coming school year and still has 185 open teaching positions around the district, according to Chief Talent and Equity Officer Andrea Castaneda.

And at Broken Arrow, while the departure numbers are not as high as they were one year ago, the potential candidates just are not showing up.

If we dont have positions filled by middle of July, its about impossible, Broken Arrow Superintendent Chuck Perry said. It is so hard to find somebody out there who is certified  and will stay.

While they are seeing departures across all grade levels and levels of experience, officials at Broken Arrow, Tulsa and Union all said that their greatest staffing challenges have been finding teachers for special education and higher level math and science courses, such as calculus, chemistry and physics.

Those staffing challenges all track with national trends.

According to a 2022 report compiled by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the number of students completing traditional teacher preparation programs dropped by one-third nationwide between 2008 and 2019.

The specialty areas with the steepest declines in degrees and credentials awarded nationwide during that time period were foreign language education, math, science and special education.

What keeps me up at night is that were 4,000 teachers short (statewide) and I have nowhere to find them, Loegering said, noting his district has even sought grant funding to help cover the costs of out-of-state recruitment efforts. Ive gone to Arkansas, Ive gone to Missouri, Ive gone to western Kansas to try to find special education teachers. The problem is that all the other states are doing the same thing.

Loegering is not the only one looking high and low for teachers. His counterpart at Broken Arrow Public Schools, Rusty Stecker, said that as of mid-May, his district has had about 110 certified staff give notice that they will not be returning for the 2023-2024 school year with one-third of those due to retirement.

By comparison, the district had almost 200 departures that had to be filled for the 2022-2023 school year.

The suburban district has been attempting to attract and retain teachers through an employee child care program and continued efforts to maintain smaller class sizes.

Additionally, in an attempt to increase its recruitment outreach efforts, Broken Arrow hosted two in-person teacher job fairs this spring. In a normal year, those events would draw in up to 175 potential new hires, Stecker said.

The first job fair brought in 50 people and the second one brought in 40, including 25 who attended the first event.

Its still a little early to tell exactly how things are going to look next year  but nothing scares me more than the teacher shortage that were in the middle of right now, Perry said. And from the information were seeing, we havent hit rock bottom yet, which really scares me even more.

In an attempt to help bring more teachers into the classroom, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced plans in April to use $16 million in federal funds as one-time sign-on bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for new teachers of special education or prekindergarten through third grade in rural districts or those where at least half of the students qualify for free or reduced price school meals.

That would mean 1,066 additional teachers statewide if all were to receive the minimum amount or 320 additional teachers if all were to receive the $50,000 maximum offered for educators with at least five years of classroom experience.

By comparison, more than 4,100 emergency certifications have been issued since the start of the fiscal year on July 1.

Weve talked about it for years that were in a crisis, but throwing a few dollars at it here and there isnt going to help, especially when they (elected officials) dont bother to talk to anyone who actually does it, Loegering said.

A wrongful termination suit was filed Tuesday in the Western District of Oklahoma against Walters, his former campaign manager and chief policy advisor Matt Langston and OSDE by a now former employee who claims he was fired for sharing a memorandum with a state representative and Oklahoma Attorney Gentner Drummond about the program and explaining how it contravened the requirements of federal and state laws and could have the effect of costing the State of Oklahoma approximately $18 million.

A spokeswoman with Drummonds office confirmed Friday afternoon that the office is reviewing information about the program.

Meanwhile, in an effort to address its specific staffing needs, TPS is offering sign-on bonuses for the coming year ranging from $2,000 for candidates going through emergency or alternative certification routes up to $6,000 for certified educators who are credentialed to teach subjects where the shortage is particularly acute.

Along with special education and secondary math and sciences, Deputy Superintendent Paula Shannon and Tasha Johnson with the districts talent management department, noted that TPS has also been particularly struggling to find foreign language teachers.

Kristy Tatum is the principal at TPS Marshall Elementary School. Despite extended active recruitment efforts for months, Marshall had two open teaching positions teaching third and fourth grade math for the entire 2022-2023 school year, prompting the school to rely on a pair of long-term substitute teachers to cover those classes.

The third grade substitute co-taught with a certified teacher for the year. The fourth grade substitute was able to cover the material on their own and record students grades. However, Tatum called her school lucky to be able to have the same substitutes in those classrooms for the full school year rather than a constant stream of new faces.

That takes that off of the other teachers, she said. If theyre not though, somebody in the building has to put grades in for them. Somebody has to share their lesson plans with that sub. Or if theres not another person, then those classes have to be split up. That means putting four more kids in a room  and they might be a different grade level than yours.

Thats the kind of stress and pressure it puts on.

On top of those two vacancies, four Marshall faculty members have taken positions at other schools and will not be back next year. As of mid-May, Tatum said she has filled two of those spots and was optimistic about the other four spots, but acknowledged that many potential teachers can pick their job from among multiple districts and campuses.

Im hopeful, she said. Ive got several interviews set up and there are still some candidates in the pool. Its just whether they choose to come here or not.

Gina Wilson is Tatums counterpart at East Central High School. As of Memorial Day weekend, she was able to fill all 20 positions that were vacated at the end of the school year through a mix of retirements, people leaving for other schools both in and out of TPS and some who were leaving the profession altogether.

Wilson originally came to the district as a substitute teacher and went the alternative certification route. Drawing on that background, she has been doing outreach all year via social media in an effort to find people in advance of positions opening up.

Additionally, she sought student feedback about attributes and skills they wanted to see in their teachers. With 40% of its student population classified as English language learners and more than 100 students there as part of a newcomer program for recently arrived immigrants, one of the overwhelming requests from students was for teachers who are bilingual.

They (students) dont get to sit in on the interviews, but weve never really taken the time to ask them what they want because were so busy as admin trying to fill those spots, she said. I made it clear that even though we know were in a teacher shortage, Im not going to just fill a spot to fill a spot. I want to get the right person and the best fit.

I want them here for more than a year.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  Two state representatives who were formally reprimanded by their colleagues this year will remain censured through the 2024 legislative session.

Because Oklahomas legislative cycles span two years, the censures of Reps. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow, and Mauree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, will continue into next year.

The wording of the censure message is clear that the censures last until the proper apologies have been given, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said in a statement. As the 59th Legislature runs for two years, the censures will continue into next session.

Both representatives were stripped of their committee assignments as a result of the censures.

In April, Davis reportedly pleaded no contest to a municipal public intoxication charge and paid $178 in fines.

Davis has not addressed the censure publicly, and he did not return a call for comment on Monday. Speaking on the House floor on the day of his arrest, Davis denied any wrongdoing.

To reverse the censure and regain his committee assignments, Davis must issue a written apology to his fellow lawmakers and Oklahoma City police.

Turner was censured in early March after House leaders alleged the representative blocked Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers from questioning a protester who had been involved in an altercation with law enforcement in the Capitol.

Republicans accused Turner, the only nonbinary member of the Legislature and who uses the pronouns they, them and their, of hiding the protester in their Capitol office. Turner denied wrongdoing and was not charged with a crime.

Turner, maintaining innocence, has not apologized to House legislators or Highway Patrol officers.

I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do, Turner said after being censured. Its something that I actively refuse to do.

Turner did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.

Davis and Turner will still be able to file bills for the 2024 legislative session and cast votes on the House floor, but they will not be able to vote or weigh in on bills being heard in legislative committees.

In a May interview McCall stood by the censures, a decision he said was driven by members of the House GOP caucus.

I do believe the censures were appropriate, and they were equitably applied regardless of party affiliation, he said.

House GOP leadership previously faced some criticism for Turners censure because two Republicans in the chamber who were facing felony charges at the time had not been censured. Some of that criticism ceased after Davis was censured.

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Vietnam Construction Bank (CB) is expected to become a subsidiary of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) by the end of this year at the earliest, a top CB executive confirmed at a press briefing on Monday afternoon.

Dam Minh Duc, board member and general director at CB, told the press briefing that the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam has approved the acquisition.

He added that last year marked the first time that CB had received the green light from the State Bank of Vietnam, which is the central bank, for its business plan and that the lender had fulfilled its business targets since it was forced to restructure in 2015.

Duc revealed that the total deposit balance of CB surpassed VND20 trillion (US$857 million). Its net credit growth for corporate and retail loans both topped VND5 trillion ($214 million).

In March 2015, CB, whose previous name was VNCB, became a wholly state-owned bank, with comprehensive support provided by state-run Vietcombank.

Vietcombank assigned its vice-general director Nguyen Van Tuan to serve as CB board chairman, after the central bank bought the poorly-performing CB and restructured the latter.

At an annual general shareholder meeting of Vietcombank in April this year, Pham Quang Dung, board chairman of Vietcombank, divulged that the bank would receive the compulsory transfer of an ailing lender.

Acquiring an underperforming bank is both a responsibility and an opportunity for Vietcombank, Dung said.

Aside from Vietcombank, other banks in the country such as VPBank, MSB, and MB sought their shareholders nod for their plans to acquire weak credit institutions.

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Police in South Korea apprehended seven Vietnamese nationals suspected of drug use, along with their seven compatriots who were determined to be unauthorized immigrants, during a raid on a Vietnamese club southwest of Seoul on Monday.

The first seven Vietnamese were put under emergency arrest after testing positive for ecstasy and other banned substances in a crackdown that began at 1:00 am on a Vietnamese-only club in Siheung City, 26 kilometers southwest of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Gyeonggi Siheung police station.

They are suspected of taking drugs between late Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Police raided the club after receiving a tip-off and conducted urine tests on 127 people, including club customers and employees.

Officers said they would determine whether to seek an arrest warrant for the suspects after further investigation.

The crackdown also led to the detention of seven other Vietnamese who tested negative for drug use but were found to be illegal immigrants.

In early May, eight Vietnamese and two South Koreans were apprehended at the same club for suspected drug use.

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The Vietnam and Australia relation has flourished thanks to mutual respect and trust, so time is ripe for the bilateral ties to reach a new height, said an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), headquartered in the United States.

Dr. Le Thu Huong, a pundit at CSIS, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that the multifaceted relations have become closer and stronger.

Two-way trade has expanded over the past few years, while Australian enterprises have been rushing to the Vietnamese market, said the expert.

The Vietnam and Australia partnership shows much potential, especially in the renewable energy, essential mineral extraction, and cybersecurity fields, Dr. Huong said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses two-day official visit to Vietnam marked an important milestone for the bilateral ties, helping cement the relationship between the two governments, Dr. Huong underscored.

In an interview on ABC News on Monday, PM Albanese affirmed that his visit to Vietnam was successful. He repeatedly expressed his feelings during his Vietnam trip on Twitter.

The leader of Australia hoped the two nations would jointly build a firm foundation for the two-way relationship.

The Australian leader left Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Sunday night, ending his working trip.

This was PM Albaneses first official visit to Vietnam since he took office in May last year.

During the trip, he met with the highest-level Vietnamese officials, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

On this occasion, the Australian prime minister announced an aid package worth AU$105 million (US$69.4 million) for Vietnam to develop sustainable infrastructure and mining industry, and speed up energy transition.

The top Australian leaders visit impressed many Vietnamese people as he spent time visiting a local beer spot in Hanoi to enjoy bia hoi (light Vietnamese draft beer) and savoring local food after he arrived in the capital city.

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Vietnam always attaches significance to developing its comprehensive cooperation with the U.S., one of its most important partners in the world, State President Vo Van Thuong told Ambassador Marc Knapper.

President Thuong was speaking at his meeting with the ambassador at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday, during which he also brought forward some suggestions for further promoting the Vietnam - U.S. comprehensive partnership that was set up in 2013, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The Vietnamese state leader highly appreciated Knappers recent contacts with Vietnamese authorities, including his visits to various localities to further promote relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Knapper expressed his pleasure at the fruitful achievements the two countries have gained after 28 years of the normalization of their bilateral relations and 10 years their comprehensive partnership.

The diplomat attributed the outcomes to the great and continuous efforts of both nations.

As the world is facing many challenges, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation is very significance for peace and prosperity in the region and in the world, the ambassador emphasized.

He affirmed that the U.S. will continue to work closely with Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of the war, including resolving the Agent Orange aftermath, clearing landmines, and searching for soldiers missing in action.

U.S. President Joe Biden was pleased at the results of the recent high-level phone talks between him and Vietnams Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March, Knapper said.

President Thuong stated that the phone conversation included many important messages and orientations for the development of Vietnam - U.S. ties in the long run, and that the two leaders have assigned relevant agencies of the two countries to proceed with such orientations.

The president agreed with the ambassadors comment that the two countries' relations are at a very good stage of development thanks to mutual efforts.

He emphasized that Vietnam highly values its cooperation relationship with the U.S., always considering the U.S. as one of its key partners in the world.

In order to further deepen the Vietnam - U.S. relations, President Thuong suggested the two sides further strengthen the exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels.

At the same time, the two nations should launch more bilateral cooperation programs and projects in all fields, bringing mutual benefits and making positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and in the world.

Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for American enterprises to explore investment and business opportunities in the Southeast Asian country, Thuong told Knapper.

The two sides should better exploit chances for cooperation in the field of education and training, especially the U.S. educational programs that are being implemented successfully in Vietnam such as Fulbright University Vietnam.

The president also suggested that the two sides further expand defense and security cooperation, including joining in overcoming the war consequences, addressing the Agent Orange/dioxin issue in Vietnam, and other humanitarian programs.

Such cooperation will significantly contribute to the process of healing and building trust between the two nations while opening up new collaborative opportunities in other important fields.

Marc Knapper is the eighth U.S. ambassador to Vietnam since the two countries normalized relations in 1995.

He was sworn into office in early January 2022 and presented his credentials to State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 11, 2022.

Following their fruit cooperative results after the normalization, Hanoi and Washington established a comprehensive partnership in July 2013 on a visit to the U.S. by then-Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang.

During his hearing before the U.S. Senate in July 2021, Knapper pledged to make more efforts to bring the Vietnam-U.S. relationship to a new height.

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What you need to know in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong hosted U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper in Hanoi on Monday, during which the state leader affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the two countries cooperation and considers the U.S. as one of its leading partners.

Society

-- Three people in a family were killed after their motorbike was hit by a truck in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Monday.

-- Medicines for severe hand, foot and mouth disease cases will be shipped to Vietnam next month in response to Ho Chi Minh City pediatric hospitals shortage of drugs, the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health informed.

-- Police in Hanoi are discovering the cause of an incident in which a garage in Nam Tu Lien District burst into flames on Monday, damaging eight cars and part of another.

-- A 77-year-old woman was hospitalized after being beaten by her neighbor as the latter thought that her cow entered his watermelon field in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam on Wednesday last week, local authorities told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday.

-- Police in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on Monday issued a decision to hunt for a 37-year-old man who killed his wife and two others last Friday.

-- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on Monday reported a suspected human anthrax case, a two-year-old child who did not come in contact with disease resources. The province had earlier detected three outbreaks of human anthrax disease with 13 cases.

Business

-- The investor of the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway, which links Ho Chi Minh City with its two neighboring provinces of Long An and Tien Giang, has proposed expanding the road to 10 lanes, including two emergency lanes, from the current six lanes, with an estimated cost of some VND9.7 trillion (US$416 million).

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport on Monday launched the EMV Open-loop payment system on buses in the city, allowing commuters to use their bank cards or e-wallets to make payments for bus tickets instead of using cash or registering new cards.

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Herdsman kept busy with Belt and Road business

Xinhua) 09:16, June 06, 2023

Herdsman Musa Purkhan checks out his horses in Simuhana village in Wuqia County of the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 25, 2023. (Xinhua/Hao Zhao)

URUMQI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Herdsman Musa Purkhan is in great demand in Simuhana, China's westernmost administrative village, with port staff, village officials and tourists always seeking him out for some job or other.

His main job is coordinating the transport of export vehicles passing through customs at the Irkeshtam port on the China-Kyrgyzstan border. Located in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the crossing point is a hive of activity due to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has seen a big increase in cross-border traffic.

However, Musa Purkhan is also called upon to help with the local tourism business, providing transport around the local area or organizing the upgrading of homestay accommodation to serve the growing number of visitors.

With so many responsibilities, he is no longer an ordinary herdsman with acres of spare time, but a busy businessman who has seized the great opportunities brought by the BRI.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's proposal of the BRI to inject more impetus into global development. For the Irkeshtam port and the nearby village of Simuhana, this means long lines of cars waiting for customs clearance, a sign that exports are booming.

"Where is Musa?" Zhang Zhixin, director of the management and service center of the port's management committee, asked anxiously.

Zhang explained that Musa Purkhan is their traffic coordinator who organizes drivers to move cars from the port to the border, a distance of about 4 km.

Before the handover, Musa Purkhan will provide the necessary vehicle information to the local authorities. Afterwards, he is in charge of bringing the drivers back to the port. He typically makes 100 yuan (about 14 U.S. dollars) for every small car that he transports, more for larger vehicles.

"Because there are a large number of vehicles and the customs clearance time is limited, we need people like Musa to help coordinate the order of vehicle clearance," said Zhang, adding that there are nearly 200 drivers and more than 10 coordinators in the port.

"He is only 35 years old and also the first traffic coordinator in our village," said Aynagul Akemuali, an official from Simuhana, adding that Musa Purkhan has earned about 400,000 yuan from this job so far this year.

Her comments on the money to be made here are supported by the foreign trade data. In the first four months of 2023, more than 9,000 cars were exported, most of them new-energy vehicles made in China, the highest figure for the period since the port opened in 2002, according to Zhang.

Musa Purkhan used to drive a seven-seat shuttle bus to transport people from Simuhana to Wuqia County some 140 km away. It was that job that brought him into contact with local vehicle-export brokers. Since the land port resumed operations in early January, he has been helping those companies to arrange suitable drivers, a task that keeps him busy five days a week.

"The BRI decennial has brought hustle and bustle to the port," he said. "However, the customs clearance time for new cars lasts only from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., so we are racing against the clock."

Aynagul Akemuali also has plenty of other work for Musa Purkhan to do.

She wants him to arrange a meeting with local villagers, urging them to improve the homestay hotels they provide to tourists. Rather than offering traditional beds consisting of carpets on the ground, she wants them to install modern beds, which tourists will find more comfortable. She also wants them to buy some disposable daily necessities.

Musa Purkhan's opinion matters a lot to the locals, and so he is the best man to drive such improvements.

"He was the very first person in our village to become wealthy and transform his house into a hostel. Musa Purkhan can play an exemplary and leading role in our project," Aynagul Akemuali explained.

Starting from last year, Simuhana was hailed as the village that enjoyed the last rays of sunshine in China, making it a sought-after tourism spot. As the village is quite far from the nearby county, visitors usually prefer to stay overnight and enjoy the local picturesque scenery for a few days in tranquility.

Musa Purkhan agrees with the ideas for upgrading the local tourist accommodation. "Guests can also experience Kirgiz yogurt, music and dance in our homestays," he said.

As more and more tourists come to this village, there is a growing demand for regular travel services to nearby counties.

Musa Purkhan recently bought an 18-seat passenger bus with the aim of employing some local drivers to meet the new demand. After a busy day at the border, he turns his attention to yet another task, this time embarking on a journey to the city of Kashgar, over 200 km away.

"I'm preparing for a driver's license exam. Local drivers are too busy to deal with the shuttle-bus business, so my new vehicle remains idle. Once I'm qualified to drive the larger vehicle, I will do the job myself," Musa Purkhan said.

This aerial photo taken on April 26, 2023 shows a view of Simuhana village in Wuqia County of the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hao Zhao)

This photo taken on April 25, 2023 shows vehicles to be exported at the Irkeshtam port in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hao Zhao)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Coinbase, the biggest cryptocurrency platform in the US, was sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, June 6, for allegedly doing business illegally due to its failure to register as an exchange.

Attempt to Regulate Crypto Industry

After Binance, this is the second time SEC has sued another major crypto exchange.

Both lawsuits are part of SEC Chair Gary Gensler's effort to exert control over cryptocurrency markets in order to safeguard investors and restore faith in the financial system.

Gensler told CNBC that the cryptocurrency markets were undermining that trust, adding that this threatened the stability of the financial system as a whole.

Companies in the cryptocurrency space, notably Coinbase, have complained that the SEC is overreaching by claiming authority over the sector.

Coinbase's general counsel, Paul Grewal, issued a statement reassuring customers that the firm would go on as normal and has a "demonstrated commitment to compliance." Coinbase is being accused of breaking securities laws with its staking incentives scheme by ten states in the US, led by California.

The statistics company Nansen said that within a few hours of the SEC filing, Coinbase clients withdrew almost $57 million.

Also Read: North Korean Hackers Stole $721 Million Worth Crypto From Japan, Report Says

SEC vs. Coinbase

On Tuesday, June 6, the SEC filed a complaint seeking civil damages, restitution of ill-gotten income, and injunctive relief.

According to Reuters, the SEC has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan alleging that Coinbase has avoided disclosure rules designed to safeguard investors while earning billions of dollars as a middleman on crypto trades since at least 2019. At least 13 tokens (including Solana, Cardano, and Polygon) that the SEC considers securities were traded on Coinbase without proper registration.

Coinbase, which has been around since 2012, has more than 108 million clients and had $130 billion in cryptocurrencies and consumer cash as of the end of March. About 75% of its $3.15 billion in net revenue from last year came from transactions.

About 3.5 million users participate in Coinbase's staking rewards program, in which the exchange pools crypto assets and utilizes them to fuel blockchain network activity in return for "rewards" it sends consumers after deducting a fee.

The states of Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin are major players in this initiative. Because of its unregistered securities sales, Coinbase was hit with a $5 million penalty in New Jersey.

Back in March, Coinbase received a warning from SEC, indicating possible future legal action. "You simply can't ignore the rules because you don't like them or because you'd prefer different ones," said SEC Enforcement Chief Gurbir Grewal in a statement.

The crypto sector has responded to Gensler's crackdown by increasing compliance, shelving products, and going global.

Kristin Smith, CEO of the trade organization Blockchain Association, shot down Gensler's attempts to regulate the blockchain business. She reassured everyone that the courts would eventually prove Gensler wrong.

Also Read: Gary Gensler Says Crypto Exchanges Must Comply With SEC Standards: 'The Law Is Clear'

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport on Monday launched the EMV Open-loop payment system to be implemented on city buses, allowing commuters to use their bank cards or e-wallets to pay for bus tickets instead of using cash or registering new cards.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Phan Cong Bang, deputy director of the municipal Department of Transport, affirmed that the city is developing into a smart city and public transport plays an important role.

The development of public transport will gradually reduce personal vehicles, easing traffic congestion.

The application of e-tickets will pave the way for the implementation of flexible fare policies, including fare reductions, to improve the quality of bus services.

Bang added that the city piloted the EMV Open-loop payment system during the COVID-19 pandemic and faced multiple difficulties.

Nevertheless, the city has trialed the service on 15 out of the 23 bus routes with a total of 284 vehicles.

Through the pilot scheme, the city saw the necessity of an e-ticket service to facilitate customers making payments and to reduce the use of cash, which is also a policy of the central government and the Ministry of Transport, Bang said.

The EMV Open-loop payment system has been widely used in many countries, such as the UK, Singapore, the U.S., and Australia.

Commuters do not need to use cash or register new cards or tickets for bus fare payments.

Foreigners in Ho Chi Minh City can also use their international bank cards to make payments.

Customers entitled to bus fare reductions, such as students, just need to register once on the Ho Chi Minh Management Center of Public Transport app to enjoy the fare cuts.

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Many drivers and commuters have complained about the absence of gas stations and rest stops along different expressway sections in central, south-central, and southern Vietnam.

The reported sections include the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway in the central region, the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay Expressways in south-central, and the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway and the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway in the south.

All of them are subprojects of the mammoth North-to-South expressway project in Vietnam that is projected to feature a total of 39 rest stops, according to the Vietnam Expressway Administration under the Ministry of Transport.

Among them, five rest stops are already operational, two others are currently under investment, and the remaining 32 stations are undergoing evaluation.

No rest stops

Nguyen Van Phuoc, who is residing in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City and works as a driver, said he often drives passengers on the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, which connects the central city with Quang Ngai Province.

Prior to entering the expressway, he always advises passengers to make use of restrooms beforehand to prevent any inconvenience during the journey.

The entire 140-kilometer road lacks any rest stops or restroom facilities, causing significant inconvenience for travelers who urgently need to address their personal needs, said Phuoc.

On such occasions, I am compelled to search for a vacant area or pull over in the emergency lane to allow passengers to relieve themselves.

While it is relatively easier for men, it becomes quite uncomfortable for women and girls.

Many people choose to endure the inconvenience and patiently wait until they can find a suitable location outside the highway to fulfill their needs.

That only pertains to urination, the situation becomes even more challenging when it comes to defecation.

Vuong Duy Tu, director of the operations center of the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, stated that the original plan for the routes overall design included three rest stops, with each situated approximately 40 kilometers apart.

However, the construction of these rest stops had to be put on hold due to an investigation into building and management violations that occurred during the previous phase of the project.

According to Tu, the investor has initiated the necessary procedures and is poised to invest in the construction of these facilities, with expectations of completion by the end of this year or early next year.

Tu added that the construction, however, is also subject to a review by the Vietnam Expressway Administration for prevention of unnecessary and inefficient investment in rest stops along the North-South Expressway.

A rest stop is under construction along the Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Hoai Thuong / Tuoi Tre

One sole rest stop

Nguyen Van Nam, a driver providing passenger transportation services to destinations in the Mekong Delta and southeastern regions, reported the same problem as Phuoc during trips on the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong and Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressways.

Across the entire 113-kilometer route, consisting of a 62-kilometer stretch from Ho Chi Minh City to Trung Luong and a 51-kilometer segment from Trung Luong to My Thuan, there exists only one rest stop located in Long An Province.

Nam's approach whenever a passenger needs to attend to their personal needs is to drive to the nearest intersection, providing them the opportunity to alleviate themselves before resuming their journey on the highway.

The construction of two rest stops along the route in Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province remains incomplete due to the lack of transportation infrastructure for delivering materials and equipment to the site.

An aerial view of the two rest stops at the end of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Duc Trong / Tuoi Tre

Same for new expressways

The newly-opened Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay Expressways, which stretches approximately 200 kilometers before joining with the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, is not exempt from this situation.

Many vehicles make frequent stops at the rest stop at the end of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, where travelers take the opportunity to use restrooms, grab a snack, and prepare for the journey ahead to the Phan Thiet-Dau Giay section.

The situation is even more crowded at the rest stop on the opposite side of the section, particularly on weekends.

Due to the absence of rest stops throughout the entire 200-kilometer route, vehicles are unable to make necessary stops.

The construction of rest stops in Tuy Phong, Ham Thuan Bac, and Ham Tan Districts of Binh Thuan Province is currently pending investor selection.

An aerial view of two land lots designated for the construction of two rest stops along the Phan Thiet-Dau Giay Expressway in Ham Tan District, Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Duc Trong / Tuoi Tre

The existing legislation mandates that all road and transportation infrastructure must include pedestrian lanes, parking areas, rest stops, and other related facilities.

Furthermore, it stipulates that there should be at least one rest stop positioned outside the roadbed every 15 to 25 kilometers.

Additionally, a standard technical service station, equipped to provide fuel, minor vehicle repairs, and accommodations such as motels, restrooms, and restaurants, should be available every 50 to 60 kilometers.

Larger service stations are required at intervals of 120 to 200 kilometers.

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The Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the mountainous province of Dien Bien in northern Vietnam on Monday reported a suspected human anthrax case, a two-year-old child who did not come in contact with potential sources of the disease.

T.T.D., 2, living in Tuan Giao District, experienced symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and the development of a purple-black rash on their left arm, which was accompanied by itchiness, according to the Dien Bien CDC.

Within a span of one to two days, the purple-black nodule grew in size and became filled with pus.

In an attempt to alleviate the condition, D.s family sought assistance from an acquaintance in Tua Chua District to provide traditional medication, but it proved ineffective.

The family took the child to the Medical Center of Tua Chua District on Sunday morning.

Later that day, the patient was transferred to Dien Bien General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia caused by suspected human anthrax.

Anthrax is a highly infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a type of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is found naturally in soil and affects domestic and wild animals globally.

Humans can contract anthrax by interacting with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

This disease can lead to severe illness in both humans and animals.

D.s family exclusively consumed pork and vegetables, abstaining from beef, said a representative of the Dien Bien CDC.

There is no presence of anthrax-infected cattle in the vicinity, and they have not had any contact with people afflicted by anthrax.

Presently, authorities are investigating the epidemiological aspects of the case to identify and manage the sources of pathogens.

Dien Bien Province had earlier detected three outbreaks of human anthrax disease with 13 cases, all of which were linked to the butchering and consumption of buffaloes and cows.

The Ministry of Health assessed that there is an observable rise in anthrax cases in the northern mountainous region when compared to the average number of infections over the past five years.

This is particularly concerning in areas where the pathogens persist for extended periods, thus heightening the risk of transmission to humans.

To address this, the ministry has advised local authorities to enhance communication efforts regarding the dangers of anthrax and implement preventive measures.

Public awareness campaigns should discourage the slaughter, consumption, use, and trade of products originating from infected or potentially infected cattle.

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Plagiarism allegations arose over a luxury Swiss watch design featuring a painting of the Trung Sisters, two Vietnamese heroines from the first century, shortly after local media covered its release.

The controversial design comes from the Legend collection, which was created by the 37-year-old high-end watchmaker Christophe Claret to honor significant historical figures around the world while skillfully combining contemporary technology with traditional culture.

The Swiss watch company stated that the miniature painting of the Trung Sisters astride two elephants on the upper portion of the dial was handmade by artist Andre Martinez.

The Trung Sisters, largely known in Vietnam as Hai Ba Trung, are two remarkable female generals from Vietnamese history, who repelled Chinese attacks for three years in AD 40s.

Whether the painting was created by Martinez or simply replicated in miniature on the watch face remains ambiguous.

Vietnamese artists Nguyen The Son and Tran Hau Yen The, both lecturers at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, have asserted that the painting showcased on the watch face combines elements from two artworks by Xuan Lam, another accomplished Vietnamese painter.

The two works Son and The mentioned are Hai Ba Trung and Thien ha thai binh, which Lam displayed at an exhibition in 2019.

Meanwhile, Christophe Claret unveiled the first design in the Legend collection bearing the image of the French Emperor Napoleon in May 2021, before introducing the next five models featuring Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, King Ibn Saud, founder of Saudi Arabia, the warrior Amir Timur of Uzbekistan, and Sheikh Zayed, the first president of the UAE, in June 2022, according to Vietnamese tech website tinhte.vn.

The uncertified Facebook and LinkedIn pages of the Swiss watchmaker just released the Hai Ba Trung design on May 26 and 30, respectively.

Vietnamese artist Xuan Lam poses for a photo with his Thien ha thai binh painting (L). Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Many people believed that Christophe Clarets watch painting depicting Hai Ba Trung was made by merging Lams two artworks, coupled with changing the positions of the two elephants carrying the two heroines.

More notably, the bird in Christophe Clarets design resembles the version of Thien ha thai binh publicly displayed on Xuan Lams website, instead of the copy disseminated to the press and media.

Son further remarked that upon seeing the watch design, he initially assumed that the Swiss company had acquired the copyright of Lams paintings for use in their product.

Therefore, he reached out to congratulate Lam, who is his former student.

However, Son was informed that the watch firm had no contact with Lam, indicating a potential instance of copyright infringement.

The graphic elements, color palette, and brushwork are unmistakably the signature style of Xuan Lam, said Son.

Xuan Lam has a unique artistic approach and style, making it evident that the painting on the timepiece strongly resembles his works.

A Western artist can in no way comprehend traditional culture, folk paintings, and the rich history of Vietnam to create something that closely resembles the artistry of Xuan Lam.

Christophe Claret, the artist Martinez, and the painter Xuan Lam have yet to officially comment on the issue.

The Hai Ba Trung artwork created by Vietnamese artist Xuan Lam by redrawing a Dong Ho folk painting.

Born in 1962 in Switzerland, Christophe Claret is a skilled craftsman in the field of mechanical watchmaking.

In 1986, he established his eponymous watchmaking workshop in the Swiss city of Le Locle.

Meanwhile, Andre Martinez, a painter hailing from Barcelona, Spain, relocated to Le Locle.

Renowned for his precise painting methods on metal dials, Martinez frequently collaborates with Claret.

Xuan Lam, a young artist who completed his studies at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, has gained fame for his unique artistic approach.

He revitalizes Vietnamese traditional folk paintings Dong Ho and Hang Trong, and those from north-central Nghe An Province by infusing them with a contemporary artistic style.

Lams compositions breathe new life into folk art, appealing to modern esthetics.

His artworks transcend gallery spaces, making their way into the lives of young people through various mediums like fashion, books, and postcards.

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I just found out Trixie Motel is on a network in Australia where theyve edited out every reference that David and I are together, US drag artist Trixie Mattel recently told Delta Works podcast, Very Delta.

So its Trixie Motel but its just a couple of guys

She continued, Dont f***ing buy my show, stream it, put it on your platform if you are going to edit out parts of me that you dont like!

Trixie Motel, which premiered in February, sees Trixie Mattel with the help of her boyfriend and co-owner David, turn a rundown motel in Palm Springs, California, into the ultimate drag paradise. The series was recently featured on Gogglebox.

But after her fury went viral, social media comments and blogs then raised questions if Binge had edited the show for Australian viewers?

But this was not the case.

A Binge spokesperson said,Binge did not edit the show. This was how the file was delivered to us by our distribution partner.

But the problem was rectified thereafter with the correct file.

A Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson also told TV Tonight, On occasion, shows are sometimes adapted to comply with local content regulations and requirements. With Trixie Motel in Australia, the incorrect version was mistakenly supplied to Binge which was rectified immediately once we became aware. We sincerely apologise for this mistake.

Mumbrella suggests the edits were intended for another territory with conservative values.

It isnt clear if the incorrect version was adapted in Australia or the US.

Language.
Sevens premiere of Million Dollar Island next Monday has been allocated to a 7pm timeslot, as the network holds off Home & Away for one night.

This moves the show away from head to head competition -at least initially- with MasterChef Australia and Parental Guidance.

Last time Seven held off its Summer Bay episodes for other programming, such as My Kitchen Rules, there was a bit of a backlash from soapie fans.

But after the failure of Blow Up it looks like Seven is taking no chances, and determined to give the new reality show from Eureka its best lead in with Seven News.

Hosted by Ant Middelton and filmed in Malaysia, it sees 100 contestants in the quest for a $1m prize. All three episodes next week run for 90 minutes.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Microsoft will pay $20 million to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that the tech company illegally collected personal information from children without their parents' consent, the FTC said on Monday.

The company had been charged with violating the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from children who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without notifying their parents or obtaining their parents' consent, and by retaining children's personal information, the FTC said in a statement.

The order requires Microsoft to take steps to improve privacy protections for child users of its Xbox system. It will extend COPPA protections to third-party gaming publishers with whom Microsoft shares children's data, the FTC said.

A Microsoft spokesperson said the company was committed to complying with the order. The spokesperson added the account creation process will be updated and a data retention glitch found in the company's system will be resolved.

"Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children's privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

"This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids' avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA," Levine added.

The law requires online services and websites directed to children under 13 to notify parents about the personal information they collect and to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting and using any personal information of the children.

From 2015 to 2020, Microsoft retained the data that it collected from children during the account creation process, even when a parent failed to complete the process, according to the complaint.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Sonali Paul)
By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ramped up threats to attack Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, convening a rare cabinet war drill after he accused U.N. inspectors of failing to confront Tehran.

With Iran having enriched enough uranium to 60% fissile purity for two nuclear bombs, if refined further - something it denies wanting or planning - Israel has redoubled threats to launch preemptive military strikes if international diplomacy fails. Israel has long maintained that for diplomacy to succeed, Iran must be faced with a credible military threat.

"We are committed to acting against Iran's nuclear (drive), against missile attacks on Israel and the possibility of these fronts joining up," Netanyahu said in a video statement from Israel's underground command bunker at its military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

The possibility of multiple fronts, Netanyahu said while surrounded by security cabinet ministers and defence chiefs, requires Israel's leadership "consider, if possible consider ahead of time," its major decisions.

Netanyahu's office issued footage of the drill. The publicity around the preparations appeared to depart from Israels 1981 strike on an Iraqi nuclear reactor and a similar sortie in Syria in 2007, carried out without forewarning.

UN WATCHDOG SAID IRAN PROVIDED SATISFACTORY ANSWER

Earlier, Netanyahu levelled sharp criticism of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following a report last week by the U.N. watchdog that Iran had provided a satisfactory answer on one case of suspect uranium particles and re-installed some monitoring equipment originally put in place under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.

"Iran is continuing to lie to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency's capitulation to Iranian pressure is a black stain on its record," Netanyahu told his cabinet in televised remarks. The watchdog risked politicization that would lose it its significance on Iran, he said.

The IAEA declined to comment.

On Wednesday, the agency reported that after years of investigation and lack of progress, Iran had given a satisfactory answer to explain one of three sites at which uranium particles had been detected.

Those particles could be explained by the presence of a onetime Soviet-operated mine and lab there and the IAEA had no further questions, a senior diplomat in Vienna said.

In an apparent reference to this, Netanyahu said Iran's explanations were "technically impossible."

However, the Vienna diplomat also said the IAEA's assessment remained that Iran carried out explosives testing there decades ago that was relevant to nuclear weapons.

After then U.S. President Donald Trump quit the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, Tehran ramped up uranium enrichment. Israeli and Western officials say it could switch from enrichment at 60% fissile purity to 90% - weapons-grade - within a few weeks.

In a 2012 U.N. speech, Netanyahu deemed 90% enrichment by Iran a "red line" that could trigger preemptive strikes.

Military experts are divided, however, on whether Israel - whose advanced military is believed to be nuclear-armed - has the conventional clout to deliver lasting damage to Iranian targets that are distant, dispersed and well-defended.

Focussing domestic attention on Iran might provide Netanyahu with respite from a months-long crisis over his proposals to overhaul Israels judiciary. But opinion polls showed that both those concerns are trumped, for Israelis, by high living costs.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Grant McCool)
(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

The biggest achievement at the annual United Nations climate summit last year was committing to create a fund that would compensate the poorest for destruction wrought by global warming. One of the questions at the upcoming COP28 summit will be how to add money to this new loss-and-damage fund.

If history is any guide, its going to be a hard problem to solve. In 2009, rich countries promised to provide $100 billion annually to poor countries to fund projects that reduce emissions and avoid climate impacts. By 2020, the deadline to reach that sum, the amount transferred that year stood at just $83 billion. And most of that total came in the form of loans rather than grants, according to an Oxfam report published this week.

Avinash Persaud, a Barbados economist who is the island nations special envoy on investment and financial services, says a creative solution is gaining traction. Its rooted in a more successful history of wealth transfers from emitters to victims. He wants to impose a small fee on the worlds oil buyers to fund loss-and-damage payments for poor countries ravaged by floods, fires, storms and heat waves.

The proposal is modeled on the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, which date back to 1971 and continue to function today. The funds work by charging a very small fee to more than 120 member countries for every barrel of oil they import only when the pots need to be replenished. Most of the time the levy is collected directly from oil companies that unload the fuel onshore. If there ever is an oil spill anywhere in the world, IOPC funds can be made available for clean-up costs of up to $250 million (with some countries paying extra for protection of up to $1 billion).

The world has been waiting decades for a loss-and-damage fund, says Persaud. By contrast the IOPC mechanism came about in just few years.

The IOPC funds were created after the Liberian tanker Torrey Canyon struck a rock in 1967 on its way to the UK. That oil spill caused pollution both on British and French shores that required an expensive clean-up operation. In more than 50 years of existence, IOPC has dealt with more than 150 incidents and paid out 750 million ($930 million). And the number of annual oil spills requiring IOPC funds to intervene has been falling for decades.

Persauds trial balloon is part of the latest attempt to reset the conversation on climate finance under the leadership of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. She launched her Bridgetown Initiative last year to overhaul the global financial architecture to address growing inequality, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. At a summit in Paris later this month, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Mottley hopes to convince the richest countries to support a series of initiatives aimed at reforming existing multilateral development banks (MDBs), such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to address todays biggest problems.

Some of those demands are laid down in an unreleased document titled Bridgetown 2.0, which has been reviewed by Bloomberg Green. It calls on the IMF to create $100 billion worth of currency exchange guarantees, which it claims could mobilize $1.5 trillion in spending on projects that reduce carbon emissions. It also aims to boost lending from MDBs, which the proposal says could unlock $500 billion to spend on UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals. Another $100 billion per year for climate loss and damage will be agreed on through taxes, charges or other sources, according to the document.

Listen on the Zero podcast to climate-finance experts explain why Africa is unable to exploit its renewable-energy potential

All of the loss-and-damage money should be given out in the form of grants, Persaud argues, and theres not a lot of money to do that right now. The total amount that rich countries give away to pay for all overseas development aid stands at about $200 billion annually.

Despite Persauds optimism that support is growing for a global fee on oil imports to address climate damages, the man who oversaw the IOPC for decades is less convinced. If there is political will for such an idea, it can be done, says Mans Jacobsson, who served as the director of the IOPC funds from 1985 to 2006. But I doubt there is political will.

While oil companies have to pay the levy, its up to governments to mandate those contributions, he says. The push could work if governments are willing to put more burden on their oil industry, Mans says. But thats unlikely because, although these are not taxpayer funds, its still money going out of the country.

Countries that import the most oil will have to make the biggest contribution to the fund. It would mean a country like India, which is vulnerable to climate change but much less historically responsible for the problem than the US, would have to pay far more than an energy-exporting nation. (Its also worth noting that the US isnt a member of the IOPC funds; it created its own response mechanism in the Oil Pollution Act after the major Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989.)

Persaud says a fee on oil imports wont be the only way to fill the loss-and-damage fund. Another idea, floated by the Marshall Islands in 2021, is for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to levy a $100 per ton of carbon dioxide emitted by the worlds shipping fleet  a policy that the agency has faced growing pressure to adopt to tackle climate change.

The climate problem is now clearly a financial problem. As impacts grow, the sums of money invested in solutions will balloon and so will the calls for compensation. Thats already clear from the first day of statements from the countries meeting in Bonn, Germany this week, in a prelude to setting the agenda for COP28 in Dubai in late November.

Akshat Rathi writes the Zero newsletter, which examines the worlds race to cut emissions. You can email him with feedback. His book Climate Capitalism will be published later this year.

(Updates with comment from Mans in 11th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Natalee Holloway, a girl from Alabama, disappeared on the last day of her high school graduation vacation to Aruba over 20 years ago.

As Joran van der Sloot, the primary suspect in her disappearance, prepares to be extradited to the US this week, let's look back at the events leading up to his capture and extradition.

May 2005

According to Fox News, Holloway was a senior from the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook, Alabama. She traveled to Aruba with a big group of classmates to celebrate their upcoming high school graduation.

On May 30, Holloway and her group of friends, all of whom were 18 at the time, went out to a bar where they met van der Sloot. Together, he and Holloway were seen exiting the pub.

Eventually, Holloway missed her return flight.

Van der Sloot was taken into custody by the police, but he was ultimately freed owing to a lack of evidence. After discovering new facts in 2007, police reexamined the case and ultimately released the suspects again.

The body of Holloway was never located.

May 2010

Exactly five years after Holloway disappeared, Stephany Flores was murdered. According to The Independent, the 21-year-old business major met van der Sloot at a casino in Lima.

After murdering Flores, van der Sloot escaped to Chile but was captured four days later and extradited back to Peru. He attempted to take back the confession sometime afterward.

Van der Sloot told investigators he went mad when Flores learned of his connection with Holloway's disappearance during a game of online poker in his hotel room. Prosecutors also charged him with murdering Flores to steal her gambling winnings.

In Alabama, van der Sloot was indicted on the same day he was captured. Authorities said he took $25,000 in exchange for promising to direct a lawyer representing Holloway's mother to her daughter's remains. The promise he made was never fulfilled.

See Also: Timeline: TikTok Prankster Mizzy's Controversial Acts

January 2012

In Peru, van der Sloot admitted to killing Flores in January 2012 and was given a 28-year term for his crime. During the same week in January, a court-approved Holloway's father's plea to officially proclaim her dead.

July 2014

Van der Sloot married Leidy Figueroa, a 24-year-old who was seven months pregnant, in a ceremony staged at the jail where they were both being imprisoned in Peru. Reports at the time said that after his term, he intended to marry her again.

May 2023

Holloway's mother, Beth, released a statement announcing the extradition. Peru authorities subsequently confirmed they had agreed to temporarily transfer van der Sloot to US custody so he could face justice.

"Almost exactly eighteen years later, her perpetrator, Joran van der Sloot, has been extradited to Birmingham to answer for his crimes," Beth stated.

Authorities in Peru have transferred van der Sloot from the isolated jail on top of the mountain at Challapalca to a facility in Lima, closer to the airport from which he is anticipated to travel to the US for extradition.

See Also: Mass Shootings Spike Across US During Memorial Day Weekend, 17 Fatalities Reported

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A warm up to COP28: UN climate talks kick off in Germany with no final agenda

A warm up to COP28: UN climate talks kick off in Germany with no final agenda

United Nations climate talks kicked off in Germany on Monday (5 June) without an agreed final agenda for technical discussions, a senior negotiator said.

The lack of a plan is clouding optimism that the 10-day meeting will result in a clear programme for the COP28 conference in Dubai.

The Bonn Climate Change Conference, designed to prepare decisions for adoption at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, is seen as a mid-way check for how international climate talks will take shape in December.

Despite months of discussions since the previous COP27 in Egypt, there was no agreement on adopting the agendas proposed by the COP permanent subsidiary bodies for the Bonn conference, Nabeel Munir, chair of the UN Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), said at the opening of the talks.

"What we experienced today ... with the non-adoption of the agenda, it's not desirable, but it's not uncommon in a party-driven process," Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), told a news conference on Monday.

COP28 could be the most significant climate conference since Paris

Stiell said the December conference could be the most significant one on climate change since Paris as it provides the world with an opportunity to get on track to meet the 2015 Paris climate protection commitments.

Making as much progress as possible in Bonn in the coming 10 days is important. The conference, with 200 countries' representatives, sets the technical groundwork for the political decisions required in Dubai later this year, Stiell added.

Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., talks during the World Government Summit in Dubai. - AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

Tom Evans, a policy adviser at independent climate think tank E3G, said the main issue was whether to have an agenda item on climate change mitigation in the Bonn conference. It has been proposed by the European Union which is posing the question of phasing out fossil fuels.

"It's a bit of a warm-up to some of the tension around this question that we could see at COP 28," he added.

Will COP28 see an agreement to phase down fossil fuels?

At last year's climate summit in Egypt, over 80 countries including the EU and small island nations agreed to include language in the final outcome calling for a phase down of all fossil fuels.

Countries including Saudi Arabia and China urged Egypt not to include that language in the final text.

Asked whether Stiell would push COP28 president designate Sultan al-Jaber to put fossil fuel phaseout on the Dubai conference agenda, he said, "I'm not there to tell him anything."

But he said the secretary's position was clear that halving emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 required a deep cut and phasing out or down of all fossil fuel, Stiell added.

The Bonn conference will witness talks on climate change policy issues including the so-called global stocktake at COP28 - a review of countries' collective progress every five years. It is the first such procedure since the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Public Safety held on-campus training sessions during the month of May to maintain skills in the event of an active threat.

All sworn UNG police officers took part in the eight-hour training which included a classroom session covering tactics, rules of engagement and policies and procedures surrounding an active threat. The afternoon was the practical exercise where officers are placed in a simulated situation with role players.

"We want our entire police force to be trained on that type of situation," Greg Williams, director of Public Safety and chief of police, said. "We want to build up their confidence."

The training, organized by Sgt. Trent McGuffey and Senior Officer Rusty Myers, focused on a single-officer response.

"There's always going to be a first person there," Myers said. "That's the thing about an active threat situation. You can't wait on other people because the longer you wait, the more people potentially could get hurt or killed. You've got to address it yourself.

Officers were trained to avoid distractions and be able to search as quickly and thoroughly as if they had multiple officers with them. To create a chaotic situation, the fire alarm sounded, music blared, the sounds of gunfire rang out, and role players screamed to provide layers of distractions.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior fellow Anthony Bergin released an opinion article in the Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday, June 7, Australian time, saying it is important for Australia to bind itself to Taiwan in order to prevent a war with China.

The piece came after prime minister Anthony Albanese warned China about its incursions into Taiwan when he spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. "If you don't have the pressure valve of dialogue," he said, "then there is always a much greater risk of assumptions spilling over into irretrievable action and reaction."

Read Also: Leslie Arnold: How DNA Traced Australian Family Man's Murderous Past in US

Bergin: China a Threat to Taiwan's Security, Australia's Economy

In response, Bergin stated Taiwan is Australia's "fifth largest export market", and it would be a great strategic risk to lose Taiwan should it fall to Beijing's rule. "Taiwan is critical strategic terrain," he said. "Chinese control over the 24 million free people of Taiwan would shift the strategic balance in Asia."

The loss of Taiwan, Bergin claimed, would break the so-called "first-island chain" composed of Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan and would move freely to closely connect it with the Solomon Islands, which, until recently, recognized Taiwan as the legitimate government of all of China.

Taiwan's strategic significance is tied to its location, Bergin stressed, as it would be a "great location" to interdict sea lanes through the South China Sea. "The loss of Taiwan would shatter US strategic credibility," he said. "Many countries of the region would try to cut what deals they could with China."

He further warned Beijing's flexing of military forces was "clearly designed for power projection" beyond Taiwan.

Defense and Trade as Suggestions to Strengthen Taiwan

In order for Australia to bind itself with Taiwan, Bergin suggested for Canberra to exchange defense attaches with Taipei. "Our defense officials and military officers, who can now only fly over but not visit Taiwan, should hold meetings on various topics, such as intelligence sharing," he added.

Another suggestion was for the Australian government to exchange information with Taiwan on foreign interference to bolster the island nation's efforts to win the information and morale war, as well as in national resilience to strengthen Taiwan in terms of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

One other suggestion Bergin provided was for Australia to adopt Taiwan's "porcupine" military strategy, similar to the one used in Ukraine.

Bergin went on to stress the importance for both countries to have a free trade agreement to "strengthen [Taiwan's] economy and serve [Australia's] trade interests," as well as "explicitly" welcoming Taiwan's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. "The more willing we are to support Taiwan's security, the less likely it is we would ever need to fight for Taiwan," he said.

Related Article: Ben Roberts-Smith Verdict: Australian Soldier Loses Defamation Case, Judge Says Newspapers Established Truth of War Crimes

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HA NOI  The National Assembly deputies discussed the amendment of the Law on Housing (2014) at the ongoing 15th NAs fifth plenary session on Monday.

The deputies agreed on the need to make comprehensive amendments to the Law on Housing, thereby fully institutionalising the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State on housing.

During the session, they raised a number of issues related to social housing, policies for resettlement, and property ownership by foreign individuals and organisations.

Commenting on naming the housing areas for the poor and low-income people, resettlement areas, social housing areas, delegate Nguyen Anh Tri from Ha Noi said that there should be policies for the people in this group.

It is necessary to ensure these people have a house to live in so that they can work with peace of mind, according to Tri.

It is even more imperative for resettlement cases as the State takes people's land, so there must be a place for the people to live. The quality of those buildings must meet standards and criteria.

Deputy Nguyen Anh Tri said these house projects must meet the standards of safety and quality prescribed by the State.

Deputies at the discussion also suggested not to write or hang nameplates of buildings or apartment complexes with names such as housing for the poor, housing for low-income people, and resettlement areas.

They said those names are only used on documents and papers to have land and construction funds.

Being named in this way, buildings also show discrimination and disrespect towards residents living there.

Delegates suggested naming these buildings with neutral names such as flowers.

Deputy Nguyen Huu Chinh said that resettlement housing and commercial housing projects had completely different quality.

He suggested that it was necessary to clearly stipulate the quality of the housing in the law, avoid people being resettled to areas of lower quality.

He said the policy for resettled people was still very weak so it would be necessary to adjust the quality of resettlement housing areas.

According to the Law on Housing, resettled people are guaranteed to enjoy conditions equal to or better than their old residence.

The deputy said that this concept was very abstract. One might think that the size and the location of the resettlement area were appropriate but for resettled people, it could be problematic to leave a place where they have been living for years.

He also noted that the words equal and better were difficult to quantify and needed to be amended.

With regards to property ownership of the foreign entities, some deputies said that it was necessary to have tighter regulations to ensure foreigners who stay in the country temporarily are entitled for home rental only.

The formulation of the Law on Housing (amended) aims to promptly institutionalise the guidelines of the Party and the State in housing development for the people, especially low-income people and people with disabilities, poor people who are unable to afford houses according to the market mechanism.

On the same day, the NA also discussed the draft Law on Water Resources (amended) and the Law on Credit Institutions (amended).  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday had a meeting in Hanoi with the group of female deputies of the 15th National Assembly, during which he asked them to continue to adopt reforms to improve the quality and efficiency of their activities.

He encouraged the female deputies to increase friendship exchanges and international cooperation, and participate in international and regional conferences and forums, particularly on gender equality, domestic violence prevention and combat, and climate change, as well as raise the position and prestige of Vietnamese female NA deputies in the international arena.

Appreciating the sense of responsibility of the female deputies, the Party chief said he expects they continue promoting their achievements and making more contributions to activities of the National Assembly and the country.

They should continue to promote the heroic and glorious tradition of Vietnamese women, work wholeheartedly for the benefit of the nation and people, better perform the role of representatives of the people; promote a high sense of responsibility in building and perfecting the legal system including laws and policies on gender equality, he noted.

The Party chief affirmed that the Party and State create favourable conditions for female deputies to promote their roles.

At the meeting, Nguyen Thuy Anh, head of NAs Committee for Social Affairs and president of the group of female deputies of the 15th NA, informed the Party chief of the operation of the group since its foundation.

According to her, over the past 15 years, the group of female deputies has made positive contributions to the implementation of the functions and tasks of the legislative body, including supervision on important issues of the country and promotion of gender equality.

The 15th legislature of NA has 151 female deputies, accounting for 30.26%. Most of them have university degrees or higher.

During the meeting, the female deputies put forth several proposals, wishing to receive greater attention from the leaders of the Party and the State. VNS
PARIS  Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hailed the Vietnamese community in France for their practical contributions to the homeland.

Meeting representatives of the Vietnamese community and representative diplomatic agencies in France on Monday, Minister Son lauded their "profound, dedicated, and intellectual" feedback on various fields, including politics, diplomacy, economy and culture.

The French Government lauded the Vietnamese community for their rich history and continuous contributions to the development of France, especially for the friendship between Viet Nam and France, Son said, adding that the Vietnamese Party and State also appreciate their dedication.

Briefing them on Viet Nams socio-economic performance as well as achievements in internal and external affairs, he said it is thanks to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of ties in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter that Viet Nam has gained respect from the world. The country now has diplomatic relations with 192 out of the total 193 UN member states, including 30 countries with strategic or comprehensive partnerships, and many countries are proposing upgrades to their relations with Viet Nam.

He vowed to partner with agencies concerned to best meet the legitimate aspirations of the Vietnamese communities worldwide and in France, and wished that they would continue making positive contributions to the host country while promoting Vietnamese identity globally.

Meeting French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, Minister Son suggested both sides continue upgrading their relationship and France consider Viet Nam a priority in its foreign policy towards Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific.

He also affirmed that Viet Nam considers France a centre in its foreign policy towards the European Union thanks to France's significant role in the region and long-standing bilateral relationship, nurtured by the people of both countries, including the Vietnamese community in France.

Viet Nam  responsible member of UNESCO

The same day minister Son met with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) director-general Audrey Azoulay, who affirmed that Viet Nam has always been a responsible member and one of the pioneering countries in implementing UNESCO programmes and activities.

The UNESCO leader recalled her good memories during her visit to Viet Nam last September.

She highly valued the important and effective contributions that Viet Nam has made to the common work of the organisation as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021-25 tenure, the Vice Chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Viet Nam is a successful model in connecting economic development and culture, she underlined.

Son affirmed that Viet Nam will continue actively and responsively engaging in UNESCO works and implementing its international commitments. In this spirit, Viet Nam will run for a seat on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2023-27 tenure to work with other countries in completing policies and promoting measures to protect the world's cultural and natural heritage, he said, expressing hope to receive support from UNESCO.

The Vietnamese FM said he hopes Azoulay and the UNESCO Secretariat will support Viet Nams dossiers to seek recognition for new heritages such as Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago, Yen Tu-Con Son-Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex, Oc Eo - Ba The and Con Moong archaeological sites as well as dossiers for intangible heritages such as the festival honouring the holy lady of Mount Sam, and ong Ho folk painting.

Viet Nam also hopes to receive assistance in preserving and promoting the values of UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.  VNS
PARIS  Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said Viet Nam always treasures its relationship with France, its important member in the European Union (EU) and strategic partner, with strong historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties.

Minister Son, who is on a visit to France from June 5-6, made the statement during his talks with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna on June 5.

It has been the first delegation exchange at the ministerial level in the past decade, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-France diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Expressing their delight at the sound development of bilateral ties over the past years, they wished to work closely together to elevate ties to a new height.

The two ministers agreed to continue facilitating visits and contacts at all levels, especially between senior leaders. They also vowed to maintain cooperation mechanisms, including resuming the strategic security and defence dialogue at the deputy ministerial level between the two countries foreign and defence ministries, as well as holding political consultations at the department head level between the two foreign ministries.

They were pleased to note the recovery of two-way trade following the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching US$5.3 billion in 2022, an increase of 10 per cent compared to 2021, with still untapped potential. They promised to continue with the effective implementation of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Son suggested the French government back and push forward the French parliaments early approval of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission (EC) to lift the yellow card warning against Vietnamese aquatic products.

The French minister expressed her appreciation for joint economic projects, especially the Nhon-Ha Noi urban railway project, a symbol of Viet Nam-France economic cooperation.

The two sides also discussed how to boost cooperation in climate change response, renewable energy, science-technology, education and training, and pledged to jointly hold activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

The Vietnamese guest suggested France continue offering support to the Vietnamese community living here, contributing to upholding their role as a bridge between the two countries.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they vowed to work closely together and offer mutual support at multilateral organisations and forums, especially the United Nations (UN), and advancing the framework of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they shared views on ensuring peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region, and settling disputes via peaceful means in line with international law and the UN Charter, and respecting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On the occasion, Son invited Minister Colonna to pay an official visit to Viet Nam. The latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam recorded 3,399 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the highest daily number over the past six months, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new cases brought the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country since the pandemic broke out to 11,571,127.

The same day, 997 patients were given the all-clear from coronavirus, lifting the number of recoveries to 10,625,838.

Meanwhile, the death toll was still kept at 43,195, accounting for 0.4 per cent of the total number of infections, as no fatality was reported on the day.

As many as 15,550 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were injected to people on Thursday, raising the total number of administered doses to almost 266.27 million.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam's national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, and its Turkish counterpart Turkish Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement, aiming to offer passengers with more flexible, diverse flights between the two countries and their adjacent regions.

Under the agreement, passengers can buy tickets via both airlines for the Istanbul  Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi  Da Nang, and HCM City  Da Nang routes.

The deal will help consolidate cooperation between the two national flag carriers, while spurring their development, said Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi.

Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha said the cooperation will give more options and benefits to passengers, and expand air routes and diversify services of the two airlines.

It will also help promote economic, cultural and tourism exchanges between Vietnam and Turkey, and attract more visitors to the two countries, he added.

Established in 1933 with an initial fleet of five aircraft, Turkish Airlines currently boasts a fleet of 416 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 344 destinations across the world, including 291 international and 53 domestic.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines is offering services on nearly 100 domestic and international routes, with a fleet of 100 aircraft. It is the first airline in Asia-Pacific that have used Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 XWB, the most modern generation aircraft in the world so far. VNS
HA NOI  An international seminar on socialism in Viet Nam and China as well as its contributions to the world took place in Ha Noi on June 6.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) Institute of Philosophy, Vietnamese philosophy association, and Confucius Institute at the Hanoi University.

In his opening remarks, VASS Vice President Dr. ang Xuan Thanh, said given a rapidly changing world, Viet Nam and China need to clearly demonstrate the true values of socialism and the role and contributions of socialist countries on the global map, and to make a stronger voice in solving global issues.

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tai ong, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, held that both countries have realised that there is no unique model and no best model, but the model most suitable for the development of each country.

Viet Nam's current socialism model, incorporating a socialist-oriented market economy, a rule-of-law socialist state, and a socialist democracy, is an effective and optimal development one for the nation in this era, he affirmed.

At the seminar, Vietnamese and Chinese scholars discussed socialism in their respective countries and its global contributions in terms of economy, ideology-politics, culture, and international integration.

They also mulled over theoretical and real-life matters already solved and emerging in each countrys socialism building process. VNS
The central city of Da Nang is working to build a business environment conducive for investors, based on the pillars of hi-tech industry, tourism and sea-based economy.

In its planning orientations till 2030 with a vision to 2050, the city targets attracting capital to information and communications technology (ICT), biotechnology, micro-electronic technology, mechatronics, precision engineering, environment and nano technology, among others, toward becoming a socio-economic hub in the region.

The Da Nang Hi-Tech Park (DHTP) is one of the three national advanced hi-tech parks and the only of its kind in the central  Central Highlands regions. Its infrastructure have been completed after three stages and it is striving to contribute a minimum of 10-15 per cent of the local gross regional domestic product (GRDP) during the 2025-2030 period. Da Nang has also prepared urban infrastructure facilities in three other industrial parks to draw foreign investors.

Recently, the Da Nang Investment Promotion and Support Board, the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones Authority (DHPIZA), and Long Hau Corporation have signed a cooperation agreement, under which Long Hau Corporation is the provider of factory infrastructure for hi-tech and supporting industries on a 29.6ha site in the DHTP.

Vu Quang Hung, head of the DHPIZA, said Da Nang has incentives exclusively designed for investors besides those offered by the central government. Specifically, those investing in DHTP are exempt from taxes for the first four years and enjoy a 50 per cent reduction in taxes for the following nine years. They also benefit from a preferential tax rate of 10 per cent for a period of 15 years. Importantly, they are completely exempt from import taxes on machinery, goods, and equipment used for the formation of factories.

The city also partners with the Da Nang University of Science and Technology to train skilled workforce for investors.

DHPIZA statistics showed that local hi-tech and industrial parks have so far attracted a total of 516 projects, including 391 domestic ones worth over 31.6 trillion VND (1.37 billion USD) and 125 foreign-invested ones valued at more than 1.8 billion USD, or 46.5 per cent of the total foreign direct investment in the city. At present, the city is home to 984 foreign-invested projects valued at over 4 billion USD.

Lawyer Nguyen Thanh Hoa, Deputy General Director of the KPMG Law Company that provides investment attraction counseling for DHTP, suggested that Da Nang should work with nearby cities, provinces and the entire country to build policies to draw investment into hi-tech industries, and hold investment promotion conferences in the northern and southern regions.

Buerstedde Peter, Vietnam Director of the Germany Trade & Invest, proposed that apart from developing a land fund for hi-tech industry, Da Nang should come up with a plan to strengthen goods transportation connectivity and develop logistics services when the Lien Chieu Port is put into operation.

Director of the Da Nang Investment Promotion and Support Board Huynh Lien Phuong opined that the city should expand cooperation with other educational establishments to train a highly skilled workforce, thus meeting demand of investors.

This year, DHPIZA will partner with units concerned to remove obstacles in site clearance, helping three to four more projects to start in the DHTP.

vir
Technology has been moving forward at a steady if not a fast pace, and in most aspects, it's all the more better for us. In the medical sector, robots have become tools has helped with precision in procedures as well as convenience.

Surgical Robots Treating Patients

Robots have been a huge part of industries such as construction and food production, and it was only a matter of time before they caught up to other sectors as well. Surgical robots were already being developed decades ago, and they become more advanced as time goes on.

Now, machines are capable of working with such precision that they can even outdo human doctors, which offers benefits for both overall surgical success bills that come with complex medical procedures. One example is the robot from the UK that can treat endometriosis.

They function by being controlled remotely and are used by NHS Trusts to operate on patients for a fraction of the cost and time. According to consultant gynecologist Jeffrey Ahmed, it takes around 60% of the time it would take to do a conventional surgery.

He added that the hospital saves around $1,600 per patient because the machine-assisted procedure reduces blood loss, which means fewer blood transfusions and faster recovery time resulting in an early discharge, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

A robotic surgeon performing the surgeries at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Amer Raza stated that the new robots are "revolutionizing endometriosis treatment" and could even be the first choice in surgical treatment on the NHS.

Each machine costs 2 million or $2.5 million, and although it is expensive, it could be a good investment since it produces great results. Patients would also prefer a hospital that offers more efficient procedures at a lower cost, which robot-assisted surgeries can achieve.

Read Also: Scenarios Where Robots Take Over Human Jobs

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disorder that women get when the tissue that grows inside of the uterus grows outside the area. The condition is often painful and they commonly affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining in the pelvis.

Once the tissue builds up in places where it shouldn't, it will also break down and bleed just as the uterus would on every menstrual cycle, although, unlike uterine bleeding, the other parts affected by endometriosis don't have a way of expelling the blood.

When the blood is trapped, it can irritate the surrounding tissue and may develop adhesions. This in turn can cause pain and may even lead to fertility problems, as explained by Mayo Clinic. It may also cause cysts to form when it comes to the ovaries.

Left untreated, it can affect the life of a woman during their menstrual cycle. Natalie Meagan-Blake, a patient who has undergone robotic surgery explained that she would miss school and work before because the pain was so extreme and lasted for around two weeks.

There are other treatments available of course, but robot-assisted surgery also reduces the chances of complications, which may lead to infertility. Around one-third of women with the disorder have difficulty conceiving. It also increases the rate of ovarian cancer.

Related: 5 Technological Advancements That Could Help with Cancer Treatment
Vietnam will earn US$1 billion from exports of fresh coconuts and products made from them this year, up from $900 million last year, the Vietnam Coconut Association has said.

China has stepped up coconut imports, enabling Vietnams exports to increase, it said.

Five years ago Vietnam was not on the global coconut map, but has now become the fourth biggest coconut and coconut products exporter in the Asia-Pacific, it said.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T Import-Export Company, said his company exports some 15 containers of fresh coconut to the U.S., Australia, South Korea, and Japan each month, and is increasing them.

Nguyen Van Thu, chairman of the G.C Food Joint Stock Company, which owns the countrys largest coconut jelly plant, said there are plans to increase exports, including of jelly.

"G.C Food is going to expand investment to raise the capacity of its coconut jelly plant to 20,000-30,000 tons a year. The products will be exported to the Chinese market."

The company reported jelly output of 2,800 tons in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 26%. For the full year last year production was 6,500 tons.

Ben Tre Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation is strengthening production of coconut dried endosperm, oil and milk for export.

Its bottled coconut juice is also popular in many countries, it said

Cao Ba Dang Khoa, acting general secretary of the Vietnam Coconut Association, told VnExpress that China wants to import coconut and coconut products from Vietnam through the official quota.

Chinese consumers like most products made from coconut, he said.

The U.S. will consider allowing imports of more fresh coconut fruits from Vietnam in the second half of this year, according to the Plant Protection Department.

The agriculture ministry has added coconut to a project for developing key cash crops in the period until 2030.

The Vietnam Coconut Association is developing sustainable growing zones, and assisting with export promotion in China, Japan and the EU.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam has 188,000 hectares under coconut and produces 1.9 million tons annually.

According to Khoa, the coconut industry would thrive because of high demand for its products, with a global surge in the popularity of cosmetics and other beauty products made from the nut.

The International Coconut Community forecast the global industry to annually grow at 10% until 2025 with some individual products such as coconut cream, juice, oil, and jelly growing by 15-36%.

Source: VNExpress
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Singapore is working to promote the export of Vietnamese fruits, particularly longan and lychee, to Singapore.

Accordingly, a series of activities, including the Vietnamese Goods Week programme, as well as business networking and lychee testing events, have taken place in the island nation.

Further support from the office is also available for any Vietnamese localities and enterprises with intention to export fresh lychee and longan to the market.

As per data from the Singaporean business administration, last year, the country spent 6.78 million SGD (5.02 million USD) and 4.6 million SGD on importing fresh lychee and longan, respectively. Of the sums, shipments of the two fruits from Vietnam were worth 43,000 SGD and 4,000 SGD.

Vietnam's lychee and longan have so far entered many demanding markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia. With their quality, brand, and potential, they see ample room to gain a foothold in Singapore./.

Source: Vietnamnet
Norwegian partners have intensified their support of Vietnams sustainable marine aquaculture through efforts that share expertise from a world-leading producer and exporter of seafood.

The seminar on June 5 in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa is the latest move in the process in which the ocean nation has supported Vietnam over the past four decades.

Indeed, the event aims to create a platform for participants from the public, private sectors, and academia to discuss ways for Vietnam to develop marine aquaculture in a sustainable manner and the role of relevant stakeholders in that process.

The seminar was organized by the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi, Innovation Norway, Hanoi, in coordination with the Department of Fisheries (DFish) of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Vietnam (MARD), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and Khanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

A Norwegian expert presented sustainable aquaculture models at the seminar held in Khanh Hoa Province on June 5. Photo: Embassy of Norway in Hanoi

Lessons from Norway  a world-leading seafood producer and exporter

The importance ofinnovation and technological solutions in the industrys growth and how to train skilled workers to meet the industrys requirements were also parts of the seminars agenda.

Two special guest speakers from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, Anne B. Osland and Erlend Hopsdal Skjetne, shared a lot of great insights into how the Norwegian Government developed policies, standards, and technical regulations for marine fish farms, how the licensing procedures go in line with the coastal planning taking into account the need to protect the marine environment and biodiversity.

This event gives new impetus to Norway-Vietnam bilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector and implements the Letter of Intent between MARD and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries signed in 2021 for Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation in Marine Aquaculture Industry, said Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken in her opening remarks.

A key success factor behind their story has been their ability to maintain an open and trust-based dialogue between government, industry, and research institutions. This can be well illustrated through the stories we shared at the Seminar, which we hope practical examples of how we have done this in Norway, Ambassador Solbakken noted.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken delivers a speech at the seminar. Photo: Embassy of Norway in Hanoi

Vietnam, despite its huge potential for marine aquaculture development, faces challenges in developing the marine aquaculture industry, including inconsistent infrastructure facilities, elementary equipment and instruments, shortage of skilled workers.

Tran Dinh Luan, MARD DFish Director General, said that as coastal nations, Vietnam and Norway share many similarities and interests. Therefore, studying Norwegian experiences and success stories would provide us with suggestions to address the current challenges and build appropriate policies to grow a strong and sustainable marine aquaculture industry, he noted.

According to Anne B. Osland, Head of the Aquaculture Licensing Section, Aquaculture and Coastal Management Department, Norwegian DFish, in the context of a shift toward sustainable aquaculture practices, the industry must focus on sustainable processes for Norways aquaculture industry to continue to grow. It starts with good planning and good policies, which, in turn, could help create an enabling environment for the industry to grow.

Norway has a lot to share in terms of how we develop an enabling regulatory framework with strict regulations and standards for licensing aquaculture at sea or offshore aquaculture, how to run a site at sea to ensure both the sites production capacity and minimize its impact on the marine eco-system, and so on, she emphasized.

As a practical way for Vietnamese stakeholders, some Norwegian fish farms are open for public visits for informational and educational purposes, which showcases that coastal industries are not always conflicting but can be complementary and grow together. Participants in the seminar are offered an opportunity to join a field trip to visit the fish farm of Australis Vietnam Co. Ltd off Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa Province, to learn about industrial cage farming practices and automated facilities/systems that help reduce the carbon footprint from aquaculture business.

Vietnam has been implementing a Scheme on Marine Aquaculture Development till 2030 with a vision to 2045, which aims to develop consistent, safe, effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly marine aquaculture, produce branded products to meet domestic and foreign demand, generate jobs and improve the income of the local coastal communities.

Reducing exploitation and increasing aquaculture has also been defined by MARD as a policy to balance human needs and marine resources conservation, and sustainable development. Thus, a shift to offshore farming on an industrial scale, targeting exports and improving the quality and values of Vietnamese seafood products is inevitable.

Anne B. Osland, Head of Aquaculture Licensing Section, Aquaculture and Coastal Management Department, Norwegian DFish, addresses the event. Photo: Embassy of Norway in Hanoi

Results of cooperation

Norway and Vietnam have cooperated in the fisheries sector for nearly 40 years. Norway helped Vietnam develop the first Fisheries Law in 2003 and its implementing documents; supported surveys of aquatic resources; capacity building projects and activities in the fisheries sector.

Norwegian research institutions, including Troms University, University of Bergen and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have partnered with Nha Trang University to build a solid scientific research Center with high-quality education and competence in the marine sector.

Many leaders and experts in the Vietnamese fisheries industry have been trained in Norway and are now using their knowledge and expertise to contribute to developing Vietnam's fisheries industry. Norway also provided Research Vessels to support Vietnam in research activities in the fisheries sector.

Since 2019, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (NHO) has been working with the VCCI to develop a set of job descriptions for some key positions in Vietnams marine aquaculture industry.

Interestingly, there are more than 10 Norwegian enterprises operating in Vietnam in this field, from providing equipment and technological solutions for industrial marine farming (Scale AQ), fish handling (MMC FP), vaccine (Pharmaq), aquafeed (Skretting) to salmon processing factory (MOWI), rest raw materials processing (Fjell Technology), equipment production (Slatlands) and seafood exporters.

Norway has helped Vietnam's fisheries sector for the past 40 years. Photo: Hiephoinuoibien.org

Hanoi Times
JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 31, 2023, the Huawei Cloud E-commerce Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia with the theme of "Unlock New Growth in E-Commerce with Huawei Cloud". The Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA) and more than 100 e-commerce, payment, and logistics enterprises attended the event. During the summit, Huawei Cloud and partners had in-depth discussions on topics such as the future development of e-commerce in Indonesia and new opportunities brought by cloud technologies. We jointly released E2E solutions and best practices for e-commerce website construction, user acquisition, order placement during promotions, and logistics & distribution.





James Tan, Vice President of Solution Sales, Huawei Cloud APAC

On the day of the e-commerce summit, industry leaders, enterprise executives, and technical experts delivered impressive speeches.





Budi Primawan, Vice Chairman of idEA

Budi Primawan, Vice Chairman of idEA, talked about the e-commerce development in Indonesia. According to him, Indonesia has huge market potential, huge population dividend and a high growth rate. Budi Primawan believed, to win a higher growth, e-commerce enterprises need to leverage cloud digital technologies to improve e-commerce competitiveness from "people", "goods", and "channel".

Facing this situation, Huawei Cloud expressed its solutions. James Tan, Solution and Sales Director of Huawei Cloud APAC, said that "Huawei Cloud e-commerce solutions aim to help e-commerce customers unlock new growth. We helped IDOL GROUP gain 360insight into consumer groups to improve customer reach efficiency, assisted VMALL in building an agile and elastic platform to achieve fantastic user experience during promotions, and helped CARRO develop innovative models to drive customer conversions."





Bryan Tan, Chief Datascientist of CARRO Group and CEO of CARRO Indonesia

Supported by Huawei Cloud, many customers have accelerated their growth by using cloud-based digital technologies. Powered by Huawei Cloud AI technologies, CARRO developed innovative models. Bryan Tan, Chief Datascientist of CARRO Group and CEO of CARRO Indonesia, said that "CARRO developed the innovative model "160 Point Inspection" enabled by Huawei Cloud AI, which reduces the processing time to detect car quality by 80%. This enables more accurate, fully automated, faster, all rounded, and more professional car inspection."





Muliadi Jeo, CTO, SIRCLO

Huawei Cloud cloud native services helped SIRCLO improve omnichannel website construction capabilities. Muliadi Jeo, CTO of SIRCLO said, "To enhance SIRCLO's omnichannel commerce enablement capabilities, we collaborated with Huawei Cloud in exploring cutting-edge innovations, such as advanced search engines, highly precise virtual customer services, and artificial intelligence."





Reska Donaga, VP of product of SiCepat Ekspres Indonesia

Huawei Cloud e-commerce big data helped SiCepat refine logistics operations and drive efficiency. SiCepat, one of the top express companies, has been benefited with the help of Huawei Cloud as well. Reska Donaga, VP of product of SiCepat Ekspres Indonesia said, " SiCepat is committed to using digital technologies to optimize user experience and improve service. They are committed to offering better products and optimizing operations, delivery, and infrastructure. It aims to become the number one delivery service partner of millions of small- and medium-sized enterprises throughout Indonesia.."

As a global technology enterprise, Huawei Cloud has been working with e-commerce partners around the world to build an e-commerce ecosystem that breaks down the barriers between each business process. And our global service teams are always ready to help e-commerce customers migrate their services to the cloud.

During the summit, there are a lot of memorable times.





In the panel discussion, under the moderation of Budi Primawan, the customer representatives and Huawei Cloud executive deeply discussed about the E-commerce development trend and how Cloud Technology could make contribution.





At the end of the summit, Huawei Cloud virtual human Sara released the Joint Innovation Camp project. Executives from Huawei Cloud, idEA, and Lazada joined the launch event. Joint Innovation Camp offers a platform to explore industry trends, exchange management experience, and improve technical understanding.

Looking into the future, Huawei Cloud will increase R&D investment to maintain innovation leadership in the e-commerce industry, and will work with Indonesian enterprises to unlock new growth in the e-commerce industry and promote the stable and healthy development of the e-commerce industry in Indonesia.

Source: Huawei Cloud Indonesia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IJM Land's Seremban 2 (S2) township in Negeri Sembilan is dedicated to creating a harmonious and inclusive community. Spanning over 2,300 acres of freehold land, S2 offers modern amenities and a serene countryside ambience to its continually growing population of over 62,000 residents. In the spirit of Ramadan and the Raya festivities, IJM Land organized an open house event to foster a stronger sense of togetherness and nurture a vibrant community in S2.

Ainal Abdul rocked the stage, lighting up Seremban 2's open house with her electrifying performance!

The open house, held in collaboration with Astro radio station Era, welcomed S2 residents and the public, providing a lively atmosphere hosted by Era presenters Radin, Haniff, and Isha. The event was further enhanced by celebrity guests Aina Abdul, De Fam, and Haell Husaini. The positive response on social media from attendees highlighted the success of the event in strengthening the sense of togetherness among the S2 community.

"Through this event, we hope to reinforce the Raya spirit of togetherness and strengthen the bond among the S2 community, transcending the boundaries of race and culture," said Mr. Chai Kian Soon, Senior General Manager of IJM Land. This statement reflects IJM Land's commitment to promoting inclusivity and unity within the S2 township.

Additionally, IJM Land demonstrated its dedication to giving back to the community by organizing Program Mesra Ramadan, a pre-festive initiative aimed at supporting six underprivileged households. Each household received a thoughtful box of kindness containing essential items such as rice, cooking oil, noodles, Raya cookies, and RM1,000 in duit raya (celebration money). This endeavour aimed to ensure that those in need could also partake in meaningful Raya celebrations.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to make a positive impact, Mr. Chai stated, "Our initiatives are aimed at making a positive difference in their lives. We hope that our small token of support brought some cheer during the festive season. As we progress, we remain dedicated to supporting our homeowners in meaningful ways and eagerly anticipate future opportunities to give back."

By fostering inclusivity and diversity, IJM Land strives to create a sustainable and thriving township that embodies the values of togetherness and unity. The success of S2 as a self-contained and progressive development underscores the cohesiveness of its residents, who live harmoniously and form a strong community. Going forward, IJM Land will continue prioritizing community-building efforts and eagerly anticipates future opportunities to give back, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment in S2.

For more information, visit https://seremban2.ijmland.com/ .

Media Inquiries:

Savier Mah

xavier@xaviermah.my

Source: IJM Land
SINGAPORE, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestas decided to donate to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School in Japan the items that contribute to education and human resource development in the fields related to offshore wind energy and held a donation ceremony at the school on June 5, 2023.

Vestas supplied and installed 33 wind turbines in the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Energy Project by Akita Offshore Wind Corporation, the first large-scale commercial offshore wind energy project in Japan. We also provide operation and maintenance services for up to 20 years to both Offshore Wind Farms in Akita Port and Noshiro Port, which are now in commercial operation.

Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School is the only high school in the prefecture with a marine department. In addition to basic knowledge and skills related to fisheries and the ocean, students can learn specialized knowledge and skills about marine resources such as fish and shellfish and ship navigation. In recent years, in order to respond to the increasing introduction of offshore wind energy in the prefecture, the school has been actively engaging in practical learning and qualifications in the fields related to offshore wind energy, such as learning about marine environmental surveys and conservation management and acquiring qualifications of port diving engineer and marine engineer.

Vestas considers nurturing the next generation through education and skill development as one of the target areas of community engagement. Vestas has decided to donate to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School in order to support its initiatives. The items for donation are underwater drones and related equipment used in marine department classes, which are equivalent to a total of 4 million yen.

Netoshi Kuriyama, Representative Director and Country Manager of Vestas Japan, said: "Through the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Project, we were able to cooperate and build strong relationships with many partners in Japan and the people in Akita Prefecture. Local communities are important stakeholders in our wind projects around the world, and wherever we do business, we always aim to bring value to them. We hope that the donation to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School will contribute to the education and nurturing of the next generation in the community and will help spread more knowledge and understanding among the future generations who want to be involved in the renewable industry in the future."

Hiroyuki Asano, principal of Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School, said: "At our school, we aim to have a curriculum that is open to society. For offshore wind energy, which is expected to develop in the future, we collaborate with industry and promote initiatives that take advantage of the characteristics of our school's marine department, such as learning and acquiring qualifications that lead to the development of ship crews and maintenance personnel. Through the donation, we hope to further enhance the content of each subject of the marine department and promote effective learning by students."

Vestas will continue to contribute to the local community and operate our business as a trusted partner.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Megumi Sakuma

Marketing & Communications Manager, Japan

Vestas Japan Co., Ltd.

mgskm@vestas.com

Tel: +81 90 6723 5325

About Vestas

Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 164 GW of wind turbines in 87 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 144 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas' more than 28,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.

For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on:

https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images.

We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com following us on our social media channels:

www.twitter.com/vestas

www.linkedin.com/company/vestas

www.facebook.com/vestas

www.instagram.com/vestas

www.youtube.com/vestas

About Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School

The only comprehensive high school in Akita Prefecture with a marine department. The educational purpose of the school is "nurture students who learn in Oga and go on to play an active role in the world", which embodies our hope that, based on the knowledge and skills learned in Oga, students will grow up to be active members of society, not only in the region but also in the world. At present, the school has two classes in the Fisheries Department (Marine Department and Food Science Department) and one class in the General Department, which is characterized by a rich curriculum of commercial subjects.

For further information about the school, please visit: http://www.kaiyou-h.akita-pref.ed.jp/index.html

Source: Vestas Asia Pacific
BOSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveSpo is the first representative from Vietnam to participate in the BIO International Convention, an exhibition showcasing breakthrough biotechnology solutions, held in Boston, USA. This demonstrates the remarkable development of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical field in the realm of biotechnology.





LiveSpo represents Vietnam to announce the world's first spore probiotics in nasal spray form at the BIO International Convention

Dr. Nguyen Hoa Anh - R&D Director - Chairman of LiveSpo Pharma, is going to present LiveSpo's breakthrough spore probiotics technology at the BIO International Convention 2023. These technologies feature liquid-form, multi-strain, high-concentration LiveSpo spore probiotics technology, and Pre-activated SPL technology with the product LiveSpo NAVAX which is transformed into nasal spray form.

After undergoing rigorous clinical trials aligned with US standards, LiveSpo NAVAX has emerged as the world's first spore probiotic nasal spray. Its significant impact on reducing treatment duration for acute respiratory infections in children has been proven. LiveSpo NAVAX demonstrates an exceptional ability to reduce the load of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) by 600-fold and influenza virus by 900-fold. The safety and remarkable efficacy of this product was published in the Scientific Reports journal (Nature), ranked among the top 100 most downloaded articles in 2022.

(LiveSpo's article)

During the BIO International Convention, LiveSpo will be engaging in B2B meetings with partners coming from various countries all over the world. Discussions will revolve around the potential and practical applications of breakthrough spore probiotics, as well as opportunities for exclusive distribution of LiveSpo products in international markets. The Vietnamese representative is also going to host a booth and participate in thematic seminars to stay updated with scientific and technological advancements in developed countries.

About BIO:

BIO International Convention is organized by BIO, taking place from 5-8 June 2023 in Boston, MA. It serves as a platform for biopharmaceutical companies, investors, and government leaders to exchange ideas, present research findings, and explore partnership opportunities in the field.

About LiveSpo:

LiveSpo is an R&D, manufacturing, and distribution brand of Spobiotics (probiotics in spore form) for digestive and respiratory health, leading in breakthrough technology, rapid effectiveness, and convenience, aiming for "A Future Without Antibiotics".

Attending the 13th International Scientific Conference on Probiotics, Prebiotics, Gut Microbiota and Health 2019

The only Vietnamese representative in the International Microbiology Conference 2022.

LiveSpo's American standard clinical trial research

Website: LiveSpo.vn

Media contact:

(Ms) Mai Dieu Huong - Marketing Manager

Email: huong.md@livespo.com

Source: LiveSpo Pharma
The stock market has witnessed a dearth of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) going public in the past six years. In fact, the latest to be listed in this country was Siam Brothers Vietnam in 2017, marking the end of a decade-long dry spell for FIE listings.

Some renowned companies may be more keen to list elsewhere, photo Le Toan

While a wave of FIEs debuted on the market during 2003-2008 following the introduction of rules on transforming a number of FIEs to operate in the form of joint-stock company, their numbers have dwindled over the years, with some even being delisted.

At present, only nine FIEs remain listed, with three others trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM). Aside from Siam Brothers Vietnam, the remaining entities include Everpia, Mirae, Tung Kuang Industrial, Taicera (TCR), Taya Vietnam Electric Wire and Cable, The Royal International Corporation (RIC), Interfood (IFS), Chang Yih Ceramic.

While this group of companies generally report annual profits, their earnings growth has been volatile.

TCR, a Taiwanese firm producing ceramic tiles in Vietnam since 1994, has experienced a highly irregular financial performance, albeit returning to profitability in the past two years, though still relatively modest compared to its past losses.

RIC incurred continuous losses ever since its 2008 listing and was officially delisted for a week in May 2022, following three consecutive years of negative business results.

Conversely, IFS has exhibited a strong comeback. The brand owner of Wonderfarms Bitter Melon Tea has consistently recorded substantial profits in recent years, successfully eradicating its accumulated losses since the end of 2021. With profitable operations last year, IFS has decided to allocate almost all of its earnings to distribute dividends to shareholders.

Currently, IFS has a charter capital of over $37.8 million, with foreign shareholders from Singapore holding 95.66 per cent of the companys equity.

Despite the lack of movement in the situation over the years, some well-known names have dabbled with the idea of listing in Vietnam. Several prominent companies have expressed their interest in the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX) in particular, with C.P. Vietnam being a notable example.

In a statement submitted to the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2022, parent company Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) confirmed that the companys board approved the registration process for C.P. Vietnam to become a public company through the issuance of common shares to minority shareholders.

Prior to C.P. Vietnam, Japanese retail giant AEON in November 2021 alluded to a strategic endeavour of securing a listing for its equities on the Vietnamese securities market. However, concrete indications regarding the progression and execution of listing plans such as these remain elusive.

Tran Thi Khanh Hien, head of Research at VNDIRECT, noted that one of the major concerns for FIEs considering listing in Vietnams stock market lies in their reluctance to effectively disclose and adhere to information disclosure rules as prescribed by regulatory authorities.

The performance of listed FIEs has been underwhelming due to their limited ability to raise capital from the Vietnams stock market, which is currently labelled as a frontier market, Hien told VIR. The domestic market itself remains relatively small, with modest capital scale, making it less attractive for them to mobilise substantial funds.

Hien also raised concerns that the listing of FIEs in the stock market carries inherent risks, particularly in terms of capital withdrawal, as they could mobilise funds from the Vietnams market before swiftly redirecting them abroad.

Nevertheless, with the regulatory landscape becoming more stringent and Vietnamese authorities taking proactive measures, the risk of capital withdrawal has considerably diminished, Hien added.

The majority of FIE stocks listed on the Vietnamese stock market are considered penny stocks, lacking the significant impact necessary to drive the overall market dynamics. As a result, these stocks have yet to contribute significantly to the development and growth of the market.

Looking ahead, Hien highlighted, it is unlikely that the Vietnamese government will relax regulations or actively encourage a massive influx of FIEs seeking listing opportunities within the next 2-3 years. The current stance suggests that FIEs will still be required to meet specific stringent standards and comply with regulatory frameworks.

In the case of C.P. Vietnam, although many people may expect it to list in Vietnam, the companys lack of definitive actions, such as submitting listing applications to the HSX, raises doubts about its strategic direction. It is imperative to closely monitor its future actions and decisions to ascertain intentions and plans regarding stock market listing, she added.

C.P. Vietnam is a large, prestigious company with huge profit  and it has the capacity to explore listing opportunities on more developed stock markets, according to Hien.

Import-export turnover of FIEs drops by $9 billion The import-export turnover of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) dropped by $9 billion in the first two months.

VBF: FIEs seek IRC easement for new locations Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) require the authorities to loosen regulations to grant investment registration certificates (IRCs) for their business locations and branches.

Widescale renovations needed for FIEs to thrive in Dong Nai Unfinished roads for industrial parks, dust pollution from airport construction, and lack of housing for on-site workers are just some of the difficulties facing foreign-invested enterprises in southern province of Dong Nai.

Fire safety regulation frustration lingers for FIEs Many foreign-invested enterprises are confused with the inconsistent regulations relating to fire prevention and safety, which may impact their factories construction and operation processes.
The Indonesian Aerospace, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, exports one NC212i aircraft to Thailand. (Photo source: The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Jakarta  The Indonesian state-owned aircraft manufacturer, Indonesian Aerospace also known as PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), has handed over one NC212i aircraft to Thailand at Hatyai international airport.

This aircraft coded AX-2131 is PT Dirgantara Indonesias first export in 2023.

The aircraft with an eight-member crew flew on a ferry flight with the route from Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung to Pekanbaru (Indonesias Riau province) and Hatyai (Thailand). The plane arrived at its final destination at the Nakhon Sawan Air Base on May 31.

The aircraft was handed over to Thailands Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA) for the purpose of weather modification.

The Indonesian Aerospace has produced various types of aircraft, such as the CN235 for civil or military transportation, Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and Coast Guard aircraft.

In total, it has delivered nearly 400 aircraft to 50 operators around the world.

Indonesia plans to install 200MW solar panel Indonesian state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) seeks a 700-million USD investment to install a 200-megawatt (MW) solar panel that will replace diesel power generators in a bid to reduce carbon emission.
Kusto Homes five awards at Asia Pacific Property Awards 2023

At the gala held at the Marriott Marquis Queen's Park hotel on the evening of May 31, Kusto Home was awarded the excellent Apartment/Condominium Development, Mixed Use Architecture, Mixed Use Development in Vietnam for its Urban Green project; the best Residential Development with 20+ Units and Residential High Rise Development in Vietnam for Diamond Island project.

Kusto Home is a pioneer in creating new values to deliver distinctive living experiences to residents. All projects developed by Kusto Home use most of the available land for green space and international standard amenities.

Each award is an affirmation of the quality of Kusto Homes project development

To create a mind-body balanced living experience, Kusto Home has prioritised smart designs with innovative technologies for its Urban Green project. The project inherits Diamond Islands unique riverside and resort lifestyle that was first introduced to the market by Kusto Home.

The developer has utilised the Bauhaus architectural design that emphasises the elegance of both aesthetic and function as it caters the needs of young, successful customers. The eco-friendly pool by BioDesign with electrolytic technology also marked its first appearance in a Vietnamese condominium project.

Urban Green - the latest project developed by Kusto Home

The titles at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2023 are strong motivations for Kusto Home staff to continue their efforts to shape a future for society and cities in Vietnam.

In 2024, Kusto Home is planning to announce exceptional projects in Hanoi and Danang including a project named The Reflection West Lake.

The direction for this project in Tay Ho district, Hanoi is to draw high-class customers, with a luxury boutique ambiance that complements the poetic beauty of West Lake. Details of The Reflection West Lake will soon be released.

Kusto Home holds groundbreaking ceremony for Urban Green Kusto Home, the property brand of international multi-industry group Kusto Group, held a cooperation signing and ground-breaking ceremony for its latest project Urban Green in Thu Duc City.

Kusto Home and BIDV-Gia Dinh branch sign deal for the Urban Green project Kusto Home  the real estate brand of Kusto Group  held a signing ceremony of strategic cooperation with BIDV-Gia Dinh branch to implement financing support for the Urban Green project on July 7.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon / Reuters-Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon ended his two-day business trip to Seoul, Tuesday, after holding meetings with top financial moguls here. This was the first time in five years that the head of America's largest bank has visited Korea.



He arrived in Seoul on Monday afternoon, and started his schedule of meetings with chiefs of Korea's major financial institutions such as Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo, Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-ryong, NH Financial Group Chairman Lee Suk-joon, Korea Investment Corporation CEO Jin Seung-ho and Export-Import Bank of Korea CEO Yoon Hee-sung.



Dimon and Korean financial magnates are known to have exchanged their ideas on the need to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. Dimon's Seoul visit made headlines at a critical time as the United States and China are intensifying diplomatic tension. Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, the JPMorgan chief and Korean financial leaders reportedly shared their common view on the importance of enhancing their investments in each other's country.



He then visited the Bank of Korea (BOK) headquarters for a meeting with BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong. Both sides shared their ideas on financial priorities  such as the possibility of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate cut  during the 20-minute-long meeting. In May 2018, the BOK hired JPMorgan's former senior economist Lim Ji-won as its monetary policy board member, who was the first from the private sector to join the board.



Given his short schedule here, some other financial leaders who were on business trips to other regions could not meet with the investment bank chief. Aside from the business meetings, Dimon also visited JPMorgan's Seoul office and encouraged the workers there.



Before arriving in Seoul, Dimon took a trip to other Asian countries such as China, Taiwan and Japan.



Dimon declined to comment on rumors over a meeting with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong. It also remains unclear whether Dimon met with President Yoon Suk Yeol during his stay in the Korean capital. Yoon met with Dimon during the Davos forum in January this year.


Nguyen Dao Dung - Deputy director, Travel Department Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Vietnam has abundant agricultural and rural resources without much investment  agricultural land accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the country, spreading across localities and regions, and diverse conditions. There are a lot of intangible cultural values such as festivals, folk performing arts, traditional crafts, and ethnic communities. In order to preserve and promote traditional cultural values and ecological environment, farmstays should pay attention to some orientations. First is focusing on developing tourism in areas with favourable conditions, exploiting the outstanding strengths of every rural area, and giving priority to synchronous rural tourist attractions and good infrastructure in connection with tourist routes nearby, and with tourist centres. Second is developing rural tourism services with high quality, creativity, cultural differences, and ecological landscapes based on the advantages of each locality, suitable to the needs of the market  like rural resorts, healthcare, diversity of experiences, and new product lines. We should enhance the quality of the rural tourism workforce, service skills, and governance, as well as apply digital transformation. The third aspect is delivering rural tourism products in association with target markets, including the domestic tourist market. Some of these developers are maintaining a high number of visitors and good revenue. Targeting to increase spending and prolonging the stay of tourists in rural areas is another good idea, aiming at the high-spending market. We should exploit the tourism value chain on the basis of linking with related industries and services of rural areas to provide diverse experiences to visitors. Pham Thanh Tung - Deputy head Institute for Agriculture and Tourism The trend of developing green, environmentally friendly tourism and experiencing indigenous culture is increasingly interesting in. Travellers like families and small groups want to enhance new experiences and look for new tourist destinations that are accessible and safe. These criteria are completely suitable for rural tourism destinations, close to nature and indigenous cultural values. Promoting agricultural and rural tourism will enable agricultural products and rural cultural identity to become resources. Tourism development needs cultural identity, and agriculture is an economic sector with identity. The countryside is a place to fully preserve spiritual life, national culture, and core spiritual values. Meanwhile, other types of tourism such as beach resorts are being modularised, without uniqueness. Five-star hotels in Vietnam, the United States, Singapore, and South Korea are not much different if under the same developer. Becoming a farmstay or agro-tourism country, Vietnam can lead the worlds tourism trend, provide new and different tourism products to increase competitiveness and diversify tourism products, and promote the development of related industries such as transportation, consumption, and education. We will also get many agricultural benefits, such as conservation and development of natural ecosystems, local export of agricultural products at high prices, and development of Vietnams agricultural brands. There are also environmental benefits like raising peoples awareness about clean agriculture, protecting the environment, and increasing revenue from selling environmental certificates. Nguyen Ngoc Bich - CEO, Rustic Hospitality Group Farmstays in Vietnam are currently being developed by two target groups. Firstly, the people with large-scale farms make their own farmstays. These are built spontaneously with no specific standards and the owners do not understand much about tourism, so it is easy to encounter problems with planning, operating permits, and project operation ability. The second group consists of investors with capital and related experience. These investors may face a number of problems with the procedure of applying for a permit to convert from agricultural land to commercial-service land, or applying for a farm permit, but in fact, they are in the real estate business. Unfortunately, Vietnam does not have specific and uniform standards for this model. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the tourism industry need to have a meeting to build a standard farmstay model with specified criteria for area, size of accommodation, experience activities, and search for more sets of criteria that have been recognised by prestigious organisations around the world to be able to assess the quality of the farmstays activities. A separate working group on the development of the farmstay model should also be established to be able to provide timely assessments or advice. Vietnam can learn from Taiwan or Indonesia on how to build farmstays methodically and professionally. They have specific standards for scale and services including land area, products, experience value chains, processing and production areas, and additional educational programmes on agriculture  as well as the ways to provide great customer services to maximise the effectiveness of the farmstay model.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam at the ministrys monthly press briefing. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Findings of the probe into TikTok operation in Vietnam are expected to be announced in July, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Lam said on June 5 at the ministrys monthly press briefing.

Inspection of the operation of the cross-border social network TikTok was launched in the middle of last month after reports on TikTok users arbitrarily using private and personal images to spread fake news, smears, and insults to others.

Lam said that authorities initially have clues to identify TikToks violations and they are further verified following legal regulations.

According to the ministry, over the past time, the status of livestream advertising pornographic and gambling applications on social networking platforms has been taking place increasingly and blatantly. There have been a lot of reports on clips featuring online gangster content available on YouTube, or service vehicles carrying advertisements for gambling websites.

Regarding the issue, Deputy Minister Lam emphasised the ministry and relevant authorities are taking measures to curb it.

Besides inspection and detection of violations, the ministry released a set of messages in content management on cross-border social networking platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

The ministry also calls for providing information, particularly legal regulations, to content creators in Vietnam and abroad who are expected to join in creating a healthy social networking environment and removing dirty content.

From April 15 to May 15, at a request of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Facebook blocked and removed 399 posts with false information and anti-State content, accounting for 91 per cent of the requests; Google removed 1,901 videos on YouTube, accounting for 94 per cent; and TikTok blocked and removed 51 links, accounting for 98 per cent.

Ministry plans inspection of TikTok in May The Ministry of Information and Communications will conduct an inspection of TikTok in May to ensure the cross-border platform's law compliance during its operation in Vietnam.

Chinese shopping app Temu wows US amid TikTok fears Shopping online at Temu, Laurie Silva paid just $1.25 for earrings and $15 for a cardigan -- she is among millions of US consumers the Chinese platform is wooing with low-cost bargains and a dizzying array of products.
The Federal Trade Commission alleged that from 2015 to 2020 Microsoft collected personal data from children under age 13 who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without their parents' permission and retained this information.

US fines Microsoft $20 million over child data violations, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

To open an account, users had to provide their first and last names, an email address, and date of birth.

The FTC said Microsoft violated a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.

"Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children's privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids," said Samuel Levine, head of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

"This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids' avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA," Levine added.

The decision still needs the approval of a federal court before it can be implemented.

The FTC said Microsoft will be required to take several steps to bolster privacy protections for child users of its Xbox system.

Under the COPPA law, online services and websites aimed at kids under 13 must notify parents about the personal information they collect and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting and using any personal information collected from children.

A spokesperson for Microsoft told AFP that Xbox was "committed to complying with the (FTC's) order" and would develop a new identity and age validation process to deliver age-appropriate experiences.

Google, Microsoft top expectations as AI rivalry heats up Google parent company Alphabet beat market expectations in the first quarter of 2023 with a net profit of $15 billion, the company said on Tuesday, in a sign that the search engine behemoth is regaining its footing.

US, Microsoft warn Chinese hackers attacking 'critical' infrastructure State-sponsored Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks, the United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday while warning that similar espionage attacks could be occurring globally.
The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) made the announcement about the centre at the press conference held on the afternoon of June 5.

Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications chaired the press meeting on June 5

According to the MIC, on April 6 the prime minister issued Decision No. 348/QD-TTg approving the Strategy on digitial transformation of the press by 2025, creating an important premise for press agencies in digital transformation.

On May 8, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung signed Decision No. 781/QD-BTTTT promulgating the action plan to implement the strategy.

At the meeting, the MIC also provided the media with information about five-month performance and the key tasks in the months to come, and discussed issues of special concerns.

The MIC said that the ICT industry made revenue of VND276.77 trillion ($12.03 billion) in May, up 5 per cent on-month and down 2 per cent on-year.

The state budget contribution of the industry reached $328.69 million during the month, rising 1 per cent from a month earlier and down 9 per cent from the same month of last year. As a result, the industrys total state budget contribution between January and May hit about $1.72 trillion.

The MICs main legal works included the issuance of Decision No.781/QD-BTTTT dated May 8 to implement the press digital transformation strategy; Decision No. 894/QD-BTTTT dated May 26 on the Vietnam-Laos agreement on cooperation in post and telecommunications; and Decision No.951/QD-BTTTT dated June 2, to evaluate and measure digital transformation of the press.

In the months to come, the MIC will focus its tasks on submitting a draft decree guiding the implementation of the amended Law of Radio Frequency; a draft decree amending Decree No.154/2013/ND-CP regulating the Centralised Information Technology Park; as well as the completion and submission of the draft strategy for development Vietnam's digital technology industry by 2025.

Nguyen Thanh Lam, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications chaired the meeting and answered questions from media agencies and the inspection of TikToks possible violations.

Great opportunities for investment in Vietnams ICT After more than 30 years, Vietnam has been able to compete with other countries in the region in terms of foreign investment attraction in ICT. The industry is increasingly deeply and widely integrating into the global value chain, creating many better conditions for Vietnam to expand the international market. In particular, more and more large enterprises in digital technology consider Vietnam a top destination.

Experiencing the benefits of 5G across industries With the trend of relocating manufacturing hubs into Asia-Pacific, Vietnam is in a stellar spot to attract much of this high-tech smart manufacturing investment due to its advanced 4G and soon 5G digital infrastructure. Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about the latest preparations by Ericsson to further support Vietnam in tapping into this growth potential.

Vietnams ICT industry sets ambitious goals for H2 after big gains in first half With positive results in the first half of 2021, Vietnams ICT industry is setting out major tasks for the upcoming months, with digital transformation being a focus.

Wider development space in need for tech titans to grow While Vietnams ICT industry is growing swiftly with increasing international cooperation, new development space is required to be created by anticipated new legal changes.
RICHMOND HILL, Ga. (AP)  Sixteen members of a Georgia motorcycle gang have been indicted on charges stemming from a shooting that injured two people last year in a hotel parking lot, authorities said Monday.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said his office's gang prosecution unit will take the lead in prosecuting the case in Bryan County, south of Savannah.

The indictment in Bryan County Superior Court charges 16 people with multiple violations of Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Some were charged with aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery, while others were charged with conspiring to commit those crimes.

All of the defendants are members of the southeast Georgia chapter of the Outcast motorcycle gang, Carr's office said in a news release. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury Wednesday, says Outcast members plotted to rob members of a rival gang of their motorcycle vests.

Outcast members held rival gang members at gunpoint outside a hotel in Richmond Hill on June 17 and ordered the men to hand over their vests, according to the indictment. Shots were fired in the parking lot along a highway dotted with hotels, gas stations and fast food restaurants. No one was killed, but police said two people were injured.

Carr's office said authorities executed more than 40 search warrants across southeast Georgia as part of their investigation and seized $180,000 in cash as well as 71 guns.
Facing a pandemic and a tripling of costs to build a new Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Waco, Vipal Patel said he never seriously considered pulling up stakes and heading back to Houston with his dream unfulfilled.

That was not ever mentioned. I loved it too much, said Patel, standing Monday at Third Street and Mary Avenue, where a five-story, 113-key Hyatt Place will take shape over the next year to 18 months. Waco is going to look so different in 10 to 15 years, and this development is going to be a keeper. Its in downtown, near the river, near Baylor University, and thats not even mentioning Magnolia. And the railroad tracks are nearby.

The reference to railroad tracks came with a smile, as Patel raised his voice to be heard above a Southern Pacific train rumbling through downtown.

With what Patel and his RL Hospitality have gone through, the train surely represented a minor annoyance. The financial partners, including Chet Patel, Vipal Patel and Niraj Patel, originally announced plans for a nine-story hotel, with a restaurant and bar on the roof and a parking garage. But Vipal Patel said in an interview the original estimated cost of $19 million had increased three or four times due to pandemic-related delays and rising material costs. The team had to tweak plans for the property.

Gone are the parking garage, the rooftop restaurant and four stories. The projected cost returned to about $20 million, Vipal Patel said.

We had secured financing when COVID started. Our financiers backed out, said Patel. Necessity required RL Hospitality revisit the drawing board. Eliminating four hotel floors and the parking garage created savings on concrete. Controlling the entire block bounded by Jackson and Mary avenues and Third and Fourth streets, the investors could provide surface parking.

Vibrant Services, in Frisco, will serve as general contractor for the project, which will become a stick-built undertaking rather than modular, again a move toward reducing costs, said Vipal Patel. He said amenities will include a pool and spa, restaurant, in-house catering, board rooms and a conference room. The Patels said they want to make public meeting space available to local business groups and non-profits. They want Hyatt Place to become a beacon of hospitality in attracting visitors and tourists downtown.

The Patels acquired the property from Steve Sorrells, a customer homebuilder with offices on Austin Avenue. It is close enough to River Square Center and Ninfas to enjoy the aroma of Mexican food being prepared. Also nearby is the former Phoenix Ballroom building, which has become office space and recently the home to Pignettis Waco, an upscale Italian restaurant.

Vipal Patel said room rates will range from $150 per night to $800 to $1,000 per night, depending on whats happening in Waco.

Mike Meadows, with Kelly Realtors Commercial, will market an office and warehouse at Mary Avenue and South Fourth Street, within the block controlled by RL Hospitality. Meadows said Monday the property could become a retail or venue location within a development anchored by Hyatt Place.

A promotional flyer says the 7,800-square-foot space being marketed includes a 20% to 25% climate controlled office; an overhead grade level door; and a location near Magnolia Market at the Silos, Hyatt Place, the Dr Pepper Museum, and planned development along Lake Brazos.

Hyatt Place joins the surge in lodging construction in Wacos downtown. Progress continues on the 182-room AC Marriott Hotel at Sixth Street between Mary and Jackson avenues. Kenny Bhakta and his KB Hotels are wrapping up construction on three properties in East Waco, near Elm Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard: a 132-room Cambria Hotel, a 128-room Even Hotel and a 101-room Holiday Inn Express.

Wacos downtown Tax Increment Financing Zone board in December approved an eight-month extension for the Cambria and the Even Hotel to receive TIF funds, while granting the Holiday Inn another 12 months. TIF money totaling $3.2 million is in play. Bhakta also stands to gain $4.4 million in hotel occupancy tax incentives, the Tribune-Herald has reported.

Its too late to back out, Bhakta told the TIF board in December. He said the pandemic and other fluctuating market conditions made building the three properties more challenging, but he remained committed to the venture.

BH Hospitality Management, with a San Antonio address, reworked plans to place an Embassy Suites hotel on the block bounded by Second and Third streets and Jackson and Mary avenues. Thats across the street from groundbreaking ceremonies Monday for the Hyatt Place.

Birju Patel told the Tribune-Herald in spring last year the estimated cost had dipped from $33 million to closer to $20 million. A parking garage once included in the package had been removed. He said in December groundbreaking for the six-story, 175-room property should take place this spring, with completion in 18 months to two years thereafter.

Reached Monday, Patel said plans for an Embassy Suites remain a go.
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum recently announced the opening of a new exhibit. Titled as Land, Sea, Air: Maui in Wartime, it tells the stories of how civilians and military personnel worked together on the Island during the WWII era. Various artifacts and displays recount intimate, sometimes all-but-forgotten stories from those days which took place at Puunene Field and other locations on the island of Maui.

Following the unveiling ceremony, which included a traditional Hawaiian blessing, the exhibit was officially opened up for public viewing. As guests venture through the exhibit, they gain understanding for how the armed forces trained on Maui and how civilians interacted with service-members in the process. One of the displays features the Von Tempsky family, who offered R&R to service members on their ranch before they would go into battle. As service members passed through the ranch, they would sign a wall in the home. This was preserved; however, the original is currently displayed at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. The exhibit features a replica of the signed wall from the Von Tempsky ranch and allows visitors and those native to the Island to encounter this history in person.

Puunene and Kahului Air Fields are believed to have trained in excess of 20,000 WWII pilots during the war. These pilots gained experience and prepared for battle by training under battle-tested aircrews who instructed them in current formations and tactics of the enemy. In addition to pilot training, Maui, along with the Island of Hawaii, were home to the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. Their purpose on the Islands was preparation for their landings on Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.

The new exhibit will bring back to the Island some its heritage and history from the era, and allow locals the ability to visit key artifacts that represent their familys history while encouraging visitors to make the connection between the islands inhabitants and the military stationed there throughout WWII. Visitors can see the new exhibit in Hangar 37. More information about operating hours, upcoming events, and additional exhibits can be found at their website.
Changpeng Zhao founder and chief executive officer of Binance, at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, France June 16, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap



U.S. regulators sued Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao on Monday for allegedly operating a "web of deception," piling further pressure on the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange and sending bitcoin to its lowest in almost three months.



The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaint, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., listed 13 charges against Binance, Zhao and the operator of its purportedly independent U.S. exchange.



The SEC alleged that Binance artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds, failed to restrict U.S. customers from its platform and misled investors about its market surveillance controls.



The SEC also claimed that Binance and Zhao, its billionaire founder and one of the crypto industry's highest-profile moguls, secretly controlled customers' assets, allowing them to commingle and divert investor funds "as they please."



Binance created separate U.S. entities "as part of an elaborate scheme to evade U.S. federal securities laws," the SEC also alleged, citing a number of practices first reported by Reuters in a series of investigations into the exchange published this year and in 2022.



From almost three years ago until June 2022, a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain, engaged in so-called wash trading that artificially inflated the trading volume of crypto asset securities on the Binance.US platform, the SEC also alleged. Sigma Chain spent $11 million from an account on a yacht, the SEC said.



"We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law," SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement.



In a blog post, Binance said: "We intend to defend our platform vigorously," adding that "because Binance is not a U.S. exchange, the SEC's actions are limited in reach."



"All user assets on Binance and Binance affiliate platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure," the blog post said.



In a statement, Binance said it had "actively cooperated" with the SEC "from the start" and "respectfully disagree" with the SEC's allegations. Binance had been trying to find a "reasonable resolution" with the SEC but the agency "at the eleventh hour" issued new requests and went to court. Binance said the SEC's actions appeared to be an effort to "claim jurisdictional ground from other regulators."



Binance.US, which is ultimately controlled by Zhao, said in a tweet that the lawsuit was "unjustified by the facts, by the law, or by the Commission's own precedent."



Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, fell as much as 6 pecent on the news to its lowest in almost three months. Binance's own cryptocurrency BNB, the world's fourth-largest by market size, dropped more than 5 percent.



Market players said the SEC's allegations could hobble Binance, with the lawsuit likely to reverberate through the crypto industry. Binance dominates crypto trading, last year processing trades worth about $65 billion a day.



A March report from CCData showed that Binance's spot market share across top-tier exchanges fell in March for the first time in five months to 57.7 percent from 62.0 percent in February. Its derivatives trading volume, however, rose.



"I think that there's a big risk here that this could be crippling to Binance," said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.





Smartphone with displayed Binance logo and representation of cryptocurrencies are placed on keyboard in this illustration taken, Nov. 8, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump while launching his presidential campaign Tuesday, arguing that he's the only one who can stop the former president and current Republican primary front-runner.

Christie began his run with a town hall-style event in New Hampshire. The former governor and federal prosecutor ran for president and lost to Trump in 2016 and went on to become a close off-and-on adviser before breaking with the former president over Trump's refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

Now that Trump is trying again for the White House, Christie is out to do everything in his power to deny him. After criticizing other Republican primary rivals for being afraid to directly challenge Trump, Christie made clear that he had no such concerns.

"The person I am talking about, who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault, who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong  but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right  is Donald Trump," he told a small, mostly friendly crowd at Saint Anselm College.

"A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader," Christie said, saying Trump "made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting us one against the other."

He also said President Joe Biden "is doing the same thing, just on the other side." He noted that he'd known Biden for decades and said the president is "out of his depth" because "he's not the guy he used to be," referring to the 80-year-old Biden's age.

Still, Christie's chief target was Trump.

"There's a big argument in our country right now about whether character matters, and we have leaders who have shown us over and over again that not only are they devoid of character, they don't care," Christie said. "We can't dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve and we will have to own it."

Christie enters a growing primary field that already includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will formally launch his own campaign Wednesday in Iowa.

During his time as governor, Christie established a reputation as a fighter with a knack for creating viral moments of confrontation. He faces an uphill battle to the nomination in a party that remains closely aligned with the former president, despite Trump's reelection loss in 2020 and Republicans' poorer-than-expected performance in the 2022 midterm elections.

Christie argues that unless top Republicans dare confront Trump, there will be a repeat of the 2016 GOP primary, when Trump rolled over a host of alternatives with more political experience who split the support of voters opposing him.

Christie said Tuesday that the only way to win the GOP nomination was to topple Trump, but he was in the race to win the White House, not just the primary. He made fun of Trump's failed promise to wall off the entire southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for it but said voters who believed Trump in 2016 now know better.

Anti-Trump Republicans are particularly eager to see Christie spar with Trump on a debate stage  if, of course, Trump agrees to participate in primary debates and Christie meets the stringent fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee for participation.

JP Marzullo, a former state representative and former vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, previously backed Trump but is now supporting Christie. "I think he'll actually unite some of the voters, and he'll get to independents," Marzullo said of the former governor, adding, "I think it's time for a change."

Christie's campaign will test the appetite among Republican voters for someone who expressed support for many of Trump's policies but criticized the former president's conduct. Christie rejected Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen and urged the party to move on or risk future losses.

In appearances and interviews, Christie said he was "incredibly disappointed and disillusioned" by Trump's refusal to concede, which culminated in his followers' violent storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to halt the certification of Biden's win.

Other Republicans with similar views, including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, opted against their own campaigns, expressing concerns that more candidates in the race will only benefit Trump.

Christie, the popular Republican governor of a Democratic state, was at one point seen as one of his party's brightest political stars. Despite persistent urging from top donors and party officials, he declined to run for president in 2012. By the time he announced a bid in 2016, his reputation was tarnished by the "Bridgegate" scandal in which aides were accused of wreaking traffic havoc in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in an apparent effort to punish the city's mayor for failing to endorse Christie's reelection bid.

In the packed 2016 GOP primary, Christie portrayed himself as a brash, tough-talking East Coaster who could "tell it like it is"  only to be eclipsed by the brasher Trump.
Does your kid need a break from smartphones?

Summer vacation has begun for some families and screen use may already feel like too much.

A psychiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston offers some tips for making sure smartphones and tablets are put to good use and not used to excess.

Dr. Laurel Williams, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, said no arbitrary number of hours spent online indicates addiction. She suggests parents should focus on their childs behavior toward their phone. If something seems different or problematic, that might be a warning sign of too much screen time.

It could be that your child is not talking to anyone at home, talking less, always spending time in their room or getting anxious or unhappy about whatever they see or do online, Williams said in a college news release.

Read more here:

AI system helps detect autism

A joint attention-based deep learning system provides good predictive performance for differentiating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from typical development (TD), according to a study published online May 25 in JAMA Network Open.

Chanyoung Ko, M.D., from the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues trained deep learning models to distinguish ASD from TD and to differentiate ASD symptom severities. Joint attention tasks were administered to children with and without ASD, and video data were obtained from multiple institutions. Ninety-five of 110 children completed study measures. The analytical population included 45 children with ASD and 50 with TD.

The researchers observed good predictive performance for the deep learning ASD versus TD model for initiation of joint attention.

Read more here:

Worried about cataracts? Here's what you need to know

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world, but surgery can restore vision.

Unlike many of the other major eye diseases, such as glaucoma or diabetes-related eye disease, cataracts can be easily and painlessly treated by surgery to remove and replace the eyes lens, restoring sight for most patients, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization Prevent Blindness.

We urge patients to work with their eye doctor to understand their diagnosis and the best available treatment options, Todd said in a news release from the organization.

Here what else you should know about the common condition.

Read more here:

Worried About Cataracts? Here's What You Need to Know WEDNESDAY, May 31, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world, but surgery can restore vision.

Sick restaurant workers fuel many foodborne illness outbreaks

Providing sick leave to restaurant workers could help prevent the spread of foodborne illness because ill workers are key drivers of outbreaks at restaurants, a new government report shows.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data on Tuesday covering 800 outbreaks of foodborne illness at restaurants between 2017 and 2019.

The cases were reported by 25 state and local health departments. They included outbreaks of norovirus about 47% of the time and salmonella in about 19% of cases.

Researchers could identify the cause of outbreaks in about two-thirds of cases. Among those, 41% were related to workers handling food while ill. Only 44% of restaurants surveyed offered workers sick leave, however.

Read more here:

Higher alcohol consumption tied to muscle loss

Higher levels of alcohol consumption could have detrimental effects on muscle mass in middle- and older-aged men and women, according to a study published online May 25 in Calcified Tissue International.

Jane Skinner, Ph.D., from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and colleagues assessed the relationship between a full range of alcohol consumption and components of sarcopenic risk (skeletal muscle mass and function) in middle-aged and younger older-aged men and women. Analysis included 196,561 White participants from the U.K. Biobank (12,298 participants with four-year longitudinal data).

The researchers found that modelled values of the muscle mass measures all showed a peak at medium levels of alcohol consumption and a steep decline with increasing alcohol consumption.

Read more here:

4,000-year-old DNA identifies Britain's oldest known cause of Plague

Researchers have identified the oldest cases of plague in Britain to date, with DNA that is 4,000 years old.

The team from the Francis Crick Institute in London has found three ancient British cases of Yersinia pestis -- the bacteria that causes the plague -- in skeleton samples of two children and one woman.

Two of the cases were found in a mass burial site in Charterhouse Warren in Somerset. The third was discovered in a ring cairn monument in Levens in Cumbria after researchers took skeletal samples of teeth from 34 people at the two sites.

The scientists drilled into the teeth and extracted dental pulp, which can trap DNA remnants of infectious diseases.

Read more here:

Ticks are resilient in tough weather

Ticks are extremely resilient even when temperatures vary wildly, according to scientists who are working to better understand the spread of Lyme disease.

In their new study, black-legged ticks, notorious for carrying pathogens, were very good at surviving both extreme cold and high heat, the scientists found. This was true both for nymph and adult ticks. Only larval ticks were more affected by weather conditions.

We thought we would see some evidence that if there was like a very dry period, all the ticks might be at a greater risk of dying, said lead study author Jesse Brunner, an associate professor of biological sciences at Washington State University, in Pullman. However, just the larvae were impacted by heat and dry conditions. Cold weather had even less of an impact. Somehow, they hunker down and survive great.

Read more here:

***

Get more recent health news here:
March 9, 1986-May 30, 2023

Chelsey Elaine Hershey, age 37, of Parkersburg, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City, after a long-battled illness.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 9, 2023, at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Visitation will be one hour before services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

Redman Funeral & Cremation Services, Parkersburg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com
The festival will begin Thursday night and continue through early evening next Sunday. For the first time in recent years, the city's celebrat
CEDAR FALLS  The Cedar Valley Civil War Roundtable will meet at 7 p.m. on June 15 at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle.

Counterfactual Questions and the Civil War by Brian M. Jordan will be the evening's program. Jordan will present aspects of the war that defy logic and are contrary to what we think they should be. The phrase What if can lead to lively discussions and imaginative outcomes when reviewing battles and examining the personalities and traits of leaders.

Jordan is associate professor of U.S. Civil War History and chairperson of the Department of History at Sam Houston State University. He is the author or editor of six books on the Civil War and its era and more than 150 of his reviews, articles and essays have appeared in scholarly journals, popular magazines and newspapers.

The meeting is open to anyone interested in the American Civil War. It will be in person and available via Zoom.

For further information email cvcwrt9@yahoo.org or go online to cvcwrt.org.
Will AI be the solution to preventing school shootings? A school in Mt. Holly, NJ is one of the first using the technology to better spot firearms, reports The Hill. The Rancocas Valley Regional High School is one of the first working with a company called ZeroEyes which uses existing video 
WATERLOO  The Kiwanis Club of Waterloo will meet at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday at the Elk's Lodge at 407 East Park Ave. The meeting will take place in the upper lodge room.
WATERLOO  National Alliance on Mental Illness Black Hawk County will discuss "Using Trauma-Sensitive Movement to Manage your Mood," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, in the lower level of the First Congregational Church in Waterloo, 608 W. Fourth St.

Traci Ludwig, licensed independent social worker and member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, has been a therapist at MercyOne Behavioral Health in Cedar Falls for 17 years and will be leading discussion. She specializes in treating stress and trauma and offers trauma-sensitive yoga to both individuals and groups.

NAMI Black Hawk County works to improve the lives of all individuals affected by mental illness. For more information, call (319) 830-6448.
You will not run across many listings as pristine as this one. The owners has been on top of every detail of being a home owner. As you enter the front door you will fine a good sized living room that is flooded with natural light that comes from a large picture window. As you gaze across the living room your eyes will find a dining room that boast beautifully finished hardwood floors, the entire main floor has hardwood under the carpet. To the left of the dining room is the updated galley kitchen that has an ample amount of cabinetry to store all your items. As you cruise down the hall you will find two good sized bedrooms large enough to hold most bedroom sets. The bathroom is conveniently located to serve both bedrooms. The lower level is modestly finished with knotty pine paneling and linoleum flooring. The layout is such that an addition of an egress window would be perfectly located for an additional bedroom. The laundry room is also located in thenlower level. This is a must see, call for a showing.

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COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France  World War II veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name Papa Jake, enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

I got in on the planning of D-Day ... Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm. You can see me all over: Papa Jake. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about.

Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

Im 100 without an ache or a pain. You cant fake that, he said.

On Monday, Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

Thats where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran: I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Larson told Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went Sunday into a parade alongside other U.S. veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6, 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy.

Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell their emotion at seeing him.

Jake Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 years old at the time.

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Larson was in Normandy with a group of more than 40 U.S. veterans who traveled with the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps them visit former battlefields.

Photos: Scenes from Normandy on 79th anniversary of D-Day
By Pyo Kyung-min



Edward Lee, a Korean American celebrity chef who is better known in Korea for preparing the state dinner at the White House for President Yoon Suk Yeol in April, believes that Korean food in the United States is at its peak right now.





Chef Edward Lee / Courtesy of Edward Lee

However, the Brooklyn native has found subtle yet significant changes occurring in how Americans enjoy Korean flavors  a phenomenon he describes as a renaissance of Korean food.



"It has captured the taste buds of Americans, and it has found its way into so many American food menus," Lee said in an interview with The Korea Times last month.



"Korean food has entered a phase in America where it's not just about the traditional dishes, like 'kimchi jjigae' or 'doenjang jjigae,' but it's how we interpret it into how it looks and feels Korean," he added.



The changes, according to Lee, are also apparent at his new restaurant  Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse  in Louisville, Kentucky.



Its dishes are based on traditional Korean flavors but with a more modern touch, Lee said.



"Customer favorites are the tuna tartare served with 'gochujang' (red pepper paste) vinaigrette. The traditional flavors of 'jang,' are what the diners love so much," he added.



"Jang" refers to traditional Korean condiments, which are fermented pastes made with soybeans or red pepper.



"Korean food has been popular for so long, and what's new in America is the fermented flavor, its richness, and how it adds a layer to the flavor overall," he added.



Combining jang with modern cuisines has been one of Lee's keenest interests. Jang's unique umami flavor is what Lee focuses on to give his dishes a Korean hint.





Guest chef Edward Lee's banana split with "doenjang" (soybean paste) caramel is displayed ahead of a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 24 (local time). Yonhap



The dessert he came up with at the state dinner was also one of his creations. The caramel sauce drizzled on top of the banana split was combined with "doenjang" (soybean paste) for a salty tang to complement the sweetness.



Lee feels that the most important thing in combining Korean and American flavors is harmonization.



"I think it's important that the flavors don't compete with each other. So sometimes a dish will have a more Korean flavor with a little bit of American flavor, and other times there will be American dishes with a bit of Korean flavor, but it's hard to do 50/50, there is never an equal balance," he said.



"So what matters is how the Korean flavor enhances the American dish, or how a Korean dish can benefit from an American flavor."





Chef Edward Lee, center, introduces menu items to be served at the state dinner for Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 24 (local time). AP-Yonhap
CEDAR RAPIDS  A Cedar Rapids teen who killed his parents with two knives and an ax on Oct. 14, 2021, will have to serve a mandatory minimum of 50 years of a life sentence before being eligible for parole.

Ethan Orton, who attacked his mother, Misty Scott-Slade, 41, after she fell asleep in a chair and his father, Casey Arthur Orton, 42, who was asleep on a sofa, told a psychologist they emotionally and verbally abused him all his life. And when his mother sent him an email the day before, saying he had to move out when he turned 18  in five months  it pushed him to attack.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Mike Harris, during his sentencing recommendation Monday, pointed out just how Ethan Orton committed his "heinous" attack: He first stabbed his mother with a bowie-type knife, then moved on to his father. But when his mother didn't die and walked into the kitchen, he grabbed another knife, stabbed her, and then switched to an ax.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill considered the factors for a youthful offender facing a life sentence to determine the appropriate sentence. The Iowa Supreme Court banned life sentences without a chance for parole for juveniles in 2016, following the U.S. Supreme Court's same decision in 2012.

Thornhill sentenced Orton to two life sentences but ran them concurrently, and found a mandatory 50-year minimum isn't equal to a life sentence because he would be eligible for parole at 67, which is retirement age for many people, he noted. The judge also said he considered the circumstances of the offense, which was brutal and not spontaneous. Orton made a choice of weapons and chose to attack his parents after they were asleep, which showed he was capable of rational thinking at the time.

Thornhill said some of the things about Orton's home environment a psychologist noted during sentencing were not pleasant. But while sometimes teens don't like what parents do, it doesn't "rise to level of abuse."

"Perfect parenting doesn't exist," Thornhill noted, but there was no evidence of sexual or physical abuse.

Orton, during sentencing, made emotional remarks that didn't make sense at times. He said the "experience" had made him "learn better." He appreciated that his sister and grandmother immediately forgave him. They had "proof of some these things I witnessed and went through," he said, but he couldn't contact them at the time.

They were not in the courtroom Monday. But several relatives on his mother's side were there to support him.

Orton said he thought something like this would never happen. He didn't think it was fair  he's now 19 and "everybody else here is, what, 50?"

He also said he was "sorry for all this" and he would give his "left arm" to bring his parents back. His relatives have said his parents could have been "rehabilitated," he said.

He thanked Jesus, saying it wasn't just "jailhouse religion" because it had made him feel better than he has in 17 years. He wiped tears from his eyes after he spoke in court.

During the hearing, Tracy Thomas, an Ames forensic psychologist, said that email from Misty Scott-Slade on Oct. 13, 2021, along with his father first siding with his son and then switching to side with wife, led to Ethan Orton having a mental breakdown because he had nobody to support or protect him.

Thomas said the household was "chaotic." His parents' approach was emotionally abusive, Thomas testified. They seemed to blame their son for marital problems, but he tried to not upset them because he didn't want their anger or criticism.

Thomas said Orton told her he attempted suicide at 11. He drank a small portion of bleach. While he's been in jail, he stuffed socks in his mouth but jail employees stopped him.

Orton didn't have many friends, Thomas said. He could name only a couple, and two were teachers. He connected with people he didn't know well through a computer app, but regarded them as his "lifeline."

Daniel Tranel, a University of Iowa psychology and neurology professor, said in his evaluation and testing, he found Orton of average intelligence with no cognitive issues, who had normal maturity and not diagnosed with any mental disorders. Tranel said Orton told him he was a shy, quiet person  "a good kid."

Tranel didn't know if the bleach incident was really an attempted suicide or Orton just trying to get attention.

In Tranel's testing, Orton showed planning, judgment and decision-making abilities. He had minimal depression and anxiety but showed a "mild elevation" of paranoia. Tranel said he concluded Orton was normal and didn't met the criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, a Republican, has joined another multistate lawsuit against Democratic President Joe Biden, this one over the administrations border policies.

Bird also in a news release endorsed Republican-led federal legislation that would make lab-based fentanyl copycats Schedule I drugs.

Iowa is among 22 states to sign onto a letter, initiated by Florida and Virginia, that calls on Congress to pass H.R. 467, the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, or the HALT Fentanyl Act.

By reclassifying fentanyl copies as Schedule I drugs, they also would become illegal to sell or distribute.

In 2022, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues caused about 66% of drug overdose deaths, and fentanyl analogues often are more potent than fentanyl itself, according to the Iowa AGs office.

Criminalizing fentanyl analogues will give law enforcement the tools they need to fight the deadly fentanyl epidemic, crack down on drug dealers, and save lives, Bird said in a news release issued late last week.

Also late last week, Bird joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Biden administrations new immigration asylum rules.

The rules, put in place after the recent expiration of the pandemic-era Title 42, mean federal officials can turn away asylum-seekers who did not meet certain criteria, including migrants who passed through another country to reach the U.S. without applying for asylum there.

Most migrants found violating the policy will be banned from re-entry for five years.

Migrants also can schedule a time to present at an entry port with an app, or prove that it was not possible to use the app due to a language barrier or other obstacle. The states argued those exceptions will allow more migrants to cross the border illegally.

This open border rule turns every state into a border state. It strains our already-overburdened border security and invites an increase of illegal drugs, crime, and human trafficking into our communities, Bird said in a news release. We must take urgent action to secure our border and keep the Biden Administration in check.

The Indiana-led lawsuit includes 19 states.

Attorney general announces new hires

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced new hires to her senior staff last week.

Susan Krisko will serve as deputy attorney general for criminal justice, overseeing criminal prosecution. She has worked in the attorney generals office for 15 years and was previously an assistant attorney general who specialized in prosecuting high-level felony cases.

Daniel Barnes will serve as deputy attorney general for consumer protection, overseeing consumer fraud cases. Barnes was an attorney at a private Milwaukee firm for more than eight years, working executive compensation and employee benefit issues. He also has worked as a legal intern for the Iowa governors office.

Nearly 500 sites for summer food program

The free summer food program for low-income students will be available at nearly 500 sites across the state, the Iowa Department of Education announced.

The program was created to help ensure low-income students who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year dont go hungry during the summer, the department said. Students ages 18 and younger will be able to receive free meals at a variety of locations, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries, housing complexes and camps.

Iowans can find summer meal sites at www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids, by texting Food or Comida to 304-304, or by calling any of these numbers: 2-1-1; 866-3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479) for English;

877-8-HAMBRE (877-842-6273) for Spanish.

The program is funded by the federal agriculture department and operated by the state education department.

$200,000 in assistance approved for Davenport building collapse

Iowas Executive Council, consisting of the governor, secretaries of state and agriculture, treasurer and auditor, on Monday approved $200,000 in assistance to households affected by the May 28 collapse of a six-story Davenport apartment building.

The council approved $150,000 through the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and $50,000 through the Iowa Disaster Case Management Program.

Recipients will be able to use the funds to establish a recovery plan and to repair or replace items damaged in the collapse.

The individual assistance program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The grant application and instructions are available at https://hhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs.

Through the disaster management program, case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referrals to obtain other needed services and resources.

Learn more at https://iowacommunityaction.org.

State Treasurer Roby Smith, a Republican former state lawmaker from Davenport, in a statement said: As a member of the Davenport community, I know how vital these funds are to those affected by this tragedy.

My family and I want to share our deepest sympathies with the families of Branden Colvin, Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, and our continued support for all those impacted as they work to recover and find a path forward.

DNR: Summer heat leads to Oelwein fish kill

Summer heat contributed to a fish kill in an unnamed tributary to Otter Creek that flows through Oelwein in Fayette County, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Monday.

This is a natural kill caused by extremely warm water temperatures and low flow conditions on the stream, Theresa Shay, fisheries technician with the Iowa DNR, said in a statement.

A little more than two miles of stream were affected by the warm water, killing less than 1,000 fish. Species primarily affected include smaller minnows, dace and suckers, according to the DNR.

Those who see dead fish at an Iowa lake or river are urged to call the DNRs 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible.

Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress, according to a news release.

Photos: Gov. Reynolds tours site of The Davenport collapse 060523-qct-nws-collapse-01.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-14.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-07.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-16.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-09.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-10.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-17.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-11.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-13.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-05.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-06.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-04.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-02.jpg 060523-qct-nws-collapse-03.jpg
LONDON (AP)  Prince Harry's historic showdown Tuesday with the publisher of a British tabloid exposed his deep suspicions of the press but offered little concrete evidence to support accusations of phone hacking that he said caused so much anguish in his life.

The Duke of Sussex became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in more than a century as he held a Bible in his right hand and, in a soft voice, swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in the High Court in London.

Harry accuses the publisher of the Daily Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an industrial scale to score front-page scoops on his life.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie as he sat in the witness box, Harry told Mirror Group Newspapers attorney Andrew Green that he had "experienced hostility from the press since I was born." The prince accused the tabloids of playing a destructive role in my growing-up.

Green apologized for the one instance Mirror Group has admitted to hiring a private investigator to dig up dirt on Harry, which was not among the claims he has brought. Mirror Group denies or doesn't admit his other allegations.

Green acknowledged that the duke had lived a life of tabloid life intrusion," and then in a sympathetic tone set about dismantling his case.

Taken back in time to his 12th birthday and onward through early adulthood, he was confronted with articles that he has complained about and asked to identify the source of wrongdoing by Mirror Groups's journalists.

Harry was forced almost immediately to acknowledge that he wasnt certain he read the 33 specific articles about him when they were published.

Is it realistic, when you have been the subject of so much press intrusion by so many press, both domestic and international, to attribute specific distress to a particular article from 20 years ago, which you may not have seen at the time? Green asked.

It isnt a specific article; it is all of the articles, Harry said. Every single article has caused me distress.

He suggested the articles were the result of phone hacking or some other unlawful information gathering method that desperate journalists relied on for any news nugget about his life.

The 38-year-old son of King Charles III is the first senior British royal since the 19th century to face questioning in a court. An ancestor, the future King Edward VII, appeared as a witness in a trial over a gambling scandal in 1891.

Harry has said the royal family avoided legal entanglements to prevent having to be put in the witness box.

The case dates from 1996 to 2011  a period when phone hacking by tabloid journalists was later discovered to have been widespread. It led to revelations of more intrusive means such as phone tapping, home bugging and using deception to obtain flight information and medical records.

Harry's fury at the U.K. press runs through his memoir, Spare." He blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, and said intrusion by the U.K. press, including allegedly racist articles, led him and his wife, Meghan, to flee to the U.S. in 2020 and leave royal life behind.

When pressed to be specific about what information had been illegally harvested, Harry repeatedly told the lawyer that the source of information in stories was highly suspicious or that he should ask the reporter who wrote the article.

He said some of the journalists had been known for hacking or that there were invoices to third parties, including private investigators known for snooping, around the time of the articles. He suggested other records had been destroyed.

Time and again, as Green laid out evidence to the contrary and what was described by Harry as a nefarious act had a more innocent explanation.

The source of a 1996 story that mentioned how badly he was taking his parents' divorce appeared to have come from public comments his mother, the late Princess Diana, had given to reporters.

Information about his 18th birthday came from his own mouth and, apparently, palace press people who set up an interview with him and the Press Association, which was widely used or quoted in many papers, including the Daily Mirror.

A Daily Mirror story headlined Snap, Harry breaks thumb like William" in 2000 came from a spokesperson at his fathers office, which had given the Press Association the news the day before.

Harry remained steadfast that the paper's former royal editor, Jane Kerr, who is due to testify Wednesday, relied on some unlawful means to report the story.

Probably herself or she got someone else to do her dirty work for her, he said.

When asked whose phone she hacked, Harry suggested it could have been the doctor's.

Are you not in the realms of total speculation? Green said.

No, I do not believe so," Harry said.

Harry said the articles caused him to become depressed and paranoid, distrustful of friends, who he feared were feeding information to the media. His circle of friends shrank, relationships fell apart and he felt constantly in the glare of the journalists who were shaping the narrative of his life.

I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," Harry said in a written witness statement released Tuesday.

Setting out the princes case, his lawyer, David Sherborne, said Monday that from Harry's childhood, British newspapers used skullduggery to cover all facets of his life  from school injuries to experimenting with marijuana and cocaine, to ups and downs with girlfriends.

Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds for the tabloids, the lawyer said.

Green said Monday that there was simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.
Comment of the Russian Embassy in Latvia:

The story of how yesterdays schoolgirl became a threat to national security of the Republic of Latvia continues. Today, the Riga court decided to extend the detention of social activist, student of St. Petersburg State University Tatyana Andriets for another two months. Now she, in addition to  violations of the sanctions regime, are charged with creation of a criminal organization, which, in accordance with local criminal law, is punishable by imprisonment from 8 to 17 years.

The local Themis has not yet presented any convincing evidence to society of the guilt of a Latvian citizen who is not indifferent to what is happening in her country. However, as practice shows, in such initially politicized cases, this is not required. The purpose of this cynical violation of human rights is obvious  to convince the population of the republic of the inevitability of punishment for expressing wrong thoughts.

Such a mockery of a young girl who naively believed that she lives in a state of law is a shame for the Latvian justice!

# #Latvia #

WtR
Wildfires in Canada may continue to impact air quality in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin depending on weather patterns.

The air quality index hit the unhealthy category the morning of Monday, June 5, in La Crosse, Chippewa Falls and Winona, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

We dont get to that unhealthy (air quality index) very often, said Craig Czarnecki, outreach coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

A high pressure system pushed wildfire smoke from Quebec in Canada westward into Wisconsin and Minnesota, causing Mondays alerts.

Before May 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had not issued an alert for wildfire smoke impact since 2012. Air quality has not reached levels considered unhealthy for all in Winona since 2021.

This summer is setting up to be potentially a very active one, said Matt Taraldsen, supervisory meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This is likely to continue through the summer because the wildfires are burning in the areas of Canada still.

The Quebec fires are distinct from fires in Alberta, northwest of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Smoke from Alberta wildfires in May created unhealthy air conditions in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Those fires continue to burn, its just that we havent had the weather patterns to push that smoke down, said Taraldsen.

Canadas wildfires also arrived before many trees typically green, leaving forests more susceptible to future fires. Smoke also does not dissipate as fast in the local region due to a distinct geography of high bluffs above low rivers.

Smoke likes to settle in that and when that happens, the atmosphere has to work harder to push that smoke out. River valleys are always one of the tough ones. Its the same reason why fog will form there and stay there longer, said Taraldsen.

Czarnecki said that ground-level ozone, which can harm human health, is typically associated with summer air quality advisories. Motor vehicles drive emissions of the organic compounds that form ozone.

Those need heat and sunlight to chemically react in the air to form ozone, said Czarnecki.

An air quality alert covering Winona and Houston counties is in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 6. The Wisconsin alert ended at midnight.

Fine particles from wood smoke can enter the lungs and cause symptoms including difficulty breathing, irritated eyes and throat, headaches and chest pain.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recommends everyone reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor activities when pollutant concentrations are this high.

Current air quality readings are available from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at airquality.wi.gov/home/map and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air-quality-conditions.
From left, Nabi Joy CEO Joy Kim, columnist Kim Tae-hoon, actor Chung Ae-rie, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar and Korea Yoga Association President Yoon Woo-geun pose during a media event announcing the ninth International Yoga Day celebrations in Korea at the embassy's cultural center in central Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Embassy of India in Korea



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Originating in India primarily as a spiritual practice, yoga has become popular in Korea as a way of harmonizing physical health and spiritual wellness.



The celebrations for International Yoga Day, which falls on June 21 and promotes worldwide health, harmony and peace, returns to Korea with over 2,000 people gathering in Seoul Olympic Park to practice outdoors after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.



Ambassador of India to Korea Amit Kumar highlighted the relevance of yoga in contemporary life to deal with to escalating stress levels and illnesses.



"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the practice of Yoga also helped address issues relating to mental anxiety and mental health. Yoga today is therefore a strong aspect of preventive health care frameworks in several countries around the world," Kumar said during a press event, Monday, announcing the 2023 International Yoga Day events in Korea at the embassy's cultural center in central Seoul.



"This year's International Day of Yoga celebrations are even more special as India and the Republic of Korea, two friendly countries with two millennia old civilizational connect, commemorate 50 years of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 2023."



International Yoga Day was designated in 2014 through a resolution proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United Nations General Assembly.



"(Yoga) is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature," Modi said during his address at the U.N. General Assembly.



Yoon Wu-geun, president of the Korea Yoga Association, noted the connection between Korea and India in this matter, pointing out that Korean diplomat Ban Ki-moon was serving as the U.N. secretary-general when International Yoga Day was established.



This year, five International Yoga Day events will be held throughout Korea  in Gurye, South Jeolla Province on June 10, Seoul on June 16, Jeju on June 21, Busan on June 23 and Gwangju on June 24  under the theme of "Brighten the World."



"On June 17, we will gather at the Olympic Park in Seoul, whose serene and tranquil environment provides an ideal setting for us to practice yoga and meditation. Surrounded by nature, we will have the opportunity to connect with our inner selves and foster a deeper connection with the world around us. We expect close to 2,000 people to join us at the event," Kumar said.



At the Seoul gathering, 10 yoga leaders, including actor Chung Ae-rie, who is also the honorary ambassador for Korea's ninth International Day of Yoga, will guide the outdoor practice, complete with a performance by the dancers of the Indian Cultural Centre, Korea.



"Today I am here as the honorary ambassador for International Yoga Day. I mustered the courage and completed a yoga instructor course, which led me to this position and I will be one of the instructors who will lead the event in Seoul," Chung said.



"Although I have practiced yoga for years, my true journey with yoga started about seven years ago when I fell ill. It was during my recovery period that I realized the importance of rest, which led me to the essence of yoga practice. In our fast-paced modern world, yoga provides a necessary pause, a moment to stand still."



Kim Tae-hoon, a popular culture columnist who was also named as the honorary ambassador of the ninth International Yoga Day, commented on the cultural influence of yoga.



"The Beatles' journey to India and their experience with yoga played a significant role in making yoga popular in the West. Among the members, it was George Harrison who showed the deepest interest and continued to practice yoga throughout his lifetime," he said.



"I too am intrigued by the meditative mindset that stems from the practice of yoga."


Ray McDaniel had to pull over. He was driving through Sauk County to his home in Baraboo and he had to stop  he just had to  because the clouds above him were just too beautiful for him not to stop. Their beauty demanded his attention.

The local artist sometimes thinks its nearly too much, all of what one can see on ones journey.

Its astounding, he said, about what creating art does for him. Its a treasure hunt. Its a journey. Its a spiritual path for me. Its an ancient game. Art reveals itself to me. It reveals what my heart is.

McDaniel is revealing himself this month at Baraboo Con Amicis Craft Bar, located at 126 3rd St. His artwork will be on display there. An artist reception will be held Thursday, June 8, starting at 6 p.m.

The art exhibit is entitled Opening Doors. McDaniel recently stated online, Finding treasure is a pretty good description of the purpose my art wants to serve. Food for our souls, our hearts, and our imagination is what the treasure looks like. He continued. Ive been madly digging for it for decades, said the 66-year-old.

When he was growing up outside of Boston, it was in high school when he decided to be an artist. Perhaps it wasnt a decision at all. I just had to be, he said. It wasnt so much as a desire as it was an eternal spark. It embodied him.

Inspired by naturethe woods of Massachusetts; the sky above  and sculpture  both the human-made and found in the natural world  pulled at him to create art. Hes been insatiably curious and always filled with wonder ever since.

Its hard to make a living as an artist though. He worked nine-to-five jobs. He lived a life of paying bills, and being in stuck in commutes, and mowing lawns, and the regular hum along of life; all the while finding art most everywhere, and finding himself creating it as often as he could.

He moved to Wisconsin in 1992 and lived in Wisconsin Dells for some time. He moved to Baraboo two-plus years ago.

He was fortunate, living in Wisconsin Dells, to find work as an artist. Hes currently a sculptor for Kalahari Resorts. Not only does he create work for the Wisconsin Dells location, but for all Kalahari Resorts. They are also located in Sandusky, Ohio, Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania, and Round Rock, Texas. The Round Rock location is the second largest indoor water park in the United States.

My art runs the gamut, McDaniel said, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

His recent art has leaned heavily toward sublime.

Im always inspired to spark peoples imaginations, he said. I want people to take their own spiritual path. I want to show them the vastness within them.

With the COVID pandemic, coupled with the local Be Kind campaign, he has begun to turn his attention to hearts. His One Heart Gallery pieces are portable murals and art flags designed as an opportunity, as his website states, to reach inside your home where you hold the love and kindness that you want for your family and yourself.

McDaniel is honored to share that love at Con Amici.

Theres an ineffable beautiful love everywhere, he said.

Sometimes thats at a craft bar in downtown Baraboo. Sometimes its in the cloudy skies above that one just has to stop for and awe at it in wonder.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties and Mono County. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...From this afternoon through Monday evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Slow moving thunderstorms will produce areas of heavy rainfall with localized rainfall rates on the order of 1.00 to 1.50 inches per hour. Soils are already saturated with creeks, streams, and rivers running full due to ongoing snowmelt. It will not take as much rain to cause excessive runoff. Also, heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding and debris flows near burn scars and steep terrain. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. &&
Pride Month is a fine time to discover new movies and catch up with some classics that helped pave the way for the depiction of a diversity of LGBTQ+ characters and their stories. This is the month for movies that celebrate, mourn and agitate  sometimes in the same breath.

The Inspection (2022)

Jeremy Pope gives a muscular and tender turn as Ellis French, a young gay man whose Marine drill instructor promises to break French and his fellow recruits. The question becomes, has Ellis mother already done the deed? Gabrielle Union, 50, does an expert job as Ellis intractably unkind mother. As the drill instructor, Bokeem Woodbine, 50, is fierce, while Raul Castillo is sympathetic as another instructor. The ensemble makes writer-director Elegance Brattons deeply personal feature a moving affair and one impressive debut.

Watch it: The Inspection on YouTube, Prime Video

Milk (2008)

Gus Van Sants Milk provides a timely reminder of the intimate relationship of gay rights to the civil rights movement. Sean Penn won an Academy Award as the assassinated San Francisco activist and city supervisor. Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the nation. Josh Brolin, 55, is dismayingly excellent as former city supervisor Dan White, who killed Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone.

Watch it: Milk on Prime Video, Hulu

Tar (2022)

LGBTQ folks no longer have to flinch at less-than-upstanding characters. In this sublime drama, Lydia Tar (Cate Blanchett, 54) is a genius, a lesbian  a jerk. Her driven symphony conductor isnt a role model, but boy is she mesmerizing. So is German actor Nina Hoss, who portrays Lydias wise, talented and increasingly vexed wife.

Watch it: Tar on Apple TV, YouTube

Bros (2022)

This studio-made gay romantic comedy starring openly gay actors Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane was a commercial bomb  too bad, because its a hoot! In pairing geeky podcaster Bobby and buff Aaron, it strikes all the right rom-com notes about opposites attracting, then adds lots of insider snark about LGBTQ verities that is as pointed as it is loving. Playing a philanthropist, Bowen Yangs riff on a historically themed roller-coaster ride for a new LGBTQ museum is priceless.

Watch it: Bros on Prime Video, YouTube

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

This Chilean winner of the Oscar for best foreign language film follows Marina, a transgender woman who must navigate an often merciless world after her lover dies unexpectedly. If that sounds too rending, its not, thanks to director Sebastian Lelios empathic gifts and transgender actor Daniela Vegas luminous and centered exploration of a woman who indeed lives up to the movies title.

Watch it: A Fantastic Woman on Prime Video
Austin Tucker recently emailed a CV with fingers crossed for a job. Nothing unusual for a young person these days, except the CV wasnt his; it detailed the extensive work history of his 100-year-old grandfather, Howard Tucker, M.D. The 2021 recipient of Guinness World Records title of Oldest Practicing Physician is looking for a job because the hospital where he worked became an ambulatory care center in November 2022, four months after his 100th birthday.

Many would have hung up their stethoscope at that age, but Tuckers mantra is Retirement is the enemy of longevity, and hes a living testament to his advice.

Born in Cleveland on July 10, 1922, Tucker has achieved centenarian status with more energy, enthusiasm, humor and sensitivity than most could imagine.

He still does freelance work as an expert legal and medical witness, but it isnt enough to quench his never-ending thirst for learning. Tucker tasted courtroom drama years ago as an expert witness in a high-profile case and decided being a lawyer in addition to a neurologist would help the cases he worked on. So in 1989 at the age of 67, he attended Cleveland State University College of Law and passed the Ohio State Bar exam while still working as a neurologist.

Tuckers first love is medicine. He knew back in his days at Cleveland Heights High School that he wanted to be a physician and finished Ohio State with his undergraduate degree in 1944 and his medical doctorate in 1947. He interned and did his residency in Cleveland hospitals and earned a fellowship at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic from 1949 to 1951. Tucker then completed a neurology residency at the Neurological Institute of New York from 1951 to 1953. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1945 during World War II while at med school and was the chief neurologist for the Atlantic fleet during the Korean War.

I prefer medicine back before CT scans and MRIs, when practicing was more of an art form and more challenging to your mind to figure out what was wrong with a patient, he said, acknowledging that technology has increased the average life span.

Tucker and his wife, Sara, married in 1957. The couple have four children, three of whom are lawyers and one who is a doctor, and 10 grandchildren. Sara is a practicing psychiatrist at age 89.

Tuckers commitment to helping patients is so strong that he snuck out of his house regularly during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic  against his familys wishes  to help treat hospitalized patients. He survived contracting COVID himself around the time of his 100th birthday.

Tucker does not like sitting still and enjoys jogging 5 miles a few times a week or hiking with Sara around a nearby lake. Hes successfully undergone spinal surgery twice  the most recent from falling down the stairs of his own home at age 98. Tucker says none of these medical crises frightened him enough to think his time was up.

Whats next?

Tuckers grandson Austin has been attracting attention to his granddads story. Austin says he grew up assuming all grandparents were like his, sharing the same sense of adventure and joy for life. He realized how extraordinary his are only when he began telling stories about them to his friend, New York University film school graduate Taylor Taglianetti.
It appears that the Spinas abided by that law for some 25 years. So why, in 2011, did they decide to cross the line? Was it an honest desire to do more for their patients? Or the most basic of all motivations, greed? There is evidence for both, but whats clear, according to prosecutors, is that in 2011, the Spina brothers came up with elaborate schemes to circumvent the law, setting up corporations in the names of medical doctors and other health care providers. Court documents show the Spinas ran those businesses as if they were the owners and the owners were the employees  a violation of the state law permitting only medical doctors to operate medical practices or employ physicians.

Indeed, the evidence shows Jay and Jeff retained control of everything, administering each business and doling out performance bonuses to the owners-in-name. Office manager Grossman, who declined to be interviewed, helped set up and manage bank accounts for the nominal owners of the businesses. Jay directed office staff to hide the brothers connections to these other businesses by using variations on the Dolson Avenue address. Money was shifted from those corporations to ones owned by Jay and Jeff, disguised as rent payments and marketing fees. Jay benefited the most; one court document shows he and his wife received $4 million in disbursements to their company, Effective Marketing.

If there is an audit by Medicare there is no way out of this one.  Jay Spina email to Jeff Spina, Jan. 3, 2013

In addition to illegally operating all the businesses, the brothers engaged in other practices that are the pillars of medical fraud. They billed for services they didnt render. They charged two different insurance providers for the same procedures. They provided treatments that werent necessary or effective. (The facet injections that Bagley gave to Debbie Dillinger, for example, werent medically justified, according to a medical expert who reviewed her records.) And they falsified medical records to back up their claims. These are common themes in our investigations, HHSs Frisco told me. Maximizing profits, she said, was the focus of the Spinas practice.

In a 2013 email, Jay cautioned Jeff about exorbitant billing. I think you had better keep a closer watch on this, he wrote. If there is an audit by Medicare there is no way out of this one.

While the brothers were growing richer, court documents show that their sister, Kimberly, received an hourly wage of about $16 for her part in the scam, which involved preparing fake medical reports and doctoring workers compensation claims. Kimberly, who declined to speak with me, is a recovering alcoholic who flunked out of chiropractic school, according to her lawyer. She told prosecutors that she believed her job prospects outside the family business were probably nonexistent.

As the years progressed, the Spinas businesses grew to around 30 staff. They moved out of their original location and into a larger, newly remodeled space in a building in a strip mall just a mile away, and offered a range of services, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, acupuncture, massage and medical pain management.

Jay was charming, said ex-NYPD officer Padilla, always professionally dressed  a suit guy. Even when he was on the go, hed stop and talk and start treating somebody, rubbing their back or using one of the massage machines. Jeff, comfortable in polo shirts and sneakers, was, according to Padilla, the quintessential hardworking middle child, the machine who kept the operation running.

RYAN INZANA

In front of their patients, the brothers were smiling and good-natured. But behind the scenes, they often clashed. In a letter to the court, Jeff, who declined to be interviewed for this article, wrote that he knew his brother was extracting most of the medical profits through a management company: We had many heated discussions and fights regarding his lack of transparency  in the office, in front of staff and at his house many times, when his wife had to separate us. Chiropractor Steve Brune, a witness to their office battles, wrote in a letter to the court that Jay usually won those fights: Jeff didnt stand a chance when it came to disagreements with his brother.

In interviews with investigators, staffers described how patient treatment was often based solely on how much the Spinas could extract from Medicare, no-fault insurers and workers compensation benefits. Patients were referred between the bogus health care companies, and insurance claims were spread out to avoid attracting attention from providers on the lookout for fraud. The brothers encouraged staff to meet certain billing targets, regardless of whether treatments were medically necessary, dangling weekly bonus plans, such as movie tickets, free lunches and other rewards, for hitting those profit goals. Prosecutors said the Spinas also negotiated illegal kickbacks with suppliers of goods and services, like back braces and magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs). They even taught employees how to lie to insurance companies to get approval for these MRIs  and get their kickbacks.

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Not everyone at Dolson went along with these activities. In an email to Jeff, one doctor complained that Jay and Kimberly were pressuring him to create exaggerated reports that would guarantee unlimited insurance company approvals for therapy. There are lines of honesty and professionalism in producing documentation I will not cross, he wrote, and I want the threats of being fired unless I do so to stop immediately.

Even a former patient told the FBI that they had realized something might be fishy when they received paperwork about claims from care providers theyd never seen, inconsistent copays and unfamiliar bills sent to collection agencies. That patient described the clinic as a mill that shuffled them through as many treatments as their insurance would cover.

A system vulnerable to fraud

How could such fraud go on so long without the perpetrators being caught? Its easy, said Sparrow, the Harvard fraud expert. In the U.S. health insurance system, its standard for claims to be paid first and checked for validity later  if theyre checked at all. The resources available for tracking down fraudulent and abusive providers are so tiny compared with the probable scale of these problems, he said.

VIDEO: Avoid Medicare Card Scams

Swindlers capitalize on the fact that automated payment systems check claims for medical orthodoxy, not authenticity. As long as a claim appears accuratethe procedure code matches the diagnosis and the price is commensurate with the treatment  you can get paid for entirely faked medical procedures. The Spinas took that into account on several occasions when they were audited by Medicare, the New York State Comptrollers office or private insurance companies, according to investigators: To cover their tracks, the brothers assembled a special audit team of their employees to manufacture medical records that files lacked.

Ironically, control systems set up to detect inappropriate billing teach criminals how to be better crooks, said Sparrow. If, for example, a provider submits a claim for a service that isnt justified by a patients diagnosis, the provider will receive a computer-generated notice explaining why that claim was denied. Its very nice, Sparrow said. A reasonably clever crook watches it very carefully for these reasons and stops repeating any of those mistakes."

The YouTube expert performs complex facet injections

When Charles Bagley joined the Dolson Avenue Medical team in the summer of 2016, he was, in many ways, a broken man, reeling from a bad divorce, a bankruptcy filing and a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation that had cost him his license to prescribe narcotics.

Not surprisingly, Bagley welcomed his new salaried job  one that would release him from the stress of running a medical practice. At Dolson Avenue, all he had to do was wait for the patients to come in. In exchange, Bagley brought a new procedure to the practices list of insurance-covered treatments: facet injections.

At a minimum, people who administer facet injections should have three months of daily and direct training with a physician already well versed in the procedure, according to an expert consulted by the HHS inspector generals Office of Investigations. Bagley had no formal training, according to prosecutors, alleging that he taught himself by shadowing other doctors and watching YouTube videos. Whats more, Bagley was injecting patients with a concoction he devised himself: a combination of lidocaine, a sugar solution and ingredients the expert considered unusual.

The results could be horrific. In December 2016, one patient being treated for neck, back and shoulder injuries received an injection of what Bagley called his special mixture, she later told the FBI. She felt an electric shock shooting down her left arm and cried out in pain. When she left the clinic that evening, she couldnt walk without assistance. She was dizzy, numb and in pain from the neck down, according to her account. Months after the incident, she was still experiencing pain and numbness, and was forced to quit her job as a home health aide.

In early March 2017, another patient passed out during an injection from Bagley. An employee at the clinic told the FBI that Jeff had refused to let the staff call 911 because he didnt want the police to come. After the patient was resuscitated with CPR, Jeff emailed Jay. Got quite bad for a bit, he wrote. We need to look into this.

Seven days after that email, Debbie Dillinger walked into the clinic for her third facet injection that month. Bagley should have used an X-ray with dye to guide his needle, according to an expert report; he used ultrasound instead. He used far too much lidocaine, according to the expert who reviewed the incident. And, as Bagley acknowledged to me when we spoke on the phone about what happened, injections in the neck can be particularly risky. I shouldnt have been doing the injections in that area. He wasnt prepared for such an emergency, he said.
The Security Council meets at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, May 30. South Korea aims to return to the council for 2024-2025, and the U.N. will vote on the bid on Tuesday (local time). AP-Yonhap



South Korean diplomats on Monday made their final pitch for Seoul's bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).



South Korea, which last sat on the council in 2013-2014, aims to return to the council for 2024-2025, and the U.N. will vote on the bid on Tuesday (local time).



If elected, it will mark the third time for South Korea to serve as one of the 10 nonpermanent UNSC members. Previously, South Korea had served the seat during the 1996-1997 term.



South Korea hopes to return to the council as it seeks to expand its roles in U.N. activities for international peace and security. It would also help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul diplomats have said.



North Korea, which has shown little signs of returning to dialogue, has ramped up developments of its nuclear and missile programs. In late March, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the expansion of the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials for an exponential increase in its arsenal.



In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Ambassador to the U.N. Hwang Joon-kook said Seoul would "gain a foothold" to play a leading role in global affairs if it wins a seat on the council.



If South Korea returns to the council, it "will serve as an opportunity to expand our diplomatic horizons," Hwang said.



The U.N. body is run by five veto-wielding permanent members  Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States  and 10 nonpermanent members, who are elected to serve two-year terms.



To win a nonpermanent seat, a country needs to secure at least two-thirds of the votes from the countries attending the general assembly, out of the 193 member states. (Yonhap)


If youre tired of being cramped in an apartment or suburban neighborhood, and are looking for a place with room to spread out, one of these homes might be for you. Each of these six homes has at least an acre of potential while still being close to the conveniences of the city. The price tag for each of these homes is under $1 million.

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Located in the South Valley, this custom-built home sits within a walled-off lot with private motorized entry gate. The inside is spacious with an open kitchen and high ceilings. The master bedroom has a jetted tub. The other bedrooms have wood-beam ceilings and octagonal shape, giving residents the feeling of being in a fairy-tale house. The home also boasts heated flooring and an in-ground heated pool and spa on the back patio with an outdoor fireplace.

Price: $599,900

Year built: 1997

House size: 2,826 square feet

Lot size: 1.49 acres

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 2 full baths and 1 three-quarters bath

2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 2608 GARNER (Courtesy of KotoHomes) Prev 1 of 29 Next

This home in the Pajarito Village neighborhood us on almost an acre-and-a-half of fenced-in land with grass and room for horses. Its on a dead-end street with a gated driveway. It is served by city water and sewer, and has an irrigation well. The backyard has play equipment and a gazebo. In addition to the three-car garage, there is an extra building with a garage door and loft for more storage. The inside of the home has a great room with vaulted ceilings, wood burning stove, wet bar, formal dining area and breakfast nook. The spacious kitchen has been remolded.

Price: $699,900

Year built: 1987

House size: 3,480 square feet

Lot size: 1.46 acres

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full baths

9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) 9304 HOLBROOK (Courtesy of KotoHomes) Prev 1 of 14 Next

This house in North Albuquerque Acres was given a new roof and fresh stucco April 2023. The spacious home has plenty of storage, a cozy breakfast nook and formal dining room. The master bedroom has a window seat with sweeping mountain views and a fireplace next to the large jetted tub. The living room has built-in bookshelves and a pellet stove. The backyard has two covered patios and an outbuilding made of cinder blocks.

Price: $735,000

Year built: 1994

House size: 2,740 square feet

Lot size: 1 acre

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full baths

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This home rests in the North Valley on one acre of pastoral grassland with established trees. It has private gate leading to a four-car garage with its own workshop and three-quarters bathroom. Inside, the house features a wood-burning stove, spiral staircase, distinctive wood detailing on the ceilings, carved wood-beam supports in the kitchen and dining room and custom cabinetry. Upstairs, theres a loft with large windows filling the space with natural light. The master bathroom hosts a dual-sink vanity and a spa-like tub. The fine wood detailing continues with a wet bar upstairs. The front of the house has a walled-in courtyard, and the backyard has a second garage and a pen for livestock.

Price: $789,000

Year built: 1975

House size: 4,240 square feet

Lot size: 1 acre

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full baths

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This brand-new home was completed earlier this year in the South Valley. It features a large covered patio accessible from the living room with stamped and colored concrete and an outdoor grill and sink for the BBQ enthusiast. Inside is spacious with vaulted ceilings, an over-sized kitchen island, granite countertops and a walk-in pantry. The living area has a tiled fireplace. The front yard has been landscaped with grass and gravel, but the backyard is still waiting for customization.

Price: $799,900

Year built: 2023

House size: 3,049 square feet

Lot size: 1 acre

Bedrooms: 5

Baths: 1 full bath and 2 three-quarters baths

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This Highlands at High Desert home in the Northeast Heights was custom built by luxury home builder Paschich. It boasts unobstructed views of the Sandia Mountains and has a gourmet kitchen with double ovens, a large island, vegetable sink, granite countertops and a butlers pantry. The home has ceramic tiled flooring and carved solid-wood doors and custom cabinetry. The master bedroom includes a sunroom that could be used as an office or nursery, his and her bathrooms and walk-in closets. The formal dining and living room areas have 12-foot ceilings and the walls are Venetian plaster. The oversized three-car garage has a shop area and plenty of storage.

Price: $945,000

Year built: 2001

House size: 3,441 square feet

Lot size: 1.76 acres

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 2 full baths and 1 half-bath

More houses on the market: Off the grid in New Mexico: 10 eclectic houses that are way out of town

Chefs kiss: 6 for-sale Albuquerque-area houses under $500K with chefs kitchens

New Mexico real estate round-up: Heres what $200,000 will buy you  outside the Albuquerque metro area
On the day he was murdered, Bangladeshi geology professor Taher Ahmed interrupted his visit with his adult children in Dhaka, the nations capital and largest city, to return to his university for an important faculty meeting.

The meeting, scheduled for the following morning, had been called to discuss plagiarism charges against a junior professor in the department, Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin. It was Ahmed who had discovered and reported the alleged plagiarism.

For Ahmed, the meeting represented a painful professional duty. The two men had previously been friends. For Mohiuddin, the stakes could hardly have been higher. He faced the imminent loss of his reputation and job.

The next morning, Ahmed didnt show up at the meeting. Nor did he return his familys increasingly frantic phone calls. His son traveled to the university, six hours from Dhaka, to search for his missing father. He eventually found his body in a septic tank not far from his home.

Mohiuddin was convicted of masterminding the murder and sentenced to death. But he belonged to a politically-influential family, according to a Wikipedia article on the case. The appellate court granted him bail, a sign that the judges looked favorably upon his appeal.

Meanwhile, Professor Ahmeds daughter, Shagufta Tabassum Ahmed, was finishing her law studies. In a first-person as told to article published by the BBC, she said that when she learned Mohiuddin had been released from prison, my future snapped into focus. Upon graduation, she immediately started assisting the prosecution.

For an American lawyer, that rings all sorts of alarm bells. Lawyers often have to fight against the human tendency to let emotions dictate their decision-making. For the child of a murder victim, that fight would be so much harder. Besides, are the goals sought by survivors the same as those sought by the government?

Judith Herman, a Harvard Medical School professor, recently published Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice. She asked 30 victims of serious abuse and violence what justice would mean to them. She begins her summary of their answers with this statement: The first precept of survivors justice is the desire for community acknowledgement that a wrong has been done.

Its a simple statement that contains a world of meaning. It explains the real significance of the decision by police not to investigate reported crimes. Missing Native women and untested rape kits are extreme examples. But many who report property crime know the feeling, too.

A German philosopher, Axel Honneth, has devoted his career to elaborating a concept similar to Hermans first precept. He writes about the universal human need for recognition by others. We live in communion with others, like it or not. The opposite of recognition is the experience of humiliation or disrespect.

The Online Etymology Dictionary says that humiliate shares its root with humus (the soil, not the bean dip). Being humiliated means being treated like dirt. Respect, which shares a root with spectacles, comes from the Latin for looking. Its negation, disrespect, means to not see.

Yet another professor, Michael Rosen, published a short book called Dignity, in which he wrote about a civilized societys duty to mark the value of human beings even  in contexts of death and suffering.

All these writers are, I think, describing an important part of what victims of crime and their survivors want from their government. They want acknowledgment that they, or their loved ones, are valued members of the community, deserving of the respect the perpetrator denied them.

But the criminal law isnt primarily concerned with the relationship of perpetrator to victim. Instead, it regulates the relationship of the accused to the state. The criminal justice system is set up to process lawsuits, and victims arent even parties to those. Theyre witnesses, at best, or evidence.

The conventional list of the criminal justice systems goals includes punishment, incapacitation, rehabilitation, deterrence. The first three are exclusively concerned with the relationship of state to accused, while the fourth is aimed at unknown others.

Restitution is sometimes listed as a fifth goal, which at least acknowledges the existence of a victim. But in New Mexico restitution is limited to out-of-pocket costs.

Once charges are filed, judges regulate the relationship between the state and the accused by such means as suppressing or excluding evidence, limiting testimony, even dismissing charges. As an incidental effect, there may be no community acknowledgement that a wrong has been done, no recognition, no dignity.

I think this fundamental mismatch of goals lies at the base of much public dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system.

Mohiuddins conviction and sentence have been repeatedly upheld on appeal. His most recent writ application was denied last month.

Joel Jacobsen is an author who in 2015 retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com.
A photo of Kevin Trujillo at a press conference at the Albuquerque Police Department. Trujillo was shot and injured by police officers last month. (Jon Austria/Albuquerque Journal)

After receiving reports of gunshots fired in a southeast Albuquerque neighborhood, Albuquerque Police Officer Alex Castellano saw a suspect walking next to an apartment complex and called out to him.

My man, come here, police department, Castellano said.

A few seconds later the man made a run for it, and Castellano gave chase, before police and the suspect exchanged gunfire.

Albuquerque police on Monday released on-body camera footage and additional information about the May 10 shooting, when Castellano and Sgt. Francisco Hernandez fired at Kevin Trujillo, 33, who was hit in the back shoulder and injured.

Trujillo surrendered to a police SWAT team hours later and has been charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and negligent use of a deadly weapon. He remains jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where a judge ruled he will remain until his trial.

This May 10 video from Albuquerque Police officer Alex Castellano s body camera is is being presented as distributed to media by APD.

At around 7:30 p.m., police were called to the 5400 block of Eastern SE because of a ShotSpotter activation, Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock said during a Monday briefing on the shooting.

About 10 minutes later, police heard shots to their north and another ShotSpotter activation indicated there were three more shots fired near the corner of Palomas and Kathryn SE.

Shortly after that, Castellano and Hernandez saw Trujillo walking next to an apartment building. Thats when Castellano called out to Trujillo before chasing after him on the 5700 block of Kathryn.

Hartsock said Trujillo started to pull what appeared to grab a gun from his waistband and Castellano shot at Trujillo, apparently injuring Trujillo.

Second later, Trujillo ducked into an alleyway, the video showed. Castellano and Hernandez continued to chase and exchange gunfire before Trujillo manages to escape and hide until hes arrested later that night.

This May 10 video from Albuquerque Police Sgt. Francisco Hernandezs body camera is being presented as distributed to media by APD.

Castellano said Trujillo fired four shots in rapid succession, and he heard the shots snap by his head, according to a police summary of the shooting.

Hartsock said Trujillos mother told police her son is homeless and schizophrenic.

She said he went to her home after the shooting and was armed with two guns and had been shot. She said she didnt let her son enter her home.

Video can be a very powerful piece of evidence, but it doesnt always show the whole story, Leon Richter-Freund, Trujillos attorney, said in a statement. Its important to remember that people are presumed innocent until they are proven guilty in court.

A firearm Trujillo is believed to have used in the incident had been reported stolen in a residential burglary the day before the shooting, according to police. The gun is not believed to be linked to other shootings, Hartsock said.

Police Chief Harold Medina said the shooting was one of three shootings by police that happened recently in about a month-long period. Police have shot at people four times this year. In 2022, the department was involved in a record 18 shootings.

There are just peaks and valleys. We see incidents occur within a couple of weeks, Medina said. Theres peaks and theres valleys and right now, obviously, weve seen a few more officer-involved shootings.

Albuquerque police are working to complete a years-long Department of Justice reform effort after the DOJ announced in 2014 the department had a pattern and practice of excessive force, which included police shootings. The DOJ found that too often police used excessive force while encountering people with mental illnesses.
A biker gang expert from the FBI testified Monday that law enforcement in New Mexico is preparing for a violent retaliatory attack by the Bandidos motorcycle club against rivals who shot and killed two of their members during a May 27 rally in Red River.

Bryan Acee, the senior agent on the Albuquerque FBIs violent gang task force, said investigators believe the Bandidos instigated a premeditated campaign of violence at the annual Memorial Day weekend event by starting a fight with the Albuquerque-based motorcycle club called the Waterdogs. That fight turned deadly when one of the Waterdogs was fatally shot in the head, and two Bandidos were killed. Five others were wounded.

Acee testified that before the rally, a photo of the Waterdogs president standing with two members of the Mongols motorcycle club at a wedding made its way to social media. The Bandidos saw the photo and likely felt disrespected, Acee said.

There will be violence. We are preparing for it. There most assuredly will be, said Acee, who has 23 years of experience in law enforcement. The Bandidos will be the perpetrators; I believe the Bandidos will retaliate.

His testimony came during a pretrial detention hearing in Taos for one of two alleged Bandidos who were arrested after the shootings.

Christopher Garcia, of Midland, Texas, is facing a fourth-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine and tampering with evidence, a petty misdemeanor.

The 8th Judicial District Attorneys office contended that if he were released from custody pending trial on the charges, Garcia would pose a threat to the public safety. Garcia, 41, is a diesel mechanic who has no criminal history.

But he also is suspected of being a sergeant at arms for a Bandido chapter in Texas  a position Acee said can be a biker gangs enforcer.

After hearing the testimony, state District Judge Emilio Chavez of Taos opted not to keep Garcia in jail pending trial.

He noted that just because Garcia is a member of the group, and had various Bandidos patches and gang clothing on his person, it doesnt mean he poses a threat.

Essentially this is guilt by association, said Chavez, who released Garcia on a $25,000 bond, and imposed conditions of release. He must wear an ankle monitor while in New Mexico, cant associate with members of the motorcycle gang or witnesses, and he has a 10 p.m. curfew.

Acee testified that keeping Garcia in jail pending trial would help prevent retaliation in the short term. But eventually it would happen, he said.

Asked by Assistant District Attorney Cosme Ripol whether Garcias release posed a danger to the people of New Mexico, Acee responded yes.

Because if this person (Garcia) was involved first hand in this event and he watched it all unfold, this person is going to be the mouthpiece, sounding the rally cry to seek revenge, to let the rest of the Bandidos know what happened and what needs to happen, Acee testified.

Why not just lock them all up? defense attorney Alan H. Maestas asked Acee at one point.

Acee testified that there have been three previous shootings in New Mexico involving the Bandidos, which have a worldwide presence with up to 2,500 members. The Bandidos are the dominant outlaw motorcycle gang in New Mexico.

But the gang in recent years has been at war with California-based motorcycle gang the Mongols, which set up in New Mexico without getting required permission from the Bandidos.

The Bandidos, when they are victims, are known for not reporting crimes to police and their witnesses wont talk to investigators, he said, because they prefer to handle it themselves.

It wasnt clear which rival gang would be the likely target of a revenge attack by the Bandidos. The Waterdogs have only six members and appear to be a club focused on riding motorcycles, instead of flaunting the law, Acee said.

Keeping Chavez in jail could change the timing of when that could happen if the individual incarcerated is not able to communicate with other Bandidos, Acee said.

A pretrial detention hearing is set for Tuesday in Taos for Matthew Charles Jackson, 39, who is a suspected Bandidos president. Jackson is charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm in a liquor establishment, and possession of methamphetamine. He also was wounded during the May 27 incident.

New Mexico State Police have charged Waterdogs member Jacob Castillo with murder. Castillo has claimed self-defense.
Nusenda Credit Union on Tuesday said it plans to acquire Las Cruces-based Western Heritage Bank, a move that will grow the states largest credit unions presence in Southern New Mexico and Texas.

Nusenda, which didnt disclose the cost of the acquisition, said it expects the deal to be completed either later this year or in early 2024.

Once complete, the addition of Western Heritages branches  it has one in Las Cruces, one in Deming and four in El Paso  will bring Nusendas location count to 29, and will be its first branch foray into Texas.

Western Heritages six branches will also rebrand to Nusenda, spokesman Eric Harrison told the Journal.

The combination of our two community-focused institutions that share similar beliefs about customer service, community impact, and employee well-being will be beneficial to Nusenda Credit Union members and to Western Heritage Bank customers in the Borderplex region, Nusenda President and CEO Joe Christian said in a statement. Our cultures are strongly aligned, and we share a focus on putting people first.

The pending acquisition of Western Heritage follows Nusendas expansion into southern New Mexico two years ago when it opened its first Las Cruces branch near New Mexico State University.

The credit union has steadily grown its membership base in the area, boasting more than 6,500 members between Las Cruces and Texas. And when Western Heritages customer base is added, Nusenda will have roughly 7,500 new members. Combined, Nusenda estimates it will have more than 260,000 members once the acquisition is complete.

Assets at both financial institutions have proven strong in recent years. Nusendas assets stand at more than $4 billion and Western Heritages at roughly $338 million. That has earned both Nusenda and Western Heritage 5-star ratings from BauerFinancial Inc.

For Nusenda, which was founded in 1936 as Albuquerque Public Schools Federal Credit Union, this is the first big shift for the company since 2013 when it merged with New Mexico Energy Federal Credit Union.

Harrison told the Journal Nusenda and Western Heritage began discussions several months ago and discovered we share very similar cultures and complementary locations and offerings.

This is a win-win for both of our organizations and the people we serve, Greg Cory, president and CEO of Western Heritage, said in a statement. We are excited to bring additional resources to our clients and plan to continue our tradition of serving our local communities.
Police officers encounter human behavior all the time.

Yet, its during the late night hours where things can get strange.

Investigation Discoverys six-part series, Late Night Lockup, premieres at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, on Investigation Discovery. The premiere consists of two episodes.

The second, which airs at 8:30 p.m., features the story of an Albuquerque woman, Alicia Tierney, who finds herself literally caught red-handed after vandalizing a neighbors home with red spray paint.

The incident occurred in April 2021 and apparently started over a dispute of HOA dues. Tierney didnt face prosecution for the crime.

According to Investigation Discovery, the series is comprised entirely of first-hand footage pulled directly from body cameras and CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage.

It takes viewers along for a wild ride to witness all the commotion that transpires during graveyard shifts.

From drunken disorderly conduct to shocking acts of aggression, witness the peculiar and outrageous happenings that law enforcement encounters as nighttime creeps into the early hours of the morning.

Four more cases in New Mexico will also be featured on the series.

On June 13, an Albuquerque intoxicated man refuses medical treatment after his friend stabs him in a drunken brawl. On the same day, the series follows a New Mexico woman that flirts with her attractive arresting officer.

On June 20, the series looks at the case of a New Mexico young man that tries everything he can to keep from being arrested, but his hilarious misunderstanding of officers suggest hes had a few beers too many. Back in New Mexico, an entitled young woman is pulled over after an officer spots her driving erratically. Denying shes been drinking, she belligerently condescends to her arresting officer, leading her to spend a well-deserved night in the slammer.
A makeshift memorial was propped up outside the Northeast Albuquerque home where three young men were shot and killed over the weekend during a raucous house party.

Lord Jesus please help all these precious souls, reads one sign.

Jesus is the cornerstone, says another.

Though details of what happened at the party arent entirely clear, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said at a press conference this week that there isnt an ongoing threat to the community in the wake of the shooting.

Police on Tuesday identified the men who were killed as Marcos Perez, 18; Nick Ortega, 19; and Jordan Johnson, 18. A suspect hasnt been identified. Medina indicated at an unrelated news conference on Monday that police were working to verify some details and planned to release additional information.

We do have some information that were working to verify. As soon as we get the information verified, well be releasing it out to the public, Medina said. But we dont feel there is a threat to the community right now.

Police said just before midnight on Saturday officers were called to a residence near Washington and Hilton NE for a reported shooting at a house party where about 25 people had gathered to celebrate recent graduations and a birthday, said Gilbert Gallegos, a police spokesman.

The three men who were shot died before police arrived, and a 17-year-old girl was shot in the leg and treated at a local hospital, Gallegos said. Dozens of shots were fired from multiple guns and a neighbor tried to perform CPR on at least one of the victims, he said.

Gallegos said there was a confrontation of sorts and someone was pushed to the floor prior to the shooting.

A woman who answered the door at the home declined to comment on Tuesday. The home owner, who police said wasnt at home at the time of the party, couldnt be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Several neighbors, who asked not to be identified, said nearby residents have called police repeatedly in the last year-and-a-half or so because of loud house parties at the home on the 4400 block of Hilton NE. They said they occasionally have reported gunshots and sometimes fights and other rowdy behavior spills out from the house to the surrounding streets.

We all knew it coming, one woman said of the fatal shooting. We thought one of us was going to get hit by a stray bullet.

The memorial was the only obvious sign that a shooting had taken place at the home last weekend.

Gallegos said that police have been on high alert because they are concerned about violence erupting at graduation parties.

Medina, at a news conference on Monday, raised concerns about how easily teenagers can access firearms.

Years ago, we used to see individuals get in a fist fight. And rarely did somebody have a gun. There are more and more teens armed with firearms now than any other period that Ive ever seen. And I dont think there is one current officer who would say otherwise, he said. Theres a lot of teens armed with guns, and we see simple parties and simple disputes turn into shootings because of the availability of firearms.
Colombian artist Duvan Lopez holds "Silla de la Paz" (Chair of Peace) at Wolha Art Gallery in central Seoul, May 25. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Colombian artist Duvan Lopez is often referred to as "the Picasso of South America," but the artist said he thinks it is curious and questions what aspect of his work lead to this comparison.



"Many acknowledge the power, speed and intellect in my art is comparable to Picasso's. This notion stems from the creative capacity observed in a very short time. However, by investing more time to understand my work, you'll perceive how enormously versatile I am. It's not about Picasso's style, but it's about evolving my own style of 'Duvan,'" Lopez said at Wolha Art Gallery in central Seoul, May 25, where his solo exhibition was held.



Francisco Alberto Gonzalez, charge d'affaires a.i. from the Embassy of Colombia touched on Lopez's work regarding Korean ceramics during the Yeoju Ceramic Festival last month.



"We were represented by Duvan Lopez, who experienced an exchange of knowledge and experiences of one of the most beautiful tasks with a 1,000-year-old tradition, which identifies Korea for its ceramic art," Gonzalez said.



As the only foreign artist invited to the festival, Lopez presented some of his drawings about traditional Korean porcelain jars, saying that the aesthetic simplicity of Korean ceramics beautifully complements his abstract art.



"Art, as a universal language, resonates universally in its quest for beauty and the construction of humanity. If my presence and artistry in Korea contribute to enriching the cultural relations and exchanges between our two countries, then I consider my mission fulfilled," Lopez said.



The artworks that he crafted in Korea on ceramics and "hanji" (traditional Korean mulberry paper) employ brushwork reminiscent of calligraphy.



"The drawing here was created during a public session and encapsulates the philosophy of Korean calligraphy  a swift, decisive gesture that communicates volumes with minimal elements. Primarily making use of local Korean paper and ink, this artistic discipline is something I'm keen to learn during my time here," the artist said.



The charge d'affaires also noted that this is not Lopez's first exhibit in Korea, as he was invited to the southern city of Gwangju last year to present his "Silla de la Paz" (Chair of Peace) in commemoration of the Gwangju Democratic Movement.



Drawing its conceptual roots from the Colombian peace process in 1999, often referred to as the Empty Chair episode, signifying the seemingly insurmountable hurdles to achieving peace, the artwork has also been the emblem for the Luxembourg Peace Prize since 2017.



"Through this piece, I challenge the traditional concept of three-dimensionality and experiment with a modern take on perspective, creating a visual illusion. This illusion enables viewers to perceive a four-dimensional object within a three-dimensional space," Lopez said.


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The 'Interstellar' actress, who wore a mask at this year's Oscars, shares her story while taking part in The Hollywood Reporter's annual Tony Nominees Roundtable.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jessica Chastain claimed she "got quite a lot of flak" for masking up at award shows. The "Interstellar" actress made the revelation at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Tony Nominees Roundtable and she also explained why she got the unnecessary criticism.

The 46-year-old declared that she wore a mask to prevent catching COVID-19 since was working on Broadway in Henrik Ibsen's iconic play, "A Doll's House". The actress added, "We were testing every day on our show, and even if you had no symptoms, if you tested positive for COVID, you were out for a week."

"And I was meeting people at the stage door who flew in from Shanghai and flew in from all over the world," she continued. "To be out of the show for a week? It just felt like it was so irresponsible."

"So I was wearing the mask at the Oscars. I got quite a lot of flak for that. A lot of people thought I was making some political statement," Jessica further elaborated. "I don't know what they thought."

Josh Groban, who was also in the roundtable, chimed in by telling Jessica, "Theater people knew. We knew." In response, the "Zero Dark Thirty" star replied, "Well, OK, good."

"I'll tell you, the best thing is someone at the stage door gave me a mask that said, 'I'm On Broadway.' But yeah, the SAG Awards, the Oscars, a lot of people were like, 'What are you doing?!' " the Grammy winner recalled. "I just couldn't get sick. And I didn't. I haven't missed a show."

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Family of the heiress-turned-reality star has announced the heartbreaking news in a statement that she had passed away at the age of 62 after suffering a stroke.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Anna Shay has died at the age of 62. The heiress-turned-reality star was best known for her time on the Netflix hit "Bling Empire", which follows the lives of wealthy Asian and Asian-American in Los Angeles, but it was announced on Monday, June 05, that she had passed away after suffering a stroke.

In a statement, her family said, "It saddens our hearts to announce that Anna Shay, a loving mother, grandmother, charismatic star, and our brightest ray of sunshine, has passed away at the early age of 62 from a stroke. Anna taught us many life lessons on how not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the finer things. Her impact on our lives will be forever missed but never forgotten."

Anna, who has left behind a reported net worth of $600 million, thought to have been inherited from her Russian-born father's successful business deals with the American government- is survived by her 29-year-old son Kenny Kemp and is thought to have been married and divorced four times, she was yet to reveal the identities of any of her former lovers.

Just months before her death, Annna explained that she had not felt any "pressure" to prove herself as Asian and explained that the "best thing" in life was for an individual to be themselves.

She told JoySauce, " I don't think I have. I think that when people put themselves into a category they're putting themselves into those categories. They're cutting themselves off from anything that they can venture into in this great big world. I think the best thing is just to grow up and know who you are. You're gonna make mistakes. You may not understand certain things, but I'm blessed to have the parents that I had."

"They taught me to know who you are to believe in yourself. So, the being Asian, or half, really never really entered my life. I did see things that were a little odd. I'd be at school and Id talk in Japanese with my mom," she continued. "When my family moved from Japan, not many people here spoke a second language. So It's all how you look at things, right? Being able to speak Japanese was great."

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The 44-year-old actor is best known for playing Prince Charming/David Nolan on the hit ABC show that twists the plots of traditional fairytales which is currently available on Disney+.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Josh Dallas has "nothing but gratitude" for "Once Upon a Time". The 44-year-old actor, who is best known for playing Prince Charming/David Nolan on the hit ABC show that twists the plots of traditional fairytales, explained that five years on from the series finale, it is "humbling" to know that the fantasy drama still has an audience.

He told PEOPLE, "It's still finding an audience. People come up to me all the time talking about 'Once' and saying they just started watching it and they're loving it. Or I've had people come up to me - which makes me feel old, but that's okay - they'll say, 'You were my childhood. You got me through college, all through high school and that show changed their life and it's super humbling. It's just nothing but gratitude to be part of a show that was such a big part of some people's fabric of their lives."

Josh co-starred alongside his wife Ginnifer Goodwin, who played Snow White in the show, and went on to add that they are still trying to encourage their two young sons to take an interest in the series but to no avail.

He added, "We keep trying to shove Once Upon a Time down our boys' throats and they just don't want to watch it. I think that's probably a healthy reaction that they could care less about mom and dad on screen. But we've tried, we've tried several times to get them to watch Once Upon a Time because they're at the right age and I think they would really enjoy it. But they're just not interested at all."

"Once Upon a Time" is available to stream on Disney+.

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The official social media account to the royal family failed to post about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's daughter Lilibet's 2nd birthday, which fell on Sunday, June 4.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - British royal family publicly ignored Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter Lilibet's birthday. The official social media account to the royal family failed to post about Lilibet's 2nd birthday, which fell on Sunday, June 4.

According to a source, King Charles III and Queen Camilla wouldn't share any official birthday wishes for Lili on social media because they "don't mark the birthdays of non-working members." The insider told OK! Magazine U.K., "They, of course, wish Lilibet a very happy birthday, but nothing will be put out on any channels."

While King Charles opted to ignore Lilibet's birthday allegedly due to her status, Queen Elizabeth II handled it differently last year. The late Queen, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, wished Lilibet a happy 1st birthday. "Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!" Lili's great-grandmother shared via her official social media account at the time.

The rest of the royals, including Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, followed suit by giving Lilibet public birthday wishes. This year, however, the Windsor family went radio silent as they didn't post any birthday tribute for the young princess.

Despite the snub, Harry and Meghan reportedly prepared an "all-American affair" in California to celebrate Lilibet's big day. "I would expect to see a sprinkling of celebrities and a laid-back party, which hopefully will include some other toddlers," royal expert and journalist Jennie Bond told OK! Magazine U.K. ahead of the special day.

"It would be nice to think the day might include a video call to Lilibet's grandfather, King Charles III, and hopefully some sort of gift has been arranged and will be delivered to Montecito for her birthday," the informant continued.

Another report, however, claimed that King Charles had prepared a birthday gift for Lilibet. A source told New Idea that the British monarch "had his aides looking at custom-made cubby houses, similar to what the Queen and Princess Margaret had when they were girls."

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The elder brother of Thugger is sentenced to nine years and six months in prison after he was caught with a firearm after he took a plea deal in the YSL RICO case.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Young Thug's brother Unfoonk is sent back behind bars, months after taking a plea deal in the RICO case. The 34-year-old, whose real name is Quantavious Grier, was sentenced on Monday, June 5 to nine years and six months in prison after violating his probation.

The judge in Fulton County revoked Unfoonk's probation after he was charged with firearm possession by a convicted felon among other offenses. According to TMZ, judge Ural D. Glanville scolded Unfoonk during the sentencing, reminding the Atlanta rapper of their conversation in May about the strict conditions of his probation.

"The issue I find aggravating in this particular circumstance are several. You got arrested with a gun within six months of you being placed on probation," the judge said in handing down the longer sentence while Upfoonk's lawyer asked for a probation revocation of two years in prison. "All you had to do was complete your probation and do what you were supposed to do."

Unfoonk was arrested in Atlanta on May 4 for being associated with a criminal street gang to participate in illegal activity and traffic offenses in addition to the firearm possession, WSB-TV reports. At the time of his arrest, Unfoonk was parked at a BP gas station in a black Mercedes G-Wagon with a group of people around the driver's side door.

Police suspected a drug deal was taking place and when the SUV pulled away, the officers stopped it, citing a window tint violation. They noticed that the vehicle smelled like marijuana, which remains illegal in the state of Georgia, and noted a handgun in plain view inside the vehicle. "Mr. Grier advised that the gun was clean, which prompted me to believe he had knowledge of the firearm being there," an officer wrote in the affidavit.

Upfoonk was previously indicted in May 2022 along with 27 other YSL associates in the sweeping RICO case. In December, he pleaded guilty to one count of violating the RICO Act and one count of theft by receiving stolen property. At the time, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with two years commuted and 10 years probation.

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Shortly after her magazine interview was published, the 'Drew Barrymore Show' host clarifies her statement by stressing, 'I have never said that I wished my mother was dead.'

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Drew Barrymore claimed her words have been twisted by tabloids. After her latest magazine interview wherein she allegedly wished her mother Jaid Barrymore dead made headlines, the host of "The Drew Barrymore Show" set the record straight on the misinformation.

On Monday, June 5, the 48-year-old actress shared an Instagram video in which she addressed the misleading information. "I have never said that I wished my mother was dead. How dare you put those words in my mouth," she complained in the short clip.

Passionately warning tabloids, the "He's Just Not That Into You" actress stated, "You know what, to all you tabloids out there, you have been f**king with my life since I was 13 years old." She then explained, "I have been vulnerable, and tried to figure out a very difficult, painful relationship, while admitting it is difficult to do while a parent is alive."

"And that for those of us that have to figure that out in real-time, cannot wait as in they cannot wait for the time. Not that the parent is dead," Drew went on to remind. "In fact, I go on to say that I wish that I never have to live an existence where I would wish that on someone because that is sick."

Drew cleared the air after her interview in which she discussed her tumultuous relationship with Jaid was published by New York Magazine. In the June 5 article, she shared her thoughts on her neighbors whose mothers have passed away saying, "All their moms are gone, and my mom's not. And I'm like, Well, I don't have that luxury."

The mother of two continued, "But I cannot wait. I don't want to live in a state where I wish someone to be gone sooner than they're meant to be so I can grow. I actually want her to be happy and thrive and be healthy. But I have to f**king grow in spite of her being on this planet."

Still, New York magazine did note that Drew was quick to express her regret for making such a statement. "I dared to say it, and I didn't feel good," the actress was quoted as saying in the interview. "I do care. I'll never not care. I don't know if I've ever known how to fully guard, close off, not feel, build the wall up."

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Reported to be a man in his 20s, the unidentified intruder is said to have left the 'Dolemite Is My Name' actor's apartment in a white Mercedes before police arrived.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Chris Rock has had an intruder scare. The "Dolemite Is My Name" actor has just been reported to have called the police for catching an unidentified trespasser on the fire escape of his New York City apartment.

A source from the law enforcement told Fox News Digital that the 58-year-old comedian made the police report at around 8 P.M. on Sunday, June 4. He was said to inform the cops that "an unknown person went on to his fire escape."

It was still unclear what motive the intruder had, but the source claimed the unidentified man was believed to be in his 20s and "didn't attempt to gain entry, but Rock said he saw him filming." The source further revealed that the trespasser "fled in a white Mercedes."

In its report, New York City Police Department, per Fox News Digital, detailed, "The victim states he observed through his window an individual outside on the fire escape." They continued, "The man appeared to be filming. When officers arrived, the individual had fled the scene."

As of June 5, no arrests have been made yet, and the incident is still being investigated.

Chris' incident with the trespasser happened nearly two months after he joked about Donald Trump's potential arrest. At the Mark Twain Prize ceremony held at the Kennedy Center on March 19, he asked the audience, "Are you guys really going to arrest Trump? Do you know that this is only going to make him more popular?"

"It is like arresting [Tupac Shakur]. He's just going to sell more records," the "Saturday Night Live" alum continued. "Are you stupid? He slept with a porn star and paid off someone so his wife wouldn't find out. That's romantic."

At the event, Chris also poked fun at him being slapped by Will Smith at 2022 Oscars. Comparing his incident to that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband who suffered a vicious assault by a stranger in his residence in 2022, he quipped, "Paul Pelosi, the only guy who knows how I felt...just you and me Paul."

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The 'Annie' actor, who is said to be 'partially paralyzed and blind' after having a blood clot in his brain, is reportedly undergoing intense physiotherapy in a top physical rehab center.

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jamie Foxx is reportedly learning to walk again as he continues recovering in a rehab clinic following a "medical complication" back in April. The 55-year-old is said to be undergoing intense physiotherapy in one of the top physical rehab centers in the country after his hospitalization.

According to Radar Online, a well-placed source tells them that the Oscar winner has suffered mobility struggles after his health scare nearly two months ago. "Jamie would not be at this clinic if he was not impaired in some way as a result of whatever happened to him," the source claims.

"Jamie is receiving treatment at one of the top physical rehabilitation centers in the country," the informant explains. "The clinic specializes in physical therapy programs to treat injuries or a physical condition that limits or prohibits the ability to walk or walk correctly."

"They teach people how to walk again at this particular clinic," the source further shares, before assuring that "Jamie is in the best of care at this type of clinic."

The clinic is known for specializing in stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injuries. It was previously reported that he arrived at the facility in Chicago in late April, after initially getting treatment in an Atlanta hospital, and he's "recovering well."

Meanwhile, a veteran Hollywood journalist reported that Jamie had a blood clot in his brain that left him "partially paralyzed and blind" after he was "pressured" to get COVID-19 vaccine. A.J. Benza said on "Ask Dr. Drew", "Jamie had a blood clot in his brain after he got the shot. He did not want the shot, but the movie he was on, he was pressured to get it."

A.J., who formerly worked as a columnist for the New York Daily News and as a host of the E! series "Mysteries and Scandals", added, "The blood clot in the brain caused him at that point to be partially paralyzed and blind." The journalist did not name the movie that allegedly required the actor to get the COVID shot, but he was in Atlanta to film "Back in Action" when he suffered a "medical complication" back in April.

A.J. went on linking the COVID vaccine mandate to Jamie's reported outburst on the set of the upcoming movie. "I am thinking, 'Is that why he blew up on the set a week before this medical emergency happened?' " the veteran journalist asked Dr. Drew Pinsky. "Is that why he fired three or four people because he had had it with these mandates?"

His friend Nick Cannon later said that the "Ray" star will personally address his health issues "when he's ready." The former "America's Got Talent" host told Extra TV earlier this month, "I believe when he's ready, he's going to address the awaiting fans in the world (about his health) the way that only he can."

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In another news, the 42-year-old reality TV star jokingly fires back at her youngest daughter Chicago West, who claims that her famous mom 'doesn't cook.'

Jun 6, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian, is that you? "The Kardashians" star made headlines after she looked unrecognizable in a new TikTok video with her eldest daughter North West. The said clip saw the mom and daughter duo having fun during a "hair time."

Set to Santana's "Maria Maria", the video saw the 42-year-old reality TV star helping style North's hair. The 9-year-old girl, whom Kim shares with ex-husband Kanye West, meanwhile, was mouthing to the lyrics of the song animatedly.

Fans, however, were more focused on Kim's face. The SKIMS founder looked different as her face was a little bit puffier than usual.

Additionally, Kim's fashion of choice caught people's attention. The star appeared to troll her sister Kendall Jenner as he rocked a black T-shirt featuring a meme poking fun at the model's ex-boyfriends.

The tee read, "Kendall Starting Five." It also featured Kendall being surrounded by Jordan Clarkson, Blake Griffin, Ben Simmons, Kyle Kuzma and Devin Booker.

In other news, Kim jokingly fired back at her youngest daughter Chicago West. The mom of four shared a series of snaps from one of her visits to the White House in July 2019 on Instagram on Monday, June 4.

One of the photos saw Kim standing in the industrial kitchen, slicing a tomato. Another picture featured North enjoying the sandwich, while the next picture saw a hand-drawn Mother's Day card from Chicago. "All About My Mom," the card read. To that, Chicago wrote, "The best thing she cooks is. Mom doesn't cook. She has a chef."

Kim hilariously responded to Chicago's honest comment on her's cooking skills. "That one time in the White House when I actually cooked a grilled cheeseway before Chi's time!" she wrote in the caption.

Fans were amused after catching wind of the adorable candid upload. Many laughed over the "iconic" chef revelation. "It says 22 because Kim looks that great at her age!" another person commented, while someone else added, "This is such a flex."

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While reflecting on his negative portrayal by the media when he was young, the Duke of Sussex explains why U.K. government and press have hit 'rock bottom.'

Jun 7, 2023

AceShowbiz - Prince Harry thinks he was cast as a "thicko" as a young royal. The 38-year-old prince offered the remarks during his ongoing legal battle against the MGN publishing group at the High Court in London on Tuesday, June 6, with Harry arguing that he was portrayed as the "playboy prince" during his younger years.

In his court statement, Harry noted that as the "spare" to the "heir," he was portrayed as "either the 'playboy prince,' the 'failure,' the 'drop out,' or in my case, the 'thicko,' the 'cheat,' the 'underage drinker,' 'irresponsible drug taker.' "

The prince claimed that the portrayal actually encouraged him to live up to the idea. Harry - who did not attend the first day of the trial on Monday - explained, "As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well 'do the crime,' so to speak."

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a 'damaged' young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers."

Harry has also slammed the current UK government, arguing that the Conservative Party has reached "rock bottom." The prince - who now lives in California after stepping down as a working member of the royal family - explained, "Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government - both of which I believe are at rock bottom."

"Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo."

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Environmentalists call for urgent action on plastic ban in Malawi

Xinhua) 09:28, June 06, 2023

Karen Price (R, Front), a board member of the Coordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment, presents a petition to Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Kondwani Banda during an event commemorating World Environment Day in Blantyre, Malawi, on June 5, 2023. On World Environment Day which falls on Monday this year, environmentalists in Malawi presented a petition to the country's judiciary through the High Court, calling for swift action on the ban of plastics in the country. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

BLANTYRE, Malawi, June 5 (Xinhua) -- On World Environment Day which falls on Monday this year, environmentalists in Malawi presented a petition to the country's judiciary through the High Court, calling for swift action on the ban of plastics in the country.

Karen Price, a board member of the Coordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment, a local non-governmental organization, joined other stakeholders in presenting the petition to the Court in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital.

Malawi issued a ban on the use, sale, production, exportation and importation of plastic bags of less than 60 microns in December 2012 but, a month later, the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malawi obtained a court order against the ban.

Ever since, there has been back-and-forth legal tussling between the plastic manufacturers and the Malawian government, with the former claiming that they were not consulted to get prepared for the ban.

The courts in Malawi have reinstated the ban twice, in 2015 and in 2019 but, to date, the implementation has always been blocked by injunctions from the plastics manufacturers, hence the environmentalists call for speedy action from the judiciary.

"We have chosen to present this petition today as a reminder to the judiciary of the critical need to address the environmental problems caused by plastics," said Price. "We are sending a message to the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of working together to implement the plastic ban in Malawi."

Participating stakeholders in the Day's events included religious leaders, students, non-governmental organizations and community members.

Chairperson for the Qadria Muslim Association of Malawi Jaffalie Kawinga said the thin plastic trade benefits only a few individuals, leaving the lives of millions at risk.

"This trade poses a serious threat to the environment, with detrimental impacts on the entire nation; As a religious leader, I stand in solidarity with civil society organizations, urging responsible institutions to take action," said Kawinga.

Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Kondwani Banda received the petition on behalf of Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda, assuring the concerned parties that the matter will be duly considered.

According to a report from the United Nations Development Programme in 2019, Malawi produces estimated 75,000 tonnes of plastics each year, of which 80 percent were single-use plastics that could not be recycled.

June 5 is World Environment Day, which has been celebrated annually since 1973, and this year's theme focuses on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution.

People take part in an event commemorating World Environment Day in Blantyre, Malawi, on June 5, 2023. On World Environment Day which falls on Monday this year, environmentalists in Malawi presented a petition to the country's judiciary through the High Court, calling for swift action on the ban of plastics in the country. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

People take part in an event commemorating World Environment Day in Blantyre, Malawi, on June 5, 2023. On World Environment Day which falls on Monday this year, environmentalists in Malawi presented a petition to the country's judiciary through the High Court, calling for swift action on the ban of plastics in the country. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

People take part in an event commemorating World Environment Day in Blantyre, Malawi, on June 5, 2023. On World Environment Day which falls on Monday this year, environmentalists in Malawi presented a petition to the country's judiciary through the High Court, calling for swift action on the ban of plastics in the country. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A general view shows a United Nations Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, at the U.N. headquarters in New York, May 23. AFP-Yonhap





South Korea was elected Tuesday as a nonpermanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term, expanding its foothold in the U.N. body to better address the North Korean issue and other global security challenges.







As the only candidate nation in Asia, Seoul was chosen in a vote at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, returning to the UNSC in 11 years after last sitting on the council in 2013-14.







South Korea won the seat after garnering 180 votes among 192 member states during the assembly.







Speaking to reporters, South Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Hwang Joon-kook said he was very pleased to see the support of many member countries in the election.







"We will do our best to contribute to world peace, freedom and prosperity through diplomacy based on universal values, the principles of the U.N. Charter and by expanding cooperation with developing countries," he said.






Displays at the Institute include this reproduction of an egg-shaped Bakelizer, used to make Bakelite, the worlds first synthetic plastic.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023  The Science History Institute preserves and interprets the history of chemistry, engineering and the life sciences. During a June 10 ceremony in Philadelphia, the American Chemical Society (ACS) will designate the Institute as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.

The Institute is significant because it gathers and shares stories of the innovators and scientific discoveries that affect our daily lives, says ACS President Judith C. Giordan, who will speak at the dedication ceremony. Its collections and programs help the public and scholars understand the role of science and technology in shaping societys past, present and future.

The Institute was founded as the Center for History of Chemistry, which opened in 1982 on the University of Pennsylvania campus, with support from the university and ACS. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers became an additional sponsor in 1984. The organization was renamed the Chemical Heritage Foundation in 1992 and moved to its present site in Old City, Philadelphia, in 1996. After merging with the Life Sciences Foundation, it was renamed the Science History Institute in 2018, reflecting its broad interdisciplinary mission.

The Institute includes the Othmer Library of Chemical History, the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, Distillations magazine and podcast, an award-winning museum, an oral history center and digital offerings. Its collections include print books, the personal papers of numerous Nobel laureates, scientific equipment, photos and films, digital resources, fine art, and oral history interviews. Through these resources, as well as live and virtual events, the Institute makes the history of science accessible to the public and to researchers.
Chimp&z Inc, the independent advertising agency from the house of the Merge Infinity Network, announces the promotion of Rishi Raj Singh Chauhan to Associate Vice President (Business) and Sean Pereira to Creative Director (Art). The two major elevations are in a bid to scale up operations and drive business growth in the South Asian region.

Prior to this, Rishi Raj Singh Chauhan served as the Business Director for New Businesses at Chimp&z Inc and now has assumed the new role to build the agencys South Asian businesses by assisting the team in achieving its collective business objective for the agency. In this new role, he will look after the agencys business expansion and integrate creative and media strategies for brand campaigns.

After rising through the ranks, Sean Pereira is all set to make a splash as Creative Director at Chimp&z Inc. Starting his journey in 2015, Sean has played a pivotal role in the creative output at Chimp&z Inc during its formative years. With his attention to detail and finger on the pulse of ever-changing pop culture, he promises to elevate the brands that choose to work with this new-age agency. He will spearhead and manage design strategy for all brands, based out of the Mumbai office. With a natural eye for design, he will further seek to maximize the team's overall strength by delivering cutting-edge work.

On his promotion, Rishi Raj Singh Chauhan AVP - Digital Integration, said, I reflect upon my remarkable journey as the Business Director at Chimp&z Inc. From developing rosters for new-age brands to managing end-to-end inbound leads, each responsibility enhanced my business acumen. As AVP, I am eager to drive our agency's growth, explore new frontiers, and exceed client expectations. With my team, I am excited to create innovative, groundbreaking brand stories that embody our ambitious vision."

On his appointment, Sean Periera, Creative Director - Art, said, "I have grown with Chimp&z Inc over the years. Along with meeting high standards of quality that align with the clients vision, I aspire to uphold the agencys culture for learning and innovation. Together with my team, we will embark on an exciting journey, exploring endless creative possibilities and redefining the norms of innovation.

Commenting on the recent company elevations, Lavinn Rajpal and Angad Singh Manchada, Founders of Chimp&z Inc said, We are thrilled to announce the well-deserved elevations of Rishi Raj Singh Chauhan and Sean Periera at Chimp&z Inc. As we expand our global presence, we are confident that Rishi's expertise in digital integration and Sean's creative vision will further strengthen our leadership team.
Greenply Industries,one of Indias largest interior infrastructure brands with over 30 years of experience in manufacturing a comprehensive range of plywood, block boards, MDF, decorative veneers, flush doors, and other allied products, today, announced the pledge to plant 50 million saplings by the year 2025 which is aimed at environmental conservation and sustainable development. The company plans to plant these saplings across the states of Gujarat, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Besides environmental protection, the plantation activity will help in sustainable procurement of raw material and the financial viability of the ecosystem while generating employment opportunities for the local communities where the organization functions.

Also Read: Greenply industries facilitates accessibility for specially-abled



With an ever-growing focus on environmental responsibility and the insistent need to combat climate change, Greenply Industries recognizes the significance of committed involvement in creating a greener future. By setting this ambitious target, the company aims to contribute substantially to the restoration of forests, combat deforestation, and boost the overall ecological balance.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Manoj Tulsian, Joint Managing Director & CEO, Greenply Industries, said, Our pledge to plant 50 million samplings by 2025 is an extension to our commitment towards environment and sustainability. Environment Social Governance has become an integral part of decision-making for Greenply, and the company has been undertaking activities beyond tree plantation to keep its environmental impact under check, to reduce emissions and move towards renewable energy generation. In the coming years, the focal point in our sustainability agenda will be to objectively consider all potential sustainability impacts that might affect both our business and stakeholders, going beyond the financial and strategic risks we currently take into consideration.

Greenply has already implemented various sustainable practices and initiatives throughout its operations. The company continuously invests in advanced technologies and processes to minimize its carbon footprint and enhance resource efficiency. By extending its efforts to reforestation, Greenply Industries aims to create a virtuous cycle of sustainable development that benefits both the company and the environment.
The Central and Eastern European (CEE) market is on track to reach $42m in free ad-supported streaming tv (FAST) revenues by 2028 according to new research from Omdia. CEE joins a buoyant market currently dominated by the US, with rapid expansion from the UK, Canada, and Australia expected over the next four years.

Also Read: Omdia research reveals online video advertising revenue to $2.3bn in 2027

Commenting on the state of the market at NEM (New Europe Market) 2023 in Dubrovnik, Omdia Senior Director, Maria Rua Aguete said: Though CEE is present in the FAST race, growth will be limited compared to other regions. Traditional linear TV and social video have typically driven video advertising revenues in CEE, which have generated $5.6bn and $1.1bn respectively. Pay TV is still growing in this market alongside a strong traditional free-to-air viewing model. This regions online advertising market is a lot less developed compared to their Western Europe counterparts and there is currently no ecosystem or marketplace that can provide premium ad-supported advertising video on demand (AVOD) and FAST services. A combination of these factors has resulted in reduced consumer interest in FAST.

Rakuten and Plex are the only FAST platforms available in CEE. A few local players exist such as Kabaret TV in Poland, but overall, the FAST market is nascent in CEE.

Due to CEEs current smaller market size, the international FAST channel operators have not launched their channels in the region. ITV Studios cited cost of dubbing as the reason for not yet launching FAST in Italy or Spain meaning CEE markets with multiple languages will lag even further behind.

Several of these dynamics underline the low cost and minimal investment required for FAST to succeed across the CEE market. Artificial intelligence is a technology channel operator DAZN is looking into as a means to provide cost-effective dubbing. This is definitely a market to watch over the coming years, concludes Rua Aguete.
London-based consumer tech brand Nothing announces the appointment of Pranay Rao as the Marketing Director for India. Pranay is an industry veteran with over 17 years of experience in marketing, sales and brand strategy.

At Nothing, Rao will be leading the marketing team and primarily be responsible for developing brand strategies that are well aligned with the companys global vision in India. In addition to this, he will be the brand custodian for all the communication, from crafting tactical campaigns to building impactful marketing strategies to foster strong consumer brand advocacy.

Speaking on the appointment, Manu Sharma, VP and GM of Nothing India said, We are thrilled to welcome Pranay to our organization. With his extensive experience across consumer brands and his understanding and insights of the Indian market, I am sure he will help us expand our footprint across India. We look forward to working with him as he will bring a fresh perspective to our business while we redefine the consumer tech space with our innovations and unique designs.

Pranay Rao said, My first experience of Nothing was the Ear (1) headphones which immediately caught my attention with its unique design and features. In a world full of clones, Nothing products stand out with distinct products. Its a pleasure to be part of this young, dynamic organization which is reinvigorating the tech world.

Prior to joining Nothing, Pranay was working at Unilever Netherlands, setting up the marketing for Lipton tea and infusions. He has worked with organizations like ITC, Kraft Heinz, and Kimberly Clark; and managed brands such as Complan, Huggies, and Vivel, working across diverse geographies like Europe, South Asia and SouthEast Asia.
Mumbai  Posing in a dress made of cabbage leaves, versatile actor Radhika Madan appears in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Indias new vegan campaign encouraging people to Turn Over a New Leaf and Try Vegan. The eye-catching print campaign debuted on World Environment Day.

Madan decided to go vegan several years ago to get in better shape to play the role of a teenager in Angrezi Medium, and she continued eating vegan even after the cameras stopped rolling.



My character, Tarika, from Angrezi Medium helped me discover vegan foods, and it completely changed my mindset and gave me a clearer perspective on life, says Madan. I have a lot of leafy greens, sattu is my source of protein, and theres so much variety contrary to what people think. I encourage everyone to try being plant-based  help the animals and yourself, too!



Everyone who follows Madans lead and goes vegan reduces their carbon footprint dramatically: animal agriculture is responsible for nearly a fifth of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. University of Oxford researchers found that vegan eating can reduce emissions from food by up to 73%. Going vegan also helps combat the spread of deadly viruses: SARS, swine flu, and bird flu  and likely COVID-19, too  all stemmed from confining and killing animals for food.

And of course, eating vegan helps animals. As PETA India reveals in its video expose Glass Walls, chickens killed for food are often shackled upside down before their throats are slit. Cows and buffaloes are crammed into vehicles in such large numbers that their bones often break before theyre dragged off to the slaughterhouse, and pigs are stabbed in the heart as they scream. On the decks of fishing boats, fish suffocate or are cut open while theyre still alive.

Madan joins Kartik Aaryan, Anushka Sharma, Shahid Kapoor, Hema Malini, R Madhavan, and many other celebrities whove teamed up with PETA India to promote healthy, humane meat-free meals.

PETA India  whose motto reads, in part, that animals are not ours to eat and which opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview  offers a free vegan starter kit on its website. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Emerging as one of the busiest actors in the industry, Madan is representing Indian cinema at a global level. Her films such as Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Kacchey Limbu, and Sanaa premiered at various international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the New York Indian Film Festival, and the UK Asian Film Festival.

Continuing to expand her horizons and push the envelope, Madan is now gearing up for a number of films in 2023, including Kacchey Limbu; Sanaa; the remake of Oscar contender Soorarai Pottru featuring Akshay Kumar; Happy Teachers Day, directed by Mikhil Musale; and Rumi Ki Sharafat, directed by noted ad filmmaker Prashant Bhagia.
Sony YAY!s The Giant Wheel Festival in Mumbai, opened the first weekend with anastounding turn out of close to five thousand people. The event is expected to witness a footfall of over ten thousand people through the week, until its finale on the 11th of June.

The festival is a ticket to celebrate the endless excitement and adventure with the YAY! toons, for its audiences through an immersive interaction with their favourite YAY! toons and engage in fun thematic experiences that are planned at the event. Not just this, audiences also get to meet and interact with popular celebs like Karishma Kapoor, Kishwar Merchant, Mahi Vij etc., along with their favourite superhero  Spiderman.

With such a great response for the Giant Wheel Festival at the Dublin Square Phoenix Marketcity - Mumbai, the first weekend of the festival proved to be a great success.

Sujoy Roy Bardhan  Marketing, Communications & OAP Head Sony YAY! 

We curated The Giant Wheel Festival with an objective to further build the experience of Happyverse for kids. With kids and families turning up in overwhelming numbers to experience the festival, we are looking forward to having the same excitement through the coming weekend.

Mayank Lalpuriya, VP Marketing at Phoenix Malls, stated 

"We are thrilled with the response we received on the first weekend of The Giant Wheel Festival. At Phoenix Marketcity, our constant endeavor is to create unparalleled experiences for children and families. It brings us great joy to collaborate with Sony YAY! on this immersive and exciting project.
IncrementX is a Leading Media Representation Platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Dantri, Vietnam's largest electronic news publication, to represent them in the Western market. This alliance will concentrate on representing advertising inventory in significant Western nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

With an extensive readership and great influence, Dantri is one of the top players in the Vietnamese audience. The website covers a broad range of subjects, including society, sports, education, stock market updates, and general news. Within the Vietnamese community, Dantri is recognized on a global scale and has made a name for itself as one of the most trustworthy media outlets in Vietnam.

By connecting publishers with targeted advertisers, IncrementX and Dantri hope to increase publishers' exposure in the Western market advertiser and agency world. In order to improve monetization opportunities, IncrementX will function as an extended sales team of Dantri. It will facilitate relationships with brands and agencies. The main objective of this collaboration is to grow Dantri's revenue in the Western market through programmatic guarantee (PG), direct brand solutions, private marketplaces (PMPs), and open market monetization.

With a target audience of over 1.5 million Vietnamese residing in the Western countries of the US, UK, and Canada, this partnership presents an excellent opportunity to engage with this valuable demographic. Dantri intends to effectively address and engage with Vietnamese readers living overseas by leveraging IncrementX's Western expertise and industry relationships, providing them with relevant and compelling content while generating revenue through advertising campaigns.

Commenting on the partnership, Nguyen inh Phong, Director of Dantri, stated, "We are excited about our partnership with IncrementX. This collaboration will allow us to expand our reach into the Western market and interact with Vietnamese communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. We anticipate strengthening our brand visibility and creating significant interactions with brands and agencies in these major markets with IncrementX's assistance."

"We are proud to partner with Dantri, Vietnam's largest news publication, for Western market representation," said Ashish Shah, CEO of Vertoz. "This partnership supports our goal to connect Asian publishers with western brands and agencies and provide monetization opportunities. With our combined efforts, we aim to unlock the potential of the Western market for Dantri, driving revenue growth and facilitating valuable connections with brands and agencies."
Authored by Amrita Sharma, Co Founder & Director by Mixed Route Juice

There is no typo in the headline.

I repeat.

There is no typo in the headline.

Let me just get to telling you why

Gone are the days when marketers used to focus on just advertising. The buzz is all about Advertising++ these days. So now that the double Ds have been added into advertising (This is a sexist joke. Not.), let us address the elephant in the room.

In simpler days, the construct of advertising campaigns used to be shorter. One big bang, followed by 3 months of repeat hammering. In todays times when marketers want the best value for their buck, the industry has seen a paradigm shift that is poles apart. So heres how campaign strategies have evolved: One big bang (usually a TVC). Several small knocks (DVCs). Multiple servings of boom (Digital Media promotions). Repeat hammerings of clicks (Influencers push). Followed by continued months of cacophony (UGC and talk back from real customers). Eventually paving way to what most brand managers start their one liner briefs with: How do we make our tag line, a cult status?

The answer lies in three magical words: Community Building Initiatives. It is what turns pitch presentations into award winning annual strategies. It is a tried and tested marketing approach that has led brands like Nike, Lululemon, Harley Davidson, One Plus to become what they are today. Once a brand makes the switch from Brand-to-Consumers-talking to Consumers-to-consumers-promotion, there is no looking back. It has become a critical part in the overall Digital Marketing strategy also because it eventually results in better ROI of media spends, builds credibility and also aids in SEO and overall brand awareness.

Conveniently put, one can easily call it people to people marketing, that leaves a digital footprint thats searchable, validated and customer certified. There are various platforms that communities can be set up on: Websites, Social media, QnA platforms like Quora, and specific community building platforms like Discord (which is slithering into making its way into India soon).

Let me take you back to the glorious 2000s for a brief second before we proceed further. Around the time we were hearing terms like digital boom and believing that somethings just around that will change the way communication happens. Isnt people to people communication the very basis of this boom in Digital Media? Think about what Social networking was back then. People were so kicked about the idea of being a post, tweet or a thread away from their favorite friends or the brands that soon, this sense of belonging to a group or community consumed them fully and became addictive. This addiction is what ensured that we get to live through this boom also known as Web 3, just 20 years from then.

Today, were living in a world where we feel community building is important and were struggling to find ways and means to do it. In the very near future, not more than a year or so from now, it is going to be something that features on all brands must-do lists. So here I am, just-in-time, listing out a few guard rails that really need to be set when taking this road less traveled:

1. Figure out our end goal and stick to it, come what may. Slight improvisations can happen but it cant be a shift from what you started with. Just saying, if your goal is brand affinity, and in a slight digression if you start linking it to sales, the community loses interest instantaneously and everything youve built starts getting questioned.

2. All communities need heroes. So if youre thinking of setting up a community without KOLs or a few handful that matter, its probably not going to work. You need people standing on pedestals that the commoners can look up to and seek direction from. Sounds elitist, but it is a fact of life.

3. Trust the partners you rope in. Goes for agency, collaborators and consumers alike. They have their own way of creating magic. And of course what they create collaboratively has better media efficacy than just brand pushed messaging. Weve seen instances where content curated by collaborators has resulted in over 7x ROI from a media POV.

4. Communities take a lot of effort and patience. And you can't run out of either at any given point of time.

5. When you decide to come into the community cave, be mentally prepared to come in and stay for a long haul. Short term can only get you quick sales or likes. Long term gets you love, that leads in to forever sales.

6. Plan your spurts before hand. Calendarise into quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks. Only then does the talk back from the community feel effortless.
Seen is the cookie that was in the possession of an Egyptian national who was arrested on May 22 after being pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Captured from Korean National Police Agency's YouTube



By Lee Hae-rin



Police arrested an Egyptian national who was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving and then found to be in possession of a single cannabis cookie.



The Namyangju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said, Monday, that a report was filed on an Egyptian national in his 30s in Namyangju's Dasan-dong, northeast of Seoul, around midnight on May 22.



He was reportedly swerving between lanes showing signs of drowsiness. Another driver, who reported the incident, noted that when he honked to alert the erratic driver, it caused him to speed up abruptly to 170 kilometers per hour, seemingly trying to escape. This unusual behavior led the reporting driver to call the police, suspecting the man was driving under the influence.



Police officers pulled over the driver in question and measured his blood alcohol level, which indicated he had not been drinking.



However, the driver who issued the report informed the police that he saw the driver hiding something in the glove compartment as he pulled over. The police searched the vehicle and found a cookie about five centimeters in diameter.



According to a YouTube video released by the Korean National Police Agency, a drug taskforce tested the cookie and found it contained 51 grams of cannabis. If accurate, this would be around 1,000 times an acute edible dose.



The Egyptian national was referred to the prosecution, May 29, on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act and he is now under investigation for the use and trafficking of illegal drugs.



Police said the YouTube video detailing the case was released in an effort to raise public awareness about drug-related crimes, Monday.


My life was set with a clock; I literally started behaving like a robot. Home to office and office to homelife was taking me nowhere. There was no inner peace, but only a rush to meet everyday challenges. At the same time, I was undergoing extensive medical treatment. My spiritual Guru, guide, and friend, whom I call Bapu, was visiting Mumbai at the time and requested that I take some time off. On his earnest request, I agreed to pay a visit to Rudranath because, most of the time, he resides there. I thought I would go there to seek darshan and return the next day. We went to Delhi by flight; from there, we went to Dehradun; and again, from Dehradun, by road, we went to Gopeshwar. Chamoli Gopeshwar is a township in the Garhwal hills and a municipal board within Chamoli district.

Gopeshwar is a very beautiful place; here I was treated like a princess. I checked into a hotel owned by Vedprakash ji, who is a temple poojari. The hotel was surrounded by small shops and lovely pastel-colored houses. I took enough rest at night and in the morning visited a temple. This temple was built somewhere between the 9th and 11th centuries by the wealthy Katyuri kings. The engravings present on the divine trident placed in the temple date back to the 12th century. After the Panch Kedar shrines, this is the most respected Shiva temple in Uttarakhand. Its architecture resembles that of other Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, such as Kedarnath and Tungnath. It is a Swayambhu Shivling, which is known as Gopinath. It is placed inside the sanctum sanctorum and has 24 doors. The famous Shivas trident, 5 meters long, is placed in the temples courtyard. One can also find partially damaged idols in temple premises that were restored by the architectural survey department.

There are several stories behind this temple. One story is that when Lord Krishna organized Ras leela at Vrindavan, Shiva dressed as a Gopika (a female disciple of Krishna) to participate in leela, but Parvati caught him, and thats how Gopeshwar came into existence. There is another belief that says the trident in the temple enclosure belongs to Lord Shiva. Shiva hurled his trishul in order to kill Kamadeva (God of Lust) when he tried to interrupt Lord Shivas meditation. The trident got fixed in that spot and has been there ever since. It is believed that only the slightest touch of a true devotee can shake the trident, which otherwise remains unmoved even with strong force. Another belief is that when Lord Shiva turned Kamadeva into ashes, his wife Rati did atonement at Gopeshwar. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva assured her that her husband would come back to life.

The Shiv Linga here is very beautiful, and the temple treats eyes and souls. After seeking darshan from Gopeshwar, we traveled 5 kilometers to Sagar village (). Sagar is the start point for the Rudranath Trek. This charming little place is one of those pahari-style villages in between the mountain peaks and beautiful valleys. We started our trek at noon, and it was scorching hot. I walked a few steps, but my body was melting in the sun. Somehow, after walking a few kilometers, I took a small break. From here, we were interested in a semi-forest, beautiful trees, a breeze, and chirping birds. Those furry dogs on the way made me forget all the pain that I was carrying. In the meantime, Bapu and his disciples were another breather; they were very supportive and kind. The journey became easy just because of them.

After walking for 5 kilometers, we took our first halt at Pung Bugiyal, which means open spaces in between the mountains. Here we found a nice stay in the tent and good food made by locals. We had a bonfire because it was chilly outside. We had a lot of fun here at Pung Bugiyal. The stay, washrooms, foodeverything was just awesome, clean, and hygienic. What I loved the most was the approach of localities towards yatris. The next day we took a bath, had a nice breakfast, and started our journey. From Pung, its a straight upward walk. If you dont have control over your breathing, you might get very tired quickly. This walk teaches you to be in sync with your breathing. This walk teaches you to be composed. The trees, flowers, and jungles have a lot to give you.

To be continued
Crypto asset company Coinbase and its parent company have 28 days to show why they should be allowed to continue to business in Alabama.

The Alabama Securities Commission has issued a show cause order to the company as part of a multi-state task force of 10 state securities regulators, including California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

The action comes at the same time that the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Coinbase in New York federal court, contending that the company was acting as an unregistered broker and exchange, according to CNBC. Shares fell 22% in premarket trading Tuesday.

According to ASC Director Amanda Senn, the order is about protecting Alabama consumers and investors.

This action is another step toward ensuring that investors in crypto asset products are offered the same protections under our laws and are fully aware of the risks involved in these investments, Senn said.

The ASC estimates more than 33,000 Coinbase accounts are currently held by Alabama investors.

The Alabama Show Cause Order alleges that Coinbase violates the securities law by offering its staking rewards program accounts to Alabama residents without a registration to offer or sell these securities. Staking occurs when investors lock their crypto assets for a set period to help support the operation of a blockchain, with the promise of more crypto assets.

According to the ASC, under Coinbases staking rewards program, investors deposit crypto assets with Coinbase, which then facilitates the staking of these assets on the blockchain. The program advertises a return of up to 6% on investments. Coinbase pools investors crypto assets and employs a team to generate staking rewards. Coinbase takes a cut of those profits.

The ASC action does not prohibit Coinbase from offering staking as a service, only so long as it complies with Alabamas laws.

According to the ASC, Coinbases nearly 3.5 million staking rewards program accounts nationwide are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

Investors are encouraged to contact ASC to confirm the registration status of a staking rewards program before investing their money.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is for the first time labeling Florida-based Moms for Liberty and 11 other parents rights groups as extremist groups in its annual report, released today.

Moms for Liberty and the other organizations are being designated as anti-government extremist groups. The SPLC said it decided to label Moms for Liberty, Parents Defending Education and No Left Turn, among others, as extremist because their rhetoric often takes on anti-LGBTQ, racist and nationalist themes, excluding from their parental concern large demographics segments of American society.

The organization did not formally respond to the SPLCs label Tuesday. Multiple politicians weighed in on social media; Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton tweeted, The SPLC is a corrupt slush fund devoted to defamation. Groups like @Moms4Liberty and @DefendingEd should be proud of the work they do for families and kids.

Moms for Liberty is one of the largest and most visible of a pack of conservative groups that have popped up across the country post-pandemic, dedicated to advancing a slate of issues they label parents rights, that typically include opposing public school programs, books and curriculums that address issues like racial discrimination and inequity, gender identity and sexuality, according to Anna Claire Vollers at Reckon News. The group has successfully flipped some school boards.

Over the past year, apparent members have disrupted school board meetings with claims the schools are teaching critical race theory, attempted to ban books from school libraries and pushed against LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The SPLC claims such campaigns have contributed to an increase in threats and harassment against educators. A Moms for Liberty member in Arkansas allegedly threatened to shoot a school librarian.

Moms for Liberty was formed in Florida in 2021 by three former school board members who were upset about COVID-19 school restrictions. Florida GOP Vice Chairman Christian Ziegler is the husband of one of the original cofounders, Bridget Ziegler.

The SPLC claims that the group later morphed into an anti-student inclusion movement that targets any inclusive curriculum that contains discussions of race, discrimination and LGBTQ identities.

Moms for Liberty has a formal chapter in Madison County, Alabama, and other members throughout the state, according to the organizations website.
DEAR ABBY: Throughout the year, the department in which I work recognizes each employees birthday with a cake -- except me. I have worked here for two years, and while my supervisor writes my birthday on a calendar that hangs in the front office, each year my birthday has come and gone without even a verbal acknowledgement. I watch as all the other employees in my department have their special day recognized with a cake brought in by the department supervisor.

Im wondering why I was even asked when my birthday is and why it was written down if no mention is even made of it? My co-workers are all friendly with me, and I have never gotten the impression that Im not liked, but I cant help but wonder if something I have done has caused this.

If this isnt something that is done for everyone, then it shouldnt be done at all. Am I just being immature because my feelings are hurt by this? Would you say anything in a situation like this? I would appreciate your feedback and advice. -- EXCLUDED IN ALABAMA

DEAR EXCLUDED: This is a question you should ask your supervisor because it likely was an oversight. Or, on your next birthday, bring a cupcake with a candle to the office and enjoy it with your lunch. (Happy Birthday to ME!) Then HIGHLIGHT it on the calendar.

DEAR ABBY: My adult daughter is single and lives alone. She lives five hours away but manages to visit every two months or so. The problem is, when she comes home, we hardly ever see her. Shes mostly at her cousins house. During her most recent visit, we saw her a total of one hour a day the five days she was here -- just enough time for her to come over, change clothes and leave again. She even sleeps there most nights.

I have asked her to spend more time with us, but we just end up arguing. She goes on vacation with them every year, but when I suggest we go on a family vacation, she always says, I dont have money for that. I love her, but Im beginning to feel used. Whenever she needs something, Im the one she calls.

We have always butted heads, but my husband and I are getting older, and he has some health issues. I wish she would spend more time with him. I realize she wants to be with her friends when shes here, but no one travels to her place to see her. She does all the traveling to see them. I would have no problem with friends coming to see her here at the house. Am I being selfish? -- COMING IN SECOND

DEAR SECOND: You are not being selfish. You may, however, be unrealistic. You stated that you and your daughter have always butted heads, and this is the result. Im doubtful that you can get the message across to her without her becoming defensive. Your husband and daughter may be overdue for a meaningful conversation about his health and his desire to spend time with her while he can. As for her relationship with you, it seems she has made her feelings quite clear.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
One of the biggest rap stars ever is coming to Huntsville to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut solo album. Snoop Dogg has set an August 15 show at Orion Amphitheater in which hell perform his entire 1993 LP Doggystyle as well as hits from throughout his diamond-blinged career.

Tickets are $20 to $196 and go on sale 9 a.m. June 9 via axs.com. This will be Snoops first concert in Huntsville in more than 20 years -- he previously performed at the Von Braun Center in 2002.

With his smooth flow and laidback persona, Snoop Doggs known for jams like Gin and Juice, Doggy Dogg World, Whats My Name?, Lay Low, Drop It Like Its Hot and Beautiful.

Snoop Dogg, aka Calvin Broadus, is bringing other legends with him to Orion Amphitheater, too. Frequent Snoop collaborator and fellow cannabis enthusiast Wiz Khalifa (rapper of hits like See You Again, Young, Wild & Free, and Black and Yellow) is direct support.

Influential rapper Too $hort (known for tracks like Im a Player and Blow the Whistle) and 90s hit-maker Warren G (his signature smash, Regulate) are also on the Orion bill. Support acts also include Berner and DJ Drama. Snoops calling his latest trek the High School Reunion Tour.

In Huntsville, Snoop will likely be energized. The Orion show falls just days after his scheduled performance as part of Hip Hop 50 Live, an Aug. 11 mega-concert at New Yorks Yankee Stadium, featuring fellow rap icons Run-D.M.C., Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Kurtis Blow, Roxanne Shante, Sugar Hill Gang, Lil Kim and many more.

The lanky Long Beach, California native got his first big break in 1992 with a cameo on Dr. Dres debut solo single Deep Cover. But it was Snoops stoned-drawl throughout Dres now-classic The Chronic album, on smashes like Let Me Ride and Nuthin but a G Thang, that made him a household name.

Over the years, Snoop Dogg widened his brand considerably. Despite his gangsta rap origins, in more recent times hes buddied up with hospitality-brand mogul Martha Stewart, sold beer on TV for Corona and even launched his own brand of cereal.

Snoop has some non-musical connections to the Huntsville area. Recently, one of the rappers beloved vintage cars was given a sleek custom makeover here. In addition to appearing in a music video by Snoop Doggs rap supergroup Mount Westmore, Snoop made a memorable entrance at WrestleMania this spring in the car, a 1970 Buick Skylark.

Back in 2016, a Madison County woman reportedly was the recipient of a surprise Christmas care package from Snoop Dogg via Reddits Secret Santa program. The package contained Snoop Dogg merch, a drone and some leaves in a package.
A second 20-year-old has been indicted in a 2022 fatal shooting near a Birmingham park.

A Jefferson County grand jury in May indicted James Devontae Flannigan on a charge of reckless manslaughter. AL.com previously reported an indictment Kelan Wayne Hutchins, also 20.

Both are charged in the Sept. 11, 2022, death of 21-year-old Nickelas Kristerpher Kelley.

Hutchins is out of jail on $30,000 bond. Flannigan has been in the Jefferson County Jail without bond since Jan. 26 on unrelated charges including attempted murder and robbery.

It was just before 11:30 p.m. that Sunday that the citys gunfire detection system - Shot Spotter  alerted Birmingham police to multiple shots fired near Rozelle Reynolds Park in the 6100 block of Avenue O in the Green Acres neighborhood.

A citizen then flagged down an officer and reported that a person was slumped over outside of a vehicle.

Officers arrived to find Kelley unresponsive on the ground. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:57 p.m.

Witnesses told investigators that a group of males had been gathered there, and they fled on foot after the shooting.

More than 20 shots were fired, police said, but it wasnt immediately clear whether more than one person was firing the shots.

The indictments against Flannigan and Hutchins said the recklessly caused the death of Kelly by shooting a gun, which caused the victim to be shot.
As Birmingham drivers prepare for a public hearing hosted by the city this week for those impacted by downtown towing practices, some are calling for city councilors to revoke the business license of one towing company in particular.

Over the past decade, local towing company Parking Enforcement Systems (PES) has been repeatedly accused of predatory practices in downtown Birmingham.

Starting late last year, public complaints about the company started to ramp up once again. In December, Helen Hays told the Lede that an armed attendant at the PES lot forced her to stand in freezing weather to pay the $160 fee to retrieve her car.

Hays said she plans to attend the hearing, which will take place at Birminghams Boutwell Auditorium this Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. with speaker sign ups from 5:30-6 p.m. and she hopes that the city will decide to revoke PES towing license after further review of their towing ordinance.

I would hope that they would revoke the business license of the current towing company, Hays said. According to the current ordinance: the licensee, his agent, servant, or employee has operated the business in such a manner as to be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare or so as to constitute a nuisance. They can revoke the vehicle immobilization service license.
Publix, Rouses, Walmart, Sams Club, and Target all sell groceries in Daphne. So, too, do the convenience stores abundant throughout the city. There are also meat and fish markets, Dollar General and Aldis.

If the city would cut back on the grocery tax, it would blast the citys budget and immediately erase around 15% of the overall sales tax revenues that go toward financing Daphnes basic city services.

Your questions answered on the sales tax cut for groceries: Alabama cuts grocery tax to 3%: When does cut start? How much will I save? What foods are included?

But after state lawmakers approved -- for the first time in generations -- a cutback in the sales tax on groceries, cities like Daphne and beyond could be studying if they can also offer relief at the grocery check-out aisle.

Im sure the city council will discuss it and talk about it but its a big hit to the revenue in the city of Daphne, said Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune, who estimates groceries bringing in around $3.8 million to $4 million of the $25.7 million in sales tax revenues to the general fund. We do have quite a few places that make up our grocery tax.

Related content:

It wont be an easy request. City and county governments rely heavily on the sales tax to fund basic services like paying for police protection and patching potholes. And the local governments in Alabama are also hamstrung by the states constitution in preventing them from raising revenues from other sources that might be needed to offset a local sales tax cut on groceries. Alabama is one of six states with no home rule provisions, which means the state prohibits city and county governments from raising their own taxes.

I suspect this would be a significant impact for us, said Mobile City Councilman Joel Daves, who is chair of the councils finance committee. If youre not getting (revenues) from the sales tax, where are (you) going to get it? The state has income tax, and they have other revenue sources. Were in a different situation than the state.

Study the cut

14 1 / 14 Ramey's Marketplace in Chatom, Alabama

Alabamas existing tax structure relies heavily on the sales tax to fund government. And its more pronounced on the local level. According to the Tax Foundation  a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that studies U.S. tax policy  Alabama has the highest average local sales tax rate in the country at 5.25%.

The sales tax on groceries is also a crucial funding source for small towns and cities that dominate Alabamas landscape where few retailers are present aside from dollar stores and a grocery store.

We have 464 municipalities, and each are unique in their revenues and how those revenues are derived, said Greg Cochran, executive director with the Alabama League of Municipalities. Some may be able to make cuts to their local sales taxes while others simply cannot afford to cut them.

Aside from the states 4% sales tax, the overall grocery tax is determined by generally adding on city and county tax rates, which vary throughout the state. For the largest cities in Alabama, the grocery bill is based on the following:

In Mobile and Montgomery, the sales tax rate on groceries is 10%. In Mobile, its broken down by 4% to the state, 5% to the city and 1% to Mobile County. In Montgomery, its 4% to the state, 3.5% to the city, 2.5% to Montgomery County.

In Birmingham, the sales tax rate on groceries is 10% broken down by 4% to the state, 4% to the city, 1% to Jefferson County and additional 1% special district tax.

In Huntsville, the sales tax rate is 9%, with 4% going to the state, 4.5% going to the city, 0.5% to Madison County.

But a grocery tax cut is something that lawmakers say the local officials ought to at least consider exploring after the Legislature approved its own cut. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey still must sign the legislation authorizing the tax cut into law.

I think youll hear more debate and discussions within cities and counties as more local folks raise this issue with local elected officials, said State Senator Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and Senate sponsor of HB479 that cuts Alabamas sales tax on foods by 1 percentage point on September 1, followed with the potential of cutting an additional 1 percentage point by 2024.

The remainder of the states overall 4 percent sales tax on food  which could be 2% by next fall  could also eventually come off. If the full 2% is removed, it could save a family of four around $300 a year in groceries, though Jones said it could be lower at around $200 to $250 a year. A joint study commission on grocery taxation, formed during the legislative session, will study if the entirety of the states tax can be removed. The commissions first meeting is expected to occur in November.

Folks will have to think on the local level on how to handle this, Jones said.

State Rep. Patrice McClammy, D-Montgomery, who will also be part of the group, said she hopes the entire tax can be cut someday. Hopefully one day well see a full repeal across the state and there is no tax on groceries, she said.

Taking a pass

For now, even some of Alabamas richest cities are taking a pass on considering a cut of their own. They say the loss of cutting their sales taxes on groceries is too great and will disrupt the services residents have long expected.

Our local sales tax (rate) is 3% while all of our surrounding cities are 4%, said Sam Gaston, city manager of Mountain Brook  the Birmingham area suburb with the states highest annual median income. We have five grocery stores in our city which account for a sizeable amount of our $13.7 million annual sales tax number.

He added, I would think we will not be reducing our 3% on groceries.

In Orange Beach, the citys administrator does not believe any city in Baldwin County  ranked No. 3 among 67 in median income  will approve a sales tax cut in groceries given the challenges that rapid growth in the area is posing to officials. Orange Beach, like neighboring Gulf Shores, has experienced a surge in lodging tax revenues in recent years due to the popularity of the states beaches as a travel destination. Orange Beach, for instance, adopted a lodging tax increase last year to help finance a new city school system.

The state has taken this step due to a significant surplus in state revenues following the federal distribution of COVID funds, said Grimes. Local governments typically depend on all local taxes they have in place to provide the basic services such as police, fire, streets trash and recreation.

Other cities in Alabama are not leaping at the prospects of removing a reliable revenue stream.

We dont have a way to replace the revenue and most everything we purchase in city government is much higher than our current budget numbers, said Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox at a summit on Monday, June 28, 2021, at the Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Ala. Maddox was one of the mayors attending the summit that included the mayors or their representatives of the 10 largest cities in Alabama. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Few cities are likely to study cutting their local sales tax cut. Tuscaloosa, however, plans to take a dive into the issue, according to Mayor Walt Maddox. He said in the coming weeks, the city attorneys office and the CFO and budget team will provide an update analysis for consideration in the mayors fiscal year 2024 operating budget, which begins Oct. 1.

As for other local governments in Alabama, it is doubtful that many will be able to take advantage, said Maddox, adding that the states constitution and a lack of home rule authority is a major hurdle toward fully eradicating the states grocery tax.

Larger-scale talks

The cut, though, could underscore an eventual larger-scale discussion on Alabamas tax structure. In the lead-up to HB479s approval, lawmakers said that Alabama remained among the lowest taxed states in the nation on a per capita basis. Lawmakers referenced a report from Birmingham-based Public Affairs Research Council (PARCA).

According to the report, state and local taxes in Alabama were $3,756 per capita. Tennessee, at $3,719, was the only state lower, according to the report released in December.

But tax reformers and critics have long said Alabamas tax system is regressive and affects lower income people the most because of the heavy reliance on sales tax. Alabama pays the lowest property taxes per capita, according to the PARCA report.

Alabama State Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, speaks out in support of legislation that allows for a 2 percentage point tax cut to the state's 4 percent sales tax on groceries during a House floor debate on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at the State House in Montgomery, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

We are a low tax state and we clearly have to make choices going forward with tax cut measures, said state Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville. We have to look at how we tax people and what our tax polices are.

Quin Hillyer, a Mobile-based columnist for the Washington Examiner, called the tax cut a great move for Alabama, and one that will treat low-income people better and will encourage economic growth.

Hillyer, though, said he believes cities and counties should pause a bit before moving forward with other cuts. Hillyer, in 2015, was a member of an ad hoc committee in Mobile that explored ways to offset the revenue losses from removing a penny sales tax at the time. Among his groups findings was for the city to consider a property tax increase.

Mobile Countys property tax rate structure was among the lowest in the country, according to the groups findings. Of 1,833 counties in the U.S. with populations over 20,000, 1,626 of them had a higher property tax as a percent of median home value.

Lets let this one settle before anybody else piggybacks on it, Hillyer said about the state tax cut on groceries. I think cities should let things shake out before figuring if they want to do the same.

This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. on June 6, 2023, to state that a typical family might save up to $300 a year from a full 2 percentage point decrease on the sales tax assessed on groceries.
North Alabama Congressman Dale Strong told TVA leaders in a letter Tuesday that he is skeptical that the plan announced by the federal utility will be sufficient to avoid future strategic power outages in the event of extreme weather.

TVA released its after-action report that outlined plans to avoid outages  also known as rolling blackouts  that were necessary in December over a two-day period when temperatures dipped below zero. TVA made temporary cuts to power to help preserve its electrical grid, which it said was under record demand.

Read full letter at end

It was the first time in TVAs 90-year history that it resorted to intentionally cutting power to customers for the sake of preserving the power grid.

Strong, who lives in the unincorporated community of Monrovia outside Huntsville, has said his home was subject to two blackouts on Christmas Eve.

In the letter addressed to TVA President and CEO Jeffrey Lyash and copied to TVA board members  which includes Board Chair-elect Joe Ritch of Huntsville  Strong said he appreciated TVAs review but still had doubts.

I reman skeptical that the proposed solutions adequately address potential near-term resiliency insufficiencies of the power grid that services north Alabama, Strong said in the letter. As such, I respectfully request that you provide my office with details on the short-term steps TVA has taken to ensure that its grid remains fully operational, and its customers experience no interruption in service.

Among TVAs findings in the report was a need to modernize its system and to find ways to keep additional power in reserve. And the utility again accepted responsibility for failing to provide reliable electricity to customers on Dec. 23-24 as a result of the abnormally cold temperatures.

In the Huntsville area, Huntsville Utilities said about 60 percent of customers had at least one blackout and most having two blackouts that lasted about 30 minutes.

Among the solutions outlined by TVAs report:

Investing in and modernizing the system with $18 billion since 2014 and $3 billion through 2027.

A goal of 10,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2035.

Building 3,800 megawatts of new generation.

Pursuing a small modular nuclear reactor at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Exploring energy storage, including batteries and pumped hydropower and hydrogen.

The blackouts have also been a concern of Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, who in February convened a panel discussion with Huntsville Utilities and TVA officials, including Ritch.

Population growth in north Alabama will create additional demand for electricity in the future, an issue spotlighted by both Strong and Battle.

Given north Alabamas burgeoning economy and population growth, we must ensure that our infrastructure can meet the needs of existing and incoming government organizations, business entities, residents and all those wishing to make north Alabama home, Strong said in the letter.
Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, left, and President Yoon Suk Yeol join the opening ceremony of the Overseas Koreans Agency at Songdo Central Park UN Square in western Incheon, Monday. Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan



With the inauguration of the new Overseas Koreans Agency in Incheon on Monday, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok expressed his ambitious vision for the city, envisioning it becoming a central hub for 7.5 million Koreans living overseas.



During the agency's opening ceremony at Songdo Central Park UN Square in western Incheon, the mayor proclaimed his vision and project, "Incheon, City of 10 Million Population," to embrace the western port city's 3 million local residents as well as the 7.5 million Koreans living overseas.



"Since the opening of its first harbor in 1883, Incheon has been a portal that connects Korea to the world Koreans left for Hawaii in 1902, who were the country's first emigrants. Today, we have seen the new agency up and running, which will bridge the country to the world in a new way. I feel extraordinarily elated today," Yoo said during the ceremony.



The mayor emphasized that the new agency in Incheon will contribute to Korea's global standing and serve as a significant step towards the country's aspiration to become a global powerhouse by bridging Incheon with the Korean diaspora.



The opening of the agency, which operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, follows Incheon's persistent efforts to gain government support since September last year. With the National Assembly passing the necessary revision in February and the subsequent approval from the Cabinet, President Yoon Suk Yeol's final endorsement by signing the move in March solidified the establishment of the agency.


The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday cleared some final hurdles for the construction of a new $27 million cargo facility at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport that will handle shipping cargo to and from Germany.

The council approved vacating right of way at 1910 50th St. North to consolidate property for a new cargo facility at the airport.

Marcelo Lima, vice president of planning and development at the Birmingham Airport Authority, who spoke to the council, said construction is underway following a groundbreaking held May 24 for the new cargo facility.

The cargo facility will be used by global logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, which launched transatlantic freighter flights to the airport in April.

This has been a long-term goal of the airport and to see it all coming together is a huge win for our community, said Darlene Wilson, chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority.

Wilson said that the partnership Kuehne+Nagel is poised to transform Birmingham into a long-term gateway to and from the Southeastern United States.

We have the infrastructure in place, Wilson said. We have the best partners in the business. And we have the determination to continue building on what we established earlier this year.

On April 2, Kuehne+Nagel started conducting flights twice a week on Boeing 747-8F jets between Stuttgart Airport in Germany and Birmingham. The Swiss logistics company says it will utilize the airport as a gateway for cargo bound for the southeast U.S.

Birmingham Airport Authority will build and own the facility and lease it to Kuehne+Nagel.

Kuehne+Nagel, which operates in nearly 100 countries, is now using a temporary hangar at Birmingham, but plans to move into the new facility when it opens in the spring of 2024. Construction is expected to last about 10 months.

The flights are geared toward the automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. Mercedes-Benz, which manufactures automobiles and lithium-ion batteries in Alabama, is expected to benefit from improvements in supply chain efficiency.

Currently shipments are processed at an airfield hangar owned by Kaiser Aircraft Industries, with flights operated by contract carriers such as Atlas Air and Cargolux.

The new cargo building now under construction will be 53,000 square feet with 48,500 feet of warehouse space, 17 bays in the loading docks, and five airside bay doors, four roll-up doors with two for airside loading and two for ground loading, office space with conference rooms, restrooms and breakrooms, a mezzanine area over office space.

In 2022, there were 1,564 air cargo operations at Birmingham moving 21 metric tons of goods into the region. That has increased substantially since April with the twice weekly international cargo flights from Germany.

This is great news for businesses in our region that rely on air cargo arriving in an efficient and timely manner, said Wilson.

The Birmingham Airport Authority said its location is ideal for building additional cargo business due to its central location and the fact that getting cargo out to customers will not be slowed by the congested conditions that exist at large hub airports.

The new cargo facility mirrors what is happening in some other secondary markets across the country, the Birmingham Airport Authority said, as smaller airports that have the infrastructure in place and the warehousing capacity are able to get cargo out to customers faster, cheaper and on a more predictable schedule.

Our vision is to make Birmingham into a long-term gateway to and from the Southeastern corridor of the U.S. and were pleased to be able to provide customers with alternative options that support their supply chain needs, said Greg Martin, senior vice president of air logistics at Switzerland-based K+N.

The Birmingham Airport Authoritys deal with Kuehne+Nagel is part of a larger trend of freight forwarders increasingly directing international cargo away from congested U.S. hubs to secondary airports.

This partnership with Kuehne+Nagel represents a new era of business development at the airport and a realization of our long-term vision of expanding air cargo activity and making Birmingham and central Alabama more prominent in the southeastern corridor, Wilson said.

Kuehne+Nagel will subcontract warehouse operations management to ground handler Alliance Ground International.

The planned new cargo facility builds on the momentum of new construction at the airport with Texas-based Million Air announcing earlier this year it will invest a minimum of $32 million in Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, with operations to begin June 1 on the airports eastside facilities.

Signing a lease as a Fixed Base Operator, Million Air will add a total of 94,000-square-feet in new development at the airport.

See also: Aviation business investing $32 million in Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport
Drs. Margaret Hayden and Sanjay Kishore see their work as primary care physicians at the Equal Justice Initiative clinic in Montgomery as reinforcement for the reasons they went to medical school.

The EJI clinic provides free health care for people released from Alabama jails and prisons. The patients carry higher risks of certain physical and mental illnesses than the general public and, for many without health insurance, fewer options to get care.

I wanted to become a doctor to help people who needed it, Hayden said. Attending to the suffering of others and being there to cure when you can and just to walk with people through suffering when you can is why I came into medicine. Im really grateful to be a part of this space, where people who havent had access to healthcare for decades are able to come and create a welcoming, dignified, respectful space.

The EJI clinic began treating patients early this year. On a first visit, patients have their blood drawn for screenings for diabetes, cholesterol, liver and kidney problems, HIV, and other conditions. Registered nurse Ryan Pratt does the lab work on site and patients learn their results during that first visit. The clinic can provide certain prescription drugs on site, including medications for common conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression.

Hayden said patients get time to talk to the doctors, ask questions, and learn options for follow-up care.

I dont get pressure to see them in 15 minutes and see as many patients as I can, Hayden said. We have a setting where we have time to really address their needs and listen and give them the dignity and respect that we all deserve, we all would want. Its really a privilege to be here.

This week, the EJI is launching a mobile clinic that will provide the same health screenings. The mobile clinics first stop will be Wednesday at the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles day reporting center in Opelika. EJI plans to use the mobile clinic throughout the state.

An important safeguard for people who have been incarcerated is a screening procedure for hepatitis C, which is more prevalent among incarcerated people than the general public.

Dr. Kishore said the clinic has five patients in active treatment for hepatitis C and one who has just completed treatment. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver and can go undetected for years and cause serious liver damage. The disease is spread through infected blood. Injection drug use and tattoos are two of the ways it spreads in prison. Medication to treat the virus is expensive but the clinic has been able to obtain it at no cost to patients through special programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

We know this saves lives, Kishore said. Theres no reason why people that need these medicines should not be getting them.

Kishore said the hepatitis C detection is an example of how the clinic can make a difference even for the patients it will not see on a long-term basis. The medication can cure the disease in about two months. Kishore expects to see many more patients who need the treatment.

This is something that even if we just have a relationship for few months with them, we can offer a big service, Kishore said. And so we really want to be aggressive about it.

Hayden and Kishore are both graduates of Harvard Medical School and are part of a seasoned staff at the clinic. Pratt, an Air Force veteran, has nearly 15 years experience as a registered nurse. Social workers Laquarria Nevins and Maria Morrison, EJI senior attorney Charlotte Morrison, and clinic managers Mary Ellen Luck and Meghan Hunter coordinate the health care and follow up services intended to help patients reestablish their lives after incarceration.

EJI is a private, non-profit social justice organization known for its advocacy and legal representation of Alabama state inmates and for research that has drawn attention to problems in the prison system, among other work. The health clinic is part of an anti-poverty initiative EJI launched last year that includes support for food banks and helping families obtain healthy foods. EJI founder Bryan Stevenson said access to health care is an essential component for people seeking to establish stability after incarceration.

So many of the people we represent have chronic diseases and illnesses and health challenges that undermine their ability to do well when they come out, Stevenson said. We can address food insecurity by helping people get access to food and groceries. We can provide supports to people who are needing housing and other reentry services. But if we ignore the health problems of people who are suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes, if we dont address these kind of issues, Hepatitis C, and a range of other challenges, then were not going to really meaningfully impact the quality of life for these folks.

Stevenson, an attorney and author of the bestselling book Just Mercy, which was turned into a 2019 movie, said because Alabama has not expanded Medicaid to cover low-income adults, which 40 states have done over the last decade, means less access to medical care for former inmates. Making that care available can help them cope with their problems without resorting to destructive habits that can put them back behind bars.

For a lot of chronic health problems, people who cant get access to health care, who cant get the treatment that they need, what they end up doing is self-medicating, Stevenson said. And it leads to a lot of abuse of drugs and alcohol. Theyre really trying to respond to discomfort, illness, pain, suffering that isnt being addressed medically. And of course, it doesnt help, it aggravates all of those things. But we know that thats a very common problem, particularly for people who are uninsured and particularly for people who are dealing with the issues that many of the folks released from prison deal with.

The clinic is the latest in a series of projects the EJI has developed in Montgomery over the last five years. In 2018, the EJI opened the National Memorial to Peace and Justice, an outdoor monument to lynching victims, and The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration. In 2021, the EJI reopened an expanded Legacy Museum in a new location.

Kishore said he is glad to use his medical training to be part of EJIs latest initiative.

The mission of this clinic, and the Equal Justice Initiative at large, to help people who are suffering and to understand the structural reasons for why that suffering exists and to try to move the needle, thats why we became doctors, Kishore said. And its part of the oath we take as physicians is to be there for people who need you irrespective of insurance status or class or anything like that.

The other thing I would say is EJI is unique nationwide for its ability to couple directly caring for people with an understanding for history and for kind of telling the story about how we got to a place where things were difficult and how we move forward. We felt like we could learn a lot from the lawyers, all the staff of the organization. We were very humbled to be a part of this.

Hayden said working in the clinic reminds her of the early stages of her medical training when she had more time to listen and understand patients.

When youre a medical student, youre given hours to sit with a patient and get their story, Hayden said. And then as you progress along your medical training you kind of internalize the virtues of efficiency and we want to see as many people as quickly as we can and thats what it means to be a good doctor. And this is kind of going back to that more innocent time where it feels really profound to sit with someone, to create a space where they feel trust. They feel like they can tell you things they havent told anyone. And to not have that stopwatch in your head of Oh, theres 18 other people I need to see.
In March, a juvenile Great White shark was caught by shore fishermen on Orange Beach, believed to be the first of its kind caught off an Alabama beach, generating a lot of attention for on-shore shark fishing.

This past weekend, a video posted to Facebook showing a shark caught and dragged onto Panama City Beach caused a stir, including hundreds of comments which ranged from bemusement to concern for the sharks well-being.

Others questioned the wisdom of fishing off a public beach where swimmers are present.

Dr. Sean Powers says shark fishing off the beach is fine and isnt likely to bring more sharks in near shore.

Im not sure (fishing) would bring any more sharks than were already there, said Powers, chairman and director of University of South Alabamas School of Marine and & Environmental Sciences.

It might concentrate them in a smaller area, but if youre catching blacktips and some others, theyre already around.

But, Powers said, there are dangers -- mostly to the fishermen.

There are some things people get in trouble with, he said.

A lot of the shark bites, the ones we call test bites  sharks arent trying to eat people, theyre just trying to eat. So a lot of sharks, if they dont see something, theyll test bite. The problem starts with fishermen who wade out and are using chum near shore. Yes, that attracts sharks, but it also causes them to bite indiscriminately, trying everything.

Humans dont taste very good to a shark. Theyre expecting a rich, fatty fish.

Alabama has a 15-year-old prohibition on chumming near shore, but there are still reports of it happening, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Scott Bannon with the Marine Resources Division told AL.com in March it typically is simply a matter of educating anglers on the regulations.

Once we educate an angler (that they should not chum near a shoreline), it is not an issue, Bannon said. People are very understanding.

Other problems can arise once a shark is caught and pulled onto the beach, mainly in the form of people wanting photos with the shark.

They like to sit on the back of them, grab the snout and try to expose the jaw, Power said. Thats a really bad idea. Its a good way to get bitten. And if little kids start coming around to do that or to see the shark, theres a good chance theyll get bit.

Its better -- and safer -- if the shark isnt dragged onto shore the first place, Powers said.

Its best if the shark is brought into shallow water, where theres enough water that it flows over the gills.

Dont manipulate the shark or do something stupid. Thats a recipe for losing a finger.

If done safely, and within state and federal regulations, shore fishing for sharks poses little threat to humans and doesnt have a negative impact on the ecosystem.

We do a lot of research on making sure that if youre fishing within the regulations, theres no harm to the ecosystem, Powers said.

People should have faith in the science and the fisheries managers that, if within the regulations, shark fishing is fine.

Powers noted the popularity of shore shark fishing has exploded in Texas and seems to be growing in Florida, as well.

He also noted that to fish for sharks off a Florida requires a special endorsement on the state fishing license.

Theres no cost for the endorsement, he said, its simply to allow officials to track the numbers. Theres currently no such requirement in Alabama.

He also added one more safety tip for shark fishermen.

If people are having problems getting the hook out of the sharks mouth, just cut the line, Powers said. Dont get your hand too close to the sharks mouth. Those hooks will disintegrate in a few weeks.

Even if fishermen are using a stainless steel hook, which is prohibited under Alabama law, the shark will adjust to having the hook there easier than youll adjust to not having a hand.
A galaxy group diving deep into a much larger galaxy cluster was caught by NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and an Alabama scientist has presented the results to the American Astronomical Society.

As galaxy group NGC 4839 plunged into the galaxy cluster, the group left behind what NASA called an enormous tail of superheated gas 1.5 million light-years long. It is the longest such tail ever seen and hundreds of thousands of times longer than the distance between the Sun and its nearest star, NASA says.

The hot gas that surrounds galaxy groups and clusters is thin but scientists study it using X-rays because the gas is a large part of both groups and clusters. Galaxy groups are collections of 50 galaxies or less bound together by gravity while clusters contain hundreds of thousands of individual galaxies, NASA said.

It also is an opportunity to study the physics of the tails gas. For example, researchers found a shock wave like a jets sonic boom meaning the gas is moving at about 3 million miles per hour. They also found mild turbulence which NASA said implies the heat transfer in the group is low.

Stephen Walker of the University of Alabama at Huntsville presented the results recently to the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Albuquerque, New Mexico. NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center, also in Huntsville, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatorys Chandra X-ray Center controls the telescopes science operations in Cambridge, Mass. and its flight operations in Burlington, Mass.

The results were also published by Walker, Mohammad Mirakhor and James Runge in the June issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Mirakhor and Runge are also from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. NASAs full account is here.
Alabama lawmakers expanded a tax exemption for overtime pay Tuesday when they approved an executive amendment by Gov. Kay Ivey that removed a $25 million annual cap on total exemptions that can be claimed.

The Legislature added the $25 million cap before passing the bill Thursday . The governor sent the bill back Tuesday with the proposed amendment to remove the cap. The amendment also said the exemption will expire June 30, 2025, unless extended by the Legislature. Before the amendment, the exemption was set to expire Jan, 1, 2027 unless extended.

House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, sponsor of the bill, urged the House to agree with the governors amendment, and the House voted 103-0 to concur. That sent the bill to the Senate, which also concurred.

Daniels said the bill will be a benefit for workers because they can keep more of the money they earn and will help for businesses because it will boost productivity and encourage people to working during a time when employers are struggling to fill jobs.

This will put 5% more money into the pockets of those that are working overtime for overtime pay, Daniels said. Five percent of time-and-a-half is a lot better than 5% or base pay. So therefore, this puts more money into those individuals pockets and companies can use this in their benefits packages.

The exemption applies to full-time hourly workers for compensation for work of more than 40 hours a week. It applies to public and private employers. The exemption becomes available Jan. 1, 2024.

Lets think about our support personnel in the education system, Daniels said. Lets think about our police officers. Lets think about our firefighters. Lets think about healthcare workers. Those industries are going to be able to benefit even more from this piece of legislation. So, its a benefit to the entire state.

Ivey, in a memo attached to her executive amendment, said removal of the $25 million cap would mean more money for workers and make it easier for employers to administer. She said moving the expiration date 18 months sooner, to June 2025, will better enable the Legislature to monitor the impact of the exemption on the education budget. Income taxes go to the Education Trust Fund. The Legislature applied the cap out of concerns about the loss of revenue to the ETF, particularly considering that lawmakers also passed a bill to repeal half of the state sales tax on groceries.

Daniels has said he believes the loss to the ETF from the overtime exemption will be offset, at least to some extent, by workers spending their extra pay on other items. Daniels said he is confident the Legislature will extend the exemption before the June 2025 expiration, with elections coming up in 2026.

June 25, approximately a year out from a primary, Daniels said. I dont think any member of this chamber will want to vote to not renew this particular package.
The lawyer for the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of Mountain Brook High School graduate Natalee Holloway on Monday said his client has changed his mind and plans to challenge his extradition to the United States.

Defense attorney Maximo Altez announced the decision of Dutchman Joran van der Sloot just hours after the Peruvian government confirmed the extradition would take place Thursday. Altez said van der Sloot reversed course following a meeting with Dutch diplomats.

See also: Why Joran van der Sloot faces charges in Alabama

He does not want to be extradited to the United States of America, Altez said, adding that he intended to file a writ of habeas corpus. He was visited today by his embassy (representatives) who made him see the mistake he was making by being extradited without due process.

The attorney said van der Sloot was never notified of an open extradition process, and as a result, was not able to challenge it. Less than a week ago, Altez had said his client explained in a letter he did not plan to challenge the extradition.

The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Peruvian Foreign Ministry said it had not received any complaint from the Netherlands regarding the case.

See also: A timeline of the Natalee Holloway case

Earlier Monday, the head of Perus prison system, Javier Llaque, told The Associated Press that custody of van der Sloot will be handed over to Interpol first thing in the morning Thursday, after which the Dutchman will be taken to an airport in the capital, Lima, to board a plane to the U.S.

Van der Sloot arrived Saturday at a corrections facility in Lima after a long ground trip under strict security measures from a prison in the Andes, where he was serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of a Peruvian woman.

The government of Peru announced May 10 that it would temporarily transfer custody of van der Sloot to authorities in the U.S. to face trial on extortion and wire fraud charges.

Holloway, who lived in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, was 18 when she was last seen during a trip with classmates to the Caribbean island of Aruba. She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, who was a student at an international school on the island.

Van der Sloot was identified as a suspect and detained weeks later, along with two Surinamese brothers. Holloways body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge later declared Holloway dead.

The federal charges filed in Alabama against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family in 2010, promising to lead them to her body in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion.

Also in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, a business student from a prominent family who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance. Van der Sloot pleaded guilty in Flores case in 2012.

A 2001 treaty between Peru and the U.S. allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country. The time that van der Sloot ends up spending in the U.S. will be extended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, including the appeal process should there be one, according to a resolution published in the South American countrys federal register. The resolution also states that U.S. authorities agreed to return the suspect to the custody of Peru afterward.

The young womans mother, Beth Holloway, in a statement released after Peruvian authorities agreed to the extradition last month said the family is finally getting justice for Natalee.

It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off, Beth Holloway said.
A Peruvian judge on Tuesday affirmed this weeks planned extradition to the U.S. of the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of Mountain Brook High School graduate Natalee Holloway.

The judges ruling came less than 24 hours after the attorney for Dutchman Joran van der Sloot filed a writ of habeas corpus in an attempt to stop the custody transfer. Magistrate Elmer Morales informed the suspect of his decision in writing.

Law enforcement authorities scheduled the extradition for Thursday.

Van der Sloots attorney, Maximo Altez, filed the challenge Monday after his client changed his mind and decided to fight the governments decision to send him to the U.S. to be prosecuted on wire fraud and extortion charges.

Van der Sloot earlier had indicated he wouldnt challenge the extradition, but Altez said his client changed his mind after a meeting with Dutch diplomats. The lawyer argued in the habeas corpus challenge that van der Sloot hadnt been properly notified about the extradition process.

Van der Sloot had arrived Saturday at a corrections facility in Lima, the capital, after a long ground trip under strict security measures from a prison in the Andes, where he was serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of a Peruvian woman.

The government of Peru announced May 10 that it would temporarily transfer custody of van der Sloot to authorities in the U.S. to face trial there.

Holloway, who lived in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, was 18 when she was last seen during a trip with classmates to the Caribbean island of Aruba. She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, who was a student at an international school on the island.

Van der Sloot was identified as a suspect and detained weeks later, along with two Surinamese brothers. Holloways body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge later declared Holloway dead.

The federal charges filed in Alabama against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family in 2010, promising to lead them to her body in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion.

Also in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, a business student from a prominent family who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance. Van der Sloot pleaded guilty in Flores case in 2012.

A 2001 treaty between Peru and the U.S. allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country. The time that van der Sloot ends up spending in the U.S. will be extended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, including the appeal process should there be one, according to a resolution published in the South American countrys federal register. The resolution also states that U.S. authorities agreed to return the suspect to the custody of Peru afterward.

The young womans mother, Beth Holloway, in a statement released after Peruvian authorities agreed to the extradition last month said the family is finally getting justice for Natalee.

It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off, Beth Holloway said.
Federal prosecutors are seeking to dismiss charges against a north Alabama man who was arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, breach at the U.S. Capitol in January.

The U.S. District Attorneys Office in the District of Columbia this week filed the motion to drop the charges against 31-year-old Dillon Colby Herrington.

Herrington, who lived in Madison and formerly served in the U.S. Army, was arrested in June 2021.

He is charged with assaulting a federal officer, as well as other charges including disorderly conduct in a restricted building, engaging in an act of violence against a person or property, engaging in an act of violence on the Capitol grounds and interfering with law enforcement efforts.

Prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss without prejudice  meaning charges could be brought against Herrington in the future if the case is dismissed  on Monday but did not provide information as to why they want to drop the charges.

Herringtons Michigan attorney  Heath Michael Lynch  said he cant yet comment on the reasons.

Authorities say Herrington was among the crowd that stormed the Capitol grounds during a joint session of the Congress to certify the vote count of the Electoral College of the 2020 presidential election, authorities say.

Surveillance images and video from the exterior and interior of the U.S. Capitol Building depicted rioters inside and outside of the building who were unauthorized to enter and/or be upon the grounds of the Capitol.

While reviewing surveillance footage, law enforcement observed an individual located on the exterior grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building.

The individual was wearing a camouflage pullover-style jacket with a distinguishable yellow patch on the left arm of the jacket, camouflage pants, a yellow scarf, and a red hat with the words Make America Great Again, according to the affidavit against Herrington.

The affidavit said they later identified that individual as Herrington, in part by comparing the photos to his drivers license picture.

Surveillance footage captured Herrington on two separate occasions attempting to strike members of law enforcement with objects.

He was seen throwing a wooden 4x4 piece of lumber in the direction of members of law enforcement. No officers were hit by the wood.

More footage captured Herrington standing near a metal electrical box. While standing near the electrical box, he appears to have an unknown object in his hands which he appears to throw in the direction of law enforcement, records state.

While standing near the box, the individual took hold of a metal barricade and threw the barricade in the direction of law enforcement. No member of law enforcement was struck with the metal barricade.

The FBI later received a tip identifying the man as Herrington, of Madison. The witness, records state, is a member of law enforcement who has known Herrington for more than a decade.

The records also state that at 5 p.m. on Jan. 6, the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department detained someone who identified himself as Dillon Herrington on the grounds of the Capitol. At that time, Herrington had a knife protruding from his rear pant pocket.

Concerned about the safety of the crowd and officers, D.C. officers elected to detain Herrington, an agent stated. After obtaining Herringtons contact information, officers placed the knife in Herringtons backpack before escorting him off the premises.
South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott took on concerns about whether he, a Black man, has what it takes to garner the support of minority voters as he was grilled by the hosts of The View about his views on systemic racism in America and LGBTQ equality.

Scott appeared on ABCs The View on Monday to defend his view on the opportunities he says Black people have in America, despite pervading notions of racism and white supremacy. He also shared insights on attacks toward members of the LGBTQ community, prompting studio audience members to boo him.

I believe America can do for anyone what shes done for me. Restoring hope, creating opportunities and defending and protecting the America that we love is such an important combination, Scott said.

But Scotts position on what it means to be the exception versus the rule was at odds with at least two of the five women co-hosts on the national television talk show.

Youre the first Black senator elected in the South since Reconstruction ... about 114 years, said co-host Sunny Hostin. Yet, you say that your life disproves the leftist lie, and my question to you is, Im the exception, right? Youre the exception, maybe Ms. Whoopi Goldberg is the exception, but we are not the rule.

At nearly every turn ... achievements in economics, education, health care, criminal justice and housing were fought, threatened and erased most often by white violence. You (Scott) have indicated that you dont believe in systemic racism. What is your definition of systemic racism?

Scott responded by saying that one of the reasons he agreed to come on the show was because of the comments that were made about how the only way for a young African American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule, Scott said. That is a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message to send to our young people today that the only way to succeed is by being the exception.

Scott is the first Black U.S. senator from the South since the 19th century, and he is only the fifth Black person ever to serve in that role. He was appointed to the Senate in 2013 by then-S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, who now also is running for the Republican presidential nomination. Scott subsequently won election in 2014 and was reelected in 2016 and 2022.

The senators Monday talk show appearance comes after Goldberg and Hostin challenged Scotts ability to understand the Black American experience, following his official announcement to run for president last week.

One of the issues that Tim Scott has is that he seems to think, Because I made it, everyone can make it, Hostin said. Ignoring, again, the fact that hes the exception and not the rule. And until hes the rule, then he can stop talking about systemic racism.

In addition, Goldberg previously said that Scott had Clarence Thomas syndrome as it relates to his vision for America.

If youre running for president, you got to do more than that, Goldberg said last week on The View. You have to represent us as a nation and then say, And as a Black man this is also how I feel, but you cant pretend that its not there, that its not an issue for the people youre running  for the party youre running for. They are, in part, the problem, she said.

On Mondays appearance, Scott received a negative response from audience members when asked about how he felt Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another 2024 GOP candidate, was handling Disney and LBGTQ advocacy.

DeSantis has been in a combat zone for a number of months over what I thought was the right issue as it relates to our young kids and what theyre being indoctrinated with, Scott said.

I thought (DeSantis) started off on the right foot on that issue (by) respecting our kids from the indoctrination thats happening our culture is an important part of the equation.

2023 The State. Visit thestate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The sister of an Alabama inmate suffering from lung cancer said the Alabama Department of Corrections denied an application for medical furlough and is instead allowing her brother to suffer and die in prison.

Antonio Smith was transferred from the Red Eagle Community Work Center to the Kilby Infirmary after his diagnosis. The family applied for medical furlough, the program that allows for the release of certain older or terminally ill inmates. In May, they found out Smith had been denied.

His sister, Travella Casey, provided medical records that showed Smith began complaining of back and shoulder pain September 2022, but didnt receive a biopsy until March. He had a chest CT scan in December and a PET scan in January that showed a mass in his lungs.

The time frame that they chose to respond, it was almost six to seven months, Casey said. I just think they dropped the ball with him.

The medical records show that oncologists at Alabama Cancer Care of Montgomery began consulting on his case in late March. He began receiving chemotherapy in May, the records show.

Casey said she speaks with her brother almost every day. He had a good disciplinary record at the Alabama Department of Corrections and was incarcerated on a minimum security honor farm before he became ill, she said.

He was moved to a maximum-security prison two weeks ago because his condition cant be treated at the honor camp hes been at for the last few years due to good behavior, Casey said. Hes getting worse by the day and its like hes been taken there to die.

Casey said her brother has been struggling with severe cancer pain that keeps him up almost all night. She said he only sleeps about two hours. She said he asked to have a feeding tube inserted so he would stop losing weight.

Inmate healthcare and other professional services cost the department $221,765,318, according to a 2021 report from the Alabama Department of Corrections. Thats just over a third of the prisons total expenditures and the most money the department spent on anything.

Smith was convicted in 2000 for murder in the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend, LaKendra Kirkland, in Dothan. A Houston County judge sentenced him to 99 years in prison.

He and his siblings were born in Alabama but were sent to New Jersey as young children to live with relatives after the murder of their 4-year-old sibling. They returned to Alabama as teens and reunited with their mother, Casey said.

In court files, Smith argued that he should have been charged with a lesser offense and said the shooting was accidental and happened during a domestic dispute. He was 22 when he was arrested and had not been in trouble before, Casey said. A judge denied his petition for a new sentence.

Smith has finished several education programs for inmates. Members of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles denied his bid for parole in 2021. His attorney, Frank Ozment, has helped Smith appeal that decision.

Parole rates have plummeted in recent years, after three brutal murders in north Alabama committed by a man who had recently been paroled. Smiths case was reset to 2025, but his sister and attorney worry he wont live long enough for another hearing.

Hes getting worse in a hurry, Ozment wrote in an email. Hes getting opioids for pain management from Kilby medical, but that suppresses his appetite and causes severe constipation, so hes getting malnourished.

A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Corrections said Smith was receiving appropriate medical treatment in prison. Late last year, officials from the department announced they would switch medical service providers from Wexford to YesCare Corp.

Casey said she thinks the corrections department moved too slowly to investigate her brothers complaints in 2022. It took six months to get a biopsy after he first complained of pain, and by the time the results came back, they showed the cancer had advanced to stage 4.

Alabama officials rarely use the medical furlough program that allows sick and elderly inmates to leave prison when they are no longer a threat to society. Only seven inmates qualified for the program in the first 10 months of 2022, according to Al.com

We cant change what Gods plans are, but I dont want him to sit in there and die when more could be done, Casey said. Weve already lost one sibling and I dont want him to pass away thinking he has no one.
President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech during a ceremony commemorating Memorial Day at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



Memorial Day celebrated together with upgraded veterans' ministry



By Nam Hyun-woo



President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that the alliance between South Korea and the United States has been elevated to a nuclear-based one and that the South will establish an ironclad security posture to deter North Korea's threats.



Yoon made the remarks in a speech at a ceremony marking the 68th Memorial Day, which commemorates Koreans who contributed to or died while serving the country.



"North Korea is escalating its nuclear and missile capacity and has enacted its right to use nuclear weapons," Yoon said during the ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery.



"In April, I and U.S. President Joe Biden jointly announced the Washington Declaration, which significantly enhances the extended deterrence of U.S. nuclear assets. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is now upgraded to a nuclear-based one."



In the Washington Declaration, the allies agreed to form a nuclear consultative group (NCG) to bolster Seoul's presence in Washington's nuclear planning and send a U.S. nuclear-armed submarine to the Korean Peninsula if necessary.



The declaration followed North Korea's continued missile tests and purported moves to conduct a seventh nuclear test in the near future. As part of those threats, the North officially enacted a new law guaranteeing its right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself, with the regime's leader Kim Jong-un saying Pyongyang's nuclear status has become irreversible.



"Based on the strongest-ever South Korea-U.S. alliance, the government and the military will establish an ironclad security posture to protect the people's lives and safety," Yoon said.





President Yoon Suk Yeol burns incense to pay tribute to fallen patriots at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, Seoul, Tuesday, the 68th National Memorial Day. Yonhap
Spanish Fort and Daphne continue to grow at a rapid rate on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, where new subdivisions continue popping up and pressures exist to build new schools and roads.

And a post office.

Since January 2021, Spanish Fort has been without a post office, requiring residents to travel along busy and oft-congested U.S. 98 to get to nearby Daphne and the nearest post office.

Related content:

City officials hope the U.S. Postal Service will reconsider. They will meet on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with one of the Postal Services Inspector Generals and U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl to discuss Spanish Forts plight.

For Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan, the goal remains the same: Get a post office built or opened to serve a growing city of 10,656 residents.

This is a positive step to finally get in front of someone, said McMillan about Tuesdays meeting. Were finally reaching a point where they will at least listen to us about putting one back in.

A cigar store is in the same location as the city of Spanish Fort's old post office building within a strip mall along U.S. 98. Spanish Fort has been without a post office since January 2021. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

McMillan said almost everything is on the table. He said the city is willing to consider options of building a post office on city-owned land or building a post office and leasing it back to the U.S. Postal Service. Another option could include leasing an existing city building to the postal service.

There are a lot of options, he said.

A statement from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General confirms the meeting with Carls office to include a discussion about the oversight role of the agency, and a recent Office of Inspector General audits and investigations that may be of interest to the Congressman.

We also understand the closure of the Spanish Fort contract postal unit is a topic of concern and expect to hear more about this issue at the meeting, according to the statement. The (Office of Inspector General) does not play a role in determining the placement of post offices or facilities, but we have conducted audits on the Postal Services process for closing and relocating facilities in the past.

Carls, in a statement, said they are looking forward to the meeting as we continue doing all we can to push the USPS to restore adequate postal service for the City of Spanish Fort.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, meets with members of the Mobile County GOP ahead of providing a congressional update on Monday, July 11, 2022, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

The statement from Carl to AL.com, said the lack of a Spanish Fort post office has been an issue he has been working on since first taking office in January 2021, the same month in which the citys lone post office  located in a strip mall along U.S. 98  closed.

I know how important good postal service is for the residents and business owners in this fast-growing community, said Carl, R-Mobile. I have heard concerns from several hundred residents of Spanish Fort, and I encourage folks to continue submitting their service concerns to my office.

He said people can contact him via email at jerry.carl@mail.house.gov and directly to the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-ASK-USPS or online at https://www.usps.com.

McMillan said he hopes the meeting illustrates to the postal service the need to place a post office in Spanish Fort.

Plain and simple, the sheer numbers are overwhelming for it, he said.

Spanish Fort, Ala., grew by 47.8% between 2010 and 2020, and continues to grow to the point where city officials want to see a post office restored. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Indeed, Spanish Fort continues to grow at a rapid clip and is raising the need for a post office, the mayor said.

The city experienced some of the highest growth of any city in Alabama from 2010-2020 and has continued its growth during the early part of this decade.

According to Census figures, Spanish Forts population grew 48% during the last decade, and the growth has continued at nearly 6% since the 2020 Census.

McMillan said he suspects close to 20,000 patrons who once used the Spanish Fort post office are now going to the Daphne post office. He said that Daphne, which grew by 27% from 2010 to 2020, is also experiencing rapid growth. Daphne, which is Baldwin Countys largest city, has grown by 8% since the 2020 Census, and has close to 30,000 residents.

Its 20,000 patrons put into a crowded post office in a city growing as much as we are, said McMillan of his citys residents going to Daphne.

It has been an uphill battle for Spanish Fort to get a physical postal presence within the city. While postal delivery continues, the citys old post office has since been repurposed into a cigar shop. The 700 occupied P.O. boxes inside the Spanish Fort facility were transferred to Daphne.

Spanish Fort, in late 2020 and early 2021, attempted to prevent the closure but were not successful. An appeal before the Postal Regulatory Commission also attempted to prevent closure. But a ruling in February 2021, indicated it lacked jurisdiction in the case because the Spanish Fort post office was contractor-operated, and not a USPS owned and operated retail facility.

Spanish Fort officials have since advocated for a permanent post office staffed by union workers. But the USPS has not granted that, leaving Spanish Fort officials frustrated over the process and the postal services rationale for not establishing a permanent facility.

The closure was part of a trend by the USPS to reduce the number of contract post units throughout the country, from 2,200 in fiscal year 2019 to 1,820 in fiscal year 2021, or a drop of 202 contract postal units in two years. The USPS operates a fiscal year from October 1 to September 30.

Retail offices managed directly by the USPS and staffed by USPS employees have also declined, albeit at a much lower clip. The USPS operates around 31,300 retail post offices nationwide.

The USPS, among other things, said that the Daphne Post Office is a short drive to Spanish Fort  a postal service spokesperson classified it as a five-mile drive to Spanish Fort.

Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan talks about the I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project following an Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Fairhope, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

McMillan, last year, argued that the USPS refused to take into account the traffic congestion prominent throughout the high-growth Eastern Shore area. He said the location of new neighborhoods north of the city also makes the commute to Daphne much longer.

Along the way, complaints have rolled into the City Hall and Carls office. Carl, late last year, said that his office fielded well over 300 complaints from residents dissatisfied with the postal service.

McMillan also said he was worried over the lack of timely mailing of public notices about important meetings. He said last fall that there had been times in which public notices about a city planning commission meeting would arrive to residents after the meeting had concluded.

Steve Hutkins, a retired professor at the Gallatin School of New York University and a leading advocate for the U.S. Post Office and founder of the website, Save the Post Office, said he believes Spanish Fort needs a post office, and he is glad the fight for a Spanish Fort post office continues.

If the city of Spanish Fort is willing to help find space in a city building or even build a new post office, that could be persuasive, especially if the idea is supported by elected officials like Carl, said Hutkins. A city the size of Spanish Fort definitely needs and deserves its own post office.
Today marks one year since someone opened fire on a parked van on a Birmingham street, killing a 37-year-old man and wounding a woman.

No arrests have been made, and detectives again are asking anyone with information in the killing Michael Lazaria Arrington to come forward.

To this day, his killer remains on the loose and we need your help, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

It was about 3 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2022, when someone unleased about 40 rounds on the van that was parked outside of a house in the 100 block of 40th Street in Ensley.

One person was killed and another injured in a shooting Monday, June 6, 2022, at 1143 40th Street. (Carol Robinson)

Arringtons female passenger called 911 screaming that she and someone else had been shot. She was rushed to UAB Hospital with serious injuries but survived.

Investigators believe both victims were targeted, and police at the time said the shell casings recovered were from different types of weapons.

Fitzgerald said a motive has not been uncovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A man and woman were attacked by two dogs Tuesday morning while walking at a Tarrant park.

The attack happened about 5:30 a.m. at Chief Billy Hewitt Park on Pinson Valley Parkway.

Tarrant Police Chief Wendell Major said 911 received a call from a woman who said two dogs were attacking a man.

The chief said the man is a regular walker at the park and is always the first to arrive there in the morning.

Chief Billy Hewitt Park (Contributed)

The woman, who was also walking in the park, tried to help the man when the dogs turned on her.

When police arrived on the scene, they fired about six shots at the dogs. Both were struck several times but ran off toward the Robinwood area.

One of the dogs was later found dead behind a building of Alabama 79. Police located the second dog Tuesday afternoon and will turn the dog over to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

The injured man is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, Major said. The woman is expected to survive but sustained serious injuries.
Former President Donald Trump went on a rant Monday over the possibility of being hit with charges after his lawyers met personally with special counsel Jack Smith and as the investigation into classified documents he took to Mar-a-Lago appears to be entering its final stage.

Several Trump attorneys were spotted by reporters leaving the Justice Department headquarters after the 90-minute meeting, which could be related to Trumps demand for a meeting about the probe.

The lawyers met with Smith himself, NBC News reported.

Trump himself suggested that an indictment could be coming soon in a statement posted on his social media site just minutes after the lawyers emerged from the Washington, D.C. meeting.

How can DoJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong, when no other presidents were charged, Trump posted.

Trump two weeks ago demanded a face-to-face meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to raise concerns about what they alleged was prosecutorial misconduct and overreach by Smith.

The meeting with Smith could be a final chance to convince prosecutors not to charge Trump in the documents case or to file lesser charges.

The investigation into the mishandling of classified documents is thought to be nearing its end.

The grand jury hearing evidence in the case is reportedly expected to meet this week after not meeting for about a month.

That could be a sign that a decision on charging Trump or others is imminent, although the panel could also be simply hearing fresh evidence.

The former president took thousands of documents with him to Mar-a-Lago when he left office in 2021.

After months of haggling with federal archives officials, he returned several boxes. But prosecutors demanded the rest, prompting them to hit him with a subpoena.

They later became convinced that he was hiding more documents, prompting a judge-approved search that turned up more than 100 additional classified documents.

Prosecutors may consider that defiance and other steps taken by Trump to be evidence of obstruction of justice.

The grand jury has also heard evidence that Trump showed the documents to unauthorized third parties, which could violate the espionage act.

2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is the overall winner of NASAs 2023 Student Launch challenge, the space agency said today.

More than 800 students from across the country and Puerto Rico launched what NASA called high powered amateur rockets in Aprils competition. The competition was held on a large farm outside Huntsville in Madison County, Ala.

Teams of middle school, high school, college and university students spent nine months building rockets that could lift payloads between 4,000 and 6,000 feet into the sky, NASA said. The payloads had to perform a scientific or engineering mission and make a successful landing.

Our students share unique perspectives and design innovative technologies to address real-world difficulties of space exploration, said Kevin McGhaw, regional director of NASAs Office of STEM Engagement. The launch is 23 years old and helping develop the next generation of engineers and explorers to support NASA missions, McGhaw said.

Second place in the overall competition went to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and third place went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

The same teams won the Altitude Award with Vanderbilt first, University of North Carolina second and University of Alabama in Huntsville third.

Auburn University placed in the Best-Looking Rocket Award competition behind North Carolina State University and Virginial Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Read the full list of winners here.

Student Launch is one of NASAs nine Artemis Student Challenges designed to connect students with NASAs mission of sending astronauts back to the moon, the space agency said.

Student Launch is an authentic learning experience  one offering students experience working through the same processes NASA and our partners use for safety and quality control of space missions, Launch leader Fred Kepner said. Kepner is an education program specialist at Marshall.

In addition to NASA, financial and support came from Northrup Grumman, National Space Club Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association of Rocketry, Relativity Space, Bastion Technologies, and Siemens Digital Industries Software.
Investigations are underway after a kidnapping and sexual assault suspect appeared to be punched by police following a weekend high-speed chase that ended in Blount County.

The incident took place Saturday after the Blount County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a rape and kidnapping. The Warrior Police Department was alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect and, along with other law enforcement agencies, began to pursue the suspect.

A motorist captured video of the suspect on the ground on the side of Highway 160 in Hayden with police punching him. That video was sent to, and aired by, Fox 6 news.

Warrior Police Chief Scott Praytor said he was made aware of the video by the television news station.

We didnt know it existed, Praytor said. It was never sent to us.

Of course, it looks bad but to be fair to everybody involved, were going to do a full investigation, the chief said. The investigation is just getting started.

Praytor said the video doesnt show everything that took place, and said the suspect was armed with a gun.

There had to be a choice made and it had to be made quick because the guy was running, Praytor said.

Was the force justified because of what he was doing once they tangled up? he said. Thats what we have to unravel right now and figure out.

Praytor said he is doing an internal investigation but also has requested a separate investigation from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Were going to do a thorough investigation from every aspect, Praytor said.

The suspect, William Ballard of Hayden, was booked into the Blount County Jail at 10:22 a.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains behind bars.

Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon said they are in the process of updating those charges to include rape and kidnapping.
The owner of a Dothan wedding venue is asking for a new trial after a jury ordered him to pay a former employee $500,000 after finding he defamed her multiple times after she was arrested on bogus theft charges.

John Donaldson, owner of Windmill Station, listed several reasons for requesting a new trial or having the $500,000 judgment altered or vacated, including his belief that the judgment given to Gayla White was excessive and that his attorney suffered an illness that affected his performance during the trial.

Evidence at the trial does not support the March judgment, Donaldsons attorney, John White, contended in a motion for a new trial filed in April.

The verdict also so greatly exceeds any verdict consistent with the evidence of damages that a failure to set aside or reduce it would result in the deprivation of Defendants rights provided by the United States and Alabama Constitutions, Whites motion reads.

Houston County Circuit Court Judge Henry Butch Binford set a hearing on the motion for June 21.

White, a former marketing manager, event coordinator and bartender at Windmill Station, worked at the Dothan wedding venue from September 2016 to mid-June 2018.

In her complaint against Windmill Station Donaldson, White said she repeatedly asked for tax documents from December and turned in her two weeks notice to on June 6, 2018, when Donaldson became angry and threatening.

At the last event White worked at Windmill Station, Donaldson grabbed her arm and told her he would press charges for stealing if she did not return a calendar that belonged to her boss, the suit stated.

On July 9, 2018, White was arrested on charges of stealing $2,700 and booked into the Dothan City Jail. She was arrested again roughly a week later, the lawsuit alleged.

From her initial arrest until she was cleared of the charges, Donaldson continued to make false and defamatory comments about White, including calling her a thief and other defamatory statements that were aired on and printed in Dothan media outlets.

White suffered, and continues to suffer, embarrassment, great worry, shame, humiliation, loss of sleep, anxiety, nervousness, physical and mental suffering, anguish, and fright due to the false allegations, the lawsuit stated, including fear that she would never be employed again.

She requested $1 million in compensatory damages, with the Houston County jury awarding her half that amount.

The jury also denied her request for $3 million in punitive damages.
KBS' headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul / Newsis



Opposition party, KBS slam gov't for 'attempting to tame media'



By Lee Hyo-jin



A recommendation by the presidential office to revamp a fee the public pays every month to watch state-run broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) is causing a stir.



Although the proposal is backed by overwhelming public support according to President Yoon Suk Yeol's office, it is drawing criticism from the media and opposition lawmakers who perceive the move to be yet another attempt by the Yoon administration to suppress press freedom.



Since 1994, KBS has been charging a monthly fee of 2,500 won ($1.91) on each household to watch its programs. The payment, incorporated into monthly electricity bills, is collected by the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp.



The quasi-tax system, requiring virtually every household to pay the fee whether they watch KBS or not, has been a source of debate for over a decade, especially in recent years because a growing number of people do not have a TV at home and just use computers or smartphones to watch programs on streaming services.



Against this backdrop, the presidential office announced, Monday, that it recommended the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the broadcasting watchdog, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to separate the TV subscription fee from the electricity bill. If implemented, this would deal a heavy blow to KBS, which is already struggling financially.



"We have reflected public discontent and calls for change to the current scheme of collecting the TV viewing fee on top of the electricity bills, which has been in place for the last three decades," Kang Seung-kyoo, senior presidential secretary for civil society, said during a briefing.



Kang cited an online survey conducted by the presidential office in March, which found that 96.5 percent of the 58,251 participants were against the current system. In the comment section, about 38,000 of the 64,000 responses called for entirely abolishing the viewing fee, while some 20,000 comments said the fees should be collected separately from the electricity bill.





Kang Seung-kyoo, senior presidential secretary for civil society, speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
History is where you find it.

Certainly its found in books, and on television. But while we still enjoy the company of perhaps 150,000 Americans who served in World War II, they include veterans of June 6, 1944, and the scores of D-Days that preceded and followed the Normandy invasion. We can still appreciate their sacrifice and their service.

For a moment, lets consider what those veterans meant to America and the world. Lets ponder what their victory accomplished -- and what it did not.

Operation Neptune (the naval portion) delivered Overlord (the invasion) to five beaches along the Normandy coast: two American, two British, one Canadian. Some 175,000 Allied airborne and ground troops comprised the initial landings, with perhaps 4,400 dead or missing, including 2,500 Americans.

German losses remain uncertain; perhaps 9,000 total casualties.

French citizens suffered severely from the Germans, from the Allies, and from internecine conflict. Allied bombers and artillery inflicted massive damage: surveying a ruined French city, an American soldier gained anonymous immortality when he said, We sure liberated the hell out of this place.

Among the eloquent oratory attending the World War II Memorial and the D-Day anniversary is a frequent refrain: The Greatest Generation preserved Americas freedom. It is, however, a gross overstatement. The plain fact is that neither Germany nor Japan ever had the ability to conquer America.

By June 1944, both Axis powers had lost control of the sea, lacking the ships and manpower to occupy North America. (If Hitler was unable to invade Britain in 1940, how could he possibly occupy America?) In fact, the Axis already was fatally overextended on the Eurasian landmass and in China.

Even today, orators continue overstating the threat to Americas freedom. While our security may be at risk in the war on terror, our freedom is as secure as We the People want it. Not even during the height (or depth) of the Cold War was American freedom at stake. The Soviet Union had the power to destroy us, but never could have enslaved us. Only Americans have the ability to deprive Americans of their freedom.

What, then, was Americas stake on Normandy beaches?

The question answers itself. At stake was Western Civilization and the freedom of most of Europe. France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Greece, Yugoslavia, Norway, and other nations awaited liberation. In fact, so did Germany and its European allies: Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. Sadly, many of them exchanged one oppressor for another: Nazism for Communism.

A Monumental Undertaking

World War II was a peoples war. More than 15 million of 138 million Americans entered the armed forces. If todays military represented the same proportions, we would have over 30 million of Americas 331 million people in uniform. Today, there are but 2.1 million in the active, reserve, and National Guard forces.

The production feat was enormous, easily the greatest in history. Of more than 5,000 ships and landing craft in Operation Neptune, most of the former and all the latter had been built since 1941. But long before D-Day, the Allies had to defeat Hitlers U-boats, a campaign largely completed by mid-1943. Once the Atlantic pipeline was opened, a flood of men and materiel spanned the sea lanes, bringing the wealth and youth of the New World to the rescue of the Old.

It was a war of logistics. Consequently, it was won at home, in factories and on farms. Among other things, America manufactured 79,000 landing craft; 297,000 airplanes; 2.5 million trucks; 12.8 million rifles; and 190 million pairs of boots and shoes.

Logistics also bore heavily upon manpower, as less than 25 percent of the Allied troops in France belonged to combat units. For every infantryman, tanker, or artilleryman who crossed Omaha and Utah beaches, four or five other GIs backed him up: clerks, cooks, mechanics, truck drivers, doctors and nurses.

So when you think of the World War II vet, dont allow your mental computer to default to the traditional image. He may have been your father, grandfather, or the neighbor you hardly knew. But give him tribute, gentle reader, whether he wielded a bazooka, a bomber, or a bulldozer.

When you think of the World War II vet, think of the uncle who collected scrap metal or the aunt who learned to use a rivet gun.

When you think of World War II, think of a nation unified in its purpose with steely resolve. It was the kind of singlemindedness that took us from 30,000 feet in the skies of Europe in 1944 to the lunar Sea of Tranquility only 25 years later.

Millions paid the price

Its astonishing to contemplate. Germany, with a population of 77 million, challenging virtually the rest of Western Civilization. The United States counted 138 million people; Russia around 108 million. Yet it took the United States, the Soviet Union, and the British Empire nearly six years to defeat Nazi Germany.

Its an inherent fault of democracies, which seldom learn the ancient wisdom of fourth-century military writer Vegetius. Fifteen centuries before D-Day, he wrote: Who desires peace should prepare for war. Thats why years of European appeasement and American complacency required a generation of young men to crawl up fire-swept beaches, leaving their blood and the friends of their youth in sandy venues from France to New Guinea to Okinawa.

The Atlantic Wall was an imposing barrier, with Wagnerian bunkers concealing powerful cannon. But it was a porous blockade, often thinly manned. Germany disposed of 850,000 troops in France but only 80,000 in Normandy.

The Allied deception plan worked; Hitlers strength lay in the Pas de Calais. Against 175,000 Allied troops enjoying uncontested air supremacy, it seems remarkable that the issue was ever in doubt. And yet it was, however briefly. The Allied Supreme Commander, General Dwight Eisenhower, penned a note for release in event that Overlord failed.

Overlord was coalition warfare writ large -- writ huge, in fact. Five Allied nations were involved at sea or ashore: America, Britain, Canada, Free France, and Poland in exile. It set a standard for what followed on larger scales in Korea, Southeast Asia, and the wastes of Mesopotamia.

In the unlikely event that Overlord failed, the Allies had an ace up their sleeve. Operation Anvil-Dragoon landed in southern France two months later, making the Riviera the most glamorous arena of the war.

However, the larger picture involved the Soviet Union. Had the western allies failed to gain traction in France, eventually Josef Stalins tankers would have parked their T-34s at Calais. The entire postwar history of Europe would have been vastly different.

Meanwhile, there are eleven U.S. government cemeteries in France. They contain the graves of some 60,000 Americans who died liberating that country, roughly 30,000 each in both world wars.

Somehow, the Great War -- the one that was to end all wars -- escaped the same degree of memorialization. There is little tribute to the 116,000 Americans who died in uniform in 1917-18; the Kansas City World War I memorial opened in 2006, five years before the last doughboy died.

While most French citizens were grateful for liberation, their governments then and since remain truculent. Perhaps its Gallic resentment of essential American aid in two world wars, combined with a cultural invasion expressed in Levis and McDonalds. If so, surely Americas huge debt to France in the Revolution has been paid with interest.

Let a retired airline pilot describe the situation: On the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 2004, I was flying a 757 from JFK to Paris. After the usual post-landing customs dance, we met the wizened little Frenchman with the large white moustache who drove our crew bus to town. He had decorated his dashboard with a little display of crossed American and French flags, and he greeted us with repeated, Sank you, Americans! Sank you!

Despite the political rhetoric, America did not free itself on Utah or Omaha Beach. America did something grander: It freed a continent of enslaved peoples. And for that, Mon vieu, most U.S. veterans would reply, Youre welcome.

Barrett Tillman is a military historian with more fifty books and 800 articles published worldwide, including The D-Day Encyclopedia (2004 and 2014.)

Image: Public Domain
Credible allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election have resulted in profound misgivings among Americans. Many conservatives have become disillusioned with the Republican party, especially at the national level where the gap between rhetoric and results has grown enormously. However, the nation has experienced similar circumstances in the past. What lessons can we draw from the history of previous elections?

The 1960 election was a pivotal point in American politics. Given that only one in five current Americans were alive then, as well as the continuing decline in proficiency in history and civics, let us consider how this contest compares to our most recent presidential election.

In 1960 the Republican candidate was the sitting vice president, Richard Nixon, serving in the Eisenhower administration. The Democrats' candidate was John F. Kennedy, the senator from Massachusetts. In terms of the popular vote, this is considered the second-closest presidential election in the nations history. Kennedy won 49.72% of the votes cast versus the 49.55% won by Nixon. The presidency is determined, of course, not by the popular vote but rather the votes cast in the electoral college. Per the Constitution of the United States, each state is allotted electors equal to the number of its members in the House of Representatives plus its two senators. Thus, the state of Georgia, for example, with its fourteen representatives plus two senators, currently has a total of sixteen electors. The larger a states population the more representatives it has, such that California has 55 electors while several states have only three. These numbers can vary over time as a state gains or loses representatives due to changes in population.

Based on the total number of electors in 1960, a candidate had to win at least 269 to have a majority. As close as the popular vote was, the difference in electoral votes was significant, with Kennedy gaining 303 versus 219 for Nixon. The reason for the disparity is that voters do not directly choose the presidential candidate, but rather vote for a slate of electors, who in turn vote for the candidate. Each party, Republican, Democrat, or other, fields its own slate. Usually then, in most states the popular vote determines which slate will serve and therefore, which candidate wins all the states electoral votes.

However, the election of 1960 was anything but usual. Several state Democrat parties worked to put unpledged electors on the ballot. Thus, it happened, for example, that Alabama voters chose five electors who were pledged to and voted for Kennedy, but also chose six unpledged electors, who ultimately voted for the segregationist Democrat Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia.

Consider the 1960 results in the states of Texas and Illinois. In Texas, Kennedy received 1,167,567 (50.52%) against 1,121,310 (48.52%) for Nixon, for 24 electoral votes. In Illinois, Kennedy received 2,377,846 votes (49.98% of votes cast) versus Nixons 2,368,988 (49.80%) and therefore gained the states 27 votes.

A mere 112,287 votes separated the two candidates out of a total of 68,832,482 cast nationwide. In such a closely divided election the potential for any irregularity, either by simple human error or by intentional fraud, to affect the outcome is significant. Had Nixon prevailed in both Texas and Illinois, he would have been the nations 35th president rather than Kennedy.

Naturally, this gave rise to serious allegations of election fraud and Republicans soon uncovered a number of irregular results. The Washington Post noted one instance in Texas: In Fannin County, which had 4,895 registered voters, 6,138 votes were cast, three-quarters of them for Kennedy. More votes cast than registered voters -- where have we heard that recently?

Although President Eisenhower and many others urged Nixon to contest the election, he ultimately decided not to, telling one journalist our country cannot afford the agony of a constitutional crisis. My point is not to judge whether the 1960 or the 2000 (Bush vs. Gore) or the 2020 presidential elections were honest. Millions of words could be written -- and have been -- debating their outcomes. Rather, I want to note that every election has the potential for irregularities that call its result into question, causing serious distrust in voters minds and damaging their confidence in the integrity of the government.

History would teach us that honest elections are not an inevitable outcome of our political system. They never have been. If we are to have fair elections, we must work to ensure our votes are accurately recorded. So, what are some actionable steps we can take to make the 2024 election an honest one?

First, we can pray -- always the best first step when dealing with any problem.

Second, we can participate in our local party activities at the precinct and county levels. Consider working to register new voters who agree with your principles.

Third, we can keep an eye on the process as it occurs. Consider volunteering to be a poll worker or a poll watcher.

Fourth, we can, with our time and money, support candidates who align with our values, or even consider becoming a candidate ourselves.

What we must not do is allow a sense of fatalism to cause us to withdraw from political activity. This is no time to retire to the sidelines. Instead, look for opportunities to impact the 2024 elections. For this article I have focused on presidential elections, but local and state elections are just as important. Dont believe it? Consider the impact that district attorneys have had in just the past two years on the maladministration of the justice system. Alvin Bragg of New York County; Kim Gardner of St. Louis, Missouri; Kim Foxx of Cook County, Illinois; and Buta Biberaj of Loudoun County, Virginia are a few examples.

If all that sounds like too much effort, the alternative is to just sit back and complain about the election results. Its your call, either to do nothing or to step up and take the actions that are available to you.

In his inaugural address as Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews, delivered on February 1, 1867, John Stuart Mill said, "Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." I believe there are enough good men and women in America to ensure the elections of 2024 accurately represent the choices of the people.

Harold Lowery is the author of From Lexington to Yorktown. Warning: This novel references actual American history.

Image: Picryl
Once upon a time, Mexico's PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) won every contested election, or any election at all, for that matter. They controlled the presidency for decades and the governorship of the most populous state that surrounds Mexico City.

Well, that was then, and this is now. MORENA, President Andres Lopez-Obrador's party, won the state of Mexico and ended years of PRI control. This is the story:

The party of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was set to win a major opposition bastion in a state election on Sunday, preliminary results showed, giving the country's leader a boost as he seeks to pave the way for a successor next year. In the State of Mexico gubernatorial race, Lopez Obrador's leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) was expected to win 52.1 to 54.2% of the vote, while the candidate running for an opposition alliance was forecast to garner 43.0 to 45.2%, the state's electoral institute (IEEM) estimated.

Up north in Coahuila, a coalition of parties opposed to AMLO did win with over 55% in unofficial results.

The official reports will be declared on Wednesday, but the aforementioned results should hold. In other words, AMLO split the results.

What do we make of all of this? MORENA's victory was actually a repudiation of the PRI. Most Mexicans see the PRI as corrupt and a part of Mexican history that they'd rather forget. So the PRI candidate had no chance, thus assuring a MORENA victory. As Therese Margolis pointed out, the win was not as extensive as the party would have liked. Yes, MORENA won, but not big. This is why many pundits are calling this the end of the PRI rather than confirmation of love for AMLO.

The PRI did better in the other election because it ran as a coalition of parties focusing on national concerns. It joined forces with PAN and PRD, and that trio of parties won big. Maybe that's the formula when the presidential election comes in 2024. By the way, that election will be next July, so campaigning should start soon.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: PRI.
In the presidential race, I am solidly for Governor DeSantis. I trust his judgment. There are many examples, but his ability to see through and counteract social insanity is foremost.

In 2020, America lost its mind over COVID. Today, Americans are being bullied to accept weird sexual and gender ideologies. In both cases, DeSantis demonstrates extraordinary leadership.

COVID created enormous social and legal pressure to alter our behavior. None of these changes made sense. Masks were germ-infested rags that provided trivial protection and were harmful. The lockdowns had negligible benefits. The people who sheltered at home, paradoxically, had higher infection rates than people who freely moved about.

We know all this now. DeSantis looked at the data and came to these conclusions in real time. He protected the most vulnerable and then opened Florida. He opened the beaches. He opened schools without a mask mandate, but allowed parents to choose remote classes. He opened businesses. In all cases, he chose freedom. He displayed judgment and the courage to lead. The result: Florida 's COVID record is 8% better than the median state.

The 310 million Americans who didn't live here suffered the worst public health disaster in history. As John Hindraker at Powerline observed, the lockdown and the epidemic were worse than the epidemic alone.

The economic costs are staggering, and COVID policies increased inequality. I don't need to recite the agony inflicted on individuals. On the macro level a USC study calculated the American costs of COVID policies as $14 trillion. "Involuntary business closures have been the leading cause of a massive decline in U.S. GDP during the COVID-19 pandemic." These closures also caused enormous transfers of wealth from main street to Amazon and Wall Street. "In the United States, billionaires are a third richer now than they were before the pandemic."

The social costs are even higher. They include "a rise in non-COVID excess mortality, mental health deterioration, child abuse and domestic violence, widening inequality, food insecurity, lost educational opportunities, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, social polarization, soaring debt."

It's difficult to find anyone who wasn't either directly affected by these tragedies or had close contact with people who were. Children with speech impediments and retarded socialization from enforced masking may suffer for the rest of their lives.

I'm not arguing that Florida and DeSantis are unique. Sweden followed a similar path with comparable results. There've been other American leaders with DeSantis's foresight and courage. Among presidents, the most recent is Ronald Reagan.

Liberals have handed Republicans the opportunity to expand their support and win big in 2024 by leading the revolt against all things woke.

After being challenged by a rival, DeSantis defined woke as cultural Marxism. It's an attempted revolution aimed at overturning our way of life. Until recently, I thought woke would prevail. The record in Florida gives me hope. With the right leadership, we will overcome.

Looking at DeSantis's record and the reactions of his critics shows that we can win. The reaction to Florida's prohibiting schools from discussing sexual preferences and gender ideology in all grade levels is instructive. Calling it "don't say gay" is a slur on gays, who much more often than not are repulsed by pedophiles and pederasts. Some gays are parents. More have nieces and nephews. Generally, their reaction to men dressed as women performing sexually in front of children is the same as mine. DeSantis explains, in a concise way that's worth watching, our shared interest in not sexualizing children. The way DeSantis dispensed with Disney and its oblivious Republican allies highlights his agility and determination. The absurd book-banning claim died when DeSantis showed text and pictures of books removed from school libraries. TV stations covering the press conference had to cut away. The content was too explicit to be broadcast.

At its core, the woke movement insists that the distinction between men and women is an illusion. The inequities this creates are unending.

Males should not compete in women's sports. Sororities should not be forced to accept men. Men should not indiscriminately use women's restrooms or changing rooms. "Transwomen" in these situations have filmed women and have raped women and children.

Children should not be encouraged to select a different gender. The most important point: Children should not be mutilated in the name of "gender-affirming care." There's a lie that without those mutilations, suicides increase. The opposite is true. Suicides rise after these horrible surgeries. A Swedish study demonstrates that people who've had their genitals mutilated to look like the opposite sex are 19 times more likely to commit suicide. Florida is right to prohibit these mutilating surgeries on minors.

Elections often turn on brands. Ron and Casey DeSantis own the anti-woke brand. The left's hysterical reaction to Casey's lovely jacket proves the point.

In 2016, Republicans were presented with a mixed blessing. The blessing had many upsides. The three subsequent elections are the brutal downside. Republicans need to win in 2024. I've presented only two of the reasons DeSantis is best positioned to win. An objective review of DeSantis's record will reveal a host of additional reasons.

Image: Ron DeSantis. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
How does this sound for an inviting proposition?

According to the New York Post:

Mayor Eric Adams now wants to start paying every day New Yorkers to shelter migrants in their own homes  as the Big Apple struggles to find beds for the thousands of asylum seekers still flooding into the city. In his latest attempt to battle the ongoing migrant crisis, Adams on Monday floated a half baked private residence plan, which could possibly see local homeowners getting compensation to put up asylum seekers. Hizzoner put forward the proposal as he revealed religious leaders had agreed to start housing adult male migrants overnight at 50 places of worship scattered across the five boroughs next month. There are residents who are suffering right now because of economic challenges. They have spare rooms. They have locales, the mayor said, arguing his private residence proposal could put money back in the pockets of taxpayers.

He sounds like he thinks this was a one-off natural disaster. Actually, this is an extended problem which he's failed to solve because he refuses to solve it.

Instead of demanding that Joe Biden enforce the border, end catch-and-release, and put a stop to abuse of U.S. asylum laws, he's happy to be left holding the bag for Joe Biden's open borders; forced to house and feed the invaders with no perceivable benefit to his city.

Already he's spent $4.3 billion on them -- and all he's got is more migrants.

Instead of demanding that New York's city council drop its absurdly generous "right to shelter" law, he's now asking New York's taxpayers to take care of the problem in their homes, as if resolving the housing problem this way wouldn't encourage more illegal migrants to come to New York City, which it will.

He's tried many workarounds around this problem of tens of thousands of migrants flooding his city with their hands out -- from shipping the migrants to other cities in New York state, to calling for more federal funding to compensate the city for its self-imposed "right to shelter" free housing for illegally present foreigners; to housing the migrants in five-star hotels (which has battered the tax base); to moving the migrants to warehouse dockyard housing; to moving the migrants into public school space for housing -- and not once does he imagine that maybe this willingness to be the patsy for Irresponsible Joe and the clowns on the New York city council is the actual root of the problem.

Nor does he propose to ask the migrants to pay for their own housing, which is what everyone else does who travels to a foreign country. The migrants currently in New York have already demonstrated that they have plenty of money in the products they purchase, while studies have shown that the people who migrate for economic reasons are typically members of their countries' lower middle class, rather than the poorest people.

Now he's proposing to drop the problem onto the laps of New Yorkers themselves, on the grounds that many have spare bedrooms in their homes to house strangers.

And stranger is right. By their very nature, illegal immigrants are unvetted foreigners. We've already seen that some are flash mob criminals, raiding Macys on one of their excursions.

We'e also seen how they treat New York's five-star hotel rooms, trashing them like rock stars, apparently valuing the rooms for about as much as they paid for them.

Sure, some of the migrants may be ethical and industrious immigrants whose asylum claims are valid. But it's obvious that many are not. They are products of the slums of places such as Caracas and San Pedro Sula, with full underclass values.

Which would probably present quite a risky deal for New Yorkers who might take Adams up on his offer to house the migrants for the city.

Will they be on their own if their homes get robbed by the migrants? Will the city pay for property damage brought on by migrants bringing propane stoves in the bedrooms and other fire-hazard activity that's already been seen in the five-star hotel rooms? What happens if the migrants turn the homes into a trash heap and refuse to clean up after themselves? What happens if the stipend paid by the city is not enough to cover the damage?

Given the entitlement mentality seen in some of the migrants such as the Venezuelans who recently demanded free permanent housing in New York, it could get even riskier than monetary damage. What happens when the migrants refuse to leave the private homes, and insist on staying permanently? What happens if the migrants demand squatting rights on the private homes, knowing that the laws and the prosecutors will protect them?

Just the example of parents of public school students protesting Adams' use of public school gymnasiums to house migrants pretty well tells us what the public response is likely to be to this proposal by Adams.

Many observers, on Twitter and even at the New York Post, have asked Adams if he's got some spare bedrooms at Gracie Mansion to start.

In other words, You First.

That won't happen, and this plan to house the migrants in private homes probably won't be met with open arms either.

What Adams needs to do is take a good look at the problem, which isn't housing, it's federal and local policy. New York City evolved the way it did because of market forces, buttressed by rule of law. Migrants and their government enablers know no law, nor do they pay attention to market forces. That leaves Adams with the problem he has. Maybe he should wake the heck up.

Image: Screen shot from New York Post video, via YouTube
On Monday, David Zukerman wrote a good piece about Peggy Noonan and her WSJ editorial concerning former President Donald Trump. Noonan argues that electing Donald Trump again would destroy the Republican Party. Peggy may be right, and I hope she is.

Trump's success in 2016 was, in large part, due to the way that he took the mechanisms of the Republican political machine and used them to secure victory. He ran a third-party-style campaign within the structure of the Republican Party. The "party" as a corporate entity was against him, but grassroots Republicans in name and philosophy were all in for candidate Donald Trump. The "party" has never forgiven him for that.

The Republican establishment is not MAGA. Instead, MAGA is a creation of President Trump and his supporters. The Republicans in Washington work in a feigned conflict with Democrats that leads to a power structure that always gets what it wants. Both parties have a few people who try to push the limits for change, but the establishment always wins. Washington insiders build their power, the government gets larger, and the ranks of government employees grow. The country outside Washington pays the bills.

One of President Trump's political failures was that he did not secure the reins of the Republican political entity when he had the chance as the head of the party. He allowed the establishment Republicans to maintain control of the political organization, and the Republican establishment joined with others to harm his presidency and prevent his securing a second term.



Image of a smiling Donald Trump generated by Pixlr AI.

President Trump is correctly criticized for the poor record he has with appointing subordinates who ended up working against him and hurting him politically. The Republican establishment was at the center of this failure. He trusted the Republican establishment to suggest people to work in the administration, and the establishment used this trust to install people more interested in maintaining the Washington power structure than making the country great again.

It was the establishment Republicans who convinced President Trump to appoint and continue the leadership within the Department of Justice that is currently on a political vendetta to influence the results of another election. When President Trump saw that his own DOJ was undercutting his presidency and secretly investigating him, it was the Washington Republicans who made public statements against their removal. They wanted the investigations against President Trump to continue.

The Republicans in Washington slow-walked conservative initiatives and legislation. They failed to support President Trump publicly when he came under fire and actually undercut him in public statements. When 2020 rolled in with COVID, riots, and election "irregularities," the Republicans left President Trump nearly alone to battle the entrenched interests that wanted him gone.

The conservative base that supported President Trump found itself battling simultaneously against the Republican establishment and the Democrats. The Democrats do not have this problem. The Democrat party is in lockstep with its base.

Peggy Noonan is a spokesperson for the establishment party that still wants former President Trump to lose and disappear. She fears that the party establishment will be destroyed if former president Trump wins again. I hope that is true.

President Trump will need to do what he did in 2016 in securing the Republican base plus the local Republican political machines if he is to be successful again. When he wins, he needs to begin the process of changing Washington, and that includes remaking the Republican Party in his image as an entity that fights the Democrats rather than capitulating.

It can be that new party that many of us dream will operate under the same old name but in a new direction. The government needs a massive overhaul. The Republican Party should get one at the same time, or that establishment party will begin to undermine everything yet again.

Peggy knows this, and she is correct about the effect of a Trump victory in 2024, but she is on the wrong side of what is best for the country.
America is set up as a pyramid, with towns and municipalities as the smallest legal and political units, then going to countries, states and, finally, the federal government. The New York Times recently expressed its horror that states are beginning to reassert their legal and political dominance over rogue, Democrat-run municipalities. There is no discernable principle behind this horror, other than the fact that shutting down those rogue entities weakens leftist power.

The insight to be gleaned from the New York Timess anguished editorial, States Are Silencing the Will of Millions of Voters, requires understanding a few fundamental principles about American governance and demographics.

First, as noted above, America has a hierarchical, pyramidal structure. At its base are towns and cities, which are the most numerous legal and political entities. The next level is made up of counties. The counties aggregate to make a state, and the 50 states come together to make up the United States of America. On matters within its constitutional purview, the federal government is the preeminent power and all other political entities must yield to it. That is, if state and federal law are in conflict, the Constitutions Supremacy Clause expressly mandates that federal law preempts state law.

Image: NY Times photo by Haxorjoe (CC BY-SA 3.0); Screaming man by wayhomestudio.

However, if a matter is not within constitutional purview, the Constitution gives legal and political power to the states:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

The relationship between the states and their subset counties, towns, and cities, has always been understood to be the same as that between the states and the federal government: The smaller political entities may make their own laws if they do not conflict with state laws. If they do, the state laws preempt the laws, rules, and regulations of its subset political parts.

Second, no matter how conservative a state may be, its urban centers are usually Democrat-run. We can theorize about why this is so (everything from demographics to the dependency on government within a city, to out-and-out voter fraud), but its enough for this essay to say that cities trend left.

Third, over the last couple of decades, many of these Democrat-run cities have announced that they are no longer bound by state or even federal laws. This has been most obvious with so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to allow law enforcement to search for or arrest illegal aliens. Theyve also made laws about racial, sexual practice, and sexual identity issues that are discriminatory in nature.

Those facts get us to the New York Timess existential scream of an editorial. According to the Timess editors, the way that states are silencing millions of voters is by explicitly articulating the commonly previously accepted and understood principle that, if state and local law conflict with each other, state law preempts local law. The editorial focuses on the evil state of Texas, although it acknowledges that lots of states are reclaiming their preemptive authority:

The bill, recently approved by the Texas House and Senate, would nullify any city ordinance or regulation that conflicts with existing state policy in those crucial areas and would give private citizens or businesses the right to sue and seek damages if they believe there is a discrepancy between city and state. That means no city could prohibit discrimination against L.G.B.T.Q. employees, as several Texas cities have done. No city could adopt new rules to limit predatory payday-lending practices. No city could restrict overgrown lots or unsafe festivals or inadequate waste storage. Cities would even be barred from enacting local worker protections, including requiring water breaks for laborers in the Texas heat, as Dallas, Austin and other cities have done after multiple deaths and injuries. Business lobbyists and Republican legislators who have pushed the bill said its purpose was to rid the state of a patchwork of conflicting regulations. In fact, that patchwork largely exists only in three or four mostly Democratic cities in an overwhelmingly red state, and the bill is the latest effort by Republicans to rid the state of any policies that conflict with their hard-right agenda  even if those policies are fully supported by voters in those cities, who elect representatives to serve their interests.

Let me translate: Waah! We cant use our power in urban communities to defy the law anymore! Waah! Were all going to die!!

To have a livable country, one must have an evenly applied rule of law. Leftists arent interested in a livable country. They are interested only in perpetual political power, and they throw a hissy fit whenever conservatives dare to reinstate the laws that leftists have ignored or perverted.

When the balance of power is restored between states and their subparts, and between the states and the federal government (which, thanks to an activist Supreme Court, has arrogated way too much power to the feds), America will be a safer, more prosperous nation, benefitting all who live here, regardless of race, sexuality, economic status, etc.


By Chung Kyung-young



On April 26, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance, the two allies agreed that both presidents are committed to building a better future for all Korean people and supporting a unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace. The ROK-U.S. alliance's mission is to build a free, unified Korea.



From a civilizational perspective, a unified Korea would historically imply the end of the Cold War era which still exists in the region. Strategic cooperation between the U.S. and China would successfully enable the two Koreas to build a unified Korea, and this unified Korea would then in turn transform the hegemony rivalry between the great powers into co-evolutionary relations. It would liberate North Korean people from poverty and human rights violations. It would also send a strong signal to other failed states affected by civil conflict and authoritarian regimes.



When we make an objective assessment and comparative cost analysis between the real expenditures derived from its division and the benefits from a unified Korea, building a unified Korea would provide far greater benefits than the status quo of division.



A vision for a unified Korea



The defining vision of a unified Korea plays a role in navigating to that ultimate destination.



First, a unified Korea, serving as new nation building, should embody the spirit of "Hongik Ingan" as the guiding thought of Korean national foundations and strive to carry out its message of mercy and goodwill to every human being. A unified Korea will be born again as a national community and extended family culture reflecting self-sacrifice and love. The nation should be a liberal democracy, representing checks and balance, along with the moral free market economic system. The education system should embody a spiritual heritage, along with ethics, human dignity, freedom of speech and the pursuit of happiness. In particular, freedom of religion is imperative for the new nation actualizing the "Korean Dream."



Second, a unified Korea will pursue a non-nuclear regime and peace. A unified Korea can play a constructive role as a peace-loving country and benefit the region in many ways.



Third, a unified Korea will pursue the ROK-U.S. alliance in parallel with regional multilateral security. We will maintain the alliance, which has made contributions to deterring war and at the same time promoting liberty and prosperity. It will also foster regional multilateral security cooperation of mutual respect. Fourth, a unified Korea will become a hub for geo-economy, transportation, finance, science and technology. A unified Korea will be transformed from the epicenter of tension and conflict to the origin of peace, coexistence, and common prosperity. Prospectively, a unified Korea will create a free and prosperous civilized global community engaging Eastern and Western civilizations through open culture and various religions.



ROK-U.S. alliance's role for achieving a unified Korea



A unified Korea will be achieved by the following synchronized efforts.



First, the ROK-U.S. alliance, which has contributed to institutionalizing the liberal democratic state, a digital-led country as well as cultural soft power, should build a unified Korea. The ROK-U.S. summit should conclude with an ironclad commitment to the creation of a free and unified Korea. This should provide the focus for the alliance policy and strategy going forward. Every action the alliance undertakes should be made with consideration for how they will affect the goal of achieving unification. To facilitate such tasks, the state leaders should direct their national security staff to establish a presidential-level strategic unification combined taskforce with a dedicated team to plan for and coordinate a ROK-led, U.S.-supported unification process.



This permanently established full-time team will consist of policymakers and experts and then explore a vision and strategy for a free, unified Korea. It will also develop comprehensive implementation plans for peaceful unification, denuclearization, respect for human rights and for contingencies that may arise, and which will eventually lead to unification. Simultaneously, civil society stakeholders should be encouraged to continue their own working groups to focus on a free and unified Korea and all the issues surrounding this challenge. These will include but not be limited to human rights, economic development and people-to-people contact.



These groups, such as Action for Korea United, overseas Korean diaspora including AKU USA and the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, are critical for informing, educating and advocating unification among Korean people on both sides of the demilitarized zone, as well as the international community. Synergistic effects can be achieved by the alliance's strategic unification taskforce and civil society working groups coordinating such efforts to maximize the comparative advantages each brings to this uniquely Korean challenge.



Second, the two Koreas will take the initiative in creating a cooperative unification environment. The two Koreas should work together by exploring North-South Korean tasks respectively and identifying joint tasks for building a unified Korea, along with collaboration with key stakeholders.



The final challenge involves how to best address the crippled armistice structure in order to build a peace regime on the peninsula. North Korea withdrew its representatives from the Military Armistice Commission (MAC). In 1994, China also recalled its representatives from the MAC in accordance with North Korea's request. The current divided Korean Peninsula is an unstable armistice structure between the United Nations Command and North Korea's Panmunjom Representatives. This mechanism should be reviewed and revitalized. And North Korea and China should both return their representatives to MAC. Under the MAC basis, political leadership among the two Koreas, the U.S., and China should launch peace talks in parallel with the substantial progress of denuclearization, and in the event of complete denuclearization, the peace treaty will be signed among the key actors.



Let's proactively participate in a comprehensive strategy for building a unified Korea, We are confident that a unified Korea will come to reality within our generation. Our generation will become the historical creators for the unification of a divided Korea.





Professor Chung Kyung-young teaches at Hanyang University's Graduate School of International Studies.






Ahead of the rumored Galaxy Z Flip 5 launch next month, Samsung is giving its fans in Canada an opportunity to win epic prizes by designing a Galaxy Z Flip 4 case. The company will select three contest winners who will each get a cash prize of $2,500, a Galaxy Z Flip 4, a Galaxy Watch 5, and a Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.

This contest is part of Samsungs Flex Your Design campaign and is open to Canadians who are 16 years or older. If youre eligible for the content and interested in it, you can download the Galaxy Z Flip 4 template from the companys official website to create your unique case design for the clamshell foldable. You can open the template in any design app and give it your touch. All participants must upload their design along with contact details before June 20, 2023.

Samsung will then evaluate all entries and select three winning designs. Those will receive the aforementioned prize pack. According to the company, the total value of this prize pack is worth over $6,200 based on the MSRP of the three devices (including the $2,500 cash prize). It hasnt revealed when it will announce the winning entries.

You can participate in this design contest from the Samsung Galaxy Studio

While you can participate in this contest from the comfort of your home, Samsung also allows you to take advantage of the S Pen-equipped Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra at its upcoming Galaxy Studio experiences in Montreal and Toronto. The Korean firm will bring these experiences to the MURAL Festival in Montreal starting this Friday, June 9. It will be followed by the Samsung Experience Store in the CF Toronto Eaton Centre next Friday, June 16.

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According to Samsung, the goal of these experiences is to inspire Canadians to explore their creativity supported by the latest Samsung Galaxy technology. Raj Doshi, Head of Mobile Business at Samsung Electronics Canada, said that the company hopes to help Canadians discover new avenues for creative self-expression with its latest products and technologies at its Galaxy Studio experiences.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are Samsungs latest and greatest Galaxy devices. But the Korean firm will soon launch their respective successors. We are hearing about a July 26 launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and a couple more flagship tablets. We will let you know when Samsung officially announced the date for the next Galaxy Unpacked event.
Its now official, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will launch globally on June 12. A recent report suggested that the phone may arrive on June 7, and it was based on information for Hong Kong. It turns out that info was Hong Kong specific, and didnt have much to do with other markets.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will launch globally on June 12, its finally official

Well, now we have an official confirmation from Europe. On Xiaomis official website in France, you can find a teaser for the upcoming launch. The website clearly states that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will launch on June 12.

Xiaomi also notes that an introductory offer will be available from June 12 to June 21. Considering this info is based on machine translation, this could mean two things. It could mean the phone will be available to pre-order in that time span, or that it will be available at a cheaper price/with additional goodies in that time span. Well, or both.

One thing is for sure, though, the phone will be made official on June 12. Considering this is France were talking about, chances are were looking at a date for a proper global launch. Other European markets will be included here for sure.

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We already know everything there is to know about this phone, well, other than its global price tag. Weve already reviewed the phone, albeit with a software build made for China. The global model will, of course, include global software.

The device will be expensive outside of China

The phone is tipped to cost way over 1,000 in Europe, it all depends on which source you end up believing. One source said itll cost 1,499, while the other was a bit more optimistic, claiming a price tag in the region of 1,270.

Either way, these price tags are considerably higher than what weve seen in China. The Xiaomi 13 Ultras starting price tag in China is CNY5,999 ($850/792). So, no matter what way you spin it, the phone will cost a lot more outside of Xiaomis homeland.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 6 - A formula for peace in Ukraine can only be Ukrainian, President Volodymyr Zelensky told papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi in Kyiv Tuesday.

"I met with Cardinal Zuppi. We discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation in the framework of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Only joint efforts, diplomatic isolation and pressure on Russia can bring about a just peace on Ukrainian soil," said Zelensky on Telegram.

"I call on the Holy See to help implement the Ukrainian peace plan. Ukraine welcomes the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but since the war is on our territory the algorithm for achieving peace can only be Ukrainian." (ANSA).


Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said he will stand down at the next election.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the MP said he has been reflecting on his position following his resignation as the head of the party in the House of Commons  a position some believe he was forced from  and how he can best help the campaign for Scottish independence, reaching the decision to step away.

First elected in the SNP wave at the 2015 election, he took over as Westminster SNP leader from Angus Robertson in 2017  when the now Scottish Constitution Secretary lost his seat  and was regarded as a strong ally of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Following his resignation, Mr Blackford was appointed by Ms Sturgeon as an envoy to business for the SNP and a report he has authored on Scotlands industrial future will be released over the coming weeks, he said.

Mr Blackfords successor Stephen Flynn led the tributes, describing him as a stalwart of the party.

Mr Blackford said: With the SNP selection process for the next Westminster election taking place over the coming weeks, I have thought long and hard about whether to offer myself as a candidate again.

Having stood down as SNP Westminster leader, I have gone through a period of reflection as to how I can best assist the party and the cause of independence  a cause I have campaigned for since joining the SNP as a teenager in the 1970s.

Although I will not be standing for the Westminster Parliament at the next election, I look forward to playing my part in the continuing campaign for Scottish independence and supporting our First Minister and the SNP as we go forward to the next election and beyond.

In his statement, the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP paid tribute to his wife Ann, staff in his constituency and within the party, and voters in his seat.

Stephen Flynn paid tribute to his predecessor (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Flynn said: I would like to put on record my thanks to Ian Blackford for the massive role he has played in making the SNP the formidable force it is in Scottish and UK politics.

Ian has been a stalwart in the SNP for decades and has played a key role in putting forward the case for Scotlands future as an independent country. He was also pivotal in the SNPs incredible general election win in 2019.

During his time as SNP Westminster leader, Ian stood across the House of Commons from four Tory prime ministers and was a fierce opponent for every one of them  taking them on over Brexit, austerity cuts, Westminster attacks on devolution, and their undemocratic attempts to deny Scotlands right to choose our own future.

I know Ian will be sorely missed by his constituents and colleagues when he stands down as an MP but I am confident that he will have a key role in continuing the campaign for Scotland to become an independent country.

Ms Sturgeon also praised Mr Blackford.

She told The Times: There is no doubt his departure from frontline politics will be a huge loss to the SNPs Westminster group and our party but Ian deserves the chance to enjoy spending more time at home with family and friends  and, undoubtedly, continuing to contribute to the independence cause in other ways.

Beyond that, Ian has been a loyal and steadfast friend to me through all the ups and downs of my own leadership  for which I will always be grateful.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has survived a confidence vote by members over its future.

Members met at the organisations London offices on Tuesday to vote on plans to reform the scandal-hit organisation.

The lobbying group revealed that 93% of votes were made in favour of the CBIs proposals at the critical confidence vote.

But what went wrong at the group and what were members voting on? Below is a look at some of these issues.

 What sparked the issues at the CBI?

Former CBI director-general Tony Danker (Jacob King/PA)

Allegations of misconduct against then-CBI director-general Tony Danker surfaced in early March.

He stepped aside pending an investigation by the Fox Williams law firm into his behaviour.

This sparked a series of other allegations, weeks later, against other staff at the CBI as more than a dozen women came forward to the Guardian newspaper. One of them alleged she was raped.

 What happened next?

There were small developments during the week between the stories, as ministers stopped interacting with the CBI and the body cancelled its annual dinner.

But on April 21 the Guardian published a third story which contained a second allegation of rape.

This sparked a deluge of businesses leaving the organisation. By the end of the day dozens of the largest companies in the UK had suspended or ripped up their membership and the CBI had suspended membership and policy activities.

It promised to come back with a new plan on June 6.

 What is the CBI?

Today, weve launched our prospectus A Renewed CBI  for our Members, our Stakeholders and our People. Outlining how we are working to increase trust with our membership and improve our organisation for the better, ahead of our 6 June EGM. Read it here https://t.co/gqdA8zhVuW pic.twitter.com/00oHSrtmJH  CBI (@CBItweets) May 31, 2023

The Confederation of British Industry is a membership body which lobbies the Government and represents the interests of its members.

The group used to claim to represent around 190,000 companies across the UK. Not all of these are members. The figure includes members of trade associations, such as the National Farmers Union, which are themselves members of the CBI.

 What were members asked at the CBI meeting?

Members of the CBI voted on the CBIs plans for how it intends to move forward on Tuesday afternoon.

It said that it would speed up its search for a new president, promised a new-look board, stop late-night parties, review its governance processes and set up a new board sub-committee on culture, among other things.

Members were asked: Do the changes we have made  and the commitments we have set out  to reform our governance, culture, and purpose give you the confidence you need to support the CBI?

 How did members vote on Tuesday?

The CBIs new director-general, Rain Newton-Smith, has said the business group is determined to learn from the crisis that has unfolded in our organisation (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA)

Each member of the CBI received one vote, meaning that each trade body held one vote each.

The CBI said there were 371 votes in total on Tuesday, with 23 abstentions and withheld votes.

It said 93% of votes were made in favour of its motions, with 7% of votes made against the proposals.

 What happens next?

The group has said it will now seek to enact its commitments to reform its government, culture and purpose.

Recently appointed CBI director-general Rain Newton-Smith said after the vote that it has already made real progress in changing the organisation but recognises there is further work to be done.

We will work tirelessly to repay the faith shown in us and are committed to living the values and changes we have proposed, she added.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry could receive all of Boris Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks relating to the pandemic despite a Government legal challenge, a preliminary hearing has been told.

The Cabinet Office is bringing forward a judicial review of inquiry chairwoman Baroness Halletts request for all of the former prime ministers WhatsApp correspondence and notes.

Ministers have confirmed that they expect an expedited High Court hearing to take place on or shortly after June 30.

But according to the counsel for the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC, the chairwoman is likely to be able to inspect much of the contested material before the case is heard due to the former Conservative Party leader offering to hand over the information directly and bypassing the Cabinet Office.

Mr Keith told Lady Hallett: The concluding point is, we will shortly gain access to all the material on an unredacted basis.

Tuesdays preliminary hearing in central London heard that the inquirys legal team is seeking to inspect next week Mr Johnsons WhatsApp messages dating from after May 2021.

The inspection will allow your team to make its own assessment as to the redactions applied by the Cabinet Office and to satisfy ourselves and ultimately you of their appropriateness or otherwise, he said.

It has also requested the Cabinet Office to return Mr Johnsons notebooks to him by June 12 to start a similar inspection process so it can compare them to the redacted copies already provided by the Cabinet Office.

Mr Keith said the same inspection could potential be done with messages on a locked phone of Mr Johnsons.

Mr Johnson changed phones in May 2021 after security concerns were raised that his mobile number had been publicly available online for 15 years.

He was advised to stop using the phone and not to access it again.

Mr Keith said: Neither Mr Johnson nor the inquiry has the technical expertise to ensure the contents of the phone can be downloaded safely and properly, particularly bearing in mind the overarching need to ensure no damage is done to national security.

We have therefore agreed that this phone should be provided to the appropriate personnel in government for its contents to be downloaded.

Baroness Halletts request for Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages is being challenged by the Cabinet Office (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)

We have asked the Cabinet Office, in liaison with Mr Johnson and those government personnel, to obtain the phone without delay, to confirm in writing the process by which it will be examined and to give confirmation that it, like the diaries and the notebooks and the WhatsApps, will be accessed fully.

That is to say, there will be no redactions made to the contents, other than in relation to national security, before we may view it.

Lady Hallett, in her first public remarks since the legal challenge was started, opened the session stating that she could make no further comment on the judicial review due to pending litigation.

The retired senior judges deadline for the UK Government to hand over the former prime ministers unredacted material was missed by the Cabinet Office last week, with ministers instead announcing plans to challenge the request in the courts.

Ministers have defended the highly unusual move, citing concerns over material that is unambiguously irrelevant, despite doubts by some legal experts and ministers over whether they are likely to win the case.

Thalia Maragh, the counsel for bereaved families, said it beggars belief that the inquiry is dealing with the Cabinet Office legal action in the lead-up to next weeks first public evidence session.

The families are deeply disappointed that the Cabinet Office is persisting with its legal challenge to your ruling, which the families see as a further step to interfere in the inquirys independence and to control the material it receives, and what it can and cannot see, she told Lady Hallett.

Ms Maragh told the hearing that the High Court challenge risks denting public confidence in the inquiry, as well as slowing down progress.

It comes after the Government said it was willing to look at other ways of resolving its disagreement with the inquiry over Mr Johnsons messages.

Hugo Keith KC suggested the inquiry is likely to see Boris Johnsons unredacted messages (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Prime Ministers official spokesman, asked whether the Cabinet Office is committed to proceeding with the judicial review, told reporters: We have explored other possibilities for resolution previously, so obviously we continue to speak to the inquiry.

We are willing to agree another way forward.

Lawyers representing the Cabinet Office were due to address Lady Hallett on Tuesday.

The preliminary hearing is focusing on Module 2 of the inquiry, which will look into core political and administrative decision-making by the UK Government.

Preliminary hearings will consider how the investigation should be run rather than taking evidence, with the first public evidence to be given next week.
A man accused of murdering Metropolitan Police sergeant Matt Ratana suffered brain damage after being hit in the neck by a bullet and will be assisted by an intermediary during his trial, a jury has been told.

Louis De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to the charge during a previous hearing at Northampton Crown Court.

The 25-year-old appeared in the dock in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling at the same court on Tuesday, and confirmed his name and date-of-birth by writing them on a whiteboard.

Sgt Matt Ratana died in September 2020 (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Prosecutors allege Sgt Ratana was murdered at a police custody centre in Windmill Road, Croydon, south London, on September 25 2020, while De Zoysa was handcuffed in a holding cell.

Addressing a jury of seven men and five women after they were sworn in, trial Judge Mr Justice Johnson took them through the issues they were likely to face.

Telling jurors the relevant events were captured on CCTV and by officers body-worn cameras, the judge said: Its likely to be common ground that the defendant had a gun and that the gun was fired and that two bullets hit Sergeant Ratana.

It was also likely to be common ground that Sgt Ratana, aged 54, died from a chest wound as a result of the first of four shots, the court heard.

The judge added that jurors would have to consider whether De Zoysa pulled the trigger deliberately when the first shot was fired and whether he intended to kill or at least cause really serious harm.

The judge went on: A further matter which might arise is whether the defendant had diminished responsibility at the time he shot Sergeant Ratana.

De Zoysa has an autistic spectrum condition, the jury heard, which may have an impact on how he appears or behaves during the trial.

Urging the jury to judge the case on the evidence and not on any emotional reaction to the events they would have to consider, Mr Justice Johnson said: The last one (bullet fired) hit the defendant in the neck.

That resulted in bleeding and a blood clot and the blood clot caused some brain damage. That resulted in physical problems which mean he now uses a wheelchair.

The jury were also informed that De Zoysa uses a whiteboard because of communication difficulties, and will be assisted by an intermediary to help him follow the trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Duncan Penny KC, who is expected to deliver the Crowns opening address to the jury on Wednesday.


Dialogue, not repression, leads to success



The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the more moderate of Korea's two largest umbrella unions, will decide today whether to leave a trilateral council established to promote dialogue between labor, management and the government.



If the FKTU decides to exit the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), the committee will lose its effectiveness as a communication channel. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the more militant union, left the council in 1999.



One can't help but ask: With whom will this administration discuss its labor reform plan?



The government should blame no one else but itself for the situation.



Last Thursday, the council was scheduled to hold a meeting but canceled it because of the FKTU's absence. A day earlier, police officers brutally ended a unionized metal worker's sit-in protest on top of a 7-meter-high steel structure, bludgeoning him in the head. The police claimed the worker wielded a machete, but video footage showed he just held it.



Whoever used violence first, it was an excessive and unnecessary exercise of the police force. What prompted it? A few weeks before, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the police to deal with all violators of social order by applying strict legal standards. Yoon's police chief encouraged sweeping crackdowns on union rallies, even promising a special class promotion. Red pepper spray and water cannons will reappear in the streets soon.



The president's labor reform is going in the wrong direction.



"Even if it means losing votes, we will boldly reform education, labor and pensions," Yoon's policymaking chief said recently.



Yoon's conservative rival, Yoo Seong-min, immediately hit back, saying, "Don't lie." He then pointed out that suppressing unions with force under the guise of the rule of law cannot be called labor reform. "Making labor rules more flexible and rectifying polarized job market should be achieved through a grand compromise between labor, management and government," Yoo said.



We agree.



It is hard to know whether Yoon's goal is to reform or repress unions. His government started it by forcing unions to submit their accounting books, an "unwarranted" demand. Yoon called unionized construction workers "thugs" because they made employers prioritize union members and pay salaries for full-time union officials. These were time-honored, "almost legalized" practices at building sites. A union official burned himself to death recently. "It hurts my self-esteem that they regard me as a criminal. I just conducted union activities," he said in his will.



The president points to the vast wage gap between full-time and part-time workers and between employees at large companies and small firms. But Korea is a free capitalist country where workers are treated differently according to their abilities. If Yoon thought the gap was too broad, he was right. However, the chief executive is wrong to try to correct it by squeezing relatively well-to-do workers in favor of less privileged ones.



Yoon should rectify the numerous layers of subcontracting and re-subcontracting structures in shipyards, steel plants and other large manufacturing sites. On top of the labor exploitation pyramid are family-run conglomerates, called chaebol, for whom Yoon cut taxes, calling them this country's industrial frontrunners.



A ruling party lawmaker proposed a bill recently aiming at the "same wage for the same work," probably reading his boss' mind. That's also what workers have long called for. But workers don't want this to be a zero-sum game where one worker gets benefits at the expense of another. They want employers, mainly big businesses, to share more.



However, it is doubtful whether Yoon is willing to do this. He sometimes seems to think industrialists are patriots and unionists are obstructers. For him, the only good workers may be nonunionized ones, accounting for 86 percent of Korean laborers. But the president must know they could not form or join unions.



Yoon's labor-bashing policy earned him some points from conservative supporters. Its eventual result will come in the general elections next April.




Full Monty star Mark Addy has said it is great more productions are being filmed in the north of England and in regions that have previously been forgotten about and overlooked.

The Yorkshire-born actor, who stars in a new TV spin-off of the 1990s surprise hit movie, said any promotion of the regions was no bad thing.

Addy starred alongside Robert Carlyle, Steve Huison and Lesley Sharp in the original 1997 film, which won several Baftas.

The new eight-part TV comedy, set 25 years after the action in the film, is set to air on Disney+ later this month.

It sees Addy, Carlyle, Huison and Sharp reprise their roles in the story, which introduced the world to the group of six unemployed South Yorkshire steel workers who turn to stripping to make ends meet.

Speaking to the PA news agency about the changes to the northern production landscape, Addy said: Its great that theres more and more stuff being filmed in Yorkshire and the north of England generally.

Mark Addy starred in the original 1997 film which won several Baftas (Danny Lawson/PA)

Investment is needed in a lot of the North, it tends to get forgotten about, overlooked.

Whatever we can do to help people appreciate that is no bad thing. Lets level up.

The series will be streamed worldwide on Disney+ and Sharp said it contained both global and local messages about pulling together in the face of adversity.

I think thats the way everybody feels, so the show, as well as being very local, very UK based, has an imperative thats actually about the way a lot of people feel, no matter where they live and who they are, he told PA.

Steve Huison, left to right, Paul Barber, Wim Snape, Lesley Sharp, Robert Carlyle, Talitha Wing and Mark Addy attend the UK premiere of The Full Monty in Sheffield (Danny Lawson/PA)

Addy, Sharp, Huison and Carlyle attended the red carpet premiere of the series on Monday, which took place in Sheffield.

Carlyle said the new series did not shy away from highlighting the effects of austerity in the UK and that it was impossible to separate politics from The Full Monty.

You cannot separate the politics from The Full Monty. Its impossible, he said.

These men, 25 years on, have lived through what everybody in this country has lived through, 25 years, near enough, of austerity.

The cast of The Full Monty (Disney+/PA)

Their whole being has been chipped away, the whole infrastructure of the country has been chipped away. And thats there for sure.

Speaking outside Sheffields Leadmill club, Carlyle said the production had not shied away from any of these issues.

To be honest with you, I dont think myself or any of the boys would have done it, if it had, he told PA.

The Full Monty is coming to Disney+ on Wednesday June 14.
The Government must reveal how it will pay for unfunded parts of its NHS workforce plan, Labour has said.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting questioned whether cuts to the NHS, more borrowing, or even more broken promises would be used to plug a gap in the funding for the plan.

Mr Streeting confronted the Government over its long-term health service staffing commitments in the Commons, after reporting in the Sunday Times newspaper suggested not all of the 15-year workforce plan for NHS England is fully funded.

The newspaper reported that Rishi Sunak will invest an extra 1 billion towards addressing NHS workforce problems, but claimed the Treasury has only committed to funding the first five years of the plan.

In the Commons, Mr Streeting said: Apparently, not only is the workforce plan delayed. We now read in the media that it is unfunded. Labour will pay for our workforce plan by abolishing the non-dom tax status.

After facing laughter from the Conservative back benches, the shadow health secretary added: They dont like it but it is the only tax they have been unwilling to put up.

We have got a plan. We have said how we will pay for it. How will he fund his plan when it eventually arrives? Will it be cuts to the NHS, more borrowing, or even more broken promises?

Health Secretary Steve Barclay responded: He is recycling this question almost as often as he recycles the non-dom funding.

He added: We touched on this at the last health questions and indeed at the one before, which is that we have a commitment to a long-term workforce plan.

The Chancellor made that commitment in the autumn statement, but it is a complex piece of work that NHS England are working on.

It is important we get the reforms in that plan right and that is what we are committed to doing.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the government committed to a long-term workforce plan (James Manning/ PA)

Ministers also defended against SNP suggestions that Brexit has exacerbated the NHS recruitment crisis.

SNP MP Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) said: Recent research from the Nuffield Trust has shown that Brexit has worsened the shortage of NHS staff across the UK, indeed it has led to more than 4,000 European doctors choosing not to work in the NHS services across the UK due to higher costs, increased bureaucracy and uncertainty over visas.

A Brexit supported by both the UK Government and the Labour Party it has to be said. Can the Secretary of State tell me, is this one of the success stories of Brexit that we keep hearing about?

Health minister Neil OBrien replied: International recruitment is up, in fact weve got 38,000 more doctors in the NHS than in 2010.

54,000 more nurses than in 2010, so in England at least we are taking every step we can to draw on that international talent and were using it to grow staffing in the NHS.

Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative-former prime minister Boris Johnson made an appearance, describing the Governments progress in hospital building as rapid.

It comes after the Health Secretary announced changes to the Governments hospital building programme at the end of May, which will mean not all of the 40 hospital construction projects promised by the Government will be finished by 2030 as originally planned.

Instead, the Government will prioritise rebuilding crumbling hospital buildings made with a material called reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete to meet the 40 hospital promise.

Mr Johnson said: Can I thank (him) for the rapid progress hes making on the hospital building programme. Can I ask him to confirm that he will shortly be announcing a full and final programme of funding so that we can deliver a superb new state-of-the-art hospital in Hillingdon where I am proud to say that enabling works are already under way.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay replied: Im delighted to hear that the enabling works are under way, I know (he) has championed both Hillingdon and the wider new hospitals building programme.

Im sure he will welcome the (over) 20 billion investment. I can confirm that Hillingdon will be fully funded.
A wealthy businessman at the heart of an alleged bomb plot in Britains legal district has described how he spent most of a 2.4 million lottery win on his brother.

Jonathan Nuttall, 50, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of conspiring to plant two devices in Grays Inn in London over a financial wrangle with the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Nuttall had allegedly become unhappy at the prospect of losing his family home, Embley Manor in Romsey, Hampshire, to pay off a 1.4 million legal settlement.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Nuttall told jurors how his wife Amanda won 2.4 million on the lottery the first time she bought a ticket.

He went on to say that it was extraordinarily good fortune but regrettably most of it went to pay off his brother Philips debts.

Jonathan Nuttall, arrives at the Old Bailey, in central London (Lucy North/PA)

Asked by defence barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC why he had done that, Nuttall said: Hes my brother.

Nuttall told jurors how he had started out in business working from his bedroom, eventually expanding into offices in Piccadilly, central London.

As the business grew, he turned to Philip who was living in Australia and offered him a job in 1999.

Nuttall said: I wrote to him. It took about 10 days for my letter to arrive and I was very surprised at the speed he responded. With hindsight I should have realised he answered too quickly.

The defendant said his older brother returned to the UK within a fortnight and began working with him on a equal footing.

Later, he discovered that his brother had a gambling habit, only finding out after everyone else and assuming it was to do with his love of horse racing.

He said: I did not realise it was a problem until a considerable time later.

Nuttall told jurors that his brother had been behaving erratically and stopped opening letters which led to a visit by HM Revenue and Customs.

The defendant went on to receive a 12-month conditional discharge for failing to pay a bond after his business was reclassified as high risk.

Nuttall claimed his brother also made ridiculous financial demands, including for 6 million to be paid in seven days or he would seek to destroy the whole family.

The court heard Nuttall had received a series of financial orders by the NCA from 2011.

He described how a search and seizure warrant was issued in 2015 as a result of which the NCA arrived very loudly at our front door.

He said receiving a freezing order had a catastrophic impact on the finances, affecting the mortgage on his home Embley Manor and family members bank accounts.

The prosecution allege Nuttall had targeted the lawyers acting for the NCA in the long-running case who were Andrew Sutcliffe KC and his colleague Anne Jeavons.

Nuttall, who also has a home in west London, allegedly recruited his driver, Michael Sode, 58, to act as a middleman with former Royal Marine Michael Broddle, 46, who planted the devices.

Broddle had in turn roped in sons Charlie, 18, and Joshua, 20, to the scheme, it was claimed.

Nuttall denied in his evidence that he had asked Sode to do anything other than act as his driver and told jurors he did not know any of the Broddle family.

Mr Carter-Stephenson asked Nuttall: Have you ever asked Michael Sode to engage anybody on your behalf to intimidate or frighten Andrew Sutcliffe KC or Anne Jeavons?

Nuttall replied: No, I have only asked him to drive me.

Nuttall also said he had not asked Sode to do any research into Mr Sutcliffe and he had never seen Michael Broddle in an area anywhere, never mind an area close to Sloane Square, which is a short distance from his home in London.

Nuttall, of Romsey, Hampshire, Sode, of Deptford, south-east London, and Charlie and Joshua Broddle, from Hounslow, west London, deny two charges of conspiring with Michael Broddle to place an article with intent on or before September 14 2021.

Charlie Broddle denies possession of an explosive substance in relation to one of the devices.

Nuttall, Sode, Michael Broddle, Joshua Broddle and George Gray, 25, of Hounslow, deny conspiring to transfer criminal property.

Nuttall faces six charges and Sode two charges of failure of comply with a notice.
The Duke of Sussex was challenged over discrepancies between his autobiography Spare and his hacking trial witness statement over whether he wanted to meet ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, whom he admitted branding a two-faced shit.

Harry agreed he would have used the phrase to describe Mr Burrell, with the words appearing in a 2003 article in The People newspaper.

The duke said, from the witness box at the High Court: That is how I have always seen him.

The Duke of Sussex leaving the Rolls Buildings in central London after giving evidence in the phone hacking trial (Jeff Moore/PA)

Mr Burrell, a former confidant of Diana, Princess of Wales, released a tell-all book about Harrys late mother in 2003 after being cleared of stealing from her estate.

The duke claims his remarks about Mr Burrell were obtained illegally by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) from a voicemail he left for his brother, now the Prince of Wales.

MGN denies the allegations.

Harry said in his witness statement that report in The People accurately set out his disagreement with William, with his brother wanting to meet Mr Burrell and Harry firmly against doing so.

Harry told the court: This kind of article seeds distrust between brothers.

He added: Those are words that I used and I certainly left voicemails on my brothers phone.

But Andrew Green KC, for MGN, revealed during his cross-examination of the duke that Harry wrote in his controversial memoir Spare that he wanted to fly back to confront Mr Burrell, rather than being against a meeting.

Reading out excerpts from the book, he quoted Harry as writing: It made my blood boil. I wanted to fly home to confront him.

Harry was in Australia during his gap year when Paul Burrells book was published (Gareth Copley/PA)

The extract, written from Harrys perspective, told how he phoned his father, now the King, to say he was getting on a plane to return to the UK from a trip to the Australian outback but that Charles and William talked him out of it.

A statement issued by the brothers from Clarence House at the time condemned Mr Burrell, with the former royal servant saying he wanted to meet William and Harry and the princes spokesperson saying they were prepared to do so.

Mr Green said, reading from Spare, that Harry wrote he waited anxiously for the meeting and counted the days but it did not happen at that time which was a shame.

Quizzing Harry about the discrepancy, the barrister said Harry made it absolutely clear in Spare that he wanted a meeting with Mr Burrell.

Harry told the court: The time gap between the original article and when I wrote this book was rather a large gap between the two.

Mr Green said: Your position is that at the time you didnt want a meeting, or you did want a meeting, what is the true position?

The People article about the brothers disagreement over meeting Paul Burrell (Court handout/PA)

Harry replied: I honestly cant remember whether I wanted a meeting or not.

Mr Green added: Is it your position that you do actually remember leaving a voicemail on Williams phone saying that?

The duke responded: I was leaving voicemails for my brother and that is the terminology I used for Burrell.

However, he said he did not specifically recall leaving William a voice message saying that.

In an interview with GB News following Harrys first day of evidence, Burrell said he was finding the whole court process deeply upsetting and hurtful.

I think its careless and callous what Harry has said in court, he told presenter Dan Wootton.

He seems to be living in an alternative world, his own reality TV show, a world in which he is deluded  hes become petulant.

He seems to be able to say whatever he can or whatever he wants.

Burrell added he believed the dukes witness statement was defamatory and wanted him to apologise and say sorry.

Harry is suing MGN for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.
The Duke of Sussex is due to give evidence at the High Court on Tuesday in his case against the Daily Mirrors publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering.

On Monday, Harrys individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) got under way.

Barrister David Sherborne claimed the duke was subjected to unlawful information-gathering activity right from when he was a young boy at school into adulthood, adding: Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds.

The Duke of Sussexs barrister David Sherborne (left) outlining the dukes case on Monday (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

He continued: Every part of the princes life during these years was invaded by these three papers using these unlawful methods.

The barrister said, contrary to some criticism of Harry, it was the use of these methods by a national media group that has brought him here, not some vendetta against the press generally.

Harry is suing the publisher, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them. The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Mr Sherborne has previously claimed that unlawful information gathering was habitual and widespread at MGNs titles over almost two decades.

The barrister told the court on Monday that Harry, 38, was the biggest target, adding that it was implausible there were no admissions from MGN except one.

He claimed that Harrys phone would have been hacked on multiple occasions, adding that his details appeared in the PalmPilot of a journalist who was one of the most prolific phone hackers.

Mr Sherborne later said: What he has been able to do as a result by bringing this claim, he has been able to focus the attention that comes with his position on these activities and the fact that they have been carried out not just by journalists, but they have been concealed, even though they were known about by the senior members of the board of this PLC, as well as the legal department.

The Duke of Sussex at the coronation earlier this year (Toby Melville/PA)

It is the focus on these activities and bringing the defendant to account which is why he is bringing this action.

The duke had been expected to arrive at court on Monday but will not appear until Tuesday.

The hearing in London heard Harry had flown to the UK from Los Angeles in the US on Sunday night, as he was celebrating his daughter Lilibets second birthday.

Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge hearing the case, said he was a little surprised to hear that the duke would not be attending court on Monday.

Set to enter the witness box on Tuesday morning, Harry is due to face up to a day-and-a-half of cross-examination from MGNs barrister.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

Harry alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Mr Sherborne told the High Court in London that no aspect of the young princes life was safe from press intrusion and that details of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles.

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy in 2008 (PA)

The court was later told that a 2003 article detailed an alleged row between the duke and his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, over their mothers former butler, Paul Burrell.

Brothers can sometimes disagree, Mr Sherborne continued, adding: But once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded.

Mr Sherborne also said the late Diana, Princess of Wales was a huge target for MGNs newspapers, adding that certain alleged unlawful activities in relation to her would have also affected Harry.

He read out two letters from Diana to entertainer Michael Barrymore, which referred to private meetings between the pair, and in one of the letters Diana referred to being devastated to learn that the Daily Mirror had contacted her office about him and their meetings.

However, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, said Harrys claim had become rather fantastical.

The barrister said: The defendants position is that there is simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.

He said that payment records used in the dukes claim simply do not demonstrate unlawful conduct or knowledge thereof.

The Duke of Sussexs barrister, David Sherborne (Lucy North/PA)

He also said that there was a lack of call data in Harrys case, telling the court: There is no call data whatsoever for the Duke of Sussex and scant call data for his associates.

Mr Green later said the duke faced a very difficult starting point for the claimant proving he was habitually hacked.

The barrister also said a suggestion that its journalists had hacked the phone of the late Diana, Princess of Wales was total speculation.

He told the court: Mr Sherbornes suggestion that MGNs journalists hacked her phone is total speculation without any evidential basis whatsoever.

The letters you were shown, to Michael Barrymore, are not evidence of voicemail interception, Mr Green said, adding that plainly no such finding could be made.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Mr Green said voicemail interception was denied in all four cases and that there was no evidence or no sufficient evidence.

The barrister continued: There is some evidence of the instruction of third parties to engage in other types of unlawful information gathering in respect of each of the claimants, save for Mr Turner whose claim is entirely denied, and MGN has made pleaded admissions in respect thereof.

MGN unreservedly apologises for all such instances of unlawful information gathering, and assures the claimants that such conduct will never be repeated.
The Duke of Sussex felt physically sick over eight payments to private investigators related to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, the High Court has been told as he began his evidence.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

The duke arrived on Tuesday at the Rolls Building, which was surrounded by journalists and a heavy police presence.

He entered the witness box of Court 15 shortly after 10.30, swearing on a bible ahead of his cross-examination by MGNs barrister.

In his witness statement for the case, Harry said he was shocked and appalled by the number of payments made by MGN titles to private investigators.

The duke added: I now realise that my acute paranoia of being constantly under surveillance was not misplaced after all.

I was upset to discover the amount of suspicious call data and the 13 private investigator payments for Chelsy (Davy, his ex-girlfriend).

Had she not been in a relationship with me, she would never have had to endure such a horrific experience at the hands of MGNs journalists.

There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim.

This makes me feel physically sick.

Harry alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Under cross examination from Andrew Green KC, for MGN, the Duke of Sussex said: Every single article has caused me distress, to which Mr Green then asked if each individual article had caused him distress.

Harry replied: Yes, without question.

Mr Green then asked the duke about part of his case which states that he was caused particular distress because he is a very private person and was in the public eye at a young age.

Harry said: I believe that as a child, every single one of these articles played an important role in my growing up.

However, he added that he could not confirm whether he remembered reading specific articles at the time they were published, adding that there were millions of articles that have been written about me since age 12.

The duke later said that when information he had only told to a few members of his inner circle was made public, your circle of friends starts to shrink.

The Duke of Sussex at the Rolls Buildings in central London (Jeff Moore/PA)

In his written evidence, Harry said that the alleged unlawful activity affected every area of my life.

The duke said that he now believes that both his and his associates voicemail messages were hacked by MGN, and that it also used other unlawful means to obtain private information.

He continued: The fact that the defendants journalists and those instructed on their behalf were listening in to private and sensitive voicemails at the level of detail discussed in this statement rather suggests that they could have heard anything and everything.

This not only creates a huge amount of distress but presented very real security concerns for not only me but also everyone around me.

I would say their actions affected every area of my life.

The 38-year-olds claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002 (Jeff Moore/PA)

Harrys court appearance comes just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father, the King.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

On the first day of the trial, lawyers for MGN said the publisher unreservedly apologises to the duke for one instance of unlawful information-gathering and that it accepts he is entitled to appropriate compensation.

Mr Green said it is admitted that a private investigator was instructed, by an MGN journalist at The People, to unlawfully gather information about Harrys activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004.

Otherwise, the specified allegations are denied, or in a few cases not admitted, he added.

At the start of the dukes cross examination, Mr Green apologised to the duke in person on behalf of MGN, repeating the publishers unreserved apology to him at the outset of the trial for one instance of unlawful activity.

He said: MGN unreservedly apologises to you for that, it should never have happened and it will never happen again.

Mr Green told Harry that, if the judge finds that MGN was responsible for any further acts of unlawful information gathering, you will be entitled to, and will receive, a more extensive apology.
The Duke of Sussex lost friendships entirely unnecessarily due to the paranoia caused by alleged unlawful information gathering, the High Court has been told as part of his case against the Daily Mirrors publisher.

On Tuesday, Harry appeared in a witness box in the Rolls Building to face cross-examination by a barrister for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) as part of his claim over alleged unlawful activities, including phone-hacking.

The 38-year-old told the court that MGNs alleged intrusion into his life contributed to a huge amount of paranoia in his relationships.

In his witness statement, the duke said that he found it very hard to trust anyone, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia.

Friendships were lost entirely unnecessarily, he added.

Harry continued: As I am uncovering the extent of the unlawful activities carried out by MGNs journalist (sic) and senior executives towards me, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family had, in fact, been misplaced, although feel sad for how much it impacted my adolescence.

The duke later said in his statement that he can now see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

He added: Ive always heard people refer to my mother as paranoid, but she wasnt.

She was fearful of what was actually happening to her and now I know that I was the same.

The Duke of Sussex arrived at the Rolls Buildings in central London for his cross-examination (Jeff Moore/PA)

The court also heard:

 Harry described the state of the British press and the Government as both being at rock bottom, with the Government having no appetite for press regulation;

 The duke suggested newspaper stories about rumours his father was instead James Hewitt, a former lover of Diana, Princess of Wales, were aimed at ousting him from the royal family;

 He was extremely worried he was going to be expelled from Eton following press reports that he was using drugs;

 The duke was singled out as a pussy by his peers following press reports of his injuries during his time at school and Sandhurst;

 Harry alleged that both he and the Duchess of Sussex have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, the former Mirror editor;

 The duke said some editors and journalists are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases, speaking personally, death.

Harry is suing MGN for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

He alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, asked Harry about part of his case which states that he was caused particular distress because he is a very private person and was in the public eye at a young age.

The duke told the court: I believe that as a child, every single one of these articles played an important role in my growing up.

However, he added that he could not confirm whether he remembered reading specific articles at the time they were published, adding that there were millions of articles that have been written about me since age 12.

Referring to an article which reported that the duke and his brother were going rock climbing rather than attending a gala for the late Queen Mother, Mr Green asked Harry if it was his case that came from unlawful voicemail interception.

The barrister asked whose phone the duke believed was hacked in order to get that information, with Harry replying that it could have been anyone, from myself, my brother or two other people.

Asked which information he thought had been obtained unlawfully, Harry said: Theres quite a lot of aspects, quotes and information in there, not to mention a large part of the reason we were going rock climbing 270 miles away was to get away from press intrusion.

Dozens of journalists attended Tuesdays hearing (Jeff Moore/PA)

The duke later said he knew how desperate journalists were for anything royal, adding it was a competition between newspapers for any element of our private lives that is interesting to the public.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Harrys court appearance comes just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father, the King.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.
A federal judge has been told the Duke of Sussexs answers on prior drug use in his visa application should be disclosed as they could raise questions over the US Governments integrity.

Harrys reference to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare prompted a conservative Washington DC think tank to question why he was allowed into the US in 2020.

The Heritage Foundation brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after a Freedom of Information Act request was rejected  claiming it was of immense public interest.

Speaking after the first Federal court hearing in the case, Dr Nile Gardiner, from the think tank, told reporters the lawsuit was about holding a high-profile figure and the US Government to account.

At the end of the day, this is about accountability, transparency and openness on behalf of the US administration with regard to an immigration application by a high-profile individual, Dr Gardiner said.

During the hearing at the federal court in Washington on Tuesday, the lawyer for the think tank, Samuel Dewey, told a judge their case was about the Duke of Sussex, but also about the DHSs compliance with the law.

Mr Dewey told Judge Carl Nichols the matter had received widespread and exceptional media attention which has prompted questions about government integrity.

After the hearing, Mr Dewey told reporters: The interest here is in the drug question.

Stuff thats unrelated, we would expect them to redact and were fine with that. Were not on a voyeuristic fishing expedition here.

The DHSs lawyer John Bardo argued that articles put forward by the think tank in support of their lawsuit were not from mainstream media and had failed to point to any wrongdoing by the US Government.

In his controversial memoir, the duke said cocaine didnt do anything for me, adding: Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.

The Heritage Foundations lawsuit argues that US law generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry to the country.

It comes as Harry has been giving evidence at the High Court in the UK in his claim against Mirror Group Newspapers over alleged unlawful information gathering.

After the hearing, Dr Gardiner said the duke had become a household name in the US, adding: He is actively engaged on a number of causes, has done multiple high-profile interviews, has taken part in a Netflix documentary thats been watched by tens of millions of Americans  so hes a big figure.

Addressing why the think tank had brought the case, he told reporters: This is really ultimately about US immigration law, ensuring that it is applied fairly and equally to everybody.

No one should be above the law and no one should receive preferential treatment.

In light of Prince Harrys extensive illegal drug use, we believe he should be held to account with regard to his application.

Hes put it all out there, lets see whether that exactly matches what he put on his immigration application.

Because if it doesnt, thats perjury and thats a criminal offence, and everyone should be held to account before the law  no one should be treated any differently.

On Tuesday, the Heritage Foundation attempted to seek a preliminary injunction  meaning they wanted to compel all relevant sections of the DHS to respond to their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request over the dukes immigration papers.

Judge Nichols was told one section was yet to respond, meaning the court could not deal with arguments over whether specific information should be released.

The judge gave DHS a week to indicate whether it would be willing to respond to, or expedite, the request for information by the think tank.
The King met people keeping traditional craft skills alive in the village of his Romanian holiday let on Tuesday.

The private visit marks 25 years since Charles first visited Romania and is his first overseas trip since the coronation in May.

Tuesdays event, organised by The Princes Foundation charity, took place in the Transylvanian village of Viscri.

The King travelled to Romania without the Queen (Octav Ganea/PA)

Charles owns a number of properties in Transylvania, including a holiday let  which helps fund the foundation  and a 17th century peasants house, which acts as the foundations headquarters.

Both properties are in Viscri which is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site due to its fortified church and fortress.

During Tuesdays visit, Charles met with groups who have benefited from the support of The Princes Foundation, including the Romanian Order of Architects and the Ambulance for Monuments, a project organised by Asociatia Monumentum which teaches students and volunteers to repair and conserve historic buildings across Romania.

One of the aims of The Princes Foundation, founded by Charles in 1986, is to keep traditional building craft skills alive.

The visit was organised by The Princes Foundation (Octav Ganea/PA)

Speaking at a reception hosted by Romanias president Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest last week, the King spoke of his love for Romania and praised the dedication and attention to detail of the countrys heritage workers.

He said: It is so impressive to see how many young volunteers work every year with such love and dedication and attention to detail with their Ambulance for Monuments, to help preserve Romanias wonderfully diverse architectural inheritance.

Eugen Vaida, who co-ordinates The Princes Foundations activity in Romania, said: It was a pleasure for us to welcome back His Majesty to Romania and to hear him talk about his love for the country and all we are doing to preserve our historic crafts and buildings.

The skills being honed by our summer school students and practised by the Ambulance for Monuments are, unfortunately, increasingly rare, due to a lack of craftsmen and knowledge.

The King with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest (Octav Ganea/PA)

It is Asociatia Monumentums objective to preserve these skills by educating students and, in turn, ensure the future of historic buildings across Romania and the wider world.

The King is thought to be related to a well-known figure from Romanian history, Vlad the Impaler, said to be the inspiration behind Bram Stokers Dracula.

The links are through his great-grandmother Queen Mary, the consort of George V, who was descended from the German Wurttembergs and thereby linked to Vlad.

Charles has travelled alone, leaving the Queen in the UK, as he has done for previous visits to the eastern European country.
An image of Buldak Noodles made by Korean company Samyang, left, and a copycat product made by a Chinese firm / Courtesy of Korea Food Industry Association



By Lee Kyung-min



A growing number of food makers in Japan and China are making products similar to or outright copies of Korean food favorites, exploiting the soaring popularity around the world of Korean culture and food.



Nissin, a Japanese food manufacturer, introduced a new version of UFO Noodles earlier this year. The cup noodle product has the Korean word "bokkeum-myeon" that means stir-fried noodles written on the packaging and is pink, similar to Buldak Carbo, made by Korean food maker Samyang in 2018.





Nissin's UFO Noodle / Captured from internet

While the packaging is believed to be an attempt to push up sales by imitating the famous Korean product, similar cases have been around in China, and even courts of law there acknowledged that some local products infringed on Korean companies' intellectual property (IP).



The Korea Food Industry Association said a Chinese court, in March, ordered two food makers there to compensate between 18 million won ($13,772) and 37 million won to four Korean firms  CJ Cheiljedang, Samyang, Daesang and Ottogi. Their flagship products included ramyeon, or instant noodles, anchovy sauce, starch noodles and beef stock.



The association said the court recognized that the Chinese products copied the trademarks and designs of the Korean ones.



The March ruling was the first in a slew of legal battles fought by local food giants which filed seven suits in 2021 against Chinese food manufacturers.





Buldak Carbo made by Samyang / Captured from internet
Barges housing asylum seekers will reportedly be moored near Liverpool and Middlesbrough.

Rishi Sunak revealed two more giant vessels will be used for migrant accommodation as he insisted his plan to stop Channel crossings was starting to work.

According to The Guardian, these are expected to be moored at Teesport in the North East as well as in docks close to Liverpool.

The Home Office refused to comment on the reports, although the Government is expected to confirm which locations will be used in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover (Yui Mok/PA)

It comes after the Prime Minister declined to say where the two new barges would be moored amid widespread speculation one could be based on Merseyside.

A spokesman for Wirral Council told the PA news agency: No decisions have been made and conversations are continuing with the Home Office.

The newspaper also cited sources which said discussions over the acquisition of further barges and disused cruise ships had taken place, meaning thousands of asylum seekers could be housed in vessels on Tyneside near Newcastle, Harwich in Essex, Felixstowe in Suffolk and the Royal London docks near City Airport. These reports have not been confirmed.

Meanwhile Dorset Council confirmed it would not launch legal action over the Home Offices decision to site a vessel which can house around 500 migrants in Portland Port.

The council leader and the countys police and crime commissioner (PCC) had voiced concerns about the ports decision to allow the Bibby Stockholm to dock.

But in a statement on Tuesday a council spokesperson said: After much careful consideration, Dorset Council has decided to not pursue legal action to challenge the Home Offices decision to site a barge for asylum seekers in Portland Port.

Based on specialist legal advice, and the experience other councils have had across the country, any legal action we take is unlikely to be successful and would incur high costs to Dorset taxpayers.

We are committed to working with the Home Office and our partners to ensure minimal impact to public services for local people and that provision for the asylum seekers is properly resourced and is effective.

In a speech in Kent on Monday, Mr Sunak said the number of people making the journey across the Channel was down by around a fifth since last year but acknowledged the Government has a long way still to go.

But during his visit to Dover, he played down suggestions that fewer crossings were a result of poor weather conditions at this time of year rather than policy decisions.

Opposition critics likened the announcement of yet more measures to tackle the crisis to Groundhog Day and accused Mr Sunak of cynical spin.

It comes as peers threatened to delay the Illegal Migration Bill until the Government publishes the facts and figures showing the financial implications of the proposals.

Opposition peers called for the proposed legislation to be stopped from progressing further through Parliament until the findings of an economic impact assessment could be considered.

The Telegraph said Mr Sunak indicated he was open to using the Parliament Act to push through the Bill if needed. The rarely used law allows the Commons to overrule the Lords.
The trial is due to start of a man accused of murdering Met Police sergeant Matt Ratana, who was shot inside Croydon police station in 2020.

Louis De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to the charge in April during a hearing at Northampton Crown Court.

The 25-year-old held up a whiteboard with not guilty written on it during the previous hearing, to enter his plea via a video-link to a hospital.

Mr Ratana, 54, died after suffering a fatal wound to the chest at Croydon custody centre in south London on September 25 2020.

Sgt Matthew Ratana died in September 2020 (Metropolitan Police/PA)

De Zoysa, who appeared at the previous video-link hearing in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling, also wrote on a whiteboard to confirm his name and date of birth.

Prosecutors allege Mr Ratana was shot while De Zoysa was handcuffed, during an incident in which he also sustained a gunshot wound.

De Zoysas jury trial, which is expected to last for around three weeks, is due to open this week before High Court judge Mr Justice Johnson, sitting in Northampton.

The case is being prosecuted by Duncan Penny KC, with Imran Khan KC appearing on behalf of the defendant.
Margaret Ferrier has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching coronavirus rules.

The Commons voted 185 to 40, majority 145, to approve the motion to suspend the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

Ms Ferrier, a former SNP MP, was in the Commons chamber as MPs approved her suspension.

She could now face a by-election after breaching Covid rules in 2020 by travelling by train from Scotland to England while positive for the virus.

Any MP who misses 10 sitting days due to suspension is at risk of a by-election  but 10% of voters in their constituency must sign a recall petition.

Margaret Ferrier has been suspended (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA)

Labour hopes to win the constituency if such a by-election were to take place, in an effort to demonstrate it can make gains in Scotland at the next general election.

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer joined Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on the campaign trail in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire at the end of May.

At the time, Sir Keir said he was in no doubt that people will take the chance to get rid of Ms Ferrier if a by-election is held.

Scottish Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Michael Shanks said This is welcome news for those of us who live here, but it is a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.

Weve spoken to thousands of voters who feel let down by Margaret Ferriers actions  people who made sacrifices during the pandemic and rightly expected their MP to do the same.

The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve so much better than a rule-breaking MP.

I want to be the local champion this area deserves, and I am ready to fight for every vote and deliver the change Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs.

The SNP also called for a by-election in the constituency.

The partys by-election campaign co-ordinator David Linden MP said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule-breach first came to light in 2020.

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign  and well work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: I welcome todays news because its important that we all take responsibility for the decisions we make, especially where public safety is involved.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are unequivocally in favour of a recall petition and a by-election.

Not only is this a chance to give Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation it deserves, it is also a chance to send a message to the new SNP First Minister that people are sick of the divisive and out of touch politics he and his party represent.

Ms Ferrier was accompanied in the Commons Chamber by Conservative former minister Andrew Selous and SNP MP Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West).

At one point, Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, was seen walking to the opposition benches to shake her hand.

The Commons voting list showed 32 Conservative MPs among those who had voted to reject the suspension vote in support of Ms Ferrier.

They included Mr Kawczynski, former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, and the DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.
Takeovers involving UK companies declined over the first three months of the year, amid tough economic conditions and political uncertainty, according to provisional official figures.

Foreign companies spent 12.7 billion acquiring UK firms between January and March, 4.1 billion less than during the same quarter last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

However, it was 6.9 billion more than during the previous quarter, between October and December, when the value of merger and acquisition activity dipped.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity was more subdued at the start of 2023, following general stability across 2022.  https://t.co/HWYbQqheLC pic.twitter.com/Y2JlgZYuTX  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) June 6, 2023

The appetite among businesses to buy other companies may have been affected by global economic uncertainty and Russias war in Ukraine, the ONS suggested.

Many businesses put investments on ice in 2022 due to the more difficult conditions, including high inflation and rising interest rates, experts suggested.

Nevertheless, the total combined number of monthly mergers and acquisitions  both UK companies acquiring foreign companies and vice versa  was lower at the start of 2023 compared with last year.

There were 141 transactions in January, 100 in February, and 114 in March, whereas there were more than 150 transactions in each month throughout 2022, the ONS said.

The value of inward M&A (foreign companies acquiring UK ones) was 12.7 billion in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2023:  6.9 billion higher than the previous quarter (5.8 billion) 4.1 billion lower than Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2022 (16.8 billion) pic.twitter.com/QYhE41ViaE  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) June 6, 2023

It suggests that the relative stability in the sector may have begun to waver.

The value of takeovers from UK companies acquiring foreign firms was 7.2 billion lower over the first quarter of the year compared with the final quarter of last year.

It came as Microsofts 68.7 billion US dollar (55 billion) takeover of gaming firm Activision Blizzard was blocked by the UK competition watchdog last month, in a potentially fatal blow to one of the technology industrys biggest ever deals.

The value of outward M&A (UK companies acquiring foreign ones) was 2.9 billion in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2023:  7.2 billion lower than in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2022 (10.1 billion) 0.2 billion lower than Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2022 (3.1 billion) pic.twitter.com/u0U2jo4Iel  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) June 6, 2023

Claire Trachet, chief executive of business advisory firm Trachet, said: There is a growing number of investors who are sat on a dry powder pile having paused investments due to uncertainty in 2022.

This means there are significant opportunities on the horizon, and now is the moment to prepare and get deal ready as optionality will increase in the second half of this year.

Nevertheless, Trachet pointed out that activity may have begun to pick up in recent months, with Swedish private equity firm EQT buying FTSE 250-listed Dechra Pharmaceuticals for 4.5 billion last week.

It marked the biggest takeover deal in Britain so far this year.

Fashion retailer Asos has been approached with a 1bn takeover bid from Turkish fast fashion firm Trendyol, according to reports (Asos/PA)

Furthermore, fashion retailer Asos has been approached with a 1 billion takeover bid from Turkish fast fashion firm Trendyol, according to reports this week.

It led Asoss share price to jump in value as investors reacted positively to the reports.

Such bids suggest that takeovers could be being driven by cheaper than usual valuations as investors look to rescue struggling firms.

The ONS stressed that its latest figures are provisional and could be revised upwards throughout the year.
MP calls for new legal right to visit loved ones in hospital or living care

Proposals to enshrine into law hospital and care home visiting rights have been raised in Parliament by a Labour MP.

Dan Carden said the care of a loved one should not be an optional extra but is an absolutely central part of dignified care as he introduced his Care Supporters Bill to the Commons.

He told MPs about the dangerous hangover from Covid restrictions and criticised the lack of urgency from the Government to change things.

Mr Carden had previously opened up about his familys battle for hospital access in the weeks before the death of his father during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he led a debate on the issue back in October last year.

Calling on the Government to introduce the new legal right, he said: The care of a loved one is not an optional extra. It is an absolutely central part of dignified care.

Separation and isolation have a deeply harmful impact on individuals, but particularly on those who are vulnerable and for those who are approaching the end of life. The impact cannot be understated.

My Bill seeks to recognise these fundamental points and put them into law.

The Labour MP insisted that throughout the pandemic, guidance proved consistently inadequate, as it was applied with levels of uncertainty and variability, leading to a postcode lottery as separate settings interpreted guidance differently.

He added: Do we as society give the right to institutions of the state or private, namely hospitals or care homes to deny us contact with family and loved ones because they are in receipt of their care?

Or do we believe we should keep our right to maintain contact with loved ones, regardless of health or care needs? I think its obvious.

I believe we should make a clear choice for the latter and enshrine that right in law in this House.

There is a dangerous hangover from Covid restrictions and a lack of urgency from Government to change things. It means the need for this Bill is as pivotal as it was during the pandemic.

Explaining how his proposals would work, he said: The Bill would place a duty on health and care providers to allow a service user to be accompanied by a care supporter.

A care supporter is defined as a person nominated as such by the service user. Importantly, the right would attach to the service user and only following their clear and informed consent.

The Bill places a duty on providers to allow unrestricted, in person support from at least one essential care supporter nominated by the service user.

Mr Carden presented his Bill via the 10-minute rule motion procedure, which allowed him 10 minutes to outline his proposals.

It was listed for a second reading on Friday, November 24, but the Bill is unlikely to make further progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate Bills tabled by backbench MPs.
A university student was suffocated with a facemask and dumped inside a large suitcase by an obsessed man who followed her to Britain, a court has heard.

Hina Bashir, 21, who was studying business management at Coventry Universitys London campus, went missing after visiting the home of warehouse worker Muhammad Arslan in Ilford, east London, last July.

Days later, her body was found stuffed in a large suitcase and dumped in undergrowth near Upminster.

Hina Bashir went missing in July last year (Family Handout/Metropolitan Police/PA)

Police uncovered evidence that 27-year-old Arslan had become obsessed with Ms Bashir, jurors were told.

The pair had grown up in the same village in Pakistan and the defendant followed Ms Bashir months after she came to Britain to study in November 2021.

Ahead of his Old Bailey trial on Tuesday, Arslan pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but he denies murder and perverting the course of justice by concealing her body.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said the victim visited Arslans home to collect some belongings she had left there while moving accommodation on the evening of July 11.

She did not leave the house alive, jurors were told.

Mr Patterson said: The next morning, the defendant set off from his house, dragging behind him a suitcase containing Hina Bashirs dead body.

He got a lift from a taxi driver who lived in his house and travelled to an industrial estate by the M25 near Upminster, near a business where he was employed as a warehouse worker.

He got out of the taxi and dragged his suitcase to the side of a lane where he hid it in some undergrowth. He left the suitcase concealed there in the days that followed.

After Ms Bashirs worried friends and family alerted police, the defendants suitcase was found and opened, revealing Ms Bashirs body squeezed inside.

Mr Patterson told jurors: On examination, the pathologist found that a facemask had been pushed inside her mouth. It was found there balled up.

As for the cause of her death, Hina Bashir had been killed through asphyxia. The facemask that was forced into her mouth had stopped her from breathing.

Investigators found a wealth of evidence implicating Arslan in the killing, despite his initial denial, the court heard.

Jurors heard the victims blood was found on his bed and bedclothes, matching facemasks were recovered from his house and telephone evidence showed the defendant had Ms Bashirs phone and was looking at her messages and photographs in the hours after her final visit.

The taxi driver confirmed he drove Arslan with his heavy suitcase to the industrial estate the next morning, the court was told.

CCTV footage captured Arslan leaving his house with the suitcase and then later dragging it along the lane to where it was eventually discovered, Mr Patterson said.

In addition, Arslans DNA was identified on the suitcase handle and soil from the deposition site was found on his shoes.

Referring to his earlier guilty plea, Mr Patterson said: All the evidence proved what the defendant has finally accepted today  that he was responsible for the killing.

Following Arslans arrest, police found evidence on his phone that he had become close to the victim when she was a teenager growing up in Pakistan.

Mr Patterson said: The defendant was later to insist to the police that there was no relationship between the two of them, however when the police translated the materials found on his phone they found that he had been repeatedly in contact with her, declaring his love for Hina Bashir.

He had allegedly spoken about wanting her to be his wife and having a family with her, while other messages suggested she was engaged to another man, the court was told.

Arslan allegedly reacted to the information with shock and sent messages to suggest that he thought she had cheated on him.

In more recent messages from 2021, Arslan appeared to be trying to contact Ms Bashir by posing as a woman, it was claimed.

Mr Patterson said: The police also found on his phone a very large number of photographs of Hina Bashir, some of them having been photoshopped or altered using software or apps.

They found pictures of her on which love hearts had been added and they found collages that had been created of her image. The evidence suggests that he was obsessed with her.

After moving to Britain, the intensity of the defendants feelings continued and he described her as his fiancee, the court was told.

Mr Patterson added: However, it appears Hina Bashir did not want to be with him and in fact had a relationship after she came here with another young man.

The trial before Judge Richard Marks KC is expected to continue for two weeks.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with assaulting a man who was arrested after being mistaken for a suspect.

Pc Jonathan Marsh, 33, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with assault by beating, where he pleaded not guilty.

Pc Marsh, attached to East Area Command Unit, was called to an incident of criminal damage on Atlanta Boulevard, Romford, east London, on November 13 2022.

He allegedly used force to arrest a man who he wrongly thought to be the suspect, Met Police said.

The man was later de-arrested at the scene.

Marsh, of Ferrymead, Canvey Island, Essex, was charged following an investigation by watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

He is currently on restricted duties.

Marsh was given unconditional bail and a trial date was set for November 6 at Westminster Magistrates Court.
An 80-year-old man has gone on trial accused of strangling a young woman nearly 50 years ago following a DNA breakthrough in the cold case.

John Apelgren was 31 when he allegedly hit sex worker Eileen Cotter in the face and throttled her before throwing her body out of his car in 1974.

The 22-year-olds death in Islington, north London, came two years after Apelgren allegedly indecently assaulted an 18-year-old guest at his own wedding.

Opening his trial at the Old Bailey on Monday, prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said Ms Cotters partially naked body was found outside garages on June 1, 1974.

She was lying on her front with her buttocks exposed, her underwear and tights pulled down her leg. Her handbag, glasses and shoes were missing.

Ms Cotter was discovered in front of garages in Hamilton Park, an area known to be frequented by sex workers at the time.

Eileen Cotter, 22, was found dead in Islington, north London, in 1974 (Met Police/PA)

One resident described what she thought was a bundle of rags, while another realised it was a body and asked her father to call the police.

A post-mortem examination found she died from manual strangulation and she had been hit in the face causing a black eye and bruising.

Jurors heard how the victim had been sighted the evening before her death, at a hot dog stall in Finsbury Park where she would sometimes go for a cup of tea.

Ms Cotters murder went unsolved but the case was reopened after advances in DNA testing and samples taken from the body in 1974 were tested, the court was told.

Ms Healy said DNA samples from two areas of the victims body were matched to Apelgren but not on her tights and underwear.

She told jurors: The prosecution case is that the reason the defendants DNA was not recovered from Ms Cotters underwear or tights is because he was the last person to have sexual intercourse with her and that he then attacked and strangled her.

Having killed her he pushed her out of his car. Her body was discovered in the position it fell, without shoes, and with her tights and underwear still around her right leg.

Eileen Cotter did not have the defendants DNA on her underwear and tights because she never pulled them up after he had sex with her. She was dead.

The trial was being held at the Old Bailey in London (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Following the DNA match in 2019, Apelgren was interviewed by police and denied knowing the victim or that he paid for sex.

He admitted have affairs with four women during his marriage, initially saying Ms Cotter could have been one of them but later denying it.

The jury was also told Apelgren had assaulted a young woman at his wedding to Ann Smythe on October 14, 1972.

Ms Healy said the woman had come out of the ladies toilets at the reception and found Apelgren waiting in the corridor.

He allegedly pushed her against a wall and forced himself upon her, indecently assaulting the woman.

The prosecutor said: She did not tell anybody about this at the time, but eventually some many years later she was to tell Ann after the defendant and Ann were divorced.

The allegation came to the attention of the police when Ann was spoken to as part of the investigation into Eileen Cotters death.

Apelgren, from Sydenham, south London, has denied murdering Ms Cotter and indecently assaulting the then-teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The defendant sat in the dock wearing a hearing loop with his long dark hair hanging loose to his shoulders.

The Old Bailey trial before Mrs Justice May continues.
Scotland could see its first by-election held under parliamentary recall rules after MP Margaret Ferrier was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching Covid rules.

MPs overwhelmingly voted to impose the ban on the Rutherglen and Hamilton West politician, potentially paving the way for a by-election.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs who are suspended for 10 sitting days or more are liable to face a by-election  but only if 10% of their constituents sign a recall petition.

This has never happened before in Scotland and has only occurred twice in the UK since the procedure was introduced in 2015.

A by-election would be seen as a test for new SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, with Ms Ferrier having originally been elected as an SNP MP in 2019 before having the whip suspended after her breaches of coronavirus rules emerged.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has already been on the campaign trail in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, alongside Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Robert Perry/PA)

With polls indicating support for Labour in Scotland has increased, Sir Keir Starmers party is keen for an election to bolster signs of a revival in fortunes north of the border.

Sir Keir visited Rutherglen last month ahead of a possible vote, saying then he was in no doubt that locals would take the chance to get rid of Ms Ferrier if a by-election is held.

Labours candidate for the seat, Michael Shanks, said MPs voting to approve Ms Ferriers suspension was welcome news for those of us who live here.

But with the procedures having been delayed, he added it was a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.

Ms Ferrier travelled from Scotland to Westminster after testing for Covid in September 2020, and went on to speak in the House of Commons while waiting for the results.

Its right that after years of anger and frustration with our current MP those of us who live in Rutherglen & Hamilton West now have the power to decide who represents us. I hope the recall process can begin soon.  Michael Shanks (@mgshanks) June 6, 2023

Later, after the test confirmed she was positive for the virus, she took the train back to Scotland.

Mr Shanks said: Weve spoken to thousands of voters who feel let down by Margaret Ferriers actions  people who made sacrifices during the pandemic and rightly expected their MP to do the same.

The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve so much better than a rule-breaking MP.

Speaking after the Commons voted by 185 to 40 to approve her suspension, the Labour candidate added: I want to be the local champion this area deserves, and I am ready to fight for every vote and deliver the change Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs.

SNP by-election campaign co-ordinator David Linden said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule breach first came to light in 2020.

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign  and well work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: I welcome todays news because its important that we all take responsibility for the decisions we make, especially where public safety is involved.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are unequivocally in favour of a recall petition and a by-election.

Not only is this a chance to give Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation it deserves, it is also a chance to send a message to the new SNP First Minister that people are sick of the divisive and out of touch politics he and his party represent.

Commons voting records show 32 Conservative MPs among those who opposed the 30-day suspension for Ms Ferrier, with these including former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill and DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.

South Lanarkshire Council, meanwhile, confirmed the recall petition will open on Tuesday June 20, with locals having until Monday July 31 to sign it.
The future of Britains former top business lobby group hangs in the balance, ahead of a crunch vote on Tuesday for remaining members of the scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The CBI is battling to secure its future following a series of sexual harassment allegations, which first emerged in March.

Members will be asked whether its plan for renewal is enough to give them confidence in the CBI, a vote which will determine the future path of the once-influential group.

Brian McBride, the CBIs president, said on Monday that the outcome of the critical vote is not a given.

He wrote in the Financial Times: Succeed and we can make a leaner, more accountable and inclusive organisation, fail and we lose precious time to fight for our members and a stronger economy and society.

To members, as well as the wider business community, I want to say that the outcome of Tuesdays vote isnt a given.

The vote will be held for members during the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which begins at noon.

Members will vote on a new prospectus, which includes appointing a new president and giving members an annual vote on the make-up of its board, following claims of sexual harassment at the CBI made by more than a dozen women, with two separate allegations of rape.

The CBIs new director-general, Rain Newton-Smith, has pledged to fight for the organisation.

About a dozen firms, including engineering giant Siemens, Microsoft and oil firm Esso, signed a joint letter published in The Times on Monday backing the CBI and its overhaul ahead of Tuesdays vote.

But a new business group was launched on Monday hoping to garner the support of those businesses which have ended or suspended their membership with the CBI and are not part of the vote.

Tony Danker was dismissed from the CBI following allegations of misconduct (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) set up the Business Council, with founding members including some of the UKs biggest companies, such as FTSE 100 oil giant BP, Heathrow, Holiday Inn owner IHG Hotels & Resorts and power station firm Drax.

BCCs director-general Shevaun Haviland said: We have been talking to the nations largest corporates and it has become clear to us that they are looking for a different kind of representation.

These businesses want to be part of a framework thats rooted in their local communities, but with the ability to shape the national and international debate.

She added that ahead of the next general election, the voice of business needs to be heard loud and clear, and now is the right time for us to speak up.

Former CBI head Tony Danker was dismissed on April 11 following complaints made against him, including one sexual harassment claim.

His exit came after the Guardian reported the allegations against him in articles in March and April.

Law firm Fox Williams was appointed to carry out an independent investigation and a number of other people were also dismissed by the CBI.

Mr Danker told the BBC his name had been wrongly associated with separate claims, including the alleged rapes which reportedly happened before he joined the CBI.

Aviva was the first major business to cut ties with the group after the allegations, with dozens of the biggest names in British business soon following suit.
Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seoul / Korea Times file



By Kim Hyun-bin



Major companies such as Samsung and SK are holding consecutive strategic meetings to discuss measures for the second half of the year in response to market changes to secure future growth opportunities. The changes they seek to address include the transition to an endemic phase, prolonged global economic uncertainty and uncertainties in domestic companies' management due to the escalating U.S.-China power rivalry and supply chain disruptions.



Samsung Electronics is scheduled to hold a global strategy meeting at the end of this month. The company's executives, including management and overseas branch managers, will gather both online and offline to discuss business strategies and crisis responses.



Samsung's global strategy meetings take place twice a year  in June and December  bringing together executives from various business units and regions to share current issues and exchange opinions on sales strategies.



SK Group will hold the "2023 Expanded Management Meeting" on June 15 at the SKMS Research Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The Expanded Management Meeting of SK Group, along with the Icheon Forum in August and CEO Seminar in October, is an annual meeting where top executives of SK Group gather to discuss management strategies.



Chairman Chey Tae-won and other key executives are expected to attend the meeting to review the management performance from the first half of the year and establish strategies for the second half. The meeting will focus on discussing measures for the semiconductor business, one of the future growth drivers of the group, which has been severely affected by economic uncertainties. Discussions on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) management are also expected to take place.



LG Group has already held a series of mid-year strategy meetings for each affiliate company since last month to review future directions. Every year, LG Group holds two business reporting meetings for all affiliate companies, covering management performance and business strategies.



Lotte Group plans to hold the Value Creation Meeting, which serves as a discussion forum for the second-half management strategy, in July. Chairman Shin Dong-bin, along with representatives from various subsidiaries, will participate in the meeting to discuss strategies for establishing a foundation for sustained growth amid the economic crisis.



Hyundai Motor Group holds a global subsidiary CEO meeting in Korea every July to review regional strategies and overall global strategies.


Solicitors representing bereaved families in the Scottish and UK Covid-19 inquiries have demanded clarity on whether former first minister Nicola Sturgeons WhatsApp messages were relevant.

Counsel acting on behalf of Scottish ministers said Ms Sturgeon did not have any relevant informal correspondence  which could include private messages, emails or diaries  that were relevant to the handling of the pandemic.

Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for the Scottish Covid Bereaved group, said it should be a matter for inquiry officials to determine what information is considered relevant.

Aamer Anwar is seeking clarity from the Scottish and UK Covid inquiries (Lesley Martin/PA)

The group has made further legal submissions to the UK Covid Inquiry calling for all unredacted WhatsApp messages and other relevant materials to be provided.

In a new statement, he said a request should be made of Scottish ministers to provide to the inquiry any communications held by informal means in order that the primary relevance test can be carried out by this inquiry.

Mr Anwar said: The Government is and should be answerable to the people, this applies to both the Scottish Government as well as the UK Government.

We were advised by the Scottish ministers counsel that Nicola Sturgeon has advised them she does not have such informal messages  i.e. WhatsApp messages.

Today we have sought full clarity from the UK and Scottish Inquiry as to what has happened to Ms Sturgeons WhatsApp messages, and why they are not being disclosed in their entirety.

Ms Sturgeon and other Scottish ministers should be in no different of a position to that of Mr Johnston, Rishi Sunak or Matt Hancock, the job of establishing the relevance is a matter for this inquiry.

We have said before and say it again, no individual, no matter how powerful, can be allowed to interfere with the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability in this inquiry. Those who lost their lives to Covid-19 deserve nothing less.

Ms Sturgeon will give evidence to the Scottish inquiry at a later date, alongside former deputy first minister John Swinney, health secretary Jeane Freeman and Scotlands former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood.

It comes as a transparency row erupts between the UK inquiry and the Westminster government after WhatsApp submissions from senior aides had been redacted.

A Scottish Government spokesman said it was co-operating fully with the Scottish and UK Covid public inquiries.

Where requested, we have provided material held. We will continue to do so wherever possible, to provide the inquiry with any documentation or communications, including messages, the spokesman said.

Extensive work has taken place to record key Covid-related decisions and to ensure that information supporting and evidencing these decisions is shared with the inquiries. It is a matter for the independent inquiry chairs to make decisions about how they consider and, where appropriate, publish such material.

We have established records management processes for recording decisions made by ministers and officials which form part of the Scottish Government corporate record.
Rishi Sunak said the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine would mark a new low in the conflict if Russian forces were found to be responsible.

The Prime Minister said the immediate priority was the humanitarian response to the catastrophe, which has flooded villages, endangered vital crops and threatened drinking water supplies.

Mr Sunak, speaking to reporters as he travelled to Washington for talks with US President Joe Biden, said if it was an intentional act to blow up the dam it would be the largest attack on civilian infrastructure since the start of Vladimir Putins war.

Water runs through a break in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP/PA)

He said that attacks on civilian infrastructure were appalling and wrong.

Kyiv accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam and hydroelectric power station in an area that Moscow has controlled for more than a year, while Russia blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area.

Mr Sunak said: Our military and intelligence agencies are currently looking at it, so its too soon to pre-empt that and make a definitive judgment.

But what I can say is if it is intentional, it would represent, I think, the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war, and just would demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong. Weve seen previous instances of that in this conflict so far, but its too early to say definitively.

Asked whether the subject would be raised with the US President at their meeting on Thursday, Mr Sunak said: Of course Ill be discussing Ukraine with President Biden, generally, but the immediate response is humanitarian.

So we had already put resources and funding in place to support both the UN and the Red Cross to respond to situations like this.

And they are now being able to divert those resources to particularly help the humanitarian response and the evacuation in this area as a result of whats happened.

So we were already thinking ahead about situations like this, and Im pleased that the UK is continuing to support Ukraine in lots of different ways.

Officials have described the breach as an ecological disaster, while Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

A resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/PA)

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described it as an abhorrent act, adding that intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

There are concerns that the damage to the dam could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said the ecocide was really terrible.

Igor Zhovkva told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme Russias claims that shelling had caused the damage were absurd, saying: I know that there was a blast and it was made on purpose because you cannot ruin this dam (only) by shelling.

But Evgeny Popov, a member of the Duma for Vladimir Putins United Russia party, claimed Ukraine would profit from the damage and said Russia is evacuating 22,000 people from the area.

He accused Ukraine of a war crime by carrying out the attack.

We dont need to do that. We are not attacking civilian infrastructure, he told the same programme.
Published 6 June 2023 at 4:00 am

Taylor Swift and 1975 frontman Matty Healy are no longer romantically involved, according to reports.

The two have been pictured multiple times together in recent months, amid speculation of a relationship.

Healy also gave a surprise performance at Swifts Eras Tour show last month in Nashville, Tennessee, when he appeared on stage alongside Phoebe Bridgers, who was supporting Swift.

The two musicians have been pictured multiple times together in recent months, amid speculation of a relationship (PA)

A source told US outlet People the relationship was always casual.

She had fun with him, but it was always casual. They are no longer romantically involved, the source told People.

Other US outlets, including TMZ, also reported the pair were no longer romantically linked.

Representatives for Swift and Healy have been approached for comment.
Scotlands planned deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks cans and bottles cannot go ahead as currently planned, the minister in charge of it has admitted.

Lorna Slater said the scheme  which was to have been the first of its kind in the UK  had been shot down by Westminster.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has already warned the UK Governments insistence that glass should not be included in the Scottish scheme puts the future of the environmental initiative in grave danger.

He had set a deadline of Monday for the UK Government to change its mind over the key issue.

First Minister @HumzaYousaf has written to @RishiSunak calling for an urgent rethink on Scotlands deposit return scheme (DRS). The FM said @GOVUK demands on DRS would hit businesses based in Scotland and threaten the schemes viability.https://t.co/WoViSPDv3K pic.twitter.com/TILc6EaL6S  First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 3, 2023

When that did not happen, Ms Slater, the circular economy minister in the Scottish Government, told MSPs: It is clear that Scotlands deposit return scheme, in the scope and form passed by this Parliament, cannot go ahead as currently planned.

The minister said she, together with Circularity Scotland  the company set up to run DRS north of the border  were looking at how we can take an alternative scheme forward in Scotland, because the one that this Parliament passed has been shot down by Westminster.

Ms Slater added she was seeking urgent talks with politicians at Westminster  but said the intervention from the UK Government had also created significant uncertainty around other parts of the scheme as passed by Holyrood.

This includes whether the deposit to be levied on drinks cans and bottles  which would be returned to shoppers when the empty containers are brought back for recycling  would be set at 20p.

Pressed on the future of DRS at Holyrood, Ms Slater said: Right now, we are urgently establishing to what extent there is a way forward for a modified scheme, its scope, terms and timescales.

That crucially depends on whether the UK Government can provide timely, stable and reliable assurances on basic operational matters, such as trading standards, the 20p deposit and producer fees.

It also depends on to what extent there is industry support for an alternative scheme.

Circular economy minister Lorna Slater said removing glass from the scope of the Scottish scheme was a substantial change (Jane Barlow/PA)

Asked by Tory MSP Graham Simpson if a modified DRS, without glass bottles in it, could be up and running by the current launch date of March 2024, Ms Slater told him removing these from the remit of the scheme was a substantial change.

She added: To decide whether we can go ahead with an alternative scheme without glass is a very substantial decision.

She said she and Mr Yousaf would be meeting with industry representatives on Wednesday to discuss this as part of efforts to decide whether it is feasible for us to go forward.

Circularity Scotland has already made clear it can absolutely go ahead with the scheme without glass bottles being included.

Small business leaders, meanwhile, claimed that while DRS was well intentioned, the scheme was fundamentally flawed.

Speaking about the initiative, Andrew McRae, Scotland policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: As time went on, it became apparent it wasnt going to work in its current form and was going to damage small producers and retailers on its way down.

We now need to get on with developing a system that stands a better chance of working  one that makes it as easy as possible for consumers, producers and retailers.

Key to that will be learning the lessons from this episode and bringing the sort of small businesses, on whom government will be relying to deliver any such scheme, in on the ground floor.

While the Scottish Government was seeking to bring in its DRS in March next year, similar initiatives for the rest of the UK are not planned until 2025 at the earliest.
Ukrainians demanding Vladimir Putins forces leave their homeland decried Russia as a terrorist state, as they left messages on paper boats for consulate staff to read after a major dam was damaged.

Russian forces have been accused of blowing up the massive dam and hydroelectric power station in part of southern Ukraine Moscow controls, sparking a protest outside Russias Edinburgh consulate.

The aftermath of the incident has caused flooding downstream, and at the New Town protest on Tuesday Ukrainian Zhenya Dove said: People have lost everything.

The 34-year-old, who now lives in Edinburgh, said people in the region she had spoken to reported water up to the ceiling of their houses, and added: You see all these landmarks that I went to as a child, that have a special meaning, its all destroyed.

Protesters leave paper boats with messages on them at the Russian consulate in Edinburgh (Dan Barker/PA)

It doesnt exist, and I dont see any chance of it being rebuilt like to how it was before.

People lost everything. My friends evacuated, but a lot of older people just stayed there and are left with nothing.

Ms Dove, who has lived in Britain for 14 years but has family in the area which is now part of Russian-occupied Ukraine, said: Ive never seen anything like this. Its something from some horror film.

Outside the Russian consulate on Tuesday, with its shutters closed, temporary fencing stopping people approaching its doorstep and a fading Russian flag flying, there were cries of Slava Ukraini as demonstrators decried Russias continued assault on Ukraine.

Protests outside the Russian consulate in Edinburgh (Dan Barker/PA)

Protesters made paper boats, with messages, and taped them onto the embassys temporary fence. One protester could be seen shoving some through the post box of the Melville Street building.

Bohdan Kramar, 19, who is now living in Inverkeithing, Fife, after coming from Vovchansk, described Russia as a terrorist state.

Its absolutely true. They destroy civic buildings, he said.

And the teenager questioned why the Russian consulate was still in the Scottish capital: Why in Edinburgh is there still this part of Russia? Whats the point?

Maryan Pokhylyy said he wanted to see the consulate shut.

This is not a political debate, this is a debate between good and evil, he said.

The 29-year-old Ukrainian said people near the impacted area were preparing to take refugees from the flooded zone, and many had lost everything due to flooding and warned that the water levels will rise.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

Russian officials claim the dam, on the Dnipro river, was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

Rishi Sunak has said the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine would mark a new low in the conflict if Russian forces were found to be responsible.

Mr Sunak said: Our military and intelligence agencies are currently looking at it, so its too soon to pre-empt that and make a definitive judgment.

But what I can say is if it is intentional, it would represent, I think, the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war, and just would demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong. Weve seen previous instances of that in this conflict so far, but its too early to say definitively.

There are concerns that the damage to the dam could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.
A US airman has been charged with multiple counts of rape at an RAF base.

Lee Bogstad is accused of three counts of raping a UK citizen at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire between November 2020 and February 2021.

The 21-year-old will appear before magistrates in Northampton on June 29, Northamptonshire Police said.

Police said they led the investigation with the full co-operation of the United States Air Force (USAF).

RAF Croughton was put in the spotlight in 2019 after teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn was killed by American citizen Anne Sacoolas as she drove on the wrong side of the road after leaving the base.
The US Government is set to be challenged in court over its decision not to disclose the reasoning behind admitting the Duke of Sussex into the country, despite his admissions of illegal drug use.

Harrys reference to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir Spare prompted a conservative Washington DC think tank to question why he was allowed into the US in 2020.

The Heritage Foundation brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after a Freedom of Information Act request was rejected  claiming it was of immense public interest.

The Duke of Sussex (PA)

The think tank is to argue the widespread and continuous media coverage has brought into question whether the duke was properly vetted by the US Government.

But the DHS said swift release of the documents would not be in the public interest and questioned how widespread the media coverage of the issue had been.

Both parties are set to argue the case in a federal court for the first time in Washington DC on Tuesday.

It is unclear when the court will make a decision over whether the documents can be released.

In his controversial memoir, the duke said cocaine didnt do anything for me, adding: Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.

The Heritage Foundations lawsuit argues that US law generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry to the country.

It comes as Harry is set to give evidence in the High Court in the UK in his individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers over alleged unlawful information gathering.
British Second World War veterans have paid tribute to their fallen comrades as they marked the 79th anniversary of D-Day at a service in France.

Former servicemen attended the Royal British Legion-organised event at the British Normandy Memorial outside Ver-sur-Mer on Tuesday to share their experiences of the biggest seaborne invasion in military history, which led to the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to attend the international ceremony of Allied nations and Germany later on Tuesday afternoon at the British Normandy Memorial as D-Day commemorations continue.

D-Day veteran Ken Hay (left) is guided back to his seat after speaking at the service (Gareth Fuller/PA)

At the earlier service, 98-year-old Ken Hay, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment during the Battle of Normandy, read a poem he wrote last year to remember the friends he lost.

Mr Hay, from London, who was just 18 during the invasion and was later a prisoner of war and forced to work in coal mines in Poland, said: I didnt regard myself as a poet.

People say thank you for that. Veterans come up to me and say you put into words what we were feeling.

His poem contains the lines: With memories I come each year, and often shed a tear,

To understand that I came home, to live another year.

I still can see, each passing day, the friends I left behind,

The price they paid, I nearly paid, is clearly brought to mind.

D-Day veteran Alec Penstone meets local children after the service (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Elsewhere, at an afternoon service at the Bayeux Cemetery in France, children held signs reading: Thank you veterans, the youth do care.

George Barrett, who joined the 9th Airborne regiment of the Royal Engineers in 1947, said he was glad children were attending the services to keep this remembrance commemoration going for years.

The 95-year-old said he has lost count of the number times he travelled to Normandy for D-day anniversaries, and this year he was among a party of 10 from Birmingham.

156,000 ground troops 14,000 air force sorties7,000 naval vessels The Normany Landings, 79 years ago today, was the largest seaborne invasion in history and marked the beginning of the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation. pic.twitter.com/xphyE9ifpl  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) June 6, 2023

Chairman of the 1944 Alliance, Alan James, who organises the travel for veterans from Birmingham each year, said of the dwindling numbers: Its completely changed now. When I first started it was 24 veterans on the bus, now were down to two  we lost 13 veterans to Covid.

At the Bayeux service, D-Day veteran Stan Ford shared his account aboard HMS Fratton, which was torpedoed on August 18 1944, causing a huge explosion that damaged his legs and back.

Veteran gathered at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The 98-year-old from Bath said: HMS Fratton sank in four minutes, taking with her 31 of the crew of 80.

I was lucky when so many of my shipmates were not, and I often ask myself why me?

HMS Fratton still lies about a mile off of Arromanches and I will always remember the crew that I served with, and I will keep coming back to Normandy as long as I can do so.

A small number of people headed to the Normandy beaches at sunrise to pay tribute to the servicemen and women who began their assault at first light on June 6, 1944.
A plan to build a massive public safety training center in Atlanta cleared its latest hurdle early Tuesday when lawmakers voted to help fund a facility dubbed Cop City by opponents.

Despite hearing more than 14 hours of testimony, mostly from opponents of the project, the Atlanta City Council agreed to allocate $30 million toward development of the $90-million, 85-acre facility where police, firefighters and emergency responders would train.

The 11-4 vote around 5:30 a.m. local time prompted outrage and jeers within the chamber, where audience members chanted, "'Cop City' will not be built."

Activists march through the Atlanta Forest, the site of a proposed police training center, on March 4, 2023 in Atlanta. (Andrew Lichtenstein / Corbis via Getty Images file)

The vote comes after years of fierce opposition from protesters who worry the proposed campus will harm the environment and be used by police to practice urban warfare.

In January, officers fatally shot an environmental activist as workers across several agencies attempted to clear out the site. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, known as Tortuguita, shot at officers first without warning, wounding a state trooper  an account the 26-year-olds family disputes.

Days later, a vigil in Atlanta honoring the slain activist ended in property damage and several arrests.

A photo of Manuel Teran, who was shot and killed by a Georgia State Trooper, at a makeshift memorial in Weelaunee People's park on Jan. 21, 2023 in Atlanta. (Elijah Nouvelage / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Ahead of the vote, more than 350 people signed up to give remarks during a public comment period, which began around 1 p.m. Monday and went into the night.

The vast majority of the speakers were emotionally opposed to the development, saying it would not make the city safer but would perpetuate military-style policing and encourage the use of force.

The City Council voted Monday to amend its agenda to allow for people who had missed the sign-up period to speak.

In anticipation of the vote, officials closed several City Hall offices Monday, moved services online and issued a temporary ban on liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes from being carried into the building due to increased security concerns.

Tuesdays vote means taxpayers will pay less than the city had agreed upon, city officials said. The greenlighted legislation, they said, allows the city to consolidate multiple leases that it currently pays for suboptimal training facilities that police and firefighters use separately. Such a move would save the city $200,000 annually or $6 million over 30 years, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens office said in a news release.

The Atlanta Police Foundation, the independent nonprofit group spearheading the project, has said it would privately raise the rest of the money needed for construction through philanthropic and corporate donations.

The proposed project includes creating a mock city for police and firefighter trainees, a shooting range and an emergency vehicle operations course, which would be a first for both the police and fire rescue departments, the Atlanta Police Foundation said.

The group said the new campus is necessary because current training facilities fail to meet the training needs required of a major urban law enforcement agency, which it said ultimately worsens morale, recruitment and retention issues.

The project would be built on a parcel of land that the city of Atlanta owns in unincorporated DeKalb County, around Intrenchment Creek and the South River Forest Basin.

The land is known as the Old Atlanta Prison Farm, where prisoners labored in poor working conditions for much of the 20th century. It is the only city-owned area large enough for such a project, the Atlanta Police Foundation said.

The group said it will not have to cut down acres of trees because the targeted parcel of land, which was cleared decades ago, does not currently have significant tree cover. The tree cover that does exist, it said, is overwhelmingly dominated by invasive species.

The Atlanta Police Foundation pledged to replace any hardwood tree destroyed in construction with 100 new ones. Nearly 300 acres will be preserved as green space, parkland and trails, it added.

The Atlanta City Council first approved the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in 2021, following anti-police violence protests. City officials said the new center would be integral to the reforms residents had been demanding, but protesters remain staunchly opposed.
Ready-mixed concrete trucks are parked at a cement factory in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap



By Park Jae-hyuk



A conflict between builders and cement firms has intensified over a recent decision by producers to hike prices for the fourth time in two years, according to industry officials, Tuesday.



Last Friday, Sungshin Cement sent a letter to ready-mixed concrete truckers notifying its plan to increase cement prices by 14.3 percent in July. This came after Ssangyong C&E declared a 14.1 percent hike in its cement price effective next month. Both companies suffered operating losses during the first quarter of this year.



Hanil, Asia and Sampyo Cement, which made profits during the first quarter, have yet to announce their price hike plans. However, construction industry officials expect the other cement firms to follow Sungshin and Ssangyong in the near future.



Although cement firms claim that the soaring electricity bill has made it inevitable for them to raise their product prices, builders view the claim as groundless, considering the fact that the international bituminous coal price has become one-third of that of a year earlier. After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, cement firms hiked their product prices citing the shortage of bituminous coal.



Once cement firms raise their product prices, ready-mixed concrete truckers ask builders to pay more. Last year, construction works were suspended nationwide as builders refused to accept the request from ready-mixed concrete truckers.



Instead of talking with the truckers this year, builders are trying to have direct conversations with cement firms, asking for disclosure of production costs. Builders have been wary of another nationwide suspension of construction works, as unionized truckers and construction workers are planning to strike next month.



In order to figure out whether the forthcoming cement price hikes are reasonable, the government ministries also held a meeting recently. However, it is still difficult for the government to directly control the market price.



"The industry ministry supervising the cement industry and the land ministry supervising the construction industry, as well as the finance ministry handling commodity prices, shared the situation of each industry, so as to help the companies reach an agreement," a land ministry official said.


WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for talks, two U.S. officials told NBC News on Tuesday.

The news comes after a previously planned trip was postponed following the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the U.S.

U.S. officials did not provide additional details on the timing of Blinkens rescheduled trip, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

Blinken postponed that trip in February after the suspected spy balloon entered American airspace and flew across the continental U.S. American fighter jets later downed the balloon off the coast of South Carolina, although the craft was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive U.S. military sites, current and former U.S. officials said in April.

Blinken conveyed to Chinese official Wang Yi at the time that the balloon was "an irresponsible act and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law that undermined the purpose of the trip," then-State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously called the balloon a "civilian airship" used for weather research.

The relationship between the two countries has spiraled since the incident, with leaders postponing or rejecting talks. Just last week, China declined a U.S. request for the defense chiefs to meet at a security summit in Singapore. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping previously met in November in Bali, Indonesia, where they agreed that Blinken would visit China to follow up on the discussions.

Taiwan and territorial tensions were among the subjects discussed between the two leaders  issues that have not faded in the following months.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Tuesday that Biden is confident the two countries will be able to get back to the spirit of Bali, referring to the November meeting.

On Monday, the U.S. military released a video from last weekend showing a Chinese warship and an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait coming within 150 yards of each other, according to the U.S. military. A Chinese government representative defended its actions, saying Monday that "China always respects the right of navigation."

The close call comes as debate over the future of Taiwan  a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own, but has never controlled  is expected to be high on the agenda when Blinken visits Beijing.

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last fall, Biden said the U.S. opposes "unilateral changes to the status quo" in the Taiwan Strait, but Xi has refused to rule out using force to seize the island.

The U.S. has typically declined to say whether it would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, a policy known as strategic ambiguity, after enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979. The act requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and makes clear that Washington established diplomatic ties with Beijing with the expectation that Taiwans future would be determined peacefully.

Biden, however, has repeatedly said the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. In September, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said his comments "breached the important commitment the U.S. made not to support Taiwan independence," though Biden administration officials insist U.S. policy has not changed.

Other points of contention between the U.S. and China continue to sour their relations: In October, the Biden administration restricted sales of key semiconductors to China, a move the Chinese foreign minister called "bullying tactics." Blinken has also said China's systematic detention of its Uyghur minority amounts to "genocide and crimes against humanity," and he has been sharply critical of the country's crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong and Tibet.

Blinken's upcoming visit will also likely aim to assuage the security concerns of key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, such as South Korea and Japan.

"The current state of Chinese-U.S. relations is a powder keg that I fear could explode anytime," South Korean Rep. Lee Jae-jung, who sits on the foreign affairs committee of the country's National Assembly, said in March.

Aspects of U.S.-China relations have proven to be a rare point of bipartisan agreement in Congress. Last month, the bipartisan House select committee on China adopted policy recommendations relating to a potential conflict in Taiwan and the mistreatment of Uyghurs.

Last August, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a visit to the self-governing island, prompting a furious response from China, which conducted military drills that experts say simulated an attack on the island. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., met in April with Tsai in California, shortly before a bipartisan delegation visited Taiwan.
This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Rileys Acting Up newsletter  to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.

When someone talks about improvisation, odds are your mind goes to what is known as short-form; theater games or quick scenes, the sort of performances popularized by Whose Line Is It Anyway? and seen in small theaters. Most people have seen  or been in  groups like this.

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Long-form improv, as the name implies, offers a different challenge. Rather than taking suggestions throughout a show for different scenes, performers only take a few suggestions at the top of a show and proceed to perform the rest of the show based on those. While there may be several scenes within a show, the idea is that they are all related to those initial prompts.

While it may be high-risk, its also high-reward for both audience and performers  a good long-form show is a rush like no other. And the good news is that long-form seems to be growing in popularity as people become more familiar with it. One of the biggest ambassadors for long-form improv is Ben Schwartz, an actor known for his scene-stealing work on such shows as Parks and Recreation and The Afterparty and recent films like Renfield. As a performer, Schwartz has a talent for making every line sound organic and true  leading one to wonder just how much of it is scripted and how much his improv background has helped him live in the moment as an actor.

Outside of his acting and writing careers, Schwartz regularly performs long-form improv with his live show Ben Schwartz and Friends, which tours all over the U.S. in addition to an informal residency at the Largo at the Coronet in L.A. In upcoming months, Schwartz will even be taking the show international, with dates in London and Canada. And this Fall, hell make history by playing New York Citys legendary Radio City Music Hall, a 6,000-seat venue, on Sept. 23.

The setup of the show is fairly simple; the stage is simply Schwartz and a small group of three or four friends, and some folding chairs. Some improv parameters are well-known, i.e. the Yes, and rule where you dont negate anything a scene partner has stated (yes) and then you expand on their idea (and.) What ensues, if youre lucky, is a whirlwind 45 to 60 minutes that will have you laughing throughout while marveling at the dexterity of the performers. I wanted to speak to Schwartz both as an improviser  getting as specific into the skillset as possible  but also an actor, to know how much improv can benefit an actor.

And if you cant get to a theater, you can check out Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix, in which Schwartz and Silicon Valley star Thomas Middleditch present three live tapings of their improv shows, or Showtimes House of Lives Live! in which Schwartz performs with a group that includes his House of Lies co-stars Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell.

When did you first become aware of improvisation and how did you get involved?

Like a lot of people, it was those reruns on Comedy Central of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Then in college, there was a group called Idle Minds at Union College. It was also short-form, and I was terrified to audition for it. Because in my group of friends, I thought I was funny. But I didnt want to try out for the funny people and find out I wasnt. Finally, my girlfriend at the time forced me to audition. And I dont think it was a good audition, but they let me in.

It wasnt until I graduated college and went to the Upright Citizens Brigade that I learned about long-form. It came about because I loved Amy Poehler and wanted to know where she came from. I learned about UCB and thats where I first discovered long-form improv. And I connected with it instantly. I loved the idea of creating a whole world with nothing but a stage and chairs.

What were some of the growing pains or things you learned in those early years?

You have to take risks. Youre going to fail, you just are. You have to learn from that failure, get up, and take another risk. And if you keep doing that, you will slowly find your voice. And with that comes more confidence on stage. So much of improv is feeling good in your skin. And then you learn to be comfortable if you take a big swing and theres no laugh. Take your time, youre going to find something. But it takes time. Ive been doing this for 20 years and literally thousands of shows.

Thats something every performer has experienced  like it or not  bombing onstage. How do you handle those moments when things are going awry?

In the beginning it happened all the time and people get nervous and you start making silly jokes or cursing or doing something juvenile which isnt great. Its like you revert back to: When I was a kid, this made people laugh! And thats when you can see people working so hard to get a laugh, as opposed to just being in the moment. That happens a lot when youre younger and you havent had a laugh in a little bit and you dont trust the idea that youll find it. You start pushing too hard. Or you break the guidelines of improvyou stop the scene or you say no to something.

I guess the key is to trust in the scene, to be okay with the moments where there arent big laughs, knowing theyre building to something. To remember that youre in this together, that youre working with people who are going to make something good and make you look good while doing it.

Chloe Dugourd / MSGE

Watching the people youve worked with onstage, it almost feels like youre communicating telepathically. How do you get on the same wavelength? Or are there ways you can communicate to each other via some kind of signal? Or is it all instinct?

A lot of it is just about finding the right people. I like to keep the group onstage small to keep us all sort of on the same page. And we cant really talk privately to each other during a show, so its almost all instinct. But we do have certain gestures that have a function in a scene. For example, if Drew Tarver is playing the President in a scene with someone else and I want to do a scene with Drews President, Ill tap the other performer on the shoulder, which means that performer leaves the scene and Drew stays in the same character. And Ill start the new scene playing a new character, like his son, and put Drews President in a different situation, saying something like, Dad sorry, Mr. President, the nukes can wait, you promised we would go fishing

And there are ways to sort of end scenes. In long form improv, we do something called a sweep edit, where you run across the front of the stage, and it means the scene is done. Those performers go to the back line and someone else will start a new scene.

Even though its improv, do you have any way to rehearse for a show? Do you practice with the others before?

Not anymore. When I started we would have rehearsals during the week to keep sharp, learn and get experience working together. But that hasnt happened in a long time. The people who do my show have been performing improv for fifteen to twenty five years, so everyone is ready to go. And because theres nothing to set up or do beforehand, everyone gets to the theater 20 minutes before the show starts. When it was Middleditch and Schwartz, we would get there five minutes before the show. But in that short time before the show, we dont rehearse, we usually just talk about our lives and catch up as friends.

What about when you have guests who havent done improv before? What do you say to them?

I used to do a show called Snowpants where the idea was we would do improv with someone who was new to it. Ive had guests like Jane Fonda, J.J. Abrams, Henry Winkler. And beforehand I just tell them: You can take any risks you want. Were here to support you  well take care of you and make it work. Just be in the moment and react honestly. And you know, nothing is recorded. Theres no video so we can have fun and just go for it.

Ben Schwartz in Austin at the Moontower Just for Laughs Festival. Photo by Rachel Parker

You taped three lives shows of Middleditch and Schwartz for Netflix. Did they come to you or is it something you had to pitch?

Its a funny process because we set up pitch meetings everywhere. And people would say, Well, whats the special? And wed go, We dont know yet. We make it up. And theyd say, We understand, but whats it going to be about? One of the places asked if they could plant someone in the audience, maybe a celebrity, for us to pull up on stage. They didnt quite get it. And every single place we pitched to passed.

Then we sold out Carnegie Hall and people were a little more interested. So, our touring agents invited Netflix execs to come to a show in front of 1,800 people in L.A. Afterwards, we spoke to them and to their credit, they gave us a shot. Im still so appreciative. One of the parts of the pitch to all of these places was basically: Stand-ups can only deliver one special in around 6 months or more. When its time to record, theyll do the same show two to three times. Then they edit the best takes to make the special. Every show we do is its own special because every show is totally different. So give us two nights, we can tape four and deliver you three specials. We wanted to be able to cut one show just in case we didnt like the show. But the scary part is whatever happens in those shows is what will be in the special. You cant erase big parts of an improv show because then the through line might not make sense.

Also, our budget is very low for four hour long specials, which didnt hurt.

Often, improv doesnt translate to the small screen but these really worked. How did you make it work in a different medium?

We discussed that a lot. How do we make this unique? How can we make it different than coming to our live shows? So we took the budget and instead of paying us, we used almost all of it on filming. We used nine cameras. We put someone in the audience with a boom microphone at the beginning of the show to get good quality audio from the random audience member we interview. And we got so much coverage, just so much. And Thomas and I were in the editing room with our incredible editor Elise Golgowski and picked every angle we wanted to best sell the moment. We utilized close-ups and had so many choices thanks to all those cameras.

Have you found that doing improv has helped you as an actor?

One-hundred percent. Its a little easier to be in the moment in a scene because improv is all about listening and reacting. So as an actor, Im not just memorizing my lines and repeating them, Im watching the person and reacting. I did a movie with Jeremy Irons and he had a great line. He said, There are two different types of actors. One who is in armor, theyre protected. They know their lines and they know how to hit their mark. They know exactly what theyre doing. And they can be great. But there is not as much fluidity or movement with the armor. And then there are the archers. They wear leather and can bend and move wherever the scene takes them and use different quills and arrows.

Thats how I think of improvising; you can move with the scene. If someone is giving you more or less, you can adjust your own performance. If anything happens, you can feel it out. And its fun, finding different ideas in those moments.

So, if somebody wants to get into improvisation, where do you recommend they start?

For me, it was Upright Citizens Brigade. But if you dont have something like that in your area, its about finding your group. Finding people who want to do sketch and improv and playing with them and getting creative. Sometimes you join up in a large group and you find the people within that group who you really connect to and want to do things with.

And it has to be fun. Theres so little money in it, its so hard to break through, you just have to love it so much. Like with anything  acting, writing, directing  there is so much failure and so much rejection, youre going to find out pretty quickly whether you love it or not.

For more information and to see the touring schedule, visit www.rejectedjokes.com

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Robert Philip Hanssen, a former FBI agent who received more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds for committing espionage on behalf of Moscow, has died in prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced Monday.

Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive Monday morning in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

"Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested emergency medical services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued," the statement said. "Mr. Hanssen was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel."

He is believed to have died of natural causes, The Associated Press reported.

Hanssen had been serving a life sentence in the prison, which is a maximum security facility, without possibility of parole since 2002. Hanssen pled guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges in 2001, according to the FBI.

The FBI was notified of Hanssen's death, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The agency said no staff or other inmates were injured and there was no public danger.

Evan Gershkovich arrest: Russia formally charges Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage

Who was Robert Hanssen?

Known as the most damaging spy in FBI history, according to the FBI, Hanssen had been spying for Russia and the former Soviet Union since at least 1985. He joined the bureau in 1976 and had years of experience and training as a counterintelligence agent.

"Hanssen went undetected for years, although some of his unusual activities had aroused suspicion from time to time," according to the FBI's history file of Hanssen. "Still, he was not identified as a spy."

The former FBI agent had provided highly classified national security information to the Russians in exchange for more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, diamonds, and Rolex watches.

According to the FBI, Hanssen held key counterintelligence positions while assigned to New York and Washington, D.C. His assignments allowed him to have "direct and legitimate access to voluminous information about sensitive programs and operations," the FBI said in 2001.

Investigators accused Hanssen of sharing extensive detail on U.S. counterintelligence techniques, investigations, classified government documents, and operations.

Chinese spies suspected in Alaska: Suspected Chinese spies, disguised as tourists, tried to infiltrate Alaskan military bases

Using the alias "Ramon Garcia" with his Russian handlers, authorities said Hanssen passed on "6,000 pages of valuable documentary material" and 26 computer disks. Officials believed Hanssen told his handlers about a secret tunnel the United States built under the Soviet Embassy in Washington for eavesdropping.

He was also accused of compromising numerous human sources, which confirmed the identities of Russian double agents. Officials said at least three Soviet officers who were working for U.S. intelligence were executed as a result.

According to the FBI, later investigations revealed Hanssen as a Russian mole and investigators said their "goal was to catch Hanssen 'red handed' in espionage." He was caught taping a plastic bag filled with classified materials to the underside of a footbridge in a park in a "dead drop" for Russian handlers in 2001.

Hanssen would later admit that he was motivated by money rather than ideology.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert Hanssen: Ex-FBI agent convicted of spying for Russia dead at 79
Experts warn that COVID is still dangerous for pregnant women. (Illustration: Caroline Brooks; photo: Getty Images)

Life has largely gone back to normal in the three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Social distancing is no longer a thing, and most people dont wear masks even in crowded indoor settings. While the pandemic seems to be in the rearview mirror, experts say theres at least one population that needs to be mindful of their COVID risk: pregnant women.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is warning about the risks of COVID for pregnant women, noting that pregnant and postpartum women have a higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that if you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant.

But most of the world has moved on from the pandemic, which raises a big question: How concerned should pregnant women be about this? Experts say they should at least be aware theres a risk.

Pregnant women still need to have COVID-19 on their radars, womens health specialist Dr. Jennifer Wider tells Yahoo Life. Pregnancy causes changes in the body that can make a person more vulnerable to respiratory viruses, and pregnant women have a higher chance of severe disease that can put the mom and developing baby at risk.

Dr. Thomas Russo, a specialist in infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, agrees: We have less COVID now, but it remains a more lethal disease than influenza, particularly in high-risk groups. Pregnant women fall into that category. The data strongly shows that pregnant women are at risk for more severe disease and serious outcomes for their babies.

Its entirely possible to get COVID-19 while youre pregnant and be just fine, Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. But it can also lead to serious complications, including premature delivery, he says.

But why is COVID so dangerous for expectant moms? Heres what you need to know.

The research findings are startling

Early in the pandemic, there wasnt much data to suggest that pregnant women fared any worse than other people who got COVID-19. A lot has changed since then.

A BMJGlobal Health study of more than 13,000 pregnant women in 12 countries found that about 3% of expectant mothers with COVID needed to be in the ICU and about 4% needed any kind of critical care. Compared to pregnant people who werent infected with the virus, those who contracted COVID were nearly four times more likely to be admitted to an ICU. They were also 15 times more likely to be ventilated and were seven times more likely to die.

A study of 240,147 people published in the Lancet Regional Health  Americas linked a COVID infection during pregnancy to preterm birth. Researchers found that the risk of very preterm birth, which happens before 32 weeks of pregnancy, was 60% greater for people who had the virus at some point in their pregnancy. The risk of having a baby before 37 weeks was 40% higher for those who had been infected.

COVID also raises the risk of stillbirth, according to a 2021 CDC study of more than 1.2 million hospital deliveries. While the overall risk of stillbirth was low, researchers found that 1.25% of births in which the mother had COVID-19 were stillborn, compared to 0.64% of women who didnt have the virus.

The impact on infants can last beyond the potential complications of premature birth: Research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in March showed that 149 babies who were exposed to COVID-19 in utero and 127 who were not found that those born to moms who had COVID had a higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

How to protect yourself

Its important that pregnant women be protected against COVID, in part to protect themselves, but also to protect their baby, Schaffner says.

That means doing what you can to lower your risk of getting COVID, including getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you havent already, he says. (Its worth noting that both the CDC and the ACOG recommend that expectant mothers be vaccinated against the virus.)

We have the tools to minimize the consequences of COVID, Russo says. Theyre being underutilized.

Schaffner also recommends wearing a mask in crowded indoor situations. Put that mask on if youre going inside to do group activities, religious services, going to the supermarket ... certainly if youre traveling, he says.

If you happen to contract COVID during pregnancy, Russo recommends consulting your doctor.

There is not a large body of research concerning the use of the antiviral medication Paxlovid during pregnancy, but one study suggests that its safe for both the mom and fetus. Paxlovid can be taken, but thats really a conversation to have with your ob-gyn, Schaffner says.

Although there isnt as large a body of data as we like, says Russo, what we do have supports the use of Paxlovid as being safe in pregnancy. He adds: If youre higher risk than being pregnant alone  youre unvaccinated and you have significant diseases  consider taking Paxlovid to further minimize the risk of bad outcomes.

Russo acknowledges that many pregnant women dont want to put anything new in their bodies, including a vaccine, which is why he recommends speaking with your ob-gyn if you have concerns. Have a conversation with someone knowledgable that you trust so you can make the best decisions for yourself, he says.

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The leader of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group credited with seizing the Ukraine city of Bakhmut dismissed as "wild fantasies" claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that its troops killed more than 1,500 Ukrainian troops and halted their advance.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a frequent critic of the Russian military and defense minister Sergei Shoigu, said Tuesday that if the ministry's inflated numbers since the war began were true we have already destroyed the entire planet five times over.

The long-running feud appeared to reach new heights this week as Prigozhin announced the capture of a Russian commander. In a video posted on Prigozhins social media channels, Lt. Col. Roman Venevitin admits that while drunk he had ordered his troops to fire on a Wagner convoy. Prigozhin also accused Russian forces of putting down land mines to kill his men as they withdrew from Bakhmut.

The Russian turmoil comes as a "substantial increase" in fighting is taking place this week along much of the front, including areas that have been relatively quiet for several months, the British Defense Ministry says in its latest assessment of the war. The ministry notes that the feud between Prigozhin and the Russian military has reached an unprecedented level.

"With Russia short of reserve units, the degree to which Wagner remains responsive to (Russian military leadership) will be a key factor in the conflict over the coming weeks," the assessment says.

A local resident with a bike and a dog walks along the street past the buildings in Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023 which were flooded after the Kakhovka dam was blown up overnight. The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine has collapsed, triggering floods, endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ORG XMIT: XEL128

Developments:

The U.N. Twitter feed posted a note that Tuesday was Russian Language Day. Ukraine's official Twitter feed countered with "Happy Russian Language Day, @UN!" with a fake photo of a flooded U.N. General Assembly hall.

Kyiv is keeping silent about the start of any counteroffensive, but fighting is raging in several sections of the front line, signaling that the long-expected campaign could be getting underway.

Moscow claims it successfully fended off a Ukrainian attempt to ram through Russias defenses, but some pro-Kremlin military bloggers say Kyivs troops made some quick gains.

Dam blasted; thousands flee flooding

A major dam collapsed early Tuesday in a part of southern Ukraine controlled by Russia, causing massive flooding, putting thousands of homes at risk and threatening drinking water supplies.

Each side blamed the other for the disaster, which comes as Russian forces struggle against what appears to be the start of a long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of "deliberate sabotage" to deprive Crimea of water. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the dam was mined by the Russian occupiers, creating the "largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades."

Video footage released by Zelenskyy showed water crashing through wide gaps in the dam and roaring downriver toward the city of Kherson, home to almost 300,000 residents before the war. Emergency crews evacuated thousands of people from Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

"The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," Zelenskyy said on Twitter. "Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror.''

The Russia-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, a city of 45,000, said his town was underwater, state media reported. West of the Dnipro River in Kherson province, a region held by Ukraine, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said more than 1,300 houses were flooded, the Kyiv Independent reported.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which requires water for its cooling system, is upstream from the dam  also in territory controlled by Russia. The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement there was no immediate risk to the safety of the plant."

The Kakhovka dam holds back about 4.8 billion gallons of water. At maximum capacity, Lake Mead, the reservoir formed by Hoover Dam, holds about 9.3 trillion gallons.

(COMBO) This combination of SkySat handout images by Planet Labs shows (top) a SkySat image taken on June 4, 2023 released on June 6, 2023 showing the undamaged Kakhovka HPP dam and (bottom) an image taken on June 6, 2023 showing water flowing through the damaged Kakhovka HPP dam. The partial destruction on June 6, 2023 of the major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine unleashed a torrent of water that flooded two dozen villages forcing mass evacuation, sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster near the war's front line. Moscow and Kyiv traded blame for ripping a gaping hole in the Kakhovka dam as expectations built over the start of Ukraine's long-awaited offensive. (Photo by Handout / 2023 Planet Labs PBC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / Planet Labs PBC " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/2023 Planet Labs PBC/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_33HB3NY.jpg

US knew of plan for Nord Stream sabotage 3 months before, report says

Biden administration officials knew three months before the Nord Stream pipelines were sabotaged in late September that the Ukrainian military planned to bomb the underwater network that supplied natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

A close U.S. ally shared the information with the CIA in June 2022, according to the newspaper, which said Ukraine planned for the covert operation to be carried out by a small group of divers who reported to the top commander of the country's armed forces. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack, in keeping with its policy regarding other secret operations it has been linked to since the war began.

The Post said the intelligence report the U.S. received from the ally was posted on the Discord chat platform as part of the trove of Pentagon information allegedly leaked by airman Jack Teixeira.

Aid agency rushes team to flood-devastated Kherson

The international aid group CARE is sending a small team to Kherson city early Wednesday to assess the damage and needs, said Alex Hope, the organization's country safety and security manager. He said CARE has already arranged the delivery of 1,500 adult diapers for elderly residents unable to evacuate and the group could be coordinating assistance in repairing shelters and drinking-water supplies.

"Things are relatively calm," he told USA TODAY on Tuesday from the coastal Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. "You've got to imagine, because of the flooding of the dam, you've got the river widening. And that makes crossing it even harder, and (artillery) targeting even harder."

Hope said about half of Kherson city's residents had left previously because of the ongoing fighting, including near-daily barrages from nearby Russian troops. He said the smaller number of people in the city before the dam break helped reduce the risk from the water  but not necessarily from the fighting. Mykolaiv is about 40 miles northwest of Kherson.

"You're having to move quickly while at the same time constantly assessing the security situation," Hope said. "We're still monitoring the situation because the flooding could increase."

Based in Atlanta, CARE typically works with volunteers, in particular Ukrainian women, to distribute food and other supplies from the front lines to cities far from the fighting.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also said it's providing humanitarian assistance, in the form of meals, drinking water, transportation and other necessities.

Ukraine pleads Crimea case at UN court

A top Ukrainian diplomat called Russia a terrorist state Tuesday in a hearing before the United Nations highest court and accused Russia of bankrolling a campaign of intimidation and terror by rebels in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Anton Korynevych was addressing judges at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscows 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine wants the International Court of Justice to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that was hit by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Russia will present its case Thursday.

Who blew up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric plant?

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry wrote on Telegram that the Kakhovka dam had been blown up by Russia. Russian officials countered that the dam was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area. Ukraine has been warning for almost a year that Russia may try to destroy the dam.

"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside, by shelling,'' Zelenskyy said on Twitter. "It was mined by the Russian occupiers. And they blew it up.''

Experts have warned the dam, built in the 1950s, was in disrepair, and the occupying Russian forces might have neglected its maintenance.

The White House said it had yet to ascertain what led to the collapse. At a Cabinet meeting on Ukraine, President Joe Biden responded to a question a reporter shouted by saying, "We are not leaving. We are going to help Ukraine."

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter the bloc will send Ukraine boats, water pumps and water-purification stations. She also made it clear whom she believes is to blame.

"Russia will have to pay for the war crimes committed in Ukraine,'' von der Leyen said. "The destruction of the dam, an outrageous attack on civilian infrastructure, puts at risk thousands of people in the Kherson region.''

'More alarming every hour': Russians admit Ukraine gains. Is counteroffensive underway?

From a war zone to a remote camp: An illustrated explanation of Russias deportation of Ukrainians

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on June 5, 2023

Kakhovka dam: Why it's significant

The Kakhovka dam is one of six dams along the Dnipro River. It is crucial for drinking water and power supply for southeastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. The dam itself is about 100-feet tall and stretches for about 2 miles. It was built in 1956. Russian officials said about 22,000 people across 14 settlements could be impacted by flooding. Ukrainian officials said up to 80 settlements were at risk.

Ukraines nuclear operator, Energoatom, said in a Telegram statement that the blowing up of the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, but at the moment the situation is controllable. A severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the nuclear plant of crucial cooling.

The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on Twitter that its experts were closely monitoring the situation and there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk" at the facility. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he'll lead a team visiting the plant next week.

The IAEA said in a separate statement that water in the reservoir was "at around 16.4 meters (53.8 feet) as of 8 a.m. local time. If it drops below 12.7 meters then it can no longer be pumped." The IAEA said the reservoir was reducing at a rate of nearly 2 inches per hour.

The dam's breach could also threaten crops in a country that's normally among the world's leading producers of corn, wheat, barley and sunflower oil.

Is Ukraine's counteroffensive finally underway?

Ukraine and Russia are fighting an information war, as well as one on the battlefield. This makes it extremely difficult to know how much weight to give to military-related statements from either side. It was also not immediately clear whether or how the damage to the dam could impact Ukraine's military plans.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Monday that Ukrainian forces had begun a large-scale offensive on five sectors of the front in the southern Donetsk area and said its troops fended off at least one attack. Ukraine officials have said they won't formally announce the start of the counteroffensive, but over the last few weeks they have acknowledged their forces were increasing preparation and some offensive operations.

At least two pro-Ukrainian militant groups appear to have mounted incursions into Russian territory in recent weeks. Ukraine's leadership has distanced itself from those operations.

'It's hard, but they're holding on': On the ground in Ukraine, the war depends on U.S. weapons

Ukraine's top military spy: Russia will be out of 'military tools' by spring

"Ukraine continues to be smart," wrote Phillips P. O'Brien, a professor of strategic security studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in a recent blog that focuses on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"They are looking to cause a collapse in the Russian army first and foremost  and everything we are seeing in the shaping operations means they are giving themselves the best possible chance to do that."

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine war updates: Major dam damaged in southern Ukraine
By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The latest standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling, resolved just days before the government faced a devastating default, has prompted some to call for the country to ditch its self-imposed borrowing limit.

That's not likely to happen any time soon.

Though the showdown unnerved investors and prompted threats of a second U.S. debt downgrade in a little over a decade, proposals to abolish the debt ceiling have gained little traction in Congress in recent years.

Republicans have shown no interest in abandoning a point of leverage that they have used to win trillions of dollars in spending cuts from Democratic administrations.

"There's no other way to address the spending habits that we've got," said Republican Senator Mike Rounds.

This year's debt standoff and the past two major ones -- in 2011 and 2013 -- all played out with a similar power divide in Washington, with a Democratic president and Senate majority, and Republican control of the House of Representatives.

But Democrats did not try to abolish the debt ceiling when they controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2021 and 2022. Now they lack the means to do so.

Last November, after Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives but before the Republican majority was sworn in, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Democratic lawmakers to deal with the debt ceiling then to avert a crisis. Her calls went unheeded.

As a result, Washington will have to confront the issue again before the current agreement expires on Jan. 1 2025.

'OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS'

Some budget hawks who previously supported the debt ceiling now argue that the growing dysfunction in Washington has made the risk of default too great.

"If it was ever a useful tool, it's outlived that usefulness and it's time to get rid of it," said Steve Ellis, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group that dropped its support for the debt ceiling earlier this year.

The United States is one of only two industrialized countries that requires policymakers to approve payments for debts it has already incurred. The other country, Denmark, has raised its limit high enough to render it irrelevant.

"We're really the only country that does this to ourselves, and it has proven a complete failure in limiting the deficit in any way," said Democratic Representative Bill Foster, who has written legislation that would abolish the debt ceiling.

Foster's bill has drawn the support of 44 House Democrats, and he says Republicans have told him privately they support the idea. But none have endorsed it publicly.

Similar legislation in the Democratic-controlled Senate has likewise failed to pick up Republican support.

Congress has voted to raise or suspend the debt ceiling 21 times since the last time the country posted a budget surplus in 2001.

During that time, the debt load has grown from 27% of GDP to 98%, government statistics show, as lawmakers have signed off on wars, tax cuts and economic stimulus packages while expanding safety-net programs.

But the debt ceiling has occasionally proven useful as a way to force lawmakers to face the consequences of their tax and spending policies.

Congress paired several debt-ceiling hikes with bipartisan budget deals in the 1980s and 1990s that led to the balanced budgets by the end of the century.

More recently, Republicans leveraged a debt-ceiling vote to win more than $1 trillion in spending restraint from Democratic President Barack Obama in 2011, and $1.3 trillion from Biden this time around.

"The debt limit is a terrible tool to address deficits, but it's the only one we've got," said Brian Riedl, a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute.

Riedl and other independent budget experts have floated ways for Congress to reckon with the national debt while taking the threat of default off the table.

The Bipartisan Policy Center has suggested that the debt ceiling could be raised automatically when Congress passes an annual budget, while Riedl says the budgeting process itself should be less siloed and flexible.

Absent those reforms, many budget experts say the debt ceiling is the only way to force some sort of fiscal restraint.

"I would never just drop the debt ceiling and do nothing else in its stead. It is the only fiscal speed bump there is," said Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; additional reporting by David Morgan; editing by Scott Malone and Chizu Nomiyama)
A federal judge has yanked approval for a phosphate mining project in southeastern Idaho, saying federal land managers in the Trump administration didnt in part properly consider the mines impact on sage grouse, a bird species that has seen an 80% decline in population since 1965.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmills Friday decision came five months after he found fault with the way the U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved the Caldwell Canyon Mine in 2019.

The mine has been proposed by P4 Production LLC, a subsidiary of German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG. Three environmental groups  the Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians  sued.

In January, Winmill agreed with the conservation groups that the federal agency violated the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws on several counts when it approved the mine, including failing to consider the indirect effects of processing ore at a nearby plant and the cumulative impacts on sage grouse, whose population has dramatically declined over its habitat in 11 Western states, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

His Friday decision issued remedies for those violations: Vacating both the mines approval and the environmental analysis of the project , as well as any other decision that relied on those documents.

We believe the courts decision to vacate the BLMs approvals is excessive, Bayer AG said in a statement. The company is assessing its next steps, which could include an appeal.

We believe the few specific deficiencies the court identified in the BLMs assessment can and should be fully addressed expeditiously, the statement said. Bayer said it plans to have the mine operational in the next few years.

An email sent to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The proposed venture would have included two new open mine pits to extract phosphate ore, according to court documents. It would have resulted in the disturbance of about 1,550 acres (627 hectares) of previously undeveloped land nearly 300 miles (483 kilometers) southeast of Boise.

The mine was projected to last for 40 years, with ore taken by truck or rail to a nearby processing plant.

There, the ore would be processed to produce glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, the most widely used herbicide in the world. Bayer, which acquired the herbicides original producer Monsanto in 2018, is facing thousands of claims from people who say Roundup exposure caused their cancer.

This strip mine wouldve cut through the heart of crucial habitat for greater sage grouse and other species just to produce an herbicide, Hannah Connor, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.

Now sage grouse have a fighting chance at continuing to dance their age-old dances in this place. And the government cant go on arbitrarily ignoring the environmental harms of phosphate mining, Connor said.

Bayer this year began transitioning glyphosate out of its U.S. residential lawn and garden products and using other ingredients as a way to reduce future litigation risks. Agriculture and professional products will not be changed, and the company said it stands behind the safety of its glyphosate products.

___

Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska.
ATLANTA (AP)  The Atlanta City Council early Tuesday approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as Cop City.

The 11-4 vote just after 5 a.m. is a significant victory for Mayor Andre Dickens, who has made the $90 million project a large part of his first term in office, despite pushback to the effort. The City Council also passed a resolution requesting two seats on the Atlanta Police Foundations board.

In a statement, Dickens said the passage of the budget resolution marks a major milestone for better preparing our fire, police and emergency responders to protect and serve our communities.

Atlanta will be a national model for police reform with the most progressive training and curriculum in the country, he said.

The decentralized Stop Cop City movement has galvanized protesters from across the country, especially in the wake of the January fatal police shooting of Manuel Paez Teran, a 26-year-old environmental activist known as Tortuguita who had been camping in the woods near the site of the proposed project in DeKalb County.

For about 14 hours, residents again and again took to the podium to slam the project, saying it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority-Black area.

Were here pleading our case to a government that has been unresponsive, if not hostile, to an unprecedented movement in our City Councils history, said Matthew Johnson, the executive director of Beloved Community Ministries, a local social justice nonprofit. Were here to stop environmental racism and the militarization of the police. ... We need to go back to meeting the basic needs rather than using police as the sole solution to all of our social problems.

The training center was approved by the City Council in September 2021 but required an additional vote for more funding. City officials say the new 85-acre (34-hectare) campus would replace inadequate training facilities and would help address difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers that worsened after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice three years ago.

But opponents, who have been joined by activists from around the country, say they fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will exacerbate environmental damage. Protesters had been camping at the site since at least last year, and police said they had caused damage and attacked law enforcement officers and others.

Though more than 220 people spoke publicly against the training center, a small handful voiced support, saying they trusted Dickens judgment.

Council members agreed to approve $31 million in public funds for the sites construction, as well as a provision that requires the city to pay $36 million  $1.2 million a year over 30 years  for using the facility. The rest of the $90 million project would come from private donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation, though city officials had, until recently, repeatedly said the public obligation would only be $31 million.

The highly scrutinized vote occurred in the wake of the arrests Wednesday of three organizers who lead the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped to find attorneys for arrested protesters.

Prosecutors have accused the three activists of money laundering and charity fraud, saying they used some of the money to fund violent acts of forest defenders. Warrants cite reimbursements for expenses including gasoline, forest clean-up, totes, covid rapid tests, media, yard signs. But the charges have alarmed human rights groups and prompted both of Georgias Democratic senators to issue statements expressing their concerns.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock tweeted that bail funds held important roles during the Civil Rights Movement and said the images of the heavily armed police officers raiding the home where the activists lived reinforce the very suspicions that help to animate the current conflict  namely, concerns Georgians have about over-policing, the quelling of dissent in a democracy, and the militarization of our police.

Devin Franklin, an attorney with the Southern Center For Human Rights, also invoked Wednesdays arrests while speaking before the City Council.

This is what we fear  the image of militarized forces being used to effectuate arrests for bookkeeping errors, Franklin said.

Numerous instances of violence and vandalism have been linked to the decentralized Stop Cop City movement, including a January protest in downtown Atlanta in which a police car was set alight, as well as a March attack in which more than 150 masked protesters chased off police at the construction site and torched construction equipment before fleeing and blending in with a crowd at a nearby music festival. Those two instances have led to more than 40 people being charged with domestic terrorism, though prosecutors have had difficulty so far in proving that many of those arrested were in fact those who took part in the violence.

In a sign of the security concerns Monday, dozens of police officers were posted throughout City Hall and officials temporarily added liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes to the list of things prohibited inside the building.

In a statement Tuesday after voting against the facility, council member Keisha Sean Waites said $67 million in taxpayer funds could be better spent elsewhere, including on "affordable housing, resources for the homeless and unsheltered, infrastructure improvements, mental health services, health care for the uninsured, rental and mortgage assistance, including providing housing and salary increasing for our first responders and law enforcement officers.

These resources directly impact the root causes of crime, which policing does not, Waites said.
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China for talks in the coming weeks, an official said on Tuesday, months after Washington's top diplomat scrapped a planned trip over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S.

The visit is intended by Washington to be a major step toward what President Joe Biden has called a "thaw" in relations between the world's two largest economies.

Blinken postponed a visit to Beijing in February after the balloon, which Beijing denies was a government spy vessel, flew through U.S. airspace and over sensitive military sites, eventually being shot down by the U.S. military and creating a diplomatic crisis.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate on timing. The State Department did not confirm any updated plans for Blinken's trip.

"We have no travel for the Secretary to announce; as we've said previously the visit to the People's Republic of China will be rescheduled when conditions allow," deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said.

China's Washington embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

Separately, and without mentioning Blinken's trip, U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell told an event at the Hudson Institute that exchanges with Beijing were improving.

"The lines of communications are opening up and we are able to lay out more constructively our areas of interest and concern," although the U.S. had been unsuccessful in getting China to agree to effective crisis mechanisms, Campbell said.

He said episodes like what he called "dangerous" navigation by a Chinese destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, showed the need for these "to prevent circumstances where unintended consequences can have terrible consequences."

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the measures taken by the Chinese military were "reasonable, legitimate, and professional and safe."

"China is increasingly a great power. Her (military) forces rub up against ours much more than they did in the past. The potential for miscalculation, inadvertence, is real and growing," Campbell said.

UPBEAT TONE

The Biden administration has pushed to boost engagement with China even as ties have deteriorated over disputes ranging from military activity in the South China Sea, Beijing's human rights record, and technology competition, to democratically governed Taiwan - which China claims as its own territory.

But critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that decades of engagement have failed to change Beijing's behavior.

The State Department's top official for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, was in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese counterparts, a visit seen as a step toward a possible Blinken trip. The two sides struck an upbeat tone.

Asked by reporters in Beijing if Blinken would visit soon, Kritenbrink said: "we'll see." The United States was "working hard" to manage the relationship with China, he said.

Kritenbrink's arrival on June 4 coincided with the 34th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown by Chinese troops on demonstrators in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square that rights groups say killed hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters.

The Biden administration dismissed any significance behind the arrival date, but some Republican lawmakers and Tiananmen survivors criticized the timing, arguing U.S. eagerness to hold talks with Chinese officials was watering down U.S. positions.

Reuters reported in May that the State Department delayed human rights-related sanctions, export controls and other sensitive action to try to limit damage to the U.S.-China relationship after the balloon incursion.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu;Editing by Don Durfee and Grant McCool)
By Humeyra Pamuk

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washington's relationship with Riyadh after years of deepening disagreements on issues ranging from Iran and regional security to oil prices.

Blinken is expected to meet with top Saudi officials, including the kingdom's de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, during his time in Riyadh, the capital, and the coastal city of Jeddah, in what will be Washington's second recent high-level visit. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on May 7.

The top U.S. diplomat's June 6-8 visit to the world's largest oil exporter comes days after Riyadh pledged to further cut oil production, a move likely to add tension to a U.S.-Saudi relationship already strained by the kingdom's human rights record and disputes over America's Iran policy.

The aims of the trip include regaining influence with Riyadh over oil prices, fending off Chinese and Russian influence in the region and nurturing hopes for an eventual normalization of Saudi-Israeli ties.

Speaking at the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday, Blinken said Washington had "a real national security interest" in advocating for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but cautioned that it will not happen quickly.

Discouraging a closer Saudi-Chinese relationship is probably the most important element of Blinken's visit, said Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at Washington-based think-tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

"[Blinken should explain] why Chinese interests do not align with Saudi Arabia, and why closer relations in a strategic way inhibit closer relations with Washington," Goldberg said.

TRAVEL BAN

U.S.-Saudi ties were off to a rocky start in 2019 when President Joe Biden during his campaign said he would treat Riyadh like "the pariah that they are" if he was elected, and soon after taking office in 2021, released a U.S. intelligence assessment that Crown Prince Mohammed approved the operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

A visit by Biden in July 2022 to the kingdom did little to ease tensions, and increasingly, Riyadh has looked to reassert its regional clout, while growing less interested in being aligned with U.S. priorities in the region.

The most recent example was when MbS gave a warm embrace to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at an Arab League summit in May, which saw Arab states readmit Syria after a decade of suspension, a move Washington said it neither supported nor encouraged.

The kingdom has been pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into transforming and opening its economy to reduce dependence on crude oil. The reforms have been accompanied by a raft of arrests of critics of MbS, as well as of businessmen, clerics and rights activists.

U.S. citizens and residents with family members detained in Saudi Arabia called on Blinken in a letter on Tuesday to press Saudi officials for an immediate release of their relatives. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

The kingdom had released detained U.S. citizens from its prisons but some still remain under a travel ban.

U.S. officials briefing reporters on the trip last week said there was an "ongoing conversation regarding the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms" with Saudi Arabia but they declined to say if Blinken would seek any guarantees from the Saudis on the issue.

(Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed, Simon Lewis and Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sharon Singleton and Cynthia Osterman)
Chinese lab-grown diamond companies eye opportunities at Las Vegas jewelry exhibition

10:46, June 06, 2023 By Gao Shan, Huang Heng ( Xinhua

A man inspects a lab-grown diamond at the exhibition area of a Chinese lab-grown diamond company during an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

LAS VEGAS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 Chinese lab-grown diamond companies are participating in an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in the U.S. city of Las Vegas, aiming to develop their overseas markets further.

The annual JCK Show at the Venetian Resort and Hotel provides an optimal stage for the global jewelry trade community.

"The joint appearance of Chinese lab-grown diamond companies at the JCK Show helps to improve the market awareness and recognition of Chinese brands and products," said Tang Jingjing, president of Tanghe Technology, a company founded in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2018.

The global lab-grown diamond market was valued at 22.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and is forecasted to grow to over 37 billion dollars by 2028, according to a report in March by ResearchAndMarkets.com, a leading source for international market research reports and market data.

"China is a major global producer of lab-grown diamonds, while North America is the biggest lab-grown diamond market worldwide," said Zhou Zhihua, marketing director of Henan Liliang Diamond Co., Ltd, a leading company in China's lab-grown diamond industry.

"We are improving the technical level through innovation and entering the international market with better quality diamonds, which will give consumers more choices," Zhou said, adding that the JCK Show is a platform for Chinese companies to know more about the North American market.

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as lab diamonds or engineered diamonds, are made of the same chemical, physical and optical properties as earth-grown diamonds. They are increasingly popular in the United States and other countries, with sales booming.

Last year, JCK celebrated its 30th anniversary, attracting more than 17,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors worldwide, according to the organizer RX, part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

With the continuous stream of visitors coming to the exhibition area of Liliang Diamond company, Ketan Jodhani, a wholesale jeweler from Quality Gold Inc. in Ohio, told Xinhua that he is satisfied with the quality of the company's lab-grown diamonds and after-sales service.

"We are quite happy working with them," Jodhani said, "and I hope it goes for years and years."

A man visits the exhibition area of Tanghe Technology during an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

A man inspects a lab-grown diamond at the exhibition area of a Chinese lab-grown diamond company during an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
In this photo taken Tuesday, May 30 and released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, right, poses with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Beijing. AP-Yonhap



Top Chinese officials told Elon Musk about plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence on his recent trip to the Asian giant, the tech billionaire said Monday, in his first comments on the two-day visit.



The Twitter owner and Tesla CEO  one of the world's richest men  held meetings with senior officials in Beijing and employees in Shanghai last week.



"Something that is worth noting is that on my recent trip to China, with the senior leadership there, we had, I think, some very productive discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and the need for some oversight or regulation," Musk said.



"And my understanding from those conversations is that China will be initiating AI regulation in China."



Musk, whose extensive interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington, spoke about the exchange in a livestreamed Twitter discussion with Democratic presidential hopeful and vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert Kennedy Jr, the nephew of John F. Kennedy.



Musk did not tweet while in China and Tesla has not released readouts of Musk's meeting with officials.



But official Chinese channels said he lavished praise on the country, including for its "vitality and promise," and expressed "full confidence in the China market."



A flurry of Chinese companies have been rushing to develop AI services that can mimic human speech since San Francisco-based OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November.



But rapid advancements have stoked global alarm over the technology's potential for disinformation and misuse.



Musk didn't elaborate on his discussions in China but was likely referring to a sweeping draft law requiring new AI products to undergo a security assessment before release and a process ensuring that they reflect "core socialist values."



The "Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services" edict bans content promoting "terrorist or extremist propaganda," "ethnic hatred" or "other content that may disrupt economic and social order."



Under Beijing's highly centralized political system, the measures are almost certain to become law.



Musk has caused controversy by suggesting the self-ruled island of Taiwan should become part of China  a stance that was welcomed by Chinese officials but which deeply angered Taipei.



The 51-year-old South African native described his meetings in China as "very promising."



"I pointed out that if there is a digital super intelligence that is overwhelmingly powerful, developed in China, it is actually a risk to the sovereignty of the Chinese government," he said.



"And I think they took that concern to heart." (AFP)






BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's consumption tax reform advanced on Tuesday as a working group in Congress outlined a proposal to combine various levies into a value-added tax with separate federal and regional rates without increasing the overall tax burden on the economy.

The report represents an early step in a reform considered crucial by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration. Lawmakers will now craft a formal text in greater detail to be put to a vote.

Congressman Aguinaldo Ribeiro, the lawmaker in charge of the working group report, said the lower house of Congress would vote on a bill in the first week of July, citing a timeline approved by House Speaker Arthur Lira.

According to the working group's proposal, the reform would merge federal taxes on consumption  namely IPI, PIS, and Cofins  into one tax, while the state-level ICMS tax and municipal-level ISS tax would combine to form a separate rate.

The working group's report recognized the possibility of exemptions in the standard tax rates, including a reduced rate for some goods and services related to health, education, public transportation, regional aviation and rural production.

The text also proposed the implementation of a different treatment of food items included in a government-designated list of essential products.

Under the recommendations, tax collection would shift from the current practice based on where goods are produced to a system reflecting where goods are consumed.

This adjustment is expected to benefit wealthier and more populous states, and the working group proposed a transition period of "some years" for implementation.

"The transition will be made in such a way as to maintain the collection of current taxes as a proportion of GDP (gross domestic product). Under no circumstances will there be an increase of the tax burden," the report said.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Jamie Freed)
FILE - California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 23, 2022. California's attorney general says the state of Florida appears to have arranged for a group of South American migrants to be dropped off outside a Sacramento church. Bonta said Saturday, June 3, 2023 the individuals had documents purporting to be from the Florida state government. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The state of Florida picked up asylum-seekers on the Texas border Monday and took them by private jet to Californias capital city at taxpayer expense for the second time in four days, California officials said, prompting allegations that migrants were misled and catching shelters and aid workers by surprise.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials were mum, as they were initially last year when they flew 49 Venezuelan migrants to the upscale Massachusetts enclave of Marthas Vineyard, luring them onto private jets from a shelter in San Antonio.

As California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigated the migrants' transportation, local officials and faith-based groups sought to provide housing, food and other resources to the more than three dozen new arrivals. Most are from Colombia and Venezuela, and California had not been their intended destination.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, lashed out at DeSantis as a small, pathetic man and suggested the state could pursue kidnapping charges.

And as the migrants arrived in California, a Texas sheriffs office announced Monday it has recommended criminal charges over the two flights to Marthas Vineyard last year.

Johnny Garcia, a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, said that at this time the office is not naming suspects. Its not clear whether the local district attorney will pursue the charges, which include misdemeanor and felony counts of unlawful restraint, according to the sheriffs office.

The Republican governors of Texas and Arizona have previously sent thousands of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., but the rare charter flights by DeSantis mark an escalation in tactics. The two groups sent to Sacramento never went through Florida. Instead, they were approached in El Paso by people with Florida-linked paperwork, sent to New Mexico, then put on private flights to California's capital, California officials and advocates said.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived Friday, said they told him they were approached by two women who spoke broken Spanish and promised them jobs. The women traveled with them by land from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico where two men then accompanied them on the flight to Sacramento. The same men were on the flight Monday, Bonta said.

To see leaders and governments of other states and the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, acting with cruelty and inhumanity and moral bankruptcy and being petty and small and hurtful and harmful to those vulnerable asylum seekers is blood-boiling," Bonta said in a Monday interview.

DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president, has been a fierce critic of federal immigration policy under President Joe Biden and has heavily publicized Floridas role in past instances in which migrants were transported to Democratic-led states.

He has made the migrant relocation program one of his signature political priorities, using the state legislative process to direct millions of dollars to it and working with multiple contractors to carry out the flights. Vertol Systems Co., which was paid by Florida to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard, appears to be behind the flights to Sacramento, Bonta said, adding that the migrants were carrying an official document from the state of Florida that mentions the company. The company didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

Some of the migrants who arrived Friday told Bonta they met on their nearly three-month journey to the United States and decided to stick together to keep each other safe as they slept on the streets in several countries, he said. The group came from Colombia and Venezuela and all were adults, though one woman had just turned 18 on the journey, he said.

Of the new arrivals on Monday, 16 came from Venezuela, two from Colombia, one from Mexico and one from Nicaragua, he said. All were between the ages of 21 and 30, he said.

They remained at the airport for a couple of hours and were fed before being transported to a religious institution, said Kim Nava, a Sacramento County spokeswoman.

Our county social workers are en route and are going to assess all those folks, make sure they have the services and support that they need, Nava said.

The first group of migrants was dropped off at the Roman Catholic Church dioceses headquarters in Sacramento. U.S. immigration officials had already processed them in Texas and given them court dates for their asylum cases, and none had planned to arrive in California, said Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants in Sacramento.

Asylum seekers can change the location of their court appearances, but many are reluctant to try and instead prefer sticking with a firm date, at least for their initial appearances. They figure it is a guarantee, even if horribly inconvenient.

The office of New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no specifics as to why the immigrants were taken from Texas to New Mexico before being flown to California.

Gov. Lujan Grisham stresses, yet again, the urgent need for comprehensive, thoughtful federal immigration reform which is rooted in a humanitarian response that keeps border communities in mind, the governors spokesperson, Caroline Sweeney, said Monday.

Last year, DeSantis directed Republican lawmakers in Florida to create a program in his office dedicated to migrant relocations. It specified that the state could transport migrants from locations anywhere in the country. The law was designed to get around questions about the legality of transporting people on a flight that originated in Texas.

Florida's alleged role in the arrival of the two groups in Sacramento is sure to escalate the political feud between DeSantis and Newsom, who have offered conflicting visions on immigration, abortion and a host of other issues. ___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Fla., Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.

___

Find more AP coverage of immigration: https://apnews.com/hub/immigration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration said Tuesday that three dozen migrants whom the state flew from the U.S. southern border to California on private planes all went willingly, disputing allegations by California officials that the individuals were coerced to travel under false pretenses.

The admission of responsibility  five days after the first flight touched down in California's capital  only served to heighten tensions between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, his frequent political sparring partner.

Two planes arrived in Sacramento, on Friday and Monday, each carrying asylum-seekers mostly from Colombia and Venezuela. The individuals had been picked up in El Paso, Texas, taken to New Mexico and then put on charter flights to California's capital of Sacramento, said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He is investigating whether any violations of criminal or civil law occurred.

Alecia Collins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a statement that through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California. She also shared a video compilation that appeared to show people signing consent forms and thanking officials for treating them well.

The clips had no time stamps, and Collins declined to share additional details about when and where they were recorded. Representatives from Sacramento ACT and PICO California, two religious groups helping the migrants in Sacramento, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment about whether the migrants in the videos were the same as those they were helping.

Bonta told CNN late Tuesday he would be requesting that Florida turn over any video footage, unedited, that it has of the group. A spokeswoman for his office could not confirm if any of the people seen in the video were among the migrants Bonta met.

This isn't the first time DeSantis' administration has transported migrants from Texas to other states. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to the upscale Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. The move was intended to protest federal immigration policy. DeSantis has said he intends to send migrants who may end up in Florida to states that have immigrant-friendly policies, like California.

It's not clear whether Florida was the intended destination for any of the people who arrived in California. If so, they would represent just a sliver of the immigrants who arrive in Florida each year.

DeSantis signed a law providing $12 million for his migrant-relocation initiative in early May, just weeks before announcing his Republican presidential bid. He has touted the earlier migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard on the campaign trail.

Newsom, a Democrat, indicated in a tweet Monday that California may consider kidnapping charges against DeSantis. Such charges would likely be extremely difficult to prove, particularly given the migrants signed waivers.

Bonta has not directly said he is considering kidnapping charges. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas on Monday said it had recommended misdemeanor and felony charges for unlawful restraints" in the transport of migrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard. The county district attorney must decide whether to pursue those charges and against whom.

Possible charges aside, Newsom's office doubled down on its criticism of DeSantis after Florida claimed credit.

This is exploitative propaganda being peddled by a politician who has shown there are no depths he wont sink to in his desperate effort to score a political point, said Anthony York, a spokesman for Newsom.

Though Newsom has no plans to run for president in 2024, he and DeSantis have frequently used each other as political foils as they cast their own governing approach as a model for the nation. Beyond immigration policy, the two have sparred on abortion access, LGBTQ+ and civil rights, and a host of other cultural issues.

On the campaign trail, DeSantis has been eager to slap at progressive policies in Democratic strongholds such as New York and California, claiming that Floridas population boom in recent years has been driven by people fleeing blue-state policies.

DeSantis is currently positioned as the strongest alternative to former President Donald Trump in the GOPs crowded primary, although Trump maintains a big lead in early polls.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived Friday, said they told him they were approached in El Paso by two women who spoke broken Spanish and promised them jobs. The women traveled with them by land from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico, where two men then accompanied them on the flight to Sacramento. The same men were on the flight Monday, Bonta said.

He said the asylum seekers have court dates in New York, Utah and Colorado and carried a document that purports to be a consent and release form that is designed to shield Florida from liability.

Of course, whats important is what is actually said and represented and told to the individual, and weve got good indications of what that was and the fact that it was false, misleading, and deceptive, Bonta said.

His office didn't comment Tuesday following Florida's assertion that the migrants were not coerced.

Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of religious congregations in the Sacramento area, said all of the migrants had already been given pending court dates by U.S. immigration officials before they were approached in Texas by people promising jobs. Trejo said that they had been lied to and deceived.

It's not yet clear if the new arrivals in Sacramento plan to stay in California or will eventually seek to go elsewhere, advocates said. Four who arrived on the first flight on Friday have already been picked up by friends or family members, but the rest remain in the care of local advocacy groups. ___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.

___

Find more AP coverage of immigration: https://apnews.com/hub/immigration
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A Canadian company has pleaded guilty to violating federal law by illegally selling seal oil capsules to American customers.

The oil is made from the blubber of seals and sold as a nutritional supplement with a promise of containing healthy fats. The company, FeelGood Natural Health Stores of Whitby, Ontario, sold and transported capsules made from harp seals, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday.

The company's actions are illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it unlawful to transport or sell any marine mammal or byproducts for most commercial purposes. The act protects the harp seal throughout its range, including the North Atlantic and Artic oceans and the waters off New England.

FeelGood shipped more than 900 bottles of the capsules worth more than $10,000 to the U.S. from 2019 to 2021, the Justice Department said.

"The illegal importation of marine mammal products not only violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act but also jeopardizes the safety of protected species such as harp seals, said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, which prosecuted the case.

Harp seals are listed as a special species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, though their population declined to low levels in the 1960s due to hunting. They now have a global population of about 7 million, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They have been hunted off of Canada for thousands of years.

FeelGood entered its plea on Monday and will be sentenced on Sept. 28. Representatives for the company did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The company pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which combats wildlife trafficking, in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

A plea agreement states that the company will pay a fine of $20,000 and face three years of probation, during which it must create and implement a compliance plan, train employees and cooperate with the U.S. government, the Justice Department said. The maximum sentence for the charge of violating the Lacey Act, is a $500,000 fine and five years probation, the department said.

The Justice Department said FeelGood sold the seal oil capsules via its own website and a third-party platform. The company's website describes it as a worldwide shipper of supplements and natural remedies. Seal oil products were still on the company's website on Tuesday and were marked with a notice that they cannot be shipped to the U.S.

When it was shipping the seal oil to the U.S., the company sent it direct from Canada or through fulfillment centers run by a third party in the U.S., the Justice Department said. In some instances, it sent the items to a covert U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, the Justice Department said.

Our wildlife laws were passed to ensure the continued existence and enjoyment of these natural resources for future generations, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.
MONTREAL (AP)  Quebec is looking internationally for support as it struggles to battle more than 160 forest fires during what federal officials say is shaping up to be among Canada's worst fire seasons ever.

With more than 480 wilderness firefighters on the ground, Quebec can fight around 30 fires, Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters Monday, adding that normally firefighters would come from other provinces to help.

When I talk to the premiers of other provinces, they have their hands full, Legault told a briefing in Quebec City.

On Friday afternoon there were 324 fires burning across Canada. As of Monday morning that had grown to 413, and by late afternoon, the total jumped again to 42.

The situation remains serious, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said. The images that we have seen so far this season are some of the most severe we have we have ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.

More than 160 fires have been reported in Quebec including at least 114 that are out of control. More than 173,000 hectares have burned this year in Quebecs intensive protection fire zone  the area where normally all fires are actively fought  compared with a 10-year average of 247 hectares as of the same date, Quebecs wildfire prevention agency, SOPFEU said.

Wet weather in the Atlantic Coast province of Nova Scotia has allowed that province to free up water bombers to dispatch to Quebec, where wildfires flared up this past weekend.

Legault said an additional 200 firefighters are coming from France and the United States, and Quebec is also in talks with Costa Rica, Portugal and Chile as it searches for additional resources.

With the given projections, it is expected that we have enough resources to cover the summer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. If things get worse, were developing contingency plans."

Fires have forced about 10,000 people from their homes in Quebec, with most of those in the northwestern Abitibi region and the eastern Cote-Nord region.

Legault said no lives have been lost in the fires in Quebec, but firefighters were forced to pull back from the hamlet of Clova, Quebec, around 325 kilometers (201 miles) northwest of Montreal.

Unfortunately, we lost control, Legault said. We are going to be obliged to let Clova burn. Authorities said the communitys 36 residents have been evacuated.

Later in the day, officials said the intensity of the fire in the area had exceeded the capacity of water bombers, but it was continuing to work to protect the community. It said on Twitter that no residences had yet been destroyed, though some cottages may have burned.

With rain forecast for the Cote-Nord, Legault said he is now most worried about the Abitibi, where no rain is expected for five days.

On Monday afternoon, the municipality of St-Lambert, along the Ontario border in Abitibi, declared a state of emergency and ordered its 200 residents to leave their homes. The neighboring community of Normetal was evacuated the day before.

Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the minister responsible for the Cote-Nord region ,said 138 Canadian Armed Forces members arrived in the area Sunday, with another 100 expected Monday, adding that the troops have received training so they can support the provinces wilderness firefighters.
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo.  It might have taken more than a month to reunite a Colorado man with his lost dog, but the moment witnessed by rescuers was worth it.

Yet Riley's homecoming meant even more to his owner, Mike Krugman. The Breckenridge man lost his wife to heart failure in January.

After 5 weeks and 1 day away from home, the 8-year-old Sheltie can continue sleeping on Krugman's wife's pillow each night for years to come.

"The dogs were mostly hers because she was there during the day, and I was out with the horses," Krugman said. "They were attached to her, and it took a real shot for them to find out what happened."

MLB EMPLOYEES SAVE DOG TRAPPED IN CAR'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER 30-MILE TRIP TO KANSAS CITY STADIUM

Riley can thank his new-found hero for saving his life and continue those late-night snuggles with his owner. He had wandered about 4 miles from his home on April 8 and found barely alive by a mountain hiker thousands of feet high in elevation.

"I wish I had a GoPro camera on him," Krugman said. "I would have liked to have seen how he survived."

Krugman is still questioning what Riley ate and drank to keep his alive fo so long in the wilderness. Riley is up to 15.6 pounds now and growing. An ideal weight of the small Sheltie is about 24 pounds.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE IN THE SUMMER HEAT

Breckenridge had just witnessed a heavy snowstorm, and more than 5-feet of snow covered Krugman's fenced-in property. When Riley didn't come back home after being outside, Krugman put on his snowshoes and went looking.

"I was pretty certain; I thought he was on the property," he recalled. "I searched the property for two days nonstop, and then I called Summit Rescue and said I don't know where he is."

Summit Lost Pet Rescue said they never stopped looking for Riley, with the help from Krugman and the Summit County Animal Control. The community searched and rallied, but there were absolutely no sightings or clues.

Pet rescuers then expanded the awareness to areas outside of Summit County just in case Riley got picked up. They were once again unsuccessful.

"The Riley rescue was such a hard mission with no sightings and had an amazing happy ending," Melissa Davis, director and co-founder of Summit Lost Pet Rescue, told FOX Weather. "Then, out of nowhere, the owner and our team got the best call that Riley was found and safe at the shelter."

On May 14, Zachary Hackett found Riley while hiking on Breckenridge Peak 4 at 12,000 feet. He saw the dog hunkered down under a tree.

WHY DO DOGS PANIC DURING STORMS? HERE'S HOW TO HELP YOUR BEST FRIEND WEATHER THEIR FEAR

Talk about being in the right place at the right time, rescuers said.

Hackett wrapped Riley up and carried him all the way down to town though the rough terrain. He brought him to the shelter the next morning to be reunited with his owner.

PET OWNERS SHOULD AVOID GROWING THESE POTENTIALLY DEADLY PLANTS

Doctors said Riley lost a lot of weight and had a low body temp but was treated at the veterinary clinic immediately.

Today, Riley is still recovering but getting his strength and feistiness back again with his fur-siblings.

"He's back to being Mr. Alpha Dog," Krugman said.

Riley can also expect to see a tracking collar that's expected to arrive soon, ending the days of his long hikes in the woods with the mountain lions, bears and coyotes.

Krugman does not expect Riley to do this again.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Six months after a group of European Union lawmakers was swept up in a cash-for-influence scandal, no new anti-corruption rules are in place at the European Parliament and the ones that do exist are not being enforced anyway, anti-corruption officials and parliamentarians said Tuesday.

The criticism came as the European Parliament offices of two lawmakers implicated in the scandal dubbed Qatargate were searched again on Tuesday. , Belgian federal prosecutors confirmed the searches to The Associated Press but declined to provide details.

In December last year the Parliament promised root-and-branch reform to prevent a recurrence of Qatargate. Instead, weve seen nothing but dither and delay and attempts to blame others for what happened, said Michiel van Hulten, from the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.

The scandal came to light on Dec. 9 after police launched more than 20 raids, mostly in Belgium but also in Italy. Hundreds of thousands of euros were found at a home and in a suitcase at a hotel in Brussels. Mobile phones and computer equipment and data were seized.

A former vice-president of the assembly, Eva Kaili, was removed from her post after she was taken into custody on charges of corruption, money laundering and membership in a criminal organization. Her partner, a parliamentary advisor, was also charged.

Two other lawmakers and a former legislator were also caught up in the scandal, in which Qatari and Moroccan officials are alleged to have paid bribes to influence decision making at the EU parliament, the blocs only elected institution. Both countries have denied involvement.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola drew up a 14-point plan in response, vowing a massive overhaul of the rules to rebuild public trust.

The aim was to prevent former lawmakers from lobbying on behalf of businesses or governments soon after they leave office, and make publicly available the names of current members who break assembly rules. Metsola also sought tougher checks on lawmakers financial disclosures.

But six months on, Transparency International said, not a single measure has been taken that impacts sitting members of the EU parliament (MEPs).

German Greens lawmaker Daniel Freund lamented the lack of enforcement. No one ever gets sanctioned even if in the rules there are actually sanctions foreseen, he said.

Some lawmakers apparently felt that taking cash might be acceptable, he said.

Metsola is expected to announce on Monday that more progress has been made.

Several EU lawmakers and officials have said that the corruption allegations are the most damning to have hit the parliament. The prime target has been the center-left group, the Socialists and Democrats. Three of its lawmakers and an adviser are currently suspended.
NEW YORK (AP)  An asylum seeker was sexually assaulted by an armed guard at a federal building in New York City where the FBI has its offices, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.

Jimmy Solano-Arias, 42, of the Bronx, was charged in Manhattan federal court with deprivation of rights under color of law involving kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse. The charge carries a potential penalty of maximum sentence of life in prison. He lost his job after his arrest on May 5, a day after the attack is alleged to have occurred. He is free on bail.

According to a criminal complaint signed by an FBI agent, Solano-Arias admitted in a video recorded interview with federal agents that the asylum seeker performed oral sex but claimed it was consensual.

Michael J. Driscoll, head of New York's FBI office, said in a release that the asylum seeker had come to 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on May 4 to submit an asylum application.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Solano-Arias, who was employed by a company that provides armed security for the building through contracts with the Federal Protective Service, was tasked with keeping federal employees and visitors to the building safe.

Instead he "used his uniform and firearm to force a vulnerable individual who was seeking asylum to perform oral sex on him, Williams said.

According to charging documents, Solano-Arias spotted the victim in a line and offered to assist him with paperwork.

He eventually led the man to a locked office on the second floor of the building where he put his hand on his holstered firearm and demanded that the man provide oral sex, a criminal complaint said.

Although he initially resisted, the man complied because he saw Solano-Arias's hand on his firearm and feared for his life, the complaint said.

Afterward, Solano-Arias told the victim to wait in the office until the hallway was clear, and the man managed to record a brief video on his cellphone of Solano-Arias, the complaint said.

The victim immediately reported the sexual assault to authorities, identified Solano-Arias in a six-picture photo array, and provided enough information that federal agents confronted Solano-Arias when he arrived the next day, according to the complaint.

A lawyer for Solano-Arias did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
NEW YORK (AP)  New York City's reliance on the tactic known as stop and frisk" as part of a new initiative to combat gun violence is harming communities of color and running afoul of the law, a court-appointed federal monitor reported Monday.

Monitor Mylan Denerstein said the NYPD 's Neighborhood Safety Teams  special units deployed in the past 14 months to seize guns in high-crime areas  were engaging in unconstitutional policing by stopping and frisking too many people without justification.

In one police precinct, Denerstein said, only 41 percent of stops, 32 percent of frisks and 26 percent of searches were lawful.

The Neighborhood Safety Teams, a replacement for the anti-crime units that the NYPD disbanded in 2021, operate in 34 areas that account for 80% of the citys violent crime  largely communities of color. Of the people the teams have stopped, Denerstein said, 97% are Black or Hispanic.

A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams said city officials have serious concerns with Denersteins methodology and that they only learned of her findings after news outlets reported on them.

The spokesperson, Fabien Levy, said shootings have fallen since the Neighborhood Safety Teams were created.

Officers assigned to the units have enhanced training and oversight to ensure we are not only keeping New Yorkers safe, but protecting their civil liberties as well, Levy said, adding that any unconstitutional stop is unacceptable, and we will strive to do better for New Yorkers every day.

Denerstein said she began her review after Adams announced in March 2022 that the NYPD was deploying Neighborhood Safety Teams in some precincts to combat gun violence. Team members, wearing modified uniforms and driving unmarked cars, conduct stops, frisks and searches in their assigned neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, the results are disappointing, Denerstein wrote.

Despite their training and experience, officers assigned to Neighborhood Safety Teams overall appear to be stopping, frisking, and searching individuals at an unsatisfactory level of compliance. Too many people are stopped, frisked, and searched unlawfully."

In 2013, a federal judge ruled that the NYPD had violated the civil rights of Black and Hispanic New Yorkers with stop and frisk, which was part of an effort to get guns and drugs off the street by frequently stopping and searching people on the street.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled the stops were a form of indirect racial profiling. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, once a champion of the tactic, has since apologized for its use.

Since the ruling, the department claimed a sharp drop in stops, reporting an average of around 11,730 per year from 2016 to 2022, compared with a high of nearly 686,000 stops in 2011.

Black and Hispanic people continue to be the targets of the vast majority of stops, accounting for 89% of all stops in 2022, according to NYPD data compiled by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
OSLO (Reuters) -Finland will expel nine diplomats at the Russian embassy in Helsinki, accusing them of working on intelligence missions, the Finnish president's office said on Tuesday.

"Their actions are contrary to the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations," the president's office said in a statement, adding that it would inform the Russian ambassador of the expulsions.

The decision was made at a meeting between Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the country's ministerial committee on foreign and security policy.

The Russian embassy in Helsinki did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters.

Nordic neighbours Norway and Sweden have also expelled Russian diplomats in recent months over claims they were in fact intelligence officers.

Moscow has denied that its diplomats engaged in improper activities, responding by expelling Norwegian and Swedish diplomats in return. Finland joined NATO in April, upsetting next-door neighbour Russia.

Niinisto and Finland's ministerial committee on foreign and security policy on Tuesday also condemned the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, calling it a humanitarian and environmental disaster.

"The explosion marks an escalation of the war in a new way, causing widespread destruction in Ukraine for civilians and the environment alike," they added.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the dam in a deliberate war crime, while the Kremlin said it was Ukraine itself that had sabotaged it.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Researcher Lee Berger holds a reconstruction of the skull of Homo naledi at Magaliesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. In research released on Monday, June 5, 2023, scientists say they've found evidence that the ancient human cousin buried its dead and carved symbols into cave walls, actions previously tied only to bigger-brained species. AP-Yonhap



Palaeontologists in South Africa said Monday they have found the oldest known burial site in the world, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behaviour.



Led by renowned palaeoanthropologist Lee Berger, researchers said they discovered several specimens of Homo naledi  a tree-climbing, Stone Age hominid  buried about 30 metres (100 feet) underground in a cave system within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg.



"These are the most ancient interments yet recorded in the hominin record, earlier than evidence of Homo sapiens interments by at least 100,000 years," the scientists wrote in a series of yet to be peer reviewed and preprint papers to be published in eLife.



The findings challenge the current understanding of human evolution, as it is normally held that the development of bigger brains allowed for the performing of complex, "meaning-making" activities such as burying the dead.



The oldest burials previously unearthed, found in the Middle East and Africa, contained the remains of Homo sapiens  and were around 100,000 years old.



Those found in South Africa by Berger, whose previous announcements have been controversial, and his fellow researchers, date back to at least 200,000 BC.



Critically, they also belong to Homo naledi, a primitive species at the crossroads between apes and modern humans, which had brains about the size of oranges and stood about 1.5 metres (five feet) tall.



With curved fingers and toes, tool-wielding hands and feet made for walking, the species discovered by Berger had already upended the notion that our evolutionary path was a straight line.



Homo naledi is named after the "Rising Star" cave system where the first bones were found in 2013.



The oval-shaped interments at the centre of the new studies were also found there during excavations started in 2018.



The holes, which researchers say evidence suggests were deliberately dug and then filled in to cover the bodies, contain at least five individuals.



"These discoveries show that mortuary practices were not limited to H. sapiens or other hominins with large brain sizes," the researchers said.



The burial site is not the only sign that Homo naledi was capable of complex emotional and cognitive behaviour, they added.





In this photo provided by National Geographic, researchers lay out fossils of Homo naledi at the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014. AP-Yonhap



Brain size



Engravings forming geometrical shapes, including a "rough hashtag figure", were also found on the apparently purposely smoothed surfaces of a cave pillar nearby.



"That would mean not only are humans not unique in the development of symbolic practices, but may not have even invented such behaviours," Berger told AFP in an interview.



Such statements are likely to ruffle some feathers in the world of palaeontology, where the 57-year-old has previously faced accusations of lacking scientific rigour and rushing to conclusions.



Many balked when in 2015 Berger, whose earlier discoveries won support from National Geographic, first aired the idea that Homo naledi was capable of more than the size of its head suggested.



"That was too much for scientists to take at that time. We think it's all tied up with this big brain," he said.



"We're about to tell the world that's not true."



While requiring further analysis, the discoveries "alter our understandings of human evolution", the researchers wrote.



"Burial, meaning-making, even 'art' could have a much more complicated, dynamic, non-human history than we previously thought," said Agustin Fuentes, a professor of anthropology at Princeton University, who co-authored the studies.



Carol Ward, an anthropologist at the University of Missouri not involved in the research, said that "these findings, if confirmed, would be of considerable potential importance".



"I look forward to learning how the disposition of remains precludes other possible explanations than intentional burial, and to seeing the results once they have been vetted by peer review," she told AFP.



Ward also pointed out that the paper acknowledged that it could not rule out that markings on the walls could have been made by later hominins. (AFP)





In this photo provided by National Geographic, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Lee Berger's daughter, Megan, and underground exploration team member Rick Hunter navigate the narrow chutes leading to the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave in South Africa in 2014, where fossil elements belonging to Homo naledi, a new species of human relative, were discovered. AP-Yonhap
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo.  A man spotted trying to help a newborn bison in Yellowstone National Park in May pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday after authorities said they had to euthanize the animal because its herd rejected it.

Clifford Walters faced one count of feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife and will have to pay a fined $500 fine and a series of other fees.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, while in the park, the Hawaii resident pushed the struggling bison calf up a rivers embankment and onto a nearby roadway.

No evidence of malicious intent was found, but after the encounter, park staff said the calf began to try to befriend people and follow cars, which created a hazard.

The park said rangers repeatedly tried to reunite the calf with the herd, but likely because of human interference, the offspring was rejected.

TOURIST TAKES DANGEROUSLY CLOSE SELFIE NEXT TO BISON IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

In the days after the incident, park staff said they were faced with no other options than to euthanize the bison.

The parks actions triggered an uproar by guests and social media users asking if there was a better to handle the situation.

The National Park Service released a lengthy statement that, in part, read, "We made the choice we did because national parks preserve natural processes."

JOGGERS PREHISTORIC FIND ALONG CALIFORNIA BEACH WOWS MUSEUM COLLECTORS

Rangers are using the incident to remind visitors that approaching wild animals can impact their well-being and survival.

Federal regulations require that people stay at least 25 yards away from wildlife such as bison, elk and deer and at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

The countrys oldest national park attracts more than 3 million visitors annually and is one of more than 400 sites managed by the National Park System.
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.

Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.

"The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and it is capable of penetrating all defence shields," Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards' aerospace force, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. Last year, the Islamic Republic said it had built a hypersonic ballistic missile which can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere.

State TV said Iran's Fattah missile can target "the enemy's advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles".

"It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the Zionist regime, including Israel's Iron Dome," Iran's state TV said.

Fattah's top speed reached mach 14 levels (15,000km/h), it added.

Despite U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme. However, Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities.

Concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles contributed to then-U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers.

Trump reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran after exiting the nuclear pact, leading Tehran to resume previously banned nuclear work and reviving U.S., European and Israeli fears that Iran may seek an atomic bomb. Iran has consistently denied any such ambition.

Indirect talks between Tehran and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to salvage the nuclear deal have stalled since last September.

Israel, which the Islamic Republic refuses to recognise, opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran's nuclear deal and has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails.

I hear our enemies boasting about weapons they are developing," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday. "To any such development, we have an even better response - whether it be on land, in the air, or in the maritime arena, including both defensive and offensive means."

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Writing by Parisa HafeziEditing by Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, Christina Fincher and David Gregorio)
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is pushing back at the Biden administrations downplaying of the controversy stemming from its move to send two top officials to China at the same time as the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

"Once again, the Biden Administration yielded to Chinese demands and got embarrassed on the world stage," the San Diego Republican told Fox News Digital.

"They can maintain it doesnt matter, but make no mistake: With Biden at the helm, America is losing ground to Beijing. Pretending it doesnt matter just shows the limits of their spin after the fact."

Issa was responding to a comment from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Monday where he seemingly dismissed concerns that two U.S. officials went to China on the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when the Chinese military slaughtered hundreds, possibly thousands, of pro-democracy protesters.

CHINAS DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS WAR WITH US WOULD BE UNBEARABLE DISASTER'

Representative Darrell Issa, a Republican from California, speaks during a hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S.

"We would not call it a misstep," Kirby explained in a Monday briefing.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I mean, this was a long-planned trip and this is the way the schedules worked out. But I think honestly, people criticizing the timing of Tiananmen Square, just making a whole heck of a lot out of nothing. It wasn't timed to do anything with the anniversary."

US MILITARY RELEASES VIDEO OF CHINESE WARSHIP CUTTING ACROSS AMERICAN DESTROYER IN TAIWAN STRAIT

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing the country's economic and social development at a political gathering in Beijing, China.

Issa had previously said the Biden administrations move handed a "major coup" to Chinese President Xi Jinping by sending the officials there on that specific date.

"This is no ordinary foreign policy stumble," Issa, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had told Fox News Digital over the weekend, becoming one of several people to criticize the Biden administration over the timing of the trip.

"Its a concession demanded by the Chinese and granted by a White House and State Department willing to bend. Its a major coup for Xi, and Americas position in the world just got weaker  where it matters most."

The White House and National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
As Prince Harry attends court in another privacy case, this time brought against the Mirror Group, every aspect of modern royal drama has been under additional scrutiny.

This includes those surrounding the royal family  past and present  such as James Hewitt.

Military man Major James Hewitt was embroiled in one of the biggest royal scandals of the last century, when he had an affair with the Princess of Wales, Diana, during her marriage to Prince Charles.

Well-known to those who lived through the press frenzy of the era, Dianas and Hewitts affair hit all the headlines  especially after the affair was confirmed by the princess herself in her BBC Panorama interview.

But may not know much else about Hewitt and how he came to be caught up in a royal drama.

For years, rumours circulated that Hewitt was Harrys real father. However, the theory has never been openly discussed by anyone in the family until now.

In Spare, which was leaked last week after it was accidentally published in Spain, the duke writes: .... the rumour going around at the time that my real father was one of my mothers ex-lovers: Major James Hewitt.

One cause of the rumour was Major Hewitts red hair, but another was sadism.

Tabloid readers loved the idea that Prince Charless youngest son was not Prince Charless son. They never got tired of that joke, for some reason.

Prince Harry once again addressed the rumours in his witness statement for his case against the publishes of the Mirror newspaper, referring to an article in The People from 2002 with the headline Plot to rob the DNA of Harry which reported a bid to steal a sample of the dukes DNA to check his parentage.

Numerous newspapers had reported a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born, Harry said. At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born.

Heres everything you need to know about Hewitt.

Who is Hewitt?

The 62-year-old officer was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1958, where his father was stationed with the Royal Marines. His mother was a dental surgeon.

Hewitt attended the fee-paying school Millfield, in Somerset, and followed in his fathers footsteps, serving in the armed forces. Hewitt retired as a captain, and was given a major rank in retirement.

More recently, in 2004 he appeared on Gordon Ramsays reality cooking show Hells Kitchen.

In 2009, Hewitt opened a high-end bar named The Polo House in Marbella, Spain, which had al fresco dining and served cocktails and light bites. It closed four years later in 2013.

Hewitt is now reportedly working as a gardener, living in Devon with his elderly mother. Hewitt does not have any children.

How did James Hewitt meet Princess Diana?

According to Town & Country, the pair met at a party thrown by Dianas lady-in-waiting, Hazel West, in 1986.

In his 1999 memoir, Love and War, Hewitt explained how the Princess of Wales asked him to give her riding lessons. Within months, press got wind of their affair.

"Only one thing went wrong," he wrote in his book. "We fell in love."

James Hewitt (left) and Diana, Princess of Wales (Getty)

According to Anna Pasternak's 1994 book Princess in Love  written based on letters that Diana allegedly sent to Hewitt  the pair were romantically engaged for five years, between 1986 and 1991.

The pair are believed to have exchanged notes while Hewitt was serving in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Speaking about Hewitts memoir, Diana said in her 1995 interview with Martin Bashir: There was a lot of fantasy in the book ... and it was very distressing for me that a friend of mine, who I had trusted, made money out of me.

Asked explicitly whether the relationship went beyond a close friendship, Diana replied: Yes it did, yes.

And to the question: Were you unfaithful?, she said: Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.

Its thought that when Hewitt was posted to Germany to serve in the Gulf War, the affair fizzled out.

Is Hewitt the biological father of Prince Harry?

Physical comparisons between Hewitt and Harry have been made for years, due to their similar colouring and the fact both have red hair. But the speculation has been completely denied by both parties, along with other people connected to the royals.

Former royal butler, Paul Burrell, refuted the accusation that Hewitt is Harrys father and Hewitt has on many occasions himself also set the record straight.

In 2017, in an interview with Australias Channel Seven, Hewitt was directly asked if he was Harrys father, Hewitt responded No, Im not asked why the rumour is still around, It sells papers, he said. Its worse for [Harry], probably, poor chap.

Both have pointed out that Harry had already been born when the romantic relationship with Diana started in 1986. Charles and Diana were married between 1981 and 1996, and Harry was born in 1984.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and released a guidebook pointing to laws it deems discriminatory in each state, along with know your rights information and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

Sounding the alarm about the current political climate, the nations largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said travel advisories arent enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

We need champions right now," HRC President Kelley Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Joe Biden and other LGBTQ+ rights supporters with decision-making authorities, she said, need to be more than just allies.

The declaration is a call to action for people in power at every level of government and the business community, she said, urging them to fight for LGBTQ+ rights with the same fervor as they've fought for abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.

When Dobbs fell, you saw a federal response to deal with the abortion crisis that were in," Robinson said. "We are in a crisis of even greater scale to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and we need that same sort of response.

Just a few days into Pride Month, the campaign said its taking action in response to an unprecedented and dangerous spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023  more than double last years number.

A recent Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang not from grassroots or constituent demand, but from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.

The HRC guidebook, meanwhile, provides information about filing complaints for civil rights violations and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment, particularly in the 17 states with a trifecta of Democratic leadership in both legislative chambers and the governor's office.

The amount of calls I get every day from parents asking how they can move to another state because theyd rather mourn their home than their child is real," Robinson said. This is a different level of urgency and demanded a different level of response.

The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC, which encompasses a foundation focusing on research, advocacy and education, national and state lobbying campaigns and a political action committee that supports and opposes candidates for office. It comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have restricted various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more.

Louisiana is poised to become the latest state to enact new restrictions, after the veto-proof GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday sent a package to the governor that includes a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Lawmakers also overwhelming passed a bill outlining pronoun usage for students and another that would broadly ban K-12 public school employees from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The legislation is similar to the Florida law critics call Dont Say Gay.

As many LGBTQ+ Americans are celebrating their identities this month against the backdrop of a dizzying array of new restrictions, some trans people and their families are scrambling to flee their home states.

For Debi Jackson, the mother of a trans child in Kansas City, Missouri, a recently rolled back emergency rule from the Republican attorney general, which would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors and some adults, pushed the family to its breaking point.

My kiddo has decided that theyve had enough of having to think every single day about what the government is going to do to torment them next, said Jackson, 49.

Her child, 16-year-old Avery, gained national notoriety in 2017 when they became the first trans person to grace the cover of National Geographic magazine at age 9. Jackson, who has since become an outspoken advocate for her child and others in the region, said her family had once pledged to stay in the state and keep fighting.

Because we are so visible, we kind of worried, if we pack up and go, what message does that send other people, and would it seem like we were leaving them behind? she said. But moving doesnt mean were giving up or throwing in the towel. If anything, it demonstrates just how dire this crisis has become.

An increasing number of trans people this year have suddenly found themselves without access to the medical care many credit as life-saving. Some are turning to often-dangerous do-it-yourself hormone treatments to avoid involuntarily reversing their physical transitions.

And as Pride Month festivities kick off this week, organizers are beefing up security amid threatened protests by some extremist groups. A mass shooting last fall inside a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs left many LGBTQ+ community members feeling especially vulnerable.

___

Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Louisiana Senate voted Monday to pass a controversial bill to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, advancing the measure even after it was defeated by a GOP-controlled state Senate committee last month.

The measure, House Bill 648, seeks to bar health care providers from administering gender-affirming medical care to patients younger than 18 under the threat of having their professional licenses revoked.

The bill died late last month in a state Senate committee, with Sen. Fred Mills (R) casting the deciding vote. In a rare occurrence, Louisiana senators this month voted to recommit the bill to another committee, giving it a second chance at life.

House Bill 648 was passed Friday by the state Senate Judiciary A Committee, a majority Republican committee that typically debates legislation and issues pertaining to the criminal justice system.

None of the committees three Democrats was present for Fridays vote, with one, state Sen. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge, telling local media he was skipping the committee meeting because the bill is not germane to Jud A subject matter.

On Monday, the bill passed the full Senate in a 29-10 vote largely along party lines.

Republicans on Monday argued the measure is necessary to protect children from making medical decisions they may later regret, asserting that gender-affirming medical interventions including puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries are experimental and harmful to long-term development.

This isnt complicated. Kids should not have access to permanent medical procedures in order to affirm an identity they might outgrow, state Sen. Jeremy Stine (R) said Monday on the Senate floor.

Gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and adults is supported by most major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

State Sen. Jay Morris (R) said Monday those and similar medical groups cannot be trusted because they have been infiltrated by transgender and abortion rights activists.

Mills referenced a Louisiana Health Department report published last year that found no gender-affirming surgical procedures were performed on Medicaid-enrolled minors in the state between 2017 and 2021.

The prescription of medications including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy to treat gender dysphoria in minors during the same time period was also exceedingly rare, the report found.

Mills said he has been attacked nationwide by hate since breaking the tie to defer the bill in last months Senate committee vote. But Im not sorry for my vote, he said.

I dont care about getting reelected, I care about human dignity, state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux (D) said Monday while opposing the bill. If my vote gets me to stay home and not get reelected, so be it. I havent run from a fight my entire life.

The bill now heads back to the GOP-controlled House, where it is expected to pass. It will then go to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), who has said he opposes legislation that targets the transgender community, as well as the LGBTQ community more broadly.

Members of this community believe theyre being attacked for who they are, Edwards told reporters during a press conference last month. Members of the trans community are much more likely than other young people to have suicidal ideation or attempts or to actually be successful.

These kinds of bills do not tend to help with that, Edwards added, and in fact, they aggravate that situation and then cause it to be worse.

Roughly half of transgender and nonbinary young people in a report released last month by The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention organization, said they had seriously considered suicide over the last year. The same report found more than 30 percent of LGBTQ youths believe laws and policies that target LGBTQ people have worsened their mental health.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
UNION, Mo. (AP)  A 67-year-old man has pleaded guilty to strangling a woman in Missouri and leaving her bound body in the woods three decades ago, a newspaper reported.

Kirby R. King pleaded guilty on Friday to involuntary manslaughter and felonious restraint in the death of 22-year-old Karla Jane Delcour, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday. She was found dead with her wrists and neck bound by a cord in Franklin County woods near the city of St. Clair.

King, whose social circles overlapped with those of Delcour, was questioned in 1987 after her body was found but never charged. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office reopened the case in 2018 and King was arrested in 2019, initially charged with second-degree murder. Investigators have not said if new evidence led to King's arrest 32 years after Delcour was killed.

The tireless efforts in unraveling the truth and meticulously piecing together the puzzle have not only provided closure to the victims family but have also made a significant impact on the community, Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said Friday in a written statement.

Investigators believe Delcour was killed at a home in the city of Union on June 21, 1987. Her body was found about four days later 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) west of St. Clair, where she was living.

Kings attorney Steven Waterkotte said Monday that his client was happy to put this all behind him.

King will be sentenced July 12.
By Steve Gorman and Tyler Clifford

(Reuters) -A man who fatally shot two Missouri jail guards in 2000 was executed on Tuesday after the governor and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, even though several jurors in the case petitioned for a reduced sentence.

Michael Tisius, 42, was convicted in 2001 of murdering Randolph County sheriff's deputies Jason Acton and Leon Egley, both unarmed, during a failed attempt to help a former cellmate escape from jail.

Tisius was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. after he received a lethal injection as the U.S. Supreme Court denied two petitions for a stay of execution on Monday and two more on Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Corrections said in a statement.

Lawyers for Tisius had argued in petitions seeking a reprieve that he should be spared the death penalty given that he was 19 at the time of the killings and suffered from lifelong brain impairments and mental illness.

According to his attorneys, Tisius was traumatized by severe physical abuse and neglect as a child, aggravating cognitive deficits that rendered him vulnerable to manipulation by others, including his older cellmate, Roy Vance, who persuaded Tisius to go along with the ill-fated escape plan.

In his last statement, Tisius said that he tried to become a better man and expressed his remorse. "I am sorry," Tisius said. "And not because I am at the end. But because I truly am sorry."

Six former jurors among the 12 who voted unanimously to recommend the death penalty for Tisius at his trial in 2010 said in sworn affidavits as part of a separate clemency petition that they now favored or would accept life imprisonment instead of capital punishment.

Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, declined the clemency bid on Monday.

"Missouri's judicial system provided Mr. Tisius with due process and fair proceedings for his brutal murders of two Randolph County jail guards," the Republican governor said in a statement.

Tisius was accused of plotting with Tracie Bulington, Vance's then-girlfriend, to help Vance escape from jail after Tisius was released from the lockup. He had met Vance while serving time for a probation violation stemming from a misdemeanor theft case, according to his attorneys.

The two guards were shot and killed when the breakout attempt went awry. Bulington and Vance were later sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the incident.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Tyler Clifford in New York and Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul and Christopher Cushing)
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Monday, June 5. AP-Yonhap



Ukraine and Russia accused each other on Tuesday of blowing up a dam and causing widespread flooding in southern Ukraine, while Russia said it had thwarted another Ukrainian offensive in eastern Donetsk and inflicted heavy losses.



Russia launched a new wave of overnight air strikes on Kyiv and Ukraine said its air defence systems downed more than 20 cruise missiles on their approach to the city.



The South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said Russian forces blew up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam in occupied Kherson region.



Unverified videos on social media showed intense explosions around the dam and water surging through. The dam, 30 metres (yards) tall and 3.2 km long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river.



It holds water equal to that in the Great Salt Lake in the U.S. state of Utah and also supplies water to Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.



"The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified," the Ukrainian military said on Facebook.



Russian news agencies said the dam had been destroyed in shelling while the mayor of Russia-controlled Nova Kahhovka city was quoted as blaming an act of terrorism - Russian shorthand for an attack by Ukraine.



There was no "critical danger" to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia facility - Europe's largest nuclear plant - Russia's TASS state agency cited a Moscow-backed official in the Zaporizhzhia region as saying.



The Russian installed head of the Kherson region said evacuation near the dam has begun and that water would reach critical levels within five hours.



Reuters could not independently verify the reports and it was unclear whether any of the latest fighting marked the beginning of Ukraine's long-anticipated counter-offensive.



Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will hold an emergency meeting over the Nova Kakhova dam blast in southern Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said on Twitter on Tuesday.



Ukrainian officials have made no mention of any broad, significant new campaign, although in his nightly address on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was enigmatic, hailing "the news we have been waiting for" and forward moves in Bakhmut in Donetsk.





In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, left, and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, right, pose for a photo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, June 5. AP-Yonhap



Ukrainian attacks



Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year in what the Kremlin expected to be a swift operation, but its forces suffered a series of defeats and regrouped in the country's east.



Tens of thousands of Russian troops dug in over the winter, besieging Bakhmut for months and bracing for an expected Ukrainian counter-attack to try to cut Russia's so-called land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.



Russia says it thwarted a major Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region over the weekend and on Tuesday the defence ministry said a fresh Ukrainian assault had also been repelled.



Russian forces inflicted huge personnel losses on attacking Ukrainian forces and destroyed 28 tanks, including eight Leopard main battle tanks and 109 armoured vehicles, it said. Total Ukrainian losses amounted to 1,500 troops.



"Having suffered heavy losses the day before, the Kiev regime reorganized the remnants of the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades into separate consolidated units, which continued offensive operations," the ministry said on Telegram.



"A complex fire defeat was inflicted by army forces, assault and operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery, as well as heavy flamethrower systems."



There was no immediate comment from Kyiv about Russia's assertions. Russia and Ukraine have often made claims of inflicting heavy human losses on each other which could not be verified.



The Washington Post reported that some U.S. officials thought Ukraine's counter-offensive was underway, but White House national security spokesperson John Kirby declined to comment on whether this was the case.



"I'm not going to be talking for the Ukrainian military," he told a briefing, adding that the United States had done "everything we could ... to make sure that they had all the equipment, the training, the capabilities to be successful."



The success or failure of a counteroffensive, expected to be waged with billions of dollars worth of advanced Western weaponry, is likely to influence the shape of future Western diplomatic and military support for Ukraine.



Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Reuters on Monday that Ukraine now had enough weapons for a counteroffensive but declined to comment when asked whether it had begun.



In its evening report on Monday, Ukraine's General Staff made no mention of any large-scale offensive, nor did it suggest any deviation from the usual tempo or scope of fighting along front lines that have not changed significantly for months.



Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram that Ukraine was "shifting to offensive actions" along parts of the front but dismissed suggestions of a major operation.



Writing on Telegram, Russia's Wagner militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said Moscow's claims of huge Ukrainian losses were "simply wild and absurd science fiction."



Russia now controls at least 18 percent of internationally recognised Ukrainian territory and has claimed four more regions of Ukraine as Russian territory after annexing Crimea in 2014. (Reuters)





Ukrainian soldiers stand in their positions near Bakhmut, background, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, June 5. AP-Yonhap
By Mohamad Torokman

NABI SALEH, West Bank (Reuters) - The mother of a Palestinian toddler who died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli soldiers last week called for justice on Tuesday as she attended his funeral in the occupied West Bank.

Marching with dozens of mourners, Marwa al-Tamimi held her toddler for the last time, his face fitting in her palms as she leaned in to kiss his forehead.

"I want justice for my son, and for every person who shot at my husband and son to be held accountable," she said.

Mohammad, who his mother said was months shy of his third birthday, succumbed on Monday to a gunshot wound to the head inflicted after he and his father came under Israeli gunfire near their home while driving to visit relatives.

Haitham al-Tamimi, the father, was shot in the shoulder.

"When I went to check on my son, I told (the soldiers) that my son was killed. They said 'stand back or we'll shoot,'" the mother, who was not in the car, told Reuters.

In a statement following the incident, the Israeli military said soldiers responded with live fire to shots fired by assailants toward a Jewish settlement, and two Palestinians, including a child, were wounded.

"The IDF regrets harm to non-combatants and is committed to doing everything in its power to prevent such incidents," the statement said.

According to the Palestinian office of Defense for Children International (DCIP), Al-Tamimi was one of 27 Palestinian minors killed as a result of Israeli military and settler activity in the occupied West Bank and Gaza since January.

Three Israeli minors were killed in the same period, according to Israeli figures.

"Without accountability, Israel's crimes against our people/children will continue unabated," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.

The U.S. Office for Palestinian Affairs urged Israel "to evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties". It echoed statements by the EU delegation to the Palestinians and the United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process that called on Israel to hold accountable those responsible for al-Tamimi's death.

(Writing by Henriette Chacar; Editing by James Mackenzie and Christina Fincher)
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP)  NATO allies should aim to further boost their support for Ukraine and for its aspiration to become a member of the alliance, the leaders of nine Central and Eastern European countries said Tuesday.

The presidents of an informal group known as the Bucharest Nine, the nations in the easternmost parts of the NATO alliance, met in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, to discuss their common approach at the NATO summit scheduled for July 1113 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

We aim for a more robust, multi-year, and comprehensive support package for Ukraine, which will reinforce its defence capabilities also by implementing NATO standards and increasing interoperability with NATO, they said in a statement to conclude their meeting, which was also attended by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

In light of Russias war of aggression, we will continue our strong support to bolster Ukraines capacity to defend itself and to relieve the humanitarian catastrophe.

The leaders said they expect that in Vilnius, we will upgrade our political relations with Ukraine to a new level, and launch a new political track that will lead to Ukraines membership in NATO, once conditions allow.

The Bucharest Nine came together in response to Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. The nine countries are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

At their meeting in Warsaw in February, U.S. President Joe Biden assured those nations that worry that Russia could move to take military action against them next if hes successful in Ukraine that NATOs mutual defense pact is sacred and that we will defend literally every inch of NATO.

NATO responded to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by deploying multinational battlegroups in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. They complement another four deployed in 2017 in the three Baltic states and Poland, to expand NATOs presence from the Baltics to the Black Sea.

"Russia is the most significant and direct threat to Allies security and we must be prepared for it to remain so," the presidents said. We expect that the Vilnius Summit will further strengthen NATOs defence posture on the Eastern flank in order to deter and deny any opportunity for aggression.
ON OMAHA BEACH, France (AP)  An overwhelming sound of gunfire and mens screams. Thats how World War II veteran Marie Scott described D-Day, as Tuesday's ceremonies got underway in honor of those who fought for freedom in the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

This year's tribute to the young soldiers who died in Normandy also reminds veterans, officials and visitors what Ukraine faces today.

On Tuesday, the whistling sound of the wind accompanied many reenactors who came to Omaha Beach at dawn to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control. Some brought bunches of flowers; others waved American flags.

Scott lived it all through her ears. She was just 17 when she was posted as communication operator in Portsmouth, England. Her job was to pass on messages between men on the ground and Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and senior officers who were supervising the operation.

I was in the war. I could hear gunfire, machine guns, bombing aircraft, men screaming, shouting, men giving orders, she recalled.

After a few moments of horror, I realized what was happening  and I thought, well, you know, theres no time for horror. Youve got a job to do. So get on with it. Which is what I did.

Now about to turn 97, Scott said D-Day was a pivotal point in her life.

As a noncombatant, I was still in the war and I realized the enormity of war. People were dying in that moment.

Scott said she was disgusted that another war was now raging on the European continent following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

For me, war should only be undertaken if its absolutely (necessary), if theres no other way of solving the problem. Its an atrocity. Thats how I feel, she said.

British veteran Mervyn Kersh, who landed on D-Day on Gold Beach, said Western allies should send maximum military aid to Ukraine: "The only way to stay free is to be strong.

Kersh, 98, added with a sense of humor: I'm still in the reserve, I'm waiting to go to Ukraine now. Next job.

On Tuesday, a ceremony took place at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach, which is home to the graves of 9,386 U.S. soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing are inscribed 1,557 names. Some of those named have since been recovered and identified.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in front of more than 40 World War II veterans and a crowd of visitors, said it is our duty to defend ... the principles for which the Allies fought ... We seek a world where civilians are safe from ravages of a war, (and) sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.

He paid tribute to brave young men and women from Ukraine who are learning how to fight for their lives and for their country."

"Today, I am more determined than ever to stand by them for as long as it takes, he said.

Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark Milley also took part in the American Cemetery commemoration.

The Normandy celebrations were a chance for Milley to linger with troops who consider him one of their own, as he winds down his own four-decade military career. The chairman held commands in both the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division, and the Normandy fields, towns and causeways are these divisions hallowed ground.

For me, being among soldiers is home, he said. Milley begins his 44th year of military service on June 10. He is scheduled to retire at the end of September as his term as chairman ends.

Hundreds of current soldiers from both units were there, some on leave with beers in hand, some jumping out of aircraft as their predecessors did 79 years before.

This was Milleys last Normandy visit as their top commander  and as he walked through Sainte-Mere-Eglise, known as the first town to be liberated from Nazi occupation, attended commemorative football games or spoke at ceremonies, it felt like the general stopped to talk to and give a commemorative coin to every last one of them.

An international ceremony was later scheduled at the nearby British Normandy Memorial in the presence of officials from Germany and the nine principal Allied nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu and U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace were expected to attend.

In a separate event, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a ceremony on Tuesday in the presence of 100-year-old Leon Gauthier, the last surviving member of the Kieffer commando  an elite French unit which was among the first waves to land in Normandy.

Many visitors came to the American Cemetery before Tuesdays ceremonies to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.

Jean-Philippe Bertrand, a visitor from the southern French city of Marseille, walked through the countless lines of white crosses Monday.

Its unimaginable to make such a sacrifice for my freedom, for my sons freedom, he said.

You hear about it on the news and you see the pictures. But once youre here and you see the reality and the sacrifice that has been made for our beautiful country  I wanted to make the trip once in my life to thank all these people to whom we owe so much, he added.

German professor Andreas Fuchs, who is teaching French in Berlin, brought students ages 10 to 12 to Normandy via an exchange program.

Its very important for children to have a moment in their lives to understand the liberation of Europe. And to know what peace has been for 80 years, he said.

___

Jeffrey Schaeffer, Nicolas Garriga and Thomas Padilla contributed to the story.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to humanity, a key innovator warned during a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, suggesting an international agency like the International Atomic Energy Agency oversee the ground-breaking technology.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is on a global tour to discuss artificial intelligence.

We face serious risk. We face existential risk," said Altman, 38. "The challenge that the world has is how were going to manage those risks and make sure we still get to enjoy those tremendous benefits. No one wants to destroy the world.

OpenAI's ChatGPT, a popular chatbot, has grabbed the world's attention as it offers essay-like answers to prompts from users. Microsoft has invested some $1 billion in OpenAI.

ChatGPT's success, offering a glimpse into the way that artificial intelligence could change the way that humans work and learn, has sparked concerns as well. Hundreds of industry leaders, including Altman, have signed a letter in May that warns mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.

Altman made a point to reference the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, as an example of how the world came together to oversee nuclear power. That agency was created in the years after the U.S. dropping atom bombs on Japan at the end of World War II.

Let's make sure we come together as a globe  and I hope this place can play a real role in this, Altman said. We talk about the IAEA as a model where the world has said OK, very dangerous technology, let's all put some guard rails.' And I think we can do both.

"I think in this case, it's a nuanced message 'cause it's saying it's not that dangerous today but it can get dangerous fast. But we can thread that needle.

Lawmakers around the world also are examining artificial intelligence. The 27-nation European Union is pursuing an AI Law that could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence. Altman told the U.S. Congress in May that government intervention will be critical to governing the risks that come with AI.

But the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven hereditarily ruled sheikhdoms, offers the flip side of the risks of AI. Speech remains tightly controlled. Rights groups warn the UAE and other states across the Persian Gulf regularly use spying software to monitor activists, journalists and others. Those restrictions affect the flow of accurate information  the same details AI programs like ChatGPT rely on as machine-learning systems to provide their answers for users.

Among speakers opening for Altman at the event at the Abu Dhabi Global Market was Andrew Jackson, the CEO of the Inception Institute of AI, which is described as a company of G42.

G42 is tied to Abu Dhabi's powerful national security adviser and deputy ruler Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. G42's CEO is Peng Xiao, who for years ran Pegasus, a subsidiary of DarkMatter, an Emirati security firm under scrutiny for hiring former CIA and NSA staffers, as well as others from Israel. G42 also owns a video and voice calling app that reportedly was a spying tool for the Emirati government.

In his remarks, Jackson described himself as representing the Abu Dhabi and UAE AI ecosystem.

We are a political powerhouse and we will be central to AI regulation globally, he said.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a series of so-called sideshows Sunday afternoon that moved from location to location throughout Sacramento County, police said.

Authorities arrested three people involved in two police pursuits as a result of Sundays sideshows, the Sacramento Police Department announced Monday afternoon. Officers issued 17 citations as law enforcement officials responded to reported illegal events.

Sideshows are illegal gatherings in which groups of drivers take over intersections, city streets, stretches of busy freeways and/or parking lots to do tricks with their cars, including burnouts and doughnuts, The Sacramento Bee has previously reported. Groups of spectators can reach into the hundreds, often blocking even more traffic lanes. Some sideshows go on for hours, while others clear out in minutes to avoid law enforcement.

Sacramento police were joined by the Elk Grove Police Departments and the California Highway Patrol in Sundays enforcement action. Authorities towed nine vehicles.

A law enforcement operation targeting sideshows in September led to 52 vehicles towed, nine arrests and 204 issued citations in the Sacramento area. The operation was carried out over a few days.

A little over a year ago, authorities broke up a sideshow event in Sutter County, where 40 to 50 vehicles gathered for reckless driving and street racing along a rural road.

Law enforcement agencies in Yolo County teamed in April 2022 to stop a sideshow event around Main Street Woodland, where people gathered in 200 to 300 vehicles. The previous weekend, officers from four Sacramento-area police agencies impounded 28 vehicles, made nine felony arrests, confiscated four guns and issued 28 citations as they busted a large sideshow along Northgate Boulevard in Sacramento.

On Monday, Sacramento police said area agencies will continue to conduct maximum enforcement actions at these illegal events and remind residents that participating in sideshow events can result in vehicles being impounded and lead to fines and penalties up to and including a suspended drivers license.
LIMA, Peru (AP)  A Peruvian judge on Tuesday affirmed this week's planned extradition to the U.S. of the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway.

The judge's ruling came less than 24 hours after the attorney for Dutchman Joran van der Sloot filed a writ of habeas corpus in an attempt to stop the custody transfer. Magistrate Elmer Morales informed the suspect of his decision in writing.

Law enforcement authorities scheduled the extradition for Thursday.

Van der Sloot's attorney, Maximo Altez, filed the challenge Monday after his client changed his mind and decided to fight the government's decision to send him to the U.S. to be prosecuted on wire fraud and extortion charges.

Van der Sloot earlier had indicated he wouldn't challenge the extradition, but Altez said his client changed his mind after a meeting with Dutch diplomats. The lawyer argued in the habeas corpus challenge that van der Sloot hadn't been properly notified about the extradition process.

Van der Sloot had arrived Saturday at a corrections facility in Lima, the capital, after a long ground trip under strict security measures from a prison in the Andes, where he was serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of a Peruvian woman.

The government of Peru announced May 10 that it would temporarily transfer custody of van der Sloot to authorities in the U.S. to face trial there.

Holloway, who lived in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, was 18 when she was last seen during a trip with classmates to the Caribbean island of Aruba. She was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, who was a student at an international school on the island.

Van der Sloot was identified as a suspect and detained weeks later, along with two Surinamese brothers. Holloways body was never found, and no charges were filed in the case. A judge later declared Holloway dead.

The federal charges filed in Alabama against van der Sloot stem from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family in 2010, promising to lead them to her body in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A grand jury indicted him that year on one count each of wire fraud and extortion.

Also in 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Peru for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, a business student from a prominent family who was killed five years to the day after Holloways disappearance. Van der Sloot pleaded guilty in Flores case in 2012.

A 2001 treaty between Peru and the U.S. allows a suspect to be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country. The time that van der Sloot ends up spending in the U.S. will be extended until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, including the appeal process should there be one, according to a resolution published in the South American countrys federal register. The resolution also states that U.S. authorities agreed to return the suspect to the custody of Peru afterward.

The young womans mother, Beth Holloway, in a statement released after Peruvian authorities agreed to the extradition last month said the family is finally getting justice for Natalee.

It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off, Beth Holloway said.
A pet dog was shot and killed after police mistakenly responded to the wrong address, Texas cops said.

The Waco Police Department is saddened by the unfortunate shooting resulting in the death of Finn, a beloved pet, police wrote in a June 5 news release.

The regretful killing was the result of a technical error, police said.

Dispatchers received a report of a burglary on June 3 in which the caller screamed that her door had been kicked in.

After the call disconnected, dispatchers entered the callers address into their system, but it autocorrected to a separate address that was off by one letter.

Officers responded to the incorrect address and noticed the backdoor was ajar, corroborating what the caller had said.

Shortly after police announced their presence, several dogs walked toward the officers. One of them, a male named Finn, acted aggressively, lunging at an officer several times.

In response, the officer fired their weapon at Finn, striking him once.

Finns owner took him to a medical clinic, and he later died, police said. A police commander met the owner and family members there to express his sympathy.

Police said they are working with the manufacturer of their computer system to ensure that steps are taken to prevent any similar occurrence. Additionally, dispatchers will be instructed to double check addresses after inputting them in their system.

A GoFundMe was started so that Finns owners  who are obviously devastated  can hire a lawyer. This once peaceful little home (is) in complete tragedy and disarray, it says.

The original incident related to the burglary report was quickly handled, police said, adding that no one was arrested.

Waco is about 95 miles south of Dallas.

Body of 76-year-old angler found after parkgoer hears cries for help, Iowa officials say

Woman found dead on highway, New Hampshire cops say. A tattoo could help identify her

16-year-old boy shopping for drugs is fatally shot at homeless camp, Florida cops say
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP)  Police in South Florida arrested two suspects over the weekend and a third on Monday following a Memorial Day shooting along a busy beachside promenade that injured nine people.

Detectives from the Hollywood Police Department took Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, into custody on Sunday night and Lionel JeanCharles Jr., 18, on Monday afternoon, the agency said in a news release. On Saturday, Hollywood detectives and the U.S. Marshal's Task Force arrested 15-year-old Jordan Burton.

JeanCharles, Paul and Burton have been identified by police as the shooters, the agency said.

They will each face charges of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

Two men who were involved in the altercation that led to the shooting  Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, both 18  were arrested last week on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, with one of them reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said.

Police and witnesses say the shooting began late in the afternoon on Memorial Day after a fight broke out in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk, which is south of Fort Lauderdale. Bystanders frantically ran for cover as gunshots rang out.

Two of the nine injured remain in the hospital, police said.

It was not immediately known whether those who were arrested have retained lawyers who could speak on their behalf.
Former President Donald Trump delivered an unscripted speech in Grimes, Iowa, before taking several questions from his supporters. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A new Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows that just 23% of Americans believe that Donald Trump should be allowed to serve as president again if convicted of a serious crime.

A full 62%, meanwhile, say Trump should not be allowed to serve again in that scenario.

The survey of 1,520 U.S. adults, which was conducted May 25 to May 30, underscores the political peril facing the former president as his legal troubles pile up. In April, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments made to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign; Trumps criminal trial in that case is set to begin next March, right in the middle of the GOP primary calendar.

Over the coming months, prosecutors in Georgia and Washington, D.C., might also indict Trump for taking highly classified documents from the White House or trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Yet while the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggests that criminal convictions in these cases could make it very challenging for Trump to defeat President Biden in the 2024 November general election, the numbers also indicate that Trump could still easily win the Republican nomination even if hes found guilty.

To gauge the potential political repercussions of Trumps criminal cases, Yahoo News and YouGov didnt just ask if being convicted of a serious crime should prevent Trump from serving again; respondents were also asked which (if any) of the possible charges against the former president they would consider to be serious crimes in the first place.

The results are striking. Across the board, majorities of Americans say that each of the key charges Trump could reportedly face qualify as serious crimes.

Where Trump is most vulnerable

A full two-thirds (66%) say that conspiring to overturn the results of a presidential election is a serious crime. Nearly as many say the same about inciting or aiding an insurrection against the federal government (64%); taking highly classified documents from the White House and obstructing efforts to retrieve them (63%); and attempting to obstruct the certification of a presidential election (63%).

A smaller majority (52%) says that falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star constitutes a serious crime.

A police car is parked outside the Mar-a-Lago club, the Palm Beach, Fla., home of former President Donald Trump, in April. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

In each instance, these numbers are a few percentage points higher among registered voters.

The problem for Trump, then, is clear. Most Americans (52%) and voters (55%) already think he has committed a serious crime at [some] time in his life. Even more say that the alleged election- and document-related offenses for which he is currently under investigation would qualify as serious crimes  and that he shouldnt be allowed back into the White House if convicted of that sort of lawbreaking.

Conversely, only about 1 in 5 Americans says the opposite: that the potential charges against Trump arent serious crimes or that he should be allowed to serve again if found guilty.

Most Republicans still want Trump to be their nominee

Its possible, of course, that Trump wont be charged with anything or that he wont be convicted before the 2024 election (or ever). And its likely that even if he is, partisanship and polarization would immediately shatter any tentative consensus over criminal convictions and the presidency.

Still, it would be a heavy lift to win a general election while under indictment or on trial for crimes that more than 6 in 10 voters currently consider disqualifying.

Winning the Republican nomination, however, would probably be much easier, according to the poll. Right now, roughly half of potential GOP primary voters would rather see Trump as their nominee (52%) than someone else (36%). The former presidents lead over his strongest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has increased to nearly 30 points over the last few months  even as (or perhaps because) Trumps legal jeopardy has grown.

Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd on June 2 in Gilbert, S.C. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

At the same time, Trump is even more dominant in hypothetical head-to-head matchups against other declared, likely or potential GOP candidates, leading South Carolina Gov. Tim Scott, 69% to 18%; former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, 70% to 18%; former Vice President Mike Pence, 73% to 16%; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 77% to 10%; and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, 72% to 10%.

Could a 'serious' criminal indictment or conviction change this dynamic?

Its a long shot. A plurality of potential GOP primary voters (46%) already say that Trump should be allowed to serve again even if hes convicted of something they consider a serious crime. Against a divided field, thats probably enough support to win him the nomination. (Trump earned about 45% of the primary vote in 2016.)

On the flip side, only 37% of potential GOP primary voters say Trump should not be allowed to serve again if convicted of a serious crime. That sounds like a substantial minority  but in reality, it includes just 19% of those who currently back Trump against the full GOP field and just 20% of those who support Trump in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup with DeSantis.

In other words, Trump might still lead even if he lost all the potential GOP primary voters who now support him but also say serious crimes would be disqualifying.

Making matters worse for DeSantis & Co. is that Trump almost certainly wouldnt lose all those voters. Why? Because only about 10% to 12% of them believe that the potential charges against Trump  attempting to obstruct the certification of a presidential election, for instance, or taking highly classified documents from the White House and obstructing efforts to retrieve them  actually constitute the sort of serious crimes they would consider disqualifying.

____________

The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,520 U.S. adults interviewed online from May 25 to 30, 2023. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondents most recent answer given prior to March 15, 2022, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (32% Democratic, 27% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.7%.
By Ted Hesson and Kristina Cooke

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A flight carrying about 20 migrants landed in Sacramento, California, on Monday as state authorities investigated the role Florida had played in transporting them from Texas via New Mexico, according to the California attorney general's office and news reports.

The migrants carried documents that indicated their transportation involved the state of Florida, the California attorney general's office said. More than a dozen migrants who arrived on Friday carried similar documentation, the office said.

The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican seeking his party's presidential nomination in 2024, last year orchestrated a flight carrying dozens of migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a liberal Massachusetts vacation island, which critics called a political stunt.

DeSantis said at the time that his administration flew the migrants from Texas to the island getaway because many of the migrants arriving in Florida come from Texas.

Groups representing those migrants have since filed a lawsuit claiming they were misled. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas led an investigation and has recommended the county bring criminal charges, including both felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, it said in a statement on Monday.

DeSantis' office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the Sacramento flights.

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom called DeSantis a "small, pathetic man" in a tweet, adding: "This isn't Martha's Vineyard."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, said over the weekend that his office was investigating how the migrants were transported to the state, including whether criminal or civil charges might be warranted.

"While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting," he said in a statement on Saturday.

The Republican-controlled Florida legislature passed an immigration bill in May that sets aside $12 million for the state to transport migrants, among other measures meant to deter illegal immigration.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Kristina Cooke in San Francisco; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)




KYIV  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said the "world must react" to the Kakhovka dam attack, blaming Russia for the breach which has caused extensive flooding.







"The world must react," he said on social media, adding that Russia had carried out "an internal explosion of the structures" of the plant at 2:50 am local time (2350 GMT).







"This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime," he added, accusing Russia of committing an act of "ecocide."







"Russia is at war with life, with nature, with civilization," he added.







"Russia must leave Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror."







An attack on a major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine earlier Tuesday unleashed a torrent of water that flooded a small city, two dozen villages and sent hundreds fleeing.







Russia insists that the dam was partially destroyed by "multiple strikes" coming from Ukrainian forces. (AFP)










Ajike AJ Owens was fatally shot through a closed door in Ocala, Fla., on Friday following a dispute with a neighbor. (Ben Crump)

A controversial self-defense law is back in the spotlight after Ajike AJ Owens, a Black mother of four, was shot and killed through a closed door in Ocala, Fla., on Friday following a dispute with her neighbor.

These children have lost their mother in cold blood, the familys lawyer Anthony Thomas said during a press conference on Monday. This unjustified killing was done in front of the children, the children are the witnesses.

Authorities have not made any arrests and say that Floridas stand your ground law is a crucial piece of the puzzle in this case. Before an arrest can be made, he [Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods] needs probable cause, thats what he told me, Thomas said.

According to Woods, Owenss children were playing outside nearby and the shooter threw a pair of skates that hit one of them. Owens was confronting the neighbor when she was fatally shot.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Woods said during a news conference on Monday.

Since 2021, Owens, 35, and the shooter, who is white, have reached out to the police a number of times, according to Woods, who added that law enforcement has responded to at least six to eight incidents. This has been a neighborhood feud over time, he said.

The sheriffs office has not released the name of the shooter.

What happened to Ajike AJ Owens?

On June 2, a 58-year-old white woman yelled racial slurs at Owenss children, who are between 3 and 12 years old, while they were playing in a field near an Ocala apartment complex, according to a press release by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has been retained by the family along with Thomas.

The children left but accidentally left an iPad behind, which the woman took. When one of the children went to her residence to retrieve it, she threw it, hitting the boy and cracking the screen, the press release states.

After this incident, Owenss children allegedly told their mother what happened and she approached the shooters home.

Owens. (Ben Crump)

[Owens] knocked on the door once. When there was no answer she simply replied, I know you hear me. There was no confrontation. At the time that was said the shot rang, Thomas said.

But Woods says that according to one side of the story, there was a lot of aggressiveness back and forth  and at that moment [Owens] was shot through the door. It wasnt immediately clear whose account Woods was referring to.

In an interview with Joy Reid, Pamela Dias, Owenss mother, says her daughter approached the home unarmed and just wanted answers. My daughter did what any parent would do, want to talk to the adult to find out why she had his belongings, why she threw items at her child, she said.

Does stand your ground apply?

Woods says that law enforcement can not make an arrest because of Floridas stand your ground law.

What we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest, he explained. And sometimes it becomes difficult and sometimes it becomes an obstacle. But only a temporary obstacle because it will be moved and the final answer will come forward.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods at a news conference in Ocala on Monday. (Courtesy of Marion County Sheriffs Office via AP)

Cynthia Ward, a law professor at William and Mary and a stand your ground expert, told Yahoo News that from the facts available so far, this does not appear to be a valid case for a stand your ground defense.

Stand your ground allows an individual to use force against a person they believe puts them in imminent danger. And the stand your ground provision means that if those conditions apply, then they dont have to try to retreat, even if they knew they could safely retreat before using deadly force against the other person, she said.

Since Owens was shot through a closed door, Ward said, it seems improbable that the shooter would have a defense, based on the current information available.

But Bill Sheaffer, a legal expert for Channel 9, a local Florida news outlet, says the stand your ground law could be a factor in this case, adding that the sheriffs hands are tied.

Since the law provides greater protection for an individual thats in their home or in an automobile to use deadly force, one could argue that she was justified if she was in fear that this woman was breaking into her home, he said.

Shoot first and think later

Florida was among the first states to pass stand your ground legislation, in 2005, and now dozens of states across the country have similar laws in place.

Over a decade ago, the legislation sparked outrage when Trayvon Martin, a Black teenager who was walking home from the convenience store, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, who claimed self-defense.

Trayvon Martin, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Fla., in 2012. (Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Most recently, stand your ground drew national attention after Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager from Kansas City, Mo., was shot after he knocked on the wrong door to pick up his younger siblings. Four days later, the shooter was arrested on two felony charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Missouri has a stand your ground law that, like Floridas, does not require a person to retreat from danger.

I think theres widespread misunderstanding of what stand your ground provisions mean, Ward said. My fear is that people have mistaken stand your ground provisions for shoot first and think later provisions, and they are not meant to be that.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, an organization dedicated to gun safety, says Americas lack of gun laws has created a deadly environment for Black people.

Activists on Washington Square in New York on Jan. 28 protest police brutality after the killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Yet again, thanks to our countrys lax gun laws and hate-fueled violence, four children will grow up without a mother, Ferrell-Zabala told Yahoo News. All for what? Stand your ground laws and the shoot first culture they instill continue to put Black people and people of color in danger. These laws empower shooters to instigate violence or act on unjustified fear  and then claim self-defense and avoid accountability.

Whats next?

As Owenss children grieve her death, advocates and community members are calling for an arrest.

These children are never going to forget what happened to their mother, Thomas said.

Jerone Gamble, the first vice president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP, says he understands there is a legal process that must take place but that there is absolutely no reason for that kind of murder.

She killed this young woman by shooting her through the door. If this isnt stopped, youre going to be walking down the street and theyre going to shoot you through the window, he said.
ATLANTA (AP)  Hundreds of activists gathered to speak Monday at Atlantas City Hall ahead of a council vote over whether to approve tens of millions in public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center that activists decry as Cop City.

The meeting is a culmination of nearly two years of activism against the project  a movement that has galvanized protesters from across the country, especially in the wake of the January fatal police shooting of Manuel Paez Teran, a 26-year-old environmental activist known as Tortuguita who had been camping in the woods near the site of the proposed project in DeKalb County.

For more than 13 hours, residents again and again took to the podium to slam the project, saying it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority-Black area. The testimony at times grew testy, with councilmembers struggling to quiet the rowdy crowd. As of 3 a.m. Tuesday, a dozen more remained in line to speak.

Were here pleading our case to a government that has been unresponsive, if not hostile, to an unprecedented movement in our City Councils history, said Matthew Johnson, the executive director of Beloved Community Ministries, a local social justice nonprofit. Were here to stop environmental racism and the militarization of the police. ... We need to go back to meeting the basic needs rather than using police as the sole solution to all of our social problems.

The training center was approved by the City Council in September 2021 but requires an additional vote for more funding. City officials say the new 85-acre (34-hectare) campus would replace inadequate training facilities and would help address difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers that worsened after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice three years ago.

But opponents, who have been joined by activists from around the country, say they fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will exacerbate environmental damage. Protesters had been camping at the site since at least last year, and police said they had caused damage and attacked law enforcement officers and others.

Though more than 210 people who spoke during the City Council meeting were against the training center, a small handful voiced support, saying they trusted the judgment of Mayor Andre Dickens.

Councilmembers are considering whether to approve $31 million in public funds for the sites construction, as well as a provision that requires the city to pay $36 million  $1.2 million a year over 30 years  for using the facility. The rest of the $90 million project would come from private donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation, though city officials had, until recently, repeatedly said that the public obligation would only be $31 million.

The highly scrutinized vote also comes in the wake of the arrests Wednesday of three organizers who lead the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped find attorneys for arrested protesters.

Prosecutors have accused the three activists of money laundering and charity fraud, saying they used some of the money to fund violent acts of forest defenders. Warrants cite reimbursements for expenses including gasoline, forest clean-up, totes, covid rapid tests, media, yard signs. But the charges have alarmed human rights groups and prompted both of Georgias Democratic senators to issue statements over the weekend expressing their concerns.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock tweeted that bail funds held important roles during the civil rights movement and said that the images of the heavily armed police officers raiding the home where the activists lived reinforce the very suspicions that help to animate the current conflictnamely, concerns Georgians have about over-policing, the quelling of dissent in a democracy, and the militarization of our police.

Devin Franklin, an attorney with the Southern Center For Human Rights, also invoked Wednesday's arrests while speaking before City Council.

This is what we fear  the image of militarized forces being used to effectuate arrests for bookkeeping errors," Franklin said.

Numerous instances of violence and vandalism has been linked to the decentralized Stop Cop City movement, including a January protest in downtown Atlanta in which a police car was set alight as well as a March attack in which more than 150 masked protesters chased off police at the construction site and torched construction equipment before fleeing and blending in with a crowd at a nearby music festival. Those two instances have led to more than 40 people being charged with domestic terrorism, though prosecutors have had difficulty so far in proving that many of those arrested were in fact those who took part in the violence.

In a sign of the security concerns Monday, dozens of police officers were posted throughout City Hall and officials temporarily added liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes to the list of things prohibited inside the building.

Six hours into the meeting, Emory University religion professor Sara McClintock took to the podium and pleaded with councilmembers to reject, or at least rethink, the training center.

We dont want it, McClintock said. We dont want it because it doesnt contribute to life. Its not an institution of peace. Its not a way forward for our city that we love.
By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed an interim attorney general to fill in for Ken Paxton, who was impeached last week on allegations of corruption and other irregularities.

Abbott said in a written statement that he had appointed John Scott, an attorney and former Texas secretary of state under Abbott, as interim attorney general.

Scott also served as the Texas deputy attorney general for civil litigation from 2012 to 2015, during Abbott's own final term as attorney general.

Paxton, 60, by law was suspended from his attorney general post after he was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives on Saturday.

The Texas Senate will try Paxton on the 20 articles of impeachment lodged against him. If two-thirds of the 31 senators find him guilty, he will be removed from office. If not, he will be reinstated. The Senate has said Paxton's trial will begin no later than Aug. 28. Paxton's wife, Angela, is as a senator and chair of the Republican caucus in the chamber; she has yet to say whether she will recuse herself from his trial.

Allegations of wrongdoing have long dogged Paxton, who was first elected as attorney general in 2014 and has maintained his innocence, saying his detractors are politically motivated.

Paxton was indicted in 2015 by state prosecutors on three felony securities fraud charges. Paxton says he is innocent. No trial has taken place amid repeated procedural delays. The Texas court of criminal appeals is weighing what the venue of any trial should be.

Paxton is also under a separate corruption investigation by the Justice Department, according to the special prosecutors in Texas leading his state case. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Paxton's impeachment was triggered by his office's request that the House fund a $3.3 million lawsuit settlement he reached with four whistleblowers from his office.

The former high-ranking aides to Paxton accused him in 2020 of corruption. They filed a lawsuit against him after being fired.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - Texas and an anonymous anti-abortion activist made a joint court filing over the weekend, urging a federal judge to decide a $1.8 billion fraud lawsuit they brought against Planned Parenthood in their favor, saying a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling strengthened the case.

The lawsuit, before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, had been on hold awaiting the Supreme Court's decision Friday, which gave a boost to whistleblower lawsuits accusing health care providers and others of defrauding the government.

Texas and the anonymous plaintiff are seeking to force Planned Parenthood to return money it collected from Texas' and Louisiana's state Medicaid programs after the states tried to cut off its funding, plus heavy additional penalties.

Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former Republican president Donald Trump, is a staunch conservative who in April suspended approval for the abortion pill mifepristone. The Supreme Court has put that decision on hold while the Biden administration appeals. Lawsuits filed in Amarillo federal court automatically go to him, making the court popular with conservative activists.

The lawsuit was brought in 2021 by an anonymous plaintiff, identifying himself as the person who in 2015 released undercover video footage purporting to show Planned Parenthood staff discussing the sale of fetal tissue.

Those videos led to Texas and Louisiana announcing in 2015 that they would terminate Planned Parenthood as a provider covered by their Medicaid programs.

Planned Parenthood sued over those decisions and won court orders blocking the states' terminations. Those orders were later lifted on appeal, allowing Texas to end its contract with Planned Parenthood in 2021 and Louisiana in 2022.

The federal government has not intervened in the case, but said in a February filing that it did not believe there was any basis for Texas' and Louisiana's termination of Planned Parenthood.

The plaintiff claims that Planned Parenthood violated the federal False Claims Act by continuing to bill and collect payments from the state's Medicaid programs after it was originally terminated and failing to repay what it received after those orders were lifted.

Texas intervened in the case, though Louisiana did not. The plaintiff will be entitled to a portion of any award if his lawsuit is successful.

Planned Parenthood noted that the states never asked for the money to be repaid and that it was allowed to keep billing them after winning court orders against the states. It had also pointed to a decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Texas and Louisiana, saying a defendant cannot be held liable for defrauding the government as long as its billing practices were supported by an "objectively reasonable" interpretation of the law.

The Supreme Court rejected that standard on Friday, saying that whether a defendant can be liable for fraud depends on whether it subjectively believed its bills were false when it submitted them. Texas and the plaintiff argued in a Sunday court filing that the decision supported their case by knocking out one of Planned Parenthood's defenses.

Planned Parenthood countered that there was no evidence it subjectively believed its bills were false, meaning the lawsuit fails under the Supreme Court's new standard.

Kacsmaryk is considering motions by both sides to decide the case without a trial. It is not clear when he will rule.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and David Gregorio)
ON UTAH BEACH, France (AP)  Looking at the vastness of Utah Beach, its sand blowing in strong wind and bright sunshine, made Robert Gibson's memory of D-Day even more vivid.

It was tough, the 99-year-old veteran said of the moment when he landed there on June 6, 1944 alongside more than 150,000 other Allied troops.

Gibson was among dozens of World War II veterans, mostly Americans and British, who traveled to Normandy this week to mark the 79th anniversary of D-Day, commemorating the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

He remembered lots of casualties. We had almost run over bodies to get in the beach. Never forget we were only 18, 19 years old. ... Im glad I made it.

Gibson landed on Utah Beach on D-Day in the second wave, after the assault troops. He survived to continue fighting in Normandy and eventually into Germany.

The first job of his battalion, he said, was "to guard an ammunition dump and the first night it got struck. You didnt know where you were to go. Bullets were going all over the place. But we ducked it.

Andrew Negra also landed on Utah Beach. That was on July 18, 1944. He returned for the first time this year and was amazed by the warm welcome from local French people.

Every place we went, people are cheering, clapping, and theyve been doing this for I dont know how many years, he said.

At age 99, Negra is the only member of his battalion who is still alive. Braving the wind to walk on the beach for a few minutes, he said, So many we lost. And here I am.

Negra participated in combat operations until his division reached eastern Germany in April 1945.

On Sunday, more than 40 American veterans of World War II formed a parade, using wheelchairs, along the streets of the small town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6, 1944.

Cheerful crowds applauded, calling out Merci" and Thank you. Children waved, and many families asked for a photo with the men.

Donnie Edwards, president of the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps World War II veterans visit former battlefields, said, For us, every year is a big one.

Given the ages of the soldiers who fought nearly eight decades ago, Edwards observed, Nothing is guaranteed. So we want to make sure that we do everything we can to get them an incredible and enjoyable experience.

The veterans then headed to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont for a brief ceremony at a monument honoring the U.S. Navy that overlooks Utah Beach.

The fallen will never be forgotten. The veteran will ever be honored, an inscription in the stone reads.

Some of the almost-centenarians asked volunteers to accompany them on the wide stretch of sand.

Matthew Yacovino, 98, became emotional as he remembered what happened there to his older brother, who almost died after his jeep blew up during the landings.

The driver got killed and my brother fell on the beach unconscious," Yacovino said with tears in the eyes.

His brother eventually recovered. Yacovino himself served as a combat air crewman during the war.

Like others who come to Normandy for historical reenactments of what transpired there, Valerie and Lionel Draucourt, visitors from the Paris region, dressed in khaki uniforms. They wanted to pay their respects to the veterans.

Frankly, I dont think we can quite fathom what they lived through. We cant understand it, its so big, its crazy, Lionel Draucourt said.

Veterans were due to take part in official ceremonies of the 79th anniversary on Tuesday, including at the Normandy American Cemetery.

On D-Day, Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. On that single day, 4,414 Allied soldiers lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.

On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded.

U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman, Gen. Mark Milley, stressed that the significance of the commemorations for memorializing the efforts that they did and what they did."

"They were fighting to make sure that fascism and Nazism didnt stay in control of Europe. Ultimately, we all know that they were successful, Milley said.

___

Nicolas Garriga contributed to this story.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Tuesday acquitted the former local head of Amnesty International, Taner Kilic, and three other rights activists in a re-trial of a protracted case on terrorism charges, the rights group said.

In 2020, Kilic, a former honorary chairman of Amnesty Turkey, was sentenced to more than six years in prison on charges of supporting U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for orchestrating an attempted coup in 2016.

Three other rights activists were sentenced to two years and one month in jail for assisting a terrorist organisation. Those accused denied the charges.

Turkey's top appeals court, The Court of Cassation, referred Kilic's case back to a first-instance court last year on the grounds of an "incomplete investigation".

The lower court ruled to acquit all four defendants due to a lack of sufficient evidence, the rights group said.

At the time, the prosecution alleged the defendants, who participated in a workshop on digital security on the island of Buyukada, near Istanbul, had come together for a secret meeting to organise an uprising and foment chaos.

Critics say that Turkey's courts muzzle free speech and political dissent under pressure from President Tayyip Erdogan, charges the government denies.

(Reporting by Burcu Karakas; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Christina Fincher)
By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday gave a boost to whistleblowers in their bid to revive lawsuits accusing pharmacy operators of knowingly overbilling government health insurance programs for prescription drugs at taxpayers' expense.

The justices in a 9-0 decision threw out a lower court's ruling that said the pharmacies could not be held responsible for fraud in whistleblower cases pursued against Safeway Inc, owned by Albertsons Companies Inc, and SuperValu Inc, part of United Natural Foods Inc.

At issue was whether companies can avoid liability for fraud by showing that an "objectively reasonable" reading of the law supported their conduct - regardless of whether they truly believed that interpretation at the time of their alleged wrongdoing.

The litigation was filed under a law called the False Claims Act (FCA) that lets individuals sue on behalf of the U.S. government when they have evidence of fraud against federal programs.

The whistleblowers, seeking monetary damages, accused the companies of offering prescription drugs at discounted prices to most customers paying out of pocket, while improperly charging higher rates to the government. Government healthcare programs reimburse pharmacies for dispensing covered drugs to beneficiaries.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote the ruling, said of the intent requirement that "what matters for an FCA case is whether the defendant knew the claim was false," adding that "it does not matter whether some other, objectively reasonable interpretation" exists.

Whistleblower Thomas Proctor sued Safeway while whistleblowers Tracy Schutte and Michael Yarberry sued SuperValu.

Whistleblower advocacy groups as well as a number of states had said a Supreme Court ruling against the whistleblowers would make it easier for fraudsters to evade accountability for filing false claims to the government and risked undermining state-administered Medicaid programs.

The whistleblowers said federal law requires pharmacies to bill the Medicare and Medicaid programs the same prices it charged the general public under a rate known as a pharmacy's "usual and customary" price. They also said both companies knew they were defrauding the government and worked to conceal their pricing practices.

The companies sought to fend off the whistleblower lawsuits by claiming that Medicare and Medicaid billing requirements were unclear and that their practices were supported by a reasonable reading of the law.

The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the companies. The 7th Circuit said the pharmacy operators could not be held responsible for fraud given the "objectively reasonable" interpretation of the law in their favor - even if they did not actually believe that interpretation.

President Joe Biden's administration backed the whistleblowers in their appeal to the Supreme Court. Lawyers for the administration urged the justices to reverse the 7th Circuit, saying the ruling undermined the False Claims Act.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Ukraine on Tuesday called Russia a terrorist state at the top U.N. court as hearings began in a case over Moscow's backing of pro-Russian separatists blamed for shooting down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.

It was the first time lawyers for Ukraine and Russia met at the International Court of Justice, also know as the World Court, since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Legal teams with dozens of representatives were sent by each side.

A panel of 16 judges at the ICJ began hearing Ukraine's claim that Moscow violated a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty by equipping and funding pro-Russian forces who shot down the jetliner, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

In the same claim, Ukraine has also asked the Hague-based court to order Russia to halt discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia since 2014.

In opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych commented on the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam hours earlier in Russian-held territory in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Kyiv says Russia blew up the dam; the Kremlin has blamed what it says was Ukrainian sabotage.

"Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission," Korynevych told hearings, describing Russia's actions as "the actions of a terrorist state".

"Just today Russia blew up a major dam ..., causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant."

Russia will have an opportunity to respond to Ukraine's case on Thursday. Moscow has tried to get the case thrown out, arguing the ICC has no jurisdiction.

RUSSIA WANTS TO 'WIPE OUT WHAT MAKES UKRAINIANS, UKRAINIANS'

Flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile on July 17, 2014 over pro-Russian, separatist-held eastern Ukraine.

Last November, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist in absentia for their role and sentenced them to life in prison. It found that Russia had "overall control" over the separatist forces.

Ukraine wants to court to decide that Moscow has breached the anti-terrorism treaty by supplying funds and weapons to pro-Russian forces in Ukraine since 2014, including the group that allegedly shot down MH17.

Russia boycotted hearings at the court in March 2022 that dealt with a request by Ukraine to impose emergency measures in another ICJ case, in which Kyiv is countering a Russian claim of genocide against Russian-speakers in Ukraine. Kyiv calls that claim a bogus justification for Russia's invasion.

Ukraine also argued Russia was discriminating against ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars in Crimea in an effort to erase their culture.

"(Russia) is pursuing a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians, Ukrainians, and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars," said Harold Koh, a lawyer for the Ukrainian government.

Russia denies systematic human rights abuses in Ukrainian territory that it occupies.

Rulings of the ICJ, the U.N.'s top court for disputes between states, are binding but have no enforcement mechanism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also the subject of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, also in The Hague, on war crimes charges over forced deportations of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin denies this.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch; editing by Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich)
KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the Vatican on Tuesday to contribute to the implementation of a Ukrainian peace plan during talks with a Papal envoy about Russia's war on Ukraine.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, tasked by Pope Francis to carry out a peace mission to try to help end the war in Ukraine, visited Kyiv to sound out the Ukrainian authorities.

Zelenskiy said they discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation "in the framework of the Ukrainian Peace Formula."

"Only united efforts, diplomatic isolation and pressure on Russia can influence the aggressor and bring a just peace to the Ukrainian land," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"I call on the Holy See to contribute to the implementation of the Ukrainian peace plan. Ukraine welcomes the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but since the war is on our territory, the algorithm for achieving peace can be Ukrainian only."

Zelenskiy met the pope at the Vatican in May and later appeared cool to the prospects of any papal initiative that would put Ukraine on an equal footing with Russia, which invaded in February 2022.

Zelenskiy's plan calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders.

The Vatican said before Zuppi's trip that the main purpose was to listen to Kyiv's views on ways "to reach a just peace and support humanitarian gestures that may help ease tensions".

The mention of "humanitarian gestures" appeared to be a reference to Kyiv's request for help in the repatriation of Ukrainian children it says have been illegally deported by Russia but Zelenskiy's statement made no reference to the issue.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Pope Francis leaves after a Pentecostal mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, May 28. AP-Yonhap



Rome  Pope Francis returned to the Vatican before noon on Tuesday after being taken briefly to hospital for some "clinical examinations," Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni announced on Tuesday.



The pontiff was taken to the Gemelli Clinic for a few hours, but the Vatican did not provide any information about the nature or purpose of the examinations.



Reports from the Italian news agency ANSA?and other outlets said he was released after what they referred to as pre-planned medical checks.



The head of the Catholic Church was hospitalized for several days at the end of March because of bronchitis. He returned to the Vatican in time for Holy Week and Easter weekend celebrations.



At the end of May, the pope had to cancel planned audiences and appointments on one day because of a fever. (dpa)


By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - The U.S. government cannot ban people convicted of non-violent crimes from possessing guns, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

The 11-4 ruling from the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest defeat for gun control laws in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year expanding gun rights nationwide.

The decision stems from a 2020 lawsuit by a Pennsylvania man, Bryan Range, who was barred under federal law from possessing a gun after pleading guilty to welfare fraud. He claimed the prohibition violated his right to bear arms under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"We are very pleased that the 3rd Circuit has vindicated the rights of our client by faithfully applying the Supreme Court's decision," Range's lawyer, Peter Patterson, said in an email.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which enforces federal gun laws, declined to comment.

Range pleaded guilty in 1995 to committing welfare fraud in Pennsylvania in order to obtain $2,458 of food stamps, a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. He was sentenced to three years of probation.

Federal criminal law generally bars people convicted of crimes punishable by more than a year in prison from possessing guns. Such crimes are usually felonies, but the law also includes some state misdemeanors, like Range's.

A federal judge ruled against Range in 2021. Last June, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects individuals' right to carry guns in public for self-defense, and that any restrictions on that right must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of gun regulation.

Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman wrote for the majority on Tuesday that the government had failed to point to any laws from the United States' founding establishing a tradition of disarming non-violent criminals.

Four judges dissented.

"Where, as here, the legislature has made a reasonable and considered judgment to disarm those who show disrespect for the law, it is not the place of unelected judges to substitute that judgment with their own," wrote Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, one of the dissenters.

(This story has been corrected to rectify the author of majority opinion in paragraph 9)

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by David Gregorio, Alexia Garamfalvi and Leslie Adler)
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The battle to raise the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling rekindled debate in Congress over funding for Ukraine, as House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to take up legislation to boost defense spending beyond what was in last week's deal.

McCarthy's comments could signal a tougher road through Congress when President Joe Biden next asks for additional funds for Ukraine. The House and Senate approved $48 billion for the Kyiv government in December, before Republicans took control of the House.

That money is expected to last at least through Sept. 30, the end of the currently fiscal year. Lawmakers said Biden is expected to request more funds by August or September.

The debt ceiling agreement, which Biden signed into law on Saturday, capped national security spending in the year ending Sept. 30, 2024 at $886 billion, the amount Biden requested but below what congressional defense hawks wanted.

After some Republicans threatened to vote against the deal over the tightened defense spending, the Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders promised that the caps would not prevent the chamber from passing supplemental spending legislation to provide more money for Ukraine and the Department of Defense.

However, McCarthy, who negotiated the agreement with Biden, said he would not automatically allow a vote on a supplemental in the Republican-led chamber.

"It doesn't matter if it's Ukraine or anything else. The idea that someone wants to go do a supplemental after we just came to an agreement is trying to blow the agreement," McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.

McCarthy said he supported Ukraine and helping Ukraine to defeat the Russian invasion but would want more information before moving ahead.

"I'm not giving money for the sake of giving money. I want to see what is the purpose, what is the outcome you want to achieve and then show me the plan to see if I think that plan actually can work?" he said.

House Republicans want any money for Ukraine - or other priorities - to move ahead via "regular order," with Congress debating and passing the 12 appropriations bills that provide funding for the government.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States had intelligence of a detailed Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipeline three months before it was bombed, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online.

The CIA learned last June, through a European spy agency, that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to blow up the Russia-to-Germany natural gas project, the newspaper reported.

The European intelligence reporting was shared on chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was recently charged in relation to the leak of sensitive U.S. documents. The Washington Post said it got a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends.

The intelligence report was based on information obtained from an individual in Ukraine, the Washington Post said, adding the CIA shared the report with Germany and other European countries last June.

The specific details included numbers of operatives and methods of attack, according to the Washington Post. It would mean that for nearly a year, Western allies had a basis to suspect Kyiv in the sabotage.

The newspaper said that officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.

The Post added it had agreed to withhold the name of the European country as well as some aspects of the suspected plan at the request of government officials, citing risks to sources and operations.

The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately confirm the intelligence cited by the Washington Post.

Several underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries say the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. The two countries as well as Germany are investigating the incident.

Washington and NATO called the incident "an act of sabotage." Moscow blamed the West. Neither side has provided evidence for who committed the attacks.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jon Boyle)
ABOARD BRP CABRA, Philippines (AP)  U.S., Japanese and Philippine coast guard ships staged law enforcement drills in waters near the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday as Washington presses efforts to reinforce alliances in Asia amid an increasingly tense rivalry with China.

Witnessed by journalists onboard a Philippine coast guard patrol boat, the BRP Cabra, the drills focused on a scenario involving the interdiction and boarding of a vessel suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction off the Bataan Peninsula, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said.

Shots rang out as heavily armed coast guard personnel rapidly boarded the vessel from a speedboat and herded the crew members toward the stern. A helicopter hovered as U.S. and Japanese coast guard ships helped rescue crew members who jumped off the target vessel during the mock assault.

We are not just all display, Philippine coast guard deputy spokesperson John Ybanez said. All these exercises that we do will help us help each other in possible scenarios in the future.

The U.S. Coast Guard deployed one of its most advanced cutters, the 418-foot (127-meter) Stratton, in the June 1-7 exercises hosted by the Philippines, Washingtons oldest treaty ally in Asia. The Stratton has been conducting exercises in the region to share expertise in search and rescue and law enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

This first trilateral engagement between the coast guards of these nations will provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen global maritime governance though professional exchanges and combined operations, the Strattons commanding officer, Capt. Brian Krautler, said at the start of the exercises. "Together well demonstrate professional, rules-based standards of maritime operations with our steadfast partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Japan deployed a large coast guard ship, the Akitsushima, while four Philippine coast guard vessels joined the exercises.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in the South China Sea and in any future confrontation over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing regards as a Chinese province.

Washington lays no claims to the strategic South China Sea, where China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysian, Taiwan and Brunei have been locked in tense territorial stand-offs for decades. But the U.S. says freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the busy waterway are in its national interest.

Philippine officials say such joint exercises with U.S. forces do not target any country. But China has warned that increased U.S. security deployments in Asia target Beijings interests and undermine regional stability.

The U.S. Pacific Command said over the weekend that a U.S. guided-missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate were intercepted by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese vessel overtook the American ship and veered across its bow at a distance of 150 yards (about 140 meters) in an unsafe manner," it said.

Last month, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft flew directly in front of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 plane in an an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver while the American reconnaissance plane was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law."

In April, Japan adopted a new five-year ocean policy that calls for stronger maritime security, including bolstering its coast guards capability and cooperation with the military. It cited a list of threats, including repeated intrusions by Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters.

The Philippine coast guard, meanwhile, has intensified patrols in the South China Sea and taken extra efforts to document and publicize assertive Chinese behavior in the waterway following a Feb. 6 incident in which a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members on a Philippine patrol boat off a disputed reef.

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Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and later met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

Blinken's trip, his second to Saudi Arabia since becoming America's top diplomat, comes after the kingdom under Prince Mohammed has been more willing to disregard the U.S. in striking its own decisions. Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with President Joe Biden on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and reaching a detente with Iran mediated by China. Biden also pledged to make Saudi Arabia a pariah over the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, Saudi Arabia still relies  like other Gulf Arab nations  on the U.S. to be the security guarantor for the wider Middle East as tensions over Iran's nuclear program in recent years have spilled over into a series of attacks. Riyadh and Washington also have been working in tandem to try and strike a lasting cease-fire in Sudan, which has been elusive during weeks of fighting between that country's military and a rival paramilitary force. And Saudi Arabia wants to end its war in Yemen, something also sought by the U.S.

Under the hood, especially when it comes to security and a few other matters like that, the relationship is stronger than it was a year ago, said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. It looks more strained  and in some superficial ways it is  but it is overall stronger.

Blinken arrived to a Saudi Arabia more eager to engage internationally, particularly after being involved in prisoner swaps in Moscow's war on Ukraine. The kingdom hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month at an Arab League summit, then Russia's sanctioned interior minister immediately after.

With oil prices well below $100 a barrel, the Biden administration doesnt have an immediate concern over prices at the pump in the summer driving season. Washington likely does hope to leverage its security relationship with Saudi Arabia as it gets warmer with China and Russia. However, the Saudis likely want guarantees that Biden can't provide when it comes to Congress stopping arms sales to the kingdom, Ibish said.

Khashoggi still haunts the halls of Congress. I dont think thats over in Washington, Ibish said. The rest of the world has moved on, but I dont think that Congress has moved on.

Asked about Blinken bringing up human rights issues, including Khashoggi's death, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim told journalists last week that human rights are a pillar of how this administration engages with countries around the world and in this region. Benaim declined to discuss specifics.

I think what youll see on this trip is a vision of the U.S.-Saudi relationship thats both rooted in our historic mainstays of cooperation in areas like defense and security and counterterrorism, includes ongoing important regional diplomacy when it comes to Yemen and Sudan, and looks for opportunities for regional de-escalation and regional integration, Benaim said.

He added: We will not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region.

Blinken met Prince Mohammed early Wednesday, with State Department saying they discussed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond.

The secretary also emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights, a statement added.

A Saudi statement acknowledged the meeting, but offered no specifics.

Blinken's visit comes after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, traveled to Jeddah in May and met Prince Mohammed. The prince also hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime foe of America, for a meeting late Monday, Saudi state television reported.

Outside of meeting Prince Mohammed and other Saudi officials, Blinken also will attend an anti-Islamic State meeting in Riyadh and meet with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The six-nation GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A deeper diplomatic engagement by the United States is likely to produce better outcomes in the long run than simply washing our hands and pulling back from the region, wrote Brian Katulis, the vice president of policy for the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

However, the challenges are many.

The Yemen war continues despite prisoner swaps and efforts to end the conflict. Meanwhile, both sides likely have wants that won't be fulfilled. Saudi Arabia increasingly has pushed for a nuclear cooperation that includes America allowing it to enrich uranium in the kingdom  something that worries nonproliferation experts as spinning centrifuges opens the door to a possible weapons program. Prince Mohammed has said the kingdom would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran had one.

Blinken on Monday night told a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that the Biden administration continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to verifiably, effectively, and sustainably prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. However, he added: All options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Blinken first traveled to Saudi Arabia as America's top diplomat last year as part of Bidens trip there. That trip saw Biden fly directly from Israel to the kingdom. Just before it, Saudi Arabia allowed overflight rights to Israeli airlines heading to Asia  a major move allowing them to save both flying time and jet fuel.

A diplomatic recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia though appears unlikely at the moment, despite neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognizing Israel in 2020. Saudi Arabia under King Salman has repeatedly called on Israel to allow the Palestinians to create a state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now oversees the most right-wing and religious government in Israels history, making such a move highly unlikely given heightened violence and tensions there.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
By Hannah Lang, Jonathan Stempel and Tom Wilson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators sued Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao on Monday for allegedly operating a "web of deception," piling further pressure on the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange and sending bitcoin to its lowest in almost three months.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaint, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., listed 13 charges against Binance, Zhao and the operator of its purportedly independent U.S. exchange.

The SEC alleged that Binance artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds, failed to restrict U.S. customers from its platform and misled investors about its market surveillance controls.

The SEC also claimed that Binance and Zhao, its billionaire founder and one of the crypto industry's highest-profile moguls, secretly controlled customers' assets, allowing them to commingle and divert investor funds "as they please."

Binance created separate U.S. entities "as part of an elaborate scheme to evade U.S. federal securities laws," the SEC also alleged, citing a number of practices first reported by Reuters in a series of investigations into the exchange published this year and in 2022.

From almost three years ago until June 2022, a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain, engaged in so-called wash trading that artificially inflated the trading volume of crypto asset securities on the Binance.US platform, the SEC also alleged. Sigma Chain spent $11 million from an account on a yacht, the SEC said.

"We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law," SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement.

In a blog post, Binance said: "We intend to defend our platform vigorously," adding that "because Binance is not a U.S. exchange, the SEC's actions are limited in reach."

"All user assets on Binance and Binance affiliate platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure," the blog post said.

In a statement, Binance said it had "actively cooperated" with the SEC "from the start" and "respectfully disagree" with the SEC's allegations. Binance had been trying to find a "reasonable resolution" with the SEC but the agency "at the eleventh hour" issued new requests and went to court. Binance said the SEC's actions appeared to be an effort to "claim jurisdictional ground from other regulators."

Binance.US, which is ultimately controlled by Zhao, said in a tweet that the lawsuit was "unjustified by the facts, by the law, or by the Commission's own precedent."

Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, fell as much as 6% on the news to its lowest in almost three months. Binance's own cryptocurrency BNB, the world's fourth-largest by market size, dropped more than 5%.

Market players said the SEC's allegations could hobble Binance, with the lawsuit likely to reverberate through the crypto industry. Binance dominates crypto trading, last year processing trades worth about $65 billion a day.

A March report from CCData showed that Binances spot market share across top-tier exchanges fell in March for the first time in five months to 57.7% from 62.0% in February. Its derivatives trading volume, however, rose.

"I think that there's a big risk here that this could be crippling to Binance," said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.

LEGAL HEADACHES

The SEC complaint is the latest in a series of legal headaches for Binance, which was also sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in March for operating what the regulator alleged were an "illegal" exchange and a "sham" compliance program. Zhao called those an "incomplete recitation of facts."

Binance is also under investigation by the Justice Department for suspected money laundering and sanctions violations, according to people familiar with the probe.

The holding company of Binance is based in the Cayman Islands. It was founded in Shanghai in 2017 by CEO Zhao, a Canadian citizen born and raised in China until age 12. The exchange says it does not have a headquarters and has declined to state the location of its main Binance.com exchange.

The SEC alleged that Zhao designed and implemented a plan to "surreptitiously evade U.S. laws." The agency said Binance's chief compliance officer admitted that: "We do not want [Binance].com to be regulated ever." It said Zhao directed Binance.US even though the U.S. entity has long said it operates independently.

The SEC said billions of dollars in Binance customer funds were commingled, or mixed with corporate funds, in breach of U.S. laws, in a bank account of an entity controlled by Zhao, then transferred to a trading firm, Merit Peak, also controlled by Zhao.

Last month, Reuters reported that Binance commingled its customers' funds with its corporate revenues in a U.S. bank account belonging to Merit Peak. Binance denied mixing customer deposits and company funds, saying users who sent money to the account were not making deposits but rather buying Binances bespoke dollar-linked crypto token.

Reuters reported on Monday before the SEC lawsuit that a senior Binance executive was the main operator for five bank accounts belonging to BAM Trading, the operator of Binance.US, including an account that held American customers' funds.

The SEC wrote that the executive had at least until December 2020, also had "signatory authority over BAM Trading's U.S. Dollar accounts."

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Hannah Lang in Washington and Tom Wilson in London, additional reporting by Angus Berwick in London and John McCrank in New York; Editing by Megan Davies, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration is weighing in on the controversy over Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, saying his recent performances in Germany were antisemitic, an assessment shared by many in Israel and the pro-Israel community.

The State Department said Tuesday that Waters has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes" and a concert he gave late last month in Germany contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust.

The comments came in a written response to a question posed at Mondays State Department press briefing about whether the administration agreed with criticism of Rogers from the U.S. special envoy to combat antisemitism, Deborah Lipstadt.

Special Envoy Lipstadts quote-tweet speaks for itself, the department said.

The concert in question, which took place in Berlin, contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust," the department said. The artist in question has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people.

In a May 24 tweet after the concert in Berlin, during which Waters appeared on stage in a costume reminiscent of Nazi-era Germany, Lipstadt denounced the musician by echoing comments from EU antisemitism envoy Katharina von Schnurbein, who is German.

I wholeheartedly concur with @EUAntisemitism s condemnation of Roger Waters and his despicable Holocaust distortion, Lipstadt wrote in reply to a tweet from von Schnurbein.

Von Schnurbein had taken issue with Waters' performance in Berlin as well as his previous comments related to Israel and the Holocaust.

I am sick & disgusted by Roger Waters obsession to belittle and trivialize the Shoah & the sarcastic way in which he delights in trampling on the victims, systematically murdered by the Nazis, von Schnurbein wrote. In Germany. Enough is enough.

Shortly after the concert, police in Berlin said they had opened an investigation of Waters on suspicion of incitement over the costume he wore.

Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation machine gun while dressed in a long black coat with a red armband. Police confirmed that the costume could constitute a glorification, justification or approval of Nazi rule and therefore a disturbance of the public peace.

Waters rejected those accusations in a statement on Facebook and Instagram, saying the elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms.

He claimed that attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. Waters has also drawn the ire of the pro-Israel community for his outspoken support of the BDS movement, which calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel.
The United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., this March. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Its crunch time for the U.S. Supreme Court, as the justices must issue opinions on dozens of cases before they break for recess around the end of June or beginning of July.

Among the highly anticipated rulings that have yet to be announced are some in cases involving affirmative action, LGBTQ+ rights and student debt relief.

Here is a preview of five key SCOTUS decisions to watch for in the coming weeks.

Affirmative action

(Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University)

Supporters of affirmative action policies rally outside the Supreme Court on Oct. 31, 2022.

Decades of progress on campus diversity could come to an end, given that the courts 6-3 conservative majority has signaled its skepticism over race-based college admissions policies.

According to a recent poll, a majority of Americans said the high court should not block colleges from taking an applicants race and ethnicity into account during the admissions process.

The justices are considering two challenges to race-based admissions policies, at Harvard and at the University of North Carolina.

The plaintiff in both cases, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a landmark 2003 decision that allowed the narrow use of race in college admissions decisions. SFFA argues that Harvards policy violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits educational institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating based on race.

In the UNC case, SFFA argues that the universitys policy violates Title VI, in addition to violating the 14th Amendments guarantee of a person's equal protection under the law, which covers state universities.

Student loan forgiveness

(Biden v. Nebraska and Dept. of Education v. Brown)

A sign reading Cancel Student Debt is staged outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday February 28, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The lives of 40 million U.S. student loan borrowers could be significantly affected when the high court rules on President Bidens plan to cancel $400 billion in student debt.

Bidens plan, currently on hold, would cancel up to $20,000 in loans for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers, for those whose income is less than $125,000.

The justices are considering two separate challenges to the program: one from six GOP-led states (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina) and the other from two student loan borrowers who do not qualify for student debt forgiveness under the presidents plan.

The core issue in both cases is whether Biden overstepped his executive power.

In February, the conservative justices appeared to signal that they believed he had done so.

We take very seriously the idea of separation of powers and that power should be divided to prevent its abuse, Chief Justice John Roberts said during oral arguments.

However, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett notably joined the liberal justices in grilling the plaintiffs about whether they had standing to sue in the first place. Its possible the court could throw out the cases altogether.

Voting rights

(Merrill v. Milligan)

The Alabama Capital Building in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. The US Supreme Court will decide whether Republican-led Alabama discriminates against Black voters by drawing congressional districts that favor White candidates. Photographer: Andi Rice/Bloomberg

The justices will decide whether Alabama violated the Voting Rights Act when the congressional district map was drawn. The outcome could weaken the Voting Rights Act and its long-standing protections for communities of color against racial discrimination in voting.

Alabama lawmakers passed a new map last year that has only one majority-Black district, even though Black residents make up 27% of the states population. The remaining Black voters are dispersed among the other six congressional districts.

The challengers allege that GOP state lawmakers deliberately designed the map this way to dilute the power of Black voters.

A lower court ruled that the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on race, and said GOP state lawmakers could have drawn the map with two congressional districts of majority-Black voters.

Alabama asked the Supreme Court to overturn the lower courts ruling, arguing that race shouldnt be a consideration when congressional maps are drawn.

Freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights

(303 Creative v. Elenis)

Supporters of web designer Lorie Smith and counter-protesters demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on December 05, 2022 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments from cases including one involving Lorie Smith, the owner of 303 Creative, a website design company in Colorado who refuses to create websites for same-sex weddings despite a state anti-discrimination law. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Freedom of speech is being pitted against LGBTQ+ rights in a case that involves a business owners rights to refuse services to same-sex couples.

A Colorado website designer, Lorie Smith, is planning to expand her business to creating custom wedding websites, but wants to be able not to work for gay couples, citing her evangelical Christian beliefs. Colorados public accommodations law says that a business cant discriminate against customers based on their sexual orientation, with fines of up to $500 for each violation.

Smith is seeking an exemption from the law, arguing that it would infringe on her First Amendment rights by forcing her to create something she finds objectionable.

Meanwhile, the state and civil rights groups say that Smith is seeking a license to discriminate.

In a similar case in 2018, the Supreme Court issued a narrow ruling in favor of a Colorado bakery owner who refused to make a wedding cake, but the majority opinion only addressed the specific case. Now the justices must decide whether creative businesses like Smiths are protected under the First Amendment.

Election regulations

(Moore v. Harper)

Voting rights activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in the Moore v. Harper case Dec. 7, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

This case could have far-reaching implications for the way our elections are run.

The North Carolina Supreme Court threw out the states 2022 congressional map, saying it was the result of partisan gerrymandering and violated the state constitutions guarantee to free and fair elections.

The GOP-led state Legislature appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the state Supreme Court had overstepped its authority. In the Moore v. Harper case, the North Carolina lawmakers are asking the justices to endorse an obscure interpretation of the U.S. Constitution's election clause, which would grant state legislatures near-total control over federal elections.

This theory was promoted by supporters of Donald Trump after the 2020 presidential election.

The justices may ultimately conclude that theres nothing for them to rule on.

During the 2022 midterms, North Carolina Republicans gained control of the state Supreme Court, which overturned its earlier decision on the congressional map after oral arguments were presented in this case last December.
GRAYLING, Mich.  A large wildfire burning in northern Michigan is now almost fully contained after the tireless efforts of crews working around the clock on fire suppression efforts.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) on Saturday, ensuring that state and local first responders would be provided with the resources needed to control and extinguish the blaze.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Wilderness Trail Fire began around 1 p.m. Saturday and resulted from a campfire on private land.

Fire crews from around the region, including a team of 10 firefighters from Wisconsin, worked to get a handle on the fire.

"Were grateful for the help from our neighbors in Wisconsin as well as the support from federal, state and local fire departments, emergency management officials and law enforcement personnel," DNR Incident Management Team leader Mike Janissee said in a news release.

According to the DNR, preliminary estimates showed that the fire threatened 35 homes, 38 vehicles, including 23 campers and three boats, and 58 outbuildings.

2 DEAD, 44 INJURED AFTER AN EF-3 TORNADO TEARS THROUGH MICHIGAN TOWN

At least three outbuildings were lost in the fire, the DNR added.

Smoke from the fire forced officials to close a section of Interstate 75 in the area, but it has since been reopened. The DNR said local roads near the fire remain closed, and residents and visitors are being asked to stay away from the area.

And while this blaze produces smoke, most of what is being smelled around the Great Lakes is coming from fires in Canada.

"The overwhelming majority of the smoke across northern Michigan is originating from wildfires across far eastern Ontario and Quebec," said the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, Michigan.

Locals said wildfires are not uncommon in the state, and blazes are usually compared to the 1980 Mack Lake Fire, which was the worst in recent memory. The fire burned more than 20,000 acres in just six hours, destroyed 44 buildings and caused at least one fatality.
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces on Tuesday of blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station after mining the facility, and said Moscow must be held to account for a "terrorist attack".

A Ukrainian military spokesperson said Russia's aim was to prevent Ukrainian troops crossing the Dnipro river to attack Russian occupying forces.

Russian-installed officials gave conflicting accounts, some blaming Ukrainian shelling, others saying the dam on the Dnipro had burst on its own.

"Tonight at 02:50, Russian terrorists carried out an internal detonation of the structures of the Kakhovskaya HPP (hydroelectric power plant)," Zelenskiy said after an emergency meeting of senior officials.

He said "a set of international and security measures was agreed upon (at the meeting) to hold Russia accountable for this terrorist attack."

In a later video address to a summit of European countries in the Bucharest Nine group, Zelenskiy said Russia had controlled the dam and hydroelectric plant for over a year.

"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside - with shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers and blown up by them," he said.

Zelenskiy, whose country wants to join NATO, urged members of the military alliance meeting in Vilnius next month to show "there will be no weakness in Europe" and demonstrate to Russia that "terror is not a tool to influence NATO's decisions".

The Foreign Ministry called for an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting and new sanctions on Russia, in particular on its missile industry and nuclear sector.

Serhiy Naev, commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said the dam's destruction "should not prevent our advance in those directions where there may be spillage of water."

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
A new four-part true-crime documentary series premiering on HBO Tuesday (also streaming on MAX) goes beyond the typical genre offering.

Burden of Proof, directed by Durham filmmaker Cynthia Hill, tells the story of Stephen Pandos and his search for answers about what happened to his sister, Jennifer, who was just 15 years old when she disappeared from her home in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1987.

But beyond the (presumed) murder plot, the story is equal parts family drama, as Stephen, who lives in Charlotte, is convinced that his father, Ronald Pandos, killed his sister, and that his mother, Margie, helped him cover it up  or at the very least, knows more than shes telling.

Everything about Burden of Proof is heartbreaking, but its also exhilarating in parts, as the story twists and turns till the very end, unfolding in real time all while Hill is filming. The story you think you have at the beginning is not the story you are left with at the end of Part 4  and its fascinating to watch.

Hill, who has won major awards for her domestic violence documentary Private Violence and for the PBS series A Chefs Life, about Kinston chef Vivian Howard, spent seven years chronicling Stephens quest, creating an intimacy not just with him but with his mother, who also lives in Charlotte. Jennifers father also agrees to interviews, as do Jennifers friends from high school and law enforcement authorities, both past and present, all of which help get us closer and closer to answers.

Stephen Pandos, center, looks for answers to his sister Jennifers disappearance in the HBO (MAX) documentary series Burden of Proof, directed by Cynthia Hill.

Cynthia Hill and Stephen Pandos both agreed to answer some questions from us about the filmmaking process and about where things stand now. There are no spoilers in their answers.

When and how to watch: Burden of Proof has four parts, with the first two airing Tuesday, June 6, on HBO, starting at 9 p.m. The final two episodes air Wednesday, June 7, but you can stream the whole series on Tuesday 6 on Max (formerly HBO Max).

Questions & Answers with Cynthia Hill

Q: When considering new projects, you must have so many choices. How did you learn about this case and what made you decide to take it on?

Stephen reached out to me. He wanted to bring attention to his sisters case. He believed his mother had been traumatized and that prevented her from telling the truth about what his father did to Jennifer. He knew about my prior film, Private Violence, about domestic violence survivors. He knew I was from Eastern North Carolina. His mother is from Lumberton. He thought I would be able to connect with her.

What initially drew my producer, Christine Delp, and I to the story was how not knowing what happened to his sister had affected Stephen. And for me, having two young daughters of my own, I really wanted to learn more about Jennifer. In many of these cases and documentaries in this genre, the victim gets lost and we dont fully get to know them and their stories.

A note left in 15-year-old Jennifer Pandos bedroom in her Williamsburg, Virginia, home in 1987. The story of Jennifers disappearance is told in the HBO (MAX) documentary series Burden of Proof, directed by Cynthia Hill.

Q: You must have envisioned the narrative in a certain way when you started, before things began to shift. How did you initially see the story?

To be honest, when I begin a project, I dont know what will happen with the story. Thats the exciting part of this business. You are following real people with real things happening to them.

As we got deeper into the story, I saw it as a film about how a tragic and unsolved case deeply affected a family for more than three decades. It was never going to be a whodunnit type of story. Of course people will be intrigued by the mystery. But to me, the most interesting part is how the search for answers can become a lifelong burden.

When we began filming, the members of Stephens family were estranged from each other. No one talked to each other. The pain and the mistrust was palpable. We had to develop relationships with Stephen, Margie and Ron separately. Viewers witness how our relationship with each family member evolved and how their relationships to each other change over the years.

Margie Pandos of Charlotte. Her teenage daughter Jennifer disappeared from the familys Williamsburg, Virginia, home in 1987. The story is told in the HBO (MAX) documentary series Burden of Proof, directed by Cynthia Hill.

Q: I loved the ending of the documentary, but the story really could have continued on and on. With a story like this that is sort of ongoing, how do you know when to stop filming and reporting, and put out a finished product?

As a filmmaker documenting a story in real time, you have to find a stopping point. No, it is not the end of the story but it is a conclusion for the story that we are telling.

Theres a significant transformation of Stephen. He goes from being so certain to being less certain, and more at peace with the uncertainty. And the audience goes on that same journey. I think thats really interesting, especially in the true crime genre where theres a lot of pressure to have a conclusive ending. Our series feels really different.

Q: And related to the idea of going on and on, would you consider filming more if something else happens in the case?

Definitely. Were invested in this story and would love to continue. But we are also OK if we end here.

Q: What is your next project?

Good question  and the most scary question for an artist. Im always looking for what is intriguing and challenging for me and the whole team. Right now we are dipping our toes into some new territory and filming Bigfoot hunters in the Ozarks.

Stephen Pandos, center, looks for answers to his sister Jennifers disappearance in the HBO (MAX) documentary series Burden of Proof, directed by Cynthia Hill.

Questions & Answers with Stephen Pandos

Q: Youve been trying to get justice for Jennifer for a long time. Do you feel like the involvement of a documentary film crew prompted the Williamsburg authorities to push harder on the case?

I dont know if that made them push harder. I think it made it harder for them to ignore me. I think theyd have had the same resolve to solve the case without the film.

Q: It seems like there was a measure of resolution at the end of the series  if not a definitive answer, a good idea of what may have happened. Do you feel any peace with that part of it? Or does it still feel unresolved to you?

Theres peace in knowing Ive done all I can do. Whether its resolved or not, I have to take solace in that. I dont get to deliver justice. I dont get to define it. I just have to be at peace knowing I have done all I could do.

Q: The end of the documentary suggests that you and your mother were in the process of healing your relationship. Has that happened? What about with your father?

Yes. Im working on my relationship with my mother. With my father, its more complicated.
A local bookshop is hosting a giveaway and reading of books that have been restricted in a Miami-Dade County school library. Among the works is The Hill We Climb by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman.

Founder of Books & Books Mitch Kaplan told the Miami New Times that the event is a response to the four titles that a committee at the K-8 Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes said were more suitable for middle school students, not elementary students.

The books were not banned, but were moved to an area only accessible to middle school students.

Gorman recited The Hill We Climb at President Joe Bidens 2020 inauguration.

Miami-Dade is one of the many counties in Florida confronting issues of censorship in schools as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop WOKE Act. Its among other controversial laws, including a ban on drag shows, that came out of the legislative session.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade K-8 bars elementary students from 4 library titles following parent complaint

Tuesdays event will be at the Sanctuary for Banned Books inside the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd, at 6 p.m. (June 6). Its free and open to the public.

Miami-Dade Countys Poet Laureate and former President Barack Obamas inaugural poet Richard Blanco will read Gormans poem at the event.

Books & Books will give away 1,200 copies of The Hill We Climb, The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer, and Love to Langston by Tony Medina and R. Gregory Christie  which were also among the disputed materials.


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In his visit to Vietnams capital, Albanese called for a "top-tier partnership between the two countries in the new Great Game in the South China Sea. We know in areas like aged care, for example, there is an opportunity for greater exchange and greater support, he said. For its part, the Vietnamese government granted clemency to two Australians sentenced to death.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  In the new Great Game underway in the Pacific Ocean, Australia is betting on greater cooperation with Vietnam.

In a visit to Hanoi on Sunday to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to make Vietnam a top-tier partner of Australia.

Together with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, Albanese signed an agreement to boost maritime cooperation amid rising tensions between China and the West in the South China Sea.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to developing a peacekeeping partnership, work closely together against cyber and transnational crime, and build stronger links in education.

The Australian leader also promised AU$ 105 million (US$ 70 million) to help Vietnam develop clean energy, among other things.

He also offered to open Australias doors to Vietnamese immigration. We know in areas like aged care, for example, there is an opportunity for greater exchange and greater support, Albanese explained.

To this end, We want to make sure that when we look at our immigration, that we get the right people in the right places with the right skills, so that focus is on the need of Australia, he added. "We know that in some of the areas where there are skill shortages, then Vietnam can be of great assistance."

For its part, Vietnam granted clemency to two Australians sentenced to death. I made representations to the [Vietnamese] prime minister yesterday morning and by yesterday afternoon, the president had signed the clemency orders, Albanese told a TV channel. Australia very much welcomed this. The names of the people involved were not revealed because they requested privacy.

Closer Vietnam-Australia cooperation also sends a signal to China. Hanoi has been embroiled with Beijing in a territorial dispute over a potentially energy-rich stretch of the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than US$ 3 trillion in trade passes annually.

Photo: Anthony Albaneses twitter account
Recently established communities in the Gurugram district are being targeted. The demonstrations by movements linked to the BJP just as the Home Minister in a meeting in Kochi assured "attention" to the president of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr Thazhath.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Some Hindu nationalist right-wing groups are threatening two churches in as many missions in the archdiocese of Delhi. That is, the same local Church whose cathedral Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited last Easter.

The latest incident took place on Sunday, 4 June in the church of the St Joseph Vaz Catholic mission in Kherki Daula, in the Gurugram district (Gurgaon). According to a report to the website MattersIndia by archdiocesan spokesman Shashi Dharan, immediately after the 10 a.m. English service, a group of 20-25 people arrived at the church wearing saffron-coloured scarves and carrying tridents and swords on bicycles and cars and threatened the priest and two Catholics who were talking to him. The priest was also beaten up. The extremists gave two weeks to close the church.

The church, opened in 2021 on rented land near Manesar, an industrial hub in Haryana about 60 km south of New Delhi, serves about 40 Hindi-speaking and 25 English-speaking Catholic families. Dharan said that the owner of the church property asked the archdiocese to vacate the place because it was threatened by Hindu radicals.

Already a few days earlier, a team from the archdiocese had gone to Farrukh Nagar, another village in Gurugram district, after the police station officer had asked them to go there to discuss a complaint filed by some village leaders about a church built there in 2020 to serve seven Catholic families.

The chiefs of five villages showed up and questioned the Church team about the need to build a church there. Meanwhile, about 300 people belonging to Hindu nationalist right-wing groups showed up at the police station.

And it was in this climate - fraught with tensions from Manipur to Madhya Pradesh to Hariyana - that Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Trichur and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), met with India's Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday in Kochi, Kerala.

The meeting was cordial and lasted about half an hour. A CBCI note reported the archbishop expressed the anxieties of Christians in India in the face of the challenges and problems they are facing in some parts of the country, citing in particular the attacks in Manipur.

The Home Minister responded by outlining the results of the mission in Imphal, assuring his efforts for peace. When Bishop Thazhath cited some concrete incidents such as the continuous intimidation of schools in Madhya Pradesh, he replied that he will look into the matter and do what is necessary for the good of the country.

(Nirmala Carvalho collaborated)
by Sumon Corraya

Outages can last eight to 10 hours each day, says one business owner. Higher fuel costs affect the use of generators. Power cuts impact both cities and countryside. The government says that things will get back to normal over the next two weeks, but manufacturers fear the loss of foreign customers.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis. Power cuts can last eight to 10 hours every day.

With the price of fuel to run generators rising and disruptions in energy supply in both cities and agricultural areas, doing business is a daily challenge.

For people like Bablu Ratno, a Catholic printer, outages mean higher costs and delays in delivering products to customers.

Power losses are the top issue. The Rural Electrification Board (REB), the agency that supplies most of the country's villages, is getting about 30 per cent less power than daily demand.

In some areas, power supply has been halved. In others, power outages can last more than 10 hours, disrupting production chains and leaving workers to idle even at night.

The Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) supply power to the capital.

Company officials note that load shedding occurs at least three times a day in most areas, with some 600 Megawatts (MW) shed per hour.

Lack of fuel and power outages have badly affected manufacturing. Industry officials fear that disruptions in production will cut into exports, cause loss of foreign customers, as well as lead to large fines for non-compliance with contracts.

What is more, raw materials are wasted, workers lose income, and plants have to shut down.

In the last two weeks, most factories in the main manufacturing regions have had to cope with the emergency, with three and four stoppages a day. Thus, the energy crisis might soon turn into a crisis.

When Sri Lanka began having problems, foreign customers came to Bangladesh to buy clothes. Now, buyers from China and Vietnam are still interested in Bangladesh. But if the goods cannot be delivered on time, they will soon move elsewhere.

Rony Costa, a 42-year-old Catholic garment worker, told AsiaNews that output in his factory has drastically dropped. "I am worried about the dire situation, he said. I urge the government to take decisive steps as soon as possible" to solve the issue.

The Bangladesh government is trying to do just that, offering reassurances that it is going to act decisively to solve the emergency, but doubts remain.

We have been working for the past two months, said Minister of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid. But it will take two more weeks before things get back to normal.

There are several challenges we need to tackle. The current economic situation as well as the supply of oil and gas require focused efforts, he explained.
The authorities are seeking an injunction to ban the song that has come to symbolise the 2019 protest movement. "Glory to Hong Kong" is more popular than the Chinese anthem and is often mistakenly played at sporting events. The ban includes adaptations and covers.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The Hong Kong government is seeking a court order to ban the broadcasting, performing, printing and citing of a song that has become since 2019 the symbol of the struggle for rights and freedoms in the former British colony.

The musical piece has become an anthem against Chinas stifling grip, especially since Beijing imposed its infamous national security law, cracking down on the pro-democracy movement and arresting its members.

The High Court now has to consider the Justice Secretary's unprecedented request for a permanent injunction against Glory to Hong Kong.

The writ, filed yesterday, asks the court to stop anyone with criminal intent to use the anti-government song to promote Hong Kongs secession from mainland China. The injunction also targets anyone who intends to insult the national anthem, March of the Volunteers.

No date has been set for the hearing, but the case has already proven controversial in Hong Kong.

The injunction also covers any adaptation of the song in terms of both music and lyrics, and anyone who encourages others to participate in any of the stipulated actions.

The court document listed YouTube videos of 32 versions of the protest song that could be found in breach under the intended injunction, including instrumental covers of the song as well as versions sung in Mandarin, English, German, Dutch, Japanese and Korean.

It highlighted recent incidents in which Glory to Hong Kong was repeatedly mistakenly presented as the citys national anthem, especially in search engines.

The lyrics urge the people of Hong Kong to fight for freedom and liberation, in a sort of "revolution of our times". In particular, the latter is perceived as secessionist and a call to rebel against Beijing and its rule.

The song gave rise to other versions, including one with altered lyrics attacking the "rebels" who started the 2019 protests.

A busker was busted for violating social distancing regulations while playing the song during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later acquitted for lack of evidence.
Shaggy Opens Up About Music, Future Collabs & Happiness

Reggae Icon Shaggy Is All About the Feel Good Vibes

For many, getting paid to do what you love as your career is a far away dream. For Shaggy, its a lifestyle. Im now at a place where I really just do what I want, said the Grammy Award winning artist during a Zoom interview with AskMen. Meaning, for Shaggy, hes able to be creatively fulfilled.

Part of Shaggys ability to be selective comes from having a history of successes, wins that were fueled from his decision to live out his passion for music. Now, many years and chart-topping records later, he has the ability to decide what he wants to do, when, and with whom. Hes acted from that creative position of control when working on new music (as seen with his latest EP In The Mood), his upcoming One Fine Day Festival with Sting, fresh Hot Summer Nights tour with TLC, and a sizzling new partnership with Smirnoff ICE where he headlined the start of its Relaunch Tour.

RELATED: Damian Marley Shares His Greatest Asset

Over the course of our conversation, the Boombastic hit maker touches on the early days of his career, his keys to success, and why  just like the Smirnoff ICE campaign  a fruitful life is all about feeling good.

AskMen: Growing up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, what initially inspired you to pursue music and how did you determine it was the path for you?

Shaggy: I was just a kid out of Kingston [Jamaica] who was really just a fan of dancehall and reggae. I was a fan of the culture.

I went to a place called Skateland one night and I saw this guy by the name of Yellowman  who, if you know your history, is one of the early dancehall gods. I saw him walk into the stands, spit a couple lyrics, walk out, and everybody walked out with him. I said to myself, Thats what I want. I caught the bug from that point on.

It wasnt until I migrated to the States and was living in Flatbush [Brooklyn, NY], which was a bit of a melting pot of Caribbean people with different styles of music and different things going on, that I started to get into music.

Once you embarked on that path, what gave you the confidence to go all-in?

It really wasnt about a music career to start. Id spit lyrics in school and freestyle to girls and get their numbers  and it worked. So every time I spit lyrics, people would gather round. It became popular. When I started recording records, I got into clubs for free, drank for free, and would leave with a beautiful woman. As a young kid at that time, thats all that mattered.

I kept doing it because it was a passion of mine, it came to me fairly easily and I realized I was really good at it. Mampie was the first one, Big Up was the second one, and then I started to make money. My rent was $350 at the time and I was making like $2,000 a week. I was like, Bruh, Im good. I had no idea there was more there until I did Oh Carolina, and the next thing I knew, Virgin Records was offering me one million dollars. I was like, Wow, okay. I guess this is a career.

So really it was just you pursuing what you enjoyed and what you liked.

Absolutely. It was popularity, it was relevancy  thats all it was  and I did it just through rhymes.

As your success began to flourish, how were you able to balance your work with your personal life?

That kind of happened afterwards. I didnt have much of a personal life at that point. I had been in the military for four years, had no kids, no woman, no wife, no anything. I was just a dude rolling around  there wasnt much of a personal life then  everything was dedicated to making music.

Years afterwards  after the Virgin contract  I settled down with my first wife and kind of went through stuff. Balancing that was a trial-and-error thing, which clearly didnt work out very well. Now, Im a bit more stable. I have a great family  my sons, my ex-wife and my current wife, my daughters  were all one, so its cool.

In life, you go through stages. Music has always been first, everything else second. At this age now, family is starting to take a lot of precedence in my life compared to music, as it used to be. Music is still a big part of it  I do music because its my passion  its what I love. But Im now at a place where I really just do what I want. I take the shows I want and I do the things I want.

I just launched a festival with Sting because we like doing it. Its things like that that I do which are pet projects. I just did Sinatra in reggae. Shit like that. I wouldnt be doing that if Im career chasing  thats not the thing you do.

What then inspired your participation in the Smirnoff ICE Relaunch Tour?

With Smirnoff, its always been part of the culture and the event seemed like a cool thing to do. Its right as were going back to Jamaica again, so it just made sense.

You also recently dropped an EP  In The Mood. Creatively, what went into this project?

Soca music and calypso music has always been a part of Caribbean culture. Even though Jamaica is reggae and dancehall, you cannot deny the influence of soca and calypso music. It was certainly present in my household growing up and Ive always been a fan of it.

The first time I collaborated was with Machel Montano on Toro Toro in 1995 or 1996. Then I ended up doing Winning Season with them and the Remedy Remix, and Ive been friends with most of these soca and Caribbean artists through the years.

The thing about soca music is that everybody looks at it as seasonal music. In reggae music, we kind of went through that whole thing where people were like, Reggae music can only be played in the summer. I think soca is going through a similar thing with people saying, Soca music can only be played during Carnival time.

The first song off the EP is called Mood, and its really about just being in a good mood. Youre not in a good mood just through Carnival season, youre in a good mood throughout the year. I wanted to make a record that is not just seasonal. Kes was on board with that, and Im by no means a soca artist, so he really came in and brought that legitimacy to the track. Soca is a cultural thing and Im not from that culture, but someone like Kes is a master at his craft  as is Patrice Roberts or Bunji Garlin, who I also have on this EP with me.

In terms of your overall success, whats been the secret sauce to your career trajectory?

Im allergic to boredom, so I think its reinventing myself and taking chances.

There are a lot of artists who are scared to take chances and do things outside-the-box. I dont think you can achieve greatness in a comfortable place. You have to step outside your comfort zone  be a little bit uncomfortable  and try to find comfort outside your comfort zone to really create longevity and greatness. If I wasnt in reggae and dancehall, I wouldnt be able to do that.

I remember when we did Hot Shot and we were selling half a million a week in records and we ended up going diamond. By the next album, I was sitting in my studio and there were some guys in suits dictating to me what I should make. I was like, Bruh, I dont like this. I dont like that at all. It becomes a lot of compromising. You might make a lot of money, but not all of it is fulfilling creatively. Right now, I do things that I like, and I dont really have to answer to anyone. Some of them happen, and some of them dont  its really about my taste.

Recently, we did Go Down Deh with Spice. Everybody was asking me what I was doing with Spice, but we did it, and were streaming up to 4 million a week right now and has been the biggest dancehall record the last two years. Before that, we did Banana, which has over 2 billion streams. So these are off-the-wall things that I do that just fulfill me.

So success is really just doing what fulfills you.

Everythings about the feel good vibe. Kind of like Smirnoff Ice, you want to feel good.

Follow @direalshaggy and check out https://www.shaggyonline.com/ for tickets and tour dates

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A former priest at St. Mary Catholic Church has been restored to the ministry after the Archdiocese of Denver found he committed no wrongdoing as alleged by a former altar boy.
Since several Arab countries normalised relations with Israel in 2020, the United States has worked to include more nations in the so-called Abraham Accords. In this sense, Saudi Arabia has emerged in recent years as a possible candidate to join the 'Deal of the Century', something that would boost stability and peace in the troubled Middle East region.

It is with this aim in mind that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is travelling to Saudi Arabia. During his stay in the Kingdom, the head of Saudi diplomacy plans to meet with senior Saudi officials in Jeddah and Riyadh, and possibly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Reuters.

Live now! @SecBlinken delivers remarks at the 2023 American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. Also streaming at: https://t.co/9az11dZ06X. https://t.co/1Xh2R5qThZ June 5, 2023

In these meetings, Blinken will address the normalisation of Saudi-Israeli relations, as he announced during a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

"The United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia," Blinken said at the forum, which was held just days before his trip to the Kingdom. The Secretary of State stressed that the US "must" play a key role in this process, although he also admitted that it may not happen "quickly or easily". Even so, he assured that the White House remains committed "to achieving this result".

Thank you @SecBlinken for your unwavering support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship!  pic.twitter.com/TVbprEV1Tg  AIPAC (@AIPAC) June 5, 2023

Despite the importance of this issue, Blinken recalled the need to continue working for "progress between Israelis and Palestinians" and for a two-state solution. Indeed, this point is key for Riyadh to take this important step. On several occasions, senior officials in the Kingdom, such as Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, have stressed the importance of positive developments in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. By contrast, however, recent months have seen a dangerous escalation of violence that has left a high death toll and further heightened tensions.

This situation undoubtedly hampers normalisation with Saudi Arabia, despite positive developments over the past year, such as the opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli airlines.

Jeddah, Salaam Aleikum! [peace be upon you]



Israeli pilot flying President Herzog from Abu Dhabi back to Tel Aviv greeted Saudi Arabian air traffic controllers warmly while flying over the kingdoms airspace. https://t.co/DZi5urRUjT December 7, 2022

The Agreement that transformed the Middle East

The Abraham Accords, signed between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020, marked a turning point in the region. For the first time, nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan normalised relations with Israel, while Morocco opted to re-establish ties with the Jewish state after decades.

Three years after the so-called Deal of the Century, strong cooperation between Israel and Arab signatories in a number of areas is evidence of the success of normalisation. According to data provided by Robert Greenway, director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, trade between Israel and the UAE reached $208 million last April, while with Morocco it exceeded $3.5 million in the same month.

Remarkable! Best to sign up for the monthly newsletter/ report so you stay fully informed. One stop shopping for all news, analysis, statistics, and insight related to the #AbrahamAccords! https://t.co/3syryuGsJ0 https://t.co/IIsvZhubU0 pic.twitter.com/H8k7bNvpfW  Robert Greenway (@RC_Greenway) June 2, 2023

Indeed, with these two countries, Israel has expanded the partnership in a number of sectors. It is not only trade and economics that have benefited from the peace agreements. Security, defence, tourism, culture and technology are some of the areas in which Israel has strengthened ties with Morocco and the UAE, favouring the exchange of knowledge and understanding.

On the other hand, thanks to the Abraham Accords, the Negev Forum was born in March 2022, an Arab-Israeli alliance that aims to continue strengthening ties between the Hebrew state and its Arab neighbours, as well as partnership on key issues such as clean energy and regional security. On this last point, it is worth highlighting the alliance's willingness to confront the threat posed by Iran to stability in the region.

Washington seeks to regain its position in the region in the face of Chinese advances

In addition to working towards normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the United States - through Blinken's visit - is also trying to repair relations with one of its main allies in the region. Recently, ties between Washington and Riyadh have been strained by issues such as rising oil prices following the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, in recent months, Saudi Arabia has decided to re-establish relations with Iran and Syria, pursuing its own interests and distancing itself from Washington's priorities in the region.

Likewise, in the midst of disagreements with the US, Saudi Arabia has begun to move closer to China, a proponent of reconciliation between Riyadh and Tehran. While Washington focuses its attention on Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific region, the Asian giant is entering the Middle East with force, establishing itself as a key player in the region, not only in commercial and economic matters, but also diplomatically.

As Richard Goldberg, a member of the think-tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Reuters, "discouraging a closer relationship between Saudi Arabia and China is probably the most important element of Blinken's visit". To this end, the US diplomat "should explain why Chinese interests do not align with those of Riyadh, and why this rapprochement impedes rapprochement with Washington", Goldberg notes.

However, despite US-Saudi relations not being at their best, bilateral cooperation on issues such as defence, security and counter-terrorism remains strong. Likewise, both countries have redoubled diplomatic efforts to try to end the conflict in Sudan, as they have done with Yemen. Blinken's visit will build on this deep partnership in order to shield the US presence in the region and counter both Chinese and Russian influence.

Indeed, Blinken's trip follows that of US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who visited the country nearly a month ago. During his stay, Sullivan discussed bilateral 'strategic relations' as well as regional integration in a meeting with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts. Before travelling to the Kingdom, Sullivan also stressed the US commitment to "promote normalisation" between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Americas Coordinator: Jose Antonio Sierra
Van Life is making a comeback, all thanks to the idyllic photos of adventurers crossing borders and witnessing the raw form of nature in their revamped classic vans on social media. The therapeutic dreamy sunset and sunrise photos have kickstarted some new enthusiasm about experiencing the great outdoors in the comfort of a motorhome or off-road van/truck.

1972 Ford Econoline was blue when it was last parked

Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Budget Buildz

Stood the test of time despite being abandoned for 36 years

Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Budget Buildz

Blasting revealed a white tannish shade

Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Budget Buildz

This renewed enthusiasm has brought a new demand for classic vans among vintage car collectors. Car restorers like Michael Wagner of Budget Buildz YouTube channel couldn't be happier to get these old relics running. In a recent upload on the platform, he took possession of a classic 1972 Ford Econoline that had been sitting in the woods in Georgia for 36 years.Forget the shaggy carpeting and the old stories your uncle tells you about the golden summer of 69; the E-Series was a solid, adventurer, body-on-frame, truck-based van for all ages.Its years in production (more than half a decade) say a lot about its prevalence in its niche. Still available as cutaways, its predecessor, the Ford Transit, took over from it, and as such, is a much better and more modern version of the automobile, according to classic van diehards.The second-generation Econolines didn't get a lot of love when they came out; therefore, it's not unexpected that this unit was left rotting in the woods for that long. Most owners dumped these vans a little over ten years after use. They still haven't been valuable in the last decade, but with Van Life catching on amongst millennials, they are slowly earning a collectible van status.The truck has quite an exciting story. The gentleman who sold it to Michael said it last ran in 1987 and was blue in color. However, what they retrieved from the woods was close to white with blue accents on one side. Mother Nature had done a number on this classic van, and they suspected there could be some rust spots underneath.If you are new to car rescues, getting an old washed-up 51-year-old van out of the woods is the first step of revival, and only if the elements haven't gotten the best of it. Michael was lucky none of the sunken wheels remained behind after tagging it out of its hibernation spot.If you thought old timers who keep on saying 'they don't build them as they used to no more' were suffering from nostalgia, then this classic van's enthusiasm to fire back up again after 36 years is a testament to classic car hardiness.Michael's 1972 Ford Econoline came with a 302 cubic-inch 4.9 -liter small block V8 paired with a three-speed manual transmission (three-speed automatic Cruise-O-Matic option available), sending all the power to the rear wheels.Michael suspects the van could have been a camper when it was last abandoned in 1987. It still had its old carpeting, which was a good sign that it wasn't a complete goner. It also had some fishing gear, a reminder of its escapades during its active years.It was surprisingly solid underneath with zero soft spots once all the rotting camping gear and 36-year-old worth of stored stuff were removed."Maybe it was a camper, but it was probably a work van because there's nothing back here other than on the sides where you see the stuff was bolted. But it's a really cool blank canvas," Michael said after getting rid of all the junk in the van.The 1972 Ford Econoline had been through a couple of lousy paint jobs; each panel on the vehicle had its shade of paint. But according to Michael, its original color was white and then blue at some point. His next line of action was blasting it to a relatively consistent color.It looked much better after blasting; it was close to one consistent color, a whitish, tannish shade.Like the 1976 Chrysler Town & Country that he rescued on a recent upload on the platform, this 1972 Ford Econoline's brakes were shot and needed a complete brake line service. Even though the van's wheels had been buried in the ground (stuck stiff) for more than three decades, Michael was surprised they only needed a little cleaning and repair."Motor sounded pretty good, the lifter's still a little clattery, let's get a little temperature in it and see if it even moves," Michael said before driving the 51-year-old truck for the first time in 36 years.The classic Ford Econoline in the video has much potential as a restored camper, modern living space, or work van. As pictured in the video, there's a lot of blank canvas to work with, depending on the direction he's looking to steer the project.Are you curious how well this 1972 Ford Econoline runs? We recommend checking out the video below for some of that action. Van Life enthusiasts looking to convert classic vans into modern living spaces on wheels will learn a lot from his experience.
Tesla proved battery electric vehicles (BEVs) could be desirable. Lucid and Rivian found their own arguments to reinforce the same thing. Tesla only sells its cars directly to customers, as Lucid and Rivian also do. It is natural that BEV startups try to follow the steps of the most successful electric car company so far. Unfortunately, these are not the only examples of Tesla's inspiration for the two companies: they also adopt the same strategies regarding arbitration.

BEV

EV

Photo: Lucid/Rivian/edited by autoevolution

Photo: Rivian Automotive LLC

Photo: Rivian

Photo: Rivian Automotive LLC

Photo: Minnesota Mike

If you are not familiar with that, several Tesla owners are discovering that they cannot go to court against themaker because they accepted an arbitration provision when they bought their cars. That forces them to use this conflict resolution tool instead of the traditional legal instruments for solving any dispute. For a long time, that was seen as a way to relieve courts and make them faster. Ultimately, that became something that helps companies and courts more than it helps end users seeking to correct something.In Tesla's case, the arbitration provision will prevent several customers from joining class actions due to the BMS_u029 and BMS_u018 error codes. Those considering suing themaker due to the Tesla Files will have to check if they opted out of the arbitration provision or not before taking any measures. Lucid and Rivian owners are in the same boat.The most extended clause in Lucid Air's reservation agreement is the 13th: "Disputes, Arbitration & Class Action Waiver." The document informs reservation holders that they have 60 days to opt out of the clause after signing it. Ironically, the following clause determines the governing law in the agreement: "the Federal Arbitration Act and federal arbitration law." Apparently, reservation holders receive the purchase agreement about a week before delivery. The 24-page document is not available online, but it seems it has the same clauses regarding arbitration and the option not to accept it. Rivian uses its own website to address arbitration. In its binding contract to purchase, it refers to a URL where the terms of the arbitration clause are and just states it is now part of that document. Customers who do not take time to read the document and are not curious about that the internet address in it will end up subject to arbitration.When you go to that page , you see quite a long legal text that makes those accepting it give up their right to join a class action, apart from making arbitration mandatory for any issue they face. Unlike Lucid , Rivian only gives its customers 30 days to refuse the arbitration provision. On the other hand, the contract and disputes related to it are "governed by the laws of California, U.S.A., without regard to choice or conflict of law principles of any jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided in the Arbitration Agreement or the supplemental terms applicable to your region or a specific product or service."Rivian takes its arbitration focus even further: its employees are also subject to it, just like Tesla workers are. I could not confirm if Lucid also imposes such deals on its employees, but it would not surprise me if it did. I learned about Rivian in the worst way possible: it tried to force a former female employee to go to arbitration in a sexual harassment case she filed on September 6, 2022.Rivian argued in November that the lawsuit should be in an arbitration court because of the three-page "Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Employment-Related Disputes" Angela Betancourt signed when she was hired. However, Senate approved the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act in February 2022.The new law determines that the victim of sexual harassment can choose whether to go to court or ask for an arbitrator's help. Although there is no news about how this lawsuit is going, the BEV maker should defend itself in a federal court. It is pretty unlikely that any judge will deem Rivian as correct when it says this case belongs in arbitration.If that was not enough for Rivian to have in common with Tesla, the R1T manufacturer also has a racism lawsuit against it. On February 27, Cornelius Richardson filed a case in a federal court in Illinois, accusing the company of not making enough to prevent his fellow workers from calling him racial slurs. Apparently, Richardson worked for MacLellan Services, a Rivian contractor. This is probably why the company did not try to force him into arbitration.Curiously, a Rivian forum reveals that some owners know about the risks of not being able to sue the company but choose not to opt out of the arbitration provision. It is not clear if they think their vehicles will not present any problems that only a court decision will help them fix or if they just don't care. Some of them may also be investors in the company. Whatever the reason they have to submit to the company's rules, the point is that they may eventually regret doing that.Lucid already showed it might have the same care for quality control and testing as Tesla does. The Air has paint problems , 12V battery issues, frequent Turtle Mode episodes, and other concerns that may require owners to take more decisive action to solve. Rivian is presenting worrying bills for fender bender repairs, which shows the R1T was developed without repairability in mind. If arbitration were beneficial to customers, they would probably select it themselves. Forcing them into it is not the message new companies should be sending to potential buyers.
There are many indications that Tesla is preparing to start testing FSD Beta in Europe. The many ADAS test operator positions open in various European countries are the strongest sign that Europeans will get to try Tesla's self-driving software soon.

EV

FSD

Photo: @teslascope via Twitter

ADAS

Many still argue whether Tesla's Level-2 driver assist systems or Cruise, and Waymo's Level-4 systems are better. The truth is that this dispute is hard to settle once and for all unless either party manages a breakthrough that will leave everybody in shock. Neither system is perfect for now, even though robotaxi companies assume legal responsibility for their cars, whereas Tesla doesn't.Themaker'sBeta might not be able to work unsupervised, but it can make decisions based on what it "sees," much like humans do. On the other hand, Cruise and Waymo rely on a set of HD maps for navigation data, which explains the geofencing. Still, when new elements appear, such as a construction site, the software returns errors, and the cars stop, unable to figure out what to do next.With this dispute still ongoing, Tesla FSD Beta only works in North America, where road signage and regulations are more consistent. The biggest challenge is to extrapolate everything Tesla FSD "learned" in the US and Canada and adapt it to European roads and rules. Then the Chinese, and so on. A human driver would have little problem adjusting to the different situations in each country. Tesla claims its FSD Beta should be able to do the same, using only camera-based Vision.The situation in Europe differs from the US, and Tesla needs to get regulatory approval before starting any testing. Allowing the average Joe to try the FSD Beta software here is inconceivable, as Tesla must first prove its system is safe. For that, Tesla needs to start internal testing in Europe before attempting a public release of the software. It also makes us pretty confident that the Europeans will get a more crippled version of the FSD Beta and even Autopilot, at least for a while.Tesla signaled the desire to accelerate FSD Beta deployment in other regions outside North America. Elon Musk said that 90% of the FSD Beta features developed for the US would apply worldwide, so the remaining 10 percent should not be hard to adapt. Although no official information surfaced, many believed that Musk's recent visit to China was related to starting FSD Beta testing. We have no clue about Europe, although Musk spat with the EU over Twitter moderation and data might hamper FSD deployment on the continent.Hopefully, this would not be the case, as Tesla is gearing up to start internal FSD Beta testing in Europe. A flurry of job openings is listed on the company's Careers portal test operator positions are offered in the UK, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Norway, Italy, and even Turkey, which is not an EU country. This points to a broad testing operation across the continent, with possibly more positions soon available in other countries, including Eastern Europe.In late June, Tesla software trackers noticed that one car in Germany and one in Belgium also got the FSD Beta V11.3.6 via the 2023.12.10 software update. Neither country is listed on Tesla's Career portal, so this might be unrelated. Still, it's important to know that the European Commission fast-tracked legislation regulating the automated driving systems, paving the way for Tesla to start European testing. According to people familiar with the matter, European lawmakers will allow limited hands-on testing even before the legislation is finalized.
Conventional helicopters and eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing) will work side by side soon, at least for a while. With AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) at an early stage, eVTOLs can't fully take over the tasks of traditional rotorcraft. Still, many players in the vertical flight sector are gradually adding this new type of aircraft to their fleet, in addition to other sustainability-related measures.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, but present on six continents, Bristow claims to be one of the top vertical flight operators with a focus on sustainable solutions. The company's current fleet of more than 200 aircraft includes rotary wing models, fixed wings, and UAS (unmanned aircraft systems).The Bristow helicopters' primary duty is to transport personnel safely and efficiently from onshore bases to offshore energy installations. The Government Services branch focuses more on search-and-rescue (SAR) operations in the Falkland Islands and the Dutch Caribbean region.Environmentally, the Texan operator's main goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through various means. In 2022, it started using SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) as a 10% blend for certain offshore operations in the UK, adding three new AAM partnerships. Bristow has seven partnerships with the eVTOL sector, including pre-orders from Vertical Aerospace and Beta Technologies.Two years ago, Bristow hit a milestone in the offshore energy industry with one of the first SAF-powered flights in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). That pioneering flight was carried out by an S92 helicopter, traveling from Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) to the offshore installations operated by bp. In mid-2022, Bristow and bp took things to the next level by initiating regular flights powered by a SAF blend.Since then, all the flights from Aberdeen Airport to bp's North Sea offshore installations have been powered by a 10% SAF blend, with bp being the first operator in the North Sea to commit to this significant change.While SAF will help reduce the environmental footprint of conventional helicopters, Bristow also intends to start operating electric air taxis as soon as possible. It has now placed non-binding orders for up to 455 eVTOLs from various manufacturers.Last year, it also set up a dedicated AAM team working closely with its seven AAM partners  Beta Technologies, Elroy Air, Eve Air Mobility, Overair, Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, and Electra.aero. Plus, Bristow is a member of the US Texas Urban Air Mobility Advisory Committee and the eVTOL Safety Leadership Group in the UK (established by the UK Civil Aviation Authority).SAF and eVTOLs are the key elements in Bristow's sustainability strategy. Still, the company is also implementing other measures for fuel efficiency, including optimized flight routes, reducing maintenance ground runs as much as possible, and using simulation technology for flight training instead of physical aircraft.
Havila Voyages made headlines several times in the past two years for different reasons. Mainly known as one of the greenest cruise operators worldwide, this Norwegian company is ready for its most significant milestone so far  by the end of the decade, it hopes to become entirely emissions-free through hybrid propulsion and alternative fuels.

As a coastal cruising operator, Havila doesn't face the same challenges as the largest cruising companies in the world. Still, it scored significant achievements for the entire industry. It recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Havila Castor vessel's pioneering voyage. Last year, it became the first cruise ship to sail into the Geirangerfjord UNESCO World Heritage Site with no toxic emissions or noise.It was a historic breakthrough, and Havila accomplished it four years before the new environmental requirements for the area came into effect. Starting in 2026, only emissions-free vessels of any kind will be allowed to sail into Norway's World Heritage areas.The Bergen - Kirkenes  Bergen is a historic route, and Havila's ships claim to be the greenest ones to have ever covered this route. In 2021, Havila Capella broke the ice as the first hybrid ship to sail on this route. It was the first of a new fleet comprised of four environmentally-friendly ships to be operated by Havila Voyages.These vessels can operate with zero emissions and zero noise for up to four hours at a time in purely electric mode. They all feature what Havila claims to be the largest battery packs in the world, with a total weight of 86 tons and a 6.1 MWh capacity (the equivalent of approximately 600 Teslas, according to Havila).In hybrid mode, the 406-foot (124 meters) vessels can still reduce NOx emissions by 90% and CO2 levels by 25% using LNG (liquefied natural gas). The Norwegian operator plans to replace that with even more efficient alternatives in the coming years, transitioning from LNG to biogas by 2028 and eventually switching to hydrogen. This way, the Havila cruise ships will be powered only by batteries and hydrogen, making them emissions-free by the end of this decade.Ironically, this avid supporter of electric propulsion for the maritime sector has recently banned the transportation of electrified vehicles on its ships. Earlier this year, Havila formally blocked EVs, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles from being transported on its vessels due to a safety assessment related to fire risks. The restriction applies exclusively to the four new passenger ships with hybrid propulsion.Last year, the Norwegian cruise company faced a severe and unexpected hurdle when it was indirectly hit by international sanctions against Russian oligarchs with ties to the Kremlin. At the time, the Havila Capella ship was financed through a Russian company, reportedly owned by Russia's Ministry of Transport. The green ship had to halt activities until things got sorted out, and it could resume operations eventually. Hopefully, there will be nothing but smooth sailing for these innovative cruise ships for decades.
It didn't take us civilians long to get used to drones, both military and civilian. In fact, they've been with us for so long that we can barely conceive drones looking anything other than scaled-down aircraft, with fixed wings, or copters with at least four propellers. But as things stand, we should start getting used to helicopter-style drones as well.

There are several such ideas presently being considered, including the Airbus VSR700 or the Bell 407-derived MQ-8 Fire Scout, but the technology does not seem to be mature enough to be used on a large scale yet. Still, as of this week, you can add another helicopter drone to the list. This one is called AWHero, and was put together by Italian defense company Leonardo.The drone is a multi-purpose one. It can be used for civilian needs as a tool for disaster relief, monitoring, and so on. Its main uses, most likely, will however be military in nature, be it over land or sea: surveillance, target acquisition, combat support, you name it.For a drone that is not based on an existing platform, the AWHero is quite large. It weighs 200 kg (440 pounds), and has a rotor diameter of four meters (over 13 feet). It is powered by a heavy fuel engine that can accelerate it to a top speed of 167 kph (104 mph), and can keep it flying for as much as six hours at altitudes of up to 14,000 feet (4.3 km).The AWHero can carry a total of 60 kg (132 pounds) of payload, either on the nose or on the belly. It is controlled from a ground station, and can send back details of what it sees in a variety of ways, including video and radar. Depending on what tools it is equipped with, it can be used to identify objects, vehicles, and people, and has the capability of teaming up with crewed aircraft for more impact on an operation.The drone has been around for a while. Back in 2019, it was included in a test program that involved European military ships, and in 2021 it even caught the attention of the Australian Navy.This week, as the SEAFUTURE 2023 event unfolds over in Genoa, Italy, Leonardo pulled the wraps off what it calls an enhanced version of the drone. We're not told exactly what changed, except for non-descript details like an more efficient twin-engine, a modified airframe to allow better integration of the rest of the hardware and more stability while on deck, and new sensor modularity.The AWHero is now moving from basic design to concept of operations stage. We have no info on when it should become a constant presence in our skies, looking all mean and autonomous, just like something robots would use to take over the world.
Toyota Gazoo Racing is about ready to open the latest chapter in the Japanese automaker's Le Mans story as it prepares to field the GR010 HYBRID against competitors from Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, and Porsche. And it's glorious  right on the cusp of becoming legendary. For those who don't eat Le Mans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it's enough maybe to remind everyone that TGR has had five consecutive victories under its belt since 2018. And it is naturally vying for the sixth straight win to equal the records of Ferrari (1960 to 1965) and Porsche (1981 to 1987).As such, TGR is not dabbling with 'puny' stuff like the all-new Lexus LBX , the luxury brand's smallest model to date, featuring a 134-hp hybrid powertrain and some ritzy attire slapped on top of the unsuspecting Toyota Yaris Cross. Instead, Toyota Gazoo Racing went right at the heart of the hybrid movement with its take on the Prius 'Hybrid Reborn.' Unfortunately, we know two immovable truths about this new depiction: it has a tongue-twisting name (Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition) and is only a concept. So, no Toyota GR Prius goodies for you.At least not from the real world . On the other hand, it's not a shame that the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and their partners from Mazda allowed Toyota Gazoo Racing to feature the prototype at the "Japan. Endless Discovery." joint exhibit featured at the Manufacturers' Village of the centenary of the Le Mans 24 Hours (Le Mans) in France. Naturally, the gist of it all was to pay homage to the 100-year-old endurance race rather than create a true Toyota GR Prius that could be sold worldwide alongside the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, GR86, and GR Supra.Of course, the concept vehicle (see how we're elegantly circumventing the need to say Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition concept?) is directly inspired by the WEC-competing GR010 HYBRID, complete with bespoke wheels and performance aerodynamic parts. By the way, the highlights include new side skirts, canards, a large rear wing, plus a rear diffuser, and more  like the lighter carbon fiber hood, wider-track suspension, 18-inch wheels shod in 235mm tires, and additional "multi-headlamps for improved nighttime visibility." Now, all we need to do is hope that the aftermarket world will notice the high potential of the new Prius, especially the 220-hp Prius Prime , and start giving us unofficial GR Prius projects, right?
6 June 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Despite losing all hope after a humiliating defeat in the 44-day war, Armenian public figures and society try to grasp at straws making a number of political manoeuvres. Even prior to the war, Armenians used to threaten Azerbaijan to strike the pipelines transferring Azerbaijani oil and gas to Europe. However, it proved to be a big morsel to bite for them after a heavy defeat on the battlefield. So, they changed their tactics by starting to lobby different countries to put economic sanctions on Azerbaijan. During the war and after it, Armenians or people close to the Armenian diaspora in mass media started to voice some economic sanctions against Azerbaijan. Such kind of heinous action was done last week by the journalist of Armenpress during an interview with the French Foreign Minister. The journalist asked if France considering economic sanctions on Azerbaijan. The French top diplomat explained to the journalist in the diplomatic language that it is out of the question.

Speaking to Azernews, economist and political analyst Natig Jafarli said that the idea of applying sanctions against Azerbaijan by the EU or its members is illogical and impossible. At a time when Azerbaijan is the most important energy carrier, it would be unthinkable for the European Union to act according to the wishes of France for a weak state like Armenia. The expert emphasizes that Azerbaijan is currently at the forefront of large-scale projects in the field of renewable energy, along with projects such as TANAP and TAP. Eastern Europe today sees Azerbaijan as a door of hope in terms of energy supply.

Azerbaijan is experiencing the highest period of cooperation with the EU, and although France is one of the most important countries of the EU, it is not a country that can make decisions alone. Decisions in the EU are made by consensus. Even if France has such an idea, it has no chance to pass this decision through the EU. Because many countries including Germany, Italy, Hungary, and other countries will veto this decision due to known facts. This is why, it is impossible for France to act against Azerbaijan on its own or with the support of the EU, Jafarli pointed.

Besides that, Natig Jafarli thinks that France is not interested in any sanctions against Azerbaijan even if Armenia urges it. According to him, it is only the opinion of people in some political circles in France, and these opinions do not have the power to influence the decisions of the French state.

Frankly, France does not even try. Some French diplomats, journalists, and media groups make statements in favor of Armenia and they have an unfavorable position against Azerbaijan, but these are considered within the framework of general freedom of speech. So, I do not expect the political consequences due to these persons. I consider it impossible, the economist opined.

Further, Natig Jafarli drew attention to the growing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France. In addition, he mentioned the purchase of 12 Airbus and Totals activity in Azerbaijan. Taking into account mentioned, he concluded that Armenian lobbying sanctions will be futile.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France is increasing, and there is serious warming in their relations. Azerbaijan's purchase of 12 Airbus units from France, Total participation in several large projects, including the Absheron field, indicate the logic and power of relations between Azerbaijan and France. But France also has political ambitions. It aims to have a share and an influence in the South Caucasus through Armenia.

Given that the process of pushing Russia out of the South Caucasus is going on. At the moment it is not very strong, but after some time it will be felt more seriously. We can consider Frances attempts to fill the place vacated by Russia. If we leave these political steps aside, from a purely pragmatic economic point of view, France-Azerbaijan relations stand on a more logical and mutually beneficial cooperation, the expert added.

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6 June 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

Lately, Iran's mullah regime has again started to carry out malicious acts such as provocation, blackmail and sabotage against Azerbaijani Turks. Even the theocratic regime, which is afraid of its own collapse, denigrates any students, ordinary citizens, tourists, etc., arrests them under various pretexts, and makes unjust decisions about them. All this is an example of growing hatred towards the Turkish nation in Iran.

Note that the recent news about the disappearance and subsequent arrest of Azerbaijani national Farid Safarli in Iran caused the Azerbaijani government to strengthen precautionary measures. Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan not only prohibits Azerbaijani citizens from visiting Iran for security reasons, but also warned our compatriots who want to travel from other countries.

Nevertheless, the new decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is also taken into account for our Azerbaijani compatriots living in Iran. The question arises, what will be the fate of the southern Azerbaijanis after the new decision? Can such an approach of Iran endanger the lives of our compatriots?

"The pressure exerted by the Iranian authorities on the speeches of the Azerbaijani Turks regarding the provision of their national rights never weakens. This announcement by the Foreign Ministry is an economic blow to Iran's tourism sector," political analyst, head of the Middle East think tank Sadraddin Soltan said this to Azernews, while commenting on regime's rising pressure on Azerbaijani Turks. He added that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that the rights of Azerbaijani Turks to speak in their native language in Iran are being violated and faced severe assimilation. Iran, on the other hand, expresses its anger towards the Turks in the world and Azerbaijan in political matters.

"Although Iran does not openly state this, it shows it as an element of pressure in its behavior and attitude. For example, when Azerbaijanis demand their rights, Iran accuses them of spying on neighboring countries. If Iran openly declares that its actions are directed only against Azerbaijan, it will be a kind of action to promote Azerbaijan Republic. This will give spirit and confidence to the Turks worldwide," Sadraddin Soltan added.

Apart from its national and ethnic politics, Iran is also a country that tends to pursue a multifaceted policy. However, it is not a secret that this is not a feature arising from his good intentions. On the contrary, Iran always carries out this kind of secret expansionist policy in order to create its influence in different parts of the world.

For example, Iran is seeking collective maritime cooperation with a number of countries, mainly with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, as well as with Pakistan and India. In this regard, the expert stressed that Iranian authorities have recently taken a course towards the normalization of relations with neighboring and non-neighboring Muslim countries.

"Saudi Arabia is the country where Iran has been experiencing the most serious problems in the Middle East for more than 7 years. Iran believes that if it first establishes relations with Saudi Arabia, it will be able to establish relations with other Arab and Muslim countries such as UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and others. The second question is that Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel are not so broad compared to other Arab countries. However, the desire to normalize relations does not mean the formation of any union. Concrete questions must be behind it. Iran must first find a solution to the problems of Yemen (Houthi movement), Lebanon and Syria, which it created with Saudi Arabia," Soltan said.

According to him, due to the risky policy and and because of some insecurity of the regime, no state agrees to invest in its economy. The agreement signed between the two states does not mean the normalization of relations between them.

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Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva

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6 June 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Poor and little but "kind-hearted and proud" Armenia intends to run for help to its big and powerful neighbors, Turkiye and Iran. Armenia swears that only for this purpose, they try to increase NPPs (nuclear power plant) - but in reality, Nikol Pashinyan follows foremr Iraqi leader Saddam Hossein's footprints. It would be better if neither Armenian society nor Pashinyan should forget the fate of Iraq and the Iraqi dictator.

Immediately after the humiliating defeat in the Second Karabakh War, the unindustrialized Armenia suddenly remembered that it has to improve electricity generation and sell it to the neighboring industrialized countries. There are many sources for generating electricity such as renewable energy, that Armenia has great potential for, thermal power stations, and so on. However, for unknown reasons, Armenia which locates in the quake-prone zone is nuclear power stations with tight grip. Armenia has discussed the issue with different countries including Russia, the USA, French, and South Korea. in February 2023 the Rosatom Energy Projects submitted the preliminary technical-economic substantiation of building two 1200 MW reactors. Later South Korea offered to build 1000 and 1400MW reactors. According to Armenian mass media, the USA also is interested in constructing modular reactors.

Speaking to Azernews, an active member of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science (ANAS) and the chairman of the National Center for Nuclear Research, academician Adil Garibov said that it is the sovereign right of each country to use any type of energy source. As for safety Adil Garibov noted that after the Chornobyl accident, countries take it more seriously to construct nuclear reactors. These reactors are new, they have both a passive protection system, and the system meets completely new requirements. It can be said that companies working in the field of nuclear technologies around the world are building completely safe nuclear reactors. Seismic factors are taken into account in those reactors and there are protection systems up to 10 points. However, he said that no one can ensure that it will work in accordance.

Metsamor NPP was the first plant to be built in a seismic zone in the Soviet Union, and this factor was taken into account here as well. The Soviet Union bought special seismic pads from Japan for Metsamor. These reactors were supposedly seismically protected reactors. From the safety point of view, they were the most modern reactors of that time. However, during the Spitak earthquake, the first unit did not work, some cracks appeared in the building, and the system was stopped. In 1995, only the second unit was commissioned. In extreme cases, no technology can withstand it. We saw it in Fukushima nuclear disaster as well. In a country like Japan, an accident occurred as a result of a power generator failure during the tsunami, Garibli said.

He underscored that the second unit of Metsamor NPP, which is currently operating, should stop its operation. Because this reactor was built and put into operation in the 80s. He mentioned that its life is 25 years, but the reactor has been in operation for more than 40 years.

This reactor is a great crime not only against the neighboring countries but also against the Armenian people themselves. No one has ensured that the accident will not happen again at the NPP. If such an accident happens in such a densely populated region, the pollution of the Kura and Aras rivers, which are the basis of our drinking water sources, will create a big problem. The world community, especially the neighboring countries, should be active in this matter. We are not saying this for the sake of enmity towards the Armenian people. We say this for the safety of Armenia itself, the academician noted.

He pointed out that Armenia does not need Metsamor NPP as an energy source. In fact, Iran, a close ally of Armenia, provides enough gas to Armenia, and the country has a very powerful thermal power plant due to which it generates enough electricity to meet its needs and even sells electricity to Georgia.

Also, Armenia has great hydroelectric power. As is known, Azerbaijan invests in renewable energy and we are located in the same region, and in the same climate zone with Armenia. In other words, for their energy needs, Armenia can pay attention to this field if they were really interested in energy production. But they are not. Armenia does not need NPP only as an energy source but perhaps for some evil intentions... In other words, it aims to keep its status as a nuclear country or a country with nuclear technology as well as to manage and master it. Previously in the Armenian Parliament, the MPs raised the issue of dirty bombs. They jabbered about having a dirty bomb. It should be recalled that Armenia raised the issue of the production of dirty bombs during the Second Karabakh War. So, this does not exclude the fact that Armenia has the goal of creating a dirty bomb out of NPP. There are 4 scientific research institutes in the nuclear field in Armenia. Therefore, I believe that Armenia will never close the NPP, Garibli added.

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6 June 2023 16:15 (UTC+04:00)

French trade unions are planning to attract more than 500,000 supporters on Tuesday to participate in a nationwide day of action against raising the retirement age, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

Demonstrations and strikes are planned in Paris and 250 communes of the country. The protests come two days before an expected parliamentary vote on Thursday on an opposition bill to repeal the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Mass protests

This will be the 14th day of mass protests against a government law that would raise the retirement age.

In a months-long wave of demonstrations, the unions showed strong opposition to the reform. Gerard Re, one of the coordinators of the nationwide action, said that this reform punishes first of all the workers with the lowest incomes, since by the end of their career they are unable to continue working for health reasons.

The government's measures are also pushing those who are already in dire need into even greater poverty, unions say. "I call on everyone to take to the streets," said General Secretary of the General Confederation of Labor Sophie Binet. She stressed that the scale of the action on Tuesday will affect the further fate of the movement.

Union assessments

Union headquarters expect marches across the country to draw between 400,000 and 700,000 people. As a result of the strike on the railway on Tuesday, every 10th train will not be on the line. At the Paris Orly airport, about a third of all flights are expected to be canceled that day.

Despite such disruptions to the usual life of society, according to a survey organized by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP), holding a national day of action against the reform is supported by 57% of the country's inhabitants.

Nevertheless, the ruling camp categorically refuses to meet the strikers halfway and agree to a revision of the reform. The restoration of the right to retire at 62, according to government experts, would threaten the treasury with additional costs of  15 billion in an environment where state debts are already at record highs.

Shooting marches

The Prefecture of Paris has warned that the authorities intend to film the marches with drones in order to monitor the situation on all routes. Police experts say there is a need to increase security in the light of acts of vandalism that have taken place during previous actions.

Police units make up sketches of riot instigators from the ranks of the anarchist Black Block movement. According to law enforcement officers, this underground movement has up to 1,000 rioters in its ranks, who deliberately provoke riots and clashes with policemen.

In the capital, a gathering of demonstrators is planned at 14:00 local time in front of the historic House of Invalids. Then the columns will head along the boulevard Montparnasse and the avenue Gobelins to the Place d'Italie on the left bank of the Seine. The police expect that up to 70 thousand people can go to the capital's march.

Law enforcement agencies are taking enhanced measures to ensure order during demonstrations. More than 4,000 policemen and gendarmes will be on duty in the capital.

Key provisions of the reform

A draft reform plan to raise the French retirement age from 62 to 64 and eliminate some special pension regimes was presented in January. The initiative immediately caused demonstrations and strikes throughout the country. On April 14, the French Constitutional Council supported the reform. He excluded several provisions from it, but approved the key one - raising the retirement age by two years.

After that, President Emmanuel Macron signed the document. The pension reform should come into force this autumn.

Protests will take place two days before the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) submits a bill by a group of independent deputies and representatives of overseas territories of France to cancel the reform for discussion in the National Assembly.

The country's government has already sharply criticized the initiative, calling it unconstitutional. On June 3, the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly rejected the first article of the bill, which contained a requirement to refuse to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 for most categories of workers.

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6 June 2023 12:52 (UTC+04:00)

YARAT Contemporary Art Space will present an exhibition "Heaven Can Wait" by Azerbaijani artist Aida Mahmudova on June 8, Azernews reports.

In order to explore all the possibilities of our existence, we have to turn to art and the social sciences. While there are universal values of art, we must not forget that our literary and visual context is strictly local. The following point is essential: The reality in which a person feels himself/herself most profoundly is the artistic reality that leads us to the universal reality. Here, Aida Mahmudova takes us to a kind of landscape, to the reality of the landscape, to save us from the claustrophobia of the self.

Although the reality of the landscape that the artist created at the center of the Heaven Can Wait exhibition may seem personal and difficult to understand at first glance, the artist critiques the pathology of the self. On the one hand, life stands before us in all its anatomical reality, and in some cases, life appears as much more than a landscape. On the other hand, trying to separate life from the landscape will also lead us to a kind of alienation. All life, all personal or social history, takes place in a landscape, in geography, and there is always some place that resonates in our memory.

Mahmudova states that geography is an essential dimension of civilization, and that people can be contacted within this geography. Two large canvases at the center of the exhibition tell us about geography and its diversity and importance, while also drawing our attention to its beauty and horror. These canvases, which symbolize the beginning and the end, also contain clues about the past and the future. The paintings, which are in harmony with the fragmentary structure of our age, mark an organism's return to its original point after its entire natural cycle (birth, life, and death).

While the artist depicts the world by looking at humanity, she also affirms our shared experience through herself. It is a call made by Mahmudova: The power of art summons and affects our minds, nerves, memories, emotions, and, ultimately, souls. She expresses our existence in the world through the negative castings of the molds she took from her own body and the volumes they occupy in the void. She also conveys hope in her canvases and surface works that she hangs from the ceiling. In these landscapes, we can see our memories as well as glimpses of our future. In her works, she proclaims that through art, we can fight material and spiritual evils, and communicate the ideals of the past, present, and future. Mahmudova shows us the universal importance and power of art because she makes people remember their lives and their history with her works.

Art no longer confines itself to describing, measuring, and analyzing the world as it appears. Mahmudova believes that geography and memory are too abstract to be presented in a naturalist way. While Mahmudovas works convey that art contributes to the world's renewal, she states that modern time and space are insecure and introverted. Therefore, the world is depicted as an open composition on the edges of the canvases. Her works can be a means of discovery and expression for the audience; she calls for greater openness and creativity where barriers to meaning are removed.

With a courageous pioneering action, Mahmudova shows us that humanity can transcend borders with appropriate skills and tools. As a result, the exhibition seeks to cross physical and conceptual borders. Unless we cross these borders, we will not have humanist geography. A careful look at the works will provide us with significant clues to understand a little bit about how this can happen, and if we dare.

YARAT Contemporary Art Space is delighted to present The Seventh Solitude, a remarkable group exhibition that brings together the captivating works of a talented ensemble of Azerbaijani artists, including Huseyn Hagverdiyev, Tarlan Gorchu, Orkhan Huseynov, Ramal Kazim, Novruz Mammadov, Faraj Rahmanov, Eltaj Zeynalov, Ismail Safarali, and Nadir Eminov. This exhibition showcases both commissioned pieces by YARAT and other works created by these artists in recent years.

Drawing inspiration from Nietzsche's enigmatic concept of the Seventh Solitude, the group exhibition endeavors to connect the fundamental values of modern estrangement, presence, and eternal return within the social context.

In today's fast-paced modern world, despite the abundance of people, close interactions do not necessarily enhance opportunities for communication. The prevalent conveyor production of socio-psychological stereotypes, preferences, evaluations, behavioral patterns, and perceptions tends to erode individual differences, ultimately resulting in the fragmentation of one's personality. It becomes evident that within the framework of modern society, attaining the state of the seventh solitude necessitates a specific social context. Solitude, in this sense, extends beyond physical separation and encompasses a spiritual dimension detached from society. Within this framework, the central theme of the exhibition revolves around the quest for the elusive seventh solitude experienced by individuals who deliberately seek solace in seclusion.

The exhibition explores the progression from the initial notion of solitude to a more profound and transformative state known as the seventh solitude. This evolving state, seen as a conscious choice, is intertwined with concepts such as freedom, the Path towards self-realization, and the essence of existence. It delves into the intricate connections between these concepts, inviting contemplation on the profound implications they hold for individual experiences. Centering around solitude as its primary focus, the exhibition brings attention to the individuals personal experiences and observations that guide them towards the realm of the Supernatural. It also underscores the integral aspects that form part of this transformative Path, such as freedom, value systems, goals and aspirations, truth and power, obedience, instincts, and more. Through the exploration of solitude, the exhibition delves into the notion of personal belonging, accentuating its exceptional significance and superiority over alternative social environments.

Curated by Farah Alakbarli, the exhibition will last until October 22, 2023.

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6 June 2023 13:21 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Second Festival of Literature and Books of the Turkic World has started in Baku.

The festival gathers over 50 publishing houses to encourage reading habits among people, Azernews reports.

This year the festival is distinguished by a more extensive program, which includes The Days of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.

Within the festival, book lovers can purchase scientific, educational and fictional publications, as well as paintings, graphic art works, handicrafts.

At the opening ceremony, war veterans of the First Karabakh War presented a musical composition. Then the living heros of the Second Karabakh War read poetic works of their own composition.

Recall that the project "Words of the Heroes!" was implemented by Soz (Word) literature project, launched by poetess Nigar Hasanzade to promote works of national poets and writers.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, People's Writer Anar Rzayev noted that the Second Festival of Literature and Books of the Turkic World is being held in a significant year - the year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Turkish Republic.

MP, People's poet Sabir Rustamkhanli, Vice-President of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, academician Dilgam Tagiyev and other public figures, writers, scientists stressed the festival`s importance.

In conclusion, the balloons with poems inside were released into the sky.

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6 June 2023 15:20 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium has organized a photo exhibition of the world-famous photojournalist Reza Deghati called "Khojaly: Wounded Souls" in Brussels.

A minute of silence was held in memory of the people who lost their lives as a result of the devastating earthquakes that occurred in Turkiye, Syria and the city of Khoy, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium Vagif Sadigov spoke about Khojaly Massacre, which took the lives of 613 civilians.

On the night of February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, directly supported by the 366th regiment of the former USSR, stationed at that time in the town of Khankendi in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan attacked, from five directions, the town of Khojaly.

Some 613 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in the massacre, and 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent.

Moreover, around 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.

In his speech, Reza Deghati noted that he left architecture, which was once his main art, and engaged in photo-journalism precisely because of his love for humanity, and noted that he believes that spreading the truth through culture and art is the most powerful tool.

He stressed that wars, natural disasters, and crises that cause the death of people, the destruction of buildings, historical monuments, and vital infrastructure leave irreparable wounds in the memories of the survivors.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps, officials of the European Union, Belgium academic circles and many others, who attended the opening ceremony, showed great interest in the exhibition.

The photo exhibition was followed by a concert dedicated to the memory of the Khojaly tragedy victims.

Trio Manestri created in Belgium by talented pianist-composer Nazrin Afandiyeva, grandson of Azerbaijan's prominent composer Fikrat Amirov, left no one indifferent.

The concert program included Azerbaijani folk songs, works by Fikrat Amirov, Anze Rozman, Ludovico Einaudi, Nazrin Afandiyeva's music piece "613 memories" as well as "Azerbaijan miniatures", composed especially for this event.

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6 June 2023 10:41 (UTC+04:00)

Thirty years have passed since the establishment of Azerbaijan's first private regional television.

Kepez Independent Television and Radio Company started broadcasting in the summer of 1993 in the city of Ganja.

Kepez TV, which meets the daily information needs of people living in Ganja - Dashkasan and Gazakh - Tovuz economic regions, covers all the processes happening in the western region in four newscasts and various programs every day.

TV channel, which always devotes time to children, pays special attention to the children of the families of martyrs

It also focuses on military-patriotic issues in order to reflect national-spiritual values and traditions.

Over the years, Kepez TV has produced over 100 historical, feature-documentary films and has been awarded numerous prizes.

The website www.kepeztv.az is available to viewers and they can watch the channel live.

Note that the relevant decision of the Azerbaijan Audiovisual Council, dated October 11, 2022, Kepez TV was granted a platform broadcaster license for satellite broadcasting.

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6 June 2023 11:53 (UTC+04:00)

On June 6, 2023, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov paid a business visit to Austria in order to participate in a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Azernews reports, citing MFA.

As part of the visit, Minister Bayramov's speech at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, as well as bilateral meetings, are planned.

On June 7, 2023, within the framework of the Minister's business trip to the Slovak Republic, it is planned to hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Vlachovski, as well as other high-level officials of Slovakia.

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6 June 2023 11:28 (UTC+04:00)

An interview with Azerbaijani ambassador Khazar Ibrahim on Azerbaijan-Israel relations has been published on The Jerusalem Post. In the interview, the Ambassador has touched on partnership that involves a number of important aspects, including cybersecurity, energy supply that meets half of Israels needs.

Azernews presents the full interview:

Israel-Azerbaijan ties based on shared values for future - ambassador

Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Israel and the countries have been bolstering ties over the last three decades, Khazar Ibrahim, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States, said at The Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York on Monday.

This is a partnership that involves a variety of important aspects, including cybersecurity, and Bakus export of oil and natural gas which now accounts for half of Israels demands. Its not only business, this is how we believe friends should and must act, said Ibrahim.

Azerbaijan recently opened an embassy in Israel and Israels foreign minister and president have both visited Baku in recent weeks. Ibrahim characterized the opening of the embassy as a huge jubilation and compared the process of diplomacy to cuisine, calling the ties slow cooked, meaning they benefit from the long build-up leading to this year.

Its clear Israel Azerbaijan partnership strategic and cooperation are on national interest and shared values for the future. It is not intended against any country. So if somebody has wrong calculations or ill-intentions it is not our fault.

- Khazar Ibrahim

Azerbaijan-Iran tensions

Azerbaijan-Iran tensions have grown in recent months, in the wake of an attack on Azerbaijans embassy in Tehran and an assassination attempt against a member of Azerbaijans parliament. The ambassador pointed out that there has been no official reaction by Iran to the attack on the embassy.

Iran is trying to blame us on many things, said Ibrahim. Its clear [that the] Israel-Azerbaijan partnership is on national interest and shared values for the future. It is not intended against any country. So, if somebody has wrong calculations or ill-intentions it is not our fault.

The ambassador was interviewed by Maayan Hoffman, the Deputy CEO for Strategy and Innovation at the Post. He was asked about recent cyber security cooperation and said Israel and Azerbaijan have vast cooperation in many areas.

He also noted that the Technion has helped establish a Cyber Security Center in Azerbaijan. It is significant, we are learning from the best and Israel is the best and with this center, Israeli friends will help us train 1,000 specialists in three years in cyber security, he said. The goal is to train the trainers, he noted. This means these specialists will go on to train locals.

Baku is also currently playing a key role not only in providing Israel with natural gas and oil, but also supplying Europe and the EU, the diplomat said. He estimates that by 2027 Azerbaijan can double those natural gas exports.

On top of it we are working on renewables, he said. This includes investment in wind and solar and Azerbaijan is developing an undersea cable for electricity that will run through Georgia, under the Black Sea to Romania and Hungary.

Ambassador Ibrahim also praised Israel and Azerbaijan for being responsible international actors. He said the partnership and cooperation with Israel is not intended against anyone, it is a common future vision and values, he said.

He also mentioned the importance of the Jewish community of Azerbaijan, which he said was the second most ancient community outside Jerusalem and the largest in the Muslim world.

Long live friendship between Azerbaijan and the state of Israel, he said.

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6 June 2023 12:08 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of congratulations to King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf as his country celebrates the national holiday, Azernews reports.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am happy to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and through you to all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Sweden.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health and happiness, and the friendly people of Sweden everlasting peace and prosperity, the President of Azerbaijan said in his message.

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6 June 2023 14:31 (UTC+04:00)

Pope Francis has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency!

On the occasion of the National Day of Azerbaijan - the Independence Day, I extend to you my wishes of well-being and prosperity for your country, and my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of your father, His Excellency Heydar Aliyev.

The efforts of genius Heydar Aliyev towards Azerbaijans development and establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See will be forever remembered with a sense of gratitude. May the Almighty God grant Azerbaijan and its people progress, prosperity, good health, and well-being.

Esteemed President, May God grant you every success in your high state activity, and all your fellow citizens abundance.

With deep respect,

Pope Francis

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6 June 2023 15:44 (UTC+04:00)

The President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President!

I have the pleasure to extend to you my sincerest congratulations on the occasion of your countrys national day - the Independence Day.

I wish you and friendly people of Azerbaijan continued progress and prosperity.

I avail myself of this great opportunity to reiterate my readiness to work with you to strengthen the relations of cordial friendship between our two countries.

With deep respect,

Macky Sall

President of the Republic of Senegal

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6 June 2023 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration ceremony for a new administrative building of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku, Azernews reports.

Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov briefed the head of state on the building.

The construction of the building commenced in 2017 and was completed in June this year. The building offers space for some 500 employees of the Ministrys office as well as Agrarian Credit and Development Agency, Agrarian Research Center, Agrarian Innovation Center and Agrarian Development Volunteers.

The new building with 215 rooms provides all working conditions for the employees. The building will house a special room for the Electronic Control Center, conference and meeting rooms fitted with multimedia equipment, canteen and parking lots.

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6 June 2023 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Rinkevics,

I cordially congratulate you on your election as the President of the Republic of Latvia.

We attach special importance to Azerbaijan-Latvia relations. I am sure that the traditional friendly ties between our countries will continue successfully in line with the interests of our peoples, and our strategic partnership and fruitful cooperation will expand even further.

I wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your future activities for the sake of welfare of the friendly people of Latvia.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

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6 June 2023 19:42 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

I wish to extend my most sincere congratulations to Your Excellency and to the friendly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan  the Independence Day.

I am well pleased, that thanks to our joint efforts the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation is strengthening in many areas. Furthermore, I am confident that the bilateral cooperation will be enriched with economic content by expanding in the fields of agriculture, transportation and tourism.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite You to visit Mongolia at a time of your convenience.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, I wish you a good health and well-being, and prosperity to the friendly people of Azerbaijan.

Yours respectfully,

Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh

President of Mongolia

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6 June 2023 20:10 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency!

I am honored to express my heartfelt and affectionate congratulations to Your Excellency on the occasion of the commemoration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Likewise, wish prosperity and well-being in abundance to that sister nation.

Luis Abinader

President of the Dominican Republic

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6 June 2023 21:10 (UTC+04:00)

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

As-salamu aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

It is with great pleasure that I extend my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency on the occasion of the national holiday of friendly Azerbaijan  the Independence Day. I wish you robust health and success, and your friendly people continuous progress and prosperity.

Taking this opportunity, I emphasize my determination to strengthen relations between our countries and peoples as well as develop joint cooperative relations.

With deep respect,

Abdullatif Jamal Rashid

President of the Republic of Iraq

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6 June 2023 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Excellency President Ilham Aliyev,

As you celebrate the National Day of your friendly country, we are pleased to extend to Your Excellency, on our behalf and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, our heartfelt congratulations, and best regards on this national occasion. We wish your Excellency good health and happiness, and the friendly people of Republic of Azerbaijan continued progress and prosperity.

I willingly assure Your Excellency of my highest consideration.

Sincerely,

Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain

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6 June 2023 21:45 (UTC+04:00)

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia David John Hurley has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

On the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I wish to convey to you, the Government and the people of Azerbaijan my warmest wishes, together with those of the Australian Government and people.

May I express my confidence that the friendly relations between our two countries will continue to prosper in the coming year.

Yours sincerely,

David John Hurley,

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

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6 June 2023 21:18 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in connection with the beginning of his activities as President.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. President,

I wholeheartedly congratulate you as you assume Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I believe that we will make joint efforts to develop Azerbaijan-Nigeria relations in line with interests of our peoples in an atmosphere of friendship, and to continue our fruitful cooperation from now on within multilateral organizations including the Non-Aligned Movement and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

I wish you good health, happiness and successes in your future responsible activities for the sake of welfare of the friendly Nigerian people.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 6 June 2023

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SW China to host Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2023 in early July

Xinhua) 10:56, June 06, 2023

GUIYANG, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China's only national-level global forum themed on ecological civilization, Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2023, is scheduled to be held from July 8 to 9 in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, said its organizer on Monday.

This year's event will focus on seeking modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature and promoting green and low-carbon development. With both online and offline activities, the forum is estimated to invite about 500 attendees.

Themed sub-forums, exhibitions on latest techniques, products and technologies in industries like new energy and new materials, as well as business promotion activities, are expected to be held during the event, said the organizer.

Since its inception in 2009, the forum has successfully convened 11 sessions.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
6 June 2023 22:53 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou has sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellency,

On behalf of the people and government of Uruguay and on my own behalf, please accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan, as well as my wishes for peace and prosperity of your dear people.

I would like to note that very good bilateral relations were created between our countries. I am totally confident that these relations will further strengthen on the basis of economic, political and cultural cooperation.

Mr. President, availing myself of this opportunity, I assure you of my highest consideration.

Luis Lacalle Pou,

President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay

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6 June 2023 20:20 (UTC+04:00)

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday extended his gratitude to the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his open support for Georgia, Azernews reports, citing Agenda.ge.

In his remarks with the local media, Garibashvili noted his office was working on a scheduled visit to Germany at the invitation of Scholz.

I will talk about our country's security issues, European integration [...] about this difficult situation that has arisen in the region [with] the war in Ukraine, on the impact of the war - which, of course, affects all of us - and of course, Georgia, which was the first victim [of Russian aggression], and in 2008 we went through this calamity that is currently happening in Ukraine, the PM said.

The Government head stressed he would have a very interesting and meaningful conversation with Scholz.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Chancellor, because he always loudly and openly states his support for our country. In practically every speech, [he] openly supports Georgia's European integration. So I'm grateful, and I will let you know the results after the meetings, he noted.

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6 June 2023 23:15 (UTC+04:00)

Chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament Maulen Ashimbayev arrived in Israel for a visit, during which he met with Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, Azernews reports, citing Kazinform.

The sides outlined prospects for further strengthening interparliamentary cooperation between the two countries in different areas, Kazinform has learnt from the press service of the Senate.

Welcoming the Knesset Speaker, Ashimbayev stressed that Israel is one of the key partners of Kazakhstan in the Middle East. He drew the attention of his interlocutor to the importance to further step up interparliamentary cooperation and outlined his vision of development of interaction between the parliaments in the field of law-making for the upcoming period.

Cooperation between the Kazakh Parliament and the Knesset is an essential part of bilateral relations. Were interested in your experience in law-making, including legal support of social and economic and innovative development, parliamentary oversight. Were keen on exchanging experiences in these fields and others. Establishment of working contacts between relevant committee of the Senate and Knesset, as well as the deputies from the Friendship Groups could become a practical step in this direction, said Ashimbayev.

The meeting also focused on the results of the large-scale political modernization carried out in Kazakhstan at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. For his part, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana commended the social and political changes carried out in Kazakhstan and took an interest in expanding cooperation in all the areas.

The Kazakh Senate Speaker also noted huge potential the countries have in developing trade and economic and cultural and humanitarian ties. Ashimbayev placed special attention to the attraction of direct foreign investments.

Upon the Head of States initiative, Kazakhstan carries out large-scale reforms aimed at diversifying the national economy. Work is ongoing to create favorable conditions for foreign investors. Were interested in joint projects, primarily, in agriculture, green energy, and medicine. Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world in terms of territory. We need new technologies to develop such a vast territory and agriculture, he said.

The interlocutors also discussed Israels experience in construction of desalination facilities, water control and accounting systems, and water management development.

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Florida official says migrants flown to California went willingly, disputes claims of coercion

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration says three dozen migrants whom the state flew from the southern border to California on private planes went willingly
The board of Fresno-based Bitwise Industries has fired its two CEOs and launched an investigation into events leading up to last week's abrupt
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It was discreetly referred to as Operation Overlord - the final push into Fortress Europe through the inflexible sea wall, built by the Nazi overlords, just a spare few miles from the free shores of Great Britain, where the entire United States Expeditionary Force was congregated awaiting deployment. Later it would de revered as D-Day - the "longestday," when Allied forces grasped a toehold on the beaches of Normandy in the Nazi occupied nation of France, and Vishay France to the south of the landing zone.It was the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The Allied forces: United States and Great Britain, and in lesser numbers; Canada, Norway, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and Free France stormed the beaches of Normandy and unleashed the maelstrom of Allied might that within 11 months crushed the spine of the German Wehrmacht's western front.The combined Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches, divided into four sectors: Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah, with the fifth sector, Omaha Beach, just the American soldiers. It was the bloodiest fighting of the day, with the Americans suffering nearly 5,000 casualtiesout of the overwhelming force of 50,000 brave soldiers that withstood the withering fire from entrenched Wehrmacht positions high above the sand and foam, stained to a scarlet hue from the blood of these bravest and best of all Americans, anywhere, that drew breath that June morning.The fighting from as much as 30 miles deep behind the Nazi sea wall, some of it quite heavy, was left to the well-trained young men of the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions, who airdropped amidst hellacious anti-aircraft fire from below in the pitch black of that near moonless eve of that infamous Longest Day.It was a day long, exhaustive fight, whereby the Allied forces made their way ashore on the continent of Europe's mainland. It was also a day that must always be remembered for the ultimate sacrifice that so many young men so willingly gave, and by their supreme effort, preserved our freedoms that we still enjoy today. Should we ever forget their selfless sacrifice, we, as a free American people, do no longer deserve that gift of freedom that is continued by their unwavering courage that fateful day.I close with this poignant message from the Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight Eisenhower, delivered as these young American soldiers braved the hell that was Omaha Beach:
Over the course of the last week, Folwell waded into a series of high-profile issues  from public education to transgender medical procedures to the impending selection of Mandy Cohen to run the CDC. And for the first time, he publicly embraced the title of gubernatorial candidate.

Folwell is still an extreme long shot to capture the Republican nomination, and he doesnt appear to have taken any steps toward mounting a serious primary campaign. But put together, the last week seems to be a sign that Folwell isnt planning to finish his political career quietly.

Photo via Dale Folwells campaign website.

Lets quickly run through Folwells busy week.

Folwell on public education

On Monday, Folwell sat for his first extended public interview since declaring for the governor race back in March. In a 45-minute video interview with conservative education activist Sloan Rachmuth, Folwell criticized the current state of public education in North Carolina and touted his record as state treasurer.

I think that we've lost our way. We've lost our mission. Everything we do is focused on indoctrinating, and not educating students, Folwell said. He then set the goal of having the highest-performing fourth graders in the country, presumably on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nations Report Card.

Folwell also pledged not to repeat Gov. Roy Coopers mistakes when it came to COVID.

The aftermath of shutting down our schools, the lack of common sense that went into those decisions, will never happen in a Folwell administration, he said.

And he ran through some of the highlights of his tenure as state treasurer, including his fight against ESG investing  the practice of large money managers insisting that companies promote leftist policies before buying their stock. He introduced his own version of what ESG should stand for: energy independence, safe streets and neighborhoods, and good government.

I've made all the right enemies as the keeper of the public purse, Folwell said. Ive taken on the health care cartel, the prescription drug cartel, the insurance cartel, and the Wall Street cartel.

Folwell on transgender medical procedures

Then on Wednesday, Folwell issued a press release reminding the state of his stance on perhaps the hottest of hot-button issues in the national discourse, gender ideology.

Folwells office has been the subject of a lawsuit for nearly five years related to how the states publicly funded health insurance plans cover gender-affirming treatments, including hormones and surgery.

Under previous State Treasurer Janet Cowell (a Democrat), the State Health Plan voted to approve coverage for these procedures for one year. That one year expired after Folwell was sworn in, and the State Health Plan trustees did not vote to renew the coverage. Activists sued to reinstate it.

The case hasnt gone so well for Folwell. As of last year, North Carolina is under court order to cover these procedures under publicly funded health insurance policies, and Folwell pointed out that the State Health Plan has currently funded gender dysphoria treatments for 270 people so far in 2023 to the tune of $356,000.

Earlier this month, the attorneys general of 21 states filed an amicus brief in support of Folwells position, as the press release points out. Significantly, the press release calls out Attorney General Josh Stein (the presumptive Democrat nominee for governor in 2024) for refusing to defend him in the suit. Representing state government entities is a major part of the attorney generals role.

Folwell on Mandy Cohen

Arguably the biggest talker of the past week was the news that President Joe Biden is expected to nominate former N.C. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Mandy Cohen to be the next director of the CDC.

Youll recall that Cohen played a major role in North Carolinas response to COVID, and earned the scorn of many conservatives for her pseudo-scientific approach. Highlights included being caught wearing a mask only when she was in front of TV cameras, and joking about using her power to ban normal activities.

Folwell wrote a message on Twitter taking her to task.

The tweet was widely shared among N.C. political observers. It was a pretty unusual message for Folwell, who doesnt use social media platforms very much at all.

Whats Folwells strategy here?

I dont see this flurry of activity as a precursor to a statewide barnstorm or a major TV buy  or anything youd consider a traditional campaign. Folwell nearly died in March 2020 when he was one of the first wave of people to contract COVID, and he still has lingering effects. Showmanship has never been Folwells cup of tea, anyway.

At this point, I think Folwell recognizes that his political career is rapidly coming to an end.

But the Executive Mansion has clearly been on Folwells mind for years: Before pursuing the state treasurer role, Folwell ran for lieutenant governor in 2012. Along the way, hes developed a simple but compelling philosophy on public service.

My focus all the time I've been in Raleigh has been, how we can save a mind, save a life, or save money? as Folwell told Rachmuth.

What I see in this past week is that Folwell still has some things he wants to say. If hes going out, hes going out on his own terms. He still has more to share with the state of North Carolina, and wed all do well to pay attention and take his advice to heart.

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2 things of note

Senate rolls out proposed changes to N.C. election laws

Whats happening: Led by powerful Senators Ralph Hise, Paul Newton and Warren Daniel, the N.C. Senate introduced a series of changes to North Carolinas election laws last week that seeks to shore up confidence in the system. Senate Bill 747 would:

Set Election Day as the deadline for receiving absentee ballots. In prior years, the state has accepted absentee ballots for a number of days after Election Day, so long as there was a postmark on or before it.

Prohibits the State Board of Elections or local election boards from accepting private donations. This is especially relevant in North Carolina: Mark Zuckerbergs Center for Tech and Civic Life gave more than $7 million to our states election boards in the last election cycle, with the goal of promoting left-leaning policy.

Require people who register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day to cast a provisional ballot and verify their address before the vote can be accepted.

Create a software system to verify signatures on absentee ballots.

Why this matters: North Carolina remains deeply concerned about the integrity of its elections. In a Civitas poll this month, just about half of N.C. voters said they were confident the 2024 elections would be definitely or probably free and fair, with the other half not quite so sure.

All of the provisions above are well in line with steps other states have taken to shore up election integrity, and in a normal political environment would be pretty uncontroversial. Of course, we dont live in a normal political environment.

What comes next: The voter ID requirements finally going into effect this fall will help, but expect the General Assembly to push through these changes despite another major temper tantrum from Gov. Roy Cooper.

Truitt proposes a way to boost school performance grades without improving schools

Whats happening: North Carolinas public schools receive lower grades, in general, than schools in other states that have similar A-F performance grades. Roughly half of the elementary and middle schools in our state receive D or F grades.

However, N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt says North Carolinas schools dont actually perform worse than states like Florida and Texas.

So she is proposing changes to North Carolinas school performance grades with the overall goal of raising the average score. According to a presentation to the House education committee, Truitt would like the states grading system to include a series of subjective or easily manipulated measures including:

Percentage of students who demonstrate seven durable skills

Percentage of students who participate in an extracurricular or intra-curricular (whatever that means) activity

Percentage of students and teachers who affirm the qualities of a school related to engagement and environment (whatever that means)

Why this matters: There is a valid conversation to be had about whether North Carolinas school performance grades accurately reflect the actual quality of a school. They most likely dont, and there have been debates about whether performance grades should focus more heavily on growth than pure proficiency. Right now, North Carolinas grades overly emphasize proficiency.

Some of the metrics Truitt proposes are useful, like the percentage of students chronically absent at a school, and performance increases among particular student groups.

But I strongly encourage the state to stick with hard numbers here and avoid survey-based or subjective measures. Florida, for example, has a broader range of measurement criteria  but does not go the route Truitt proposes.

Politically, this proposal is a pretty good example of why Truitt (a Republican) takes flack from conservatives. The education bureaucracy has a bad habit of simply changing the grading system whenever the results arent to their liking. This feels like more of the same, and yet another attempt to water down a key method of accountability for our states public schools.

What comes next: Changes here would need legislative approval. I dont see the General Assembly adopting them.

1 good idea from another state

Texas to allow voters to recall prosecutors who dont enforce the law

The Texas legislature has passed a bill that would allow residents to recall district attorneys for official misconduct, including refusing to enforce certain categories of laws. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will sign the bill into law.
The use of artificial intelligence has become increasingly popular over the past few years, especially in healthcare.

Sean Moroze, MD, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Bay Orthopedics in Panama City, Fla., connected with Becker's to discuss the healthcare disruptors he is most excited about.

Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Dr. Sean Moroze: In the coming years, we will see an unprecedented technological evolution that will disrupt how we practice and deliver healthcare. This evolution will primarily revolve around the increase in artificial intelligence and its integration into every facet of patient care. AI can streamline care by reducing physician administrative burden, improving diagnostic accuracy, eliminating redundancy and minimizing physician errors. The introduction of AI into electronic medical records will occur piecemeal, with often undetectable change. However, in the coming decade, such technology will be commonplace and come to be expected by physicians and other providers.

Additionally, this AI/technological revolution will be hastened by the appearance of nontraditional healthcare corporations in everyday medicine, namely Google, Apple and Microsoft. These corporations, often seen as disruptors themselves, will bring new ideas and technologies into patient care and population health. The question will be whether or not these companies and technologies can improve outcomes without increasing costs. Nonetheless, the future of healthcare is bright, with AI and nontraditional corporations offering new advances to enhance our patients' health while reducing costs.
Two people were injured after an SUV crashed into a Massachusetts dental practice, The Daily News reported June 6.

An unidentified woman crashed her car into the office of Norma Colletta, DMD, in Newburyport, Mass., on the morning of June 6. She reportedly told witnesses that her foot got caught underneath the gas pedal.

The woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A man who was inside the dental practice at the time of the crash was also injured, but did not go to the hospital.

A city building inspector determined there was no structural damage to the building. The practice will be able to reopen once the damaged windows are boarded up and two points of exit are available.
A planned expansion of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare's Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Calif., could be taking a step closer, according to local government documents released June 5.

The public now has a 30-day period to respond to the publication of a draft environmental impact report on the project, the documents show.

The Good Samaritan Hospital is looking to add 146 beds to its campus, the East Bay Times reported Jan. 17. When finished with the expansion, the hospital campus would be 1.37 million square feet, compared to its current 450,700 square feet, the report said.

According to the latest San Jose government documents, the planned project would result in the construction of two new hospital wings totaling approximately 715,000 square feet, an approximately 200,000-square-foot medical office building and a new heliport. There would also be new parking garage structures.
Numerous rankings and awards aim to quantify the top hospital and health system brands. But what does ChatGPT think?

Becker's asked the artificial intelligence chatbot June 6: "Which hospitals and health systems are best at marketing?" Here is its answer:

"As an AI language model, I don't have real-time data or access to current rankings. However, I can provide you with some general information about hospitals and health systems that are known for their effective marketing strategies. Please note that the effectiveness of marketing strategies can vary based on different factors, and rankings may change over time.

"Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic is renowned for its marketing efforts, emphasizing their high-quality patient care and medical expertise. They have developed comprehensive marketing campaigns and consistently maintain a strong online presence.

"Cleveland Clinic: Cleveland Clinic has established a strong brand presence through their marketing initiatives. They focus on delivering personalized care and innovative treatments while utilizing various channels such as social media and content marketing.

"Johns Hopkins Medicine: Johns Hopkins Medicine is recognized globally for its medical research and high-quality healthcare. Their marketing efforts highlight their expertise in specialized areas, such as cancer treatment, neurology, and cardiology.

"Massachusetts General Hospital: Mass General has a reputation for excellence in patient care and medical research. They have implemented successful marketing campaigns, including multimedia advertising and educational content, to promote their services.

"Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Known for its world-class cancer care, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has implemented effective marketing strategies to raise awareness about their expertise and treatment options. They utilize various media platforms to reach their target audience.

"University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: MD Anderson Cancer Center is highly regarded for its comprehensive cancer care and research. They have developed successful marketing campaigns focusing on patient stories, innovative treatments, and community outreach.

"Partners HealthCare: Partners HealthCare, based in Boston, is a renowned health system that includes prestigious institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. They have implemented comprehensive marketing strategies to promote their hospitals and services.

"It's important to note that the effectiveness of marketing strategies can vary based on various factors such as target audience, geographic location, competition, and marketing budget. These examples are based on their reputation and recognition in the healthcare industry, but there are many other hospitals and health systems that may also excel in marketing."

Partners HealthCare rebranded as Mass General Brigham in 2019; the system, which includes Massachusetts General Hospital, is now headquartered in Somerville, Mass. ChatGPT's developer, OpenAI, notes that the chatbot does not always provide the most up-to-date information.
Oracle Cerner gained 22 hospitals within its network last year but lost thousands of hospital beds as legacy clients transitioned out.

KLAS Research reported 22 more hospitals overall used Oracle Cerner's EHR in 2022 than in 2021. The company gained fewer hospitals than its closest competitor, Epic, which gained 83. However Meditech, Azalea health and medhost all reported fewer hospitals last year than the year prior.

While the EHR giant added hospitals overall last year, it did lose some clients who transitioned away from the system. Oracle Cerner's platform covered 4,658 fewer hospital beds in 2022 than 2021. Oracle Cerner still has 24.9 percent of the market share, below Epic's 36 percent.

Cerner was acquired by Oracle last year in a $28.4 billion transaction and since then has undergone a myriad of changes. Oracle Cerner shared four new enhancements to deploy and pilot for the EHR to build a more open and connected cloud-enabled platform. Larry Ellison, Oracle's chief technology officer, outlined a grand vision for the company to become a universal patient data platform with real-time data updates.

Oracle Cerner's relationship with the VA is also evolving. Cerner signed a multibillion dollar contract with the federal government for EHR services at VA hospitals, but installation has been rocky. The original contract, signed in May 2018, was supposed to be a 10-year contract for a large-scale technology roll-out. Issues with the go-lives led to a renegotiated $10 billion contract with Oracle, which increases the company's accountability for the system. Oracle will have to pay fines if the EHR doesn't meet agreement requirements going forward.

Job cuts have also cut the industry giant; in late May, the company reportedly eliminated 3,000 jobs with the layoffs hitting marketing, engineering, accounting, legal and product.
Northern Arizona Healthcare placed interim CEO Josh Tinkle on administrative leave weeks before he was scheduled to hand the reins over to the hospital's permanent CEO, according to KAFF News.

The hospital told KAFF Mr. Tinkle was placed on leave amid a "personnel investigation."

Mr. Tinkle had been COO of the health system and was named acting CEO in August 2022 after Florence Spyrow, MSN, stepped down. The health system officially named former Sutter executive David Cheney to permanently succeed Ms. Spyrow July 10. Mr. Tinkle was slated to resume his role as COO in July.

However, Mr. Cheney's start date has been moved up to June 12 due to Mr. Tinkle's administrative leave, according to the report.
The University of California-Los Angeles has named Steven Dubinett, MD, the next dean of its David Geffen School of Medicine.

Dr. Dubinett was selected for the role following a national search, according to a June 5 news release from UCLA Health.

Since joining the medical school's faculty in 1988, Dr. Dubinett has held a variety of roles. He first focused on translational lung cancer research and became a leader in the field, per the news release. From 2006 to 2021, he served as chief of the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Dr. Dubinett also served as associate vice chancellor for research at the university and senior associate dean for translational research at the medical school before becoming interim dean in September 2021.

In addition, Dr. Dubinett is a founding director of the UCLA Clinical & Translational Science Institute, "a consortium of four Los Angeles institutions that are enhancing the translation of basic research into drugs, medical devices, tools and interventions that improve health," according to the news release.
The CEO and CFO of Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System are standing by the decision to close two hospitals in Atlanta amid allegations of racism.

CEO Candice Saunders and CFO Jim Budzinski represented Wellstar at a June 5 meeting of the state's Health and Human Services Committee, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported. State lawmakers criticized the health system for shuttering Atlanta Medical Center and Atlanta Medical Center South last fall, removing care options for a primarily Black patient population.

The decision has drawn more scrutiny as Wellstar committed to invest nearly $800 million over 10 years in a partnership with Augusta University Health System: including a new hospital and medical office buildings which will service a primarily white population in Columbia County.

"There's money," State Sen. Nan Orrock said at the meeting, according to Capitol Beat. "It was just not spent here. You folded your tent and walked away."

However, Ms. Saunders and Mr. Budzinski said the closure was unavoidable without COVID-19 relief funds. The hospital's aging infrastructure, low patient volumes and high labor costs scared potential partners away.

"We were unable to find a partner because each of them reached the same conclusion we did: AMC's financial trajectory was unsustainable," Ms. Saunders said.

Ms. Saunders also alleged the state was not forthcoming with relief funds for AMC.

"We did our best," Ms. Saunders said. "We exhausted all options we were aware of."

The state is not the first to question Wellstar's motives in closing AMC and AMC South. The civil rights organization NAACP, along with Georgia Democrats and other lawmakers, filed two federal complaints against Wellstar in March.
Healthcare is advancing more swiftly by the year with new technologies, treatment options and artificial intelligence models hitting hospitals across the world.

With the acceleration of advancements, it is hard to imagine how the industry will change. While some believe racial equity challenges might remain, others expect personalized care by genomics to be the standard and that there will be medications that will prevent disease before it takes root.

Becker's asked eight leaders to speculate on what healthcare might look like in 2123:

Tony Ambrozie. Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer of Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables): One hundred years is a very long time to predict anything given the exponential rate of developments in technology, bioengineering and medicine. But I think we will see a number of trends that will probably happen in the next 50 years or less:

 Healthcare and well-being will be personalized to the extreme, driven by personal genomics as well as continuous and comprehensive real-time monitoring based on a variety of sensors, worn or implanted, as well as fixed diagnostics devices in homes and other locations.

 AI will, based on the real-time data, diagnose anomalies and afflictions and provide and continuously adjust treatments.

 A variety of diseases, including cancer, will either be avoided altogether through gene therapy or treated and cured through biomedication.

 Surgeries, if required, will be performed by AI-enabled robots.

 Hospitals will be the rare exception and not the norm for care.

All these trends combined will lead, I strongly believe, to much longer and of higher quality life spans for humans.

Scott Arnold. Executive Vice President and CIO of Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital: In our near future, I expect AI will continue to play an assistive role on clinical and administrative fronts like it does today, but even better. For clinicians, AI used properly should support quicker decisions for clinical diagnosis and treatment by summarizing data in milliseconds and replacing the lag that exists for hunting and gathering data, reviewing data, making sense of data and narrowing possible diagnosis and treatment tracts for human consideration.

I don't expect AI will replace humans in the process, rather it will maintain an assistive role. In healthcare, humans play an important role in knowledge, critical thinking, intuition, treatment empathy and understanding. AI has the potential to create additional capacity for humans in a high-demand environment  that is value.

Atul Butte, MD, PhD. Chief Data Scientist at University of California Health (Oakland): One hundred years ago, the 1923 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Dr. Frederick Grant Banting and professor John James Richard Macleod for the discovery of insulin. So now imagine how far medicine would seem to have been unrecognizably transformed in the subsequent 100 years, if one were present in those days for that significant, lifesaving discovery. In other words, medicine in 2123 will likely be barely recognizable to us.

Surely we will have more medicines and medical devices to use. We will certainly have medicines that target proteins and DNA in ways we can't imagine today.  I'm imagining magical "scalpels" for tomorrow's genomic surgeons, to fix things in utero or in cancer. I am also guessing we will have more medicines to compensate for our environment: drugs that protect our lungs from airborne pollutants and drugs that protect our organs from chronically ingested and imbibed toxins.

We will be measuring much more from patients (think about serum proteins and molecules, circulating DNA, sugars and fats), and measuring those components much more frequently. If so many people today are already thinking about continuous glucose monitoring even before they have diabetes, imagine how many molecules we will want to measure continuously in 100 years. Networks of clinical data sharing will exist to help share the very best medical care practices, so that more care providers can see how to provide care in unfamiliar cases.

Anthony Chang, MD. Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer of Children's Hospital of Orange County (Orange, Calif.): In 2123, healthcare will be about the convergence of historically separated paradigms:

1. Healthcare and artificial intelligence will involve advanced AI tools, such as deep reinforcement learning, routinely embedded within most if not all aspects of healthcare so there are no longer discussions about AI in healthcare.

2. Health delivery and clinical research will be intertwined with deployment of health digital twins so "researchers" will be more reliant on real-world data and experience versus the current structured randomized controlled trials that have become obsolete.

3. Precision medicine and population health will be an intimate dyad so both are carefully monitored with both genetic profiles including pharmacogenomic information and social determinants of health so there is a global health learning system.

4. Human-centered healthcare and virtual health will be deployed to maintain the human-to-human touch in medicine, and concomitantly healthcare will be primarily delivered via extended reality to improve the quality of the experience.

5. Healthcare and medical care will be mainly focused on preventive physical and mental health due to advances in AI and emerging technologies and will no longer be concentrated only on the delivery of acute medical care.

John Halamka, MD. President of Mayo Clinic Platform (Rochester, Minn.): One hundred years from now, every human will be fully sequenced at birth and a care journey will be laid out looking at all the probabilities from phenotype, genotype and lifestyle. Rather than treat disease, we will prevent disease. Not only will longevity increase, but the number of quality years of life will markedly increase. We will democratize access to this kind of knowledge and care via extensive use of automation so it will be available to most humans on the planet.

Christopher Longhurst, MD. Chief Medical Officer and Chief Digital Officer of UC San Diego Health: Healthcare advancements 100 years from now will have eclipsed the pace of the progress that has taken place over the past 100 years. Considering the changes we are seeing right now, I predict all routine healthcare will be personalized to an individual's unique genetics, proteomics and environment by an AI co-pilot that is constantly monitoring physiologic status through implanted wearables and circulating nanosensors.

Many cancers will be detected at an unthinkably early stage by real-time molecular diagnostics and curable through tailored therapies. Advancements in regenerative medicine will extend the average lifespan through cellular regeneration and tissue engineering. However, arriving at this future nirvana and closing healthcare disparities will require a laser focus on the ethics and equity of data science and digital health.

Gary Small, MD. Behavioral Health Physician-in-Chief at Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.): I think there will always be a need for people who are trained in specialty, but they'll be more educators, and consultants and the computers and the primary doctors will take care of tomorrow, but that kind of gets us into the area of healthcare in general. These same principles will hold true in medical care in general, where there'll be more remote care. There'll be more reliance on technology.

Now, if you want to fast-forward to 100 years from now, I think it's going to be even more exciting and in some ways, a bit scary. Because of artificial intelligence, right? It may eventually be where you have an avatar therapist right in your living room talking to you and helping you. And you won't have to wait for 15 minutes to get an hour with them at the end of the week. You could just pull that person up a moment in terms of the technology.

Airica Steed, EdD, RN. CEO of MetroHealth (Cleveland): One hundred years from now our biggest concern will be the same as it is today, ensuring everyone, regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, economic status, who they love, or where they live has access to the highest quality of care. Advances in technology can help us accomplish this goal by supporting our efforts to expand healthcare access, zero out the death gap and better target treatments to the needs of individual patients. We do need to be vigilant in ensuring new advances are implemented equitably and are used to eradicate healthcare disparities not exacerbate them. Unfortunately, in this last century we did not see nearly enough progress in this area, but I believe the alarm has been sounded and we now have the momentum necessary to better utilize technology to achieve equity for all. My ultimate hope is we will not be talking about health equity in 100 years because it is no longer a problem.

Artificial intelligence, including intelligent automation, has a significant role to play in improving healthcare but AI cannot replace people. We need to be intentional in how we implement automation in all its forms so that the outcomes lead to better patient care and better patient access without reducing interpersonal connection or damaging doctor-patient relationships.

Look at how virtual care was transformed by COVID-19. We will have to balance the benefits of both moving forward. We need to ensure the human touch continues because of its effectiveness in improving overall patient care, but virtual medicine can augment and enhance treatment. It can also improve access, allowing individuals in rural communities or people who face transportation barriers to take further advantage of all available medical services. Being intentional about how we implement and utilize virtual care moving forward will help us take full advantage of its positive benefits while preserving in-person treatment as a central component of medical care.
SECURITY agents on the border with South Africa have intercepted a Toyota Fortuner worth at least R300 000 smuggled into Zimbabwe across the Limpopo River.

Two people were arrested in Beitbridge on Monday soon after entering through the Gate 2 area near Mawale village, some 10km east of the border post. It is reported that the owner of the vehicle is a Zimbabwean based in the United States.

The arrested suspects are Nigel Mashanda of Beitbridge and Petros Chawasarira of Mufakose in Harare.

Reports say the vehicle with registration number JZX 013 NW had been bought in Johannesburg before being smuggled into Zimbabwe.

Police officer commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, confirmed the arrests yesterday.

The matter is still under investigation and the suspects will soon appear in court. I cannot give you any further details at this stage, he said.

A security source close to the case said the vehicle was brought from Johannesburg by two South Africans who handed it over to Mashanda and Chawasarira at the Limpopo River.

Our investigations reveal that they used Gate 2, Panda Mine, an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River to bring in the car which was being driven by Mashanda of Baobab Street in Beitbridge town. During initial questioning, he indicated that the vehicle belonged to one Tatenda Ashley Mikanzo based in the USA, said the security source.

The official said they received a tip off about the imminent smuggling of the vehicle and so were checking the illegal crossing point and the area it was supposed to be kept before being taken to Harare.

The security agents then pounced on the alleged smugglers as they entered their hide out.

The vehicle was taken to the local police station pending investigations.

We conducted interviews and Mashanda alleged that he had travelled to South Africa with Chawasarira to buy the vehicle for R250 000, said the source.

After which it was driven by two South African men to the Limpopo River and the Zimbabwean men crossed with it and drove to Beitbridge town.

Further investigations on how the vehicle was to be transported to Harare are in progress.

The smuggling of vehicles has become rampant around the border line and the Government is losing millions of dollars in import revenue annually. Herald
On a recent day, Mary Conrad showed off the hospital inside her Illinois home: a touchscreen tablet, an IV pole, a box of medical supplies.

Her daughter, Valerie Conrad, a 36-year-old with Down syndrome, sat on a couch nearby. Her living room served as her hospital room. Nurses monitored Valerie's cellulitis 24-7 from a digital command center a dozen miles away.

"I love it. I love it," Mary Conrad told Becker's of the hospital-at-home program from Peoria-based OSF HealthCare. "For one thing, Valerie is afraid to be in the hospital after having COVID two years ago. ... And the nurses are taking care of her. I don't have to do much taking care of her, except being a mother."

Started amid the pandemic, OSF's Digital Hospital program is now the largest in the state of Illinois. It currently serves patients with 26 conditions within a 30-mile radius of Peoria, with plans to expand to Rockford, Ill., soon. More than 400 patients have taken part.

"I love it," Jennifer Junis, BSN, RN, senior vice president of digital health for OSF OnCall, said of the program. "I spent the bulk of my career in rural healthcare, so I feel like it meshed really well. Because I was constantly looking for ways to innovate and look for how to use scarce resources, how to get resources to rural communities."

Patients have said they love being with their pets. One patient slept past a 7 o'clock physician appointment one morning ("You don't oversleep in a hospital, right? I mean, you don't get much sleep at all," Ms. Junis said.) A husband and wife have been patients together.

The program has among the highest HCAHPS patient satisfaction scores in the system, Ms. Junis said. That will take more buy-in from payers for these types of programs to truly scale, she said. That includes CMS, which has yet to permanently expand hospital-at-home coverage following the pandemic.

Ms. Junis even tried out the program as a mock patient when it started, being transported from OSF's simulation center, which has a pretend hospital room and home with all the Digital Hospital technology set up, to her real home (she alerted her neighbors ahead of time that it was only a drill).

Before launching, OSF leaders visited Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., which had one of the first hospital-at-home programs. OSF now advises other systems rolling out similar projects, including some large academic health systems in Chicago.

At OSF OnCall's downtown Peoria headquarters, a four-story, 100,000-square-foot building that used to house offices for Caterpillar, healthcare providers in scrubs stream in and out, hopping between patients' homes and their computer monitors. The facility's roughly 400 employees also operate such digital programs as virtual nursing, ICUs and hospitalists.

Mary Conrad, of Pekin, Ill., said the program works well for people, like her, who aren't particularly tech savvy. To make a virtual call, she just picks up the tablet; no typing or touching necessary. Same goes for answering a call.

Nurses visit a few times a day. A pharmacist calls to make sure Valerie is taking her medications correctly. Patients even get three meals a day delivered.

"I would recommend this to anybody," Mary Conrad said. "You're never really comfortable in a hospital, but who isn't comfortable in their own home?"
Renton, Wash.-based Providence is rolling out a new virtual nursing program across eight hospitals after a successful pilot at a Texas facility.

Covenant Medical Center, a 381-bed tertiary hospital, in Lubbock, Texas, implemented the Co-Caring hybrid nursing model in 2021. The program includes a virtual nurse who can communicate with the patient and bedside team via video and audio, helping with admissions, discharges, preprocedural checklists, medication reconciliation, and interdisciplinary team meetings.

"The past three years dramatically transformed our industry and workforce in ways that accelerated the modernization of care," Syl Trepanier, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer of Providence, in a June 6 news release. "Co-Caring represents an innovative solution to one of healthcare's most pressing issues  the increased need for nurses, which for the United States is currently estimated at more than 200,000 new nurses required each year to account for population growth."

Since Covenant Medical Center started the pilot, first-year turnover rates declined 73 percent for registered nurses and 55 percent for all employees on the unit. It will expand the program to a second unit, while Providence is bringing Co-Caring to these hospitals:

Providence St. Peter's Medical Center (Olympia, Wash.)

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Wash.)

Providence Alaska Medical Center (Anchorage)

Providence Centralia (Wash.) Hospital

Swedish Cherry Hill (Seattle)

Providence Medford (Ore.) Medical Center

Kadlec (Richland, Wash.)

Holy Family Hospital (Spokane, Wash.)
Here are 12 hospital lawsuits and settlements Becker's has reported since May 19, including a New York hospital suing to overturn the federal government's decision not to forgive a $10 million paycheck protection loan:

1. San Francisco is poised to pay $2.2 million to settle a patient abuse scandal lawsuit at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.

2. Four of the largest health systems operating in Oregon cannot simultaneously say they want to help patients originally destined for the state's largest psychiatric facility and then complain about both the expense and harm such patients can cause, a judge ruled.

3. Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, Detroit Medical Center and Vanguard Health Systems agreed to pay $29.7 million to the federal government to resolve a whistleblower's allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by providing kickbacks to referring physicians.

4. A physician who is suing Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth for wrongful termination wants to take his claims to trial rather than accept a potential $2 million settlement.

5. Syracuse, N.Y.-based Crouse Hospital is seeking to overturn the federal government's decision not to forgive a $10 million paycheck protection loan it received in early 2020 to pay employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. LCMC Health secured an early win in its legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission after a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled the case should be heard in a federal court in Louisiana.

7. A judge dismissed two claims filed by fired MetroHealth CEO Akram Boutros, MD, against the Cleveland-based health system.

8. A nurse is suing Sinai Chicago for allegedly collecting her biometric data without her informed consent.

9. A Black woman who sought medical assistance at Saint Luke's Community Hospital in Leawood, Kan., filed a lawsuit alleging she was forcibly removed from the medical facility by police before receiving treatment for "excruciating" abdominal pain.

10. Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health is facing a federal lawsuit over allegations a former employee shared images of a burn victim who later died from his injuries.

11. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing a Tenet Healthcare hospital in Alabama for allegedly violating federal disability laws by terminating an employee who had requested medical accommodation.

12. A Kentucky cardiologist filed a defamation lawsuit May 15 against Owensboro (Ky.) Health Regional Hospital and two of its physicians.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation into law June 2 that bars minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapies and gender transition surgery.

Senate Bill 14 will go into effect Sept. 1, making Texas the largest state to restrict gender-affirming care for youth. The law bans insurance plans from covering services "intended to transition a child's biological sex." Medical professionals who violate the law risk their medical license.

The Texas law includes exceptions on non-surgical treatment for children who were receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapies before June 1 and who underwent at least 12 sessions of mental health counseling or psychotherapy before treatment began. Transgender youth who meet these exceptions must "wean off the prescription" over a period of time "in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate."

In anticipation of the bill becoming law, Texas Children's Hospital in Houston told employees in late May that it would cease providing transgender care services. Texas Children's and Austin-based Dell Children's Medical Center were part of an attorney general investigation on allegations that providers were "unlawfully" offering gender-transition care for minors. At the time, gender-affirming care for minors in Texas was not illegal, though Mr. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton had led efforts to label it as child abuse.

At least 18 states now have restrictions in place on gender-affirming care for youth, according to The Texas Tribune.
Capt. Janice Lufkin, RN, a retired decorated Navy nurse and former head nurse of the cardiac care unit at Philadelphia-based Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, died May 13 of heart failure, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported June 5.

Ms. Lufkin earned her nursing diploma in 1962. In 1963, she became head nurse of the cardiac care unit at Presbyterian Hospital, now Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Ms. Lufkin then served in the Navy Nurse Corps from 1966 to 1992, earning dozens of medals, stars, ribbons and citations. She earned a bachelor's in nursing in 1978 and was promoted to captain in 1986. She was a charge nurse of an 18-bed intensive care unit on a hospital ship for some years before being assigned as charge nurse at Philadelphia Naval Hospital and patient care coordinator at Navy medical centers in Virginia and South Carolina. In 1986, she became director for nursing services at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, and later held that position at hospitals in Jacksonville, Fla., and Charleston, S.C.

After retiring from the Navy, Ms. Lufkin devoted herself to volunteering, serving with the Southeastern Pennsylvania region of the American Red Cross. She received several awards for her volunteer service, including the Red Cross' Florence Nightingale Medal in 2011.
Amber Egyud, DNP, RN, has a unique view of healthcare as both chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Chesapeake (Va.) Regional Healthcare.

Dr. Egyud stepped into the newly created hybrid role in 2017, previously serving as vice president of patient care services and CNO at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, Pa., part of Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network.

In May, Dr. Egyud was inducted into the American Organization for Nursing Leadership's 2023 fellowship program. The AONL fellow designation recognizes nurse leaders who've made sustained contributions to nursing leadership.

In a recent interview with Becker's, Dr. Egyud shared why she believes her hybrid role offers her a significant advantage in patient care, her experiences in nurse leadership over the past few decades, and advice to female leaders operating in a male-dominated environment.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: Your dual role as CNO and COO is one I don't see very often. What are the advantages of having oversight of both daily operations and the nursing staff in your hybrid role?

Dr. Amber Egyud: There's such a good benefit to have CNOs be COOs as well because everything in operations eventually touches a patient. A dual focus on nursing and operations allows for better collaboration and continuity of care through disciplines such as pharmacy, rehab services, our diagnostic services, home health and hospice and overall service line development. All of it is so integrated into patient care that having a dual role makes the most sense from a planning and alignment perspective and a collaboration perspective. It brings everyone to the table with the right insights because we all have a piece of the puzzle. Regardless of our discipline, we all play a part in the planning of healthcare for our community. That role alignment really allows for good planning from both a strategy and operational perspective.

Q: I read that an emergency room visit when you were 5 inspired you to become a nurse. What inspired you to step into nurse leadership, specifically? Did you always have your sights set on the C-suite?

AE: I've always wanted to be a nurse. I naturally progressed from a bedside nurse role to charge nurse and unit manager roles, then became a director and then jumped to an executive role. So it was a natural progression  I didn't necessarily see myself here. Even when I graduated from nursing school, my sights weren't set on anything past clinical care because the relationship between a nurse and the patient is so sacred. That's really what I aspired to in my career. I got started in leadership by having a deep desire to improve patient outcomes and to look at ways that nursing could be more autonomous and how we can use evidence-based practice and the scientific side of our degrees to grow ourselves professionally and improve our patient outcomes. So it was really my desire for process improvement that started to lead me into leadership roles.

Q: How have you seen nurse leadership change over the past few decades?

AE: I've been in healthcare for over 30 years, so I've seen many transitions. Thirty years ago, if you were escalated to an administrative role, you weren't necessarily in the day-to-day operations. Today's nurse leader is much more involved with daily operations and hands on operations than previous decades. One of the most important ways that nursing leadership has developed is that we've used our nursing knowledge, evidence-based practices and our essential leadership skills to advance the practice of nursing.

Q: What would you say is the most important lesson that you've learned from your staff or your team members during your tenure at Chesapeake Regional?

AE: Listen first and be authentic in your leadership. No leader knows everything or needs to know everything, so that's why you rely on others. Nursing is definitely a team sport. No leader is successful without a good team, and I am fortunate to be blessed with amazing colleagues here at Chesapeake.

Q: What advice do you have for female leaders who are operating on a male-dominated leadership team or in a male-dominated environment?

AE: My advice to them would be to not view yourself as different because at the end of the day, we all have a seat at the table. We all bring our own set of talents and skills to a team. Don't bias yourself or have a presumed bias because you're the only one in the room or even if you're the only one in the room with your opinion. If you allow yourself to think in ways of bias, you'll limit your leadership to that bias. You need to stand by your opinion if you have the data and information to back it up and you believe that that's the right thing. Don't try to fit yourself into the group. Instead, be authentically you and bring your talent and skill set to a group regardless of who's around the table. Certainly, if there's not a seat for you at the table, make a seat.

Q: Any other thoughts or advice for nurse leaders that you'd like to share?

AE: For anyone who is looking to advance in leadership, I always say that you have to understand what you're trying to change before you change it. The other advice I would give is that there's no replacement for visibility and communication.
Universities have been speaking out against U.S. News & World Report's ranking systems for months, alleging they unfairly prioritize prestige and subjective opinion. But as medical schools chose to withdraw participation from the ranking system, the same institutions' health systems remained in the running for a chance on the "Best Hospitals" list.

Now, St. Luke's University Health Network  a nonprofit 14-hospital system based in Bethlehem, Pa.  is also pulling back, alleging the rankings run on "misguided methodology."

On May 24, Richard Anderson, president and CEO of the health system, and Donna Sabol, its senior vice president and chief quality officer, penned a letter expressing their concerns with the rankings. They wrote to Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News, stating they would no longer submit data to the publication.

St. Luke's is the only hospital in the region to be named to the Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list, which it has made for eight consecutive years, the executives wrote. It also consistently receives quality awards from other organizations, including an "A" grade for hospitals through The Leapfrog Group and the highest possible scores in CMS' Hospital Compare Analysis.

However, St. Luke's did not fare as well in U.S. News' list; its executives attribute this to flaws in the rankings' methodology.

"The above results [of other rating systems] are based on OBJECTIVE METRICS, data gathered by CMS and other independent parties with indisputable outcomes," the executives wrote. "Despite these accomplishments, St. Luke's is ranked as the eighth best hospital in Pennsylvania by US News & World Report. We respectfully disagree with your rankings, and consider them as being seriously flawed for the following reasons."

The health system executives allege that U.S. News does not include a balanced performance scorecard for the cost of care; ranks availability of services without assessing whether they improve clinical outcomes; places 'undue" emphasis on mortality; and does not appropriately weight patients treated for chronic illnesses, which account for a significant percentage of hospitalizations.

Additionally, the rankings rely heavily on "subjective opinions of physicians across the country, despite any evidence that this 'popularity contest' approach is a valid barometer of quality," the executives wrote.

They attached a copy of a Feb. 6 article published by Mr. Harder, which states that the 2023 to 2024 best hospitals and best children's hospitals rankings will give more weight to clinical outcomes and other objective measures of quality and less weight to the opinion survey of physicians. It also noted that health equity measures, still a work in progress, would not factor into this year's adult rankings.

These "expert opinion" scores have also been criticized by law and medical schools. The publication reduced the weight of these scores from 50 percent to 30 percent in some areas and 27.5 percent to 15 percent in others, but St. Luke's executives believe the system still gives objective opinion too much weight.

"Your ongoing reliance on subjective criteria, influenced in part by hospitals investing time and resources to solicit support from physicians, is ill advised," the executives wrote. "The results are misleading to the public and unfortunate knowing patients unduly rely on these rankings and may choose hospitals demonstrating problematic quality based on objective criteria."

The rankings serve to generate marketing revenue, the executives alleged, explaining that they will no longer dedicate time to them.

"Given these concerns, this is to advise you St. Luke's will no longer respond to requests for data to US News & World Report," the executives wrote. "Rather, we will continue to focus on meeting the requirements of those organizations that compile accurate quality information and produce reports that serve as true measures of quality."

It is unclear if this withdrawal will have much impact  the publication can still rank the health system using publicly available data, as it did for schools that withdrew from its best medical schools ranking. Maternity care is the only adult-care service line where hospitals are invited to complete an annual survey and one area that might be affected by St. Luke's decision.

"We will continue to evaluate hospitals in all services covered by the U.S. News rankings and ratings," the publication told Becker's.



Read more about the ongoing exodus from U.S. News rankings here.
Rochester-based Mayo Clinic almost scored an exemption from Minnesota's Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act  until its opposition to the proposed nurse staffing ratios sparked pushback from other health systems, leading the state to cut those provisions entirely and pass a compromise nurse safety bill. Now, one state senator is speaking out, calling Mayo's tactics "corporate hijacking."

"We are not a state of corporations, we are the state of Minnesota," state Sen. Erin Murphy wrote June 4 in a Star Tribune opinion piece. "Our laws must apply equally."

Ms. Murphy's piece is a response to a May 24 article from the newspaper's business columnist Evan Ramstad. In his column, Mr. Ramstad compares Mayo Clinic's objection to Minnesota's proposed nurse staffing law with a feud unfolding in Florida. The Walt Disney Co.'s objection to Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act  also known as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill  led Gov. Ron DeSantis to repeal an act that established a special governance and taxing district around Walt Disney World.

Disney claimed it would pull large investments from the state. Mayo Clinic responded similarly to the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, with CEO Gianrico Farrugia, MD, considering pulling billions in investments from Minnesota.

Ms. Murphy wrote that a comparison of the two is "offensive" in her piece titled, "Disney is right; Mayo is wrong." While Disney was specifically targeted for speaking out against a harmful bill, Mayo Clinic wrongfully requested special treatment from one that should have applied universally, Ms. Murphy argued.

"When the proposal moved closer to passage, Mayo issued an ultimatum by demanding an exclusion from the law," Ms. Murphy wrote. "It's not the first powerful corporation to do so, but it is wrong: We are not a state of corporations, we are the state of Minnesota. Our laws must apply equally."

Ms. Murphy defended the union-backed Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act as an evidence-based policy that would benefit both health systems and staff by reducing pressure on nurses, thus alleviating burnout and turnover. This viewpoint differs from most hospitals', which argue mandated staffing laws would only lead to service cuts.

Mayo Clinic's request for an exemption sparked a conversation among other corporate health systems, which stifled the bill's true intent to retain nurses and safe patient care, Ms. Murphy alleges.

"It is true, as some have observed, that a certain hospital in Minnesota is known to care for princes and princesses," Ms. Murphy wrote. "But to act like their nurses don't deserve to have a voice in their staffing, or that Mayo's exertion of corporate power is similar to what's happening to Disney, is believing in a fairy tale."

Read Ms. Murphy's full opinion article here.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association held a press conference June 5 opposing Cambridge (Mass.) Health Alliance's plan to lay off five nurse educators at two hospitals, saying the move will mean less support for new nurses and negatively affect retention.

In late May, the health system notified employees of plans to lay off 69 people, trim the hours of 15 others and eliminate 170 open positions in response to ongoing financial and operational pressures. A spokesperson for the system previously told Becker's the reductions were primarily in management, administrative and support areas, and said it plans to rehire more than half of affected employees into new positions.

The MNA  which represents 902 unionized nurses and healthcare workers at three Cambridge Health Alliance campuses  said the system's plan to cut two nurse educator positions from Cambridge Hospital and three from CHA Everett will create a new configuration where one nurse educator will oversee a service line across three hospitals. Nurses noted that the system continues to rely on travel nurses and new nurses who need more support from educators.

"With this decision by management, a new nurse on any given floor at any given time will likely need to wait three times longer to get the support of a nurse educator," Jennifer Ouimette, RN, nurse and union bargaining committee member at CHA Everett. "These nurses will struggle, and their patients will suffer as a result."

MNA members working at CHA hospitals are in contract talks and plan to raise the issue of layoffs. Their current contract expires June 30.

"After very careful considertion, we decided to restructure our nursing education department," as part of the recent staffing reductions, a spokesperson for CHA told Becker's in a June 5 statement. "We wanted to ensure that patient-facing nurses were not impacted, and while some educators may support units across hospitals, some will not. We feel confident we can meet the educational needs of our staff with our restructured nursing education department."
Equity investment program Virginia Venture Partners has invested in MD Ortho Systems, an orthopedic virtual care provider for employee populations.

MD Ortho plans to use the investment to improve its proprietary technology and grow its business, according to a June 5 press release from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp., the parent company of Virginia Venture Partners.

Workplace orthopedic disorders can be costly to U.S. businesses, often requiring further care from orthopedic surgeons for diagnosis and treatment.

About 80 percent of workers' compensation claims are orthopedic in nature, according to the report.

MD Ortho Systems is giving workers access to virtual orthopedic care quickly and more cost effectively, with less wait time.

MD Ortho can manage hundreds of types of injuries, from medication prescriptions to imaging orders. Patients can access care directly from a tablet or smartphone, with no copays or deductibles.
The four University of Zimbabwe students who defaced church, court and Parliament buildings in central Harare by spray painting on them were denied bail yesterday by Harare magistrate Ms Learmore Mapiye and remanded in custody to June 21 on charges of malicious damage to property.

They drew graffiti on the outside walls of the High Court of Zimbabwe, the old Parliament building, the Methodist Trinity Church and the Constitutional Court.

Emmanuel Sitima (24), Comfort Mpofu (22), Tawanda Watadza (24) and Lionel Wadamombe (24) are each facing seven counts of malicious damage to property.

Ms Mapiye denied them bail stating that the four were likely to team up with others and commit similar offences.

The State has a strong case, if the accused are released on bail, they will team up with others who are outside to commit further offences, and those still at large pose a threat to the ongoing investigations, she said.

The buildings which were tainted including the Parliament of Zimbabwe are serious buildings, therefore, the bail application is dismissed.

Allegations are that on May 14, 2023, the four, together with others who are still at large, went around the city centre protesting the continued refusal of the courts to grant bail to CCC legislator and deputy national chairman Job Sikhala.

They spray-painted and defaced several building walls in the city without the consent of the owners while demanding the immediate release of Sikhala who has three pending cases before the courts. Herald
Company now employs ex-staff of AV Browne which became insolvent earlier this year

David Nurse has set up agency Big+Bold following the collapse of AV Browne

The former deputy managing director at advertising agency AV Browne has now set up a business employing some of its former staff, Business Telegraph can reveal.

David Nurse has set up Big+Bold, which is staffed by 10 former employees at AV Browne.

The Belfast-based agency dated back to 1926 and was thought to have been the oldest on the island of Ireland.

However, administrators at business advisory firm KPMG were appointed in March when the business became insolvent.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Nurse describes how he had long harboured a dream of taking over AV Browne.

But the business suffered after the collapse of client Norwegian Air, and was not able to return to former levels of work following Covid-19.

A statement of administrators proposals filed by KPMG last month states that AV Browne had made a loss of 560,693 in 2022, compared to profits of around 109,008 a year earlier. It had made a loss of 44,300 in 2020. However, its turnover had been steady at 3.5m to 3.9m across the three years.

The administrators said that it had written to 50 interested parties about a sale of the business as a going concern. Later, 18 parties had returned non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) but ultimately no sale could be achieved.

The administrators said that the investment required to keep the business trading would have been too great and that buyers were put off by a lack of formal contracts with key customers.

Mr Nurse said that he had been able to continue some of the work for customers of AV Browne.
A Northern Ireland entrepreneur whose technology helps people with communication difficulties is competing for a global business title in Monaco.

Martin McKay, founder and chief executive of Texthelp, is hoping to win the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year award.

After he was named the Ireland Entrepreneur of the Year late last year, Mr McKay will be competing against another 48 high-achieving businesspeople for the global title at a ceremony in Monaco on Thursday.

Hes the latest in a series of company leaders from Northern Ireland to win the all-island title, following in the footsteps of late First Derivatives founder Brian Conlon, as well as Kainos boss Brendan Mooney and Randox founder Dr Peter FitzGerald.

Texthelps literacy software helps people with communication difficulties and focused initially on people with profound speech and dexterity disabilities.

It now helps dyslexic, neurodivergent and physically disabled students in the classroom and has been used by many businesses to support staff members with similar needs.

The company, which was set up in Antrim in 1996, has doubled its sales since 2020. Latest financial figures for 2021, report turnover of 26.5m and pre-tax profits of 7.5m.

It has operations in the USA, UK, Sweden, Norway and Australia and employs 350 people - the majority of them in Antrim.

Mr McKay, who is in Monaco for the event, said: "I am so proud to be included among this outstanding group of global entrepreneurs. Im even more proud to be representing Ireland in a bid for the title of EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. Its been great to connect with the other finalists from around the world.

"Together weve been able to build a new network that will allow us to share insights into emerging trends, disruptive technologies, and ground-breaking ideas that all benefit our global economy. All the businesses and individuals in this years cohort are fantastic - I dont know how the judges will decide."

Rob Heron, managing partner EY Northern Ireland, said: Martin is a truly inspirational entrepreneur and leads an incredible global business. He is also an agent of change and equity.

"Texthelp assistive technology enables millions of children and adults all over the world to understand, be understood and ultimately achieve their full potential.

"On behalf of EY Northern Ireland and the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni, I wish Martin and the Texthelp team all the very best of luck in this years competition.
The Hyundai Tucson has proved to be the most popular car in Northern Ireland this year so far, figures have shown, as new-car sales here motor ahead of other UK regions.

There were 17,600 new cars registered in the province across January to May 2023 (up 17.82% on the year before), a report from trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed.

NI accelerated ahead of England, Scotland and Wales year-on-year growth, which stood at 17.62%, 11.25% and 12.49% respectively.

There were 604 Hyundai Tucsons sold here between January and May, while the sale of 501 Ford Pumas makes it the second-most popular new car in Northern Ireland.

In May itself, during which the Vauxhall Mokka was the months most popular car in NI, there were 3,987 new cars registered here, up 19.87% on May 2022. That rate of growth was outpaced only by Wales, which had 20.2%.

UK-wide, the figures show that the new-car market has recorded its longest period of year-on-year growth since 2015.

Some 145,204 new cars were registered UK-wide in May, up 16.7% from the same month last year, the SMMT said.

May saw the 10th consecutive monthly rise, but registrations remain 21% down on the pre-Covid-19 levels of 2019.

Meanwhile, pure-electric new cars consolidated their position as the UKs second-most popular powertrain behind petrol, with a further 24,513 taking to the roads in May.

Graeme Thompson, chief financial officer at Belfast-based electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure company Weev, said: The latest data from SMMT provides welcome reading for the EV industry, with sales of electric vehicles continuing to accelerate at speed.

The 24,513 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) registered across the UK in May represented an incredible 58.7% rise on the figure for the same month last year.

Across all vehicle types, large fleets made up more than half of new vehicle registrations.

This reflects what we are seeing in the local marketplace as businesses seek to switch their fleets to EVs to unlock both financial and carbon savings.

It is clear that the drive towards electrification is now gaining further significant momentum, making it more important than ever that adequate charging infrastructure is in place to service the market.

That is exactly what we have been set up to address, with plans to install thousands of charging points over the coming years.

Graeme Thompson, chief financial officer at Weev

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: After the difficult, Covid-constrained supply issues of the past few years, its good to see the new-car market maintain its upward trend, and the fact that growth is increasingly green growth is hugely encouraging.

Transforming the market nationwide, however, and at an even greater pace, means we must increase demand and help any reticent driver overcome any concerns about electric vehicles.

Voices in favour of more charging points in Northern Ireland are growing.

The Northern Ireland division of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) said it had written to MLAs to call on them to address the low level of charging infrastructure.

NFDA chief executive Sue Robinson said: Northern Irelands electric vehicle charging network lags far behind both the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

It is now of growing concern that not enough investment is being made to address the lack of working charge points, which is continuing to hinder the mass adoption of electric cars in this space.

The longer this situation remains unchanged, the more expensive and more drastic the changes will need to be to bridge the gap.

The NFDA said that of 37,055 charge points, only 366, or 1%, were located in Northern Ireland. In contrast, Scotland has 3,915, Wales has 1,657 and Greater London has 12,817.
Margaret McGuckin with her new book: I Did This For You. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph.

Margaret McGuckin was just three and a half years old when she was placed in the care of the Good Shepherd nuns at Nazareth House in south Belfast.

A childhood in care tainted her early adulthood, but she overcame adversity and went on to become the public face of the campaign for truth, justice and redress for child victims of church and state abuse.

Now, her experience is the subject of a personally penned memoir.

I Did This For You is not just a story about a 15-year campaign for justice, but also about the often cold and uncaring nature of a system that has failed thousands of vulnerable young people.

The book is dedicated to children all over the world who are currently in the care system, and to her brother Kevin, who experienced such horrific sexual abuse as a ward of the state that he was left with serious physical and mental health problems.

Margaret was sent to Nazareth House after her mother left home, leaving her and her three siblings in the care of their father.

She said: In 2008 I started writing things down. At the start it was just a few memories about what had happened to me.

It poured out of me on paper. I would open and close the laptop, but once it came to the surface it was hard to put it away.

I blamed myself for my behaviour after I left care. But the more I spoke about my experiences, well, it all started to make sense. It was painful, I have to say.

When I realised I wasnt to blame, that we werent to blame, I knew I had to take the system on.

In a way it was like grieving.

I still feel sorry for that child, that teenager, that young woman, and I still talk about her in the third person. But now that I have the books here in the boot of my car, I feel lighter.

During the campaign I met with officials who would say to me: Things have changed now. The system is different now.

But it hasnt changed: there is no still aftercare for young people leaving care. Look at the people suffering from alcohol and drug addictions living on the streets.

And so I will always be a part of that fight for rights. I will always keep going.

The books foreword is by former Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, who has described Margaret as a force of nature.

Mr Smith will travel to Belfast this week to launch the book.

During his brief posting at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) he pushed the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act through the House of Commons, allowing victims access to redress.

I remember the first meeting I had with him, he was asking one of his top chiefs from the NIO who I was, said Margaret, who jokingly calls the former minister Mr Darcy.

Boris Johnson sacked him, but for us, the victims, for all those hurt and damaged people, he was our guardian angel, she added.

I Did This For You by Margaret McGuckin goes on sale this week
Police at the scene of the incident at Weavers Grange, Newtownards on April 6, 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Five Newtownards men appeared in court today accused of an affray and unlawful assembly after police used drone footage to record a crowd of up to 60 men ripping South East Antrim UDA regalia from houses in Ards.

Appearing at Newtownards Magistrates Court by video link from police custody, the five men confirmed they understood the charges against them.

The five, all charged with unlawful assembly and affray at Weavers Grange in the town on April 6 this year, are:

 David Milligan, (43), Shackleton Walk;

 Samuel Coulter, (56), Cambourne Mews;

 David James Thompson, (40), Fir Drive;

 Jimmy Leung, (35), Glenbrook Road and

 Noel Thomas Morrison, (48), Stirling Avenue.

Police said the situation concerning the ongoing feud was highly volatile at present.

According to a police statement, the charges faced by the five are linked to the ongoing loyalists paramilitary drug feud spreading across Ards and North Down.

In court today, lawyers for the defendants argued there was not enough evidence to connect them to the charges.

Giving evidence a Detective Constable said there had been escalating level of violence in Ards, Bangor and Donaghadee as part of the ongoing loyalist feud where one faction is trying to oust another faction from Ards.

She said on April 6  and in the context of police having a semi permanent presence in the Weavers Grange area of Ards  a large crowd of 50-60 men, around 10 of whom were masked, were seen walking from the Jubilee Road, along an alley on the Circular Road and climbing over a fence to get into Weavers Grange.

Some men were carrying ladders and one had a hammer which were used to remove SEA UDA murals from the gable walls of three houses.

The officer said she could connect each of the defendants to the charges based on footage obtained by police using evidence gathering cameras on vehicles, body worn cameras and also drone footage.

District Judge Mark Hamill watched some of that footage and commented that clearly, it speaks for itself and the officer told the court that for the police, this represents a concerted show of strength with the objective to intimidate Weavers Grange residents.

Despite suggestions from the various defence lawyers there was not enough evidence to establish a formal connection, the judge said given the two strands of evidence, the video footage, and a witness statement where the five defendants were specifically named, connection is entirely reasonable.

In the context of an ongoing paramilitary feud, he told the lawyers any question of the credibility of the witness purporting too identify the defendants is a matter for further down the line in criminal proceedings.

Having established the defendants could be formally connected to the offences the detective turned to the issue of bail, saying police feared there would be further offences and a risk of witness interference if the defendants were freed.

Confirming that to date, there had been petrol bomb attacks, a pipe bomb attack, a shooting and a litany of damaging and intimidation linked to the feud already, she told the court the feud had already put considerable strain on police resources and the public purse.

Highlighting how residents in North Down and Ards especially were living in fear, she told the court police believe theres a real risk of further offending as the area is highly volatile at present.

Lawyers for each of the five applied for bail, arguing in terms that conditions could be put in place to address police concerns.

District Judge Hamill told them however: It is difficult to overstate the seriousness of the situation in Ards.

Theres been over 100 separate incidents ranging from petrol bomb attacks on houses to masked men gathering outside this very courthouse, to graffiti threatening the life of a named person being sprayed on the front wall of his very courthouse.

In all the years of the Troubles, I have never known such a direct and insolent interaction with the justice process.

Particularly striking is the bare-faced, though sometimes masked activities relating to this feud.

This group of 50-60 people were undeterred by the presence of the police in Weavers Grange, undeterred by the presence of video cameras, undeterred by the presence of women and children on this estate, declared the judge.

He said: The police are doing their best to keep a lid on this feud and I will do my best to help them.

He said that in the context of an ongoing feud there is an overwhelming risk of further offences and so anyone charged in relation to offences arising from it will have a very hard time persuading me to grant bail.

All five were refused bail and remanded into custody to appear again on June 28.
Regulations will educate pupils aged 11-16 on how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion and access to relevant services

What is actually taught about sex education in NI at present is a matter for each school to decide based on their school ethos. Stock photo.

The UK government is updating the requirements for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State confirmed on Tuesday.

Chris Heaton-Harris said it is fundamental for their wellbeing that adolescents in Northern Ireland have access to age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights that covers access to abortion and contraception.

The Northern Ireland Office said that Mr Heaton-Harris is under a statutory duty under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2019 to implement recommendation 86(d) of the Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW).

Read more Cara Hunter calls for meeting over lack of progress on sexual education in NI schools

These regulations will amend previous local education laws, in relation to Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils (those aged 11 to 16).

The new regulations will also place a duty on the Department of Education to issue guidance on the content and delivery of the curriculum, to be provided by 1 January, 2024.

The department will further be under a statutory duty to make regulations about the circumstances in which at the request of a parent, a pupil may be excused from receiving that education, or specified elements of it.

Consultation with parents on Relationship and Sexuality Education is already common practice in Northern Ireland and we expect the Department of Education to ensure schools afford parents the opportunity to review relevant materials, a statement from the Northern Ireland Office continued.

The regulations, in practice, will result in educating adolescents on issues such as how to prevent a pregnancy, the legal right to an abortion in Northern Ireland, and how relevant services may be accessed.

This should be done in a factual way that does not advocate, nor oppose, a particular view on the moral and ethical considerations of abortion or contraception.

Read more Ulster University apology to academics over segregated education report

Mr Heaton-Harris added: Today I have made regulations that will amend the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 to introduce compliant education, in line with recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

I look forward to working with the Department of Education to ensure the delivery and implementation of these measures, which will include meaningful engagement with young people, teachers and parents.

The announcement comes after SDLP Children and Young People spokesperson, Cara Hunter, called for a meeting with the Secretary of State two months ago, regarding a commitment to introduce compulsory, uniform RSE for young people across NI.

Read more Plan heralded as new start for NI education in tatters two years later

Last month, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) published age-appropriate guidance to schools, about educating pupils on topics such as pornography, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), periods and transgender issues.

The updated information is not mandatory and is part of CCEA's expanded RSE resources.

Currently, each school in Northern Ireland is required by the Department of Education to teach RSE to pupils.

However, what is actually taught about RSE at present is a matter for each school to decide based on their school ethos.

Last year, the Belfast Telegraph spoke to a number of local campaigners that have called for a standardised sex education curriculum to be taught in NI classrooms for years.
Lady Kilmorey presents colours to the UVF's Mourne Companies in Co Down in 1914, telling them that the flag "stands for freedom and loyalty to our king" and "you are part of the greatest empire in the world".

A UVF flag was sold at a controversial Belfast auction for more than double the amount Adolf Hitlers pencil went for.

The pencil  said to have been gifted to Hitler by his lover Eva Braun  sold at Bloomfield Auction House for 5,400, well short of the expected 50-80,000.

Instead a signed portrait of the former German leader fetched a higher price  6,200  with both items being sold to an anonymous online bidder during the auction in east Belfast.

However, an Ulster Volunteer Force colour standard with the original flagpole went under the hammer for 13,000.

An inscription on it revealed that it was presented to the Mourne Commpaies UVF by Ellen Constance, Countess of Kilmorey on August 3, 1914.

Lady Kilmorey presents colours to the UVF's Mourne Companies in Co Down in 1914, telling them that the flag "stands for freedom and loyalty to our king" and "you are part of the greatest empire in the world".

James Craig was said to have been present at a mass gathering in Mourne Park during the Home Rule crisis, where the 2nd Battalion, South Down Regiment was presented with colours by the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. Craig would go on to lead the Ulster Unionist Party and was Northern Irelands first prime minister.

The pencil and portrait were the highest priced lots in a collection of former Nazi memorabilia, which included cutlery and tableware from the private collections of both Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goring.

But it was the pencil and portrait which attracted most attention pre-auction.

Pencil said to have belonged to Adolf Hitler sells for 10th of the estimate

The white metal pencil is believed to have been given to the former Nazi dictator by his long-term partner, who died alongside him in a Berlin bunker at the end of World War Two. It was said to be a gift for his 52nd birthday on April 20, 1941.

Read more Auctioning the Troubles: Selling sensitive historic memorabilia can be a fine balancing act

An inscription along the side notes the dictators birthday and gives the year as 1941, when he was at the height of his powers. It finishes sincerely, Eva in German.

It had been originally bought by a collector at an auction in 2002 and since then had remained in the collectors family.

An original signed photograph of the German leader had been expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000, but also sold for well below that estimate.

A silver oval serving tray from Hitlers dining wagon went for 3,200 and a white wine glass from Hitlers personal table service was snapped up, again by an anonymous online buyer, for 4,800. A Deutsche Reichsbahn Train Eagle badge was another big seller, fetching 5,200, while a solid silver oval serving tray, also from Hitlers personal collection, was sold for more than the pencil, making 6,200 at auction.

Read more Macabre trade in Nazi tat could be replicated with Troubles memorabilia

Last week the auction house faced calls to remove the blood soaked items from sale from the European Jewish Association (EJA). The groups chairman, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, had written to Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfield Auctions, asking him to withdraw the items from sale. We simply cannot fathom how a love trinket such as an engraved pencil or a signed photograph constitutes a historical object of any inherent historical value, he wrote.

We are repeatedly told by auction houses that Hitler sells. This may indeed be true. But what is sold and to whom is a matter of public decency and moral responsibility at the end of the day.

Bloomfield Auction House said history should not be written out of society, and the sale went ahead as planned on Tuesday afternoon. Bloomfield Auctions is a specialist auction house for militaria across all centuries. All items are a part of history, and we shouldnt be writing history out of books or society, said a spokesperson.

In my experience those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history.

"We do not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society. All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history.
A district judge has said he has never known such an insolent interaction with the criminal justice process as has occurred during a loyalist drugs feud in Co Down.

Mark Hamill refused bail to five Newtownards men charged with unlawful assembly and affray in custody.

Mr Hamill told Newtownards Magistrates Court that during the ongoing dispute between loyalist groups, graffiti was sprayed onto the wall of the court building threatening an individual.

A police officer told the court that a gathering of up to 60 men on a housing estate in April was a concerted show of strength during the drugs feud.

The five defendants from Newtownards  David Milligan, 43, from Shackleton Walk, Samuel Coulter, 56, from Cambourne Mews, David James Thompson, 40, from Fir Drive, Jimmy Leung, 35, from Glenbrook Road and Noel Thomas Morrison, 48, from Stirling Avenue  are all accused of being part of a large group of men who entered the Weavers Grange estate in the town on April 6.

There has been a number of attacks on property linked to a loyalist drugs feud in Newtownards (Liam McBurney/PA)

The incident came during a time of heightened tensions in the area following a series of attacks on property linked to the drugs feud between opposing loyalist gangs.

The five men appeared in court via videolink and confirmed they understood the charges when they were put to them.

A PSNI detective constable told the court she could connect the five accused to the charges. However, lawyers for the defendants objected to the connections.

Outlining the facts to the court, the officer said that on the evening of April 6 a group of between 50 and 60 men climbed a fence and entered the Weavers Grange estate.

She said that some of the males were masked, but a larger number had their faces visible.

The officer said the men then removed a number of South East Antrim UDA banners from gable walls on the estate.

She said: There is a well-documented loyalist feud in North Down and Newtownards.

Detectives believe that members of one faction have engaged in a violent campaign to remove from the area persons aligned to this other faction.

The officer told the court that police were in attendance and had recorded video footage and had also obtained a witness statement.

District judge Mark Hamill watched footage of the incident during the court proceedings.

The detective constable told the court: The police position is this represents a concerted show of strength with the objective of intimidating Weavers Grange residents to make them leave the area.

Lawyers for the five accused raised a number of objections to the police connections to the charges, including concerns over the reliability of the witness statement.

But Mr Hamill said he was satisfied with the police connection and stated that the credibility of the evidence would be tested later in the judicial process.

The lawyers for the accused also made applications for bail.

The detective constable told the court that police opposed bail amid concerns over potential intimidation or interference with witnesses and the likelihood of further offences being committed.

The officer said the feud had caused great fear in North Down.

A judge said graffiti had been sprayed on the wall of Newtownards Magistrates Court (David Young/PA)

She added: The feud is still ongoing and indeed escalating and the area is highly volatile at present.

Mr Hamill refused all the applications for bail.

He told the court: It is difficult to overstate the seriousness of the situation in Newtownards.

There have been over 100 separate incidents ranging from petrol bomb attacks on houses to masked men gathering outside this very courthouse to graffiti threatening the life of a named person on the front wall of this very courthouse.

In all the years of the Troubles I have never known such a direct and insolent interaction with the legal process.

What is particularly striking is the bare-facedness of sometimes masked activity relating to this feud.

This group of 60 people were undeterred by the presence of police at Weavers Grange, they were undeterred by the presence of video and they were undeterred by the presence of women and children at this estate on this night.

He said the feud was deploying an enormous amount of police time and effort.

While this feud is ongoing I have no intention of adding to the police workload.

The judge continued: The police are doing their best to keep a lid on this feud, and I will do my best to help them keep a lid on this feud.

The five men were remanded in custody to appear again in court on June 28.
The incident is understood to have taken place on Saturday.

Police are appealing for information after youths attacked a boy in a west Belfast park and began beating him following a demand for money.

The PSNI has now identified and spoken to the victim. They are now working to identify the others involved in the incident.

The footage was circulated online in the aftermath of the incident, which is understood to have taken place on Saturday afternoon in Falls Park.

Police investigating footage of boy being attacked by gang of youths in west Belfast park

On the video, one youth can be heard approaching the boy and demanding money.

Give me that now before I knock you straight out, he is heard to say.

A second youth then appears to strike the boy in the face, before a scuffle breaks out between the parties.

The boy is then surrounded by a number of other people and struck several times.

Neighbourhood Inspector Roisin Brown said: Police are aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a young man being assaulted in Falls Park.

"Not only are we concerned for the wellbeing of the young people involved, we also recognise that Falls Park is a popular community space enjoyed by everyone and we want the public to feel safe when they are there, she continued.

West Belfast Neighbourhood police have identified and spoken with the victim in the video today, and we are working to identify others involved in the incident.

Police have asked that anyone who has information about the incident contact them via 101.
Saville Inquiry almost didnt happen over concerns for morale of Army

Blair and his ministers argued about granting new Bloody Sunday probe and its likely impact, but Widgery Tribunals flaws left them little choice

Father Edward Daly waving a white handkerchief as a victim of Bloody Sunday is carried through Army lines

Garrett Hargan Tue 6 Jun 2023 at 07:00
Police have confirmed a second man has died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Crumlin.

The crash occurred on the Moira Road on Wednesday, May 31.

Matthew Anderson, 28-years-old, from Lisburn, was taken to hospital from the scene but has since died.

Robert Laverty, 74-years-old, from Belfast, died at the scene.

Robert Laverty.

Detective Sergeant McIvor from the Collision Investigation Unit said: Police received a report at around 7.15am of a collision involving a Ford Fiesta and a Renault Scenic.

"Officers attended, alongside colleagues from NIAS and NIFRS. A 74-year-old man, previously named as Robert Laverty from the Belfast area, died at the scene.

"A second man was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, but has since died. He has been named as 28-year-old Matthew Anderson from the Lisburn area.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact them via 101.
The issue relates to the count in the Waterside DEA.

Pacemaker Press 19/05/23 Alliance Leader Naomi Long at Belfast City Hall on Friday. Voters went to the polls on Thursday to decide who would represent them on the 11 councils. A total of 1,305,553 people were eligible to vote, according to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Alliance leader Naomi Long confirmed her party has lodged a High Court petition as she alleged the count in last months Derry City and Strabane local government election was improper.

Alliance lost both its sitting councillors  Rachael Ferguson and Philip McKinney  in the poll on May 18, with the latter losing out by less than 50 votes to SDLP councillor Martin Reilly.

It is Mr McKinneys count that is now the centre of an election petition lodged on Monday in the High Court, Derry Now has reported.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday, Mrs Long said: It was brought to our attention by a number of observers that one of the phases of the count in Waterside had not been properly completed.

"When we looked at that and raised it both with the chief executive of the council and with the Electoral Office, they confirmed that there was indeed an error in the count and an anomaly in how the count had been conducted.

We dont know whether that changes the outcome, but it does mean that the count was improper.

Sinn Feins Caitlin Deeney topped the poll in Waterside on 1,949 votes and was elected along with the UUPs Darren Guy on the first count.

Deeneys surplus then brought party colleague Christopher Jackson over the line, with Chelsea Cooke (DUP), Niree McMorris (DUP) then deemed elected on Stage 6 of the count.

Sean Mooney and Martin Reilly (both SDLP) were the final two candidates elected after their total was in excess of McKinneys 1,105.05. Reilly was elected with 1,154.21 votes.

Mrs Long said concerns had been raised informally on the day of the count, as attendees had expectations that there would be a seventh stage, but she said this wasnt addressed at the time.

The former justice minister said it was only when her party looked back in light of advice and independent queries that they then went to the council and confirmed there had been an error.

"The only way a recount can be done is to petition the court to reopen and recount ballots, she added.

The only people that can do that is the candidate or electors from the DEA. they have petitioned the court its now with the courts to decide whether or not that is proper course of action.

Prior to losing both its council seats, the party had opened a new North-West office in the city in March, the first of two offices planned for the western area.

Former councillor Rachael Ferguson said the office  opened by former Alliance leader David Ford  would act as a satellite office of Alliance Party HQ in Belfast.

"It will be a great resource for the public, a place for constituents to meet Alliance councillors; a place where we can hold clinics for local people; and where we can hold our own party meetings, she said.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said it is aware of a discrepancy in relation to the latter stages of the count in the Waterside DEA and has been liaising with the NI Electoral Office and the relevant parties with regard to this matter.

Council has become aware that an Election Petition has been lodged on June 5 and at this stage, is not aware of the specific details, the spokesperson said.

Council will continue to work with the NI Electoral Office in relation to this issue.
Liam Byrne, described by the NCA as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang, after he was arrested on Sunday. Photo: NCA/PA

Liam Byrne was arrested on the holiday island of Majorca

Kinahan cartel gang boss Liam Byrne has said he will fight extradition during a court hearing.

The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody following his confirmation he would refuse to be sent back to the UK for trial.

It emerged today he had appeared before an extradition judge yesterday, although the news was only made public this afternoon.

The hearing took place in private as is normal in Spain.

Byrne is believed to have appeared before a judge at Spains Audiencia Nacional court, which deals with extraditions, via video-link from Majorca where he was arrested on Sunday.

Officials were not able to confirm whether he appeared in person at the court in Madrid, but if, as thought, the hearing took place via videolink Byrne would likely have been remanded to a prison on the island.

An official at the Audiencia Nacional said: The Irish national arrested in Majorca on Sunday was handed over to the courts yesterday.

He was provisionally remanded in prison. He is not agreeing to be extradited.

Byrnes decision to fight extradition means a separate hearing will now take place where a defence lawyer will put forward reasons why he should not be made to return to the UK. It is expected to delay any extradition by several weeks if not months.

The Irishman was held on Sunday night on a UK-issued international arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia while having dinner with two younger relatives.

He is believed to have flown to the island from his hideaway in Dubai with his family.

The UKs National Crime Agency confirmed yesterday Liam Byrne was one of two suspected members of the Kinahan clan arrested in Spain.

It said in a statement: Two men wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of firearms offences have been arrested in Spain.

Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.

He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May.

Another suspected member of the crime group, who is aged 22, is a very close associate of Byrnes main partner in crime, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh.

He was arrested as part of the international police operation at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey last Tuesday.

The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland, the statement confirmed.

The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.

They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said:

This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group. Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.

The Byrne Organised Crime Group became a central part of gangland crime in this country, relying heavily on family connections as they became an integral part of the Kinahan cartel.

The group led by Liam Byrne forged a close partnership and became a trusted arm of the Kinahan cartel, which has become a global player in organised crime over the past two decades.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly watches an unmanned demining vehicle working as he visits members of the Halo Trust non-commercial charity organisation for demining in the village of Hrebelky, in Kyiv region, Ukraine (Valentyn Ogirenko/PA)

Damage to a major dam in Ukraine is a catastrophe and abhorrent act, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls.

Officials have described the breach as an ecological disaster, while Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

Russian officials claim the dam, on the Dnipro river, was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

James Cleverly tweeted: The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act.

Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe.

The Foreign Secretary visited Kyiv this week, where he met his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

There are concerns that the damage to the dam could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

Mr Zelensky said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged that Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure and that some 80 settlements were in danger.

The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said the ecocide was really terrible.

Igor Zhovkva told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme Russias claims that shelling had caused the damage were absurd, saying: I know that there was a blast and it was made on purpose because you cannot ruin this dam (only) by shelling.

But Evgeny Popov, a member of the Duma for Vladimir Putins United Russia party, claimed Ukraine would profit from the damage and said Russia is evacuating 22,000 people from the area.

(PA Graphics)

He accused Ukraine of a war crime by carrying out the attack.

We dont need to do that. We are not attacking civilian infrastructure, he told the same programme.

Downing Street said the UK is ready to offer humanitarian and economic support but it is too early to tell what is needed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesman also said he wouldnt rule out bringing up the attack with Russia but at the moment we are looking into the situation.

None of this would be taking place if it was not for Russias illegal invasion. We are steadfast in our support, the official said.

Mr Cleverly met with members of the Halo Trust charity demining in the village of Hrebelky in the Kyiv region (Valentyn Ogirenko/PA)

Mr Cleverly told reporters in Kyiv that there was no difference between the UK and US over the use of donated equipment on cross-border raids against Russia.

All countries, including the United Kingdom have put limitations on the military equipment that we have donated, he said.

And in most instances, that means that that equipment can only be used within Ukrainian territory and on that issue, the UK and the US are in exactly the same place.

He told reporters that we have always made it clear that we support Ukraines self-defence and, of course, the decisions about how Ukraine conducts that self-defence are rightly decisions which are made by Ukraines leadership.

Mr Cleverly said he wanted the war to quickly come to a conclusion which is fair, which is right for the people of Ukraine and, of course, is a conclusion which reinforces rather than undermines the UN Charter and the concept of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The collision with the officers vehicle last month happened while part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh (PA)

A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist could face criminal charges over the death of an 81-year-old woman who was killed in a collision with the officers vehicle last month while part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Helen Holland, 81, was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earls Court, west London, on the afternoon of May 10. She suffered serious injuries and died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct, although it does not mean that charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death. This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision making of the officer under investigation.

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

Investigators attended the scene and police body worn video footage has has been reviewed.

Witness accounts have also been taken following an appeal after the crash.

Following the crash, Ms Hollands son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.

He said she was using the safe route of (a) pedestrian crossing when she was struck by the motorcycle.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

Her Royal Highnesss deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Hollands family.
Former US president Donald Trumps lawyers have urged a New York judge to reject a defamation lawsuit from a writer because a jury agreed their client never raped her (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Former US president Donald Trumps lawyers have urged a New York judge to reject a defamation lawsuit from a writer because a jury agreed their client never raped her.

The lawyers on Monday urged Judge Lewis A Kaplan to reject E Jean Carrolls 10 million US dollar bid against the ex-president.

They want the four-year-old lawsuit rewritten to conform with last months finding of a jury  which awarded Ms Carroll five million dollars  which concluded Mr Trump did not rape her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1980s.

E Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court in New York (AP)

After the civil jury concluded Mr Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll, 79, her lawyers asked the judge to amend the original defamation lawsuit to seek 10 million dollars in compensatory damages and very substantial punitive damages.

They also sought to add defamation claims to the original lawsuit, citing comments Mr Trump, 76, made at a town hall meeting broadcast on CNN shortly after the jury verdict.

Mr Trump, who never attended the trial, is appealing the jury verdict.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, said in response to the filing by Mr Trumps attorneys that the jury verdict supported the claims in the pending lawsuit.

She said: Contrary to Donald Trumps latest arguments, the jurys verdict makes complete sense  because the jury believed E Jean Carroll when she testified that Trump had sexually abused her, it concluded that Trump knowingly lied about Ms Carroll when he later claimed otherwise.
A Norwegian who is aiming to become the fastest climber to scale all of the worlds 14 highest mountains has said that she can achieve her goal in half the time she initially planned.

Kristin Harila, on her return to Nepals capital from the mountains on Tuesday, said she is setting a new target of scaling the peaks in just three months, having already climbed eight of them in 40 days.

She is attempting to beat the 2019 record set by a male climber, who managed the feat in little more than six months.

Ms Harila, 37, is yet to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal, which she hopes to do in the next few days, and then the five remaining peaks in Pakistan, including K2, the second highest in the world.

Ms Harila and her guide Tenjen Sherpa pose for a photograph in Kathmandu (AP)

I believe we can do it, if we do Manaslu now and the five in Pakistan, we can do it in three months. So yes, three months is possible if we do Manaslu now, she said.

We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good, she said.

She began in April by scaling Mount Shishapangma followed by other peaks in China as well as Nepal, including Mount Everest. Her latest triumph was Mount Annapurna on June 5.

Her climb of Annapurna came very late in the spring season when most teams had already left the mountains.

It was very nice but very difficult to climb Annapurna alone, she said. No-one was around, it was different. When there is a lot of people it is much easier.

Ms Harila has reached the summit of Annapurna in Kathmandu, Nepal (AP)

Ms Harila began her record attempt in April 2022 with the aim of completing it by September.

But she only managed 12 peaks because Chinese authorities restricted access to foreign climbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The current record is held by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born British citizen who scaled the 14 highest peaks in 189 days in 2019, beating the previous record of more than seven years set by a South Korean climber.

Mr Purjas climbs were later made into a popular Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican after undergoing tests in hospital, witnesses and news reports said.

The move comes two months after he was taken to hospital with an acute case of bronchitis.

The ANSA news agency said Francis went to Romes Gemelli hospital on Tuesday morning for checks.

Witnesses at the Vaticans Perugino gate, one of the main entrances to the city state, told The Associated Press that Francis returned to the Vatican a short while later, and greeted guards as he usually does.

Francis, 86, spent three days at Romes Gemelli hospital in late March.

A view of the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome (AP)

Initially, the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed.

He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was still alive.

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been using a wheelchair and walker for over a year because of strained ligaments in his knee.

Francis has had a packed schedule of late, with multiple audiences each day.

The Vatican has recently confirmed a travel-filled August, when the Holy See and Italy are usually on holiday, with a four-day visit to Portugal in the first week of August and a similarly long trip to Mongolia starting August 31.

His next public appointment, if confirmed, would be his weekly general audience on Wednesday in St Peters Square.
US veteran Jake Larson poses with a woman for a photograph during a gathering in preparation for the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, France (Thomas Padilla/AP)

Second World War veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name Papa Jake, enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Mr Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

I got in on the planning of D-Day  Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm.

Second World War veteran Jake Larson attends a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control, at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France (Thomas Padilla/AP)

You can see me all over: Papa Jake. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about.

Mr Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

Im 100 without an ache or a pain. You cant fake that, he said.

On Monday, Mr Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

That is where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran.

British Second World War veteran Bill Gladden, left, with US veteran Jack Larson at the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, on Monday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Mr Larson told Mr Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went on Sunday into a parade alongside other US veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered a big hug, to their joy.

Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell of their emotion at seeing him.

Mr Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota.

He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 years old at the time.

US veteran Jake Larson talks to a girl wearing an American flag during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, on Sunday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland.

He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.

After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Mr Larson was in Normandy with a group of more than 40 US veterans who travelled with the Best Defence Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps them visit former battlefields.
Willoughby addresses the elephant in the room with her speech but something is rotten and we all know what it is, writes Samuel Fishwick

Taking odds on what Holly Willoughby was going to say  or not  about Philip Schofield had become close to a national pastime, like waiting for Winston Churchill to update us on the war effort. But yesterday morning she took the bull by the horns and hung on to her rodeo crown.

As the strings of This Mornings chirpy theme tune faded to upbeat, Willoughby, flanked by the cheerful Bristolian stand-in Josie Gibson, took a beat before getting to brass tacks: the resignation of her former co-presenter from ITV after he admitted to lying about an affair with a younger male colleague.

Right, deep breath, she said, steely and stainless in a stiff and spotless white Reiss piece.

Firstly, are you okay? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine you might be feeling a lot like I have  shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of whats been going on  and full of questions.

Holly Willoughby chokes back tears as she addresses Phillip Schofield scandal on This Morning

What a masterful performance this was: smart and heartfelt, even if scripted. Revenge dress. Revenge hair. The textbook power plays with which to exorcise a disgraced work husband. Step into the living room, kids. Dad has been caught doing something unforgivable. Were all to pull through together.

Holly Willoughby gets on with it. The show must go on, because she is paid a large amount of money to ensure it does. If her immaculate blouse had any sleeves, shed have rolled them up.

But should it? The only thing we can do now is be the family that we are, said co-host Gibson, bringing Willoughby in for a bear hug. Family? If this is a functional family unit, Im a banana.

Bright and talented professionals doing their on-air damnedest to honestly confront and correct the mess one man has made of his life and those around him is that a story the public just loves to see?

An actual family  as we know from Schofields tell-all to the BBCs Amol Rajan  is having a tremendously hard time during this national psychodrama.

You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves thought that they had to resign from ITV and step down from a career that they loved, said Willoughby. So, allons y.

I dont know. It gives me the ick. Something is rotten here and we all know what it is.

The divorce papers have been signed but the dysfunctional This Morning family arent even moving house.

Perhaps the local schools are just too good. But surely the memories will linger.

Im sure there is something worthy to be said about women fixing the f***-ups of men who cant keep it in their trousers.

Maybe grinning and bearing it as John Torode steers us through the perfect way to barbecue king prawns, or while Dr Sara drops useful tips on how to diffuse the coming pollen bomb, is simply the modern British way.

Perhaps blended families up and down the country will have tuned in at 10am and said, yes, this is us. Holls wants us to bank on her and a new chapter.

The question is: are we happy keeping it in the family, or not?

 London Independent
A paddle boarder takes to the water at Seapark during the warm weather on Monday, June 5, 2023. Picture by Peter Morrison

The Met Office has revealed why it was almost 10 degrees warmer in the west of Northern Ireland compared to the east on Tuesday.

Temperatures as high as 22 were recorded on western coastal areas, while it was only 13  in some places in the east.

Shedding some light on the situation, a Met Office spokesperson said there were a few reasons that are causing the difference in climate.

The spokesperson said it was down to slightly warmer air sitting over the western part of Northern Ireland, while on the eastern side theres quite a lot of cloud.

Its stopping any of that sun getting in.

She went on to explain that sea temperatures arent very warm at this time of year.

Youve got that onshore flow of cold air, combined with cloud cover in the east, she added.

The west has got less cloud cover, so onshore in the east, its colder.

Read more Why NI hay fever sufferers may be struggling as warm weather set to last all week

The Met Office spokesperson also elaborated on what we can expect weather-wise over the next few days.

The next few days are going to bring much of the same, she said.

Parts of the east coast likely to see some low cloud, mist and fog in the morning but this should clear by the afternoon.

The west is going to stay better but overall its pretty settled, she continued.

Tomorrow should be a decent day, we might see the cloud drop in the east.

It will only be as we come towards the weekend that temperatures might start to climb up further, she added.

Towards Friday we might see temps higher in the west.

As we head towards the weekend, its looking like rain and thunder. Theres quite a bit of uncertainty as to how thats going to pan out

Certainly on Saturday night into Sunday, were likely to see quite a few showers.

Puffins enjoying the sun on in Co Wexford

Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned that hay fever sufferers could be facing weeks of itchy eyes and sneezing, with high pollen levels expected across Northern Ireland as well as in parts of England and Wales.

The high count comes as tree pollen season ends and transitions into the grass pollen season.

The high count also comes amid the traditional exam season, with GP and senior clinical lecturer at Lancaster University Dr Milli Raizada warning that students performance may be affected.

Exam performance can be affected when pollen levels are highest in the summer months, she said.

People think it is such a minor condition, but it can have an impact on peoples work performance and sleep.

Dr Raizada said antihistamine tablets and nasal or steroid sprays could be used to reduce the inflammation associated with hay fever.

Those suffering are advised to stay inside, keep windows closed and wear sunglasses to reduce the level of pollen to which they are exposed.
Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto delivers an address at the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 3, 2023.

Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo distanced himself on Tuesday from a much-criticized proposal by his defense minister to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Jokowi suggested that Prabowo Subiantos plan, which the defense chief delivered during the Shangri-La Dialogue international security forum in Singapore on Saturday, was Prabowos personal view.

That was from Mr. Prabowo himself, Jokowi told reporters after opening a national meeting of his political party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

During the international security forum in Singapore, Prabowo proposed that Russia and Ukraine should pull back 15 km (9.3 miles) from each others forward positions to establish a demilitarized zone in what he described as disputed areas, and this was to be monitored by a United Nations peacekeeping force.

A U.N.-backed referendum should also be held to ascertain objectively the wishes of the majority of the inhabitants of the various disputed areas, Prabowo said in a speech as he represented Indonesia, the 2023 ASEAN bloc chairman, on the world stage in Singapore.

Jokowi said he would summon Prabowo to hear his explanation directly.

But I have not met Mr. Prabowo yet. Maybe today or tomorrow. He will be invited, Jokowi said.

Prabowos speech has been criticized in Indonesia and elsewhere as some observers questioned whether he had a sound grasp of all the issues at play in the Russia-Ukraine war, which started when Russian troops invaded the smaller neighbor in February 2022.

Zachary Abuza, a Washington-based analyst on Southeast Asia and a contributor to BenarNews, cast doubt on the effectiveness of Prabowos speech in Singapore.

Prabowos plan was ill-conceived and a complete non-starter. It was probably made as he tried to burnish his international statesman credentials ahead of next Februarys election, Abuza told BenarNews. But its naivete undermined both that and Indonesias desire to play a greater role in international affairs.

A former army general and Jokowis rival in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, Prabowo is one of Indonesias most influential politicians and a frontrunner in the 2024 presidential race.

Some observers speculated that Prabowo delivered a stump speech aimed at boosting his prospects in the election by appealing to compatriots who espoused a pro-Russia bias or anti-Western sentiment.

Indonesia has maintained good relations with both Russia and Ukraine and has sought in recent years to play a more active role in global affairs as a middle power, especially as a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement of nations not formally part of any major power bloc.

Jokowi visited Ukraine and Russia last year and offered to mediate between the warring countries.

Lawmaker questions proposal



Also on Tuesday, retired Maj. Gen. Tubagus Hasanuddin, a member of the House of Representatives defense and foreign affairs commission, questioned Prabowos proposal during a parliamentary hearing with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

The substance of the proposal is not in line with the usual and ethical ways to solve the problems of combat on the ground, he said, according to CNBC Indonesia.

It is not appropriate. Is the defense ministers proposal a foreign policy decision that is under the responsibility of the foreign ministry, Hasanuddin asked.

Retno suggested that Prabowo be asked directly about the issue.

Indonesia always respects sovereignty and territorial integrity and this is reflected well when there is voting on issues related to respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, she responded, according to the report.

Our call is always: Please, stop the war, and this was conveyed by President Joko Widodo when visiting Kyiv, Moscow and last month Mr. President met with President Zelenskyy in Hiroshima, Japan.

For Shangri-La, please call Mr. Defense Minister, she said.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel storm a ship during a mock anti-terror raid as part of a joint drill with the U.S. and Japanese coast guards in the South China Sea, June 6, 2023.

A Philippine Coast Guard unit conducted an anti-terror training drill Tuesday in which it intercepted a ship carrying weapons of mass destruction during a joint exercise with American and Japanese counterparts in the contested South China Sea.

The Philippine, U.S. and Japanese coast guards are holding their first trilateral exercises in the disputed waters, in drills scheduled through Wednesday. About 100 U.S. Coast Guard personnel, 200 from the Philippine Coast Guard and 70 from the Japan Coast Guard took part in Tuesdays mock counter-terrorist drill off the Bataan Peninsula in western Luzon island.

The days exercise focused on collaborative mission planning and joint search-and-rescue operations involving sea and air assets, officials said.

The exercises aim to build the relationship we have with Japan and the U.S. And this is not the first time we have had drills with both countries, Lt. Junior Grade Jhenrich John Ibanez, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, told reporters.

This is purely coast guard-to-coast guard matters. This has nothing to do with China, he said.

In a scenario as part of the drill, the Department of Foreign affairs received information from the United Nations Security Council about a ship carrying weapons of mass destruction en route to Manila, the Philippine capital.

The department informed the coast guard that a foreign flag ship, MV Destroyer, had a crew of 12 including four linked to a terror organization.

Under the scenario, the Philippine crew then engaged the invaders in a gunfight, capturing five and injuring two others. The other five jumped overboard and were captured by nearby U.S. and Japanese personnel.

BenarNews reporters were on site to observe the mock incident, which unfolded about 50 nautical miles off Bataan, a Philippine province facing the South China Sea. Those waters are well within the countrys 200-mile exclusive economic zone, a region Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

Vice Adm. Rolando Punzalan said the three nations recognized the importance of cooperation.

The three coast guard agencies agree on the importance of conducting periodic exercises to ensure the stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, Punzalan said.

The drill occurred more than a month after the Philippines and the U.S. held their biggest annual Balikatan joint exercises in the coastal town of San Antonio in Zambales, another province overlooking the South China Sea.

During that time, two China Coast Guard ships intercepted Philippine patrol boats and exhibited aggressive tactics near Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal. At one point, a Chinese ship came within 50 yards (46 meters) of a Philippine ship, while another persistently followed BRP Malabrigo at a distance of 700 yards (640 meters).

Beijing has said the Philippine ship trespassed into waters near Renai Reef, the Chinese name for Ayungin Shoal, and dangerously approached a Chinese ship.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea while the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan claim their own territories.

In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines and against the sweeping nine-dash line China uses to assert its maritime claims. Beijing steadfastly refused to acknowledge the ruling.
Philippine soldiers survey the damage at a Catholic cathedral in Jolo town, Sulu province, on January 28, 2019, a day after a suicide bombing killed 21 people.

The Philippine military said Tuesday it had rescued the teenaged son of an Indonesian couple who blew themselves up in a 2019 suicide bombing that killed 21 people at a Catholic cathedral in the south.

Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie, 15, was rescued nearly two years after his younger sister was recovered from Abu Sayyaf militants during a military operation on the same southern island of Jolo.

The militarys Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said it found the boy on Saturday in the town of Sumisipa after launching an operation to arrest two leaders of an Islamic State-linked faction of Abu Sayyaf.

Maj. Andrew Linao, a spokesman for Wesmincom, said the militants, Mudzrimar Sawadjaan and Pasil Bayali, escaped during the mission but left the boy behind.

The teenager was taken to a local hospital for a medical check up and would remain with the military for a custodial debriefing, Linao said.

The military said he was the son of Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfa Handayani Saleh, who were identified as the bombers of the Jolo cathedral. The Indonesian couple killed 21 people and themselves in the twin suicide bombing in January 2019.

Authorities believe they were indoctrinated by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the former Philippine commander of the Islamic State, who masterminded the attack.

The military has said that Sawadjaan might have been killed in a July 2020 clash in Jolo, but his body has not been recovered.

After his demise, he was succeeded by his nephew Mundi Sawadjaan, who went on to carry out a series of bombings.

In June 2021, the Philippine military rescued the boys 13-year-old sister Sitti Aisyah Rullie after a firefight with Abu Sayyaf members in the town of Patikul on Jolo.

Another sister, Rezky Fantasya Rullie, allegedly had planned a suicide attack but was arrested during an October 2020 raid, the military said.

Asked if Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie was being indoctrinated to be a suicide bomber, Linao said it was possible given his parents' history.

We are going to determine that in the custodial debriefing, he said.

Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido praised soldiers from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion, under the 1103rd Brigade, for rescuing the boy.

He is still young, and we are hopeful that with proper guidance and counseling, he will be able to walk back on the right path and build a better future, said Galido.
A Thai soldier guards a river crossing between Thailand and Myanmar in the border town of Mae Sot, Tak province, Oct. 29, 2020.

Thailands Provincial Electricity Authority cut power to two sections of southeastern Myanmar early Tuesday, leading to threats of retaliation from an ethnic Karen force aligned with the Burmese junta.

Somchai Trithipchartsakul, the chief of Mae Sot district in Thailand, said the surrounding Tak province was ready to deal with potential impacts with its border neighbor in Myanmar.

There was a power cut at 12:05 a.m. The situation at Tha Kham Bridge is still normal  people are still able to send goods across the local two bridges, Somchai told BenarNews. Goods can be transported normally, everything is running as usual.

Last week, Somchai told BenarNews that the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) had informed him that it was planning to cut electricity to Lay Kay Kaw and Shwe Kokko on June 6. Authorities allege that Shwe Kokko in particular is home to casinos illegally run by Chinese businessmen.

Somchai said the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok had submitted a letter noting that the junta government would not renew the purchase agreement between the authority and Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The agreement expired on Feb. 28, but the SMTY had requested it be renewed temporarily

A source who requested anonymity because of security concerns said Col. Saw Chit Thu, the leader of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), informally told Thai authorities that if the electricity supply to Myanmar were terminated, his group would close the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing checkpoint in retaliation. The BGF is aligned with the Burmese military.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Shwe Kokko resident who requested anonymity confirmed that power was out, but he did not know who was responsible. The man told Radio Free Asia, a new service affiliated with BenarNews, that he was using a generator to power computers for his small company.

The BGF leader did not immediately respond to an RFA request for comment.

When questioned by reporters in Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who also serves as defense minister, had little to say about the action.

It is an internal matter of Myanmar and does not have any impact on the Thai people, he said.

Meanwhile, Salai Bawi, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University, noted that the Thais should be prepared to deal with potential consequences.

The threat by the Karen BGF to close the Friendship Bridge may lead to more tension and violence. Thailand needs to handle this situation with caution to avoid any economic repercussions or possible diplomatic conflicts, Salai told BenarNews.

Pornsuk Kerdsawang of the Friends Without Borders Foundation, a Thai NGO, said she expected that the BGF members were prepared for the outage.

They may have a generator for the short term, she told BenarNews. Tension will only occur if they cannot resolve this issue together. They may end up closing the border as they have threatened.

When news surfaced about the plan to cut electricity, Somchai said Shwe Kokko had five to 10 generators to produce power.

Since 2016, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos have had electricity contracts for 21 power grids in Myanmar, totaling 43,750 kilowatts, according to the PEA database. For Shwe Kokko, the partners signed an 8,000 KW power deal.

RFA Burmese contributed to this report.
Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, at a press conference in Bangkok on May 18, 2023.

The leader of Thailands top vote-getting party on Tuesday denied any wrongdoing over a stock ownership matter in a defunct media company, following an electoral complaint that could derail his bid to become the countrys next prime minister.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, which is trying to form an eight-party coalition after winning the May 14 election, faces the risk of disqualification if he is found to have violated electoral laws.

Before polling, activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana filed a complaint with the election commission challenging Pitas qualification for office over ownership of shares in media company ITV Plc.

Ruangkrai, a party-list candidate from the junta-aligned Palang Pracharath Party, claimed that Pita held 42,000 shares in the company, noting that owners and shareholders of media businesses are prohibited from running in national elections.

Pita, however, has denied breaking any rules. He has said the shares  which he no longer owns  were part of his late father's estate, and were declared to the anti-corruption agency.

I am confident that before I proceeded with the transfer of ITV shares, the company was not engaged in any media business, he said in a Facebook statement, without specifying when he sold the stock.

I am certain of past facts but can't predict future developments, such as whether ITV will be revived as a media entity or not. The transfer of shares to other heirs was not done to escape any wrongdoing.

Pita said he was fully prepared to explain the situation to the electoral commission and was not worried about the case.

On Tuesday, Ruangkrai submitted additional evidence to electoral authorities, saying that Pita was an ITV shareholder for 16 years and sold his shares after Move Forward nominated him as a prime ministerial candidate.

The evidence is clear and unalterable, he told the media.

The election commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment from BenarNews.

Move Forward Party's prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, waves in appreciation to party supporters after receiving preliminary election results on May 14, 2023. [Surin Pinsuwan/BenarNews]

Whether Pita violated section 98 of the Constitution is a matter of debate among observers.

Former election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said Pita might have been ineligible to run because Move Forward registered candidates on April 4, before he is believed to have sold his shares.

But Thouchanok Sattayavinit, a lecturer in the political science and law faculty at Burapha University, said there was substantial legal room for Pita to challenge the complaint.

If Pita and the coalition government can negotiate with key power holders in the country, I believe the ITV share issue would virtually have no effect, said Thouchanok, who has a doctorate in philosophy. This needs to be addressed as a political issue, not as a matter of legal process.

If found guilty of breaking the electoral law, Pita could be disqualified as an MP, potentially damaging his partys ability to form a government.

A similar complaint following the 2019 general election resulted in Move Forwards predecessor Future Forward being taken to court, with leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit losing his seat in parliament over his ownership of shares in the V-Luck Media Co. Ltd.

The court later disbanded Future Forward over a loan Thanathorn made to the party, leading Pita and other members to establish Move Forward ahead of this years election.

The electoral complaint is one of a number of hurdles Pita faces in his bid to form a government. Chief among them is winning over at least 63 votes in an unelected Senate dominated by conservatives.

Move Forwards alliance of eight parties is short of the 376 required to govern in the 750-seat bicameral legislature.

While the opposition has been given a strong mandate to govern, a minority government formed by pro-military parties, which were trounced in the election, is possible if the 250 senators vote in a bloc.
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Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
Police Chief Michael Wynn answers questions on his department's budget Monday as the City Council continued its review of the city's overall spending plan for fiscal 2024.
Jane Kaufman is Community Voices Editor at The Berkshire Eagle. She can be reached at jkaufman@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6125.
This photo shows the view toward Woods Pond Dam from the footbridge over the Housatonic River. Two environmental groups have sued to invalidate a mediated plan to deposit PCB-tainted soil removed from the Housatonic River in a proposed landfill nearby in Lee. A company is proposing to remove the PCBs without the need for dredging.
Christians have always sought to memorize sections of the Bible, something they inherited from Judaism, which also encouraged memorization. For centuries, Christians have memorized the sections of the Bible in the way they understand it, in books, chapters, and verses. The books have always existed, but they have not always been structured in the chapters and verses as they are understood today. Instead, they were traditionally one long document. Some of those documents were songs, some were poems, some were letters, and some were historical documents written down on scrolls.

Over time, both Jewish scholars for the Old Testament and Christians broke these larger documents into smaller, more digestible sections. Generally, these chapters and verses have been adapted and used across languages and translations.

While there are pros and cons to this structure, its creation makes memorization more accessible and allows for a more universal experience for believers all over the road to study Gods Word.

Who Developed the Chapter/Verse Structure?

In ancient cultures, memorization was an important skill. Ancient texts like The Iliad were not originally written down, but memorized and passed down in an oral tradition. Before the Exodus from Egypt as recorded in the Pentateuch, the Hebrew people did not have their own written form of communication. Until that time, they shared their history as a verbal tradition.

After a culture developed a writing system, memorization would still be encouraged, but not relied upon. The skill of memorizing large amounts of a narrative has become less and less needed over time, though not completely lost. This need for smaller chunks to memorize is one reason to have subsections of a larger written work. In the early days of writing in Hebrew, there were no vowels and words were not divided; by the time Jesus began His earthly ministry, there were word divisions, but no chapters or verses.

As a religious text, the Bible is something those who believe in it wish to study regularly, but some of the larger books are difficult to approach, or to find a logical stopping point, and then pick up again in the same space later. Another reason to have smaller sections is to make that study easier. Ecumenical churches and state churches, such as the Roman Catholic or Episcopalian churches, also encourage uniformity across their parishes. If someone goes to a church in Rome this Sunday, but in Washington D.C. next Sunday, they could be receiving messages that are following the same books of the Bible in the same order. Reverends and priests in these denominations are encouraged to follow the same order. While this is not universally upheld, many churches that are organized with a hierarchy follow the same order of study for the Bible.

To that end, people have been looking for ways to make the Bible easier to study, as well as more universal, for centuries. Saint Jerome, a believer in the 4th century, divided up the Bible, though his divisions are not used today. While some people experimented with divisions, the chapter divisions used today were created by Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207-1228. The Bible was in Latin at this time, and the Catholic Church was the dominant, though not the only, faith on the European continent. The Wycliffe English Bible from 1382 used these divisions and that is how they made their way into the English Bible. Because the original divisions were in Latin, it became easy to standardize them across the countries where the Latin Bible was used.

The divisions of the Old Testament used today were formalized by Rabbi Mordecai Nathan in 1448. The New Testament verses came about a century later when Robert Estienne, also called Stephanus, developed them. He was a former Catholic who converted to Protestantism. When the Geneva Bible became the first published edition of the Bible in 1560 it used these standardized chapters and verses.

Why Is This Helpful?

With the Bible being the first text mass produced that same century, it was easy for new printing businesses to copy the existing standard. The printing press changed the way the culture consumed information, and the Bible was no exception. In fact, having standardized chapters became even more crucial, since people could now read the Bible on their own in their native language, and they needed to be able to talk about it collectively.

Having standardized chapters and verses across languages and Bible translations has many other benefits. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Making it easier to memorize in an age where memorizing large documents is uncommon

2. Making it easier to find specific passages or find ones place in a Bible study

3. Making it easier to discuss the Bible amongst Christians

4. Making it easier for pastors to preach to large groups

5. Making it easier to evangelize because it is simple to find key passages, verses, and someone can find the exact same spot after hearing a verse

6. Making it easier to communicate about the Bible across languages.

The chapter and verse format has probably been one of the best tools for standardizing study across the church across time. When a theologian from the 1700s referred to a passage in a work, contemporary scholars, or believers deeply interested in theology, can turn to that same passage and examine it for themselves. People are empowered to study and understand Gods Word, in part because they have access to it in manageable pieces that can be easily cited and to which they can refer back.

Is This System Problematic?

There are problems that can arise from the chapter and verse format, especially when it comes to understanding context. Because of the chapter and verse structure, it is easier to pull out small sections of the Bible, twist its meaning by removing it from its context, and then misrepresent it. A common tactic by individuals, whether false teachers or non-believers, who want to put their own spin on Gods Word or to convince an audience of an inaccurate read of the text will often pull singular verses or passages out of their context.

Another issue that can arise from the chapter and verse format is that people lose the context of what is going on because they read a chapter at a time, or hop from a chapter in one book to another. Sometimes, chapter breaks are in the middle of an event, or separate cause and effect events or whole sermons. If someone is stopping at every chapter, or only reading a book in small chunks, sometimes they can lose explanations, contexts, and important correlations. Some translations try to rectify this by creating subheadings that create context regardless of the chapters. There are also translations that remove chapters and verses entirely.

Understanding the history of the chapter and verse system can help Christians appreciate how the Holy Spirit has guided people through the centuries to make Gods Word more accessible to everyone. It also presents the opportunity for believers to approach the Bible in a new way. Whether that means reading a book in one sitting and ignoring chapters, reading based on events, or reading all the red-letter text, there are lots of ways to get more out of the books of the Bible outside of just reading chapters.

Sources

Barton, John. A History of the Bible The Book & Its Faith. New York: Penguin Books, 2020.

Childress, Diana. Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press. Buffalo: Twenty-First Century Press, 2008.

Smith, Christopher. The Beauty Behind the Mask Rediscovering the Books of the Bible. Toronto: Clements, Publishing, 2007.

Photo credit: SparrowStock

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.
Strengthening its Centre of Excellence in specialities like Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Cardiac Sciences, Haematology & Mother and Child Care

Sahyadri Hospitals, the largest chain of hospitals in Western India, is poised for significant growth and expansion with an announcement to double the capacity of the chain in next 3 to 4 years with over Rs 750 crore investment in healthcare infrastructure ramp up.

The launch of 9th Hospital of the chain is part of aggressive expansion plans of Sahyadri Hospitals as it plans to further expand its healthcare network to Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nagpur, Solapur Kolhapur and other cities in the region apart from reinforcing its presence in Pune and Nashik.

The expansion plan encompasses both Brownfield as well as Greenfield projects. Furthermore, Sahyadri Hospitals has a strong track record of successful mergers and acquisitions, with few deals currently in the pipeline for expansion in Western part of the country.

As part of its expansion plans, Sahyadri Hospitals has doubled up its capacity in Hadapsar area with Sahyadri Hospital Hadapsar Annexe. Sahyadri has on boarded a team of over 20 highly skilled clinicians dedicated to Mother and Child care and more than 100 dedicated clinicians across various specialties.

Image caption- L to R - Abrarali Dalal, Director & CEO, Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune; Dr Sunil Rao, COO, Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune; Abhinav Joshi, Cluster Head, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Hadapsar & Nagar Road
SA's Ogilvy and Kenyan Scanad are the only African agencies to be named in the first released Cannes Lions 2023 shortlists.

Image supplied. Ogilvy SA Cape Town's Bread of the Nation for client ABInBev for its product, Castle Lager is shortlisted in the Cannes Titanium shortlist

Ogilvy SA Cape Town has been named in the Titanium Lions' shortlist for Bread of the Nation for client ABInBev for its product, Castle Lager. It is the only African agency to be named in the Titanium Lions' shortlist.

Kenya agency, Scanad, has been named in the Glass Lion for Change for Stain, Not Shame for Zeva Fashion (client and product). It is the only African brand in the Glass Lion for Change shortlist.

By normalizing periods and treating them as a normal part of life, we can help create a more positive and inclusive culture for everyone. (2/2)



See below link to the petition:https://t.co/Cy7ScxtllH  SCANAD (@SCANADAfrica) March 8, 2023

The Innovation Lions  Experience shortlist has also been released. See the Innovation Lions  Experience here Winners will be announced on 22 June.

See the Titanium Shortlist here. Winners will be announced 23 June.

See the Cannes Lions  Glass here. Winners will be announced 23 June.



For more:


The London International Awards (LIA) has announced the Jury President and Jurors for the 2023 Creativity In The Metaverse and Evolution categories.

Kaleeta McDade is the chief experience design officer at VMLY&R.

Kaleeta McDade is the Chief Experience Design Officer of VMLY&R and this years Jury President for the category. In her role at the agency, she bridges creative storytelling, technology, design, and user experience for the agencys clients. She is celebrated for her proven ability to drive impact for brands; helping them shape a strategy and vision that deepens the consumer relationship across every stage of the engagement life cycle.

McDade's influence and leadership has informed how customers around the world have experienced some of the largest brands in retail, sports, beauty, and health.

McDades belief that when experiences are produced at the intersection of creativity, humanity and technology, they have the power to transform companies and brands, makes her a perfect fit as Jury President.

On judging LIA, Kaleeta stated, LIA recognises the Metaverse is more volatile than it is impermanent. Our ability to build virtual worlds and create cultural connection is worth celebrating. The same way the mobile phone democratised the internet, glasses will democratise the Metaverse. We are hitting the hype curve of disbelief, there is a first mover advantage for those who continue to believe. LIA has facilitated an opportunity to express, not the revolution of marketing - but the evolution. Creating a stage for new narratives, that transition us, as an industry, from storytelling to story-living. It is such an honour to be afforded the opportunity to lead both of these categories.

Creativity in the Metaverse and evolution Jury

Joey David Tiempo, founder/CEO, Octopus&Whale, Manila

Felix del Valle, chief creative officer, MRM Spain, Madrid

Bianca Guimaraes, partner/executive creative director, Mischief @ No Fixed Address, Brooklyn

Naoki Ito, chief creative officer/founder, Party, Tokyo

Kadine James, chief disruptor executive producer, Artificial Rome, Berlin

Carren O'Keefe, chief creative officer, Digitas UK, London

Taj Reid, Global chief experience officer, Edelman

Wesley ter Haar,founder, MediaMonks, Los Angeles

Lewis Tutssel, head of EMEA Gaming, Creative Shop, Meta, London

Dissara Udomdej, CEO/creative founder, Yell Advertising, Bangkok

The juries will gather on-site in Las Vegas to view every piece of work in their respective categories. LIA has no pre-judging. This ensures that all work will be judged equally through careful deliberations and robust discussions.

Entries into these categories do not have to focus on advertising, but rather creative solutions.
Increased capacity allows for better access to lifesaving treatment.

Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape now has some of the most state-of-the-art radiation oncology technology in South Africa. This follows the recent installation of a Varian Halcyon linear accelerator (linac) at the Langenhoven Oncology Centre.

Speaking at the recent commissioning event held at the unit Dr Ernst Marais, COO of Icon Oncology, highlighted the urgent need for treatment capacity across the country: Cancer is a rising crisis for South Africa, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 1.1 million new cancer cases are being reported in Africa each year. Sadly, there are around 700,000 cancer deaths on the continent each year, many of which could be avoided with early detection and better access to treatment, explains Marais.

...this means that patients who previously had to wait or travel for specialist care can now receive life saving treatment in their own province.

 Simon Meredith, general manager and country lead for Varian

The new machine allows high volumes of patients to receive fast and very accurate treatment. It was installed to complement the existing Varian Truebeam linac which amongst other things, are used to treat brain tumours requiring a very high level of accuracy. The combined capacity of the two machines means that the Icon Radiation Therapy team can now treat up to 80 patients a day.

This is the first implementation of combined Varian Halcyon and Varian Truebeam technology in the Eastern Cape. Working in parallel, the combination of the Varian Halcyon and Truebeam technology allows oncologists a wide choice of treatment options. Importantly this means that patients who previously had to wait or travel for specialist care can now receive life saving treatment in their own province, explains Simon Meredith, general manager and country lead for Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company.

According to Dr John Crockett, a medical and radiation oncologist practicing at the Langenhoven Oncology Centre, the multi-million rand technology investment at the unit ensures sophisticated functionality and the most advanced treatment capabilities in the world.

The Halcyon radiotherapy system is engineered to deliver volumetric modulated radiation therapy (VMAT) technology, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and RapidArc radiotherapy.

From a clinical perspective the biggest benefit of the Halcyon machine is that it delivers a precise, tightly focused radiation dose to the tumour, while minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment time is fast, and the machine has brushless motors for silent movements, which improves the patients experience during treatment, explains Dr Crockett.

"Icon Oncology and our extensive network of oncologists, has revolutionised the approach to cancer care in South Africa. With decades of expertise in clinical and managed healthcare, we have successfully pioneered a model that provides high-quality, affordable treatment to both insured and uninsured patients. This positions us as the perfect partner for local and national government and reaffirms our commitment to provide cancer patients with the best chance to live healthier lives, concludes Marais.




The Western Cape Government's Department of Economic Development and Tourism has launched a new programme to help businesses become more competitive in the global market. The Export Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (ECEP) will provide support to businesses that are export-ready or working towards export readiness.

Source: Drazen Zigic via Freepik

"Expanding exports of products and services is a priority focus area of our provincial Growth for Jobs Strategy. Our research indicates that if we can increase exports by 10%, we can generate an estimated additional R6bn to the Western Cape Gross Domestic Product, creating many more jobs," says Mireille Wenger, minister of finance and economic opportunities.

Minister Wenger continues that "enabling access to global markets is key to achieving break-out economic growth for the Western Cape economy precisely because exports create opportunities for domestic producers to expand and diversify their customer bases, so that they can grow their businesses."

The focus of the programme will be on developing and investing in the capacity of businesses to unlock export opportunities through a structured process, such as business turnaround or business improvement, and on improving the entrepreneur's skills and the business's competitive position in relation to scale and efficiency. It will also position the business to expand into current markets as well as new market opportunities.

Interventions target specific businesses and provide support mechanisms to improve the capability, competitiveness, productivity, and export growth of these businesses.

The fund will support the following activities:

 Product reformulation and refinement.

 International packaging, labelling, and printing requirements.

 International product certification and standards for international market access.

 Product registration with relevant international bodies in export markets

 International nutritional analysis

 Specialised shipping requirements

"The application process closes at midnight on 30 June 2023, and I encourage businesses in the Western Cape to apply for this exciting opportunity and look forward to seeing many more of our proudly Western Cape goods on shelves across the globe, and of course, to assisting many more businesses to expand, creating many more jobs for the residents of the Western Cape," concludes Minister Wenger.
One day, in the early 2000s I drove to work in downtown Johannesburg and was confronted by billboard after billboard advertising a digital bank called 20Twenty, a subsidiary of the then Saambou.

Source  Francesco Dibartolo 123rf Katherine Madley Vice President of Group Marketing at Massmart says creativity-led marketing can reduce media costs and increase sales

It was so ahead of its time and we could not stop talking about it at work, several colleagues signed up and opened accounts.

As a junior marketer in my early 20s I was more fascinated by the question: The media strategy and the creative is so powerful. Who is the advertising agency behind this bank?

In those days we didnt have Google so I had to wait for my monthly edition of Advantagemagazine (a brilliant marketing and advertising magazine, I still miss it) to see if anyone had written an article about this bank and its agency who broke through the market.

This set me off on a lifelong obsession of following agencies, award shows, adverts and research to prove that my instinct was true.

If the product is equal or better than the competition and or if is the first of its kind, creativity used to promote said product is the number one force to produce sales. Yes, creativity, not media reach.

Creativity - not media reach

And so began my battle in the boardrooms to justify the expense in partnering with the best agency you can afford. I crusaded passionately with some success but more often, failure.

Sadly, the agencies never had the skill to prove their worth on the balance sheet, as they were not skilled in explaining return on investment ROI).

This is why agencies selling model is forever flawed. They also are too afraid to sell on risk for a percentage of profit, as they know their work does not operate in a vacuum.

The other reality on the maths of creativity was that it is missing in the universities so the marketers dont know how to explain it either.

I devoured every marketing article, book, column and watched Cannes every year on social media searching for an expert to explain.

Years passed and nothing was there.

Then 13 years ago Prof Byron Sharp wrote How Brands Grow this flickered the case for creativity and reach into light.

Then the masterpiece, The long and the short of it came out by Les Binet and Peter Field.

This cemented the truth that highly creative work yields long-term sustainable business results.

Coupled with this was the intrepid Prof Mark Ritson, hammering out expert articles to confirm and concur with these thinkers.

I knew in my own small way I could apply this thinking and get superb results. I have and I do.

The other side

But there is another side to this media costs.

They are high and reach costs a lot. Its an even playing field (mostly, as a platform is a platform) so how do you break out the pack here?

Creative again.

Over the past four years working with the retail brand I look after, my costs of media have dropped significantly but my reach, ROMI and ROAS have risen, sharply.

Yes, the products and prices in my content are much improved and those two Ps are 80% of my focus, so I can write much more about them than I can on creativity, promotion and distribution.

But if you have a world-class creative partner, your media costs will go down, saving you a fortune.
Surgeons must look beyond the operating theatre and tackle three major challenges with the most potential to reduce major causes of death and improve access to surgical care, according to an international group of experts.

Despite significant advances over the last 30 years, surgical research is still limited to comparing the benefit of one technique over another. It can be founded on assumptions that a new device or approach is always better - leading to poorly evaluated devices and procedures having negative effects on patients.

Writing in The Lancet, experts from the NIHRs global health research unit for global surgery (the GlobalSurg collaborative)  a programme backed by funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research  propose three priority areas for surgery:

Access, equity, and public health must be recognised as crucial issues for surgery. In 2015, five billion people did not have access to safe and affordable surgical care. Of those who did, 33 million individuals faced catastrophic health expenditure in payment for surgery and anaesthesia. During the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 28 million cases of elective surgery are likely to have been cancelled. Surgery has a key role in addressing the most important and growing global health challenges, such as trauma, congenital anomalies, safe childbirth, and non-communicable diseases.

In 2015, five billion people did not have access to safe and affordable surgical care. Of those who did, 33 million individuals faced catastrophic health expenditure in payment for surgery and anaesthesia. During the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 28 million cases of elective surgery are likely to have been cancelled. Surgery has a key role in addressing the most important and growing global health challenges, such as trauma, congenital anomalies, safe childbirth, and non-communicable diseases. Inclusion and diversity must improve in both surgical research and the profession. Women, minoritised groups, and patients from low-income and middle-income countries remain under-represented in clinical practice and major research work. Advancing inclusion and diversity will ensure a research agenda that delivers pragmatic, simple, and context-specific research that reflects the needs of all patients.

Women, minoritised groups, and patients from low-income and middle-income countries remain under-represented in clinical practice and major research work. Advancing inclusion and diversity will ensure a research agenda that delivers pragmatic, simple, and context-specific research that reflects the needs of all patients. Climate change is the greatest global health threat facing the world. Surgical theatres are some of the most energy and resource intense areas of a hospital. Surgical practice relies on many single-use, non-biodegradable products as well as anaesthetic gases that have a large environmental footprint. Moving towards net-zero operating practices could reduce health-sector carbon emissions and allow surgeons and policy makers to reassess how surgery fits into a wider health system.

Co-author Dmitri Nepogodiev, from the University of Birmingham, said: Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, once described surgical research as a comic opera performance. That was in 1996 and things have changed significantly since then.

However, truly improving lives requires surgical researchers to use the next quarter of a century to tackle the most pressing questions on equity and access, the role of surgery in public health, and sustainability.

Despite the problems of large waiting lists and an economic squeeze on health systems, surgeons must focus on these priority areas - placing surgery as a leader in medical specialties and demonstrating its value as a fundamental element of universal health care.

The experts note that large, randomised controlled trials with well-defined endpoints are now more usual in surgical research, while exploration into the placebo effect, has led to a fundamental re-examination of the benefits of some surgical procedures and whether they benefit patients at all.

Surgeons and anaesthetists have developed successful international collaborative research efforts that have enabled rapid recruitment of participants and globally relevant studies and trials, while following internationally set standards of clinical-trial practice. Surgeons can now provide reliable answers to crucial questions in operative surgery, and their research has improved patient care and resource use in health systems.
There is a growing recognition of the importance of empowering girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This paradigm shift acknowledges the tremendous potential of girls in Africa and the need to both transform and bridge the gender gap in STEM fields. In this manner, we can unlock a world of opportunities and foster inclusive economic development.

Image by PremierCompanies from Pixabay

One of the major barriers faced by girls in Africa when it comes to STEM subjects is the persistence of gender stereotypes. Societal and cultural norms frequently dictate that girls are not as capable or as interested in science and technology as boys.

In order to appropriately empower African youth, programmes such as those implemented by Techno Girl Trust are open to both boys and girls, though 90% of the beneficiaries are girls - it is essential to challenge these stereotypes.

STEM fields have traditionally been dominated by certain demographic groups, resulting in a lack of diverse perspectives and ideas. By promoting STEM education among African children, particularly those from underrepresented communities and those with marginalised backgrounds, we can encourage diversity, inclusivity, and representation in the future African workforce. This not only enriches the STEM sector but also leads to more holistic and comprehensive solutions to complex problems.

Early exposure to STEM subjects

The process should start at schools where early exposure to STEM subjects is crucial for fostering a love and passion for these fields. Schools should incorporate age-appropriate STEM activities and experiments into their curriculum, starting from the primary level.

Additionally, extracurricular programmes, science fairs, interactive workshops and work shadowing can play a key role in exposing young girls to the wonders of STEM. By providing hands-on experiences, girls can develop a sense of curiosity, problem-solving, and confidence in their abilities.

Image supplied

There are innovative programmes for girls and young women such as the The Techno Girl Trust who show interest in the STEM subjects. Young female learners from quantile 1-3 schools are earmarked to become beneficiaries of the programme. They gain access to knowledge and mentorship through a structured job-shadowing programme which empowers them to make informed career choices. This will lead to sustained employment opportunities and, in so doing, breaking the cycle of poverty.

STEM subjects open the door to a wealth of interesting careers, and by highlighting numbers of women and role models advancing science careers, girls are shown that Africa counts on them to discover the next frontiers of research and digital innovation.

Programmes such as these are focused on making a large-scale impact at secondary and tertiary level, in which the earlier formative years are essential in establishing a pipeline of girls with an interest in STEM subjects through their basic education. This sustainable and systemic gateway to STEM careers enables the development of homegrown female science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills for a transformed society.

This ensures equal access to schooling and post-schooling education and especially so in the fields of STEM. This is being achieved by empowering young women and girls by making every effort to end all forms of discrimination in the STEM industry while striving to ensure young womens full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in economic and public life.

Women who have excelled in STEM careers can inspire and mentor African youth, demonstrating that they too can achieve great things in these domains. Initiatives are being implemented to connect girls with successful women in STEM through mentorship and job shadowing programmes fostering a sense of belonging and creating a supportive ecosystem.

Access to digital technology remains a challenge in many parts of Africa, especially in rural areas. To empower girls in STEM, it is crucial to address the digital divide and ensure equitable access to digital resources.

We can create a future where girls in Africa have equal opportunities to pursue STEM careers. Let us work together to inspire and empower the next generation of female scientists, engineers, and innovators, transforming Africa and the world for the better.
Are you trying to find a constant source of happiness? You might concur that the ideal choice for such source is a cool swimming pool. Its sparkling water may brighten your life, enhance your health, and help you unwind after a long day.

Beyond its advantages, a swimming pool needs ongoing maintenance to retain its aesthetic appeal, functionality, and durability. Therefore, Designer Pool Covers provides this blog post that focuses on how upgrading your outdoor living environment by purchasing high-quality swimming pool covers can benefit you.

One of the top pool cover manufacturers in South Africa is Designer Pool Covers. Since we have been in this business for ten years, it is safe to state that we have South Africa's happiest customers. You may learn about the many advantages of our pool covers in this blog post, as well as some creative ways to decorate your outdoor retreat with them.

Designer pool cover types

For people in South Africa, Designer Pool Covers offers a variety of pool cover choices, including the following:

Automatic slatted covers for PoolDeck

Our PoolDeck Slatted Automatic Covers are available in a variety of sizes to fit your pool and feature a sleek, contemporary style. Additionally, it spreads out on the pool surface in a streamlined manner and is quite eye-catching.

Additionally, you may customise its slats with different materials, including PVC, and manage these covers with a smartphone or remote control for a convenient experience.

Child and pet safety cover

A specialised pool safety cover with a distinctive locking system and supporting aluminium battens is available from Designer Pool Covers. Additionally, it is constructed from high-quality and long-lasting materials, and you can customise it to your tastes.

This pool cover keeps your pool free of dirt and debris while also ensuring pool safety. Overall, this Designer Pool Cover is a great option if you have kids and pets at home because of its tough construction, high quality, and safety features.

Safety covers in vinyl, automatic

Heavy-duty vinyl makes up our automatic vinyl pool safety cover, which also includes several locking mechanisms. It is simple to install and strong enough to support an adult's weight, providing seamless safety for your children and pets.

The Designer Pool Covers allow you to customise this cover even though it suits the majority of pools. Additionally, this cover is incredibly cost-effective, conserves precious natural resources, and protects your swimming pool from a variety of hazards.

Pool covers with thermal blankets

Our primary goal is to make safe, resource-conserving pool coverings. An illustration of this concept is our line of thermal blankets. The pool heat is retained by these coverings' incredibly dense insulation, which also lowers water evaporation and conserves electricity.

Additionally, the Designer Pool Covers' Thermal Blankets are manufactured using high-quality fabrics, guaranteeing you the durability and return on investment (ROI) of your pool cover.

Easy Glide pool covers with PoolLock V5M

It is a manual pool cover that opens with a surprise automatic mechanism. The best aspect is that you may contact Designer Pool Covers in Durban, South Africa, at any moment to upgrade it.

In addition, there are other advantages to this safety cover, including pet and child protection, pool cleanliness, a practical hydraulic system, and special safety features. Overall, it is a great purchase for anyone looking for a straightforward pool cover with extra safety measures.

Why designer pool covers are beneficial

Designer Pool Covers have numerous advantages for maintaining and safeguarding swimming pools.To learn more about those advantages of pool covers, click here. However, the following are a few attractive and practical advantages of the designer pool covers:

Benefits of aesthetics

Pool covers designed by others:

Enhance the pool area's overall appearance and atmosphere.



Give the pool a modern, streamlined design.



Prevent debris and bad weather from getting on the pool finish.



Can be personalised to complement the appearance of the outside space.

Functional advantages

Pool covers designed by others:

Prevent injuries and accidents.



Reduce chemical loss and water evaporation.



Keep the pool tidy.



Reduce your reliance on maintenance services.



Will save you money over time.



Extend the life of the pool equipment.

Guidelines for caring for your Designer Pool Cover

Similar to other pool covers, designer pool coverings also require regular care and upkeep. Here are some pointers for doing it:

Cleaning

Regularly remove collected water, dirt, and debris from your pool cover. You can improve the appearance and durability of your pool cover by creating a good cleaning programme, which will ultimately save you money and effort.

Regularly remove collected water, dirt, and debris from your pool cover. You can improve the appearance and durability of your pool cover by creating a good cleaning programme, which will ultimately save you money and effort. Storage

When it's not being used, store your pool cover. You may avoid damage and mildew growth on the pool cover by properly keeping your pool cover. Additionally, pool cover storage offers protection from glaring sunlight and other environmental conditions, both of which eventually lengthen the life of your designer pool covers.

When it's not being used, store your pool cover. You may avoid damage and mildew growth on the pool cover by properly keeping your pool cover. Additionally, pool cover storage offers protection from glaring sunlight and other environmental conditions, both of which eventually lengthen the life of your designer pool covers. Examining and fixingLook for indications of potential damage, such as tears, rips, and holes on the cover's surface when inspecting your swimming pool safety cover on a regular basis. Cover the harmed areas as soon as you see them and hire specialists to restore your designer pool covers. Make a routine for checking the pool cover, and follow it at least twice a year.

Cost and return on investment of designer pool covers

If you want to upgrade the appearance and usability of your swimming pool, the Designer Pool Covers are a great investment. Although these covers may seem pricey in comparison to more basic pool covers, they can offer you a decent return on investment over the long term. The following justifies this assertion:

Designer pool covers can be made to fit the size and shape of your pool and are aesthetically beautiful. Because they are compatible with your swimming pool, these coverings last longer and eventually pay for themselves.

High-quality materials and fabrics are used in the production of designer pool covers. It has the advantage of reducing the cost of repair and maintenance work over time, saving you money.

Last but not least, the premium construction and visual appeal of these swimming pool safety covers raise the value of your home as a whole. You can make more money if you sell the property than you did when you bought it.

FAQs

What material works best for a pool cover?

The appropriate fabric for a pool cover depends on a variety of elements, including climate, pool type, and individual tastes. However, vinyl and mesh are the two best materials for pool covers. They keep the pool clean, stop heat loss, are watertight, and offer great defence against the elements. The owner's tastes ultimately determine which fabric is the best for the pool cover.

Can a designer pool cover raise my property's value?

Yes, a designer pool cover has the ability to help raise the value of your home for the reasons listed below:

The beauty of your pool area are enhanced by a designer pool cover.



The pool cover enhances your property's selling characteristics and general maintenance effectiveness.



The luxury and sophistication that a designer pool cover exudes raises the perceived worth of your home.

What is the price of a pool cover in South Africa?

The price of a pool cover varies depending on a number of elements, including the type of cover, pool size, customisation, and so forth. A basic pool cover, however, can range in price from R4,000 to R10,000. Additionally, in South Africa, pool coverings with unique characteristics can cost between R30,000 and R50,000.

In conclusion

Last but not least, buying a designer pool cover, whether it's the Thermal blanket or the Pool Deck Slatted Automatic Cover, is a great way to enhance and protect your pool. These covers safeguard your kids and pets while keeping your pool free of trash.

Additionally, the designer pool cover provides a variety of pool covers, each ideal for a distinct use. For instance, an Automatic Vinyl Safety cover is used for both kid safety and beauty because to its durable construction. A Designer Pool Cover can ultimately improve your swimming pool experience and raise the value of your home. It is a wise investment.




The court ordered that the deputy director of corporate services immediately be reinstated.

Image source: Vitaliy Vodolazskyy  123RF.com

The Johannesburg Labour Court has ordered Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi to immediately reinstate the deputy director of corporate services.



Kubayi summarily terminated the deputy directors contract after Kubayi had been stuck in the lift for an hour and blamed the deputy director, accusing her of misconduct.



This month, Johannesburg Labour Court Acting Judge Molatelo Makhura ruled that Kubayis conduct was unlawful, saying such conduct must be frowned upon.

The Minister of Human Settlements has been ordered to immediately reinstate deputy director of corporate services Nelly Letsholonyane who was found to have been unlawfully dismissed.

Letsholonyane was dismissed after Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi got stuck in a lift for about an hour and then blamed Letsholonyane, and summarily terminated her contract in April this year.

This month, Johannesburg Labour Court Acting Judge Molatelo Makhura ruled that Minister Kubayis conduct was unlawful. Such conduct should not be condoned by courts of law. This court cannot and should not turn a blind eye to injustice and lawlessness. The impact that such decisions have on employees is unimaginable, he said.

Minister Kubayi had posted on a WhatsApp group just before 8pm on 14 March this year, that she was stuck in the lift and that the responsible person had already left work.

While Letsholonyane, alerted by the message, immediately took steps to get a technician from the lift company to attend to the matter, she was called into the Ministers office at 7.30am the following morning, and given a letter of intention to dismiss her for gross negligence for threatening the lives of employees. She was dismissed with immediate effect on 20 April 2023.

Letsholonyane then approached the Johannesburg Labour Court, alleging a breach of contract.

In his recent ruling, Judge Makhura said her dismissal was unlawful because the Minister did not comply with the provisions of the Senior Management Service Handbook (SMS Handbook).

He said Letsholonyane had been employed by the department since 2005 and was three-years from retirement when she was fired. He said the day after the lift incident, Letsholonyane was given a letter by the Minister containing the allegations of misconduct. These included that as head of the branch and manager responsible to ensure regular maintenance of the building and/or the lifts, she had failed to avert the risk, that she ought to have known that people were still working in the building and she had failed to timeously respond.

Letsholonyane submitted a written explanation, denying any misconduct, and indicated that the matter should be dealt with at a disciplinary hearing.

However, on 3 April the Minister gave her three options: to be dismissed, face a hearing, or take early retirement. Letsholonyane under protest opted for early retirement.

Whilst driving home on 20 April, she received a call from the Minister that she was dismissed with immediate effect, which was then confirmed in a letter.

Letsholonyane, in her argument in the Labour Court, had argued that the Minister had acted as the victim, witness, initiator and referee and this was not acceptable.

On whether the matter was urgent, Judge Makhura said that when political heads are alleged to have subverted the rule of law, or undermined provisions in valid agreements and unleash lawlessness on the people they are supposed to lead, the courts of law should hasten, when called upon to intervene, on good cause.

Failure by the courts in that situation would lead to the perpetuation of the lawlessness and embolden those in power to continue acting with impunity.

He said the matter had nothing to do with the merits but whether the Minister had complied with the provisions in the SMS Handbook.

The Minister, he said, had rejected Letsholonyanes conditional acceptance of early retirement and then, six days later, decided to summarily dismiss her without a disciplinary hearing, as is required by the Handbook.

He ordered that Letsholonyane be reinstated immediately. He further ordered that the Minister, or her delegate, be prohibited from dismissing Letsholonyane without complying with the procedures in the Handbook.

He also ruled that the Ministers conduct must be frowned upon and that she pay the costs of the application.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.
The biosecurity challenge continues as more cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are reported across the globe. The HPAI virus is highly contagious among birds and the usual response from authorities is culling and quarantining of affected properties followed by import bans.

Recent cases include an outbreak in wild birds in Brazils Rio Grande do Sol according to the countrys association of animal protein (ABPA). An outbreak of HPAI in Mexico recently prompted the Hong Kong authorities to suspend the countrys imports of poultry meat and products.

In South Africa, a total of five HPAI cases were recently detected and confirmed in five commercial chicken operations in the Western Cape province. Consequently, a total of 550 thousand layers were depopulated and the properties were placed under quarantine to prevent the distribution of live birds and eggs.

Although this creates an imbalance in supply and demand, it will have a short-term impact as the outbreak is confined to the WC and the culled birds make a small proportion of the national layer flock. Historically, shortages due to production challenges in the WC were met by imports from the rest of the countrys inland provinces.

This is obviously disruptive to trade, causes serious losses for producers, and may increase consumer prices as domestic supplies tighten due to production cutbacks if the disease spreads further. A dozen of eggs at consumer level advanced by 1.6% m/m in April 2023 at R21.59/ dozen, a rebound of 5.9% year-on-year from a decrease of -0.6% year-on-year in March.

Producers are currently operating under tough conditions with intermittent electricity supply which still comes at a high cost with Eskom tariffs haven risen by 18.5%, higher cost of running diesel generators for extended period, as well as the delipidated road infrastructure that increase distribution costs.

All these have almost outweighed the benefit of the 21% y/y decline in maize prices (-R999/t) which averaged R3,684/t and R3,592/t for yellow and white maize respectively in May 2023. This is critical for profitability as maize is a major ingredient in chicken feed.

On a parting note, your omelette is not yet under threat as the resilient industry will continue to strive to make eggs readily available despite tough trading conditions.
Angie Motshekga, South Africa's Minister of Basic Education, responded to the most recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which found that 81% of Grade 4 students struggle to read for meaning, by stating that the Department was nearing completion of a revised national plan.

To expedite this solution, Dr Corrin Varady, CEO of edtech platform IDEA, emphasises the need for public-private partnerships to complement the Government's plan and rapidly improve these outcomes.

The children most affected are those who speak African languages and attend no-fee schools, where the curriculum was disrupted due to the pandemic, he highlights. Consequently, learners in the country's poorest schools are falling further behind their counterparts in more privileged institutions, exacerbating existing inequalities.

While commending the Department for ensuring culturally appropriate reading materials will be developed in all African languages, Dr Varady believes that partnering with private companies capable of digitally deploying materials and training programs will accelerate the distribution process. This approach can contribute to establishing an equitable future for all pupils by closing the gap faster while improving their digital literacy and computer skills.

There is a misconception that children from low-income areas are unable to benefit from digital learning opportunities due to a lack of infrastructure and internet access, he says. However, tailored and low-cost solutions designed specifically for these schools do exist. By encouraging private companies to provide additional infrastructure support, present challenges can be addressed.

Considering South Africa's persistent youth unemployment rate, which shows no signs of improvement, now is the opportune moment for everyone to contribute to empowering the countrys children with essential skills, ensuring they have the same opportunities as their more advantaged peers, Dr Varady concludes.
Suzuki Auto SA has grown tremendously in recent times. But just how close is the Japanese brand to snatching second place from VW? Year-to-date dealer sales tell an interesting story.

Its been a scarcely believable couple of years for Suzuki Auto South Africa. Once something of a bit-part player, the Japanese firms local division has rocketed up the sales charts in recent times, consistently breaking internal sales records and making third place on the monthly list of SAs best-selling automakers very much its own.

While Toyota SA Motors is still way out in front, the gap between Suzuki and the second-placed Volkswagen Group (the latter, we should point out, includes the Audi brand) is narrowing  and fast. So, we decided to examine the year-to-date sales race with VW, though with a focus specifically on the dealer channel. The latter is, of course, considered to be a strong indicator of private-buyer sentiment.

Collectively, dealerships form the channel through which the vast majority of new-vehicle sales are registered. In May 2023, for instance, Naamsa estimated 38,872 units (or 90.2% of the total reported industry sales of 43,060 vehicles) represented sales in the dealer space. But before we delve into the year-to-date sales figures, lets take a step back and consider how the Hamamatsu-based manufacturer has managed to climb this high, this quickly.

Whats driving Suzuki Auto SAs recent sales success?

The Baleno is Suzuki Auto SAs second-most popular vehicle in 2023.

Suzuki Auto SA opened its doors back in 2008 and has enjoyed 15 consecutive years of dealer growth since. In fact, the opening quarter of 2023 was the Suzuki dealer networks best in history, while as many as nine dealerships (out of 97 dotted now round Southern Africa) each sold more than 100 new vehicles in March.

So, whats behind this consistent growth? Well, in what has become an increasingly price-sensitive local market, Suzuki Auto SA has shrewdly taken advantage of its mother brands large-scale production facilities in fellow right-hand-drive country India, where its Maruti counterpart manufactures huge volumes of budget-friendly compact vehicles. For the record, Maruti Suzuki is an absolute giant in the worlds most populous nation, having achieved a staggering 42% market share in 2022.

As many as 12 of the 13 nameplates in Suzuki Auto SAs stable today are imported from India, with only the Vitara (which is the brands slowest seller this year and looks likely to exit the local range soon) being sourced from Hungary in Europe. In addition, while the broader Swift line-up is manufactured in the South Asian country, the low-volume Swift Sport derivative is brought over from the Sagara factory in Japan.

VW Group vs Suzuki: a quick look back at 2022 sales

Suzuki Auto SA is thriving perhaps partly because of rather than despite South Africas challenging economic conditions since its attractively priced budget cars  virtually all of which play in the compact-vehicle space  are on offer at just the right time for many cash-strapped local consumers. Furthermore, the company has seemingly managed to secure a steady flow of stock, while other automakers continue to struggle with supply constraints.

Just how close was the Japanese firm to matching the Volkswagen Group last year? Well, the German firms total sales (again, including Audi) in South Africa fell 2.48% year on year to 69,801 units in 2022. The VW Groups market share thus dropped from 15.41% to 13.20%, although it quite comfortably held onto second place on the overall list.

Meanwhile, Suzuki Auto SA improved its total sales a whopping 71.04% year on year to 47,178 units in 2022, rocketing up the rankings from sixth to third and boosting its market share from 5.94% to a very respectable 8.92%. Still, last year, Suzuki was a considerable 22,623 units behind the VW Group. In 2023, however, the race is far closer...

How is the VW brand faring in the dealer channel?

The Kariega-built Polo Vivo continues to function as the main volume driver for VW.

Year to date, the VW Groups overall tally sits at 26,411 units, though that figure falls to 23, 912 when we remove Audi sales from the equation. But here were going to focus on the dealer channel, which means we wont take into account sales to the rental industry or to the government, not to mention so-called single registrations (which comprise vehicles registered by manufacturers for their own use).

Over the opening five months of 2023, the Volkswagen brand sold 18,288 units through the dealer channel in South Africa, translating to a monthly average of 3,658 units. For the record, the year-to-date dealer-sales figure for the VW Group stood at 20,427 units over the same reporting period.

As you might have guessed, the Wolfsburg-based automakers locally produced hatchbacks  the Polo and Polo Vivo  were its key volume drivers. In May 2023, for instance, the Kariega-built siblings contributed 1,876 (1,378 of which went through dealers) and 1,024 (815 via dealers) registrations respectively and were supported by the imported T-Cross (550 total units) and Tiguan (208 total units), not to mention the new Ford-built Amarok (330 total units).

How is Suzuki performing in the dealer channel?

The Ertiga was Suzuki Auto SAs third-best seller in May 2023.

In the opening months of 2023, Suzuki and the VW brand traded blows in the dealer channel, with the German firm having its way in January and March, and the Japanese manufacturer putting its nose ahead in February and April. The ding-dong battle continued in May when VW pushed ahead slightly.

Year to date, Suzukis overall total comes in at 19,729, with 17,402 of those units having been registered to private buyers through dealerships (thats an average of 3,280 units a month). In terms of dealer sales, that puts Suzuki just 3,025 units behind the Volkswagen Group and a mere 886 units adrift of the VW brand.

Of course, the model that has done much of Suzukis heavy lifting in recent times is the Swift hatchback. With 17,282 units registered in 2022, the Swift was SAs second best-selling passenger vehicle last year, finishing ahead of the Polo hatch (15,697 units), which found itself down in fifth, but behind the Polo Vivo (20,866 units). The Swift again dominated the sales charts in May 2023, with 1,178 units (1,156 of which were dealer sales) registered, while the Baleno (504 total units), Ertiga (425 total units), new Grand Vitara (382 total units) and S-Presso (352 total units) all also came to the party for the Hamamatsu-based automaker.

Will Suzuki overtake Volkswagen in South Africa?

So, will we see Suzuki leapfrog the VW brand (and perhaps even the Volkswagen Group) in South Africa? And, if so, how far away are we from such a situation? Well, considering the gap has narrowed markedly over the opening five months of 2023  with the 113-year-old Japanese marque cutting VWs lead in the dealer channel to fewer than 1 000 units  theres no doubt were in for an intriguing remainder of the year.

The local market finds itself in increasingly turbulent times and we cant help but feel the sustained economic challenges facing South Africa will largely favour Suzukis budget-friendly line-up (which currently runs from R166,900 to R529,900) over than the German manufacturers higher-priced portfolio (R248,500 to R1,663,400, or R3,871,100 if we include Audi).

When it comes to pure volume, VW continues to rely on its least-expensive model, the Polo Vivo (and, to a lesser extent these days, the Polo hatch). However, Volkswagen has plans to add a mystery third vehicle  some sort of sub-T-Cross crossover  to its Kariega production line, while it has also confirmed there is hope for a half-tonne bakkie spin-off. As much as these models have the potential to become significant volume drivers for VW, they are a few years away, with the new crossover likely to come online only in 2026 or 2027 (and the proposed bakkie thereafter).

Meanwhile, Suzuki recently added the new Grand Vitara to its local line-up, positioning the revived nameplate as its flagship model. Perhaps more pertinent to the brands volume aspirations, however, is the fact the Vitara Brezza  one of its strongest sellers last year  has been discontinued locally. Still, the upcoming Fronx (a Baleno-based crossover) may well fill much of this gap, while the new 5-door version of the already popular Jimny will surely also attract a number of fresh sales.

In the short term, Suzuki Auto SAs star looks all but certain to continue to rise as the fast-growing automaker goes about hunting down VW through the dealer channel. Were absolutely itching to see what the sales figures say by the end of the year

This article was originally published on Cars.co.za...
China's Global Security Initiative conducive to sustainable security at turbulent times

11:01, June 06, 2023 By Yi Ling, Cai Shuya and Mao Pengfei ( Xinhua

SINGAPORE, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on Sunday urged the international community to work together to inject more stability and certainty into turbulent times, while talking about China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue here.

Calling for dialogue and cooperation to address the pressing security challenges in the Asia-Pacific, delegates and experts at the meeting spoke highly of the GSI, a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum.

COMMON NEEDS OF MANKIND

The sustained prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific depend on a sound security and development environment, which, however, is being challenged by a sluggish economic recovery, a resurging Cold War mentality, and rising regional conflicts and security threats.

Fiji's Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua said that geopolitical tensions and rivalries across the globe are spilling into the Pacific region, endangering the security and interests of small island countries like Fiji.

The Global Security Initiative calls for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, Li said in his speech at the meeting, putting forward a four-point proposal on how to pursue security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific -- mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony; fairness and justice should transcend the law of the jungle; eliminating conflicts and confrontation through mutual trust and consultation; and preventing bloc confrontation with openness and inclusiveness.

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said these approaches demonstrate the GSI's equity, inclusiveness and comprehensiveness, which meets the world's security needs amid today's unprecedented challenges.

"The GSI primarily focuses on creating a community that is peaceful and stable, seeks to advance peacebuilding, and strengthens the spirit of multilateralism and forward-thinking economic growth," he told Xinhua.

Mengdavid said that countries must uphold and support the need for "indivisible peace" in order to encourage sustainable development and improve resilience to both conventional and unconventional security threats.

"Without the old 'Cold War' attitude, while ensuring that the interests and concerns of all parties are taken into account, the GSI may be used as a forum for governments to build constructive conversation and deepen collaboration," he said.

Li also highlighted the importance of seeking consensus and promoting reconciliation and negotiations to manage the differences of disputing parties and avoid confrontation.

His view was shared by many participants including Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who told a plenary session on Saturday that "in face of the universal threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis in energy, water and food security, it's imperative for us to overcome our geopolitical rivalries, our territorial disputes through dialogue, negotiations and win-win solutions."

U.S. PARADOX OF WORDS AND ACTIONS

Addressing the opening plenary on Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin preached Washington's vision of a "free, and open, and secure Indo-Pacific" within a world of rules and rights.

There is a yawning gap between U.S. high-sounding moralistic posturing and the manifested reality of its invasive foreign policy, said Zhang Chi, associate professor at the National Defense University of China.

Zhang pointed out that one of the paradoxes of the U.S. so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy" is that on the one hand, the United States claims that it is capable of playing a leading role in the Asia-Pacific, but on the other hand, the exclusive multilateralism that it promotes, be it AUKUS or Quad, is a small bloc in U.S. geopolitics. Let alone Washington's "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity," which excludes three of the 10 ASEAN member states.

"It is clear therefore that the U.S. actions are exacerbating confrontations in the Asia-Pacific and instigating conflicts between countries to at large maintain its global hegemony, which could shatter global peace and harm global development," Zhang said.

"When observing the U.S. words and actions, we will not only listen to what it says, but also focus on what it does," said Hoo Chiew-ping, senior lecturer in the Strategic Studies and International Relations Program at the National University of Malaysia.

While lobbying the U.S. efforts to strengthen the "guardrails against conflict" and "to bolster peace, security, and stability in the region," Austin in his speech accused China of continuing to "conduct an alarming number of risky intercepts of U.S. and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international airspace" with "aggressive and unprofessional" flying, and vowed to support the U.S. allies and partners to defend themselves "against coercion and bullying."

In response, Ong Tee Keat, chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for the Asia-Pacific, a Malaysian think tank, said that China has been made the "bogeyman" threatening regional and global peace for years, which constitutes the main bulk of the U.S. global strategy in defending its waning primacy across the world.

"This has been the obsessional response of Washington and its allies to the rise of China on both fronts of economics and security," Ong said.

What remains baffling and unconvincing is the U.S.-led West has yet to substantiate its allegations against China and the GSI. This has reduced the provocative labelling to mere name-calling, which contributes nothing to global peace, he said.

Saeed Chaudhry, director of the Islamabad Council for International Affairs in Pakistan, praised China for always performing its duties for a goal of regional security, peace and stability with utter responsibility.

China has never interfered in other states' and regions' internal affairs but always urged parties and stakeholders to solve issues through dialogue, said Chaudhry, citing China's brokering of a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia recently as an example.

ALL COUNTRIES EQUAL IN SECURITY

China stays committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously and believes all countries are equal in terms of security interests, experts at the meeting noted.

"A just and equitable environment for development meets the shared interests of Asia-Pacific countries. Anyone who attempts to fleece the flock or prey on the weak will surely be opposed by countries in the region," Li said in his speech.

Pascal Abb, senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), believes that the GSI differs in many ways from the approaches of Western powers to global security issues, which, like the Belt and Road Initiative, could prove equally competitive among developing countries.

"It stresses the primacy of national sovereignty over interventionism, UN centrality and multilateralism over smaller 'coalitions of the willing,' neutral over coercive mediation, and development over political inclusion," Abb wrote in a blog in March this year.

In a way, the GSI could be viewed as an initiative that could help empower the "Global South" again, Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, told Xinhua.

The purpose of the GSI is to create durable and lasting peace through dialogue and negotiation, which calls on all countries to work together to find peaceful solutions in times of crisis. Such an approach departs from the "old ways" of doing things whereby only a few select states could decide on how to solve global or regional security issues, she said.

"With such privileges accorded to the few states, the decisions and actions taken were not infrequently against the wishes of the global community," said Lee.

The opinions of each and every member of the global community regardless of its national strength are valued, she added.

(Xinhua correspondents Wu Changwei in Cambodia, Jiang Chao in Islamabad, Yan Jie in the Philippines, and Liu Chuntao and Li Yan in Singapore also contributed to the story.)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Four Decades on, The Photons Continue to Rock

What do you call a psychiatrist, a retired actuary, a radio producer, a book editor, and an educational development officer, all of them Bowdoin classmates from the early 80s? Well, when theyre on stage theyre called the Photons, and theyre still rocking after four decades.

Drummer and philosophy major Keith Shortall 82 counts in the band, and the magic starts. The years roll away as the Photons groove out to a rendition of Pat Benatars Hit Me with Your Best Shot, beefed up by the addition of guest vocalist Sue Fischer, Class of 1983. The band is getting ready to perform at the 2023 Bowdoin College Reuniontheir ninth reunion gig in the last sixteen years, says bass player Randy Shaw 82, an English and psychology double major who went on to become vice president for development and alumni relations at Bowdoin and who still works in educational development. The full history of the band goes back much further, he adds, to the fall of 1980 (which, to give perspective, is closer to the attack on Pearl Harbor than it is to today). That was when Shaw hooked up with classmate and guitarist Doug Taylor, who already had a reputation as the best, and loudest, axman on campus. I had played in a couple of bands in Providence, says Shaw, and Doug was well known for his guitar playing, (particularly among his neighbors who were trying to study, notes a Bowdoin Orient article from 1981.)

Shortall, who had a background playing in jazz groups, was recruited to play drums, while classically trained George Reisch 84 (the only non-classmate) came on board as the second guitarist. JJ took a little more convincing to join, as he had not sung in a rock band before, says Shaw, referring to biology major Jim Jenson 82, now a practicing psychiatrist in North Carolina who, as a student, was known for his incredible vocal skills. He had an amazing range, still does, says retired actuary and math major Taylor. He had just finished singing the lead in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The band also tried having a piano player for a while, he recalls, but that came to an end when they were kicked out of Gibson Hall (in the music block, where the piano was located) for being too loud. After that they moved to Smith Auditorium, where they jammed most Fridays and where they are rehearsing now. These shows are like a time machine that takes you back to a place we can never really experience again." Keith Shortall, philosophy major, radio professional, and occasional drummer. And in case youre wondering where the name the Photons came from, it was suggested by a roommate of Dougs, who was taking a physics class, says Reischan editor, writer, and book designer, who himself took a physics major. Its a great name. I like to think of it as rock and roll at the speed of light. The bands repertoire consisted, and still consists, of classic rock hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, from the Beatles to Bowie, says Shortall, now a senior editor at Maine Public Radio. After four decades with one rehearsal every few years, you eventually learn the songs, he adds. The Photons enjoyed a busy year in 1981, playing at frat parties, the College pub (then called The Bear Necessity), and, memorably, a Halloween party in Coles Tower. They even strayed off campus occasionally, once playing a paid (!) gig at Williams College. The Photons were, without doubt, the biggest band on campus at the time, although, admitted Reisch, I think we were the only band at Bowdoin in 198081.
DHAKA (PTI): Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande on Monday met his Bangladeshi counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed in Dhaka and discussed various aspects of mutual interest and explored ways to further expand bilateral defence and security ties.



Gen. Pande, who arrived in Dhaka earlier on Monday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh - his second trip to the country as Army Chief, also interacted with Lt. Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces division.



The Indian Army Chief visited Bangladesh in July last year on his first foreign visit after assuming charge of the top post.



"General Manoj Pande #COAS interacted with General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, #BangladeshArmy & Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, #Bangladesh and discussed aspects of mutual interest," the Additional Directorate General of Public Information said in a tweet.



The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR)  the media wing of Bangladesh Armed forces  in a statement said that Gen. Pande made a courtesy call on Bangladesh Army Chief at army headquarters and thanked him for his invitation.



The two army chiefs discussed the existing bilateral ties and future cooperation for the progress of the two countries, the statement added.



"The Indian Army Chief's visit is expected to play an important role in promoting relations between Bangladesh and India, the statement added.



Gen. Pande laid a wreath at Shikha Anirban and paid tributes to soldiers who laid down their lives for the Liberation of Bangladesh. He also received the Guard of Honour at Senakunja and planted a sapling to commemorate the friendship between the two Armies.



On Tuesday, Gen. Pande will be reviewing the Passing Out Parade (POP) of officer cadets of the 84th 'Long Course' at the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) in southeastern Chattogram.



During the parade, the Army Chief will be presenting the 'Bangladesh India Friendship Trophy' instituted for the best foreign cadet from friendly foreign countries of the passing out course from the BMA.



The first trophy this year is being awarded to officer cadet Everton of Tanzania.



This trophy is in reciprocation to the 'Bangladesh Trophy and Medal' instituted at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun in December 2021 for Best foreign cadet passing out the course, the Army said in a statement.



The Army chief will be reviewing the POP at IMA, Dehradun on June 10 and present the Bangladesh Medal and the trophy.



The Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff visited India in April this year and reviewed the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.



The Indian High Commission in a statement said that these high-level exchanges of visits provide an opportunity to both sides to renew the close bonds of friendship and fraternal ties that exist between the Armed Forces of India and Bangladesh.


Apple has unveiled an augmented reality headset which it claims to be the most advanced personal electronic device ever.

Called Vision Pro, it is labelled as mixed reality as it combines virtual reality  in which the wearer is fully immersed in the digital world  with augmented reality  where digital images are overlaid onto the real world.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said: Blending digital content with the real world can unlock experiences like nothing weve ever seen.

The device, which resembles a pair of ski goggles, features a glass 23-million-pixel screen which covers the upper face and is controlled using the wearers eyes, hands and voice.

It enables what Apple calls spatial computing  where the wearer can interact with digital content just like its in your physical space.

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The headset features built-in speakers and attaches using an adjustable headband, while a wire leads from the device to a battery pack which sits in the users pocket.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, left, joins Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering, to announce Vision Pro. Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Vents draw in air to cool the device down, rendering it virtually silent, Apple claimed.

Vision Pro will cost $3,499 (3,250)  roughly 10 times the price of the Meta Quest 2, the leading VR headset from Facebooks parent company, which retails for 349.99.

It will be available online and in Apple stores in the US from early next year and will come to more countries later next year.

After years of speculation, the product was unveiled at Apples annual Worldwide Developers Conference at its California headquarters on Monday.

This is the first augmented reality headset released by Apple, and the first new product it has launched since announcing the Apple Watch in 2015.

Mr Cook, who succeeded Steve Jobs as Apple chief in 2011, said: I believe that augmented reality is a profound technology. Blending digital content with the real world can unlock experiences like nothing weve ever seen.

A crowd gathers around the Apple Vision Pro headset as it is displayed in a showroom on the Apple campus. Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Vision Pro is a new kind of computer that augments reality by seamlessly blending the real world with the digital world.

With Vision Pro, youre no longer limited by a display. Your surroundings become an infinite canvas.

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There are certain products that shift the way we look at technology and the role it plays in our lives.

Apples Vision Pro, together with Vision OS, introduces an entirely new spatial computing platform, a platform that presents incredible possibilities for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.
Revenues at the Leonardo chain of hotels, formerly Jurys Inn, last year more than doubled to 48.32m as the business recovered from the Covid impact on the tourism industry.

New accounts filed by Fattal Leonardo Operation (Ireland) Ltd - formerly Fattal Jurys Operation (Ireland) Ltd - show that the 128pc surge in revenues from 20.29 million to 48.32 million resulted in the business returning to profit to record pre-tax profits of 4.18 million.

The profit last year takes account of a non-cash write off of 8.49 million as the business changed its brand from Jurys Inn to Leonardo in the UK during 2022.

The directors state that they deemed it appropriate to write off the brand intangible on December 31st last as all franchise fee income generated by the company ceased upon the UK hotels rebrand.

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The firms franchise fee income in 2022 was 7.6 million - a 50 per cent rise on franchise income of 5.059 million in 2021.

The rebranding of the Irish operation has taken place this year and the move brings to an end an association between the Jurys name and Irish hotels that dates back to 1839.

The entire Jurys Inn portfolio was acquired by the Fattal Hotel group, which is owned by Israeli billionaire David Fattal, in 2017.

The business operates five Leonardo hotels in prime city locations in the Republic and Northern Ireland including Leonardo hotels in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

The directors state that last years results were "primarily driven by the global markets general trend of recovery from COVID-19.

They state that health and travel restrictions imposed were completely lifted during the year "which in turn resulted in strong domestic demand and occupancy, with the market activities returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The directors state that the business hotels have "a low-cost business model, charging its customers rates that vary depending on levels of demand.

They state that this reduces, though does not eliminate, the financial impact arising from adverse economic conditions.

The firms operating profits increased almost eight fold from 660,000 to 5.17 million.

The companys franchise income of 7.6 million offset by finance expenses of 8.59 million resulted in the pre-tax profit of 4.18 million.

Ireland New charge for man accused of flying drone at Dubl... Read More

Numbers employed increased from 347 to 405 during the year and staff costs more than doubled from 4.67 million to 11.37 million.

Pay to directors, including pension payments, increased from 288,000 to 302,000.

The profit also takes account of combined non-cash depreciation costs of 8m.

At the end of December last, the firm had accumulated profits of 19.58m while its cash funds decreased from 1.05m to 790,000.
Farmers are fearful of proposed EU environment laws, European Commissioner for Financial Stability Mairead McGuinness has said, but they are crucial to restore nature.

Last week, the European Peoples Party (EPP), of which she is a member, walked out of committee talks on the EUs nature restoration law.

The European Commission says the law is a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which calls for binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

The proposals include targets for the restoration and rewetting of drained peatlands.

Ms McGuinness, a former Fine Gael MEP, said she helped shape the proposal as a member of the College of Commissioners.

However, she said farmers have fear over the economic implications of the legislation.

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Mairead McGuinness said it is not the case that farmers will have to hand over 20% of their land to nature (PA)

Speaking to RTE radio, she said: I understand that some in the Parliament would like to go further and that gives fears in the minds of farmers around what it means for them.

However, she said it is not the case that the proposal will force farmers to hand over 20 per cent of their land to nature.

She said the law will be good for both farms and nature.

But we will not deliver any of this without farmers, so we need them on board and we have to work with them to show them how we will assist them in the process, she added.

Ms McGuinness said given her role as commissioner, it is not for her to comment on the EPPs decision to walk out of committee talks on the matter.

There is a crucial vote  we think it will happen next week  in the environment committee on this proposal and lets wait and see how that goes.

Climate Green minister warns of horrible conservative sca... Read More

She said all groups need to be engaged on the matter.

We have to work very hard in the commission to make sure that we are consistent and coherent around policy and that we listen to the concerns of farmers.

She said there has been a lot of unnecessary divisive debate on the issue, adding: Twitter has a lot to answer for.
The Duke of Sussexs courtroom evidence is to be reconstructed by an actor who featured in Outlander in a series of special programmes for Sky News.

Actor Laurence Dobiesz will be bringing to life significant moments from the statements made by Harry in Londons High Court this week in his claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

The duke, 38, is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting his claim and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity.

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In the phone hacking case, Prince Harry told the court that every single article played a destructive role in his life.



There are no cameras in court so as part of a special programme Sky News has recorded what was said by the Duke, played by an actor.



Watch  pic.twitter.com/fxUx0ngOt5  Sky News (@SkyNews) June 6, 2023

Each night at 9pm, Sky News broadcaster Jonathan Samuels is set to present the special, titled Harry In Court, with Dobiesz voicing evidence given by the duke.

The actor has previously appeared in historical drama Outlander as well as 2011s Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows which starred Robert Downey Jr.

A preview clip of Dobieszs portrayal has gained considerable attention from social media users after it was posted on Sky Newss Twitter account.

Some questioned the editorial decision of the broadcaster to recreate the scene while others were not convinced by Dobieszs impersonation.

Sky Newss Harry In Court reconstruction. Photo: Sky News/PA.

On Tuesday, Harry faced nearly five hours of questions from a barrister for MGN as he became the first senior royal in more than two decades to personally appear in court proceedings.

His claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

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World Harry had huge amount of paranoia after press in... Read More

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Sky Newss executive editor and managing director Jonathan Levy has said the reconstruction of the dukes evidence will offer viewers an accurate and fair representation of what is said and a better understanding of how the case unfolds as no cameras or recording are allowed in the courtroom.

Sky News has a long tradition of reconstructing off-camera proceedings, with our re-enactment of the Michael Jackson trial in 2005 and Hutton Inquiry in 2003, he added.
Holly Willoughby has returned to social media for the first time since Phillip Schofields explosive departure from This Morning.

The TV presenter, who was absent from the ITV morning show during the furore, returned to screens on Monday but has not shared a permanent post on her personal Instagram account since May 18th.

On Tuesday she shared a photo of herself in the dress she will wear for the live broadcast, which she will host with Josie Gibson.

Sporting a floral Ghost dress and nude high heeled sandals, Willoughby can be seen smiling for the camera.

She captioned the post: Morning Tuesday see you on @thismorning at 10am with @josiegibson85 the wonderful @sarah.beeny joins us today to talk about her incredibly important and personal documentary.

Willoughbys return to the show on Monday was highly anticipated and marked her first on-screen appearance since Schofield left ITV following his revelation of an affair with a younger male colleague.

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During interviews last week, Schofield told the Sun and the BBC that Willoughby did not know about the unwise, but not illegal relationship, and has apologised for lying to her.

Seated next to Gibson, she said: Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have  shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of whats been going on, and full of questions.

She continued: You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.

And its equally hard to see the toll that its taken on their own mental health.

I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal, for the health and wellbeing of everyone.

A message to you, from Holly. pic.twitter.com/TwiqxbSwSn  This Morning (@thismorning) June 5, 2023

Schofield has spoken about the toll the fallout from the scandal has had on his mental health, telling the Sun it has had a catastrophic effect on his mind and he is currently getting by hour by hour.

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In a statement she wrote herself, Willoughby thanked viewers for their support, saying: I hope that, as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning.

Myself, Josie, Dermot (OLeary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you that, this show that we love.

World Holly Willoughbys This Morning statement in full Read More

Willoughby has previously revealed how hurt she was by Schofields actions in a statement on her Instagram story, saying: When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. Its been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie.

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes and the shows former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh have both separately made allegations about the culture behind the scenes at the programme in the wake of Schofields departure.

ITV boss Carolyn McCall has been called to a UK parliamentary committee on June 14th to answer questions about the broadcasters approach to safeguarding and complaint handling following Schofields exit.
Kinahan cartel gang boss Liam Byrne has said he will fight extradition during a court hearing.

The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody following his confirmation he would refuse to be sent back to the UK for trial.

It emerged on Tuesday he had appeared before an extradition judge on Monday, although the news was only made public this afternoon.

The hearing took place in private as is normal in Spain.

Byrne is believed to have appeared before a judge at Spains Audiencia Nacional court, which deals with extraditions, via video-link from Majorca where he was arrested on Sunday.

Officials were not able to confirm he did not appear in person at the court in Madrid, but if as thought the hearing took place via videolink Byrne would likely have been remanded to a prison on the island.

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An official at the Audiencia Nacional said: The Irish national arrested in Majorca on Sunday was handed over to the courts yesterday.

He was provisionally remanded in prison. He is not agreeing to be extradited.

Byrnes decision to fight extradition means a separate hearing will now take place where a defence lawyer will put forward reasons why he should not be made to return to the UK. It is expected to delay any extradition by several weeks if not months.

Byrne was held on Sunday night on a UK-issued international arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia while having dinner with his two youngest children.

He is believed to have flown to the island from his hideaway in Dubai with his family.

The UKs National Crime Agency confirmed on Tuesday that Liam Byrne was one of two suspected members of the Kinahan clan arrested in Spain.

It said in a statement: Two men wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of firearms offences have been arrested in Spain.

Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.

He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the May 26th.

Another suspected member of the crime group, Jack Kavanagh, 22, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police last Tuesday (May 30th) at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.

The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland.

The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.

Ireland Kinahan crime gang figure Liam Byrne arrested in S... Read More

They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said:

This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group. Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.
A man originally accused of unlawfully flying a drone into a "critical area" of Dublin Airport had the charge replaced with an offence for intentionally interfering with the operation of an air navigation facility.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) also directed that father of two Ainis Guzauskus will face trial before a judge and jury in a higher court if he contests the case.

In February, gardai charged Mr Guzauskus, 41, with knowingly causing a false alarm by flying an unmanned aerial system into the critical area of Dublin Airport at Naul Road, which interfered with the operation of an aerodrome on a date last year.

However, that charge was withdrawn and replaced with an offence under section three of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1975, unlawfully and intentionally interfering with the operation of an air navigation facility, Dublin Airport, by flying a DJI Mavic mini 2 drone, on July 2nd 2022.

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The accused, of Ridgewood Close, Swords, Dublin, appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court.

Garda Sean Murphy said Mr Guzauskus made no reply to the new charge, adding that the DPP has directed "trial on indictment".

That means Mr Guzauskus may face a jury trial in the Circuit Court with broader sentencing powers.Garda Murphy added that the DPP consented to the case staying in the District Court "on a plea of guilty".

The investigating officer handed over disclosure of evidence to defence solicitor Donal Quigley who asked for an adjournment to seek counsel's advice and opinion about Irish Aviation Authority statutory instruments before entering a plea.

The garda applied to transfer the previous bail terms to the new charge. However, following submissions from defence solicitor Donal Quigley, the judge removed one that barred the accused from going within two kilometres of the airport without garda permission.

Mr Quigley submitted that his client lived in Swords; the court had already heard his client's house was two kilometres from the airport. The solicitor argued that it was an "almost impossible" condition and covered a "big chunk" of the area around the airport, including the M1 and the M50 motorways.

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Judge Kelly deleted that term but imposed another, stating he must not go to the airport unless he had a valid ticket, adding that since gardai had seized his passport, his "choices are Donegal and Kerry, I think".

The other bail terms imposed in February remain: a ban on drone flying, not to apply for a new passport, remaining contactable by phone, and not leaving the State without the court's permission. Mr Guzauskus, yet to indicate a plea, must live at his current residence and notify gardai of any address change

The case resumes in July.The court has heard the accused lived in Ireland for 14 years and did not require an interpreter. He is in full-time work but entitled to legal aid.

In an unrelated prosecution, Eric Brills, 50, of Holywell Dale, Swords, Dublin, was charged earlier.

Ireland Tolls to increase on most Irish motorways from Jul... Read More

It is alleged that he unlawfully and intentionally interfered with the operation of air navigation facilities at Dublin Airport by operating a drone in the 300-metre critical area, on January 24th, at Naul Road, Cloghran, Co Dublin, such act being likely to interfere with the safety of aircraft in flight.

He was granted bail and is due in court later this month to indicate a plea.

In his case, the DPP also consented to "summary disposal on a guilty plea" at the District Court level. Otherwise, he would face the Circuit Court.

It is illegal to fly drones within 5 km of the airport; drones over a certain size must be registered, and each device has a unique digital fingerprint for identification.
A huge Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine was breached on Tuesday, unleashing floodwaters across the war zone.

Ukraine said Russia had destroyed it, while Russian officials gave conflicting accounts, some saying it was destroyed by Ukrainian shelling and others saying it collapsed due to earlier damage.

What is the dam and what happened  and what do we not know?

The Kakhovka Dam

The dam, 30 metres tall and 3.2km long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

The reservoir also supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia claims to have annexed in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

It holds an 18km3 reservoir  a volume about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah.

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Water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Office

What happened?

Ukraine, which commented first, said Russia was responsible.

"Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," president Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"The Kakhovka (reservoir) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces," the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said. "The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified."

Some Russian-installed officials blamed Ukraine. The Russian-installed Kherson administration said Ukraine shelled the dam at around midnight Irish time, damaging the hydraulic valves.

"On Tuesday, June 6, the Ukrainian armed forces hit the Kakhovsky hydroelectric dam, as a result of which the upper part of the hydraulic structure was damaged," it said.

Other Russian-installed officials said no attack took place.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian installed official in Zaporizhzhia, said the dam collapsed due to earlier damage and the pressure of the water.

Russia's state news agency TASS carried a report to the same effect.

A man sits on a bench outside his building outskirt of partially flood Kherson. Photo: Sergiy Dollar/AFP via Getty

What is the human impact?

With water levels surging higher, many thousands of people are likely to be affected. Evacuations of civilians began on both sides of the front line.

Some 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in Ukraine's southern Kherson region are at risk of flooding, Russian installed officials said. They told people to be ready to evacuate.

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding.

Crimea

The Russian-backed governor of Crimea said on Tuesday that there is a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnipro river, could fall after rupture of the dam.

The Crimean peninsula is dependent for fresh water on the canal. Ukraine previously blocked water supplies to Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014, causing water shortages in the region.

Nuclear plant

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, gets its cooling water from the reservoir. It is located on the southern side, now under Russian control.

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant".

Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Tuesday there was no threat to the Moscow-controlled nuclear plant.
Britain's Prince Harry is due to give evidence at London's High Court on Tuesday in his case against the Daily Mirrors publisher over alleged unlawful information gathering.

On Monday, Harrys individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) got under way.

Barrister David Sherborne claimed the prince was subjected to unlawful information-gathering activity right from when he was a young boy at school into adulthood, adding: Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds.

Prince Harrys barrister David Sherborne (left) outlining his case on Monday. Photo: Elizabeth Cook/PA

He continued: Every part of the princes life during these years was invaded by these three papers using these unlawful methods.

The barrister said, contrary to some criticism of Harry, it was the use of these methods by a national media group that has brought him here, not some vendetta against the press generally.

Harry is suing the publisher, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

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MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them. The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Mr Sherborne has previously claimed that unlawful information gathering was habitual and widespread at MGNs titles over almost two decades.

The barrister told the court on Monday that Harry (38) was the biggest target, adding that it was implausible there were no admissions from MGN except one.

He claimed that Harrys phone would have been hacked on multiple occasions, adding that his details appeared in the PalmPilot of a journalist who was one of the most prolific phone hackers.

Mr Sherborne later said: What he has been able to do as a result by bringing this claim, he has been able to focus the attention that comes with his position on these activities and the fact that they have been carried out not just by journalists, but they have been concealed, even though they were known about by the senior members of the board of this PLC, as well as the legal department.

Prince Harry at the coronation earlier this year. Photo: Toby Melville/PA

It is the focus on these activities and bringing the defendant to account which is why he is bringing this action.

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Harry had been expected to arrive at court on Monday but will not appear until Tuesday.

The hearing in London heard Harry had flown to the UK from Los Angeles in the US on Sunday night, as he was celebrating his daughter Lilibets second birthday.

Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge hearing the case, said he was a little surprised to hear that the duke would not be attending court on Monday.

Set to enter the witness box on Tuesday morning, Harry is due to face up to a day-and-a-half of cross-examination from MGNs barrister.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

Harry alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Mr Sherborne told the High Court in London that no aspect of the young princes life was safe from press intrusion and that details of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles.

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Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy in 2008. Photo: PA

The court was later told that a 2003 article detailed an alleged row between the duke and his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, over their mothers former butler, Paul Burrell.

Brothers can sometimes disagree, Mr Sherborne continued, adding: But once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded.

Mr Sherborne also said the late Diana, Princess of Wales was a huge target for MGNs newspapers, adding that certain alleged unlawful activities in relation to her would have also affected Harry.

He read out two letters from Diana to entertainer Michael Barrymore, which referred to private meetings between the pair, and in one of the letters Diana referred to being devastated to learn that the Daily Mirror had contacted her office about him and their meetings.

However, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, said Harrys claim had become rather fantastical.

The barrister said: The defendants position is that there is simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.

He said that payment records used in the dukes claim simply do not demonstrate unlawful conduct or knowledge thereof.

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Harrys barrister, David Sherborne. Photo: Lucy North/PA

He also said that there was a lack of call data in Harrys case, telling the court: There is no call data whatsoever for the Duke of Sussex and scant call data for his associates.

Mr Green later said the duke faced a very difficult starting point for the claimant proving he was habitually hacked.

The barrister also said a suggestion that its journalists had hacked the phone of the late Diana, Princess of Wales was total speculation.

He told the court: Mr Sherbornes suggestion that MGNs journalists hacked her phone is total speculation without any evidential basis whatsoever.

The letters you were shown, to Michael Barrymore, are not evidence of voicemail interception, Mr Green said, adding that plainly no such finding could be made.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Entertainment Harry had no time safe from unlawful information... Read More

Mr Green said voicemail interception was denied in all four cases and that there was no evidence or no sufficient evidence.

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The barrister continued: There is some evidence of the instruction of third parties to engage in other types of unlawful information gathering in respect of each of the claimants, save for Mr Turner whose claim is entirely denied, and MGN has made pleaded admissions in respect thereof.

MGN unreservedly apologises for all such instances of unlawful information gathering, and assures the claimants that such conduct will never be repeated.
The UK government is at rock bottom, Britain's Prince Harry has said in his court claim against the Daily Mirrors publisher.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

In his witness statement in support of his claim against the publisher, Harry said he is bringing the case not because I hate the tabloid press or even necessarily a section of it, but in order to properly hold the people who have hijacked those privileges, which come with being a member of the press, to account for their actions.

He later criticised the state of British journalism and the present government as both being at rock bottom in the statement dated February of this year.

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The prince said: Because they have showed no willingness to change, I feel that I need to make sure that this unlawful behaviour is exposed, because obviously I dont want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level.

But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Harry added that democracy fails if the press does not scrutinise the British government and hold them to account and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

The British prime ministers official spokesman said that comments made by Harry were part of a live legal case and he would not be commenting.

He said: I think you have heard repeatedly from the prime minister on the state of the country and his priorities, but I am not going to get drawn into commenting specifically on that.

In his witness statement, Harry later added that the British public deserve to know the depths of what he alleges happened in the press.

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He continued: I may not have a role within the institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest.

The trial is due to last six or seven weeks (Jeff Moore/PA)

The 38-year-old said that the media should have the power to be able to investigate anyone, anytime, for pretty much anything related to people in positions of responsibility, or those who are taxpayer-funded.

He continued: The problem is that, over the last 15 to 20 years, there are now incredibly powerful media companies who masquerade as journalists and who have, quite literally, hijacked journalistic privileges for their own personal gain and agenda, its an unbelievably dangerous place.

Entertainment Harry had no time safe from unlawful information... Read More

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr faces the start of a civil trial after being accused of raping a woman in a New York City hotel a decade ago.

He says the encounter was consensual after the pair met at a nearby restaurant.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday with jury selection in Manhattan federal court as the Oscar-winning Jerry Maguire star confronts allegations he met the woman in Manhattan, persuaded her to join him at a hotel and convinced her to stop at his room so he could change clothing.

The woman, who has proceeded anonymously but has been told she must reveal her name at trial, said in her lawsuit Gooding raped her in his room.

His lawyers, though, insist it was consensual sex and she bragged afterwards to others that she had sex with a celebrity.

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Cuba Gooding Jr in the press room at the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2017 in London (PA)

The lawsuit seeks six million dollars (4.8 million) in damages.

It was filed against a man who authorities say has been accused of committing sexual misconduct against more than 30 other women, including groping, unwanted kissing and other inappropriate behaviour.

Late last week, Judge Paul Crotty ruled that he will let three women give evidence to say they were also subjected to sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults after meeting Gooding in social settings such as festivals, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

One of the women planning to give evidence at the trial is Kelsey Harbert, who told police Gooding fondled her without her consent at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge near Times Square in 2019.

Ms Harbert said last year after Gooding pleaded guilty in New York state court to a charge that spared him from jail or a criminal history that never getting her day in court was more disappointing than words can say.



US actor Cuba Gooding Jr leaves the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London (PA)

Gooding, a star in films including Boyz N The Hood and Radio, was allowed to plead guilty in April 2022 to a misdemeanour, admitting he forcibly kissed a worker at a New York nightclub in 2018.

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By staying out of trouble and completing six months of alcohol and behavioural counselling, Gooding was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and plead guilty to a non-criminal harassment violation, eliminating his criminal record and preventing further penalties.
Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican after undergoing tests in hospital, witnesses and news reports said.

The move comes two months after he was taken to hospital with an acute case of bronchitis.

The ANSA news agency said Francis went to Romes Gemelli hospital on Tuesday morning for checks.

Witnesses at the Vaticans Perugino gate, one of the main entrances to the city state, told The Associated Press that Francis returned to the Vatican a short while later, and greeted guards as he usually does.

Francis, 86, spent three days at Romes Gemelli hospital in late March.



A view of the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome (AP)

Initially, the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed.

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He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was still alive.

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been using a wheelchair and walker for over a year because of strained ligaments in his knee.

Francis has had a packed schedule of late, with multiple audiences each day.

The Vatican has recently confirmed a travel-filled August, when the Holy See and Italy are usually on holiday, with a four-day visit to Portugal in the first week of August and a similarly long trip to Mongolia starting August 31.

His next public appointment, if confirmed, would be his weekly general audience on Wednesday in St Peters Square.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a dam in the south of the country, alerting people living along the Dnipro river to evacuate.

The interior ministry wrote on messaging app Telegram that the Kakhovka dam had been damaged, calling on people in 10 villages down river and parts of the city of Kherson to leave their homes.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called an emergency meeting of the countrys security and defence council according to its secretary Oleksiy Danilov on Twitter.



A police officer patrols an area of Kakhovka reservoir on the Dnipro river (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

In a video posted to Telegram on Tuesday Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror, and warned that water will reach critical levels within five hours.

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Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks and in October, Mr Zelensky predicted Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

In February, water levels were so low many feared a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnipro river, which runs from its northern border with Belarus to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire countrys drinking water and power supply.

The Kakhovka dam  the one furthest downstream in the Kherson region  is controlled by Russian forces.
Second World War veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name Papa Jake, enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Mr Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

I got in on the planning of D-Day  Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm.



Second World War veteran Jake Larson attends a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control, at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France (Thomas Padilla/AP)

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You can see me all over: Papa Jake. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about.

Mr Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

Im 100 without an ache or a pain. You cant fake that, he said.

On Monday, Mr Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

That is where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran.



British Second World War veteran Bill Gladden, left, with US veteran Jack Larson at the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, on Monday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Mr Larson told Mr Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went on Sunday into a parade alongside other US veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered a big hug, to their joy.

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Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell of their emotion at seeing him.

Mr Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota.

He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 years old at the time.



US veteran Jake Larson talks to a girl wearing an American flag during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, on Sunday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland.

He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.

After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Mr Larson was in Normandy with a group of more than 40 US veterans who travelled with the Best Defence Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps them visit former battlefields.
PwC Australias release of names to a Senate committee this week, the latest attempt to salvage its reputation, is a distraction from its major problems: The firm is a pariah with the government sector, with the contagion now starting to spread to its corporate clients, and there are signs of a civil war brewing within its ranks.

PwC on Monday handed the committee a list of 67 current or former partners and staff who had received at least one of the damning emails containing confidential government plans. It also claimed that the vast majority on the list had no idea of the breach that had yielded the information.

And then there were three? The only thing that might save PwC is the fact that the corporate and government sector cannot afford to lose it. Credit: Les Hewitt

PwCs interim boss Kristin Stubbins shared the information with PwCs staff but left most of the details - including the four partners it did name due to their allegedly crucial role in the scandal - out of the public statement to the media.

So much for PwCs commitment to being transparent and ethical.
NSW Parliament has offered to better secure objects on public display in its forecourt after One Nation leader Mark Latham was alleged to have removed items from an exhibition and taken them into the upper house.

The three exhibits were last Thursday reported missing from the exhibition that had been partly created as a life-affirming community project and to provide work opportunities for artists during early COVID lockdowns.

Nationals MP Sam Farraway confirmed that Latham had shown him two items, a book and a poster, while he was on duty in the chamber that day.

The book that was removed from the Parliament House exhibition. Credit: Janie Barrett

He referred to them as coming from that wacky exhibition outside, Farraway said. Parliamentary officers then came in and put them back on display.
The PMs Daughter (series return)



Catalina Parkes Perez (Cassandra Helmot), who prefers to be called Cat, is a smart, strong-willed teenager. She can also be impulsive, impatient and wildly wrong-headed. Last years first season of this lively locally made series introduces a resentful Cat being relocated from her home in Perth, wrenched from her school, her friends and her favourite taco place to live at The Lodge in Canberra, after her mother, Isabel (Claire Fearon), has been elected prime minister.

Natalie English, Jaga Yap and Cassandra Helmot in the engaging The PMs Daughter. Credit: ABC

Through the 10-part season (available on iview), Cat sometimes clumsily, but always energetically and with an abundance of determination, finds her feet in her new world. She meets an equally energetic bunch of kids at Dampier Crescent High School and she learns something about the murky nature of politics.

As Cat settles into life in Canberra, the upbeat series created by Tristram Baumber and Matthew Allred unfolds around the high-spirited title character, presenting an engaged and informed group of teens interested in government and how society operates, adolescents keen to make their mark on the world.
Person 16 participated in more than 90 missions in the 2012 rotation. He told the court he was shocked by Roberts-Smiths words, but did not report the conversation because of the code of silence in the regiment, and because he feared retribution from the alpha males in the troop  Roberts-Smith and his mates. He has had nightmares since. A photo of Ben Roberts-Smith displaying a Crusaders cross, which was edited by Defence to remove the symbol. In Roberts-Smiths version of the day, he did not shoot the prisoner. In fact, he told the court, on that day, no prisoners had been handed over to him. Of the two accounts, the judge found Roberts-Smiths the less convincing. Person 16 was an honest and reliable witness, who was entirely straightforward and he had no motive to lie, Besanko wrote. Of Roberts-Smiths story? That is false.

Despite all that, the incident at Fasil was one of the alleged murders the judge found the newspapers had not substantiated. Why? Because there was no eyewitness. The newspapers submitted a photograph of a dead boy, but Besanko was not satisfied that it was the boy being described because photographs are notoriously difficult to identify with certainty. In mission after mission, allegation after allegation, the judge forensically weighed what hed been told and made his decision. By and large, he preferred the evidence of witnesses called by the newspapers. Many of those men were not sources for the original stories, but had been subpoenaed by the court. They were speaking often against their will, reluctantly breaking the SAS code in favour of the truth. Special forces in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smiths witnesses, on the other hand, were mostly his mates. And the judge eviscerated them. On the two cases at the centre of the original reporting  the double murder in a compound called Whisky 108, and the murder of Ali Jan after kicking him down a cliff at Darwan  Besanko found Roberts-Smiths witnesses were not only friendly to him, but were colluding in a series of fabrications.

On Whisky 108, the judgment related how Roberts-Smith sent one of his witnesses, Person 29, a PowerPoint presentation including pictures of the compound, which he had marked up to falsify evidence that suggested that other eyewitnesses to the murders must be lying. Roberts-Smiths then wife, Emma Roberts, gave evidence that Person 29 had stayed at their home in July 2019 and the two men sequestered themselves in the office looking at documents on Roberts-Smiths laptop. SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith (centre) carousing with US soldiers and a prosthetic leg taken from an Afghan man whom he murdered at Whiskey 108. I am satisfied that there were discussions between the applicant, Person 5 and Person 29 (and possibly others) about what occurred... Their evidence is contaminated to that extent, the judge found. At the trial, Roberts-Smith and two witnesses stuck to their lie despite significant variations and alterations to their evidence which further reduced their credibility.

Likewise on evidence about the killing at Darwan, the judge found Roberts-Smith colluded regularly with another mate, Person 11, in coming up with what the judge found was an implausible story. No cliff, no kick, Roberts-Smith said of the incident in evidence. The irresistible inference is that he has discussed his evidence at length with Person 11, the judge wrote, having enumerated all the times they met and conferred before and after that soldier gave his evidence before the war crimes inquiry. I am satisfied that the applicant and Persons 5, 11, 29 and 35 discussed their respective recollections of the missions in which they were involved, including the missions to Whisky 108, Darwan, Chinartu and Fasil and that they discussed their recollections in detail, Besanko found. The unreliability of Roberts-Smiths evidence was only compounded by the unusual and difficult to penetrate decision by Channel Seven to pay the legal fees of Persons 5, 11 and 35, then transfer them to the loan account of Roberts-Smith himself, and then to be evasive about those payments.

Where Besanko does make a call, it is firmly underpinned by the evidence. Loading The obvious legal point is that this will make it difficult to challenge in an appeal. Besanko would have known it had to be tight because, with such high stakes and a well-funded litigant like Roberts-Smith, there was a good chance the higher courts would be poring over his reasoning. After tipping tens of millions of dollars and a portion of their own credibility into this case, Sevens owner Kerry Stokes and commercial director Bruce McWilliam might still find that gambling a million or so more on an appeal is a bet theyre willing to make.

But this careful judgment is also a blow to those critics who argue, with decreasing credibility, that this is just a civil case, proven on the balance of probabilities not to the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore Roberts-Smith cant really be considered a murderer. Loading Those people, including some writing in the News Corp papers who have backed him to the hilt, should spend some time reading this judgment. Defamation cases at their worst have been used by some judges to forensically examine and sneer at the practices of the media while restricting their access to the evidence they need to prove their cases. This judgment shows Besanko was genuinely interested in finding out what happened in Afghanistan on the original six allegations of murder, and much more besides  from allegations of domestic violence to the use by Roberts-Smith of rival media to try to discredit the story and threaten witnesses to war crimes.
Sydneys commuters are facing major delays after an over-height truck blocked the entrance to the Harbour Tunnel for the second time in a day.

The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is now running in both directions after traffic controllers managed to block the truck out of the entrance.

A truck blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel on Tuesday night. Credit: Nine News

At 7pm, traffic remained heavy along the Warringah Freeway and commuters were advised to allow plenty of time for travel.

Morning commuters were brought to a halt earlier on Tuesday when another oversized truck attempted to enter the tunnel in the same direction just before 8am.
We like to think we are very egalitarian in Australia, but this isnt reflected in our education system. I would sum up our education using three Ps: private, pricey and (dis)parity. Unlike other countries, our private schools receive generous government funding but are also permitted to charge fees. And compared to other countries, our schools tend to be far more separated along the lines of family wealth, parent education and parent income.

Why we accept this in Australia, a country that is supposedly committed to egalitarianism and social mobility, is curious. We culturally consent to an incredibly large private school sector that charges exorbitant fees. And the things these schools get away with! Many hold multimillion-dollar investment portfolios, all while accepting very generous government funding. They report annual surpluses (profits) in the millions. Many raise their tuition fees faster than you can blink.

Melbourne Grammars $34 million science building The Geoff Handbury Science and Technology Hub, which opened in 2018. Credit: Joe Armao

During the pandemic, many of these elite private schools applied for JobKeeper and accepted millions of dollars in hand-outs. They also enjoy lucrative tax exemptions, due to their status as not for profit and charity. And when the Victorian government last week proposed removing payroll tax exemptions for private schools, there was an uproar by the private school lobby.

This charitable status that private schools enjoy is the result of a historical hangover. If we rewind 60 years, when government funding for private schools was first introduced, private schools were indeed charitable. They were serving disadvantaged communities. They were struggling for basic resources, such as maths blocks, or toilets.
The cheque will no longer be in the mail.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday will unveil plans to finally end the dying cheque network by 2030 as part of a suite of changes to upgrade the nations payments system.

Chalmers will use a speech to the Australian Banking Association in Sydney to argue the infrastructure supporting payments, from individuals to businesses, is clunky, inefficient and cumbersome to maintain.

Cheques, the use of which has collapsed by 90 per cent over the past decade, are now well beyond their use-by date.
The first sign I was breaking down was at a fruit stand in Hanoi. I kept handing the vendor the incorrect amount of money as she kept shaking her head and repeating the price. Finally, she put both of us out of our misery by taking the correct amount of my hand.

I had done my best Anthony Bourdain impersonation for eight days in Southeast Asia: eating street food on sidewalks, taking Muay Thai classes, venturing out of city centres to meet locals on their farm and try their moms home cooking. Id spent roughly 38 hours on overnight trains, sleeping on questionable bedding and bathing with baby wipes. By the time I got to Hanoi, I was ready to throw in the towel on doing as the locals do.

Vietnamese woman preparing banh mi in Vietnam. Credit: Alamy

Somewhere between leaving the train station, eating pho and taking a motorbike in the wrong direction  there it was. An oasis beyond the treacherous traffic: a tourist trap.

These places arent the hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pops hiding down an alley; theyre the easy-to-find spots on the beaten path with big menus translated into many languages. Their proprietors may charge exponentially more than a locals-only establishment, perhaps to cover the high rent of operating near popular sights. Or just because they can.
Singapore/Denpasar: An Australian man is facing more than two years in prison if he is convicted of assaulting his Indonesian girlfriend in Bali and allegedly resisting detention by police, who found a cache of air guns and knives in his hotel room.

Drew Donal Ireland, 28, was paraded by police in Denpasar on Tuesday, two days after being arrested over an incident at the Kadin Inn in Kuta in which he is alleged to have pushed the 33-year-old complainant to the ground and punched her in the head.

Drew Donal Ireland is led into a press conference in Bali on Tuesday. Credit: Amilia Rosa

According to investigators, he was captured 500 metres away after fleeing the scene and then caused damage to the police station after violently contesting being detained.

Police allege Ireland had been intoxicated and lashed out at the woman  and threatened her with death  after demanding she repay 1.5 million rupiah ($150) he claimed she owed him.
Simplicity Loans & Advisorys Jean-Pierre Gortan, AFGs Chris Slater and Lendi Groups Brad Cramb are all raising funds this year to combat homelessness as part of the Vinnies CEO 2023 Sleepout on June 22.

The annual CEO Sleepout involves more than 1,000 CEOs, business owners and leaders across Australia raise funds by spending one night sleeping outdoors to support Vinnies activities to support the homeless.

Gortan (pictured above left), managing director at Sydney commercial finance brokerage Simplicity Loans & Advisory, decided that he would sleep out once again, after taking part and raising $35,000 at last years event.

This is my fifth year doing the CEO Sleepout, Gortan said. Im doing it again this year because its a small sacrifice to make, and it goes a long way to change peoples lives.

Gortan, who has raised over $20,000 so far in 2023, said he was aiming for $50,000.

His sponsors so far include Bendigo Bank, Westpac, Traders in Purple, Marketplace.Finance, Secured Lending, LMG, MSquared, Waterco Limited and Fortis Legal.

AFG head of sales and distribution Chris Slater (pictured above centre) will also be sleeping out this year  his third time participating in the CEO Sleepout. Slater said homelessness was an issue that touches the heart strings of all of us in our industry.

We all have the privilege to work in an industry that helps many Australians in local communities get into housing, and so many of us are fortunate to make a decent living doing it, Slater said.

My aunty is a Good Shepherd sister who worked with Vinnies all her life, so this event is close on a personal level for me to support as well.

This year Slater is joining forces with brokers Andrew Best, the founder of Living Home Loans, as well as Kieran Jeffries, senior finance broker at Olleh Lending, to raise funds together as a team.

Im representing AFG and they are supporting generously which weve been very grateful for, Slater said. Weve also had amazing support from brokers and industry partners which has been fantastic.

Slater said that he had revised his fundraising target to $12,500 after hitting his $10,000 funding goal, and will see how we go with a few weeks left. Slater raised close to $17,000 last year.

Lendi Group chief distribution officer Brad Cramb (pictured above right), who also took part in the 2022 and 2021 CEO Sleepouts, said this year is more important than ever for Lendi, with its executive team taking part, as well as Aussie franchises invited to join the cause.

As a company our foundational goal is to make home ownership more accessible, so this is an initiative we are very passionate about, Cramb said. Weve previously taken part in this great cause, with the team having very small glimpses of the realties faced by the tens of thousands of Australians who sleep rough every night.

This year Lendi Group co-founders Sebastian Watkins and David Hyman are also taking part, and Lendi Group is matching every Aussie franchisees fundraising dollar for dollar. It has a fundraising target of $100,000 this year after raising $41,000 in 2021 and $83,000 in 2022.

Cramb said although there were many reasons for homelessness, more and more Australians were seeing how working households were not immune, with homelessness numbers climbing amid Australias rental crisis and rental vacancy rates being at historical lows.

Over the past 12 months our business has increasingly being called on to assist more Australians being hit by financial hardship, Cramb said. Some are being squeezed out of the housing market, others unable to cope with soaring mortgage repayments, some searching for more affordable housing amid shortages and soaring rents.

We are in the business of helping Australians obtain and maintain a roof over their heads  thats what we do every day  this is a community extension of how our industry can help even more. There is power in numbers when we all unite, raising critical funds to improve what could become a much bigger issue in months ahead.

Gortan agreed it was important for the mortgage industry to continue to contribute to this cause.

We are all professionals in this industry and we are paid well so its important for the industry to give back to those who are less fortunate, he said.

Click here to pledge funds for Simplicity Loans & Advisorys Jean-Pierre Gortan, here to support AFGs Chris Slater and his team, or here to contribute to Peter Cramb and the Lendi Group teams efforts. To find out more about the Vinnies CEO Sleepout click here.


Airtel will be responsible for end-to-end management of DIKSHAs online platforms across its mobile application and website. These will now be powered by Airtel Cloud and will be made seamlessly accessible to students across the country for free educational content in their preferred Indian language. Bharti Airtel has been chosen by the Digital India Corporation to manage the Cloud and content delivery network for the Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA), India's national education platform, the company announced on Tuesday. Airtel will ensure seamless access to educational content across mobile and web platforms, benefiting students in remote areas.



Students, particularly in far-flung and remote locations, will be able to easily enrol onto the platform. Airtel Cloud will also lead the migration of DIKSHA to Oracle Cloud and offer its managed services along with CDN solutions. Set up in 2017, DIKSHA is a national platform for school education, an initiative of National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), under the Ministry of Education (MoE). It has been adopted by almost all the states, union territories, central autonomous bodies and boards including CBSE.



Airtel Cloud is a part of Airtels B2B arm  Airtel Business  and is Indias leading and most trusted provider of ICT services with a diverse portfolio of offerings to enterprises, governments, carriers, and small and medium businesses. It leverages private, public and Edge cloud to offer enterprises a one-stop-destination for a hybrid cloud strategy. DIKSHA offers 9300+ courses in 35+ Indian languages and has witnessed 50+ billion learning sessions and 60+ billion minutes of usage by students, making it one of the largest free education platforms in the world. We are thrilled to partner with the Ministry of Education to bolster this crucial education infrastructure and advance its accessibility to millions of children across the country with our state-of-the-art cloud and CDN services, Praveen Agarwal, Head  Govt. Business, Airtel Business, said.

Also Read Orient Electric Cloud 3 Fan review: Quite a mist-ical experience, literally AWS to invest Rs 1.05 trillion to boost cloud infrastructure in India Bharti Airtel to increase entry-level tariff in all circles soon: Report In a bid to counter rival Jio, Airtel introduces new 'postpaid family plan' Bharti Airtel Q4 net profit jumps 49% to Rs 3,005 cr, revenue up 14.3% Dividend by top 10 payers more than doubles in FY23; TCS tops the table Koparo to raise $1.5 mn in Pre-Series A round led by Saama Capital DS Group acquires chocolate brand LuvIt, to expand confectionary business Merck sues federal govt over plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices Tata Consumer has managed to tide over macro challenges: Chandrasekaran

With an all-inclusive portfolio comprising connectivity, data centre and security in addition to cloud solutions, Airtel Cloud enables enterprises to accelerate and optimise their digital transformation journey.
Hinduja group flagship Ashok Leyland on Tuesday said it has entered into a strategic partnership with Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd to offer financing to dealers.

The alliance between the automotive major and the financial institution aims to provide 130 Ashok Leyland dealerships nationwide with an array of comprehensive inventory funding options to address working capital requirements of dealers.

"This MoU will facilitate financing solutions for Ashok Leyland's dealers, wherein Cholamandalam will offer its range of financial products across the country," the heavy commercial vehicle maker said in a statement here.

"Our dealerships are an essential touchpoint for our customers and play a key role in providing them with the best experience in terms of sales and after-sales support. Hence it is imperative for us to support them in maintaining a good inventory continuously," Ashok Leyland International Operations, Defence and Power solutions President (LCV) Amandeep Singh said.

"By joining forces with Cholamandalam, a trusted partner renowned for tailored dealer financial solutions, our expanded nationwide presence will instill unwavering trust in our dealerships across diverse markets, encompassing urban and rural areas alike," he said.

The sales and marketing teams of Cholamandalam and Ashok Leyland would work together to develop joint marketing and financing programmes for mutually furthering the volumes of business.

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"For over four decades, we have been building lasting relationships with our customers and partners by consistently delivering excellence value for both. We are delighted to strengthen the partnership with Ashok Leyland," Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd executive director Ravindra Kundu said.


Byjus, which filed the suit in the New York Supreme Court, said that contrary to the conditions of the loan facility, Redwood purchased a significant portion of the loan while primarily trading in distressed debt. Byjus has filed a suit against US-based investment management firm Redwood, challenging the acceleration of a $1.2-billion term loan B (TLB) facility and to disqualify the lender for its predatory tactics, the edtech major said on Tuesday. Byjus also skipped an interest payment of about $40 million on the loan, thus becoming the only Indian start-up to have defaulted on a US-dollar loan.



TLB is a term loan by institutional investors with the prime goal of maximising their long-term returns. In TLB, borrowers are not required to pay the principal upfront; they can pay a large amount at the end of the loan period. Given that legal proceedings are now on in both Delaware and New York, the entire TLB is disputed, the company said in a statement. As such, Byjus cannot be expected to and has elected not to make any further payment to the TLB lenders, including any interest, until the dispute is decided by the court, it said.



Additionally, once a company raises a loan, it needs to rate the bonds within nine months. But Byjus couldnt do this as its financial results were delayed, according to sources, who also said this prompted the creditors to either seek full or partial repayment of the loan. Byjus is not the only Indian start-up that has used the TLB route to raise funds. OYO received $600 million in TLB funding in 2021. But, unlike Byjus, they were rated by Moodys and Fitch. In case of Byjus, the loan is a whopping $1.2 billion and its unrated.

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Byjus in its filing also mentioned that on March 3, 2023, lenders unlawfully accelerated the TLB on account of certain non-monetary and technical defaults. A crisis of confidence, as well as macro stress, may have prompted investors to sell to third parties. The first issue could be the allegation that $500 million was moved by Byjus out of its US subsidiary. The second may arise from loan covenants, with speculation abound, from filings to financing. We would need to wait for the courts to decide on the matter, said Siddarth Pai, founding partner, CFO & ESG officer, 3One4 Capital.



According to the Bloomberg data, Byjus loan was trading at a discount of 35 per cent on the dollar on Tuesday. The lenders need to send the interest invoice but it has not come to the company, said a person familiar with the matter. Also, the company has told the lenders that the latest payment would be made, and the firm has substantial cash reserves. The company has written to the lenders that it can pay the interest at any time, but they first need to remove the acceleration of the $1.2-billion TLB as well as the litigation in Delaware court.



Sources in the know were not too surprised by what the TLB lenders have done. It is a well-known fact that TLBs come with strict riders and governance issues are very stringently looked at. Also these loan terms are highly negotiated and any terms violated or not followed means going against the contract, and they will then look to recoup their investment, an investment banking source said. BYJU'S had so far demonstrated remarkable restraint by refraining from utilising the disqualification clause, said the company in its statement. In the wake of all these actions, BYJUS was left with no option but to commence proceedings in New York  the contractually agreed forum  challenging the acceleration. Along with this, BYJUS has also issued a notice to the Redwood entities disqualifying them.



Byjus filed its 2020-21 results in September 2022, after a nearly 18-month delay. According to sources, the company would come out with the latest financials soon. They said this is due to multiple acquisitions by Byju's during the financial year and it took time to do consolidation across various geographies. It is a little cumbersome, but the firm is working hard to finish it soon and doesnt want to delay it further. Byjus is yet to file its 2021-22 (FY22) results with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). Other edtech unicorns such as Unacademy, upGrad, Vedantu, PhysicsWallah, and Eruditus have already filed their FY22 results. The company should have filed its annual results with the MCA by September last year.



Byju's woes are certainly impacting the edtech industry. Ronnie Screwvala, founder, Upgrad, said in a tweet: Drama with zero content...not even Netflix or HBO will buy it. While sullying Indias name as a great investment destination! Wonder what its erstwhile Board thinks of its fiduciary duties - just asking. Byjus tussle with its investors has lessons for the Indian start-up industry, which had to put sudden brakes on its fast growth due to funding woes. Many like Byjus aggressively acquired and raised funds via debt route. Debt investors act very differently from equity investors, especially syndicated debt. Any kind of stress situation in an investee company will see a variety of players converging for their own interests, which may be at odds with management, said Pai.


"The state-owned bank has met a few investment bankers recently to assess the market conditions to launch two IPOs of its subsidiaries, and a formal request for proposal (RFP) for acting as book running lead managers will be issued soon," a person aware of the development was quoted as saying. In a bid to monetise its non-core business, public sector lender Canara Bank has started the process of launching an initial public offer (IPO) of two of its subsidiaries, Canara Robeco Asset Management and Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company, The Economic Times (ET) reported citing people aware of the development.



In the public offer of Canara Robeco AMC, Canara Bank and ORIX Corporation are likely to sell a part of their stake. On the other hand, in the life insurance firm, the stake of Canara Bank is expected to be diluted. Canara Bank and ORIX Corporation Europe NV own 51 per cent and 49 per cent stakes in Canara Robeco AMC. In Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company, Canara Bank owns 51 per cent, while HSBC and Punjab National Bank own 26 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.



If listed, Canara Robeco AMC will be the fifth mutual fund to list after HDFC, Nippon Life, UTI, and Aditya Birla, ET report added. As of March 31, Canara Robeco AMC has assets under management worth Rs 62,485 crore. In the quarter ended March 31, it reported a revenue of Rs 154 crore and a net profit of Rs 60 crore. Canara HSBC Life Insurance reported a net profit of Rs 10.24 crore in the same period. PNB has already announced that it will not sell its stake in Canara HSBC Life Insurance and will remain an investor. It has bought the stake after merging with the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC).


According to media reports, with this acquisition, the DS Group aims to expand its packaged foods portfolio. It is also expected to strengthen the presence of the company in the chocolates and confectionary space. Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) on Tuesday confirmed the acquisition of The Good Stuff, owner of chocolate and confectionary brand LuvIt.



The company could scale the LuvIt brand to Rs 500 crore, up from the current Rs 100 crore, said Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman, of DS Group. Backed by Goldman Sachs and Mitsui Ventures, The Good Stuff was formerly known as Global CP Pvt Ltd.



DS Group forayed into the confectionary business back in 2012 and its portfolio comprises companies like Pass Pass, Pulse, Chingles, Rajnigandha Silver Pearls, and Maze. He further added that over a five-year period, its chocolates and confectionery business could grow fivefold to touch Rs 5,000 crore, up from Rs 900 crore now.

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According to a Hindu BusinessLine report, Kumar said, "The group had been looking to enter the chocolate space for some time to tap into the fast-growing category." The company also recently partnered with a Swiss luxury chocolate maker for its entry into India.



Reports suggest that LuvIt will offer a wide variety of rich milky chocolate, crunchy wafers wrapped in chocolate, fruit, and chocolate-flavoured lollipops, eclairs, sugar-panned chocolates, and choco snacks. He further said that "India has low per capita consumption for chocolates compared to evolved markets, so there is huge headroom for growth. With this move, we have a complete portfolio with Laderach in the luxury chocolate space and LuvIt positioned in the mass segment. It is one of the few homegrown chocolate brands. It has a turnover of Rs 100 crore and an established presence in the Southern region."

For the time being, the company is going to rely on third-party manufacturing for the LuvIt brand. However, for the luxury chocolate brand Laderach, the company is exploring options to open up offline stores.
The Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with the "expression of interest (EoI)" invited by Bank of Baroda (BoB) for acquisition of its stake in Nainital Bank Limited (NBL).

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav dismissed a petition by the Nainital Bank Officers Association and said BoB's divestment decision was not arbitrary or illegal, and there was no "clear violation" of any statutory provisions in the process.

The judge, in an order passed on May 2, said divestment is a policy decision involving complex economic factors, and courts have consistently refrained from interfering with economic decisions.

"This court, therefore, at this stage, is not inclined to interfere with the impugned advertisement of EoI. However, it would be open to the petitioner to raise any grievance at an appropriate stage in accordance with the law, if so necessitated," the court ordered.

"It is thus seen that in the instant case, in the absence of there being a clear violation of any statutory provision, no interference is called for. More so, the decision of the BoB for divestment cannot be said to be arbitrary or illegal so as to warrant interference of this court under its power of judicial review," the court said.

The petitioner contended before the court that the decision of inviting EoI on December 14 last year is "arbitrary and illegal" as well as in violation of the recommendations made by a parliamentary committee as well as the Ministry of Finance.

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The petitioner, represented by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, alleged some of the officials of Bank of Baroda, with the connivance of some private players, are trying to dilute the stake of the BoB in the NBL.

The court noted invitation of EoI is the second step after taking the principal decision to go ahead for divestment, and it was "unambiguously clear" that no approval is required from RBI for publishing 'Preliminary Information Memorandum' inviting EoI.

In its order, the court concluded no final and binding decision was taken by any of the authorities to merge NBL with BoB, and it was left to the discretion of BoB either to merge the NBL with itself or to go for divestment.

"It is clear that a process of divestment is a policy decision involving complex economic factors. The courts have consistently refrained from interfering with economic decisions as it has been recognized that economic expediencies lack adjudicative disposition and unless the economic decision, based on economic expediencies, is demonstrated to be so violative of constitutional or legal limits on power or so abhorrent to reason, the courts would decline to interfere," it said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing of BoB, contended the petition was "misconceived, presumptuous and premature" and there was no reason to presume that in the process of divestment, the applicable law would not be followed.

He said there were communications from the Reserve Bank advising BoB to either merge the NBL with itself or to divest its share, and if BoB, on the basis of the attendant circumstances, has taken a policy decision to go for divestment, the same cannot be interfered with.


With this ESOPs distribution activity, Rebel Foods is one of the first foodtech companies in India to distribute its ESOPs at such a wide scale across all levels and regions. Rebel Foods, the worlds largest internet restaurant company distributed ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) to its over 5000 employees in more than 350 kitchens and corporate offices. With this round of distribution, the total ESOPs value held by Rebel employees now reaches Rs 550 crore ($65 million).



At Rebel Foods, we believe that every employee is an owner in the company and it is the team that sticks together and works together that wins. We are proud of each and every employee and we appreciate their contribution and faith in the company, said Ankur Sharma, co-founder of Rebel Foods. Through this ESOP programme, we aim to democratise wealth creation for our team and recognize their passion, customer centricity and performance. We will continue creating similar opportunities in the future while rewarding our employees for their hard work, contribution and belief in Rebels vision and mission. Rebel Foods said it aims to acknowledge the efforts and reward its employees whove led the company's growth over the years, strengthening the sense of ownership across all levels of the organisation. This move will allow a chance for wealth creation for Rebels employed as kitchen staff, riders, runners, administrative teams and corporate staff across India, UAE, and the United Kingdom. By making employees owners and sharing the Rebel Spirit, the company aims to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and empower its workforce for shared success.



ESOPs or employee stock ownership plans are investments in a companys shares given to employees by the company. In these uncertain times where challenges are faced across sectors, Rebel Foods said it is offering a significant and long-term wealth creation opportunity to all its employees across the company. This move comes as a part of the many first announcements by the company this year, becoming the first foodtech company to acquire the exclusive franchise rights for online and offline of the worlds second-largest burger chain, Wendys to becoming the first player in its category to curate the entire food experience at a stadium with a partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL season. The foodtech unicorn also recently announced its ESOPs liquidation program for existing holders, for the second year in a row. Through this programme, Rebel Foods' current and former employees were given an opportunity to liquidate their vested options this year. Under the ESOP program by Rebel Foods, employees can liquidate their shares once in a one-year period. The company has set aside a pool of funds every year to enable such liquidation so that the employees can enjoy the benefits of ownership.

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Shailendra Singh, managing director, of Peak XV Partners said, "It's a new beginning for us as Peak XV Partners, but unlike most beginnings, this is an opportunity for us to build on top of the foundation laid over the last 17 years. Our firm will continue to be managed by the present leadership team and will continue to invest from the most recently raised set of funds focused on India and Southeast Asia." The venture capital firm Sequoia's India and Southeast Asia arm, which manages over $9.2 billion across 13 funds, on Tuesday announced that it is being renamed Peak XV Partners globally. The rebranding happened after Sequoia Capital (US/Europe), Sequoia China, and Sequoia India & Southeast Asia decided to become independent firms with distinct brands.



"This has led the leaders of each business to collectively decide to move to fully independent partnerships with distinct brands, in order to serve founders and Limited Partners in the best manner," the company said. Over the years, the strategies for each of Sequoia's business has diverged and the scale and market leadership across different geographies has started to result in brand confusion and portfolio conflict.



Over the last 17 years, Sequoia India & SEA has raised 13 funds, and invested in over 400 startups, with 50+ companies valued at $1 billion and above. The portfolio has seen 19 initial public offerings (IPOs) and multiple successful mergers and acquisitions resulting in $4.5 billion of realized exits so far. The investment team is led by 11 managing directors with an average tenure of over 12 years at the firm. "We are seeing companies emerge from every region with global ambitions. The flexibility that comes with the new structure will open up an unbounded global opportunity and help create more value for our founders and LPs," Singh said.

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"Peak XV Partners will continue to invest across stages (seed, venture, growth) and sectors like SaaS, AI, developer tools, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, climate tech, fintech, health tech and consumer. The firm will further strengthen its unique and industry-leading programs like Surge and Spark that has been very well received by founders," it said.


Set up in 1986, the public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Communications was tasked with providing telephone services in the Delhi and Mumbai circles. The company had stayed profitable till 2008-09. Since then, it made losses every year barring 2013-14, when it posted a profit of Rs 7,825 crore mainly due to write-back of provisions on account of pensionary liabilities and spectrum amortisation costs. Instituting a company-wide voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) may be the only option available to state-run telecom PSU Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) and its 3,574 employees in the event of the companys closure and delisting from the stock exchange, officials said.



But MTNLs huge debt, pegged at Rs 23,500 crore in FY23, has held up the merger with its relatively stable sister firm BSNL. Meanwhile, MTNL is yet to raise Rs 6,661 crore in sovereign bonds, having sought its board's nod only last week. The government had, in October 2019, approved a Rs 68,751-crore revival package for loss-making telecom sector PSUs BSNL and MTNL. The package envisaged merging the entities and raising funds via the issuance of sovereign-backed bonds.



Question of employees On Tuesday, media reports said the government may shut MTNL, and shift its operations to BSNL.

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Days later, MTNL had rolled out VRS in November 2019 for all regular and permanent staff aged 50 years and more as on January 31, 2020. As many as 15,000 of its 22,000 total employees were eligible. The overwhelming majority of them, or 14,378 employees, opted for it. This goes to show little confidence the employees had in the PSU regaining its health, a senior Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official said. One of the conditions for the government approving a revival package for the struggling unit was that the employee unions would accept a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS).



Officials from DoT and BSNL said a similar VRS may be planned in case MTNL ceases to exist going forward. Some employees, mostly from the technical and maintenance sides, would need to be retained. They may be shifted to BSNL. The majority of employees can, however, be given the option of a VRS, a senior official from BSNL said. As of February, MTNL had 3,574 employees, all were based in Delhi or Mumbai.



Up to 46 months pay was expected to be given as a lump sum ex-gratia compensation as part of the VRS. MTNL had also segregated the scheme for three sets of employees--combined service optees, pro-rata optees and MTNL recruited employees. Combined service optees were to get ex-gratia plus admissible pension of up to 125 per cent of their salary while pro-rata optees were to get the same benefit as combined service optees having same period of service completed and remaining. MTNL recruited employees stood to receive ex-gratia up to 100 per cent of salary. Nearly 1,900 MTNL staffers are currently aged above 50. The average age of employees is 46 years.

No other way

Beyond a VRS, retrenchment would be the only available option for most of the staff, who are unlikely to be absorbed into BSNL.



But officials said the losses had continued to pile up as operational revenue had nosedived. MTNLs fixed-line customer base have come down from 3.54 million in November 2008, to 2.31 milliom this March, official data showed. Combined with the last VRS and other measures, MTNLs total staff strength had come down to just 4,430 as of December 2019. This was expected to reduce the annual salary expenditure to Rs 500 crore, from Rs 2,272 crore earlier. The footprint of the employee cost on revenue was also expected to reduce to 25 per cent, from a staggering 85 per cent earlier.



In April and July 2022, the Telecom ministry had informed Parliament in written response that the government had no plans of disinvesting in BSNL or MTNL. The closure of the entity may be the only way forward since the government has said multiple times that there are no plans to privatise the business.






A delegation from the UAE will be in Delhi next to meet key officials from the department of commerce, a person aware of the matter said. Key officials from India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will meet for two days from June 11 to review the progress of the year-old Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).



Besides, committees will also be set up on each policy area or chapter, such as services, investment, under the trade deal. A business delegation will also be present to discuss investment opportunities in India. Officials of Customs departments from both sides are also expected to meet and work out a mechanism towards data sharing, which will aid in deciphering the utilisation of the trade deal, the official cited above told Business Standard.



CEPA progress The India-UAE CEPA entered into force on May 1, 2022. Under the deal, both countries have exchanged tariff concessions on products of mutual export interests. The UAE offered tariff concessions to India on over 97 per cent of its tariff lines amounting to 99 per cent of trade in value terms. India, on the other hand, has offered preferential access to the UAE on over 90 per of its tariff lines, including lines of export interest to the UAE.

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India is hoping to export goods worth $50 billion to the West Asian nation by FY27. The UAE is Indias second largest export market, after the United States (US), and third largest trading partner after the US and China at $31.61 billion and $84.84 billion, respectively.



Trade deficit stood at $21.62 billion. Government officials, however, pointed out that the deficit was expected to narrow amid cooling down of petroleum prices globally. While total trade between both nations grew 16 per cent year-on-year to $84.84 billion in FY23, it was mainly due to higher imports, driven by inbound shipments of oil hitting the domestic shores from the UAE.



According to the commerce departments analysis shared last month, during May-March (2022-23), the India-UAE CEPA has surpassed almost all other free trade agreements in terms of utilisation. The number of certificates of origin has been the highest in the case of India-ASEAN FTA at 149,000. This was followed by the trade deal with the UAE as 54,142 certificates of origin were issued to exporters to avail concessional duty advantage under the trade pact. During the CEPA implementation period, the bilateral trade increased to $76.9 billion, up 14 per cent YoY. During the same period, Indias exports to the UAE witnessed an 8.5 per cent jump on year to $28.5 billion, while exports to the rest of the world, excluding the UAE grew 3.1 per cent. The jump in exports was mainly due to higher demand for sectors, such as gems and jewellery, machinery and automobiles. Export of products, such as iron and steel and textiles, contracted due to imposition of export restrictions and tepid demand, respectively.

TRACKING THE TRADE JOURNEY

Bilateral trade up 14% YoY to $76.9 bn



Total trade grew 16% YoY to $84.84 bn in FY23 Indias exports jumped 8.5% to $28.5 bn

Trade deficit stood at $21.62 bn


The council will soon share its results with the government and the G20, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, who is heading the B20 Council, told Business Standard in a recent interaction at his office in Delhi. Quickly establishing Africas digital and physical infrastructure based on Indias Jan Dhan-Aadhar Mobile (JAM) trinity of technologies, developing African food systems, and ease in logistics and trade barriers are among the top recommendations shortlisted by the Business 20 (B20) Council on African economic integration.



African integration has evinced a special interest from Prime Minister Narendra Modi since it is an area where he wants to leave a legacy, Mittal said. The recommendations will be officially released at the B20s final upcoming final meeting in August. The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community, and its recommendations are often incorporated in the G20s work programme.



India is also keen to share its indigenously developed digital stack with African nations, inquiries from many of which have already come, officials have confirmed. The main pillar on which our work is based is the need to establish digital and physical connectivity. A massive infrastructure intervention is required to create and connect border roads, waterways and train lines. To raise digital connectivity, Indias digital stack, including our biometrics, Jan Dhan technology and mobile connectivity, can be leveraged, he said.

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Mittal has been closely associated with the continent since 2010 when Airtel Africa began operations. It now has the largest geographical and economic footprint in Africa among Indian corporates, serving 14 markets, primarily in east and central Africa. With a total user base of 140 million as of end-2022, the company is the second-largest in the African continent. India wants to use this as an opportunity to project its soft power, rather than as an economic agenda or a business opportunity to populate as many countries across the globe, and especially the global south with the Indian stack, Mittal said.



Food and trade

Equally, it is also the second-largest carrier in terms of subscribers in Africas largest economy  Nigeria owing to its cheap data plans. With 54.6 million data customers and 31.5 million customers using mobile money, Airtel Africa is positioning itself to tap the vast well of consumer demand for these services.



Parts of Africa, such as the DRC, are extremely fertile, but still there arent many crops. The Congo basin can feed the world, especially in the aftermath of the crisis in Ukraine and global wheat prices soaring. Africa can feed the world for decades to come. There would be no food shortage if everybody focuses on Africa, and it would grow those nation's economies, Mittal stressed. Another pillar of B20s recommendations will be on transforming agriculture and the food system in Africa.



Improving barriers to trade and logistics is another important focus area, a senior functionary of Confederation of Indian Industry said. He suggested Indias agriculture universities can take forward their collective work on the green and white revolutions and partner with African institutions.



A lot of money was also given to Africa to upgrade its tech, and harmonise its tariff codes. But it still did not happen, Mittal said. The B20 is therefore taking into account past experiences to chart a quick road map towards intra-continent trade. Africa is a huge continent, with a $3.14 trillion nominal GDP as of 2023 and 1.3 billion people. But internal trade between African economies remains much lower than their trade with external partners. Pointing to the global Trade Facilitation Agreement at the World Trade Organization that came into effect in 2017, Mittal said it was heavily geared towards Africa so that cross-border trade becomes easy, and better technologies are introduced.



Finding the funds needed for implementing the B20 recommendations, usually a challenging task when it comes from Africa, may be a smaller problem than earlier. While G20 nations have promised to prioritise the economic development of the global south, funds have been scarce till now. The African Free Trade Continental Agreement, which is envisaged to create an European Union type of economic bloc, is in various stages of implementation by 46 of the 54 countries across the continent. Experts have pushed for Africa to trade as much as possible within the continent, and the AFCTA is expected to boost income by $450 billion in trading economies by 2035.

Mittal, however, stressed that a large corpus of funds had been identified by the B20, which has already been committed. In 2022, the United States announced plans to invest at least $55 billion in Africa over the next three years. The funds will be utilised to implement the B20 recommendations.






This comes as both the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government are working to reduce unclaimed deposits with commercial banks totaling around Rs 50,000 crore. The Centre has directed banks to make sure that all deposit accounts and safe deposit boxes have a nominee, said a report by The Economic Times (ET).



Earlier this year, Bhagwat Karad, minister of state for finance, informed the Lok Sabha that public sector banks (PSBs) had transferred Rs 35,012 crore in unclaimed deposits to the RBI by the end of February 2023 from accounts that had not been used for 10 years or more. The development was confirmed by a top official, who also stated that the government has notified RBI about it. "We have also had separate discussions with state-run lenders. This helps banks as well because there may be legal concerns that affect both banks and their clients when there isn't a nomination," said the official.



"Both the government and the RBI have made it clear that they are not in favour of more money being accumulated in the depositor education and awareness fund," he said. A bank executive familiar with the situation told ET that lenders are in negotiations with the RBI and one of the ideas is that bank branches be held accountable and that both the nomination and tracing of unclaimed deposits be included in their performance evaluation.

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"We are considering bringing PSB Alliance on board to develop a common mechanism for tracing customers and informing them accordingly," the bank executive added. Last week, the RBI launched the '100 Days, 100 Pays' campaign to locate and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits from each bank. Under the initiative, banks would track and settle their top 100 deposits in each district of the country.


This funding follows the first close led by 360 ONE Asset Management, formerly IIFL Asset Management, in May this year. Course5 Intelligence, an analytics and AI solutions company, on Tuesday announced today the second close of its funding round at $53 million, led by Nuvama Asset Management. The round also saw participation from Carnelian Asset Advisors.



The data and AI revolution is finally here and the scope and scale of AI deployments across global enterprises are going to rapidly increase in the coming years, said Ashwin Mittal, Chairman and CEO of Course5 Intelligence. Course5 said that the funding will be used to create a war chest of around $80 million, supplemented by the companys own cash reserves and accruals, to fuel its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in complementary assets and deeptech start-ups.



Course5 Intelligence has a structured M&A agenda, looking at synergistic assets in the US, the UK and India, each in the range of $10 million to $20 million in revenue. The firm recently absorbed Incivus, an AI-based Ad creation and optimization technology startup. Recent advances in Generative AI, natural language and computer perception have completely removed the boundaries of what is possible. We want to ensure we maintain our leadership position amongst AI & Analytics solution providers by adding strategically to our portfolio to maximize our value proposition to global corporates, he added.

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Increase in complexity, type and usage of data across the world and significant advancement in technologies including AI is driving adoption of data driven intelligence through enterprises like never before across the globe. We see this as a structural long-term trend, and strongly believe that Course5 is very well-placed to benefit from this wave of acceleration, said Pranav Parikh, Managing Partner, Nuvama Private Equity. ICICI Securities and JM Financial acted as the exclusive financial advisors to the company.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian states will aim to raise an aggregate of 173 billion Indian rupees ($2.09 billion) on Tuesday through the sale of bonds maturing in five years to 30 years.

The Reserve Bank of India will likely set cutoff yields for the 10-year bonds in the 7.32%-7.35% band, according to a Reuters poll of 13 traders.

Note Quantum (in bln Median Min Max

rupees)

5-year 10 7.20% 7.18% 7.22%

6-7 year 13 7.28%-7.30% 7.26% 7.32%

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8-10 year 40 7.32%-7.35% 7.31% 7.36%

14-30 year 110 7.32%-7.40% 7.30% 7.42%

($1 = 82.5850 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)


Currently, if you book an overseas tour package with local tour operators or online travel aggregators you pay 5 percent TCS. From July 1, 2023, a 20% TCS will apply on such foreign holiday packages. The new rule, however, for overseas tour packages appears to have a potential loophole. The holiday season is here and people are fretting about booking their foreign trips because if you are purchasing an overseas tour package from a travel agent in India, you will have to pay a tax collected at source (TCS) of 20 per cent from July 1, 2023.



As of FY 2023-24, the TCS, which is a tax collection mechanism implemented by the government to ensure tax compliance, has been increased from 5% to 20% for most overseas transactions, excluding educational and medical purposes, effective from 1 July 2023. While booking such a foreign package with an Indian tour operator will attract TCS right away, with a foreign tour operator, you can possibly escape TCS until international payments on your credit card cross Rs 7 lakh a year.



However, when you do plan your trip, there are a couple of routes you can take that may affect the applicability of TCS. When it comes to the travel industry, the responsibility for collecting and remitting the TCS lies with the tour operator or the authorized agent. Even if you purchase foreign currency individually from an authorised dealer for your foreign trip, you have to pay TCS of 20 per cent.

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When you book an overseas tour package with an Indian travel agent or website like MakeMyTrip, they are obligated to collect TCS on all international packages. On the other hand, international travel websites are not required to charge TCS on purchases made by Indian customers. Instead, the credit card companies levy TCS on foreign currency payments that exceed Rs 7 lakh. First, you could book through an Indian travel agent by making a domestic payment, or second, use an international travel website with your international credit card.



Example: If you were to buy overseas tour package from Indian tour operator costing Rs4 lakh, the applicable TCS would be Rs 80,000, thereby increasing initial expenditure on the package to Rs 4 80 lakh. However, if an Overseas Tour Package is booked through a foreign tour operator costing Rs 4 lakh, no TCS would be attracted as it is lower than the threshold of Rs 7 lakh. Therefore, booking through a foreign tour operator may seem to be a lucrative option. For both these scenarios, TCS usually applies. However, a potential loophole lies in using your credit card to purchase from an international tour operator. "In this case, TCS won't apply for transactions up to a limit of Rs 7 lakh since the TCS would be levied by a credit card company. This approach could provide substantial savings, especially for middle-class families, by avoiding the complex and time-consuming process of claiming a tax refund. Therefore, you can dodge TCS up to an amount of Rs 7 lakh if you book online via an international travel website, " explained Ankit Jain, Partner, Ved Jain & Associates.



One key point to note is that the TCS is imposed on 'Overseas Tour Packages' at a rate of 20%. The term 'Overseas Tour Package' isn't well-defined in the law. It's generally understood as a package combining two or more items, such as flights and accommodation, or accommodation and sightseeing, or accommodation and meals, or any mix of these. However, there's ambiguity regarding whether booking only flights would be considered a package or not. Some of the foreign websites also provide options to their customers to pay in their domestic currency, i.e., in Rupees for Indians. Per se, a payment made in Indian Rupees even if to a foreign website should not be counted towards their quota of Rs 7 lakh, clarified Jain. So, it is possible to avoid the TCS by making a payment in Indian Rupees on foreign websites. "However, we will have to wait and see how credit card companies handle this situation so that they do not attract the ire of the Government," he said.

PSL Advocates and Solicitors. What this means is that if you book your international air ticket by yourself it will not attract any TCS. "Since the TCS is applicable only in case of overseas tour package, the literal meaning of the provision would mean air tickets and hotel bookings made independently and paid in INR would not attract TCS," said Vipul Jai, Partner,


HRA or house rent allowance is the most common allowance received by the salaried class. The HRA allows for deduction of the rent paid for a house from the taxable income of that employee. The deduction for such rent paid is limited to the lowest of the following three: If you have opted for the old tax regime this financial year, and are currently living in your parents house, you can still claim house rent allowance and save on taxes without violating any laws.

b. 40% of Basic Salary (50% in case of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai) a. House Rent Allowance received.



While people who are living in rented accommodation can claim this deduction easily, the situation is tricky for those who are living with their parents or family. "In such situations, the house is usually owned by one of the family members, say the father, while the salary is earned by another family member like the son," said Ankit Jain, Partner, Ved Jain & Associates. The question that often comes is whether the son can claim deduction of HRA for this house. c. Rent paid less 10% of the basic salary

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The rental income paid by you is to be reported under the head income from house property in your income tax return. Since rent is paid to owners, the property must be owned by your parents. It may be owned by one or both of your parents. "So, you can deposit the money to any one of the parents in case of joint house ownership, or to the parent who is the legal owner of the house. Remember that you cannot be an owner or co-owner of this property since you cannot claim tax exemption on rent paid to yourself," explained ClearTax.



Jatin Ghuliani, Senior Associate, SKV Law Offices decodes what conditions must be satisfied for employees to be eligible for HRA tax exemption while living with parents: However, parents can claim property taxes paid by them and also claim a 30% standard deduction from this rental income.

The house should be owned in the name of the parent

The employee/individual can pay rent to their parents and claim HRA deduction if their parents own the property. However, in the scenario where the employee resides with their parents in a rented accommodation and the parents pay the rent, the employee cannot claim the HRA deduction.

Rent should be deposited in the bank account of the parents or through cheques made out in favor of the parents

To avail the HRA exemption, the salaried individual must have proof of rent in the form of rent receipts, demonstrating the actual payment of rent to the parents. In such cases, it is advisable to use bank transfers or issue cheques in favor of the parents. Including the rent youve paid for your parents on their tax returns is required.



Execution of rent agreements with parents "The rent should actually be paid preferably by way of bank transfer because law does not allow for deduction of rent on a notional basis. There should be actual payment of the rent," said - Ankit Jain, Partner, Ved Jain & Associates



Rental income should be included in the total income of the parents For the purpose of HRA exemption, the salaried employee should enter into a rent agreement with their parents, who are the owners of the house.





If the parents fall in a lower tax bracket than the salaried individual claiming the HRA exemption, the family can save tax as a whole. Additionally, if the parents are over 60 years old, they may enjoy a higher minimum income exemption limit (Rs. 3 lakhs for those above 60 years old and Rs 5 lakh for those above 80 years old). If the parents have no taxable income, a significant amount of tax can be saved as a family.



HRA tax exemption can still be claimed if HRA is not part of the salary The rent paid to the parents is taxable for them under the category of 'income from house property.' The parents can claim property taxes paid by them and also avail a 30% standard deduction from this rental income.If the parents fall in a lower tax bracket than the salaried individual claiming the HRA exemption, the family can save tax as a whole. Additionally, if the parents are over 60 years old, they may enjoy a higher minimum income exemption limit (Rs. 3 lakhs for those above 60 years old and Rs 5 lakh for those above 80 years old). If the parents have no taxable income, a significant amount of tax can be saved as a family.



When do you require proof of PAN? If the HRA is not included in the individual's salary, they can still claim HRA deduction under Section 80GG. This Section is applicable to individuals who do not receive HRA as part of their salary, including self-employed individuals. The salaried individual can claim HRA under this Section by filling out Form 10BA. However, this can only be claimed if the individual resides in a rented accommodation and pays rent.





" The PAN of the parent who owns the house should be furnished to the employer. It is important to declare the rent received as income while filing their tax return. The PAN of the landlord along with rent is reported to the tax authorities by the employer and the tax authorities corroborate the rent paid with the income declared to detect tax evasion. If the rent is not reported in the tax return of the parent, the parent or the son might receive a notice from the tax authorities," said Ankit Jain, Partner, Ved Jain & Associates.



The Do's and don'ts of this rental arrangement with parents When filing for home rent allowance, if your annual rent is more than Rs 1 lakh, you must include copies of your rent receipts and your landlords PAN (HRA)." The PAN of the parent who owns the house should be furnished to the employer. It is important to declare the rent received as income while filing their tax return. The PAN of the landlord along with rent is reported to the tax authorities by the employer and the tax authorities corroborate the rent paid with the income declared to detect tax evasion. If the rent is not reported in the tax return of the parent, the parent or the son might receive a notice from the tax authorities," said Ankit Jain, Partner, Ved Jain & Associates.





Rajgaria illustrates this with an example: Twenty-year-old Aditya lived in New Delhi with his parents. His office was in Gurgaon and he commuted daily to his office from Dwarka. Aditya had recently started working, and his employer asked for tax saving declarations for FY 2023-24 to calculate TDS on salary. Adityas colleagues who lived in Gurgaon in PG accommodation were submitting rent receipts to claim HRA. HRA is paid to them as part of their salary. However, Aditya can claim the benefits under section 10 (13A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 by showing that he staying in the rented property which belongs to his father and he is paying the rent for the same.

If you haven't been able to claim HRA from your employer? "The dos include having a valid rental agreement, maintaining payment records, and ensuring parents declare rental income. Don'ts include avoiding excessive rent payments and circular flow of funds. Precautions involve upholding the landlord-tenant relationship and keeping necessary documents like PAN of the landlord if rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh," said Ankit Rajgarhia, Principal Associate, Karanjawala & Company, Advocates.Rajgaria illustrates this with an example:Twen-year-old Aditya lived in New Delhi with his parents. His office was in Gurgaon and he commuted daily to his office from Dwarka. Aditya had recently started working, and his employer asked for tax saving declarations for FY 2023-24 to calculate TDS on salary. Adityas colleagues who lived in Gurgaon in PG accommodation were submitting rent receipts to claim HRA. HRA is paid to them as part of their salary. However, Aditya can claim the benefits under section 10 (13A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 by showing that he staying in the rented property which belongs to his father and he is paying the rent for the same.





Important points to note: If you are not able to submit the rent receipts in time to your employer and your employer deducts TDS on HRA, youre still covered, said Clear. HRA exemptions can be claimed at the time of filing your income tax return. You can adjust your total taxable salary with the HRA exemption amount while filing your return.

HRA cannot be claimed if the house is in the name of the spouse because as per the Income Tax Act, the husband and the wife live together. HRA is not available under the New Tax Regime You can claim both HRA and home loan deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh against principal repayment and Rs 2 lakh against interest paid, if you are staying in a different city due to job posting. Even if HRA is not part of your salary, you can claim an HRA deduction under Section 80GG. This is applicable for those who do not receive HRA as part of their salary and self-employed individuals. "TDS is required to be deducted if payment of rent exceeds Rs 50,000 per month," said Maneet Pal Singh, Partner, I.P. Pasricha & Co. - Execute a rent agreement between parents and yourself If planning to pay rent to parents for HRA benefit, the following must be entailed, said Abhinav Soomaney, Managing Partner, CryptoTax International.


Many different types of proteins can lead to amyloid deposits, but only a few of them can cause major health problems. While amyloid refers to an abnormal protein build-up around organs, the reason for it is still not found. The two most common types of amyloidosis are light-chain amyloid disease and wild-type ATTR amyloidosis (ATTR). Of these, the light chain is the most diagnosed type, especially in the field of cardiology. ATTR is genetic but only witnessed in countries such as Portugal and Spain, where certain communities carry genes of amyloid. Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs. The protein synthesis in this disease is abnormal. The amyloids can lead to the malfunction of organs. The organs that may be affected due to amyloidosis include the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, and digestive tract.



First centre in India In February this year, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf died due to amyloidosis, which made headlines across the globe. As per reports, Google searches peaked with this rare disease as people did not quite understand what it was.



The centre is aimed at evaluating and treating patients suspected of amyloidosis to diagnose different kinds of variants such as AL, ATTR, and AA, among others. In May this year, India's first amyloidosis centre was set up in Kerala at the Amrita Hospital.

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The patients, he said, can now be treated in a comprehensive way, similar to the dedicated amyloid centres in Europe and US. Dr Hisham Ahamed, department of cardiology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi said that as amyloidosis is a multisystemic disease, patients often fail to get the right diagnosis at the right time. He said that the "major advantage of having a focused and dedicated advanced amyloid center of excellence is to have all of the expertise under one cohesive service".

The symptoms

Amyloid proteins deposit mostly inside the knee, followed by the hands, wrists, elbow, hip, and ankle.



Amyloid deposition in the kidney can affect its ability to filter and excrete waste. This can lead to high levels of protein in the urine. Accumulation of amyloid proteins in the gastrointestinal system may cause weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and heartburn (gastrointestinal reflux). A rare development is amyloid purpura, which includes bleeding with bruising around the eyes. The symptoms include severe fatigue, breathlessness, excess protein leak in the urine, sudden weight loss, change in skin colour, joint pain, swelling of the tongue, burning sensation in hands and feet, severe weakness, and weak hand grip. The kidney and heart are the most common organs involved.

The diagnosis

The diagnosis of amyloidosis disease may be suspected when amyloid protein is found in urine, or when peripheral nerves do not function properly. The doctor may conduct tissue biopsy, blood and urine tests, and imaging tests such as ultrasound, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, MRI, and CT scan.

The treatment

The treatment for amyloidosis is dealt with by a huge team of doctors as it affects various organs of the body. The term is termed as a multidisciplinary team, which includes a haematologist (who specialises in blood disorders), a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a pulmonologist, a nephrologist, and a neurologist.



Treatment with high-dose melphalan, a chemotherapy agent, followed by stem cell transplantation has shown promise in early studies and is recommended for stage I and II AL amyloidosis. The treatment for amyloidosis depends on the type of the protein. The first method is performing a stem cell transplant, but only 20 to 25 per cent of people are eligible for this type of transplant. The second treatment is chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It can also be treated through targeted therapies such as anti-angiogenesis therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and proteasome inhibitors. The third method is through using a pacemaker.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has granted approval for round-the-clock operation of 155 shops and commercial establishments across Delhi, a move aimed at boosting the city's night-time economy.

The file has now been sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for a decision on whether he would like to express a difference of opinion with the elected government on the approval, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement.

The chief minister has granted approval for round-the-clock operation of 155 shops and commercial establishments across Delhi, the statement said.

By approving 24X7 operations for a new batch of commercial applicants, the Delhi government aims to generate more job opportunities, safeguard the interests of workers, and contribute to the overall development of the local economy, it said.

The extended operational hours will also ensure round-the-clock access to essential goods and services for Delhi residents, it added.

The government has granted the applicants exemptions from sections 14, 15 and 16 of the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954. These three sections collectively put restrictions on hiring night-shift employees and impose related rules upon opening and closing times and holidays for commercial establishments, the statement said.

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Only 269 establishments were allowed such exemptions in the 68-year period from 1954 to 2022, it said.

The Delhi government has completely digitised the application process, bringing an end to "inspector raj", the statement said.

Traders will not need to go to government offices and their applications will be processed within four weeks of submission along with verification and on-site inspection.

In case an application fails to get approval, the government gives the applicant an opportunity to rectify their shortcomings as per the set parameters and seek approval again.

A total of 523 shops have been granted permission to operate round the clock in the last two years, according to the statement.

In 2022, 313 applications for round-the-clock operation of commercial establishments were approved. A total of 55 such applications have been approved so far this year.
Nine foreign nationals, including two women, were taken into custody by police in Greater Noida on Tuesday for illegally staying in India, officials said.

As many as 65 foreign nationals have been detained so far for illegal stay by the Gautam Buddh Nagar police in less than a month, they said.

Police said they detained three African nationals on Tuesday who were found with their visas expired while the other six did not have passports and visas.

The action comes as part of a verification drive for foreign nationals living in the district, adjoining Delhi, in the wake of the busting of a drug-manufacturing lab in Greater Noida on May 16 in which nine African natives were arrested.

"On Tuesday, during the verification campaign, six persons, including a woman, were arrested from Supertech Gold Country society by the officials of Rabupura police station. These foreigners did not have passports or visas," a police spokesperson said.

"Three more foreign nationals, including a woman, living in the same housing society were taken into custody. They had passports but their visas were found to have expired," the spokesperson said.

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Rabupura police station in-charge Sudhir Kumar Singh said of the nine foreigners, eight are from Nigeria and one is from Tanzania.

"The local intelligence unit was informed about the development," Singh told PTI.

The police spokesperson said further legal proceedings were being carried out and embassies concerned of the foreigners have been contacted.

Since May 16, a total of 65 foreign nationals have been either arrested or detained for illegal stay in the country. These 65 include those involved in the drugs cases as well, according to an official.


The specific provisions of anti-conversion laws may be enforced through criminal or civil penalties. Anti-conversion laws are a set of judicial rules that prevent or prohibit the conversion from one religion to another. These laws are meant to prevent forced religious conversion of individuals and to prevent religious groups from recruiting members from other religions.



According to the US Library of Congress (LOC), laws restricting religious conversions were originally introduced by princely states headed by Hindu royal families during the British colonial period  especially during the 1930s and 1940s. Article 25 of the Indian Constitution states that every citizen has "freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion". It also grants all religious groups the right to control their own religious affairs.

Failed attempts

Following independence, the Indian Parliament introduced anti-conversion bills but none of them were enacted. First, the Indian Conversion (Regulation and Registration) Bill was introduced in 1954, which sought to enforce licensing of missionaries and the registration of conversion with government officials. The bill failed as it could not gather majority support in the Lok Sabha.

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After a few years, the Freedom of Religion Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 1979. It sought official curbs on inter-religious conversion. This was followed by the introduction of the Backward Communities (Religious Protection) Bill in 1960, which aimed at "checking conversion of Hindus to non-Indian religions which, as per the definition in the Bill, included Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism".



In 2015, the law ministry had suggested that a law against forced and fraudulent conversions could not be created at the national level as law and order is a state subject under the Indian Constitution. However, state governments have the authority to enact such laws. However, both bills were not passed by the Parliament as they could not gather political support.

Implementation in states

Over the years, several states enacted Freedom of Religion legislation to restrict religious conversions carried out by force, inducements or fraud.



The laws passed in Himachal Pradesh (2019) and Uttarakhand also declare a marriage to be void if it was solemnised for the sole purpose of conversion. Freedom of Religion laws are currently in force in eight states in India, namely Odisha (1967), Madhya Pradesh (1968), Arunachal Pradesh (1978), Chhattisgarh (2000 and 2006), Gujarat (2003), Himachal Pradesh (2006 and 2019), Jharkhand (2017), and Uttarakhand (2018).



In November 2019, the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission suggested enacting a new law to regulate religious conversions. This led the state government to promulgate the recent ordinance. Further, the state of Tamil Nadu passed a similar legislation in 2002 but it was repealed in 2006 following protests by Christian minorities. Rajasthan too passed a similar legislation in 2006 and 2008, but the bills could not receive the approval of the governor of the state and also the President.



The Supreme Court of India has ruled that anti-conversion laws are constitutional as long as they do not interfere with an individuals right to freedom of religion. In recent years, India has witnessed multiple debates over the use of anti-conversion laws. Some people believe that these laws are necessary to protect the cultural and social cohesion of the country, while others say that these laws are used as a tool to suppress minority religions and violate the right to freedom of religion, which is protected by international human rights laws.



A recent report by the USCIRF in March this year stated that anti-conversion laws promulgated by state governments in India violate international human rights laws protections for the right to freedom of religion or belief. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reports of 2016 and 2018, there are very few arrests or prosecutions under these laws but they create a hostile, and on occasion violent, environment for religious minority communities because they do not require any evidence to support accusations of wrongdoing.



Arrests under the law It stated that the laws violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).



In October 2022, a 24-year-old man was arrested in Bengaluru under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, the anti-conversion law that came into force on September 30, 2022 in the state. The USCIRF has highlighted certain incidents of arrests, including an incident in 2017, where three Christians were arrested in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh following allegations that they were converting people.



In May 2023, as many as 18 persons were arrested in Uttar Pradesh under the anti-conversion law for offering money to convert people to Islam. In February this year, 16 persons were arrested under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act for allegedly luring people to convert to Christianity in Muradpur Kotila village.

Punishment under the law

The Chhattisgarh Religion Freedom (Amendment) Act, 2006 legalised either three-year imprisonment and a penalty up to Rs 20,000 or both for offenders.



The Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2017 imposes imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs 50,000 or both. The Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2022, provides a penalty of one to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh.



The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 enforces imprisonment of one to ten years in prison. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967 imposes one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000, or both.



Around the world According to the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, a forced conversion is punishable by imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of Rs 25,000.



Bhutan introduced an anti-conversion clause in 2011 which imposes an imprisonment of three years. In Algeria, the constitution declares that Islam is the state religion. It introduced religious conversion law in 2006. According to the law, an attempt to convert a Muslim will be penalised with five years in prison and a fine of $70 to $140.

The Constitution of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) states that it is illegal to convert from Islam and leaving the Islamic faith is a crime punishable by death.


KNP now has 17 adult cheetahs, and one cheetah cub. International consultants now suggest placing some cheetahs under fenced reserves as against the Indian governments original intention to establish a free ranging population. Less than a year since 20 African cheetahs were translocated to India, three adults and three cubs have died, Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) officials have written to the Union government asking for relocation of some cheetahs to other parks, and experts have questioned the long-term viability of the project.



The governments criteria for the projects success for the short term, according to the Cheetah Action Plan released in 2021, includes a 50% survival rate (10 of 20 cheetahs) for the first year; cheetahs establishing home ranges in KNP; survival of wild-born cheetah cubs for more than a year, and F1 generation--that is, the first offsprings--breeding successfully. After the death of three adults and three cubs, the government formed a steering committee to guide the project, and announced that government officials will be visiting African countries for studying the cheetah. The Supreme Court had, when it allowed cheetah introduction in 2020, already formed an expert committee to supervise the process.



The long term success of the programme includes establishing a long-term viable metapopulation in India, either in KNP or in a combination of three-five cheetah reserves. The project will be a failure if the introduced cheetahs do not survive, or fail to reproduce in the wild in five years, among other things. In such a case, the Program needs to be reviewed for alternative strategies or discontinuation, the action plan recommends. The project completes one year on September 17, 2023. Even though less than 50% of cheetahs have died and the deaths were not unexpected, all of the adult cheetahs are yet to establish home ranges at KNP.

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IndiaSpend reached out to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) with detailed queries on the cheetah project, Kunos cheetah carrying capacity, whether cheetahs will be moved out of Kuno, whether India will consider fenced reserves, among other questions. This story will be updated when they respond. Speaking about the cheetah deaths and the project so far, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on June 1 reportedly said, "we take responsibility for whatever happened", but asserted that the translocation project will be a major success.



Four births, six deaths IndiaSpend takes a look at the current status of the project and what international and national experts say about its future.



The cheetah is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species of 2021, with only 6,517 mature individuals left in the world. The last cheetahs in the wild in India were recorded in 1948, when three cheetahs were shot in the Sal forests of Koriya District, Chhattisgarh. There were a few sporadic reports of sightings from the central and Deccan regions till the mid-1970s. Currently, the subspecies found in Iran is the same as the one that disappeared from India in the 1940s, and were officially declared extinct in 1952.



On September 17, 2022, India welcomed eight cheetahs from Namibia and in February 2023 it welcomed 12 more cheetahs from South Africa. They were quarantined in KNPs enclosures and over time, a few were released in the wild. At the time of writing this story, there were seven cheetahs in the wild, while 10 remain in quarantine. As fewer than 50 mature cheetahs remain in Iran now, this species could not be translocated to India, and the Indian government decided to undertake the transcontinental translocation of the African cheetah to India instead.



The government says that the survival rate of cheetah cubs in the wild is extremely low, around 10%. In March 2023, the female cheetah Jwala birthed four cubs. However, on May 23, a press note stated that one of the cubs, the weakest of the lot, had died. Its death must be looked in the context of survival of the fittest, the press release said. The government later confirmed that two more cheetah cubs also died the same day and attributed the deaths to heat, weakness and dehydration. The fourth cub was under critical care, but is stable and in quarantine at KNP, an official at KNP told IndiaSpend.



In May, the female cheetah named Daksha died due to violent interactions with the male cats during a courtship or mating attempt. The government had maintained that such violent behaviours by male coalition cheetahs towards female cheetahs during mating are common and that the chances of intervention by the monitoring team were almost non-existent and practically impossible. In March, the cheetah named Sasha died from chronic renal failure. In April, another cheetah named Uday died due to terminal cardio-pulmonary failure.



On May 25, Van der Merwe cautioned that more cheetahs will die in the next few months as they try to establish territories and come face to face with leopards and tigers in KNP. South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe, manager of the Cheetah Metapopulation Project, who is advising the Indian government on the cheetah project reportedly said that though cheetah deaths have been within the acceptable range, the team of experts that reviewed the project did not expect males to kill a South African female cheetah during courtship and that these experts take full responsibility".



Indias forests and protected areas have always been unfenced whereas in some countries, such as Australia and many African countries, some reserves are fenced. "There has never been a successful reintroduction into an unfenced reserve in recorded history. It has been attempted 15 times in South Africa and it failed every time. We are not advocating that India must fence all of its cheetah reserves, we are saying that just fence two or three and create source reserves to top up sink reserves," Van der Merwe told the Press Trust of India.



Unusually long quarantines However, the chairman of the cheetah steering committee Rajesh Gopal reportedly told PTI on May 31 that India will not fence its cheetah habitats as that goes against the basic tenets of wildlife conservation.



To only focus on births and deaths is missing the fundamental question: Is India fully prepared to host free-ranging, wild cheetahs? asks wildlife biologist and conservation scientist Ravi Chellam. Why are many of the cheetahs in prolonged captivity even when the action plan said they will be released in a couple of months? What was the need to allow the cheetahs to mate in captivity? Some cheetahs have seen an unusually long quarantine period even as the action plan had expected to release them after one month (males first and females around a month after the males).



In the context of Udays death, a South African cheetah, Van Der Merwe reportedly said, He [Uday] was very healthy before shifting to Boma in July 2022 [enclosure in SA] for the translocation project. After 10 months in captivity, he lost fitness and suffered from chronic stress, Merwe said, adding that the animals must be released in the wild. The cheetahs must go back into the wild where they belong. They are unhappy in cages. The plan is to translocate a further 12 cheetahs annually for the next eight to 10 years, according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with South Africa.



After its first meeting on May 31, the steering committee has reportedly announced that it will be releasing seven more cheetahs in the wild in Kuno by the third week of June. In May, the government announced that five cheetahs will be released in the wild before the monsoon, while the rest will continue to stay in the enclosures until a review after the monsoon.

Kuno National Park might be too small for the cheetahs

The management of KNP, in April 2023, wrote to the Union government to relocate some cheetahs out of KNP, as they lack the manpower and infrastructure to support the felines in the wild, the Indian Express reported in May 2023. The Supreme Court recently asked the Central government to not allow politics to interfere with the movement of some cheetahs to Mukundara Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan just because Rajasthan is an opposition-ruled state.



The Cheetah Action Plan says that KNP can sustain up to 21 cheetahs currently and based on carrying capacity estimates, the potential cheetah habitat covering over 3,200 sq km in the larger Kuno landscape could provide a prey base for up to 36 cheetahs. Experts had questioned this estimate even before the cheetahs were introduced last year, we reported in September 2022. J.S. Chauhan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for Madhya Pradesh, confirmed to IndiaSpend that he had indeed written to the NTCA to find a new home for the cheetahs.



And now, Kunos capacity needs to be reviewed, according to its own management. While the Union government has maintained that KNP has a sufficient prey base, KNP is being restocked with prey, Chauhan said. He explained that there was no shortage of prey at the park but this was being done for a genetic diversity of prey.



My job is to say what should be done, what is the correct step technically. Taking a decision on that is the Centres prerogative, Chauhan of KNP said. If you can apply common sense, the current situation is like having all your eggs in one basket. If something happens like a virus or disease breakout [among the cheetahs], then the entire population is at risk. It is always advisable to have two metapopulations in two places, it works as an insurance also. In April, the Madhya Pradesh government asked the NTCA, which is implementing the cheetah project, to find a new habitat in the wild for some of the cheetahs brought to Kuno as they would not be able to monitor the movements of all of them living free. An official reportedly said that Kuno can accommodate only nine to 10 cheetahs as a cheetahs territory is spread over 300 to 800 sq km. This falls far short of what the Cheetah Action Plan had estimated in 2021.



One indicator of KNP falling short of space might be the fact that one of the first cheetahs to be released in the wild had strayed away from KNP and had to be retrieved. Officials have stated that henceforth such cheetahs will be recaptured only if they are in danger. He also pointed out that the action plan had expected up to 50% mortality.



As such, it is impossible to evaluate what risks were identified and how they were mitigated against. This is particularly important in this scenario in which the animals are likely to come into contact with novel pathogens, unknown and unpredictable ecological interactions (such as predatorprey), a high poaching threat and undefined conflict with humans, the researchers stated. In April 2023, a team of independent scientists from South Africa released a paper which questioned Indias cheetah introduction project. They questioned Kunos prey-base calculations and stated that the viability analysis, risk assessment and data on which these are based are not available for scientific scrutiny.



Another set of Indian and international researchers called the Action Plan ecologically unsound, in a 2022 paper. This paper relied on a study of a free-ranging cheetah population in the prey-rich Maasai Mara landscape in Kenya which found that cheetahs are characterised by disproportionately large home range sizes (over 750 sq km) and very low population densities (about one cheetah per 100 sq km). Kuno is spread over 748 sq km. It appears that the welfare of the animals is being compromised through a lack of mitigation of threats to their post-release survival and inadequate fencing, and the conservation potential of the animals is being squandered. It added that the funds India has used for the cheetah project might be better suited for conservation of some Indian species.



However, consultants and other experts working with the Indian government disagreed. The derived carrying capacity of about 3 cheetahs per 100 sq km for Kuno was based on an out-of-date density estimate from Namibia, where the study area size was far lower than the home range sizeTherefore, we anticipate that neither Kuno National Park, unfenced, harbouring about 500 feral cattle and surrounded by a forested landscape with 169 human settlements, nor the other landscapes considered are of the size and quality to permit self-sustaining and genetically viable cheetah populations, they stated.



Researchers from Germany predicted in April 2023 that irrespective of the territory size, the three males from Namibia will occupy the entire KNP, thus not leaving space for additional territories for males introduced from South Africa. The researchers also said that the eight Namibian cheetahs will conduct extensive excursions outside the KNP during their exploration phase, potentially coming into conflict with livestock farmers. They also predicted that additional males brought in or born in KNP will settle at a distance of 2023 km away from the first two established territories, coming into conflict with livestock farmers. Historical cheetah population densities in East Africa were likely to have been higher before marked declines in their prey base and cheetahs are likely to have been more abundant in more productive areas of their historical range that have now been taken over by livestock farming. In a reserve in southern Botswana, with fences that are permeable to predators, a mean true density of 5.23 cheetahs per 100 sq km has been reported, indicating that higher densities are possible, they wrote in an article, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution in February 2023.



While many have made predictions about the anticipated carrying capacity of cheetahs in KNP based on other ecosystems in Namibia and East Africa, the actual number of animals that the reserve can accommodate can only be assessed after the animals are released and have established home ranges. Cheetah home-range sizes and population densities vary tremendously for different cheetah populations in Africa and for obvious reasons, we do not have useful spatial ecology data for cheetahs in India yet, the statement said. On May 8, the Indian government said that it is impossible to determine the precise cheetah carrying capacity in KNP until the cheetahs have properly established their home ranges and secondly, the home ranges of cheetahs can overlap substantially depending on the prey density and several other factors.



Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientist Qamar Qureshi, who is also part of the steering committee, had said in April that releasing all cheetahs in the wild in KNP was never the plan. Chellam, CEO of Metastring Foundation, Coordinator of Biodiversity Collaborative and also one of the authors of the paper which called the Action Plan ecologically unsound, says that KNP cannot hold more than 8-10 cheetahs in total, and thus additional sites should have been explored and prepared at least three years ago. And if no attempt to introduce cheetahs in unfenced reserves has succeeded in history, then why are we doing it in India? It is a well established fact that Indias protected areas are not fenced.
The Delhi High Court has issued a restraining order against Dabur, an Indian multinational consumer goods company, prohibiting the circulation of its WhatsApp advertisement featuring Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone for "Dabur Amla Hair Oil."

A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla passed the order in response to a lawsuit filed by Marico Limited seeking an ad interim injunction to prevent Dabur from circulating or forwarding its WhatsApp and print advertisements for Amla hair oil.

It also claimed that Dabur's advertisement disparaged the reputation and goodwill of its product, "Nihar Natural Shanti Badam Amla Hair Oil," and its registered "Nihar" trademarks.

The court stated that Marico failed to establish a prima facie case against the print advertisement but did demonstrate a prima facie case regarding the WhatsApp message/advertisement.

Regarding the print advertisement, Marico argued that Dabur's opening statement, "Yaad Rakhna, Sasta Amla, balo ko mehenga padega" (Remember, cheap Amla will cost your hair a lot), was alarming and threatened consumers, suggesting that other inexpensive Amla hair oils were inferior and harmful calling it generic disparagement.

While the court declined to injunct the print advertisement, it restrained Dabur and its associates from circulating the WhatsApp message or advertisement for Amla hair oil during the pendency of Marico's lawsuit.

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Regarding the absence of any explicit reference to Marico in the challenged print advertisement, the court stated that any such reference would require a leap of imagination, which it deemed unwarranted.

The court viewed the advertisement as merely suggesting potential negative consequences of using cheaper Amla hair oils in terms of quality and price.

Justice Chawla also emphasised that an advertisement should be evaluated from the perspective of an ordinary consumer, who would likely view it as a puffery rather than from the standpoint of a sensitive competitor like Marico.

The court concluded that the advertisement merely expressed an opinion that purchasing cheaper Amla hair oil might be harmful to the hair, but it was not defamatory towards all hair oils of lower price compared to Marico's product.

Regarding the circulation of the challenged WhatsApp advertisement, the court noted that the ordinary consumer would not have access to both the WhatsApp message/advertisement and the print advertisement simultaneously. The connection between the two could only be made by individuals who received the WhatsApp advertisement alongside the print advertisement.

--IANS

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As a part of the ongoing probe into the sexual harassment case, the Delhi Police visited the residence of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda and recorded the statements of his associates and workers, an official said on Tuesday.

"We had visited Gonda as a part of investigation and recorded the statements of Singh's associates and workers, including the driver at his house. The team checked their IDs and noted their addresses while recording the statements. We are collecting evidence and collaborating with victims' statements," said the senior police official privy to the investigation.

Once all the evidence is collected, a report will be submitted in court, he added.

Meanwhile, the official also said that the 17-year-old wrestler on whose complaint a case under POCSO act was registered at Connaught Place police station against Singh, has now recorded a fresh statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the magistrate in court.

Refusing to divulge more details, the official said that as the case is very sensitive, only limited information can be shared.

--IANS

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Economic Times (ET) on Tuesday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked German and European defence majors to supply New Delhi with modern military gear making a way for India to gradually remove its dependence on Russia in the defence sector. Germany and India are closing in on a $5.2 billion deal to build diesel submarines in India, reportedon Tuesday.



"The preliminary agreement or memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed in the presence of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day visit," said German and Indian officials to ET. Russia-Ukraine war pushed New Delhi to expand its military cooperation beyond its top supplier Moscow. German company Thyssenkrupp AGs marine arm and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited are likely to jointly bid for an approximate $5.2 billion project to build six submarines for the Indian navy, said Economic Times report citing sources.



This would be a big and important contract not only for German industry but also for India and the Indian-German strategic partnership, Pistorius said. "Submarine deal will be on the agenda when he visits Mumbai Wednesday," Pistorius told German broadcaster ARD.

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India has identified Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Larsen & Toubro to tie up with foreign defence manufacturing companies to build diesel submarines. A key prospect for a partnership had been Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as it is one of two submarine manufacturers globally to have air-independent propulsion, a technology that helps conventional submarines stay underwater for longer. When the tender was announced two years ago, the German defence manufacturer showed no interest in jointly manufacturing submarines in India. Now with the war in Ukraine in its second year and China moving closer to Russia, the West is placing its bets on India.
Hitting out at the government, the Congress said on Tuesday that "no amount of headline management" with GDP growth numbers and GST revenues can hide the economic distress faced by a majority of Indians as it cited a surge in the demand for work under the MGNREGA scheme.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the only time the demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was more was during the once-in-a-century pandemic, reflecting the economic distress in rural India.

"The Modi government does a huge song and dance about 'record GST revenues', which is nothing but an expected mathematical reality...but you won't hear the drum-beaters talk about the record numbers of people demanding MGNREGA work in May -- more than 3 crore households," he tweeted.

"No amount of headline management with GDP growth numbers and GST revenues can hide the economic distress faced by majority of Indians," he said.

He said the rise in demand for work under the job guarantee scheme "shows the level of economic distress in rural India, something we repeatedly witnessed during the Bharat Jodo Yatra."



The Congress has accused the BJP dispensation of slashing the allocation for the MGNREGA scheme, started during the erstwhile government led by the party, and demanded that it be increased.

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The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Harvard Business School, the US, will be joining hands to develop a customised executive educational programme for CA institute members.

Besides, the ICAI will also reach out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI revised international curriculum.

The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US scheduled from June 21 and 24.

"We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Harvard Business School. The institute has also sent the MoU to the Union Cabinet for final approval. After we get a nod from the government, we will sign the MoU," ICAI President Aniket Sunil Talati told IANS.

Talati said that the ICAI has already signed an MoU with several nations, including Nepal, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, the UAE, Afghanistan, Russia, Poland, Nigeria and Maldives.

On the issue of revised curriculum, Talati said that presently the ICAI is working on revising the scheme of education and training in alignment with the International Education Standards (IES), National Education Policy 2020 and global requirements.

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"The new scheme of education and training will be for all CA aspirants from across the globe. ICAI will be reaching out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI international curriculum," Talati said.

He said that the curriculum of the chartered accountancy course is designed, developed and updated from time to time so that the members of the profession can become the valued trustees of world-class financial competence, good governance and competitiveness.

Both the institutions have planned to design a specific module for CAs. Through this international initiative, there will also be a specific programme for Indian CAs. The programme will be available for four weeks.

"The newly-designed programme will have multiple options for the learners. It will be available in residential, virtual and hybrid modes. However, it will be finalised only after the approval of the Union Cabinet," the ICAI said.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's National Security Adviser Jody Thomas has said that India is among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada.

"When I talk about foreign interference and economic security, I'm now talking about a number of state actors and non-state proxies," Jody Thomas said last week at a conference organised by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

"This includes Russia, Iran and India. That said, the actor that comes up most on these issues, and it's no surprise to anybody, is China," she was quoted as saying in Toronto Star.

University of British Columbia professor Vina Nadjibulla told Toronto Star that it was "striking" that Thomas listed India along with the three other countries -- a move that could hit the close India-Canada ties.

The NSA's remarks came months after the Liberals highlighted India as part of their Indo-Pacific strategy and as a priority for establishing closer economic and scientific ties.

"The relationship we have diplomatically with India is improving rapidly, but I think we would be kidding ourselves if we were not to acknowledge some of the diaspora politics and local issues here in Canada, which will have a significant impact," Nadjibulla said.

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According to The Star, "federal agencies have indirectly warned in recent years of India exerting improper influence in Canada, but rarely by name".

On the contrary, India has raised strong protest with the Canadian government against radical Khalistani elements organising referendums in the North American nations and meddling in India's domestic affairs, particularly the farmers' protests.

Despite exhortation from India to act, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has failed to take action against a new wave of Khalistani activism in Canada.

This is because Trudeau heads a minority government which is backed by the New Democratic Party (NDP), headed by Jagmeet Singh, a Khalistani sympathiser, IANS reported earlier.

Singh's NDP has 24 seats in parliament, whose support is critical for the survival of the Trudeau government.

Singh has been called out time and again on Twitter for attempting to meddle in Indian affairs, especially after he "raised concerns" over the crackdown in Punjab against 'Waris Punjab De' chief and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh.

According to India Narrative, Singh has long been suspected of attempts to link Khalistani and Kashmiri separatism from his perch in Canada. He is apparently connected with prominent Khalistani and Kashmiri separatist groups based in different countries of Europe, according to media reports.

--IANS

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Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday visited the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chattogram where he reviewed the grand Passing Out Parade of the officer cadets of the 84th 'Long Course' and interacted with them.

Gen Pande, who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh - his second trip to the country as Army chief, also felicitated the award winners of the passing out course for their exemplary performance.

"General Manoj Pande #COAS reviewed the Passing Out Parade at Bangladesh Military Academy #BMA, #Bangladesh as Chief Guest. #COAS commended the passing out cadets for an impeccable turnout & parade display, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information said in a tweet.

The Indian Army chief interacted with the cadets and presented the 'Bangladesh India Friendship Trophy' instituted for the best foreign cadet from friendly foreign countries of the passing out course from the BMA.

The first trophy this year is being awarded to officer cadet Everton of Tanzania.

This trophy is in reciprocation to the 'Bangladesh Trophy and Medal' instituted at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun in December 2021 for the best foreign cadet passing out the course, the Army said in a statement.

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The Army chief will be reviewing the POP at IMA, Dehradun on June 10 and present the Bangladesh Medal and the trophy.

On Monday, Gen Pande met his Bangladeshi counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed here and discussed various aspects of mutual interest and explored ways to further expand bilateral defence and security ties.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) - the media wing of the Bangladesh Armed Forces said the two army chiefs discussed the existing bilateral ties and future cooperation for the progress of the two countries.

"The Indian Army chief's visit is expected to play an important role in promoting relations between Bangladesh and India, the statement added.

He also interacted with Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division, and discussed aspects of mutual interest.

The Indian Army chief visited Bangladesh in July last year on his first foreign visit after assuming charge of the top post.

Gen Pande laid a wreath at Shikha Anirban and paid tributes to soldiers who laid down their lives for the Liberation of Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff visited India in April this year and reviewed the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.

The Indian High Commission in a statement said that these high-level exchanges of visits provide an opportunity to both sides to renew the close bonds of friendship and fraternal ties that exist between the Armed Forces of India and Bangladesh.
India is proud of its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US that is built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks in a tweet while thanking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the invitation to address a joint meeting of the US Congress during his visit to the country later this month.

"Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress," Modi said on Twitter.

"We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity," he said.

Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country. He will share his vision of India's future and speak on the global challenges facing the two countries, top congressional leaders had announced on Friday.

President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit to the US, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.

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"On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is our honour to invite you (Prime Minister Modi) to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22," the congressional leaders had said in a statement.

This will be the second time that Modi will address a joint meeting of the US Congress after June 2016.

Prime Minister Modi's upcoming address to the joint meeting of the US Congress is historic, officials said, noting that he is the first Indian prime minister to do so twice.

Globally in this respect, as a head of state or government, Prime Minister Modi is second only to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu who has addressed the US Congress thrice, they said.

This honour bestowed on Prime Minister Modi shows the bipartisan respect and support for him in the US, they said.
Sardar Khan, a convict in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, was on Tuesday granted bail by a special court here in a money laundering case linked to fugitive Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

Former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik is one of the main accused in the money laundering case.

Khan's bail was allowed by the special judge for cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), R N Rokade, on a personal bond of Rs 2,00,000.

Khan, however, will not walk out of the Central Prison in Aurangabad where he is currently lodged, as he is serving a life sentence in the bomb blasts case.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Khan had helped Malik negotiate a deal with Haseena Parkar, Dawood's sister.

Khan had sought bail under section 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) as he had not been arrested in the case. The section empowers the court to release an accused on accepting a bond.

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Malik, the main accused in the case, was arrested by the ED in February last year. He is in judicial custody and currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.

The senior NCP leader's bail application is pending before the Bombay High Court.

He was denied bail earlier by the special PMLA court.

The ED's case against Malik is based on a First Information Report registered by the National Investigation Agency against Dawood Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist and the key accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, and his aides under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Pakistan high commission on Tuesday said it issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to facilitate their participation at an event to be held on the eve of 'martyrdom day' of Guru Arjan Dev.

Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year. Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol.

"The Pakistan High Commission has issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled on the eve of Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev to be held in Pakistan from June 8-17," the mission said.

It said the issuance of the visas is in line with Pakistan's commitment to fully implement the bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines of 1974.

"On the occasion Charg d'Affaires Salman Sharif wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey. He further stated that Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims," the high commission said in a statement.

"During their stay in Pakistan, the pilgrims would visit a number of holy sites including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib," it said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated president Droupadi Murmu on receiving Suriname's highest civilian honour, 'Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star'.

"Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji on being conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname - Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. This special gesture from the Government and people of Suriname symbolises the enduring friendship between our countries," Modi tweeted on Tuesday.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday received the honour. She is on her first state visit since becoming president of the country.

"I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star," she had said in a tweet through her official Rashtrapati Bhavan handle.

"This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent. I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she had further added.

--IANS

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The Rajput community has now jumped into the fray in the ongoing wrestlers versus Brij Bhushan Singh battle.

The Rajput Vikas Samiti has expressed its support to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women grapplers.

The Rajput Samiti has also opposed the khaps' intervention in the protest by wrestlers, saying "the country is run by the constitution and law, not by panchayats."

A delegation of 70-80 members met Baghpat District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh on Monday and handed over a memorandum to him to be forwarded to the President of India, expressing their support to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The delegation of Rajputs was headed by Rajesh Chauhan, president of Rajput Vikas Samiti (RVS).

Chauhan said the allegations against Brij Bhushan should be properly investigated before taking any action against him.

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"We stand in support of the wrestlers, but khaps are politicising this issue and we strongly condemn this," said Rajesh Chauhan.

Ashok Chauhan, vice-president of RVS, said decisions taken in these khap panchayats are unlawful and unethical.

"On several occasions, it was seen that khap representatives only try to misuse their platform for political gains.

Even during the farmers' protest against the Centre's new agriculture laws, the khaps meddled in the affairs of farmers, and this is the reason why it took long for the agitators and the government to arrive at a settlement, and the protest dragged on for a long time," said Ashok Chauhan.

The Rajput Vikas Samiti was formed over two decades ago.

--IANS

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During a visit to Deeh block here, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday directed officials to solve problems related roads and housing promptly.

Irani held a 'chaupal' at Tekari Dandu Upper Primary School in Deeh block, which is part of the Salon Assembly constituency in Rae Bareli district. Irani is the MLA from Amethi and Salon is one of its Assembly segment.

Several people apprised Irani with their problems and the minister directed officers to resolve them at the earliest.

Later, the Amethi MLA reached the Deeh Gram Panchayat and Parsh



adepur. During an interaction with people, several women of the town complained of lack of houses.

Villagers from Chhatoh complained about not getting benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana to which Irani said that officers will resolve their problems by organising camps in the village.

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Days after an alleged attempt by two men, including a member of the minority community, to abduct a minor girl was foiled by locals, threatening posters appeared on shops owned by Muslim traders in Purola town here asking them to leave the place immediately.

The posters were put up on the shutters of the shops late on Sunday evening, Purola Station House Officer Khajan Singh Chauhan said.

They asked the shop owners to leave Purola immediately, he added.

Taking serious note of the situation, police on Monday held meetings with the local Vyapar Mandal and public representatives appealing to them to maintain peace and law and order.

A case was also registered against unidentified people of 'Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan', who allegedly pasted the posters, on charges of conspiring to disrupt peace of the town and provoke the religious sentiments of a particular community, Chauhan said.

Investigations into the pasting of posters has begun and people bearing allegiance to Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan are being interrogated, he added.

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A group of Muslims also met Purola SDM Devanand Sharma and SHO Chauhan to submit a memorandum to them demanding stern action against dubious and criminal elements of a particular community who were out to disrupt peace and social amity in the town.

Credentials of elements who have created a situation like this in the town must be examined and verified, they said.

Muslim families have been living peacefully with locals and doing business for years but for the past few years criminal-minded people are coming from outside and vitiating the social atmosphere in the town in the name of doing business, the memorandum alleged.

They also expressed solidarity with Vyapar Mandal for their demand to take action against criminal elements.

As far the demand for action against criminal elements is concerned, we are with the Vyapar Mandal, Cloth merchants Ashraf and Raees said.
As many as 500 Urban Health and Wellness Centres (UHWCs), spread across the State were virtually inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin here on Tuesday.

In his launch address, Stalin said the Dravidian model of governance regarded education and healthcare as its 'two eyes,' and the government accordingly implemented schemes.

Tamil Nadu excelled in sectors such as education, in development of the state and in fulfilling the aspirations of the people. However, this could not be seen or understood by a person who held the top position in the State, Stalin said in an implicit reference to Governor RN Ravi.

Without naming Ravi again, Stalin said 'he' (Governor) did not accept the Dravidian model of governance and hence made criticisms against the government to confuse people.

"People will not bother about it at all. People have understood everything clearly. Let him make such criticism continuously," the Chief Minister said, adding such remarks would only further invigorate them.

The CM listed healthcare schemes initiated during the previous DMK regimes, when late M Karunanidhi (1924-2018) was the Chief Minister. Also, Stalin listed a slew of healthcare schemes launched under his leadership since 2021.

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On June 5, Governor had reportedly remarked that investors would 'not come' merely because they were asked to do so. It was seen as a veiled attack on Stalin who recently undertook a trip to Singapore and Japan to woo investors.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu earlier in the day said Ravi belittled the foreign visit of Stalin who was striving to improve the economy of the state by attracting foreign investments.

As regards the UHWCs, these are intended to function as ancillary units of Urban Primary Health Centres. The UHWCs are located in areas under civic bodies such as corporations including the Greater Chennai Corporation and municipalities.

Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Vellore were among the reigons where the services could be availed, an official release here said.

Each UHWC was set up at a cost of Rs 25 lakh and in total, Rs 125 Crore is the cost of the initiative to set up the 500 new facilities.

A doctor, nurse, health inspector and a sanitary worker would be on duty in every UHWC, which would work between 8 AM to noon and from 4 PM to 8 PM to cater to about 25,000 people in a given area.

Totally, 500 doctors, as many nurses, health inspectors and sanitary workers have been appointed. The UHWCs would offer a wide range of healthcare services including maternity care and yoga.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and top officials participated.
Biyani said this would ensure that farmers get better prices for their produce because agriculture products purchased at support prices by the government would flow to these units, and this awould also reduce the economic burden on the government.

Prem Biyani, the executive president of Akhil Rajya Trade & Industry Association (Rajasthan), said the setting up of these food processing clusters would help the state export quality products along with consumption in the local markets.
For Sibari, Ashok and Nizamuddin, life has been all about hospitals, mortuaries and bodies for the last four days since their relatives went missing after the train accident in Odisha's Balasore district on June 2.

The trio was among hundreds of people trooped in to AIIMS Bhubaneswar to find their missing relatives.

Sibari Sardar of Kolkata has been frantically searching for her husband Samar, who was returning home from Chennai on the ill-fated Coromandel Express.

I searched for my husband in hospitals and morgues of Soro, Balasore, Cuttack and AIIMS Bhubaneswar, she said.

Sibari, a 35-year-old mother of a child, says she was afraid to scan the album at AIIMS Bhubaneswar containing the photograph of the deceased.

After mustering courage, I finally went through the it and there too I could not find my husband. I hope he is alive.

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Similar is the case of Odisha's Ramamani Behera. My husband had left home without informing me 16 days ago. On June 2, he called up my nephew and told him to be at Balasore station to receive him. He was returning home in Coromandel Express, she said.

As Ramamani's nephew waited for her husband, he got information that the train had crashed. My world collapsed when I came to know that my husband was in the train. His mobile also went unanswered, she said.

The case of Mohammad Nizaqmudin from Purnia in Bihar is different. He came to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in search of his son-in-law and two grandsons. Though he got the body of his youngest grandson Samir, his son-in-law and the other grandson Nasib were missing.

Nizammudin, 70, said he visited at least half-a-dozen hospitals in Odisha and searched for them.

It is difficult to continue the search as the administration has handed me the body of my younger grandson. I have to leave home with his body. My search is incomplete as the other two are still missing, he said.

Nizamuddin, has also raised a genuine problem. The Odisha government has provided a vehicle to carry the body packed in a plastic sheet. How can I cover 600km with this open body, which has now started to stink. They could have provided a coffin, he said.

Ashok Rabi Das of Malda in West Bengal was cursing his fate as he has lost his patience searching his brother Krishna Rabi Das since Saturday.

I have visited the accident site, Balasore mortuary and hospitals in Bhubaneswar. My old parents are calling me every 10 minutes, Ashok said.

Ashok said he requested authorities to put his brother's mobile number in location search to ascertain where he or his body was located.

We have been trying our best to help people in distress. Our officials are taking people to different mortuaries and hospitals to locate their relatives, said Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange.
The West Bengal Migrant Workers Union on Tuesday has demanded a judicial probe on the derailment of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening.

According to them, those travelling in the unreserved compartment of the train and killed should be identified and their indemnities should be disclosed officially, said the union's state chief and former CPI-M legislator S.M. Sadi.

"West Bengal has a large number of migrant workers. As the records of the casualties in the train from West Bengal have been identified, the majority were migrant workers. Our demand is one job for one family member for each of the migrant worker casualties in the train accident," he said.

Sadi also said that often the migrant workers from West Bengal die in accidents in other states. "But unfortunately, they do not get the necessary compensation. We do not want the same thing to be repeated in this case as well. Hence, we are also demanding a judicial probe in the matter."

He also said that it would have been better if the state government had announced a better compensation package for the families of the casualties. "But whatever it may be, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should ensure that the compensation and job offers do not remain promises and those go to the right people," Sadi added.

In fact, immediately after the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train derailment Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari too attacked the West Bengal government over the migrant workers' issue. "The current number of migrant workers from West Bengal is nine time of what it was in 2011 when the Trinamool Congress regime came to power in West Bengal for the first time. This is because of the disruptive police of the state government that is shying away industrial investment in the state and the resulting employment generation," Adhikari said.

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--IANS

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Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will open dedicated helpdesks at some railway stations in West Bengal from Wednesday to offer assistance to family members of those who lost their lives in the Balasore train accident for claim settlement.

LIC Zonal Manager (East) Ajay Kumar said dedicated helpdesks at various railway stations, such as Howrah, Shalimar, Kharagpur and Medinipur, will be operational to offer spot assistance in addition to services from branches.

"I am waiting for the list of the deceased from the railways so that we can contact their family members and deploy our resources for identification to settle claims. It will be an extended help to the family in this hour of crisis," Kumar told PTI.

The life insurer had said it would expedite claim settlements to provide financial relief for the victims of the triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore on June 2.

Over 275 people were killed and more than 1,100 passengers were injured in the train crash.

More such helpdesks are expected to be operational wherever it will be required, the LIC official said.

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Several other insurance companies have also announced their support for the affected families with simplification in the claim process and dedicated helplines.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has also asked all insurance companies to take measures in this regard in all possible ways.

Liberty General Insurance, which provides personal accident insurance coverage to IRCTC train passengers, launched a dedicated 24/7 helpline for its policyholders impacted by the tragedy.

Aegon Life, a digital insurer, also announced its support for the families devastated by the train crash and simplified the claim process.

Apart from registered death certificates, lists of casualties published by the railway authorities, police or any state or central government authorities will be accepted as proof of death by the insurance companies.


The first of the five SUVs called the Elevate, powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), was unveiled in Delhi on Tuesday. While the company did not declare its price, it is expected to be between Rs 12-17 lakh (ex-showroom). Honda Cars is planning to roll out its first India-focused electric vehicle (EV) in the next three years, said its President and Chief Executive Officer Takuya Tsumura, adding that the Japanese carmaker would be launching a total of five premium sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in India by 2030.



The second SUV would be an EV. It would be based on the Elevate, Tsumura said in an interview with Business Standard. The Elevate is Hondas take on the midsize SUV segment that includes rivals like the Creta, the Seltos and the Grand Vitara, among others.



Honda Cars annual domestic sales increased by about 7 per cent to 91,418 in 2022-23 (FY23). This was significantly lower than the Indian car industrys growth that stood at 26.7 per cent in FY23, according to SIAM. The company did not reveal whether the other three SUVs would be ICE-based or electric.

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We are now participating in only 10 per cent, which is the share of sedans in the Indian car market. The SUV segment is now 40 per cent of the market and it continues to grow. With the Elevate, we are re-entering the SUV segment, said Tsumura. Honda Cars India sells two cars  the Amaze and the City. They are both sedans. The company discontinued the WRV sedan in FY23.



On EVs, the taxes are quite low right now compared to hybrids or petrol cars, he pointed out. After launching the Elevate, the company expects its domestic sales to pick up. Tsumura said the company expects unit sales growth of about 35 per cent in the second half (October-March period) of 2023-24.



The central government charges just 5 per cent goods and services tax on EVs, compared to 43 per cent on hybrids and 45 per cent on petrol cars. Electric cars comprise about 1.3 per cent of the total car market in India. I am not sure how long this will continue. We need to observe the situation, he added.



I think competition will be tough in this segment. However, I believe we are launching one of the best models (Elevate) in this segment, he added. Tsumura said that in the SUV segment, Honda Cars competitors have introduced many models.



The companys sedans  Amaze and City  are the two pillars in the Indian market. The Elevate is expected to become the third pillar, he noted. He said that the product quality, design, drivability, safety features, etc of the Elevate give the company the confidence to perform well in the SUV segment.


Honda Elevate will be the third volume pillar for the Japanese company after Honda City and Honda Amaze. The sales for the Honda cars have seen a massive decline in recent years, and the carmaker has a lot of expectations from Honda Elevate to recover from the sales dip in the recent past. Honda Car is all set to unveil its highly anticipated mid-size SUV, Honda Elevate, on June 6. Honda is going to reveal it in India, making it the first country to introduce its all-new Honda Elevate. The car will first launch in the Indian market and later in the overseas market.

Honda Elevate SUV: Key features According to the revealed details, the new SUV Honda Elevate is expected to have features like headlamps, DRLs and taillamps, a 17-inch alloy wheel and an electric sunroof. The interior part also looks impressive with the touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, wireless charger and many more. Honda's new model will be positioned as a rival to popular models like Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, and MG Astor.

What is the price of a Honda Elevate SUV? The Honda Elevate price is going to be unveiled today, and the official launch most likely is going to take place in August or September 2023. The price of the new Honda Elevate is going to be around 10 lakhs to 18 lakhs (ex-showroom). We can also expect to be well-equipped with 2-ADAS. It will get a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine which is paired with a 6-speed MT/CVT and 1.5-litre strong hybrid clubbed with e-CVT.

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Honda Elevate SUV: Booking

The unofficial booking of the Honda Elevate SUV is already started with a token price of Rs. 21,000.


Khara, in a communique to shareholders in the annual report for 2022-23 (FY23), said it was widely expected that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would make tangible progress in this direction during this fiscal year.

State Bank of India (SBI) will focus on factoring in environment-induced financial risk in its overall risk management strategy during the current fiscal year (2023-24), according to its Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara.
Economic Times.

The approval is regarding spectrum in the 3,700-4,200 MHz band, which is also known as the mid-band, 1,427-1,518 MHz band, and some frequencies in the 470-582 MHz band. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is seeking approval from the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) to incorporate new or unused spectrum bands in the upcoming auction of airwaves for mobile services, reported by the

ET reported citing an official.

Spectrum in 3,700-4,200 MHz is currently being used by the Department of Space (DoS) and ministries of broadcasting, defence, and civil aviation, among others. Therefore, we have to discuss the matter with the CoS and how much quantum can be freed for auction, the official told ET. The mid-band is ideal for 5G services and in the last sale, the spectrum in the 3,300 MHz was bought by all the three telcos,reported citing an official.

ET. Hence, if CoS decides that the spectrum cant be freed immediately in the required bands, the frequencies will not be put up for sale.

DoT plans to auction frequencies in the millimetre wave band like 27.5-29.5 GHz and 37-40 GHz, and the CoS may be told about it, another official said in the ET report. Post approval from CoS, DoT will head to seek a nod from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) regarding recommendations on pricing and other modalities, the official was quoted by. Hence, if CoS decides that the spectrum cant be freed immediately in the required bands, the frequencies will not be put up for sale.

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About Committee of Secretaries

The CoS is an institutional body headed by the cabinet secretary which regulates any matter that requires wider deliberation. The approval requests sent to the committee are discussed among various secretaries of the central government to help make a decision.



As per deliberations already concluded, DoS and DoT have agreed to make available the frequency bands from 37-37.5 GHz for IMT or mobile services while 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5 GHz will be for mobile services and satellite gateway links, the official told ET. The request by DoT to seek CoS approval for auctioning spectrum in certain bands comes amidst opposition from a few quarters in regard to the proposed auction of new bands including the 37 GHz and 3700-4200 MHz. The department is considering a mixed-use (mobile and satellite) for the 37 GHz band.



Currently, the auction shows a low bidding intensity with only two buyers in the picture  Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel  effectively in the fray since Vodafone Idea (Vi) is struggling to survive in the middle of a cashflow turmoil. In addition to this, the spectrum expiring in 2024 will also be put to auction along with unsold airwaves from last years sale. The report mentions that DoT is also planning to put airwaves in 11 bands ranging from 600 MHz to above 37 GHz in this sale.

Reportedly, Airtel and Vi have permits that will be expiring in 2024 in some circles such as West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Odisha. In the 2022 sale, the winning price of UP (East) rose around 80% over its base price as Airtel  whose permits expire in 2024 in Indias most populous circle  had a bit of a struggle with Jio to protect its business.
Making a strong pitch for increased bilateral flying rights, Gulf major Emirates Airline's President Sir Tim Clark on Tuesday said the group has had no increase in seats in India since 2015 and during this period, the country's economy has grown at a great pace.

India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world and Gulf carriers have been seeking enhanced bilateral flying rights to operate more flights to and from the country. However, the government is not in favour of granting more bilateral flying rights.

Emirates can operate 65,000 seats from Dubai to India in each direction every week.

According to him, Emirates has had no seat increase in India since 2015 and during this period, the Indian economy has moved at a great pace.

At a media briefing on the sidelines of the IATA World Air Transport Summit here, Clark said that demand in and out of India is being compromised by an access policy, which "I don't think does them any favours".

Emirates, which operates only wide-body A380s and B777s, flies to nine Indian cities and operates more than 160 weekly flights to India.

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Talking about Air India, which is now owned by Tata Group, Clark said the airline needs to make its way in the huge domestic market in India.

"And I believe that if Air India wants to expand, it can't curtail the rights of foreign carriers from the countries that wish to expand into... it is very simple but arithmetic," he said.

He cited the example of Turkey, saying that the country opened up and built Turkish Airlines profitably. The country has built a huge airport and then allowed carriers to come in. "And that's a perfect model. I would suggest the Indian government (to) look seriously at that".

In March, Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal said that India does not have plans "as of now" to provide additional seats to Middle East carriers.

Clark said the Indian government has a sectoral approach. Whether it is Dubai to India and Abu Dhabi to India, Indian carriers can come from anywhere in India to Dubai but "we can only go to the designated points of the Indian government allow us to do that".

"Fundamentally, that's not helpful. But that's the way it is. We have made multiple approaches to the Indian government and they have been resolute in their response, which is no," he noted.

The reply was to a query as to whether Emirates and Etihad could come together and share their bilateral flying rights.

The Gulf carrier has a partnership with US-based United Airlines.

Responding to a query related to the partnership in the Indian context, Clark said that United Airlines had applied to put its code on Emirates aircraft but the proposal was refused by the Indian government.

On whether Emirates would look to buy a stake in an Indian airline, Clark said he was not sure that such an acquisition would solve the problem with the Indian government.

"So if you buy this, you can have more access. I don't think that's part of the policy," he added.
Indias cost-effective generic drugs are crucial in providing affordable health care solutions in Africa, including essential medicines for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other common ailments.

Africa continent contributed 18 per cent of the total $19.9 billion exports of finished pharma products, excluding active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), in FY23, according to the Commerce department data. While pharma exports to South Africa (7.6 per cent), Kenya (6 per cent), and Tanzania (1.1 per cent) increased, such exports to Nigeria (-13.5 per cent), Ethiopia (-1.4 per cent), Uganda (-22.7 per cent), and Ghana (-17.4 per cent) declined.


However, Kalyani will remain the companys managing director as the special resolution was passed with the support of the majority of the promoter group. A special resolution requires the support of shareholders holding at least 75 per cent of the equity. Overall, 75.45 per cent of shareholders voted in favor of the proposal, while 24.55 per cent voted against it. More than half of Bharat Forge's institutional shareholders voted against reappointing B N Kalyani as the company's managing director (MD) last week, The Economic Times reported on Tuesday. 53.51 per cent of institutional investors voted against the resolution, while 46.49 per cent voted in favour, according to the voting results published on the BSE.



Institutional investors including foreign and domestic funds hold a 43.87 per cent stake in Bharat Forge as on March 31, 2023, while the promoters own 45.26 per cent. Retail investors held around 11 per cent of the firm. Bharat Forge had got the nod from shareholders for the reappointment of B N Kalyani as MD and G K Agarwal as deputy MD for five years on August 9, 2018.



IiAS had stated that Kalyanis total salary package in FY23 was around Rs 21.26 crore, with the fixed component constituting 85 per cent. In FY24, his remuneration is around Rs 28.67 crore, out of which 79 per cent constitutes the fixed part. Proxy advisory firms such as Institutional Investors Advisory Services ( IiAS) and Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) had recommended that investors vote against the special resolution to appoint Kalyani as the managing director, citing his excessive remuneration.

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In the last 24 hours, the global crypto market cap has fallen over 4.5 per cent, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin, the largest crypto token by market cap, has fallen nearly 5 per cent and was trading at $25,720. This is the lowest it has touched since March 17. The cryptocurrency market saw a sharp sell-off on Monday after news arrived that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) has sued the world's largest crypto exchange Binance and its founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Changpeng Zhao (CZ). The complaint accuses Binance of secretly controlling customers' assets, allowing them to divert customer funds according to their whims.



Moreover, Binance Coin (BNB), a token used to pay transaction and trading fees on Binance, fell nearly 9 per cent in the last 24 hours. Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, Dogecoin, and Polygon, among other tokens, were also trading deep in the red.



In its 136-page complaint, the SEC said that Binance created separate US entities "as part of an elaborate scheme to evade US federal securities laws." For three years, till June 2022, Sigma Chain, a trading firm owned by CZ, was engaged in artificially inflating the trading volume of crypto asset securities on the Binance.US platform, it added. "Bitcoin is currently still holding around the very important psychological level of sub-$25,700, whereas a bounce back could be likely from here, breaking the same can lead it to $20,000 levels. The SECs lawsuit have explicitly called out several popular coins like SOL, ADA, MATIC as securities causing their price to significantly fall as well," said Shubham Hudda, senior manager, CoinSwitch Markets Desk.

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Binance was founded in Shanghai in 2017 by CZ, a Canadian citizen born and raised until 12 in China. While its holding company is based in the Cayman Islands, Binance says it does not have a headquarters and has declined to state the location of its main Binance.com exchange. "We will continue to cooperate with regulators and policymakers in the US and across the globe because that is the right thing to do," Binance said in a blog post on Monday. However, it added that Binance is not a US exchange, so the SEC's actions are "limited in reach."



The SEC's accusations are the latest in a series of legal woes for Binance. In March, another regulator in the US, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, filed its own lawsuit against Binance, accusing it of operating in the country illegally. The exchange is also under investigation by the US Department of Justice. In its complaint, the SEC also alleged that Binance and Zhao had "free reign" over billions of dollars of crypto assets from the US.
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Shares of Maan Aluminium zoomed 19 per cent to Rs 296.60, hitting 52-week high on the BSE in Tuesday's intra-day trade, in an otherwise weak market after the company announced its board will meet on Friday, June 9, to consider bonus issue and stock split plan.The meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 inter-alia to consider a proposal for sub-division/split of the equity shares of the company having a face value of Rs 10 each. The board will also consider Issue of bonus shares to the shareholders of the company, Maan Aluminium said in an exchange filing.At 01:08 PM, the stock was trading 18 per cent higher at Rs 295.10, as compared to 0.21 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. It surpassed its previous high of Rs 258.55, touched February 3, 2023. Average trading volumes on the counter jumped four-fold today with a combined 2.7 million equity shares having changed hands on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.In the past one year, the stock has zoomed 145 per cent as against 12.5 per cent rally in the benchmark index.A stock split is a corporate action in which a company issues additional shares to shareholders, increasing the total shares by the specified ratio based on the shares they held previously. Companies often choose to split their stock to lower its trading price to a more comfortable range for most investors and to increase the liquidity of trading in its shares.Bonus shares are additional shares given to the current shareholders without any additional cost, based upon the number of shares that a shareholder owns.Maan Aluminium is one of the nation's largest manufacturers and exporters of Aluminium extruded products from central India.In financial year 2022-23 (FY23), the companys revenue grew by a healthy 42 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while profit after tax was up by 131 per cent. Exports grew by 35 per cent YoY, supported by market share expansion in key geographies and further strengthening of its export and domestic market network, the company said.
(Reuters) - India's markets appeals tribunal on Tuesday set aside a ruling by the markets regulator cancelling the licence of Brickwork Ratings India, according to an order published on the tribunal's website.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had canceled the license of the rating agency in October in a case of alleged violation of laws applicable for rating agencies.

The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), which hears appeals against orders passed by SEBI, said violations by Brickwork Ratings "were not deliberate or fraught with malafides or fraud and therefore cannot result in the cancellation of the license".

The tribunal, however, partly affirmed the regulator's findings of alleged violations and referred the matter back to SEBI for imposing appropriate penalties.

(Reporting by Jayshree P Upadhyay)

Also Read Abolition of Odisha Administrative Tribunal constitutionally valid: SC Reconsider Satyam order: Securities Appellate Tribunal to Sebi SEBI plans to restrict borrowing by AIFs to prevent systemic risk Relief for Brickwork Ratings: SAT sets aside Sebi order cancelling licence Lok Sabha approves setting up of GST Appellate Tribunal to solve disputes Volume recovery, demand for SUVs drive up Maruti Suzuki India stock IT stocks witness fresh turbulence; posts biggest decline in nearly 2 mths 5 Adani Group stocks settle in positive; Ambuja Cements stock up 4.54% Relief for Brickwork Ratings: SAT sets aside Sebi order cancelling licence HBL Power rallies 10%; hits new high after nearly 7% equity changes hands
Safety concerns of the Indian Railway need to be addressed urgently, especially at a time when the national transporter is seeing a significant adoption of technology. However, the railways are not the only sector in India that is set for a technological leap. As PM Narendra Modi prepares to leave for his first state visit to the US in 15 years, India is set to elevate its strategic technology partnership with the US in defence, energy and space. Among various agreements, all eyes will be on the GE Jet Engines pact. So, what are all on the agenda for Modi-Biden to meet? And what should we expect from this?

On June 4th, two days after a three-train crash resulted in 275 deaths and 1,175 injuries in Odishas Balasore district, the Ministry of Railways recommended an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the incident. A railways official also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs was already assisting the Railways in the probe and preliminary findings indicated a signalling error. While we wait for more answers, let us analyse how the Railways has performed when it comes to ensuring the safety of its passengers. How is it managing critical areas like signalling and maintenance? And which zones are lagging behind?
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed the Yogi Adityanath government was making do with acting police chiefs instead of a full-time DGP as they were more likely to do the ruling party's bidding.

Addressing party workers at an event here, Yadav took a swipe at the BJP over its "double-engine government" slogan, saying "This is the first time since Independence that the state got its third acting DGP in a row. Are the engines of Lucknow and Delhi colliding?"



Vijay Kumar, an IPS officer of the 1988 cadre, has been appointed as acting DGP of Uttar Pradesh. Before him, R K Vishwakarma and D S Chauhan served as acting police chiefs of the state.

With the appointment of acting police chiefs, the BJP leaders can do whatever they wish, the Samajwadi Party chief alleged.

Referring to the Lakhimpur Kehri violence in which four of the agitating farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars in 2021, Yadav said, "BJP members have nothing to do with the law"



He also cited the wrestlers' protest demanding the arrest of BJP MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh facing sexual harassment charges to say, "Our daughters had to sit on dharna for justice."



The Samajwadi Party president alleged that several encounters have taken place in the state under the BJP rule but the "police could not produce in courts the pistols used by them in the exchange of fire".

Yadav claimed that during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, people's enthusiasm was in favour of his party.

"But the results were contrary to people's response. People were seen with SP but the results were not in our favour. Had we managed booths, the results would have been different," he said.

Also Read 'Fake' encounters are staged in UP: Akhilesh on killing of Atiq Ahmad's son BJP might lose all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2024, says SP chief Akhilesh Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav flays rise in milk prices, bus fares BJP has made agriculture an unprofitable proposition: SP's Akhilesh Yadav National parties should support regional ones against BJP, says Akhilesh 'Pilot has no intention of leaving Cong', says Rajasthan Minister Murari EC should tell people why no elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah BJP claims emergency-like situation in Karnataka, Congress retorts Public mandate will decide Madhya Pradesh's next CM: Cong's Kamal Nath Headlines management: Cong slams govt for seeking CBI probe into rail crash

The Samajwadi party chief said that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will decide the future course of the country.

"It is the responsibility of the people of Uttar Pradesh to uproot them (BJP from power) in 2024. The new parliament building has been constructed. It may happen that you might not be able to vote in future. They might have learnt from Russia to continue ruling the country," Yadav told the gathering.
The new Congress government and the opposition BJP in Karnataka are slowly getting into confrontational mode over a plethora of contentious issues.

The Congress government has made it clear that it would repeal all anti-people laws made during the previous BJP regime. Its plan to repeal the anti-cow slaughter law is resulting in a war of words between the leaders of two parties.

"It is not even a fortnight in Karnataka after Congress assumed power, but the repeated statements of ministers warning imprisonment every time, reminds the strategy of Congress during emergency in 1975," former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated on Tuesday.

"If you think in the beginning stage itself that the mandate given by the people is to trample the opposition, you will have to pay a heavy price," Bommai told the ruling party.

Speaking on the statements of Congress ministers over any opposition against the revision of the law on cow slaughter, textbook revision, Bommai remarked that the Congress leaders have already got hang of the power.

"If the statements of a few ministers are observed, they are actually curtailing freedom of speech. They are talking in a fashion that they will bulldoze the opposition's point of view. It is feeling like Karnataka state is entering a state of emergency. One of the ministers says he will hit the officer with a knife. The people have given the mandate to serve the people, not misuse it. We as an opposition party won't sit quiet. Let the Congress jail anyone they want. The jails won't be sufficient if people turn against you," Bommai stated.

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"We are not an Islamic country to dominate over people, we will not allow an emergency as people hold the key to democracy. We will not give any room for this development," he added.

Commenting on Bommai's statements, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao retaliated on Tuesday, "Mr Bommai, which emergency situation are you talking about? Don't you feel that your PM Narendra Modi government's ways of misusing investigating agencies to trample on freedom of speech is like an emergency situation?"

He further attacked that the BJP leaders are acting like a cat which had burnt its tail after losing elections. "Mr Bommai, as a responsible government we need to keep the healthy society intact. I pity your discretion for making judgment on action taken against those who violate laws and take law into their hands is dubbed as an emergency situation," he charged.

"Are you with those who violate the law?" Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao questioned Bommai. Bommai replied saying all these years those who violated laws and committed crimes took shelter under the Congress led UPA government. "Now, the central government has initiated legal action against those who violated laws. All this is being done within the purview of monitoring of the judiciary," he stated.

--IANS

mka/shb/
Even as Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar on Monday said that the first opposition parties meeting scheduled for June 12 had to be deferred due to refusal by Congress' top leadership, the grand old party said it asked for another date as the top leaders of many like-minded parties were not in a position to turn up for the deliberation.

The remarks came on the day when Nitish Kumar faced questions over the under-construction bridge collapse on river Ganga on Sunday in Bihar, while he was trying to bridge the gap between the opposition parties ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to the media here, Congress' Bihar in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said: "I spoke to Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday. He wants all the parties' chiefs who are capable of taking the decision to attend the meeting on June 12. This was not happening, so it has been decided to speak to everyone and arrange a meeting after June 22."

The Congress leader's remarks came hours after the Bihar Chief Minister speaking to the media in Patna, said: "Except for the Congress, the majority of the opposition political parties had agreed to meet in Patna on June 12.

"The Congress leadership was not comfortable with the venue. Since, there was no point in meeting without the grand old party, I asked him to discuss the party and then finalise a date. We will match the date with every opposition political party and then decide about the meeting. For now, the scheduled meeting on June 12 stands postponed," Nitish Kumar said.

The JD-U leader had called the meeting of like-minded parties on June 12 in Patna after discussing with the top Congress leadership and also after meeting and convincing the top leaders of several parties in last one and half month.

Also Read As Nitish tries to bring Opposition together, here's a look at his journey MPC lowers projection for inflation, raises growth outlook a bit in FY24 Opposition parties' meeting in Patna likely to take place on June 12 RBI monetary policy: Will the central bank hike repo rate again tomorrow? RBI repo rate decision: When and where to watch speech of governor Das They talked about 'Kavach' but it's not there: Raut on Odisha train tragedy Shiv Sena minister bats for 2019 LS seat-sharing formula with BJP PM Modi's schemes important for self-reliance of poor: Yogi Adityanath Odisha rail crash: NCP accuses Centre of ignoring CAG report, Kavach funds Basavaraj Bommai takes responsibility for BJP's drubbing in Karnataka polls

Kumar was also conveyed of the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's return from the US on June 10, after which the date of June 12 was finalised and the JD-U leader invited several leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray among others who gave their go ahead to attend the meeting.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin then cited his engagements on June 12 and asked to postpone the meeting for another date.

Following Stalin's request, Congress also came forward with the same proposal citing the personal engagements of party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and asked to convene the meeting on June 22 or some other dates.

This demand was also echoed by CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury.

Thus, looking at the request of several leaders meeting has been postponed.

--IANS

aks/pgh
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to meet Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, in an effort to seek his support against the Centre's Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.

According to AAP sources, the meeting of the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the national president of the Samajwadi Party will be held in Lucknow.

Kejriwal had on May 23 embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance.

The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'.

The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case.

Also Read National parties should support regional ones against BJP, says Akhilesh BJP has made agriculture an unprofitable proposition: SP's Akhilesh Yadav People will ensure BJP's defeat in all LS seats in Delhi in 2024: Akhilesh RSS pays tributes to Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shanti Bhushan at annual meet Akhilesh meets BSP MP, triggers speculation of latter's switch to SP Everything back to normalcy after 51 hours: Hardeep Puri defends Vaishnaw Shah, Nadda meet to discuss 'crucial issues', cabinet reshuffle speculated Congress, JD-U offer different versions on now-deferred Opposition meeting They talked about 'Kavach' but it's not there: Raut on Odisha train tragedy Shiv Sena minister bats for 2019 LS seat-sharing formula with BJP
The Congress on Tuesday slammed the government over the Railways seeking a CBI probe into the Odisha railway tragedy, and termed the move as headlines management.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced on Sunday evening that a CBI probe had been recommended into the accident.

Slamming the government, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Even before the Commissioner of Railway Safety has submitted his report on Balasore train disaster, a CBI inquiry is announced."



This is nothing but headlines management having failed to meet deadlines, he said on Twitter.

Ramesh also raised the issue of the 2016 Kanpur rail accident in which 150 lives were lost, and noted that the NIA has is yet to come out with its report.

"Ab yeh Chronology yaad kijiye 1. Nov 20, 2016: Indore-Patna Express derails near Kanpur. Over 150 people lose their lives. 2. Jan 23, 2017: Then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu writes to Union Home Minister asking for NIA probe into this accident.

"3. Feb 24, 2017: PM says Kanpur train accident is a conspiracy. 4. Oct 21, 2018: Newspapers report NIA will NOT file any chargesheet in the derailment. 5: June 6, 2023: Still no OFFICIAL news on NIA final report on Kanpur derailment. Zero accountability!" Ramesh said.

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Ramesh's attack comes a day after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the probe agency is meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents, and cannot fix accountability for technical, institutional and political failures.

The crash on Friday last involving two passenger trains and a goods train killed 275 people and injured more than 1,100, while the movement of goods and passenger trains on the busy route was also disrupted.
If the Opposition comes up with a credible alternative ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, people may consider it, said NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, stressing that the decision on the new Parliament building could have been taken through dialogue with political parties.

The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was speaking in a Sauhard Baithak' (meeting to foster amity) at Mahatma Gandhi Mission University in Maharashtra's Aurangabad.

Speaking about next year's general elections, he said, My concern is if people will have the same approach for the (2024) Lok Sabha elections as they have for states (assembly polls). If the Opposition unites and offers a credible alternative, people may consider it.

If the Opposition doesn't move wisely, it can't expect people to think of a different choice on their own, he said.

Many opposition parties, including the Congress and JD(U), are trying to forge unity ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

If rulers accept the policy of peacefulness and dialogue, one can come up with a solution for any issue, he said. Today, the situation (in the country) is really worrying, said Pawar.

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He cited the example of developments over the Babri Masjid issue when Chandra Shekhar was the prime minister. The then PM called Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and me to find a way out over the Babri issue through dialogue. While both (Hindu and Muslim sides) wanted to resolve it through talks, the government collapsed, he said.

Earlier, Pawar said, they faced challenges while changing the name of the Aurangabad-based Marathwada University to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. It was first opposed and the government revoked the decision, he said. But later we reached out to students in several colleagues and implemented that decision because we had a dialogue (with them), Pawar said.

The NCP leader said rulers and administrators should work with the thinking that everyone is ours and deliver the message effectively. Else, wrong things will happen. In the recent period, such things are happening in many places, Pawar said.

He also expressed concerns over attacks on Muslims and Christians.

The picture in the country today makes me worry about Muslims and Christians. In many states, churches are being attacked. Christians are peaceful and they never take an extreme stand, he said.

If someone decides to embrace a different religion, it is a personal call. But some people attack their entire community. Mistakes can be made by both Muslims as well as Hindus. In our country the number of Muslims who are backward cannot be neglected, Pawar said.

A section can't be ignored if society has to be taken on the path of development. Though the common public thinks positively about Muslims, some people focus on how to grow bitterness and hatred. This is a big challenge for our country, he said.

The senior NCP leader rued that there has been a general decline in engaging in dialogue for parliamentary activities. Earlier too, he said, political parties had differences but they tried to resolve them through dialogue.

I didn't understand why there was a need for a new Parliament building. The decision about it could have been taken through dialogue (with political parties). But I learnt about the new building through newspapers, he said.

As many as 20 Opposition parties stayed away from the inauguration of the new Parliament building which was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. The Congress accused the PM of treating the inauguration like a coronation.

Without naming anyone, Pawar said, Key persons from the government do not regularly attend Parliament sessions. If the head of the government comes to Parliament someday, that day feels different. Parliament is above all. If importance is not given to it, people's perception (of it) also gets impacted.

Calling himself the leader of a small political party in Parliament, Pawar said, We (opposition) demanded to invite the President for the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building. There was no need to oppose it (by ruling BJP). A photograph clicked after the first session of Parliament had many leaders of the country, including Dr B R Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Pawar said.

The Opposition parties boycotted the event accusing the BJP-led Centre of sidelining President Droupadi Murmu. They insisted that the inauguration be done by President Murmu as she is the constitutional head of the country.

Pawar also alleged that elected leaders didn't get the chance to enter the new building first. He said, The first photo of the new Parliament building that came out was not with the elected members but with people who were wearing saffron clothes.
BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting at party's central office extension here on late Monday night.

Sources said that BJP's General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh was also present during the sudden meeting.

Although the complete details of the meeting are yet to come, but it is being said that the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, the special public relations campaign being run by the party and the expansion campaign of the party especially 'Mission South', were discussed in the meeting.

Recently, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu had met Shah and Nadda.

The meeting is being said to be crucial amidst the speculations of possible reshuffle in the Union cabinet.

--IANS

Also Read BJP President Nadda to visit Odisha tomorrow, to address 2 public meetings As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today BJP leaders Amit Shah, JP Nadda to hold roadshows in southern Karnataka BJP leaders Shah, Nadda to hold roadshows in southern K'taka ahead of polls BJP meeting likely next month in Delhi to endorse extension of Nadda's term Congress, JD-U offer different versions on now-deferred Opposition meeting They talked about 'Kavach' but it's not there: Raut on Odisha train tragedy Shiv Sena minister bats for 2019 LS seat-sharing formula with BJP PM Modi's schemes important for self-reliance of poor: Yogi Adityanath Odisha rail crash: NCP accuses Centre of ignoring CAG report, Kavach funds

stp/sha


Were aware of a very small number of Google Pixel Watch users having an issue with the glass on the back of the watch. Were working to identify its cause and rectify the situation as quickly as possible, Google said in a statement to the tech website Android Police. Google is aware of the Pixel Watchs backplate falling off and it is working to identify its cause, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.



While contacting Google support has worked for most users, as the company sent a replacement unit. In some cases, Pixel Watch owners had to raise the issue as support demanded $300 to file a warranty claim or denied a replacement. For the past few months, Google's Pixel Watch owners have been complaining about the backplate suddenly falling off from the watch. While acknowledging the issue, Google recently said that it is aware of the Pixel Watchs backplate falling off and it is working to identify its cause.



In March, some users complained about the alarm not working properly and going off late because of a bug. Several users shared about this issue on Reddit and the majority of them claimed that the back fell off, when they took the watch out of the charging puck. Some users pointed out that there might be a problem with the adhesive holding the watchs back and case together.

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21 Bulgarian students receive Chinese Ambassador Scholarships

Xinhua) 13:10, June 06, 2023

SOFIA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- For the third consecutive year, Chinese Ambassador Scholarships were handed out here on Monday to outstanding Bulgarian university students studying Chinese.

This year, scholarships were granted to 21 students from four universities.

Since the establishment of the scholarships in 2021, the project has received a lot of attention from experts, scholars, and Chinese language lovers in Bulgaria's academic circles, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dong Xiaojun said at the award ceremony.

The scholarships aim to promote the development of Chinese language education in Bulgaria, stimulate the enthusiasm of students to learn Chinese, and enable more young people to learn about China and Chinese culture, Dong said at the event, held in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski."

The scholarship supports the students and enables them to realize their dreams, and it also promotes friendly relations between the two countries, Dong said.

"Thank you for your gesture to our students," said Sasho Penov, Bulgaria's caretaker minister of education and science. "I want to assure you that this will be an even greater incentive for learning the Chinese language in Bulgaria."

He said he hoped that successful bilateral cooperation would continue, and better results would be achieved.

Appreciating the opportunity for the scholarship, Nancy Chepanova, a student from the University of Plovdiv and a scholarship receiver said it served as an additional motivation not to give up and a recognition for the work done.

Victoria Petrova from South-West University said that learning Chinese was her dream come true. "Since my first day as a student, my interest in Chinese language and culture has grown day by day," Petrova said.

She said she hoped that after graduating, she would have the opportunity to go to China and experience its cultural richness.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US, an eminent Indian-American venture capitalist has said Indians should be allowed to work on US defense projects as it would give a big boost to the bilateral ties and reduce the cost of innovation in the US defense sector.

Prime Minister Modi, when he comes here, should ask for that, said Venkatesh Shukla, general partner, Monta Vista Capital, and former TiE Global chairperson.

Opening up of the US defense sector for Indian software companies would help reduce the security vulnerabilities of the US defense sector, would give a big boost to bilateral ties, boost the innovation ecosystem in India and reduce the cost of innovation in the US defense sector, he asserted.

"One area that is huge here. It's completely untapped by India, and that area is ..it's software for the Department of Defense and all the critical infrastructure," Shukla told PTI in an interview.

The former chairman of TiE Global said the critical infrastructure in this country is all vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

"Because they're running on COBOL, running on 30-year-old Linux systems, they're running on operating systems that have known problems. The US just does not have enough manpower," he said.

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"If an Indian sitting in India could work on that project. So instead of spending USD200,000; now you spend USD30-40,000 increasing the capacity to improve the system several times.

"But Indians are not allowed to work on defense projects. Ability of Indians to work on defense projects, ability of India to work on critical infrastructure projects in the US. It's a massive opportunity. Massive opportunity. And, if I were to give one advice to Modi it is that. Ask for that," Shukla said.

"The highest levels of the intelligence community here sweat every day that rogue countries or rogue agencies from these countries could attack and paralyze the key systems here, the critical infrastructure here. It's just a matter of choosing the time and opportunity. They know it. They just don't have a solution for it. Solution is standing right in front of them," he said.

"It's not that they don't wanna do. It's that people don't know what to offer to India. India does not know what to ask for. I'm telling you this is the truth," Shukla told PTI. "Indian citizens should be allowed to work on your defense software projects."



"Right now, the US is trying to sell India the armament. Instead of selling the armament, you say, we'll give you business. Now India has money to buy or whatever. The US doesn't know what to offer India. India does not know what to ask for. I'm telling you at the, at the highest level, it's a complete win-win relationship," he said.

Shukla said India is on the cusp of becoming a global hub of innovations, but for a set of necessary reforms including bureaucratic structure and cumbersome compliances.

It'' very pleasing and satisfying that India has become one of the biggest centers for startup innovation, he said. "If the policies were to become more favourable, India would be after the US, India would be the place where the innovation for the rest of the world will come from. There's a lot of things to be improved," he said.

Among the major hurdles that the Indian Startups face is compliance burden and red tape, he said.

"There are a lot of things. The burden of compliance. But the fundamental thing is there's a political will to make things easier for the startups. Why doesn't it happen? The reason it does not happen is that each agency, each department, they don't have a shared collective understanding of what the desirable outcome is. And if we don't have that, then each one optimizes what they think is best for it," he said.

So, if you are a multinational company based in India, small startup, which has branches all over India, the reporting requirement to RBI and, and permission requirement, even for small transaction is so high that people decide that, let's just set it up in Dubai; let's just set it up in Singapore," Shukla said.

"As soon as you have operations in more than one country, the setup in India is the compliance burden and the speed of transaction is not what is needed," he said acknowledging that while the atmosphere inside the country is startup friendly, it doesn't provide enough incentives to become global.

"This is not because people don't want it to be global. It's because each agency, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has its own set of laws. RBI I has its own set of things. SEBi has its own income. The Income Tax department has its own. And some of these things work against each other. That's where the problem is," he said.
Covid-19 mRNA vaccines given to young children (most of them age 4 and younger) are safe and showed no indications of serious side effects, according to a review of more than 245,000 doses.

The study marks the first analysis looking for serious side effects from the mRNA vaccines in young children.

Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) examined patient records from June 2022 to March 2023 for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

The results, published in the journal Pediatrics, showed that there was no indication of the heart inflammation called myocarditis among the young vaccinated children.

"We havenat seen any myocarditis or pericarditis in this youngest age group, which is very reassuring," said said lead author Kristin Goddard, MPH, research project manager with the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center.

Myocarditis has emerged as a rare side effect of Covid vaccination, mostly among teenage or young adult men.

Also Read H3N2 influenza: Symptoms, spread, prevention, what do experts say? 4 patients admitted with H3N2 influenza virus in Mumbai, says BMC US health officials propose once-a-year Covid shots for most Americans Centre raises alarm over increase in Covid positivity rate in some states IMA advises against antibiotic use amid rising H3N2 flu cases in India Pakistan govt's debt swells by 34.1% to Rs 58.6 trillion: Central bank data US, Chinese diplomats hold 'candid' talks to avoid escalation of tensions Global south a victim of several challenges, impacting lives: Jaishankar Pak's aviation body chief slams airport security for 'harassing passengers' Airlines to profit, global air travel to increase amid challenges: IATA

The team examined medical records for 23 serious potential side effects, including outcomes such as blood clots, seizures, stroke, and brain inflammation.

Analyses showed no safety concern for any of the selected serious side effects. In particular, the study found no concern for seizures after vaccination, something occasionally seen following other routine childhood immunisations in children under 2 years old.

Meanwhile, the CDC previously reported on mild side effects from immunisation, such as sore arms or brief fevers.

The analysis covered a large and diverse group of children. It included 135,005 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine given to children age 6 months to 4 years and 112,006 doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine given to children age 6 months to 5 years.

"Parents can be assured that this large study found no serious side effects from the mRNA vaccines," said senior author Nicola Klein, director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center and research scientist with the Division of Research.

While the Covid-19 emergency has ended, the coronavirus still poses a long-term, serious threat to all ages, including children

"Vaccinating children against Covid-19 benefits them by reducing the burden of illness, avoiding spreading the virus to family and others, and mitigating the small but real risk of serious illness," Klein added.

--IANS

rvt/ksk/
The wall of a major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed on Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River in an area that Moscow controls, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area. It was not possible to verify the claims.

The potentially far-reaching environmental and social consequences of the disaster quickly became clear as homes, streets and businesses flooded downstream and emergency crews began evacuations; officials raced to check cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; and authorities expressed concern about supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses for residents. About 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory, according to official tallies. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

The dam break added a stunning new dimension to Russia's war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam, since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk.

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The damage could also hinder Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south and distract its government, while Russia depends on the dam to supply water to Crimea.

Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security Program at Chatham House think tank in London, said apportioning blame is difficult but "there are all sorts of reasons why Russia would do this".

"There were reports (last fall) of Russians having mined the reservoir. The question we should pose is why the Ukrainians would do this to themselves, given this is Ukrainian territory," she said.

Experts have previously said the dam was suffering from disrepair. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir since the start of the war, said in an e-mail that it wasn't clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect from Russian forces occupying the facility.

But Helms reserved judgement, also noting a Russian history of attacking dams.

Authorities, experts and residents have expressed concern for months about water flows through -- and over -- the Kakhovka dam.

After heavy rains and snow melt last month, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Amid official outrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2.50 am (2350 GMT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Zelenskyy said in October his government had information that Russia had mined the dam and power plant.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it "a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side aimed at cutting water supplies to Crimea".

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster. Ukraine's Presidential Office said some 150 metric tonnes of oil escaped from the dam machinery and that another 300 metric tonnes could still leak out.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's President's Office, posted a video showing swans swimming near an administrative building in the flooded streets of Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region where some 45,000 people lived before the war. Other footage he posted showed flood waters reaching the second floor of the building.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dnieper's right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said it was being evacuated as water poured into the city.

Ukraine's nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the damage to the dam "could have negative consequences" for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europe's biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is "controllable".

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement there was "no immediate risk to the safety of the plant," which requires water for its cooling system.

It said that IAEA staff on site have been told the dam level is falling by five centimetres (two inches) an hour. At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The plant also has alternative sources of water, including a large cooling pond that can provide water "for some months", the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18 million cubic metres (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where thousands of people live.

The World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organisation, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after five-seven days.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the broad river's left bank, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting the war's environmental effects.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that "a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours".

Video posted online showed floodwaters inundating a long roadway; another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the "outrageous act demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine".

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the country's drinking water and power supply.

Ukraine's state hydro power generating company wrote in a statement that "The station cannot be restored."



Ukrhydroenergo also claimed Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, said numerous Ukrainian strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and "water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream".

Leontyev added that damage to the station was beyond repair, and it would have to be rebuilt.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks.
By Adrija Chatterjee, Vrishti Beniwal and Swansy Afonso



India is hoping to engage directly with the European Union for leeway on its proposed carbon tax instead of adjudicating the issue through the World Trade Organization, according to people familiar with the matter.

A major exporter of steel and aluminum, India is seeking exemptions that would protect its small manufacturers from levies imposed by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, or CBAM, which will tax some imports from countries that dont fix carbon pricing the way Europe does. India is hoping to engage directly with the European Union for leeway on its proposed carbon tax instead of adjudicating the issue through the World Trade Organization, according to people familiar with the matter.



The EUs new levies are designed to prevent so-called carbon leakage, in which companies based in the bloc move their most carbon-intensive production abroad to take advantage of less stringent climate policies or taxes. CBAM will begin with a three-year reporting only period starting Oct. 1, with financial adjustments beginning in 2026. India has filed a discussion paper with the WTO about how environmental regulations impact trade, but with respect to CBAM specifically, it hopes direct negotiations with the EU will yield a relatively speedy resolution, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private.



CBAM is definitely a trade barrier. There are number of issues, which needs clarity Alok Sahay, Secretary -General of the Indian Steel Association, said in an e-mailed response to Bloomberg News. As part of the ongoing negotiations for a free-trade agreement with the EU, India is pushing for a waiver for its small- and mid-size enterprises, similar to the one Europe had for some of its domestic companies in the Emissions Trading System that CBAM is set to replace, one of the people said. India is also considering a domestic mechanism similar to CBAM and what that would mean for the cost of imports, the person said.

Also Read Why the European Union's CBAM is worrying for Indian steel exports Centre asks industry to be ready for EU carbon tax, vows smooth transition Sixth round of India-UK free trade agreement talks to begin from Dec 12 WTO ruling against India in tech tariffs dispute with European Union India-Australia FTA to help bilateral trade cross $70 bn in next 5 years Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria Air Arabia plans to double fleet capacity within next 12 months: Group CEO Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members threatened to quit party: Imran Khan Microsoft to pay $20 mn to settle US charges of 'illegal' children's data



Indias Trade Ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment. The government should initiate a multilevel dialog to ensure that the Indian steel sector, which currently exports about 3.5 million to 4 million tons of steel to the countries in the European Union is given a level playing field, he added.

EUs carbon tax counters the spirit of the Paris Agreements common but differentiated responsibilities, which recognizes that countries have different duties and abilities to address the negative impacts of climate change, Indias Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said in an interview last month.


Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before the Lahore High Court on Tuesday which confirmed his pre-arrest bail in connection with the murder of a worker of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. By M Zulqernain



Khan appeared before the high court amid high security. In March, the Punjab Police booked Khan, 70, also the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, in the murder case, accusing him of "concealing facts and evidence" about the death of Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah, a party worker.



Khan's counsel told the court that Zille Shah was tortured to death in police custody as the post-mortem report showed 26 injury marks on his body. However, the police booked Khan and some other PTI members for the murder although the police and the caretaker government in Punjab later claimed that he was killed in a road accident.

"Lahore High Court Judge Anwarul Haq Pannun confirmed Khan's pre-arrest bail in the murder case of Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker, after hearing arguments from his (Khan) counsel," a court official told PTI after the hearing.

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"After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge confirmed Khan's bail," the official said.

The police later accused Khan of concealing the "facts and evidence" related to his death, the PTI chief's counsel said in court.



The Pakistan government, backed by the powerful military establishment, last week stopped the country's media from publishing or broadcasting speeches, statements, tweets or pictures of Khan.

Khan is facing over 100 cases, mostly related to terrorism, inciting the public to violence, arson attacks, blasphemy, attempted murder, corruption and fraud.



The government said it is making sure that the PTI chief's social media activities are also blocked.

The step was taken after PTI's alleged involvement in attacks on military installations on May 9 in reaction to Khan's arrest in a corruption case.

According to a government official, both print and electronic media have been directed not to publish or broadcast Khan's speeches, statements, tweets or display his pictures.


Myanmar's Supreme Court has agreed to hear a special appeal of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi's bribery conviction for allegedly receiving gold and thousands of dollars from a former political ally, legal officials said Tuesday.

Suu Kyi, 77, was arrested when the army toppled her elected government in February 2021, and was tried on a range of charges for which she was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison.

Her supporters and independent legal experts say the cases were politically motivated in an attempt to discredit her and legitimise the military's takeover while preventing her from returning to politics.

Two legal officials familiar with Suu Kyi's cases said the Supreme Court decided last Friday to hear the special appeal of the corruption case, in which she was convicted of receiving USD 600,000 and seven gold bars in 2017-18 from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, the country's biggest city.

She was sentenced to five years in prison in April last year after being found guilty of bribery. Her lawyers, before they were served with gag orders in late 2021, said she rejected all the corruption allegations against her as "absurd".

The legal officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to release information about the court's decision, said it has not yet scheduled a date for the appeal hearing. Her lawyers' initial appeal of the conviction to the Supreme Court was rejected last November.

Also Read Myanmar resistance steadfast against military rule two years later Myanmar court finds Suu Kyi guilty of corruption, sentences 7 yrs in prison India, China and Russia abstain on first UNSC resolution against Myanmar Not convinced about UNSC resolution's impact on issues in Myanmar: India UN calls for democracy in Myanmar after army dissolves Aung San's party World Bank offers dim outlook for global economy on higher interest rates Pak SC wants parties to agree on holding general, provincial polls together UBS to wrap up Credit Suisse loss agreement of $9.92 bn with govt by June 7 Ex-Pakistan Army chief General Bajwa heckled by Afghan man in France Lululemon fires employees for trying to stop robbery, CEO defends decision

In April, the Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals of Suu Kyi's convictions in five other corruption cases, and requests for reduced sentences in cases in which she was accused of breaching the official secrets act and election fraud. The dates for the hearings for those appeals have also not been set.

Suu Kyi has been convicted on a range of charges, including illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, sedition, breaching the secrets act and election fraud, as well as corruption. Most appeals filed by her lawyers on her behalf have already been rejected.

Suu Kyi's legal team has faced several handicaps, including being unable to meet with her to receive her instructions as they prepare her appeals. They have applied at least three times for permission to meet with Suu Kyi since they last saw her in person in December, but have not received any response, one of the legal officials said.

The army's 2021 ouster of Suu Kyi triggered widespread peaceful protests that were crushed with deadly force and evolved into armed resistance.
Russia remains open to a dialogue with the US on arms control as it is "extremely important", but Moscow is waiting for specific proposals from Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

During a daily briefing, Peskov called it "important and positive" the recent statement by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that the US is ready for nuclear talks with Russia without preconditions, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We hope that it will be supported by actual steps through diplomatic channels. And then it will be possible to consider the proposed formats of dialogue," he told reporters.

"It is very difficult to rely on statements to the press on such an important and sensitive issue, especially when we are experiencing an acute shortage of mutual trust in our bilateral relations," he said.

In February 2023, Russia officially suspended its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the US, the last nuclear arms control pact between the two nuclear superpowers.

Moscow pointed out the combined strike potential of NATO as the UK and France also have nuclear arsenals that pose a threat to Russia.

Also Read US wants to engage Russia on nuclear arms control in post-treaty world Global arms sales: Change is underway G-7 price ceiling on Russian oil not low enough to hit Kremlin's revenues US govt accuses Russia of endangering nuclear arms control treaty Last US-Russia arms control treaty in jeopardy after Putin's announcement Biden praises Denmark for 'standing up' for Ukraine in war with Russia Spotify cutting about 2% of its workforce, affecting roughly 200 employees Former FBI agent, who was convicted of spying for Russia, dies in prison Nepal's power union welcomes energy pact signed during PM's India visit In shadow of migrant deaths: Qatar minister to head UN labour conference

--IANS

int/sha
Pakistan's aviation body chief has accused the customs and security officials of harassing passengers at the country's airports to extort money.

Khaqan Murtaza, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), made the allegations while briefing the Senate Standing Committee's meeting on Aviation at the Parliament House on Monday, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Murtaza alleged that the Customs, Airport Security Force (ASF) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officials "continue to collect money by harassing passengers," the paper said.

The meeting chaired by Senator Hidayatullah highlighted the lack of coordination among agencies at airports and pointed out impolite attitudes with passengers, some participants had experienced.

"You will not find any uniformed armed personnel at any airport in the world," Murtaza said. "It looks like an aggressive atmosphere that is unheard of elsewhere. It feels as if we live in a cantonment."



Committee Chairman Hidayatullah also raised concerns about the "attitude" of the ANF at the airport and asked how an expatriate will feel when he lands and finds four personnel standing in different uniforms in front of him.

It is not sensible to harass a passenger coming from abroad, he said.

Also Read US to control land sales to foreigners within 100 miles of 8 military bases Sale of petroleum products halves in Pakistan, high inflation to blame India needs to start thinking about TSA security at airports: Aviation Secy India for finding permanent solution to food stockholding at WTO meet Historical trail of Pakistan's powerful military enterprise: Explainer Airlines to profit, global air travel to increase amid challenges: IATA Ukraine accuses Russia of destroying major dam, warns of rampant flooding Time for India, Namibia to cooperate on global stage: EAM Jaishankar Pak PM calls for providing relief to poor, middle class in budget 2023-24 US looking forward to host PM Modi on June 22, deepening collaboration

Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah shared his own experience with ANF officials at Islamabad airport, saying that once he was going abroad when one of the ANF officials shouted at him, asking, Who are you?



Talking about security, the CAA chief mentioned that a team of 25 officials from the UK's Department for Transport recently visited Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the security checks.

With the installation of 39 scanning machines, we will meet international standards, he said.

Corruption is a big issue in Pakistan which is listed at 140th position on Transparency International's 2022 list of the least corrupt nations.
Russia's GDP is projected to grow by 1 per cent this year, accompanied by an anticipated increase in real income for the population, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Tuesday.

"Russia fully complies with its budgetary obligations," Siluanov said.

"In terms of the economy, we expect growth within 1 per cent, plus or minus," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

The real income of the population began to rise at the end of 2022 and this trend is expected to continue this year, according to Siluanov.

"Despite all the sanctions, the government's main task is to ensure that people do not feel the impact and are able to maintain a standard of living no lower than it was before all these restrictions. We have been successful in achieving this," the Finance Minister said.

The growth in GDP has been facilitated by a well-balanced budget policy, the accumulation of reserves in the National Wealth Fund, proactive industrial strategies, and supportive measures for citizens, he added.

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--IANS

ksk/


New regulations in Penang The Penang state government has recently banned most short-stay accommodations, including Airbnb, in residential units across the Unesco-listed Malaysian island of Penang. This move, effective from May 25, aims to regulate the behaviour of tourists and address concerns raised by local residents. Penang is the first state in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to implement such measures, with the objective of curbing disruptive tourism practices.



Only commercial properties, such as serviced flats and select office spaces, are allowed to host short-term guests. However, these commercial rentals must register, pay annual fees, and obtain approval from 75 per cent of the other residents in their building. The guidelines further stipulate that guests can stay in an approved commercial rental unit for a maximum of three days per booking and limit each unit's usage to 180 days per year. Violating these regulations incurs a fine of 200 ringgit ($44). The new regulations, released by the government of Penang, prohibit the use of residential units for short-stay accommodations, as typically advertised on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.

Why the ban?

The Penang state government told local Malaysian media that the ban was due to the need for regulation after several instances of misbehaviour by tourists, causing disturbances to local residents. State Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo told Free Malaysia Today his hopes that the new provisions would eliminate illegal accommodations and address the concerns raised by the community. The government has received complaints about unruly behaviour, noise disturbances, and the inappropriate use of shared facilities by short-stay guests.

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Impact on Airbnb and other short-term rentals

The decision to restrict short-stay accommodations has received mixed reactions. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), local Airbnb representatives tried to dissuade Penang decision-makers, but their appeals were unsuccessful. Airbnb argued that the regulations would limit Malaysians' ability to share their homes in strata buildings and reduce affordable accommodation options for domestic and international travellers.



The Asia Travel Technology Industry Association (ATTIA) that represents travel and tourism companies responded the "ban", stating that short-term rental accommodation (STRA) restrictions imposed were "jeopardising a significant slice of tourism revenue for everyday Malaysians and the overall tourism economy of Malaysia". The report added that hosts expressed concern about the ban's impact on their livelihoods, particularly during the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The rental market in Penang has been affected by a surplus of residential properties, and platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com provided homeowners with higher returns from their vacant units.



Government's response However, the statement issues by the association added, "ATTIA and our partners stand firmly in support of fair and sensible STRA regulations. We greatly look forward to collaborating with all relevant authorities to support and educate travelers and STRA owners on responsible STRA practices.



Currently, the ban only applies to Penang Island, excluding Seberang Perai, the mainland part of Penang state. Some proponents of the ban hope it will be extended nationwide, with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) supporting the move, suggesting that regulated short-term rentals can bring in much-needed revenue and increase tax collections, reported SCMP. The Penang state government maintains that it is addressing the grievances of long-term residents in condominiums and properties with shared facilities, adds SCMP.

Why are cities trying to ban Airbnb?

Airbnb became popular following its launch in 2008 due to budget accommodation options and the promise of additional income for hosts.



In recent years many have complained about the neighbourhood disruptions from parties thrown by guests at the listing and safety concerns regarding the guests who book the listings. While the sites work to verify the users' identities, they cannot share any information due to privacy laws. This means hosts cannot be sure about the background of the people renting the accommodation and vice versa. Airbnb provides a platform where hosts can list their properties, and travellers can search and book their desired accommodations. Hosts set the price, availability, house rules and may provide additional services for their listing. Guests can choose the accommodation based on their needs, location and budget. The platform mediates the communication and transactions between the two, charging a service fee from both the host and guest for using the platform.



In 2021, the platform reportedly suspended 6,600 for attempting to violate this ban. The situation reached its peak when lockdowns were imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Airbnb had to issue a temporary party ban in 2020. The platform codified the party ban in June 2022: "Historically, we allowed Hosts to use their best judgment and authorise parties when appropriate for their home and neighbourhood. The policy will continue to include serious consequences for guests who attempt to violate these rules, varying from account suspension to full removal from the platform."



Cities imposing strict rules on Airbnb On the state level, issues on taxation and compliance have been raised, as these short-term accommodations can bypass laws normally followed by the hospitality industry. Furthermore, it has created problems for people to find long-term rentals, as landlords can charge higher prices for short-term boarding than long-term or permanent renters.



Each city is developing their own policies and regulations for the platform. For example, Barcelona properties must have a Tourist Use House License, while landlords in Paris must register each listing separately. According to a report by Forbes in January 2023, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam have some of the most severe policies on Airbnb and other short-term rentals in Europe. The report added that many European cities, including Berlin, Bologna, London and Prague, are actively pushing and lobbying against the platform.



Since each city has its own regulations, many media reports warn travellers to closely check the rental rules of the cities they are looking to explore. According to the report, the issue is gaining momentum worldwide, with Brazil, Japan and Turkey also looking to impose new rules and regulations on the platform.

Florence may also ban short-term rentals

On Thursday, June 1, Reuters reported that Florence, Italy, was looking to ban short-term rental platforms like Airbnb from its historic centre under the "save historic centre" proposal. The proposal, submitted by the city's mayor, Dario Nardella, also proposes tax breaks for more permanent forms of residence and new compliance laws for short-term rentals, such as allocating national identification codes for residential properties rented to tourists.

The report added that this might be coming as a response to the increasing low salaries, property shortage and high inflation driving towards a property shortage in Italy that has highly impacted low-wage earners and students.


"UBS Group AG expects that the Loss Protection Agreement will be finalized by June 7, 2023," a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission said. UBS expects to finalize its agreement with the Swiss government to cover up to 9 billion Swiss francs ($9.92 billion) in losses from its emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by June 7, the Swiss bank said in a regulatory filing published on Tuesday.



"Any further loss guarantee exceeding CHF 14 billion, which was not included as part of the Special Ordinance, requires a separate legal basis in the form of a parliamentary approval in the ordinary legislative procedure as well as the commitment credit," the SEC filling said.

Under the takeover of Credit Suisse, orchestrated by Swiss authorities, Bern agreed to shoulder up to 9 billion francs in losses after UBS agreed to cover the first 5 billion francs in losses.



The SEC document, which was dated June 5, reiterated that the UBS expects to complete the deal in the second quarter of 2023.

The bank said on Monday it expects to seal the takeover as early as June 12.' The government agreement is one of the last steps UBS needs to take before it can officially close the acquisition of its rival.
Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine they control, alerting residents further along the Dnipro River to evacuate and warning of flooding downstream.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry called for residents of 10 villages on the river's right bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7 am that the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror, and warned that water will reach critical levels within five hours.
A top Ukrainian diplomat called Russia a terrorist state Tuesday as he opened his country's case against Moscow at the United Nations' highest court and accused Russia of blowing up a major dam in southern Ukraine.

Anton Korynevych was addressing judges at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Korynevych said that with Moscow unable to beat Ukraine on the battlefield, it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission. Earlier today, just today, Russia blew up a major dam located in Nova Kakhovka, causing significant civilians evacuations, harsh ecological damages and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia's actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor.

Four days of hearings in the court's ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice are opening against a backdrop of Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia are trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Meanwhile, in The Hague, lawyers for Kyiv were presenting legal arguments to support their case Tuesday, followed by Russia on Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.

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The Russian Federation has contempt for international law," Korynevych said. "Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality.

The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia's illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored.

In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court does not have jurisdiction.

A few kilometers (miles) away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia is not a member of the court and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, a Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion last year, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine.

Tuesday's hearing is in a case Kyiv brought in 2017 related to Russia arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and restricting the rights of ethnic Tatars and other minorities following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

In a preliminary ruling, the court ordered Russia to stop limiting the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to conserve its representative institutions.
French unions are seeking to reignite resistance to President Emmanuel Macron's higher retirement age with what may be a final surge of nationwide protests and scattered strikes on Tuesday.

A third of flights were cancelled at Paris' Orly Airport because of strikes, and about 10 per cent of trains around France were disrupted. Some 250 marches, rallies and other actions are planned around the country on the 14th day of national protest since January over the pension reform.

Macron's move to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 -- and force the measure through parliament without a vote -- inflamed public emotions and triggered some of France's biggest demonstrations in years.

But the intensity of anger over the pension reform has ebbed since the last big protests on May 1, and since the measure became law in April. Some see Tuesday's actions as a last big show of opposition for the movement.

Macron says the reform was needed to finance the pension system as the population ages. Unions and left-wing opponents say the changes hurt poorer workers and have argued for higher taxes on the wealthy and employers instead.

Organisers of Tuesday's protests hope to rally support ahead of a possible parliamentary debate on Thursday on a bill to repeal the new retirement age.

Also Read France's Macron calls for 'European sovereignty' during Netherlands visit Macron calls on France, Germany to become pioneers of Europe refoundation French President Macron floats new military spending plan amid Ukraine war Macron to build back factories, boost France's economy shaken by protests Strikes, protests test French govt's plan to raise retirement age to 64 Iran unveils hypersonic missile amid US tensions that can beat air defences Covid mRNA vax safe, has no serious side effects in infants: Study Pakistan govt's debt swells by 34.1% to Rs 58.6 trillion: Central bank data US, Chinese diplomats hold 'candid' talks to avoid escalation of tensions Global south a victim of several challenges, impacting lives: Jaishankar

Legislators from centrist opposition group LIOT proposed the bill to put back the retirement age to 62. While Macron's centrist party doesn't have a majority in the National Assembly, it has allied with the conservative Republicans party to push back the opposition's efforts.
The US administration has said that it is looking forward to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 22.

During a press briefing on Monday when asked about Modi's upcoming official state visit, the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: "We are very much looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Modi for the state visit later this month. Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relations and we are looking forward to deepening our collaboration on a number of issues.

"We are also looking forward to deepening our economic ties and trade issues."

Modi's visit is on an invitation by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will attend at a state dinner at the White House which is being accorded to an Indian leader after 14 years.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the last, hosted by then US President Barack Obama in 2009.

Also Read Govt alone cannot be successful, people's participation needed: PM Modi RBI MPC: Here is what experts have to say about the policy announcement When will nation have 'China pe Charcha'?: Mallikarjun Kharge asks PM Modi RBI hikes repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25%, cuts FY23 GDP forecast to 6.8% New Parliament inauguration: High security ahead of wrestlers march India prefers to negotiate with EU on carbon tax instead of WTO complaint Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria Air Arabia plans to double fleet capacity within next 12 months: Group CEO Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members threatened to quit party: Imran Khan

The US Congress has also invited Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate.

His first address to Congress was in 2016, becoming the sixth Indian Prime Minister to do so jointly or separately.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the the first, addressing the House and Senate separately in 1949; Rajiv Gandhi became the second in 1985; P.V. Narasimha Rao became the third in 1994; Atal Bihari Vajpayee the fourth in 2000; and Manmohan Singh the fifth in 2005.

Modi could now become both the sixth and seventh Indian Prime Minister to speak to Congress, and the first to do so twice.

--IANS

ans/ksk/
Travellers going to Europe are once again facing difficulties in getting visa slots and visa delays, similar to previous years. According to an Economic Times report, in such cases where visa slots and visa delays are involved, many tourists look to apply for a Schengen visa from the country where it is faster or easier to obtain, as compared to other countries.

As tourism has returned back to normalcy following the lull caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, people are gearing up for summer travel in full swing.
Electrosteel Castings Ltd. is a water infrastructure Company and pipeline solutions provider, pioneering in the manufacturing of Ductile Iron pipes in India in their mission to provide clean drinking water for nearly seven decades. The Company has instituted the Electrosteel Jal Sevak Samman, to acknowledge the contributions of individuals and institutions in the water space. The first edition of the award was held today in the august presence of several dignitaries including the Chief Guest, Swami Suparnananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, and Guests Of Honour, Padmashri Mr Uma Shankar Pandey, a social worker best known for his contributions towards ground water conservation and Ms Melinda Pavek, Consul General, United States of America.



The awardees for Electrosteel Jal Sevak Samman 2023 are Prof (Dr) Abhijit Mukherjee, Professor of Geology & Geophysics, Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Kharagpur and Nature Mates, an NGO based in Kolkata. The Jury members of this award were Mr Subhaprasanna, Noted Painter & Former Chairman, WB Heritage Commission, Mr Soumen Mitra, IPS (Retd.), Officer on Special Duty & Director, Training, Government of West Bengal & Former Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Dr Jayanta Sengupta, Former Curator, Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata and Mr M K Jalan, Director, Electrosteel Castings Limited.



At Electrosteel, we acknowledge waters priceless imprint on existence. We have always been committed to doing our bit as a responsibly aware organisation for the community and environment. An industry pioneer in India, Electrosteel has always remained the distinct choice for engineers and domain experts in the water space. As a part of our ongoing efforts to turn our planet into a greener one and create newer dimensions of sustainability, we have constituted the Electrosteel Jal Sevak Samman. This will be an annual initiative of the Group, where we would acknowledge the contributions of an individual and an institution, who work in the water space, said Mr Sunil Katial, Director & Chief Executive Officer, Electrosteel Castings Ltd.



The theme song of Electrosteel Jal Sevak Samman, Water Water Everywhere written by Mr Ketan Sengupta and composed and sung by the pop legend, Padmashri Ms Usha Uthup, was launched on the occasion.



In an age of dwindling natural resources, conservation has assumed enormous importance. Water conservation, its quality and availability are some globally relevant issues that need to be addressed immediately. Since the business of Electrosteel has a strong synergy with water, Electrosteel Jal Sevak Samman, an annual award has been constituted for felicitating individuals and institutions that have undertaken initiatives in the water space, for a better present and future of mankind. This Award will act as a catalyst to understand the value of water and its immense importance to all forms of life.



The evening concluded with a scintillating performance by Pandit Tanmoy Bose and the members of Baul & Beyond.



Prof (Dr)Abhijit Mukherjee



Prof (Dr) Abhijit Mukherjee is a Professor, a Scientist and an Environmentalist. He works at the Department of Geology and Geophysics and the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He is globally known for his studies on geological and human-sourced groundwater pollution like arsenic, fluoride, sanitation-borne and emerging contaminants in more than a dozen countries around the world. He has done extensive work on groundwater quantity and scarcity in the Indian subcontinent by using advanced computation and Artificial Intelligence. His work has provided input to the government in understanding the countrys drinking water and food security. He received the National Geoscience Award 2014, conferred by the President of India. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 2020.



Nature Mates



Nature Mates is an independent NGO working on various conservation aspects to protect the rich biodiversity of India in collaboration with government agencies and non-governmental organizations. It has carried out a successful restoration of the Santragacchi Jheel, Purbasthali Lake, Bikramgarh Jheel and many other ponds in and around Kolkata city. Nature Mates aspires to develop an understanding of nature from all aspects and plan issue-based activities to develop a safe and healthy haven for humans and non-humans to co-exist with mutual respect.
Bharat Dynamics Limited is searching for Project Officers and Project Engineers to fill 100 contract vacancies in its various units/departments. On its official website, BDL is accepting online applications from qualified people.

Overview

Conducting Authority Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Posts Name Project Officers & Project Engineers

Vacancies 100

Advt. No. 2023-2

Category Engineering Jobs

Apply Online Begin 24 May 2023

Last Date to Apply 23 June 2023

Selection Process Interview

BDL Official Website www.bdl-india.in

Online Application

The online registration for Bharat Dynamics Limited Recruitment 2023 Engineer will begin on May 24, 2023, and will end on June 23, 2023. Candidates who obtain the required qualification can apply online.

How to Apply?

Step 1: Go to www.bdl-india.in, the official website of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Step 2: On the webpage, under Career Opportunities, click on the link "Detailed Advertisement for Project Engineer(s) / Project Officer(s) Vide Advt. No: 2023-2".

Step 3: Complete the Application Form with your basic and required information, qualifications, and experience.

Step 4: Upload your photo, signature, and any other documents in the right format. Step 5: Pay the fee online and click the submit button.

Step 6: Download and print the BDL Recruitment 2023 Online Application Form.

Vacancy Details

Project Engineer 89

Project Officer 11

Total 100

Salary

Rs. 30,000/- per month
The Tripura Board of Secondary Education has declared the TBSE Class 10th, 12th results 2023 today, June 5. The Tripura board result is available for download on the official website, tbresults.tripura.gov.in.The TBSE Madhyamik result 2023 and the TBSE Class 12th result 2023 online can be accessed by using the roll number.

The online Tripura board result 2023 is provisional and students will be required to collect their original mark sheet after a few days. This year, TBSE conducted the TBSE Madhyamik exam 2023 from March 16 to April 18 and the TBSE Class 12 exam 2023 from March 15 to April 19.

The details that will be mentioned in their TBSE result 2023 include the name of the student, date of birth, roll number, father's name, school name, exam name, subjects name, subjects code, marks obtained in each subject, total marks obtained, result status and remarks.



TBSE Class 10, 12 Result 2023: Steps to check

Students can follow the below-mentioned steps to check the TBSE board result 2023:
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Microeconomics is an undergraduate degree program that focuses on the study of individual economic behaviour, market structures, and the allocation of resources at a micro-level. This article provides insights into the scope of the BA in Microeconomics program, highlights some of the best colleges offering this course, and provides important admission details for prospective students.

What's the course BA in Microeconomics all about?

Undergraduate study in microeconomics, or the study of individual economic behaviour and decision-making within a larger economic framework, is the focus of the BA in Microeconomics programme. Within the study of economics, it is a specialised area that gives students a thorough understanding of microeconomic theories, principles, and applications. Students in this programme study subjects like welfare economics, supply and demand, market structures, consumer behaviour, production and cost analysis, and supply and demand.

They get knowledge of how to analyse the behaviours of specific clients, businesses, and sectors to comprehend how interactions affect market results. The curriculum for a BA in Microeconomics normally comprises core courses in microeconomic theory, mathematical economics, econometrics, and applied microeconomic analysis. Additionally, students can select elective courses in areas like industrial organisation, labour economics, environmental economics, or behavioural economics that match their individual interests.

Career Scope after pursuing BA in Microeconomics

After pursuing a BA in Microeconomics, graduates have a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors. Here are some potential career paths for BA in Microeconomics graduates:

1. Entrepreneurship and Start-ups: Graduates with a BA in Microeconomics can venture into entrepreneurship and start their own businesses. Their understanding of market dynamics, consumer behaviour, and resource allocation can help them identify opportunities, develop business models, and make informed decisions.

2. Policy Advocacy and Non-profit Work: Graduates can work in policy advocacy organisations, non-profit entities, or research institutes that focus on social and economic development. They contribute to policy discussions, conduct research on socio-economic issues, and work towards creating a positive impact on communities and society.

3. Economic Analyst: Graduates can work as economic analysts in research institutions, government agencies, or consulting firms. They analyse market trends, consumer behaviour, and business strategies to provide insights on economic performance, competitiveness, and policy implications.

4. Financial Analyst: Graduates can pursue a career as financial analysts in banks, investment firms, or corporate finance departments. They assess the financial performance of companies, analyse market data, and make recommendations for investment decisions or risk management strategies.

5. Business Consultant: Graduates can work as business consultants, helping companies improve their operations, optimise resource allocation, and enhance profitability. They provide expertise in areas such as pricing strategies, cost analysis, market entry, and business development.

6. Market Research Analyst: Graduates can work as market research analysts, collecting and analysing data on consumer preferences, market trends, and competitor strategies. They help businesses understand market dynamics, assess demand, and develop effective marketing strategies.

7. Policy Analyst: Graduates can work as policy analysts in government departments, think tanks, or non-profit organisations. They evaluate the impact of microeconomic policies, propose policy reforms, and provide recommendations for promoting efficiency, competition, and economic growth.

8. Data Analyst: Graduates with strong quantitative and analytical skills can work as data analysts in various industries. They analyse large datasets, conduct statistical modelling, and provide insights to support decision-making, forecasting, and business planning.

9. Academic Research: Graduates can further their studies and pursue research positions or teaching careers in universities or research institutions. They can contribute to advancing economic knowledge through research, publishing academic papers, and mentoring future economists.

These are just a few examples, and the career scope for BA in Microeconomics graduates extends to many other sectors such as international organisations, regulatory bodies, trade associations, and economic consulting firms. The program provides a solid foundation for pursuing advanced degrees in economics or related fields, such as a Master's or a PhD, for those interested in research or academic careers.

List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Microeconomics

Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Microeconomics:

1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), Delhi

Establishment/About : Lady Shri Ram College is a public women's college. It was started in 1956 and was founded by Lala Shri Ram. It provides professional programmes such as a bachelor's degree in mass communication and English journalism. With the help of engaging and entertaining lecturers, students can discover the world of literature at this college.

Rankings: LSR Overall ranking by NIRF is 5 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. LSR Arts ranking by The Week is 2 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 1 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. LSR Arts ranking by India Today is 4 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021.

Application Start Date: All UG programme admission to Lady Shri Ram College for the class of 2023 will shortly begin via the Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS) of Delhi University. CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. Exam CUET UG 2023 will be conducted between May 21 and May 31, 2023. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 21290.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The basic eligibility criteria for admission to these programs is 10+2 with at least 45% marks in aggregate. Admission will be based on the CUET marks followed by e-counselling.

Official Website: lsr.edu.in

2. Christ (deemed-to-be-university), Bangalore

Establishment/About : Christ University is a deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Christ College, which was founded in 1969 as Christ College, was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 2004. approximately 20,000 students attend the university, and there are approximately 800 academic members. Around 700 international students from 58 different countries attend this university. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, and research programmes that are accredited both domestically and abroad.

Rankings: Christ is ranked 20-25 in the QS India rankings for the year 2020. Christ was ranked 19 in 2019. Its position among Asian institutions is 501-550. Christ University is ranked second in the general (private) university category in India Today's Best Universities Survey 2022. According to India Today MDRA Survey of Excellence National Rankings, Christ University is ranked first for BCA Programme, fourth for BBA, seventh for Commerce, seventh for Media and Social Work, and ninth for Arts.

Application Start Date: Open From : 28-May-2023, Open Until : 11-June-2023, Applicants may apply online for the programme from January 2023 on the University website till the date of applications officially closing.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 75,000 INR P/A for Karnataka domicile students and 95,000 INR for students from other states students. The university provides comprehensive information on the course fees through their official website.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Minimum Eligibility will be PUC/10 +2 from across Boards ((Karnataka PUC, ISCE, CBSE, NIOS, other State Boards), and recognized bodies in India.). Candidates writing the +2 examinations in March-May 2023 may apply with their class X and XI marks. The selection process will include auditions, skill assessments, personal interview and reviewing of previous academic performance.

Official Website: christuniversity.in

3. St. Xavier's College, Kolkata

Establishment/About : St. Xavier's College is located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was founded in 1860 as a public college. The UGC and NAAC have accredited the college. 50 courses are offered at St. Xavier's College in Kolkata in 9 streams, including Arts, Science, Management, Commerce & Banking, and IT. St. Xavier's College in Kolkata offers a variety of placement opportunities, including employment in the private, public, and entrepreneurial sectors.

Rankings: St. Xavier's College Kolkata Overall ranking by NIRF is 8 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 4 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. St. Xavier's College Kolkata Arts ranking by The Week is 9 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019.

Application Start Date: The Process Is Ongoing. The Deadline For UG Applications Has Been Postponed. The Final Day Will Be Revealed When It Is Suitable.

Fee Structure:  20,000 - 23,000 per Annum. The university's official website provides comprehensive information on the course fees.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Only After The Release Of Their Respective Board/Council (10+2) Results Can Students Apply Online. The student must have obtained 45% marks in each of the 4 subjects included in the aggregate calculation.

Official Website: www.sxccal.edu

4. Miranda House College, Delhi

Establishment/About : Miranda House, which was founded in 1948 in New Delhi, is well-known for supporting superior education for women. The institution, which is associated with DU, provides a wide range of courses in the arts and sciences. Over the past few years, Miranda House has continuously attained outstanding rankings.

Rankings: Miranda House, New Delhi Overall ranking by NIRF is 1 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 1 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by Outlook is 2 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 2 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by The Week is 5 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 7 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. Miranda House, New Delhi Arts ranking by India Today is 3 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 3 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021.

Application Start Date: The Common Seat Allocation Portal (CSAS) of Delhi University will soon begin accepting applications for Miranda House admissions for all UG programmes in 2023. CUET scores will be used to determine admission to all UG programmes. From May 21 to May 31, 2023, the CUET UG examination will be conducted. However, due to the high volume of applications, the CUET UG 2023 exam dates have been moved to June 1, 2, and 5 in several cities.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 14160 per annum.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Candidates who meet the requirements for all UG programmes must register on Delhi University's Admission Portal, after the CUET results are released. They must also fill out information about their selected college and programme. Qualifying applicants from the CUET UG exam must register on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), and seats will be assigned using the CSAS portal, in order to be considered for undergraduate admissions.

Official Website: www.mirandahouse.ac.in

5. St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

Establishment/About : St. Xavier's College, which was founded in 1869, has a long tradition of offering its students a top-notch education. The college is associated with the University of Mumbai and is noted for its challenging curriculum, experienced teachers, and cutting-edge facilities. A wide variety of courses, including those in the arts, sciences, business, management, and mass communication, are available at St. Xavier's College. The college's prestigious Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme draws applicants from around the nation.

Rankings: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Overall ranking by NIRF is 87 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 101 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by The Week is 8 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 6 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by India Today is 19 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022.

Application Start Date: The XET 2023 is going to be held on June 7, 8, and 9 for the centre in Mumbai and on June 10 and 11 for centres outside Mumbai. The Last Date to Apply for BA programs is June 2. Interested candidates may visit the official website.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 5537 annually

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Admission 2023 is open for BA programs. Selection for admission to these programs will be based on Xavier's Entrance Test (XET) scores.

Official Website: xaviers.ac

Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Statistics is an undergraduate degree program that offers students a comprehensive understanding of statistical methods, data analysis, and mathematical modelling. This article provides valuable insights into the scope of a BA in Statistics, highlights some of the best colleges in India offering this course, and outlines important admission details for aspiring students.

What's the course BA in Statistics all about?

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Statistics is an undergraduate programme that focuses on statistical methods, data analysis, and mathematical modelling. Students will get a firm foundation in statistical theory, computing abilities, and critical thinking. Students in this programme gain knowledge of numerous statistical methods and software tools for gathering, organising, analysing, and interpreting data.

They gain expertise in data visualisation, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, experimental design, and statistical modelling. Survey sampling, time series analysis, multivariate analysis, and Bayesian statistics are additional subjects included in the programme. Students can obtain practical expertise in the analysis of real-world data sets thanks to the BA in Statistics program's integration of theoretical ideas and real-world applications.

They gain knowledge of how to use statistical techniques to address issues in a variety of industries, including market research, healthcare, social sciences, and environmental studies. Since statistics strongly relies on mathematical underpinnings and statistical software tools like R, Python, and SPSS, students also gain strong mathematics and computational abilities in addition to their statistical expertise. The course places a strong emphasis on analytical skills, problem-solving, and the capacity to effectively convey statistical results.

Career Scope after pursuing BA in Statistics

Data Analyst: Graduates can work as data analysts, collecting, organising, and analysing large datasets to derive meaningful insights and support decision-making processes.

Statistician: Graduates can pursue a career as statisticians, applying statistical techniques to design experiments, develop models, and analyse data for research studies or surveys.

Actuary: BA in Statistics graduates can become actuaries, specialising in assessing and managing financial risks by using statistical models and data analysis.

Market Research Analyst: Graduates can work in market research, analysing market trends and consumer behaviour to provide valuable insights to businesses and help them make strategic decisions. Business Analyst: Graduates can become business analysts, using statistical tools and techniques to analyse business data, identify trends, and provide recommendations for process improvement.

List of Top 5 Best Universities for BA in Statistics

Here are some esteemed colleges offering a BA in Statistics:

1. St. Xavier's College, Mumbai

Establishment/About : St. Xavier's College, which was founded in 1869, has a long tradition of offering its students a top-notch education. The college is associated with the University of Mumbai and is noted for its challenging curriculum, experienced teachers, and cutting-edge facilities. A wide variety of courses, including those in the arts, sciences, business, management, and mass communication, are available at St. Xavier's College. The college's prestigious Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme draws applicants from around the nation.

Rankings: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Overall ranking by NIRF is 87 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 101 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by The Week is 8 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 6 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019. St. Xavier's College Mumbai Arts ranking by India Today is 19 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022.

Application Start Date: The XET 2023 is going to be held on June 7, 8, and 9 for the centre in Mumbai and on June 10 and 11 for centres outside Mumbai. The Last Date to Apply for BA programs is June 2. Interested candidates may visit the official website.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 5537 annually

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: St. Xavier's College Mumbai Admission 2023 is open for BA programs. Selection for admission to these programs will be based on Xavier's Entrance Test (XET) scores.

Official Website: xaviers.ac

2. Fergusson College, Pune

Establishment/About : The Deccan Education Society founded Fergusson College in Pune in 1885. The college was granted Special Heritage Status by UGC in 2014 and College of Excellence status by UGC in 2017. It is affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).

Rankings: Fergusson College, Pune Overall ranking by NIRF is 57 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 96 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Fergusson College, Pune Arts ranking by The Week is 11 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 10 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019.

Application Start Date/ Important dates: Availability of Application forms online from 27/05/2023 11.00 AM Up to 10/06/2023 23.55 PM. Display of General list of applicants as per the subject choice (provisional) 14/06/2023 4.00 PM. Display of Merit List and Schedule for Admission 20/06/2023

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 9355 annually.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Online submissions are required for Fergusson College admissions applications. Applicants who have taken Higher Secondary Examinations in Science, Arts, or Commerce are eligible for admission to several undergraduate courses. According to university policies, admission to all UG degrees shall be based on merit.

Official Website: www.fergusson.edu

3. Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College

Establishment/About : Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College was established in the year 1937 by the Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The college is recognized by UGC and affiliated to the University of Mumbai. It has been re-accredited with grade A by NAAC in 2017.

Rankings: Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai Arts ranking by Outlook is 34 out of 115 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 34 out of 120 colleges in India in 2021. Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai Arts ranking by The Week is 28 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020 and it was 31 out of 50 colleges in India in 2019.Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College, Mumbai Arts ranking by India Today is 40 out of 171 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 34 out of 162 colleges in India in 2021.

Application Start Date/ Important Dates: Ruia College admission 2023 is open for UG courses. The online/ offline Application and pre-admission online enrollment form for the same will be available from May 27 to June 12.The Last Date for Online submission of the Application form along with the pre-enrollment form is June 12. The 1st merit list of selected candidates will be released on June 19. The online verification of documents and fee payment of selected candidates can be completed from June 20 to June 27.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 4825 Annually.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The minimum requirement for admission to UG programmes is a 10+2 diploma from an accredited board in the relevant subject area. Selection is based on merit in the qualifying examination, followed by counselling at the University of Mumbai. The merit list is created in accordance with the guidelines established by Mumbai University.

Official Website: www.ruiacollege.edu

4. Presidency University, Kolkata

Establishment/About : The UGC has designated Presidency University Kolkata, founded in 1817, as an Institution of National Eminence. In July 2010, the institution became a university after serving for more than a century as a prominent constituent college under Calcutta University. It is accredited by NAAC with a "A" Grade and is recognised by the UGC. The university contains 17 departments that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes with a focus on the arts and sciences.

Rankings: Presidency University Kolkata Overall ranking by NIRF is 151 out of 200 colleges in India in 2022 and it was 151 out of 200 colleges in India in 2021. Presidency University Kolkata MBA ranking by The Week is 135 out of 179 colleges in India in 2022. Presidency University Kolkata Overall ranking by Outlook is 17 out of 50 colleges in India in 2020.

Application Start Date: Application process ended during feb and Exam Date is 3rd & 4th May 2023

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 2000 per annually.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: The minimum eligibility criteria for admission is 10+2 in the relevant subject group from a recognized university. 5% relaxation will be offered to the candidates belonging to reserved categories. Admission is offered on the basis of candidates' scores in PUBDET organised by WBJEEB. WBJEEB finalises the admission after conducting counselling rounds for the selected candidates as per the PUBDET merit list.

Official Website: www.presiuniv.ac.in

5. Christ (deemed-to-be-university), Bangalore

Establishment/About : Christ University is a deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Christ College, which was founded in 1969 as Christ College, was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 2004. approximately 20,000 students attend the university, and there are approximately 800 academic members. Around 700 international students from 58 different countries attend this university. The university provides undergraduate, graduate, and research programmes that are accredited both domestically and abroad.

Rankings: Christ is ranked 20-25 in the QS India rankings for the year 2020. Christ was ranked 19 in 2019. Its position among Asian institutions is 501-550. Christ University is ranked second in the general (private) university category in India Today's Best Universities Survey 2022. According to India Today MDRA Survey of Excellence National Rankings, Christ University is ranked first for BCA Programme, fourth for BBA, seventh for Commerce, seventh for Media and Social Work, and ninth for Arts.

Application Start Date: Application Start Date: Open From : 28-May-2023, Open Until : 11-June-2023, Applicants may apply online for the programme from January 2023 on the University website till the date of applications officially closing.

Fee Structure: Fee for UG Course BA is INR 75,000 INR P/A for Karnataka domicile students and 95,000 INR for students from other states students. The university provides comprehensive information on the course fees through their official website.

Admission Requirements/Eligibility: Minimum Eligibility will be PUC/10 +2 from across Boards ((Karnataka PUC, ISCE, CBSE, NIOS, other State Boards), and recognized bodies in India.). Candidates writing the +2 examinations in March-May 2023 may apply with their class X and XI marks. The selection process will include auditions, skill assessments, personal interview and reviewing of previous academic performance.

Official Website: christuniversity.in

Note: Please note that the specific application dates, fee structures, and admission requirements may vary each year. It is recommended to visit the official websites of these universities for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the application process and admission requirements.
Remember the Mitsubishi Colt? Well, this is how it looks like right now thanks to an OE partnership with alliance member, Renault. The seven...
Rising to the climate challenge

ICR Research By

Published 06 June 2023

As investors, governments and society raise the bar for decarbonisation in the cement industry, Pablo Hofelich, CEO of thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH, discusses conventional and innovative approaches to climate change mitigation from a suppliers perspective.

In recent years, the cement industry has benefitted from a largely positive development in market demand while at the same time it had to deal with highly volatile energy prices and a great deal of uncertainty, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite those difficult circumstances, the big cement companies have upped their efforts to produce cement with considerably lower carbon emissions. Heidelberg Materials, for instance, has set itself the goal of reducing its specific net CO 2 emissions to 400kg/t of cementitious material by 2030, while many large cement producers are aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Indeed, investors, governments and society as a whole have raised the bar for decarbonisation in the industry and are promoting it through increasingly strict regulations.

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The Chattanooga Division of Transportation announces the following construction and paving updates:Construction Closures/Updates:100 East Main Street / Mitchell StreetThe following traffic patterns will be in place Monday, June 5 through Wednesday, July 12 to allow for the demolition of 100 E. Main Street: Full closure of Mitchell Street between E. Main Street and E. 16th Street; E. Main between Rossville Avenue and Mitchell Street will see a lane shift which includes the temporary removal of several street parking spaces in the westbound lanes; and Sidewalk closure on Mitchell Avenue and E.Main Street around the demolition site.Veterans Bridge Southbound Ramp to Riverfront Parkway Westbound.The ramp from Veterans Bridge southbound to Riverfront Parkway westbound will be closed Tuesday, June 6 until Saturday, June 10 for work adjacent to the right-of-way.1225 Cowart StreetCowart Street between Market Street and W. 13th Street will close Wednesday, June 7 for a crane lift. Detours will be posted.2023 Paving and Resurfacing Updates:The City of Chattanooga in coordination with Talley Construction, has added the firm of Spears & Hopkins as a paving contractor to assist in the final push to complete the 2022-2023 Resurfacing Plan. The number of roadways seeing brief delays while paving takes place will double in the coming weeks. No full closures are expected, but delays may be experienced as temporary flagging around single-lane closures occur.Portions of the following roadways will see paving and resurfacing work for the weeks of Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 16:Halsey StreetMayfair AvenueRockford LaneConner StreetBarbara LaneS. Moore RoadGreenway View DriveS. Sweetbriar AvenueBass RoadDavis AvenueSylvan AvenueSylvan DriveEast AvenueWilsonia AvenueShallowford RoadAubrey Avenue14th Avenue15th AvenueE. 30th StreetE. 31st StreetE. 37th StreetPortions of the following roads saw their paving completed the final week of May 2023:Gunbarrel RoadKarr StreetUsher StreetBellemeade AvenueHooker RoadSlayton AvenueW. 42nd StreetE. 40th StreetE. 42nd StreetRogers RoadWoodmore LaneMcGowan RoadView CDOT's map of events and road closures for full details of these activities and other projects underway in our public space.
Due to the popularity of short term marriages arising out of the liaisons created in the Station Street hot spots in Gig City, several unidentifiable victims of the results of drinking cheap liquor and a quick trip to the Quick Marriage Capitol just across the state line have necessitated an additional article on the above topic.

Although he has been gone since 1994, the words of wisdom of Lewis Grizzard are eternal (like Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Wilt Chamberlain, etc.)

The 1989 Longstreet Press, 76-page paperback pamphlet with illustrations by Mark Lester contains profound literary inspirations on the twin subjects of marriage and divorce.

The emotional trauma inflicted on the males, females, etc. once the heartbreak occurs is described with painful emotion in the following excerpt:

If divorce is ending a relationship that is bad, then why do I never feel good when the deed is done? I have been divorced three times, enough to be a regular on Divorce Court, and every time Ive walked away with an empty feeling - in my stomach and my wallet.

I should have been ready to spread my wings and soar with the eagles. I had total freedom to do whatever I pleased. I had no one to answer to about where I was going, what I would be doing, when Id be back, or even if Id be back. I could run the hot spots and stay out all night, if I wanted to. I could throw my dirty underwear on the floor and leave it there for days, if I wanted to. I could have beer and corn chips for dinner every night, if I wanted to. I could squeeze the toothpaste in the middle of the tube and leave the cap off, if I wanted to.

But all I really wanted to do was sit home and count my change.

Apparently I wasnt the only one who felt that way, because all of my newly divorced friends would call and ask me to come watch old Bonanza reruns with them. Wed sit around the TV and drink beer and eat corn chips and marvel at how well Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe got along without a woman. Unfortunately, we didnt have Hop Sing to pick up after us. Finally one of us would doze off, and wed cash in after another night in the fast lane.

Well, enough of this maudlin madness! We newly divorced slugs have spent enough time wallowing in salt.

If forewarned is forearmed, then I - the man who inspired the bumper sticker Honk If Youve Ever Been Married to Lewis Grizzard - am here to forewarn. By sharing all that I have learned through three divorces, maybe I can save just one person from the pain and suffering of opening the closet door and finding fungus growing on your dirty clothes.

(This article should dispel the rumors that a local deceased, disgruntled male was the originator of a similar act of revenge by placing such a similar message on a few telephone poles on the upward route to their former honeymoon cottage - L.G. was the inspiration!)

* * *

You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com




A new film premiering this Friday at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater invites viewers to delve into some of Earths most alluring and hidden places.Descending deep beneath the surface or submerged far below the waves lie extraordinary secrets hidden in the sprawling caverns and claustrophobic crannies of cave systems. These remarkable  and often alien  environments are unlike any other location on the planet and serve as the focal point for Ancient Caves 3D, which explores how these subterranean habitats hold the key to better understanding climatic changes on the surface.These deep underwater caves are other-worldly, like something straight out of a sci-fi film, and viewers can expect to see things theyve never seen before, says director and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Jonathan Bird. The film has something for everyone, whether its adventure, science, or just pure beauty.Audiences plunge into a spelunking adventure with paleoclimatologist Dr. Gina Moseley as she ventures into the expansive underground worlds above and below the water in France, Iceland, the Bahamas, the U.S., and Mexico. Few humans have visited these remote caves, but Ancient Caves 3D offers audiences a rare chance to experience their majesty through stunning footage that captures their full breadth and scale.Through the incredible resolution and sound of the theater's IMAX with Laser audio-visual system, viewers will feel like theyre exploring these caves: SCUBA diving, climbing, crawling  and occasionally getting stuck  in search of geological clues to our planets distant past.For residents of the Tennessee Valley, in particular, this film touches on a geological fact of life. Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, an aquatic biologist with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, has described this part of the country as living atop a block of Swiss cheese.We live above a vast cave and karst region that is amazing to explore, says Dr. Kuhajda.In addition to experiencing their spectacular geological formations, Dr. Kuhajda has snorkeled many cave systems to study aquatic animals that only can be found in these subterranean locales and whose existence can directly reflect the health of our water.We have cave fishes, cave shrimp, and cave crayfishes living in the pristine waters of caves across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia," he says. "They are environmental bell-weathers of whats happening to the groundwater that many people in the Southeast depend upon for drinking water.Dr. Kuhajda says he believes providing an exciting opportunity to see the aquatic cave systems in Ancient Caves 3D can help many people better appreciate the importance and beauty of these hidden worlds.With the surrounding regions cave-rich environment, fans of the film can embark on their own extraordinary underground adventures without traveling to the far-flung reaches of the planet.The tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public is just minutes from the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX 3D Theater.Ruby Falls, the local presenting sponsor of Ancient Caves 3D, welcomes over one million guests each year who marvel over the thunderous cascade that spills for 145 feet deep within Lookout Mountain.It is incredible timing that we celebrate National Day of Caves & Karst on June the 6th and now welcome Ancient Caves 3D to our city the same week, says Hugh Morrow, Ruby Falls president and CEO. What an honor it is to support and sponsor this educational adventure so that we can continue our quest to learn more about the different environments both above and below ground.Narrated by Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston, Ancient Caves 3D was the 2022 winner of the Giant Screen Cinema Association film awards for best film, best film for lifelong learning, and best cinematography.A longtime favorite 45-minute film will flutter back to the IMAX 3D Theater in a few short weeks. Flight of the Butterflies 3D will run from June 16 to 22 in conjunction with National Pollinator Week, which raises awareness for pollinators and the need to protect them.This spectacular film was recently digitally remastered to immerse audiences in one of Earths longest and most perilous migrations. Filmmakers were able to follow hundreds of millions of (now endangered) Monarch Butterflies into their secret hideaway in the mountains of Mexico. As they join the filmmakers on this quest, viewers will learn about these endangered pollinators' vital role in their ecosystem and how people can lend a helping hand to aid monarchs and other native species.Viewers have a few final chances to catch one of the years most critically acclaimed superhero films before it leaves IMAX. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is as visually stunning and creatively daring as its 2018 predecessor, Into the Spider-Verse. This animated hit runs through June 8.Next in a lineup of epic feature films is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which will run from June 9 to 15. The seventh installment of the Transformers live-action franchise, Rise of the Beasts brings the epic scale of its signature transforming robots to the giant screen in typical action-packed style.Junes powerhouse lineup is rounded out by another superhero blockbuster: D.C.s highly-anticipated The Flash. The Scarlet Speedster's big screen debut comes to the IMAX 3D Theater on June 15 and runs through June 29. This feature-length installment sees the titular supersonic hero traveling back in time to prevent his mothers death, trapping him in an alternate reality that features an all-new Supergirl and the return of actor Michael Keaton as the caped crusader, Batman.For showtimes, tickets and more information for all films, visit https://tnaqua.org/imax/.
Chinese medical team promotes eye care in Maldives

Xinhua) 13:17, June 06, 2023

COLOMBO, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese ophthalmic medical expert group in the Maldives published an open letter in local media on Monday to raise public awareness about the prevention and treatment of eye diseases.

The letter put forward suggestions on the prevention and control of myopia in local children and teenagers and eye diseases in the elderly, and passed on to the Maldives the idea of "paying attention to universal eye health" advocated by China's "Sight Day" this year.

"In patients visiting the China-Maldives ophthalmology center, we have found that children, adolescents, and the elderly populations require special attention in ophthalmology. This is similar to our observation in China," said the letter.

The letter was initiated by Chen Weirong, a professor at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University.

Since 2017, she has traveled to the Maldives five times for medical aid, leading a team of ophthalmic experts to provide free eye screening and cataract surgery for local residents, which has been welcomed by local doctors and patients.

In February, an assistance and cooperation program for the China-Maldives ophthalmology center was launched at Hulhumale Hospital in the Maldives.

As the head of the center, Chen led the Chinese medical team not only to cure many patients with difficult and severe eye diseases, but also to train local medical staff to improve the ability of ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment.

Chen said that the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University will also invite Maldivian ophthalmic medical staff to Guangzhou this year for exchange and study.

Through regular clinical training and online clinical technology exchanges between medical personnel of the two countries, the clinical skills of local doctors and nurses at the China-Maldives ophthalmology center have been continuously improved.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Discovery Channels Deadliest Catch Season 19 shows captains taking their fishing vessels into the Bering Sea. But there are several fishing vessels that fans havent seen in several seasons or even years. So, what happened to the F/V Lady Alaska? Heres what we know.

Where is the Deadliest Catch F/V Lady Alaska in 2023?

Deadliest Catch F/V Lady Alaska | Discovery UK via YouTube

The F/V Lady Alaska led by Captain Peter Liske was featured early on in Deadliest Catch, but fans havent seen the 31-year-old boat in years. So, what happened?

Deadliest Catch producers never mentioned why they no longer feature the vessel, but fans have their ideas. Many fans on Reddit believe that producers only wanted the Lady Alaska for a short stint on the show, thus not featuring it in later seasons.

There were lots of boats in and out for a season or two early in the show, either the producers didnt want them back or they didnt want to be on the show again (or they quit fishing), a fan on Reddit explained. I liked it. It wasnt the same boats doing the exact same thing like the show is now.

Another fan mentioned that the Lady Alaska was no longer in use for crab fishing. The Lady Alaska was parked indefinitely shortly after rationalization and was only used as a salmon/cod tender, they wrote.

Quick search on Alaska codec website shows that it is still getting licensed in Alaska. Probably just a tender these days, another fan explained.

MarineTraffic gave more specific information regarding where the vessel is currently located (and has been located for quite some time). Fishing Vessel LADY ALASKA is currently located at ALASKA  Gulf of Alaska at position 57 47 01.4 N, 152 25 30.7 W as reported by MarineTraffic Terrestrial Automatic Identification System on 2021-06-16 23:07 LT (UTC -8) (1 year, 11 months ago).

The Lady Alaska captain, Peter Liske, was charged with catching undersized crabs

Peter Liske isnt featured on the F/V Lady Alaska in Deadliest Catch Season 19. And fans seem to have divided opinions of the captain. Liske was certainly outspoken when it came to crab fishing, and he once got in trouble for catching undersized crabs.

Elliot Neese, 32, and Liske, 66, were called into court in 2014 for keeping undersized crabs while fishing. Liske was found with a catch that was 2.7% undersized in October 2014.

Youre supposed to measure the crab, right? And you should stick every crab, Sergeant Robin Morrisett with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers said, according to KUCB. Now, if you watch the Deadliest Catch  they drop a big pile of crab there  you can see em, they go, yep! And they go  whoop, and they swoop em all in. Who knows if there are any females in there, or undersize? Its just an average, boom, and the whole pile goes in.

The captains faced thousands of dollars in fines from the charges.

Peter Liske was vehemently against the Bering Sea crab plan passed by the U.S. Senate in 2004

F/V Lady Alaska Captain Peter Liske also had an issue with the Bering Sea crab plan that the U.S. senate passed in 2004. The Deadliest Catch captain told the Alaska Journal of Commerce that it marked the end of an era, as fishing would be different moving forward. The new plan dictated where fishermen would be able to sell their catch.

I cant sell where I want to? Its a total violation of the American spirit and free enterprise, Liske stated at the time. He then called it totally illegal, immoral, and against the principles of God.

How are they going to track all of this crab and where it goes and who gets it? the captain continued. What happens if St. Paul freezes up and we cant deliver our crab there? All of us should be able to sell to whoever we want.

Deadliest Catch Season 19 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Discovery Channel.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
Inside King Charles Beloved Blue House, Where He Is Fleeing as Prince Harry Returns to the UK

King Charles has hit the road again for his yearly trip to Romania. After meeting with the countrys leader, Charles made his way to his famous Blue House in the charming village of Viscri.

However, the joy of his visit might be dampened this time around. Charles journey abroad coincides with Prince Harrys return to the UK. The Duke of Sussex wont have a chance to reconnect with his father as he is due to testify in an ongoing phone hacking trial.

King Charles | Jonathan Brady  WPA Pool/Getty Images

As Prince Harry returns to the UK, King Charles heads to his cherished Blue House

Charles has a deep-rooted connection with Romania, with a portfolio boasting at least 10 properties across this Eastern European gem. He makes it a point to pay a visit to the country at least once a year. The highlight of his trip is his cherished Blue House.

However, this years trip comes at a tricky time for the royals. As Charles is enjoying himself at the Blue House, Prince Harry is due for a court appearance in the UK.

The Duke of Sussex is back in his home country to testify in an ongoing case concerning phone hacking. This marks Harrys first return home since Charles coronation at the start of May.

Charles love for Romania, meanwhile, began back in 1988 when he first set foot in the country. Since then, he has progressively built an impressive collection of properties in the area, with the Blue House being his most prized possession.

An inside look at the royal familys Blue House in Romania

Each year, Charles makes a pilgrimage to Romania to unwind at his secluded, simple farmhouse in a small village nestled in Transylvania. He originally purchased the Blue House in 2006, which is located 164 miles from Bucharest.

Distinguished by its striking exterior color, the house is fondly known as the Blue House. Despite being equipped with all the conveniences of contemporary living, it beautifully preserves a rural charm throughout.

According to Express, local resources are smartly utilized for the interiors, with the bedrooms featuring a vibrant collection of antique Transylvanian furniture. Seeking to cultivate an ambiance of serenity and calm, distractions like televisions and radios have been consciously excluded from the setup.

The Blue House, of course, is no secret to the public. When the King isnt staying there, its open for rent. The spacious dwelling features seven double bedrooms, a dining space, a cozy living room, and a fully functional kitchen.

King Charles shares a close connection with the people in Romania

Charless connection to Romania isnt merely about owning properties; its in his blood. Hes reportedly a descendant of Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler, who is viewed by many Romanians as a national hero.

Per the folks in Viscri, Charless bond with their village has brought about a lot of good over the years, especially by boosting tourism. In 2015, he established the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania.

This initiative offers both local and international students courses in heritage preservation. It is also partially funded by the income Charles earns from leasing his vacation house.

Upon landing in Bucharest, Charles didnt miss the chance to commend Romania for preserving its abundant natural wealth.

I have come to love Romania  your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity, he shared.

While Charles may be enjoying his time in Romania, he is missing out on a meeting with Harry. The Duke of Sussex currently resides in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and doesnt visit the UK very often these days.
An election night spectator takes photographs of results posted at the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service on June 3.
Pixabay/Dimitris Vetsikas

The bell at the First Baptist Church in Meadville was muted because the tower's condition was failing, and it was unsafe to continue ringing. But the historic revere bell will soon be undergoing maintenance due to the Historic Preservation Grants Program, which will provide the local church with monetary assistance of $10,000.

$10,000 Grant to First Baptist Church

Paul Oppenlander, chair of the church trustees, felt worried about the state of the church's bells and met with Verdin, a world-renowned bellmaker in Cincinnati, toward the end of the previous year. Following the chime maker's recommendation, the bell's regular operation was stopped, and preparations were made to restore it. A report from Meadville Tribune, a revere foundry, produced the bell in the 1830s, and it was initially installed in a church in Washington, District of Columbia. The bell was relocated numerous times during the following 45 years as the church convened in various sites, nevertheless in 1906, it was ultimately installed in the tower of the newly completed First Baptist Church, which is located on the corner of Chestnut Street and Diamond Park in the middle of Meadville.

Moreover, earlier this year, the bell that had been rung for centuries to herald activities in the church and the community stopped ringing because of its failing condition and worries for people's safety. As mentioned, the First Baptist Church is gathering funds to make repairs and safeguard the 700-pound bell. This process will require taking the bell from the bell tower using a lifting device this summer and transferring it to Verdin, where it will be sandblasted and buffed. The historic church property will also have a replacement of the clapper, bell wheel, yoke, and bell stand. Thus, the church applied to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Historic Preservation Grants program, which is highly selective, to acquire financial assistance for the project. Yet, the congregation recently received news that it was awarded the grant. The money must be used solely for the causes specified for their use, and according to Oppenlander, they will pay approximately one-third of the expense associated with removing the bell from the tower, transporting it to Cincinnati, and doing repair work on it.

On the other hand, donations to the church and money from its building fund will reportedly be used to cover the remainder of the project's funding requirements. As soon as the work on restoring the bell is completed, it will be displayed in the church's vestibule until enough money can be gathered to fix the bell tower. Yahoo News reported that the First Baptist Church of Meadville's Revere Bell restoration effort has recently been given its fundraising page on GoFundMe.com. This website facilitates online fundraising for charitable organizations and causes. The renovation of the Chestnut Street church's bell and bell tower will be funded by the project's $100,000 fundraising target.

Also Read:Historic Bell Stolen At Malden Bridge Community Center, Offers $3,500 Reward

DAR Historic Preservation Grants

The National Society of the DAR, established in 1890, has prioritized learning, a sense of duty, and historic preservation as its three primary areas of objective assistance ever since its establishment. They have dedicated themselves to preserving the American story in thousands of meaningful ways, including saving historic properties and artifacts, conserving landmark properties and artifacts, digitizing historical documents, and preserving tens of thousands of places worldwide. Accordingly, projects from any century or period in the archives of American history are reportedly welcome to submit applications. The grant amount is capped at $10,000, and applicants with more modest proposals are encouraged to apply.

Related Article: Marblehead Church Bell Tower History: Why Parishioners Are Very Eager to Raise $1 Million Fund for Its Rehabilitation
Unsplash/Mercedes Mehling

A planned Pride event at Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood, California, has sparked controversy in the neighborhood, and on Friday, parents and counter-protesters clashed outside the school, heightening tensions. Manuk Grigoryan, a California father of four, has declared a boycott of the school in response to complaints that administrators have disregarded parents' worries.

Grigoryan, who was joined by many other parents, protested the school's conduct of the Pride event on the streets and vowed not to send his kids back until he could speak with administrators face-to-face.

Ignored Concerns about Pride Event

According to the article in Fox News, the youngsters were "too young," said Grigoryan. He made it clear that his issue was more than just with the book's content. He claimed that the goal was for the book to be read, then there would be a debate to clarify what was heard and read. The kids completely disregarded their parents and refused to communicate when attempts were made to have a conversation with them. He was irritated by this indifference and came to the conclusion that the school was not a secure place for his kids. He thus said that unless the authorities resolved the issue by starting a conversation with the parents, he would not permit his kids to return to school.

The reading of "The Great Big Book of Families" during the scheduled assembly sparked the uproar. The book presents several family types, including those with parents who identify as LGBTQ+. While some parents objected to their kids being exposed to such material without their permission, the Associated Press claimed that more protesters opposed the assembly than in favor of it. Some demonstrators wore T-shirts with the words "No Pride in Grooming" and "Leave our Kids Alone."

Grigoryan made clear that he was specifically against the book being read to his 8-year-old twin girls without their agreement. According to the shared story in the Arizona Republican Party, he said that when they learned about the gathering at the beginning of May, they repeatedly tried to contact the school's administration and request a meeting. Despite their meeting with the principal, Grigoryan expressed dismay that she was unable to help.

They, therefore, tried to contact L.A. Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of schools and made many attempts to get in touch with him. However, Grigoryan claimed that Carvalho consciously chose not to notice their concerns and ignored every opportunity they had to interact with him. They felt obligated to take their complaints to the streets as a final resort since they were frustrated by this lack of response.

Also Read:Kohl's Sparks Shopper Uproar as LGBTQ Clothing for Children Draws Controversy: Strong Reactions and Calls of 'Inappropriateness'

The Rise of Tension Leading to Chaos



Parent Karine, 40, joined a group of parents protesting against LGBTQ+ education. In the article in Los Angeles Times, she voiced worries about her child being bullied and stated that she preferred for her kids to concentrate on math and school rather than LGBTQ+ issues.

The parents got into a contentious discussion with Renato Lira, the head of a nearby LGBTQ+ organization, who urged them to educate themselves and socialize with homosexual people and parents. A parent educator named Tabitha Davis, who has a transgender kid, arrived to assist families that are being harassed. As the two groups fought, tensions rose, and authorities had to step in to separate them.

Related Article:Utah's Latest LGBTQ+ Church Leader Foresees Inevitable Political Engagement
Pixabay/3D Animation Production Company

The St. Matthew A.M.E. Church in Orange, New Jersey, aims to raise enough money to help people pay off their medical expenses. After some time, the church was able to collect enough money through small donations from their congregation to reach their objective and assist many people struggling to pay their medical debts. This initiative is now becoming a 'new trend' in churches.

St. Matthew A.M.E. Church's Mission

The erasure of medical debt is becoming the focus of advocacy efforts by many religious organizations and places of worship. According to data provided by KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 41% of adults across the country carry medical debt. A report from NJ News stated that medical debt among Americans is estimated to be at least $195 billion. People across the country have been able to pay off their debts with the support of places of worship. A wide variety of religious communities are represented among them, ranging from synagogues in Illinois to churches in North Carolina and Michigan.

In January of 2021, the members of Rev. Melvin Wilson's church, the St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, decided to make it their mission to raise $15,000 through weekly contributions of $5 or $10 each and reached out to a group named RIP Medical Debt. After two years, Rev. Wilson announced that the denomination had accomplished its objective in May of this year. Donations totaling $15,000 were put toward paying off more than $1.7 million in medical bills for individuals the organization had never met.

As per Raising Concepts, St. Matthew helped 929 persons at the cost of $1,728,868. The church was given a report detailing the number of people who benefited from their efforts and the typical amount of debt that was cleared. Rev. Wilson remarked on how great it was and asserted that people's lives could be altered significantly due to their medical debt. The pastor also said that many families are facing challenging financial circumstances and are forced to make difficult decisions since they must either buy food, pay their rent, or pay their medical bills.

As Scott G. Patton, the RIP's vice president of development, explained, people in 18 of the 21 counties in New Jersey benefited from St. Matthew's crusade. However, Essex County was not one of those counties. It is reportedly due to the cash coming at an inconvenient time. Additionally, he mentioned that churches aren't the only organizations employing RIP to assist in eradicating medical debt for those who aren't their members, but churches are a highly active component of our fundraising strategy. Over the years, the company has reportedly formed partnerships with more than 800 religious' organizations, who have together written off $1.2 billion in debt. Patton claimed that the idea of erasing medical debt in exchange for charitable contributions is only practiced in the United States: "It's a pretty unique scenario in the United States," he remarked.

Also Read:New Mexico Church Pays Off 782 Families' Medical Debt Worth Nearly $1.4 Million

Churches Help Eliminate Medical Debts Through RIP Medical Debt

RIP Medical Debt is a charity group established by two professionals in the debt collection industry who, after seeing the seedier side of their company, made the conscious decision to use their experience for the greater good. According to Relevant, this organization operates much like a collection agency, with the ability to purchase delinquent accounts from hospitals or aggregators at reduced prices. In contrast to those other agencies, RIP Medical Debt is forgiving of it, and if they purchase an individual's medical debt, the person would be notified that their payment has been taken care of, and they will not hear from them again regarding the matter. In addition, the organization would get in touch with credit bureaus to have any red flags removed from the record. Red flags are warnings that may occasionally get in the way of renting an apartment, buying a property, or starting a business. In every sense of the phrase, it is reportedly a fresh start in life.

Related Article: Trinity Moravian Church Forgives Medical Debt Costs Around $3.3 Million For Triad Families
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Oklahoma has approved what could be the first Christian charter school in the U.S., igniting a potential constitutional dispute. While raising concerns about the direct use of public money to support religious institutions, the ruling has been a huge success for Christian conservatives.

The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is an online school that will be managed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Religious lessons will be incorporated into the school's curriculum. It sparked some controversy because taxpayer's money will be used since it is a charter school.

Oklahoma Approves Nation's First Religious Charter School

According to the article in New York Times, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, which was made up of representatives of the Republican-controlled State Legislature and appointees of Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, approved the school by a vote of 3-to-2 after a nearly three-hour meeting. The choice was made over reservations from the board's legal counsel, with a "yes" vote from a recently appointed member. This decision, which comes at a time when other facets of public education are already being scrutinized, is likely to lead to a court dispute regarding the separation of religion and state inside the educational system.

Republicans in Congress, especially those in Oklahoma, have been pushing for private schools more and more in recent years, citing discussions about parents' rights. These substitutes include tax credits and vouchers, which give parents financial aid to help pay for private tuition, frequently at religious institutions.

Also Read: Education Department Launches Investigation Into Religious Schools With Christian Teachings Following Lawsuit From LGBT Students

Approval of Religious Charter School Sparks Constitutional Debate in Oklahoma

It has been questioned whether the Oklahoma Constitution has been violated by the decision to allow the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which might become the first religious charter school in the country. In the article shared in Yahoo! News, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board had been cautioned by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond that such a decision was obviously illegal under state law.

Drummond said it was "extremely disappointing" to see board members violate their pledge by funding religious institutions. According to Drummond, this move exposed not only the board members but also the state to potential legal repercussions that may cost a lot of money.

The Catholic school actively participates in the evangelization mission of the church and provides an environment for Christian education, according to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma, as was indicated in their application. According to the shared story in PBS NewsHour, Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, expressed her happiness for the decision.

The company's president and CEO, Rachel Laser, expressed grave alarm about what she saw as a fundamental change in American democracy. She highlighted that Americans United would work with their colleagues in Oklahoma and at the federal level to explore all legal options to contest the ruling and defend the separation of church and state, which is protected by both Oklahoman and American law. Constitutions.

Related Article: Oklahoma Composed to Welcome the Nation's First Religious Charter School
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Lightning struck the First Congregational Church of Spencer, United Church of Christ, resulting in a fire that devastated the building that served as a place of worship. Within half an hour, the church was reportedly no longer there.

Lighting Strike at Church

On Friday, Jun 2, a blaze completely gutted a church standing in Spencer, Massachusetts, for the past 160 years. Lightning was cited as the cause of the incident by officials from the fire department. As the church was unoccupied at the time that it caught fire, the authorities said that there were no casualties as a result of the blaze. Based on a report from Hindustan Times, bringing the fire under control required the efforts of approximately one hundred firefighters. As mentioned, the fire started in the church tower and quickly progressed to the lower levels of the building. The cathedral's steeple eventually suffered destruction due to the fire and collapsed. Rev. Bruce MacLeod, who serves as the church's Interim Pastor, explained that the building goes back to the 1800s and was constructed from wood and other materials.

Moreover, Boston 25 News reported that according to Robert Parsons, the Chief of the Spencer Fire Department, firefighters were attending to a different incident about a lightning strike in a different part of town when they got a report about the fire alarm going off at the parish building. He asserted that the volunteer firefighters stopped into the church when they were off-duty and claimed that when they arrived, all they noticed was a little cloud of smoke coming out of the steeple. However, the structure had completely disappeared within 30 minutes since it went up in flame quickly.

Accordingly, the fire was fought for several hours by the crews. The only part of the building still standing was the front facade. Parsons also noted that the facade posed a risk and needed to be taken down immediately. From 11 p.m. on Friday, Jun 2, until around 4 a.m. on Saturday, Jun 3, personnel tried to take it down while using excavators. In addition, the assisted living facility nearby had to be evacuated following a blaze that broke out on the roof, yet on Saturday morning; residents were permitted to go back inside.

Also Read: Historic St. Joseph Parish Church Roof Destroyed By Windstorm

Brief History of the United Church of Christ

Nathaniel Cunningham, a prosperous Cambridge merchant, gave the land which currently serves as the location of the First Congregational Church of Spencer, United Church of Christ, in 1743 so that it may be used to build the house of worship. According to Spencer Church.org, the church location was reportedly part of Leicester during that time. Spencer was founded on Apr 12, 1753, when Lt. Governor Spencer Phipps signed a measure. The barn had unplanted planks for walls, no clapboards, and no stucco or paneling inside. There was only flooring but no seat in the church, commonly called the Second Church of Leicester. As stated over several years, many advancements were made.

In 1772, a new, more spacious church structure was constructed. According to historical accounts, this structure was considered "substantial" and even "elegant" for its day. In the year 1802, a steeple and a bell were installed. In 1820, Reverend Stephen Crosby, serving as the third minister, was responsible for establishing the church school. It was considered one of the first of its kind in the country. In the year 1838, the church had renovations both on the inside and the outside. The entire structure was rotated by one quarter, so the front of it now faces the south, and there are now chairs with hinges. However, on Jan 1, 1862, the church building was annihilated by a fire. The current church was constructed and given its dedication in the year 1863.

Related Article: New Commandment Church of God in Arkansas Destroyed By Tornadoes
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Two influential members of the congregation of Church of South India's Karnataka Southern Diocese (CSI-KSD) are accused of sexually harassing a former female employee of the diocese. The suspects allegedly sabotage the victim's work by withholding her income. Yet, the incident did not prompt the church to take any action.

Sexual Misconduct on Church's Former Employee

After 30 union negotiations, the South India United Church, which was a merged organization of Presbyterians and Congregationalists, the Anglican Dioceses in South India, and the South Indian districts of the Methodist Church finally came together in 1947 to form the Church of South India, World Council of Churches stated.

Affirming that the denomination is the servant of God to carry out the mission anchored in Jesus Christ and founded on the scriptures constitutes an element of the mission statement of the Church of South India (CSI). Through its work in the world, the church shows its sympathy with the shattered communities that are looking for a new hope to face life's problems. As a vibrant instrument of God, the witnessing church seeks unity, peace, and reconciliation under the cross.

Despite these values, according to Aadhan, an ex-worker of the CSI-KSD has leveled allegations of sexual harassment against prominent members of the Church of South India, most notably the treasurer Vincent Palanna and the legal advisor Noel Karkada. The alleged victim, Sushma, claims that she was subjected to unwanted advances, molestation, psychological harassment, being exposed to explicit content, and blackmail for four years. However, the church had not taken any action despite the complaints.

Also Read: Catholic Churches in California Face Thousands of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits, Allowed Victims to Sue Up to 40 Years Old

Organizations' Protest to Support Sexual Accusation of the Victim

Based on an article from The New Minute, to show their support for the victim, the Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) Odanadi Seva Samsthe, which is based in Mysuru, and the Forum Against Atrocities on Women (FAAW) staged a demonstration together on Wednesday, May 31. Since August 2022, the victim has been holding protests in front of the bishop's office to obtain justice and appropriate reinstatement. In addition, she has been petitioning both within the church and with the labor commissioner. However, the results of her efforts have not been particularly fruitful so far.

Accordingly, the victim stated that she had been harassed by Vincent for four years, both physically and psychologically. Additionally, the survivor claimed that Vincent tried to fire her from her employment. Sushma also said that Noel Karkada had her watch a pornographic movie and hugged her against her will. Moreover, Vincent and Noel threatened her when she declined to cooperate with their requests. It is stated that as she protested and opposed their acts, they ramped up their harassment by undermining her work, jeopardizing her employment, not paying her income, and causing her substantial emotional distress. Sushma also claimed she was prevented from drafting essential documents and excluded from significant duties.

In April of 2022, Noel was granted further influence within the organization when he was appointed the chaplain and secretary of the bishop. This appointment made the situation even more complicated. The following month, the victim got a letter disputing her employment due to a supposed absence of a mandatory postgraduate qualification. Sushma was further targeted and alienated due to these activities, which contributed to a hostile climate at work. On the other hand, on Tuesday, on Mar. 7, Sushma filed a complaint with the police, citing multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those about sexual harassment, assault, and criminal intimidation. The case was registered. Although it was discovered that the accused had acquired a stay order from the High Court, which temporarily halted the proceedings, an inquiry was launched regardless of this fact.

Related Article: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia Refused to Acknowledge Sexual Abuse Claims Against Priest, Face New Lawsuit
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In a united front, the bishops' conference in India and a prominent childcare facility have joined forces to protest against what they perceive as an ongoing pattern of government harassment directed at church-run centers for children. The protests come amid claims that these centers are being targeted under the guise of enforcing India's anti-conversion laws.

Protest Against Government's Harassment

According to a report from Crux Now, the protests launched by the bishops' conference and the childcare facility underscore their determination to challenge the alleged harassment by the government and protect the religious freedom of church-run centers for children. They demand a fair and unbiased investigation into these incidents and an end to an unwarranted intrusion into the functioning of these vital institutions that cater to the welfare and development of vulnerable children.

As mentioned, Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai, secretary of the conference, released a statement on Wednesday, May 31, expressing deep concern over three recent incidents in the Diocese of Jabalpur, located in the North Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, which is currently governed by the Hindu nationalist party BJP. Moreover, the bishops also emphasized that the common thread among these incidents was the officials' unauthorized entry into the premises, thorough searches, confiscating files, and questioning children about their religious practices. They specifically inquired whether the children were coerced into attending church services or forced to read the Bible.

On the other hand, strongly affirming their commitment to the welfare of children, the prelates asserted that the facilities in question were not engaged in any form of illicit proselytism. They maintained that the centers were solely dedicated to providing essential care, education, and support to vulnerable children, regardless of their religious background. Matters India reported that the statement issued by the bishops' conference assured that the center would vigorously defend itself against any charges in court. Furthermore, it accused the officials, including Raghvendra Singh Kanoongo, the head of the State Commission of Child Rights, of needlessly jeopardizing the well-being and safety of the children under their care.

Also Read: Indian Catholic Bishops Raise Concerns as Criminal Cases Target Church Leaders

Recent Incidents in Alleged Forced Religious Conversion

The Organiser.org reported that a childcare center in Madhya Pradesh's Katni district has come under scrutiny following allegations of forced religious conversion and mistreatment of minors. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) led a raid on Monday, May 29, suspecting illicit activities within the premises. During the surprise inspection, the NCPCR team discovered distressing practices at the child's home. Minors were reportedly forced into offering Christian prayers while barred from visiting temples and following Hindu religious customs. These revelations have sparked concerns about violating fundamental rights and religious freedom.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, students at the facility voiced additional grievances, claiming that basic medical amenities were withheld from them. Accordingly, they were allegedly deprived of opportunities to engage in co-curricular activities, hindering their holistic development. Reacting promptly to these distressing findings, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, along with members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), filed a police complaint against the administrators of the child home on Tuesday, May 30.

Related Article: Christian Groups Call for Independent Panel to Address Rising Attacks in India
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A man armed with a pistol struck a church usher in Madison who was 72 years old while was on his way to the chapel. The victim had a laceration to his left ear and is currently recovering from the incident.

Charges Against Church Usher's Attacker

A report from News Channel 5 Nashville, the victim, an older adult, was walking into Cornerstone Church on Old Hickory Boulevard shortly before 7 a.m. on early Sunday morning when the defendant, a 23-year-old man named Deangelo Lavender, hit him in the head with a pistol, according to the statements made by Metro Police. The church usher managed to seize the gun and throw it away, despite being struck in the head by the suspect. Additionally, in connection with an earlier arrest for serious assault, Lavender was free while on parole.

As per Nashville.gov, the victim took it up and threw it into his vehicle so that Lavender would not come into contact with it. After that, Lavender went up to another church congregation member who was in the parking lot and found him talking on his mobile device with 911 dispatchers. Lavender lied to the victim, who was fifty years old, and said he needed to access his cell phone, but he did not grant permission to him. Before the 64-year-old church member and the phone owner could physically detain Lavender and throw him down on the ground until the police came, Lavender attempted to flee while grabbing the man's phone.

Moreover, the Ford model year 2007 that Lavender brought to the house of worship reportedly took some time in the early morning hours of Sunday from a parking lot on Lickton Pike. The suspect, who is now on probationary periods for a felony assault conviction that he received in 2020, is currently in jail without bond on a parole breach warrant and charges of aggravated assault for hitting the church usher in the head, as well as charges of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, auto theft, criminal activity, and drug possession.

Also Read:Christians Launch Protest to Call for Action Against Church Attack in India

Unreasonable Attacks in Nashville

Khadree Renfro, 30, was taken into custody by Violent Crimes detectives after he stepped out of a silver Hyundai SUV on Pennock Avenue, as per a statement released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) late Thursday night, Mar. 23. The most recent assault is believed to have taken place on Renfro on Wednesday night, Mar. 22 in a laundry located on Dickerson Pike, WSMV4 reported. According to the police, CCTV footage shows a man in a black hoodie walking up to a 45-year-old male while the victim is unaware of the situation. The suspect then takes a metal pipe and repeatedly strikes the victim with it.

Based on the arrest report, the victim sustained facial injuries and severe edema due to the attack. The police also suspect Renfro to be the same person who assaulted three men on separate occasions during March 16-19. These assaults occurred on East Due West Avenue, outside a Citgo market on Dickerson Pike, and on Lischey Avenue, where a man in his thirties was jogging. On the other hand, early on Friday morning, Mar. 24, Renfro was taken into custody, and he is currently being charged with three counts of attempted criminal homicide and under a bond of $150,000.

Related Article: Church Attack During Christian Prayer Meeting Allegedly Insults Bible, 2 Injured
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A religious institution in Sacramento was shocked after discovering that numerous migrants had been left in front of their church building. The authorities are investigating the possibility of illicit activity in this incident.

16 Migrants Left at Sacramento Church Without Notice

On Friday evening, Jun 2, 16 migrants from Colombia and Venezuela were dumped off in front of the Sacramento Diocese. According to representatives from the community organization Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) California, the migrants were approached by individuals from an independent contractor outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas. According to Kcra3, these individuals told the migrants that they would bring them to a migrant facility that would give them work and other free support. As mentioned, the migrants arrived in California with no notion of where they were, and many brought nothing with them other than the clothes they were wearing and the backpacks they were carrying.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, and the Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, reportedly gathered with over a dozen migrants on Saturday, Jun 3, and discovered from them that they were transported from Texas to New Mexico and then flown to Sacramento on a private plane. Atty. Bonta asserted that the organization possessed papers that gave the impression of having been issued by the state of Florida. He also mentioned that his organization is looking into the possibility of taking a criminal or civil action against those individuals who were responsible for transporting or arranging the transit of vulnerable immigrants.

Also Read: Church Officials Face Challenges in Addressing the Venezuelan Migrant Crisis

Job and Free Support Promise on Migrants

Cecilia Flores, a spokesman for Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT), stated that the migrants include men and women who are between the ages of 20 and 30. She claimed they had not known each other before being "recruited." Based on a report from CNN, as soon as they were let off in front of the chapel, the bus driver rang the doorbell of the place of worship and informed the group that he would be right back. However, after the bus drew away, they were never seen or heard from the driver again. Flores was informed by one of the migrants that they intended to contact the driver through a contact number provided, but the driver's cell phone was no longer functioning.

ACT's spokesperson also noted that the immigrants were frightened once brought to the diocese and put off there. She believes they were simply informed, "We'll take you to this refuge where they'll be able to help you." Yet, a large number of them were unaware that Sacramento was located in the state of California. Accordingly, Flores has doubts as to whether or not they were even aware of the distance that they would be driving. "They were given false promises and were transported to a place they didn't know and were really just abandoned. Lack of humanity and the way that they have not been treated with care and have been lied to," she added.

On the other hand, Cerritos Community News reported that Rev. Efrem Smith, the president of Sacramento ACT, issued a statement describing this politically polarizing act as "heartbreaking." Despite this, Rev. Smith expressed his joy at being a part of an organization that spreads the love of God and affection upon the mistreatment and political iniquity that influences their vulnerable brothers and sisters. In response, the Rabbi Mona Alfi of Congregation B'nai Israel stated that it is immoral to move individuals from one state to another through dishonesty and political hatred. They are reportedly human beings, and they are no different from any other individuals who just want to take care of their family and enjoy a happy life. Also, Alfi asserted that these people deserve to be treated better and should give them respect.

Related Article:Human Traffickers Use Facebook To Deceive Migrants Into Coming To The US, Reports Say
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A series of earthquakes recently struck southern Peru, causing the tragic collapse of the tower of the famous Purisima Concepcion Church. Located in the Colca Valley in the Lari district of the Kayroma region in the Arequipa region, the church tower was damaged in the previous earthquake in 2016.

RPP Noticias reports that not only the Purisima Concepcion Church but also the foundations of 12 other nearby churches are in danger of collapsing due to infrastructure degradation from recent earthquakes of magnitudes 2.7 to 5.5.

Tower Collapses Amid Earthquakes in Peru

According to the article in Catholic News Agency, Alfonso Mamani, the mayor of Caylloma, emphasized the need for the Ministry of Culture to intervene and rehabilitate all the churches previously damaged by the 2016 earthquake, which left over 250 families homeless. Although restoration projects were already underway, the recent damage necessitated new assessments.

Jose Panta Mamani, the mayor of the Lari district, appealed for assistance in rebuilding the Purisima Concepcion Church and the affected houses. He expressed concerns over the vulnerability of reservoirs, which have shifted and are at risk of collapsing, highlighting the urgent need for authorities to focus their attention on these critical areas. The mayor lamented the current state of the Caylloma province, stating that without proper support, it is on the brink of disappearance as widespread damage has left little hope for its recovery.

The epicenter of the earthquake was the Maca district. In addition to the collapse of the church tower, numerous homes in neighboring areas, such as Tisco, Lari, Ichupampa and Achoma, were also damaged. In the article in the National Catholic Register, the effects of seismic activity also included landslides on highways and in the Madrigal area.

To deal with the emergency, the Kairoma municipality in the Maka district set up an emergency shelter to provide residents with a safe place to stay. Work continues to assess and repair the extensive damage as the region grapples with the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes.

Also Read:Texas Baptist Men Provide Metal Structures to Build New Home for Victims of Earthquake in Turkey

Earthquake Destructing Churches

Two powerful earthquakes shook Turkey's ancient city of Antakya, leading to the destruction of the Antioch Orthodox Church, the world's oldest church, and the Habibie Nejar Mosque, Turkey's oldest mosque. According to Euronews, the dome and walls of the 1st-century Antakya church have completely collapsed, making it unsuitable for prayer. Church officer Sertak Paul Bozkurt expressed deep sorrow and despair at the life-threatening loss of about 30-35 communion members. Bozkurt stressed the historical importance of Antakya as the birthplace of Christianity and called on Christians around the world to help rebuild the Antakya church.

The destruction of the Habib-i-Nejjar Mosque, of great religious importance, also shocked Antakya's Muslims. Built-in the 7th century, this mosque was a revered place for local Muslims, especially on important occasions such as Qadr night and the holy month of Ramadan. The loss of the mosque was deeply felt by the local community, as it had spiritual significance and was a place of pilgrimage for Turks and Muslims to visit before traveling to Mecca.

Related Article:Pope Francis Prayed for People of Syria and Turkey Following Devastating Earthquake That Killed Over 28,000 People
Gary Roosma can attest to the challenges of organizing a worship service onboard a cargo ship.

Its a complicated process, reaching out to the rotating cast of captains aboard the ships in the Port of Vancouver, for a congregation of sailors who may or may not even want to gather.

But experience has taught him its a worthwhile effort.

He remembers one officer who accosted him with a question.

Where were you yesterday? the man said. We needed you yesterday.

When Roosma asked why, the sailor explained there was a horrible storm at sea and the captain had sent him to do something on the deck as the waves crashed around them. As he held onto a rail, a massive wave hit the ship and carried the man overboard, out to the open sea.

I knew I was dead, the seafarer told Roosma. All I could think of was Lord, please watch over my family. And then I prayed, It would be really nice if you would save me too.

At the instant he prayed, the man recalled, a rope brushed across his chest, and he grasped it and held on with every ounce of his strength. He dislocated his arm, but his life was spared.

We need a service onboard this ship, the man said, and Roosma, a chaplain at the Port of Vancouver with the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) Ministry to Seafarers agreed to lead them in prayer and worship that day.

Roosma was reminded, yet again, of the point of this unusual ministry. As the psalmist said in Psalm 107, They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep (vv. 2324, KJV). Seafarer ministry chaplains are called to point that out to the men and women working on cargo ships.

Seafarers ministries are not new. Theyve been around since the 19th century, and there are now hundreds like the one in Vancouver in ports around the world. Those involved in these ministries say the need has felt especially urgent in recent days, as the shipping industry goes through rough waters, taking a toll on merchant marines.

The shipping industry has always been turbulent, but the challenges in recent years have been especially difficult. COVID-19 restrictions required many seafarers to work longer hours and receive less shore time. Supply chain issues have impacted the world economy, leading to cost spikes and subsequent drops that impact sailors livelihoods. Amid all that uncertainty, theyve also had to cope with the ripple effects of the Russian-Ukraine war.

A 2022 Review of Maritime Transport put out by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was aptly named Navigating Stormy Waters.

In an increasingly unpredictable operating environment, the report said, future shipping costs will likely be higher and more volatile than in the past.

Where most people see shipping delays and economic uncertainty, maritime ministry chaplains see the people impactedmen and women from around the world trying to provide for their families in a dangerous profession that changes constantly. Each huge vessel transporting cargo around the globe and sustaining the world economy is also temporary home to about 21 souls.

There are so many hidden workers in economies around the world, said Jason Zuidema, who lives in Montreal, Quebec, and is currently general secretary for the International Christian Maritime Association and executive director of the North American Maritime Ministry Association. They are the kind of people we should say thank you to.

More than 80 percent of the worlds international goods are shipped by sea. But few people grasped the importance of ships to international trade until they saw how delays at ports suddenly wreaked havoc.

Shipping is a great bellwether, Zuidema said. You can basically see whats happening economically by seeing whats happening with ships.

That means the economic challenges that ripple out from the shipping industry directly hit merchant marines. COVID-19, in particular, was very hard on seafarers.

Seafarers are a hearty group who enjoy each others company while on board, but social isolation has impacts on peoples mental well-being and social well-being, Zuidema said. These political or economic or health issues have very direct impacts on their lives and livelihoods.

Even in normal times, though, this job is very spiritually demanding. Because seafarers are away from home for months at a time, its hard to be spiritually fed. Internet access is unpredictable at best at sea, so the people working on cargo ships arent able to depend on church online or join in worship through Zoom.

For the ministers to seafarers, there are challenges too. Like hospital and airport chaplains, they often cannot establish sustained relationships with the people they minister to. They meet people and try to minister to them in that particular moment, and then theyre gone.

So many of the most special ministry moments in my life were done for people I dont even know their names and I never met them again, Zuidema said. It can wear people out, and keeping pace with all that is a joy but also a prayer request.

Sometimes the contact the ministers have with seafarers lives seems so insignificant that they really have to have faith that what they do matters. Zuidema remembers, for example, once helping a sailor from India set up an email account. In the moment, it felt more like tech support than the reason hed gone into ministry. But he met that man again, years later, and the man expressed a deep, deep gratitude.

It was something that was just  so small to me, Zuidema said. For him, this was a reminder  of that one time when he went ashore in Montreal, Canada, and got a tool that served him for the rest of his life.

Ministering to seafarers can be very practical. Many ministries have helped with access to COVID-19 vaccines and connected sailors with internet or the personal necessities they need after a long time at sea. Offering seafarers that kind of help, though, regularly opens a door to discuss deeper needs.

We try every time we interact with the sailors to minister to them spiritually, said Ray Hanna, port chaplain at Lighthouse Harbour Ministries in North Vancouver.

Once that door is open, Hanna said, the chaplains reach an incredible range of people with varied spiritual needs. Hanna estimates that about half of the seafarers that he interacts with are Filipino. Many of them carry a Bible to sea but say they dont read it very much.

Instead of having the Word of God nominally in your head or in your dresser drawer, he encourages them, its time to open it up and read it.

Other sailors dont have Bibles and dont know anything about the gospel.

Ive talked to many Chinese seafarers that tell me theyve never heard the name of Jesus, Hanna said. The only name that saves and theyve never even heard his name. I get goosebumps when I have the opportunity to tell them about the Savior.
A difficult moment: 60 Michigan churches leave UMC amid LGBT schism

Sixty Michigan congregations have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church, joining thousands of churches that have departed the mainline Protestant denomination.

At the UMC Michigan Annual Conference on Saturday at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan, the regional body voted to approve the departure of five dozen congregations.

Michigan Bishop David Alan Bard told those gathered just before the vote that he sought to express his deep appreciation for the respectful tone that weve shared here in this moment.

This is a difficult moment for the United Methodist Church, Bard added.

Pastor Kevin Harbin of Houghton Lake United Methodist Church, one of the congregations that voted to leave, spoke at the conference about his gratitude for how the UMC shaped his faith.

When I attended a United Methodist Church for the first time, I learned the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was through the ministry of a pastor there that I became a Christian, a follower of Jesus, said Harbin.

It was there that I received my own call into ministry as a pastor and have served for the last 26 years. Grateful, proud of those years of service. And so, its difficult, at best, to make the decision as some of us have.

The conference announced the disaffiliation vote last month, with the Rev. David Eardley, chair of the Commission on the Annual Conference Session, expressing optimism for the future.

My hope in this bittersweet season of farewell, is in Jesus Christ and the conviction that God is already birthing a new vitality within The United Methodist Church, stated Eardley last month.

Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we are beginning to experience a renewal of mission and identity, formed through faithful discipleship and mission in our world. Taking John Wesleys definition of a Methodist (Jesus Greatest Commandment) as our guide, we will strive to love God completely and our neighbors as ourselves. How could we do anything less?

For the past several years, the UMC has been embroiled in a divisive debate over whether to change its rules, as laid out in the Book of Discipline, that prohibit the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy.

Although efforts to amend the Book of Discipline during the General Conference have consistently failed, theological progressives within the UMC have often refused to follow or enforce the rules.

In response, thousands of theologically conservative churches have disaffiliated in the last two years, with many congregations opting to join the recently launched Global Methodist Church.

According to numbers compiled by UM News, as of Tuesday morning, over 4,600 congregations have left the UMC since 2019, with more than 2,000 doing so thus far this year.
Dozens of Christians killed in Nigeria by extremist herdsmen

ABUJA, Nigeria  A Roman Catholic catechist and his wife were among dozens of Christians killed in central Nigerias Benue state last month, a local official said.

Fulani herdsmen killed Dominic Dajo and his wife at the St. Peter Catholic Church in Hirnyam village, Guma County on May 8 in the course of massacring dozens of other Christians, said Christopher Waku, a member of the Guma Local Government Council.

Herdsmen on the same day attacked Tse Vambe, Tse Ortim and Torough Mbanyiar villages in the county, he said. Over the next two weeks, they also attacked the Guma villages of Agasha, Gbajimba, Mbawa, Iyer, Tse Iortim, Yogbo, Nyiev, Yelwata, Ukohol, Ortese, Hirnyam, Uvir, Nzorov, Mbawa, Mbadwem, Mbabai and Semaka.

On Wednesday, 24 May, the Fulani herdsmen attacked several of these communities, killing and destroying whole villages, and displaced thousands of these Christians from their communities, Waku told Morning Star News in a text message.

Fulani herdsmen on May 11 invaded another set of villages, including Mbawa, killing 28 Christians, Waku said.

So also, on Tuesday, 9 May, the herdsmen who are collaborating with Muslim terrorists killed more than 22 Christians in other villages as listed above, he said.

An area resident said most of those killed in the attacks were women and children.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.

In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.

Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation.  Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
Over 4,000 people baptized at California beach during historic 'Baptize SoCal' event

More than 4,000 people were baptized off the beaches of Southern California on Pentecost Sunday as part of a revival event organized by several congregations.

On May 28, around 300 churches came to Pirates Cove Beach under the banner of the event "Baptize SoCal," with a recorded number of 4,166 people being baptized.

Pastor Mark Francey, one of the lead pastors of California-based Oceans Church and one of the people behind the event, told The Christian Post that God gave him the vision to do the event during "a prayer time back in May of 2022."

"As believers, we always want to be obedient to what Jesus asks us to do. My mentors taught me it's as simple as praying, obeying, then acting," said Francey.

While his church has previously hosted baptism events at local beaches, including Pirates Cove Beach, before, Francey said, "We have never seen a crowd like that for baptisms."

R.J. McCauley, pastor of student ministries at Magnolia Church of Riverside and an attendee of the mass baptism, told CP that it was a "beautiful event."

"In our times of cultural darkness, there was a bright light shining throughout the event on Pentecost Sunday. There was live worship, prayer, and thousands of people cheering on those who were getting baptized," said McCauley.

"We want a Jesus Revolution to truly happen in our state and among the youth, so this is a beautiful event that helps accomplish that goal."

McCauley, who heads the California Southern Baptist Convention organization CSBC Youth, told CP that there are plans to return to Pirates Cove for Pentecost 2024.

"We want to plant a Gospel seed in every Gen Z in California, so I hope to be involved next year and help mobilize Gen Z students to attend this historic baptism spot and pass it on to the future in California," he added.

California's beaches are no stranger to mass baptisms in the recent past, especially Pirates Cove.

Greg Laurie, an evangelist and senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, has held baptism events at Pirates Cove over the years. In 2018, over 550 people were baptized during a baptism event at Pirates Cove led by Laurie.

"Back over 40 years ago, during the Jesus Movement, we used to do baptisms down at Pirates Cove Beach. In fact, that is where I was baptized and my wife, Cathe, was baptized there as well," Laurie told CP at the time. "It is a significant place, historically, for the Church because that was sort of the epicenter of the Jesus Revolution, as reported on by Time magazine and others. It was a phenomenon."

In September 2020, nearly 1,000 people were baptized at Newport Beach's Corona Del Mar State Beach at an event sponsored by Calvary Chapel of Chino Hills.
LGBT ideology in school is getting diverse

America is adrift today as God's design for gender, marriage and sexuality is often ignored and even cast aside in favor of a counterfeit approach. The Word of God is our only anchor in the midst of the cultural storm. When people exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25), they become terribly disoriented.

LGBT ideology has created even bigger headaches in our nations public schools than in the boardrooms of Bud Light and Target. And in case you havent noticed, a growing number of parents are speaking up and exercising their rights regarding the education of their children. Thankfully, many states are stepping up to protect the hearts and minds of unsuspecting children and teens in public schools.

For example, the Florida Board of Education has approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades (K-12), expanding the law that bans those lessons up to grade 3. This clearly seems to be the educational approach the majority of parents in our country desire for their children.

Alternatively, Connecticuts first LGBT-centered school is scheduled to open later this year. Patricia Nicolari plans to open this private school as an institution that fosters a queer-friendly environment. PROUD Academy is the first such school in Connecticut, and the fifth in the nation.

Millions of parents believe that LGBT indoctrination in public schools is a serious threat to their childs education and peace of mind, while other parents want their children in a classroom where LGBT ideology is central to the curriculum. The majority of Americans agree that public schools are not the place for such inappropriate instruction.

Naturally, many Americans saw the storm approaching long before the drag queen story hours in public libraries and the recent Bud Light and Target debacles.

In a 2018 CP op-ed titled, Will Americas Public Grade Schools Become Transgender Mills?, I wrote, Its possible to reject the (transgender) movement while remaining sensitive and helpful toward those who experience gender dysphoria.



Parents do not send their children to school to get indoctrinated with gender myths that contradict biology and human anatomy. Young people face enough fear and anxiety in our world today without their grade school teachers frightening them with stories of transgender experiments on children.

The LGBT activist agenda sure feels like a religion in America today. President Ulysses S. Grant stated, Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the Church, and the private school, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the Church and state forever separate.

PROUD Academy will offer students what certain parents want for their children, while Floridas Board of Education has given parents in Florida the safe space they desire for their children. America is a land of options where parents across the ideological spectrum have a variety of convictions about what they believe is best for their children.

And with a mental health crisis afflicting so many young people today, many parents are being especially vigilant concerning the instruction their children receive at school. As LGBT activists continue to add more letters to their acronyms and more pronouns to their agenda, parents deserve and reserve the right to decide how and when they will address such weighty issues with their own children at home.

PROUD Academy articulates a clear vision for its curriculum and for after-school programs that align with its perspective on human sexuality and gender.

Now compare that upfront approach to what developed recently in Colorado, where some families sued the school district for encouraging girls to join a secret LGBT club. The secrecy surrounding this after-school club is deeply troubling, especially since the students were told they would be attending an art club and that it would be OK to lie to their parents about the club meetings. Many discerning parents recognize and identify such deceitful tactics as grooming.

Meanwhile, Florida is leading the way in truthfulness and transparency regarding their educational agenda.

As Florida Rep. Chase Tramont said, In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. Folks this is rock solid, irreversible, validated by science and our medical community. Period. You are either male or female. This is not subject to ones opinion. It is demonstrable fact.

Since millions of Americans agree with Rep. Tramont, we will continue to see state legislatures across the country working to protect the mental health of children and the God-given rights of parents.

A relatively small number of parents want LGBT ideology instilled in their children. Even though they are in the minority, they are nevertheless free to establish their own private schools. After all, this is America.

Which would you prefer for your family ... the State Board of Educations approach in Florida, or PROUD Academys approach in Connecticut?

Whether you choose public school, private school, or homeschooling for your children, the educational path you select for them carries greater consequences today than ever before.
4 things to know about the sonic boom, deadly plane crash in Virginia

People living in the Washington, D.C., area heard a sound described as a sonic boom on Sunday afternoon, leaving many to wonder what all the commotion was about.

The noise that startled millions of Americans arose from an attempt to locate and recover an unresponsive aircraft that crashed nearly 200 miles away from the nation's capital, killing the pilot and three others.

Federal authorities are investigating the cause of the crash as the search for the passengers' bodies continues. The following pages highlight four things to know about Sunday's sonic boom and the deadly plane crash.

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Heaven is a fantasy, says Arnold Schwarzenegger: We wont see each other again after were gone

While nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults, including large majorities of Christians, say they believe in Heaven, famous actor and former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the idea that people will see each other again after death is only a "fantasy."

The 75-year-old, who recently debuted in a leading role in the family-friendly Netflix spy series "FUBAR," shared his thoughts on the afterlife during a conversation with fellow actor Danny DeVito, which was published in Interview.

Responding to a question from DeVito about whether or not he thinks humanity will endure, Schwarzenegger recalled a similar question he was asked during an interview with radio and television personality Howard Stern.

"It reminds me of Howard Stern's question to me: 'Tell me, governor, what happens to us when we die?' I said, 'Nothing. You're 6 feet under. Anyone that tells you something else is a f liar,'" Schwarzenegger recalled.

When DeVito pushed back, stating that "you don't know," Schwarzenegger clarified that he was referring to people and their physical bodies, not their souls. He also made it clear that he is uncomfortable with death and would prefer not to die.

"I said, 'We don't know what happens with the soul and all this spiritual stuff that I'm not an expert in, but I know that the body as we see each other now, we will never see each other again like that," he said.

"Except in some fantasy. When people talk about, 'I will see them again in Heaven,' it sounds so good, but the reality is that we won't see each other again after we're gone," he added. "That's the sad part. I know people feel comfortable with death, but I don't."

Schwarzenegger said he's not looking forward to dying because he will miss "everything."

"To have fun and to go to the gym and to pump up, to ride my bike on the beach, to travel around, to see interesting things all over the world," he said.

While Schwarzenegger sees the idea of reuniting with loved ones in Heaven as a "fantasy," Got Questions Ministries cites biblical evidence stating that this will be a reality for believers in the afterlife.

"Our ability to recognize people in the afterlife is suggested in several passages of Scripture. At the transfiguration of Christ, Moses and Elijah made an appearance, and they were recognizable (Matthew 17:34). Though they had departed this world centuries prior, both Moses and Elijah remained distinct persons who had not lost their identity. In Luke 16:1931, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man are all recognizable after death," the ministry states.

"The Bible declares that, when we arrive in Heaven, we will 'be like him [Jesus]; for we shall see him as he is' (1 John 3:2). Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man, Adam, so will our resurrection bodies be like Christ's glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:47; Philippians 3:21). 'And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality' (1 Corinthians 15:49, 53)," researchers add.

"Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:47), so it stands to reason that we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies."
Minister with outsized influence in Assemblies of Gods Chi Alpha ministry arrested for abusing boys

Daniel Savala, a 67-year-old itinerant minister and a convicted sex offender with outsized influence in the Chi Alpha Campus Ministries sponsored by the Assemblies of God, was arrested last Friday on charges that he sexually abused two boys in Waco, Texas.

Whistleblowers allege he was allowed by some ministry leaders to prey on young men and boys for years.

Chi Alpha is a campus ministry located on around 300 campuses globally with the support of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States.

Officials from the denomination quickly pointed The Christian Post to a statement on their website on Monday, noting that Savala was never on staff with Chi Alpha. The denomination said it took action to cut ties with him as soon as they learned of his sex offender status, a claim whistleblowers dispute.

"We are heartbroken to hear allegations related to Daniel Savala and the pain his reported actions caused. The Assemblies of God strongly opposes the teachings and practices he seems to have endorsed," the denomination stressed in its statement.

"While he did not hold credentials with the Assemblies of God and was never on staff within Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, The General Council of the Assemblies of God takes matters of this nature seriously and will do everything we can to help."

Savala, according to KWTX, was identified as the "spiritual mentor" of the former leader of Chi Alpha's ministry at Baylor University, Christopher Hundl, 38. Hundl was charged with allowing Savala to sexually abuse two of his family members over a week ago, The Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

According to the arrest warrant, Hundl allegedly brought the two boys to Savala's Houston home several times between the summer of 2021 and March 2022. Texas' sex offender registry records show that Savala was charged in 2012 for sexual abuse of a minor, a third-degree felony, which he committed in Alaska between 1995 and 1997.

While in a sauna together with Hundl and the boys, who were younger than 14 when the abuse happened, Savala allegedly instructed the boys to masturbate in front of the adult men. It is alleged that similar activity also took place in Hundl's home. The arrest records state that Savala also touched the boys inappropriately in Hundl's presence.

Hundl, who is married, told officers that he met Savala while in college and was involved in a sexual relationship. Savala, he told police, acted as a "grandfather" to the two boys.

Days before Hundl's arrest, the board and elders of Mountain Valley Fellowship Church in College Station, Texas, also announced that they had dismissed their lead pastor, Eli Stewart, for his relationship with Savala.

"In April 2023, the Board and Elders of Mountain Valley Fellowship learned of allegations that Lead Pastor Eli Stewart continued to refer young men to Daniel Savala for faulty spiritual guidance despite knowing that Savala was a convicted sex offender," the church leaders wrote.

"The Board and Elders commissioned an independent investigation into those allegations, and as the investigation began in early May, it quickly became clear that Eli Stewart had fallen into sinful practices unbecoming of the office of a pastor and that he had neglected his duty to protect his flock from a known predator, both of which disqualify him from ministry," they wrote.

"The revelations of this case are devastating, and we mourn with all those who have been impacted by Savala's actions and by Eli Stewart's failure to protect people from him," the elders added. "We are committed to providing compassionate care to those in our congregation who have been affected, and reviewing our bylaws, policies and procedures to strengthen oversight and accountability for our leaders."

In April, Frisco law firm Scheef & Stone LLP, which represents victims of the Savala, wrote a letter to Texas A&M University, Texas State University, the University of Houston, Rice University and the University of Texas alleging that Chi Alpha leadership was aware of Savala's sex offender status but continued to associate with him and send young college men to him for spiritual guidance.

Ron Bloomingkemper Jr., a graphic designer from Houston who launched a website in mid-April called XA and the Lions Den, described as the "official forum for Chi Alpha spiritual and sexual Abuse" told CP that he had been warning ministry leaders in Chi Alpha and the Assemblies of God about Savala for more than a decade. But, he says his warnings were met with resistance and fear before the arrest.

He told CP that Savala tried to prey on him in the early 1990s shortly after they met through Chi Alpha and he was presented as "the holiest man alive."

Bloomingkemper said on Savala's advice that he stopped dating his girlfriend then and kept following his advice until he suggested that he "come over and we can masturbate together." He said he stopped listening to Savala after that and tried to ring the alarm to leaders about him, but his warnings were never heeded.

He claimed that before Savala's arrest, whistleblowers were intimidated and threatened.



"We have a whistleblower who's actually a campus pastor. And he said, 'I can't mention my name or Eli Stewart will come after me,'" Bloomingkemper said, noting how worried the campus pastor was about his preaching career being destroyed if he is identified.



Bloomingkemper said another longtime Chi Alpha ministry leader who did a Title IX investigation was forced to stay anonymous because he was worried he would be harmed.



He got a burner phone, he wrote all the churches in Huntsville about it, and ended up having to move to Florida, Bloomingkemper explained.

"That's the same fear that I'm hearing from these pastors that are all the Assemblies of God pastors," he added. "[They would] email me saying 'we're with you. We're behind you. We just can't come forward.'"

Since Savala's arrest on Friday, however, Bloomingkemper says more people have expressed a willingness to discuss Savala's predation in the ministry.

"They're getting more bold," Bloomingkemper told CP. "After the arrest, I've gotten way more tips now. Tips of, 'Hey we're in the Assembly, this District. They're making us sign [non-disclosure agreements].' I got calls from New York, Alabama, Louisiana."
DC library holds LGBT pride parade for children, event with Chasten Buttigieg

Multiple branches in the District of Columbia Public Library System held a children's LGBT pride parade this past weekend to encourage young people to embrace their LGBT identities, which included a conversation with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg's husband detailing his "coming-out journey."

The Georgetown, Palisades and Tenley branches of the D.C. Public Library hosted the parade event Saturday, inviting all age groups to attend, including toddlers and babies.

Children between the ages of zero and 18 were encouraged to participate and wear rainbow-themed costumes as the youth were told to represent "your most fabulous self."

"The parade was for LGBTQ kids and all families, signaling that their community supports them," D.C. Public Library Media Relations Manager George Williams told The Christian Post in a statement.

"Following the parade, an outdoor festival took place offering popsicles, music, games and crafts," he continued. "There were no speakers or performers at either the parade or the festival. There was no negative reaction to the event. Organizers estimate between 250 to 300 people attended."

The library system did not advertise the parade on its website or promote the event on its social media accounts. Last week, The Daily Signal published a copy of a flier for the event in a Thursday article. The outlet reported that "the event was promoted on the community level" with a notice distributed through the "library's Dupont Listserve that advertises the event."

According to the notice for the parade, the event's purpose was to "signal" to children who identify as LGBT that they have the support of their community.

"One of the parade themes is 'Be-YOU-tiful!' For LGBTQ kids, kids who want to be allies, and kids who haven't figured that all out yet, the parade will signal that their families, school and community joyfully accept their full identity-whatever that may be," the parade notice reads. "We want this to be an event for every family, not just ones that already know they have members that are LGBTQIA+."

The parade flyer also noted that today's kids are beginning to identify as LGBT at a younger age, and the event was catered towards "every family, whether they know they have LGBTQ+ members or just want their kids to know their family loves others regardless of sexuality or gender identity."

The library system even encouraged local schools and members of the community to show "they support LGBTQ youth and families."

Another event intended for adults and children took place Thursday, featuring Chasten Buttigieg.

Buttigieg spoke with National Public Radio's Ari Shapiro during the story hour about the young adult adaptation of his memoir, I Have Something to Tell You. Attendees were urged to come and hear Buttigieg speak on "his experience coming out and his journey to finding acceptance and self-love; and how to support younger generations."

In addition to the parade and storytime with Buttigieg, the library system gave away kits to make a rainbow-themed wand in celebration of LGBT pride month, which is held yearly in June.

The LGBT-themed events come as other public libraries across the country have hosted Drag Queen Story Hours and similar events that expose children to ideas about sexuality and gender identity. In response, Christian actor and author Kirk Cameron has held his own story hour events at multiple libraries.

As The Christian Post reported, Cameron published a children's book titled As You Grow, which teaches kids about the biblical fruits of the Holy Spirit. The actor and his publishing company, Brave Books, alleged that several public libraries denied them the opportunity to host events.

Many of these same libraries that rejected Cameron allowed Drag Queen Story Hours for children. These types of story hour events usually involve a biological man dressing as a woman and reading books to children.
Former Eastview Christian Church leaders son used influence as pastor to prey on women: report

Independent investigators for Eastview Christian Church in Illinois have concluded that Pastor Caleb Baker used his position in the church to "persuade women to engage in sexual activity" while his father and the church's Senior Pastor Mike Baker likely used his position to cover the sins of his son.

The conclusions were made public in an 11-page report produced by attorneys from the law firm Wagenmaker & Oberly about three months after being hired by the church to investigate Caleb Baker's alleged sexual misconduct, the alleged cover-up and the impact of power dynamics upon staff and congregation from Mike Baker and Eastview's upper-level leadership.

The investigators were also asked to assess Eastview's policies and make recommendations to provide guidance on improvements moving forward.

"While he worked for Eastview, leadership seemed largely unaware that Caleb used his position, role, or influence as a pastor to persuade women to engage in sexual activity. However, the individuals we were able to interview that had had sexual experiences with Caleb shared credibly that he did so," the investigators state.

"[T]hese assessments are based on the information made available through interviews, related credibility assessments, document review, and accompanying evaluation of all such material, and in accordance with the goals articulated at the beginning of this Investigation Report."

Allegations that Mike Baker covered up his son's sexual misconduct erupted in February after Central Christian Church in Arizona announced Caleb Baker's firing after he was caught in an extramarital affair with another church staffer.

Eastview Christian Church elders said in an earlier statement that they only became aware of allegations of abuse against Caleb Baker after he left the church in 2016.

It was not until July 2022 that they got a complaint from a former employee alleging an abusive culture in 2016.

When Eastview Christian Church attempted to have Mike Baker questioned as part of an internal investigation, elders alleged that he resigned instead and insisted he was not involved in a cover-up of his son's indiscretions.

"When people say Mike Baker is covering things up, I didn't know. What I do know is that at Christmas time, we resolved  one of the most trusted members of our staff ever  resolved that there's no conclusion here. Can't prove or disprove these allegations and I thought it was done," Mike Baker said about an attempt to investigate initial rumors of the allegations against his son while he was working at Eastview in 2015.

"And then early in January (2016), there was another allegation that came, and I went down immediately to my son, and I said, you need to resign. I can't deal with this anymore. This is breaking my heart, and we just can't let it destroy me," he recalled.

The former megachurch pastor said after he told his son he needed to resign, he had a job offer from Central Christian Church within two or three days "in a crazy turn of events."

Lawyers from Wagenmaker & Oberly said despite his initial refusal to participate in the church's investigation, Mike Baker agreed to be a part of their review. Caleb Baker refused to be a part of the process, but investigators said he did submit a written statement.

In evaluating whether the former senior pastor used his position to protect his son, investigators concluded that "it is more likely than not" that he used his influence to impede the investigation and withheld information from church elders that could have helped them make more informed decisions about Caleb Baker's role at the church.

"It is more likely than not that Mike Baker misused his leadership position and impeded the Church leadership's ability to follow the Church's policies and procedures for addressing various complaints and reports of misconduct that were made between approximately 2013 and 2023, all contrary to Biblical mandates and norms of behavior for leadership as set forth in the Board Policy Manual," investigators note in the report.

"It is more likely than not that former Senior Pastor Mike Baker and Caleb Baker failed to disclose to the staff and elders of Eastview all they knew of Caleb Baker's sexual conduct and the reasons for the termination of his employment," the report adds.

"Additionally, it is more likely than not that Mike Baker and Caleb Baker failed to disclose to Caleb Baker's subsequent employer important information about Caleb Baker's sexual conduct and the reasons for the termination of his employment. Such misconduct was contrary to Biblical standards for leadership as followed by the Church, such as reflected in Philippians 2:3-4, and contrary to the Church's standards for ethical treatment of others and appropriate concern for others, as per Church's Policy Manual."
Mike Stone gets surprising endorsement for his SBC presidential bid

Prominent Southern Baptist Convention Pastor Mike Stone received a surprising endorsement for his bid to become president of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States on Monday.

Florida Pastor Willy Rice, who has been critical of the Conservative Baptist Network, to which Stone serves on the steering council, and supported Ed Litton for SBC president over Stone in 2021, has endorsed Stone.

Rice posted a statement to the website of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, where he serves as senior pastor. He stated that he will nominate Stone at the SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, next week.

Stone is the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Blackshear, Georgia, and former president of the SBC Executive Committee who ran unsuccessfully for SBC president in 2021.

"In the last months I have come to know Mike Stone on a personal level. I have found him to be a man of courageous conviction, a pastor with a shepherd's heart, and somebody who understands the SBC and the issues of this hour that we face," wrote Rice.

"He is an independent thinker and, more than most, he is his own man. He is also willing to run for SBC President again, and this time I will support him and hope he is elected."

Rice explained that when Stone ran for president in 2021, he "disagreed with him on several issues and especially felt concern over the Conservative Baptist Network" because he found "some of their voices to be overly divisive and unnecessarily caustic."

The Conservative Baptist Network was founded in 2020 as a grassroots effort to maintain the proclamation of the Gospel at the center of SBC life amid concerns that others within the denomination are drifting from biblical orthodoxy.

"I am not a part of the CBN. I do not endorse everything they have said or written, but neither do I think every concern they have expressed can be ignored and summarily dismissed," Rice said. "Mike and I have spoken at length about this. Mike does not represent the CBN and if elected, Mike will not be a CBN President; he will be the SBC President and he will serve us all."

While Rice was supportive of the reform effort with SBC to tackle issues of sexual abuse, he claims that the direction the convention now seems to be heading is not what he "signed up for."

"I didn't sign up for left wing, feminist critical theory, cancel culture, politics," he wrote. "I didn't sign up for leaked emails, taped conversations, endless lawsuits, and character assassination."

Rice sought to run for SBC president in 2022 before dropping out of contention after it was revealed that a Calvary Church deacon committed sexual sin that could also be described as abusive. That deacon was since removed as an SBC resolution passed in 2021 encouraged churches to disqualify individuals who have committed sexual abuse from holding church leadership roles.

Rice stated that his change of opinion on Stone came because he believes that the SBC "is facing an existential crisis that could irreparably damage our cooperative work."

"A movement that should have united Southern Baptists to attack a problem has instead divided us into attacking one another," Rice wrote. "Godly believers have been maligned and attacked as somehow supportive of sexual abuse and of sexual abusers simply because they advocate a different approach to dealing with this critical issue."

Rice believes Stone is "one of the few people who understands what has gone wrong and knows how to right the direction."

"Mike is a sexual abuse survivor. He knows firsthand the horror of such a violation," Rice wrote. "He also knows what it feels like to be unfairly attacked. He is one of the few guys I know who possess the strength to stand in this current moment and the wisdom to know what to do."

In late April, Stone announced his intention to run again for SBC president, challenging incumbent Bart Barber, elected at last year's annual meeting. It's uncommon for SBC presidents to face an opponent as they seek a second year in office.

As the former president of the SBC Executive Committee, Stone believes the convention is headed in a financially unstable direction, declaring that "unsustainable should be unacceptable."

"We can deal rightly with the abuse issue while staying on mission for Christ," Stone said in his April announcement. "There's more that can and will be said over the next few weeks, but the bottom line today is the largest Evangelical network of churches in America is on an unsustainable trajectory."

In October 2021, Stone sued Russell Moore, former head of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, after letters written by Moore were leaked to the press after he departed from the ERLC and the convention.

The letters claimed that SBC leaders mishandled a "crisis of sexual abuse" and that Moore and his family had experienced unfair treatment from SBC leaders. In his lawsuit, Stone argued that the letters negatively impacted his 2021 campaign for SBC president.

Stone withdrew the lawsuit in December 2021, saying in a statement emailed to The Christian Post at the time that he believes he should "leave the matter in the hands of our Lord."
Mom of 6-year-old who shot teacher will plead guilty to federal charges

Deja Taylor, the 25-year-old mother whose 6-year-old son shot his first-grade teacher in the chest at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, in January, will plead guilty to federal charges of making a false statement that she was not an unlawful drug user when she purchased the firearm used in the attack on the teacher.

Court records cited by USA Today show that despite using marijuana when she purchased the gun, Taylor falsely claimed she was not and was charged in federal court on Monday. She has reportedly been charged with illegally using drugs while owning a firearm and making a false statement when purchasing the gun.

Her attorney, James Ellenson, told the publication that his client will plead guilty.

Abigail Zwerner, the first-grade teacher shot by Taylor's son, has filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators and the school board, claiming they were aware of the boy's "history of random violence" yet did not do enough to address concerns the boy had a gun in his possession on the day she was shot.

In April, The Newport News School Board stated in a court filing that Zwerner suffered a "workplace injury" and should file a worker's compensation claim for her injuries instead of filing a lawsuit.

Taylor's son was not charged in the shooting because children younger than 7 are presumed unable to form the intent to carry out an illegal act under Virginia law.

Taylor was arrested in April and charged in state court with felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm as to endanger a child.

Gene Rossi, another attorney for Taylor, told USA Today that her plea would be entered in court on June 12 and called the shooting a "Shakespearian tragedy," especially for Zwerner, "for whom we wish a complete recovery."

"This case is a Shakespearian tragedy, a perfect storm that has had horrible consequences," Rossi told the publication Tuesday. "A vulnerable teacher whose life was almost taken, a boy 6 years of age. And a mother whose life will never be the same."

In an earlier interview on NBC's "TODAY" show, Zwerner said she would never forget the look on the boy's face when he shot her.

"I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me," Zwerner said.

Days after the shooting, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew called Zwerner a "hero" for her bravery in the face of danger on Jan. 6, when she made sure her entire class was safe before she went to get help for herself after being shot.

And even as she lay in the hospital trying to recover from her injuries, Zwerner remained concerned about her students.

"When I met with Abigail's family  and they took me up to her [hospital] room, she asked me first question, 'Do you know how my students are?' She was worried about them," Drew said during a press conference days after the shooting. "And then today  she again asked me, 'Do you know how my students are?'"
Oklahoma greenlights first religious charter school in US; secular group vows to sue

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board has greenlit the first religious charter school in the United States, a decision that is expected to lead to litigation from a church-state separation group.

On Monday, the educational body voted 3-2 to approve the charter application for an online school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.

The newly approved St. Isidore will be overseen by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. The school will start holding classes in the fall of 2024, reported The Washington Post.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement Monday, commending the board's "courage to approve the authorization for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School."

"This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child's education," stated Stitt.

"Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State vowed to file litigation against the state over the decision.

Americans United President and CEO Rachel Laser blasted the decision, saying in a statement Monday that it is "hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nation's first religious public charter school."

"Americans United will work with our Oklahoma and national partners to take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state that's promised in both the Oklahoma and U.S. Constitutions," Laser said.

"State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students. No public-school family should fear that their child will be required by charter schools to take theology classes or be expelled for failing to conform to religious doctrines."

The Virtual Charter School Board had initially rejected St. Isidore's application in April, citing multiple points of concern with the charter school request, among them questions of constitutionality.

The board had kept open the possibility that the Catholic school could reapply for charter school status, giving the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City 30 days to revise and resubmit its application.

Last year, then Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor and Solicitor General Zach West released an opinion arguing that state prohibitions against faith-based charter schools might not be lawful.

O'Connor and West cited recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, such as last year's David Carson et al. v. A. Pender Makin, to argue that Christian educational institutions can't be barred from public funding.

In the Carson decision, the high court ruled 6-3 that Maine's state-operated tuition assistance program could not stop parents from using the funds for schools with religious instruction.
Students at Oxford college could face expulsion for misgendering trans-identified peers

Students attending one of the colleges that comprise the University of Oxford could face expulsion if they misgender their peers, according to a new policy implemented following protests over an appearance by a gender-critical feminist and professor.

Regent's Park College, one of over three dozen colleges that make up the United Kingdom's University of Oxford, shared the policy Thursday. The college cites the Equality Act of 2010, a law that protects individuals from discrimination based on specific characteristics, including "gender reassignment," in the statement announcing the policy.

In the statement, the college pledged not to discriminate against those who identify as a member of the opposite sex or are in the process of undergoing body-altering treatments to resemble the sex of which they wish to identify.

"Many trans people and those who do not conform to gender norms report experiencing discrimination. This may be because of deliberate and overt treatment, or it may be the result of insensitivity and ignorance," the statement reads.

The statement added that people who don't conform to the binary gender norms "may be more vulnerable to harassment than those who successfully 'pass' as male or female."

"Persistently misgendering an individual with the wrong name or pronoun, and claiming to have done so accidentally, might be experienced as harassment by the person concerned," the statement adds. "People who are perceived to be transgender, including those who are intersex, are protected from bullying and harassment, whether or not the perception is true."

Regent's Park College did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

"Discrimination has a serious impact, not only on a person's health and happiness but also on their performance in study and at work," it continued. "Some people may experience discrimination on multiple grounds, for example, on the basis of their ethnicity as well as their gender identity."

Behavior that constitutes "transphobic harassment" or "bullying" under the new policy will be met with disciplinary action, which may include expulsion or dismissal. People who are friends with a trans-identified person, regardless of whether or not they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, are also protected from discrimination based on their association with that person.

"Regent's Park College acknowledges that it is not possible to have a comprehensive definition of transphobia," the statement explained. "This document sets out what Regent's Park College can deal with in a disciplinary context, and relates to manifestations of prejudice against trans people, that may be realised through acts of discrimination, bullying and harassment."

The policy prohibits several forms of discrimination against trans-identified individuals, including direct discrimination targeted at a trans-identified student or staff member based on their identity. The college defines examples of indirect discrimination as policies that apply to all students and staff but have an adverse effect on trans-identified members of Regent's Park College's community.

In addition to discrimination, the policy condemned the victimization, bullying and harassment of trans-identified individuals and hate crimes against them. Actions prohibited under the policy include making jokes about trans-identified people, contesting the validity or existence of a trans-identified person's identity, and refusing to "treat a person in accordance with their affirmed identity" by addressing them by their preferred pronouns and name. LGBT activists refer to such practices as "misgendering" and "deadnaming."

The policy also bans directing "intrusive" questions at trans-identified people that it characterizes as "unwanted" attempts to violate another person's dignity. Under the policy, cyberbullying, inciting violence against trans-identified people either publicly or covertly, or any form of physical violence is also prohibited.

"Regent's Park College recognises that 'gender reassignment' has personal rather than exclusively medical dimensions," the statement asserts. "Individuals perceived as having the protected characteristic of gender reassignment (even incorrectly) are still afforded its protections."

While Regent's Park indicated that it had been working with students to craft the statement since 2022, the announcement of the new policy comes shortly after a disruption occurred last week during a talk delivered by Kathleen Stock. The British philosophy professor resigned from the University of Sussex in 2021 due to her critical views on gender identity. Stock's 2021 book, Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism, examines gender identity and biological sex as it relates to women-only spaces.

As The Telegraph reported, student activist Riz Possnett glued herself to the floor of the Oxford Union as Stock spoke. Several protestors picketing the event cheered Possnett for disrupting the talk.

According to another report from The Telegraph, police escorted the student from the room. Possnett was later "de-arrested," with the Thames Valley Police stating that "the event organisers did not support prosecution."
Street preacher claims Cash App closed his account for protesting drag shows, LGBT events

A prominent street preacher and online Christian activist claims he was locked out of his Cash App account because the mobile payment service does not approve of his protests against LGBT events.



Rich Penkoski, a prominent street preacher who founded the online organization Warriors for Christ and travels the country to protest drag queen and LGBT pride events, told The Christian Post that he lost access to his Cash App account last week.



"I found out a few days ago, and I did an appeal," he told CP in a Friday interview.



The Christian Post reached out to Cash App for comment on Friday. A response was not received by press time.



Penkoski said he had two different Cash App accounts, one for him and another for his wife.



"Mine got closed first, and then yesterday, we found out my wife's got closed," he said. After his wife's account was closed, he tried to call Cash App instead of "waiting for the appeal results."



"I called them, and I got a customer [service] rep on the phone, and I said  'Why did you guys close my account?'" he said.



Penkoski told the representative that he had his account for "well over five or six years" and "never had an issue."



Penkoski claims the woman insisted his account closure was because of "a violation of the terms of service." Penkoski said he went through the terms of service "pretty meticulously" and could not figure out "where there was a violation." He stressed, "There was no fraud."



After the customer service representatives examined his account, Penkoski said he was told his account didn't violate the terms of service and that it was shut down because "they didn't like what I was using my Cash App for."



"And I said, 'What do you mean?' And it's because people would donate money, again not huge sums of money, but when we would travel and go preach  [at] a Drag Queen Story Hour, pride event or what have you  a lot of people would send Cash App for  gas money, things like that," Penkoski stated.



Based on the call with the representative, Penkoski concluded that Cash App "didn't like that we were using [funds from CashApp] to preach against LGBT things."



"I said, 'Now you're going to cancel Christians' accounts because of what we're using the money that people send us for?'" he added.



The activist claimed the Cash App representative "got really nasty with me and ... said 'well, I'm canceling and closing out your appeal now,' and then hung up the phone on me."



Penkoski said he reached out to his attorneys about possibly taking legal action.



While Penkoski does use Cash App to pay for expenses related to his travel across the country, he also uses funds from the mobile payment app to provide money to the less fortunate.



"People would contact our ministry if they had a need  we would give people money for groceries, we'd give people money to help pay an electric bill if they needed it."



He said being locked out of his Cash App account could "put a damper" on his efforts to minister to the less fortunate.



Penkoski said his wife was locked out of her Cash App account after he "switched the Cash App name to her account" on his video live stream. He encouraged people to donate to her account after his was closed.



"Within 24 hours, they kicked her off," he said.



Penkoski assures his account was in "good standing," and the company even, at one point, offered him a line of credit.



"I never had a problem, never," he said.



He questioned "how exactly they knew what they were doing" and speculated that an "LGBT person or supporter flagged my account" or that Cash App was "watching" him.



The street preacher doesn't think it's "coincidental" that his lockout from Cash App comes as many Americans celebrate LGBT pride month in June.



"We went to a Target store and filmed their pride event, and then we rebuked Target as we walked out and filmed it. So I don't know ... if that made a difference or not."



Penkoski is now using other mobile payment platforms to accept donations.
Supreme Court says Maine cant bar parents from using state funds to send kids to religious schools

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Maine cannot prohibit parents from using a state tuition program to send their children to religious private schools.

In a decision released Tuesday in the case of David Carson et al. v. A. Pender Makin, the high court ruled 6-3 that a state tuition assistance program could not stop parents from using the funds for schools that have sectarian instruction.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, writing that "we have repeatedly held that a State violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public benefits."

"As noted, a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations

through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause," Roberts wrote.

"Maines 'nonsectarian' requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise."

The Supreme Court decision reverses an appeals court ruling and remands the case for further proceedings consistent with the opinion released Tuesday.

Joining Roberts for the majority were Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Justice Stephen Breyer authored a dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, in which he argued that the tuition aid restriction was constitutional.

"The First Amendment begins by forbidding the government from 'mak[ing] [any] law respecting an establishment of religion.' It next forbids them to make any law 'prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' The Court today pays almost no attention to the words in the first Clause while giving almost exclusive attention to the words in the second," wrote Breyer.

"It sometimes allows a State to further antiestablishment interests by withholding aid from religious institutions without violating the Constitutions protections for the free exercise of religion. In my view, Maines nonsectarian requirement falls squarely within the scope of that

constitutional leeway."

In 2018, a group of parents sued Maine over a ban on state tuition assistance for families sending their children to a private school that includes sectarian aspects in its curriculum.

The plaintiffs included the Carsons and the Gillises, who enrolled their kids at Bangor Christian School, and the Nelsons, who wanted to transfer their daughter from a secular private school to Temple Academy, where their son was enrolled.

Eventually, the Gillises were removed from the litigation because their daughter graduated from high school and was therefore no longer potentially eligible for the tuition assistance program.

U.S. District Judge Brock Hornby ruled against the families in June 2019, concluding in his decision that Maines educational funding program is constitutional.

In October 2020, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously upheld the lower court decision, with Circuit Judge David Barron writing the opinion.

Maine transgresses neither the Free Exercise Clause nor the Establishment Clause, wrote Barron. Rather, it permissibly satisfies a commitment, rooted in its own founding charter, to pursue the wholly legitimate end of ensuring the distribution of the benefits of a free public education even to those who happen to live in places that cannot provide it of their own accord.

In July of last year, the Supreme Court agreed to take up Carson v. Makin, with the high court hearing oral arguments in the case for nearly two hours in December.

Michael Bindas of the Institute for Justice, who argued the case before the Supreme Court on behalf of the parents, said that since the program gives money to parents, who in turn choose a school, it is not unconstitutional for the parents to choose a religious school.

"That private independent choice severs the link between government funds and religious instruction," Bindas told the high court last year. "It's saying, 'use it where you will.'"

"This is not subsidizing the ... exercise of a right. It is conditioning the availability of an otherwise available public benefit on the surrender of a constitutional right.

Maine Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub delivered arguments on behalf of the state, arguing that the program was meant to give students "a free public education," not a religious education.

"The reason that schools that promote a particular faith are not eligible to participate is simple," said Taub in his opening remarks last year. "Maine has determined that as a matter of public policy, public education should be religiously neutral."
Revelation 13: The rise of the false prophet

Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton first performed the song Anything You Can Do in the Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun in May of 1946. The lyrics say:

Anything you can do, I can do better.

I can do anything better than you.

Anything you can be, I can be greater.

Sooner or later, Im greater than you.

When we read the story of Lucifers fall in the Bible, the words of Anything You Can Do seem to summarize his entire attitude toward God. We might say the devil drank his own Kool-Aid. He became so full of himself he was grievously self-deceived.

Christian author and founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst, has written: Ignoring the reality of our situation or deceiving ourselves about our own character, motives, and actions is a slippery slope that can lead to destruction.

Indeed, it can. Self-deception may be the most potent ruse, the most blinding, and the one that hardens us the most.

The Dragon, the Great Deceiver, first deceived himself. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we are careful to avoid this deadly sin.

One effective way to avoid self-deception is to be completely truthful and honest about our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Its also critical to check oneself by seeking feedback from those who can provide a different perspective. We should try to keep an open mind and not be afraid to challenge our own assumptions and biases. Whatever one does, we must be willing to take responsibility for our actions, even if it means admitting we were wrong. Most importantly, we must always measure our beliefs and practices by the Word of God. The apostle James admonished:

But dont just listen to Gods Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and dont obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like (James 1:23-24)

In Revelation 13:1-10, the Dragon (the devil) empowers the Beast (the Antichrist) to deceive the world. The text says the Antichrist comes from the sea. In the Bible, the sea often represents chaos and instability. That is to say; the Antichrist comes on the scene when there is global bedlam and insecurity  everywhere all of life is being tossed to and fro. He is the mastermind behind a powerful, dominant, destructive political and military system meant to facilitate order and peace.

Then Revelation 13:11-15 says another Beast rises, and this one emerges from the earth.

When I visited the Holy Land, a guide took me to the many places where Jesus had walked. One day we boarded a boat and went out on the Sea of Galilee. When we were far out on the water, my guide said, Today, you will not walk where Jesus walked. Only Jesus could walk upon the water. The rest of us must walk on the land, where our footing is fixed and steady.

The earth symbolizes stability and permanence. In other words, this second Beast ascends to prominence as the one who applies the will of the Antichrist. He steadies this earths ship of fools, docks it, and lowers the gangway for the masses to walk off the vessel and onto dry land. By way of explanation, he represents a religiously and spiritually deceptive system that soundly deceives the multitudes into venerating and obeying the Antichrist.

Together these Beasts represent the mightiest forces of evil in human history, deceiving and controlling humanity.

A broader picture shows these two as part of a counterfeit Trinity. The Dragon (the devil) is the Father, the Beast (the Antichrist) is the Son, and the second Beast (the False Prophet) is the Holy Spirit. Just as God, the Father, has vested all authority in His Son, Jesus, the Dragon has vested all his power with the Antichrist. And just as the Holy Spirit exalts Christ and points people to Him, the False Prophet exalts the Antichrist and directs people to pay homage to Him. Here is what the Scriptures say:

Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first Beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first Beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first Beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first Beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the Beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die (Revelation 13:11-15).

This second Beast, also known as the False Prophet, is described as having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon.

The two horns like those of a lamb indicate that he will have two significant places of authority. Since the horns are without crowns, his administration isnt political but more likely spiritual.

In Revelation Visualized, Dr. Gary G. Cohen and Salem Kirban speculate that his two horns may signify rulership over two great religions  the Christian and non-Christian religions such as Islam.

With each passing day, much of Christianity today in the West is becoming more and more compromised, even apostate. Author W. Phillip Keller in his book, Predators in Our Pulpits, made an ominous statement that somewhat explains the way a religious leader of this kind is ushered onto the world stage. He writes:

Peace has enormous appeal to most people. So, in the name of peace and under the guise of goodwill tempered by tolerance, Christians are everywhere urged and encouraged to accept all sorts of destructive ideas and false influences that may be their undoing. These take a hundred forms, far too numerous to list here in detail. But most of them come under universalism in religion, the belief that all spiritual concepts lead to God; the omniscience of the occult and mysticism; plausible political philosophies that provide for the welfare of all; academic and scientific humanism that exalts mans intellect; gross materialism; scientific evolutionary hypothesis; the subtle appeal of hedonism as mans chief end in life.

The apostle Paul warned, Dont be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed  the one who brings destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

This means that during the end times, a rebellion and hostility to conventional Christianity will begin to grow until it climaxes into the coming of the Antichrist and his False Prophet.

As Cohen and Kirban suggested, could Islam be a part of the final days' equation?

According to a report by the Pew Research Center, Islam is projected to be the fastest-growing major religion in the world in the coming decades. The report predicts the Muslim population will grow by 70% between 2015 and 2060, while the Christian population will grow by only 34%.

Its an egregious error when people say Christians and Muslims worship the same God. There are stark differences in what the two monotheistic faiths believe and teach. Here are just a few:

Muslims say God cannot be known in a personal way. However, Christians call God Father, Abba.

Muslims say Gods covenant is with Ishmaels descendants. Christians say it is first with Isaacs, with the Gentiles grafted in.

Muslims say Jesus was a messenger of God. Christians say Jesus is not only the most outstanding teacher in history, but He is the Son of God.

Muslims say Jesus was saved from death and ascended to Heaven without being crucified and that He did not die for the sins of humanity. Christians, however, believe Jesus died on the cross and gave His life as a ransom for many.

The vast majority of Muslims believe in a coming Messiah named Mahdi. Christians contend Jesus is the true Messiah.

Muslims believe Christians have distorted the Scriptures, that Mohammed corrected them and provided the Koran. Christians believe the Bible is Gods inerrant and infallible Word, and its writers penned it as Gods Holy Spirit moved them.

Muslims believe one must do more good works in life than bad to be saved from Hell. Christians believe Gods grace saves us through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not by our works.

Whatever the case, this False prophet, who seemingly has the character of a lamb but speaks persuasive words of evil like a Dragon, will mold all religions together into one  the worship of the Antichrist. He will perform great signs and wonders to deceive people into worshipping the first Beast.

A.W. Tozer once said, The devil does not possess originality; he always has to mimic what God does. Chuck Swindoll echoed the same, saying, The devil is an imitator, not a creator; he perverts and twists what God has made for good.

This is true in the miracles department, too. Pharaohs magicians in Exodus 7:10-13 replicated Moses miracle of turning his staff into a snake. But its unclear whether what they did was actually a miracle or simply an illusion.

In Acts 8:9-24, Simon the sorcerer performed shocking feats of magic, even claiming to be someone great. Nevertheless, Peter exposed him as a fraud.

A modern-day example is the Indian godman Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to perform miracles such as materializing objects out of thin air and curing diseases. Later, he was exposed as a fake by skeptical investigators who found evidence of his trickery and sleight of hand.

This is not to say real miracles dont occur. They most definitely do. Unfortunately, many today are like Thomas Jefferson. He believed the laws of nature were constant, and any apparent deviations were likely the result of a misunderstanding. Jefferson was inclined to only place his faith in reason and science. But if God exists, and He most definitely does, then miracles are possible.

The first verse of the Bible says that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). If we believe this verse, then we should have no difficulty believing in the power of God to heal the sick, feed the multitudes, give sight to the blind, and heal the disabled.

If God can make this vast universe with so many intricate details, worlds within worlds, then he can do anything and use people to perform unexplainable acts.

However, it is critical to understand that miracles are not common occurrences and should be scrutinized before being considered genuine. The rule of thumb is to remember that no miracle which leads people away from God or fails to recognize Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), comes from God and, therefore, must be deemed duplicitous and dangerous.

The False Prophet is seemingly able to miraculously bring fire down from the sky like the prophet Elijah did. This ability is also similar to the Two Witnesses who defend themselves from their enemies with fire that comes from their mouths (Revelation 11:3-6).

He sets up an image, a statue of the Antichrist, but unlike other idolatrous images, he seems able to give it life, so it speaks.

How can this later phenomenon be explained? An idol that all of humanity must worship at the threat of death verbally converses with people and articulates the will of the Antichrist. There is no sure answer to the question.

Some theoretical possibilities might be the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. It is conceivable a lifelike statue could be made to move and speak through pre-programmed responses or voice recognition technology. With holographic technology, it would be possible to create the projection of a lifelike image that could talk and interact with an audience. Perhaps the statue comes to life through the deceptive powers of hypnosis or even some form of universal drug use (Revelation 9:21).

Still, these staggering marvels by the False Prophet may not be fake, after all. Instead, Satan retains his supernatural powers as an angel  powers he now illegitimately uses for duping and destroying the human race.

Some might think these things are too fantastic to accept  the thought of the whole world running after one man  the idea that another man whose primary role is religious or spiritual would convince the world to embrace his monstrous pretensions and bow down in veneration to the Antichrist.

Up until the present, it may have seemed too much. Nevertheless, with the rapid advances and popularity of totalitarianism, consumerism, social media and technology, wokeism, cancel culture, critical race theory, post-modernism, and progressivism, it appears we are being prepared for a grand delusion. For at the moment, the entire world seems to have lost their ever-loving minds.

Believers should hold fast to the faith, seek the truth, and remain vigilant against deceit and false teachings and practices. They should continue to pray, earnestly study the Bible, and faithfully attend a Christ-exalting church, in order to gain wisdom and guidance.

Unbelievers should swiftly run to Christ for forgiveness and salvation; mercys day for most will soon be gone.
Why 1 Timothy 2:12 shouldn't be used to ban women ministers

Should we use 1 Timothy 2:12 as the proof text on the topic of women Bible teachers?

It is commonly acknowledged among Evangelical Christians that it is unwise to build a doctrine on one verse or on one passage of Scripture. Still, many Christians use 1 Timothy 2:12 as the primary text and cornerstone of their understanding of women in ministry, especially of women as Bible teachers. This verse begins with, I do not allow a woman to teach 

1 Timothy 2:12 is the only verse in the entire Bible that places a restriction on a woman's teaching. Elsewhere in the Bible, however, there are examples of men who were instructed by women, and these men accepted and appreciated this correction and teaching.1

Moreover, Paul mentions over a dozen women as ministry colleagues in his letters, and always in a positive light. What did Paul think, generally, about women teaching? Did he intend to restrict all women from teaching men, which is how many understand 1 Timothy 2:12?

Priscillas ministry and Pauls authority

Apollos, an up-and-coming apostle, was teaching in Ephesus when Priscilla and Aquila saw a lack in his teaching, so they corrected him. Luke writes that, they explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26). In the oldest Greek manuscripts of Acts 18:26, Priscilla is named before her husband. In Romans 16:316, Priscillas name is first in a list of 28 Christians based in Rome. First of 28 Christians!

Surely being mentioned first in Acts 18:26 and Romans 16:3ff says something about the nature and prominence of Priscillas ministry in Ephesus and in Rome (cf. Acts 18:1819; 2 Tim. 4:19).

Some say that Acts 18:26 doesnt specify that Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos in a church meeting, and so Priscillas example does not serve as a valid precedent for women teaching in a congregational setting. But what does it matter where Priscilla, with Aquila, corrected Apollos?

By way of example, the authority and influence of Pauls teaching didnt change if he was in a synagogue, a public square, a prison cell, a lecture hall, a house church, or having a private conversation. Paul was still the same person, guided by the same Holy Spirit, called and authorised for ministry by God.

We know that Priscilla and Aquila hosted a house church in Rome and in Ephesus (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:1920). And there should be little doubt that these friends of Paul, who had travelled and worked closely with him, frequently gave spoken messages in their house churches that included teaching.

Pauls theology of ministry: Teaching and prophecy

It is usually Pauls words in 1 Timothy 2:12 and, to a lesser extent, 1 Corinthians 14:3435 that are used to silence and restrict the ministry of women.[2] However, his lists of ministries in other passages  Romans 12:68, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 3:16  and each of them mentions teaching in some way, do not specify gender in the Greek. There is no hint in Pauls original words in these five passages that the ministry of teaching is for men only or off-limits to women.

Very few people are identified as teachers in the Bible, but many men and women are identified as prophets. There was a respected place for female prophets in Israel, early Judaism, and the early church, and prophecy usually included teaching or instruction. The Corinthians were told, for example, that prophesy is  so that all may learn and all be encouraged (1 Cor. 14:31, italics added).

Paul considered prophecy to be the most desirable of the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1), and he listed prophets and prophesying before teachers and teaching in Romans 12:68, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11. As Ben Witherington has pointed out, one cannot argue that prophesying  whether by women or by men  is less important, less enduring or less official than teaching or preaching.3

Furthermore, Pauls favourite words for ministers who he knew personally were coworker, diakonos (minister, deacon), apostolos (missionary, apostle) and labourer. He uses these terms for men such as Timothy and for women such as Priscilla, Junia, Evodia, Syntyche, Phoebe, Persis, and more.4 Paul valued the ministry of his female colleagues.

Domineering behaviour in Ephesus

As well as being the only verse in the Bible that prohibits a woman from teaching, 1 Timothy 2:12 is also the only Bible verse where the Greek verb authenteo is used. This word is not related to the usual Greek word (or English word) that means to have authority. 1 Timothy 2:12 is not about prohibiting an ordinary or healthy kind of authority.

Cynthia Westfall has looked closely at the surviving ancient texts that contain the verb authenteo. She has observed that the people who are targets of these actions are harmed, forced against their will (compelled), or at least their self-interest is being overridden because the actions involve an imposition of the subjects will, ranging from dishonour to lethal force.5

The Vetus Latina (Old Latin) translates authenteo in 1 Timothy 2:12 as dominari (to dominate). The Old Latin was produced in the secondfourth centuries when both Koine Greek (the language of the New Testament) and Latin were living languages. To dominate is bad behaviour for a woman and it is bad behaviour for men. Chrysostom, an early church father, used the same verb in a comment about Colossians 3:19 and said a husband must not dominate (authenteo) his wife.6

I suggest the first two phrases of 1 Timothy 2:12 are better understood as, I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to dominate a man. But why is Paul only speaking about a womans actions here? What is the context of 1 Timothy 2:12?

The broader context of 1 Timothy 2:12

When we zoom out from 1 Timothy 2:12, we see that in 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Paul is addressing and correcting problem behaviour from certain members of the Ephesian church: angry quarrelling men in verse 8, overdressed rich women in verses 910, and a woman who needed to learn quietly (as it says in verse 11) and not teach, and not domineer a man.7

1 Timothy 2:815 does not contain Pauls general teaching on ministry. Rather, it refers to specific people and specific problems in the Ephesian church. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 14:2640, Paul silences three groups of unruly speakers in Corinthian assemblies, not just wives who wanted to learn but should keep their questions for home.

The reason Paul wrote 1 Timothy was because of false teaching in the Ephesian church (1 Tim. 1:3ff). The worst false teachers in Ephesus, however, were men, not women (1 Tim. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:1718). So, it doesnt make sense that Paul would permanently restrict women from teaching, but not men. It makes more sense that Paul was saying that a certain ill-informed woman shouldnt teach anyone and shouldnt domineer a man who was probably her husband.8 She needed to learn! (1 Tim. 2:11).

Paul prohibited unsound teaching and silenced unruly speaking (1 Cor. 14:2640) from men as well as from women. On the other hand, he never silenced or stifled edifying ministry from anyone. In his general teaching on spoken ministries, Paul encouraged participation from gifted people and did not specify gender.

We should be cautious about applying 1 Timothy 2:12  the only verse in the Bible that restricts a woman from teaching  to all women for all time, especially to gifted women who have learned and are not domineering. Using one verse as the basis for prohibiting women from teaching, especially when men are present, is unwise.

1. For example, King Lemuels mother taught him an inspired message, an oracle, that is still relevant and continues to teach men and even kings (Prov. 31:1ff).



2. The qualifications for overseers in 1 Timothy 3:17 are also sometimes used to restrict women.

3. Ben Witherington, The Paul Quest: The Renewed Search for the Jew of Tarsus (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998), 225.

4. Paul doesnt identify any individual church leader in his letters, male or female, with the words poimen (pastor), episkopos (overseer, bishop) or presbyteros or presbytera (elder).

5. Cynthia Long Westfall, Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostles Vision for Men and Women in Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016), 292.

6. See Chrysostoms Homily 10 on Colossians. Authenteo is translated as act the despot in this homily in volume 13 of The Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church (First series). (Online source: New Advent)

7. 1 Timothy 2:1112 is written as an inclusion; these verses belong together, and quietness (not silence, as in some translations) is emphasised.

8. After speaking about plural men in verse 8 and plural women in verses 910, Paul uses singular words for woman/ wife and man/ husband in the Greek of 1 Timothy 2:1115. And he uses a singular verb, meaning she will be saved, in verse 15. I discuss verses 1315 on my website, MargMowczko.com.
Martin Scorsese about to start making new film about Jesus

(CP) Award-winning director Martin Scorsese says he will make another movie about Jesus, a remark made during a conversation at the Vatican.

"The Goodfellas" director, who identifies as Catholic, visited Pope Francis at the Vatican last weekend during his tour of Italy following the premiere of his new film "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

The 80-year-old filmmaker also participated in a conference organized by the Jesuit publication La Civilta Cattolica and Georgetown University featuring dozens of poets and writers, according to La Civilta Cattolica editor Antonio Spadaro. The conference was titled "The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination."

"I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus," Scorsese said during the meeting, according to multiple reports. "And I'm about to start making it."

According to Spadaro, Francis offered a word of encouragement to the writers.

"This is your work as poets, storytellers, filmmakers, artists: to give life, to give body, to give word to everything that human beings live, feel, dream, suffer, creating harmony and beauty," Francis said, according to a tweet from Spadaro. "Will they criticize you? All right, carry the burden of criticism, also trying to learn from criticism. But still, don't stop being original, creative. Do not lose the wonder of being alive".

Representatives for Scorsese told The Guardian that they couldn't offer additional information about the movie at this time.

Scorsese and his wife, Helen Morris, held a brief private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican before attending the conference.

In speaking at the conference, Scorsese reportedly referenced his own films and offered personal anecdotes. Spadaro wrote on his publication's website that Scorsese spoke of "how the Holy Father's appeal 'to let us see Jesus' moved him."

Scorsese also reportedly expressed admiration for Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1964 movie "The Gospel According to St. Matthew." He also spoke of his own 1988 film, "The Last Temptation of Christ," which starred actor Willem Dafoe as Jesus.

The famed director also explored religion in his 2016 drama "Silence," which focused on the persecution of Jesuit Catholics in 17th-century Japan. Scorsese previously met Francis during a screening of the film in Rome.

 The Christian Post
Michael W Smith's Passion Translation endorsement removed after backlash

Michael W Smith's endorsement of The Passion Translation has been removed from its website after strong criticism.

The Passion Translation (TPC) was published in 2017 and is the work of Brian Simmons.

It is billed by its publisher, BroadStreet Publishing Group, as a "modern, easy-to-read Bible translation", but critics say that it diverges too much from the true meaning of Scripture.

Last year, Bible Gateway, a website hosting more than 200 different Bible translations, decided to remove it.

An endorsement of the translation from Smith on the TPT website called it "a beautiful marriage of powerful accuracy and readable, natural language".

He also described the translation as "a gift to Bible readers", The Christian Post reports.

"The vivid wording strips away the centuries, reminding me with every phrase that each prophecy, letter, history account, poem, vision, and parable is God's Word to me today just as much as it was to the original audiences," Smith said.

His endorsement was circulated widely on social media in recent days, prompting calls for him to reconsider.

According to ChurchLeaders.com, the endorsement remained on the website until 31 May but was no longer there on 1 June.
Over 4,000 people baptized at California beach during historic 'Baptize SoCal' event

(CP) More than 4,000 people were baptized off the beaches of Southern California on Pentecost Sunday as part of a revival event organized by several congregations.

On May 28, around 300 churches came to Pirates Cove Beach under the banner of the event "Baptize SoCal," with a recorded number of 4,166 people being baptized.

Pastor Mark Francey, one of the lead pastors of California-based Oceans Church and one of the people behind the event, told The Christian Post that God gave him the vision to do the event during "a prayer time back in May of 2022."

"As believers, we always want to be obedient to what Jesus asks us to do. My mentors taught me it's as simple as praying, obeying, then acting," said Francey.

While his church has previously hosted baptism events at local beaches, including Pirates Cove Beach, before, Francey said, "We have never seen a crowd like that for baptisms."

R.J. McCauley, pastor of student ministries at Magnolia Church of Riverside and an attendee of the mass baptism, told CP that it was a "beautiful event."

"In our times of cultural darkness, there was a bright light shining throughout the event on Pentecost Sunday. There was live worship, prayer, and thousands of people cheering on those who were getting baptized," said McCauley.

"We want a Jesus Revolution to truly happen in our state and among the youth, so this is a beautiful event that helps accomplish that goal."

McCauley, who heads the California Southern Baptist Convention organization CSBC Youth, told CP that there are plans to return to Pirates Cove for Pentecost 2024.

"We want to plant a Gospel seed in every Gen Z in California, so I hope to be involved next year and help mobilize Gen Z students to attend this historic baptism spot and pass it on to the future in California," he added.

California's beaches are no stranger to mass baptisms in the recent past, especially Pirates Cove.

Greg Laurie, an evangelist and senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, has held baptism events at Pirates Cove over the years. In 2018, over 550 people were baptized during a baptism event at Pirates Cove led by Laurie.

"Back over 40 years ago, during the Jesus Movement, we used to do baptisms down at Pirates Cove Beach. In fact, that is where I was baptized and my wife, Cathe, was baptized there as well," Laurie told CP at the time. "It is a significant place, historically, for the Church because that was sort of the epicenter of the Jesus Revolution, as reported on by Time magazine and others. It was a phenomenon."

In September 2020, nearly 1,000 people were baptized at Newport Beach's Corona Del Mar State Beach at an event sponsored by Calvary Chapel of Chino Hills.

 The Christian Post
Pope Francis sends Cardinal Zuppi to Ukraine to promote a 'just peace'

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, the head of the Italian Bishops' Conference, traveled to Kyiv on Monday as a representative of Pope Francis, the Vatican announced in a statement.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in an interview that Zuppi's mission is aimed especially at "favoring an environment that can lead to paths toward peace."

Francis named Zuppi in late May to head the Vatican's peace mission in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, citing the Italian cardinal's experience in mediating conflict in other countries; how he handled the conflict in Mozambique in the 1990s likely contributed to his appointment.

Zuppi works closely with the Italian lay Catholic movement of Sant'Egidio, which focuses diplomacy efforts with an eye for migrants and refugee issues. Francis has relied on the movement to address the war in South Sudan and to help with the creation of humanitarian corridors to safely and legally bring migrants across borders.

Francis has sought to position the Vatican as a mediator for peace in Ukraine ever since Russian troops invaded the country in February 2022. Upon hearing news of the invasion, the pope dismissed protocol and rushed to the Russian embassy in Rome to promote peace. The urgency of his response was consistent with the Vatican's longtime efforts to improve relations with Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, which has become increasingly influential under President Vladimir Putin.

Francis had secured a win in 2015 by becoming the first pontiff to meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in recent history, and he had made motions before the war began toward becoming the first pope to visit Moscow.

Since Russia invaded, the pope has avoided openly condemning Russia and Putin in public pronouncements and voiced his willingness to visit both Kyiv and Moscow. Despite these efforts, the relationship between the Kremlin and the Vatican has chilled, while Ukrainians have questioned why Francis has not taken a stronger position on the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has distanced himself from the Vatican's peacemaking attempts. After a meeting with Francis at the Vatican May 13, he told journalists that his country is currently not open to any mediation with Russia and Putin. "With all due respect for His Holiness, we don't need mediators, we need a just peace."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has told journalists that there is no currently scheduled meeting between Zuppi and Putin.

Both sides' indifference toward any peace proposals may be strategic and likely have as much to do with the preparations for rejoined fighting, as Ukraine shows signs of launching a long-expected major counteroffensive. The success of peacemaking efforts in the coming weeks may depend on the success of the two armies on the ground.

During his Sunday Angelus prayer, Francis expressed his closeness once again to the "dear and battered Ukraine" and all other countries that suffer the plight of war.

 Religion News Service
Rick Warren campaigns for Southern Baptist reinstatement of Saddleback Church

Days before the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting, former megachurch pastor Rick Warren has appealed to his fellow Southern Baptists to overturn a denominational decision to oust his Saddleback Church because it permits women to serve with the title pastor.

"This should be the moment where 47,000+ autonomous, independent, freedom-loving churches say NO to turning the Executive Committee into a theological Magisterium that controls a perpetual inquisition of churches and makes the EC a centralized hierarchy that tells our congregations who to hire and what to call them," Warren wrote in an open letter released Friday.

The SBC's Executive Committee voted in February to oust Saddleback, approving a recommendation of its credentials committee that determined the congregation was "not in friendly cooperation" because Stacie Wood, wife of Warren successor Andy Wood, had the title of "teaching pastor."

On Mother's Day weekend in 2021, Saddleback ordained three women who were longtime staffers. Nearly two years later, Katie Edwards was announced as the new campus pastor of the church's Lake Forest, California, location.

In May, Saddleback announced it would appeal the decision. Since that time, Warren has mounted a campaign that includes the open letter, a website and a video series detailing why he thinks the church should be permitted to remain within the Southern Baptist fold.

"Your own family members often hold opposing opinions, but you don't disown them for that," he wrote. "You still love them in spite of disagreement."

Warren also cited Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong, two women missionaries in whose names major denominational missions funds are collected in SBC churches every year. The letter encouraged fellow Baptists "to say NO to those who would have silenced these Southern Baptist women."

Delegates to the annual meeting, set for June 13-14 in New Orleans, will vote on whether to affirm or overturn decisions about Saddleback, along with two other churches that have appealed their ousters  one for having a woman in a pastoral role and the other for "a lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation."

In addition to seeking to overturn the Executive Committee decision, Warren hopes for a change in the SBC constitution that would override a section first approved in 2014 and voted on a second time and implemented in 2015. It said the denomination would include only churches with "a faith and practice which closely identifies" with the Baptist Faith and Message. That statement of faith restricts the office of pastor to men.

Any change in the constitution that would update that amendment would have to be passed by votes over two consecutive years by the messengers.

Virginia Baptist pastor Mike Law proposed a constitutional amendment at the 2022 annual meeting that would officially bar churches that "affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind."

"Why is it wrong for women to serve as pastors?" Law said in a video sent to Executive Committee members. "Because it is contrary to God's design for his church. It is that simple. Don't overthink this issue."

Warren says the denomination has changed direction in the past, lamenting slavery and apologizing in 1995 to African Americans for condoning racism, and more recently attempting to address the concerns of victims of sex abuse.

He argues that the debate is far larger than what might happen to the church he founded, pointing to the continuing decline in membership of the Protestant denomination, which totaled 13.2 million in 2022, a drop of more than 3 million members since 2006.

"This is a vote to affirm the God-given freedom of every Baptist to interpret Scripture AS A BAPTIST  by saying NO to those who deny that freedom," he said. "This is a vote to affirm evangelism by saying NO to factionalism."

 Religion News Service
UK government urged to act over persecution of Christians in Nigeria

A petition submitted to the UK government this week is calling for more to be done to stop "genocidal attacks" on Christians in Nigeria.

The petition by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN UK) was presented on Monday to Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, on the first anniversary of a massacre at a church in Nigeria on Pentecost Sunday 2022.

Extremists killed 41 people and injured over 80 during the attack on St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church, in Owo, south-west Nigeria on 5 June 2022.

The Bishop of Ondo, Jude Arogundade, whose diocese covers Owo, told ACN that the perpetrators are still at large a year on from the tragedy.

The petition says that many Nigerian Christians feel like the world "neither knows nor cares about them" and calls for action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We request that the UK Government call on their Nigerian counterparts to bring to justice those responsible for genocidal attacks such as the Pentecost Sunday 2022 massacre and countless other killings, abductions and other atrocities," it reads.

"The UK Government must demand the arrest and imprisonment of terrorists, the return of lands and villages, as well as compensation for the destruction of properties and livelihoods."

Speaking on the first anniversary of the church massacre, Bishop Arogundade said it was important "to remind the world of the evil of terrorism", adding that families affected by the tragedy "will bear the scars for a long time to come".

"This anniversary presents an opportunity for us to reflect on what we have done so far and what further we can do to relieve those who are still suffering and help them live with their grief and trauma," he said.

He continued: "We hope all people of goodwill will join us and support us in prayers to comfort a grieving church.

"We still have so much to do to console the victims. Whatever support we get will help us to meet many of our needs."
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The lack of diversity in IT doesnt just leave underrepresented workers feeling alienated; it can also make them feel unsafe. Thats certainly true for the LGBTQIA+ community, with only 76% of LGBTQ+ workers reporting they feel safe in their workplace and 64% of trans and gender nonconforming (GNC) individuals saying the same, according to a report from Blind. Moreover, only 35% of LGBTQ+ and 41% of trans or GNC workers say they feel represented in upper management at their company.

While the tech industry has made more of an effort to foster greater workplace diversity in recent years, theres still a lot of progress to make for LGBTQ+ workers. Despite the industry lagging behind in equality, there are a number of organizations committed to bringing equality to the tech industry by creating communities and offering support for underrepresented trans, queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and gender nonconforming IT workers.

Lesbians Who Tech

Lesbians Who Tech is open to the LGBTQ+ community and its 50,0000 members include women as well as nonbinary, trans, and gender nonconforming individuals. The organization aims to connect LGBTQ+ tech workers and to create more visibility for queer, female, trans, GNC, and POC leaders in the industry. Lesbians Who Tech also offers the Edie Windsor Coding scholarship, which grants scholarships to LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary tech workers to help kickstart their technology careers.

LGBTQ in Technology Slack

The LGBTQ in Technology Slack is a safe space for LGBTQ+ people in tech to chat, support one another, and connect virtually over a Slack channel. This moderated Slack channel is open to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning, as well as any of the many other subgenres of people who are not generally considered both straight and cis. Its a great way to connect with other LGBTQ+ individuals in tech in a casual and low-pressure environment.

LGBTQ Tech

LGBTQ Tech offers programs and resources to support LGBTQ+ communities and works to educate organizations and policy makers on the unique needs LGBTQ+ individuals face when it comes to tech. LGBT Tech conducts research on LGBTQ+ individuals personal experience with technology and the tech industry and works at the national, state, and grassroots level on programs and policy informed by research. The organization also offers resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies. LGBTQ Tech also offers programs that bring technology to homeless, isolated, and disadvantaged LGBTQ+ individuals across the country, as well as a program dedicated to motivating LGBTQ+ youth and young adults interested in science, technology, engineer, arts, and mathematics fields.

Maven Youth

Maven Youth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ youth to network, organize, and educate for social change through technology and the tech sector. They provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth ages 14-24 across the country by offering summer camps, a youth leadership council, workshops, apprenticeships, leadership retreats, hackathons, and networking experiences. The organization also helps its young members explore various careers in tech, build skills, and develop their speaking, presenting, teaching, and mentorship skills through its Tech Career Readiness program.
Escatec Builds New Production Facility in Bulgaria Published: 06 June 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

PENANG, MALAYSIA  Escatec has opened a new production facility in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to meet an increasing demand for nearshoring production in Europe.

The 4,000 sq. m. facility is already operational to vertically integrate plastic molding and electronics assembly to support the company's production commitments in Europe, and Escatec said it is willing to expand capacity and capabilities at this new facility as order volumes pick up.

Escatec Bulgaria is an important new site in Escatecs portfolio as we move to complete our global manufacturing footprint. Customers of Escatec can expect that we deliver a best-value solution, regardless of region, as we continue to harness the benefits of our multi-site strategy, said Charles-Alexandre Albin, Escatec's executive director and director of strategic development.

Escatec's customer base largely consists of major OEM brands based in Europe and North America, and the company's production network now comprises of two facilities each in Penang and Johor Bahru, Malaysia; two in Chomutov in the Czech Republic; one in Lutterworth in the United Kingdom; an advanced production facility in Heerbrugg, Switzerland; and the latest facility in Bulgaria. The company also operates a design & development (D&D) center in Switzerland and has strategic partnerships in Croatia and the United States.

Over the long-term, Escatec Bulgaria could become the company's main production facility in Europe for plastic moulding and electronics assembly, due to Bulgarias membership in the European Union and Plovdivs strategic location, sizeable population, its large industrial base, and its transport links providing convenient access to the wider European market, Albin said.

"Escatec remains committed to expanding its global production footprint and capabilities to cater to customers that are in the process of bringing new technologies and products to market," he said. "Across the group, Escatec offers a complete and integrated value chain of EMS services, from D&D to product certification to mass manufacturing and after-sales services, ranging across electronics, electro-mechanical, MOEMS, box build, and plastic moulding."
China conducts in-orbit research on production of early-stage human blood cells

Xinhua) 15:44, June 06, 2023

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The taikonauts of Shenzhou-15 (Divine Vessel) achieved many notable firsts during their 186-day space trip, one of which was undertaking scientific research on the production of early-stage human blood cells aboard the orbiting Chinese space station.

After the cargo craft Tianzhou-6, or "Heavenly Vessel," docked with the Tiangong space station in May, the Shenzhou-15 taikonauts assisted the science team on-site to perform six to 15 days of cell culture experiments in orbit.

The experiments involved the use of pluripotent stem cells, which have the capacity to self-renew and maintain the potential to develop into other types of cells. They are an excellent cell source for regenerative medicine, which focuses on regenerating human cells, tissues and organs to restore normal functions damaged by aging, disease or accident.

Before returning to Earth, the Shenzhou-15 crew conducted an experiment to differentiate cobble-like hematopoietic stem cells, which can produce blood cells.

These stem cells have grown mature and differentiated into a group of blood stem cells resembling a bunch of grapes, said Lei Xiaohua, a member of the experiment's design team, at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"We have achieved our first experimental goal: For the first time, blood cells have been generated in vitro from human embryonic stem cells in space," Lei told media.

In 2017, Chinese scientists carried out research on the proliferation and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells on the Tianzhou-1 cargo craft. The results showed that stem cells cultured in space showed better 3D growth than those on the ground and maintained higher levels of pluripotent gene expression.

Foreign scientists have also conducted research on stem cell growth and tissue regeneration during spaceflights in recent years, including research on blood stem cells for astronauts suffering from anemia, indicating that in-orbit experiments can be used to explore how microgravity improves human health, Lei said.

Three taikonauts brought the cells back to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-15 spaceship on Sunday.

Lei said his team will compare the cells produced in space with cells on Earth, in an attempt to screen out the genes that affect early blood cell differentiation in the space environment.

Researchers will continue to conduct experiments on the 3D growth of stem cells during the future Tianzhou-7 and Tianzhou-8 cargo missions.

One of the functions of China's manned space program is to search for possible habitable planets, said Cang Huaixing, chief researcher for the station's scientific experiments, at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under CAS.

"The space environment has microgravity and high radiation, so how to travel, survive and have children in such an environment is the main task in our research," Cang said in an interview with Xinhua.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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The National Citizen Service (NCS) Trust cut 20% of its workforce last year as the charity received less government funding, the charity has confirmed.

A freedom of information request sent by Civil Society to NCS Trust last month revealed that the organisation shed 43 full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs in the year to March 2023.

NCS Trust said that the reason for the reduction is a reduced funding envelope provided by the government for the three years 2023-25.

Its business plan for 2023-24 , published last month, shows that its grant-in-aid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport fell to its lowest level since 2019, from 158.6m to 49.2m.

NCS Trust said that it went through significant organisational restructuring to be able to deliver its new offer, adding that tough decisions regarding headcount had to be made due to reduced central costs.

Fewer FTE employees

Annual reports and business plans show that the number of FTE staff at NCS Trust has fluctuated in recent years.

Indeed, in 2019-20 it had 229 FTE employees and 233 in 2020-21, with total staff costs reducing from 14.4m to 13.7m.

In 2021-22, NCS Trust had 20 fewer FTE employees (213) than the previous year while staff costs were 12.4m.

Last year, it employed 170 FTE staff. NCS Trust said that its accounts for 2022-23 will be published later this year but confirmed that the staff cost will be lower than previous years.

A spokesperson for NCS Trust said: NCS is focused on controlling costs and driving better value for money for taxpayers. Our annual report 2021-22 shows we reduced costs by 45% and this trend continued into 2022-23 and this financial year. Reducing central costs has required us to make some tough decisions regarding headcount.

Despite this, the Trust is proud that the numbers of young people experiencing NCS have increased and this year we expect a record number of young people will be supported to become world ready and work ready.

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AKRON, Ohio  The Akron Zoo is celebrating the arrival of summer with a new event for families on June 16: Chillin at the Zoo.

The after-hours event takes place from 6-9 p.m. and features an ice-cream tasting. Some zoo animals will also receive frozen treats to enjoy during the event, according to the zoo.

Event highlights include up-close animal encounters, a scavenger hunt and photo opportunities with the zoos mascot, Potter the Otter. DJ Kenny Kidd will play music and there will be a raffle with winners receiving prizes. Each guest will receive one raffle ticket when they enter the zoo.

Sassy Dog, Swensons and Sassy Shays Mac N Eatz food trucks will offer food for purchase at the event.

Tickets can be purchased on the zoos website. Tickets for Akron Zoo members are $10 for adults and $7 for children. Non-member tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for children. Children under 2 are free. Parking is $5.

The ice-cream tasting is presented by Acme Fresh Market.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Update, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- The city may again ask voters in November to allow construction of a fifth fire station, on Ohio 82 just west of Pearl Road.

But unlike two years ago when voters rejected a similar proposal, the city will obtain the property targeted for the fire station -- regardless of how residents vote in November.

The 1.3-acre property -- off the south side of Ohio 82 immediately west of Huntington Bank and the parking lot of Ganley Buick GMC -- has been owned by the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber will give that land to the city in exchange for a municipally owned half-acre lot, on which the chamber office now stands. The chamber building is off the south side of Ohio 82 just east of Pearl, next to Old Town Hall.

On Monday night (June 5), City Council approved a land swap agreement between the city and the chamber.

Also on Monday, council referred to the Strongsville Planning Commission a proposed ballot issue that would ask voters in November to rezone the 1.3 acres from a residential district -- which permits only homes -- to a public facilities district, which would allow a fire station.

Were going forward with the property exchange whether voters rezone (the 1.3-acre) parcel or not, Law Director Neal Jamison said Tuesday.

Even if the rezoning fails, the city still feels that this piece of property is more valuable to us than the property the chamber office is on, Jameson said. Theres more potential use for it than the land were giving the chamber.

Two years ago, Jamison said ownership of the 1.3 acres would give the city flexibility to reshape the downtown area, centered around the Ohio 82-Pearl Road intersection.

Jamison said the city, although preferring a fire station there, might use the land as a new site for its growing Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center, for recreational purposes or even as a parking lot for center-of-town events.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce has expressed a desire to own the parcel on which its office now stands, Jamison said. The chamber has leased that site from the city since at least 2004.

The city still hopes voters will rezone the 1.3 acres to allow a fifth fire station there. The city now has four fire stations.

Each year, we keep getting more and more calls for service to the fire department, Jamison said.

Council will host a public hearing on the rezoning in late July, Jamison said. A date had not been set as of Tuesday.

In November 2021, Strongsville voters defeated the rezoning of the 1.3 acres, which consists of three parcels about the same size. The issue failed both citywide and in Ward 4, where the land is located.

The 1.3 acres now contain a home and a second building in back.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The 10-person Charter Review Commission worked from July of last year until May poring over the citys charter and discussing what changes should perhaps be made.

On Monday (June 5), commission members reported to City Council about 10 recommended changes -- including one that could be a first for the state of Ohio.

That first would come in the form of a ranked choice voting (RCV) system. Under this system, voters, when choosing council members and a mayor, would be asked to rank their choices by number, from a voters first choice down to a sixth choice.

The various placings would then be weighted to determine the winners.

The candidate who receives the majority of first-choice votes for a position -- more than 50 percent -- would win the election.

The commissions report to council states: If no candidate received enough first-choice votes to win an office or seat, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated, and the counting of votes then proceeds to another round.

In the next round, if a voters first choice of candidate has been eliminated, that voters second choice of candidate is counted. The elimination process is repeated until each office or seat is filled.

The commission reasoned that the RCV would serve as an instant runoff election, while still requiring a winner to receive a majority, rather than a plurality, of the votes.

It can better manage the problems that result from races with large fields of candidates, the report states. It is ideal for elections with multiple winners, like our council elections.

RCV is now used in 58 cities across the country, including the entirety of the state of Maine.

Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, who favors putting RCV before University Heights voters to determine if it should become part of the citys charter, noted that in 2021, when he won re-election, there were three other candidates and he won with just over 48 percent of the vote.

It was a larger margin than in his first mayoral election win in 2017, but still did not equate to a 50 percent majority. Under RCV, he would have achieved that majority, he said.

As commission member H. Lee Crumrine explained the RCV system, those in attendance at the council meeting tried to follow along and understand its workings.

The vote counting is the complicated part, said Brennan, noting that for voters, the only concern would be to rank candidates by number.

Crumrine told those gathered that the commission had been in contact with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and that the board is prepared and eager to conduct its first RVC election count.

Councilman John Rach said of RCV, I really like the concept.

He said that, as much as he wanted University Heights to be a leader in the state, when it comes to RCV, this is something Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati -- a large city should do to work out some of those kinks. And I just worry about the overall confusion it could have among the voters.

He said that if a resident wasnt sure how RCV works, there would be very few people nearby to ask for an explanation.

Commission member David Farkas said he opposed the recommendation of RCV.

Things that arent broken shouldnt be fixed, Farkas said of his thoughts on RCV. I enjoy looking for solutions to problems, but if theres no problem, I dont enjoy creating a solution.

City Council will have to approve each of the 10 commission recommendations in order for them to appear on the Nov. 7 ballot for voters to decide.

City Prosecutor Michael Cicero, who provided legal assistance to the commission, said council will have the first opportunity to vote to put the recommendations on the fall ballot at its June 20 meeting.

He said council can make changes to the recommendations, as the deadline to submit the recommendations to the Board of Elections is early September.

As for the other recommendations, they include:

-- The CRC recommends a change that will allow the mayor to appoint the citys law director, with approval from council, instead of the current system that has council making the selection.

The recommendation would allow the mayor to remove a law director without council approval.

Vice Mayor Michele Weiss called this recommendation a hard no in her opinion.

The law director works so close with City Council Weiss said. He is the legislative arm for us. He is our go-to person, and I think this is so important. I cant stress enough that it (appointment) needs to stay with council.

Councilwoman Sheri Sax focused on the portion of the recommendation in which council is not included in a decision to let a law director go, stating that, instead of one mayor, seven council members should have a voice in such a decision.

Brennan, on the other hand, favors the recommended change. He called it the most important possible amendment to the charter and told of how closely a mayor works with a law director -- the lone director that is not of the mayors choosing.

-- The commission recommended that City Councils vice mayor preside at all council meetings, rather than the mayor, as is now done.

Brennan said this recommendation is not a slight against him. He said he spoke at a CRC meeting of his belief that council should run its own meetings.

University Heights, along with Pepper Pike, are two of the few communities in which the mayor presides at council meetings.

-- A change was recommended for the recall process of an elected official. Currently, an official who is the subject of a certified recall petition becomes a candidate, with other candidates for the same position, and, by winning a plurality of votes, can keep the position.

The proposed change would have the recalled officials position vacated and filled by an election not to include the recalled official.

-- A change was recommended pertaining to the referendum process, making it easier for voters to propose any ordinance or resolution, or to approve or reject any council ordinance or resolution by reducing the number of required petition signatures.

-- Other proposals would eliminate term limits; modernize the names of city departments; broaden anti-discrimination language now included in the charter; replace gendered terms now part of the charter; and call for a mandatory charter review every 10 years, starting in 2033.

CRC Chairman Stephen Wertheim noted that since 1941 (the year after University Heights became a city), thereve only been three Charter Review Commissions -- one in 1979, one in 2008-09 and this one in 2022-23.

In addition to Wertheim, Crumrine and Farkas, the CRC, which met two or three times per month, consisted of Vice Chair Chris Myrick, Margaret Duffy-Friedman, Tyler Bobes, Jacquelyn Gould, Secretary Wesley Kretch, David Jackson, Alicia Sloan and Rick Brown.

Also a CRC member was Threse Marshall. Council appointed Marshall last month to replace former councilman Justin Gould following his April 18 resignation.

Mondays meeting was Marshalls first as a council representative.

To see complete explanations of each CRC recommendation and the CRCs report, visit here.

Read more from the Sun Press.
OCALA, Florida  An argument between two women about children playing in a nearby field had a deadly ending when one of the women opened fire through the door of her own apartment as the other stood outside with her child next to her, reports say.

Ajike AJ Owens, 35, a mother of four, died in the shooting, which occurred at about 9 p.m. Friday, according to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. Owens was pronounced dead at a hospital, Woods said.

No arrest has been made, although authorities know who the shooter is. Owens said in a news conference Monday that the sheriffs office is investigating but there are a lot of determining factors. He said investigators are trying to determine if Floridas Stand Your Ground law could apply to the shooting.

My heart goes to (the family), Owens said. It always breaks my heart when children are involved. He said he wanted Owens family to know that the department will do everything we can to assure justice.

The sheriff said the two women had been involved in a neighborhood feud for about 2 years. Deputies were called to the scene in response to a trespassing complaint, but were told while on the way that shots had been fired.

According to the sheriff, the neighbor had yelled at Owens children as they played in a nearby field and also threw a pair of skates at them, hitting one of the children. Owens went to the womans apartment to confront her and they began arguing, authorities say.

The woman reportedly shot Owens through the front door. The victims mother, Pamela Dias, said during a news conference Monday that Owens 9-year-old child was standing next to her when she was shot, CBS News reports. Dias also said Owens was not armed.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Woods said. I wish Ms. Owens would have called us in the hopes we could have never gotten to the point at which we are here today.

Lawyer Ben Crump, who is representing Owens family, said Monday the accused shooter yelled racial slurs at the children, CBS News reports. Woods did not confirm on deny Crumps accusations.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Spaces, the small but powerful nonprofit gallery anchored on Clevelands West Side, is winning big-time national support for projects staking out an activist role over gay and transgender rights, climate change, and the environment.

The latest sign of success at Spaces is that it has just been named a winner of a prestigious Joyce Award, the flagship prize offered by the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation.

The foundation announced Tuesday, June 6, that Spaces is one of five Midwestern venues to receive a $75,000 grant. The gallery will work with California-based interdisciplinary, artist Julie Tolentino, who identifies as Filipino-El Salvadorean, queer, and gender-expansive. At least $25,000 of the two-year grant will go to the artist as a stipend, the foundation said.

Tolentinos goal, according to the foundation, is to build connections with a diverse group of LGBTQ+ community members in Cleveland to develop _UNTITLED_ (Queer Futures).

The end result will be an experimental performance installation within a larger gallery setting at SPACES that explores the possibilities of collectivity and intergenerational exchange.

The Joyce Foundations mission is to support new, innovative, community-driven works by artists of color in partnership with cultural organizations in the Great Lakes region.

Spaces on a roll

The new grant follows other big announcements at Spaces. Last year, the U.S. Department of State announced that it had chosen the gallery to organize the exhibition at the American Pavilion at the 2023 Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy, on the theme of Everlasting Plastics.

The exhibition, which opened in May, focuses on the perils posed by oceans of plastic waste flowing into the global environment. Spaces raised nearly $1.6 million for the project.

Lauren Yeager, Longevity, 2023, Salvaged plastic objects. Everlasting Plastics, United States Pavilion, Biennale Architettura 2023. Exhibition Design: Faysal Altunbozar, Chloe Munkenbeck. Photo by ReportArch / Andrea Ferro Photography.Photo by ReportArch / Andrea Ferro Photography.

In April, Spaces won a three-year, $150,000 grant from the New York-based Teiger Foundation to continue working on a multi-year project with the London-based collective, Cooking Sections. The collective seeks to collaborate with local farms in Northeast Ohio to find ways to reduce algae-producing agricultural runoff in Lake Erie.

A pair of oxygenating fountains, part of an early iteration of the Cooking Sections partnership with Spaces, were installed at North Coast Harbor in 2022 as part of the FRONT International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art.

Aerating fountains at North Coast Harbor are part of an ongoing engagement with Cleveland by the London-based collective, Cooking Sections, as part of the FRONT 2022 Triennial.Steven Litt, cleveland.com

The hits keep coming in a really good way, Tizziana Baldenebro, the executive director of Spaces since 2020, said Monday in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

Like other visual arts organizations, Spaces, which turned 45 in May, is taking an activist stance on contemporary cultural, social, and political issues by partnering with artists to create new work aimed at raising awareness and sparking debate.

Theres a shift in the role an arts organization plays, Baldenebro said, adding that its important to be radical to be confrontational with your practice. I hope the art prods and provokes and makes us think about living in the environment we have.

Baldenebro called the Joyce Award a huge honor' and said that Spaces is deeply thrilled to be working with Julie [Tolentino] and the [LGBT Community] Center in Cleveland on the upcoming project.

Baldenebro said Spaces intentionally sought to collaborate with Tolentino in response to a wave of anti-trans, and anti-gay legislation promoted by representatives in states with majority-Republican legislatures, including in Ohio.

Its exactly why we wanted to bring this artist here, Baldenebro said.

The American Civil Liberties Union reported in April that at least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year  a new record. The number of bills is twice that of those introduced in all of last year, the ACLU said.

In addition to Spaces and Tolentino, this years Joyce awards will go to: Regina Agu with the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago; Sonny Mehta with Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, Chicago; Marisa Moran Jahn with the National Public Housing Museum, Chicago; and Marlena Myles with Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, Minnesota.

The 2023 awardees will explore and strengthen connections between diverse communities, urban environments, and nature to imagine new forums for cultural exchange and assembly, the foundation said.

The Cleveland project

Tolentinos project in Cleveland will include include local oral history interviews, archival research, and intimate group conversations, including community movement, artmaking, and writing workshops.

Participants will be invited to share past, present, and future recollections, to illuminate the necessarily multiple approaches to advocacy, resistance, consistency, and renewal to bridge experiences amongst folks of varying generations, experiences, and backgrounds' aimed at celebrating visionary queer life, the news release said.

Baldenebro said she doesnt think people realize what a hub for queer communities Cleveland really is. We need to push the conversation forward to build community.

Given the prevalence of anti-gay and anti-trans legislation across America, Baldenebro said, The reality of this moment is incredibly urgent. Were recognizing how dire the situation is.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cuyahoga County officials havent publicly disclosed locations theyre eyeing for a new county jail, but Cleveland already seems to be mounting opposition against one of the top contenders on the countys short list of favorites: Garfield Heights.

City Councilman Kevin Conwell called on his colleagues Monday night to join him opposing moving the jail to Garfield Heights, or anywhere outside of the city of Cleveland. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer previously reported that the county was seriously considering building the jail on an undeveloped plot of land at Granger Road and Transportation Boulevard, in Garfield Heights.

Weve got to fight against this, Conwell told his colleagues during the meeting. This is our jail. It should stay here for our families.

His concerns included the potential loss of tax revenue for the city as well as the burden a move might have on families, the majority of them from Cleveland, who will have to travel farther to visit loved ones in jail. He said the residents he represents in Ward 9, covering most of Glenville and part of University Circle, tell him they oppose the move.

Its not just about taxes, Conwell said. Its about mothers and fathers that would have to go to Garfield just to see their children.

Conwell, who is married to County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, brought his concerns to County Council on Tuesday, along with Richard Starr, who represents Ward 5 covering Central Cleveland, Slavic Village and parts of downtown. During public comment, Starr urged the county to include the city in planning and identifying the future site of a new jail, preferably near downtown.

Im almost sure, if I was a betting man, that we have a location in Cleveland, Starr said.

Cleveland Council President Blaine Griffin told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Tuesday that hes also drafting a letter, with the support of the majority of council members, to send to county council opposing the move. He reiterated some of the same concerns as Conwell  the longer commute and potential loss of tax revenues, which he said is being vetted.

I believe the best proposition is for the jail to be in the county seat, which is here in the city, Griffin said.

He said the city has recommended several potential locations for the jail and supports some viable options that he said County Councilwoman Cheryl Stephens has proposed. Sources previously told cleveland.com that county council was reviewing at least one location in city limits, a brownfield on the citys east side.

That property, and potentially others, is undergoing environmental testing to determine what it might take to clean up and make safe for jail staff and inmates, after toxicity concerns killed the countys last preferred location on Transport Road.

Griffin said hes trying to build stronger relationships with the county and mentioned hes supported County Council President Pernel Jones on issues in the past. He hopes they can agree on the proper jail location, too.

I am going to work closely with him on this outcome, Griffin said.

Mayor Justin Bibb, through a city spokesman Tyler Sinclair, said hes not ready to take a position on the jail until they get more detail from the county about the potential economic impact that a move could have on the city and its residents.

The mayor supports the most humane solutions for inmates in the jail, as well as their families who visit them, Sinclair said. Were committed to being a good regional partner with the county.

The Garfield Heights property was previously identified among the countys top three picks for a jail site last year, after the property owner asked that it be considered.

The parcels that make up the Garfield Heights site total 72 acres. Officials have indicated theyre interested in carving out at least 40.4 of those acres for the jail, which would move the facility 16 minutes outside of downtown Cleveland.

The site satisfied some of the countys criteria related to site and proximity to major travel arteries in the county, I-480 and I-77, but fell short on public transportation. The area is currently served by two Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus lines and is a 45-minute ride from the nearest rail stop on East 55th Street, according to RTAs trip planner.

Its unclear how the county might address connectivity, but RTA has indicated that it will expand services to accommodate the jail.

As of last year, the proposed sale price was said to be about $22 million.

This article was updated with comment from Cleveland Councilman Richard Starr and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Legislation passed by the Ohio Senate last month to make sweeping changes to universities rules around alleged political bias or the teaching of controversial beliefs will shoulder them with new costs and lost revenues, colleges say.

The findings  aggregated by the Inter-University Council of Ohio after surveying its member colleges on an early draft of the bill  offer the first quantitative look at Senate Bill 83.

According to the schools, the original version of the bill would cost them hundreds of thousands to millions in new costs to comply. Some worried that they could also lose tens of millions in federal grants that consider applicants diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Many said they expect lawsuits under different elements of the bill.

In the case of Ohios only public historically Black college or university, the originally introduced bill could cost it a designation that is central to its identity, according to the IUC.

The version of the bill that passed the Ohio Senate included several amendments that IUC lobbyist Niki Clum said will limit some of the financial burden to universities. But given the long list of variables  like how many intellectual diversity rights complaints will be submitted or whether state officials allow certain exceptions to a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs  its hard to estimate a precise cost.

Even after the changes, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission determined the bill may cause schools administrative costs to increase significantly but it doesnt offer dollar figures. Despite the price tag, the legislation passed by the Senate doesnt provide schools money to comply.

The survey findings, obtained by public records request, were gathered to assist the LSC in estimating the cost of the bill, according to Clum.

The bill passed on a 21-10 vote last month with only Republicans in support and is now under review in the Ohio House. It bars schools from engaging in academic relationships with Chinese schools; prohibits faculty and staff strikes; and bans some mandated diversity, equity, and inclusion training, among other changes.

The full impact of the bill depends entirely on how the divisive concepts are interpreted and determined by individual students or members of the public, the IUCs analysis states.

State Sen. Jerry Cirino, a Kirtland Republican who sponsored the bill, declined an interview. In a statement sent through a spokesman, he alleged the IUCs cost estimates are inflated in general and nothing but a smokescreen for colleges general opposition to the bill. He declined to provide any cost estimate on SB83.

We also do not believe that revenues will suffer as a result of our pushing for true diversity of thought, he said. Ohio Senate spokesman John Fortney added that protecting freedom of speech and diversity is a priceless aim.

Clum denied any allegation of padding costs. She said the universities made an honest effort to analyze the bill to assist the LSC and noted that the analysis wasnt publicly shared.

Several schools including Ohio University, Miami University, and Central State University didnt respond to inquiries. Ohio State University spokesman Ben Johnson declined to comment, noting that the analysis pertains to an outdated version of the bill.

Gifts from China

One of the largest potential costs outlined in the analysis came from the potential fallout at Ohio State over a requirement in the bill that higher education institutions not have ties to China.

The bill passed by the Senate says that no state institution of higher education shall accept gifts, donations, or contributions from the Peoples Republic of China or any organization the institution reasonably suspects is acting on behalf of the Peoples Republic of China.

Looking at the original bill, which included language specifying that this could apply to a student or a students family member who may be acting on Chinas behalf, OSU estimated the language could cost the university as much as $137 million per year. OSU landed on its number by adding together student and family payments from Chinese families ($129 million); foreign gift reporting ($3.4 million); procurement of supplies from China ($3.9 million); and others.

But the IUC document states that the true cost will depend in part on what counts as a gift, donation, or contribution.

Miami University has over 1,200 endowed and expendable gift accounts created with thousands of donors. The IUC analysis found the bill would hinder their ability to solicit donations from their thousands of Chinese students and their families. It could also hinder their ability to meet the schools requirements for donations it already accepted.

The prohibition would cost the University of Cincinnati $8 million, according to the analysis, and the University of Toledo would have to sever its 36-year partnership with Yanshan University, which staffs one professor and two graduate assistants at the school.

Enforcing intellectual diversity

The bill passed by the Senate requires universities to adopt a policy that prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (with some exceptions). They must also pledge to not inculcate any political views, endorse any controversial belief or policy, impose any political and ideological litmus tests among several others.

Schools must also implement a range of disciplinary sanctions for those who interfere with these intellectual diversity rights.

To estimate what it might cost to investigate intellectual diversity violations, some schools looked to investigations under Title IX, which protects against sex-based discrimination. According to the IUC, these estimates ranged from about $15,000 to $250,000 per year, depending on the institution.

Toledo pointed out these cases could be in a classroom with 80 students that need to be interviewed, the analysis states. Investigative reports written by an investigator and reviewed by [a] director could take 40 hours or more with revisions and edits.

Some schools figure theyd need new hires to staff the office. Ohio University estimated it would pay two full time employees a total of about $188,000 per year. Shawnee State and Wright State universities pegged it at up to $250,000 per year.

Miami University said compliance will warrant new legal costs and increased expert administrative support.

Ohio States board of trustees warned some of the reporting, evaluation and mandates under the bill will embroil universities in administrative bloat and litigation expense.

Lawsuits?

Ohio State said it could be exposed to lawsuits based on a requirement under the bill that it change its policies to disavow notions such as an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex.

Lawsuits brought against Ohio State are anticipated to relate to academic freedom, equal treatment in employment, free speech, and federal contracting, the analysis states.

Miami University warned that defending its actions from sanctions it imposes have the potential to significantly raise legal costs.

Further, defending actions resulting from imposed sanctions have the potential to increase legal costs significantly as well, the IUC analysis states.

Central State University projects costs to defend itself in lawsuits under the bill will be excessive.

Grants in jeopardy

Ohio State warned that the original version of the bill could jeopardize its ability to keep old grants or secure new ones. For instance, it has at least five multi-year federal grants, all of which require DEI training elements, that provide more than $13 million in annual income.

The university also said it risks disbarment as a federal contractor under the bill if it does not comply with affirmative action and equal employment obligations.

Funding potentially at risk would include federal student financial aid and loans, $379 million, federal research grants, $581 million, and federal healthcare financing through Medicare/Medicaid of more than $1 billion, the analysis states.

Johnson, from Ohio State, did not directly answer whether the most recent draft of the bill eased this concern. However, he cited an earlier statement from university trustees warning that the bill introduces obstacles to applying for and securing highly competitive research awards and put the state at a competitive disadvantage.

According to the IUC, federal grant applications commonly require descriptions for how a grantee will advance diversity, equity and inclusions. This is included on applicants scores. Lower scores, per the organization, could cut into the $1 billion in federal grants Ohio schools receive each year.

The version of the bill as passed by the Senate would allow the Chancellor of Higher Education to allow certain DEI programs to either comply with federal laws, secure grants, obtain accreditation or comply with licensing requirements. As Clum noted, its hard to speculate what the chancellor might do with such requests.

U.S. history class

Under the bill, all college students must complete a three-credit hour class on American history or government that includes readings of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, five of the federalist papers, or other foundational documents.

While many institutions require six credit hours in social sciences and offer similar classes, each university would need to design a new course to comply with SB83, according to the IUC.

Creating the classes means expenses, and schools would need to rearrange credit requirements for existing programs to fit in the newly required classes. Of 13 schools that provided data, creating the course would cost an average of $1.2 million for about 4,100 students per average freshman class. Broken down by school, this would cost:

 Ohio State University $9 million

 Miami University $1.4 million

 University of Cincinnati $1.1 million

 Cleveland State University $920,000

However, a committee amendment allows schools to let students who have passed a similar class to skip out on the new requirement if they pass an evaluation created by the school. This could reduce some of these costs.

Putting syllabi online and other mandatory reporting

The bill requires a handful of reports the schools say would add to their administrative costs.

According to the IUC, posting syllabi on schools websites would cost schools about $160,000 on average per year in labor and software. However, this estimate predates an amendment that would allow professors to instead post syllabi on their own personal websites.

The bill also requires schools to file annual diversity rights violation reports and prohibited concept sanction reports. Each would cost schools an average of about $120,000 to produce, according to the IUC. The estimate ranges from about $10,000 for Shawnee State to $1 million for Ohio State (which employs more than 7,000 professors).

Others

SB83 prohibits treating students differently based on demographics or identity. This, per the IUC, could undermine support programs for first-generation, rural, international, foster-care and other students.

According to Central State University the bill could literally change its designation as a Historically Black College and University, which from a marketing and recruitment perspective would be devastating for the university. The university didnt respond to an inquiry.

Cleveland State offers a Pathways to Practice program to provide opportunities in medicine to underrepresented students based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors or others that could be impacted by the bill.

Jake Zuckerman covers state policy and politics for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Rotunda Rumblings

War of words: State lawyers acknowledged Friday that the Ohio Ballot Board made an error in how it wrote ballot language summarizing State Issue 1, the proposal to make it harder to change the state constitution. But as Andrew Tobias writes, they contend the error was immaterial, and the Ohio Supreme Court shouldnt order them to rewrite it. The development was contained in the states response to a lawsuit from an anti-Issue 1 group that challenges the ballot language as biased, incomplete and inaccurate. Overall, state lawyers representing Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose say the language accurately and neutrally describes what the proposal would do.

Gas pedal: Oil and gas companies formally requested legal rights to drill underneath one state park and two wildlife areas, Jake Zuckerman reports. This opens up a public comment period and marks some of the industrys first tangible steps to snatching the ore underneath thousands of acres of undeveloped public lands.

Steeling jobs: Both of Ohios U.S. Senators are asking the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider proposed standards for electrical transformer production that would eliminate the market for grain oriented electrical steel produced by Cleveland-Cliffs, risking 1,500 jobs at the companys Zanesville Works and Butler Works plants, Sabrina Eaton reports. In December, Granholm proposed new energy-efficiency standards for the transformers that would require the use of amorphous steel in almost all new transformers starting in 2027 because those transformers are more energy efficient than those made of the grain oriented electrical steel that Cleveland Cliff produces.

The interview: U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, is seeking a transcribed interview with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement official who oversees deportations. Along with a California congressman who chairs its immigration subcommittee, Jordan sent a Monday interview request letter to its deputy executive associate director in charge of removal operations that questions why ICEs removal of illegal aliens has fallen dramatically from 2020 levels.

Strange brew: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a settlement with Anheuser-Busch that will require it to pay $537,000 in penalties and implement a comprehensive safety review of its 11 breweries in Ohio and other states that use anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant. The substance must be handled with care because it is corrosive to skin, eyes and lungs. It said a 2018 ammonia release at the companys facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, injured two employees.

College kids: With the Senates budget set for an unveiling Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday emphasized the need to fund scholarship opportunities in Ohio, The Columbus Dispatchs Arianna Smith reports. DeWine said the state economy needs more skilled workers to attract business.

Exit strategy: Ohio was one of several Republican states to bail on a national partnership to sniff out voter fraud by sharing data. NPR points out in a wide-ranging look at the Electronic Registration Information Center that a common thread connecting the public officials who made those decisions, including Secretary of State Frank LaRose, was desire for higher office. LaRose is eyeing a 2024 run for U.S. Senate and told NPR that he was not influenced by misinformation in deciding to pull out of the partnership.

Lobbying Lineup

A look at whos registered to lobby on Senate Bill 53, which would lower the minimum age for police officers in Ohio from 21 to 18.

Police: The Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Patrolmens Benevolent Association Cities: Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio Municipal League State: Department of Public Safety, the Governors Office Cannabis Safety First, LLC Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund

On the Move

Emily Moreno Miller, Philip Williamson, and Sheila Willamowski Boehner have joined the board of directors for Ohio Right to Life.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a Champaign County Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, headlined a Taste of East Texas fundraiser over the weekend for U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a Republican on his committee, KLTV reported.

Taylor Popielarz, Spectrum News Washington, D.C. correspondent who has focused on Ohio, announced he has accepted a new job as national political reporter at Spectrum News.

Birthdays

Ex-House Speaker Larry Householder

State Rep. Dan Troy

Straight From The Source

There are two schools of thought within the GOP on Blackrock. The old guard thinks theyre creating value and need to be rewarded with tax cuts. I think theyre destroying value and are engaged in illegal and immoral conduct. They need to be dealt with accordingly.

- A Twitter statement from U.S. Sen. JD Vance in response to reports that the BlackRock investment management firm discriminates against white men.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  An Ohio Senate committee passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday that creates a new criminal charge of using a device or app to track a person without their consent.

The bill comes in response to the advent of devices like Apple AirTags  coin-sized gizmos that can be attached to car keys or luggage to find if theyre ever lost. Similar cell phone apps can allow one person to track another. In the wrong hands, either offers a fairly user-friendly means of discreetly tracking someone elses whereabouts.

Sponsoring Sens. Nathan Manning, a North Ridgeville Republican, and Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, said they drew inspiration for the bill from reporting from WKYC about an Akron woman who had been unknowingly tracked for 24 hours by an AirTag she believes a disgruntled boyfriend stuck to her car.

Violators could be charged with a new first-degree misdemeanor offense (up to 180 days incarceration) of the illegal use of a device or application. Under certain circumstances, like a prior conviction of menacing by stalking, the charge can escalate to a fourth-degree felony (6- to 18 months).

Currently, surreptitiously tracking someone with a device like an AirTag may not explicitly or unambiguously violate current law, according to the Legislative Service Commission.

According to the Ohio Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, a federal survey of stalking victims indicates use of this technology-enabled stalking is on the rise.

However, tracking a person in this way is not, on its own, a criminal offense, said executive director Lou Tobin in written testimony.

The bill allows exceptions to the new rules for some law enforcement activity; parents or guardians tracking their children; caregivers tracking an elderly or disabled person they tend to; a non-private investigator acting in good faith on behalf of a legitimate business purpose; and private investigators on certain cases.

At least 26 states and Washington D.C. have addressed privacy concerns raised when individuals track the movements of others without their knowledge, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The bill drew support in committee from organizations representing domestic violence survivors, the Ohio Attorney Generals office, and Karmell Triplett, the Akron woman who found the AirTag on her car.

No one opposed the bill in committee. Apple, which makes the devices, registered to lobby on the bill. The company didnt immediately respond to an inquiry.

The bill still would need to be voted on by the full Senate chamber, make its way through the Ohio House and get the governors signature before becoming law.

Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
CNBC's Jim Cramer told investors on Monday to trim their tech stock and enjoy some of the fruits of their labor while they still can.

"Unless you're terminally greedy or totally brain-dead, you take some profits while you have them," Cramer said. "This is not the time to double down, it's the time to ring the register on some of your gains."

But make no mistake: Cramer believes his "Magnificent Seven," or the seven tech stocks that have dominated the market this year, Apple , Meta , Tesla , Nvidia , Alphabet , Amazon and Nvidia , will continue to be successful. All seven have managed to soar this year due to the merits of their own products instead of macro elements like decisions made by the government or the Federal Reserve, he said.

For example, he predicts even greater success for Apple as it grows its geographic reach, potentially expanding its core user base from 2 billion to 3 billion with new sales in Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia and India. And according to Cramer, the success Nvidia has found with generative artificial intelligence is far from over.

But even though it's been a strong month and we are still in a bull market, Cramer said he sees the market heading for weakness in June after the Federal Reserve's meeting next week. And he thinks it's best to get in on the profits now.

"Then the bears  many of them uber-rich hedge fund managers who missed this move entirely, as well as endlessly bearish analysts with a lot of followers  will come on air and bloviate about how you won't make any money in stocks," Cramer said. "Rather than wait for the cyclical weakness coming up, I'd lighten up ahead of time."
A bird flies over a logo of Air India airlines at the corporate headquarters in Mumbai, India, October 19, 2021.

Air India sent an aircraft on Wednesday to pick up passengers whose Delhi to San Francisco flight was diverted to Russia's Far East after their Boeing 777 plane developed engine trouble, India's aviation minister said.

The 216 passengers and 16 crew on board Tuesday's flight had been moved to makeshift accommodation, given infrastructure limitations at the remote Magadan airport, the airline said in a statement.

The diversion raised questions over how quickly the $200 million U.S.-built plane, whose engines are made by General Electric , could be repaired amid U.S. and European Union sanctions on exports of aviation items to Russia.

"That plane needs to be repaired, mechanics are going on board," India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, told reporters, referring to the flight going out to pick up the stranded passengers.

"I don't know how long it will take to repair that aircraft but passengers will be taken to their ultimate destination."

A source at the Magadan airport told Reuters that Air India engineers would arrive on the reserve plane with spare parts.

A stranded passenger named Gagan told Indian broadcaster NDTV there were many U.S. citizens on the flight who were worried, given the tension between Russia and the United States.

"There are a lot a nervous people here," the passenger said.

Air India did not immediately respond to a request for information on the passengers' nationalities.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel had said on Tuesday it was "likely" there were Americans onboard given the flight's destination.

Angry passengers took to Twitter to complain about inadequate supply of food at their accommodation, which they said looked like a school.

One user said his mother had been given tea, bread and some rice on Tuesday but there was later no contact as she wanted to save her phone battery as there was only one power outlet.

Air India said as it did not have any staff in Russia and the support being provided to the passengers was "the best possible in this unusual circumstance".

"The ferry flight would be carrying food and other essentials for our passengers," the airline said.

"All of us at Air India are ... making every effort possible to operate the ferry flight as soon as possible, and to ensure the health, safety, and security of all while they wait."
Apple launched its Vision Pro headset at its annual WWDC event on Monday, ending months of speculation that the Cupertino tech giant was getting ready to launch its own VR or augmented reality product.

Apple 's mixed reality headset debut marks a "watershed moment" for the industry, said the executives of some major players in the augmented and virtual reality space as they welcomed competition for the U.S. tech giant.

Apple launched its Vision Pro headset at its annual WWDC event Monday, ending months of speculation that the Cupertino, California, tech giant was getting ready to launch its own VR or augmented reality product.

Cher Wang, CEO of Taiwanese tech giant HTC, told CNBC that she sees Apple's move as a validation for the industry. HTC has long been a mainstay of the virtual and augmented industry, pivoting from its ailing smartphone business several years ago to focus on its Vive headsets division.

"Apple's entry into the market is a watershed moment for the industry, and a big validation of everything HTC VIVE has been working on," she told CNBC. "This will bring even more confidence in the global market for VR."

However, she added that the "closed" nature of Apple's services ecosystem  which is more restrictive when it comes to the platforms and devices through which users access its services  is problematic.

"Apple has historically used a closed ecosystem for their iOS products and content distribution platforms, which could be limiting for developers in a new value chain. If developers are locked into one ecosystem, it's difficult for them to maximize their reach."

Apple says the Vision Pro will allow users to see apps in a new way in the spaces around them. Users can use their eyes and hands to navigate through apps and search with their voices.

With the headset, users can watch movies, including in 3D with spatial audio, view their own pictures or videos, and play video games. It can also be used for work through videoconferencing apps such as Microsoft Office tools and Adobe Lightroom.

Vision Pro will run on visionOS, a new spatial computing platform designed specifically for the company's new headset to enable developers to build apps like they would for iOS on the iPhone. It will be available starting at $3,499 beginning early next year.
Tech giant Nvidia has been the darling of Wall Street this year due to a relentless rally in its stock driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence. The Silicon Valley-headquartered firm designs and sells graphics processing unit chips that are used in data centers and go on to power AI applications. Interest in AI has surged over recent months, arguably off the back of the viral nature of OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, Ark Invest's flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) exited its position in Nvidia entirely in early January before the chipmaker enjoyed a powerful rally that propelled it to a $1 trillion market capitalization. NVDA 1Y line Cathie Wood, known for her investments in next-generation technologies, was an early believer in Nvidia's potential, owning shares when they were worth just $5, having identified the company's capacity for deep learning. "We've watched this name grow from when it was just a video gaming company that people didn't understand. We saw this potential for deep learning and enjoyed a lot of that ride," said Frank Downing, a research director at Ark Invest. However, despite its impressive ascent to a $400 price per share, Ark decided to sell. Downing explained that this was a reaction to Nvidia's inflated valuation, especially compared to other names in the software category. "What we've seen is the valuation get very rich, especially compared to some of the other names, especially in the software category," Downing told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Friday. "So, we've sold out of our position and are looking for those next names that are maybe a $10 billion market cap now like Nvidia was back in 2014 that are going to be the next trillion-dollar company." But Downing did not disregard Nvidia's significant contribution to the hardware market. "They really are the primary provider of the hardware that's delivering these large language models today." He also pointed out that ARKK's sister funds, ARK Next Generation Internet ETF and ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF , hold significant positions in Nvidia since they have different mandates to the flagship fund. This recognition, however, did not eclipse Ark's awareness of the emerging competition. The growth of the industry and the urgent need for powerful AI hardware has led to an increase in the number of companies entering the market. Google , for instance, has developed its in-house chip, the Tensor Processing Unit, specifically designed for training large language models. Likewise, Amazon has launched its "Inferentia" AI chip under its AWS division which attempts to undercut Nvidia on pricing. Other companies, including AMD , are also stepping into the competition. Known for unseating Intel as a multi-decade leader in CPUs, AMD is attempting to cut into the AI chip market by launching its new "Instinct" GPUs. "They're still a ways behind Nvidia and their product development, but we think it will get there eventually in the long term time horizon that we look over," Downing said of AMD. Ark Invest hasn't been alone in trimming an Nvidia stake. Aswath Damodaran, a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, cut his Nvidia holdings by half after the recent surge in share prices. "The run up has been just so astonishing that I cannot in good conscience hold on to it and call myself a value investor," the finance professor at NYU's Stern School of Business told CNBC's " The Exchange " on Thursday. However, despite exiting a portion of their Nvidia positions, both Ark Invest and Damodaran maintain a favorable outlook for the company.
Cryptocurrency prices rose Tuesday after the Securities and Exchange Commission sued crypto services provider Coinbase.

Bitcoin climbed 6.3% to $27,155.16, according to Coin Metrics, recovering its losses from the previous day after the SEC sued Binance. Earlier, it fell as low as $25,368.57, its lowest level since March. Ether gained nearly 5% to trade at $1,896.19.

On Tuesday, the SEC filed a lawsuit in New York federal court alleging that Coinbase has been acting as an unregistered broker and exchange. The agency demanded that the company be "permanently restrained and enjoined" from continuing to do so.

"If there's a real value in these crypto tokens then compliance will build trust and the business model might change," SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in an interview Tuesday with CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "What we're doing at the SEC is pro-innovation because the capital markets really don't work."

"There's a lot of work here for the crypto field but we stand ready to work to get them into compliance," he added.
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said he expects technology  including artificial intelligence  to disrupt the labor market, but it won't eliminate jobs completely.

In fact, technology can make humans more productive and create more jobs, he said at the Asia Tech x Singapore summit on Tuesday.

"I do not believe we will end up with a jobless future, a dystopian jobless future where machines take over humans for everything and humans become upset because technology can replace some tasks," said Wong.

The summit gathers government officials, executives from global companies and consumers over four days to discuss the role of technology in the future.

Wong, who is also the city-state's finance minister, said what will change is "the nature of jobs in blue and white-collar occupations" and warned that the "pace of change will accelerate, the scale of disruptions will increase with time."

He added: "It can also make us more productive in performing other tasks. And by doing so, it will create new tasks and new jobs."
U.S. Republican presidential candidate and New Jersey governor Chris Christie speaks during the Heritage Action for America presidential candidate forum in Greenville, South Carolina on September 18, 2015.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced he is running for president, injecting a dose of anti-Trump criticism into a Republican primary field that has largely been reluctant to cross its leading candidate.

Speaking without a script at a town hall event in Manchester, New Hampshire, Christie called out the former president by name as he spoke at length about what he saw as a crisis of leadership at a critical moment in American history.

"A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader," Christie said.

"The person I am talking about who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault," Christie then clarified, "is Donald Trump."

Christie also appeared to acknowledge that he is considered a long shot in the Republican primary, where Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are the clear front-runners.

"I'll say to you tonight that I can't guarantee you success in what I'm about to do. But I guarantee you that by the end of it you'll have no doubt in your mind who I am and what I stand for and whether I deserve it," Christie said.

"I intend to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2024, and I want your support," he said.

Christie, 60, announced his campaign in the same state where his last presidential bid had come undone.

Christie placed sixth in that state's 2016 primary and dropped out of the race shortly thereafter. In a surprising move, Christie endorsed then-candidate Donald Trump just days later. He went on to help prep Trump for his debate against now-President Joe Biden in the 2020 contest.

But his support for Trump dried up soon after, as the former president, following his loss to Biden, fed his supporters a firehose of conspiracy theories and false claims of widespread voter fraud while pushing to overturn his defeat.

Like many Republicans, Christie criticized Trump after a violent mob of the then-president's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, derailing the peaceful transfer of power to Biden. But while much of the GOP establishment softened its stance on Trump in the ensuing months, Christie kept up his criticism.

"I think he's a coward and I think he's a puppet of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," Christie said last month in response to Trump's comments about the Ukraine war during a CNN town hall.

Christie, whose aggressive takedown of Sen. Marco Rubio in a 2016 Republican debate was a highlight of his campaign, has stressed the need for Trump's current challengers to forcefully confront him on the debate stage.

"You better have somebody on that stage who will do to him what I did to Marco, because that's the only thing that's going to defeat Donald Trump," Christie said in March.

"It's not going to end nicely no matter what," the former governor said of Trump. "His end will not be a calm and quiet conclusion."

Christie has suggested in recent months that he wouldn't run unless he sees a feasible path to victory. To many political watchers, that path remains unclear.

Polls of the prospective primary race show Christie garnering little support from Republican voters. A recent Monmouth University survey found Christie was the only declared or potential GOP candidate to receive a net negative favorability rating, 21% to 47%, from Republican voters.

Christie's announcement comes less than two weeks after DeSantis officially joined the Republican primary race, becoming the top non-Trump contender. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott entered the primary that same week. Former Vice President Mike Pence joined the fray on Wednesday.

Allies of the former New Jersey governor recently launched a super PAC, Tell It Like It Is, to support his run for president.

Christie was elected governor of the historically blue state in 2009 and served for two terms, the maximum allowed under term limit rules.
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Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Tuesday's key moments. Stocks climb MS is a buy Disney+ partners with Apple 1. Stocks climb Equities edged up Tuesday morning following a small selloff Monday, with bank stocks and Big Tech showing strength. But the market still remains largely range-bound ahead the Federal Reserve's meeting next week, with investors closely watching whether the central bank will pause its interest-rate hikes in a likely catalyst for stocks. Treasury yields rose slightly, while oil prices retreated. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs lowered its odds of a U.S. recession in the next 12 months to 25%, from 35%, following Washington's debt-ceiling agreement last week and the stabilization in regional banks. 2. Morgan Stanley is a buy The stock market has misjudged Morgan Stanley (MS) amid the recent turmoil in the banking sector. The firm, which has spent years bolstering its wealth-and-asset-management business, "has the best model, and it is being treated very subpar," Jim Cramer said Tuesday, alluding to the stock's more-than-13% decline over the past three months. "I think members should be buying this stock, and buying it aggressively," he added. That's a view we alluded to in a commentary Monday, writing that we'd be more apt to view the latest rumblings about a possible boost to bank capital requirements through a buyer's lens when it comes Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo (WFC), our other Club financial stock. 3. Disney+ partners with Apple Jim said Club holding Walt Disney 's (DIS) decision to bring its flagship streaming service Disney+ to Apple 's (AAPL) Vision Pro headset is not a reason to buy Disney stock here. However, he suggested the partnership might be a reason for investors to stop selling Disney shares, which have fallen roughly 11% over the past month. "I was surprised to see [Disney CEO] Bob Iger at the Apple presentation because [he] has done a poor job. They've not been able to figure out how to get their costs down...maybe this is a sign of life for Disney," Jim said. Meanwhile, here's our take on Club holding Apple's new product launch. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long MS, WFC, DIS, AAPL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
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Debt ceiling deal changes SNAP work requirements

SNAP already has work requirements for most adults ages 18 through 49 who do not have children. Those beneficiaries may only qualify for benefits for three months in a three-year period unless they meet certain eligibility requirements. That includes being able to show they are either working or participating in job training for 20 hours per week. They may otherwise still qualify if they fall under an exemption category, such as if they are pregnant, disabled or have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from working.

You're not going to balance the budget, much less pay down the debt, through these kinds of changes. Ed Bolen director of SNAP state strategies at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

The new legislation raises the ages those requirements apply to to include childless workers ages 50 to 54. The law would gradually phase in those workers by age, starting with those age 50 from 90 days after the law is enacted and eventually expanding to include 53- and 54-year-olds in 2024. The requirements would be effective through Oct. 1, 2030. The legislation also adds new categories of workers who are exempt from the work reporting requirements, including those who are homeless, veterans or those who were in the foster care system.

Cuts may create 'a quiet struggle'

The changes will cut spending on SNAP, including how many people qualify for assistance. In a Sunday interview with Fox News, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., touted the new work requirements as a win for welfare reform in the debt ceiling deal. "We got it in welfare that puts people back to work, the core of what we looked for," McCarthy said. But some experts are concerned about the effects the moves may have on families in need. Ed Bolen, director of SNAP state strategies at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said it is "upsetting" to see the changes included in the debt ceiling legislation. "You're not going to balance the budget, much less pay down the debt, through these kinds of changes," Bolen said. "On the other hand, you're going to affect up to 750,000 low-income older Americans who need food assistance."

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States, food banks and charitable organizations may step in to try to make up for the reduced access to SNAP benefits. However, they will not be able to entirely fill the void, said Ellen Vollinger, SNAP director at the Food Research and Action Center. For every one meal food banks provide, SNAP provides nine times that assistance, she said. "It's not as if the problem goes away," Vollinger said. However, much of the shortfall may not be obvious. "A lot of that is going to be a quiet struggle that's going to play out in kitchens around the country," Vollinger added.

Drop in SNAP benefits may hurt in other ways

The new requirements also introduce other challenges, experts note. SNAP is meant to help provide support to people who may be struggling to find work, Bolen noted. Expanded work requirements may make it tougher for older workers to find support at the same time they may encounter discrimination when trying to reenter the work force, he said. Moreover, it may also be difficult for beneficiaries to prove they fall under the new exemption categories, particularly for those who are homeless, he said.
European stocks closed higher Tuesday, with global markets lacking clear direction ahead of the new round of central bank interest rate decisions.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index bounced either side of the flatline in morning trade and closed 0.4% higher, clawing back most of Monday's losses.

Sectors traded across positive and negative territory, with gains led by a 1.2% uptick in healthcare stocks. Oil and gas stocks were down 0.3% as global growth concerns counteracted the weekend's announcement of Saudi output cuts.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Monday there were "signs of moderation" in core inflation in the euro zone, but emphasized that it was too early to call a peak. The latest data showed inflation easing more than expected for May to 6.1%, but that figure remains well above the 2% target.

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday, while U.S. stocks were slightly higher.
Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., speaks to reporters after a vote to send a resolution to the Ethics panel in an attempt to expel him from the House, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Washington, DC.

The identities of the three people who guaranteed Rep. George Santos' $500,000 bond in his criminal fraud case must be revealed, a federal magistrate judge ordered Tuesday.

But Santos, the embattled freshman Republican lawmaker from New York who was charged last month with an array of financial crimes, has until noon on Friday to appeal the decision, Magistrate Judge Anne Shields ordered.

Santos, 34, has pleaded not guilty to charges of defrauding his campaign supporters, lying to obtain unemployment money and making false statements on his congressional disclosure forms.

He has vowed not to resign, even as a growing chorus of his own Republican colleagues have urged him to step down. Those calls began even before Santos took office in January, after The New York Times published a bombshell report questioning key details of the biography that Santos had presented on the campaign trail.

Santos admitted lying about his professional background and education, but he has denied other wrongdoing and pushed back on subsequent damning reporting about his business activities.

Santos' lawyer, Joseph Murray, had asked the court Monday to deny requests from multiple news outlets to unseal the names of the bond guarantors, arguing there were fears over their "health, safety and well being."

"My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come," Murray wrote in a court filing.

Murray did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the latest court order.

The judge's decision was filed under seal in order to allow Santos to file his appeal.
Yields for preferred stocks are at their highest level in more than a decade, and investors can use exchange-traded funds to capture that income as well as any potential upside, according to Bank of America. Preferred stocks are a type of security that is above common stock in a company's capital structure and often pay higher dividend yields. Jared Woodard, investment and ETF strategist at Bank of America, said in a note to clients on Tuesday that investors searching for yield may have a hard time finding a better deal that preferreds. "Preferred stock yields are hovering around 7% for the first time since 2010 ... Current yields are in the 82nd percentile, offering good entry points for investors looking to harvest quality yield. Preferred ETFs offer the most attractive yield relative to bond ETFs in our coverage," the note said. Bank of America gave buy-equivalent ratings to three funds in this category: the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) , the Global X U.S. Preferred ETF (PFFD) and the VanEck Preferred ex-Financials ETF (PFXF) . Those funds have an average yield of 6.7%, according to Bank of America. Of the three, Global X's PFFD has the lowest expense ratio at 0.23%, and VanEck's PFXF has performed the best this year with a total return of about 6.7%, according to FactSet. That is in part because the Van Eck fund excludes preferreds from financial companies, which came under pressure after a string of regional bank failures earlier this year. However, history shows that those securities can rebound, according to Bank of America. "During the 2008/9 great financial crisis (GFC), high exposure to financials weighed heavily on preferred stock returns, as it has done today. After 2009, preferreds outperformed bonds by 8%/year ... and matched the risk-adjusted returns of equities ... We anticipate upside potential analogous to history," Woodard wrote.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Most Americans are saving at least some of their money. About 89% of adults put cash away on a regular basis, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet. But not a lot of that money is making it into accounts designed for long-term goals. In fact, 6 in 10 Americans don't have a retirement-specific account, per the survey. That number is even higher for millennial (66%) and Gen Z (73%) savers. If you're among the cohort lacking a retirement account, just about every financial planner would tell you to get started as soon as possible. The sooner your start saving for retirement, the more time compounding interest has to work its magic on your portfolio. But where to start? There are plenty of different ways to invest out there, including workplace retirement accounts, individual retirement accounts, accounts designed for medical expenses and regular old brokerage accounts. If you have money you're aiming to put away for retirement, the "order of operations" in terms of where you invest depends on your specific goals and needs. Still, there are some general guidelines that financial pros typically prescribe when it comes to where you park your retirement savings. Read on to find out where they say to put your money first.

Priority 1: Emergency savings

OK, it's not actually a retirement account. But you need to make sure you have your bases covered before you start investing, financial pros say. That's because you don't want to be dipping into your retirement funds (which triggers a penalty in some cases) or going into debt when an unexpected expense crops up. Most financial planners suggest saving three to six months' worth of expenses in a high-yield savings account, but you don't necessarily need to have all of that before you start investing. (For more on the best high-yield savings accounts, check out this list from CNBC Select.) "First, you need to make sure you have $1,000 in the bank in case of emergency," says Christopher Lyman, a certified financial planner with Allied Financial Advisors in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Then you can start investing while simultaneously building your emergency savings.

Priority 2: Get your 'free money' with a workplace account

If your employer matches up to a certain percentage that you contribute to a workplace retirement account, such as a 401(k), investing enough to get that contribution should be your top priority, financial pros say. "It truly is free money," says Kevin Brady, a CFP and vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in New York City. Whether you select a traditional 401(k) or Roth version (offered by about 9 in 10 employers), you're getting a tax break on your retirement savings. Contributions to traditional accounts lower your taxable income in the year you make them. In exchange for this upfront tax break, you'll owe income tax when you withdraw the money in retirement. Roth accounts work the opposite way. You fund these accounts with money you've paid taxes on. But once you're 59 and have held the account for at least five years, you can withdraw your contributions and earnings tax-free. Which type of account is right for you depends on your tax situation as well as personal preference. Generally, Roth contributions are thought to benefit early-career workers. If you earn a lower salary, the thinking goes, it's worth it to pay the tax upfront while you're in a lower tax bracket and withdraw tax-free in retirement when you're (hopefully) bringing in more.

Priority 3: Get triple tax savings with an HSA

Not every retirement saver can invest using a health savings account. These savings vehicles are only available to those enrolled in high-deductible health plans, a type of insurance with a deductible (the amount you must pay out of pocket before the insurer begins covering costs) of at least $1,500 for self-only coverage and $3,000 for family coverage. If you're eligible, consider stashing as much cash as you can in an HSA, which comes with a unique triple tax advantage. Like a traditional 401(k), money you contribute to an HSA counts against your taxable income. Any investments you make in the account grow tax-free, and once you withdraw the money, provided you put it toward a qualified medical expense, you won't pay tax on it then either. This strategy requires some planning and discipline. Namely, that you'll have to pay for medical expenses out-of-pocket in order to let your HSA contributions accumulate and grow over time. In 2023, you can contribute up to $3,850 for an individual and $7,750 for a family to an HSA, plus an extra $1,000 if you're over 55.

Priority 4: Build your 401(k) or IRA

Once you've gotten your employer match and funded your HSA, if you have one, investing pros say you'd generally be wise to turn back to your 401(k). "A 401(k) is the best place to save tax-efficiently, because you can save the most  up to $30,000 annually for those with a catch-up," says Amy Miller, a CFP and senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in West Hartford, Connecticut. The 401(k) contribution limit for 2023 is $22,500, plus an extra $7,500 for savers age 50 or older, bringing the grand total to $30,000. For some investors, though, a 401(k) may not be the best option. Maybe your plan offers a menu of high-priced, poorly performing mutual funds, charges sky-high management fees or you want a Roth option, and your employer only has a traditional 401(k). In that case, consider investing in an individual retirement account. Like 401(k)s, IRAs come in traditional and Roth varieties that carry the same tax advantages. Unlike a 401(k), though, you open an IRA account yourself through an online brokerage and use it to buy any type of investment, including stocks, bonds and financial planners' investment of choice: low-cost mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. In 2023, you can contribute up to $6,500 to an IRA, or $7,500 if you're 50 or older. The amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA begins to phase out if you earn more than $138,000 as a single filer or $218,000 a married couple filing jointly.

Priority 5: Stash the rest in a taxable brokerage account
Kevin Costner is putting his money where his mouth is.

The 68-year-old actor revealed in a recent Deadline interview that he took a mortgage out on one of his California properties to partially fund his latest project "Horizon: An American Saga"the first of four films set in the pre-and-post Civil War expansion of the American West.

Costner's mortgage on a property he already owns meant taking out a loan against the value of the land and giving the right to his lender to take it if he fails to repay the money with interest.

The property is a sprawling 10-acre plot of undeveloped coastline Costner purchased in 2006 for $28.5 million with plans to build his last family home.

"I did it without a thought. It has thrown my accountant into a f*cking conniption fit. But it's my life, and I believe in the idea and the story," he told Deadline.

Costner has been working on variations of "Horizon" on and off since 1988 but couldn't find "anybody to make it" with him and agree to finance the $100-million plus production.

"At the end of the day, I'm a storyteller, and I went ahead and put my own money into it," he said about why he decided to take out a mortgage. "I'm not a very good businessman, so, scratch your head, if you will. I don't know why, but I have not let go of this one."
As the market reassesses the value of office properties, investors have been steering clear of many commercial real estate stocks. But there are some healthier spots that could be worth a second look. Greg Kuhl, a portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, said he likes the outlook for Alexandria Real Estate Equities , a pure-play owner of life sciences centers. Even though its stock has been under pressure, Kuhl expects the accelerating pace of health care innovation to stoke demand for laboratory space in years to come. According to Kuhl, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been working to speed up the drug approval process, and this has helped drive research and development investment. "We are told that 2023 is on track to be equal to, or maybe the best year ever, in terms of new medicines being approved," Kuhl said, "so that's a positive from the innovation perspective and the speed of innovation." An aging population also will have more medical needs, which will need to be served, he said. The market dynamics Alexandria Real Estate Equities enjoys very high occupancy levels of about 95%, and Kuhl anticipates many of the leases in its portfolio are priced about 20% below market rates. That will provide the company with upside potential as leases mature and renew. The dynamic also provides investors with some cushion should market rental rates come down a bit, Kuhl said, adding there haven't been any signs of that being the case yet. ARE YTD mountain Alexandria recently hit a 52-week low of $110.64. Still, there is a risk rents could be under pressure as new supply comes online in the industry. Strong demand over the last five to seven years inspired developers to build new centers, he said. Some are being built from the ground up, but others were traditional office spaces being converted into life sciences centers. Kuhl said the conversions usually aren't as desirable as spaces first developed as labs. "There are some characteristics that are hard to replicate for a real R & D life science user that you can't really do in a conversion," he said. Research facilities typically require a lot of specialized equipment, including ventilation systems and electric, and floors often are built to carry heavier loads, he explained. "But once they are up and running, the ongoing maintenance expense and the expense of re-tenanting, we think, is lower than traditional office," he said, which makes for a much more profitable business. Typically, when office tenants move out of a building, landlords are asked to reconfigure the space to suit the needs of the new tenant. "That happens every time an office turns over," he said. But lab space is a little different, he continued, saying it's "much more fungible" and the specialized needs tend to be handled by the tenants. While Alexandria Real Estate Equities has been an active developer, many of its projects already have tenants in place, according to Kuhl. Biotech funding cliff In recent research notes, Mizuho analyst Vikram Malhotra said the stocks of both Alexandria Real Estate Equities and its competitor Healthpeak have been hurt by concerns biotech companies, especially those that went public in 2020 and 2021, will be hitting a funding cliff in the coming months, which will lead to companies either going bankrupt or needing to be acquired. Either outcome could knock the demand for lab space and prove difficult for landlords. In April, Mizuho did an analysis of both companies' tenant rosters to see what kind of cash runway the companies have. Following that work, Malhotra set buy ratings on both stocks, saying any credit risks in the space are "manageable." PEAK YTD mountain Healthpeak share are trading near the lower end of its 52-week range. According to his research, about 84% of Alexandria Real Estate Equities' square footage is leased by public health care companies that have more than eight quarters of funding in hand, while 3% is leased to those that have less than four quarters of funds. For Healthpeak, 72% of its square footage is leased to tenants that are public health care companies with more than eight quarters of funding and only 6% of its space is leased to ones with less than four quarters of funds, he said. Malhotra said he sees lab REITs as a "lower-beta way to play the volatile Life Sciences environment." His $145 price target on Alexandria Real Estate Equities implies 25% upside from Monday's close. However, the average analyst price target is even higher, $164, according to FactSet. Alexandria Real Estate Equities' shares are down 19% so far this year, underperforming both the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) and the S & P 500 , which have lost 1.7% and gained about 12% year to date, respectively. As for Healthpeak, Malhotra has a $25 price target, which is 22% above where the stock closed Monday. Healthpeak's shares are down about 16% year to date. Other stocks with exposure to the sector include Ventas , Boston Properties and Kilroy Realty . But each of these companies are more broadly diversified and have exposure to other types of commercial real estate. Kilroy, for example, had been focused on properties in the tech hubs, but it now has a growing life sciences portfolio. As for Kuhl, in the short term, he said it will be difficult for Alexandria Real Estate Equities to find a catalyst to move its stock. However, over time, he expects the story to be proven out. "We do think on a longer-term basis, this is deeply discounted, but it's going to take time to prove to the market," he said.
Portugal is the latest country to experiment with a four-day workweek, and businesses are getting an assist from the government.

For the next six months, 39 private-sector businesses in the country will participate in a "government-funded" pilot program in partnership with 4 Day Week Global, the nonprofit behind several prominent four-day workweek experiments around the world, according to a release from the group.

Employers have agreed to reduce the number of hours employees work every week from without cutting their pay through the 100-80-100 model: Workers get 100% of the pay for working 80% of the time in exchange for delivering 100% of their usual output.

Some 72% of the Portuguese labor force works more than 40 hours per week, making it the OECD country with the third-longest average workweek after the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to a report from University of London and University of Reading researchers overseeing the program.

Most of the businesses in the experiment are in the professional, scientific and technical fields, but the program's cohort also includes a nursery, care home, stem cells bank, research and development center, and firms from manufacturing, retail and nonprofit sectors.

Businesses say they want to see if a shortened workweek will help reduce employee stress and burnout, and in turn improve worker retention. Researchers also hope to track the economic, social and environmental implications of a four-day business week in Portugal.

4 Day Week Global has led several high-profile experiments around the world, which have gained momentum throughout the pandemic as businesses and employees began to re-think the modern work experience.

A trial in the U.S. last year proved to be wildly popular, with workers reporting they performed better and were less burned out. Many said they could never return to a traditional five-day week, or at least not without a significant pay bump. Employers benefited, too: Businesses reported an 8% increase in revenue throughout the trial period, and a 38% increase from the same time period a year prior.

4 Day Week Global's largest experiment to date included nearly 3,000 workers throughout the U.K. last year, with participants reporting better health, finances and relationships.

Although no country has fully adopted a four-day workweek, trials have run in South Africa, Belgium, Iceland, Japan and elsewhere.

Portugal has become a popular destination for American millennials looking to relocate internationally thanks to its affordable living and good weather. The number of Americans residing in Portugal is at its highest level in more than a decade, according to the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service. There were about 7,000 Americans living in the country at the end of 2021, more than double three years earlier.

And the country launched its own digital nomad visa last year, making it even easier for workers from any countries that aren't part of the European Union or European Economic Area to start a new life abroad.

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Priceline, a unit of Booking, just revealed a new partnership with Google Cloud. The generative AI tools from Google will allow prospective travelers to communicate with a chatbot in a conversational way when making plans and receive personalized hotel bookings.

"Don't know where you want to go? This tool will help you narrow that down pretty quickly," Priceline CEO Brett Keller told CNBC.

Booking , Expedia and Airbnb are among travel companies looking for ways to ease the booking process and help consumers more swiftly make plans.

As new artificial intelligence tools make their way beyond consumer chatbots and internet search and into a widening array of businesses, online travel is jumping aboard.

Keller said AI will help customers make more thoughtful decisions on where and when to travel, as well as help his employees speed up response times.

"We employ thousands of people today who answer customer inquiries," Keller said. "AI will speed up the agent's ability to give actionable advice."

Keller said if an agent is helping a customer make changes to a trip, all the different legs have complex cancellation policies. Keller says the new technology can read that information very quickly and reduce wait times. Google Cloud is providing the tools and capabilities to help Priceline collect and scrub data that can then be used to help customers.

Carrie Tharp, Google Cloud's vice president of industries, said the company's Vertex AI technology will provide location-based information to users, who can ask questions such as: "What's a kid-friendly activity? I have two hours to spare."

Tharp said the data Priceline brings to Google's model will remain with Priceline, not Google.

Earlier this year, Expedia was among the first players to signal its investment in generative AI. The online travel company launched its first ChatGPT-powered travel tool, and CEO Peter Kern told CNBC in April that it will make it much easier to book, cancel and edit trips.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told CNBC the following month that generative AI will make his company's processes more efficient.

"In the next 12 months, you'll see major changes to our customer service  the quality gets better, the costs will be lower," he said.

Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital and a longtime investor in travel and tech stocks, told CNBC that "AI will massively disrupt how we plan and book travel  it is the center of the bullseye."

However, he said the travel companies' position is less clear than it was in the past because of changes in search.

"They have a huge data advantage, but there is a risk they go from the top to the bottom of the funnel," Gerstner said.

WATCH: Priceline CEO on business travel returning
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

WASHINGTON  A band of 11 House conservative rabble-rousers on Tuesday took the rare step of joining all Democrats to block a pair of GOP bills to protect gas stoves to express their anger over the debt deal cut by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden.

The procedural vote was rejected, 206 to 220, stunning longtime lawmakers and reporters who have not seen a rule vote  a procedural measure typically widely supported by the majority party  go down in more than two decades.

Members of the House Freedom Caucus, along with a conservative ally, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., gathered on the steps of the Capitol after voting to rail at how McCarthy and his leadership team handled negotiations to lift the debt ceiling.

The group warned that all Republican legislation could come to a standstill unless they resolve their internal issues.

Hard-right lawmakers specifically accused GOP leaders of retaliating against one of their own, Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga. They said Clyde was told by leadership that his bill to protect pistol stabilizing braces would not come to the floor this week because he voted against the rule on the debt deal last week.

"Today we took down the rule because we're frustrated at the way this place is operating. We took a stand in January to end the era of the imperial speakership," Gaetz said, flanked by his far-right allies.

"We're concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the speakership have been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal," he added. "The answer for us is to reassert House conservatives as the appropriate coalition partner for our leadership, instead of them making common cause with Democrats."

Tuesday's rule fight creates more headaches for McCarthy  and raises more uncertainty about his political future, less than six months into his speakership.

After the bipartisan debt deal passed last week, some Freedom Caucus members said they would support ousting McCarthy from the speaker's office through what's known as a "motion to vacate." But on Tuesday, some of those same Republicans sidestepped questions about removing McCarthy and said they have other tools to flex their power, including blocking legislation by voting down future rules.

"There are many, many ways in which we all need to be together for the Republican majority to be able to function effectively," said Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., a Freedom Caucus member.

Shortly before conservatives shot down Tuesday's rule vote, McCarthy told reporters he is confident he would overcome an effort to oust him from power.

"Anybody can do a motion to vacate," he said. "I'm confident I'll beat anyone they have."

The 11 Republicans who voted against the rule are: Gaetz and Bishop; and Reps. Chip Roy of Texas; Matt Rosendale of Montana; Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert, both of Colorado; Eli Crane and Andy Biggs, both of Arizona; Tim Burchett of Tennessee; Ralph Norman of South Carolina; and Bob Good of Virginia.

A 12th Republican, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., also voted no, a procedural step that would allow leaders to bring the rule to the floor at a later date.

The gas stove bills set to be voted on this week were largely messaging bills and are unlikely to pass the Senate.

Boebert had complained that leadership did not allow votes on amendments to the debt-ceiling package, while others were bitter that more Democrats voted for the debt limit package than Republicans.

"The majority cannot function without unity," Bishop told reporters. "And so to pull a pin on the grenade and roll it under the tent of Republican unity, as was done  last week in the debt ceiling package, is untenable for leadership."
Sequoia Capital, one of the world's largest venture firms, told investors Tuesday morning it would divide its global partnership into three separate and independent geographic units, splitting off its Sequoia China venture from the marquee Europe and U.S. partnership, citing an "increasingly complex" dynamic.

Sequoia China and Sequoia's Southeast Asian arms will become independent businesses by next year.

Sequoia partners Roelof Botha, Neil Shen and Shailendra Singh delivered the update to their limited partners via a joint message. Botha is managing partner for Sequoia's U.S. and Europe business, while Shen and Singh run Sequoia's China and Southeast Asia businesses, respectively.

"To deliver on our mission, we have decided to fully embrace our local-first approach," the three partners told their investors.

The move will be completed no later than March 31, 2024, the partners said. A source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the timing was decided in a "gradual" process and that the idiosyncratic nature of each market molded how each geographic unit approached investments.

The restructuring comes as geopolitical tensions between China and the United States have risen and American businesses approach Chinese investment with greater apprehension. Venture investment in the U.S. is also down significantly compared with 2021 or 2022, according to PitchBook data.

Sequoia's Chinese wing has reportedly made successive, lucrative investments in TikTok parent ByteDance, which has been under mounting scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers.

Fundraising and investment approaches varied between businesses, the person familiar said, noting that Sequoia China opted to divide its investment strategy between multiple funds while Sequoia's U.S. and European business restructured to focus on the Sequoia Capital Fund.

The U.S. firm will retain the Sequoia branding. Shen's Chinese fund, which had been increasingly seen as an independent entity even before the move, will take the name HongShan in English. Singh's Indian unit will be named Peak XV Partners.

"It has become increasingly complex to run a decentralized investment business," the executives wrote in their message to investors. "We've seen growing market confusion due to the shared Sequoia brand as well as portfolio conflicts across entities."

Sequoia is one of the world's top venture funds, with notable investments in Apple, Google (now known as Alphabet), PayPal and Zoom.
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A strategically important dam in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine was blown up on Tuesday, raising fears about safety, water supply and Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which receives cooling water from the reservoir upstream. Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam in the Russian-controlled town of Nova Kakhovka. Moscow denies the attack and says Kyiv intentionally sabotaged the dam to distract attention from its counteroffensive, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in Google-translated comments reported by Russian state news agency Tass. CNBC has not been able to independently verify the claims. Footage verified by NBC News showed water cascading over the damaged dam, with evacuation efforts underway to protect thousands of people living in low-lying areas downstream. About 600 homes have been flooded as a result of the Nova Kakhovka dam blast, Russian emergency services said, according to Tass. Moscow declared a state of emergency in the Nova Kakhovka district.

A screen grab captured from a video shows the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant after a blast occurred in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Kherson on June 6, 2023. The explosion unleashed floodwaters across the war zone. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

As of 1 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET), Ukraine's state emergency service said about 1,000 people had been evacuated by rescue services. The dam is situated on the Dnieper River and holds back an enormous body of water. It was built in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. The Kakhovka Reservoir supplies water to the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and provides cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is also under Russian control. In addition, its water is used to supply hydroelectric stations, irrigation systems and freshwater fish farms.

A partially flooded area of Kherson on June 6, 2023, following damage sustained at the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. Sergiy Dollar | Afp | Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the government and public services were doing all they could to save people, with those living in so-called danger zones ordered to be evacuated as soon as possible. Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyy convened an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to discuss the situation. "The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror," Zelenskyy said.

'A new sign of escalation'

Ukraine's state-owned hydropower company said the blast that severely damaged the Nova Kakhovka dam came from inside the engine room. "As a result of detonation of the engine room from the inside, the Kakhovskaya [hydroelectric power plant] was completely destroyed. The station cannot be restored," Ukrhydroenergo said in a statement. Half the span of the Nova Kakhovka dam appears to have been destroyed and Tass reported the structure is continuing to collapse, citing emergency services.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Getty Images

Meanwhile, a Russian-installed official in the Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka reportedly said in comments to state television that the dam would be impossible to repair. The U.K., Estonia and Lithuania condemned the act as a "war crime," while Latvia warned the blast is an "ecological disaster." The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said the destruction of the Kakhovka dam reflected "a new sign of escalation" in Russia's war against Ukraine. "The European Union condemns strongly this horrific and barbaric attack against such a crucial piece of infrastructure with terrible humanitarian and environmental consequences," said Peter Stano, EU foreign policy spokesperson. "It is obvious that this is happening in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," he added. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, meanwhile, said the destruction of the Kakhovka dam endangers the lives of thousands of civilians "and causes severe environmental damage." "This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of #Russia's war in #Ukraine," he said via Twitter.

'No immediate risk' to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said it was closely monitoring the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it is aware of the reported damage at the dam, but there was no "immediate safety risk" at the plant. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said that an absence of cooling water for an extended period at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant would cause fuel melt and the inoperability of the emergency diesel generators. "However, our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant," Grossi said in a statement. He added there are a number of alternative sources of water for the nuclear plant.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station. Carl Court | Getty Images
This general view shows a partially flooded area of Kherson, on June 6, 2023, following damage sustained at Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. A Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine was damaged on June 6, with Kyiv and Moscow accusing each other of blowing it up while locals were forced to flee rising waters.

Ukraine has begun emergency evacuations of residents in parts of the southern Kherson region after warning that the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant had been "blown up" by Russian forces Tuesday.

Ukrainian officials warned of potentially devastating flooding in the area and called on residents in 11 areas to leave.

"The water level is rising and everyone who is in the danger zone must: turn off all electrical appliances take documents and essentials take care of loved ones and pets follow the instructions of rescuers and policemen," Ukraine's interior ministry said.

The South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on its Facebook page that the facility had been "blown up" by Russian forces and that "the scale of the destruction, the speed and volume of water, and the probable areas of flooding are being clarified."

CNBC and NBC News have not been able to independently verify Ukraine's claims.

Russia denied damaging the dam, claiming instead that Ukraine had undermined the structure. Vladimir Leontiev, the Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, the city where the dam is located, said "night attacks" on the facility had "led to the destruction of the valves" and that "water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably be discharged downstream," he said, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Leontiev said there was still no need to evacuate the inhabitants of Nova Kakhovka but said "we are preparing for the worst consequences, but we hope that they will not happen." He had initially denied there was damage to the dam.

 Holly Ellyatt
Aerial view of containers and cargo ships at the Port of Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2022 in San Pedro, California.

Union Pacific has temporarily shut down all of its inland ramps at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, a proactive move that reflects the supply chain issues that have arisen due to ongoing West Coast port labor issues.

By pausing rail shipments, shippers can find other ports to send goods rather than have them sit for extended periods of time in containers before reaching their intended destinations. That is critical for food and agriculture shipments, where products can spoil  the U.S. agriculture industry uses the West Coast predominantly for its goods.

The railroad had previously stopped accepting exports or empty containers at its Denver rail terminal destined for the Port of Los Angeles. The proactive measures aim to avoid the rail and shipping congestion issues that plagued ports for much of 2022, with the goal of having the pause helping to alleviate the congestion, sources told CNBC.

The Port of Los Angeles is the nation's busiest port, processing $440 billion in cargo value per year. That market share has declined with more trade moving to the East Coast over the past year, at least partially due to labor issues on the West Coast that had supply chain managers worried about reliability of service.

These latest issues have arisen as the specialized workers who work on the rail shipments are not reporting at the union halls, according to CNBC sources.

Ocean carrier CMA sent an email today to clients that CNBC obtained notifying them of Union Pacific's decision.

"Union Pacific issued a temporary pause for shipments from our inland terminals into three terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach where we saw some freight starting to accumulate. Our goal with this short-term pause is to ensure the rail line to and from the ports stays fluid," a Union Pacific spokesperson told CNBC in a statement.

Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary BNSF and Union Pacific are the railroads servicing the West Coast ports. BNSF has not responded to a request for comment.

"This is the ripple effect we are concerned about," said Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal at ITS Logistics. "U.S. exports of protein and other products will start to back up in the inland ports. This will deteriorate rail productivity as a result of the growing container congestion."

Negotiations between the ILWU longshoremen union and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) continue to go on as scheduled this week, CNBC has learned. The subject of wages is still being hammered out. The talks are under the cloud of slow port productivity. The ILWU and PMA are not commenting, citing a media blackout.

The West Coast ports opened on Monday after multiple closures that began at the Port of Oakland last Friday when some union workers refused to report for assignments, However, issues remained at select terminals within ports from Los Angeles to Seattle, with labor slowdowns and shift closures.

Truckers tell CNBC they are still experiencing a "snail's pace of productivity" at the terminals. Data from various CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map data providers also show the delays.

ITS Logistics told CNBC its truckers were turned away by the terminal operator Fenix Marine Services, which is owned by ocean carrier CMA-CGM, at the Port of Los Angeles during the first shift Monday. They were picking containers from a variety of ocean carriers. Containers processed through the terminal include those owned by Maersk, OOCL, COSCO Shipping, Sealand (a Maersk company), and Evergreen.
Murmu also exchanged various MoUs with Santokhi at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo on Monday.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday was conferred with Surinames highest civilian award by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to honour the South American nation's deep-rooted bilateral ties with India.

Murmu received the "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star" on June 5, from the Surinamese president and said she was greatly honoured to receive Surinames highest distinction.

This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent, she tweeted after receiving the award on Monday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22)  The Czech Republic has assured the Philippines that it can be a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region amid tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Czech Ambassador Jana Sediva highlighted the importance of partnerships in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

"We wanted to show that we are partners and you can rely on us whatever happens, even here it matters to us," said Sediva.

The Czech envoy said that they can work together with Manila in improving the Philippine Coast Guard in its maritime activities, particularly in aviation.

"We have few projects in aviation not only in defense but coast guard and these projects are still going on, I hope we can finalize soon. But Czechs are famous for multitasking small aircrafts and we can also do sharing of systems," added Sediva.

"We have our own Indo-Pacific strategy...Everything is ready and this is something we can offer," the envoy continued.

In 2017, both the Philippines and the Czech Republic signed a defense cooperation agreement which seeks to boost humanitarian response, defense logistics, military training and education between the two countries.

Last April, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and President Bongbong Marcos vowed to strengthen security cooperation as they discussed the situation in the West Philippine Sea.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  A top official of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) defended Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban who is facing graft complaints over his alleged involvement in the sugar import controversy in February.

I dont see where the graft is, SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Azcona said on Tuesday. Personally, Im sure he can defend it; and it was already defended in the Senate hearings. Weve heard the opinion of very good and intelligent lawyers.

If you ask the farmers, [they] are very happy. Its the first time in a long time that an administration was concerned about the farmgate price, he added.

In a complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines - Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (NACUSIP-ARB) Council and the Alternatiba Party-List sought charges against Panganiban for usurping authority as well as violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from Panganiban allegedly allowing the importation of sugar through the company All Asian Countertrade even without an official order.

READ: DA exec faces graft complaint over sugar importation mess

Sugar farmers and workers in the sugar industry have been gravely affected by the sudden influx of imported sugar in the market," Roland de La Cruz of the NACUSIP-ARB Council said. "This is aggravated by the fact that what entered our country is smuggled sugar -- seemingly facilitated by none other than a senior official of the Department of Agriculture."

Azcona, meanwhile, said he consulted Panganiban for yet another plan to import 150,000 metric tons of refined sugar "well before the case was filed."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously approved the additional importation of sugar to stabilize prices.

The latest sugar imports came from the controversial Sugar Order No. 6 that took effect on Feb. 16, allowing the importation of 440,000 MT of the commodity.

The graft case actually came as a surprise. So, its another obstacle that the Senior Undersecretary has to face. Hopefully, we will hurdle over it, he said
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday received criminal complaints against 35 respondents from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the owners of the MT Princess Empress in relation to the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and other areas.

Among the respondents facing complaints for falsification of public documents, use of falsified documents, and perjury are seven incorporators and directors of the oil tanker's owner RDC Reield Services Inc. (RDC), six crew members, and 19 coast guards of different ranks.

The DOJ said Marina officials are also facing complaints over their alleged involvement in the falsification of certificates.

"Peke yung certificate of public convenience ng MT Princess Empress," DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a press briefing. "Nalaman natin na falsified yung mga documents. May mga sinubmit yung RDC na documents na wala sa record."

[Translation: The certificate of public convenience of MT Princess Empress is fake. We found out that the documents were falsified. There were documents submitted by the RDC that were not on record.]

Other allegedly falsified documents were certificates on construction, tonnage measurement, ownership, and Philippine registry, according to the DOJ official

Clavano said Marina and RDC officials "conspired for the purpose of illegally registering the MT Princess Empress with false documents."

"The captains of the vessel are liable as they are considered as general agents of the ship owner. The PCG is liable as they conduct pre-departure inspections for domestic oil tankers prior to voyage. And first and foremost on their checklist is to check the validity of the CPC," he added.

The CPC is an authorization issued to a domestic water transport service provider to operate a vessel for commercial or public use, for which no franchise is required by law.

Clavano further pointed out that the MT Princess Empress sailed 18 times since December last year until it ran aground Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.

"Every voyage of the vessel is considered one count of the falsified document," he said.

The complaint was lodged by the National Bureau of Investigation Environmental Crime Division, along with Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz, following the conclusion of the probe into those responsible for the sinking of the oil tanker that carried 900,000 liters of industrial oil.

The DOJ said environmental and graft cases may be filed "in a few weeks."

PCG, RDC respond

The Coast Guard only accepted the documents submitted to them by the shipping company, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo argued.

"Meron tayong presumption of regularity, kami naman ginawa lang namin ang dapat gawin under the circumstances [We have a presumption of regularity, we just did what we had to do under the circumstances]," he told the media.

Balilo said they will wait for the official copy of the complaint before they could further comment.

Meanwhile, RDC maintained that the MT Princess Empress is a "newly built vessel that fully complies with all the requirements and procedures" set by Marina.

"We will let the facts and our evidences speak for themselves in due time," it said in a statement.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Former Surigao del Norte governor Francisco Matugas is facing a plunder complaint over the alleged misuse of the provinces disaster funds worth at least 50 million.

Oscar Pospia Jr., a resident of Surigao del Norte and head of the provincial environment department, filed the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Pospia is also chief of staff of incumbent governor Robert Barbers.

He accused Matugas of plunder, technical malversation, graft, and violating the procurement act when the former governor authorized the use of disaster funds to purchase childrens story books.

The disaster funds were intended for victims affected by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021

Habang naghihirap ang mga kababayan namin sa Surigao, hirap sa pagkain, wasak mga bahay nila, nalaman namin na may pondo pala ang probinsya na higit 50 million, Pospia told reporters after filing the complaint on Tuesday.

Instead gamitin sa rehabilitation ng aming probinsya, lalong-lalo sa government infrastructure, mga paaralan at relief or pagkain, yung pondo ay pinangbili ng children's books na hindi kailangan noong panahong iyon kasi wala naman face-to-face na klase, he added.

[Translation: While our countrymen in Surigao were suffering, lacking food, their houses destroyed, we found out that the province has a fund of more than 50 million. Instead of using the funds to rehabilitate our province, especially government infrastructure and schools, and to distribute relief or food, the funds were used to buy childrens books that were not needed that time since there were no face-to-face classes.]

Other former Surigao del Norte provincial officers were named as co-respondents, including provincial accountant Myrla Padayhag, schools division superintendent Teresa Real, and members of the Bids and Awards Committee of Department of Education Surigao del Norte Division.

There was no approval or consent from the PDRRC (provincial disaster risk reduction council), nor was there a revised plan for realignment submitted to the budget office, the complaint read.

Asked why he filed the complaint only recently, Pospia said it took a while to gather documentary evidence needed for the complaint.

Hindi naman po basta-basta kelangan kuhanin mga records [We can't just retrieve the records], Pospia explained.

Matugas, meanwhile, told CNN Philippines that he has yet to get a copy of the complaint.

Im sorry I can't give you my side [because] this is the first time I heard that theres a complaint against me, he said.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Several lawmakers on Tuesday expressed optimism over the choice of Ted Herbosa and Gilbert Teodoro to lead the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of National Defense (DND), respectively.

Leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives said the two new Cabinet members would be a big boost to the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

"Their appointments should give a big boost to our fight to have a secure and a stronger nation supported by a healthy population," said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

"Their appointments also mean that the president is bent on finding the best and the brightest to join him in serving our people," said House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Herbosa served as DOH undersecretary from 2010 to 2015 and held the post of regional director at the DOH National Capital Regional Office.

He also served as special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, it would be Teodoro's second stint as Defense chief after leading the agency during former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration from August 2007 to November 2009.

He was also the First District representative of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007.

Lawmakers expect Herbosa and Teodoro to efficiently address the current health and security issues in the country.

"Both have prior experience in the field already. Hence, they can hit the ground running," said Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.

He added that it will be a challenge for Herbosa to minimize the wastage of purchased and donated COVID-19 vaccines.

"DOH's new approach should be 'value for money' and 'put value in all our resources," Pimentel said. "Hence, DOH should not be wasteful and value even those items donated to us."

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, stressed the critical roles of the two newly appointed officials.

"The new secretaries are crucial in deciding and implementing strategies in addressing the various health issues we are facing and in upholding the country's territorial integrity against various threats," she said.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said that it would be "a novel and a good move" if Teodoro would call for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines so that the Armed Forces of the Philippines could focus on "foreign aggressors."

She added that Herbosa "would truly serve the interest and health issues of the Filipino people and not just engage in red-tagging or trolling."

The president swore in Herbosa and Teodoro on Monday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Israel is eyeing to revive talks on launching direct flights between Tel Aviv and Manila by 2024, its top diplomat said Monday.

Israel's Tourism Deputy Minister Ilan Marciano said he will reopen talks on direct flights from Manila to Tel Aviv during his meeting with Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco.

"My goal is to bring you to Israel as tourists," Marciano said. "It's one of the goals. We want to do it in 2024."

Philippine Airlines was supposed to launch its maiden direct flight to Tel Aviv in 2019, but it was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Filipinos flying to Israel currently have to transit via the Middle East, like Dubai and Turkey, and then board another flight that will take them to Israel.

Israel is also aiming to double its trade with the Philippines to $1 billion or 56 billion by 2024.

Data from the Department of Tourism showed that more than 4,700 Israelis traveled to the Philippines in 2020, with arrivals dipping by 90% down to 452 in 2021 due to the pandemic.

CNN Philippines correspondent Lois Calderon contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 6)  Majority Leader and newly-assigned Senate caretaker Sen. Joel Villanueva said the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) bill is not considered a priority measure.

"I don't see any urgency for that particular measure," Villanueva said Tuesday. "I don't know why, who is following it up, or saying that it is a priority measure because it is not a priority measure to begin with."

Villanueva said there are other urgent bills in the Senate such as the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act. He also previously accused SOGIE bill advocates of promoting legalization of same-sex marriage in the country.

READ: Villanueva accuses SOGIE bill advocates of same-sex marriage agenda

The senator argued that the bill only protects one sector of the society.

On May 24, The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality approved the SOGIESC bill. Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said the report consolidated House Bills No. 222, 460, 3418, 3702, 4277, 5551, 6003, and 7036, and other measures seeking to ban discrimination of people on the basis of their SOGIESC.

The first anti-discrimination bill was filed at the 11th Congress by late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales.

The bill reached third reading in 2017 but it languished in the Senate for three years. Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed the bill anew in 2020 labeling it SOGIE.

The SOGIESC bill has been pending in Villanueva's committee on rules for about four months now.

READ: 'Tatalima pero di tatahimik': Hontiveros loses in SOGIE bill tug of war
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WELLINGTON New Zealand Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited, CRP or the Company (TSXV: NZP, NZX: CRP FSE 3GRE) is pleased to advise the achievement of several new milestones at Korella South.

Following the end of the wet season, exploration activities have commenced.

With pegging of the first 18 drill-holes sites completed, the Yulluna people, the native title holders, have undertaken a detailed inspection and cultural clearance of these drill sites and the related access tracks.

Over the last three days the 6kms of access tracks leading to all drill sites have been graded and drill pad areas established.

With all exploration activities taking place in the dry season, as evidenced by no rain for the past 11 weeks, the areas around the drill pads have been cleared to minimize risk of grass fires.

Korella South exploration activities takes place within Chatsworth Station under a registered access and compensation agreement with Cloncurry based MDH Pty Ltd. Chatsworth is one of eight properties held by MDH in what is one of Australias largest cattle operations.

Drilling will now take place, with the first programme being some 15 Reverse Circulation sample drill holes and 3 air cored large diameter diamond holes (PQ sized cores).

This first drilling program is expected to be completed by end July.

The Pre-Feasibility study for the 2 million tonnes per annum Korella South export mine can now commence. This is expected to be completed by September 2023.

About Korella South

Shareholders will recall that in December 2021 we announced the application for an area of 196 square kilometres south of Phosphate Hill, Queensland designated Korella South.

The exploration area Korella South EPM28187 was granted to Chathams wholly-owned Australian subsidiary Avenir Makatea Pty. Ltd in December 2022.

The permit covers an area that has been subject to considerable past exploration for a variety of minerals, within and adjacent to the Georgina Basin. Based on the body of geological knowledge that currently exists concerning Korella South, the ground is highly prospective for both rock phosphates and rare earths.

The strong relationship between phosphate and rare earth elements (REE) has been the subject of considerable study by the Queensland Geological Survey who has opined that the south-eastern rim of the Georgina Basin, that centres on Korella South, provides the highest concentration of REE in the Georgina Basin.

For further information please contact:

Chris Castle

President and Chief Executive Officer

Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited

64 21 55 81 85, chris@widespread.co.nz or chris@crpl.co.nz

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements". Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

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Microsoft on Monday saw its SaaS-based Office software suite suffer an outage for the seventh time this year as users faced issues with Outlook Web, Teams, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint for over eight hours.

Were reviewing our networking systems and recent updates in an effort to identify the underlying root cause of the issue. Additional information can be found in the admin center under EX571516, Microsoft said in a tweet.

In the following hour, the company tweeted again to inform its users that Microsoft 365 services such as Outlook Web, Teams, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint were affected due to the outage.

Another hour later, the company decided to stop the deployment of updates to Microsoft 365 and said the services were in recovery.

However, Microsoft 365 services were hit again just a few hours later.

Weve determined that impact associated with MO571683 and EX571516 has reoccurred and are investigating the cause. Well be providing updates related to this event under MO572252 in the admin center, the company said in a tweet.

The issue was resolved over the following three hours, the companys latest tweets showed.

About 18,000 users were affected at the peak of the outage, data from the internet outage tracking website Downdetector showed. The second outage saw over 5,000 users affected at its peak.

The service status page for Microsoft 365 also showed that Teams and Outlook were currently suffering from a duplicate contact list issue.

This issue only impacts users who synced their personal account device contacts with Microsoft Teams. New syncs are no longer resulting in duplicate contacts since we've implemented the long-term fix, Microsoft said, adding that users could either wait for Microsoft to clean up the duplicate contacts or follow a prescribed workaround.

Outages continue to plague Microsoft 365

The two outages on Monday are the companys seventh downtime in the last six months.

Last month, the company reported that UK users were facing issues accessing some service offerings under Microsoft 365.

In April, Microsoft said it was investigating an issue where users may be unable to use the search functionality in multiple Microsoft 365 services. Outlook on the Web, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook desktop clients were among the affected services.

Earlier in the same month, users were unable to access Microsoft 365 web applications and Teams.

The company also suffered a global outage in February and yet again its users could not access emails and Teams. It had suffered a similar outage in January.
Border guard killed, 2 paramilitary troopers wounded in India's Manipur

Xinhua) 16:20, June 06, 2023

NEW DELHI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- An Indian border guard belonging to Border Security Force was killed and two paramilitary troopers of Assam Rifles were wounded Tuesday in a gunfight with militants in India's northeastern state of Manipur, officials said.

According to the Indian army, a gunfight between the government forces and a group of militants broke out in Serou village of Thoubal district, about 69 km south of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.

Army said intermittent firing between government forces and a group of militants took place throughout Monday night, and government forces effectively retaliated to the firing.

The Indian army, along with paramilitary forces and police, started extensive area domination operations following the recent crisis in Manipur.

Last month, large-scale violence broke out in the state during a tribal protest demonstration over the inclusion of the non-tribal Meiteis community for a scheduled tribe status. The call for protest was given by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur.

Scheduled tribes in India are officially designated as disadvantaged socio-economic groups. They are given reservations in education and jobs with the aim of improving their lives.

Thousands of people took part in the rally, during which violence broke out between the tribals and non-tribals, causing 98 deaths, according to reports.

Authorities responded by imposing a curfew and deployed over 100 columns of the army and paramilitary forces in the state to restore peace.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
by Ayanjit Sen

A vision. Set to become a reality in 2041. That is what the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms Sheikh Hasina, has embarked upon after achieving the successful tag of Digital Bangladesh. It is not merely a slogan, but a significant decision taken by the country.





Smart Bangladesh is an initiative taken up by the government to transform the country into a technically advanced and sustainable society with a high-income, developed country and with a per capita GDP of 12,500 US dollars.





Dr Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat [Photo: Sri Lanka Guardian]





Critics say though the governments goal of setting up Smart Bangladesh is a bold decision; its implementation is not easy and will be a major challenge.





In this respect, education, digital progress, and the economy will be important factors in its run for development.





Speaking to the Sri Lanka Guardianfrom Dhaka, one of the countrys leading entrepreneurs, investors, investment bankers and philanthropists, Dr Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, said, Smart initiatives have been taken by the government on several sectors including banking, insurance sector, coal sector and infrastructure among other sectors.









The Padma Setu (bridge), metro-rail, highways, Chittagong tunnel, are many such initiatives that have been fulfilled by the government and with still 18 years to go, much more will be achieved, he said.





There has been a great growth in the 7.5 percent GDP growth and without Covid and the Ukraine-Russia war, it could have climbed to 8.5-9 percent, he also said.





Bangladesh aims to make information and communication technologies (ICT) one of its main pillars of revenue-generating pillars of success by 2041. Estimates say the government is aiming for a $50 billion US dollars in the ICT sector with several successful start-ups.





Speaking exclusively to the Sri Lanka Guardian, the Bangladesh State Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Mr Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said, Our journey to Digital Bangladesh has been enlightening and we have witnessed the transformational potential of digital technology in various sectors of our nation. We are now envisioning a future where our country stands as a beacon of digital innovation in South Asia.





He also said, Our primary objective is to ensure that every citizen, irrespective of their location or socio-economic status, can harness the power of digital technologies and contribute to the nations growth.





Regarding the progress of the digital sector, the Minister said, We are emphasizing on strengthening our digital infrastructure which is a core foundation of Smart Bangladesh, where high-speed internet connectivity reaches every corner of the country. We have already extended the fibre optic network to the union level. Now, our next phase involves partnering with the private sector to connect even the most remote villages. Our goal is not merely connectivity but high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet for all Bangladeshi citizens, enabling seamless access to digital services.





The government has also created an enabling environment for the growth of e-commerce, digital banking, and mobile health services. Bangladesh provides 16% of the global online workforce, making Bangladesh the second largest source of the digital workforce.





We see the future of our digital sector as a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups, tech giants, and digitally empowered citizens all working in harmony towards a prosperous Bangladesh, he said.





Speaking regarding the digital advancements made in the country, Dr Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, said, The country is moving towards a cashless society. Apart from the Internet of Things, mass usage on secure net connectivity will be done. As an entrepreneur, I can say that this is shaping the future of the country in a very good way and strategically, it will be a digitalised future with generations to come. We lay importance on new ideas and creativity that empowers people to start their own businesses with an innovative mindset and develop their ideas into actual business.





To achieve digital prowess and all the other smart initiatives, education is key. There is still a gap between the academia and the industry, which is being minimised with time. So, how exactly is Bangladesh getting ready for this?





Speaking in an exclusive chat with the Sri Lanka Guardian, the Minister for Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh, Mr SM Rezaul Karim, said, Bangladesh has traversed a long distance in economic development under the Prime Minister, Ms Sheikh Hasina, and education has certainly been a key. We are giving good education in technical, digital and agricultural level to the youngsters with a practical view. A time will soon come when there will be no need for any doctor, engineer or agricultural specialist from abroad.





Speaking on the same issue, the Bangladesh State Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Mr Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said, When we talk about Smart Education, we envision an education system that leverages digital technology to its fullest potential. We are planning to integrate cutting-edge EdTech in our classrooms, ranging from digital textbooks to advanced learning platforms that provide interactive and personalized learning experiences. Our initiatives also include teacher training programs, where educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills to integrate digital tools into their teaching methods effectively.





We understand the importance of developing digital literacy from an early age. So, we are looking to introduce basic coding and digital skills into the curriculum, helping our youth to be well-prepared for a future increasingly dependent on technology. We are also building the Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technologies (SHIFT), to support the youth, especially from the 6th to the 12th grade, in developing their 4IR knowledge and skills. We have also rolled out various initiatives, such as 35,000 Sheikh Russel Digital Labs across the county, 300 Schools of the Future, in every parliamentary district of Bangladesh. Our vision is to create a future where every student, irrespective of their location, has access to quality education that can equip them with the necessary skills for the 21st century, he added.





Dr Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian University of Bangladesh, said, There is an aim of having private universities in all districts in the country, where there will be good education in less prices. Education is key to development as per the vision of the Prime Minister.





As Bangladesh moves forward, it aims to intertwine the growth of digital and education sectors. By promoting digital literacy and using technology to enhance education, the government plans to create a future-ready generation of individuals that can drive the nations digital revolution.
If you were online at the wrong time last week, you heard a story about an Air Force simulation gone horribly awry. A drone was programmed to complete a mission, and when its operator tried to stop it, the drone targeted him. Then, it turned out this story wasnt true. No one had ever programmed such a simulation  someone had just speculated about how A.I. can go rogue, as people have for decades, and outlets incorrectly reported the imaginary situation as fact.

Many people walked away from that news cycle concluding that killer robots pose little threat after all. Not us. Us, we continue to mistrust every machine. We have a gun pointed at our toaster at all times (uneasily noting that the gun, too, is a machine). We know machines have a long history of evil, based on such incidents as the time that...

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5 A Chess Robot Broke a Childs Finger A chess robot is usually a simple piece of software. It comes up with chess moves, and the human competitor sees these using some device not unlike the one youre using to read this article. A chess robot can also be a physical machine, which moves actual pieces on an actual board. We have a long history of such robots, dating back to before they were possible and were just a guy in a box pretending to be a robot. One such chess robot appeared at the Moscow Open last July. Below is footage of it competing with several children simultaneously  which is no real accomplishment. A human chess player could manage the same thing, and theres no reason a robot should find alternating between three players any harder than playing just one. No, the real accomplishment is what else it does to one of the children: via CNN Yes, it reaches out and fractures the childs finger after he goes for a piece out-of-turn. Some accounts say the robot responded in anger by punishing the child. In reality, it targeted a piece and accidentally pressed on the errant finger, but that distinction provided little comfort for the boy. In the next screens, we see officials taking him away to receive euthanasia, as he is no longer of use to the nation as a competitor. via CNN Seriously, though: The kid came back the next day in a cast and finished the tournament, since a broken finger is no great handicap. You dont need all your fingers. Robots know this well. In fact, theyre counting on it.

4 The First Robo Fatality The first recorded time a robot killed someone was 1979. As with the Moscow incident, the problem was we gave robots arms. Not guns  arms, metal limbs they can use to manipulate objects. One robot slammed its arm into a mans head, killing him. Siaopan/Wiki Commons Even humans would be less violent if we chopped off everyones arms. As with all good robot stories, this one happened in Michigan. Robert Williams, 25, was working at a Ford plant that made auto parts. It was a robots job to retrieve parts from a shelf, but for some reason, Williams was assigned to climb up and do the job himself. It was because the robot was too slow, his family would later claim in court. Even with Williams now perched on this shelf, the robot continued to operate, without his noticing. It moved its arm into a space now occupied by Williams head. He died immediately. Then the robot went on working, and no one realized what had happened till half an hour later, when they looked at the shelf and saw the corpse. This case involved a certain amount of human error, and a jury took that into account when the family sued afterward. Still, surely the robot manufacturer could have included some sort of auditory cue to signal when the robot is moving, much like how most vehicles in a warehouse give off warning beeps. For this reason, the jury found the robot manufacturer (not Ford) liable for $10 million, later upped to $15 million. And we all learned an important lesson about robot safety. This lesson lasted two years, till we let the next robot kill another factory worker, by pushing him into a grinding machine.

3 A Radiation Therapy Machine Killed Three Patients Since those robots lack the intent to kill, these stories might not sound so different from any conventional industrial accident involving a machine. To which we say: Fine. The machines behind such accidents deserve to be shamed just as hard, whether anyone refers to them as a robot or not. For example, consider the story of Therac-25. Therac-25, which had the perfect name for a robot, was a radiation therapy machine. Radiation treats cancer at the correct dosage and when targeted correctly, but excess radiation obviously hurts you. You might imagine then that a medical device should have safeguards in place to keep it from ever delivering too high a dose. If, say, a dose of 200 rads is on the high side, and a dose of 1,000 rads is lethal when applied to the whole body, perhaps a machine should never be allowed to give 15,000 or 25,000 in a single second. And yet, thats what Therac-25 did half a dozen times in separate 1980s cases in multiple hospitals. Stefan Kogl Blame Therac-25, or blame the attached computer. Both were evil. The earliest case, one of the more minor ones, left the patient immediately claiming to have been burned and soon after needing a mastectomy. Another patient felt the overdose as an electric shock. He got paralyzed from the waist down and was dead in six months. A third patient, in for minor skin cancer, died from radiation exposure, as did a fourth patient who was supposed to receive just 4 rads. Sure, were all leery of giving robots missiles, but lets keep in mind the special danger posed by radiation weapons. Robots love radiation weapons. Machines are immune to radiation.

2 An Early Killer Robot Immediately Targeted a Group of Observers Along with all this talk of malfunctioning machines, we should say something about actual killer robots. We mean lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs), machines that are designed to kill and that do so using only their own programming. Jollyroger/Wiki Commons I am the LAW. One milestone case of the military trying a vehicle with its own targeting system was the M247 Sergeant York in the late 1970s. York was the cool-robot-buddy name; its targeting system had the more fittingly sinister name of DIVAD. This antiaircraft tank did not quite qualify as a LAW because a human operator still had to choose to fire on the target that York picked. This was fortunate. At one exhibition, York was supposed to target a series of drones. Instead, it turned its sights on the generals assembled in the stands. When the operator did later choose to fire, York still hadnt picked the correct target. It had zeroed in on the exhaust fan of a latrine  and while propellers are smart targets during combat, this did not serve as a very reassuring demonstration of its powers. The military ultimately killed the DIVAD program, for reasons too complicated to fully lay out here, but as the Pentagon put it, The Sergeant York was not operationally effective in adequately protecting friendly forces. Protection is important, as is ventilation. Advertisement Advertisement
We like to think that spying is serious business. To the world of espionages credit, it usually is. Stick around long enough and youre likely to have your fingers in some pies that sitting politicians could only dream of. You get to chuckle at what the newspapers think is happening in North Korea over your morning coffee. And of course, if you get caught, youre in for an all-time ass-widening by possibly multiple governments.

Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox.

That said, though, sometimes the world of spycraft is much dumber than you could have imagined. Its not stupid if it works is a saying that does, in fact, extend to international intrigue. For every high-tech marvel or carefully planned misinformation campaign, theres a couple plans of considerably blunter variety that have either been put into use or been fully prepared and ready for whenever theyre needed.

Here are five times that spycraft sounded as if it was pulled straight out of a slapstick comedy
The new Russian standard assault rifle, the AK-12, received its first large-scale combat use once the invasion of Ukraine began over a year ago. The manufacturer didnt receive many complaints from troops in Ukraine, other than there were not enough AK-12s for all the newly mobilized troops. There was one minor complaint about the two-round burst capability. It wasnt used except by accident when the user erroneously selected burst fire when they were seeking to select one of the other two options (single-shot or full-automatic). All new or repaired AK-12s will have the burst option removed. Western assault rifle manufacturers came to the same conclusion about burst fire and eliminated this option.

Ukrainian troops are also satisfied users of their many captured AK-12s, as it is a major improvement on the older AK rifles Ukrainian forces use. Ukraine had to quickly arm several hundred thousand new troops in early 2022 after the Russians invaded. Most of those new and territorial (local defense) troops received one of several AK tyke rifles. This included the original AK-47 and AKM models using the original 7.62mm round. More recent AK rifles use the 5.45mm round, which is similar to the 5.56mm round the Americans have been using since the 1960s. the United States and other NATO nations have, in the last year, provided Ukraine with thousands of assault rifles that use the 5.56mm round.

There are a growing number of non-Russian users of the AK-12, most of them export customers. Ukraine is the only foreign user that captures them from Russian troops. The first paying export customer was the Persian Gulf Arab nation Qatar and Qatari troops received the AK-12 in 2018, before most Russian soldiers got them. Qatar never officially announced that it was buying the AK-12 rifles. Previously Qatar, whose army has 42,000 active-duty troops, were already using some older AK-47s but had replaced most of those with the M-16 and similar models from various European suppliers. All these M-16 type weapons use the same ammo, while the AK-47 and AK-12 dont.

It was not until mid-2017 that Russia selected the new AK-12 assault rifles as its new standard infantry rifle and part of its new future soldier (Ratnik) set of gear for its infantry. The government initially had trouble finding the money to buy the 70,000 or more Ratnik systems the army wanted. It wasnt until 2021 that about half the Ratnik systems were delivered. Priority was given to special operations troops, airborne, airmobile and marine units.

The basic AK-12 fires the same 5.45/39 round as the AK-74 it replaced and costs 25 percent more. The AK-12 outperformed the AK-74 in extensive field tests and the troops preferred the new rifle. In 2014 one major change was made to the original (2011) AK-12 design that lowered manufacturing costs and fixed some problems found in field testing. The new version (codenamed AK-400) won the competition with rival rifle designs in 2017. The AK-12 can also be provided in a version that fires the old AK-47 7.62x39mm round that was introduced in 1944 and is still popular in many countries. The AK-12 also keeps the basic design principles of the AK-47 alive into the 21st century.

How the AK-12 came to be was quite an epic undertaking. The Russians had made several attempts to develop and introduce a replacement for the AK-74. Some new designs even made it into combat. For example, some special operations units got the new AN-94 in the 1990s while most troops continued to use the elderly (in design and manufacture) AK-74s. The troops wanted something that could match the improvements in Western assault rifles. The firm that designed most Russian assault rifles since the 1940s designed a new assault rifle (AK-12) in response to that but the Russian Defense Ministry stalled efforts to even test it. That resistance was finally overcome and the AK-12 eventually passed the tests and outperformed competing designs.

This all began in 2012 when the two-century old Russian firm (Izhmash, later changed to Kalashnikov) that has produced assault rifles since World War II announced the arrival of their AK-12 fifth-generation assault rifle. Like earlier AKs the AK-12 used a lot of the basic AK-47 design principles but added many new features popular in Western assault rifles. The AK-12 is but the latest in a long line of innovative Russian infantry weapons that began showing up towards the end of World War II. Assault rifles have since become the standard infantry weapon, almost entirely replacing bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles. The first-generation AK was the AK-47 followed by the AKM in the 1960s, then the AK-74, which was very similar to the U.S. M-16, in the 1970s, and limited numbers of the AN-94, a much-improved AK-74, in the 1990s. Over fifty million AK-47s and AKMs were made, most of them outside Russia. Production, on a small scale, continues. It is still the most numerous assault rifle in use.

The original AK-12 (code named AK-200) was a 3.3 kg (7.3 pound) weapon that was 943mm (37.1 inches) long with a 415mm (16.3 inch) barrel. It can be fitted to fire one of four calibers: the original 7.62x39 of the AK-47/AKM, the 5.56x45 of the M-16, the 5.45x39 of the AK-74, or the 7.62x51 NATO rifle/machine-gun round. The AK-12 can use all AK-47/AKM magazines when firing 7.62x39 ammo.

There are a lot of small but important changes in the AK-12. The stock is adjustable. The charging handle is easily used whether you are left or right-handed. There is an improved safety switch, pistol grip, hinged top cover, muzzle break, iron sight, and (smaller) ejection port. The AK-12 has Picatinny rails (the U.S. developed standard for attaching all sorts of accessories). The fire control switch now allows for single shot and full- automatic. The AK-12 is inherently more accurate because of improved barrel rifling. The AK-12 handles more easily, has longer effective range (up to 600 meters), and apparently has the same ruggedness of the original AK-47. That last item was put to the test, as the Russian military has had a growing number of AK-12s into the field since 2015, where their performance under combat conditions could be monitored.

In 2018 Russia introduced an AK-12 variant, the AK-308, which fires the standard NATO 7.62x51 rifle ammo. Known to civilians as the Winchester 308 round, the 7.62x51 has been a NATO standard since the 1950s. While largely replaced by the 5.56/45 round in the 1960s and 70s, the 7.62mm is still widely used for sniper rifles and vehicle mounted machine-guns. The Russian company that manufactures the AK line of weapons has, since the 1990s, come up with a lot of new designs, mainly for the export market and these new weapons were often chambered for the Western 7.62mm and 5.56mm or whatever a large purchaser wanted. The AK-308 prototype evolved into the new Russian military rifle (AK-12/15) chambered for the 7.62x51 rather than the 5.45x39 (AK-12) or 7.62x39 (AK-15 and AK-47).

The AK-308 is 885mm (35 inches) long with a 415mm (16.3 inch) barrel and a folding stock. Empty weight is 4.1 kg (nine pounds) and it uses a 20 or 30 round magazine. Rate of fire on full-automatic is 700 rounds a minute and max effective range is 800 meters. AK-308 has a Picatinny rail and attachments for grenade launcher, suppressor and bayonet. In short it is a 7.62mm rifle any Western soldier would immediately be able to handle even though it is obviously based on the original AK-47 design. The AK-308 is actually based on the AK-103 which was itself a version of the 1970s AK-74. The latest Russian assault rifle, the AK-12 also can be adapted to fire the NATO 7.62x51 but the AK-308 design is competitive with the AK-12/15 weapons which are the latest generation of Russian military rifles.

All these AK rifles began with a Russian World War II veteran, Mikhail Kalashnikov, who came up with a brilliant rifle design which so impressed his bosses that they named it after him. AK means Avtomat Kalashnikova which literally translates as Kalashnikov Automatic. This was no fluke. Kalashnikov had always been into mechanical things and grew up in Siberia where rural folk could own a rifle for hunting. As a result of that he was familiar with how rifles operated in addition to being a mechanical genius. Kalashnikov was conscripted in 1938 and because of his small size was assigned to a tank unit. There his ingenuity and mechanical skills came to the notice of his superiors, who praised and encouraged him. He was badly wounded in combat in 1941 and while he spent six months recuperating, came up with some innovative ideas for a new rifle design, instigated by complaints he heard from wounded infantry soldiers. He wrote to the senior officers who had praised his skills before the war and was transferred to a weapons development organization. Among his many innovations and designs over the next five years was the AK-47, which began replacing all older infantry rifles in 1949. Kalashnikov died in 2013 but until the end he hunted and innovated, backing things like the Ratnik concept.

The Ratnik system is the Russian version of an American concept pioneered in the 1980s ("Land Warrior") and resulted in the introduction of new body armor, personal communications, wearable computers, night vision devices, and personal medical equipment. Several European countries have followed, especially the German Infanterist der Zukunft (Infantryman Of The Future), and Russia did the same but was delayed by cash shortages and debates over whether a new infantry rifle was needed. Unlike the United States, Russia included a new rifle design (AK-12) as part of its Ratnik gear. There was a lot of opposition to the AK-12 within the Russian high command, but at the troop level there was an even more vigorous and louder call for something to replace the Cold War era AK-74.

The AK-12 was not the best (from a technical point of view) candidate for Ratnik. The A545 was a more modern and efficient design, but the AK-12 proved more rugged and Russian troops are not big fans of radical change when it comes to basic items like rifles. The AK-12 is the second attempt since the end of the Cold War (in 1991) to develop a worthy successor to the AK-47. Earlier efforts had not been entirely successful. Part of the problem was that there was not a pressing need for a new AK in Russia. For example, in 2011, Russia stopped buying new AK-74 rifles. Since they already have ten million AK assault rifles, most of them older AK-47 and AKM models in stock and less than a million troops on active duty, plus about as many in the reserves. Buying more assault rifles was deemed wasteful. This did not stop the purchase of special small arms for commandos and other specialist combat units.

The new policy did not stop work on the new AK-12. This weapon was originally based on the 5.45mm AK-74, which replaced the 7.62mm AK-47/AKM series as the standard infantry weapon towards the end of the Cold War. The AK-74 entered service in the 1970s and twenty years later a replacement was developed, the AN-94. This rifle used the 5.45mm round first seen in the AK-74 but was able to use larger (45-round and 60-round) magazines. The AN-94 also had burst fire (of two rounds, while Western rifles tend to use three rounds).

The AN-94 was supposed to replace all AK-74s in Russian service but due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and sharp cuts in the defense budget, this did not happen. There were also concerns about the mechanical complexity and reliability of the AN-94. That's apparently why the AK-12 was not based on the AN-94. One AN-94 feature that was adopted for the AK-12 was the option to use a 60-round magazine.

Meanwhile, an improved AK-74M was introduced in 1991, and is still in service. This is a 3.4 kg (7.5 pound), 94.3 cm (37.1 inch) weapon with a 41.5 cm (16.3 inch) barrel. It has rails for sights and such and can use a 30 or 45 round magazine. Rate of fire is 650 RPM on full auto, and max effective range was 600 meters. The AK-74 looked like an AK-47 and used the same technology.

Some five million AK-74s were built, most before the Cold War ended in 1991. North Korea manufactures a copy of the AK-74 called the Type 98. The AK-74M was the basis for the AK-12, and the two weapons are very similar, with the new rifle having more flexibility and capacity for accessories.
Despite years of modernization initiatives, CISOs are still contending with an old-school problem: shadow IT, technology that operates within an enterprise but is not officially sanctioned  or on the radar of  the IT department. Unvetted software, services, and equipment can be nightmare fuel for a security team, potentially introducing a lurking host of vulnerabilities, entry points for bad actors, and malware.

In fact, it is as big a problem as ever and may even worsen. Consider the figures from research firm Gartner, which found that 41% of employees acquired, modified, or created technology outside of ITs visibility in 2022 and expects that number to climb to 75% by 2027. Meanwhile, the 2023 shadow IT and project management survey from technology review platform Capterra, found that 57% of small and midsize businesses have had high-impact shadow IT efforts occurring outside the purview of their IT departments.

Experts say that a shift in what comprises shadow IT and who is responsible for it is driving such statistics. In the early days, shadow IT might have been an unsanctioned server that a developer set up for skunk works. Later, it was systems implemented by business unit leaders without IT involvement because they favored a particular vendor or application over the one deployed and maintained by IT.

Although those earlier forms of shadow IT created risk, the main worries in such examples were additional work and costs that the extra systems added to the organizations technology bill as well as the inevitable absorption of the shadow systems into the official IT department portfolio.

Today, shadow IT is broader and more pervasive, and its being brought into the organization by a growing number of employees who are capable of quickly and easily launching tech products and services for their workplace needs without consulting IT or the security team.

Shadow IT today is like 10,000 flowers blooming

Shadow IT is back, and its back in a big way. But its different today. Its individual employees creating, acquiring, and adapting technology for work. These people have become technologists, says Chris Mixter, a research vice president with Gartner. Now shadow IT is like 10,000 flowers blooming. And you cant stop it. You cant say to the employees, Stop doing that, because you as security dont even know what theyre doing.

A mix of tech products and services constitutes shadow IT today. IT can still be comprised of a few unauthorized servers tucked away somewhere, but the ease of operation of modern software means its more likely to be made up of more substantial and pervasive technology deployments. Cloud-based and software-as-a-service applications set up by a business unit or even a single employee are common culprits.

Cloud has made shadow IT easier to exist because in the past when you used to have to procure hardware and know how to get a network connection, there was a barrier to entry. Cloud has lowered that barrier, says Joe Nocera, leader of the Cyber & Privacy Innovation Institute at professional services firm PwC.

IoT interfaces and undocumented APIs add to the shadow IT danger

Of course, the cloud isnt the only factor in todays shadow IT. The ease of deploying internet of things (IoT) components and other endpoint devices also contributes to the problem.

Undocumented, non-tracked third-party application programming interfaces (APIs) are another type of shadow IT that has become common within many organizations. A May 2023 report from tech company Cequence Security found that 68% of the organizations analyzed had exposed shadow APIs.

The ease of accessing cloud resources is certainly a contributing factor to the proliferation of shadow IT today. You have all these things where all you need [to deploy them] is a credit card  or not, sometimes theyre just free, says Raffi Jamgotchian, CEO of Triada Networks, an IT and cybersecurity services firm. That ease of access, however, belies the serious risks that shadow IT now presents.

Jamgotchian says workers typically dont know whether or what security layers the applications theyre buying have or whether anything needs to be added to them to make them secure. Then, to make things worse, theyre often putting sensitive data into these applications to get their work done.

As a result, these workers are creating entry points that hackers can use to access the enterprise IT environment to launch all sorts of attacks. Theyre also exposing proprietary data to leaks and possible theft. And theyre possibly violating data security and privacy regulatory requirements in the process.

Shadow IT can increase compliance and regulatory issues

Jamgotchian worked with one company fined by a regulatory agency because the apps being used by workers did not adequately secure and archive data as required by law; in that case, the companys manager had given workers tacit approval to download and work with apps outside ITs (and, thus, the security departments) view, which resulted in the compliance violation.

Furthermore, experts say shadow IT greatly increases the chances that products and services as well as the vendors selling them are excluded from any due diligence review, as IT and security are excluded from the selection process. This is part of the challenge when people are using these applications without asking if theyre from a trusted vendor, says Joseph Nwankpa, an associate professor of information systems and analytics at Miami Universitys Farmer School of Business.

The resulting cybersecurity risks are significant. Take the findings from a 2022 report by Cequence Security that noted 5 billion of the 16.7 billion malicious requests observed, or 31%, targeted unknown, unmanaged, and unprotected APIs. Capterras 2023 study found that 76% of the responding small and medium-sized businesses reported that shadow IT efforts posed moderate to severe cybersecurity threats to the business.

Lack of security review is shadow ITs biggest problem

And Gartner found that business technologists, those business unit employees who create and bring in new technologies, are 1.8 times more likely than other employees to behave insecurely across all behaviors.

Cloud has made it very easy for everyone to get the tools they want but the really bad thing is there is no security review, so its creating an extraordinary risk to most businesses, and many dont even know its happening, says Candy Alexander, CISO at NeuEon and president of Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) International.

To minimize the risks of shadow IT, CISOs need to first understand the scope of the situation within their enterprise. You have to be aware of how much it has spread in your company, says Pierre-Martin Tardif, a cybersecurity professor at Universite de Sherbrooke and a member of the Emerging Trends Working Group with the professional IT governance association ISACA. Technologies such as SaaS management tools, data loss prevention solutions, and scanning capabilities all help identify unsanctioned applications and devices within the enterprise.

Look for spending that points to unauthorized technology use

Jon France, CISO at (ISC), a nonprofit training and certification organization, says he advises CISOs to also work with their organizations procurement team and finance department to spot spending that could point to shadow IT. He says scanning worker expense reports is particularly useful in uncovering shadow IT because it helps find reimbursement requests for tech spending that is too small to go through the procurement process.

France and others say CISOs also need to educate workers on security risks posed by shadow IT, but temper expectations on how well that awareness training will help prevent it, Mixter says. He says most workers know the security risks theyre creating but move forward with their plans anyway: Gartner research shows that 69% of employees intentionally bypassed cybersecurity guidance in the last 12 months.

Educate employees about how to onboard new tech

Mixter says workers who deploy shadow IT arent malicious in their activities. Rather, they are trying to get their job done more efficiently and looking for tools to help them accomplish that goal. This is why, in addition to awareness training, CISOs should work to empower them by building up their security competence.

CISOs need to shift to competence building, to Let me help you figure out how to do that safely, Mixter says. According to Mixter, that means:

Developing guidance targeted at business technologists.

Offering options for business technologists to secure their work.

Helping business technologists gain relevant security certifications.

Integrating cybersecurity solutions into business technologist workflows.

Building policies that explicitly cover business technologist activities.

CISOs have to figure out how much security skill they need, understanding that they cant make everyone into a security specialist so they must determine what is the minimum competency they need, Mixter says.

That work pays off, he adds. Gartner has found that those with training targeted to their technology-related activities are more are 2.5 times more likely to avoid introducing additional cyber risk and more than twice as likely to move faster than those business technologists without such training.
The Czech Republic recently donated two of its SA-6 Air Defense systems to Ukraine. Each system consists of four tracked missile launcher vehicles, each with three ready-to-fire missiles. There was also a tracked radar vehicle containing a radar that can detect aircraft out to 75 kilometers. Ukraine also received over a hundred missiles used by the SA-6. NATO nations are seeking additional SA-6 missiles from the more than two dozen SA-6 users worldwide. Since Ukrainian SA-6s will mainly deal with Russian missiles, the more SA-6 missiles the better.

The Czech SA-6 contribution was welcomed by the Ukrainians, who have long used the SA-6, which entered service in the late 1960s as the 2K12 Kub, and evolved into the Buk system by the 1980s. Buk was superior in many ways but the upgraded SA-6 was still quite useful, as the Ukrainians had discovered in 2022. SA-6 is effective against Russian cruise missiles, which are the main aerial threat to Ukrainian cities and military facilities. SA-6 was upgraded twice in the 1970s and a third upgrade at the end of the 1970s was renamed as the Buk system. It was actually a much improved SA-6 but all upgrades after that were considered improved Buk systems.

Buk development was not always successful. Older, reliable and still useful systems like SA-6 were upgraded and overcame a lot of their vulnerabilities to modern countermeasures. Over 10,00 SA-6 missiles have been produced. While production of SA-6 ended in the late 1980s, upgrades did not. SA-6 missiles underwent the most improvements, followed by the search radar and fire control system. Kub kept up, eventually receiving containers for the three missiles carried on the mobile missile launcher vehicle. Range of the SA-6 was 25 kilometers and max altitude was 8,000 meters (25,000 feet)

In 2015 Russia introduced a new version of its Buk anti-aircraft missile; the Buk M3. This version has a longer range (75 kilometers compared to 50 for the previous M2) and improvements in the guidance system and overall reliability. Development of the Buk M2, a radical redesign of the 1960s era SA-6, was completed in 1988, near the end of the Cold War and disintegration of the Soviet Union. This delayed its introduction. Russia was not able to start production until after 2002. When NATO discovered the Buk M2 they called it the SA-11. Buk began development in the 1970s because of the success of the SA-6 system in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The Buk M1 entered service in the 1980s while work got underway for the even more advanced M2 and M2E. These were the ones delayed by financial problems in the 1980s. The M2 missiles weighed 720 kg (1,587 pounds) each and have a max range of 50 kilometers. This was followed by a lighter (581 kg) version with the same range. The missiles were carried and launched from a tracked vehicle that now held four, rather than three missiles. Another vehicle has the target acquisition radar which has a range of over 150 kilometers.

As successful as the SA-6 was in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, that was due to the Israelis ignoring warnings that the SA-6 was quite effective. The Israeli learned that quickly and adapted but lost a lot of aircraft. The U.S. and Israel quickly developed electronic countermeasures. Russia responded by improving Buk but was never able to repeat the success of 1973, which was largely the result of Israel underestimating the SA-6 and the ability of Egyptian crews to operate the systems. Israel has not repeated that error since then and it was a wakeup call to the United States and other NATO countries as well.

The Russian Buk M2E missile had a range of 30 kilometers. The Finns received the Buk M2Es in payment for a $300 million debt that would have taken much longer to be paid off in cash. Russia has paid off many of its older (often Soviet era) debts with modern military equipment. Some of the recipients have found that the stuff wasn't modern, or effective, enough. Buk is a very stable and flexible system and was even adapted to use American Sparrow missiles and be quickly integrated into an air defense network using several different air defense systems. More recently Israel encountered Buk in Syria and used electronic countermeasures and airstrikes to destroy Buk systems that threatened their aircraft. Eventually Israel kept its aircraft out of Syria and launched air-to-surface missiles from aircraft inside Israel, Lebanon or Jordan against Syrian targets. These missiles were sometimes intercepted by Buk missiles. So far the SA-6 and Buk systems have shot down a lot more missiles than aircraft. Warplanes can be equipped with electronic countermeasures to protect them from Buk while air or ground launched missiles usually lack such protection. That is also changing, with some land-attack missiles receiving countermeasure capabilities to get past electronic defenses often deployed to defend ground targets.
Unless theres a war going on, developing new or improved military equipment or weapons is delayed by bureaucrats more concerned about avoiding mistakes than getting the job done. This leads to lots of delays. The Ukraine War has changed that for NATO nations and Russia. While the Ukrainians develop a lot of their own weapons, and always have, they need more and that is what their NATO allies are supplying. With a war going on in Ukraine, its easier for the NATO defense procurement officials to say yes. With their nation under attack, Ukrainian developers are coming up with new weapons and equipment as well as upgrades for items they have received from NATO nations. Ukraine can put new or improved systems to the test quickly. Sometimes the Ukrainians dont tell their NATO allies about new items used or produced in Ukraine because the NATO countries are more likely to publicize that. The Ukrainians are more discreet, realizing that what the Russians dont know about will hurt them more. At the start of the war the Russians underestimated Ukrainian weapons and military equipment and the Ukrainians ability to use it effectively. This continues to supply the Russians with unexpected and unpleasant surprises.

NATO countries still supply most of the weapons and ammunition the Ukrainians need and for that they receive a lot of feedback on what works and what doesnt. This has been valuable to NATO nations, which are now producing more effective weapons and military equipment for Ukrainian forces as well as for NATO to use in some future conflict. NATO countries may not have troops in Ukraine but there are a lot of technical specialists examining captured Russian weapons and equipment as well as how well, or not so well, donated NATO material is performing. Some of these NATO specialists are military, often described as diplomatic personnel, and are there to speed up the assessments. Sometimes NATO nations will find Ukrainian assessments incredible and hard to believe. By having NATO nation experts on hand, the Ukrainian assessments can be confirmed.

Sometimes Ukrainians will go to neighboring Poland to report on what is working, what is not and what is needed to improve the situation. NATO also provides training for Ukrainian troops in Poland before the Ukrainians and the new NATO weapons or equipment return to Ukraine to be used against the Russians. As much as Russia would like to attack, with missiles, these training activities in Poland, they dont because that would trigger the mutual defense clause of the NATO agreement. If you attack one NATO member, all the other NATO countries consider themselves under attack and fight back. It's bad enough that NATO is supplying Ukraine with weapons and equipment. Being at war with the NATO alliance is a far more dangerous proposition for Russia.
MBABANE - A bouncer from Yemfo Bar yesterday appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court charged with the murder of a patron.

Bandile Xaba (23) of Mahwalala is accused of killing Mancedi Hlanze, whom he allegedly stabbed with a sharp object in the back, causing a fatal wound from which he (Hlanze) died.

Information gathered was to the effect that the deceased entered the bar and grabbed alcoholic beverages from one of the patrons, causing a commotion. It is said that Xaba intervened as the deceased engaged in a heated argument with patrons. Hlanze is said to have been joined by his friends in the commotion. As Hlanze was pulled out of the bar, it is alleged that Xaba hit him with a half slasher in the back.

Running

It is alleged that the deceased was last seen running towards Pasadas, before he was reported dead the following morning. It has been gathered that Xaba was taken by the police the following morning and later charged with murder. He was produced at the Mbabane Magistrate Court, where he recorded a confession last Friday. When he appeared for a remand hearing yesterday, Xaba informed the court that he had an attorney to represent him in the matter. The Crown applied that he be remanded in custody until June 16, 2023, pending committal to the High Court. The Crown also applied that blood specimen be extracted from Xaba for further investigations. The Crown applied for the detention of the exhibit that was allegedly used in the commission of the offence. Xabas relatives were present to give him moral support. One of the relatives broke into tears as she saw Xaba leaving with the police officer who had brought him to court.
LAVUMISA  As Unyazi Lwezulu was leaving the country for South Africa yesterday, people of Lavumisa and surrounding areas rushed to the border to receive blessings, after narrating their challenges.

This happened around 2pm yesterday, when the convoy with the Shembe leader arrived at the border. The Nazareth Baptist Church Leader, Unyazi Lwezulu, also known as Shembe, was in the country for a two-week festival, which was held at Esabelweni in Mahlanya. He arrived at the border in his convoy and had time to see some of the believers at the border gate. One man had come with his job application documents, while others requested healing and financial breakthroughs.

Prayed

It was noted that others came with water and petroleum jelly to be prayed for by Shembe. Even South African nationals also got a chance to have an audience with Shembe at the border gate, as he was waiting for the immigration processes. In an interview with Unyazi Lwezulu, he stated that he received a warm welcome when he arrived in the kingdom and he had been enjoying his stay since he got here. EmaSwati bekasiphetse kahle kakhulu, he said in vernacular. Unyazi Lwezulu said they would not turn down His Majesty King Mswati IIIs invitation. He said they would plan about the right time to come to the kingdom next year through various consultations on His Majestys availability. It was my first experience to receive such good treatment and respect, he emphasised. Shiselweni Regional Secretary Mzwandile Mthethwa was at the border to send off the Nazareth Baptist Church leader, as well as Lavumisa Police Post Commander Sicelo Dlamini, among others. On the South African side of the border; Unyazi Lwezulu was received by top police officials of Golela SAPS, as well as members of the municipality.
Rishi Sunak was in fluffy-wuffy mode, the one where his voice goes all soft and nougaty while his eyelashes flutter like My Little Pony.

Time was when this meant he was about to shower the populace with another few billion squid of furlough money.

Yesterday, he was, er, trying to talk tough on immigration.

The Tory tradition when discussing immigration is to come across mean and hard. Norman Tebbit would pound his fists.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel had the habit of clenching her front teeth together.

Rishi Sunak was in fluffy-wuffy mode, the one where his voice goes all soft and nougaty while his eyelashes flutter like My Little Pony

Yesterday, Sunak was, er, trying to talk tough on immigration

As for her successor, Suella Braverman, she tends to sound as though she's just commissioned a new winter coat tailored from Dalmatian puppy dog tails.

But the Prime Minister adopts a more caring, sharing manner.

Possibly it's to deflect from charges that the Conservatives are the Nasty Party.

Or perhaps pure treacle really does course through his veins.

Not that his language was lacking oomph. He spoke of 'doing the hard yards' and 'putting in the elbow grease' with 'grit and determination'.

It's just that he delivered the words in the manner of a mollycoddling nursery teacher.

The effect was rather disconcerting  imagine Cliff Richard reading out the sweary bits from a Bret Easton Ellis novel, or Mary Berry starring in a violent slasher movie.

The setting for the day was the Western Jet Foil and Manston Asylum Centre, where earlier the PM had been out with Border Force officers for a quick zoom around the Channel.

By my reckoning, he did not look entirely comfortable flailing about on the surf out there. Possibly more used to bobbing up and down in the sun-soaked Med aboard a luxury Sunseeker yacht.

He arrived bang on 11am, marching purposefully towards the lectern in a well-worn pair of commando boots which looked suspiciously as though they'd been pilfered from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's wardrobe.

Not that his language was lacking oomph. He spoke of 'doing the hard yards' and 'putting in the elbow grease' with 'grit and determination'

He was tieless and in shirt sleeves, presumably to radiate man-of-action vibes.

Mr Sunak's aim was to convince us that his mission to halt the daily flotilla of illegal boats was firmly on track.

We were told Channel crossings were down 20 per cent over the past year. 'Our plan is starting to work,' he announced confidently.

He was good enough to explain the details, albeit in that patronising, Jackanory way of his  where he appears to urge his audience to help him finish his sentences.

The returns deal he'd forged with Albania was a success, he claimed. The number of Albanians arriving here illegally was down by 90 per cent.

'This is proof that our deterrence strategy can work.

'When people know that if they come here illegally and they won't get to stay they..... ST-OP CO-MING!' he explained.

As for the backlog of asylum application decisions: 'Numbers show that is down by..... SEVEN-TEEN THOU-SAND.' My, my. That's a big number, isn't it, boys and girls?

Meanwhile, we heard that new centres were opening in Wethersfield and Scampton to accommodate 3,000 asylum seekers  as well as two new offshore vessels which had been acquired to house another thousand.

He referred to them as 'barges'. So in luxury terms, we're presumably not exactly talking the Queen Mary here.

When it was time for media questions, it was noticeable how much more authoritative the Prime Minister became.

Suddenly the gluey eyes had gone and the whizzy technocrat had returned, twisting about and prompting reporters with the feverishness of an after-dinner auctioneer. He does, though, maintain this grating habit of starting each sentence with 'So...'.

Someone suggested he only came down yesterday because bad weather had stopped the boats from sailing in recent days.

'I can't control the weather,' joked the PM. Ah, but he can control the boats?

If not, Sir Keir Starmer might as well start measuring up the Downing Street curtains now.
Amy Nuttall, the Downton Abbey and Emmerdale actress, is reportedly back with her husband after he walked out on their 11-year marriage and two children in February.

Andrew Buchan embarked on an affair with his co-star Leila Farzad during filming of the BBC crime drama Better. The chemistry between the two on set had been 'electric', apparently.

Well, I'm sure it came nowhere close to the sparks that flew once Amy discovered what her husband, best known for his turn in Broadchurch, was really up to when she thought he was away working.

Failure to separate the fantasy of steamy roles from everyday life is an occupational hazard for some actors. Take Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith, when he was still married to Jennifer Aniston. Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe while filming Proof Of Life. Or, most famously, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, who was Mark Antony to her Cleopatra.

All too often, the ensuing scorn falls most heavily on the heads of the women involved, not the cheating husbands. A widely quoted source on the set of Better described Leila, a married mother of one, as giving the appearance of 'being single' and called her the sort of woman 'you would be better not to leave alone with your husband'.

Amy Nuttall, the Downton Abbey and Emmerdale actress, is reportedly back with her husband Andrew Buchan after he walked out on their 11-year marriage and two children in February

, I'm sure it came nowhere close to the sparks that flew once Amy discovered what her husband was really up to when she thought he was away working

That kind of narrative belongs to the 1950s, when the women  either the one left at home or the mistress  were blamed for a man who let his trousers do the thinking. Both Buchan and Farzad surely knew what they were doing and the risks they were taking.

Not surprisingly, their fling didn't stand the test of time and Farzad returned to her husband. Sex, deceit and betrayal are not known to be ties that bind a couple together for the longer term.

Betrayal in any relationship is painful and difficult enough, but when it is so public  on front pages and showbusiness websites  it must be doubly humiliating.

Initially, a devastated Amy demanded a divorce and friends said she wanted 'a new start'. Instead, Buchan is back at the marital home and telling pals the couple are 'healing'.

So has Amy done the right thing? In taking him back, I am sure she wasn't just thinking about herself as the spurned wife but as a mother of two young children. Having Dad back home must have been something they desperately wanted.

What I suspect is that she put aside her own hurt feelings and, with the immediate shock and pain receding, decided her marriage was worth another chance.

As for her errant husband, I reckon that once passion was spent, the familiar comforts of home, the well-tuned contentment that comes from a long-term partnership and day-to-day contact with his children, were what he yearned for.

Both Buchan, pictured here still with his wedding ring on, and Farzad surely knew what they were doing and the risks they were taking

NADINE DORRIES: What I suspect is that Amy Nuttall put aside her own hurt feelings and, with the immediate shock and pain receding, decided her marriage was worth another chance

Those of us who have made it past the decade mark in a marriage know how much of the interaction between husband and wife flows around the children. Their wants and needs, their worries and achievements, take priority. That is real family life, not on-set fantasy.

Yes, it is often boring, difficult and stressful. There are always dishes to be cleared, washing to put on and someone to be chauffeured somewhere.

But within that mundane routine there is stability and a deep-rooted love which can become taken for granted and so allow lust to fill the void.

I hope Amy and Andrew, two hugely talented actors, do work it through. But a word of caution to Mr Buchan: he may be wearing his wedding ring, but it's notable that she is yet to start wearing hers. He has work to do.

Harry & Meghan? Watch this space!

Whatever you think of Prince Harry and the drama surrounding the Royal Family since he met Meghan Markle, I have enormous sympathy for King Charles, who lives with the daily worry of a son who seems troubled, over-therapised and perhaps, as the late Queen observed, 'a little too in love' with his wife.

Today, Harry is finally expected at the High Court  he failed to turn up yesterday  and will relive details of, among other things, his seven-year romance with Chelsy Davy when he gives evidence in his phone-hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers.

Whatever you think of Prince Harry and the drama surrounding the Royal Family since he met Meghan Markle, I have enormous sympathy for King Charles

Back in California, meanwhile, Meghan is reportedly reviving her lifestyle blog, The Tig  launched when she was a jobbing actress  in a bid to mirror the success of Gwyneth Paltrow and her website Goop.

Love her or loathe her, as a controversial royal wife Meghan is one of the most famous women on the planet and has the potential to become a 'mega-influencer' on social media, with high-end brands battling for her endorsement. Industry insiders say she could earn up to 300,000 per Instagram post.

Interesting, isn't it, that as Harry is back in London, agonising afresh over past troubles and trying to lay the blame for his personal pain at the door of someone, somewhere, Meghan is forging ahead on her own? Watch this space!

Well done to Elon Musk for seeing sense and overruling his woke employees at Twitter to air a controversial documentary  What Is A Woman?  in full, free, for 24 hours last week, attracting more than 110 million views.

As part of the trans debate  and critical of aspects of trans activism  conservative commentator Matt Walsh had toured the U.S. and Africa to ask a seemingly simple question that so many people today struggle to answer.

The result was originally broadcast on subscription-only service The Daily Wire a year ago. Plans to stream it via the service's Twitter feed last month were thwarted when Twitter executives asked for scenes to be re-edited because of two incidences of 'misgendering' trans people.

Walsh & Co refused and when the documentary went out, in a limited format, it was flagged with the warning that 'This Tweet may violate Twitter's rules against Hateful Conduct'. A free speech row erupted and Musk, having allegedly backed the censure initially, intervened.

The tech tycoon, who has an estranged transgender child, Vivian, even went so far as to say that 'every parent should watch this'.

I agree. It makes riveting viewing.

Spare a spot for hedgehogs

Unmown grass is unsightly but I take comfort from the fact that hedgehogs, now on the Red List as mammals threatened with extinction in the next 20 years, will benefit (File iamge)

In yesterday's Mail, Harry Wallop rejoiced that No Mow May was over so he could restore his shaggy lawn to neatly clipped perfection. But not everyone agrees. Yes, unmown grass is unsightly but I take comfort from the fact that hedgehogs, now on the Red List as mammals threatened with extinction in the next 20 years, will benefit.

Long grass provides a gourmet takeaway for the little creatures  a feast of bugs, especially earwigs and beetles.

I'm leaving a quarter of my lawn permanently unmown and have persuaded a friend to do the same. In the world of hedgehogs, every little helps.

Four in ten women prefer their menfolk to do the barbecuing, according to a survey. What on earth were the other six thinking?

Every mother of sons knows that little boys are pyromaniacs  and nothing changes as they grow up.

When the FA Cup final kicked off this weekend, the men in my family downed tools and abandoned the grill to watch it, and I almost had a panic attack.

My advice to all women: never even go near a BBQ, let alone light one. It really is a man's job.
I'm no stranger to the bile spewed at feminists like me by trans-activists online, but the Oxfam video I watched yesterday left me deeply disturbed.

It is a vile, misogynistic attack against JK Rowling, simply because she has so bravely championed the rights of biological women.

And it speaks volumes about Oxfam, a charity which still trumpets its primary purpose as a desire to 'help end poverty' but which today is captured to such an extent by extreme political ideology and trans-lunacy that it is no longer fit for purpose.

It's a deeply sad demise for the charity, founded in 1942 with the noblest of aims to send food supplies to starving mothers and children in Nazi-occupied Greece.

From these simple beginnings it expanded to provide international aid around the world, helping to combat poverty and hunger, as its fuller name, the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, makes clear.

JULIE BINDEL: I'm no stranger to the bile spewed at feminists like me by trans-activists online, but the Oxfam video I watched yesterday left me deeply disturbed

It is a vile, misogynistic attack against JK Rowling (pictured in 2018), simply because she has so bravely championed the rights of biological women

For decades, all manner of people have been pouring their hard-earned cash into this worthy project, in the belief that they were helping those in real need.

But priorities at the charity have changed. Should you click on Oxfam's website today, the first thing you will see  against a backdrop of rainbow flags and banners  is the slogan 'diversity makes us'.

What on Earth, you may think, has this got to do with those starving in Somalia, currently in the grip of a catastrophic famine; or Ethiopia, where millions are tormented by drought and conflict?

Or for that matter Afghanistan, where an entire population has been pushed into poverty?

Nothing, of course. Instead, it is a cloak of worthiness which conceals some ugly truths.

Under the leadership of its highly-paid executives, Oxfam has succumbed to an offensive agenda that is damaging to its reputation  as well as to those of its staff who dare to publicly disagree with its stance on trans issues and diversity.

Let us not forget that behind those friendly rainbow motifs lies a charity that in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti launched an investigation into reports that its own employees, including senior figures, sexually abused local women, hiring prostituted women and girls for orgies.

Seven members of the Oxfam team in Haiti, including the head of the operation, Roland van Hauwermeiren, resigned or were sacked for sexual misconduct in 2011.

And yet disgracefully, Oxfam declared such behaviour was not a case of exchanging 'sex for aid' because the prostitutes weren't actually beneficiaries of aid. What is more, it failed to publish its 2011 report of the investigation, whose contents only became known in 2018.

A whitewash then, and one which concealed an undeniable truth: that those employed by Oxfam exploited the desperate and damaged people they are meant to protect. The furore that followed should alone have been a wake-up call and a push for major grassroots change.

Instead, even as the Charity Commission imposed a 19-month supervision order on Oxfam to investigate what it called 'safeguarding failings', and the charity introduced cuts and laid off staff, its LGBT+ network miraculously found the money to produce a training manual called 'Learning About Trans Rights and Inclusion'.

For decades, all manner of people have been pouring their hard-earned cash into this worthy project. Pictured: Julie Bindel

Among the 2021 manual's claims was that 'mainstream feminism is supporting the root causes of sexual violence' because it 'centres privileged white women and demands that 'bad men' be fired or imprisoned'

In other words, rather than accepting that sexual violence is a problem that Oxfam ought to combat, it seemed to be saying that women who complained about it were the issue. It was another deeply concerning insight into the nonsensical world view of Oxfam's senior executives, who have latterly travelled so far through the looking glass that they are no longer remotely in touch with the real world.

How else can you view it when a female employee I know called Maria (not her real name) was effectively hounded out of her job for coming to the defence of JK Rowling? A member of staff had asked on an internal forum whether, given her 'transphobic views', it was right to sell Rowling's books in Oxfam's charity shops.

Responding, Maria pointed out that Oxfam's shops stocked books by people with all kinds of different outlooks, and asked for evidence of this supposed transphobia. It was  is  a legitimate response in a nation which purportedly protects free speech.

Yet in a now wearyingly familiar modern version of the Salem witch trials, Maria was instead subjected to a gruelling internal investigation which, ultimately, led her to have a nervous breakdown. While Oxfam eventually offered a grovelling apology  there's a pattern here  for what it called 'procedural mistakes', she felt she had no choice but to leave a job she loved.

Despite this apology, I am under any no illusion that any lessons have been learned. In fact, I know of many more female employees in the charitable sector who live in terror of expressing their belief that sex-based rights matter, knowing that even an accusation of transphobia can lead to them being blacklisted from employment.

Oxfam's obsessive focus seems no longer to be its founding mission of alleviating poverty and helping the most vulnerable but instead a culture war. Earlier this year, it published an 'Inclusive Language Guide' during which, over the course of 92 self-flagellating pages, it apologises for the English language, describing it as 'the language of a colonising nation', and offering a lengthy list of words that should be avoided.

Among them are 'mother' and 'father' which they claim ascribe 'gendered roles' which could upset transgender people.

Again you might ask what any of this has to do with the dispossessed women in developing countries? Striving to survive in places with no access to contraception and abortion, and where rape and male brutality is a daily reality, they have no choice but to face the punishing reality of their biology.

These are the women for whom Oxfam are meant to advocate and create meaningful change. Instead, they are pouring resources donated by a well-meaning public into nonsensical pamphlets and nasty, virtue-signalling videos that only serve to highlight that this toxic organisation has shifted so far from its original aims as to be almost unrecognisable.
It's inevitable in life that people will annoy you, but why communicate what irks you in a honest and mature way when you can write up a good old-fashioned passive aggressive note?

From Nashville and Melbourne to London and Leeds, Yahoo! Finance has collated a gallery of hilarious messages from disgruntled people who really wanted to convey how annoyed they were, but did not want to escalate things to a full-on confrontation.

One restaurant manager left a note to customers saying that if they were not happy with the wait time at their establishment, they could apply for a job to help the short-staffed team.

Elsewhere, a university lecturer sent an email to a chronically late student to 'congratulate' them on beating their own record for tardiness.

And another shared a very passive-aggressive message from the language app Duolingo, which is famed for the petty reminders it sends to users who skip their lessons.

From Popeyes restaurants in the US to Leeds, Yahoo! Finance has collated a gallery of hilarious passive-aggressive messages from disgruntled people. In London, someone left a note calling picking up after someone's dog 'free yoga'

A manager at the Louisianan restaurant chain Popeyes told customers that if they were not happy with the wait time at their establishment, they could apply for a job to help the short-staffed team

After a car failed to park in the correct bay, an angry passer-by drew new lines on each side of the parking spot

In Hawaii, a landlord 'thanked' his tenants for using a planter in front of the house as an ashtray.

In Nashville, a disgruntled mother used 'sad' cookies to guilt her children into visiting her more.

Meanwhile, several wives and husbands and even housemates showed the passive aggressive texts they sent to each other regarding housework and doing the dishes.

For more petty and passive-aggressive messages that will leave you in stitches, scroll down!

A shop selling guitars in Leeds was so fed up with hearing some people play the same songs again and again that they put a sign to ban them from being played

The language learning app Duolingo leaves passive aggressive reminds for users who skip their lessons

In the US, a driver wanted to make it known that they were better at following speed restrictions than others

A company went as far as slipping a passive-aggressive note in this safety warning on a package

After witnessing their neighbour smoke in the stairwell, someone went through the trouble of collecting them to make a point

A disgruntled housemate left a fed up note about washing up after the people they live with failed to clean up after themselves

A petty husband in Alberta incorrectly filled up the dishwasher to get back at their wife after they had a row

A wife in Melbourne took a picture of a bit of egg her husband left on the floor after their breakfast and sent it to him instead of cleaning it up

A mother used cookies as a passive-aggressive way to let her kids from Nashville know she would like them to visit more often

Could there be a not-so-hidden message in this manager who recommended a pointed book to their employee?

Somewhere else, a university lecturer sent an email to a chronically late student to 'congratulate' them on beating their own record for tardiness

A landlord managed to get under their tenant's skin by only replying using emojis after they requested shelves

A girlfriend bought this rug to let all visitors know what she thinks about her boyfriend's lack of proposal
A hairdresser has warned people of the dangers of plucking their stray grey hairs.

Jennifer Korab - who runs Renaissance salon in Hillsborough, New Jersey - says that tugging at individual hairs can cause huge damage to your hair follicles.

Speaking to Huffington Post UK, the expert explained: 'By plucking the hair, you may traumatise the hair follicle, which can lead to infection or even bald patches.

'You may be doing more harm than good.'

However, Michael Van Clarke - founder of 3 More Inches Haircare - went on to debunk the myth that plucking a single grey hair causes several others to pop up in its place.

Jennifer Korab, from New Jersey, warned the plucking grey hairs can cause bald patches on the scalp. Stock photo

Over time, the average person's hair becomes increasingly thin - even without plucking stray strands.

As a result, people who pull out their hair will accelerate the speed in which their hair thins.

He said: 'If you make plucking a habit when less than 1% of the head is grey, youll have less hair to work with in a few years time, when 10% of the hairs are grey.'

Grey hairs are caused by the follicle failing to produce melanin, and therefore colour - a process that is most often caused by the natural ageing process and sometimes stress.

In 2020 scientists finally proved what conventional wisdom has been telling us for decades - that being stressed causes hair to go grey.

However, in a stunning revelation, researchers from Columbia University also found the process can be reversed in hairs that have only recently turned grey.

Reducing stress could stave off grey hair, scientists say, and it is hoped drugs could be developed to further prevent the unwanted process.

The study found hairs from all over the scalp can reverse greying. It also discovered that beard and pubic hairs can regain their colour after starting to go grey.

Grey hair is caused by metabolic and mitochondrial alterations In the 2020 study which found greying can be reversed, the Columbia University researchers found proteins held the key to going grey. They created a way to study hair shafts in the way as scientists study tree rings. Using this, they could see what proteins, and how much of each protein, was found in specific regions of a hair shaft. They then compared white sections with coloured sections to see the difference. Analysis of the proteins found that 'greying is marked by the upregulation of proteins related to energy metabolism, mitochondria, and antioxidant defences', the researches explain. These may be triggered by increased stress levels. Colouration is provided by melanin-loaded pods in special cells. Melanin is the same chemical which gives skin different tones, people with more melanin have darker ski n and the same applies with hair. These melanin pods are supplied to trichocytes, the specialist cells which make up hair, via another cell specifically designed to produce melanin, called melanocytes in a person's scalp in the hair follicle pigmentary unit (HFPU). A total of almost 400 hairs were taken from a total of 14 volunteers and hairs fell into three main categories. They either had a consistent density of melanin and were 'dark', had a lack of melanin and were 'white', or were initially dark hairs that undergo greying over the course of a single hair follicle growth cycle and dubbed to be a 'transition' hair. High-resolution analysis under an electron microscope revealed that white hairs had hardly any melanosomes. Rapid greying events were associated with the loss of these melanosomes, the study found. Analysis revealed a single hair can go through phases of greying, but this can be reversed in as little as three days. The process fluctuates based on a person's physical state, including their stress levels, the authors found. Greying and the reversal of greying was seen in hairs taken from all over the scalp. It was also seen in pubic hair and beard hairs. 'The existence of white hair shafts undergoing repigmentation across ages, sexes, ethnicity, and corporeal regions documents the reversibility of hair greying as a general phenomenon not limited to scalp hairs,' the researchers say. Advertisement

Scientists believe the root of the greying issue comes from changes to metabolic pathways which form proteins the body.

These pathways are heavily influenced by hormones produced when a person is stressed, and relieving stress can therefore undo the process.

An extensive piece of research published online as a pre-print and currently undergoing peer-review for publication in a journal has detailed how hairs go grey.

Scientists plucked hairs from the head of willing volunteers and created a new imaging technique that detects pigment throughout a hair, from base to tip.

Their new method of analysis is similar to the study of tree rings, where a section is linked to a specific period of time, the researchers say.

For trees, a year correlates to another growth ring. In hair, a centimetre grows every month.

'Using this methodology, similar to dendrochronology where tree rings represent elapsed years, hair length reflects time and the hair shaft is viewed as a physical time scale whose region proximal to the scalp has been most recently produced by the hair follicle, and where the hair tip represents weeks to months in the past, depending on the hair shaft length,' the researchers write in their study.

Researchers were assessing the amount of melanin  which gives hair its colour  and what proteins were present in different parts of a hair.

They expected to see hairs greying at the base, as hairs grow from the scalp, not from the tip.

However, when they took almost 400 hairs from 14 people, they found the opposite. Some hairs were grey at the tip, but were coloured at the base.

This, the researchers explain, means a hair has greyed and then, inexplicably, stopped greying and returned to its normal colour.

Using the known growth rate of hair, researchers were able to specifically trace back when in a person's recent history the hair went grey.
They are budding royals, but Prince Charles and Prince Francois of Luxembourg are already stealing the show in an adorable new family picture.

The snap was released by the Grand Ducal Court on the same day as the baptism of Prince Francois, who was just born in March, and is the family's latest addition.

It showed Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his wife, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, cuddling up with their two sons.

Dressed in red culottes and a matching jumper, Charles, who just turned three, gave the camera a coy smile as he played with an animal figurine while his brother rested in his mother's arms.

The whole Grand Ducal family came together at the weekend at Fischbach Church for Francois's big moment.

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg has shared an adorable picture of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his wife, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie with their two sons, Prince Charles, three, and Prince Francois, three months, left

Mother-of-two Stephanie could be seen beaming in the picture as she posed with her three boys in the snap.

The royal donned a pale blue top with a boat neck and black jeans for the occasion.

Her blonde locks were elegantly swept to the side of her face and rested on her shoulders.

Discreet Stephanie went for a natural look and wore little makeup in the picture, with just a dash of blush, mascara and a nude lip.

She accessorised with a small pair of drop earrings and a long pendant necklace made of blue and silver pearls.

Meanwhile, her husband opted for a dapper blue suit, which he matched with a smart white shirt and a light blue tie.

Adorable prince Francois was dressed in red culottes like his big brother, as well as a white shirt with red button, and a pair of blue tights.

The tiny royal was the centre of all attention on Saturday as he was baptised in front of his family and loved ones.

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa attended the baptism of Prince Francois on Saturday

Prince Charles, who at three is already showing his cheeky side, was seen waving at cameras as his father led him into the church ahead of the ceremony.

Doting grandparents, Grande Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa were also in attendance, as was the recently married Princess Alexandra, who will be the sweet prince's godmother.

Mother-of-two Stephanie donned an elegant pale pink dress for the baptism, and held her baby son in her arms throughout the ceremony.

Prince Francois's father, Guillaume, could be seen smiling widely next to his wife, with their firstborn, Prince Charles, not straying too far from his parents.

Mother-of-two Stephanie donned an elegant pale pink dress for the baptism, and held her baby son in her arms throughout the ceremony

The parents, who both looked very elegant, were beaming as they exited the church with their young son

Cheeky Prince Charles, who just turned three, waved at the cameras as his father guided him inside

Recently married Princess Alexandra will be the sweet prince's godmother and wore a floral dress for the event

Pictures shared on social media captured both sides of the family in front of the church after the sweet event.

The Instagram announced revealed that the event was attended both by the Grand Ducal family, as well as Stephanie's family, the de Lannoy.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Luxembourg's archbishop, presided over the ceremony.

It was also revealed that newlywed Princess Alexandra will be Prince Francois' godmother.

Pictures shared on social media captured both sides of the family in front of the church after the sweet event.

The Instagram announced revealed that the event was attended both by the Grand Ducal family, as well as Stephanie's family, the de Lannoy.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Luxembourg's archbishop, presided over the ceremony.

It was also revealed that newlywed Princess Alexandra will be Prince Francois' godmother.
A man who has visited every Wetherspoon pub in the country except one is set to visit the last branch this weekend - after having to book a flight just to complete his mission.

David Bingham, 60, from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has visited 875 of the company's pubs since 2019.

He only has one pub left to visit, which is inside the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport.

David, who spent more than 20,000 visiting the pubs, including 40 which have now closed, will have to pass security at the airport to get a pint at the Flying Horse, completing the list.

David's partner Una Cooper, 63, bought him a Wetherspoon directory in 2019 and since the retired forklift driver has been inspired to frequent every branch in the UK and Ireland.

David Bingham, 60, from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has visited 875 Wetherspoon pubs across the UK and Ireland. Pictured at The Regal in Cambridge with his partner Una Cooper

He once visited 14 of the venues in one day and last month took a 9-day cruise around Ireland in order to visit every Wetherspoon on the emerald isle.

David and Una often rely on public transport and have even used a hovercraft to access the pubs on the Isle of Wight.

Some of David's trips to the branches have lasted a matter of minutes and on one occasion, he even booked a flight to Poland - which he did not get on - in order to get through security and access the airport Wetherspoon at Heathrow.

On one of his other excursions, David and his partner spent 69 each on flights from Heathrow to Manchester to tick off the airport pub before getting a train straight back.

Last year, the couple went on a British Isles cruise which docked in Belfast.

Some of David's trips to the branches have lasted a matter of minutes and on one occasion, he even booked a flight to Poland - which he did not get on - in order to get through security and access the airport Wetherspoon at Heathrow (pictured)

'My partner went to the giants causeway, and I went to the three Wetherspoon pubs,' Mr Bingham told The Sun.

'There's never a dull moment. It's a great way to see the country.'

'If we were going somewhere new, I'd suss out the Wetherspoons,' David told LadBible.

'I've had a drink in most pubs, I'd say 85 per cent. I'm a lager lad, definitely.

'The one in Ramsgate [in the Royal Victoria Pavilion] is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible.'

David has flown all over the country to visit every pub, he is seen enjoying a Guinness at a Wetherspoon in Belfast with partner Una

He once visited 14 of the venues in one day and last month took a 9-day cruise around Ireland in order to visit every Wetherspoon on the emerald isle (pictured at the Temple Bar in Dublin with partner Una)

David added that he loves 'architecture and buildings' and thinks its amazing that Wetherspoon save heritage buildings.

'There are five police stations, there are churches, there's chapels, there's a tram depot, there's a fire station,' he added.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told FEMAIL: ' We applaud David Bingham on his outstanding achievement.

'Many people love to visit Wetherspoon pubs across the UK and Ireland, but only a handful have visited each and every one.

'David will now join that select group.

'He has obviously put in a lot of time and effort into achieving his goal and we thank him for his dedication to our pubs.'
A mother was horrified when she turned her back for a matter of minutes only to find her toddler had covered himself in Sudocrem.

Daisy Stokes, 34, of Birchington, Kent, had left her mischievous 16-month-old son Reggie with older sister River, six, while she went upstairs to get ready.

However when she returned moments later, she found the oily white nappy rash cream had been smothered all over her carpets and sofa - as well as Reggie.

She managed to snap a hilarious photograph of the little boy covered in the cream from head to toe.

And despite days of trying to get the white mess out of her soft furnishings, there are still marks on the mother-of-two's carpet now.

Daisy Stokes, of Birchington, Kent, found the oily white nappy rash cream had been smothered all over her carpets and sofa - as well as her 16-month-old son Reggie

Daisy explained: 'It was one of those typically annoying times for a mum where I had somewhere to be.

'I'd rushed around all morning, got him and his big sister ready to go out.

'Gave myself two minutes to run upstairs and chuck my clothes on and asked big sis to please watch her brother - then I walk back in and see that.'

She said: 'I was in such shock and just had to grab him the minute I could to avoid any more damage.

'I've tried everything to get it out of the carpet but as it's oil based it won't go anywhere.'

Daisy, who has just set up her own cake-making company called Daisy Cakes, said she will definitely be leaving the Sudocrem on a top shelf next time.

She added: 'Reggie is the classic second child, I always joke that if I'd had him first I'd probably never have been brave enough to have another one.

'He is everywhere all the time and fiery too as he has red hair.

Daisy, who has just set up her own cake-making company called Daisy Cakes, said she will definitely be leaving the Sudocrem on a top shelf next time. Pictured: Daisy and Reggie

When Daisy had returned downstairs from getting ready, all hell had broken loose in her living room

Despite days of trying to get the white mess out of her soft furnishings, there are still marks on the mother-of-two's carpet now

She said Reggie is the 'classic second child' and said the mischievous little boy often steals food

The mother had asked her eldest daughter to watch the toddler when chaos happened Pictured: Daisy with her two children, River, six, and Reggie

'He steals people's food off their plates when they aren't looking.

'He even points up at the ceiling to make the person look away from their plate and then goes in for the grab. He is very funny.'

Recently, an anonymous mother was left 'appalled' after a couple let their toddler make a mess in a restaurant.

She posted on UK forum Mumsnet to ask others if she was being unreasonable and questioned whether parenting has changed for the worse over the years.

The baby screamed to get out of the high chair, banged cutlery on the table, spilled water everywhere and pulled soil out of a pot plant.

The divisive post left some users riled, with some claiming she should mind her own business, while others agreed that parents are too relaxed.
A job seeker has revealed their shock after receivng a bizarre email from a potential employer at a dog rescue centre.

Taking to Reddit, the confused UK candidate, explained the company, which they did not name, asked them to agree to eating vegan food only while in work.

If successful, they will have to agree to only eat a plant-based lunch and use plant milks while at their workplace, or go off site to have their meal.

The post, which racked up over 30,000 uplikes, was flooded with opposing opinions.

Many suggested they would be happy to have one vegan meal a day in the office, while others thought the lunch rule was 'weird'.

Taking to Reddit , a confused job candidate, believed to be from the UK, explained a company, which they did not name, asked them to agree to eating vegan while in work (stock image)

Sharing part of the email online the candidate wrote: 'Applied for a job, received this in an email. Can they really force this upon me or not hire be based on this??'

The reply read: 'Thanks for your application. To help us shortlist, please reply to the following questions.

'Our workplaces are strictly vegan. You do not have to be vegan away from work, but you do need to bring vegan lunch and have plant milks to eat on site or eat lunch offsite. Can you confirm you are fine with this?'

One person wrote: 'I will be a worktime vegan if the pay is good enough.'

While quipped: 'I probably would be fine with this, since it would automatically prevent people from microwaving fish.'

While another said: 'This is common for vegan brands, like ''beyond-meat'' . To be fair, it would be a bit weird to eat your ham and egg sandwich in the office of a company that wants to replace meat in the end.'

However, others said that unless the company is vegan it doesn't make sense.

On person said: 'That is so weird. Some startups really do the best they can not to hire, lol.'

Another wrote: 'I work for a pretty well known vegan food company, and we have no such rules.

'The food and snacks in the office are all vegan but you can bring whatever you want to eat yourself. People bring non-vegan treats to share all the time too.'

While someone else said: 'The only way I could understand this is if it's a vegan cafe or grocery store and they're worried about allergens or something.

'And even that is a hell of a stretch. For any other kind of job this is weird -from a vegan.'

Another commenter questioned whether dictating what people eat in work was legal.

They said: 'Everybody claiming they'd put up with this s***, nobody answering the question: Can the company legally enforce this?'

Many suggested they would be happy to have one vegan meal a day in the office, while others thought the lunch rule was 'weird'

Someone answered saying: 'Depends on the jurisdiction, there's no set answer.

'However, where I am based, a company can basically impose any requirement as a condition for employment except if it's discriminatory against a protected class, and even then there are exceptions provided that it is due to a bona fide occupational qualification.

'I'm not aware of any laws here that states that non-vegans are a protected class. So yes, this is legally enforceable at least where I live in.'

Another poster suggested that the job is likely a volunteer role and quipped that the Redditor would bt be able to afford vegan food.

He wrote: 'It's an animal adoption agency, the only person making bank is the vet. His co-workers are vegan volunteers. OP isn't going to make enough money to pay for the fake cheese sandwich.'

Someone else suggested a possible reason for the rule: 'There's a cat cafe in town that is also strictly vegan, because they don't want the cats to eat the customers' food.'
The Princess of Wales looked enthusiastic as she joined in with playtime at the Winsdsor Family Hub this morning - and made friends with an adorable tot whom she called a 'cheeky, gorgeous girl'.

Kate, 41, remained close to home for her first post-half term royal engagement as she visited the site in Berkshire where she enthusiastically took part in a workshop and joked she'll 'pick up some tips' from learning more about baby massage.

Dressed in a blue gingham blazer from Zara costing 73, paired with navy trousers and flat suede pumps which appeared to be the 405 Lulu style in midnight navy from Emmy London, the Princess was pictured doting over children whose families are supported by the centre.

She layered the blazer on top of a white top, and had her brunette locks hanging down her shoulders with a loose wave. Kate opted for light make-up to enhance her natural beauty, choosing a touch of blusher, a little eyeliner and a nude lip.

Upon her visit to the Hub, Kate joined in with playtime for the children, handing out toys to them and picking them up for a cuddle.

The Princess of Wales, a mother-of-three, visited the Windsor Family Hub this morning where she made some new pals during playtime. Pictured: Kate, 41, doting over a young girl whose family is supported by the centre

The Princess, also joined a stress management course with mothers from the Punjabi community, and upon learning about the course said: 'I'll come here and pick up some tips!'

Prior to her visit Kate, who has set up The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, told organisers who wrote to her asking if she would like to visit that she was keen to see their work first-hand.

She told Director of Children's Services Lin Ferguson: 'I keep driving past, saying I need to see what's going on in there.'

After arriving at the centre, the Princess sat down on the sofas with a group of mums' who use the space to meet up weekly to swap advice on how to raise their children.

The princess met some of their children and entertained a toddler with a basket of toys as she praised the 'brilliant' work of the centre.

'You cheeky gorgeous girl,' she said.

The princess then sat in on a baby massage session in the hub's sports hall, and discussed how the exercise can help parents to 'bond with your babies'.

And she didn't stand on ceremony, sitting on the floor cross legged as she squeezed a doll used to demonstrate the technique and said how much she loved the 'squidgy legs' of babies.

The group erupted in laughter when Kate told one dad how good it was to see a man amongst the five women who were being instructed on how to massage their babies.

'It's great to see a man here,' she said.

Photos posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's Instagram account showed Kate on a visit to a family home

The mother-of-three chatted to the siblings and their mother as part of her visit on behalf of the Shaping Us campaign

At the end of the visit, Kate smiled on the sofa with the children and their mother, who looked thrilled to invite the Princess into her home

Kiran Rudolph, who was at the centre with three-month-old Raya, said: 'It's one for the memory books. She made a point to speak to every single one of us which was amazing. We were nervous but she's a mum as well so that helps.

'It's so important to know where to massage our babies. I told Kate my little one is really active so it's invaluable to know where to squeeze her legs. Kate actually managed to get a smile out of her too - as she can be windy.'

The princess then joined a stress management class where she spoke about the importance of opening up about mental health.

When Kate asked how the classes were beneficial, one mum said: 'It's so beneficial for us. If I am mentally disturbed how can I help my kids?'

'But these are amazing tips you are learning and you can pass them onto your children,' the princess replied.

She also spoke about how we as a society need to 'normalise' emotions, saying: We all experience such different emotions and cope with them in different ways. It's so important to be able to share them in a safe environment.'

When asked by the princess if they feel it's changing culturally to be able to freely speak about your emotions, the group said: 'Yes, definitely.'

Mother-of-three Anaya Faisal, 40, who is fighting breast cancer and on the 10-week stress management course, said: 'I wish Kate could come here and share her experiences of being a mother.

'This place is really helping us. We don't talk about mental health at home. Depression is still a taboo. But they have really helped me change my negative thoughts to positive.'

The Princess thanked the workers for doing an 'amazing job' and added: 'To see this kind of service on our doorstep is so important. We need families up and down the country to have this opportunity and to connect with one another.'

Lin: 'Kate is really passionate about the work she has been doing so she was really engaged. People were nervous but she put them at ease and was really knowledgeable about the area.

'It's a one-stop shop and for some of our families it's a lifeline. Kate clearly wanted to do this visit and she was really interested. We didn't tell the parents until about half an hour before so they were really shocked.'

Following her visit to Windsor Family Hub, the Princess privately visited the home of Jade Beldom, a local lone parent - although later Kensington Palace issued pictures of the meeting on their social media accounts.

Jade and her three children Violetta, 5, Ocean, 3, and Jack, 4 months have recently been rehoused in Windsor and have received support from the Family Hub and from her extended family.

This includes support with her mental wellbeing, and help claiming Universal Credit from the Supporting Families Benefits Advisor.

In photos posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's Instagram account, Kate could be seen cooing over a tiny baby while its older sisters looked on.

The caption read: 'A big thanks to the Beldom family too for such a warm welcome into your home.'

The Princess's Shaping Us campaign, which was launched at the beginning of the year through the The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, aims to improve the lives of young people by focusing on enhancing their earliest experiences.

Kate made a new friend in the young girl, who had no idea she was in the presence of a future queen

The Princess sat down with a group to learn more about The Windsor Family Hub's work to help out struggling families

Maternal Princess! Mother-of-three Kate cooed over a tiny baby as she gently took its tiny foot in her hand

Kate chatted to a staff member who was dressed in an equally chic green blazer as she tended to a doll of a newborn baby

The Princess sat cross-legged on the floor as she chatted to the staff member who was demonstrating baby massage techniques

Kate sat cross-legged on the floor as she chatted to parents who are being supported by the Windsor Family Hub

As Kate sat down to meet parents and learn about the services the Hub provides, she joked she will 'pick up some tips' from the classes

A helping hand! Kate looked in her element as she joined in with toddlers' playtime at the centre, offering a basket full of toys to a little one

Beaming! Kate's passion for early years development was clear from her enthusiastic facial expressions as she chatted to parents

The Princess looked focused and in her element as she discussed her passion - early childhood development

Kate, 41, beamed ad she chatted to staff members at the hub as well as parents and carers who have benefitted from its support

Kate could barely contain her enthusiasm for the cause, months on from launching her Shaping Us campaign

The mother-of-three wore her brunette locks down, parted to the side and hanging over her shoulders

Kate opted for light make-up to enhance her natural beauty, choosing a touch of blusher, a little eyeliner and a nude lip

Kate's work on the campaign has taken her all around the country this year, even taking to the boardroom to bring businesses on board.

In March, she visited NatWest bank's headquarters in the City of London where brought together some of the biggest firms in the UK - NatWest, Unilever, Aviva, Deloitte, IKEA, Co-op, The LEGO Group and Iceland - for a royal round-table worth billions.

Describing the early years as a 'golden opportunity to transform our future life outcomes', she told assembled leaders that it was time to think 'radically' in order to create a workforce that is 'resilient, flexible and able to work through differences with each other' because 'the healthy development of our children relies on healthy adults'.

She said: 'We need the ability and capacity to be self-aware enough to manage our own behaviours and actions, in order to build meaningful relationships with each other.

'We need the ability to manage things like stress and conflict, to be adaptable to change and stay motivated when faced with challenges.

'This comes from our social and emotional skills, the foundations of which are laid in childhood.'

The princess stressed that individual relationships and connections were 'vital for collaboration and a core element to the culture and functionality of your businesses.'

Kate looked glamorous as ever as she sat down to chat with the staff at the Family Hub

The little girl seemed comfortable in the Princess's company - but appeared unfazed by the fact she was in the presence of a royal

During her visit, the Princess is hearing from staff at the centre as well as parents and carers who have been supported

The Princess paired her blue gingham blazer with navy cigarette-style trousers and flat pumps from Boden

The Princess has travelled to the Hub in Berkshire, close to home, where she will learn more about how the centre supports parents, carers and children in the area

Kate means business! The Princess of Wales, 41, arrived at the Windsor Family Hub in a gingham blazer from Zara costing 73

The royal said that not enough emphasis was placed on building environments that nurture social and emotional skills.

That same month, her crusade took her to the frozen aisle of Iceland as she visited a branch of the supermarket giant in Aylesbury, Bucks, where she chatted to chairman Richard Walker.

During a conversation which was filmed for the Prince and Princess of Wales's Instagram account, she discussed with Mr Walker how businesses can support children and their carers to help set the foundations for key employability skills 'in the earliest years of our lives'.

In the clip, Kate tells Mr Walker: 'You hear time and time again that these soft skills, you know, the creativity, the collaboration, the critical thinking, the flexibility, the resilience.

'You know, these are things that you'd hear that businesses are looking for and it's really interesting seeing how, actually, so often, the foundations for those skills are built in the earliest years of our lives.'

Mr Walker added: 'Looking at the Shaping Us campaign and reading some of the science behind it, it really challenged my thinking and it made me think what more we can do, personally as a parent, but also actually as a business.'

A nodding, smiling Kate added: 'That's the thing, is that so many of your employees but also customers, their parents, their grandparents, we all know that it's important to look after their wellbeing because those are the people that are raising children today.'
LOBAMBA - Senator Prince Hlangabeza sternly warned senators to be vigilent when amending the electoral laws, to protect the Tinkhundla system from its enemies.

He said this in Senate, when senators had just approved an amendment that extended the period which a candidate or voter could stay in an area before being eligible to stand for the elections The Voters Registration Amendment Bill No. 5 extended the period from three to six months.Prince Hlangabeza walked in as the debate was being wound-up for the legislators to proceed to another amendment clause.

exception

He took exception to that the chairperson, Chief Mphatfwa Dlamini, had said the matter had been dealt with and it was time to move on. The prince said he could not just fold his arms while the Tinkhundla system of Government was being undermined. He said even if he matter had been concluded, due to its sensitivity, it was worthwhile starting afresh. There are people who want to undermine the countrys peace by manipulating these laws. We need to be vigilant. I take exception to the statement that I arrived late when the matter had been delved into. He insisted that if such issues were allowed to go unchallenged, only the rich would win the elections. That would be folly because Tinkhundla, by its nature, was not made strictly to benefit the rich, but all people, he said. His opinion was that the three months period that had been suggested initially was too short a period for one to be eligible to stand for elections. If you have stayed in the area for just three months, who knows you to elect you to Parliament? This will promote the buying of votes, he said.

Late

He said if the senators felt like fining him for being late they should go ahead, but he would not keep quiet. Senator Isaac Magagula apologised on behalf of the chairperson and said he had merely meant to say that the issue had been exhausted, not that the prince was now barred from debating it. Ayidle itishiyele mntfwanenkhosi, Senator Magagula said extending an apology. Prince Hlangabeza interjected: Ningagangi ngelive. Princess Gcebile also appealed for calm from the prince, saying the matter had been exhausted, along the same points of argument that the prince was making. The minister even gave an answer on the issue, she said. Prince Hlangabeza, who was intent on debating the issue, wanted to know what the minister had said in response, in his absence.

Senator Moi Moi Masilela said the clause that says people can vote and also be voted for if they have six months residency should be removed because it would promote corruption. However, senators unanimously agreed that six months was a reasonable time frame. You cant expect us to elect a teacher who has just been transferred to a school in the area. That undermines the credibility of the elections, said Chief Zabeni Shiba. Senator Tony Sibandze wanted to know what the Members of Parliament (MPs) had said on the issue. To this, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Pholile Shakantu, said they had noted the six-month period. Some senators had recommended that the law should not accord a candidacy status to one who had just settled in an area, in the past six months, but should only allow such a person to only vote.

Advised

However, Legal Director Lungile Magagula, advised that such could contradict the Constitution. This must not clash with provisions of the Constitution, which stipulate that Parliament must not pass laws which create imbalance and inequality. If we say one can vote but not be voted for, Parliament could be creating an inequality, she said. Senators also amended the law to say that a person intending to register for elections, but lacking a national ID, should obtain a letter from umphakatsi, confirming such a person to be a liSwati. This was suggested to do away with the use of competent witnesses because they were prone to promote dishonesty.
A woman dubbed a real-life 'Lady' after marrying her very own 'Tramp' - who she found going through her bins - has sadly died.

Joan Neininger and Ken Selway, from Gloucestershire, originally met in 1975 when she spotted him from the window of her bookshop, searching for scraps among the rubbish from a nearby chippy.

Their love blossomed and in 2016, during the leap year, Ms Neininger proposed, before the couple tied-the-knot in 2017.

Tragically, Ken passed away in 2019, aged 92.

And now Joan - the other half of 'the Lady and the Tramp' - has also died at the age of 94.

Joan Neininger, who was dubbed a real-life 'Lady' after marrying her very own 'Tramp', Ken Selway, - who she found going through her bins - has sadly died

The couple, who tied the knot in 2017, met some 40 years earlier when she spotted him looking through rubbish outside her bookshop. Ken Selway and Joan Neininger pictured at their residential home in Gloucester (right)

Her daughter Joy Walters said: 'She achieved so much in her 94 years.

'She really was a remarkable and unique woman. There's no two ways about it..'

Joan and Ken became friends after their chance encounter in the late 1970s.

At the time, he was sleeping rough in stations and shop doorways.

But she noticed he was different from other homeless people, neatly dressed in a grey belted gabardine mac and drinking only milk.

She had presumed he was staying in a B&B and just had nowhere to go out in the day - but soon realised he was homeless.

After reading Down and Out in Britain, by Jeremy Sandford, she realised Ken could be one of the many ordinary people slipping through the welfare state safety net.

Joan then asked advice from the local church minister and her family and her daughter who suggested leaving sandwiches in the bin because he would not take any money.

The binmen took the first package but Joan made more and eventually, with the blessing of her husband Norman - to whom she was married for 30 years - she invited Ken in for a meal.

Joan later found out that Londoner Ken had nowhere to go because he was an evacuee.

And, after the man of the house died, his mother could not cope with his mental health problems.

Ken was evacuated to Wales, where he became a Bevin Boy, and was on a mission to find relatives when he ended up sleeping in a derelict house near the bookshop.

A photo Ken Selway used to carry in his pocket when he was homeless. The photo is of Ken when he lived in London as a young man

Norman, Joan's first husband (left) with Joan Neininger with Ken Selway in The Cannon pub Gloucester

Where Ken used to eat out of bins when he was homeless in Gloucester, Gloucestershire (pictured)

For a long time he refused all offers of help and money, telling her: 'You'll get into trouble'.

But her father finally convinced Ken it was the whole family who were concerned about his welfare.

Joan eventually left her husband to live in a caravan with Ken, who suffered from schizophrenia.

Although Norman also tried to help Ken, he struggled with his schizophrenia and for a time it did put a strain on their marriage.

Ken frequently considered suicide but over three decades Joan saved him from himself.

She persuaded Ken to take medication for his mental health problems and eventually all three lived together happily in a cottage which Joan described as 'like a little paradise'.

She says the men were like brothers until Norman died from a heart attack in 1983, leaving Ken and Joan in the cottage until he needed extra care and was moved to supported housing.

She then proposed in 2016 - and marriage followed at a registry office in Cinderford on her 89th birthday in February 2017 - four days after Valentine's Day.

Joy, a retired admin worker from Gloucester, said: 'At the time it did sort of split the family slightly.

'Because she wanted Ken to move in with her and my dad because with Ken, he was always like a child.

Joan proposed in 2016 - and marriage followed at a registry office in Cinderford on her 89th birthday in February 2017 - four days after Valentine's Day

The couple lived in the cottage until he needed extra care and was moved to supported housing

Joan's daughter Joy said the pair had a 'real' sort of friendship which formed the basis for their wedding

'It wasn't so much a romance as a real, platonic sort of friendship.

'I always put it down to her losing her son Robert, my brother, at nine years old from cancer.

'It was just that she had to, if you like, save Ken and it did split the family at the time.

'But eventually after many years she ended up in a cottage and my dad lived there with her and Ken.

'It was all resolved eventually but then my dad had a second heart attack and passed away.'

Joan was left heartbroken by Ken's death four years ago.

She moved to The Knoll care home in Gloucester in October 2020 and passed away peacefully there last week from dementia and old age frailty after her condition deteriorated significantly during the Covid-19 lockdowns, her family said.

Joan will be given a Buddhist send-off after converting to the faith as an adult.

Joan was left heartbroken by Ken's death four years ago. She moved to The Knoll care home in Gloucester in October 2020 and passed away peacefully there last week from dementia

Joy said: 'Her death certificate said dementia and frailty in old age.

'She developed dementia while Ken was alive but once he died it did get worse and it got extra worse through the pandemic because we weren't allowed to visit her.

'She went downhill rapidly during the pandemic because we couldn't go and visit her.

'The home did what they could but we couldn't visit her.

'Eventually we could and they had a pod with a screen across that we could use to visit her but she could never understand why we couldn't touch her and hold her.

'It was very cruel.

'She was always an activist for the homeless and against animal cruelty.

'She was a practising Buddhist. She strove to find something all her life and had a massive thirst for knowledge.'

Her funeral will take place at 11.30am on Wednesday, June 21 at Gloucester crematorium.

The family has asked that donations are made to Gloucester Feed the Hungry and Greyhound Rescue in lieu of flowers.
Vicki Perrin described Camilla as the 'most well-read person' she's ever met

Queen Camilla 'loves a crime thriller and romance novels' and has 'covered every surface of her sitting room with books', a charity boss has revealed.

Vicki Perrin, director of the Queen's Royal Reading Room charity, has described Camilla as the 'most well-read person' she has ever met.

Speaking to Ok!, Ms Perrin explained how the Queen's personal sitting room gives a taste of how much she enjoys immersing herself in novels.

She explained: 'Shell be sitting in her armchair and has piles upon piles of books surrounding her with more stacked high on every single table.

'Every surface that you can see is covered in books, even the floor has been taken over!'

Queen Camilla, 75, is interested in a 'wide-ranging' genre of books, according to Vicki Perrin - who is the director of the Queen's Royal Reading Room charity

The charity boss also highlighted how Queen Camilla is interested in a 'wide-ranging' genre of books.

She added: 'She loves a good crime thriller as much as she loves a romance, as much as she loves the classics.'

Although Ms Perrin did not specify which romance novels Camilla has been enjoying lately, Love in the Time of Cholera, Suite Francaise and Mrs Harris Goes to Paris currently appear on her list of favourite books on the Royal Reading Room website.

Other classics chosen by Camilla include Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The proud mother also includes her son Tom Parker Bowles's 2007 food guide The Year of Eating Dangerously.

Later this month, Dame Judi Dench, Gyles Brandreth and David Harewood will be among the speakers who will appear at The Queen's Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace.

First launched in January 2021, the Royal Reading Room was inspired by the success of the then Duchess of Cornwall's reading lists shared during the pandemic in 2020.

Now operating as an online literary hub, it offers book recommendations and exclusive insight from the authors themselves.

Vicki Perrin (pictured centre) speaks with Queen Camilla and novelist Sebastian Faulks at a Royal Reading Room event in October 2022

Since joining the Royal Family with her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla has made the issue of literacy  particularly among children  central to her work and is patron of seven charities including the National Literacy Trust and First Story.

Camilla, who has previously described herself as a 'voracious' reader, said in 2020: 'There is no friend as loyal as a book'  a quote from US author Ernest Hemingway.

Through the National Literacy Trust, the Reading Room has linked up with libraries across the UK to ensure the featured titles are available free for as many people as possible.

Speaking to Vogue last year, Camilla revealed she also shares her passion for reading with King Charles.

She explained: 'When we go away, the nicest thing is that we actually sit and read our books in different corners of the same room.

'Its very relaxing because you know you dont have to make conversation. You just sit and be together.'

Comedy group Austentatious (pictured 2019) will don period costume to improvise a play based on a fictional Austen title dreamt up by Camilla

At her inaugural literary festival later this month, comedy group Austentatious will don period costume to improvise a play based on a fictional Austen title dreamt up by Camilla.

Organisers promise the event will be 'a literary festival like no other'  and will break from the stuffy convention of 'authors plugging their own books'. The Queen has been 'hands on' in organising the day-long extravaganza on June 11.

The festival will also honour the life and work of Wolf Hall novelist Dame Hilary Mantel.

It is hoped the festival will become one of Camilla's 'legacy' projects by inspiring more people to take up reading.
The Swedish royal family were out in full force in Stockholm today to celebrate their country's National Day.

Crown Princess Victoria, 45, could be seen with a beaming smile as she wore a traditional outfit to celebrate the occasion.

The 6 June notable date as it is when Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523 and made Sweden an independent country, as they broke away from the Danish-ruled Kalmar Union.

Today has been a public holiday since 2005 but Swedes have been celebrating the day long before then.

Princess Victoria was joined with her husband, Prince Daniel, 49, and they were pictured opening the Castle's western gates at 10am this morning.

The Swedish royal family looked united as they opened the castle gates this morning to the public - who will be able to enter for free today

Traditionally, the Royal Palace is open to the public with free entry on National Day and all are welcome.

The royal couple also brought their children along, Princess Estelle, 11, and Prince Oscar, seven, who were also sporting clothing rich in history.

The mother and daughter duo were matching in the blues and yellows of the 'Sverigedrakten' folk dress costume.

This consists of a white shirt or blouse, blue skirt or dress and a yellow over skirt in the colours of the Swedish flag.

Whereas Prince Daniel and Oscar wore smart navy suits complete with matching sapphire blue ties.

Sweet images released by the Royal Court of Sweden show the family smiling together in their national costume.

Another wholesome snap shows Princess Estelle - the future Queen of Sweden - with her arm around younger brother Prince Oscar, who is wearing a badge of the Swedish flag.

They also posed together for another photo taken from behind, where Estelle looks down at her younger brother, while he looks up at her.

Crown Princess Victoria, 45, could be seen with a beaming smile as wore a traditional outfit to celebrate the occasion

Sweet images released by the Royal Court of Sweden show the family smiling together in their national costume

Future Queen of Sweden, Princess Estelle, 11, was snapped today in her 'Sverigedrakten' folk dress costume

The 6 June is a notable date as it is when Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523 and made Sweden an independent country. Pictured: The Swedish royals smile as they wave to the public

Like mother, like daughter! Victoria and Estelle look smart in their costume which consists of blue and yellow - the colour of the Swedish flag

Another wholesome snap shows Princess Estelle - the future Queen of Sweden - with her arm around younger brother Prince Oscar, who is wearing a badge of the Swedish flag

The 6 June has been a public holiday since 2005 but Swedes have been celebrating the day long before then

The siblings also posed together for another photo taken from behind, where Estelle looks down at her younger brother, while he looks up at her

Prince Daniel lovingly puts his hand on his son's head as the family clap to celebrate National Day

Every year the King and Queen take part in a ceremony at Skansen, Stockholms open-air museum.

This is where the yellow and blue Swedish flag is run up the mast, and children in traditional peasant costume present the royal couple with bouquets of summer flowers.

National Day also now recognises new Swedish citizens, welcoming them with special ceremonies held around the country.

Other festivities which usually take place on the National Day of Sweden, also known as Svenska Flaggans Day (Swedish Flag Day) include a ceremony at Skansen which is Stockholm's open-air museum.

The Swedish flag is raised and children present the King and Queen of Sweden with bouquets of summer flowers.
Queen Letizia of Spain was elegant in a white shirt dress as she attended a meeting in Madrid earlier this morning.

The royal, 50, appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the meeting of the Foundation Against Drug Addiction (FAD), which was held at the Telefonica District earlier today.

The wife of Felipe VI presided over the FAD's meeting. She has been the honorary president of the institution since 2015, after taking over from her mother in law Queen Sofia.

The monarch opted for a pretty white dress for the occasion, which featured puff sleeves and lace detailing across the bodice.

She paired the dress, which perfectly showed off her spring tan, with a pair of tan heels and a matching handbag.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 50, was elegant in a white shirt dress as she attended a meeting in Madrid earlier this morning

The royal appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the meeting of the Foundation Against Drug Addiction (FAD), which was held at the Telefonica District earlier today

When it came to her hair and make-up, the mother-of-two wore her glossy chestnut locks loose around her shoulders.

And she opted for one of her trademark looks, pairing a fresh complexion with a natural pink lip, and brown, smokey eye.

The FAD's main mission is to prevent drug use and other risk behaviours that prevent or hinder the development of teenagers, whether personal or social.

During the meeting, she was seen chatting with the organisation's president, Ignacio Bayon, before posing for a photograph with other members of staff.

It's been a busy few weeks for the Spanish queen, who was snapped at more than one engagement.

Over the weekend, she paired the bright midi skirt with a stylish white crossover blouse as the couple honoured troops during Spain's National Armed Forces Day.

Letizia finished the ensemble with a pair of low, fuchsia heels with a pointed toe, and small handbag in the small colour.

Meanwhile Letizia was also snapped in a striped shirt as she stepped out in Madrid for a spot of shopping on Wednesday.

She donned a white, long-sleeved top with black horizontal stripes, paired with black jeans, as she visited the Madrid Book Fair.

She has been the honorary president of the institution since 2015, after taking over from her mother in law Queen Sofia

The FAD's main mission is to prevent drug use and other risk behaviours that prevent or hinder the development of teenagers, whether personal or social

During the meeting, Letizia posed for a photograph with other members of staff at the organisation

The monarch opted for a pretty white dress for the occasion, which featured puff sleeves and lace detailing across the bodice

When it came to her hair and make-up, the mother-of-two wore her glossy chestnut locks loose around her shoulders and opted for neutral makeup for the outing

Letizia completed the ensemble with a pair of black pointed ballet pumps and a cross-body black leather bag.

She wore her chestnut locks loose, and matched the relaxed hair style with a natural make-up look.

During the casual outing, the royal appeared down to Earth, as she stopped to take selfies with people.

When she wasn't engaging with fans, Letizia, a former journalist, appeared utterly engrossed in the contents of the fair, showing herself to be something of a bookworm.

And she celebrated her 19th wedding anniversary with King Felipe on May 22.

After dating in secret, Felipe and Letizia announced their surprise engagement before tying the knot at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid on May 22, 2004.

For their big day, Letizia donned a gown boasting a statement high-standing collar and delicate embroidery, which she paired with a veil gifted by her future husband.

And she also wore the glittering Prussian tiara which had been worn by her mother-in-law, then Queen Sofia, on her wedding day in 1962.

The ceremony took place two months after the Madrid train bombings and the pair dedicated their wedding to the victims of the attack.
A flying squirrel who faked its death and staged a crime scene for its owner to find has been praised for its Oscar-worthy theatrics on social media.

A viral clip, understood to have been filmed in Thailand, shows every stage of the rodent's thrilling drama as it sets up its own devastating murder.

First, it runs up to a broom and dust-pan, before sensationally letting the cleaning tools drop down as it reclines on the floor.

Realising the broom didn't land as a convincing murder weapon, the four-legged thespian decides to opt for a different direction.

Nestling under the fallen object, the squirrel brainstorms different positions as it lines the brush up across its body.

A viral clip, understood to have been filmed in Thailand, shows every stage of the rodent's thrilling drama as it sets up its own devastating murder

It opts for a bold and dramatic placement across its chest - arms splayed out - just waiting to be discovered.

Every now and then, the creature can be seen breaking character to see if anyone has noticed its rouse.

User @BirrelleBee from Canada shared the clip, originally thought to have been uploaded by an unknown poster - or perhaps, more accurately, director - from Thailand on June 3.

The repost has raked up more than 21 million views, leaving audiences in stitches.

'Love how he checks to see if they are still there,' one wrote.

'THIS IS SO GOOD LMAO, I WANT ONE NOW,' a second praised.

Elsewhere a satisfied viewer said: 'Haha - no way! "It fells on me, and I died."'

'He keeps checking if people are still there or not and also adjusted the position of murder weapon multiple times,' another eagle-eyes film buff noted.

First, it runs up to a broom and dust-pan, before sensationally letting the cleaning product drop down as it reclines on the floor

Every now and then, the creature can be seen breaking character to see if anyone has noticed its rouse

It opts for a bold and dramatic placement across its chest - arms splayed out - just waiting to be discovered

A flying squirrel which faked its death and staged a crime scene for its owner to find has been praised for its Oscar-worthy theatrics on social media

It is possible that the talented, furry actor is a red giant flying squirrel, known to be found across Southeast Asia.

Like other flying squirrels, these chunky rodents are known for their gliding abilities and are largely nocturnal creatures.

And it's perhaps no wonder that the animal has a penchant for the dramatics.

The squirrel is sometimes known for a loud wail and whine sound which it bellows out around dusk.
A woman who was abandoned by her mother as a baby as a result of her rare genetic condition has revealed how her son became brain damaged in a tragic twist of fate when he was just 18 months old.

Kaddy Thomas, from Clevedon, North Somerset, who has dedicated her life to caring for her son Elijah, appeared on This Morning today to discuss Carers Week in the UK - which began yesterday.

The full-time carer was born with a rare condition called Apert Syndrome in 1968. In the first few days of Kaddy's life, doctors warned her mother that she would never live a normal life.

She explained: 'They wouldn't use this word now but [doctors told] my mother was told I was going to be severely r*******.

'So I think as a 22-year-old from Gambia, it was too much for her to handle so she abandoned me.'

Apert syndrome, also known as acrocephalosyndactyly, is a genetic disorder that causes fusion of the skull, hands, and feet bones.

It is characterised by deformities of the skull, face, teeth, and limbs and it occurs in one out of every 65,000 to 88,000 births.

In the years that followed, Kaddy lived in numerous foster homes around the UK for children with special needs.

She explained: 'I grew up in children's homes with children with other learning difficulties up until the age of nine but soon they discovered that mentally I was fairly well.

'So I moved under the care of Birmingham children's social services and was due to be adopted but that fell through so I was fostered for a couple of years and then I went back into care.'

Kaddy had some volatile teenage years but she says being encouraged to care for others in her local community turned her life around.

She said: 'When you are brought up in residential care, despite having clothes on your back, food in your belly and a roof over your head you don't get that love and security that you would ordinarily get if you were brought up in a family unit.'

In 2016, Kaddy welcomed her son Elijah - who was born with the same condition.

Kaddy Thomas who revealed her son was left with brain damage after a routine surgery at 18-months-old, highlighted the vital work of unpaid carers

Kaddy, who has dedicated her life to caring for her son Elijah (pictured) discussed why she wants carers to feel supported as part of Carers Week

But when he was 18 months old, he tragically suffered brain damage during a routine operation where surgeons found he had an undiagnosed infection - meaning he now needs constant care.

Explaining how her 'life was turned upside down', Kaddy said: 'He went from a young boy who was crawling, eating an going to nursery, dance to music to a child who then became motionless, I didn't recognise him.'

Kaddy said since that that day 'no two days are the same' and her life and his changed forever.

She said: 'You can plan to go to the zoo, the park, and then suddenly he might have an epileptic seizure which completely changes the dynamic of how our day is going to pan out.

'And depending on what happens with that seizure, it would depend on whether we would go into the hospital or not.

'He is in Bristol Children's Hospital as we speak today and Sunday night and today he had various seizures that required emergency medication. But you know he is strong, determined and resilient, a bit like me actually.

Her son Elijah was also born with the condition in 2016, but things were made harder when at 18 months he suffered brain damage after a routine operation, meaning he now needs round the clock care

At the age of one she was abandoned by her mother because she was born with Apert syndrome

What is Apert Syndrome? Apert syndrome is a genetic condition, caused by a mutation (change) on a specific gene. The gene mutation can be passed on from parent to child but in many cases develops sporadically. As we grow older, the sutures gradually fuse (stick) together, usually after all head growth has finished. When a child has craniosynostosis, the sutures fuse before birth. It can affect one suture or several. As children with Apert syndrome have a characteristic appearance, no specific diagnostic tests are needed. Depending on the severity of the skull fusion, treatment soon after birth may be needed if pressure inside the head is raised, breathing problems are severe or there is a risk of eye damage. Source NHS Advertisement

Kaddy now supports other carers to give them the support and confidence they need to keep going.

She wants to highlight the work that the 5.7million unpaid carers in the UK do.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

A carer is anyone who looks after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older.
A leading London headteacher has introduced a ban on pupils using the titles 'sir' or 'miss' to address teachers, branding it 'cultural misogyny'.

James Handscombe, executive principal at Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, shared an assembly on his Twitter account that he had given to students, in which he asks them to use full names when speaking to teachers.

The assembly, titled 'no more sir, no more miss', has now been viewed more than 120,000 times.

In 2021, the headteacher made headlines for calling Taylor Swift a philosopher, and clearly firm in his belief, five references to the US pop star's songs appear in the assembly this week.

In it, Mr Handscombe tells pupils: 'We are changing the way that students refer to staff at Harris Westminster.

'No longer will it be acceptable to call us Sir or Miss. We would prefer you to call us by our names.'

Executive Principal of Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, James Handscombe has asked pupils not to use 'Sir' or 'Miss' when addressing teaching staff, saying the terms are outdated and sexist

He explained that the decision showed 'our continued commitment to a better and more equal world', saying that while the term 'sir' was associated with powerful men, 'miss' was 'how you refer to a small girl, or an Edwardian shop assistant'.

Many schools have ditched the traditional addresses in recent years, favouring terms such as Ms, ma'am or madam instead of miss.

Mr Handscombe's post was widely praised by teachers - with many women working in education saying they had long since hated being addressed as 'miss' - especially by colleagues.

One wrote: 'I absolutely loathe when another teacher calls me Miss. Im 55 years old and I didnt really know quite why it made my skin crawl. Cultural misogyny - thanks James that was quite brilliant.'

Harris Westminster Sixth Form, where pupils are encouraged to call teachers by their full names

Another said: 'This is so very needed. I hope it works. I once had a senior deputy who called me Miss rather than my name and it grated every time.'

Mr Handscombe said of the decision: 'Its one of those things that is obviously wrong but nobodys fault (particularly not students, who I think use the two terms as equal forms of respect) and difficult to shift. Well see how we get on.'

However, one teacher said what she's called in the classroom is the least of her worries, writing: 'Ffs, the way behaviour is at the moment I don't give a damn what I'm called I just want the b****** to work. I've been 'Miss' for 35 years, and I'll be that until I retire.'

He discusses the words of wisdom found in Taylor Swift's lyrics in his new book, A School Built On Ethos, revealing that he believes her songs teach his pupils valuable life lessons. (Pictured: Harris Westminster school)

Mr Handscombe shoehorned five references to Taylor Swift into his latest assembly - in 2021, he told students she was one of the world's great philosophers

Lyrics such as 'Men get to be fearless leaders and alpha types' from Swift's 2019 hit The Man, and 'If its the latter  please stop  I just, I mean, this is exhausting, you know' from chart-topper We Are Never Getting Back Together are featured.

In 2021, Mr Handscombe, who was introduced to Swift's music through his teenage daughters, told students he believed Swift deserved to take her place in the canon of great philosophers - alongside Shakespeare, Yeats, Donne and Samuel Beckett.

He discussed the words of wisdom found in her lyrics in his book, A School Built On Ethos, revealing that he believes her songs teach his pupils valuable life lessons.

Her country song Mean is a 'spirited' call to stand up to bullies, Welcome to New York is a wonderful lesson on 'shaping your own future' and Shake It Off teaches listeners to 'do your own thing'.

He said at the time: 'It always gets a laugh when the headteacher knows anything about pop culture, and it's great fun quoting a pop lyric completely straight under the guise of philosophy and watching the nudges move round the room, "hang on", "did he just say?", "I think I recognise this".'

The teacher, who has degrees from Oxford and Harvard in maths, said: 'Her songwriting is telling her own stories and that they are gloriously the stories of a young woman negotiating the 21st century, is a great example for our young people.'

Harris Westminster opened in 2014 with the help of neighbouring Westminster School and the Harris Federation, a not-for-profit charity.

It gives priority to disadvantaged teenagers from around London and last year 44 of its students received offers from Oxbridge.
Juno star Elliot Page has opened up about the horrific battle with gender dysphoria that he faced during puberty, revealing he experienced 'erosive and damaging discomfort' - but had no idea what was happening because he'd never heard the word transgender.

Elliot, 36, who came out as a transgender man in December 2020 - 13 years after he was shot to global stardom thanks to his role in the hit movie Juno - has now spoken out about the deep 'disconnect' that he felt from himself before transitioning.

While speaking to ABC recently, the actor explained that when his 'body started changing' during his teenage years, he experienced immense 'shame' which 'literally made him sick.'

'When my body started to change and clothes sat on me differently, all of that was the beginning of sort of disconnecting from myself and feeling a degree of discomfort that was very erosive and damaging,' he said in a teaser for the sit-down, which was shared on Good Morning America this morning.

Juno star Elliot Page has opened up about the horrific battle with gender dysphoria that he faced during puberty in a new interview with ABC

The actor, 36, revealed that he experienced 'erosive and damaging discomfort' - but had no idea what was happening because he'd never heard the word transgender

Elliot came out as a transgender man in December 2020 - 13 years after he was shot to global stardom thanks to his role in the hit movie Juno (seen)

THIS MORNING ON @GMA | @ABC EXCLUSIVE: Elliot Page discusses his new memoir "Pageboy." Find more of his interview on The Freedom to Exist - A Soul of a Nation Presentation airing tonight at 10 p.m. ET on @ABCNetwork and streaming tomorrow on @hulu. pic.twitter.com/3MPzraaQkM  Good Morning America (@GMA) June 6, 2023

'I don't think I even, at that point, had heard the word transgender. If it did come up, it would be briefly in health class with, you know, the sound of laughter.'

He recalled struggling with severe 'self disgust' and telling himself that there was something 'wrong with him,' as the 'incongruence' continued to 'chip away at him.'

'The experiences I had in regards to bullying, it only encourages the shame that literally makes you sick,' he continued.

'The hiding, the self disgust, the "I'm wrong, there's something wrong with me" narrative...

'With gender dysphoria, it's being assigned a gender at birth based on your genitalia and that not being the reality of who you are, then the sort of incongruence and disconnect with that just continues to chip away at you and chip away at you.'

In his new memoir Pageboy, which dropped today, Elliot recalled winning a 'year-long battle' with his parents to be allowed to cut his hair short at age 10.

Soon after, he said strangers started addressing him 'as a boy,' but while speaking to ABC, he recalled his mom feeling 'embarrassed' over it.

'I was lucky to have a mom that even let me get to that place at 10, to look like how I did. But I could sense her discomfort, I could sense her embarrassment,' he said.

Elliot explained that when his 'body started changing' during his teenage years, he experienced immense 'shame' which 'literally made him sick'

He recalled struggling with severe 'self disgust' and telling himself that there was something 'wrong with him,' as the 'incongruence' continued to 'chip away at him'

In his new memoir Pageboy, which dropped today, Elliot recalled winning a 'year-long battle' with his parents to be allowed to cut his hair short at age 10. He's seen as a child

Soon after, he said strangers started addressing him 'as a boy,' but while speaking to ABC, he recalled his mom feeling 'embarrassed' over it. He's seen during his childhood

The 36-year-old explained that becoming an actor and being propelled into the spotlight only made things even more difficult.

'I think it especially became complicated as an actor because people would just go, "Well, you're an actor. Just put on the f**king clothes." You know?' he admitted. 'But needless to say, it was so much more than that.'

The 36-year-old (pictured in 2007, before his transition) added that becoming an actor and being propelled into the spotlight only made things even more difficult

Elliot has spoken out in the past about how being forced to wear dresses and heels while promoting Juno 'almost killed him.'

He now delved into it further with ABC, explaining, 'It's not like someone was forcing clothing on my physical body. But that is what it felt like to dress a certain way and be a certain way.

'I used to find it and still find it tricky to talk about. It relates to this, "Your dreams are coming true," because I felt like complaining at all or feeling bad at all just so profoundly ungrateful.'

He added that the 'anguish' he felt before his transition is now 'lifted off of him,' and that he hopes by speaking out, others who are going through something similar can feel less alone.

'I think many people obviously relate to that experience of what it means to not see yourself, and to think you never will,' he concluded.

'And then there you are, you just start to emerge and it's just so thrilling, it's really thrilling.'

Elliot's full interview with ABC, entitled The Freedom to Exist - A Soul of a Nation Presentation, will air tonight at 10pm EST.

Elliot has spoken out in the past about how being forced to wear dresses and heels while promoting Juno 'almost killed him.' He is pictured left in 2008 and right in 2022

Elliot (seen at the Juno premiere in 2007) now delved into it further with ABC, explaining, 'I felt like complaining at all or feeling bad at all just so profoundly ungrateful'

The Umbrella Academy alum previously detailed the 'intense' depression and anxiety that he battled before coming out as transgender.

He admitted to Esquire in June 2022 that he constantly wanted to 'flee' from his body and would have 'severe panic attacks' when he was asked to put on girly clothes while attending public events.

'When Juno was at the height of its popularity, during awards-season time, I was closeted, dressed in heels and the whole look - I wasnt OK, and I didnt know how to talk about that with anyone,' he told the outlet.

'I wish people would understand that that s**t literally did almost kill me. In my early to mid-20s, I didnt know how to tell people how unwell I was. I would berate myself for it.

'I was living the life and my dreams were coming true, and all that was happening. I struggled with food, intense depression, anxiety, and severe panic attacks.

'Can I relate to the suicide problem among trans people? Yeah, I can relate deeply.

'And not only to the very conscious, direct act of doing it but also certain times when I lost so much weight or when I was having such severe panic attacks and collapsed multiple times - all these things that very easily could, and statistically do, lead to death.

Elliot (pictured last year) added that the 'anguish' he felt before his transition is now 'lifted off of him,' and that he hopes by speaking out, others can feel less alone

'I think many people obviously relate to that experience of what it means to not see yourself, and to think you never will,' he concluded. '[When you] start to emerge it's just so thrilling'

'There were moments of wanting to not be here... I would look out the window of my apartment and think, "With everything going on right now and how incredible it all is, this is how I feel? And Im 22?" It was like, I dont know if I could do it.'

Elliot said that during the height of his fame, his anxiety got so severe that there were times he couldn't even leave his house, explaining that he'd go out and 'turn around' minutes later.

He explained that it felt like he 'couldn't function,' and that it even effected his work, since he 'couldn't read' or 'get through a script' without panicking.

But he called coming out to the world and finally getting to be his true self 'indescribable,' adding that he 'never imagined' he'd feel this way.

'I know I look different to others, but to me Im just starting to look like myself. Its indescribable,' he gushed.

'The greatest joy is just being able to feel present, literally, just to be present. To go out in a group of new people and be able to engage in a way where I didnt feel this constant sensation to flee from my body, this never-ending sensation of anxiety and nervousness and wanting out.

'I thought it was impossible how Im able to feel now ... I could not picture myself as a woman aging.

'Obviously. It was just like, what is my future? Theres not a future. Thats kind of what it felt like. I would say, verbatim: Ive never been a girl. Ill never be a woman.'
Sarah Ferguson made a cheeky reference to Oscar Wilde as she celebrated the official arrival of her grandson on social media today.

The mother-of-two, 63, took to Instagram to reshare a picture of Ernest, the second son of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who was born via C-section on May 30 at the private Portland Hospital in London.

The snap, which was originally shared with the public by Eugenie yesterday, shows the angelic newborn sound asleep, wearing a blue and white hat in his cot.

As the doting grandmother-of-three shared the snap with her followers, she made a reference to the play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, and praised her 'clever' daughter and son-in-law.

Born last Tuesday weighing 7lbs 1oz, Ernest's middle name also pays tribute to his late grandfather, Jack's dad George, who died aged 72 in 2021, and Fergie's father Major Ronald Ferguson, as well as King George V, the grandfather of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Sarah Ferguson, 63, marked the birth of her latest grandchild, Ernest Brooksbank, with a gushing post on her Instagram account. The royal tot, pictured, was born on May 30 at the private Portland Hospital in London

'Amazing... The importance of Ernest... Thank you so so much, clever Eugenie, Jack and August Brooksbank,' Sarah captioned her gushing post this afternoon.

She shared it as a reel with a heart emoji to convey the joy of becoming a grandmother for the third time to her followers.

Wilde premiered The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. The tongue-in-cheek comedy centres on two friends using the pseudonym 'Ernest' to skip obligations they find bothersome.

But the move comes back to bite them when the men fall in love with two ladies, and their deception is exposed, landing them in hot waters until the play reaches a happier resolution.

Fergie did not comment on the fact that her latest grandchild was also named after her colourful father, Ronald Ferguson, who died in 2003.

Ernest was born last week at the private Portland Hospital in London like his brother - and his mother before him.

A sweet snap shows her older son August watching over his little brother asleep in his Moses basket, which the new mother captioned: 'Augie is loving being a big brother already.'

The new arrival is 13th in line to the throne, pushing Prince Edward into 14th place.

Buckingham Palace said: Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their son, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank. 

Ernest will not receive a title, however, and  according to rules laid down by George V in 1917 - is not entitled to be called His Royal Highness.

Sarah, pictured on the night of the Coronation Concert on May 7, noted the reference to the Oscar Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Ernest

He is the first of Elizabeth II's great-grandchildren to be born since her death last September.

The new baby is named after Eugenie's grandfather on Sarah Ferguson's side, Major Ronald Ferguson, as well as Jack Brooksbank's own father George Brooksbank, who passed away in November 2021.

Major Ronald, who died in 2003 aged 71 in London, was polo manager to the late Prince Philip before working for King Charles.

He was educated at Eton, and followed up with a 19-year military career via Sandhurst and a commission in the Household Cavalry.

At the height of his career, he captained the Sovereign's Escort during the Queen's Trooping the Colour birthday parade.

He was known to be a colourful figure of London's society, especially due to his marital affairs.

A sweet snap shared to Instagram shows proud big brother August admiring his baby brother, who was born last Tuesday

The youngest daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York took to Instagram to announce the birth of Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank on 30th May 2023

The Major was known to be protective of his family, especially his daughter Sarah, and valued his privacy.

He once told a journalist: 'I am nobody. Nobody at all. I just happen to be the father of the Duchess of York. I mean, that doesn't make me terribly important, does it?'

His 1974 divorce from Fergie's mother Susan Barrantes was highly publicised after she eloped with Argentinian polo player Hector Barrantes.

He lost his position as polo manager in 1988 after the defunct News of the World published a story linking him to the Wingmore Club, described as 'a health club and massage parlour in London staffed by girls who, dressed in starched white "medical" gowns, allegedly offered a la carte sexual services to members.'

Jack and a very pregnant Eugenie pictured in April, at the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Major Ferguson always denied he used the club for sexual purposes, but the scandal impacted his reputation.

In 1994, his tell-all memoirs, the Galloping Major The Galloping Major: My Life in Singular Times was published, where he made bold claims about the royal family.

At one point, talking of how he was dismissed as polo manager by Prince Philip, Ferguson wrote: 'The impression was that [Prince Philip] had been advised to perform a royal version of ethnic cleansing by getting rid of the Ferguson family from his circle.'

In 2021, Fergie expressed regrets about the memoirs, admitted she'd rather her father hadn't published it.

Speaking to Town & Country for a special digital cover story, Sarah admitted she did not want her fathers book to be published.

She said: 'I never read that book. I felt that it would have been better that he hadnt written it.'

Major Ferguson died in 2003 following a heart attack in Basingstoke, Hampshire. He was reinstated into the Guards Polo Club shortly before he died.

Meanwhile, George Brooksbank, Jack's father, died just three days before the christening of his nine-month-old grandson August at the All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park.

Sarah Ferguson said her father Sir Ronald Ferguson, pictured in 1986. He died in 2003 from a heart attack

The Brooksbank family paid tribute to the old Etonian, 72, in a notice placed in the Daily Telegraph at the time, saying he 'loved all the good things in life', most of all his family.

George is also a reference to George V, the late Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather, whose middle name was Ernest and who died in 1936.

The second son of King George IV, he was destined to serving in the navy, until his brother Prince Albert Victor, the heir-to-the-throne, died suddenly in 1892.

Following this untimely death, George married his dead brother's fiance Mary of Teck, who became Queen Mary, and with whom he had six children.

In spite of their union being an arranged marriage, the couple had a loving relationship, and the gate of the royal Balmoral estate bares their monogram - 'GR' for 'George Rex,' and 'MR' for Mary Regina.

He ascended the throne as King Emperor in 1910 following his father's death and his Coronation took place 22 June 1911.

The King reigned through the first World War as well as the first global financial crisis of 1929.

In 1932, he delivered the first ever royal Christmas speech to the nation and Commonwealth, which became an annual tradition hereafter.

A heavy smoker, the King suffered from several smoking-related health issues in the later years of his reign.

George V was the father of Edward VIII, who succeeded him following his death, but abdicated before his coronation to marry US divorce Wallis Simpson within a year, leaving his brother, Albert, who became King George VI, to take over the throne.

Both Princess Eugenie, 33, who is an HRH, and Jack, 37, have jobs outside of the Royal Family and do not undertake official duties. It is expected that their sons will follow suit.
The 32-year-old claimed his wife, 28, wanted to name their daughter Princess

An unnamed Reddit user revealed his wife and him disagreed about baby names

A man has revealed his wife berated him after he refused to side with her in regards to giving their daughter a rather unique name.

The 32-year-old Reddit user has detailed the moment he and his wife, 28, argued over their unborn daughter's name.

The unnamed man questioned if he was an 'a**hole' in a thread titled, 'Am I the a**hole,' for shutting down his wife's idea to name their baby 'Princess.'

He explained that while he understood that his wife chose the name because it was her grandmother's middle name, he still felt like it wasn't an appropriate name for their daughter because she would then get 'bullied' at school.

A man has revealed his wife berated him after he refused to side with her in regards to giving their daughter a rathe unique name (stock image)

The unnamed man questioned if he was an 'a**hole' in a thread titled, ' Am I the a**hole ,' for shutting down his wife's idea to name their baby 'Princess'

He began his post by noting that they discovered they were expecting a child in January and had begun brainstorming baby names after they found out the sex at an ultrasound appointment.

The post read: 'For context, I, 32 male, and my wife, 28 female, found out that we are expecting in January of this year. Recently, at one of her ultrasound appointments, we found out that we are having a baby girl.

'A few nights ago my wife and I began to talk about possible baby names. She mentioned her mother, Ana, and asked me how I would feel if our daughter inherited her name.

Poll Would YOU name your daughter Princess? Yes No Would YOU name your daughter Princess? Yes 20 votes

No 754 votes Now share your opinion





'I told her that I loved that idea, not only because Ana is a pretty name, but because my wife is Puerto Rican and I know how important it would be to her family if we carried on her mothers name since it has been in the family for ages.'

And while he thought the conversation was done because he figured his wife was referring to her grandmother's first name, the unnamed Reddit user revealed the conversation was far from over, according to his wife.

He continued: 'I figured that the conversation was over after I agreed, but just last night at dinner my wife brought it up again.

'She said that she thinks its so meaningful that I am letting our daughter have "her grandmothers middle name." When she said this I was shocked.

'I had assumed my wife was talking about her mothers first name, not her middle name. This might not have been a huge deal, but my mother in laws middle name is- wait for it- Princess.'

He immediately shut down the idea, noting that he wouldn't allow his daughter to be named Princess because she would be 'bullied' at school

He immediately shut down the idea, noting that he wouldn't allow his daughter to be named Princess because she would be 'bullied' at school.

However, his wife was adamant they name their child Princess and slammed him for being an 'awful father.'

'I told my wife that I am sorry, but I dont want our daughter to be named Princess. Upon hearing this she burst into tears, calling me "a disgrace to her family" and "an awful father" for "excluding our kid."

'I told her that she was acting crazy, and that I would be fine with the name Ana but Princess is not a name I am comfortable giving our newborn.'

He added that now, his wife has been steering clear of him, causing him to feel 'crazy.'

'Shes been avoiding me all day, and Im starting to wonder if Im going nuts. I dont want our kid to be bullied, but family is so important to me and my wife,' the Reddit user explained.

Luckily, social media users came to the man's defense and pushed him to stick to his guns.

One person said: 'This is the hill to die on. The kid will be teased to death.'

Luckily, social media users came to the man's defense and pushed him to stick to his guns

Another user commented: 'Youre the childs parent too, you also have a say. Your wife isnt thinking of the child, thats for sure. Its a stupid name and you have the right to veto it.'

'People forget that kids grow up, can you imagine an adult working in a potentially corporate environment with that name? Kids arent dolls or pets,' wrote someone else.

Another user said: 'You're naming a human not a chihuahua.'

Someone else wrote: 'You both have to agree on a name its not all about her. And yes Princess is a terrible name your child would hate you for it.'

Another person commented: 'Its your child too. Remember that. You should name her something you both are comfy with.'

Someone else wrote: 'I'd engage the same conversation later when she is less overwhelmed by emotion, the child is both yours and there was miscommunication or manipulation on her part.'

'I'd try suggesting girl names that mean princess to your wife as an alternative. Either way stick to your guns on this,' commented another user.

Another user said: 'Princess is a dogs name maybe even a nickname but not her first name.'

One person said: 'Unless you want your child isolated and bullied stand your ground.'
MBABANE  He has destroyed or mercilessly murdered the future of the learners under him by depriving them of science and maths knowledge because he is always absent from school.

These averments were made by Assistant Attorney General Mbuso Simelane, in the matter where President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Mbongwa Dlamini has against approached the Industrial Court over non-payment of his salary. Mbongwa wants the minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the accountant general to show cause why they should not be sent to jail for 30 days. This comes after government allegedly failed to pay him E154 000 after his salary was withheld in October 2022, as per a court order of May 8, 2022.

Contempt

He contends that the trio was in contempt of the order, wherein they were directed to pay him the aforementioned amount. Government is opposing the application and it argued that the judgment that was issued by the Industrial Court on May 8, 2023 was under review at the High Court and had been automatically stayed. The assistant attorney general contended that, since the judgment was now under review at the High Court, Mbongwas application should be removed from the Industrial Court. He also alleged that Mbongwa had been absent from work for nine months and last week he was allegedly not at work.

Respondents in the matter are the minister of Education and Training, accountant general (AG) and the members of the TSC. It is my humble prayer that the application to hold the respondents to be in contempt of the judgment of May 8, 2023 be removed from the roll because the respondents have applied for the review (in terms of Rule 53 of the High Court Rules) of the said judgment in the High Court, submitted the assistant attorney general. Simelane further brought it to the attention of the court that the applicant (Mbongwa) had allegedly not been attending school and it came to the respondents attention that on June 5, 2023 he disappeared from school. According to Simelane, for the whole of last week (May 29 to June, 2023), Mbongwa was allegedly not at work. He told the court that there were other incidents they were investigating.

TSC Executive Secretary Nhlanhla Dlamini deposed to an affidavit, wherein he informed the court that there were other incidents of missing classes which they were investigating. According to Nhlanhla, the applicant did not report to him when he left and when he enquired from the head teacher about the conduct of the applicant and missing classes, he ( head teacher) was at pains to give him a clear answer. The TSC executive secretary said he could sense the head teacher wished to be considered for a transfer from heading the school where Mbongwa is teaching.

Depriving

The applicant has destroyed or mercilessly murdered the future of the learners under him by depriving them of science and mathematics knowledge, nor does he prepare scheme books or conduct tests because he is always absent from school, submitted Nhlanhla. He alleged that the judgment of May 8, 2023, did not deter Mbongwa from not attending work. He submitted that the United Nations (UN) convention on the Rights of the Child affirmed that every child had a right to education. He contended that education was a basic human right that worked to raise men and women out of poverty, level inequalities and ensure sustainable development, he argued.

If the court is inclined to proceed with the matter inspite of the pending review application, I humbly pray that it conducts an inspection in loco at Moyeni High School and interview the learners under the applicants care, to see the dire situation they are in, as a result of the blatant and willful killing of their future, which will in see them suffering later in life because of being deprived science and maths subjects, that the applicant is supposed to impart upon them, he argued. It was further his argument that the country stood to be deprived of scientists, pilots, mathematics and science teachers, engineers and IT specialists and many others professional because the applicant allegedly only cared for himself. Upon hearing arguments of both parties Judge Lungile Msimango reserved her judgment indefinitely.
Queen Maxima stepped out in a ready-for-business outfit today as she began the secondary of her visit to Brazil.

The Dutch Queen, 52, met with Fintech companies at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sao Paulo today.

For the occasion, the busy mother-of-three donned a flattering blush pink suit.

Maxima is visiting Brazil as part of her role as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Financial Inclusion and Development.

Yesterday, she kicked off the trip with a business lunch with several bank representatives.

Queen Maxima met with Fintech companies at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Sao Paulo today on day two of her three-day visit to Brazil

King Willem-Alexander's wife was the picture of dynamism as she stepped out of her hotel ahead of a busy day with engagements today.

Maxima opted for a business suit for the meet up, but picked a fun blush pink colour for the outing.

She paired the blaser and trousers with a matching pink top, and added a pop of colour with a large handbag with blue, white and orange patchworked fabrics from Dior.

Her blonde highlights were styled in a straight blow-dry, and the mother-of-three sported her trusted line of eyeliner with mascara and a dash of blush to compliment her sun-kissed complexion.

Maxima began her day with a sit down meeting at the hotel to discuss Fintech, before stepping out for a field visit where she met Toala Antonia, an entrepreneur who founded her e-commerce business, Casa das Kapulanas, with the help of Brazilian e-bank Nubank.

Queen Maxima has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) since 2009.

She was appointed by former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and in this role is a leading global voice on advancing universal access to and responsible usage of affordable, effective and safe financial services.

Yesterday, she met with banks including Santander, PicPay, and Banco Itau to discuss financial empowerment.

For the occasion, the busy mother-of-three, 52, donned a flattering blush pink suit with a matching top

The royal added a pop of colour with a large handbag with blue, white and orange patchworked fabrics from Dior

Her blonde highlights were styled in a straight blow-dry, and the mother-of-three sported her trusted line of eyeliner with mascara and a dash of blush to compliment her sun-kissed complexion

Maxima looked elegant and poised in the blush pink suit as she left the hotel following the meet up

She donned another pink look for the occasion, with a stylish blush pink blouse with a matching striped skirt.

The Dutch Queen has been racking up air miles in recent days, travelling to Brazil on the heels of a trip to Jordan, where she attended the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein.

As per usual, she was effortlessly elegant in a blue floral gown as she arrived ahead of the nuptials last week.

She opted for a V-neck gown with floaty sleeves for the occasion and was seen arriving at Zahran Palace in Amman arm-in-arm with her husband King Willem-Alexander, 56.

The stylish royal accessorised with pendant earrings and a gold bracelet. She sat down with different FinTech companies this morning

Maxima has been Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Financial Inclusion and Development since 2009

The royal enjoyed a one-on-one meeting with Cristina Junqueira, the CEO of online bank Nubank

Maxima, who was wearing glamourous jewellery, including a ruby ring, appeared passionate during the talk

Mic in hand, the Dutch Queen addressed the other attendees with confidence during the meeting

As the couple entered the Palace, they were greeted by Crown Prince Hussein's proud parents King Abdullah II, 61, and Queen Rania, 52.

Maxima's show-stopping dress featured billowing sheer sleeves - making it ideal for 31C temperatures today.

The stunning A-Line chiffon gown - which was cinched in at the waist with a ribbon - featured a dainty blue floral pattern.

What's more, Maxima matched her accessories to the colour of her pretty summery dress.

The royal wore long silver necklace featuring an assortment of blue jewels and matching dangly earrings.
A police officer has been left devastated after his wife took her own life just nine days after giving birth to twins amid a brutal battle with postpartum depression.

Stephen and Ariana Sutton, from Norton, Massachusetts, welcomed premature twins Everly Irene and Rowan Stephen in May - but their early arrival 'brought unforeseen challenges.'

The mother-of-three faced 'immense' strain on her mental health and took her own life at home less than two weeks after their arrival.

Her family are now hoping to share their story in a bid to raise awareness of postpartum depression.

Stephen and Ariana Sutton, from Norton, Massachusetts, who have a four-year-old daughter, welcomed premature twins Everly Irene and Rowan Stephen in May

Ariana, who was a keen dancer and co-owned a performing arts academy, had been 'eagerly awaiting the arrival of her twins,' her family said on a GoFundMe page

Ariana, who was a keen dancer and co-owned a performing arts academy, had been 'eagerly awaiting the arrival of her twins,' her family said on a GoFundMe page.

But the babies were born a month early and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit at Newton-Wellesley Hospital - where they will stay through the official due date.

Ariana's family, who described her as a 'vibrant and devoted mother,' said that their premature arrival 'brought unforeseen challenges, placing an immense strain on [her] mental health.'

They added: 'Despite her relentless efforts to seek help, the burden of postpartum depression became too much to bear.'

Stephen's brother Jason said: 'Ariana wanted these kids so badly. She lived to be a mother.'

The twins, along with the couple's four-year-old daughter Melody Ki, now face 'the heartbreaking reality of growing up without her mother.'

The family are now aiming to raise awareness of postpartum depression.

Ariana's sister-in-law, Catherine Sutton, now wants to break down the stigma for other mothers who are struggling with their mental health.

The twins, along with the couple's four-year-old daughter Melody Ki (pictured), now face 'the heartbreaking reality of growing up without her mother'

Ariana's family, who described her as a 'vibrant and devoted mother,' said that their premature arrival 'brought unforeseen challenges, placing an immense strain on [her] mental health'

She told Enterprise News: 'It's so important that you ask for help. If another family's able to avoid what we're going through right now, it's worth it to share our story.'

The fundraising page also concluded: 'By fostering a supportive community, we can strive to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.

'In memory of Ariana Sutton, let us unite to honor her legacy, celebrate her love for her children, and provide the support her family desperately needs.'

Money raised will be put toward easing the financial strain and supporting the family's needs to allow Stephen to 'focus on his children's well-being during this difficult time.'

Well wishers have so far contributed more than $261,000.

Postpartum depression, which can be debilitating, affects between seven and 20 percent of mothers, experts say.

But its true prevalence is still being understood because the stigma associated with it means many cases go unreported.

The symptoms usually begin within the first two to three days after delivery and may last for up to two weeks  but a small share of sufferers experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression.
A new documentary will explore the 'culture of misogyny' within the police, as it takes a forensic deep-dive into the vile case of Wayne Couzens, who abducted, raped and murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard in 2021.

The former serving Met officer - who, it has recently emerged, was reported for flashing a pedestrian back in 2015 - is the focus of the year-long investigation in Channel 5's programme, set to air on June 15 at 9pm on Channel 5 and then My5.

Wayne Couzens: Killer in Plain Sight, by Flicker Productions, is created by an all-female production team and 'represents the unheard voices of survivors of police sexual violence'.

With more than 1,000 police officers said to now be under investigation over cases of alleged sexual offences or domestic violence in the Met - according to data from January this year - the film 'reveals fresh evidence and asks if women's faith in policing can be restored'.

It will draw on interviews with 'experts, former police officers, previously unheard stories from survivors of police abuse and those who knew Wayne Couzens, to investigate what and who enabled him to commit such heinous crime'.

A new documentary will explore the 'culture of misogyny' within the police, as it takes a forensic deep-dive into the vile case of Wayne Couzens, who abducted, raped and murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard (pictured) in 2021

Colleen Flynn, Chief Creative Officer, Flicker Productions added: 'We wanted to examine the breakdown in trust between women and the police as a result of the Wayne Couzens case, the repercussions of which are still being felt today.

'By giving a voice to women on-screen and off, our aim is to instigate real systemic change, by shining a light on a toxic culture that enabled serious wrongdoing.'

It comes following recent reports that Couzens could have been arrested for indecent exposure years before he killed Sarah Everard - but a sergeant who knew his brother said it was not a crime.

Last month, it emerged that Kent Police failed to arrest the Scotland Yard officer when he was reported for flashing a pedestrian back in 2015 after the investigating officer accessed a file revealing that Couzens was a former special constable in the force.

In an extraordinary scandal, Couzens' name was broadcast as a suspected sex offender on a radio channel to all Kent Police officers, but no further action was taken.

It was revealed that the sergeant who dismissed the case was stationed in Ashford when Couzens worked there as a special constable and he also knew Couzens' brother David, a serving Kent Police officer.

The blundering officer, who has been given anonymity, twice accessed a file which detailed Couzens' work for Kent Police between 2006 and 2009 before logging that 'no crime' had been committed.

The extraordinary miss only came to light when an investigation was launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after Couzens killed Sarah Everard two years ago.

The former serving Met officer (pictured) - who, it has recently emerged, was reported for flashing a pedestrian back in 2015 - is the focus of the year-long investigation in Channel 5's programme

It will draw on interviews with 'experts, former police officers, previously unheard stories from survivors of police abuse'. Pictured: Lucy Osbourne, investigative reporter

Wayne Couzens: Killer in Plain Sight, by Flicker Productions, is created by an all-female production team. Pictured: Lucy Osbourne, investigative reporter

In September 2021, the Old Bailey heard how killer Couzens used Covid laws to stop, handcuff and stage the fake arrest of Sarah Everard before strangling her 'with his police belt' - as it emerged he had spent hours prowling the streets of Central London looking for a lone woman to attack.

Couzens cuffed the 33-year-old marketing executive's hands behind her back, leaving her incapable of undoing the seatbelt he strapped around her after ordering her into the back of his rental car.

It coincided with a string of increasingly sick behaviour which saw the married father-of-two flashing two women in McDonald's across two separate incidents.

Meanwhile, in April this year, reports emerged that a hotline for complaints about rogue police officers could be rolled out to each force in Britain.

Scotland Yard launched the first such hotline last November and more than 1,000 people used it to report misconduct.

Some of these reports have prompted intelligence-led drug tests and covert investigations into officers at Britain's biggest force.

It comes following recent reports that Couzens could have been arrested for indecent exposure years before he killed Sarah Everard. Pictured, a court artist sketch of Couzens appearing via video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year

Couzens cuffed the 33-year-old marketing executive's hands behind her back, leaving her incapable of undoing the seatbelt he strapped around her after ordering her into the back of his rental car. Pictured, members of the public at Sarah Everard's vigil in 2021

In September 2021, the Old Bailey heard how killer Couzens used Covid laws to stop, handcuff and stage the fake arrest of Sarah Everard (pictured)

Officers have also been suspended from duty and even arrested due to information from the Met's partnership with Crimestoppers for the dedicated hotline.

And the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) had confirmed it was possible that the same system could be rolled out across every force in the country to root out officers abusing their position.

A spokesman said: 'The NPCC is exploring the roll out of a national police integrity line as a priority. An update on the progress of this will be issued in due course.'

The Met had launched its own hotline for members of the public to report rogue officers in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder at the hands of serving officer Wayne Couzens, and a month before PC David Carrick admitted raping and sexually abusing 12 women.
This beloved actress looked completely unrecognizable as she stepped out 47 years after she first appeared on screens.

The now 61-year-old was spotted as she headed for a workout at Golds Gym in Venice, Los Angeles.

She kept it very casual in skin tight gray leggings, a Nirvana hoodie and a pair of trainers in an alarming shade of red.

But can you guess who it is?

This beloved actress looked completely unrecognizable as she stepped out 47 years after she first appeared on screens

The now 61-year-old was spotted as she headed for a workout at Golds Gym in Venice, Los Angeles

She kept it very casual in skin tight gray leggings, a Nirvana hoodie and a pair of trainers in an alarming shade of red

For anyone who is yet to work it out, the mystery woman is Woody Allen's former muse Mariel Hemingway. Pictured: Mariel in 1979 (left) and earlier this week (right)

Mariel was 16 years old when she starred as Allen's teenage girlfriend in the controversial romantic-comedy 'Manhattan' (pictured)

For anyone who is yet to work it out, the mystery woman is Woody Allen's former muse Mariel Hemingway.

Mariel, who carried her phone and car keys in her hands, wore her her honey-blonde locks in a low braid which she swept over her shoulder.

The Hollywood siren, who is also a keen yoga enthusiast, went makeup free for the outing as she embraced the au naturale look.

She previously told People magazine in 2009 that getting older in Hollywood is 'hard as hell,' revealing that she had previously tried Botox, fillers and plumpers.

But the on-screen star admitted that she did not like them - and claimed that they were 'all wrong' and left her feeling 'bloated.'

The low-key jaunt comes 47 years after she burst onto the movie scene.

The star, who is the granddaughter of novelist Ernest Hemingway, was just 14 years old when she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her breakout role in Lipstick in 1976.

And, after being flung into the spotlight at such a young age, she was soon showered with attention from filmmaker Woody Allen - whose reputation has been marred in recent years by allegations of misconduct.

The star, who is the granddaughter of novelist Ernest Hemingway, was just 14 years old when she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her breakout role in Lipstick in 1976 (pictured)

Mariel, who carried her phone and car keys in her hands, wore her her honey-blonde locks in a low braid which she swept over her shoulder

Mariel, who is a keen yoga enthusiast, went makeup free for the outing as she embraced the au naturale look

Mariel was just 16 years old when she starred as Allen's teenage girlfriend in the controversial romantic-comedy 'Manhattan.'

The film follows Allen as a 'divorced television writer dating a teenage girl' whose life 'is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress,' according to IMDb.

While the film was considered scandalous at the time, Mariel never spoke out against the director until the release of her memoir 'Out Came the Sun' in 2015.

In it, she wrote how Allen had showed romantic interest in her which made her uncomfortable.

After wrapping filming on the 1979 movie, Mariel says then 43-year-old Allen flew out to her parent's home in Idaho for a visit, during which he asked her to go to Paris with him.

The low-key jaunt in Los Angeles comes 47 years after she burst onto the movie scene at just 14 years old

She previously told People magazine in 2009 that getting older in Hollywood is 'hard as hell,' revealing that she had previously tried Botox, fillers and plumpers

The now 61-year-old, who is the granddaughter of novelist Ernest Hemingway, kept it casual for the outing

'Our relationship was platonic, but I started to see that he had a kind of crush on me, though I dismissed it as the kind of thing that seemed to happen any time middle-aged men got around young women,' Mariel wrote.

She reportedly told her parents at the time that she 'didn't know what the arrangement was going to be' and 'wasn't sure' if she was going to have her own room.

'Woody hadn't said that. He hadn't even hinted it,' Mariel recalled. 'But I wanted them to put their foot down.

'They didn't. They kept lightly encouraging me.'

Mariel eventually told the filmmaker that she would not be going to Paris with him and the following year, Allen started dating another one of his other actresses - Mia Farrow.
Flashback to February 2017 and I was at lunch in The Colony Grill Room of Mayfair's The Beaumont hotel with my boss Jonathan Newhouse, scion of the family who own Conde Nast, the publishing giant behind Vogue.

Two months previously, I had resigned from my role as editor-in-chief of British Vogue. It had been a big decision, but after 25 years, including masterminding the centenary celebrations of the magazine, it seemed the right time to try a different life.

Jonathan, the billionaire chairman of the Conde Nast board, said some kind words about my Vogue and claimed, in choosing a successor, he wanted 'evolution not revolution'. We mulled over a list of contenders  some Vogue insiders, other outsiders  as we tucked into mineral water and chicken salad, and then suddenly he stopped and looked at me like a child seeing their tower of shiny, wrapped Christmas presents. 'Edward,' he said excitedly, 'Everybody loves Edward.'

I knew that Edward (Enninful), a very talented British fashion stylist living in New York and, at that time, attached to high-end fashion title W magazine, was almost a godson to Jonathan and his wife, Ronnie, but that was all I knew of him. I was surprised Jonathan thought he would be interested in the job and said so, since, as one of the top stylists in the fashion world, he would have been making a lot of money doing commercial as well as editorial work.

Would he, I asked, want to give that up for the grind of being an editor?

I knew that Edward Enninful (pictured with Emma Weymouth), a very talented British fashion stylist living in New York and, at that time, attached to high-end fashion title W magazine, was almost a godson to Jonathan and his wife, Ronnie

Although Edward had international influence, within the company he was ultimately always playing second fiddle to Anna Wintour, Vogue's all-powerful global editorial director (pictured)

Six years on and that particular question has been answered. Last week, Edward announced he was moving away from his job editing British Vogue to a more amorphous role as its global creative and cultural adviser, a title which allows him, in the words of a gobbledegook press release, 'freedom to take on broader creative projects'. In other words he will no longer be tied to Vogue and will give up his individual power base at the magazine.

There is no doubt he will be employed by big brands to create the strong messaging imagery that is his trademark and, with the high profile he has gained during his six years at Vogue, will be able to command big bucks for it. Vogue, in turn, will have access to some of his diversity credibility, and will be able to call on him when needed. These kind of arrangements are not, on previous evidence, known as very lasting gigs.

However, Edward's shift in role is no sudden move. In recent years the power structure at Conde Nast has changed, with the focus of control moving firmly to New York, and although Edward had international influence, within the company he was ultimately always playing second fiddle to Anna Wintour, Vogue's all-powerful global editorial director.

He leaves amid an avalanche of rumours of rifts with Wintour. But whether they are true or not, the announcement that he will be replaced by an 'editorial content director', reporting to a multi-step ladder ending in the New York office, delivers a death knell to all that I treasured about the job.

By the time the move was announced, Edward was having to get stories approved by some hideous entity called 'Global'. Whether this curious blob is headed up by Wintour or not, it indicates a loss of autonomy. Edward was no longer in control.The rise and fall of the Vogue Editor is a parable of the times, and I am aware that I stand liable to sound very 'things ain't what they use to be' about it all. But allow me a moment of nostalgia.

Vogue was never just another magazine. During its now 107 years in the UK, it has commanded a unique position as the bellwether of contemporary fashion.

Pictured: Edward Enninful with Anna Wintour in February at the British Vogue and Tiffany & Co. Celebrate Fashion And Film Party 2023 at Annabel's

Adwoa Aboah on the cover of Eward Enniful's first VOGUE magazine

To be in Vogue is an endorsement of status unlike an appearance in any other publication. It's why the job of its Editor was so great, allowing one enormous power and influence. Crucially, successive Editors were given the ability to create a magazine that was a reflection of each one's vision. No more, it seems.

Like many teenagers, I enjoyed Honey and 19, but it was Vogue posters I would stick on my walls. I made scrapbooks of my favourite fashion and beauty pictures by Barry Lategan and Norman Parkinson. I copied beauty tips from leggy Chelsea girls.

The magazine was a compendium on who was who in the art, fashion, theatre and film world, and I loved reading wonderful interviews and stories by writers including Marina Warner, Joan Juliet Buck and Angela Carter. Not for them the unquestioning Q & bland A that is considered an interview in many magazines nowadays.

Naturally, I never imagined I might one day be in charge of this magazine, but in 1992 there I was, stepping into the role of several famous predecessors.

Outside my door hovered a substantial staff, several of whom had been part of the magazine for decades. Age 34, I was honoured, and somewhat terrified, to be their boss.

Of course, as the months passed and I began to create the magazine I felt was right for the times and for me, some of them departed. Change is never straightforward, but as Vogue Editor you had to be able to create something you believed was inspiring. A publication that would lead rather than follow, which was what many incredible Editors over the years did.

The lesbian intellectual Dorothy Todd, for example, filled her pages with writing by Aldous Huxley and Virginia Woolf. (Todd was fired after quite a short reign.)

Audrey Withers oversaw contributions from photographers Lee Miller and Cecil Beaton for war and post-war Vogue, and her successor Beatrix Miller commissioned the defining images of the 1960s and 1970s by Bailey and Norman Parkinson, Terence Donovan and Snowdon.

Naturally, I never imagined I might one day be in charge of this magazine, but in 1992 there I was, stepping into the role of several famous predecessors. Pictured: Alexandra Shulman

Reporting to a multi-step ladder ending in the New York office, delivers a death knell to all that I treasured about the job. Pictured: Covers from Alexandra Shulman's career

When Anna Wintour arrived for her short tenure of 16 months, she briskly swept away any traces of Beatrix, regarding her magazine as fusty, and replacing it with new mini-skirted power suits and bright smiling girls on the up. And then Liz Tilberis put the British whimsy back in again.

As Editor of Vogue you were given the keys to the kingdom, to do with it as you saw best  so long as it made money.

I wanted to bring in more amusing articles reflecting the emotions and lifestyle of the women of the times. I immediately included less expensive clothes, which helped London's growing High Street gain credibility, and which combined our extravagant fashion imagery with simpler, more attainable what-to-buy, what-to-wear pages. I wanted some controversial interviews and to include women who didn't look like fashion models.

We all had our own take on the magazine.

Edward's vision for Vogue was not mine, just as mine was not my predecessor's. It's no secret that it has been a sadness and frustration for me that he positioned himself and his vision by portraying my tenure at Vogue as if it were a crucible of white privilege. But in the intervening years I have learnt this sort of thing can happen.

To understand the changes now happening in the Vogue empire you have to look back at how Vogue expanded throughout the world during my time there.

In 1992, there were only a few foreign editions of the magazine, but every year Jonathan was adding more to his portfolio.

Vogue's stilettos marched into markets that had never been thought of as appropriate for an expensive fashion magazine. Russian Vogue, launched in 1998, the day the rouble crashed; Indian Vogue, which sprang up effortlessly with its roster of Bollywood stars and homegrown designers, in 2007. Vogue China came into being to cater for the fastest growing economy in the world, and then there was Vogue Thailand, Vogue Netherlands . . . and on. Each one had a distinctive cultural identity created by its Editor.

Of course, as the months passed and I began to create the magazine I felt was right for the times and for me, some of them departed

Change is never straightforward, but as Vogue Editor you had to be able to create something you believed was inspiring

In shelves in my office I kept the new monthly Vogues from each country. Sometimes I would suggest visitors guess which cover belonged to which territory. It wasn't difficult. Vogue Paris featured smouldering, pared down, monochrome chic; Russia was a celebration of high-gloss sexiness; Turkish Vogue showed a colourful and modern mood reflecting optimistic (recently dashed) hopes for a freer society.

As the big luxury businesses chased the new money coming out of Asia and Russia, so Vogue followed, launching new editions that would feature Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, but also the local scene with imagination and creativity. The business model always relied on some of the smaller Vogues lifting some of the stories from the wealthier ones  often the British and American editions  but each Editor was seen as a crucial part of establishing their title.

They would give dinners to welcome big brands to their cities, host parties to gather the glamorous and talented inside the Vogue tent, and follow the fashion show calendar around the globe with their teams alongside them.

How different to last month when a multi-page Annie Leibovitz shoot, commissioned by Wintour as a tribute to the Karl Lagerfeld show at the New York Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute, commandeered most of the editorial space in most of the Vogues.

Did the Editors really think all the different international readerships shared the same interest in Lagerfeld or the Met?

I make this point because, during my tenure at Vogue, I was always passionately guarding my magazine's independence.

I have, and had then, huge respect for Anna Wintour and her Vogue, but whenever there was an issue about British Vogue having to toe a line that she was pulling, if I didn't think it in our interests, I would push back.

One of the battles I lost was over Fashion's Night Out, an evening that was meant to boost retail in the world's capitals after the 2008 financial crisis.

How different to last month when a multi-page Annie Leibovitz shoot, commissioned by Wintour as a tribute to the Karl Lagerfeld show at the New York Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute. Pictured: Wintour at the 2023 Met Gala Celebrating 'Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty'

Edward's vision for Vogue was not mine, just as mine was not my predecessor's

International Vogues were to help stores host events to get shoppers to open their wallets. It might have worked in New York, but by year two, the flagship stores in London's Bond Street were begging us not to do it  the event saw their shiny shop floors flooded with people enjoying free champagne but not spending a penny.

When I read the recent announcement of Vogue World, a gala evening at London's Drury Lane in September in support the city's creative industries, I felt a frisson of recognition.

The only thing we Vogue Editors had in common was our control over what we featured in our pages. But no longer.

The pages are relatively unimportant to the Conde Nast business model. More relevant by far are affiliate shopping links on Vogue.com and the Vogue video series with celebrities.

Which is understandable to a degree, since in the current digital economy, the big advertising spend relies on the mass of all global business to harness 'eyeballs'.

But it's very sad to lose the individual voices Vogue was always about. Now it seems the place for clever, unique, sometimes quirky magazine stories is over. And with it, presumably, the role of the Editor who made it happen.

Whoever is bleakly titled 'editorial content director' will have little, if any, autonomy and will report to a bureaucratic tangle of 'leads' in New York.

Incidentally, I was dropping some books off at a local charity shop this week. There was a large magazine stand filled with old Vogues. I recognised most of them from my years.

A young man came up to the till excitedly carrying an issue with Helena Bonham Carter on the cover.

'I just have to have this,' he claimed, handing over his credit card and clutching it to him like a treasure, then turning back to say: 'I'm coming back for more.' It was an emotional reaction you don't see happening to a web page.

Magazines and their editors may not be seen as essential to Vogue's future, but it's interesting that all the big stars  Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Kate Moss  want a print cover.

And without a magazine, where's that cover going to be?
Woolworths shoppers have vented their frustration at the supermarket chain over the release of the limited edition $2 Vegemite coins.

Customers have been rushing to get their hands on the collectors' item coins which are given out randomly as change to those who pay cash at the register, with a limit of five per shopper per day.

However some collectors have managed to nab bags full of the limited-edition coins and then selling them online at inflated prices, infuriating those who have so far missed out.

Three million limited-edition coins are available to collect to celebrate 100 years of Vegemite, with a new design released into cash tills each week over a three-week period.

The release sparked a frenzy among shoppers and coin collectors so much so, sellers are now slinging the change for up to five times their value.

The release of the limited-edition Vegemite coins available from Woolworths has caused a frenzy among shoppers

Some collectors have managed to nab bags full of the limited-edition coins and many are being sold online at an inflated price infuriating those who have so far missed out

One person got a hold of a whole sealed bag of each design and has listed them on Facebook Marketplace for $650 while on eBay a pack of three $2 coins are going for up to $30.

Another woman claimed a Woolworths worker sold her a $50 bag of the coins after she asked if they had any available.

'It was very nice of him to offer but you could've taken 10 or 20 dollars worth and left the rest for others to collect,' someone replied.

'Sharing is caring. Some people aren't getting any. Please don't take this the wrong way. If offered, what would others do?'

Customers have been eager rushing to get their hands on the new coins which are given out as change at random to those who pay cash at the register with a limit of five per shopper per day

One person got a hold of a whole sealed bag of each design and has listed them on Facebook Marketplace for $650 while on eBay a pack of three $2 coins are going for up to $30

Some said they had also been offered more than five coins and another reported they had been given five bags.

'The people who are getting these coins in bulk are NOT being responsible to the public,' one man said on Facebook and another called the coin hoarders 'greedy'.

The posts have left many wondering how some shoppers are able to score bulk quantities of the Vegemite coins despite the supposed limit.

'I'm curious what your instructions are for dispensing the new Vegemite coins as I've seen on Facebook where some people have obtained bags and bags of them from your stores whilst some people like me can't get even one from our local Brassall Woolworths,' one man asked in a message to the retailer.

A Woolworths spokesperson said the reselling of the coins is 'clearly unacceptable and does not meet our expectations, and those of the wider community'

Another woman complained to Woolworths about the availability of the coins accusing staff of taking them and reselling them.

A Woolworths spokesperson told FEMAIL reselling of the coins is 'clearly unacceptable'.

'The coins are a celebration of Vegemite's centenary and we do not encourage the resale of these items. It is clearly unacceptable and does not meet our expectations, and those of the wider community,' they said.

'We would also like customers to be respectful to our team members as the coins are handed out in change only and distributed at random.'

The coins were released in mid-May by Woolworths and the Royal Australian Mint to celebrate 100 years of Vegemite.

They were designed by Royal Australian Mint designer Aaron Baggio, with each featuring a unique illustration celebrating Vegemite.

The coins were released in mid-May by Woolworths and the Royal Australian Mint to celebrate 100 years of Vegemite

Each of the three designs has a different coloured circle - yellow, red and black.

The first coin depicts a jar of Vegemite with the words '100 Mitey Years' at the bottom.

Another coin features a slice of Vegemite toast with the words 'Tastes Like Australia', while the third depicts a child eating a slice of Vegemite toast with the words 'Happy Little Vegemites'.

Woolworths brand and marketing director Jane Saleh said the supermarket has supported Vegemite for decades and is delighted to be part of the centenary celebrations.

They were designed by Royal Australian Mint designer Aaron Baggio, with each featuring a unique illustration celebrating Vegemite

'It's been a staple in the shopping baskets of Australians for years; we're delighted to be a part of the celebrations for this iconic brand's centenary,' she said.

As part of the celebrations, there will also be a $2 coin featuring the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse.

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by British engraver Jody Clark, the Memorial Obverse also includes the Queen's years of reign - reading 'Elizabeth II 1952-2022'.

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, said Vegemite is one of the most loved brands across Australia.

'It is fitting the Royal Australian Mint has partnered with Vegemite and Woolworths to celebrate 100 Mitey years of an Australian icon,' he said.

Vegemite as a brand will be turning 100 on October 25, with Bega's marketing manager for spreads, Jess Hoare, thanking Aussies for loving the product.
She is sick of being asked to donate to charity

A shopper has slammed supermarkets for asking her to 'round up' her grocery bill to donate to charity at self-service checkouts.

The woman, who goes by The Recovering Teacher online, took to TikTok to express her anger over the 'philanthropy shakedown'.

'I do press no because I am just morally opposed to multi-billion dollar companies doing shakedowns of consumers when they just want to buy red grapes and tampons,' she said.

She explained she's had a gutful of being asked if she wants to donate her hard-earned cash to the supermarket's chain's not-for-profit charity partners.

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A teacher has been left fuming after being asked to 'round up' her grocery bill in order to help those in need

'This is a message for Woolworths - no I don't want my 85cent refund, what I want is for you as a multimillion dollar conglomerate to start making these donations yourself,' she fumed.

A Woolworths spokesperson defended the company's fundraising efforts and told FEMAIL supporting Australian communities is a priority.

'This is an entirely voluntary donation that customers can choose to make or decline, at their own discretion,' the spokesperson said.

But the mum's video went viral with many people agreeing with her.

'I used to feel guilty saying no, but f**k it - I am just an average single mum trying to do my best,' one woman said.

'I've been asked twice in the last 2 days. Both times I've said no and both times I've thought, how about hitting up the top end of town,' said another man.

The Recovering Teacher explained in the comments that she shops at Aldi and farmers markets where she can in order to avoid the donation prompts.

Poll Do you hate being asked to 'round up' your grocery bill for charity? Yes, we are all struggling! No, it is fine. Do you hate being asked to 'round up' your grocery bill for charity? Yes, we are all struggling! 749 votes

No, it is fine. 107 votes Now share your opinion





Customers also slammed Woolworths' competitor, Coles.

'Coles with their 0 food waste program making sure food goes to those in need-many are in need of food donations because of corporations like Coles,' one said.

And others took aim at the 'charity hawkers' out the front of the supermarkets - claiming they often earn more an hour than they can get in donations.

One mum said she calculates the 'round ups' and at the end of each year donates to a charity of her choice.

Others criticised the TikToker for complaining about the donation prompt and using foul language.

The teacher dubbed the 'round up' option and other supermarket schemes as 'fake philanthropy'

'Or you could just ignore it and not waste so much energy on getting mad,' one woman said.

This, and people criticising her swearing, prompted the teacher to make a second video.

She explained she would be standing by the first video and called for people who don't have a problem with the 'capitalist hellscape we live in' to open their eyes.

The Woolworths spokesperson also explained the round-up program runs alongside the company's other philanthropic efforts.

'In the last two years, the round up option has helped raise millions of dollars for our various community partners. Wed like to thank our customers for their ongoing support of these community initiatives and a reminder that there is no obligation on customers to donate,' they said.
A woman who was banished from her home during her period, kept out of the sunlight, and even forbidden from touching plants has revealed how she is revolutionising menstruation.

Ruby Raut, 34, from Nepal, who now lives in London, explained that her life was forever changed when she began her period at the age of 12 and had to leave her family.

Fuelled by her difficult experiences, Ruby is now the founder WUKA - a company which makes period underwear that offers an affordable and sustainable alternative to menstrual products like pads, tampons and cups.

'Traditionally, when a girl has her first period, they usually don't stay at the home, and they go to somebody else's house,' the entrepreneur recalled, speaking of her past.

'My mum said, "You need to go to your aunt's house." I had two cousins, who were a year younger than me. We were like best friends, so I was quite excited to go.'

Fuelled by her difficult experiences, Ruby is now the founder WUKA - a company which makes period underwear

But she had no idea that the trip to her aunt's would not be the fun experience she was hoping for.

'When I went over there, my aunt said, "This is your room and this is your bowl and cup. For seven to eight days, you'll stay here",' she revealed.

'And I was like, "What? I can't go out?"'.

Ruby admitted the first day was 'hard to process' - and the situation only became 'more difficult as the days went by'.

'I had cousins, and I wanted to go and play,' she explained. 'I was kept out of the sunlight, forbidden from touching plants, and I couldn't go to school.

'Even when it came to food, I was treated differently. Every time food was passed, it almost felt like it was passed on the floor.'

Ruby felt like she was 'a prisoner of society'.

Ruby said she was given what's known as 'sari rags' and told by her mother that this would be her menstrual product - thin, cloth rags that acted as pads she had to wash throughout her cycle.

Ruby Raut, 34, from Nepal, who now lives in London, explained that her life was forever changed when she began her period at the age of 12 and had to leave her family. Pictured when she was younger

Everything changed for Ruby when she moved to the UK at the age of 20. Pictured now, aged 34

Ruby was subjected to a form of Chapaudi - a now-illegal practice that saw women and girls banned from society when menstruating as they were thought to be 'impure'.

She explained that the tradition was passed down from her grandparents, who did not find it anywhere near as traumatic.

'They didn't have any menstrual products,' she said. 'They didn't even wear underwear.

'Whenever they wore a sari rag, they would be wearing different layers of clothes, so they would tuck it in and sit somewhere, but the moment they got up and walked, they would trail blood.

'So people in their household said, "Don't get the blood everywhere - just go and sit somewhere else."

'That was how the whole process of isolation came about.'

Ruby also revealed that her grandparents' days were filled with housework and labour on the farm, so when it was their time of the month, they appreciated getting a break.

'The women were basically the people who ran the household, looking after six, seven children, farming animals, and feeding them,' she said. 'It was a bit of respite for them.'

Ruby was subjected to a form of Chapaudi - a now-illegal practice that saw women and girls banned from society when menstruating as they were thought to be 'impure'. Ruby pictured as a toddler

She explained that the tradition was passed down from her grandparents, who did not find it anywhere near as traumatic. Ruby pictured with her family

Ruby (pictured with her sisters when they were younger) also revealed that her grandparents' days were filled with housework and labour on the farm, so when it was their time of the month, they appreciated getting a break

But the culture of isolation persisted, even as society developed new approaches to and products for menstruation.

'We had a papaya tree in our family backyard, and when I was on my period, my mum would say, "Oh, don't go into the papaya, because they won't ripe,"' she revealed.

'At the age of 12, I just believed it.'

Everything changed for Ruby when she moved to the UK at the age of 20.

She couldn't believe that there was a whole section of the supermarket dedicated to menstruation after growing up in a society where it was so taboo that menstruating women were isolated.

'Another myth I grew up with was that I had to hang the sari rags out of sight,' she said.

'My mum said people would steal them and do all sorts of black magic, which could leave me infertile or stop me from getting married.

'Before I came to the UK, when I was living in India, I tried pads, but the sale of them was also discreet - they used to wrap them in layers of newspaper and then put them in a plastic bag.

'When I came here, I decided to try everything.'

Ruby said that while there are benefits to living in a society where no one knows who is on their period, she said it has also created a culture where people are uncomfortable talking about menstruation.

And she found that - across both nations - there appears to be a culture of secrecy around the matter.

Hence, she was inspired to change the universal conversations about periods.

'People don't talk about it,' she said of menstruation in the West, 'or they feel uncomfortable talking about it, so a culture of discreteness comes into play again.

'While living in the UK, I studied environmental science and spent a year studying waste, which got me thinking about period products here and comparing them to what I had growing up.

'As a developed country, we are the most waste producing country in the world.

'When I began working in sustainability, I shared my story about reusing sari rags, then the whole issue came out people don't talk about periods here - and they've never had a period education, or if they have, it is one 30-minute class.'

Ruby was then driven to create a more environmentally sustainable product which would still be easy to use.

Her sari rags served as inspiration. While she in past had to pin them to her underwear - a process that was obviously uncomfortable, an idea had eventually formed to sew them into the lining.

Ruby was driven to create a more environmentally sustainable product which would still be easy to use

'I had previously pinned the sari rags to my underwear, which often didn't fit well, and it was a horrible thing to do - the pin would come undone, and I was in agony,' she explained.

'The eventual solution I had was wearing shorts to kept it in place.'

She bought a secondhand sewing machine and started working the sari into the underwear to see if it worked.

'When I tried it sewing a sari to underwear and wore it for the first time, it didn't feel like I had anything between my legs - unlike when I wore menstrual pads,' Ruby revealed.

'It was great.'

This initial experimentation eventually developed into WUKA - period-proof pants that have been a complete hit with women of all ages, so much so that half a million pairs have already made their way into the world.

When creating the pants, which are available in a variety of sizes, Ruby had her own traumatic first period in mind, and she said they are a great way of creating a pleasant menstruation experience from the get-go for young girls.

'They are the best solution for young girls,' she said.

'When you're just starting your period, you can simply get changed into a different underwear and come home and talk to your parents about it.

'The underwear makes sleeping on your period so much more comfortable too.

'Over the years, I've noticed very little innovation in pads and tampons. Mostly there's just wings and strings, and while mooncups are sustainable, they aren't the best option for everyone.'

Ruby's decision to revolutionise menstrual products is also having a positive impact on people's pockets, as the reusable pants start from 10 a pair, which, when compared to the monthly cost of pads and tampons, represents a huge saving over time.

That's not to mention the testimonies she has received from people personally affected by WUKA.

'Last month, I got a beautiful email from one of our customers saying that for the last 30 years, every time she had her period, she leaked on her bedsheet,' she shared.

'She's been using WUKA for the past a year and a half, and it hasn't happened once.'

WUKA a B-corp certified, carbon-neutral brand, which ultimately champions sustainability and innovation.
An American woman living in Paris has shared the five things that are sure to make you enemies in the French capital - from misnaming champagne to having parties where no one is allowed to smoke.

Amanda Rollins is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to Europe in 2017, and she has obtained a degree of social media fame for showcasing what it's really like to live in the City of Lights as an American.

According to the online star, the French dislike parties where they're not allowed to smoke, and never take a bite of food until someone says 'bon appetit'.

'If you're having a party, but say there's no smoking allowed at the party - they will hate you,' she said.

'It's why I don't have parties here - it's because I really like my French friends and I could tell if I kept having parties where they're not allowed to smoke, it's going to get a little risky and dangerous soon.

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A US woman living in Paris has shared the five things that are frowned upon in the French capital - from snacking between meals to asking for a to-go box at restaurants

Five things that will make French people hate you Hosting events where people aren't allowed to smoke Being named 'Emily' or 'Kevin' Starting a meal without saying 'bon appetit' Mistaking prosecco for champagne Thinking Roquefort is the same as American blue cheese Advertisement

'So, for the benefit of everyone, I've decided not to do it.'

Amanda also shared a strange mistake most non-Parisians don't know they're making - and it's having the 'wrong' name.

'If you're named Kevin as a boy or Emily as a girl, it's not your fault,' she began. 'But it's not their fault that they hate you.'

The US woman joked that there was still time to look into an official name change to get into the good graces of the French.

The French dislike the name Kevin because it's a widely associated with a 'beauf' or redneck.

'Beauf' is an insulting word for a poor, uneducated white person who lives in a countryside area of the US and has extreme conservative political opinions.

And 'Emily' is now well-known for Lily Collins' titular character in 'Emily in Paris' where French people are often mocked and ridiculed.

Amanda Rollins, who is originally from Boston but moved to the Europe in 2017, has become a social media sensation by showcasing what it is really like to live in Paris as an American

In addition, Amanda warned against asking to take your leftovers home from a restaurant if you're ever visiting Paris

'Another mistake travelers make is beginning to eat their food before saying 'bon appetit' or before someone has said 'bon appetit' to them.

'Them hating you for that is understandable - are you f**king crazy? Are you a lunatic? I really wouldn't do it - you might even make enemies outside France.'

Amanda continued the joke: 'They are actually incapable of taking the first bite before someone says 'bon appetit', so if you don't say it you're causing them to starve. There's blood on your hands.'

The Boston woman also added that Parisians dislike it when Americans mistake prosecco (a sparkling wine made in Italy) for champagne (sparkling wine from the region of Champagne in France).

'If you arrive at a dinner party with a bottle of prosecco and say it's champagne - they hate you.'

Another food-related gripe the French hold is Americans placing US blue cheese on par with Roquefort.

'If a French person tries to give you Roquefort, don't tell them you've had blue cheese in America,' she warned.

According to the online star, the French hardly ever eat between breakfast, lunch, and dinner - and munching while you're on the move is totally frowned upon

Amanda previously shared another video of mannerisms that will definitely get you dirty looks in Paris.

'Not saying you can't do these things, you can do whatever the hell you want.

'But if you do these things, you are gonna get dirty looks.

Amanda dished: 'There's one thing you can eat while walking - only one thing, a baguette'

'Number one is eating while walking. The French don't really snack.

'There's one thing you can eat while walking - only one thing, a baguette.

'That is the only thing that is acceptable to eat while walking. Anything else, it's just not super common.

'You do not see people eating on the Metro. They eat at meals, and that's it.'

Next up on Amanda's list of things that Americans do that French people are not fond of was talking loudly.

She explained that people from the US often think they are using an 'inside voice,' but in reality, they are much louder than they realize.

'Listen, I love you guys, I am you guys, I'm one of you. But you f**king scream. Americans - you f**king scream,' she continued.

'You're screaming. Your voice that you think is your inside voice, no it's not. It's your outside voice.'

In addition, Amanda warned against asking to take your leftovers home from a restaurant if you are ever visiting Paris.

'Asking for a to-go box at a restaurant, that's really uncommon and super un-French,' she told her followers.

Next up on Amanda's list of things that Americans do that French people are not fond of was talking loudly

The influencer explained that the portion sizes in France are usually perfect for what 'a normal human would eat in one meal,' so it's very uncommon to 'not finish your meal.'

'French people finish their meals, like I said, they don't snack. If they're sitting down for a meal, they're gonna have the whole meal,' she explained.

'It's very uncommon for you to not finish your meal, and then if you do, it's even more uncommon to ask for a box. You can, I've done it, but you might get looks.'

The TikToker said that another thing that French people don't like is when you dress too casually in public.

She advised against wearing 'anything comfortable' like athleisure clothes, sweatpants, or leggings when you go out.

'If I could live my whole life in sweatpants, I f**king would. But you're not gonna see it [in Paris],' she revealed.

'Athleisure is for the gym or your home. If you leave the house in like leggings or sweatpants or even joggers, you're gonna get looks, it's just not how people dress here.'

The TikToker said that another thing that French people don't like is when you dress too casually in public and advised against wearing athleisure clothes, sweatpants, or leggings

But on the other end of the spectrum, Amanda said you should be careful about dressing too fancy when you're exploring Paris

While speaking to the New York Post about the TikTok, Amanda explained that it's a 'generalization' based on her 'observations' from living abroad

But on the other end of the spectrum, Amanda said you should be careful about dressing too fancy when you're exploring Paris.

'If you're going out in Paris wearing a short skirt and heels, or just like being overly dolled up, you're also gonna get some looks,' she added.

'For the most part, when we go out on a Friday night, it's jeans and a top with boots, sneakers, flat shoes, or maybe small heels, but like you are not gonna see the full attire - the full mini skirt, heels, makeup.'

Amanda concluded the video by reminding her followers that they can 'do whatever they want,' stating, 'who cares if you get looks?'

While speaking to the New York Post about the TikTok, Amanda explained that it's a 'generalization' based on her 'observations' from living abroad.

'The things I mention are from my observations of life in Paris, my personal experiences, and what I've heard from French people,' she said.

'These are simply observations. Life in France is different from the US in many ways, and these are just some of the quintessential American things that could raise some eyebrows over here in Paris.'
100 percent of participants had an immune reaction to the vaccine

100 percent of participants had an immune reaction to the vaccine

An off-the-shelf cancer vaccine could help prevent relapse in patients with two of the deadliest and fastest-rising cancers in the world.

The shot is designed for patients whose cancers are caused by the KRAS mutation, which accounts for up to nine in 10 cases of the disease.

An early trial tested the effects in people with colon and pancreatic cancers. The first-in-human study found the vaccine, developed by the small firm Elicio Therapeutics, showed the potential to lower the risk of relapse in 100 percent of patients who had surgery to remove their tumors but still had cancer markers in their blood.

Despite having their tumors removed and no evidence of the disease on scans, nearly all patients showed signs of their cancer returning at the start of the trial.

Scientists running the study told DailyMail.com that while much larger studies are needed to confirm its efficacy, the shot could improve survival for colon cancer, expected to be the number one cause of cancer deaths by 2030, and pancreatic cancer, which has just a 12.5 percent survival rate after five years.

Unlike other experimental cancer vaccines in development, the shot won't have to be customized to each patient, making it more readily available and less expensive.

This vaccine, which was tested in patients with colon and pancreatic cancers, uses peptides to bind to the protein albumin. Albumin then travels to the lymph nodes and creates white blood cells, which help to fight off cancer markers found in the patients' blood

The vaccine was tested in a phase 1, first-in-human trial. Recruiting for the next phase is already underway

The primary goal of this was to show that its safe and feasible, and its very safe and very feasible, Dr Eileen OReilly, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and lead study author, told DailyMail.com.

This phase involved 25 patients who had either pancreatic or colon cancer.

They all had their tumors surgically removed and showed no signs of cancer on scans.

However, they still had cancer biomarkers in the blood, including circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA. This comes directly from cancer cells.

This means that the cancer is still present, which leads to a nearly inevitable risk of tumors returning.

Thats the time where the person, who unfortunately is not cured, has the lowest amount of cancer, Dr Pashtoon Kasi, director of colorectal cancer research at Weill Cornell Medicine and one of the study authors told DailyMail.com.

These are very high-risk patients. In fact, high risk is probably not an accurate term to truly signify how bad the situation is. These are patients who are not cured after your best chance.

This vaccine deploys two peptides, G12D and G12R. These bind to albumin, a protein in the body that carries fatty acids to the lymph nodes. Albumin helps the vaccine travel directly to the lymph nodes, activating the immune system.

This is different from other peptide vaccines, Dr Kasi said, because similar vaccines follow a more roundabout pathway, traveling to unnecessary organs and degrading in the process.

The albumin thats tagged to it is like a spaceship landing on a planet. It forces the vaccine to land on the lymph nodes, he said.

The peptides then create a type of white blood cell known as T cells to fight the remaining cancer.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that just over 44 percent of pancreatic cancer patients survive more than five years if the condition is still localized to its original area. It has an average survival rate of 12 percent

The majority of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed once the disease has already spread to multiple other organs. By that point, the condition becomes much more difficult to treat

'We found that this system has a really big advantage, Dr Christopher Haqq, head of research and development and chief medical officer at Elicio Therapeutics, the company developing the shot, told DailyMail.com.

It not only creates larger numbers of T cells, but in addition makes the function of the T cells improved, such as their ability to form into the solid tumor itself, where it can take action against the cancer.

When given at the highest dose, 100 percent of patients had an immune response, suggesting the vaccine could help lower these cancer biomarkers in patients with lingering disease.

It wasnt expected that we might see the clinical signal that we did, Dr OReilly said. 'We saw that this is very feasible. Very safe, very easy. Patients love it.'

The vaccine specifically targets the KRAS mutation, which is seen in patients with several types of cancer, including pancreatic and colon cancer.

KRAS is an oncogene, or a mutated gene that has the potential to cause cancer.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network estimates that about 95 percent of pancreatic cancer patients have the KRAS mutation.

Its almost ubiquitous in people with pancreas cancer, Dr OReilly said.

Additionally, up to half of colon cancer patients have it. Because KRAS is so prevalent in pancreatic and colon cancers, the researchers felt these were the best types of cancer to test the vaccine on first.

These were chosen as poster children for cancers that have KRAS mutations, Dr Kasi said.

The shot is injected in both arms and both legs, for four total shots every week for four weeks. Patients continued with this process every other week for two weeks, then paused before starting a three-month booster period.

The booster phase is necessary because after some time has passed, the immune response to the vaccine fades.

This is an off-the-shelf vaccine, meaning it is not customized to each individual patient.

There are huge practical advantages to these types of approaches over personalized cancer vaccines, Dr OReilly said.

Data from JAMA Surgery showed that colon cancer is expected to rise by 90 percent in people ages 20 to 34

Personalized vaccines remove cancer cells from a patient and create a vaccine in a lab using the patients own cells. A personalized vaccine requires several time-consuming steps, including taking samples of tumors to send to the vaccine company for testing. This leads to longer turnaround times, as well as higher costs.

In the case of cancer, saving time could mean saving a life.

Something thats off the shelf is pre-made and ready to go, Dr Kasi said. It has broad implications as opposed to a personalized vaccine.

While the exact cost is unclear, this vaccine could be significantly cheaper than other personalized shots since it's off the shelf.

In several other vaccine studies, the vaccine is added to other types of treatment, including chemotherapy. However, what makes this trial unique is that patients were only given the vaccine on its own.

However, there are limitations. The shot is meant for patients whose cancer has not spread, excluding those in stage III or IV of the disease.

Its not likely to have the same advantages in people with bulky, symptomatic, progressive disease. Were deliberately targeting the immune system when its most likely at its greatest potential, Dr OReilly said.

This can be a major disadvantage for pancreatic cancer, for example. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that more than half of these cases are diagnosed after the disease has already spread to other organs because the early symptoms, such as jaundice and abdominal pain, are easy to overlook.

Theres a tremendous unmet need in the more advanced patients who have distant metastatic disease, Dr Haqq said.

Last year, co-founders of drug manufacturing company BioNTech Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci said that vaccines to treat cancer could be available by the end of the decade. In addition to this shot, hundreds are in development to combat the disease.

Dr Eileen O'Reilly (left) of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Dr Pashtoon Kasi (right) of Weill Cornell Medicine are two of the researchers testing the effects of this peptide-based vaccine on cancer patients with KRAS mutations

The majority of patients in the trial had pancreatic cancer, the third deadliest form of the disease in the United States, according to the NCI. On average, just 12.5 percent survive after five years.

NCI estimates there will be about 64,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed this year, along with more than 50,000 deaths.

Cases are on the rise. In the US, the disease incidence has increased by one percent every year since 2000, according to the American Cancer Society.

Globally, cases have doubled since 1990, a 2019 study in The Lancet estimated.

The rest of the participants had colon cancer, which has surged across the globe in young people.

ACS estimates about 153,000 colorectal cancer cases will be detected this year, including 19,500 among those under 50 years old.

Some 52,550 people are expected to die from the disease.

Cases are expected to have doubled between 2010 and 2030 in people under 40, the majority of which are diagnosed at later stages due to broad symptoms.

Participants in the trial also noted few symptoms, including headache, fatigue, low-grade fever, tenderness in the arms and legs, and redness around the injection sites.

Because the vaccine travels directly to the lymph nodes, Dr OReilly said that this might help bypass more serious side effects, like high fever and chills.

The findings of the trial still need to be validated, but the researchers are already recruiting several hundred patients for the next phase.

While the initial phase focused on two peptides, this phase will use seven peptides.

Dr O'Reilly compared the vaccine mechanism to a set of Legos. In future phases, more peptides can be tacked on to the vaccine, targeting multiple mutations.

With this platform delivery system, moving forward, other antigens can be tacked on as other targets for the immune system, Dr OReilly said. That makes it very scalable, very easy to produce, and very easy to administer.

The goal of the next phase is to confirm all of what weve learned so far, she said.

This is projected to take place later this year, with enrollment estimated to take around six months.

Additional phases will target five additional types of cancers that can have KRAS mutations, including gallbladder, ovarian, and lung cancers.

The applicability in the future potentially would be for a lot of other cancers that have KRAS, Dr Kasi said.

The authors emphasized that this research is still early, and it could take years before this treatment becomes standard practice. But they are hopeful that it will continue yielding impressive results.

If this were to hold up, the hope would be that we would reduce the risk of recurrence after resection and that people would live longer free of their cancer and have improved survival, Dr OReilly said.

This is an exciting time, Dr Kasi said.
Mbabane - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has destroyed a dagga plantation and confiscated dagga worth E2.1 million, belonging to an undocumented liSwati national in Pongola.

This was during a joint operation between the seven South African Infantry Battalion and Pongola South African Police Service (SAPS) on one of the farms, at Stilo in Pongola.

According to information sourced from the SANDF website, during the operation by the forces, they discovered the liSwati national within the plantation, where there was approximately 0.3 hectares of dagga, which weighed 500kg when rooted out. This has been described as one of the biggest successes by SANDF from the seven infantry Battalion that was recorded since their arrival in KwaZulu-Natals boarders with Mozambique and Eswatini.

Committed

The soldiers on the ground displayed high spirit and morale and they were fully committed to fulfilling joint Tactical Headquarters of the KwaZulu-Natal objectives, reads the statement sourced from the website in part. Meanwhile, Saladin Magagula, the Chairman of the Cannabis Association of Eswatini said the incident happened within South Africa (SA) jurisdiction.

However, he said it was unfortunate that both SA and Eswatini placed value on something that was not scientifically tested to determine drug percentage in it. Magagula stated that with properties of alcohol, they were tested to determine the percentage in it. He said it was injustice to say it was a drug without knowing the properties. Also, he mentioned that it would be impossible to know whether they were destroying a drug or just destroying blackjack or lemon leaves.
The recruitment of nurses from poor countries by rich nations such as the UK is 'out of control', a global nursing body has warned.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) said six or seven high-income countries are driving 'intense recruitment' from places that 'can ill-afford to lose their nurses'.

Ghana is one of the worst-hit, with hospital medic warning that patients are dying because their nurses have rushed to fill posts in the NHS that pay seven-times more  resulting in workforce shortages and a 'brain drain' of experienced staff.

Data from NHS England, which has 112,000 vacancies, suggests that approximately two-thirds of the increase in staff hired since 2019 were trained abroad.

Officials have warned that the health service is becoming reliant on foreign medics and that the practice is 'not sustainable'.

India and the Philippines account for the lion's share of international nurse recruits for 2021-22 but a fifth came from 'red listed' countries where the NHS is banned from actively poaching nurses. These were Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal, and Pakistan. This data, from the UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council, covers the period before Britain struck a special deal with Nepal to allow the NHS to recruit nurses from the country

While the headcount of full-time-equivalent adult nurses, who account for most nurses in the NHS in England, has gone up the number of total nursing vacancies has remained stubbornly high, official figures show. This has left the NHS essential treading water in terms of addressing staffing shortages

Howard Catton, chief executive of the ICN told the BBC: 'My sense is that the situation currently is out of control.

'We have intense recruitment taking place mainly driven by six or seven high-income countries but with recruitment from countries which are some of the weakest and most vulnerable which can ill-afford to lose their nurses.'

Latest NHS England data shows that the service is recruiting more nurses from abroad than ever before, with 44,000 joining the health service since 2019, compared to 22,000 UK-trained nurses.

Most recruits were from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Nurses in Ghana, who talked to the BBC, say making extra cash is the main draw, with salaries seven-times higher in Britain compared to Ghana. Medics also cited poor working conditions.

READ MORE: Warning that NHS will be hit by 'silver tsunami' of older cancer patients with cases set to surge by a THIRD in next 2 decades due to ageing population Latest NHS data on cancer waiting times showed the 62-day cancer backlog has fallen for the first time since before the pandemic Advertisement

Gifty Aryee, head of nursing at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, told the BBC that her intensive care unit has lost 20 nurses to the UK and US over the last six months.

She said: 'Care is affected as we are not able to take any more patients. There are delays and it costs more in mortality - patients die.'

Patients face delays in emergency departments due to the nurse shortage, she said.

One hospital nurse told the broadcaster that half of the nurses she had studied with had since move abroad, which she also planned to do.

Caroline Agbodza, deputy director of nursing at Cape Coast Municipal Hospital, told the BBC that 22 of her nurse colleagues had moved to the UK in the last 12 months.

This includes all of the hospital's critical care and experienced nurses, meaning only newly hired staff are left, she said.

'Even if the government recruits, we have to go through the pain of training nurses again, Ms Agbodza said.

Two experienced nurses at Ewim Health Clinic in Cape Coast have also left for the UK, impacting patient care.

Dr Justice Arthur, the clinic's chief doctor, said: 'Let's take services like immunisation of children. If we lose public health nurses, then the babies that have to be immunised will not get their immunisation and we are going to have babies die.'

Adults are also at risk, as there are too few nurses to monitor patients after operations, he warned.

Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, head of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, called on the Ghanaian Government to act to keep nurses working in the country.

It is 'not ethical for the UK to recruit from Ghana' due to its low numbers of experienced nurses, she added.

Analysis of the Nursing and Midwifery Council figures by the Nuffield Trust found international recruits account for two-thirds of all new nursing and midwifery staff in the three years since September 2019. Despite falls in the number of staff from the EU, some 43,736 recruits were non-UK staff, while just 22,226 had been trained in the UK

The number of internationally trained nurses joining the NHS has skyrocketed over recent years. Numbers have increased year-on-year, minus a blip of the Covid pandemic which hampered immigration, data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council shows. The number of international nurse recruits is now almost equal to the number of British nurses joining the profession for the first time

NHS data shows efforts to get more nurses into the health service are only barely keeping pace with the number of experienced nurses quitting

The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled Ghana a 'red list' nation, meaning nurse shortages are severe so wealthy countries should not poach its staff.

But the code does not prevent individual health workers from 'red list' countries from seeking employment independently.

UK rules prevent 'active recruitment' from Ghana but medics can apply for vacancies, which can be shared by trusts on social media.

Last month, the UK gave 15million to support healthcare workforces in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

The UK is now looking a entering a formal deal with Ghana to recruit its nurses in return for a 1,000 fee per medic hired. It already has a similar deal with Nepal.

READ MORE: PM to pledge 1billion to train tens of thousands of extra nurses, midwives, doctors and dentists over next five years Rishi Sunak will pledge 1billion to train tens of thousands of extra nurses, midwives, doctors and dentists over the next five years Advertisement

But Mr Catton said these deals are 'trying to create a veneer of ethical respectability' and does not reflect the true cost for the countries losing nurses.

Jim Campbell, the WHO's director of workforce, told the BBC that Brexit is one reason why the UK has turned to African nations to fill the gaps in its staffing.

He said the UK has 'closed off' the labour market from the EU and is therefore attracting people from the Commenwealth and other nations.

Pat Cullen, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, previously warned that while internationally educated nurses are a 'vital and valued part of the NHS', there is an overreliance on staff from overseas that is 'not sustainable'.

Experts have estimated there will be a global shortage of 13million nurses by 2030, with levels particularly short in South East Asia and Africa.

Currently, around a fifth (19 per cent) of the UK's nursing and midwifery workforce is accounted for by those trained overseas.

Health bodies said the figure signals that the NHS is leaning on foreign recruits too heavily to plug vital staffing issues.

Separate figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) last month revealed that there are 788,638 nurses, midwives and nursing associates registered to work in the UK  the highest number ever recorded. More than half of the 30,000 new registrants trained overseas.

It comes as Rishi Sunak is expected to pledge 1billion to train 24,000 more nurses and midwives by 2030, as well as 2,000 trainee GPs and thousands more dentists.

An NHS workforce plan, which has been repeatedly delayed, is being finalised by Mr Sunak and could be announced by July 5  the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been negotiating the plan directly with Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has demanded the NHS improve productivity and efficiency in return for the increase in its budget.
New Zealand will ban disposable vapes in a radical crackdown on its own kid e-cig epidemic.

Child-friendly flavours, such as 'cotton candy' and 'strawberry jelly donut', will also be forbidden in favour of duller titles.

The drastic changes  set to be phased in from August  follow an unprecedented law preventing kids born after 2009 from ever being able to buy cigarettes.

New Zealand's Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said: 'We want vapes as far from the minds and reach of children and young people as possible.'

Anti-vaping campaigners want Britain to follow suit, demanding tougher policies to stop the nation 'sleepwalking into an existential crisis'.

Disposable vapes  which include brightly-coloured Elf bars, sold for as little as 5 are difficult to recycle and contain an average of 0.15g of lithium

New Zealand's Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall, pictured, said: 'We want vapes as far from the minds and reach of children and young people as possible'

Predatory marketing tactics have been blamed for surging e-cig rates among teens, prompting the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to warn yesterday that it's 'is fast becoming an epidemic'.

Although widely accepted as being safer than smoking, long-term effects of vaping remain a mystery. Gadgets have only been on sale in the UK since 2007.

Top doctors fear a potential wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.

Nearly one in five school-aged teens vape at least once a day in New Zealand, data suggests.

For comparison, roughly 11.6 per cent of 11-17 year olds in Britain are thought to have ever tried vaping. This is despite it being illegal to sell vapes to under-18s.

As part of the country's vaping clampdown, New Zealand will require all e-cigarettes to have removable or replaceable batteries.

Dr Verrall, who announced the raft of measures yesterday, said: 'This limits the sale of cheap disposable vapes that are popular among young people.'

Disposable vapes  which include brightly-coloured Elf bars, sold for as little as 5 are difficult to recycle and contain an average of 0.15g of lithium.

Eco-campaigners have described such gadgets as being 'the last thing our children and the planet need'.

Dr Verrall also revealed that manufacturers will be barred from marketing vapes with 'potentially enticing names'.

Only generic names which accurately describe flavours can be used, such as 'berry'.

Shock data last month revealed a record 11.6 per cent of 11-17 year olds in Britain have now tried vaping. This is up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago  before the UK's kid vaping epidemic blew up

Child-friendly flavours, such as 'cotton candy' and 'strawberry jelly donut', will also be forbidden in favour of duller titles

Shops located within 300 metres of schools and marae  meeting spaces for Maori communities  will be banned from selling vapes.

And gadgets will also need child safety mechanisms.

No measures requiring manufacturers to sell vapes in plain, cigarette-style packets were announced, however.

Dr Verrall said: 'Vaping has played an important role in the record reduction of New Zealanders smoking over the last few years.

'Were creating a future where tobacco products are no longer addictive, appealing or as readily available, and the same needs to apply to vaping.'

Just 8 per cent of adults in New Zealand smoke daily, down from around 16 per cent a decade ago.

Six months ago, the country announced that it would make cigarettes permanently unavailable to anyone currently aged under 14  effectively raising the smoking age each year until the whole population is covered.

Labour wants to follow New Zealand's radical lead in phasing out smoking.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said following their example was 'desirable' and that there was a public 'appetite' to act.

Earlier this year, a shock MailOnline investigation into the nation's vaping epidemic uncovered sweet shops promoting vapes.

Child health experts claimed our dossier was 'scary' proof that firms are desperately trying to lure kids in.

ASH, a charity dedicated to ending the decades of harm caused by tobacco, wants a specific 5 tax put on disposable vapes.

Ministers are currently considering adopting tougher policies to curb the crisis.

A loophole that allowed retailers to give free vape samples to children in England has already been closed.

The Prime Minister last week hinted he will ban predatory marketing tactics, claiming the use of cartoon characters, fruity flavours and bright colours to sell the nicotine-filled devices was 'completely unacceptable'.

HOW DO SMOKING RATES COMPARE? According to the research platform OurWorldInData, fewer than 15 percent of New Zealanders smoked in 2020 compared to around a fifth of Americans

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty visit a lab testing vaping products at Kent Scientific Services in West Malling, Kent, in May 2023

House of Candy, where a MailOnline investigation found large amounts of vapes advertised in the window, while the shop is packed with sweets

Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting

Prime Candy on Oxford Street, where MailOnline found huge vape displays alongside many different types of American sweets

NHS Digital data, based on the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape
Hundreds of dentists across Britain have been given 'falsified' oxygen supplies, it was revealed today.

'Approximately 500' practices have been told to immediately stop using a batch of tanks and replace them with 'legitimate stock'.

Tricodent Limited, the Sussex-based firm which supplied the oxygen, is now under criminal investigation, health watchdogs said today.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of medicines used in Britain, did not say how the oxygen was falsified.

Oxygen  delivered in cylinders  is one of the most common medicines used in hospital and dental settings.

Medical regulators have withdrawn the product from the UK market and launched a criminal investigation into the company supplying the stock. Evidence was found that the medical oxygen supplied by Tricodent Limited had been 'falsified'. Pictured, the offending oxygen batches, labelled 'Medical Oxygen B.P PL No 04280/0001 MEDIGAS OXYGEN'

Medical oxygen cylinders contain pure compressed oxygen - unlike what we breathe in - with no other types of gases allowed in to prevent contamination.

Although potentially life-saving, if administered and managed inappropriately it can cause serious harm.

MHRA bosses, which announced the recall, stated that the risk to public health and patient safety was 'low'.

Read more: More patient misery as the NHS loses 700 dentists despite claims from the government that reforms have boosted numbers Advertisement

Its alert urged affected practices to check their oxygen cylinders.

If any are labelled 'Medical Oxygen B.P PL No 04280/0001 MEDIGAS OXYGEN', they should be replaced with legitimate stock immediately, the MHRA said.

All remaining stock must be quarantined, the agency added.

The alert has 'predominantly' impacted 'areas in England and Wales', the MHRA confirmed to MailOnline today.

'The labelling on the cylinders is obsolete, meaning that the product license number - PL number - has expired,' they added.

'The manufacturer listed on the label is also obsolete, as they are no longer trading.'

The watchdog told practices: 'It is vital that you check that your practice suppliers are authorised and licensed by the MHRA.'

'Your supplier should have a "Wholesale Dealers Authority", which is supplied by the MHRA.'

No further action is required by patients because the product is only administered by health professionals directly.

However, everyone is urged to report any drug side effects or adverse reactions they notice to the Yellow Card Scheme.

The Resuscitation Council (UK) advises that dental practices should have immediate access to oxygen, oxygen tubing and non-rebreather oxygen masks in the event of needing to administer high flow oxygen in the emergency situation.

Often used in combination with inhaled nitrous oxide as a safe means of managing pain and anxiety, emergency oxygen in surgeries is vital if patients were to suffer acute asthma attack or anaphylaxis.

Emergency oxygen is also required during epileptic seizures or CPR.
A furious mother has claimed NHS doctors ignored her daughter's chest infection - with her only being diagnosed and treated when the family visited a doctor in Spain.

Abbie Curtis's six-year-old daughter Harper developed a high temperature and other cold symptoms on February 3, which had become a 'horrid' cough 10 days later.

Ms Curtis, who works as a female body transformation mentor, visited her local GP, Meon Health Practice, in Fareham, but claims her concerns were ignored on multiple occasions. This is despite her daughter suffering numerous chest infections over the years.

Two months later, in April, Ms Curtis took her daughter to visit a doctor while the family were on holiday in Spain - where she was immediately diagnosed with a lower respiratory chest infection.

'I'm angry and confused, I don't understand why the doctors in Britain didn't take this seriously,' the 42-year-old mother-of-two said.

Abbie Curtis's six-year-old daughter Harper (pictured together) developed a high temperature and other cold symptoms on February 3, which had become a 'horrid' cough 10 days later

Ms Curtis, who works as a female body transformation mentor, visited her local GP, Meon Health Practice, in Fareham, but claims her concerns were ignored on multiple occasions. This is despite her daughter suffering numerous chest infections over the years. Pictured is Harper while unwell.

'I have very little faith in their ability to treat my children due to the way they dismissed my concerns. I told them that I believed it was a chest infection based on her history and knowing the symptoms.'

But Ms Curtis claims that each time she tried to get her daughter seen they were offered to go on the triage list.

Doctors then suggested, over a phone call, that Harper had asthma and said tests would be required but 'none were offered although I chased on the phone and in person at the surgery'.

At the beginning of March, Ms Curtis claims to have contacted the GP clinic and was allegedly told there was no record of her ever having spoken to anyone.

Following a lengthy conversation, the practice was reportedly able to locate the records, however, she claims they sent her away again, saying they would be in touch.

On March 27, Ms Curtis says she still hadn't heard from the clinic, so returned to follow up.

She said: 'My daughter was examined by the doctor and I was told nothing was wrong with her.

'I'm perplexed because, at the time, she was coughing up green phlegm, yet as a mum I'm told it's normal.

'They wanted to investigate if it was asthma, so gave her medication used to prevent asthma symptoms and then sent us away again.'

On April 1, the family flew to Spain on holiday, with Ms Curtis hoping the 'warm weather would help Harper's symptoms'.

But her symptoms persisted, causing the mother to drive to a paediatric hospital in San Antonio - where the little girl was examined within 20 minutes.

Two months later, in April, Ms Curtis took her daughter to visit a doctor while the family were on holiday in Spain (pictured) - where she was immediately diagnosed with a lower respiratory chest infection

On April 1, the family flew to Spain on holiday, with Ms Curtis hoping the 'warm weather would help Harper's symptoms'. Pictured are Ms Curtis with her daughter Harper and son Max.

She said: 'The doctor told me my daughter needed medical attention and antibiotics immediately because she had a lower respiratory chest infection.

'Harper was started on a course of medicine and within two to three days she was feeling better and sleeping fine.'

Following her experience, Ms Curtis now vows to only use private healthcare, saying she has 'lost all faith' in the NHS GP service.

She added: 'I think that we're a fortunate family and we do have the finances for private medical care but there are lots of families out there that don't have that kind of money.'

MailOnline has approached the Meon Health Practice for comment.
Colleagues said the virologist spent 'sleepless nights' working to rule out a leak

China's own 'bat woman' feared Covid could have leaked from inside her secretive laboratory, insiders claimed today.

Dr Shi Zhengli, a leading virologist based at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, spent years researching bat coronaviruses with aim of identifying those with the potential to infect people.

Both she and Beijing itself have vehemently and publicly denied the possibility that Covid could have emerged from experiments carried out at the lab.

However, one of her colleagues has now revealed that at the start of the pandemic, Dr Shi feared exactly that.

Professor Wang Linfa, described as a friend of hers by the BBC, said the respected scientist spent 'sleepless nights' combing through frozen virus samples at the WIV, fearing 'what might happen' if she found an exact match for Covid in her lab.

Shi Zhengli - dubbed the 'Bat Lady' of 'Bat Woman' for her work on bat coronaviruses - investigated the possibility Covid could have emerged from her lab back in 2020 according to colleagues. Here she is pictured working with other researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2017

While China has insisted the virus originated elsewhere, academics, politicians and the media have contemplated the possibility it leaked from a high-level biochemical lab in Wuhan - raising suspicions that Chinese officials simply hid evidence of the early spread

Professor Wang, a Singaporean expert in emerging infectious diseases, and an honorary professor at the WIV, said he recalled how Dr Shi spent 'sleepless nights' to ensure Covid wasn't linked to her lab

Such a match could have proved the virus did spawn inside the halls of the facility.

However, no such proof was found, it is claimed.

It is the latest sign that Chinese scientists and officials, who have staunchly denied any plausibility of the lab leak hypothesis, quietly explored the possibility early days of the outbreak.

Professor Wang, an expert in emerging infectious diseases based in Singapore, is an honorary professor at the WIV.

He was collaborating closely with team there back in January 2020, as Covid cases just started to emerge in Wuhan.

He told Fever: The Hunt for Covid's Origin, an eight-part BBC Radio 4 series, that Dr Shi was deeply concerned about the coincidence that a coronavirus similar to ones the WIV was studying was spreading in the city the lab was based in.

'The thing that was on her mind is 'what happens if there's a sample in her lab that she did not know of that has a virus that has contaminated something and got out',' he said.

'She went through all her samples to make sure there was nothing close to SARS-CoV-2 (the technical name of the virus that causes Covid).

'She spent the first week going through every sequence to make sure nothing was even close.'

According to Professor Wang, Dr Shi was 'enormously relieved' to find that after her audit no Covid, or any virus particularly closely related virus, a 99 per cent match or above, was found.

Read more: Benefits of original Covid lockdown were 'a drop in the bucket compared to the costs': Experts claim draconian measures taken in spring 2020 saved as few as 1,700 lives A report suggests specific initiatives to control the spread of Covid had mixed results in reducing mortality, with mask mandates having the biggest impact while measures such as limiting gatherings paradoxically raised death rates Advertisement

While she did find RaTG13, a coronavirus sample collected from bats in China in 2013 was a 96 per cent match, this was considered too different to the Covid virus to be a potential origin.

To further alleviate her worries of a potential leak, she also asked her team to submit blood samples for Covid antibodies.

If any tested positive, it would have been a tell-tale sign that in the days and weeks prior, they had been infected with the virus, indicating a potential accidental leak from the WIV.

But, according to her, all staff tested negative.

Professor Wang added that during his visit to WIV in January 2020 he felt no sense of panic among the team indicating they were under any panic about Covid or had anything to hide.

'She had a team of over 20 staff members and I know each of them,' he said.

'So, if a scientist has evidence of a virus leak that caused this outbreak I don't think that the whole team can behave like nothing happened.'

He said, in his opinion, there is 0 per cent chance, that Covid emerged from the WIV, a view shared by many other experts.

But, the lab leak theory, once dismissed as an outright conspiracy, has gained increasing traction in the years since the virus first caused a global pandemic.

Some experts now say Covid may have emerged from within the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Here security personnel are pictured keeping watch during a visit by the WHO in 2021

Other Covid origin theories point to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan as being the epicentre of the outbreak. Many of the earliest cases in December 2019 and January 2020 had visited the site, where live animals were sold

The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate. Some studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbour Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right)

President Xi Jinping's communist administration has repeatedly denied the hypothesis, labelling it a smear campaign by 'anti-China' forces and insisting the virus emerged naturally instead.

Yet quietly, both the nation's scientists, and Beijing itself, considered it worthy of credible investigation.

In addition to Dr Shi's private internal audit of the WIV, last week it was revealed that government-backed experts had 'double-checked' the lab regarding a potential virus leak.

This admission came from Professor George Gao, former chief of the country's own public health watchdog, the equivalent of the UK Health Security Agency or Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US.

Back in 2020 the overwhelming opinion, shared by the world's leading experts, was that Covid crossed naturally from animals infected with a bat coronavirus to humans.

But consensus over how the pandemic began three years ago has slowly started to shift.

The lab leak theory centres around the fact that the virus first emerged miles away from the WIV, where researchers were known to be working on coronaviruses found in bats.

No concrete proof to support either argument has ever been found, leaving experts fearing the truth behind Covid's origins will never be uncovered.

Beyond being just a historical fact, experts also want to find how Covid emerged to help stop other similar pathogens becoming pandemics in the future.

While once dismissed as fringe, conspiracy theorist favoured hypothesis, the possibility of Covid accidentally spreading from a lab has gained increasing traction.

Even some US intelligence officials have backed it, with FBI director Christopher Wray stating in February that the virus 'most likely' originated from a lab incident in Wuhan.

However, most experts maintain that Covid most likely emerged naturally, being transmitted from animals to humans - what is known as zoonosis.

Such theories have largely pointed to Wuhan's Huanan seafood wholesale market, where numerous species of live animals were kept and sold, as the potential site where such an infection could have taken place.

And in February 2021, an investigation into Covid's origin by the World Health Organization said it was 'extremely unlikely' the virus leaked from a lab.

But plans for a second phase of the investigation, involving audits of laboratories in the Wuhan area, were rejected by the Chinese government.
The 58-year-old required an angioplasty procedure and three stents fitted

But after experiencing chest pain later in the day, her partner grew concerned

ina Murphy from Burnage in Manchester dismissed her arm ache as heartburn

A grandmother has told of her holiday horror after mistaking a heart attack for bad indigestion.

Tina Murphy, from Manchester, first noticed an ache in her arm at breakfast during the third day of her trip to Marrakesh, Morocco, in December 2019.

But the 58-year-old dismissed the pain, believing it was just 'heartburn' and instead took 'some Gaviscon and mint tea'.

It was only once Ms Murphy experienced chest pain as the day wore on that her 54-year-old partner John grew increasingly concerned.

After retreating to her room for a lie down, he alerted hotel staff, who dispatched a doctor.

Tina Murphy, from Burnage in Manchester, first noticed an ache in her arm at breakfast during the third day of her trip to Marrakesh in December 2019. Pictured with her partner John, 54

The 58-year-old (pictured) dismissed the pain, believing it was just 'heartburn' and instead took 'some Gaviscon and mint tea'. It was only after experiencing chest pain as the day wore on, that her partner John, 54, grew increasingly concerned

Upon arrival at Clinique International Marrakech, Ms Murphy (pictured) had bloods taken as well a heart scan and electrocardiogram (ECG) - a simple test to check the heart's rhythm and electrical activity

Doctors discovered one of Ms Murphy's main artery's was blocked and successfully performed an angioplasty procedure, inserting three short wire mesh tubes - stents - to re-open it. Pictured, the bruising she experienced after the stents were fitted

Ms Murphy said: 'It wasn't until the late afternoon that the pain got worse, it was getting tighter and then the chest pain was getting worse.

'Around 4:30pm I could feel a sensation going up my neck.'

The medic assessed the grandmother-of-three and phoned for an ambulance to take her to hospital.

'I turned to John and said, "I am going to feel like a right fraud", Ms Murphy said.

What is a heart attack? A heart attack, known medically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. Symptoms can include chest pain - a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest, shortness of breath, and feeling weak and anxious. Nausea and vomiting are other common signs. While the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain. Heart attacks are commonly caused by coronary heart disease, which can be brought on by smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Treatment is usually medication to dissolve blots clots or surgery to remove the blockage. Reduce your risk by not smoking, exercising regularly and drinking in moderation. Heart attacks are different to a cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, usually due to a problem with electrical signals in the organ. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

'But he told me it doesn't matter if there is nothing wrong with me, I just need to be looked at.'

Upon arrival at Clinique International Marrakech, she had bloods taken as well a heart scan and electrocardiogram (ECG) - a simple test to check the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

Speaking about the ordeal, Ms Murphy, a community development officer, added: 'Nothing came up either on the ECG or the heart scan.'

She also claimed doctors said they would check up on her after 30 minutes, when she was placed in a side ward.

But while waiting, she suddenly experienced a severe pain prompting her partner to alert medics who transferred her to an assessment room.

Ms Murphy said: 'I still had no clue what was going on.

'They wheeled me out of the room and told my partner I was very poorly and he couldn't come into the room.'

She added: 'When we got in, I started to hear them all talking and they started talking about stents.

'At that point, I knew I was having a heart attack.'

Doctors discovered one of her main artery's was blocked and successfully performed an angioplasty procedure, inserting three short wire mesh tubes - stents - to re-open it.

She was discharged after being monitored for seven days and has now made a full recovery.

But Ms Murphy cautioned she now worries about suffering a second attack.

She said: 'When I got told I was having a heart attack I was so annoyed, as daft as it sounds.

'It was like, 'Why has it happened to me?'. I have a history of heart problems in my family but I thought I had got away with it.'

She added: 'I have had a fear over the last few years thinking, 'Could today be the day, when I won't be as lucky?

'It has been very difficult to deal with.'

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart attacks and strokes, kills more people across the world than any other illness.

The World Health Organization estimates 18million people are killed by the condition every year, accounting for over 30 per cent of all global deaths.

The British Heart Foundation estimates that more than seven million people are now living with CVD in the UK.

According to the charity, the total annual healthcare cost of cardiovascular disease in England is 7.4billion.

Meanwhile in the US, CVD contributes to every one in five deaths - or around 697,000 - each year, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also approximate.

Between 2017 and 2018, it was also estimated to have cost the country around $229billion.
A company based outside of Beijing will now help shore up US supplies

A drug that is the 'backbone' of chemotherapy is set to be imported from China to the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced.

Cisplatin  used by up to one in five cancer patients  has been in shortage since February, triggered by the shutdown of a major supplier.

This drug, which has a 90 percent cure rate for testicular cancer, treats many types of the disease impacting the bladder, cervix, ovaries, lungs, breasts and head and neck.

To shore up flagging stocks, the FDA approved a company based outside Beijing to manufacture and supply doses.

The agency also plans to approve a new supplier for another chemotherapy drug, carboplatin, which has been in shortage since late April.

Nearly two dozen chemotherapy drugs are in short supply nationwide amid a national shortage of medications, forcing many doctors to opt for alternatives that may be less effective.

The FDA has approved the import of stocks of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin being produced near Beijing (stock)

The FDA revealed last week that it had approved Qilu Pharmaceuticals to begin supplying cisplatin to the US.

The doses will be supplied in 50milligram vials labeled in Chinese and be distributed by Canadian company Apotex, with deliveries expected to begin within weeks.

Cisplatin is one of the best chemotherapy drugs available, with Johns Hopkins oncologist Dr Amanda Fader telling CNN that it is 'the chemotherapy backbone'.

Announcing the deal, FDA commissioner Dr Robert Califf said: 'We've taken steps for the temporary importation of certain foreign-approved versions of cisplatin products from FDA-registered facilities.

'[We've] used regulatory discretion for continued supply of other cisplatin and carboplatin products to help meet patient needs.'

He added: 'In these situations, we very carefully assess product quality and require companies to take certain measures to ensure the products are safe for patients.

'The public should rest assured that we will continue all efforts within our authority to help the industry that manufactures and distributes these drugs to meet all patient needs.'

Shortages of cisplatin in the US were sparked when India-based supplier Intas Pharmaceuticals, one of the biggest manufacturers, was shut down after failing an inspection.

The inspection was named as a 'textbook example of what not to do when investigators come knocking', after the FDA shut down the plant saying it had found shredded documents and trashcans dowsed in acid at the facility.

This quickly sparked a shortage, with most manufacturers of the drugs already running at near capacity being unable to take the shortfall.

The US is set to start importing doses of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin from China to help alleviate shortages. It is administered to patients intravenously

It has led regulators in the US to turn to China for assistance, which is the country's fourth biggest supplier of drugs.

There are concerns in some political circles that China could weaponize these drugs against America to extract concessions.

Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser on health care issues at a New York-based think-tank, previously said: 'Medicines can be used as a weapon against the United States.

'Supplies can be withheld. Medicines can be made with lethal contaminants or sold without any real medicine in them, rendering them ineffective.'

Dr Fader said the shortages had forced doctors to start substituting cisplatin with other drugs.

'In many cases, these drug substitutions are going to be as effective in terms of the response to treatment,' she said.

'However, many of these drugs may carry worse side effect profiles or different dosing schedules that require two or three times longer to administer.'

The FDA also resorted to imports of drugs last year amid a shortage of the chemotherapy drug Doxil, which can be used to treat ovarian and breast cancer.

Cisplatin works by interfering with the DNA of cancer cells to trigger their death, helping to eliminate the disease from the body.

It is typically administered intravenously by healthcare providers and patients can be on the treatment for weeks at a time.
A deadly bacteria that kills up to 50 percent of people it infects has now been listed as endemic along the US gulf coast.

Dr Julia Petras, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who made the warning, said Burkholderia pseudomallei was now likely lurking in soil and stagnant water across the 1,600 miles from Texas to Florida.

People infected with the bacteria suffer melioidosis, a severe condition that can trigger pneumonia and sepsis and can be fatal.

Doctors are now on alert for the disease, which can initially be misdiagnosed as another infection.

The CDC declaration comes less than a year after it was detected in the US for the first time in soil from the Mississippi coast.

The above map shows countries where the bacteria has been detected and the states in the US where the CDC says it is now endemic

People infected with the bacteria can suffer from the disease melioidosis, which can trigger pneumonia and sepsis. The CDC says it is fatal in 10 to 50 percent of cases (stock image)

Dr Petras said: 'It's estimated that there's probably 160,000 cases a year around the world and 80,000 deaths.

'This is one of those diseases that is also called the great mimicker because it can look like a lot of different things.

'It's greatly under-reported and under-diagnosed and under-recognized  we often like to say that it's been the neglected tropical disease.'

The bacteria  also known as B. psuedomallei  is native to tropical areas in South East Asia and northern Australia.

But the CDC is now warning it has been identified in the gulf states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

In these areas, the agency warns it may be lurking in topsoil or muddy fresh or brackish water.

People can become infected after coming into contact with the water or soil  including through open wounds  or ingesting it.

It is unclear how the pathogen arrived in the United States, although this may have traveled by infected travelers.

The deadly bacteria has been present in Puerto Rico since 1982, according to an Oxford University-backed study.

About 12 Americans are struck down by the bacteria every year, estimates suggest, although they are normally linked to foreign travel.

This is thought to be a major underestimate because many cases are misdiagnosed as other conditions.

Four cases were recorded in the US  including two deaths  in 2021, with cases later linked to a contaminated aromatherapy spray imported from India.

Another two were detected in 2020 and 2022 in unrelated individuals who lived near each other in Mississippi.

This prompted the CDC to take soil and water samples from within and around the patients' homes, revealing the presence of the bacteria B. pseudomallei. Both patients recovered from the infection.

Dr Petras, who is an epidemic intelligence service officer, said: 'It is an environmental organism that lives naturally in the soil, and typically freshwater, in certain areas around the world  mostly subtropical and tropical climates.

'A lot of patients will have pneumonia with sepsis, and/or sepsis, which is associated with higher mortality and worse outcomes.'

She added: 'We have antibiotics that work.

'What I'm talking about is IV antibiotics for at least two weeks, followed by three to six months of oral antibiotics.

'It's an extensive treatment, but if you've finished the full course and you're diagnosed early, which is the really key thing, your outcome is probably going to be quite good.'

Humans can become infected with the bacteria via contact with contaminated soil and muddy water, particularly if they have an open wound.

In rare cases, it can also be transmitted between humans  although this has only been reported via sexual contact and during pregnancy.

In most cases, the bacteria do not trigger symptoms because the immune system can to fight it off.

But when an infection begins, patients may suffer from symptoms including joint pain, fever and headaches in the early stages.

This can then progress to melioidosis, with the CDC warning that between 10 and 50 percent of cases are fatal.

Individuals who live along the gulf coast and have conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and chronic lung disease are particularly at risk.
A neurologist paid up to $20,000 a year by biotech companies has been removed from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee.

Dr David Weisman was removed as a temporary voting member by the agency after he was found to have financial ties to Eisai and Biogen - biotech companies behind a controversial Alzheimer's drug.

The drug lecanemab, sold under Leqembi, received accelerated approval in January, but concerns over side effects and effectiveness have since emerged.

Dr Weisman, a Pennsylvania-based scientist, revealed he was no longer on the committee in a tweet Monday, which caught the attention of medical professionals who cited his incentive-cause bias toward Lecanemab.

The FDA told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'Similar to personnel matters, the FDA does not comment on matters related to individual members of an advisory committee.'

Dr Weisman is still employed by Eisai and Biogen behind the drug, which the committee is due to consider for approval later this week.

The companies also developed the drug aducanumab  or Aduhelm  which has proved controversial over clinical data and its approval.

Dr David Weisman, a neurologist, will no longer advise the FDA committee on approving Alzheimer's drugs. He works for Abington Neurological Associates in Pennsylvania

Dr Weisman, who works at Abington Neurological Associates, did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

He tweeted Monday: 'I'm not on [the committee]  for entirely unrelated reasons,' he said in response to a post about his membership.

'Even being considered was a great honor. I hoped to be worthy of the patients and science.'

In April, the neurologist was approved as a temporary voting member of the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee (PCNS).

The FDA said at the time that he was needed for his 'extensive experience' and 'unique qualifications'.

The agency stated in a waiver document: 'Any potential for a conflict of interest is greatly outweighed by the strong need for Dr. Weisman's expertise in this matter.'

But he has now been removed from the committee before its meeting on Lecunemab set for June 9.

Lecanemab works by removing a sticky protein from the brain that is believed to cause Alzheimer's disease to advance.

In a trial that involved 1,795 participants with early-stage, symptomatic Alzheimer's, lecanemab slowed clinical decline by 27 percent after 18 months of treatment compared with those who received a placebo, Yale Medicine reports.

Dr Weisman, a Pennsylvania-based scientist, revealed he was no longer on the committee in a tweet Monday, which caught the attention of medical professionals who cited his incentive-cause bias toward Lecanemab

The above waiver reveals that he was being paid by both Biogen and Eisai while also sitting on the committee

Christopher van Dyck, MD , director of Yale's Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, shared that the most significant side effect is an infusion-related reaction, which may include transient symptoms, such as flushing, chills, fever, rash, and body aches.

There is also the possibility of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities with edema, or fluid formation on the brain, which Yale reports occurred in 12.6 percent of trial participants compared to 1.7 percent in the placebo group.

The third issue was amyloid-related imaging abnormalities with brain bleeding, found among 17.3 percent of trial participants.

'The medication's label includes warnings about brain swelling and bleeding and that people with a gene mutation that increases their risk of Alzheimer's disease are at greater risk of brain swelling on the treatment,' according to Yale Medicine.

A waiver document revealed Dr Weisman was paid up to $15,000 a year by Biogen for advising on Aducanumab and helping to research the drug.

He also earned up to $5,000 per year by Eisai for his involvement in the Phase II study of the drug lecanemab, which involves patients that visit his practice.

Dr Weisman was also one of the dozens of signatories of a letter to the FDA published in May that urged it to approve lecanemab.

Lecanemab has proved controversial because it received accelerated approval status from the FDA despite concerns that it was too expensive  at $26,500 per year.

At the time, the FDA also considered it only 'reasonably likely' that the drug would help fight the disease.

Phase III trials have now shown that it slows memory decline by 27 percent, and they are due to decide whether or not to approve the drug next month.

It comes after the agency faced warnings that its poor reputation was preventing it from shutting down misinformation online.

It has recently come under fire for its Covid booster rollout, slow response to the baby formula crisis and for working too closely with biotech companies.

Experts say the litany of scandals has undermined public trust in the agency, which will be an uphill battle to rebuild.

Dr Seema Yasmin, a medical misinformation expert at Stanford University in California, said: 'The question I start with is, 'are you a trusted messenger or not?'

'In the context of the FDA, we can highlight multiple incidents which have damaged the credibility of the agency and deepened distrust of its scientific decisions.'

Dr Leticia Bode, a misinformation expert at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., added: 'It's not fair, but it doesn't take too many negative stories to unravel the public's trust.'
Aston Martin's one-off Bulldog super car has finally been driven past 200mph, more than 40 years after it was built.

The Bulldog was a unique concept made in 1979 in an effort to show off the capabilities of the company's new engineering facility in Milton Keynes.

When it was first tested it reached 191mph but it was then sold to an Arab prince after the legendary British car maker fell into financial difficulty.

A long-running restoration project of the Aston Martin Bulldog was completed in 2021.

On 6 June 2023, it reached a top speed of 205.4mph, at Machrihanish airfield, a former NATO base in Campbeltown, Scotland.

Aston Martin's one-off Bulldog super car has finally been driven past 200mph, more than 40 years after it was built. Today, racing driver Darren Turner, the winner of the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour, reached a top speed of 205.4mph in the car

Driver Darren Turner, a three-time winner of the prestigious Le Mans 24-Hour, said: 'Bulldog's 200mph goal has been over 40 years in the making, being part of that legacy is a fantastic feeling.

The 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog supercar Design: William Towns Produced: 1979 Body style: two-door coupe Doors: gullwing Gears: Five-speed German-made gearbox Wheels: 8.5inch (front), 11inch (back) Acceleration (0-60mph): 5.1mph Top speed: 200mph approx Engine: Twin-turbo 5.3-litre V8 Height: 43ins Length: 15ft 6ins

'The Bulldog has now fulfilled Aston Martin's 1980s promise and everyone who has worked on the car - from those who first designed and built it, to Classic Motor Cars who undertook the restoration under the management of Richard Gauntlett, can feel very proud.'

He added: 'The conditions were perfect for the run and the car performed perfectly too, easily hitting the 200mph mark.'

Aston Martin originally intended to build between 15 and 20 of the cars, but the firm then decided that the project was too costly and so only one was ever made.

When the subsequent owner took it on its first drive, the 5.3 litre, twin turbocharged V8 engine blew up.

The car hit the headlines again in 2020 when it was bought by motoring enthusiast Philip Sarofim, who asked Richard Gauntlett, the son of former Aston Martin owner Martin Victor Gauntlett, to restore it.

The Bulldog was restored over the course of 18 months by Shropshire-based firm Classic Motor Cars.

Tim Griffin, the firm's managing director, said: 'Thanks to the CMC team's hard work the Aston Martin Bulldog has done it!

'The people of Campbeltown were very welcoming and encouraging to us, and we're glad to give them the opportunity to see the car and meet Darren.'

Mr Sarofim said: 'Today is about making dreams come true, the dreams of the original designers and engineers who created Bulldog.

'Those automotive pioneers were breaking barriers, not just speed barriers but frontiers of design, innovation and engineering.'

Today it reached a top speed of 205.4mph, at Machrihanish airfield, a former NATO base in Campbeltown, Scotland

Driver Darren Turner, a three-time winner of the prestigious Le Mans 24-Hour, said: 'Bulldog's 200mph goal has been over 40 years in the making, being part of that legacy is a fantastic feeling'

Aston Martin originally intended to build between 15 and 20 of the cars, but the firm then decided that the project was too costly and so only one was ever made. Above: The car after being restored

The beautifully restored car boasts a plush brown leather interior. Aston Martin originally intended to sell the model for around 200,000 - more than 800,000 in today's money

The car hit the headlines again in 2020 when it was bought by motoring enthusiast Philip Sarofim, who asked Richard Gauntlett, the son of former Aston Martin owner Martin Victor Gauntlett, to restore it. Above: The car's interior

The Bulldog was restored by Classic Motor Cars, of Bridgend, Shropshire. Above: The side of the stunning vehicle

The Bulldog was restored over the course of 18 months by Shropshire-based firm Classic Motor Cars

Mr Gauntlett added: 'It is a truly incredible moment to witness the close of a 45-year chapter in the history of the incredible Aston Martin Bulldog.

'The team who built it and the team who re-built are deservedly celebrating their momentous achievements and it is heartwarming to see all their hard work rewarded.'

After initially being sold by Aston Martin, the Bulldog spent time in several storage units around the world, including in the United States.

It was finally located in the Far East and bought by an American Bulldog fan before it was transported to Shropshire for restoration.

The Daily Mail reported on the the car when it was first made, revealing how it would have cost buyers a staggering 200,000 - more than 800,000 in today's money.

The Daily Mail reported on the the car when it was first made, revealing how it would have cost buyers a staggering 200,000 - more than 800,000 in today's money
MBABANE - Self-confessed commander of the Solidarity Forces Thabo Kunene and Sibusiso Nkomonye will soon have their day in court.

This is so because the prosecution has moved an application before Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala, where it is seeking an order for the indictment of the duo at the High Court. The application, which was moved in terms of Section 88 bis of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, was filed by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lomvula Hlophe. Section 88 bis (1) stipulates that: The chief justice may, on an ex parte application made to him in chambers by the director of public prosecutions and on being satisfied that it is in the interests of the administration of justice so to do, direct that any person accused of having committed any offence shall be tried summarily in the High Court without a preparatory examination having been instituted against him.

Order

Upon granting the order by the chief justice, the accused persons are called for a pretrial conference. A pretrial conference or pretrial review, is a hearing prior to trial, which all parties involved in the trial attempt to determine the issues, laws, or facts matter, before the court trial. It will be during the pretrial conference where they will indicate how they are going to plead and also disclose the name of witnesses they intend to call. The Crown, on the other hand, also discloses the number of witnesses it will parade to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused persons. The duo is currently self-represented. Kunene and his co-accused, Nkomonye, are facing 43 charges of allegedly contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act. The charges include six murders, 17 attempted murder, nine of malicious damage to property, two counts of arson. The accused persons, as per the charge sheet, also had a hand in the murder of a warder Mike Mthethwa, murder of Zandondo Chief Mahloma, shooting at the homestead of the CJ and murder of law enforcement personnel.

Evidence

In the summary of evidence that was presented in court yesterday, the prosecution submitted that during the month of June 2021, there was a civil unrest in the country. The Crown went on to submit that during the unrest, the government and most of emaSwati had their properties seriously damaged and or burnt, and lives were lost and some injured. A group of people who called themselves underground solidarity forces emerged. The attacks were targeted mainly to the armed forces, judicial officers, prosecutors, traditional authorities, regiments, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public, submitted the Crown. It was further the submission of the prosecution, that on July 25 of the same year, Kunene, who introduced himself as a commander of the solidarity forces and at times referred to himself as a member of the solidarity forces, made a number of instigating, threatening and intimidating statements.
Leading cryptocurrencies have taken a hit after the US regulator announced plans to sue leading exchanges Binance and Coinbase amid a wider crackdown on the industry.

Investors have pulled around $790million from Binance and its US affiliate in the last 24 hours, according to data firm Nansen.

On Monday, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance, its chief executive Changpeng Zhao and the operator of US affiliate Binance.US over a 'web of deception' to evade US securities laws.

Crypto crackdown: The US regulator has sued Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao (pictured) for mishandling funds

The regulator alleged in 13 charges that the exchange artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds and failed to restrict US customers from its platform.

SEC chair said: 'They attempted to evade US securities laws by announcing sham controls that they disregarded behind the scenes so they could keep high-value US customers on their platforms.

'The public should beware of investing any of their hard-earned assets with or on these unlawful platforms.'

Binance said it was 'disheartened' by the decision to sue having 'actively cooperated with the SEC's investigations'.

'All user assets on Binance and Binance affiliate platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure, and we will vigorously defend against any allegations to the contrary.'

A day later, the SEC announced it had sued Coinbase for violating federal securities laws.

The SEC said Coinbase had never registered as a broker, national securities exchange, or clearing agency, and had therefore evaded its disclosure rules.

Shares in the Nasdaq-listed exchange are trading down 13.7 per cent this afternoon at $50.60.

The filings comes as regulators pledge to use existing laws to weed out fraudulent activity in the crypto industry, following the collapse of Binance rival FTX last November.

Bitcoin fell 5 per cent following the news of the Binance lawsuit, its worst daily decline since mid-April.

The price has recovered somewhat this afternoon to trade at $25,924, despite the Coinbase news, but it marks a significant decline since last June when it was trading at $31,351.

Ethereum is trading down 2.66 per cent at $1,832, while Binance's BNB cryptocurrency fell to a near three-month low of $278.20 after the price tumbled 9.2 per cent on Monday.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell said: 'The robust language used by the SEC, along with the lengthy list of charges, suggests this latest fiasco to engulf the crypto market is going to rumble on for some time.

'The price of Bitcoin took a tumble on the back of the news, and at the moment it feels like the crypto bubble is suffering death by a thousand punctures.'

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed its own lawsuit against Binance in March, accusing the exchange, which is registered in the Cayman Islands, of operating in the US illegally. It is also under investigation by the Department of Justice.

The UK's own regulator sounded the alarm on Binance two years ago, warning consumers the exchange did not hold 'any form' of permission to conduct regulated activity in the UK.
Pressure: John Lewis chairman Sharon White (pictured) lost a vote on her performance over the past year

John Lewis is investing more than 1million to shake up its childrens range as its boss fights for her future.

The troubled department store chain  which also owns Waitrose  is stocking more than 50 childrens brands, including My Little Pony and Disney Princesses in toys and Petit Bateau, JoJo Maman Bebe and Ted Baker in fashion.

John Lewis is also launching immersive experiences in stores, including Lego for children to build and an alpine Scalextric race track.

Naomi Simcock, executive director for John Lewis, said the business wanted to create a destination, not just a shop.

It is expanding services for young families, including its All Things Baby nursery advice appointments.

The John Lewis Partnership suffered a third year of losses and axed its annual staff bonus for only the second time since 1953.

Last month, chairman Sharon White lost a vote on her performance over the past year following more heavy losses, although she won a vote over her overall leadership.
Asos shares were in demand following reports over the weekend that it had received a 1billion takeover bid last year.

The fast-fashion group, which owns Topshop and Miss Selfridge, was recently booted out of the FTSE 250. It was valued at between 10 to 12 a share in an offer from the Turkish online retailer Trendyol in December.

That was much higher than Asoss closing share price of 3.50 on Friday.

While talks with Trendyol  which is backed by Chinas ecommerce giant Alibaba  appear to have ended, the approach was seen as a sign that Asos was attracting interest from potential bidders.

That could see Asos become the latest household name to be taken off the London stock market.

Potential target: Asos, which owns Topshop and Miss Selfridge, was valued at between 10 to 12 a share in an offer from the Turkish online retailer Trendyol in December

Asos shares soared 7.1 per cent, or 24.8p, to 375.2p.

But the stock remains some way off its peak of more than 7700p in March 2018.

Asos declined to comment. The London-listed group last month tapped investors for 75million to shore up its finances and help fund a turnaround plan.

The retailer revealed losses of over 290million for the six months to the end of February as it was hit by pressure on household budgets.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: Takeover interest often emerges when a broken company lays out a recovery plan and there are early signs it is working.

Those green shoots can give a suitor confidence it is worth making a bid now rather than waiting for the company to be repaired and then having to pay a much higher price when the risks are lower.

The FTSE 100 slid by 0.1 per cent or 7.29 points to 7599.99 and the FTSE 250 fell 0.2 per cent, or 35.76 points, to 19113.55.

Oil prices rose more than 2 per cent to over $78 a barrel after Saudi Arabia said it will cut output by 1m barrels per day from next month.

Stock Watch - Chill Brands Shares in Chill Brands rose after it secured shipping arrangements for the home delivery of its nicotine- free vapour products to US customers in all 50 states. Firms have been restricted from making direct sales because the United States Postal Service cannot ship vapour products. But Chill Brands, whose vapes contain cannabidiol, a chemical found in cannabis plants, has secured alternative shipping arrangements. Shares rose 6.7 per cent, or 0.75p, to 12p.

The decision came on Sunday following a meeting with Opec+, a group of oil-producing countries, which also said production targets would fall by a further 1.4m barrels per day from 2024.

Such moves are aimed at increasing oil prices. The rise in the oil price failed to help BP as shares slid 0.3 per cent, or 1.4p, to 472.95p and Shell, down 0.2 per cent, or 5p, to 2285p.

There was good news for Indivior after it settled a seven-year litigation with dozens of US states at a lower price than forecast.

The pharma group, which makes drugs to treat opioid addiction, has agreed to pay 82.7m following claims that it illegally suppressed generic competition for its product Suboxone.

This was far lower than the 242million it set aside to cover the lawsuit which began in 2016. Payment is expected to be made this month, the company added.

Shares rocketed 7.8 per cent, or 115p, to 1590p.

Fund manager Abrdn was among the top blue-chip gainers after it launched a share buyback programme worth up to 150million. Shares added 3.2 per cent, or 6.5p, to 210p.

Housing developer Watkin Jones landed a deal to sell a built-to-rent project in Belfasts Titanic Quarter.

The buyers, Legal & General (down 0.7 per cent, or 1.6p, to 234.4p) and Clanmil Housing Association, will pay 155million and become owners of The Loft Lines development once it is completed.

The brownfield site will be transformed into a community with 627 built-to-rent units and 81 social rent affordable homes built on the site of the former Harland & Wolff (0.7 per cent, or 0.1p, to 13.75p) shipyard. Shares rose 1.6 per cent, or 1.1p, to 69.4p.

There was little respite for Dr Martens after the bootmakers target price was cut by Morgan Stanley and Barclays. Shares fell 4.1 per cent, or 5.7p, to 134.1p.
The CBIs boss will today issue a rallying cry to members as it fights for survival in the wake of a damaging sex scandal.

In a crunch meeting at its London headquarters, Rain Newton-Smith will ask members of the business organisation if they have confidence in the group after reforms were put in place following the crisis.

Failure to win them round will leave the CBIs prospects looking bleak as rival organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) circle.

Newton-Smith will say: Im confident and determined this will be a turning point for us. The start of a new chapter, for a renewed CBI.

Its so important to me, and for those who raised their voices, to put our people, our culture and our values front and centre.

Plea: CBI boss Rain Newton-Smith (pictured) will ask members of the embattled business organisation if they have confidence in the group in the wake of a damaging sex scandal

This is a difficult but important journey. Weve made great strides forward, but it will take real dedication. I am resolutely committed to leading that change and restoring the CBI to health.

The CBI  founded in 1965  faces an existential crisis after dozens of major corporate members  including Aviva, John Lewis and NatWest  deserted following allegations ranging from sexual harassment to rape.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said that with firms leaving in droves there is no point talking to the organisation.

Last week the lobby group announced plans for change, including a boardroom clear-out and the departure of its president Brian McBride.

The plans initially received a lukewarm reception  though a number of companies led by tech giant Microsoft and industrial group Siemens have now thrown their weight behind them.

The CBI says that it can once again be a powerful voice arguing the case for business with government ministers.

However, the BCC is positioning itself to step into the breach should it fail to carry on  and yesterday announced a new business council including BP, Heathrow, power firm Drax and hotel group IHG.

In a dig at the CBI, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss Richard Burge welcomed the BCC plans, adding: For too long, businesses have been constrained by a form of policy monoculture, where one, over-arching organisation has monopolised engagement with government on the major issues facing businesses.

No two businesses are the same  each has its own experience, mindset, needs and contribution to make.

Therefore, it is imperative that our diverse business community is represented by a collection of agile and collaborative bodies, with a local understanding of regions across the UK, that can advocate solutions to the most pressing issues facing our firms.

But Newton-Smith will insist in her speech that the CBI is still best placed for its role  and will take a swipe at rivals.

Ive seen what we can achieve, and how powerful we can be in driving change. Even our competitor groups have admitted they cant match all that.

Were ready to deliver a better CBI. We just need one thing now  your vote.
We ask how beneficial they really are for employees

It has asked businesses for their views on SAYE and SIP schemes

Schemes designed to hand workers a share of the businesses they work for are set for an overhaul under new government plans.

The Treasury will today ask companies for their views on two leading programmes that offer employees a stake in their employer.

Owning part of a business offers employees the incentive to better contribute to the business, and for many owners they have been a good succession planning tool.

Employee share schemes are set for a huge overhaul by the Treasury - but what benefits do they have for staff?

Employee share schemes approved by HMRC tend to be those that come with tax advantages, both for the company offering shares and employees receiving them.

Schemes differ greatly between those suitable for small and large companies.

For smaller businesses, the enterprise management incentive (EMI) scheme is the best option because it enjoys tax advantages and business owners can choose who is eligible to join the scheme and when.

Larger firms might opt for a Share Incentive Plan (SIP) or Save As You Earn (SAYE), which are both being looked at by the Treasury in its overhaul of share employee schemes.

SIP allows companies to help their employees to purchase shares directly or gift them up to 3,600 in equity, tax free.

SAYE allows employees to buy discounted shares if they save up to 500 each month for three to five years.

Capital gains tax reliefs are also available on each of the schemes.

The interest and any bonus accrued by the end of the contract is tax-free and participants dont pay income tax or national insurance on the difference between what they bought the shares for and their market value.

In 2020-2021, 380,000 employees were granted SAYE share options worth nearly 2.6billion, whilst employees participating in SIP schemes received shares worth 780million.

Victoria Atkins, financial secretary to the Treasury said: Employee share schemes are an effective way to boost motivation in workforces by giving people an extra say in what they do - and they offer a boost for business.

Growing the economy is a priority for this government and one way to make this happen is by making these schemes as easy as possible to set up.

The Treasury says it is particularly interested in understanding whether SAYE and SIP are attractive to lower income earners.

How do employees benefit from share schemes?

The tax benefits from SAYE and SIP are one of the biggest draws of opting into a company's share schemes, but they also enable staff to benefit from the success of the business they're helping to create.

If youre new to the idea of investing, joining your companys share scheme might be a good way for you to understand it.

HMRC figures also released today show that 81 per cent of businesses say the schemes helped boost their business, with almost three quarters saying it helped them to retain and recruit staff.

While the schemes might create a sense of belonging, there are some drawbacks.

When you start to invest through an employee ownership scheme, the hope is that by the time you come to exercise your options, shares will be trading above the amount youve paid for them.

However, employee shares in an unlisted company are much harder to value due to the absence of a public for the shares.

Unlike public companies that have the price per share available via investment platforms, shareholders of private companies have to use a variety of other methods to determine the value of shares.

The lack of public market also makes it a lot harder to sell your shares.

There is also the argument that having all of your investments tied up in the company you work for adds another layer of risk, especially if the company is small.

If the company is struggling, as many are in the current environment, it could mean youre not only at risk of losing your job, but also of losing any money you had invested in the company.

Inexperienced investors might also only buy their own company's shares rather than spreading their risk over a more diversified portfolio.
He has now invested 1million across all five finalists

After a final pitch event at his penthouse, he flew the final five to Las Vegas

Watt launched the Next Unicorn competition to find start-ups to invest in

Brewdog founder James Watt has found his Next Unicorn, or rather five of them, which will take home a share of his 1million investment.

A few months ago, Watt revealed he was looking to find the next start-up company that can he can help transform into a unicorn.

A unicorn is a company with a valuation beyond 1billion - and as most new businesses fail, it's seen as a mythical beast, although it can be done.

After 780 businesses applied, Watt, alongside investor Codie Sanchez and comedian, and friend, Dom Joly, whittled the shortlist down to 20 start-ups.

Brewdog founder James Watt launched the Next Unicorn competition to find the next best start-up, and now he reveals the five winners

This Is Money visited the final pitch event at Watt's central London penthouse last month, where the businesses took part in a Dragons' Den-style experience.

From there, the final five businesses were flown to Las Vegas last weekend to announce the three winners and send two home empty-handed.

However, Watt has decided to invest in all five start-ups including edible bug business Yumbug, and Basket, a browser extension that lets you save products from any online retailer.

Watt said: 'I have been so incredibly impressed by the quality of the entrants to the competition, and getting down to just five from the 750 that applied has been really tough. I want to thank Dom Joly, Codie Sanchez, Matt Cooper and Evelyn McDonald for their help selecting the eventual winners.

'What's really exciting is members of the public can now invest in these businesses too. Each of the winning companies are available on Crowdcube, where people can invest pound-for-pound on the same terms as me.

'This isn't a competition where you just sit back and watch other people make money, the public can get involved too.'

While Watt has handpicked and invested his own cash in the five companies, crowdfunding comes with its own risks and there is no guarantee you will receive a return on your investment.

Many of the companies are at an early stage and risking via crowdfunding could lead to the loss of capital. We take a look at the five companies that secured investment.

1. Basket

Basket is a mobile app and browser extension that lets you save products from any online retailer into one easily accessible list. It also continually checks the prices and notifies you of any price drops on things you've got your eye on.

It currently supports over 100,000 online retailetrs, including Amazon, Asos, eBay and Selfridges.

Watt has invested 250,000 in Basket and said: 'It's difficult to find real innovation in tech and e-commerce, but Basket is something I would 100 per cent use myself. It genuinely helps the consumer and I think it's got application in the UK and globally.'

2. Mous

Mous, which launched in 2015, makes extra-protective phone cases and accessories, as well as headphones and other consumer tech. Phone cases are on the pricier side, with some costing up to 40, but its hard cases have a lifetime warranty.

It's already made an impact, racking up an impressive 260,000 Instagram followers and 5.5million views on Youtube a month

Watt has invested 150,000 in Mous. He said: 'An upstart UK company trying to have an impact on a global scale to take on absolute giants. They've done fantastically well so far and have got a great team focused on R&D and innovation.'

Watt with the Next Unicorn winners at the Brewdog's Las Vegas rooftop bar

3. Tallow + Ash

Sustainable laundry detergent company Tallow + Ash is yet to launch but has secured 250,000 in investment from Watt.

Since announcing the brand in March, over 30,000 people have tried and tested Tallow+Ash products, which are dye-free, vegan and cruelty-free.

Watt said: 'Their mission is to shake up a stuffy sector, where all the incumbents have been doing the same thing for decades. It reminds me so much of our mission to shake-up beer, when we set out in 2007.'

4. Uncouth

Uncouth offers personalised and prescribed skincare treatments, going up against the likes of Skin&Me which has taken social media by storm.

Founded by a skin doctor, Uncouth customers will have virtual consultations with skin experts to get prescription grade treatments. Subscriptions are then sent out every 8 weeks.

Watt, who has invested 150,000 in Uncouth said: 'Skin issues affect so many people's mental health on a daily basis. I suffered from severe acne when I was a teenager, so I feel the pain point here. Their brand is fantastic, their mission is great, and this is a business that is going to help a lot of people.'

5. Yumbug

Yumbug wants to take edible insects mainstream. It has cleverly turned insects into protein and turned them into tasty snacks and recipe boxes.

The team, run by Leo and Aaron, are targeting the hospitality market and are already available in a handful of top restaurants in London.

Watt, who has invested 200,000 in the bug-based venture recently asked his followers their thoughts on an insect burger courtesy of Yum Bug.

He said: 'The food scene is going to change dramatically, and I think Yum Bug can shake it up and produce more sustainable ways to get the protein that we all need. Once you get over the fact that you're eating bugs, it's surprisingly delicious.'
When the people of New Jersey elected Chris Christie as their governor in 2010 they lapped up his bull-in-a-china-shop approach.

But by the time he left office in 2018 his ratings had plunged, he was mired in scandal after scandal and he was seen more as a bully than a political bull.

As he announces another run for president on Tuesday, entering a crowded field dominated by Donald Trump, his record gives opponents ammunition for attacks, just as it did during his ill-fated 2016 campaign.

A Monmouth University poll last week revealed the challenge facing him. The survey of 655 Republican voters found he was viewed favorably by just 21 percent and unfavorably by 47 percent.

He was the only one of 10 candidates to be given a net negative score by the people he will need to win the nomination.

For many people in New Jersey, this 2017 photograph summed up Chris Christie's time in office. He and his family were seen on a deserted beach during a holiday weekend, while state parks were closed because of a state government shutdown

Chris Christie is the least popular candidate with Republican voters according to a poll published last week which gave him a net favorability rating of negative 26

Bridgegate

At one time, Christie was considered a frontrunner for the 2016 nomination. He was a hard charging former prosecutor who had managed to win over a predominantly Democratic state.

But his campaign unraveled amid allegations that his aides closed lanes on a bridge into New York City to retaliate against a local mayor.

The scandal broke just after Christie won reelection as governor. And it involved triggering traffic jams on access lanes to the George Washington Bridge to punish Fort Lee's mayor for not backing his reelection campaign.

Two Christie aides were sentenced to 13 months and 18 months in prison, before their fraud convictions were overturned by the Supreme Court.

Even so the 2020 ruling hardly amounted to a finding of evidence. In its judgment, the court said the evidence 'no doubt shows wrongdoing  deception, corruption, abuse of power,' even if the aides did not profit from their actions.

Among the evidence, was a damning email sent by aide Bridget Anne Kelly to an official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the bridge.

'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,' she wrote.

Christie always denied any knowledge of their plan and was not prosecuted. Yet it was still seen as the death knell for his political career and his 2016 presidential hopes.

Christie was once seen as a likely future Republican nominee. But in 2016 a scandal over lane closures leading to the George Washington Bridge derailed his run before it began

Aides ordered traffic lanes closed in September apparently in retaliation against a local mayor who refused to back Christie's reelection campaign. The result was gridlock

Matt Katz, author of 'American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption,' said the scandal, involving misaligned traffic cones, may seem a little quaint in retrospect. But at the time it undermine the governor's reputation as a corruption busting prosecutor.

'It struck at the heart of who Christies said he was and that damaged his reputation because it damaged his authenticity,' he said.

The absent governor

If Bridgegate made national headlines, voters in New Jersey had other reasons to grumble. Who was running the state when Christie was running for the White House?

In 2015, the New Jersey governor spent 261 part or full days outside his state.

It was not difficult to work out what he was doing. His away days included 56 days in New Hampshire, the early primary state that Christie staked his campaign on.

The result was grumbling at home that the governor had given up on his day job.

And it coincided with polls showing a majority of New Jersey residents thought the state was on the wrong path.

In March of 2016 the criticism grew when he missed a state trooper's funeral to campaign in South Carolina. Trooper Sean Cullen died after being struck by a driver as he responded to a car fire.

The result was a string of editorials in local newspapers demanding that he resign in order to pursue his national ambitions.

'Gov. Chris Christie has made it abundantly clear that governing New Jersey is a distant second priority for him, far behind the demands of his personal ambition,' said the Star-Ledger.

'He has answered every crisis with neglect during his disastrous second term.'

It's editorial was headlined: 'Chris Christie, resign for N.J.'s sake'

The Trump endorsement

Christie appeared frequently alongside Donald Trump in 2016 after dropping out of the race

He led the Trump transition after the 2016 election before being fired, but was brought back into the fold and is seen here in 2017 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House

That Star-Ledger editorial listed one other factor as the final straw: His 'craven' endorsement of Donald Trump when Christie bowed to the inevitable and exited the race.

'He is re-writing the playbook of American politics,' said the New Jersey governor at the time. 'The best person to beat Hilary Clinton in November is undoubtedly Donald Trump.'

He went on to become an outspoken campaign booster for the man who would become the 45th president, much to the horror of many New Jersey voters who had considered Christie the acceptable face of Republicans in the 21st Century.

Fast forward seven years and Christie has flipped again, positioning himself as the most anti-Trump of the candidates running against the former president.

Having already alienated moderate Republicans by backing Trump once, now he loses the Trump base by running against their hero.

Or as his biographer Katz puts it, he has hopped from bandwagon to bandwagon, selling out his principles at least once.

Beachgate

In this Sunday, July 2, 2017, photo, Christie, right, uses the beach with his family and friends at the governor's summer house at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey

If there is one image that will remain forever connected with Christie, it is the sight of the New Jersey governor with his hands folded in front of his belly as he lounges on the beach. He is surrounded by his sunbathing family.

But at the time in 2017, Island Beach State Park was closed to the public because of the state government shutdown.

The Christie family is on a deserted beach on the Jersey Shore while everyone else spent the July 4 holiday without access to state parks.

The image was captured by an enterprising photographer with NJ Advance riding in a Cessna, after Christie had advertised the fact he would be spending the day on the beach.

'I don't know if it's fair, but ... my family doesn't ask for any services while we are there,' Christie said.

The result was outrage that the governor was getting special treatment and a series of shrugs from the man at the center of the scandal.

'A week ago today, I told people we had plans to be here, and whether it shut down or it didn't, we were going to be here because it's our residence,' he told Fox 29. 'They actually caught a politician keeping his word.'
An Australian couple are locked in a three-year battle to recoup over $17,000 they spent on a trip to Europe through WebJet Exclusives that was cancelled because of Covid.

Tracey and Rod McGrath, from Perth in Western Australia, booked a 21-day 'trip of a lifetime' to Switzerland in 2019 through the tour operator.

Ms McGrath said for years her husband had been wanting a European holiday and it was finally their chance to travel after their children had grown up.

Tracey and Rod McGrath are locked in a three-year battle to recoup over $17,000 they spent on a trip to Europe through WebJet Exclusives that was cancelled because of Covid

The couple, from Perth in Western Australia, booked a 21-day 'trip of a lifetime' to Switzerland in late 2019 through the tour operator. They have been trying to get a refund ever since the trip was cancelled during the pandemic

But their flights were cancelled after WA closed its borders in March 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic swept the world.

They first asked for a refund later that year but were only offered a credit voucher to spend on another package deal.

This is despite the third-party travel provider recently posting an underlying profit of almost of $135 million in the 12 months to the end of March.

Webjet increased its revenue by 164 per cent to almost $365million in the last year, largely thanks to growth of its hotel division, WebBeds, according to reports.

Ms McGrath told Daily Mail Australia she wanted the money back to give to her daughter who is trying to place a foot onto the housing ladder.

'I'm sure we're not the only ones that have had a holiday cancelled because of covid,' she said.

'But you book through someone like Webjet Exclusives because you're looking for confidence in your travel and now I realise that if I had not booked through Webjet I would have probably got my money back already.'

Webjet claim the trip was always non-refundable and have offered the couple vouchers instead. They also claim they can make an insurance claim if suffering from financial hardship

Ms McGrath, who works as a corporate psychologist, said that over the past three years she and her husband have made various efforts to recoup their money.

'But each time Webjet trot out the party line,' she said.

'They've been sitting on our money  and others  for over three years. Now, $17,000 will buy you a brand new small car and our daughter are her husband are trying to get into the housing market.

'If I'm going to give away that sum of money, I don't want to give it to a company that doesn't need it.'

Webjet told the couple the only way they can get their money back is through an insurance claim or a hardship assessment.

'Why should I have to prove a hardship assessment for a service that was never delivered?', asked Ms McGrath.

'They should just give me my money back.'

Ms McGrath said the experience had dented her trust in the travel industry.

What might have been: Ms McGrath says her husband had always dreamed of a trip to Switzerland

'There is no way I would trust, ever, to rebook through Webjet Exclusives,' she said.

'I'm certainly not keen on throwing good money after bad. I can see how people would be desperate like that  they'd be tempted to use the vouchers to just book anything to try to claw some of their money back.'

Adam Glezer, founder of Consumer Champion and who has been advocating on the couple's behalf, said: 'Tracey and Rod have been treated terribly. In my opinion, it's their money and they should be entitled to a refund.'

'They had full trust in Webjet Exclusives when they purchased their holiday. They did not get what they paid for and holding on to their money is completely unethical.'

Adam Glezer, founder of Consumer Champion, said the behaviour of Webjet has been 'completely unethical'

'Sadly, Webjet can refuse to refund because the relevant consumer protection laws in this country are non-existent. But on an ethical basis, it's disgraceful.'

Mr Glezer called for the Australian government to adopt strict laws similar to the UK, which are designed to protect the consumer.

'In the UK, if you purchase package travel and it is cancelled by the organisers for any reason, you are entitled to a full refund,' he explained.

'Unfortunately, Australians are exposed because our government has not put laws in place that prohibit this type of behaviour from companies. We need laws in this country to protect Australian customers.'

A spokeswoman for Webjet Exclusives said the terms and conditions of the trip always outlined it was non-refundable.

When trips were cancelled during the pandemic, the company offered gift cards for the full value of the money already paid following advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

'The gift cards issued had a three-year validity expiring in April 2023 however they were extended a further year last year, allowing these gift cards to be redeemed through to April 2024, with travel permitted through to 2025 which as we understand is one of if not the most flexible travel credit provided in Australia,' the Webjet spokeswoman added.

She added: 'As we have communicated to these customers - despite the product being non-refundable, for customers experiencing hardship such as ill health where they can no longer travel or where they may have been made redundant, we have and continue to work with customers to find an alternative remedy.'
A toddler who was allegedly stabbed to death by his father has been remembered by his family as a 'beautiful boy' who 'loved trucks and diggers'.

The body of boy, 3, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was discovered in an apartment in Riverwood, south west Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon.

His father, Nathan Vikatos, 45, had serious knife injuries, which police believe were self-inflicted, and was taken to St George Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

He has been charged with his son's alleged murder and refused bail.

Family members have expressed their shock and horror over the boy's tragic death.

Nathan Vikatos, 45, was in another room with serious knife injuries, which police believe were self-inflicted, and was taken to hospital. He has since been charged with his son's murder

One relative told The Daily Telegraph: 'What has happened is just tragic... but we don't want it to overshadow what a beautiful boy (he) was.'

'He was always happy...he loved trucks and diggers...we are all heartbroken,' the person commented.

Another devastated loved one posted a tribute to the little boy on Facebook page, saying 'you are now an angel in heaven'.

They child's mother, Jessica Marett, died in early 2021 shortly after giving birth.

The father then moved the pair to the Central Coast and allegedly cut off contact with her side of the family.

Elizabeth Risbridger, who babysat the boy, said she was 'broken' after hearing the news.

Nathan had made his way to the Riverwood complex owned by his aunt, which is about 100 kilometres from his Blue Mountains home, hours before the alleged stabbing

'He called me Mum...he excelled at speaking and confidence whilst I babysat him,' she said.

Ms Risbridger said she 'loved' babysitting the young boy and recounted spending hours at the beach with him and her dog.

Relatives of Ms Marett are calling for the boy's body to be buried next to his mother after finding out about his tragic death.

Relatives descried his late mother as a 'supportive, affectionate' woman.
New Hampshire is where Chris Christie famously slayed Marco Rubio's presidential campaign in 2016, and it is here that state Republican operatives say he could inflict damage Donald Trump or reshape the race  even if he doesn't triumph.

'There are moments in every presidential campaign where people who aren't destined to win and on track to win can nonetheless shape an issue, shape a perception about another candidate, highlight a topic that maybe hasn't been highlighted before,' said Republican consultant Jim Merrill, who oversaw Rubio's presidential campaign in the state.

'Given who he is and his nature, I have no doubt that he'll make an impact in this primary  whether it's a winning one, I think remains seen, very much open to question,' he told DailyMail.com. Merrill credits Christie's political talent and his 'willingness to mix it up.'

As he joins a field of nine Republican candidates that is approaching a dozen, Christie has been the most direct critic of Trump after breaking with him over January 6, notably tagging him as a 'loser'  although he uniquely aided Trump by vouching for him with the party's mainstream base in 2016.

'I do think hes going to be a strong Trump critic in a Republican primary and especially in New Hampshire. I think hes going to look to play spoiler to Trump in New Hampshire,' said communications consultant Lauren Zelt, who has spent years working in state politics here.

Spoiler? Republican political consultants say Chris Christie's tough debating skills give him the ability to reshape the race and go after Trump, even if he isn't best positioned to ultimately prevail

'New Hampshire is somewhat home turf for Chris Christie,' she told DailyMail.com.. 'He has a lot of friends left over from 2016 primary I know that he has stayed in touch and plugged in.'

It is here that Christie had his most memorable moment in the campaign three days before the New Hampshire primary. In a high-stakes debate on a stage packed with candidates, Christie ridiculed the then-45 year old senator, who was emerging as a voice on foreign policy issues even after famously guzzling bottled water in a response to the State of the Union speech. At the time, Rubio was among a group of candidates struggling to emerge as the Number Two contender against Trump.

Christie found ways both to build up his own record as a governor while ridiculing Rubio's service in the Senate. He mocked a scripted-sounding answer as 'the memorized 25 second speech that is exactly what his advisors gave him.'

Christie famously eviscerated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on a debate stage days before the New Hampshire primary in 2016

Staying out: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he won't run for president in 2024, and warned of the risks of a crowded field handing the nomination to former President Donald Trump

Christie has already come out swinging against former President Donald Trump, and his entry in the race could reshape debates, if Trump chooses to participate in them

Christie endorsed Trump, helmed his transition for a time, and advised him in the White House, as he did in 2017 at an event on opioid use and drug abuse. He later broke with Trump and condemned him over January 6, which he called 'a riot that was incited by Donald Trump in an effort to intimidate Mike Pence and the Congress'

When Rubio, a well-spoken lawmaker, tried to hit back but then regurgitated similar language, Christie hammered him again. 'There it is - the 25 second speech,' he needled.

Christie's own campaign soon imploded when he took just 6 per cent in a state he banked his campaign on.

As he prepares to launch his 24 run, his numbers are lower than they were then. But state experts say Christie could have an impact even without prevailing, simply by raising explicit criticisms of Trump at a time when other rivals are skirting the attacks, whether for self-preservation or other motives.

'Somebody needs to take him on,' said Fergus Cullen, a former state party chair who serves on the city council in Dover.

'I went and saw [Gov. Ron] DeSantis last week and he didnt even mention Trump,' Cullen told DailyMail.com, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley mentioned the former president who appointed her only 'in passing.'

'These other candidates are pretending he doesnt exist,' bemoaned Cullen, who represents an area carried by Joe Biden.

He didn't rule out a potential kamikaze effort, although he chose different language. 'I might say prophet, someone who is preparing the way for another,' he said. 'He has nothing to lose. He only has upside,' as compared to other candidates who might be seeking to protect a future run.

(Matt Katz, author of 'American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption,' has speculated that Christie could be after a 'consolation prize' of serving as attorney general  a role he was said to be after in a Trump administration before he was forced out while running the Trump transition in an early sign of chaos to come).

Christie's low performance in opinion polls mean he will have to struggle to meet the Republican National Committee's debate criteria, where debaters must amass 40,000 unique donors along with 1 per cent in multiple polls to earn a spot on the main stage). Experts say that second data point could be a hurdle for him.

Christie, who is set to appear at the Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College Monday, brings a unique package to the table.

A former prosecutor, he put a spotlight on the opioid epidemic epidemic in 2015 and 2016. The former mid-Atlantic governor overlaps with more traditional New Hampshire candidates who focus on economics over social issues, although with a pugnacious quality the presaged the rise of Trump.

He has a loyal base among the donor class, and was talked up byRupert Murdoch in 2015 when the field was emerging. After his famous debate, Murdoch tweeted: 'Chris Christie, suicide bomber. Damages victim while blowing himself up!'

He turned fully against Trump after January 6, and has been among his most pronounced critics in the field. He is no doubt aware of the risks that New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu warned about when he announced Monday he will stay out of the crowded Republican presidential primary.

Sununu said can't win and cautioned other contenders not to enable him.

'The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, and I will help ensure this does not happen,' he wrote in an op-ed in a Washington Post op-ed.

Sununu said his party was on a 'collision course toward electoral irrelevance,' citing defeats in 2020 and disappointments in off-year elections. 'We must not be complacent, and candidates should not get into this race to further a vanity campaign, to sell books or to audition to serve as Donald Trumps vice president,' he cautioned.
South Africa: Public Enterprises DG dismissed

The Director-General of the Department of Public Enterprises, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, has been dismissed following an inquiry into a complaint laid against him with the Public Service Commission.

The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, was mandated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to conduct the inquiry, which looked into whether or not Tlhakudi violated his employment contract.

A due process was undertaken in which all the allegations were put to Mr Tlhakudi, who was represented in the inquiry. Having considered all the evidence presented, the chairperson of the disciplinary, Advocate Ramawele SC, found that Mr Tlhakudi breached his contract and made sanctions of dismissal.

Minister Lamola has given effect to the sanction and has thus issued Mr Tlhakudi with a dismissal letter dated 2 June 2023, in terms of section 16B of the Public Services Act, 1994, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services said.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) said it will be implementing the decision.

The DPE can finally put all its efforts into advancing the reforms aimed at capacitating SOEs [State-owned enterprises] to deliver on their developmental mandate.

This work will culminate with a series of critical outcomes, including the creation of the National Transmission Company of South Africa out of Eskom, the establishment of an infrastructure manager within Transnet Freight Rail, and the introduction of private partnerships for the Durban Container Terminal, the DPE said.

Meanwhile, the DPE said it has noted the decision of the Constitutional Court to dismiss Tlhakudis application for leave for a direct appeal against a Labour Court decision to uphold his suspension.

[The] Constitutional Courts decision was further vindication of its stance that Mr Tlhakudi has long sought to avoid accountability for his misconduct that arose from a complaint that was filed with the Public Service Commission for alleged unethical behaviour over a recruitment process in the department.

Moreover, Mr Tlhakudis deceitful utterances and conduct in recent weeks, in which he has continued to peddle lies about the department and its political executive head, Minister Pravin Gordhan, has served to bring into sharp focus his utter disregard for due process, opting instead to portray himself as a victim through falsehoods, the department said.

The department said the now former DGs attempts to undermine the DPEs work of stabilising State-owned enterprises by alleging impropriety in the deal to sell some 51% of shares in South African Airways to Takatso consortium were doomed to fail.

The [department] reiterates the fact that Mr Tlhakudi was party to every step in the process that evaluated the interests that were received by the DPE for SAA. Additionally, he had authorised and provided oversight for the due diligence that resulted in the shortlisting of Takatso as the preferred SEP [strategic equity partnership], in line with specific criteria that he had formulated as part of the adjudication process, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Internet helps drive rural revitalization in Xizang's Medog county

People's Daily Online) 11:12, June 06, 2023

5G signals are now available in the county seat of Medog county, Nyingchi city, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, where new hotels, restaurants, shops, and supermarkets have mushroomed.

"We have built 13 5G base stations in the county, and plan to build 13 new ones this year to make 5G signals accessible to the county seat, towns and other key areas," said Xiao Junjie, manager of China Mobile's Medog branch.

Resident Gongsang Lamu picks tea leaves at Hezha village of Dexing township in Medog county, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, April 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

Internet accessibility has created better conditions for Medog's development. "Medog will follow the trend of selling farm produce and specialties online, improve the whole industrial chain, raise the added value of local farm produce and specialties, and sell them to the rest of the country," said Liu Beibei, deputy Party chief of the county.

Last year, urban per capita disposable income in the county reached 43,433 yuan ($6,122), while disposable income for rural residents averaged 17,035 yuan.

Xiao said the rapid recovery of tourism has encouraged a few companies to construct new high-standard hotels in Medog, which need more convenient and stable internet services. "The hotel industry grows rapidly in the county, which helps our company significantly expand the business," Xiao said.

Xiao's business growth is just a small fraction of the rapid development of the communication industry in Medog. All administrative villages in the county have been connected with fiber optic networks, and households with broadband internet services have increased from over 1,500 to 3,762.

Thanks to the internet, Huang Jiabin, a former official of Gelin village in Medogs Baibung township, promoted the village by posting photos of its beautiful scenery on social media, while Ning Minfan, an artist from central China's Hunan Province, learned about the county from the internet.

In May 2022, Ning was enamored by Gelin village's landscape during his tour to Medog and got to know Huang and other officials in the village.

At the end of 2022, the officials invited Ning to visit the village again and help design and develop cultural and creative products, which contributed to the village's development.

"Without the internet, it is hard to imagine that a small remote village in Medog can attract wide attention," said Huang.

Most of the residents in Gelin village have also learned to buy various commodities online, including clothes, food, and electronic products.

Tsering Tsomo, a villager, said that in recent years online shopping has brought changes to local residents, who can buy fashionable clothes and food from various regions.

Tsering Tsomo has turned her home into a small shop and a B&B hotel, which brings her an annual income of between 10,000 yuan and 20,000 yuan.

"This year, an increasing number of people drive to Medog, and many of them find that Gelin village is a unique destination when they search for travel plans online. More and more tourists have come here, and B&B hotels have been in great demand," Tsering Tsomo said.

She added that she can also earn 40,000 to 50,000 yuan every year by selling red rice and tea leaves planted by her family through online channels.

Tsering Tsomo's agricultural products are sold under a regional public brand of agricultural products called "Linzhiyuan," which was created by the team of a pairing-up aid program dispatched by south China's Guangdong Province to Xizang to sell farm produce from Nyingchi city, including Medog county.

"We attract consumers to buy products in our brick-and-mortar store, and they will buy the products again on online platforms. At present, the proportion of online sales of Medog's agricultural products under the brand of 'Linzhiyuan' has been on the rise," said Miao Xiaoli, sales manager of Linzhiyuan store in Foshan city of Guangdong.

Villagers in Medog now advertise their products on social media and short video platforms. "Some villagers shoot videos to showcase the growing environment of agricultural products, while others livestream the production and harvesting processes," Miao said.

"The internet has made agricultural products from Medog known to more customers and boosted sales channels. We will further implement new sales models of agricultural products to create more channels to increase rural incomes," said Yu Jiachun, an official from Guangdong aiding Xizang, and deputy director of the bureau of agriculture and rural affairs of Medog.

"The changes brought by the internet to Medog serve as a vivid example of the vast rural areas empowered by the internet," said Cui Lili, executive director of the Institute of E-commerce at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
MBABANE - On-the-run former Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelanes cellphone number has been implicated in the case of arrested self-proclaimed commander of the Solidarity Forces, Thabo Kunene.

A call is believed to have been placed from the former legislators cellphone to another gadget that was found at the bombed railway line in Sidvokodvo. This information is contained in an order that has been obtained by the police to seize, among other things, the camouflage jackets with hoods that were worn by the self-confessed commander of the Solidarity Forces (Kunene) and his co-accused Sibusiso Nkomonye. These are the jackets they were wearing when they made their maiden court appearance at the High Court on Saturday. The other items which have also been seized by police through the court order are cellphones, camouflage jacket and trouser, commercial explosives, explosive blasting cartridges and an electric cable.

Belief

In the application to seize the items, the police submitted that they had reasonable belief that they were purportedly used by the accused persons in the commission of the offences.

The order empowering the police to keep the items was issued by Judge Justice Mazwi Mavuso, after the prosecution moved an ex parte application at the High Court. An ex parte application is used for one party to ask the court for an order without providing the other party the usual amount of notice or opportunity to write an opposition. The application was granted after the prosecution moved same in terms of Section 30 of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008. Section 30 provides that: Where the national commissioner of police has reasonable grounds for believing that any property has been, or is being, used to commit an offence under this Act, he may seize the property. The commissioner shall as soon as practicable after seizing any property make an application, ex parte, to a judge of the High Court for a detention order in respect of that property.

In the application to seize the items, the Crown submitted that last Friday, the duo led a team of investigators to Bulunga, where they allegedly pointed out some exhibits. According to the prosecution, on arrival at Bulunga, the accused persons pointed out one commercial explosive, explosive blasting cartridges and an electric cable next to Nkomonyes homestead. Among the cellphones which have been seized by the police through the court order, is the one that was allegedly found at the scene after the bombing of the railway line at Sidvokodvo. Nkomonye allegedly had a hand in the bombing of the railway line. Nkomonye of Bulunga is alleged to have committed the offence on May 6, 2023. His action, as per the prosecution, resulted in a line at Sidvokodvo Railway being damaged using an explosive.

It is alleged that Nkomonye committed the offence with four others, who are still at large. This, according to the Crown, was carried out as a result of instructions of the first accused person (Kunene), who was allegedly acting in common purpose with Nkomonye and others. At the scene of crime, a cellphone belonging to one Hloniphani Mayibongwe Gama of Mbelebeleni, who is a member of the underground forces, was found, averred the Crown. The prosecution went on to bring it to the attention of the court that, investigations had shown that among the cellphone numbers which called this cellphone was one belonging to former MP, who is also a fugitive of the law, Simelane.

Offence

This call was allegedly received just before the commission of the offence. Simelanes whereabouts are officially unknown, though there are suspicions that he is in the United Kingdom (UK). He first skipped the country to neighbouring South Africa after a warrant for his arrest had been issued, together with that of his co-accused at the time, MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. The court was also told that on May 20, 2023, Bhadzeni II Umphakatsi was burnt to ashes. This was purportedly also done through the instructions of Kunene with whom Nkomonye was allegedly acting in common purpose with. The prosecution went on to relate that on May 19, 2023, nine commercial explosives, blasting cartridges, six detonators and two detonating cables were left at a Ndzimandze homestead next to the burnt umphakatsi, allegedly by Nkomonye and his companions. The court was told that on May 25, 2023, these items were taken to Mankayane Police Station by a community police member.

The accused persons made their first court appearance at the High Court on Saturday. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lomvula Hlophe applied that they be remanded in police custody as His Majestys Correctional Services did not accept awaiting prisoners on weekends. The acting DPP informed the court that Kunene and Nkomonye would be transferred to a Correctional facility later.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are lashing large parts of Australia, emphatically ending the mild weather that brought on the second driest May on record - and the wet weather is set to continue until Friday.

A powerful cold front is currently barrelling its way across Western Australia, bringing the chance of torrential downpours and damaging winds in the coming days for the east of the country.

With the east coast already experiencing a wet and dreary Tuesday, as much as 40mm of rain is expected to hammer the area across the next 48 hours.

The system will bring cold air into South Australia by the end of Wednesday with the cooler temperatures hitting Victoria, Tasmania and NSW later in the week.

A powerful cold front making its way across Western Australia will bring heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible flooding for large parts of Victoria and New South Wales

As much as 20-40mm worth of rain is expected in the country's east on Wednesday and Thursday

The drop in temperature will be accompanied by cloud cover, rain, storms and strong winds making it feel even colder - with temperatures in Adelaide feeling 3C cooler on Thursday than the forecast temperatures.

Perth took the early brunt of the severe weather system, experiencing record-breaking rainfall Sunday night into Monday morning with a total of 71.2mm pouring out of the sky.

That was Perth's wettest day in five-and-a-half years, and the wettest June day for 37 years.

The storms also brought flash flooding and lightning, with over 450 lightning strikes recorded within 50km of Perth and almost 17,000 around southwest WA.

Perth will continue to see wet conditions this week with 10-25mm of rain predicted on Tuesday.

It was perhaps welcomed after Western Australia experienced its driest May on record.

For the country as a whole, it was the second driest May on record with only 7.9mm of rainfall recorded - the second lowest in 124 years' worth of records.

The cold front will push a rain band into parts of northern Victoria and southern New South Wales from tomorrow into Thursday, where there is likely to be flooding.

Weatherzone meteorologist James Rout warned Daily Mail Australia the 'thunderstorms in that system will be severe'.

'We could see damaging winds, heavy rainfall and maybe even large hail,' he said.

Perth took the early brunt of the severe weather system, experiencing record-breaking rainfall Sunday night into Monday morning with a total of 71.2mm pouring out of the sky (stock image)

'There's a powerful cold front crossing Western Australia at the moment where it brought heavy rainfall there yesterday and today.

'From tomorrow, it's going to be bringing rain and thunderstorms to eastern South Australia, western Victoria and western New South Wales.'

The rain bomb from the west will push a band of wet weather into Victoria and NSW on Thursday.

Mr Rout said inland NSW could be lashed by twice as much rain normally expected for the month of June.

'In the NSW the system coming through on Wednesday and Thursday could bring 20 to 40mm of rain, with higher rainfall in smaller areas caused by thunderstorms,' Mr Rout said.

'The average given rainfall for June for inland NSW is 10 to 25mm. The rainfall coming through is at least a month's worth of rain and possibly twice as much.'

But things should calm down after the deluge.

'There should not be any other system like that for the next ten days,' explained Mr Rout.

'High pressure will settle things down in the short term. There's another front that's going to clip the south but it's not going to be bringing too much heavy rain.

Despite the cold weather systems, Mr Rout said temperatures will remain much above the June average as humid air from the Coral Sea sweeps the country.
A bank transfer mistake almost cost a Queensland mechanic $5,900 after his money was sent to the wrong account despite being one digit too short.

Michael Richards, from Brisbane, was in the market for a second-hand caravan so he could take a well-earned break in tropical Cairns earlier this year.

After finding one online for $5,900 he arranged to pay via electronic banking transfer and then sent a screenshot of the receipt to the seller - who immediately noticed a problem.

A Queensland tradie had his $5,900 online bank transfer vanish into thin air after he tried to buy this caravan

The bank account number was one digit short - eight, instead of nine numbers - the seller told Mr Richards.

The tradesman then jumped on the phone with his bank to let them know within five minutes.

Much to his relief, a manager told him that since the account number was short one digit, the payment could not go through and the money would return to his account

So Mr Reynolds made another transfer for the caravan, but became concerned when weeks later the first amount had not been returned.

'All ANZ would tell me was that a trace had been done and the funds couldn't be recovered,' Mr Reynolds told 9News.

Desperate to find out what happened to his cash, Mr Richards walked into a branch of the bank matching the BSB number he had transferred his money to, Suncorp Bank, and asked to transfer $100 to the phantom account.

But the bank told him that the number was indeed too short and that there was no such account.

Mr Richards asked the teller where the transfer could possibly have gone.

'Then the teller said to me, 'Oh, but if we add a zero onto the front of the number to fill in the ninth digit, that's someone's account'.'

The account name used for the transfer is ignored by most banks and really only there as a reference for the account holder.

'Why was my transfer processed and $5,900 paid into a valid account number that differed from the one I submitted? And why can banks stop invalid transactions in person and not online?' Mr Reynolds asked.

He later received a letter from his bank ANZ saying it had attempted to recover the money in accordance with the ePayments code but was not successful.

According to the ePayments code, banks notified within 10 days are required to return money sent to mistaken accounts

The ePayments code states that if a bank is notified within 10 days of an incorrect transfer, the money should be returned, while after 10 days the amount in question should be frozen pending the recipient proving why they are entitled to it.

If the banks are not notified until seven months after the transaction, the recipient can refuse to return the money and simply keep it.

After Suncorp was contacted by 9News, the money was returned to Mr Reynolds.

'If a customer makes a transfer in error, Suncorp Bank works with other financial institutions to resolve this through a dispute resolution process,' Suncorp executive general manager Nick Fernando said.

'We make every effort to move quickly to minimise impacts on the customer, however at times these processes involve multiple parties and can be complex.'

The ACCC is pushing for Australian banks to include account name crosschecking in their payments software to reduce mistaken transfers and online scams.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted ANZ for comment.
A shopper has been filmed handing over her baby so she could join a wild all-girl brawl in a busy supermarket.

Distressing footage of the fight shows a group of young women raining blows on each other inside Woolworths Tamworth Eastpoint, NSW, on June 1.

In the video, sent to 2GB, two girls pulled hair and threw punches before another gave her baby to a man who had just been shoved so she could enter the melee.

She slammed her fists into a man wearing a red T-shirt and holding a shopping basket while the girls stumbled down a nearby aisle.

Second later the man who had taken the baby from her passed the infant to a third person and went to defend the young woman.

'Stop, stop, stop,' another man yelled as the girls continued to struggle.

Distressing footage of the fight shows a group of teenagers raining blows on each other inside Woolworths Tamworth Eastpoint, northwestern NSW (pictured)

A shopping basket and a display of soft drinks were knocked over as at least four people fought in the aisle.

'Jesus Christ,' the shopper filming the wild brawl said.

'F*** off you stupid dog c***,' one of the girls told the mother of the baby.

A man holding a bag of roast chicken then tried to intervene as the two men grappled on the floor.

A woman could be heard calling one of the teens involved a 'dirty dog' while other shoppers and staff tried to break up the fight.

'You're starting on a family with a f***ing kid c***,' the man who was initially tasked with holding the baby yelled at his attacker.

In the video, two girls grip onto each other's hair and throw punches as another woman is seen passing a baby to an onlooker before racing into the action (pictured)

A NSW police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers were called to a supermarket on Peel Street, Tamworth, following reports of a fight.

'Officers attached to Oxley Police District were told a group of people became involved in a verbal argument before a physical altercation ensued,' they said.

A Woolworths spokesperson said: 'We're aware of an incident that occurred at our Eastpoint Tamworth store late last week and there's no place for violence like this anywhere in our community.

'We're offering team members who witnessed it access to counselling services, and we continue to assist police with their inquiries.'
Pardoned child killer Kathleen Folbigg could receive millions in compensation after spending the last 20 years behind bars.

Folbigg received an unconditional pardon and was released from Grafton jail on Monday after an inquiry heard there was reasonable doubt about her guilt following her 2003 conviction over the deaths of her four children.

Sentenced to 30 years in prison and not eligible for parole until 2028, the mother of four always maintained her innocence.

In the wake of the pardon, which does not quash her conviction but frees her from jail, Lawyer Rhanee Rego revealed compensation could be on the cards for her client.

'We haven't spoken to her about this. She is very much trying to focus on taking one step in front of the other and not rush into things because she has just been waiting to feel the grass on her feet, look at the sky and watch the sunrise for the first time in 20 years,' Ms Rego said.

Kathleen Folbigg (pictured) must get her convictions quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal before compensation avenues can be pursued

'Kathleen is still having a cup of tea, acquainting herself to normal life, and we are just getting used to not speaking to her in a prison over an AVL call.

'We are taking it one step at a time, but in due course, we will certainly be thinking about all options available to her.

'We won't be rushing her and pushing her to do anything. She does not need to do until she is ready.'

First, Ms Folbigg's convictions need to be quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal before compensation avenues can be discussed.

Figures from as little $1million up to $20 million have already been speculated in the media.

'She not only lost one child, she has lost four and been in jail for 20 years,' Ms Rego said.

'The system has failed her at every step.

'Instead of trying to understand why her children died, potentially through an inquest... we threw her in jail, locked her up and called her Australia's worst female serial killer.'

Robyn Blewer, director of the Griffith University Innocence Project, pointed to two recent cases to indicate the extent to which Folbigg could be compensated for her 7,300 days in jail.

West Australian man Scott Austic in May received $1.3million on top of an earlier payment of $250,000 after serving nearly 13 years for the murder of his pregnant secret lover.

He had sought $8.5million after being acquitted in 2020 on appeal.

Both payments were voluntary, while David Eastman was awarded $7million in damages by the ACT Supreme Court in 2019 after his wrongful conviction for the murder of Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester.

Dr Blewer said the amount Folbigg received might depend on what the government was willing to pay.

'Twenty years is a substantial amount of time lost,' she said.

'It might depend on the good grace of the NSW government.'

On Tuesday morning, her best friend and biggest supporter, Tracy Chapman, shared candid details about Ms Folbigg's first night of freedom.

Folbigg spent Monday on Ms Chapman's farm getting to know the animals and was just happy to get her first 'proper' sleep in 20 years.

'She slept for the first time in a real bed, had a cup of tea in a real crockery cup, real spoons to stir with,' her friend said.

'That sounds basic to you all, but she's grateful. Decent tea, real milk.'

Folbigg did get one special request.

'She asked for a kahlua and coke. It was a flashback to the last 20 years,' Ms Chapman said, laughing.

However, there was no time to cook the dinner of T-bone steak Folbigg had dreamed of for years in jail. Instead, the party of about 12 settled for pizza.

'Even the television, she was going "Oh my God, look at the television, it got so many capabilities", so she was able to go "Oh my God, I can watch so much".

Ms Folbigg's best friend Tracy Chapman (left) and lawyer Rhanee Rego (right) described her first night of freedom after 20 years behind bars

Folbigg was also convicted for murdering her son Patrick (pictured left) and the manslaughter death of her firstborn son Caleb (pictured right)

'We were explaining you could actually watch all these television shows and you don't have to sit there at 7.30 and watch a show anymore. She was like "This is amazing".'

Ms Chapman recalled getting 40 minutes' notice on Monday that her friend was about to be freed from prison.

'I basically knew she was coming out the door, and then she'd be there in 40 minutes so to go from 20 years to it happening... I was kind of cursing because I just went "this is not how it's supposed to happen".

'The whole thing could have been done a lot better. Kath didn't find out, I didn't find out, we would have appreciated a bit more notice and there's so many things she will say about that eventually.'

Ms Chapman added her friend looks forward to the future while taking each day as it comes.

'I think she is looking forward to making her flat her own, being able to choose her own furniture and do her own thing and clothes and stuff, she's only got things we've given her so she is looking forward to starting afresh.'

Kathleen Folbigg, (above before her 2003 conviction) has since spent two decades behind bars for the deaths of her children

Folbigg was convicted of the murders of Sarah (left) and Laura (pictured right) along with her two sons, but scientists later said Folbigg should be pardoned because the two girls' deaths could be explained by genetics
The grieving stepdaughter of paranoid schizophrenic David Fleet's victim Lewis Stone said the family had been let down by the whole system and that his life 'counted for nothing'.

Vicki Lindsay, 46, spoke out as a previously confidential report by health officials into Fleet's care found a series of failings before he was released from a psychiatric unit and stabbed devoted family man Mr Stone who he encountered at random in a Welsh village.

Ms Lindsay said: 'This has devastated our whole family. I am angry at the whole system and think there were failures right through the whole thing. We have been let down by the judge, family liaison and the mental health services.'

As well as the blunders by the Welsh health board in charge of Fleet's care, Ms Lindsay told how he has even been allowed unescorted day release since last autumn.

She said the first time they met their local police family liaison officer was in September last year when they were told that Fleet, now 23, was being allowed out on 'unescorted leave'.

David Fleet, 20, stabbed a man to death after leaving a psychiatric unit

Ms Lindsay, who had to give up her job managing a care home because Mr Stone's death left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, said: 'It was only three and a half years after he murdered my step-dad. To us it seems like his life counted for nothing.

'His mum is now saying that he is well and remorseful so he should be serving a sentence to reflect the crime he has committed.

'There is a thing called a hybrid order that allows sentences be served partly in hospital and then in a prison but because he was under 21, it did not apply to him.

'I believe there were mental health issues.

'I believe he knew what he was doing.

'It was pre-meditated. He followed a girl a couple of days before, so he was intending to hurt someone. He hid the knife and fled the scene. Those are the actions of someone consciously trying to get away with murder not suffering mental illness.'

She said it was only a few weeks ago that the family were given a Homicide Self-Referral Form to fill in by Victim Support.

'We have had no justice and no support,' she added.

'I hate David Fleet with a passion. I hate what he has done to us. Lewis had been my dad since I was four years old. He was very hard working, a gentleman and the rock of our family.'

Lewis Stone, pictured, was set upon by David Fleet on the banks of the River Leri on February 28 2019

Ms Lindsay said Mr Stone, a father of two, stepfather of two and grandfather of five, had been with her mother for 42 years when he was killed - and the couple planned to move permanently from Burton, Staffordshire to their home on the South Wales coast.

Ms Lindsay said that when Fleet was in court, the judge just said her stepfather 'had been in the wrong place and the wrong time'.

She added: 'But when he said Fleet should be held in a secure psychiatric hospital rather than prison, we assumed this meant for decades not three years. He said there would be no release until a Ministry of Justice Boad determined he was no longer a threat and that public safety would be the highest priority. I can't believe that this is what has happened.'

Meanwhile, Fleet's mother demanded a public apology from an NHS health board for failing her son and the victim's family.

Sharon Lees told the BBC that prior to the attack, she had struggled to control her son's mental state and that he had become increasingly erratic in the build up to being detained in a psychiatric unit.

Following a frightening incident in which he had 'severely self-harmed' in his room, he was placed on anti-psychotic medication, but his mental health still deteriorated.

She said: 'He seemed to think that we'd put something on his head to erase his memory. It was like he was seeing things that weren't there.

'It was clear that he was in psychosis. He started asking bizarre questions about someone watching us.

Ms Lees had raised her son David Fleet in the seaside town of Borth, Ceredigion

'Eventually he said to me that he thought he might have to kill someone because 'people are watching us, there was hidden cameras everywhere and nowhere is safe' - that was when I said he had to come with me to hospital.

'We had to prise the knife off him to get him into the car and get him into hospital.'

Fleet was detained under the Mental Health Act but was allowed home for visits despite his mother claiming to have warned hospital staff he was looking for knives.

After spending four months in the facility as an in-patient, Fleet was sent home to the seaside town of Borth, Ceredigion, to the dismay of his mother who knew she would not be able to control him.

She said: 'I just cried because I just don't know how I'm going to cope... he's over 6ft tall, I can't stop him from going out.'

Recalling the dreadful day Fleet's behaviour spiralled, Ms Lees said she 'knew' something awful had happened.

She recalled: 'I'm trying to phone him, trying to message him... I looked out of the back window and I could see the air ambulance.

'I just remember having this really sinking feeling. Like I knew.'

According to a BBC Wales investigation, a copy of an internal health board report into Fleet's care before the attack revealed that three weeks before the stabbing, a doctor had warned he was not ready to leave hospital because of his 'worsening mental state'.

It also referenced the 'risks he posed with knives'.

However, he was sent home without his risk assessment being updated.

On the day of the incident, Fleet did not receive a dose of his anti-psychotic medication.

He would go on to plead guilty to Mr Stone's manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

He was then detained indefinitely at a secure psychiatric unit.

The family of Mr Stone have said that there was 'no excuse or forgiveness' for the killer and that 'nothing could be said or done to help them understand or move on from what's happened'.

They did concede that 'huge failings in the mental health sector' allowed the 'monster [to be] walking the streets, able to cause such harm'.

Under pressure to open an independent mental health homicide review, the Welsh government has since said it is 'satisfied' with the Hywel Dda health board's 'thorough' investigation of the case.

The board said it shared its internal report into Fleet's care with the Welsh government but would not publish it as it contains confidential medical information.

However, Ms Lees believes more should be done and an apology should be made.

She said: 'The feelings of guilt and remorse that David is feeling are incomprehensible.

'It's really important for just not only us, but for Mr Stone's family to have a public apology because of his illness and the lack of care that he received... it only feels justified that he also receives an apology because the health board failed him, which then in turn failed his victim's family.'

Mandy Rayani, director of nursing, quality and patient experience for Hywel Dda University Health Board, told MailOnline: 'We are unable to comment upon any individual cases as we have a duty of care and duty of confidentiality to our patients.

'In the event of a serious incident we have robust processes in place for reviewing the incident internally, identifying any issues and, where appropriate, preparing an improvement plan to prevent such an occurrence in the future.

'We regret any such incidents, and always seek to learn from them. We endeavour to engage with those directly impacted whenever there is cause for concern.

'For the most serious incidents we would conduct a clinical review of the incident. Our aim is to identify learning points and to have the relevant information available that will explain what, why and how the incident happened.

'In accordance with national guidelines we will then submit a Serious Incident Report to Welsh Government or National Reportable Incident to the NHS Wales Executive, depending on the policy requirements at the time of the incident.'
The mother of a boy who had to be identified by his shoe after being mauled to death by an XL bully will make a heartfelt plea to MPs today and call for tougher penalties on dangerous dog owners.

Jack Lis, 10, died last November after suffering catastrophic injuries after being mauled by a seven stone dog while playing at a friend's house in South Wales.

His mother Emma Whitfield has since launched a campaign for a new law that would overhaul the Dangerous Dogs Act. She wants to see stricter penalties and stronger rules to stop illegal and irresponsible breeding and selling.

Ms Whitfield, 32, today will urge MPs to back the proposed Jack Lis Law, which is named after her son. She told The Mirror she hopes the legislation will 'change the future' and 'stop another Jack from happening'.

Her plea comes as Scotland Yard is working daily to tackle the growing problem of out-of-control dogs that has seen a skyrocketing number of American bullies seized over the last few years.

Jack Lis, 10, (pictured) died last November after suffering catastrophic injuries after being mauled by a seven stone dog at a friend's house in South Wales

His mother Emma Whitfield (pictured in June 2022) will make a heartfelt plea to MPs today and call for tougher penalties on dangerous dog owners

Ms Whitfield is expected today to detail Jack's death, including how it was 'heartbreaking' to identify him by being 'shown his shoe'. Pictured is the dog that killed Jack Lis

Ms Whitfield is expected today to detail Jack's death, including how it was 'heartbreaking' to identify him by being 'shown his shoe'.

She will recall how learning he did not survive the attack was 'unimaginable' and how, in the 'eyes of the law', the dog that mauled Jack was 'only dangerous once it had killed him'.

READ MORE: Which dogs are banned in the UK? Illegal breeds and Dangerous Dogs Act explained American Pitbull terriers are the most commonly culpable dogs involved in fatal attacks in the UK Advertisement

The grieving mother will ask MPs to support her call in banning XL bullies and taking steps to ensure that 'nobody else is ever put in the position of me and my family'.

'There needed to be a ban of the breed. Get rid of every single one of them,' she will tell politicians, the newspaper reported.

'This won't bring my son back, but I realise it's not as simple as banning certain dogs. There will always be another breed involved.'

Met Police reportedly deal with at least one dangerous dog each day and seized 479 out-of-control animals last year. The force seized 333 in 2021.

Ten people were killed by dogs in the UK in 2022, with another five deaths already this year, including a grandma who was mauled to death by an out-of-control, banned breed over the weekend.

The horror savaging - the latest in a wave of fatal dog attacks across the country - happened while the woman in her 70s was lying on a sun lounger at home in Bedworth, Warwickshire, at 3.50pm on Friday.

The victim's daughter, 49, desperately tried to fight off the animal as it pounced on her mother.

She was bitten as she tried in vain to save her mother and was later taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

England and Wales saw nearly 22,000 cases of out-of-control dogs causing injury last year.

Forty-four American bullies have been removed from the London streets this year, The Daily Mirror reported. The breed is understood to have been responsible for about 50 per cent of all dog-related deaths in the UK since 2021.

Ten people were killed by dogs in the UK in 2022, with another five deaths already this year, including a grandma who was mauled to death by an out-of-control, banned breed over the weekend. The attack happened while the woman in her 70s was lying on a sun lounger at home in Bedworth, Warwickshire, (pictured) at 3.50pm on Friday

The victim's daughter, 49, desperately tried to fight off the animal as it pounced on her mother. Officers are pictured at the scene on Friday

Deputy chief constable Robert Carden told the newspaper that police in 'all regions' are now focusing on 'dangerous dogs and dog attacks' and working with on-the-ground officers to 'ensure that investigations are launched'.

The Dangerous Dog Act 1991 bans owning, breeding, selling, giving away, or abandoning four dog breeds, as well as banning any dog which is dangerously out of control.

This legislation makes four breeds of dog originally bred for fighting illegal in the UK: American Pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brazileiro.

Crossbreeds of those four are also prohibited, depending on a judgement of their physical characteristics and how well they match a 'typical' description.
The employees did not abide by the company policy to not interact with robbers for the safety of their customers and their staff members

Calvin McDonald told CNBC he stands by the decision to fire employees who intervene in a robbery at one of their stores in Georgia

Lululemon's CEO has said he stands by firing two workers who did not abide by the company's theft policy when they confronted thieves during a robbery in Georgia.

Jennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogers called the police during the May incident when three masked men looted their Atlanta store, taking handfuls of stock worth $7,000.

They called the cops and video footage shot by Rogers, 23, shows Ferguson shouting at the thieves before the pair follow them out of store trying to stop them.

CEO Calvin McDonald denied Ferguson and Rogers were fired because they called the police - but said the fact they followed and interacted with the robbers violates company rules.

'We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft,' McDonald said on CNBC. 'It's only merchandise.'

Lululemon's CEO Calvin McDonald said he stands by the decision to fire two employees who did not abide by the company's theft policy during a recent robbery in Georgia

Jennifer Ferguson (left) and Rachel Rogers were allegedly let go for trying to stop the thieves and 'breaking employee handbook policy' of not interfering with a robbery

McDonald said Lululemon's policy explicitly states that for the safety of their 'educators' and their customers, no one should intervene in attempted robberies.

In the Georgia robbery, the two women were seen on video following the thieves out of the store, which is a clear violation of company policy, McDonald said.

In his interview with CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street,' McDonald maintained that the policy is in place to keep everyone inside and outside of the store safe.

'Because we put the safety of our team, of our guest, front and center. It's only merchandise,' he said.

'They're trained to step back, let the theft occur, know that there's technology and there's cameras and we're working with law enforcement,' he added.

The CEO continued that they have in previous instances where employees have been hurt because they interfered in the robbery and ended up injured or killed.

'And the policy is to protect them. But we have to stand behind the policy to enforce it,' he continued.

The company faced backlash in May after the news of the two women having been fired was shared by local media along with video of the thieves getting away.

After they were fired, Ferguson and Rogers told 11Alive that they were aware of the policy but that they were not given any 'specific reasoning' for their firing.

A Lululemon spokesperson denied that the women were fired for calling 911 and said that employees are encouraged to reach out to police during robberies.

Shocking footage shows masked robbers taking merchandise from displays near the front of the Lululemon store in Atlanta, before rushing out to their getaway car

The incident happened at the Lululemon store in Peachtree Corners

After the May robbery, Rogers told 11Alive that the store has fallen victim to the same group of thieves for weeks and that's why she recorded the incident.

The video showed a masked thief swiping leggings from a display near the front while his accomplice, who is also wearing a mask, holds the door open for him.

An employee is heard saying: 'No, no, no, you can march back out,' before the second suspect walks in and grabs more items.

Ferguson, then shouts: 'Seriously. Get out! Get Out!' as they try to get the thieves to stop before the pair rush out of the store to their getaway away.

It is said to have been close to 'the 10th time' the store has suffered a robbery with no action so the frustrated women reported it to the police for the first time.

They said the thieves would consistently strike around an hour before closing time where they would grab as much merchandise from the racks and tables closest to the door and run out to a getaway car.

Jennifer said: 'We are not supposed to get in the way. You kind of clear path for whatever they're going to do.'

The video showed a masked thief swiping leggings from a display near the front while his accomplice, who is also wearing a mask, holds the door open for him

The pair of thieves rush out of the store and sprint towards their getaway car

Lululemon has a policy of not interfering with robberies for the safety of their employees

The firing of the two Lululemon workers comes amid a shocking rise in shoplifting and robberies across the U.S. as employees are told not to intervene.

In May, Lily Oxford, 52, says she and another manager of the Big Lots location in Oildale, California followed a thief who had walked out with 15 jugs of Tide laundry detergent in his cart.

The incident happened on April 5 and Oxford - who managed the furniture section - said she and her coworker were not attempting to stop the thief.

A week after following the customer out, she told KGET that she and her coworker were both out of jobs in connection to the incident.
Mysterious fluorescent green water has been spotted pouring out of a pipe and into public rock pools at a popular Sydney beach.

What is believed to be a natural fluorescent dye, fluorescein, was spotted spreading through the rockpools at Cronulla, in Sydney's south, on Friday with its origins still uncertain.

The dye has a myriad of uses, but is often used as a tracer to help experts track the flow of water and identify leaks in a water system.

Many locals said they wouldn't swim until the chemical dissipates, which takes between five to seven days as it's naturally degraded through exposure to sunlight.

Fluorescent green water has been seen pouring out of a pipe and spreading into rockpools at south Sydney's Cronulla beach (pictured)

'We believe the discolouration is likely to be fluorescein dye, which is commonly used in plumbing/drain testing and dissipates quickly once diluted,' a spokesperson for the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority said.

The authority also assured that the dye has a low toxicity but should be used minimally as 'even small amounts can be highly visual'.

'Anyone concerned about possible water pollution should contact the Environment Line on 131 555 as soon as possible to ensure their concerns can be investigated promptly,' the spokesperson for the authority said.

An Australian dye manufacturer, Tintex, describes it as a 'water colourant used to locate leaks in plumbing, tracing pipe locations, detect drain damage and water pathways'.

'It is non-toxic to the environment and odourless,' the company's website reads.

However, a safety data report from Tintex also warns to 'not let this chemical enter the environment'.

Social media users were quick to point out the dye was mostly 'harmless' after photos of the rockpools were posted to a locals' Facebook page.

One user claimed the dye is 'legal to use in stormwater drain'.

'Doesnt look good whatever it is,' another user responded, while other cautious users refused to swim in the area until the dye dissipated.

The colour is believed to be caused by a non-toxic, natural chemical called fluorescein that takes five to seven days to degrade through exposure to sunlight

The chemical had tourists and locals in Venice, Italy, scratching their heads after one of the city's famed canals turned bright green on May 28 (pictured)

A similar event occurred in Melbourne's CBD on Thursday when a section of the Yarra River was dyed by fluorescein.

It is believed the dye had made its way into the river from a drain on nearby Elizabeth Street before dissipating shortly after.

Just over a week prior, locals and tourists in Venice were left scratching their heads after one of the city's famed canals was turned bright green by the chemical.

The Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection of Veneto, a region of Italy that encompasses Venice, said fluorescein had shown up in samples taken.

They also confirmed the results of their analysis had 'not shown the presence of toxic elements', reassuring perplexed residents and tourists.
A new mum was shocked when cranky neighbours complained her baby's continuous crying had interrupted their sleep for over 'six months'.

The mother of the 15-month-old boy got an anonymous note under the door of her Sydney flat last weekend.

The woman had been keeping her 'little guy' home for the past three weeks away from daycare so he could recover from a cough and blocked nose.

The poorly-written note pleaded with the mum to do something about the 'very disturbing' early-morning crying that had been going on for the last 'six months', Yahoo News Australia said.

'Please find a solution's [sic], we need our sleep as much as you do. I am sure [the] residents who are closer to you feel the same.'

The mother was shocked to find the typed note stuffed under the door and took to a mums' social media page to vent.

The mother of the 15-month-old boy found the anonymous note (pictured) stuffed under her door at her Sydney apartment last weekend

The mother took to a mums' social media page to vent after having a 'rough' time with her tot as he struggled through a cough and blocked nose

'This week has been especially rough,' she said.

'He's had a fever again and at night he's been waking every two hours because of his blocked nose and cough.'

The mum said she lived in an apartment block and didn't know how to deal with the situation.

She added she had been doing the best she could and had sought medical advice.

But mothers on social media called out the neighbour for the 'harassment' while giving her some pointers on how to help her son while he was sick.

'Baby crying is normal,' one said, while others blasted the 'selfish' and 'ignorant' neighbour.

Another suggested leaving some earplugs in a spot the neighbour might find them.

'I absolutely feel like being petty and sticking [the note] up on my buildings notice board, pinning some earplugs and writing "heres your solution".'
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged a question about whether President Biden would 'survive' a full second-term in office  instead defending Biden's record on infrastructure and the budget.

She got asked at Monday's White House press briefing about criticism from Republican former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley  who has repeatedly knocked Biden's cognitive ability and on Monday said a vote for Biden is 'actually a vote for President Harris'  in reference to Vice President Kamala Harris.

'What do you say to anyone who is questioning whether the president would survive a full four-year term?' Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich asked her.

Jean-Pierre responded by citing the Hatch Act, which places limitations on politicking by U.S. government officials during their official duties but wouldn't necessarily preclude her from weighing in on the president's health, which Republicans are seeking to make a campaign issue.

'So, let me just say this  Im not going to comment on the 2024  she is a candidate,' Jean-Pierre responded, adding she wanted to be careful. 'And we do follow the Hatch Act, so I want to be really, really mindful here,' she added.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre didn't respond directly when asked about a comment by Nikki Haley that a vote for Biden, 80, was a vote for 'President Harris.' She was asked point blank about Biden surviving a second term

Then she went into a defense of Biden's legislative record. 'Look, this is a president, if you look at his track record  and Im saying this more broadly, if you look at what hes been able to do, he has been able to push forward and get done historic pieces of legislation,' she said.

'He has gotten more done than any other president when you think about the infrastructure or legislation. when you think about the last president, it was a joke. We were talking about "Infrastructure Week"  it was literally a joke. Now you hear the president talk about "infrastructure decade."

She went on to talk about Medicare, job creation, and the bipartisan budget deal Biden signed over the weekend.

'That matters to the American people,' she said.

Her comments came after Biden, 80, took a tumble while handing out diplomas to cadets at the Coast Guard Academy graduation last week in Colorado, prompting new questions about his condition as he prepares for a grueling campaign.

Biden joked with reporters after the incident, jogging toward the White House and saying he got 'sandbagged'  in reference to the black sandbag he evidently tripped over on stage.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said a vote for Biden was a 'vote for President Harris.' She renewed her call for 'mental competency tests'

Biden, 80, is seeking to become the oldest president to be reelected

Haley sought to shift the focus to Vice President Kamala Harris

President Joe Biden is helped up after falling during the graduation ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. He fell while handing out diplomas to cadets

This led to a deep dive by the New York Times on Sunday, which cited people calling Biden 'sharp as a tack,' but also noted the White House physician's diagnosis of arthritis in his spine and stiffness in his gait.

Haley, 51, kicked off her campaign by citing doubts about Biden's mental capacity. On Monday, on Fox News, she sought to tie him to his vice president, who like Biden has an underwater approval rating, and has struggled on immigration and other issues.

'We can't continue down this path. And let's be very clear if they think it's going to be President Biden, a vote for President Biden, it's actually a vote for president Harris. We are running against Kamala Harris. Make no bones about it,' said Haley, who is polling at about 4 percent in the RealClearPolitics average.

Harris, the nation's first black and first female vice president, has a 51 percent disapproval rating, according to fivethirtyeight, with 38 percent approval. Biden has higher disapproval, at 55 per cent, but also higher approval, at 41 per cent.
Gulf International Bank (GIB) and its Riyadh-based regional investment banking and asset management arm, GIB Capital, have been chosen for awards for their transactions at the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East conference.

They are:

The Oil & Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (nogaholding)  $2.2 billion Sustainability Linked Facility was named the ESG Loan Deal of the Year. GIB acted as the Sole Financial Advisor and along with Mashreq Bank acted as the Bookrunners and ESG Coordinators for the transaction. GIB, Mashreq Bank and ABK  DIFC Branch also acted as Underwriters and Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers.

Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA)  $1.7 billion Syndicated Sustainability Loan was named Metals & Mining Deal of the Year. GIB, NBB and Bank ABC acted as Bookrunners, Underwriters and Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers.

The Government of the Emirate of Sharjah  $1 billion 6.5% 144A/RegS Sustainability Bond was awarded ESG Bond Deal of the Year. GIB along with GIB Capital acted as Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers.

Award ceremony

The award ceremony will be held on June 7 2023 in Dubai after the conclusion of the Bonds Loans & Sukuk Middle East 2023 Conference. The above awards demonstrate GIBs strength as a major bank in the GCC and further strengthens the banks ESG credentials.

Commenting on the honours, Jamal Al Kishi, GIB CEO, said: Were extremely proud of these awards and recognition of GIB and GIB Capitals leadership across our corporate and investment banking activities, as well as in the development and use of sustainable financing and investment instruments. Our focus continues to be on innovation and supporting the needs of our public and private sector clients across the region, including their efforts to transition their businesses and adopt more sustainable operating models and modes of financing.

During the 12-month judging period, GIB Group continued to execute landmark transactions across all of its core markets (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE). These included several investment banking transactions (M&As and IPOs), bonds and sukuks, and conventional and Islamic loans several of which were sustainability linked.

The group has been recognised in the last 12 months by several leading publications and associations for its outstanding work. GIB Group aims to continue executing landmark transactions in its core markets ensuring the needs of its key clients are met.-- TradeArabia News Service
A frustrated homeowner fed-up with salespeople hung a sign on their door warning they will start charging unwanted visitors by the minute.

The laminated sign was tied to the front door with shoelace at a property in western Sydney.

'DOOR KNOCKERS PLEASE NOTE,' the sign reads.

'This household charges $20 per minute to listen to sales pitches and or religious messages.

The laminated sign says that $20 is expected to be paid per minute for any sales pitches or religious messages, and places a ban on soliciting

'By knocking on this door you signal your agreement with the terms outlined above.'

The sign then took a bizarre turn after referencing Jesus and beer.

'NO SOLICITING. We are too broke to buy anything. We know who we are voting for [and] we have found Jesus,' it read.

'Seriously, unless you are giving away beer. PLEASE GO AWAY.'

A photograph of the sign was posted to Reddit where users were quick to see the funny side.

'Talk about profiteering! The guy next door only charges $10 per minute,' one wrote.

'The time and effort that went into the notice isn't equivalent to the quick shoestring tie up job,' a second added.

'I'd be tempted to knock on the door just to hand them a cold beer,' another wrote.

Homeowners who do not wish to be disturbed by salespeople can attach 'do not knock' signs to their doors.

The signs can be found on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website and printed out.

Salespeople will be in breach of Australian Consumer Law if they knock on the door of a home displaying this particular sign.

Religious groups are still allowed to knock, because they aren't selling a product, but homeowners retain the right to ask anyone to leave their property.

According to the ACCC's guide for consumers, salespeople are required to leave immediately if you ask them and not return for 30 days.

Homeowners can ask anyone to leave their property, and salespeople breach Australian Consumer Law if they knock on a door with a 'Do not knock' sign

Salespeople will be in breach of Australian Consumer Law if they knock on the door of a home displaying a 'Do not knock' sign, which can be found on the ACCC website

Other little known rules are that salespeople can't visit homes on Sundays or public holidays, before 9 am or after 6 pm on weekdays, and before 9 am or after 5 pm on Saturdays.

Salespeople are also required to show homeowners their identity card and inform them of their name.

They must disclose the contact details of the company they represent and why they are standing at your door.

Salespeople must tell homeowners about their right to cancel a contract if you change your mind after purchasing a product or service.

A sales agent cannot use physical force, coerce or harass a homeowner when selling goods or services.

'Harassment is when a salesperson contacts or communicates with you unnecessarily or excessively to the point where you feel intimidated, tired or demoralised,' the ACCC warns.

'Coercion is when a salesperson uses or threatens to use compulsion or force, which restricts your choice or freedom to act.'
A female groom at a prestigious stables has won a pregnancy discrimination case after one of her bosses refused to get off her horse during a meeting to discuss her childcare.

Charlotte Holloway has been awarded more than 4,000 after an employment tribunal expressed disbelief over the way she was treated at historic Epsom Derby-winning Durdans Stables.

Mrs Holloway had been in dispute with her bosses while she was on maternity leave as they were refusing to let her return to work on the same hours as before.

When she visited the stables to discuss the issue, the owner's partner - who was helping run the business - did not dismount from her ride, so the meeting was held in the stables with everyone forced to stand.

The tribunal panel described the meeting as an 'indignity' and said they had 'never come across anything like [that] situation'.

Charlotte Holloway was awarded more than 4,000 after an employment tribunal expressed disbelief over the way she was treated at historic Epsom Derby-winning Durdans Stables (pictured)

The tribunal, held virtually, heard that Ms Holloway felt she had no other choice but to resign.

She then sued her former employers for unfair dismissal and maternity discrimination and won 4,173.35 in compensation.

The hearing was told Mrs Holloway began working at Durdans in Epsom, Surrey, in October 2018.

Her employers describe the stables as 'the most outstanding in Epsom from a historical, architectural, and equestrian perspective' and 'one of the most notable in the whole country'.

Mrs Holloway worked 21 hours a week over Saturday mornings plus full days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, avoiding Mondays and Fridays as that was when her parents - who helped her with childcare - worked.

The tribunal heard she became pregnant with her second child and this led to her being furloughed at the start of lockdown in March 2020 about three months before her baby was due.

On February 26 2021, she said she wanted her days and hours to remain as they had before her maternity leave.

On March 17, the stables emailed to say it wanted her to work her hours on different days - Thursday mornings, full days Fridays and Sundays.

Mrs Holloway had been in dispute with her bosses while she was on maternity leave as they were refusing to let her return to work on the same hours as before (File image)

These hours were problematic for Mrs Holloway as she had arranged childcare to fit into her previous working arrangements, the tribunal said.

'She also did not want to work a whole day at a weekend with a young family, and Sundays has always been difficult for her because her husband has sporting commitments,' it said.

The stables replied to say it was not 'reasonably practicable' to allow her to return to the same position and on the same specific hours and days as before.

It pointed out she had taken four weeks of extra maternity leave in addition to the initial standard period.

Mrs Holloway asked for a meeting, which took place in April, and brought her father with her.

Boss Stephen Cooper and his partner attended, but Mr Cooper's partner refused to get off her horse, meaning 'everyone else had to stand'.

With no compromise on the proposed changes to her rota, Mrs Holloway resigned in May.

The tribunal found that she had been discriminated against and unfairly sacked, concluding that managers made it difficult for her to return because she had taken additional maternity leave.

Employment Judge Anna Corrigan said: '[The company] did not enter discussions about [her] return and days of work in a spirit of compromise.

'There was no proper discussion or explanation at the meeting in April 2021 - when Mr Cooper's partner did not even dismount from her horse, and everyone was left standing.

'As a result, possible solutions in respect of [Mrs Holloway's] working days were not explored.

'We also take account of the indignity of how [Mrs Holloway] was treated at the meeting with her father.

'We've never come across anything like the situation where Mr Cooper's partner held the meeting on the horse, forcing everyone to stand.

'The [company] did not follow any process. All meetings were at [Mrs Holloway's] request, and in the meeting which led to [her] dismissal Mr Cooper's partner did not even get down off her horse.'

The Durdans Stables' equestrian history began with Amato, who in 1838 became the first Derby winner to be born and trained in Epsom.

The horse belonged to the owner of the Durdans, Sir Gilbert Heathcote.

The grave of Amato is found in woodlands adjacent to the paddocks, along with the graves of three other Derby winners - Ladas II, Sir Visto and Cicero.
World leaders may have just two years left to tame artificial intelligence before computers become out of control, the Prime Minister's AI taskforce adviser has warned.

Matt Clifford said that without urgent international regulation, a deadly bio weapon could be developed that would kill 'many humans'.

The tech entrepreneur said the rising capability of AI is 'striking', but insisted it was not 'inevitable' that computers would become cleverer than humans.

His comments come ahead of Rishi Sunak's visit to Washington DC where he is expected to tell Joe Biden of his ambition for Britain to lead the world in tackling the threats posed by AI. The Prime Minister is looking to launch a global AI watchdog in London, and hopes to host an international summit to devise rules on AI regulation.

It follows fears that humanity could lose control of super-intelligent systems, or that AI could launch novel cyberattacks or threaten democracy by propagating mass disinformation.

The Prime Minister's AI taskforce adviser has warned that without urgent international regulation, a deadly bio weapon could be developed that would kill 'many humans'

Mr Clifford, chairman of the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA), told TalkTV that the 'near term risks are actually pretty scary'. He said: 'You can use AI today to create new recipes for bio weapons or to launch large scale cyber attacks these are bad things.'

He added that the 'existential risk' is 'what happens once we effectively create a new species  an intelligence that is greater than humans'.

A group of 350 experts last week signed a statement warning that AI needed to be treated as a threat on a par with nuclear weapons or a pandemic.

Asked whether it was possible to stop AI from becoming cleverer than humans, Mr Clifford said: 'It's certainly not inevitable. However, the reason people are starting to get worried, even the people making these systems... is that the rate of progress we've seen over the last two or three years has been pretty striking.

'I think what the signers of the letter are saying is we're on an exponential... these systems are getting more and more capable at an ever increasing rate.

'And if we don't start to think now about how to regulate, how to think about safety, then in two years' time, we'll be finding that we have systems that are very powerful indeed.'

A group of 350 experts last week signed a statement warning that AI needed to be treated as a threat on a par with nuclear weapons or a pandemic

It came as Gita Gopinath, second-in-command at the International Monetary Fund, warned of the potential of 'substantial disruptions in labour markets'.

She told the Financial Times that the risks from AI were 'very large'  though could boost productivity and economic output.

'There is tremendous uncertainty, but that... doesn't mean we have the luxury of time to wait and think of the policies we will put in place in the future,' she said. 'We need governments, we need institutions and we need policymakers to move quickly on all fronts, in terms of regulation, but also in terms of preparing for probably substantial disruptions in labour markets.'

It follows warnings about the potential impact on society if AI leads people to lose their jobs.
Four of the wealthy partners at the centre of the PwC tax scandal gripping Australia have been revealed - and at least two were once employed by the ATO.

Between them, the four men had more than 75 years experience in Australian taxation law, and could have been each earning upwards of $1million per year while employed with the firm.

None of the men named are still employed by PwC. It's understood one retired in 2019, while another has since stepped down from his role at another firm.

Peter Collins has been banned as a tax practitioner and is under investigation by the Australian Federal Police.

A further 63 PwC partners and staff have been named as having received at least one of the confidential emails, however the big-four firm is hesitant to implicate staff who may not have been aware that the contents they'd received were confidential.

Here, Daily Mail Australia looks at the four partners publicly identified so far in the breach.

Four of the wealthy partners at the centre of the PwC tax scandal gripping Australia have been revealed - and at least two were once employed by the ATO

Peter Collins

What did PwC do? PwC is one of the top consulting firms globally, providing tax advice to some of Australia's biggest businesses. The firm's biggest Australian client is the federal government. The government has awarded $537million worth of contracts - on the taxpayer dollar - to PwC. Among these contracts are deals with the Australian Federal Police, Defence and Services Australia (the agency behind Centrelink). PwC used sensitive, confidential information to lure in companies and drive tax policies which could have cost the Australian economy as much as $180million in lost revenue from big foreign companies. Advertisement

Peter Collins was the first to be named in the PwC scandal and is subject to an AFP investigation.

He was banned as a tax practitioner in 2022, after the Tax Practitioners Board determined he'd leaked confidential information to give his firm an advantage in negotiating deals with external companies.

Almost a decade ago, Mr Collins was approached by the federal government to help design laws to ensure overseas corporations paid their fair share of tax in Australia.

As PwC's international tax expert, he seemed like a perfect fit, and signed confidentiality agreements to ensure the security of the plans.

It was later determined he used that information to secure new clients and help consider loopholes to the tax policy.

Internal emails seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal Mr Collins made reference to 'famous last words' in correspondence that was not supposed to be distributed.

'OK in practice until the ATO gets grumpy and figures out the joke,' he said.

In many other emails, he made comments such as 'for your eyes only', 'no need to share this because all supposed to be a secret' and 'as usual, pls treat as rumour'.

In an email sent by a redacted employee, Mr Collins was credited for securing a 'significant number of clients'.

The email read: 'We were aggressive in telling these relationships they needed to act early (heavily helped by the accuracy of the intelligence that Peter Collins was able to supply us, and our analysis of the politics).'

The revenue from the first stage of clients was estimated to be about $2.5million.

The TPB said: 'Internal communications within PwC indicated that Mr Collins was aware that the confidential knowledge he gained from the consultations with Treasury would be leveraged to market PwC to a new client base.'

Peter Collins was the first to be named in the PwC scandal and is subject to an AFP investigation

Paul McNab

Mr McNab was part of PwC's tax controversy and dispute resolution team, and has more than 30 years experience in the industry.

He lists resolving disputes with federal and state revenue authorities as his key specialty, and has managed audits on behalf of taxpayers and provided taxation advice to tech, telecommunications and media firms throughout his career.

He spent seven years employed by the Australian Taxation Office as a compliance branch officer.

Ms McNab confirmed he'd been named in the breach, but said 'it is noteworthy that the firm has taken this action to name former partners only. I had no forewarning or opportunity to respond'.

'For the record, I was not involved in any Treasury consultations regarding MAAL [Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law] where confidential information was discussed. In addition, I trusted that the information shared with me as a partner of the firm would comply with any confidentiality agreements that may have been in place with Treasury,' he said.

'At all times I worked with my clients to comply with Australian law, and not avoid it.'

Mr McNab had been working at global law firm DLA Piper since leaving PwC in 2020, but resigned after he was identified.

A spokesman said: 'Paul decided to do the honourable thing in the midst of this media storm and act in the interest of the firm.'

Mr McNab was part of PwC's tax controversy and dispute resolution team, and has more than 30 years experience in the industry

Neil Fuller

The final partner publicly named is Neil Fuller.

Mr Fuller was a senior tax partner with the firm, but is understood to have retired in 2019, after 31 years.

Michael Bersten

Mr Bersten was also named in the scandal.

The former tax and legal partner at PwC was, like Mr McNab, once employed by the ATO. There, he served as both Deputy Chief Tax Counsel and head of the Office of Chief Tax Counsel.

Mr Bersten left PwC in July 2018 after 14 years and seven months with the firm, and now serves as Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee of the Law Council of Australia for NSW.

He said on LinkedIn he 'acted in many of the major tax controversies in Australia' and 'has a strong understanding of ATO policy and practice'.
Man, 26, could face up to 15 years behind bars

She had been on holiday with family in Kuta

An Australian teenage girl has been left in tears after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a massage therapist while holidaying in Bali.

Indonesian police say the 15-year-old was allegedly assaulted by the 26-year-old employee during a one-hour treatment at Eden Green Spa in Kuta on May 31.

Denpasar Police Chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said the teenager had been brought to tears by the alleged incident, which she reported to a relative.

The pair filed a report at the Denpasar Police station the day after the alleged assault, before flying home to Australia the following day.

Police Chief Pamungkas has identified the man as 26-year-old Zamzami Aulani Malik.

An Australian teenage girl has been left in tears after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a massage therapist while holidaying in Bali (pictured is the suspect)

Denpasar Police Chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said the teenager had been brought to tears by the alleged assault, which she reported to a relative

'Five witnesses have been questioned and the suspect admitted his act,' he said.

'We have enough evidence. The suspect has admitted that he committed the crime.'

Local authorities say the man had been working at the spa for three weeks before the alleged assault occurred.

If convicted, the massage therapist faces up to 15 years behind bars.

It comes as Bali officials hand out a new 'do's and don't's' list for tourists.

A total of 12 dos and eight don'ts will be handed on cards to international arrivals on the island which cover tradition, religion and local law.

The 15-year-old and her relative filed a report at the Denpasar Police station the day after the alleged assault, before flying home to Australia the following day

Among the 'don'ts list', tourists will be told not to defile sacred places or pollute the island such as throwing rubbish into its waterways.

Under the 'dos list', tourists are told to respect the customs, dress modestly and behave politely at sacred sites.

Anggiat Napitupulu, who is the head of the Regional Office of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights, said the cards will be slipped into passports when travellers hand them over to immigration.

In the letter, Governor Koster said the rules were to restore 'quality and dignity' to Bali's tourist industry.

More than 130 tourists have been deported from the island so far this year.
Never-before-seen text messages reveal how Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz were welcomed into the lavish world of media power couple Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons.

The pair were treated to a private boat trip, a chauffeur, and given access to their Sydney mansion as FitzSimons, the high-profile newspaper columnist and author, brokered Ms Higgins' $325,000 book deal.

The texts, obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, were sent between March 15 and May 3, 2021 - in the months after Wilkinson's interview with Ms Higgins' on The Project, when she first alleged Bruce Lehrmann raped her in 2019.

Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

The messages are part of an exchange revealed by Daily Mail Australia last week, during which FitzSimons, Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz appeared to plot publicity for her lucrative publishing deal.

The new messages show a close friendship forming between the group, which began when FitzSimons brokered the rights to Ms Higgins' memoir between major publishers Allen & Unwin, Hatchett, and Penguin Random House.

On March 15 - just hours after Wilkinson stood by Ms Higgins' side as she detailed her rape allegations to a crowd of 5,000 at a women's 'March 4 Justice' rally - FitzSimons texted her to say: 'Offer now up to $200K to $250K! With Allen & Unwin'.

Peter FitzSimons is pictured with his wife, Lisa Wilkinson - a power couple in the Australian media landscape

Brittany Higgins is pictured with her fiance, David Sharaz. The pair were treated to a boat ride with Wilkinson and FitzSimons

Ms Higgins would eventually receive a $325,000 advance from Penguin Random House, a court was told, although the book is yet to be released after the rape trial was abandoned.

Newly-obtained texts also show how Ms Higgins and her fiance were brought into the powerful media couple's inner sanctum.

At one stage, FitzSimons told Ms Higgins to let herself into his Cremorne mansion when no one was home - 'you know the drill,' he wrote.

At another, Ms Higgins thanked FitzSimons for taking 'time out out' of his busy schedule to host them on a boat, noting the trip was 'already a treasured memory'.

'A great pleasure XO,' FitzSimons replied.

He also offered the young couple access to the invitation-only Chairman's Lounge at Sydney Airport, as well as a chauffeur from the terminal.

The texts give an insight into FitzSimons role as a quasi literary agent for Ms Higgins.

The messages also call some of FitzSimons' claims into question. He previously said Ms Higgins planned to donate 50 per cent of profits from her book sales to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

He said that he advised her not to donate the funds, but she 'insisted'.

However, multiple messages appeared to show FitzSimons, who writes columns for Sydney Morning Herald, went out of his way to ensure details of the donation was published in an article by the same masthead about the book deal.

FitzSimons told Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz that Allen & Unwin offered up to $250,000 to publish her memoir (pictured: a mock-up of the texts)

FitzSimons then told Ms Higgins she could get more than $250,000 (mock up of the message, pictured)

The lengthy exchange began with a message from FitzSimons on March 15, 2021 - on the day his wife supported Ms Higgins at the women's rally, which was also exactly a month after The Project interview.

In the hours after she stood at Capital Hill and told a roaring crowd 'I was raped inside Parliament House by a colleague', FitzSimons texted Ms Higgins to say prospective book publishers were upping their offers.

He wrote: 'Here is the good news. Offer now up to $200K to $250K! With Allen & Unwin.

Referring to articles published in the SMH on March 15 about the women's rally, he added: '[SIC] Brittney, if you are having second thoughts about my piece do let me [SIC] now.'

Mr Sharaz replied: 'Holy hell! Okay, make sure you sign something this week?'

Ms Higgins said: 'Wow, that's genuinely absurd. Thank you for helping me. I wouldn't have had the faintest idea how to go about brokering something like this without you.'

FitzSimons went on to say the SMH wanted to publish the speech she delivered to the women's rally and asked her to send him the written version, before he shifted the conversation back to the book offers.

'With an offer like this, can I suggest you come to Sydney asap, do the deal, and LOCK IT IN,' he wrote.

'The offer is now between $200 and $250K - you might possibly get more. But the time to strike is now, and ideally [SIC] tomoz or Wednesday. What I need now is the text of your speech asap? Thank you!'

FitzSimons told Ms Higgins to let herself into his mansion once she landed in Sydney (mock up of the message, pictured)

FitzSimons offered the couple access to the Chairman's Lounge at Sydney Airport (mock up of the message, pictured)

Ms Higgins thanked FitzSimons for taking her and Mr Sharaz on a boat ride (mock up of the message, pictured)

Ms Higgins speech was published in the SMH, in full, the following day on March 16, 2021.

The conversation started again a month later, on April 13, when SMH journalist Melanie Kembrey found out about Ms Higgins' hefty book advance and approached FitzSimons for confirmation - in an exchange previously detailed by Daily Mail Australia.

Now, more texts from the same exchange can be revealed.

FitzSimons told the pair how he was stressed about his new book - to which Ms Higgins said she hoped the cover was 'Lisa and Billi approved' - referencing Wilkinson and their daughter, Billi FitzSimons.

Ms Higgins then spoke about a retreat she signed up for, noting she had 'a lot of time to myself ... There was no reception and no distractions. It was a great space to really get into the book'.

Shifting the conversation back to the impending SMH article about her memoir and large advance, she asked FitzSimons to background Ms Kembrey, about her Canberra Rape Crisis Centre donation.

He replied: 'Melanie, whoever she is, very nice and very supportive. No quotes from me, and I said that I would be surprised if you wanted to be quoted.'

'I said the key determinant was the time they allowed you, that you knocked their socks off, and that - against my advice - you INSISTED on committing to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

Pictured: Lisa Wilkinson with Brittany Higgins. Ms Higgins was interviewed by Wilkinson on The Project in 2021

'I gave her no detail on money, but her sources now say "in the ballpark of $250K".'

Ms Higgins sent a 'laughing' reaction to FitzSimons message, before Mr Sharaz chimed in: 'Brittany told me that conversation with you too. I laughed very hard haha.'

FitzSimons then sent two messages reiterating that the SMH would publish Ms Higgins' donation pledge: 'Yes, I can tell her "50% after advance" to Rape Crisis Centre.'

Two minutes later, he wrote again: 'IN fact, better just as "committed big chunk to Canberra Rape Crisis Centre" with no particular detail.'

At 5.16pm on April 13, an SMH article confirming Ms Higgins' book deal - incorrectly stating the advance was worth $250,000 - and outlining her planned donations to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.

In that same article it was reported that Ms Higgins insisted on the charity donation, against FitzSimons ' advice.

Ten minutes after the article was published online, Ms Higgins sent the link to FitzSimons and said: 'Well, they've certainly got the friendship part right. Thanks for your help Peter X.'

Another group chat started at 11.50am on April 29, 2021, before Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz flew to Sydney from their home in Brisbane.

FitzSimons told the couple: 'Mr Omar will be there picking up a dear friend of mine, Bobby, and coming this way if you want a lift and don't mind sharing? X.'

Mr Sharaz responded to say his flight had been delayed by an hour, and explained Ms Higgins was already in Sydney and in need of a computer to 'do some work'.

FitzSimons said: 'Brittany come straight here. House empty you know the drill. Mr Omar will be in the city at 12.30 after dropping me and can grab you if that suits? X.'

She thanked him for the offer, but decided to sightsee in Sydney instead before catching up with them in the afternoon.

Pictured: A birds-eye view of Wilkinson and FitzSimons' Cremorne mansion in Sydney

Four days later, FitzSimons sent another text at about 6.30pm: 'Brittany, David, the Chairmans Lounge apparently chokka, but they are expecting you in the Qantas Business Lounge if you'd like to go there? X.'

The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only area of Sydney Airport frequented by A-list celebrities, CEOs and senior politicians. It includes private suites, showers with bathrobes, a buffet table and an a la carte menu.

Ms Higgins replied: 'Oh, you are a saint, Thank you.'

'Also, once again we are so grateful that you took the time out of your busy schedule to host us and take us out on the boat. It's already a treasured memory X.'

FitzSimons responded 'a great pleasure XO' - which Mr Sharaz responded to with a 'love' reaction.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted FitzSimons for comment.

The ACT Supreme Court heard Wilkinson and FitzSimons told Ms Higgins about the book deal and the large advance via text message on March 16, 2021.

The court heard Ms Higgins responded: 'I am blown away.

'Yes I can absolutely do this ... I've had the chapters outlined for the last month or so.'

The court also heard Ms Higgins started outlining the chapters for the book before she made a formal statement about her alleged rape to police.

Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty in a jury trial in the ACT Supreme Court in October last year and continues to maintain his innocence.

His trial was discontinued due to a juror doing independent research. The sexual assault charge against Mr Lehrmann was later dropped by Shane Drumgold, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, amid concerns over Ms Higgins' mental health.

Shane Drumgold has subsequently requested leave from his position until June 13 with deputy Anthony Williamson SC replacing him as the ongoing fallout into the matter continues.
Buying another penthouse in The Tocks instead

Departing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is preparing to sell his $19 million Sydney harbourside mansion and is snapping up another penthouse apartment instead.

The airline boss bought the six-bedroom property in Mosman Bay, on the city's North Shore, in May last year.

But he and his husband Shane Lloyd are selling the sprawling home and instead buying a second half-floor penthouse on the same floor as their existing apartment in the historic inner-city The Rocks precinct for $9 million, according to The Australian.

Outgoing CEO Alan Joyce is preparing to sell his $19 million Sydney harbourside mansion in Mosman Bay (pictured)

Mr Joyce (pictured) and his husband Shane Lloyd are instead buying another penthouse apartment in The Rocks precinct to knock through and make one huge apartment

They are planning to renovate and expand their two penthouses, which have stunning views of the Opera House and Sydney skyline, into one six-bedroom, all-ensuite, whole-floor apartment so they can better host extended family members visiting from overseas.

Mr Joyce came under fire for splurging $19 million on the Mosman Bay mansion at a time when Qantas' announced an almost $2 billion loss, as the beleaguered airline battled cancelled flights, poor customer service and law suit from laid off workers.

He was stung by the criticism and launched into a passionate defence of his record at the helm of Australia's flag-carrier.

'Why is it relevant what I do in my private life? Im not a public figure. People regard the CEO of Qantas as like a politician and it definitely shouldnt be. Its a business figure, Mr Joyce told The Australian last year.

'Its been well reported over the years how much I get paid, so I do have the money because Qantas went to record profits and had a record share price.'

Mr Joyce and his husband also own a Palm Beach holiday house north of Sydney (pictured)

Mr Joyce and his husband are believed to have carried out some refurbishments on the Mosman mansion.

Despite owning it for little over a year, they could well sell the home for over $20 million as the market for prestige homes remains competitive.

The mansion was previously owned by former foreign exchange dealer Alison Ethell and her sister, Jane, for almost twenty years.

Originally built in 1908, it was redesigned in 2015 by architect Paul Moon and is now a three-level luxury residence with formal and casual living areas, a cinema and wine cellar.

It also boasts a netted harbour pool, jetty and private berth.

Mr Joyce and his husband also have a Palm Beach holiday house north of Sydney, which boasts five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a lap pool, plus 180-degree panoramic views across Whale Beach to Cape Three Points.

Mr Joyce is one of the top 20 private shareholders in Qantas and is leaving his post as CEO in November.
A South London hospital's giant three-sided rainbow flag has been slammed by Health Secretary Steve Barclay's team as a 'virtue-signalling vanity project'.

The Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley launched a link bridge last week decorated with an 'intersex-inclusive flag' with the LGBT rainbow on it.

The flag is the first mural of its kind on an NHS site and comes after months of criticism of what the Government branded 'waste and wokery'.

Senior executive at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Jonathan Lofthouse, said it 'adorned the exterior of the link bridge with the Pride flag, a permanent installation celebrating diversity'.

However, according to The Telegraph, Health Secretary Mr Barclay did not agree with the move.

The Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley, south London, opened a link bridge last week decorated with a three-sided 'intersex-inclusive flag' (pictured) featuring the LGBT rainbow

Steve Barclay has rebuked the NHS trust for painting the large Pride flag on the hospital to support diversity

The flag is the first mural of its kind on and NHS site and comes after months of criticism from ministers, MPs and patients over health service chiefs giving resources to what the Government labelled 'waste and wokery'

One source close to the minister said: 'This government is investing record funds in the NHS, including the 6.6billion extra over the next two years announced in the autumn statement.

'Taxpayers want to see that cash used for cutting waiting lists and caring for patients, not wasted on virtue-signalling vanity projects.'

The 30-metre walkway, which took a year to build, was reportedly designed by intersex campaigner, Valentino Vecchietti.

The trust has not revealed how much the flag cost to make.
A motorcyclist that was killed in a 'head-on' collision with Love Island star Kem Cetinay's car had cannabis in his system, an inquest has heard.

Thomas Griggs, 28, died after he crossed into the reality TV star's lane and crashed into his 130,000 Mercedes G Wagon in Romford, Essex last August.

The east London coroner ruled that the young father, who had suffered multiple injuries and blunt force trauma during the crash, died of catastrophic injuries from a road traffic collision.

An inquest heard yesterday that Mr Griggs had 20 times the legal limit for THC in his system at the time of the crash, The Sun reported. He was also speeding and riding a bike not covered by his learners licence.

Mr Cetinay, 27, was not suspected of any wrongdoing in the crash.

Thomas Griggs, pictured with his partner, had cannabis in his system when he was killed in a 'head-on' collision with Love Island star Kem Cetinay's car, an inquest heard

Thomas Griggs, 28, died after he crossed into Mr Cetinay's lane and crashed into Mercedes in Romford, Essex last August (pictured). The east London coroner ruled that Mr Griggs had died of catastrophic injuries from a road traffic collision

Kem Cetinay, 27, (pictured in 2019) was not suspected of any wrongdoing in the crash. But during the inquest yesterday, Mr Griggs' father Kevin criticised Mr Cetinay for not contacting their family after the incident

The crash is said to have taken place at 11.27am on August 4 last year and Mr Griggs died at 12.04pm the same day.

The accident took place outside Ivy Lodge Farm in Shepherds Hill on a 'semi-residential street involving one lane travelling in each direction of the carriageway' with a 30mph speed limit.

Photos of the scene showed Mr Cetinay's G-Wagon smashed up behind police tap and the damaged motorcycle lying on the pavement.

Paramedics had fought to save Mr Griggs' life, but he died shortly after the accident.

Mr Cetinay was unharmed and was assisting police in the aftermath of the crash, his agent said at the time. The reality TV star was said to be 'traumatised' and 'shaken up' after the fatal crash.

During the inquest yesterday, Mr Griggs' father Kevin criticised Mr Cetinay for not contacting their family after the incident.

But insiders told the newspaper police did not receive a response after Mr Cetinay asked if the family wanted him to get in touch.
A callous drink driver who abandoned his passengers to die after crashing has been jailed.

Jordan Lawrence, 25, fled from a remote country road after a man and a teenage girl were thrown from his car.

Estate worker Lawrence left 37-year-old father-of-three Jonathan Graham and Jasmine Herron, 19, on the shore of Loch Caolisport in Argyll and Bute while he made his way home.

Their dead bodies were found the following morning by another staff member from the Ormsary Estate, where Mr Graham was head gamekeeper.

Lawrence had been drinking shots of whisky, vodka and gin at a party following a pheasant shoot before crashing on the single track B8024 near Ormsary, in Knapdale, when his car hit a boulder.

Estate worker Lawrence left Jasmine Herron, 19, (pictured) on the shore of Loch Caolisport in Argyll and Bute while he made his way home

The body of father-of-three 37-year-old Jonathan Graham was found with Ms Herron the following morning by another staff member from the Ormsary Estate

Lawrence had been drinking shots of whisky, vodka and gin at a party following a pheasant shoot before crashing on the single track B8024 (pictured) near Ormsary, in Knapdale, when his car hit a boulder

Witnesses said he appeared to be driving very fast. Referring to his car, one said: 'It just zoomed past.'

Lawrence had denied causing the deaths by driving dangerously on January 25 and 26 in 2020 but was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Remanding him in jail ahead of sentencing, judge Lord Beckett told the first offender: 'You have been found guilty of a very serious charge in circumstances which are plainly tragic for all concerned.'

He also acknowledged that the trial had been difficult for jurors as it involved 'a deeply tragic event' which had a huge impact on a small community.

Lawrence, of Newmilns, in Ayrshire, was found to have driven while unfit through the consumption of alcohol, at excessive speed and failing to maintain observations.

He was also convicted of failing to report the accident.

Advocate depute Graeme Jessop suggested that Lawrence had fled to 'avoid detection by the authorities until such time as he sobered up'.

Gamekeeper James Reid, 40, who found the bodies, told the court he initially feared Lawrence could also be lying dead somewhere as he knew the three had been together in the car.

In a statement released through her solicitors, Mr Graham's wife Anna, 34, said: 'No legal outcome will every replace Jonny or address the pain and loss we've suffered.'
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Doctors in Scotland are each looking after almost 100 more patients than two years ago as the NHS hits 'breaking point'.

The number of patients registered with a GP has risen by 2 per cent over that period to 5.9million.

There are now 1,687 patients per whole-time equivalent GP in Scotland, compared with 1,592 two years ago.

It comes amid growing concern at the number who are still not receiving face-to-face appointments at surgeries.

Latest figures show that 2.4million physical GP appointments took place in the month of March 2023  roughly 185,000 fewer than in March 2019.

Doctors in Scotland are each looking after almost 100 more patients than two years ago as the NHS hits 'breaking point' (Stock Image)

While patient numbers rise, the SNP Government has cut 5million from the sum promised to GP practices as part of a sustainability fund and slashed 65million from the Primary Care Development Fund.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: 'The facts are clear for all to see  primary care in Scotland is at breaking point.

'Scotland's GPs are facing a perfect storm of increased demand and reduced funding  with primary care taking on more and more responsibilities due to the wider NHS crisis.

'[Health Secretary] Michael Matheson must recognise the scale of the crisis facing primary care in Scotland and act to bolster GPs across Scotland.'

Fears are also growing over the future of GP surgeries across the country.

These include a practice in Invergowrie, Perthshire, which has been earmarked for closure despite widespread local opposition and a petition with hundreds of signatures.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: 'The facts are clear for all to see  primary care in Scotland is at breaking point.

Last month, Dr Andrew Buist, chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish GP committee, said that one in ten practices in Scotland have formally closed their lists to new patients, describing the situation as 'simply unsustainable'.

Dr Buist added: 'Nowhere is safe or sustainable for general practice currently.

'We are seeing that now in the numbers of GP practices which have closed their lists to patients over the past few years because they would be unable to safely provide the level of care required if they continued to take on new patients.

'If the health boards are not in a position to take over the running of those practices, they will close completely, and all of their patients will be dispersed to other practices  further increasing pressures elsewhere and leading to a domino effect of practice closures.'

A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We have delivered a record number of GPs, with more per head than any other country in the UK, and we are making good progress on our commitment to recruit at least 800 new GPs by 2027.

'Since 2017, the GP headcount has increased by 291 to a record 5,209 in 2022. To support GPs, we have recruited over 3,220 healthcare professionals. We are committed to investing 170million a year to help grow these teams and to further increase the number of GPs.'
The death toll from the heavy floods that hit Haiti over the weekend has risen to 42, with another 11 people missing, authorities said Monday.

At least 85 people are injured, and more than 13,600 homes were flooded, forcing people to evacuate leaving 19,000 people homeless, according to Haiti's Civil Protection Agency.

The rains pelted Haiti's western, northwestern, southeastern and central regions, officials said.

The weather has since improved, but many crops were damaged amid a spike in starvation, and people are trying to find temporary shelters after the rain turned roads into rushing rivers of brown water.

The World Food Program said tens of thousands of people have been affected, with the greatest damage reported in Port-au-Prince's metropolitan area and in Haiti's western region.

A woman walks through a flooded alleyway, after a heavy rain in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A man wades through a street flooded after a heavy rain in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince

A woman uses a bucket to remove water from inside her flooded house in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A woman wearing a raincoat sits on a table at a street market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

People make their way through puddles while walking in the middle of a street littered with garbage following heavy rains

A woman sell limes as she stands on a street in Port-au-Prince

A woman walks on a street after the torrential rain storms in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

'A significant weather-induced event of this level so early in the hurricane season...raises concerns about the ability to provide a sustained response should extreme weather incidents continue to occur,' the agency warned.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry says he has asked for international help.

'My government, together with national and international institutions, is adopting urgent measures to meet the demands of the day,' Prime Minister Henry said in a government statement.

Aid agencies have been delivering food to those displaced from their homes as civil protection officials warned over the weekend that the agricultural sector in parts of the country had been hard hit.

The deadly floods come as Haiti faces an already difficult scenario amid rampant gang violence, which the head of civil protection told the Miami Herald had impeded rescue efforts.

The rains coincide with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November.

'Even before the landslides and flooding, half the population of Haiti was in need of humanitarian assistance,' Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters.

'We urge donors to scale up the support for the country's Humanitarian Response Plan, which is sadly only 20 percent funded, and it is an appeal for $720 million.

'Even before the landslides and flooding, half the population of Haiti was in need of humanitarian assistance,' he said. 'We urge donors to scale up the support for the country's Humanitarian Response Plan, which is sadly only 20 percent funded, and it is an appeal for $720 million.'

Jean-Martin Bauer, World Food Progam's country director and Haiti's acting humanitarian coordinator, said although this isn't a cyclone or tropical storm that battered Haiti, 'considerable damage' has been observed in the affected areas.

Stagnant water is still seen on the ground in Port-au-Prince as a truck drives through

A man moved his belongings using a wheelbarrow to get through floodwaters

A woman carries a basket on her head while walking through sitting floodwaters

The ground in Port-au-Prince is now cakes in a layer of thick mud

The rainwaters ended up coming into homes filling them with silt and mud

A family are seen traveling through the debris left by the trains on a motorbike

A mother and her son rest in their flooded house after the heavy rains

A man in a wheelchair is helped to make his way through a flooded street after a heavy rains

A woman walks on a street after a rain storm in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Residents wade through a flooded street after a heavy rain in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A woman wearing a raincoat sits on a table at a street market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Men work to keep a vendor's stand afloat on a street flooded during the heavy rain

Cars and trucks are stranded near the submerged Route Nationale 2 at L'Acul in the Arrondissement 23 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during heavy rains

People make their way through puddles while walking in the middle of a street littered with garbage following heavy rains in Port-au-Prince

A view from the area after flooding in the Portail Leogane, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Garbage litters the streets of the Haitian capital

'WFP has the capacity to respond to this emergency, but a significant weather induced event of this level so early in the hurricane season, which generally runs from June to November each year, raises concerns about the ability to provide a sustained response should extreme weather incidents continue to occur,' the agency said in a statement.

In one tragic incident, a person died and 14 others were rescued after an overloaded boat capsized near Haiti's southern coast.

Among the survivors is a person who was hospitalized in critical condition.

The boat departed late on Friday from the town of Anse-a-Pitres near the border that Haiti and the Dominican Republic share.

A view from the area after flooding in the Portail Leogane, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The death toll from the heavy floods that hit Haiti over the weekend has risen to 42, with another 11 people missing, authorities said on Monday

The rains pelted Haiti's western, north-western, south-eastern and central regions, officials said

At least 85 people are injured, and more than 13,600 homes were flooded, forcing people to evacuate, according to Haiti's civil protection agency

Residents are seen wading through mud after debris swamped the narrow streets of the capital

Some residents don't know where to start following the floods

Residents are seen standing around as they ponder what to do next

Residents cross the submerged Route Nationale 2 at L'Acul 23 miles west of Port-au-Prince

The floods left people walking through waist high water on Saturday

The waters have now subsided but things looked bad at the weekend

Residents are seen carrying belongings on their head as they walk along a major highway

It capsized as it traveled west to the southern coastal town of Marigot, said Auguste Sony, an inspector with Haiti's Maritime and Navigation Service.

The boat was laden with 600 sacks of flour and more than 15 people. It was authorized to leave the port given its heavy load.

Sony said the captain ignored his orders and set off, insisting that he ferry people to Marigot.

'Its very sad that the captain didnt listen,' he said.
Three of Jeffrey Epstein's victims have penned scathing letters asking JPMorgan brass to admit they knew about the pedophile's pattern of abuse - as the bank faces two lawsuits alleging it played a part in the late financier's sex-trafficking ring.

Filed by the US Virgin Islands and lawyers representing Epsteins many victims, the suits contend the New York-based bank knew about Epstein's nefarious behavior for years - and even aided by turning a blind eye to the sex fiend's sordid exploits.

The evidence brought by both parties was enough to sway a judge to rule the cases could go forward - and in March the firm was ordered to hand over any records involving CEO Jamie Dimon and ex-exec James 'Jes' Staley in the process.

The pair, former close friends who held positions of power during the height Epstein's crimes, have since waged war against one another, with Dimon, 67, insisting Staley, 66, concealed information about Epstein's account from the bank.

When questioned last week over the banks relationship with the sex trafficker, and if he recalled receiving any letters from Epstein survivors, Dimon, under oath, insisted he did not - before being confronted with an emotional letter from a woman who was 16 when she became entangled in the late trafficker's web.

Top JPMorgan exec Jamie Dimon, 67, testified last week his bank had no knowledge of then-client Jeffrey Epstein's crimes - before being confronted with a letter penned to him from an Epstein survivor last month

Penned by Haley Robson, a 16-year-old student in West Palm Beach when she became involved with the then 51-year-old Epstein, the letter begged Dimon to admit to having knowledge of the late financier's now well-known sex-trafficking ring

'Dear Jamie Dimon,' wrote Robson, 30. 'I cannot begin to explain how Epstein has consumed my life. I cannot make you see, force you to feel or even request that you show compassion to all the survivors'. Prosecutors last week produced two other letters from Epstein survivors

'Dear Jamie Dimon,' wrote Haley Robson, 30, who was a student at Royal Palm High School in West Palm Beach when she was recruited by a then 51-year-old Epstein.

'I cannot begin to explain how Epstein has consumed my life. I cannot make you see, force you to feel or even request that you show compassion to all the survivors.

'I dont understand how so many people, colleagues, knew what was going on, or had evidence and information that could have helped us, and chose not to speak up,' the letter, first reported by The Daily Beast, added.

Referencing a past smear campaign launched by Epsteins attorney to discredit victims after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from underage girls in 2008, Robson continued: 'Why did we all get picked apart publicly when the reality is you and many more knew something and didnt speak up?!'

That legal maneuver came as Staley, then a high-ranking JPMorgan executive tasked with managing Epstein's multimillion-dollar account, sensationally visited Epstein in prison after his conviction for prostitution in the US Virgin Island.

It also resulted in Epstein avoiding federal trafficking charges - after which the disgraced banker posed for a photo with Staley and former JPMorgan Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers seemingly in celebration.

'I may not be as smart as you, but we should at least agree that the information you withheld has hurt me and many others,' Robson continued in what proved to be curt, but forgiving correspondence.

'Everyone makes mistakes and has regrets,' the Florida woman - who helped provide Epstein with teens for his sex ring while being abused herself - wrote.

'If you are a good human you will just admit to making a mistake and be the first to try to do what is right to end this chapter on a positive note for all of us.'

That said, Robson was not the only victim to contact JPMorgan recently as the financial giant faces questions about their relationship with Epstein.

Courtney Wild, who was 14 when she was abused by Epstein, penned a letter to executive Mary Erdoes last month, asking the longtime executive to support the victims fight for justice.

After Epstein's 2008 plea deal, she was one of several to sue the US government demanding he be brought to justice.

In a handwritten May 8 letter, Wild wrote she believed 'JP Morgan was Epsteins right hand in allowing him to become the most abusive sex offender in history.'

'Yet, rather than acknowledging a wrong doing, accepting responsibility, making an apology to all of us, and doing what is right,' it continued, 'I understand that JP Morgan has unleashed an army of lawyers to torture the victims who brought the cases and put them through even more pain and suffering.'

Wild would then declare: 'Does nobody at JP Morgan have a conscience?'

'I have fought my entire adult life against Jeffrey Epstein, his powerful associates, his investigators, his lawyers, and even the US government for justice. I dont want to have to fight you too.'

Another letter, sent from an unnamed victim last year, recalled to Erdoes - who allegedly held discussions about the accusations against Epstein but decided to keep him as a client - how she was abused by Epstein during what she thought was a job interview at his Manhattan apartment.

During the week's proceedings, both executives maintained they were not aware of Epstein's misdeeds and that Staley was the one at fault.

Robson was not the only victim to contact JPMorgan recently as they face questions about their relationship with Epstein. Courtney Wild, who was 14 when she was abused by Epstein, penned a letter to executive Mary Erdoes last month, asking the longtime executive to support the victims fight for justice

After Epstein's 2008 plea deal, Wild - seen here in court in July during Epstein's trial - was one of several to sue the US government demanding he be brought to justice

Another letter, sent from an unnamed victim last year, recalled to Erdoes how she was abused by Epstein during what she thought was a job interview at his Manhattan apartment.

Last November, Jane Doe sued JPMorgan, alleging the bank secretly presided over Epsteins trafficking empire, while keeping him as a client for 14 years.

In her complaint, Doe said a 'powerful financial executive' who was friends with Epstein had sexually assaulted her but she declined to name him 'out of fear.'

That executive was unmasked as former JPMorgan staffer Staley, who left the bank in 2013 for a shortlived CEO-stint at Barclays.

The accomplished banker would eventually resign in 2021, while contesting findings gleaned by regulators at the time that unveiled his connection to Epstein.

Identifying Staley - long a friend of Dimon's - as the 'powerful financial executive' accused in a separate Epstein-related suit filed against the bank last year, JP Morgan said he should have to reimburse it for any damages if the allegations in the Virgin Islands suit are found to be true.

In The US Virgin Island's suit, the Caribbean territory has claimed at least one JPMorgan exec knew about Epsteins trafficking of women and teenage girls.

JPMorgan maintains that Staley - who has nearly four decades of experience in the banking and financial spheres - concealed such information from the bank.

Like the victims, US Virgin Islands is asking for an undisclosed amount of money from the bank for keeping Epstein on as a client, and missing red flags about his more than a decade of misconduct.

The US territory has called Dimon 'a likely source of relevant and unique information' about why JPMorgan kept Epstein on as a client, even after he was arrested in 2006 and later indicted by a grand jury for taking part in a child prostitution ring in Palm Beach, Florida.

Pleading guilty, Epstein was promptly sentenced to 18 months in jail, though under a secret arrangement, the US attorneys office agreed not to prosecute Epstein for federal crimes.

Epstein - who died in 2019 while in federal custody in the Big Apple - ran much of his criminal activities out of his compound on Little St. James Island, a private island he owned off the coast that falls in the Virgin Islands' jurisdiction.

The Thursday ruling serves as the latest development to the case, which comes after the Virgin Islands' attorney general Denise N. George said JPMorgan should have known about Epstein's crimes on Little St. James Island. She was fired within weeks.

Dimon, meanwhile, has deflected blame on former JPMorgan executive James ' Jes' Staley - a former top executive who had been tasked with keeping Epstein's business at the bank for the better part of fifteen years. He is now accused of assaulting one of Epstein's victims as well

In its own suit, JPMorgan insists 66-year-old Staley - seen here with Epstein and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers - concealed information from the bank. The picture was taken after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from underage girls in 2008

While a high-ranking JPMorgan executive, Staley famously visited Epstein in prison after his conviction for prostitution in 2008.

The bank has denied Staley actually went to the prison, saying instead Epstein visited Staley at his office during a work release for his 18-month prison sentence.

After the full extent of Epstein's crimes became known in 2019, Staley initially claimed he and Epstein were little more than acquaintances tied by business.

Later he admitted to having a close professional relationship that he established while running JPMorgan's private bank and asset management division from 2000 to 2009.

Staley became the CEO of Barclay's in 2015, but in 2021 stepped down amidst a probe into whether he had concealed the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
The Hamptons realtor who died with her daughter when their plane crashed in rural Virginia was adopted at age 40 by a Trump donor couple - because she reminded them of a daughter they lost in a scuba diving accident in 1994.

John Rumpel, the adoptive father of Adina Azarian, 49, told The Washington Post that she and his first daughter Victoria had 'the same fire in their bellies, and they were loving, caring children.'

Azarian was the adopted daughter of John and his wife Barbara, who owned the Cessna plane that crashed on Sunday afternoon. They are notable donors to GOP causes and gave $250,000 to the Trump Victory PAC in 2020.

The jet was flying to East Hampton on Sunday carrying Azarian, her two-year-old daughter, Aria, their nanny and the pilot, when it mysteriously U-turned, triggering the dispatch of military jets, and crashed.

The nanny was Evadnie Smith, according to The Sun, and John Rumpel identified the pilot as Jeff Hefner.

Rumpel told the Post how his daughter Azarian had tried so hard to have a child before she fell pregnant with Aria, watching her go through a years-long in vitro fertilization process.

Adina Azarian (left), her two-year-old daughter (center) and the child's nanny Evadnie Smith (right) were killed when a jet they were in crashed in rural Virginia on Sunday

John Rumpel, who owned the aircraft and was Azarian's adoptive father, identified Jeff Hefner (pictured) as the pilot in an interview with The Washington Post

Adina Azarian, 49, was adopted by John and Barbara Rumpel at the age of 40 because she reminded them of their first child Victoria, who died in a diving accident in 1994 aged 19. Azarian is pictured with her daughter, Aria

John Rumpel (left) owned the Cessna aircraft that crashed and adopted Azarian with his wife Barbara (right) when she was 40. The two are pictured at a 2017 NRA Foundation dinner

Smith was a live-in nanny at Azarian's home in East Hampton, New York, according to The Sun. Originally from Jamaica, Azarian's friends told the outlet Smith was a 'beautiful soul of a woman' who was incredibly close to the mother and daughter.

'She was such an amazing woman,' Azarian's friend Sandy Castillo told The Sun in an interview.

Other friends of Azarian described to The New York Post how she suffered miscarriages and failed rounds of IVF before finally giving birth to Aria.

'It would be fitting that they are together,' Azarian's childhood friend Tara Brivic-Looper told the outlet. 'I don't think they ever weren't together, so if Adina was going anywhere, Aria was always with her.'

'She went through everything as a single woman to have a baby, and I can't say since Aria's been born, I don't think I've seen her twice without her,' said Brivic-Looper, who attended the Dwight School in Manhattan with Azarian.

'It was just the two of them every single day. That was what she always wanted,' said Brivic-Looper.

Azarian discussed her difficulties having a child in a 2020 Facebook post, soon after Aria's birth.

'Three years ago I decided I wanted to choose to become a mother,' Azarian wrote.

'With my biological clock ticking, I ended up on a long journey of fertility treatments, IUI, IVF, multiple miscarriages, failed embryo transfers and more.

'I went inward and drew upon my own inner strength to keep going. It was hard but I knew deep down there would be a miracle if I did not give up.'

'I offer my story as a source of inspiration for any woman going through the same struggles with infertility or simply with the decision to create your own family on our own terms,' she wrote.

'Sometimes life takes you places where you didn't imagine it at first but where there is faith, where there is courage, where there is God, there is also hope.'

Adina's adoptive parents are prominent GOP donors, John and Barbara Rumpel, shown with Trump in March 2020. They are pictured with Donald Trump in March 2020

John and Barbara Rumpel pictured in an NRA Women's Leadership Forum feature

Azarian (pictured) was described by colleagues as an 'iconic' real estate agent working out of the Hamptons and New York City

The jet was carrying Adina Azarian, her two-year-old daughter Aria, nanny Evadnie Smith and pilot, Jeff Hefner. It took off at 1.13pm from Elizabethton Airport in Tennessee and was scheduled to land at MacArthur Airport in Islip, on Long Island. Instead, it flew north then performed an about-turn and then crashed in Virginia

Hefner's previous employer, the head of a law firm where Hefner worked as a flight captain, told CNN the pilot is survived by his wife and three children.

He was described as 'a highly accomplished and skilled Aviator, he flew 25 years with as a Captain with Southwest Airlines and had over 25,000 flight hours,' attorney Dan Newlin told CNN in a statement.

John Rumpel told the Washington Post that a love for small planes was only meant to bring the family together.

He also said he had never had any issues with the Cessna Citation plane which he used last month to fly from his home in Florida to a second home in the mountains of North Carolina.

Rumpel said police told him the cabin may have lost pressurization, causing those inside, including the pilot, to lose consciousness.

The plane took off at 1.13pm from Elizabethton Airport in Tennessee and was scheduled to land at MacArthur Airport in Islip, on Long Island.

The plane instead approached MacArthur but then turned around at 2.45pm and flew south again, alerting DC officials.

No one on board answered calls from the ground, prompting two F-16 fighter jets from Joint Base Andrews to rush to its side to investigate - a sonic boom was heard over parts of DC and Virginia.

Once in the air, the F-16 pilots reported seeing the Cessna pilot slumped over in the cockpit. Within moments, the Cessna crashed, falling around 28,000ft-a-minute into St Mary's Wilderness, around 175 miles southwest of Washington DC.

While the tragedy remains under investigation, aviation experts tell DailyMail.com it was likely down to cabin pressure failure which will have caused Hefner - and everyone else - to pass out from a lack of oxygen.

When the plane approached Long Island, rather than landing it diverted back to the south.

Azarian (pictured) discussed her difficulties having a child and told her story as a 'source of inspiration' to other women experiencing similar struggles

Search and rescue teams leave the command post at St. Mary's Wilderness en route to the Blue Ridge Parkway to search for the site where a Cessna Citation crashed

Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where the jet crashed on Sunday

Kyle Bailey, a former FAA Safety Team Representative, told DailyMail.com it was likely the result of the pilot programming his route.

'What appears to have happened as the plane was flying to Islip, it was very high.

'They very well might have been incapacitated [by then]. The pilot has waypoints in the program, it's similar to a GPS system. So the autopilot might have been flying him to Islip, then the next point could have very well have been the airport they departed from.

'It could have been towards DC or somewhere down south. It looks like it was affixed in that direction. In that scenario, it's likely the plane was flying itself.'

'It's most likely a loss of cabin pressure or the pilot became incapacitated. He could have had a heart attack or something like that but judging by the fact there weren't any emergency calls made from the passengers that we know of, I'm leaning more toward loss of cabin pressure.

'It typically happens in older planes,' Kyle Bailey, a former FAA Safety Team Representative, told DailyMail.com.

The Cessna involved was a Cessna Citation V 560 manufactured in 1990. It belonged to the company run by John and Barbara Rumpel.

'It wouldn't have the latest and greatest technology, the planes really evolved around the year 2000 that's when the technology really went crazy,' Bailey said.

Such planes have many pressure relief valves which could have failed. It could have been sudden or gradual, she said.
Lawyers will challenge the US government in a Washington DC federal courtroom today over its decision not to disclose why Prince Harry was admitted into the country despite admissions of illegal drug use.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative political research group, has filed a lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) in a bid to determine whether correct procedure was followed in the decision to allow the Duke of Sussex into the US.

Under US law, admission of drug taking can be grounds to dismiss a visa application. The prince admitted to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his memoir, Spare.

After its Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the information was rejected, the research group is demanding in court that the DHS release Harry's visa application from March 2020 to find out how he answered questions on prior drug use.

Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London today as part of a separate court case

The think-tank wants to know how Prince Harry answered questions on drug-taking on his US visa application

The Heritage Foundation will argue that 'widespread and continuous media coverage' has brought into question whether the duke was properly vetted by the government.

But the DHS said swift release of the documents would not be in the public interest and questioned how 'widespread' the media coverage of the issue had been.

Can drug users be banned from visiting the United States? US officials can stop foreigners who have committed drugs offences entering the country even if they have never been arrested and charged. Under US rules, suspected drug abusers applying for a visa may be required to answer additional medical history questions and also take a medical exam to prove that they are not still a drug abuser before being allowed to enter the country. In high-profile cases where celebrities who are known to have taken drugs want to come to America, they have been invited into the US embassy in London to take a drugs test. Musician Pete Doherty was banned from the US due to drug-related arrests. TV cook Nigella Lawson was also banned from flying to the US after she confessed to taking drugs. Advertisement

Both parties are set to argue the case in a federal court for the first time in Washington DC today.

It is unclear when the court will make a decision over whether the documents can be released.

Lawyers will be interested in two questions on the US DS160 visa form.

One asks: 'Have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?'

The other asks: 'Have you ever violated, or engaged in a conspiracy to violate, any law relating to controlled substances?'

In his memoir, the duke said cocaine 'didn't do anything for me', adding: 'Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.'

He also admitted to hallucinating during a celebrity-filled event in California and smoking cannabis after his first date with Meghan.

And the duke has also spoken about his 'positive' experience of psychedelic drug ayahuasca, saying it 'brought me a sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time'.

Harry made the comments in an interview with therapist Dr Gabor Mate, a supporter of decriminalising drugs who has allegedly used Amazonian plant ayahuasca to treat patients suffering from mental illness.

The Heritage Foundation's lawsuit argues that US law 'generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry' to the country.

Sam Dewey, representing the Heritage Foundation, told Sky News ahead of the hearing: 'The government has taken the position that "there's nothing to see here".

'We've taken the position that no, if you look through all the details of his admissions, you look at the drug laws, you look at the laws on admissions, there's a real serious question as to whether or not he should have been admitted.'

Prince Harry admitted to taking drugs in his memoir Spare, which was released at the start of the year

The Heritage Foundation published the legal complaint in the US last month

In England, Prince Harry is today due to give evidence at London's High Court in his case against the publisher of British tabloid the Daily Mirror.

He is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages, claiming journalists were linked to unlawful methods of information gathering.

Harry became the first prince to testify in front of a British court in 130 years when he arrived on Tuesday after skipping the first day of trial on Monday.

At the end of last month legal experts suggested US border officials would have been within their rights to block the Duke of Sussex's visit to London for the case - although it was unlikely they would.
She was pardoned and released on Monday after 20 years in jail

After 20 years behind bars, pardoned child killer Kathleen Folbigg knew a thing or two about surviving in jail.

Fellow inmates and prison staff have variously described Folbigg as 'manipulative, violent and controlling'.

But she was also a 'den mother' who took other high-risk female inmates under her wing.

First incarcerated inside the forbidding Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre as a baby killer, Folbigg was placed in a protection wing to prevent other female inmates from assaulting or trying to kill her.

The 55-year-old claims she was in solitary confinement in Silverwater, which doesn't exist in the NSW prison system, but she was on limited associations with other protection prisoners as she became accustomed to life inside.

Senior prison officers say Folbigg soon learned the ropes of prison life and would try to 'manipulate staff, play them off against one another', as well as quickly asserting her position as an 'alpha female inmate' in the prison hierarchy.

In her letters to her best friend Tracy Chapman, Folbigg described having fights with other women prisoners, including one time when she claimed the wing suddenly turned on her for no reason.

Kathleen Folbigg will walk free after spending 20 years in prison for the killing of her four children after being granted a pardon

The 55-year-old spent years at Silverwater Women's prison (pictured), where she notoriously bashed a fellow inmate in 2017

In 2017 she had to be moved from Silverwater to another prison after she punched a fellow inmate in the stomach in a fight over a toaster.

Folbigg claimed she was reacting to taunts when she 'snapped' at Tara Mammen for taking the communal electronic device into her cell.

After attempts to appeal the decision were unsuccessful, Folbigg was ordered to serve a further four month prison term over the assault.

In Silverwater, Folbigg lived in the women's prison's tough Willet East wing, where she became a kind of 'den mother' to some of the prison system's most depraved offenders.

The women living in the Willet East unit are among several of Australia's worst female criminals who have offended against children.

Serious women offenders who have spent time in Silverwater Women's maximum security include baby killers Keli Lane, Kristi Ann Abrahams and Rachel Pfitzner.

Some of Australia's most infamous female offenders have spent time locked up at Silverwater Women's maximum security facility

Katherine Knight is pictured with her partner John Price, who she murdered before cutting off his head and skinning his body. She then cooked his head in a pot and served up his body parts on plates set for his three children. Knight was the first Australian woman to be sentenced to life without parole

REASONS FOR KATHLEEN FOLBIGG'S RELEASE Kathleen Folbigg was released from jail on Monday after receiving a pardon by the NSW Attorney General. The pardon was granted after an inquiry found there was 'reasonable doubt' about her guilt for four convictions. Folbigg was convicted in 2003 for the murder of three of her children and the manslaughter of a fourth child, who all died between 1989 and 1999. Doubt was cast over the convictions by scientific evidence that her two daughters carried a genetic mutation that could cause fatal cardiac problems. An April, 2023 inquiry into her convictions heard credible evidence the four children may have died of natural causes. Under the pardon, her convictions are not quashed, but she will not have to serve the rest of her 30 year sentence. Advertisement

Australia's worst female killer, cannibal Katherine Knight, who skinned her de facto and boiled up his body parts for dinner, was also housed in Willet during Folbigg's time there.

Folbigg was said to have acted as a 'positive role model' and taught 'life skills' to the other women, including counselling high-risk female baby murderers and rapists.

One inmate who was incarcerated for sexually and indecently assaulting her own three children even wrote a gushing letter describing how Folbigg had helped her come out of her comfort zone and 'made me feel like an important and wanted woman'.

While locked up in Silverwater, Folbigg wrote of finding love when she got out of jail.

Folbigg was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003 after her babies Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb died in suspicious circumstances between 1989 and 1999.

The largely circumstantial trial relief heavily upon journal entries Folbigg had made about her children's deaths including statements such as Sarah 'left with a bit of help' and Laura's 'fairly good nature' 'saved her from the fate of her siblings'.

The mother of four was sentenced to 30 years in jail and was not eligible for parole until 2028, but had consistently maintained her innocence.

On Monday, NSW Attorney General Michael Daley granted Folbigg a pardoned due to 'reasonable doubt' over her children's death after an inquiry - set up by Supreme Court Justice Tom Bathurst KC - found there was fresh evidence to suggest the kids died from natural causes.

New expert medical evidence published in March 2021 cast doubt on Folbigg's guilt after it showed that Sarah and Laura Folbigg carried a genetic mutation - known as CALM2 G114R - which can cause cardiac problems and lead to sudden death.

Folbigg is pictured at the Supreme Court of NSW in April 2003

Folbigg was convicted of the murder of her son Patrick (right), as well as manslaughter of her first child Caleb (left)

Medical experts say there might have been a genetic mutation which caused the deaths of Sarah (left) and Laura (right)

DNA sequencing found that Folbigg and her daughters shared the variant, however Caleb and Patrick did not.

In a memorandum outlining his findings, Mr Bathurst found there was 'reasonable possibility that three of the children died of natural causes', and a reasonable possibility Sarah and Laura's deaths were the result of genetic mutation CALM2-G114R.

In the case of Ms Folbigg's fourth child, Mr Bathurst found 'the coincidence and tendency evidence which was central to the (2003) Crown case falls away'.

On Tuesday, Folbigg released a short video statement thanking her supporters after enjoying her first night of freedom at Ms Chapman's home on the NSW North Coast.

'Hello, this is Kathleen. I'm extremely humbled and grateful to be pardoned and released from prison,' Ms Folbigg said.

'My eternal gratitude goes to my friends and family, especially Tracy and all of her family, and I would not have survived this whole ordeal without them,' she said.

Kathleen Folbigg (pictured) is enjoying her full full day of freedom

'Today is a victory for science, and especially truth. And for the last 20 years I have been in prison, I have forever and will always think of my children, grief and my children, and I miss them and love them terribly.'

However, Craig Folbigg, who is the father of the four children, has been left 'frustrated and disappointed' by the pardon.

'He is the victim of this case,' his solicitor Danny Eid said on Monday.

'He is frustrated and disappointed he has to endure yet another chapter.'

Folbigg's convictions need to be quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal before compensation avenues can be discussed, with speculation estimating she could be awarded anywhere between $1million and $20million.

Her story has already been secured by Channel Seven for more than $400,000 after a bidding war with Channel Nine.
A heavily tattooed man with cornrows is among two Hells Angels bikies who have been charged after a unit was allegedly sprayed with bullets.

NSW Police were called to the apartment complex on Gregory Street in South Coogee, Sydney's east, on May 27 after seven shots from a high-powered firearm were allegedly fired into a unit from the street.

Damage was caused to the exterior of the complex. There were no reports of injuries.

Meyez Elkerdi (pictured) also remains behind bars and will face court on Wednesday

Detectives established Strike Force Auberson to investigate the shooting which led to the arrests of Meyez Elkerdi and James Scicluna six days later.

Scicluna, 41, was arrested when officers executed a search warrant to raid his Campbelltown home in Sydney's south-west last Friday.

Police also allegedly seized a semi-automatic high-powered rifle fitted with a scope and a quantity of drugs which will undergo further forensic examination.

Scicluna was charged with firing firearm at dwelling-house disregard for safety and owner not disclose identity of driver/passenger.

He faced Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday and reappeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.

Represented in court by a lawyer, Scicluna did not appear on screen or apply for bail.

No pleas have yet been entered and the matter was adjourned until August 10, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Two men were arrested within an hour over the May 27 shooting at South Coogee. Pictured is one of the men being escorted to a police paddy wagon

A semi-automatic high-powered rifle (left) and boxes of cartridges (right) were allegedly seized at the address where

Heavily tattooed alleged bikie associate Elkerdi, 31, was arrested by police at a home in South Coogee an hour after Scicluna's arrest.

He was taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with firing firearm at dwelling-house disregard for safety.

Elkerdi was also refused bail to appear in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

Police allege both men were part of the Hells Angels OMCG motorcycle gang.

Inquiries into the May 27 shooting in South Coogee continue.

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been called out after local media were banned from attending his address to a secretive pro-China forum.

The furore comes as Mr Andrews defended his government's tender process after awarding US-based company Conduent the $1.7bn contract to overhaul the myki public transport ticketing system.

Mr Andrews made a speech at the Post Pandemic China-Australia Economic Cooperation Forum at Melbourne's Park Hyatt this week.

When reporters from the Herald Sun arrived at the event they were told only Chinese media were allowed inside, with photos and videos forbidden.

'A lady at the front desk said Chinese media only' the Herald Sun reported.

On Tuesday, Victorian Liberal MP James Paterson said it was 'highly irregular and inappropriate' to bar Australian media from the forum.

'What does Daniel Andrews have to hide?' he asked.

'What did he say that he doesn't want Victorians to hear?'

While Mr Andrews was unable to confirm if a transcript of his speech would be made available to the public, he said important points had been raised.

'It was an important event,' the premier said on Tuesday.

'I certainly made the point that the China and Victoria partnership is critically important to jobs, to exports, to international education, to food and wine and every sector really.

'They are our biggest trading partner. If you've got a bad relationship with your biggest customer, your business has got real problems.'

The event was being co-supported by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS).

Mr Paterson accused the sponsor of being a 'front group' for Chinese spy agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS).

Mr Paterson asked Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials during a Senates Estimate last Thursday whether the inclusion of the sponsor was appropriate.

'As a matter of principle, is it appropriate for a MSS front group to be involved in organising a conference in Australia?' he said.

The Victorian Premier (pictured on Monday) made a speech at the Post Pandemic China-Australia Economic Cooperation Forum at Melbourne's Park Hyatt on June 5 and 6

On Tuesday, Liberal MP James Paterson went one step further, calling it 'highly irregular and inappropriate' to bar Australian media from the pro-China forum

The forum comes just months after Mr Andrews defended his decision not to invite journalists to a press trip to China.

In March, the premier returned after spending a week with senior officials in Beijing and the Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces.

Mr Andrews was criticised for not taking a press pack, with many raising concerns over transparency and press freedom.

However, the premier maintained he acted appropriately, noting journalists would not have been able to interview any of the officials he met.

'Let's be really clear about this - this trip was not about me and with the greatest of respect, it was not about you,' Mr Andrews said.

'It was about the success of Victoria and we stand by what was a full program and important program, one where we got a very warm reception.'

Mr Andrews said he had discussions about trade and international students, with a working group established between Victoria and the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen waving while posing for pictures at a group photo session during the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an on May 19

The group will work towards attracting more Chinese students to Melbourne, with a focus on increasing student exchanges.

'Our relationship has always been strong because both sides have worked hard to deliver that,' the premier said at the time.

'But after three and a half years, it's important to get back there and say - we are open, we value your students, we value your partnerships with us.'

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto accused the premier of keeping secrets and said the coalition would push for an inquiry into the trip.

Also on Tuesday Mr Andrews defended his government's tender process after awarding US-based company Conduent the $1.7bn contract to overhaul the myki public transport ticketing system.

This comes after Cubic, a losing bidder, wrote to the Victorian premier on Tuesday to raise concern about 'possible errors' in the process, noting that its bid was $100m cheaper than Conduent's.

Cubic also has an established track record of operating public transport systems that use credit cards and mobile phones for fare payment whereas the winning bidder does not.

Opposition transport spokesman Richard Riordan called the letter 'scandalous' when talking to ABC Melbourne's Virginia Trioli on Tuesday morning.

'(Transport Minister) Ben Carroll and Daniel Andrews have to come out immediately and explain to Victorians why we are paying hundreds of millions ... more for a ticketing system that will not deliver the same quality of service as people are getting in Brisbane, Sydney, London, New York,' he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews told the media he wasn't 'here to share correspondence with you or anybody else', and he had not received any advice to suggest errors within the process.

'What I'm here to do is to simply point out to you that there's been a process run,' he said.

'There's a probity auditor that's been deeply involved in that process.

'Advice was provided as to who won that process and the tender has been awarded.

'Beyond that I'm really not in a position to have anything more than that to say, other than to direct you to the relevant minister, who has been across this from the very beginning.'

Conduent was awarded the 15-year deal last month, agreeing to modernise and operate the state's public transport ticketing system.

Victorians have long awaited the revamped 21st century system that would bring it in line with other major cities by accepting phones, credit cards and smart watches as fare payment methods.

Conduent is set to roll out the new system over the next two years, taking over the contract from myki's current operator, NTT Data, on December 1; however, the ABC has reported that the company is yet to establish any public transport management system that uses phone payment methods.

Cubic has a proven track record of operating such systems, as it has done in Sydney, New York and London.

In a letter sent to Mr Andrews, two senior US-based executives, chief executive Stevan Slijepcevic and corporate senior vice-president Jeffrey Lowinger, said they had 'serious concerns' over possible errors in the tender process.

'Cubic asks you (to) review the flawed procurement process for the PTT (public transport ticketing) and suggest the result be re-evaluated to ensure that Victoria receives the innovative technology solution its residents desire and deserve,'' the letter said.

The company also alleges government officials held discussions with Conduent after Cubic made its final submission.

'This gave that bidder a significant opportunity to explain and improve its offer, an opportunity that was not given to Cubic despite having a lower priced, technically superior offering,'' the letter said.

'These actions by the procurement team did a disservice to the state by reducing the competitive tension during the tender process, and it prevented the state from potentially receiving an improved offer from Cubic had it had similar discussions and interactions with Cubic.'

Mr Andrews maintains the tender was awarded to Conduent 'on advice'.

'There were privately audited arrangements in place to oversee that process,' he said.

'(Cubic has) written a letter to me, they've written letters to lots of different people.

'(The Public Transport Minister) has awarded the tender based on a process that was oversighted by probity auditors and he has made decisions based on advice provided to him by his department - independent public servants.'

Cubic previously accused the NSW government of a flawed tender process in 2001 after a contract for the state's ticketing system was awarded to rival ERG Group.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Andrews' office for comment.
The 29-year-old tried to drown the woman in a creek

A violent serial rapist who dragged a woman into a creek and tried to drown her before subjecting her to hours of horrific sexual abuse has been jailed for more than two decades.

Joel Russo, 29, grabbed the woman from behind and abducted her as she was jogging along the Merri Creek Trail in Melbourne's inner north in 2019.

Joel Russo (pictured), 29, grabbed the woman from behind and abducted her as she was jogging along the Merri Creek Trail in Melbourne's inner north in 2019

He dragged her down an embankment towards the creek and she clawed at the ground to try to get away.

The woman screamed as Russo pulled her into the creek's waters and pushed her head under the surface twice.

He said he would let her live if they had sex and repeatedly raped her in the creek and then in some nearby bushes.

The court heard that Russo raped the woman for more than an hour, telling the victim to say she 'liked what he was doing'.

He also apologised to the victim, saying: 'I've ruined your life, haven't I?'

'This was an horrendous sexual attack,' Judge Liz Gaynor told the County Court on Tuesday.

'It was predatory, persistent, highly violent, terrifying and prolonged.'

Russo pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, sexually touching without consent and reckless conduct in danger of causing serious injury.

Judge Gaynor sentenced him to up to 20 years and four months in prison.

He dragged her down an embankment towards the creek and she clawed at the ground to try to get away.

He must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can apply for parole.

She said there was high risk Russo could reoffend, as four months before committing the December 2019 rape he had been released from prison after serving time for another sexual attack.

In that case he jailed for five years for raping a 16-year-old girl near a public toilet block, threatening to kill her and pushing her to the ground to stop her from screaming.

'It is clear you are an extremely dangerous offender,' Judge Gaynor said.

'The objective threat you present to women generally cannot be underestimated.'

He has already served three-and-a-half years of his sentence and will be registered as a sex offender for life.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
An FBI 'spycatcher' who helped secure the conviction of one of America's most infamous traitors said he wished he'd had the chance to confront him one last time before he died.

Eric O'Neill said he regretted not being able to grill notorious double agent Robert Hanssen, who was found dead in his cell in the Colorado supermax on Monday, aged 79.

'This closes the door on a huge moment in my life. I had hoped to confront him one last time, face to face,' O'Neill tweeted on Tuesday.

Hanssen was convicted of spying for Russia in 2002 and sentenced to life, and his downfall rocked the intelligence community and shocked the country.

O'Neill was a 27-year-old FBI newcomer when his boss assigned him, in 2001, to spy on Hanssen - who by then was suspected of leaking top secret information to Russia.

Robert Hanssen (left) was serving 15 consecutive life sentences in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to espionage charges. Eric O'Neill (right) helped convict him

FBI agents are pictured arresting Hanssen near his Virginia home in February 2001

FBI agents are seen sealing off Hanssen's home before searching it for further evidence

'I just heard that the FBI's most damaging spy Robert Hanssen, code name: Gray Day, passed away in his jail cell today,' O'Neill tweeted.

When asked by a follower what he would have said to Hanssen if he'd had the chance, O'Neill answered: 'I would have told him that despite his crimes, he influenced my life. We can learn from anyone, even the most damaging spy in US history. I would have asked him definitively "Why did you do it?"'

O'Neill told The Washington Post that he was still processing Hanssen's death.

Asked why he thought he committed his crimes, O'Neill said Hanssen had been a patriot but also a disgruntled employee.

'He volunteered his services and never let the Russians know his identity. He did it for a combination of reasons: for money, yes, but also because he was disgruntled with the FBI, and because the life of a spy excited and thrilled him. It made him belong to something far larger than himself. A part of history,' he tweeted.

Hanssen was not well paid at the FBI, and raising six children took its toll. He received $1.4million and diamonds from his Russian handlers.

But part of his motivation was pride: he wanted to be a field agent, instead of a desk-bound analyst.

Hanssen, a counterintelligence supervisor, was a devout Catholic and a follower of the strict Opus Dei group.

Yet it emerged that he was a sexual deviant who invited his best friend to watch him have sex with his wife on a secretly installed television system she never knew about.

He sent nude photos of her to the same friend, and used to prowl strip clubs, where he tried to convert strippers to Catholicism. In particular, he spent time with a stripper named Priscilla Sue Galey, giving her money, jewels and a Mercedes-Benz.

A psychiatrist hired by Hanssen's defense team to examine him said his sexual perversions were part of a psychological disorder.

Hanssen was confronted by agents when making a dead drop at a suburban Virginia park (seen here)

Hanssen negotiated a plea deal to share information with agents so that he did not receive the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole

FBI agents are pictured removing evidence of Hanssen's espionage from his Virginia home

He began his espionage operation just three years after being hired by the FBI and continued until shortly before his planned retirement

O'Neill said on Monday he was still processing Hanssen's death

O'Neill and Hanssen's story was turned into a 2007 film, Breach, directed by Billy Ray

'He wanted to be James Bond, and he thought they'd made him a librarian,' O'Neill said.

O'Neill worked closely with Hanssen, observing him and trying to confirm the rumor of him being on Moscow's payroll.

Their story was turned into a 2007 film, Breach, starring Ryan Philippe as O'Neill and Chris Cooper as Hanssen. It was directed by Billy Ray.

As time went by, O'Neill realized that Hanssen was always with his PalmPilot, and so began to suspect that that held vital information.

He concocted a scheme whereby Hanssen was challenged to a shooting competition, with a $20 bet.

Hanssen is pictured in his official FBI headshot

Hanssen left the office and left behind his PalmPilot, which O'Neill then ran downstairs for the FBI to copy - along with a floppy disk, and a data card from Hanssen's bag.

'They're starting to do the work and it's slowly moving,' O'Neill told the Spyscape website.

Hanssen then suddenly returned, leaving O'Neill to sprint back to the office and try and replace the objects where they belonged.

Hanssen had by this point already caused the death of at least two KGB agents, who he told Moscow were secretly working for Washington.

O'Neill was terrified that his ruthless boss would do something drastic, like organizing an 'accident.'

But the evidence was conclusive, and Hanssen was arrested days later.

Hanssen never explained why he carried on spying for Moscow when he no longer needed the money.

'It was the thing that made him feel that he was the best at something in the world. No one was better,' O'Neill said.

'And he knew that it was going to make him immortal. And it did.'

Hanssen, pictured here with his wife Bonnie and their six children, stopped spying for a few years when he was confronted by his wife

A cause of death has not yet been released, but Hanssen is believed to have died from natural causes.

O'Neill was able to obtain and copy a letter that revealed Hanssen 'dreamed of being a spy against his country since the age of 14, after reading a book about Kim Philby  the British intelligence officer who was also a Russian double agent'.

In the letter Hanssen wrote: 'One might propose that I am either insanely brave or quite insane. I'd answer neither. I'd say insanely loyal. Take your pick. There is insanity in all the answers.'

It also revealed Hanssen's frustrations with the Russians and how he came to request the PalmPilot device that would ultimately help lock him up for life.

'I have come about as close as I ever want to come to sacrificing myself to help you, and I get silence. I hate silence' Hanssen wrote at one point.

'The US can be errantly likened to a powerfully built but retarded child, potentially dangerous, but young, immature and easily manipulated. But don't be fooled by that appearance. It is also one which can turn ingenious quickly, like an idiot savant, once convinced of a goal.'

Following his arrest and conviction, the federal government instituted mandatory financial disclosures for all its agents.

It also created the Commission for the Review of FBI Security Programs, which described Hanssen's espionage as 'possibly the worse intelligence disaster in US history.'

And a review by the Inspector General also called Hanssen 'the most damaging spy in FBI history.'

Hanssen negotiated a plea deal to share information with agents so that he did not receive the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole

Hanssen received $1.4million in cash from the KGB and its successor during his efforts

After his arrest, friend and neighbors seemed shocked by the allegations with many saying that Hanssen didn't fit the profile.

In articles shortly after his 2001 capture, they described him as a man who didn't swear, who put his children through private school associated with the Opus Dei church and who was a bland dresser who lacked the personality traits to advance further up the FBI ladder.

Former colleagues of Hanssen's said they would have been shocked if he spent the money he earned from his espionage on women.

Instead, they told the New York Times, they suspected he probably used the money to pay for his sons' preparatory school and his daughters' Catholic school.

'Robert Hanssen's death brings a somber end to one of the most infamous espionage cases in US history,' Javed Ali, former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council told ABC News.
A six-year-old boy who had cells for his vital bone marrow transplant left on an American tarmac en route to Australia has hit another snag in his recovery journey.

Although having fought haemolytic anaemia for three years, Mateoh Eggleton, six, will have to fight for longer after his stem cell surgery failed.

The surgery was delayed by a month after the stem cells, which were transported from the United States, were left on the tarmac of an airport.

The cells needed to be tested after arriving at Brisbane Airport before being given the green light for the surgery.

But after proving unsuccessful in arresting his condition, Mateoh's mother Shalyn Eggleton said the family has turned to crowdfunding to seek international treatment for her son.

Mateoh Eggleton (pictured), a six-year-old sufferer of haemolytic anaemia, has hit another snag in his treatment journey after his stem cell surgery was unsuccessful

Mateoh was initially diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disorder in 2019, a disease that renders white blood cells unable to fight certain types of fungus and bacteria.

Although surgery in the following year treated Mateoh's initial condition, it left him with haemolytic anaemia which is yet to be helped.

The condition means his red blood cells are being destroyed at a faster rate than they are being replaced, leaving the sufferer weak, tired and potentially jaundice.

Alongside the stem cell surgery, Mateoh has also been receiving chemotherapy every week which has resulted in his hair falling out.

Speaking to 7News, Ms Eggleton said 'Mateoh had his bone marrow transplant 84 days ago, and it hasn't worked'.

The Eggletons have now turned towards a GoFundMe page to cover costs to get Mateoh to Boston Children's Hospital for potentially life-saving treatment.

Mateoh has fought the condition for three years, with his family now looking internationally to Boston Children's Hospital for a different type of treatment

The treatment, which has worked on children with Mateoh's condition, involves both oral and intravenous methods to deliver medicine that could help remedy him.

'We have reached out to them (Boston Children's Hospital) and there is possible treatment over there for Mateoh, which they have said has been successful in other children and adults,' Ms Eggleton said.

'But it's just trialling that and seeing if it'll work for Mateoh.

'Take the tubes away and put some hair on him, he's a happy little boy.'

Ms Eggleton has continued to fight for her son's health amid rising medical costs and raising three other children.

She wrote on the GoFundMe page that costs of 'travelling back and forth between hospitals (Brisbane and Gold Coast), parking costs and basic necessities' were starting to become an issue.

'I'm also raising my other 3 children at home that need a roof over their head, bills and basic necessities and cost of carers to watch them while I'm with Mateoh, the cost of medication and supplies needed for Mateoh's care at home does become costly fast,' she wrote.

'Any help would be greatly appreciated as every dollar goes along way in his journey.

'Mateoh has many more things on his Bucket List to complete.'

The GoFundMe has raised over $20,000 of the $360,000 goal, needed before Boston Children's Hospital will start treatment for Mateoh.
He is the half-brother of pub baron Justin Hemmes

The love child of late hospitality magnate John Hemmes, who won $1.75m from his father in court, has faced court after allegedly injuring a motorcyclist in a crash in Sydneys east.

Edward Cameron appeared before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday charged with negligent driving occasioning actual bodily harm and not giving way to another vehicle - both first offences.

Court documents state Mr Cameron was driving his Subaru Outback about 11am at Bondi Beach on November 11 when police allege he failed to give way to Honda motorbike at the intersection of Campbell Ave and Wairoa Ave.

Police allege Mr Cameron caused grievous bodily harm while driving his Subaru Outback. Checks reveal the 10-year-old car has not been registered since the incident.

Mr Cameron has not entered any pleas and will reappear before in court on June 27.

If convicted, Mr Cameron faces a maximum penalty of nine months in prison for a first offence.

Edward Cameron appeared before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday charged with negligent driving occasioning actual bodily harm and not giving way to another vehicle

Outside court, Mr Cameron blew up telling NCA NewsWire he did not want to be in the public spotlight.

The 27-year-old rose to prominence during a fierce court battle following the death of his father, Mr Hemmes, who refused to have a relationship with his son over doubts about his paternity.

Mr Hemmes died from cancer in 2015 aged 83 and had only a week prior transferred $5.7 million from a Swiss bank account to children Justin and Bettina, The Daily Telegraph reported.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Geoff Lindsay ordered Mr Cameron be paid $1.75 million plus his legal fees from a superannuation fund following a court hearing in 2018.

A spokesman for the family claimed at the time Mr Cameron had previously refused to take a DNA test, leading to doubts from Mr Hemmes over whether he was his biological son. He eventually undertook a DNA test.

Justin Hemmes, Mr Hemmes' other son, runs hospitality giant Merivale which owns more than 50 bars and restaurants including The Ivy, the Coogee Pavilion, The Newport Arms, and The Collaroy Hotel (he is pictured arriving to Sydney via seaplane on Sunday)

Pictured left to right is Bettina Hemmes, Justin Hemmes and their father John Hemmes in 2012

Court documents tendered to the court in 2018 revealed John Hemmes had a relationship with Fiona Cameron from 1983 to late 1989, with Mr Cameron born in June 1990.

Justin Hemmes, Mr Hemmes' other son, runs Merivale which owns more than 50 bars and restaurants including The Ivy, the Coogee Pavilion, The Newport Arms, and The Collaroy Hotel.

According to Mr Cameron's website and LinkedIn account, the 27-year-old is a product designer and previously worked in Germany before returning to Australia. He is also the co-founder of We Are Goodness.
Lisa Wilkinson has denied approaching Labor politicians to ask questions in parliament about Brittany Higgins' allegations of sexual abuse.

A bombshell recording has revealed Wilkinson name-dropped both Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese during a five-hour meeting with Ms Higgins and her boyfriend David Sharaz before the former staffer raised her sexual assault allegations on The Project.

In the recording, Ms Wilkinson suggested both the Labor heavyweights could be 'friendly MPs' who 'could fire questions at Question Time'.

The day after the interview aired, the duo asked five questions between them of then-prime minister Scott Morrison.

But despite having boasted she could get Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek to ask such questions - and the fact they subsequently did - Ms Wilkinson told The Australian she did not discuss the Brittany Higgins matter with any politicians.

'Nor did I speak to any other politicians, their minders or apparatchiks,' she said.

Ms Plibersek has also denied speaking to Ms Wilkinson or her producer about Ms Higgins ahead of Question Time.

Lisa Wilkinson name dropped both politicians during an unofficial, five-hour 'pre interview' with Ms Higgins prior to airing the bombshell allegations on The Project on February 15, 2021

Ms Wilkinson held an unofficial, five-hour 'pre-interview' with Ms Higgins before the Channel Ten show aired on February 15, 2021.

Ms Higgins' boyfriend David Sharaz asked if Ms Wilkinson had any 'friendly MPs' who 'could fire questions at Question Time'.

'Oh, certainly Albo,' Ms Wilkinson said in response, adding: 'Tanya Plibersek, definitely.'

Question Time footage from February 16, the day after The Project aired the segment, shows Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek directing five questions about Ms Higgins' allegations at prime minister Scott Morrison.

Mr Albanese asked the first question of the session - as is customary for Opposition Leader - to ask if Mr Morrison would establish an external review into the culture within Parliament House in the wake of Ms Higgins' claims.

Six minutes later, Ms Plibersek made the first direct reference to Ms Higgins. She said: 'When and how did the Prime Minister first become aware of the reported sexual assault of Brittany Higgins?'

Ms Higgins alleges she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House after a night out in 2019. Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

Mr Morrison fumbled his way through his answer, insisting he became aware of the allegations the morning of The Project's report, and that his office knew of the complaint just days earlier.

But Ms Plibersek doubted his claims, noting in a second question that he had contradicted Ms Higgins' version of events, which stated the PM's private secretary was told of the alleged assault in 2019.

Ms Higgins boyfriend David Sharaz asked if Ms Wilkinson had any 'friendly MPs' who 'could fire questions at Question Time'

'The Prime Minister claimed in his press conference that Ms Higgins's statements were confused. Previously the Prime Minister has said victims of sexual assault should be believed. Why doesn't that apply in this case?' she asked.

Mr Morrison attempted to skirt around the issue by quoting Ms Higgins herself, who had earlier in the day asked for her 'privacy to be respected' as she 'began to emotionally recover'.

Ms Higgins' statement said she wished to make no further comment on the allegations.

The PM said: 'I will be complying with that request, and we will be seeking to pursue this matter through the mechanisms that I've already announced today and also potentially through the other mechanisms that have been suggested.'

Audio played by Seven's Spotlight on Sunday night had Ms Wilkinson telling Ms Higgins, Mr Sharaz and her producer Angus Llewellyn she is 'a great believer in ''people's time will come''.'

Mr Sharaz said in response: 'Is it Linda's time? Please God, let it be Linda's time.'

Ms Wilkinson answered: 'Well, it might be.'

During Question Time, Mr Albanese probed Mr Morrison on Ms Reynolds' role in parliament, asking if it was 'acceptable that the defence minister was aware that a reported serious crime had been committed in her office but did not inform the Prime Minister or his office'.

To that, Mr Morrison said: 'It is not, and it shouldn't happen again.'

Mr Albanese asked the first question of the session - as is customary for Opposition Leader - to determine if Mr Morrison would establish an external review into the culture within Parliament House

Three minutes later, Mr Albanese was back with another question on the matter, asking if Mr Morrison had 'confidence in his defence minister'.

Mr Morrison said: 'Yes, I do. This is a shattering incident, as I've said. It is very serious and we have been taking it very, very seriously, from the moment I became aware.

'I don't think this should be a matter of politics. It should be a matter of keeping people safe in this building.'

Mr Albanese's final question on the matter came five minutes later, at 2.29pm.

He said: 'How can the defence minister maintain the Prime Minister's confidence when the Prime Minister agrees that the defence minister was aware for two years of a reported serious offence occurring just down the corridor from the Prime Minister's own office which potentially attracts a custodial sentence and did not inform the Prime Minister or his office, according to his own statements?'

The then-prime minister said he believed Ms Reynolds had 'acted in good faith' by 'supporting Brittany'.

Ms Higgins alleges she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House after a night out in 2019

Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Albanese's office for comment.

Ms Plibersek was asked whether she was approached by Ms Wilkinson or her producer ahead of Question Time on the Seven Network on Monday morning.

She denied speaking to the journalists about the matter, but noted she had spoken with Ms Higgins to see how she was coping.

Ms Plibersek said that it should come as 'no surprise' that she went to bat for Ms Higgins.

'It is absolutely no surprise that anybody would think that I would follow up on it, an instance like this,' she said.

'For 30 years I have been campaigning for better investigation and better treatment of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and child sexual assault.

'It's been a constant party of my political activism, long before anybody heard of Brittany Higgins.

'I've been doing this for decades now, and it is no surprise that I would be interested in justice being served in a situation like this.'

She had nothing further to add when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Michaelia Cash, was directly asked by 2GB's Ben Fordham whether the payment of up to $3million Brittany Higgins was given in secrecy should be investigated by the new federal corruption watchdog.

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Saturday that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus signed off on the payment without taking advice from Ms Higgins' former employers, Ms Cash and the Labor defence minister Linda Reynolds.

Ms Cash said it was up to Albanese and his government to justify the payment.

'Certainly, Mr Dreyfus has a number of questions to answer,' she said.

'Anyone who watched Seven's Spotlight on Sunday night, you came away with more questions than answers. Tanya Plibersek struggled to answer questions. Katy Gallacher needs to properly explain her role in all of this.

'The Project needs to release the five-hour recording that's damning for all involved.

When asked whether Brittany Higgins was mistreated when she worked for either herself of Linda Reynolds, Ms Cash said: 'Absolutely not.

'I have been clear in my position from day one. The first time I ever heard the word rape was when I received a question from a journalist after Ms Higgins left my office,' she said.

Since an extensive interview with Mr Lehrmann aired on Channel 7 on Sunday, media personalities have floated referring the payout to the National Anti Corruption Commission, which will open for business on July 1.

'The National Anti Corruption Commission is totally independent and it's entirely a matter for the Commission what it chooses to investigate,' a spokesperson for the Attorney General said.
Embattled New York congressman George Santos would rather go to jail than name the people who secured his $500,000 pretrial bond, his lawyer said on Monday.

News outlets have asked the judge in Santos's case to make public the names of the two people who paid for his bond, citing overwhelming public interest and a need for transparency.

The stakes are high: one person was lined up to contribute to the bond, yet failed to show in court on the day, fearing the fallout from backing Santos according to his lawyer, Joseph Murray.

Santos, 34, pleaded not guilty on May 10 to a 13-count indictment charging that he duped donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didn't deserve. He is due back in court on June 30.

On Monday, Murray urged the judge to deny the request to unseal the names of Santos' bond suretors, or guarantors.

George Santos is seen speaking outside the Capitol on May 17, amid efforts to expel him from the House

Joseph Murray, lawyer for George Santos, is trying to stop the names of those who contributed to the $500,000 bond from being made public

Murray suggested they could 'suffer great distress,' including possible job losses and physical harm, if they're identified publicly.

'My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come,' Murray wrote in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields.

Murray asked that she give them time to withdraw as cosigners if she decides to unseal their names, which Shields kept off the public court docket at the lawyer's request.

The lawyer said he, Santos and Santos' staff have been receiving threatening and harassing calls and messages, including death threats.

Murray said he received a call Friday from someone shouting: 'Who paid Santos' bond?' and said he worries Santos' critics 'are just waiting to pounce' on the people backing his release.

'We truly fear for their health, safety and well being,' Murray wrote.

Prosecutors have not taken a position on the unsealing request.

Former Democratic congressional candidate Robert Zimmerman, center, speaks at a rally in Mineola, New York on December 29 where local leaders and dozens of residents from the third congressional district gathered to condemn Santos for lying

In a letter last week, a lawyer for news outlets urged the judge to release the names of Santos' bond suretors, citing a 'compelling public interest in maintaining the greatest transparency possible in these proceedings.'

The New York Times first wrote to Shields on May 23 asking to unseal the names.

Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, joined the fight a few days later.

Separately, the House Ethics Committee wrote to Santos on May 16 asking him to identify the people who cosigned his bond.

Murray said Santos originally lined up three financially responsible cosigners as suretors, but one backed out and the other two didn't show up to his arraignment.

That forced them to make 'other confidential arrangements' to ensure Santos' release, Murray said.

Santos' bond is unsecured. That means his cosigners didn't have put up any money up front, but could be forced to pay the full amount if he doesn't comply with his release conditions or fails to show up for court.

The 34-year-old, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, has defied calls to resign and has said he won't drop his bid for a second term.
Nostalgic Sydneysiders have been saddened to learn that demolition work has begun on another key part of the city's old monorail network.

The Harbourside monorail station, which dropped commuters off at the original Darling Harbour site, was in the process of being pulled down this week.

The station was one of seven stops in the defunct monorail network that shuttled passengers around the greater Sydney central business district.

Sydneysiders have been left devastated after learning demolition works have begun on the monorail

The station is one of seven stops in the defunct monorail network that connected the city with Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the Spanish Quarter

Scaffolding has been raised around the Harbourside site marking an official end to station that serviced locals between 1988 and 2013.

Photographs of its demolition were shared to social media where Sydneysiders expressed their sadness.

'They're demolishing the monorail station at Darling Harbour  You have no idea how upset I am,' one wrote on Twitter.

Others shared fond memories of riding along the network in the past.

'I went on this when I was a kid, was so much fun, would've rather have this back then (sic) the stupid tram they put back in,' one wrote on Facebook.

'When I used to live in Sydney I used to catch it to Darling Harbour  it was just quick and easy to get there  it's a shame it's gone,' another added.

Others pleaded for the monorail network to be saved.

'Don't take away the monorail station  Imagine a cool little bar or coffee shop in there,' one wrote on Reddit.

'Don't know why Sydney wants to erase the monorail history when they could have a bit of fun and embrace it.'

The monorail, which opened in 1988, ceased operating in 2013 when work immediately began on dismantling the track and most of the stations.

The Harbourside stop is the latest part of the infrastructure to fall.

The removal was part of Mirvac's redevelopment of the 1980s Harbourside Shopping Centre on Darling Harbour.

All sections of the track and some of the stations along the network have already been dismantled, with the Harbourside stop the latest to fall

The site will make way as Mirvac pushes ahead with its planned redevelopment of the 1980s Harbourside Shopping Centre on Darling Harbour

The monorail network was not popular with every Sydneysider with one group attempting to stop its construction in the 1980s.

Sydney Citizens Against the Proposed Monorail, which was led by solicitor Michael Mobbs, formed in 1985 in a bid to stop the monorail from being built.

Their campaign involved taking out advertisements in the newspapers and staging protests urging the proposal for the monorail to be binend.

'QVB yum  Monorail yuk,' 'No Monorail,' 'Stop the Monsterail,' and 'Who needs a monorail? I've got feet!' were among the several slogans.

Ita Buttrose, Peter Carey, Leo Schofield, Jim McClelland, Mike Carlton, Nick Greiner, and Patrick White were some of the high-profile Australians that joined the cause.

White said the monorail was 'one of the many autocratic farces perpetuated by the powerful on our citizens.'

Sydney mayor Clover Moore even expressed her disapproval when she was an independent MP at the time.

A Mirvac spokesman said the company had no intention of preserving the Harbourside station, news.com.au reported.

'We received approval for the demolition of the monorail station at Harbourside in 2021, and the monorail does not form part of the redevelopment of the site,' he said.
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Explosions at a major dam and hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine have caused a 'catastrophic' flood that is set to displace tens of thousands of people as shocking video footage showed houses being swept away and entire towns submerged by the deluge.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry declared this morning that the Kakhovka dam over the Dnieper river in the south of the country was damaged by several explosions and told residents of ten villages on the river's right bank, as well as parts of Kherson city downriver, to leave everything and flee their homes.

Terrifying clips show how village streets and fields near to the dam have already been swamped by flooding, as a Russia-installed local mayor warned that the water level would continue to rise for another 72 hours and claimed he expected 40ft high floods in some places.

'Everything is going to die here,' a man named Serhiy living in Kherson said. 'All the living creatures, and people will be flooded out.

'People will suffer. There's already no water coming out of taps - why not, no one knows.'

Other Kherson residents said the water level in some parts of the city had already reached 9ft high and they could see more water headed their way.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18million cubic meters (4.8billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other towns and settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

The cause of the blasts is not yet clear, although Ukraine warned late last year that Russian forces had mined the dam as they retreated from Kherson and Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhova plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a Vatican peace envoy that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam would have 'dire consequences' for people and nature.

'This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people's lives and the environment,' he told Italian cardinal Matteo Zuppi as the two met in Kyiv, according to a presidency statement.

As tens of thousands of Ukrainians flee their homes...

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhovka plant was totally destroyed by an engine room blast

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements are at risk of flooding

Kyiv officials alleged that Moscow destroyed the dam in order to slow down its long-awaited counteroffensive

Zelensky said that Russian forces must be 'expelled from every corner' of his nation for their 'terrorist actions'

Moscow has blamed Kyiv's forces for the strikes on the dam which is in Russian-held territory

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account today shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station after it was partially destroyed

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding. Water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Images and videos from the scene show the result of the damage to the dam, which Ukraine has blamed on Russia

There are warnings of possible major flooding which could displace hundreds of thousands of people. Images and video clips are already showing buildings and homes getting swept away in the water

An explosion is seen at the destroyed Kakhovka plant in the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine today. Water was thrown 40ft into the air amid the blasts

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of the dam

Kherson is flooded after the Kakhovka dam was damaged in a series of explosions

A satellite image shows the Kakhovka dam in Kherson yesterday, before the attack

 Slide me  This graphic shows the potentially catastrophic flooding that could occur if the dam is completely destroyed

Flood water has already overrun the countryside and several villages close to Kherson

Flooding continues to spread in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of the dam

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric power plant was totally destroyed by the blasts

Flooding begins in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

The remains of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant are seen in these images following several explosions

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Zelensky predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

The dam and the hydroelectric power station were captured by Putin's forces as a priority at the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year. Russian officials claimed the dam was attacked by Ukrainian military strikes.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development - a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation - estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded in total.

Zelensky will now urgently convene his Security Council after the explosion at the dam which provides vital cooling at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The explosion at the dam has sparked concerns of a possible meltdown at the plant if the reactors cannot be cooled.

Zelensky said that Russian forces 'must be expelled from every corner' of his country in the wake of the supposed attack.

Kyiv officials alleged that Moscow destroyed the dam in order to slow down its long-awaited counter-offensive.

'The terrorists' goal is obvious - to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces,' Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

'Today, the world must understand that this is an attempt by terrorists to raise the stakes and scare everyone with a possible nuclear disaster,' Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's administration, wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company declared that a detonation inside the engine room of the plant had 'totally destroyed' the machinery and warned the plant could not be salvaged.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said separately that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding after what he described as the destruction of the station's dam by Russian forces.

Environmental security expert Maksym Soroka explained why the flooding could be so disastrous.

'Everyone should understand that one cubic metre of water weighs a ton: imagine the amount of water in a metre-by-metre cube: that's one ton. Dams contain a huge mass of water, millions of tons,' Mr Soroka told Rubryka, a Ukrainian news publication.

'Force is mass multiplied by acceleration, and when that mass accelerates, we have a force of thousands of kilotons, and these forces are enough to destroy concrete. The devastating consequences become catastrophic.'

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday denounced the 'outrageous' breach of the dam and said it highlighted the devastation wrought by Moscow's invasion.

'The destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage. This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine,' Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: 'It's too early for me to make a meaningful assessment of the details of what's happened... but it's worth remembering that the only reason that this is an issue at all is because of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

'Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime,' he wrote on social media, describing the attack as 'abhorrent'.

EU chief Charles Michel meanwhile pledged to hold Russia accountable for the 'war crime' of destroying civilian infrastructure.

'Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable,' Mr Michel wrote on social media.

Mr Michel, the head of the body that brings together EU leaders, said he would propose 'more assistance to the flooded areas' at their next summit in Brussels this month.

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company declared that a detonation inside the engine room of the plant had 'totally destroyed' the machinery and warned the plant could not be salvaged

This general view shows a partially flooded area of Kherson on June 6, 2023, following damage at Kakhovka hydroelectric dam

The dam and nearby power plant have been attacked in an 'act of terror', top Ukrainian officials have claimed

The dam has allegedly been blown up by Russian forces, threatening at least ten nearby villages

Hundreds of thousands of people could be affected by flooding and be forced to leave their homes

Beavers pictured on the streets of Kherson during flooding in the occupied Kherson region

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was pictured in pieces

The dam, pictured here before damage, could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water

Ukraine says Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has also been destroyed by Russian troops

Ukrainian soldiers fire at the Russian air target on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, June 5, 2023 (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

Footage from what appeared to be a monitoring camera overlooking the dam shows an explosion that seems to have weakened the wall of the dam before water floods through the cracks.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7am that 'the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror,' and warned that water will reach 'critical levels' within five hours.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka Vladimir Leontyev said that numerous strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and 'water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream'.

Mr Leontyev said the strikes were 'a very serious terrorist act' said Moscow-appointed authorities are 'preparing for the worst consequences' - though he stopped short of urging an evacuation of city residents.

Not only is the dam responsible for powering the now destroyed Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and cooling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, it also provides drinking water for much of northern Crimea.

The Russian-backed governor of the annexed peninsula said there is now a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the river, could fall in the coming days - though he added that reserves were sufficient for the moment.

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

This still image taken from a video shows the aftermath of explosions at the hydroelectric power plant at Nova Kakhovka

The Kakhovka plant is almost completely swallowed by water in pictures taken several hours after the collapse on June 6, 2023

Ukraine's state atomic power agency said the destruction of the dam by Russian forces in southern Ukraine poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but the situation at the facility is under control.

'Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP,' Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

'Right now the station's cooling pond is full: as of 8.00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the station's needs.

'Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators,' it said.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through and over the Kakhovka dam, which lies just 37 miles east of the regional capital Kherson.

Last year, Zelensky claimed Putin's forces had mined the hydroelectric power plant and planned to blow it up it in a bid to cover their retreat from the city of Kherson with a vast deluge of water - though this did not materialise.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper River, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire country's drinking water and power supply.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who is leaving the national airline in November after a divisive 15-year reign at the top, has a surprising first trip planned after his last day.

He's not going to his home country Ireland, though he likes to go back there at least once a year, and nor is he heading to husband Shane Lloyd's native New Zealand.

Instead the couple is planning to take a cruise around Antarctica.

'The temptation is to fill up the diary,' Mr Joyce, who turns 57 later this month, said. Instead, he's taking a break with cash in his pocket after selling $17million worth of Qantas shares.

'I'm going to take six months off, decompress, not make any decisions, go for a cruise around the Antarctic believe it or not, go well away from any aircraft and then make my mind up about what I want to do after that.'

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured), who is leaving the national airline in November after a divisive 15-year reign at the top, has a surprising first trip planned after his last day

Mr Joyce didn't say if he had previously visited the Antarctic, but he may have been inspired by the thrill seeker flights the airline started offering to the frozen continent in 2020.

The scenic 12-hour flights from Australia to Antarctica and back were on board a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner and ran from November to April from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Those on board first saw the icy expanses of the Antarctic three-hours into the trip, as the aircraft dipped down for a closer look.

Over the following four hours they saw Antarctica's glaciers, ice floes and mountains, before the plane crossed the magnetic south pole and headed back to Australia.

But on a cruise, Mr Joyce will go one better than those flying over the snow and ice, he'll get to walk on it and see penguins, leopard seals and much more up close.

After 15 years in the highly pressurised job of being the Qantas head, he will probably want to treat himself to a luxury berth on the cruise.

Alan Joyce has reportedly just sold $17million worth of Qantas shares he had held since 2012. Qantas planes are pictured

The bad news about that is he'll need deep pockets - $15,000 per person is the usual price for such a trip.

The good news for Mr Joyce is that he has very deep pockets - his base pay is $2.17million, but after bonuses that rises to about $8.4million.

On Tuesday, it emerged that he sold $17million worth of Qantas shares.

The Australian Financial Review reported that he had held the shares since 2012, when he bought them for $1.50 each.

They were reportedly sold last week for $6.74 per share, netting him a profit of around $14.8million.

A luxury cruise berth in Antarctica (pictured) costs about $15,000 per person

Mr Joyce will get to see penguins (pictured), leopard seals and much more up close in Antarctica

He is also likely to make a substantial profit after selling the Sydney harbourside mansion he bought for $19million just 13 months ago.

The six-bedroom property in Mosman Bay, on Sydney's North Shore is now surplus to requirement as he and Mr Lloyd are reportedly buying a second half-floor penthouse on the same floor as their existing apartment in the city.

They are planning to renovate and expand the penthouses, which have stunning views of the Opera House and Sydney skyline, into one six-bedroom, all-ensuite, whole-floor apartments to better host family members visiting from overseas.

Mr Joyce came under fire for splurging $19million on the Mosman Bay mansion at a time when Qantas announced an almost $2billion loss, as the beleaguered airline battled cancelled flights, poor customer service and law suit from laid off workers.

He was stung by the criticism and launched into a passionate defence of his record at the helm of Australia's flag-carrier.

Outgoing CEO Alan Joyce is preparing to sell his $19 million Sydney harbourside mansion in Mosman Bay (pictured)

'Why is it relevant what I do in my private life? I'm not a public figure. People regard the CEO of Qantas as like a politician and it definitely shouldn't be. It's a business figure,' he told The Australian at the time.

'It's been well reported over the years how much I get paid, so I do have the money because Qantas went to record profits and had a record share price.'

The airline's fortunes have turned around, though, with it forecasting underlying pre-tax profit will reach up to $2.5billion for the year to June 30.

As well as leaving the pressure of the job behind, Mr Joyce will also no doubt enjoy being out of the public eye, for a while at least.
A Texas sheriff is recommending criminal charges be brought against those who orchestrated two flights of migrants sent to Martha's Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last September.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, an elected Democrat, said an on-the-ground operation allegedly lured migrants onto the flights with false promises of jobs and opportunities at the other end.

The sheriff's office has handed District Attorney Joe Gonzales its findings from a criminal investigation into the flights. It's now up to the prosecutor whether to file charges.

Salazar has said he was not investigating DeSantis, a 2024 GOP presidential hopeful, but only those who had direct contact with the immigrants in San Antonio.

Over the weekend, the same contractor, Vertol Systems, is believed to have transported more than a dozen migrants from Texas to California. The migrants were carrying documents suggesting travel had been arranged by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar (pictured) of Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, has been leading the investigation into how migrants were rounded up and sent to Martha's Vineyard

DeSantis sent two planes of 50 migrants to the affluent island last September

At the time, DeSantis defended his actions and claimed that the migrants knew exactly where they were going and had voluntarily signed up for the trip

Last fall, Salazar railed against the flights that took off from his city of San Antonio and saw 48 Venezuelans put on private planes to be flown to Massachusetts.

'I believe there is some criminal activity involved here,' Salazar said when he announced the investigation adding that he believed the migrants had been 'preyed upon' and 'hoodwinked.'

'The case filed includes both felony and misdemeanor charges of Unlawful Restraint,' according to the statement released on Monday. 'At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DA's office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public.'

Prosecutors in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, will now need to decide whether to follow the sheriff's recommendations for charges to be brought.

With the case now in the hands of prosecutors, there is a very real possibility that criminal probe could ensnare some of the aides of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The migrant relocation program was funded using Florida tax dollars and overseen by James Uthmeier, DeSantis' chief of staff, and public safety czar Larry Keefe.

The Venezuelan migrants who were flown to the wealthy Massachusetts island from San Antonio said they were told they were going to Boston, although Julio Henriquez, an attorney who later met with several migrants, said they 'had no idea of where they were going or where they were.'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who announced his 2024 presidential bid last month, has been heavily criticized for his hardline stance on immigration. He is pictured on Sunday in Iowa

Last fall, Sheriff Salazar railed against the flights that took off from his city of San Antonio and saw 48 Venezuelans put on private planes to be flown to Massachusetts

The group of migrants was flown to the island from Texas leaving them stranded. They were later transferred to a Cape Cod military base

He explained how a Latina woman approached migrants at a city-run shelter in San Antonio and put them up at a nearby La Quinta Inn, where she visited daily with food and gift cards.

She promised jobs and three months of housing in Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Boston, according to Henriquez.

It's not clear whether anyone boarded buses or planes unwillingly, or that their civil rights were violated.

The rights of asylum seekers arriving to the U.S. are also more limited because they are not citizens.

The constitution, though, does protect them from discrimination based on race or national origin and from improper treatment by the government.

More than a dozen Venezuelan and Colombian migrants who entered the US via Texas were transported by private plane to Sacramento, California, and left outside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, pictured

Monday's announcement comes as 16 Venezuelan and Colombian migrants who entered the U.S. via Texas were transported to Sacramento, California and left outside a church at the weekend.

Although DeSantis has not confirmed if the state of Florida was behind flights from Texas to California, the migrants were carrying documents suggesting travel had been arranged by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Vertol Systems.

Vertol Systems was the private contractor that also arranged the last year's original flights to Martha's Vineyard.

'We are investigating the circumstances by which these individuals were brought to California. We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants,' Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement issued by his office.

Rachel Self, an attorney who is representing the migrants who was sent to Martha's Vineyard is calling for DeSantis together with his aides to be prosecuted.

'The fact that no charges have yet been filed has clearly left the Florida authorities with the impression that they can keep acting this way with impunity,' Self said to The Miami Herald.

'The people who perpetrated this need to know: no matter who you are, you aren't above the law. A lesson needs to be taught.'
Prince Harry has started giving his evidence at the High Court today for his phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror - becoming the first royal to testify in open court since 1891.

Harry, wearing a navy suit and dark purple tie, entered the witness box and swore an oath to tell the truth on the Bible beneath his father the Sovereigns coat of arms.

The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK from California on Monday and looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Courts modern annexe - the Rolls Building - saying 'good morning' to the waiting press.

Yesterday he was criticised by one of Britain's top judges and accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case  to celebrate his daughter Lilibets birthday in Montecito before flying to Britain.

Harry and three others are suing the Mirror group claiming the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People newspaper hacked their phones or conducted other illegal activity, which is denied.

In 1891 Edward VII gave evidence when a slander action was brought by a card player accused of cheating at baccarat at a time when gambling was illegal. His appearance in the witness box left Queen Victoria unamused - but it is not known what Harry's father, King Charles III, thinks about his son's historic court appearance.

The Duke of Sussex will be in the High Court witness box for two days this week  twice as long as he spent when he came for the Coronation. It is not clear if he will see his father or brother this week - or meet his cousin Princess Eugenie's new son Ernest, who was born last Tuesday.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, walks into the High Court today where he will give evidence - the first royal for more than a century

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking

Harry smiled and said good morning to people waiting to see him in central London

Harry was not in court yesterday - missing it because he stayed in California for daughter Lilibet's 2nd birthday, which led to a telling off from the judge

He was met at the door of the court by his KC David Sherborne

Harry and Meghan attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York on May 16

He made a flying visit for the momentous day his father King Charles was crowned, spending around 28 hours in Britain before dashing back to California.

Prince Harry will stay in Britain twice as long as he did for the Coronation It comes just over a month after Harry attended the Coronation of his father the King on May 6 The Duke of Sussex will be in the High Court witness box for two days this week  twice as long as he spent when he came for the Coronation. He made a flying visit for the momentous day his father King Charles was crowned, spending around 28 hours in Britain before dashing back to California. But the duke seems to have more time to devote to his legal crusade against the Mirror newspapers publisher. He is expected to spend a full day in the witness box at the High Court today and at least half a day tomorrow. In fact, he could have begun giving his evidence yesterday, but he did not fly to the UK until Sunday evening so that he could help celebrate his two-year-old daughters birthday. Earlier this year, Harry spent another three days in the High Court watching a preliminary hearing in a separate court battle he is waging against the publisher of the Mail. At the Coronation on May 6, Harry flew in the day before. He sat in the third row at Westminster Abbey, two rows behind his brother William, before hurrying back to Heathrow as soon as the service was over. By the time King Charles and Queen Camilla were waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony, he was already at the airport, on his way back to his Montecito mansion for his son Archies fourth birthday. Advertisement

But the duke seems to have more time to devote to his legal crusade against the Mirror newspapers publisher.

He is expected to spend a full day in the witness box at the High Court today and at least half a day tomorrow.

In fact, he could have begun giving his evidence yesterday, but he did not fly to the UK until Sunday evening so that he could help celebrate his two-year-old daughters birthday.

An exasperated judge rebuked the dukes barrister when it became clear the royal witness was unavailable for the opening day of his own case suing the publisher of the Mirror newspaper.

David Sherborne explained that his client was in a different category because of his travel and security arrangements. Those arrangements involved Harry flying from California on Sunday night after celebrating Princess Lilibet of Sussexs second birthday, the court heard.

The Mirrors KC Andrew Green said it was absolutely extraordinary that Harry was not available for day one of his trial. Mr Justice Fancourt said he was a little surprised that Harry was not there, and admonished Mr Sherborne for causing timetable chaos.

Harry, 38, complains that a 2003 article in The People deepened a bitter rift with Prince William  revealing the brothers fell out two decades ago over Dianas former butler Paul Burrell. It described an allegedly private disagreement over how to handle Mr Burrell, who had been accused of talking to the media about her private affairs.

William was said to have claimed that meeting Mr Burrell was the only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets while Harry thought the former servant would simply use the opportunity to make money. Mr Sherborne said: Even at this very early formative stage the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown. He claimed Harry had been subjected to unlawful activities from when he was a young boy, past the death of his mother, through Sandhurst army training and into young adulthood.

He said: Nothing was sacrosanct and out of bounds  every facet of his life, even the revelations of the ups and downs of his first serious relationship with Chelsy Davy. But the publishers KC insisted: There is simply no evidence that the Duke of Sussex was ever hacked  still less that he was hacked on a habitual basis.

Mr Green said unlike other hacking cases which were supported by phonecall data, Harrys case had zilch, zero, nada similar evidence. He also said it was a striking fact that not even convicted phone hackers Graham Johnson and Dan Evans  former Mirror journalists who have given evidence in support of Harry  have said that the duke or those close to him were hacked.

Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures have brought claims against Mirror Group Newspapers over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles

The Prince, Coronation Street actors Michael Turner and Nikki Sanderson and Paul Whitehouse's ex-wife Fiona Wightman, make allegations that the publisher's journalists were linked to voicemail interception

David Sherborne, Harry's barrister, at London's High Court today

A court artist's sketch of Harry's barrister David Sherborne (left) at the High Court, where Harry and he were both criticised

A box of paperwork marked 'Duke of Sussex' is brought into the High Court in London

Mr Green added that the Metropolitan Police had thoroughly investigated the phone hacking scandal and had never suggested to Harry that he was a victim. Harry alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods.

Mr Sherborne claimed the dukes phone would have been hacked on multiple occasions along with those of his family, friends and royal aides. He said Harry  who is also suing The Suns publisher and that of the Daily Mail  was not pursuing a vendetta generally against the UK media but wanted to use his fame to focus attention.

Piers Morgans Daily Mirror was also hacking Princess Dianas voicemails from Harry when he was a schoolboy, it was claimed.

Mr Sherborne said the titles former editor had boasted he heard Diana had secretly comforted TV comic Michael Barrymore, who was in turmoil over addiction and coming out as gay, adding: How he heard was obvious  the Mirror was listening in to her messages and would have heard private messages from Prince Harry.

Mr Green said this was total speculation without any evidential basis whatsoever. The case is set to last seven weeks, hearing claims by Coronation Street actors Michael Turner and Nikki Sanderson and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.
A famous British chef has leaped to the defence of embattled TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson as she faces scrutiny for her role in the Brittany Higgins saga.

Nigella Lawson, who is friends with Wilkinson and her husband Peter FitzSimons, on Tuesday tweeted her support for the journalist, labelling the criticism of her 'appalling'.

'I'm appalled and disgusted. Lisa Wilkinson is the very best of people,' she wrote.

Her Twitter spray was in response to another tweet from Mike Carlton - also a good mate of Wilkinson and FitzSimons - taking aim at a front-page story in The Australian.

That article reported how Higgins was angry with Wilkinson for planning on doing a follow-up story for The Project using unaired footage from the pair's interview five days earlier.

During their initial interview, which aired on February 15, 2021, Higgins claimed to Wilkinson she'd been raped by an unnamed colleague in a minister's office at Parliament House in March 2019.

The co-worker was later identified as Bruce Lehrmann, who has always denied the claims. A criminal trial was aborted last October due to juror misconduct.

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson (right) has leaped to the defence of embattled TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson (left) as she faces scrutiny for her role in the Brittany Higgins saga

Lawson, who is friends with Wilkinson and her husband Peter FitzSimons, on Tuesday tweeted her support for the journalist, labelling the criticism of her 'appalling' and 'disgusting'

Higgins apparently did not want footage from the sit-down to be used in subsequent broadcasts and sent Wilkinson a letter saying she was 'disturbed' and 'disappointed'.

It comes as Wilkinson's role in publicising Higgins' explosive accusations in the lead-up to the federal election faces growing scrutiny.

In a leaked audio recording from two weeks before her Sunday Project interview with Higgins aired, the two discussed the possibility of 'friendly MPs' Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese bringing up the alleged sexual assault at Question Time in order to put pressure on the Coalition Government.

The day after the interview aired, the duo asked five questions between them of then-prime minister Scott Morrison.

Her Twitter spray was in response to another tweet from Mike Carlton (pictured), also a good mate of Wilkinson and FitzSimons, taking aim at a front-page story in The Australian that reported on a rift between Wilkinson and Higgins over the use of interview footage

Carlton called out The Australian's apparent 'obsession' with Wilkinson

It comes as Wilkinson's (right) role in publicising Higgins' (left) explosive rape accusations in the lead-up to the federal election faces growing scrutiny

Wilkinson on Tuesday denied approaching Labor politicians to raise questions about Higgins' allegations of sexual abuse in parliament.

Wilkinson's friendship with Nigella Lawson - a celebrity chef and food writer known for her signature 'saucy' style of TV presenting - is well-documented.

Lawson appeared as a guest on The Project several times during Wilkinson's tenure, and the two even filmed a cooking video at Wilkinson's home for the now-defunct HuffPost Australia.

The Nigella Bites host was a guest at Wilkinson and FitzSimons' star-studded election night party in May 2022 where they celebrated Mr Albanese's victory.
Holly Willoughby returned the This Morning sofa today alongside co-presenter Josie Gibson for her second day back following Phillip Schofield's dramatic exit.

The 42-year-old host made no reference to the scandal as the show opened - instead keeping to business as usual, discussing what the show would be covering today.

Earlier, Holly was seen with a script and highlighter in the back of a car as she arrived at Television Centre in White City, west London.

She is not expected to again address the shock departure of her former co-host and his subsequent revelation of an affair with a younger ITV male employee.

On her return to This Morning yesterday - after a two-week break in the wake of the scandal - Holly said she felt 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' about the events that led to Schofield's exit.

But she insisted that the programme was starting a 'new chapter' and needed to 'get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us'.

Data from Overnights TV released today showed yesterday's show had a peak audience of 1,633,410, and an average between 10am and 12.30pm of 834,840.

Insiders have said Holly feels 'incredibly angry and upset by [Phillip's] actions and is very much still trying to get her head around it' - and yesterday's statement is the 'only time Holly will ever speak about Phil and what has happened'.

Josie Gibson and Holly Willoughby on This Morning today

Holly Willoughby arrives at Television Centre in White City, west London, this morning

Temporary co-host Ms Gibson also presented alongside Holly yesterday, and Craig Doyle will join Holly tomorrow and Thursday.

Holly Willoughby's statement on This Morning yesterday 'Hi there. Good morning. Josie (Gibson), thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. 'And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have - shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions. 'You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process. 'And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. 'I hope that, as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other. 'And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. 'Myself, Josie (Gibson), Dermot (O'Leary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.' Advertisement

A source told The Sun last night: 'This is the only time Holly will ever speak about Phil and what has happened.

'She still feels incredibly angry and upset by his actions and is very much still trying to get her head around it.

'It took a lot for Holly to compose herself and speak about what has gone on in the last few weeks. But people expecting her to sit and pour her heart out will be waiting for a long time.'

During interviews last week, Phillip told The Sun and the BBC that Holly did not know about the 'unwise, but not illegal' affair, and has apologised for lying to her.

He spoke about the toll of the scandal on his mental health, telling The Sun it has had a 'catastrophic effect' on his mind and he is currently getting by 'hour by hour'.

A friend of Phillip's told The Sun he would not be watching Holly's return to This Morning, saying he 'physically could not watch - he's not there yet'.

This Morning editor Martin Frizell was criticised yesterday by an MP for his 'deeply inappropriate and disrespectful' answer to questions about allegations of a 'toxic' work environment at ITV.

Frizell was approached by Sky News at the weekend and asked if there is a 'toxic' work environment at This Morning. He replied: 'I'll tell you what's toxic and I've always found it toxic. Aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you? Do you like aubergine because I don't like aubergine. It's just a personal thing.'

John Nicolson MP, who sits on the Commons culture, media and sport committee, tweeted: 'This is a deeply inappropriate and disrespectful way to respond to questions about safeguarding vulnerable staff and bullying in the workplace at ITV.'

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes and former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh have both made allegations of a 'toxic' culture behind the scenes.

Holmes has alleged there was a 'total cover-up' over the Schofield affair, while Dr Ranj said he raised concerns about 'bullying and discrimination' two years ago when and afterwards felt like he was 'managed out' for whistleblowing.

Holly Willoughby was joined by Josie Gibson on her return to This Morning yesterday

Willoughby appears emotional alongside co-host Josie Gibson and they share a hug yesterday

Holly Willoughby and co-presenter Josie Gibson hold hands on This Morning yesterday

In a letter from ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall to Parliament last Wednesday, she said an external review conducted following a complaint made by Dr Ranj found 'no evidence of bullying or discrimination'.

Meanwhile, former This Morning head of news Emily Maddick, who worked on the show from September to December 2019, claimed she quit the programme due to 'bullying, sexism and a toxic culture of fear and intimidation'.

On Saturday, Frizell told a Sky News reporter to 'read between the lines' amid claims of toxicity, adding: 'I think there's some scores being settled.'

Dame Carolyn has been called to a parliamentary committee on June 14 to answer questions about the broadcaster's approach to safeguarding and complaint handling following Schofield's exit.

She has confirmed she has instructed barrister Jane Mulcahy KC of Blackstone Chambers to carry out an external review of the facts.

Magnus Brooke, ITV's director of strategy, policy and regulation, could face questioning from MPs over the This Morning row when he appears in front of the select committee on June 6 for a hearing due to focus on the draft Media Bill.

SNP MP Mr Nicolson has previously said that he is looking forward to 'getting some answers' from ITV bosses about the scandal.

Phillip Schofield told the BBC last week that Holly did not know about the affair
Western advisers warn Russia's defensive line may be 'more fragile than thought'

Ukrainian forces have advanced on the embattled Ukrainian city of Bakhmut

Ukrainian forces have advanced on Bakhmut, Kyiv's deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said, describing the embattled city as the 'epicentre of hostilities'.

Ms Maliar said Kyiv's troops had 'some success' on the battlefield surrounding Bakhmut and they are 'advancing on a wide front', but she dismissed suggestions of a major operation.

'The main focus now is on the Bakhmut sector,' she said. 'This has resulted in certain successes, including advances. We have taken control of certain heights.'

And an enigmatic Volodymyr Zelensky last night praised his troops for the advances near Bakhmut, saying 'the enemy knows that Ukraine will win'.

News of the Ukrainian advances came after the head of Russia's feared paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, slammed claims by the Russian defence ministry that it had killed 1,500 of Kyiv's soldiers in two days as 'absurd science fiction'.

Prigozhin, whose mercenary troops have spent months fighting in Bakhmut on behalf of the Kremlin, poured scorn on his country's establishment after it claimed to have thwarted a second major offensive in Donetsk.

It comes as fighting continues to rage in the eastern provinces of the war-torn country, with Kyiv's long-awaited 'all or nothing' counteroffensive believed to be getting underway.

Ukrainian soldiers ride on a tank on the frontline near Bakhmut, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region yesterday

Ukrainian soldiers fire at the Russian air target on the frontline near Bakhmut yesterday

News of the Ukrainian advances came after the head of Russia's feared paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, slammed claims by the Russian defence ministry that it had killed 1,500 of Kyiv's soldiers in two days as 'absurd science fiction'

Ukrainian forces have advanced in Novodonetske by up to five or six kilometres, local reports suggest, as officials claim 'fierce battles are going on' for control of the settlement.

Ms Maliar said that 'despite stiff resistance and the enemy's attempts to hold the their positions, our military units advanced in several directions during the fighting'.

She said in the villages of Orikhovo-Vasulivka and Paraskoviivka, Ukrainian troops gained from 200 to 1,600 metres, while in Ivanivske and Klishchiivka they advanced between 100 and 700 metres. The four villages are located within several kilometres of Bakhmut.

Western sources have claimed that despite having to face hundreds of miles of entrenched Russian troops, the defences manned by Vladimir Putin's soldiers could be 'more fragile than thought'.

Away from the frontlines, Russia launched a fresh wave of overnight air strikes on Kyiv. Ukraine said its air defence systems downed more than 20 cruise missiles on their approach to the city.

'All were shot down, there were no hits,' Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Residents said they heard several blasts that sounded like air defence systems while the city was under air raid alerts for more than four hours, starting soon after midnight last month.

Falling debris hit road surfaces and damaged power lines to the trolley system in Kyiv's Desnianskyi district, the military said. The district, on the left bank of the Dnipro River is Kyiv's most populous.

According to preliminary information, there were no casualties, the officials said.

Meanwhile, early yesterday, the Russian defence ministry claimed to have repelled a major offensive in south Donetsk, and made a similar claim again last night as it alleged to have thwarted a second attack.

It claimed to have killed 1,500 troops and destroyed among other military equipment, eight main battle Leopard tanks supplied to Ukraine by its Western allies and 109 armoured vehicles.

An explosion of a missile is seen in the city during a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine,in the early hours of this morning

Smoke rises in the sky over Kyiv after a Russian missile strike in the early hours of this morning

'Having suffered heavy losses the day before, the Kiev regime reorganized the remnants of the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades into separate consolidated units, which continued offensive operations,' the ministry said on Telegram.

'A complex fire defeat was inflicted by army forces, assault and operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery, as well as heavy flamethrower systems.'

But this was quickly, and very publicly, doubted by Prigozhin, who has repeatedly lambasted senior officials in the Kremlin, the Russian Army and Vladimir Putin himself for perceived missteps in the war effort.

Ukraine to confront Russia at top UN court over backing of pro-Moscow rebels Ukraine will go head-to-head with Russia at the UN's top court on Tuesday to accuse its bitter foe of backing pro-Moscow rebels for years before last year's full-scale invasion. Kyiv and Moscow will give their arguments to judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, in a case that was originally started by Ukraine back in 2017. Ukraine has since filed a separate case related to Russia's February 2022 invasion, accusing Moscow of planning genocide. The ICJ in that case ordered Russia to suspend the invasion. Lawyers for Ukraine will speak on Tuesday from 10am local time (0800 GMT), while Russia's will address the court on Thursday, the ICJ said in a statement. Ukraine will then reply on June 12 and Russia on June 14. The ICJ was created after World War II to deal with disputes between UN member states. Its decisions are binding although it has no means to enforce them. Ukraine alleges that Russia breached UN conventions on financing terrorism and on racial discrimination, and is seeking damages for attacks by pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine since 2014. About 13,000 people died in the eight years of violence before the 2022 invasion. Ukraine says Russia funnelled arms and cash to fighters behind a separatist insurgency that broke out after the pro-Russian government in Kyiv was toppled by pro-EU protests in early 2014. Russia has denied all links to the rebels. Since the invasion, it now holds much of the territory where the violence took place and where the separatists were in charge. The dead in eastern Ukraine include 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down with a Russian-made BUK missile over rebel territory in July 2014. A Dutch court ruled last year that Moscow had directly controlled the rebels, as it sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life sentences in absentia over MH17. International investigators said separately in February this year that there were 'strong indications' that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that downed the plane. ICJ judges ruled that the case could go ahead in 2019, after dismissing Russia's attempts to have it thrown out. Russia faces a series of legal actions in The Hague over the conflict in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC), an independent war crimes tribunal which like the ICJ is also based in the Dutch city, issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March. Putin is accused by the ICC of the war crime of unlawfully deporting children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Advertisement

In remarks published on the Telegram channel of his press service, the 61-year-old said to kill that many Ukrainian troops would require daily gains of 150km (93 miles).

'I therefore believe that this is simply wild and absurd science fiction,' said Prigozhin.

Totting up the figures provided by the ministry would imply 'we have already destroyed the entire planet five times over,' he added sarcastically.

Ukrainian officials have made no mention of any broad, significant new campaign, although in his nightly address last night, Mr Zelensky was enigmatic, hailing 'the news we have been waiting for' and forward moves in Bakhmut in Donetsk.

He said: 'I am grateful to each of our soldiers, to all our defenders, men and women, who have given us today the news have been waiting for. Well done, soldiers in the Bakhmut sector!

'We see how hysterically Russia reacts to any step we take there, all positions we take. The enemy knows that Ukraine will win.'

He did not provide further detail. The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said earlier that his forces continued 'moving forward' near Bakhmut. Russian fighters and officials said the situation there was 'very difficult' for Moscow.

Russia claimed late last month to have captured Bakhmut following what had become the war's longest and bloodiest battle, but Ukraine has insisted its forces retained a small foothold and denied that Moscow was in full control of the city.

Zelensky said Russia was reacting 'hysterically' to any action undertaken by Ukrainian forces and singled out two units who 'skillfully, decisively and effectively defend our positions, destroy the occupiers and, most importantly, move forward'.

The frontline assault comes after weeks of intensive behind-the-scenes preparations, including vital training by UK troops, and some 16 months after Putin's illegal invasion.

American and European military officials advising Kyiv have claimed that Kremlin defensive lines may be fragile, an insider told The Economist yesterday.

Semyon Pegov, a prominent Kremlin-affiliated 'milblogger', confirmed that Ukraine had 'some success' in an attack in Novoselivka-Ugledar and claimed updates from the Russian-controlled region were 'more and more alarming every hour'.

Pegov, commonly known under his alias Wargonzo, said the war is 'heating up' and that Monday's attack was 'much more serious than yesterday'.

Ukrainian forces punched through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second day as fighting raged at several flashpoints along the 600-mile frontline.

Ukrainian soldiers were seen scrambling out of trenches yesterday as attacks were carried out in Novodarovka, Rivnopol and Velyka Novosilka.

Kyiv said its forces were increasing offensive operations and making gains, as Russian officials said that Moscow's forces have foiled at least one assault.

But Ukrainian officials have suggested some of the Russian announcements were misinformation as speculation grows about a widely anticipated counteroffensive.

Ed Arnold, of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said: 'We are seeing a lot more Ukrainian military activity and reconnaissance on a larger scale. They need to understand the disposition of Russian forces and to unmask the Russian guns, which have a range of 12-18 miles and have been placed with overlapping arcs to cover as much of the frontline as possible.

'Storm Shadows could be used for high value targets, such as ammunition stores for these Russian guns.'

Details of the crucial advance remained shrouded in secrecy. A news blackout, imposed by Ukraine and supported by its allies such as the UK, meant details were scarce.

Reports of the counteroffensive came from Russian military bloggers and the head of the Wagner paramilitary group.

Russia's defences could be 'more fragile than thought', western officials have warned amid growing signs that Ukraine's counteroffensive has begun

Ukrainian soldiers smile as they ride in a pickup truck on the frontline near Bakhmut, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region yesterday

A crater left by a Russian missile strike in the early hours of this morning

Smoke rises after shelling near the Ukraine-Russia border in the town of Vovchansk, in Ukraine's Kharkiv region yesterday

Vladimir Rogov, an official in the Russian-backed administration of Ukraine's partly occupied Zaporizhzhia province, said fighting resumed on its border with the eastern Donetsk province yesterday after Russian defences beat back a Ukrainian advance the previous day.

'The enemy threw an even bigger force into the attack than yesterday (Sunday),' and the new attempt to break through the front line was 'more large-scale and organised,' Rogov said, adding: 'A battle is underway.'

Rogov interpreted the Ukrainian military movements as part of an effort to reach the Sea of Azov coast and sever the land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Analysts have long viewed that strategy as likely because it would cut the Russian forces in two and severely strain supplies to Crimea, which has served as a key Russian military hub in the war.

Rogov's comments came after Moscow also said that its forces thwarted large Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk province, near its border with the Zaporizhzhia province.

Servicemen of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade run through the clouds of smoke during the 30th Chestnut Run are pictured in Zaporizhzhia region last month

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region last month

Wagner chief Prigozhin has lambasted Russia's military leaders after Ukrainian armed forces managed to retake settlements on the outskirts of Bakhmut.

He said it was a 'disgrace' that Kyiv's troops were able to push back Russian lines and seize Berkhivka, a town in the northern suburbs of the embattled city.

READ MORE HERE: Russia claims to have thwarted 'major' attack in Donetsk A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk Advertisement

Prigozhin's Wagner group just last month managed to wrest Bakhmut out of Ukrainian hands after months of brutal fighting reminiscent of World War I trench warfare, with tens of thousands killed on both sides.

The mercenary figurehead hit out at Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov, taunting them and urging them to go to the frontlines and see the failures for themselves as the armed factions spiral towards civil war.

'Now part of the settlement of [Berkhivka] has already been lost, the troops are slowly falling back. What a disgrace!

'Shoigu, Gerasimov, I urge you to come to the front, raise your pistols at your men to make them go forward. Come on, you can!

'And if you can't, then you will die as heroes.'

Prigozhin's latest tirade comes as his mercenaries captured a lieutenant colonel from Vladimir Putin's regular forces in the latest example of bitter infighting in Russian ranks.

The captured colonel was seen hanging his head in a humiliating video posted by the Wagner group in which he confessed his 'guilt' and admitted to being drunk on duty after allegedly shooting at a Wagner vehicle.

This follows claims by the mercenaries that the regular Russian army targeted their ranks with mines, as a clip showed their sappers clearing the explosive devices from a road.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin's military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines

Wagner private army mercenaries film themselves de-mining a road which they claim was mined by regular Russian troops as the mercenaries made their way back from the front

An aerial view shows destructions in the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region last month

Wagner mercenaries have been fighting for Putin in Ukraine and are credited with seizing the embattled city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian armed forces after months of bloody warfare.

But their success has seemingly angered regular Russian army commanders.

Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin's military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines.

The captured soldier identified himself as Roman Venevitin, commander of Russia's 72nd Brigade.

Venevitin, who appeared to have a broken or wounded nose, confessed that he 'opened fire on a Wagner PMC [private military company] vehicle while intoxicated from alcohol'.

He did so due to 'personal animosity', he claimed.

The shooting damaged a Ural supply truck but did not wound any Wagner soldiers, according to the private army.

Venevitin also confessed to leading a group of ten to 12 Russian army soldiers who 'disarmed' a Wagner rapid response group.

'Does personal animosity have any place at all in war?' an angry Wagner commander asked Venevitin.

'No,' the captured colonel replied sheepishly.

Wagner has a reputation for battering its own 'traitors' to death with a sledgehammer - but there is no suggestion the Russian colonel will face the same treatment.

A summary execution of a high-ranking Russian commander by Wagner forces would cause unprecedented chaos in Moscow's ranks.

Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin (right) speaks with servicemen during the withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and the handover to regular Russian forces

A Ukrainian soldier fires a mortar at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut on May 28

American and European military officials advising Kyiv have claimed that Kremlin defensive lines may be fragile, sources allege. Pictured: Servicemen of the assault brigade 'Spartan' of National Guard of Ukraine, take part in military exercises in Kharkiv region on Thursday

The Wagner group is fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Vladimir Putin, but the relationship between them and Putin's regular troops is one of mutual hatred

The capture of Venevitin came hours after Wagner mercenaries were forced to clear a road of mines which they claim had been laid by the regular army corps.

READ MORE HERE: One Russian was killed for every 48cm of land captured by Vladimir Putin's forces in the siege of Bakhmut Advertisement

Prigozhin said hundreds of mines had been laid by the regular army to snare Wagner forces when they pulled out of Bakhmut after securing a rare victory for Putin in the war.

'We discovered about a dozen places where various explosive devices were placed, ranging from hundreds of anti-tank mines to tons of [charges] from Zmey Gorynych self-propelled missiles,' Prigozhin said.

'Those who planted these charges were representatives of the ministry of defence... These [explosive] charges did not need to be stacked in order to hold back the enemy since it is in the rear area.

'It can be assumed that they wanted to meet the advancing units of the Wagner PMC [Private Military Company] with these charges, even though we do not walk in columns.'

It highlights the rift inside the Kremlin forces fighting Ukraine, and some analysts see civil war as a possibility in Russia if Putin loses the war.

Despite huge losses, and a ban on recruiting prisoners from Russia's penal colonies, Prigozhin is still thought to have up to 60,000 men at his disposal.

Wagner is one of several private armies in Russia. Chechen warlord leader Ramzan Kadyrov controls a heavily armed group of his own, and Russian energy giant Gazprom has set up its own private military company.
A businesswoman who attacked two policemen as they arrested her near her 1million home has been fined more than 1,000.

Carol Holcroft, 60, pushed one officer and kicked another while she was being handcuffed outside an address three miles from her house in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire.

Holcroft, a director of a company that manufactures parts for forklift trucks, had called police over a separate matter to the address in Bollington, near Macclesfield, but was herself arrested.

At Crewe Magistrates' Court, Holcroft pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating of an emergency worker and was ordered to pay her victims 200 compensation. She was also fined 692 and handed costs and a victim surcharge of 397.

Laura Davig, prosecuting, said: 'Police were in attendance regarding an unrelated matter that is not before the court today. The defendant was arrested for those matters. When the defendant was cautioned she became non-compliant with the officers.

Carol Holcroft, 60, pushed one officer and kicked another when she was arrested outside an address three miles from her 1million home in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire

At Crewe Magistrates' Court, Holcroft pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating of an emergency worker and was ordered to pay her victims 200 compensation. She was also fined 692 and handed costs and a victim surcharge of 397

'She reacted by pushing a PC Hilditch, who had been using handcuffs. When PC Mason came to his colleague's assistance, the defendant kicked the officer to the left knee. The defendant has one conviction for two offences. Her last conviction was in 2016 for drink driving.

'The Crown asks for compensation for PC Hilditch and PC Mason.'

In a statement, Holcroft said: 'I was very upset with the pain the handcuffs were causing me and I accept I pushed my hands towards the officer, double cuffed in front of me, which caught him in the chest.

'I accept this was a reckless assault. PC Mason was standing very close to me and I accept that I was agitated and upset and I was moving my legs around. I accept that I may well have caught PC Mason but not with any intent or force.'

Holcroft's only other offence dates back to 2016, when she was caught drink-driving twice in three months while behind the wheel of her Mercedes C220.

In mitigation, Holcroft's lawyer Lesley Herman said: 'There's no injury to either of the officers and PC Mason accepts there was no force.

In a statement, Holcroft said: 'I was very upset with the pain the handcuffs were causing me and I accept I pushed my hands towards the officer'

'It was her who called the police. She was arrested for a separate matter. For that there was no further action on the day she was interviewed.

'She was in her mind wrongly arrested. She accepts that the officers have got a job to do. They got information that came from her initially.

'It's hard for people new to the system, it is hard for them to understand. She felt there was no reason for her to be arrested and did not think there was a need to be handcuffed.

'She tried to get the officer to loosen them. You can see from the photos they were clearly very tight and causing her discomfort and pain.

'She finds herself in this position and it's a shame.

'It's minor by any account of this offence. She is 60 years old. It's very sad that we got to this.'
Rishi Sunak is ready to ram his Channel boats plan through the House of Lords despite resistance from peers.

The PM has suggested he will use the Parliament Act to force the Illegal Migration Bill through, saying it was 'very strongly' backed by MPs and 'incredibly important'.

The comments - in an interview with the Telegraph - raise the prospect that the objections of the Upper House, including religious leaders such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, will be overruled.

The Parliament Act is a rarely-used mechanism that limits the blocking powers of peers. It was last deployed by Tony Blair to get the Hunting Act on the statute book.

Mr Sunak hinted at the drastic move as he insisted his plan to 'stop the boats' is starting to work. On a visit to Kent, he argued that numbers crossing the Channel were down 20 per cent this year.

The stakes for the premier were underlined by a poll indicated that Labour is 14 points ahead - and immigration could sway the votes of huge numbers of Conservative supporters.

Rishi Sunak is ready to ram his Channel boats plan through the House of Lords despite resistance from peers

A Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll published last night put Labour on 44 per cent, with the Tories on just 30 per cent

Worryingly for Mr Sunak 30 per cent said immigration would be one of the key issues deciding who they would support at an election, and the figure rose to 50 per cent among likely Conservative backers

The Illegal Migration Bill would dramatically limit the rights of Channel arrivals to claim asylum or that they are a victim of modern slavery.

Critics say it breaks international law, but ministers are adamant that it is a crucial deterrent to stop people making the potentially deadly journey from the continent.

Asked whether he would be willing to use the Parliament Act, Mr Sunak said: 'One of my five priorities is to stop the boats. This legislation is an incredibly important part of how we're going to do that.

'It passed the House of Commons very strongly. And my intention is to see this piece of legislation on the statute books so that we can start using it.'

Pressed again, Mr Sunak said: 'I want to see this legislation on the statute books. It's one of my five priorities. It is the country's priority and this legislation is an incredibly important part of how we're going to do that.'

Speaking at the port of Dover yesterday, Mr Sunak announced two new 'super-barges' to accommodate asylum seekers in an effort to slash the 6million-a-day cost of migrant hotels.

He stressed there remained a 'long way to go', but he insisted the numbers showed the Government was 'making progress on gripping' the small-boats 'phenomenon'  one of his five key pledges as Prime Minister.

Just over 7,600 have crossed the Channel illegally so far this year, down from just under 10,000 in the same period last year.

The PM said: 'That's the main message for people to take away from today  our plan is working. We're not complacent. There's more work to do, but people should have confidence that when I said I was going to stop the boats, I meant it. And that's what we're delivering.'

He defended measures to house asylum seekers on barges, with the first one set to be moored off Portland in Dorset within a fortnight.

Up to 1,000 people will be placed on two further temporary vessels, but Mr Sunak declined to say where they will be berthed.

Yesterday's Home Office data showed the backlog of 'legacy' asylum claims has fallen by 17,000 cases since December to 74,410.

But the overall asylum backlog  including claims lodged since June last year  is still at a near record high of 137,583, down 1,200 from its peak in February.

In a crucial landmark, the French authorities are intercepting more than 50 per cent of small boats in the Channel for the first time, compared with 42 per cent last year.

However, new data showed the number of Turkish migrants reaching Britain by small boat has tripled in the wake of February's devastating earthquake, and arrivals are expected to increase.

A Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll published last night put Labour on 44 per cent, with the Tories on just 30 per cent.

Worryingly for Mr Sunak 30 per cent said immigration would be one of the key issues deciding who they would support at an election, and the figure rose to 50 per cent among likely Conservative backers.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman told MPs yesterday that the Government was 'on track' to meet its commitment to 'abolishing' the legacy backlog by the end of the year.

She added: 'So far, more small-boat migrants have been intercepted by France than have reached the UK's shores.

'French interceptions this year are more than double what they were two years ago.'

Mr Sunak spent part of yesterday morning a mile out to sea aboard a UK Border Agency cutter, seeing at first-hand the conditions some migrants face when crossing the Channel.

A group of Channel boat arrivals being brought ashore in Dover last month

Duncan Capps, senior director of the small-boats operational command set up by the Prime Minister to gather intelligence on the traffickers and intercept vessels, said the sea was 'lumpy', with swells of up to 5ft, but Mr Sunak suffered no side-effects.

He said: 'He was really appreciative of the people that manage this operation, appreciating how difficult it has been. I think he knows there is no substitute for getting out there and seeing it for himself.'

The Prime Minister said his conversations on board with staff 'really brings home how awful and tragic this situation is', particularly for children travelling on the inflatable boats, which are often packed with up to 60 people.

Mr Sunak said: 'Just the other week, [they were] picking up toddlers who were suffering from hypothermia in a makeshift dinghy that was not remotely seaworthy.

'That's why the moral thing to do, the compassionate thing to do, is to stop these criminal gangs from being able to exploit people like that.'
Oxfam today face boycott calls over a Pride month cartoon which saw it accused of basing an anti-trans 'villain' on JK Rowling.

The video, which was shared online with charity's millions of supporters, featured three figures, two men and a woman, with evil-looking eyes.

But the woman appeared to look like the Harry Potter author.

Ms Rowling is understood to have seen the cartoon and liked a tweet criticising the depiction of the cartoon character. She declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Oxfam insisted this afternoon it was not supposed to be based on anyone and said it would re-release a cut version of the cartoon. The version it later published had completely removed the scene.

The cartoon character in the original appeared to resemble Ms Rowling's usual haircut and style, as well as a green dress she has been pictured wearing. A memorial poppy she wore in the real image - taken at a 2018 film premiere - is replaced with a badge, bearing the word 'Terf'.

The acronym stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, a view the author has denied having.

It came on the same day the charity was accused of hounding out a volunteer for defending the writer. A former worker - calling herself Maria - said she was accused of transphobia before settling with the charity, which apologised for its handling of the process.

This picture of JK Rowling at the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald premiere in Paris in 2018 appears to be very similar to the cartoon woman depicted

The video is less than a minute long and was made for Oxfam by Bangalore-based Falana Films

Philosopher Kathleen Stock criticised the advert on Twitter today, saying: 'This has shocked me - a still from an Oxfam video, made in support of Pride month.'

Maya Forstater, a business studies and international development researcher, accused the charity of 'demonising safeguarding, demonising older women, promoting double-mastectomies to children, bulk harassment of gender -critical staff'.

She said the video was 'shocking' and was appalled that 'no on in the chain of command' had 'internally raised concerns' about the video.

Other Twitter users called for a boycott of Oxfam, alleging they would no longer be making donations to the establishment. Many also urged others to make formal complaints against the firm.

Today supporters of Ms Rowling said she should consider legal action against the charity over the video.

An hour after being by MailOnline about the similarities between the cartoon and the writer, Oxfam took the video down.

It then said: 'Oxfam believes that all people should be able to make decisions which affect their lives, enjoy their rights and live a life free of discrimination and violence, including people from LGBTQIA+ communities.

'In efforts to make an important point about the real harm caused by transphobia, we made a mistake. We have therefore edited the video to remove the term TERF and we are sorry for the offence it caused. There was no intention by Oxfam or the film-makers for this slide to have portrayed any particular person or people.'

Philosopher Kathleen Stock criticised the advert on Twitter today

Maya Forstater, a business studies and international development researcher, accused the charity of 'demonising safeguarding, demonising older women, promoting double-mastectomies to children, bulk harassment of gender -critical staff

The video, which was made by Bangalore-based Falana Films, is less than a minute long.

It tells the story of LGBTQIA+ people around the world and how they are deprived of basic safety.

The film says they are 'preyed on by hate groups online and offline' and shows depictions of social media sites.

Three individuals are then shown - the two men and a woman - pointing at the LGBTQIA+ people.

Falana Films did not respond when asked why the figure had been portrayed like that and it not address whether it had been specifically commissioned to appear that way.

The depiction was not unnoticed by Ms Rowling's supporters online.

One wrote: 'I hope JK Rowling sues Oxfam.'

JK Rowling, 57, is attacked online by pro-trans campaigners regularly over her views

JK Rowling has previously described former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon as a 'destroyer of women's rights'

Another said it was an 'utterly disgusting piece of propaganda... using the word TERF on what is obviously meant to be JK Rowling'.

It came as a volunteer at an Oxfam bookshop - known as Maria - received an apology from the charity after allegedly being 'hounded' out for defending the writer.

It prompted an investigation which saw Maria have a nervous breakdown and leave the job and the country.

She said members of an LGBTQ+ group encouraged colleagues to complain about the discussion, accusing her of transphobia.

Maria claimed constructive dismissal and belief discrimination. In July last year, both parties agreed to settle, with Oxfam issuing a public apology for its handling of the process.

JK Rowling has repeatedly been branded transphobic over her views surrounding the rights of trans people.

She came under fire in early June 2020 over tweets she posted.

Referring to an article that referenced 'people who menstruate', the author tweeted: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

The stance prompted some Harry Potter stars such as Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe to speak out against her views.

The author has been campaigning for women's rights and female-only spaces amid fears predatory men could poses as trans women to use them.

Ms Watson made her remarks after Ms Rowling wrote an essay to address the controversy, revealing she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and still felt the scars of 'domestic violence' in her first marriage.

Ms Watson said at the time: 'Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren't who they say they are.

'I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.'

Other Twitter users called for a boycott of Oxfam, alleging they would no longer be making donations to the establishment

She added that she was proud to donate to charities such as Mermaids and Mama Cash and encouraged her fans to do the same.

In Radcliffe's statement, he wrote: 'To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.

'Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.

'While Jo is unquestionably responsible for the course my life has taken, as someone who has been honored to work with and continues to contribute to The Trevor Project for the last decade, and just as a human being, I feel compelled to say something at this moment.'
Calls are growing for the arrest of a woman accused of shooting dead her mother-of-four neighbor after she complained about the victim's children playing outside.

The children of Ajike 'AJ' Owens were playing in a field near an apartment complex in Ocala, Florida, on Friday when her neighbor 'began yelling at them to get off her land and calling them racial slurs', renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump said.

The children then accidentally left an iPad behind after leaving the field, Crump explained, before going back to fetch it.

But the neighbor, a 58-year-old white woman, who was not named, had taken the iPad and threw it at one of Ms Owens' children, hitting the boy and cracking the screen, the attorney said.

The mother-of-four then marched across the street to speak with the neighbor after hearing of the incident.

The neighbor fired through the door, shooting Ms Owens. She later died at hospital from her injuries.

Police have so far made no arrests following Ms Owen's death. Although Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods has confirmed police know the identity of the shooter, he said authorities are working to determine what role the state's 'stand your ground' law might play in the incident.

Under Florida's 'stand your ground' law, people are essentially permitted to use deadly force if they feel their lives are in danger.

The family's attorney Ben Crump tweeted a picture of Ms Owen's (pictured) on Monday. 'This is Ajike 'AJ' Owens - a mother of four fatally shot after she reportedly knocked on the door of a white woman's residence to retrieve her child's iPad.'

Although police have confirmed they know the identity of the shooter, authorities are working to determine what role the state's 'stand your ground' law might play in the incident, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a press conference on Monday

'Any time that we think or perceive or believe that [the "stand your ground" law] might come into play, we cannot make an arrest. The law specifically says that,' Woods said at a press conference on Monday.

'And what we have to rule out is whether this deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest.

Woods said detectives were working with the State Attorney's Office and must investigate possible self-defense claims before they can move forward with any possible criminal charges.

'This is not a whodunnit. We know who did the shooting,' Woods said. Marion County Sheriff's office have not yet publicly identified the shooter.

Speaking at the press conference, Sheriff Woods also did not confirm or deny Crump's account of the event. He said he was not 'going to stand here and tell you what they're putting out there is inaccurate. It's just I don't know yet.'

Woods said they haven't interviewed Owens' children, who witnessed the shooting, because investigators want child experts to work with the children. So most of the information the deputies have is coming from the shooter, Woods said.

Woods acknowledged that Owen's children were engaged in a dispute with the neighbor prior to the shooting regarding them being on her lawn. He said officers have responded half-a-dozen times to complaints about the ongoing feud since January 2021.

Woods said the neighbor threw an object at one of the children and inadvertently hit them. He said it was a pair of skates while Crump said it was an iPad.

'Was something thrown at them?' Woods explained. 'Yes, but not directly at them of what we're being told now. It just unfortunately may have hit them.'

He added: 'The children are a big part of answering a lot of our questions.'

The children of Ajike 'AJ' Owens hold back the tears during a press conference held at the New St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Ocala, Florida, Monday

Lawrence Collins (left) brother to Ajike 'AJ' Owens, holds hands with Charise Thomas (right), a friend, during a press conference held at the New St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Ocala, Florida, Monday

Woods said police understood a heated exchange that took place between Ms Owens and the neighbor, describing it as an 'aggressiveness back and forth from both of them'. However, he said police were only able to get one side of the story so far.

'Whether it be banging on the doors, banging on the walls and threats being made. And then at that moment is when Ms Owens was shot through the door.'

Woods concluded: 'I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands.'

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Owens' family, said in a statement that the shooter had been yelling racial slurs at the children before the confrontation with their mother. Owens and her children are Black. The sheriff's office hasn't confirmed there were slurs uttered or said whether race was a factor in the shooting.

Crump tweeted a picture of Ms Owens on Monday. 'This is Ajike 'AJ' Owens - a mother of four fatally shot after she reportedly knocked on the door of a white woman's residence to retrieve her child's iPad.

'It's believed that Owens' children accidentally left the device behind in a field they were playing in, and the woman took it.'

He told reporters that the fact there had been no arrest yet was 'appalling'.

'It is asinine when they try to justify this unjustifiable killing of this mother of four who was killed in front of her children. It is heartbreaking on every level,' he told CNN.

Woods was joined at his news conference by community leaders and a local attorney retained by the family, Anthony Thomas. Their singular message was a call for patience while the sheriff's office conducted its investigation.

Ben Crump told reporters that the fact there had been no arrest yet was 'appalling'. He is pictured arriving at federal court in New York, May 2

'It is asinine when they try to justify this unjustifiable killing of this mother of four,' Crump told CNN on Monday

During a vigil with the family later Monday, Thomas said the sheriff had promised him the most professional service that he and his deputies could provide, and Thomas plans to hold the agency to that.

During the same gathering, Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, said that she was seeking justice for her daughter and her grandchildren.

'My daughter, my grandchildren's mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her,' Dias said. 'She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone.'

This is just the latest incident involving Florida's controversial 'stand your ground' law.

In April, one of two men who shot each other's daughters in a road rage incident has seen his charges dropped after prosecutors decided he acted in self-defense under the legislation.

Frank Allison, 44, opened fire on William Hale, 36, after the two began swerving and brake-checking each other on a Florida highway last year. He shot at Hale's car after the 36-year-old flung a water bottle into his car during the fight.

But authorities decided that his first shot was justifiable under Florida's 'stand your ground' self-defense law, determining that Hale was at fault for the ensuing chaos.
A gang of Russian-speaking cyber criminals is accused of being behind a massive hack that saw the personal details of tens of thousands of BBC, British Airways and Boots staff exposed in a major security scare.

Staff at the British broadcaster are said to be 'jumpy' about the data breach linked to its Bristol-based payroll provider Zellis, which could mean that the Corporation's major stars including Gary Lineker, Naga Munchetty and Amol Rajan have had their contact and bank details revealed.

Security experts claimed that the attack is thought to have been caused by Russian-speaking cybercrime gang, Clop ransomware group, which the Mail on Sunday previously revealed was responsible for stealing confidential information held by some of Britain's police forces.

Rafe Pilling, of the US cybersecurity firm Secureworks, said last night: 'Victims will be contacted and asked for money. If they refuse, they will probably be listed and published on the Clop site.'

Hackers from the Russian-speaking gang are said to be behind the attack that has affected thousands of staff from the BBC, Boots and British Airways

BBC stars, such as Gary Lineker, could be amongst the 21,000 employees affected by the attack

Last night, bosses at BA wrote to their 34,000 members of staff warning them of the breach

It is thought that the Russian hackers were able to exploit a flaw in a software app called MOVEit Transfer, used by companies worldwide to transfer files - as businesses scramble to find out how much data has been stolen in the breach which could have affected 100,000 people.

Bosses at BA wrote to their 34,000-strong workforce yesterday warning them of the breach.

Criminals exploited software vulnerabilities at Zellis to gain access to the details of eight of its clients.

Home addresses, bank details and national insurance numbers have all been stolen.

The BBC employs more than 21,000 people. One insider told The Times: 'Anyone who has had any interaction with payroll has potentially been caught up in this.

'It will have affected a lot of people.'

In an email to staff, seen by the newspaper, the BBC's chief financial officer Alan Dickson said: 'Please be vigilant for any activity that seems unusual. These types of incidents can expose individuals to a higher risk of being victim to scams, identity fraud and unsolicited contact.'

The BBC told MailOnline: 'We are aware of a data breach at our third-party supplier, Zellis, and are working closely with them as they urgently investigate.

'We take data security extremely seriously and are following the established reporting procedures.'

It is understood that the data breach did not include the bank account details of BBC staff.

Boots, which has 50,000 staff members, said a 'global data vulnerability' was responsible for the breach

An insider at the BBC said staff were 'jumpy' about the situation. It could affect the corporation's biggest stars, such as Naga Munchetty

A spokesman for Boots, which has 50,000 members of staff, said: 'A global data vulnerability, which affected third-party software used by one of our payroll providers, included some of our team members' personal details.

'Our provider assured us that immediate steps were taken to disable the server, and as a priority we have made our team members aware.'

Zellis said: 'We can confirm that a small number of our customers have been impacted by this global issue and we are actively working to support them.

'There are no associated incidents or compromises to any other part of our IT estate.'

The Information Commissioner's Office and the pensions ombudsman are assessing the situation.

The Data Protection Commission and National Cyber Security Centre have also been informed.

Some of the BBC's biggest names, such as Amol Rajan, may have been affected by the breach

The cyber attack targeted Zellis, a payroll provider used by hundreds of companies in Britain

There has been a sharp rise in the number of incidents linked to Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February last year.

Emma Whitmore of Edgio, a security software group, said the latest attack showed that no organisation was safe from the hackers.

It comes after outsourcing firm and government contractor Capita was recently affected by a cyber-attack that saw some customer, supplier and staff data accessed by hackers.

Capita said it faces a bill of up to 20million to deal with the incident, including for recovery and remediation costs and to invest in reinforcing its cyber security defences.

British Airways suffered a data hack in 2018, when the attacker is believed to have potentially accessed the personal data of approximately 429,612 customers and staff.

It included the names, addresses, payment card numbers and the three digits on the back of cards of 77,000 customers, and card numbers only for 108,000 customers.

The airline was fined 20 million by the ICO after investigators found it should have identified the security weaknesses that enabled the attack.
A chef who was on bail for trying to rape a teenage girl bit off a stranger's bottom lip in a pub like he was a 'dog with a bone'.

Sean Johnson, 32, punched mechanical engineer Marc Touze, in his 50s, off a bar stool then sunk his teeth into his mouth before shaking his head furiously from side-to-side for seven seconds to tear a piece of his lip away.

Regulars at the Berkeley Inn in Wigan, Greater Manchester, looked on in horror as Johnson eventually bit off Mr Touze's lower lip before spitting it onto the floor. He was then thrown out of the pub as the bloodied victim was tended to at the scene.

Mr Touze, a grandfather in his 50s who lives in Swansea but was working in Wigan, will now be scarred for life after plastic surgeons attempted to repair his lip. Regulars at the pub described him as being 'respectful, pleasant [and] well-liked'.

When police visited him in hospital he broke down in tears and said: 'Look at me. I just can't understand it, I'm a human being yet he came over and done something like this. I've got to go home and face my wife, my kids and grandkids.'

Sean Johnson, 32, admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bolton Crown Court

Marc Touze (pictured), will now be scarred for life after plastic surgeons attempted to repair his lip

Johnson, who lost his right foot in an undisclosed incident in 2020, was arrested shortly after the attack on July 25 last year. He then admitted to causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bolton Crown Court.

He told officers: 'It's strange how I've been reading a book about someone who kills a detective.'

At the time of the attack the 32-year-old was on bail awaiting trial on charges of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and attempted rape.

He was convicted of 27 sex offences upon a 13-year-old girl at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, explained how Mr Touze's job as a mechanical engineer requires him to travel from his home in Swansea to work in different parts of the UK.

From January last year up until the time of the attack in July he was working 11 day stints in Wigan with three day returns home.

During this time he often visited the Berkeley Inn, where he was well liked by other patrons with whom he made friends.

Mr Bassano added: 'On the evening of Monday 25th July 2022 Mr Touze and his work colleague went to the pub after work. They were there from 5pm drinking at the bar, speaking to other customers, listening to karaoke and partaking in the Monday night pub games.

'At 8.15pm the defendant approached Mr Touze at the bar, reached around him and took hold of Mr Touze's pint glass from the counter. Mr Touze took back his pint glass and asked: 'What are you doing?' Mr Touze moved his ear closer to the defendant as if to better hear what the the defendant was saying but without warning the defendant then attacked Mr Touze.

'He punched Mr Touze three times to the side of his head causing him to fall off his stool and onto the ground. Witnesses describe how Mr Touze's hands were by his sides, posing no threat and he fell onto his back and appeared to be unconscious. He wasn't moving or putting up any resistance. But the defendant got on top of him and punched Mr Touze repeatedly to the face as he lay lifeless on the ground.'

One eye witness said: 'The offender leant down and grabbed with his mouth what I thought was his nose and shook his head like a dog would shake their head with a bone for approximately seven seconds.

'The offender then looked to spit something out of his mouth onto the floor. Moments later I realised it was the victim's bottom lip that had been fully bitten off.'

Pictured: The Berkeley Inn pub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, where the attack happened

Johnson, a chef, was on bail awaiting trial on charges of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and attempted rape

He was convicted of 27 sex offences upon a 13-year-old girl at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced later

The 32-year-old had a previous warning for affray in 2006 when he was just 15 and in 2010 he was locked up for two and a half years for GBH after he attacked a friend with a pair of bolt cutters

'The defendant was pulled off Mr Touze and, before the gravity of the assault was realised, he was ejected from the premises. The chunk of Mr Touze's bottom lip was found on the floor.

'Police approached the defendant in the town centre a few minutes later whilst he was on his mobile phone and he made no attempt to evade arrest. On hearing the details he said: "Is it going to be a Section 18 this?"'

In interview Johnson declined to answer questions but submitted a short prepared statement claiming 'I acted in self-defence'.

He had a previous warning for affray in 2006 when he was just 15 and in 2010 he was locked up for two and a half years for GBH after he attacked a friend with a pair of bolt cutters causing serious injuries to the victim's eye.

In his statement Mr Touze said: 'This has affected my mental health greatly. Since hearing what actually happened to me, I have become quite angry because I was 'sucker punched' which means I never got the chance to defend myself.

'This has demasculinised me, which is causing me to become angry, causing arguments in my marriage.

'I have lack of feeling in and around my mouth and I have been told that I will never full feeling again.

'I am not even allowed to kiss my wife. I have been unable to sleep without waking up in extreme pain. I cannot eat properly and I have to drink hot liquids without a straw.

'Since having the reconstructive surgery, I now have a bigger upper lip compared to my bottom lip. This causes me to dribble often and I cannot contain my saliva.

'This makes me very self-conscious and I always have to make sure I have tissues in my hand. I am yet to have more reconstructive surgery and multiple doctors' appointments.'

'This incident has not only affected me, but it has really affected my whole family. This has even caused my wife's psoriasis to flare up. This incident has caused me great pain, but it has also affected me emotionally. I am really struggling to come to terms with what has happened to me'.

In mitigation for Johnson, defence counsel James Heyworth said his client was due to enrol on an anger management course and added: 'He has shown remorse in respect of the significant injury he caused to Mr Touze.'
As flood waters rise following the potentially 'catastrophic' destruction of a dam - which Ukraine has blamed on Russian forces - a beaver has been spotted making its way through floodwater in Kherson.

A video of the semiaquatic animal has been shared widely on Ukrainian social media as a sign of defiance following what many labelled a 'terrorist' act carried out by Putin's forces.

Beavers are known for their dam-building abilities and have been observed in the wild fixing man-made structures, leading some to suggest that the creature could have a lot of work to do if it wants to mend the 30ft-tall and 144ft-wide dam.

Many pointed out however that the little guy may have been left distressed by the burst reservoir, with beavers said to hate the sound of running water and to have a natural instinct to want to plug it.

The rodent may have also lost its habitat, with animals as well as humans potentially losing their homes after the wall of water was released - potentially affecting dozens of towns and villages.

Beavers pictured on the streets of Kherson as flooding begins in the occupied Kherson and Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding - water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Hundreds of thousands of people could be affected by flooding and be forced to leave their homes

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry confirmed this morning that the Kakhovka dam over the Dnieper river in the south of the country was damaged in an explosion and water had begun flooding through.

The ministry called for residents of 10 villages on the river's right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to evacuate their homes.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

After news of the major breach broke, videos emerged of animals dealing with the fallout from the flooding.

Among them, the solitary beaver was shown waddling along an abandoned water-logged roadside, with social media users pointing to the impact of the senseless destruction on animals.

Further heartbreaking footage has shown a soaking, shivering deer following the flooding, which is seeking refuge on a wooden plank.

Another video shows a dog neck-deep in the water, which covers the flood plain in the background as far as the eye can see.

A rescuer wades through the high water to try and rescue the dog, with the terrified pet shaking with fear.

heartbreaking footage has shown a soaking, shivering deer following the flooding, which is seeking refuge on a wooden plank

video shows a dog neck-deep in water, which covers the flood plain in the background as far as the eye can see

READ MORE: 'Catastrophe' fears as major dam is blown up near Kherson Images and video from the scene appear to show the dam has been damaged, with Ukraine blaming Russia

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He manages to coax the dog into his four-by-four which incredibly has managed to get through the rising flood to get the animal to safety.

Among the stranded animals, the beaver is possibly one of the best equipped to deal with the rising water around the southern Ukrainian city, and the animals are no stranger to the threats posed by Putin's forces.

Back in January, Ukraine's defence ministry even credited beavers in the north of the country with helping the war effort and bolstering defences against the Russian invasion.

Beavers' damming kept the land on the Belarusian border marshy, they said, repelling potential advances from the neighbouring state, which is allied with Moscow.

The latest development in the bitter war has seen swathes of land in the south become water-logged, with Kyiv and Moscow launching into a blame game over who burst the the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant.



The Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine was partially destroyed by 'multiple strikes', Moscow-installed authorities claimed, while Ukraine said Putin's forces were to blame.

An explosion is seen at the destroyed Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, 6 June 2023

A satellite image shows Nova Khakovka Damn in Kherson region, Ukraine June 5, 2023

'The terrorists' goal is obvious - to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces,' Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

Ukrainian President Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his National Security Council over the Russian 'war crime', said his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

Several villages have been 'completely or partially flooded' following damage to the dam and evacuations from the area have begun, a Ukrainian official said.

'About 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson region,' Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson miliary administration, said on social media, adding that there was flooding in eight areas along the Dnipro River.
The famous D-Day landings on June 6, 1944 were a triumph for Allied forces in World War Two and constitute one of the best remembered military operations of the conflict.

The project followed five years of conflict with Adolf Hitler's Germany and the Axis powers, during which the majority of mainland western Europe had fallen under Nazi occupation.

D-Day signalled the beginning of a changing of the tide on the continent, which eventually ended with the Western Allies' victory.

But what does D-Day actually mean? Read on to find out, as well as everything else you need to know about the historic landings.

A US landing barge packed with helmeted soldiers makes its way to the shore in Normandy on June 6, 1944

Dozens of ships line the coast off Omaha Beach in Normandy during the D-Day landings in June 1944

D-Day signaled the beginning of a changing of the tide on the continent, which eventually ended with Allied victory

What were the D-Day landings?

The landings, codenamed Operation Overlord, involved British, American, and other Allied forces crossed the English Channel to launch an offensive on the Nazi occupation in Normandy.

The operation involved boats and aircraft of all shapes and sizes, for a variety of purposes, whether it was to sweep the area ahead for mines, or deliver the respective armies to France.

In total the invasion involved 153,110 troops, supported by 10,440 aircraft and 6,330 ships, with paratroopers landing behind enemy lines in advance of the main assault.

The forces were roughly divided across five beaches: Gold and Sword were attacked by British troops, Juno by Canadian, and Omaha and Utah by the US.

After less than a week, all five beaches had been secured, with more troops, vehicles and equipment being delivered to the Allies.

The forces were roughly divided across five beaches: Gold and Sword were attacked by British troops, Juno by Canadian, and Omaha and Utah by the US

When did it happen?

The operation - which bought together the land, air and sea forces of the Allied armies - took place on June 6 1944, but unsurprisingly it was in planning for months.

A key element of the preparation was a serious of deceptions to convince the German military command that the attack would instead be near Calais, the closest point of France to the UK.

In fact, June 5 was the original date selected for D-Day, but bad weather forced a delay by one day, with troops departing the English coast in the night of June 5.

Forces arrived on the morning of June 6, by which time paratroopers had already landed behind enemy lines to begin the attack.

It became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.

D-Day timeline: The largest amphibious invasion in military history as it happened January 1944: General Dwight Eisenhower appointed commander of Operation Overlord.

February-May: Series of deception operations carried out to put Germany off the scent.

June 4: Bad weather causes operation to be delayed from June 5.

Bad weather causes operation to be delayed from June 5. June 5: Better weather makes General Eisenhower give go-ahead for operation to take place the following day.

Better weather makes General Eisenhower give go-ahead for operation to take place the following day. 22:00: Operation Neptune, the seaborne forces, leave the English coast to cross the channel.

June 6 00:05: Coastal barriers in France are bombed.

00:05: Coastal barriers in France are bombed. 00:20: Airborne troops attack bridges in coastal town of Benouville, taking just 15 minutes.

02:30: Allied fleets arrive and anchor at the French coast.

04:30: US forces Liberate St Mere Eglise, inland from Utah beach.

05:00: British paratroopers destroy weapons at Merville Battery to protect those who will land at Sword beach. Allied soldiers, tanks and ships take part in the D-Day landings at Gold beach 05:30: Warships bombard the coastline, while landing craft head for shore.

06:00: German shore defences are bombed.

06:30: American forces begin landing on Omaha Beach and face an enemy onslaught which holds them until 1100.

06:30: Americans troops begin landing on Utah Beach.

07:25: British land at Gold and Sword Beaches.

07:35: Canadians land at Juno Beach.

09:00: General Eisenhower authorises announcement that the invasion has begun.

09:45: Enemy forces cleared from Utah Beach. Members of an American landing unit help their comrades ashore during the Normandy invasion near St Mere Eglise 12:00: Winston Churchill speaks to the House of Commons about the landings, saying: 'So far the commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan!'

13:30: Troops on Omaha Beach begin securing the area. Allied forces begin to bomb the town of Caen.

14:30: The Nazi's 21st Panzer Division unleash a counter-attack towards the coast.

18:00: Canada's North Nova Scotia Highlanders reach 5km inland. Allied tanks cross the Caen-Bayeux railway, 15km inland.

19:00: Command post set up on Omaha Beach.

21:00: King George VI says on the radio that it is a 'fight to win the final victory for the good cause'.

Midnight: All the beaches are secured. Advertisement

What does D-Day stand for?

Despite being so well documented, there is an element of mystery about what the D in D-Day actually stands for.

Many suspect that the D stands for designated, decision, dooms(day), or even death.

However, the reality is less grand, as the D-Day is just the term used by the military to refer a date which an event is due to take place.

It can be used to refer to operation day before an exact date has been set.

The first use of this kind of reference can be traced back to the First World War, with H referring to a certain hour too.

Many historians describe D-Day it as the beginning of the end of the Second World War

Why is it so important?

Many historians describe D-Day as the 'beginning of the end' of the Second World War.

With victory declared in Europe 11 months later, on May 7, 1945, this represented the start of the Allied forces pushing back from what was the furthest Nazi occupation expanded during the war.

The move meant that Germany was at war on three fronts: in France, Italy, and Russia.

This task eventually proved too much for Hitler's army, with Allied victory on the continent secured on May 8 1945.

How is the D-Day anniversary marked?

The focus of every D-Day anniversary is naturally in Normandy.

Every year, ceremonies are held across the region - and world - to pay tribute to the achievements of those who fought, and the sacrifices of the estimated 4,000-9,000 troops who died during the operation.

Anniversary events will often feature military displays and parades.

Veterans who were part of the successes of June 6, 1944, often appear at the ceremonies to pay their respects in the decisive but deadly assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

A plane flies over the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy as veterans prepare to mark the 79th anniversary of D-Day
She named the PM and Tanya Plibersek as 'friendly MPs'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied colluding with Brittany Higgins or Lisa Wilkinson when he was Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Albanese and fellow Labor heavyweight Tanya Plibersek were named by Wilkinson during a five-hour lunch with Ms Higgins, her partner David Sharaz, and Channel 10 producer Angus Llewellyn, in January 2021.

The meeting took place before Ms Higgins' bombshell interview on The Project on February 15, 2021.

An audio recording of the lunch was aired during a 7News Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann on Sunday night.

Ms Higgins alleges she was raped by Mr Lehrmann in Parliament House after a night out in 2019. Mr Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

During the lunch, Wilkinson claimed Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek were 'friendly MPs' who 'could fire questions in Question Time' regarding the rape allegations.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) has denied he colluded with Lisa Wilkinson or Brittany Higgins when he was Leader of the Opposition after Wilkinson named him in an audio recording

When asked about whether Wilkinson or Ms Higgins approached him to publicise the allegations, Mr Albanese said 'no'.

The ex-Project host on Tuesday also denied approaching Labor politicians to ask questions in Parliament about the case.

She told The Australian that she did not 'speak to any other politicians, their minders or apparatchiks'.

Ms Plibersek also rejected any assertion that Wilkinson or Ms Higgins contacted her or told her what to ask in Question Time during an interview with Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr on Monday.

'No, not by then, but I was in contact with Brittany to check on her welfare,' the Environment Minister said.

'I was very worried about her, I was very worried about her indeed.'

Barr continued to press Ms Plibersek, asking whether Ms Higgins approached her to raise the topic in Question Time.

'Nobody tells me what to ask in question time,' she responded.

'I don't recall anything like that. She's a very upset and fragile young woman that I was checking on, that's my involvement here.'

But Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek did raise five questions about Ms Higgins in Question Time just one day after The Project interview aired.

Wilkinson (left) named Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek as 'friendly MPs' who 'could fire questions in Question Time' regarding the rape allegations brought forward by Ms Higgins (right)

Mr Albanese first asked if Mr Morrison would establish an external review into the culture within Parliament House in the wake of Ms Higgins' claims.

Six minutes later, Ms Plibersek made the first direct reference to Ms Higgins. She said: 'When and how did the Prime Minister first become aware of the reported sexual assault of Brittany Higgins?'

Mr Morrison fumbled his way through his answer, insisting he became aware of the allegations the morning of The Project's report, and that his office knew of the complaint just days earlier.

But Ms Plibersek doubted his claims, noting in a second question that he had contradicted Ms Higgins' version of events, which stated the PM's private secretary was told of the alleged assault in 2019.

Mr Morrison attempted to skirt around the issue by quoting Ms Higgins herself, who had earlier in the day asked for her 'privacy to be respected' as she 'began to emotionally recover'.

Ms Higgins' statement said she wished to make no further comment on the allegations.

The PM said: 'I will be complying with that request, and we will be seeking to pursue this matter through the mechanisms that I've already announced today and also potentially through the other mechanisms that have been suggested.'

Mr Albanese asked Mr Morrison a total of 18 questions about his government's handling of the case over a period of three months after the allegations were publicised.
An Australian man who was allegedly caught with a cache of weapons after being accused of hitting his girlfriend in Bali is facing the possibility of several years in an Indonesian jail.

Perth man Drew Donal Ireland, 28, was led to a press conference in handcuffs on Tuesday following his arrest near the Kedin's Inn in Kuta on Sunday.

Police allege Ireland had pushed his 33-year-old Indonesian girlfriend to the ground and punched her head at about 6.30pm during a dispute over 1,500,000 rupia ($150AUD) she supposedly owed him.

The woman also allegedly sustained other minor injuries to her face and body, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Perth man Drew Donal Ireland (above) is potentially facing a maximum of two years and eight months in Indonesian jail after allegedly hitting his Indonesian girlfriend in the head

Officers allege Ireland tried to flee from arrest when confronted outside the hotel but only made it 500m before he was caught.

Ireland was allegedly agitated and violently resisted arrest once back at the police station, damaging chairs and a table in the struggle.

Following the dramatic arrest, officers searched Ireland's hotel room and allegedly found a collection of weapons including three long-barrelled air rifles, two air pistols, two knives and two iron sticks.

While it is not illegal to own the air guns and other weapons, officers said they are still investigating why Ireland was in possession of them.

Denpasar police chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said investigators also uncovered Ireland had allegedly told his girlfriend he was part of the Australian Defence Force, which is false.

Bali police said they searched Ireland's room following his arrest on Sunday and allegedly discovered a cache of air guns and knives (pictured, Ireland being led to a press conference on Tuesday)

'He claimed to be a member of the Australian special forces, that he is here training an Indonesian sniper team,' Pamungkas told reporters on Tuesday.

'He met the (alleged) victim five weeks ago on Tinder. Their status is that they are in a relationship. When we checked with the (Australian) consulate the information we were given is that he is a technician, in the private sector.

'He presented himself like he is in the special forces but he wasn't. We still don't know why he has all these weapons.'

Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed he was drinking on the night she was allegedly attacked.

'He was drunk, so when we tried to detain him at the police station he refused and some of the police (chairs and table were damaged). No officers were hurt,' Pramagita alleged.

Kuta police chief Yogie Pramagita said the 33-year-old woman claimed Ireland (pictured in handcuffs) was drinking on the night she was allegedly attacked

'He has been refusing to be interrogated. He insisted on having someone from the consulate to be here first.'

Ireland has been charged under Article 351 of the Indonesian Criminal Code and is potentially facing a maximum of two years and eight months in jail.

An Indonesian immigration official said Ireland's Indonesian visa is due to expire on June 11 following his arrival in April.
Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.

Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah - or 'Conqueror' in Farsi - at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.

'The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km (870 miles) and it is capable of penetrating all defence shields,' Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards' aerospace force, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept.

Last year, the Islamic Republic said it had built a hypersonic ballistic missile which can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere.

Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday (pictured)

Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah - or 'Conqueror' in Farsi - at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps

Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday

State TV said Iran's Fattah missile can target 'the enemy's advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles', without providing evidence to support the claim.

'It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the Zionist regime, including Israel's Iron Dome,' Iran's state TV said.

Fattah's top speed reached mach 14 levels (15,000km/h), it added.

Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.

Despite U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme. However, Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities.

In November, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Revolutionary Guard claimed that Iran had created a hypersonic missile, without offering evidence to support it.

That claim came during the nationwide protests that followed the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the country's morality police.

And last month, Iran claimed it had successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 2,000-km range.

At the time, state TV broadcast a few seconds of footage of what it said was the launch of an upgraded version of Iran's Khoramshahr 4 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and able to carry a 1,500-kg (3,300-pound) warhead.

Pictured: A fourth-generation Khorramshahr ballistic missile being test-launched at an undisclosed location in Iran in May

Last month, Iran claimed it had successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 2,000-km range (pictured)

The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Iraq seized the city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan at the start of the war, but Iran retook it over a year later.

Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, says its weapons are capable of reaching the bases of arch-foes Israel and the United States in the region.

Concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles contributed to then-U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers.

Trump reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran after exiting the nuclear pact, leading Tehran to resume previously banned nuclear work and reviving U.S., European and Israeli fears that Iran may seek an atomic bomb. Iran has consistently denied any such ambition.

Indirect talks between Tehran and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to salvage the nuclear deal have stalled since last September.

Israel, which the Islamic Republic refuses to recognise, opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran's nuclear deal and has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails.

China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims to already be fielding the weapons and has said it used them on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Britain is set to enjoy a mini-heatwave this week as an 'Iberian plume' from Spain brings sizzling 29C temperatures.

A Met Office spokesman today told MailOnline that temperatures could reach heights of 29C in south-east England this week, in what could be the hottest day of 2023 so far.

But the hot, humid weather brought by the Iberian plume will heighten the risk of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the south west of the country.

Britain will continue to see an east/west split, with warmer temperatures on the west coast and cooler, cloudier conditions in the east.

Temperatures are likely to stay in the mid-20Cs across the country with sunny conditions.

An Iberian plume could see temperatures soar as hot air is pushed up to Britain from Spain

The UK could experience temperatures of 29C in the south east of the country

'By Saturday, warmer air is being drawn up from the south for the UK, which could lead to some spots seeing temperatures of around 29C, which is most likely in the south east of England,' the Met Office said.

'More widely itll be around mid-20s Celsius, though could be subdued for some with some associated showers.'

The highest temperatures of 2023 so far were previously recorded in the Welsh seaside town of Porthmadog on May 30, after reaching 25.1C.

Over the coming week, the warm air pushing up from Spain could bring the potential for a mini-heatwave in Britain.

'This increase in temperatures brings an increased chance of showers, some of which could be thundery in nature,' the Met Office added.

The UK's east/west split will continue with warmer temperatures on the west coast

'By late on Friday, some showers could move into the South West, spreading north and east through the weekend.

'While not everywhere will be impacted by showers, theres a chance of some heavy downpours as daytime heating helps to develop some thundery weather for some.'

An Iberian plume, or Spanish plume, involves a column of hot air moving up from the Iberian peninsula towards northern Europe.

In 2014, a similar Iberian plume brought temperatures of 28.5C in London's St James' Park, near Buckingham Palace.

In 2014, a similar Iberian plume caused temperatures to soar to heights of 28.5C

The Met Office warned the dry, settled weather could lead to increased pollen levels, which are already high across Britain.

Throughout the country temperatures are more likely to sit in the mid-20Cs over the coming week, with the potential for scattered showers.

Those in the north could benefit from slightly lower temperatures than the rest of the country due to the lower pollen counts.

Met Office chief meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: 'As with last week, the sunniest and warmest weather will be to the west of the UK with cooler, cloudier conditions persisting in the east for the next few days.

'The cloud will push inland across the country overnight, burning back to the east coast by day.

'Cloud amounts may vary day to day which will affect the feel of the weather in some areas. There is a small risk of an isolated shower across northern areas on Wednesday.'
A British Army corporal who left a fellow solider covered in blood after a 'frenzied' attack and allegedly called a Muslim colleague a 'P***' at a Christmas party has been locked up for 12 months.

Corporal Paul Byron followed Lance Corporal Dean Taylor into toilets at the boozy party at Kendrew Barracks, Rutland, in December 2021 and attacked him after he was accused of racially abusing Lance Corporal Faisal Murtaza.

Byron then hit LCpl Taylor on the back of the head, repeatedly punched and kneed him - leaving the victim with blood 'all down' his face after 'growling' at him and biting his ears and nose.

The pair were left tangled on the toilet floor before Byron was pulled away from the brutal and 'unprovoked' assault by a different colleague.

Byron has now been sentenced for 12 months and had his rank reduced to Lance Corporal following his conviction for causing actual bodily harm at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, last month.

Corporal Paul Byron (pictured) followed Lance Corporal Dean Taylor into toilets at the boozy party at Kendrew Barracks, Rutland, in December 2021 and attacked him

Byron then hit LCpl Taylor (pictured) on the back of the head, repeatedly punched and kneed him - leaving the victim with blood 'all down' his face after 'growling' at him and biting his ears and nose

During his trial, prosecutor Major James Eveleigh said: 'Byron and LCpl Taylor both attended a unit Christmas function.

'Everyone was in best dress, nothing out of the ordinary, but of course alcohol was involved.

'The defendant became involved in a series of backwards and forwards arguments which culminated in a suggestion of racist behaviour from Byron towards Lance Corporal Faisal Murtaza.

'These arguments were thought to have been settled in a practical way - but that wasn't the case for Byron. LCpl Taylor went to the toilets and was standing with his back to the door.

'As he stood in that position he was struck on the back of the head and dealt a number of blows all while his body was wedged between the toilet and cubicle wall.

'He managed to turn around and face Byron, who proceeded to attack him as he lay helplessly on the floor.

But Byron has now been sentenced for 12 months and had his rank reduced to Lance Corporal following his conviction for causing actual bodily harm at Bulford Military Court (pictured), Wiltshire, last month

'Byron was shouting, swearing and even growling at him in what was a frenzied attack. He bit him on the back of the head and ears, causing his blood to freely run.

'It was unprovoked, extreme violence conducted in drink and only separated by a bystander.'

After being separated, details of the incident eventually were reported up the chain of command and Service Police were informed.

LCpl Taylor told the court Byron had threatened him earlier in the evening. He said: 'He came over to the table and said 'I'll kick your head in' - he was very drunk and angry. He called LCpl Murtaza a P***.'

LCpl Murtaza and Byron had shaken hands after the alleged racist remark before LCpl Taylor was assaulted, the court heard.

LCpl Taylor added: 'I started going to the toilet in a cubicle and I got punched from behind and fell,' he continued.

'I tried to get him off me but I was being punched and kneed in the face.

'He was very angry, swearing, punching, biting. He bit me on the front of my nose, my ear, on the back of my head. I had blood all down my face.'
The pilot of a business jet that flew over Washington D.C. and crashed in a remote part of Virginia killing all on board appeared to be slumped over the cockpit and unresponsive as it hurtled to the ground, officials said Monday.

The officials recounted the observations made by fighter pilots who tried to intercept the wayward flight and get the attention of pilot Jeff Hefner as the plane plummeted 28,000ft-a-minute into the wooded area.

Areal images have since revealed the devastating crash site which killed four people on Sunday.

The revelations came as federal investigators trudged through rugged terrain to reach the site where the plane slammed into a mountain.

The officials who revealed details of the fatal flight had been briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation.

The news comes as it was revealed Hamptons realtor Adina Azarian, 49, her two-year-old daughter Aria, and the child's nanny Evadnie Smith, were killed in the crash.

The Cessna tumbled at a terrifying 28,000ft per minute once it ran out of fuel. The devastating crash site was later revealed

Jeff Hefner was identified as the pilot. A fighter pilot observed Hefner slumped over the cockpit and unresponsive

The plane's owner has since told news outlets that his daughter and two-year-old granddaughter were aboard the flight.

The New York-bound plane took an erratic flight path - inexplicably, turning around over Long Island to fly directly over the nation's capital - which prompted the military to scramble fighter jets.

This caused a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

Remote terrain around the crash site posed major challenges to the investigation. It took investigators several hours to hike into the rural area near the community of Montebello, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Charlottesville, said National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Eric Weiss.

Officials are expect to be on the scene for at least three to four days.

Speaking at a briefing Monday morning, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is 'highly fragmented' and investigators will examine the most delicate evidence at the site, after which the wreckage will be moved, perhaps by helicopter, to Delaware, where it can be further examined.

The plane is not required to have a flight recorder but it is possible that there are other avionics equipment that will have data that they can examine, Gerhardt said.

The Virginia State Police issued a statement saying that because of the severity of the crash, human remains will be transported to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy and identification. The Federal Aviation Administration said that the victims included the pilot and three passengers but didn't release their names. There were no survivors.

Adina Azarian, 49, was on board the flight with her daughter, Aria. Both died in the crash

Adina Azarian and her two-year-old daughter Aria died in the crash. They were traveling with their nanny who also lost their life

Adina Azarian (left), her two-year-old daughter (center) and the child's nanny Evadnie Smith (right) were killed in the jet crash in rural Virginia on Sunday

Investigators will look at when the pilot became unresponsive and why aircraft flew the path that it did, Gerhardt said. They will consider several factors that are routinely examined in such probes including the plane, its engines, weather conditions, pilot qualifications and maintenance records, he said. A preliminary report will be released in 10 days.

READ MORE: Trump donor couple adopted plane crash victim when she was 40 because she reminded them of daughter lost in a scuba diving accident in 1994 Advertisement

According to a timetable released late Monday by NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris, the plane took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. Sunday, headed for MacArthur Airport in Long Island, N.Y. Air Traffic Control lost communication with the airplane during its ascent.

Preliminary information indicates the last ATC communication attempt with the airplane was at approximately 1:28 p.m., when the plane was at 31,000 feet (9,449 meters). The plane climbed to 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers), where it remained for the rest of the flight until 3:23 p.m. when it began to descend and crashed about nine minutes later. The plane was flying at 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers), when it flew over MacArthur Airport at 2:33 p.m., the NTSB said.

The White House expressed its 'deepest condolences' on Monday to the family of those on board the plane.

'We need to keep them front and center,' National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Kirby deferred questions about a follow-up report on the security response over Washington airspace to the Pentagon and U.S. Secret Service. But he said, 'What I saw was just a classic, textbook response.'

The White House was continuously informed as the military jets tried to contact the pilot of the civilian plane and monitored the small aircraft's path from Washington airspace to rural Virginia, Kirby said.

Air Traffic Control audio from the half-hour before the plane crashed captures voices that identify themselves as military pilots trying to communicate with the pilot of the private plane, according to recordings on LiveATC.net.

'If you hear this transmission, contact us,' said one pilot who identifies herself as being with the Air National Guard.

Several minutes later, a military pilot says: 'You have been intercepted. Contact me.'

Azarian was described by colleagues as an 'iconic' real estate agent working out of the Hamptons and New York City

Two F-16 jets from Joint Base Andrews approached the jet and tried to get the pilot's attention but he was unconscious. One pilot saw the civilian pilot slumped over the cockpit and unresponsive

John Rumpel (left) owned the Cessna aircraft that crashed and adopted Azarian with his wife Barbara (right) when she was 40. The two are pictured at a 2017 NRA Foundation dinner

John and Barbara Rumpel, adoptive parents of Azarian, pictured in an NRA Women's Leadership Forum feature

The plane flew directly over the nation's capital. According to the Pentagon, six F-16 fighter jets were immediately deployed to intercept the plane. Two aircraft from the 113th Fighter Wing, out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, were the first to reach the Cessna Citation to begin attempts to contact the pilot. Two F-16 aircraft out of New Jersey and two from South Carolina also responded.

Flight tracking sites showed the plane suffered a rapid spiraling descent, dropping at one point at a rate of more than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) per minute before crashing in the St. Mary's Wilderness.

In Fairfax, Virginia, Travis Thornton was settled on a couch next to his wife, Hannah, and had just begun recording himself playing guitar and harmonica when they were startled by a loud rumble and rattling that can be heard on the video. The couple jumped up to investigate. Thornton tweeted that they checked in with their kids upstairs and then he went outside to check the house and talk to neighbors.

The plane that crashed was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, which is based in Florida. John Rumpel, a pilot who runs the company said his family was returning to their home in East Hampton, on Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina.

Rumpel told the New York Times he didn't have much information from authorities but suggested the plane could have lost pressurization.

'It descended at 20,000 feet a minute, and nobody could survive a crash from that speed,' Rumpel told the newspaper.

Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where the jet crashed, Sunday

Search and rescue teams leave the command post at St. Mary's Wilderness en route to the Blue Ridge Parkway to search for the site where a Cessna Citation crashed, Sunday

In interviews with the Times and Newsday, Rumpel identified his daughter, Adina Azarian, and two-year-old granddaughter Aria, as two of the victims.

Azarian, 49, was well-known in real estate circles both in New York City and Long Island, described by friends and relatives as a fiercely competitive entrepreneur who started her own brokerage and was raising her daughter as a single parent.

'Being a mom was everything to her,' said Tara Brivic-Looper, a close friend who grew up with Azarian on the Upper East Side. 'That they were together (at the end) is fitting.'

Friends say Azarian moved to East Hampton fulltime to raise Aria, with the help of a nanny. But she made frequent trips back home, bringing both Aria and the nanny to meet her tight-knit extended family on multiple occasions in recent months.

'She seemed so happy out there,' her cousin, Andrew Azarian, recalled. 'Both of their lives hadn't even started.'

'How could this happen?' he continued. 'No one can explain it.'
Disturbing footage showing a police officer beating an innocent man in front of his sobbing son has been released after the cop's desperate bid to clear his name was dismissed.

NSW Senior Constable Jay Maleckas was found guilty of unnecessarily punching and using capsicum spray on father Steven McIvor outside the Castle Hill metro station in north-west Sydney on September 5, 2020.

The officer of 21 years also had his appeal against the conviction thrown out by Judge Stephen Hanley in Parramatta District Court on Monday, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Footage recorded by Mr McIvor and captured on police body cams shows the tense exchange which followed a plea for help from from the dad after he was confronted by a group of 'eshays'.

NSW Senior Constable Jay Maleckas was found guilty of unnecessarily punching and using capsicum spray on father Steven McIvor in September, 2020 (pictured, Mr McIvor following the assault)

The beginning of the video shows Mr McIvor repeatedly asking Maleckas if he could speak to a sergeant and if he was under arrest while Maleckas blocked him from moving along the footpath.

Eventually Maleckas told the distressed father that he was under arrest 'to prevent a breach of the peace'.

Mr McIvor was then told to get on the ground and was tackled as his seven-year-old son cried while crouched next to him.

The young boy was then moved to the side and watched in horror as Maleckas capsicum-sprayed his father to the point he could no longer breathe and punched him nine times, causing his head to bleed profusely.

Throughout the assault, Mr McIvor told the constable he was willing to cooperate, saying: 'I'll do whatever you want sir, tell me!,' and 'I'm over it, I'm over it, let me go!'.

Eventually Maleckas let the father roll onto his side and strangely went over to comfort the hysterical boy.

While walking to the police car behind his handcuffed father, Mr McIvor's frightened son asked Maleckas: 'Can you not kill him?'

Maleckas (pictured outside Parramatta District Court on Monday) was found to have used unreasonable force on Mr McIvor after arresting him with 'no basis'

Mr McIvor's seven-year-old son (pictured crouched next to his father during the assault) cried and asked Maleckas 'not to kill' his father

Maleckas told the boy: 'Oh I'm not going to kill him mate, I'm not going to kill him. He's alright.'

The seven-year-old insisted: 'But you have a gun.'

Maleckas shut down the exchange, saying: 'Nah, I'm not going to shoot him. I'm not going to shoot him mate.'

The court heard Mr McIvor had called for police claiming 'about 50 little kids' had threatened him with violence on the metro station platform after he'd left the nearby Hillside Tavern.

He admitted he was 'slightly' affected by alcohol at the time and was in a 'heightened emotional state'.

However, police seemingly didn't respond to Mr McIvor's call so he started to walk towards the local police station to make a report.

It was on his way to the station that he was confronted by Maleckas, who had two probationary constables shadowing him to learn about the job, at about 4pm.

The judge noted neither of the rookies wanted to arrest Mr McIvor.

Mr McIvor (pictured with Maleckas moments before the attack) had called for police after a group of 'eshays' threatened him Castle Hill metro station in north-west Sydney

Video shows Maleckas yelled 'don't you bite me, don't you bite me you c***' at Mr McIvor in between capsicum-spraying and beating him.

Judge Stephen Hanley found Maleckas had 'no basis' to arrest Mr McIvor, noting: 'Even if it had been lawful the appellant (Maleckas) needed to use reasonable force.'

Outside the court on Monday, Mr McIvor said the verdict left him 'relieved'.

'(It's been a) big three years,' he told Seven News.

Maleckas has resigned from the police.
British and French D-Day veterans wiped away tears today as they returned to Normandy to mark the 79th anniversary of the largest seaborne operation in history.

War heroes from the UK's armed forces gathered at the British Normandy Memorial in the town of Ver-sur-Mer on Tuesday as they remembered their fallen comrades.

Just over ten miles down the road, French Second World War veterans attended a seafront ceremony in Colleville-Montgomery attended by Emmanuel Macron.

It has been 79 years since Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches and faced the relentless machine gun fire of the invading Nazi troops in 1994 in the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

British veteran Marie Scott said all she can remember from D-Day was the overwhelming sound of gunfire and men's screams.

Lord Dannett (left) with D-Day veterans at the British Normandy memorial statue after the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, on Tuesday

A D-Day veteran wipes away tears during the Royal British Legion (RBL) Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, on Tuesday

French President Emmanuel Macron and French WWII veteran of the Commando Kieffer Leon Gautier attend a ceremony as part of the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Colleville-Montgomery on Tuesday

D-Day veterans during the Royal British Legion (RBL) Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, on Tuesday

Scott, who worked as a switchboard operator at the communications headquarters for the D-Day landings in Portsmouth as a 17-year-old, recalled: 'I was in the war. I could hear gunfire, machine guns, bombing aircraft, men screaming, shouting, men giving orders.'

'After a few moments of horror, I realised what was happening - and I thought, well, you know, there's no time for horror. You've got a job to do. So get on with it. Which is what I did.'

Scott's job was to pass on messages between men on the ground and Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and senior officers who were supervising the operation.

Now about to turn 97, Scott said D-Day was a 'pivotal point' in her life.

'As a non-combatant, I was still in the war and I realised the enormity of war. People were dying in that moment.'

Today, Scott has joined other Second World War veterans in Normandy where they are commemorating 79 years since the D-Day landings.

Many reenactors arrived at Omaha Beach at dawn this morning, with some bringing bunches of flowers.

Later in the day, a ceremony took place at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach, which is home to the graves of 9,386 United States soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

British veteran Marie Scott (pictured in Normandy) said all she can remember from D-Day was the overwhelming sound of gunfire and men's screams

French D-Day veteran Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of the French commandos who stormed the Normandy beaches, at a ceremony with Macron in Colleville-Montgomery on Tuesday

U.S. World War II veteran Gilbert D. "Shorty" Nadeau attends a remembrance ceremony at the World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial on Tuesday

Pictured: French elite acrobatic flying team "Patrouille de France" (PAF) fly over during a ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial on Tuesday

Military aircrafts fly over during a ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial on Tuesday

On the Walls of the Missing are inscribed 1,557 names. Some of those named have since been recovered and identified.

In a separate ceremony, French D-Day veteran Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of the French commandos who stormed the Normandy beaches, presented an award a student marine commando with his green beret in Colleville-Montgomery.

The 100-year-old presented the marine with the green beret at a passing out parade at Colleville-Montgomery, near where a 17-year-old Gautier had landed on Sword Beach in a hail of enemy fire.

Gautier was one of 177 French green berets under the command of Captain Philippe Kieffer who took part in the Normandy landings. More than 150,000 allied troops invaded France to drive out Nazi Germany forces.

At Tuesday's ceremony, the young marine knelt down on one knee to allow Gautier, sat in a wheelchair to Macron's side, to straighten his beret.

In 2019, Gautier recounted on the occasion of the 75th D-Day anniversary how French troops had been the first to wade chest-deep onto Sword Beach.

'Your honour,' Gautier recalled British Colonel Robert Dawson telling the French green berets. 'We went in only a few seconds ahead. It was a symbolic gesture.'

'By the end of the day I didn't have many bullets left.'

Yesterday, British veterans arrived at Ver-sur-Mer for the first day of the commemorative events.

A total of 11 British veterans were greeted at Ver-sur-Mer yesterday by French schoolchildren at the site overlooking the beaches where 22,442 servicemen and women under UK command were killed on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy.

The soldiers who attended had tears in their eyes as the youths laid wreathes to honour the fallen, sparking memories of their fallen brothers in arms, with the event also offering a stark reminder of the dwindling number of survivors able to attend.

US WWII veteran Jake Larson smiles as he attends a ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, on Tuesday

American D-Day veterans attend an event at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

Fusiliers Marins and special forces members take part in a ceremony in tribute to the 177 French members of the "Commando Kieffer" unit who who took part in the Normandy landings on Tuesday

D-Day veterans during the Royal British Legion (RBL) Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer on Tuesday

They were joined by servicemen and women from the United States who had also taken part in the D-Day landings, and had travelled across the Atlantic to pay tribute to the thousands of Americans who lost their lives in the invasion.

Navy veteran Ernie Davies said yesterday how happy he was to see 'so many people' ahead of the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, as the number of survivors able to attend memorial services dwindles.

Mr Davies, 98, was among the 11 British veterans who travelled across the Channel, and met some old friends and 'had a few drinks' along the way.

Mr Davies, from Hornchurch, east London, also recalled his own role in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Cotton during the summer of 1944.

He said: 'I was in the Channel in a Navy destroyer looking for U-boats. It was desperate. It was the end of the war, for them, they had nothing to lose.

'We did our best to keep them at bay. They knew they were beaten, they were taking desperate measures and we did as well.'

John Pinkerton, who accompanied a D-Day veteran, said: 'They've got to learn what sacrifices people had so we can have freedom today.

'They need to know what happened at the time, it's very important we pass on what happened here nearly 80 years ago.'

This year's tribute to the young soldiers who died in Normandy also reminds veterans, officials and visitors what Ukraine faces today.

Scott said she was 'disgusted' that another war was now raging on the European continent following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

'For me, war should only be undertaken if it's absolutely, if there's no other way of solving the problem. It's an atrocity. That's how I feel,' she said.

British veteran Mervyn Kersh, who landed on D-Day on Gold Beach, said Western allies should send maximum military aid to Ukraine: 'The only way to stay free is to be strong.'

On D-Day, Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats.

D-Day signaled the beginning of a changing of the tide on the continent, which eventually ended with Allied victory

A US landing barge packed with helmeted soldiers makes its way to the shore in Normandy on June 6, 1944

The forces were roughly divided across five beaches: Gold and Sword were attacked by British troops, Juno by Canadian, and Omaha and Utah by the US

On that day, between 01.30 and 2.00am, Allied combined bombardment and assault fleets arrived and anchored off the French coast, and by 3.30am Sainte Mere Eglise was liberated by Americans - who hoisted the US flag at the town hall as roads leading up to Utah Beach were closed.

By 4am Britain's 9th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, helped destroy weapons at the Merville Battery to protect troops who will land at Sword Beach. Half an hour later Allied warships started bombarding the Normandy coastline as landing ships and craft made their way to the shore.

At 5am bombers were pounding German shore defences, with more than 5,300 tonnes of bombs being dropped.

American forces started landing on Omaha Beach at 5.30am, facing a devastating enemy onslaught which pinned them there until 11.00am.

US troops also landed on Utah Beach at 5.30am.

By 6.10am the US 2nd Army Ranger Battalion had attacked the 100ft high fortified cliff, the Pointe du Hoc, defending it for the rest of the day.

British forces landed at Gold and Sword Beaches at 6.25am, with Canadian forces landing at Juno Beach ten minutes later.

On that single day, 4,414 Allied soldiers lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.

On the German side, several thousand were killed or wounded.

Normandy has more than 20 military cemeteries holding mostly Americans, Germans, French, British, Canadians and Polish troops who took part in the historic battle.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station, causing a 'catastrophic' flood that could displace hundreds of thousands of people and cause a nuclear disaster by cutting off cooling to a nuclear power plant.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry confirmed this morning that Kakhovka dam over the Dnieper river in the south of the country was damaged by several explosions and called for residents of 10 villages on the river's right bank, as well as parts Kherson city downriver, to evacuate their homes.

Both the dam and the hydroelectric power station were captured by Putin's forces as a priority at the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year.

Ukraine said Russia had destroyed it, possibly to prevent Kyiv's forces from proceeding with a counteroffensive in the southern Kherson region, while Russian officials gave conflicting accounts.

Here's what we know so far about the destruction of the Kakhovka dam - the latest twist to unfold in Russia's 16-month-long invasion of Ukraine.

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account on June 6, 2023 shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station after it was partially destroyed

An explosion is seen at the destroyed Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, 6 June 2023. Water was thrown 40ft into the air amid the blasts

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

What is the Kakhovka dam?

The Kakhovka Dam, located in southern Ukraine on the Dnieper river, is a major hydraulic engineering project that plays a crucial role in the region's water management and energy production.

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Constructed between 1947 and 1956, the dam was designed to regulate the flow of the Dnieper River, control flooding, and generate hydroelectric power.

It is a massive structure measuring 30 metres (98 feet) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long.

Not only does the dam used to create hydroelectric power, but it also supplies much of the drinking water for the northern part of Crimea - the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

Water from the dam is also syphoned further East to be pumped around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - the largest nuclear power plant in Europe - to cool the reactors.

Kakhovka dam holds a huge reservoir of 18 cubic kilometres of water - a volume about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah.

A satellite image shows Nova Kakhovka dam in Kherson region, Ukraine June 5, 2023, before the attack

What happened at the dam?

It is still unclear exactly what caused the explosions and both sides have blamed each other - though Ukrainian officials last year said Russia had mined the dam when its forces retreated from the city of Kherson and some videos circulating on Telegram appeared to show mine explosions close to the hydroelectric plant.

Ukraine, which commented first, said Russia was responsible.

'Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land,' President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

'The terrorists' goal is obvious - to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces,' Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

'The Kakhovka (reservoir) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces,' the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said, with defence officials claiming Russian forces carried out the attacks to stymy a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Finally, Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

Conversely, the Russian-installed Kherson administration said Ukraine shelled the dam at around 2300 GMT, damaging the hydraulic valves.

'On Tuesday, June 6, the Ukrainian armed forces hit the hydroelectric dam, as a result of which the upper part of the hydraulic structure was damaged,' it said.

Other Russian-installed officials said no attack took place.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian installed official in Zaporizhzhia, said the dam collapsed due to earlier damage and the pressure of the water.

Russia's state news agency TASS carried a report to the same effect.

What is the human impact?

With water levels surging higher, many thousands of people are likely to be affected, and evacuations of civilians began on both sides of the front line.

Environmental security expert Maksym Soroka warned the potential damage the flooding could cause 'can easily be compared to [an] atomic bomb explosion', given the devastation that could occur if the dam is broken completely.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development - a Ukrainian nongovernmental organisation - estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded in total.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding, while Russian installed officials said some 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in Ukraine's southern Kherson region were at risk.

Meanwhile in Crimea, the peninsula's Russian-backed said on Tuesday there is a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnieper river, could fall after the rupture of the dam.

The Crimean peninsula is dependent on fresh water from the canal. Ukraine previously blocked water supplies to Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014, causing water shortages in the region.

A slew of videos and images circulating on social media revealed the scale of the catastrophic floods just hours after the dam was attacked.

A house was seen floating away amid the deluge and huge swathes of countryside and villages near to Kherson were submerged.

A Russian-installed local mayor warned that the water level would continue to rise for another 72 hours and claimed he expected 40ft high floods in some places.

Kherson is seen flooded after the Kakhovka dam was damaged in a series of explosions

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding - water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Is there a risk of a nuclear disaster?

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, gets its cooling water from the reservoir. It is located on the southern side, now under Russian control.

The explosion at the dam has sparked concerns of a possible meltdown at the plant if the reactors cannot be cooled.

Ukraine's state atomic power agency confirmed the destruction of the dam poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia plant, but the situation at the facility is currently under control as the reservoir is still able to provide enough cooling.

'Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP,' Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

'Right now the station's cooling pond is full: as of 8am, the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the station's needs.'

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was 'no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant'.

'Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators,' it said.

Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom said on Tuesday there was no threat to the Moscow-controlled nuclear plant.
A 20-year-old British tourist was allegedly raped in the sea during a summer holiday on the Greek island of Rhodes after she visited a beach with a man she had met online.

The Briton, who has not been named, told police a 23-year-old Albanian man raped her on Saturday after they went for a swim at Glystra beach on the east coast of the island.

The young woman claimed the man, who she had been speaking to online for two weeks before meeting in person, then took her back to her hotel room in Kiotari where he attacked her and tried to rape her a second time, reports the Vradini newspaper.

The Albanian man, who has not been named, has since been arrested by police on the Greek island on suspicion of rape and attempted rape. He denies the charges.

A 20-year-old British tourist was allegedly raped in the sea during a summer holiday on the Greek island of Rhodes (file image) after she agreed to visit a beach with a man she had met online

The British tourist told police that she had met the suspect at her hotel room before they agreed to ride on his motorbike to Glystra beach where they went swimming.

But she claimed that the man attacked her while they were in the sea and raped her.

The victim walked onto the beach and put on her clothes before begging the suspect to drive her back to her hotel room.

But when they arrived at the hotel at 4pm local time, the 23-year-old man followed her back to her room where he took off her clothes and tried to sexually assault her again.

This time, the woman was able to push him away from her and forced him to leave the room. The victim then left the hotel and reported the rape and assault to Rhodes Police.

Detectives launched a manhunt for the Albanian man and he was found hours later and taken to the police station.

The victim identified the suspect as the man who allegedly raped her and a case has now been filed against him for rape.

A criminal trial has yet to be set. If convicted, the suspected assailant faces up to 10 years in prison.

An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are providing consular support to a British woman in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Shocking footage shows the moment a gang of women cornered and brutally attacked a British tourist to nab his belongings as he walked along a busy street in the heart of Colombia's drug capital.

The dramatic mugging was caught on CCTV on Friday, at a time when the number of tourists reporting robberies is on the rise in Medellin.

Two of the women, who initially look unassuming donning mini-skirts and crop tops, can be seen identifying their target, who is oblivious to the looming danger, as he walks past.

They start to trail their victim as he winds his way through the bustling street, a corner approaching Berrio Park, before confronting him, much to the man's surprise.

The two muggers then launch a frenzied attack on the Brit, before another woman comes to join in, bashing him over the head and tugging at his backpack incessantly.

Two of the women start to trail their victim as he winds his way through the bustling street

Surveillance footage from Friday shows the women going up to the man and speaking to him

The women confront the man, much to his surprise, and they appear to exchange a few words

The man tries to pull away, but the two women follow him closely and continue to grab at his bag. He tries to push them off, and a fight ensues

The man desperately tries to fight the women off, but the group successfully stole his 'high-end' mobile phone, El Tiempo reports.

Surveillance footage shows the women going up to the man and speaking to him for a few seconds, with one grabbing his backpack.

He tries to pull away, but the two women follow him closely and continue to grab at his bag. He tries to push them off, and a fight ensues.

The attack appears to go on for at least a minute, and sees the group swirl across the street as they battle for the tourists' belongings.

Stunned onlookers watch on and appear to make no effort to intervene as the man faces an onslaught from all angles.

The women grab the man by his backpack as he quickly tries to reverse backwards, pulling them along with him.

He then almost swings the women around as they clutch on to his backpack, trying to fling them off in self-defence.

The tourist almost swings the women around as they clutch on to his backpack, trying to fling them off in self-defence

The violent attack appears to go on for at least a minute, and sees the group swirl across the street as they battle for the tourists' belongings

Video shared by police showed them piling the female suspects into a police car

Police were quickly called to the scene and were able to arrest the women, with more video released by cops showing the three suspects being piled into a car.

In a roughly translated statement, Major Adrian Chacon, Inspection Officer of the Valle de Aburra Metropolitan Police said that police conducted an in-depth investigation following the incident.

'A meticulous follow-up began through the city's security cameras, where in the same sector the camera viewers identified the three women, notifying the police units of the quadrant, where they were intercepted, captured for the crime of theft.'

They said that the stolen items were returned to the foreigner.

It comes around 48 hours after two more foreign travellers caught their mugging, which took place in broad daylight, on video.

The victims, said to be a Polish couple, while touring one of the tutelary hills of the Antioquia capital was recorded, before the violent attack cuts the video short.

The man and the woman, whose names have not been released, were trekking through the Cerro El Volador, a ridge in Medellin on Wednesday, when a man approached them from behind with a sharp object.

The man was talking to the camera in his native language while he recorded them, which is when one of the suspects can be seen running up to them from behind.

READ MORE: Frightening moment Polish tourists are violently mugged at knifepoint while hiking in Colombia One of the two mugging suspects approaches a Polish tourist while she and her friend were hiking in Medellin, Colombia, on Wednesday Advertisement

A suspect placed his hand around the woman's mouth and his accomplice placed the man in a chokehold as the phone fell to the ground and the video recording stopped.

Later, the man posted a second video showing himself covered in blood.

There have so far been no arrests, despite appeals from the Mayor of Medellin.

The first quarter of the 2023 saw 230 complaints of theft from tourists in Medllin, the capital of Antioquia, The Tourism Observatory of the Personeria de Medellin.

This amounts to an increase of 666 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, El Tiempo reports.

Last month, a British tourist died after he was attacked by muggers while hiking along a mountain trail in Colombia.

He is believed to have been hit over the head with the butt of a gun by muggers who stole his belongings after he hiked to the Hill of Three Crosses in Medellin.

The victim, named locally as Kyle MacKenzie, was found critically injured at the bottom of the mountain trail where he was abandoned by the muggers after being attacked.

He was discovered two days after going missing and rushed to hospital in a critical condition before succumbing to his multiple injuries which included head wounds.

The victim has been described locally as a Swedish-born man who had a British passport.

The mugging victim has been described as the first foreign person to have been murdered in Medellin so far this year, following 10 murders of foreigners last year in Medellin.

The city is no stranger to violent crime, and was once dubbed the murder capital of the world as violence plagued the streets during the reign of the Medellin drug cartel.

Ruled by possibly the most notorious drug lord in history, Pablo Escobar, Medellin witnessed 6,349 killings in 1991, a murder rate of 380 per 100,000 people.
The two 60-ft-tall rubber ducks sailed into Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong

It's not every day that you see a giant 60-foot-tall rubber duck floating in Hong Kong waters, let alone two.

But ten years after Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's giant 'Rubber Duck' sculpture made waves by appearing in Victoria Habour, the rubber toy is back - and this time with a new friend.

The two bright yellow inflatable ducks sailed into the harbour to undergo their sea trials ahead of Hofman's new exhibition 'Double Ducks' this weekend.

Hofman debuted the original duck in 2007 with the aim of 'putting a smile' on people's faces.

Since then, the duck has been seen around the world in countries including China, New Zealand, Belgium, Japan and the United States.

It's not every day that you see a giant 60-foot-tall rubber duck floating in Hong Kong waters, let alone two

But ten years after Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's giant 'Rubber Duck' sculpture made waves by appearing in Victoria Habour, the rubber toy is back - and this time with a new friend

The two bright yellow inflatable ducks sailed into the harbour to undergo their sea trials ahead of Hofman's new exhibition 'Double Ducks' this weekend

The duck first visited Hong Kong in 2013 and on the tenth anniversary of that visit, the yellow rubber has sailed to the city again - this time accompanied by a friend.

The pair underwent sea trials Victoria Harbour near Tsing Yi island at the end of May, prior to the June 10th official exhibition opening which will see the ducks sail around Hong Kong for two weeks.

The enormous ducks were spotted being tugged by two boats that looked small in comparison to the oversized bath toys.

Hofman said his latest art instillation is aimed at representing unity and togetherness.

'Due to Covid-19 we learned that spending time together is so valuable,' Hofman said in a statement.

'Making moments and memories for real, living in the here and now, are things to cling on to. "Double Ducks" is not about looking into the past but enjoying the moment together.'

The enormous ducks were spotted being tugged by two boats that looked small in comparison to the oversized bath toys

Hofman debuted the original duck in 2007 with the aim of 'putting a smile' on people's faces

The pair underwent sea trials Victoria Harbour near Tsing Yi island at the end of May, prior to the June 10th official exhibition opening which will see the ducks sail around Hong Kong for two weeks

The two bright yellow inflatable ducks sailed into the harbour to undergo their sea trials ahead of Hofman's new exhibition 'Double Ducks' this weekend

Hofman said his latest art instillation is aimed at representing unity and togetherness

The exhibition's organiser, All Rights Reserved, say the Double Ducks are 'happiness icons' and aim 'to spread the healing power of art and bring joy to everyone via this large-scale public art exhibition'.

They added: 'Hofman's freewheeling imagination of childlike wonder has gained notice from the public, inspiring people to take a break from their mundane daily life and connect with one another.'

Hofman has deployed his original rubber duck worldwide. In 2014, it was spotted sailing into the Port of Los Angeles.

And in 2013, it arrived in Victoria Harbour to much fanfare before it was mysteriously deflated overnight before being reinflated days later.
Prince Harry today launched an extraordinary attack on the Government  branding it 'rock bottom' - and addressed rumours that Princess Diana's lover James Hewitt was his father as he became the first British royal to testify in open court since 1891.

The Duke of Sussex lambasted No 10 as part of his historic appearance in the witness box at the High Court in London this morning, and also referred to Paul Burrell as a 'two-face s***'.

Harry, wearing a navy suit and dark purple tie, entered the witness box and swore an oath to tell the truth on the Bible.

In an astonishing trashing of the convention that royals avoid meddling in politics, Harry raged about the 'state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

The fifth in line to the throne has become the first senior royal to give evidence in one of the Monarch's courts in 132 years, as he sues the Mirror's publisher for alleged hacking, which it denies.

And as the world was captivated by Harry's landmark appearance, he used his pulpit beneath the High Court coat of arms of his father the Sovereign to claim:

Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell was a 'two-faced s***'

Stories about James Hewitt being his 'biological father' made him fear 'I might be ousted from the Royal Family'

He worried he would be expelled from Eton for taking drugs

Diana's supposed paranoia mirrored his own fears of friends betraying him

Journalists hacked his girlfriend Chelsy Davy after he dressed as a fancy-dress Nazi

'Horrific personal attacks and intimidation' on him and Meghan were allegedly made by former editor Piers Morgan

He is exposing media 'criminality' for moral reasons and as 'a soldier upholding important values'

The Duke of Sussex being cross examined by Andrew Green KC, as he gives evidence at the Rolls Buildings in central London during the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN)

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, walks into the High Court today where he will give evidence - the first royal for more than a century

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking

Harry smiled and said good morning to people waiting to see him in central London before he went in the witness box

The duke, dressed in a white shirt, purple tie, and navy blue suit, arrived in a black Range Rover at the Royal Courts of Justice's modern wing the Rolls Building. He stepped into the Court 15 witness box at 10.28am.

And in his most outspoken attack on the British Press yet, Harry demanded: 'How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness.'

The 38-year-old prince proclaimed he was motivated by wanting to 'save journalism as a profession'.

During cross-examination today, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, asked Harry about part of his witness statement in which he states: 'How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness.'

Mr Green asked if the duke meant 'blood on their hands' in relation to a specific article, and further asked him what he meant by it.

Harry said: 'Some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases, speaking personally, death.'

He then said his reference to 'blood on their hands' was 'more broadly towards the press' in general, adding: 'I haven't named the journalists in that particular paragraph.'

He later suggested that his father King Charles may have been hacked.

Harry was questioned on a Mirror article titled 'Harry's cocaine, ecstasy and GHB parties' - where Charles was describe as 'worried sick' but then 'hugely relieved' when told Harry had only used cannabis.

Harry said these words were attributed to his father as quotes.

But Andrew Green, representing MGN, denied this, saying it was a 'description of feelings'. Mr Green then asked if Harry believed Charles was a victim of phone hacking.

He said: 'Potentially unlawful information gathering, yes'.

Harry was then asked about whether his own drug use, an illegal act, was in the public interest when as a teenager he was then third in line to the throne. He is now fifth in line.

Suggesting it was not, he said: 'There's a difference between public interest - and what interests the public'.

There was also a heated moment in court when Mr Green said the royal had failed to answer a question about when he injured his thumb at school playing football.

The KC asked if he thought the story came from phone hacking or unlawful information gathering.

'Both,' he replied.

Pressed on which phone would have been hacked, the prince said he 'can't be sure'.

'That's not an answer,' Mr Green said, asking him again.

'The doctors? I'm not sure,' Harry says.

Mr green then hit back: 'Are we not, Prince Harry, in the realms of total speculation?'

Prince Harry giving evidence at the High Court today

Harry and Meghan attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York on May 16

Prince Harry will stay in Britain twice as long as he did for the Coronation The Duke of Sussex will be in the High Court witness box for two days this week  twice as long as he spent when he came for the Coronation. He made a flying visit for the momentous day his father King Charles was crowned, spending around 28 hours in Britain before dashing back to California. But the duke seems to have more time to devote to his legal crusade against the Mirror newspapers' publisher. He is expected to spend a full day in the witness box at the High Court today and at least half a day tomorrow. In fact, he could have begun giving his evidence yesterday, but he did not fly to the UK until Sunday evening so that he could help celebrate his two-year-old daughter's birthday. Earlier this year, Harry spent another three days in the High Court watching a preliminary hearing in a separate court battle he is waging against the publisher of the Mail. At the Coronation on May 6, Harry flew in the day before. He sat in the third row at Westminster Abbey, two rows behind his brother William, before hurrying back to Heathrow as soon as the service was over. By the time King Charles and Queen Camilla were waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony, he was already at the airport, on his way back to his Montecito mansion for his son Archie's fourth birthday. Advertisement

Many of his bombshell remarks were in a written witness statement, which he had prepared in advance and swore on oath was true. It was released as he took the stand.

An usher handed him a bible and asked him to hold it in a raised hand.

She asked him to repeat after her: 'I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.'

Harry stared straight ahead and repeated the phrase word-perfect.

He was then asked by his barrister David Sherborne to confirm he would like to be referred to as Prince Harry. He asked him to view his 55-page witness statement, check his signature and confirm its truthfulness.

The duke's statement was then released to the public. It is a wide-ranging attack on the Mirror group's newspapers, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, which he claims intruded into his childhood, adolescence and adulthood. He claims he and his mother Princess Diana were both hacked, along with his family, friends and royal aides.

His 25,538-word statement contains five mentions of his wife, Meghan, and 118 mentions of his first serious girlfriend Chelsy Davy. He blames the Press attention for Miss Davy dumping him, saying that ultimately she 'made the decision that a Royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time'.

Prince Harry started giving his evidence at the High Court today for his phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror - becoming the first royal to testify in open court since 1891.

The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK from California on Monday and looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Court's modern annexe - the Rolls Building - saying 'good morning' to the waiting press.

Yesterday he was criticised by one of Britain's top judges and accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case  to celebrate his daughter Lilibet's birthday in Montecito before flying to Britain.

Harry and three others are suing the Mirror group claiming the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People newspaper hacked their phones or conducted other illegal activity, which is denied.

Harry was not in court yesterday - missing it because he stayed in California for daughter Lilibet's 2nd birthday, which led to a telling off from the judge

He was met at the door of the court by his KC David Sherborne

Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures have brought claims against Mirror Group Newspapers over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles

The Prince, Coronation Street actors Michael Turner and Nikki Sanderson and Paul Whitehouse's ex-wife Fiona Wightman, make allegations that the publisher's journalists were linked to voicemail interception

David Sherborne, Harry's barrister, at London's High Court today

A box of paperwork marked 'Duke of Sussex' is brought into the High Court in London

The last royal in the witness box was Edward VII in 1891 who gave evidence when a slander action was brought by a card player accused of cheating at baccarat at a time when gambling was illegal. His appearance in the witness box left Queen Victoria unamused - but it is not known what Harry's father, King Charles III, thinks about his son's historic court appearance.

Under cross examination from Andrew Green KC, for MGN, the Duke of Sussex said: 'I've experienced hostility from the press since I was born.'

Harry was questioned about his attitude towards the media, and asked if had a 'long-standing' hostility towards it.

'Yes, that's correct,' the duke said.

Mr Green asked if this hostility had pre-dated the discovery that unlawful methods had been used by some of the press.

The duke replied: 'Yes... because the unlawful methods were hidden from me as well as everybody else.'

He added that it 'certainly shocked me'.

His written statement reveals:

ROCK BOTTOM

Harry proclaimed: 'On a national level, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

He did not specify exactly why he thought the Government was at rock bottom. But he claimed it was 'scared of alienating' the Press and this was 'incredibly worrying for the entire UK', and he added: 'Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.'

The duke said: 'I may not have a role within the Institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel there's a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest.'

Harry said that he hoped 'to save journalism as a profession' and was bringing his claim 'not because I hate the tabloid press or even necessarily a section of it, but in order to properly hold the people who have hijacked privileges which come with being a member of the press, to account for their actions'.

Harry says the British Government and press has hit 'rock bottom'

JAMES HEWITT

Harry said he was a teenager when he heard cruel and hurtful stories James Hewitt was his real father  before discovering aged 30 that the timeline did not fit.

He was 18 when he first heard 'a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born'.

He added: 'At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasn't actually aware that my mother hadn't met Major Hewitt until after I was born. This timeline is something I only learnt of in around 2014,' when he was around 30.

The duke added: 'At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me. They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories.'

The prince said: 'Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family?'

Harry on rumours that James Hewitt was his father

NAZI DRESS

Harry on his 'Nazi' uniform scandal

Harry recounts the infamous time in 2005 he dressed as a Nazi  while not using the word Nazi.

He says there was 'a lot of press coverage of me at the time, as I had attended a fancy dress party'.

Harry, who was 20 at the time, triggered a storm of outrage when a picture was published in The Sun of his him wearing the outfit complete with a swastika on his arm to a 'native and colonial' party. He said it was a 'poor choice of costume' and he was 'very sorry if I caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone'. In his memoir Spare, he claimed that Prince William and Kate encouraged him to wear the distasteful Nazi soldier costume.

In the statement to the court, he said: 'It was a challenging period for me. I had been immature, I hadn't really thought about my actions and I had made a stupid decision.' But he complained about the Press: 'My mistakes were being played out publicly.'

Harry alleges the Mirror, which had followed up the Sun's story, must have used hacking because it reported his girlfriend Chelsy Davy 'was furious and had given me a 'tongue-lashing down the phone' following allegations that I had been flirting with a brunette at the party'. The duke said: 'How could the Defendant's journalists know about this?'

PAUL BURRELL

Harry on Paul Burrell

Harry admitted he would have referred to Paul Burrell as a 'two-face s***', as was reported in a newspaper article which he said 'accurately sets out the position'.

His mother's former butler had recently been on trial for allegedly selling Diana's possessions, and after the case collapsed Prince William had wanted to meet with Burrell, according to the 2003 article in the People, as 'the only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets'. But Harry feared the former servant would simply use it as an opportunity to make money.

Harry said: 'The article accurately sets out the position that my brother was open to fixing a meeting with Paul to discuss his ongoing exposes about our mother. However I had made up my mind about the kind of person I thought Paul was, and was firmly against meeting him.

'Both my brother and I had very strong feelings about how indiscrete Paul had proven to be with the way he had sold our mother's possessions and how he had given numerous interviews about her.'

Harry claimed the People article  which claimed Harry had condemned Burrell - must have been sourced from interception of voicemails, admitting: 'I would have used the phrase 'two-face s***', as is reported, and believe this could have been lifted directly from a voicemail I had left.'

Barrister Mr Sherborne told the court on Monday: 'Even at this very early formative stage the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown. Brothers can sometimes disagree but once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded and paranoia sets in.'

ETON

Harry on fears that he would be expelled from Eton

The prince was 'extremely worried I was going to be expelled' from Eton after a Daily Mirror article was published with the headline: 'Harry's cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties' in 2002. He said: 'Eton had a zero drugs policy in place'. The headline was misleading, he claimed, because he 'only smoked cannabis', he was quoted as telling his father, and it made it sound like he was hosting the parties.

The duke said it was 'not clear to me' where the journalists had got their quotes from, so it made him 'wonder with hindsight' if they had heard something they were not intended to, and as there was 'no explanation of how they learnt the information' he was 'at a loss as to who would have said' it.

DIANA'S 'PARANOIA'

Harry suffered the same gnawing fears as Princess Diana. He said: 'I've always heard people refer to my mother as paranoid, but she wasn't. She was fearful of what was actually happening to her and now I know that I was the same.'

He claimed articles about him as a teenager made him feel constantly suspicious of those close to him, including former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke and his friend Mark Dyer. The duke said: 'I doubted the loyalty of Tiggy and even Marko, who I really looked up to. My brother and I even stopped talking to Marko for a long period of time. I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.'

PIERS MORGAN

Harry on Piers Morgan

The former editor Piers Morgan has unleashed 'a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation' against Harry and his wife, the duke claimed. Harry added this was 'as a consequence of me bringing my Mirror Group claim' and was 'presumably in retaliation and in the hope that I will back down, before being able to hold him properly accountable for his unlawful activity towards both me and my mother during his editorship'. Mr Morgan was editor of the Daily Mirror from 1995 to 2004 and has always denied phone hacking, saying he will not take lectures on privacy invasion from 'somebody who has spent the last three years ruthlessly and cynically invading the Royal Family's privacy for vast commercial gain'.

LAP DANCING CLUB

When Harry visited a Spearmint Rhino club with fellow Sandhurst cadets, an article in The People claimed Chelsy Davy 'blew her top' and had 'let rip in a string of phone calls'. The duke said the story must have come from phone hacking, adding: 'I don't think Chelsy did go mad about me going there. We did speak about it over the phone, but I promised her that I hadn't had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends.'

The Duke of Sussex will be in the High Court witness box for two days this week  twice as long as he spent when he came for the Coronation. It is not clear if he will see his father or brother this week - or meet his cousin Princess Eugenie's new son Ernest, who was born last Tuesday.

He made a flying visit for the momentous day his father King Charles was crowned, spending around 28 hours in Britain before dashing back to California.

Prince Harry will stay in Britain twice as long as he did for the Coronation It comes just over a month after Harry attended the Coronation of his father the King on May 6 The Duke of Sussex will be in the High Court witness box for two days this week  twice as long as he spent when he came for the Coronation. He made a flying visit for the momentous day his father King Charles was crowned, spending around 28 hours in Britain before dashing back to California. But the duke seems to have more time to devote to his legal crusade against the Mirror newspapers' publisher. He is expected to spend a full day in the witness box at the High Court today and at least half a day tomorrow. In fact, he could have begun giving his evidence yesterday, but he did not fly to the UK until Sunday evening so that he could help celebrate his two-year-old daughter's birthday. Earlier this year, Harry spent another three days in the High Court watching a preliminary hearing in a separate court battle he is waging against the publisher of the Mail. At the Coronation on May 6, Harry flew in the day before. He sat in the third row at Westminster Abbey, two rows behind his brother William, before hurrying back to Heathrow as soon as the service was over. By the time King Charles and Queen Camilla were waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony, he was already at the airport, on his way back to his Montecito mansion for his son Archie's fourth birthday. Advertisement

But the duke seems to have more time to devote to his legal crusade against the Mirror newspapers' publisher.

He is expected to spend a full day in the witness box at the High Court today and at least half a day tomorrow.

Cross-examining Prince Harry, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, questioned the duke about a Daily Mirror article publisher in September 1996 entitled 'Diana so sad on Harry's big day'.

The court heard that Harry has complained about the article containing details of his feelings regarding the divorce of his parents and the ill health of a family friend.

The MGN barrister said the duke was first issued with a mobile phone when he went to Eton in 1998, putting it to Harry that the 1996 article could not have involved phone hacking.

Harry replied: 'That's incorrect. My security at school had a separate room with a land line.'

He said 'most Sunday nights', after being dropped off by his mother 'the first thing we would do is to use the phone to ring her... in floods of tears'.

Harry also said it could have been his mother who was hacked, but Mr Green replied 'that's just speculation you've come up with now'.

Mr Green said the article reported that Harry at the time was 'believed to be taking the royal divorced badly', with the duke replying: 'Like most children I think, yes'.

The barrister said such information was not saying anything that was not 'pretty obvious'.

The duke said there was 'no legitimacy' in putting such information in the newspaper, adding that 'the methods in which it was obtained seem incredibly suspicious'.

The Duke of Sussex faced questions from Mr Green about claims in his witness statement that MGN's alleged intrusion into his life contributed to 'a huge amount of paranoia'.

Mr Green asked Harry how he had such feelings if he was not aware of articles published in relation to him at the time.

The Duke said he would be 'speculating' if he said which articles he had read and which he had not.

Harry added: 'In my experience, the vast majority of the quotes were attributed to a pal, a friend, a source, an onlooker, which actually creates more suspicion'.

The duke said he started to re-examine articles when he 'realised information had been unlawfully obtained'.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, asked Harry about part of his case that alleges articles 'caused him to be paranoid and to distrust those around him', and whether he was referring to specific MGN articles or 'the general effect of all of the articles' about him.

Harry said: 'Yes, because ... it is 20 years ago and I simply can't other than speculate whether I saw these articles at the time.

'I certainly saw a lot of articles at the time and was made aware ... unfortunately, by the behaviour and reaction of my inner circle.'

The duke added that when information he had only told to a few members of his inner circle was made public, 'your circle of friends starts to shrink'.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, then asked the duke: 'Is it realistic, when you have been the subject of so much press intrusion by so many press, both domestic and international, to attribute specific distress to a particular article from 20 years ago, which you may not have seen at the time?'

Harry replied: 'As I said earlier, it isn't a specific article, it is all of the articles.'

He added: 'Every single article has caused me distress,' to which Mr Green then asked if each individual article had caused him distress.

Harry replied: 'Yes, without question.'

Mr Green then asked Harry about part of his case which states that he was caused particular distress 'because he is a very private person' and was in the public eye at a young age.

Harry said: 'I believe that as a child, every single one of these articles played an important role in my growing up.'

However, he added that he could not confirm whether he remembered reading specific articles at the time they were published, adding that there were 'millions' of articles 'that have been written about me since age 12'.

In fact, he could have begun giving his evidence yesterday, but he did not fly to the UK until Sunday evening so that he could help celebrate his two-year-old daughter's birthday.

An exasperated judge rebuked the duke's barrister when it became clear the royal witness was 'unavailable' for the opening day of his own case suing the publisher of the Mirror newspaper.

David Sherborne explained that his client was in a 'different category' because of his 'travel and security arrangements'. Those arrangements involved Harry flying from California on Sunday night after celebrating Princess Lilibet of Sussex's second birthday, the court heard.

The Mirror's KC Andrew Green said it was 'absolutely extraordinary' that Harry was 'not available for day one of his trial'. Mr Justice Fancourt said he was 'a little surprised' that Harry was not there, and admonished Mr Sherborne for causing 'timetable chaos'.
Downing Street today insisted it is looking for a 'way forward' in the spat with the Covid Inquiry over disclosing all government WhatsApps.

The PM's spokesman voiced hope for a compromise as chair Baroness Hallett told a session she would not comment further before the courts rule on the case.

Speculation has been mounting that the government could abandon the bid to avoid handing over unredacted messages from Boris Johnson and others.

Tories have been warning that the attempt will backfire, while the former PM has made clear he is ready to supply all the material. A hearing is expected around the end of the month.

No10 said today: 'We're willing to agree another way forward.'

Lady Hallett, a former appeal court judge, said: 'As has been widely reported in the media, an issue has arisen between the inquiry and the Cabinet Office as to who decides what is relevant or potentially relevant.

'I issued a notice under Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 making it clear that, in my view, it is for the inquiry chair to decide what is relevant or potentially relevant.

'The Cabinet Office disagrees, claiming they are not obliged to disclose what they consider to be unambiguously irrelevant material. They invited me to withdraw the Section 21 notice. I declined.

'They are now challenging my decision to decline to withdraw the notice in the High Court by way of judicial review.

'With litigation pending and as the decision-maker, I can make no further comment.'



Baroness Hallett told a session said she could not comment further on the spat pending the case being heard - potentially on June 30

Mr Johnson has vowed to send all his messages to the inquiry, circumventing the Cabinet Office

Mr Johnson has vowed to send all his messages to the inquiry, circumventing the Cabinet Office.

The Inquiry is now due to compare that unredacted material to what has been supplied by the government.

Inquiry counsel Hugo Keith KC told the hearing: 'The inquiry team has been liaising with his legal team to arrange for the inspection of the unredacted WhatsApps that he had provided to the Cabinet Office, which he had returned to him.

'We expect to begin that inspection this week. The inspection will allow your team to make its own assessment as to the redactions applied by the Cabinet Office and to satisfy ourselves and ultimately you of their appropriateness or otherwise.'

Mr Keith said the inquiry had asked the Cabinet Office to return Mr Johnson's notebooks to him by June 12 to start a similar inspection process.

He added: 'Mr Johnson also holds an old phone that was turned off in 2021 for security reasons.

'Neither Mr Johnson nor the inquiry has the technical expertise to ensure the contents of the phone can be downloaded safely and properly, particularly bearing in mind the overarching need to ensure no damage is done to national security.

'We have therefore agreed that this phone should be provided to the appropriate personnel in government for its contents to be downloaded.

'We have asked the Cabinet Office, in liaison with Mr Johnson and those government personnel, to obtain the phone without delay, to confirm in writing the process by which it will be examined and to give confirmation that it, like the diaries and the notebooks and the WhatsApps, will be accessed fully.

'That is to say, there will be no redactions made to the contents, other than in relation to national security, before we may view it.'

In the Commons yesterday, Tory MPs lined up to warn the Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin that the Government should not be pressing ahead with legal action.

Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said the Government was almost certain to lose its battle with Lady Hallett.

'The courts will be very reluctant to get involved in second guessing the decision by Baroness Hallett,' he added. 'They are going to have to decide she has got things very wrong indeed before they wish to intervene.'

Addressing Mr Quin, he added: 'It begs the question to use the old wartime adage, ''is your journey really necessary?''

Mr Quin said the row did not undermine the Government's confidence in the inquiry.

In the Commons yesterday, Tory MPs lined up to warn the Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin (pictured) that the Government should not be pressing ahead with legal action

'The Government fully supports the vital work of the inquiry as it seeks to establish the facts and lessons to be learned from the response to the pandemic,' he said. 'It is right that the inquiry into Covid-19 handling in the UK is comprehensive and rigorous.'

But he said it was right to contest the 'principle' that the Government should be able to withhold material that was 'unambiguously irrelevant' to the inquiry, such as personal messages and those relating to other areas of government.

Tory grandee Sir Edward Leigh urged the Government to 'let everything hang out', adding: 'Let them have what they want and let's get to the truth.'

William Wragg, Conservative chairman of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, said it was for Baroness Hallett to 'determine' what was relevant to her inquiry.
An MP today poked fun at Holly Willoughby's on-air statement on her return to This Morning, asking a senior ITV official at a Commons select committee: 'Are you OK?'.

Scottish National Party MP John Nicholson questioned Magnus Brooke, ITV's director of strategy, policy and regulation, about work culture at This Morning in the hearing.

And Mr Nicholson referenced Willoughby's statement yesterday which saw her begin her first show following Phillip Schofield's exit by asking viewers: 'Firstly, are you OK?'

The MP also criticised This Morning editor Martin Frizell over his 'surreal and bizarre' answer to questions about bullying in which he talked about aubergines. Mr Brooke said the comments were 'ill-judged' and refused to say if the editor's job was safe.

Earlier in the Culture, Media and Sport Committee session, chair Caroline Dinenage had insisted that today would be about the Draft Media Bill - and not This Morning.

She said they would instead wait to discuss issues about Schofield leaving the show when ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall is before MPs next week on June 14.

Scottish National Party MP John Nicholson at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee today

Magnus Brooke, ITV 's director of strategy, policy and regulation, was also at the session today

MPs and TV executives at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing this morning

Chair Caroline Dinenage had insisted that the session would be about the Draft Media Bill

Holly Willoughby asked viewers on her return This Morning yesterday: 'Firstly, are you OK?'

This Morning editor Martin Frizell arrives at Television Centre in London's White City yesterday

But Mr Nicholson was keen to focus on Schofield, and told Mr Brooke: 'As the chair has explained, we're going to have the boss of ITV before us very soon to talk about the news story that's dominating at the moment.

Full transcript: John Nicholson v Magnus Brooke at Culture, Media and Sport Committee today John Nicholson: 'Now, as the chair has explained, we're going to have the boss of ITV before us very soon to talk about about the news story that's dominating at the moment but I think it would be very odd if we had someone very senior like yourself from ITV without asking a couple of questions about the story about This Morning. I suppose I should ask first of all - are you OK?' Magnus Brooke: 'Am I OK? Yes, I'm fine thank you.' JN: 'Good, because I know that's the question du jour at This Morning. I spent some time at the weekend talking to whistleblowers from ITV including people who work and have worked in This Morning. It seems like a very unhappy place. Are you satisfied with the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff especially young staff working there and at ITV more generally.' MB: 'I think there's a very sophisticated and significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV with a very significant set of policies. We have a code of conduct which sets out our expectations about how people behave. And that deals with a number of different issues - from equal opportunities to respect of work, dignity and understanding. And we then have an important set of requirements which hold people to account internally.' JN: 'Why are so many of the staff unhappy - former and current staff?' MB: 'I can't answer that question at the moment, Mr Nicholson. As you know we've also appointed Jane Mulcahy, a KC, to have a look at the circumstances.' JN: 'Yes I know, you already had an inquiry of course, and we'll come onto this on the 14th in more detail, but several claims ITV made about that previous enquiry don't seem to quite hold water on closer inspection. What do you make about the bullying allegations that we've heard over the last week?' MB: 'What do I make of them?' JN: 'Yeah, what do you make of them as a senior ITV official - what do you feel when you hear staff complain about bullying, because that's the worst thing you can possibly hear surely, as a senior manager.' MB: 'Look, we take our responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and duty of care very seriously. Bullying is absolutely in breach of our code of conduct, it's very clearly set out. We have a set of policies around bullying and harassment at work. And clearly, bullying is unacceptable. If we find bullying that's inconsistent with our policy, we'd expect people to report it and we'd expect it to be dealt with appropriately. And it will be.' JN: 'And of course the person they would have reported to in the first instance would be the editor of the programme. And we all saw yesterday that surreal performance by the editor of the programme who when he was being asked by a reporter from Sky about bullying on the programme started talking about aubergines. It was surreal and bizarre. I think most people watching that would have thought this is the person responsible for safeguarding young staff. He's being outrageously dismissive and flippant on camera about an immensely serious issue. I wouldn't like to have been a young staffer going and talking to that editor about bullying given that that's the way he treats the subject matter on camera in public.' MB: 'Let me reassure you Mr Nicholson that we take these issues very seriously.,' JN: 'But what about what he said?' MB: 'I wouldn't endorse what he said. ' JN: 'You agree it's bizarre? MB: 'I wouldn't use that word.' JN: 'What word would you use? MB: 'I would certainly say it was extremely ill-judged to say what he did. But I can assure you on behalf of ITV that we do take all of these allegations very seriously, precisely because we do have a culture in which people's conduct matters enormously.' JN: 'Is his position secure after that?' MB: 'That's not a question for me and it's not a question for now. One of the ways in which we've demonstrated we're taking this seriously is by appointing a very senior KC who's got very significant experience in dealing with HR and particularly sensitive investigations. Because there are multiple things we have to take into account here around privacy and so on, and it's appropriate that actually the KC establishes the facts, gets to the bottom of what's happened, and that's exactly what we're doing.' Advertisement

'But I think it would be very odd if we had someone very senior like yourself from ITV without asking a couple of questions about the story about This Morning.

'I suppose I should ask first of all - are you OK?'

Appearing startled by the question, Mr Brooke replied: 'Am I OK? Yes, I'm fine thank you.'

Mr Nicholson then continued: 'Good, because I know that's the question du jour at This Morning. I spent some time at the weekend talking to whistleblowers from ITV including people who work and have worked in This Morning. It seems like a very unhappy place.

'Are you satisfied with the duty of care that the editorial team and senior managers provide to staff especially young staff working there and at ITV more generally?'

Mr Brooke replied: 'I think there's a very sophisticated and significant system of safeguarding and duty of care at ITV with a very significant set of policies. We have a code of conduct which sets out our expectations about how people behave.

'And that deals with a number of different issues - from equal opportunities to respect of work, dignity and understanding. And we then have an important set of requirements which hold people to account internally.'

But Mr Nicholson then asked him why so many former and current staff were 'unhappy'.

But Mr Brooke said he could not 'answer that question at the moment', and referred to how ITV had appointed top London barrister Jane Mulcahy KC to investigate the 'circumstances'.

Mr Nicholson went on: 'Yes I know, you already had an inquiry of course, and we'll come onto this on the 14th [of June] in more detail, but several claims ITV made about that previous enquiry don't seem to quite hold water on closer inspection. What do you make about the bullying allegations that we've heard over the last week?'

Mr Brooke replied: 'What do I make of them?'

And Mr Nicholson continued: 'Yeah, what do you make of them as a senior ITV official - what do you feel when you hear staff complain about bullying, because that's the worst thing you can possibly hear surely, as a senior manager?'

Mr Brooke then said: 'Look, we take our responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and duty of care very seriously. Bullying is absolutely in breach of our code of conduct, it's very clearly set out.

'We have a set of policies around bullying and harassment at work. And clearly, bullying is unacceptable. If we find bullying that's inconsistent with our policy, we'd expect people to report it and we'd expect it to be dealt with appropriately. And it will be.'

Mr Nicholson then went on to criticise This Morning editor Martin Frizell for his answer to questions about allegations of a 'toxic' work environment at ITV.

Mr Frizell was approached by Sky News ahead of Willoughby's return to the show.

Asked if there is a 'toxic' work environment at This Morning, he replied: 'I'll tell you what's toxic and I've always found it toxic. Aubergine. Do you like aubergine? Do you? Do you like aubergine because I don't like aubergine. It's just a personal thing.'

And Mr Nicholson said today: 'And of course the person they would have reported to in the first instance would be the editor of the programme. And we all saw yesterday that surreal performance by the editor of the programme who when he was being asked by a reporter from Sky about bullying on the programme started talking about aubergines.

'It was surreal and bizarre. I think most people watching that would have thought this is the person responsible for safeguarding young staff. He's being outrageously dismissive and flippant on camera about an immensely serious issue.

'I wouldn't like to have been a young staffer going and talking to that editor about bullying given that that's the way he treats the subject matter on camera in public.'

Mr Brooke then said: 'Let me reassure you Mr Nicholson that we take these issues very seriously.'

But Mr Nicholson asked him: 'But what about what he said?'

Mr Brooke replied: 'I wouldn't endorse what he said. '

Mr Nicholson said: 'You agree it's bizarre?

And Mr Brooke added: 'I wouldn't use that word.'

Pressing him, Mr Nicholson then said: 'What word would you use?

And Mr Brooke responded: 'I would certainly say it was extremely ill-judged to say what he did. But I can assure you on behalf of ITV that we do take all of these allegations very seriously, precisely because we do have a culture in which people's conduct matters enormously.'

Asked by Mr Nicholson if Mr Frizell's position was 'secure after that', Mr Brooke said: 'That's not a question for me and it's not a question for now.

'One of the ways in which we've demonstrated we're taking this seriously is by appointing a very senior KC who's got very significant experience in dealing with HR and particularly sensitive investigations.

Holly Willoughby was joined by Josie Gibson on her return to This Morning yesterday

Willoughby appears emotional alongside co-host Josie Gibson and they share a hug yesterday

Holly Willoughby and co-presenter Josie Gibson hold hands on This Morning yesterday

'Because there are multiple things we have to take into account here around privacy and so on, and it's appropriate that actually the KC establishes the facts, gets to the bottom of what's happened, and that's exactly what we're doing.'

Holly Willougby's This Morning statement on her return yesterday 'Hi there. Good morning. Josie (Gibson), thank you for being here. Right, deep breath. Firstly, are you OK? It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. 'And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have - shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions. 'You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process. 'And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone. 'I hope that, as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other. 'And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning. 'Myself, Josie (Gibson), Dermot (O'Leary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.' Advertisement

This was not the first time Mr Nicolson had criticised Mr Frizell's reaction.

Yesterday, he tweeted in response to the Sky News clip: 'This is a deeply inappropriate and disrespectful way to respond to questions about safeguarding vulnerable staff and bullying in the workplace at ITV.'

Former This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes and former resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh have both made allegations of a 'toxic' culture behind the scenes.

Holmes has alleged there was a 'total cover-up' over the Schofield affair, while Dr Ranj said he raised concerns about 'bullying and discrimination' two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was 'managed out' for whistleblowing.

In a letter from ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall to Parliament last Wednesday, she said an external review conducted following a complaint made by Dr Ranj found 'no evidence of bullying or discrimination'.

Meanwhile, former This Morning head of news Emily Maddick, who worked on the show from September to December 2019, claimed she quit the programme due to 'bullying, sexism and a toxic culture of fear and intimidation'.

On Saturday, Mr Frizell told a Sky News reporter to 'read between the lines' amid claims of toxicity, adding: 'I think there's some scores being settled.'

Dame Carolyn has been called to a parliamentary committee on June 14 to answer questions about the broadcaster's approach to safeguarding and complaint handling following Schofield's exit.

She has confirmed she has instructed barrister Jane Mulcahy KC of Blackstone Chambers to carry out an external review of the facts.

Today's committee hearing also featured Khalid Hayat, director of strategy and consumer insight at Channel 4, and Mitchell Simmons, vice president of public policy and Government affairs at Paramount.

It comes after Willoughby made an emotional return to This Morning, saying she felt 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' about the events that led to Schofield's departure from the ITV programme.

Phillip Schofield told the BBC last week that Holly did not know about the affair

Willoughby appeared on screen for the first time yesterday following the shock departure of her former co-host Schofield and his subsequent revelation of an affair with a younger ITV male employee.

Seated next to her temporary co-host Josie Gibson, Willoughby said: 'Josie, thank you for being here. Right, deep breath.'

She continued: 'Firstly, are you OK? I hope so. It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil. And I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have - shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions.'

During interviews last week, Schofield told The Sun and the BBC that Willoughby did not know about the 'unwise, but not illegal' affair, and has apologised for lying to her.

Dressed in a sleeveless white buttoned dress, Willoughby continued: 'You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt that they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That is a lot to process.

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on the sofa of ITV's This Morning last month, on May 11

'And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us all now is a desire to heal, for the health and wellbeing of everyone.'

Schofield has spoken about the toll the fallout of the scandal has had on his mental health, telling The Sun it has had a 'catastrophic effect' on his mind and he is currently getting by 'hour by hour'.

In a statement she wrote herself, Willoughby thanked viewers for their support, saying: 'I hope that as we start this new chapter, and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

'And from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages and thank you for being here this morning.

'Myself, Josie, Dermot (O'Leary), Alison (Hammond), Craig (Doyle), and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you that, this show that we love.'

Willoughby also made her return to social media on Tuesday for the first time since Schofield's explosive departure from This Morning.

The TV presenter has not shared a permanent post on her personal Instagram account since May 18.

On Tuesday she shared a photo of herself in the dress she will wear for the live broadcast, which she will host with Josie Gibson.

Sporting a floral Ghost dress and nude high heeled sandals, Willoughby can be seen smiling for the camera.

She captioned the post: 'Morning Tuesday... see you on @thismorning at 10am with @josiegibson85... the wonderful @sarah.beeny joins us today to talk about her incredibly important and personal documentary.'
A homeless man who was tasered as he watched Metropolitan police officers shoot his two dogs dead in a clip that sparked public fury, cried in court today as his dangerous dog charge was read out.

Louis Turnboll, of no fixed address, is accused of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog after a woman was allegedly attacked by one of them, which he previously denied. He will face trial next year.

Viral video footage posted on social media showed officers pursuing the 46-year-old, who was holding the two dogs on a short lead beside a canal in Limehouse in East London last month.

The situation quickly escalated, seeing Turnboll tasered to the ground, while both animals were shot dead. Witnesses on the balconies of surrounding flats watched the incident from above.

Today, Turnboll appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court where it was decided he was too unwell to enter a plea.

Louis Turnboll, of no fixed address, is accused of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog after a woman was allegedly attacked in Limehouse, East London

Louis Turnboll (pictured) joins Animal rights protesters at the time held a vigil for the two dogs that were killed

Extra policing was in place as a large number of supporters had been expected to turn up - but only a handful were in the public gallery, court officials said.

He cried in the public gallery as the dangerous dog charge was read out. Pamela Rose, defending, said: 'He (Turnboll) should really be in hospital, but felt he needed to be here today.'

The Met Police faced a fierce backlash after they were called to the incident just after 5pm on May 7.

It had been reported that a woman's leg had been injured by one of the dogs, but she did not require hospital treatment.

A petition was launched following the death of the dogs, named Millions and Marshall, with animal rights campaigners calling the killing 'barbaric' and 'abhorrent'.

It accused officers of causing 'suffering' to the animals.

Footage later emerged of Turnbull sharing an intimate moment with his dog

Animal Rising protesters outside New Scotland Yard holding a sign in memory of Marshall and Millions, the two dogs shot dead by Met Police officers, on May 12

Animal rights campaign group, Animal Rising, also held a candlelit vigil in memory of the two dogs.

A previous statement from the group said: 'We know this is wrong. Heartbreaking footage first uploaded to social media last night shows the Met Police shooting dead two distressed dogs who were on a lead and realistically did not represent any danger to the public nor the police.

Scotland Yard insist its officers did nothing wrong by killing the 'dangerous' pets and arresting their owner.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro told Turnboll to return to the court on September 15 to enter his plea, with a provisional trial date set for February 5 2024.

Turnboll previously admitted one count of being in possession or custody of a dog while disqualified from owning or keeping a dog.
Prince Harry today told a hacking case how he feared rumours about Major James Hewitt 'being my biological father' could have 'ousted' him from the Royal Family.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, said he was 18 when he first read a newspaper story reporting rumours about his parentage, before later realising the timeline did not fit.

The duke said in a witness statement given to the High Court: Numerous newspapers had reported a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born.

'At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born.'

Harry added that he only learned the timeline did not work until around 2014, when he was around 30.

Harry said he was a teenager when he heard cruel and hurtful stories James Hewitt (pictured) was his real father  before discovering aged 30 that the timeline did not fit

The duke continued: At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me. They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories.

He added: Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family?

The fifth in line to the throne has become the first senior royal to give evidence in one of the monarchs courts in 132 years, as he sues the Mirrors publisher for alleged hacking, which it denies.

His bombshell remarks were made in a written witness statement, which he had prepared in advance. Today, he swore on oath it was true.

The duke, dressed in a navy blue suit with a white shirt and purple tie, arrived in a black Range Rover at the Royal Courts of Justices modern wing, the Rolls Building.

READ MORE - Harry says Government has 'hit rock bottom' Advertisement

He stepped into the Court 15 witness box at 10.28am.

In an astonishing trashing of the convention that royals avoid meddling in politics, Harry raged about the 'state of our Press and our Government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

And in one of his most outspoken attacks on the British Press yet, Harry demanded: 'How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?'

The prince proclaimed he was motivated by wanting to 'save journalism as a profession'.

During cross-examination today, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, asked Harry if he had meant 'blood on their hands' in relation to a specific article, and quizzed him on what he meant by it.

Harry said: 'Some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases, speaking personally, death.'

He then said his reference to 'blood on their hands' was 'more broadly towards the Press' in general, adding: 'I haven't named the journalists in that particular paragraph.'

Many of his bombshell remarks were made in a written witness statement, which he had prepared in advance and swore on oath was true

An usher handed him a Bible and asked him to hold it in a raised hand.

She asked him to repeat after her: 'I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.'

Harry stared straight ahead and repeated the phrase. He was then asked by his barrister David Sherborne to confirm he would like to be referred to as Prince Harry. He asked him to view his 55-page witness statement, check his signature and confirm its truthfulness.

The duke's statement was then released to the public. It is a wide-ranging attack on the Mirror group's newspapers, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, which he claims intruded on his childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

He claims he and his mother Princess Diana were both hacked, along with his family, friends and royal aides.

His 25,538-word statement contains five mentions of his wife, Meghan, and 118 mentions of his first serious girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

Harry's statement addresses rumours that James Hewitt was his father

He blames the Press attention for Miss Davy breaking up with him, saying that ultimately she 'made the decision that a royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time'.

The Duke of Sussex jetted in to the UK from California on Monday and looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Court, saying 'good morning' to the waiting Press.

Yesterday he was criticised by one of Britain's top judges and accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case to celebrate his daughter Lilibet's birthday in Montecito before flying to Britain.

Harry and three others are suing the Mirror group claiming the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People newspaper hacked their phones or conducted other illegal activity, which is denied.
Frankie Boyle has been cleared by TV watchdog Ofcom after he joked about petrol bombing members of the royal family.

Boyle, 50, quipped that Britons should 'raise a bottle' filled with 'petrol' and a 'burning rag' to the Royal Family in the trailer for his Channel 4 documentary Frankie Boyle's Farewell to the Monarchy.

But Ofcom has now ruled the comment was 'clearly comedic' and threw out 114 complaints which claimed it incited violence towards members of the Royal Family.

The regulator also dismissed a further 22 complaints which claimed the hour-long show, which aired on April 30 this year, was disrespectful to the late Queen and Royal Family.

It comes after the regulator said it wouldn't take action over Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh's description of the Buckingham Palace balcony as 'terribly white' which received 8,371 complaints.

Boyle (left), 50, quipped that Britons should 'raise a bottle' filled with 'petrol' and a 'burning rag' to the Royal Family in the trailer for his Channel 4 documentary Frankie Boyle's Farewell to the Monarchy. Pictured: Boyle with artist Kit Green (right)

Ofcom has now ruled the comment was 'clearly comedic' and threw out 114 complaints which claimed it incited violence towards members of the Royal Family

In the trailer for the show, which was aired in the run-up to King Charles' coronation, he said: 'Let's get out on the streets and raise a bottle to them filled with petrol and a burning rag.

And in the full documentary he added: 'I didn't make any jokes when the Queen died.

'I maintained a strict silence as I tried to sneak back out of her bedroom.'

Ofcom assessed the programme but said it did not raise issues that warranted an official investigation under the Broadcasting Code.

An Ofcom spokesman said: 'We assessed complaints from viewers who felt this comedy programme was disrespectful towards the royal family.

'We took into account audience expectations of the presenter, the fact the programme was broadcast after the watershed, and the advance warning displayed that it contained potentially offensive views about the monarchy.'

Regarding Boyle's comments in the trailer, the spokesman added: 'In our view, Frankie Boyle's delivery and the nature of the trailer, meant that these references were clearly comedic rather than a serious incitement to violence, and so we will not be pursuing this further.'

The programme saw Glasgow-born Boyle meet with royal experts to try and gain an insight into why they love the institution.

It had originally been due to air last year but was postponed following the Queen's death in September.

In July last year Boyle was slammed for making a 'rape joke' about TV presenter Holly Willoughby.

Boyle on stage during day three of Latitude Festival 2022 at Henham Park last year where he made a controversial joke about Holly Willoughby

The Scottish comedian described a game about 'killing and sh***ing' people  which included Miss Willoughby  during a set at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

Sources recalled Boyle saying: 'I'd obviously kill her and rape her afterwards. I'm joking  I'd rape her first.'

The comedian has also previously made jokes about Katie Price's autistic son Harvey.

Following his comment about Harvey and a series of offensive jokes about the Paralympic Games, Channel 4 bosses ruled out the possibility he would return to the channel in 2013.

Prior to being given his New World Order show, Boyle had been axed from a Comic Relief broadcast by BBC bosses after he said he wished the Queen had died before her Diamond Jubilee.

In a 10-minute routine on Russell Brand's Give It Up For Comic Relief event at London's Wembley Arena in 2013, he also drew gasps from the 12,500-strong audience with a jibe at Oscar Pistorious.

Boyle's routine was deemed in such bad taste that it was axed from the 'almost-live' broadcast of the show on BBC Three
An American Airlines passenger is paying $42,128 in restitution after an outburst in which she spat on a fellow flier, opened the emergency exit and jumped down the slide.

Cynthia McKnight, 24 from Rochester, has been sentenced to time served and three months' probation after pleading guilty to two counts of simple assault.

Court documents say she became 'irate' after staff asked her to put away her phone as the plane prepared for takeoff, on a flight from Buffalo to Chicago last April.

The US Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York said Friday that she had 'engaged in a verbal altercation with one passenger, then spat on another.'

When the aircraft was forced to return to its gate, McKnight was said to have opened the emergency door and jumped down the inflatable slide onto the tarmac.

Cynthia McKnight (pictured) was sentenced to three years' probation for the 2022 'rampage'

Officials said last year she managed to get across the open the main boarding door, causing the inflatable slide to deploy automatically, which she jumped down.

When she noticed a fellow flier filming her she became irritated and spat at them, the affidavit said.

She was quickly caught and taken into custody, telling officials she had been drinking.

A contemporary statement from American Airlines read: 'The individual was quickly apprehended by local law enforcement and has been placed on American's internal refuse list pending further investigation.

'We thank our team members for their professionalism and action to ensure the safety of our customers and crew.'

Spencer Brown, offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, was on board the flight .

He tweeted the commotion, writing: 'Sitting on a plane. A lady is p***ed. Lady pulls the emergency inflatable slide to escape the plane. Lady is running wild through the tarmac currently. Cops have arrived. Flight ruined. Memories made.'

The flight was taken out of service after the incident and the 65 passengers on board provided with alternative transport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

American Airlines estimated that the cost of rebooking passengers and replacing the emergency slide would have cost around $50,000.

She agreed to pay $42,128 in restitution The Independent reported.

In January, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that McKnight had pleaded guilty to two counts of simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, which each carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Since the pandemic, the number of reported 'air rage' cases has spiked.

A typical year could have seen 100 to 150 reports, according to CNBC, but in 2021 there were 5,700 reported.

Mask compliance was a major cause of conflict and frustration as lockdown rules eased up.

Alcohol also proves a common factor in abuse, with airlines including American Airlines placing new restrictions on consumption in recent years.

The trend has been reported worldwide; in the UK, air rage incidents trebled between 2022 and 2019.

Globally, incidents with unruly passengers on flights rose by almost 50 per cent in 2022 compared with the previous year, according to a new report.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) gathered data recording one incident for every 568 flights across 2022 compared to one incident for every 835 flights in 2021 - around a 47 per cent increase.

Non-compliance with flight staff instructions, verbal abuse, and drunkenness accounted for the three most common incidents, IATA recorded.

Image shows the emergency door open and slide deployed after McKnight's outburst

In March, an American Airlines passenger was arrested after 'urinating' on a fellow passenger.

Aryan Vohra was arrested and banned from future flights after the incident on a flight from New York to New Delhi.

In January, a vice president at banking giant Wells Fargo was fired after he was accused of urinating on a 72-year-old woman while traveling between New York City and Mumbai.
Prince Harry's 25,538-word witness statement was released today as he began giving evidence for his phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Mirror.

The Duke of Sussex has complained in the High Court document about the 'state of our press and our government - both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

The 550-page document contains five mentions of the 38-year-old prince's wife Meghan Markle and 118 mentions of his first serious girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

It also labels Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell a 'two-faced s***', and reveals Harry was worried he would be expelled from Eton for taking drugs.

In addition, the Duke said Diana's paranoia mirrored his own fears of friends betraying him, and he is exposing media 'criminality' for moral reasons.

The document also said stories about James Hewitt being his 'biological father' made him fear 'I might be ousted from the Royal Family'.

Read Harry's statement in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) here:
Police are searching a river more than 17 years after a woman went missing in Leicester.

Malgorzata Wnuczek, then 27, disappeared on 31, May 2006. She was last seen after catching a bus from her workplace at Peter Jackson Logistics into Leicester city centre.

The last contact the mother had with her family, who called her Gosia, was via text message two days before.

A re-appeal from both her loved ones and police in 2016 failed to find her.

Police have now launched a renewed appeal for information and specialist teams are today carrying out a search of the River Soar, around the area of the Mill Lane bridge.

A 39-year-old man has also been arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

Malgorzata Wnuczek was 27 when she was last seen - two days ago she turned 44 years old

Police have now launched a renewed appeal for information, 17 years on, and are searching a river

Detectives believe there may be people within Leicesters Polish community who know what happened to her.

Officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) have been continuing to work in partnership with policing colleagues from Malgorzatas native Poland.

Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, senior investigating officer, said: 'Malgorzata was 27 when she was last seen. Two days ago it was her 44th birthday.

'Officers both in the UK and in Poland have remained in contact with her family since she was last seen. Following information provided to us by our Polish colleagues, we are carrying out a search of the River Soar in the hope we might find something that can help us to establish Malgorzata's whereabouts.

'Since the investigation began, more than 2,000 potential witnesses have raised more than 2,500 lines of enquiry, with more than 100 statements taken. But we still do not know where Malgorzata is or what might've happened to her.

Detectives believe there may be people within Leicesters Polish community who know what happened to Malgorzata

'However, I firmly believe there are people out there who do. For more than 17 years, her family have lived their lives in darkness and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have.'

She made a direct appeal 'to the people of Leicester  and in particular our Polish community  to come forward if they have any information that could help.

'You might think what you know is insignificant, but it might just be something that leads us to Malgorzata.

'What have you heard? What do you know? Any details you're able to provide could be of great importance.'

You can pass on information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and quoting incident 362 of 2 June. Alternatively call 101.
French air traffic controller strikes are wrecking the plans of British holidaymakers after Ryanair cancelled 400 flights throughout Europe.

Staff walkouts have forced hundreds of flights to be grounded, sparking complaints from passengers about four-hour delays and being stuck on planes with dwindling food supplies and 'just crisps and fizzy pop' for sustenance.

One mother told MailOnline her 19-year-old disabled son's flight cancellation on Sunday left him and his friend stranded in Paris yesterday, having to wait until Thursday for a flight home. The teenager had only brought enough medication and hearing aids for the long weekend, mother Haleh Paul said.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary expressed frustration that overflights across Europe are being cancelled, rather than French domestic flights.

He said: 'It's absolutely indefensible that flights going from Ireland to Italy, from Poland to Portugal, or from Spain to Germany are being cancelled simply because the French want to prioritise their domestic flights and cancel all the overflights.'

Air traffic controllers are needed to make contact during overflights, where planes are flying through the French airspace. Airline EasyJet also saw cancellations and delays.

STRANDED ABROAD? IS YOUR HOLIDAY RUINED? Send your holiday hell story and pictures to hannah.mcdonald@mailonline.co.uk

A passenger ended up stuck on a Ryanair plane, writing on Twitter they said: 'Flight FR7045 dep 7.55am from Malaga to Dublin delayed 1hr30mins due to #Frenchairtraffic strikes but glad to be on home soil @Ryanair, thanks for not cancelling my flight'

Staff walkouts in France have forced hundreds of flights to be grounded, the budget airline said

It was not just Ryanair that faced issues, as EasyJet flights were cancelled and passengers were stranded in Nice last night

Passengers affected by the cancellations and delays voiced their frustrations on Twitter.

One user wrote: 'Very confused, sat on flight FR455 FEU-NCL with delays due to French air strike. Already delayed by two hours but being told we're now going to be sat not moving for a further two hours?

'Why put us on the plane? Please communicate what the situation is. @Ryanair also doesn't help the situation when two thirds of the refreshments are out of stock. Not hot food etc? Just crisps and fizzy pop.'

Another delayed passenger wrote: 'Flight FR7045 dep 7.55am from Malaga to Dublin delayed 1hr30mins due to #Frenchairtraffic strikes but glad to be on home soil @Ryanair, thanks for not cancelling my flight.'

Haleh Paul, the mother of the 19-year-old disabled teenager, said: 'I and the other set of the family had to scramble around from the UK to change their flight and find alternative accommodation for them.

'I am sure I am not the only one in this boat. But when you plan for a long weekend as a young adult and it ends up being a week, with no extra medication, hearing aid batteries or change of clothes, it's very worrying.'

However not everyone saw it as bad, with David Wilson posting a selfie on social media writing: 'Just got a message from Ryanair... my flight home on Tuesday has been cancelled due to air traffic control strikes in France so we can't fly over France ... oh well [laughing emojis]'.

It was not just Ryanair that faced issues, as EasyJet flights were cancelled, with people stranded in Nice last night after Edinburgh flights were put on hold.

Last minute flight cancellations were also seen at Bristol, with one Twitter user posting a picture of queues on Saturday, asking EasyJet to pay for his missed trip. It was not known if this delay was due to strikes.

In a recorded statement, Mr O'Leary said: 'I'm speaking to you this morning Tuesday from our Dublin operation centre with the bad news that again today we have had to cancel just about 400 flights of the 3200 flights we had scheduled to operate today.

'All of these flights have been cancelled because of the latest French ATC strike.'

He added that the French have travel alternatives within the country, as they can take its high-speed train service or use motorways.

Last week, Ryanair submitted a petition calling for the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, to insist that France protects overflights during French ATC strikes.

The petition has so far been signed by over 1.1million of Ryanair's 'very fed up' customers.

The CEO added: 'Spain, Italy and Greece already protect these overflights so that when their national ATC unions go on strike, the overflights are not disrupted.

'We are calling on the commission today for action.'

As part of Ryanair's call to action, the airline revealed that more than 4,000 flights have been cancelled so far this year as a result of ATC strikes, 'mainly overflying France'.

In his call to the commission, he added: 'Europe is a single market. In a single market the overflights and skies over Europe must be protected. Take action.'

One person wrote on social media that the lights were turned off in the terminal where people were stranded due to flight cancellations last night

However not everyone saw it as bad, with David Wilson posting a selfie on social media writing: 'Just got a message from Ryanair... my flight home on Tuesday has been cancelled due to air traffic control strikes in France so we can't fly over France ... oh well [laughing emojis]'

Last minute flight cancellations were also seen at Bristol, with one Twitter user posting a picture of queues on Saturday

One person whose flight was cancelled took to Twitter to voice her frustrations. 'Absolute joke ours has been cancelled,' she wrote. 'Now been transferred Manchester to East Midlands with a 9-hour delay'

Jan Dent told MailOnline: 'My son, his wife and our 21-month-old granddaughter were supposed to be on an afternoon flight today from Manchester to Malaga.

'We live in Spain so don't get to see them as often as we would like to so we're looking forward to ten days together.'

She added: 'They are booked to fly again on Thursday but it means changing airport, parking, car hire etc.'

'Absolute joke ours has been cancelled,' another passenger wrote on Twitter. 'Now been transferred Manchester to East Midlands with a 9-hour delay. No idea what to do about transfers, can't get in touch with the holiday company as it's too busy and yet no compensation apparently - livid!!!'

Air traffic controllers in France, as well as members of the French national rail company SNCF, have been striking in protest against proposed pension reforms by Emmanuel Macron.

His reforms would see the retirement age in France increased from 62 to 64 years old.

It would also force workers to contribute to the pension system for longer, as state pensions in the country are financed by a payroll tax.

Indeed, the public are not just angry at Macron for increasing the retirement age, but also because he used a special presidential decree (Article 49.3) to pass his proposals through the National Assembly without approval.

This has been perceived as undemocratic. Civilians and workers also argue that, if he is using Article 49.3 to increase the retirement age now, there is nothing to stop him doing so again with other legislation in the future.

Protests have been ongoing since January 2023.
Three police forces are working together to investigate if there are any links between the deaths - sparking fears of a serial killer in Portland

The sister of a woman found dead in Portland has warned that the 'numbers are rising' after six bodies were discovered in three months.

Joanna Speaks, 32, was found in a rural area in Oregon, within 100 miles of the other five women who were discovered dead in suspicious circumstances  sparking fears of a serial killer.

She is the only one to have been officially ruled a homicide, with a medical examiner saying she had signs of blunt-force trauma to the head and neck.

Her sister, Robyn, told NewsNation's 'Banfield' that authorities have been 'very helpful' in her sister's case but raised fears that 'women are dying'.

'I think that they (police) are trying to make sure that they keep the public from being too freaked out about a serial killer. Either way, women are dying. And the numbers are rising' she said.

Joanna Speaks, 32, was found in a rural area in Oregon, within 100 miles of the other five women who were discovered dead in suspicious circumstances  sparking fears of a serial killer

Joanna, a mother-of-three and recovering drug addict, was found dead in a barn on April 8, shortly after she vanished.

Police say her body had been moved to the location where she was found after she had been killed.

All six women were found in discarded barns, on the side of the road or hidden among bushes, with the first discovered on February 19 and the most recent on May 7.

Police have remained tight-lipped about the cause of death of the other five women.

Robyn added that her sister was 'fun and excited about life' but struggled with addiction and homelessness.

'The police have not said anything to us about linking them, but we do know that some of the other girls have that kind of demographic,' she said.

'We are reaching out to the families of the other women, and we have had a lot of tips from the community, and we are feeding everything we get to detectives so nothing goes unseen or unheard.'

Three local police departments are working together to see if the deaths may be connected, though it is unclear if or how they are linked.

Paul Holes, an investigator who assisted with identifying the Golden State Killer and his arrest, has warned that the victims were 'in a vulnerable population.'

Speaking to Banfield, he said: 'Victimology is huge. It sounds like some of these victims were in a vulnerable population.

'And right now, in my experience that population is where the predators are going because they are trying to find the victims in order to be able to satisfy their own needs.

'Oftentimes, even very experienced homicide investigators have never worked that type of case.

Her sister Robyn told NewsNation's Banfield that authorities have been 'very helpful' in her sister's case, adding that 'women are dying'

The women's bodies were all found within 100 miles of each other in near Portland, Oregon, between February 19 and May 7

On April 30 Bridget Leann Ramsey Webster, 31, was found dead, and was known to frequent central Portland, according to police.

On April 24, police found the bodies of an unidentified Native American or Alaskan woman (left in a computer generated image). The same day, Charity Perry (right) was also found

The last body to be found was that of Ashley Real, 22. Her remains were spotted by a fisherman in a heavily wooded area in Eagle Creek on May 7. She was last seen on surveillance footage at a fast food restaurant on March 27 (right)

Kristin Smith, 22, was found on February 19. She had been missing since December

'There are some subtleties that the offender may be leaving behind across multiple cases that are being missed.'

He added that cops need to find something that connects the killings and said authorities are typically 'ill-prepared' for serial killer cases.

Kristin Smith, 22, was found on February 19 after vanishing in late December. Her remains were uncovered in a wooded area near an intersection in Pleasant Valley.

Medical examiners have not yet ruled on a cause of death, and her family have been conducting their own searches for her and set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.

On April 24, Charity Perry, 24, was found dead near Ainsworth State Park, but officers have not released any further information for fear of compromising the investigation.

An unidentified woman was found the same day as Perry near an interstate, and authorities say she is of Native American of Native Alaskan descent.

She had two distinctive tattoos: a black music note with the letter V, and a Buddha on her right upper back.

When she was found dead, she was wearing rings and bracelets, a green long sleeve shirt, a black and white zip-up jacket, jeans and black and white Adidas cleats.

Bridget Leann Ramsey Webster, 31, who was known to frequent central Portland according to police, was found dead on April 30.

The final body that was found by police was Ashley Real, 22, whose remains were spotted by a fisherman in a heavily wooded area in Eagle Creek on May 7.

She was last seen on surveillance footage at a fast food restaurant on March 27.

'We are working diligently with those respective law enforcement agencies to determine if these deaths are connected,' Deputy John Plock of the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office told DailyMail.com.

'Our detectives are actively working every lead, including tips we have received.'
Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has denied fraud after he was accused of hiding more than 400 million from the government in a trust in Singapore.

The 92-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea.

Ecclestone, who was wearing a dark suit and dark glasses, was supported by his wife Fabiana Flosi.

The former F1 supremo is accused of falsely claiming he had only set up a single trust for his daughters and indicating that, other than that trust, he was 'not the settlor nor beneficiary of any trust in or outside the UK'.

Bernie Ecclestone, who was wearing a dark suit and dark glasses, was supported by his wife Fabiana Flosi as he appeared at court

He stood in the well of the court near his lawyers to confirm his name before entering a not guilty plea to a single count of fraud between July 13 2013 and October 5 2016.

The billionaire faces trial at the same court on November 16 in front of High Court judge Mr Justice Bryan following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) into his finances.

He was granted unconditional bail ahead of his six week trial.

The charge alleges that Ecclestone 'dishonestly' made a representation to officers of HMRC 'which was, and which you knew was or might have been, untrue or misleading'.

The charge against him was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in July last year following an investigation by HMRC, which said the probe had been 'complex and worldwide'.

The billionaire faces trial at the same court on November 16 in front of High Court judge Mr Justice Bryan

Chief crown prosecutor Andrew Penhale said at the time: 'The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from HMRC and has authorised a charge against Bernard Ecclestone of fraud by false representation in respect of his failure to declare to HMRC the existence of assets held overseas believed to be worth in excess of 400 million.'

Former racing car driver Ecclestone oversaw Formula One from the late 1970s until 2017.

He was also co-owner of Queens Park Rangers from 2007 to 2011 with Flavio Briatore.

The Sunday Times Rich List ranks Ecclestone, who has been married three times, as the 65th wealthiest person in the country, with an estimated net worth of 2.5billion.
An Australian tradesman who was jailed for an alleged drunk and naked rampage in a conservative Indonesian province has been freed.

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, had been in an Indonesian prison cell since late April after he was accused by police of drunken attacks on multiple people, including on one man who suffered serious leg injuries.

His release comes after he reached a compensation deal with the fisherman's family, reportedly agreeing to pay him AU$25,000 to prevent the case from going to court.

The Queensland surfer apologised for the incident in a news conference after his release from Sinabang prison on Tuesday, in which he acknowledged the stupidity of his actions.

'I'm very, very relieved and happy,' he said. 'I made a fool of myself and it was shown publicly worldwide.'

Australian tradesman Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones - who was jailed in April for an alleged drunk and naked rampage in a conservative Indonesian province - was freed on Tuesday

Mr Risby-Jones (seen in a Facebook photo) had been behind bars in Indonesia since late April

The Queensland surfer apologised for the incident in a news conference after his release from Sinabang prison on Tuesday. He is seen here speaking to police upon his release

Mr Risby-Jones went on to thank the Indonesian prosecutors 'for helping me', as well as the police 'and everyone who helped us finalise... the deal so I could go home'.

The ABC reported he will appear at an immigration office on Wednesday morning to sign some paperwork before heading back to Australia.

Local authorities previously said the $25,000 compo was handed over in cash last month; however, the lawyer for the Noosa local did not confirm that amount.

If he had gone to court and been found guilty, Mr Risby-Jones faced five years in a tough Indonesian prison.

Parading foreigners accused of crimes is common practice in the Indonesian justice system - but things could have been a lot worse for Mr Risby-Jones, who will soon be back in Australia

Mr Risby-Jones's release follows a compensation deal with fisherman Edi Ron (pictured), whom he injured, reportedly agreeing to pay him AU$25,000 to prevent the case from going to court

The incident took place in the highly conservative Aceh province on the northwest tip of Sumatra Island.

It is the only province in Indonesia governed by Sharia law and prohibits the drinking of alcohol.

The fisherman Edi Ron, who was allegedly knocked off his motorcycle by Mr Risby-Jones, required at least 50 stitches in his foot, according to Indonesian police chief Jatmiko.

Mr Risby-Jones's actions reportedly caused an angry mob to threaten to burn down his accommodation.

He had reportedly been drinking vodka before he stripped in his room at the Moon Beach Resort sometime after midnight.

Local police allege he left his room still naked and assaulted a security officer who attempted to stop him before going on to cause havoc in the streets.

Police alleged Mr Risby-Jones left his hotel in a drunken state just after midnight on April 27, punched a security guard in the neck and knocked Mr Ron off his motorbike
Kemi Badenoch had a furious bust-up with her former Tory Brexiteer allies today as she refused to back their demand for a 'bonfire' of all remaining EU laws.

The Trade Secretary has sparked fury among the Eurosceptic right, many of whom backed her to be party leader last year, by watering down the Retained EU Law Bill.

The plan to remove 4,000 EU laws still enforceable in the UK by the end of December has been reduced to 600 after she effectively admitted it was not possible.

Grilled on the change this morning by the Brexiteer-dominated European Scrutiny Committee, she said there would be no bonfire, adding: 'I'm not an arsonist, I'm a Conservative.

'I don't think a bonfire of regulations is what we wanted. What we wanted was reform and removal of the things we didn't need.'

She also had a spat with committee member David Jones after he accused her of being 'disrespectful, by changing a law that has been approved by the Commons without telling MPs.

Grilled on the change this morning by the Brexiteer-dominated European Scrutiny Committee, she said there would be no bonfire, adding: 'I'm not an arsonist, I'm a Conservative.'

She also had a spat with committee member David Jones after he criticised the time it has taken her to appear before the committee to discuss the issue.

'Something you're not saying is we had private meetings where we discussed this extensively  it's public knowledge that we had private meetings, because when I thought we were having private meetings, I was reading the content in the Daily Telegraph,' she said.

In his 2022 Tory leadership campaign, Rishi Sunak pledged to 'review or repeal' EU laws within his first 100 days in No 10 - a deadline that passed in February.

Instead of issuing a short list of laws that would be kept, the government now plans to release a list of up to 600 laws that will be removed.

Officials have previously said that the 2023 deadline should be extended to 2026 to ensure it can be done properly.
The couple got engaged six months later and now married

She's been shot at, lectured by her entire family and dragged out of her home at gunpoint, but the wife of Australia's most recognisable bikie says she's not going anywhere.

Dayne Brajkovich and Jacinta Hill met, like thousands of couples during the Covid pandemic, on Tinder while the whole country was trapped in lockdown.

Within a couple of days of matching on April Fool's Day 2020, they took a stroll around Perth's picturesque Swan River.

It was love at the first sight for the inked-up couple who were engaged just six months later.

Ms Hill, 31, moved into his million-dollar home with her daughter Audrina, now 11, before they bought a new one together last September and got married on the balcony on November 12.

Former Hells Angels enforcer Dayne Brajkovich (right), 43, met Jacinta Hill (left), 31, on Tinder during the Covid pandemic

Ms Hill (pictured) moved into his million-dollar home with her daughter Audrina, now 11, before they bought a new one together last September

'Jancinta and I have been through a lot of bulls**t the past few years and she's still here. She's always got my back, she's what you would call solid,' Brajkovich, 43, told Daily Mail Australia.

'We clicked because neither of us drink, smoke, or take drugs.'

Ms Hill never once flinched, despite her lover being the sergeant-at-arms of the notorious Hells Angels bikie gang when they met, until he was kicked out early last year.

'I knew Jacinta was the one when she stuck around after the TRG (police Tactical Response Group) surrounded the house at dinner time with a Bearcat armoured vehicle at the front and forced us outside at gunpoint,' Brajkovich said.

'They even had red laser dots from their semi-automatic weapons pointed at us as we were instructed to walk out of the house by a loud microphone.'

Their romance nearly ended in tragedy when rival Rebels bikie Jason Kemp fired five or six shots into Brajkovich's car in the driveway of his previous house in March 2021 while Ms Hill and Audrina were sitting in the front seats.

There were just six people at their wedding, including the celebrant and photographer. Not even their parents have seen the photos.

Afterwards they drove away on custom motorbikes with their names on the number plates - 'DAYNE' and 'JACINT4'.

The inked-up couple got engaged just six months after meeting and were married last year

Brajkovich told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Hill has 'always got my back, she's what you would call solid'. He added that the pair click because 'neither of us drink, smoke, or take drugs'

Ms Hill shares her bikie beau's love of tattoos, sporting colourful ink that completely covers her legs, lower torso, and right arm

The couple resemble a modernist painting on their tropical vacations, with Brajkovich famously tattooed on literally every inch of his body

Ms Hill shares her bikie beau's love of tattoos, sporting extensive colourful ink that completely covers her legs, lower torso, and right arm.

The couple resemble a modernist painting on their tropical vacations, with Brajkovich famously tattooed on literally every inch of his body, including Ms Hill's and Audrina's names on the back of his head.

They had the wedding date tattooed during their honeymoon to Vietnam, him on his shoulder and she on her right hand, and Brajkovich inked her phone number on his arm so she could bail him out whenever he was locked up.

Ms Hill also testified in court that she put makeup over her husband's gang tattoos every morning before he went to work, so he wouldn't be arrested for breaking Western Australia's controversial laws banning the public display of bikie insignia and slogans.

Brajkovich later had the tattoos covered with other ones since he was no longer a member of the club anyway.

But Ms Hill's family never accepted her undying love for her bad boy boyfriend, and relations have not thawed since they tied the knot. He is still banned from Sunday dinners and hasn't even met her parents.

Brajkovich got Ms Hill's and Audrina's names tattooed on the back of his head and the couple's wedding date on his shoulder

The ex-bikie even got his wife's phone number inked on his arm so she could bail him out whenever he was locked up

Ms Hill's family have never accepted her relationship with Brajkovich, and relations have not thawed since they tied the knot

'They want nothing to do with me, they prefer to read the papers and make their own judgment,' Brajkovich said.

'I've tried, I rocked up to Jacinta's mother's work once to let her know Jacinta was having a semi-serious procedure in hospital but that didn't get me any points.

'I did nearly get their daughter and granddaughter shot, so that's fair enough.

'But despite what Jacinta's family thinks of me, she still decided to marry me. I think she likes being on the back in the fast lane with me.'

Ms Hill promised that despite all the marriage has cost her, she would never leave him - but there was one catch.

'If Dayne joins another [bikie] club, I'm not sticking around,' she said.
This is the bizarre moment a man, thought to be a traveller, trotted a pony into a pub ahead of Europe's largest horse fair as stunned drinkers watched on in bewilderment.

The footage, captured on Monday at the Crown and Cushion Pub in Appleby, Cumbria, shows a white pony being trotted through the entrance and into a bar area filled with drinkers.

In the video, a man in a white T-shirt and shorts can be seen walking in with the pony as stunned drinkers watch on and children get up to stroke it.

It is thought the animal's owner was hoping to secure an impromptu sale so brought it through the bar of the pub to show it off.

The 250-year-old Appleby Horse Fair begins on Thursday but already furious locals, who liken it to the Wild West, say there have been numerous incidents of disorder and disruption.

In the video, a man in a white T-shirt and shorts can be seen walking in with the pony as stunned drinkers watch on and children get up to stroke it

One onlooker said: 'You can't believe the audacity of these people to bring a horse trotting straight into a pub.

'No one blames the landlord, there's nothing he can do when his pub has been completely taken over, it's a question of mob rule and there's nothing he could have done.

'It was clear that the horse was being put up for sale and was being shown off to potential buyers.

'It's bad enough that the streets of the town are taken over for horse trading without it happening inside our pubs as well.

'Every year we go from a peaceful town to being overrun by drink-related disorder in the streets that make the place look like a town from the Wild West.'

Appleby Fair Community Group, set up by local people to oppose the 'infliction' of the fair, says there have already been numerous concerns reported.

It is thought the animal's owner was hoping to secure an impromptu sale so brought it through the bar of the pub to show it off

The AFCG reports eggs being thrown at people and passing cars, liquid thrown at people or squirted from water pistols and drunken fights breaking out on the streets of Appleby and neighbouring Kirkby Stephen.

Appleby Primary School will be closed on the first full day of the fair following a risk assessment over the safety of children.

A farmer claims travelling families have slashed open hay bales to feed horses and a new bar area will be opened in a field adjacent to the showground despite the objections of locals.

The group has carried out a survey of 500 local people with a total of 89 per cent saying they don't feel safe and 84 per cent of business owners saying their income falls.

The survey concluded: 'There is an undertone that the authorities don't listen to our suggestions, desires or concerns.

'People don't believe Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) or their local town council has any desire to change anything. Many feel it's hopeless and have come to expect they may have to put up with this every year until there is a disaster.'

Mark Jenkinson MP, who is the Conservative Party candidate for Penrith and Solway, urged police to act on behalf of local people and not let 'political correctness' stop them.

He said: 'If I am fortunate enough to be elected, I will be listening closely to residents' concerns.

'It is disappointing that some of these residents do not feel their voices are being heard by the authorities  and I would urge the police not to let political correctness get in the way of enforcing the law.'

The event in Cumbria is expected to see 30,000 visitors over the next week, 10,000 of them from the gypsy, Roma and traveller community.

In its 250 year history the fair has only been cancelled twice, the first in 2001 during the foot and mouth outbreak and the second in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year.

Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed off rural road - before being haggled over and bought.

There is a market on Jimmy Winter's Field with stalls selling everything from fashion to horse-related wares.

The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there.

It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, although more recent research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted.

The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885.

The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock.

By the 1900s it had evolved into a major traveller event which brought families from across the UK and Europe.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: 'It appears the issue was youths purchasing tomato ketchup and eggs and throwing them around in the street.

'We have liaised with the local shops re advice around sale of such items to children.'
Internal polling from backers of Ron DeSantis show the Florida governor gaining ground against primary competitor Donald Trump in the first-in-the-nation primary contest state of Iowa.

A new Never Back Down PAC survey shared with Axios has DeSantis closing the gap between frontrunner Trump by 14 percent since his presidential announcement.

In mid-May, before DeSantis officially announced his presidential candidacy in a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk, he earned 24 percent in Iowa polling compared to Trump's 48 percent  a 24 percent gap.

Just a few weeks later, after he officially launched his campaign on May 24, the Florida governor earned 29 percent among likely Iowa caucus-goers against Trump's 39 percent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is sneaking up in the polls, now only 10% behind former President Donald Trump in Iowa

From mid-May to post-presidential announcement in late May, DeSantis closed the gap with Trump by 14 percent

Now the governor is in second place with only 10 percent between him and the former president, while the rest of the field falls further behind the two frontrunners.

But when the other candidates were taken out of the equation and DeSantis and Trump were put in a head-to-head matchup, the pro-DeSantis PAC found the two frontrunners are effectively tied in Iowa  compared to the governor's 14-point deficit in mid-May.

Zooming out to the national level, polling shows DeSantis usually at least 20 points behind Trump and the rest of the field failing to reach into the double-digits.

A new CNN survey conducted the day of DeSantis' announcement showed Trump up 56 percent to DeSantis' 26 percent.

The new Never Back Down polling comes on the back of DeSantis' first official campaign swing through early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He will continue on to Nevada later in June.

Trump also went to Iowa last week, overlapping with the DeSantis swing.

Despite the optimistic showing from the main PAC backing DeSantis' GOP primary bid, other polling shows that he has not earned the expected post-announcement boost.

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis joined her husband on his tour through Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina last week  helping bring a star quality to the candidate's first campaign swing

Trump is still the clear frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary race, holding a commanding lead against all 10 other candidates

There are 11 candidates in the running so far, with at least two more waiting to announce

A Morning Consult poll taken after DeSantis entered the race shows his standing only increasing by 1 percent  and still trailing Trump by 38 percent.

DeSantis started the year showing some early leads over Trump, but some pollsters claim his reluctance to announce his candidacy, and keeping one-foot in the race and one-foot out, hurt him among voters.

There are already 11 candidates in the GOP primary race. Among those actually earning some polling ground are former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and current South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

Other more long-shot candidates in the running are biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Former Vice President Mike Pence filed appropriate paperwork on Monday to launch a bid for the White House  and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on the same day revealed that he will not be entering the race.

Others expected to wade into the 2024 waters in coming weeks are former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
A furious mother has vented her outrage after a 'God-botherer' glued a crucifix to her late baby's memorial.

Edwina Symonds last week discovered the unwanted addition to the plaque for her son Sebastian, who tragically died in July 2018 at just 10 months of age, and implored the vandal that her departed child does not need to be 'saved'.

Saying hello their 'little buddy' at Narrabeen Lagoon on Sydney's Northern beaches has become a family ritual for Ms Symonds, her husband Anthony and their two children.

But the family were disgusted to think someone would 'deface' their 'special spot'.

'To the God-botherer that vandalised our son's plaque by supergluing a cross to it!!!' Ms Symonds said in a a lengthy post on a local Facebook group.

'I imagine somewhere in whatever religion you choose to follow, there is some sort of rule that says 'don't be a lowlife by wrecking other people's property...

'If not, there should be.'

Saying hello their 'little buddy' at Narrabeen Lagoon on Sydney's Northern beaches has become a family ritual for Ms Symonds, her husband Anthony and their two children (pictured together)

Edwina Symonds discovered the unwanted addition to the plaque for her son Sebastian, who tragically died in July 2018 at just 10 months of age, and implored the vandal that her late child does not need to be 'saved'

Ms Symonds went on to say that religion is a 'nice ideal' and the person was 'entitled to their beliefs' but made it clear she didn't share them.

'I am sure you had some lovely thoughts when you were sitting with Seb like 'God took this baby to a 'better' place', or that he 'had a plan' for this child; or even the classic 'everything happens for a reason',' she wrote.

'Cool story, but please go away.

'Seb doesn't need you to 'save' him. He died already. He can't be saved.

'His short life was glorious and it doesn't require your attention.'

The family lost Seb after her husband Anthony discovered the baby boy having a severe seizure while in his cot, which he never awoke from despite being rushed to hospital.

Baby Seb (pictured with mother Edwina Symonds) was just 10 months old when he suffered a fatal seizure in 2018 due to a suspected fatal 'genetic flaw'

Subsequently the couple were told their firstborn son's death was due to a 'genetic flaw'.

Ms Symonds has written about how she and her family, which now includes children Elodie and Dash, have coped with the loss of Seb in articles and for a blog The Griefly Way.

In a 2021 article for parenting website Kidspot she described the process of grieving her son.

'Every night, I light his room and read him a bedtime story,' she wrote.

'These rituals may fade with time, but not inside my heart. I will forever be his mumma, be reading him his favourite bedtime stories and kissing his soft, angelic face with my mind. My love for him will endure.

'I am a mother without. My baby is resting, somewhere above. I cannot hold him, but I see him in the stars, and I feel him in the wind and the waves lapping our beaches.'

On Saturday Ms Symonds removed the cross with a paint scraper.

The Symonds family removed the offending cross from their son's memorial plaque on Saturday

'Order is restored! T H A N K Y O U amazing community for all of your messages of support, encouragement and offers to help clean up Seb's plaque,' she wrote in Facebook update.

'We have been overwhelmed with the reach this little story has made. We have no idea what Reddit is, but a lot more people learned about Seb there too!'

Ms Symonds advised people to tell council if anything is 'out of place' at a familiar plaque.

'These places are so special to so many, and Anthony and I are honoured that you all would like to keep Sebby's spot protected too,' she wrote.

She said those who wanted to honour Seb's memory could do so by registering to be an organ donor.

'On the day Seb died, he saved another persons life, and that is the most precious act of community that we are so proud of,' she wrote.

'Thank you again. It means so much to us live in a special place like this. Have a great weekend.'
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Prince Harry today admitted to calling Diana's former butler Paul Burrell a 'two-face s***' who was 'attention-seeking and self-interested'.

In a witness statement to a High Court hacking trial, the Duke of Sussex, 38, referred to an article published in the People in 2003 shortly after Burrell had been on trial for allegedly selling Diana's possessions.

After the case collapsed, Prince William had wanted to meet with Burrell, according to the newspaper piece, as 'the only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets'.

But Harry feared the former servant would simply use it as an opportunity to make money.

Harry told the High Court today: 'The article accurately sets out the position that my brother was open to fixing a meeting with Paul to discuss his ongoing exposes about our mother.

Princess Diana in central London with her former butler Paul Burrell in 1994

Harry on Paul Burrell

'However I had made up my mind about the kind of person I thought Paul was, and was firmly against meeting him.

'Both my brother and I had very strong feelings about how indiscrete Paul had proven to be with the way he had sold our mother's possessions and how he had given numerous interviews about her.'

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Harry claimed the People article  which claimed Harry had condemned Burrell - must have been sourced from interception of voicemails, admitting: 'I would have used the phrase 'two-face s***', as is reported, and believe this could have been lifted directly from a voicemail I had left.'

Barrister Mr Sherborne told the court today: 'Even at this very early formative stage the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown.

'Brothers can sometimes disagree but once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded and paranoia sets in.'

The fifth in line to the throne has become the first senior royal to give evidence in one of the Monarch's courts in 132 years, as he sues the Mirror's publisher for alleged hacking, which it denies.

In an astonishing trashing of the convention that royals avoid meddling in politics, Harry raged about the 'state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

Harry being cross examined by Andrew Green KC at the High Court today

Harry looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Court's modern annexe today

And in his most outspoken attack on the British Press yet, Harry demanded: 'How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness.'

His bombshell remarks were in a written witness statement, which he had prepared in advance and yesterday swore on oath was true.

An usher handed him a bible and asked him to hold it in a raised hand.

She asked him to repeat after her: 'I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.'

Harry stared straight ahead and repeated the phrase word-perfect.

He was then asked by his barrister David Sherborne to confirm he would like to be referred to as Prince Harry. He asked him to view his 55-page witness statement, check his signature and confirm its truthfulness.

The duke's statement was then released to the public. It is a wide-ranging attack on the Mirror group's newspapers, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, which he claims intruded into his childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

He claims he and his mother Princess Diana were both hacked, along with his family, friends and royal aides.

His 25,538-word statement contains five mentions of his wife, Meghan, and 118 mentions of his first serious girlfriend Chelsy Davey.

The Duke of Sussex jetted into the UK from California on Monday and looked relaxed and even smiled as he entered the High Court's modern annexe - the Rolls Building - saying 'good morning' to the waiting press.

Yesterday he was criticised by one of Britain's top judges and accused of wasting court time after missing the first day of his historic case  to celebrate his daughter Lilibet's birthday in Montecito before flying to Britain.

Harry and three others are suing the Mirror group claiming the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People newspaper hacked their phones or conducted other illegal activity, which is denied.
Prince Harry has said his late mother Princess Diana's supposed paranoia mirrored his own fears of friends betraying him, as his High Court evidence began today.

Harry told how he had heard his late mother called 'paranoid', but she was actually 'fearful of what was actually happening to her and now I know that I was the same'.

The Duke, whose mother died after a car crash in Paris in 1997, also said that his 'acute paranoia of being constantly under surveillance was not misplaced after all'.

Harry, who also gave evidence at the court In London today, claimed articles about him as a teenager made him feel constantly suspicious of those close to him - including former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke and his friend Mark 'Marko' Dyer.

In his witness statement, Harry said: 'I doubted the loyalty of Tiggy and even Marko, who I really looked up to. My brother and I even stopped talking to Marko for a long period of time. I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.'

He is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages, claiming journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called 'blagging' or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Princess Diana with her two sons Prince Harry (left) and Prince William (right) in April 1992

Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London today before giving evidence to the hearing

A court artist's sketch of Prince Harry being cross examined by Andrew Green KC today

In his statement which was released today, Harry referenced an article in the Sunday Mirror on January 5, 2003 which had the headline 'Harry - I'm going to join Army'.

The Duke said the story revealed 'details of private conversations I had with my father about my future, mainly that I didn't want to go to University and would rather join the Army'.

He said there was a 'surprising amount of accurate detail in the article', and said he would have spoken to Mr Dyer about these conversations, which was 'likely to have been on the phone and in voicemails as I was still at Eton where I boarded'.

Harry also said he 'certainly wasn't talking openly to my friends, or the Palace, about this kind of thing' and it would have 'been only a few people that I trusted the most'.

He also said: 'I wasn't talking to Harry Legge-Bourke about any of this, so I'm not sure why he's mentioned at all.'

Harry then claimed articles 'such as this, which claimed to have comments from people close to my life, contributed to the general feeling of paranoia that I was so used to living with, a feeling of not being able to trust anybody'.

He continued: 'It's bad enough at any age, but looking back, 18 years old is so young to feel constantly suspicious of everyone around you.

'At various points, I doubted the loyalty of Tiggy, Harry Legge-Bourke and even Marko, who I really looked up to.'

Harry claimed he and his brother Prince William 'even stopped talking to Marko for a long period of time'.

He added: 'It was upsetting to be questioning someone who played such an important role in my adolescence, and I felt as though I knew I could trust him but 'on the nose' information appearing in print, that only he knew about, convinced us otherwise. It was so conflicting.

'It's only now, realising what the defendant's journalists were doing, and how they were getting their information, that I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

Harry claimed articles about him made him feel constantly suspicious of those close to him - including his friend Mark 'Marko' Dyer (pictured at Kensington Palace in June 2016)

Harry also said he became suspicious of his former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke (pictured at his passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy on April 12, 2006)

'I've always heard people refer to my mother as paranoid, but she wasn't. She was fearful of what was actually happening to her and now I know that I was the same.'

Harry also wrote in the statement that articles which allegedly involved unlawful information gathering 'created a huge amount of paranoia in my relationships'.

He continued: 'I would become immediately suspicious of anyone that was named in a story about me, whether it was Mark Dyer, Tiggy or her brother, Harry, for example.

'I felt that I couldn't trust anybody, which was an awful feeling for me especially at such a young age.

'As I am uncovering the extent of the unlawful activities carried out by MGN's journalist and senior executives towards me, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family had, in fact, been misplaced, although feel sad for how much it impacted my adolescence.'

He also made 118 mentions in his statement about his first serious girlfriend Chelsy Davey.

He blamed the media attention for Miss Davey dumping him, saying: 'We could also never understand how private elements of our life together were finding their way into the tabloids, and so our circle of friends became smaller and smaller. I remember finding it very hard to trust anyone, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia.

'Of course, now that we know that this information was invariably obtained by unlawful means, these friendships were lost entirely unnecessarily, which is a matter of huge regret for me.

Harry has blamed the Press attention for his girlfriend Chelsy Davey (pictured in 2009) dumping him, saying that ultimately she 'made the decision that a Royal life was not for her'

'Ultimately, these factors led her to make the decision that a Royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time.'

The Duke also said in his written evidence that he felt 'physically sick' to learn there were eight payments to private investigators in relation to Diana.

The duke said that there were 135 separate payments related to him, and a further 154 for his associates.

He continued: 'I'm shocked and appalled at the sheer volume of payments made by MGN titles to private investigators, who are known in this litigation to have used voicemail interception and other unlawful information-gathering techniques to obtain private information about their targets, for private information about me and my associates over a 10-year period, from 1999, when I was still very much a minor, to 2009.'

The duke added: 'I now realise that my acute paranoia of being constantly under surveillance was not misplaced after all.'

'I was upset to discover the amount of suspicious call data and the 13 private investigator payments for Chelsy.

'Had she not been in a relationship with me, she would never have had to endure such a horrific experience at the hands of MGN's journalists.

'There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim. This makes me feel physically sick.'
New COO David Leavy is counseling Licht to repair staff relationships with the goal of stabilizing the network

But CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy wrote in his Reliable Sources newsletter that staffers considered his apology 'too little, too late' and they want him gone

Embattled CNN's honcho Chris Licht was ripped by his own media reporter who questioned the CEO's ability to lead following a 'blistering' and 'embarrassing' profile in The Atlantic, as its revealed that many staffers want Licht gone.

CNN's media reporter Oliver Darcy wrote in his Reliable Sources newsletter Monday that his boss had already 'alienated much of the employee base and squandered the goodwill he had when he took helm of the network.'

Licht, 51, issued a groveling apology to network staffers on a daily editorial call Monday morning, and while Darcy reported that it 'struck the right tone,' he noted that several staffers considered his contrition 'too little, too late' and 'Licht has lost the room.'

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is said to have been displeased with the piece, entitled 'Inside the Meltdown at CNN,' and agreed it was mishandled, according to those familiar with his thinking who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity. Darcy noted the Warner Bros. top name is also not blind to what is happening at the news network.

Licht remains in his position, though there are already changes underway among CNN's top brass.

CNN CEO Chris Licht was eviscerated by his own media reporter Oliver Darcy who questioned his judgement after a 'blistering' profile in The Atlantic, revealing that staffers want him gone

Darcy wrote in his Reliable Sources newsletter Tuesday that Licht had 'alienated much of the employee base and squandered the good will he had when he took helm of the network'

Darcy also revealed that the 'one near-universal sentiment' behind the scenes at CNN was that 'Licht has lost the room'

On Monday, the Daily Beast's Confider newsletter called Licht a 'dead man talking' and said that some of 'CNN's top stars' including Jake Tapper, Erin Burnett and Wolf Blitzer had 'lost confidence in the boss.'

The Atlantic article gave insight into Licht's first year, which included firing controversial host Don Lemon, moving the company away from the vision of previous CEO Jeff Zucker and blasting CNN's COVID coverage. Ratings have also tanked for CNN since Licht took over.

Darcy commented on the piece for the first time in the Monday newsletter and wasn't shy voicing his views of the aftermath. Darcy also did not hold back despite being dragged before Licht after the media reported slammed the network for its town hall with former president Donald Trump.

'There are a wide range of emotions coursing through the halls of CNN. Some staffers are frustrated. Others are angry,' Darcy wrote on Monday.

'Many are sad about the awful state of affairs that has taken hold of an organization they love.'

Darcy revealed that the 'one near-universal sentiment' behind the scenes at CNN was that 'Licht has lost the room.'

Darcy wrote that many of the staffers have 'hit a wall' with Licht, who also announced on Monday that he would relocate his office to a newsroom floor at the company's New York city Hudson Yards office.

But one anchor told Darcy: 'We don't want his office relocated to the 18th floor, we want it relocated out of the building.'

Darcy was told that CNN's newly installed Chief Operating Officer David Leavy is counseling Licht to repair staff relationships with the goal of stabilizing the ship.

The hope is to get Licht out of the news and to refocus the attention on CNN's newsroom and away from the boss, he wrote.

In the profile, Licht spoke out about CNN's approach to covering former President Donald Trump before he took over last year, and said it alienated viewers with its coverage of COVID-19 as he offered a journalist unfettered access

Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav (pictured last month) is said to have been displeased with the profile piece

Chris Licht, 51, issued a groveling apology to CNN staffers amid calls for his resignation after a scathing profile piece revealed his doubts with the news network's direction

The embattled CNN boss apologized to staffers during a call on Monday, saying: 'I fully recognize that this news cycle and my role in it overshadowed the incredible week of reporting that we just had and distracted from the work of every single journalist in this organization. And for that, I am sorry.'

In his brief remarks, the CNN boss - whose pay is estimated at $3 million a year - said he did not recognize himself in the Atlantic piece but understood employees' frustrations and is intent on earning their trust, according to sources.

He also admitted: 'I should not be in the news unless it's taking arrows for you.'

Licht, though, seemed perplexed by some portrayals in the article, telling staff members 'there are parts of that article and characterizations made where I don't recognize myself. But there are those of you who do.

'This experience has been tremendously humbling,' he added. 'And to those whose trust I lost I will fight like hell to win it back.'

Ousted CNN anchor Brian Stelter, who remains close with some employees at the network, said they are telling him they think Licht should be fired for his remarks

The CNN boss did not say why he agreed to participate in The Atlantic's profile and have reporter Tim Alberta follow him from personal training sessions at the gym to backstage network programming meetings.

And he gave no indication that he plans to step aside from the top position at CNN despite calls for his resignation.

'I know these past few days have been very hard for this group,' he said, according to former staffer Brian Stelter.

'I fully recognize that this news cycle and my role in it overshadowed the incredible week of reporting that we just had and distracted from the work of every single journalist in this org. And for that, I am sorry.'

'As I read that article, I found myself thinking CNN is not about me,' he continued. 'I should not be in the news unless I'm taking arrows for you. Your work is what should be written about.'

Licht then promised to win back staff members' trust 'because you deserve a leader who will be in the trenches, fighting to ensure CNN remains the world's most trusted name in news.'

Licht offered no indication that he plans to step aside from the top role at the news network after an embarrassing Atlantic article

David Leavy took over as COO of CNN earlier this month, apparently in hopes of containing the fallout from the story. He is pictured in 2018

Licht took over at the helm of CNN last year, but its ratings have remained historically low as he and other executives work to maintain a prime-time audience while also launching new morning programs.

The news division, which once generated more than $1billion annually, raked in just $750million - partially due to the $200million loss the company took on the total shutdown of CNN+ just one month after its highly publicized launch.

Following years of sensational coverage of the Trump White House and the COVID-19 pandemic, the network began enduring the so-called Trump slump, and even with a presidential cycle heating up, the network's numbers are down 30 percent relative to this time during the 2016 cycle.

Some staff members at the network now believe he should be fired, according to Stelter, who spoke with New York Magazine about the sentiment inside CNN.

'That anti-Licht sentiment is shared by many in the CNN rank and file, and has existed to some extent for months, but The Atlantic article cemented it,' he tweeted Sunday.

'In the words of three employees 'He's over.' 'He's done.' 'There's no coming back from that profile.''

Senior anchors, reporters and correspondents have even reportedly been phoning new Leavy to express their frustrations.

Leavy was originally scheduled to begin his new position on June 20, but network executives said he would take on the COO role on June 1, apparently in hopes of containing the fallout from the story.
A former SNP MP could lose her seat after being banned from the Common for 30 days over a cross-Britain journey she took when she knew she was ill with Covid.

The suspension handed to Margaret Ferrier, the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is long enough to trigger a recall petition in the southern Scottish seat, if voters ask for one.

A by-election would offer a glimpse of SNP fortunes as Humza Yousaf's party finds itself mired in scandal.

If Labour was able to overturn the SNP's 5,320 majority from 2019 it would hand Sir Keir Starmer a boost in his hopes of entering No10 after the next general election.

The Commons voted 185 to 40 to approve the motion to suspend Ms Ferrier, who was in the Commons chamber to learn her fate. While the SNP voted for a ban to trigger a by-election, 32 Tories supported her and 290 abstained.

The suspension handed to Margaret Ferrier, the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is enough to trigger a recall petition in the southern Scottish seat.

They included Daniel Kawczynski, former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, and DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.

Ms Ferrier was accompanied in the Commons chamber by Conservative former minister Andrew Selous and SNP MP Carol Monaghan.

At one point, Mr Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, was seen walking to the opposition benches to shake her hand.

Under parliamentary rules, any ban of ten days or more allows a recall petition to be held.

If more than 10 per cent of the electorate in her seat sign it, a by-election will be held.

Michael Shanks, Scottish Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said: 'This is welcome news for those of us who live here, but it is a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.'

In March, Parliament's Committee on Standards recommended the punishment for Ms Ferrier over her breach of coronavirus rules.

The MP travelled in and around Glasgow and to London in September 2020 after taking a test, instead of isolating.

While awaiting the results, she spoke in the Houses of Parliament and visited places in London. She then returned to Scotland after receiving a positive result.

Ms Ferrier, who was kicked out by the SNP over the astonishing breach, has already been ordered to do 270 hours of unpaid work after admitting culpably and recklessly exposing the public 'to the risk of infection, illness and death'.

SNP by-election campaign coordinator David Linden said: 'There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferrier's Covid rule-breach first came to light in 2020.

'People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

'The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign - and we'll work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.'
Security minister Tom Tugendhat today issued a stark warning to China that operating sinister 'police stations' in the UK will not be tolerated.

The message came after a government probe into claims that Beijing was running three sites in the UK, in Croydon, Glasgow and Hendon.

Although they were claimed to be supporting Chinese nationals abroad, concerns were raised that they were actually geared to scare and control dissenters.

In a written statement to MPs this afternoon, Mr Tugendhat said the investigation had not uncovered any law-breaking.

But he said they were established without permission and would have 'worried and intimidated' Chinese community. Beijing has apparently now closed the sites.

'The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office have told the Chinese Embassy that any functions related to such 'police service stations' in the UK are unacceptable and that they must not operate in any form,' Mr Tugendhat said.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat today issued a stark warning to China that operating sinister 'police stations' in the UK will not be tolerated

'The Chinese Embassy have subsequently responded that all such stations have closed permanently. Any further allegations will be swiftly investigated in line with UK law.'

He added: 'Reports by the non-governmental organisation Safeguard Defenders claimed that there were three Chinese 'police service stations' in the UK  in Croydon, Glasgow, and Hendon. Further allegations have been made about an additional site in Belfast.

'These reports alleged that, whilst these 'police service stations' are officially set up in countries across the world to conduct administrative tasks to support Chinese nationals residing abroad, they are also used to monitor and harass diaspora communities and, in some cases, to coerce people to return to China outside of legitimate channels.

'The police have visited each of the locations identified by Safeguard Defenders, and carefully looked into these allegations to consider whether any laws have been broken and whether any further action should be taken.

'I can confirm that they have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites. We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had.

'However, these 'police service stations' were established without our permission and their presence, regardless of whatever low level administrative activity they were performing, will have worried and intimidated those who have left China and sought safety and freedom here in the UK. This is unacceptable.

'The Chinese authorities regularly criticise others for what they see as interference in their internal affairs. Yet, they felt able to open unattributed sites without consulting the UK Government. It is alleged that this was a pattern repeated around the world.'
The chief of the Wagner mercenary group today claimed Russia may nuke its own territory in the Belgorod region where anti-Putin insurgents are causing havoc.

Yevgeny Prigozhin warned Russia might be forced to unleash nuclear weapons on its Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, where pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer units have conducted a series of cross-border raids and reportedly taken hostages.

Prigozhin, who has been highly critical of the Russian army, said Putin's forces could be retreating from the region because the Kremlin wants to 'drop a tactical nuclear bomb on their own territory'.

'Could they have the vile idea of dropping a tactical nuclear bomb on their own territory? Is that why we are retreating in the Belgorod region, allowing them to advance, because it's frightening to throw [a bomb] at someone else's territory but we'll throw one on our own?' Prigozhin said in a video published online.

'It's a big question if the [nuclear bomb] would work properly,' Prigozhin added in a dig at Russia's military capabilities.

In recent weeks, pro-Kyiv paramilitary groups of Russians who have been fighting alongside Ukrainian forces have launched forays over the border into Russian territory, attacking the Belgorod region.

Yevgeny Prigozhin warned Russia might be forced to unleash nuclear weapons on its Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, where pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer units have conducted a series of cross-border raids and reportedly taken hostages

Pictured: The launch of Russia's Sarmat nuclear ballistic missile in April

Firefighters work at a house on fire following a shelling, which, according to the regional governor, was by Ukrainian forces, in the village of Sobolevka, Belgorod region, on June 2

At the same time, Ukrainian troops have been shelling the Russian region for weeks. Today, Ukrainian artillery struck the Russian town of Shebekino, about 4.5 miles north of Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

The Ukrainian shelling and the cross-border incursions ravaged several towns and villages near the frontier and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents, angering Russian hawks who criticized the Kremlin for failing to strike back resolutely.

Prigozhin's latest rant came after he slammed claims by the Russian defence ministry it had killed 1,500 of Kyiv's soldiers in two days in the embattled city of Bakhmut as 'absurd science fiction'.

Prigozhin, whose mercenary troops have spent months fighting in Bakhmut on behalf of the Kremlin, poured scorn on his country's establishment after it claimed to have thwarted a second major offensive in Donetsk.

And Kyiv's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said today Ukrainian forces have advanced on Bakhmut and seen 'some success' on the battlefield.

Russia's defence ministry had claimed yesterday Russian forces had repelled two major offensives in South Donetsk.

It claimed to have killed 1,500 troops and destroyed among other military equipment, eight main battle Leopard tanks supplied to Ukraine by its Western allies and 109 armoured vehicles.

'Having suffered heavy losses the day before, the Kiev regime reorganized the remnants of the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades into separate consolidated units, which continued offensive operations,' the ministry said on Telegram.

'A complex fire defeat was inflicted by army forces, assault and operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery, as well as heavy flamethrower systems.'

But this was quickly, and very publicly, doubted by Prigozhin, who has repeatedly lambasted senior officials in the Kremlin, the Russian Army and Vladimir Putin himself for perceived missteps in the war effort.

In remarks published on the Telegram channel of his press service, the 61-year-old said to kill that many Ukrainian troops would require daily gains of 150km (93 miles).

'I therefore believe that this is simply wild and absurd science fiction,' said Prigozhin.

Totting up the figures provided by the ministry would imply 'we have already destroyed the entire planet five times over,' he added sarcastically.

Prigozhin last week lambasted Russia's military leaders after Ukrainian armed forces managed to retake settlements on the outskirts of Bakhmut.

Prigozhin said it was a 'disgrace' that Kyiv's troops were able to push back Russian lines and seize Berkhivka, a town in the northern suburbs of the embattled city.

Prigozhin's Wagner group just last month managed to wrest Bakhmut out of Ukrainian hands after months of brutal fighting reminiscent of World War I trench warfare, with tens of thousands killed on both sides.

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the frontline near Bakhmut, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Monday

Ukrainian soldiers fire at the Russian air target on the frontline near Bakhmut on Monday

The mercenary figurehead hit out at Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov, taunting them and urging them to go to the frontlines and see the failures for themselves as the armed factions spiral towards civil war.

'Now part of the settlement of [Berkhivka] has already been lost, the troops are slowly falling back. What a disgrace!

'Shoigu, Gerasimov, I urge you to come to the front, raise your pistols at your men to make them go forward. Come on, you can!

'And if you can't, then you will die as heroes.'

Prigozhin has launched several verbal tirades at Putin's military leaders. He has accused them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters unprotected on the frontlines.

On Tuesday last week , Prigozhin unleashed an explosive tirade of abuse at Vladimir Putin 's cronies after Moscow was attacked by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones.

In a furious 70-second rant, Prigozhin screamed vulgar insults at Russia's defence officials, whom he described as 'smelly scumbags' and 'b*******'.

The Wagner boss said he was 'deeply outraged' by Putin's troops doing 'f*** all' to prevent explosive drones falling on the Russian capital this morning. Shortly after, Putin claimed that Moscow's air defence system worked 'satisfactorily'.

Known for his foul-mouthed rants, Prigozhin, who handed Bakhmut over to Russia's army last week, was translated as shouting: 'Smelly scumbags! What are you doing? Get your a**** up from the offices you've been put in to protect this country.

'You are the Ministry of Defence. You've done f*** all in order to advance. Why the f*** are you allowing these drones to fly to Moscow? Who gives a s*** that they are flying to your homes on Rublyovka! Let your houses burn.'

'And what should ordinary people do when drones with explosives crash into their windows? So as a citizen, I am deeply outraged that these scum sit quietly with their fat a**** smeared with expensive creams.

'And that's why I think the people have every right to ask them these questions, these b*******.

'But I have already warned about this many times, but no one wants to listen. Because I'm angry and I upset bureaucrats who have a great life.'

His astonishing meltdown came after several buildings in the wealthy suburbs of Moscow were damaged by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones, just hours after Putin unleashed yet another volley of strikes on Kyiv.

Prigozhin's outbursts highlight the rift inside the Kremlin forces fighting Ukraine, and some analysts see civil war as a possibility in Russia if Putin loses the war.

Despite huge losses, and a ban on recruiting prisoners from Russia's penal colonies, Prigozhin is still thought to have up to 60,000 men at his disposal.

Wagner is one of several private armies in Russia. Chechen warlord leader Ramzan Kadyrov controls a heavily armed group of his own, and Russian energy giant Gazprom has set up its own private military company.
Parents in Granby, Connecticut, are furious after elementary school students were shown a video discussing gender identity and sent home with puberty kits.

Parents at the Wells Road Intermediate school say their 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders were shown the video, in which children discuss identifying outside the gender binary and wave pride flags around.

'Pride means you should be able to be free. All my life I never really felt like a boy and I don't really feel like a girl. So I'd rather be both,' says one child in the video called Simon who identifies as he/they.

Many parents believe their children are too young to be learning about these topics and claim they were not warned about the Pride month programming in advance.

Distraught parent Kyle Reyes said he is pulling his four kids out of the Granby School District, arguing that the subjects addressed in the video are ones that parents, 'if anyone,' should be having with their kids

One parent shared that their child were given puberty kit, and also claimed her son had been sent home with pantiliners and maxi pads.

Another parent, Kyle Reyes, who has four kids under the age of nine, has decided to pull them out of the Granby School District.

'These are conversations that if anyone is going to have with their kids it should be the parents having with their kids,' he told Eyewitness News 3.

'When I saw the video I was extremely disturbed,' he said, adding that 'parents are starting to come out of the woodwork and it's time to start fighting back.'

The outlet showed the video to a mother at the school pickup line on Monday afternoon, who reacted with some trepidation in terms of the subject matter.

'They needed to get parents' permission to show their children that,' she said. 'We should've been told so we can have a conversation at home and not be thrown off guard this way.'

Stephen Davis, who was picking up his eight-year-old granddaughter said: 'There was nothing warning us. They don't have to worry about being an adult when they're eight-years-old.'

Dr. Jordan Grossman, the superintendent of Granby schools, whose office is currently handling complaints from parents about the Pride video that was shown to elementary school students

Wells Road Intermediate school in Granby, Connecticut, where children were shown a Pride month video about gender and sexuality without consent from parents

The school superintendent's office is now handling concerned calls from parents.

The office, headed by Dr. Jordan Grossman, claims the video is designed for two-to-twelve-year-olds.

In a letter sent home to parents, the Wells Road principal wrote that the intention of showing the video was not to 'alienate or disturb any child.'

'In context, we were trying to remind students that it is okay to be who you are and still be treated with respect and dignity and kindness.'

The letter did not address the concern that parents were not forewarned that their children were going to be shown a video about featuring such content.

Both the Wells Road principal and superintendent have been contacted for comment.
His remarks come after several major brands including Adidas and Bud Light have faced backlash in recent months

The entrepreneur said brands are 'losing their way' and should return to prioritizing their investors over ideological marketing campaigns

Kevin O'Leary has said Target's 'stunning collapse' should serve as a warning to other woke CEOs

The 'stunning collapse' of retail giant Target following its controversial LGBT Pride month product release should serve as a warning to CEOs considering turning to woke marketing campaigns, Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary has cautioned.

Target has lost over $4 billion in market value in just under three weeks following the scandal, which included offering a 'tuck friendly' female swimwear line.

O'Leary said the 'unprecedented' decline shows the company's failure to prioritize its investors over appeasing modern woke standards, including listening to diversity officers instead of business savvy executives.

'On one hand, companies want to show their support of diversity in all the mandates that society is discussing openly,' he told Fox News.

'On the other hand, the job of a business -- particularly from the perspective of an investor -- and those that are retired, for example, that own the S&P 500 or own Target stock  are concerned that maybe they're losing their way in terms of what the prime objective is: your customers, your employees, and your shareholders.'

Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary (right) said the stunning collapse of Target should serve as a warning to other woke CEOs

O'Leary's remarks come as several major US corporations, including Target, Adidas and Bud Light, face significant backlash to woke advertising campaigns.

The Shark Tank investor warned that continued efforts to push ideological marketing on customers will see more companies suffer financially.

'The stunning collapse of Target market cap is almost unprecedented for its own stock in 20 years, and how this happened is being scrutinized by lots of other boards right now,' he said.

'If you start to get too distant or too far away from the primary mandate, the market has proven itself to really, really punish you.

'And it's woken up all kinds of boards.'

O'Leary said the outrage by customers over recent controversies, such as Bud Light's disastrous campaign with trans star Dylan Mulvaney, is heightened by social media.

'This is displaying the power of something most board of directors never thought about - social media,' he said.

'When you can't control the message anymore through social media, which is clearly obvious, you better figure out what message you're putting out before it ever gets out there.

'We almost need a new committee on boards. We have committees for risk, compensation, we've got compliance committees.

'We need a communications and media committee to advise the rest of the board who don't even have Twitter accounts or don't have Facebook or don't use LinkedIn.'

Target sparked backlash after releasing its LGBT Pride month product selection

He said social media-illiterate executives continue to fail to understand the 'risks inherent' in pushing such advertising.

However, while conceding roles such as diversity officers are here to stay, O'Leary insisted that businesses need to return to placing their bottom lines at the top of their priorities.

'I don't think you're going to find a lot of people saying, "Oh, let's not have diversity officers". I think that boat sailed,' he said.

'But what they do with their budgets now really matters and the risks they're putting the company into because of the power of uncontrolled social media is obviously measurable.

'When you lose $11 billion of market cap, there're a lot of unhappy cowboys out there. They're called your investors.'

This included the public humiliation of once-leading beer brand Bud Light, which has faced financial ruin in the wake of its partnership with Mulvaney.

'It took decades to create the American beer, and exactly 32 hours to destroy it,' he added.

The female swimsuit collection included a label which advertises the 'tuck-friendly construction' and 'extra crotch' coverage

Since partnering with Mulvaney, Bud Light's parent company Anheuser-Busch has faced boycotts and declining sales

The fallout from Anheuser Busch decision to collaborate with Mulvaney saw the company lose an astonishing $27 billion in just months.

And the knock-on effect was felt into Memorial Day weekend, when shoppers shared videos of unwanted cases of Bud Light sitting untouched on shelves nationwide.

The boycott has reportedly spread to independent wholesalers, who have seen their sales tank by up to $2,000-a-month as customers steer clear of the brand.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a faux pas yesterday as he stepped into a pair of Timberland boots that have been widely mocked.

Mr Sunak wore the 150 lace-up boots to join Border Force crews in Dover before giving a speech on his plan to stop small migrant boats.

He claimed his push to 'stop the boats' is 'starting to work' as he announced two more barges to help house asylum seekers.

However, it was the boots, not the boats, that stole the limelight - with many online teasing him by playing on his own slogan: 'Stop the boots.'

Plenty mocked him for the size of the shoe compared to the wearer, with one meme showing Mr Sunak in a gigantic single boot, using it as a boat to cross the Channel.

One hilarious Twitter photoshopped Rishi Sunak into one giant boot as he gives a speech on Channel migrant crossings

Another played on the words boat and boot to show the PM all at sea

The shoes were photoshopped to outrageous sizes in many of the funny internet memes

This gigantic shoe, driven down a street by a tractor, was likened to Rishi's choice of boot

The PM, who is 5ft 6inches, was made to look even smaller in this manipulation of a photo

Rishi Sunak sported a 150 pair of rugged Timberlands yesterday as he joined border force crews in Dover

The Prime Minister found his leather footwear creating something of a stir on social media  where he was mocked by critics

One Twitter user posted: 'Stop the boots! Please, it's doesn't make you look like Zelenski (sic)'. Another said: 'Small boats, massive boots.'

It is not the first time Mr Sunak has caused a stir with his footwear  in July last year he was spotted wearing 490 Prada suede shoes to a building site.

He has also come under fire for his 180 Bluetooth 'smart' coffee cup and a 95 pair of 'slider' slip-ons.

Mr Sunak also went campaigning in a 3,500 suit.

Yesterday the PM insisted Channel crossings are down 20 per cent since he unveiled his plan five months ago as he gave an 'update' in Kent.

Although he conceded there was still a 'long way to go', he argued that the same progress was not being seen across the Channel in France.

Mr Sunak revealed that two more barges are being brought in to house 1,000 asylum seekers. The first is due to take up position off Portland in Dorset in the coming weeks, but the premier refused to say where the new additions will be located. There has been speculation one will be placed in Merseyside and another off Teesside in the North East.

'Our approach is working,' Mr Sunak said. 'I said I will stop the boats and I meant it.'

Official figures suggest numbers crossing from the Continent have been slightly lower so far this year, although the weather can have a major impact.

Nearly 3,800 have been recorded, compared to 4,500 in the equivalent period in 2022. Provisional figures show another 3,800 in April and May, but there were more than 5,000 over those two months last year.

Mr Sunak pointed to deals with Albania and France designed to curb crossings, while conceding that more needs to be done to fulfil his pledge - seen as crucial if he is to have any hope of winning the election next year.

However, Conservatives are demanding faster action after immigration minister Robert Jenrick was forced to admit on Sunday that the vast majority of Albanians arriving illegally had not been returned.

He said 'hundreds' had been repatriated since Britain signed an agreement with the eastern European nation in December.

But around 12,000 Albanians entered the UK via the Channel last year, up from around 800 in 2021.
Prince Harry today claimed reports of a 'tongue lashing' he received from his ex Chelsy Davy for 'flirting with a brunette' at a party were obtained through hacking - but denied she 'went berserk' after he visited Spearmint Rhino.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, alleges the Mirror must have used hacking because it reported that Ms Davey 'was furious and had given me a ''tongue-lashing down the phone'' following allegations that I had been flirting with a brunette'.

The duke told the High Court: 'How could the defendant's journalists know about this?'

In his statement to the High Court, he said: 'It was a challenging period for me. I had been immature, I hadn't really thought about my actions and I had made a stupid decision.'

But he complained about the Press's actions, saying: 'My mistakes were being played out publicly.'

Harry and his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy

Giving evidence to today, Harry recalled another incident in 2006 when he visited a Spearmint Rhino club with fellow Sandhurst cadets.

A story in The People in April 2006 said Miss Davy had gone 'berserk' and slammed the phone down on Harry over the night out.

But Harry told the High Court: 'To the best of my recollection, I don't think Chelsy did go mad about me going there.

'We did speak about it over the phone, but I promised her that I hadn't had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends.

'The detail about the timing and length of the calls is so specific.

'With hindsight, it seems likely to me that the defendant's journalists had access to one of our phone records and put two and two together to make a story.'

In his statement to the High Court today, Harry said: 'It was a challenging period for me. I had been immature, I hadn't really thought about my actions and I had made a stupid decision'

Harry on his 'Nazi' uniform scandal

The Duke said the article involved was headlined 'Chel shocked' and had a 'large photograph of Chelsy looking unhappy, along with a small photograph of me with my hand over my mouth'.

The duke was giving evidence today in his individual case against MGN over alleged unlawful information gathering.

READ MORE - Harry says Government has 'hit rock bottom' Advertisement

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called 'blagging' or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

He alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Giving evidence today, Harry raged about the 'state of our Press and our Government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom'.

And in one of his most outspoken attacks on the British Press yet, Harry demanded: 'How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?'
Villagers in India have been left shocked and amazed after a baby cow was born with two heads.

The strange birth - which took place in a village in Jalalpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, at the end of last month - has been described by locals as a divine miracle.

Although the calf has one body, it has two heads with a total of four eyes and two noses. But where the two heads separate, the young cow still has just the two ears and a joined mouth.

Cattle are considered sacred in India under the nation's prominent Hindu and Jain religions. The slaughter of cows is largely prohibited and they are free to amble unmolested in traffic-choked streets.

Despite the severe deformities, the cow is reportedly healthy and enjoying its young life in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The 10-day-old cow has two heads with a total of four eyes and two noses. It also a mouth that joins between its two heads

The cow's strange birth, which took place in a village in Jalalpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, has been described as a divine miracle

Despite the severe deformities, the 10-day-old cow is reportedly healthy and enjoying its young life in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh

Two-headed animals generally have a condition called polycephaly - a term that derives from the Greek word poly, meaning 'many' and kephale, meaning 'head'.

The majority of cows with this deformity are not expected to survive more than a couple of days, and in rare cases, more than a few months.

But this young farm animal has been given a clean bill of health and so far enjoying its ten-day-old life.

Although the cow has a peculiar mouth that is still joined between its heads, it is still able to drink its mother's milk.

Family members who reared the cow and local villagers have considered it to be a wonder of nature and many have gone so far as to suggested it is a divine miracle.

After the news spread, people from nearby districts and villages flocked to see this rare two-headed beast.

According to vets, this type of case can occur due to the abnormal development of cells during the development of the embryo.

Animals that develop the polycephaly condition, also referred to as dicephalic parapagus, have two heads on one torso.

Each head of a polycephalic animal has its own brain, and they share control of the organs and limbs, though the specific structure of the connections varies between each case.

Family members who reared the cow and local villagers have considered it to be a wonder of nature and many have gone so far to suggested it is a divine miracle

After the news spread, people from nearby districts and villages flocked to see this rare two-headed beast. Cattle are considered sacred in India under the nation's prominent Hindu and Jain religions

The majority of cows with this deformity are not expected to survive more than a couple of days, and in rare cases, more than a few months

They are referred to as bicephalic or dicephalic if the animals have two heads. In some cases, they can have three heads in which they are referred to as tricephalic.

Although rare, this condition has been found across the globe.

In January last year, a baby calf with two heads, four eyes and two mouths become a local attraction in Gangaikondan, south India. Curious spectators were seen queueing up to see the newborn creature lying in a shed with its mother.

Another case was documented in Pondok Wuluh Village, in East Java, India. The also had four functioning eyes and two separate mouths.

In Florida in May 2015, another cow was born with a single body, two heads, a total of four eyes, two mouths, two noses and two ears.
A Royal Navy warship seized more than 10m of drugs after Marines boarded two ships in the Indian ocean and Gulf within 12 hours, discovering tonnes of narcotics in dawn and dusk raids.

HMS Lancaster had a busy weekend as it carried out the searches on two suspect vessels, and also worked closely with the US Navy to support a merchant vessel reporting harassment.

The Type 23 frigate captured more than seven tons of hashish, heroin and methamphetamine across the two operations, which were part of the ship's security patrol of the region, where she is deployed on a long-term mission.

In the first call as part of a dawn mission, the ship's specialist Royal Marines boarding team found 3.5 tons of narcotics after tracking down a suspect vessel since the early hours of the morning.

That evening, the ship's Wildcat helicopter spotted another craft and the boarding team sprang into action once again to seize a further 3.7 tons and complete the impressive double drugs bust.

HMS Lancaster's specialist Royal Marines boarding team found 3.5 tons of narcotics after tracking down a suspect vessel. They later found a further 3.7 tons of drugs

Bags of the drugs from one of the raided vessels were laid out, with members of the ship's crew posing in front of the haul

The huge scale of the drugs bust was laid bare, with dozens of bags of narcotics put out across the ship's deck

These latest captures come after Lancaster seized a stash of hashish worth 2.5m last month.

The impressive hauls were pictured laid out on the frigate, with dozens of bags covering much of the deck.

The sheer scale of the stockpile was also laid bare by pictures of the piles of narcotics being transported on the suspect boats.

Once recovered, members of the armed forces posed with the bags, which later went on to be destroyed so the narcotics they contained would never enter the market in Britain or elsewhere.

Commander Tom Johnson, the ship's Commanding Officer, said: 'I am immensely proud of my entire team for their efforts in successfully executing two boardings, in challenging conditions, and inside of 12 hours.

'This comes less than a day after concluding an intense period of maritime security operations in the Straits of Hormuz.

One of the suspect vessels which teams of specialist Royal Marines were pictured boarding

The two operations were part of the ship's security patrol of the region, where she is deployed on a long-term mission

More than 10m of drugs after Marines boarded two ships in the Indian ocean and Gulf within 12 hours

'It was a real team success; bringing together the efforts of my team with those of a vast range of international support organisations who have all worked tirelessly to achieve this result.'

Operations in the Straits of Hormuz involved US and UK sailors coming to the aid of a ship, which the US Navy said had been 'harassed' by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

A Navy spokesperson said: 'The situation de-escalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene. The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.'

The Strait of Hormuz is a particularly volatile region, with the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf seeing around 20 per cent of the world's oil pass through it.

It is widely considered the most important chokepoint for the global energy economy, and is plagued by piracy as well as geopolitical tensions.

After the first drugs bust in the region over the weekend, samples were taken and the drugs, with a UK wholesale value of 5.5m, were destroyed.

During the boarding operation there were indications the vessel had started its journey from the Iranian coast, before embarking the drugs at sea from another vessel.

With one successful seizure complete, it was not long before Lancaster was called upon again - this time with her embarked Wildcat helicopter spotting the suspect boat.

A large quantity of packages found on the suspect vessel were confirmed to be hashish

The sheer scale of the stockpile was also laid bare by pictures of the piles of narcotics being transported on the suspect boats

The Wildcat was patrolling surrounding seas acting as the ship's eyes when they called in suspicious activity.

The helicopter is one of many tools Lancaster employs while conducting operations at sea.

They can relay real-time information back to the ship's control centre for the Commanding Officer to make decisions.

As the sun set over the Indian Ocean, the frigate's boarding team, having only just reset from the previous boarding, sprang into action to do it all again.

A large quantity of packages were found on the suspect vessel and were confirmed to be hashish.

A total of 376 bags were recovered, weighing 3.7 tons and with a UK wholesale value of just over 4m.

The sacks later went on to be destroyed so the narcotics they contained would never enter the market in Britain or elsewhere

After the first bust, samples were taken and the drugs, which have a UK wholesale value of 5.5m, were destroyed

The second haul means HMS Lancaster has now prevented 10.4 tons of illegal narcotics from reaching the streets this year.

Deputy UK Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain, Captain Will Paston, added: 'The technical expertise, tactical proficiency, steadfast professionalism, and investigative thoroughness were evident throughout the entire boarding process.

'These seizures were a direct result of the countless hours of dedication by HMS Lancaster and the wider supporting team in Bahrain.'

Lancaster later worked closely with aircraft from the US Navy to provide overwatch for a merchant vessel, which reported harassment by a number of small vessels.

Lancaster's crew launched their Wildcat helicopter to assess the situation and provide a real time feed to the ship's Commanding Officer. The small craft dispersed and the merchant vessel was able to continue on its way.

The Navy say the ship is part of the UK's enduring presence in the Middle East and is on a three-year mission to work with allies to support maritime security and to counter illegal activity.

HMS Lancaster recently played an integral role in helping to evacuate British nationals from Sudan after violence broke out in the north African country between rival military factions.
Fears are growing that BBC stars whose personal details have been exposed in a massive cyber-attack by a shadowy Russia-linked gang will be held to ransom for millions, MailOnline can exclusively reveal today.

The group of cybercriminals who dub themselves the 'Clop team' has been active since at least 2015 and is thought to be responsible for yesterday's attack which saw more than 100,000 employees from the BBC, British Airways and Boots have their data compromised.

The gang unleashes malware 'hack and leak attacks', extracting employee data from companies before exposing them online.

Criminals will then hold the information at ransom until companies, and sometimes individuals, pay large sums of cryptocurrency, anywhere between hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of pounds, to have it removed.

To date, the seedy gang has been responsible for three major attacks, affecting individuals all over the world, and seeing law enforcement officers from the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea and Ukraine all joining forces to expose the group.

Last year six members of the 'Clop' gang were arrester in Ukraine following a similar attack on South Korean and American organisations

Hackers from the Russian-speaking gang are said to be behind the attack that has affected thousands of staff from the BBC, Boots and British Airways

Between December 2020 and January 2021, the gang infiltrated Accellion File Transfer Appliance which was used by 25 organisations across the globe.

A month later, data extracted from the companies appeared to be dumped online, under the gang's secret website, with victims receiving extortion demands from the group which dubbed itself 'the CLOP ransomware team'.

Earlier this year, the group targeted a similar service called GoAnywhere, with the group claiming it had stolen data from 130 organisations in what is called a 'hack and leak' attack.

In one joint law enforcement operation between Ukraine, the US and UK, Ukrainian police swooped in, seeing six people, believed to be part of the Clop gang, arrested in the Kyiv region.

The hackers had been involved in a ransomware attack on American South Korean companies. Four South Korean companies were attacked with the Clop virus in 2019, with 810 employees computers being blocked.

While in 2021, the gang members carried out an attack, taking personal data and financial reports from Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Maryland and University of California.

In a similar ploy, the groups had demanded a ransom fee for decrypting the data, threatening to publish confidential details if the money was not handed over. The total amount of damages was said to be 500 million dollars.

Now security experts claim the dubious criminals are behind the attack on the Bristol-based payroll provider Zellis, who provides services for the BBC, British Airways and Boots, among five other companies.

Home addresses, bank details and national insurance numbers have all been stolen.

The attack means that the broadcast Corporation's biggest stars, such as Gary Lineker, Naga Munchetty and Amol Rajan, could all see their data being held for ransom by the group.

And this 'won't be the last of these attacks', according to Rafe Pilling, Director of Threat Research, at US cybersecurity firm Secureworks.

According to Mr Pilling the group, believed to be behind the Zellis attack, are 'Russian speaking' and 'most likely distributed across Russia and Commonwealth Independent State' countries, which include Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine.

The cyber attack targeted Zellis, a payroll provider used by hundreds of companies in Britain

Some of the BBC's biggest names, such as Amol Rajan, may have been affected by the breach

He said: 'Once the data has been stolen, criminals likely engage with victims and will offer to not publish or delete data for money. They initially publish a small amount of data and if companies dont pay up, they will publish more on the dark web.

'Companies and people can end up paying hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of pounds in cryptocurrency.

'The hackers try to conduct a degree of assessment to what a victim can afford and then base negotiations off that.'

In the most recent attack on British firms, it is thought the members of the Clop team were able to exploit a flaw in a software app called MOVEit Transfer, used by companies worldwide to transfer files - as businesses scramble to find out how much data has been stolen in the breach which could have affected 100,000 people.

Mr Pilling added that from anecdotal experience, his group suspects that less than 50 per cent of hack and leak victims will end up paying a ransom.

'It's an unfortunate situation and it won't be the last of these attacks', he added.

'Ransomware and hack and leak attacks are increasing problems. The private sector and government are working on it, but it is an increasing assault on our digital identities and assets.'

Bosses at BA wrote to their 34,000-strong workforce yesterday warning them of the breach.

The BBC employs more than 21,000 people. One insider told The Times: 'Anyone who has had any interaction with payroll has potentially been caught up in this.

'It will have affected a lot of people.'

Boots, which has 50,000 staff members, said a 'global data vulnerability' was responsible for the breach

Last night, bosses at BA wrote to their 34,000 members of staff warning them of the breach

BBC stars, such as Gary Lineker, could be amongst the 21,000 employees affected by the attack

In an email to staff, seen by the newspaper, the BBC's chief financial officer Alan Dickson said: 'Please be vigilant for any activity that seems unusual. These types of incidents can expose individuals to a higher risk of being victim to scams, identity fraud and unsolicited contact.'

The BBC told MailOnline: 'We are aware of a data breach at our third-party supplier, Zellis, and are working closely with them as they urgently investigate.

'We take data security extremely seriously and are following the established reporting procedures.'

It is understood that the data breach did not include the bank account details of BBC staff.

A spokesman for Boots, which has 50,000 members of staff, said: 'A global data vulnerability, which affected third-party software used by one of our payroll providers, included some of our team members' personal details.

'Our provider assured us that immediate steps were taken to disable the server, and as a priority we have made our team members aware.'

Zellis said: 'We can confirm that a small number of our customers have been impacted by this global issue and we are actively working to support them.

'There are no associated incidents or compromises to any other part of our IT estate.'

The Information Commissioner's Office and the pensions ombudsman are assessing the situation.

The Data Protection Commission and National Cyber Security Centre have also been informed.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of incidents linked to Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February last year.

Emma Whitmore of Edgio, a security software group, said the latest attack showed that no organisation was safe from the hackers.

It comes after outsourcing firm and government contractor Capita was recently affected by a cyber-attack that saw some customer, supplier and staff data accessed by hackers.

Capita said it faces a bill of up to 20million to deal with the incident, including for recovery and remediation costs and to invest in reinforcing its cyber security defences.

British Airways suffered a data hack in 2018, when the attacker is believed to have potentially accessed the personal data of approximately 429,612 customers and staff.

It included the names, addresses, payment card numbers and the three digits on the back of cards of 77,000 customers, and card numbers only for 108,000 customers.

The airline was fined 20 million by the ICO after investigators found it should have identified the security weaknesses that enabled the attack.
A 26-year-old man has been charged over a robbery at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish.

Jo Jobson, 26, of no fixed address, is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday accused of two counts of robbery on November 27 2021.

Cavendish and his wife Peta were asleep at their home in Ongar, Essex, when intruders broke in and stole items including two high-value watches and a Louis Vuitton suitcase at knifepoint.

Jobson is also accused of two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm in relation to a separate incident in July last year.

Two men have already been jailed for the Cavendish robbery, Ali Sesay, 28 of Windsor Road, Croydon and Romario Henry, 31, of Bell Green, London SE26.

Jo Jobson (pictured), 26, has been sought by police for a year following the November 2021 attack

Mr Cavendish, who jointly holds the record of 34 Tour de France stage victories, with his wife Peta (pictured right)

Essex Police also want to speak to a fourth suspect, George Goddard, who is from Loughton but has connections across east London.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Atkin, who led the investigation, said: 'These charges are a significant milestone in this case and further shows our commitment to securing justice for burglary and robbery victims across Essex.

'The team's work will now begin in earnest, again, and we will seek, through colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service, to present the strongest possible case in court.

'At this stage, George Goddard remains outstanding, and we are continuing our efforts to locate him and I would reiterate my message to him; you cannot stay hidden forever; those who may be helping you cannot help you forever. It is in your best interests to come forward.'
Jim Jordan is demanding information on the 'scope' of Jack Smith's probe into Trump

Top Republican Jim Jordan is pressing the Department of Justice to answer a series of questions related to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations into former President Donald Trump - including retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home and alleged 2020 election interference - as charges are expected 'soon.'

Jordan, R-Ohio, who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland Tuesday according to a letter obtained by DailyMail.com, which comes one day after attorneys for Trump were spotted leaving a meeting at DOJ headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The chairman says that Garland has not provided information his committee previously requested regarding the 'unprecedented' raid of Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Florida, residence last August.

'Because you have not provided this information, and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel, we write to request an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smith's probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel,' Jordan demands.

Trump attorneys Lindsey Halligan, John Rowley and James Trusty spent about two hours at the Justice Department on Monday

The top Republican is seeking a response no later than June 20.

Smith was appointed by Garland in November 2022 to serve as lead investigator into the criminal investigation into Trump's handling of the classified documents. The special counsel is also probing allegations that Trump interfered in the 2020 presidential election.

Garland said in a statement at the time that it was in the 'public's interest' to appoint an outside investigator into the matter.

'Based on recent developments, including the former President's announcement that he is a candidate for President in the next election, and the sitting President's stated intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel,' said Garland.

'Such an appointment underscores the Department's commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters. It also allows prosecutors and agents to continue their work expeditiously, and to make decisions indisputably guided only by the facts and the law.'

DOJ told DailyMail.com that it received the letter, but declined to comment further.

Trump attorneys Lindsey Halligan, John Rowley and James Trusty spent about two hours at the Justice Department on Monday, according to reports.

The former president posted an all-caps message to his Truth Social platform following the meeting, alluding to the fact that he may be indicted in coming days.

'How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong,' Trump wrote.

A grand jury has been hearing testimony from dozens of witnesses in recent months at the D.C. federal courthouse related to the classified documents case.

Separately, Trump was charged in April by New York prosecutors with 34 counts of falsifying business records.

That marked the first time in history a former president has been charged with a crime. Trump has pleaded not guilty in court and the trial is expected next spring.

A special counsel is also looking into classified documents found in President Joe Biden's Delaware home and lobbying office in Washington.

Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed by Garland in November 2022 to serve as lead investigator into the criminal investigation into Trump's handling of the classified documents.

Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing but took to his Truth Social platform to post a message that seemed to indicate his lawyers had discussed with him the possibility he might be indicted

Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland Tuesday

Last week, Pence was informed by DOJ that he will not face charges for having classified documents in his Indiana home.

DOJ sent a letter to Pence's attorney on Thursday confirming there will be no criminal charges, days before he is set to enter the White House race.

The FBI searched his $1.9 million home in Carmel, Indiana, in February and found sensitive files with classified markings.

The content of the documents are still not clear, but the federal government's top prosecutors have decided not to take any further action.
Almost half of Americans want a third-party option for president next year if Joe Biden and Donald Trump are their party's nominees, a new poll released on Tuesday found.

The NewsNation/DDHQ poll revealed that 49% said it was somewhat or very likely that they would consider voting for a third-party candidate in 2024 if the election was a repeat of Biden vs. Trump.

Among the options being considered, liberal Senator Bernie Sanders received 21%, former Rep. Liz Cheney got 10% and Senator Joe Manchin received 7%.

Another 43 percent said they would choose someone else as a third-party candidate.

Biden and Trump are both favored to be their party's presidential pick.

President Biden faces token competition for the Democratic nomination.

Trump has a tougher road ahead with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley already challenging him. Mike Pence and Chris Christie are also getting into the race.

But the former president leads in the polls for the GOP nomination.

As for a third-party alternative, Democrats have fretted about an alternative popping up, particularly as the outside group No Labels is looking to get a third party option on the presidential ballot in all 50 states.

Some Democrats worry that the third-party candidate from No Labels could play a spoiler role and peel off enough moderate voters from the Democratic ticket to ensure a Republican victory.

Joe Biden (left) is leading the race for the Democratic presidential nomination while Donald Trump (right) is leading in polls for the Republican presidential nomination

There has been speculation moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin could be a contender for the No Labels ticket.

Manchin hasn't said if he's running for another term as senator, let alone for president.

But, in an interview with CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, he notably didn't endorse Biden for a second term and didn't rule out making his own run.

'Everything's open. Everything's on the table and nothing off the table,' he said.

There has been speculation moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (left) could be a contender for the No Labels ticket; Liz Cheney (right) hasn't ruled out a third-party candidate

Cheney also hasn't ruled out a third-party candidate.

Speaking at the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference in Detroit, Michigan, over the weekend, the three-term conservative was asked if she would consider a third-party campaign.

'Look, I think that we have to have good people, and I don't know yet what that is going to look like,' she said.

'But, I'm not going to rule it out,' she said.

Sanders has endorsed Biden for a second term.
Her dad is currently in jail and has ties to white supremacist gang Universal Aryan Brotherhood and her stepfather was arrested for torturing a cat

The 12-year-old Oklahoma girl who stabbed her little brother to death while they watched TV at home grew up surrounded by felons, drug addicts and white supremacists.

DailyMail.com can reveal that the girl's mother, father and stepfather have had their share of troubles with drugs and several run-ins with the law.

The father of the girl is a convicted felon who is currently in jail and has ties to the white supremacist gang Universal Aryan Brotherhood, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Her stepfather was arrested in 2017 for torturing a cat to death and her mother April Mitchell battled drug addiction, shooting up several times a day, until she learned she was pregnant with the now suspected brother killer.

April Mitchell is the mother of the 12-year-old girl who stabbed her brother to death. For nearly a year in her late teens, Mitchell says she was a hardcore addict to 'all kinds of drugs,' mostly opioids and methamphetamine that she shot up in her arms several times a day alongside the girl's father

The girl's father Dustin James Cunningham, 38, is a convicted felon who is currently in jail and has ties to the white supremacist gang Universal Aryan Brotherhood, DailyMail.com can reveal

The girl's stepfather Levi Lyda, 39, was arrested in 2017 - when Zander was four and the girl was six - for torturing a cat to death. The cat belonged to his other daughter

DailyMail.com has chosen not to publish the name of the girl because of her age and nature of her crime.

Tulsa County court and Oklahoma state child support records show Dustin James Cunningham, 38, fathered the girl in 2010 with April Mitchell, 34, who said she moved in with him when she was 18 and shared his addiction to methamphetamine.

The girl's father Cunningham is a hardened criminal currently behind bars in a Tulsa County jail. Oklahoma state prison records contain 16 different mugshots of Cunningham

Cunningham, according to prison records, is a hardened criminal currently behind bars in a Tulsa County jail.

Police reports show he allegedly took deputies with the local sheriff's office on a car chase in April when they tried to pull him over for a 'defective taillight,' according to the arrest report.

Shortly after midnight on April 18, the arrest report reads, Cunningham refused to stop his pickup truck when a deputy flashed his red-and-blue lights and sped up.

The chase, according to the report, continued at 'speeds well above the posted limit through a residential neighborhood,' including in someone's yard.

Cunningham crashed into a guard rail, jumped out of the truck and started running. He was apprehended a block away.

In the truck, deputies found crystal meth in a pill bottle, a loaded syringe, and a clear bag with a 'powdery substance.'

He was charged with endangering others while eluding police, possession of a controlled substance and driving without a license.

Cunningham told deputies he tried to flee because he is on probation.

Oklahoma state prison records contain 16 different mugshots of Cunningham and show he has spent at least six years on-and-off in prisons since January 2014 on charges that varied from drug trafficking to possession of a firearm while committing a felony, to burglary.

Prison, says April Mitchell, is likely where Cunningham built ties to the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a racist gang known to run much of Oklahoma's methamphetamine business from inside the prison system.

'He told me he was a member years ago,' said Mitchell in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com. 'And he'd bring some of those people (UAB members) around the house.'

Just four days after the arrest of Cunningham's 12-year-old daughter, the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma announced the convictions of 69 UAB members, including its leader, Chance Alan Wilson, aka Wolfhead.

Mitchell says Cunningham has not been involved in raising their daughter and owes tens of thousands in child support, a claim backed up by family court papers in Tulsa. He was ordered to pay about $300 a month for the girl's upkeep, according to court papers, but Mitchell says he never paid anything.

'I did let my daughter visit him in prison a couple times. She was too little to know this was a prison,' Mitchell said. 'And I let her go with him for a few hours here and there when he came clean and sober, but I was so worried that I'd follow them.'

Stepfather Levi Lyda has been struggling with alcoholism and, whenever he could remain sober, was a father-figure to Zander and his sister. Levi is pictured in an undated photo driving Zander in an undated photo before his death on January 5, 2023

Criminal records obtained by DailyMail.com show that Levi Lyda had previously been cited for public intoxication and a slew of traffic violations. He was also cited just one week before the murder of the cat with stealing a motor vehicle

Another man who was in and out of the family's life, April said, is her now ex-husband and Zander's father, 39-year-old Levi Lyda.

Lyda, Mitchell confirmed, has been struggling with alcoholism and, whenever he could remain sober, was a father-figure to Zander and his sister.

State records show Mitchell and Lyda were married in 2012.

'I found out he was an alcoholic eight months after we got married,' she said, 'And we lived apart for most of the marriage.'

Tulsa County records show their divorce was finalized April 26.

Lyda, too, has had his share of run-ins with the law.

He is still on probation on a conviction charge that he tortured a pet cat that belonged to other family members.

He was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and in the strange 2019 assault of his father.

According to the arrest report by an officer with the Tulsa Police Department, Lyda punched his 63-year-old father repeatedly in the parking lot of their condo on April 15, 2019, knocking out the elder's hearing aids.

Van Lyda, the dad, called 911 after finding his son 'unresponsive' in the parking lot, the arrest report shows.

Levi Lyda, however, woke up as the ambulance pulled up and assaulted his father as well as an EMS tech.

He was convicted of the charges of domestic assault and battery on a peace officer.

Police body camera footage shows the 12-year-old girl running downstairs as she yells, 'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry'

The handcuffed girl then leads police to the knife she supposedly used to stab her brother, which she had thrown out of a window

Mitchell argues now that Cunningham and Lyda hold no responsibility in her daughter's murderous rampage, an incident she calls 'demonic.'

As a matter of fact, she says, until the tragic night, she managed to fulfill her life's goal to shield the children from the troubled men as well as the hardships she endured since troubled teenage years.

For nearly a year in her late teens, Mitchell says she too was a hardcore addict to 'all kinds of drugs,' mostly opioids and methamphetamine that she shot up in her arms several times a day alongside the girl's father.

'I quit drugs the minute I found out I was pregnant with her,' Mitchell said. 'The gynecologist helped me with Tylenol and stuff like that, and I quit. I never went back to those things since.'
New York City is 'code red' for unhealthy air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires pouring across the Northeast reached dangerous levels on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service alert was issued for NYC's five boroughs as well as Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Putnam counties, through midnight.

A 'Red Flag' warning was declared for parts of New Jersey, with conditions across the Northeast forecast to peak Tuesday afternoon.

The unhealthy air seeping through the city is due to smoke that originated from a fire last week in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia that has affected the quality levels from New York City to Washington, DC.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 160 forest fires were still burning in Quebec, including at least 114 that are out of control. The recent wildfires have been described by Canadian federal officials as among one of Canada's worst fire seasons ever.

A photo of the smoky skies have that blanketed New York City. An air quality alert was issued on Tuesday by the National Weather Service for Manhattan, the five boroughs, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, and Putnam counties, through midnight

A thick haze is seen over the Brooklyn Bridge this week due to the Canadian wildfires. The air quality in the city's five boroughs is growing more severe and has reached levels in the 150s, as per AirNow, a US government platform that keeps track of air quality based on a system - zero considered the healthiest air and 500 the unhealthiest

A firefighter is pictured extinguishing a forest fire in Quebec on Sunday. There have been more than 480 wilderness firefighters on the ground battling the fires that have destroyed acres of land

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation urged residents to conserve energy and reduce pollution by taking mass transit, turning off lights in unoccupied areas and using fans to circulate air, until the smoke passes over.

AirNow, a US government platform, keeps track of air quality and gives it a rating between zero and 500 - with zero considered the healthiest.

The rating for New York city shows levels reaching into the 150s now, according to AirNow. In Ottawa, Canada's capital, that level is nearly 250, Bloomberg reported.

The Envirnomental Protection Agency (EPA) urged New Yorkers to limit outdoor activities until the smoke passes over the area.

Some of these particulate matter, also called particle pollution,swirling around are a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air - dust, dirt, soot, or smoke - and can be be inhaled deep into the lungs, as per the EPA.

Many of these particles are microscopic and are not able to be seen by the naked eye. The short-term affects may cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, leading to shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure can exacerbate asthma and heart disease.

Meteorologist John Homenuk told the Gothamist suggests taking some measures to safeguard yourself.

'Just take some precautionary steps to make sure that you're not overexerting yourself putting yourself in a situation where you can be impacted negatively by it, knowing that the air quality is definitely degraded compared to usual,' he said.

A haze of smoke over Boston captured by a EarthCam

A view of the Manhattan skyline blanketed in haze

A tweet issued by the National Weather Service updating the public on the smoke conditions

Since the fires started burning there have been more than 480 firefighters on the ground, with many coming out from different provinces to help.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said typically Quebec can fight about 30 fires but is now stretched.

'When I talk to the premiers of other provinces, they have their hands full,' Legault told a briefing in Quebec City,' he said.

There were 324 fires burning across Canada on Friday and by Monday it had grown to a staggering 413, and by late afternoon, the number jumped again.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the 'situation remains serious.'

'The images that we have seen so far this season are some of the most severe we have we have ever witnessed in Canada,' Blair said.

'The current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.'
James Cleverly today slammed the 'abhorrent' attack on a major Ukraine dam - suggesting it could be a war crime.

The Foreign Secretary, who was in Kyiv at the time, said the blowing up of the key site and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper river is a 'catastrophe'.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver of the area - controlled by Russian forces - to evacuate.

They have accused Moscow of setting off explosives inside the Kakhovka dam, but the Kremlin insists the damage was done by Ukrainian military strikes.

Shocking video footage showed houses being swept away and entire towns submerged as the water broke through.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who was visiting a mine-clearing operation near Kyiv today, said the blowing up of the dam and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper river is a 'catastrophe'

Drone footage showed the extent of the flooding - water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

James Cleverly tweeted: 'The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act.

'Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

'The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe.'

The Foreign Secretary stayed overnight in Kyiv, meeting his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday.

Mr Zelensky accused Russian forces of setting off a blast inside the dam structure, warning that some 80 settlements were in danger.

Terrifying clips from the scene showed how village streets and fields near to the dam have already been swamped by runaway flooding, as a Russian-installed local mayor warned that the water level would continue to rise for another 72 hours and claimed he expected 40ft high floods in some places.

'Everything is going to die here,' a man named Serhiy living in Kherson said. 'All the living creatures, and people will be flooded out.

'People will suffer. There's already no water coming out of taps - why not, no one knows.'

Other Kherson residents said the water level in some parts of the city had already reached 9ft high and said they could see more water headed their way.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18million cubic meters (4.8billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other towns and settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

The cause of the blasts is not yet clear, though Ukraine warned late last year that Russian forces had mined the dam as they retreated from Kherson and Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

Meanwhile, Mr Cleverly - who today inspected mine-clearing operations near Kyiv - told reporters there was no difference between the UK and US over the use of donated equipment on cross-border raids against Russia.

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account on June 6, 2023 shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station after it was partially destroyed

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding - water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

'All countries, including the United Kingdom have put limitations on the military equipment that we have donated,' he said.

'And in most instances, that means that that equipment can only be used within Ukrainian territory and on that issue, the UK and the US are in exactly the same place.'

He told reporters that 'we have always made it clear that we support Ukraine's self-defence and, of course, the decisions about how Ukraine conducts that self-defence are rightly decisions which are made by Ukraine's leadership'.

Mr Cleverly said he wanted the war to quickly come to a conclusion 'which is fair, which is right for the people of Ukraine and, of course, is a conclusion which reinforces rather than undermines the UN Charter and the concept of sovereignty and territorial integrity'.
The Cessna carrying a Hamptons realtor and her two-year-old daughter that crashed into a Virginia mountain on Sunday had been unresponsive since fifteen minutes after it took off, and likely flew on autopilot for the entirety of its two-hour trip.

The plane triggered panic in Washington DC on Sunday when it flew directly over the Capitol without responding to air traffic control.

Now, federal investigators say the plane's last known contact with controllers was at 1.28pm - just fifteen minutes after it took off from Elizabethton Airport in Tennessee.

It flew northeast to Long Island, where it was due to land, but performed a U-turn and ended up flying south, over DC, where two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept it.

Adina Azarian was on the plane with her two-year-old daughter. It's believed by some aviation experts that everyone on board quickly lost consciousness due to a lack of oxygen in the cabin

Pilot Jeff Hefner was an experienced pilot who was trained to fly Boeing 747s

Adina Azarian (left), her two-year-old daughter (center) and the child's nanny Evadnie Smith (right) were killed when a jet they were in crashed in rural Virginia on Sunday

The pilots of those two planes reported seeing the Cessna pilot slumped over in the cockpit. While the incident remains under investigation, aviation experts believe that cabin pressure failure caused everyone on board to pass out.

Eventually, the plane ran out of fuel in the Shenandoah Valley. It crashed a terrifying 28,000ft-per-minute, nosediving into the forest. Search teams took hours to reach the wreckage.

At a briefing Monday, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is 'highly fragmented' and investigators will examine the most delicate evidence at the site, after which the wreckage will be moved, perhaps by helicopter, to Delaware, where it can be further examined.

It was not clear if the plane had a flight data recorder. A preliminary report will be released in 10 days.

The Virginia State Police said human remains will be brought to the state medical examiner's office for autopsy and identification. Authorities said the victims included the pilot and three passengers. There were no survivors.

The plane is thought to have lost contact with ground control at 1.28pm, just 15 minutes after take-off

The interior of a Cessna Citation V 560, the type of plane that crashed on Sunday

The plane took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. Sunday, headed for MacArthur Airport on Long Island, New York.

Air Traffic Control lost communication with the airplane during its ascent, according to the NTSB.

Preliminary information indicates the last air traffic control communication attempt with the airplane was at approximately 1:28 p.m., when the plane was at 31,000 feet the NTSB said.

About eight minutes later, the FAA reported the situation to the Domestic Events Network, which includes military, national security, homeland security and other law enforcement agencies.

The plane climbed to 34,000 feet where it remained for the rest of the flight until 3:23 p.m. when it began to descend and crashed about nine minutes later, according to the NTSB. The plane was flying at 34,000 feet, when it flew over MacArthur Airport at 2:33 p.m., the NTSB said.

The plane flew directly over the nation's capital.

According to the Pentagon, six F-16 fighter jets were deployed to intercept the plane, including two from a base in Maryland, two from New Jersey and two from South Carolina.
China takes measures to transform saline-alkaline land into fertile soil

People's Daily Online) 13:40, June 06, 2023

Photo shows a harvest scene in Haituo township of Da'an city, located in the western part of northeast China's Jilin Province. By taking various measures to treat saline-alkaline land, which used to cover more than 10 million mu (about 666,700 hectares), the western part of Jilin Province has created 466,200 mu of arable farmland and increased crop production by more than 50 million kg. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoming)

China has about 1.5 billion mu of saline-alkali land, the third largest in the world, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of its total area of arable land. In recent years, various regions in the country have strengthened management and upgrading of saline-alkaline land, reducing its area and making positive progress in its utilization.

Hu Changhai, a grain grower in Wuzhuang village in Dongying city, east China's Shandong Province, has recently been busy harvesting wheat. He said in the past, the village was blighted by alkaline soils and nothing could grow there.

"Dongying city has about 3.41 million mu of saline-alkaline land, which accounts for 38.2 percent of the total area of this kind of land in Shandong Province," said an official from the city's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs.

Dongying has 1.96 million mu of saline-alkaline land for farming purposes, which accounts for about 60 percent of the city's arable land. Transforming saline-alkaline land into fertile soil has always been an important task for promoting the development of agriculture in Dongying.

Saline-alkaline land is found in more than 80 countries and regions around the world, covering a total area of over 830 million hectares. In these areas, the soil salt and alkali content is higher than normal levels, making the land very difficult to farm. When the soil salt content exceeds 0.6%, the crop seedling emergence rate will be less than 50 percent and crop production will be 90 percent lower.

China has 1.5 billion mu of saline-alkaline land that appear in different forms, said Liu Zhixin, a researcher from the saline-alkaline land utilization service center of the Shandong Yellow River Delta Agricultural Hi-tech Industry Demonstration Zone in Dongying. Liu added that about 500 million mu of saline-alkaline land shows potential for exploitation and utilization.

An official from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that based on Chinas prior experience, after the transformation of saline-alkaline land, rice yield per hectare can reach 6 tonnes.

Farmers plant rice seedlings in a field in Zhaojun town, Dalate Banner in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Rice planting is currently underway on 38,000 mu of fields transformed from saline-alkaline land in Dalate Banner. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

"After 10-plus years of efforts, the saline-alkaline land is turning into fertile soil for crop planting. Last year, wheat yield per mu surpassed 460 kg, hitting a record high for saline-alkaline land. This year, the yield is expected to be as high as last year and I hope it will be higher," said Hu.

Treating saline-alkaline land is difficult, but one effective solution is creating the proper water-salt balance in soil.

"We've started to adopt new solutions to reduce soil salt content, including washing away salt with water conveyed through pipes, a method that also saves water. We also replaced 10-meter-wide water channels with narrower ones. Through such methods, we can lower salt content in soil to below 0.3% from between 0.4% and 0.6% in three years and reduce water consumption by over 38 percent," said Liu.

Shandong has nearly 9 million mu of saline-alkaline land. Through this transformation, the province's saline-alkaline land can be used to grow 3.6 million mu of grain, 1 million mu of cotton, 1 million mu of jujube trees and 100,000 mu of forage grass.

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is using plants for the treatment of saline-alkaline land. Tian Changyan, a researcher from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said Xinjiang has the largest area of saline land in China, and this problem has affected agriculture in the region.

"We found that some plants can absorb salt from the soil, and we planted some of those that can be used as forage or have economic value. Thanks to these plants, the soil salt content went down 40 percent in the first year of planting, over 60 percent in the second year, and between 85 and 90 percent in the third year," said Tian.

Cultivating saline-alkaline tolerant crop varieties is also necessary. Recently, Xie Qi, a researcher from the Institute of Genetics and Development Biology under the CAS and his team discovered AT1, an alkaline-tolerant gene.

"We experimented with planting some genetically-modified crops on saline-alkaline land and found that annual sorghum yields grew by 20.1 percent, millet by 19.5 percent, and rice by 22.4 to 27.8 percent," said Xie.

The National Technology Innovation Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline Alkali Land was recently founded in Shandong Province. Jointly established by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and 18 saline-alkaline land research institutions and enterprises, the center focuses on saline-alkali land biological breeding, capacity enhancement and ecological utilization.

The center will take about three years to cultivate more than 80 new varieties of grain, oil, forage and special economic crops that are resistant to moderate salinity, and increase the comprehensive capacity per unit area by more than 25 percent.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Hundreds of migrants rushed across the United States-Mexico after heavy rains destroyed their makeshift tent camp in the northeastern Mexican town of Matamoros.

The chaotic scene was captured on multiple videos and showed the group sneaking past the metal gates on the Mexican side of the Gateway International Bridge on Monday.

Dozens of migrants were caught running through the pedestrian side of the bridge as a Mexican border agent extended his hands out in an attempt to stop them from proceeding.

However, the agent was knocked to the ground as the group tried to avoid stepping on him as they made their way towards Brownsville, Texas.

Several children who were crossing the bridge fell to the ground and were trampled by adults rushing the U.S. border.

A Mexican border agents tries to stop migrants from advancing on the Gateway International Bridge before he was knocked to the ground Monday afternoon

Migrants are seen running through the Gateway International Bridge that connects Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas

The migrants - most of them from Venezuela, El Salvador and Honduras- were able to get to the end of the bridge, where they were met by U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Some of the migrants were allowed to enter the U.S. and processed while others, including Venezuela native Darly Mercado, who was traveling with her family, were forced to return to Mexico.

'(The agents) told my husband that if they didn't have a wife, if they didn't have children, (they wouldn't be allowed), but the guards said no and pushed us,' she told reporters.

In a statement provided to DailyMail.com, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the Office of Field Operations temporarily stopped operations on the bridge at 4:15 pm.

'We made this decision informed by operational considerations, including information regarding groups congregating in the immediate vicinity of the bridge,' CBP said.

The agency didn't say how many migrants were processed and permitted to stay in the U.S.

The massive border crossing attempt is said to be the first since the administration of President Joe Biden lifted Title 42 on May 11.

The public health restriction that was put into place by former President Donald Trump's administration to stop unlawful border crossings during the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that there have been 1,431,864 encounters with migrants unlawfully crossing the border in fiscal year 2023

Hundreds of migrants were able to get past the Gateway International Bridge's gates on the Mexico side of the crossing in the border town of Matamoros on Monday before they made their way to the opposite end in Brownsville, Texas, where they were met by U.S. Border Patrol agents who accepted some to cross over to the United States while forcing the rest to return to Mexico

Under Title 42, migrants were sent back across the border to Mexico and were denied the opportunity to request asylum.

Since the removal of the controversial policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has registered a 50 percent decrease in encounters with undocumented migrants crossing the United States-Mexico border.

The rule change brings back into effect a previous policy known as Title 8, which allows migrants who cross the border to seek asylum, but also prescribes strict penalties for those crossing who do not qualify, including five-year bans on US entry and possible criminal charges.

The Biden administration has been trying to control the flow of migrants to the southern United States border, where thousands of people have tried to enter the country every month in the past year.
A lobbyist for vaccine manufacturer Moderna and for the maker of a leading puberty blocker given to transgender children is holding a fundraising event for Ron DeSantis in Washington D.C. this month.

It puts the Florida governor in an awkward position as he tries to ride anti-vaxxer sentiment and his record restricting gender-affirming treatment all the way to the White House.

He is pressing for a grand jury investigation into Moderna and has banned transgender treatment for minors in Florida.

The Trump campaign quickly slammed DeSantis, accusing him of hypocrisy as he did the bidding of his 'globalist masters.'

The controversy stems from an event to be held at the offices of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, D.C.'s biggest federal lobbying firm, on June 23. DeSantis supporters can buy a place with a $1,000 donation, according to an invitation obtained by DailyMail.com.

Lobbyist Marc Lampkin is on the host committee of a fundraising event for Ron DeSantis in Washington D.C. He has represented COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna, the manufacturer of a puberty blocking drug and a Chinese semiconductor company

Tickets are $1,000 for the event in downtown Washington, D.C.

One of the hosts is Marc Lampkin, a partner at the firm, who has been on the wrong side of a host of DeSantis or Republican red button issues.

He has been registered as a lobbyist for Moderna, manufacturer of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, since February 2021.

Filings show he is also registered for AbbVie, maker of puberty blocker Lupron, since 2014. The drug was given to trans children in Florida to pause puberty, but its use is now in doubt since DeSantis signed a bill banning the use of such drugs for new patients under 18.

And Foreign Agents Registration Act papers show that he represented Fujian Jinhua, a Chinese state-owned maker of semiconductors. In 2018, it was sanctioned by the Trump administration, which said it was a security threat.

Senior Trump aide Jason Miller slammed the linkup.

'It's no surprise Ron DeSanctimonious would do a fundraiser with a lobbyist for a Chinese semiconductor company considering his globalist masters at the Club for No Growth have a China First trade policy,' he said

'DeSanctus' hypocrisy surrounding the COVID vaccine, and his willingness to accept money from a representative of a company manufacturing puberty blockers, also show that DeSanctus is willing to sell out for anything if the price is right.'

The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

DeSantis in December asked the Florida Supreme Court to set up a grand jury to investigate 'wrongdoing' linked to the Covid-19 vaccines, including those made by Moderna

But the portfolio of interests puts Lampkin and the firm at odds with DeSantis.

Last month the Florida governor accused an 'ideologically charged small group of folks within medicine' of pushing transgender procedures on minors.

'They're trying to do sex change operations on minors, giving them things like puberty blockers, and doing things that are irreversible to them,' DeSantis said, as he signed the law banning the use of Lupron and other drugs on children. (Lupron was originally licensed to treat prostate cancer.)

Yet records show its manufacturer AbbVie is paying Lampkin's firm a cool $60,000 each quarter  $240,000 a year  to make its case in Washington.

And Moderna is paying $320,000 a year for 'issues related to mRNA drug discovery, drug development, and vaccine technologies.'

DeSantis, who once spoke up for COVID vaccines, has made common cause with anti-vaxxers as he seeks to stake out distinctive territory from his main rival Trump.

In particular, he has raised concerns about mRNA vaccines, of the type made by Moderna, their side effects and their effectiveness.

AbbVie makes Lupron, one of a class of drugs that is used in the treatment of gender dysphoria to halt the puberty process

DeSantis spent last week touring the early primary or caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He is running second in the polls to Donald Trump

In December he asked the Florida Supreme Court to set up a grand jury to investigate 'wrongdoing' linked to the Covid-19 vaccines.

'An investigation is warranted to determine whether the pharmaceutical industry has engaged in fraudulent practices,' says his petition, which makes 11 references to Moderna. 'The people of Florida deserve to know the truth.'

Like other Republican candidates, DeSantis has identified China as a national security threat, even banning land purchases by the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliates in Florida.

Yet his lobbyist supporter in Washington registered as a 'foreign agent' to represent Fujian Jinhua, a joint enterprise between the Chinese government and the Fujian provincial government.

In 2018 it was accused of stealing American chip technology. The Trump administration blacklisted the company and warned that it could flood the market with cheap semiconductors that could bankrupt U.S. businesses that supply American armed forces, making it a threat to national security.

Robert Spalding who served as U.S. defense sttache to China before joining Trump's National Security Council, said Republican candidates had recognized that Beijing was a top threat.

But they needed to do more to insulate themselves from Chinese money.

'This is the number one threat,' he said. 'It's not an invasion of the United States. It's them influencing our political process through organizations and individuals and companies.'
Prince Harry has claimed in the High Court that he was painted as a 'thicko' by tabloid newspapers and felt like he ended playing up to stereotypes they created.

The Duke of Sussex said in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers that the Press had also described him as a 'cheat', 'underage drinker' and 'irresponsible drug taker'.

Harry, 38, claimed newspapers tried to edge Royal Family members towards playing the 'roles that suit them best' - and 'especially if you are the "spare to the heir"'.

The royal, who spent five years at the prestigious Eton College, said tabloids were 'constantly peddling' an idea 'that I was not bright, struggling at school, a "thicko".'

Prince Harry arrives at London's High Court today for the Mirror Group Newspapers case

Harry meets Eton College headmaster John Lewis as he joins the school in September 1998

In his witness statement, the duke said it was 'no secret that I have had, and continue to have, a very difficult relationship with the tabloid Press in the UK'.

He continued: 'In my experience as a member of the Royal Family, each of us gets cast into a specific role by the tabloid Press. You start off as a blank canvas while they work out what kind of person you are and what kind of problems and temptations you might have. They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible, especially if you are the "spare to the heir".

'You're then either the "playboy prince", the "failure", the "dropout" or, in my case, the "thicko", the "cheat", the "underage drinker", the "irresponsible drug taker", the list goes on.

'As a teenager and in my early 20s, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well "do the crime", so to speak.

'It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a "damaged" young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers.

Harry is seen in May 2003 in his room at Eton College

Harry punches the air in June 2003 as he leaves Eton College on his last day at the school

'Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile.'

READ MORE Prince Harry statement in full: Duke's extraordinary witness evidence at High Court hacking case Advertisement

He also said that whatever advantage people claimed he had by walking into a room as 'Prince Harry' was 'immediately flipped on its head, because I was facing judgments and opinions based on what had been reported about me, true or not'.

Harry said: 'I expected people to be thinking "he's obviously going to fail this test, because he's a thicko".

'If you were one of the examiners for the Regular Commissions Board, for instance, then you are going to expect me to screw up, as you've already made an opinion before even meeting me based on the tabloid reports.

'It meant that I felt that I never went in at the same level as everybody else because the spotlight was always on me.'

He also referenced an article in the Sunday Mirror on January 5, 2003 which had the headline 'Harry - I'm going to join Army'.

The duke said the story revealed 'details of private conversations I had with my father about my future, mainly that I didn't want to go to university and would rather join the Army'.

He added: 'Articles such as this were part of the bigger picture that the defendant's journalists and other tabloids were constantly peddling, that I was not bright, struggling at school, a "thicko".'
A teenage girl who claims she was duped into sex by a woman posing as a boy called George felt what she thought was his penis while they were in bed together, a court heard today.

Georgia Bilham, 21, is accused of tricking the short-sighted girl by taking away her glasses and keeping her clothes on and her hood up during all their sexual encounters.

Today the alleged victim, who at the time was in her late teens, told the jury that while she never seen Georges penis, she felt what she described as a willy-like figure against her leg on two occasions.

One was when they were lying in bed next to each other at her house spooning.

The other was when George arrived to collect her in his car and he had brushed past her leg, she said.

Georgia Bilham, 21, is accused of tricking the short-sighted girl that she was a boy called George

Georgia Bilham (Centre - white cardigan) arriving at Chester Crown Court where she is on trial charged with 17 sexual assaults on a 19 year old female victim

Today the alleged victim, who at the time was in her late teens, told the jury that while she never seen Georges penis, she felt what she described as a willy-like figure against her leg on two occasions. Pictured: Georgia Bilham

Describing the second time it allegedly happened, she said: I thought we were about to have sex - this was the night.

The jury also heard about messages the girl exchanged with her mother, who became suspicious after meeting George and told her daughter that she didnt believe her boyfriend was a man.

Did you defo feel a willy? her mother asked.

Yes defo. Why did you think hes a girl? she replied.

But Bilhams barrister told the court her client denies ever having done anything aimed at mimicking a penis.

The alleged victim also admitted to police there had once been part of her which wanted to experiment with girls  but insisted the thought now made her feel sick.

Bilham allegedly set up a fake Snapchat profile under the name George Parry using a cartoon image of a blond-haired man as her profile picture and began messaging the alleged victim online.

They progressed to meeting up for sexual activity in Georges car, with Bilham taking away the extremely short-sighted girls glasses, leaving her essentially blind, Chester Crown Court has heard.

Bilhams barrister told the court her client denies ever having done anything aimed at mimicking a penis

Bilham allegedly set up a fake Snapchat profile under the name George Parry, a court heard

The jury also heard about messages the girl exchanged with her mother, who became suspicious after meeting George and told her daughter that she didnt believe her boyfriend was a man

After he dismissed her suspicions that he was really female, the pair began sleeping together at her home, with George insisting on keeping his hood up at all times.

But while George regularly performed sex acts on her, when she tried to lower his Calvin Klein boxer shorts he began shaking until she stopped, it was alleged.

George told her he was too afraid to take off his top or even lower the hood because he was working for an Albanian criminal gang.

He also said he was self-conscious due to a scar from being stabbed, according to the prosecution.

However the accuser finally learnt the truth after introducing George to her mother, who the prosecution say was not taken in.

Bilham, from Alpraham, Cheshire, is charged with nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of assault by penetration, all of which she denies.

Under cross-examination from Martine Snowdon, Bilhams barrister, the alleged victim admitted today that the relationship was like an addiction and not healthy.

Ms Snowdon pointed to messages between the pair which she claimed showed the teenager was aware that George was being dishonest and pretending to be someone else.

Bilham is charged with nine counts of sexual assault and eight counts of penetration, all of which she denies

The alleged victim acknowledged that she knew George wasnt always truthful with her. But she insisted she always believed he was a boy, even following a car crash in May 2021 when police had referred to him as Georgia

The alleged victim acknowledged that she knew George wasnt always truthful with her.

But she insisted she always believed he was a boy, even following a car crash in May 2021 when police had referred to him as Georgia.

Ms Snowdon referred to messages the teenager sent George saying OK little boy/girl? and How are you girl?

In another, she wrote: I hate being a girl but you know what that feels like.

The alleged victim responded that the messages were banter and a joke between her and George and denied sending them because she knew he was a girl.

In another message, she told George that: I just dont believe anything you say.

Ms Snowdon suggested it showed the teenager was aware George was a girl and not a boy.

No, it was about his stories, the Albanians, she replied.

I couldnt have a relationship with somebody who wasnt honest with me.

While George regularly performed sex acts on her, when she tried to lower his Calvin Klein boxer shorts he began shaking until she stopped, it was alleged

Ms Snowdon said the teenager sort of knew stuff about George but chose to accept it because she couldnt walk away from the relationship and fell in love with the person and not who they said they were.

She suggested: You chose to go on with the relationship because you were in love with the person not who they were identifying as.

She also dismissed claims by the alleged victim that Bilham had used anything mimicking a penis in her clothes - something the defendant denies.

The alleged victim told the court: I just felt like some sort of willy figure, like, hard willy figure.

Ms Snowdon told her that Bilham denies that there was ever anything intended to mimic a penis in her clothing at any stage and either youre not telling the truth about that or youre mistaken.

She replied: I disagree because I honestly thought that it was and that George was doing it so Id know that it was there, but hes just so nervous I didnt want to push him.

The court also heard messages she exchanged with another woman about George in July 2021.

In one, the complainant said: He genuinely does not take his hood down, even when he stayed over.

She added: Im in a situation-ship with someone I dont even know is a girl or a boy.

The trial continues.
The lawyer for the prime suspect in Natalee Holloway's disappearance has filed a last-minute request to block his extradition to the US.

Joran van der Sloot, who is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in Peru for a separate killing of a young woman in 2010, had his attorney file a habeas corpus petition to stop his temporary transfer to face charges related to the teenager's 2005 disappearance.

'He does not want to be extradited to the United States of America,' said his lawyer Maximo Altez, who said the decision to halt the transfer was made after a meeting with Dutch diplomats.

'He was visited today by his embassy (representatives) who made him see the mistake he was making by being extradited without due process,' Altez added.

Van der Sloot was moved from a maximum facility prison to Lima on Saturday, and was set to be taken to Birmingham, Alabama to face trial before his last attempt to stay in South America.

Van der Sloot, a citizen of Holland, has been serving a 28-year sentence in Peru for the 2010 murder of 21-year-old college student Stephany Flores. He was recently beaten by fellow inmates, according to his attorney

Natalee's body has never been found and she was declared legally dead in 2012

The surprise move comes just days after the suspect previously agreed to be extradited - but the Dutch citizen is still expected to be handed over to US authorities later this week, according to CNN.

Van der Sloot's anticipated extradition came after he was indicted on federal charges of extortion and wire fraud for allegedly offering information to Holloway's parents about her remains in exchange for money.

Natalee was 18 when she disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba during a trip with school friends in 2005.

The teenager was last seen leaving a nightclub with van der Sloot and two of his friends. Her body has never been found and she was declared legally dead in 2012.

Van der Sloot was indicted by a grand jury in 2010 on one count each of wire fraud and extortion, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Prosecutors allege that he reached out to the teenager's mother asking for $25,000 to disclose the location of her daughter's body.

He then allegedly demanded a further $225,000 if the body was found, and a sting operation saw van der Sloot initially single out a house he claimed her body was buried in.

In later emails, the suspect admitted to lying about the location, an FBI agent claimed in an affidavit.

Natalee was 18 when she disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba during a trip with school friends in 2005

Van der Sloot, with whom Natalee had been the night of her disappearance, was detained as a suspect in the case, but ultimately released

And in a stunning move, a DailyMail.com investigation revealed that he is now expected to protest his innocence and make the extraordinary accusation that it was actually Natalee's mother, Beth, who approached van der Sloot offering money if he took her to her daughter's body.

His attorney, Maximo Altez, said his client wanted to be extradited to clear his name.

'He was living his life in Aruba and got a call from Beth Holloway, who tricked him, he claimed.

'She said: "Joran, tell me where the body is and I'll give you $250,000." He never asked for money, she's the one that offered.

'She even gave him an advancement and he never asked for the rest. He only got $25,000.'

Altez explained that his client is a 'sick person' and 'compulsive gambler', who 'needed the money to play at the casino'. However, he claimed Mrs Holloway 'took advantage of him'.

In his 2007 book, 'The Case of Natalee Holloway: My Own Story about her Disappearance on Aruba', van der Sloot admitted lying to police and apologized to the Holloways.

He wrote: 'I understand that my lies in the past seriously tarnished my credibility.'

He maintained his innocence, explaining that he had left an intoxicated Natalee on the beach, where he said she wanted to 'watch the stars'.

Van der Sloot is the prime suspect in the unsolved murder case, but he is now fighting his extradition

In 2012, van der Sloot pleaded guilty to the murder of a young Peruvian woman in 2010

Van der Sloott is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores, 21, who was killed five years to the day after Natalee's disappearance.

Peruvian prosecutors accused van der Sloot of killing Flores, a business student from a prominent family, to rob her after learning she had won money at the casino where the two met.

They said he killed her with 'ferocity' and 'cruelty,' beating then strangling her in his hotel room. He pleaded guilty in 2012.

Last month, Altez claimed van der Sloot had been severely beaten by fellow inmates and had since been moved to the jails medical aisle.
Bitcoin fell more than five percent, but experts say turmoil in the market could be 'a good thing for the industry'

Leading cryptocurrencies have taken a hit after US regulators sued exchanges Binance and Coinbase amid a wider crackdown on the industry.

Investors pulled around $780 million from Binance and its American affiliate, Binance.US, in the 24 hours since the Securities and Exchange Commission launched legal action against the company.

The SEC sued Binance's billionaire CEO Changpeng Zhao over an alleged 'web of deception' and 'blatant disregard for the federal securities laws.'

Officials have also launched another suit against exchange Coinbase - accusing it of illegally operating without having first registered with the regulator.

The landmark action struck a blow to the heart of the crypto markets. But what does this turmoil mean for the digital currency as a whole?

The SEC sued Binance's billionaire CEO Changpeng Zhao over an alleged 'web of deception'

Binance customers made net withdrawals of nearly $780 million in 24 hours after the crypto platform was accused by the SEC of a 'web of deception' to evade US laws

What happened following the Binance news?

According to data firm Nansen, Binance saw net outflows of $778.6 million of crypto tokens and Binance.US registered net outflows of $13 million in the 24 hours since the news of the lawsuit broke.

Despite the exchange stating repeatedly that it has the reserves to cope with a rush of withdrawals, the crypto markets were rocked.

Prices appeared to reflect some pessimism about the future of the market - as Binance is by far the largest crypto trading platform in the world.

Bitcoin fell more than five percent following the news, its worst daily decline since mid-April. Despite recovering somewhat to trade at $25,772 the next day, it marks a significant decline since last June when it was trading at $31,351.

Ethereum was also hit, trading down 2.66 percent, while Binance's BNB cryptocurrency fell to a near three-month low of $278.20 after the price tumbled 9.2 percent following the news.

'It's another blow to the crypto industry and the crypto exchanges of the world,' said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Markets, of the SEC suit.

The markets were rocked by the news about Binance - the largest crypto trading platform in the world

What does it mean for the crypto markets?

Alex Kuptsikevich, an analyst at broker FxPro told Barron's that people should be prepared for the Bitcoin price to fall another 15 percent.

'We should be prepared for a big selloff down to $22,000,' he said.

Arguably the biggest immediate risk is that fears over Binance create a similar 'run on the bank' situation to what preceded the collapse of the FTX exchange, founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, last year.

The disgraced trader is currently facing several federal charges over the collapse of the $250 billion exchange.

One of the most shocking allegations waged against Binance by the SEC was that the company exercises control of assets held on its platform, 'permitting them to commingle customer assets or divert customer assets as they please, including to an entity Zhao owned.'

The alleged co-mingling of customer money between FTX and an affiliated crypto hedge fund called Alameda Research, both of which Bankman-Fried owned, was integral to the meltdown of the exchange.

Laith Khalaf, Head of Investment Analysis at British firm AJ Bell, said that it 'feels like the crypto bubble is suffering death by a thousand punctures.'

'Crypto is a highly volatile asset in a market which is lightly regulated, so investors must be willing to swallow a whole load of risk before diving in,' she added. 'The golden rule for crypto buyers remains not to invest any money you arent willing to lose in its entirety.'

Some investors, however, see the SEC's actions as helpful in the long-term in aiding regulation in the space - even if the market takes a fall in the short-term.

Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, a major provider of crypto index funds, told Barron's: 'Historically, every time regulators have stepped in to clean up crypto, it has ultimately been a good thing for the industry.

'Regulators havent been perfect by any means. Many of these "cleanups" came too late and were arbitrarily applied, and focused on punishment rather than investor protections.

'But the fact remains that the industry has improved over time and these "crisis moments" contributed to that. Short-term pain for long-term gain.'

Sam Bankman-Fried is currently facing several federal charges over the collapse of the $250 billion exchange FTX last year

What could regulation mean in the long-term?

The crypto world has been under scrutiny since the collapse of FTX in November 2022.

The SEC has pledged to crack down on the industry this year - and the Binance lawsuit is the most significant step so far.

The lawsuit is an effort to prove that crypto exchanges need to register with the SEC and abide by regulation, which would include investor disclosures and bans on certain conflicts of interest, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Crypto firms have resisted this - but they could be forced to fall in line or move offshore entirely if courts order them to comply.

The risk to Binance is if a court decides it is an unlicensed exchange - which could mean the platform is banned from offering its trading services in the US.

Earlier this year, the company was sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for operating what it alleged were an 'illegal' exchange and a 'sham' compliance program.

Zhao said the CFTC claims were an 'incomplete recitation of facts'.

Binance said it had been cooperating with the SEC's probes and had 'worked hard to answer their questions and address their concerns', including by trying to reach a negotiated settlement. 'We intend to defend our platform vigorously,' it added in a blog.
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has hit out at a council's plan for a 'Drag Queen Story Time' for children aged up to six.

The MP warned that the 'fun and interactive show' at a library in Moray was 'totally inappropriate'.

Mr Ross said he had contacted the local council - which is under minority Tory control - to pass on objections from his constituents.

A press release put out by the town hall says the event this weekend, to coincide with Pride Month, will feature 'Moray's very own Miss Lossie Mouth'.

It is described as 'suitable for children aged 0-6' and designed to encourage 'a love of reading through imaginative story time, while promoting inclusion, diversity and acceptance'.

A press release put out by the town hall says the event this weekend, to coincide with Pride Month, will feature 'Moray's very own Miss Lossie Mouth'. Moray Council stressed that the event did not have anything to do with Drag Queen Story Hour UK

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has hit out at a council's plan for a 'Drag Queen Story Time' for children aged up to six

Miss Lossie Mouth, aka John Campbell, said was going to tell 'colourful, joyous stories'.

'As a teacher myself I appreciate the way to instil a love of reading from an early age is to make it fun,' he said.

'That's exactly what Drag Queen story telling does with an engaging hour of colourful, joyous stories.

'I can't wait to read to Moray's youngest residents and see them enjoying books like 'And Tango Makes Three', 'Zee Zee the Zebra', and 'Unicorn NOT Wanted'.'

Moray Council's Principal Librarian, David Hayden said the initiative was a 'great way to promote equality, diversity and inclusion'.

'We're breaking down barriers in so many ways with this initiative  getting our youngsters into libraries, encouraging confidence to be themselves and promoting acceptance. I know a number of wee ones who will be very excited to get to the library to make some noise and join in the fun,' he said.

However, Mr Ross said on Twitter: 'It's totally inappropriate to hold a show like this for kids under the age of six.

'Story time for babies and young kids shouldn't focus on gender or sexual identity.

'That is common sense and on behalf of constituents who've contacted me, I've raised this with the council.'

Moray Council stressed that the event did not have anything to do with Drag Queen Story Hour UK.

Council posts on its Facebook page defended the initiative, saying criticism showed 'what our LGBTQ+ friends still have to deal with regularly'.

They added that 'our libraries regularly have story time with different themes - this one is about inclusion, acceptance and fun'.
An obsessed killer followed a woman from Pakistan to the UK and suffocated her with a Covid facemask, a court heard.

Muhammad Arslan, 27, crammed the body of Hina Bashir, 21, into a suitcase and dumped it in bushes near an industrial estate where he was working as a delivery driver.

Arslan had followed the business management student from their home village in Pakistan after becoming obsessed with her when she was a teenager, the Old Bailey heard.

He told friends she was his fiance even though she was seeing other men and sent her messages saying she was his 'life', jurors were told.

Arslan thrust the facemask so deep in her mouth at his home in Ilford that Miss Bashir could not breathe.

Muhammad Arslan, 27, of Ilford, east London, crammed the body of Hina Bashir (pictured), 21, into a suitcase and dumped it in bushes near an industrial estate off the M25 where he was working as a delivery driver

He had asked a flatmate who worked as a taxi driver to take him to the industrial site saying he had to 'drop something off for a friend.'

Arslan has admitted manslaughter but denies murder claiming he did not intend to kill her.

He also denies perverting the course of justice by disposing of the body.

The court heard Miss Bashir went to Arslan's home in Natal Road, Ilford, on July 11 last year had stayed there for one night when moving accommodation and left some belongings.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson, KC, said: 'She went accompanied by a friend.

'She entered the house in which the defendant lived, but did not come back out and her friend had to leave without her.

'Hina Bashir never left that house alive.

'The next morning the defendant set off from his house, dragging behind him a suitcase. A case that contained Hina Bashir's dead body.

'He got a lift from a taxi driver who lived in the house. They travelled to an industrial estate by the M25.

'He got out of the taxi, took the suitcase and dragged it to the side of a lane where he hid it in some undergrowth.

Appearing at the Old bailey today, Arslan admitted manslaughter but denied murder claiming he did not intend to kill Miss Bashir. He also denies perverting the course of justice by disposing of the body

'He left that suitcase concealed there in the days that followed.

'Friends and family of Hina Bashir became worried by her disappearance. Her lack of contact was out of character.

'Questions began to be asked. A few days went by, the police were called and investigations began.

'In due course that suitcase was discovered and it was opened, revealing squeezed inside of it it, the dead body of Ms Bashir.

'On examination the pathologist found that a facemask had been pushed into her mouth. It was found there balled up.

'It had forced her tongue backwards, blocking her airway at the back of her throat.

'As for the cause of her death, Hina Bashir had been killed through asphyxia- the facemask that was forced into her mouth had stopped her from breathing.

'After the defendant's arrest police found evidence on the defendant's phone showing that although she was five years younger than him the defendant had become close to her when she was a teenager.

'On his phone was evidence showing he had had frequent contact when she was younger.

'The defendant was later to insist to the police that there was no relationship between the two of them, however when the police translated the materials found on his phone they found that he had been repeatedly in contact with her, that he had been declaring intense love for her.

'He spoke in those old contacts about wanting to be together with her, wanting her to be his wife, wanting to have a child with her.

'His phone also contained messages between him and another man, in which that other man suggested Ms Bashir was in fact engaged to him, rather than to the defendant.

'The defendant expressed his shock and sent messages suggesting that he thought Hina had cheated on him.

'On his phone the police also found messages, from 2021, suggesting he was trying to get in contact with her, including by sending messages pretending to be a female.

'The police also found on his phone image after image of Ms Bashir, taken at different time, different ages.

'Some of them having been photo-shopped or altered using an software or apps.

'Some of them had love hearts added, they found collages of several image of her which had been put together.

'The evidence suggests the defendant was obsessed with her.'

Jurors were shown an image he had edited of himself and Hina both inside love hearts.

He had also edited a photograph of a cake with the words 'Happy Birthday Hina Arslan' on it.

Ms Bashir arrived came to the UK in November 2021 to study business management at the London campus of Coventry University.

Arslan arrived in February 2022, telling people he wanted to marry Hina and that she was his fiance, the court heard.

Hina found a room in Manor Park, while Arslan moved to nearby Ilford.

She stayed with him overnight in April 2022 because she was moving accommodation, sleeping in his bedroom while he slept in the living room, the court heard.

On 11 July she returned to collect some belongings.

She was showing friends messages from the defendant in which he called her 'my life' on the way there, the court heard.

She told them she had been struggling to get her things back from Arslan.

Jurors were shown a Snapchat video taken by her friend on the street showing Hina wearing an orange t-shirt which read 'sunshine is a state of mind'.

She also wore orange trousers.

Arslan looked at messages and photographs on Hina's phone in the hours after he killed her, the court heard.

He took photos on his phone of photos he found of her with other young men.

Hina's blood was found on his bed and facemasks with the same pattern as the one found in her mouth were found in his home.

Arslan, of Natal Road, Ilford, denies murder and perverting the course of justice.

He is assisted in court by an Urdu interpreter.
An Indiana man was charged with intimidation and harassment of Rep. Jim Banks after levying eerie threats against the congressman and his family.

Aaron L. Thompson, 34, called the Republican representative's office at least eight times  leaving several threatening messages, according to a probable cause filing obtained by the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

'Here's the choice  Your daughters grow up without their dad or you grow old without your daughters,' he said in one of the voice messages to Bank's office, adding: 'Boom, boom you pick.'

Banks and his wife Amanda have three daughters, Lillian, Elizabeth and Joann.

An Indiana man was charged with intimidation and harassment of Rep. Jim Banks after he left threatening voice mails on the congressman's office phone

Aaron L. Thompson, 34, admitted to getting intoxicated and making at least eight calls where he informed Banks that he has a gun and said in one message: 'Here's the choice  Your daughters grow up without their dad or you grow old without your daughters'

'The safety of my family is my top priority,' Banks said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com. 'I've been instructed to refer all questions about the ongoing criminal investigation to the Allen County Prosecutor's Office.'

Thompson admitted to the U.S. Capitol Police that he was intoxicated and wanted to make the calls due to their differing political views.

He called Banks' office once on April 6 and seven times on April 11.

In the expletive-filled messages, the Fort Wayne man said he hoped Banks died in a car crash or would get 'his brains blown out' and informed the congressman that he owned a gun, according to the June 2 filing.

Thompson was arrested on Friday and scheduled for an initial hearing Tuesday in Allen County Superior Court.

In Indiana, intimidation is a Level 6 felony and harassment is a Class B misdemeanor.

Banks assumed his role as a congressman for Indiana's 3rd congressional district after the 2016 election  he is currently Chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

In January, Banks announced he is running for Senate in Indiana to take outgoing Sen. Mike Braun's seat as he runs for governor in the state.

Banks received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in his Senate bid.
The Government came under fire today after the Commons sat for less than three hours, due to a lack of legislative business.

Tuesday's session began at 11.34 and was done two hours and 46 minutes later, when Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton adjourned the sitting for the day.

It was just the second day of business after the Commons returned from a half-term break lasting six working days.

The session was wound up after a session of Health and Social Care Questions fielded by Steve Barclay, a vote on whether to suspend former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier for 30 days , and a small amount of minor business.

Dame Rosie called proceedings to a halt at 2.20pm, with Lib Dem MP Richard Foord saying shortly afterwards: 'It says a lot that it's 2.27pm on a Tuesday afternoon and MPs have already discussed the only bit of substantive business the Government has brought forward.

'I know many say ministers are out of ideas, but this is just ridiculous.'

Tuesday's session began at 11.34 and was done two hours and 46 minutes later, when Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton adjourned the sitting for the day.

Dame Rosie called proceedings to a halt at 2.20pm, with Lib Dem MP Richard Foord saying shortly afterwards: 'It says a lot that it's 2.27pm on a Tuesday afternoon and MPs have already discussed the only bit of substantive business the Government has brought forward.'

The short parliament Tuesday's order of business in the House of Commons: 11.30pm Health and Social Care questions

12.30pm A 10-minute rule motion on care supporters

12.40pm Vote on whether to suspend Margaret Ferrier Then British Nationality (Regularisation of Past Practice) Bill: All stages (time allowed - until 7pm at latest)

An adjournment debate on the Department for Work and Pensions and the safeguarding adults board inquiry into the death of Errol Graham (time allowed - 30 minutes) Advertisement

Labour's shadow science minister Chi Onwurah added: 'Adjourning at 2pm, five hours early!

'Government determines the business of the House and it has never been clearer that Sunak and his pals are out of ideas.'

The Commons could in theory have sat until 7.30pm this evening, if enough MPs had wanted to debate.

Questions to Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay and his team lasted for little more than an hour, until 12.38.

The rest of the business, including all remaining stages of the British Nationality (Regularisation of Past Practice) Bill, were done in under two hours.

The suspension handed to Margaret Ferrier, the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is long enough to trigger a recall petition in the southern Scottish seat, if voters ask for one.

A by-election would offer a glimpse of SNP fortunes as Humza Yousaf's party finds itself mired in scandal.

If Labour was able to overturn the SNP's 5,320 majority from 2019 it would hand Sir Keir Starmer a boost in his hopes of entering No10 after the next general election.

The Commons voted 185 to 40 to approve the motion to suspend Ms Ferrier, who was in the Commons chamber to learn her fate. While the SNP voted for a ban to trigger a by-election, 32 Tories supported her and 290 abstained.

The suspension handed to Margaret Ferrier, the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is enough to trigger a recall petition in the southern Scottish seat.

They included Daniel Kawczynski, former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, and DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.

Ms Ferrier was accompanied in the Commons chamber by Conservative former minister Andrew Selous and SNP MP Carol Monaghan.

At one point, Mr Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, was seen walking to the opposition benches to shake her hand.

Under parliamentary rules, any ban of ten days or more allows a recall petition to be held.
A US airman has been charged with three counts of rape after a British woman was reportedly attacked on a RAF military base.

Lee Bogstad, 21, is accused of raping the woman on three occasions between November 2020 and February 2021 at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

Bogstad will appear before Northampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday June 29.

The claims have been investigated by Northamptonshire Police and the US Air Force, police officers said.

RAF Croughton operates one of Europe's largest military switchboards, processing around a third of all military communications within Europe.

The site, which is around 20 miles north of Oxford, is home to the 422nd Air Base Group.

It became known internationally after US citizen Anne Sacoolas, who had worked there, killed 19-year-old Harry Dunn outside the base in August 2019. She was given a eight-month suspended sentence for careless driving.
An RE teacher who lied about being an SAS war hero has been banned from the classroom - after his 'bullet wounds' were exposed as an old jogging injury.

Dr William Sharkey, 38, told pupils and colleagues at Bryanston School in Dorset that he had been shot twice while carrying out a secret mission for Britain's special forces.

He was later fired from his job at the 43,350 a year boarding school after he was caught meeting a female pupil in his room, after sharing 'over familiar' messages with the vulnerable sixth former.

The religious studies teacher has now been banned from classrooms indefinitely after it was revealed he had lied about serving in the SAS since university.

Dr Sharkey was revealed to have maintained the lie out of habit while working at the Dorset boarding school, which counts scouts founder Lord Baden Powell as one of its former pupils.

Dr Sharkey, 38, (pictured) told pupils and colleagues he had been shot twice while serving in the SAS - before his 'wounds' were exposed to be jogging injuries

The 38-year-old was also revealed to have exchanged 'over familiar' messages with the sixth former, despite claiming she had come to see him about a university application.

The teacher will now be banned from classrooms for at least five years, with the block set to be reviewed in 2028.

Barrister Mr Jeremy Phillips KC, who chaired the Teaching Regulation Agency, hearing said Dr Sharkey told colleagues he had been injured in a warzone, while a member of the SAS.

Mr Phillips said: 'He admitted that he had not been injured in a warzone. He also admitted that he had not ever been a member of the SAS.

'A colleague stated that he had been told by Dr Sharkey that he was a member of the SAS, had suffered an injury and had been shot.

'He stated that this was a story well-known around the school, that it was something that Dr Sharkey told the boys in the boarding house and a number of colleagues at the school were aware of it.'

Dr Sharkey told fellow teacher he had been a part time reservist in the SAS between 2004 and 2009 when completing his degree. He claimed he had been shot and wounded twice in one incident.

'Dr Sharkey explained that he had been asked by the pupils about his running style, and he had told them about the incident,' Mr Phillips continued.

'He also claimed he had been part of the SAS as a reservist with a commitment of 80 days' training and operations each year between 2004 and 2009, that he had been in combat renaissance and refused to explain where he had been deployed.

'Dr Sharkey later explained that his SAS service had been fabricated and that he had not deployed abroad, that his 'wounds' were an old running injury and that his story had been to hide

'Dr Sharkey confirmed that he had not been injured overseas whilst serving with the SAS, and that he had lied.

'He had made up a lie about being in the SAS, and had maintained that lie since he was in university.

'The panel had seen an email from Dr Sharkey to colleagues of 29 December 2015 in which he stated that he had been shot twice in a war-zone.'

He was fired from the job in February 2016 after a female sixth former was twice seen leaving his private quarters in an all-male boarding house.

The religious studies teacher was fired from his job at Bryanston School in Dorset (pictured) which charges 43,350 a year and counts scouts founder Lord Baden Powell as a former pupil

He claimed he had been helping the girl with her university applications and she had turned up the second time unannounced.

But teaching watchdogs were told he was well aware he should not have been seeing pupils in his residential flat.

He had only worked at the school since June 2015 where he taught RE and philosophy as well as running the boarding house.

He was dismissed less than a fortnight later and worked as a part time lecturer at the University of Southampton from 1 October 2014 to 31 May 2015.

His dismissal letter stated 'Dr Sharkey's repeated dishonesty had undermined the school's ability to trust what he said, which was particularly concerning to the school given that Dr Sharkey's role involved regular contact with pupils'.

In October 2020, he applied for to teach again at Lymm High School, Warrington.

He claimed in his application he had worked at the University of Southampton from September 2012 until December 2016, failing to mention his job at Bryanston  or that he had been fired.

He was employed at Lymm High School as head of religious studies from October 2020 until January 2022.

But it was then discovered that between July and August 2021, he began exchanging 'over familiar' emails with a female student, referred to only as Pupil A, knowing she was vulnerable.

'This included the phrase 'Stay awesome', 'Hahahahahahhaa!!!', the use of emojis, sharing information regarding trips he had taken and a book that he was reading,' Mr Phillips said.

'The panel noted that Dr Sharkey initiated the contact. Dr Sharkey may have been well intentioned to check in with a vulnerable pupil whilst she was away from the school.

'But if Dr Sharkey was concerned for Pupil A's welfare during the school holidays, he ought to have discussed this with relevant colleagues, rather than establishing communications with her himself.'

Dr Sharkey was revealed to have maintained his lie about serving in the SAS since university (File photo: Members of Britain's Special Air Service in WWII)

Banning him from teaching for at least five years, Sarah Buxcey, for the Education Secretary, underlined:

'The panel had seen Dr Sharkey's letter appealing the decision to terminate his employment at Bryanston School.

'This stated that Dr Sharkey had repeated to a colleague at Bryanston School a lie he had told previously to a running partner prior to joining Bryanston School.

'He stated that he had previously told this lie to keep his past a secret, and out of panic since being asked questions raised extremely emotional issues for him.

'He stated that he feared the colleague at Bryanston School might one day meet some of his friends from Southampton and a discrepancy would be noted.

'He stated that he had not been motivated by any desire to show-off or impress pupils, but that he had been motivated by shame, fear and mostly by habit.

'The panel considered that Dr Sharkey had been aware when he represented that he had served in the SAS, that it was untrue, and that he was telling a lie.

'An ordinary decent person would consider this to be dishonest. The panel found Dr Sharkey's conduct to be dishonest.'
Prince Harry revealed today that he was 'extremely worried' he was going to be expelled from Eton College following press reports that he was using drugs.

The Duke of Sussex spent five years at the prestigious school in Berkshire from 1998 until 2003 and said in High Court evidence that it had a 'zero drugs policy in place'.

Harry referred to an article which was published on the front page of the Daily Mirror in January 2002 with the headline: 'Harry's cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties.'

Prince Harry arrives at London's High Court today for the Mirror Group Newspapers case

Harry meets Eton College headmaster John Lewis as he joins the school in September 1998

Harry is seen in May 2003 sitting in his room at Eton College, where he studied for five years

He claimed the headline was misleading because he 'only smoked cannabis', he was quoted as telling his father and it made it sound like he was hosting the parties.

Harry said it was 'not clear to me' where the journalists had got their quotes from, so it made him 'wonder with hindsight' if they had heard something they were not intended to, and as there was 'no explanation of how they learnt the information' and he was 'at a loss as to who would have said' it.

Discussing the Mirror article, Harry said in his witness statement: 'What's notable to me in this article when reading it now are the quotes attributed to my father, including that he was 'worried sick' and 'hugely relieved' when I told him I had only used cannabis.

'My father didn't make any direct comment to the press, a statement was made by the palace in response to the News Of The World story. This was handled by a tight, small team internally, so it is not clear to me where the defendant's journalists could possibly have obtained these quotes from.'

The duke continued: 'This article, along with the News Of The World coverage, had a huge impact on my life. Eton had a zero drugs policy in place, and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled.'

He added: 'These articles were also written at a time when there had been an agreement between the press and the royal family, following the death of my mother, that my brother and I should be able to go through our education without constant scrutiny and interruption.

Prince Harry works in his room at Eton College in May 2003, where he spent five years

Harry sits in his room at Eton College in May 2003, shortly before completing his time there

Harry punches the air in June 2003 as he leaves Eton College on his last day at the school

'It seemed to me there was never any let up in the press coverage of every detail of my childhood, by the defendant's journalists and others.'

READ MORE Prince Harry statement in full: Duke's extraordinary witness evidence at High Court hacking case Advertisement

Harry also mentioned Eton when he was questioned about another Daily Mirror article published in September 1996 entitled 'Diana so sad on Harry's big day'.

The court heard that Harry has complained about the article containing details of his feelings regarding the divorce of his parents and the ill health of a family friend.

MGN barrister Andrew Green KC said the duke was first issued with a mobile phone when he went to Eton in 1998, putting it to Harry that the 1996 article could not have involved phone hacking.

Harry replied: 'That's incorrect. My security at school had a separate room with a land line.'

He said 'most Sunday nights', after being dropped off by his mother 'the first thing we would do is to use the phone to ring her... in floods of tears'.

Harry also said it could have been his mother who was hacked, but Mr Green said this was 'just speculation you've come up with now'.
Some 300 animals have drowned at a Ukrainian zoo after it flooded following the dam blast in Ukraine.

The major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed early on Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies.

But as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction, hundreds of animals were left behind and stranded to await their ill fate at the local Kazkova Dibrova zoo.

The zoo, located right on the bank of the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied Kherson, was previously home to monkeys, donkeys, horses, raccoons and other animals.

The park is now completely underwater, it was reported, with only swans and ducks remaining.

The major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed early on Tuesday, flooding the surrounding area including the local Kazkova Dibrova zoo

The zoo, located right on the bank of the Dnipro river in Russian-occupied Kherson, was previously home to monkeys (pictured) and other animals

Dozens of species that lived in the zoo were killed in the flooding following, including goats

The zoo, located right on the bank of the Dnipro river in Russian-occupied Kherson, was previously home to monkeys, donkeys, horses, racoons and other animals

'The park was mined and it was impossible to evacuate the animals,' a spokesperson for Kazkova Dibrova zoo said.

'We tried to save them. Every day, under fire, two workers risked their lives to go to Dibrova to feed the animals.

'Now Russia has destroyed everything. Our soul is torn by pain.

Footage of the devastation circulated on social media with people sharing their horror at the hundreds of drowned creatures.

Pro-Ukrainian Twitter account Anton Gerashchenko shared footage of the flooding as well as the zoo's residents in much happier times.

He said the locals reported that the authorities - belonging to Russia as part of the occupied Nova Kakhovka region - did nothing to help rescue the animals.

It comes as the Kremlin-installed mayor of the occupied Kherson region (Nova Kakhovka), Vladimir Leontyev, said the water level was continuing to rise.

'An evacuation is being carried out of civilians from the adjacent flooded zones to preserve all lives,' he said in a video message. 'There is no panic in the town.'

Nova Kakhovka still had electricity, but two villages downstream were taken off the grid for safety reasons, Leontyev said.

The park is now completely underwater, it was reported, with only a few birds remaining

Some 300 of the animals have drowned and died at the zoo after it flooded following the dam blast in Ukraine

The zoo, located right on the bank of the Dnipro river in Russian-occupied Kherson was completely flooded

The zoo's residents including horses, donkeys, and ponies were all killed in the flooding

Pro-Ukrainian Twitter account Anton Gerashchenko shared footage of the flooding as well as the zoo's residents in much happier times

Monkeys, donkeys, horses, racoons and other animals were all killed in the flooding

An emergencies official alongside him said the water below the dam was expected to keep rising for 72 hours before subsiding and allowing a clean-up operation.

Images posted on social media showed a flooded central square in Nova Kakhovka, with waters halfway up the entrance doors to its neo-classical cultural centre.

Yevheniya, the female resident, said she was planning to stay.

'I have a bedridden grandmother - 95 years old, she's a veteran of the Second World War,' she said.

'Where will I go? Who will I leave her to? I am her guardian, and you have to follow your conscience.'
Moscow's propaganda machine has been in overdrive since the destruction of Ukraine's Kakhovka Dam this morning, and now claims that Britain and the US may have been behind it have even left one of Putin's puppets rolling her eyes.

Russian state TV host and friend of the Kremlin Olga Skabayeva was scarcely able to conceal her scepticism as Igor Korotchenko declared that the 'terrorist attack' was planned by Washington and London.

Reserve colonel Korotchenko said on Rossiya-1: 'This is the direct responsibility of official London, Washington. And we have to call things by their proper name.'

Moscow has blamed Kyiv's forces for staging strikes on the dam, which is in Russian-held territory in southern Ukraine on the Dnieper river.

But Ukraine immediately blamed 'Russian terrorists' for the attack, labelling it a 'war crime' as the breach has devastated towns and villages with floodwater pouring into the surrounding areas.

Igor Korotchenko declared that the 'terrorist attack' was planned by Washington and London

Unfounded claims around who is responsible for the blast were pushed on Russian media today, including on Skabeyeva's talk show 60 minutes.

Dubbed Putin's 'Iron Doll' for her steely looks and hardline stance on the war, Olga Skabeyeva is on the frontline of the Kremlin's disinformation war and used to touting conspiracy theories.

But even Skabeyeva looked unimpressed with her guest's bizarre rant, as she raised her eyes to the ceiling in what could be described as either boredom or disbelief.

Korotchenko, who is editor-in-chief of Russia's National Defence magazine, made the outlandish claim that Ukraine's allies may be to blame for the destruction of the dam as he spoke on the panel of Russian propagandists.

He said: 'Let us remember the famous concept that was proposed by the American think-tank, the RAND Corporation to overstretch Russia, to stretch Russia's forces to take it out of equilibrium.

'As a matter of fact, one of the elements - this massive terrorist attack, which I am convinced was planned in Washington, in London.

'I think we have to look first and foremost for the British brainprint, with the combination of the capabilities that are in place in Ukraine, led to what happened today.'

Skabeyeva looked unimpressed with her guest's bizarre rant, as she rolled her eyes to the ceiling in what could be described as either boredom or disbelief

His unevidenced claims were made against a backdrop of flashing images of the dam, as Russian state media tried to convince viewers that Ukraine was at fault for its dam's decimation.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam, the failure of which could unleash 18million cubic meters (4.8billion gallons) of water.

Its breach could flood Kherson and dozens of other towns and settlements, Ukrainian authorities have warned, which are home to hundreds of thousands of people.

The cause of the blasts is not yet clear, although Ukraine warned late last year that Russian forces had mined the dam as they retreated from Kherson.

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account today shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station after it was partially destroyed

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding. Water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhova plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

While British-supplied weapons have been reportedly used in Ukrainian strikes on Russian-held positions, there is zero evidence for Britain playing a role in the blast today.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is currently in Kyiv reiterating the UK's support for Ukraine, said it was too early to give a meaningful assessment of the details behind the destruction of a dam.

However, he was keen to stress that the devastation there had taken place because of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukrainian territory.

He also appeared to suggest Russia may be behind the 'abhorrent act', and said: 'intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

'The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe.'

Cleverly reaffirmed London's support for how Kyiv defends itself against the Russian invasion and said Britain would continue to help provide Ukraine with the weaponry it needs.
Says US has recovered numerous craft and dead pilots of 'non-human origin'

The former intelligence officer who claims the US government has recovered multiple UFOs of 'non-human origin' has also claimed that dead pilots have been retrieved from wreckages.

David Charles Grusch, an Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, said the US and other nations are engaged in a top-secret arms race to 'reverse-engineer' alien technology.

He made the extraordinary claims in media interviews this week, after filing a whistleblower complaint providing what he calls classified 'proof' to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General.

Grusch, 36, said that in addition to recovering partial and intact extraterrestrial craft for decades, the US government has also retrieved the remains of alien pilots.

'Naturally, when you recover something that's either landed or crashed. Sometimes you encounter dead pilots and believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, it's true,' he told NewsNation.

Former intelligence officer David Charles Grusch said the US has a trove of parts and equipment from 'non-human origin' UFOs which have crash landed on earth

Grusch is a former member of the Pentagon's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force, which was tasked with investigating UFOs and has since reorganized into the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), to include investigations of objects operating underwater.

Citing witness statements from numerous current and former intelligence officers, Grusch claims that key information about recovered non-human craft was withheld from the UAP Task Force during his tenure.

'I thought it was totally nuts and I thought at first I was being deceived, it was a ruse,' Grusch told NewsNation.

'People started to confide in me. Approach me. I have plenty of senior, former, intelligence officers that came to me, many of which I knew almost my whole career, that confided in me that they were part of a program.'

He says that he learned of a secret US program attempting to reverse-engineer alien technology, which was not disclosed to the task force members.

'These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed,' Grusch said.

Grusch said he had never seen photos of the alleged recovered craft, but that he had spoken extensively with others who had.

In a statement to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough said: 'To date, AARO has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently.'

She added that the task force has established a process for individuals to come forward to aid in a congressionally-mandated historical review, which AARO is due to provide to Congress by June 2024.

'AARO is committed to following the data and its investigation wherever it leads,' said Gough.

A black triangular shaped UFO with five red lights was seen hovering in the night sky at Camp Wilson in California on April 20, 2021

The Pentagon recently showed the Senate mysterious flying orb spotted by Reaper drone over an active combat zone in the Middle East

'We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities. The material includes intact and partially intact vehicles,' Grusch told The Debrief, which first reported his claims.

'The existence of complex historical programs involving the coordinated retrieval and study of exotic materials, dating back to the early 20th century, should no longer remain a secret.'

Grusch, who served in Afghanistan and worked for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), has handed over details of the alleged operations to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General.

He has also filed a complaint against the Department of Defense and claims he's been ostracized for his decision to blow the whistle.

The 36-year-old worked on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force from 2019-2021.

A retired Army Colonel who was also part of the UAP task force, Karl Nell, said: 'His assertion concerning the existence of a terrestrial arms race occurring sub-rosa over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct, as is the indisputable realization that at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence.'

Grusch said that keeping the information secret 'further inhibits the world populace to be prepared for an unexpected, non-human intelligence contact scenario'.

The claims comes days after a Pentagon chief admitted that unidentified metallic orb UFOs have been spotted 'all over the world'.

Physicist Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), told NASA's first ever public hearing into the phenomenon: 'We see these ['metallic orbs'] all over the world, and we see these making very interesting apparent maneuvers.'

The claims come days after a Pentagon chief told a first-of-its-kind NASA hearing that unidentified metallic orb UFOs have been spotted 'all over the world'

Dr Kirkpatrick presented AARO's latest findings to NASA's independent team of scientists and other experts who have been tasked with studying the UFO phenomenon  which has become increasingly less stigmatized following several high-profile congressional hearings and military sightings.

Scientists and policymakers from NASA's independent panel also discussed their own proposed recommendations to the federal space agency, including: an active effort to remove the stigma surrounding UAP research, as well as a hunt for alien 'artifacts' within our solar system.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed at the NASA hearing that the space agency will work closely with the Pentagon's official UFO investigators on top secret UFO cases.

Dr Kirkpatrick said that the Pentagon is closely collaborating with 'NASA embeds,' scientists who have been cleared for work on classified UAP cases where their expertise could help military investigators identify the mysterious craft or events.

Kirkpatrick added that AARO plans to deploy 'dedicated sensors for typical UAP' sightings, equipment independent of the existing military defense sensors that have thus far picked up UAP evidence in the course of their normal duties.

Both NASA's head of science, the space and atmospheric physicist Dr. Nicky Fox, and AARO's director, Dr. Kirkpatrick, also took time to rebuke unnamed individuals for harassing members of the NASA panel.

Both said that these attitudes, online and among officialdom, have contributed to the continuing social stigma surrounding UAP.

NASA UAP study group member Karlin Toner, senior advisor for data policy integration of the FAA's Office of Aviation Policy and Plans, recommended that the space agency work to 'make it safer to explore data' for any scientists facing the 'negative stigma' surrounding UAP.

Toner suggested that the independent panel 'consider advising NASA to more fully assess the cultural and social barriers to studying and reporting UAP,' to effectively work hard to end the stigma on UAP research among the scientific community.

NASA, she said, should 'implement a plan to leverage its brand image to start removing these obstacles.'

Ultimately, however, as the chair of NASA's independent UAP panel, theoretical astrophysicist David Spergel, described it, their group's main purpose is to answer this one question: 'How can NASA contribute to understanding the nature of UAPs?'

He summarized the current state of data collection efforts on UAP as 'unsystematic' and 'fragmented across various agencies' often using instruments that were fit for their security or safety mandate, but 'uncalibrated for scientific data collection.
Thousands of migrants could be housed in extra large barges across the UK, including spots in Tyneside, Essex, Suffolk and near London City Airport.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed that two more giant vessels will be used to house around 1,000 people seeking refuge in the UK, as he stated his plans to stop the dangerous Channel crossings are 'starting to work'.

The first is due to take up position off Portland in Dorset in the coming weeks, but the premier refused to say where the new additions will be located.

There has been widespread speculation one could also be based on Merseyside. A spokesperson for Wirral Council stated that 'no decisions have been made' and that 'conversations are continuing with the Home Office'.

According to the Guardian, it is believed further barges will be moored at Teesport, near Middlesbrough, and in docks near Liverpool.

Rishi Sunak revealed that two more giant vessels will be used to house around 1,000 people seeking refuge in the UK

It comes after Mr Sunak made a speech in Kent on Monday while visiting boarder forces in Dover, in which he claimed his push to 'stop the boats' is 'starting to work'

It has also been suggested there have been discussions to acquire more barges and disused cruise ships to house asylum seekers, and that these could be docked on Tyneside near Newcastle, Harwich in Essex, Felixstowe in Suffolk and the Royal London docks near City Airport.

These reports have not currently been confirmed.

It is thought that the Government will confirm which locations will be used in the coming weeks.

In a statement, the Home Office confirmed that the Government has been looking at 'a range of accommodation options'.

'The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow and requires us to look at a range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels,' it said.

'This is why we continue to source new alternative sites and vessels to accommodate migrants, which are more manageable for communities, as our European neighbours are doing.

'We are also taking immediate action to clear the asylum backlog by doubling the number of asylum caseworkers to 2,500 and streamlining interviews and paperwork.'

The Bibby Marine, the first vessel to be used in this way, will accommodate up to 506 people in 222 en-suite bedrooms who will be free to come and go while their asylum claims are processed

A gym inside the barge, which is owned by Liverpool based company Bibby Marine

It comes after Mr Sunak made a speech in Kent on Monday while visiting boarder forces in Dover, in which he claimed his push to 'stop the boats' is 'starting to work'.

'Our approach is working,' Mr Sunak said. 'I said I will stop the boats and I meant it.'

He added: 'If you look at what is happening in Europe the numbers are up.'

Official figures suggest numbers crossing from the continent have been slightly lower so far this year, although the weather can have a major impact.

Nearly 3,800 have been recorded, compared to 4,500 in the equivalent period in 2022. Provisional figures show another 3,800 in April and May, but there were more than 5,000 over those two months last year.

After being taken out on a Border Force cutter, Mr Sunak said: 'Our plan is starting to work.

'Before I launched my plan in December, the number entering the UK illegally in small boats had more than quadrupled in two years.

'Some said this problem was insoluble, or just a fact of 21st century life. They'd lost faith in politicians to put in the hard yards to do something about it.

The Bibby Stockholm arrived in Falmouth last month for renovations ahead of going into service off the coast of Dorset in the coming weeks. Mr Sunak announced today that another two barges are being brought in to house asylum seekers

Official figures suggest numbers crossing the Channel have been slightly lower so far this year, although the weather can have a major impac

READ MORE: Inside the giant barge that will house 500 migrants who arrive in Britain: En-suite bedrooms, gym and a bar all await asylum seekers on the 'Bibby Stockholm' vessel The Bibby Stockholm, which has previously been used to house offshore workers, will now house asylum seekers Advertisement

'And of course, we still have a long way to go. But in the five months since I launched the plan, crossings are now down 20 per cent compared to last year.

'This is the first time since this problem began that arrivals between January and May have fallen compared to the year before.'

He suggested that the UK was doing better than other European countries, but said that the Government was not 'complacent'.

'With grit and determination, the Government can fix this and we are using every tool at our disposal', he added.

Asked whether windy conditions in the Channel  and subsequently fewer crossings  was the reason behind the timing of his visit, Mr Sunak replied: 'There's many things I can control, the weather is not one of them. I wish it was so.'

'Of course the summer is coming. Of course gangs will keep trying different routes and different methodologies.

'We need to be alert to that. It's why we need to pass the [illegal migration bill]. It's so important that the law passes because that will really help us resolve this problem'.

He also pointed to deals with Albania and France designed to curb flows, while conceding that more needs to be done to fulfil his pledge - seen as crucial if he is to have any hope of winning the election next year.

However, Conservatives are demanding faster action after immigration minister Robert Jenrick was forced to admit yesterday that the vast majority of Albanians arriving illegally had not been returned.

Mr Jenrick told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday that only 'hundreds' had been returned from the UK. 'It's relatively early days,' he said. 'Some [Albanians] are being accommodated, some have returned home voluntarily, and some may well have absconded  but that's absolutely the reason why we are taking this action.'

Around 12,000 Albanians entered the UK via the Channel last year, up from around 800 in 2021.

The announcement of barges drew criticism including from the Tory backbenches, with Conservative MP Richard Drax repeating a suggestion that the barge to be moored in Portland  his constituency  would be like a 'quasi-prison'.

An aerial view of the barge being accompanied by tug boats into Falmouth

Rishi Sunak was taken out on the Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during his visit to Dover

'Some rooms will have three or four inhabitants. It's a quasi-prison,' he told LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer said the promise of further measures to tackle the crisis was 'like Groundhog Day' as crossings continue this year despite the Prime Minister's pledge to 'stop the boats'.

It comes as peers threatened to delay the Illegal Migration Bill until the Government publishes the 'facts and figures' showing the financial implications of the proposals.

Opposition peers called for the proposed legislation to be stopped from progressing further through Parliament until the findings of an economic impact assessment could be considered.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Sunak has indicated he is open to using the Parliament Act to push through the Bill if needed.

The rarely used law allows the Commons to overrule the Lords.
A police motorcyclist could face criminal charges of the collision which culminated in the death of Helen Holland, 81, who passed away in May.

Ms Holland was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl's Court, west London, on the afternoon of May 10 by a vehicle last month while part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The a mother-of-four, grandmother-of-ten and great-grandmother of seven, was taken to an intensive care unit where her family said she was in a coma. She died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct, although it does not mean that charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.

Helen Holland's son Martin Holland and his wife Lisa welcomed the investigation but revealed they were still waiting for her body to be returned to the family nearly a fortnight after she died. They told the Mail: 'We have every confidence now that the IOPC will properly investigate the avoidable death of our mum. We still have not been told when mum will be released back to us so that we can finally lay her to rest.'

Helen Holland (pictured), who was hit by a police motorcycle escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, died yesterday after fighting for her life for two weeks

Ms Holland's son Martin lashed out at the Met Police and claimed the force has not apologised after one of its riders allegedly hit the pensioner, causing fatal injuries (pictured is the scene of the collision on May 10)

The Duchess of Edinburgh said she was 'deeply saddened' by the death of a great-grandmother

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: 'Our thoughts remain with Ms Holland's family, friends and everyone affected by her death.

'This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision making of the officer under investigation.

'We have been in regular contact with Ms Holland's family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

'At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.'

Investigators attended the scene and police body worn video footage was reviewed.

Witness accounts were also been taken following an appeal after the crash.

Following the crash, Ms Holland's son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining 'multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries'.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

'Her Royal Highness's deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Holland's family.'

Ms Holland, of Birchanger, Essex, had been in London visiting her older sister when she was hit by the motorbike and thrown 40ft along the busy road.

Witnesses at the time said she had stepped into the street to peer around black screens shielding a junction box that had been put up for the Coronation.
The man accused of shooting Metropolitan Police sergeant Matt Ratana dead while he was in handcuffs is suffering brain damage after being hit in the neck by a bullet, a jury has been told.

Louis De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to murdering Sgt Ratana during a previous hearing at Northampton Crown Court.

The 25-year-old appeared in the dock in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling at the same court today, and confirmed his name and date of birth by writing them on a whiteboard.

Prosecutors allege Sgt Ratana was murdered at a police custody centre in Windmill Road, Croydon, south London, on September 25, 2020, while De Zoysa was handcuffed in a holding cell.

Addressing a jury of seven men and five women after they were sworn in, trial Judge Mr Justice Johnson took them through the issues they were likely to face.

Matt Ratana (pictured) was shot dead inside Croydon police station in September 2020

Louis De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sgt Ratana

Telling jurors the 'relevant events' were captured on CCTV and by officers' body-worn cameras, the judge said: 'It's likely to be common ground that the defendant had a gun... and that the gun was fired and that two bullets hit Sergeant Ratana.'

It was also likely to be common ground that Sgt Ratana, aged 54, died from a chest wound as a result of the first of four shots, the court heard.

The judge added that jurors would have to consider whether De Zoysa pulled the trigger deliberately when the first shot was fired and whether he intended to kill or at least cause really serious harm.

The judge went on: 'A further matter which might arise is whether the defendant had diminished responsibility... at the time he shot Sergeant Ratana.'

De Zoysa has an autistic spectrum condition, the jury heard, which 'may have an impact on how he appears or behaves' during the trial.

Urging the jury to judge the case on the evidence and not on any emotional reaction to the events they would have to consider, Mr Justice Johnson said: 'The last one (bullet fired) hit the defendant in the neck.

'That resulted in bleeding and a blood clot and the blood clot caused some brain damage. That resulted in physical problems which mean he now uses a wheelchair.'

The jury were also informed that De Zoysa uses a whiteboard because of communication difficulties, and will be assisted by an intermediary to help him follow the trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Duncan Penny KC, who is expected to deliver the Crown's opening address to the jury on Wednesday.

The trial is expected to last for around three weeks.
An accused swindler dubbed the 'Con Queen of Hollywood' can be extradited to the US, a judge ruled today.

Indonesian Hargobind Tahilramani, 43, is wanted in the US for a 1.5million scam which saw him impersonate top film executives, including producers working for The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan.

On one count he has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as well as two counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.

Victims received calls offering the opportunity of a lifetime shooting a blockbuster film in Indonesia between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2020, it was said.

Among those aped by the Indonesian 'catfish' were Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy, former Sony movie chief Amy Pascal, and ex-Paramount boss Sherry Lansing, it is said.

Indonesian Hargobind Tahilramani, 43, is wanted in the US for a 1.5million scam that saw him impersonate top film executives

The alleged 'Con Queen of Hollywood' posed as producers for Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan (pictured)

Tahilramani allegedly spoke in a high-pitched voice to impersonate Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng while luring creatives into his scheme.

He was arrested at a 60-a-night Aparthotel in Manchester in the early hours of November 26, 2020, after a year long probe by the FBI.

Tahilramani had resisted extradition to the US because he wanted to be tried in the UK.

He claimed prison conditions in the US would subject him to inhuman treatment and extradition would risk his deportation to Indonesia.

He also claimed the likelihood of his detention in solitary confinement would be difficult due to his mental health.

Joel Smith, for the US authorities, earlier told the court Tahilramani promised his victims non-existent work.

He said: 'He persuaded US based victims to travel to Indonesia at their own expense. Those fees were deposited into the defendant's bank account.

'The work this defendant promised in the film industry did not exist.'

Tahilramani resisted extradition to the US because he wanted to be tried in the UK

Mr Smith told the court how New York-based screenwriter Gregory Mandarano was fleeced after he submitted a script to a website named 'TheChinaFilmGroup.com'.

He continued: 'The defendant, posing under a false identity, persuaded Mr Mandarano and his writing partner to travel to Indonesia to pitch the script at their own expense.

'Once there Mr Mandarano was charged $900 (793) per day for a driver, roughly ten times the average cost in Indonesia.'

'In Indonesia, Mr Mandarano and his writing partner attended a meeting in Jakarta with the defendant, who was pretending to be 'Anand Sippy', Vice-President of Development of the China Film Group.

'The defendant told Mr Mandarano that he would need to rewrite his script.

'Over the next three months, Mr Mandarano and his writing partner travelled to Indonesia on four occasions, each trip lasting a number of weeks.

'Towards the end of this partner Mr Mandarano, following pressure from the defendant 'bought out' his writing partner.'

'Mr Mandarano was left $80,000 (70,560) out of pocket, $40,000 (35,280) of which he paid in cash.'

Tahilramani is accused of impersonating Rupert Murdoch's former wife Wendi Deng

Mr Smith said another victim worked in the security industry.

'[Casey] Grey worked in the security industry. He was told by a colleague about an opportunity working with Jean Pritzker. In fact, the opportunity was non-existent.

'On 12 July 2017, the defendant emailed Mr Grey, who was in America at the time, pretending to be Ms Pritzker.'

The email contained a non-disclosure agreement, which Mr Smith pointed out could be an aggravating feature.

'Mr Grey was offered a non-existent job surveying film sets in Indonesia. He was told he would be paid $5000 (4410) a day.

'The defendant, whilst pretending to be Ms Pritzker, offered sexual favors to Mr Grey, and tried to get him to send recordings of himself.'

'Grey travelled to Indonesia and was persuaded to incur expenses from his own pocket. This included two upfront payments of $2,500 (2,205).

'None was reimbursed. The defendant did provide Mr Grey with a wire transfer receipt indicating that some of the monies had been paid back to him, but the bank confirmed that the document was a forgery.'

Tahilramani told the court last September he fled to Britain and claimed asylum so he can be openly gay.

'My mother was born in British Hong Kong and my father in British India,' he said.

'English was my mother tongue.

'They have told me beautiful stories about places like Whitby and Liverpool, London, Margate and they told me that someday I should go to the UK.

'The most important thing is now that I am a gay man openly and this is is a free society...has always accepted people of all kinds.

'That is the link that I have with this country.'

Tahilramani told the court that he grew up in Indonesia as part of a Sindhi Indian Community, which adhered to 'strict values'.

When his mother was pregnant with him, others in the community expected him to be a girl.

'So the community thought that I was a mistake and I was never born to make any children and it was already prescribed as a child that I was the crazy one.'

He said he was gay and that his sexuality meant he would be considered an 'outlier' and an 'abnormal person' in his community.

Tahilramani added that he knew Indonesia to be 'fanatically Muslim' with 'laws' and 'morality police' that he lived in fear of.

He said he was 'locked up' for almost three years in an institution there.

Tahilramani was charged by a grand jury in the Southern District of California with eight counts on October 6, 2020.

On count one he is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries the maximum of 20 years jail.

He faces two counts of wire fraud, carrying the same maximum.

Tahilramani also faces five counts of aggravated identity theft, each count carrying a maximum of two years imprisonment.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring approved Tahilramani's extradition and sent the case to Home Secretary Suella Braverman for a decision.
A New York state trooper has been charged with manslaughter for shooting dead an unarmed motorist after he refused to get out of his car after a high-speed chase.

Anthony Nigro pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree manslaughter at an arraignment in Buffalo on Monday and was released without bail.

The trooper's bodycam captured the fatal encounter with James Huber, 38, also in Buffalo on February 12, 2022.

Officers first spotted Huber, from Pennsylvania, speeding on Interstate 90 and pursued him at speeds that topped 100mph (161kph).

After Huber exited the highway and police broke off the chase, Nigro cornered the motorist on a street in downtown Buffalo, blocking his path with his cruiser.

This photo taken from body cam video recorded Feb. 12, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y., shows the hands of state trooper Anthony Nigro pointing his firearm at James Huber as he approaches the car

Nigro grabbed James Huber (pictured) by his jacket and tried to drag him out of his car before firing and killing him

Body camera footage released by the state attorney general's office shows Nigro, a nearly 16-year veteran of the state police, holding his gun in front of him as he approaches the car.

He orders Huber to get out, cursing at him. Huber turns away from the trooper and says, 'Go away,' and then 'never,' and 'nope' as the trooper continues to yell at him to get out of the car, his gun just inches from the motorist's head.

Huber puts his hand on the car's shifter, as if to put it in gear. The trooper yanks on the hood of Huber's sweatshirt, then fires two shots and falls to the ground as the car lurches backward, briefly dragging him.

The car moved in reverse out of camera range, crashed and landed on its side on a parking ramp.

The body camera footage shows Nigro running to the car. He radios, 'Driver's been hit. I'm fine.'

Huber died of gunshot wounds at the scene. His death was investigated by Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, whose office brought the charges.

The charges in the death of James Huber, 38, are a rare example of a criminal case being brought against an officer by New York's attorney general, who has the authority to investigate the lethal use of force by law enforcement.

The president of the union that represents Nigro defended him, saying the slaying was justified.

New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association President Charles Murphy also said in a statement that Nigro should not have faced criminal charges.

He said Huber's dangerous driving 'threatened the safety of innocent motorists.'

'Our understanding and review of the facts in this case confirm that, while the outcome was tragic, Trooper Nigro's actions were in accordance with his training and the law, and that he was justified in his use of force,' Murphy said.

The state police said in a statement that the department has cooperated with the attorney generals investigation and will continue to do so.

State Trooper Anthony Nigro was indicted on manslaughter charges on Monday

Anthony Nigro pointing his firearm at James Huber as he tells Huber to get out of his car

This photo taken from body cam video recorded Feb. 12, 2022, in Buffalo, shows the hands of Anthony Nigro pointing his firearm as he approaches the overturned car of James Huber

Cary Arnold, a Pennsylvania woman who has a daughter with Huber, told the Buffalo News that Huber might have been heading for a rally in support of Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates at the time of the shooting.

Arnold wrote on a GoFundMe page last year the family was trying to raise funds for a 'proper burial and funeral' without burdening Huber's mother, who had reportedly lost two sons already.

'James also has kids who now have to bury their dad and live life without a father. Anything helps.'
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has overwhelmingly won the support of its members as it promised change following a series of sexual harassment allegations.

Members were asked to vote on whether its plan for renewal is enough to give them 'the confidence you need to support the CBI'.

The group said that 93% of members who voted had backed the motion, with 371 votes cast. It added that 23 members had withheld their vote.

A raft of major companies have already quit the CBI due to the allegations - including John Lewis, Aviva and ITV - and are not taking part in the vote, while the Government has also suspended its engagement with the group.

Director-general Rain Newton-Smith said: 'Even an organisation as established as the CBI is only as strong as its members.

Former CBI director general Tony Danker was dismissed in April after the allegations against the business lobby group were published

Members were asked to vote on whether the Confederation of British Industry's plan for renewal was enough to give them 'the confidence you need to support the CBI'

'That support is something we have never taken for granted. We will work tirelessly to repay the faith shown in us and are committed to living the values and changes we have proposed.

'Let me be clear: we have listened, we have acted, and we will leave no stone unturned to be the best voice for business, inside and out. '

Former CBI director general Tony Danker was dismissed in April.

CBI president Brian McBride said that the board and senior leaders felt 'a collective sense of shame' for having let down staff at the business group.

The body suspended its policy and membership activity in April after dozens of members said that they were leaving or suspending their interactions with the CBI.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt went on to question the point of liaising with the CBI after it lost such a large proportion of its membership.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Hunt said it was 'incredibly important' to engage with a body that represents British business.

But he added: 'There's no point engaging with the CBI when their own members have deserted them in droves.

'So, we want to engage with a body that sticks up for business. It is incredibly important for me when I'm constructing budgets to have someone I can turn to who speaks for British business.'

The CBI had suspended most of its activities ahead of its membership meeting today.
An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year

On Monday he announced that houses of worship would help house migrants

New York City mayor Eric Adams has said he is considering housing migrants at his residence of Gracie Mansion as he claimed he is 'leading from the front.'

Adams' comments during a press conference on Tuesday come a day after the mayor suggested putting migrants in 'private residences' to deal with the influx of asylum seekers in the Big Apple.

'I was speaking with the staff to see if I could put a few families into Gracie Mansion,' Adams said at a press conference, as reported by the New York Daily News.

'I dont have a problem if I can put a migrant family in Gracie Mansion because I want to lead from the front.

'Thats the type of leader I am.'

New York City mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday he is considering housing migrants at his residence of Gracie Mansion

An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year

Adams added that he has to look at 'legal protocols' before moving migrants into the mayor's mansion in Brooklyn (pictured)

However, Adams added that he has to look at 'legal protocols' before moving migrants into the mayor's mansion in Brooklyn.

'You know, I cant use the building any way I want, he explained.

The mayor went on to emphasize how he would not be asking the city's residents to make space for migrants if he himself was not willing to.

'Generals dont send their troops into battle and ask, "Hows the war?" he said.

'They lead troops into battle. Im a general who leads my troops into battle. So yes, Im more than willing to use whatever space I have to deal with this crisis.'

Adams has previously said he wants Gracie Mansion to be 'the people's house' and has hosted at least three weddings at the home. The home's main floor is open to the public for limited guided tours.

Gracie Mansion has served as the home of the city's mayors since 1942, with some notable exceptions like Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, who were not allowed to move in with their partners.

Only visiting officials and the mayor's family are allowed to reside at the home - a rule that could prevent the mayor's suggestion of housing migrants.

On Monday, Adams announced that mosques, churches, and other houses of worship would be helping in the city's efforts to provide shelter to migrants.

Adams said when the church-based program is fully operational, they hope to be able to host up to 1,000 asylum seekers at a time.

An estimated 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York City over the last year, as Republican governors around the country like Florida's Ron DeSantis have sent buses packed with asylum seekers.

Republican governors around the country like Florida's Ron DeSantis have sent buses to New York City packed with asylum seekers

Asylum seekers are held prior to being transferred via city bus from Port Authority bus terminal to housing facilities in the Bronx and Queens on May 15, 2023

The mayor's office has predicted that taking care of them will cost the city $4.3 billion within a year.

Adams has said he also hopes New Yorkers will help house the migrants, and that he thinks offering up private residences will benefit New Yorkers in the long-term.

'There are residents who are suffering right now because of economic challenges, they have spare rooms, they have locales,' the mayor said.

'If we can find a way to get over the 30-day rule and other rules that government has it place, we can take that $4.2 billion - $4.3 maybe now -that we potentially have to spend and put it back in the pockets of every day New Yorkers,' he said.

The mayor's suggestion that migrants should be moved into private residences caused outrage among NYC residents who already feel the city's tax payers are being overburdened by the crisis.

Adams also said that his church plan would put money back into local houses of worship.

The deal Adams announced Monday will allow up to 50 houses of worship in the area to house as many as 19 adult men each night, Adams said.

Each night will cost the city about $125 a day, he continued.

'No matter what faith you practice, caring for those in need is part of every spiritual tradition,' Adams said.

The NYC mayor said the partnership is necessary as the current rate of migrants coming into the city is unsustainable.
The US previously slammed the bombing as 'sabotage', but the leak now suggests officials had prior knowledge of an imminent attack

The bombshell report is said to have included details of a plot to use a covert team of divers to target the pipeline

Pentagon 'leaker' Jack Teixiera allegedly shared a file claiming Ukraine planned to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline three months before the attack

Accused Pentagon leaker Jack Teixiera allegedly shared a file in his bombshell data dump that claimed the CIA knew about a Ukrainian military plot to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline.

It is alleged that the Biden administration learned of the plan three months before the pipeline was attacked on September 26, 2022.

The document, first reported by the Washington Post, stated plans to deploy a covert team of divers enlisted by the Ukrainian military to target the pipeline.

In the September incident, a series of bombs blew up a pipeline system in the Baltic Sea that was majority controlled by Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom.

Investigations into the attack have been ongoing for months, but no definitive perpetrator has yet been found.

US Air National Guardsman Jack Teixiera, 21, was arrested in April after allegedly leaking highly sensitive documents on online platform Discord

The Nord Stream pipeline was blown up in September 2022, with the perpetrators of the attack still disputed

Plans to target the pipeline were initially picked up by an unnamed European intelligence service, before they were shared with the CIA in June 2022.

Details of the European intelligence reporting were later posted on online platform Discord, allegedly by suspected Pentagon leaker Jack Teixiera.

Teixiera was arrested in April on suspicion of orchestrating the biggest US intelligence leak in a decade, where he was allegedly the ringleader of a clandestine online chat group and published top secret Pentagon documents under the username 'Jack the Dripper'.

Despite serving in a junior position as an Air National Guardsman, he had the highest level of access to top secret US government information.

One of the leaks, which detailed Ukraine's plans to target the pipeline, was shared with the Washington Post by one of Teixiera's confidants after being sourced from an individual in Ukraine.

It claimed that six members of Ukraine's special operations force planned to use false identities to rent a boat, before using a 'submersible vehicle' to dive along the Baltic Sea floor and target the pipeline with C4 explosives.

While the information about the alleged plot was not verified, the CIA deemed it necessary to share the report with several other European allies after learning of the plot last June.

According to intelligence insiders, who spoke to the outlet on the condition of anonymity, the document included intimate details over the methods Ukrainian military officials would use if they orchestrated the bombing.

Officials in multiple countries reportedly confirmed the information posted to Discord verifies what the CIA allegedly learned from their European counterparts, indicating they may have known the attack on the pipeline was imminent.

US President Joe Biden, pictured June 5, 2023, previously slammed the destruction of the pipeline as 'a deliberate act of sabotage'

Multi-nation investigations were carried out to determine what caused the pipeline to blow up in September 2022

According to the revelations, intelligence gathered by European agencies found that the plan to blow up the pipeline was not formulated by rogue actors.

Instead, those involved in the plot were to report directly to the commander in chief of Ukraine's military, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

The report said that Zaluzhnyi was placed in charge of the operation to plausibly distance any potential fallout from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It was feared that accusations Ukrainian officials perpetrated the attack on civilian infrastructure could damage support for its fightback against Russia's invasion.

This was particularly a concern among German allies, which had already poured billions into the pipeline and received half of its natural gas from Russia before the war erupted.

There is no evidence the attack was necessarily carried out by Ukrainian officials, and the intelligence report allegedly included details that the plot was 'put on hold' for undisclosed reasons.

However, German officials also reportedly discovered details of the attack that appear suspiciously similar to those alleged in the Ukrainian plot.

It is claimed that individuals using fake passports rented a yacht in September from a German port, before planting explosives that destroyed the pipeline.

And those with an understanding of the investigation told the Post that they matched explosive residue found on the pipeline to traces found inside the yacht, which was linked to Ukrainian individuals.

The bombshell allegations around the Nord Stream pipeline attack were allegedly shared by Teixiera, pictured, before his arrest in April

The report claims Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pictured in June 2023, was not in charge of the attack to give him plausible deniability in any potential backlash

Following the attack on the pipeline in September 2022, US President Joe Biden slammed the incident as a 'deliberate act of sabotage' on European energy needs.

But while he promised the US would work with its allies 'to get to the bottom' of the bombing, questions remain over who was actually behind the attack.

Amid the fallout of the attack, a bombshell report claimed that it was actually carried out by specialized US Navy diving teams under the orders of Biden.

The report alleged that divers planted C4 explosives on three Nord Stream pipelines in June 2022, which were then detonated three months later by a sonar buoy which broadcast a signal that triggered the bombs.

It was claimed that the attack was retaliation to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and was intended to end reliance on Russian gas from major European nations such as Germany.
Previously Mr Wang, 34, had downed seven bottles of baijiu spirits on May 16

A Chinese influencer has become the second to die in a month after live-streaming a drinking challenge online.

Zhong Yuan Huang Ge, 27, also known as Brother Huang, died from excessive consumption of alcohol on June 2.

His death was confirmed by his wife on Chinese media outlet Jimu News on Tuesday, who said he was trying to earn money to repay his debts.

It is the second incident in a month, after livestreamer Brother Three Thousand, 34, was found dead shortly after he was seen consuming excessive amounts of alcohol on Douyin, China's version of TikTok.

Brother Three Thousand, whose last name was revealed as Wang, had knocked back at least seven bottles of baijiu spirits during a livestream and was found dead 12 hours after the broadcast on May 16, Chinese media reported.

Zhong Yuan Huang Ge, 27, has become the second Chinese influencer to die from an online drinking challenge in a month

Video clips posted online to his 176,000 followers showed dozens of bottles stacked up

In one video to his 176,000 followers, Huang had also filmed himself downing baijiu and lighting tissue paper soaked in alcohol, while another clip showed a stack of dozens of bottles.

His wife, known as Ms Li, said she would work for the rest of her life to pay of her husband of eight years' debts, according to Straits Times.

The couple share a son, who is getting ready to start kindergarten this year and Huang had built a new house just this year.

According to local media outlet Southern Metropolis Daily, the two influencers knew each other, and Huang had even attended Wang's funeral, where he had allegedly pledged to consume less alcohol.

Baijiu contains up to 60 per cent alcohol. Huang and Wang had been known for imbibing the Chinese liquor during his broadcasts.

Posting daring stunts online is thought by some influencers to increase their chances of receiving money from their followers.

A video on social media, which went viral, showed Wang drinking several bottles of baijiu spirits and pouring some out to set fire to it on the table.

His death was widely discussed online in China and has prompted calls for stronger regulations of the nation's thriving livestreaming industry.

It comes after Brother Three Thousand (pictured), 34, consumed at least seven bottles of baijiu spirits during a livestream on May 16

Huang also filmed himself downing baijiu and lighting tissue paper soaked in alcohol

On May 16, Wang had taken part in four one-on-one battles with influencers with the aim of earning the most amount of gifts from fans within a short space of time.

He lost three of the rounds and then consumed baijiu as a punishment, totalling at least seven bottles that night, according to viewers.

Wang finished his livestreaming after midnight. His friend told a Chinese news outlet that he was discovered dead the following afternoon.

'When his family found him, he was already gone. He didn't even get a chance for emergency treatment,' a man named Mr Zhao told Shangyou News.

Drinking during livestreams is banned by Douyin. Penalties include warnings, users being restricted from livestream competitions and users being shown on the app.

Wang had previously been banned from the app for drinking but he bypassed this by opening new accounts, Chinese media reported.

His most recent account had amassed more than 44,000 followers.

A report by authorities last year found more than one billion internet users were active on short video platforms such as Douyin and the industry is worth around 199 billion yuan (22billion).

On May 16, Wang had taken part in four one-on-one battles with influencers with the aim of earning the most amount of gifts from fans within a short space of time

Pictured: The livestreamer, whose last name was revealed as Wang by local media, during a broadcast which saw him down spirits and set fire to some of the liquid on the table

Wang had previously been banned from the app for drinking but he bypassed this by opening new accounts, Chinese media reported

Wang's death has led to a further push for the safety and regulations of such apps.

The opinion section of the People's Daily newspaper posted a message on Weibo condemning 'livestream behaviours that go off the tracks'.

There are a number of Chinese livestreamers whose deaths have been linked to their online work.

In 2021, Yu Hailong, who became popular for eating massive quantities of food on Douyin, died after 'long hours of high-intensity work', his agent said.

In 2018, livestreamer Dafei, who was known for drinking alcohol and cooking oil in front of an audience, also died shortly after an online broadcast.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is warning President Joe Biden's chief of staff that he must hand over documents he claims reveals a pressure campaign by the White House to stick the FBI on parents at school board meetings - or else face possible subpoenas.

The committee is investigating the alleged 'misuse of criminal and counterterrorism resources by the Executive Branch against concerned parents at local school board meetings,' including the impact on their First Amendment rights.

In a letter first obtained by DailyMail.com from Jordan, R-Ohio, to Jeff Zients - who took over Biden's top aide role from Ron Klain in February - the top Republican says he is following up after his January request for documents and transcribed interviews with involved employees had been ignored by the White House.

Republicans have long held that a late September 2021 National School Board Association (NSBA) letter to Biden prompted Attorney General Merrick Garland to issue a memo to direct law enforcement to help combat 'threats' against school officials nationwide.

Garland directed local law enforcement to coordinate with DOJ to address 'a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation's public schools'

And Garland admitted during a late October hearing that he 'read the letter' by the NSBA which outlined the alleged 'disturbing uptick' in threats of violence against school administrators before issuing his memo.

The DOJ memo came out on October 4, less than one week after the NSBA issued its letter calling parents 'domestic terrorists' for speaking up against COVID-19 mask mandates and critical race theory, among other topics.

Garland directed local law enforcement to coordinate with the DOJ to address 'a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation's public schools.'

Jordan writes that he is concerned about the FBI's use of 'threat tags' to flag a mom belonging to a 'right wing mom's group' and a dad who allegedly 'fit the profile of an insurrectionist.'

The Acting Assistant Director of the FBI Christopher Dunham apparently confirmed to Jordan in a March letter that the agency opened 'at least 35' cases as a result of a letter from the NSBA to Biden from September 2021.

The NSBA has since rescinded its letter after massive backlash, and Garland has maintained the impartiality of the Justice Department.

But now Jordan is stepping up the investigation, which he first launched in February with a series of subpoenas to other executive branch agencies including DOJ, the Department of Education and the FBI.

The chairman writes to Zients that he has 'obtained some documents' from those agencies, but they are all 'deficient in one crucial respect' - that they omit any communication with White House officials in the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

'The Committee has reason to believe that communications between the EOP and the relevant Executive Branch agencies exist and that these records are instrumental in fully understanding the Executive Branch's actions in this matter,' he states.

The Republicans specifically want to speak with Mary Wall, a senior adviser to Biden because they believe she was the 'conduit' between the White House and the NSBA.

Jordan concludes by threatening Zients with the use of subpoena power to compel the documents and testimony from Wall by June 20

None of the agencies have produced the entirety of communications between Wall and the NSBA or any of the involved agencies, says Jordan.

The Department of Education handed over to the committee highly redacted correspondence with Wall, he added.

'These redactions impede the Committee's ability to understand the nature of communications between Executive Branch agencies.'

Jordan concludes by threatening Zients with the use of subpoena power to compel the documents and testimony from Wall by June 20.

It is unlikely that the House Judiciary Committee will get all access to the requested items because the White House can exert executive privilege to protect the documents.

The committee 'may consider the use of compulsory process,' if the White House does not produce the documents, the letter concludes.

DailyMail.com reached out to the White House for a statement in response to the letter.
Police shut down their protest after the march caused a 'serious obstruction'

A furious driver pushed a mob of Just Stop Oil eco-clowns out of the way with his white van as their slow march through London obstructed evening rush hour traffic.

Video shows how the man, who is understood to have earlier attacked protesters, tapped them with his vehicle as they paraded down along Marylebone Road.

An angry pedestrian also ran up to the demonstrators, grabbing their banners, before slapping a protester's hat off his head.

Met Police, which has been failing to intervene with the group's daily protests over the last seven weeks, interrupted the demonstrations today after officers ruled the group was causing a 'serious obstruction'.

Officers warned that the protesters 'would be arrested' if they did not clear the streets, but the eco-zealots fought back, alleging they 'have protest rights' which allow them to assemble.

The protesters, which were forced to disperse after police imposed Section 12 conditions, have assembled daily in a bid to disrupt traffic around the capital. JSO has called on the Government to halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects.

Just Stop Oil protesters targeted the evening rush hour as they march along Marylebone Road this evening

A man in a white van who had earlier attacked protesters drove his vehicle into them today

A pedestrian runs into the protesters grabbing banners before finishing by slapping a protester's hat off his head

Met Police today interrupted the group's protest, imposing section 12 conditions, as traffic in the area seemingly became congested

An officer warned that the protesters 'would be arrested' if they did not clear the streets, but the eco-zealots fought back, alleging they 'have protest rights' which allow them to assemble

Around 38 eco-clowns, in two groups, targeted the evening rush hour today as they slowly marched through the streets of London for the seventh week in a row.

The groups began marching along Marylebone Road and at the Aldwych around 4.30pm today.

Police say officers responded to the protest within five minutes and imposed section 12 conditions, which aim to prevent disorder, criminal damage or disruption. No arrests were made.

Over the last seven weeks of JSO action, despite ministers telling the police to get tough, officers have been failing to intervene.

Met Police last week urged the public to wait for officers to deal with the demonstrations.

But today officers interrupted the protest, imposing section 12 conditions, as traffic in the area became congested.

Video shows an officer warning demonstrators that they needed to disperse after their march obstructed traffic.

She said: 'My officers will come in, they'll give you a warning, and if you do not leave you will be arrested. My officers will give you the opportunity to leave the road before you get arrested.

She then added: 'Everybody move off.'

A man in a white van who had earlier attacked protesters now drives his van into them during Just Stop Oil protest today

A pedestrian grabs JSO protesters' banners out of the way

A man attacks Just Stop Oil protesters slow walking on Marylebone Road today

The demonstrators are slowing walking on Marylebone Road this evening

Separate footage showed other protesters arguing with the same officer, alleging that they 'have protest rights' that allow them to publicly assemble.

'You're not allowed to protest for the rest of the day,' she told the JSO member.

He hit back, alleging that they were allowed to demonstrate unless doing so 'caused a serious obstruction'.

She said: 'It may have caused a serious obstruction further down.'

'Did you collect any evidence before making that call?' he questioned.

'I collected enough evidence to see that you may have caused a serious obstruction, yes,' she answered, citing how 'several' busses and cars were backed up.

The demonstrator continued to argue with police, alleging that 'level of traffic' was 'normal' in London, which the officer again disputed.

JSO, sharing today's encounters with police online, said the group has 'no confidence in a police force willing to ban protest.'

The group also says it has 'no confidence in a government ready to let people die.'

JSO has been marching for six days each week since April 24 as they call on the Government to halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects. Protesters are pictured today

Over the last seven weeks of JSO action, despite ministers telling the police to get tough, officers have been failing to intervene. Protesters are pictured today

A man attacks Just Stop Oil protesters slow walking on Marylebone Road today

JSO has been marching for six days each week since April 24 as they call on the Government to halt all licences and consents for new oil, gas and coal projects.

The group's demonstrations have interrupted major events happening across London including the Chelsea Flower Show.

Rhiannon Wood, 28, a countryside ranger participating in today's march, said she is taking action because she wants her sister's children to 'grow up feeling safe and optimistic about their lives'.

'I dont want them and countless others to grow up in a world plagued by food scarcity caused by drought, extreme heat and weather events,' Ms Wood, of Southampton, said.

'At the current rate, we are going to smash past irreversible tipping points that threaten life as we know it.'

She argued that the 'extremist zealots running this country' are 'completely swindling' Britons as they take a course of action that 'threatens the lives of hundreds of millions'.

University lecturer Genevieve Shanahan, from London, echoed a similar sentiment. The protester said she was marching because legislators need to take 'decisive action' and align economic incentives with the 'reality of the danger we face'.

The 33-year-old argued: 'I teach sustainability in a business school, but my students can plainly see that "sustainable business" is not viable as long as there remain profits to be made from exacerbating the climate crisis.'
A rescuer at the scene of devastating floods in Ukraine following explosions at a major dam has warned civilians are now under threat from dislodged Russian mines.

The catastrophic flooding, which has forced thousands of residents from their homes and submerged two dozen villages, follows several explosions at the Kakhovka dam over the Dnipro river that Ukraine has blamed on Moscow.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry this morning told ten villages on the river's right bank, as well as parts of Kherson city, to leave everything behind and flee their homes.

Rescuer Sergey Panashuchuk told of the horror in the region, where locals have no electricity and had to leave their pets to drown.

Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'In Kherson, the city is now flooded and people have no electricity. Around 1,800 people have been evacuated from the Kherson region but, of course, the numbers are growing.

A local resident with a bike and a dog walks along the street past buildings in Kherson

Sergey Panashuchuk told of the scene's horror, where locals have no electricity and were forced to leave their pets to drown

Residents of the occupied Kherson region are trying to rescue domestic pets and cattle from the flood

Rita, 38, together with her cat Kuzia, who was evacuated from flooded a village in Kherson

READ MORE: 'Nothing will survive here': Entire Ukrainian villages vanish underwater as Russia blows up Kakhovka dam 'from the inside' - forcing thousands to abandon their homes A satellite image shows the Kakhovka dam in Kherson yesterday, before the attack Advertisement

'People are really concerned about the fate of their pets, like their cats and dogs, which they had to leave behind when they were rescued on boats by rescuers from the state.

'You can see on social media so many people pleading for help for their pets to be saved. They are wanting to get motorboats to save their pets.

'They are terrified. But with some you look into their eyes and there is nothing. They've given up hope.

'They've been shelled every day and now their homes are under water. And as we evacuated them, we could hear the Russian shelling on the other side of the river.'

He added: 'Russians were mining the area on the other side of the river to prevent a Ukranian counter-offensive and the floods, but this flood made them move and now they are moving uncontrollably.

'There is a real danger of them posing a threat to civilians. In Kherson it's a real problem. They can damage homes, they can kill people.'

Kherson, which had a population of more than 280,000 before the war, was captured by Russia in March 2022, before withdrawing eight months later.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18million cubic meters (4.8billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other towns and settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

Rescue workers conduct an evacuation operation after the catastrophic floods

Water flows at speed through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry this morning told ten villages on the river's right bank, as well as parts of Kherson city downriver, to leave everything and flee their homes

A dog is carried to safety by a resident through flooded streets in the Kherson region

The cause of the blasts is not yet clear, although Ukraine warned late last year that Russian forces had mined the dam as they retreated from Kherson.

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhovka plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

Mr Panashuchuk continued: 'We don't understand what will happen next. No one knows how the water will behave and the levels of destruction it will cause. I don't know what the situation will be overnight with the water levels still rising.

'What we saw was horrendous. Homes are under water. The water came quickly and hundreds of residents were evacuated by boats.'

The rescuer immediately called in other volunteers after hearing of the power plant being blown up.

He arrived with a team of rescuers - including Britons and Americans - who have been working to evacuate civilians.

But in some villages, residents have refused to leave their homes - which he partly blames on the Government reassuring locals that the situation is under control.

Mr Panashuchuk added: 'When we were trying to reach villages in the Kherson region this morning, the water was rising at a rapid rate. Within hours, they were under water.

'We don't understand what will happen next. No one knows how the water will behave and the levels of destruction it will cause. I don't know what the situation will be overnight with the water levels still rising.

A man sitting on a bench next to his dog watches the floodwater in Kherson

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road

A boy carries his belongings in bags as he evacuates his home

People help an elderly man into an inflatable boat as he tries to leave his city

'We don't know what we will wake up to tomorrow but we are going to go back to Kherson tomorrow to try and help more people. We just don't realise the possible scale of destruction yet.

READ MORE: 300 zoo animals drown in floodwaters from Ukrainian dam explosion: Workers could not evacuate the creatures because Russia had mined the family venue Advertisement

'People are angry at the Russians, they don't know why they blew up the dam. There is no sense to it.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a Vatican peace envoy that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam would have 'dire consequences' for people and local nature.

'This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people's lives and the environment,' he told Italian cardinal Matteo Zuppi as the two met in Kyiv, according to a presidency statement.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Mr Zelensky predicted that Russia would destroy the dam.

The dam and the adjoining hydroelectric power station were captured by Putin's forces as a priority at the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year. Russian officials claimed the dam was attacked by Ukrainian military strikes.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development - a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation - estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded in total.

Red Cross volunteers drive a car on a flooded street in Kherson, as a resident watches on in rolled up trousers

The roof of a house is seen in the Dnipro river as flood waters course through southern Ukraine

Mr Zelensky will now urgently convene his Security Council after the explosion at the dam which provides vital cooling at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The explosion at the dam has sparked concerns of a possible meltdown at the plant if the reactors cannot be cooled.

Mr Zelensky said that Russian forces 'must be expelled from every corner' of his country in the wake of the supposed attack.

Kyiv officials alleged that Moscow destroyed the dam in order to slow down its long-awaited counter-offensive.
Voters by wide margins support deploying the military across the border to stop Mexican drug cartels producing deadly drugs and smuggling them into the US, a DailyMail.com/TIPP poll shows.

Fully 61 percent of respondents support using US forces to tackle cartel paramilitaries head-on  a policy that's been championed by Republican presidential wannabes Tim Scott and Donald Trump.

The results signal growing frustration about lax security at the southern border and drug flows into the US, where nearly 110,000 people died from drug overdoses last year, according to federal data.

Trump, Scott, and other Republicans have called for deploying the US military to attack drug labs in Mexico, where the powerful opioid fentanyl is produced using precursor chemicals imported from China.

Fully 61 percent of respondents support using US forces to tackle cartel paramilitaries head-on

Members of the Sinaloa Cartel prepare capsules with methamphetamine in a safe house in Culiacan, Mexico

Plans also involve designating the Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation, and other cartels as terrorist organizations and slapping them with sanctions so that leaders cannot move money or travel internationally.

Former president Trump said last week he would deploy military assets to fight the fentanyl crisis and 'inflict maximum damage' on cartel operations if elected in 2024.

He would also seek the death penalty to convicted drug dealers and human traffickers, he said.

'Under my leadership, we took the drug and fentanyl crisis head on, and we achieved the first reduction in overdose deaths in more than 30 years,' Trump said in a campaign video.

Poll Should the US deploy armed forces to stop Mexico's drug-smuggling cartels? Yes No Not sure Should the US deploy armed forces to stop Mexico's drug-smuggling cartels? Yes 160 votes

No 36 votes

Not sure 5 votes Now share your opinion





'Sadly, under Joe Biden, our hard-won progress has been surrendered, along with the surrender of our southern border.'

Trump, the front-runner in the Republican presidential nomination race, said 'fentanyl and other ultra-deadly poisons are pouring into our country unchecked  stealing more than 100,000 American lives every single year.'

The DailyMail.com/TIPP survey of nearly 1,400 adults suggests the policy resonates with voters.

Some 31 percent of respondents said they 'strongly' backed the use of military force, while another 30 percent said they 'somewhat' felt the same way.

Another 29 percent were against using the military, and 11 percent were not sure.

Fully 70 percent of Republicans wanted to see cartel drug labs attacked, while 58 percent of Democrats agreed.

Synthetic opioids  mostly fentanyl  now kill more Americans every year than died in the Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars combined.

This feeds an argument among some politicians that the cartels should be branded terrorist groups and prompting once-unthinkable calls for US military intervention across the border.

It remains unclear exactly what military operations have been considered, whether they would halt or deter the cartels, and whether they would result in geopolitical blowback.

Mexico's president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in March said that his country does not produce or consume fentanyl, despite enormous evidence to the contrary, and framed the synthetic opioid epidemic largely as an American social problem.

A joint special forces team move together out of a US Air Force CV-22 Osprey on a training mission in New Mexico

Fully 70 percent of Republicans wanted to see cartel drug labs attacked, while 58 percent of Democrats agreed

Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel show off their weaponry in a social media video post

The groundwork for the US fentanyl epidemic was laid more than 20 years ago, with aggressive over-prescribing of the synthetic opioid oxycodone.

As US.authorities clamped down on its prescription, users moved to heroin, which the Sinaloa cartel happily supplied.

But making its own fentanyl  far more potent and versatile than heroin  in small, easily concealed labs was a game changer.

The cartel went from its first makeshift fentanyl lab to a network of labs concentrated in the northern state of Sinaloa in less than a decade.

A single cartel 'cook' can press fentanyl into 100,000 counterfeit pills every day to fool Americans into thinking they're taking Xanax, Percocet or oxycodone.

The pills are smuggled over the border to supply drug addicts across the US, including the homeless users seen stumbling around on the streets of San Francisco, New York and other big cities.

Fentanyl is so cheap to make that the cartel reaps massive profits even wholesaling the drug at 50 cents per pill, investigators say.

The drug's potency makes it particularly dangerous.

The narcotic dose of fentanyl is so close to the lethal dose that a pill meant to ensure a high for a habituated user can easily kill a less experienced person taking something they didn't know was fentanyl.

Agencies contributed to this report.
Ryanair customers are experiencing travel chaos across Europe after French air traffic controller strikes caused the airline to cancel 400 flights today.

Staff walkouts have forced hundreds of flights to be grounded, sparking complaints from passengers about four-hour delays and being stuck on planes with dwindling food supplies and 'just crisps and fizzy pop' for sustenance.

Around 25,000 ticketless West Ham fans are expected to be attending the Europa Conference League Final in Prague tomorrow, with some likely to be impacted by flight cancellations.

Other passengers have also been stranded in other countries after their flights back to the UK were delayed, leaving them scrambling to find other routes back home.

STRANDED ABROAD? IS YOUR HOLIDAY RUINED? Send your holiday hell story and pictures to dan.woodland@mailonline.co.uk

Staff walkouts in France have forced hundreds of flights to be grounded, the budget airline said

It was not just Ryanair that faced issues, as EasyJet flights were cancelled and passengers were stranded in Nice last night

A passenger ended up stuck on a Ryanair plane, writing on Twitter they said: 'Flight FR7045 dep 7.55am from Malaga to Dublin delayed 1hr30mins due to #Frenchairtraffic strikes but glad to be on home soil @Ryanair, thanks for not cancelling my flight'

One user on Twitter said they are currently stranded in Nantes, France, until Wednesday and expressed their frustrations about missing time at work.

Another added that they were told their flight had been delayed for an hour an a half just after boarding and had been forced to remain in their seats until take-off.

One user wrote: 'Very confused, sat on flight FR455 FEU-NCL with delays due to French air strike. Already delayed by two hours but being told we're now going to be sat not moving for a further two hours?

'Why put us on the plane? Please communicate what the situation is. @Ryanair also doesn't help the situation when two thirds of the refreshments are out of stock. Not hot food etc? Just crisps and fizzy pop.'

Another delayed passenger wrote: 'Flight FR7045 dep 7.55am from Malaga to Dublin delayed 1hr30mins due to #Frenchairtraffic strikes but glad to be on home soil @Ryanair, thanks for not cancelling my flight.'

Haleh Paul, the mother of the 19-year-old disabled teenager, said: 'I and the other set of the family had to scramble around from the UK to change their flight and find alternative accommodation for them.

'I am sure I am not the only one in this boat. But when you plan for a long weekend as a young adult and it ends up being a week, with no extra medication, hearing aid batteries or change of clothes, it's very worrying.'

However not everyone saw it as bad, with David Wilson posting a selfie on social media writing: 'Just got a message from Ryanair... my flight home on Tuesday has been cancelled due to air traffic control strikes in France so we can't fly over France ... oh well [laughing emojis]'.

It was not just Ryanair that faced issues, as EasyJet flights were cancelled, with people stranded in Nice last night after Edinburgh flights were put on hold.

Last minute flight cancellations were also seen at Bristol, with one Twitter user posting a picture of queues on Saturday, asking EasyJet to pay for his missed trip. It was not known if this delay was due to strikes.

Air traffic controllers are needed to make contact during overflights, where planes are flying through the French airspace. Airline EasyJet also saw cancellations and delays.

In a recorded statement, Mr O'Leary said: 'I'm speaking to you this morning Tuesday from our Dublin operation centre with the bad news that again today we have had to cancel just about 400 flights of the 3200 flights we had scheduled to operate today.

'All of these flights have been cancelled because of the latest French ATC strike.'

He added that the French have travel alternatives within the country, as they can take its high-speed train service or use motorways.

Last week, Ryanair submitted a petition calling for the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, to insist that France protects overflights during French ATC strikes.

The petition has so far been signed by over 1.1million of Ryanair's 'very fed up' customers.

The CEO added: 'Spain, Italy and Greece already protect these overflights so that when their national ATC unions go on strike, the overflights are not disrupted.

'We are calling on the commission today for action.'

As part of Ryanair's call to action, the airline revealed that more than 4,000 flights have been cancelled so far this year as a result of ATC strikes, 'mainly overflying France'.

In his call to the commission, he added: 'Europe is a single market. In a single market the overflights and skies over Europe must be protected. Take action.'

One person wrote on social media that the lights were turned off in the terminal where people were stranded due to flight cancellations last night

However not everyone saw it as bad, with David Wilson posting a selfie on social media writing: 'Just got a message from Ryanair... my flight home on Tuesday has been cancelled due to air traffic control strikes in France so we can't fly over France ... oh well [laughing emojis]'

Last minute flight cancellations were also seen at Bristol, with one Twitter user posting a picture of queues on Saturday

One person whose flight was cancelled took to Twitter to voice her frustrations. 'Absolute joke ours has been cancelled,' she wrote. 'Now been transferred Manchester to East Midlands with a 9-hour delay'

Jan Dent told MailOnline: 'My son, his wife and our 21-month-old granddaughter were supposed to be on an afternoon flight today from Manchester to Malaga.

'We live in Spain so don't get to see them as often as we would like to so we're looking forward to ten days together.'

She added: 'They are booked to fly again on Thursday but it means changing airport, parking, car hire etc.'

'Absolute joke ours has been cancelled,' another passenger wrote on Twitter. 'Now been transferred Manchester to East Midlands with a 9-hour delay. No idea what to do about transfers, can't get in touch with the holiday company as it's too busy and yet no compensation apparently - livid!!!'

Air traffic controllers in France, as well as members of the French national rail company SNCF, have been striking in protest against proposed pension reforms by Emmanuel Macron.

His reforms would see the retirement age in France increased from 62 to 64 years old.

It would also force workers to contribute to the pension system for longer, as state pensions in the country are financed by a payroll tax.

Indeed, the public are not just angry at Macron for increasing the retirement age, but also because he used a special presidential decree (Article 49.3) to pass his proposals through the National Assembly without approval.

This has been perceived as undemocratic. Civilians and workers also argue that, if he is using Article 49.3 to increase the retirement age now, there is nothing to stop him doing so again with other legislation in the future.

Protests have been ongoing since January 2023.
Jailbird Elizabeth Holmes was reunited with her husband Billy Evans during a seven-hour visit to see his fraudster wife behind bars, exclusive DailyMail.com photos reveal.

It was an emotional visit for Evans, who arrived with Holmes's parents Christian and Noel on Saturday. The group was seen sitting outside at a picnic table deep in conversation at the federal prison in Texas.

Holmes was visibly shaken, crying during much of the visit, while Evans and Holmes's mother appeared equally upset. Her father appeared more stoic, perhaps in an effort to remain strong for everyone else.

At one point Holmes, dressed in her khaki prison uniform, was seen holding onto Evans's finger as they walked, breaking prison protocol which states that only 'a brief kiss, embrace or handshake is allowed upon arrival and departure.'

A violation of rules could result in the denial of future visits for Holmes for an extended period of time.

This is the family's first visit of a possible 572, as they are able to see her once a week during her 11-year sentence.

DailyMail.com spotted Elizabeth Holmes, dressed in her khaki prison uniform, being visited by her husband Billy Evans on Saturday

Holmes was seen holding onto Evans' finger as they walked, breaking prison protocol

The prison policy states that only a brief kiss, embrace or handshake is allowed upon arrival and departure

It was an emotional visit for Evans, who came with Holmes's parents Christian and Noel, on Saturday as the group were seen sitting outside at a picnic table deep in conversation

The family were there Saturday morning early and stayed the full duration of visiting hours.

The four were seen outside chatting from about 9.30am until 3pm, before heading inside the jail for the remainder of the time, leaving the disgraced Theranos founder around 5pm.

The family purchased treats from a vending machine and were seen snacking on Honeybuns and cinnamon rolls and sipping on water and orange soda.

Near the couple were other family members visiting their loved ones.

For this visit, Evans left their young children  two-year-old William and three-month-old Invicta  at home.

Evans was dressed all in black with sneakers, and both he and Holmes carried water bottles, while she wore what appeared to be an ID card on a lanyard around her neck.

The couple broke away from Holmes's parents at times to take a few private strolls together while mom and dad sat at the table chatting.

Evans was dressed all in black with sneakers, and both he and Holmes carried water bottles, while she wore what appeared to be an ID card on a lanyard around her neck

Holmes was visibly shaken, crying most of the visit, while Evans and Holmes's mother appeared equally upset

The four were seen outside chatting from about 9.30am until 3pm, before heading inside the jail for the remainder of time, leaving the disgraced Theranos founder around 5pm

For this visit, Evans left their young children  two-year-old William and three-month-old Invicta  at home

The couple purchased snacks from a vending machine and were seen snaking on Honeybuns and cinnamon rolls and sipping on water and orange soda

The disgraced Silicon Valley maven surrendered to jail authorities last week, more than a year after she was convicted of defrauding investors out of $945 million.

The mom-of-two  now federal inmate 24965-111  swapped her civilian clothes for standard issue khakis.

FPC Bryan Inmates are typically locked up for non-violent offenses and white-collar crime.

They share four-person bunk rooms similar to college dorms and are woken at 6am for factory jobs or food service duties paying anything from 12 cents to $1.15 an hour.

But it's not all bad news as FPC Bryan, located 100 miles northwest of Houston, is known for being notoriously cushy and one of more comfortable holding facilities in the US.

There's also another famous inmate to get to know  Former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah, 49, who's serving six-and-a-half years there for wire fraud.

But despite the comfortable amenities, this weekend's visit was a far cry from how the convicted fraudster spent her final days of freedom, soaking up the sun with her family.

She is now miles away from the San Diego mansion she shared with hotel heir Evans and their children.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila set her revised prison-reporting date to May 30, meaning she was allowed to spend Memorial Day Weekend with her family before her spell in prison.

Last week, exclusive DailyMail.com photos showed Holmes savoring her last days as a free woman with a family trip to the beach near their oceanfront home

The convicted fraudster spent Mother's Day weekend soaking up the sun with her family

Billy Evans and Holmes were seen playing with their son William outside their beachfront home just weeks ago as she enjoyed her final days of freedom

The disgraced tech CEO had originally been ordered to begin her prison sentence on April 27, but managed to buy an extra four weeks with her family after scoring a reprieve with a last-minute legal maneuver.

She temporarily avoided reporting to prison after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to stay her date while she attempts to appeal her conviction.

The legal tactic deployed by Holmes mirrored a move made in March by her former lover and subordinate, Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, to avoid a prison reporting date of March 16.

After the Ninth Circuit rejected his appeal three weeks later, Davila set a new reporting date of April 20 for Balwani.

The same judge set a new prison-reporting date for Holmes on May 16 after a federal appeals court eventually rejected her bid to remain out of prison while she attempts to overturn her January 2022 conviction on four felony counts of fraud and conspiracy.

The punishment also includes a $452million restitution bill that Davila ordered Holmes to pay in a separate ruling issued earlier this month.

Holmes's lawyers asked Davila to approve the May 30 prison reporting time to give her two weeks to sort out several issues, including child care for her kids.

Holmes is photographed for Forbes Magazine on September 22, 201. She started Theranos when she dropped out of Stanford University at the age of 19

The $9million beachside home in San Diego where Elizabeth Holmes and partner Billy Evan were staying with their children before her prison sentence began

Her new home is considered one of the more cushy federal prisons in the nation but it is still a far cry from her previous life in San Diego

Holmes had once modeled herself as the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and won widespread acclaim  including from Harvard University and Time magazine  for a phony technology which she claimed would revolutionize blood-testing methods by using tiny volumes of blood, such as from a finger prick.

She started Theranos when she dropped out of Stanford University at the age of 19.

Before her lies were uncovered in a series of explosive articles in The Wall Street Journal beginning in October 2015, Holmes had raised a staggering amount of money from some of the biggest names in business and tech.

She scooped in nearly $1 billion in funding from some of the world's biggest pockets: Venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch.

Holmes's stake in Theranos at one point catapulted her paper wealth to $4.5 billion.

She never sold any of her stock in the company, and trial evidence left no doubt she reveled in the trappings of fame and fortune  so much so that she and Evans lived on a palatial Silicon Valley estate during the trial.
Celebrity Cruise has suffered two other outbreaks on his ships this year with the Constellation and Equinox also impacted

Norovirus struck down 152 passengers and 25 crew members who were left grappling with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headaches

Celebrity Summit departed from Bayonne, New Jersey on March 15 with 2,144 passengers and 963 crew members

A norovirus outbreak on board a Celebrity Cruise ship left nearly 200 passengers and crew with severe gastrointestinal illness.

The Celebrity Summit departed Bayonne, New Jersey on March 15 with 2,144 passengers and 963 crew members.

But as they traveled to Bermuda - with intermediate stops in South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts - nearly 10 percent on board became ill.

The norovirus struck down 152 passengers and 25 crew members, according to the CDC.

They were left grappling with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headaches and they traversed the high seas.

Celebrity Cruises was forced to increase cleaning operations, send stool samples to the CDC laboratory, and encourage strong handwashing skills among guests.

The Celebrity Summit departed from Bayonne, New Jersey on March 15 with 2,144 passengers and 963 crew members, but as they traveled to Bermuda - with intermediate stops in South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts - nearly 10 percent on board became ill.

Affected passengers and crew members were left grappling with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and headaches and they traversed the high seas. This is the third norovirus outbreak on a Celebrity Cruise this year

'The health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit are our top priority,' spokesperson Dani De la Osa told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'To maintain the highest levels of health onboard our ships, we implement rigorous safety and cleaning procedures, many far exceeding public health guidelines. Combined, these efforts allow us to maintain some of the lowest levels of community spread.'

This is the third norovirus outbreak on a Celebrity Cruise this year, with the Celebrity Constellation suffering an outbreak between March 6 and 17 and the Celebrity Equinox suffering one from March 9 to 18.

Roughly five percent of all on-board members fell ill on the Constellation, suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. The Celebrity Equinox saw similar numbers with many passengers being affected.

There has been 12 norovirus outbreaks across several cruise lines - including Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean - sine the start of 2023, according to the CDC.

Norovirus is the 'leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea and foodborne illness in the United States,' according to the CDC.

'People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus, which spreads very easily and quickly,' it said.

Celebrity Cruises was sued for $1million earlier this year after a Florida family accused them over leaving their dead loved one in a drink cooler for days instead of a morgue, and leaving the body too decomposed for an open-casket funeral.

Robert L. Jones died from heart complications while on board the Celebrity Equinox on August 15, 2022. After his death, his wife Marilyn Jones was told the body could be kept in the ship's morgue for six days until they arrived back in Florida.

At some point, however, Bob's corpse was moved from the morgue to a drinks cooler on a different floor of the ship, the complaint alleges.

Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises was sued for $1million after a Florida family accused them over leaving Robert L. Jones (pictured) in a drink cooler for days instead of a morgue, and leaving the body too decomposed for an open-casket funeral

At some point, however, Bob's corpse was moved from the morgue to a drinks cooler on a different floor of the ship, the complaint alleges

Jones - along with her daughters Robin Phillips and Teresa West - allege that cruise staff urged her to keep Bob's body on board, instead of removing it during a stop in Puerto Rico.

By the time a funeral services employee went to retrieve the elderly man's body upon arrival in Florida, the corpse - which was found in a body bag on a floor palette - had been so badly decomposed that an open-casket funeral was not possible.

Jones, her daughters, and her grandchildren are suing for $1million.

In the lawsuit, filed on April 19 in the Florida Southern District court, the family alleges Celebrity Cruises improperly stored the 79-year-old's body, so much so that his remains were 'so far gone in the decomposition process.'

The remains could not be salvaged, the lawsuit states, and the family had to forgo their 'long standing family custom' of open-casket services.
An 'anti-woke' online marketplace says it has nearly doubled its number of users since consumers started to boycott Bud Light for its promotional tie-in with transgender social medial star.

On Tuesday it emerged that sales of Bud Light had continued to fall, as PublicSq, which markets itself as a patriotic, America-first alternative to Amazon, said its engagement had soared.

It recorded slightly more than one million active consumers on May 31, according to data submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, compared with about 560,000 on March 31.

The Bud Light boycott began in early April.

Michael Seifert, founder and chief executive of PublicSq, said: 'The past few months have shown that tens of millions of Americans are eager for companies that share their values.

'PublicSq connects freedom-loving Americans with businesses that respect them.'

Conservative online marketplace PublicSq saw its user base double in size since the start of April, when the Bud Light boycott began

Public Square, founded by Michael Seifert (right), launched nationwide in July. It counts Donald Trump Jr. (left) as an investor and adviser

The San-Diego company launched nationwide seven months ago and now hosts more than 55,000 'patriotic' vendors.

And it has drawn in conservative heavyweights like Donald Trump Jr., who is an investor and an adviser, and former Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters.

Their aim is to build a 'parallel economy' where consumers do not have to buy anything from vendors whose political values don't align with their own.

'Connecting freedom-loving Americans with the businesses that share their values,' it says on its website.

It comes as leading conservative voices have stepped up their 'war on woke,' condemning investment firms who promise to include environmental, social and governance factors when they make decisions, for example.

Against that background, brewer Anheuser-Busch stumbled into controversy when it partnered with Dylan Mulvaney.

She posted a video on April 1 of herself cracking open a Bud Light on her Instagram page.

In it she showed off a can customized with an image of her face - one of many corporate freebies she promotes to her millions of followers.

The beer company saw the sale starting to steeply decline in early April after Mulvaney, 26, appeared on a beer can to celebrate her '365th day of girlhood'

The company's sales dropped 23.9 percent for the weekend ending on May 27 compared to the same time last year. However, the company has seen a small rebound compared to last week - where the drop was 25.7 percent

Bud Light was accused of alienating its traditional customer base by partnering with Mulvaney, which led many conservatives - including Kid Rock - to boycott the brand

Three days after Mulvaney's post, Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light, and country music stars John Rich and Travis Tritt publicly denounced the brand.

Within weeks, two marketing executives at Anheuser-Busch took a leave of absence. It's unclear whether they have returned to work yet.

A boycott of the beer has eaten heavily into sales.

Sales of the beer dropped 23.9 percent for the week ending May 27 compared to the same time last year - though that was a slight improvement from last week when sales were down 25.7 percent.

Bud Light also lost nearly 28 percent in year-on-year volume for the week ending May 27.
After the verdict she was seen hugging prosecutors and victims' families - drawing the ire of some observers

Scherer frequently clashed with the defendant's attorneys during the 'unique and lengthy case'

The Florida judge who oversaw the Parkland school massacre trial should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias by hugging the prosecution and the victims' families while failing to curtail 'vitriolic statements' towards the shooter's attorneys, a review panel found.

Florida's Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, 46, violated several rules governing conduct for judges and has recommended to Florida Supreme Court that she be reprimanded.

The six-month trial last year led to shooter Nikolas Cruz receiving a life sentence for the murder of 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

The jury stopped short of delivering a unanimous decision for the death sentence.

The 15-member commission, brought in to review Judge Scherer's behavior during the trial, found she had 'unduly chastised' lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz attorney of threatening her child, and improperly embraced members of the prosecution in the courtroom.

It will be up to the state's Supreme Court to determine the final punishment for the judge who recently announced her retirement.

Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer hugged prosecutors and the victim's families after Nikolas Cruz's trial, a move that a panel says she should be reprimanded for

The commission acknowledged that 'the worldwide publicity surrounding the case created stress and tension for all participants' but that judges are expected to 'ensure due process, order and decorum, and act always with dignity and respect to promote the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.'

However, they felt that Judge Scherer 'in limited instances during this unique and lengthy case' had 'allowed her emotions to overcome her judgement.'

The commission, composed of judges, lawyers and citizens, recommended that Scherer be publicly reprimanded for the breaches.

Scherer, a former prosecutor, announced last month that she would be retiring from the bench on June 30 after more than 10 years service.

Scherer's conduct throughout the trial was praised by the victim's families, who said she treated them with professionalism and kindness.

However, she got into frequent clashes with the defendant's attorneys.

On one occasion, McNeill and her team suddenly rested their case after calling only a small fraction of their expected witnesses and the judge called it 'the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case.'

McNeill shot back angrily, 'You are insulting me on the record in front of my client.'

Scherer announced that she would be retiring from the bench after 10 years service after some criticized her for her behavior during Cruz's trial

Emotions ran high throughout the six-month trial last year that ended with Cruz convicted of the murder of 14 students and three educators

Cruz received a life sentence for his crimes after the jury could not reach an unanimous verdict on the death penalty

Scherer publicly reprimanded the defense attorneys during the trial, a move that drew headlines at the time

'You've been insulting me the entire trial,' Scherer barked at McNeill. 'Arguing with me, storming out, coming late intentionally if you dont like my rulings. So, quite frankly, this has been long overdue. So please be seated.'

Another clash came during the sentencing hearing in November when Scherer did not stop the verbal attacks made by some victim's family members against the defense team.

Scherer refused to curtail the statements and ejected one of McNeills assistants, David Wheeler, after she wrongly interpreted one of his comments as a threat against her daughter.

After sentencing Cruz, 24, to life without parole as required, Scherer left the bench and hugged members of the prosecution and the victims' families.

Scherer told the commission she also offered to hug the defense team.

In April the Florida Supreme Court removed her from overseeing post-conviction motions of another defendant, Randy Tundidor, who was sentenced to death for the 2010 murder of his Broward County landlord and is appealing his case.

At the time of his sentencing, prosecutor's said Tundidor killed his landlord, who was about to evict him and his family. In 2019, he appealed his sentencing which was to go to court under Scherer's supervision.

One of the prosecutors in that case had also been on the Cruz team, and during a hearing in the Tundidor case a few days after the Cruz sentencing, Scherer asked the prosecutor how he was holding up.

The court said Scherer's actions gave at least the appearance that she could not be fair to Tundidor.
The city of Atlanta has approved funding for a controversial new police training center dubbed 'Cop City' by opponents.

The 11-4 vote happened on Tuesday after hundreds of activists packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project, which they say will destroy the local environment and militarize the police.

For about 14 hours, residents took to the podium to slam the $90 million project, saying it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority black area of southeast of Atlanta.

Six hours into the meeting, Emory University religion professor Sara McClintock took to the podium and pleaded with councilmembers to reject, or at least rethink, the training center.

'We don't want it,' McClintock said. 'We don't want it because it doesn't contribute to life. Its not an institution of peace. It's not a way forward for our city that we love.'

Atlanta's City Council approved funding for a new police training center deemed 'Cop City' by opponents. Hundreds of activists packed City Hall on Tuesday before the vote

Opponents of the project say it would be a gross misuse of public funds to build the huge facility in a large urban forest in a poor, majority black area

For about 14 hours, residents again and again took to the podium to slam the project

Protestors gather in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall to protest the planned police training center

Still, councilmembers agreed to approve $31 million in public funds for the site's construction, as well as a provision that requires the city to pay $36 million - $1.2 million a year over 30 years - for using the facility.

The rest of the funding for the project would come from private donations to the Atlanta Police Foundation.

The project has faced passionate opposition since it was announced, with the decentralized 'Stop Cop City' movement galvanizing protesters from across the country, especially in the wake of the January fatal police shooting of Manuel Paez Teran, a 26-year-old activist known as 'Tortuguita' who had been camping in the woods of the proposed project.

In a sign of the security concerns Monday, dozens of police officers were posted throughout City Hall and officials temporarily added 'liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes' to the list of things prohibited inside the building.

The highly scrutinized vote occurred in the wake of the arrests Wednesday of three organizers who lead the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped to find attorneys for arrested protesters.

Prosecutors have accused the three activists of money laundering and charity fraud, saying they used some of the money to fund violent acts of 'forest defenders.' Warrants cite reimbursements for expenses including 'gasoline, forest clean-up, totes, Covid-19 rapid tests, media, yard signs.'

Mayor Andre Dickens said the passage of the budget resolution 'marks a major milestone for better preparing our fire, police and emergency responders to protect and serve our communities.'

He added that 'Atlanta will be a national model for police reform with the most progressive training and curriculum in the country.'

The training center was approved by the City Council in September 2021 but required an additional vote for more funding.

Protesters gather outside Atlanta City Hall ahead of a council vote over whether to approve public funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center

The activist groups are protesting construction of an 85-acre police training facility planned to be built in forestlands southeast of Atlanta, Georgia

A Bank of America Office spray-painted by activists in response to plans to build a huge police training facility in Atlanta

City officials say the new 85-acre campus would replace inadequate training facilities and would help address difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers that worsened after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice three years ago.

But opponents, who have been joined by activists from around the country, say they fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will exacerbate environmental damage.

Protesters had been camping at the site since at least last year, and police said they had caused damage and attacked law enforcement officers and others.

Numerous instances of violence and vandalism have been linked to the 'Stop Cop City' movement, including a January protest in downtown Atlanta in which a police car was set alight, as well as a March attack in which more than 150 masked protesters chased off police at the construction site and torched equipment before fleeing and blending in with a crowd at a nearby music festival.

Those two instances have led to more than 40 people being charged with domestic terrorism, though prosecutors have had difficulty so far in proving that many of those arrested were in fact those who took part in the violence.

Additionally, activists have been smashing windows and damaging offices across the US as part of an ongoing protest against the proposal to build the training facility in a forest outside Atlanta.

Members of the Stop Cop City movement have claimed credit for vandalism in 19 states in the last nine months, targeting businesses like Amazon, Porsche, and Wells Fargo.

The group has said they target businesses based on their affiliation with the Atlanta Police Foundation and the proposed facility known as Cop City.
Russia is believed to be behind the explosions at a major dam and hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine that have caused a 'catastrophic' flood, US intelligence officials claim.

Sources say Joe Biden's Administration has intel proving Moscow was responsible for the catastrophe, as the White House today said it 'cannot say conclusively' what caused the destruction.

Officials are 'doing the best we can to assess' reports that Putin's troops - which have been occupying the dam since last year - caused the blast, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

It comes as three intelligence officials told NBC News that experts are working to declassify intel that points to Russia as the perpetrator of the attack. The insiders allege the information could be declassified as early as today.

It comes as Mr Kirby did, however, say it was clear that the destruction of the dam on the Dnipro River had likely caused 'many deaths' and the evacuation of thousands of Ukrainians.

Asked if the destruction of the dam would constitute a war crime, he said international law forbade the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account today shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station after it was partially destroyed

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding. Water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Images and videos from the scene show the result of the damage to the dam, which Ukraine has blamed on Russia

There are warnings of possible major flooding which could displace hundreds of thousands of people. Images and video clips are already showing buildings and homes getting swept away in the water

An explosion is seen at the destroyed Kakhovka plant in the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine today. Water was thrown 40ft into the air amid the blasts

Rescue workers conduct an evacuation operation in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine today after the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant on the Dnieper River was destroyed

Destruction of the dam on the Dnipro River, which separates Kremlin and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine, is set to displace tens of thousands of people.

Shocking video footage showed houses being swept away and entire towns submerged by the deluge.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry declared this morning that the Kakhovka dam over the Dnieper River - which separates Kremlin and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine - was damaged by several explosions and is set to displace tens of thousands of people.

The Ministry told residents of ten villages on the river's right bank, as well as parts of Kherson city downriver, to leave everything and flee their homes.

Terrifying clips show how houses being swept away and entire towns submerged by the deluge. Village streets and fields near to the dam have been swamped by flooding as a Russia-installed local mayor warned that the water level would continue to rise for another 72 hours and claimed he expected 40ft high floods in some places.

Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the Nova Kakhovka dam while the Kremlin said it was Ukraine that had sabotaged the dam.

Mr Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing today that the damage could have a 'devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security' in part because the dam is located near Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

The spokesman reiterated that the US would continue to work with humanitarian partners on the ground to supply aid to those affected.

He also addressed claims that Moscow caused the attack, saying: 'We've seen the reports that Russia was responsible for the explosion at the dam.

'We're doing the best we can to assess those reports, and we are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened.'

He noted that Russian forces had illegally occupied the dam and controlled it at the time of the blast, but said US officials had not determined whether it was an intentional act.

Mr Kirby also said it was too soon to discuss any potential impact on Ukraine's long-planned counteroffensive.

As tens of thousands of Ukrainians flee their homes...

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhovka plant was totally destroyed by an engine room blast

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements are at risk of flooding

Kyiv officials alleged that Moscow destroyed the dam in order to slow down its long-awaited counteroffensive

Zelensky said that Russian forces must be 'expelled from every corner' of his nation for their 'terrorist actions'

Moscow has blamed Kyiv's forces for the strikes on the dam which is in Russian-held territory

Officials are 'doing the best we can to assess' reports that Putin's troops - which have been occupying the dam since last year - caused the blast, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a White House press briefing today (pictured)

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of the dam

Kherson is flooded after the Kakhovka dam was damaged in a series of explosions

A satellite image shows the Kakhovka dam in Kherson yesterday, before the attack

A car makes its way past people stanidng next to an inflatable boat in a flooded street of Kherson, Ukraine today

An ambulance worker speaks on the phone while his team helps a woman in Kherson today

A local resident walks on a flooded street today after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached

A man looks on as a car is parked in a flooded street of Kherson, Ukraine today

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18million cubic meters (4.8billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other towns and settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of people.

'Everything is going to die here,' a man named Serhiy living in Kherson said today. 'All the living creatures, and people will be flooded out.

'People will suffer. There's already no water coming out of taps - why not, no one knows.'

Other Kherson residents said the water level in some parts of the city had already reached 9ft high and they could see more water headed their way.

The cause of the blasts is not yet clear, although Ukraine warned late last year that Russian forces had mined the dam as they retreated from Kherson and Ukraine's state hydroelectric company said the Kakhova plant was destroyed by an explosion in the engine room - suggesting it was attacked from within rather than by external strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday told a Vatican peace envoy that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam would have 'dire consequences' for people and nature.

'This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people's lives and the environment,' he told Italian cardinal Matteo Zuppi as the two met in Kyiv, according to a presidency statement.

 Slide me  This graphic shows the potentially catastrophic flooding that could occur if the dam is completely destroyed

Flood water has already overrun the countryside and several villages close to Kherson

Flooding continues to spread in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of the dam

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric power plant was totally destroyed by the blasts

Flooding begins in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

The remains of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant are seen in these images following several explosions

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Zelensky predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

The dam and the hydroelectric power station were captured by Putin's forces as a priority at the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 last year. Russian officials claimed the dam was attacked by Ukrainian military strikes.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development - a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation - estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded in total.

Zelensky will now urgently convene his Security Council after the explosion at the dam which provides vital cooling at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The explosion at the dam has sparked concerns of a possible meltdown at the plant if the reactors cannot be cooled.

Zelensky said that Russian forces 'must be expelled from every corner' of his country in the wake of the supposed attack.

Kyiv officials alleged that Moscow destroyed the dam in order to slow down its long-awaited counter-offensive.

'The terrorists' goal is obvious - to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces,' Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

'Today, the world must understand that this is an attempt by terrorists to raise the stakes and scare everyone with a possible nuclear disaster,' Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's administration, wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company declared that a detonation inside the engine room of the plant had 'totally destroyed' the machinery and warned the plant could not be salvaged.

Ukraine's state hydroelectric company declared that a detonation inside the engine room of the plant had 'totally destroyed' the machinery and warned the plant could not be salvaged

This general view shows a partially flooded area of Kherson on June 6, 2023, following damage at Kakhovka hydroelectric dam

The dam and nearby power plant have been attacked in an 'act of terror', top Ukrainian officials have claimed

A boy carries a cage with his bird as he evacuates from his home in a flooded street of Kherson, Ukraine today

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road today after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed in Kherson, Ukraine

Red Cross volunteers drive a car on a flooded street today after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached in Kherson, Ukraine

People stand next to an inflatable boat today as a car drives past them in a flooded street of Kherson, Ukraine

A local resident walks on a flooded street today after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said separately that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding after what he described as the destruction of the station's dam by Russian forces.

Environmental security expert Maksym Soroka explained why the flooding could be so disastrous.

'Everyone should understand that one cubic metre of water weighs a ton: imagine the amount of water in a metre-by-metre cube: that's one ton. Dams contain a huge mass of water, millions of tons,' Mr Soroka told Rubryka, a Ukrainian news publication.

'Force is mass multiplied by acceleration, and when that mass accelerates, we have a force of thousands of kilotons, and these forces are enough to destroy concrete. The devastating consequences become catastrophic.'

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday denounced the 'outrageous' breach of the dam and said it highlighted the devastation wrought by Moscow's invasion.

'The destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage. This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine,' Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: 'It's too early for me to make a meaningful assessment of the details of what's happened... but it's worth remembering that the only reason that this is an issue at all is because of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

'Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime,' he wrote on social media, describing the attack as 'abhorrent'.

EU chief Charles Michel meanwhile pledged to hold Russia accountable for the 'war crime' of destroying civilian infrastructure.

'Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable,' Mr Michel wrote on social media.

Mr Michel, the head of the body that brings together EU leaders, said he would propose 'more assistance to the flooded areas' at their next summit in Brussels this month.

The dam has allegedly been blown up by Russian forces, threatening at least ten nearby villages

Hundreds of thousands of people could be affected by flooding and be forced to leave their homes

Beavers pictured on the streets of Kherson during flooding in the occupied Kherson region

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was pictured in pieces

The dam, pictured here before damage, could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water

Ukraine says Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant has also been destroyed by Russian troops

Ukrainian soldiers fire at the Russian air target on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, June 5, 2023 (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

Footage from what appeared to be a monitoring camera overlooking the dam shows an explosion that seems to have weakened the wall of the dam before water floods through the cracks.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7am that 'the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror,' and warned that water will reach 'critical levels' within five hours.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka Vladimir Leontyev said that numerous strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and 'water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream'.

Mr Leontyev said the strikes were 'a very serious terrorist act' said Moscow-appointed authorities are 'preparing for the worst consequences' - though he stopped short of urging an evacuation of city residents.

Not only is the dam responsible for powering the now destroyed Kakhovka hydroelectric plant and cooling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, it also provides drinking water for much of northern Crimea.

The Russian-backed governor of the annexed peninsula said there is now a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the river, could fall in the coming days - though he added that reserves were sufficient for the moment.

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant

This still image taken from a video shows the aftermath of explosions at the hydroelectric power plant at Nova Kakhovka

The Kakhovka plant is almost completely swallowed by water in pictures taken several hours after the collapse on June 6, 2023

Ukraine's state atomic power agency said the destruction of the dam by Russian forces in southern Ukraine poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but the situation at the facility is under control.

'Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP,' Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

'Right now the station's cooling pond is full: as of 8.00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the station's needs.

'Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators,' it said.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through and over the Kakhovka dam, which lies just 37 miles east of the regional capital Kherson.

Last year, Zelensky claimed Putin's forces had mined the hydroelectric power plant and planned to blow it up it in a bid to cover their retreat from the city of Kherson with a vast deluge of water - though this did not materialise.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper River, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire country's drinking water and power supply.
The charismatic sex guru who gained a devoted following for her controversial 'orgasmic meditation' classes has been criminally charged with running a forced labor scheme.

Nicole Daedone, 56, and her top lieutenant Rachel Cherwitz, 43, were charged in a federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday in New York, accusing them of forcing OneTaste members into sex acts using cult-like tactics.

Daedone was the 'messianic' guru who in 2004 co-founded OneTaste, a San Francisco-based sexual wellness company specializing in orgasmic meditation (OM), which promised to help clients 'reclaim their sexuality'.

The practice involves a woman, naked from the waist down, having her clitoris methodically 'stroked' for exactly 15 minutes by a man, either her own partner or another paying customer.

Cherwitz, who was the head of sales for OneTaste, was arrested on Tuesday morning in California, while Daedone remains at large and is believed to be overseas, according to court filings.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, current OneTaste CEO Anjuli Ayer slammed the charges as 'unfounded' and the result of a 'misogynistic, media-driven campaign to tear down a feminine empowerment project and the women who devoted their lives to it.'

Sex guru Nicole Daedone is currently at large after being hit with US federal criminal charges

OneTaste founder Nicole Daedone, 56, (left) and her top lieutenant Rachel Cherwitz, 43, (right) were charged in a federal indictment accusing them of extracting forced labor

OM exploded in popularity following a 2009 New York Times profile of OneTaste, and at one point the company was reportedly raking in $12 million a year from eager clients.

But in 2018, the FBI launched an investigation when ex-customers came forward saying they were left in debt after paying for expensive classes, and former employees said they were told to engage in sexual relations with potential clients to close sales.

Now, prosecutors say that between 2004 and 2018, Daedone and Cherwitz deployed a series of abusive and manipulative tactics in order to obtain the labor and services of a group of OneTaste members, including volunteers, contractors, and employees.

The indictment alleges that the duo used tactics designed to render the OneTaste members dependent on the group for their shelter and basic necessities, and to limit members' independence and control.

Many OneTaste members lived in 'residential warehouses' where they participated in courses and experimented sexually, and prosecutors say they were subjected to 'constant surveillance' and isolated from friends and family.

'While employing such tactics, Daedone and Cherwitz demanded absolute commitment to Daedone, including by exalting Daedone's teachings and ideology,' the Justice Department said in a statement.

'As part of this ideology, Daedone and Cherwitz instructed the OneTaste members to engage in sexual acts  including acts the members found uncomfortable or repulsive  as a requirement to supposedly obtain freedom and enlightenment and demonstrate their commitment to OneTaste and Daedone,' the statement added.

Prosecutors say they extracted forced labor from group members who were subjected to 'economic, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, surveillance, indoctrination, and intimidation.'

Daedone and Cherwitz are each charged with conspiracy to violate federal laws prohibiting the use of forced labor.

If convicted, Daedone and Cherwitz each face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

OneTaste and current CEO Ayer are not accused of wrongdoing, with Ayer telling DailyMail.com: 'We have cooperated with the Eastern District of New York throughout the investigation.'

'We are appalled by this long-term, misogynistic, media-driven campaign to tear down a feminine empowerment project and the women who devoted their lives to it,' she said.

'OneTaste is a women-led organization that has devoted itself to wellness, healing, inclusion and personal growth, and has always focused on female empowerment at its core,' the statement added.

The company used to have several buildings in San Francisco, including a cafe, an events space and communal housing known as 'OM houses' where between 30-40 staff would live together. Pictured, one of the properties once used as OneTaste dormitories

An OM class is seen above, in which a woman, naked from the waist down, has her clitoris methodically 'stroked' for exactly 15 minutes by a man

In December, Daedone illustrated the intimate hands-on techniques on her associate Cherwitz, who lay naked on a raised table in front of an audience of 200

Prosecutors say that when members could no longer afford OneTaste classes, they were pressured to take on debt, and that at times Daedone and Cherwitz even assisted them in opening new credit cards.

At one point, OneTaste operated centers in cities including New York, San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas, Boulder, Los Angeles, Austin and London.

In New York City, OneTaste leased residences and hosted events in several different locations, including in Brooklyn and the Manhattan neighborhoods of Harlem, Hells Kitchen, Soho and West Village.

'Under the guise of empowerment and wellness, the defendants are alleged to have sought complete control over their employees' lives, including by driving them into debt and directing them to perform sexual acts while also withholding wages,' said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

'This prosecution should serve as a reminder to both employer and employee that no matter the marketing mantra, this conduct is never acceptable,' added Peace.

Prosecutors say that Daedone served as the CEO and a leader of OneTaste from the company's founding until approximately 2017, while Cherwitz served as head of sales from roughly 2009 through 2018.

Cherwitz was due to appear in US District Court for the Northern District of California on Tuesday, and faces extradition to New York, where the charges were filed. It was unclear whether she had an attorney to speak on her behalf.

Daedone remains at large, and did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment from DailyMail.com. Court filings indicate that the US government believes she is currently outside the country.

She has previously denied that she ran a sex cult, telling the Mail on Sunday last year: I want to continue the work of getting OM into the world. It is such a powerful practice and we have a world that is so starved of something that will bring a fundamental connection.

Following the disturbing allegations that emerged in a 2018 Bloomberg report, Daedone has mostly maintained a low profile, and OneTaste all but disappeared from public view.

Daedone has previously denied that she ran a sex cult, telling the Mail on Sunday last year: 'I want to continue the work of getting OM into the world'

In 2020, the controversy resurfaced when the BBC published a podcast called The Orgasm Cult, exploring the company's journey from 'fringe origins to sleek wellness stardom, to an investigation by the FBI'.

Last year, a Netflix documentary with a similar focus also brought OneTaste back into the spotlight.

But in December 2022, DailyMail.com was there as she gave a special live demonstration her OM technique at the Playa Studios in Culver City, California.

Daedone illustrated the intimate hands-on techniques on her associate Cherwitz, who lay naked on a raised table in front of an audience of 200.

The event was part of an attempt to 'rebrand' OneTaste and launch one-day courses in Los Angeles and New York costing $149.

In remarks following the event, Dadone told DailyMail.com that she was attempting to rebrand OneTaste as less about sex and more about science.

As for the backlash she experienced, she said: 'I realized I fundamentally wasn't communicating what we were really doing. And so we're really focused on the science, so that people can understand it in a different way.'
Shocking new footage released by officials in Utah gives some insight into what occurred in the Haight family home the night before family patriarch, Michael, shot-and-killed his wife, their five children and his mother-in-law, before taking his own life.

Michael, 42, recorded himself in their home in the town of Enoch, Utah, playing with his children and having a discussion with his wife, Tausha, about the dire state of their marriage.

'We might go sledding again. We won't do that today, but we can go to the mountains, maybe tomorrow or the next day,' Michael tells his children in one of the clips, recorded on Tuesday morning, January 3, the day before the murder suicide.

Other clips come from Tuesday night. Michael talks with his wife about issues such as child support payments and her attempts to get him to move out of the family home. She tells him at one point: 'I am not safe with you.'

In addition to Tausha, the other victims of the massacre were their daughters, Macie, Briley, Sienna, and sons Ammon and Gavin, and Tausha's mother, Gail Early, 78.

Michael Haight (pictured center), 42, fatally shot his wife, her mother and the couple's five kids after he was investigated for child abuse

Recordings show Michael Haight playing with his children and talking about going sledding

Later, Michael and his wife, Tausha, discuss the dire state of their marriage with her telling him that she does not feel safe when he's around

A defiant Tausha tells him at one point: 'I cannot continue to tolerate the way you have treated me'

'It makes it look like you're, you're abandoning your family and so that can be an argument used against a parent that leaves,' he tells her. Two weeks before the murders, Michael was served with divorce papers at his job.

Tausha tells him that he needs to get a lawyer to help the family to move on from the marriage and that she was willing to go through the courts in order to force him to move out.

'I'm a little curious why you're so wanting me so aggressively to just move out of here too you know, and not let the system play out and why you're feeling like you have to get some motion to remove me from here,' Michael tells his wife at one point.

Tausha then says that the couple's older children told her that the house was 'more tense' when their father is there.

'We're not able to, to relax, we're still walking around on eggshells. I don't know if you're going to be good cop, bad cop. I don't know if you're going to be mean or angry or frustrated or get in my face or threatening to me or if you're going to be nice and amicable,' the distraught wife tells him.

Later, Tausha advocates for herself and says that she deserve to be treated better. 'I cannot continue to tolerate the way you've treated me,' she adds.

Through tears, Michael says: 'I know that I'm the cause, I know, I have things to work on. I know it. I know I have so many good traits, too. And I know if I can work on these. I'm just I'm pleading.'

Tausha's Facebook page is littered with images showing how her family grew in recent years

It was revealed that Tausha had filed for divorce from her husband, Michael, on December 21

Gail Earl (pictured left) and her daughter Tausha Haight (pictured right) were killed by Michael Haight

Just before 10pm, Michael texted his wife asking her to talk, she never responded. reports Deseret News. A neighbor told investigators that they heard gun shots around 3:30am.

In another video, Tausha brought up a time when Michael wouldn't let her drive herself to a family function because she didn't feel safe with him, according to the Deseret report.

'Those are deal breakers for me. You have not shown me that I am not safe with you, that you choose my safety or concerns. You show me that you don't even care,' Tausha said. She says in one video that she yearns for 'financial freedom.'

In another, Michael tells his wife that he will go to 20 counselors if that's what it takes for them to stay together. 'I hurt you feelings and I feel horrible,' he says.

At the time of his death, Michael had been fired by Allstate insurance. Without going into detail, he says that the their domestic issues were hurting his 'hopes and dreams for when I was done with Allstate.'

Tausha's mother had been living with the family to help with the adjustment of Michael moving out.

In another video, Michael alleges that Tausha had been pitting their children against him, saying that he had been the bad guy 'for two months.'

The home where all eight members of the family were found dead in Enoch, Utah, is pictured

A police line shields from further investigation into the Haight murders

In April, it was revealed that Michael left a suicide note saying he 'would rather rot in hell' than continue enduring what he called controlling behavior by his wife.

The claims in the suicide note left by the murderer stand in stark contract to conclusions by investigators in the 57-page report that overwhelmingly portray Michael, and not his wife, as controlling and abusive.

The report cited the family's communications before the killings and interviews from community members conducted after the January tragedy.

'This is nonsense and I can't handle it for one more day. We will not be a burden on society. I kept asking for help and you wouldn't listen,' Michael wrote in the note.

'I would rather rot in hell than to put up with another day of this manipulation and control over me,' Michael wrote.

The report builds off documents released after the murder-suicide that detailed how Michael Haight removed guns from the house, was investigated on suspicion of child abuse, and searched online 'gunshot in a house' in the lead-up to the shootings.

The suicide note and the video recordings paint a picture of Michael as a volatile husband concerned about maintaining a facade of perfection throughout the southern Utah community in which the family lived, where the majority of residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The police report following the shooting revealed how bedding was laid over all but one of his children's bodies in bedrooms throughout the property. Body camera footage released along with the report shows a tidy home.

The bizarre piece further featured a photoshopped image of Haight replaced with Jesus, and elected to ignore the January 4 murders of his wife, Tausha, 40, and their five children, who ranged in age from 4 to 17

Investigators also interviewed a neighbor who said she was awakened on the night before the eight bodies were discovered when she heard multiple 'bangs' that she assumed were fireworks.

The report also details how Michael, his wife, mother-in-law and five children were found in bedrooms throughout the family home on the afternoon of Jan. 4 after a person police described as a 'family friend' entered through an open door.

Police had gone to check on the Haights earlier in the afternoon after concerns about their welfare were reported, but left without reporting any signs or observations of violence.

'No one answered the door. It didn't appear that anyone was in the home since no noise could be heard,' an Enoch Police officer wrote in a report summarizing his visit to the family home before bodies were discovered.

Tausha Haight, her mother Gail Earl and her four-year-old child were found in the couple's first floor bedroom laying on pillows, partially covered with blankets and surrounded by blood.

The other children were found in bedrooms throughout the home, all of them in their beds except for the seven-year-old on the floor and Michael, who was found lying on the floor on a sleeping bag.

Michael was investigated on allegations of child abuse prior to the massacre.

Local authorities released disturbing footage from the scene of the slaughter

Enoch Police Department Bodycam footage of the scene where Michael Haight killed his five children, wife, and mother in law, before taking his own life

Police look in on two of the childrens' bedrooms after their father had committed the killings

Caseworkers were at the Haight house in the small town of Enoch on Dec. 19 show the Utah Division of Child and Family Services case documents obtained by the Deseret News through a public records request.

The agency had opened the investigation 11 days earlier based on abuse of the couple's oldest daughter that had occurred in previous years.

The latest alleged abuse happened just days before the visit when Michael was accused of throwing his 7-year-old son to the ground after he got upset with him.

His wife, Tausha Haight, told a caseworker she was concerned about the tone her husband had used and 'how he looks when he is angry,' the report revealed.

She asked caseworkers not to interview her husband until after she filed for divorce, which happened Dec. 21. She told caseworkers her husband had threatened to take his own life or 'make her life hell' if she left him.

Caseworkers never interviewed Michael Haight.

'This is nonsense and I can't handle it for one more day. We will not be a burden on society. I kept asking for help and you wouldn't listen,' Haight wrote in the note included in the report released by the city of Enoch

They were not waiting for the wifes approval to do the interview, but rather gauging next steps in the investigation, said Department of Child and Family Services spokesperson Miranda Fisher in a statement to the Deseret News.

'Unfortunately this tragic incident occurred prior to further intervention,' the agency's summary report said.

Previously released records showed that authorities had investigated Michael for child abuse in 2020 but that police and prosecutors decided not to charge him.

The newly released report documents detail several reports of abuse, including an incident in 2021 when Michael suddenly slammed on the brakes on the highway.

It scared the family and left red marks from the seat belts on their bodies. In another incident, Michael grabbed his oldest daughter's head and threw her into the hard part of the couch.

The daughter, Macie, told caseworkers that her dad would tower over her and her siblings and get close to make them feel intimidated.

'Dad jumps to react to anything he doesn't like,' said Macie, the records show. 'He yells a lot and wants to make sure they know he is right.'

A previously released police search warrant returned revealed that a search of Michael Haight's phone showed he searched Google with the question, 'can you hear a gunshot in a house.'

He also researched how loud 9mm and 40mm guns were. Relatives have also said Michael had previously taken guns from the home, leaving his wife and mother-in-law unable to defend themselves.

The eulogy for Michael saw the accused killer hailed for 'making it a point to spend quality time with each and every one of his children,' who were described as a 'cherished miracle' to him and his slain wife.

It's unclear who wrote the glowing tribute, but Michael is survived by his mother, siblings and grandparents.

Separately, in a GoFundMe set up for his wife, mother-in-law and children, his image is replaced with a photo of Jesus.
Sky viewers were left baffled yesterday after its report of Prince Harry's evidence at a phone hacking trial in London included a recreation with a former Sherlock Holmes extra playing the duke.

Harry became the first royal to testify in more than a century as he took to the witness box at the High Court yesterday.

As no cameras or recording equipment are permitted in court, Sky News attempted to recreate proceedings as part of special coverage of the case.

Presenting the programme Harry in Court at 9pm, Jonathan Samuels said: 'There are no cameras and no recordings in court, so here on Sky News we will show you what the duke said, voiced by an actor.'

Harry is played by Laurence Dobiesz, who was once an extra in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011) - and has also starred in Outlander and Testament Of Youth in 2014.

Laurence Dobiesz played Prince Harry in a special Sky News report on the phone hacking trial

As no cameras or recording equipment is permitted in court, Sky News has attempted to recreate proceedings as part of special coverage of the case

Harry, pictured leaving the High Court yesterday, has alleged around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 by Mirror Group Newspapers contained information gathered using unlawful methods

He will appear each night this week to re-enact 'significant' moments from the Duke of Sussex's 'explosive' evidence.

Complete with a red beard and hair, Dobiesz attempted to impersonate the prince, including adopting his mannerisms.

Viewers were left confused at the unusual reporting, describing the recreation as 'bizarre' and 'surreal'.

One said: 'Well this is weird. Could we not just have been provided with a transcript?'

READ MORE: Prince Harry admits Spare memoir contradicts his evidence at trial as he denies solicitors drafted witness statement for him Advertisement

Another added: 'What a bizarre editorial decision.'

Viewers also compared Laurence's appearance to that of David Platt, a character in Coronation Street played by Jack P. Shepherd.

One wrote: 'Nice of David from Corrie to step up.'

Laurence is married to Olivia Poulet, who dated Benedict Cumberbatch for ten years until 2011.

It comes as Harry has alleged around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) contained information gathered using unlawful methods.

But Andrew Green KC, for MGN, told the court that details in these stories actually came from other media outlets, including the BBC, as well as press releases, palace statements, the public domain, his aides and friends and even comments made by his mother Princess Diana.

The Duke of Sussex lambasted No 10 as part of his historic appearance and referred to his mother's former butler Paul Burrell as a 'two-face s**t'.

Harry also admitted his memoir Spare contradicted a claim in his witness statement - and denied accusations his solicitors drafted evidence for him.

The Duke of Sussex said he could not remember whether he wanted to meet Mr Burrell, despite his opposition allegedly causing a rift with his brother the Prince William, when asked about an article published in December 2003.

But Mr Green pointed to a discrepancy between Harry's witness statement and the memoir.

In his witness statement, Harry said he 'didn't want to hear' Mr Burrell's reasons for selling some of Diana's possessions and giving interviews about her, whereas he wrote in the memoir he wanted to fly home from his gap year job in the Australian outback to meet him.

The Duke of Sussex lambasted No 10 as part of his historic appearance and referred to his mother's former butler, Paul Burrell, as a 'two-face s**t' today

The fifth in line to the throne has become the first senior royal to give evidence in one of the monarch's courts in 132 years

In a day that contained a number of heated exchanges, Harry also tried to turn questions on a lawyer after the High Court was told a story subject to one of his complaints came from a royal press release.

Mr Green told the royal: 'I am here to cross-examine you, I am afraid that's the way this works, Prince Harry.'

Harry also suggested that King Charles may have had his voicemails intercepted when questioned on a Mirror article titled 'Harry's cocaine, ecstasy and GHB parties', which claimed his father was 'worried sick' about his son.

The royal was asked about whether his drug use was in the public interest when as a teenager he was then third in line to the throne.

Suggesting he believed it was not, he said: 'There's a difference between public interest and what interests the public.'

Harry yesterday became the first royal to testify in one of the monarch's courts for more than a century as he sues the Mirror's publisher for alleged hacking, which it denies.
Lunden Roberts is demanding child support for daughter they have together

The First Son has been warned he could be charged with contempt and face jail

Also wants answers to financial questions and copies of Hunters bank records

Judge has demanded Hunter appear in court on July 10 in child support case

Hunter Biden will be hauled into court again next month and faces potential imprisonment if he doesnt answer questions in his child support case, a judge ordered Monday.

The mother of Hunters child launched her case in a Batesville, Arkansas court in May 2019 demanding child support for their daughter Navy Joan Roberts  who Hunter initially denied was his.

In recent months the First Son, 53, asked the court to reduce his payments to baby momma Lunden Roberts, 32, and to deny her request to change Navys last name to Biden.

But he got into legal hot water after failing to answer financial questions posed by Roberts lawyer, Clint Lancaster.

In an order issued on June 5, Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer told Hunter he must answer or provide evidence for 13 unanswered questions from Lancaster, and will hear from both parties to determine if a finding of contempt and sanctions are appropriate.

The questions include requests for copies of Hunters historic bank records, though most other details are redacted in the publicly available court filings

Hunter Biden will be hauled into court again next month and faces potential imprisonment if he doesnt answer questions in his child support case, a judge ordered Monday. He is pictured leaving Batesville Court in Arkansas in May

In recent months the First Son, 53, asked the court to reduce his payments to baby momma Lunden Roberts, 32, (picture above at court in May) and to deny her request to change Navys last name to Biden

The order says if found to be in contempt, the First Son could face six months incarceration, attorneys fees of up to $20,000 as well as a fine, and an automatic loss on his legal arguments.

Meyer ordered Hunter to appear at the courthouse in Batesville on July 10 at 10am and to show cause, if any exists, why he should not be held in contempt.

Roberts won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019 and forcing him to take a DNA test to prove he fathered Navy Joan during their 2017 fling.

The order comes just days after nearly 9,000 photos from Hunter Bidens laptop were published online by right wing nonprofit Marco Polo, whose founder has been hired by Lancaster to help with their case.

The 8,864 pictures posted on bidenlaptopmedia.com include hundreds of images of the First Son taking drugs and having sex with prostitutes, as well as family photos and everyday snaps.

The photos published last week include 7,032 mostly from Hunters MacBook Pro iPhoto app, 1,832 from a backup of his iPhone XS, 428 live photos (short videos taken on an iPhone), 674 images sent in text messages, 579 screenshots, 40 sent via WhatsApp, and 111 others.

Roberts argues that Hunter Biden, the father of her four-year-old daughter Navy, has plenty of money to make his child support payments

Hunter carries his son Beau while holding the hand of his wife Melissa Cohen on the South Lawn of the White House in December

The images are dated between 2008 and 2019. Some have geographic coordinates attached, showing Hunter took photos in Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Kosovo, the Dominican Republic, western China, London, Paris, Rome, Belgrade and across the US.

Marco Polo was founded by former Trump White House staffer Garrett Ziegler, 27, and describes itself as a nonprofit research group exposing corruption & blackmail.

Hunters lawyer in the child support case, Brent Langdon, argued that Ziegler had no work experience as an accountant or finance expert of any kind and posed a 'security and confidentiality risk' if given Hunters confidential financial documents and tax filings.

Langdon said Ziegler was waging a campaign against the Bidens for political reasons, though the former White House official says he is merely pushing for transparency.

The long-running paternity suit between the president's son and Roberts seemed to have been resolved in 2019 when a DNA test proved Hunter had fathered little Navy Joan Roberts and he agreed to a reported $2.5 million settlement.

But the recovering drug addict abruptly reopened the case in September by claiming he had suffered 'a substantial material change' in his income and couldn't afford the payments.

Roberts refused to buckle and raised the stakes by petitioning the court to officially rename her daughter Navy Joan Biden to 'benefit from carrying the Biden Family name,' a move Hunter dismissed as 'political warfare.'

Roberts also served the First Son with a sprawling discovery request covering everything from his shady business dealings in Ukraine and China to the names of the mystery art lovers who have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for his beginner abstract paintings.
In America in 2023, crime pays, and courage earns you a pink slip.

The latest proof of a nation's descent into madness comes out of Atlanta, where two employees of a Lululemon were fired for the offense of having a backbone.

Assistant manager Jennifer Ferguson and her colleague Rachel Rogers lost their jobs last month after chasing three masked thieves, who barged into the shop and ran off with armloads of high-end apparel.

Ferguson captured it all on video. You can hear her screaming, 'No, no, no, you can't march back out.' But it was pointless.

There wasn't a security guard or police officer to be seen. The women were helpless.

'Chill, bitch. Shut your ass up,' the thieves yelled back at her.

Apparently, this happens all the time. The store has been burglarized nearly a dozen times. Can you blame the women for hitting their limit?

And to add insult to injury, Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald not only defended the company's decision to terminate the women's jobs, but he publicly chastised them for their actions.

'We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft,' McDonald told CNBC last week.

'Educators' is what Lululemon calls its workers. It sounds better than 'victims.'

'We put the safety of our team and of our guests front and center,' said McDonald, 'It's only merchandise'

'Only merchandise'? What an utterly vapid thing to say.

Ferguson captured it all on video. You can hear her screaming, 'No, no, no, you can't march back out.' But it was pointless.

If it is 'only merchandise' then McDonald and Lululemon would just give it away instead of charging almost $100 dollars for one pair of leggings.

It's all a bunch of gibberish, nothing more than cynical virtue-signaling, and sadly, it's the cost of doing business in woke America.

As CEO, McDonald made a whopping $15.7 million last year, up 18% from 2021. Most of that compensation came from bonuses as the adult active apparel industry has boomed.

Good for you, Calvin. But what about your employees?

Where do they rate in a woke world which caters to rich elites stretching on $100 yoga mats and criminals wearing $3 ski masks?

The depressing truth is that brave, hard-working men and women don't fit in a country that is circling the drain.

Decent people are expected to bite their lips and look the other way in the face of wrongdoing.

Could it be that Ferguson and Rogers made too much of a fuss and ran the risk of attracting the woke mob?

After all, they've been instructed to sit back and take it.

'They're trained to step back, let the theft occur, know that there's technology and cameras and we're working with law enforcement,' McDonald explained to the business show hosts.

Sure, that's easy for him to say, as he collects his millions, but try managing that store.

Atlanta is one of the most anti-police cities in the country.

In March, 35 people were arrested for a violent attack on the site of a new police training center. Construction equipment was set on fire and officers were pelted with rocks and Molotov cocktails.

The latest proof of a nation's descent into madness comes out of Atlanta, where two employees of a Lululemon were fired for the offense of having a backbone. (Above, left) Jennifer Ferguson (Above, right) Rachel Rogers

'We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft,' Calvin McDonald told CNBC last week. 'Educators' is what Lululemon calls its workers. It sounds better than 'victims.'

When the Atlanta City Council held a hearing this week to approve funding for the project, hundreds of opponents showed up to speak out against it. According to many of them, police are the oppressors, but that's who Ferguson and Rogers called when they needed help.

No, Lulelemon's policy is not enlightened. It's cruel.

Where is the security for these women?

It must be jarring work in an environment where at any moment a gang of robbers can bust through the doors and help themselves.

It must be demoralizing to wake up in the morning and drive to work knowing that you're expected to sulk away into the storeroom if the burglars visit.

And at what point, does the theft of this supposedly worthless merchandise become so great that McDonald decides to close the store down and lay off all of its employees?

Shoplifting cost the retail industry a whopping $100 billion last year, up from nearly $95 billion in 2021.

If it is 'only merchandise' then McDonald and Lululemon would just give it away instead of charging almost $100 dollars for one pair of leggings. It's all a bunch of gibberish, nothing more than cynical virtue-signaling, and sadly, it's the cost of doing business in woke America.

Walmart has shut more than a dozen stores across at least nine states. Theft is so bad in New York City that bottles of water are locked behind plexiglass.

There is a new 'anti-theft' Walgreens in Chicago with only two rows of 'touchable' merchandise. Everything else must be ordered via kiosk and picked up at the counter.

Thankfully, my CVS in Virginia is not Fort Knox just yet, but if it turns into an 'anti-theft' experience, I will simply shop online. And you don't need a business degree to know that when the customers stop shopping, the store goes under.

America is now a place where criminals roam free and the law-abiding pay the price, as CEOs, like McDonald, join the woke ranks.

I can't help but think of the great Margaret Thatcher, who once said that, 'the problem with socialism is at a certain point you run out of other people's money.' In the case of Lululemon, at a certain point they'll get tired of giving their products away for free.

It may not happen today, it may not happen tomorrow, but at some point, McDonald's big fat paycheck will be threatened, and shoplifting will be quickly curtailed.

But you have to wonder how many American lives will be made considerably darker and how many of their jobs will be eliminated in the meantime.
It comes after the movement pushing for reparations payments to the descendants of slaves has gained traction in recent years

Critics have hit out at the project's plans for being 'racially divisive' and 'politicizing the youngest minds'

The 1619 Project has released a radical new high school curriculum focused on 'reparations math and reparations history'

Thousands of high schoolers are set to learn a radical new 'reparations math' curriculum that teaches how slavery 'led to a wealth gap for African Americans'.

The course is the latest school module released by the 1619 Project's education network, a controversial journalism project focused on spreading awareness of America's history of slavery.

According to its website, students will take lessons geared towards answering 'whether or not reparations should be paid to the descendants of enslaved people in the US'.

It is not yet clear where the new curriculum would be taught. A 2020 report by Real Clear Investigations found that 1619 courses had been adopted in over 3,500 classrooms across all 50 states.

But several states, including Arkansas and Mississippi, have since introduced legislation that bans schools from using the lesson plans after critics slammed them as 'racially divisive'.

The 1619 Project was founded in 2019 by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones (pictured)

Over a four-week course, students will cover a series of objectives aiming to answer the 'essential question' of the curriculum: 'Should reparations be paid for the United States use of enslaved labor? If so, what is the basis of those payments?'

Subjects in the course include how industries such as sugar production 'grew as a result of slave labor, and have led to a wealth gap for African Americans in the U.S.'

Students are also asked to analyze news media's reception to the idea of reparations, and how different payment methods would work in practice.

The course's unit overview states that students will 'study, document, and analyze activities that led to the worldwide domination of crops produced using slave labor due to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.'

'They will also evaluate the way that enslavement of African Americans has led to a wealth gap for African Americans over time,' it adds.

But critics have slammed the proposals, with constitutional expert and Texas Public Policy Foundation senior fellow Carol Swain telling The College Fix the 1619 project should not have a place in children's education.

'It is disheartening to watch the influence the historically inaccurate and flawed 1619 Project is having on American society through seemingly unlimited access to ideologically mainstream media platforms that never allow anyone to question their flawed narratives,' she said.

'The curriculum materials for math are clearly geared towards politicizing the youngest minds.'

The 1619 project has previously come under fire for promoting Critical Race Theory in classrooms, a controversial racial justice theory.

While proponents argue it is necessary in the struggle to end racism in the nation going forward, critics claim children are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist or sexist.

The newest module in the 1619 Project's education network will see high schoolers learn 'reparations math and reparations history'

The course includes a series of objectives geared towards answering the question 'Should reparations be paid for the United States' use of enslaved labor?'

The unit overview states that students will 'study, document, and analyze activities that led to the worldwide domination of crops produced using slave labor'

The curriculum has been slated by those who feel it is a continuation of the 1619 Project's controversial campaign, with American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Ian Rowe, hitting out at the course for pushing divisive ideas on children.

'Students taking Reparations Math learn no opposing viewpoints,' he said.

'(The curriculum) is pure indoctrination designed to perpetuate an ideology of black dependency and retribution for historical and presumed present day racial victimization.'

Founded by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones in 2019 in collaboration with The New York Times, the 1619 project has become one of the most influential civil rights groups in America.

It has said it aims to reframe the country's history by 'placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the United States' national narrative'.

Its success led to a six-part Hulu show executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, however the series was panned by critics who slated it for a 'lack of facts'.

Among those who criticized the show was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said the project was a 'propaganda campaign on race'.

California's reparations hearings have often been marked with moments of hostility, including from Reverent Tony Pierce in May (pictured), who demanded $200 million in payments

The movement to compensate the descendants of slaves has gained momentum in the US in recent years.

Last month, a number of House Democrats, led by Rep. Cori Bush, introduced legislation to push for federal reparations amounting to over half the US GDP.

The $14 trillion campaign states that the U.S. has a 'legal and moral' obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of black people, a notion that has especially found traction in California.

In May, the state's nine-member committee became the first in the nation to approve radical proposals to compensate descendants of slavery, despite California never being a slave owning state.

Under the plan, a black resident in California who has lived in the state their whole life until the age of 71 could receive more than $1.2million in compensation.

Those set to receive the massive payouts have proposed even higher sums, with some demanding upwards of $200 million in direct payments instead.
A Jewish legal group is appealing to New York Supreme Court to block CUNY student Fatima Mousa Mohammed from becoming a lawyer after her 'hate-filled', anti-Israel commencement speech which they say proves she lacks the character and fitness to practice the law.

Mohammed graduated from CUNY Law in May and used her now infamous speech to label the NYPD as 'fascist' and denounce 'Israeli settler colonialism'.

After a barrage of public outrage and calls for the largely taxpayer-funded school to be stripped of its handouts, CUNY apologized for her remarks, labeling them 'hate speech'.

The Lawfare Project - which offers pro-bono legal services to benefit Jewish and pro-Israel people and causes - says the apology doesn't go far enough. In a series of letters obtained by DailyMail.com, they are appealing to the New York Supreme Court to stop Mohammed from being able to become a lawyer.

In order to become a lawyer, graduates must not just pass the notoriously difficult bar exam, but they must also pass certain 'character and fitness' requirements. In the eyes of The Lawfare Project, Mohammed doesn't qualify.

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Fatima Mousa Mohammed, 24, graduated from CUNY Law last month. Now, a legal group is asking the New York Supreme Court to stop her from becoming a lawyer based on her 'hate-filled', anti-Israel speech

Poll Do you agree that CUNY student should be banned from practicing law? Yes No Do you agree that CUNY student should be banned from practicing law? Yes 537 votes

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'It's our belief that a person who has proved themselves to be a bigot is not fit to practice law.

'You have to wonder if it had been any other minority-protected group, would this even be a question,' Benjamin Ryberg, COO of The Lawfare Project, said.

'Ms. Mohammed has a history of publicly expressing prejudiced and discriminatory views, specifically demonstrating a profound animosity towards the Jewish community.

'These views are fundamentally incompatible with the ethical obligations and principles upheld by the legal profession and leave no question that Ms. Mohammed lacks the character and fitness to practice law.

'It is essential to recognize the potential harm that an individual with such discriminatory beliefs could inflict upon the legal community and the clients we serve.

'Lawyers must be trusted to represent their clients without prejudice or bias, ensuring fair and equitable outcomes.

In letters obtained by DailyMail.com, the group asked that Mohammed be banned on the grounds that she does not live up to character and fitness requirements

'Admitting Ms. Mohammed to practice law in the State of New York would risk compromising the impartiality and integrity of our justice system and betraying the trust of those who seek legal assistance,' the group argues in four letters sent to the court.

At 24, Mohammed moved to the US as a child from Yemeni.

She spoke at her graduation ceremony of her relatives who remain there, and of her pride at the notion of soon being able to fight for causes she believes in as an attorney.

Since the uproar over her commencement speech, she has said nothing publicly.

Ryberg says the group is not out for blood.

'It would require more than just an apology, if she could recognize that her statements are anti-Jewish and discriminatory and agree to stop spreading this horrible rhetoric, then there is the possibility for redemption.

Mohammed is shown at a previous, pro-Palestine rally where she railed against 'Zionist students'

'We are asking the committees to take a very serious look at her record and evaluate whether they could justify a decision that she upholds their standards.'

The group says it is concerned that she would wield an anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish prejudice if allowed to practice.

'I have no idea how she'd treat those people but given her demonstrated anti-Jewish bias, it's a door we don't want to open up.

'Whether she declines to represent Jewish clients, or mistreats Jewish litigants who are on the opposite side, I don't know, of course.

'But it is your sworn duty to protect the legal rights of your clients and uphold the law in general. New York City and New York State has a number of laws specifically prohibiting discrimination, so the idea that somebody would be practicing law with these beliefs on record is baffling,' he said.

Neither CUNY nor the New York Bar Association has yet responded to the letters that were sent on Tuesday afternoon.

In its denunciation of her speech, CUNY's board said: 'Free speech is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundation of higher education.

'Hate speech, however, should not be confused with free speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, our state or our nation.

'The remarks by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation, unfortunately, fall into the category of hate speech as they were a public expression of hate toward people and communities based on their religion, race or political affiliation.

'The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York condemns such hate speech.'
A Georgia doctor has been charged with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft after he allegedly groped the crotch of the woman sat next to him on a Delta flight to Maine - whilst en route to propose to his girlfriend.

Prosecutors in Maine served Dr. Jake Namjik Cho, 48, a Georgia based nephrology specialist, with a Summons on June 1, instructing him to appear in Maine federal court at 11 a.m. on June 8.

If convicted, Cho faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

When questioned about the alleged assault, Cho told the FBI that he meant to squeeze the passenger's upper thigh but his hand slipped 'because my glasses were off and it was dark.'

The criminal complaint, now unsealed, reveals the suspected assault occurred on Delta flight 2138 on March 17, which took off at 9:20 pm from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the Portland International Jetport.

Dr. Jake Namjik Cho, 48, was on a Delta plane heading toward Maine to propose when he alleged assaulted a female passenger

Cho has been charged with one count of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft and could face a $250,000 fine

Shortly after the plane landed, a woman who had been sitting in seat 17A told police that Cho, who was assigned to seat 17B, had 'continuously leaned into her seat area while appearing to be asleep.'

The complainant told investigators that Cho 'moved his hand onto the seat in the space between him and [the woman], with his hand in contact with her thigh and buttocks,' it says, adding that Cho 'also moved his feet into [the womans] foot space and touched her feet with his feet.'

During the flight the plane experienced turbulence, according to the woman, who is not named in court documents.

Cho then allegedly 'appeared to have spasmed and reached over [the womans] leg and down into her crotch,' the complaint continues.

He then 'touched the outside of [the womans] genitals from the outside of her pants.'

The woman says she moved her body as far as she could away from Cho, which she says made his actions seem deliberate.

The woman said 'excuse me' and Cho pulled his hand away.

Cho 'appeared to be sleeping or pretending to sleep throughout,' according to the complaint.

The assault occurred on Delta flight 2138 on March 17, from Atlanta to Portland, prosecutors said

The complaint states upon Cho's return to Portland Jetport for his flight back to Atlanta two days later, the doctor was questioned by an FBI agent, a federal air marshal and a member of the Portland Police Department.

Cho denied the allegations when questioned by the officials, even disputing he spoke to the woman sitting next to him.

He also told investigators that he was a practicing medical doctor and had been in town to ask his girlfriend, who lived in Maine, to marry him.

Cho then sat for a polygraph test at a second interview at the FBI offices in Portland where he accused the woman of making the story up.

However, he soon relented and admitted that he touched the passenger during the flight but insisted it was 'not sexual.'

In a signed statement, he said that once the aircraft took off, 'I began to relax and I stretched out my legs,' noting that at 'some point, I touched my left foot against her right foot and maintained the contact until I fell asleep,.'

'In addition to maintaining the foot contact, I used the contact to keep myself upright, as I have shorter legs.'

The doctor said he then fell asleep and when he awoke he was leaning on his left side facing the woman.

'At some point I saw her and reached out and grabbed her upper thigh with my left hand,' Chos statement continues.

'I intended to only squeeze her upper right thigh and never intended to touch her crotch. Because my glasses were off and it was dark, my hand slipped from her upper thigh to her crotch.

'As soon as I did this, she instantly exclaimed something loudly which caused me to remove my hand from her leg and sit straight up.'

Cho said he was 'so embarrassed and did not know what to do,' so he closed his eyes and tried to sleep for the remainder of the flight.

He also 'expressed regret for any harm he may have caused,' the complaint concludes.

In a statement Delta said the airline 'has zero tolerance for criminal activity of any type on our flights and at our airports.

'As such, we work with the requisite authorities when passengers engage in such activity to ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent.'

Dr. Cho attended MIT before entering medical school at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He later completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Ocala Regional Medical Center in Florida in 2020 and his nephrology fellowship at Maine Medical Center in 2022.

Dr Cho did not respond to request for comment.
Shigeaki Tsuji was the last person to see her before she left his inn and fears she has been abducted

She was on her way to her next guesthouse that was about an 11-mile hike but her family said she never arrived

Patricia 'Pattie' Wu-Murad, was last seen around 7am on April 10 when she checked out of the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city

An innkeeper who was the last known person to see a Connecticut woman before she vanished into thin air during a solo hiking trip in Tokyo fears she has been kidnapped.

Retiree Patricia 'Pattie' Wu-Murad, 60, was last seen at about 7am on April 10 when she checked out of the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city.

Described as an avid hiker, Wu-Murad was planning to set out on a 11.2 mile hike along the Kumano Kodo, a group of trails that wind through mountainous regions in southern Kansai to Taiyo-no-yu guest hostel in Osaka.

Her family said that was the location she planned, but she never arrived.

Innkeeper, Shigeaki Tsuji, who described her as 'full energy' the last time he saw her now fears the married mother of three may have been kidnapped.

He told TheMessenger News: 'I am worried about whether she got lost at the start. And I'm more worried that maybe someone drove by and abducted her. All of us in the village are worried about her. We are all waiting for her return.'

Japanese officials have halted the search for Wu-Murad due to an 'underwhelming amount of evidence found,' leaving her desperate family hoping for a miracle.

Patricia 'Pattie' Wu-Murad, 60, was last seen around 7am on April 10 when she checked out of the Mandokoro guesthouse in Higashiomi city

A scenic view of the mountainous region in Tokyo

Pattie Wu-Murad is smiling in an undated family photo

Saturday will mark the eight-week mark and with little or no clues, some are wondering if Wu-Murad was a victim of a crime, though violent crime in the country is one of the lowest in the world, the news outlet reported.

The hiking enthusiast frequently traveled around the globe to hike. Her trip to Tokyo was her third pilgrimage there, family members said.

Since her 2020 retirement, she has hiked in France, Spain, Jordan and Egypt, the news the outlet reported.

'I don't understand why someone with so much experience would get lost on such a simple trail,' the innkeeper said.

'The 'case is a strange one from the start.

'In our village, we have no experience with incidents, so I don't think any of us knows what to do.'

The night she disappeared her family said that she was planning to follow a scenic hiking trail from one guesthouse to the next, which should have taken her seven to nine hours.

Her distraught family created a GoFundMe to help them raise funds to travel to the county and help search for their loved one. They also hired private teams to help search.

During the search, thousands of miles were covered over mountainous terrain, caves and canyons by foot, drone and helicopter, but to no avail.

Wu-Murad's daughter, Murphy Murad, posted an update on the HelpPattiePage to share the heartbreaking news that there were no leads and the search would be ending.

She expressed her gratitude to all the search teams and messages of hope her family recieved.

'If we had the time, resources and financial capacity to search every trail in the area with as much depth and precision as we did this one, we would. However, the reality is all search efforts have stopped as of May 30 due to the underwhelming amount of evidence found,' she wrote.

'As heartbreaking as it is to have come up empty handed, all of these comments are thanks to you,' she said.

'The amount of work we were able to accomplish would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our family, friends, community, and the remarkable individuals we encountered in Totsukawa.'

A photo of the Unesco heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage path in the heavily wooded forest leading to Nachi Falls, Wakayama, Japan

Two statues of Jozo or Jizo Bosatsu, called Hanakake Jizo'are carved on a large rock located along Dainichi-goe route, a trail over Mt. Dainichi that connects Kumano Hongu Taisha and Yunomine Onsen on June 12, 2019 in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japa

A 72-hour search which included 26 police officers and helicopters began April 11 but was unable to find any leads - with cops claiming they have 'limited resources over the weekends'.

Wu-Murad's devastated husband, Kirk Murad, told the Hartford Courant, who has called the ordeal a 'nightmare,' he was thankful for the support and love he has received.

'Pattie has been my best friend since 1986. We married in 1990. I want to celebrate our 33rd anniversary next month with her and both our families,' Murad wrote.
A Queensland woman who was forced to hold her miscarrried baby in a biohazard bag in a hospital waiting room before being left wrapped in sheets and sitting in her own blood says she has lost both her baby and her dignity.

Nikkole Southwell, from Fernvale in the state's Somerset Region, lost her baby at about 12 weeks in April of this year. She claims staff at Ipswich Hospital didn't provide her with adequate follow-up care after the painful ordeal.

Ms Southwell said she experienced a 'missed miscarriage' - when the baby has died but the mother hasn't experienced any symptoms like bleeding or pain.

She was initially discharged after being told there was little to be done about her active bleeding, but returned the next evening after she woke to excruciating pain.

She said paramedics put a small amount of foetus and pregnancy matter inside a biohazard bag, which she was then forced to hold in a waiting room.

'I lost my baby and my dignity was taken,' she told The Queensland Times.

'I felt like my baby meant nothing while it sat in the top of my handbag in a biohazard bag for all to see.'

Nikkole Southwell, from Fernvale in the state's Somerset Region, lost her baby at about 12 weeks in April of this year. She has been left traumatised by treatment of her miscarriage

Ms Southwell was taken to a room where she claims hospital staff used the torch from her boyfriend's iPhone to examine her cervix.

She alleges there was another patient's blood on the curtains they pulled around her bed, which were falling open and allowing passerbys to see inside.

The young woman said she was discharged after staff removed a small blood clot and were satisfied her cervix had closed.

However, Ms Southwell's condition dramatically worsened on May 4 when she started haemorrhaging and required emergency surgery.

Doctors performed dilatation and curettage surgery the following day in an effort to remove potentially life-threatening pregnancy tissues.

Just over a week later on May 14, Ms Southwell again began to bleed heavily and expelled a blood clot about the size of a 50c coin.

Despite hospital staff saying it was most likely an infection, she asked for a scan - which revealed she may have uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

The rare condition can cause potentially life-threatening vaginal bleeding.

Ms Southwell was told if she did have AVM, she could not risk further surgery to remove the leftover tissue and blood vessels in case of a rupture.

Ms Southwell claims staff at Ipswich Hospital (pictured) didn't provide her with adequate follow-up care, saying she lost her baby and her dignity during the experience

She eventually went home, as her blood levels were normal, but returned to hospital after she started having muscle contractions during a panic attack.

Fearing the movements would rupture the AVM, she claims she waited for several hours before finally returning home.

After starting to 'gush' blood she returned a second time, where she claims she heard staff talking about her, saying she simply had anxiety.

At 8am, a specialist said the AVM could be hemorrhaging. She was sent to Mater Hospital in a taxi after staff decided it would be quicker than an ambulance.

There, doctors said there was no AVM and that her symptoms were possibly the result of an incomplete dilatation and curettage surgery.

She went into theatre, and is now at home recovering from the ordeal.

On May 29, Ms Southwell posted several photos from Facebook page 'Angel Babies'.

'The day that you died, a part of my soul died with you,' one post read.

Another poem read: 'Avoid the triggers they said, they often forget, this one place, my own body, the place that I cannot avoid was your only home, now feels like an empty vessel, stitched with the memories in everything I do.'

Ms Southwell's treatment at Ipswich Hospital is now under review, with Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to receive the recommendations.

Ms Southwell alleges hospital staff didn't provide her with adequate follow-up care, leaving her wrapped in sheets and sitting in her own blood

She now fears commencing IVF in the hopes of having another baby, due to fears her uterus is 'ruined' after two dilatation and curettage surgeries.

Ms Fentiman said it was a 'heartbreaking situation'.

'I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Ms Southwell and her family,' she said.

'There is a review under way and I look forward to receiving all recommendations from the review.

'Women's health is one of my top priorities and I want to ensure that women right across Queensland have access to appropriate and compassionate care.'

West Moreton Health Chief Executive Hannah Bloch said a consumer liaison officer had reached out to Ms Southwell to begin a review of her treatment.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Queensland Health Department and the West Moreton Health Consumer Liaison service.
A forklift driver who used a 3D printer to manufacture assault rifles has been jailed for five years, in one of the first prosecutions of its kind in the UK.

David Biddell-Portman, 30, used equipment bought over the internet to manufacturer deadly weapons at his home.

A court heard the dad-of-two had a 'fascination for firearms' and police found two potentially lethal guns, including one with a silencer, in his wardrobe.

He was also found with guides for making 3D guns and a vast quantity of ammunition and gun component parts in his shed.

Biddell-Portman of Erdington, Birmingham, previously admitted two charges of manufacturing a prohibited firearm and was jailed for five years yesterday.

David Biddell-Portman, 31, of Erdington, Birmingham, previously admitted two charges of manufacturing a prohibited firearm and was jailed for five years yesterday

A court heard the dad-of-two had a 'fascination for firearms' and police found two potentially lethal guns, including one with a silencer, in his wardrobe

Sentencing, Judge Richard Bond said 'The reason you have come before the court is because you have a real fascination for firearms.'

He said there was evidence Biddell-Portman had tried one of the weapons out and it was an aggravating feature that one of them had a silencer.

The judge added: 'This was a relatively sophisticated weapon in the way it had been constructed.

'These firearms were capable of killing and maiming people.

'If someone had found out what you were doing you would make yourself a target of blackmail from criminal gangs.

'The use of 3D printers to manufacture firearms is now of real concern for police forces up and down the country.

'What the public needs to understand is that those who consider using 3D printers to manufacture parts for lethal weapons is that the courts will impose sentences that will deter others.'

He said he had taken into consideration that Biddell-Portman had no previous convictions and there was no suggestion he was linked to any criminal gang.

He was also found with guides for making 3D guns and a vast quantity of ammunition and gun component parts in his shed. Pictured: His 3D printer

Birmingham Crown Court heard Biddell-Portman came to the police's attention in November 2020 when he bought a blank firing pistol along with 50 cartridges.

Prosecutor Madhu Rai said: 'It was that purchase that prompted the police to visit that address on January 31. That was a routine check.'

Biddell-Portman shared the property with his partner and also his partner's mother who owned the premises and was present when police arrived.

They then searched a bedroom used by the defendant and in a wardrobe found four firearms, two of which were illegal and had been manufactured with a 3D printer.

One of the illegal weapons was a.22 gun with a shortened barrel with a removable shortened stock capable of firing live ammunition.

The other was a smooth bore gun, which could also fire live rounds and also had a silencer attached to it as well as a magazine which could hold up to 17 bullets.

Both weapons were part plastic and part metal, the plastic parts having been created by the printer, and were later successfully test fired.

Firearms officers were called to make the weapons safe while Biddell-Portman arrived part way through the search and admitted he had created both the guns.

A rifle was also discovered under the defendant's bed and a box on top of the wardrobe with 'numerous gun parts and bullets.'

During the search officers also recovered a memory card with 2,400 files and a large amount of documentation relating to the manufacture of firearms, their component parts and ammunition.

Miss Rai said Biddell-Portman's browser activity also showed the interest he had in firearms while he had visited a web site which 'mirrored what he had done.'

His phone was seized and a text was found showing he had received a refund of $1,286 in relation to a large order.

Detective Inspector Lisa Jackson, of West Midlands Police, said after the case: 'This is the first time we've recovered a 3D printed firearm in the West Midlands, and so is a really significant find for us.

'We still don't know what Biddell-Portman had intended to do with the weapons. He told us he had an interest in the mechanics of guns.

'But the reality is that these were deadly weapons which were tested and shown to be capable of firing live ammunition, which could have had deadly consequences.

'We fully appreciate that 3D printers are growing in popularity, and have lots of legitimate uses.

'But people considering using them to manufacture deadly weapons must be put on notice that we will treat them as seriously as any other traditional firearm and they can expect to be given lengthy prison sentences as a result..'
Under the order, funds would remain accessible to customers but not Binance

As Binance investors tried to withdraw, regulators moved to freeze assets

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a temporary restraining order to freeze Binance assets after investors pulled $780million out of the exchange in just 24 hours.

The proposed order would prevent Binance.US - the American branch of the world's largest crypto exchange - from accessing funds in its customer's wallets, but would still allow customers to make withdrawals themselves.

The emergency order on Tuesday evening came a day after US regulators sued Binance's billionaire CEO Changpeng Zhao over an alleged 'web of deception' and 'blatant disregard for the federal securities laws' - sending investors into a frenzy.

Although the SEC action targeted Binance.US, Binance customers around the world appeared to be feeling the heat.

Data firm Nansen said that Binance saw net outflows of $778.6 million of crypto tokens within 24 hours of the SEC lawsuit filing, and Binance.US registered net outflows of $13 million.

The SEC sued Binance's billionaire CEO Changpeng Zhao over an alleged 'web of deception'

Binance customers made net withdrawals of nearly $780 million in 24 hours after the crypto platform was accused by the SEC of a 'web of deception' to evade US laws

The SEC filed a motion to a federal court on Tuesday requesting a temporary restraining order to freeze Binance assets

In an apparent attempt to instill calm, Zhao tweeted on Tuesday evening after news of the motion that the order would only affect Binance.US funds and not those held by Binance.com.

Binance.US is headquartered in San Francisco and operates as a separate company and exchange to serve the US market - it has a significantly lower trading volume than Binance.

As of June 2022, Binance.US had a $147.3 million 24-hour trading volume whereas Binance had $11.9 billion in trades over the same period.

A filing to the court on Tuesday read: 'The SEC respectfully submits that this relief is necessary on an expedited basis to ensure the safety of customer assets and prevent the dissipation of available assets for any judgment, given the Defendants' years of violative conduct, disregard of the laws of the United States.'

If the order is granted, Binance would have to surrender 'possession, custody, or control over Customer Assets' within five days.

Within 30 days it would be required to transfer holdings in customer accounts to new wallets with 'private keys, including new administrative keys'.

The emergency motion is therefore to prevent Binance from appropriating customers' funds amid the onslaught of withdrawals.

Although customer withdrawals will be allowed to continue, exceptions would apply to 'Binance Entities'.

Binance has insisted that customer assets are safe. CEO Zhao responded to the news of the requested order by retweeting a post saying that the exchange had already 'survived a few bank runs this year, while some U.S. banks haven't'.

Officials also launched a separate suit on Tuesday against another exchange, Coinbase - accusing it of illegally operating without having registered with the regulator.

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Binance and its billionaire founder, Changpeng Zhao (pictured), alleging a 'web of deception' to evade US laws

The markets were rocked by the news about Binance - the largest crypto trading platform in the world

The SEC alleged in 13 charges on Monday that Binance artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds, failed to restrict US customers from its platform and misled investors about its market surveillance controls.

The lawsuit marks the most significant step against a crypto company by the SEC in its sweeping crackdown on the industry this year.

In statements on Monday, Binance said it had been cooperating with the SEC's probes and had 'worked hard to answer their questions and address their concerns', including by trying to reach a negotiated settlement. 'We intend to defend our platform vigorously,' it said in a blog.

The lawsuits have rocked the crypto markets and Bitcoin fell more than five percent on Monday, its worst daily decline since April 19. The world's biggest cryptocurrency was last at $25,723, near a more than two-month low.

'It's another blow to the crypto industry and the crypto exchanges of the world,' said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Markets, of the SEC suit.

Binance's BNB cryptocurrency, the world's fourth-largest, fell 0.3% to a near three-month low of $277, after a 9.2 percent plunge on Monday, its worst daily fall since November.

The SEC complaint is the latest in a series of legal headaches for Binance. The company was sued by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in March for operating what it alleged was an 'illegal' exchange and a 'sham' compliance program.

Zhao said the CFTC claims were an 'incomplete recitation of facts'.
A sensational High Court case set against the backdrop of a Royal Family in crisis, a strained father-son relationship and a history of disastrous publicity.

No, not HRH the Duke of Sussex v Mirror Group Newspapers, but an altogether more historic courtroom drama that played out 130 years ago.

The so-called Tranby Croft Affair saw another maverick son of a serving British monarch giving evidence in circumstances that were just as highly charged and fraught with reputational danger as they are today.

For Harry read Bertie.

That was the family name of Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Coburg, and heir to the throne. Bertie, of course, would become Edward VII, great-great-great grandfather of William and Harry.

By the time things came to a head in the same place where Prince Harry gave his evidence yesterday, Bertie already had a reputation as a louche and self-indulgent playboy, who had engaged in numerous extra-marital affairs and been the subject of at least three blackmail attempts.

Bertie already had a reputation as a louche and self-indulgent playboy, who had engaged in numerous extra-marital affairs and been the subject of at least three blackmail attempts

But his biggest mistake was to fall in with a charming but unscrupulous Scots Guards officer called Sir William Gordon-Cumming, a relationship that resulted in his attendance at a house party that had disastrous consequences for all concerned, culminating in a trial for slander that transfixed London society.

At the heart of the scandal was Lieutenant Colonel Gordon-Cumming, a cad of the old school described by the Sporting Life newspaper as possibly the most handsome man in London, and certainly the rudest.

He was also an inveterate chaser  and catcher  of other mens wives.

Bill, as he was known to the Prince of Wales, allowed the Prince to use his London residence for assignations with Daisy Babbling Brooke, his favourite mistress of the time who was married to Lord Brooke, a Conservative politician.

But on September 6, 1890, Bertie discovered that his friends reputation when it came to the ladies was richly deserved: he caught Bill and Daisy in flagrante. Given what was to happen just two days later, this episode was not without significance.

On September 8, the Prince and Gordon-Cumming were thrown together again, at a country house party in Yorkshire.

Duke of Sussex giving evidence at the Rolls Buildings in central London during the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers

READ MORE: Prince Harry admits his Spare memoir contradicts his evidence at hacking trial as he denies solicitors drafted witness statement for him - and tries to turn questions on lawyer as court hears story 'came from a palace press release' Prince Harry pictured leaving the High Court in London after giving evidence in the phone hacking trial today Advertisement

The attraction was St Leger week  a highlight of the flat racing season  at the nearby Doncaster racecourse, and Bertie led a party of blue bloods, including Bill, north on a special royal train to Tranby Croft, a mansion in the village of Anlaby near Hull, owned by a shipping tycoon.

At 11pm on their first evening, following dinner and cigars, Bertie suggested that the party play the then highly fashionable game of baccarat. Baccarat  which involves betting on the value of unseen cards  was considered a game of chance and thus technically illegal. Indeed, there had been a High Court ruling to that effect and a number of players or hosts in less vaunted venues than Tranby Croft were prosecuted. Nor did the Princes host approve of baccarat. But by then he had gone to bed and the way was clear for Bertie to pursue one of his many vices.

Bertie was the banker and everything was going smoothly until the hosts son came to believe he had seen Bill cheating by surreptitiously moving his betting counters in or out of his stake with a pencil, depending upon how the cards fell.

He confided what he had seen to his neighbour at the table, who later told others. Come the following evenings baccarat game, several of the company had their eyes trained on Bill.

In the course of accumulating a massive 225 (23,000 today) in total, some of his fellow players were convinced that they had seen him cheating again.

One of the party threatened to denounce Bill at Doncaster racecourse the next day. And this proved to be the catalyst for the situation spiralling out of control. The Prince was told about Bills alleged cheating and a document was drawn up for Bill to sign in an attempt to ensure that such an outrage could not occur again, while still preserving the reputations of all those involved.

The Palace tried to head off the Prince (pictured) being dragged into the court case, to no avail

It read: In consideration of the promise made by the gentlemen whose names are subscribed, to preserve silence with reference to an accusation which has been made in regard to my conduct at baccarat on the nights of Monday and Tuesday 8th and 9th September 1890, at Tranby Croft, I will on my part solemnly undertake never to play cards again as long as I live.

The party then confronted Bill who vehemently denied the accusation, only to be told by the Prince: What can you do? There are five accusers against you.

Cornered, Bill signed and left the following morning. Bertie was among the other signatories as a witness. But the secret did not stay under wraps for long. By January 1891 it was the talk of all the smartest salons in London and, conscious that his reputation was in the gutter, Bill responded by suing for slander the five who had accused him at Tranby Croft, demanding 5,000 (more than half a million pounds today) damages from each.

The Palace tried to head off the Prince being dragged into the court case, to no avail. The trial itself promised to fulfil their worst fears, with one newspaper suggesting that it would reveal salacious titbits of murky goings-on in high places with thinly veiled suggestions of sex skulduggery.

Bertie's biggest mistake was to fall in with a charming but unscrupulous Scots Guards officer called Sir William Gordon-Cumming (pictured) a relationship that resulted in his attendance at a house party that had disastrous consequences for all concerned

Given the high-profile nature of the case, the Lord Chief Justice himself decided to wield the gavel. Lord Coleridge was eccentric to say the least, turning up with a pet ferret hidden in his voluminous robes and prone to dozing off in the middle of proceedings.

In the circumstances, it was no surprise that it was a nervous Prince of Wales who took to the witness box, according to one report. Though it only lasted 20 minutes, the examination of the Prince evidently wearied him exceedingly, and made him extremely nervous. He kept changing his position and did not seem able to keep his hands still.

When a question more pressing, more to the point than usual, was put to him, the Princes face was observed to flush considerably, and then pale again, showing the state of nervousness in which he found himself.

He insisted that he had seen no cheating but the charges appeared to be so unanimous that it was the proper course  to believe them.

The jury took only 13 minutes to find for the defendants. It was a defeat for Gordon-Cumming but there was little joy at the Palace.

That afternoon, while attending the racing at Ascot, the Prince of Wales was roundly booed.
Chinese firms could be blocked from sensitive government contracts and Beijing-linked cameras will be stripped from official buildings under new legislation to protect national security.

The Cabinet Office also said last night a taskforce will be set up to investigate suppliers that pose a potential risk to Britain.

The Government has tabled several amendments to the Procurement Bill ahead of its return to Parliament next week following cross-party calls to toughen up the stance on China.

The bill  part of Britain's post-Brexit reform of procurement policy  will introduce rules for firms competing for government contracts.

New measures will give ministers the power to ban suppliers from specific sensitive sectors such as defence and national security.

Beijing-linked cameras will be stripped from official buildings under new legislation to protect national security

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin said: 'These new measures will protect our sensitive sectors from companies which could threaten national security and are a firm deterrence to hostile actors who wish to do Britain harm.'

The move follows months of warnings from senior Tories that the Procurement Bill  seen as a key legislative instrument that could stave off Beijing's influence in the UK  did not go far enough.

Beijing's National Intelligence Law forces Chinese firms to hand over data if demanded by the authorities, sparking fears sensitive information held by companies operating surveillance kit in Britain could be extracted.

Tory MP Alicia Kearns, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who has been lobbying the Government to toughen up the Procurement Bill, said: 'From local councils to power plants, and security bodies like GCHQ, we must make sure hostile states cannot embed state-subsidised hostile technologies into our lives which capture and exfiltrate our data to the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile states and actors.

'The creation of a National Security Procurement unit, and the beefing up of the debarment list were my main asks and will help ensure downright dangerous technologies will not operate at sensitive sites, key national infrastructure, nor on our streets.'

The Government has also committed to publishing a timeline for the removal of Chinese-made surveillance equipment on official buildings.

The installation of Hikvision cameras was banned in November on security grounds.

Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: 'We need to see all the detail, but [we're] cautiously optimistic about this encouraging announcement.'

The installation of Hikvision cameras was banned in November on security grounds (pictured installed for the King's Coronation at the Buckingham gate entrance to St James's Park)

Rishi Sunak has come under pressure to toughen his stance on China since becoming PM.

In November he said: 'We recognise China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests, a challenge that grows more acute as it moves towards even greater authoritarianism.'

But earlier this year he risked angering China hawks by refusing to designate the country as a threat.

Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Florence Eshalomi said: 'Labour has long been urging Ministers to toughen up their Procurement Bill and we'll continue our efforts when the Bill returns to Parliament next week.'

It came after Security Minister Tom Tugendhat branded the running of 'police stations' in the UK from China 'unacceptable' and said they must not 'operate in any form'.

He has investigated claims of unofficial stations being used to monitor dispersed communities and coerce people to return to China.

Although no illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state was found, the sites were set up 'without consulting' the British Government.
Heritage wants to know if Prince Harry lied about his past drug use on his immigration forms

US bureaucrats repeatedly ignored their request, prompting the think tank to seek an injunction

The global media circus that surrounds Prince Harry should force the Biden administration to hand over his U.S. immigration records, a federal court has heard.

Attorneys for the conservative Heritage Foundation think-tank are trying to find out if Harry lied about his past drug use on his visa application when he entered the United States in 2020.

They clashed with U.S. government lawyers at a 75-minute hearing in Washington D.C. earlier on Tuesday.

Heritage had sued the Department for Homeland Security in a bid to fast-track their request to put the Duke of Sussex's visa application into the public domain.

Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London earlier on Tuesday as part of a separate court case

Samuel Dewey, the U.S. attorney who is trying to get the Biden administration to release Prince Harry's visa files

Samuel Dewey, representing Heritage, said the matter had received 'widespread and exceptional media attention' which prompted 'questions about government integrity.'

John Bardo, the lawyer defending the U.S. government, claimed that the coverage came from 'obscure publications' in the U.K. and should be ignored.

Many of the news articles cited were indeed by British-owned outlets, including DailyMail.com, that have millions of readers in the United States, Dewey argued.

'We don't think that counts as obscure or niche,' he told Judge Carl Nichols, a Donald Trump appointee.

The Heritage Foundation wants to know how the 38-year-old British royal answered questions about his past drug use.

It came after Prince Harry confessed to taking an array of illegal substances in his recent memoir 'Spare'.

Under US law, admission of drug taking can be grounds to dismiss a visa application.

'We are not on a voyeuristic fishing expedition here. The focus is did the DHS comply with the law?' said Heritage lawyer Dewey after the court hearing.

He had been seeking an injunction to force the DHS to respond to their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request over the dukes immigration papers.

Judge Nichols spoke of his 'frustration' that some DHS officials had yet to respond, calling Tuesday's hearing 'completely unnecessary'.

'I am somewhat frustrated about being asked to resolve an issue that is not even close to the merits of the case,' he fumed.

The judge gave DHS a week to indicate whether it would be willing in principle to respond to, or expedite, the request for information by the think tank.

Nile Gardiner, the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, said the case was not part of a personal vendetta against the Duke of Sussex.

'At the end of the day, this is about accountability, transparency and openness on behalf of the US administration with regard to an immigration application by a high profile individual,' he said.

'(Prince Harry) is actively engaged on a number of causes, has done multiple high profile interviews, has taken part in a Netflix documentary thats been watched by tens of millions of Americans  so hes a big figure.

'This is really ultimately about US immigration law, ensuring that it is applied fairly and equally to everybody.'

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to ex-British PM Margaret Thatcher, said Heritage wanted to ensure that U.S. immigration law was being applied fairly.

The D.C. hearing came after Prince Harry gave evidence to English judges in his case against the publisher of British tabloid the Daily Mirror.

He is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages, claiming journalists were linked to unlawful methods of information gathering.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have positioned themselves as public figures in the U.S. since stepping back from the British Royal Family in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were last seen in the UK together at the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II last September, months before 'Spare' was published.

The details contained in Harry's visa application could, the Heritage Foundation argues, spell trouble for his future life in the United States.

An admission of drug use does not automatically ban you from the United States for life.

Any denial of entry can be overturned after an in-person interview at a US consulate or official immigration office, where a waiver can be issued.

There is a history of authorities releasing immigration documents about public figures.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website has an electronic reading room which contains the files of some celebrities.

The records for the late musicians George Michael and John Lennon are online, as well as those for the mother of U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris.

Since arriving in the country in 2020, Harry has struck up friendships with prominent Democratic Party figures such as former president Barack Obama.

He is also close to major Democratic donors including Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry prompting fears that he may become an 'unwitting pawn in a highly political game'.

DailyMail.com has approached the Department of Homeland Security and a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex for comment.
An Air India plane flying from Delhi to San Francisco was forced to divert to an airport in Russia's Far East after a technical issue, sparking concerns Americans on board could be held hostage.

The flight, believed to be carrying U.S. citizens, had to land at Sokol airport in the port town of Magadan in the far east of the country.

The 216 passengers and 16 crew onboard were being offered support on the ground and are understood to be in local schools for the night.

It remains unclear how many of the individuals onboard are American nationals.

Those onboard the plane are now sleeping on the floor of a local school while they wait for another plane to arrive to continue their journey to San Francisco

The flight had to divert and land at Sokol airport in the port town of Magadan in the far east of the country

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel Tuesday said it is 'likely' there are Americans onboard given its planned destination.

'We are aware of a U.S.-bound flight that had to make an emergency landing in Russia and are continuing to monitor that situation closely,' Patel said.

The airline said it planned to send a plane on Wednesday to pick them up and fly them to their original destination.

'The authorities are extending all cooperation in our effort to ensure that passengers safely reach their destination at the earliest,' it said.

Russia's aviation authority said it was checking on the plane's technical condition after landing at the rural airport and it had given permission for the alternate flight to land there.

'At present, the question of passengers' stay and accommodation is being resolved by border, customs and regional authorities,' Rosaviatsia said earlier in the day.

The airport at Magadan, a port town on the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia's Far East, did not respond to a request for comment.

One woman who had two family members on board the flight told DailyMail.com that those onboard have been given a local school to sleep in while awaiting transportation.

Images shared by her parents show thin mattresses laid out on the school floor, with blankets over individuals who are laying beside their cases

The 216 passengers and 16 crew onboard were being offered support on the ground and are understood to be in local schools for the night

The plane was forced to land at Sokol Airport, pictured here, in the far east of the country

The flight had been carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members on board at the time of the diversion

Richa Verna, whose parents had been traveling to see her in California, said: 'Russian officials have been very hospitable

'Considering it's a small town they accommodated everyone, provided warm blankets, mattress, pillows and food, tea, coffee.'

Her parents sent Verna a picture of the kitchen in the school they are now in, with food and drinks available to them.

Images shared by her parents show thin mattresses laid out on the school floor, with blankets over individuals who are lying beside their cases.

It comes amid a global debate over the use of Russian airspace by some carriers, with the chief of United Airlines warning on Monday of the dangers of a plane being forced to land in Russia with American citizens on board.

The diversion also raises questions over how quickly the $200-million Boeing 777, a high-profile U.S.-built plane whose engines are made by General Electric, can be repaired amid U.S. and European Union sanctions on exports of aviation items to Russia.

One woman who had two family members on board the flight told DailyMail.com that those onboard have been given a local school to sleep in while awaiting transportation

The airline said it planned to send a plane Wednesday to pick them up and fly them to their original destination.

On Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson defended the airline's use of Russian airspace, noting the critical role the industry plays in connecting economies, people and cultures.

'Air India, we operate according to the ambit of what is provided to us by the nation of India and not all nations agree,' he said on a panel at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting.

Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign carriers from using its airspace in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the United States in March 2022 after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

In 2018, a Norwegian Air Boeing 737 made an emergency landing in Iran with engine problems weeks after Washington re-imposed sanctions and became stranded for more than two months.

The 186 passengers and six crew were able to fly out of Shiraz the next day. But despite initial assurances from the airline that the plane would also quickly be repatriated, a GE engine venture waited weeks for a U.S. Treasury export license.
The duke blames the Press for Chelsy Davy dumping him after she decided that 'a royal life was not for her', the High Court was told today.

He claimed in his witness statement that 'whenever' he has been in a relationship, the woman 'is not just in a relationship with me but with the entire tabloid press' who try to 'ruin it'.

Harry and Zimbabwe-born Miss Davy, his first serious girlfriend, met in early 2004 and were in an 'on-off' relationship until mid-2010.

Harry alleges that the Daily Mirror must have used phone hacking when it followed up The Sun's story about the infamous time he dressed as a Nazi aged 20 at a fancy dress party in 2005.

The Mirror article alleged he had flirted with a 'stunning brunette' at the party and Miss Davy, then 19, was 'furious', rang him at his father's Highgrove home and gave Harry 'a tongue-lashing down the phone'.

The duke blames the Press for Chelsy Davy (right) dumping him after she decided that 'a royal life was not for her', the High Court was told today

Harry and Zimbabwe-born Miss Davy, his first serious girlfriend, met in early 2004 and were in an 'on-off' relationship until mid-2010

Harry alleges that the Daily Mirror must have used phone hacking when it followed up The Sun's story about the infamous time he dressed as a Nazi aged 20 at a fancy dress party in 2005

One source told the paper the brunette was 'sitting on Harry's lap wearing flesh-coloured tights and a very short black dress' and 'flirting with the prince and flaunting herself'.

Harry said in his statement that he does not remember whether Miss Davy and him did argue about the party.

The article contained quotes from 'friends' or other 'partygoers', but 'the details of our telephone communications are not attributed to anyone, so how could the defendant's journalists know about this', he added.

In court today, Andrew Green KC, for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), said there was nothing unlawful about the Mirror reporter, Jane Kerr, speaking to guests at the party. Harry replied: 'No, if that's indeed what she did.'

Mr Green also suggested that Miss Davy's uncle Paul Davy was a source, and that quotes about how it 'can't be long' before Miss Davy dumped Harry were 'a partygoer speculating' on what the end result might be.

The barrister asked Harry if he would agree it was 'in the realm of total speculation' to say the story had involved phone hacking. The prince replied: 'No I wouldn't.'

Harry also said in his statement that his solicitors have shown him call data showing calls from the Mirror to his 'associate' Guy Pelly's mobile phone two days before the story was published.

The duration of the call was 'null', which Harry said he was told is 'indicative' of hacking.

Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence in London today

When Mr Green asked him if had considered calling Mr Pelly as a witness, Harry replied that he 'would want to spare most of my friends from this experience'.

The prince also said in his witness statement that he was 'at a complete loss' to know how some of the details in a 2004 Mirror story about the first time he met Miss Davy's family were obtained.

Mr Green asked him in court if he was aware that Paul Davy gave an interview about the visit, which was published in the Mail on Sunday the day before. Harry replied: 'No.'

Harry also claimed there must have been 'blagging' to find out details of when he was flying back.

But Mr Green suggested that was 'the sort of information that Paul Davy, who was happy to speak to the Press, might have provided'.

Harry said Paul Davy would not have known that information.

The prince told how media stories put a strain on his and Miss Davy's relationship and they started to 'distrust everyone around us'.

He said the couple had a 'feeling of being under surveillance all the time' and that he believes 'Chelsy found this even more difficult to deal with when she lived in England'.

'Ultimately, these factors led her to make the decision that a royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time,' Harry added.

The newspaper publisher denies Harry's claims against it.
Prince Harry was challenged to explain why the newspaper articles he complained about were the result of illegal activity.

He repeatedly answered he had not been 'aware' when shown that information in the articles had been published by other newspapers and even the BBC previously. In several cases, the stories had come from palace aides  and in one, he had given an official interview. Here are eight of the articles Harry complained about.

'Diana so sad on Harry's Big day'

Daily Mirror, Sept 16, 1996

Harry's complaint in his witness statement: 'This article contains details of my mother coming to visit me at Ludgrove school on my 12th birthday.'

Andrew Green KC, for Mirror Group Newspapers: 'Are you aware of the fact that some two days before the article was published, the Press Association published an article stating your mother would be visiting you on your birthday?'

Harry: 'I wasn't aware of that.'

'Harry's time at the bar'

Daily Mirror, Sept 19, 2000

Harry's statement: 'This article contains details of a lunch I had with friends at The Ifield pub in Chelsea to celebrate my 16th birthday.'

Duke of Sussex being cross examined by Andrew Green KC, as he gives evidence at the Rolls Buildings in central London

Mr Green: 'The pub had a celebrity chef. He had two television shows. He was a great self-publicist and liked talking about his celebrity customers.'

Harry: 'I was not aware.'

Mr Green: 'Do you not think it is possible that he might have made the call that brought photographers to his gastro pub?'

Harry: 'He's a chef, and quite busy to be making calls.'

'No Eton trifles for Harry, 18'

Daily Mirror, Sept 16, 2002

Harry's statement: 'This article reported details of the way I celebrated my 18th birthday, which included a low-profile lunch with my father and brother at home.'

Mr Green: 'You gave an interview to Sam Greenhill [formerly] of the Press Association.'

Prince Harry was challenged to explain why the newspaper articles he complained about were the result of illegal activity

Harry: 'Er, yes.'

Mr Green: 'The private information about which you complain had been revealed by you in an interview and then appeared in various Sunday papers.'

Harry: 'I see the similarities.'

'"Matured"' Harry is a godfather'

The People, April 20, 2003

Harry's statement: 'This article contains details of me being asked to be godfather to the new baby of Tiggy, who was my childhood nanny.'

Mr Green: 'The information about which you complain was in the public domain via The Sunday Telegraph one week before it appeared in The People, wasn't it?'

Harry: 'Yes, I see the similarities.'

'Snap... Harry breaks thumb like William'

Daily Mirror, Nov 11, 2000

Harry's statement: 'This article reported that I had chipped a bone in my thumb.'

Mr Green: 'Were you aware this was reported by multiple newspapers and the BBC on the previous day?'

He repeatedly answered he had not been 'aware' when shown that information in the articles had been published by other newspapers and even the BBC previously

Harry: 'I wasn't aware.'

Mr Green: 'The Press Association published an article the day before the Mirror. Have you expressed any concerns to the Press Association?'

Harry; 'No, I wasn't aware of it.'

Mr Green: 'Whose phone was hacked? Whose phone would have had this information?'

Harry: 'The doctor's?'

Mr Green: 'Are we not, Prince Harry, in the realms of total speculation?'

'Princes take to the hills for gala'

Daily Mirror, July 17, 2000

Harry's statement: 'This article reports that my brother and I would not be attending the gala pageant to celebrate the 100th birthday our great grandmother, the late Queen Mother.'

Mr Green: 'An article in the Daily Mail two days before the Mirror article reported you and your brother were going to be missing. And Buckingham Palace confirmed it.'

Andrew Green KC leaves the Rolls Buildings in central London after the Duke of Sussex gave evidence in the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers

Harry: 'Yes, in response to a question one might be suspicious about.'

Mr Green: 'Two days before the Mirror article.'

'Harry took drugs' and 'Cool it Harry'

Sunday Mirror, Jan 13, 2002

Harry's statement: 'These articles reported on allegations that I had been taking drugs with friends at the Rattlebone Inn.'

Mr Green: 'We can see from your book Spare that [Mark] Bolland, the [palace] spin doctor, had released information about you without your consent?'

Harry: 'After this incident I never shared anything private with him.'

Mr Green: 'The unpleasant reality is that private information was sometimes provided to the Press with the consent of the Palace.'

Harry: 'Certain individuals, yes.'

'Harry's cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties'

Daily Mirror, Jan 14, 2002

Harry's statement: 'This article reports that my friends, or those I mixed with, were taking drugs.'

Harry: 'No I wasn't.'

Mr Green: 'Don't you think it was likely he spoke to his police contacts?'

Harry: 'I don't know.'
Labour's class war scheme to impose VAT on private school fees may end up raising no money at all, a think tank has warned.

Party officials had estimated their plan to levy another 20 per cent on top of parents' current costs would raise 1.6 billion, which would go towards funding their extensive government spending plans.

But a report released today by the EDSK think tank  a non-partisan organisation focusing on education and skills for learners  has said the policy could raise zero additional revenue.

Researchers suggested that Labour's calculations were flawed and based on erroneous numbers and methodology.

The original calculations behind the 1.6billion figure were wrong, they argued, as they include over 50,000 pupils in state-funded schools and nursery-aged children. The 628,000 assumed to be in the independent sector is more like 512,440, EDSK researchers said.

Party officials had estimated their plan to levy another 20 per cent on top of parents' current costs would raise 1.6billion, which would go towards funding their extensive government spending plans

Research from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) in April showed 20 per cent of parents would 'definitely' withdraw their children from their private school if the levy is applied in future (Pictured: Eton College)

It also includes boarding schools and their accommodation  which is exempt from VAT  and failed to account for those who will leave private education once the levy is applied.

The think tank found that under a 'best case' scenario, just 1billion will be raised, while a 'worst case' scenario  where 25 per cent of pupils leave private schools  will result in no additional money.

Research from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) in April showed 20 per cent of parents would 'definitely' withdraw their children from their private school if the levy is applied in future.

EDSK director and paper author Tom Richmond said: 'Claims of 1.6billion a year being raised from adding VAT to private school fees look far too optimistic, particularly if any more than a small number of pupils end up leaving private schools and moving to the state sector instead.

'What's more, changing VAT rules with the sole aim of targeting private schools could lead to many unintended consequences that result in a government raising much less money than intended.

'Adding VAT on fees is also likely to have the least impact on the most expensive private schools and the wealthiest parents. This could reduce the level of public support that any government can expect to gain from such a move.'

Lord Lucas, the publisher of the Good Schools Guide, said: 'Its conclusions as to money raising sound about right.

'But the objectives of the policy are political, not economic  to throw a bone to Labour's left wing, and to sound off about inequality.

Lord Lucas, the publisher of the Good Schools Guide, said: 'Its conclusions as to money raising sound about right. 'But the objectives of the policy are political, not economic  to throw a bone to Labour's left wing, and to sound off about inequality

'To my mind, the policy does not hit its political objectives  it makes independent schools even more socially selective, and hurts thrifty middle classes who put their children first.'

A Labour source said: 'Labour does not recognise the numbers cited in this report, which rest on flawed assumptions and leaves more questions than it answers.

'We do not accept that the numbers of students leaving the sector would be anywhere near those cited this report, something which previous research from the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has also been clear about.

'The report also assumes that money not spent on private schools would not be spent on other VAT-able goods and services: that shows that this is simply not a serious piece of research.

'Labour's position, and our policy, remains clear  we will invest in our state schools by ending the tax breaks private schools enjoy.'
Tucker Carlson has launched his much-anticipated Twitter show, publishing a 10-minute clip in which he attacked Ukraine and questioned why the UFO whistleblower was not dominating US headlines.

Fired by Fox News in April, Carlson accused media organizations like his previous employer of keeping people in the dark in a deliberate attempt to hold them in submission - claiming they ignored a hearing on possible UFOs, and arguing that the media was naive about events in Ukraine.

He said he decided to broadcast his show on Twitter as a means of freely discussing issues of the day, without needing the support of legacy media. Carlson likened it to Cold War-era broadcasting, saying he hoped his show 'will be the shortwave radio under the blankets.'

'By this point, it's possible American citizens are the least informed people in the world,' he said. 'Diversity is our strength; trans women are women; Zelensky is Churchill: it's all self evidently true. Doesn't need an explanation. And don't ask questions.'

Tucker Carlson on Tuesday debuted his eagerly-anticipated Twitter show

Carlson began 'Episode 1', as he titled it, by discussing Ukraine, and the attack on Tuesday morning of the Kakhovka dam.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other striking the dam which will cause widespread flooding in the war-torn country.

US intelligence sources have claimed the Biden administration has evidence that Vladimir Putin's troops are responsible.

The Kremlin has claimed that Kyiv bombarded the structure to distract from their faltering counter-offensive launched in recent days.

Carlson took the side of Russia, arguing that it would not be in the interests of the Kremlin to see the dam blown up.

'This morning it looks like someone blew up the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine,' he told viewers.

Carlson said many people assumed it was President Vladimir Putin who ordered the dam be blown up, then added: 'Oh, but that is where you are wrong, Mr and Mrs Cable News Consumer.'

He pointed out that the dam was in Russian territory, captured in the early days of the war in the spring of 2022, and therefore it would be as if 'Putin attacked himself'.

The damage, however, is to Ukrainian lands, and 1,300 people have been evacuated: 80 settlements are at risk of flooding.

Carlson continued, deep with sarcasm: 'We can say for a dead certain fact that Zelensky was not involved. He couldn't have been. Zelensky is too decent for terrorism.'

This screen grab from a video posted on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's Twitter account today shows an aerial view of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station after it was partially destroyed

A drone camera showed the extent of the flooding. Water is seen flowing over the top of the damaged dam

Flooding continues in the occupied Kherson region after the destruction of the dam

A local resident walks on a flooded street today after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached

Carlson said that Zelensky was 'sweaty and rat-like; a comedian turned oligarch'.

He then mockingly noted that George W. Bush likened Zelensky to Winston Churchill.

'Of all the people in the world, our shifty, dead-eyed Ukrainian friend in the tracksuit is uniquely incapable of blowing up the dam,' Carlson said.

'He is literally a living saint: a man in who there is no sin.'

Carlson savaged Lindsey Graham for supporting Ukraine and visiting Zelensky: he said Graham relished the prospect of dead Russians, comparing it to a starving man smelling food.

He also attacked Nikki Haley for her support of Zelensky's war, saying she could not explain why the U.S. should back Ukraine.

Carlson said Americans were being served 'pap day after day, in steaming, lumpy portions'.

He added: 'Your average Yak herder in Tajikistan knows who blew up the Nord Stream pipeline. It's obvious.

'Does he think some skinny dude in a dress is actually a girl?

'Come on. That idea would never occur to him. You've got to be lied to, at full volume, over a number of years to reach conclusions like that.'

Tucker Carlson was the most-watched man on cable news until his shock firing in April

Carlson and his wife Susan Andrews are seen soon after his dismissal from Fox in late April

He said the media lie, and ignore the stories that matter - claiming that the money sent to Ukraine was unaccounted for, and asking who organized the BLM protests after George Floyd's murder.

'What exactly happened on 9/11? Well, it's all classified. What happened to Jeffrey Epstein? What about JFK?

'Not only are the media not interested in this: they are actively hostile to anyone who is. In journalism, curiosity is the greatest crime.'

Carlson said that a whistleblower on Monday testified that 'UFOs are real, and so is extra-terrestrial life'.

He continued: 'In a normal country, this news would qualify as a bombshell: the news of the millennium. But in this country, it doesn't count.'

Carlson said he was using Twitter for his show because there were 'no gatekeepers'

Carlson accused The Washington Post and New York Times of ignoring the story.

'There was nothing at all about how an alien species is flying hypersonic aircraft above our cities. Not one word.'

He said: 'So if you are wondering why our country seems so dysfunctional, this is a big part of the reason. Nobody knows what's happening.

'A small group of people control access to all relevant information, and the rest of us don't know.'

The man who, until April, was paid $20 million a year by Fox News said 'we are being kept in the dark'.

'We are the ones who live in ignorance now,' he said.

'Secrecy is a powerful tool of control.'

He concluded: 'As of today we have come to Twitter - which we hope will be the shortwave radio under the blankets.

'We're told there are no gatekeepers here. If that changes, we will leave.

'But in the meantime, we are grateful to be here. We'll be back with much more very soon.'
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie began his return to the national political stage with an opening message: 'Go big'  then flashed his ability to go for the jugular.

He denied running for president as a spoiler but said he did want to take down Donald Trump  who he hit for 'coddling' Vladimir Putin, running 'failed casinos' and 'reprehensible' bartering of Ukrainian aide that was the subject of Trump's second impeachment.

He said Americans knew Trump was 'full of it' when he said Mexico would pay for the border wall, then vowed not to make the mistake of letting Trump's claims go unchecked.

Christie, who filed paperwork to run for president Tuesday, railed against the 'disrespect, the narcissism and the lying for four years' of the Trump era. 'The people in the middle said enough,' he said, pointing to the 2020 results.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tore into Donald Trump in remarks in New Hampshire Tuesday

He promised to take on Trump's four-year record, and needled fellow Republicans for being unwilling to even say his name, like 'Voldemort' in the Harry Potter series.

Christie took on Trump for 'lying' about issues from the budget deficit to saying he wouldn't play golf while president. He even went after Trump's family.

'The grift form this family is breathtaking,' Christie told a crowd at a town hall in Manchester. 'Jared Kushner and Ivanka Kushner walk out of the White House and months later get $2 billion from the Saudis. You think its because hes some kind of investing genius?' he said, pointing to the deal Trump's son-in-law inked with the Saudi investment fund months after Trump left office. 'Thats your money he stole, and gave it to his family. You know that what makes us? A banana republic,' he said.

Christie once prosecuted Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, who Trump pardoned in his last days of office.

He said he 'can't imagine' pardoning Trump  but said he would have to learn what he is charged with and convicted of in the hypothetical as his rival faces multiple investigations.

Christie began a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire by listing leaders from the founders to Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy who he said were willing to go big when it mattered.

Then he ripped rivals he dubbed 'pretenders' he said were seeking to divert attention by focusing on small issues in an effort to divide the nation for their own advantage.

'We have candidates for president who are talking about issues that are so small that sometimes its hard to even understand them,' he said, in a remark that seemed aimed at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He said Donald Trump 'made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting one group against another, different groups pitted against different groups every day.'

He said 'pretenders' were seeking 'to divide you further, to make it easier for them to rule over you.'

Christie spoke at a town hall at St. Anselm College's New Hampshire Institute Of Politics in Manchester, putting him face to face with voters in a state where he focused heavily in his 2016 campaign, but where he came in sixth.

He spoke at first without dropping a name about a leader he called 'lonely, self consumed and self-serving mirror hog.'

Then, in blunt talk he plans to once again make a hallmark of his campaign, Christie said: 'The person I am talking about who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault . is Donald Trump.'

Christie made clear from the beginning of his remarks he would deliver on his promise to take the fight to Trump, who stands far above rivals in the GOP field.

Christie accused Trump of 'coddling' Vladimir Putin and disingenuously saying Mexico would pay for the border wall

Christie took on Ron DeSantis for his 'territorial dispute' comment about Russia's war on Ukraine that DeSantis tried to walk back

'Joe Biden never beat anybody outside of Delaware for 40 years. Except for one guy: Donald J. Trump,' said Christie

'The grift form this family is breathtaking,' Christie said, going after Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump for Kushner's inking a $2 billion deal with a Saudi investment fund months after leaving office

His first question came from a clinical psychologist who said the nation has been 'traumatized.'

Christy denounced 'chaos' and 'constant screaming, yelling,' as well as 'faux strength.'

'If you direct that chaos to aggrandize yourself  well then youre traumatizing the nation,' he said.

'There is no such thing as Trump voters,' he told a 15-year-old questioner. 'He doesnt own them. He didnt take title to them. Theyre not one of his buildings. Theyre not one of his failed casinos in New Jersey. Theyre not that wreck hes got in Las Vegas.'

Christie ridiculed the narrative that he is running as a spoiler on a kamikaze mission to take down Trump.

'The guys ahead in the polls. Who am I supposed to be worried about, Nikki Haley?' he said in response to a question about what he learned from his failed 2016 run.

He vowed not to make the 'same mistake' of letting Trump boasts go unchecked on the assumption that people won't believe them.

'The reason Im going after Trump is two-fold. One he deserves it. And two its the way to win,' he said.

Even after joking about his sixth place finish, he said his run for the White House is real.

'I am going out there to take out Donald Trump. But heres why: I want to win. And I dont want him to win.'

'There are not multiple lanes to the nomination,' he said, ridiculing the political science talk.

'There is one lane to the Republican nomination, and hes in front of it. And you want to win? Youd better go right through him.' Then he spoke of Trump's penchant to attack rivals: he already attacked Christie's weight days ago.

'Hes going to try to go through me,' Christie said.

Christie gave Biden credit for helping rally Europe to arm Ukraine, but didn't go easy on him either.

'Hes a nice guy. Ive known him for 40 years,' said Christie. 'He is out of his depth because hes not the guy he used to be,' he said.

He took shots at former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for dancing around her criticism of Trump. He even mentioned soon-to-be candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. 'They dont know Doug Burgum in South Dakota,' he quipped.

Christie twice mentioned Bridge-gate, once when asked if he had any regrets. He spoke about officials he designated who 'used my power and my authority to play a fraternity prank, and it cost me a lot,' speaking of the closure of the George Washington Bridge.

'It was a mistake on my part. I didnt see who they really were. And Ive got to be responsible for that,' he said.
Channel boat migrants will be housed on cruise ships for the first time, the Daily Mail can reveal today.

Rishi Sunak announced the acquisition of two vessels on Monday and it can now be confirmed they are passenger liners.

They will house up to 1,000 small boat migrants between them but the ships names are being withheld by the Home Office.

Although cruise liners have not before been used for Channel arrivals they have hosted Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

One of the vessels secured by the Home Office is thought to be heading for Merseyside.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) announced the acquisition of two vessels on Monday and it can now be confirmed they are passenger liners

They will house up to 1,000 small boat migrants between them but the ships names are being withheld by the Home Office (stock photo)

The site being looked at for the other cruise ship is unclear but Teesport, near Middlesbrough, is thought to be a contender.

Newcastle, Felixstowe in Suffolk, Harwich in Essex and the Royal London Docks are also under consideration, The Guardian reported.

In a speech at Dover on Monday Mr Sunak said: To reduce pressures on local communities, well also house people on ships.

'The first will arrive in Portland in the next fortnight. And weve secured another two that will accommodate another 1,000.

The Mail reported yesterday that the French authorities are intercepting more than half of the crossings, compared with four in ten last year.

About 7,600 people have crossed the Channel illegally so far this year, down from just under 10,000 in the same period last year.

Using hotels as migrant accommodation is costing the taxpayer 6million a day.

Former Ministry of Defence bases at Wethersfield in Essex and Scampton in Lincolnshire are due to receive their first migrants soon with numbers rising to 3,000 by autumn.

Civil servants are also planning accommodation centres at Bexhill, East Sussex, and Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Rishi Sunak speaking during a press conference at Western Jet Foil in Dover on Monday

The Bibby Stockholm arrived in Falmouth last month for renovations ahead of going into service in Portland off the coast of Dorset in the next fortnight

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: I have been clear that the unacceptable number of people making frankly illegal and dangerous crossings must stop.

We will continue to crack down on the abuse of our asylum system, ultimately saving the British taxpayer money.

Last night Dorset Council said it was dropping a challenge against the Home Offices plan for the Portland ship.

The council, which had been looking at whether to launch a judicial review, said it had received legal advice that they were unlikely to be successful.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: After much careful consideration, Dorset Council has decided to not pursue legal action to challenge the Home Offices decision to site a barge for asylum seekers in Portland Port.

Based on specialist legal advice, and the experience other councils have had across the country, any legal action we take is unlikely to be successful and would incur high costs to Dorset taxpayers.

We are committed to working with the Home Office and our partners to ensure minimal impact to public services for local people and that provision for the asylum seekers is properly resourced and is effective.
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A house in Cheshire that includes a Japanese-inspired bedroom designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and appeared on TV's Changing Rooms is for sale for 439,950.

If the property achieves the asking price, it will have sold for 129,950 more than it was last bought for just over two years ago at 310,000 in April 2021.

The Macclesfield family home appeared on Channel 4's Changing Rooms last year, when one of the four bedrooms received a makeover by the well-known interior designer.

The Japanese-themed teenage bedroom at the Macclesfield family home for sale was installed on Changing Rooms last year

Interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was part of the Changing Rooms show that was revived in 2021 after a successful run between 1996 and 2004

Laurence transformed the room with a Japanese theme that he called 'glamikaze'.

The design remit was to create the illusion of a non-symmetrical space that was going to be used by a teenager for sleeping, working and gaming.

The traditionally square-shaped bedroom was partially divided by creating a diagonal wall and arch structures.

The Japanese theme included bespoke wallpaper produced exclusively by Laurence - and he even hand signed one of the walls.

There is a diagonally placed Japanese-style bed with arch structures and beams, concealing a hidden workstation with a built-in curve-shapped desk and deep storage shelving.

There are blue and white Japanese crane wallpaper designed by Laurence, as well as bright red ceiling and feature wall.

These three colours are brought together in a bed spread, as well as a two bean bags.

The four-bedroom house is for sale for 439,950 via The Agency estate agents after being bought for 310,000 two years ago

The colourful bedroom features a Japanese crane wallpaper that was designed exclusively from drawings by Laurence

During the Changing Rooms episode, Laurence discusses applying the bespoke wallpaper that came from one of his drawings.

'The clock is ticking. An integral part of the scheme to zone the space needs applying. The wallpaper is absolutely key to what is going on here,' he said.

'The structure is great, but without the wallpaper this is just a big lump of MDF in the middle of the room.'

If the property achieves its current asking price, it will have sold for 129,950 more than it was bought for - which is 310,000 in April 2021.

The rest of the house is also full of colour and texture with a kitchen that has deep green cabinets, a patterned wallpaper and exposed brickwork

The green theme continues in the living room, appearing on the walls as well as in the floor rug, armchair fabric and light stand

The rest of the house is also full of colour with a kitchen that has deep green cabinets and a fireplace in the main living room that is painted deep grey.

Outside there is a wall courtyard that is accessed from bi-folding doors in the kitchen and also by a timber gate that leads to a side ginnel.

The four-bedroom house is in Macclesfield's Riseley Street, where the average price of a property sold in the past 12 months is 307,500.

It compares to an average for the country as a whole of 355,448, according to property website Zoopla.
Locals are still reeling from the deaths of two children at a packed Bournemouth beach last week.

Sunnah Khan, 12, and Joe Abbess 17, drowned on May 31 after reportedly being swept from a sandbank, while eight other beachgoers got into difficulty in the water.

Although Dorset Police are yet to work out exactly what happened, a father of one of the survivors said his daughter was one beachgoer carried by a 'riptide' near the pier.

While this is unconfirmed, Dorset Police said an investigation is 'looking at all circumstances' including weather, wind conditions and the state of the water.

Here, MailOnline looks at the science behind the phenomenon  and the best way to act if you ever get caught in one.

Rip tides, more accurately known as rip currents and also known as simply 'rips', are fast-moving channels of water that move away from the shore and towards the open sea. Instead of swimming back towards the shore, which can be dangerous, swimming sideways can help you escape a rip current

WHAT IS A RIPTIDE?

READ MORE: Police probe boat at centre of Bournemouth beach horror Although the circumstances surrounding the tragedy at Bournemouth beach are unclear, a father of one of the survivors said his daughter was carried by a riptide Advertisement

Rip tides, more accurately known as rip currents and also known as simply 'rips', are fast-moving channels of water that move away from the shore and towards the open sea.

They can reach speeds of up to five miles per hour - faster than an Olympic swimmer - making them a leading surf hazard for all beachgoers.

The National Weather Service explains: 'Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach.

'One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow stream of water moving swiftly away from shore, often perpendicular to the shoreline.'

Although a father of one of the survivors said his daughter was carried by a 'riptide', the more accurate term for these sorts of currents at beaches are simply 'rip currents'.

Gerd Masselink, a professor in coastal geomorphology at the University of Plymouth, told MailOnline: 'Rip currents are often referred to as rip tides  this is an incorrect term and we have been campaigning for decades to get rid of the term, to no avail.'

Professor Masselink is part of a research project looking specifically at rip currents at Bournemouth  which are common there  and their link with coastal structures.

Bournemouth beach is pictured here on June 2, two days after the deaths of the two children. Dorset Police said the beach was 'extremely busy' at the time of the incident

'They especially occur when the wind is blowing along the beach and waves strike the coast at an angle,' he told MailOnline.

READ MORE: Heartbreaking photos show Bournemouth beach victims Joe Abbess, a trainee chef, died along with Sunnah Khan, 12 Advertisement

'This generates shore parallel currents that get deflected seaward when they encounter shore perpendicular coastal structure, such as groynes and piers, resulting in seaward flowing to currents.'

Chris Brewster, retired lifeguard chief for the San Diego Lifeguard Service, agreed that the term riptide is a 'misnomer' because 'rip currents are not caused by tides'.

'That was an old belief that has been disproven,' he told MailOnline.

'Typically wherever there is a jetty, pier or other structure, and waves, rip currents will form nearby.'

WHAT DO RIP CURRENTS LOOK LIKE?

Rip currents can be seen from afar, so if you're at a beach it's worth having a look at the surf zone before you enter.

They look much like a road or river running straight out to sea, like a strip of blue amongst the crashing white of the waves.

There's a noticeable break in the pattern of the waves where a rip current is, although this is best viewed from a high vantage point  which is why lifeguards sit on high 'tower-like' chairs.

ARE RIP CURRENTS CAUSED BY BOATS?

Dorset Police released a statement the day after the incident saying that a man 'on the water at the time' had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, although he's since been released under investigation.

His release comes as officers seized a cruise boat called The Dorset Belle placing it under the guard of Poole Harbour, five miles away from Bournemouth Pier from which it usually sails.

Rip currents look much like a road or river running straight out to sea, like a strip of blue amongst the crashing white of the waves

It's unconfirmed whether a rip current did occur last Wednesday or how it was related to the pleasure boat that was detained by police, the Dorset Belle.

'Insiders' have suggested the 'sudden riptide' was said to have contributed to their deaths and could have been created by the boat.

A source told The Sun: 'They were on a sandbar to the east of the pier when the Dorset Belle moored alongside the pier.

'It created a riptide which deluged everyone on the sandbar and effectively forced them further out to sea.'

However, boats don't cause rip tides or rip currents according to Professor Masselink; rather they are formed by the natural interaction of the water.

Dr Sergio Maldonado, a lecturer in hydraulics at the University of Southampton, agreed, telling MailOnline: 'Boats can certainly disturb the local flow depending on their size and speed, but I cannot think of any mechanism by which they would induce a persistent, strong current.'

Dorset Police officers seized a cruise boat called The Dorset Belle placing it under the guard of Poole Harbour

WHY ARE RIP CURRENTS DANGEROUS?

Rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea and result in fatalities, as those caught up in them try to resist.

When in a rip current, panicked swimmers often try to counter it by swimming back to shore  putting themselves at risk of drowning because of fatigue.

'The danger arises when a misinformed swimmer uses an inadequate strategy to escape the rip, such as fighting the current directly,' said Dr Sergio Maldonado, an expert in environmental fluid mechanics at the University of Southampton.

'This can lead to fatigue, panic, and in some cases drowning.

'Swimming directly against the rip can require several times more power from the swimmer than other strategies advised by lifeguards.'

Rip currents are common at Bouremouth beach (pictured). They especially occur when the wind is blowing along the beach and waves strike the coast at an angle

A rip current is typically the strongest about a foot off of the bottom of the water, according to the American Boating Association.

As a result, this can cause someone's feet to be knocked out from under them, making it feel like something under the water is pulling from below.

HOW TO SURVIVE A RIP CURRENT

The best way to escape a rip current is swimming parallel to the shore, rather than towards it, and above all, keep calm.

Swimming back towards the shore just means you are swimming into the rip, which will tire you out and could lead to drowning.

Alternatively, floating with the current may return you to a sandbank  a deposit of sand forming a shallow area in the sea.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gives the following advice if ever caught in a rip current: 'Don't fight it. Swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle.'

The best way to avoid rips altogether is to choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags, which have been marked based on where is safer to swim in the current conditions.
This follows claims of Apple staff being forced to work at the office each week

But some have slammed the tech giant, suggesting its CEO is hypocritical

Apple's highly anticipated Vision Pro headset has been compared to 'Black Mirror' amid claims that it's bizarrely marketed to a 'mythical audience'.

The tech giant was branded 'ironic' just hours after CEO Tim Cook unveiled the 2,849 ($3,499) augmented reality (AR) headset at a California event last night.

Cook described his product as 'revolutionary', while promotional videos outlined its capabilities of turning any location into a 'perfect workspace' - including the home.

But some question who the technology is actually for, with furious Apple staff allegedly facing severe warnings if they do not work at the office for three days each week.

The new headset has also been at the centre of online debate as tech experts and Twitter users alike have squabbled over what it means for the future of humanity.

Apple unveiled its Vision Pro augmented reality headset at a California launch yesterday

'Apple Vision Pro is dead on arrival,' one Twitter user wrote.

READ MORE: Apple is giving escalating warnings to workers who fail to show up to its offices three times a week Apple's California headquarters, where employees are reportedly being tracked by their badges to determine whether they come to work in person three times a week Advertisement

'Who is this even for? They forced everyone back to the office, so who is this mythical person working from home with $3500 laying around who is actually working in production of some sort??

'If they would have released this at the start of the pandemic it could have had a chance. Maybe. I just don't see many people wanting to use this as their work device. And as far as fun factor goes, I don't see that either.'

Another added: 'Vision Pro V10 on your contact lenses will be the end of humanity as we know it,' while another said: 'The Apple Vision Pro is straight from Black Mirror.'

The Vision Pro headset, available to purchase from next year, 'seamlessly' blends the 'real world with the digital world'.

Cook claims the technology can be navigated using eye-tracking alongside hand and voice controls.

This differs from Meta's new $499 Quest 3 which currently lacks face and eye-tracking features.

Yet, the launch also comes after 200 Apple employees accused the firm of forcing people back into the office.

Last year, Cook allegedly told his California-based colleagues that they were required to be at their desks for three days each week as a minimum.

While he said this was driven by a 30 per cent plummet in productivity, staff alleged this was not the case at all.

Twitter users have slammed the tech giant for its own rules on remote working in California, despite marketing the headset towards remote working purposes

Tech boss, Tim Cook, announced the 'revolutionary' product yesterday, with promotional videos highlighting its ability to transform any location into the 'perfect workspace'

Instead, they claimed that it was driven by the 'company's 'fear of the future of work, fear of worker autonomy [and] fear of losing control'.

They also added that the in-person model would make Apple 'younger, whiter, [and] more male-dominated'.

The group wrote: 'It will lead to privileges deciding who can work for Apple, not who'd be the best fit.

'Privileges like "being born in the the right place so you don't have to relocate", or "being young enough to start a new life in a new city/country" or "having a stay-at-home spouse who will move with you".

'And privileges like being born into a gender that society doesn't expect the majority of care-work from, so it's easy to disappear into an office all day, without doing your fair share of unpaid work in society. Or being rich enough to pay others to do your care-work for you.'

In March, one Twitter user claimed Apple monitors badge use on scanners at the headquarters

Following Monday's launch, many wonder if Apple will now change its remote working policies

In March, one Twitter user also claimed the firm was monitoring employee badge-use on scanners at the headquarters.

'Apple is tracking employee attendance (via badge records) and will give employees escalating warnings if they don't come in 3x per week,' the post read.

'At Apple, some orgs are saying failure to comply could result in termination, but that doesn't appear to be a company-wide policy.'

Following yesterday's launch, many have wondered if Apple will now change its remote working policies for employees to use the immersive technology at home.

One Twitter user said: 'I want to see if Apple relaxes its return to office policy once its employees use Vision Pro.'

Another added: 'Ah, the irony of Apple marketing the Vision Pro as a superior remote work tool, while they're calling their employees back to the office.'

Even so, Pamela Rae-Welsh, founder of the web development and marketing business Worsley Creative also told MailOnline there are some dangers with this.

She said: 'Spending excessive time in virtual environments might limit opportunities for real-life social interaction and the development of essential social skills.

'Overindulgence in VR experiences might lead to a preference for virtual interactions over real-life interactions, which could result in reduced socialisation and potential withdrawal from real-world activities. Consider this on already marginalised groups and this could be very detrimental. We already see some of this in immersive gaming.'

Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET also added: 'Launching a high-end, non-essential and outrageously expensive product is an odd move in the middle of a cost of living crisis. The pricing may put off some consumers but criminally minded developers will be attracted to this new main stream technology and inevitably test it to find any ways it could be used to exploit people.

'Bad actors, however, are often quick to take advantage of current trends via both digital assets and new physical devices and no doubt this will be tested on. Deep fake audio and video, for example, is rapidly becoming a threat vector to watch out for especially when new technology such as this can often increase or amplify scams.'

MailOnline has approached Apple for comment.
Billowing clouds of soot might not be what you expect astronomers to get excited over.

But now researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have found that the rings of a distant galaxy are full of cosmic smoke.

Astronomers have discovered complex organic molecules commonly found in smoke and soot in a galaxy more than 12 billion light-years from Earth.

However, far from being a sign of intergalactic pollution, scientists think that this discovery can help us understand how stars formed in the very earliest stages of the universe.

Because this galaxy is so far away, the light coming from its rings has been traveling for billions of years by the time it reaches the JWST.

Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have found that the rings of a distant galaxy are full of cosmic smoke

The universe's TRUE colours: NASA combines images from James Webb and Chandra X-ray Observatory - READ MORE NGC 346 is a star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, about 200,000 light years from Earth. The images from the James Webb Space Telescope show plumes and arcs of gas and dust that stars and planets use as source material in their formation Advertisement

This allowed scientists to observe the galaxy known as SPT0418-47 as it was when the universe was only 1.5 billion years old - about 10 per cent of its current age.

Normally, using a telescope to study something so extremely distant would not be possible.

Yet, luckily for the researchers, SPT0418-47 is almost perfectly aligned with another, closer galaxy.

Justin Spilker, an astronomer at Texas A&M University, and lead author of the study, explained that this creates a natural 'cosmic magnifying glass' as light from the distant galaxy is bent and stretched by the gravity of the closer body into a ring shape called an 'Einstein Ring.'

The light from this Einstein Ring can be up to 30 times brighter than it would have been otherwise, letting scientists view objects that would normally be too distant and dim to see.

Dr Spilker said that this is what drew him and his team to study this galaxy in the first place, because 'it really lets us see all the rich details of what makes up a galaxy in the early universe that we could never do otherwise.'

Kedar Phadke, who led the technical development of the project, said that thanks to the Webb Telescope, scientists are now able to make discoveries that never would have been possible before.

'Discoveries like this are precisely what Webb was built to do: understand the earliest stages of the universe in new and exciting ways,' Mr Phadke said.

'It's amazing that we can identify molecules billions of light-years away that we're familiar with here on Earth, even if they show up in ways we don't like, like smog and smoke.'

The light from an Einstein Ring can be up to 30 times brighter than it would have been otherwise, letting scientists view objects that would normally be too distant and dim to see

The scientists used the JWST and gravitational lensing to study infrared light emitted from the distant galaxy to find the presence of molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Forming near newly formed stars which give out masses of ultraviolet light, PAHs soak up that energy to become something like a cloud of smoke in space.

These long, tangled chains of hydrogen and carbon atoms play an important role in the birth of stars by absorbing energy and regulating how the gas in galaxies is heated or cooled.

Dr Spilker said: 'These big molecules are actually pretty common in space. Astronomers used to think they were a good sign that new stars were forming. Anywhere you saw these molecules, baby stars were also right there blazing away.'

However, with this new discovery, the power of the JWST may have shown that smoke did not always mean fire in the early days of the universe.

'Thanks to the high-definition images from Webb, we found a lot of regions with smoke but no star formation, and others with new stars forming but no smoke,' Spilker added.

This means that the presence of cosmic smoke does not always mean that stars will be forming nearby, overturning previous assumptions about how galaxies form.

The research team behind this discovery now hopes to use the JWST to learn even more about how stars were formed near the beginning of the universe, with plans to search for PAHs in two more galaxies even further away.

'Now that we've shown this is possible for the first time, we're looking forward to trying to understand whether it's really true that where there's smoke, there's fire,' Spilker added.

'Maybe we'll even be able to find galaxies that are so young that complex molecules like these haven't had time to form in the vacuum of space yet, so galaxies are all fire and no smoke. The only way to know for sure is to look at more galaxies, hopefully even further away than this one.'

However, scientists will have to work fast. In May, the team that operates JWST reported that the same equipment used in this study was not gathering as much information as it is supposed to, with two of the four channels on the JWST's spectrometer losing up to 50 per cent of data collected.

While Dr Spilker remains hopeful that the issue will be fixed, he warned that if the degradation continues 'observations like the one we did will either be impossible or very difficult in a year from now.'

'Hopefully that urgency encourages all of us in the community to try to make the most out of the instrument now, while we still can,' he told MailOnline.

The study was published in Nature.
The creator of the darkly addictive sci-fi series Black Mirror saw it fitting to ask ChatGPT to conjure up an episode for Season 6 only to find the chatbot 'is sh***.'

Charlie Brooker, 52, said he typed in 'generate Black Mirror episode' and received a story 'that sorta mushed' all the other ones together.

The first thing Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker did, when everyone was trying ChatGPT for the first time, was to type in 'generate Black Mirror episode.'

Speaking to Empire, Brooker found there was no real thought behind the AI-generated script, only that it read 'plausibly.'

Brooker  who has been writing most episodes of the haunting, Twilight Zone-esque series since its first 2011 season on UK's Channel 4  said that his brush with an AI-generated doppelganger of his own show did teach him to be less robotic himself.

The Black Mirror creator's experience with ChatGPT has encouraged him to make bolder creative choices with future seasons of the dystopian anthology series. One upcoming episode 'Beyond The Sea,' starring Josh Hartnett (above) takes place in an alternate 1969

ChatGPT was first unleashed in November, sparking excitement and alarm at its ability to generate convincingly human-like essays, poems, form letters and conversational answers to almost any question.

'I was aware that I had written lots of episodes where someone goes 'Oh, I was inside a computer the whole time!'' Brooker told Empire Magazine during an exclusive tease of the new season, which lands on Netflix this month.

'So I thought, 'I'm just going to chuck out any sense of what I think a Black Mirror episode is,'' he admitted.

'There's no point in having an anthology show if you can't break your own rules.'

Brooker likened reading ChatGPT's version of his series to being the subject of a parody impersonation from 1970s British comedian Mike Yarwood ('there's a topical reference,' Brooker joked.)

'Just a sort of nice, cold glass of water in the face,' he said.

One upcoming episode of the series, 'Beyond The Sea' starring Kate Mara, Josh Hartnett and Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul, sounds characteristic of Brooker's penchant for creative risk-taking and bold new directions for the show.

The episode, exclusive stills of which were shared with Empire, takes place in an alternate version of 1969 where its protagonists have been set on an impossible mission.

By the episode's end, Brooker said viewers will have experienced a 'sort of dystopian past, present and future.'

Charlie Brooker, 52, said he typed in 'generate Black Mirror episode' and received a story 'that sorta mushed' all the other ones together

Black Mirror's new season comes to Netflix this June. Brooker told Empire that he wants to do new things with the series, saying the point of an anthology show is to 'break your own rules.' Above Anjana Vasan stars in a new episode, 'DEMON 79' set in Northern England in 1979

Brooker says the period settings for these new episodes will inform 'how the characters are thinking and behaving,' including Aaron Paul's character (above) in 'Beyond the Sea' this June

'I had the plot idea first and then, at one point, I thought [sarcastically], 'What if I set this in the late '60s? That'd be, like, disruptive and cool!''

The writer, whose work included satire and horror before creating Black Mirror, said that the alternative period piece idea matured into telling a novel story pinned in a dark and critical way to the attitudes of that mid-century Apollo era.

'When you actually come to write it, you realize, 'Oh, hang on, if this is a different time and everyone in it is from that time, that actually informs how the characters are thinking and behaving.''

'I don't think there was a deliberate rejection of nostalgia,' Brooker said, 'so much as it was just a fun thing to do.'

Black Mirror Season 6 is due to hit Netflix on June 15, with an all-star cast led by Salma Hayek, Michael Cera and Rory Culkin - among other well-known celebrities.

Fans will be left questioning what is real and what isn't from the very start, with Netflix playing a pivotal role - and providing a meta twist - in opening episode Joan Is Awful.

The dystopian show has captured the world's attention for more than a decade now, with its twisted take on the future of technology.

And in April fans went wild after Black Mirror made a surprise return to Twitter, after four years of total silence, with the tweet: 'What have we missed?'
The overall prize goes to photographer Brian Pollock for a series of images he shot in the Scottish Highlands

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Prepare to fall under Scotlands spell, courtesy of these spellbinding pictures.

These remarkable photographs are all winners and finalists in the 2023 Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year awards, an annual contest that celebrates the scenery of Scotland in all its glen-filled glory.

This year, the contest saw more than 4,000 images submitted by both Scottish photographers and talent from further afield  everywhere from Australia to the Netherlands. An Edinburgh street blanketed in snow, a thundering waterfall on the Isle of Skye and a glorious white-sand beach in the Outer Hebrides are among some of the beautiful landscapes that were captured by photographers whose work was honoured in the contest.

The title of Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year, however, goes to Brian Pollock - based in the town of Bearsden near Glasgow - for his portfolio of three stunning images taken in the Scottish Highlands.

Commenting on his victory, Pollock says: The outdoors and the Scottish landscape, in particular, have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember and it is a privilege to be able to share that passion through my photography.

Competition founder Stuart Low weighed in: Once again, I'm humbled by the huge support shown by photographers to the awards. These awards and the photographers' images promote Scotland massively and give the country a huge boost for tourism. Im sure that this year's collection of stunning images will touch many peoples hearts. Without further ado, heres MailOnline Travels pick of the breathtaking images that have garnered acclaim in the contest  scroll down to the very bottom to see pictures from the overall winner

Commended in the 'Landscapes' category, this otherworldly photograph by Alan Johnstone shows a misty morning in Binning Wood in East Lothian

This picture by photographer Glenn Murray shows Gairloch Church in Northwest Scotland in the late afternoon. Murray says: 'The pre-setting sun provided this rich, saturated scene.' The image is part of a wider collection that is highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

Titled 'Going Up', this picture by photographer Graham Niven shows a waterfall 'defying gravity' on the Isle of Skye. It's from a collection of images that are highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

This atmospheric picture shows Ardmair Beach near the village of Ullapool in Northern Scotland 'under leaden skies'. Commended in the 'Seascapes' category, it's the work of photographer Rob Sutherland

The ferocity of Storm Brendan, a storm that struck Scotland in early 2020, is captured 'raging' against the 'ballast bank' earth bank in the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, in this dramatic shot by photographer Stuart Strachan. It's a runner-up in the 'Seascapes' category

A runner-up in the 'Landscapes' category, this dreamy photograph shows 'trees appearing through a cloud inversion at sunrise'. It's the work of Marc Pickering

This enchanting shot by photographer Robert Quig shows mist over a cluster of lochside trees. It's from a series of images that are highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

This glorious shot from Quig's portfolio shows 'a splash of sunlight' on Luskentyre beach on the west coast of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, 'prior to a stormy weather front approaching from the north'

Commended in the Seascapes category, this stunning aerial shot by photographer Bill Crookston shows a rocky beach at the southern end of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute

Appropriately titled 'White Out', this cleverly-composed picture of a snowstorm in Aberdeen takes the top prize in the Urban category. Photographer David McLauchlin points out the person 'casually walking across the road' in the image, 'seemingly unconcerned' by the snowy weather as they look at their phone

LEFT: Describing this breathtaking image, photographer Grant Bulloch says: 'A day of passing snowstorms provided a backdrop to the oil platform on the far side of the Firth of Forth.' Bulloch adds that the picture was taken from the slopes of Arthur's Seat, a hill in Edinburgh, using a special telephoto lens. It's commended in the 'Seascapes' category. RIGHT: Commended in the 'Landscapes' category, this spectacular image was captured by Steven Oates at the Corrieshalloch Gorge in Braemore. Oates says 'an early morning, summer visit' to the gorge was 'rewarded with a fast-flowing and full falls, mist, and some striking rays from the low rising sun'

Commended in the 'Seascapes' category, this painterly photograph by Mark Ferguson shows waves crashing against the sea cliffs of Yesnaby on the west coast of Orkney Mainland island

This moody shot of St Andrews Harbour by Graham Hutchison, titled 'City Lights', is commended in the 'Urban' category

Fog spills over Craigmore hill near the Perthshire village of Aberfoyle in this powerful shot by photographer Richard Fox. It's part of a series of images that is highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

LEFT: This enchanting photograph forms part of Erik Lornie's 'highly commended' collection of images in the 'Portfolio' category. Titled 'Winter at Loch Gamhna', it shows a beautifully soft orange sky in the 'afternoon light on a peaceful winter's day in the Cairngorms National Park'. RIGHT: The sunrise brings a beautiful amber tone to this striking photo of the Needle, a 37m- (121ft) tall rock in the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye. It is part of a wider portfolio by Jos Pannekoek that is highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

This magnificent shot - a second image from Jos Pannekoek's highly commended portfolio - shows Stac Pollaidh mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland behind radiant reeds bathed in 'golden light', with a 'beautiful rainbow' overhead

Almost tropical in appearance, the turquoise waters of Farr Bay on the north coast of Scotland can be seen in this brilliant shot by Calum Hamilton, which is highly commended in the 'Seascapes' category

'I left Inverness at 8.30 in the fog and rain as this was the first time in Torridon I was out for some photos and new locations,' says photographer Arthur Mitchell, describing the story behind this magical image of a Highlands fisherman's hut. The photo forms part of his commended portfolio

Steve Marson recalls capturing slender Downy Birch trees 'in the rising sun on a wintry autumn morning beside the River Dee'. It's from a collection of images that are highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

This dynamic photograph from Steve Marson's highly commended portfolio shows 'challenging conditions on the west coast of Lewis', with 'dramatic seas and skies'

Captured by Alan J Bain, this charming shot of Edinburgh's Circus Lane 'caught in an early morning snow shower' is one of a collection of images that is commended in the 'Portfolio' category

Autumnal trees are reflected in the waters of the Union Canal on a foggy morning in Linlithgow, a town in West Lothian, in this richly-coloured shot. Taken by David Queenan, it's from a collection of pictures that are highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

This striking photograph is the handiwork of photographer Ian Bowie, whose body of work is highly commended in the 'Portfolio' category

Another image from Ian Bowie's highly commended portfolio, this image shows the Harris mountain landscape in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The photographer says: 'I'd been expecting conditions to be fine and, with light showers forecast, I headed up An Clisham hoping for a sunrise over these little but impressive range of summits'

This shot was commended in the 'Portfolio' category, with photographer Bob Davis saying he was 'struck by the juxtaposition of the washing line against the industrial harbour'

Finn Curry captured this striking photograph shortly before the arrival of a storm. It's one of a series of photos that have been named runner-up in the 'Portfolio' category

This magical winter-time scene, featuring the mountain of Buachaille Etive Mor in the Highlands of Scotland, was captured by overall winner Brian Pollock. He describes the snowy landscape - captured from his perch on the nearby peak of Beinn a'Chrulaiste - as 'pristine'. The picture is from a collection of photographs that also take the top prize in the 'Portfolio' category
This year BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME celebrates its 10th anniversary, so the globally renowned festival will be upping the ante.

WORLD CLUB DOME has dazzled fans with its stacked line-ups, unique festival design, and innovative productions, which will transport fans to the enchanted seas of Atlantis for this years edition.

This years festival, which will take place in Germany, is set to draw over 180,000 attendees who will see incredible performances from 250 artists across 25 stages.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the three day event.

Exciting: This year BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME celebrates its 10th anniversary, so the globally renowned festival will be upping the ante

Star-studded: BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME regulars Steve Aoki, David Guetta (pictured), Boris Brejcha, and Headhunterz return to deliver incredible performances

When is WORLD CLUB DOME festival

From June 9th to 11th, 2023, Frankfurts Deutsche Bank Parks stadium will be transformed into a sunken kingdom.

Doors open at 3pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. Stages will begin to close 11pm, with the full festival closing at midnight.

Who are the main music acts?

BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME regulars Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Boris Brejcha, and Headhunterz return to deliver incredible performances.

They will be joined by chart-topping DJ's such as Marshmello and Swedish House Maffias Sebastian Ingrosso.

Tech house Jamie Jones, Charlie Sparks and Robin Schulz are sure to get the crowd bouncing over the weekend.

Hardstyle legends such as Da Tweekaz, Anger Fist and Scooter will grace the festival grounds.

The full star-studded line-up can be found here.

The set times are yet to be confirmed, with the festival stating on their website that the times will be released 'closer to the time of the event'.

Where can I get tickets?

Limited weekend tickets are available for the event and start from 188, you can purchase them here.

About WORLD CLUB DOME

BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME will be transforming 700,000 square meters of land into a new city district for three enchanting days of musical fantasy.

Clubbers can lose themselves outdoors at the WCD Pool Sessions or head indoor where their favorite headliners will blast some of the biggest tracks through 1.8 million watts of sound.

Festival founder & CEO Bernd Breiter said: 'We are incredibly excited to be celebrating 10 years of the BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME.

'We have been working hard to put together a lineup that will make this year's festival truly special, and we can't wait to share it with our fans.

'This year's event is set to be the biggest and best yet, and we can't wait to see everyone returning to the Deutsche Bank Park to experience our Atlantis theme.'

More information can be found here.
Next week is expected to be as action-packed as ever in the Hollyoaks village, with more crimes, scares and turmoil than ever.

After learning of her unexpected pregnancy, Yazz is torn whether she wants to keep her baby, especially given her husband Tom's hopes of starting a family.

The upcoming episodes also come as Hollyoaks prepares to battle it out at the British Soap Awards this week, with Jane McDonald replacing Phillip Schofield as host.

Elsewhere, Cindy and Grace being to plot their Love Boat heist, but a misplaced gun throws the whole plan into jeopardy.

Here is everything you need to know about next week's action in Chester...

Pregnant Yazz suffers a nasty health scare

Hollyoaks SPOILERS: Yazz and Tom are on different pages, regarding her surprise pregnancy, given his open desire to start a family

Worrying: Things take an unexpected turn when Yazz doubles over in pain on the floor in her husband's arms, and she is rushed to hospital - will the baby be OK?

Tom is finding it hard to hide his excitement over the pregnancy, and when Yazz discovers Steph cutting up pictures she shouts at the youngster.

When Yazz tries to tell Tom her true feelings about the baby, Steph interrupts to apologise and show Yazz that she only cut the photo so she could put a picture of Juliet in a locket.

The three of them go to give the locket to Peri, but when Yazz goes to get them, she is left nauseas at the smell of the stew from the kitchen.

Tom puts his foot in it when he accidently reveals to Peri that Yazz is pregnant. After Tom is kicked out, Peri asks Yazz how she feels.

Things take an unexpected turn when Yazz doubles over in pain on the floor in her husband's arms, and she is rushed to hospital.

Over at the hospital, Tom is in a frenzy awaiting news on his wife who was rushed into surgery and their unborn child, and later the couple receive some devastating news...

Grace and Cindy face more setbacks in their heist plot

Oh dear! Elsewhere, Cindy and Grace being to plot their Love Boat heist, but a misplaced gun throws the whole plan into jeopardy

With Cindy back in on the bank heist plan, Luke's Angels are back in action, a call from their getaway driver cancelling puts a spanner in the works as the girls need to find a substitute.

Just when they thought they were out of options, an unsuspecting Damon gives Cindy and Zara an idea, and they try and convince him to join in on their scheme and become their getaway driver.

Zara bumps into Jack and when the conversation gets stirred into the direction of his former career as a policeman and robberies he'd worked on, wanting to gain intel for the upcoming plan she takes down as much information as possible.

Back at The Loft, Zara and Cindy receive a visit from DS Zoe telling them they've had a tip off about an upcoming robbery.

Damon arrives concerned about Zara's recent strange behaviour, and Grace has a theory it was him who went to the police.

When they're alone, unable to keep it from him anymore Zara confesses their plan to rob an armored van to Damon.

Later, when Damon turns up at The Loft, the owner and Cindy interrogate the newest recruit to find out his real reason for agreeing to help, but the questioning leads to more answers than expected when Cindy admits she called the cops yesterday to gain more insight.

Damon claims he wants a new life and the money he can make from the heist can ensure that, but when Grace puts a gun in front of him will he still want to be a part of the scheme.

Agreeing they need Damon, Grace tasks him with getting a vehicle, and leaves the bear with the gun in with Cindy to put away, but in a rush she leaves it on a book shelf.

When Grace hears that Curtis and Hilton are playing with a teddy bear Zara's never seen before the worried mum rushes home.

Realising they're in above their heads, Grace calls off the robbery but Cindy is determined, even if she has to do it alone...

Determined to do what's needed to keep her family and friends safe Grace gives Cindy some harsh words which backfires and spurs her on even more.

Knowing she needs to protect Cindy from herself, Grace agrees to be back in on the job, but is it all as it seems?

Charlie ends up behind bars

Concerning: As teen Charlie continues to struggle with anxiety, a new twist in his struggle with drugs leads him to spend a night behind bars

Charlie is struggling with the pressure of his looming maths exam, and at home he worries he'ss messed up his test but Shing Lin has an idea to take his mind off it.

When Darren returns home the two teens are quickly rumbled, but Dillon comes up with a way to get Darren out the house so Charlie and Shing Lin can pick up where they left.

Unfortunately things don't go to plan Charlie's paranoia kicks in, and he tells Shing Lin to leave.

Charlie is struggling with his emotions and lashes out at Darren and Shing Lin, and later at the park, Shing Lin decides to not tell Dillon about what really happened the night before with Charlie.

When Charlie walks by and gets the wrong idea, he thinks he's being laughed at he pushes Dillon to the ground.

Things go from bad to worse for Charlie when him and Dillon meet Taz to pick up some more drugs but are caught red handed by DS Zoe who arrests Charlie.

After spending the night in police custody, troubled teen Charlie is let off with a caution.

However, its far from over as dealer Taz is determined to find out what happened, as a guilty Darren stays quiet, and instead opens up to Charlie about his mental health journey and encourages him to see a professional.

The teen agrees, but as the pair wait for his appointment at the hospital, a slip of the tongue leads to the truth coming out - how will Charlie react?

Hollyoaks airs weekdays at 6:30pm on Channel 4. First look episodes air at 7pm on E4.
Michelle Pfeiffer's younger sister Dedee Pfeiffer made a rare appearance over the weekend.

The 59-year-old actress was seen at the Race To Erase MS gala at the Fairmont Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday.

The beauty is best known for her work in several horror films. She began her career appearing in films include Vamp, The Allnighter and The Horror Show.

Pfeiffer later starred as Cybill's daughter, Rachel, in the CBS sitcom Cybill and as Sheri DeCarlo-Winston in the sitcom For Your Love.

When at the star-studded gala - which also saw Denise Richards, Kathy Hilton, Cheryl Burke and Jonathan Cheban as guests - Dedee wore her hair up and added glasses, making her difficult to recognize.

On the carpet: Michelle Pfeiffer's younger sister Dedee Pfeiffer made a rare appearance over the weekend. The 59-year-old actress was seen at the Race To Erase MS gala at the Fairmont Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday

Cute gal: When at the star-studded gala, Dedee wore her hair up and added glasses, making her difficult to recognize

She has an interesting family.

Dedee is the younger sister of 65-year-old Michelle Pfeiffer - full name is Michelle Marie Pfeiffer.

She is a prolific performer whose screen career spans over five decades.

Michelle became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as one of the era's most popular sex symbols.

Pfeiffer has received three Academy Award nominations to date: Best Supporting Actress for Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and Best Actress in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) and Love Field (1992).

One of her first big films was Grease 2 but she made her boldest impression with Al Pacino in Scarface in 1983.

Pfeiffer also played the world's favorite big screen Catwoman with 1992's film Batman Returns.

She worked with Angelina Jolie in Maleficent 2.

Sissy: She is the younger sister of 65-year-old Michelle Pfeiffer - full name is Michelle Marie Pfeiffer. She is a prolific performer whose screen career spans over five decades. Seen in February

Sibs: The sisters are pictured hosting the 8th annual Pink Party to benefit Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Program in Santa Monica in 2012

Big film: Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock, Al Pacino as Tony Montana and Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera in Scarface, 1983

Pals: Angelina Jolie, left, and Michelle pose during the photo call for the European premiere of the movie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, in Rome in 2019

New: Michelle seen in an Instagram post from last week

And she has a Marvel following thanks to 2015's Ant-Man, 2018's Ant-Man And The Wasp and this ear's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Her other hits include Dangerous Minds (1995), One Fine Day (1996) and What Lies Beneath (2000).

Michelle was married to actor Peter Horton in 1981. Horton directed Pfeiffer in a 1985 ABC TV special, One Too Many, where she played the high school girlfriend of an alcoholic student (Val Kilmer).

In 1988, Pfeiffer had an affair with John Malkovich, her co-star in Dangerous Liaisons, who at the time was married to Glenne Headly.

Power husband: In 1993, Pfeiffer married television writer and producer David E. Kelley. He is best known for producing Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Goliath, Big Little Lies, and Big Sky; seen in 2022

Pfeiffer and Horton separated in 1988, and were divorced two years later.

Pfeiffer then had a three-year relationship with actor/producer Fisher Stevens.

In 1993, Pfeiffer married television writer and producer David E. Kelley.

He is best known for producing Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Goliath, Big Little Lies, and Big Sky.
Sir Tony Robinson has spoken of the lucky twist of fate that saw him cast as Baldrick in Blackadder after he nearly missed out on the role.

The actor, 76, came to prominence as as Edmund Blackadder's dogsbody Baldrick in the British historical sitcom in 1983 and he stayed in the role until 1989.

But it was actor Philip Fox who portrayed Baldrick in the original pilot of the show, which was called The Black Adder and was filmed on 20 June 1982.

Sir Tony had been cast just three days before cameras were set to roll but a BBC strike at the time put it on the back burner before it was commissioned a year later when he once again got the call leading to his rise to fame.

Ahead of Blackadder's never before seen pilot airing on Gold ahead of the show's 40th anniversary, Sir Tony told this week's Radio Times how the show came to be and how it was perfected throughout the first series.

Stroke of luck: Sir Tony Robinson, 76, has spoken of the lucky twist of fate that saw him cast as Baldrick in Blackadder after he nearly missed out on the role (pictured last year)

Rise to fame: The actor came to prominence as as Edmund Blackadder's dogsbody Baldrick in the British historical sitcom in 1983 and he stayed in the role until 1989 (Sir Tony pictured as Baldrick in 1989)

He explained: 'In a way, series one was itself a pilot. In the first weeks rehearsal, immediately we knew what was wrong and what was right, but it was already on the production line and we couldnt really change it that much.

'Throughout the first series, we were trying to polish it, all the while knowing that if we could just throw away some bits and start again, we could do something with a different dynamic.'

Sir Tony was delighted to see the pilot has 'flashes that are really, really good' but admits the first scene is 'tedious'.

'Theres a desperate attempt to explain the whole concept and, like any first scene ever, it gets a blue pencil through it very quickly,' he said. 'It just shows you how inspiration travels  you can start off with something ghastly and then you make the leap, and suddenly youve got something interesting.'

Blackadder's 40th anniversary milestone will be marked with two documentaries on Gold, while Sir Tony will uncover the never before broadcast 1982 pilot.

Sir Tony said previously in a statement: 'Blackadder holds a special place in the nation's heart and in mine too.

'I'm delighted to be part of its 40th Birthday celebrations on Gold. It's been wonderful to journey back to where it all began and chat to some of the biggest names in comedy who made it all happen.'

Meanwhile UKTV channel Gold said: 'Tony's journey takes him back in time to find out where Blackadder really began, and to uncover the story of the never-before-broadcast 1982 Blackadder pilot episode.

On screen: Sir Tony was cast three days before cameras were set to roll but a BBC strike put it on pause before it was commissioned a year later when he once again got the call to appear (Sir Tony, left, pictured as Baldrick alongside Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder in 1989)

Original: It was actor Philip Fox (pictured) who portrayed Baldrick in the original pilot of the show, which was called The Black Adder and was filmed on 20 June 1982

'It's a personal story for Tony - Baldrick has defined his career and playing the character transformed his life. But Tony didn't play Baldrick in the pilot [Philip Fox did]. And there's so much about Blackadder's beginnings he doesn't know.

The anniversary will also be celebrated with a special set of stamps, Royal Mail has announced.

Eight of the stamps capture moments from all four series of the classic sitcom - from the mists of medieval England to the court of Queen Elizabeth I - while a further four depict Edmund Blackadder his various guises over each of the series.

The stamps feature some of the show's best-loved characters, played by stars including Sir Tony, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed and the late Patsy Byrne.

A presentation pack including all 12 stamps will be available for 19.60.

Speaking out: Sir Tony spoke to the current issue of Radio Times, on newsstands now

Launched in 1983 by writer Richard Curtis and star Rowan, with the assistance of BBC producer John Lloyd and co-author Ben Elton.

Richard said: 'We're very amused and delighted. It's a great relief for Blackadder to have his head on a stamp, instead of on a stake.'

Producer John added: 'The entire team behind Britain's leading situation tragedy is deeply honoured by Royal Mail's magnificent stamps of approval.

'In the words of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, VC KCB, "Let's give them a damn good licking!"'

The first episodes of the show, written by university friends Richard and Rowan, were set in the 15th century during the fictional reign of King Richard IV.

Blackadder II jumped forward in time to follow the shifting fortunes of Lord Edmund Blackadder, an ambitious courtier to the giddy young Queen Elizabeth I, while the third instalment was set in the early 19th century during the Regency of the impressively-trousered royal heir, Prince George.

It followed the adventures of crafty butler Mr E Blackadder, who spends his days tormenting his lice-infested minion Baldrick and cooking up cunning plans to improve his social standing.

The final series, Blackadder Goes Forth, was set in the First World War, where Captain Blackadder and his fellow soldiers in the trenches try every trick in the book to evade the inevitable order to go 'over the top'.

The pilot will air on Thursday 15 June at 9pm on Gold.
A controversial Byron Bay influencer has sparked debate for selling T-shirts decorated by her five-year-old son for up to $60 a pop.

Ruby Tuesday Matthews, 27, raised eyebrows this week by announcing she was selling tops that had been tie-dyed by her middle child Mars on Instagram.

Modelling one of the tops on Instagram Stories, the mother-of-three told her audience: 'Mars has a few shirts and singlets that we are going to sell here'.

'100 (sic) of the profits go into his piggy bank as he does not have a bank account yet. He just owes me money for the die [sic] and shirts LOL but I'll let that slide,' she added.

Ruby, who recently came under fire for using a photo of Mars to promote her brand Robey, accompanied this with more images of herself modelling Mars' T-shirt designs, which were priced between $50 and $60.

Ccontroversial Byron Bay influencer Ruby Tuesday Matthews, 27, (pictured) has sparked debate for selling T-shirts decorated by her five-year-old son for up to $60 a pop

Ruby raised eyebrows this week by announcing she was selling tops that had been tie-dyed by her middle child Mars on Instagram

Instagram 'snark' account Dutch Minty has since reposted the images, sparking a lively debate about Ruby's latest enterprise.

'People are literally struggling to pay for groceries, $50 is a jokeeeeee,' one user commented.

'I'm sure she has plenty of spare change she could be putting in her sons piggy bank. $50 for a tie dye shirt and they tie dye isn't even that vibrant? Ya jokin,' another added.

Modelling one of the tops on Instagram Stories, the mother-of-three told her audience: '100 (sic) of the profits go into his piggy bank as he does not have a bank account yet'

Ruby, who recently came under fire for using a photo of Mars to promote her brand Robey , accompanied this with more images of herself modelling Mars' T-shirt designs, which were priced between $50 and $60

Some users were concerned that Ruby's post suggested she doesn't have a savings account for her children, with one writing: 'Even in my brokest days my kids have accounts with an [accounts payable] going into them weekly.'

However other users defended Ruby's money-making venture, calling it a clever parenting strategy.

'Doesn't bother me. She has a platform and in turn, so do her kids. No one's holding a gun to anyone forcing them to spend $50. I think she's using supply and demand to help her child understand value and economics,' one user wrote.

Some users criticised the cost of Ruby's shirts, while others expressed concern that her post suggested she doesn't have a savings account for her children

'This is a fantastic lesson to Mars on the value of hard work and supply demand. Kudos to Ruby for teaching a lesson here,' they added.

Another wrote: 'Who cares though? If you don't want them, don't buy them. I don't get the issue.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ruby for comment.
Kathy Hilton will not appear in the upcoming 13th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The news about the 64-year-old reality television personality was confirmed by People on Monday, when a source revealed that she was never present during the production of the show's new run of episodes.

The media figure, who recently reunited with her estranged half-sister, was said to have been primarily focused on the second season of her daughter Paris' program, Paris In Love.

Hilton also spoke to E! News and expressed that, although she would not appear in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' new season, she was certain that the program would be as entertaining as ever.

'I know it's going to be great. It's always interesting and fun and lots of drama,' she stated.

Gone: Kathy Hilton will not appear in the upcoming 13th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; she is seen earlier this month

Not around: The news about the 64-year-old reality television personality was confirmed by People on Monday, when a source revealed that she was never present during the production of the show's new run of episodes

The socialite made her debut as a guest on the hit Bravo program during its first season, which aired in 2011.

She went on to appear in the same capacity for a total of five further non-consecutive runs of episodes.

Hilton was eventually named as one of the friends of the housewives for the series' eleventh season and filled the same role for its twelfth.

The media figure quickly became a favorite with the show's fans and was often asked if she would consider becoming a full-time cast member, although she shot down any prospects of joining the series as a housewife.

The designer previously began a much-publicized feud with longtime cast member Lisa Rinna, who departed the Real Housewives franchise this past January.

The 59-year-old reality television personality accused Hilton of speaking poorly of several of the show's members, which led to a rift opening between the latter and her sister, Kyle Richards.

However, the relatives went on to reconnect during a bridal shower that was held for their niece, Whitney Davis, that took place last month.

The media figure expressed that the meeting 'went well' and that she would 'like to' patch things up with her younger half-sister in the future.

Starting off strong: Hilton was eventually named as one of the friends of the housewives for the series' eleventh season and filled the same role for its twelfth

Fan favorite: The media figure quickly became a favorite with the show's fans and was often asked if she would consider becoming a full-time cast member, although she shot down any prospects of joining the series as a housewife

In hot water: The designer previously began a much-publicized feud with longtime cast member Lisa Rinna, who departed the Real Housewives franchise this past January

Richards, 54, recently spoke to E! News and remarked that her relationship with Hilton was 'obviously not great.'

However, the Halloween actress stated that 'we're family, we're blood. We'll always come back together.'

The performer also added that she wanted to 'be back to normal again' with her sibling in the future.

The premiere date for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' upcoming thirteenth season has not been revealed as of yet.
            

   Ahmad Mousa Jiyad

Iraq/ Development Consultancy and Research, Norway

                       .





  



6  2023





My Preface for Tariq Shafiq Second Book on Iraq Petroleum





Ahmed Mousa Jiyad





Development Consultancy & Research

Norway





A few months ago, Tariq Shafiq (Abu Ehsan) asked me to write the preface of his second book on the Iraqi petroleum. After exchanging a few emails and reading the material of the book, I wrote the preface and post it to him. In his usual kind humble and encouraging way he wrote back saying, "Akhi Al-Aziz [Dear brother], I cannot find the right words to thank you for the super Preface





His well received first book, "Oil And Politics In My Life, was published in Amman, 2022. Soon after that, he began working on his second, the title of which was still under consideration, then.





Unfortunately and regrettably, our dear friend, colleague, brother and mentor, Tariq passed away Saturday 3rd June 2023 in Amman, Jordan, at the age of 92 years.





On this sad occasion, but for the good memory and recognition of Tariq Shafiq, below is my preface for his second book, which I sincerely hope will be published soon.









PREFACE





Writing a forward for this invaluable book is a daunting challenge but also a profound privilege; my colleague, Tariq Shafiq is my senior by age, by experience and, yes, by international professional stature.





I have known Mr. Shafiq for many years, we maintain good and productive contact, worked together on many issues pertaining to Iraqi petroleum sector, and I benefited and indeed enjoyed tremendously from his wise council, professional insightfulness, and kindness.





His views appeared on many reputable industry journals, websites, think-tanks, international conferences and even the US Congress. He provided advisory service and expert council to the IEA, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil among others. He was instrumental in the management of INOC at its early stage during the 1960s.





The current book comprises published and unpublished contributions that, timewise, stretched between 1998 and as recent as February 2022; this is a manifestation of his vibrance, commitment, engagement and above all conscious preoccupation with what takes place in the country and proposing what to do about it.





Analytically, his expertise, insights, professionalism, and outstanding contributions are well articulated through the thematic spectrum revealed throughout the articles of this invaluable book.





By reviewing the manuscript of this book, I could, methodologically, regroup the articles under the following thematic framework.





Governance and Legal Modalities.





Many articles are related to and about the Federal Oil and Gas Law-FOGL or Petroleum Law, Iraq National Oil Company- INOC Law and the Constitution.





These three "instruments would, if all were promulgated, effectively implemented and adhere to form the fundamental pillars that could govern, to a large extent, the petroleum sector, and the prospect of its development; except the 2005 Constitution, the other two are still in limbo.





Much of Tariq Shafiq efforts and contributions were focusing on these highly interrelated topics, as manifested by the number and contents of his articles regarding them.





As events and evidence tell, FOGL and INOC Law are, wrongly, intertwined and both were captured by the ambiguity of the Constitution that permits different, and more often than not, contrasting interest-centred politicised interpretation.





KRG Petroleum Politics





His discussion and assessment of KRG views and practices are framed within his views on FOGL, INOC Law, the Constitution and production sharing contracts-PSCs modality offered and contracted by KRG to IOCs.





He emphatically opposes the PSAs/PSCs, and by the following he holds the same view since he believes that, "removes from INOC and/or the North and South Companies the operators role and reverses a three-decade-old practice, placing operatorship back into the hands of IOCs.





He further argues that KRGs opposition to petroleum law and related matters, reflects KRGs oil policy, which is part and a parcel of its aspiration or de facto confederate status, which conforms neither with the constitution nor the will of the people.





KRGs PSCs Vs. MoO Service Contracts





Obviously, he opposes KRG PSCs/PSAs and also has serious remarks and reservations on the Service Contracts of the Ministry of Oil that were concluded pursuant to the known bid rounds for brown fields, green fields, gas fields and exploration blocks.





His article "PSAs Vs Service Contracts, The Case of Iraq provides further insights on and comparative analysis for these two contracting modalities.





His argument regarding the "operatorship of fields offered to IOCs, obviously, applies to both types of contracts.





Petroleum development policy constraints





He makes clear distinctions on and identification of what impedes sound petroleum policy at different phases in the country, but in the final analysis, he asserts, that policy was dysfunctional, though at varying degrees.





A wide range of post 2003 invasion impediments include those featured a failed state, ethno-sectarian division, widespread corruption, and the near absence of functioning institutions and proficient human resources.





The historical perspectives of the Iraqi Petroleum





Moreover, Tariq is a conscious patriotic witness on the history of oil industry in the country; he lived through the most critical and challenging phases, particularly in what relates to INOC at its embryonic formation.





He eloquently tells his narrative and views, which are invaluable, insiders fact-based testimonies on more than half a century and turbulent history of the country in his book recently published by eKutub and through many articles in this volume; his own life and that of his family were at real serious risk.





Reserves and Iraq petroleum potential





In addition to his political, governance and contracting modalities contributions, one of his outstanding attributes is related to his field of academic education, knowledge and specialisation: geology.





He provides a wealth of educational material on the geology of the country, the specifics of fields structure, and policy-oriented views on Iraqs petroleum potential, among other related topics, as many articles in this book exhibit; in this regard he is a renowned authority.





Based on that solid knowledge and conviction, Tariq persistently argues that Iraqs enormous, proven reserves and potential make it the only major Middle East country with relatively untapped and inexpensive oil resources.





Commissions and Assignments





In addition to his publications, conference attendance and presentations, Mr. Shafiq was specifically requested to provide consultancy and advisory assignments, which I would like to highlight a few.





He was instrumental and had central role in a team of three to draft Federal Oil and Gas Law-FOGL/Petroleum Law upon a request from Dr. Hussain Al-Sharistani, the Minister of Oil during the first Noori Al-Maliki government.





From February 2007, FOGL draft was tempered with by domestic politics, many different drafts were circulated since then and that law remains in limbo as I write this Preface.





Tariq reveals more on the complexities of this issue and other aspects of his relationship with Al-Sharistani in his book "Oil and politics in my life: History & Geopolitics Iraq Oil Exploration & Development. Publisher eKutub. 18 February 2021 (An executive summary of the book is included in the current manuscript: Oil and Politics in my life) and his article, "Dr Shahristani And I Parted The Way republished in this book. Surprisingly, Al-Sharistani makes no reference to this issue in his book, "Free Of Fear (Author House, UK 2021)





The International Energy Agency- IEA called Tariq Shafiq, "one of founding fathers of Iraqs petroleum industry and selected him as, "Expert council for its first ever study on "Iraq Energy Outlook, the Special Report of World Energy Outlook, 2012. He provides more insights on the study in his interview with Ben Lando, Iraq Oil Report, 30 October 2012 and his Keynote Presentation at the Second IEA Workshop On Iraq Energy Outlook, Istanbul, May 2012, which I was invited to and attended.





Two others, would be, assignments with the Ministry of Oil are worthy of mentioning in recognition of Tariq Shafiq stature and professionalism; both assignments are not known publicly, but I do keep their formal details in my database, since I was directly involved in both of them.





When Adil Abdul Mahdi was the first Minster of Oil under Dr. Haider Al-Ibadi government of 2015, he asked Tariq and me for consulting assignment. After very careful considerations and exchanging emails with the Minister, we, Tariq and I agreed, prepared the framework of the mission and offered our service free-of-charge. I posted our feedback directly to the Minister, he welcomed it and nominated a DG of a company associated with the Ministry to be the contact officer for the mission. But, before we formalize the assignment with the Ministry of Oil, the Minister resigned, in March 2016, and the mission was forgotten, for a while.





Jabbar Luaibi became the second Minister of Oil under Al-Ibadi government, the Ministry, at the directives of the Minister reiterated the assignment, but this time through a third person; we both, Tariq and I declined for very different reasons and, after careful and considerable consideration from my side.





The Ministry did not pursue that mission any further after that person presented the first report; in a TV interview, Jabbar Luaibi expressed dissatisfaction with that report and that assignment was terminated; I might elaborate further on this case in my forthcoming book covering 2017 within my research and publishing project on Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle-IPSC Project





Tariq Shafiq is a man of principles, integrity and patriotic. A case in point must be revealed.





When the tedious INOC Law 4 of 2018 was approved by the Parliament, confirmed by the President of the Republic, and published in official Gazette, Tariq and I took different routes in opposing the law. I pursued the "appeal option before the High Federal Court, and when the appeal was launched by my colleagues Fouad Al-Ameer and Majid Allawi, Tariq was very supportive and expressed readiness for any needed assistance. We won the appeal!





In my view, I found it really relevant as is vital to highlights on some of the above mentioned specific direct involvement he had and the role he plaid in them, some of which I was involved too.





Moreover, the reader will, surely, find much interesting, specialised and highly professionally informative explanations and insights on many decades of development in the Iraqi petroleum sector from different perspectives. Also, the reader will have unique opportunity to see how an insider professional proposes ways to move forward for better resolution of complex problems facing the country and petroleum sector.





As the current book is a collection of already published articles over a span of more than two decades and these are now republished "as is/was, it is therefore, important to keep this fact in mind when reading this book; each article reflects the particularities of the time when it was published, the conditions prevailed then and the conventional wisdom of their time.





I am really and honestly privileged by writing this Preface and am sure this book is and will be an invaluable addition to the library on Iraq petroleum, particularly for those who are interested in truthful, evidence-based, and professional understanding of the history of this vital sector.









I stop here, leaving you with more time, wishing you good reading and many thanks to my dear brother and colleague Tariq (Abu Ehsan) for enlightening us through these rich thought-provoking and inspiring articles republished in this important book and unique reference.









Ahmed Mousa Jiyad

Development Consultancy & Research

Norway
Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni wowed as they graced competing covers of Super Magazine this week.

The America's Got Talent judge, who just celebrated her 50th birthday, looked stunning on the black and white cover - which saw her cover her modesty with a feather boa.

She wore opera gloves and accessorized with large diamond earrings.

Heidi's long, blonde hair was pulled to one side and her thick bangs were styled in wisps away from her face.

The mom of four, shares Leni, Henry, 17, Johan, 16, and Lou, 13, with her ex-husband Seal, 60.

Ageless: Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni wowed as they graced competing covers of Super Magazine this week

'Nepo baby' Leni, 19, who is an aspiring model, looked beautiful in a bright pink sequined top with pink feathers.

She wore natural looking make-up that made her blue eyes pop.

The model reclined on one arm holding her head in her hand as her dark blonde hair fell gently down her back.

Leni is the oldest of Heidi's four children and the only one to follow her into modeling, so far.

The supermodel also shares Henry, 17, Johan, 16, and Lou, 13, with her ex-husband Seal, 60.

In honor of Pride month, Heidi has joined with the Elton John Aids Foundation to 'End AIDS for All,' and encouraging fans to 'Let your inner Elton out.'

The Germany's Next Top Model host posed in a bright yellow outfit with huge gold glitter glasses in a photo with her husband, Tom Kaulitz, 33.

The musician was dressed in a black suit, with a black shirt and bow tie, and donned a large pair of gold glitter lightning inspired glasses.

Blue eyes: Leni, 19, looked beautiful in a bright pink sequined top with pink feathers. She wore natural looking makeup that made her blue eyes pop

Family business: Leni is the oldest of Heidi's four children and the only one to follow her into modeling, so far. The supermodel also shares Henry, 17, Johan, 16, and Lou, 13, with her ex-husband Seal, 60

Challenge: Heidi encouraged her 11 million followers to 'let your inner Elton out' as part of a challenge to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Heidi and husband, Tom Kaulitz, 33 joined the fun in a photo supporting the initiative which was launched Monday

'I am excited to join the #InnerElton challenge!' the influencer wrote on Instagram next to the photo.

'Im letting my Inner Elton out because I believe if everyone embraces their most authentic selves, we can create a more loving and stigma-free world for all.'

She then invited her followers to 'Join me in supporting the Elton John AIDS Foundation and let YOUR Inner Elton Out too!'

'Post your best Inner Elton photo and make sure to tag #ejaf and #InnerElton.'

The new post was in conjunction with the Grammy winner's launch of The Rocket Fund.

The $125 million, three-year initiative will 'accelerate the Foundations life-saving work to tackle the growing rates of HIV infections in vulnerable communities,' according to the organization website.
Tommy Little has tried his hand at a cooking tutorial, and he's brought a very NSFW spin to it.

The Project presenter took to his Instagram story on Monday to show his almost 300k followers what he was cooking for dinner.

But to spice up his chicken and black bean sauce recipe, he added some creative but crude commentary.

His first story showed the ingredients he was using for his dish, including oyster sauce, black beans, onions and shitake mushrooms.

He captioned the snap: 'S**t, take my mushrooms.'

Tommy Little (pictured) has tried his hand at cooking tutorials, and he's brought a comedic spin to it

The HIT FM radio host then showed his chicken marinating in a bowl along with the black beans, and added the crude caption: 'Now flick my (black) bean.'

In his next story, Tommy upped the ante as she showed some finely cut peppers and garlic, writing: 'And cut me some lines please...'

To finish off his cooking tutorial, the comedian posted a photo of his finished chicken and rice dish, with the caption: 'Where are ya chick? It's been a while'.

The Project presenter took to his Instagram story on Monday to show his almost 300k followers what he was cooking for dinner

But to spice up his chicken and black bean sauce recipe, he added some creative but crude commentary

In his next story, Tommy upped the ante as she showed some finely cut peppers and garlic, writing: 'And cut me some lines please...'

This comes as rumours are swirling that Tommy has grown very close to his HIT FM co-host Carrie Bickmore.

The presenter recently split from her partner of of 11 years Chris Walker, while Tommy is also single following his break-up with girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021.

Tommy rushed to the mother-of-three's side in January when she confirmed her split, leading insiders to speculate their friendship could evolve into something more.

In recent months Tommy has shared several gushing tributes to Carrie on Instagram, and in one post called her the 'best in the business' who 'lifts up everyone around her and makes them look good'.

Tommy shared each step of his recipe and wrote some crude comments

To finish off his cooking tutorial, the comedian posted a photo of his finished chicken and rice dish, with the caption: 'Where are ya chick? It's been a while'

Ahead of her last day on The Project last November, Tommy also treated the blonde bombshell to a private helicopter ride across Melbourne.

He is often seen close to her at glitzy events, including the 2022 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) last October, where he didn't leave her side even as guests got up from their tables and mingled with others.

The duo are regularly seen posing for cosy selfies on social media, which has prompted curious fans to question whether romance is on the cards.

'You guys make a lovely couple,' one recently commented on a photo of the pair.

Rumours are swirling that Tommy has grown very close to his HIT FM co-host Carrie Bickmore (both pictured)

'Get a room already, you two,' another said.

Their professional relationship began in 2016 when Tommy joined Carrie on the panel of The Project.

A year later, the pair began co-hosting Hit Network's Melbourne drive show in 2017, and immediately gained a cult following thanks to their entertaining and organic banter.

Carrie announced her split from her longtime partner Chris in January this year via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children, Ollie, 15, Evie, seven, and Adelaide, four.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered an apology over past allegations of groping which surfaced during his 2003 campaign for governor of California.

The action star, 75, opens up about the issue in his new Netflix documentary series Arnold, speaking about the backlash that occurred amid an October 2, 2003 report from the Los Angeles Times that quoted six women as saying the film star had past groped them.

At the time of the accusations, Schwarzenegger acknowledged that he'd 'behaved badly sometimes' but 'never grabbed anyone,' saying the accusations were 'made-up.'

But in the new three-part documentary on the streamer, Schwarzenegger gives a more candid look back at the way he dealt with the scandal, and the things he'd been accused of.

'My reaction in the beginning, I was kind of  defensive,' said the Austria-born star, according to a report from Rolling Stone, which has had a sneak peek at the documentary.

The latest: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, has offered an apology over past allegations of groping which surfaced during his 2003 campaign for governor of California in his new Netflix documentary Arnold

The Terminator star in the documentary condemns his past behavior regardless of cultural context, referring back to his early days as a star bodybuilder in Venice Beach, California.

'Today, I can look at it and kind of say, it doesn't really matter what time it is,' Schwarzenegger said. 'If it's the Muscle Beach days of 40 years ago, or today, that this was wrong.

'It was bulls***. Forget all the excuses, it was wrong.'

The documentary on the streamer features an interview with Times reporter Carla Hall, who worked on the story and gave background into the probe on the film star-turned-politician.

She said the newspaper began looking into Schwarzenegger after he announced his candidacy in August of 2003 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

'When Schwarzenegger announced he was running for governor, the staff of the LA Times immediately went into high gear to start looking into stories that we had heard for years, but no one had actually investigated them fully,' Hall said. 'We had barely six weeks to work on this, and we started talking to women.'

Schwarzenegger prevailed in the October 2003 election to replace then-Democratic Governor Gray Davis, as well as alternate Democratic candidate Cruz Bustamante. He held office as California's 38th governor from 2003 to 2011.

Hall said she was surprised by the lack of backlash to the reports at the time.

The Terminator star in the documentary condemns his past behavior regardless of cultural context, referring back to his early days as a star bodybuilder in Venice Beach, California

In the doc, the actor says, 'Today, I can look at it and kind of say, it doesn't really matter what time it is. If it's the Muscle Beach days of 40 years ago, or today, that this was wrong. It was bulls***. Forget all the excuses, it was wrong'

The action star opens up about the issue in his new Netflix documentary series Arnold, responding to the series of allegations he faced during his 2003 gubernatorial campaign in California. Pictured in August of 2003 in Fresno, California

The documentary is one of multiple projects Schwarzenegger has been working on the streamer with, as he also stars in the show Fubar. Pictured last month in LA

'Personally, I was surprised that it didn't have more of an effect on the election,' Hall said. 'I thought that more people would be offended themselves.'

In the documentary, Schwarzenegger also speaks on the topic of fathering son Joseph Baena, 25, with his one-time housekeeper Mildred Baena, during a time he was wed to now-ex-wife Maria Shriver.

'The reason why I really feel reluctant talking about it is just because every time I do, it opens up the wounds again,' Schwarzenegger said. 'And I think that I have caused enough pain for my family because of my f***-up.'

Schwarzenegger said that 'everyone had to suffer' because of his course of actions.

'Maria had to suffer, the kids had to suffer, Joseph, his mother, everyone,' he said. 'I'm gonna have to live with it the rest of my life.

'I mean, you know, people will remember my successes, and they will also remember those failures. And it's a major failure. I mean, I have failures in the past, in my career. But like, this? This is like a whole different ballgame; a whole different dimension of failure.'

The actor has kind words in the doc for Joseph, who is seen in the feature working out alongside his father.

'As I saw Joseph developing into a fantastic human being, and a fantastic man, he makes me feel proud, and I feel really good about him,' Schwarzenegger said. 'It was wrong what I did. But I don't want to make Joseph feel that he's not welcome in this world because he's very much welcome in this world. And I love him.

'And he's turned out to be an extraordinary young man. I am very happy that, within this sad story, we were able to raise the kids really well.'

The documentary is one of multiple projects Schwarzenegger has been working on the streamer with, as he also stars in the show Fubar.

Arnold is set to drop on Netflix on Wednesday.
Channel Nine star Allison Langdon has been happily married to journalist Michael Willesee Jr. since 2008.

But in a new interview with Show and Tell, the A Current Affair host admitted her memory of their very first meeting is a little blurry.

Allison, 44, said she remembers falling in love with Mike at first sight at a Sydney bar, but mistakenly recalls meeting him when he wore a red T-shirt.

But Allison said Mike has corrected her when she retells the story to friends, saying he's never owned a red T-shirt in his life.

'We were at a bar and this guy walked in and he had his red T-shirt and dark jeans and you just have that moment where you just have like an overwhelming physical attraction to someone? I just got hit by this,' Allison said.

Channel Nine star Allison Langdon has been happily married to journalist Michael Willesee Jr. since 2008. But in a new interview with Show and Tell, the Parental Guidance and A Current Affair host admitted that her memory of their very first meeting is a little blurry

'And I finished telling the story, blah, blah, blah and Mike interrupted me and says, ''I've never owned a red T-shirt'' she hilariously added.

The pair went on to tie the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in the idyllic Noosa in 2008.

The couple share a son Mack and a daughter called Scout together.

Allison, 44, said she remembers falling in love with Mike at first sight at a Sydney bar, but mistakenly recalls meeting him when he wore a red T-shirt. But Allison said that Mike has corrected her when she retells the story to friends, saying he's never owned a red T-shirt

Last year, Allison revealed she has forbidden her husband from ever remarrying if she dies young.

She said she made the decision while filming a risky 60 Minutes segment while shark diving.

'A couple of years ago I was diving with great white sharks on a shoot. Before jumping in I took my mask off and said "tell my husband if I die he must mourn me forever and never remarry,"' she told Andy Lee while appearing on his show The Hundred in September.

Allison said her statement took her cameraman by surprise.

Despite this, the pair went on to tie the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony in the idyllic Noosa in 2008. The couple share a son Mack and a daughter called Scout together

'I think he was expecting me to say something really profound,' she quipped.

Deciding whether Allison's words were a 'd**k move', Andy joked it seemed pretty 'selfish'.

In February, Ally said her husband was 'incredibly proud' of her for landing the role as host of A Current Affair.

Last year, Allison revealed she has forbidden her husband from ever remarrying if she dies young. Ally said she made the decision while filming a risky 60 Minutes segment while shark diving

'He was incredibly proud [when I received the call],' Allison said on the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

'And he thinks I'm much nicer now that I'm sleeping more!' she joked after her stint on the Today show.

Ally's late father-in-law Mike Willesee previously hosted ACA.
Nadia Bartel has transformed herself from obscure fashion blogger to A-list fashion designer.

And the Henne star, 37, flaunted her fashion credentials yet again for the Winter Ball in Melbourne on Saturday.

Nadia looked dazzling as she flaunted her trim pins in a white minidress which featured a corset top and ruffled skirt.

The skirt also featured a ribbon and a train.

Nadia paired the all white look with putting her brunette tresses in an elegant half-up, half-down style and a glossy make up palette.

WAG Nadia Bartel, 37, proved herself an A-list fashion star as she flaunted her trim pins in a glamorous white dress for Winter Ball on Saturday in Melbourne. Pictured

The annual Winter Ball supports Ellie Rogers and Lisa Bardas' charity The Two Sisters Foundation and aims to raise money for breast and ovarian cancer research.

The dress theme for this year's event was snow queens and black tie.

Bartel began her foray into fashion with her Chronicles of Nadia fashion blog in 2012, before segueing into sales with online store The Con-Nection in 2015.

Fashion label Henne was launched in 2019.

Nadia recently reflected on her snorting scandal while appearing on The Morning Show last month before her triumphant appearance at Fashion Week.

Nadia looked dazzling as she flaunted her trim pins in a white minidress which featured a corset top and ruffled skirt. She finished her look with white heels

The Henne designer was famously filmed 'snorting white powder' and breaking Melbourne's strict lockdown in September 2021.

Nadia spoke about 'owning her mistakes' during the tough interview.

'Whenever you have time to reflect and take a step back and really focus on the people around you that really do know you,' Nadia began.

Nadia paired the all white look with putting her brunette tresses in an elegant half-up, half-down style and a glossy make up palette

'For me, I've got really long-term friends who I have been really close with for the last 20 years and a really close family. They can help to lift you up when you are feeling in a flat place,' she said.

The star said she has 'leaned' on them quite a lot as she usually does during difficult or challenging times in her life.

'I did lean on them quite a lot as I kind of have throughout my whole life when difficult things have happened,' she added.

Nadia has made a huge comeback after her snorting scandal with her having a triumphant showing at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in May. Pictured

Nadia also admitted she had to dig deep and rely on her own 'inner strength' too in order to deal with the turmoil.

'But I think you're always got your own inner strength in something like that as well. And when you know who you are...It's nice to call on those close people around me.'

The star added she's putting all her energy into her business and her two sons, Aston and Henley, whom she shares with Jimmy Bartel.
Roxy Jacenko has revealed she was prepared to get a divorce when her husband Oliver Curtis moved to Singapore last month for work.

The Sydney PR guru's marriage has been under scrutiny for weeks after it was revealed that she'd sold her family mansion in Sydney's Vaucluse and shut down some of her businesses after Oliver relocated to the Southeast Asian country for a job.

Roxy, 43, has since confirmed that she and Oliver haven't split, and that she's decided to move to Singapore as well, however on Tuesday she finally admitted that divorce was actually on the cards.

Speaking to The Kyle And Jackie O Show, the mother-of-two revealed she'd argued with her 37-year-old husband about his decision to leave, noting that he'd had spent years splitting his time between Sydney and Tasmania for his previous job.

She also debuted a dramatic new look for the interview after dissolving her famous lip fillers and dying her peroxide blonde hair back to a natural brown colour.

Sydney PR guru Roxy Jacenko, 43, (right) revealed on Tuesday that she was prepared to get a divorce after her husband Oliver Curtis, 37, (left) moved to Singapore last month for work

'I basically said to Ollie, "look, you go to Singapore and I'll stay here". And he's like, "well, I don't know if that won't work". And I was like, "well, it's worked for the last five years",' she said.

Roxy recalled how he told her he needed to be a resident of Singapore for the sake of his job and personal finances.

'I was like, "Ok, well then what's my option?" He goes, "oh, we have to get divorced".'

Surprisingly, Roxy said she was perfectly content with ending her marriage then and there.

She also debuted a dramatic new look for the interview after dissolving her famous lip fillers and dying her peroxide blonde hair back to a natural brown colour

Surprisingly, Roxy said she was perfectly content with ending her marriage then and there

'I'm good with that. So just give me the paperwork, I'll sign the paperwork we can get divorced. You do your job there and I'll stay here. And we'll visit',' she said.

However Roxy eventually decided against ending the marriage and agreed to move the whole family to Singapore for the sake of her daughter Pixie, 11, and Hunter, eight.

'It's time. They need a dad around, and because he's never here... like, he comes [back home to Sydney] like two days at a time,' she explained.

She also blamed her long-distance relationship with Oliver as the reason why she constantly spoils her children with lavish gifts, claiming she struggles to tell her kids 'no' when he isn't around.

Roxy later joked that Oliver 'probably has a wife in each port', adding: 'But hey, whatever, it's 2023.'

Speaking to KIIS FM's The Kyle And Jackie O Show, Roxy admitted that divorce was actually on the cards just a few weeks ago, before she'd decided to move overseas with her husband. (Roxy and Oliver pictured with their daughter Pixie, 11, and Hunter, eight)

Split rumours intensified earlier last month when the Sweaty Betty PR founder announced she was selling the family's Vaucluse trophy home (pictured)

However Roxy finally announced that she will also be jetting to Singapore last week after closing down several businesses including her daughter Pixie's Bows and hocking her designer bag collection

Elsewhere in Tuesday radio interview Roxy spoke briefly about her drug-taking past during a sly exchange with host Kyle Sandilands.

The entrepreneur was explaining how she previously splashed thousands of dollars on Birkin handbags to elevate her social status when Kyle interjected: 'I bought bags as well'.

Kyle's statement referred to the slang term 'bags', meaning a package of drugs, usually cocaine.

'Yeah well, I may have done that in a former life,' Roxy giggled, adding: 'But hey, cheery Tuesday! Thank you, but no thank you.'

Elsewhere in Tuesday radio interview Roxy spoke briefly about her drug-taking past during a sly exchange with host Kyle Sandilands (pictured)

Roxy previously admitted to abusing drugs and alcohol while Oliver was serving time in prison for insider trading in 2016.

During an interview with The Project in September 2019, Roxy had admitted she 'indulged in things' and 'drunk herself into a stupor' while being a single parent to two young children and also dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.

'I lost my marbles entirely. I think for me, how I was living was a mechanism to deal with it. I had to go to work, I was running four businesses, I had the two kids on my own,' she said, reflecting on her life while Oliver was behind bars.

Roxy explained that she was living 'what she thought was her best life' and felt that substance abuse and partying were the only ways to deal with stress.
She was spotted spending some quality time with a mystery man in Venice, Italy last week.

And the name of Emma Watson's friend has now been revealed as American businessman Ryan Walsh, The Sun reports.

Just days after it was reported she'd split from the son of retail tycoon Sir Philip Green, Brandon, Emma, 33, could be seen smiling as she walked alongside Ryan.

The pair rode in one of the city's water taxis and dined at a restaurant on the tiny island of La Certosa, where they were joined by two others.

Harry Potter actress Emma was with Brandon for 18 months and it was also in Venice where their relationship became public after they were spotted affectionately holding hands.

Quality time: After they were spotted in Venice last week, the name of Emma Watson's friend has now been revealed - she has been hanging out with American business man Ryan Walsh

Out and about: Emma and Ryan were seen smiling as they walked alongside each other in Italy, just weeks after she split from her boyfriend Brandon Green (Emma pictured in 2018)

For her visit with Ryan, the actress wore a silk summer dress and oversized white shirt, while her companion dressed down in a black T-shirt and black linen shorts.

The film star is believed to have been pictured with her friend in 2019, and also in Venice  but that time it was Venice, California.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Emma for comment.

Emma and Brandon are said to have split some time after Christmas - following a 'serious' romance which lasted around 18 months.

Brandon had a reputation as a party-lover and previously dated a number of models. He was once caught patting Kate Moss' bottom on holiday in St Barths.

Raised in the tax haven of Monaco his Bar Mitzvah, at the fabled Hotel Du Cap, included performances by Beyonce and Andrea Bocelli.

However, more recently he demonstrated an interest in good works including biodiversity and the oceans, and was described as 'polite and smart' by friends.

With a fledgling tech investments company, Brendan had seemed a good match for Watson, a serious-minded woman who took a degree at Brown University post-Potter.

Hand-in-hand: Actress Emma was with Brandon for 18 months and it was also in Venice where their relationship became public after they were spotted affectionately holding hands (Emma and Brandon pictured last year)

She now harbours ambitions behind the camera, having set up two film production companies and directed herself in a Prada commercial.

She has also developed a grape-based gin, Renais  some of the grapes for it come from her father's vineyard in France.

Emma famously remarked during a period when she was single that she was 'self-partnered' but by more conventional standards she has been a serial monogamist  and serially unlucky in love.

An early boyfriend was rugby player Tom Ducker. He was followed by a more serious romance with fellow Oxford University students Will Adamowicz and Matt Janney.

Long-term: Emma has a number of exes, including fellow University of Oxford alum Will Adamowicz, who she was with from 2011 till 2013 (Emma and Will pictured in 2012)

She has dated three young tech millionaires, most significantly the entrepreneur William 'Mack' Knight. They split in late 2017 after a two year romance. On the rebound she had a six month love affair with handsome Glee actor Chord Overstreet. They broke up during the summer of 2018.

She was then spotted sharing cocktails with tech CEO Brendan Wallace, the is co-founder of a venture capital fund who she may  or may not  be dating again now.

By the summer of 2019, she had moved on to another tech millionaire, Brendan Iribe, CEO of Oculus. He was followed by businessman Leo Robinton, with whom she spent two years.

In an interview she said: 'The boyfriends or partners I've had have generally made me feel really cherished. They've built me up.'
Cara Delevingne was spotted while working on the New York City set of American Horror Story: Delicate on Monday.

The 30-year-old performer was costumed in a nearly all-black-and-white outfit as she filmed scenes for the long-running program's upcoming twelfth season.

The actress, who is currently set to appear in a forthcoming biopic centered on Patricia Highsmith, wore a black double-breasted jacket and a pair of form-hugging leather pants during her time on set.

Delevingne also donned a slightly oversized white button-up shirt and a wide-brimmed hat as she worked on the show.

The Paper Towns actress added a bit of color to her look with a pair of pink Ugg-style boots.

On set: Cara Delevingne was spotted while working on the New York City set of American Horror Story: Delicate on Monday

Fashionable: The 30-year-old performer was costumed in a nearly all-black-and-white outfit as she filmed scenes for the long-running program's upcoming twelfth season

Her gorgeous blonde hair fell onto her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with the neutral tones of her clothing.

It was revealed that American Horror Story had been renewed up to its thirteenth season in January of 2020.

Series co-creator Ryan Murphy subsequently revealed that the show's new run would be based on Danielle Rollins' book Delicate Condition, which will be published later this year.

The novel will be centered on an actress who struggles to achieve a balance between her rising public profile and her arduous IVF journey.

At the same time, the character begins to suspect that a malevolent force is keeping her from successfully becoming pregnant.

According to Screen Rant, the book has been described as the 'feminist update to Rosemary's Baby.'

Emma Roberts, who has appeared in several seasons of American Horror Story to date, will serve as one of the new season's leads.

In addition to Delevingne, the cast of the show will be rounded out by Matt Czuchry, Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Kim Kardashian.

Suited up: The actress wore a black double-breasted jacket and a pair of form-hugging leather pants during her time on set

Making a statement: Delevingne also donned a slightly oversized white button-up shirt and a wide-brimmed hat as she worked on the show. The Paper Towns actress added a bit of color to her look with a pair of pink Ugg-style boots

Back with a vengeance: It was revealed that American Horror Story had been renewed up to its thirteenth season in January of 2020

Source material: Series co-creator Ryan Murphy subsequently revealed that the show's new run would be based on Danielle Rollins' book Delicate Condition, which will be published later this year

Murphy recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and expressed that the reality television powerhouse would fill a 'fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role' in the new season.

The producer also expressed that the new run of episodes would be 'ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.'

Delevingne was first spotted while filming scenes for the new season this past April.

American Horror Story: Delicate's release date has not been revealed as of yet.
Sonia Kruger is perhaps best known for her film role as Tina Sparkle in the 1992 Baz Luhrmann hit, Strictly Ballroom.

And the presenter, 57, proved Tina was back when she stepped out for a night out in Sydney city on Saturday night.

Sonia ensured all eyes were on her in a stunning burnt orange wrap dress which stopped at the star's slender thighs.

The glamazon paired the eye-catching dress with a white Off-White handbag and semi-transparent heels for the night out.

The Seven star wore her trademark blonde tresses out and opted for a glossy makeup palette.

Tina's back! Sonia Kruger, 57, channeled her iconic Strictly Ballroom character Tina Sparkle as she enjoyed a night out in Sydney on Saturday. Pictured

Sonia was seen walking with a male pal during her night out with her arm in arm with the stylishly-dressed man.

Sonia recently opened up about her tips to having incredible, youthful skin all over your body.

She took to Instagram earlier this month to reveal that she added a particular product to her daily routine, and that it's done wonders for her skin.

The Bio-Oil product is a hydrating gel moisturiser that has the moisturising benefits of an oil paired with the absorption of a gel.

Sonia ensured all eyes were on her in a stunning burnt orange wrap dress which stopped at the star's slender thighs. She carried a pricey Off White handbag

Sonia recently opened up about her tips to having incredible, youthful skin all over your body.

She took to Instagram earlier this month to reveal that she added a particular product to her daily routine, and that it's done wonders for her skin.

The Bio-Oil product is a hydrating gel moisturiser that has the moisturising benefits of an oil paired with the absorption of a gel.

Sonia has spent the past 10 years paying close attention to her skincare.

Last year, the Australian television star and mum-of-one gave FEMAIL a sneak peek behind the doors of her beauty cabinet, which features prominently Australian products.

Sonia was seen walking with a male pal during her night out with her arm in arm with the stylishly-dressed man

The most important part of Sonia's skincare ritual starts at the end of her working day when she begins the 'mission' of removing her make up.

The TV personality said she starts with Neutrogena's oil free eye make up remover before cleaning her skin again with Bioderma's Micellar Water.

She then uses Neutrogena's Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover before finishing off with The Deep Cleanse by Tatcha and slathering on a moisturiser.

'I will also use the Three Warriors Tasmanian sand scrub to take off excess body makeup and fake tan,' she added.

If she has worked the night before she always cleanses when she wakes up.

Sonia has spent the past 10 years paying close attention to her skincare

'I like to use Medik8 calm wise soothing cleanser as it's gentle on my skin but leaves me feeling fresh,' she said.

She then applies moisturiser including the QV Face moisturising day cream which is SPF 30 and a tinted moisturiser - she says she likes to splurge here with her favourite product being the $172 Rationale tinted serum which has an SPF 50.

When she isn't working, Sonia prefers to keep things simple and give her skin a break by 'keeping things pretty minimal'.

The presenter, who grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, also likes to maintain a beautiful golden tan - without damaging her skin - so needs to touch up her fake tan every few days.

'I use Three Warriors tanning mousse. It's actually really easy and I love that it's organic and chemical free, as well as the Three Warriors face tan aqua mist as it contains olive oil and gives me a bit of a glow in next to no time,' she said.

'In my 20s I wasn't as disciplined as I should have been with sunscreen. However, now, more than ever I have realised how important it is to nourish, hydrate and illuminate my skin in a way that's as natural as possible.'
Kylie Jenner had all eyes on her on Monday when she unveiled her incredible figure in a series of photos posted to Instagram.

The 25-year-old cosmetics mogul  who recently came under fire for flaunting her wealth on social media  shared photos snapped in her home's massive walk-in closet and grand foyer in which she nothing above the waist beyond a skimpy white bandeau.

The sizzling mirror selfies showed the Kardashians in the soft top and a pair of black low-rise pants.

She put her prominent cleavage and flat tummy on display as she gazed into her phone.

Later in the day, Kylie also celebrated her makeup artist Ariel Tejada's birthday in her Instagram Stories.

'Need summer now': Kylie Jenner was ready for warm weather when she unveiled her incredibly taut midriff in a white bandeau on Instagram on Monday

Intimate: She shared a pair of mirror selfies revealing her slimmed-down figure in her walk-in closet

For her main account post, Kylie accessorized with several thick gold bracelets, and she wore her long raven swept back and styled straight.

Despite the low-key nature of the photos, she had a full face of impeccable makeup.

In two photos taken at the front of her house, Kylie also gave her 393 million followers a closer look at her recent astounding weight loss.

A final photo showed her turned in semi-profile, which showed just how slim her midriff and arms had gotten.

'Need summer now,' she wrote, and it was clear that she already had her summer body ready to go, though the weather in Southern California is already plenty warm and sunny.

The photos were a stunning transformation for Kylie, who revealed last year that she had gained around 60 pounds during her second pregnancy with her son Aire.

Earlier this year, she said she had already lost around 40 pounds from her peak weight, and she claimed to have shed the weight via a mix of regular walking and Pilates.

She and her ex Travis Scott welcomed their baby boy in February of last year.

The couple also share their five-year-old daughter, Stormi.

Also on Monday, Kylie celebrated her makeup artist Ariel Tejada's birthday with some hilarious clips of the two that she posted to her Insta Stories.

One humorous clip featured a hilarious filter he used on her that gave her a round, chubby face and wide eyes that looked like they might pop out of her head at any moment.

At-home photoshoot: Other photos in the same outfit where snapped her mansion's foyer. She wore a pair of high-waisted black pants and turned in semi-profile revealing just how much weight she had lost since gaining 60 pounds during her last pregnancy

Having a laugh: Also on Monday, Kylie celebrated her makeup artist Ariel Tejada's birthday with some hilarious clips of the two that she posted to her Insta Stories. He shot one video showing her with a hilarious filter that gave her a round, chubby face and bulging eyes

Spreading the love: Although Kylie was embarrassed when she saw what it looked like on her, she decided to get in on the fun by filming her sister Kendall Jenner and her mother Kris with the same filter while they were aboard a private jet

Goofing off: Kylie and Ariel pranked Kris again in another video in which she carried on a nonsense phone conversation with her perplexed mother while Ariel tried to hide his laughter

Pals: But it wasn't all fun and games for Kylie and Ariel, and she shared a few sweet snaps of the friends and collaborators looking affectionate

Although Kylie was embarrassed when she saw what it looked like on her, she decided to get in on the fun by filming her sister Kendall Jenner and her mother Kris with the same filter while they were aboard a private jet.

Another funny video showed Ariel and Kylie pranking her mother over the phone.

Kylie put on a pair of headphones to make the call, but as soon as Kris answered, she repeatedly said 'Hello?' before saying 'No' over and over again throwing in occasional fake laugher, with perplexed her mother on the other end of the line.

But it wasn't all fun and games for Kylie and Ariel, and she shared a few sweet snaps of the friends and collaborators looking affectionate.
The Living Room co-host Barry Du Bois faces six months jail after being charged for driving with a suspended license.

The television lifestyle guru and designer, who has been battling cancer for several years, appeared before Waverly Local Court on Tuesday alongside his lawyer.

Police allege the 63-year-old TV star was busted driving by Eastern Suburbs Highway Patrol officers about 8.30am on May 17 in the suburb of Bondi, where he lives.

Court documents state the driving charge is the first faced by the father-of-two, who is yet to enter any pleas.

If convicted, the TV presenter and Cancer Council of Australia ambassador faces the prospect of up to six months in jail, according to NSW traffic laws.

The Living Room co-host Barry Du Bois faces six months jail after being charged for driving with a suspended license

Mr Du Bois is best known for co-hosting Channel 10's The Living Room lifestyle show for the past decade, where he hosted the show's renovations segment.

The cast bid farewell to fans last year after signalling a year-long hiatus, with the show's future still in doubt.

The news comes as Mr Du Bois continues to battle cancer which remerged after a decade-long battle in 2017.

The television lifestyle guru and designer, whose years-long battle with cancer drew national attention, appeared before Waverly Local Court on Tuesday alongside his lawyer

The news comes as Mr Du Bois continues to battle cancer which remerged after a decade-long battle in 2017. The TV star is pictured getting Chemotherapy in February 2018

He told the Adelaide Advertiser in March we was determined to fight the blood cancer.

'I looked, and I'm still looking, for every advantage I can find to give me an extra second, an extra day, maybe a week, or even a month with my children and this beautiful life that I've been gifted,' he said.

Mr Du Bois also made a surprise run for the Senate as an independent in the 2023 federal election.

He pulled out of the race after deciding that his 'health and family come first'.
Australia's most prolific porn star Angela White has revealed what it is really like dating a sex worker.

Speaking on the Inside OnlyFans podcast, White, who has appeared in more than 900 hardcore scenes, said sex workers often make for better partners because of their good communication skills.

'Relationships are difficult no-matter what your occupation is,' she explained.

'There's different issues that we have to deal with, but if anything we've learnt to be come so good at communicating what we need in a relationship, sexually that I feel like we've better communicators in many ways.'

White, 38, is thought to be single despite being intensely private about her personal life off-camera.

Australia's most prolific porn star Angela White has revealed what it is really like dating a sex worker. Speaking on the Inside OnlyFans podcast , White, who has appeared in more than 900 hardcore scenes, said often times sex workers make for better partners because of their good communication skills

Fans of the buxom brunette were recently left devastated as it was revealed Angela could soon turn her back on the porn industry.

After several high-profile TV and podcast appearances, the adult film star seems to be angling for a career in mainstream media or academia.

She hinted at her future career path last month when she spoke at a conference at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

'There's different issues that we have to deal with, but if anything we've learnt to be come so good at communicating what we need in a relationship, sexually that I feel like we've better communicators in many ways,' she said

Angela posed for a photo on Instagram next to social sciences and media studies professor Constance Penley.

'Academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she wrote in the caption.

During the college lecture, Angela spoke to film studies students about her career.

Not only does Angela have an extensive body of work in adult cinema, but she also holds a degree in gender studies from the prestigious University of Melbourne.

Angela sparked fears she's set to leave the industry after sharing photos of herself at the University of California, Santa Barbara, alongside professor Constance Penley

The performer, who popularised the sex position 'The Angela', took part in a question and answer session with students after her speech.

'This is my third time as a guest speaker at this film studies class that approaches pornography as worthy of serious inquiry as a genre and as popular culture,' she said after the lecture.

Angela thanked the students for their 'well-informed, thought-provoking questions' about her 'career as a performer and director' as well as her academic research.

'While it has been a number of years since my research dissertation was published in The Routledge Companion to Media, Sex, and Sexuality, academic pursuit remains an interest of mine and something I wish to return to in the future,' she added.
Radio presenter Dee Dee Dunleavy has topped the latest radio ratings a day after being axed from her afternoon show at Melbourne's 3AW.

Dunleavy, who was dropped from her afternoon show on Monday, celebrated a win in Tuesday's survey with 12.9 per cent share, up from 0.9 per cent.

Gold FM came second with 12.4 per cent share, while Fox FM placed third with 10 per cent.

Dunleavy has not commented on her ratings triumph.

The beloved radio host's shock departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after she was told her her services were no longer required.

Radio presenter Dee Dee Dunleavy (pictured) has topped the latest radio ratings a day after being axed from her afternoon show at Melbourne's 3AW

'3AW has agreed to an early conclusion for Dee Dee Dunleavy's on air role, after informing the broadcaster her contract would not be renewed at the end of the year,' the station said in a statement.

The station's statement also included a quote from Dunleavy saying, 'I'm happy to leave on a high, and with a record that I feel very proud of.'

A gutted Dunleavy took to Twitter revealing her devastation at the abrupt exit.

Dunleavy, who was dropped from her afternoon show on Monday, celebrated a win in Tuesday's survey with 12.9 per cent share, up from 0.9 per cent

'I was having the time of my life in my job. I'm devastated that it has come to an end,' she wrote.

The radio station's manager Stephen Beers said he wanted 'to thank Dee Dee for her three and a half years on Afternoons and before that her stint on Weekend Break with Grubby'.

'She's been a great part of the 3AW line up,' he said.

The beloved radio host's shock departure was announced by 3AW on Monday morning, shortly after she was told her her services were no longer required

Dunleavy said she 'took over the Afternoons program just as the pandemic plunged us into lockdown, and so I faced the dual challenge of navigating a new show  remotely  while keeping the audience informed and entertained'.

She thanked the listeners who had propelled the show during the pandemic.

'I am forever grateful to all the callers who shared with me on air their grief at losing loved ones, and their anguish at losing their jobs and businesses.

On Monday, Dunleavy tweeted (pictured) that she was 'devastated' after suddenly being dropped after 11 years with the station

'For those who were isolated I hope I was part of the comfort and connection that radio brought to them during that time.'

Dunleavy added that she 'thoroughly enjoyed hearing diverse opinions and discussing the stories that matter to Melbourne.

'I am grateful to 3AW for giving me the opportunity to grow my skills as a talkback presenter for the last 11 years.'

Though her contract is not up until the end of the year, Dunleavy will not get a chance to go on air to say goodbye to her listeners.

Instead, the station announced that Elise Elliott will fill in on the Afternoons show this week, with a decision about a permanent replacement to follow.

Though her contract is not up until the end of the year, Dunleavy will not get a chance to go on air to say goodbye to her listeners

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported recent 3AW recruit Jacqui Felgate is tipped to be taking over from Dee Dee, in the hopes of attracting a younger audience.

The former 7News presenter, 40, is said to be the 'golden child' at the station with network executives considering making her Dunleavy's permanent replacement.

Back in February, Felgate joined the 3AW AFL Broadcast Team to provide pre-game coverage for Friday night footy matches and has excelled in the role.

While insiders say the glamorous footy host is the popular choice to replace Dunleavy, other contenders include presenters Heidi Murphy and Emily Power.

A decision will be made about the permanent replacement in the near future.
Elliot Page revealed that he suffered from a scary transphobic attack last year.

The Juno star, 36, shared that a man threatened him with assault outside his hotel in Los Angeles, in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times.

The actor, who's been busy promoting his memoir Pageboy, said the man yelled, 'Im going to f*****g gay bash you, f****t,' while he was walking to a convenience store located on Sunset and La Cinega in West Hollywood.

Elliot, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, said he then went into the store to seek help from the employees, at which point the man yelled, 'This is why I need a gun!'

The Canadian-born entertainer shared he now feels less safe when visiting the City of Angels, telling the publication, 'Now when Im in Los Angeles, I dont feel comfortable like I used to going for walks.'

Scary: Elliot Page, 36, revealed that he suffered from a transphobic attack when a man threatened him with assault outside his hotel in Los Angeles in 2022; Pictured 2022

The Oscar-nominated actor told the LA Times reporter that the experience took place close to where they were meeting for the interview.

The The Umbrella Academy star also told the publication that though he may feel unsafe in certain places, he still has the privilege of being able to pay for private security and stay in safe hotel rooms.

'Doesn't mean its not traumatic,' Elliot added. 'But I have resources that, in every instance that is difficult, protect and can shield me from these things.'

It comes after Page recently recalled another unfortunate circumstance, when a 'famous a**hole' told him being gay 'doesn't exist' at a party in Los Angeles back in 2014.

Page recounted the moment in his upcoming memoir Pageboy in a chapter entitled 'Famous A**hole at Party.'

The person was an actor who Page referred to as an 'acquaintance', but his name was never revealed in the book.

In an excerpt obtained by People, Page recalled being told by the actor: 'You aren't gay. That doesn't exist. You are just afraid of men.'

Then, Page claims the actor told him: 'I'm going to f**k you to make you realize you aren't gay.'

Verbal assault: Elliot said the man yelled, 'Im going to f*****g gay bash you, f****t,' while he was walking to a convenience store in West Hollywood; Pictured 2019

Disturbing: Elliot said he then went into the store to seek help from the employees, at which point the man yelled, 'This is why I need a gun!'; Pictured 2021

Proud: The actor, who was once known as Ellen Page, came out as transgender in 2020; Pictured 2021

Several days later, Page ran into the actor at the gym. 'I don't have a problem with gay people I swear,' the actor insisted.

'I think you might,' Page replied.

While Page said he was 'purposely not sharing his name', he said the interaction was witnessed by many people at the party. 'But he will hear about this and know it's him.'

Page included this particular story in the book to shine a light on the realities of what the LGBTQ+ community routinely face.

'I've had some version of that happen many times throughout my life. A lot of queer and trans people deal with it incessantly. These moments that we often like don't talk about or we're supposed to just brush off, when actually it's very awful.

'I put that story in the book because it's about highlighting the reality, the s**t we deal with and what gets sent to us constantly, particularly in environments that are predominantly cis and heterosexual.

'How we navigate that world where you either have more extreme, overt moments like that. Or you have the more, like, subtle jokes. [In Hollywood] these are very powerful people. They're the ones choosing what stories are being told and creating content for people to see all around the world.'

It's one of several revelations to have emerged ahead of the book's June 6 release.

Book deal: Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his memoir Pageboy, which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6

In excerpts obtained by People, Elliot also revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while the House Of Cards actress was dating Max Minghella.

He also recalled being in a gay bar just a few months before the premiere of his breakout 2008 movie Juno in another excerpt obtained by People.

At the bar he met a woman named Paula, who unwittingly helped him address the feelings of 'shame' he had.

Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all , which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6.
Holly Willoughby shared a cryptic article with fans about the mess of the universe hours after her takedown of Phillip Schofield on her This Morning comeback.

The star, 42, sent her subscribers a story and interview that mentioned serendipity, chaos theory, the complexity of life and not seeing people for years  eight hours after she marked her return to the flagship ITV breakfast show by giving what has been branded a 'highly strategised' speech about her former co-presenter's affair scandal.

Holly distanced herself from Schofield, 61, on Monday morning, saying she was left 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' after Schofield was last month ousted from This Morning and admitted lying about a relationship with a younger male colleague.

Then on Monday evening she sent a newsletter to fans from her Gwyneth Paltrow-style wellness site Wylde Moon that included the post: 'Are coincidences a secret message from the universe? Do you ever find yourself thinking, that's weird timing or I can't believe that's just happened?'

Looking forward: Holly Willoughby shared a cryptic article with fans about the mess of the universe hours after her brutal takedown of Phillip Schofield on her This Morning comeback

New post: The star, 42, sent her subscribers a story and interview that mentioned serendipity, chaos theory, the complexity of life and not seeing people for years

'Well, all those little coincidences that pepper everyday life could be the universe trying to send you a message.

A link from the post carried fans to a story on the site that investigated whether coincidences were created by the people involved in them to create order from chaos.

Astrology-obsessed Holly's site said: 'Everyone loves a 'Sliding Doors' moment so we asked Matt Johnson, PhD, a neuroscientist, speaker and author who has explored the psychology of serendipity to tell us more.'

'According to Matt Johnson, there are some scientific ideas like Complexity Theory and Chaos Theory that suggest coincidences come about purely because life has become complicated and messy.'

It quoted Matt saying: 'As humans we have a desire to seek meaning. We want to see the bigger picture.

'When there's a set of circumstances that seems so improbable and so incredible that it couldn't possibly have occurred just by chance, we tend to explain to ourselves that it must mean something, and that the universe must have conspired to put these things together because there's no other explanation.

'Whether or not the universe did actually transpire I think that's up to anybody's point of view or their spiritual explanations.

'But the general template is that the brain will seek some broader explanation and will infuse deeper meaning into that set of circumstances.'

Back on air: Holly distanced herself from Schofield, 61, on Monday morning, saying she was left 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' after Schofield was ousted from This Morning

Hopeful: Holly's site signs off the post with the message: 'Serendipity reminds us that life is full of surprises and that there's always room for magic and meaning'

Matt advises: 'There are basically three essential components of a serendipitous experience,' says Matt. 'One, it has to be enjoyable. Secondly, it's a surprise, and thirdly  the crucial one  is that the situation is inexplicable. If there's no logical explanation for a circumstance, then our brains will inject meaning into it.

Matt urges people to break their 'habitual routines' to 'open a person up to new experiences'.

Holly's site signs off the post with the hopeful message: 'Serendipity reminds us that life is full of surprises and that there's always room for magic and meaning. So, let's embrace the unexpected and allow serendipity to guide us on our journey.'

Days before, Holly uploaded a snap of the 'Strawberry Moon' on her wellness page alongside words urging others to 'maintain a positive perspective'.

Her post said: 'This Full 'Strawberry' Moon in Sagittarius brings with it a zest for life. 'The guiding influence of this fire sign combined with Jupiter encourages you to maintain a positive perspective and to tune into your finest qualities. 'Inspire. Renew. Believe.'

New lineup: Hosting her comeback show with 2010 Big Brother winner Josie Gibson, 38, Holly told This Morning viewers on Monday that the show was moving forward to a 'new chapter'

Holly has vowed never to publicly address the Schofield scandal that has engulfed ITV again as insiders claim she is still 'angry' at her former co-host.

The 42-year-old distanced herself from her former best friend during a 'highly strategised' return to the This Morning sofa on Monday, after he was ousted from the programme when admitting to lying about his relationship with a much younger male colleague.

Holly told viewers she had been left 'shaken, let down and worried' and only mentioned Schofield once by name when she said it was 'very strange indeed sitting here without Phil' - for the rest of her address she instead referred to him as 'someone' and 'they'.

Millions of people have since viewed the segment on social media, although some have had a tepid response after complaining it had come across as 'melodramatic, scripted and soulless'.

However, those looking for further screen time committed to confronting the scandal may be disappointed after sources claimed the mother-of-three has no intention of revisiting the topic publicly.

The pair, who were best friends, have publicly fallen out after Phillip lied to Holly about having an affair with a younger male colleague from the show

'This is the only time Holly will ever speak about Phil and what has happened,' a source told The Sun.

'She still feels incredibly angry and upset by his actions and is very much still trying to get her head around it.

'It took a lot for Holly to compose herself and speak about what has gone on in the last few weeks.

READ MORE HERE: Holly Willoughby's statement is met with tepid response from This Morning viewers as she FINALLY addresses Phillip Schofield's ITV exit and affair Advertisement

'But people expecting her to sit and pour her heart out will be waiting for a long time.

'Holly is upset that Phil, who she believed to be a very close friend, lied to her about his affair.

'She is angry and that will take a long time for her to come to terms with.'

Holly had appeared to be on the brink of tears during parts of her speech, although some people watching at home were less than impressed.

Unconvinced viewers wrote on Twitter: 'Absolutely shocking statement. It's only derivative is to bring Phil down more, poor Holly poor me. Also shows how much she despises him & couldn't care less.'

Another added: 'Horrible message. I'm done. Switched over & won't be watching,' while a third said: 'Amazing how she is emotional one moment and the next she's all giggles... like the cat that got the cream.'

Another viewer tweeted: 'My one and only comment on this. Scripted and soulless,' and someone added: 'She did well to hold it together although the language was a bit melodramatic.'

Other social media users however praised the star, writing: 'Very appropriate. Holly is NOT responsible for Phil. No colleague is responsible for what another colleague does or does not do, no matter how closely the working relationship.'

Another added: 'Give it a rest now let the people who need to deal with it do so. Of course it's scripted she's going to know what she needs to say. Phil's the one in the wrong here. Love Josie she's a breath of fresh air! Good luck girls.'

A third wrote: 'I'm feeling sorry for Holly & for everyone who Phil lied too.'

Holly chose a 188 cream button-up dress from high street shop Reiss to ensure the tone was dour enough, without being too gloomy for the moment.

Holly being hugged by Josie Gibson, who she is presenting the programme with after Phillip's departure

Prior to the speech insiders had called it the most difficult day of Holly's career, and after the cameras stopped rolling she was embraced by her colleagues in show of support.

She had begun by asking viewers if they were 'OK', before remarking it felt 'very strange indeed sitting here without Phil'.

Holly went on: 'I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have  shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of what's been going on, and full of questions.

READ MORE HERE: 'Shaken and troubled' Holly Willoughby chokes back tears as she addresses Phillip Schofield scandal Advertisement

'You, me and all of us at This Morning gave our love and support to someone who was not telling the truth, who acted in a way that they themselves felt they had to resign from ITV, and step down from a career that they loved. That's a lot to process.

'And it's equally hard to see the toll that it's taken on their own mental health. I think what unites us now is a desire to heal for the health and wellbeing of everyone.'

Ms Willoughby, who was hosting the programme with 2010 Big Brother winner Josie Gibson, then told viewers that under-fire This Morning was moving forward to a 'new chapter'  one without Schofield.

She said: 'I hope that, as we start this new chapter and get back to a place of warmth and magic that this show holds for all of us, we can find strength in each other.

'And, from my heart, can I just say thank you for all of your kind messages. And thank you for being here this morning.

'Myself, Josie, Dermot, Alison, Craig and every single person that works on this show will continue to work hard every single day to bring you this show that we love.'

Ms Willoughby's words met with a mixed reception from viewers, with some criticising her for being too 'staged.'

But sources close to her say that she was 'absolutely relieved' to get it over with.

Holly Willoughby old how she had been left 'shaken, troubled, let down and worried' by the scandal that has engulfed the ITV programme and its former host Phillip Schofield

And the Mail can reveal that every word was pored over and changed several times before finally a final draft was approved by ITV bosses this morning, not long before the show aired.

READ MORE HERE: Awkward moment Holly hands over to Ruth Langsford on This Morning days after Eamonn Holmes brutally criticised her Advertisement

Ms Willoughby had consulted her family over how she should deal with it during their sunshine break in Portugal last week. Afterwards she ran it by her publicist, Laura Sinclair.

The host's TV production guru Dan Baldwin also helped.

However, then it was left in the hands of ITV bosses and Ms Willoughby to decide just how often Schofield was mentioned.

A late decision was taken to include him but not when discussing the scandal.

One source said: 'Holly knew she needed to put the viewers at the forefront of all of this, the show is in dire straits and she sees it as her role to save it.

'So she personally wanted to get it absolutely right which meant there were many drafts to be gone through.

'Eventually they settled on giving Phil a fleeting mention. As well as getting the messaging right for the audience watching at home, how the statement was reported by all forms of the media was important too.

'The last thing they wanted was a Phil shunned type headline.'

After the show, Ms Willoughby spoke to her colleagues and senior staff including editor Martin Frizell before returning home to see her three children.

Friends of the star say that she 'breathed a huge sigh of relief' once she came off air in what they say was one of the most difficult days of her career.

'Even when Holly finished the statement she had more than two more hours of live telly to do so yes, she was so pleased to have got through it,' one said.

'There were hugs as everyone vowed to move forward together.'

Ms Willoughby will be flanked once again tomorrow by Ms Gibson, 38, and then Craig Doyle for Wednesday and Thursday.

Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary will return for Friday's episode.
Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova showcased her washboarabs in a strappy gold crop top ahead of the We Will Rock You Gala night in London on Monday.

The Ukrainian professional dancer, 33, looked glam as she sported white wide-leg satin trousers which enhanced her glowing tan.

Nadiya showed off her bombshell figure in a chic ensemble and styled her look with a sophisticated red lip.

The star wore her blonde tresses in a slick back low bun and accessorised with gold dangling earrings which matched her show stopper top perfectly.

The beauty beamed as she strutted confidently holding a beige handbag to match her mules.

Looking gorgeous: Strictly Come Dancing's Nadiya Bychkova showcased her washboard abs as she styled a strappy gold sequin crop top ahead of the We Will Rock You Gala night in London on Monday

Stylish: The Ukrainian professional dancer, 33, looked glam as she sported white wide-leg satin trousers which enhanced her glowing tan

She opted for a bronzed make-up look against a black smoky eye and added a pop of colour to her lips to bring the entire look together.

The stunner shared a quick selfie on Instagram on route to the event and looked gorgeous showing off her flawless make-up and chic French tip nails.

Also in attendance was Geordie Shore star Sophie Kasaei, who turned up with TOWIE star boyfriend Jordan Brooks as the couple beamed on the red carpet.

Queen's guitarist and music legend Brian May made a surprise appearance on stage during the Preview Night of the eager return to the theatre for We Will Rock You music by Queen and Ben Elton.

TOWIE star Chloe Meadows was also in attendance of the event as she was captured outside of the venue.

She showcased her stunning physique in a strapless white jumpsuit featuring a slew of buttons on her bust and flared trousers.

The actress, 31, wore matching white trainers to keep it comfortable and donned dainty gold jewellery including a few thin gold chains, bracelets and rings.

Chloe carried her essentials in a black shoulder bag and wore her blonde locks loose styled in beach waves with a side parting.

Elegant: Nadiya showed off her bombshell figure in a chic ensemble and styled her look with a sophisticated red lip

We Will Rock You! Also in attendance was Geordie Shore star Sophie Kasaei, who turned up with TOWIE star boyfriend Jordan Brooks as the couple beamed on the red carpet

The stunner donned a very subtle make up palette, as she lightened her sculpted cheeks and wore a nude lipstick that flaunted her beautiful looks.

The dancer recently jetted off to Dubai for a holiday with her family as she took to Instagram to share a stunning bikini snap.

Nadiya ensured her fans were kept in the loop as she posted photos from her sunny getaway as she enjoyed some downtime.

In the sultry Instagram snap, the blonde bombshell can be seen posing up a storm on a sandy sunny beach while donning a skimpy barely-there matching black bikini.

And the stunning bikini, which oozed elegance and class, consisted of a one-shoulder bikini top with cutouts as well as a pair of high-waisted bikini bottoms with cut-out panels.

The blonde beauty also put on a very leggy display and showed off her tanned and toned pins.

She also gave fans a glimpse of her toned midriff and opted for a loosely flowing white shirt as a cover-up.

The beauty also opted for the ultimate beach babe look when it come to styling her hair as she let her dirty blonde locks cascade down her shoulders.

Angel: TOWIE star Chloe Meadows was also in attendance of the event as she was captured outside of the venue

She captioned the post with 'Sandy toes and sun kissed nose'.

Fans and followers of the beauty were then quick to complement the blonde bombshell on the bikini-clad snap.

One follower wrote 'Fabulous darling!', while another added 'So beautiful'.
Hana Cross sent temperatures soaring in a skimpy orange bikini as she posed for a number of sizzling Instagram snaps while soaking up the sun in Cannes on Monday.

The model, 26, looked incredible in the eye-catching two-piece as she posed up a storm in a swimming pool in the French Riviera town.

She later took to an outdoor shower, pushing her long wet brunette tresses out of her face for another scorching shot.

The ex-girlfriend of Brooklyn Beckham showcased her peachy bottom in the thong swimwear as she faced away from the camera.

She penned alongside the post a number of orange emojis.

Hot: Hana Cross sent temperatures soaring in a skimpy orange bikini as she posed for a number of sizzling Instagram snaps while soaking up the sun in Cannes on Monday

Amazing: The model, 26, looked incredible in the eye-catching thong two-piece as she posed up a storm in a swimming pool in the French Riviera town

Last April, Hana's ex Brooklyn married actress Nicola Peltz in a lavish wedding at her familys $123 million, 44,000-square-foot oceanfront mansion, Montsorrel, in Palm Beach.

Brooklyn and Hana dated for nine months in 2019 before eventually calling it off.

Brooklyn broke up with the model after a series of public rows, including at Glastonbury, where he partied with his parents, Victoria and David.

In 2021, Hana moved on and was said to be '100 per cent dating' Rafferty Law, with the pair 'kissing and cuddling' at a festival.

She was seen canoodling with the son of Hollywood stars Jude Law and model Sadie Frost at All Points East festival.

A source told MailOnline at the time: 'They are 100 per cent dating. They were in the Hyprr Guest Area at All Points East on Saturday, and despite being with two other friends, were all over each other.'

They added: 'Rafferty was very affectionate with Hana, putting his arm around her, ensuring she had whatever drink she wanted, and generally looking after her.

'They kissed and cuddled and didn't seem to care at all who saw them together.'

The pair were first linked in October after being seen kissing passionately at a trendy pub in Notting Hill.

In November 2021, Hana was pictured out with Kourtney Kardashian's ex Scott Disick, 40, as they enjoyed a romantic evening at Nobu together in Malibu.

It was unclear of the status of the pair relationship but Hana, who is 15 years his junior, and Scott seemed in high spirits as they departed together.

An unnamed source told E! News at the time, that while Scott is 'getting back out on the dating scene and enjoying himself,' he's not necessarily looking for something serious.

The insider is quoted as saying: 'He's having fun with Hana but that's all it is for now.'

Scott and Kourtney, 42, dated for nearly a decade and are parents to Mason, 11, Penelope, nine, and Reign, six.
Megan Barton Hanson revealed that she 'cried' for the majority of her lavish Marbella getaway as she shared a cryptic post about 'toxic' friends on Instagram on Tuesday.

The former Love Island bombshell, 29, admitted she had been so upset her 'eyes were left looking like she was high' from all the crying as she vows to only surround herself with 'real friends'.

Megan, who has been in Spain for a month, said she thought she would return back to the UK 'completely happy' and out of the 'little slump' she was in before.

Alongside a gallery of stunning snaps from her trip, Megan said despite not being amazingly happy she has made 'some huge realisations'.

She penned: 'MARBELLA - Ive always been told I have high expectations & I did for this trip

Opening up: Megan Barton Hanson revealed that she 'cried' for the majority of her lavish Marbella getaway as she shared a cryptic post about 'toxic' friends on Instagram on Tuesday

Upset: The former Love Island bombshell, admitted she had been so upset her 'eyes were left looking like she was high' from all the crying as she vows to only surround herself with 'real friends'

'Dont get me wrong I had some fantastic days with the most special people but I genuinely thought Id return home after the month and be completely happy and refreshed from the little slump I was in.

'Instead I cried out there more than I ever have, spent half the trip with eyes looking like I was high. Despite not being 100% happy right now, I have come to some huge realisations.

'Family is so much more important to me than I ever realised . Its better to be alone than surrounded by toxic unhappy people. How important real friends are, how beautiful it is to be surrounded by positive, kind, inspiring people.'

She continued: 'There is more important things than having a flat stomach and doing cardio daily. You dont have to have all the answers RIGHT NOW, be kind to yourself and just try and improve a little each day. Dont have such ridiculously high hopes (maybe)'.

In the snaps shared alongside the cryptic message, Megan sent temperatures soaring once again as she put on a leggy display in a blue dress.

She posed up a storm for a mirror selfie while showcasing her incredible figure in the one shoulder number which boasted an eye catching draping skirt.

The OnlyFans star added inches to her frame in a pair of towering gold heels and toted her belongings around in a coordinated bag.

She styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves as they cascaded down past her shoulders and accessorised with huge gold heart shaped earrings.

Candid: Megan, who has been in Spain for a month, said she thought she would return back to the UK 'completely happy' and out of the 'little slump' she was in before

'I cried more than I ever have': Alongside a gallery of stunning snaps from her trip, Megan said despite not being amazingly happy she has made 'some huge realisations'

Word: She wrote about how she was feeling upon her return in an accompanying caption

Megan also shared a snap of herself soaking up the sun on a sun lounger on the beach while enjoying a lavish cocktail.

In another picture, Megan showed off her small heart tattoo which was inked just below her bikini bottoms and had the words 'eat me' written inside.

The TV personality gave a glimpse into her huge villa in a final photo and uploaded several scenic photos of Marbella Old Town.

Her latest holiday comes after Megan did little to quash rumours of a reunion with her ex-boyfriend James Lock during a boozy lunch in Marbella.

Tongues started wagging after the pair were spotted looking very cosy in April but James confirmed to MailOnline that the pair 'are just friends'.

Then, last month they were certainly not behaving like pals on Sunday afternoon as they were seen getting hot and heavy in Marbella.

James - who has dated the Love Island beauty on and off since October 2021 - said they still meet up from time to time and 'enjoy each others company' but insisted they are not getting back together.

The reality star revealed that Megan is 'very much doing her own thing' nowadays and he is very 'happy' doing his.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline at the launch event for his new brand We Are Levo, he said: 'Me and Megan are just friends. Thats it we are just friends. Thats it.

Rocky: Her latest holiday comes after Megan did little to quash rumours of a reunion with her ex-boyfriend James Lock during a boozy lunch in Marbella

'I think sometime people see us together and say you cant be friends with an ex. You can be, you can be friends with an ex. When I see her we enjoy each others company and we have a laugh, we have a drink, we reminisce about other things.

'It's not like youre talking to an ex and your getting back with them, people jump to conclusions. She is very much doing her thing, Im doing my thing and were both happy which is the main thing.'

Megan and James have been romantically linked since October 2021 when they were captured at Mayfair's Amazonico restaurant, but split just two months after.

Since that, they have been known for their rocky relationship - constantly going on and off for a few years.

It comes after the recent romantic link between Megan and Demi Sims - after the bombshell admitted she wanted her next relationship to be with a 'dominating woman'.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she was rejected by Raya - the exclusive dating app popular with the rich and famous.

The 48-year-old's efforts to jump back into the dating scene were thwarted when she applied to join the app, but her request was 'ignored'.

She explained her situation on The Kyle and Jackie O show on Tuesday morning.

During an interview with Rebel Wilson, Henderson revealed she recently signed up to the app but her application was yet to be approved,

'They just never got back to me,' she told the actress and co-host Kyle Sandilands.

Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she was rejected by Raya - the exclusive dating app popular with the rich and famous. Pictured

The 48-year-old's efforts to jump back into the dating scene were thwarted when she applied to join the app, but her request was 'ignored'

Kyle then pressed Rebel, 'Did you have sex with a lot of people on that app? Did you find like a lot of lovers on there? Or not?'

Rebel cheekily responded: 'I've had [dates with] a couple of fun people.'

Several high-profile Australians have used Raya in the past, including KIIS FM presenter Brittany Hockley, Big Brother star Tully Smyth and DJ Flume.

A Kyle and Jackie O producer who uses the app said successful applicants need a 'sexy' Instagram account, which Jackie unfortunately doesn't have.

With a waiting list of 100,000 and stricter vetting procedures than any private members' club, Raya is the most exclusive match-making service ever devised, and the most private, too

Hollywood celebrities rumoured to have used Raya include Paul Mescal, Sharon Stone, Channing Tatum, Harry Styles, Lizzo and Cara Delevingne.

Ben Affleck was also on the app before he married Jennifer Lopez.

With a waiting list of 100,000 and stricter vetting procedures than any private members' club, Raya is the most exclusive match-making service ever devised, and theoretically the most private, too.

Jackie, a single mother of one, said she was at a loss as to why she wasn't allowed on the app, which has strict requirements for who is allowed to use it

Jackie separated from her second husband, Lee Henderson, in 2018 after 15 years of marriage.

She has not publicly dated anyone since the split, but Lee has moved on with jujitsu instructor Gabriella Motta.

The former couple share custody of their 12-year-old daughter Kitty.

Before meeting Lee, Jackie was married to English radio presenter 'Ugly Phil' O'Neil for three years until their split in 1999.
Duncan Bannatyne whisked his wife Nigora off to Paris, France to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary.

The entrepreneur, 74, and his glamorous wife, 43, looked completely loved-up in a series of photos from the trip, shared by Nigora on her Instagram.

The couple enjoyed a breakfast of eggs and fruit before heading outdoors for a champagne filled lunch on the balcony of the luxury hotel.

The husband and wife can be seen cosying up to one another during the romantic break.

In one picture a smiling Duncan, dressed in denim shorts and a light pink shirt with trainers poses with his arm round Nigoras waist as she wears a short white summer dress at the entrance to the hotel.

Romantic: Duncan Bannatyne whisked his wife Nigora off to Paris, France to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary

Affectionate: The entrepreneur, 74, and his glamorous wife, 43, looked completely loved-up in a series of photos from the trip, shared by Nigora on her Instagram

Lavish: The couple enjoyed a breakfast of eggs and fruit before heading outdoors for a champagne filled lunch on the balcony of the luxury hotel

In another the couple take a picture of themselves in the elevator as Duncan grins and tenderly cradles Nigoras tummy .

And in a further morning picture they sit enjoying their boiled egg and pineapple breakfast alongside some glasses of orange juice.

In other snaps Nigora can be seen on the balcony in front of the Eiffel Tower while another photo of the couple, taken later in the day shows Duncan dressed in a brighter pink shirt and shades, while Nigora wears a white top and floral skirt to enjoy macaroons and pastries.

Captioning the smitten snaps, Nigora wrote: 'Paris with my love #weddinganniversary.'

Nigora is Duncan's third wife after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively.

Smitten: The husband and wife can be seen cosying up to one another during the romantic break

Loved-up: In one picture a smiling Duncan, dressed in denim shorts and a light pink shirt with trainers poses with his arm round Nigoras waist as she wears a short white summer dress at the entrance to the hotel

Thrice-wed Duncan has four children with Gail and two with Joanna.

Uzbekistan-born Nigora is also a parent to daughter Gabrielle from a former relationship.

Duncan proposed to Nigora in 2016 with a 40k ring in Monte Carlo after they first started dating in 2015 when Duncan met her after visiting the dental surgery on London's Harley Street where she was working in 2014.

The couple married in Portugal in 2017 before jetting off to Croatia to enjoy their honeymoon.

Duncan previously said he fell 'madly in love' with Nigora, saying he was 'obsessed' with her after they first met.

He told OK! magazine: 'When I went home I couldn't stop thinking about her, I felt obsessed! I felt in love with her.'

Third time lucky: Nigora is Duncan's third wife after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively

Celebration: Captioning the smitten snaps, Nigora wrote: 'Paris with my love #weddinganniversary'

The couple have previously said they would love to have children together but Nigora admits she isn't sure it will happen.

She told OK!: I don't think it's going to happen. We tried, but I don't think we are going to have children.

'We're not trying to prevent it happening, so if it did, great, but I don't think it is going to.'

She added: 'If it's going to happen, it's going to happen, but we are not doing anything about it, like IVF, and we are not going to stress about it.'
Comedy star Jack Whitehall has revealed the cheeky reason why he 'became the first person' to have a Nando's Black Card revoked.

The Travels With My Father star, 34, shared how he made liberal use of the card whilst studying at university in Manchester, by using it 'every day for six months'.

The comic is an avid fan of the fast food chain, which is famous for its Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken, by frequently referencing it in his previous stand-up material.

Speaking to Matt White, the host of Manchester's Finest YouTube channel, Whitehall confessed he went to the Fallowfield Nando's 'every day for six months'.

He said: 'You could get four complimentary meals on it, so I'd take all my mates... daily.

Speaking to Matt White, the host of Manchester's Finest, Whitehall stated: 'You could get four complimentary meals on it and I'd take all my mates [...] daily.

Anyone hoping to get their hands on a Nando's High Five card may be out of luck, as they are only issued by the chain in special circumstances, with Ed Sheeran being among a select list of people to own one

'And then I became the first person that they took the Nando's black card back off because I'd abused it.

He added that the prestigious card was taken away from him because the way he used it 'wasn't within the spirit of the offer.'

The High Five Card offers unlimited amounts of free meals to its owner for one year.

The conditions of use on the card state: 'As a valued friend of Nando's, the person named on this card is entitled to one starter, one combo meal, one dessert and one soft drink - along with up to four friends. Sorry no free alcoholic drinks'.

However, anyone hoping to get their hands on one may be out of luck, as they are only issued by the chain in special circumstances, with Ed Sheeran being among a select list of people to own one.

Sheeran went to extreme lengths to keep his card, writing the track 'Nando's Skank' with Example to make sure the former was able to keep his black card membership.

Regarding their policy on the coveted black card, Nando's website reads: 'We can tell you for certain is that no-one who's requested a card, no matter how politely, has ever received one. Asking for one is simply the biggest taboo - a definite no no.'

Indeed, it is not just Sheeran who shares his love for Nando's publicly.

Wow: The hitmaker, 41, treated her crew to the flame-grilled peri-peri style chicken restaurant ahead of her gig in Murrayfield, Scotland

Astonishingly, Beyonce spent nearly 2,000 on Nando's during a recent leg of her UK tour, paying to feed her entire crew.

The 'Crazy in Love' star ordered 110 chicken burgers, 90 pittas and nine chicken thighs tallying up a bill of a staggering 1,800.

Instead of keeping under the radar by using a fake name for the order, the superstar's team used her actual name.

Other celebrities who have given Nando's public appraisal include David Beckham. Pixie Lott, Greg James and, perhaps surprisingly, Oprah Winfrey.

Nando's has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Australian superstar Kylie Minogue recently surprised fans when she dropped her new single, Padam Padam.

And on Tuesday, actress Nicole Kidman took to Instagram to show her support, revealing she can't get enough of the catchy track.

In a candid Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actress shared her thoughts on Kylie's latest tune, admitting she'd had the song 'on repeat all weekend'.

The glowing endorsement was accompanied by a winking emoji, emphasising her genuine admiration for Minogue's work.

Kidman didn't stop there, though. Alongside her ringing endorsement, she expressed her heartfelt affection for diminutive popstar, writing, 'Love you darling Kylie xx'.

Nicole Kidman took to Instagram to show her support for Kylie Minogue's new single Padam Padam on Tuesday. Both pictured

In a candid Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actress shared her thoughts on Kylie's latest tune, admitting she'd had the song 'on repeat all weekend'

Meanwhile, Kylie is currently in the middle of a huge comeback with her new single Padam Padam.

The addictive dance track has gone viral on social media and become her highest-charting hit in over a decade in both Australia and the UK.

Kylie addressed her chart comeback on social media this week, thanking fans for their support.

'It has been an incredible week topped off by being my birthday today and I cant thank you enough. My heart is bursting with joy so thank you so so much,' she gushed.

'What an incredible, another wild turn in my life and my career. Thank you so much for all of your love and support, everyone who has got onto Padam Padam and made this possible for me. I love you, thank you so so much.'

In Padam Padam's bizarre music video, Kylie sizzles in a series of red bodysuits and a billowing cape as she dances hypnotically in a junkyard.

The Australian superstar's 17th studio album, titled Tension, will be released in September.

The megastar worked on the album alongside her long-time collaborator Richard 'Biff' Stannard and Duck Blackwell.

The glowing endorsement was accompanied by a winking emoji, emphasising her genuine admiration for Minogue's work. Kidman didn't stop there, though. Alongside her ringing endorsement, she expressed her heartfelt affection for diminutive popstar, writing, 'Love you darling Kylie xx'

Meanwhile, Kylie is currently in the middle of a huge comeback with her new single Padam Padam

The Australian superstar's 17th studio album, titled Tension, will be released in September

She also collaborated with DJ Oliver Heldens for one of the tracks, 10 out of 10.

Heldens is a renowned Dutch DJ and is responsible for bangers such as Gecko and Shades of Grey.

Announcing the album in a press release, Kylie said, 'I started this album with an open mind and a blank page.

'Unlike my last two albums there wasnt a theme, it was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment and always trying to service the song.

'I wanted to celebrate each songs individuality and to dive into that freedom. I would say its a blend of personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high.'
Cheska Hull has revealed she's engaged to partner Damian Crook.

The former Made In Chelsea star revealed the happy news on Instagram Monday, where she told how Damian got down on one knee on her 38th birthday on June 2.

Their engagement comes amid a whirlwind romance with Cheska - who first shot to fame on the E4 reality show in 2011 - having met Damian on the school run last year.

The ex reality TV star, who has since shunned the limelight, shared a number of snaps of her celebrating her engagement, with one close-up shot of her perfectly hand displaying her dazzling new diamond ring.

Captioning the snap, she penned: 'I said yes! Obvs! Love you @pacrook1 and cant wait to be your wife! Xxx.'

Congratulations! Cheska Hull has revealed she's engaged to partner Damian Crook

Gorgeous: The ex reality TV star shared a number of snaps of her celebrating her engagement, with one close-up shot of her perfectly hand displaying her dazzling new diamond ring

Another image saw the beauty posing alongside her former co-star and best friend, Ollie Locke, with Cheska gushing: 'Celebrating my engagement to @pacrook1 with my best friends @ollielockeworld @holbolbot @indoanniejones @fran_newmanyoung xxx @thestaffordlondon.'

Cheska also uploaded compilation video set to the Pointer Sisters' track I'm So Excited of the 'best weekend ever' in which she celebrated her birthday and engagement with her loved ones.

The PR lives a private life on the coast in South Devon with her son Charlie, five, and Damian.

Her beau has two teenage daughters and a son of his own.

Cheska only started dating her now-fiance last year after locking eyes at a playground while they did the school run.

Sharing their first meeting in an interview with Closer magazine earlier this year, she said: 'I remember I was waiting to pick up my son in the playground. I looked over and was like, 'Thats the kind of guy I should be with.'

'I didnt know if he was married or what the situation was, I just thought, "Oh, he looks lovely. I wish I was with someone like that." The rest is history.'

The PR-and-artist split from Charlie's father Tom Huggett before he was born in 2017.

Happy couple: Their engagement comes amid a whirlwind romance with Cheska - who first shot to fame on the E4 reality show in 2011 - having met Damian on the school run last year

Support: Another image saw the beauty posing alongside her former co-star and best friend, Ollie Locke

Happy days: The former TV star shared a number of snaps of the happy occasion

Fantastic: Cheska also uploaded compilation video set to the Pointer Sisters' track I'm So Excited of the 'best weekend ever' in which she celebrated her birthday and engagement with her loved ones

New life: The PR lives a private life on the coast in South Devon with her son Charlie, five, and Damian

On her low-key lifestyle on the coast, Cheska says her life is 'so different' from her past, but is equally 'amazing'.

And she credits her move down south to her family as she remarked that she 'probably wouldnt have my son today' if she hadn't of left.

Having gone from a single mum to a household brimming with love and children, Cheska joked that they're like the 'Von Trapp family', before insisting that she's 'never been happier.'

Cheska was part of the original cast Made In Chelsea alongside the likes of Ollie Locke and Binky Felstead before her shock exit in 2014.

Looking back on her time on the series, Cheska recalled struggling with fame, loneliness and trolling during her three-year stint, telling how she 'couldnt go anywhere without people saying horrible things.'

Though she seemingly enjoyed a fun and A-list lifestyle lifestyle among the posh Chelsea set, in reality, living in the capital left Cheska 'depressed and struggling', with the star forced to leave London for the sake of her mental health.

Candid: Former Made In Chelsea star Francesca previously revealed that she 'lost her life' while starring on the reality show

Fame: The reality star turned PR shot to fame on the E4 show back in 2011 and was part of the original cast alongside the likes of Ollie Locke and Binky Felstead before her shock exit in 2014

Tough: Looking back on her time on the show, Cheska (L) recalls struggling with fame, loneliness and trolling during her three-year stint, telling how she 'couldnt go anywhere without people saying horrible things'

In her interview Closer magazine, Cheska opened up about her time on the show in which she felt 'alone' and was 'typecast', while detailing that she's now happier than ever living in her blended family.

She said of her time on the show: 'Id lost my life. I couldnt go anywhere without people saying horrible things. It was all-encompassing, but there was no one to talk to about it. I just felt very alone.

'I had a long-term boyfriend while I was on Made In Chelsea, but they always made out I was single. Youre playing a role, as much as its not scripted. They will typecast you: Binky is very much the girl next door. Ollie is the gay best friend. I was kind of the single Bridget Jones, even though I wasnt single. Its meant to be real, but then you cant show your real sides.'

The former TV star went on to reveal that when she and her pals first started on the show, they had 'no idea what we were doing', with Cheska even having to set up Binky on social media following the first episode.
They were first seen together in 2019 during a very flirty and boozy park date in Bronte.

And Today show weatherman Steve Jacobs and Amanda King are still going strong and were spotted looking loved up on luxury yacht The Jackson for VIVID Chefs on the Harbour event Sydney over the weekend.

Despite declaring they were only 'platonic friends' after meeting at his daughters' primary school, Steve was spotted cuddling up to Amanda on Saturday night.

They were all smiles as they leaned into one another to pose for photos with beverages in hand.

Steve rested his hand in the mother-of-two's lap as she placed her own high on his thigh and cosied up to the television presenter while they tucked into a stunning 10-course meal by MasterChef Australia star, Khahn Ong.

Today show weatherman Steve Jacobs and Amanda King are still going strong and were spotted looking loved up on luxury yacht The Jackson for VIVID Chefs on the Harbour event Sydney over the weekend

Looking every inch the romantic couple, they rocked matching monochrome looks with Steve dressed in a white T-shirt while Amanda donned a black ensemble.

She slicked back her golden locks before slipping a long, decorative necklace over her head.

In 2019, after the duo were spotted on their steamy date at Bronte Park in Sydney, but Steve told Daily Mail Australia their relationship was purely platonic.

The dinner aboard The Jackson was created by MasterChef Australia star, Khahn Ong

Khahn mingled with guests including influencer Jade Brycki

'Sorry to disappoint, but there's nothing romantic happening between the two of us,' he said.

'We're great mates enjoying an afternoon of laughter and fun with our friends.'

Steve was previously married to TV presenter Rosie Jacobs, who is the mother of his two daughters, Isabella and Francesca, but they separated in 2017.

They split just months after relocating to Vanuatu in what friends described at the time as a 'last-ditch attempt' to save their struggling seven-year marriage.

Vivid Chefs on The Harbour continues June 17 with Mark Olive.

Khahn cooked a 10-course degustation menu for guests
Carol McGiffin has slammed ITV as 'cut-throat and ruthless' amid the Phillip Schofield scandal at This Morning.

The former Loose Women presenter - who quit the show last month after feeling it had become to 'woke' - said that the 'ITV daytime family' was 'about as dysfunctional as they come'.

It comes as allegations of a 'toxic' environment behind the scenes at ITV have emerged with the likes of Eammon Holmes and Dr Ranj making accusations.

Carol, 63, also recently claimed a runner on her show was sacked to make room for Phillip's 'much younger' lover.

A host of ITV staff members have spoken out after Phillip admitted that he engaged in an extramarital relationship with a young staff member on This Morning - who moved to Loose Women after the fling.

Phillip has now quit the show and is no longer on speaking terms with his former co-star Holly Willoughby who he lied to about the affair.

Having her say: Carol McGiffin has slammed ITV as 'cut-throat and ruthless' amid the Phillip Schofield drama at This Morning

Difficult: A host of ITV staff members have spoken out after Phillip admitted that he engaged in an extramarital relationship with a young staff member on This Morning

Speaking to Best magazine, Carol said: 'They go on about the "ITV Daytime Family" being cosy best mates, all caring and kind, but in my opinion it's about as dysfunctional as they come.

'It's cut-throat, competitive and ruthless, and can be quite unpleasant, and as soon as your face doesn't fit anymore, or you disagree with their narrative, you're out the door.'

After it was alleged that Phillip's lover was moved to another programme to 'sort a problem', the presenter said it is 'categorically untrue' that he had anything to do with the move. He said the runner applied for the role and got it on his own merit.

Carol offered her take on the move when she appeared on GB News. Speaking about the runner she claims was replaced by Phillip's lover, she said: 'Everybody was really quite upset about it because you know everybody loved him and he was a great runner.

Tough: Phillip has quit the show and is no longer on speaking terms with his former co-star Holly Willoughby who he lied to about the affair

Speaking out: Carol also recently claimed a runner on Loose Women was sacked to make room for Phillip's 'much younger' lover

Strong words: Carol claimed that none of the Loose Women panellists like Phillip

'One day I got a text message and it was from the young man in question and he said "I'm the new productions secretary at Loose Women".

'I thought, "hang on a minute what's happened here?" I didn't even know that he had gone at the time. He was a great guy [and then] he disappeared.'

Carol also claimed that none of the Loose Women panellists like Phillip and she heaped criticism on the ex-This Morning presenter, 61, on GB News last week.

Phillip last week said he was 'broken and ashamed' but insisted he did not 'groom' his colleague.

He resigned from ITV last week and was dropped by his agency YMU after admitting to the 'unwise, but not illegal' affair.

Reacting to his interview, Carol said: 'I don't know anybody who's actually ever said out loud that they really like Phillip.

'I don't think he was liked by any of the Loose Women, I never heard anybody there say that they actually like him and no one ever really had a good word for him.'

This Morning always features a segment with the Loose Women panel before they hand over to the show, and Carol claimed Phillip always made it 'uncomfortable' because he was 'dismissive'.

She also alleged that Phillip was trying to 'take the fall' for bosses at ITV as she voiced her opinion that This Morning cannot carry on, even without him, and should be axed.

She said: 'I'm pretty certain that he's trying to take the fall for them all. And the way I see it, they're so arrogant. Most TV bosses are the same. They're really arrogant.

'They think they're invincible and they just think, "Right, let's just carry on, move along, put Holly [Willoughby] back on the show, let's just get back to normal and everything will be all right, Phillip's apologised and it's all going to be okay" - but it's not going to be okay.

'I think genuinely that This Morning, this show can't go on. I think it's way too tainted.'

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

Last week, an ITV spokesperson said: 'ITV can confirm that when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in early 2020 ITV investigated.

'Both parties were questioned and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours as did Phillip's then agency YMU.

'In addition, ITV spoke to a number of people who worked on This Morning and were not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour.

'Phillip's statement reveals that he lied to people at ITV, from senior management to fellow presenters, to YMU [his management agency], to the media and to others over this relationship.'

Last month, Ms McGiffin was forced to quit Loose Women after a bizarre radio rant in which she claimed the Covid pandemic was a World Health Organisation plot to take over every government.

She confirmed that she had left the lunchtime show, protesting that ITV insisted she sign a contract with clauses that were 'totally unjust and unworkable'.

But The Mail on Sunday then disclosed that a free speech row was at the centre of her departure, after a backlash over her tirade in an interview on TNT Radio.
Katherine Ryan has been entertaining the UK audience for over a decade with her quips and sassy humour.

Her and her partner Bobby Kootstra, childhood sweethearts have been together since 2018, and welcomed a baby together last year.

The comic's next foray onto our screens will be with Bobby in one of Channel 4's most popular shows.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the pair.

Katherine Ryan (pictured at the UK premiere of The Last Duel) has appeared on Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, Would I Lie To You? and a League Of Their Own

The Canadian star and husband Bobby Kootstra attended The National Comedy Awards in February 2023, months after having their second child together

Celebrity Guests gathered in September 2021 at The Ned's Club to celebrate the launch of Katherine Ryan's memoir The Audacity

What is Katherine Ryan's background?

Katherine Ryan was born in Ontario, Canada and left home at 18 to study city planning.

However, she found her first success as a waitress working for Hooters, and moved to the UK to open the chain's first UK branch in Nottingham.

In 2008, Katherine won the Funny Women award, but she had to wait until 2012 for her first major UK TV appearances.

She has since starred on a whole host of comedy programmes such as Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, Would I Lie To You? and a League Of Their Own.

Hit show All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star, hosted by Katherine, was axed from BBC 2 after two series

Who is Bobby Kootstra?

Bobby Kootstra has been Katherine's partner since 2018, although they have known each other since their early days in Canada.

Childhood sweethearts, the two parted ways initially before rekindling things this side of the Atlantic.

Bobby works behind the camera, unlike Katherine, in broadcasting.

The pair got a civil partnership in 2019, and went to Denmark for the ceremony.

Katherine told ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show: 'It was a lovely day. It's perfect having a civil partner.

'We didn't have a wedding, I didn't need to put on a white dress and pretend to be a virgin, that ship has sailed!'

Katherine had a civil partnership with childhood sweetheart Bobby in December 2019, in a low-key ceremony in Denmark after the pair rekindled their romance

Katherine and Bobby welcomed their second child together in December 2023

How many children does Katherine Ryan have?

In December 2022, the couple welcomed their second child together, a daughter who they named Fena Grace.

Bobby praised his wife's 'strength' after the birth.

He said: 'Mom is incredible! Proving her strength repeatedly through the relatively lengthy delivery at home. We are so blessed:).'

They had their son Fred in July 2021, who was their first child as a pair.

However, Katherine also has one more daughter, Violet, from a previous relationship, who is more than ten years older than her brother and sister.

Katherine's eldest daughter, Violet, is who is more than ten years older than her brother and sister

Katherine Ryan and her husband Bobby Kootstra are set to give a glimpse into their lavish London home for the first time when they take part in Celebrity Gogglebox

Is Katherine Ryan on Gogglebox?

In June 2023 it was announced that Katherine and Bobby would be the latest editions to the Celebrity Gogglebox lineup.

The comedian said she was 'thrilled' to be taking part in the hit show.

She told The Sun: 'It's usually just the dogs who get to see us watch TV, so we're excited to welcome viewers into our home as we decompress in our favourite spot  the sofa.

'We've been huge Gogglebox fans for years and we are thrilled to be taking part.'
Silo producer-star Rebecca Ferguson flaunted her taut tummy in an $1,800 Valentino striped top and shorts while posing at the British Pullman, a Belmond Train in London for a new fashion spread captured by photographer Luc Braquet.

The Swedish 39-year-old also donned designs from Brunello Cucinelli, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Moschino, Max Mara, Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Marc Jacobs for the Town & Country cover shoot styled by Karen Clarkson.

Hairstylist Jillian Halouska coiffed Rebecca's brunette tresses and make-up artist Emma Lovell made sure she was ready for her close-up.

Ferguson (born Sundstrom) said of her four-year marriage to Rory St. Clair Gainer, whom she met in 2016, to the mag: 'We live in a society where it's kind of forced on us.'

The Golden Globe nominee and Rory are parents of four-year-old daughter Saga, and she also has a 15-year-old son Isac from her decade-long relationship with Ludwig Hallberg, which ended in 2015.

Baring her belly! Silo producer-star Rebecca Ferguson flaunted her taut tummy in an $1,800 Valentino striped top and shorts while posing at the British Pullman, a Belmond Train in London for a new fashion spread captured by photographer Luc Braquet

Glam: The Swedish 39-year-old also donned designs from Brunello Cucinelli (pictured), Chanel, Schiaparelli, Moschino, Max Mara, Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Marc Jacobs for the Town & Country cover shoot styled by Karen Clarkson

Being a real-life mother-of-two was 'pivotal to her performance' as Paul Atreides' (Timothee Chalamet) Bene Gesserit mother Lady Jessica Atreides in the highly-anticipated sci-fi fantasy sequel Dune: Part Two, which hits US/UK theaters November 3.

'She's a mom protecting and training someone, something,' Rebecca - who reportedly earned $500K for starring in the first Dune film - explained.

'I say something because she knows [she's dealing with] an entity bigger than themselves. When Paul starts going off, she begins losing power, and it puts her on an unpredicted journey to discover who we are in response to other people. That's when we find ourselves again.'

Director Denis Villeneuve went out of his way to incorporate more of Lady Jessica in the continuation because the character 'kind of disappears in the second part of the book.'

'I made sure as I was writing the screenplay to do the opposite, to make sure that she will be active, to bring her back to the front of the story,' the French-Canadian 55-year-old said.

'I'm looking forward for the world to see what Rebecca has accomplished. She's not afraid to go very far away. She's a force that I can count on.'

Dune 2 will also feature Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and Lea Seydoux.

Ferguson will also reprise her role as former MI6 agent Ilsa Faust opposite Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt in Christopher McQuarrie's $290M-budget spy flick Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, which hits US/UK theaters July 12.

Stunning Swede: Hairstylist Jillian Halouska coiffed Rebecca's brunette tresses and make-up artist Emma Lovell made sure she was ready for her close-up

Ferguson (born Sundstrom) said of her four-year marriage to Rory St. Clair Gainer (pictured in 2020), whom she met in 2016, to the mag: 'We live in a society where it's kind of forced on us'

Blended brood: The Golden Globe nominee and Rory are parents of four-year-old daughter Saga (L, pictured April 24), and she also has a 15-year-old son Isac from her decade-long relationship with Ludwig Hallberg, which ended in 2015

Hitting US/UK theaters November 3! Being a real-life mother-of-two was 'pivotal to her performance' as Paul Atreides' (Timothee Chalamet) Bene Gesserit mother Lady Jessica Atreides in the highly-anticipated sci-fi fantasy sequel Dune: Part Two

Rebecca - who reportedly earned $500K for starring in the first Dune film - explained: 'She's a mom protecting and training someone, something. I say something because she knows [she's dealing with] an entity bigger than themselves'

She continued: 'When Paul starts going off, she begins losing power, and it puts her on an unpredicted journey to discover who we are in response to other people. That's when we find ourselves again'

'She's a force that I can count on': Director Denis Villeneuve (R, pictured in 2019) went out of his way to incorporate more of Lady Jessica in the continuation because the character 'kind of disappears in the second part of the book'

Hitting US/UK theaters July 12! Ferguson will also reprise her role as former MI6 agent Ilsa Faust opposite Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt in Christopher McQuarrie's $290M-budget spy flick Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

The Wild Scandinavia narrator gushed: 'I can tell you it is an explosive, dynamic film with incredible stunts you've never seen before'

'She confronted it full on': Rebecca was forced to face her fear of heights while shooting an action scene through the roof of the Vienna Opera House with the 60-year-old Oscar nominee (L, pictured in 2021)

'The Flamekeepers': But first, audiences can catch more of Ferguson as engineer Juliette Nichols in Graham Yost's critically-acclaimed 10-episode post-apocalyptic drama Silo, which airs Fridays on Apple TV+

Up next! Deadline reported on May 30 that the Spark Hunter producer-star in 'final talks' to star as the legendary mercenary Monza Murcatto in Tim Miller's big-screen adaptation of Joe Abercrombie's 2009 revenge novel Best Served Cold for Skydance

'I can tell you it is an explosive, dynamic film with incredible stunts you've never seen before,' the Wild Scandinavia narrator gushed.

Rebecca was forced to confront her fear of heights while shooting an action scene through the roof of the Vienna Opera House with the 60-year-old Oscar nominee.

'She never told me, or anyone else, she was uncomfortable with heights,' Tom recalled.

'She trained for it and did it. She confronted it full on. That is Rebecca. She knew it made the sequence, and she knew that she could trust me, and I could trust her. It is a lovely moment.'

The seventh installment of the MI franchise also features Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, and Henry Czerny.

But first, audiences can catch more of Ferguson as engineer Juliette Nichols in Graham Yost's critically-acclaimed 10-episode post-apocalyptic drama Silo, which airs Fridays on Apple TV+.

The dystopian sci-fi series also features Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, Tim Robbins, Harriet Walter, Avi Nash, Rick Gomez, Chinaza Uche, Will Patton, and Billy Postlethwaite.

Deadline reported on May 30 that the Spark Hunter producer-star in 'final talks' to star as the legendary mercenary Monza Murcatto in Tim Miller's big-screen adaptation of Joe Abercrombie's 2009 revenge novel Best Served Cold for Skydance.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken candidly about the abuse he suffered at the hand of his parents during his upbringing in the upcoming Netflix documentary titled, Arnold.

The Terminator actor, 75, famously grew up in Thal, Austria, with his military father, Gustav - a wartime Nazi party official, and his 'cleanliness fanatic' mother, Aurelia.

In the first episode of the project, the Hollywood icon spoke about what it was really like for him and his late brother to grow up as the son of decorated Nazi soldier, who returned to Austria from the war as a broken man and went on to unleash abuse on his family.

'Our upbringing was very tough. The brutality that would be at home, the beatings that we got from our parents sometimes,' the True Lies star stated.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has spoken candidly about his 'tough' upbringing in the upcoming Netflix documentary, Arnold

The 75-year-old grew up in Thal, Austria, with his military father, Gustav - a wartime Nazi party official, and his 'cleanliness fanatic' mother, Aurelia

The former governor of California explained that children in his town all grew up feeling the after effects of the war because Austria became a country of 'broken' men.

Arnold revealed his belief that his 'tyrant' father may have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which was revealed in the way he would 'smack' his children and hit them with 'the belt'.

The Predator star also revealed how his father had 'schizophrenic behavior ' which meant his children never knew if they would be getting the 'kind father' or the one who would come home 'drunk'.

'He would scream at three in the morning and we would wake up and our hearts were pounding because we knew that meant,' he recalled. 'He could, at any given time, strike my mother or go crazy. So there was this strange violence.'

He explained that his father became the chief of county police after the war and described him as a 'tyrant' who was 'very tough' in his role.

Gustav treated his home in the same way and made sure that they were 'no screwing around'.

'He thought he should create discipline in the house... you had to "earn" breakfast,' Arnold recalled.

Meanwhile, his mother would obsessively clean the home, making sure that 'everything was perfectly placed' otherwise she would go nuts.

Arnold - pictured left, with his mother and half brother, Meinhard - explained that his dad returned to Austria from the war as a broken man and went on to unleash abuse on his family

Back in 2004, Arnold first spoke out about his painful childhood as he described the way his father used to beat him in an attempt to make him 'conform'.

Speaking to Fortune magazine, he stated: 'My hair was pulled. I was hit with belts. So was the kid next door, and so was the kid next door. It was just the way it was.'

Gustav Schwarzenegger (17 August 1907 - 13 December 1972), was a Nazi soldier who fought during World War II

'Many of the children I've seen were broken by their parents, which was the German-Austrian mentality. Break the will. They didn't want to create an individual. It was all about conforming.'

He continued: 'I was one who did not conform and whose will could not be broken. Therefore I became a rebel. Every time I got hit, and every time someone said, "you can't do this," I said, "this is not going to be for much longer, because I'm going to move out of here. I want to be rich. I want to be somebody."'

Despite all he suffered at the hands of his father, Arnold rebelled against the beatings and successfully achieved his dream of escaping his home to become rich and famous.

He famously made a name for himself as a international body building champion by the time he arrived in America at the age of 21.

After that, a career in acting followed before he went on to serve as the Governor of California from 2003 until 2011.

As he reflected on his childhood in the documentary, Arnold stated that his experiences gave him the drive he needed for his career.

'My dad always said, "Whatever you do Arnold, be useful", he recounted.

The action star, pictured bottom row, second from left, explained that children in his town all grew up with after effects of the war because Austria became a country of 'broken' men

In the documentary, Arnold also speaks on the topic of fathering son Joseph Baena, 25, with his one-time housekeeper Mildred Baena, during a time he was wed to now-ex-wife Maria Shriver.

During a marriage counseling session in 2011, the counsellor had stated at the time, 'Today Maria wants to be very specific about something,' he reveals. 'She wants to know if you're the father of Joseph.'

The former governor of California expressed, 'I thought my heart stopped. And then I told the truth. "Yes, Maria. Joseph is my son." She was obviously crushed by that.'

Arnie explained that at first, both himself and Mildred assumed the child was her husband Rogelio's, and she continued to work for the Schwarzenegger family. 'In the beginning I really didnt know, but the older he got, the more it became clear to me.'

The documentary is one of multiple projects Schwarzenegger has been working on the streamer with, as he also stars in the show Fubar.

Arnold is set to drop on Netflix on Wednesday, June 7.
Hilaria Baldwin demonstrated her multi-tasking abilities as she enjoyed a stroll through New York with her children on Sunday.

The star, 39, was spotted carrying her eight-month-old daughter Ilaria in a sling while holding hands with her son as they crossed the street together.

She wore a low-cut top, pastel green shorts, flip flops, and a taupe duster.

The stylish New Yorker rocked a sleek and straight hairstyle, edgy black sunglasses, and trendy silver hoop earrings.

The outing comes after Hilaria revealed Alec had undergone a long-overdue surgery on his hip.

Family time! Hilaria Baldwin kept it casual for a stroll through New York City with her children

Hilaria kept on eye on her children and the crosswalk as she strolled across the street with a cell phone in her free hand.

The yoga expert shares seven children with her husband Alec Baldwin: Carmen, nine, Rafael, seven, Leonardo, six, Romeo, five, Maria, two, Eduardo, two, and Ilaria, eight months.

Last week, she shared Alec had undergone hip surgery as she posted a selfie of them from his hospital bed.

'Alec got a new hip todayit was a long time necessary,' Hilaria captioned the post.

The star said that she was happy for her husband as he underwent the medical procedure in hopes of improving his 'quality of life.

'We have been through so much together  as your partner and as you heal, I want so very much for you to leave this very intense chronic pain chapter behind.'

She thanked the team of doctors working on her husband, as well as the nurses, medical staff 'and the other amazing people who so generously are bringing him safely through this.'

Alec thanked Hilaria in a comment in the thread, saying, 'And you. Thanks to you.'

Last month, Alec became a grandfather for the first time as his eldest child, daughter Ireland, 27, welcomed daughter Holland with her partner, musician RAC, 38.

Doting mom: She kept on eye on her children and the crosswalk as she strolled across the street with a cell phone in her free hand

Doting mom: She listened to her son as they crossed the street

Alec's surgery came at the end of a busy month for him, as he recently finished working on the movie Rust, the film he was making in October of 2021 when a gun he was holding fired, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

'Last day on the set of RUST with this guy,' he said in a May 15 post alongside costar Patrick Scott McDermott, 14. 'A very talented actor and lovely young man with a bright future ahead. My love to you, @patrickscottmcdermott.'

Alec said in a subsequent social media post marking the end of filming that it was 'nothing less than a miracle' that filmmakers completed the movie more than a year-and-a-half following the shooting of Hutchins.

In the wake of the tragic incident - in which the film's director Joel Souza was also wounded - there was considerable skepticism the project would move forward amid a number of legal issues.

Baldwin was subsequently charged in New Mexico with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were later dropped and he continued working on the motion picture in Montana.

In October of 2022, Baldwin and his fellow producers on the Western came to a settlement with Hutchins' widower Matthew Hutchins over his wrongful death suit filed over the shooting.
Ricki Lake posed naked in her latest Instagram snap shared Monday, writing a touching note about how she is feeling.

The star, 54, covered up her chest with her arms crisscrossed, with her knees touching her elbows.

Ricki had her eyes closed as water poured into the outdoor bathtub she was sitting in.

The talk show host, who beamed in the snap, captioned the image: 'Hands down, these days are the best of my life.'

'54 1/2 years old (young!) Grateful for all that had to happen for me to get here. A place of complete self-acceptance and self-love.'

The latest: Ricki Lake posed naked in her latest Instagram snap shared Monday, writing a touching note about how she is feeling

Happy: The star, 54, covered up her chest with her arms crisscrossed, with her knees touching her elbows; seen April 13, 2023

Ricki also thanked her husband Ross Burningham in the caption, writing: 'Ross, you make every adventure the most fun ever.'

She snapped the picture in the city of Mill Valley, California, which she shouted out in her note, writing that '#MillValley is the s**t.'

She tied the knot with her lawyer fiance Ross Burningham at a stunning cliffside ceremony in January 2022.

At the time, the actress shared a sweet snap of her and Ross together as she thanked everyone who helped pull off the wedding with only two and half weeks of preparation.

The couple wed in Ricki's backyard of her home, which had a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean; it was transformed for the ceremony.

The courtyard was transformed for cocktail hour with candles and pillows all around.

In January 2022, Ricki took to her Instagram on the big day to announce the big news, less than a year after getting engaged.

'We did it! 1/2/22 Ross and I said I DO!,' the Hairspray star penned in a celebratory social media caption.

The bride kept it ultra casual for her outdoor ceremony and was seen in photos rocking a printed yellow caftan with flowers tucked into her hair.

A small group of close friends and family were on hand to witness the intimate nuptials and celebrate the new husband and wife.

Ricki and Ross had been dating for around nine months before they got engaged early last year.

She first went public with their romance by posting a picture of them looking cozy alongside the simple caption: 'LOVE'.

Ricki has largely kept their relationship private, but did open up about their first meeting during an appearance on Good Morning America in January 2021.

The star told how they first crossed paths in early 2020 after being hooked up by a friend who questioned if she was single when they bumped into each other.

Ricki told host Robin Roberts: 'He [Ross] is amazing. I met him, I was on a COVID walk, I ran into an acquaintance. He said 'Are you single?' I said 'yes'  and I am so happy.'

In February of last year, the star announced their engagement news on Instagram writing: 'Friends, I'm so so so excited to share some good news! I'm engaged!'

She added: 'This is Ross. He is my person. He is wonderful. I love him very much and I am so grateful I get to love and be loved so deeply by this stellar human.'

Ross took his time picking out the perfect sparkler to put on Lake's finger, however, and it wasn't until a few months later that he found the perfect diamond.

'Well, friends, he put a ring on it!' Ricki captioned a photo of her holding up her new ring.

She added at the time: 'Engaged to my magnificent king. I am officially the happiest woman in the land. My dearest Ross, I choose you today and everyday!'

'We did it! 1/2/22 Ross and I said I DO!,' the Hairspray star penned in a celebratory social media caption

Ross is a successful lawyer and partner and the law frim Gunderson Dettmer, where he works across the San Diego and Los Angeles offices, reports Business Wire.

According to the outlet, Ross' role includes: 'Representing emerging companies, particularly technology and biotech companies, throughout their lifecycle.

'He advises these companies on general corporate law and also represents them in financings, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. Ross also represents venture capital firms and investment banks in their investments.

Ricki's beau received his Juris Doctor degree from Brigham Young University Law School and his Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University.

In February 2021, Ricki wrote: 'Happy birthday, Ross! You have brought me so much joy and peace and laughs these last few months. I pinch myself, I am such a lucky girl. Thank you for choosing me. I love you.'

It is unclear how many children Ross has, however Ricki has previously referred to them both as 'empty-nesters'.

She previously told People: 'Both of us, newly empty-nesters, we feel as if we are kids again. We are filled with gratitude and joy for what is to come.'

Ricki has two children, Milo, 26, and Owen, 21, who she shares with her ex-husband, Rob Sussman.

Rob and Ricki got married in Las Vegas in 1994 and remained together for a decade during which they welcomed their children before getting divorced.

Then in 2012 she tied the knot with jewelry designer Christian Evans after a three-year romance.

She filed for divorce in 2014 and it was finalized in 2015, but the romance between them lingered until the autumn of 2016.

LOVE! She first went public with their romance by posting a picture of them looking cozy alongside the simple caption: 'LOVE'

Love birds: Ricki and Ross had been dating for around six months before they got engaged

'Friends, I'm so so so excited to share some good news! I'm engaged!' Lake penned when she got engaged. 'This is Ross. He is my person. He is wonderful. I love him very much and I am so grateful I get to love and be loved so deeply by this stellar human'

Third time's a charm: The former talk show host has been married twice before to Rob Sussman and Christian Evans (pictured)

In 2017, he committed suicide, prompting Ricki to reveal to that the collapse of their marriage had been due to his bipolar disorder.

When he was in manic flight he would become convinced that he was able to 'cure cancer with his hands' or 'fly,' she told People.

She explained that during the period after their divorce when they were still a couple 'He wasn't stable, and he was so fragile.'

Ricki, who last saw Christian just three days before his death, said: 'But I was still in love with him, so there was something romantic about it. I wanted to save him.'
Countries in the global south can emulate China's example to create sustainable development

14:56, June 06, 2023 By Amanuel Mesfun ( People's Daily Online

The recent state visit of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to China has shed light on the importance of sustainable development and bilateral cooperation. China's journey of modernization has been well-documented, and has inspired many countries to adopt similar strategies in their own paths to development. Countries in the global south, including Eritrea, can emulate China's example to create their own sustainable development models, and find ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinas path to modernization

China's path to modernization was not a linear one, but fraught with challenges and setbacks. However, through a long-term focus and commitment to strategic planning, China was able to emerge from a country characterized by poverty and underdevelopment, to becoming one of the global powers of the 21st century.

China's economic reform began in the late 1970s with the establishment of a market-driven economy. This policy shift moved the country away from central planning towards a more open and outwardly focused economic system.

The journey was not easy for China, given the various internal and external challenges in the country. Regardless, China was able to forge ahead and carved out a path towards prosperity.

What could the global south, especially Africa learn from China's experience?

A total of 151 countries from different continents have joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since it was launched in 2013. The initiative has already brought numerous infrastructure projects, particularly to African countries.

This multifaceted relationship between developing nations has seen some countries and media cast doubts and even use smear campaigns, hoping to drive a wedge among these partners.

With a longstanding history of cooperation between the two, all these countries argue that there are no doubts about China's sincerity in strengthening solidarity and cooperation with developing countries and safeguarding the common interests of the developing world.

At the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022, China promised to promote world peace and development and build a community with a shared future for mankind. "China is prepared to invest more resources in global development cooperation. It is committed to narrowing the North-South gap and supporting and assisting other developing countries in accelerating development," according to the report to the 20th Party congress.

In growing its relations with Africa, China continues to stick to its principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith while following the right approach to justice and interests, further strengthen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, increase assistance to developing countries, stand shoulder to shoulder with them in overcoming global challenges, and ultimately propel common development.

But, today, the world is plagued by rampant hegemony and rising unilateralism, with certain powers clinging to the Cold War mentality, engaging in subversion and infiltration, imposing illegal unilateral sanctions, waging interventionist wars, and conducting illegal tapping and surveillance. And this has affected Africa. Therefore, as an emerging continent blessed with rich diversity, vast potential, and great vigor and vitality, Africa should be a stage for international cooperation, not an arena for grand power rivalry.

Eritrea and China

The relationship between Eritrea and China dates back to the 1960s. Back then, the CPC extended moral and material support to the Eritreans struggle for independence. In fact, in 1967, President Isaias, then a young freedom fighter, took military and other training in Nanjing, China. And after independence, China was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Eritrea.

In May 24 this year, Eritrea and China celebrated the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. For 30 years, Eritrea and China have enjoyed cordial and productive ties, leading to elevating the relationship to a strategic partnership in 2022.

From May 14 to 19, President Isaias led a delegation in a six-day state visit to China. The visit symbolizes another landmark assertion of the deepening Eritrea-China relations.

In recent years, Eritrea-China cooperation and development programs have strengthened in areas such as infrastructure, education, energy and mining, medical care, and capacity building, which have achieved substantial progress. For example, Eritrea and China recently completed their Third Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project, an initiative that continues to offer great potential for Eritreas agricultural and food sector.

Eritrea-China cooperation on agriculture has seen much fusion of Chinese agricultural technologies, knowledge and crop varieties into Eritrean food systems, such as the introduction of sweet potatoes and other climate resistant seedlings. The partnership promises to foster food and nutrition security which are important components of poverty alleviation.

Doctor Zhang Chunyan (right) diagnoses a child at Orotta Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea, on May 9, 2023. Doctors of the 16th Chinese medical team to Eritrea have conducted 346 surgeries and 2,120 medical imaging examinations since they arrived in the East African country on April 17, 2023. Nearly 300 Chinese doctors have provided medical services in Eritrea since 1997. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

For a quarter of a century, health-related cooperation between Eritrea and China has contributed to the lives and wellbeing of people nationwide, and also helped to move the countrys health system forward.

China helped Eritrea establish a modern national referral hospital, Orotta Referral Hospital, in the capital Asmara. Since 1997, 16 Chinese medical teams have already served in Eritrea, placing their fingerprints in Eritreas achievement in the SDG in the health sector.

Eritrea is also home to a wealth of natural resources like gold, copper, zinc, and potash. If utilized effectively, the exploitation of these resources could lead to the growth of new industries and the creation of wealth for both nations.

Furthermore, the continued implementation of the BRI in Eritrea would benefit Africa as a whole, opening up new transportation avenues and strengthening production sectors.

President Isaias' visit highlighted several key issues that Eritrea wishes to address with Chinese leadership, including trade, industry, finance, and national development.

Another potential opportunity for the development partnership lies in Eritrea. With its strategic location, the country serves as a vital gateway to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. By leveraging this position, China can tap into crucial trade routes and expand into new markets.

Eritreas commitment to self-reliance provides a natural ideological alignment with China's non-interventionist foreign policy, characterized by mutual respect, and mutual benefit.

Eritrea has pursued self-reliance as a guiding principle in its development strategy, focusing on sectors that contribute to its local production and consumption. Given Chinas penchant for self-reliance, there are grounds for cooperation between the two countries in various multilateral organizations such as the African Union, where the two countries could reinforce each others pursuit of non-interventionist policies.

In conclusion, modernization for countries from the global south and especially Africa is not a straightforward undertaking, as the process of development is influenced by many factors, including geopolitics, infrastructure, and trade policies.

President Isaias' visit to China is an opportunity for Eritrea to build its diplomatic, trade, and infrastructure portfolio and create a developmental strategy that is country-specific.

China, with its vast experience in infrastructure development, can support Eritrea in achieving its development aspirations based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. With a steadfast focus on economic growth, Eritrea can further chart its own path to modernization.

Amanuel Mesfun is Editor-In-Chief of Eritrea Profile, Ministry of Information, Eritrea

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Anthony Mackie shared the first photo from the latest Captain America film Tuesday, and revealed information about a title change for the fourth film in the franchise.

The picture showed Anthony, 44, suited up as Captain America with his shield getting a tutorial from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star Harrison Ford.

This is the first time Harrison, 80, has been seen on set. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans was sitting in a set chair in front of a couple of monitors.

'When Harrison Ford tells you how kicking ass should look, you listen! LoL Thanks for the on set wisdom and laughs my friend!' the superhero wrote next to the photo on social media.

'Cant wait to do it again,' he said, then adding the next big reveal, 'Marvel Studios Captain America: Brave New World in theaters May 3, 2024.'

First photo: Anthony Mackie shared the first photo from the latest Captain America film Tuesday, and revealed the new title,' Captain America: Brave New World. Harrison Ford has taken over the part of Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, from the late William Hurt

The project had been under the working name Captain America 4 prior to the post. It also had been called New World Order for a while.

Fans had a mixed reaction to the new title.

'Captain America brave new world huh, a surprising change yet a welcome one,' commented one fan.

'I prefer the name New World Order but this works to I guess,' contended another.

For some, receiving any news about the project was a pick-me-up.

'YOU SINGLE-HANDEDLY SAVED MY DAY CAP!!!!,' exclaimed a very excited fan.

The snap was taken from the set in Atlanta with Anthony in his first big screen portrayal of Captain America, after taking over the role from Chris Evans.

The Avengers veteran, who entered the franchise as The Falcon, accepted the shield in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Shield: Anthony, 44, who entered the franchise as The Falcon, accepted the shield in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He is taking over the role after Chris Evans exited the Avengers franchise

Mr. President: Harrison has taken over the role of Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, which was originated by the late William Hurt. Ross is now president of the US, a role with which Harrison is familiar. He played the president in 1997's Air Force One

Reprise: Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson, who originated their parts as Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns from 2008's The Incredible Hulk, will reprise their roles in Captain America: Brave New World

Harrison has taken over the role of Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, which was originated by the late William Hurt.

Ross is now president of the US, a role with which Harrison is familiar. He played the president in 1997's Air Force One.

In an interview with Esquire published May 31, he was asked if it was 'fun' to make a Marvel movie.

'Uh, yeah. I mean, there are tough days and easy days and fun days and all kinds of days.,' he said,

'Its a tough schedule and, yeah, its fun. But its not a walk in the park. Its not fun fun. Its work.'

Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson, who originated their parts as Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns from 2008's The Incredible Hulk, will reprise their roles in Brave New World.
She's been hard at work filming her latest project.

But Lily James enjoyed some well-deserved downtime at her stunning set location on Tuesday, taking to Instagram Stories to share a pair of windswept snaps from a beautiful villa in Mallorca.

The actress, 34, who was recently seen filming her new thriller Relay in New Jersey, posed atop a wall for a pair of sultry images.

Showing off her ample bust, Lily posed in a plunging white crop and a pair of pale green pinstriped trousers.

Donning a pair of black sunglasses, Lily's brunette tresses were tousled by the Spanish summer breeze as she posed for the stunning images.

Flawless! Lily James, 34, enjoyed some well-deserved downtime at her set location on Tuesday, taking to Instagram to share a pair of snaps from a beautiful villa in Mallorca

The last 12 months have been busy for Lily, with her most recently working on her new thriller Relay.

In the film Lily stars as a woman in fear of her life in the thriller Relay, who turns to another man, played Riz Ahmed, for help staying alive.

Tom is a 'fixer' who lucratively negotiates deals between corrupt corporations and individuals who threaten their ruin while keeping his identity secret.

She was signed to the project in February and production began in April.

Elsewhere, Lily's romantic comedy What's Love Got To Do With It? opened in UK cinemas back in February.

The versatile star plays a documentary filmmaker who decides to make a movie about her best friend's arranged marriage, only to discover she has feelings for him.

Her subject is played by old friend Shazad Latif, whom she's known for at least a decade.

'Ive known him for the last ten or twelve years; I used to sleep at the end of his bed on a mattress in his flat in Tufnell Park,' she told The Hollywood Reporter.

Revealing! Showing off her ample bust, the actress posed in a plunging white crop and a pair of pale green pinstriped trousers during a break from work on her latest project

New role: The last 12 months have been busy for Lily, with her most recently working on her new thriller Relay in New Jersey (pictured last month)

The Pam & Tommy star, who landed an Emmy nomination for her role in the Disney+ series, told the publication she doesn't read reviews about her work.

'With regards to how your choices appear on screen, thats actually extremely difficult because you have no control as an actor,' she explained.

'You often feel really disenfranchised from the editing and the process of when a film comes into fruition. It all happens in the edit, and its not just the take-to-take performance.'

Speaking of her process, Lily said, 'I like to try and give a variation, which is how I know how to do it, but then you are laying yourself at the mercy of a directorial choice even more.'
Ariana Madix was a supportive friend as she visited her grieving former Vanderpump Rules co-star Dayna Kathan on Monday after the death of her beloved cat Leo.

Madix, 37, was seen embracing Kathan, 32, as she sobbed on her shoulder following an Instagram post announcing the death of Leo from an incurable heart condition.

Madix, who has dominated the show's storylines of late after her ex Tom Sandoval cheated on her with Raquel Leviss, wore a black sweatshirt and color block leggings as she reunited with Kathan, who left the show in 2021.

Katie Maloney, 36, was also seen arriving to comfort Kathan, with the star toting some flowers for her friend.

Maloney wore a black tracksuit and carried a tote bag as she headed to her friend's home.

There for her: Ariana Madix was a supportive friend as she visited her grieving former Vanderpump Rules co-star Dayna Kathan on Monday after the death of her beloved cat Leo

RIP: Madix, 37, was seen embracing Kathan, 32, as she sobbed on her shoulder following an Instagram post announcing the death of Leo from an incurable heart condition

This comes after Kathan shared a beautiful montage of Leo, while announcing his tragic passing.

She wrote: 'It is with devastation beyond measure that i share the passing of my sweet Leo. although only 6, he was recently diagnosed with an incurable heart condition.

'Leo was my first friend in California after moving here during a turbulent period in my life, despite not knowing a single person.

'I'm sure many people would say its just a cat, but Leo was my heart. he brought me so much happiness in addition to supporting me during countless long hours of insomnia and chronic anxiety.

'He was smart, affectionate, fuzzy, clumsy, talkative, brave, inquisitive, hilarious and just the most special guy. one of one. long live the prince of darkness.'

It comes as Madix is set to earn more than $1 million in endorsement deals, paid appearances, and more in the aftermath of her public split from longtime boyfriend Sandoval.

The former barmaid has wasted no time using the affair to build her personal brand and increase her bank balance.

In addition to endorsement deals and six-figure merchandise sales, Ariana has TV offers, a movie role, public appearances, and an invitation to the White House.

Much missed: This comes after Kathan shared a beautiful montage of Leo, while announcing his tragic passing

Sighting: Katie Maloney, 36, was also seen arriving to comfort Kathan, with the star toting some flowers for her friend

In one outrageous move, she was even paid to stage paparazzi photos to promote a finance company.

Daily Mail reached out to branding experts and PR gurus in the influencer and reality TV space, who estimated that the savvy starlet could potentially walk away with well over $1million by the end of the year thanks to her split from Tom.

'Ariana is hot in the news and everyone wants to see her do good,' said Gina Rodriquez, whose PR and production company Gitoni works with reality stars including Mama June, Scott Disick, and Nene Leakes.

'Typically, a cheating scandal can generate quite a bit of income, especially if you're not the cheater,' she continued, adding that Ariana is probably doing 'very well' thanks to the increased media exposure and public support the affair has generated.

Ariana has already gained an extra 500,000 followers on Instagram in the last two months, and brands are now beating down the her door with offers for the star to sell everything from vibrators to fried chicken.

Love triangle: Raquel Leviss, 28, and Tom Sandoval, 39, caused ructions among the reality show cast when their infidelity was exposed, breaking the heart of the hunk's girlfriend of nine years, Madix (pictured together in November 2022 during their affair)

Ariana is estimated to have earned some serious cash for her commercials with BIC razors and an Uber One ad she filmed alongside Vanderpump Rules co-stars Lala Kent and Scheana Shay.

Since each commercial was professionally filmed and referenced her cheating scandal, Diana believes that they may have earned Madix around $50,000 a piece.

But one of her biggest pay cheques most likely came from her deal with SoFi, which was so elaborate that the blonde staged photos of herself 'moving out' of her shared home with Tom while donning a very unsubtle SoFi sweatshirt.

After pretending to leave the Valley Village home  which she and Tom paid $2.075million for back in 2019  Ariana revealed it was just a sponcon deal for the finance company.

Errands: Disgraced Tom Sandoval was seen running errands in Los Angeles on Tuesday

New show: Sandoval and his band Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras recently performed in Kentucky

Meanwhile Sandoval was spotted on Tuesday running errands in L.A. amid his tour dates with his band Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras.

At his latest stop in Kentucky, fans turned out in droves to throw a little love his way.

He played a number of covers of hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s including Somebody to Love by Queen and Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-Lite.

Sandoval went shirtless as he performed and took a number of photos with fans, and signed 'Stay Fancy' in marker on a woman's arm, according to TMZ.
Emily In Paris fans will have to wait a little longer to see their favorite fashionista return to Netflix.

Variety has reported filming on season four has been pushed back two months on account of the ongoing writers strike.

Shooting was originally set to begin in late summer or early fall in Paris, but now a source says filming won't commence until the end of fall.

The delay, however, could extend depending on how much longer the walkout lasts.

The streaming giant Netflix declined to comment on the matter to Variety.

Say it ain't so! Filming on season four of Emily In Paris has been pushed back two months on account of the writer's strike

Fans expressed their displeasure as they responded to reports posted on Twitter, with one frustrated viewer posting, 'Ugh! waiting patiently for S4.'

Many others commented with the sobbing emoji and 'NOOOOO'.

One Twitter user remarked: 'No new Stranger Things. No new Emily In Paris. Seems like the strike that wasn't supposed to have any impact is having an impact.'

Last month, Emily In Paris star Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu told Variety filming had been impacted by the strike.

'A little bit. Were waiting for it to be resolved. Well see how it settles!' Philippine said when asked if season four shooting had been put on hold due to the absence of writers.

Members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike in Los Angeles and New York for the first time in 15 years on May 2nd after their current contract expired.

The biggest points of contention in the negotiations are an increased wage floor, and more residual payments from streaming shows.

The writers want protections against mini-rooms, in which two or three writers, working for the base salary, script out a considerable portion of a series before it gets the green light.

'Were waiting for it to be resolved': Last month, Emily In Paris star Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu told Variety filming had been impacted by the strike

No! Fans expressed their displeasure on Twitter, with one frustrated viewer posting, 'Ugh! waiting patiently for S4'

The latest victim: One pointed out what kind of impact the strike was having on Hollywood

They also want protections against the use of artificial intelligence.

So far their walkout disrupted production of late-night shows and shut down high-profile projects including a new season of Netflix's Stranger Things and a Game of Thrones spinoff for Warner Bros Discovery's HBO.

Striking writers have received support from celebrities such as Drew Barrymore, who pulled out of her hosting duties at the MTV Movie and TV Awards, and Pete Davidson, who passed out pizzas in May to those on the picket line in New York.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed how his mother once 'freaked out' at the thought that he might be gay because he had pictures of oiled-up bodybuilders on his bedroom wall as a teen.

The Terminator star, 75, opened up about his parent's were in opposition of his dreams to become a bodybuilder when growing up in his upcoming Netflix documentary, Arnold.

Arnold recalled growing up in his small town in Thal, Austria when his life path took shape after he saw famed bodybuilder Reg Park play Hercules in a series of movies in the 1960s.

'I was so amazed by this body, I just could not get it out of my mind,' the Twins star explained. 'The testosterone was kicking in, getting interested in girls was kicking in, everything started happening.'

Arnold Schwarzenegger says his mother was left wondering if he was attracted to men because he used to have pictures of bodybuilders on his bedroom wall

The 75-year-old became obsessed with famed bodybuilder Reg Park when he saw the British star play Hercules in a series of movies in the 1960s

The impressionable young teen then began to buy American muscles magazines which included Reg Parks training program.

Reg was an English bodybuilder and actor who was named Mr Britain in 1949. He then won the Mr. Universe in 1951, 1958 and 1965, while he also starred in five films, four of which he featured as Hercules.

Arnold quickly began to train like British fitness star as he explained: 'This guy is my idol. He was my blueprint in where I wanted to go in life.'

As a way to remain motivated, he put up multiples posters and pictures of Reg and other famous body builders around the time such as Chet Yorton and Frank Zane on his wall.

This caused concern for his mother who soon started to fear that her son was not attracted to women.

'My mother got freaked out. She said, "All his friends have girls above their bed. My son doesnt have one girl up here. Look at that. Its only naked men, oiled-up. Where did we go wrong?"' Arnold laughed in recollection.

Elsewhere, his extremely strict and traditional father was also unimpressed by his son's obsession with weight lifting because it wasn't 'the typical thing'.

Arnold recalled: 'My dad was like, "You are looking in the mirror when you train, what is that all about? You are too into yourself... If you want to use your muscles, go chop wood."

The impressionable young teen began to buy American muscles magazines which included Reg Parks training program as he pursued a weightlifting career

Arnold went on to beat Reg in 1970 at the NABBA Mr Universe professional competition in London (pictured)

Arnold had multiples posters and pictures of Reg and other famous body builders around the time such as Frank Zane (pictured) on his wall

Meanwhile, during an interview in 2012, Arnold also recalled the moment when his mother actually called the family doctor to ask if something was wrong with her child.

He claimed that she said: 'Is there something wrong? Is my son turning south here? All his friends have girls on the wall and he has only men oiled up with little briefs on.'

However, the then-teenager simply wanted to find a way to make it out to America and he believed that building his body was the way to achieve that dream.

The star famously found success as a bodybuilder, so much so, he went on to actually beat Reg in 1970 at the NABBA Mr Universe professional competition in London.

The True Lies star, 75, was raised by his military father, Gustav - a wartime Nazi party official, and his 'cleanliness fanatic' mother, Aurelia.

The Hollywood icon famously went on to become one of the most successful bodybuilders in the world (pictured 1985)

In the first episode of the doc, the Hollywood icon spoke about what it was really like for him and his late brother to grow up as the son of decorated Nazi soldier, who returned to Austria from the war as a broken man and went on to unleash abuse on his family.

'Our upbringing was very tough. The brutality that would be at home, the beatings that we got from our parents sometimes,' the Stay Hungry star stated.

The documentary is one of multiple projects Schwarzenegger has been working on the streamer with, as he also stars in the show Fubar.

Arnold is available to stream on Netflix from Wednesday, June 7.
Chris Rock was spotted out in New York City on Monday after he encountered a trespasser on the fire escape outside of his Soho residence on Sunday night.

The 58-year-old comedian - who spoke about Will Smith's Oscars slap in this year's Selective Outrage special - looked serious in black Adidas track pants, a black hoodie and a black ball cap.

He was accompanied on his walk by his friend, the 32-year-old writer Jasmine Pierce, who wore a black crop top, jacket, and black Adidas track pants.

The two friends shared a laugh as they walked down the streets of Manhattan.

Rock's outing comes not even a full day after he called 911 when he discovered a stranger trying to film him while he was at home.

Out for a walk: Chris Rock was spotted out in New York City on Monday after he encountered a peeping Tom on the fire escape outside of his Soho residence on Sunday night

The comedian was relaxing at his home in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood when he discovered a man peering in through his window, law enforcement sources told TMZ.

After being spooked by the out-of-place figure, Rock reportedly called the police for help.

The alleged invasion of privacy appears to have been facilitated by the actor's fire escape, which allowed the man to get right up to his window.

DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative to Rock for comment.

Making matters worse for Rock, the voyeur appeared to have a camera with him and may have used it to snap some unauthorized photos of his private sanctuary.

A source for Fox News Digital said the subject did not appear to be making an effort to enter Rock's home, and they noted that the encounter happened around 8 p.m., before the sun had completely set.

According to the outlet, New York Police Department officers made a speedy arrival at Rock's home, but it was already too late.

The sources said that the gawker appeared to have made a hasty exit as soon as Rock spotted him on the fire escape.

My Adidas: The 58-year-old comedian looked serious in black Adidas track pants, a black hoodie and a black ball cap

Friends: He was accompanied on his walk by his friend, former SNL writer Jasmine Pierce

They said the man jumped down to the ground from the fire escape, though it is unclear just how far he would have fallen.

Police sources also told the New York Post that the man appeared to be wearing a dark jacket.

One surprising detail was that he allegedly also had on pink Crocs, an odd choice for someone who might have wanted to go incognito.

The man appeared to be in his 20s, police said.

Scary: Rock had a run in with an apparent Peeping Tom while at his home in New York City on Sunday Night. He found a man watching him through his window while standing on his fire escape, law enforcement sources told TMZ; seen in 2017 in Austin, Texas

He allegedly got into a white Mercedes near Rock's home and drove away. The law enforcement sources didn't note if he was apparently alone or if anyone was with him in the car.

They didn't specify if others noticed the alleged Peeping Tom, or if the descriptions were initially supplied by Rock once police arrived.

He added that the man seemed to be trying to get footage of him with his camera, though it wasn't obvious whether he was just taking photos or was trying to film a video.

The sources added that a police report was made, and the NYPD is reportedly still investigating the matter.
Love Island star Faye Winter has sparked concern among her fans after revealing she's found a lump in her breast.

Taking to Instagram Stories, the reality TV star, 27, shared a candid video revealing she's undergoing a mammogram and ultrasound to get the lump checked out after discovering it while on holiday with her pals.

Faye urged her followers to 'have a little check' of their breasts and went onto praise the 'incredible' NHS for their care.

In the clip, Faye explained she first found the lump while she was applying suncream during her holiday abroad.

She later updated her fans by revealing she was heading back to the hospital on Thursday, and thanked her followers for their messages of support.

Scary: Love Island star Faye Winter has sparked concern among her fans after revealing she's found a lump in her breast

On her Instagram Stories, Faye said: 'I know that a lot of you have noticed that I have been quite quiet on here, especially since my girls holiday when you guys were like ''where's all [my] content.''

'I didn't want to let anyone in too soon and I didn't feel like there was a right time to speak to you guys but I feel like today is probably the day for it.

'If one person has a check today then I will be so happy.

'I was putting my sun cream and I went ''oop, what is she, she is knew to my body.'' And I found a little lump.

'So I went to my doctors and two weeks ago and they referred me and I'm going to have a mammogram and an ultrasound and make sure everything's OK and make sure it's nothing sinister.

'I'm sure it's nothing and it's just a cyst or something but it has played on my mind and I haven't really been able to get it out of my mind which is fine.'

Later that day, Faye updated her followers with another selfie, writing: 'Thank you all for the support today. I'm going back to hospital on Thursday. Will keep you all updated.

'I'm just going to leave this link here for anyone that needs to know how to check or what to look out for. Love you all,' before posting a link to Coppafeel website.

Worrying: The reality TV star urged her followers to 'have a little check' of their breasts and went onto praise the 'incredible' NHS for their care

Revelation: In the clip, Faye explained she first found the lump while she was applying suncream during her holiday abroad

Important: She shared a candid video revealing she's undergoing a mammogram and ultrasound to get the lump checked out

Faye had recently returned from a girls' holiday to Crete, where she reunited with her Love Island co-stars Liberty Poole, Sharon Gaffka, Abigail Louise Rawlings and Kaz Kamwi.

It comes after Faye revealed the real reason behind her shock split with Teddy Soares.

The beauty, who met her ex-boyfriend, 28, on the reality show's 2021 series, announced their 'heartbreaking and difficult' separation in February after a year-and-a-half of dating.

And while the pair have kept quiet about the cause for months, Faye has finally spilled the beans in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.

Faye, who is the face of The Big Help Out campaign, confessed they were both in 'different places' and wanted opposing things, which put a strain on their relationship.

She said: 'It's been very obvious, especially over the last few months, we just wanted different things. We were just in different places.

'And you know, relationships... they're hard, you know, they're hard things to maintain. People go through breakups every single day. People go through heartbreak every single day.

Together: Faye had recently returned from a girls' holiday to Crete , where she reunited with her Love Island co-stars Liberty Poole , Sharon Gaffka , Abigail Louise Rawlings and Kaz Kamwi

'It's just part of life and it's a really difficult situation to go through. I'm not ready. I don't know if I will ever be ready to disclose what fully happened between us because that is between me and Teddy.

'But we just wanted really different things and, yeah, I think that's become... you know, I wanted to continue doing my work with charity and my Guide Dogs work.

'And it's just one of those things, unfortunately, and it is sad. It will always be sad and he'll always hold a very special place in my heart.

'But we've just got to keep moving and it's difficult because everybody wants to know, but at the same time we've got to respect our own privacy and also respect each other's.'
A week after the Black Mirror trailer dropped featuring Salma Hayek Pinault, the 56-year-old Oscar nominee shared a makeup-free snap of herself 'waking up and counting how many white hairs and wrinkles have crashed the party this morning.'

But the Mexican bombshell's self-loathing post on Tuesday backfired as she promptly received praise from Babylon beauty Olivia Wilde and nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford.

'I thought getting older meant I wasn't going to work. I'm working. I thought getting older maybe meant that you're not in love anymore. I'm in love,' Salma told Glamour on February 8.

'I don't feel that I lost my flexibility or my agility or even my strength...Hell, I'm still going. Shocker. I'm still here. They tried to get rid of me a thousand ways. I'm still here.'

Fans are used to seeing Hayek (born Jimenez) looking drop-dead gorgeous at events like the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Killers Of The Flower Moon on May 20, but it certainly takes a village for her to get red carpet ready.

Getting real: Salma Hayek Pinault shared a makeup-free snap of herself 'waking up and counting how many white hairs and wrinkles have crashed the party this morning'

'Beautiful!' The 56-year-old Oscar nominee's self-loathing post on Tuesday backfired as she promptly received praise from nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford and Babylon beauty Olivia Wilde

The Magic Mike's Last Dance star relies on a large glam squad consisting of hairstylist Jennifer Yepez, make-up artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury, stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray, nail artist Leonobi Galvez, massage therapist Camila Perez, and facialist Ivan Pol.

Not a wrinkle of white hair could be seen when Salma wore a cleavage-boosting black sequin gown at the ninth annual Kering Women In Motion Awards on May 21 in the South of France.

Hayek's billionaire husband of 14 years - Francois-Henri Pinault - just so happens to be the CEO of Kering and he founded the Women In Motion Awards back in 2015.

The Quiero tu vida producer originally met the 61-year-old Frenchman in the spring of 2006 at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.

Salma and Francois-Henri are the proud parents of 15-year-old daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault, who's amassed over 200K TikTok followers.

Pinault is also father to three older children - son Francois Jr., 25; daughter Mathilde, 22; and son Augustin, 16 - with ex-wife Dorothee Lepere and nineties supermodel Linda Evangelista.

Hayek will next play the onscreen version of Joan (Annie Murphy) in episode one - titled 'Joan Is Awful' - of the five-episode sixth season of Charlie Brooker's dystopic drama Black Mirror premiering June 15 on Netflix.

The latest from the surreal British anthology series will also feature Aaron Paul, Michael Cera, Kate Mara, Josh Hartnett, Rory Culkin, Zazie Beetz, Himesh Patel, Rob Delaney, Ben Barnes.

Salma (pictured last Friday) told Glamour on February 8: 'I thought getting older meant I wasn't going to work. I'm working. I thought getting older maybe meant that you're not in love anymore. I'm in love. I don't feel that I lost my flexibility or my agility or even my strength...Hell, I'm still going. Shocker. I'm still here. They tried to get rid of me a thousand ways. I'm still here'

BTS: Fans are used to seeing Hayek (born Jimenez) looking drop-dead gorgeous at events like the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Killers Of The Flower Moon on May 20, but it certainly takes a village for her to get red carpet ready

Team: The Mexican bombshell (pictured May 21) relies on a large glam squad consisting of hairstylist Jennifer Yepez (L), make-up artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury (R), stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray, nail artist Leonobi Galvez, massage therapist Camila Perez, and facialist Ivan Pol

Flawless complexion: Not a wrinkle of white hair could be seen when Salma wore a cleavage-boosting black sequin gown at the ninth annual Kering Women In Motion Awards on May 21 in the South of France

Still going strong! Hayek's billionaire husband of 14 years - Francois-Henri Pinault - just so happens to be the CEO of Kering and he founded the Women In Motion Awards back in 2015

Not-so-typical teenager: The Magic Mike's Last Dance star and the 61-year-old Frenchman are the proud parents of 15-year-old daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault (pictured May 26), who's amassed over 200K TikTok followers

'Joan Is Awful': Salma will next play the onscreen version of Joan (R, Annie Murphy) in episode one of the five-episode sixth season of Charlie Brooker's dystopic drama Black Mirror premiering June 15 on Netflix

'She even has your hair!' The latest from the surreal British anthology series will also feature Aaron Paul, Michael Cera, Kate Mara, Josh Hartnett, Rory Culkin, Zazie Beetz, Himesh Patel, Rob Delaney, Ben Barnes

The Puss in Boots: The Last Wish actress will then portray the vengeful Nina in her Eternals castmate Angelina Jolie's fifth feature directorial effort Without Blood also starring Demian Bichir.

The Italian-set trauma drama is based on Alessandro Baricco's 2002 novel about 'the cruelty of war, a little girl's shattered world, and her lifelong quest for revenge and healing.'

Salma is also slated to star opposite Oscar winner Anne Hathaway in Netflix's action comedy Seesaw Monster, which is Olivia Milch's adaptation of Kotaro Isaka's 2019 novel about two rivals forced to work together.
Elliot Page has claimed he had sex with Juno co-star Olivia Thirlby 'all the time' while they filmed the hit 2007 movie - just days after revealing he had a secret romance with Kate Mara.

The Oscar-nominated star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, said he was instantly attracted to Thirlby, now 36, who played Juno's best friend Leah in the film, as he recounted their fling in new memoir, Pageboy, obtained by Page Six.

He said: 'I was taken aback the moment I saw Olivia Thirlby. She seemed so much older, capable, and centered.

'Sexually open, far removed from where I was at the time. But the chemistry was palpable, it pulled me in.'

Page - who played pregnant teen Juno MacGuff in the film - recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him - to which Page reciprocated her feelings.

Fling: Elliot Page has claimed he had sex with Juno co-star Olivia Thirlby 'all the time' while they filmed the hit 2007 movie (pictured)

He wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.'

He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm.

Page said he and Thirlby began having sex 'all the time', writing: 'Her hotel room, in our trailers at work, once in a tiny, private room in a restaurant  We thought we were being subtle. Being intimate with Olivia helped my shame dissipate. I didnt see a glint of it in her eyes and I wanted that  done feeling wretched about who I am.'

Around the time Page and Thirlby filmed Juno, the pair were slated to star as the title characters in Jack & Diane - playing two young women who fall in love -but both dropped out before production, and the cast was replaced numerous times over.

Thirlby publicly came out as bisexual in 2011 - she has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014.

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Thirlby for comment.

This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella.

The Oscar-nominated Juno star, 36, who was once known as Ellen Page and came out as transgender in 2020, details in his memoir Pageboy how he and Kate, 40, struck up a romance as he filmed X-Men: Days of Future Past and that Kate was 'in love with two people.'

Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating. She is now married to actor Jamie Bell, with whom she shares two children.

In an excerpt from his memoir, obtained by People, Page writes: 'The first person I fell for after my heart was broken was Kate Mara. She had a boyfriend at the time, the lovely and talented Max Minghella.'

Tea spilled: He wrote: 'It was on. I had an all-encompassing desire for her, she made me want in a way that was new, hopeful.' He added it was one of the first times someone would make him orgasm' (pictured together in 2007)

Racy: Page recounted how they started 'sucking face' in a hotel room after Thirlby confessed she was 'really attracted' to him - to which Page reciprocated her feelings (pictured in Juno with Allison Janney)

Coming out: Olivia came out as bisexual publicly in 2011 - she has been married to Jacques Pienaar since 2014 (pictured 2019)

'This was right after Id come out as gay [in 2014] and it was a time of exploration and also heartbreak. I think my relationship, or whatever you want to call it with Kate, very much encapsulates a certain dynamic that I consistently found myself in, which was falling for people that  I think a lot of us do this  who arent fully available.

'And the sort of safety in that and the highs and the lows and the serotonin bump, and then it goes away. And I think that is definitely a pattern in my life.

'I think the love and care that we have for each other is its very own special thing. Separate from the intimacy that I write about.'

Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship -which was kept a secret from the world and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can.'

The pair played a couple in movie My Days of Mercy which premiered in 2017 and was released in 2019 - this was made after their romance.

Page added that Kate has read the book and will appear at a book event in LA in June to promote it.

Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine.

In an extract shared by People, Elliot recalled being in a gay bar just a few months before the premiere of his breakout 2008 movie Juno.

At the bar he met a woman named Paula, who unwittingly helped him address the feelings of 'shame' he had.

Heartbreak: This comes after Elliot revealed he had a secret relationship with Kate Mara after he came out as gay in 2014 - and while she was dating Max Minghella (pictured 2017)

Former couple: Kate and Max went their separate ways in 2014 after four years of dating (pictured 2014)

Ex; Elliot said Max was supportive of Kate exploring their relationship -which was kept a secret from the world and says Kate told him: 'I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can' (pictured 2014)

Moved on: Kate is now married to actor Jamie Bell and the pair share two children (pictured January 2023)

He wrote: 'Dancing, sweat dripping down my back, down my chest. I watched Paula's hair twist and bounce as she moved effortlessly, chaotic but controlled, sensual and strong.

'I would catch her looking at me, or was it the other way around? We wanted to be caught. Deer in the headlights. Startled, but not breaking.'

Having asked if he could kiss her, he continued: 'And then I did. In a queer bar. In front of everyone around us. I was coming to understand what all those poems were about, what all the fuss was.

'Everything was cold before, motionless, emotionless. Any woman I had loved hadn't loved me back, and the one who maybe had, loved me the wrong way.

'But here I was, on a dance floor with a woman who wanted to kiss me and the antagonizing, cruel voice that flooded my head whenever I felt desire was silent.'

Elliot also looked at how the bar helped him address his feelings of shame.

He penned: 'Shame had been drilled into my bones since I was my tiniest self, and I struggled to rid my body of that old toxic and erosive marrow.

'But there was a joy in the room, it lifted me, forced a reaction in the jaw, an uncontrolled, steady smile.'

Opening up: Elliot publicly came out as a transgender man in December 2020 but revealed he began 'feeling like a boy' from the age of nine

Elliot was paid 'north of $3M' to write his 288-page tell-all, which Flatiron Books will publish on June 6.

The two-time Emmy-nominated producer came out as a lesbian in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's 'Time to Thrive' conference in Las Vegas.

Elliot kicks off his nine-date international book tour on June 6 at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan, and future dates will be announced soon.

It's unclear if Elliot is still dating non-binary comedian Mae Martin after the pair got matching tattoos and suited up for the 11th Annual LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 5.

Elliot's divorce from Canadian dancer Emma Portner was finalized in 2021 after two years of marriage.
Ben Affleck began his day downing a fast food breakfast in Los Angeles.

The Oscar winner. 50, whose latest project with wife Jennifer Lopez has been suspended amid the Hollywood writers strike, was spotted grabbing his morning meal from McDonald's and eating it in his car.

The Last Duel star looked ready for his work day in a pair of tan cargo pants, a gray jacket and red, burgundy and red Nike sneakers.

His dark hair was closely cropped and his full beard was neatly trimmed.

Ben will be seen on the big screen beginning June 16 as Batman/Bruce Wayne in The Flash.

Breakfast: Ben Affleck began his day downing a fast food breakfast in Los Angeles. The actor, 50, was spotted grabbing his morning meal from McDonald's and eating it in his car

He told The Hollywood Reporter in March, he felt after the bad experience he had shooting Justice League, that he finally got his portrayal of the Caped Crusader right.

'The experience, the fact that those stories became somewhat repetitive to me and less interesting. Yeah, I did finally figure out how to play that character [Batman], and I nailed it in The Flash.

'For the five minutes Im there, its really great. A lot of its just tone,' he explained.

'Youve got to figure out, whats your version of the person? Who is the guy that fits what you can do? I tried to fit myself into a Batman. And by the way, I like a lot of the stuff we did, especially the first one [Batman v Superman].'

Ben, who shares a Best Screenplay Oscar with his pal Matt Damon, 52, has been honoring the writers strike.

He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, which voted to authorize a strike if they dont agree on a new contract with major studios, streamers and production companies by June 30.

The Directors Guild of America was able to hammer out a new three-year agreement that included a minimum salary increase of five-percent, higher streaming residuals, and following the fatal shooting on Alec Baldwin's Rust, a ban on live ammunition on sets.

Ben, along with the DGA rank and file must still vote on the new contract.

Dapper: The Last Duel star looked ready for his work day in a pair of tan cargo pants, a gray jacket and red, burgundy and red Nike sneakers. His dark hair was closely cropped and his full beard was neatly trimmed

Nailed it: Ben will be seen on the big screen June 16 as Batman/ Bruce Wayne in The Flash. He began his work as the Caped Crusader in Batman v Superman. 'I did finally figure out how to play that character [Batman], and I nailed it in The Flash' he told The Hollywood Reporter

Limbo: Many of Ben's projects are currently in limbo due to the ongoing ongoing Hollywood writers strike. One of those is Witness for the Prosecution, which is set to star in, produce and direct

'The studios and the people who make the movies are increasingly separate, from different worlds. They dont understand one anothers values, and theres suspicion. And it creates conflict,' the Air star said to THR in March.

Negotiators may want to look at what Ben, Matt Damon and RedBird Capital have done at the Artists Equity studio which 'partners with filmmakers to empower their creative vision and broaden access to creator and crew profit participation,' according to their website.

In the meantime, the multi-talented star has nine producing projects that are listed as 'in-development' or 'pre-production.

He is set to star in, produce and direct the re-make of classic Witness for the Prosecution, via his and Matt's production company Pearl Street Films.
Such is the favour in which the Goring Hotel has been held by successive generations of the Royal Family that it's sometimes considered almost an annexe of Buckingham Palace  a special status which was very publicly acknowledged a decade ago when Queen Elizabeth awarded it a royal warrant.

But is that intimate bond about to break? I ask because of what, by the Goring's stately standards, is revolutionary news concerning its dining room.

It's there that the Queen Mother delightedly tucked into Eggs Drumkilbo, one of the hotel's signature dishes which is crammed with as much lobster as egg, and where, three years after her death aged 101 in 2002, that her beloved grandson, David Linley, now Lord Snowdon, went to work.

Redecorating the room with handcrafted walnut columns, and coating walls in soothing shades of toffee and biscuit  as well as installing three Swarovski crystal chandeliers  he had, it was widely agreed, triumphantly pulled it off. Indeed, the Goring's website described the refashioned dining room as a 'luxurious setting', which contrived to be neither stuffily old school or modishly modern.

But now, I'm told, Linley's efforts have ceased to work their magic  at least on Jeremy Goring, the fourth generation at the helm of the family-owned hotel.

Queen Mother (pictured) alongside hotel owner George Goring (left). It was there that she delightedly tucked into Eggs Drumkilbo, one of the hotel's signature dishes which is crammed with as much lobster as egg

The Goring Hotel has been held by successive generations of the Royal Family that it's sometimes considered almost an annexe of Buckingham Palace

The Goring's website described the refashioned dining room as a 'luxurious setting', which contrived to be neither stuffily old school or modishly modern

'There's a feeling that the dining room is now rather tired and outdated,' my man tucking into the honey-glazed guinea fowl on the Michelin-starred menu tells me.

'There's going to be a complete revamp so that the room is no longer a single expanse but is broken up by placing banquettes in the centre, giving it more of a brasserie feel.'

Goring, who succeeded his father, 'Mr George', as the hotel's head man in 2005, declines to comment. But some of the hotel's devotees are already mourning the erasure of the old era.

'The summer drinks party hasn't happened since the tragedy of the first lockdown,' one reflects. Meanwhile another, lamenting the imminent disappearance of Linley's work, sighs and says: 'Lunching there made one feel regal.'

Bella Mackie, best-selling author of How To Kill Your Family, had never been treated to a meal by a suitor until she met Radio 1 DJ Greg James in 2017. The couple are now married. 'He'd booked dinner after we went to a comedy show... which I just found extraordinary because I'd never gone on a date with someone who'd taken me for dinner before,' the novelist, 39, tells Ruthie's Table 4 podcast. 'I thought, 'Wow, this is incredibly grown up of you'.'

Gigi's model support for Vogue boss

British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful is determined to make a stylish exit from the magazine  if his latest rendezvous is anything to go by.

Top model Gigi Hadid joined Enninful, who is alleged to have lost a power tussle with Vogue supremo Anna 'Nuclear' Wintour, at private members' club Oswald's in Mayfair. Hadid, 28, wore white sunglasses and held a green, snakeskin clutch bag.

It was announced last week that 51-year-old Enninful (inset)  the first man and first black person to edit British Vogue  will take up a new global role at publisher Conde Nast next year.

Top model Gigi Hadid (pictured) joined Enninful, who is alleged to have lost a power tussle with Vogue supremo Anna 'Nuclear' Wintour, at private members' club Oswald's in Mayfair

British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful (pictured) is determined to make a stylish exit from the magazine  if his latest rendezvous is anything to go by

Snapshot of late Queen's sense of fun

Queen Elizabeth's mischievous sense of humour is fondly recalled by Philip Hammond.

'The Queen came to attend what was a totally fake Cabinet meeting,' the former chancellor says at a live recording of The Political Party Podcast.

Afterwards, ministers posed with Her Majesty for a picture. 'Everyone sat there, the Queen in the middle, like stuffed shirts, looking at the camera,' he says.

'Immediately the photograph was taken and the Queen said, 'Good Lord, is that it?', and everybody burst out laughing.

'Then, of course, the photographer took a second picture in which everyone was in disarray with their mouths open, laughing . . . except for the Queen, who sat there with her hands still on her knees.'
Olivia Wilde showcased her new bangs and flashed her abs in a white tank top as she posed up a storm in her bathroom on Tuesday.

The Don't Worry Darling director, 39, went braless in her skimpy top as she wore her newly styled locks in a tousled ponytail and went make-up free.

The star confidently posed to show off her trim waist and paired the top with black baggy sweat pants.

'The 24 seconds in the morning before someone is screaming about wishing they were an only child,' she captioned the Instagram Story.

The star is mom to two children with ex Jason Sudeikis, Otis, eight and Daisy, six.

New bangs: Olivia Wilde showcased her new bangs and flashed her abs in a white tank top as she posed up a storm in her bathroom on Tuesday

New hair: Olivia showed off her new bangs earlier in the week (pictured R in 2021)

Olivia and Jason. who officially split back in November 2020, have been involved in a bitter child custody battle over their two children.

The Hollywood stars have additionally been thrust back in the spotlight amid their former nanny's wrongful termination lawsuit.

Last month Jason and Olivia claimed in new legal documents, per TMZ, that their former nanny, Ericka Gernaro, did not file her wrongful termination lawsuit correctly in California as a civil lawsuit.

They further claim that the lawsuit should have been filed in the state of New York as a private arbitration. The former couple informed TMZ in a statement published on Thursday that, 'It is unfortunate that this private matter continues to play out in the press.'

'Our focus has been and will continue to be to steadfastly protect our family in the face of harassment of any kind. We are confident that the evidence brought forward will affirm our position to summarily dismiss this case and bring our family peace.'

Ericka, who had worked for the Hollywood stars from 2018 until 2021, claimed earlier this year in February that she was fired after asking for a three day medical leave due to the stress of the job. However, both Jason and Olivia allege that she was not fired, but that she actually resigned.

The former couple says that nanny Ericka Genaro had her salary doubled in 2020 and that she was 'taken care of by the family.'

In one instance, they say that they paid for her and her dog to stay in London's Rosewood Hotel, after she left her job. The final bill came for over $22,000 thanks in-part to food and booze room service.

Cute: Olivia also showed off her toned frame as she strolled to the gym on Tuesday

On the move: The star looked glowing as she walked in LA

Chic: Her new bangs are still long enough to pull back into a bun

They further claim that travel expenses of around $17,000 for Ericka to move from London to the United States was also reimbursed.

They also allege that Genaro was in breach of her working agreement by going to the media about the couple's intimate problems as well as lying about her criminal record. They are quoted as saying that Genaro has described herself as 'ruthless.'

The TMZ report says that Sudeikis and his former fiancee allege that Genaro only began to have issues with her job when she demanded a tax-free pay raise.

Genaro has previously told DailyMail.com how the Horrible Bosses star would text her about his concerns as Olivia Wilde started to see Harry Styles more often, before bringing Genaro on a trip to London.

But the former celebrity couple quickly hit back at Genaro's claims, calling them 'false and scurrilous.'

They repeated that assertion in a statement to DailyMail.com about Genaro's lawsuit, saying: 'As parents, it is incredibly upsetting to learn that a former nanny of our two young children would choose to make such false and scurrilous accusations about us publicly.'

The former nanny's lawsuit also claims that she was put in the middle of Jason and Olivia's split and claimed Wilde 'abruptly left' home and her two children amid the break up.

'Wilde's sudden absence from the home had an adverse consequence on its emotional state, including Sudeikis leaning on the presence of Plaintiff for support,' the suit claims.

A source told DailyMail.com that in fact Wilde did not 'suddenly' move out but rather was filming between Los Angeles and Palm Springs while Sudeikis and their children were in London.

Olivia and Jason have also been in a child custody battle of their own, with the actress claiming l in April in documents obtained by The Blast, that the actor is not paying for child support.

She claimed that while Sudeikis is assisting with their children's school tuition, all other expenses are being covered by her only. Last month, she also plead poverty in court filings.

Despite being worth $10 million, Olivia, who was served legal documents last year during the 2022 CinemaCon amid the child custody battle, claimed that the Ted Lasso star is prolonging the court battle to 'litigate her into debt.
Sami Sheen, the daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, is having the trip of a lifetime in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii.

The model, who turned 19 in March, posted a slew of snaps chronicling her getaway to paradise to her Instagram account on Monday.

Whether she was splashing around the ocean blue or striking a pose by the sunset in an ab-baring outfit, Sami really looked like she was having the time of her life.

'My second home at this point,' she captioned the snaps.

The posts began with video of Sami diving into the tranquil waters, before emerging to slick the water out of her face.

Life's a beach! Sami Sheen, the daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, is having the trip of a lifetime in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii

In one picture, Sami wore a cheeky thong bikini bottom as she explored the rocky terrain with her tattooed back on display.

She also shared a snap of herself soaking in the tub beside a candlelight.

In one stunning shot, Sami posed on the beach at sunset in a white tube top and flowing tiered skirt.

She also appeared to take a snap at magic hour, as she posed in the sunlight with her blonde hair cascading atop her grey sweatshirt in one golden shot.

There was also plenty of adventuring to be had.

Sami also enjoyed some zip lining, a bike ride around the beach, and a close encounter with a tortoise.

Sami has been posting on the pay site OnlyFans since last year.

She made headlines for posting images alongside her Bond girl mom Denise, who posed for Playboy almost 20 years ago.

Cheeky: Sami wandered around the rocky beach in a thong bikini

Golden hour! Sheen looked radiant posing in the sunshine

Making a splash! The post included video of her diving into the water

Sami previously faced opposition from her actor dad Charlie Sheen, who wasn't happy with her decision to join OnlyFans, and she recently revealed he still hasn't been won over.

The teenager told TMZ: '(My mom) has been incredibly supportive from the jump. I'm grateful to have to her in my corner. But my dad hasn't seen the light yet. '

But Denise has been far more supportive of her daughter's OnlyFans endeavors.

Denise, who was married to Charlie from 2002 to 2006, jumped to social media to defend her daughter's decision and said, 'Lots of negative comments on my social this past week. I have to say, I wish I had the confidence my 18 yr old daughter has. And I also can't be judgemental of her choices. I did Wild Things & Playboy, quite frankly her father shouldn't be either.'

H2-Whoa! She showcased her backside as she dove into the water

Splish splash! She relaxed from all her adventures in a bubble bath

Exploring: She enjoyed a bike ride on the beach with a friend

Sky's the limit! They also soared through the skies via zipline

Close encounters! She shared a snap of a turtoise crawling on the beach

In regards to the backlash, the actress added, 'I'm in awe of her ability to shut out the noise. Because it can destroy you...I recently learned about @onlyfans in the last few months. The judgement because women & men of the adult film industry are on there. I imagine they're on IG & Twitter as well.'

She then questioned if there was, 'a difference posting a picture of [ourselves] in a bikini on IG? We've all done it. Because you get paid on Only Fans? I'm pretty sure IG & Twitter & Facebook do quite well off of all of us.' Denise later added, 'Perhaps I should open my own account...'

Denise ended up joining OnlyFans just days after her daughter started her own account.
Jodie Comer and Katie Holmes looked elegant as they arrived at the Theatre World Awards in New York City on Monday evening.

The Killing Eve actress, 30, showed off her chic style in a black mesh gown which was covered by a blazer.

She boosted her height in a pair of platform heels, while styling her blonde locks in loose waves.

Meanwhile, Katie wowed in a sheer black maxi dress, teamed with slip-on patent shoes.

The actress, 44, opted for a bronzed makeup palette which accentuated her natural features, while her brunette locks were styled straight.

Chic: Jodie Comer and Katie Holmes looked elegant as they arrived at the Theatre World Awards in New York City on Monday evening

Stunning: The Killing Eve actress, 30, showed off her chic style in a black mesh gown which was covered by a blazer

At an annual ceremony, six actresses and six actors are presented with a Theatre World Award in recognition of their debut performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.

It comes after Jodie was nominated for her first Tony award for her role in her latest show.

The actress is up for a gong in the category Best Leading Actress Of A Play for the one-woman theatre spectacle Prima Facie, which debuted at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London.

Jodie stars as a barrister called Tessa in the play, which transferred to New York in April after critical acclaim and saw her make her Broadway debut.

In the show, Tessa defends men charged with rape and then finds herself in the witness box after being assaulted.

Jodie is up against Jessica Chastain in A Doll's House, Jessica Hecht in Summer, 1976 and Audra McDonald in Ohio State Murders in her category.

The actress previously won Best Actress at the Olivier Awards for her role in the West End show which is now running at the John Golden Theatre in New York until July.

This will be the 76th annual awards and the show is put on by the Tony Awards committee in New York City.

The nominations were announced by Funny Girl star Lea Michele and Myles Frost, who won last year for his performance in MJ: The Musical.

Radiant: Jodie sported a flawless blush makeup look with a swipe of nude lipstick

Pretty: She boosted her height in a pair of platform heels, while styling her blonde locks in loose waves

Beauty: The actress, 44, opted for a bronzed makeup palette which accentuated her natural features, while her brunette locks were styled straight

Stylish: Laura Linney looked incredible in a black blazer and trouser co-ord, teamed with a green patterned shirt

Actress Ariana DeBose will again host the ceremony, scheduled for June 11 at New York City's United Palace theater.

'I was honoured to serve as host last year and even more so to be asked back,' DeBose previously said in a statement.

'So looking forward to celebrating this incredible season and the people who make the work happen. Here's to adding some uptown flavour to the magic of the Tony Awards.'

The show will air live on CBS and on demand on Paramount+.
The path chosen by Mahatma Gandhi resonates in our minds

Aeons ago lived an overbearing and hubristic monarch. He scuttled all dissent and those opposed to his modus operandi were either exiled or obliterated. In order to escape his wrath, several of the denizens and vassal states decided to seek refuge in the sublime grace of Sakhya Muni, Lord Buddha. This act of defiance incensed the zealot. In a maximal fit of rage, he marched with his army to wage war against the apostle of peace and non-violence.

The suzerain, in an act, that he clearly intended to intimidate and pique the Buddha, spat at him thrice. The benevolent and solicitous soul smiled and merely remarked, I do not accept this.

This deceptively simple remark incensed, indeed rattled the querulous monarch.

In the face of such dignity and equanimity, the monarch was forced to ask where the Buddha found the deep reserves of piety and composure. In reply, Lord Buddha invited him to eschew antipathetic thoughts and join the sangha.

Aggression Vs violence: Pre-eminent psychologists distinguish aggression from violence. They postulate forceful destructive behaviour towards another individual or society as violence. Aggression, on the other hand, is based on the paradigm of an antipathetic intent. Psychologists deploy the word aggression to refer to the behaviour of an individual or a group that is intended to intentionally cause harm to other individuals or groups of persons.

Aggressive behaviour is based on the premise to torment or indulge in the defilement of a person or property. Violence is the perpetration of such an act.

Understanding the cause: The maniacal desire to achieve a certain goal, desire or objective leads to aggressive behaviour and could result in a wanton violent act. Do we recall the famous or rather infamous Bodyline Series (1932-33)?

Douglas Jardine, the English captain deployed his fastest bowlers- Harold Larwood and Bill Voce to intimidate the batting machinery of Don Bradman, Bill Woodfull, Bill Ponsford and Alan Kippax. High-pitched deliveries were bowled on the leg stump incessantly and England won the series 4-1 against Australia.

Hostile aggression: It is interesting to note that hostile aggression and violent acts find root when an individual indulges in criminality in order to be charge sheeted and aspires to glory via notoriety. The human mind often operates in repulsive and intriguing ways.

Distinguished psychologists have identified certain underlying reasons for harbouring aggressive feelings and concomitant violence. This could be a certain inborn tendency, essentially in the DNA of the individual or agony and frustration.

Peace and the Art of Living Way: There have been apostles of peace in both the occidental and oriental worlds who have given up their lives to maintain peace and harmony. The path chosen by Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi resonates in our minds.

In recent times, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has transformed the lives of several Maoists, Naxals and extremists, who have eschewed violence, given up arms and joined the mainstream once again. Their minds have been transformed by practising the unique rhythmic breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya.

Simultaneously their energies have been channelised to do sadhana, seva and satsang through the regular practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation. Non-violence is an active force of the highest order. It is the soul-force or the power of the Godhead within us. Imperfect man cannot grasp the whole of that essence- he would not be able to bear its full blaze, but even an infinitesimal fraction of it, when it becomes active within us, can work wonders, wrote Gandhiji.

(The writer is an author and a spiritual teacher)
India and Bangladesh will explore ways to further strengthen their military ties during Army Chief General Manoj Pandes two-day visit to Dhaka beginning Monday. It is his second visit to the neighboring country after assuming charge as the Army chief. He had paid an official visit in July last year.

During the visit, the Army Chief will be meeting the senior military leadership of Bangladesh where he will discuss avenues for further enhancing Indo-Bangladesh defence relations, the Army said in New Delhi on Monday.

On Tuesday, Pande will review the Passing Out Parade (POP) of officer cadets of the 84th Long Course at the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) in Chattogram. During the parade, the Army Chief will be presenting the Bangladesh India Friendship Trophy instituted for best foreign cadet from friendly foreign countries of the passing out course from the BMA. The first trophy this year is being awarded to officer cadet Everton of Tanzania. This trophy is in reciprocation to the Bangladesh Trophy and Medal instituted at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun in December 2021 for Best foreign cadet passing out course, the Army said in a statement. The Army Chief will be reviewing the POP at IMA, Dehradun on June 10 and present the Bangladesh Medal and the trophy. Other engagements of the Army Chief include formal interactions with the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army and the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed forces division.

The Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff visited India in April this year and reviewed the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Frequent visits by senior military leaders and bilateral cooperation events such as joint military exercises contribute to enhancing military-to-military relations between both nations, the Army said.

Reports from Dhaka said Pande on Monday met his Bangladeshi counterpart General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and discussed various aspects of mutual interest and explored ways to further expand bilateral defence and security ties.
India and Namibia on Monday discussed the entire gamut of their bilateral ties during talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Namibian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek.

The two leaders also discussed advancing bilateral ties in energy, green hydrogen, transport and connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, food security, science and technology. Jaishankar co-chaired the first Joint Commission of Cooperation between India and Namibia with Nandi-Ndaitwah during which he underlined that the contemporary cooperation should build on long-standing political goodwill and growing development partnership. Discussed advancing our ties in energy, green hydrogen, transport & connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, food security, science and technology and culture. As also wildlife collaboration and eco-tourism.

Our perspectives (on) regional and global issues are similar and drive our working together in international forums, Jaishankar tweeted. Earlier, Nandi-Ndaitwah held a tete-a-tete with Jaishankar ahead of the delegation-level meeting. Jaishankar arrived here in Namibias capital on Sunday from Cape Town on a three-day visit. He was warmly received on his arrival in Windhoek by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Jenelly Matundu.

He also interacted with the Indian community in Windhoek on Sunday evening. Shared with them the history of our ties, as well as the new expressions of friendship. Also discussed the progress in India and its impact on Indians living abroad, the minister tweeted.

Addressing them, he said rise of India is unstoppable and the country is taking its place in the world citing Indias strong economic growth, its strong relationships abroad and the support of the diaspora worldwide.

It was the first visit by an Indian external affairs minister to the African nation. Jaishankar said in many ways India is now a much more capable country, a much more confident country, and that way more recognised around the world.
With ongoing tensions between China and India at the border in Ladakh, as well as Chinas aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his visit to India, did not hesitate to describe such behaviour as a form of bullying and coercion. He further emphasised that the India-US relationship serves as a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Austin made these remarks at a press conference held in New Delhi following detailed discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two leaders thoroughly reviewed the situation in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, including the ongoing situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China.

Austin pointed out that Chinas actions include attempts to forcefully redraw borders, which poses a direct threat to the sovereignty of nations. He also highlighted the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which shares similar aims of changing borders through force and undermining national sovereignty.

Additionally, Austin emphasised the significance of collaborative military exercises between India and the United States. He acknowledged the existence of transnational issues such as terrorism and climate change in our rapidly changing world.

He stated, So, democracies must now rally together around not only our common interests but also our shared values. Preserving and protecting the freedoms that are essential to peace and prosperity will require vigorous leadership from the United States and India. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that the US-India partnership will help secure an open and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the wider world.

Regarding the ties between India and the US, Austin reiterated that the partnership is a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific. He highlighted how the deepening ties demonstrate how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between the two great powers can contribute to global good.

Emphasising the importance of US-India cooperation, Austin expressed, We all face a rapidly changing world. We witness bullying and coercion from the Peoples Republic of China and Russian aggression against Ukraine, which seek to redraw borders and threaten national sovereignty.

Austin also mentioned, We have established an ambitious new roadmap for defense industrial cooperation with a fast-track, high-priority focus on co-development and co-production projects, as well as building closer ties between our defense industries.

Looking forward, he expressed eagerness to advance some of these projects during the upcoming visits, indirectly referring to the forthcoming tour of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States.

During the discussions, both sides explored ways to enhance information sharing and discussed new initiatives to improve maritime cooperation, particularly in the undersea domain.

Concluding his remarks at the media briefing, Austin emphasised the unique role of India and the United States as the worlds two largest democracies in preserving the rules-based international order that ensures the security of all nations. He described his talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval as productive.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Monday urged airlines to ensure checks on any abnormal surge in airfares, particularly during calamities, considering the recent train accident.

During the hour-long meeting with the Airlines Advisory Group, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed concerns about the airfare surge on certain routes.

The ministry stressed the need for airlines to self-monitor airfares, especially on specific routes that have experienced a notable price hike, particularly those previously serviced by Go First. With Go First ceasing operations from May 3, the reduction in capacity due to the crisis coincides with the upcoming peak domestic air travel period.

Airlines have been requested to establish a mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high Reservation Booking Designators, which will be monitored by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to a statement from the ministry. Airfares are deregulated under the current framework.

The Ministry also stated that airlines should exercise strict control over ticket prices in view of the humanitarian situation during any calamity and monitor and regulate any surges in ticket prices to and from the affected region.

In light of the tragic incident in Odisha, airlines have been advised to provide free carriage (cargo) services to the families of the deceased, the ministry added.

Since the deregulation of Indias airline sector, airfares have been market-driven and are neither established nor regulated by the government. Airline pricing operates on multiple levels known as Reservation Booking Designators (RBDs). In a statement to the Lok Sabha on March 16, Scindia highlighted that airfares are neither established nor regulated by the government.

The airline pricing system operates on multiple levels (buckets) in line with global practices. Prices are determined by airlines based on market demand, seasonality, and other market forces. Airfares increase as demand for seats rises and lower fare buckets get sold out quickly when airlines offer bookings, he stated in a written reply. India is one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets globally, and domestic passenger traffic has been recovering after being significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest official data, domestic airlines flew 128.88 lakh passengers in April. Crisis-hit Go First is currently undergoing a voluntary insolvency resolution process.
The Special MP-MLA Court in Varanasi on Monday awarded life sentence to former gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for the murder of Awadhesh Rai, the brother of Congress leader Ajay Rai, more than 30 years ago.

Ajay Rai, president of the Prayagraj region of the Congress and brother of Awadhesh Rai, expressed his satisfaction with the verdict.

The incident occurred on August 3, 1991, when Awadhesh was shot down at the gate of his residence in Lahurabir, Varanasi. Ansari among others were named as accused in the case.

The trial for the murder of Awadhesh concluded on May 19 this year, and Special Court (MP-MLA) Judge Avanish Gautam reserved the order for June 5. On Monday, the court sentenced Ansari to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of `1.20 lakh. Presently incarcerated in Banda Jail, Ansari participated in the court proceedings via video conference.

Ansari has faced 61 criminal cases across different States, out of which he has been convicted in six. In April, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a court in Ghazipur under the Gangsters Act.

Strict security measures were put in place within the court premises during the announcement of the verdict. It was revealed during the June 2022 hearings that the original case diary was missing.

Despite extensive efforts, the original case diary could not be located. A case was registered against Ansari for allegedly using his influence to destroy the original copy of the case diary. The trial proceeded based on the Xerox copies of the original case diary.

In 2022, Ansari and one of his aides, Bhim Singh, were convicted by a Ghazipur court in a Gangsters Act case related to five matters, including the murder of Awadhesh Rai. Over the past year, Ansari has been convicted in four additional cases by different courts. However, this is the first time he has received a life sentence in any of the cases.

Ajay Rai expressed his satisfaction with the courts verdict, stating, This marks the end of our 32-year-long struggle against a notorious criminal. My parents, Awadheshs daughter, our entire family, and I remained patient... Governments came and went, and Mukhtar grew stronger. But we never gave up. Today, due to the efforts of our lawyers, the court has found Mukhtar guilty in the murder case of my brother.

Ansaris counsel requested the court to consider the convicts age while pronouncing the judgment. The lawyer stated that they would appeal to a higher court after thoroughly reviewing the verdict.

When asked about the response from Ansaris lawyer, Rai stated, We will fight all the way to the Supreme Court. We fought for 32 years, and we will continue to do so.

On the fateful day of August 3, 1991, Ajay Rai and his brother were standing at the gate of their house in the Chetganj police station area when assailants, including Mukhtar Ansari, arrived in a car and shot Awadhesh. Ajay Rai retaliated by firing from his licensed pistol, causing the assailants to flee, leaving behind the car.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that the BJP and the RSS are incapable of looking at the future and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to drive the Indian car by only looking in the rearview mirror which will lead to one accident after another.

Rahul addressed a massive community event at the Javits Centre organised by the Indian Overseas Congress  USA on Sunday as he wrapped up his US visit that included trips to San Francisco and Washington DC. Back home we have a problem, and I will tell you the problem. BJP and the RSS are incapable of looking at the future. Theyre incapable. Unse aap kuch bhi poocho, woh peeche ki aur dekhte hain (You ask anything they look into the past), he said.

He said that if you ask the BJP why a train accident happened, they will say the Congress did such and such thing 50 years ago, taking a swipe at the government following the Odisha train accident, one of the worst railway tragedies in the country.

Rahul said that if you ask the BJP why they removed the periodic table from the textbooks, they will refer to what the Congress party did 60 years ago. Their immediate response is to look back, he said, adding that one cannot drive a car by looking only in the rearview mirror as that will only lead to one accident after another.

That is the phenomenon of Narendra Modi ji. He is trying to drive the Indian car and he only looks in the rearview mirror. And then he does not understand why this car is crashing, not moving forward. And its the same idea with the BJP, with the RSS, all of them.

He said that when a train accident happened when the Congress party was in power, it did not say it is the fault of the British that the train has crashed. No. The Congress minister remember said it is my responsibility the train has crashed. Im resigning, Rahul said.

There is a fight going on back home  a fight between two ideologies. One that we represent and the other of course that the BJP and the RSS represent. I think the simplest way to describe this fight is on one side you have Mahatma Gandhi and on the other side, you have Nathuram Godse, the 52-year-old former Congress president said at the community event.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress leader said that on one side there is a brave man, NRI like you. In fact, probably the most impactful NRI that India has had in many, many years. Humble man, a simple man, but a man who believed in the future, who believed in India, propagated non-violence and search for the truth. Thats the ideology that we follow. Thats the ideology that all of you follow in this room.

And then on the other side, Nathuram Godse, violent, angry, unable to face the reality of his own life. He was angry, hateful, and frankly he was scared. At the heart, he was a coward.
Students, educationists and civil society members held a dharna before the Sub-Collector office pressing for converting Kuchinda College to a Government college. They submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Sub Collector of Kuchinda in this regard.



The State Government had decided to convert 11 colleges situated in ITDA blocks including Kuchinda to Government colleges. The proposal was also approved in the Cabinet. But nothing could be materialised so far.



On May 23, the Cityzen Forum held a discussion with the Sub Collector of Kuchinda regarding the Cabinet decision and to expedite the process of coversion to Government college. "When nothing happened in this regard, we prefered to sit in Dharna," said Pritam Pruseth, the convenor of the Citizen Forum.



The forum further alleged that the Bamara College under their sub division is yet to have degree classes in science. The only science college under Janankira block is a self financing one. "Hence we demand before the State Government to give justice to the students of the ITDA blocks and other backward areas to at least have one Government college, with all streams," said forum convenor Jitendriya Dhurua.
Rajya Sabha MP, Chief Whip and BJP Jharkhand state in-charge Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee addressed a press conference on Monday under the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maha Public Relations Campaign. Lohardaga Lok Sabha MP Sudarshan Bhagat, Maha Public Relations Campaign cluster in-charge on the occasion. Co-Training Chief Manoj Singh were present. Addressing the press conference, Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee said that the purpose of organizing the program under the great public relations campaign by the BJP is to reach out to the development work done by the central government in the last 9 years in its area and to attract the senior BJP workers to the public.

He said that the Modi government has given many gifts to Jharkhand. The previous government of BJP started many such schemes, which were paving the way for the self-reliance of the women, students, but the present corrupt government of Jharkhand has stopped many such schemes of public interest. Bajpai said about the achievement of the Central Government as well as the State Government that three and a half years of the Hemant government have been completed, the public is in a bad condition and there are corrupt people,

Jharkhand became the first state where the Chief Minister himself approved the mining lease in the name of his wife and brother. Here in the total government records, more than 5000 murders, rapes and what incidents have happened in the state, due to the protection and support of Love Jihad, many incidents have happened inside the state, said that the plans of the central government are being blocked, the government is cruel on the agitators.

The BJP will fight against the government on all issues in a constitutional way among the public, it is our one worker's resolution to get rid of this tyrannical corrupt government in 2024.

MP Sudarshan Bhagat said that misleading the public has become the main agenda of the government. And as far as corruption is concerned, the government is protecting itself in the entire state. During the press conference, District President Manir Oraon, General Public Relations Campaign Coordinator Rajkishore Mahato, Chandrashekhar Agarwal, District General Secretary Rajkumar Verma, Development Tour Program District Coordinator cum District Media Incharge Pashupatinath Paras, Vice President Suraj Mohan Sahu were present.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the aim of my life is to improve the lives of sisters. Many schemes are being implemented for women empowerment in the state. Out of these schemes, the unique Ladli Behna scheme will bring self-reliance among the women.

On coming June 10, an amount of Rs one thousand will be transferred to the accounts of the sisters. They will be able to withdraw this amount the next day on June 11. He said that Ladli Bahna Sena is being formed in every village to monitor the schemes run in the interest of women at the field level. Women without any hesitation inform me about the irregularities in the implementation of the schemes. I will not spare the wrong doers. Chouhan attended the Mahila Sammelan in Jhabua today. The women welcomed the Chief Minister with Bhagoriya dance and showering of flowers. They tied raksha-sutras to the Chief Minister and presented a big rakhi.

Chouhan said that no woman in the state will remain poor nor will she live in compulsion. I will not let tears come in the eyes of my sisters. With the Ladli Bahna Yojana, sisters will be able to fulfill their needs and the needs of the family. He said that by associating women with the Livelihood Mission, their economic condition is being strengthened. It is my resolve that the monthly income of each woman should be Rs.10,000. He called upon the women to join the self-help groups. The Chief Minister said that now a new era has come, where women will be more empowered.

The Chief Minister said that I salute Jhabua, where there is no discrimination between son and daughter. I had seen discrimination against daughters in many places. To change this mentality of the society, Ladli Laxmi Yojana was implemented in the state. With the scheme, daughters are now being considered a boon and not a burden. He said that as a mark of respect to women, we have kept 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies. The result of this is that today many of our sisters have become panch-sarpanch, Janpad and district panchayat members and presidents. Provision has also been made for reservation for daughters in police, education and other government recruitments.

Chouhan urged all the sisters present that on the evening of June 10, when the amount of Ladli Bahna Yojana will be deposited in their account, they must celebrate by lighting a lamp in their homes. Chouhan said during his emotional conversation that I promise that I will live for my sisters and if I have to die, I will die for my sisters.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot of work for the poor and women. We have restarted the schemes which were stopped by the previous government in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Chouhan performed Kanya Pujan. The tribal groups gave a beautiful presentation of bhajans. The women also presented a play with a message centred on Ladli Bahna Yojana. Chouhan announced to present an honorarium of Rs 25 thousand each to both the parties. In the programme, the Chief Minister also dedicated the development works and performed Bhoomi Pujan. Along with this, acceptance letters and benefits of Ladli Bahna Yojana were distributed to the sisters. Chouhan interacted with sisters and Jan Seva Mitras and inquired about the progress and implementation of government schemes. Peepal sapling was also planted at Gill Rest House in Jhabua. Chief Minister Chouhan was accorded a traditional welcome by offering Jhuldi and Safa and was presented with a bow and arrow as a memento.

Chouhan distributed acceptance letters of Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana in Udaipuriya Basti of Ward No. 16 during Jhabua stay.
A defiant former president of the Wrestling Federation of India and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Singh is set to hold a large rally in his Kaiserganj parliamentary constituency on June 11 despite growing opposition against him in the country and abroad after allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him by wrestlers.

Singhs supporters claim that the rally is being organised on the instructions of the national leadership of the BJP.

Singh is currently facing allegations of sexual exploitation involving women wrestlers at the national and international levels. The Delhi Police are currently investigating these cases, while the khap panchayats in North India have issued an ultimatum for his arrest by June 9.

Recently, the administration did not grant permission for Singhs rally in Ayodhya on June 5. Local MP and a significant portion of the BJP organisation had already opposed the programme internally, fearing it would impact political equations in the area.

The BJP leadership has directed every MP to organise large-scale programmes in their respective areas to showcase the achievements of the Narendra Modi government over the past nine years. This rally will be organised in response to partys directives in Kaiserganj on behalf of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the local MP, said Mahendra Verma, a supporter of Singh.

Singh and his family hold sway in this region is evident from the fact that Brij Bhushans son, Karan Bhushan, supported an independent who defeated a BJP candidate in the election of chairperson of the Nawabganj municipal council in Gonda. Among the three municipal councils, only in Kaiserganj did the BJPs chairperson candidate emerge victorious.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been emphasising his influence on the local public and his good relations with the BJP high command. He publicly stated that he was consulted by the high command before ticket distribution for the Devipatan division in the 2017 elections. In 2014, he expressed his desire to retire from politics but Home Minister Amit Shah dissuaded him from doing so.

The situation has changed now. The BJP is currently assessing the potential advantages and disadvantages of supporting Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The partys high command has reportedly instructed party office-bearers not to make any statements to the media on Brij Bhushans matter.

Meanwhile, in contrast to the opposition from khap panchayats, prominent saints from Ayodhya have come out in support of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Mahant Prem Das of Hanuman Garhi said that the allegations against Singh were under investigation and only the investigating agency could determine the truth.

He believes that Singh aimed to promote wrestlers from Uttar Pradesh, which may have prompted wrestlers from other states to oppose him.
The Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) demonstrated before the United Nations protesting the arrest of

thousands of trade union leaders around the world including Myanmar, Hong Kong, Philippine and South Korea after taking a firm resolution in the World Board meeting of BWI held from May 31 to June 1 in Geneva.

The meeting expressed concern over the non implementation of nonbinding UNO convention and the change of the attitude of Qatar Government after the FIFA WC 2022.

Director General of ILO Gilbert F Houngbo while attending the conference as guest said that all issues could be resolved only by dialogue between the country, employer and trade unions and the ILO would facilitate the discussion.

Former MP, president INBCWWF and national vice president of INTUC Dr Rama Chandra Khuntia was unanimously elected as the chairman of BWI Working Group for Migrant Workers. The committee will consult, discuss and prepare an action plan and strategy to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Dr Khuntia said that migrant workers are the real architect for the building of national infrastructure. So they are not a danger to the country they work for or their native country.


The Delhi BJP on Monday attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he dishonoured the national anthem by not waiting to take part in its recital at an event.

A Delhi Government official, however, denied the charge saying that the programme was still underway and the Chief Minister had to leave due to some urgent work. The recital of the national anthem was to take place at the end of the event, he added. Kejriwal took part in a World Environment Day event at Thyagaraj Stadium and addressed a gathering on the occasion before leaving. After the event, the Delhi BJP tweeted sharing a video clip of the event. What kind of AAPs hardcore patriotism is this...He (Arvind Kejriwal) could not wait for the national anthem, the BJP tweeted. Some of the BJP leaders, including Delhi BJP chief V Sachdeva and MP Manoj Tiwari, tweeted.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana alleged in a tweet, Breaking News: @ArvindKejriwal dishonoured the national anthem. There is an announcement that everyone should stand up for the national anthem and people also stood up. Suddenly it is announced @CMODelhi has to go for some important work and he leaves without waiting for the anthem.

A Delhi government official, however, said that the announcement for the national anthem recital was done in haste. As per protocol, the national anthem is always played at the beginning and end of an event. The programme was still underway when the chief minister had to leave. The compere made the announcement about the national anthem in haste, when the CM was leaving. By that time, even Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had not addressed the gathering, the official added.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami handed over appointment letters to 272 candidates in a programme organised by the Technical Education department on Monday. The department had organised an employment fair in May this year for the students of polytechnic colleges of the State and these candidates were selected by different companies.

Congratulating the selected candidates, the CM said that the employment fairs said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a campaign is underway in the country to provide employment to the youths and employment fairs are the new addition in this campaign.

Dhami said that Uttarakhand has no dearth of talent and the State government is making every possible effort to provide employment to the youths. He said that the objective of the government is to provide good governance by developing the information technology sector. The CM opined that the Technical Education department can play a key role in this endeavour of the State government.

The CM expressed confidence that the selected candidates would do justice to the faith reposed by the companies in their abilities. He said that the representatives of the industries should provide cooperation to the State government by providing internship, industrial training and hands-on practical training to the students. This will provide more employment opportunities to the students of Uttarakhand, he added. The CM said that the State government has taken 25 commitments for the silver jubilee of creation of Uttarakhand and the technical education department has been given responsibility of implementing the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali vocational education mission scheme.

The Technical Education minister, Subodh Uniyal also congratulated the selected candidates and expressed confidence that their hard work and dedication would encourage the industrial units to recruit more youngsters from the State. He said that the State government has provided a sum of Rs 300 crore for setting up better infrastructure facilities in the polytechnic colleges. On the basis of demand raised by the industries courses in the institutes have been designed.

The department officials claimed that 430 students were selected by different companies in the employment fair organised in the government polytechnic college Kashipur for the students of Kumaon region on April 25 this year. Similarly 608 youngsters of Garhwal region got jobs in the fair organised on May 8. A total of 2,108 students got jobs this year through online placement cells, employment fairs and campus placements.

MLAs Pramod Nainwal, Suresh Chauhan, additional chief secretary Radha Raturi, secretary Ravinath Raman, director of Technical education RP Gupta, director general of UCOST Durgesh Pant and others were present in the programme.
The construction work of the medical college and hospital has stopped due to non-operation of the state government. The state government has stopped the allotment. The Modi government has sped up the economy of the country. This is the reason that every government on an international level appreciates the efforts of the present central government," said former Union Minister and Member of Parliament of Hazaribag Jayant Sinha while addressing the public under the Vikash Teerth karakarm in the seminar hall of Sheikh Bhikari Medical college near central jail.

In the programme all the BJP MLAs and former MLA were present along with senior state and district level BJP leaders.

Sinha further said that it is our responsibility to give information to every citizen about what are the different achievements of the central government in the last 9 years. The central government has started more than three dozen welfare schemes for the upliftment of the urban as well as rural public of the country.

He has directly alleged the state government that three medical colleges were laid down the foundation stone in Raghuvar government. The state government has stopped the allotment since 2019. This is the reason that the construction work of the medical college has stopped.

Sadar BJP MLA Manish Jaiswal said in his address that during the nine years the central government has achieved so many milestones in the economy of the country. He further said that the Modi government will again come in majority in the 2024 election.

The former minister in undivided Bihar and former MLA Manoj Kumar Yadav said that the biggest achievement of the central government is to remove Section 370. The central government has constructed every pucca road in the country. The central government has invested 1600 crores rupees in patratu thermal.

The district president of BJP Ashok Yadav said that we have done thousands of development work in the Hazaribag parliament constituency. This is the achievement of Jayant Sinha. he has dedicated his whole time in the development of his constituency.

On this occasion the BJP workers marched in the rally in Barhi, Gorikarma and Padma block of the district led by MP Jayant Sinha.
Delhi University will introduce BTech programmes from the forthcoming academic session with a capacity of 360 students who will be admitted in three engineering courses through JEE Mains.

According to the official, the three courses which will be conducted by the Faculty of Technology are BTech Computer Science and Engineering, BTech Electronics and Communication Engineering, and BTech Electrical Engineering.

A proposal in the matter will be presented before the universitys Executive Council on Friday, the official told PTI, adding the university received approval from the Ministry of Education in April for the creation of 72 teaching and 48 non-teaching posts for the new programmes.

The university had in 2021 constituted a committee to deliberate on the introduction of the new courses. The committee held several meetings in the last one-and-half years and systematically deliberated upon various issues within its terms of reference to facilitate the initiation of the three BTech programmes under the Faculty of Technology in the emerging subject areas of computer science and engineering, electronics and communication engineering and electrical engineering, an official said citing the report submitted by the panel.

The report states the university will use the Joint Entrance Examination (Mains) score obtained by an aspirant for admission to the BTech programmes. It said a proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Education for the construction of physical infrastructure for the Faculty of Technology which will take time on receipt of necessary financial and other statutory approvals.

The committee recommended that adequate arrangements for space be made for classrooms and laboratories for the BTech programmes till the exclusive building for the Faculty of Technology is built and made operational.

The committee authorised the vice-chancellor to decide upon the space and other essential physical infrastructure for initiation of these B.Tech programmes, the report read.

As far as student strength in the first year is concerned, the committee noted that each course will have 120 students. It means a total of 360 students will be admitted. The BTech programmes would be designed in such a manner that there would be a minimum of 50 per cent weightage given to the major subject area of study with a maximum of 65 per cent weightage. The remaining weightage would be to the minor subject areas of study, the report said.

The students will have multiple exit options in line with the National Education Policy. A student who has completed one year of study and earned the requisite credits would be awarded a certificate, those two years of study and requisite credits would be awarded a diploma, with three years of study along with credits would be awarded an advanced diploma. Students who successfully complete four years would be awarded a BTech degree.

The departments of Computer Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Electrical Engineering are required to be situated on the North Campus of the university for logistic support and proximity to the majority of the faculties/departments on the campus.
Suspended IAS Pooja Singhal undergoing treatment in RIMS could not be produced in the ED court on Monday. ED's special judge PK Sharma's court has extended the judicial custody of Pooja Singhal till June 15. In the same case, the accused CA Suman Kumar, the then assistant engineer of Khunti Shashi Prakash and former JE Ram Vinod Prasad Sinha were produced in the court of ED's special judge PK Sharma through video conferencing on Monday. The court has also extended the judicial custody of these three persons till June 15.

On April 10, the court framed charges against Pooja Singhal. Apart from this, charges were also framed against CA Suman Kumar and Shashi Prakash, then assistant engineer of Khunti. Apart from this, charge sheet has also been filed against all of them in the past. The court has already framed charges against Ram Vinod Prasad Sinha. The hearing on the bail application of Pooja Singhal is to be held in the Supreme Court in the month of September. Presently Pooja Singhal Singh is in jail under judicial custody, due to illness she is undergoing treatment at RIMS.

A Special PMLA Court on April 10 framed charges against suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal and others in a money laundering case. With the framing of charges, trial will go on in the court against Pooja Singhal as an accused.

The charge has been framed under sections 3 and 4 of the said law. With the development now trial can be started against the suspended senior bureaucrat of Jharkhand.

In May last year the Enforcement Directorate arrested Jharkhand mining secretary Pooja Singhal in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds and other charges.

Singhal was arrested after ED got credible evidence of her connection with CA Suman Kumar to frame the charges. Pooja Singhal was the secretary of the Department of Mines and Geology and the Managing Director of Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC).

On December 1, 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhals properties worth Rs 82.77 crore. According to the ED, the properties comprise two land parcels in Ranchi as well as the super specialty hospital named Pulse Super Speciality Hospital and the diagnostics center named Pulse Diagnostic and Imagining Center.
World Environment day is celebrated across the world every year on 5th June. Along with other parts of the country AIIMS Bhopal also celebrated World Environment Day on Monday. About 150 trees were planted in hospital premises on the occasion. Executive Director Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, faculty, staff and students of AIIMS participated in the event.

This was the first day event as part of three days celebration organized by environment cell, horticulture committee, Resident Doctors Welfare Council of AIIMS Bhopal and Ujiyara Foundation Bhopal.

The theme of this year environmental day is "Beat Plastic pollution". Paper pens with seeds were distributed among faculty and students, staff and visitors. Paper pouches to pharmacy shops in AIIMS Bhopal were given to limit the plastic use.
On World Environment Day, on Monday, the state level campaign of 'Natural Farming and Planting' was inaugurated by Governor C.P Radhakrishnan at Arogya Bhawan Ranchi. In the programme IIM Director Deepak Kumar Srivastava, CCL Director Personnel Harshit Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Shri Sai Nath University Dr. S.P. Aggarwal, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University Vice Chancellor Tapan Kumar Shandilya, Vikas Bharati President Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Vice President Dr. S.N. Munda, Former Vice-Chancellor, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee University, President of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Ranchi, Vikas Kumar Singh, Chamber of Commerce, Kishor Minister, Vikas Bharti Bishunpur and Jan Shikshan Sansthan-Vikas Bharti, Ranchi, workers, trainers and a large number of trainees were present.

The program started with the national anthem and was duly inaugurated by the guests by pouring water on the Tulsi plant. Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, President of the organization and Dr. Ranjana Kumar Chaudhary, Vice President, welcomed the Governor with Angavastram. Joint Secretary of the organization Mahendra Bhagat presented Tulsi plant to the guests on the stage.

Vikas Bharti Secretary, Padma Shri recipient Ashok Bhagat welcomed the guests present in the programme and said that Vikas Bharti Bishunpur has been working in the field of environmental protection for the last 40 years. Our work in the field of environment has been appreciated by both the society and the government. Over the years, the organization has planted lakhs of saplings in different areas of the state. Apart from this, the work of water conservation has been done through the organization's innovative experiment of Borabandh. The organization is doing the work of teaching skills to the youth in every village through its unit Jan Shikshan Sansthan.

I.I.M. Ranchi Director Deepak Kumar Srivastava, said that natural wealth has an important contribution in GDP. At present the GDP of the country is not sufficient. We all know how sustainable our society is today. We will have to think again about the parameters of development, development will have to make a leapfrog policy. Protection of the environment is very important for our health.

CCL Director Personnel Harshit Mishra said that development is necessary but at what cost we will have to decide. As individuals, we are all doing the work of environmental protection, be it social organizations, societies, governments, but this work should start from home (Charity begins at Home). We are celebrating Environment Day. India has got the opportunity to chair the G20, it is a matter of pride for us. To solve the problem of plastic pollution, we have to start from home. We have to take a pledge that we will not use plastic.

The Governor said on the occasion that everyone should avoid the use of plastic. Our environment is being polluted by the use of plastic. Whenever we go to the market, we carry bags, do not use plastic. We should not be ashamed of carrying bags or utensils, should always be conscious towards health and environment. He said that the good works of any institution should be appreciated. People doing good work are being continuously encouraged by the Prime Minister.

After this, the villagers doing excellent work in various fields for environmental protection were honoured by the Governor by giving shawls. Fruit trees were distributed to all the participants. The chief guest of the program, Governor of Jharkhand C.P. Radhakrishnan gave his speech. The program was conducted by Nikhilesh Maiti, Director of Jan Shikshan Sansthan-Vikas Bharti, Ranchi.
The Timarpur lake, being developed as a tourist destination by the Kejriwal government, is soon set to offer people the opportunity to revel in the marvels of nature.

The project would not only facilitate groundwater recharge but also alleviates water-related issues faced by the local population. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday visited the Timarpur lake site to assess the progress of the associated works. Bharadwaj also gave directions to the officials to ensure the timely completion of high-quality tasks. He alongwith local residents planted saplings around the lake. Bharadwaj said that the sprawling Timarpur lake, spanning 40 acres, will soon be open for tourists. The plan for constructing the lake is in its final phase, with 90 percent of the work from the initial phase already completed.

A Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) being constructed here will channel clean water into the lake. Once the project is completed, it will aid in water storage, groundwater recharge, and contribute to water treatment. Every day, 25 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water will be treated in this plant.
The body of a woman who was buried in snow after a piece of a glacier broke away on the route to Hemkund Sahib was recovered on Monday morning. The woman was part of a group of pilgrims returning from Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara on Sunday evening when it was hit by a piece of glacier which broke away from its main body at Atlakoti.

The State Disaster Response Force, police and Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel had conducted a rescue operation following which three women and two men were safely rescued while one woman could not be traced. After continuing the search and rescue effort to trace her in vain till Sunday night, the personnel resumed the search on Monday morning. After considerable efforts, the team managed to find the body of Kamaljeet Kaur (37) from Amritsar in Punjab. The body was found buried in a crevice under a thick cover of snow.

The personnel retrieved the body and handed it over for further action to the district police. Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib was undertaken for about an hour only on Monday. Labourers of the Public Works Department also worked on clearing snow from the bridle path. There was some delay in starting the pilgrimage on Monday to prevent hindrance in the search operation and also as there was a glacier on the path.
With an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated efforts to woo Muslim voters by launching the mission Modi Mitra which aims to connect 5,000 Muslims per Lok Sabha constituency as party friends, totaling 4,00,000 Muslims across the 80 parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.

This is part of the Mission-80 campaign aimed at winning all (Lok Sabha) 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, BJP state vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

As part of this strategy, the BJP Muslim Morcha plans to launch a comprehensive public relations campaign. To oversee the campaign, 400 programme heads have been appointed. One of the key events under this initiative will be the celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21, in 900 madrasas across UP. Members of the BJP Muslim Morcha will visit these madrasas, interact with Muslims, and inform them about the governments schemes.

The BJP has placed particular emphasis on the 25 Lok Sabha seats in western Uttar Pradesh where the Muslim electorate significantly influences election outcomes. Seats such as Meerut, Amroha, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Nagina will receive special attention as these constituencies have witnessed the Muslim community playing a decisive role in determining the winners and losers.

Ashfaq Saifi, a spokesperson for the BJP, stated, The BJP-led Central and state governments are committed to development for all, without discrimination.

Saifi further highlighted that the BJP has already given electoral tickets to a significant number of Muslim candidates in municipal elections and aims to engage with doctors, engineers and other prominent individuals from the Muslim community.

The initiative was launched in Sambhal on Saturday and will extend to other regions.

In addition to connecting with influential individuals from the Muslim community, the BJP intends to seek the support of religious leaders under Mission Modi Mitra. Religious leaders from the Pasmanda Muslim society will be involved, along with organising Sufi conferences in collaboration with renowned madrasas and influential religious figures who hold sway in society.

Saifi emphasised that the politics of fear and confusion propagated by the opposition no longer holds sway over the Muslim community. Muslims are gradually realising the positive impact of government schemes and experiencing a diminishing sense of fear.

The BJPs focus will revolve around three key aspects. Firstly, it plans to print 1,00,000 books containing Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat in Urdu, to be distributed in constituencies with a significant Muslim population. Party workers will present these books to Muslim scholars to help disseminate the prime ministers message among their community members. Additionally, the BJP Minority Morcha members will engage in discussions to foster connections with the Muslim community.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won an impressive 73 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP securing 71 seats and Apna Dal (Sonelal) winning two. However, due to the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in the 2019 elections, the BJP alliance could only secure 64 seats.

The BJP faced defeat on 16 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections, including Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rae Bareli, Ghosi, Lalganj, Jaunpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Ghazipur, Shravasti, Mainpuri, Saharanpur, Azamgarh, Rampur, and Nagina. Of these, the BSP won 10 seats, the SP won five, and the Congress secured one. However, in subsequent by-elections, the BJP managed to reclaim the Azamgarh and Rampur seats.

As the BJP gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Mission-80 strategy demonstrates the partys determination to secure an overwhelming victory by reaching out to all sections of society, including the Muslim community. The success of this initiative will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh and potentially have far-reaching implications for the national political scenario.
The Special MP-MLA Court in Varanasi on Monday convicted gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for the murder of a Congress leaders brother, Awadhesh Rai, more than 30 years ago and sentenced him to life imprisonment with fine.

President of the Prayagraj region of Congress party and brother of Awadhesh Rai, Ajay Rai, welcomed the courts verdict.

Awadhesh Rai was shot dead on August 3, 1991 at the gate of his Lahurabir residence in Varanasi. A case was registered against Ansari and others.

The hearing in the murder case of Awadhesh Rai was completed on May 19 this year and Special Court (MP-MLA) Judge Avanish Gautam had reserved the order for June 5. The court on Monday awarded life sentence to Ansari and imposed Rs 1.20 lakh fine on him, a lawyer told reporters outside the Varanasi court.

Ansari, who is currently lodged in Banda Jail, attended the court proceeding from the jail through video conference.

Ansari faces 61 criminal cases in different states of which he has now been convicted in six. In April, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a court in Ghazipur under the Gangsters Act.

There was tight security in the court premises when the order was read out by the judge of the Special Court (MP-MLA). It is learnt that during the hearing of this case in June, 2022, the original case diary was found missing. Despite the efforts, the original case diary could not be found. The police registered a case against Ansari for using his influence to destroy the original copy of the case diary. The case was heard on the basis of Xerox copies of the original case diary.

In 2022, a Ghazipur court had convicted Ansari and one of his aides Bhim Singh in the Gangsters Act case registered in five matters, including the Awadhesh Rai murder case. During the last one year, Ansari was convicted in four more cases by different courts but this is for the first time that he has been sentenced to life imprisonment in any case.

Welcoming the court verdict, Ajay Rai said, This is the end of our 32-year struggle against a notorious criminal. I, my parents, Awadheshs daughter and the whole family kept patience... Governments came and went and Mukhtar strengthened himself. But we did not give up. Because of our lawyers efforts, today the court has found Mukhtar guilty in the murder case of my brother.

Ansaris counsel had urged the court to consider the convicts age while pronouncing the judgement. The lawyer said they would appeal in a higher court after going through the verdict.

Asked about the remarks of Ansaris lawyer, Rai said, We will fight up to the Supreme Court. We fought for 32 years and we will continue to do so.

On August 3, 1991, Ajay Rai and his brother were standing at the gate of their house in Chetganj police station area in the morning when some assailants, including Ansari, came in a car and shot Awadhesh. Ajay Rai fired from his licensed pistol in retaliation, following which the assailants fled, leaving the car. Awadhesh was rushed to a hospital in Kabirchaura, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Ajay Rai lodged a report in this connection with the local police, naming Mukhtar Ansari, Bhim Singh, Kamlesh Singh, former MLA Abdul Kalam and Rakesh Nyayik. Mukhtar Ansari was named as a key accused in this case.

Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat, did not contest the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election and the seat was won by his son Abbas Ansari on the ticket of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, which had tied up with the Samajwadi Party.

According to Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, A total of 61 cases are pending against Mukhtar Ansari in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, New Delhi and other states. In Uttar Pradesh, cases are registered against Ansari in Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Sonbhadra, Agra, Lucknow, Barabanki, Mau, Azamgarh and other districts.

Ansari has so far been convicted in six cases  two each in Ghazipur and Lucknow, and one each in New Delhi and Varanasi, Kumar said.

The New Delhi case in which Ansari was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and fined Rs 5.5 lakh was registered under the Arms Act and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the police officer said.

On April 29, a court in Ghazipur sentenced Ansari to 10 years in prison and his brother and BSP MP Afzal Ansari to a four-year jail term in a 2007 case registered under the Gangsters Act following the killing of the then BJP MLA Krishnanad Rai.

Ansaris brother Afzal, sons Abbas and Omar, wife Afsha and daughter-in-law Nikhat Bano are members of his gang, Kumar said, adding the Uttar Pradesh government was taking strict action against the Ansari gang.

Action has been taken against 288 active members of the Ansari gang. Of them, 202 have been arrested, including six against whom the stringent National Security Act has been invoked while 156 have been booked under the Gangsters Act, the police officer said.

The state government has seized/demolished illegal properties of Ansari worth Rs 586 crore and stopped over Rs 2,100 crore illegal businesses, he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda will be holding a unique tiffin meeting with party workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar on June 7.

The meeting aims to discuss election preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and brainstorm ideas with party workers and public representatives.

Following the meeting, a dinner will be held to further foster camaraderie among the party workers.

The concept of tiffin meeting involves all the workers bringing their own home-made food in tiffin boxes and sharing their dishes with one another. This collective dining experience not only promotes a sense of unity but also provides an opportunity for party workers to bond and exchange ideas in an informal setting.

BJP president of Noida, Manoj Gupta, said that the meeting would take place at the partys office itself. It is worth mentioning that Naddas initial tiffin meeting was scheduled to be held in Agra on June 3, but it had to be cancelled due to the unfortunate Balasore train accident.

The tiffin meeting is an innovative way for party workers to come together, discuss strategies and strengthen their commitment towards the BJPs goals. By engaging in open conversations and sharing meals, the party aims to foster a sense of camaraderie and unity among its members.

JP Naddas presence at the meeting signifies the importance that the BJP places on active participation and collaboration from all levels of the party. By directly engaging with party workers and public representatives, Nadda hopes to gain valuable insight and ideas to enhance the partys election preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, the BJP is intensifying its efforts to consolidate its support base and refine its campaign strategies. The tiffin meeting serves as a platform for party workers to contribute their perspectives and suggestions, further strengthening the BJPs grassroots network.

The Gautam Buddha Nagar tiffin meeting promises to be a significant event, enabling party workers to interact with each other and partys national president JP Nadda. Through this unique gathering, the BJP aims to foster a spirit of unity and collaboration, ensuring that the party is well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The pilot vehicle, escorting the newly-appointed Punjab Cabinet Minister Balkar Singh, was allegedly attacked by three or four youths in Jalandhar around 1 am on Monday. The police has arrested four persons in the matter.



As per the police, the incident occurred near Ravidas Chowk when the Minister was going towards his residence, and a group of men engaged in a verbal duel with the security of the escort vehicle for overtaking them.



The men, who were allegedly in an inebriated state, also allegedly threw stones at the vehicle. Police, however, said that the Minister was not present in the vehicle at the time of the incident.



A police official said that four of them have been arrested and a case has been registered against them. The accused were identified as Jatin, Ashish, Rishu, residents of Jalandhar, and Nakul, resident of Kapurthala.



They have been booked under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the Indian Penal Code, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jalandhar) Jagmohan Singh.



According to the police, the attackers came in a black luxury car without a registration number. The Ministers pilot vehicle tried to overtake the black car but its driver stopped it in the middle of the road. Three or four youths came out of the car, quarreled with the Ministers gunmen, who asked the youths to give way for the pilot vehicle to pass, and manhandled them, said police sources.



They also allegedly manhandled a policeman on duty near Ravidas Chowk and pelted bricks on the pilot vehicle. The Minister came out of his vehicle and pacified the youths who were under the influence of liquor, said the police.



Even after the minister went to his residence, the youths followed him and quarreled with his gunmen outside the building, the police added.



The Minister then called the police and Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police-2 (Jalandhar), Aditya, reached the spot, detained the youths and took their vehicle into custody. Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said the police were investigating the matter and would register a case.


The second meeting between Punjab and Haryana, convened by the UT Administrator and Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, to discuss the issue of affiliating Haryanas colleges with Panjab University, Chandigarh, lad to no conclusion on Monday with the Punjab maintaining an adamant stance against Haryanas proposal. Another round of meeting will now be held on July 3.

Even as Purohit suggested that at least colleges in Haryanas three districts of Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar, bordering Punjab, should be given an option of affiliation with the Panjab University, Mann categorically asserted, Neither any college of Haryana will be given affiliation from the university nor will any attempt of Haryana for back door entry in the senate of university be allowed.

Notably, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had proposed to affiliate the states colleges in three districts bordering Punjab with Panjab University, and it would help the varsity tide over its financial crisis by contributing up to 40 per cent of the total annual expenses needed to run the university.

Apart from the Governor and the Chief Ministers of the two states, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, Advisor to UT Administrator Dharam Pal, Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua, UT Home Secretary Nitin Yadav, Haryana Higher Education director Rajeev Rattan, and PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig were also present in the meeting.

The first meeting between the two Chief Ministers to discuss the issue was held on June 1, presided over by Purohit, which remained inconclusive. The Governor has intervened after the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the northern zonal council meeting, had suggested that such issues should be resolved locally.

Mann, addressing the media after the meeting, said: I categorically conveyed in the meeting that there is no scope for inclusion of Haryana in running of the Panjab University, as Punjab is self-sufficient to run the university, a symbol of Punjabs culture, ethos, traditions and literature.

Panjab University is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of the stateWe need no share of Haryana in the University, which is an apex educational institute of the region, he said.

Bemoaning that regular attempts are being made to change the varsitys status, Mann said that the Punjab Government will not allow any such move in the larger interests of the students175 colleges of the state are affiliated with this premier university due to which generations of Punjab are emotionally attached with it.

The Chief Minister said that the University caters only to the state of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh.

Citing the history of the University, its constitution, its ethnic, socio-cultural and historical roots as well as its faculty and students who hail primarily from the state of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said that it is important that the present legal and administrative status of the Panjab University should be preserved. At the time of the reorganization of the State of Punjab in 1966, Panjab University was declared as an Inter State Body Corporate under section 72(1) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 enacted by the Parliament, he added.

As per Sub-section (4) of Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, the maintenance deficit grants to the University were to be shared and paid by the states concerned, that is, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Prades,h and UT Administration of Chandigarh in the ratio of 20:20:20:40, respectively. However, in 1970, the then Chief Minister of Haryana Bansi Lal voluntarily pulled out his states share from the university; and in 1973, even the state called back its members of Senate from university, pointed Mann.

He added that since then, the state of Punjab and UT Administration of Chandigarh have borne the financial responsibility of paying maintenance deficit grants to the University in the ratio of 40:60 respectively.

Despite increased financial burden caused by withdrawal of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh; and the creation of new universities in the state, Punjab has continued to support Panjab University to ensure that the historical and emotional attachment of the people of Punjab with the University is maintained and preserved, he said.

Recently also, the State Government has given Rs 49 crore for construction of hostels to the university, even though no demand was made for it. Punjab government has left no stone unturned for the universitys holistic development in all possible manners, he added.

Haryanas Proposal to Bear Share of PUs Grants is Unacceptable, Unwarranted: Mann

Declaring that every step will be taken to retain the universitys Interstate Status, Mann said that no one will be allowed to make any change to it. The interests of the state are not saleable so anyone will offer money and purchase it. Haryana Governments proposal to bear the share of grants in university is totally unacceptable and unwarranted too, he added.

Mann further quoted a letter written by Haryanas Additional Chief Secretary to the Vice Chancellors of all the universities of the state, stating that Haryana Government had through communique expressed its inability to give funds to universities. In this letter, the Universities were asked to manage their own resources, whereas, on the other hand, Haryana is too eager to put a share in Panjab University which indicates some nefarious designs of the state. How can any state, which is not able to manage its own universities, fund a university of stature of Panjab University until and unless some higher agency was not funding it in a clandestine manner, he said.

The Chief Minister said that after assuming the charge of office in March 2022, he had written two letters to the Union Ministers Amit Shah and Dharminder Pradhan asking them that the university is heritage of the state and any sort of change in it will not be tolerated.

Punjab government is committed to safeguard the rights of the state and its people. Panjab University is a symbol of Punjabs legacy and is synonymous with the name of the State, he added.

Make Your Varsity Anywhere, But Wont Be Allowed Any Share in PU: Mann To Khattar

Making it clear that the State Government is not against the people of Haryana, Mann pointed that it is also a well-known fact that 35 per cent students in PU are from Haryana. Haryana is free to make its university anywhere but they will not be allowed any share in the Panjab University, he said categorically.

SAD-led Govt Issued NoC for PUs Central Status

Also taking the Akali and Congress leaders to cudgels, Mann slammed them for backstabbing the state and its people. The then Chief Minister late Parkash Singh Badal wrote a letter to erstwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 26, 2008, seeking central status for Panjab University. Going beyond that, the Akali Dal government had issued NOC to the Centre for converting this premier institute into a central university, he said. On what grounds the Akali leaders are thumping their chest when everyone knows that they have worked overtime against the interests of the state and its people. Granting NOC for the central university was a treacherous move aimed at weakening Punjabs claim over the university, said Mann, adding that Akali Dal has no moral right to say even a single word on the issue.

PUs Precarious Finances

In 1976, the Centres consultative committee had fixed the funding ratio between the Centre and Punjab Government at 60:40. In 2011, Punjab fixed its grant at Rs 20 crore, and since then, it is being increased marginally.

As per the budget for the 2023-24 academic session, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will pay Rs 294 crore grants to PU, while Punjab will pay Rs 38 crore. Arrears of Rs 200 crore are also pending.

UGC, in March, had stated that there is no possibility of any further increase in salary grant of PU at this stage.

Haryana Government, in the meeting, said that the varsity has been facing financial crisis for years. Chandigarh has 60 percent share in the university and Punjab has 40 percent share. In the last 10 years, the university has received an average of Rs 200-300 crore per year from the Centre. While in the last 10 years, only Rs 20-21 crores have been received from Punjab on an average per year, added the spokesperson.

Haryana Governments spokesperson said that in 2020-21, an amount of Rs 39 crore was released by Punjab. Overall, the university gets only seven to 14 percent of the budget as against Punjab's share of 40 percent.

Also Affiliate Mohali, Ropars Colleges Along With Haryanas 3 Districts: Khattar

In the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister said that in the interest of the students, the colleges of the state should be given the option of affiliation with Panjab University. Both the states will proceed in a friendly manner, he added. Along with the colleges in three districts  Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar, colleges in Punjabs Mohali and Rupnagar districts should also be given affiliation with Panjab University, he added.

Delhi University is building its campus in Haryana. Apart from this, the campus of IIT, Delhi is also coming up in the state. Expanding education and affiliation of the colleges will provide many new opportunities to students of Haryana, he said.


/



Punjab Government is working on a policy against the exploitation of the states womenfolk in other countries. For the same, a discussion will be held with the victims under the chairmanship of Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on June 11 in Jalandhar to draw up a state-level policy to prevent the exploitation of women.



The State Government is committed to protect the rights of women of Punjab who are willing to go abroad, have settled there, or have returned. Special attention is being given by the Punjab Government towards them, said Dr Baljit on Monday.



She said that some agents are giving fake jobs and falsely sending the women of the state to foreign countries illegally. By making statements, they are exploited in various ways. Efforts are being made by the Punjab Government to prepare a state-level policy to overcome this situation, she said.



To listen to the tragedies of women who have suffered all kinds of exploitation and to include their suggestions in the policy, a discussion is being organized on June 11 at the office of Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner from 11 am to 1 pm.



The Minister explained that incidents of exploitation of women are reported, especially from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait, Dubai, Oman etc. Such bad behavior has been taken seriously by the state Government, she said.



Women, who have been duped by NRI persons, agents, or relatives, have been given an open invitation to join this discussion. Various DCs of the State have also written letters to such women from their districts, who have been victims of exploitation abroad, to participate in this discussion, she added.


The construction of a new 1,320 MW plant of Talcher Thermal under the management of NTPC has started. As per schedule, the infrastructure and construction work is going on at various places of the plant. However, the road from Talcher Thermal Anand Bazar National Highway to Jagannathpur which passes through the plant has now been decided to be closed for the construction of the new plant.

Adjudicating on a petition by the people protesting the closure of the road in this regard, the Orissa High Court has ordered the district administration and local Sub Collector to solve the problem and inform the court about the steps being taken.

Accordingly, a meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Talcher Sub Collector Biswaranjan Rath. Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahu, Talcher MLA Braj Kishore Pradhan, Sarpanches of various panchayats, local residents and the DGM of NTPC were present at the meeting.

Many people including Rohit Kumar, one of the managers of NTPC, SDPO Dev Kumar and IIC S Sethi were present. The people's representatives and villagers clearly demanded that the thermal authorities should take appropriate steps to build a new road through the thermal plant.



Presently, the villagers use the road of 1km distance to reach Anand Bazar National Highway. The distance of the bypass road will be about 3 km. The villagers said that the bypass road is unsafe. It was decided in the meeting that NTPC will provide adequate street lights, CCTV system and CISF and police patrolling on the bypass road.

A representative of the villagers and the people present voted in favour of setting up the power plant. As NTPC is neglecting the local area, MPs and MLAs reprimanded the NTPC authorities and proposed to hire the local residents, especially the laidoff workers on a preferential basis, give proper compensation to the injured and priority to the local youth in the construction work. They threatened to hold agitation against NTPC if the suggestions were not accepted.
In a commendable display of courage and dedication, security forces successfully foiled a major threat to public safety as they discovered and refused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Maoist insurgents in the West Singhbhum. The timely action by the security personnel prevented potential loss of life and significant damage to infrastructure.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the security forces launched a comprehensive operation in the region known to be affected by Maoist activities. During their search and combing operations, they unearthed two IEDs, one weighing 5 kilograms and the other 8 kilograms from the jungles near Maradiri village under Goilkera police station in West Singhbhum. These deadly devices were carefully concealed in a remote area, intending to cause harm to innocent civilians and disrupt peace in the region.

" The security forces, comprising personnel from CRPF, swiftly responded to the threat and immediately cordoned off the area. Specialized bomb disposal squads were summoned to neutralize the IEDs in a controlled and safe manner. The expertise and professionalism of the security forces ensured the successful defusal of the explosive devices without any casualties or damage," said an official.

The defusal of these IEDs underscores the constant vigilance and bravery exhibited by the security forces in their fight against Maoist insurgency. It is a stark reminder of the inherent risks they face daily in their mission to protect the lives and welfare of citizens and maintain law and order in the region.

Authorities have commended the security forces for their prompt and effective action, which prevented a potential tragedy. The discovery and refusal of these IEDs serve as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the security forces to safeguarding the peace and security of the region.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents and the need for continued efforts to counter their activities. It also highlights the importance of public cooperation and intelligence sharing to ensure the timely detection and prevention of such threats.

The security forces, in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, have intensified their efforts to dismantle Maoist networks and restore peace and stability in the affected areas. They have reassured the public of their unwavering commitment to maintaining a secure environment for residents and visitors alike.

The successful defusal of the 5kg and 8kg IEDs by the security forces stands as a clear message to the perpetrators of violence and terrorism that their nefarious designs will not succeed. The bravery and dedication of the security forces continue to inspire confidence and strengthen the resolve of the authorities in their fight against insurgency.
Chhattisgarh Police on Monday seized 532 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 53.20 lakhs and arrested two persons in Sukma district who were transporting it to Andhra Pradesh.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavhan said that they were Jyothula Rambabu (33) and Durgaumar Alisa (20), both from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

The police action was based on a tip off that the contraband was being transported via National Highway 30.

Police intercepted a goods carriage vehicle at the Konta check post. The cannabis, stuffed in gunny bags, the officer said.
Union Bank of India, Ranchi Regional Office organized Union Muskan- Customer interaction program on June 03, 2023, in which the customers were explained in detail about Union Muskan Yojana and painting competition for the children of the customers of Union Muskan Yojana. 48 children in the age group of 0-18 years and their parents participated in this programme. Amitabh Mukherjee, who is a famous sculptor of Ranchi city, was present as a special guest in the program and the judge of the drawing competition.

Union Bank of India's Zonal Head Baijnath Singh, Deputy Zonal Head Alok Kumar, Deputy Zonal Head V.K. Roy, Regional Head Sonalika, Deputy Regional Head Arun Kumar Mandal, Deputy Regional Head Vibhash Kumar Mishra, AGM Deepmala Lakra and officers of Zonal and Regional Offices were present.

Union Muskaan is an ambitious and profitable scheme of Union Bank of India to safeguard the future of children. The objective of Union Muskan  Customer Interaction Program is to provide information about banking services to customers and their children and to develop the habit of saving among children. Through this programme, children and parents were made aware about the benefits of the scheme and the benefits it would bring in the future. The special guest and judge of the program selected the five best paintings drawn by children participants who did the best painting in the age group of 0-6, 7-10, 11-18 years and the selected five best children were awarded by regional head Baijnath Singh and all the participating children were also given incentive prizes.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that exploitation of resources increased due to blind desire for materialistic progress and it has disturbed the natural balance. Due to this, the adverse impacts of climate change are coming to the fore. By the year 2050, the temperature of the earth's surface is likely to increase by 2 centigrade.

This will make life very difficult. The use of excessive chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture is resulting in the spread of cancer. Mothers and sisters of India have been sensitive to nature for thousands of years, their respect for nature was expressed in the worship of trees and mountains. The present generation will also have to develop consciousness for environmental protection, if we do not make meaningful efforts in this direction, then we will not be able to leave the earth livable for the coming generations. For environmental protection, every person has to take a pledge to plant trees, save electricity, not to waste water and not to use single-use plastic. By changing these habits, we can serve the earth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown the direction to the world for environmental protection by giving the mantra of Mission LiFE (lifestyle for the environment). Chouhan was inaugurating the state level programme of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) at Ravindra Bhawan for public awareness towards environmental protection and conservation on World Environment Day. All 52 districts of the state were connected virtually with the programme.

The Chief Minister offered water on the Tulsi plant and inaugurated the programme by performing Kanya Pujan and lighting the lamp. The CM released the State Climate Change Action Plan and Climate Action Plan booklets of seven smart cities of the state, Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna and Sagar. Along with this, certificates of three new Ramsar sites of the state, Sirpur Wetland Indore, Yashwant Sagar Indore and Sankhya Sagar Shivpuri were also given to the concerned officials. Chouhan gave acceptance letters of Climate Change PhD Fellowship to 5 research scholars.

Chouhan awarded two best suggestions of Waste-to-Wealth Hackathon on the topic Atmanirbhar Gaushala to Anil Tomar and Dr. Yogendra Kumar Saxena. Chouhan honoured Head of Forest Force Ramesh Gupta for organising more than one lakh programmes by the Forest Department on the theme of Mission LiFE. It is notable that one lakh 75 thousand programmes have been organised by various departments on the theme of Mission LiFE so far.

Chouhan presented identity cards and training booklets to LiFE Volunteers youths of Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen and Sehore districts. These youth will work for environmental awareness. In this programme, a film focused on Climate Change Action Plan, Climate Change Fellowship and Lifestyle for Environment was also screened.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Indian culture is wonderful. Our sages and Munis had already realised the ill effects of causing damage to nature. In Indian culture it is believed that there is only one consciousness in all of us. The creatures also have the same consciousness that is in the animals.

Hence the worship of animals as vahans (vehicles) of various deities along with Gau-mata has been a part of the Indian way of life from the very beginning. The Chief Minister said that a tree gives life to many living beings. Trees are worshipped in our culture. Rivers were considered as mothers and Govardhan Puja gave the message of protection of trees, mountains and the whole nature.
The US Navy said on Monday its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait of Hormuz after Irans Revolutionary Guard harassed it. Three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard approached the merchant ship at a close distance on Sunday afternoon, the US Navy said in a statement. It offered black-and-white images it said came from a US Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon overhead, which showed three small ships close to the commercial ship.

The US Navys guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul and the Royal Navys frigate HMS Lancaster responded to the incident, with the Lancaster launching a helicopter.

The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene, the Navy said. The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, sees 20 per cent of the worlds oil pass through it.

While the Navy did not identify the vessel involved, ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com analysed by AP showed the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Venture erratically changed course as it traveled through the strait at the time of the incident.

Its location also matched information about the incident given by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military operation overseeing traffic in the region. The vessel also resembled the images released by the Navy. The ships registered manager, Trust Bulkers of Athens, Greece, did not respond to a request for comment. Irans state-run IRNA news agency later quoted Guard Rear Adm Abbas Gholamshahi claiming that his vessels simply responded to the distress signal from the ship.

However, the signal came because armed men were seen aboard the small vessels identified by the Navy as belonging to the Guard.

This latest incident comes after a series of maritime incidents involving Iran following the US unilaterally withdrawing from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.

The suspected American seizure of the Suez Rajan, a tanker linked to a US private equity firm believed to have been carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil off Singapore, likely sparked Tehran to recently take the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Advantage Sweet. That ship carried Kuwaiti crude oil for energy firm Chevron Corp of San Ramon, California.

While authorities have not acknowledged the Suez Rajans seizure, the vessel is now off the coast of Galveston, Texas, according to ship-tracking data analysed by AP.
Germany and Indonesia agreed on Monday to strengthen their defence cooperation and plan a joint military exercise with other countries in the region. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius discussed the growing ties in a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta.

We talked about the possibility of having a deal about some submarines. We were talking about the two minesweepers which are already on the way to Indonesia, Pistorius said.

Germany and Indonesia are also planning a joint military exercise with other regional partners, but no details have been disclosed. Both ministers attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asias annual defense and security forum, where US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday criticised Chinas bullying or coercion in the Indo-Pacific region, including tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles met his Indonesian counterpart on Monday to deepen security ties amid Chinas increasingly assertive activity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto said he and Marles discussed ways to facilitate cooperation between their militaries.

Cooperation between Indonesia and Australia can make an important contribution to regional peace and stability, Subianto said, adding that the two governments agreed to further strengthen their security ties, including joint military training in Australia and the education of Indonesian cadets at Australian academies.

Military exchanges between the two neighbours have previously included counterterrorism and border protection. Marles declined to make any comment to the media after meeting with Subianto. He vowed in a statement released by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta ahead of the talks to deepen defense engagement with Australias closest major neighbour. I look forward to progressing our comprehensive strategic partnership during my visit to Jakarta, Marles said in the statement. Although Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation of more than 270 million people, is often presented as one of Australias most important neighbours and strategic allies, the relationship has undergone various ups and downs.

Recent disagreements include allegations of wiretapping by the Australian Signals Directorate in 2013 to monitor the private phone calls of then Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and other senior officials; Indonesias use of capital punishment on Australian drug smugglers; and cases of people smuggling.

In 2017, Indonesia temporarily suspended military cooperation with Australia, including joint training, education, exchanges of officers and visits, over an alleged insult against the Indonesian state ideology Pancasila and the Indonesian military at an Australian military base.

In September 2021, Indonesia filed a diplomatic protest against Australia for being slow to provide information about its activities in the AUKUS trilateral pact involving the United States and the United Kingdom, including plans for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Last year, Australia, along with Japan and Singapore, joined for the first time the annual Indonesia-US joint combat exercise called Super Garuda Shield, making it the largest since the drills began in 2009.

The expanded drills are seen by China as a threat. Chinese state media have accused the U.S. of building an Indo-Pacific alliance similar to NATO to limit Chinas growing military and diplomatic influence in the region.

Marles arrived in Jakarta on Monday after attending the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, where he described Australias communications about its nuclear-powered submarine program as a model of military transparency, and said that China needed to offer a strategic explanation of its military expansion.

Marles, who is also Australias deputy prime minister, is to visit Vanuatu after Indonesia.
StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and (NYSE:LLY  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Eli Lilly and from $432.00 to $485.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Eli Lilly and from $430.00 to $475.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Bank of America upped their price target on Eli Lilly and from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. SVB Securities increased their target price on Eli Lilly and from $410.00 to $458.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Eli Lilly and from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $425.05.

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Eli Lilly and Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of LLY stock opened at $444.26 on Friday. Eli Lilly and has a 1-year low of $283.11 and a 1-year high of $454.95. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $400.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $365.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a market cap of $421.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 70.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.36.

Eli Lilly and Announces Dividend

Eli Lilly and ( NYSE:LLY Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.73 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.87 billion. Eli Lilly and had a return on equity of 61.42% and a net margin of 20.54%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.62 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and will post 8.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.02%. Eli Lilly ands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 71.86%.

Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 200,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.82, for a total transaction of $67,164,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 102,748,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,505,105,374.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 200,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.82, for a total transaction of $67,164,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,748,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,505,105,374.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $429.46, for a total value of $2,576,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,941 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,864,681.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 1,309,605 shares of company stock valued at $499,897,233. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Eli Lilly and by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 72,588,317 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,471,432,000 after acquiring an additional 996,990 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and by 0.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,582,472 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,858,892,000 after purchasing an additional 168,444 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and by 21.6% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 24,839,322 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,048,338,000 after purchasing an additional 4,412,664 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and by 1.6% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,324,267 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,979,760,000 after purchasing an additional 314,349 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and by 1.1% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 14,867,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,094,159,000 after purchasing an additional 159,964 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

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Eli Lilly & Co engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceutical products. The firms products consist of diabetes, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and other products and therapies. The company was founded by Eli Lilly in May 1876 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN.

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE  Get Rating) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the nine ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $164.00.

ARE has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Mizuho cut their target price on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $180.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. StockNews.com raised Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $155.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $198.00 to $166.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th.

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE ARE opened at $115.46 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $120.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $138.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a 1-year low of $110.64 and a 1-year high of $172.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.49, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.93.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Increases Dividend

Alexandria Real Estate Equities ( NYSE:ARE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.15 by ($1.71). Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a return on equity of 3.77% and a net margin of 28.01%. The company had revenue of $700.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $686.70 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.05 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Alexandria Real Estate Equities will post 8.95 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.24 per share. This represents a $4.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.30%. This is a positive change from Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.21. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess dividend payout ratio is currently 106.84%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Alexandria Real Estate Equities news, Chairman Joel S. Marcus sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.20, for a total transaction of $916,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 351,354 shares in the company, valued at $42,935,458.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 115.8% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 246 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 107.4% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 253 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 96.9% during the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 254 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the 4th quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.81% of the companys stock.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Company Profile

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc engages in the business of providing space for lease. The firm is also an owner, operator, and developer of life science, agrotechnology, and technology campuses in Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.

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First Republic Bank (OTCMKTS:FRCB  Get Rating) is one of 68 public companies in the Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare First Republic Bank to similar businesses based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends and valuation.

Dividends

First Republic Bank pays an annual dividend of 1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 508.0%. First Republic Bank pays out 14.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies pay a dividend yield of 2.5% and pay out 16.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. First Republic Bank is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

95.2% of First Republic Bank shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 27.3% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of First Republic Bank shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 7.0% of shares of all Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Republic Bank 20.45% 11.26% 0.72% First Republic Bank Competitors 18.65% 11.89% 0.99%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares First Republic Bank and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares First Republic Bank and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio First Republic Bank $6.75 billion $1.67 billion 0.03 First Republic Bank Competitors $13.62 billion $3.09 billion 9.76

First Republic Banks rivals have higher revenue and earnings than First Republic Bank. First Republic Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for First Republic Bank and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Republic Bank 0 0 0 0 N/A First Republic Bank Competitors 628 2169 2225 61 2.34

As a group, Commercial banks, not elsewhere classified companies have a potential upside of 98.05%. Given First Republic Banks rivals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe First Republic Bank has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Volatility and Risk

First Republic Bank has a beta of 1.02, indicating that its stock price is 2% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Republic Banks rivals have a beta of 0.95, indicating that their average stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

First Republic Bank rivals beat First Republic Bank on 7 of the 12 factors compared.

First Republic Bank Company Profile

(Get Rating)

First Republic offers banking for individuals and businesses, wealth management and more with a focus on tailored service and solutions. First Republic was founded in San Francisco in 1985 by James H. Herbert II with a single office and a small but dedicated staff. Years later, First Republic is one of the countrys largest banks, serving clients at more than 80 Preferred Banking Offices across the United States and through online banking services. First Republic prides itself on its convenient online presence, strong heritage and sustainable, client-centric approach that has provided consistent growth. First Republic Bank offers a full range of personal and business banking services including lending, deposit, foreign exchange and more, while First Republic Private Wealth Management provides trust, brokerage and wealth advisory services. Across all of its offerings, First Republic is committed to serving its stakeholders and clients with exceptional, personalized service, putting clients first in all that it does. Banking products and services are offered by First Republic Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Investment Advisory services are provided by First Republic

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Ariana Resources plc (LON:AAU  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 2.20 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2.21 ($0.03), with a volume of 3830722 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2.45 ($0.03).

Ariana Resources Trading Down 9.8 %

The firm has a market cap of 25.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 335.00 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 2.75 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 3.

About Ariana Resources

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Ariana Resources plc engages in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resources in Turkey. The company also explores for silver, copper, and molybdenum deposits. Its projects include the Kiziltepe Gold-Silver mine and Tavsan gold project located in western Turkey; and Salinbas gold project located in north-eastern Turkey.

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Shares of Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $125.92 and last traded at $125.35, with a volume of 597807 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $120.33.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on BLDR. Wedbush boosted their target price on shares of Builders FirstSource from $95.00 to $135.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Builders FirstSource from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $78.00 to $135.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $92.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. B. Riley upped their price objective on shares of Builders FirstSource from $70.00 to $77.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Zelman & Associates upgraded shares of Builders FirstSource from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $112.25.

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Builders FirstSource Stock Up 3.1 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $109.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $89.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.76 and a beta of 1.97.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Builders FirstSource ( NYSE:BLDR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $2.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $1.33. Builders FirstSource had a net margin of 11.68% and a return on equity of 55.42%. The business had revenue of $3.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.57 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.90 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 31.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Builders FirstSource, Inc. will post 9.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other Builders FirstSource news, insider Michael Alan Farmer sold 12,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.97, for a total value of $1,362,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 62,122 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,769,434.34. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BLDR. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 14.8% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,277,012 shares of the companys stock valued at $727,819,000 after acquiring an additional 1,455,580 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $91,288,000. Boston Partners lifted its stake in shares of Builders FirstSource by 4,346.5% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,116,833 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,430,000 after buying an additional 1,091,716 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Builders FirstSource by 7,986.5% during the 1st quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,017,685 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,018,000 after buying an additional 1,005,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Builders FirstSource by 1,106.4% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 844,518 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,183,000 after buying an additional 774,515 shares in the last quarter. 94.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Builders FirstSource Company Profile

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Builders FirstSource, Inc engages in the supply and manufacture of building materials, manufactured components and construction services to professional homebuilders, subcontractors, remodelers and consumers. Its products include factory-built roof and floor trusses, wall panels and stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork and trim, and engineered wood.

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Edgar Lomax Co. VA cut its holdings in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV  Get Rating) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 69,478 shares of the companys stock after selling 370 shares during the period. Edgar Lomax Co. VAs holdings in AbbVie were worth $11,228,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of ABBV. Edmp Inc. increased its stake in AbbVie by 15,607.4% during the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 5,249,578 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,483,000 after purchasing an additional 5,216,157 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in AbbVie by 426.5% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,652,122 shares of the companys stock worth $754,155,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768,579 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in AbbVie by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 156,022,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,939,769,000 after buying an additional 2,442,663 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its holdings in AbbVie by 146.8% in the 1st quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,352,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $219,322,000 after purchasing an additional 804,700 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in AbbVie by 22.0% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,802,012 shares of the companys stock valued at $614,446,000 after purchasing an additional 686,191 shares during the period. 67.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Jeffrey Ryan Stewart sold 53,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.28, for a total value of $8,089,875.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 60,941 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,280,095.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, SVP Elaine K. Sorg sold 15,002 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.03, for a total value of $2,400,770.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 42,829 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,853,924.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey Ryan Stewart sold 53,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.28, for a total transaction of $8,089,875.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 60,941 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,280,095.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 85,276 shares of company stock worth $13,277,658. Corporate insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

AbbVie Stock Down 1.2 %

ABBV stock traded down $1.71 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $135.15. 2,067,956 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,965,562. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.46, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.96. AbbVie Inc. has a 1-year low of $131.10 and a 1-year high of $168.11. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $151.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $154.25. The company has a market cap of $238.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.58.

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.02. AbbVie had a net margin of 13.37% and a return on equity of 153.92%. The business had revenue of $12.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.16 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that AbbVie Inc. will post 10.97 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ABBV has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of AbbVie from $200.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $172.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Piper Jaffray Companies increased their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $157.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Wolfe Research lowered shares of AbbVie from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of AbbVie from $169.00 to $167.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $163.40.

AbbVie Profile

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AbbVie, Inc is a research-based biopharmaceutical company, which engages in the development and sale of pharmaceutical products. It focuses on treating conditions such as chronic autoimmune diseases in rheumatology, gastroenterology, and dermatology, oncology, including blood cancers, virology, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), neurological disorders, such as Parkinsons, metabolic, comprising thyroid disease and complications associated with cystic fibrosis, pain associated with endometriosis, and other serious health conditions.

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Shares of Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS  Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the twenty-six ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have issued a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $242.48.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Piper Sandler raised Essex Property Trust from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $242.00 to $271.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Essex Property Trust from $226.00 to $224.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st.

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Essex Property Trust Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of ESS stock opened at $225.15 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $14.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.86, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.75. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $212.54 and a 200-day moving average of $216.71. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. Essex Property Trust has a 1-year low of $195.03 and a 1-year high of $300.33.

Essex Property Trust Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Essex Property Trust

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. Essex Property Trusts payout ratio is presently 122.55%.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ESS. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Essex Property Trust by 24.8% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 2,261 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $781,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 1.2% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 88,915 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $30,718,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Essex Property Trust during the first quarter worth about $475,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 1.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,614,782 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,667,195,000 after purchasing an additional 184,047 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 3.6% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 53,635 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $18,530,000 after purchasing an additional 1,847 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.76% of the companys stock.

About Essex Property Trust

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Essex Property Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the ownership, operation, management, acquisition, development, and redevelopment of predominantly apartment communities. The company was founded by George M. Marcus in 1971 and is headquartered in San Mateo, CA.

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Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado trimmed its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 567,232 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 6,452 shares during the period. Mastercard accounts for approximately 1.1% of Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorados holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado owned about 0.06% of Mastercard worth $197,244,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MA. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Mastercard by 27,553.9% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 986,967 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,767,000 after purchasing an additional 983,398 shares during the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc raised its stake in Mastercard by 56.7% during the 3rd quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 1,925,743 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $547,566,000 after purchasing an additional 696,961 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Mastercard by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,259,535 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $21,967,977,000 after purchasing an additional 568,155 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in Mastercard by 84.0% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,025,552 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $356,618,000 after purchasing an additional 468,101 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Veritas Asset Management LLP raised its stake in Mastercard by 18.0% during the 4th quarter. Veritas Asset Management LLP now owns 2,994,532 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,041,289,000 after purchasing an additional 456,023 shares during the last quarter. 74.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Mastercard Stock Up 2.3 %

Shares of NYSE:MA traded up $8.68 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $379.20. The stock had a trading volume of 1,350,086 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,814,388. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12 month low of $276.87 and a 12 month high of $392.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $372.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $363.45. The company has a market cap of $359.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.01, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.11.

Insider Activity

Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. Mastercard had a net margin of 42.33% and a return on equity of 169.12%. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total value of $10,267,392.33. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 39,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,703,600.87. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Raghuvir Malhotra sold 11,398 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $381.62, for a total transaction of $4,349,704.76. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 9,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,612,033.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total transaction of $10,267,392.33. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 39,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,703,600.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 542,079 shares of company stock valued at $207,174,711. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MA. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $410.00 to $435.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $390.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $414.00 to $442.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $417.27.

Mastercard Profile

(Get Rating)

Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY.

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Orchard Funding Group plc (LON:ORCH  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Thursday, April 6th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 8th will be given a dividend of GBX 1 ($0.01) per share on Friday, June 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. The official announcement can be accessed at this link.

Orchard Funding Group Stock Performance

LON ORCH opened at GBX 46.50 ($0.58) on Tuesday. The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 43.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 45.41. The stock has a market cap of 9.93 million, a PE ratio of 562.50 and a beta of 0.17. Orchard Funding Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 37 ($0.46) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 65.90 ($0.82). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 156.91, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a current ratio of 1.76.

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Orchard Funding Group Company Profile

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Orchard Funding Group plc, through its subsidiaries, provides insurance premium finance, professional fee funding, finance, and secured property lending services in the United Kingdom. It offers credit to businesses and consumers for spreading the cost of their insurance premiums; and professional customized fee funding solutions to accounting firms, professionals, and small businesses to provide extended credit to their business clients.

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Premier Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,865 shares of the energy producers stock, valued at approximately $220,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Clarity Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $268,000. BOKF NA increased its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. BOKF NA now owns 208,819 shares of the energy producers stock worth $24,641,000 after buying an additional 3,258 shares during the period. Natixis increased its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 564,734 shares of the energy producers stock worth $66,586,000 after buying an additional 35,906 shares during the period. Ossiam increased its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 24,450.0% in the 4th quarter. Ossiam now owns 6,383 shares of the energy producers stock worth $753,000 after buying an additional 6,357 shares during the period. Finally, Boulder Hill Capital Management LP acquired a new position in ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter worth approximately $448,000. 81.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ConocoPhillips Price Performance

ConocoPhillips stock traded up $0.33 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $102.40. The company had a trading volume of 1,014,240 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,444,798. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $102.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $109.32. ConocoPhillips has a 1-year low of $78.30 and a 1-year high of $138.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $123.91 billion, a PE ratio of 8.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.39.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The energy producer reported $2.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.36. The company had revenue of $15.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.06 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 32.75% and a net margin of 20.21%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 19.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.27 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 10.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 26th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.99%. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is currently 16.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on COP shares. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $149.00 in a report on Thursday, May 18th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $160.00 to $141.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $122.00 to $124.00 in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $137.58.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In other ConocoPhillips news, Director Caroline Maury Devine sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.08, for a total value of $102,080.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 849 shares in the company, valued at approximately $86,665.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

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ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia Pacific, and Other International.

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Shares of Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI  Get Rating) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $205.25.

Several research analysts have issued reports on PRI shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Primerica from $167.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Raymond James started coverage on Primerica in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. They issued a strong-buy rating and a $244.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Primerica from $150.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 24th. StockNews.com upgraded Primerica from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on Primerica from $210.00 to $220.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th.

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Primerica Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PRI opened at $186.47 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $178.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $164.13. Primerica has a 1-year low of $110.22 and a 1-year high of $195.69. The company has a market cap of $6.76 billion, a PE ratio of 16.83 and a beta of 1.18.

Primerica Dividend Announcement

Primerica ( NYSE:PRI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported $3.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.45 by $0.04. Primerica had a return on equity of 27.48% and a net margin of 15.33%. The firm had revenue of $690.04 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $697.61 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.11 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Primerica will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 22nd will be given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 19th. Primericas dividend payout ratio is currently 23.47%.

Insider Activity

In other news, President Peter W. Schneider sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.99, for a total value of $647,465.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 15,024 shares in the company, valued at $2,779,289.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Primerica

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRI. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Primerica by 55.7% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,707 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,875,000 after purchasing an additional 4,901 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its position in Primerica by 1,844.1% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,983 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 1,881 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in Primerica by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 6,839 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $939,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in Primerica by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 24,752 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,413,000 after purchasing an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in Primerica by 33.4% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,533 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,493,000 after purchasing an additional 6,396 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.59% of the companys stock.

Primerica Company Profile

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Primerica, Inc engages in the provision of financial products to middle-income households. It operates through the following segments: Term Life Insurance, Investment and Savings Products, Senior Health, and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. The Term Life Insurance segment includes underwriting profits in the in-force book of term life insurance policies.

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Roundview Capital LLC increased its stake in The Howard Hughes Co. (NYSE:HHC  Get Rating) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 55,889 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the quarter. Roundview Capital LLCs holdings in Howard Hughes were worth $4,271,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in HHC. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Howard Hughes in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in Howard Hughes by 39.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 632 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd grew its stake in Howard Hughes by 72,600.0% in the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 727 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 726 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Howard Hughes in the 1st quarter valued at $86,000. Finally, Western Pacific Wealth Management LP grew its stake in Howard Hughes by 45.0% in the 4th quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 1,546 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the period.

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Howard Hughes Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of HHC stock traded up $1.02 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $78.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 58,448 shares, compared to its average volume of 203,663. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a current ratio of 1.64. The stock has a market cap of $3.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.92 and a beta of 1.47. The Howard Hughes Co. has a 52-week low of $50.90 and a 52-week high of $89.58. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $75.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $78.12.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Howard Hughes ( NYSE:HHC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported ($0.46) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.47) by $0.01. The business had revenue of $196.29 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $199.10 million. Howard Hughes had a return on equity of 4.50% and a net margin of 10.01%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.04 EPS. Research analysts predict that The Howard Hughes Co. will post -1.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Howard Hughes in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Piper Sandler cut their target price on Howard Hughes from $100.00 to $95.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $91.67.

Insider Transactions at Howard Hughes

In other news, Director Pershing Square Capital Manage bought 51,300 shares of Howard Hughes stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was bought at an average price of $74.71 per share, for a total transaction of $3,832,623.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 16,063,716 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,200,120,222.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, EVP David Michael Striph sold 1,902 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.83, for a total transaction of $142,326.66. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,094 shares of the companys stock, valued at $605,674.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Pershing Square Capital Manage purchased 51,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $74.71 per share, for a total transaction of $3,832,623.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 16,063,716 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,200,120,222.36. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders acquired 301,854 shares of company stock valued at $22,477,449 in the last quarter. 33.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Howard Hughes Company Profile

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The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use properties in the United States. It operates through four segments: Operating Assets; Master Planned Communities (MPCs); Seaport; and Strategic Developments. The Operating Assets segment owns retail, office, multi-family, hospitality, and other operating properties and investments primarily located in Houston, Texas; Columbia, Maryland; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Several brokerages have updated their recommendations and price targets on shares of Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR) in the last few weeks:

6/2/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating.

5/30/2023  Spirit AeroSystems had its price target lowered by analysts at Bank of America Co. from $26.00 to $25.00.

5/25/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating.

5/17/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating.

5/9/2023  Spirit AeroSystems had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $50.00 to $40.00.

5/8/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating.

5/4/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was downgraded by analysts at TD Cowen from an outperform rating to a market perform rating. They now have a $28.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $38.00.

5/4/2023  Spirit AeroSystems had its price target lowered by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from $36.00 to $32.00.

5/4/2023  Spirit AeroSystems had its price target lowered by analysts at Susquehanna from $44.00 to $37.00.

5/4/2023  Spirit AeroSystems had its price target lowered by analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from $38.00 to $29.00.

4/19/2023  Spirit AeroSystems was upgraded by analysts at Benchmark Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating. They now have a $45.00 price target on the stock.

Spirit AeroSystems Stock Performance

NYSE SPR traded up $0.28 on Tuesday, hitting $28.10. The stock had a trading volume of 4,750,168 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,481,595. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. has a 52-week low of $21.14 and a 52-week high of $38.55. The company has a market capitalization of $2.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.80 and a beta of 1.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $29.00 and a 200-day moving average of $30.58.

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Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The aerospace company reported ($1.69) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.31) by ($1.38). Spirit AeroSystems had a negative return on equity of 365.67% and a negative net margin of 14.64%. The company had revenue of $1.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.03 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 21.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. will post -1.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Spirit AeroSystems

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Spirit AeroSystems by 6,821.9% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,591,729 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $134,538,000 after acquiring an additional 4,525,393 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in shares of Spirit AeroSystems by 58.8% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,240,685 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $284,551,000 after acquiring an additional 3,051,014 shares in the last quarter. Maple Rock Capital Partners Inc. bought a new position in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter worth approximately $83,597,000. Wolf Hill Capital Management LP bought a new position in Spirit AeroSystems during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $78,680,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position in Spirit AeroSystems by 44.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 5,572,808 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $122,156,000 after buying an additional 1,712,240 shares in the last quarter. 85.82% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc engages in the design and manufacture of aero structures for commercial and defense aircraft. It operates through the following segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment designs and manufactures forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections which related to floor beams, nacelles, struts and pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats and wing structures.

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SSP Group plc (LON:SSPG  Get Rating) insider Jonathan Davies acquired 46 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 272 ($3.38) per share, for a total transaction of 125.12 ($155.54).

Jonathan Davies also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, May 9th, Jonathan Davies bought 48 shares of SSP Group stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 258 ($3.21) per share, with a total value of 123.84 ($153.95).

On Thursday, April 6th, Jonathan Davies bought 50 shares of SSP Group stock. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 253 ($3.15) per share, with a total value of 126.50 ($157.26).

SSP Group Price Performance

Shares of SSPG stock traded down GBX 1.69 ($0.02) on Tuesday, reaching GBX 267.11 ($3.32). 1,657,689 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,300,985. The company has a market cap of 2.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27,220.00, a P/E/G ratio of -0.77 and a beta of 1.71. The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 256.56 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 248.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 541.40, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.56. SSP Group plc has a 1 year low of GBX 181.45 ($2.26) and a 1 year high of GBX 280 ($3.48).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SSP Group Company Profile

SSPG has been the subject of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 240 ($2.98) price objective on shares of SSP Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 350 ($4.35) price objective on shares of SSP Group in a research note on Tuesday, May 23rd. Numis Securities reiterated an add rating and set a GBX 290 ($3.61) price objective on shares of SSP Group in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Shore Capital reiterated a house stock rating on shares of SSP Group in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a GBX 290 ($3.61) target price on shares of SSP Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, SSP Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 302.14 ($3.76).

(Get Rating)

SSP Group plc operates food and beverage outlets. The company operates outlets at airports, railway stations, motorway service areas, hospitals, and shopping centers. It operates approximately 550 brands in 36 countries in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and internationally. SSP Group plc was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 376 shares of the credit services providers stock, valued at approximately $130,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bornite Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Mastercard during the first quarter valued at approximately $21,442,000. United Bank lifted its position in Mastercard by 34.5% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,541 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Mastercard by 30.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $97,335,000 after buying an additional 63,040 shares in the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new stake in Mastercard in the first quarter worth about $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in Mastercard in the first quarter worth about $12,926,000. 74.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MA has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Mastercard from $450.00 to $453.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Mastercard from $435.00 to $440.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Mastercard from $410.00 to $435.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Mastercard from $414.00 to $442.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and nineteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $417.27.

Mastercard Price Performance

NYSE:MA traded up $7.88 on Tuesday, reaching $378.40. 1,605,113 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,817,685. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $372.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $363.45. The firm has a market cap of $358.67 billion, a PE ratio of 37.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.11. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12 month low of $276.87 and a 12 month high of $392.20.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.09. Mastercard had a return on equity of 169.12% and a net margin of 42.33%. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total transaction of $10,267,392.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 39,263 shares in the company, valued at $14,703,600.87. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total value of $48,600,204.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 100,437,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,796,911,359.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 27,417 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $374.49, for a total value of $10,267,392.33. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 39,263 shares in the company, valued at $14,703,600.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 542,079 shares of company stock worth $207,174,711 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Mastercard Profile

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Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY.

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Telia Company AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:TLSNY  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $4.55 and last traded at $4.57, with a volume of 232484 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.59.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TLSNY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on Telia Company AB (publ) in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. They set a buy rating for the company. Citigroup upgraded Telia Company AB (publ) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $33.25.

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Telia Company AB (publ) Stock Down 0.7 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $5.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $5.15.

Telia Company AB (publ) Cuts Dividend

Telia Company AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:TLSNY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The technology company reported $0.03 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.21 billion for the quarter. Telia Company AB (publ) had a negative net margin of 15.36% and a negative return on equity of 16.68%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Telia Company AB will post 0.25 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 11th were given a $0.0644 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 10th. This represents a yield of 4.01%. Telia Company AB (publ)s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -37.14%.

About Telia Company AB (publ)

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Telia Co AB engages in the provision of network access and telecommunication services. It operates through the following geographical segments: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and TV and Media. It focuses on mobile, television, and fixed-line operations. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Solna, Sweden.

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Utah Retirement Systems decreased its holdings in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO  Get Rating) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,371 shares of the companys stock after selling 115 shares during the period. Utah Retirement Systems holdings in AutoZone were worth $8,313,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Robbins Farley acquired a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc lifted its stake in shares of AutoZone by 83.3% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 11 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 5 shares during the period. RFP Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Legacy Bridge LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, MUFG Americas Holdings Corp increased its position in AutoZone by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.12% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on AZO. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on AutoZone from $2,850.00 to $3,000.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th. 51job reiterated a maintains rating on shares of AutoZone in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on AutoZone from $2,750.00 to $2,975.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Wedbush upped their price target on shares of AutoZone from $2,600.00 to $2,750.00 in a report on Monday, May 22nd. Finally, Bank of America raised AutoZone from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the company from $2,120.00 to $2,465.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AutoZone currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $2,696.89.

Insider Activity at AutoZone

AutoZone Price Performance

In other AutoZone news, CEO William C. Rhodes III sold 29,511 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,427.27, for a total transaction of $71,631,164.97. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,825 shares in the company, valued at $35,984,277.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In other news, CEO William C. Rhodes III sold 29,511 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,427.27, for a total value of $71,631,164.97. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 14,825 shares in the company, valued at $35,984,277.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, VP Dennis W. Leriche sold 1,420 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,573.04, for a total value of $3,653,716.80. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 379 shares in the company, valued at $975,182.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 35,475 shares of company stock valued at $86,386,159. Insiders own 2.59% of the companys stock.

AutoZone stock traded down $19.36 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $2,320.59. 163,081 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 159,833. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.70 billion, a PE ratio of 18.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.68. AutoZone, Inc. has a 12-month low of $1,959.58 and a 12-month high of $2,750.00. The businesss 50-day moving average is $2,582.73 and its 200-day moving average is $2,497.53.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The company reported $34.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $30.84 by $3.28. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 64.19% and a net margin of 14.45%. The business had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $29.03 earnings per share. AutoZones revenue for the quarter was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 129.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AutoZone Company Profile

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AutoZone, Inc engages in the retail and distribution of automotive replacement parts and accessories. The firm offers ALLDATA, which produces, sells, and maintains diagnostic and repair information software used in the automotive repair industry and E-commerce, which includes direct sales to customers.

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A 10-member team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday morning arrived at Bahanaga in Odisha's Balasore district to launch investigation into the train accident. (Photo by arrangement)

BAHANANGA: A 10-member team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday morning arrived at Bahanaga in Odishas Balasore district to launch investigation into the catastrophic train crash that left 275 passengers killed and more than 900 others injured.

According to reports, the team inspected the main line on which the 2841 Shalimar - Chennai Coromandal Express was running and the loop line where a goods train was standing.

The investigating team also visited the station masters office at Bahanaga Station Bazar and examined the technical and other details. They investigation officers also questioned the signal-room personnel to know how the 2841 Shalimar - Chennai Coromandel Express which was given green signal on mainline entered the loop line that led to collision with stationary goods train.

Reports from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Bhubaneswar said the hospital has so far handed over 64 bodies of the accident victims to their family members after proper identification and 56 more corpses were still lying in the morgue.

"Family members and relatives of the deceased persons who have arrived here to claim bodies of their loved ones are being extended all possible support. We are handing over the bodies to them after proper identification and thorough police verification," said AIIMS superintendent Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy.

Vijay Amritraj Kulange, Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, said the DNA testing process had been started at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar in order to solve cases of multiple claims on certain bodies.

"We are coming across cases of multiple claims on certain bodies. To avoid the ambiguity, we have started DNA testing of the family members," said Kulange.

Overall, 95 bodies, including the 64 at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, have been handed over to their family members. Of them, family members of 84 accident victims have received the compensation amount as announced by the ministry of railways. The total amount of ex-gratia disbursed by Tuesday morning was 6.9 crore, said East Coast Railway chief public relations officer (CPRO) Biswajit Sahoo.

The CPROs information on the dead bodies identified and returned to their family members mismatches with the figure given by the Odisha government.

At 9.50 pm on Monday, the state chief secretary had tweeted: "By now more than 180 bodies have been identified & 150-plus bodies handed over."
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had said that farmer schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima were dependent on data from the Dharani portal. (Image: Twitter)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for a second time in two days lent his support to the Dharani portal, on Tuesday while speaking at a public meeting in Nagarkurnool. The portal has come under a major attack from the Opposition for reportedly facilitating ruling party leaders to grab land.

Rao said the Dharani portal protected agriculture properties. Because of the portal, and improved irrigation, the once-arid undivided Mahbubnagar district, from where people used to migrate to Mumbai to work for daily wages, had become the best place to do agriculture and was attracting guest workers from other areas.

At Nirmal on Sunday, the Chief Minister had said that farmer schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima were dependent on data from the Dharani portal. If the Congress came to power in Telangana, it would dismantle the portal and end the welfare schemes.

On Tuesday at Nagarkurnool, the Chief Minister focused on farmers, the Dharani portal and irrigation projects being taken up in undivided Mahbubnagar district. He targeted the Congress again, and asked farmers to throw the partys leaders into the Bay of Bengal for making false statements on the Dharani portal.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting after inaugurating the Nagarkurnool district collectorate, SP office and BRS office.

Recalling his stint as MP during which he had worked on the problems of Palamuru, he said the area had suffered due to the lack of drinking water, irrigation and electricity. After the state was formed, the BRS government had provided best facilities to the undivided Mahbubnagar district.

Thanks to irrigation water and free power, farmers were cultivating paddy and other crops. With the government providing irrigation water for cultivation, the land value has gone up in the district.

"The BRS government brought the Dharani portal to transfer power to farmers having property rights. During the Congress government, there were a lot of issues in getting passbooks, pahani and other records and people had to pay bribes to revenue officers. After introducing the Dharani portal, there is no dispute on property ownership," the Chief Minister said.

Stating that the Telangana topped the nation in per capita income and electricity usage in the country, the Chief Minister said that the BRS government had introduced Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha, Rythu Bandhu, Dalit Bandhi, Kalyana Laxmi, Shaadi Mubarak and other schemes for the people.

When the BRS came to power, the government sanctioned five medical colleges for undivided Mahbubnagar district, at Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet and Gadwal. "Why did the Congress fail to set up medical colleges when it was in power," he asked.

In Mahabubnagar district, the number of registration offices had gone up to 88 from 15. "Farmers used to pay bribes at registration offices and revenue offices for getting their land registered. After forming Telangana state, the government made the registration process easy and an applicant can get documents registered in a single day," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister asked the gathering to raise their hands on whether the government should implement Dharani portal. The audience responded by raising their hands in approval.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a public meeting in Malkajgiri, which is likely to be held on June 30. (File Image: PTI)

Hyderabad: The BJPs big guns will begin landing in Telangana from the middle of this month, setting the stage for the partys campaign for the Assembly elections that are expected to be held towards the end of this year.

Party leaders on Tuesday said Union home minister Amit Shah will be addressing a public meeting in Khammam on June 15, and BJP president J.P. Nadda in Nagarkurnool on June 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a public meeting in Malkajgiri, which is likely to be held on June 30, party leaders said. These meetings, some party leaders hoped, would mark the end of internal bickering among some leaders who have been voicing their disapproval at the way the party is being run in the state.

The choice of Khammam for Shahs meeting is being viewed as significant given the efforts by state BJP leaders to invite former BRS leader Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy from the district into the party. Though Srinivas Reddy has reportedly informed the BJP that he was not interested, the selection of Shahs meeting venue is expected to send a signal that the party is strong by itself.

Even as the party is making plans to make these public meetings huge successes, it is learnt that some senior leaders, as well some members of the BJP state executive, have been asked to go to New Delhi to meet senior national leaders to iron out differences. "Some of the leaders who have been in the news for various reasons are expected to go to Delhi to meet our national leaders," a BJP senior leader said. These meetings are expected to take place in the next few days.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders looking into the planning for the public meetings, said that a final confirmation of Modis visit to the city is yet to be received. June 30 is also the last day of the BJPs month-long Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan, the exercise of reaching out to people and party leaders and cadres visiting every home in the state to inform people about the development work through Central government programmes under Modis leadership.
Home minister Amit Shah is expected to address a rally in Visakhapatnam on June 11 (File Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After the Karnataka poll rout, the BJP has begun targeting Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Telangana, among other states. Top party leaders ranging from home minister Amit Shah and party president J.P. Nadda are expected to criss-cross the country holding rallies and public meetings.

Officially, these are being held to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Keeping an eye on the Lok Sabha polls, Shah is likely to hold a rally at Sirsa on June 18. Top party leaders will also be in Andhra Pradesh as part of the BJPs Jan Sampark Abhiyan. The home minister is expected to address a rally in Visakhapatnam on June 11, while the BJP chief is likely to hold another rally at Tirupati on June 10. Shah is expected to visit poll-bound Chhattisgarh on June 22.

The top party leaders, particularly the home minister during his visits to the states, are expected to meet local leaders and party workers. The BJP will also take stock of its MLAs performance across the states. It "will zero on the Opposition-dominated constituencies and visits of leaders in these areas will be more frequent," a senior leader said.

After its debacle in Karnataka, the top BJP leadership has decided to firmly handle all internal rifts within state units. Sources said that simmering differences within the Madhya Pradesh unit was being addressed and senior state leaders have been asked to rally behind Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Giving the Karnataka example, the central leadership has told all state units that "internal differences" would have "serious consequences". Led by Chouhan, the BJP is continuing its "mass outreach programme", a senior party leader said.

Similarly, in Rajasthan, the state unit has been asked to resolve all differences. It was being made clear that former chief minister Vasundhara Raje "will be the party"s face" in the Assembly elections. The BJP is expected to take out a "Jan Aakrosh Yatra" against the Congress government on June 13. While Raje leads the race as the partys CM face, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is close on her heels. With the fight between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot raging, the BJP can "smell victory" in the desert state. "Neither of these two Congress leaders want the party to win," a senior BJP leader observed. It was revealed that despite efforts, the Congress high command was not able to stop the catfight between Pilot and Gehlot. Speculation is rife that Pilot might snap ties with the Congress and launch his own outfit.

While Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have more or less been sorted, the BJP is now desperately looking for a face in Chhattisgarh to counter Congress CM Bhupesh Bhagel. Some BJP central leaders seem to have already conceded defeat even before the Chhattisgarh election. However, some state leaders indicated to the party high command that former chief minister Raman Singh could be projected as the partys face in the state, The central leadership, however, is not too keen on projecting any leader in the state at this juncture, sources said.
Japanese auto major Honda plans to launch five new SUVs, including a fully electric model, in India by 2030 as it tries to revive its fortune in the country, according to a senior company official.

The company on Tuesday unveiled its global mid-sized SUV Elevate in India which will take on the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Suzuki's Grand Vitara.

A fully-electric version of the Elevate will be launched within three years. The automaker plans to launch Elevate over the next months coinciding with the festive season.

"Including the Elevate, we are planning to launch five SUVs by 2030. So that's our pipeline now," Honda Cars India President & CEO Takuya Tsumura told PTI in an interview here.

With the Elevate, Honda is looking to strengthen its presence in the Indian passenger vehicles market, where it is represented by sedans City and Amaze at present, and enter the fast growing SUV segment.

Also Read | Toyota reports highest-ever monthly sales in May at 20,410 units

He said, currently the sedans account for almost 10 per cent of the overall PV market and Honda's participation is restricted in that segment.

While sedans City and Amaze are doing well in that 10 per cent of the market, Tsumura said,"On the other hand in the growing market SUVs are having more than 40 per cent and the segment is growing year by year. So, having the new SUV will be very important for us as we can participate in 50 per cent of the overall market..."

Going forward, he said Elevate will be the "mainstream" product for Honda in India and the following models will play in the premium segment. Elevate comes with active and passive safety technologies such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).

India will be the first market where it will be launched and Honda aims to make its operations here as an export hub for the model. When asked about Honda's plans for electric vehicles (EV) in India, Tsumura said the company is planning a fully electric SUV based on the Elevate platform.

"We are planning to introduce it within three years," he said, adding Honda has decided to go directly to battery electric vehicle for Elevate and hence the model will not have a hybrid version.

Also Read | Nostalgia on wheels: Vintage cars steal the spotlight at Lulu Mall

Asked about the investments on the new models and preparation for local production of the EV, he declined to comment saying it is a work in progress. Tsumura said the new SUV will be exported to various geographies across the globe.

Honda Cars India, which was once a significant player in the Indian PV market, has slipped down the pecking order in the past few years with new entrants like Kia overtaking it in sales.

Due to lack of demand for its vehicles, the company underwent organisational restructuring, including stoppage of production at its Greater Noida plant and offering voluntary retirement schemes to employees. It rolls out vehicles from the Tapukara plant in Rajasthan.

The company is now looking towards a fresh journey with renewed vigour in India. "For two consecutive years after some restructuring project happened, we are in a very healthy business cycle, even one of the highest profits record we made. Now, our operation is healthy I can say," Tsumura said.

Until the last fiscal year, the company produced 540 units per day, he said adding "now, we already shifted it up to 660 units production per day because we need certain parts speed to prepare for the new model launch".

He further said,"Next fiscal year we are still planning to increase." In terms of sales also, Tsumura said,"Specially in the second half of this year, we are planning to improve more than 35 per cent and we believe that it is possible."

The company will also enhance exports of its sedans City and Amaze, he added. In FY23, Honda Cars India produced 1.2 lakh units and is targeting to increase it to 1.7 lakh units by FY25, he added.

Honda Motor Co Head of Regional Unit Asia and Oceania Toshio Kuwahara said being the third largest automotive market globally, India is an important market for the Japanese automaker.

He said exports from India have also increased and the country is one of the most important export hubs for the company globally. In line with the company's carbon neutrality targets, 100 per cent of sales across the globe, including India will be from battery electric and fuel cell vehicles by 2040, he noted.
A critical dam and hydroelectric power plant along the front line in southern Ukraine have been destroyed, videos verified by The New York Times show.

In the footage, a significant volume of water is flowing freely through the Kakhovka dam and power plant, which has been split in half. Russia took control of the plant and dam, which are located on the Dnieper River near the city of Kherson, last year.

Experts who have researched the dam say that the destruction could be catastrophic. The dam, which is under Russian control, manages a reservoir that supplies water for drinking, agriculture and the cooling of a nearby nuclear power plant.

Also Read: Ukrainian forces advancing around Bakhmut: Minister

David Helms, a former US Air Force and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist, said that communities along the occupied Russian side of the waterway risk being flooded and swept away. The destruction also poses significant risk to nearby ports and grain silos, as well as the surrounding ecosystem. Its just vast the amount of damage and harm, between communities, irrigation and transportation, he said.

The visuals do not provide insight into what caused the damage. Ukraines southern military command blamed Russian troops for the destruction.

Vladimir Leontiev, the Russian-appointed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, where the hydroelectric power plant is, said the plant was damaged by shelling but denied that the dam had been destroyed, according to RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency. He said water levels south of the dam rose by about 8 feet, according to RIA.

Also Read: Russia says its forces thwarted major Ukrainian offensive

Both the Ukrainian military and the local Ukrainian governor posted evacuation instructions early Tuesday for people in the city of Kherson in the event of an explosion at the hydroelectric power plant. Ukraines National Police and State Emergency Services were evacuating civilians in flood zones on the right bank of the Dnieper River, including parts of Kherson and 10 villages, Ukraines Internal Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The infrastructure surrounding the dam has sustained damage throughout the war. Satellite imagery confirms new damage to the bridge next to the dam sustained from June 1 to 2, days before Tuesdays destruction.

For months there has been concern over water levels at the reservoir, which had reached both its highest and lowest points in decades with Russian forces in control of the power plant.

Destruction of the dam, which holds back a body of water the size of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, could cause destructive flooding in a large area with a large number of homes. It also poses a risk to the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest, by lowering water levels in the reservoir that provides cooling.

Ukraines military intelligence has warned in recent weeks that Russians might create an emergency at the power plant to provide a pretext for a cease-fire and forestall a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Russian emergency services said on Tuesday that around 600 houses had been flooded after the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was breached overnight, the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

The Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka was under water after the nearby dam was breached overnight, while residents of around 300 houses evacuated, earlier in the day.

Parts of the town were also disconnected from power supplies for safety reasons, while a state of emergency was also declared.

The town is situated near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been largely unaffected by the floods.

Energoatom chief Petro Kotin said the fall in the levels of the Kakhovka reservoir would not affect the level of water in cooling ponds at the facility's spent nuclear fuel storage pools.

Also Read: Nova Kakhovka dam supplying water to Crimea blown up in southern Ukraine

An AFP report, quoting a military official said that about 16,000 people were in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson region.

According to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson miliary administration, there was flooding in eight areas along the Dnipro River.

(With AFP inputs)
The United States had intelligence of a detailed Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipeline three months before it was bombed, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online.

Also Read: Russian vessel near Nord Stream pipelines before blasts

The CIA learned last June, through a European spy agency, that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to blow up the Russia-to-Germany natural gas project, the newspaper reported.
The water level at the town immediately adjacent to the breached Nova Kakhovka dam has risen by 10 metres (33 feet) and will increase further, its Russia-installed mayor said on Tuesday.

"The water continues to mount. An evacuation is being carried out of civilians from the adjacent flooded zones to preserve all lives... There is no panic in the town," Vladimir Leontyev said in a video message on Telegram.

Also Read | State of emergency declared in Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka district after dam breach

Ukraine and Russia both blamed each other for the breaching of the vast dam on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine.

Leontyev said the peak water level in Nova Kakhovka was expected to be 12 metres. The town still had electricity, but two settlements downstream had been taken off the power grid, Leontyev said.

Also Read | Around 600 houses flooded as dam breach sinks Ukrainian town

An emergencies official accompanying him in the video said the water level was expected to rise for 72 hours before subsiding and allowing authorities to mount a clean-up operation.

Photographs published by Russia's TASS news agency showed the flooded centre of Nova Kakhovka, with waters lapping at the white columns at the entrance to its neo-classical cultural centre.
An 18-year-old college student was found murdered in her hostel room in south Mumbai's Churchgate area on Tuesday while a suspect in the case too was found dead on the railway tracks, police said.

It was suspected that the woman had been sexually assaulted but it can be ascertained only after autopsy report is available, an official said.

The victim was a student of a government polytechnic in suburban Bandra, he said.

Read | 20-year-old arrested for Engineering student's murder in Bengaluru

Police were alerted around 5 pm after she became untraceable with her fourth-floor hostel room locked from outside.

A police team which entered the room found her dead with a dupatta (stole) wrapped around her neck.

A security guard of the hostel, who is a suspect in the case, had been found dead on the railway tracks early in the morning, the official said.

An FIR for murder was registered at Marine Drive police station and further probe was on, he added.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said tenants are also eligible to avail the Gruha Jyoti scheme, under which 200 units of free power will be provided to all domestic consumers in the state from July 1.

The clarification comes a day after the Congress government had issued guidelines to avail the free electricity under the scheme. We will provide free power (up to 200 units) to those living in rented accommodation as well.

"Poor people who consume less than 200 units of power will not have to pay the bills. This (scheme) will be applicable to the tenants, Siddaramaiah told reporters here. He also clarified that this scheme was not applicable for commercial usage.

The 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme was one of the 5 guarantees promised by the Congress ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. Reacting to BJP's protest against the power tariff hike as well as the state governments decision to revisit the anti-cow slaughter law enacted by the then Yediyurappa government, Siddaramaiah sought to know what moral right the saffron party has to protest.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP of "plundering" the state when in power and "bringing a bad name" to the state.

The BJP leaders are protesting because they have nothing else to do. What moral rights do they have? he asked. According to Siddaramaiah, the BJP did not fulfill any of its election promises such as 10 hours free power, waiving farm loans and spending Rs 1.5 lakh crore on irrigation.

Charging the BJP with finding fault with the pro-people measures, the CM said, These people (BJP) are anti-people party. They looted and indulged in bribery when they were in power, brought a bad name to the state and then left. What to say when they come to preach us? Meanwhile, the BJPs protest against the hike in power tariff by Rs 2.89 per unit and state Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkateshs remark over the anti-cow slaughter law, entered the second day. Protests took place in different parts of the state including Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Davangere.
JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said he could not tell which party was communal and which was not, as he did not sound very optimistic about the ongoing efforts to forge an anti-BJP front nationally, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The former PM sought to know if there was a single party in the country that has had no association with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. "I can analyse in detail about this country's politics, what is the use? Show me one party which has not associated with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. Show me one party in the whole country, then I will answer," Gowda said in response to a question about Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trying to forge an anti BJP front at the national level.

Read | Never thought I'd sit in new Parliament in my lifetime, I did now at age 91: Deve Gowda

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Some Congress leaders may say -- but, had they not gone to Karunanidhi (of DMK), who supported BJP for six years, whether directly or indirectly.... that's why I don't want to discuss the political atmosphere prevailing in this country, there is no need, I have seen it as PM, CM, as MP...what happened in Maharashtra? I can quote several incidents."

Declining to comment on a query about leading or joining a front against BJP on the request of like minded parties, Gowda said, "who is communal, who is not communal, I don't know. First of all, the definition of communal and non communal -- it can be enlarged, then the scope is much..."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called a meeting of Opposition parties in Patna on June 12. The event has now been postponed. Amid reports in a section of media that JD(S) would enter into an alliance with the BJP to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party veteran said he and his party would not pay attention to such things. "Regarding the Parliament election, there are a variety of things, we are not going to pay attention to it. Our party, our strength -- our karyakartas are our strength -- by unifying and encouraging them, we will have to work towards strengthening the regional party, save it and move ahead."

Pointing to the presence of strong regional parties in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said, "In that direction we will have to strive towards strengthening and nurturing the JD(S) by giving more strength to youth."

He also said that he had advised the constitution of a "high level" committee with representation from all communities for strengthening the party. Asked if he would once again contest Lok Sabha polls, Gowda said, he is 91-year-old now and that question does not arise.

"How many candidates will be fielded for MP elections and from where, all those things will be decided later. The priority is to identify our strengths in zilla, taluk and corporation polls. After that we will look at Parliament polls, we will contest wherever we can based on our strength. We had a tie up with RSP and communist party, our leaders will decide in this regard," he added Gowda said he has called a meeting of party leaders to discuss the party's performance in the recently held Assembly polls, organising, strengthening the party and restructuring of taluk and district units wherever necessary ahead of the upcoming zilla, taluk and corporation polls; and preparation for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"I don't want to speak about Congress or BJP or the promises they made and about their implementation. What is before us is the upcoming elections....we will not sit quietly, I'm 91 and I'm also ready to work with you. I call on all party leaders, especially youths, to work towards building the party and prepare for the polls," he said. JD(S) has to start preparing for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls, and the party has to identify candidates in the places where we were not fielding, he said, "I'm ready to travel wherever the party asks me to go for organizing and building the party , there is no question of me sitting idle."
StockNews.com upgraded shares of LG Display (NYSE:LPL  Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Monday.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised LG Display from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th.

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LG Display Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of NYSE:LPL opened at $6.36 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $6.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. LG Display has a 12-month low of $4.08 and a 12-month high of $6.92. The firm has a market cap of $4.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.39 and a beta of 1.43.

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LG Display Company Profile

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of LG Display by 82.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 779,380 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $6,438,000 after buying an additional 352,719 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of LG Display by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 645,527 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $2,634,000 after buying an additional 12,061 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of LG Display by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 596,321 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $3,781,000 after buying an additional 101,843 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its holdings in shares of LG Display by 26.3% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 269,952 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,722,000 after buying an additional 56,205 shares during the period. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in LG Display by 126.1% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 267,565 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $1,092,000 after purchasing an additional 149,248 shares during the last quarter. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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LG Display Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of thin film transistor and organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) products. Its products include television, commercial, monitor, notebook, mobile, auto, and OLED display. The company was founded on February 28, 1985 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

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New York Life Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL  Get Rating) by 12.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,789 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,103 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLCs holdings in Travel + Leisure were worth $356,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Travel + Leisure by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,201,640 shares of the companys stock valued at $416,319,000 after buying an additional 492,354 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,936,964 shares of the companys stock worth $304,930,000 after purchasing an additional 227,175 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,057,641 shares of the companys stock worth $350,980,000 after purchasing an additional 636,968 shares during the period. GMT Capital Corp lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 35.9% in the 4th quarter. GMT Capital Corp now owns 3,651,641 shares of the companys stock worth $132,920,000 after purchasing an additional 964,300 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 3.0% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,515,891 shares of the companys stock worth $97,667,000 after purchasing an additional 74,254 shares during the period. 88.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Travel + Leisure Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE TNL opened at $39.45 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.80. The stock has a market cap of $3.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.67. Travel + Leisure Co. has a 12-month low of $33.57 and a 12-month high of $52.46.

Travel + Leisure Dividend Announcement

Travel + Leisure ( NYSE:TNL Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $879.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $840.65 million. Travel + Leisure had a net margin of 10.17% and a negative return on equity of 43.00%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.69 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Travel + Leisure Co. will post 5.53 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.56%. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio is currently 40.27%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Olivier Chavy sold 7,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.02, for a total transaction of $300,358.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,511 shares of the companys stock, valued at $171,508.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Olivier Chavy sold 7,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.02, for a total transaction of $300,358.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,511 shares of the companys stock, valued at $171,508.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director George Herrera sold 2,069 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.53, for a total transaction of $77,649.57. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $219,100.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 12,619 shares of company stock valued at $477,409. Insiders own 2.84% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on TNL. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of Travel + Leisure from $69.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Travel + Leisure in a research note on Monday, April 17th. They set an underperform rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Travel + Leisure from $31.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $50.43.

Travel + Leisure Profile

(Get Rating)

Travel + Leisure Co is a membership and leisure travel company, with a portfolio of nearly 20 resort, travel club, and lifestyle travel brands. It operates through Vacation Ownership and Travel and Membership segments. The Vacation Ownership segment is involved in developing, marketing, and selling vacation ownership interests to individual consumers, providing consumer financing in connection with the sale of vacation ownership interests, and providing property management services at resorts.

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NSPCC Northern Irelands Janine Clifford, who is based in the charitys office at Bishop Street Court, is getting set to take part in the NSPCC Childhood Day Mile around the City Walls.

Janine, who has been with NSPCC for 12 years and is Acting Team Manager at the charitys Young Witness Service, will be joined by some of the dedicated staff and volunteers who work alongside her.

They are joining people from all over Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to celebrate NSPCCs flagship fundraising event, which is taking place on Friday 9 June. NSPCC Northern Ireland is inviting organisations, schools, families, friends, and people of all ages, across the North West, to participate in the Childhood Day Mile  a fun way to move a mile and raise vital funds to help keep children safe.

Speaking about the event, Janine Clifford said: We are really looking forward to getting out in the fresh air for some exercise and to raising funds for a cause so close to our hearts.

We hope the day will be well supported and its worth bearing in mind that you dont have to walk the mile - you can run it, dribble a ball for a mile, space hopper it, or wheel it.

The possibilities are endless and if June 9 is inconvenient, you can move a mile on another day.

We are so happy to take part because we know that the money we raise will help children in Northern Ireland and, indeed, The Young Witness Service.

The Service, which is based in Northern Ireland and is the only one of its kind in the UK, assists children and young people under the age of 18 who have to attend court as prosecution witnesses.

It operates in Bishop Street and Strabane courts as well as every other local crown, magistrates and youth court in Northern Ireland. From April 2022 to March 2023, the Service offered support to over 400 young witnesses across Northern Ireland.

Janine added: Going to court can be a very intimidating and frightening experience for anyone but even more so for young people as its such a strange and unfamiliar environment.

The Young Witness Service was set up because we recognised this, and we wanted to be able to support children and young people who needed to attend court to give evidence.

Since we started in 1999, we have recruited and trained a truly amazing group of volunteers who work alongside paid staff to support these children and young people.

NSPCCs Acting Team Manager Janine Clifford urges the people of the North West to join her in supporting Childhood Day.

The sort of support our volunteers can offer can be as straightforward as keeping a child company, as there can be such a lot of waiting around during court cases.

They can also chat to the children about the various court procedures and answer their questions. Sometimes, the young people we support are in court because something has been done to them by an adult who is a stranger or, often, by someone known to them.

Sometimes, the relationship with the volunteer can be the first step to them rebuilding their confidence and trust in adults - the importance of this cannot be overestimated.

Janine concluded: We need funds to provide training for our volunteers and thats why we are so keen to support this event, in the knowledge that the money raised will help NSPCC help more children. Wed love it if people would join us to celebrate Childhood Day.

To sign up, please go to the NSPCC website (www.nspcc.org.uk) where there are also special Childhood Day resources for schools, nurseries, and childcare groups.

Once you have registered, youll get a fundraising pack with everything you need to get started, and an NSPCC T-shirt to wear on your mile.
A man who glassed another man causing him to need paper stitches in a scalp wound has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Adam Mitchell (30) of The Fountain in Derry admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a man on August 29 2020.

The court heard that police were called by ambulance staff about a male with head injuries who was the defendant.

Police attended Altnagelvin Hospital and spoke to Mitchell who told them he had had an argument with another man at a party and had suffered a number of blows to the head.

Police attended the address where the party had been and the homeowner told them that Mitchell had been the aggressor in the case.

She said the injured party had been 'glassed' by the defendant who had been making sectarian comments and threatening the injured party.

Mitchell was arrested and at interview denied hitting the man with a glass.

When asked about hitting the man with a glass Mitchell denied this.

The court heard that a number of Independent witnesses identified Mitchell as the aggressor in the incident.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that this was 'drunken incident' where both men acted in ways they might not otherwise have done.

He said Mitchell accepted fully that he was the aggressor but added there was no animosity towards the injured party.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that this was a 'serious incident' but said Mitchell had a clear record and there had been 'no aftermath' in the three years since the incident.

He sentenced Mitchell to 6 months in prison suspended for 12 months.
Apple's AR headset Vision Pro was launched at the WWDC and this is going to be one of the most expensive products from Apple ever. It hasn't launched in India yet, but the estimation is something around 2,90,000. Which is a huge amount for a device.

Why is the price sky high? Apples touting it as a whole new way of computing after desktop computing, mobile computing, and now with Vision Pro it's the beginning of spatial computing. Listening to the price of the Vision Pro, investor doubts went up to such an extent that the Apple stock prices had a decline yesterday during the Vision Pro's announcement. Apple majorly earns from its iPhones, Mac and Apple Watches. So, everyone has this mindset that the Vision Pro won't help increase Apple's revenue.

The expense is such that you can buy 5 quite expensive products at the same price. That too some top notch products. Let's have a look at the list we have curated at this price.

Also Read: WWDC 2023: More than Mixed Reality headset, analysts want Apple to launch AI services

1. Quest 2

This is a VR headset by META. It was launched as the Oculus Quest 2 in 2020 and was rebranded as the META Quest 2 in 2022. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 and comes with 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM. It is a decent VR headset for gaming and other Metaverse applications at its best. Presently, it is priced at 45,000.

2. GIGABYTE M32UC gaming monitor

The GIGABYTE M32UC monitor is majorly for gaming and gives a great resolution and a super fast refresh rate. The monitor gives you the essence of intense gaming in a dark room as it doesnt have an IPS panel, instead uses a VA panel which has a smooth curve. It comes with the HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for Xbox Series X and PS5 gamers. Hence, clearly keeping in mind the needs of the console gamers. Presently, this is priced at 66,699.

3. PlayStation 5

The above mentioned monitor is the perfect mate for the PS5. A gamer loves console gaming and they can go heights to get their hands on the PS5. It comes with a Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU. Also it is backed by 16GB GDDR6 RAM and a Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 36 CUs. This just makes the PS5 compatible enough to play any high end games. Presently, this gaming monster is priced at 44,990.

4. M1 MacBook Air (256GB)

This is Apples fairly powerful laptop and a great option to opt for if you are looking for an impressive beast to work on. It has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology and is powered by Apples home player, the M1 chipset. As for the storage, it comes with 8GB RAM and is expandable to 16GB RAM. Coming to internal storage, it has 256GB which can be expanded to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. Also, this laptop has a touch ID sensor. Presently, the laptop is priced at 99,999.

5. Sony WH-1000XM4

When u r tired of wearing the Quest 2 and take a break from gaming, you can listen to content playing on PS5/Monitor/MacBook using the Sony headphone which is considered one of the best in the industry. If fully charged, the headphones last for up to 3 hours of continuous usage. They have noise cancellation features and have touch control as well. You can use it as a bluetooth headset and also plug it in. These headphones are presently priced at 29,990.

So, instead of getting one Vision Pro, you can easily get 5 products all together for the same price which would serve different purposes in your day to day life as well. Whats more, by the time the Vision Pro launches, all of these amazing products wouldve gotten even more inexpensive. Win win!

Also Read: Apple MacBook Air 15 launched at WWDC 2023, but should you care?
A man has been charged in connection with the fatal assault of 62-year-old Catherine Henry at her home in Bridge Street, Dundalk on Wednesday 24 May.

Luke Donnelly (26) of no fixed abode appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Friday night.

Gardai had launched a murder probe after Ms Henry was discovered dead following a fatal assault in her home in Bridge Street, Dundalk.

Mr Donnelly was arrested on Thursday 1 June on suspicion of murder, under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

On Friday night, An Garda Siochana confirmed that Donnelly was being charged in relation to the death of Ms Henry, and that he would appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Friday night.

Detective Sgt Noel Mohan told the court on Friday that Mr Donnelly was charged at 8:52 pm that night.

Judge Gerard Jones remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

Donnelly is expected to appear before the court via video link on Wednesday (tomorrow).

Originally from Dublin, Ms Henry had been working as a volunteer at the Dundalk Soup Kitchen on Bridge Street.

Following the establishment of the murder inquiry, a senior investigating officer was appointed and an incident room set up in Dundalk Garda Station.

A family liaison officer has been appointed to keep Ms Henrys family up to date with the investigation.

In the immediate aftermath of the murder gardai made door-to-door inquiries in the local area.
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Network Ireland Louth announced the winners of Businesswoman of the Year Awards, on Friday 26th May, at a gala dinner and awards ceremony held in the Monasterboice Inn. Awards were presented in a variety of branch and national categories with the winners of the national categories going forward to the Network Ireland National Awards, in Kildare, in September.

The winners of the branch category awards were: Chloe Litchfield of Revitalise Your Home (One to Watch) and Pauline Clarke of KooKee (Business Sector Champion).

The winners of the national category awards were: Elena Calvia of Lingotot Drogheda and East Meath (Emerging Business Woman); Andrea McQuillan of Coppertops Digital Marketing (Solo Business Woman) and Carmel McCarthy of EMS & Associates (Networker of the Year).

Winners were presented with a framed tile created by local ceramicist, Sarah McKenna. Network Ireland Louth says it looks forward to supporting its Network Ireland national category winners when they go forward to represent the branch at the Network Ireland National Conference and Awards in Kildare, in September.

The judging panel for the awards consisted of Audrey Doherty of AIB bank, Bronagh Conlon of Listoke Distillery and Sarah Mallon of Local Enterprise Office Louth with Sarah being represented by Grainne McKeown at the awards presentation. The consensus amongst the judges was that it was extremely difficult to pick the winners because of the high standard of applicants.

Karen Devine, of Whitelight Consulting, was MC for the night and Network Ireland Louth said she did a superb job in keeping the flow of the evening going. Niamh Pentony, President, Network Ireland Louth, spoke of the importance of the role of the network in supporting women in business  be they starting out or established.

She thanked everyone involved in making the night a huge success and, in particular, acknowledged the hard work done by Awards Coordinator, Estelle Cotter of Green Opal Media, who is also Vice President of Network Louth.

Amy OSullivan, Network Ireland Vice President Designate, said the awards are a very important acknowledgement of the work and achievements of all entrants. She also felt that all members should celebrate their successes and the advances they are making in their businesses and industries.

The keynote speakers for the night were Sinead Crowther and Denise Lauaki of Soothing Solutions. They told their story of starting their business, despite many personal challenges that both of them encountered during their lives.

It is a story of resilience that led them to create Tonstix  an award-winning natural product, sold through pharmacies. It is a Child Friendly Honey Jelly Pop for toddlers to tweens that comforts through seasonal ailments. Their story touched everyone and a standing ovation, came from the crowd present.

Network Ireland Louths chosen charity for the event was SOSAD. Carol Murphy, General Manager of SOSAD spoke on behalf of the charity and outlined the services that they provide and her appreciation of Network Ireland Louth having them as the chosen charity.

Network Louth is a branch of Network Ireland, a Nationwide organisation supporting the professional, and personal, development of women. It provides support, learning and networking opportunities for women in business and enterprise, throughout Ireland, through the branch network.
An American father of two has had limb-lengthening surgery to increase his height from 6ft to almost 6ft 7in after deciding his legs were too short for his body, and hopes to feel on top of the world once the 100,000 euro (86,000) procedure has fully healed.

Brian Sanchez, 33, a mortgage broker who lives in Georgia in the United States with his wife, Nidia, 30, and their daughters, Kaisley, two, and Kairi, six, felt in January 2022 that his body was out of proportion and he looked like like a huge thumb.

After some research, he discovered he could have limb-lengthening surgery in Turkey to become his ideal height and as soon as he saw it he thought: OK, I guess this is what Im doing.

Brians main reasons for wanting the surgery were not only for his physical appearance but also to improve his weightlifting goals in the gym and be around nine inches taller than his wife so they will no longer be at almost eye level.

When he told his loved ones about his plans, they thought it was typical of (him) as just because something is crazy it never means that (he) wont do it.

Brian had his first operation in December 2022, which involved breaking his tibia and fibula, putting a rod inside the bones, and fastening it with screws. He underwent a second procedure in March 2023 to extend his femur.

To recover, Brian had to be in a wheelchair and turn the screws with an Allen wrench four times a day, but when he is fully recovered he thinks the pain will have been worth it as he will be able to enjoy being taller.

My wife is pretty tall  we were only about three inches apart  but once Im fully recovered itll be a nine-and-a-half-inch difference, he said.

Its going to be really nice just to be able to hug her and have her all the way down there on my chest instead of being almost eye level.

One of the things that Ill enjoy the most is being able to work out again and put some weight on my legs and have my body look a little bit more how I want it to.

In January 2022, Brian suddenly realised his legs didnt match his torso proportions.

He said: I realised that my legs were always looking weird, and I didnt know what it was, until one day I was sitting next to my brother-in-law who is almost 6ft 6in, and I was actually a little taller than he was.

I thought that was weird, because I knew he was taller than I am by a lot, and we stood up, and all of a sudden, I started looking and realised my legs were too short for my body.

Im broad, have long arms, and Im wide, but my short legs make me look different  I almost look like a huge thumb, like those thumb men from Spy Kids.

After the realisation, Brian, who had never previously had cosmetic surgery, started to not like (his) aesthetics and decided to research ways to make himself taller.

He said: I thought I can either find a new hobby, and give up lifting weights, or I can fix the issue.

I started Googling and ran into the procedure from there  as soon as I saw it, I thought OK, I guess this is what Im doing.

Brian set himself a goal of becoming at least 6ft 6in tall and said of his loved ones reaction when he told them about his idea: It was a combination of disbelief, but they also said that it is typical of me.

I know this is a very crazy thing, its extremely expensive, time-consuming, difficult, painful and even risky in some respects.

In December 2022, he had his first operation in a clinic called Live Life Taller in Turkey, which cost him 35,000 euros (30,000).

The first procedure involved lengthening the tibia and fibula together.

In the first surgery, they broke my tibia and fibula and hollowed out the inside of the tibia, taking out the bone marrow, he said.

They then put a rod inside the bone and fastened it with screws and attached the bone segments via pins to external fixators  so you have this piece of steel on the outside of your legs and have these constant open wounds that wont close until you remove all the hardware..

His recovery involved being in a wheelchair and using an Allen wrench to turn a bolt on the fixators four times a day at 90 degrees to separate the bone segments a little at a time.

Brian continued to do this every day for two months, saying of his painful recovery: The hardest part of the whole thing was the lack of sleep, but I think the pain will be worth it  once its all finished Ill just be able to enjoy being taller, and hopefully feel on top of the world.

In February 2023, the external fixators on his tibia were removed and he was around three inches taller.

In March 2023, he had the second operation, which cost him an additional 65,000 euros (56,000), to carry out the same procedure on his femur.

He said: I actually felt great after my femur procedure, and there was almost no pain throughout the entire process, only from lengthening from actually stretching my legs.

Now, Brian is just over an additional three-and-a-half inches taller  making him just under 6ft 7in  but is still in a wheelchair and is waiting for it to be completely healed.

He joked: When its fully healed, Im trying to not have expectations because I dont want to be disappointed but its hard to imagine that Im not going to enjoy it.

From the few times that Ive already stood up, it is bizarre to see people that used to be my height come up to under my nose  its really weird, and its a lot of fun just seeing the world in a slightly different perspective.

I can see above the fridge more easily  not that its that important, but its cool. Ill be able to see other peoples bald spots, everything will be just different.

Looking back on his decision to undergo the surgery, Brian said: I didnt need to do this procedure, but I really wanted to, and I didnt know how hard it would be.

So, when I made the decision to do it, I kind of over-estimated how easy it would be and under-estimated how much pain and how much difficulty would be involved.

I dont regret my decision, and I hope that Im going to be really happy with the results.
EBRD invests 30 million in senior preferred bonds issued by RBA

Raiffeisens Croatian subsidiary will earmark funds for green projects

Bond is MREL-eligible under EU banking regulations

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing 30 million in bonds issued by Raiffeisenbank Croatia, also known as RBA, the Croatian subsidiary of Austrias Raiffeisen Bank International AG, by participating in a publicly placed issuance of 300 million. This represents the first ever international bond issuance by RBA and will be listed on Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

This is the EBRDs fifth purchase of a senior preferred bond eligible under the European Unions Minimum Requirement for own funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) issued by a local financial institution in Croatia, and its third purchase related to RBA.

The two previous EBRD investments were in privately placed RBA bonds issued under the same MREL-eligible programme: 39 million on 4 November 2021 in an issuance of 130 million, and 60 million on 30 September 2022 in RBAs first sustainability bond issuance, totalling 200 million.

EBRD Director for Central Europe, Victoria Zinchuk, said: We are very happy to be one of the anchor investors in this first international public issuance by Raiffeisenbank Croatia. This successful international placement will further expand the overall pool of investors in the Croatian banking sector. We are very pleased to be part of this success story.

The new funding will help RBA achieve regulatory compliance, diversify its funding base and increase its loss-absorption capacity and crisis resilience. The proceeds will also further promote the EBRDs green agenda in Croatia. RBA will allocate an amount equal to 120 per cent of EBRD investment to its own lending to green projects, mainly in the fields of renewable energy, green buildings and energy efficiency, which would be eligible under the EBRDs Green Economy Transition (GET) approach.

To date, the EBRD has invested more than 4.4 billion in Croatia in 239 projects.
First Mais Lecture to be devoted to climate and nature crises

Dramatic changes to the rules governing economic markets needed

Climate change and restoring nature represent market failures of epic proportions that demand urgent and collective action

Rules governing economic markets need dramatic changes so that they can better deliver and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon future, President Odile Renaud-Basso of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said tonight.

Delivering the annual Mais Lecture at Londons Bayes Business School, Ms Renaud-Basso appealed to governments, investors, producers and consumers to assign more value to biodiversity and the ecosystem services and impose higher costs on pollution and carbon-intensive consumption.

Addressing climate change and restoring nature are the defining challenges of our time, she said. They are market failures of epic proportions that demand urgent and collective action.

We must seize these opportunities.because this is good business, because this is the right thing to do, and because we want a liveable planet for our children.

The President of the London-based multilateral development bank, which invests across three continents, laid out a four-point plan covering the changes such a transformation would require.

One, we must transition the energy system out of fossil fuels. Our use of coal, oil and gas is a recent innovation; it must also be a brief one.

Two, we must reverse the tide of deforestation. by preserving and protecting the remaining intact wild forests, including the Amazon and the Congo basin forests.

Three, we must reshape agriculture. for example by: rapidly converting the nitrogen fertiliser industry to green ammonia, eating significantly less meat, transforming farming through sustainable intensification practices and precision agriculture, and addressing food loss and waste across the entire value chain.

Four, we must manage carbon. Even if we are successful in reducing emissions, we will still emit some CO2 and we will still have too much in the atmosphere.

Ms Renaud-Bassos address marked the first time the annual lecture has been devoted to the climate and nature crises since the series was launched in 1978. Previous speakers include, last year, Rishi Sunak, then UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Annelise Dodds, Mark Carney, Paul Volcker, George Osborne, Alistair Darling, Valery Giscard dEstaing, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Nigel Lawson and Fredrick Hayek.

The EBRD is an acknowledged climate finance leader which last year, for the second year running, invested more than half its annual business volume in the green economy. As of the beginning of this year, the Bank has also fully aligned all its activities with the Paris Agreement.

In her lecture the President also listed four ways the private sector could help make the shift to a zero-carbon world.

Disclose  tell customers, employees, and shareholders about the climate-related risks they run and the impacts they cause.

Avoid  step away from unsustainable actions. Do not continue with practices or investments that are not consistent with a sustainable future.

Step up  invest and promote sustainable business activities.

Campaign  businesses have an interest in a well-functioning market so should be first to argue for a carbon price and for regulation of unsustainable practices.

Ms Renaud-Basso noted that two previous Mais lectures, those of Mr Sunak and the late Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, had cited Adam Smith, the 18th century economist, and his belief in the power of sympathy for others as a driver of human action.

We need a market, and financiers, that are efficient allocators of capital - but ones that also engage with the seriousness of the crisis unfolding around us and the human cost it exacts, she said.
WITH 30 events/productions in this years Cork Midsummer Festival (CMF), Lorraine Maye says the main thing she has learned about the event as its director since 2017, is that nothing stays the same.

She says: You have to keep moving forward. One of the things were committed to is representing the city as much as we can through the festival. Artists are very plugged into whats happening socially and politically, as are communities. The fact were mostly focused on new work means the festival is relevant and current.

With the closure of renowned theatre company Corcadorca, Lorraine says her job was to think about how to bring the legacy of the theatre company forward.

They had such a long legacy with the festival, around 17 shows over 20-odd years, which is extraordinary. Through Corcadorca, the city became known for site-specific work and for the ease with which doors opened to them. Ive been wondering how we ensure that sense of scale of site-specific work. How do we still keep audiences engaged that would have been Corcadorca audiences?

If the hype surrounding Sun & Sea, that will see Millennium Hall at City Hall transformed into an indoor beach, is justified, then Lorraine will have hit on a winner.

Described by The New York Times as one of the greatest achievements in performance of the last ten years, this interdisciplinary show from Lithuania combines opera, visual art and theatre installation. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, the production has been celebrated for its humorous and powerful exploration of our relationship with the planet and climate crisis.

Well be bringing in 15 tonnes of sand and well put scaffolding along the perimeter of Millennium Hall. Audiences will go up on the scaffolding and will watch the show from there.

"Theyll be looking down on a beach with about 40 people in swimwear, 14 of whom are vocalists. The rest of them are a community cast from Cork, said Lorraine.

I saw the show (which has been staged all over the world) in Barcelona a few months ago. I thought it would be a perfect project for Cork. Its an incredible spectacle to witness.

Lorraine Maye, festival director; Candy Warhol, Aaron O'Neill; Marian Mary -The 6th and Ruairi O'Connor, chairman of the festival board at the launch in the River Lee hotel of the Cork Midsummer Festival starting on June 14th to 25th. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Socially engaged work is all part of the CMF programme. This year, the Cork Migrant Centre and the Kabin Studio are collaborating at Central Hall, Marina Park, in an event called Fusion Avenue.

These two groups have been working together, doing workshops in the run up to the festival. Theyll present brand new music with DJ sets inspired by hip hop and rap. It will be a really vibrant celebration of music.

The Cork Migrant Centre does a lot of work with the Glucksman and people like Stevie G. Were proud to have them in the festival.

To Be What We Are at St Peters is an installation made by young Traveller artists which is about a creative laboratory exploring artistic play. Its a place where children transform to monsters, artists and magical creatures and where values, traditions, cultures and myths are born, rehearsed, believed and turned on their head explained Lorraine.

The CMF has a budget of 900,000.

A big chunk of the box office in the budget is going back directly to artists and arts organisations so the actual budget that we spend on the festival is more like 750,000.

The Arts Council funding comes to 440,000 with 70,000 coming from Cork City Council.

There is other funding from different schemes such as Creative Ireland. Were always thinking about how we might be able to diversify our income so we can continue to present work of scale.

While Lorraine says that Cork is blessed with beautiful venues that we use all the time, the city could really do with a 200-seater black box space which would enable artists to realise a different kind of work and potentially tour shows.

The festival will present two productions that have aerial features. There is Freefalling at the Everyman directed by Lynne Parker from Rough Magic and performed by writer and actor, Georgina Miller. This piece of circus theatre will tell an extraordinary true story brought to life in an incredible way.

The aerial flight captures the joy of living life to the fullest, and the terror of being trapped in a body that refuses to function.

Jennifer de Brun, one of the Aerial dancers of Fidget Feet's, Handful of Dreams; opens Carlow Arts Festival 2021. The first live event of the summer. Photo Allen Kiely

Then theres Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre that will present A Handful Of Dreams at Fitzgeralds Park. It promises a new world where we can dance in the sky and is inspired by The Stolen Child by WB Yeats and The Celtic Twilight book of fairies, ghosts and spirits. It also features a musical score.

BAFTA award-winning Cork woman-of-the-moment, Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls, The Great Pottery Throw Down) plays Winnie in Samuel Becketts absurdist play, Happy Days, at the Cork Opera House.

Ive seen it online, said Lorraine. The show by Landmark Productions came together over the pandemic. But seeing it online will be nothing like seeing it live.

Its the world stage premiere at the Cork Opera House.

It will be the first time a live audience gets to experience the production. The role of Winnie (buried up to her waist under a relentless sun) is extraordinary.

The 12 Ensemble by Raphael Neal, London March 2022

Lorraine describes as absolutely stunning Max Richter Recomposed: Vivaldi  The Four Seasons which will be performed at the Cork Opera House on midsummers night. It will be played by Londons string orchestra, 12 Ensemble, a pioneering un-conducted string ensemble.

The CMF audience is primarily from Cork, with about 30% from outside of the city.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

John Redmond Street will be covered with oceans of multicoloured foam by artist Stephanie Luning.

New work from Circus Factory Cork.

Two new plays from Broken Crow; The Settling by Gavin McEntee, starring Raymond Keane, Katie Honan and George Hanover at the Granary; and Found , inspired by writer and performer Aideen Wyldes deep connection to Newfoundland at Graffiti Theatre.

by Gavin McEntee, starring Raymond Keane, Katie Honan and George Hanover at the Granary; and , inspired by writer and performer Aideen Wyldes deep connection to Newfoundland at Graffiti Theatre. Amanda Coogan, of Dublin Theatre of the Deaf and Cork Deaf Community Choir, will perform Ode to Joy through the unique perspective of Deaf culture, at the lecture theatre at the Crawford Art Gallery.

through the unique perspective of Deaf culture, at the lecture theatre at the Crawford Art Gallery. A new show from one of Irelands exciting drag acts, Candy Warhol, at the Cork Arts Theatre.

The second annual Midsummer Parade will be a riot of colour, celebrating the creativity and diversity of Cork communities on Oliver Plunkett Street, with the grand finale on the Grand Parade.

A large scale dance performance by professional dancers alongside an intergenerational community cast with Mayfield Mens Shed Choir and young participants, choreographed by Helga Deasy at Dance Firkin Crane.

New works from choreographer and performer Andrea Williams, emerging theatre-makers Loom, Aaron ONeill  and lots more...

The Cork Midsummer Festival is on from June 14-25. See www.corkmidsummer.com
University College Cork (UCC) celebrated the contributions to research by climate scientists, the developers of medicines of tomorrow, budding entrepreneurs and partners at the UCC Research Awards last week.

UCCs first European Research Council (ERC) Advanced award holder, Professor Paul Ross, and Professor Dagmar Schiek, the first legal scholar in Ireland to be awarded an Advanced ERC award, were joint winners of the Researcher of the Year award.

The Cork university's strong heritage in ribonucleic acid (RNA) research was also honoured. Early-Stage Researcher of the Year, Dr Piotr Kowalski was awarded for the significant contribution he has made to the development of novel biomaterials for messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery, and the Father of RNA recoding, Professor John Atkins, was the joint recipient of a Career Achievement award.

Professor Hannah Daly won the Research Communicator of the Year. Professor Daly actively engages with stakeholders on the topic of sustainable pathways for the energy system, encompassing energy access, climate change and air pollution.

Dr Piotr Kowalski, School of Pharmacy and APC Microbiome Ireland, Early-Stage Researcher of the Year, Professor Anita Maguire, School of Chemistry and School of Pharmacy, Career Achievement Award and Professor Hannah Daly, School of Engineering and Environmental Research Institute, Research Communicator of the Year, pictured at the UCC Research Awards 2022. Pic: Gerard McCarthy.

Professor Maggie ONeill, recently elected to the Royal Irish Academy, was the recipient of the Engaged Research of Year award. Professor ONeill, director of UCC Futures  Collective Social Futures and director of ISS21  The Institute for Social Science in the 21st century, has a long research career in Sociology and Criminology.

Stephen McCarthy, founder of Recruitroo and a graduate of the Ignite Programme at UCC, received the Start-up of the Year award for the development of a mock interview simulator for recent graduates. The company is positioned to serve the global market need for international talent recruitment and relocation in 2023 and beyond.

Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation at UCC said:

UCC is a research-intensive University, and the annual Research Awards recognise and celebrate those UCC researchers who have made exceptional and influential research and innovation contributions, pushing boundaries, enhancing knowledge and raising the national and international research profile of our institution.
Enterprise Ireland hosted the first Food Innovation Summit and the Food and Drink Start Up - Scaling Through Innovation event at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last week.

The summit is the first of its kind in Ireland and showcases the capability within Irelands food industry and the food research sector.

Two Cork-based client companies attended the event, Nutribio and Keohane Seafood Company.

Nutribio Ltd is based in Tivoli, and is an industry leader in the manufacture of supplementary feeds for food-producing animals.

A household name, Keohane Seafoods hails from Bantry, and is a renowned family-owned business run by father and sons, Michael, Colman, and Brian Keohane.

At the event, there were panel discussions with experienced food and drink companies, retail buyers and investors, and an overview of key trends in the global food market. The event was designed for current and future food and drink start-ups.

The Food and Drink Start Up event featured prominent international keynote speaker and food futurologist, Dr Morgaine Gaye, examining what the future of food will look like.

Enterprise Ireland continue to support the Irish Food industry and in 2022 saw exports in the food and sustainability sector increase by 23% in 2022, reaching 16.2b.

This is the highest-ever level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in the food and sustainability sector, which in 2022 accounted for 50% of exports by Enterprise Ireland-supported companies, said a spokesperson.

Food and sustainability sector companies now account for 29% of total employment in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies. In 2022, 63,858 people were employed in companies that Enterprise Ireland supports in the food and sustainability sector, an increase of 3% on 2021 figures.
THE Michael Collins Centre has announced the acquisition of a fascinating artefact bought at auction in Dublin recently.

The museum, based at Castleview just outside of Clonakilty, has purchased what it has described as the Treaty autograph book containing signatures of the Irish negotiating team involved in the Treaty negotiations in London.

Following the naming of our museum as Irelands Next Top Visitor Attraction for 2023 on the TG4 series, Beidh Me Ar Ais!, we decided to invest the grant of 5,000 that came with the award in an artefact which came up for sale at Whytes auction in Dublin recently.

You could call the item the the Treaty autograph book, the museum explained in a post on social media.

The signatures, the centre said, were collected by Alice Lyons - one of the secretaries with the Irish negotiating team in London during the Treaty talks from October to December of 1921.

The signatures of the five Irish signatories who signed the Treaty, Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins, George Gavan Duffy, Robert Barton and Eamon Duggan, are on the new autograph book.

The autograph of Erskine Childers is also there and within a year of signing, Griffith, Collins and Childers would all be dead, Childers being executed during the Civil War after being found in possession of a pistol, which had been given to him by Michael Collins, the museum explained.

It added that some of Michael Collins toughest men were brought over to London as his security team, including Tom Cullen, Liam Tobin and Frank Thornton and their signatures are also in the book in addition to the signature of Emmet Dalton - in whos arms Collins died at Beal na Bla.

Other signatures in the book include the signature of Joe OReilly, Michael Collins great friend and personal assistant from 1917 to 1922 and the signature of artist John Lavery, who painted Michael Collins in London in October 1921 and afterwards laid out in his coffin.

In addition is the signature of another artist, Sean Milroy along with an original cartoon by Milroy.

The museum described the artefact as a "real treasure" to add to its existing collection.

The Treaty autograph book and the rest of the museums collection will be on display from Monday, June 19 when the museum opens for off road casual visitors for the 2023 season.

For more information or to book see michaelcollinscentre.com.
John F Kennedys visit to Cork is to be remembered at the Homecoming: JFK in Ireland exhibition in Dublin.

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, in collaboration with the John F Kennedy (JFK) Presidential Library and Museum will run the exhibition celebrating 60 years since JFK visited Irish shores from this Wednesday until September this year.

Catherine Healy, Historian-in-Residence, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum said visiting Cork was not on President Kennedys itinerary but his address in the Rebel county turned out to be iconic.

On his third day in Ireland, JFK landed by helicopter in Cork and made his way to City Hall, where his speech was broadcast by loudspeakers to thousands outside.

"The city wasnt included in the original itinerary, but Kennedy had told White House officials that he wanted to visit  and the address he gave here turned out to be one of the most memorable of the trip.

The exhibition delves into the cultural and political significance of Kennedys four-day trip in 1963, utilising original documents, photography, and oral history interviews to convey what the visit meant to Irish politicians, diplomats, and onlookers, the purpose it served during a time of national transition, and how international observers perceived the event.

EPIC The Irish Emigration MuseumsHead of Exhibitions and Programmes Nathan Mannion said: Although there are many US presidents who can lay claim to Irish roots, JFK is probably the most well-known of them all.

"When he visited Ireland in 1963, the entire nation was won over by his charm, charisma, and genuine affection for the Irish people.

The visit itself was filled with fanfare as Kennedy was welcomed by large crowds in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, New Ross and Wexford town  his familys ancestral county.

Visit www.epicchq.com to find out more.
A member of Cork City Council has condemned the meeting in Cobh of a group of European naval chiefs  of which Ireland is currently president  as an attempt to promote Irish membership of Nato.

Ted Tynan, Workers Party councillor, who represents the Cork City northeast ward, said the annual Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS) conference, in Cobh, was another step towards Irelands membership of Nato.

Mr Tynan, who is president of The Workers Party, said that the drive to Nato membership came despite opinion polls showing that Irish people are opposed to the abandonment of Irelands military neutrality.

CHENS is an informal, independent and non-political forum. Its membership includes the chief of navy of each European maritime nation, among them countries that are either a member of Nato and/or the EU and has naval armed forces.

According to the Irish Defence Forces, CHENS promotes understanding between the navies of the member countries and examines issues of common and mutual interest and increases awareness of the maritime domain in member countries.

There are 27 member countries with the European Military Staff (EUMS), Natos Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), and United States Navy, deployed in Europe invited to CHENS as observers.

Ireland holds the presidency of the CHENS conference, and previously hosted the conference in 2001.

The theme of the conference is Naval Implementation of Emergent and Disruptive Technologies, and a spokesperson for the Defence Forces said that Ireland was due to discuss its drone surveillance system, Guard Project.

Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Michael Malone said: It is an honour for me and for the Irish navy to preside over the presidency of CHENS.

CHENS continues to be a valued platform to ensure naval relevance in a rapidly changing future as we continue to find innovative solutions to our shared challenge of leading navies that are always moving forward, modernising and diversifying.

However, Mr Tynan claimed that Russias illegal war against Ukraine is being exploited to undermine Irish neutrality.

Ireland should have no part in military activities which are not under the control of the UN and should be strictly controlled under the triple lock system, Mr Tynan said.
The Irish Coast Guard at Valentia recorded some 22 incidents over the June bank holiday weekend, accounting for half of all call-outs nationally, with the Coast Guard helicopter tasked six times and five separate volunteer Coast Guard units responding to multiple incidents.

Nationally, the Irish Coast Guard, across its coordination centres at Dublin, Malin and Valentia, responded to 45 incidents, with a spokesperson saying that in the region of half of them were handled from Valentia as of Monday afternoon.

Marine Coordination Sub Centre (MRSC) Valentia has coordinated approximately 22 incidents, which required the tasking of Coast Guard helicopter on six occasions, five different Coast Guard volunteer units were tasked to incidents across the region with some being tasked to multiple incidents, additionally there were a significant number of incidents coordinated in cooperation with the RNLI, Lifeguards and the other emergency services, the spokesperson said.

One significant incident which occurred over the long weekend saw the Irish Coast Guard assisting a fishing vessel off Dursey Island.

Nine people were airlifted to Castletownbere by the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter R115, before the vessel was towed safely to Castletownbere.

The Coast Guard spokesperson sounded a note of caution to water-users.

The Irish Coast Guard would remind people, as the spell of good weather continues, water temperatures remain cold and that those taking part in any water-based activity should make sure they have the proper equipment and know how to do it safely, they said.

If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or you think that they are in trouble, dial 112 or use marine VHF radio Channel 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.

The spokesperson added that anyone using personal watercraft should be aware that useful information regarding the same can be found in the Department of Transports publication Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft.
With lifeguards reuniting 23 children with their parents on Cork beaches last year, Cork County Councils beach lifeguard team is looking to set up a supplementary panel of beach lifeguards to cover relief hours this summer.

As lifeguards oversee the safety of the public in the water around the countys coast, the council is asking anyone who has a current beach lifeguard qualification and who is over 18 to contact caroline.casey@corkcoco.ie.

Speaking to The Echo, Ms Casey thanked members of the public for all of their assistance over the long weekend.

We are delighted to thank the public for their co-operation over the weekend, and we would encourage people to always swim at a lifeguarded beach, she said.

People will know that lifeguards are on duty because they will see the red-over-yellow flags on display on the beach.

The motto of beach lifeguards this year is once again Holding Hands Saves Lives, which makes sense following the news that last summer, Cork countys lifeguards reunited 23 children with their parents across Cork beaches, a figure which was up on 15 in 2021.

Parental supervision and vigilance are key in keeping children safe on a day out in any water environment, the lifeguard team said.

Inflatable boats, beds and toys are unsafe to use on open water due to Irelands temperate climate, together with strong and changeable winds throughout most of the summer.

With this in mind, Cork county beach lifeguards ask parents and guardians to always swim at a lifeguarded waterway and not bring inflatable toys to the beach, where it is unsafe to use them.

Starting this weekend, the beach lifeguards will raise their red and yellow flags to indicate when they are on duty between 10.30am to 7pm daily.

They will be on duty weekends in June, full-time in July and August and the first two weekends of September, with the last day of duty September 10, 2023.

Cork County Councils beach lifeguard teams will be on duty at Youghal, at Front Strand, Claycastle and Redbarn, Garryvoe, Fountainstown, Inchydoney, Owenahincha, The Warren, Garrylucas, Garretstown, Tragumna and Barleycove Beaches.

Due to the unavailability of staff, some locations may not operate at certain times, with up-to-date information on lifeguarded beach available on Cork County Council beach lifeguards Facebook page.

Flag System

Cork County Council wishes to remind everyone, especially children, of the importance of learning the flag system at the beach.

 A red over yellow flag means the lifeguards are on duty.

 Swim between the red and yellow flags close and parallel to the shore as this is the area that the lifeguards are patrolling.

 A red flag indicates that swimming is not advised.

 Black and white chequered flags mark the area for surfing only.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins, asked that all swimmers familiarise themselves with the flag system.

As with every other summer season, our beach lifeguard service has resumed, he said.

While we promote water safety rigorously every year, this year we are also reminding members of the public to please respect the water, leave inflatable toys at home, supervise children when they are in the water, and, finally, enjoy our beautiful beaches.

Cork County Council chief executive Tim Lucey praised the work of the countys lifeguards.

Our lifeguards provide a wonderful service in terms of water safety, but they are also available for any first aid events and are ready and willing to help, so please do not hesitate to contact them for any assistance.

For further water safety information, daily updates on conditions and flags flying at each beach, visit the Cork beach lifeguards page on Facebook.
DAIL Eireanns youngest TD has confirmed that comments about his character attributed to Micheal Martin during a recent Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting did occur.

Cork East TD James OConnor confirmed that the Tanaiste likened Mr OConnor to a Jekyll and Hyde character whose mood changed from one day to the next.

Mr OConnor is seeking a meeting to clear the air.

Mr Martins remarks had followed criticism by Mr OConnor of Fianna Fails consistently low showing in opinion polls, and a claim by Mr OConnor that promises made to him by the Tanaiste had not been honoured.

The first-time TD had said he had come close to leaving the parliamentary party two years ago over what he described as a broken promise to include a bypass of Killeagh and Castlemartyr in the National Development Plan, and he said that despite pledges to resolve the dispute, nothing had been done since.

Mr OConnor added that he had brought Mr Martin to Youghal six months ago and, he said, pledges made then by the Tanaiste were not followed through.

According to a media report, Mr Martin then likened Mr OConnor to Robert Louis Stevensons Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, accusing the Cork East TD of one day praising him and the next having a go at him over something you only recently brought to my attention.

In an interview with The Echo, Mr OConnor said that now the exchange was in the public domain, he could confirm it had occurred, adding that he thought name-calling was inappropriate behaviour for a former head of government.

I dont think the Jekyll and Hyde remark was appropriate, Mr OConnor said.

James OConnor is seeking a meeting with Micheal Martin to discuss comments made by the Tanaiste that the East cork Fianna Fail TD feels were inappropriate. The 25-year-old got his first job as an intern in Mr Martins office during transition year a decade ago

He added that he had asked to meet with the Tanaiste and, when or if that happened, he intended to put out the hand and attempt to make peace.

The 25-year-old said he had got his first job as an intern in Mr Martins office during transition year, a decade ago.

Hes a gentleman, Mr OConnor said. I dont think he should have said what he said.

It was a very heated debate, but I do feel that as a former Government leader  it was inappropriate.

I thought what Fine Gael did during the week around tax was very Jekyll and Hyde and I didnt see any remark on that, he said, referring to a call from three Fine Gael junior ministers proposing tax cuts for middle-income earners, four months before the next budget.

EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED

Mr OConnor added that he was extremely frustrated at what he saw as a disproportionate level of power enjoyed by the Green Party in Government, and he claimed the public perception was that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan was the most powerful politician in the country.

The Cork East TD said the delivery of a Castlemartyr bypass had been a priority for him, and since meeting with Mr Ryan in October 2021, he had seen little progress.

Describing that project as just one microcosm of other projects across Cork county, he said his own perspective as a Government backbencher was that the delivery of other infrastructure projects such as the Mallow relief road, the N25 road between Carrigtwohill and Midleton, the Cobh access road, and the North ring road, were being totally and utterly prevented from being advanced, I feel, by the minister for transport.

He said he believed Mr Ryans ambition was to kick the infrastructure can down the road until after the next election because thats the best he can do.

That election would probably come early, he said, in autumn 2024, and by then, he predicted, there wont be a single new kilometre of rail-line laid in the country, despite Mr Ryan having been transport minister since 2020.

Mr OConnor said it was his ambition to run for re-election, describing being a TD as huge privilege, but he warned that the public perception was of a booming economy and a State which was failing to deliver services for citizens.

Listing as core Fianna Fail values a commitment to strong public services, looking after low-income households and those with additional needs, and a vision for social housing, he said he felt coalition with Fine Gael had impacted on many of those values, something he described as a worry.

He suggested that now was the time to start spending on services.

Were looking at running a 17billion surplus, and the last thing I want to do is leave behind a war chest for Sinn Fein, he said.

We have a year-and-a-half to go back and tell people we made a difference.

Both Mr Martin and Mr Ryan were asked for comment.
A CORK advocate has welcomed news that 10 respite beds for children are to be reopened in the Cork and Kerry area. Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte announced the additional capacity last week.

The announcement follows an apology last week from HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster for inconsistency in respite care services available for children with disabilities in Co Cork, saying he understood the huge frustration and upset this was causing to the families involved.

In particular, the situation facing the 48 children attending Carrigaline Community Special School and their families has been highlighted in media and in Leinster House over the past weeks.

Since the school opened in September 2021, those children have not been able to access overnight respite services and they have been unable to get on any waiting list.

Rebecca ORiordan of Fuss (Families Unite for Services and Support) said the group welcomed Anne Rabbittes commitment to working towards resolving the respite crisis in Cork.

We will be following closely to ensure that these beds are delivered but the fact remains that this is the tip of the iceberg of need in this area, Ms ORiordan said.

No progress will be made by government while the truth of the depth of the situation in Cork is being deliberately and repeatedly concealed.

Staff are haemorrhaging from the sector because they are consistently being expected to manage dangerously high case loads, she said.

Families are continually getting into very serious crisis from the complete lack of intervention and support.

We continue to see endless firefighting but not a single smoke alarm, early intervention does not exist, in fact there is now no skill deemed too necessary for a child to lose, Ms ORiordan said.

Children diagnosed with disabilities in this country are worse off than they were 20 years ago and while the reopening of these 10 beds is welcomed, it again raises a concern around governance.

Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte announced the additional capacity last week.

We will continue to engage with the minister and all relevant representatives on respite, equipment, therapies, and most importantly governance, but the fact remains that until there is transparency on all sides that will remain a challenge, she said.

Ms Rabbitte made the announcement following a meeting she had with Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) and lead agencies in Cork.

It is amazing, and I am so delighted to say, additional capacity has been found within Enable Ireland, St Josephs, and within Cope, and all are working together now to ensure that that capacity can be brought online, for childrens services we are talking about, to ensure that childrens services can be responded to in a more timely fashion in CHO4 [the Cork and Kerry HSE area], Ms Rabbitte said.

The minister added that children attending the Carrigaline Special School, who had previously been unable to access respite services, would now have access in weeks, not months.
SHOPKEEPERS experience huge difficulties in Cork with people shoplifting, said a district court judge, as he jailed a prolific offender for eight months.

Maurice Roche pleaded guilty to a number of thefts against a background of extensive criminal convictions.

Sgt Pat Lyons said Roche had 338 previous convictions, 58 of which were for theft.

Judge Olann Kelleher said while the value of the goods stolen recently by Roche was not high, shoplifting is causing huge difficulties at retail premises.

The latest two offences, at ODonovans off-licence on Oliver Plunkett St and at Lidl Cornmarket St, Cork, saw the 39-year-old stealing alcohol  from a value of 3.50 in one case to 23 in another.

Frank Buttimer, defending, said Roche is presently serving a sentence and that he was originally from Tralee, and of no fixed address in Cork. He said Roche had a chronic drug and alcohol dependency.
COUNTING cows is what Irish farming has been reduced to in the national discourse.

Reducing the national herd is the primary question that the media put to politicians and policymakers - its a simple concept to explain and arouses extreme positions on both sides.

The problem for farmers is that what is a critical policy for environmental and economic survival, is now presented as a simple, binary issue - four cows bad, two cows good.

But good public policy is rarely simple, and farmers need to be more imaginative about how they win the hearts and minds of the public on this issue.

Recently, Eamon Ryan was asked on RTE radio if the Green Party supported a cattle cull to reduce the national herd. Unsurprisingly, the Ministers answer was a mix of aspirations towards higher farm incomes with less work for farmers overall. Do less and get more.

But farming shouldnt be an industry to be pitied, to be propped up, or worse, to be feared. If farmers continue to allow themselves to be defined by the number of belching cows they refuse to kill, they are missing a massive opportunity to educate consumers on what solutions the sector can come up with to the food security/environmental impact conundrum.

Farming has been handed the responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 5.5 megatonnes, or 25%, by 2030.

This is a significant target, and the cows are right in the centre of the target because of the methane that they produce.

Methane is a particularly nasty greenhouse gas as, according to Teagasc, it is 28 times more effective in trapping heat over 100 years than carbon dioxide.

It also hangs around the atmosphere for up to 12 years, so the race is on to reduce every molecule emitted.

Unfortunately, the science from Teagasc also suggests that methane from ruminant livestock (cattle and sheep) accounts for 58% of Irish methane emissions. So simple mathematics leads to simple policy ideas - if we have fewer cows, the problem can be solved.

The problem is that no two cows are the same. Some cows are genetically better at producing less methane. Some cows have access to types of feed or feed additives that promote less methane production.

Teagasc itself has a number of research projects that are designed to look at ways to make the cows less of a problem.

Farmers groups point to the fact that some research is based on international data, not national data. So more research and time are needed when already farmers are up against a deadline.

And, understandably, they get defensive when the herd they have been encouraged to invest in is discussed in national media as a problem that could be easily solved with a nice neat cull and a few euro for your trouble.

Defensiveness is a fine position when you are communicating with your own people, but it is not a strategy.

Farmers in Ireland produce good food well and efficiently. A recent corporate reputations survey put Bord Bia in the top 10 trusted brands in Ireland, whilst food and beverage brands were seen as having strong reputations.

By fighting the wrong battle with policymakers, or by rising to provocations from the more extreme ends of the green movement, farmers are wasting time that they could be using to communicate a clearer message to the consumer.

That message needs to be simple - we will work to do our part to help the environment, to reduce emissions, and you can trust us to do it.

It will cost you more at the till, but you will be purchasing something that every scientific and management effort has been made to make it better for the environment.

Both the energy and transport sectors have the same problem to address and communicate to the same audience - we need to reduce emissions and be more efficient.

They are doing a better job of bringing people along with them, due in no small part to the significant financial supports both energy and transport are getting to make the change. Farmers dont have the luxury of a vast fund to manage this transition to greener, more expensive food.

Consumers want real evidence that those supplying their food are working towards a greener economy.

If farmers start building that trust with the consumer and convince them that they are working imaginatively with the green agenda, instead of fighting it one cow at a time, they can convince the consumer to help them hit that 25% target.

And that consumer should be the number one audience for farmers - mind that consumer and farmers will still be in business long after 2030 has come and gone.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

A green sea turtle swims among corals at Lady Elliot island in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Jonas Gratzer / LightRocket via Getty Images

The Australian and Queensland governments have introduced a more than $160 million package to phase out the commercial gill net fishing that damages the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, as well as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Area. It comprises more than 900 islands and 2,900 individual reefs, and is home to 400 types of coral, 4,000 species of mollusc and 1,500 types of fish, according to UNESCO.

This announcement is shaping up as a globally significant moment for ocean conservation, fisheries management and the Great Barrier Reef  one of the natural wonders of the world, said Dermot OGorman, CEO of WWF-Australia, in a press release from WWF Australia. If all goes to plan, by June 2027 well have a Net-Free Reef where dugongs, turtles, dolphins and other threatened species can swim without the threat of becoming entangled and drowning in a gill net, and thats a cause for global celebration.

The government package will provide the funds for a gill net licenses buyout and mandate independent data validation for commercial fishing boats.

The commitment to mandate the use of independent data validation on commercial fishing vessels is also welcome and long overdue. It means well have a much better understanding of whats happening out on the water, including how many threatened species are being accidentally caught, said Richard Leck, WWF-Australias Head of Oceans, in the press release.

As part of the package, hammerhead sharks will also be proclaimed a commercial fishery no-take species.

The ongoing capture of endangered hammerheads for meat and fins has long been out of step with protecting and recovering threatened species in the reef, said Darren Kindleysides, chief executive of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, as The Guardian reported.

Most of the gill nets will be gone by the end of 2023, with a complete ban by the middle of 2027.

We know one of the most immediate threats to [the] health of [the] reef is unsustainable fishing practices. It causes damage throughout the reef, said Tanya Plibersek, Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, as reported by The Guardian. The removal of gillnets in net-free zones on the reef has already helped boost local fish populations. We want to see this happen right across the reef.

Purchasing and shelving commercial licenses to fish in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef has protected an area bigger than Tasmania, an area named the Net-Free North by WWF, the press release said.

WWF effectively created a 100,000 square kilometre safe haven for marine wildlife in the northern Great Barrier Reef by buying the last remaining commercial gill net licence in 2022. So were also celebrating the commitment to enshrine protection of this area, OGorman said in the press release. This will provide the permanent protection from gill nets that our marine species need.

Leck has also called for a gill net ban in all Queensland dugong protection areas.

UNESCO recommended a declaration of World Heritage in danger for the Great Barrier Reef in 2021, but Australia successfully lobbied against it.

The in danger listing for the Great Barrier Reef will again be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its next annual meeting, to be held from September 10 to 25, 2023, in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

Commercial gill nets have no place in the Reef World Heritage Area. Permanently phasing out commercial gill netting is essential to retain the World Heritage status of our Reef, Leck said in the press release.




Bunge-Viterra merger set to drive businesses in US, Brazil and Australia

A merger of US grains merchant Bunge Ltd with rival Viterra would grow the combined entity's businesses in the United States, Brazil and Australia and may raise competition concerns in parts of Canada and Argentina, where key oilseed processing assets overlap, analysts said.

Sources lsaid Bunge and Glencore Plc-owned Viterra were in talks for a potential mega deal that would further consolidate global agriculture trading and bring Bunge closer in global scale to leading rivals Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM) and Cargill Inc.

"Combining Bunge and Viterra in regions like North America and Europe certainly would strengthen the combined company's presence there and put them more on par with ADM," said Seth Goldstein, equity analyst with Morningstar. "Bunge is already the leader in South America. That might be a region where there might be some divestitures required if a deal were to close there to make sure that there's still competition."

JP Morgan equity research estimated the combined company's market cap would be around US$25 billion, compared with ADM's US$38.9 billion market cap.

In the US, Viterra's business of buying and selling grain expanded via its purchase of Gavilon last year. A merger would enhance Bunge's grain exporting and oilseed processing businesses in a place it has a smaller presence than ADM and Cargill, one analyst said.

Bunge had sold 35 of its US grain elevators to Zen-Noh Grain Corp in 2020 as it sought to pare back underperforming assets. Bringing in Gavilon's grain sourcing network would help feed Bunge's nine US oilseed processing plants and its two export terminals at the Gulf Coast and the Pacific Northwest.

But in Canada, the companies have some overlap in their crushing businesses, which buy canola from farmers and turn it into vegetable oil and livestock feed.

Bunge and Viterra each crush canola on the Canadian Prairies  including plants in close proximity in southern Manitoba - as well as in eastern Canada. Antitrust authorities may require some of those assets be offloaded before approving the merger, some analysts said.

The two companies united would also create a dominant exporter in Brazil and a market-leading soybean crusher in Argentina, analysts said.

Bunge last year was the largest corn and soybean exporter from Brazil, the world's top source of the staple crops for making animal feed and biofuels, according to data from shipping agent Cargonave. Viterra was the third largest corn exporter and number seven soybean shipper.

Combined, the companies accounted for about 23.7% of Brazil corn exports in 2022 and 20.9% of Brazil soybean exports, Cargonave data showed.

However, an analysis by Brazil's antitrust agency CADE would focus on a potential merger's effects on the domestic market, said Sao Paulo-based antitrust lawyer Vicente Bagnoli, who is not involved in the deal.

"I think CADE would not block this deal because there are other competitors on the market," he said.

Regulatory authorities may focus on a merged company's dominant share of soy processing in Argentina, the world's biggest exporter of soymeal and soy oil, although Goldman Sachs research noted that capacity would remain under 25% of the market.

A merger would expand Bunge's physical grain storage and handling capacity in major wheat exporter Australia, where the company currently operates just two grain elevators and a port terminal in the western part of the country. Viterra has 55 storage sites in South Australia and western Victoria and six bulk grain export terminals.

In Ukraine, the world's top sunflower producer and largest supplier of sunflower oil, a combined Bunge-Viterra would have three oilseed processing plants across the country's south and east, in Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv.



- Reuters




US research institutions receive $5 million grant to advance AI and robotics in poultry processing

Four prominent US research institutions have received US$5 million from the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics specifically designed for the poultry industry's processing sector, Poultry World reported.

These research organisations, the University of Arkansas, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Fort State Valley University, have come together to establish the Centre for Scalable and Intelligent Automation in Poultry Processing. Their primary objective is to integrate AI, machine learning, and robotics to enhance operations and sanitation in chicken meat processing.

Project director Jeyam Subbiah highlighted that the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station would receive nearly half of the grant (US$2.2 million) to focus on automating food safety measures in poultry processing plants.

The urgency to automate chicken processing arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when the virus spread rapidly among processing line workers, making it challenging to hire an adequate workforce.

The researchers identified the limitations of robotic hands in handling chickens and the necessity for new technology to prevent dropping slippery meats. Another challenge lies in accurately separating chicken carcasses into specific cuts of meat.

Donyi Wang, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, said that it is difficult to teach people to use a knife with precision in this process.



Wang said human deboners leave about 13% of meat on the bones. Automated deboners leave 16-17%. On an industrial scale, that's a significant loss in value.

Additionally, Wang and Subbiah will develop hyperspectral imaging technology to detect plastics in chicken meat. Wang will also create a mobile robot equipped with a biosensor to generate a biological map of the facility, assessing the effectiveness of sanitation. When the bio map indicates potential hotspots, the robot will automatically collect swabs for bacteria testing.

The Georgia Institute of Technology will receive US$2.1 million of the grant to focus on automating the processing lines responsible for transforming live chickens into meat. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, on the other hand, will receive the remaining financial support. Julia McQuillan, professor of sociology, will lead a study examining the effects of robotics on poultry industry workers and their perceptions of the technology.

- Poultry World
Crolles

GlobalFoundries and STMicroelectronics announced the conclusion of the agreement to create a new, jointly-operated, high-volume semiconductor manufacturing facility in Crolles (France), which was announced on 11 July 2022.

I would like to thank Minister Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy and Finance, and his team for their support and the dedication for the last 12+ months that have made celebrating todays milestone possible, said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, President and CEO of GlobalFoundries. In partnership with ST in Crolles, we are further expanding GFs presence within Europes dynamic technology ecosystem while benefiting from economies of scale to deliver additional capacity in a highly capital efficient manner. Together we will deliver GFs market leading FDX technology and STs comprehensive technology roadmap, in alignment with customer demand which is expected to remain high for Automotive, IoT, and Mobile applications over the next decades.

Today marks an important milestone for ST, for GF as well as for Europe. This could not have been achieved without the support of the French government as well as of the European Commission, said Jean-Marc Chery, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics. We will further reinforce the European and French FD-SOI ecosystem, building more capacity for our European and global customers in complex, advanced technologies for key end-markets including automotive, industrial, IoT and communication infrastructure, as they transition to digitalization and decarbonization. This new manufacturing facility will support our $20 billion+ revenue ambition.

The program represents an overall projected cost of 7.5 billion euro for CAPEX, maintenance and ancillary costs. The new facility will benefit from significant financial support from the State of France (administered by Bpifrance). The aid measure, in line with the objectives set out in the European Chips Act and part of the France 2030 plan, recently received approval from the European Commission.
Man charged over knifepoint robbery at Mark Cavendish's home

A 26-year-old man's been charged over a knifepoint robbery during which Manx cyclist Mark Cavendish was assaulted.

The couples home, in the Ongar area of Essex, was entered by a number of men in the early hours of Saturday 2 November 2021.

During the incident Mr Cavendish was seriously assaulted and was violently threatened in front of his family.

The intruders left with a Louis Vuitton suitcase and two watches.

In February, two men, were sentenced to a combined total of 35 years in prison for their parts in the incident.

At that stage, two men who we wanted to speak to as part of our investigation remained outstanding; Jo Jobson and George Goddard.

Yesterday, Monday 5 June, a 26-year-old man was arrested at Chelmsford police station and questioned on suspicion of robbery and GBH.

Jo Jobson, 26, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of robbery, both relating to the incident in November 2021, and two counts of attempted GBH relating to a separate incident in July 2022.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today, 6 June.

The two men who have been sentenced for their parts are Ali Sesay, 28 of Windsor Road, Croydon and Romario Henry, 31, of Bell Green, London SE26.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Atkin, who has led our investigation, said: These charges are a significant milestone in this case and further shows our commitment to securing justice for burglary and robbery victims across Essex.

The teams work will now begin in earnest, again, and we will seek, through colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service, to present the strongest possible case in court.

DCI Atkin added: At this stage, George Goddard remains outstanding, and we are continuing our efforts to locate him and I would reiterate my message to him; you cannot stay hidden forever; those who may be helping you cannot help you forever. It is in your best interests to come forward.
Chinese startup says its new EV battery doesnt lose range in the cold Greater Bay Technology claims its Phoenix cell can heat from -4F to 77F in five minutes.

The Chinese startup Greater Bay Technology claims its latest EV battery can charge at normal speeds even in cold temperatures. Huang Xiangdong, co-founder and chairman, says the companys new Phoenix cell uses superconducting materials and thermal management to heat from -4F to 77F in only five minutes, allowing the battery to charge within six minutes in all weather conditions, according to Bloomberg. The Phoenix battery not only addresses the long charging time for EVs, but other pain points, Huang said. It doesnt matter if its a hot day or a cold day, the Phoenix batterys range wont be affected.

A loss of charging efficiency in cold weather has been a persistent obstacle in the EV battery space. Other automakers, including Polestar and GM, have tackled the problem by adding heat pumps  and German company ZF even prototyped a heated seat belt (or heat belt) to reduce the energy used for cabin heating.

The new Phoenix cell allegedly has a range of 1,000 km (621 miles). The company expects to launch the battery to the public next year in electric vehicles from Aion, Chinas third most popular EV brand. (Aion falls under the umbrella of the state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Corporation, which Greater Bay Technology is incubated within.) In addition, Greater Bay Technology is reportedly in talks with other carmakers to use the cell. Summarizing Huangs long-term vision, he said, Once EVs can be driven and maintained like gasoline cars, then theres a greater chance for mass adoption.

Greater Bay Technology is a two-year-old startup valued at over $1 billion. Its first-generation battery is an extreme fast-charging cell currently equipped in Aions V Plus electric SUV.
Nearly seven months after it began publishing machine-generated stories without disclosing their true authorship (or lack thereof) to readers, CNET has finally, publicly changed its policy on the use of AI in its journalistic endeavors. In short, stories written by its in-house artificial intelligence  which it calls Responsible AI Machine Partner (RAMP)  are no more, but the specter of AI in its newsroom is far from exorcised.

The site indicates, however, that there are still two broad categories of pursuits where RAMP will be deployed. The first, which it calls "Organizing large amounts of information" provides an example that seems more authorial than that umbrella descriptor lets on. "RAMP will help us sort things like pricing and availability data and present it in ways that tailor information to certain audiences. Without an AI assist, this volume of work wouldnt be possible."

The other ("Speeding up certain research and administrative portions of our workflow.") is more troubling. "CNET editors could use AI to help automate some portions of our work so we can focus on the parts that add the most unique value," the guidelines state."RAMP may also generate content such as explanatory material (based on trusted sources) that a human could fact-check and edit. [emphasis ours]" You'd be forgiven if that sounds nearly identical to what got CNET into trouble in the first place.

The venerable tech site first posted an innocuously titled explainer ("What Is a Credit Card Charge-Off?") on November 11, 2022, under the byline "CNET Money Staff" with no further explanation as to its provenance, and continued posting dozens more small finance stories under that byline through mid-January. It was around that time that Futurism discovered two important details: CNET Money Staff stories were AI-generated, and much of that work was wildly inaccurate. CNET issued corrections on over half of those stories and had, by all appearances, stopped using these sorts of tools in response to the deserved criticisms they created.

In the interim, the remaining CNET staff publicly announced their intention to unionize with the Writer's Guide of America, East. Among the more typical areas of concern for a shrinking newsroom during these trying times in the media industry (retention, severance, editorial independence, et cetera), the bargaining unit also specifically pushed back against the site's intention to keep deploying AI.

Based on the union's response on Twitter, the guidelines fall well short of the kinds of protections CNET's workers were hoping for. "Before the tool rolls out, our union looks forward to negotiating," they wrote. "How & what data is retrieved; a regular role in testing/reevaluating tool; right to opt out & remove bylines; a voice to ensure editorial integrity.

New AI policy @CNET affects workers. Before the tool rolls out, our union looks forward to negotiating: how & what data is retrieved; a regular role in testing/reevaluating tool; right to opt out & remove bylines; a voice to ensure editorial integrity. https://t.co/7FQFWhRoui  CNET Media Workers Union (@cnetunion) June 6, 2023

Granted, CNET claims it will never deploy RAMP to write full stories, though it also denies it ever did so. However, the new guidelines leave the door open for that possibility, as well as the eventuality that it uses AI to generate images or videos, promising only that where "text that originated from our AI tool, well include that information in a disclosure." CNET's apparent bullishness on AI (and its staff's wariness) also arrive against a backdrop of news organizations broadly looking to survive the technology's potential ill-effects. The New York Times and other media groups began preliminary talks this week to discuss AI's role in disinformation and plagiarism, as well as how to ensure fair compensation when authorship becomes murky.

The prior CNET Money Staff articles have since been updated to reflect the new editorial guidelines. Each is credited to a human staff member who has rewritten the story and also lists the name of the overseeing editor. Each is now appended with the following note at the bottom "Editors note: An earlier version of this article was assisted by an AI engine. This version has been substantially updated by a staff writer."

This sort of basic disclosure is neither difficult nor unusual. Including the provenance of information has been one of the core tenants of journalism since well before AI became advanced enough to get a credit on the masthead, and The Associated Press has been including such disclosures in its cut-and-paste-level financial beat stories for the better part of a decade. On the one hand much of the embarrassment around CNET's gaffe could have been avoided if it had simply warned readers where the text of these stories had come from at the outset. But the larger concern remains that, unlike AP's use of these tools, CNET seems poised to allow RAMP more freedom to do more substantive work, the bounds of which are not meaningfully changed by these guidelines.

Correction, June 6th, 2023, 11:47am ET: An earlier version of this story inaccurately described how the altered stories previously written by CNET Money Staff appeared on page.
SEC sues Coinbase over alleged violations of securities laws The move comes just one day after the agency took aim at Binance.

Another day, another regulatory action against a major cryptocurrency company. The Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Coinbase , the biggest crypto asset trading platform in the US. It claims that Coinbase operated as an unregistered national securities exchange, broker and clearing agency. The SEC notes that brokers, exchanges and clearing agencies are usually separated in traditional securities markets, but said Coinbase "intertwines" their services.

The agency claimed that by failing to register as a broker, national securities exchange or clearing agency, Coinbase has prevented investors from having certain protections. Those include SEC inspections, safeguards against conflicts of interest and recordkeeping requirements. The agency argued that Coinbase doesn't qualify for any applicable exemptions from registration for any of the three functions. It accused the company of having made billions of dollars from the likes of transaction fees by "unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities" since at least 2019.

"You simply cant ignore the rules because you dont like them or because youd prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great, Gurbir S. Grewal, the director of the SECs Division of Enforcement, said in a statement . "As alleged in our complaint , Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them. While Coinbases calculated decisions may have allowed it to earn billions, its done so at the expense of investors by depriving them of the protections to which they are entitled."

It was reported last July that the SEC was investigating Coinbase as to whether the company illegally sold unregistered securities. As The New York Times notes, news of the agency's complaint comes on the same day that Coinbases chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, is set to testify before a congressional committee in relation to a new draft bill that aims to bring in some crypto regulations.

In March, Coinbase said it received a notice from the SEC that agency staff had found potential securities law violations, but it was not provided with much detail. The company also claimed it "provided multiple proposals to the SEC about registration over the course of months, all of which the SEC ultimately refused to respond to."

On Monday, the SEC filed 13 charges against Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao. The agency claimed Binance skirted its own compliance measures and lied to investors and regulators. The SEC also claimed that Coinbase mishandled customer funds . In addition, the agency is involved in the government's case against FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

Meanwhile, Coinbase is facing regulatory action at the state level. A task force comprising state regulators from Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin resulted in a Show Cause Order being issued against the exchange. In a statement spotted by Cointelegraph , the Alabama Securities Commission accused the company of violating "the securities law by offering its staking rewards program accounts to Alabama residents without a registration to offer or sell these securities." It gave the company 28 days to show cause why it shouldn't be ordered to cease and desist from selling unregistered securities in the state.

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Twitter's ad sales have reportedly dropped by 59 percent since last year Advertisers may be spooked by a rise in hate speech and pornography.

Twitter's advertising revenue is down 59 percent during a five week stretch between April 1st and early May compared to the same period last year, The New York Times has reported. It regularly falls short of sales projections, and things aren't likely to change soon (apparently despite the arrival of new CEO Linda Yaccarino), according to Twitter employees and documents seen by the NYT.

Musk previously said that Twitter was on track to post $3 billion in 2023 revenue compared to $5.1 billion in 2021. Last March, he stated Twitter was worth $20 billion, less than half the $44 billion he paid for it.

In a Twitter Space last week, Musk said "half our advertising" disappeared, blaming advertisers in Europe and North America who have put "extreme pressure" on the company. "They are trying to drive Twitter bankrupt," he added.

However, Twitter's ad sales staff is worried that advertisers have been scared off by a rise in hate speech and pornography, along with a surfeit of ads for things like online gambling and marijuana products. Since Musk took over Twitter, he has taken actions like firing key sales executives and reinstating banned users. That prompted ad agencies and brands including GM and Volkswagen to pause ad spending.

Other advertisers including Apple, Amazon and Disney have reportedly been spending less on advertising than last year, employees told the NYT. It cited an example of large banner ads used to promote things like events or new movies (that can cost up to $500,000 for 24 hours) going unsold. Six agencies said clients have limited ad spending on Twitter over inconsistent support, confusion over changes and the presence of misinformation and toxic content.

They're also concerned about Musk's tweets, like one that compared billion George Soros  a frequent target of antisemites  to X-Men comic book villain Magneto. Earlier this month, Twitter head of safety and content moderation Ella Irwin left the company after the person previously in that role, Yoel Roth, departed in November of 2022.

It's not all bad news, though, as some large media buyers have recently advised clients to return to Twitter, the report states. When Linda Yaccarino was appointed CEO last month, Musk said that she'll "focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design and new technology." She may also be able to help Twitter smooth over troubled relationships with advertisers and resolve issues around moderation for hate speech, pornography and more.

"For a period, we werent even sure who to get on the phone with to talk to," one media exec told the NYT. "With Linda coming in, that could change that in a big way." At the same time, he acknowledged that it may be a "tall order" for Yaccarino to deal with the volatile environment Musk has created.

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The Essex Reporter is a daily digital news website covering the Town of Essex and City of Essex Junction, Vermont. Our beat reporters are on the ground every day covering local government, schools, sports, business and culture.
(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

Instant payments are becoming more popular in Europe, but at the same time attract fraudsters

In future, according to draft EU legislation, banks should therefore check before every payment whether the IBAN and account-holder name match

Banks and payment service providers take a nuanced view of the proposal

Munich, June 06, 6 Jun. (News Aktuell) - .  IBAN-name checks can help to increase the attractiveness of instant payments within the EU, notably by increasing trust in the new mode of payment. But in order to effectively combat attempts at fraud and to bring about greater acceptance of instant payments Europe-wide, they need to be supplemented by further measures. Any possible standardization should, at the same time, be open to solutions already established in individual countries and aim at efficient implementation. These are the findings from the study IBAN-name check: Current developments and concepts co-authored by Strategy&, PwCs global strategy consulting business, together with Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian National Bank, OeNB), Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Euro Banking Association (EBA). For the study, 17 representatives of European banks, public institutions and IBAN-name check providers were interviewed.

IBAN-name checks just the first step

Instant payments are being used with increasing frequency within the Eurozone. At the same time, this payment method can also favor fraud. Accordingly, a legislative proposal from the European Commission envisages the mandatory introduction of IBAN-name checks, in order to counteract this and increase confidence in this mode of payment. Before every instant payment, a background check is performed as to whether the IBAN and account-holder name match. Above all, this check should partly combat Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud, where fraudsters induce their victims to transfer funds to what is ostensibly a known account, but which in reality is one controlled by the fraudsters. According to the results of the study, IBAN-name checks can make a significant contribution to increasing confidence in instant transfers and ensuring a good user experience. At the same time, almost all the experts interviewed emphasize that IBAN-name checks alone cannot significantly drive down instances of fraud.

Since the bank fraudsters methods are continually evolving, IBAN-name checks can only be one strategic component in a series of further measures developed by banks and payment service providers themselves. Legislative initiatives like the move by the European Commission should specify a framework for this, within which the financial actors involved are able to drive forward and effectively implement their initiatives, says Petia Niederlander, Director Payments, Risk Monitoring and Financial Literacy at Oesterreichische Nationalbank and co-author of the study. Those using the IBAN-name check as a strategic component can not only increase trust in their own institution, but can also simultaneously develop new business models via payment handling, such as account-holder verification for online banking via smartphone.

Many of the actors interviewed are also calling for the costs for introducing the technology to remain manageable, for bulk payments to be exempted from IBAN-name checks, for these checks to be introduced as mandatory only for private customers, and for it to be possible to continue using existing solutions for corresponding checks. One major point of criticism is the implementation period, which is considered to be too short given that other provisions and Directives, such as on PSD3, need to be realized within the same timeframe.

Whilst not overestimating its importance, many financial actors view the introduction of IBAN-name checks as a relevant component for expansion of a Europe-wide system of instant transfers that is supposed to be both user-friendly and secure, comments Andreas Pratz, partner at Strategy& Germany and co-author of the study. The experiences of the banks should be taken into account in the planned regulation, and the continuing use of established solutions for IBAN-name checks in individual countries made possible, in order to shape implementation in other countries efficiently. In addition, the challenge is to remain open to further measures by the credit industry and thus to contribute collectively to combating fraud.

Boosting trust and security

A look at the countries where similar procedures to the IBAN-name check are already in use reveals both the potential and the limits of the technology. In the Netherlands, where 90% of all domestic payments are already handled as instant payments, the incidence of invoice fraud at one of the banks that had installed an IBAN-name check declined significantly. However, over the same time period fraudulent transactions migrated to the cross-border space. The experience of UK banks has been similar. At banks with IBAN-name checks (the Confirmation of Payee service, CoP), APP fraud fell by an average of 10%. Over the same period, however, it increased by over 60% at banks that had not introduced CoP services. Banks and payment service providers in other countries who are similarly implementing IBAN-name checks observe above all growing trust on the part of users, and improved ease of operation when using various payment systems.

IBAN-name checks are not an all-purpose tool  a fact confirmed in the assessment by fraud experts in our pan-European working group, who have looked at which fraud scenarios are successfully blocked by such checks, says Thomas Egner, Secretary General at Euro Banking Association and co-author of the study. To maximize the impact of these checks, it is therefore all the more important that they are used Europe-wide and can also operate on a cross-border basis. That is the only way to prevent fraudsters from simply being able to go about their business in SEPA countries where such solutions are not even up and running. Information-sharing and analysis methods should also have the effect of boosting efficiency and assisting in combating fraud, particularly if used Europe-wide.

The full findings of the IBAN-name check: Current developments and concepts study are available on request, or at: https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/de/en/industries/financial-services/iban-name-check.html

About Strategy&

www.strategyand.pwc.com

About Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB)

www.oenb.at

About Euro Banking Association (EBA)

www.abe-eba.eu

About Deutsche Bundesbank

www.bundesbank.de
Pound Canadian Dollar Exchange Rate Weakened amid Climbing Oil Prices

The Pound Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate weakened moderately in the wake of the decision from OPEC to slash oil output, sending the price skyrocketing.

At time of writing the GBP/CAD traded around $1.6626, a 0.47% fall from this mornings opening levels.

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Surge on Soaring Oil Prices

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) enjoyed its close relationship to oil prices to open the week with as it surged on an increase in demand for black gold.

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced that the country will cut output further production of oil exports. Reducing supply by 1 million barrels a day from July, marking the biggest daily reduction in years.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have also agreed to extend earlier cuts through to the end of 2024. The group announced in a joint statement that it has struck a deal to target total output of 40.46m barrels a day from 2024. The move aims to increase the price of crude oil after it tumbled in recent months.

In the wake of the announcement, WTI crude climbed by almost 2% on the day on Monday to $73.20. The commodity-linked Loonie enjoyed a similar resurgence and climbed substantially. Abdulaziz commented on the move at a news conference over the weekend:

This is a Saudi lollipop. We wanted to ice the cake. We always want to add suspense. We don't want people to try to predict what we do... This market needs stabilisation

Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Supported by Elevated Rate Hike Bets

Meanwhile, the Pound (GBP) struggled for sustained demand to open the week. Amid a lack of major economic data, Sterling traded with little support besides elevated rate hike bets from the Bank of England (BoE).

Service sector PMI, however, printed slightly better than initially predicted as it remained in expansion territory. Against expectations of 55.1, the final figure came in at 55.2, but a modest slip from the prior month. Despite the boost, budget pressures remain in the sector as economic uncertainty still weighs heavy. A silver lining, however, is a steady growth in overseas orders and new business. Dr John Glen, Chief Economist, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), said of the latest figure:

The service sector was running in the opposite direction to the declining manufacturing sector in the UK, powering ahead with another strong rise in new orders including work from overseas and rising tourist numbers. Optimism was high with half of all respondents predicting a strong year ahead, keeping positivity close to Aprils recent peak.

GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: Strong Retail Sales to Buoy the Pound?

Looking ahead, the Pound Canadian Dollar exchange rate could see further movement with the release of the latest retail sales data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). If forecasts prove accurate, strong retail sales could boost Sterling. Expectations of another month of improving sales, with a 5.4% climb, could also bolster expectations of further rate hikes.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Dollar could see further movement as the market reacts to the latest oil production cuts. An improving market mood could also boost demand, taking the Loonie with it.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie may be best known  at least on the presidential debate stage  for tearing down rivals rather than building up fellow Republicans.

In a 2016 GOP primary debate, he famously roughed up Marco Rubio in a debate at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Christie dismissed the first-term Floridian as a Senate no-show who had missed too many votes and simply repeated manufactured talking points. The move was widely credited with knocking Rubio out of a top contender spot.

But Christie also has spent the last several years helping the Republican Party raise money and lead tedious state-by-state legal battles to redraw congressional lines. His efforts in 2022 paid off: New York Democrats over-reached in skewing new district lines in their favor, generating jokes and criticism from the right to the far left.

Christie, who co-chaired the national redistricting efforts along with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, helped fight those Democratic congressional maps and won. Even though the predicted red wave never materialized, Republicans flipped four seats in New York, including that of Sean Patrick Maloney, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee, helping to hand House Republicans a slim majority and Rep. Kevin McCarthy the speakership.

He certainly built up goodwill among politicians, and officials around the country with his work on redistricting, John Faso, a former New York congressman who served as a spokesman for the GOP-backed redistricting challenges, told RealClearPolitics. How that translates into the presidential race, I wouldnt speculate on.

He gets his point of view across. Theres no mistaking what hes trying to say, and I think thats refreshing, Faso added.

At 60, Christie is a well-known GOP commodity with a long and colorful political career. In addition to two terms as New Jersey governor, Christie was a popular chairman of the Republican Governors Association, helping his fellow GOP governors get elected and building ties to big GOP donors in the coveted post for any aspiring presidential candidate.

His work on behalf of his party is widely appreciated among some corners of the GOP. Still, he could squander that residual goodwill if his long-shot candidacy does nothing more than rough up the leading Republican candidates in the race  Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  rather than change the outcome. Pompeo, who co-chaired the GOP redistricting effort, is notably bypassing a 2024 presidential run.

Indeed, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu also bowed out of a potential presidential run, explaining on Monday he decided not to join the crowded field because too many candidates would splinter votes and only help Trump win the nomination.

In the run-up to Christies Tuesday announcement at the same venue where that 2016 debate took place, Christies supporters have previewed his long-shot 2024 candidacy as a potential Donald Trump-slayer. Christie was formerly close to Trump but broke from him after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and Trumps insistence that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

One Christie supporter called the impending Trump-Christie clash the battle of the bullies, two brash Northeasterners known for hurling insults and taking potshots. Liberal commentators and anti-Trump Republicans have heralded Christies entrance into the race as a potential Trump spoiler.

Republican strategist Mike Murphy recently dubbed Christie the popcorn candidate.

Hes lighting a stick of dynamite and running directly at Trump  its going to be entertaining, Murphy, a former adviser to Sen. Mitt Romney and the late John McCain, said of Christie.

But the two are far from evenly matched  even when it comes to name-calling and lobbing attacks. Like the other GOP candidates in 2016, Christie was overcome by Trump in 2016, leaving the race in early February after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary and low poll numbers.

And he left the New Jersey governorship with an approval rating of just 15%. A poll conducted by Echelon Insights between May 22 and 25 showed Christie entering an already crowded field with 1% or less of support, tied with talk show host Larry Elder (who got trounced in the 2021 California re-election recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom), and trailing far behind Trump (49%), as well as DeSantis (19%), Mike Pence (9%), Vivek Ramaswamy (8%), Nikki Haley (5%) and Sen. Tim Scott (2%).

And a direct showdown with Trump may never come to pass because a proposed Republican debate requirement mandates that a candidate must have 40,000 unique donors to qualify for the first debate in August. Christie has had trouble in the past raising small-dollar donations and has only two months to reach that threshold.

And so far, Christie has thrown some haymakers at Ron DeSantis, too, blasting the Florida governor as a fake conservative for his crusade against Disney that began over a fight when DeSantis signed legislation banning classroom teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation for young children in schools.

I dont think Ron DeSantis is conservative, based on actions towards Disney, he told a group of reporters at Semafor, a liberal-leaning news outlet, during a wide-ranging discussion in April. Where are we headed here now that, if you express disagreement in this country, the government is now going to punish you? To me, thats what I always thought liberals did, and now all of a sudden, here we are, participating in this with a Republican governor.

If Christie keeps taking jabs at both Trump and DeSantis, he stands to alienate nearly two-thirds of Republican voters while accomplishing little for himself.

Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University, argues Christies quixotic jump into the GOP primary is motivated by personal revenge after Trump shunted him aside and didnt select him for vice president. The former New Jersey governor dropped out of the primary, endorsed Trump, and vigorously backed him, helping him with debate prep against Hillary Clinton. Christie even served as Trumps transition team chair until Trump reportedly grew annoyed with his efforts to attend meetings with Trump and replaced him with Mike Pence in mid-November.

That was an enormously humiliating experience for him  that he was in charge of the landing team for Trump in 2017, then unceremoniously was shoved to the side, Baker told RCP. Christie is very, very, very well-known for settling scores. Hes got scores to settle with Trump.

Baker says Christie is trying to take Trump down a few pegs and throw some blood  a way to help mold the future of the GOP once Trump exits the stage or is forced from it.

But thats a tall order because, obviously, a substantial portion of the Republican primary is as close to Trump as a stamp is to a love letter, he added.

Gregg Keller, a Missouri-based Republican strategist, has argued that having other candidates in the GOP primary willing to take on Trump is essential for the future of the ideologically and culturally diverse party.

But Keller doesnt count Christie as one of them.

Despite Christies redistricting work, Keller cast the former governor as adrift for the last few years without a position of enough prominence to build a constituency and a record to run on.

In many ways, hes a man without a country, Keller said in an interview. He is not strong on the social and cultural issues that animate Republican primary voters.

For the average Republican voter, the most memorable Christie takeaways are the images of him working alongside President Obama in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the feeling that Trump doesnt like him or trust him that much, Keller said.

In effect, the animus for his presidential run could also prove his downfall.

Hes still good at getting headlines from time to time, and CNN and others in the mainstream media will lap that up as much as they can when he attacks DeSantis and Trump, but I dont think hes going to factor too much in the race, Keller concluded.
A new study seeks to better understand the impact of bovine TB on farmers' health and wellbeing, including their views on policies to eradicate the disease.

The research, by charity the Farming Community Network (FCN), is exploring the emotional, financial and physical impacts of bTB on a farmer, a family or business.

The researchers are also hoping to hear about farmers experiences of government policies to control and eradicate the disease.

The results of FCN's survey will, in turn, help improve the charity's support to those at risk or affected by a bTB breakdown.

Farmers who have experienced a bTB breakdown are being encouraged to fill the survey in and to share their experiences.

Dr Jude McCann, CEO of the Farming Community Network, said: We know all too well the devastating impact bTB can have on farms in the UK.

"The anxiety associated with bTB testing, and the unfortunate outcome when a bTB breakdown does occur, can cause irreversible damage to a farm business and can significantly impact the health and wellbeing of farming families.

We hope this study will help to shed light on this issue, provide farmers with the opportunity to share their own experiences with bTB, and help FCN and the agencies we work with to better support farmers affected.

The study follows a report in 2009 by FCN, which included interviews with 68 livestock farmers in the bTB hotspot areas of South West England and eastern Wales.

The findings highlighted the serious and widespread impact of the disease on farmers.

It demonstrated that this impact commonly extended across all family members as evidenced in their psychological and physical health, as well as in their overall financial and social wellbeing.

North Wales farmer and FCN ambassador Will Evans said the research was 'important' as it would help the industry to better understand the impact of bTB on farmers health and wellbeing.

"The threat of bTB is endemic in parts of the UK  the findings of this study will help FCN and the wider industry in enhancing our understanding of the impacts of this awful disease and developing targeted support.

The survey, which is open for responses until mid-August, is available online to participate in.

FCN is also inviting those who fill in the survey to take part in an optional longer-form interview from September onwards.
UK researchers have announced they will develop molecular priming technology to counter the effects of climate change on crop growing.

Scientists at the James Hutton Institute and Ireland-based BioAtlantis will spearhead a new European research project called 'CropPrime', after securing funding worth one million euros.

The project seeks to develop "molecular priming" technologies, which will enhance crop yield under stressful conditions caused by climate change.

Researchers will primarily focus on developing novel technologies to improve crop tolerance to stresses associated with climate change.

One important aspect of the project will be the identification of natural compounds found in "plant biostimulant products", which trigger natural plant processes that enhance nutrient use efficiency, derived from marine algae such as seaweed, produced by BioAtlantis, based in County Kerry, Ireland.

Additionally, the project will work on developing RNA - which is similar to DNA - fungicides to reduce fungal infections in crops.

The goal of this research is to develop sustainable agri-tech products to help growers protect and enhance their crops against adverse weather conditions.

The James Hutton Institute, along with its project partners, will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying plant stress and how these relate to the physiological processes that support crop resilience.

The project consortium brings together expertise in plant systems biology, chemistry, genetics, and biostimulant technology from research institutions in Europe, Africa, and South America.

By pooling their efforts, the consortium aims to provide sustainable solutions for crop protection to growers.

Dr Robert Hancock, senior plant physiologist at the institute, said: This ambitious endeavour aligns perfectly with our mission to drive innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change.

By harnessing the power of molecular priming technologies and leveraging natural compounds derived from marine algae, we aim to enhance crop resilience and protect against the increasing stresses brought about by adverse weather conditions.

"The CropPrime project exemplifies the power of international collaboration and knowledge exchange, and we are excited to contribute to the global impact of this research."

He added: "Together, we can pave the way for a more resilient and productive future in agriculture."
A "deepfake" Vladimir Putin appeared as Russian TV was hacked for the second time in 24 hours.

A 'deepfake' Vladimir Putin appeared on hacked Russian TV

The Russian president conducted an "emergency" broadcast to impose martial law in the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions in response to an "incursion" from Ukrainian forces.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Putin's "emergency appeal" was actually a "hack".

It is unclear who was behind the hack on Russian TV and radio stations but Moscow immediately put the blame on Ukraine.

Appearing in the style of an official address from Putin, the phoney tyrant said: "Fellow citizens, brothers and sisters.

"At 4am today Ukrainian troops, armed to the teeth by the NATO bloc, with approval and support from Washington, have entered the territories of Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions.

"Our border guards and armed forces are fighting back the superior troops of the aggressor."

The fake Putin added: "The enemy will be destroyed, the victory will be ours."

The incident happened just hours after Russian TV was hacked with a video taunting Putin over the start of Ukraine's counter-strike amid claims that the long-awaited attack has finally begun.

Footage released by Ukraine's defence ministry shows a group of silent soldiers holding a finger to their lips.

It was captioned: "Plans are fond of silence.

"There will be no 'it's starting' announcement."

The defiant message was seen across TV screens in Crimea following the hack before a humiliated Moscow quickly slashed the signal.
Infighting within the Russian military could spell the end for Vladimir Putin.

Russian infighting could put Vladimir Putin at risk

Luke Coffey, an expert at the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington, has argued that the tyrant could be ousted from power as a result of divisions between Russian troops and his warlords.

Coffey also expects Russia to "break-up" should the nation fall to defeat in the war with Ukraine.

He said: "This is the beginning of the end of Putin - the trajectory now is towards Putin being ousted and the further break-up of the Russian Federation."

Russia became an independent country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 - which led to the creation of 15 sovereign states including Ukraine - but Coffey warned that the dust "is still settling" from the break-up.

He is convinced that Putin will either end up dead or in exile as many soldiers will rise up against Moscow upon their return from the war.

He said: "I think you'll see uprisings among discontented people, Moscow will have to decide which bits and pieces to fight for, which different power-brokers they can engage with to keep their interest in place.

"There will be a lot of difficult choices to be made and whoever is on top will have to keep an eye on their back."
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is set to celebrate Pride Month by hosting Emil Wilbekins 7th annual Native Son Awards at Barry Dillers IAC building in New York.

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is set to celebrate Pride Month by hosting Emil Wilbekins 7th annual Native Son Awards at Barry Dillers IAC building in New York

The ousted host, 57, who was fired from CNN in April following a 17-year stint at the network as part of an apparent shake-up of its image as a liberal station  and who came out as gay in his 2011 memoir Transparent  will mark the 16 June event as Emil wants to shine a light on black and queer men.

Emil said in a statement: For this years awards, we really wanted to shine a light on those who are using their platforms to bring visibility to all the beautiful ways in which black, queer men show up in the world.

Having Don host this years award feels like a full circle moment for Native Son.

He is one of the most visible black gay men in media and his presence reinforces the importance and impact of our community.

Page Six highlighted how Don was one of the first figures to be honoured by the awards  which aim to highlight the achievements of Black gay and queer men who are leaders in their respective industries  at its first gala in 2016.

The organisation stood in solidarity with the reporter when he was ousted from CNN in April, posting: As one chapter closes, a new one will open. We thank you Don Lemon for speaking truth to power.

Since he was ousted, Don has maintained a relatively low profile, and told Page Six at the Time 100 gala that he plans to enjoy my summer, spend it on the beach and have a great time thats it!

The awards show will also honour Patrik Ian-Polk, Tony nominee Jordan E Cooper, Chester Algernal Gordon, Elegance Bratton, James Cole Jr, Nicco Annan, Bishop O C Allen, Rashad Burgess, Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis.

Dons ousting was widely seen as part of a move by network boss Chris Lichts campaign to shake up the networks liberal-leaning image and reinvent it as a down-the-middle and facts-first news organisation.

It was last week reported Dons tensions with Chris, 51, dated back at least to last autumn, when the outlet said a wardrobe dispute erupted during a rehearsal.

The Atlantic said in early November, during a final rehearsal before the launch of CNN This Morning, Lemon baffled producers by arriving back on set from a break wearing a white jacket with fur collar over a turtleneck.

Chris is said to have asked in the control room: What the f*** is he wearing?, according to a first-hand account from Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta, who was there working on a lengthy profile of the boss.

A junior producer was said to have reluctantly relayed Chris concern through Dons earpiece, which apparently provoked a miffed look from the CNN host as he was allegedly told: Don, uhh, were not too crazy about the jacket in here.

Chris took over as chair and CEO of CNN Worldwide in February 2022, following the dismissal of his predecessor Jeff Zucker, 58, over an undisclosed romance with his top lieutenant.
Michael Sheen struggles to "accept" non-Welsh actors playing Welsh characters.

Michael Sheen would prefer to see Welsh actors play Welsh characters

The 54-year-old actor has revealed that he would prefer to see Welsh actors play Welsh characters on screen, although he insists it's not "particularly on a point of principle".

Michael  born in Newport, Wales  told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "You know, seeing people playing Welsh characters who are not Welsh, I find, its very hard for me to accept that. Not particularly on a point of principle, but just knowing that thats not the case.

"Thats a very different end of the spectrum, but a part like Richard III is such a great character to play, it would be sad to think that that character, you know, is no longer available or appropriate for actors to play who dont have disabilities, but thats because Im just not used to it yet, I suppose. Because I fully accept that Im not going to be playing Othello any time soon."

Michael also suggested that actors from privileged backgrounds can struggle to play working-class characters.

The acclaimed actor thinks it's important to be able to relate to a character in some way.

Michael, who portrayed broadcaster David Frost in the 2008 drama movie 'Frost/Nixon', said: "Again, its not particularly a point of principle, but personally, I havent seen many actors who have come from quite privileged backgrounds being particularly compelling as people from working-class backgrounds.

"If you havent experienced something, you know, the extreme example is, well, if you havent murdered someone, can you play a murderer?"

Michael has previously spoken out in support of Welsh independence from the UK.

He said on 'The Hard Shoulder': "I think the strongest argument against independence anywhere, whether its Wales or anywhere else would be: Look how good you have it, Why would you risk that?

"Nobodys making that argument in Wales really and that in itself tells a story I think."
Prince Harry feels he was cast as a "thicko" as a young royal.

Prince Harry arrives at the court in London

The 38-year-old prince made the claim during his ongoing legal battle against the MGN publishing group at the High Court in London on Tuesday (06.06.23), with Harry arguing that he was portrayed as the "playboy prince" during his younger years.

Harry noted in his statement that as the "spare" to the "heir", he was portrayed as "either the 'playboy prince', the 'failure', the 'drop out' or, in my case, the 'thicko', the 'cheat', the 'underage drinker', 'irresponsible drug taker'".

The prince claimed that the portrayal of him encouraged him to live up to the idea.

Harry - who did not attend the first day of the trial on Monday - explained: "As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well 'do the crime', so to speak.

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a 'damaged' young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers.

Harry also slammed the current UK government, arguing that the Conservative Party has reached "rock bottom".

The prince - who now lives in California after stepping down as a working member of the royal family - explained: "Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

"Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo."
Prince Harry feared he would be ousted from the royal family over rumours Major James Hewitt was his real dad.

Prince Harry feared he would be ousted from the royal family over rumours Major James Hewitt was his real dad

The 38-year-old prince made the claim during his ongoing phone hacking trial against Mirror Group newspapers at the High Court in London on Tuesday (06.06.23), with the royal also arguing he was portrayed as the playboy prince during his younger years.

His admissions as he gave evidence all morning included his claims he struggled at school, was afraid he would be kicked out of Eton and felt his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was doomed.

He told how he had not realised Major Hewitt only met his mum Princess Diana  who was killed in a 1997 Paris car smash aged 36  until after Harry was born.

The duke said: At the time, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born. This timeline is something I only learnt of in around 2014.

Adding the rumours Major Hewitt was his biological dad instead of King Charles were very damaging and very real to him, he said: They were hurtful, mean and cruel.

He also said he feared the rumours would sow doubt in the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family.

Becoming the first royal questioned in a UK courtroom for 130 years, Harry has claimed phone hacking was used to find out how he had celebrate his 18th birthday and admitted calling his mums former butler Paul Burrell, 65, a two faced s*** in 2003.

Harry noted in his court statement that as the spare to the heir, he was portrayed as either the playboy prince, the failure, the drop out or, in my case, the thicko, the cheat, the underage drinker, irresponsible drug taker.

Harry has also slammed the current UK government, arguing that the Conservative Party has reached "rock bottom".

The prince, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 41, and their two children after the couple stepped down as working royals, explained: Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

Harrys case is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which started last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.
Prince Harry has been accused of living in the realms of total speculation while he took the stand at his phone hacking trial.

Prince Harry has been accused of living in the realms of total speculation while he took the stand at his phone hacking trial

The Duke of Sussex, 38, was hit with the statement in a heated exchange during his ongoing claim against Mirror Group Newspapers at the High Court, London, on Tuesday (06.06.23), during which the royal has argued he was portrayed as a thicko and spare heir.

Harry, who also suggested his dad King Charles, 74, may have been a victim of phone hacking, was told by Andrew Green, KC for MGN: Thats not an answer.

He added: Are we not, Prince Harry, in the realms of total speculation?

Mr Green also said information the royal claims contained details from hacked voicemails or gathered by illegal means actually came from other media outlets including the BBC, along with press releases, palace statements and public comments made by his late mum Princess Diana.

Harry suggested king Charles may have had his voicemails intercepted when questioned on an article in the Mirror headlined Harrys cocaine, ecstasy and GHB parties, which also claimed his dad was worried sick about the prince.

MGN denies Harrys claims of hacking.

Becoming the first royal questioned in a UK courtroom for 130 years, Harry has claimed phone hacking was used to find out how he had celebrate his 18th birthday and admitted calling his mums former butler Paul Burrell, 65, a two faced s*** in 2003.

Giving evidence throughout Tuesday morning, Harry also stated he feared he would be ousted from the royal family over rumours Major James Hewitt was his real dad.

He told how he had not realised Major Hewitt only met his mum Princess Diana  who was killed in a 1997 Paris car smash aged 36  until after he was born.

The duke said: At the time, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born. This timeline is something I only learnt of in around 2014.

Adding the rumours Major Hewitt was his biological dad instead of King Charles were very damaging and very real to him, he said: They were hurtful, mean and cruel.

He also said he feared the rumours would sow doubt in the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family.

Harry noted in his court statement that as the spare to the heir, he was portrayed as either the playboy prince, the failure, the drop out or, in my case, the thicko, the cheat, the underage drinker, irresponsible drug taker.

Harry has also slammed the current UK government, arguing that the Conservative Party has reached rock bottom.

The prince, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 41, and their two children after the couple stepped down as working royals, explained: Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

Harrys case is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which started last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.
Josh Dallas has "nothing but gratitude" for 'Once Upon a Time'.

Josh Dallas and Ginnifer Goodwin have tried to get their children interested in Once Upon a Time

The 44-year-old actor is best known for playing Prince Charming/David Nolan in the hit ABC show that twists the plots of traditional fairytales - which is available to stream on Disney+ - and explained that five years on from the series finale, it is "humbling" to know that the fantasy drama still has an audience.

He told People: "It's still finding an audience. People come up to me all the time talking about 'Once' and saying they just started watching it and they're loving it. Or I've had people come up to me  which makes me feel old, but that's okay  they'll say, You were my childhood. You got me through college, all through high school and that show changed their life and it's super humbling. It's just nothing but gratitude to be part of a show that was such a big part of some people's fabric of their lives."

Josh co-starred alongside his wife Ginnifer Goodwin - who played Snow White in the show - and went on to add that they are still trying to encourage their two young sons to take an interest in the series but to no avail.

He added: "We keep trying to shove Once Upon a Time down our boys' throats and they just don't want to watch it. I think that's probably a healthy reaction that they could care less about mom and dad on screen. But we've tried, we've tried several times to get them to watch Once Upon a Time because they're at the right age and I think they would really enjoy it. But they're just not interested at all."
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in recent years in terms of economic growth and empowering women, and integrating them as productive members of society. Female labor force participation has gradually increased; from 2021 to 2022, it jumped from 32.4% to 42.7%.

Bangladesh

Recognizing women's pivotal role in driving sustainable development, the country has implemented transformative initiatives to uplift women, promote gender equality, and harness their potential to boost the economy. The efforts made in Bangladesh serve as proof that investing in women can lead to significant socio-economic advancements.

Enhancing womens and girls lives

The Bangladeshi government has enhanced the lives of girls and women in the last two decades, including reducing maternal mortality rates by more than two-thirds and increasing gender parity in school enrollment, said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in a recent report.

According to a World Bank report, Bangladesh realized how important it is to invest in infrastructure and in people, particularly women, and therefore its poverty strategy focused on them.

In 1991, Bangladesh had one of the lowest educational attainment levels for girls, the WB report adds. A pioneering school stipend program for poor rural girls made Bangladesh among the first few developing countries to achieve gender parity in secondary school enrollment.

Presently, girls now represent more than 50% of lower secondary school enrollment. In 1970, it was only 17%. As Bangladeshs garments industry rose to become number one worldwide, surpassing China, the sector created employment for hundreds of thousands of rural women. Female labor force participation rates have increased from 21% in 1990 to 42% in 2022.

Prioritizing gender equality

Bangladesh Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira also recently noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has prioritized gender equality and empowerment for all women.

As a proponent of the Digital Bangladesh campaign, the Prime Minister has prioritized Information and Communication Technology Training to achieve gender equality. She has pledged to increase womens participation in ICT by 50% by 2041, Nessa Indira added.

The government official for women noted that 80% of women entrepreneurs are operating in ecommerce, over 10 million rural women have been empowered through ICT, and 50,000 women were provided computer training.

Hasinas government has introduced gender-sensitive budgets for 40 ministries and established affirmative actions to increase women's political and workforce leadership participation.

Women in leadership positions

In 2022, more than 300 female union, federation, and community leaders received training, 172 women assumed leadership positions in registered unions, and 21 women were elected to leadership positions in worker community associations, USAID reported. Statista revealed that in 2022, the proportion of parliamentary seats held by women stood at 21%.

The World Economic Forums (WEF) 2022 Global Gender Gap Report placed Bangladesh as the most gender-equal country in South Asia for the eighth consecutive year. However, on a global scale, Bangladesh ranks 71st among 146.

"Bangladesh is comparatively doing well in gender parity. It has been outperforming other South Asian countries for a long time, said Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, a WEF partner. "If we look at Bangladesh's performance in the major indices, we'll notice that the performance is satisfactory,"

The Ministry for Women and Children Affairs released a full report of the efforts made in favor of women and, therefore, gender equality, a program the government of Hasina kicked off in 2009.

In the 2021 fiscal year, the allocation for women's development from the Gender-Responsive Budget was nearly $100 million or 27%.

The government of Bangladesh has allocated nearly $100 million a year for the development of women. Approximately 4 million women are employed in the Readymade Garments (RMG) sector, a vital contributor to the country's economy. Bangladesh Bank provides collateral-free loans to support millions of women entrepreneurs

Uplifting women

In health and education for women, the government has made significant strides. The enrollment ratio of girls in primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels reflects the increasing accessibility of education for women. The government provides over $90 million in stipends to support female students from Class IX to the degree level.

Maternal mortality rates have notably decreased, while antenatal care coverage has expanded to reach 31.2%. Community clinics are vital in providing comprehensive health, nutrition, and family planning services to approximately 32 million women.

Bangladesh has implemented various social security programs to uplift vulnerable women. Monthly allowances are provided to almost 13 million poor, widow, and distressed women. Child Day Care Centers and Working Women's Hostels offer support to working women and ensure a safe living environment. These initiatives aim to address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in vulnerable situations, promoting their well-being and social empowerment.

Bangladesh's impressive progress in women's empowerment and gender equality is evidenced by its commitment to allocating substantial resources, advancing women's political representation, enhancing administrative roles, fostering economic opportunities, promoting education and healthcare, and implementing comprehensive social empowerment programs.

Although certain barriers to eradicating inequality still remain, Bangladesh has positioned itself as a beacon of gender equality, inspiring other nations to strive for inclusivity and equity. With continued dedication, Bangladesh is poised to achieve even greater milestones in women's empowerment and contribute to a more prosperous and equal society.
Readymade garment (RMG) (Chapter 61 & 62) exports from Bangladesh increased by 10.67 per cent to $42.630 billion in the first eleven months of fiscal 2022-23 (FY23) compared to exports of $38.521 billion in July-May 2022, as per provisional data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Knitwear exports grew at a faster pace than woven garment.

RMG exports from Bangladesh were 0.98 per cent higher than the target of $42.308 billion for July-May 2023, as per EPB data. Exports of knitwear (Chapter 61) increased by 10.92 per cent to $23.278 billion in July-May 2023, as against exports of $20.985 billion during the same months of the previous fiscal.

Bangladesh's RMG exports increased by 10.67 per cent to $42.63 billion during the first 11 months of fiscal 2023, surpassing the target of $42.308 billion. This growth is attributed to knitwear and woven apparel. However, home textile exports fell by 30.14 per cent. Together, these sectors represented 87.29 per cent of Bangladesh's total exports.

Exports of woven apparel (Chapter 62) increased by 10.36 per cent to $19.352 billion during the period under review, compared to exports of $17.535 billion during July-May 2022, as per the data.

Home textile exports (Chapter 63, excluding 630510) decreased by 30.14 per cent to $1,024.98 million during the period under review, compared to exports of $1,467.19 million during July-May 2022.

At the same time, woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories and home textile exports together accounted for 87.29 per cent of Bangladeshs total exports of $50.527 billion during July- May of FY23.

In 2021-22, Bangladesh achieved an all-time high in the value of its RMG exports, reaching $42.613 billion, which represents an increase of 35.47 per cent compared to the exports of $31.456 billion in fiscal 2020-21. Despite the global slowdown, Bangladesh has succeeded in achieving a growth in garment exports in the recent months.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Germanys exports witnessed a 1.2 per cent uptick, while imports declined by 1.7 per cent in April 2023 on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, as compared with March 2023, according to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, exports increased by 1.5 per cent in April 2023, while imports fell by a substantial 10.3 per cent.

Following calendar and seasonal adjustments, Germany exported goods worth 130.4 billion and imported goods totalling 112 billion in April 2023. The foreign trade balance exhibited a surplus of 18.4 billion in April 2023. The calendar and seasonally adjusted surplus was 14.9 billion in March 2023 and 3.6 billion in April 2022.

On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, Germany exported goods amounting to 71.4 billion to the member states of the European Union (EU) in April 2023, while importing goods worth 59.1 billion from these countries during the same period, as per Destatis.

Germany's exports rose by 1.2 per cent and imports fell by 1.7 per cent in April 2023 compared to March 2023, according to Destatis. On a YoY basis, exports grew by 1.5 per cent while imports declined by 10.3 per cent. The foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 18.4 billion in April 2023, marking a significant increase from 3.6 billion in April 2022.

Compared with March 2023, calendar and seasonally adjusted exports to EU countries grew by 4.5 per cent, while imports from these countries contracted by 0.4 per cent. The value of the goods exported to Euro area countries totalled 49.9 billion, marking a 4.4 per cent increase in April 2023, and the value of the goods imported from these countries was 38.9 billion, dropping 1.7 per cent.

In April 2023, goods worth 21.4 billion (up 4.8 per cent) were exported to EU countries outside the Euro area, while goods valued at 20.1 billion (up 2.1 per cent) were imported from these countries on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis.

Exports of goods to countries outside the EU (third countries) totalled 59 billion in April 2023, while imports from these countries came to 52.9 billion, also on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. Exports to third countries dropped by 2.4 per cent, and imports from third countries fell by 3 per cent compared with March 2023.

The US was the largest recipient of German exports in April 2023. After seasonal and calendar adjustments, exports of goods to the US rose 4.7 per cent compared with March 2023, totalling 13.1 billion. Exports to China surged by 10.1 per cent to 8.5 billion, while exports to the UK declined by 5.2 per cent to 6.1 billion.

The majority of imports in April 2023 originated from China, with goods worth 12.9 billion being imported, marking a 1.9 per cent increase compared with the previous month, following calendar and seasonal adjustments. Imports from the US saw a rise of 2.9 per cent, amounting to 8.0 billion. Imports from the UK dropped by 6.4 per cent to 2.8 billion.

Exports to Russia declined by 17.8 per cent to 0.7 billion in April 2023 compared with March 2023, on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis. Imports from Russia dropped by 7.6 per cent to 0.3 billion in April 2023 compared with March 2023, and plummeted by 91.5 per cent compared with April 2022, which was significantly impacted by the Russian attack on Ukraine.

In April 2023, Germany exported goods valued at 121.9 billion and imported goods worth 106.7 billion on a nominal basis (not adjusted for calendar or seasonal effects). Compared with April 2022, exports in April 2023 decreased by 1.8 per cent, and imports fell by 12.4 per cent. The unadjusted foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 15.2 billion in April 2023. In April 2022, the surplus was 2.4 billion.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to bolster bilateral trade in the period 2023-2024, following a virtual signing ceremony between Vietnamese minister of industry and trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Cambodian minister of commerce Pan Sorasak. This continues a practice first initiated in 2006, with agreements renewed every two years.

The strategic agreement provides a vital legal framework for the business communities of both nations, extending preferential tariffs to facilitate the entry of their beneficial commodities into each others markets, according to local media reports.

Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to enhance bilateral trade in 2023-2024, continuing a practice initiated in 2006. The agreement provides a legal framework and preferential tariffs to boost trade. Despite COVID-19, bilateral trade rose 11 per cent to $10.57 billion last year, making Vietnam Cambodia's third-largest trade partner after China and the US.

Due to the agreements influence, annual bilateral trade has surged, with growth rates of 18.5 per cent in 2010-2015 and 21 per cent during the 2015-2020 period. Notably, despite the COVID-19 pandemics disruptive impacts, trade between the two nations reached $10.57 billion last year, reflecting a nearly 11 per cent year-on-year increase. As a result, Vietnam has emerged as Cambodias third-largest trading partner, following China and the US.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
Bollywood songs have consistently generated some of the most memorable and catchy musical compositions. In addition to being well-liked in India, these songs have had a big impact on the world music scene. Hollywood frequently incorporates these recognisable songs into their movies. Hollywood films have included Bollywood songs in a variety of ways, from upbeat and energising to profound and sad, creating a unique blend of east and west.

Take a look at a few of these instances:









In the black comedy-drama Ghost World, starring Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson, two teenage outcasts named Enid and Rebecca are the main characters. The movie follows their journey through adolescence's awkwardness and the unpredictability of the future. The opening credits' playing of Mohammed Rafi's Jaan Pehchan Ho from the 1965 film Gumnaam ignites the film's independent spirit. The scene from the famous Bollywood film then pans to a series of American apartments inhabited by various families. By the time the song is finished, we can see that Enid is dancing to its upbeat beat and memorable lyrics while it is playing on her TV.









Chamma Chamma in Moulin Rouge





The 2001 Hollywood musical film Moulin Rouge! includes a remix of the well-known Bollywood song Chamma Chamma. Ewan McGregor plays a young writer who falls in love with Nicole Kidman, the top performer at the Moulin Rouge cabaret, in the film. It is also famous for its incorporation of popular songs from multiple eras, such as Madonna's Like a Virgin and Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. Anu Malik originally composed Chamma Chamma, which Alka Yagnik sang in the Hindi film China Gate (1998). The song is performed on stage at the cabaret by the character Nini Legs in the Air in the film Moulin Rouge! The song highlights Nini's talent for exotic dancing while also bringing a hint of Bollywood glitz to the overall musical spectacle of the movie. The Chamma Chamma in Moulin Rouge! remix keeps the song's memorable chorus and iconic hook while adding more English lyrics and a more modern sound.



One of the most well-known Bollywood composers, A. R. Rahman, is the artist behind the song Bombay Theme, one of the most cherished Bollywood tunes. Later, the song was included in Nicolas Cage's 2005 crime drama Lord of War, which is set in Russia and features Yuri Orlov. The song is performed in the movie during a scenario where Yuri is restrained in front of a 40-tonne cargo jet. In a time-lapse scene, the villagers use up the entirety of the aircrafts supplies as Yuri speaks over Rahman's classical piece. The use of the Bombay Theme in Lord of War highlights Rahman's music's universal appeal and its capacity to transcend cultural borders.

Chaiyya Chaiyya in Inside Man





One of the most well-known Bollywood songs of all time, Chaiyya Chaiyya, is from the hit film Dil Se (1998). When it appeared in the 2006 American heist thriller Inside Man, it soon became a cultural phenomenon and attracted attention on a global scale. Hall of Fame actors Clive Owen and Denzel Washington appear in it. The usage of Chaiyya Chaiyya throughout the opening and closing credits surprised many fans, especially for such a well-known Hollywood production.

With Dev Patel's 2016 drama Lion, which includes the song Urvasi Urvasi, A.R. Rahman features once more on this list. Saroo Brierley, played by Dev Patel in the film, is adopted by an Australian couple after becoming lost on a train in India when he was five years old. He starts having childhood memories as an adult and searches for his birth mother and brother using Google Earth to locate the village where he was raised. Brierley and his romantic interest, Lucy (Rooney Mara), are seen walking on different sides of the street in one particular sequence in the film. The song first appeared in the Prabhu Deva and Nagma-starring Kadhalan, an action romance from 1994.

This unique song from the 1951 film Awaara features vocals from the legendary performer Mukesh. The soundtrack from the 2016 superhero movie Deadpool utilised this song in one of its sequences. Mera Joota Hai Japani is playing while Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) speaks with Dopinder (Karan Soni), his cab driver.

Mundian Tu Bach Ke in The Dictator





One of the most well-known Punjabi songs of all time is perhaps Mundian Tu Bach Ke by Panjabi MC, which has been used in a number of Bollywood films. Hip-hop mogul Jay Z remixed the song in 2003, and it finally served as the background music for The Dictator movie trailer (2012). Sacha Baron Cohen plays Admiral General Aladeen, the totalitarian ruler of the made-up Republic of Wadiya, in the film. He heads to New York City to address the UN, but one of his closest advisors abandons him there. Many audiences were excited during the lead-up to the movie, as Mundian Tu Bach Ke brought the energetic vibe needed to entice viewers. The song is a staple across South Asia, the UK, and different cinematic industries.

Movie icons Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play Joel and Clementine in the romance-science-fiction movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). In the film, two ex-lovers have had all memories of one another surgically removed from their brains. The film's imaginative symbolism also sticks in people's minds. The background music of the scene includes Wada Na Tod from Dil Tujhko Diya (1987), Tere Sang Pyar Main Nahin Todna from Nagin (1976), and Mera Mann Tera Pyasa from Gambler (1971). The movie was nominated for numerous accolades and won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.













Tere Sang Pyar Main Nahin Todna, Mera Mann Tera Pyasa, and Wada Na Tod in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Movie icons Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play Joel and Clementine in the romance-science-fiction movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). In the film, two ex-lovers have had all memories of one another surgically removed from their brains. The film's imaginative symbolism also sticks in people's minds. The background music of the scene includes Wada Na Tod from Dil Tujhko Diya (1987), Tere Sang Pyar Main Nahin Todna from Nagin (1976), and Mera Mann Tera Pyasa from Gambler (1971). The movie was nominated for numerous accolades and won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.












Gabriella Demetriades Hits Back At Trolls: Bollywood actor, Arjun Rampal and his girlfriend, Gabriella Demetriades are over the moon as they are all set to welcome their second child together. Gabriella sent the internet into a meltdown after she announced her second pregnancy in April 2023.

Gabriella is currently embracing the pregnancy journey, and she keeps updating her Instagram feed with adorable pictures of herself enjoying every bit of it. The South African model was recently on a family vacay to an undisclosed location.

GABRIELLA DEMETRIADES FLAUNTS HER BARE BABY BUMP

Gabriella Demetriades took to her social media handle and shared a photo dump from her trip. One of the pictures shows her flaunting her bare baby bump in a co-Ord set, that she paired with a black bralette. The pregnancy glow was unmissable on the mommy-to-be. She captioned the pictures as, "A weekend #photodump #weekinphotos."

NETIZENS REACT TO GABRIELLA'S PHOTO DUMP

Gabriella's comment section was filled with heart-warming congratulatory messages as her fans showered love on her. However, there were a few others, who called her out for embracing pregnancy without being married. A woman called her out and accused her of 'spoiling youth mentality'. Suggesting that she should get married, the user wrote, "When will u get married .u stay in India not ur born place.. You ppl spoil youth mentality".

Gabriella is surely not someone to sit back and take it. She gave a savage reply to a nasty comment by saying: "The mentality here is spoilt by bringing beautiful souls to the world and not by small-minded bigots."

Meanwhile, Arjun Rampal and Gabriella Demetriades have been in a relationship since 2018. They met through common friends and started dating. Their relationship became public when they were spotted together at various events and social gatherings.

In April 2019, Arjun and Gabriella announced that they were expecting their first child together. They welcomed their son, Arik Rampal, in July 2019.
Josh, an Indian-developed short video app, has quickly risen to become the frontrunner in the market, solidifying its position through a vast user base and immense popularity. Both content creators and viewers, comprising the majority of users, express their satisfaction and delight with the app's extensive features and offerings.

Moreover, Josh also hosts a lot of meetups for creators to help them collaborate and grow and they did the same recently by organizing the first such event for the top Kannada creators in Bengaluru.

Josh Kannada creators' meetup took place at NYX lounge cafe on the 2nd June and turned out to be a great and new experience for creators. It gave them great exposure and a chance to interact with other influencers.

The event started with a beautiful song which was crooned by Aksh which was followed by a group dance performance by Karthik, Swaroop, and Manisha. Well-known Television host Niranjan Deshpande also made a guest appearance at the meetup. Further, the event had a breathtaking performance by the Vaishali sisters.

To make it an unforgettable event, Josh collaborated with the NYX lounge cafe. Niranjan Deshpande and his wife (Josh creator) Yashaswini Deshpande came as KOLs.

To promote the event, a campaign named #nammajosh was made live for 15 days on Josh. The team selected the best three performers and gratified them at the same event. Mahesh Kumar, Manisha Achu, and Supreeth Prince were announced as the winners of the #nammajosh challenge.

It was attended by over 40 creators and titles like Best Creator (Male), Best Creator (Female), and Josh Trendsetter were also given to creators. While Swaroop won the Josh Best Creator (Male), Aishwarya Vinayak was given the title of Best Creator (Female). Vineetha Dharwad, on the other hand, got the Josh Trendsetter title.

Josh Best Creator - Male>> Swaroop

Josh Best Creator - Female>> Aishwarya Vinayak

Josh Trendsetter>> Vineetha Dharwad

NammaJosh challenge Winners:

>Mahesh Kumar

>Manisha Achu

>Supreeth Prince

For these awardees the beautiful art piece was given by Bhavya art bangalore. She is well known for her unique tanjore painting on borders and fabrics.

https://share.myjosh.in/profile/e5154e2d-f719-41bd-8771-4fd694b32569

Download Josh app and follow the Kannada Creators Community Update via https://linktr.ee/joshkannada
Bhavana's Birthday Surprise-Comeback In Tamil With The Door: The South Indian film industry is buzzing with birthday wishes for beloved actress Bhavana, who is celebrating her special day today. Among the many greetings pouring in, a heartfelt post by actor Manju Warrier on her Instagram story has caught the attention of fans on social media.

Farewell To Kollam Sudhi: Emotional Gathering As Friends

"Happy Birthday, darling! You know I love you," expressed Manju Warrier, spreading warmth and love to her fellow actor.

Known as the favourite actress of Malayali audiences, Bhavana recently made a comeback to Malayalam cinema after a break with the movie "Ntikkakkakkoru Premondarnn."

Bhavana Returning To Tamil Cinema

Now, after a hiatus of 13 years, she is set to make her return to Tamil cinema with the film "The Door," directed by her brother Jayadev. The movie, produced by Bhavana's husband Naveen Rajan under their banner JuneDreams Studios, has unveiled a grand birthday gift to Bhavana in the form of a captivating first look poster.

"The Door" features Bhavana in the lead role and is a multilingual project, set to be released in four languages. The film holds great significance for Bhavana's fans, who eagerly anticipate her comeback in Tamil cinema.

With an illustrious career spanning over two decades, Bhavana has established herself as one of the leading heroines of South India, showcasing her talent across various languages such as Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil. Having graced the screens in more than 80 films across different genres, Bhavana continues to captivate audiences with her versatile performances.

Kollam Sudhi's Untimely Demise Shakes The Industry: Mammootty, Asif Ali, And Peers Pay Heartfelt Tribute

Prior to "The Door," Bhavana's last Tamil film was "Aasal" in 2010, where she played the female lead opposite Ajith. Additionally, she remains active in Kannada cinema, with two upcoming movies, "Pink Note" and "Case of Kondana," slated for release this year. Bhavana is also set to portray the lead role in the Malayalam film "Hunt," directed by Shaji Kailas.

As Bhavana celebrates her birthday, her fans eagerly await her upcoming projects and anticipate witnessing her brilliance on the silver screen once again.
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2000 To 2023: Malayalam Industry Hit Films

Malayalam Film Industry had been delivered many block-buster hit movies over the last ten years. With amazing genres and stellar cast performances, they had gained the attention of cinephiles across the nation. Apart from India, these are well-received by audience across the world and had collected good box-office collection. So, let's take a look at the top highest grossing movies in Malayalam film industry from 2000 to 2023.

2018 Jude Anthany Joseph's '2018:Every One Is Hero' is the highest grossing Malayalam movies of all time at the global box-office. Like a complete survival drama, it narrates the story on 2018 Kerala floods. The multi-starrer film has became the first Malayalam movie which had collected Rs 169 crores globally after the release on the 25 days. It is the third Malayalam movie entered into 100 crore club after Malikappuram and Romancham.

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Puli Murugan The 2016 release 'Pulimurugan' is the first Malayalam film cross the 100 crore mark at the box-office. Directed by Vyshakan, it featured actor Mohanlal in the lead role. According to reports, Pulimurugan had collected Rs 135 crores at the world wide box-office while Tovino Thomas' 2018' broken the records of the film in just 17 days.

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Drishyam Jeethu Jospeh's Drishyam is one of the best-thriller movies ever made in the Malayalam cinema. The film was released in 2013 and had collected Rs 60 crores in Kerala alone. Made up on a small-budget, the film broken the records of several big star movies in Malayalam.

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Twenty 20 Helmed by Joshy the film featured Mohanlal, Mammootty, Dileep Jayaram and Suresh Gopi in the lead roles. It is considered one of the best multi-starrer films in Malayalam. The film was released in theaters in 2008 and had collected Rs. 32.6 crore at the box-office.

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Classmates The multi-starrer "Classmates" is still favourite of many cinephiles around us. It is one of the best evergreen hit movies in Malayalam which evokes the value of friendship, campus nostalgia and romance. The film was released in 2006 and had emerged as the highest grossing movies of that year.

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Rajamanikyam According to reports, the Mammotty starrer 'Rajamanikyam released in 2005 and had collected the Rs 25 crore at the box-office. Directed by Anwar Rasheed, the film broken the box-office records of Mohanlal's 'Narasimham'.

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Narasimham Shaji Kailas' 'Narasimham' is one of the best action thriller movies in Malayalam cinema. Written by Renjith, the film marked the second collaboration of actor Mohanlal and Shaji Kailas. Previously they had been worked for the movie 'Aaraam Thampuraan'. According to reports, Narsimham released in 2000 and it was the first Malayalam movie which had collected Rs 20 crores at the box-office.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. ("Golden Pursuit" or the "Company") (TSXV:GDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Norman Porter as a director of the Company. The size of the Company's board has increased to five members, three of whom are independent.

Mr. Norman Porter has 45 years of experience in business development. As an entrepreneur, Norman has an aptitude for strategic development with a long term vision. Norman's investment knowledge and financial analytics leverage his ability to raise capital for partnership and joint venture opportunities. His breadth of development scope spans land assembly to construction projects in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors throughout British Columbia and Washington State. Normans' company, Beech Developments Ltd., is a leading developer in the City of Surrey, working with government and communities to establish optimum use of land to meet future demand.

Brian McClay, President of Golden Pursuit states, "I am very pleased and welcome Norm Porter to Golden Pursuit's board. Norm is a well-known business and project developer with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. We look forward to Norm's expertise and contributions as we advance our focus Gordon Lake project and our Nevada properties."

The Company also announces that it has granted 500,000 incentive stock options to Mr. Porter at an exercise price of $0.20 cents per share for a term of five years. The options shall vest and become exercisable as to 25 per cent annually commencing June 5, 2024, the first anniversary of the date of the grant.

About Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

Golden Pursuit owns a 100% interest in the Gordon Lake Project located in the NW, 50 miles north of Yellowknife. The Gordon Lake District consists of 10 deposits which include the former producing mines Camlaren, Burnt Island, Myrt Lake and Argonaut Mine. The deposits along with the other significantly advanced deposits will be the subject of further exploration with an emphasis on developing a drilling program to be conducted later this year.

The Company has recently completed a geological report that summarizes and describes the holdings at Gordon Lake along with development recommendations. This report can be viewed on the Company's website at www.goldpursuit.ca

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

"Brian A. McClay"

President & CEO

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's web site at www.goldpusuit.ca

The TSX-V has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's exploration and development plans or the success of the Projects.

SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759404/Golden-Pursuit-Announces-New-Director
The IBM facility in Ehningen, Germany, expected to open in 2024

IBM Quantum to allow European cloud region users to provision quantum systems and process data within the EU

ARMONK, N.Y. and EHNINGEN, Germany, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced plans to open its first Europe-based quantum data center to facilitate access to cutting-edge quantum computing for companies, research institutions and government agencies.

The data center is expected to be operational in 2024, with multiple IBM quantum computing systems, each with utility scale quantum processors, i.e., those of more than 100 qubits.

The data center will be located at IBM's facility in Ehningen, Germany, and will serve as IBM Quantum's European cloud region. Users in Europe and elsewhere in the world will be able to provision services at the data center for their cloud-based quantum computing research and exploratory activity. The data center is being designed to help clients continue to manage their European data regulation requirements, including processing all job data within EU borders. The facility will be IBM's second quantum data center and quantum cloud region, after Poughkeepsie, New York.

"Europe has some of the world's most advanced users of quantum computers, and interest is only accelerating with the era of utility scale quantum processors," said Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President of IBM Quantum. "The planned quantum data center and associated cloud region will give European users a new option as they seek to tap the power of quantum computing in an effort to solve some of the world's most challenging problems."

"Our quantum data center in Europe is an integral piece of our global endeavor," said Ana Paula Assis, IBM General Manager for EMEA. "It will provide new opportunities for our clients to collaborate side-by-side with our scientists in Europe, as well as their own clients, as they explore how best to apply quantum in their industry."

The IBM Quantum Network currently has more than 60 organizations across Europe accessing quantum hardware and software via the cloud, including Bosch; Bundeswehr University; Credit Mutuel Alliance Federale, including its technology subsidiary Euro-Information, and Targobank; Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron ( DESY ); the European Organization for Nuclear Research ( CERN ); Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft; Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC); and, T-Systems .

These clients across Europe are exploring potential uses for quantum computing including material science, high energy physics, energy transition, sustainability, and financial applications.

"We are happy and proud to support the IBM Quantum team's decision to set up their European quantum data center in Ehningen, Germany," said Dr. Raoul Klingner, Director Research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "The choice of location in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg will further strengthen the ecosystem that Fraunhofer has built with customers and partners from industry and research. We are pleased to further continue our strategic partnership with IBM."

"At T-Systems, we are collaborating with IBM to combine quantum and classical computing in a seamless and scalable experience for our customers to explore applications of quantum computing," said Adel Al-Saleh, Deutsche Telekom board member and Chief Executive of T-Systems. "Having access to a quantum data center dedicated to Europe will help lower the access barrier for our customers as they decide on how to take their first, decisive steps in exploring and using quantum."

The European cloud region is a key component in IBM's efforts to collaborate with leading European industry, academia and government to advance quantum and build a quantum workforce in Europe. IBM Quantum and the open source Qiskit software is used in over 100 university classes in Europe. One million learners in Europe have advanced their quantum skills through hackathons, workshops and digital learning sponsored by IBM.

For more about IBM's first quantum data center in Europe, read the IBM Research blog.

Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.

Qiskit is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.

Katia Moskvitch

IBM Communications

kam@zurich.ibm.com

Chris Nay

IBM Communications

cnay@us.ibm.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/95470/4070845/ibm_logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ibm-to-build-its-first-european-quantum-data-center-to-serve-expanding-ecosystem-301843031.html
As acquisition costs for new customers continue to soar, Sonfu Digital Solutions, LLC, launches the Wellness Accelerated System, a solution that allows fitness and wellness businesses to re-engage and reactivate inactive customers at scale.

Colonial Heights, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Sonfu Digital Solutions' recently announced customer reactivation system provides health and wellness business owners with a cost-efficient way of reigniting interest in former clients and getting them to use their services again. The new Wellness Accelerated program is automated, offering a hands-off approach that allows spa owners to win back customers and maximize sales.

More details can be found at https://go.sonfudigital.com/vsl.





Sonfu Digital Solutions Announces Customer Reactivation SMS Marketing For Spas

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/168912_ab647dacb4632a85_001full.jpg

With the cost of acquiring new customers five times higher than retaining existing ones, according to Huify figures, Sonfu Digital's latest service focuses on warming up cold leads the client already has. This strategy, as the agency notes, may increase clients' closing rates, considering that the success rate of selling to existing customers is 60 to 70% compared to 5 to 20% for selling to new customers.

The solution from the agency utilizes automated SMS and email nurturing strategies to re-engage inactive customers. Each reactivation campaign is crafted to drive a steady flow of high-quality leads to the business.

"Reactivating customers who have been dormant for a while can lead to increased customer loyalty and higher lifetime value," says Sonnie Donaby, Sonfu Digital Solutions' CEO. "Besides, customer re-engagement is a cost-effective way to fill the gap left by lost customers without running paid advertisements."

Additional details are available at https://www.sonfudigital.com/blog/b/bringing-the-dead-back-to-life-how-to-effectively-reactivate-customers.

According to Sonnie, a clear understanding of clients' ideal audience and personalization are critical to success. The first step of Sonfu Digital's customer reactivation process, therefore, involves customer segmentation. After this, as Sonnie explains, the team contacts the leads on the client's behalf to book appointments.

Sonnie notes that their strategy is best suited for fitness and wellness brands that have a customer list of at least 100 contacts.

With its latest announcement, Sonfu Digital Solutions reiterates its commitment to helping spa and fitness owners consistently engage with new customers while reducing acquisition costs.

Sonnie adds, "As a business owner, you know that customer retention is key to success. Yet, despite your best efforts, some customers become inactive. Our team at Sonfu Digital Solution can reactivate these cold leads using our Wellness Accelerated System, so you don't have to worry about where your next client will come from."

Interested parties can find additional information at https://go.sonfudigital.com/vsl-2.

Contact Info:

Name: Sonnie Donaby

Email: sonnie@sonfudigital.com

Organization: Sonfu Digital Solutions LLC

Address: 84 Southgate Square #1022, Colonial Heights, VA 23834, United States

Website: https://www.sonfudigital.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168912
Paris, France - June6, 2023

CGG announced today that Sercel has made a major sale of its GPR300 seabed nodal solution to Sinopec, the Chinese oil and gas exploration, refining and distribution company. Over 6,000 nodes will be deployed this month in the Bohai Sea off the east coast of mainland China.

Based on Sercel's breakthrough QuietSeis MEMS technology, the GPR300 delivers unprecedented broadband signal sensing capability and fidelity, and ultra-quiet performance to enable best-in-class subsurface imaging and outperforms conventional OBN equipment. With its compact and lightweight design, the GPR300 is easy to use whatever the deployment mode.

Emmanuelle Dubu, Sercel CEO, said: "We are very pleased to partner with Sinopec once again and to support them in successfully completing this new complex project. On the strength of our in-depth knowledge of the seismic industry and the greater opportunities we see node acquisition bringing in terms of enhanced data quality and insight for client decision-making, we believe GPR300's design and configuration is the optimal solution for the ocean bottom node market. Having already been deployed on high-profile surveys in the Middle East region, the system is fast becoming the preferred solution worldwide."

About CGG

CGG) is a global technology and HPC leader that provides data, products, services and solutions in Earth science, data science, sensing and monitoring. Our unique portfolio supports our clients in efficiently and responsibly solving complex digital, energy transition, natural resource, environmental, and infrastructure challenges for a more sustainable future. CGG employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: 0013181864).

Contacts

Group Communications & Investor Relations



Christophe Barnini

Tel: + 33 1 64 47 38 11

E-Mail: christophe.barnini@cgg.com (mailto:christophe.barnini@cgg.com)





Attachment
New immunological data assessed by tetramer staining confirms the induction of T cell responses in treated patients

All trial patients treated with TG4050 monotherapy continue to remain in remission to date

Transgene and NEC are preparing a Phase II trial to further demonstrate the potential of TG4050 as an adjuvant treatment of head and neck cancer

Regulatory News:

Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), a leader in IT, network and AI technologies, announced that new data have been presented on TG4050, an individualized neoantigen cancer vaccine, at theAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. TG4050 is based on Transgene's myvac platform and powered by NEC's cutting-edge AI capabilities.

The new positive data have been generated from patients with HPV-negative head and neck cancer who have been enrolled in an ongoing randomized Phase I trial assessing TG4050 (NCT04183166). All patients treated with TG4050 in the trial have developed a specific immune response, as demonstrated by the results of additional immunological testing, and remained disease-free to date.

Alessandro Riva, Chairman and CEO of Transgene, added: "TG4050 is showing its potential to extend patient remission after surgery and firmly establishes Transgene among the leading pioneers in the emerging field of individualized cancer vaccines. The monotherapy data we are presenting at ASCO are a solid basis to accelerate the clinical development of this innovative therapy as an adjuvant treatment to HPV-negative head and neck carcinoma and potentially in other indications."

Masamitsu Kitase, Corporate Senior VP, Head of Healthcare and Life Science Division, NEC Corporation, commented: "We are excited by the additional data from immunological testing that is being presented in the poster at ASCO. It is certainly an encouraging outcome for NEC's AI prediction for neoantigens that are able to effectuate an immunological response. These are early results that underpin NEC's AI capability of making predictions that help in making TG4050 an efficacious product for patients across the globe. We look forward to working with Transgene to develop on this asset further."

TG4050 has demonstrated the ability to induce strong immune responses against targeted antigens

The data presented at ASCO 2023 show that all evaluable patients developed a specific immune response after treatment with TG4050 against multiple cancer neoantigens. These immune responses were developed in spite of patients having unfavorable systemic immunity and tumor micro-environment at baseline (with the presence of non-functional immune cells or with low or negative levels of PD-L1 expression). These challenging characteristics are normally associated with limited responses to treatments, including immune checkpoint blockers.

Two patient case studies are also being reported. In these patients who are disease-free following treatment with TG4050, immunoreactive T cell response against targeted antigens was assessed by tetramer staining. The results confirm a large amplification of the frequency of immunoreactive T cells. These T cells were characterized as effector cytotoxic T cells, a cell population with potential anti-tumor activity. These data further demonstrate that TG4050 is able to induce an anti-tumor cellular immune response.

All patients in the trial who received TG4050 remain disease-free to date

As of May 2023, 32 patients were randomized in the head and neck cancer Phase I trial. All 16 patients who received TG4050 remained disease-free, with a median follow-up time of 10.4 months. This compares favorably to the control arm, in which two patients with similar characteristics experienced relapse. Two other patients also showed biochemical signs of relapse, as seen in the poster. These patients are still being followed in the ongoing trial.

To date, the vaccine has been well tolerated and no related Serious Adverse Events have been reported.

The abstract and poster can be accessed on the ASCO and Transgene websites.

Final results from randomized Phase I trial expected in mid-2024 Phase II trial to start in H2 2023

The last patient has recently been randomized in the head and neck cancer trial. Transgene and NEC plan to achieve a median follow up of 18 months in mid-2024.

Transgene and NEC are preparing for a Phase II trial in head and neck cancer, in an adjuvant setting, which could be initiated in H2 2023.

About the clinical trials

TG4050 is being evaluated in two Phase I clinical trials for patients with HPV-negative head and neck cancers (NCT04183166) and ovarian cancer (NCT03839524).

In a first Phase I trial, TG4050 is being administered to patients with HPV-negative head and neck cancer. An individualized treatment is created for each patient after they complete surgery and while they receive an adjuvant therapy. Half of the participants receive their vaccine immediately after they complete their adjuvant treatment. The other half is given TG4050 as an additional treatment at the time of recurrence of the disease as an additional treatment to standard of care (SoC). This randomized study is evaluating the treatment benefits of TG4050 in patients who have a high risk of relapse. Up to 30 patients will receive TG4050 in France, in the UK and in the USA. The principal investigator of the trial is Prof. Christian Ottensmeier, MD, PhD, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Professor of Immuno-Oncology at the University of Liverpool. In France, the clinical trial is being conducted at Institut Curie by Prof. Christophe Le Tourneau, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), and at the IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse by Prof. Jean-Pierre Delord, MD, PhD. In the USA, the trial is being led by Yujie Zhao, MD, PhD, at the Mayo Clinic. Endpoints of the trial include safety, feasibility and biological activity of the therapeutic vaccine.

In parallel, a Phase I clinical trial of TG4050 is enrolling patients with ovarian cancer. This second trial is including patients at the time of asymptomatic relapse after surgery and first-line chemotherapy. Matthew Block, MD, PhD, Consultant Medical Oncology, Consultant Immunology and Associate Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic (USA) is the principal investigator of the trial; in France, the trial is being conducted by Prof. Le Tourneau, MD, PhD, at Institut Curie and by Alexandra Martinez, MD, Associate Head of Surgical Department, at IUCT-Oncopole. Endpoints of the trial include safety, feasibility and biological activity of the therapeutic vaccine.

The first preliminary clinical data generated with TG4050 are very encouraging.

About myvac

myvac is a viral vector (MVA Modified Vaccinia Ankara) based, individualized immunotherapy platform that has been developed by Transgene to target solid tumors. myvac-derived products are designed to stimulate the patient's immune system, recognize and destroy tumors using the patient's own cancer specific genetic mutations. Transgene has set up an innovative network that combines bioengineering, digital transformation, established vectorization know-how and unique manufacturing capabilities. Transgene has been awarded "Investment for the Future" funding from Bpifrance for the development of its platform myvac. TG4050 is the first myvac-derived product being evaluated in clinical trials.

Click here to watch a short video on myvac

About TG4050

TG4050 is an individualized immunotherapy being developed for solid tumors that is based on Transgene's myvac technology and powered by NEC's longstanding artificial intelligence (AI) expertise. This virus-based therapeutic vaccine encodes neoantigens (patient-specific mutations) identified and selected by NEC's Neoantigen Prediction System. The prediction system is based on more than two decades of expertise in AI and has been trained on proprietary data allowing it to accurately prioritize and select the most immunogenic sequences.

TG4050 is designed to stimulate the immune system of patients in order to induce a T-cell response that is able to recognize and destroy tumor cells based on their own neoantigens. This individualized immunotherapy is developed and produced for each patient.

About Transgene

Transgene (Euronext: TNG) is a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Transgene's programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing cancer cells.

The Company's clinical-stage programs consist of a portfolio of therapeutic vaccines and oncolytic viruses:

TG4050, the first individualized therapeutic vaccine based on the myvac platform, TG4001 for the treatment of HPV-positive cancers, as well as TG6002, BT-001 and TG6050, three oncolytic viruses based on the Invir.IO viral backbone.

With Transgene's myvac platform, therapeutic vaccination enters the field of precision medicine with a novel immunotherapy that is fully tailored to each individual. The myvac approach allows the generation of a virus-based immunotherapy that encodes patient-specific mutations identified and selected by Artificial Intelligence capabilities provided by its partner NEC.

With its proprietary platform Invir.IO, Transgene is building on its viral vector engineering expertise to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses.

Additional information about Transgene is available at: www.transgene.fr

Follow us on social media: Twitter: @TransgeneSA LinkedIn: @Transgene

About NEC's Neoantigen Prediction System

NEC's neoantigen prediction system utilizes its proprietary AI, such as graph-based relational learning, trained on multiple sources of biological data to discover candidate neoantigen targets. These targets are carefully analyzed using proprietary machine learning algorithms that include in-house HLA binding and antigen presentation AI tools to evaluate the likelihood of eliciting a robust and clinically relevant T cell response. With NEC OncoImmunity now onboard, NEC continues to strengthen its top class neoantigen prediction pipelines with the aim of maximizing the therapeutic benefits of personalized cancer immunotherapy for patients worldwide. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com. For additional information, please also visit NEC OncoImmunity at https://www.oncoimmunity.com/

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world". NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.

For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com and NEC's AI Drug Development Business at https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/ai-drug/

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Company's activities, perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities' agreement with development phases, and development. The Company's ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Universal Registration Document, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene's website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005619/en/

Contacts:

Transgene:

Lucie Larguier

Director Corporate Communications IR

+33 (0)3 88 27 91 04

investorrelations@transgene.fr

NEC Corporation:

AI Drug Development Division

contact@aidd.jp.nec.com

Media: MEDiSTRAVA Consulting

David Dible/Sylvie Berrebi

+44 (0)203 928 6900

transgene@medistrava.com

NEC Corporation:

Joseph Jasper

j-jasper@nec.com

+81-3-3798-6511
Tedopi is the Company's Most Advanced Product in Clinical Development

ATALANTE-1, a Phase 3 clinical trial with positive results comparing Tedopi to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure to immunotherapy: New data on prognostic factors of overall survival supporting Tedopi 's mechanism of action in improving patients' overall survival.

TEDOVA, a Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored and conducted by the French oncology cooperative group ARCAGY-GINECO and supported by Merck Sharp Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck Co., Inc., and OSE Immunotherapeutics: An innovative combination approach in ovarian cancer with high unmet medical need. 180 patients planned and first results expected H1 2025.



Regulatory News:

OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) presented a poster and a publication in abstract book featuring Tedopi, an immunotherapy activating tumor specific T-cells, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in ovarian cancer at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting held June 2 6.

ADDITIONAL DATA FROM THE POSITIVE PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL IN NSCLC, ATALANTE-1

The publication- abstract "# e21037", "Prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after failure on immune checkpoint inhibitors (IO) treated with anticancer vaccine OSE2101 or chemotherapy (CT) in phase 3 ATALANTE-1 randomized trial" reported an analysis performed to identify the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in each treatment group of the Phase 3 clinical trial of Tedopi (Atalante-1) in HLA-A2+ patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), led by Pr. Benjamin Besse, Gustave Roussy cancer center, Principal Investigator of the study.

Tedopi is the first cancer vaccine that has shown positive and clinically meaningful efficacy results associated with a better safety and quality of life profile in monotherapy versus active comparator (chemotherapy-based standard of care) in third line with secondary resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced or metastatic NSCLC (Phase 3 trial ATALANTE-1). Classical baseline factors (disease stage, histology) and treatment effect including best response, safety and ECOG* Performance Status (PS) deterioration were studied in this analysis and correlated to OS.

The analysis concludes that prognostic factors of OS differ between the cancer vaccine Tedopi and the standard chemotherapy treatment. The maintenance of a good ECOG PS was associated with longer survival for Tedopi, and the best response to treatment was the main prognostic factor for chemotherapy. These results support the mechanism of action of Tedopi in improving OS by controlling tumor growth regardless of best response.

Dr. Silvia Comis, Head of Clinical Development of OSE Immunotherapeutics, commented: "Following the positive results presented at the ASCO and ESMO 2022, these additional data showing how Tedopi improves OS strengthen the data basis to better understand the benefit of Tedopi on OS in NSCLC patients with secondary resistance to anti-PD-1 treatments. We look forward to advancing the clinical development of Tedopi in second line through a confirmatory pivotal Phase 3".

TEDOVA PHASE 2 CLINICAL TRIAL IN OVARIAN CANCER

The poster entitled, "TEDOVA/GINECO-OV244b/ENGOT-ov58 trial: Neo-epitope-based vaccine OSE2101 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab vs best supportive care (BSC) as maintenance in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer with disease control after platinum", presented byDr.Alexandra Leary, from Gustave Roussy cancer center (Villejuif, France) and Principal Investigator of TEDOVA study, featured the ongoing Phase 2 international randomized open-label clinical trial, sponsored and conducted by ARCAGY-GINECO (Poster Bd 310a).

Dr Alexandra Leary commented: "Our patients with ovarian cancer do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors alone as these tumors are 'immune cold', not likely to trigger a strong immune response and usually not responding to immunotherapy. The objective of TEDOVA is to turn ovarian cancer into an 'immune hot' tumor by using Tedopi, a combination of tumor associated neo-epitopes that have been optimized to break immunological self-tolerance. TEDOVA is the first trial evaluating such an innovative approach in ovarian cancer. We thank the international gynecological oncology community for their support and enthusiasm in promoting and conducting this research, moreover, helping to better understand this particularly aggressive disease."

* The ECOG score is a performance scale used to quantify the general health condition of a patient.

It is subdivided into 5 grades from 0 to 5, ranging from fully active (0) to fully disabled, then to death (5).

PRESENTATION DETAILS

Prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after failure on immune checkpoint inhibitors (IO) treated with anticancer vaccine OSE2101 or chemotherapy (CT) in phase 3 ATALANTE-1 randomized trial." [NCT02654587]

Benjamin Besse, Paris-Saclay University, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

Date: June 4, 8:00 11:00 am CET

- Abstract e21037

- Session Type: Publication Only

- Session Title: Publication Only: Lung Cancer-Non-Small Cell Metastatic

- Track: Lung Cancer

- Sub Track: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Advanced/Metastatic Disease

"TEDOVA/GINECO-OV244b/ENGOT-ov58 trial: Neo-epitope-based vaccine OSE2101 alone or in combination with pembrolizumab vs best supportive care (BSC) as maintenance in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer with disease control after platinum." [NCT04713514]

Alexandra Leary, Gustave-Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, and GINECO, Paris, France

Date: June 5, 1:15 4:15 pm CET

- Abstract TPS5618

- Poster Bd 310a

- Session Type: Poster Session

- Session Title: Gynecologic Cancer

- Track: Gynecologic Cancer

- Sub Track: Ovarian Cancer

ABOUT NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality (18.0% of the total cancer deaths) with an estimated 2.2 million new cancer cases per year and with 1.8 million deaths. Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed form of cancer after prostate cancer in men, and the third one in women, after breast and colorectal cancers. Among this population, 85% of lung cancer fall into the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) form. About 58% are diagnosed at metastatic stage with a 5-year survival rate at 7%. Patients with HLA-A2 positive NSCLC represent 45% of this population. Over half of the patients will eventually develop secondary resistance to ICIs. Median overall survival after failure to immunotherapy is low with significant adverse events, thus a high unmet need for innovative therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes and enhance their quality of life. The targeted population for Tedopi in second line could be estimated up to 100,000 patients per year in 7 major markets across the US, Europe, China and Japan.

ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER

Worldwide, ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the eighth leading cause of cancer death in women. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer worldwide is 30-40%. In 2020, there were nearly 313,000 new cases diagnosed*. Once the first relapse has occurred, ovarian cancer is managed as a chronic disease, requiring iterative lines of platinum-based chemotherapy. After 6 cycles, chemotherapy is stopped and one of the major priorities is to extend "chemotherapy-free" intervals for the patients by proposing maintenance strategies with targeted therapies (PARP inhibitors or bevacizumab). By the time patients with ovarian cancer present with first or second relapse, they will have received BOTH a PARP inhibitor and bevacizumab, thus patients progressing post-PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab represent an area of unmet medical need, they are offered chemotherapy alone with no maintenance strategy. The TEDOVA trial adresses these women.

World Cancer Research Fund International

ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics

OSE Immunotherapeutics is a biotech company dedicated to developing first-in-class assets in immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation.

The Company's current well-balanced first-in-class clinical pipeline includes:

Tedopi (immunotherapy activating tumor specific T-cells, off-the-shelf, neoepitope-based): this cancer vaccine is the Company's most advanced product; positive results from the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients in secondary resistance after checkpoint inhibitor failure. Other Phase 2 trials, sponsored by clinical oncology groups, of Tedopi in combination are ongoing in solid tumors.

(immunotherapy activating tumor specific T-cells, off-the-shelf, neoepitope-based): this cancer vaccine is the Company's most advanced product; positive results from the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients in secondary resistance after checkpoint inhibitor failure. Other Phase 2 trials, sponsored by clinical oncology groups, of Tedopi in combination are ongoing in solid tumors. OSE-279 (anti-PD1): ongoing Phase 1/2 in solid tumors or lymphomas (first patient included). OSE-279 is the backbone therapy of the BiCKI platform.

(anti-PD1): ongoing Phase 1/2 in solid tumors or lymphomas (first patient included). OSE-279 is the backbone therapy of the BiCKI platform. OSE-127 lusvertikimab (humanized monoclonal antibody antagonist of IL-7 receptor); ongoing Phase 2 in Ulcerative Colitis (sponsor OSE Immunotherapeutics); ongoing preclinical research in leukemia (OSE Immunotherapeutics).

(humanized monoclonal antibody antagonist of IL-7 receptor); ongoing Phase 2 in Ulcerative Colitis (sponsor OSE Immunotherapeutics); ongoing preclinical research in leukemia (OSE Immunotherapeutics). FR-104/VEL-101 (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): developed in partnership with Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in transplantation; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsor Nantes University Hospital); Phase 1 ongoing in the US (sponsor Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).

(anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): developed in partnership with Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in transplantation; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsor Nantes University Hospital); Phase 1 ongoing in the US (sponsor Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). OSE-172/BI 765063 (anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody on CD47/SIRPa pathway) developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim in advanced solid tumors; positive Phase 1 dose escalation results in monotherapy and in combination, in particular with anti-PD-1 antibody ezabenlimab; international Phase 1b ongoing clinical trial in combination with ezabenlimab alone or with other drugs in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OSE Immunotherapeutics expects to generate further significant value from its two proprietary drug discovery platforms, which are central to its ambitious goal to deliver next-generation first-in-class immunotherapeutics:

BiCKI platform focused on immuno-oncology (IO) is a bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component of anti-PD1 combined with a new immunotherapy target to increase anti-tumor efficacy. BiCKI-IL-7 is the most advanced BiCKI candidate targeting anti-PD1xIL-7.

focused on immuno-oncology (IO) is a bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component of anti-PD1 combined with a new immunotherapy target to increase anti-tumor efficacy. BiCKI-IL-7 is the most advanced BiCKI candidate targeting anti-PD1xIL-7. Myeloid platform focused on optimizing the therapeutic potential of myeloid cells in IO and immuno-inflammation (I&I). OSE-230 (ChemR23 agonist mAb) is the most advanced candidate generated by the platform, with the potential to resolve chronic inflammation by driving affected tissues to tissue integrity.

Additional information about OSE Immunotherapeutics assets is available on the Company's website: www.ose-immuno.com

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Forward-looking statements

This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics' management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.

These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "target", "plan", or "estimate", their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics' shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on May 2, 2023, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2022, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics' website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005745/en/

Contacts:

OSE Immunotherapeutics

Sylvie Detry

sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com

+33 1 53 198 757



Nicolas Poirier

Chief Executive Officer

nicolas.poirier@ose-immuno.com

French Media: FP2COM

Florence Portejoie

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

+33 6 07 768 283
Regulatory News:

Philip Morris International Inc.'s (NYSE: PM) Chief Financial Officer, Emmanuel Babeau, will address investors today at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference in Paris.

The session will be webcast live in listen-only mode, beginning at approximately 9:15 a.m. CEST (3:15 a.m. ET), at www.pmi.com/2023deutschebank, and on the PMI Investor Relations Mobile Application (available for download at www.pmi.com/irapp). Presentation slides will also be available on the same site and the App. An archived copy of the webcast will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 7, 2023, also at www.pmi.com/2023deutschebank.

"We expect strong second-quarter performance, including total shipment volume growth driven by our smoke-free portfolio," said Emmanuel Babeau, Chief Financial Officer. "Today, we are reaffirming our 2023 full-year EPS forecast, which is underpinned by the excellent outlook for IQOS and ZYN."

2023 Full-Year Forecast

PMI reaffirms its 2023 full-year reported diluted EPS forecast, announced on April 20, 2023, of $5.88 to $6.00, at then-prevailing exchange rates. Excluding a total 2023 adjustment of $0.22 per share and an unfavorable currency impact, at then-prevailing exchange rates, of $0.30 per share, this forecast represents a projected currency-neutral increase of 7% to 9% versus adjusted diluted EPS of $5.98 in 2022, as outlined in the below table.

Full-Year 2023

Forecast 2022 Growth Reported Diluted EPS $5.88 $6.00 $5.81 Adjustments Asset impairment and exit costs 0.06 Amortization and impairment of intangibles 0.16 0.15 Termination of distribution arrangement in Middle East 0.04 Charges related to the war in Ukraine 0.08 Costs associated with Swedish Match AB offer 0.06 Swedish Match AB acquisition accounting related item 0.01 0.06 Tax benefit associated with Swedish Match AB financing (0.05) (0.13) Fair value adj. for equity security investments (0.02) Tax Items (0.03) Total Adjustments 0.22 0.17 Adjusted Diluted EPS $6.10 $6.22 $5.98 Less Currency (a) (0.30) Adjusted Diluted EPS, excluding currency $6.40 $6.52 $5.98 7% 9% (a) At then-prevailing exchange rates used for the company's April 20th forecast

The assumptions underlying this forecast remain unchanged versus those communicated by PMI in its earnings release of April 20th, with the exception of the following assumptions specific to the second quarter:

HTU shipment volume of around 31 to 32 billion units (+25% to +29% versus the second quarter of 2022), reflecting the upper half of the company's previous range;

Sequential improvement in adjusted operating income margin of up to 100 basis points versus the first quarter of 2023, reflecting (i) lower gross margin headwinds and (ii) organic SG&A expense growth broadly in line with net revenue growth on the same basis; and

Adjusted diluted EPS toward the top end of the company's prior forecast of $1.42 to $1.47, including an unfavorable currency impact, at then-prevailing exchange rates, of $0.13 per share.

Factors described in the Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements section of this release represent continuing risks to these projections.

Forward-Looking Cautionary Statements

The presentation, related discussion and this press release contain projections of future results and goals and other forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected financial or operational performance; capital allocation plans; investment strategies; regulatory outcomes; market expectations; and business plans and strategies. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. In the event that risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, PMI is identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by PMI.

PMI's business risks include: excise tax increases and discriminatory tax structures; increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions that could reduce our competitiveness, eliminate our ability to communicate with adult consumers, or ban certain of our products in certain markets or countries; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; litigation related to tobacco use and intellectual property; intense competition; the effects of global and individual country economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters and conflicts; the impact and consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine; changes in adult smoker behavior; the impact of COVID-19 on PMI's business; lost revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband and cross-border purchases; governmental investigations; unfavorable currency exchange rates and currency devaluations, and limitations on the ability to repatriate funds; adverse changes in applicable corporate tax laws; adverse changes in the cost, availability, and quality of tobacco and other agricultural products and raw materials, as well as components and materials for our electronic devices; and the integrity of its information systems and effectiveness of its data privacy policies. PMI's future profitability may also be adversely affected should it be unsuccessful in its attempts to produce and commercialize reduced-risk products or if regulation or taxation do not differentiate between such products and cigarettes; if it is unable to successfully introduce new products, promote brand equity, enter new markets or improve its margins through increased prices and productivity gains; if it is unable to expand its brand portfolio internally or through acquisitions and the development of strategic business relationships; if it is unable to attract and retain the best global talent, including women or diverse candidates; or if it is unable to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits from recent transactions and acquisitions. Future results are also subject to the lower predictability of our reduced-risk product category's performance.

PMI is further subject to other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including PMI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. PMI cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not a complete discussion of all potential risks and uncertainties. PMI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, except in the normal course of its public disclosure obligations.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than USD 10.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. In November 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match a leader in oral nicotine delivery creating a global smoke-free champion led by the companies' IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized versions of PMI's IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables and Swedish Match's General snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs). As of March 31, 2023, PMI's smoke-free products were available for sale in 78 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 18.5 million adults around the world had already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. Smoke-free products accounted for approximately 35% of PMI's total 2023 first-quarter net revenues. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI announced in February 2021 its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and, through its Vectura Fertin Pharma business, aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005843/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

Stamford, CT: +1 (203) 904 2410

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666

Email: InvestorRelations@pmi.com

Media: David Fraser

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500

Email: David.Fraser@pmi.com
Marula Mining Plc - Appointment of Key Positions to Strengthen Management Team

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 06

Marula Mining PLC

("Marula'' or the "Company")

6 June 2023

Appointment of Key Positions to Strengthen Management Team

Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU) an African focused mining and development company, is pleased to announce a number of key management appointments, including the appointment of Tokkas Van Heerden, as Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of the Company in a non-board position.

These appointments strengthen Marula's management team at both the corporate level at its headquarters in Nairobi and across its operational bases in East and Southern Africa. The new management appointments come as the Company advances its planned listing on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market and as the Company looks to deliver on its mine production and development strategy in the battery metals sector in Africa.

Highlights:

Mr Tokkas van Heerden appointed as COO of the Company and responsible for the successful development and operation of its mining operations through Africa.

Mr Henk van Zyl and Mr Edward Ruheni appointed as General Manager Operations Southern Africa and General Manager Operations East Africa respectively.

Other key management appointments include Ms Melissa Ndele appointed as the Group's Financial Controller, Ms Shiko Muchai as the Company's Joint Company Secretary, Ms Faith Kinyanjui appointed as the Company's Investor Relations Manager and Ms Eunice Wairima as the Company's Social Corporate Responsibility and ESG Manager, all based at the Company's headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

A strengthening of the Company's Board of Directors is underway with a number of key independent and non-executive appointments to be made ahead of the planned listing on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market to better represent the Company's activities and presence in Southern and East Africa. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Jason Brewer, Marula Mining PLC CEO said:

"The past several months have proven to be transformational for Marula and have seen the Company go from strength to strength, with a number of milestones in all of its planned mine operations and mine development activities.

"This growth and our ongoing transition to being an operational mining and mine investing and development company requires us to strengthen our management team if we are to deliver on our growth strategy, and new mine operations in the battery metals sector in Africa.

"I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Tokkas as COO, Henk and Edward as General Manager Southern and East Africa. Individually and collectively, these additions, with their whole host of experience and expertise, are an asset to Marula, and I have no doubt, will prove valuable as we enter the next phase of our development, and accomplish further significant milestones. I would also like to congratulate Melissa, Faith, Shiko and Eunice on their new positions, and who, based out of the Company's headquarters in Nairobi, are key members of the team that I believe will contribute greatly to our success."

Mr Tokkas van Heerden appointed as COO

Mr van Heerden has been appointed as COO and is responsible for overseeing and managing the Company's mining, development, and ore processing operations throughout Africa. In this role he will set and deliver on the Company's operating and capital budgets and forecasts to meet the annual corporate objectives and financial targets. He will further ensure the Company's activities comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements and lead the organisation in meeting the Company's environmental, health and safety, social corporate responsibility and ESG requirements and policies.

Tokkas is an experienced South African mining executive, based in South Africa and who has been responsible for various new mine developments and constructions, mine commissioning and managing mining operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique in the past 25 years.

Mr van Heerden has been working with the Company since July 2022 in his capacity as a director of Southern Metals Processing, which are the Company's mineral processing consultants and have been responsible for the processing activities at the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine and the copper processing plant design for the Kinusi Copper Mine, which is scheduled to commence processing operations in H2 2023.

Mr Hendrik ("Henk") Adriaan van Zyl appointed as General Manager Operations Southern Africa

Mr van Zyl has been appointed as General Manager Operations Southern Africa and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the construction, commissioning and operation of the Company's current and potential future mining and processing operations in Southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia He will be responsible for ensuring the Company's operations comply with all regulatory requirements and are compliant with Marula's environmental, health, safety and ESG policies.

Henk has 25 years' experience in South Africa's engineering, construction and mining industries and has been instrumental in the establishment, development and management of companies in both greenfield and brownfield surface and underground mining operations as well mining law regulation and compliance, mine to market and full supply chain management.

Mr van Zyl has been managing all operational and regulatory aspects of the Company's Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine since October 2022 and will also now work closely with Mr William Thompson, the Company's recently appointed Zimbabwe Country Manager, in advancing activities in Zimbabwe including evaluation work and due diligence reviews on several potential acquisition targets and joint venture opportunities.

Henk is currently a director of the Company's subsidiary Southern African Lithium and Tantalum Mining Proprietary Limited.

Mr Edward Ruheni appointed as General Manager Operations East Africa

Mr Ruheni has been appointed as General Manager Operations East Africa and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the construction, commissioning, and operation of the Kinusi Copper Mine and Nyorinyori and Bagamoyo Graphite Projects in Tanzania, as well as potential future new mining and processing operations throughout East Africa. A key aspect of his role will be in ensuring activities comply with all the relevant government regulatory requirements and that these activities are implemented in accordance with the Company's environmental, health, safety and ESG policies at all times.

Edward holds a bachelor's degree in Commerce and Finance from Strathmore University in Kenya and possesses a strong regional network and presence that the Director's believe is pivotal in overseeing and expanding the Company's activities and operations in the region.

Mr Ruheni is a director of Takela Mining Tanzania Limited, the Company's partner at the Kinusi Copper Mine and Nyorinyori Graphite Project and has been involved with the Company's recently appointed COO, Mr van Heerden, in advancing the Kinusi Copper Mine development, and processing activities and exploration work at the Nyorinyori Graphite Project.

Ms Shiko Muchai appointed as Joint Company Secretary

Ms Muchai has been appointed as Joint Company Secretary of the Company and will work closely with Orana Corporate LLP and Anthony Eastman in the United Kingdom in ensuring the Company maintains its strong record of corporate governance and administration.

Ms Melissa Ndele appointed as Group Financial Manager

Ms Ndele assumes the role of Financial Controller and will oversee and manage the Company's finance department and team which now extends through the United Kingdom, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. Melissa will be responsible for ensuring optimal financial performance and resource allocation across the Company's mining operations and new mine developments in East and Southern Africa.

Ms Faith Kinyanjui appointed as Investor Relations Manager and Digital Strategist

Ms Kinyanjui holds a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism and Communication from Riara University in Kenya and has been responsible for implementation of the Company's strategic communication, and media plans and policies since July 2022. In this role as Investor Relations Manager and Digital Strategist, Faith will be responsible for preparing and implementing the Company's communication strategies to maintain and build on the positive relationships with our stakeholders both in the United Kingdom and throughout Africa.

Ms Eunice Wairima as the Company's Social Corporate Responsibility and ESG Manager

Ms Wairima assumes the role of Social Corporate Responsibility and ESG Manager of the Company's activities throughout East and Southern Africa. This is considered a major role within the Company's management structure and important in ensuring our operations are efficient and in line with the Company's sustainable and responsible mining practices. Eunice's role is a great addition to ensure Marula maintains a high standard within the local regions it operates in and more so for the greater good of the environment.

The Directors of Marula are responsible for the contents of this announcement.

About Marula Mining

Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU) is an African focused battery metals investment and exploration company and has interests in several high value mine projects in Africa; Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine in South Africa, Nkombwa Hill Project in Zambia and Kinusi Copper mine, Bagamoyo Graphite Project and Nyorinyori Graphite Project in Tanzania. As we advance operations at these battery metals focused projects, Marula will continue to build and expand its interests in other high-quality projects in Africa.

Marula's strategy is to identify and invest in advanced and high-value mining projects throughout East, Central and Southern Africa that the Directors believe would deliver returns for its shareholders. The Board and management team aims to establish Marula as a socially and environmentally responsible, sustainable, and profitable producer of critical metals and commodities that are of increasingly strategic importance to modern technologies and the global economy.

Marula's shares are traded on the AQUIS Stock Exchange (AQSE), Marula is exploring opportunities to admit its shares to trading on AIM, the market operated by the London Stock Exchange Group plc, and Kenya's Nairobi Securities Exchange.

For enquiries contact:

Marula Mining PLC Jason Brewer, Chief Executive Officer Faith Kinyanjui Mumbi Investor Relations Email: jason@marulamining.com Email: info@marulamining.com AQSE Corporate Adviser Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, Liam Murray / Ludovico Lazzaretti +44 (0)20 7213 0880 Broker

Peterhouse Capital Limited,

Charles Goodfellow / Duncan Vasey +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Financial PR and IR BlytheRay Tim Blythe / Megan Ray / Said Izagaren +44 (0)20 7138 3204

Caution;

Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identi?ed by their use of terms and phrases such as 'believe', 'could', "should" 'envisage', 'estimate', 'intend', 'may', 'plan', 'potentially', "expect", 'will' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements re?ect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.
Caltech's space solar program began in 2011 when philanthropist Donald Bren donated more than $100 million in support of the project. In the first demonstration of solar energy beamed to earth, his vision is now becoming reality.From pv magazine USA Space-based solar power has been studied for decades because, theoretically, it could tap into a virtually unlimited supply of solar energy in outer space. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers estimate that solar from space could yield eight times more power than solar panels at any location on Earth's surface, and in January, ...

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.
ETSI remote identity proofing certification allows Onfido to provide compliant identity proofing solutions for trust services across Europe.

Onfido, the global leader in automated identity verification, today announced it has achieved ETSI TS 119 461 certification, the latest European technical standards for identity proofing and trust services by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). This allows Onfido to act as an Identity Proofing Service Provider (IPSP) for Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSP) and support know your customer (KYC) for anti-money laundering (AML) regulated businesses. The independent certification establishes Onfido as the first global provider to support customers' international expansion ambitions with ETSI and the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework certification.

ETSI Standards

ETSI supports EU regulations, such as Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS), that standardise electronic trust services and digital identity across the EU. Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing Customer Due Diligence requires KYC, which can be achieved using ETSI-compliant remote identity proofing solutions. Certifying for ETSI TS 119 461 distinguishes Onfido's ability to serve globally and comply locally.

Onfido achieved the comprehensive certification by completing an extensive audit process, meeting strict criteria which verifies both that the solutions adhere to the highest security, interoperability and assurance standards, and that Onfido is a mature, reputable and established provider.

Organisations, especially those subject to AML requirements, can partner with Onfido when expanding into European markets, keeping their business and customers safe from emerging fraud attack vectors, such as synthetic fraud, and future-proofing against evolving regulation.

Onfido is the identity verification provider of choice for leading, established European financial services and fintechs such as Bank Millennium, HYPE, Mollie and BUX, and mobility providers Europcar, Voi, Bolt and Hely.

"Conforming to local standards allows us to maintain business continuity. It enables us to innovate locally and achieve a competitive advantage with a frictionless KYC experience for our customers," said Tomasz Brzostowski, Head of Digital Sales, Bank Millennium.

Navigating compliance to unlock new markets

The regulatory landscape is challenging for organisations to navigate with a patchwork of local and global compliance standards and the continuously evolving sophistication of fraud. ETSI TS 119 461 ensures that providers and their solutions are secure and deliver a higher level of assurance to be deployed and accepted across the EU.

"Regulation is essential for ensuring secure access to online services, preventing fraudulent activity and encouraging innovation," said Francesca Porter, General Counsel at Onfido. "ETSI TS 119 461 for identity verification provides a new standard for security, interoperability and assurance across the industry while setting the foundation for issuing trust services in future, such as qualified electronic signatures (QES). We will continue to support organisations in meeting their compliance needs with resources dedicated to tracking regulation as it evolves and factoring it into our product roadmap."

With the emergence of new forms of digital identity, such as eIDs, and an evolving fraud landscape, regulations are periodically updated to reflect business and consumer needs. Download the EU KYC requirements whitepaper to get a digest on what the future looks like for navigating regulation and compliance.

Organisations can integrate Onfido's end-to-end identity platform for verifying user identity for the purposes of meeting compliance requirements and preventing fraud. It combines a comprehensive suite of products, including:

Verification Suite featuring document and biometric verification, trust data sources, and fraud detection signals.

Smart Capture SDKs that make it simple to integrate best-in-class capture experiences to web and mobile applications.

Onfido Studio that enables businesses to coordinate the identity platform and build tailored workflows in a drag-and-drop interface to meet their unique requirements.

About Onfido:

Onfido makes digital identity simple. The Onfido Real Identity Platform allows businesses to tailor verification methods to individual needs in a no-code orchestration layer, combining document and biometric verification, data sources, and passive fraud signals. Onfido Atlas AI powers the platform's end-to-end identity verification. Developed in-house for over 10 years, Onfido Atlas ensures its fair, fast and accurate outcomes.

Recognised as a global leader in AI for identity verification and authentication, Onfido is backed by TPG Growth, Idinvest Partners, Crane Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, M12 (Microsoft) and others. Onfido partners with over 900 businesses globally to help millions access services every week from billion dollar institutions to hypergrowth start-ups.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005085/en/

Contacts:

press@onfido.com
LACHEN, Switzerland, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

Octapharma to present new clinical and scientific findings for wilate  , Nuwiq  , octaplex  and atenativ  at the upcoming ISTH 2023 Congress

, Nuwiq , octaplex and atenativ at the upcoming ISTH 2023 Congress New data and clinical study developments will be presented in nine posters and during two Supported Symposia

The most recent developments from Octapharma's Haematology and Critical Care portfolios will be presented at the 31st Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) on June 24-28, 2023, in Montreal, Canada. The data will be featured in nine poster presentations and two Supported Symposia during this key international meeting. Octapharma is a proud Silver Supporter of the ISTH 2023 Congress. There will also be a promotional booth focusing on modern approaches to bleeding and coagulation management.

People with inherited bleeding disorders, such as haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease, are at risk of recurrent and prolonged bleeds placing a heavy burden on patients' lives. In addition to the risk of potentially life-threatening bleeds, increased bleeding is associated with long-term consequences that severely impair patients' quality of life.

Patients with a deficiency of the prothrombin complex of coagulation factors are also at increased risk of bleeding. Such deficiencies may be inherited but can also be acquired and may be induced by the use of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for anticoagulation therapy. During urgent surgery, rapid correction of the deficiency is required and can be achieved through the use of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates (4F-PCC). 4F-PCC can also be used to control major bleeding associated with the use of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy in patients with factor Xa inhibitors.

The presentations at ISTH 2023 reflect Octapharma's long-term commitment to improving patient care and addressing unmet clinical needs.

"We are proud to showcase our new data and provide updates of studies from across Octapharma's haematology and critical care portfolios at ISTH 2023," said Olaf Walter, Board Member at Octapharma. "Despite advances in the field, people with bleeding and coagulation disorders still face considerable challenges surrounding bleed management. At Octapharma, we strive to address such challenges head-on with the goal to improve the day-to-day lives of patients."

Poster Presentations

The WIL-31 study investigated the efficacy and safety of prophylaxis with wilate in patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) of any gender with VWD type 1, type 2 (except 2N) or type 3. The results of the study show that wilate prophylaxis is highly effective at reducing the number of bleeds in children and adults, and provides compelling evidence to support the use of regular prophylaxis in patients with severe VWD. Further data on the efficacy and safety of wilate prophylaxis is being collected in the WIL-33 study in children under six years of age. The goals and design of this study will be presented.

Prophylaxis is already the standard of care for people with haemophilia A. The results of an indirect comparison show that fewer patients experienced bleeds when receiving personalised prophylaxis with Nuwiq rather than prophylaxis with a comparator factor VIII (FVIII) product. New data exploring differences in the binding of different recombinant FVIII products to platelets in vitro will be shared in a separate poster.

Although haemophilia A mainly affects males, female carriers may also have reduced levels of FVIII and be at increased risk of bleeding, especially during traumatic events such as surgery. Data from a retrospective case series of female haemophilia A carriers who were prescribed Nuwiq during surgery at the Bonn Haemophilia Centre will provide an insight into the effective treatment of females.

MOTIVATE is an ongoing, international investigator-initiated study made possible through funding from Octapharma AG, evaluating the management of haemophilia A patients with inhibitors. The Coordinating investigators, Drs Carmen Escuriola Ettingshausen and Robert F. Sidonio Jr., will provide an update on the study status as a poster at the Congress.

The LEX-210 study will evaluate the haemostatic efficacy of octaplex in patients with acute major bleeding receiving factor Xa inhibitors. As anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) activity levels will be measured in these patients, the correlation between heparin-calibrated and specific factor Xa inhibitor assays has been analysed and will be presented.

The results from the first head-to-head, phase 3, randomised, controlled trial (LEX-209) comparing two 4F-PCCs in patients on VKA anticoagulation who need urgent surgery will be presented, with a focus on dosing and haemostatic efficacy results. The results show that octaplex was non-inferior to control 4F-PCC for rapid vitamin K antagonist reversal in patients undergoing urgent surgeries with significant bleeding risk.

The posters will be presented at the following times:

Sunday June 25, 18:30-19:30 ET

PB0163 . Differential binding of recombinant FVIII products to platelets, and impact of FVIII on VWF expression and platelet contractility in vitro . Presenting author: Viola Vogel.

. Differential binding of recombinant FVIII products to platelets, and impact of FVIII on VWF expression and platelet contractility . Presenting author: Viola Vogel. PB0235 . Phase 3 study of the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety of von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate in patients with severe von Willebrand disease under 6 years of age. Presenting author: Akshat Jain.

. Phase 3 study of the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety of von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate in patients with severe von Willebrand disease under 6 years of age. Presenting author: Akshat Jain. PB0238. Prospective, phase III study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a human antithrombin III concentrate in congenital antithrombin deficiency during surgery or childbirth. Presenting author: Craig Kessler.

Monday June 26, 18:30-19:30 ET

PB0840 . Efficacy of prophylaxis with a plasma-derived von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate in patients with von Willebrand disease: Subgroup analysis by age and VWD type. Presenting Author: Robert F. Sidonio Jr.

. Efficacy of prophylaxis with a plasma-derived von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate in patients with von Willebrand disease: Subgroup analysis by age and VWD type. Presenting Author: Robert F. Sidonio Jr. PB0681 . German experience with simoctocog alfa during surgery in female haemophilia A carriers. Presenting author: Natascha Marquart.

. German experience with simoctocog alfa during surgery in female haemophilia A carriers. Presenting author: Natascha Marquart. PB0584. Using heparin-calibrated assays to assess anti-factor Xa activity of factor Xa inhibitors (FXaI): a literature correlation analysis. Presenting author: Ravindra Sarode.

Using heparin-calibrated assays to assess anti-factor Xa activity of factor Xa inhibitors (FXaI): a literature correlation analysis. Presenting author: Ravindra Sarode. PB1032. Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates for vitamin K antagonist reversal before urgent surgery: dosing and hemostatic efficacy in a double-blind randomized study. Presenting author: Ravindra Sarode.

Tuesday June 27, 18:30-19:30 ET

PB1261 . Matching adjusted indirect comparisons between personalized prophylaxis with simoctocog alfa versus standard prophylaxis with turoctocog alfa in adults with severe haemophilia A. Presenting author: Fernando F. Corrales-Medina.

. Matching adjusted indirect comparisons between personalized prophylaxis with simoctocog alfa versus standard prophylaxis with turoctocog alfa in adults with severe haemophilia A. Presenting author: Fernando F. Corrales-Medina. PB1288. Immune tolerance induction (ITI) strategies in haemophilia A patients with inhibitors - data from the MOTIVATE study. Presenting author: Carmen Escuriola Ettingshausen.

Wednesday June 28, 13:00-14:00 ET

PO11. Impact of simoctocog alfa prophylaxis on bleeding and joint health in Spanish patients with severe haemophilia A. Presenting author: Maria Teresa Alvarez-Roman.

Supported Symposia

New clinical and scientific data, as well as updates on ongoing and new studies, will be shared during two Supported Symposia during the Congress.

Final Results of the WIL-31 Study - A New Treatment Standard for von Willebrand Disease Patients with Severe Bleeding?

Monday June 26, 13:15-14:30 ET, Room 511

Chair: Alok Srivastava, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India



The symposium will focus on new data regarding the use of wilate prophylaxis in children and adults to improve the lives of people with VWD. Topics presented will include the importance of prophylaxis, including current guidelines on the management of VWD and how to identify patients who may benefit from prophylactic treatment. Key learnings from the WIL-31 VWD prophylaxis study will be shared and case presentations of select WIL-31 patient cases from across the globe will be discussed.

Bringing Together Two Worlds - Scientific and Clinical Insights for All-Round Bleed Protection in Haemophilia A

Tuesday June 27, 13:15-14:30 ET, Room 511

Chair: Davide Matino, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada



Octapharma's symposium on haemophilia A this year is dedicated to both, scientists and clinicians. The speakers will present data from the NuPreviq trial and the matching adjusted indirect comparisons (MAIC) analyses of Nuwiq vs extended half-life (EHL) products as well as introduce the PROVE study. Topics discussed during this symposium will also include the role of platelets in FVIII binding, impact of prophylaxis on microRNA expression (biomarkers of joint and bone health) and how to utilise the power of RNASeq to understand inhibitor development.

Both symposia will be open to congress participants in Montreal and will be streamed live for participants not attending the Congress. The opportunity to ask questions will be available at both symposia.

Larisa Belyanskaya, Head of IBU Haematology at Octapharma commented: "We are delighted to showcase new data from WIL-31, which supports the importance of prophylaxis in people with von Willebrand disease, and to discuss scientific and clinical questions that need to be address to advance the management of people with haemophilia A."

About Octapharma

Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines.

Octapharma employs more than11,000 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 118 countries with products across three therapeutic areas: Immunotherapy, Haematology and Critical Care.

Octapharma has seven R&D sites and five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany and Sweden, and operates more than 190 plasma donation centres across Europe and the US. Octapharma has 40 years of experience in patient care.

About Nuwiq

Nuwiq (simoctocog alfa) is a 4th generation recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) protein, produced in a human cell line without chemical modification or fusion with any other protein[1]. It is cultured without additives of human or animal origin, is devoid of antigenic non-human protein epitopes and has a high affinity for von Willebrand factor[1]. Nuwiq treatment has been assessed in nine[1-3] completed clinical trials which included 201 previously treated patients (190 individuals)[1] and 108 previously untreated patients[2] with severe haemophilia A. Nuwiq is available in 250 IU, 500 IU, 1,000 IU, 1,500 IU, 2,000 IU, 2,500 IU, 3,000 IU and 4,000 IU presentations[4]. Nuwiq is approved for use in the treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A (congenital FVIII deficiency) across all age groups[4].

About wilate

wilate is a high-purity human von Willebrand factor/factor VIII (VWF/FVIII) concentrate, that undergoes two virus inactivation steps during its production[5]. No albumin is added as a stabiliser[5]. The purification processes result in a 1:1 ratio of VWF to FVIII that is similar to normal plasma[5]. wilate contains a VWF triplet structure and content of large high molecular weight multimers similar to normal human plasma[5]. wilate is exclusively derived from large pools of human plasma collected in approved plasma donation centres[6]. wilate is available in 500 IU and 1,000 IU presentations. wilate is indicated for the prevention and treatment of haemorrhage or surgical bleeding in von Willebrand disease (VWD), when desmopressin (DDAVP) alone is ineffective or contra-indicated, and for the treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A (congenital factor VIII deficiency)[6].

About octaplex

octaplex is a human four factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) containing Factors II, VII, IX and X, as well as inhibitor protein C and its cofactor protein S. octaplex is indicated for the treatment of bleeding and perioperative prophylaxis of bleeding in acquired deficiency of the prothrombin complex coagulation factors, such as deficiency caused by treatment with vitamin K antagonists, or in case of overdose of vitamin K antagonists, when rapid correction of the deficiency is required. It can also be used in the treatment of bleeding and perioperative prophylaxis in congenital deficiency of the vitamin K dependent coagulation factors II and X when purified specific coagulation factor product is not available. octaplex is presented in vials containing 500 IU and 1000 IU of human prothrombin complex. The total protein content per vial is 260-820 mg (500 IU vial)/ 520-1640 mg (1000 IU vial). The specific activity of the product is = 0.6 IU/mg proteins, expressed as factor IX activity. Do not store above 25C, do not freeze. Store in the original package in order to protect from light. The product shelf life is three years.[7]

About atenativ

atenativ is a human antithrombin III concentrate (AT III), which is presented in vials containing 500 IU and 1000 IU of human antithrombin III as lyophilised powder for infusion. After reconstitution with 10 mL water for injection (WFI), the solution provides 50 IU/mL or 100 IU/mL of human antithrombin III. Store in the refrigerator (2-8 C) Keep the vials in the outer carton in order to protect from light. The shelf life is three years. It has been indicated for treatment of patients with congenital and acquired antithrombin deficiency including prophylaxis for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolism in clinical risk situations (especially in surgery, pregnancy and childbirth), in combination with heparin, if indicated, as well as prevention of the progression of deep venous thrombosis and thromboembolism associated with heparin as indicated.[8] atenativ is currently not registered in Canada.

1. Lissitchkov T et al. Ther Adv Hematol 2019; 10:2040620719858471.

2. Liesner RJ et al. Thromb Haemost 2021; 121:1400-8.

3. Octapharma AG; Data on file.

4. Nuwiq Summary of Product Characteristics.

5. Stadler M et al. Biologicals 2006; 34:281-8.

6. wilate Summary of Product Characteristics.

7. octaplex Summary of Product Characteristics.

8. atenativ Summary of Product Characteristics.

Octapharma press releases are specifically for health specialist/medical media and are not for consumer press.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/octapharma-presents-new-data-at-isth-2023-in-an-ongoing-commitment-to-improve-the-lives-of-people-with-bleeding-disorders-301842617.html
STRASBOURG, France, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At VivaTechnology, IMKI, a startup specialised in the design and development of custom Generative AI, will present its solutions dedicated to the Luxury, to produce powerful creative tools that draw from the DNA and artistic heritage while preserving them.

Generative AI is a revolution and is evolving very rapidly. It engenders strong changes in the processes of creation and innovation.

Will AI make creators and creatives disappear - No !

IMKI today addresses all creative companies worldwide for which the past is an asset to build future developments and provides them with the technological solution that allows them to take part in the AI revolution.

Those in the luxury are based on brands with heritage and strong DNA : Revisiting an iconic piece, creating the next trendy model with the brand's codes, testing creations before launching into production. These are some examples of what generative AI allows luxury businesses to do.

With its Augmented Creativity concept, IMKI relies on its clients' proprietary data and positions itself as a provider of creative assistance services to support them and allow to benefit from the power of generative AI.

IMKI creates AI As a Service

With its custom tool to assist in creation, IMKI's generative AI reveals its full power both by accelerating the creative process and by reducing production costs.

IMKI absorbs the skills of a company, a designer to construct a creative and custom response to their needs while contributing to innovation, creation and transmission of know-how

IMKI is the 1stAI as a service in the field of images generation. It is to the visual creation sector what chat GPT is to the textual AI sector, but not as an open and universal service, but as a dedicated and closed service, for the benefit of brand heritage. Grow your heritage is its promise !

IMKI safeguards the copyrights and intellectual property of its clients

AI can strengthen copyrights and intellectual property by proposing a sequencing of a brand's genetic code. AI guarantees and legitimizes proprietary data with a protected method.

IMKI generator of custom creative AI

Founded in 2020 in Strasbourg, IMKI develops proprietary generative AI that allow its clients for Luxury and Culture to multiply their creative power while optimizing their production cost.

Thanks to its expertise and unique method, IMKI generate specific contents through AI. The objective? To multiply creative capabilities and sanctify the artistic DNA of companies to fructify this heritage.

This tool enables the enhancement of all heritages, from brands to our Territories. IMKI has developed The Sound Odyssey (https://www.odyssee-sonore.com), a multisensory immersive experience at the Roman Theatre of Orange, his exceptional 2000-year-old monument still at the forefront of innovation. For the first time in the world, a monumental 360 video mapping was entirely designed by AI, a cutting-edge technology capable of imagining and designing worlds and creatures of unparalleled creativity.

See you at VIVATECHNOLOGY (https://vivatechnology.com)

Press release: https://cdn-assets.inwink.com/094dd8fe-6acf-40d8-aea1-fbfbc95cf9a4/a846e123-b11f-4fb1-be16-2904e4bf298f1

Contact: Marie LATHOUD, m.lathoud@imki.tech

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CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agricultural Testing Market is estimated at USD 6.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 9.8 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2023 to 2028 according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets.

The demand for agricultural testing is rising globally due to several reasons. there is an increasing awareness and emphasis on food safety and quality. Consumers are more concerned about the potential presence of contaminants, pesticides, and other harmful substances in their food. This has led to stricter regulations and standards for agricultural products, driving the need for comprehensive testing to ensure compliance. Globalization and international trade have expanded significantly in the agricultural sector. Different countries have varying import requirements and regulations for agricultural products. Testing is essential to demonstrate compliance with these standards and facilitate smooth trade relationships.

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The safety testing in application segment accounted for the largest share of the agricultural testing market in 2023 in terms of value.

Safety testing of agricultural samples includes testing for targets such as toxins, pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, GMOs, and organic contaminants. The presence of contamination in soil, water, seed, compost, and biosolids can lead to contamination of the agricultural produce, which can lead to foodborne illnesses and cause several health issues on consumption by humans. Thus, significant emphasis has been laid on safety testing of agricultural samples, with focus on addressing loopholes in safety laws, implementing good agricultural practices (GAP), and also continuing research to determine the maximum residue limits for contaminants in food. Further, due to increase in apprehension among consumers toward GM content in food and introduction of GM labeling mandates and regulations on specific GM traits, GMO testing for seeds is also an emerging driver for this market. Also, due to the disposal of toxic chemicals in water bodies through untreated wastewater and effluents is a major concern for the agricultural sector as irrigation of agricultural land with this contaminated water can lead to soil toxicity and public health concerns. As a result, safety testing of agricultural samples has gained importance over the years.

The rapid technology of the technology segment accounted for the highest share of the agricultural testing market in 2023 to 2028 in terms of value.

Rapid technology is segmented into chromatography & spectrometry, PCR, ELISA, and X-ray fluorescence which are used to test and identify contaminants through different means. Rapid diagnostic tests provide results in a significantly shorter time compared to conventional methods. These tests employ techniques such as immunochromatography, lateral flow assays, or molecular-based methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR). With rapid tests, agricultural professionals can quickly identify pathogens, contaminants, or diseases, allowing for swift decision-making and timely interventions. Rapid technology also enables testing to be conducted directly at the site of sample collection, eliminating the need to transport samples to a laboratory. Portable and handheld devices, such as biosensors or miniaturized PCR machines, are now available, enabling real-time analysis in the field. On-site testing reduces turnaround time, improves resource allocation, and allows for immediate actions to be taken based on test results.

The soil segment of the sample segment is estimated to grow at the highest in the agricultural testing market.

Soil sample testing enables precise nutrient management in agriculture. By determining the nutrient levels in the soil, farmers can apply fertilizers and soil amendments judiciously, avoiding overuse or underuse of nutrients. This targeted approach optimizes nutrient application rates, reduces fertilizer waste, and minimizes the environmental impact of excessive nutrient runoff. Effective nutrient management based on soil sample testing helps ensure sustainable agriculture practices, conserves resources, and reduces the risk of nutrient pollution in water bodies. Soil sample testing assists farmers in selecting appropriate crops and planning their planting strategies. Different crops have varying nutrient requirements and tolerances to soil conditions. By analyzing soil samples, farmers can identify which crops are best suited for their specific soil characteristics. They can make informed decisions regarding crop rotation, choosing crops that complement the soil's nutrient content and address any deficiencies. Soil sample testing aids in optimizing crop selection, diversifying farming systems, and maximizing the utilization of available soil resources.

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The Asia Pacific region accounted for the fastest growing market, in terms of value, of the global agricultural testing market in 2028.

Major growth drivers of the Asia Pacific include increased adoption of advanced biotechnological methods and organic farming resulting in a need for agricultural testing services, and an increase in the number of exports from the region, necessitating agricultural testing for the produce. Agriculture is one of the prime industrial sectors in several countries in the region, further driving the growth of the market. While many countries have successfully adopted farm mechanization techniques that are used for crop production, harvest, and post-harvest operations such as packaging and marketing to help improve the quality of produce, there are many countries which are yet to adopt such mechanized technologies in an all-inclusive manner. Although the region has been able to successfully implement positive changes in their agricultural methodologies, the region's yields continue to remain stunted, mainly owing to the deteriorating soil quality and water quality, increased use of fertilizers to maintain increasing yields, and the extensive use of chemical pesticides. This drives the need to adopt quality analysis technologies.

This report includes a study of the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolio of leading companies. These companies include SGS (Switzerland), Eurofins (Luxembourg), Intertek (UK), Bureau Veritas (France), ALS Limited (Australia), TUV Nord Group (Germany), Merieux (US), AsureQuality (New Zealand), RJ Hill Laboratories Limited (New Zealand), SCS Global (US), Agrifood Technology (Australia), APAL Agricultural Laboratory (Australia), Agvise Laboratories (US), LGC Limited (UK) and Water Agricultural Laboratories (US).

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Browse Adjacent Reports @ Agriculture Industry Market Research Reports & Consulting

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Environmental Testing Market by Sample (Wastewater/Effluent, Soil, Water, Air), Technology (Rapid, conventional), Target Tested (Microbial Contamination, Organic Compounds, Heavy Metals, Residues, Solids), End Users and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Food Safety Testing Market by Technology (Traditional and Rapid), Target Tested, Food Tested (Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Dairy, Processed Foods, Fruits & Vegetables, and Cereals & grains) and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Microbiological Testing of Water Market by Pathogen type (Legionella, Coliform, Salmonella, Clostridium, Vibrio), Type (Instruments, Reagents & Test Kits), Water Type (Drinking & Bottle, Industrial water), Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - European Energy Metals (TSXV: FIN) (FSE: W28) ("European Energy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the engagement of Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc. to design and implement the Company's 2023 exploration program for its Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum ("LCT") and Rare Earth Element ("REE") Finnish Pegmatite Project, consisting of five exploration concessions in central and southern Finland.

"After thorough research, we agreed to move forward with Resourceful Geoscience Solutions based on their track record and in-country on the ground experience," stated European Energy Metals CEO Jeremy Poirier. "European Energy's phase one exploration programs will focus on evaluating over 2,300 square kilometres of prospective concessions with the focus of identifying high priority targets for phase 2 drilling targeted for late 2023 as we continue to work toward developing our Finland Pegmatite Project portfolio into one of Europe's major sources of lithium and REEs, critical metals to the green future," he continued.

Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc. is a boutique geological and mineral exploration consultancy headquartered in Halifax, NS, Canada. Their team has expertise across a range of commodities, deposit types, project scales, and operational jurisdictions on three continents; including previous on the ground experience in the country of Finland. Resourceful Geoscience Solutions drives strategic exploration through a commitment to geoscientific first principles.

Pursuant to an earn-in agreement with Capella Minerals Ltd., European Energy has the right to earn an 80% interest in the Finnish Pegmatite Project. A detailed assessment of the historic and government exploration data compiled by the Finnish Geological Survey ("GTK") identified a series of permissive tracts for LCT pegmatites. The concessions comprising the Finnish Pegmatite Project were identified as a result of this pegmatite research.

About the Finland Pegmatite Project

The Finland Pegmatite Project consists of four exploration concessions in central Finland and one exploration concession in southern Finland. These reservations cover a total area of 2,300 square kilometres and are focused on Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum or LCT pegmatite complexes located within the Jarvi-Pohjanmaa and Seinajoki lithium-permissive tracts as defined by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). Four of the reservations (Nabba, Lappajarvi W, Lappajarvi E and Kaatiala) lie immediately adjacent to, and to the south of, Keliber Oy's spodumene mine development project in the Kaustinen district.

Keliber Oy is a consortium, comprised of Sibanye-Stillwater (79%), Finnish Minerals Group (20%) and Finnish shareholders (1%). A Definitive Feasibility Study by Hatch dated June 14, 2018 states a JORC Code 2012 compliant Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 9.47 million tonnes at a grade of 1.16% Li2O.1

European Energy cautions investors the presence of lithium mineralization at Keliber Oy is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at the Nabba concession.

Under the terms of an Earn In Agreement with Capella Minerals Limited (TSXV: CMIL), European Energy may earn an 80% interest in the Finland Pegmatite Project by issuing 1,750,000 shares, paying Cdn$500,000 and incurring Cdn$2,500,000 dollars in exploration expenditures staged over a 4 year earn in period.

1. Definitive Feasibility Study - Executive Summary June 14, 2018 by Hatch. http://mb.cision.com/Public/14755/2547948/b83a99f0255413fe.pdf

R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo. (BC), a Director of European Energy Metals Corp., is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content disclosed in this release.

Corporate Update

In addition, European Energy announces that it has engaged Winning Media LLC ("Winning Media") to provide to provide digital marketing services in an effort to increase investor awareness of the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, Winning Media will receive a payment of US$150,000 in connection with the investor marketing campaign, payable one-time in advance. The agreement has a proposed initial term ending August 31, 2023. Winning has not started their program and no start date has been confirmed. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and Winning Media will not receive securities of the Company as compensation. European Energy and Winning Media act at arm's length, and Winning Media and its principals have no present interest, directly or indirectly, in European Energy or its securities. Winning Media is based out of Houston, Texas and brings over 20 years of experience in the online advertising and investor marketing industry.

The Company has also engaged Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. ("VLP") to initiate its market-making service to provide assistance in maintaining an orderly trading market for the common shares of the Company. The market-making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd., in compliance with the applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable laws. For its services, European Energy has agreed to pay VLP Cdn$5,000 per month for a period of three months. The agreement may be terminated at any time by European Energy or VLP. European Energy and VLP act at arm's length, and VLP and its principals have no present interest, directly or indirectly, in European Energy or its securities. The finances and the common shares required for the market-making service are provided by W.D. Latimer. The fee paid by European Energy to VLP is for services only. VLP is a specialized consulting firm based in Toronto providing a variety of services focused on TSX Venture Exchange listed issuers.

The Company also announces that Lachlan McLeod has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company to pursue other opportunities. The Company would like to thank Mr. McLeod for his service and wish him well with his future endeavors. Until a replacement is located, Jeremy Poirier will act as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. It is expected the company will announce a new CFO within the next few days.

About European Energy Metals Corp.

European Energy Metals Corp. is a junior mining company currently focussed on the Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum Finnish Pegmatite Project in central Finland. Governing bodies in Europe and Finland are legislating environmentally friendly and energy independent laws and policies. One of the key components is access to REE and, specifically, lithium. The Company is also focusing on its Champ Copper Project located in Southeast British Columbia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, CEO

Telephone: 604-722-9842

Email: info@europeanenergymetals.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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the future planned exploration programs for, and the exploration potential of, the Finland Pegmatite Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include the costs of any anticipated work programs and the ability to fund such costs, required approvals in connection with any work programs and the ability to obtain such approvals, risks inherent in exploration as well as those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

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DUBAI, UAE, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of the inaugural Driven by Change residency at Studio Thirteen by awarding a female Saudi artist a career-enhancing residency programme in the latest phase of the Driven by Change initiative.

Artist, Nujood Al-Otaibi, who creates artworks inspired by her hearing impairment, is the latest creative to join the Driven by Change community. The programme champions underrepresented creatives across the globe offering unparalleled opportunities leveraging the global platform of motorsports to showcase their work.

During the artist residency, Nujood will have access to the newly created Driven by Change residency: a funded studio space housed in Studio Thirteen in Dubai, the home of artist Rabab Tantawy, who designed the McLaren car livery at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which kick-started the Driven by Change initiative.

With affordable studios becoming harder to find, this studio space aims to provide a creative hub for artists like Nujood to hone their craft. Here, Nujood will be able to display her work and will be offered mentorship to further develop her artistic skills. She will have the creative freedom to produce unique pieces of art inspired by her culture and her life journey, some of which will be linked to the McLaren F1 Team throughout the year.

The Jeddah-based artist's skills were borne from an early age, as her father, also an artist, encouraged her to draw. Nujood's artistic journey began with the loss of her hearing around the age of five, and ever since she's been expressing her feelings through the medium of art. Focusing mainly on oil paintings and mixed media collages, Nujood's art touches on memory, identity, and how sound translates to a canvas. She takes pride in representing Saudi Arabia in the arts on a global scale, encouraging all emerging artists and those with disabilities to express themselves through creativity.

Nujood Al-Otaibi comments: "I am honoured to be the first artist in residence at the Driven by Change residency at Studio Thirteen. Through the residency, I want to not only expand my wings by exploring other styles of painting, but I would also like to inspire others. Showcasing that disabilities do not curb creativity and should in fact be seen as a gateway rather than a barrier to success."

Going beyond the residency, the studio will also host a series of creative masterclasses to inspire the creative community, something that Studio Thirteen's founder, Rabab Tantawy, feels very passionate about. The masterclasses will offer access to experts, to learn new skills, cross-network and share tips.

Rabab Tantawy comments: "I am proud to carry forward the momentum of the Driven by Change initiative that was started in 2021. This time, our commitment to change extends its reach, embracing the talented artists within our local community. We are excited to welcome the new artist in residence to Studio Thirteen, creating an environment that fosters creativity, growth, and collaboration. Together, we will empower artists, uplift their voices, and continue to be catalysts for transformative change."

From Colombia to Mexico, Egypt to Lebanon, since its inception, the Driven by Change programme has championed creativity from around the world, and the residency at Studio Thirteen aims to continue this endeavour for years to come, with the ambition being for additional studio spaces to be set up and funded across the globe.

About Studio Thirteen

A dynamic studio space located within Dubai's vibrant Al Quoz creative zone. This creative haven is home to a collective of five talented local artists, united by their passion for artistic expression. More than just a conventional workspace, Studio Thirteen fosters an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity, providing artists with the perfect environment to bring their visions to life.

About Driven by Change

Driven by Change is a purpose-led, long-term initiative leveraging motorsports as a unique platform to offer underrepresented creatives innovative and exciting opportunities to showcase their work. Committed to championing creativity, Driven by Change provides undiscovered and grassroots talent - photographers, designers, artists, presenters, content creators, podcasters and others working in creative roles - with the means and opportunities to present their work on a global stage.

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Planned Route of East Micronesia Cable System

TOKYO, June 6, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has signed a contract with FSM Telecommunications Cable Corporation (FSMTCC), based in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), BwebwerikiNet Limited (BNL) of the Republic of Kiribati, and Nauru Fibre Cable Corporation (NFCC) of the Republic of Nauru for construction, supply and installation of the optical fibre submarine cable system to be called East Micronesia Cable System (EMCS). EMCS, with a total length of approximately 2,250km, will connect four islands amongst FSM (Pohnpei and Kosrae), Kiribati (Tarawa) and Nauru with a large-capacity optical fibre submarine cable. This is the first submarine cable connection for the islands of Tarawa (Kiribati), Nauru and the state of Kosrae (FSM).EMCS will ensure high-speed, high-quality, reliable, and more secure communications for residents, businesses and governments in the region, as well as contribute to improved digital connectivity and further economic development.The East Micronesia Cable System Project is supported by the governments of Australia, Japan and the United States, and will be implemented with grant funding from the three countries.Gordon Segal, Chief Executive Officer of FSMTCC and Chairman of the EMCS Management Committee, said, "Kosrae is the only state in FSM that remains without a submarine cable connection. This project will support equal access to digital connectivity across all four states of FSM and greatly enhance our ability to access information and essential services. We thank all our project partners for their support and collaboration."Ioane Koroivuki, Chief Executive Officer of BNL, said, "We are pleased to recognise this occasion, and what it means for Kiribati and the Micronesian region. BNL looks forward to bringing this project to fruition alongside our EMCS partners, NEC Corporation, and friends of the Pacific."Jay Udit, acting Chief Executive Officer of NFCC and Secretary for Justice and Border Control, Government of Nauru, said "The proposed submarine cable is a first for Nauru, and is a life-line for the future of our communications system which promises great benefits for Nauru and its people. We are excited to have entered into an agreement with a very experienced and industry-leading corporation, NEC, for the construction, supply and installation of the submarine cable. Equally, we are pleased to partner with the donor agencies and two of our Micronesian partner countries, FSM and Kiribati. We look forward to seeing the completion of the submarine project."Atsushi Kuwahara, Managing Director, Submarine Network Division, NEC Corporation, said, "With the recent progress of digitalization, internet connectivity and access to digital technologies increasingly affect the economic and social development of every region. It is a great honor that the NEC Group can use its many years of experience in optical submarine cable technology to contribute to the access to information and communications for residents, businesses and governments of Pacific Island countries."NEC has been a leading supplier of submarine cable systems for more than 50 years, and has built more than 400,000 km of cable, spanning the earth nearly 10 times. NEC is well-established as a reliable partner in the submarine cable field as a system integrator that provides all aspects of submarine cable operations, including the manufacture and installation of optical submarine cables and repeaters, provision of ocean surveys and route designs, training and delivery testing. NEC's subsidiary OCC Corporation manufactures optical submarine cables capable of withstanding water pressures at ocean depths beyond 8,000 meters.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
ShipEngine continues to build momentum one year after its launch into the UK market

ShipEngine, a leading multi-channel, multi-carrier API platform, today announces that it has added 24 carriers to its shipping platform within a year of launching in the UK market. As part of this growth, every major UK postal and parcel carrier is now available on the ShipEngine platform, providing retailers, marketplaces and third party logistics providers (3PLs) with easy access to greater delivery choice and convenience.

Carrier coverage

ShipEngine's API provides a range of developer and white-label tools that make it simple to build and deploy delivery experiences that attract, convert and retain more customers. It easily integrates multi-carrier shipping label functionality with ecommerce order fulfillment technology and reduces the cost to ship. ShipEngine provides its users with easy access to 70+ international carriers via a single integration, enabling instant access to its discounted carrier rates or the option to use your existing carrier accounts. By leveraging ShipEngine's technology, users can remove costs and complex manual processes associated with developing and maintaining multiple carrier integrations and instead focus on their core business.

Tom Forbes, SVP of Enterprise Revenue at Auctane, ShipEngine's operating group:

"Over the past year, ShipEngine has experienced substantial growth in the UK market, serving the shipping needs of a diverse range of customers, including merchants, technology platforms, marketplaces and 3PL's. To support this growth, we've made significant investments in our platform, adding 24 new carriers that operate both domestically and internationally from the UK, as well as a further 14 European carriers to our expanding portfolio. For every single carrier, we have written comprehensive documentation encompassing programmatic information and features to help our customers make informed decisions when selecting the most suitable carrier for their businesses. Alongside this, we've devoted considerable resources to enhancing our pick up, drop off (PUDO) and cross-border shipping services, ensuring we can continually adapt to the changing needs of our customers as they scale their businesses."

PUDO options

Alongside the growth of its carrier network, ShipEngine has also added considerable functionality to support its PUDO services in Europe over the last 12 months. The new Service Point API allows customers to build collection options directly into their checkout experiences and to easily generate PUDO shipping labels. Merchants can now search for one or multiple carrier's PUDO points in a chosen location and gain access to essential information from each individual point. It also enables merchants to extend their range of delivery options, providing consumers with convenient low cost, sustainable shipping choices.

Cross-border shipping

ShipEngine has also added significant functionality to its international shipping offering, allowing merchants to smoothly ship across borders. In particular, ShipEngine has enhanced its customs support, incoterms and TINs, enabling merchants to generate accurate and compliant electronic trade documents, commercial invoices and CN23s for cross-border shipping. Merchants are able to reduce unnecessary international shipment delays and keep their delivery promise, no matter where they ship to.

Find out more about how ShipEngine's API can quickly power shipping functionality in your business: https://www.shipengine.com/uk/

About ShipEngine

ShipEngine is a multi-channel, multi-carrier shipping platform that provides best-in-class shipping functionality directly to ecommerce stores, logistics and warehouse providers, system integrators, ecommerce application integrators, and new application developers. Built specifically for developers, ShipEngine's robust set of shipping APIs enable developers to build custom workflows within their own platforms and streamline the ecommerce fulfilment process with real-time label generation, rate quoting, parcel tracking, and address validation. ShipEngine supports carriers across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia, including USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and many more. ShipEngine is a member of the Auctane family of companies. Auctane brands include ShipStation, Stamps.com, Packlink, ShippingEasy, ShipWorks, ShipEngine, Endicia, Shipsi, GlobalPost, and Metapack, with offices in El Segundo, Austin, London, Sydney, Madrid, Sunnyvale, Zielona Gora, and Atlanta. Visit our website: https://www.shipengine.com/uk/.

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Contacts:

Munveer Garcha

Senior PR Comms Manager

munveer.garcha@shipengine.com
Siang Lu's mockumentary about the Asian film industry comes to life with a cast of 14 voice actors

LANDOVER, Md., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, today announced that its production of "The Whitewash" by Siang Lu won Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA). "The Whitewash" audiobook was published by RBmedia's Australian brand, Wavesound.

Siang Lu's debut is a dark comedy about the whitewashing of the Asian film industry, told in the form of a documentary. Wavesound brings Siang's award-winning novel to life in audio with a multicast production starring the author and more than a dozen other voice actors. Listen to an audiobook sample.

The multicast audiobook embodies the goals of "The Whitewash," which champions better and more representation for Asian actors. As Siang Lu said, "The uniquely large size of the audiobook cast, and the fact that 10 of the actors in the cast are Asian, is a milestone in representation, and feels like a huge victory to be celebrated."

In his acceptance speech, Siang said, "Even before this award, 'The Whitewash' made history as the first Australian audiobook to star a diverse cast of 14 actors. I'm so proud of my fellow castmates. I played a tiny role in the audiobook as well, and it tickles me to no end that I can now call myself an award-winning actor."

Chiara Priorelli, Acquisitions Manager at Wavesound said, "Wavesound has always been passionate about championing new and diverse literary voices, and this unique audiobook was a chance to showcase Siang Lu's utterly brilliant writing and bring the work to life in the most authentic way. The production of 'The Whitewash' has been one of our most complex to date-both challenging and exhilarating-and undoubtedly a true labor of love for everyone involved. Siang's novel is hilarious, original, clever, and satirically reflects on ethnic representation in the arts."

Yen Nguyen, one of the key voice actors for the audiobook said, "'The Whitewash' was a dream project. I connected to Siang Lu's work strongly-as a film buff, as a fan of mockumentaries with the irreverent/meta sense of humor, and as an Asian person who grew up having these conversations in private. To be able to bring these complex ideas and stories together in a way that is at once funny, thoughtful, and moving is an absolute gift."

"The Whitewash" was one of five shortlisted titles vying for the prize, including "Ten Steps to Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby, also published by Wavesound.

About RBmedia

RBmedia is the largest audiobook publisher in the world. With more than 60,000 titles, our audiobooks continually top key literary awards and bestseller lists. The company's powerful digital retail and library distribution network reaches millions of listeners around the globe-at home, in the car, and everywhere their mobile devices go. Our titles are available on leading audio platforms, including Audible, Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, Storytel, OverDrive, Hoopla, and many more. RBmedia is owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. Find out more at rbmediaglobal.com.

About Wavesound

Wavesound Pty, an RBmedia international publishing brand, is one of Australia's leading audiobook and large-print publishers. Wavesound was established in 2009 and has published some of Australia's bestselling audiobooks. Wavesound works closely with leading authors to consistently deliver exciting titles in a broad range of genres.

About the Author

Siang Lu's fiction and literary reviews have appeared in Southerly and Westerly. He holds a Master of Letters from the University of Sydney. He has written for television on Malaysia's Astro network. Siang is the co-creator of The Beige Index. He is based in Brisbane, Australia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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New services and checks for use cases regulated by the FCA and UKGC

MUNICH, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDnow, a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe, announces the expansion of its platform to include fully automated document liveness capabilities, data checks and Financial Risk Checks as well as new fraud prevention features. The platform expansion will also include a central, no-code workflow management tool.

Document liveness checks to combat the most sophisticated fraud attempts

The automated document liveness check relies on IDnow's expertise in video analysis and requires the end user to record a video of their ID document, thus enabling an automated check on the visible security elements of the document, such as holograms. This feature helps companies in their fight against the rising risk of fraud through forged documents.

Fully automated KYC and AML services with data checks

IDnow's new fully automated Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) services, the latter of which screen against multiple global Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and Sanction lists, ensure real-time AML compliance at the onboarding stage while allowing ongoing monitoring to confirm compliance post-onboarding. Fintechs, crypto providers and more traditional financial service providers can benefit from a complete alert management functionality and audit history with tailored alert matching.

The new data checks enable a frictionless KYC process which takes just a few seconds, particularly for use cases regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or by the UK Gaming Commission (UKGC). However, they also add an additional layer of security to protect businesses around less regulated use cases, for example, in the mobility industry.

Additionally, the latest platform expansion also includes Financial Risk Checks that use public third-party and self-declared data. These provide gambling companies with insight into affordability indicators which protect online gamblers and comply with the latest updates to the UK Gambling Act, helping businesses to avoid potential fines and reputational damage. The public and third-party data allows for ongoing monitoring of changes in player circumstances and verification of reported income without the need for additional documentation.

A single platform to access data sources and orchestrate KYC workflows in real-time

These new data check capabilities are added to IDnow's single platform, thus allowing customers to orchestrate both data checks and document- and biometric-based identity proofing workflows. Data checks are required by the responsible regulatory bodies, document and biometric checks can be added for other sensitive use cases for an extra layer of security.

The AML services and real-time data checks are easily configurable via the online self-service orchestration portal which offers complete control to IDnow's customers. It lets them tailor and optimise data checks and document-based identity verification in one intuitive dashboard via drag-and-drop functionality, thus providing a single entry point for all the new integrated services.

Proprietary fraud prevention technology and a high level of compliance

To detect single and serial fraud attempts, IDnow's platform uses proprietary fraud prevention technology that collects risk signals from biometrics, documents, devices and other data sources. In addition, IDnow regularly collaborates with law enforcement agencies, providing the company's dedicated fraud team with the latest knowledge of fraud techniques and methods from around the world.

Bertrand Bouteloup, Chief Commercial Officer at IDnow, said: "With the help of our AI-powered engine, which employs the latest fraud prevention capabilities, we can combat the most advanced fraudsters and allow our crypto, fintech and financial customers to grow their businesses with confidence and be a strong partner for large financial institutions at the same time. Our document liveness feature is clearly a game changer in this market."

"We are pleased to be able to enhance our platform offering, specifically in the UK, to help our customers fight fraud, achieve compliance and build trust across Europe and beyond. Thanks to these new functionalities and our strong regulatory expertise, our customers can easily expand their services and rely on a platform that achieves compliance according to the most rigid regulatory requirements within the UK, the EU and beyond."

About IDnow

IDnow is a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security.

In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform.

The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of over 900 international clients spans a wide range of industries, and includes leading international players, such as UniCredit, Telefonica, Sixt, Credit Agricole, BNP, and Munich Re, as well as digital champions like N26, Solarisbank, Younited Credit, Boursorama, Klarna and Tier mobility.

Press contact IDnow:

Katherina Riesner

press@idnow.io

+49 89 41324 6030

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LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Informa Markets' Global Licensing Group has announced all confirmed events and/or dates until the end of 2025. They include the next three editions of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe (BLE).

For the remainder of 2023:

Licensing Expo June 13-15, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

June 13-15, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Brand Licensing Europe October 4-6, ExCeL, London - please note, this year's dates fall on Wednesday to Friday.

October 4-6, ExCeL, London - B&LIS North America November 2-3, New York, with a half-day retail tour taking place on Thursday November 2 and full content program on Friday November 3.

Confirmed events and dates in 2024:

Licensing for Retail March 7, Convene, 22 Bishopsgate, London

March 7, Convene, 22 Bishopsgate, London Licensing Expo 2024 May 21-23, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

May 21-23, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas France Licensing Day June 27, Cite Internationale Universitaire de Paris

June 27, Cite Internationale Universitaire de Paris BLE September 24-26, ExCeL, London

Confirmed events and dates in 2025:

Licensing for Retail Day Date TBC

Date TBC France Licensing Day Date TBC

Date TBC Licensing Expo May 20-22, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

May 20-22, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas BLE October 14-16, ExCeL, London

Anna Knight, SVP Licensing, Informa Markets: "Now events are fully back in person and the entire global licensing industry can meet and collaborate in real life, the role of face-to-face meetings and human connections has never been more important. That's why we've decided to release our event dates as early as possible to help everyone reserve the dates and plan their networking diaries in advance."

About the events:

Brand Licensing Europe

BLE is the only pan-European tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension, bringing together thousands of European retailers, manufacturers and brand owners for three days of deal-making, networking and trend spotting. It's the only event to showcase the best of European licensing and features global, regional and domestic brands from every European country.

BLE is the only pan-European tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension, bringing together thousands of European retailers, manufacturers and brand owners for three days of deal-making, networking and trend spotting. It's the only event to showcase the best of European licensing and features global, regional and domestic brands from every European country. Licensing Expo

Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The flagship event attracts thousands of decision-makers from all five continents and is the launchpad for new brands, new IPs and new content. As the first date in the calendar year for the entire licensing ecosystem, it's the best place to discover new opportunities on a global scale.

Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The flagship event attracts thousands of decision-makers from all five continents and is launchpad for new brands, new IPs and new content. As the first date in the calendar year for the entire licensing ecosystem, it's the best place to discover new opportunities on a global scale. Licensing for Retail

Licensing for Retail conference launched in 2023. It brings together 100+ UK retailers to inspire them about the potential of brand licensing through a combination of expert education and networking opportunities designed to ignite vital business relationships with the entire UK licensing ecosystem.

Licensing for Retail conference launched in 2023. It brings together 100+ UK retailers to inspire them about the potential of brand licensing through a combination of expert education and networking opportunities designed to ignite vital business relationships with the entire UK licensing ecosystem. Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit

The Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) brings together brand licensing leaders and influencers and delivers thought-provoking content expertly curated by License Global and networking opportunities that propel the industry forward.

The Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) brings together brand licensing leaders and influencers and delivers thought-provoking content expertly curated by License Global and networking opportunities that propel the industry forward. France Licensing Day

Launched in 2023, France Licensing Day brings together key players in the French market, including retailers, licensors, influential rights holders and agents, to discover the latest trends in-region and enjoy professional meetings, networking and the Licensing International France Awards.

Media information:

Charlie Le Rougetel at BIGTOP / charlie@bigtop-pr.co.uk/ +44 (0)7736 330676

About Global Licensing Group:???

The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets , a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Shanghai, Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit and License Global. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.???

About Licensing International

Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $315+ billion global brand licensing industry. Licensing International's mission is to foster the growth and expansion of brand licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, more than 1,500 Licensing International member companies in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit www.LicensingInternational.org for more information.

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - GLOBAL LICENSING GROUP (Licensing Global)

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BEIRUT, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter and energy storage system solution supplier, signed eight contracts with local partners to supply the first batch of Utility-scale micro-grid BESS in Lebanon. The projects' cumulative capacities are 14MW/ 24.9MWh and the PV capacity at 12.4MW, providing power to communities and facilities, mitigating the ongoing electricity crisis caused by the weak and insufficient infrastructure, and decarbonizing the economy.

The electricity crisis in Lebanon recently reached a record high. The energy issue cripples Lebanon's economic development and paralyzes normal life. The power supply is contracting due to the rising price of fossil fuels which are the major energy sources for the country. To prepare for energy needs, Lebanon has set out to diversify its energy mix by adding more renewables. The micro-grid project combining PV and energy storage systems offers a possible way to mitigate the energy crisis.

Sungrow will provide the contracted eight micro-grid projects with its PV inverter and energy storage system solutions. The energy storage system is highly integrated with both the Power Conversion System (PCS) and Batteries, which minimizes the footprint, and streamlines the installation process. The solar-plus-storage system can power the loads during peak times without consuming pricy electricity from the generators and minimize the power shortage caused by insufficient infrastructure.

The projects are expected to be commissioned in Q4 2023, powering daily operations and will attract other businesses to install solar-plus-storage projects at their facilities.

As one of a few suppliers having expertise in both PV and energy storage solutions, Sungrow continues pioneering in the emerging Lebanese market. Since last September, Sungrow has installed its solar-plus-storage solutions in 20 microgrid projects in the country. The projects have been operating stably with high efficiency.

"Lebanon is a perfect place to install solar projects, as the country has over 300 sunshine days per year. Deployed with Sungrow's solar-plus-storage solutions, an increasing number of local businesses and facilities are enjoying the independence of energy and decarbonizing their daily operations. As a dedicated player in the Lebanese market, Sungrow is prepared to meet more demands by offering state-of-the-art PV and storage innovations with its dedicated local team," said Zaid Al-Helo, Levant and Yemen Country Manager, Sungrow.

About Sungrow

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 340 GW installed worldwide as of December 2022. Founded in 1997 by Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions, NEV driving solutions, EV charging solutions and renewable hydrogen production systems. With a strong 26-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power over 150 countries worldwide. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

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ATLANTA and AMSTERDAM and NEW DELHI, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xebia, a renowned global IT Consultancy and Software Development Company, has appointed Keith Landis as its Global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Keith will be based out of Philadelphia, USA and lead marketing globally.

Xebia has grown leaps and bounds over the past few years, and to further strengthen its presence in the global market, the company has onboarded Keith Landis to its leadership team of industry veterans. Xebia is growing its presence in the US, along with expanding the office in Atlanta, Georgia. Having an accomplished Marketing leader and team there will help align its global business as well as build a powerful brand through high impact marketing.

Keith brings deep and diverse experience of over two decades in the IT and consulting industries. Throughout his career, Keith has lived and breathed B2B services marketing and communications, leading global and regional teams for IT services, software, and technology businesses, including IBM for over 16 years. Most recently, Keith served as the CMO of Persistent Systems where he led and transformed all aspects of the global marketing and communication functions during a phenomenal era of growth for the company.

Keith has a proven track record of leading marketing transformation to drive growth in brand awareness and revenue. His long association with IBM is a testament to his exceptional leadership and professionalism. Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing & MIS from Drexel University's LeBow College of Business in the US.

Welcoming Keith to the team, Anand Sahay, Global CEO, Xebia said, "As we embark on further expanding our portfolio and accelerating our growth trajectory, it is crucial to ensure that we have the most suitable leadership strategically placed to drive our brand development in the desired direction. We place great trust in Keith and his team to build our brand and enhance our strategic marketing endeavors. His vast experience and proven expertise will play a pivotal role in effectively communicating our narrative and elevating our company's prominence among key markets. Our external marketing and communications have become an integral part of our growth strategy, and with Keith's proven leadership in this sector, we anticipate achieving even greater objectives."

Keith Landis, Global CMO said, "I am thrilled to join Xebia as their Chief Marketing Officer at this pivotal time in the company's trajectory. Along with a diverse team of talented marketers from across the globe, I am looking forward to transforming the marketing function, building our global brand, and revolutionizing our marketing efforts to drive growth across markets. Throughout my career, I have developed a profound understanding of the key role that diversity, empathy, authenticity, and transparency play in driving business success and effective leadership. I am delighted to find that the leadership team and culture at Xebia align perfectly with these values, making it an ideal match for me."

About Xebia

Find more information at www.xebia.com.

Media Contact: swati.srivastava@xebia.com

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Pharmanovia unveils results in new Sustainability Report and pledges commitment to new environmental and sustainability targets

Pilot transition from air freight to sea freight cut potential CO2 emissions by c.470,000kg

Employee ESG performance objective achieves 98% completion rate

BASILDON, England, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmanovia, a global pharmaceutical company that commercialises novel medicines and revitalises, extends and expands the lifecycle of established medicines, has today announced increased targets to divert 40% of its air shipments to sea in 2023, and 75% by the end of 2028.

Pharmanovia has made the pledge as it revealed the significant progress made towards achieving its ambitious science-backed ESG initiatives in its new Sustainability Report. Its industry-leading air-to-sea pilot scheme, which focused on its Spain-to-Australia freight route, cut an estimated 470,000kg in potential CO2 emissions in 2022 - reducing Scope 3 upstream transport emissions by 18%.

This initiative demonstrates Pharmanovia's role as an industry leader on carbon reduction and follows a recent report which stated just 16 of 500 pharmaceutical companies measured their entire Scope 3 emissions.

Additional highlights from the report include:

Scope 2 emissions decreasing by 13% in 2022, due to lower direct electricity demand within the office space

in 2022, due to lower direct electricity demand within the office space The company's packaging audit seeing a 52% increase in the percentage of products packed with at least one fully recyclable component, up from 12% in 2021 to 64% in 2022

in the percentage of products packed with at least one fully recyclable component, up from 12% in 2021 to Strong progress in an initiative which saw Pharmanovia set ESG goals all employees across its global offices as part of annual performance awards. Employees achieved a 98% completion rate of the compliance training, including ESG modules

Other initiatives include a 2030 target being established for Pharmanovia's transition to an electric hybrid vehicle fleet, while technology is also being embraced to strengthen the company's already robust Supply Chain Policy. A digital due diligence tool has been piloted and will be rolled out further in 2023 to provide continuous and automated monitoring of all partnerships, including their own ESG activities.

The company has set itself a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, which is aligned with science-based targets that support the United Nations Climate Change Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. Pharmanovia's Net-Zero goals have been validated by the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi).

James Burt, CEO, Pharmanovia said: "We are proud of the progress made in the last year despite headwinds faced due to global challenges and geopolitical complexity. Today's set of environmental targets, including our landmark pledge to transition from air freight to sea freight, demonstrate our commitment to establishing novel routes for the industry to reach net zero. The innovative pilot not only delivered benefits in terms of carbon, but in waste and cost reduction, too.

"Our purpose is to improve the lives of patients globally, which is why setting meaningful targets to reduce our environmental impact is critical, to build a sustainable future for patients and the sector. We look forward to working with our partners within our supply chain to ensure we are all held to the most rigorous of environmental standards."

Neeshe Williams, Head of ESG and General Counsel, Pharmanovia said: "A report from PwC's Health Research Institute highlighted that just 12% of ESG targets set by pharmaceutical companies relate to environmental initiatives, showing an increased focus is needed. At Pharmanovia, we believe deeply in addressing the climate impact of our own business as well as the partners we work with. All employees have been assigned individual ESG targets as part of their performance review, to reinforce ESG is something we do, not just talk about, and encourage them to apply a sustainable lens to the work they do."

About Pharmanovia

Pharmanovia is a global lifecycle management healthcare company. Our mission is to revitalise iconic medicines for the benefit of patients, prescribers and payors, and utilise our capabilities to launch novel therapies.

With a diverse and growing team in over 160 countries across the globe, we deliver high-quality solutions, ethically and sustainably, across our four core therapeutic areas - Oncology, Endocrinology, Neurology and Cardiovascular.

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global managed security services market size is expected to reach USD 87.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.4% from 2023 to 2030, according to a recent report from Grand View Research, Inc. Factors such as the growing demand for outsourcing services across various BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, IT & telecommunication industries, and the enterprises focus on their key competencies are expected to drive the market's growth.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

The cloud security segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period. The massive growth of cloud 3.0, Industry 4.0, and digitalization has resulted in the surge of managed cloud security services. Cloud security facilitates 24/7 system protection without any human intervention, real-time alerts, and proactive managed services.

The managed DDoS segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 18.7% during the forecast period. The DDoS services enhance operational services that depend on the web is projected to rise owing to the growing demand among enterprises to manage the complexity of resources.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are anticipated to observe a CAGR of 18.1% during the forecast period. An increased zero trust security among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) surged the adoption of secured management solutions, owing to the growing importance of managed services.

The manufacturing segment is anticipated to observe a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period The growing demand among manufacturers to adopt managed security services for cyber safety and vendors' data accessibility is fueling the demand for the market.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 18.2% from 2023 to 2030, owing to the increasing adoption of managed security services and the growing digitalization of businesses in the region. Countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea have implemented privacy legislation and data protection that force enterprises to build robust security management solutions.

Read 150 page market research report, "Managed Security Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Security (Could Security, Endpoint Security, Network Security, Data Security), By Services, By Enterprise Size, By Vertical, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Managed Security Services Market Growth & Trends

Businesses rely on managed security service providers (MSPs) to avoid the costly burden of maintaining their IT infrastructure and keep pace with constant technological dimensions. By leveraging standardized products, reducing time to market, and improving service quality, managed service providers helps an organization in saving costs.

MSPs have created a vast space in business operations by providing advanced cybersecurity tools to predict and mitigate cyber threats. Additionally, as emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, DevOps, and machine learning gain maturity, organizations are expected to look forward to specialized MSPs to stay at the forefront of innovation. A Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) offers various sub-functions that cover the overall security needs of an enterprise.

The major sub-segments of MSSs have managed endpoint security that monitors all endpoints across the enterprise and intrusion prevention detection system (IPS) that regularly monitors the network for signs of forced intrusion. Extended Detection, and Response (XDR), gathers security details across endpoints and threat intelligence-related visibility to help detect future attacks provide.

For instance, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) a central government agency was formulated to safeguard vital data that has a significant impact on economic development, Endpoint security that monitors all endpoints across the enterprise, Endpoint security that monitors all endpoints across the enterprise, Endpoint security that monitors all endpoints across the enterprise, and security. However, it is expected that organizations are rigorously aiming to collaborate with service vendors to control the threat landscape and safeguard them from malicious attacks, hence driving the growth of managed security market.

Managed Security Services Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global managed security services market based on security, services, enterprise size, vertical, and region:

Managed Security Services Market - Security Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Cloud Security

Endpoint Security

Network Security

Data Security

Others

Managed Security Services Market - Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Managed SIEM

Managed UTM

Managed DDoS

Managed XDR

Managed IAM

Managed Risk & Compliance

Others

Managed Security Services Market - Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Small and medium-sized enterprises

Large enterprises

Managed Security Services Market - Vertical Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

BFSI

Healthcare

Manufacturing

IT and Telecom

Retail

Defense/Government

Others

Managed Security Services Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

UK



Germany



France



Italy



Spain

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



South Korea

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina

Middle East and Africa

UAE



Saudi Arabia



South Africa

List of Key Players in the Managed Security Services Market

AT&T

BAE Systems, Inc.

Cisco

Check Point Software Technologies

Fortinet, Inc.

Fujitsu

IBM

Palo Alto Networks

Rapid 7

Verizon

Wipro

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Cyber Security Services Market - The global cyber security services market size is expected to reach USD 192.70 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 10.2% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Continued cybersecurity breaches on the enterprise and individual levels, and the subsequent need to address the vulnerabilities in networks, apps, and systems, are the factors expected to drive the growth. The need for identifying advanced, persistent threats to networks, monitoring critical infrastructure 24/7, and penetration testing applications for meeting various regulatory compliance standards and acts, such as FISMA, MARS-E, PCI DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), and HIPAA, is expected to contribute to the growth of the market.

- The global cyber security services market size is expected to reach USD 192.70 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 10.2% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Continued cybersecurity breaches on the enterprise and individual levels, and the subsequent need to address the vulnerabilities in networks, apps, and systems, are the factors expected to drive the growth. The need for identifying advanced, persistent threats to networks, monitoring critical infrastructure 24/7, and penetration testing applications for meeting various regulatory compliance standards and acts, such as FISMA, MARS-E, PCI DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), and HIPAA, is expected to contribute to the growth of the market. Identity As A Service Market - The global identity as a service market size is expected to reach USD 14.89 billion by 2027 expanding at a CAGR of 22.0% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The rapid growth in IT infrastructure, ease of scalability, and cost-effectiveness of the Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solutions are anticipated to be the key factors driving the market. Rising threats and vulnerabilities across crucial organizational data have compelled companies to enhance their cybersecurity stand and focus on managing identities. This will support market growth.

- The global identity as a service market size is expected to reach USD 14.89 billion by 2027 expanding at a CAGR of 22.0% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The rapid growth in IT infrastructure, ease of scalability, and cost-effectiveness of the Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solutions are anticipated to be the key factors driving the market. Rising threats and vulnerabilities across crucial organizational data have compelled companies to enhance their cybersecurity stand and focus on managing identities. This will support market growth. IT Services Market - The global IT services market size was estimated to reach USD 186.4 billion by 2028 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2022 to 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing concerns about data security and privacy protection are the key factors driving the demand for IT services from enterprises working in various industries. Increasing difficulties in network infrastructure are acting as key impedances to ineffective data security management; therefore, increasing the demand for IT services. Lack of expertise with the end-users in integrating the latest technologies and implementing IT services is hampering the growth of the market. Most of the major players operating in the IT services market are implementing the strategy of mergers, and acquisitions to gain maximum share in the market.

Browse through Grand View Research's Network Security 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

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the publication of its 2022 Sustainability Report ("the Report"). The Report outlines Calibre's 2022 progress and achievements, provides guidance for the Company's Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") performance, and underscores Calibre's unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible business practices.



Calibre acknowledges that incorporating sustainability into its business strategy is essential to our long-term success. In 2022, the Company saw record production for the third consecutive year. Calibre's increasing focus on sustainability practices and robust ESG performance ensures that such accomplishments are achieved in ways that are ethical, transparent, accountable, and respectful of the rights of others.

Darren Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "At Calibre, we recognize our responsibility to conduct operations in a manner that is both sustainable and socially conscious. Our commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible practices is a core value and is fundamental to our business model. We believe that by publishing this report, we can provide our stakeholders with a clear understanding of our focus on sustainability and the positive impacts we strive to achieve.

Key among our responsible practices are those seeking to ensure that our activities support and promote human rights and do not contribute to conflict. In 2022, Calibre engaged an expert third-party consulting firm to conduct a human rights impact assessment of our operations in Nicaragua, applying a methodology aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Danish Institute for Human Rights HRIA Guidance, with no significant negative findings. A management plan was developed to address recommendations on the most salient risks, to ensure that our business activities do not directly cause, and avoid complicity with, any human rights abuses.

Calibre will continue to apply robust due diligence practices throughout our supply chain, seeking to identify and address any potential risks associated with human rights violations or conflicts, and to prevent or mitigate any adverse effects on local communities and the environment. The way we do business -with accountability and traceability from exploration through production and sales- will continue to ensure that Calibre produces properly sourced and mined gold."

2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Environment

Zero high-risk reportable environmental incidents

77% water recycled, compared to 46% in 2021

59% of waste recycled, compared to 37% in 2021

156,600 trees planted in 2022, and over a million trees planted since 2010 in Nicaragua to contribute to nationwide reforestation campaigns

Zero market-based Scope 2 emissions in Nicaragua: 100% of electricity from grid is I-REC certified clean energy.



Social

Zero significant fines, violations or incidents related to employment practices, health and safety, workplace disruptions or non-technical delays during the reporting period

96% national employees, of whom 78% are from communities adjacent to, or near, our operations

2022 LTIFR of 0.29, a reduction of 43% compared to 2021 (0.51)

US$387M in economic value distributed, a 35% increase from 2021 (US$286M)

Community-led development plan designed for Riscos de Oro



Governance

Zero substantiated cases of human rights violations and zero significant instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations

Zero substantiated incidents of supplier corruption

Human Rights Impact Assessment conducted for all our Nicaraguan assets, with no significant findings

88% (245/277) of all Calibre security personnel received formal training on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHRs)

Year-Two Progress Report on implementation of the World Gold Council's Responsible Gold Mining Principles published and externally assured (found here (https://www.calibremining.com/site/assets/files/7156/120522_rgmps_progress_report_2022.pdf))



Petri Salopera, VP Sustainability, stated: "In an ever-changing context, industries from all sectors must approach ESG in a way that is transparent, consistent, dynamic, innovative, and future-focused, all while continuing to support human progress without negatively affecting the environment. At Calibre, our aspiration for the future is to see a mining industry that transforms lives and ecosystems for the better as we play an active role in positive change."

Calibre's 2022 Sustainability Report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative ("GRI") Standards and the related GRI G4 Mining and Metals Supplement, the Value Reporting Foundation's Sustainability Accounting Standards Board 2021 Metals & Mining Industry Standards, and the Mining Local Procurement Reporting Mechanism.

The acquisition of Fiore Gold in January 2022 expanded Calibre's operating portfolio, as well as its sustainability contributions, impacts and responsibilities. To maintain a high standard of reporting and ensure that Calibre's full scope is covered, the Company expanded the boundaries of its reporting to include legacy Fiore Gold production projects.

The Report can be found here (https://www.calibremining.com/site/assets/files/7226/calibre-2022-sustainability-report.pdf) and on the Company website at www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com/).

In addition to the Sustainability Report, Darren Hall and Petri Salopera conducted interviews regarding Calibre's commitment to a robust ESG program. Please view their interviews found here (https://www.calibremining.com/esg/videos/) on the Company website in both English and Spanish.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darren Hall"

Darren Hall

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com (mailto:calibre@calibremining.com)

W: www.calibremining.com

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2022 all available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com (http://www.sedar.com). This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Over 500 LGBTQIAN+ joining a Parade of Rainbow Flags-symbolizing equality to reflect Central World as a space that embraces diversity that accepts all differences and promotes equality.

BANGKOK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate Pride Month: experience the magic of colourful Pride festivals here in Thailand, supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIAN+ community. Join the Spectacular Pride parade at Central World shopping center - one of a leader of the celebration of the Pride festival in Thailand, JVs with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, partners from government and private sectors led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Galderma Thailand, Muse by Metinee, Bangkok PRIDE and Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co., Ltd. to roll out the great celebration of THAILAND'S PRIDE CELEBRATION 2023 - 'PRIDE FOR ALL'

PRIDE HAPPENING - the rainbow phenomenon throughout June.

The Biggest Pride Parade - waving rainbow flags in eight branches nationwide led by 'Proud to be Pride' at Central World with the show 'Fly High In The Sky for Pride' and Fashion Parade that gathers over 500+ models together with the 'This is my look' Parade from Galderma (Thailand) to express self-expression with confidence and charm. Followed by the sensational 'Pride Concert' by Thailand's leading artists.

Echoing voices of diversity and equality with the Bangkok Pride 2023 parade, which Central World co-hosted with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in addition to Naruemit Pride. The parade are moved from the Pathumwan intersection to the Ratchaprasong intersection at Central World, waving the beautiful and spectacular 144.8-meter rainbow flag with hundreds of thousands of people joining the grand procession. Enjoy special shows, mini concerts and celebrations of gender diversity attended by provincial governors ambassadors, government agencies and representatives from the LGBTQIAN+ community.

Pride Talk with UNDP, listen to discussions from key persons in the LGBTQIAN+ community at centralwOrld, Central Pattaya, Phuket, Udonthani, Khon Kaen, Chiangmai and Chonburi. Enjoy Pride Competitions of Miss International Queen with national costumes at centralwOrld. Pride Vibe - experience an art installation from artist: 'Teayii' Prapatsorn with her work: 'Seat a Pride' throughout two full months at centralwOrld (June-July 2023) and at Central Chonburi under the art concept of 'Mirror Mirror: Reflect Yourself'.

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BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Euro area retail sales remained unchanged in April after falling in the previous two months, preliminary data from Eurostat showed Tuesday. Retail sales was unchanged from March, when they fell 0.4 percent from the previous month, which was revised from a 1.2 percent decrease. Economists were looking for a 0.2 percent growth. Sales of food, drinks and tobacco were lower for a third month in a row and logged a decline of 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, sales of non-food products excluding automotive fuel grew 0.5 percent after a 0.9 percent decline in March. Mail order and internet sales rose 2.7 percent following a 1.3 percent decline in the previous month. Sales of automotive fuel in specialized stores fell 2.3 percent after gaining 1.1 percent in March. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales decreased 2.6 percent in Eurozone after a revised 3.3 percent slump in March. Economists had forecast a 3.1 percent fall. In the EU, retail sales edged up 0.1 percent on a monthly basis following a revised 0.5 percent decline in March. Compared to the same month last year, EU retail sales shrunk 2.9 percent in April after a revised 3.7 percent decline in the previous month. The biggest monthly increases in retail sales were registered in Croatia, Luxembourg and Sweden, while the worst declines were seen in Slovakia, Romania and Slovenia. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Funding will Fuel WaveBL's Global Growth and Market Expansion in the Digital Trade Documents Sector

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WaveBL, a market-leading provider of electronic Bills, has successfully raised $26 million in its latest funding round, consolidating its position as a leading player in the digital trade document sector globally.

The round was led by NewRoad Capital Partners, an operator-led, demand-driven investment firm focused on innovative and growth-oriented companies in the supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology sectors. Existing investors ZIM, Marius Nacht, Contour Venture Partners, Frank Sica, and Techstars Central LLC also participated in this funding round, as did a new investor, Reefknot Investments, backed by Temasek and Kuehne + Nagel.

WaveBL, led by former technological leaders and experts from the Israel Defense Forces, has emerged as the premier digital platform for the electronic transfer of trade documents. WaveBL's proprietary blockchain technology enables the instantaneous, secure, and authenticated transfer of unique electronic trade documents, ensuring compliance with universal processes and regulations. WaveBL's state-of-the-art multi-carrier platform is trusted by the world's largest ocean carriers and NVOCCs, including MSC, ZIM, Hapag Lloyd, ONE, Leschaco, and Saco, and is designed to meet the needs of all parties involved in trade.

"Our goal is to streamline, speed up and reduce the cost of global commerce by breaking the trade industry's paper addiction," stated Noam Rosenfeld, CEO of WaveBL. "We offer blockchain technology as the new gold standard for trust between trade partners, a game changer for international trade. The investment will be used to expedite our growth by increasing our employee base, primarily in sales, marketing, and R&D."

"NewRoad Capital Partners is excited to join Wave BL in an effort to accelerate the digitization of global trade from today's manual, paper-based processes to technology that enables increased speed and security, reduces costs, and creates a more environmentally friendly solution. All reasons why we are excited to be a part of this transformational journey," said Gary Adams, Operating Partner at NewRoad Capital Partners, and former Supply Chain Officer at Walmart. Following this round, Gary will join WaveBL's board of directors.

WaveBL's strong alliances with leading customers and other stakeholders in global trade are driving faster digitalization and adoption of electronic trade documents. The company is poised to continue its leadership in the digital trade document sector, establishing a new benchmark of trust and efficiency in international trade.

About NewRoad Capital Partners

NewRoad Capital Partners, LLC ("NewRoad") invests in high-growth supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology companies. As experienced entrepreneurs and operators, the NewRoad team prides itself on the high level of collaboration it brings to each of its investments. NewRoad's team of investment professionals, operating partners, and strategic advisors have deep, relevant investing and operating expertise, including significant experience leading large divisions of enterprise companies and building businesses of scale from concept to realization. For more information, visit www.newroadcp.com.

About WaveBL

WaveBL is a digital platform using proprietary blockchain technology to electronically transfer trade documents. The WaveBL solution enables the instant, encrypted, and authenticated transfer of electronic Bills and related trade documents. The platform complies with universal processes and regulations in use.

For more information, visit www.wavebl.com

Contact person

Ilan Weiss

Ilan.weiss@wavebl.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wavebl-secures-26-million-series-b-funding-round-301843471.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Torr Metals Inc. ("Torr" or the "Company") (TSXV: TMET) is pleased to announce the multi-element analytical results and preliminary interpretations from 1,108 soil samples collected from the Dalvenie Zone during the 2022 field season (Figure 1). The Dalvenie Zone, part of the 689 km2 Latham Project, is road accessible from Highway 37 and is ~8 kilometres (km) south of the Company's Gnat Pass Copper-Gold porphyry deposit.

Soil samples from 2022 were designed to confirm historically reported grades, test for potential extensions to copper-gold mineralization, and establish a distribution pattern of pathfinder elements for vectoring a potential core porphyry exploration target. As a result of these efforts, Torr has successfully identified 3 new north-south trending copper (Cu) soil anomalies that have assayed >300 ppm across a 6.6 km-wide structural corridor encompassing the West, Central, and East Dalvenie Zones (Figure 1). Additionally, the 2022 soil sampling has defined a widespread >30 km2 footprint to strong pathfinder elements that have outlined a potential core zone to a high-level exposure of a porphyry system measuring ~1,900 metres (m) in strike-length and ~1,250 m in width within the Central Dalvenie Zone (Figure 2).

Malcolm Dorsey, President and CEO, commented, "From the start, our interpretation has been that the Dalvenie Zone has the potential to host a large-scale copper-gold mineralizing system genetically linked to a nearby or underlying porphyry. Our systematic approach from 2022 has now confirmed a geochemical fingerprint consistent with this interpretation, together with a significant expansion of targets far beyond the limits of the historical 2.1 km2 soil grid. With the combination of all of our coincident data including strong pathfinder elements, geophysical anomalies, high-grade copper-gold rock grab samples, and broad mapped alteration at-surface we are confident that we will be able to optimize drill targeting of the untested porphyry target and look forward to starting the next phase."

Highlights

2022 soil samples defined 3 new copper soil anomalies in the West and East Dalvenie Zones while also extending the strike-length of the Central Dalvenie Zone copper soil anomaly from 1,500 m to greater than 1,900 m (see news release from Aug. 31, 2022) (Figure 1). Newly defined copper soil anomalies in the West and East Dalvenie Zones measure 500 to 1,200 m in strike-length and are typically coincident with north-south trending shear structures that parallel those known to host high-grade copper and gold within the Central Dalvenie Zone. The existence of significant anomalous copper and arsenic soil anomalies to the west and east of the Central Dalvenie Zone indicates a much larger and fertile district-scale mineralizing system than previously recognized . Of the 1,108 soil samples collected 283 yielded >100 ppm Cu, 25 samples >300 ppm Cu, and 17 samples >500 ppm Cu.

(see news release from Aug. 31, 2022) (Figure 1). Coincident anomalous pathfinder elements occur within a >30 km 2 geochemical footprint ; elements include copper, molybdenum (Mo), lithium (Li), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), and selenium (Se) (See Figure 2). Surface mapping as well as vectoring of strong pathfinder elements indicates potential for a genetically-linked epithermal-porphyry system; with multiple linear north-south trending copper shear-vein structures bounding an interpreted core porphyry target within the Central Dalvenie Zone delineated by overlapping anomalous As-Mo-Cu-Se-Li geochemical signatures and IP (induced polarization) high chargeability and resistivity geophysical anomalies (Figures 1 and 2). Rock grab samples collected in 2022 from shear-hosted vein systems along the western margins of the vectored copper porphyry target have assayed up to 4.31% Cu, 14.15 g/t Au, and 63.1 g/t Ag as well as 2.85% Cu, 5.72 g/t Au, and 27.9 g/t Ag (see news release from Feb. 9, 2023).

; elements include copper, molybdenum (Mo), lithium (Li), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), and selenium (Se) (See Figure 2).

Figure 1. Compilation of historical and 2022 copper soil samples in the West, Central, and East Dalvenie Zones with outlines of anomalous copper targets in blue overlying the 2022 IP chargeability survey.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/168868_d7c4ea4c8438fb20_001full.jpg

Figure 2. Footprints of anomalous geochemical pathfinder elements commonly associated with epithermal-porphyry systems.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/168868_d7c4ea4c8438fb20_002full.jpg

Geological Interpretation

The 2022 soil sampling results have significantly expanded the scale and continuity of the Dalvenie Zone mineralizing system, resulting in an improved definition of the exploration model as well as identification of the potential for a much larger copper-gold system than previously recognized; derived from newly defined kilometre-scale soil geochemistry, pathfinder element distribution, and widespread distribution of multiple north-south trending copper-gold shear-vein systems (Figures 1 and 2).

Within the Central Dalvenie Zone the newly defined copper porphyry target (Figures 1 and 2) corresponds to highly anomalous >500 ppm copper in soil that is also coincident with a highly prospective high chargeability and moderate to high resistivity anomaly (see news release from March 21, 2023). Coincident anomalous pathfinder elements include As-Mo-Se-Li in soil, which is interpreted as being within the upper levels of a potential porphyry system (Figure 3). This interpretation is also consistent with observed alteration and mineralization patterns in outcrop that are typical of porphyry-related systems (Figure 3); including locally advanced argillic alteration along the margins of extensive shear-hosted polymetallic veins with smears of specular hematite alteration along fracture planes as well as locally intense silicification and sericitization within broader zones of bleaching in the surrounding Stuhini Group host rock. Mineralization within the vein systems includes massive pyrite with blebs of arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite together with galena and sphalerite.

Within the West Dalvenie Zone west of the vectored porphyry target is a zone of phyllic alteration in outcrop together with a significant arsenic-antimony-selenium-tellerium soil anomaly coincident with a high chargeability anomaly. Phyllic alteration is typical of the periphery or lithocap portions that forms a proximal halo surrounding the core of a porphyry system and as such this zone is interpreted as potentially higher within the system than the Central Dalvenie Zone, based on the vertical distribution of elements (Figure 3).



Figure 3. Idealized cross section showing geochemical and alteration zonation in a porphyry-related system, with the interpreted exposure level of Dalvenie outlined. Figure and table after Halley et al., 2015.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6794/168868_d7c4ea4c8438fb20_003full.jpg

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a consultant to the Company who is a qualified person defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Torr Metals

Torr Metals is a Vancouver based mineral exploration company focused on defining and developing the substantial exploration and resource potential of the ~689 km2 Latham Copper-Gold Project, located within the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. Year-round access is provided by Highway 37 with the project being favourably located 16 km south of the regional airport in Dease Lake. For further details about the Latham Copper-Gold Project, please refer to the Company's website or current geological Technical Report (August 24, 2021) filed on November 25, 2021 under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Torr Metals Inc.

"Malcolm Dorsey"

Malcolm Dorsey

President, CEO and Director

For further information:

Malcolm Dorsey

Telephone: 236-982-4300

Email: malcolmd@torrmetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings, and the future plans or prospects 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. 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. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168868
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQX: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") is proud to announce its sponsorship of Barefoot College International's Solar Project in Niger.

This groundbreaking initiative is dedicated to empowering rural women without formal education through comprehensive training in solar technology installation and maintenance, livelihoods development and a holistic women's empowerment curriculum. By fostering self-sufficiency, promoting livelihood development, and ensuring environmental sustainability, the Solar Project aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals living in rural areas.

GoviEx is committed to supporting community development initiatives in the vicinity of its projects, including the Madaouela project in Niger, and investing in education and skills development is a key part of its wider ESG strategy. As part of the Solar Project, Goviex is funding the installation of solar home lighting systems in forty rural households. These systems will be installed by two rural women solar engineers, affectionately known as 'Solar Mamas', upon completion of their solar training at Barefoot College International's training center in Senegal.

Daniel Major, CEO of GoviEx Uranium, said: "We are thrilled to sponsor the Solar Project, an initiative that aligns with our values and our commitment to supporting local communities in Niger. The project is about much more than bringing sustainable electricity to households - it is about women's empowerment and the empowerment of rural communities. Investing in education and skills development is a key part of our ESG strategy so we can help build resilient communities that can thrive long after our mining operations are complete."

Sue Stevenson, International Development Director of Barefoot College International said: "We are thrilled to work with GoviEx and to bring our Solar Project to rural Niger. Barefoot College International was founded to address the needs of the most remote and marginalized communities around the world. We work collaboratively with rural communities, supporting them to sustainably address their most pressing challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, gender inequality, and lack of access to education and economic opportunity. We look forward to starting work with these inspiring women from Niger and hope that they will be the first of many in the country."

The Madaouela project, forecast to begin production in 2026, is expected to bring significant benefits to the local communities including job creation, revenue generation, and royalty payments. However, GoviEx recognizes the importance of supporting local communities beyond the direct benefits of its mining operations. It hopes to contribute to the economic empowerment of rural communities in Niger, promote the adoption of clean energy solutions, and foster sustainable development in the region.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

About GoviEx Uranium Inc.

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, and its mine-permitted Muntanga Project in Zambia.

Contact Information

Isabel Vilela

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: +1-604-681-5529

Email: info@goviex.com

Web: www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those with respect to: (i) Goviex funding the installation of solar home lighting systems in forty rural households; (ii) the aims of the Solar Project to enhance the quality of life for individuals living in rural areas; (iii) the timing and development of the Madaouela project and the nature and extent of any benefits, if any, that the project will bring to local communities; and (iv) GoviEx's hopes to contribute to the economic empowerment of rural communities in Niger, promote the adoption of clean energy solutions, and foster sustainable development in the region.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) the ability of Barefoot College International to successfully train women from the local communities under its Solar Project in Niger; and (ii) the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's projects sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) Barefoot College International inability to make effective use of the proceeds provided by GoviEx for the Solar Project in Niger; (ii) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (iii) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (iv) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (v) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (vi) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (vii) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168925
The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032

LONDON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's Pediatric Dental Crown Global Market Report 2023, the global pediatric dental crown market size will grow from $6.6 billion in 2022 to $7.2 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 7%. The pediatric dental crown market size is expected to grow to $9.9 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of more than 8%.

The pediatric dental crown market is anticipated to rise, as tooth decay and periodontal illnesses become more commonplace. For example, in 2022, the Oral Health Foundation (OHF) and Colgate-Palmolive Dental Caries Awareness Survey indicated that 84% of all adults in the UK belong to groups that put them at higher risk of the disease, with more than 45 million British adults at an increased risk of tooth decay. Therefore, the increase in the prevalence of tooth decay and periodontal diseases is expected to propel the growth of the pediatric dental crown market going forward.

Learn More On The Pediatric Dental Crown Market Report - https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/pediatric-dental-crown-global-market-report

Companies in the pediatric dental crown market are focusing on developing and offering a 3D printing ecosystem for increasing productivity and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. 3D printing technology has revolutionized the production of dental crowns by offering numerous benefits. With 3D printing, dental crowns can be fabricated in a precise and efficient manner. For example, in February 2023, SprintRay Inc., a US-based company that specializes in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, launched the Ceramic Crown 3D Printing Ecosystem. This ecosystem offers SprintRay Ceramic Crown, a brand-new ceramic-dominant resin that has been 510(k) Class 2 cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the 3D printing of final, whole and partial, single crowns and veneers.

In addition, companies in the pediatric dental crown market are forming strategic partnerships and collaborations to expand their product portfolio and geographic presence. For example, in 2020, Formlabs, a US-based company and manufacturer of powerful and accessible 3D printing systems, partnered with BEGO, a US-based company that specializes in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Through this agreement, Formlabs' dental clients will be able to use BEGO's dental materials to 3D print temporary and permanent crowns and bridges for patients.

Request A Free Sample Of The Pediatric Dental Crown Market Report - https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=7441&type=smp

As per the pediatric dental crown market outlook, North America was the largest region in the pediatric dental crown market and was worth $2.3 billion in 2022.

The pediatric dental crown market in North America is supported by high awareness among people regarding oral healthcare, high investments in the dental services industry and favorable government initiatives. For instance, in March 2022, the Canada federal government stated that it will establish a new dental care program for low-income Canadians. The temporary Canada Dental Benefit is designed to assist qualified families earning less than $90,000 per year in lowering dental expenditures. Parents and guardians may apply to the program if the child receiving dental care is under the age of 12 and does not have access to a private dental insurance plan.

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HENDERSON, NC / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Versatrim, an award-winning company, is celebrating its 25th anniversary of serving the flooring industry with a full line of complementary products that allow people to enjoy the true beauty of flooring where they live, shop, or work.

Versatrim

Versatrim celebrates 25 years

"We work closely with our partners to offer 'Everything but the Floor' at the best value," said Keith Medick, President & CEO of Versatrim. "We are committed to expert coordination, best-in-class lead times, easy installation, and exceptional customer satisfaction!"

In its silver anniversary, Versatrim has introduced a number of new and exciting products and improvements including the RSN low-profile stair nose, VersaFlex flexible moldings, and their Versatrim adhesive. In the first quarter, they successfully launched their new mobile-friendly website. In the second quarter, they will launch a new e-Commerce online shopping platform with improved functionality and ease-of-use applications to help streamline the online order entry process. The new site highlights Versatrim's high-end product offering and enhances the customer journey. Versatrim has also made countless improvements to its manufacturing operations for safety and performance enhancements. On the horizon, Versatrim will focus on geographic expansion, more investment in manufacturing, and acquisitions to continue Versatrim's growth.

"The leadership team and I wish to express our sincere appreciation to our employees for their loyal support as we celebrate our silver jubilee milestone this year. We could not have come this far without the loyal support and hard work of each member of the Versatrim team and our loyal customers and partners. We look forward to the next 25+ years of industry-leading accomplishments!" said Medick.

The story of Versatrim began in September of 1998, when Thilo Hessler, then twenty-two, moved from Bavaria, Germany, to Raleigh, North Carolina, to start a molding business. With an intense drive and a passion to pursue a dream, Hessler started out taking orders by phone, packaging them himself, and then driving them to the local UPS office for delivery. Today, more than 100,000 orders ship from Versatrim's 134,000-square-foot facility each year, which sits on twenty-six acres. Over the years they have launched twelve different profiles into the market and our passion doesn't stop there.

About Versatrim

Versatrim, located outside of Raleigh, NC manufactures, sells, and distributes a complete line of custom-coordinated laminate floor molding and trim for laminate and vinyl flooring. Versatrim's innovative approach to molding solutions, and its ability to coordinate with most of the top colors in the vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, wood plastic vinyl, and laminate flooring industry, has guided it to the forefront as a leading manufacturer of floor moldings.

Contact Information

Kimberly Blanton

Director of Marketing

kimberly.blanton@versatrim.com

888-292-1146

SOURCE: Versatrim

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759020/Versatrim-Celebrates-Its-25th-Anniversary-with-a-Focus-on-the-Future
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Signal Gold Inc. ("Signal Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:SGNL)(OTCQX:SGNLF) is pleased to announce the continuation of a 50-line kilometre Induced Polarization geophysical survey ("IP Survey") at the Goldboro Project ("Goldboro", or the "Project") in Nova Scotia. The IP Survey will extend a further 14-line kilometres west from the previous survey conducted in 2022, which demonstrated a chargeability response coincident with the Goldboro Mineral Resource. The IP Survey will critically extend over the area west of the Goldboro Deposit for approximately two kilometres, following a VLF geophysical survey which passes through the Goldboro Deposit and continues along strike to the past producing Dolliver Mountain Gold Mine* (Exhibit A and B).

The Company is also providing an update on recent forest fire activity in the Province of Nova Scotia, which early last week resulted in a restriction of all activity in and around forest land. The travel and work restrictions have now been lifted in most areas of the Province and the Company has begun to re-mobilize its work teams, including with respects to exploration drilling to the west of Goldboro. The Company is assessing the impact that the delay will have on its ongoing programs, including its updated Feasibility Study, in particular due to the delay of geotechnical drilling.

"We are relieved that the risks from the forest fires in Nova Scotia have been substantially reduced over the past few days and applaud the efforts of the Province to keep all residents and workers in Nova Scotia safe. While we are still assessing the potential impact of the delay on our schedule, we are happy to start drilling activity again at the Goldboro Project, both for exploration growth potential and geotechnical activity to support the Feasibility Study."

"Signal Gold is excited to initiate a further ground geophysical survey to the west of the Goldboro Deposit, as the best place to find a gold deposit is in the shadow of a headframe or next to an existing deposit - the area west of the Goldboro Deposit has both these characteristics. The first phase of the geophysical survey, along with recent drill results, confirmed that the structure, alteration, and gold mineralization at the Goldboro Deposit continues westward from the Deposit. Additionally, the first phase of ground geophysics and the subsequent drill results validate our exploration approach of targeting IP and VLF geophysical trends allowing us to optimize our exploration approach. With a diamond drill now testing the additional strike of mineralization identified by the first phase of the IP Survey and the extension of the ground geophysical program, there is significant opportunity to expand the near surface mineral resources at Goldboro."

~ Kevin Bullock, President and CEO, Signal Gold Inc.

The Company has identified significant opportunity to potentially expand the existing Mineral Resource to the west of the existing Deposit, and the IP Survey will assist in identifying such continuation along strike as well as any potential parallel zones north and south of the currently known extents of the Goldboro Deposit. Based on the first phase of the IP survey and follow-up diamond drilling, the Company successfully discovered continued gold mineralization up to 325 metres to the west of the Goldboro Deposit and demonstrated that mineralization remains open along strike to the west and at depth. An ongoing drill program is currently focused on continuing to add strike length to the near surface gold mineralization at Goldboro.

The IP Survey will also provide geophysical characteristics to depths of approximately 250 metres, within range of any further potential open pit mineralization, which will inform the drilling program for 2023. The IP Survey is currently designed to cover two (2) kilometers of strike west of the Goldboro Deposit, however, in addition, the Company has now acquired exploration licenses covering a further 3.5 kilometers of strike potential beyond the original mineral license.

Exhibit A: A map showing the location of the West and East pits of the Goldboro Project and the location of the past producing Dolliver Mountain Gold Mine one (1) kilometer to the west. Also shown is the potential trend of the host structure to the Goldboro deposit and its anticipated westerly extension as shown by an existing Very Low Frequency ("VLF") survey. The existing data indicates there is potential for further mineralization over a minimum 2.0-kilometre strike.

Exhibit B: A map showing the extension of the IP Survey (black lines) continuing from the initial IP Geophysical survey (from 2022) and in relation to the historical Dolliver Mountain Gold Mine*.

*Please see the "NI43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia" on January 11, 2022, for further details.

**Operations began at the Dolliver Mountain Gold Mine in 1901 and the operation ceased in 1905.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul McNeill, P. Geo., VP Exploration with Signal Gold Inc., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

ABOUT SIGNAL GOLD

Signal Gold is advancing the Goldboro Gold Project in Nova Scotia, a significant growth project subject to a positive Feasibility Study which demonstrates an approximately 11-year open pit life of mine ("LOM") with average gold production of 100,000 ounces per annum and an average diluted grade of 2.26 grams per tonne gold. (Please see the 'NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Goldboro Gold Project, Eastern Goldfields District, Nova Scotia' on January 11, 2022, for further details). On August 3, 2022, the Goldboro Project received its environmental assessment approval from the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Climate Change, a significant regulatory milestone which enables the Company to commence site-specific permitting processes including the Industrial Approval and Crown Land Lease and Mining Lease applications. The Goldboro Project also has potential for further Mineral Resource expansion, particularly towards the west along strike and at depth. A future study will consider upgrading and expanding potentially mineable underground Mineral Resources as part of the longer-term mine development plan.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Signal Gold Inc.

Kevin Bullock

President and CEO

(647) 388-1842

kbullock@signalgold.com Reseau ProMarket Inc.

Dany Cenac Robert

Investor Relations

(514) 722-2276 x456

Dany.Cenac-Robert@ReseauProMarket.com

SOURCE: Signal Gold Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759440/Signal-Gold-Extends-Ground-Geophysical-Survey-to-the-West-of-the-Goldboro-Deposit-and-Provides-Update-With-Respects-to-the-Forest-Fires-in-Nova-Scotia
Protecting digital footprint and social media accounts in the digital age

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / A developer of digital asset management solutions, including password managers and power of attorney, Legacy Suite now offers a social media legacy package for anyone wanting to protect their online identity, deal with legal considerations after death, and provide closure for loved ones in a comprehensive estate planning for protection against social media accounts.

"In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives, shaping how we connect with others and share our experiences," Sean Foote, CEO of Legacy Suite, said. "As we create and curate our digital presence, a 'social media legacy' emerges-a lasting record of our thoughts, emotions, and moments captured online. But what happens to this social legacy when we are no longer here?"

A social media legacy program for social media accounts protects an online identity and ensures a digital footprint that aligns with personal values and wishes. With Legacy Suite, data, digital vaults, and passwords can be managed, stored, and assigned to digital executors, beneficiaries, and trusted contacts.

"A legacy plan helps safeguard your online persona from potential misuses, such as identity theft or unauthorized access," Foote said. "By designating a digital executor or legacy contact, you can ensure that your social media accounts are handled according to your wishes."

Since social media accounts contain cherished memories and personal moments, the legacy suite can provide closure for loved ones. "By creating a legacy plan, you can offer your loved ones a chance to access, archive, or memorialize your digital presence, helping them find closure and solace during their time of grief," Foote said.

More than ever, it is important to restrict digital footprints to maintain control after death. "A social media legacy plan allows you to decide the fate of your online presence, whether it involves deleting your accounts, memorializing them, or handing over control to a trusted individual," Foote said.

A well-crafted plan can prevent tricky situations concerning content by outlining how accounts should be managed or deactivated. "Without a legacy plan, your social media profiles may continue to appear in search results, friend suggestions, or birthday reminders, causing distress for your friends and family," Foote said.

There are legal considerations with digital assets being recognized as part of one's estate. A social media legacy plan can help streamline the legal processes involved in settling affairs.

For more information on safeguarding your future, please visit www.legacysuite.com.

About Legacy Suite

Legacy Suite is a complete end-to-end solution providing first-class digital estate planning support, including wallet monitoring and crypto wallets. Legacy Suite is a secure solution for crypto self-custody and password management, which allows you to hold your own keys, set up directives, assign executors, and have peace of mind knowing that your digital assets will safely transfer to your next of kin.

Contact Information

Madeleine Moench

madeleine@newswire.com

SOURCE: Legacy Suite

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759337/Legacy-Suite-Secures-Online-Identity-Through-Its-New-Social-Media-Legacy-Program
Thick and high-grade near-surface copper mineralization confirmed by assays for another five drill holes completed at the 4100N Zone

Drill results received to date confirm the continuous nature of the near-surface copper mineralization

Drill hole SR23-02 has intersected: 29m @ 1.1% Cu from 59.4m, including, 9.2m @ 2.2% Cu from 71.6m, including, 1.5m @ 5.1% Cu from 79.3m

Drill hole SR23-03 has intersected: 67.1m @ 1.1% Cu from 54.9m, including, 4.6m @ 2.6% Cu from 64m, and, 9.1m @ 2.5% Cu from 79.3m, including, 1.5m @ 7.1% Cu from 82.3m, and 4.6m @ 2% Cu from 97.5m

Drill hole SR23-04 has intersected: 6.1m @ 1.1% Cu from 50.3m, and, 19.8m @ 1.1% Cu from 77.7m, including, 3.1m @ 4% Cu from 94.5m,

Drill hole SR23-05 has intersected: 21.3m @ 1% Cu from 41.2m, including, 3.1m @ 2.5% Cu from 45.7m

Drill hole SR23-06 has intersected: 7.6m @ 1.1% Cu from 53.3m, including, 3.1m @ 2% Cu from 54.9m, and; 6.1m @ 1.2% Cu from 82.3m, including, 3.1m @ 2.2% Cu from 82.3m



TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Aston Bay Holdings Ltd. (TSXV:BAY)(OTCQB:ATBHF) ("Aston Bay" or the "Company") reports additional assay results confirm thick intervals of copper mineralization from its ongoing delineation drilling program at the Storm Copper Project ("Storm" or the "Project") on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. This is the second drilling program for American West Metals Limited ("American West"), who are the project operator, since entering an option agreement with Aston Bay in March 2021.

Assay results have been received for an additional five drill holes from the current program at the 4100N Zone, and all have intersected thick intervals of near-surface copper sulfides with grades up to 7% Cu. The assays continue to match or exceed visual estimations as previously reported.

The near-surface setting, thick intersections, and high grades of the copper mineralization support the potential for a low-cost open pit mining operation. We continue to assess this outstanding opportunity with resource modeling, beneficiation test work and environmental studies in progress.

"Once again, the impressive results continue to come in from the ongoing exploration conducted by our partner American West Metals at Storm," stated Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay.

"We believe these high-grade copper intercepts will support the development of a significant resource. We look forward to further results from our spring program and anticipate an exciting second program coming up this summer at Storm."

Figure 1: Example of RC chips from drill hole SR23-03 displaying chalcocite (gunmetal grey mineral) breccia and veins within dolomite (tan) from approximately 79.2 - 85.3m downhole. This interval assayed 3.2% Cu.

INCREASING RESOURCE CONFIDENCE AND SIZE POTENTIAL

Assay results from drill holes SR23-02, SR23-03, SR23-04, SR23-05 and SR23-06 have been received and confirm thick intervals of near-surface copper sulfides within the 4100N Zone.

The drilling results received to date demonstrate consistent copper grades and excellent lateral continuity of the high-grade mineralization. Additionally, drilling results show significant thicknesses of coherent copper mineralization (<1% Cu) are present outside of the stronger zones of mineralization.

Figure 2: 3D orthographic view of the 4100N Zone, Storm Project, showing drilling (historical, completed during 2023 and planned for 2023) and the interpreted >1% mineralization envelope defined in drilling.

Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Laboratory assays are required to determine the presence and grade of any contained mineralization within the reported visual intersections of copper mineralization. Portable XRF is used as an aid in the determination of mineral type and abundance during the geological logging process.

Figure 3: Plan view of the 4100N Zone showing interpreted copper mineralization footprint (defined by historical drilling and EM), historical and recent drilling, overlaying regional geology. Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 60% to 95% of stated length.

Hole ID Prospect Easting Northing Depth (m) Azimuth Inclination Thickness Strong Mineralization (m) SR23-01 4100N 464991 8174285 137.2 180 -65 28.9 SR23-02 4100N 464990 8174157 140.2 180 -59 21 SR23-03 4100N 465041 8174251 151 178 -65 52.5 SR23-04 4100N 465045 8174166 152.4 179 -69 25.9 SR23-05 4100N 464899 8174146 131.1 180 -66 21.3 SR23-06 4100N 464899 8174261 166.1 180 -69 13.7 SR23-07 4100N 464805 8174203 137.2 180 -71 13.7 SR23-08 4100N 464726 8174286 118.9 180 -69 13.7 SR23-09 4100N 464726 8174206 164.6 180 -69 32 SR23-10 4100N 464638 8174315 125 180 -70 10.6 SR23-11 4100N 464667 8174223 140.2 180 -70 25.9 SR23-12 4100N 465115 8174317 149.4 179 -73 12.2 SR23-13 4100N 465051 8174321 175.3 180 -65 18.3 SR23-14 4100N 464948 8174227 160 180 -65 22.9 SR23-15 4100N 464853 8174167 121.9 180 -65 24.3 SR23-16 4100N 465138 8174247 132.6 180 -70 7.62 SR23-17 4100N 465139 8174173 129.5 180 -66 19.8

Table 1: 2023 program drill hole details and copper mineralization summary. The "Thickness of Strong Mineralization" data is based on laboratory assays (in bold) and visual estimates aided by Portable XRF analysis.

DRILL HOLE SR23-02 DETAILS

SR23-02 was drilled to a downhole depth of 140.2m and is located on the same drill section as previously reported drill hole SR23-01 (see May 23, 2023 Aston Bay press release).

The drill hole is located on drill section 465000E and was testing the continuation of the mineralization south of historical drill hole ST99-47 (Figures 3 and 4).

SR23-02 intersected a single, but wide zone of strong vein and fracture-style copper sulfide mineralization hosted within fractured dolomite.

Figure 4: Geological section view at 465000E showing the interpreted mineralization envelopes (>0.5% & >1% Cu) and recent drill hole assays and visual observations. Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 60% to 95% of stated length.

Table 2 through 6 below summarise the significant intersections in drilling for this batch of results. Intersections are expressed as downhole widths and are interpreted to be approximately 90-100% of true width. A cut-off grade of 0.5% copper is used to define a significant intersection and is based on ore mineralogy, mineralization habit and expected beneficiation performance.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag g/t SR23-02 59.4 88.4 29 1.1 - 3.4 Including 71.6 80.8 9.2 2.2 - 4.8 Including 79.3 80.8 1.5 5.1 - 13

Table 2: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-02 (>0.5% Cu)

DRILL HOLE SR23-03 and SR23-04 DETAILS

SR23-03 and SR23-04 were drilled on section 465050E, which lies to the east of drill holes SR23-01 and SR23-02. The holes were drilled to a downhole depth of 151m and 152.4m respectively and were designed to test the continuity of the mineralization within an area of no previous drilling.

Both drill holes intersected multiple zones of vein and fracture-style copper sulfide mineralization hosted within fractured dolomite. Drill hole SR23-03 displays distinct zoning of the copper sulfide minerals, with a dense chalcocite core, grading outwards vertically to bornite, and then to chalcopyrite on the margins of the mineralized horizon.

Figure 5: Geological section view at 465,050E showing the interpreted mineralization envelope (>0.5% Cu & >1% Cu) and recent drill hole assays and visual observations. Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 90% to 100% of stated length.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag g/t SR23-03 54.9 122 67.1 1.1 - 2.5 Including 64 68.6 4.6 2.6 - 3.7 And 79.3 88.4 9.1 2.5 - 4.8 Including 82.3 83.8 1.5 7.1 - 13 And 97.5 102.1 4.6 2 - 7.7

Table 3: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-03 (>0.5% Cu)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag g/t SR23-04 50.3 56.4 6.1 1.1 - 1.5 And 77.7 97.5 19.8 1.1 - 2.2 Including 94.5 97.6 3.1 4 - 5.5

Table 4: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-04 (>0.5% Cu)

DRILL HOLE SR23-05 and SR23-06 DETAILS

SR23-05 and SR23-06 were drilled along section 464900E. The holes were drilled to a downhole depth of 131.1m and 166.1m respectively and were designed to test the continuity of the mineralization within the central-west 4100N Zone, and either side of a single historical drill hole (ST00-60).

Both drill holes intersected multiple wide zones of vein and fracture-style copper sulfide mineralization hosted within fractured dolomite. The higher-grade zones of mineralization (>2% Cu) are contained within much wider intervals of consistent lower-grade copper mineralization (>0.5% Cu).

Figure 6: Geological section view at 464900E showing the interpreted mineralization envelope (>0.5 & >1% Cu) and recent drill hole assays and visual observations. Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 90% to 100% of stated length.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag g/t SR23-05 38.1 64 25.9 0.9 - 2.4 Including 41.2 62.5 21.3 1 - 2.6 Including 45.7 48.8 3.1 2.5 - 4

Table 5: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-05 (>0.5% Cu)

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width Cu % Zn % Ag g/t SR23-06 42.7 88.4 45.7 0.5 - 2.4 Including 53.3 60.9 7.6 1.1 - 2.6 Including 54.9 58 3.1 2 - 3.5 And 82.3 88.4 6.1 1.2 - 5.3 Including 82.3 85.4 3.1 2.2 - 8

Table 6: Summary of significant drilling intersections for drill hole SR23-06 (>0.5% Cu)

PLANNED PROGRAM

Drilling at the 4100N Zone will continue in the summer program, with a focus on expansion of the mineralized footprint. This will be followed by resource definition drilling at the 2200N and 2750N Zone, where drilling in 2022 intersected high-grade copper sulfides close to surface including 41m (core length) @ 4.18% Cu from 38m (ST22-05) downhole.

Processing and interpretation of the MLEM and gravity survey data is almost complete. Diamond drilling will be used to test new high-priority exploration targets identified from these surveys.

Ore sorting and beneficiation test work for a potential direct shipping product operation is continuing with results to follow shortly.

An environmental baseline survey will begin in the Storm area during Q3 2023.

About the Storm Copper and Seal Zinc-Silver Projects, Nunavut

The Nunavut property consists of 173 contiguous mining claims covering an area of approximately 219,257 hectares on Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada. The Storm Project comprises both the Storm Copper Project, a high-grade sediment hosted copper discovery (intersections including 110m* @ 2.45% Cu from surface and 56.3m* @ 3.07% Cu from 12.2m) as well as the Seal Zinc Deposit (intersections including 14.4m* @ 10.58% Zn, 28.7g/t Ag from 51.8m and 22.3m* @ 23% Zn, 5.1g/t Ag from 101.5m). Additionally, there are numerous underexplored targets within the 120-kilometre strike length of the mineralized trend, including the Tornado copper prospect where 10 grab samples yielded >1% Cu up to 32% Cu in gossans.

*Stated drill hole intersections are all core length, and true width is expected to be 60% to 95% of core length.

Figure 7: Storm Copper Project, Location Map.

Qualified Person

Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

About Aston Bay Holdings

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade copper and gold deposits in Virginia, USA, and Nunavut, Canada. The Company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the Company's advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona. The Company is currently exploring the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia and is in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade copper potential in the area.

The Company is 100% owner of the Storm Project property, which hosts the Storm Copper Project and the Seal Zinc Deposit and has been optioned to American West Metals Limited.

About American West Metals Limited

AMERICAN WEST METALS LIMITED (ASX: AW1) is an Australian clean energy mining company focused on growth through the discovery and development of major base metal mineral deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions of North America. Our strategy is focused on developing mines that have a low-footprint and support the global energy transformation.

Our portfolio of copper and zinc projects in Utah and Canada include significant existing resource inventories and high-grade mineralization that can generate robust mining proposals. Core to our approach is our commitment to the ethical extraction and processing of minerals and making a meaningful contribution to the communities where our projects are located.

Led by a highly experienced leadership team, our strategic initiatives lay the foundation for a sustainable business which aims to deliver high-multiplier returns on shareholder investment and economic benefits to all stakeholders.

For further information on American West, visit: www.americanwestmetals.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this news release, including those regarding the Option Agreement, grant of the Option and the expected closing date, American West's interest in the Storm Project and its other acquisitions and plans, plans for the upcoming field season, management objectives, forecasts, estimates, expectations, or predictions of the future may constitute "forward-looking statement", which can be identified by the use of conditional or future tenses or by the use of such verbs as "believe", "expect", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "plan", and words of similar import, including variations thereof and negative forms. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect, as of the date of this press release, Aston Bay's expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, the mining industry and the economic environment in which it operates. Statements in this press release that are not supported by historical fact are forward-looking statements, meaning they involve risk, uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Aston Bay believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which apply only at the time of writing of this press release. Aston Bay disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by securities legislation.

For more information contact:

Thomas Ullrich, Chief Executive Officer

thomas.ullrich@astonbayholdings.com

(416) 456-3516

Sofia Harquail, IR and Corporate Development

sofia.harquail@astonbayholdings.com

(647) 821-1337

SOURCE: Aston Bay Holdings Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759514/Aston-Bay-and-Partner-American-West-Metals-Announce-Additional-Outstanding-Copper-Intersections-at-the-Storm-Copper-Project-Nunavut
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Snowline Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SGD)(OTCQB:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") is pleased to announce that B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE American: BTG, NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold") has increased their ownership stake in the Company to 9.90% by way of an on-market transaction. B2Gold has also agreed to vote their common shares in accordance with Snowline Board's recommendations. Snowline has agreed to grant B2Gold an increase in their right to maintain their pro rata ownership of up to 9.90% (formerly up to 5.00%) in connection with future equity financings.

ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP.

Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration company with a project portfolio covering >280,000 ha. The Company's flagship, district-scale Rogue Project hosts the Valley discovery, a bulk-tonnage, reduced intrusion-related gold system (RIRGS), with geological similarities to multi-million-ounce deposits currently in production such as Kinross's Fort Knox Mine in Alaska and Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine in the Yukon. Early drill results demonstrate unusually high gold grades for such a system, present near surface across drill intersections of hundreds of metres. In addition to Valley, the Company's first-mover land position, extensive exploration database and active operations provide a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the creation of a new gold district.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Scott Berdahl, MSc, MBA, PGeo

CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Snowline Gold Corp.

+1 778 650 5485

info@snowlinegold.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company having a highly prospective land portfolio boasting district-scale, untapped greenfield potential, the granting of certain rights to B2Gold to maintain their pro rata ownership interest in the Company, the granting of a "vote-with-management" provision to Snowline, the opportunity for investors to participate in the creation of a new gold district, and the Company's future plans and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759459/Snowline-Gold-Announces-On-Market-Transaction-by-B2Gold-Increasing-Ownership-Stake-to-99


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Tuesday, as weak ISM services activity data for May boosted hopes for a pause in rate hikes at the Fed meeting next week.



Survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed that U.S. services PMI index fell to 50.3 in May from 51.9 last month, missing forecasts of 52.2.



Separate data showed that new orders for manufactured goods rose by slightly less than expected in April.



Markets are pricing in a 77.1% chance that the Fed will hold rates steady at its June 13-14 meeting.



U.S. treasury yields dropped, with the benchmark yield on the 10-year note touching 3.66 percent. Yields move inversely to bond prices.



The greenback fell to 4-day lows of 1.0732 against the euro, 1.2459 against the pound and 139.09 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.0712, 1.2436 and 139.58, respectively. The greenback is seen finding support around 1.09 against the euro, 1.27 against the pound and 134.00 against the yen.



The greenback dropped to a 1-week low of 0.9032 against the Swiss franc from yesterday's close of 0.9061. The greenback may face support around the 0.89 region, if it falls again.



The greenback depreciated to a 3-week low of 0.6685 against the aussie, 4-day low of 0.6100 against the kiwi and near a 4-week low of 1.3389 against the loonie, from yesterday's closing values of 0.6617, 0.6069 and 1.3445, respectively. The greenback is likely to challenge support around 0.68 against the aussie, 0.64 against the kiwi and 1.32 against the loonie.



Looking ahead, Canada building permits for April and Ivey PMI for May are slated for release in the New York session.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Das sind die KI-Gewinner Der kostenlose Report zur KI-Revolution: Diese 5 Aktien mussen auf Ihre Watchlist! Hier klicken
Enevate, a pioneering battery innovation company featuring fast charge and high-density battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs) and other markets, announced the appointment of EV battery veteran, Janis Doelle, to Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

"Janis brings more than 15 years of impressive, results-oriented experience in the battery industry with particular focus on converting R&D projects to commercial-scale production at several of the world's leading automotive and battery companies," said Enevate CEO Bob Kruse. "We are excited and fortunate that Janis is joining us at this extremely important time as we begin to commercially scale multiple global opportunities in EV and other electric-power markets."

Prior to joining Enevate, Doelle served as a senior manager in Samsung Group's Global Strategy Department in South Korea, leading strategic, organization and technology-commercialization-related projects focused on lithium-ion batteries and other key technologies for the Group. He later moved to Samsung SDI's Marketing and Product Planning Department where he served as a senior manager for technical marketing, business development, product planning and program management for major EV OEM battery projects.

In other earlier posts, Doelle worked at Volkswagen Group in Germany, where he was responsible for battery cell R&D, especially focused on battery cell chemistry and new anode materials, and at LG Chem (now LG Energy Solutions) as a manager in its Battery R&D Department in South Korea. In that role, he headed development of new battery cell designs and chemistry platforms for major EV OEM customers.

Doelle's diverse educational background includes bachelor's and master's degrees in material science from Justus-Liebig University in Germany, and a Ph.D. in material science from the Technical University Berlin in Germany (where he focused on silicon-based anodes for Li-Ion batteries). He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) at Lausanne, Switzerland. He speaks German, English and Korean.

"This is a wonderful opportunity as the world increasingly goes electric," Doelle said. "I look forward to being a part of Enevate's world-class team of scientists and engineers as we work to drive the company's next chapter of growth."

ABOUT ENEVATE (www.enevate.com)

Enevate develops and licenses advanced battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs), with a vision of EVs charging as fast as refueling gas cars, accessible and affordable to everyone, and accelerating EVs' mass adoption. Boasting a portfolio of 643 patents issued and in process, Enevate's pioneering advancements (including leveraging accelerated battery testing and machine learning) in silicon-dominant anodes and cells have resulted in battery technology that features five-minute extreme fast charging with high energy density, low-temperature operation for cold climates, low cost and safety advantages over conventional batteries.

Enevate's vision is to develop and propagate EV battery technology that contributes to a clean and sustainable environment. The Irvine, California-based company's investors include Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (Alliance Ventures), LG Chem, Samsung Venture Investment Corp, Fidelity Management Research Company, Mission Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Tsing Capital, Infinite Potential Technologies, Presidio Ventures a Sumitomo Corporation company, Lenovo, CEC Capital, and Bangchak. Enevate, the Enevate logo, HD-Energy, XFC-Energy and eBoost are registered trademarks of Enevate Corporation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005364/en/

Contacts:

Bill Blanning

bblanning@enevate.com

+1 (714) 916-4309
On June 8th, Nextech3D.ai shareholders of record set to receive a 4,000,000 share stock dividend on a pro-rata basis

Expected trade date for Toggle3D.ai is June 13, 2023

CSE Stock Symbol: TGGL

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Nextech3D.AI (formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp' or the "Company") (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2), a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers is pleased to announce that it has now received shareholder approval at the Annual and Special Meeting of shareholders of the Company held on June 5, 2023 to proceed with its proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) to spinout the Company's Toggle3D.ai CAD-3D design Studio and associated assets. The final court hearing to approve the plan of arrangement is scheduled for June 9th, 2023 with a record date of June 8th and listing. The expected trade date for Toggle3D.ai CSE:TGGL is June 13, 2023 (subject to approvals) of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

As previously announced, the Arrangement will result in, among other things, Nextech3D.ai receiving an aggregate of 13,000,000 common shares of Toggle3D ("Spinco Shares') and an aggregate of 4,000,000 Toggle3D.ai ("Spinco") shares being distributed directly to the shareholders of Nextech3D.ai on a pro rata basis.

Toggle3D is a groundbreaking SaaS solution that utilizes generative AI to convert CAD files, apply stunning 4K texturing, and enable seamless publishing of superior 4K 3D models, serving various industries within the $160 billion CGI market. With its Augmented Reality-based rapid prototyping web app, Toggle3D empowers designers, artists, marketers, and eCommerce owners to effortlessly convert, texture, customize, and publish high-quality 3D models and experiences, regardless of technical or 3D design

expertise.

Watch a video showcasing Toggle3D - view below or click here

After the IPO spin-out Nextech3D.ai is going to retain 13,000,000 shares or about a 50% ownership stake in Toggle3D.ai. The Company plans to sell approximately 8,400,000 shares at $0.25 per unit (including a $0.50 warrant). The Company has raised $2.1 million dollars giving Toggle3D.ai a $7.1 million post-money valuation.

The spin-out of Toggle3D.ai follows Nextech's successful spin-out on 10/26/2022 of ARway.ai, currently trading on (CSE:ARWY), (OTCQB:ARWYF) and (FSE:E65)

Toggle3D.ai is emerging as a standalone public Company, initially trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) as TGGL, with plans to expand its presence to the Frankfurt and OTC markets in the near future. This strategic move not only drives innovation but also unlocks substantial shareholder value, reflecting Nextech3D.ai's commitment to driving the industry forward.

Join us for a Special Toggle3D Investor Live Stream Thursday June 8th

CEO Evan Gappelberg will discuss the upcoming IPO spin-out.

Plus Chief Product Officer, Dasha Vdovina will provide an exciting updated product presentation of Toggle3D.

Date: Thursday, June 8 2023

Time: 10:00 a.m Eastern Time

Join Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siPTb1xcLDM

The Company has hired GRA Enterprises LLC of 112 Camp Lane, Mooresville, NC 28117-8925 (the "Consultant") to provide increased market awareness for the Company for a term of 6 months. The effective date of the term is May 29, 2023 and the term will end on November 29, 2023. The Company has paid the Consultant a total of $50,000 for the term of the agreement.

About Toggle3D

Toggle3D.ai, introduced in September 2022, is a cutting-edge standalone web application that combines augmented reality (AR) technology with user-friendly features, allowing product designers, 3D artists, marketing professionals, and eCommerce site owners to effortlessly create, customize, and publish top-tier 3D models and immersive experiences, even without prior technical or 3D design expertise. The Company strongly believes that Toggle3D.ai represents a groundbreaking solution, being the first platform of its kind, with the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing and design industry. It offers an affordable and scalable approach to converting large CAD files into lightweight 3D models, making it a game changer for businesses in this sector.

Toggle3D.ai Benefits Over 3D Legacy Software

NO Learning Curve

Toggle3D.ai stands out from legacy 3D design software by eliminating the learning curve and making 3D design accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background. Unlike traditional systems that require months of learning, Toggle3D.ai simplifies the process by humanizing design terminology, providing guided templates, and using machine learning to make the tools user-friendly.

Web-based Collaboration

Being web-based, users can access Toggle3D.ai instantly on their browsers without the need for downloads, updates, or system compatibility concerns. Additionally, the platform offers advanced in-app collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work together on the same project in real-time, facilitating quick feedback, decision-making, and cross-department collaboration.

These collaborative tools empower businesses to adopt 3D design organization-wide, enhancing workflow efficiency and unleashing the potential of group iteration.

Recent Toggle3D.ai News

Nextech3D.ai Game-Changing Generative-AI CAD 3D Design Studio Toggle3D.ai Primed For $7 Million June IPO

Toggle3D.ai Achieves Major Generative AI Breakthrough In Text to 3D Material Generation

Toggle3D. ai Announces Conditional Listing Approval & Updates on Generative-AI IPO Spin-Off SaaS Platform Toggle3D.ai

Toggle3D. ai AI-Powered CAD Design Studio Toggle3D.ai Achieves 10X File Reduction Opening Up The platform to New Large Enterprise Customers

Toggle3D. ai Announces Its AI-Powered SaaS Platform Toggle3D.ai Experiences A +963% Jump in Users in 60-Days Crossing Over 1000 Users

Further Details of the Arrangement

The Directors and Officers of Toggle3D.ai on closing of the Arrangement are anticipated to be as follows:

Evan Gappelberg - Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Gappelberg, the dynamic Director and CEO of Nextech, is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his ability to launch and lead successful start-ups. With expertise in funding, operations, and public markets, he brings a wealth of experience to the table. As the visionary behind over 500 popular apps on Apple's iTunes and Google Play stores, Gappelberg's entrepreneurial journey began even before his impressive Wall Street career as a hedge fund manager and Senior VP of Finance. With a remarkable track record and deep knowledge of capital markets, he is a driving force in managing Nextech's growth as a public company.

Belinda Tyldesley - Director and Corporate Secretary.

Mrs. Tyldesley is the President of Closing Bell Services, a consulting company that provides corporate secretarial services. Mrs. Tyldesley has extensive experience across all sectors of the economy with regulatory compliance in all Canadian jurisdictions and reporting issuers listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V), Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and the NEO Exchange (NEO), as well as providing legal assistance and secretarial services. Mrs. Tyldesley holds an Associate Diploma in Business Legal Practice from Holmesglen College in Melbourne, Australia. She currently serves as the Corporate Secretary and a director of Nextech and Arway.

Andrew Chan - Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Chan has over 20 years of experience across finance, accounting, business analytics, and strategy, focusing on the technology and financial services sectors with half of his career serving high-growth, public technology companies. Mr. Chan has successfully integrated and led finance-related functional groups including treasury and banking, corporate reporting and budgeting and was instrumental in forging strong relationships with business unit leaders to enable successful revenue forecasting and delivery. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Nextech and Arway. Mr.Chan is a Chartered Public Accountant (CPA, CA) and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in accounting and finance from the University of Toronto.

Jeff Dawley - Director.

Mr. Dawley is President and Co-Founder of Cybersecurity Compliance Corp., a cybersecurity company, and previously served as the Principal and Chief Financial Officer of BridgePoint Financial Group, a litigation finance group of companies. Mr. Dawley currently serves as a director of Nextech and Arway.



To learn more, please follow us on Twitter , YouTube , Instagram , LinkedIn , and Facebook , or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com .

About Nextech3D.ai

(formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp" or the "Company") (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2 is a diversified augmented reality, AI technology company that leverages proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to create 3D experiences for the metaverse. Its main businesses are creating 3D WebAR photorealistic models for the Prime Ecommerce Marketplace as well as many other online retailers. The Company develops or acquires what it believes are disruptive technologies and once commercialized, spins them out as stand-alone public Companies issuing a stock dividend to shareholders while retaining a significant ownership stake in the public spin-out.

On October 26, 2022 Nextech3D.ai spun out its spatial computing platform, "ARway" as a stand alone public Company. Nextech3D.ai retained a control ownership in ARway Corp. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake, and distributed 4 million shares to Nextech AR Shareholders. ARway is currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:ARWY), in USA on the OTCQB (OTC:ARWYF) and Internationally on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE:E65). ARway Corp. is disrupting the augmented reality wayfinding market with a no-code, no beacon spatial computing platform enabled by visual marker tracking.

On December 14, 2022 Nextech announced its second spinout of Toggle3D, an AI-powered 3D design studio to compete with Adobe. Toggle3D is expected to be public in the first half of 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Lindsay Betts

investor.relations@Nextechar.com

866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Ext 7201

Nextech3D.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as 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. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759364/Nextech3Dai-Shareholders-Approve-IPO-Spin-out-of-Its-Generative-AI-CAD-3D-Design-Studio-Toggle3Dai
ARway Intends to Distribute its AR Platform through Apple's Vision Pro Hardware

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65) is an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision congratulates Apple on its release of its Apple Vision Pro Headset. ARway currently provides software solutions compatible with other AR Headsets, such as Magic Leap 2 and HoloLens 2, and intends to distribute its groundbreaking indoor navigation and 3D technology with the Apple ecosystem. It is anticipated that adoption of "Apple Vision Pro" will be a massive boost for the augmented reality industry, opening up a large new market opportunity for ARway's technology. ARway is a provider of the software solution for the Apple Vision Pro.

ARway commends Apple for the move into manufacturing for what is now, the industry leading headset for Augmented Reality packed with massive spatial computing power, ergonomics and improvements in user experience. Apple's visionOS operating system natively supports the Unity 3D engine and RealityKit (formally ARkit) enabling ARway to seamlessly distribute its technology through existing and new applications in iOS.

According to Statista, Apple claimed a 20.5 percent share of the global smartphone market in the first quarter of 2023. With Apple being a premier provider of smartphones, the Apple Vision Pro is anticipated to be an industry leading AR headset, with technological breakthroughs as the "first ever wearable spatial computer." ARway currently performs best on iOS devices and will seamlessly integrate with Apple's ecosystem.

ARway CEO Evan Gappelberg commented, "Today marks the dawn of a new era in computing and computer vision technology. Augmented reality is already going mainstream, but now with Apple's Vision Pro glasses the value proposition of AR has increased dramatically. With our no code no hardware AR platform we believe ARway is the killer application for enterprise." He continued, "Before Apple Vision Pro we already have dozens of pilot projects and use cases, but now with Vision Pro we expect our business to jump into hyper-drive. "



Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the new product at the Apple's Worldwide

Developers Conference held at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, CA.

Discover a New World With AR Smart Glasses Powered By ARway.ai - click here to learn more https://www.arway.ai/arwayai-ar-software-for-smart-glasses

ARway is the only large-scale location-persistent AR platform for indoor spaces today. Headset manufacturers and clients looking to implement headsets are very interested in using ARway's technology. ARway's technology enables the accurate positioning of these headsets in GPS-devoid environments and allows the rendering of AR content that is location persistent for the end user. This means that the technology can be used in any environment, opening up immersive use cases where the hands-free capabilities of the user are important.

Recent News

ARway.ai Announces Cross Platform Compatibility Across Magic Leap & Hololens As it Prepares For Additional AR Glasses Compatibility



ARway.ai 'The Augmented Reality Experience Platform' Gaining Momentum As 2023 Sales Pipeline Reaches Over $1.4M In Revenue Potential



ARway.ai Announces Microsoft HoloLens AR Glasses Integration



ARway.ai Approved and Now Trading On The OTCQB Exchange



ARway.ai Announces Magic Leap AR Glasses Integration

To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai

About ARway.ai

ARway is an AI-powered platform that provides augmented reality experiences for indoor spaces. The platform allows users to easily create experiences for navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising, and gamification. ARway leverages the power of mobile devices to create environments that can improve visitor experience, boost employee productivity, increase engagement, create new advertising space, and boost revenues. Visitors can scan a QR code to access a venue map, navigate to any point of interest with step-by-step directions, learn information about those POIs, and interact with rich AR content and experiences along the way. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces in the metaverse, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands, and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOs and Android.

Nextech 3D.ai

On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: EP2). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Metaverse Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform, "ARitize3D" has contracts with; AMZN, KSS, CB2, Genuine Parts & many others. To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Julia Viola

investor.relations@arway.ai

ARway.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as 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. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: ARway Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759397/ARwayai-Congratulates-Apple-On-Its-Industry-Leading-Apple-Vision-Pro-Augmented-Reality-Headset
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") announces that its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") will be held at 2:30pm EST on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the Company's offices at 8 King Street East, Suite 1800, Toronto, ON M5C 1B5. The formal part of the Meeting will be followed by a brief presentation. Shareholders are invited to follow along the proceedings of the Meeting via Zoom Events. Questions may be posed in person at the Meeting or sent online during the Zoom Event.

Zoom Event Details

Event Date and Time: Jun 14, 2023, 2:30 PM America/New York

Event Name: Aurania Resources Ltd. Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders

Aurania shareholders can click this link to register and join the event on June 14th

Meeting ID: VwX2aCzERRe17va7iquBMg

Proxy Voting Deadline

The Zoom Event is for listening to the proceedings of the Meeting only. To ensure your vote is counted, please cast your vote prior to Monday, June 12th, 2022, at 2:30pm EST as per the details in your form of proxy. Meeting materials can be found on Aurania's website under the Annual General Meeting tab.

Financial Statements and MD&A (Management's Discussion & Analysis)

Aurania's annual financial statements for the year-ended December 31, 2022, and the interim financial statements and MD&A for three months ended March 31, 2022, are available on SEDAR and the Company's website.

About Aurania

Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador.

Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedar.com, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.

For further information, please contact:

Carolyn Muir

VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Aurania Resources Ltd.

(416) 367-3200

carolyn.muir@aurania.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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168863
Ucore Announces:

A US$4 million award from the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando to demonstrate Rare Earth Element Separation Technology Capabilities at the RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility in Kingston, Ontario (the "Project")

It is anticipated that upon successful completion of the Project, a follow-on production award may be issued to further support Ucore's REE separation capabilities in Louisiana

Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), the Company has been awarded a firm-fixed-price US$4 million Other Transaction Agreement[i] ("OT Agreement" or "Award") by the US Army Contracting Command-Orlando ("ACC-ORL" or "US-DoD") to conduct a Rare Earth Element ("REE") Separation Technology Capabilities Prototype Project (the "Project") at the Company's RapidSX Commercialization and Demonstration Facility ("CDF") in Kingston, Ontario, utilizing its 52-Stage RapidSX Demonstration Plant ("Demo Plant") for the separation of mixed heavy and light REE concentrate feedstocks.

The objectives of the Project are to present to the US-DoD:

the capability to commercially source a sustainable domestic (i.e., United States and Canada) processing facility for converting heavy and light REEs feedstock sources to salable individual rare earth products. a new innovative separation process that increases the ability to create domestic REE processing plants.

It is anticipated that upon successful completion of the Project[ii], a follow-on production OT Agreement may be issued to further support Ucore's REE separation capabilities in North America, led by its flagship Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex ("SMC") planned for Alexandria, Louisiana, as announced on April 6, 2023.

"We believe that Ucore has one of the West's most compelling rare-earth-supply chain business models," stated Pat Ryan, Ucore Chairman and CEO. "This US-DoD Project will allow us to demonstrate the RapidSX technology platform for rare earth element separation and will include original equipment manufacturers' qualification trials in coordination with our commercial development activities at the Company's planned Louisiana SMC.

"The rare earth element processing opportunity afforded Ucore through this Award is pivotal as the Company continues to seek out and collaborate with like-minded upstream and downstream partners as part of a Western rare-earth-element supply chain solution."

REEs are critical to many defence and commercial technologies, including those relying on rare earth permanent magnets to convert electrical to mechanical energy. Demand for these unique elements is expected to increase significantly as the electrification of the worldwide vehicle fleet continues.

This OT Agreement will allow the Company to operate the RapidSX Demo Plant for extended periods of nearly continuous operation, with the goal of demonstrating the following attributes to the US-DoD:

rare earth separation processing capability at a rate more efficient than conventional solvent extraction ("CSX"); separation technology applicability to both light and heavy REEs with the same equipment; a continuous process working facility capable of processing tonnes of feedstock; and an increase in the Company's RapidSX technology readiness level ("TRL").

In addition to increasing the TRL of the RapidSX technology and developing a corresponding techno-economic assessment, the Project is designed to demonstrate that RapidSX can be used to efficiently and quickly separate individual light and heavy REEs and compounds (such as PrNd, Pr, Nd, Tb, and Dy) sourced from a domestic-friendly mixed heavy rare-earth-oxide concentrate feedstock source.

Background Information about the Award Process:

On November 10, 2022, the US-DOD issued a Request for Solutions (the "RFS") seeking vendors and suppliers of innovative REE projects that can promote the adoption of REE recovery and separation technologies that incorporate advanced processing capabilities with the ability to meet the US-DoD's requirements.

On January 17, 2023, Ucore, through IMC, submitted a solution (the "Solution") to the US-DoD in response to the RFS based on the execution of its separation technology development program in Kingston, Ontario, and its commercial deployment advancements in Louisiana. Ucore's Solution described the proposed Project and the use of its proprietary RapidSX separation technology at the CDF utilizing the Demo Plant.

On June 2, 2023, the OT Agreement was finalized and awarded to the Company, through IMC, by ACC-ORL. Pursuant to the terms of the OT Agreement, the Company is to pursue and complete the Project in stages and provide regular reporting and information to ACC-ORL. The payment milestones are divided into fixed tranches and tied to the successful completion of each stage.

# # #

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA.

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com/corporateupdate.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Regarding the disclosure in the press release above about the OT Agreement and the expected successful progress of the Project and the resulting milestone payments from the DoD, the Company has assumed that the Project (including each of its milestones) will be completed in a satisfactory manner and in a reasonable period of time within approximately the next two years. For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, the CDF, the Demo Plant and the Project (generally), see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q1 2023 (filed on SEDAR on May 30, 2023) (www.SEDAR.com) as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX; RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT

Mark MacDonald

Vice President, Investor Relations

Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

1.902.482.5214

mark@ucore.com

[i] Providing nearly 80% of the estimated required Project funding, with the balance provided by Ucore.

[ii] Successful completion will occur when the prototype project has been validated and is accepted by the Government. Successful completion is defined in the negotiated OT Agreement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168926
Establishment of an eighth Colorcon film coating facility meets the expanding needs of the pharmaceutical and nutritional sectors in Southeast Asia

HARLEYSVILLE, Pa., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorcon, Inc. is proud to formally announce its investment in a new manufacturing plant in Johor State, Malaysia for its film coating products. Construction will begin in August 2023, with completion expected by July 2025. This best-in class facility will be the eighth in Colorcon's global network; and will produce high quality and innovative film coating products for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers located in Southeast Asia region, including Australia and New Zealand.

According to CPHI's 2022 Global Survey, the ASEAN pharmaceutical manufacturing industry will grow by 12.8% annually over 2021-2027 driven by increasing prevalence of chronic ailments, growing geriatric population, high investment in research and development, and increasing per capita healthcare expenditure.

Simon Tasker, CEO, Colorcon Inc. explains: "This investment strengthens our strategy to position Colorcon facilities close to our customers and support the projected growth in the region. The new plant in Malaysia will reduce delivery lead-times, improve our sustainability and strengthen our assurance of supply for our customers in the region; while assuring quality and equivalency of product manufactured at any of our network of manufacturing locations around the world."

Willem Hoogwater, Managing Director - NESEA explains: "We want to make it easy for customers to work with Colorcon. The new plant represents a significant commitment to customer satisfaction, convenience, and the resilience of the supply chain in Southeast Asia. The investment in regional production will further enhance Colorcon's ability to provide the high service level our customers expect, and we believe our customers deserve."

This investment in local manufacturing will improve Colorcon's flexibility in the scheduling of production, resulting in higher efficiency for customers and secure the supply chain to meet future industry needs. Colorcon has 11 manufacturing facilities, 25 technical service laboratories globally and more than 1400 employees exclusively dedicated to its customer base.

For more information, visit www.colorcon.com.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/colorcon-inc-invests-in-a-new-film-coating-manufacturing-plant-in-malaysia-301842657.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Norris Lithium Inc. (CSE: CHCK) (the "Company" or "Norris") has announced a temporary halt to its intended exploration activities at the Highway and Bus Lithium Properties (Figure 1) located in Quebec's James Bay region. This decision comes as a result of an emergency order issued by the Ministere des Ressources naturelles et des Forets (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests) in response to the elevated risk of forest fires. The Company is dedicated to ensuring the safety of its staff and protecting the environment, and therefore, will be adhering strictly to this directive.

Norris Lithium will closely monitor the situation and provide timely updates as the situation evolves.

Figure 1. Norris Lithium's Highway and Bus Lithium Properties and other major lithium projects in the James Bay region of Quebec.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9293/168931_1d6d2418643968f4_001full.jpg

About Norris Lithium Inc.

Norris is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. Norris recently acquired the Highway and Bus Lithium properties in the James Bay region of Quebec and holds the Solitude Lake Property located near the Savant Lake area in the Patricia Mining Division, Ontario. Norris' objectives are to conduct exploration programs on its Solitude Lake Property and Quebec Lithium properties and to locate and develop other economic mineral properties of merit.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

R. Dale Ginn, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

R. Dale Ginn

Email: dale@rsdcapital.com

Telephone: 204-794-5818

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the content of this press release.

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/168931
Kbrw joins the MACH Alliance to reinforce its commitment to composable commerce principles

LONDON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the increasing complexity of omnichannel commerce, European WMS/OMS provider Kbrw has completed the redevelopment of its platform and solutions so current and future customers can fully adopt composable architectures. Kbrw has joined the MACH Alliance to reinforce its commitment to the MACH [Microservices-based, API- first, Cloud-native, and Headless] movement.

Omnichannel commerce has become increasingly complex, with new customer experiences appearing at an accelerated rate. This has resulted in businesses seeking-out agile providers whose solutions can enable enhancements to their existing IT systems quickly and easily. Solutions based on MACH principles are key to this: by virtue of their easy integration into existing IT ecosystems, they enable changes without the need to throw out everything already in place (as would typically be the case with traditional 'monolith' solutions).

A recent study commissioned by Kbrw showed that over half of organisations have adopted at least one of the four principles of MACH, while over 30% of organisations have adopted all four principles.

Kbrw's CIO, Arnaud Wetzel, said: "Today's announcement makes it clear to both our existing and potential customers that Kbrw is committed to helping them increase performance and reduce business risk, and that they have the option to choose a modern, cloud-native, high-performance OMS or WMS based on the composable principles that they are, in all probability, adopting across their technology estate.

"The rapid adoption of MACH principles by newer, more agile platform operators like Kbrw will inevitably increase the pressure on 'traditional' providers, whose solutions are monolithic by design and are unlikely ever to be MACH-compliant," he added.

Kbrw's entire portfolio is designed for composable architectures. Its OMS and WMS solutions are based on microservices and are delivered as a cloud-native experience - while simultaneously ensuring bespoke integration through headless design and APIs. Solutions may be adopted alone or used as enhancements to an existing system. Kbrw also helps customers stuck with legacy systems, enabling them to adopt cloud-based modern solutions without having to wait for the long deployment phase and, therefore, to achieve quicker time-to-value.

About Kbrw

Kbrw is a leading European software-as-a-service company, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Paris, France. Its SaaS-based Warehouse Management System and Order Management System solutions launched in 2015 and are now used by many of the continent's major organisations, including 20% of companies in the French CAC40 Index. Since 2022, the company has embarked on a growth strategy, which has included the opening of four additional offices across France and in London, UK.

About MACH Alliance

The MACH Alliance is a not-for-profit industry body that advocates for open and best-of-breed enterprise technology ecosystems. The Alliance aims to educate and support the industry as a whole on what to look out for when moving from legacy infrastructure and going composable, including when, where and how to start and select partners. Our role is more important than ever as adoption of MACH continues apace. The Alliance is a vendor-neutral institution that provides resources, education and guidance through industry experts to support companies on their journey.

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La Nouvelle Agence

diana.ipate@kbrwadventure.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kbrw-certifies-its-omswms-platform-so-customers-can-fully-benefit-from-a-composable-commerce-architecture-301842574.html
G2 Communicator Rollout

TOCCOA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. (OTCQB:GAXY) ("Galaxy" or the "Company), a provider of interactive learning technology solutions and school communication platforms, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a new contract worth at least $200,000 from a Northeast Ohio school district.

This initiative to supply G2 Bell, Paging, Intercom, and Clock (BPIC) hardware and G2 Communicator software to five schools within a Northeast Ohio school district came through a premiere partner of Galaxy's.

The rollout and implementation is expected over the new several weeks.

About Galaxy Next Generation, Inc.

Galaxy Next Generation (OTCQB:GAXY) is a provider of interactive learning technology solutions that allows the presenter and participant to engage in a fully collaborative instructional environment. Galaxy's products include Galaxy's own private-label interactive touch screen panel as well as numerous other national and international branded peripheral and communication devices. Galaxy's distribution channel consists of 22+ resellers across the U.S. who primarily sell the Company's products within the commercial and educational market. Galaxy does not control where resellers focus their resell efforts, although generally, the K-12 education market is the largest customer base for Galaxy products - comprising nearly 90% of Galaxy's sales.

For additional information, please visit our website at: www.galaxynext.us

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investors Contact:

IR@GalaxyNext.us

P 888-859-1274

SOURCE: Galaxy Next Generation, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759435/Galaxy-Next-Generation-Gains-200000-Revenue-from-Northeast-Ohio-School-District
MIRAMAR, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / John W. Meyer, President and COO of Stemtech (OTCQB:STEK), stated "in the 18 years that I have been involved with Stemtech, it is a distinct honor to have the Company voted 25th most trusted company in direct sales in a recent poll of thousands of global direct sales companies as reported by "Business For Home" publication (businessforhome.org) This poll was based upon the quality of products, business credibility, reputation, customer retention and acquisition, key leaders, track record, financial stability , reviews, recognition and more. Stemtech continues to be in a leadership position in the industry and this poll demonstrates our on-going commitment to combine both our all-natural, plant-based health products with anti-aging plus many other benefits as well as an income-earning opportunity for not only our Independent Business Partners, but to everyone who is looking for an improved quality of life. We hope that this recognition demonstrates that Stemtech is one of the leading direct sales companies to join in this $200 billion global growing industry."

ABOUT STEMTECH

Stemtech Corporation, a leading stemceutical company with a direct sales distribution model, was founded on April 18, 2018, after acquiring the operations from its predecessor Stemtech International, Inc., which was established in 2005. From 2010 through 2015, Stemtech International, Inc., was recognized four separate times on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list. In 2018, Stemtech underwent an extensive executive reorganization, and continued operations under new leadership as Stemtech Corporation. In August 2021, Stemtech became a publicly traded company (OTCQB: STEK) and has expanded business opportunities for its Independent Business Partners, who may earn incomes by sharing Stemtech products. January 2022 saw the introduction of new marketing efforts. In August 2022, Professor Doctor Bankole Johnson joined Dr. Enrique Martinez and Dr. Lizette Leos on the Stemtech Life Sciences Advisory Board. In September 2022, the new Stemtech AdvanceOffice mobile app based on the VERB Technology platform was successfully launched as a powerful communication - recruiting tool for our Field. On November 1, 2022, Stemtech introduced the new travel/sample size OraStem Toothpaste. On December 6, Stemtech announced the promotion of Alejandro Carrillo to the role of Vice President Global Sales from his current role as Managing Director Latin Markets. Stemtech introduced the new CellectOne Rapid Renew Stem Cell Peptide Night Cream at their December 2022 International Leadership Event in Cancun, Mexico. January 10, 2023 Stemtech appoints Margie and Mike Mares to Field Advisory Board. Stemtech has Ranked Number 11 in Momentum out of 700+ top Global MLM companies by Business For Home independent MLM publication, January 23, 2023. In February, Life Factor Research became the Research and Development, product formulation - science division of Stemtech to create cutting-edge stemceuticals and other products. Stemtech conducted Field Leadership Business Academies in Aguas Calientes, Mexico May 25 - 27, and in Las Vegas, NV on June 1 - 3.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and/or other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed on May 15, 2023. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement, or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Stemtech Corporation which are condoned by the Company must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its Source.

Investor Relations:

Gabriel Rodriguez

Phone: 623-261-9046

Email: erelationsgroup@gmail.com

Stemtech

Investor Relations:

Phone: 954-715-6000 ext 1040

Email: invrel@stemtech.com

www.Stemtech.com

SOURCE: Stemtech Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759529/Stemtech-Corporation-Voted-25th-Most-Trusted-Direct-Sales-Company-in-Business-for-Home-Poll
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.
Internet, Everywhere--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Shopify Inc. (NYSE, TSX: SHOP), a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, announces that it has completed the previously announced sale of the majority of its former Shopify Logistics business to Flexport, a leading tech-driven global logistics platform, in accordance with the transaction agreement dated May 3, 2023. In connection with the sale, Shopify received stock representing a 13% equity interest in Flexport, which is incremental to its existing equity interest in Flexport. This transaction takes the logistics solution Shopify has been building and places it in the hands of a trusted and mission-aligned partner, Flexport.

Shopify intends to share further details regarding the impact of the sale on its results of operations for the second quarter ending June 30, 2023 on its next earnings call.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customization, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Mattel, Gymshark, Heinz, FTD, Netflix, Kylie Cosmetics, SKIMS, Supreme, and many more. For more information, visit www.shopify.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements related to Shopify's forthcoming earnings call. Words such as "intend" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Shopify's current projections and expectations about future events and on certain assumptions and analysis made by Shopify in light of expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. These projections, expectations, assumptions and analyses are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause events to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Although Shopify believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond Shopify's control, which are set out in Shopify's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces or territories of Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Shopify's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

CONTACT:

INVESTORS:

Carrie Gillard

Director, Investor Relations

IR@shopify.com

MEDIA:

Alex Lyons

External Communications

press@shopify.com

SOURCE: Shopify

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168875
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.04 per common share payable on June 30, 2023 to shareholders of record as of June 20, 2023. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield.

Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Fortitude Gold Corp.:

Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and a sixth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.

Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release.

Contact:

Greg Patterson

719-717-9825

greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com

www.Fortitudegold.com

SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759383/Fortitude-Gold-Declares-June-Monthly-Dividend
Tyler Coates joins FiberLight to lead strategic growth and expansion of its industry-leading mission-critical networks

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / FiberLight , LLC, a fiber infrastructure provider with more than 20 years of experience building and operating mission-critical, high-bandwidth networks, announced that Tyler Coates has joined its executive team as Chief Revenue Officer. Tyler will lead FiberLight's sales and go-to-market teams as the company continues investing in new strategic builds and expanding its dark and lit fiber optic networks, including cross-border connectivity to support international trade.

Tyler brings more than 12 years of sales and leadership experience in the telecommunications industry, recently serving as the Head of Sales Cloud & Data Centers at Zayo Group, a global communications infrastructure provider headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. While at Zayo Group, Tyler was instrumental in the organization's product development and expansion across several areas, including IP, ethernet, colocation, cloud, security, and other enterprise services.

"FiberLight is in a prime position to capitalize on the increasing need businesses have for diverse, secure, and consistent connectivity solutions," said Tyler Coates. "I have been impressed with FiberLight's approach to its network expansion which now sits at over 18,000 route miles. The company has proven itself in the markets it serves. I look forward to joining the team in expanding our reach so that all digitally-enabled businesses can leverage our fiber and wireless infrastructure to move their business forward."

Coates' extensive experience across large enterprises, including cloud and data centers, strengthens the organization's proven track record of helping businesses increase their efficiencies and network performance. In addition to his proven track record of driving sales organizations, Tyler brings a wealth of knowledge in driving strategic organizational growth aligned with existing product capabilities with an eye on future growth opportunities.

"As FiberLight enters into its next phase of growth it is important that we bring on proven industry leaders such as Tyler Coates," said Bill Major, Chief Executive Officer at FiberLight. "His impressive track record of revenue growth, new market penetration, and strategic planning align perfectly with FiberLight's mission of helping organizations ignite their digital transformation through trusted infrastructure. I look forward to partnering with him and welcoming him to the FiberLight team."

About FiberLight

FiberLight designs, builds, and deploys mission-critical high bandwidth networks to ignite our clients' digital transformation. With approximately 18,000 route miles of fiber networks and 78,000 pre-qualified near-net buildings, FiberLight operates in over 30 metropolitan areas in the U.S. Our service portfolio includes high-capacity Ethernet and Wave Transport Services, Cloud Connect , Dedicated Internet Access , Dark Fiber and Wireless Backhaul serving domestic and international telecom companies, wireless, wireline, cable and cloud providers as well as key players across enterprise, government, and education.

For more information, visit fiberlight.com or follow us on Twitter @FiberLight_LLC .

FiberLight Contact:

Jason Ouellette

FiberLight@escalatepr.com

SOURCE: FiberLight





View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759389/FiberLight-Appoints-Digital-Infrastructure-Executive-as-New-Chief-Revenue-Officer
Highlights include:

GOLD

In drill hole FM23-8: 7.50 g/t Au over 7.66 metres from 94.35 - 102.01 m (including 102.0 g/t Au over 0.48 metres from 94.77 - 95.25 m)

In drill hole FM23-04A: 11.27 g/t Au over 2.75 metres from 73.75 - 76.50 m (including 91.8 g/t Au over 0.32 metres from 74.74 - 75.06 m)

In drill hole FM23-01A: 2.46 g/t Au over 3.70 metres from 41.30 - 45.00m

LITHIUM

1.26% Li2O over 3.35 metres in drill hole FM23-01A

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. (CSE: FAT) (OTCQB: FRRSF) (FSE: F0R0) (WKN: A3DCC8) ("Foremost Lithium", "Foremost" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received assay results from 246 NQ core samples collected from its Jean Lake Lithium/Gold Project located near the historic mining centre of Snow Lake in Manitoba. The Company's exploration efforts have focused on lithium in pegmatite using a variety of exploration technologies, which not only have exposed potential for spodumene, but which also has demonstrated the potential for gold mineralization. The recently completed 2022-2023 drill program tested targets for lithium and gold, based on integrated prospecting, UAV-borne magnetic survey results, Mobile Metal Ion ("MMI") soil geochemical surveys and outcrop rock chip analyses. The results of the program have confirmed lithium at the B1 pegmatite but has made a serendipitous new gold discovery on the property.

Jason Barnard, Foremost Lithium CEO and President states, "Foremost is an exploration company with a geologically rich portfolio. We found ourselves in the fortunate position to have made a significant gold discovery on our maiden drill program on our Jean Lake property alongside the confirmation of lithium at our B1 pegmatite. This inaugural drill program has exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to continuing to build on further successful exploration programs for our shareholders with further discoveries and future resource definition."

The Jean Lake drill program intersected numerous gold mineralized intervals at vertical depths up to 110 m below surface as well lithium at the B1 spodumene bearing pegmatite. The locations of drill holes that intersected gold mineralized intervals are illustrated in Figure 1, in addition to the B1 drill hole location. Details of the lithium and gold intersections are provided in Table 2.

Figure 1. Lithium and Gold Intersections in 2022-2023 Drill Holes



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4689/168816_d860877334f9db15_001full.jpg

Results

Lithium

B1 Pegmatite

The historic B1 pegmatite was tested to assess the width and extent of observed high-grade spodumene mineralization exposed at surface. Drilling included a down dip hole to assess the vertical extent of the spodumene and the dimensions and attitude of the B1 pegmatite. Drilling combined with field observations have definitively concluded that both B1 and B2 are from a single pegmatite dyke with a strike length of greater than 325m.

FM23-01A was drilled down plunge and intersected pegmatite to a depth of 41.3 metres. An intersection of a 3.35 metre zone of spodumene mineralization between surface and 3.35m assayed 1.26% Li2O. FM23-01 was drilled from north to south just north of the B1 exposure to undercut the surface exposure of high grade spodumene mineralization and intersected 20 m of pegmatite between 6 and 26 m. Spodumene was not observed in the core. Two holes (FM23-02A and -3) were collared from the same drill set up as FM23-01and drilled to the east and west of the B1 surface exposure did not intersect pegmatite. FM23-2 was drilled south of the B1 pegmatite to target the downdip extension and intersected 4.1 metres of pegmatite between 22.57 and 26.72 m. No other significant Li2O assays were obtained from drill holes testing the B1 pegmatite in this campaign.

B2 Pegmatite

The east end of the B1 pegmatite is marked by a trenched exposure of high-grade spodumene bearing granitic pegmatite originally referred to as the B2 pegmatite. FM23-06 was drilled at -45o to test the pegmatite beneath the trench and intersected a 4.4 m intercept of spodumene-bearing pegmatite between 32.88 and 37.3 m. The maximum lithium assay was 0.61% Li2O. FM23-07 was drilled at -60o to undercut hole FM23-06 and intersected a wider 10 m zone of pegmatite from 54.42-64.45 m but with lower lithium contents. The maximum Li2O assay from this drill hole was 0.2% Li2O from 10 core samples.

Gold

The Jean Lake property occurs in a geological terrain (the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt) historically recognized as significantly endowed with gold and new developing lithium resources. Rock chip sampling initiated between August and September in 2021, by Foremost Lithium's prospecting team confirmed the presence of this gold mineralization.

The 2022-2023 drill program documented gold mineralized intersections in eight drill holes. Gold intercepts in drill core extend from surface to a vertical depth below surface of 110 m. An intercept of 7.5 g/t Au over 7.66 m that includes a 0.48 m intercept of 102 g/t Au occurs 65 m vertically below surface.

Table 2. 2022 - 2023 Program Lithium and Gold Intersections in Drill Holes

Hole ID Easting Northing Strike Dip Depth Intercept

in Meters FM23-01A 452688 6076420 205 -66 62 1.26% Li2O over 0-3.35m m FM23-01A 452688 6076420 205 -66 62 2.46 g/t Au over 3.70m from 41.30-45m FM23-04A 452743 6076529 90 -45 80 11.27 g/t Au over 2.75m from 73.75-76.5m including 91.8 g/t Au over 0.32mfrom 74.74 - 75.06m FM23-08 452877 6076534 245 -45 134 1.44 g/t Au for 0.32m from 11.33-11.65m and 7.50 g/t Au for 7.66m from 94.35-102.01m including 29.95 g/t Au for 1.77m from 94.35-96.12m and 102 g/t Au over 0.48m from 94.77-95.25 m. and 1.28 g/t Au for 0.3m from 107.6m-107.9m FM23-08A 452878 6076543 110 -45 173 1.51 g/t Au for 0.52m from 95.18m-95.7m FM23-13 452667 6076898 270 -45 125 0.94 g/t Au for 1.23m from 121.30m-122.53m FM23-14 452732 6076854 270 -45 158 1.23 g/t Au for 2.85m from 151.24m-154.09m FM23-22 450367 6073940 314 -45 125 3.04 g/t Au for 0.68m from 102.92m-103.6m FM23-25 452347 6076330 120 -45 114 2.07 g/t Au for 3.49m from 25.3m-28.79m including 6.86 g/t Au for 0.54m from 25.30m-25.84m and 1.27 g/t Au for 2.4m from 69.6m-72m

History of Gold in the Jean Lake Property Area

Historically, 5.5 million ounces of gold has been produced as a by-product of base metal copper-zinc massive sulphide type deposit production in addition to major gold deposits such as the New Britannia, Puffy Lake, and Tartan deposits, with cumulative production of more than 1.5 million ounces of gold in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt1. In 1940, two bulk samples of mineralization weighing 22.7 and 22.2 kg. respectively, were sent to the Canada Department of Mines and Resources in Ottawa for testing from what was known as the Sparky Gold Property at the time (the current Jean Lake Property)2. The first bulk sample contained 16.46 g/t gold and 2.39 g/t silver, and the second bulk sample contained 241.71 g/t gold and 12.34 g/t silver. Gold exploration continued unabated in the area with high-grade gold mineralization documented from numerous past producing gold mines and properties hosting significant gold mineralization.

Current Gold Production in the Snow Lake Area

Currently gold production is ongoing in the Snow Lake area. In 2022 Hudbay Minerals Inc re-opened the Lalor Mine in Snow Lake, MB, announcing that it estimates 33% of its overall revenue will now be generated from gold and silver, up significantly from 18% in 20193. Hudbay Minerals' current mineral reserve estimates in Snow Lake total 18 million tons with approximately 2.1 million ounces in contained gold, and the expected mine life of the Snow Lake operations to be maintained and extend until 2038. Hudbay's annual gold production from Snow Lake is expected to average more than 190,000 ounces over the next three years4. The Flin Flon-Snow Lake belt is currently active with other mineral companies exploring for gold including QMX Gold Corporation, Kinross Gold, Callinex and Rockcliff Metals Corp.

Geology

Gold mineralization in the area occurs in association with finely disseminated to blocky arsenopyrite with lesser pyrite and chalcopyrite in quartz veins and adjacent silicified zones. The mineralization is developed within variably altered mafic to intermediate intrusive rocks of the Early Proterozoic Rex Lake Plutonic Complex (RLPC) that underpins the Jean Lake property. The B1 pegmatite is also hosted by the RLPC within structures trending at approximately 270o-290o. Of interest is the occurrence of 2.46 g/t Au over 3.70m from 41.30m-45m inFM23-01A. This intersection occurs in a shear zone at or near the base of the B1 pegmatite in fine grained gabbro. The gold is associated with quartz veins and arsenopyrite.

Summary

The 2022-2023 drill program has identified and provided preliminary dimensions for a high-grade zone of lithium mineralization at the B1 pegmatite. The vertical extent of high-grade lithium appears to be restricted to the upper portions of the B1 dyke exposed in outcrop at the drilled locations. The lateral extent of the spodumene mineralization along strike between the B1 zone and the east end of the dyke at B2 and to the west is poorly understood due to overburden cover. Excavator outcrop stripping is planned to expose the pegmatite to the east and west before further drilling is attempted.

Foremost Lithium intends to continue exploration to assess the potential for additional gold mineralization at depth, and elsewhere on the Jean Lake property.

Data Verification / Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Sample collection, handling, preparation, and analysis are monitored with the implementation of chain-of-custody procedures and quality assurance-quality control (QA-QC) programs that follow industry best practices. Foremost drill core samples, for the determination of lithium, and related elements and gold, are cut in half with a diamond saw and are submitted to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Ancaster, Ontario). Core samples are prepared by crushing to 80% to pass 2 millimetres, riffle split to obtain 250-gram aliquots, and pulverized to 95% passing 106 microns. Pulps for lithium analysis undergo sodium peroxide fusion to obtain a total dissolution and analyzed by ICP-MS using the UT-7 package thereby maintaining consistency with previous years analyses. Gold assays are analyzed by a 30-gram fire assay and INAA finish. For assays above 5 g/t Au, a sub-sample of the original pulp is re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. Samples with visible gold are analyzed by metallic screen assay.

Rock sample analyses are independently monitored by a Qualified Person with a quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") protocol including the insertion of blind standard reference materials and analytical blanks at regular intervals, as well as internal laboratory checks. No significant deviations have been identified to date.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lindsay Bottomer, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as identified by Canadian National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Jason Barnard, President and CEO

Email: info@foremostlithium.com

Phone: +1 (604) 330-8067

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

About Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd.

Foremost Lithium is a hard-rock exploration company with over 43,000 acres located in Snow Lake, Manitoba, and hosts a property in a known active lithium camp in Quebec called Lac Simard South situated on over 11,400 acres.

Its 5 Lithium Lane Projects, Zoro, Jean Lake, Grass River, Peg North and Jol, as well as Lac Simard South are strategically located to capitalize on the world's growing EV appetite and is perfectly positioned to become a premier supplier of North America's lithium feedstock. As the world transitions towards decarbonization, the Company's objective is the extraction of lithium oxide (Li2O), and to subsequently play a role in the production of high-quality lithium hydroxide (LiOH), to help power lithium-based batteries, critical in developing a clean-energy economy. Foremost Lithium also has the Winston Gold/Silver Property in New Mexico USA. Learn More at www.foremostlithium.com.

Follow us or contact us on social media:

Twitter: @foremostlithium

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foremost-lithium-resource-technology

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForemostLithium

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the Company's properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and third party approvals for the proposed operations of the Company's business and exploration activities, risks related to the Company's exploration properties; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of commodities including lithium and gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in resources; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business.

1Richardson, D.J. and Ostry, G. 1996: Gold Deposits of Manitoba, Manitoba Energy and Mines Economic Geology Report ER86-1, 114 pages.

2Fedikow, M.A.F., Athayde, P and Galley, A.G. 1993: Mineral deposits and occurrences in the Wekusko Lake area, NTS 63J/13; Manitoba Energy and Mines, Geological Services, Mineral Deposit Series No.14, 459pages

3https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/featured-article/hudbay-goes-for-the-gold-at-snow-lake/

4https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/03/30/2638279/0/en/Hudbay-Provides-Annual-Reserve-and-Resource-Update.htm

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168816
SAN FRANCISCO and BERLIN and LONDON, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Businesses are struggling to find effective technology that can process the unprecedented rise of unstructured and semi-structured data (email, PDFs, images, invoices, handwritten documents, contracts, forms, and more).



To solve this challenge, Automation Hero is now available for purchase in AWS Marketplace - providing AWS customers immediate access to advanced AI technology that automates manual, time-consuming and expensive document-centric processes. This will bring new levels of automation and efficiency to businesses across industries, including insurance, real estate, finance, healthcare, telco and more.

Automation Hero's all-in-one platform, now running on AWS, enables organizations to process more diverse and complex sets of documents with above-human accuracy. Its no-code approach democratizes access to AI for subject matter experts who no longer need to rely on IT or data science resources. Users can easily take advantage of patent-pending AI document processing and large language model (GPT-like LLMs) understanding capabilities, including, but not limited to:

typed and handwritten OCR

table detection and extraction

signature detection and extraction

structured data / named entity extraction

classification

text summarization, and

document separation



These can be integrated with legacy systems for more data access, complex data and business workflows, human-in-the-loop verification and process analytics to build highly automated, autonomous, and monitorable business processes.

"We're excited to leverage the power of Automation Hero and AWS to streamline our claims process and reduce manual effort," said Eoin Grace, Deputy Head of IT at Markerstudy. "Now, we can handle large volumes of claims with speed and accuracy, delivering a better customer experience."

Until now, companies have struggled to achieve anywhere near 100% fully automated document processing because existing solutions cannot process the wide variety of data often locked within documents. This detrimentally impacts business processes such as underwriting, claims processing, property management, mortgage processing, accounts payable, and compliance.

"We are incredibly excited to work with the leading cloud provider on this next step of our solution," said Stefan Groschupf, Founder and CEO of Automation Hero. "We're bringing a new level of access to data and insights trapped in business documents that will be a treasure trove for companies looking to outpace their competition."

Since its founding in 2017, Automation Hero has been on a meteoric rise, earning the trust of global leaders and members of the Fortune 500 list. Additional recent industry traction includes being named an industry leader in GigaOm's IDP Radar Report, along with two prominent innovation awards from analyst firms Deep Analysisand Intellyx.

For more information, please visit our Intelligent Automation Solutions on AWS website.

About Automation Hero

Automation Hero helps organizations process any type of document faster than ever with the most powerful and complete intelligent document processing platform. It offers the easiest-to-use and most accurate AI in the industry so companies can instead focus on accelerating business processes to stay competitive. The company was built by a world-class team of sales and AI experts, many of whom were on the founding team of Datameer, the leader in big data analytics. Visit https://automationhero.ai for more information and follow the company's blog and LinkedIn .

Contact

Monique Sherman

Head of Marketing, Automation Hero

monique.sherman@automationhero.ai

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00dba550-3b8c-4ac4-a184-a8ce2e22f142
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (OTCQB: FRERF) (FSE: FR2) ("Fremont" or the "Company") Fremont is pleased to provide a comprehensive update of its recent activities in Armenia:

The Company has executed a definitive option agreement to acquire up to a 100% interest in Mendia Resources Corp. ("Mendia"), an Armenian corporation, with Mendia's sole shareholder (the "Optionor"). Mendia holds the exploration license over the Vardenis copper-gold project in central Armenia. The Optionor will also provide drilling services to the Company in upcoming drill programs.

The Company has entered into an agreement with Dundee Precious Metals Corp. ("DPMC") to purchase the historic exploration data that was collected by DPMC when they explored the Vardenis project from 2015 to 2018.

Fremont has applied for an exploration permit comprising 33.8 km2 over the Urasar mineral district in northern Armenia. The license application was submitted in late 2022 and the Armenian Ministry of Territories is in the process completing their review. The permit is expected to be granted within the next 15 working days. Historical Soviet data reveals a non-NI 43-101 compliant resource totalling 344K oz Au in the Russian C1+C2 category and 649K oz Au in the P category[1] in two separate zones.

Vardenis Definitive Agreement

The Company and the Optionor have executed a definitive option agreement which provides the Company with the right to acquire up to a 100% interest in Mendia. Mendia holds the exploration license over the Vardenis copper-gold project in central Armenia. The option agreement provides for a series of staged cash payments, share issuances and work commitments over 4.5 years to earn up to 100% of Mendia. The cash and share grants total US$350,000 and 2.2M Fremont common shares, respectively, to earn up to 90% of Mendia (see a complete description of the option terms in the news release dated May 9, 2023). Exploration work is expected to commence immediately with the initial drill program planned for September of this year.

Importantly, Fremont will be using the drilling services of the Optionor at Vardenis and is confident that both parties' economic interests are aligned to ensure a timely and cost-effective drill program.

Acquisition of Historic Vardenis Exploration Data

The Company has entered into an agreement with DPMC to acquire their Vardenis exploration data base which includes over 6,000 geochemical soil, rock and stream sediment samples as well as the data set from 1,246 meters of diamond drilling. The data defines a 7 km long gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly as well as a 3.6 km x 2 km circular copper anomaly located 1.4 km south of the gold anomaly. The Company has paid C$30,000 to DPMC and will issue C$20,000 worth of Fremont common shares by December 31, 2024, if the Company elects to continue the Mendia option agreement. The issuance of Fremont common shares is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.





Figure 1. Vardenis geology, with license outline and Au soil geochemistry



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/168929_70fcd0aee4ac9a8b_002full.jpg

Urasar District: Result of Regional Reconnaissance

The area was first visited by Fremont management In September 2021, when Urasar was one of ten prospects evaluated and sampled. It was ranked the highest priority due to wide-spread surface alteration/mineralization and encouraging geochemical results that comprised eight surface rock chip and channel samples, ranging from a minimum of 0.123 g/t Au to a maximum of 12.5 g/t Au, and averaging 2.65 g/t Au. Thirty follow-up rock chip samples were collected in November 2022 from other parts of the license area and returned an average of 0.75 g/t Au, and 6,285 ppm Cu.

Based on the opportunity to obtain an exploration license over the Urasar district, the availability of other prospective mineralized zones in Armenia, and a welcoming, mining-friendly business environment, Fremont management decided to set up a small office in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, in mid-2022.



Figure 2. Project Location with geology in relation to nearby mines



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/168929_70fcd0aee4ac9a8b_003full.jpg

Historic Soviet-era Exploration at Urasar

The only significant exploration work undertaken at Urasar was carried out in the 1950's through the early 1970's by Soviet government exploration teams. The district was explored for copper, base metals and to a lesser extent gold, within a 250m wide, 7.2km long quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone along the Chibukhlu fault. The exploration comprised 16 trenches, six adits and several drillholes (the latter not currently located). Three polymetallic precious metal deposits were defined based on Soviet era, non-NI 43-101 compliant resource models, named the Black River, Chibukhlu and Hanqakutak deposits. Other similarly mineralised areas that constitute additional targets within the Urasar licence property were also identified as part of this historic work. Figure 3 shows the location of two of the deposits as well as the prospects defined by this work, while the historic non-NI 43-101 compliant resources estimates are discussed below.

PATANY ERKRABAN LLC based in Yerevan, Armenia, completed a mineral resource estimate for the three deposits in 2008 based on the Russian C1, C2 and P mineral resource categories using the Soviet historical data and including several duplicate drillholes. They estimated that the Black River deposit hosts 209,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 categories and 334,000 ounces Au in the P category. The Chibukhlu deposit was reported to have good potential for Cu with up to 20,000 tonnes of Cu in the P category as well as 135,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 categories and 315,000 ounces Au in the P category[2]. The Hanqakutak deposit, which lies mostly outside of the Urasar license boundary, is estimated to host more than 500,000 ounces Au in the C1+C2 and P categories. (Ounces and tonnes have been rounded to the nearest 1,000).

A NI 43-101 compliant report is being prepared and is expected to be posted on SEDAR within the next three to four weeks. The report will not include an update of the mineral resource estimate.



Figure 3. Urasar Geology showing mineral occurrences, prospective areas



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Fremont CEO Dennis Moore states, "Fremont is a 'first mover' in this new era of mineral exploration in Armenia. With the anticipated permitting of the Urasar exploration license, plus the recently signed Vardenis Project, Fremont will have two properties capable of hosting world-class mineral deposits in this favorable jurisdiction, positioning the Company for significant discovery opportunities and growth. The Urasar project is one of the few places in the world where one can encounter numerous mineralized outcrops over a strike length of seven kilometersand with only a few shallow drill holes! I personally find this district to be very exciting given its size, at-surface mineralization and location along the same large-scale structure with a similar geological setting that hosts the world class Sotk mine."

Geochemical surveys will commence upon formal reception of the permit, with trenching later this summer and drilling next year.

Qualified person

The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President and CEO, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Fremont

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality Nevada gold and lithium projects with the goal of making a new discovery. The Company has also been seeking world-class mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia and Georgia. Besides gold and lithium projects in Nevada, Fremont has signed an option agreement over the Vardenis property and applied for an exploration license over the Urasar area, which are located in central and northern Armenia respectively.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Dennis Moore"

Dennis Moore

President and CEO, interim Chairman

Fremont Gold Ltd.

For further information, contact:

Corporate Information

Fremont Gold Ltd.

Dennis Moore, President and CEO, interim Chairman

Telephone: +351 9250 62196

www.fremontgold.net

https://twitter.com/GoldFremont

https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/

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

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "hope", "will be", "expected" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to the potential to identify a NI 43-101 mineral resource on the Urasar property. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fremont undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

[1] C1 and C2 are roughly equivalent to CIM's (Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum) "indicated" category, while P is roughly equivalent to CIM's "inferred" category

[2] C1 and C2 are roughly equivalent to CIM's (Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum) "indicated" category, while P is roughly equivalent to CIM's "inferred" category

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168929
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Five major U.S. health care systems today released an open statement affirming their commitment to responsible business practices that take the severe public health and financial risks of the climate crisis into account.

Signed by Providence, Boston Medical Center, CommonSpirit, HealthPartners, and Hackensack Meridian, the statement comes amid widespread efforts by a group of state and federal lawmakers to pass policies designed to ban private-sector actors that account for these risks. It is addressed to policymakers and emphasizes that signatories are making business decisions that address climate change because it is a risk both to public health and to their ability to provide health services.

"Bottom line: Climate change poses a material financial and public health risk to the entire health care sector. Just as we address other risks to our complex operations, we will make long-term, climate-smart investments that limit our exposure to climate risk. We will increase our deployment of renewable energy, invest in energy efficiency measures, and ensure that our buildings and facilities are resilient," the signatories wrote. "Growing evidence indicates that these efforts yield significant and wide-ranging cost savings, reduced risk and increased stability for organizations and the communities they serve, and improved corporate performance."

The full text of the statement is available here. It was organized by Health Care Without Harm and Ceres.

"Climate change is a serious threat to public health and the communities we serve. As a health care leader Providence is taking bold action to reduce our climate impacts by working toward becoming carbon-negative by 2030. As we advance our vision to build a healthier and more equitable world, we make strategic decisions to confront the climate crisis, and we value partnerships with government, agencies, and organizations that enhance our ability to do so," said Ali Santore, EVP, Chief Advocacy and Social Responsibility Officer, Providence.

"In the communities we are privileged to serve, CommonSpirit Health sees firsthand the devastating effects that climate change has on public health and the economy. We view business practices that limit these effects - from adopting clean energy to building resilient facilities - as a common-sense risk management strategy with clear financial benefits. We are proud to join with our peers to reaffirm our commitment to business decisions that are good for public health, for the climate, and for the bottom line," said Shelly L. Schlenker, MHA, EVP, Chief Advocacy Officer, CommonSpirit Health.

"Healthier hospitals mean healthier communities, which is why we are committed to operating our campus as cleanly as possible to achieve our public health mission. Our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not only help to reduce the effects of climate change, but they also generate $10 million per year in utility savings that we have reinvested in patient care. We have no intention to change these business practices, and believe that any interference would hurt our hospital, our patients, and our community," said Bob Biggio, SVP Facilities & Support Services, Boston Medical Center.

"Beyond our belief that addressing the environmental and social impacts of health care's operations is part of our moral imperative, growing evidence indicates that these efforts yield significant and wide-ranging benefits. This includes substantial cost savings, reduced risk and increased stability for health care organizations and the communities they serve, as well as improved corporate performance," said Gary Cohen, Founder and President, Health Care Without Harm.

The health care leaders are just the latest to join a growing number of public and private sector voices championing the freedom to invest responsibly, as policymakers across the country - especially at the state level - move to restrict financial institutions from considering the economic and financial risks of the climate crisis in their decision-making.

In March, more than 250 companies and investors signed a statement to policymakers demanding that they protect their freedom to invest responsibly; the list of signatories on that statement has since grown to more than 350. More than a dozen state and other public financial officers who are charged with protecting taxpayer dollars and the livelihoods of pension beneficiaries issued their own statement voicing support for responsible risk management practices. And, in May, more than 130 academics signed a statement supporting practices that protect investors from the effects of climate change, water scarcity, and other risks that materially harm investors.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world's greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

About Health Care Without Harm

Health Care Without Harm seeks to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. For more information, visit noharm.org and follow @HCWithoutHarm.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ceres on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Ceres

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ceres

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Ceres

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759552/Citing-Climate-Crisis-Risk-to-Public-Health-and-Industry-Health-Care-Providers-Reaffirm-Responsible-Business-Practices
The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) will promote Bermuda's burgeoning Financial Technology (FinTech) sector at the Money20/20 Europe conference.

Money20/20 Europe focusses primarily on the future of payments and financial services and is being held this year in Amsterdam, Netherlands from June 6-8.

David Hart, CEO, BDA said, "The BDA's presence at Money20/20 Europe follows our participation at Consensus in Austin, Texas in April, where we experienced an outpouring of interest from potential new digital asset businesses. While Bermuda currently has 21 digital asset business licences on the register, we anticipate continued growth in our tech ecosystem. It is important to continue to promote Bermuda's legal and regulatory certainty regarding FinTech regulation and supervision, so we are inviting everyone we are meeting with here to register for our fifth annual Bermuda Tech Summit, being held this year from October 9-10 at the Hamilton Princess Beach Club."

In terms of promoting innovative Insurance Technology (InsurTech) solutions, the BDA will also attend the InsurTech Israel Global Summit 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel, from September 4-7, as well as InsurTech Connect in Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 31-November 2.

If you wish to arrange a meeting with the BDA at Money20/20 Europe, or at any of our upcoming tech-related business development missions, email info@bda.bm so we can help you achieve your business goals.

CONNECTING BUSINESS: The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate, or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005786/en/

Contacts:

BDA:

Stuart Roberts, Director of Marketing Communications

stuart@bda.bm, +1 441 707 0038
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global smart water management market size was evaluated at $14.01 billion in 2022 and is slated to hit $30.01 billion by the end of 2030 with a CAGR of nearly 10.3% between 2023 and 2030.

Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/smart-water-management-market

Smart Water Management Market: Overview

Smart water management is designed for gathering meaningful and actionable data on the pressure, distribution, and flow of city water. The primary objective of smart water management is to ensure that the infrastructure and energy utilized for water transportation are effectively managed.

Furthermore, it also assists in reducing energy utilization in water pumping in water utilities. Apart from this, it reduces leak detection costs and theft of water, thereby improving customer engagement in conserving water. Precisely, the use of advanced techniques for replacing traditional water conveyance is also termed smart water management.

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Zion Market Research methodology

Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Smart Water Management Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global smart water management market is projected to expand annually at an annual growth rate of around 10.3% over the forecast timespan (2023-2030)

In terms of revenue, the global smart water management market was evaluated at nearly $14.01 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $30.01 billion by 2030.

The global smart water management market is anticipated to record massive growth over the forecast period owing to escalating demand for replacing outdated water infrastructure facilities.

Based on the type, the solutions segment is predicted to contribute majorly toward the global market share over the forecast timeline.

In terms of the water meters, the AMI meters segment is projected to dominate the global market size over 2023-2030.

On the basis of the end-user, the commercial & industrial segment is projected to account for a major share of the global market in 2023-2030.

Region-wise, the Asia-Pacific smart water management market is projected to register the fastest CAGR during the assessment period.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled "Smart Water Management Market By Offering (Water Meters, Services, And Solutions), By Water Meters (AMR Meters And AMI Meters), By End-User (Commercial & Industrial And Residential), And By Region - Global, And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2023 - 2030" into their research database.

Industry Dynamics:

Smart Water Management Market: Growth Drivers

Humungous Penetration of Smart Water Management Activities In Utilities to Steer the Global Market Surge.

Escalating demand for replacing outdated water infrastructure facilities is predicted to drive the growth of the global smart water management market. The massive need for flood prevention, delivery storage, automated water treatment, and resource management will steer the global market trends.

Smart water management activities help in providing clean water to the customers along with providing repair & maintenance of water reservoirs at reasonable costs. Massive demand for smart technologies will steer the expansion of the market across the globe.

Furthermore, rising digitization in the utility sector and supportive government laws are likely to define the smart water management market growth. In addition to this, water management solutions help in utilizing data and effectively handling challenges occurring in water management activities. The surge in the use of supervisory control as well as data acquisition will boost global market expansion.

Smart Water Management Market: Restraints

Less Investment in Infrastructural Development can Restrict the Global Industry Expansion.

Low capital funding for strengthening infrastructural facilities and less availability of skilled workforce can create impediments in the growth path of the global smart water management industry. Huge deployment costs of smart water management infrastructure can put brakes on global industry expansion.

Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/smart-water-management-market

Smart Water Management Market: Opportunities

Favorable Government Policies to open new growth opportunities for the global market.

A rise in supportive government schemes promoting smart water management activities will generate new growth opportunities for the global smart water management market. Surge in the smart cities and the onset of digital transformation techniques will help the market explore new growth avenues in the near future.

Smart Water Management Market: Challenges

Deployment of new technologies poses a big challenge to the global industry expansion.

Difficulty in the implementation of new technologies for bringing improvement in the water infrastructure will be a challenging task for the growth of the smart water management industry.

Global Smart Water Management Market: Segmentation

The global smart water management market is sectored into offering, water meters, end-user, and region.

In terms of the offering, the global smart water management market is sectored into water meters, services, and solutions segments. Furthermore, the solutions segment, which contributed to the largest share of the global market in 2022, is set to establish its segmental dominance during the forecast timeline.

The segmental growth in the coming eight years can be subject to a rise in the acceptance of smart solutions in the water utilities sector. Moreover, smart solutions improve the operational efficiency of the water network and require less investment in infrastructure.

Based on the end-user, the smart water management industry across the globe is divided into commercial & industrial and residential segments. Moreover, the commercial & industrial segment, which garnered nearly 65% of the global industry share in 2022, is projected to lead the global industry expansion even during the forecast timeline. The growth of the segment in the ensuing years can be due to a rise in the use of smart water solutions by commercial & industrial segments in the coming years.

On the basis of water meters, the global smart water management market is sectored into AMR meters and AMI meters segments. Moreover, the AMI meters segment, which accounted for a major share of over 53% of the global market in 2022, is slated to lead the global market share in the forecast timeline. The segmental expansion over the projected timeframe can be owing to providing of real-time information by AMI meters pertaining to water usage In addition to this, AMI meters make use of two-way communication for automatic billing, thereby further steering the segmental surge.

Get More Insight before Buying@: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/smart-water-management-market

List of Key Players in Smart Water Management Market:

ABB Limited

Honeywell International Inc

Arad Group

IBM Corporation

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

GE Digital

Schneider Electric SE

Siemens AG

Itron Inc.

Sensus.

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Smart Water Management Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Smart Water Management Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Smart Water Management Market Industry?

What segments does the Smart Water Management Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Smart Water Management Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 14.01 Billion Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 30.01 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 10.3% 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2023 - 2030 Segments Covered By Offering, By Water Meters, By End-User, and By Region. Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2030 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 Limited, Honeywell International Inc, Arad Group, IBM Corporation, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, GE Digital, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Itron Inc., and Sensus. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/7215

Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/smart-water-management-market

Recent Developments

In the second half of 2021, Xylem Inc., a major U.S.-based water technology provider, made an acquisition of Anadolu Egypt, a key Turkish player providing pump & water treatment system supply, deployment, and after-sales solutions. The move will proliferate the growth of the former in the Middle East region as well as in Europe.

Xylem Inc., a major U.S.-based water technology provider, made an acquisition of Anadolu Egypt, a key Turkish player providing pump & water treatment system supply, deployment, and after-sales solutions. The move will proliferate the growth of the former in the Middle East region as well as in Europe. In the first half of 2021 , Itron, a U.S.-based technology firm, signed a strategic partnership deal with United Utilities, a water supply firm based in the UK. Furthermore, the two firms joined hands for executing Temetra, Itron's new cloud-driven meter management service, aimed at enhancing water delivery & water management solutions.

, Itron, a U.S.-based technology firm, signed a strategic partnership deal with United Utilities, a water supply firm based in the UK. Furthermore, the two firms joined hands for executing Temetra, Itron's new cloud-driven meter management service, aimed at enhancing water delivery & water management solutions. In the first quarter of 2021, Schneider Electric SE, a French multinational firm, along with Suez SA, a key industrial water & process treatment tech firm, helped water operators in accelerating digital transformation by offering various software solutions for operation, optimization, and maintenance.

Regional Dominance:

North America Smart Water Management market to accrue massive returns over the forecast timeframe.

North America, which accounted for a major share of the global smart water management market in 2022, is anticipated to continue its dominance over the analysis period. The regional market expansion over 2023-2030 can be due to growing awareness about the benefits offered by smart water management services to the end-users. Massive demand for reducing water wastage, enhancing water quality, and controlling water leakage will expand the growth of the market in the region. The presence of key manufacturers in countries such as the US will contribute sizably towards the expansion of the market in the region.

Furthermore, the smart water management industry in Asia-Pacific, which registered lucrative growth in 2022, is set to record the fastest CAGR over the anticipated timespan. The factors that are likely to spearhead the growth of the regional market include a surge in the number of smart cities in the countries such as Japan, China, and India.

Apart from this, smart water management is the key priority in smart city ventures in the region. Furthermore, smart water management is likely to assist the state authorities in determining the water leakages and monitoring water distribution across the cities along with enabling them in their decision-making process related to water management.

Global Smart Water Management Market is segmented as follows:

Smart Water Management Market: By Offering Outlook (2022-2030)

Water Meters

Services

Solutions

Smart Water Management Market: By Water Meters Outlook (2022-2030)

AMR Meters

AMI Meters

Smart Water Management Market: By End-User Outlook (2022-2030)

Commercial & Industrial

Residential

Smart Water Management Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2030)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us-after all-if you do well, a little of the light shines on us.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / GRI CEO Eelco van der Enden is in the ASEAN region from 5-13 June for a series of high-level meetings with companies, regulators, policymakers and stakeholders, on a mission raise the profile and application of sustainability reporting.

Following a successful visit to the region in March (when Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines were the focus), this time Mr van der Enden's itinerary will prioritize Indonesia alongside a return to Singapore. His public engagements include:

Ecosperity Week 2023 (6 June, Singapore): Eelco will provide a keynote address on the theme 'accelerating trust and transparency in a world on fire', at this major gathering of business leaders and public sector representatives from across Asia-Pacific.

(6 June, Singapore): Eelco will provide a keynote address on the theme at this major gathering of business leaders and public sector representatives from across Asia-Pacific. Binus University and GRI co-hosted event (12 June, Jakarta) - The evolving role of universities: Rising up to the global sustainability challenge : Addressing around 700 students and academics, Eelco will explore why universities need to get involved in the sustainability transition, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

(12 June, Jakarta) - : Addressing around 700 students and academics, Eelco will explore why universities need to get involved in the sustainability transition, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. IDX (Indonesian Stock Exchange) and GRI co-hosted session(13 June, Jakarta) - The future of sustainability reporting: Forum for regulators and listed companies: Eelco will be joined by I Gede Nyoman Yetna (Listing Director of IDX) and Antonius Hari (Head of Capital Market Regulation, OJK - the Indonesian Financial Services Authority), to share about developments in the disclosure landscape.

Eelco van der Enden said:

"The fact that every top 100 company in Singapore, and 78% of those in Indonesia*, use the GRI Standards underlines the significant opportunities in the region to unlock the power of transparency as a force for change. The next stage is to raise the quality of disclosure and further cascade the adoption of impact reporting. To do so necessitates stakeholder joint-working, including companies, governments, regulators and investors. Over the coming days, I look forward to strengthening relationships with ASEAN-based organizations, to drive forward sustainability reporting throughout the region. I will also update businesses on GRI's collaboration with our colleagues at the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and EFRAG in the EU. Particularly given the timeframe for these standards to become available, GRI reporting is all the more relevant to meet the information needs of investors and other stakeholders."

Eelco van der Enden will also meet with the Singapore Government's Chief Sustainability Officer; Temasek (Singaporean national investment company); and member companies of the GRI ASEAN Consortium. In Indonesia, Eelco will meet senior officials from: the International Finance Corporation; Saka Farma; Medco Energi, PwC Indonesia; PT-ABM Investama; SECO Indonesia; and GIZ Indonesia.

The GRI ASEAN regional network opened in Singapore in 2019. With a global HQ based in Amsterdam and Brussels, GRI also has locations covering South Asia (New Delhi), Greater China Region (Hong Kong), Africa (Johannesburg), North America (New York), and Latin America (Bogota).

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.

*KPMG Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2022

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from GRI on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: GRI

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gri

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: GRI

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759582/Unleashing-Sustainability-Potential-of-Southeast-Asia
Originally published in Otis 2022 ESG Report

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Our vision, as industry leader, is to give people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. We embrace the responsibility to honor the generations that came before us, to deliver for the generations of today and to sponsor the generations that come after us. It is about doing the right thing for our planet, customers, colleagues, shareholders, and the communities where we live and work.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is part of our culture, integral to setting our vision in motion and embedded in our long-term strategy. It is no coincidence that the principles of ESG align well with the foundation of our business: our Absolutes of Safety, Ethics and Quality.

Safety was core to our beginnings 170 years ago and remains a top priority in our work today - for colleagues who design, install or service our elevators and escalators and for the 2 billion passengers who ride on them daily. Our reputation is paramount, and we uphold the highest standards of Ethics through strong governance and a spirit of integrity - always doing business the right way. We believe that all of us "own" Quality. We deliver quality results at every turn across our production, installation, and maintenance and repair processes as well as sales, marketing and financial reporting.

Our business success requires continuous growth and improvement, and ESG is an area where we and our stakeholders rightly expect progress. Last year, in our inaugural ESG report as an independent company, we made clear our dedication to the four pillars that are fundamental to our ESG strategy: Health & Safety, Environment & Impact, People & Communities, and Governance & Accountability. We hold ourselves accountable with the added step of tying executive short-term incentive compensation to ESG goal performance - specifically, achieving gender parity among executives and managing our environmental footprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ESG advancement is embedded in our success through strong financial results and the impact we make in the communities where we do business.

In this report, we are pleased to share initiatives and progress toward our 13 ESG goals and our commitment to foster a more sustainable, inclusive world. We aim to transparently provide updates toward our goals while celebrating important milestones.

Among the updates in this report:

Health & Safety: We remain committed to achieving a zero-harm workplace and launched Field Standard Practices to identify, track and rectify areas of high-risk work activities. If an incident does occur, we perform extensive root-cause analyses to make improvements and help prevent recurrence.

We remain committed to achieving a zero-harm workplace and launched Field Standard Practices to identify, track and rectify areas of high-risk work activities. If an incident does occur, we perform extensive root-cause analyses to make improvements and help prevent recurrence. Environment & Impact: In a first for the elevator industry, our Florence, South Carolina, U.S., facility achieved gold-level TRUE certification for its zero-waste efforts. And we built a new factory in San Sebastian, Spain, that used certain sustainable construction materials and is powered by electricity generated from 100% renewable resources.

In a first for the elevator industry, our Florence, South Carolina, U.S., facility achieved gold-level TRUE certification for its zero-waste efforts. And we built a new factory in San Sebastian, Spain, that used certain sustainable construction materials and is powered by electricity generated from 100% renewable resources. People & Communities: We launched a set of programs to support us in accelerating development of diverse talent, female leadership and our culture of inclusion. These programs are helping us ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We are on a responsible and sustainable path to reach gender parity in our executive ranks by 2030, having increased female executive representation from 36% in 2021 to 39.2% in 2022.

We launched a set of programs to support us in accelerating development of diverse talent, female leadership and our culture of inclusion. These programs are helping us ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We are on a responsible and sustainable path to reach gender parity in our executive ranks by 2030, having increased female executive representation from 36% in 2021 to 39.2% in 2022. Governance & Accountability: Members of our Board of Directors are deeply experienced senior executives across sectors that include asset management, automotive, consumer products, manufacturing and professional services. We seek to enhance Board diversity in other dimensions as well. With the addition of our newest Board member in October 2022, six of our 10 members are women, racially/ethnically diverse or both.

As we continuously work to advance our strategy, culture and ESG goals, we are doing so from a position of strength. I am confident that in this report you, our stakeholders, will see tangible progress toward limiting carbon emissions, reducing and reusing energy, promoting equity, inclusivity and diversity, and providing opportunities for all. We look forward to continuing our ESG journey alongside you.

Read more





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Otis Worldwide on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Otis Worldwide

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/otis-worldwide

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Otis Worldwide

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759585/A-Message-From-Judy-Marks-Chair-Chief-Executive-Officer-and-President-at-Otis-Worldwide
Rightmove Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, June 06

6 June 2023

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares

Rightmove plc ("Rightmove"), announces that today it purchased 115,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 529.391p. The highest price paid per share was 531.600p and the lowest price paid per share was 525.000p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0141% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 489,366,932 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 817,635,914. Rightmove holds 12,051,234 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

-Ends-

Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary

CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
Regulatory News:

Claranova's (Paris:CLA) subsidiary Avanquest has entered into discussions with several potential investors for the sale of its non-core activities in Europe.

This divestment, which is part of the division's ongoing transformation into a publisher of proprietary SaaS solutions, concerns its third-party software distribution activities in Europe plus activities linked to the Micro-Application brand (paper products, labels, stickers, etc.).

These lower-margin activities, operating in less buoyant and contracting markets and now generating approximately only US$12 million in total revenue, have thus become non-core. Discussions will continue throughout June, with a view to finalizing the sale by the end of July 2023.

"In line with our strategy, we are continuing to streamline Avanquest's business portfolio, hence our decision to divest those activities with little connection to our core business. We thus remain fully focused on developing proprietary products and services in the PDF, Security and Photo segments by adopting a subscription-based SaaS model to drive growth," commented Eric Gareau, CEO of Avanquest

"The transformation of Avanquest's business model that has been carried out with the successes over the last few months is already producing positive results for the division. Completing this divestment will allow us to finalize this transformation and is also expected to improve the EBITDA margin1 of our software publishing division," declaredPierre Cesarini, CEO of Claranova.

Financial calendar:

August 2, 2023: FY 2022-2023 revenue

About Claranova:

As a diversified global technology company, Claranova manages and coordinates a portfolio of majority interests in digital companies with strong growth potential. Supported by a team combining several decades of experience in the world of technology, Claranova has acquired a unique know-how in successfully turning around, creating and developing innovative companies.

Claranova has proven its capacity to turn a simple idea into a worldwide success in just a few short years. Present in 15 countries and leveraging the technology expertise of its 800+ employees across North America and Europe, Claranova is a truly international group, with 95% of its revenue derived from international markets.

Claranova's portfolio of companies is organized into three unique technology platforms operating in all major digital sectors. As an e-commerce leader in personalized objects, Claranova also stands out for its technological expertise in software publishing and the Internet of Things, through its businesses PlanetArt, Avanquest and myDevices. These three technology platforms share a common vision: empowering people through innovation by providing simple and intuitive digital solutions that facilitate everyday access to the very best of technology.

For more information on Claranova group:

https://www.claranova.com or https://twitter.com/claranova_group

Disclaimer:

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

1 EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is a non-GAAP aggregate used to measure the operating performance of the businesses. It is equal to Recurring Operating Income before depreciation, amortization and share-based payments including related social security expenses and the IFRS 16 impact on the recognition of leases.

CODES

Ticker :? CLA

ISIN : FR0013426004

www.claranova.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005828/en/

Contacts:

ANALYSTES INVESTISSEURS

+33 1 41 27 19 74

ir@claranova.com

COMMUNICATION FINANCIERE

+33 1 75 77 54 65

ir@claranova.com
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The EMC filtration market is projected to grow from USD 1.2 billion in 2023 to USD 1.6 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of the market is attributed to the stringent environmental and EMC regulations, increasing adoption in industrial automation applications, and increasing deployment of data centers in developing nations. During the forecast period, development of EMC and power quality filters for new application areas such as electric vehicle and renewable energy is expected to create growth opportunities for the market.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=172300360

Browse in-depth TOC on "EMC Filtration Market"

210 - Tables

70 - Figures

240 - Pages

EMC Filtration Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $1.2 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $1.6 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% Market Size Available for 2019-2028 Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Insertion Loss, EMC Filters, Power Quality Filters and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Rapid technological developments in EMC Filtration Key Market Opportunities Increasing demand in the telecom sector Key Market Drivers Rising demand for power electronics

As manufacturers, engineers, and end-users become more aware of the problems caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI), the significance of using EMC filters becomes increasingly apparent. EMI-related issues, including signal degradation, data loss, and equipment malfunctions, can lead to substantial financial and operational repercussions. This growing awareness encourages the adoption of EMC filters as a means to address and minimize these problems.

EMC filters product type to account for larger share of EMC filtration market in 2022.

EMC Filters accounted for a larger share of the EMC filtration market in 2021 and it is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Increasing focus on considering electromagnetic compatibility to calculate the quality of electromagnetic products has accelerated the market potential for EMC filters. For example, in the power systems designing process, EMC filters help enhance the overall anti-interference capacity and service life of the power systems by offering good electromagnetic compatibility. Increasing efforts by regulatory bodies toward developing stringent noise regulations to suppress noise generated from electronic devices to a reasonable level will accelerate the growth opportunities for EMC filter manufacturers. Also, EMC filters help achieve immunity, reduce emissions, and fulfill fast transient requirements to deliver a robust design for electronic devices. Therefore, government and regulatory bodies have set policies and regulations for adopting EMC/EMI filters. For instance, in the US, the Federal Communications Commission regulates EMI and the set EMI policies under Title 47 Part 15, which focus on noise immunity and noise emissions of electronic devices among various industries.

Industrial automation application to lead EMC filtration market in 2022.

Industrial automation to hold high opportunities for EMC filtration industry compared to other applications in 2022 and 2027. Motor dive application holds for the majority of the share in the industrial automation application. EMC and power quality filters in motor drives are used to minimize EMI problems, high-frequency common-mode noise, leakage current issues, and overvoltage transients. The filters used in motor drive applications are selected on various parameters such as motor drive power rating, full load current rating, operating voltage, and EMC requirements such as EN 61800-3 for the power drive system. EMC filters are integrated between the inverter output terminals and input terminals of the induction motor to limit the effect of EMI, common-mode noise, and differential noise. Moreover, the introduction of new regulations by several authorities such as the International Electrotechnical Commission and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to guide the engineers on emission limits to protect circuits and other devices will further accelerate the growth opportunities for EMC filtration in motor drive applications.

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Market in Europe to hold significant opportunities for the market during forecast period.

Rising inclination toward environmental consciousness and valiant efforts to develop processes in sync with maintaining safe ecology will drive the adoption of EMC filtration solutions in Europe. A wide range of legislations and harmonization standards have come into force and been published in the field of EMC in the past few years. For example, in the European Union, the EMC directive 89/336/EEC of the Council of the European Communities focuses on the protective aims of the EMC directive that all equipment must comply with. The manufacturer or importer must guarantee conformity with the respective standard in the form of a declaration of conformity. These standards and regulations will increase the adoption of EMC filters in the region.

Major vendors in the EMC filtration companies include Schaffner Holding AG (Switzerland), Delta Electronics, Inc. (Taiwan), TDK Corporation (Japan), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Littelfuse, Inc (US), Sinexcel (China), Schurter Holding AG (Switzerland), AstrodyneTDI (US), among others.

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global active pharmaceutical ingredients and high potency API industry size stood at USD 233.31 billion in 2021 and is poised to observe a CAGR of 6% from 2022 to 2030, according to the "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and High Potency API Industry Data Book, 2023 - 2030," published by Grand View Research. Demand for the medicine that produces the intended therapeutic effects has witnessed an upward trajectory among pharmaceutical drug companies. The notable penetration of oncology drugs and precision medicine will favor the growth of API and HPAPI technologies.

API has become a lucrative option for venture capitalists, investors, pharma majors and other stakeholders. Of late, innovative APIs have garnered traction in the wake of bullish regulation on R&D activities and novel drug development. Besides, the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle and soaring cancer cases have propelled the development of API. The global API market size was valued at USD 209.71 billion in 2021 and will exhibit a 5.9% CAGR between 2022 and 2030. Robust projection is partly due to R&D efforts to produce generic APIs. Moreover, personalized medicine has gained an uptick from the surging demand for targeted therapies, a trend likely to foster industry growth.

CMOs and CDMOs have furthered their focus on HPAPI manufacturing and development to keep up with the drug demand for antibody drug conjugates and oncology. To illustrate, in March 2022, Lonza announced laboratory expansion at its API manufacturing site in China. It will underpin the early-phase highly-potent API manufacturing capabilities and help the company boost clinical trials in oncology. The global high potency API market size stood at USD 23.60 billion in 2021 and is slated to depict a CAGR of 6.2% through 2030.

Order your copy of the Free Sample of "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and High Potency API Industry Data Book - Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Size, Share, Trends Analysis, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" Data Book, published by Grand View Research

Industry leaders are counting on the high efficiency of HPAPI molecules to solidify their position in the global landscape. In March 2022, Novasep announced an infusion of 5.1 million (approximately USD 5.5 million) to bolster the production capacity for HPAPIs in France. The company expects it to propel its position in manufacturing innovative and targeted molecules for cancer treatment and undergird its footprint in the antibody drug conjugates space.

Incumbents across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa will potentially bolster their API and HPAPI portfolios. In doing so, the following dynamics are expected to hold prominence:

Synthetic APIs and HPAPIs will hold prominence in the wake of increased raw material availability and higher effectiveness in treatment.

Laboratories expansion will redefine the global landscape. Polpharma is anticipating opening a new R&D & Production facility in the first quarter of 2024, which will include analytical laboratories (ADL) for Quality Control analyses and separate process laboratories (PDL), among others.

The North America market will witness bullish investments on the back of growing cancer-related morbidity, mortality and cases. A study published in the American Cancer Society journal noted that 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths would be witnessed in the U.S. in 2023.

Go through the table of content of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and High Potency API Industry Data Book to get a better understanding of the Coverage & Scope of the study

Forward-looking companies envisage Asia Pacific to provide compelling growth opportunities, relying on the advanced chemical sector, rigorous manufacturing and quality standards, skilled manpower and reduced costs. Furthermore, governments have ramped up initiatives and schemes to provide a favorable platform for stakeholders. For instance, in March 2022, India started local manufacturing of 35 APIs under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.

Key players have propelled their API portfolio to tap into the global market. In June 2022, WuXi announced the opening of an HPAPI production facility in China with milling technology and flow chemistry. With the pharmaceutical industry brimming with growth and innovations, Asia Pacific is touted to witness investment abound. In April 2023, the U.S. FDA gave the nod to Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services' HPAPI fill line to manufacture a commercial product.

The competitive scenario indicates that well-established players and startups could inject funds into product offerings, technological advancements, innovations, geographical expansion, partnerships and mergers & acquisitions. To illustrate, in January 2023, Sterling Pharma announced the completion of the acquisition of Novartis' API manufacturing facility in Ireland, a significant step to bolster its position in the Europe market.

Check out more Industry Data Books, published by Grand View Research

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.

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E-voting available (VOTACCESS) from June 6, 2023, to June 20, 2023 (03:00 pm CEST)

Regulatory News:

AFYREN (Paris:ALAFY), a greentech company that manufactures biobased ingredients using fermentation technology and a circular business model, notifies the public that its Combined General Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 9:30 am CEST, at the Company's office at Le Silex2 City, 9 rue des Cuirassiers 69003 Lyon.

The preparatory documents for this General Meeting are available on the Company's website, in the Documentation General Meetings section.

To submit their votes, shareholders may, in accordance with the procedures described in the meeting notice published in the BALO on May 17, 2023:

attend the Meeting in person;

vote by internet via the secure voting platform VOTACCESS;

vote by mail;

give proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting or to any other person of their choice.

About AFYREN

Founded in 2012 to address manufacturers' growing need to reduce the carbon footprint of their inputs and move towards more natural ingredients, AFYREN manufactures biobased products to replace petroleum-derived molecules. Because of its innovative, unique, and proprietary process, the French greentech company offers low-carbon, bio-based alternatives in the following sectors: human and animal nutrition, cosmetics, flavors and fragrances, and fine chemicals. By valorizing local, non-food biomass, AFYREN helps manufacturers offer more sustainable finished products while remaining competitive.

The company is pursuing an ambitious development plan to better serve its international customers. Its first plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrance's SPI fund, is located in France to serve mainly the European market. In early 2023, AFYREN announced the launch of a factory project in Thailand, partnering with a world leader in the sugar industry. AFYREN is also developing its presence in the Americas, in line with the distribution agreements already signed.

In 2023, AFYREN employs more than 110 people in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand Carling Saint-Avold and invests 20% of its budget in R&D each year.

AFYREN has been listed on Euronext Growth in Paris since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, mnemonic: ALAFY).

Find out more: afyren.com

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Contacts:

AFYREN

Director for ESG, Communications and Public Affairs

Caroline Petigny

caroline.petigny@afyren.com



Investor Relations

Mark Reinhard

investisseurs@afyren.com



NewCap

Investor Relations

Theo Martin Mathilde Bohin

Tel: 01 44 71 94 94

afyren@newcap.eu



NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau Gaelle Fromaigeat

Tel: 01 44 71 94 98

afyren@newcap.eu



International Media relations

Bogert-Magnier Communications

James Connell

+33 6 2152 1755

jim@bogert-magnier.com
Bay Area Acoustical Consulting Firm Expands Coffman's Capabilities

OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Multidiscipline consulting engineering firm Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Coffman) announced today that acoustical consulting firm RGD Acoustics, Inc. (RGD) has executed a letter of intent to join Coffman. The companies plan to finalize the asset purchase agreement in July 2023. When the agreement is finalized, Coffman will welcome RGD's owners and staff members to the company. RGD expands Coffman's acoustical service offerings and resources, and this transition provides continuity for RGD's clients and employees.

RGD Acoustics and Coffman Engineers Leadership

RGD owners Alan Rosen, Harold Goldberg, PE, and Timothy Der will join Coffman as principal advisors. The addition of RGD expands Coffman's Bay Area acoustical group from two to six employees. RGD offers specialized acoustical consulting and design services, completing hundreds of projects in the Bay Area and throughout California.

"Tim, Harold, and I have enjoyed the success of our partnership for the past 20 years and it was time to look at what was next for us. Over the past four years, we've gotten to know the staff and leadership of Coffman and were encouraged to see our values and goals for business align. We are excited to continue serving our clients with more resources and capabilities," said Alan Rosen, RGD Principal.

RGD and Coffman have an ongoing working partnership that provides a foundation for a smooth transition of projects, clients, and employees. With overlapping clients and market sectors in healthcare, education, and housing, Coffman looks forward to RGD expanding their capabilities in areas such as performing arts centers and specialized spaces where quality room acoustics are essential for proper function.

"Alan, Harold, and Tim are respected individuals in the industry and have built a successful firm. We are honored that they chose Coffman for their next chapter. As we expand acoustical services at Coffman, adding RGD is an advantage for our clients. We look forward to learning from RGD and growing together," said Brian Salyers, PE, Bay Area General Manager.

After the agreement is finalized, RGD, as Coffman Engineers, will continue to support clients and honor their project commitments with the same staff and quality. RGD will maintain operations from its San Rafael office while integrating into the Oakland office.

See the accompanying Fact Sheet and Coffman's website for more information: https://www.coffman.com/news/rgd-acoustics-joins-coffman-engineers/.

About RGD Acoustics, Inc.

RGD Acoustics was established in 2003. The team at RGD Acoustics has experience in theoretical and practical aspects of acoustical design. Services include evaluating projects and recommending design solutions to address a number of key issues including exterior noise transmission, room-to-room noise insulation, interior room acoustics, and mechanical equipment noise and vibration. RGD has completed hundreds of projects involving hospitals, schools, residential housing, civic buildings, and laboratories where quality acoustics are essential.

About Coffman Engineers

Coffman Engineers is a multidiscipline engineering consulting firm that offers clients local, high-touch services by integrating many disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other specialties. Coffman has 715 employees in 20 offices across the U.S. committed to the team effort it takes to build a better world. Visit coffman.com or connect with us on social media.

Contact Information:

Beth Shimogawa

Corporate Communications

beth.shimogawa@coffman.com

808-687-8884

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RGD Acoustics Will Join Coffman Engineers_PR FS.pdf

SOURCE: Coffman Engineers, Inc.

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Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005871/en/

Cloud.Paris JP Mesguen

SFL (Paris:FLY) has let close to 10,000 sq.m. in the Cloud.Paris building to a new tenant, in a benchmark transaction in the CBD.

The 10,000 sq.m. unit, including infrastructure for around 10%, had been let to Exane since 2015 and is being vacated in two phases. It comprises large 3,400 sq.m. floors and terraces with panoramic views over Paris.

The new tenant is making a long-term commitment, signing a 12-year lease with a non-cancellable period of nine years, at an average rent of 940/sq.m.

Its choice of Cloud.Paris attests to the quality and durability of the asset's positioning. The 35,000 sq.m. business centre was extensively remodelled and refurbished in 2015 and is ideally located in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, close to the Paris Bourse.

Its architecture and design, very high environmental quality and large floor plates attract tenants that are leaders in their respective markets and expect very high standards of performance.

Virginie Krafft, SFL Marketing Director, said: "Prime offices are still in strong demand among the world's leading companies that want to offer their employees a unique working environment in the centre of Paris. This deal also shows that leading companies all want the same thing in terms of office facilities, whatever their business sector, with luxury goods joining finance and tech in Cloud.Paris, which houses Meta's French headquarters".

Following this transaction, the business centre will continue to be fully let, to five blue-chip tenants (including Coty, Generali Global Infrastructure and Royal Bank of Canada).

Exane was represented in this transaction by BNP Paribas Real Estate.

About SFL

Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 8.2 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (cloud.paris, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors. As France's oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 Bloomberg: FLY FP Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

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Contacts:

SFL Thomas Fareng T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 t.fareng@fonciere-lyonnaise.com

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com
All the resolutions approved by the Board of Directors were adopted

Regulatory News:

Onxeo S.A. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALONX), ("Onxeo" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative drugs targeting tumor DNA Damage Response (DDR) and driver oncogenes, announced that the Annual General Meeting held today at 2pm CEST was able to validly deliberate with a quorum of 44.12% with 30 shareholders representing 49,072,091 voting rights.

The Annual General Meeting followed the voting recommendations of the Board of Directors for all resolutions, approving the 2022 financial statements and the renewal of the terms of Robert Coleman, independent director, and Nicolas Trebouta, permanent representative of the historical shareholder Financiere de la Montagne.

The Annual General Meeting also approved the change of company name to Valerio Therapeutics. This name change is accompanied by a new identity, to be presented in the coming weeks, designed to better represent Valerio Therapeutics' ability to rapidly advance breakthrough therapeutic candidates through Phase 2 development, and to collaborate with partners for further development and commercialization. The ISIN code will remain unchanged.

Shefali Agarwal, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "I would like to thank all our shareholders for their participation and support at this Annual General Meeting, which marks a real milestone for our Company. We are proud to present our new company name today, conveying values of strength, health, resilience, vitality and robustness. In addition, the Valerio name has a timeless, traditional essence that matches the company's positioning as a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies using cutting-edge technology platforms to revolutionize cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. Valerio also represents a sense of legacy and endurance, thus becoming part of Onxeo's history and writing a new page over the long term

The consolidated result of the vote by resolution and the minutes of the General Meeting will be available within the legal deadlines on the Company's website, in the General Meetings section

Next financial release

Half-year 2023 results: Thursday, September 28, 2023, after market close

About Onxeo

Onxeo (Euronext Growth Paris: ALONX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative oncology drugs targeting tumor DNA-binding functions through unique mechanisms of action in the sought-after field of DNA Damage Response (DDR). The Company is focused on bringing early-stage first-in-class or disruptive compounds from translational research to clinical proof-of-concept, a value-creating inflection point appealing to potential partners.

PlatON is Onxeo's proprietary chemistry platform of DNA decoy therapeutics, which generates new innovative compounds and broaden the Company's product pipeline.

AsiDNA, the first compound from platON, is a highly differentiated, clinical-stage first-in-class candidate in the field of DNA damage response (DDR) applied to oncology. Its DNA decoy therapeutic mechanism acting upstream of multiple DDR pathways results in distinctive antitumor properties, including the ability to prevent or abrogate tumor resistance to targeted therapies such as PARP inhibitors and strong synergy with tumor DNA-damaging agents such as radio-chemotherapy. AsiDNA is currently being studied in Europe and the US in combination with other treatment modalities in difficult-to-treat solid tumors.

OX425, the second compound from platON, is a novel pan-DDR Decoy with high antitumor activity. It also mediates multiple immunostimulatory effects by activating the STING pathway.OX425 is currently undergoing IND-enabling preclinical development.

For further information, please visit www.onxeo.com

Forward looking statements

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Onxeo 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 Onxeo to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Onxeo 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 a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Onxeo to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the risk factors described in the most recent Company's registration document or in any other periodic financial report and in any other press release, which are available free of charge on the websites of the Company Group (www.onxeo.com) and/or the AMF (www.amf-france.org).

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Contacts:

Onxeo

Investor Relations

investors@onxeo.com

+33 1 45 58 76 00

Media Relations

Arthur Rouille

NewCap

onxeo@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 00 15

Investor Relations Strategic Communication

Dusan Oresansky Nicolas Fossiez

NewCap

onxeo@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 92
Disclosure in accordance with the AMF recommendations

Regulatory News:

Antin Infrastructure Partners SA (the "Company") (Paris:ANTIN) held its Annual Shareholders' Meeting today in Paris, under the chairmanship of Mr. Alain Rauscher, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO (the "Meeting

The quorum reached 96.79%.

The Meeting adopted all 26 proposed resolutions, and in particular:

approved the statutory and consolidated financial statements for 2022;

decided on the distribution of an amount of 0.42 per share. Given the interim payment of 0.14 per share made on 15 November 2022, the balance of the distribution, i.e., 0.28 per share, will be paid on 12 June 2023 (ex-date: 8 June 2023);

renewed, for a period of two years, the terms of office of Mrs. Lynne Shamwana and Mrs. Dagmar Valcarcel. The Board of Directors is thus composed of 7 members, very largely independent (57% of independent Directors) with 3 women (43% of the Board) and 5 Directors with foreign nationalities;

approved the 2023 compensation policy for the Chairman and CEO, the Vice-Chairman and Deputy CEO and the independent Directors, as well as the various components of the 2022 compensation of the corporate officers;

approved the renewal of the financial authorisations granted by previous shareholders' meetings.

The Board of Directors met after the Meeting and decided in particular:

the re-appointment of Mrs. Lynne Shamwana as member and Chairwoman of the Audit Committee, and Mrs. Dagmar Valcarcel as member and Chairwoman of the Nomination and Compensation Committee, member and Chairwoman of the Sustainability Committee and member of the Audit Committee;

to continue the liquidity agreement with BNP Paribas Exane following to the renewal of the previous share repurchase programme.

Mr. Alain Rauscher invited the shareholders to the 2024 Annual Shareholders' Meeting on 13 June 2024.

The results of the votes are available on the Company's website www.shareholders.antin-ip.com, section "Shareholders' Meetings

About Antin Infrastructure Partners

Antin Infrastructure Partners is a leading private equity firm focused on infrastructure. With over 30bn in Assets under Management across its Flagship, Mid Cap and NextGen investment strategies, Antin targets investments in the energy and environment, digital, transport and social infrastructure sectors. With offices in Paris, London, New York, Singapore and Luxembourg, Antin employs over 200 professionals dedicated to growing, improving and transforming infrastructure businesses while delivering long-term value to portfolio companies and investors. Majority owned by its partners, Antin is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Ticker: ANTIN ISIN: FR0014005AL0).

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Contacts:

Media

Nicolle Graugnard, Communication Director

Email: nicolle.graugnard@antin-ip.com

Shareholder Relations

Ludmilla Binet, Head of Shareholder Relations

Email: ludmilla.binet@antin-ip.com

Brunswick

Email: antinip@brunswickgroup.com

Tristan Roquet Montegon: +33 (0)6 37 00 52 57

Gabriel Jabes: +33 (0)6 40 87 08 14
Regulated Information - Denominator

Atlas Special Opportunities, LLChas converted 8convertible bonds in Oxurion resulting in a EUR 200,000capital increase. This is part of Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC's EUR 20 million Capital Commitment1 that will allow Oxurion to focus on progressing its novel and differentiated back of the eye drug candidate targeting potential market opportunities of over USD 5billion.

Leuven, BELGIUM,Boston, MA, US-June 6, 2023- 07.00 PM CET - In accordance with article 15 of the Belgian Act of May 2, 2007 on the disclosure of major participations in issuers of which shares are admitted to trading on a regulated market and regarding miscellaneous provisions, Oxurion NV (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) (the "Company" or "Oxurion"), announces the below information, following the issuance of 67,234,424 new ordinary shares on June 6, 2023, for a total amount of EUR 200,000, as the result of the conversion of 8 convertible bonds, pursuant to the Capital Commitment entered into with Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC.

Following completion of the capital increase through the conversion of the convertible bonds, the total number of shares issued by Oxurion amounts to 1,089,578,053 outstanding ordinary shares carrying voting rights (compared to 1,022,343,629 outstanding ordinary shares previously). This number will be used as the denominator for the calculation of the percentages of shareholdings.

Therefore, Oxurion publishes the following updated information:

Share capital (EUR) 80,106,161



Total number of securities with voting rights (all ordinary shares) 1,089,578,053 Total number of ordinary shares (= denominator) 1,089,578,053 Number of outstanding, granted rights to subscribe to securities carrying voting rights not yet issued: 591,500 subscription rights ("SRs") issued on November 20, 2017, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 591,500 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

60,000 SRs issued on December 23, 2020, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 60,000 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

972,250 SRs issued on April 14, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 972,250 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

532,500 SRs issued on September 22, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 532,500 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

614,249 SRs issued on December 30, 2021, entitling their holders to subscribe to a total number of 614,249 securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares);

176 convertible bonds issued on March 14, 2023, April 20, 2023, and May 22, 2023, entitling its holder, Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC, to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds pursuant to the Subscription Agreement entered into between the Company and Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC on March 1, 2023; and

100 convertible bonds issued on December 20, 2021, entitling their holders (Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P.) to subscribe to a total number of securities carrying voting rights (all ordinary shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of these convertible bonds as attached to the Agreement for the provision of a Loan Facility entered into between the Company, Kreos Capital VI (UK) Limited, Pontifax Medison Finance (Israel) L.P. and Pontifax Medison Finance (Cayman) L.P., on November 21, 2021 (as amended from time to time).

END

About Oxurion

Oxurion (Euronext Brussels: OXUR) is a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, which are designed to improve and better preserve vision in patients with retinal disorders including diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of vision loss in working-age people, as well as other conditions. Oxurion intends to play an important role in the treatment of retinal disorders, including the successful development of THR-149, its novel therapeutic for the treatment of DME. THR-149 is a potent plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the up to 50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. Oxurion is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with corporate operations in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.oxurion.com.

Important information about forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of Oxurion in any jurisdiction. No securities of Oxurion may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.

For further information please contact:

Oxurion NV

Tom Graney

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +32 16 75 13 10

tom.graney@oxurion.com (mailto:tom.graney@oxurion.com)







Michael Dillen

Chief Business Officer

Tel: +32 16 75 13 10

michael.dillen@oxurion.com (mailto:michael.dillen@oxurion.com) US

Conway Communications

Mary T. Conway

m (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)tconway (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)@conwaycommsir.com (mailto:mtconway@conwaycommsir.com)











ICR Westwicke

Christopher Brinzey

Tel: +1 617 835 9304

chris.brinzey@westwicke.com (mailto:chris.brinzey@westwicke.com)





1Press releaseOxurion, 02/03/2023

Attachments
Originally published on Principal Financial Group News Room

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / How do people know who you are?

Some cues are obvious-hair color and height, for example-but others, less so. Say, for example, that you're married. If you wear a wedding ring, that presents a sign to others. If you don't, strangers may make a quick (and potentially inaccurate) assumption about your relationship status.

Now, imagine being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. What assumptions might others make if they don't know you, but you come out? And how can community allies create safer, more inclusive spaces?

For Yvonne Gonzalez, a senior associate in communications at Principal, the latter opportunity came when a co-worker asked if she had a partner or not. It's an ordinary-enough question asked in a more expansive way. It gave Gonzalez an inclusive opening to talk about her girlfriend of six years. "You don't really know how people out in the world are going to respond, and if you're a member of a marginalized community, you might not be able to say who you are," she says. "At Principal, I've felt connected and comfortable."

Challenges to safety

Safety and connections-not just during Pride month in June but beyond-have become even more important of late. In 2023 alone, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills were proposed or passed, targeting everything from gender information on birth certificates to nondiscrimination protection and access to certain books.[1]

The LGBTQIA+ community also faces additional barriers, including legal impediments, to financial security. For example, 37% of LGBTQIA+ households have difficulty paying for usual household expenses, versus 26% of non-LGBTQIA+ adults.[2] Some employers still don't offer health insurance to same-sex spouses.[3] More than one in four transgender people reported losing a job due to bias.[4] Same-sex couples that decide to pursue parenthood generally experience higher medical and legal fees throughout the process.[5]

Fears for the future

Cal Solverson, who identifies as transgender/non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, describes coming out as a never-ending process. They were outed as gay in high school by a classmate and came out a second time in college as trans. "When I came out as trans, I finally had the vocabulary I was missing my entire life to understand myself," says Solverson, a plan reporting specialist at Principal.

Many of the assumptions that people take for granted-pronouns, for example-aren't ones that Solverson can rely on. "I know I need to say 'Hi, my name is Cal, I use they/them pronouns' to protect myself and help people address me correctly," they say.

Anti-trans legislation enacted in 2023 in Iowa, Solverson's home and the Principal headquarters, has unmoored them even more. "Coming out as trans was a lot scarier than coming out as gay because I felt like being gay was starting to become acceptable in society-and I don't necessarily feel the same way about being trans, especially recently," Solverson says.

Inclusion in progress

Principal has a long history of supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. That includes:

Advocating in 2006 for legislation to expand Iowa's Civil Rights Act to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected classes, in addition to race, sex, age, national origin, creed, religion, and disability status. The legislation was signed into law on the Principal campus.

Achieving a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Equality Index every year since 2016.

Being named the 2022 Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity.

Signing on to the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Signatory and Business Coalition for the Equality Act.

Creating a supplier diversity program to actively support and facilitate the purchase of products and services from businesses owned or operated by individuals representing people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, or individuals with different abilities.

In recent years, Principal has also committed to addressing and updating its diversity, equity, and inclusion approach. That includes identifying and hiring champions and advocates at every leadership level, such as a chief inclusion officer.

That doesn't mean the work is done, though. "It's hard to navigate being queer, to make people see me for who I am and understand the implications that come with my identity," Solverson says.

Celebrating history, searching for joy

One workplace connection Solverson relies on is the Principal LGBTQIA+ employee resource group; its members continue to grapple with the legislative landscape, support one another, and remind allies of their critical role. "The LGBTQIA+ ERG is one of the most intersectional communities-we get to hear about different people with different identities outside of being LGBTQIA+ and how they navigate queerness at the same time," Solverson says.

How to improve your allyship Asking these questions of members of the LGBTQIA+ community can help: What's one thing I can do to be a better ally?

What are your pronouns?

How can I support you at work?

Do you have suggestions for how I can counteract any homophobic or transphobic comments I hear?

June, and with it Pride month, arrives for Gonzalez and Solverson at a somber moment. "A lot of us don't feel safe," Gonzalez says. "Not being yourself is draining, and to me, Pride means being able to celebrate yourself and be who you are safely."

But there is also joy to be found. "I want to celebrate those who made sure I could celebrate in the first place as a form of thanks," Solverson says. "Thanks for putting your lives at risk, for fighting to make sure we can live authentically. Pride perpetuates that: We're here to stay."

CTA

Learn more about how you can develop your own career a Principal.com/careers.

Disclosures

2922451-052023

[1] ACLU

[2] US Census

[3] Kaiser Family Foundation

[4] National Center for Transgender Equality

[5] Family Equality

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Principal Financial Group on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Principal Financial Group

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/principal-financial-group

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Principal Financial Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/759607/Supporting-the-LGBTQIA-Community-Its-More-Than-Just-Pride-Month
MYNTFUND UPDATES: today's dynamic business landscape

REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's dynamic business landscape, companies are constantly seeking ways to expand their operations and secure the necessary funds for growth. A groundbreaking solution has emerged that promises to revolutionize the investment industry: tokenized equity and fractional ownership. This innovative strategy offers a myriad of benefits for companies and investors alike, opening up exciting new avenues for business expansion and portfolio diversification.

Fractional ownership allows investors to own a percentage of an asset, such as a company, without having to purchase the entire asset. Tokenized equity represents fractional ownership using blockchain technology, which allows for greater transparency and security. MyntExchange will be a platform that facilitates the tokenization of equity, making it more accessible to investors. Tokenized equity can help companies raise funds more easily and efficiently, as it allows them to offer fractional ownership to a larger pool of investors. The growth of digital assets, including tokenized equity, is expected to continue as technology advances and more companies adopt blockchain solutions.

MyntExchange, futured to rise as a leading platform in this space, has emerged as a beacon of simplicity and security for investors looking to delve into the world of tokenized assets. By leveraging blockchain technology, MyntExchange ensures transparent, secure, and efficient transactions, providing investors with a straightforward pathway to access tokenized assets, including properties.

Let's explore some of the remarkable advantages that MyntExchange brings to the table for tokenized equity investment:

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Fractional Ownership: MyntExchange allows investors to own fractional shares in various assets, enabling diversified investment portfolios and risk minimization. The ability to purchase small portions of assets empowers investors to participate in companies they believe in, without committing substantial capital upfront.

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For businesses seeking to expand and increase their reach, exploring tokenized equity and fractional ownership may be worthwhile. These investment options have gained popularity due to their potential to unlock opportunities and financial gain. Embracing these options can help businesses leverage their potential, and raising capital and providing liquidity to investors can be easier with digital tokens representing ownership in the company. Fractional ownership allows investors to own a portion of assets, making them more accessible to a wider range of investors and reducing risk by diversifying investment portfolios.

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CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the worldwide data center market will grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3866

North America and Western Europe are among the mature and developed markets in data center development. APAC countries such as China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others are among the advanced market with the presence of all the global data center operators. Countries such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and others are witnessing growth in terms of development from several new operators entering the data center market.

Hyperscalers such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services are actively involved in expanding their presence in existing locations across the U.S. and are expanding to other countries apart for the United States. The Nordics region is also among the preferred locations by the hyperscalers to develop data center facilities owing to the free cooling solutions, availability of renewable energy, district heating systems, and others. Some major colocation operators involved in the investment in 2022 include Equinix, Digital Realty, QTS Realty Trust, Iron Mountain, Vantage Data Centers, NTT Global Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, CyrusOne, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, AirTrunk, GDS Services, and VNET Group.

Worldwide Data Center Market Report Scope

Report Scope Details Market Investment (2028) USD 289.66 Billion Market Investment (2022) USD 215.73 Billion CAGR By Revenue (2022-2028) 5.03 % Market Size - Area (2028) 58.15 Million Square Feet Power Capacity (2028) 9,778.6 MW Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segments Facility, Infrastructure, Electrical Infrastructure, Mechanical Infrastructure, Cooling Systems, Cooling Technique, General Construction, Tier Standards, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, APAC, and Southeast Asia Market Dynamics  Growth in Submarine & Inland Connectivity  Increased M&As & Joint Ventures  Data Center Investments Fueled by Big Data & IoT  Government Support for Data Center Investments  Increased Demand for Cloud-based Services



Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3866

Key Highlights

In 2022, the global data center market witnessed investments of over $215.73 billion owing to investments from colocation operators, such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, Iron Mountain, QTS Realty Trust, NTT Global Data Centers, DataBank, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.

Hyperscalers, such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google, also aid the market with investments. These companies expand their global presence, focusing on emerging locations across Europe and APAC.

Aside from AWS, Google, and Microsoft, cloud operators include Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Oracle, IBM Cloud, and OVHcloud. They are involved in the development of several cloud regions globally, which will increase data center investments.

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Data Centers Embrace Liquid Cooling for AI & ML Workloads

Rapid Surge in Liquid Cooling Adoption as Data Centers Cater to Demands of AI & ML Workloads. Superior Efficiency and Cooling Solutions Vital for Data Centers Handling AI & ML Workloads, Fueling Growth of Liquid Cooling Technology. Meta (Facebook) Puts Expansion Projects on Hold to Develop AI-Optimized Data Center Designs, Highlighting Importance of Advanced Cooling Technologies. Two-Phase Immersion Cooling and Direct-to-Chip Solutions Gain Traction as Data Centers Address Heat Challenges from AI & ML Workloads.

Tax Incentives Drive Data Center Market Growth, with the U.S. and India Leading the Way

Data Center Market Growth Fueled by Tax Incentives as Countries Compete for Operators. The U.S. Dominates Data Center Market with Tax Incentives, India Emerges as a Strong Competitor. Tax Incentive Strategies Propel Data Center Market Expansion in the U.S. and India. States in the U.S. and India Offer Lucrative Tax Incentives to Attract Data Center Investments. India's Data Center Market Rises with Tax Incentive Policies, Following the U.S. Trend. Tax Incentive Initiatives Boost Data Center Market in the U.S. and Key Indian States. The U.S. and Indian States Roll Out Tax Incentives to Foster Data Center Investments.

Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain disruptions are a major challenge faced by data center developers recently. With the onset of COVID-19, supply chain disruptions increased, leading to a shortage of infrastructure such as power equipment, cooling infrastructure, chips, and other infrastructure. Also, political instability and disturbances between Russia and Ukraine led to a price hike in energy and fuel costs. One of the major shortages faced by operators was chip shortage, which led to a decline in the manufacturing of several infrastructures.

Key Investors & Investments

In 2022, hyperscale investments in the US were over 25 projects by major operators, including Meta (Facebook), Google, Microsoft, and AWS.

Recently, Meta (Facebook) announced its plan to pause expanding and constructing new data center facilities across the US and the world. The company aims to design a new AI data center and redesign its data center facilities for artificial intelligence workloads.

Hyperscale providers continuously expand. For instance, AWS announced its plan to invest around $2.4 billion in the UK to build and operate data centers.

Customization Available: https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/3866

The report includes the investment in the following areas:

Facility Type

Hyperscale Data Centers

Colocation Data Centers

Enterprise Data Centers

Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

IT Infrastructure

Server Infrastructure

Storage Infrastructure

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, & Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Cooling Technique

Air-based Cooling

Liquid-based Cooling

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Building & Engineering Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standards

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

Latin America

Brazil



Chile



Colombia



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Western Europe

The UK



Germany



France



Netherlands



Ireland



Italy



Spain



Belgium



Switzerland



Portugal



Other Western European Countries

Nordics

Norway



Sweden



Denmark



Finland & Iceland

Central & Eastern Europe

Russia



Poland



Austria



Czech Republic



Other CEE Countries

Middle East

The UAE



Saudi Arabia



Israel



Oman



Kuwait



Qatar



Bahrain



Jordan



Other Middle East Countries

Africa

South Africa



Kenya



Nigeria



Egypt



Ethiopia



Other African Countries

APAC

China



Hong Kong



Australia



New Zealand



India



Japan



South Korea



Taiwan



Rest of APAC

Southeast Asia

Singapore



Indonesia



Malaysia



Thailand



Philippines



Vietnam



Other Southeast Asia Countries

About Our Data Center Capabilities

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Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.???????????????????

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.???????????????????

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REDMOND (dpa-AFX) - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) agreed to pay $20 million to resolve accusations by the US government that the company unlawfully gathered children's personal data through its Xbox Live gaming platform, thereby infringing upon their privacy.



The Federal Trade Commission has stated that Microsoft violated the law by neglecting to inform parents about the complete range of information it collected from children under 13 years old.



As per the lawsuit filed by the FTC on Monday, the information in question included details that children might upload images of themselves in their account profiles, along with video and audio recordings of themselves, their actual names, and records of their activities on the platform.



Furthermore, Microsoft is accused of retaining the personal information of millions of individuals, including children, who initiated the process of creating accounts on Xbox Live but did not complete the sign-up procedure for several years.



According to a statement from the FTC, even when a user indicated being under the age of 13, Microsoft continued to request additional personal information, including a phone number, and required consent to its service agreement and advertising policy. Until late 2021, there was also a pre-selected checkbox that allowed Microsoft to send promotional messages and share user data with advertisers.



Microsoft issued a statement acknowledging their recent settlement with the U.S. FTC to address issues with their account creation process and resolve a data retention error within their system. They expressed their commitment to complying with the order.



According to the FTC, parental settings on Xbox Live enable adults to have some control over the content displayed in their children's accounts and limit interactions with other users. The default settings on Xbox Live are designed to restrict children's interactions. However, the agency alleged that certain default settings still enable children to access third-party games and applications with minimal obstacles.



The FTC claimed that Microsoft violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by not adequately informing parents about the information being collected from children and how it was being utilized. The company allegedly failed to provide sufficient disclosure regarding these matters to parents.



As part of the settlement, Microsoft made additional commitments in addition to the financial penalty. The company pledged to delete any personal information collected from children who do not complete the account registration process. Microsoft also agreed to notify third-party game publishers when a user is identified as a child, thereby alerting them to comply with COPPA guidelines in handling the user's information.



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OTTAWA, ON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 31, 2023, World No Tobacco Day, the Canadian government announced final regulations to require a health warning to appear directly on every cigarette, a world first. The announcement has received extensive international attention, and has been praised by the Canadian Cancer Society and other health organizations.

"A health warning on every individual cigarette is innovative and world precedent setting," says Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society. "The measure means that health messaging will be conveyed with every cigarette and every puff, will be there during every smoke break, and will reach youth who experiment by borrowing cigarettes from a friend. This measure will reduce smoking and the appeal of cigarettes, thus preventing cancer and other diseases."

It is expected that many countries will follow Canada's example and adopt this measure, just as there are now more than 130 countries/territories that have required picture warnings for cigarette packages, following the Canadian precedent implemented in 2001. In many countries cigarettes are often sold individually without packaging - in these countries, warnings directly on cigarettes have the potential for even greater impact.

For the Canadian warnings directly on cigarettes, there will be 2 sets of 6 warnings, with sets changed in rotation. As illustrated in the mock-ups provided by the Canadian Department of Health ("Health Canada"), the warnings will appear on the filter end of the cigarette, with black text on a white background, in upper case letters, in both English and French. The implementation deadline for the first set will be April 30, 2024, at the manufacturer level and July 31, 2024, at the retail level for cigarettes that are 83-85 mm in length (which is the standard cigarette length internationally, and which in Canada is called "King Size" length) and April 30, 2025, at the retail level for cigarettes that are 70-73 mm in length. In Canada, King Size cigarettes represent 69% of the cigarette market (2021).

The new Canadian regulations will also enhance the health messages required on the outside and inside of packages. A new round of 14 picture warnings on the package exterior will be required to appear on 75% of the package front and back by April 30, 2024, with a second new set of 14 picture warnings to appear 24 months later. Enhanced messages on the package interior will also be required at retail by April 30, 2024. Canada first required health messages inside cigarette packages in 2001, either on an insert for flip-top packages, or on the "slide" of slide and shell packages. Today Canada remains the only country that has required a health warning on the package interior, in addition to the package exterior, with "slide and shell" now the only permitted format for cigarette packaging in the country.

The global trend in requiring picture warnings, warnings with increased size, and plain packaging, is outlined in the seventh edition of a report by the Canadian Cancer Society, dated October 2021. For plain packaging, which removes branded colours and logos, and uses a standard background colour for all brands (eg drab brown), there are now at least 25 countries/territories that have final requirements, beginning with Australia in 2012 and including Canada in 2019.

The World Health Organization reports that tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, that 80% of the world's tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, and that in 2020 22.3% of the world's population used tobacco, including 36.7% of all men and 7.8% of the world's women. Smoking causes lung cancer, at least 15 other types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and many other health effects, including harms from second-hand smoke. In Canada, based on 2021 data, there are still 3.8 million Canadians who smoke, representing 12% of the population aged 12+. The Canadian government has set an objective of under 5% of Canadians using tobacco by 2035.

About the Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We fund the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. As the voice for people who care about cancer, we work with governments to shape a healthier society. No other organization does all that we do to make lives better today and transform the future of cancer forever. Help us make a difference. In Canada, call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.

Background material

Canadian Department of Health ("Health Canada") news release, May 31, 2023

Health Canada backgrounder, May 31, 2023

Canadian Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations

Health Canada image of first set of 6 warnings to appear directly on cigarettes (English) (French)

Health Canada image of second set of 6 warnings to appear directly on cigarettes effective August 1, 2026 (English) (French)

Health Canada image depicting health messages on package exterior and interior, and on cigarette itself (English) (French)

Canadian Cancer Society report, Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report , October 2021

, October 2021 World Health Organization Key Facts for tobacco, May 24, 2022

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094692/Canadian_Cancer_Society_Canada_becomes_first_country_to_require.jpg

Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society, rob.cunningham@cancer.ca

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Masdar, UAE's flagship renewable energy company, along with Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities signs land agreement for 10GW mega wind project

Signing witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister HE Moustafa Madbouly and HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar

Project will cut carbon emissions by 23.8 million tonnes a year - equivalent to 9 percent of Egypt's current carbon footprint

Ahead of UAE hosting COP28, development shows UAE's commitment to supporting Egypt's renewable energy goals

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar, one of the world's leading clean energy companies, along with Infinity Power, Africa's largest renewable energy developer, and Hassan Allam Utilities, a sustainable infrastructure focused investment platform, signed an agreement with Egypt's New and Renewable Energy Authority to secure land to build a 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity onshore wind farm in Egypt, set to be one of the largest in the world, with a project value of over US$ 10 billion.

The signing in Cairo was witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister, HE Moustafa Madbouly, HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, HE Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Nayer Fouad, Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Power, and Hassan and Amr Allam, Chief Executive Officers of Hassan Allam Holding.

The landmark wind project will produce 47,790 GWh of clean energy per year and reduce around 9 percent of Egypt's annual carbon emissions by displacing 23.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The wind farm will also help Egypt meet its strategic objective of sourcing 42 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030. The 10 GW plant will save the North African nation an estimated US$ 5 billion in natural gas costs a year.

The original agreement to develop the 10 GW wind farm was signed between Masdar, Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission company and witnessed by the presidents of the UAE and Egypt on the sidelines of the UN climate change conference, COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt last year.

As the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, Masdar's role demonstrates its deep and lasting commitment towards supporting African nations such as Egypt to meet their ambitious renewable energy objectives. The project is being developed by the consortium led by Masdar and its partners: Infinity Power, Masdar's joint venture with Egypt's Infinity, which is Africa's largest pure play renewable power company; and Hassan Allam Utilities, a sustainable infrastructure focused investment platform.

HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President-Designate, said: "This 10GW onshore wind project is set to be one of the largest wind farms in the world, and largest on the African continent. It is a sign of the strong partnership between the UAE and Egypt, with great potential to create jobs, cut emissions and power homes with clean electricity at competitive economical costs. The world needs to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Projects like these will support the global efforts to reduce the impact of climate change and help keep the ambition of 1.5 intact while enabling significant socio-economic growth. The UAE looks forward to hosting COP28, we continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Global South in their efforts to decarbonize and secure a just energy transition."

HE Dr Mohamed Shaker Al-Markabi, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy in Egypt, said: "Egypt has an ambitious program to advance the Egyptian electricity sector in various fields, foremost of which is optimizing the use of new and renewable energy resources and encouraging investment in this field, which would contribute to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and continue to reduce carbon emissions, in line with Egypt's energy strategy to have up to 42 percent of our energy mix from renewable energy sources by 2030, while complementing the National Climate Strategy 2050 to face the challenges of climate change and achieve sustainable economic growth."

He added: "This project represents a continuation of the historical and brotherly relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the UAE and reflects the fruitful and constructive cooperation between the two brotherly countries. Renewable energy in Egypt has the potential to attract direct foreign investments, and the national Egyptian entities play a vital role in creating an environment that is supportive of investment with low risks, and high interaction with the financing institutions and development partners. In addition, Egypt has comparative advantages in terms of the land available which is necessary to produce a huge volume of electricity from renewable resources. Furthermore, Egypt's geographical location enables it to export green energy to Europe, especially as the country looks to further enhance and raise the efficiency of its national grid."

In March, Masdar became the largest operator of renewables in Africa after its joint venture with Egypt's Infinity - Infinity Power - acquired Lekela Power, a renewables developer with operations across the continent. Masdar also demonstrated its commitment to African nations by signing deals to develop renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of up to 5 GW in Angola, Uganda, and Zambia, in January.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar, said: "Masdar is proud to be working with global partners to maximize our direct impact on Egypt in all fields of business and economy, and help addressing urgent global sustainability challenges and supporting the global efforts to develop sustainable solutions to produce energy using the latest available technologies with the lowest competitive cost. This mega project - which will transform lives and livelihoods - is the culmination of hard work, dedication, and steadfast partnership between Masdar, our joint venture - Infinity Power - and Hassan Allam Utilities."

Nayer Fouad, CEO, Infinity Power said: "This project is a milestone achievement for us at Infinity Power, which reflects the partnership between Masdar and Infinity Power as a leading investment platform in renewable energy. It not only positions us as a leading provider of renewable energy but also strengthens the growing relationship between the Emirates and Egypt. Apart from being a key source of renewable energy, the farm will also create employment opportunities for local communities."

Amr Allam, CEO, Hassan Allam Holding said: "I am proud to witness the launch of the development of our planned 10 GW wind energy program, in partnership with Masdar, and Infinity Power. In addition to helping meet Egypt's growing energy needs, the project aligns seamlessly with the nation's sustainable development goals. We are confident that this collaboration will deliver on its targets, paving the way towards a more eco-friendly and prosperous future for Egypt."

Egypt is the Middle East and North Africa's most populous country and has an abundance of renewable energy sources, including wind and solar. Masdar has a large presence in Egypt with projects dating back to 2015, which represents a starting point to target the African continent through Infinity Power platform.

During COP27 last year, Masdar, Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities also signed agreements with Egyptian state-backed organizations to develop green hydrogen and derivatives' production facilities. The consortium is targeting a capacity of 4 GW by 2030, and an output of up to 480,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

For more information please visit:

http://www.masdar.ae

facebook.com/masdar.ae

twitter.com/masdar

This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/uae-and-egypt-advance-development-of-africas-biggest-wind-farm-301844143.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") is pleased to announce it has engaged Dsrupt Media Inc. ("DSRUPT") to develop product awareness and grow sales of NuGen's needle-free InsuJet medical device, targeting diabetics around the world.

InsuJet is approved for sale as a medical device in 42 countries.

"We were drawn to the talent at DSRUPT of young, hungry, data-driven marketers and brand owners with a deep knowledge of e-commerce," commented Richard Buzbuzian, CEO. "We quickly saw DSRUPT was responsible for helping scale more than 10 brands to millions in revenue in the last year alone. Together we quickly became aligned in our approach on how to grow sales of InsuJet and with that, we engaged our partnership as we drive forward in 2023 and 2024."

"Our ads have driven over 450 million views and more than $85 million in revenue in the last year for the brands we've worked with," commented Wes St. Armand, DSRUPT's CEO. "We are delighted to work with Richard and the NuGen team as we look to drive sales and brand awareness for InsuJet."

In an effort to increase product education, brand awareness, and deliver sales, NuGen and DSRUPT will look to create highly engaging content for paid media that breaks through the noise and captures the attention of consumers.

In addition to the Company's traditional B2B business, NuGen looks to first commence B2C sales in the United Kingdom, France and Spain where InsuJet is approved for sale as a medical device.

About DSRUPT

Dsrupt Media Inc. is a holistic direct-to-consumer growth marketing company. The sections of the company include Dsrupt Productions, Dsrupt Paid Media, Dsrupt Performance and Dsrupt Brands. Last year, Dsrupt Productions produced and executed from start to finish over 20 Commercials for some of the top e-commerce companies in the world. Dsrupt Paid Media focuses on customer acquisition to grow brands profitably using cutting-edge tactics and timeless marketing principles. Dsrupt Performance is the creative department that creates direct-response performance ads. The Performance team is made up of creative strategists, copywriters, creators, editors and data analysts to drive profitable customer acquisition. Dsrupt Brands is DSRUPT's portfolio of direct-to-consumer brands in the health and beauty space. In the last year and a half, DSRUPT has helped to drive over $85,000,000 in revenue for its partners and over 450 million views across their campaigns.

About NuGen

NuGen Medical Devices Inc. is an emerging specialty medical device company developing the next generation of needle-free technologies and other innovative medical delivery products. The company's products, which include the InsuJet and PetJet needle-free injection systems, are designed to improve the lives of millions of people and animals. NuGen continues to receive approval in numerous countries, including Canada. NuGen's products are designed for use in several important fields including, but not limited to, diabetes, veterinary medicine, and vaccines.

For further information, please visit:

Websites: www.insujet.com and www.nugenmd.com

Instagram: @NuGenMD

Twitter: @NuGenMD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/

For further information, please contact:

Tony Di Benedetto

Executive Chairman

(416) 791-9399

tony@nugenmd.com

Richard Buzbuzian

President & CEO

(647) 501-3290

richard@nugenmd.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168943
Alaiko's proprietary technology and operating system manage businesses' entire e-commerce operations, preventing bottlenecks and allowing businesses to focus on growth.

The startup received over $30 million in funding in 2022 from investors such as Next47 and Tiger Global to revolutionise e-commerce logistics for direct to consumer (DTC) brands.

With the European e-commerce market set to grow 70% over the next three years, Alaiko plans to unlock value for British e-commerce businesses and help them tackle the challenges of Brexit.

Europe's leading direct to consumer e-commerce fulfilment company, Alaiko, is expanding into the UK. To serve the local market, they are partnering with a state-of-the-art fulfilment centre north of London. Unlike other logistics providers, Alaiko is a tech-first fulfilment company. It enables shops to manage e-commerce operations from start to finish, using its unique platform, the Alaiko Logistics Operating System, along with industry leading warehouse technology and robotics to pick, pack and ship orders and process returns. Alaiko will provide British e-commerce businesses with a unique fulfilment option and allow them to seamlessly scale their business domestically and across Europe.

Alaiko recognises the huge growth potential for e-commerce businesses in the UK, which is home to Europe's largest e-commerce market, with almost 50 million customers. Since Brexit, British businesses have struggled to import and export internationally, facing customs backlogs and increased shipping costs. With its UK expansion alongside its EU fulfilment capabilities, Alaiko creates channels for British businesses to trade in Europe and the UK, empowering mid-size businesses to win market share against large companies. Outsourcing through Alaiko provides faster delivery times and simplified returns management through the growing network of fulfilment centres throughout Europe. Products can be stored in the EU and shipped directly to enable fast national and cross-border shipping to avoid customs bottlenecks.

'As a global DTC brand, we work with various fulfilment providers in different regions. Alaiko stands out with its tech-first approach of modern warehousing and its software that leads to highly efficient operations. With the launch of the UK warehouse, we expect an even better experience for our customers in the UK and to grow our business faster,' said Jan Sapper, CEO of Paperlike

In a first for the DTC market, Alaiko's unique software offering combines processing and logistics in an end-to-end solution. The current tech landscape for DTC e-commerce brands is fragmented, with suppliers forced to patch together different solutions. Alaiko's industry-leading platform offers brands full transparency and control across the whole supply chain. Once an order is received, Alaiko uses automation and robotics to enable picking, packing and shipping with efficiency and precision, and businesses can follow and manage this entire process in real time. Seamless communication for tracking and self-service options enable brands to focus on growth while offering a great customer experience. Where real-time tracking, fast delivery, and easy returns were once exclusive to e-commerce giants, Alaiko levels the playing field by making this possible for SMEs.

Unlike other third-party logistics providers, Alaiko also empowers brands to increase sales through its track and trace offering. Alaiko's delivery tracking emails, which typically have very high open rates, do not redirect customers to third-party sites like delivery providers'. Instead, they send customers to a dedicated tracking page in the brand's online shop. This allows e-commerce brands not only to trace the traffic of their link, but also to retarget customers with personalised marketing.

Moritz Weisbrodt, CEO, Alaiko, commented, 'Alaiko's UK launch is an exciting growth step and we see huge potential in this market for brands looking for a more effective way to deliver for their customers. We're looking forward to facilitating warehouse and logistics for UK and EU customers. We believe that the people scaling an e-commerce brand deserve the best tools at their fingertips to run a business effectively and look after their customers, so we created an intuitive, industry-leading service. We run the logistics so that businesses can focus on growth'.

Notes to editors:

About Alaiko

Based in Munich, college friends and business partners Moritz Weisbrodt Gabriel Thomalla founded Alaiko in 2020. Moritz and Gabriel have over a decade of combined experience starting and scaling international ventures. Despite Alaiko being in its infancy during the Covid-19 Pandemic, within three years Alaiko had raised over $30m, attracting investment from world leading investors. Since Alaiko's advent, they have worked with over 200 successful e-commerce brands, becoming Europe's fastest-growing fulfilment provider for leading D2C e-commerce brands. Alaiko's team has grown to over 130 members without compromising industry expertise. Alaiko is building up a local team in the UK with positions in customer support, warehousing, sales, marketing and product department.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005774/en/

Contacts:

pwightwick@fireoth.com
Course5 Intelligence, a Bellevue, WA-based analytics & AI solutions company, completed their round of funding of USD 53m.

A second close was led by Nuvama Crossover Series of funds, managed by Nuvama Asset Management Limited, with participation from Carnelian Asset Advisors Pvt Ltd. and affiliates. This funding follows the first close done with 360 ONE Asset Management Limited (formerly known as IIFL Asset Management Limited) in May 2023.

This growth round will consolidate Course5s inorganic growth plans and allow the company to leverage the synergies by adding new intellectual property (IP), capabilities, talent, and/or key client relationships, and further innovate in specific areas of applied AI such as deep learning, computer perception, natural language, and Generative AI via Course5s AI Labs.

Led by Ashwin Mittal, Chairman and CEO, Course5 Intelligence focuses on helping organizations drive digital transformation using artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics, and insights. Its AI-driven products and solutions and IP-led solutions are supported by industry-specific domain experience and the latest technologies and aim at enabling organizations to solve complex issues relating to their customers, markets, and supply chain at speed and scale. Course5 combines a multi-disciplinary approach to data integration across structured and unstructured data sources to help businesses grow through informed decision-making.

The companys clients span Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT), Pharma & Lifesciences, CPG, Retail, and other sectors.

Course5 has also absorbed Incivus, an AI-based Ad creation and optimization technology startup. Incivus provides a precise, objective and granular evaluation of all creative variables of an Ad and predicts the likelihood of success with technologies like Computer Vision, Computer Audition, Generative AI, and Natural Language Processing (NLP).

The company is currently in talks with five companies and plans to complete two acquisitions, over a period of 12 months.

FinSMEs

06/06/2023
Forge Nano, a Denver, CO-based precision nano-coating technology company, raised US$50M+M in funding.

The round, which brought the total amount to $95M, was led by Koreas Hanwha Corporate Venture Capital with participation from OIC, Catalus Capital, Ascent Funds and existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth of its commercial-scale nanotechnology opportunities for battery material as well as develop a battery production line to satisfy full-scale, premium battery contracts.

Led by CEO Paul Lichty, Forge Nano provides proprietary Atomic Armor technology that allows manufacturers to engineer their materials, down to the individual atom, in a way that is scalable and cost saving. The coatings produced by its Atomic Armor process work to a materials performance at the atomic level, optimizing battery characteristics like range, safety, and cycle life, to name a few.

Over the last year, the company has signed key strategic partnerships with leading U.S. producers of materials and battery off-takers that demonstrate the capabilities of its proprietary nanocoating technology to create next-generation batteries and strengthen the U.S. domestic battery supply chain.

Plans are underway to launch construction of the pilot battery production line in Q2 2023 that will support applications including aerospace, consumer electronics, defense and more.

FinSMEs

06/06/2023
Simran Khara, Founder, Koparo

Koparo, a New Delhi, India-based sustainable home and personal hygiene D2C brand, raised $1.5M in Pre-Seed funding.

The round was led by Saama Capital with participation from Fluid Ventures, M Venture Partners, Rajesh Sawhney (Founder and CEO of GSF Accelerator), Sridhar Sankararaman (Multiples PE), Ramesh Menon (Ex-Future Group, Hypercity), and DSG Consumer Partners.

The company intends to use the funds to expand in the laundry vertical with plans to launch more pet friendly products.

Founded by Simran Khara, Koparo offers a natural alternative to the regular cleaning products available in the market. The company, which was selected to be a part of the Founder Stack program by Accel where they received mentorship from the VC firm for 3 months to build and scale a consumer startup for todays times, currently offers a portfolio of over 15 products and 30+ SKUs across core cleaning, specialty cleaning, and accessories. Its products are available through its own website, which contributes to approximately 40% of overall revenue, leading e-comm sites and 70 stores of Reliance Retail and Modern Bazaar.

FinSMEs

06/06/2023
Co-Founders Yannick Folla & Ahmed Hadjeres





Oamo, a Montreal, Canada-based decentralised data broker that enables users to own and monetize their data while remaining anonymous, raised $1.25m USD in pre-seed financing.

White Star Capital made the investment.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts with its beta phase coming soon.

Founded in November 2022 by CEO Yannick Folla and CTO Ahmed Hadjeres, Oamo is a decentralized data broker that empowers internet users to own and monetize the value of their data. They can share their data anonymously, earn rewards, and receive personalized offers from companies they trust.

It also alllows Web3 leaders charge their growth initiatives across DeFi, NFTs, Gaming, Wallets, and more. In details, Oamo allows businesses to acquire high quality user data, understand their audiences behavior, and create personalized campaigns. Index Coop, Lighthouse World, Ledn and Saddle Finance have joined its launch program.

Read more about the product in development here

FinSMEs

06/06/2023
As a means to combat tax evasion and foster financial transparency, the government has implemented a compulsory requirement for individuals to connect their Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar. If the deadline is not met, individuals may face consequences such as the suspension or deactivation of their National Pension System (NPS) accounts. To avoid any disruption to their NPS accounts, individuals must prioritise linking their PAN with Aadhaar before the approaching 30 June deadline. The circular by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) reads, In continuation to our earlier advisory dated March 23, 2023, on the captioned subject, the date for linking PAN with Aadhaar has been extended till June 30, 2023 in accordance with CBDT press release dated March 28, 2023.

The NPS is a retirement savings scheme introduced by the Indian government, offering a reliable source of income after retirement. Due to its attractive returns and tax benefits, it has gained significant popularity among individuals. To continue enjoying the benefits provided by the NPS, it is crucial to adhere to government regulations, which includes linking PAN and Aadhaar. This linkage ensures that you follow the rules set by the government and helps in managing your retirement funds effectively. It enables you to make the most of the benefits provided by the NPS.

If you fail to link your PAN and Aadhaar before the deadline, it can lead to several limitations on your NPS account. These limitations may involve restrictions on making additional contributions, limited access to account details, or the suspension of your account altogether. In order to prevent any inconvenience or potential loss of benefits, it is of utmost importance to take prompt action and ensure the timely linking of your PAN and Aadhaar before 30 June.

PAN and Aadhaar are unique identification numbers issued by different government entities in India. While PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric identifier provided by the Income Tax Department, Aadhaar is a twelve-digit unique identification number issued by UIDAI. Linking these two identification numbers is crucial as it enables the government to enhance the monitoring of financial transactions, detect tax evasion, and prevent the misuse of multiple PAN cards.

Here is a step-by-step process to link PAN and Aadhaar online:

Step 1: First of all, visit the official income tax e-filing website at https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.

Step 2: After this, look for the Quick Links tab and proceed by clicking on the Link Aadhaar option.

Step 3: Alternatively, you can directly access the Aadhaar linking page by using this URL: https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Services/LinkAadhaarHome.html.

Step 4: On the Link Aadhaar page, you will see a form where you need to provide the required details.

Step 5: Enter your PAN, Aadhaar number, and your name exactly as it appears on your Aadhaar card.

Step 6: Verify the details carefully to ensure accuracy, and if your Aadhaar card only mentions the year of birth and not the complete date of birth, make sure to select the checkbox indicating the same.

Step 7: Along with the details, you will also need to enter the Captcha Code provided for verification purposes.

Step 8: If you possess only an Aadhaar card and not a PAN card, you can select the option that says I have only Aadhaar.

Step 9: Once you have filled in all the required details, press the Link Aadhaar button.

Step 10: If the information you provided matches the details in the Aadhaar database, your PAN will be successfully linked with Aadhaar.

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The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has declared the results for the HS or Class 12th final exams 2023. To view their marks, students can visit the authorised website ahsec.assam.gov.in. The HS exams for this year were conducted in two sessions, with morning and evening shifts, spanning from 20 February to 20 March. The examinations for the morning session were conducted between 9 AM and 12 PM, whereas the evening session exams took place from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The total number of registered students for the HS exams this year was around 3.42 lakh. Among them, approximately 2.72 lakh students registered for the Arts stream, while the Science and Commerce streams had a total of 47,485 and 20,907 registered students, respectively.

Assams Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had notified about the announcement of results today on Twitter. He mentioned the list of websites for checking the results in his tweet.

AHSEC Assam HS 12th Result 2023: Steps for checking

Step 1  To see your results, first visit the authorised website at ahsec.assam.gov.in.

Step 2  Locate the Results tab on the primary menu of the website.

Step 3  Select the Results section and opt for Assam HS 12th Result 2023 from the available options in the dropdown menu.

Step 4  On the result page, input your roll number and other necessary details in the designated fields.

Step 5  After providing the details, select the Submit button.

Step 6  The Assam HS 12th Result 2023 will be exhibited on the screen.

Step 7  Take a moment to verify the result information and then proceed to download and print a hardcopy of the result for future reference.

AHSEC Assam HS 12th Result 2023: Procedure to check via SMS

Step 1: Open the messaging application on your mobile device first.

Step 2: Create a new message and type SEBA23 followed by a space.

Step 3: Enter your HSLC Roll Number within the message.

Step 4: Now, proceed with sending the SMS to the number 57766.

Step 5: Shortly after sending the message, you will promptly receive the Assam 12th Result 2023 on your mobile device.

Pass percentage for Assam HS Result 2023 categorised by streams are as follows:

Science stream: 84.96 per cent

Commerce stream: 79.57 per cent

Arts stream: 70.12 per cent

Toppers:

Varsha Bothra of KC Das Commerce College Kamrup (Metro) and Sukanya Kumar of Malayabari Senior Secondary School Kamrup (Metro) have attained the top ranks in the Commerce stream. Both candidates obtained a score of 472 marks.

On the other hand, Nikhilesh Dutta, an independent private candidate, has achieved the highest position in the Science stream with a remarkable score of 484. Sankalpajit Saikia, a student from Ramanujan Senior Secondary School in Nagaon, has secured the first position in the Class 12 Arts stream with an impressive score of 490 marks.

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Australia has been a popular destination for Indian students, with an expected record enrolment of over 75,000 in 2023, surpassing the previous high in 2019, as reported by Money Control. However, several Australian universities have implemented restrictions on applications from students belonging to Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, according to The Print. This step has reportedly been taken due to concerns over the submission of fraudulent documents and a high dropout rate. Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales have recently joined the list of universities that have chosen not to admit Indian students from these particular states.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the communication from Federation University to agents highlighted that the university has observed a significant increase in the number of visa applications being declined by the Department of Home Affairs for specific regions in India. The university acknowledged the emergence of this trend but expressed optimism that it would be a temporary issue. Similarly, Western Sydney University also informed agents that they should not admit students from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, citing a high dropout rate among Indian students who commenced their courses in 2022. In a letter sent earlier this month, the university highlighted the significant increase in visa application rejections from specific Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs.

According to the communication, Australian universities possess the autonomy to make their own choices regarding recruitment or admission, which could impact the intake of students from particular regions. According to the Australian High Commission, there is currently no knowledge of any institutions implementing limitations on students from these regions. The communication further emphasised that the Australian government does not impose bans on applicants from specific regions who wish to apply for studies in Australia. Moreover, the government does not possess the authority to instruct or advise institutions, including universities, to prohibit applicants from particular regions.

As per reports from Australian media, earlier this year, five additional universities in the country, namely Victoria University, University of Wollongong, Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University, made public their decision to impose restrictions on applications from Indian students, particularly those from Punjab and Haryana. This action was taken in response to a rise in fraudulent applications aiming to work rather than pursue studies in the country. However, The Print stated that the Australian High Commission in India claimed to be unaware of any restriction being imposed by Australian universities on Indian students.

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Looks like Harry and Meghans attention seeking attitude and celebrity tantrums just doesnt come to an end. Like all grandfathers, King Charles III wanted to shower his granddaughter Lilibe. But Prince Harry has put a stop to it.

According to reports Charles had his aides searching for custom-made cubby houses, reminiscent of the ones Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had as young girls. He wanted to give Lili something special, something she would cherish forever. It was going to be the ultimate surprise. Both Harry and Meghan believe in modest gifting approach.

Harry has warned his father to tone down on the gifting and that he will not accept any extravagant gifts from King Charles. Harry and Meghan bid farewell to their royal lives in 2020 and permanently relocated to United States.

The Royal Feud

According to GB News, Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys daughter Lilibet has been snubbed by the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs daughter turned two on June 4 but did not receive any public tributes from senior members of the monarchy to mark the occasion. It comes as Prince Harry is set to appear in the High Court this week as his legal battle against MGN continues. The Duke will be the first member of the Royal Family to appear in court since 1891.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ileana D Cruz is all set to embrace motherhood and the mom-to-be has just shared pictures of her vacation, and could be seen soaking in a yellow swimsuit on her Instagram story.

Ileana DCruz took the internet by storm after announcing her pregnancy on Tuesday, 18 April. The actress who refrained from sharing any detail about the father of her child or about her current relationship took to Instagram and shared cute monochromatic pictures to make the announcement.

Her post grabbed the attention of many including her fans and friends from the industry. While many congratulated the actress on the same, some fans also sounded curious about her partner. The news comes at a time when the actress continues to remain away from the news and public appearances.

In her Instagram post, Ileana shared two pictures, including one of a cute onesie that has a sweet message on it And so the adventure begins. Another picture is of Ileana herself as she wears a mama pendant on her neck.

Coming soon. Cant wait to meet you my little darling, she wrote in the caption.

While many including Athiya Shetty, Nargis Fakhri, and Shibani Akhtar showered love on the post, the actresss mother, Samira DCruz also posted a sweet comment that reads, Welcome soon to the world my new grand baby. cant wait.

On the personal front, Ileana who was reportedly dating Australian photographer Andrew Kneebone a few years back reportedly broke up in 2019. Of late, she is being rumoured of dating Sebastien Laurent Michel, the brother of Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif. She also accompanied the family to their Maldives vacation. Filmmaker Karan Johar during one of the episodes of Koffee With Karan apparently also confirmed their relationship in his own witty style.

On the professional front, Ileana who is known for working in films like Barfi, Rustom, Mubarakan, and Main Tera Hero is gearing up for the release of her next film, Unfair & Lovely.

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King Charles IIIs younger son will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for more than a century when he testifies against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He and various other high-profile claimants accuse it of unlawful activities, including phone hacking.

The case is one of several that the 38-year-old prince has brought against British newspaper groups since stepping down from frontline royal duties in early 2020 and eventually relocating to California with his American wife Meghan Markle.

Harrys lawyer David Sherborne told Londons High Court on Monday that the prince was targeted by illegal information-gathering even as a young schoolboy and his phone would have been hacked on multiple occasions. No aspect of the young princes life was safe from press intrusion, he submitted.

Representing MGN, publisher of The Mirror and The Sunday People tabloids, barrister Andrew Green said there was no evidence that Harrys phone was tapped.

The prince had been expected to appear in the courtroom Monday but did not take part in the hearing because of flying to the UK late Sunday after celebrating his daughter Lilibets second birthday, according to Sherborne.

The case against MGN centres on claims its tabloids conducted unlawful information-gathering to obtain stories about Harry and other claimants, including two TV soap opera actors and the ex-wife of a comedian.

At the start of the trial on May 10, MGN apologised and admitted to some evidence of unlawful information-gathering, including for a story about Harry.

But it denied voicemail tapping and also argued that some claims had been brought too late.

Sherborne submitted that industrial scale illegal activities were happening at MGN and had been approved by senior executives.

Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, has had a turbulent relationship with the press and holds the media responsible for the death of his mother Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

In television interviews and his explosive memoir Spare  released in January  Harry hit out at other royals, accusing them of colluding with the press.

In court filings unveiled in April, Harry claimed the royal family as an institution had struck a secret agreement with one UK publisher that had prevented him from suing, to avoid a royal entering the witness box.

He also alleged the monarchy wanted to prevent the opening of a Pandoras Box of negative coverage that could tarnish the royal brand.

The prince has vowed to spearhead efforts to enforce change on Britains tabloid media, and the MGN trial is one of several ongoing legal battles he has launched against the press.

They include joint legal action against Associated Newspapers (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, over alleged breaches of privacy.

The California-based prince made a surprise appearance at the High Court in March to hear legal arguments in the case, but did not give in-person evidence.

His testimony on Tuesday will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence in court since Edward VII, who took the stand in an 1890 slander trial before becoming monarch.

Charless sister Princess Anne became the first member of the current royal family to be convicted of a criminal offence after one of her dogs bit two children in 2002. She pleaded guilty to an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act so was not required to give evidence in court.

Harry and Meghans divorced rumour

On the personal front all is not well in the Harry and Meghan marriage. Looks like Harry and Meghans marriage is going through a rough phase. According to GeoTv report, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be heading in different directions five years after their marriage, according to an article published on the fifth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In fact, according to sources, Prince Harry has a separate room to get away from Meghan Markle.

As per reports a royal commentators believe all is not well in the Sussexs marriage. Eagle-eyed observers say the couple did not release a family photograph on Christmas and Harry was seen promoting his book Spare without Meghan by his side earlier this year.

They think no acknowledgment of their five-year wedding anniversary, Harrys solo appearance at the coronation of King Charles and Meghans solo brand relaunch with WME are enough of evidence to corroborate their claims that the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is on the rocks.

(With inputs from AFP)

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Have plans to fly within India? Book your air tickets asap. Airfares have been soaring over the past month, especially spot purchases  tickets booked on the spot or 24 hours before taking the flight.

Spot airfares for five out of six of the busiest routes have seen a big rise  three times in the past month. A 24-hour advance purchase on domestic fares flying out of Delhi and Mumbai is exorbitant.

On Indias busiest air route, from Delhi to Mumbai, the average spot airfare on 1 June was Rs 18,654, Business Standard reports quoting data provided by the online travel portal Ixigo. On 1 May, the average spot airfare on this route was Rs 6125.

While last-moment tickets are always expensive, what is surprising is the big jump. The cheapest flight from Mumbai to Kochi was Rs 20,000 for 1 June.

The spot airfare ticket from Delhi to Kolkata has seen a rise of 73 per cent in the past month and from Delhi to Pune has jumped by 214 per cent. A ticket on this route cost Rs 5,469 on 1 May and Rs 17,200 on 1 June, according to Ixigo.

While the tickets booked 30 days in advance have also increased, the prices are not so steep. The average price of tickets on the Delhi-Mumbai route in June is Rs 5,475, which is 8.85 per cent than in April, the Business Standard report says.

So what has changed for domestic airlines? A lot.

The Go First bankruptcy

The domestic airlines market is competitive and on 2 May, Go First, Indias third-largest carrier, suspended operations and filed for bankruptcy before the National Company Tribunal. The airlines decision has a wider impact on the domestic aviation sector and flyers are now feeling the pinch.

There has been an upset in the demand and supply with Go First not in the picture. The airline was to operate more than 1,500 flights weekly between April and October. Now those who had booked Go First tickets are scrambling to book a seat on other airlines. With a rise in demand, the prices have gone up.

The absence of a major airline from the skies comes at a time that sees a lot of travel since several schools in India are shut for their annual summer break.

May end and early June see a jump in demand as vacationers return in time for school reopening. This is the first time post-pandemic that weve seen the demand spike, an airline official told The Times of India (ToI).

Those who booked advance seats on GoFirst flights are left with no choice but to make last-minute bookings on other available airlines. This has shot up the spot airfares, especially on routes where Go First had a sizable presence, another airline executive was quoted as saying by Business Standard.

Several passengers have taken to Twitter on vent. A frequent flyer Shruti Chaturvedi said she paid Rs 21,000 for an Indigo flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad.

WTH is happening with flight ticket costs? Paid 21k for delhi to ahmedabad ..for Indigo??! Indigo ki audacity bhi hai itne maangne ki??  Shruti Chaturvedi  (@adhicutting) May 30, 2023

Another passenger Rohit Verma wrote on Twitter that he paid Rs 20,000 for a one-way ticket from Delhi to Bengaluru.

Scindia steps in

But how long will this continue? The steep prices have caught the attention of the government with Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stepping in. On Monday, he asked airlines to self-monitor prices on a few routes, especially those affected by the suspension of Go First flights.

The minister held an hour-long meeting with the Airlines Advisory Groups and shared concerns over reports of abnormal surge pricing on certain routes.

Airlines must self-monitor airfares on certain select routes that have seen considerable surge pricing of late, particularly those that were earlier being serviced by Go First A mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high RBDs (reservation booking designator) may be devised by airlines. This shall be monitored by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. RBDs are slabs used by airlines as part of their revenue management practice.

Last week, Scindia said that the unexpected demand-supply imbalance led to the surge in domestic airfares.

The civil aviation ministry did not specify the routes most hit by the fare surge but according to industry insiders, the most affected routes are the connecting major cities to Leh, Srinagar, Goa, Bagdogra, Ahmedabad, and Pune, reports The Indian Express. Some of these routes have seen a rise of 50 to 80 per cent in the last months, especially popular summer destinations.

After the Odisha train tragedy on Friday, several airlines decided to cash in and increase airfares. The airline to ticket prices to cities such as Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Vizag, Hyderabad, and Chennai more than doubled despite an advisory from the civil aviation ministry.

Ministry of Civil Aviation sends an advisory to airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar and other airports of Odisha in view of #OdishaTrainMishap: Ministry of Civil Aviation Further, any cancellation and rescheduling of flights due to the  ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2023

Scindia also told airlines to keep a tight check on airfares during calamities and take a humanitarian view. He advised them to provide free cargo services to the families of those who lost their lives in the Odisha train accident.

With inputs from agencies

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Apple launched a slew of products on Monday (5 June), including a revoluntionary mixed reality headset  Apple Vision Pro. The tech giant also introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Pro and Mac Studio powered by the M2 Ultra chip during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023.

The company further unveiled new features for iOS 17, along with software updates for iPad, Watch and AirPods.

With Apple again making a bold bet with its Vision Pro, lets take a look at how the US-based company has been revolutionising tech through its products throughout the years.

Apple II

Apple II became a computer for the masses when it was launched in 1977.

The personal computer had a built-in keyboard and came with four kilobytes of RAM. The device cost $1,298 (around Rs 107,254 today).

As the Computer History Museum (CHM) website noted: Unlike the earlier Apple I, for which users had to supply essential parts such as a case and power supply, the Apple II was a fully realised consumer product. Design and marketing emphasised simplicity, an everyday tool for home, work, or school.

Macintosh family

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs rolled out the first Macintosh (or Mac) in 1984. According to a CNBC report, it is the computer that helped Apple become a premier company.

It was the first commercially successful computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface (GUI), the report added.

Today, Mac has its own line of successful products. The latest member of the MacBook family is the 15-inch MacBook Air with a custom-made M2 processor.

Starting at $1,299 (around Rs 107,339), the latest MacBook Air guarantees faster performance than Intel-powered MacBook Airs, noted CNN.

The other member of the Mac family is Apples all-in-one desktop iMac.

Boasting of a colourful, glassy design in the era when computers were mostly beige and boxy, the first iMac, known as iMac G3, was released in 1998.

Jobs, the late Apple co-founder, had said at the time: This is iMac. The whole thing is translucent. You can see into it. Its so cool. Weve got stereo speakers on the front. Weve got infrared right up here. Weve got the CD-ROM drive right in the middle. Weve got dual stereo headphone jacks. Weve got the coolest mouse on the planet right here.

iPod

It was Apples venture into personal gadgets that accelerated its growth at the beginning of the 21st century.

The company disrupted the music industry and pushed the boundaries of technology with the iPods.

With the launch of iPods in 2001, Apple wanted its users to have 1,000 songs in your pocket.

Its physical scroll wheel and sleek design made iPods looked cool, noted The Guardian. In April 2007, the tech giant sold its 100 millionth iPod.

Last year, Apple pulled the plug on its portable music player that had catapulted the companys success.

If we didnt do the iPod, the iPhone wouldnt have come out, Tony Fadell, former Apple senior vice president who invented the iPod, had told The Wall Street Journal. The iPod brought us confidence. It brought Steve (Jobs) confidence that we could do something outside of the map and that we could actually continue to innovate in new areas.

iPhone

The iPhone needs no introduction.

As the company announced it is renaming itself from Apple Computer to Apple Inc in January 2007, it also revealed the iPhone to the world.

At the time, Jobs described the mobile as a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device, reported The Guardian.

iPhone sales rose 1.5 to $51.3 billion in the second quarter of the 2023 fiscal year amid a slowing global economy.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently opened Indias first Apple stores  one in New Delhi and the other in Mumbai. In an interview with Reuters, he, in part, credited the boost in iPhone sales to demand in emerging markets, particularly in Brazil, India and Mexico.

AirPods

With its AirPods products  wireless earbuds and headphones, Apple once again tried to shake up the way in which people listen to music. The wireless earbuds are a hit today with many people ditching their wired headphones and headsets for AirPods.

AirPods easily connect to the users device and pause the audio/video/music automatically when the earbuds are removed from the ears.

Apple Watch

After its launch in April 2015, Apple Watch claimed more than 50 per cent of smartwatch sales that year.

Increasing its focus on users health, the smartwatch can currently even detect if the person fell or was in a car accident.

It can help keep track of your menstrual cycle by checking the body temperature to estimate if the user is close to ovulating.

According to a Bloomberg report in February, the Cupertino-based tech giant is working on tech that will enable the Apple Watch to monitor the blood glucose of users in a non-invasive manner.

Apple Vision Pro

In what is being dubbed its riskiest hardware, Vision Pro is Apples first 3D camera that combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

According to Apple CEO Cook, the AR headset is the first Apple product you look through and not at. Vision Pro feels familiar, yet its entirely new. You can see, hear, and interact with digital content just like its in your physical space.

Starting at $3,499 (around Rs 289,099), the headset will display the users eyes on the outside. So in the same way that Mac introduced us to personal computing and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro will introduce us to spatial computing, Cook said, as per Reuters.

With inputs from agencies

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Its been over a year that Ukraine and Russia have been fighting a bloody and tireless war. Amid this war, the Volodymyr Zelenskyy-led nation has been seeking to join NATO, but members of this Western military alliance are still divided on the matter.

While eastern European countries want some sort of a road map to be offered to Kyiv at a NATO summit in Vilnius in mid-July, Western members such as the United States, France and Germany are wary of any move that might take the alliance closer to war with Russia.

Also Read: Ukraine-Russia war: Anti-Putin Russian saboteurs killing civilians, crippling children in Belgorod

The debate about whether to bring Ukraine into NATO has hovered over the alliance even before NATO heads of state gave the country a provisional yes more than 15 years ago.

The decision to invite a country into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation must be taken by consensus.

This plan would detail specific steps that Ukraine must follow to become an official NATO member. However, there is agreement that Ukraines NATO membership cannot be sought while its conflict with Russia continues. This is in line with NATOs long-standing policy, extending back at least to 1995, that requires prospective NATO members to settle territorial disputes before joining the alliance.

Following is a list of steps that Ukraine has already taken on its way to NATO membership, the challenges it still faces  and Russias view of the developments.

Bucharest promise

At its Bucharest summit in 2008, NATO agreed that Ukraine  which like Russia was part of the Soviet Union until its 1991 demise  would eventually join the alliance. But NATO leaders have so far stopped short of taking concrete steps to that end  such as giving Kyiv a so-called Membership Action Plan  that would lay out a timetable for bringing Kyiv closer to the bloc.

Timelines

In a rare visit to Kyiv in April, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg underlined that Ukraines rightful place was in NATO but gave no timeline. He later made clear Ukraine would not be able to join as long as the war with Russia rages on.

At the start of June Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged this position and said his nation understood it was impossible to be admitted to NATO while the war continued.

Procedure

Article 10 of the Washington Treaty states that NATO membership is open to any European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.

Since 1999, most countries aiming to join NATO have participated in a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP), a programme designed to help them meet certain political, economic and military criteria.

Membership candidates need to be functioning democracies that treat their minorities fairly, commit to the peaceful solution of conflicts and show they are able and willing to contribute militarily to NATO operations.

It is unclear, however, what Ukraines process to membership will look like.

Also Read: Ukraine to confront Russia at International Court of Justice

Despite not having been granted a MAP, the countrys military has taken major steps in transitioning towards NATO standards since Russias invasion 15 months ago.

This process is set to accelerate as Kyiv gradually runs out of Soviet-built arms and ammunition, while the West trains Ukrainian troops according to NATO standards and rushes more and more advanced weaponry to the country.

In the end, it will be up to the currently 31 member states to decide how swiftly and under what conditions Ukraine will be allowed to join NATO.

Article 5

By becoming a NATO member, Ukraine would come under the protective umbrella of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty that states that an attack on one ally is considered an attack on all allies.

NATOs mutual assistance clause lies very much at the heart of the alliance, which was formed in 1949 with the primary aim of countering the risk of a Soviet attack on allied territory.

At the same time, Article 5 is cited as one of the main reasons why Ukraine cannot join NATO while in conflict with Russia, as this might immediately draw the alliance into an active war.

The Russian position

The Kremlin has said it would cause problems for many years to come if Ukraine joined NATO. It has warned that Moscow would ensure its interests and security, which it says have been endangered for over two decades by the alliances eastward enlargement towards European borders with Russia.

The Kremlin has long seen NATOs expansion into eastern Europe as evidence of Western hostility to Russia  something Western powers deny, saying the alliance is wholly defensive in nature  and has cited this as a key reason for its decision to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on 24 February, 2022.

With inputs from Reuters

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The heyday of air travel is long gone.

Unruly passenger incidents have gotten worse, with numerous mid-air fights resulting in flight delays, verbal and physical abuse of flight attendants, and other problems.

A recent global analysis found that such incidences increased by more than a third between 2021 and 2022. The main non-compliance concern identified was smoking, including cigarettes, vaping, and others, inside the cabin.

Lets take a closer look.

Also read: Why Bali has issued a new list of dos and donts for tourists

Smoking is the main culprit

Air fury is frequently brought on by passengers who disobey flight regulations, yell at flight attendants, or are intoxicated.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) identified smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and puff devices in the cabin or restrooms as the top non-compliance issue in its review. This was followed by failure to buckle seat belts when directed, bringing more carry-on luggage than allowed or neglecting to store it when necessary, and drinking personal alcohol while flying.

All types of electronic smoking equipment, including e-cigarettes e-pipes, e-cigars and personal vape devices, are prohibited on all flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

This is due to the potential for the vapour to activate the smoke detectors on the aircraft, which could result in needless alarm and confusion. Violations of this rule might land you in jail or with heavy fines. Vaping is prohibited inside most airports.

According to Livemint, in early March this year, passengers who were discovered smoking in restrooms were reported by both Indigo and Air India.

A 24-year-old lady passenger on an IndiGo flight headed to Bengaluru was detained for smoking in the lavatory. When the cabin crew found the cigarette in the trash, they doused it with water.

On a flight headed for Delhi the day before, Air India personnel discovered a passenger smoking in the lavatory. Even before the fire alarm went off, the cabin crew had noticed smoke coming from the lavatory.

Also read: Pee-gate: DGCA advisory to airlines on restraining devices explained

Unruly incidents on the rise

According to the IATA, there was one unruly incident reported for every 568 flights in 2022, an increase from one for every 835 flights in 2021. Its possible that this year wont be any better.

For instance, an aircraft from Paris to the US was diverted to Canada on Sunday due to a hiccup that was allegedly caused by a male passenger who was intoxicated.

Thankfully, physical abuse is still a very rare occurrence, although it increased by an alarmingly large 61 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021. Only one out of every 17,200 planes had them erupt.

According to data from the US Federal Aviation Administration, 2021 was the worst year for unruly air traveller behaviour on record in US skies, with 2022 witnessing a drop.

With the data compiled from more than 20,000 reports provided by around 40 airlines, the IATA analysis, however, provides a global perspective.

Also read: Whats the punishment for urinating on co-passengers, fighting on flights?

Calls for zero tolerance approach

The rise in incidents involving rowdy passengers is concerning. According to CNN, Conrad Clifford, the deputy director general of IATA, stated that both passengers and staff have a right to a safe and trouble-free journey.

There is no excuse for not following the instructions of the crew.

IATA is urging governments and the aviation sector to collaborate on a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behaviour.

It desires that additional nations ratify the 2014 Montreal Protocol, which permits the prosecution of these lawbreaking travellers. Only 45 countries, or nearly a third of the worlds passenger traffic, have done this as of yet.

Regarding incident prevention and de-escalation, IATA also intends to promote counselling, training, and the sharing of best practices. As the vast majority of intoxication incidents occur alcohol consumed prior to the flight, the support of airport bars and restaurants to ensure responsible alcohol consumption is particularly important, said Clifford, as per CNN.

As more individuals embark on post-pandemic travels, this year is expected to be yet another record-breaking one for travel.

He added, For the sake of the majority, we make no apology for seeking to crack down on the bad behaviour of a tiny number of travellers who can make a flight very uncomfortable for everyone else.

With inputs from agencies

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In Hindu tradition, a perfect horoscope matching for marriage plays a vital role in a couples relationship. According to popular belief, the kundali, or horoscope, governs all facets of human existence, including marriage.

But recently, the Allahabad High Court panel had to decide if a girl was a manglik and whether her fiance had the right to reject her marriage.

The Supreme Court took notice of the issue and stayed an unusual judgement from the Allahabad High Court that asked the director of the astrology department at Lucknow University to determine whether or not a woman, who is an alleged rape victim, is a manglik.

The woman alleged that the accused had raped her while promising to marry her and then turned her down because she was manglik. The Head of the Department (Astrology), Lucknow University, had been issued instructions by the HC to confirm the manglik claim during the mans bail hearing on 23 May.

A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Pankaj Mithal urged the HC to consider the case on its own merits after the SC, which met in a special session on Saturday, took suo motu notice of the situation.

What is Manglik?

Each person is born with her/his own birth chart. They differ from other people in terms of their personality and luck in addition to their birth chart, according to The Print.

A person born under the influence of the planet Mars (mangal) is said to have mangal dosha (affliction) and is referred to as a Manglik in Hindu astrology. Some people also refer to mangal dosha as Angarak Dosha, Kuja Dosha, and Bhumi Dosha.

Mars placement in the second, fourth, seventh, eighth, and twelfth houses of a persons Kundali is known as the Manglik Dosha.

Many superstitious Hindus think its bad luck and potentially disastrous for a Manglik to marry someone who isnt a Manglik.

For example, before Aishwarya Rai Bachchan married Abhishek, there were rumours that she was a manglik who had been married off to a tulsi plant as a means of protecting herself from evil. Naturally, the family refuted this.

Also read: Prevention of child marriage: Breaking inter-generational gender exclusion

How is it determined?

A person is classified as a Manglik based on the placement of the planet Mars in their kundali, or horoscope, according to Professor Vinod Kumar Sharma of the astrology department at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University in New Delhi.

He told the Indian Express that a horoscope is a chart that displays the positions of the sun, moon, and different planets at the moment of a persons birth in astrology. These are thought to have an impact on a persons personality and course in life.

Professor Sharma explained that Mars, which is also known as Mangal, is the planet of bravery and ardour, thus, having a strong Mars is not always a bad thing. The alignment of other planets, each with its own conflicting influences and traits, determines the total effect. Twelve households make up a kundali.

Mars has a strong influence when it is in the first, fourth, seventh, eighth, or twelfth house, and it is also the planet of violence. Therefore a person with its dominant effect may experience conflict and discord in their lives in addition to other negative outcomes. According to him, the consequences can occasionally be so harmful as to result in the spouses passing.

Since Mangliks are believed to bring bad luck to their spouse, astrologers frequently counsel them to marry other Mangliks or perform a mock marriage to a tree or other inanimate object in order to ensure that any future misfortune is inflicted on that spouse. This was carried out for both genders, according to Professor Sharma. Men marry trees considered female, like Ber or Basuti, while women marry a clay pot, or trees considered male, like Peepal, he says.

Also read: I Do: Will India become the next country to approve of same-sex marriages?

What did the SC say?

According to PTI, in the apex Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the HC order was disturbing and urged the court to stay it.

But this was totally out of context. Whats this got to do with the subject matter, the bench observed, adding, apart from it, it involves so many other features right to privacy has been disturbed, and we dont want to spell out, there are so many other aspects.

Mehta told the bench, Astrology is a science. Whether a person should decide based on manglik or not in marriage, nobody is questioning. The only question is while entertaining an application by a judicial forum, can this be a consideration?

An advocate, appearing for the complainant, told the bench the high court passed the order with the consent of the parties, adding that the court ordered for expert evidence under Section 45 of the Evidence Act.

Justice Dhulia, however, said, We do not want to join issues with you on this fact as to what is the relevance of these aspects, what astronomy has to do, what astrology has to do, nothing. We have nothing on that. We respect your feelings as far as that aspect is concerned. We are only concerned with this subject matter linking to that issue.

The high court has listed the case for a resumed hearing on 26 June.

With inputs from PTI

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On Sunday, the people of Washington were shocked when they heard a loud sonic boom. The incident took place as F-16 fighter jets scrambled at supersonic speed to intercept a jet that had entered the no-fly zone around Washington. Within minutes, the plane, which was not responding to warnings from the F-16s, crashed in Northern Virginia, killing the pilot and three others.

Below is an explanation of what happened, what are sonic booms, their history in the US and their potential future.

What happened?

People living in and around the nations capital experienced a rare, if startling, sound that has a rich history in American aviation and possibly a muted future: A sonic boom.

The boom was heard on Sunday after the US military dispatched six fighter jets to intercept an unresponsive business plane flying over restricted airspace.

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) said in a statement that the plane, which was a Cessna 560 Citation V model, was unresponsive when hailed by the authorities as it flew over Washington and northern Virginia, as reported by the Quint.

According to the statement, the aircraft had taken off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and was flying to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York.

The Air Force gave the F-16s permission to fly faster than the speed of sound  something civilian aircraft rarely get to do  as the jets scrambled to catch up with the Cessna Citation. The result was a thunderous rumble that resonated across a metropolitan area thats home to more than six million people.

The Guardian reports several residents said they heard the noise as far away as northern Virginia and Maryland.

The business jet eventually crashed in rural Virginia, killing the pilot and three passengers.

What is a sonic boom?

Sonic booms are heard on the ground when airplanes overhead fly faster than the speed of sound. That speed is typically about 760 mph near sea level, but can vary depending on the temperature, altitude and other conditions, according to the Congressional Research Service.

As the plane speeds through the air, molecules are pushed aside with great force, and this forms a shock wave, much like a boat creates a wake in water, according to NASA.

When this line of shock wave passes by, listeners on the ground hear a very loud noise, according to an explanation from Australias University of New South Wales.

They also generate enormous amounts of sound energy about 110 decibels, like the sound of an explosion or a thunderclap, according to NASA. Thats precisely what people from Maryland to Virginia said they heard Sunday, with many flocking to social media asking what had happened.

The F-16s flying over Washington on Sunday were probably trying to go as fast it could to catch up with the wayward Cessna airplane, said Anthony Brickhouse, an associate professor of applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon can fly 1,500 mph or twice the speed of sound, known as Mach 2, according to the Air Force.

What is the history of supersonic travel  and booms?

In 1947, test pilot Charles Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than sound in an orange, bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket plane. His exploits were told in Tom Wolfes book The Right Stuff, and in the 1983 film it inspired.

In the movie, someone on the ground asks, Whats that sound? as Yeagers plane flies above the Mojave Desert and breaks the sound barrier.

Interest in supersonic flight initially focused mostly on military planes, according to the Congressional Research Service. But it grew to include supersonic civil aircraft in the 1960s.

For example, the Soviet Union became the first country in 1968 to fly a supersonic passenger plane, the Tupolev TU-144. But a fatal crash at the 1973 Paris Air Show ended that ambition.

In 1963, the US government announced a major program to develop a supersonic passenger aircraft. But serious problems soon surfaced, including massive development costs and doubts about financial viability. The program was terminated in 1971.

During the 1960s, NASA was tasked with helping to develop commercial supersonic aircraft and researched the effects of sonic booms. It found that people who experienced them were not happy with the loud sounds, describing them as annoying, irritating and startling.

In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration prohibited supersonic flights over land, based on the expectation that such flights would cause a sonic boom to reach the ground, the Congressional Research Service wrote.

The Concorde, an Anglo-French supersonic jetliner, saw success for a number of years after making its first commercial flights in 1976. However, its ear-rattling sonic booms irritated people on the ground and led to restrictions on where the jet could fly.

In the US, the plane flew mainly over the Atlantic to New York and Washington. It could fly at twice the speed of sound. And it promised to revolutionise long-distance travel by cutting flying time from the US East Coast to Europe from eight hours to three and a half hours.

The Concorde never caught on widely. The planes economics were challenging, and its sonic booms led it to be banned on many overland routes. Only 20 were built; 14 of which were used for passenger service.

In 2003, British Airways and Air France both stopped Concorde service.

Sonic booms are still heard in the US from the nations military aircraft. In 2021, a sonic boom from F-15 fighter jets caused widespread concern that there was an earthquake on the Oregon coast.

What is the future of supersonic passenger travel and  sonic booms?

In 2018, the Congressional Research Service noted a revival of interest in supersonic aircraft, with startups hoping new technology could make them quieter and profitable.

Very Interdasting.

Cessna Flight gets to its destination point, does a 180 without refueling, flies over DC causing jets to scramble(explains (sonic) BOOM heard recently in DC)!

Jets report pilot slumped over, escorts Cessna runs out of fuel, crashes. 3 other females too?? pic.twitter.com/OzNXh97hZ9  A Bitter bread (@PepetheBaker) June 6, 2023

Since then, American Airlines and United have bought supersonic jets from manufacturer Boom Supersonic. The aircraft are still on the drawing board and years away from flying  and not all industry observers believe they'll be profitable.

Meanwhile, NASA's X-59 airplane is designed to fly faster than sound  but with drastically reduced noise  over land, according to April blog post from the agency.

"People below would hear sonic 'thumps' rather than booms, if they hear anything at all," NASA wrote.

With inputs from AP

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A major dam in southern Ukraine has crumbled  raising fears of a nuclear disaster, causing floods and threatening the water supply.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up the 3.3-kilometre dam Kakhovka dam captured at the beginning of the war.

However, Moscow in turn has blamed Kyiv for bombing the area.

Lets take a look at the dam and how it could affect both sides:

People at risk, water supply in peril

According to The Guardian, the Kakhovka dam was constructed in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

The dam spanning the Dnipro River is hundreds of metres wide and 30 metres tall.

The Kakhovka reservoir, which is upstream from the dam, can hold 18 cubic kilometres of water  approximately the same capacity as Utahs Great Salt Lake.

According to the BBC, the reservoir supplies water to many communities upstream including farmers.

The dam pumps water into the North Crimean Canal, which starts in southern Ukraine and crosses the entire Crimean peninsula.

This means that any problem with the dam could cause water supply problems for Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply.

About 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory, according to official tallies.

The World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after five-seven days.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where thousands of people live.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines Presidents Office, posted a video showing swans swimming near an administrative building in the flooded streets of Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region where some 45,000 people lived before the war. Other footage he posted showed flood waters reaching the second floor of the building.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

CNN quoted the Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev as saying that the city is flooded.

Ukraine, which now controls the rivers right bank, said on Tuesday there was flooding in at least eight areas along the Dnipro River.

About 16,000 people are in a critical flood zone, according to Ukrainian officials.

Risk of nuclear disaster

Then there is the risk of a nuclear disaster to the nearby Zaporizhzhia power plant.

While the United Nations and Russia said there was no major risk to the nuclear power plant, Ukraine has claimed there is a growing danger.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the damage to the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europes biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is controllable.

The UNs International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement there was no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, which requires water for its cooling system.

It said that IAEA staff on site have been told the dam level is falling by 5 centimeters (2 inches) an hour. At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The plant also has alternative sources of water, including a large cooling pond than can provide water for some months, the statement said.

Environment under threat, say experts

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster.

BBC quoted Zelenskys office as saying the river has already been contaminated with 150 tonnes of industrial lubricants.

Another 300 metric tons could still leak out.

This is ecocide, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine was quoted as saying by CNN.

The Russians will be responsible for the possible deprivation of drinking water for people in the south of Kherson region and in Crimea, the possible destruction of some settlements and the biosphere, he said.

The Guardian quoted Ukraine military intelligence as saying that the scale of the ecological disaster [would] go far beyond the borders of Ukraine and affect the entire Black Sea region.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the broad rivers left bank, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting the wars environmental effects.

Halt Ukraines ambitions of taking back territory

It could also halt Ukraines ambitions of taking back territory.

The dam is about 60 kilometres east of Kherson, which Ukraine took back in November, turning the river into the new front line.

Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers of front line in the east and south.

Flooding could potentially block Ukrainian forces.

Zelensky aide Mykhailo Podolyak told CNN the incident would create obstacles for the offensive actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This once again confirms that the Kremlin is not thinking strategically, but rather in terms of short-term situational advantages. But the consequences are already catastrophic, Podolyak told CNN.

Moscow, Kyiv trade charges

Kyiv accused Moscow of mining the dam when combat raged nearby in October, during the last major offensive by Ukrainian forces seeking to regain lost territory.

Kremlin proxies in the Kherson region on Tuesday denied any plans to blow up the dam, calling Ukraines assertions lies.

Kyiv says Moscow destroyed the dam to slow down its military counteroffensive.

Russia said the dam was damaged by multiple Ukrainian strikes.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Not sure which side benefits, say experts

It was not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam, since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk. The damage could also hinder Ukraines counteroffensive in the south and distract its government, while Russia depends on the dam to supply water to Crimea.

Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security Program at Chatham House think tank in London, said apportioning blame is difficult but there are all sorts of reasons why Russia would do this.

There were reports (last fall) of Russians having mined the reservoir. The question we should pose is why the Ukrainians would do this to themselves, given this is Ukrainian territory, she said.

Experts have previously said the dam was suffering from disrepair. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir since the start of the war, said in an e-mail that it wasnt clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect from Russian forces occupying the facility.

But Helms reserved judgement, also noting a Russian history of attacking dams.

With inputs from agencies

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A political slugfest has broken out in Karnataka after a minister said that the amendments to the states anti-cow slaughter legislation would be withdrawn.

The BJP on Tuesday threatened fresh protests after animal husbandry minister K Venkatesh over the weekend said the new Siddaramaiah-led Congress government would take a fresh look at the cow slaughter law.

On Monday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said the law would be discussed at an upcoming cabinet meeting.

Lets take a look at the row:

What happened?

According to News18, Venkatesh over the weekend questioned the difference between slaughtering bulls, buffaloes and cows.

If one can slaughter buffaloes and bulls, what is wrong with slaughtering cows? Venkatesh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

According to News18, Venkatesh was pointing out the issues farmers face in managing their aging animals and disposing of their dead cattle and said amending the law would help farmers.

Responding to a question on the difficulty faced by farmers in managing aged cows, the minister shared his own example where he had to get an earthmover to bury his dead cow.

On Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there is a lack of clarity in the cow slaughter scheme brought by the previous BJP government.

We will discuss it in the cabinet and take a decision, Siddaramaiah told reporters as per Hindustan Times.

We have not decided anything yet.

According to the 1964 Act there is a provision to slaughter cows that are over 12 years old and cannot be used in agricultural activities, Siddaramaiah added. Thats what Venkatesh meant. He could not put it across clearly.

Siddaramaiah added that the BJP has no moral right to protest against the Congress poll guarantees.

Siddaramaiah made the remarks speaking to media after garlanding former Karnataka Chief Minister Devaraja Arasus statue in the Vidhana Soudha premises.

What does the law say?

According to News18, the BJP-led government in February 2021 passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020.

The law imposed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cattle in the state.

The only slaughter allowed is of terminally-ill cattle and buffaloes aged above 13 years.

The Congress, then in the Opposition, had opposed this legislation.

The 2020 law was brought in place of the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, as per Hindustan Times.

According to News18, the previous BJP government in Maharashtra had introduced bills in 2010 and 2012 to repeal the 1964 Act.

However, these bills were withdrawn after a new government took power.

How did BJP react?

The Opposition BJP on Monday held protests across Karnataka, according to Hindustan Times.

According to The Times of India, BJP workers in Mysuru chanted slogans against the new Congress government and held up placards demanding that it keep the law in place.

#WATCH | BJP workers protest with cows after Karnataka minister K Venkatesh asked what is wrong with slaughtering cows, in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/QNXpczx355  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023



We will not allow the Congress government to withdraw the anti-cow slaughter legislation. We will stage a protest across the State on Monday and in Bengaluru on Tuesday against such a move, BJP state general secretary and MLC N Ravikumar told The Hindu.

We will intensify our agitation if the government does not change its plans.

Several BJP leaders including former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned Venkateshs remarks.

Bommai in a series of tweets said Indians are emotionally connected with cows and worship them as a mother.

Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkateshs statement is shocking. We condemn his statement. We Indians have an emotional connection with the cow and worship them as mother, Bommai said.

Wondering whom Venkatesh wanted to please, the BJP leader sought to know whether the statement was made to change his portfolio or to please the Congress high command.

Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was the first to advocate the ban on cow slaughter. A ban on cow slaughter advocated by Venerable Mahatma Gandhi was enacted in several states in the 1960s, the BJP leader said.

According to Bommai, the ministers statement would give rise to large-scale smuggling of cows and mass slaughtering factories in the state.

The law was introduced during our government to prevent illegal slaughterhouses. No new Act has been brought in Karnataka. We have enforced the existing law, the former chief minister clarified.

Asking Venkatesh to think twice before making such a statement, Bommai appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to give appropriate advice to his ministerial colleague in this regard.

V Sunil Kumar, a former minister and BJP legislator, claimed the Congress did not love cows as well as the nation.

Whatever Indian ethos that are followed by people, the Congress hates them. Rescinding the cow slaughter prevention Act is one such example, Kumar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The BJP had formulated a law to prevent cow slaughter after holding a series of consultations with the people. The Congress had raised objections even when the BJP passed it, he added. Congress leaders and ministers have been repeatedly stating that the government will withdraw the act and revise textbooks. These clearly indicate the aim of the Congress government.

BJP leader and Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Parshottam Rupala demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Sonia Gandhi speak on the issue.

Do they (Congress) want their government to start its tenure with cow slaughter? Rupala asked.

Karnataka govt makes U-turn

On Tuesday, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil, talking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, said there is no proposal before the government at present to review the anti-cow slaughter law.

Chief Minister has not discussed the assembly session yet. Mostly, he will discuss it in the cabinet which will be held on Thursday and take a call on the issue, Patil added.

But The Hindu quoted Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni, a prominent dairy farmer, as saying, The BJP leaders just talk about cows and they have no knowledge about rearing them. How can they understand issues involved in rearing them? Who will take care of male calves of HF breeds as they are of no use to farmers, he said.

The Congress emerged victorious in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly polls held on 10 May by winning 135 seats.

The BJP had bagged 65 seats and JD(S) won 19 seats.

With inputs from agencies

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After the fall of FTX, now crypto giant Binance seems to be in hot water.

Authorities in the US are accusing Binance of securities violations and misusing customer funds.

But what is Binance? And why exactly is it in trouble?

Lets take a closer look:

What is it?

Binance is the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange.

According to Stilt.com, the company was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao  also known as CZ.

Zhao, a Canadian citizen, was born in Chinas Jiangsu and lived there till age 12.

Zhao, once seen as the archrival of disgraced crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, previously developed financial software including high-frequency trading and served as an executive at crypto exchange OKCoin.

Initially headquartered in China, the company moved to Japan, Taiwan and Malta.

Zhao eventually stated that like Bitcoin itself, Binance had no headquarters.

The holding company of Binance is based in the Cayman Islands.

In mid-2019, Binances operating firm BAM Trading launched its Binance.US trading platform under then chief executive Catherine Coley.

In the years since, Binance towered over all its competitors in the crypto space.

Why is it in trouble?

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint listing 13 charges involving platforms and other investment entities controlled by founder Zhao.

Defendants have enriched themselves by billions of US dollars while placing investors assets at significant risk, the suit stated, as per The Verge.

It claimed that Binance and Zhao defrauded equity, retail, and institutional investors about purported surveillance and controls over manipulative trading on the Binance.US Platform, which were in fact virtually non-existent.

Lying about ownership

In 2019, Binance announced a partnership with a US company called BAM trading that would launch the Binance.US platform to serve American clients in compliance with US laws.

According to Coindesk, Binance.US has always claimed to be an independent operation.

But the complaint claims that Zhao secretly controlled Binance.US from behind the scenes.

Allowing US residents to trade on platform

Binance is alleged to have permitted US residents to trade, even though the platform is not registered in the United States as a securities exchange.

Zhao and Binance publicly claimed that US customers were barred from transacting on Binance.com, but the platform secretly allowed high-value customers to keep trading, the SEC said.

Evading US laws

Binance created separate US entities as part of an elaborate scheme to evade US federal securities laws, the SEC also alleged, citing a number of practices first reported by Reuters in a series of investigations into the exchange published this year and in 2022.

The agency said Binances chief compliance officer admitted that: We do not want [Binance].com to be regulated ever.

From almost three years ago until June 2022, a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain, engaged in so-called wash trading that artificially inflated the trading volume of crypto asset securities on the Binance.US platform, the SEC also alleged.

The Switzerland-based trading firm Sigma Chain spent $11 million from an account on a yacht, the SEC said.

Zhao instructed Binance.US to onboard Sigma Chain and Merit Peak as market makers on the Binance.US platform, the SEC said. Both firms were operated by Binance employees, including one that had authority over Binance.USs US dollar bank accounts.

Transferring billions of dollars

Merit Peak and Sigma Chain were used to transfer tens of billions of dollars involving Binance, Binance.US and other related entities, the SEC said. For example, the SEC said that in 2021 at least $145 million was transferred from Binance.US to a Sigma Chain account.

The SEC said billions of dollars in Binance customer funds were commingled, or mixed with corporate funds, in breach of US laws, in a bank account of an entity controlled by Zhao, then transferred to a trading firm, Merit Peak, also controlled by Zhao.

Merit Peak then transferred the vast majority of those funds to an unidentified company, in transfers that appear to relate to the purchase of Binances bespoke dollar-linked crypto-token BUSD.

Sending Binance customer funds to Merit Peak placed those funds at risk, including of loss or theft, and was done without notice to customers, the SEC wrote in its complaint.

Web of deception

Through thirteen charges, we allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.

Zhao and Binance misled investors about their risk controls and corrupted trading volumes while actively concealing who was operating the platform, the manipulative trading of its affiliated market maker, and even where and with whom investor funds and crypto assets were custodied.

Zhao said the Binance team is all standing by, ensuring systems are stable, including withdrawals, and deposits, he said on Twitter.

In a blog post, Binance said: We intend to defend our platform vigorously, adding that because Binance is not a US exchange, the SECs actions are limited in reach.

All user assets on Binance and Binance affiliate platforms, including Binance.US, are safe and secure, the blog post said.

In a statement, Binance said it had actively cooperated with the SEC from the start and respectfully disagree with the SECs allegations. Binance had been trying to find a reasonable resolution with the SEC but the agency at the eleventh hour issued new requests and went to court. Binance said the SECs actions appeared to be an effort to claim jurisdictional ground from other regulators.

The SEC case comes on the heels of charges in March by another US regulator, the Commodities Futures and Exchange Commission.

Bitcoin falls 6 per cent

Bitcoin, the worlds biggest cryptocurrency, fell as much as 6 per cent on the news to its lowest in almost three months. Binances own cryptocurrency BNB, the worlds fourth-largest by market size, dropped more than five per cent.

Market players said the SECs allegations could hobble Binance, with the lawsuit likely to reverberate through the crypto industry. Binance dominates crypto trading, last year processing trades worth about $65 billion a day.

A March report from CCData showed that Binances spot market share across top-tier exchanges fell in March for the first time in five months to 57.7 per cent from 62.0 per cent in February. Its derivatives trading volume, however, rose.

I think that theres a big risk here that this could be crippling to Binance, said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.

With inputs from agencies

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The west coast of India, especially Maharashtra should brace itself. Theres a storm coming its way and its name is Cyclone Biparjoy.

According to Indias official weatherman, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm is currently located 920 km west-southwest of Goa, 1,120 km south-southwest of Mumbai, 1,160 km south of Porbandar and 1,520 km south of Karachi, Pakistan.

So, what do we know about this cyclonic storm that is forming over the Arabian Sea? Will it bring heavy rain to the western coast? How did it get its name  Cyclone Biparjoy?

Heres all we know about the cyclone.

Cyclone Biparjoys name

The name Biparjoy has been given by Bangladesh and it means disaster in English.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, weather forecasters give names to tropical storms to avoid confusion. They are named according to the rules at the regional level.

For the Indian Ocean region, a formula for naming cyclones was agreed upon in 2004. Initially, eight countries  Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand  contributed a set of names, which were assigned sequentially whenever a cyclonic storm developed. Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen later joined the group.

For a name to be selected, it should be easy to remember and pronounce. Moreover, it shouldnt be offensive and controversial and the names are chosen from a variety of languages so that people from different regions can identify with them.

For instance, the name Cyclone Mocha, was proposed by Yemen based on a small fishing village in the country, famous for its coffee production.

In the Atlantic and southern hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones receive names in alphabetical order, alternating between womens and mens names.

Also read: How Cyclone Mocha brewing over the Bay of Bengal got its name from coffee

Trajectory of Cyclone Biparjoy

Cyclone Biparjoy is a low-pressure area that is currently forming over the Southeast Arabian Sea. It is expected to intensify into a depression in the next 48 hours and may reach cyclonic storm intensity in the subsequent 72 hours.

Private weather forecaster Skymet has said that the movement of the cyclone is not clear as yet. Few models are indicating its movement in the northerly direction along the west coast of the country. Some models indicate its movement to the north initially and re-curvature to the north-northeast direction towards Omen and Yemen.

The IMD, on the other hand, has said that it is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into a depression over southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea during the subsequent 48 hours.

Some reports also stated that the cyclone could affect Pakistans coastal belt, including Karachi. Pakistani weather expert Jawad Memon told GeoTV, The low-pressure system can intensify and turn into a cyclone between June 10 and 11, posing a possible threat to the coastal belt of Sindh, Balochistan, Gujarat (India) and Oman.

Rains expected

The IMD has also stated that the formation of the low-pressure system over the southeast Arabian Sea and its intensification is expected to critically influence the advance of the monsoon towards the Kerala coast.

The monsoon has already missed its 4 June date with Kerala. In 2022, the southeast monsoon arrived in the southern state on 29 May 29, 3 June in 2021, 1 June in 2020, 8 June in 2019 and 29 May in 2018.

Also read: IMD predicts El Nino for this year: How will it affect monsoon rains in India?

This clearly shows that this years monsoon is quite delayed, though officials say that the country will see normal to below normal rainfall.

D S Pai, senior scientist, IMD, told news agency PTI that conditions are favourable for the onset of monsoon over the next two to three days.

Cyclones in India

Cyclone Biparjoy is the second cyclone to form within three weeks in the North Indian Ocean. Earlier in May, Cyclone Mocha, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, barrelled into Bangladesh and Myanmar causing massive destruction.

Meteorologists and climate scientists had then said that it was possibly the strongest tropical cyclone in the northern Indian Ocean region since 1982. At the time, experts had said that the climate crisis was providing conditions for unusually rapid intensification of cyclones and supercharging them, threatening lives of millions of vulnerable people along the coasts, experts said.

With inputs from agencies

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Ageless Brain Pros And Cons:

Pros:

Offers a natural formula with some powerful ingredients for brain health

Better choice than taking medication full of chemicals

Does not use harmful additives

Cons:

Lacks core ingredients for brain health which would make it far more effective

Uses a proprietary blend  the particular ingredient doses are hidden; the safety and efficacy is unknown

Expensive for the value it provides  at $62.10 on the official site for one bottle

False claims from the manufacturer  questionable reliability

SEEKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO AGELESS BRAIN? SEE THE CURRENT BEST RANKED NOOTROPIC WITHOUT PROPRIETARY BLENDS HERE.

Nootropics for The Brain  Do They Work?

Nootropics, also known as smart drugs, are substances that can help improve cognitive performance in individuals. They are becoming increasingly popular as a way to boost brain power, focus and concentration. Nootropics can be natural or synthetic and range from vitamins and minerals to herbal supplements and even prescription medications.

Nootropics for the brain are gaining traction among students, professionals, athletes and entrepreneurs looking to get an edge on their competition. By taking these compounds, users can experience improved mental clarity, increased productivity, better memory recall and a heightened sense of creativity.

If you choose a natural nootropic with proper ingredients and correct doses, you can be sure that it will benefit your brain function in the long run.

Some of the best natural ingredients for brain health include Phosphatidylserine, Rhodiola Rosea, Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, Lions Mane, Citicoline, L-Tyrosine, and L-Theanine.

About Ageless Brain

Ageless Brain is a nootropic supplement made by the company PureHealth Research with the main focus on improving brain function. It is claimed to work by delivering certain nutrients that target each specific neurological function, resulting in better memory retention, memory recall, and overall better brain health.

On the official website, the manufacturer provides a 365-day money back guarantee on Ageless Brain, which is good; that way you can return the item if you are unsatisfied.

Lets see all the benefits that Ageless Brain is claimed to provide. These include:

Substantial boost in memory and cognitive health

Helps with productivity, mood, and increases mental clarity

Enhances focus and makes mind sharper

Combats brain fog

The benefits of Ageless Brain without a doubt sound great. To see if it really is that good, were going to break down each ingredient inside its formula. Lets see!

Ageless Brain The Ingredients

Even though it is claimed to contain 11 natural ingredients in total, as seen from the label, Ageless Brain delivers 9 ingredients for brain health. The positive thing is that all these are completely natural.

There is a major issue with the formula, however. That is an inclusion of a proprietary blend. A proprietary blend is a blend through which you cant see the exact individual ingredient doses, leaving you with absolutely no idea on their efficacy and safety.

Before choosing the right brain supplement for yourself, you should always make sure that it is free of proprietary blends. A reputable manufacturer would never hide ingredient doses from its customers, in our opinion.

With that being said, even though it uses some great nutrients for the brain such as Bacopa Monnieri, Alpha GPC, Caffeine, and GABA, we dont consider Ageless Brain safe and effective, due to a proprietary blend, as we mentioned.

Bacopa Monnieri is a powerful herb for memory and mental sharpness. With a proprietary blend, theoretically, the dosage of this nutrient could be very low, at 1mg per serving.

Availability

Ageless Brain can be purchase via the official website at the moment for the price of $62.10 for one bottle with 60 capsules.

Our Opinion On The Manufacturers Claims About Ageless Brain

Every claim about Ageless Brains effectiveness is just a marketing thing to make you purchase the product, if you ask us. We dont consider it a comprehensive nootropic.

It lacks some core ingredients for proper brain function, including Ginkgo Biloba, Panax Ginseng, Lions Mane Mushroom, Citicoline, and many more, and mainly due to a proprietary blend, we recommend not taking it if youre looking for quick and substantial results in improving brain function.

There are far better and safer products on the market, including Nooceptin. Nooceptin is currently rated as the best nootropic supplement of the year, precisely for memory, focus, and alertness. It can also benefit you by reducing brain fog and chronic stress, which results in better learning abilities and doing every day tasks more easily.

If you are ready to learn more about Nooceptin, keep on reading, as well talk about it below in our review.

Nooceptin  Is It Really The Best Nootropic On The Market?

Nooceptin is the best nootropic on the market for memory and overall cognitive health, if you ask us. Youll soon see why.

First of all, this powerful brain enhancer is made in FDA-approved facilities by the company SAP Nutrition that delivers quality products suitable for all kinds of people.

The formula is clean with no additives and no proprietary blends, unlike Ageless Brain. In Nooceptins formula, you can clearly see the exact dosage of each ingredient. All ingredients are in clinical doses, which makes this supplement perfectly safe for every day consumption long-term.

Lets take a closer look at the formula; it contains seven nutrients in total, all organic. These are Lions Mane, Citicoline, L-Theanine, Panax Ginseng, Rhodiola Rosea, Bacopa Monnieri, and Ginkgo Biloba Extract.

Seven ingredients in Nooceptin might not sound like a lot for a comprehensive brain supplemet, however, all of these nutrients are heavily studied for the brain and are proven to be very potent. Also, this makes Nooceptin extremely safe and light on the stomach.

Lions Mane has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for its medicinal properties. In recent years, it has gained attention for its potential to improve cognitive performance and protect against age-related mental decline.

Studies have shown that Lions Mane can help enhance memory, focus, and concentration while also boosting overall brain health. It is believed that the mushroom can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, which can lead to improved mental clarity and focus. Additionally, it may also be beneficial in treating depression and anxiety by providing relief from stress levels.

Citicoline is a natural compound found in the brain that helps to support cognitive function and memory. It is believed to be beneficial for people with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimers disease and age-related memory loss.

Studies have also shown that it can help improve focus, attention, and alertness. Additionally, Citicoline may help reduce inflammation in the brain and protect neurons from damage caused by free radicals. It also helps with mood due to its ability to help produce certain neurotransmitters.

L-Theanine, a popular amino acid, has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to promote relaxation, improve sleep, and reduce stress. In recent years, research has shown that L-theanine can also have positive effects on the brain. Studies have found that this compound can help improve cognitive performance, reduce stress levels, and even protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Panax Ginseng is another nutrient that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to boost energy, improve physical and mental performance, and enhance cognitive functions.

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After returning to Delhi from Odishas Balasore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is holding a series of high-level meetings with officials.

Vaishnaw reviewed the rescue and restoration work following the triple train accident in Odisha.

He is scheduled to speak to general managers of all zonal railways later in the evening through video conferencing, sources said.

Sources said that the meeting focused on safety drills in zones with a special focus on signalling and telecom across the railway network.

The train accident in Balasore involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, which were carrying over 2,500 passengers, and goods train laden with iron ore occurred around 7 pm on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.

At least 278 people were killed and more than 900 were injured in the accident.

(With inputs from PTI)

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After claiming that Bhagalpur bridge collapse was a planned demolition as experts had found serious defects in its design, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday bit the bullet saying that a showcause notice has been issued to the construction firm and action will be taken against those found responsible.

Addressing the reporters on Tuesday, he said, A showcause notice is being issued to the construction company, and action will be taken against those found responsible. The bridge will be constructed in a time-bound manner as it is a dream project of CM. When I was in opposition, I had raised the issue regarding pillar number 5 of the bridge.

A showcause notice is being issued to the construction company. The bridge will be constructed in a time-bound manner as it is a dream project of CM. A showcase notice is being issued to the construction company, and action will be taken against those found responsible. When I pic.twitter.com/IjsHD4Mc3J  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

Videos of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapsing had gone viral on social media prompting sharp criticisms from the opposition BJP. The bridge was supposed to connect Khagaria district with Bhagalpur.

During a press conference on Sunday, Tejashwi Yadav, along with Pratyay Amrit, the additional chief secretary of the road construction department, stated that no casualties were reported in the incident. They explained that the decision to demolish the bridge was made following a previous collapse of a section during a thunderstorm in 2022.

#WATCH | Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav speaks on the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur which collapsed for the second time. https://t.co/MoeA7wF1nN pic.twitter.com/sgMuTGwaIs  ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2023

In response, the government had engaged researchers from IIT-Roorkee to analyse the structure, said Yadav.

Amrit expressed that the government chose not to take any risks by waiting for the final report before dismantling sections of the bridge that were deemed flawed.

It may be recalled that a portion of this bridge had collapsed on April 30 last year. I strongly raised it in my capacity as the then Leader of the Opposition. Upon coming to power, we ordered an inquiry and sought expert opinionapproached IIT-Roorkee, which is esteemed for its expertise in construction matters, to conduct a study. It is yet to come up with a final report but experts who had studied the structure had informed us that there were serious defects, Yadav said at the press conference.

Yadav added that several vulnerable parts of the bridge, said to have been built at an estimated cost of 1,700 crore, have already been pulled down due to structural flaws.

In response to the incident, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar instructed Amrit to provide a comprehensive report on the incident and emphasised the need for strict actions to be taken against those responsible.

With inputs from agencies

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The Bihar government has slapped a show cause notice on the construction company and suspended an executive engineer in view of the bridge collapse incident two days ago.

The Haryana-based company, which was awarded the contract, has been served with a show cause notice by the Managing Director of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam and asked to reply within 15 days, Pratyay Amrit, the Additional Chief Secretary for the road construction department told PTI.

A four-lane concrete bridge being built across the River Ganges in the east Indian state of Bihar was supposed to link Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts. The Bridge has collapsed twice since construction began in 2017, the first time in April last year before Sundays catastrophic failure.

The company has been asked to explain why it should not be blacklisted by the government and further action was taken against it, he said.

The department has also suspended the executive engineer concerned for his failure to keep an eye on the quality of the work, added the Additional Chief Secretary.

VIDEO | A notice has been issued to SP Singla (Constructions Pvt Ltd)  the company involved in the bridges construction  and given 15 days to respond as to why it should not be blacklisted, says Pratyay Amrit, Principal Secretary, Bihar Road Construction Department on pic.twitter.com/5OY7gtZYC8  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 6, 2023

The incident sparked a war of words between the state government and the opposition BJP.

The under-construction bridge, a portion of which caved in on Sunday, involved a cost of over  1,700 crores and was supposed to be completed by 2019. The foundation stone of the structure was laid in February 2014, by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

With inputs from agencies

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The collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bihars Bhagalpur on 4 June sparked a large political brawl between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), one of the state government coalitions partners, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

State minister Tej Pratap Yadav said on Monday, echoing Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, that the BJP dismantled the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihars Bhagalpur. The RJD leader said that his party was building the bridge while the BJP was demolishing it.

Bihar | The bridge has been demolished by BJP. We are building the bridge and they are demolishing it, says Bihar Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on the collapse of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihars Bhagalpur (05.06) pic.twitter.com/G0MlsnZEQh  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

Tejashwi Yadav previously asserted that the bridge was demolished as part of a scheduled demolition and that it did not fall. The bridge's design, according to Yadav, has severe flaws.

A portion of this bridge collapsed last year. I strongly raised it in my capacity as the then Leader of the Opposition. Upon coming to power, we ordered an inquiry and sought an expert opinion, Tejashwi said.

On Tuesday, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad blamed the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bihar on a lack of audits. "This is the second collapse of the bridge; there is a conspiracy."

"What was done when it collapsed for the first time, and what actions were taken against the company that built the bridge?" he inquired.

Prasad went on to accuse Nitish Kumar of disregarding development projects in Bihar while meeting with opposition leaders. He stated that if a bridge falls for the second time, there is cause for concern. He also requested that all bridges under construction in the state be revised.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered an investigation into the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur and has directed officials to identify those guilty.

Nitish Kumar directed officials on Monday to take harsh punishment against anyone guilty for the "poor construction work" on the under-construction Ganga bridge.

A petition has been filed in the Patna High Court requesting an impartial investigation into the Sunday collapse of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur.

In his writ suit, Manibhushan Pratap Sengar demanded an independent investigation rather than a departmental inquiry, as well as action against SP Singla Company, which was involved in the bridge's construction.

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Days after claiming that she had just 7 to 8 notes of Rs 2,000 withdrawn by the RBI under the clean note policy at her place, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ostensibly doled out compensation to the kin of Odisha train accident victims in the same denomination notes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took pot shots at the West Bengal chief minister, calling out her insensitivity, insult, abuse towards the tragedy-struck families.

BJP leader Dr Anirban Ganguly took to Twitter to share the video of bundles of Rs 2,000 notes being given out as compensation to families memebers of the victims of Balasore train tragedy.

He said that during her press conference on Saturday, Banerjee said she did not use Rs 2,000 notes. She further claimed that when she has searched for them and found only 7 to 8 notes at her place. She reiterated that she does not use them! Ganguly said.

On Monday Madam (Mamata Banerjee) sent her lackey Ministers to give compensation to the families of those unfortunate victims who died in the Balasore train accident. Imagine they went and gave everyone a bundle each of Rs 2,000 notes mocking their bereavement, he said.

Yet Madam (Mamata Banerjee) said she does not use them and has no use for them! he said hitting out at the Trinamool Congress chief.

The families had to silently take these unusable doles out of fear! Such insult, such abuse, such insensitivity towards the dead! Ganguly said.

In her press conference on Saturday Madam Mamata Banerjee said, she did not use Rs. 2000 notes, that she has searched for them & found only 7 to 8 notes at her place! She reiterated that she does not use them! On Monday Madam sent her lackey Ministers to give compensation to pic.twitter.com/5grE5vjM8U  Dr. Anirban Ganguly   (@anirbanganguly) June 6, 2023

Under the 'Clean Note Policy', the RBI had withdrawn Rs 2,000 denomination bank notes, thereby removing the countrys biggest value currency note from circulation.

The Rs 2,000 note, introduced in 2016, will remain legal tender, but citizens have been asked to deposit or exchange these notes by 30 September, 2023.

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Hundreds of protesting farmers blocked the National Highway-44 in Kurukshetras Shahabad over the Haryana governments decision not to buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP).

This comes days after Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni threatened to intensify the agitation if the government failed to take the decision on the procurement of sunflower crops on the MSP by June 6.

The BKU Charuni had called its meeting at Shahabad-Markanda town in Kurukshetra district to decide strategy on the issue of inclusion of sunflower crop under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana by the state government with interim support to the farmers of Rs 1,000 per quintal and procurement on the MSP,

Kurukshetra deputy commissioner Shantanu Sharma said that 144 quintals of sunflower seed were procured on Monday and an additional 1,000 per quintal will be paid to farmers, as reported by Hindustan Times. According to the report, many police personnel are at the location to control the situation.

#WATCH | Protesting farmers block National Highway-44 in Kurukshetras Shahabad over their demand for Minimum Support Price for sunflower seed#Haryana pic.twitter.com/NyAcS9KCOy  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

The governments refusal to offer MSP came as a jolt to thousands of sunflower growers from northern Haryana ahead of the harvest season, HT reported. The central government, meanwhile, is weighing a 3-8 per cent increase in the MSP for key kharif crops in 2023-24.

VIDEO | Farmers block Delhi-Amritsar National Highway in Kurukshetra against the Haryana governments decision to not buy sunflower seeds on the minimum support price (MSP). pic.twitter.com/aDPbZv2eHz  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 6, 2023

Earlier on May 31, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar deposited Rs 181 crore into the bank accounts of 67,758 farmers as compensation for the loss of their crops due to unseasonal rainfall in March-April.

Taking to Twitter, CM Khattar said, Today, fulfilling the promise made to my farmer brothers, I have sent compensation of Rs 181 crore directly to their bank accounts through just one click, for their damaged crops. In March-April 2023, we had announced compensation for the crop damaged due to unseasonal rains in the month of May, under which today the compensation amount has been released to 67,758 farmers of the state.

With inputs from agencies

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Experts from outside Odisha have been brought in to embalm the bodies of the victims of the Balasore train accident, as over 100 dead bodies which could not be identified yet, have started to decompose.

According to reports, more than 12 anatomy and forensic experts from AIIMS in Nagpur and Raipur have been involved in this process.

Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy, a faculty member in the anatomy department at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, explained that the embalming process is typically performed soon after death.

However, due to the lack of infrastructure at the accident site to handle such a large number of casualties, the bodies were initially kept in a local school before being transferred to Bhubaneswar.

Tripathy informed The Indian Express that out of the 123 bodies received at AIIMS, only 43 have been returned to their respective families so far.

According to Ashutosh Biswas, the executive director of AIIMS, they have obtained five special containers from Paradip Ports to store the bodies for several days after the embalming process.

Additionally, the Railways has assigned an official to assist each of the victims families, providing support until the cremation takes place.

These officials have been asked coordinate with railway systems and state authorities, according to reliable sources cited by The Indian Express.

A high-ranking officer from the East Coast Railway has been given the responsibility of organizing the victim mapping exercise, as stated by a reliable source.

The identification process presents a significant challenge as officials are dealing with cases where multiple individuals claim the same body due to the extent of disfigurement.

Facial recognition to identify the dead

In an effort to identify unclaimed bodies, the Railways utilised face recognition technology and accessed the telecom database, which is under the purview of Ashwin Vaishnaw, who serves as both the telecom minister and railway minister.

Sources indicate that the victims faces were matched with profiles associated with their mobile numbers, resulting in the identification of approximately 40 victims.

The KYC (Know Your Customer) data was used to trace their Aadhaar numbers, enabling the notification of their respective families.

According to Chief Secretary P.K. Jena, 85 bodies were identified in Balasore, while an additional 85 were identified in Bhubaneswar. These bodies are being handed over to friends and relatives after following the necessary procedures.

Jena stated, The state government is arranging transportation of the bodies to their final destinations. To obtain the required legal documents, the family members will not have to face unnecessary hassle, as the state government will take the necessary steps to process and deliver them electronically or through postal services.

Railways sources have also mentioned that officials have been assigned to the AIIMS mortuary to assist in matching the victims with their Aadhaar and other identification documents.

Once the mortal remains are retrieved from AIIMS, they will be transported to the desired locations as per the families preferences, accompanied by the assigned official. Station and divisional officials along the route have received instructions to provide assistance to the families and ensure that they encounter no inconvenience.

The Railways has also taken proactive measures in initiating the disbursal of ex-gratia amounts to the families of the victims.

As of Sunday, approximately Rs 3.2 crore in compensation had already been disbursed from six locations.

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Suvendu Adhikari, leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, alleged that Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the triple train accident in Odishas Balasore on Friday that killed over 275 people and injured more than 1,000.

This accident (Balasore train tragedy) is TMCs conspiracy. They are behind the incident, the BJP MLA from West Bengals Nandigram alleged.

Adhikari also accused the TMC of tapping the phones of railway officials with the help of the police. He was referring to a purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials which was posted by Kunal Ghosh, leader from Mamata Banerjees party, on Twitter.

These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked? This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesnt come, I will go to court, Adhikari said.

Why TMC is panicking?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reached the accident spot to investigate the three-train tragedy in Odisha. The inquiry will help find answers to all queries regarding the accident.

BJPs Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the Trinamool has been panicking since CBI investigation has been ordered into Odisha train accident incident.

Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state. Why are they afraid of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation? he said.

The CBI will probe three theories in Odisha train tragedy. They are:

1- Repair work going on at a level-crossing near the accident site that disrupted the Electronic Interlocking

2- A deliberate manipulation with the system

3- A flaw or glitch in the system that was also highlighted from an accident averted in February.

Political slugfest over Odisha train crash

A political slugfest has escalated between the BJP and TMC after the tragic collision of three trains in Balasore district of Odisha on Friday.

The accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

The TMC demanded resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and accused the central government of disregarding passenger safety. Meanwhile, the BJP labelled the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a motor mouth.

Interacting with media along with Vaishnaw from the accident site over the weekend, Banerjee claimed that she got information that the toll in the train crash might exceed 500. At this, the Union Minister responded, As per the Odisha governments data, the death toll is 238.

TMC also sought for an investigation into the absence of an anti-collision system on the trains, which could have prevented the disaster.

BJP has, however, said that the inquiry into the accident would unravel the truth, and reminded TMC that railway accidents had occurred during Mamata Banerjees term as railway minister.

Passenger trains operation resumed on the repaired tracks on Monday, more than 51 hours after the triple train collision. The restoration works were carried out on a war footing.

With inputs from agencies

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accepted US Speaker Kevin McCarthys invitation to address the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country on June 22.

Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress. We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister tweeted.

Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress. We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, https://t.co/yeg6XaGUH2  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2023

Congressional leaders including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter addressed to Modi, On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is our honour to invite you (Prime Minister Modi) to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22.

It is my honor to invite @PMOIndia @narendramodi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22nd. This will be an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India and speak to the global challenges our countries both face, Kevin McCarthy tweeted on June 2.

It is my honor to invite @PMOIndia@narendramodi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22nd. This will be an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India and speak to the global challenges our countries both face. pic.twitter.com/gu68UjJltG  Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 2, 2023

During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for Indias future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face, the letter added.

The speech would be Modis second to a joint meeting of the U.S. legislature, a rare honour for a leader once denied a visa to enter the United States over human rights concerns.

President Joe Biden is eager to deepen ties with the worlds largest democracy as part of his bid to win what he has framed as a contest between free and autocratic societies, especially China.

The White House announced last month that Modi was invited for an official state visit, despite advocacy groups concerns over what they see as a deteriorating human rights situation under his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

The State Departments annual report on human rights practices released in March listed significant human rights issues and abuses in India.

Addresses to joint meetings of Congress are generally reserved for the closest U.S. allies or major world figures. The last was by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in April. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the House and Senate in December.

Several Indian leaders have made such addresses. Modi last did so in 2016. The first was Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949.

Modis relationship with Washington has evolved since 2005, when the administration of then-President George W. Bush denied him a visa under a U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

That stemmed from the killing of more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in sectarian riots in the Indian state of Gujarat shortly after Modi became its chief minister. Modi denied wrongdoing.

In their letter, McCarthy, Schumer, McConnell and Jeffries said the address would celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India.

With inputs from agencies

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HDFC Bank has suspended one of its officers in Kolkata on 5 June following accusation of disruptive behaviour towards colleagues during an internal meeting. A video circulating on Twitter captured the officer raising his voice at junior colleagues for what he perceived as insufficient sales of banking and insurance products. The officer in question is Pushpal Roy, who was the cluster head in a Kolkata branch of the HDFC bank.

The video clearly depicts the senior executive using offensive language and engaging in verbal abuse towards the junior employees during the meeting. Roy, who has now been suspended, is observed questioning his juniors, How many saving and current accounts have you opened in the last two days. Tell me. The official also raised his voice at another employee, expressing disappointment and stated, You were supposed to open 15, you have opened 5.

In the video, the manager can be seen instructing the junior employee to sell 75 insurance policies in a single day.

The video quickly garnered substantial attention on various social media platforms and was extensively shared by users. Concerns were raised by users regarding Roys conduct, and there were widespread calls for prompt and decisive action to be taken against him.

According to information provided on his LinkedIn profile, Roy has held the position of Vice President at an HDFC bank branch in Kolkata for more than 16 years. He is a Chartered Accountant with previous experience of working with PwC and ICICI Bank.

HDFC Bank provided a statement to Moneycontrol regarding the incident, stating that they were aware of a social media report. Following a preliminary inquiry, the bank suspended the concerned employee and launched a thorough investigation in accordance with the banks conduct guidelines. The bank emphasised its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of workplace misconduct and expressed a commitment to treating all employees with dignity and respect.

In the meantime, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) convened a meeting last month with the board of directors from both public sector banks (PSBs) and private banks to address matters concerning governance and ethics.

In response to the increasing occurrences of mis-selling, the finance ministry has instructed the heads of public sector banks to establish robust mechanisms aimed at preventing unethical practices when selling insurance policies to customers.

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The Indian Army on Tuesday said that the security forces are conducting search operations in Sugnu-Serou area of Manipur after an exchange of fire with insurgents last night.

Inputs indicate casualties to insurgents. This is being verified on the ground. During preliminary search-two AK series rifles, one 51mm mortar, two carbines, ammunition and warlike stores were recovered from the general area. Operations to sanitise the area is in progress, said the Indian Army in a statement.

The statement further said that in response to the need for enhanced area control, ambush prevention, and prevention of violence and arson, the Indian Army has redeployed an additional seven columns comprising five Assam Rifles and two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Sugnu-Serou area.

These operations are a direct outcome of the comprehensive area domination efforts conducted by the Security Forces in Sugnu-Serou over the past 48 hours, it added.

Early Tuesday, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipurs Serou area.

The exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district.

A BSF official said suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at the Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am.

Constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight and was evacuated to Kakchings Jivan Hospital where he was declared dead.

The two injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, the Indian Armys SpearCorps, headquartered in Dimapur, said on Twitter.

Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire, SpearCorps posted on its official Twitter handle.

With inputs from agencies

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Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, has once again made headlines, but this time its not because of his friendship with Janhvi Kapoor or Nysa Devgn. Surprisingly, he was spotted spending time with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in London, leaving netizens puzzled about their connection.

Orry shared a photo on his Instagram Stories on 5 June featuring himself and Rahul Gandhi when the two of them had lunch together at the renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu in Londons Old Park Lane. Orry captioned the picture, Today @ lunch and tagged the restaurants location.

Orhan Awatramani is a prominent social media personality, known for sharing extravagant party pictures on his Instagram account. He is known for his close ties to various Bollywood celebrities and star kids. With a following of over 354k on Instagram, he is the kind of celebrity BFF that many aspire to have. He has been spotted hanging out with many Bollywood celebrities.

After the meeting, Orhan reunited with Nysa and their friends for dinner at Busaba. The group had a great time at the nightclub, as evident from the photos shared by Orry on his Instagram Stories. He also posted a couple of photo strips showcasing silly faces and goofy poses with Nysa at a photo booth.

Check out some reactions:

This is probably one of the most unexpected crossover ever https://t.co/440VEeveO4  a (@PullxVolley) June 5, 2023

Rahul Gandhi at Nobu in London with Orry Awtaramani. Interesting.https://t.co/OxdUKG33NG pic.twitter.com/N6oTUlapK9  IT OK  (@ThBuckStopsHere) June 6, 2023

With inputs from agencies

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A seven-month-old Gujarati baby, Ariha Shah, hurt accidentally, badly enough to need hospitalisation, was taken over by the German Youth Welfare Office or Jugendamt on 23 September 2021, and held on to ever since. The child had a head bump, and injuries in the perineal area.

The Jugendamt, established in 1924, during the Weimar Republic, still feels like the Nazi midnight knock. It has a track record of being arbitrary and particularly strict with ethnic minorities and immigrant workers such as Turkish, Polish and, in this instance, Indian people. They have the power to seize children away from their parents at will, for a plethora of reasons, including the presumed inability of a poor parent to look after its child.

The Jugendamt, like some over-enthusiastic traffic crane operator on the New Delhi streets, gets paid by the German government based on the number of children it seizes and places in foster care.

The German attitude towards India two years ago was very different from what it is becoming now. It was exemplified by the prejudiced and negative reporting in major publications such as Der Spiegel and broadcast media such as DW.

It must be noted that Germany was, and is, Chinas biggest trading partner in Europe, and whilst ties have loosened after the Covid pandemic, the retirement of former Chancellor Merkel, and the advent of the Ukraine War with Russia, they are still very significant. And Russia is increasingly seen by the US, the EU and NATO as part of an axis with China despite its long-held supplies of oil and gas to Germany.

Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the head of the biggest economy in the EU, now gone into recession, and soon to be overtaken by India, was amongst the first to visit Beijing after Covid. He was followed by the head of the second biggest EU economy France, its leader Emmanuel Macron. The trade dependencies are enormous, as are the hard-to-break value chains.

The German child welfare organisation described baby Arihas injuries as horrific and in line with their understanding of child abuse. They took the matter to court advocating the child not ever be returned to her parents and the case has been ongoing for 20 months since. However, it is likely to come to a decision this very month.

An additional allegation of child sexual abuse of the baby was investigated but dismissed by the German authorities. The police case against the parents was also closed in February 2022. But the case against the parents was only dropped, said the Germans, because it was impossible to prove if the childs injuries had been inflicted by the parents, relatives, or other people.

That a certain amount of carelessness operated, seems more than evident, no matter how loudly the parents proclaim their concern now.

The child, now two years old, is still in the custody of the Germans, despite repeated representations from the parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, now back in Mumbai, India but still working in Germany on German visas. They have demonstrated outside the German Consulate in Mumbai, along with other supporters. They have recently approached Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for help. He, in turn, has written to the EAM urging him to meet and listen to what the parents have to say.

In addition, Indias Embassy in Berlin and the MEA at the mundane official level of spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, have been urging the German authorities to return the baby to India, and even Indian foster care if the parents are not deemed acceptable.

As many as 59 Indian parliamentarians from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, from 19 political parties, including the CPM, have written to the German Ambassador in New Delhi. They are asking for the repatriation of the child to India as she is an Indian national who deserves to grow up in the Indian cultural milieu. They have collectively expressed the fear that the childs Indianness may be compromised over the prolonged stay under the German childcare system. The German Ambassador in India, Philipp Ackerman, has not commented, citing privacy issues.

The Germans in turn have tried, and recently succeeded, in placing the child with Indian foster parents in Germany. Ariha Shah has recently been shifted from one foster care parent to a specialised foster care arrangement, they said. However, they have firmly suggested the child is better off in perpetuity under their foster care.

The matter was raised when German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock visited India in December 2022, but no action has been taken to disrupt the court handling of the affair.

A similar situation obtained in Norway not very long ago, but due to the good offices of then Opposition leader and later EAM Sushma Swaraj, two children, siblings, were eventually returned by the countrys child services organisation after they were taken away from the parents on similar charges.

However, there is a marked change in the geopolitical scenario now that may affect this case.

Recently, there have been several high-level visits between Berlin and New Delhi, including two Modi visits to Germany in 2022, and a visit to New Delhi by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February 2023. Scholz is expected to come again for the G20 Summit later this year.

The German defence minister Boris Pistorius is currently visiting his counterpart in New Delhi, following on from the visit of the US Defence Secretary.

The Germans, it is reported, are likely to collaborate in the building of Rs 50,000 crore worth of submarines in India, and the Americans are about to finalise a joint venture to produce GE fighter engines in Bengaluru, India. The French have also made several offers of military manufacturing cooperation.

This trend, of the NATO countries coming to show solidarity with India in the face of the perceived Russian-Chinese axis, and threat to world peace, is likely to only grow in pace and momentum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on a State Visit to the US this month which is likely to provide a huge momentum to the relationship. The American establishment has been making a series of highly supportive statements on India lately, including one praising the robustness of Indian democracy. The European governments are likely to take their cue from this strong official support from the US government for India.

This is in sharp contrast to routine and intemperate criticism from some Left Liberal quarters, such as the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, BBC, The Economist, The Guardian, George Soros, various Islamist and Khalistani organisations et al. However, they are on the fringe, and the establishment is firmly with the Modi government.

The Ariha Shah affair may not need to be officially dealt with at the upper reaches of the Indian and German governments, but it is likely to come to a satisfactory end in the near future nevertheless.

The writer is a Delhi-based political commentator. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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Sheikh Abdullah was the first politician to get a taste of TN Seshan, a bureaucrat who never cowered to the high and mighty and also credited with revolutionising the electoral process in India.

Abdullah, also known as Sher-e-Kashmir (The Lion of Kashmir) in 1965 was charged with acting against the interest of the country, dismissed as prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir and jailed. He was brought to Kodaikanal, a hill station about 120 km from Madurai where a young Seshan was serving as the collector.

In his engaging autobiography, published posthumously, titled, Through the Broken Glass  An Autobiography [Rupa publications], Seshan has given a riveting account of his dealings with Abdullah that entailed the Sheikh threatening to undergo fast unto death and Seshan refusing to make any concession to the detained leader. Abdullah had been kept in various Indian jails and spent nearly two years under Seshan, from July 1965 to June 1967.

In his memoirs, Seshan fondly remembers Abdullah as Kashmiri Mappillai. Mappillai in Tamil is affectionately used for the son-in-law. His [Abdullahs ] behaviour was unpredictable as that of a son-in-law, Seshan wrote, recalling how Union home minister Gulzari Lal Nanda and prime minister Indira Gandhi had instructed him to treat prisoner Abdullah as a special person. He was allowed to move about within the municipal limits of Kodaikanal.

Seshans tiff with Abdullah began when the inmate was moved from Ooty where the National conference chief had managed to give an interview to a foreign correspondent causing acute embarrassment to the Indira government. Seshan tried to accommodate Abdullah at Kodaikanals Travellers House, a government property after conducting quick repairs, whitewash etc but the fair skin Sheikh refused saying, You got me wrong. How can any human being stay here? Only horses would stay in a room like that. Seshan then shifted him to Kohinoor Bungalow, a government-owned circuit house that had originally belonged to Nawab Ali Yavar Jung of Hyderabad.

The cordial ties turned cold when Abdullah once disparagingly addressed him as an ordinary collector. Seshan did not miss the unmentioned undertone but waited for an opportunity to give a befitting reply. That opportunity came within the two days when Abdullah asked for an umbrella when the monsoon had brought in the beauty of rains and fresh air. Immediately I said, I will write a letter today itself and obtain a sanction. After getting permission I will get you an umbrella, Seshan told Abdullah. The Collectors response angered him and he said, Even for purchasing an umbrella, you need to write and get permission from Madras? Abdullah had himself been administrative head, having served as prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir between March 1948 to August 1953.

Seshan replied, Yes Sir. I am only an ordinary collector. I need to get permission from Madras. Though Seshan had spoken these words with a straight face, Abdullah, a politician among the politicians, quickly burst into laughter and said, Oh! You are paying back for what I had said two days ago.

Abdullah was fond of apples, perhaps missing Kashmiri Delicious or Red Delicious Apple, grown in Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, and the Sopore region in Kashmir. Whereas the apples available in Kodaikanal were of poor quality and small in size prompting Abdullah to retort, In my land, such apples are given to donkeys and pigs. No human will eat it.

Abdullah saw the real and tough side of Seshan when he tried asking for a favour. There was a rule that as collector, Seshan would read all letters and correspondence to and from the Sheikh before forwarding them with his seal.

Abdullah sought a concession from Seshan requesting him to forward a letter addressed to the President Dr S Radhakrishnan without reading it. Seshan did not budge saying, You may write a letter to the President or the Prime Minister or anyone. But it is my duty to send it only after I have read it.

Abdullah insisted that Seshan should speak to Delhi but the Collector declined pointing that there was already an order from them. I shall not speak to them, Seshan recalls telling Abdullah who in turn, got angry and adamant and said, Okay, if this is your decision, I am going on a fast, that too, fast unto death.

In a Seshanian style, the Collector, barely 32 then, replied, I will arrange all the necessary facilities for your fast.

Seshen then informed the Madras secretariat about Abdullah threatening a fast unto death. The officer with whom Seshan had interacted advised him to send the letter without reading it and added, We will handle it. How does it matter.

Seshan being Seshan could not help raising a poser, It is you who passed this order [of vetting all correspondence] in the first place. And now you are asking me to overlook it? Please send me an order in writing.

Sehsan then received another call from Madras advising him to avoid any unwanted problem. Seshan kept asking for a written order which did not come.

Abullah refused to eat anything, skipping lunch. Seshan then received a call from New Delhi from a high-ranking officer asking him directly, Mr collector, why are you creating a problem?

Seshan remained firm and responded in his measured tone, I will dispatch the letter only after I read it.

Seshan says he was a little surprised when Abdullah called him within five minutes of the call from Delhi. He handed over the letter that was addressed to the President Dr S Radhakrishnan. I am giving you the letter under protest, Abdullah said. Seshan opened and read the letter in front of Abdullah. It was written in English. In it, he had conveyed that India and Pakistan should become friendly with one another, recalls Seshan in his memoirs.

Another round of fiery exchange followed when Seshan asked, Everyone in the world knows your viewpoint as regards to India and Pakistan. When it is so, why did you create a problem by asking me not to read the letter and threatening to go on a fast unto death?

Abdullah replied in anger, It is a matter of principles. You are a servant of the President.

Seshan replied, I am not a private servant of the Prime Minister or the President. I am a government employee. So, it is my duty to follow the orders laid down by the government. Abdullah chose to ignore the counter argument and asked, Okay get me the food.

Seshan passed away in the winter of 2019. His autobiography was in the shape of a raw manuscript then. Nixon Fernando, former research assistant to Seshan, Dr Vishwanath Karad and Rahul Karad of MIT-WPU, Pune, Narayaneeyam Trust worked hard and diligently to bring completeness to the raw manuscript ensuring accuracy and flavour. Just like Seshans life and work, his autobiography is a fabulous account of how malpractices and lawlessness in the elections were checked. Today the country needs more and more Seshan-like bureaucrats who are nowhere to be seen.

Seshan, while signing off in his memoirs, looks back at his life and career and says, Life has been Great -Stormy, but Great.

The writer is a visiting fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed are personal.

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It will take some time for the nation to recover from the collective trauma of one of Indias deadliest train accidents. Others may move on, but the world wont be the same for the families who lost their loved ones  a sole breadwinner, a parent, a daughter, a son.

Before the news cycle inevitably moves to newer topics, however, we need to focus on fixing the accountability for the incident that has so far caused 275 deaths and left thousands injured. Some 1,200 people are still being treated. Along with relief and rescue operations and restoration of services  that is the immediate emphasis  we need to ensure that a robust system is put in place that does not let such a grievous tragedy occur ever again.

It is not clear, however, that that purpose will be served by forcing the Union railway minister to resign, as the Opposition is widely clamouring for. In democracies, the cut and thrust of politics includes the performative art of virtue-signalling, and the theatrics frequently become repugnant. Consider West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees sordid attempt at inflating the number of the deceased, a foul narrative that she still insists on spreading.

Before we wade into that debate and address the larger question, however, it is worth recollecting the developments as we know so far. The accident, the probe for which has now been taken over by the CBI, took place on Friday evening when the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, ferrying around 1500 commuters, entered the wrong track and rammed into a stationary freight train at a speed of around 128 kmph near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Odishas Balasore district.

That the goods train, static on the adjacent loop line, was laden with iron ore made matters even worse. The derailed, dismembered, passenger-filled bogies of Coromandel Express turned turtle and in turn crashed into the last few bogies of the oncoming Yeshwantpur-Howrah Superfast, which was coincidentally passing through the area at a speed of around 126kmph on the down main line.

From the information shared by railway officials, it is evident that Coromandel Express shouldnt have entered the loop line that ultimately caused the massacre. The fact that it did, is owing to what preliminary reports indicate as signal failure, or as railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, a change in electronic interlocking.

Electronic interlocking (EI) is a fail-safe safety mechanism that is governed by a computer-based intelligent software system designed to precisely prevent these sorts of accidents. In the rare case that it malfunctions, all adjoining signals turn red as a precautionary measure. This system ensures that signals are cleared to proceed only when the route ahead is safe and clear.

Media reports point out that under this system, the cabin station master cannot move the points on his own if there is another train in front of the train which has just arrived. In such a scenario, the second train will be halted.

If that is the case, and the Bahanga Bazar station is fitted with the smart EI system, the question that needs to be answered is, how did the accident take place? At this point, there are no answers except speculations. While the minister has hinted at human involvement without clarifying whether it was an error or a malicious act, Firstpost quotes unnamed railway officials as saying, that in this case, the point should have been set on the normal line and not on the loop line. The point was set on the loop line, it is something that cannot happen without human interference.

We will have to wait for the official inquiry to get closer to the truth. It seems, however, beyond human error, foul play or irresponsible behaviour cannot be ruled out. The first sign is handing the probe over to the CBI for a criminal investigation into the incident. Second, minister Vaishnaws remark that the exact cause of the train accident and those responsible have been identified. A thorough study is being done before making the report public. Those behind the accident will not be spared. His views were echoed by the prime minister who said the guilty would be severely punished during his site visit on Saturday.

There are several aspects to be considered as the Opposition mounts pressure on the Modi government to sack Vaishnaw. Has the minister been responsive? By all accounts, from the moment of the tragedy, the Indian state has thrown all its might behind relief and rescue operations  roping in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), fire units and local police in Odisha, the Army and the Indian Air Force in a coordinated exercise. The minister has been camping at the site for the last two days and overseeing a rescue operation involving the forces and hundreds of volunteers.

Within a span of 51 hours, the affected tracks have become operational and normal services have resumed. This is only to be expected. The larger question is, has the minister been guilty of dereliction of duty? While accountability for such a horrific incident must be laid at Vaishnaws door, does that imply that his sacking is the solution to fix the woes of Indias railway network?

On the contrary, the ministers competence has never been in question. Vaishnaw is not among the power-hungry politicians that dot the line of the Indian political stage. He is an efficient technocrat handpicked by Modi to modernize Indias colonial-era network which is undergoing brisk development. An ex-IAS officer from Odisha cadre, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Vaishnaw has overseen a transformation of Indian Railways, a process that started with his predecessor Suresh Prabhu. It includes record spending by the Modi government on railway infrastructure.

In an article published in March this year, British newspaper The Economist, a known and severe critic of Modi, admitted that India is getting an eye-wateringly big transport upgrade that includes a complete overhauling of the countrys railway network.

According to The Economist report, the country is experiencing an infrastructural makeover on a scale unprecedented outside China and the pace of the buildout is remarkable. Under the Modi government, railway stations are getting rapidly modernised and pace of track electrification has progressed at a rapid clip. For instance, since Independence till 2014, only 21,413 route kilometres (RKM) of railway tracks were electrified. In contrast, the past nine years have seen 37,011 route kilometres (RKM) of tracks being electrified, an increase of 73 per cent. Train crashes in India are far fewer today though the number is still embarrassingly high.

The tragedy is a grim reminder that a lot still needs to be done in terms of safety and predictability as India moves into the next stage of development with Vande Bharat trains and high-speed lines. The letter written by Mallikarjun Kharge to the prime minister, where the Congress president accuses Modi of ignoring red flags raises some pertinent questions.

Yet the demand for resignation demands closer scrutiny and pushback. India would be better served if the person at the helm of responsibility is made accountable for failures and lacunae in the system, and if public pressure is focused on getting tangible, verifiable, time-bound results instead of resignation theatrics. The ministers competence and work ethic, under tremendous pressure from the public and the Opposition, has been commendable. This is not to absolve the culprits or shield responsibility, but to point out that resignation is a cop-out. The tougher task is to admit failure, accept the burden and work through failure to turn it around.

Resigning is not a solution. If anything, it is counterproductive. It makes the terrible tragedy solely a moral issue. Frequent calls for resignation distract from real issues that need urgent and sustained attention because moral ownership becomes the focal point of public pressure, which then gets dissipated once a new person takes over. As India grows, rises, and takes its rightful place in the world, its leaders must show more maturity instead of puerile histrionics. The minister is a hardworking, capable technocrat. He deserves another chance.

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Months after tax survey by the Indian income tax department, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has now acknowledged that it may have paid lower taxes in India than its liability.

Tax surveys were carried out in BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai in February. The broadcasting company is yet to submit revised returns or make a written submission to the I-T department.

A report by Hindustan Times said that BBC has informally acknowledged that it has evaded tax in India. The company is yet to follow the formal procedure for the same, the report quoted two officials aware of the development requesting anonymity.

BBC confess to underreporting

As per the report, in an email to the tax department, BBC has apparently confessed to underreporting of the detected income which is equal to tax evasion for which the broadcaster will have to face recovery as well as penalty,

BBC must follow the formal route to comply by filing revised returns and clear all dues, pay penalty as well as interests, which mount to several crores, the report quoted one of the officials as saying.

BBCs email to I-T department

The British broadcaster, funded by the UK government, in an email to Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has confessed that it had underreported some Rs 40 crore of income in its tax returns.

The email has no legal sanctity. The BBC needs to file a revised return for it to be taken seriously, the report quoted a senior CBDT official as saying.

Whats next for BBC?

The report quoted one of the officials saying that the law of the land is the same for everyone in the country and there is no special dispensation for either a media company or a foreign entity.

BBC must act as per the stated procedure or face the law. The Department will continue to take action against it until the matter is taken to the logical conclusion, the official added.

When the tax survey was carried out in BBCs offices in India, the broadcasters tried to create an impression that the action was a vendetta by the Indian government after it aired a controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Now, they informally accept they were involved in deliberate tax evasion and the action was against their unscrupulous behaviour, an official said.

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Vessel-tracking experts said on Tuesday that a Chinese research ship and its escort, which operated for nearly a month in Vietnams exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, left those waters on Monday night, just after high-level US-China talks.

The incident comes amid what Washington has described as growing aggressiveness from Beijing, following close encounters between U.S. and Chinese ships and jets in the area. Senior U.S. and Chinese officials held talks in Beijing on Monday that both parties called constructive.

Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10 began sailing in Vietnams EEZ on May 7, at times flanked by a dozen ships, regularly crossing gas and oil fields operated by Russian companies, according to vessel-tracking data.

The Chinese vessel and its entourage of more than half a dozen ships began their journey back to Chinas Hainan island, leaving Vietnams EEZ around midnight, the data showed.

Asked about the movements of the ships, Chinas foreign ministry did not comment on the return to Hainan.

It is legitimate and legal for Chinese research vessels to carry out normal research activities in waters under its jurisdiction, and there is no such issue about entering the exclusive economic zones of other countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

Vietnams foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Under international law, ships are allowed to sail through foreign EEZs, but unauthorised surveys are not permitted and Chinas operations in the South China Sea have long been problematic for countries in the region, as Beijing claims most of the energy-rich sea, including foreign EEZs.

In a rare public protest on May 25, Vietnams government urged the Chinese research ship and its escort to leave the countrys EEZ after a visit to Hanoi by senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev.

At 0300 GMT on Tuesday, the Chinese research ship was seen approaching Hainan, said Ray Powell, who leads Stanford Universitys Project Myoushu on the South China Sea.

Vietnams fisheries surveillance ships turned back after the Chinese vessel and its escort left Vietnams EEZ around midnight Vietnam time, Powell added.

Vietnam-based researcher Van Pham, who heads the independent non-profit South China Sea Chronicle Initiative (SCSCI), confirmed the ships had left Vietnams EEZ but warned that Hainan was not the research ships home port, and after a break there it could resume activities in the South China Sea.

With inputs from Reuters.

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The founder of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, has made changes to her will, requesting her body to be mutilated and sent to politicians and business leaders as a protest against animal mistreatment. She also wants her flesh to be cooked and eaten.

The changes, including some heinous requests, came on the 20th anniversary of the day Newkirk wrote the will for the first time.

According to PETA, the 73-year-old activist now desires a piece of her neck to be cut off and sent to Britains King Charles III to protest the monarchys involvement in pigeon racing, a sport where the necks of losing birds are often twisted.

Newkirk wants her lips removed and sent to the president of the United States to object to his support for the turkey industry during the Thanksgiving turkey pardoning.

PETA mentioned that her liver should ideally be sent to the president of France as a protest against the force-feeding of ducks and geese for foie gras production.

Additionally, Twitter and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will receive a piece of Newkirks heart to express displeasure with his perceived lack of empathy and compassion in conducting animal experiments for Neuralink technology.

In addition, the PETA founder has requested that one of her legs be forcefully broken and exhibited during the Grand National, that one of her ears be sent to Spains King Felipe VI to protest bull mutilation by matadors, and that her buttocks be sent to the prime minister of Australia to draw attention to the flaying of lambs hindquarters during shearing.

Some longstanding requests remain unchanged, including Newkirks desire for her skin to be cured and used to make a leather belt and purse as a statement against the fashion industry. Furthermore, she wishes for a portion of her flesh to be fried with onions for a human barbecue.

PETA explained that the notion of serving human meat might shock diners into embracing kindness.

Founded in 1980 to challenge what they perceive as speciesism and a human-supremacist world view, PETA is notorious for engaging in attention-grabbing publicity stunts. The organization has faced controversy for comparing dog breeding to Nazism, dousing celebrities wearing fur coats with fake blood, and promoting shoes made of human skin through a fabricated online store.

While PETA opposes all forms of animal consumption, experimentation, and exploitation, the organization has faced criticism for its euthanization policies at its shelters. Last year, PETA euthanized 74% of all cats and dogs brought into its shelter in Virginia, a decrease from the previous figure of 99% several years ago.

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In a recent incident in Finland, a wealthy driver has been slapped with a hefty fine of $129,544 for exceeding the speed limit. This remarkable penalty was imposed based on the individuals income, a unique approach followed by Finnish authorities for calculating traffic violation fines.

The driver in question, Anders Wiklof, expressed remorse over the incident in an interview with the main newspaper of the Aaland Islands, which is an autonomous region located in the Baltic Sea.

Wiklof was caught by the police driving at a speed of 82 kilometres per hour in a zone where the speed limit was 50 kilometres per hour. In addition to the hefty fine, his driving privileges were also suspended for a period of 10 days.

This, however, was not the first time Wiklof was found guilty of speeding. He had previously been fined $68,176 in 2018, and an even larger amount of $102,000 five years prior.

Anders Wiklof presides over a diverse range of businesses including logistics, helicopter services, real estate, trade, and tourism sectors. His company, Wiklof Holding, boasts a substantial worth exceeding $10 million.

Finland has a unique system in place to determine traffic violation fines, which are based on a drivers daily disposable income, usually calculated as half of their daily salary. This approach ensures that the fines are proportionate to an individuals financial standing, resulting in more equitable consequences for traffic offences.

With inputs from agencies

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The European Court of Human Rights chastised Russia on Tuesday for failing to adequately investigate the poisoning of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in 2020, which the West claims was an assassination attempt.

The Strasbourg-based ECHR stated that Russia had neglected to explore the allegations of a possible political motive for the attempted murder, as well as possible involvement of state agents, unanimously concluding that Russia had breached the European Convention on Human Rights.

It claimed that Russia declined to begin criminal procedures into the poisoning, which caused Navalny to go into a coma and be placed on life support.

The anti-corruption activist, who supporters view as a future political competitor to President Vladimir Putin, became unwell on a trip from Siberia.

He was then evacuated to Germany, where he recovered, but upon his return to Moscow, he was imprisoned and has been so ever since.

The ECHR stated that German official testing revealed definite proof of the presence of the deadly nerve toxin Novichok in Navalnys system.

The court ruled that Russias investigation was not open to inspection and that Navalny was not permitted to participate.

The investigation was not capable of leading to the establishment of the relevant facts and the identification and, if appropriate, punishment of those responsible, it said.

It (the probe) therefore could not be considered adequate.

Russia was ordered to pay Navalny 40,000 euros ($43,000) in damages.

The ECHR is part of the pan-European rights body the Council of Europe from which Russia was expelled in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine last year.

However, the ECHR still has a backlog of cases filed by Russian nationals before then and is continuing to issue verdicts.

It says Russia has a binding legal obligation to implement ECHR judgements concerning Moscows actions or violations up until 16 September 2022.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his presidential campaign for 2024 on Monday, launching a challenge to his former boss, Donald Trump, barely two years after their tenure in the White House ended with an insurgency at the US Capitol and Pence fleeing for his safety.

According to those familiar with his preparations, Pence, the nations 48th vice president, will formally start his quest for the Republican nomination with a video and kickoff ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, his 64th birthday. He filed his candidature papers with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.

While Trump is presently winning the early race for the nomination, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis routinely polling second, Pence supporters see a path for a steady conservative who supports many of the previous administrations policies but without the continual turpitude.

While he regularly praises the Trump-Pence administration, a Pence candidature would represent a return to beliefs long associated with the Republican establishment but abandoned as Trump rebuilt the party in his image. Pence has cautioned against the partys rising populism, and aides regard him as the races lone conventional, Reagan-style conservative.

A staunch opponent of abortion rights, Pence supports a national ban on the procedure and has campaigned against transgender-affirming policies in schools. He has argued that changes to Social Security and Medicare, like raising the age for qualification, should be on the table to keep the programs solvent  which both Trump and DeSantis have opposed  and criticized DeSantis for his escalating feud with Disney. He also has said the US should offer more support to Ukraine against Russian aggression while admonishing Putin apologists in the party unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader.

Pence, who describes himself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order, has spent months laying the groundwork for an expected run, holding events in early-voting states like Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, visiting churches, delivering policy speeches and courting donors.

Pences team sees Iowa and its evangelical Christian voters as critical to his potential path to victory. Advisers say he plans to campaign aggressively in the state, hitting every one of its 99 counties before its first-in-the-nation caucuses next year.

The campaign is expected to lean heavily on town halls and retail stops aimed at reintroducing Pence to voters who only know him from his time as Trumps second-in-command. Pence served for more than a decade in Congress and as Indianas governor before he was tapped as Trumps running mate in 2016.

As vice president, Pence had been an exceeding loyal defender of Trump until the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump falsely tried to convince Pence and his supporters that Pence had the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election.

That day, a mob of Trumps supporters violently stormed the US Capitol building after being spurred on by Trumps lies that the 2020 election had been stolen. Many in the crowd chanted Hang Mike Pence! as Pence, his staff and his family ran for safety, hiding in a Senate loading dock.

Pence has called Trumps actions dangerous and said the country is looking for a new brand of leadership in the 2024 election.

I think well have better choices, he recently told The Associated Press. The American people want us to return to the policies of the Trump-Pence administration, but I think they want to see leadership that reflects more of the character of the American people.

Pence has spent the 2 1/2 years since then strategically distancing himself from Trump. But he faces scepticism from both anti-Trump voters who see him as too close to the former president, as well as Trump loyalists, many of whom still blame him for failing to heed Trumps demands to overturn the pairs election defeat, even though Pences role overseeing the counting of the Electoral College vote was purely ceremonial and he never had the power to impact the results.

Pence joins a crowded Republican field that includes Trump, DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, US Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to launch his campaign Tuesday evening in New Hampshire, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will announce his bid Wednesday in Fargo.

With Trump, a thrice-married reality star, facing scepticism among some Republicans during his 2016 run, his pick of Pence as a running mate assuaged concerns from evangelical Christians and others that he wasnt sufficiently conservative. As vice president, Pence refused to ever criticize the former president publicly and often played the role of emissary, trying to translate Trumps unorthodox rhetoric and policy proclamations, particularly on the world stage.

After Trumps legal efforts to stave off defeat of the 2020 election were quashed by courts and state officials, he and his team zeroed in on 6 January, the date that a joint session of Congress would meet to formally certify President Joe Bidens victory. In the weeks leading up to the session, Trump engaged in an unprecedented pressure campaign to convince Pence he had the power to throw out the electoral votes from battleground states won by Biden, even though he did not.

As the riot was underway and after Pence and his family were rushed off the Senate floor and into hiding, Trump tweeted, Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done. Video footage of the attack shows rioters reading Trumps words aloud and crowds breaking into chants that Pence should be hanged. A makeshift gallows was photographed outside the Capitol.

Pence has said that Trump  endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day and that history will hold him accountable.

Despite his harrowing experience, Pence opposed efforts to testify in investigations into Trumps actions on and in the lead-up to 6 January. He refused to appear before the House committee investigating the attack and fought a subpoena issued by the special counsel overseeing numerous Trump investigations, though he did eventually testify before a grand jury.

Only six former US vice presidents have been elected to the White House, including Biden, who is running for a second term.

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India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves, said the White House as it dismissed concerns over the health of democracy in the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The statement comes mere days ahead of PM Modis state visit to the US.

India is a vibrant democracy

Asked by a reported if Biden administration is at all concerned about the health of democracy in India? John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said: India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion.

He further said, Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. Youre supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward.

India a strong partner of US

Kirby said India is a strong partner with the US on many levels.

You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defence, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defence cooperation now that were going to pursue with India. Of course, theres an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security, he said.

I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship, Kirby added

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the official state visit, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.

With inputs from PTI

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US on Monday said that the partnership with India is one of the most consequential relations for the US and Washington is looking forward to deepening economic ties and enhancing security cooperation with New Delhi.

We are very much looking forward to hosting PM Modi for the State visit later this month, said Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State.

Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and we look forward to continuing deepen our collaboration on a number of issues, whether it be enhancing security cooperation, deepening our economic ties, deepening trade issues, Patel added.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on 22 June following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by Bidens at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs informed through a press statement.

The United States Congress has also invited PM Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his visit to the country on 22 June, according to the statement released by US Congress.

During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for Indias future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to Modi.

Meanwhile, the White House said the visit of PM Modi to the US will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between US and India.

PM Modis visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of the family and friendship that link America, Americans and clearly, Indians together. And so thats very important to the (US) President, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre.

Pierre further said: The President and the First Lady are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi for the official state visit which is going to happen on 22 June.

The White House Press Secretary said the visit would also strengthen US-India shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and shared resolve to evaluate strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy and space.

With inputs from agencies

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Microsoft has agreed to pay $20 million (16 million) to US federal regulators as part of a settlement after it was discovered that the company had unlawfully gathered data on children who had created Xbox accounts.

The settlement, reached with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday, includes additional safeguards for child gamers.

The FTCs investigation revealed several violations, including Microsofts failure to adequately inform parents about its data collection practices.

Regrettably, we did not meet customer expectations and are committed to complying with the order to continue improving upon our safety measures, Microsofts Dave McCarthy, CVP of Xbox Player Services, wrote in an Xbox blog post.

We believe that we can and should do more, and well remain steadfast in our commitment to safety, privacy, and security for our community.

As part of the settlement, Microsoft must also institute new safety protections for children. That includes maintaining a system to delete all personal data after two weeks if no parental consent is obtained.

The order must be approved by a federal judge before it can go into effect.

This action follows a similar case against Amazon last week concerning its Echo devices.

According to the FTC, Microsoft violated the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act by not obtaining proper parental consent and by retaining personal data of children under 13 for longer than necessary for accounts created before 2021.

The law mandates that online services and websites targeting children must obtain parental consent and inform parents about the collection of personal data regarding their child.

When using Xbox services, users are required to create an account. During the account setup process, information such as full name, email address, and date of birth is collected.

It was only after obtaining personal information, such as the childs phone number, that Microsoft requested parental permission.

From 2015 to 2020 Microsoft retained data sometimes for years from the account set up, even when a parent failed to complete the process, the FTC said in a statement.

The company also failed to inform parents about all the data it was collecting, including the users profile picture and that data was being distributed to third parties.

Last week, Amazon agreed to pay $25m after the FTC found that it had retained sensitive data, including voice recordings of children, for years.

Amazons doorbell camera unit Ring also agreed to pay out $5.8m after giving employees unrestricted access to customers data.

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Former FBI agent-turned-spy Robert Hanssen, whom the bureau describes as the most damaging in its history, was found dead in his prison cell on Monday, according to US authorities.

Hanssen, 79, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002 after pleading guilty to spying for the Soviet Union and later Russia for over 20 years.

According to a Reuters report, citing a statement from the Bureau of Prisons, the prison staff initiated life-saving measures after finding Hanssen unresponsive on Monday morning but were not successful. The statement didnt give any details about the cause of death.

Hanssen joined the FBI in 1976 and began selling classified information to the Soviet Union in 1985, according to the FBIs website.

By the time of his arrest in 2001, he had been compensated with more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds and diamonds, in exchange for compromising numerous human sources, intelligence techniques and classified US documents, the FBIs website says.

FBI investigators worked for years to try to identify the spy in their ranks. In the weeks leading up to his February 2001 arrest, some 300 personnel were working on the investigation and monitoring Hanssen, according to the FBI.

An arrest team took Hanssen into custody after catching him making a dead drop of classified materials in a park in suburban Virginia, the FBI says.

He had been serving his life sentence in a maximum security facility in Colorado.

With inputs from agencies

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According to a senior UN official, Bangladesh has pledged that no Rohingya refugee would be sent back to Myanmar without their will as part of the contentious planned repatriation procedure.

Refugees who wish to return should have access to clear, factual information to be able to make free and informed decisions, Kelly T. Clements, the UN deputy high commissioner for refugees, said in a statement late Monday after a four-day visit to Bangladesh.

Under no condition should refugees be forced or coerced to return, which the government assured us would not happen, added Clements, who met both government officials and refugees.

A million or so Rohingya live in Bangladesh, most of whom fled a military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017 that is currently the focus of a UN genocide probe.

Despite having origins in Myanmar dating back generations, the Rohingya are commonly perceived as foreign invaders from Bangladesh and are stateless as of 2015, when Myanmar stopped to recognise their citizenship.

Despite objections from rights organisations and others that advocate for refugees, such as Human Rights Watch, which warned last month that the plan carries grave risks, Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to a pilot repatriation of 1,176 refugees.

Any repatriation would only be done on a voluntary basis, according to Bangladesh.

A number of Rohingya who were selected for the repatriation scheme, however, claimed AFP they had been threatened with joining.

One Rohingya man, who asked for anonymity, said refugee camp leaders had called him every day. They said: If you dont go, you cant stay here, we will beat you.'

Another Rohingya refugee, also speaking on the understanding his name would not be used, said he had been told to leave  but would do so only if Myanmar gave him back his land.

They said: You have to go, you cant stay here,' he said.

But why should we go if we dont get our land back? If they (Myanmar) give us citizenship, we will return. If they give us our land, we will go.

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Khaqan Murtaza, Director General of Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has accused the customs and security officials of harassing passengers at airports across the country to extort money.

The Pakistans aviation body chief made the allegations while briefing the Senate Standing Committees meeting on Aviation at the Parliament House on Monday, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday.

He alleged that the Customs, Airport Security Force (ASF) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officials continue to collect money by harassing passengers, the paper said.

The meeting chaired by Senator Hidayatullah highlighted the lack of coordination among agencies at airports and pointed out impolite attitudes with passengers, some participants had experienced.

You will not find any uniformed armed personnel at any airport in the world, Murtaza said. It looks like an aggressive atmosphere that is unheard of elsewhere. It feels as if we live in a cantonment.

Committee Chairman Hidayatullah also raised concerns about the attitude of the ANF at the airport and asked how an expatriate will feel when he lands and finds four personnel standing in different uniforms in front of him.

It is not sensible to harass a passenger coming from abroad, he said.

Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah shared his own experience with ANF officials at Islamabad airport, saying that once he was going abroad when one of the ANF officials shouted at him, asking, Who are you?

Talking about security, the CAA chief mentioned that a team of 25 officials from the UKs Department for Transport recently visited Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the security checks.

With the installation of 39 scanning machines, we will meet international standards, he said.

Corruption is a big issue in Pakistan which is listed at 140th position on Transparency Internationals 2022 list of the least corrupt nations.

(With inputs from PTI)

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After the media regulator directed networks to shut out persons involved in rioting last month, coverage of Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan disappeared from all prominent news channels in the country, a Reuters survey revealed on Monday.

According to a Reuters report, the regulator issued a guideline last week in response to the unrest that broke out in Pakistan last month after Khans brief detention, during which military facilities were allegedly damaged by Khans supporters.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) urged television licence holders to take steps to completely screen out from media rioters, hate mongers, and their facilitators and perpetrators.

It did not refer directly to Khan. However, coverage of the former prime minister  Pakistans most popular leader according to polls  has disappeared to the extent that his name and image are not being aired. His mention has also disappeared from news websites.

According to the report, PEMRA officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment and queries on whether the directives pertained to Khan, and if the directive was meant to be an all-encompassing ban.

Khan has long been the most televised politician in Pakistan, with his speeches and gatherings getting wall-to-wall coverage and widespread viewership.

The ban comes amid a wider crackdown on Khan and his party that has seen dozens of his party members and thousands of his supporters arrested, which, he says, is being done by the countrys powerful military.

The military has not responded to a request for comment on that allegation by Khan. It has previously denied orchestrating his removal his removal from power in a parliamentary vote last year. Khan himself was arrested on charges of graft but released two days later after courts deemed the manner of his detention illegal.

He remains out on bail, but faces dozens of cases. In an interview, Khan said that the incidents of violence was used as a pretext to for a blanket ban on him and his party.

We cannot be mentioned on television, said Khan, who now regularly speaks through his partys YouTube channel. Senior officials of four major news channels did not respond to request for comment.

Even ARY News, considered a pro-Khan channel by the former prime ministers political opponents, had no mention of Khan on Monday, despite his standoff with the military dominating headlines globally for weeks, reported Reuters.

The reports of blocking all news related to Imran Khan is the latest in a series of disturbing steps that authorities have taken to crack down on the opposition, Dinushika Dissanayake, Deputy Director, South Asia, at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

With inputs from agencies

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Satellite imagery of Aksai Chin shows China has expanded roads, outposts, installed modern weatherproof camps equipped with parking areas, solar panels, apart from helipads, a report from UK think-tank Chatham House said.

As per the report, the analysis was based on satellite images taken across six months since October 2022.

Also, there have been several indications that since the military standoff with India in May 2020, China has ramped up infrastructure on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The PLA is now firmly ensconced in Aksai Chin and looks set to remain there, the report said.

It further said that a heliport is being built in disputed territory from the front lines near Aksai Chin Lake.

The heliport comprises 18 hangars and short runways intended for use by helicopters and possibly drones, which would significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in and around Aksai Chin, the report said.

Tensions continue to simmer

The report by Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, also highlighted within Aksai Chin region, Chinese activity continues significantly at the Depsang Plains, which is one of the remaining friction points in the Ladakh sector of the LAC.

Patrols seemingly intend to put pressure on, and impede the development of, a strategic Indian airstrip at Daulat Beg Oldi, which serves as a logistics and transport base for Indian operations at high altitudes and is the highest airstrip in the world, the report said.

Daulat Beg Oldi crucially supports Indian units arranged against China and Pakistan, it added.

In Raki Nala, a river valley south of the contested Depsang Plains, Chinese outposts are visible, potentially able to block Indian patrols in the area.

At Pangong Tso, a saline lake surrounded by jagged peaks and unforgiving ridgelines, a bridge is nearing completion which when finished will allow the rapid deployment of Chinese forces from the PLAs Rutog military garrison to the contested mountain ridges overlooking the lake.

As per the report, the second development relates to the proposed Chinese G695 highway which once ready is expected to link Xinjiang with Tibet. It is due to be completed in 2035 and will run the length of Aksai Chin through the Depsang Plains, south past Galwan Valley and towards Pangong Tso.

The G695 highway will represents a strategic artery that will connect the contested region to mainland China and is expected to provide the PLA a new supply route.

The report said that though the reasons behind Chinas sudden move across the LAC are still hotly debated, given the opaque nature of Chinese policymaking under Xi Jinping, the true motives are probably only known in the highest echelons.

For India, this means its armed forces will now have to match a large-scale and probably semi-permanent Chinese presence along the border with Aksai Chin, perhaps for years to come, the report said.

Significance of Aksai Chin

For New Delhi, Aksai Chin is part of Ladakh, but Beijing claims it to be part of Xinjiang and Tibet.

Aksai Chin is home to the Galwan Valley, where 20 Indian soldiers died in a clash with the Chinese troops in June 2020.

The border standoff has taken India-China relations to a six-decade low. Top leadership in India has maintained that ties with China cannot be normalised until steps are taken to address the abnormal situation on the LAC.

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President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with Surinames highest civilian award by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to honour the deep-rooted bilateral ties.

The President of India arrived in Suriname on Sunday on a three-day state visit  her first since assuming office in July last year. An honour reflective of the deep-rooted India-Suriname ties! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn conferred with the Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star, the highest civilian award of Suriname by President @CSantokhi, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.

She said she was greatly honoured to receive Surinames highest distinction. This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent, she tweeted after receiving the award on Monday.

I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star." This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent. I also dedicate this honor to the pic.twitter.com/m74V8TfwjG  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2023

She dedicated the honour to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the President on receiving the award. Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji on being conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. This special gesture from the Government and the people of Suriname symbolises the enduring friendship between our countries, Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji on being conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname  Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. This special gesture from the Government and people of Suriname symbolizes the enduring friendship between our countries. @rashtrapatibhvn https://t.co/rmR2A0Bsgy  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2023

Despite her many official engagements, President Murmu spent some time with a group of children who came to greet her in Paramaribo. She offered them India-made chocolates.

President also visited Marinetrap where she witnessed the simulation and welcoming of the arrival of the First Indians in Suriname. She also inaugurated the simulated village at Independence Square.

On Monday, President Murmu met her Surinamese counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi and later led delegation-level talks between the two sides. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to be in Suriname on her first State Visit as President of India when it is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

She said that deep historical and cultural ties provide the foundation for the India-Suriname multifaceted and modern partnership.

The President noted that bilateral trade between the two countries is well below potential. She said that there is a need to work together to expand bilateral trade for mutual benefit. She expressed confidence that the agreements signed during the visit would help boost the trade and economic ties. She said that there is scope for further collaboration in sectors like pharmaceuticals, Ayurveda, agriculture and defence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a press release.

The President said that India is committed to enhancing technical cooperation and contributing to the capacity-building and skill development of Surinames human resources as per the countrys requirements. The two countries also signed three MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation.

(With inputs from PTI)

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The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is in danger due to the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, but the situation there is under control, according to Tuesdays statement from Ukraines official atomic power agency.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which oversees nuclear safety for the United Nations, stated on Twitter that while it was closely watching the situation, there was no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant, which is located in southern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian and Russian forces who both claimed responsibility for the devastation, explosions at the Soviet-era Kakhovka dam in Russian-occupied territory on Tuesday discharged floodwater throughout a region that is now a conflict zone.

Energoatom said the Russian invaders had blown up the dam.

It said the water level of the Kakhovka Reservoir was rapidly lowering, posing an additional threat to the Russian-occupied facility  Europes largest nuclear power plant  which both sides have blamed one another for shelling.

Water from the Kakhovka Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant), Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

Right now the stations cooling pond is full: as of 8:00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the stations needs.

Currently, the situation at the ZNPP is under control, Ukrainian personnel are monitoring all indicators, it said.

The head of Ukraines presidential administration on Tuesday described the blast as an ecocide committed by Russian forces. Russia blamed Ukraine for the incident.

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Ukraine declared Russia a terrorist state at the top UN court on Tuesday, as hearings in a case involving Moscows support for pro-Russian rebels accused of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.

It was the first time Ukrainian and Russian attorneys had met in the International Court of Justice, often known as the World Court, since Moscow started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Each party dispatched legal teams consisting of dozens of representatives.

A panel of 16 judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearing Ukraines accusation that Moscow violated a UN anti-terrorism treaty by arming and supporting pro-Russian militants who, international investigators found, shot down the plane over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Ukraine has also urged the Hague-based court to force Russia to stop allegedly discriminating against the Crimean Tatar ethnic community in the Ukrainian peninsula, which Russia invaded in 2014.

In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-large Anton Korynevych mentioned the devastation of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in Ukraines southern Kherson area, which had burst hours before.

According to Kyiv, Russia blew up the dam. Some Russian-installed authorities claim it was destroyed by Ukrainian bombardment, while others claim it blew up on its own.

Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission, Korynevych told hearings. Just today Russia blew up a major dam  causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damages and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

He added that Russias actions are the actions of a terrorist state.

Two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist were convicted by a Dutch court of murder in the case of flight MH17, which was shot down by a Russian-made missile on 17 July 2014 over pro-Russian separatist-held eastern Ukraine.

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Ukraine has adequate weapons to launch a counter-offensive against Russia, and the operation will provide the nation with the victory it needs to join NATO, according to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday.

Membership in the military alliance would probably be conceivable for Ukraine only after active conflicts ended, Kuleba said in an interview.

Ukraine has been planning a massive offensive to reclaim the 18% of its land still controlled by Russia for months, employing tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery given by Western partners.

Ukraines deputy defence minister said on Monday that the country was transitioning to offensive operations on specific fronts, but he denied Moscows previous allegation that a big Ukrainian attack had occurred.

Kuleba did not say whether the counter-offensive had started when asked. He answered that the most important thing was not when it started, but that it ended in Ukrainian victory.

The minister, who has served in his post since March 2020, said NATO membership was the next big target on Ukraines agenda after some of its allies agreed to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighter jets coveted and lobbied for by Kyiv.

We (already) unlocked all weapons. There is nothing big left to fight for.

NATO membership cannot stop this war, but NATO membership will stop further wars. This is why the best way to ensure security in the region is to come to the moment when Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, he said.

Moscow said in the early hours of Monday that it had thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive involving six mechanised and two tank battalions in the southern part of Ukraines Donetsk region.

Kyiv officials mocked that claim, with Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar saying the claim was intended to distract from Russian defeats near the eastern city of Bakhmut.

Kuleba said that while Ukraine now had enough arms to begin its counter-offensive, it would still need continued deliveries from its allies to sustain the effort.

When you go on the counter-offensive, its one thing to have enough weapons to begin it, but another thing to ensure sustainability of supplies in order to be able to continue as long as is needed.

Kuleba said he was pretty confident that Kyivs partners would continue to supply arms until Kyiv reached its goals, but acknowledged they would face difficulties around production capacity.

Earlier this year, NATO increased targets for stockpiling ammunition, saying that Kyiv is burning through shells much faster than Western countries can produce them and allied stocks are badly depleted.

It is crucial for partners to ramp up production of weapons, not only for Ukraine but for themselves. This can be done, this is being done, but I think that efforts must be stepped up, Kuleba said.

Asked whether he was concerned that Saudi Arabias recently announced oil production cut would help fellow major oil producer Russia, Kuleba said the decision was influenced by broader factors, but that any move that would help Russia make more money was still unwelcome.

Speaking about recent raids into the Russian border region of Belgorod conducted by anti-Kremlin Russian volunteer militias which say they are backed by Ukraine, Kuleba cast the violence as an internal Russian matter and said it was none of his business.

U.S. and Belgian officials earlier said they were investigating the possible use of Western weapons by the militias inside Russian territory, something which would likely be seen as an escalation in the war.

Kuleba, however, said his ministry had not received any formal complaints regarding the events in Belgorod.

Usually when you want to express your concern with something, you send a note, and we havent received anything, he said.

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Ukraine will accuse Russia of supporting pro-Moscow rebels for years before to last years full-scale invasion at the United Nations highest court on Tuesday.

In a lawsuit initiated by Ukraine in 2017, Kyiv and Moscow will present their views to judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

In a subsequent lawsuit, Ukraine accused Moscow of plotting genocide in relation to Russias invasion in February 2022. In this instance, the ICJ ordered Russia to halt its invasion.

Ukraines lawyers will address the court on Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT), while Russias will do so on Thursday, according to an ICJ statement. Ukraine will then respond on 12 June, followed by Russia on 14 June.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was established after World War II to settle disputes between UN member nations. Its decisions are binding, but it has no way of enforcing them.

Ukraine claims Russia violated UN norms on terrorism financing and racial discrimination, and is demanding restitution for pro-Moscow rebel actions in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Approximately 13,000 individuals were killed in the eight years of turmoil preceding the 2022 invasion.

Ukraine says Russia funnelled arms and cash to fighters behind a separatist insurgency that broke out after the pro-Russian government in Kyiv was toppled by pro-EU protests in early 2014.

War crimes allegations

Russia has denied all links to the rebels. Since the invasion, it now holds much of the territory where the violence took place and where the separatists were in charge.

The dead in eastern Ukraine include 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down with a Russian-made BUK missile over rebel territory in July 2014.

A Dutch court ruled last year that Moscow had directly controlled the rebels, as it sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist to life sentences in absentia over MH17.

International investigators said separately in February this year that there were strong indications that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that downed the plane.

ICJ judges ruled that the case could go ahead in 2019, after dismissing Russias attempts to have it thrown out.

Russia faces a series of legal actions in The Hague over the conflict in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), an independent war crimes tribunal which like the ICJ is also based in the Dutch city, issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March.

Putin is accused by the ICC of the war crime of unlawfully deporting children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

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Russia on Monday said that US-built F-16 fighter jets can accommodate nuclear weapons and warned that supplying Kyiv with them will escalate the conflict further.

We must keep in mind that one of the modifications of the F-16 can accommodate nuclear weapons, said Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a speech at a military base in Dushanbe in Tajikistan, according to a transcript on the ministrys website.

If they do not understand this, then they are worthless as military strategists and planners.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has long appealed for the F-16 jets, saying their appearance with Ukrainian pilots would be a sure signal from the world that Russias invasion would end in defeat

US President Joe Biden told G7 leaders last month that Washington supported joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.

But US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no final decision on Washington sending aircraft.

With inputs from agencies

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The White House warned on Monday that Chinese military aggressiveness responsible for near collisions with US personnel at sea and in the air might result in deaths shortly.

It wont be long before somebody gets hurt, said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. Thats the concern with these unsafe and unprofessional intercepts.

According to the Pentagon, a Chinese vessel prompted a US naval destroyer to take evasive steps to avoid a collision. This happened less than two weeks after a Chinese fighter aircraft flew right into the path of an approaching US warplane.

The moves, according to Kirby, were part and parcel of an increasing level of aggressiveness by Chinas military.

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Iran showed the world its first-ever domestically-manufactured hypersonic ballistic missile Fattah at a grand ceremony on Tuesday.

This announcement is likely to increase Western concerns regarding Tehrans missile capabilities.

During a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iranian state media released images of the missile named Fattah.

Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards aerospace force, stated through Iranian state media that the precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and possesses the ability to penetrate all defense shields.

Hypersonic missiles can travel at least five times the speed of sound and follow complex trajectories, making them challenging to intercept. Last year, Iran claimed to have developed a hypersonic ballistic missile capable of maneuvering within and outside the Earths atmosphere.

Irans state TV reported that the Fattah missile is capable of targeting advanced anti-missile systems of adversaries and represents a significant advancement in missile technology. It specifically mentioned bypassing the United States and Israels advanced anti-ballistic missile systems, including Israels Iron Dome.

The state TV further noted that Fattah can achieve speeds equivalent to Mach 14, approximately 15,000 km/h.

Despite opposition from the United States and Europe, the Islamic Republic has expressed its intention to continue advancing its defensive missile program. However, some Western military analysts caution that Iran occasionally exaggerates its missile capabilities.

The concerns surrounding Irans ballistic missiles played a role in the decision made by former U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and six major powers.

Following the U.S. withdrawal, Trump reinstated sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to resume nuclear activities that had been prohibited under the agreement. This development reignited fears among the United States, Europe, and Israel that Iran might be pursuing nuclear weapons, despite Iran consistently denying such intentions.

Efforts to salvage the nuclear deal through indirect talks between Tehran and the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden have been at a standstill since September of last year.

Israel, a country that is not recognized by the Islamic Republic, opposes the international communitys attempts to revive Irans nuclear agreement. Israel has long maintained its stance of considering military action if diplomatic efforts fail.

(With inputs from agencies)

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One of Chinas two home-built aircraft carriers reportedly has cracks on its deck  if satellite images are to be believed.

As per the satellite images, the Fujian aircraft carrier of China has two big cracks on its deck.

According to reports, even Shandong carrier had such gaps on its decks and port and starboard sides of the vessel.

Back on June 17, 2022, China launched its third aircraft carrier, taking another step toward a goal of building a blue-water navy with at least six carriers by 2035.

According to South China Morning Post, The Fujian  named after Chinas southeastern coastal province  is different in design from its predecessors. The carrier features a flat top flight deck as well as a faster and more energy-efficient electromagnetic catapult system to launch planes, reports said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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According to both Ukrainian and Russian forces, a massive Soviet-era dam in the Russian-controlled section of southern Ukraine blew on Tuesday, sending a flow of water over the combat zone.

Both parties accused the other for the dams destruction.

Unverified social media footage revealed a succession of strong explosions near the Kakhovka dam. Other footage showed water flowing through the dams ruins, with passersby reacting in horror, occasionally using violent language.

Recent footage of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

pic.twitter.com/91XcsBP1D8  The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 6, 2023

The dam, 30 metres (yards) tall and 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) long, was erected in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant on the Dnipro River.

A multi-hundred foot chunk of the Nova Kakhovka dam is gone, the Kakhovka Reservoir is quickly emptying out into the Dnipro. pic.twitter.com/265i1nbvAO  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 6, 2023

It holds an 18 km3 reservoir which also supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

Ukraine's military said that Russian forces blew up the dam.

"The Kakhovka (dam) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces," the South command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Tuesday on its Facebook page.

"The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified."

Russian news agencies said the dam, controlled by Russian forces, had been destroyed in shelling while a Russian-installed official said it was a terrorist attack - Russian shorthand for an attack by Ukraine.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the battlefield accounts from either side.

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Palaeontologists in South Africa announced that they have discovered the oldest known burial site in the world. The site contains remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans, previously believed to lack complex behaviour.

The research team unearthed multiple specimens of Homo naledi, a Stone Age hominid known for tree-climbing.

The burial site was found approximately 30 metres underground in a cave system within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg.

According to the scientists, these interments are the oldest ever recorded in the hominin record, predating evidence of Homo sapiens burials by at least 100,000 years. The findings challenge the current understanding of human evolution, as it has been commonly thought that the development of larger brains enabled complex activities like burial rituals, reported AFP.

Previous burials discovered in the Middle East and Africa dated back around 100,000 years and belonged to Homo sapiens. However, the recently found burials date back to at least 200,000 BC and pertain to the primitive species Homo naledi.

Homo naledi, named after the Rising Star cave system where the initial bones were discovered in 2013, represents a transitional species between apes and modern humans.

The researchers argue that burial practices, meaning-making, and even artistic expression may have a more intricate and non-human history than previously believed. Scientists outside the research team have shown interest in the findings and are awaiting peer review to assess their validity.

Nonetheless, it is acknowledged that later hominins could have made some of the markings on the cave walls, a possibility that the paper does not rule out.

With inputs from agencies

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OnePlus has introduced Nord CE 3 Lite 5G as Nord N30 5G in the US. This has a 6.72-inch FHD+ LCD screen with 120Hz refresh rate, 16-megapixel camera inside the punch-hole, Octa-Core Snapdragon 695 SoC, 8GB of RAM and Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1.

There is a 108-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera and 5000mAh battery with support for 50W SuperVOOC fast charging, even though it supports 67W SUPERVOOC, since it only achieves 50W in 110V low-voltage areas including North America, said the company.

OnePlus Nord N30 5G specifications

6.72-inch (2400 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screen with 30/48/50/60/90/120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, up to 680 nits peak brightness, Asahi Dragontail Star Glass protection

Octa Core Snapdragon 695 8nm Mobile Platform (2.2GHz x 2+1.8GHz x 6 Kryo 560 CPUs) with Adreno 619L GPU

8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB (UFS 2.2) storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD

Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1

108MP rear camera with 1/1.67 Samsung HM6 sensor, f/1.75 aperture, EIS LED flash, 2MP depth and 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture

16MP front-facing camera with Sony IMX471 sensor, f/2.0 aperture

Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

3.5mm audio jack, Stereo speakers

Dimensions: 165.5768.3mm; Weight: 195g

5G, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1 LE, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, USB Type-C

5000mAh battery with 50W SUPERVOOC Fast Charging

Pricing and availability

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G comes in Chromatic Gray colours and is priced at $299.99 (Rs. 24,780 approx.) for the single 8GB + 128GB model. It is available to pre-order and will start shipping from June 12. As a launch offer, pre-orders get a free Buds 2 and an additional year of Google One subscription.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer:



Niger may be one of the world's poorest nations, but almost 8% of its vast territory (21st-largest in the world) is set aside for nature conservation. In addition to the areas designated as National Parks and Reserves, Niger also boasts 79 Forest Reserves and 51 restoration and land protection areas.



Located in the Sahara Desert, the Air and Tenere National Nature Reserve (established in 1988) covers the eastern half of the volcanic Air Mountains and the western part of the Tenere region. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, it is the second-largest nature reserve in Africa, and the fourth-largest in the world. It has also been identified as an Important Bird Area, as the Air massif is a major transit zone for migratory birds. About one-sixth of the reserve is occupied by the Addax Sanctuary, where a small population of the critically endangered Addax nasomaculatus, a large antelope with dramatic spiral horns, fights for survival. The North African ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) is the largest subspecies of the common ostrich, and thus the world's largest bird. The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda), the smallest fox species, is native to the deserts of North Africa, and Algeria's national animal.



Africa's largest protected area, the Termit Massif Reserve (established in 1962) also consists of mountains and desert, which provide a favourable environment for various antelope species. Besides the addax and the dama gazelle (Nanger dama), called "meyna" in the local Hausa language, the reserve is home to the large Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), with its distinctive curved horns, a species adapted to life in arid or semi-arid mountain areas. The striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), the smallest of the bone-crushing hyaenas, is found all over Niger, as well as North and East Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent.



W National Park (established in 1954) owes its name to the W-shape of the meander of the Niger River around which it is located. It lies in the southwestern corner of the country, bordering Benin and Burkina Faso, and is thus managed by the governments of all three countries. The park has a tropical savanna climate, and is rich in wetland areas, where wading birds such as the black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina), with its "crown" of golden feathers, can be found. The park is known for its large mammal fauna, which include the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the largest living land mammal, almost completely extinct in West Africa, and the critically endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), a smaller and lighter-coloured subspecies of the world's fastest land animal. The park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.



The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) does not exclusively live in saltwater, and is known to ascend rivers in the rainy season. The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and the Nile crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus) are among Africa's most feared animals, and between them kill hundreds of people every year; they also often fight and kill each other.



The Dosso Partial Faunal Reserve (established in 1962), known for its population of West African giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta), adjoins the W National Park. This endemic subspecies of giraffe is distinguished by its light-coloured spots. The Nigerien population migrates seasonally between the Niger River valley and the drier highlands near the village of Koure.



The secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) - often described as an "eagle on stilts" because of its long legs - and the martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), Africa's largest eagle, are both members of the order Accipitriformes (the diurnal birds of prey). Both are found mainly in southern Niger, in savanna habitats.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Shep Ramsey in "Suburban Commando" (1991)



Answer: Hulk Hogan



Hulk Hogan is the wrestling name of Terry Bollea, who was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953. He joined what was then the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1983, becoming one of its most famous and popular performers. He was among the first wrestlers to become widely known outside the wrestling community, his signature moustache making him instantly recognisable.



His first film role was a cameo in "Rocky III" (1982) but he went on to have lead roles in several films, often action comedies. One of these was "Suburban Commando" (1991), in which he played an intergalactic soldier who crashed-landed his spacecraft on Earth, leading to various predictable interactions with a "normal" suburban American family.

2. Fezzik in "The Princess Bride" (1997)



Answer: Andre the Giant



Andre Rene Roussimoff was born in the French town of Coulommiers in 1946. His large size was the result of giantism, a medical condition caused by excess growth hormones from birth. In 1964, at the age of 18, he began training as a wrestler in Paris, and made his debut with the WWF in 1973. He performed as a wrestler until 1992, shortly before his premature death in 1993 aged only 46.



Although he made a few television and film appearances, his most famous role was the outlaw Fezzik in the 1997 film "The Princess Bride", which was a modest success on its release but became a cult classic following its release on home video.

3. Dan Paine in "The Expendables" (2010)



"Stone Cold" Steve Austin



"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the ring name of Steven James Anderson, who was born in Austin, Texas, in 1964. He began wrestling with the WWF in 1995.



When a serious injury in 2003 led to his retirement form full-time wrestling, he began to make occasional film appearances in action films, most of which went straight to video. One which didn't was the 2010 film "The Expendables", starring Sylvester Stallone and an ensemble cast of "tough guy" actors, including Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren. Steve Austin played Dan Paine, the chief henchman of rogue CIA agent James Munroe, played by Eric Roberts. Paine does not survive the film, being immolated in a burning building. Answer:"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was the ring name of Steven James Anderson, who was born in Austin, Texas, in 1964. He began wrestling with the WWF in 1995.When a serious injury in 2003 led to his retirement form full-time wrestling, he began to make occasional film appearances in action films, most of which went straight to video. One which didn't was the 2010 film "The Expendables", starring Sylvester Stallone and an ensemble cast of "tough guy" actors, including Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren. Steve Austin played Dan Paine, the chief henchman of rogue CIA agent James Munroe, played by Eric Roberts. Paine does not survive the film, being immolated in a burning building.

4. Luke Hobbs in "Fast Five" (2011)



Answer: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson



Of all the wrestlers who have moved into films, probably the most successful is Dwayne Johnson, who wrestled as The Rock. His WWF career began in 1996 under the name Rocky Maivia, although he soon shortened this to "The Rock" and became one of the WWF's best-known and most successful performers.



His first notable film role was in the 2001 film "The Mummy", in which he played the character of the Scorpion King. This was sufficiently successful to lead to a prequel film the following year, in which his character was the main role. His film stardom was really cemented by his performance as CIA agent Luke Hobbs in "Fast Five" (2011), the fifth film in the successful "Fast and Furious" franchise, a role which he repeated in subsequent films. By the early 2020s he was one of Hollywood's most successful and highly paid actors.

5. Ray Bradstone in "The Chaperone" (2011)



Answer: Triple H



Triple H is the best-known ring name of Paul Levesque, who was born in July 1969 in Nashua, New Hampshire. He began his professional wrestling career in 1992, joining the WWF in 1995 under the name Hunter Hearst Helmsley, which was soon abbreviated to "Triple H". After a successful wrestling career, he retired in March 2022, having been diagnosed with a serious heart condition.



It's probably true to say that his film career never really took off. His first film role was in the 2004 film "Blade: Trinity", in which he played Jarko Grimwood. In 2011 he had major roles in two films: the crime comedy "The Chaperone" as Ray Bradstone, and a crime drama "Inside Out" as Arlo Jayne. Neither of these were particularly successful, and subsequently his film career more or less dried up.

6. Peacemaker in "The Suicide Squad" (2021)



Answer: John Cena



John Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1977. He first wrestled under the WWF banner in 2000, before joining its Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) development programme. He soon became a successful and popular member of the main WWF/WWE team, and in parallel developed a successful film career during the 2010s and into the 2020s, mixing action with comedy.



One of his most high-profile roles was as the character Peacemaker in James Gunn's 2021 film "The Suicide Squad", in which he played a member of the eponymous team of anti-heroes. A spin-off television series named "Peacemaker", also starring Cena, debuted successfully in 2022.

7. Lachlan in "Highlander: Endgame" (2000)



Answer: Adam "Edge" Copeland



The Canadian wrestler Adam Copeland, better known by his ring name "Edge", was born in Orangeville, Ontario in 1973. He joined one of the WWF development programmes in 1997 and initially became popular as part of a tag team with William "Christian" Reso. He initially retired in 2011 following a neck injury but returned to the ring in 2020.



His film debut was in the small role of Lachlan in "Highlander: Endgame", the fourth film in the series. Following his first retirement he appeared in a couple of direct-to-video action films, including "Bending the Rules" (2012) and "Interrogation" (2016).

8. John Nada in "They Live" (1988)



"Rowdy" Roddy Piper



Canadian wrestler Roderick Toombs (1954-2015) was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and performed under the name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1969 and performed with various wrestling organisations before joining WWF full-time in 1984. He died of a heart attack in 2015 at the age of 61.



Between 1986 and 2015 he appeared in many mostly forgettable films, although he will always be remembered for his starring role as John Nada in John Carpenter's 1988 cult science-fiction classic "They Live". He plays a man who discovers a pair of sunglasses which, when he put them on, enables him to see that many of the population are in fact aliens who are controlling the rest of the world through subliminal messaging, which is also revealed by the glasses. Answer:Canadian wrestler Roderick Toombs (1954-2015) was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and performed under the name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1969 and performed with various wrestling organisations before joining WWF full-time in 1984. He died of a heart attack in 2015 at the age of 61.Between 1986 and 2015 he appeared in many mostly forgettable films, although he will always be remembered for his starring role as John Nada in John Carpenter's 1988 cult science-fiction classic "They Live". He plays a man who discovers a pair of sunglasses which, when he put them on, enables him to see that many of the population are in fact aliens who are controlling the rest of the world through subliminal messaging, which is also revealed by the glasses.

9. Drax the Destroyer in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)



Answer: Dave Bautista



David Bautista Jr was born in Washington D.C. in 1969 and wrestled under the name "Batista". He joined the WWF in 1999 and had a successful career before retiring in 2019.



Starting in 2006 he appeared in several not particularly successful films, until he gained both critical and popular acclaim for his performance as Drax in the 2014 Marvel Comics film "Guardians of the Galaxy". He repeated the role in two sequels, as well as "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018) and "Avengers: Endgame" (2019). He followed this with roles in other well-regarded films such as "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) and "Dune Part 1" (2021).

10. Blain Cooper in "Predator" (1987)



Answer: Jesse Ventura



Jesse Ventura was born James George Janos in 1951 in Minneapolis, Missouri. After a period of military service in the US Navy (1969-75), he began a successful wrestling career under the name Jesse "The Body" Ventura.



Following his retirement from active wrestling, he appeared in several films, starting with the role of Sergeant Blain Cooper, one of the military team who are picked off one by one by the alien predator in the 1987 film of that name. His career took a further turn in 1991 when he was elected Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and then Governor of Minnesota from 1999-2003.

Source: Author stedman This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
News

Galveston to replace July 4 droning with booms and bangs

jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo People watch the Fourth of July drone light show in Galveston on July 4, 2022. The show, which was supposed to start at 9 p.m., started an hour late.

GALVESTON

Announcing the return to a fireworks tradition the Park Board of Trustees abandoned last year, island officials said this years Independence Day celebration wont drone on like the glitchy 2022 iteration.

Last years celebration  during which drones, small pilotless aircraft, were supposed to create an impressive light show  was trouble-plagued and underwhelming, pushing some islanders toward open revolt.

This years fireworks show will take place at 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard, where plans call for igniting $1,000 worth of explosives every minute for 25 minutes.

It will be the largest and most magnificent ever, Mayor Craig Brown said.

It should be free of the technical glitches that delayed last years drone light show, which was billed as an environmentally friendly alternative to fireworks.

This years Fourth of July celebration is set to begin at 6 p.m. with a parade and end with a fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m. on the seawall.

Everyone in the city, as well as the park board, were not completely satisfied with the drone show, and the community was hoping to have a more classic display for the Fourth of July, Brown said.

This years iteration will be the first time in a while the park board isnt hosting the celebration, Brown said. That put city staff in a pinch to prepare, David Smith, executive director of events for the city, said.

Its going to be longer than previous shows, which were only about 15 minutes long, Smith said.

City administrators soon will announce an app allowing fireworks gazers to listen to music paired with the show, Smith said.

The Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday this year, so the city doesnt expect the same crowds as a weekend might draw, Smith said. If rain or other bad weather makes the show impossible on Tuesday, officials will hold the celebration Saturday, July 9, Smith said.

City officials have met with police and firefighters to plan for an increased public safety presence for this years celebration, Smith said.

In the past, we had too many people beside the pier, Smith said.

Police will cordon off the area near the 37th Street pier to keep revelers at a safe distance, Smith said.

City officials had many discussions about how to make the celebration safer than last year, when packed crowds created traffic snarls along the seawall, Brown said.

The drone light show last year was delayed an hour by technical difficulties emanating from the seawall, according to Dallas-based Sky Elements, the drone operators. Company officials said magnetic interference from the seawall garbled the signals controlling the drones.

A second of two scheduled shows was canceled because the blades on some of the drones broke when they landed on rock groins where the show was staged.

The park board had voted to spend $90,000 on the drone show and other activities instead of fireworks.

Park board leaders were attempting to find an alternative that didnt present the same pollution concerns or cause noise that might terrify dogs and trouble people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Many factors led city officials to opt against repeating the drone show, Vince Lorefice, general manager of parks, said.

A drone show is only two dimensional with a one-sided view, Lorefice said. Fireworks are three-dimensional and can be viewed from miles at all angles.

We heard that our constituents wanted traditional fireworks, so we are collaborating with the city on the Fourth of July fireworks show.

There were an estimated 100,000 people at the drone show last year, Lorefice said.

Independence Day fireworks is one of the more well-attended events by residents and tourists, and the number of visitors at the celebration has grown over the years, Brown said. And Brown is no stranger to the event, he said. His spot of choice is right in front of the action on 37th Street, he said.

Whats nice about the fireworks is you can see them from all over the island, Brown said. If youre sitting on the patio at the Galvez or in the West End, you can see it.
Local governments open more channels to boost agriculture, farmers' incomes Qiao Chuanjun, 52, relocated from Suzhou in northern Anhui province 16 years ago to Yu'an district of Lu'an in western Anhui to pursue his dream of a better life by planting peach trees. He is now the owner of Chuanjun Planting and Cultivation Family Farm. With his wife, their daughter and son-in-law, another of his relatives and himself, Qiao's family farm of five rents 960 mu (64 hectares) of land from some 200 local farmers to plant over 20 types of peach trees  he made his dream come true. "Since May 30, I've sold some 300,000 yuan ($42,200) in the past few days, and am expecting an annual income of 3 million yuan," he said, pointing to his trees growing on the low hills around him. "I earn money through appropriately scaled agricultural operations," Qiao noted, adding that since October 2021, he has spent some 5 million yuan in leveling the soil and planting new varieties of peaches. "I focus on gem products  the cash-cow peaches," he said, noting that his peaches are mainly sold to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Currently, East China's Anhui province is utilizing all channels to enrich farmers' incomes in its drive for rural vitalization. Encouraging scaled agricultural operations is one of them. Large-scale agriculture In Taihe county in Fuyang, northwestern Anhui, Xu Congxiang owns a 1,230-mu agricultural science and technology park. With an R&D building and over 10 units of large mechanical equipment, his park produced 820,000 kilograms of wheat in 2022. Xu now owns some 20 key technologies for planting high-yield wheat through scaled agricultural operations. With an aim of "producing more grain and producing good grain", Taihe is pushing for scaled agricultural operations, planting 2.96 million mu of grain this year and expecting production to hit over 1 million metric tons. To increase grain production, Anhui planted over 100 million mu of grain this year and is expecting a total yield of more than 82 billion kg of grain. Herbal medicine As an herbal medicine and agricultural produce, shihu, or the stems of dendrobium nobile, which grows in harsh mountainous environments, is considered the first grass of nine Chinese "immortal "herbs and a priceless treasure, bringing health benefits to users who eat the stems or flowers. Growing huoshan shihu in Huoshan county of southwestern Lu'an is part of "rural industries with local features". Lu'an, in the renowned Babie Mountains, is dubbed a "medicine storehouse". Located in the Lu'an National Economic Development Zone, Jiuxianzun Huoshan Shihu Co Ltd was the earliest high-tech enterprise engaged in developing the entire shihu industry chain in Anhui, enriching the incomes of local farmers. The company owns a 500-mu shihu industrial park in Huoshan, a 500-mu original species protection base in Huoshan's Taipingban township, a 1,000-mu GAP, or Good Agricultural Practices, domestication base in Heishidu township and a 10,000-mu shihu health valley under construction in Taiyang township, for the deep processing of the "first grass". According to the Anhui Provincial Medical Products Administration, the province has 3,578 types of traditional Chinese medicine, ranking sixth in the country, and encourages local farmers to plant over 127,000 mu of such agricultural produce to boost rural industries with local features. Value-added business Funan county, with 1.74 million residents in southern Fuyang, is known as "the capital of China's wickerwork". The local government encourages farmers in its 28 townships to develop wickerwork weaved with leaves of cattail, willow and mulberry strips, which is considered a value-added business. Located along the Huaihe River, the county has abundant resources, said Zhang Lei, the county's publicity chief, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Funan County Committee. In the county's Huanggang township, there are 36 wickerwork enterprises. At Huanggang's Yangzhai village, every home runs a wickerwork business and can earn up to 60,000 yuan each year from this cottage industry, he said. Currently, Funan can produce over 10,000 wickerwork varieties, which are craft products with both ornamental and practical values, and are sold both at home and abroad. These value-added businesses are a boon to local farmers, Zhang said. One product per village With over 61 million residents living in 104 county-level areas administering various townships formed with various villages, Anhui is also trying to form a model of "one product for each village, one industry for each township and one specialty for each county", in a bid to increase farmers' incomes. In Linfei village, Guqiao township under Fengtai county, Liu Jiying is supporting his family of five by raising cattle. Seven years ago, Liu's wife suffered from leukemia. Her treatment cost the family savings, making the household finances very tight. In January 2018, the township encouraged Liu to take part in a breeding training course organized by the county and master the skills of cattle farming. Four months later, the township government also helped him apply for an interest-free loan of 40,000 yuan. Together with self-raised funds of 100,000 yuan, Liu bought 10 yellow cattle, which have grown in number, surpassing 40. In 2019, he sold 15 bulls and kept all the cows, earning an annual income of over 200,000 yuan, repaying all his debt and easing the family's life. His wife received a successful bone marrow transplant and fully recovered from leukemia, while their two children also got married. "I thanked the government for introducing the 'one product per village' policy, which helped me in regaining a good life," Liu said. "The most challenging and arduous tasks in building a modern socialist China in all respects remain in rural areas," said agricultural expert Zhang Jian, adding that "for Anhui as a whole, in advancing rural vitalization across the board, it is vital to bolstering the revitalization of businesses, talent, culture and ecosystems to increase the farmers' incomes".
Sony PlayStation Days of Play 2023 Sale - Grab Incredible Deals on PS Games News oi -Kabir Jain

Sony's annual promotional event, Days of Play, offers customers significant discounts on accessories, games, and other products. The sale started on June 2nd at 12:01 midnight and will continue until June 12th, making it a 10-day event.

PlayStation Plus Subscriptions

PlayStation Plus subscriptions have been a vital part of the gaming experience for PlayStation console owners. During Days of Play 2023, Sony is offering compelling discounts on all three levels of PlayStation Plus subscriptions: Essential, Extra, and Premium. This means that whether you're a casual gamer or a dedicated enthusiast, there's a subscription plan tailored to suit your needs.

Existing PlayStation Plus members will be delighted to know that they can renew or extend their memberships at a reduced rate. Sony is providing a generous 25% discount on one-month, three-month, and 12-month membership plans.

It's important to note that this offer is exclusively valid for upgrading to a higher-tier plan and cannot be used for downgrading to a lower-tier plan. So, if you've been considering elevating your gaming experience, now is the perfect time to seize this opportunity.

PlayStation Gear

In addition to the enticing discounts on subscriptions, Sony is also extending a tempting offer on a range of PlayStation Gear items. During Days of Play, customers can enjoy a 20% discount on selected PlayStation Gear merchandise.

As an added bonus, Sony is also providing free shipping on all Days of Play orders. To avail this perk, make sure to use the promo code DAYSOFPLAY23 during the checkout process. This way, you can enjoy your newly acquired PlayStation Gear without worrying about any additional shipping costs.

Discounted PlayStation Games

No gaming event would be complete without discounted games, and Days of Play 2023 is no exception. Thanks to the gaming aficionado Rishi Alwani, we have a compiled list of physical PlayStation games that will be available at discounted prices during the event.

To explore the wide array of offers and discounts, visit Sony's dedicated Days of Play website.

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In secret meeting, two dozen world's spy chiefs gather in Singapore: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 7:08 AM

About two dozen of senior officials from the world's intelligence agencies gathered in secret in Singapore this weekend concurrent with the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, according to a report.

Five unnamed sources familiar with the matter told Reuters such meetings between the spy chiefs are regularly held at a separate venue alongside the security summit for several years, but not previously reported.

Representatives from the United States, India, China, and several other countries from the Asia-Pacific region attended the meeting, the report added.

US head of national intelligence Avril Haines, Samant Goel -- the head of India's overseas intelligence gathering agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- and a representative from China attended the meeting, it said.

"The meeting is an important fixture on the international shadow agenda," one person with knowledge of the discussions said, adding the meeting can promote "a deeper understating of intentions and bottom lines."

"There is an unspoken code among intelligence services that they can talk when more formal and open diplomacy is harder - it is a very important factor during times of tension, and the Singapore event helps promote that."

Another of the sources said the tone at the meeting was collaborative and cooperative, and not confrontational.

A spokesperson for the Singapore Ministry of Defence said that the ministry "facilitates" meetings between spy chiefs during Shangri-La Dialogue.

"Participants have found such meetings held on the sidelines of the (dialogue) beneficial," the spokesperson said.

However, the US Embassy in Singapore cast doubts about the report, saying it had no information on the meeting while the Chinese and Indian sides did not immediately respond to Reuter's requests for comments on the matter.

Despite the reported presence of Chinese and US representatives in the secret conclave, China has rejected a request by the United States for a meeting between the two countries' defense chiefs during the summit, as tensions continue to rise between Beijing and Washington in the face of persisting US "provocations."

Nonetheless, the US seeks dialogue with China with Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin describing the dialogue between the two countries as "essential."

"The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People's Republic of China are essential -- especially between our defense and military leaders," Austin said at the Shangri-La summit on Saturday.

China's senior colonel Zhao Xiaozhou said Beijing also believed the lines of communication were necessary, but "the problem is for the United States to stop provoking China's security."

On Friday, a US and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, in a rare joint mission in the sensitive waterway at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington over Chinese-claimed Taiwan.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu told Asia's top security summit on Sunday that conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" for the world.

In his speech, Li said China would not allow such freedom-of-navigation patrols by the United States and its allies to be "a pretext to exercise hegemony of navigation."

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U.S. Sanctions Seven Russians For Attempt To Destabilize Moldova

By RFE/RL June 05, 2023

WASHINGTON -- The United States has sanctioned seven leading members of a Russian influence group with links to intelligence services for their role in Moscow's campaign to destabilize Moldova and instigate an insurrection.

In a statement issued on June 5, the Treasury Department accused the individuals of provoking, training, and overseeing protesters in Moldova with the aim to topple President Maia Sandu and a newly appointed Western-leaning government earlier this year.

The statement said Konstantin Sapozhnikov, one of the sanctioned individuals, led the group and also organized the plot to destabilize the Moldovan government. The other members designated were Yury Makolov, Gleb Khloponin, Svetlana Boyko, Aleksei Losev, Vasily Gromovikov, and Anna Travnikova.

In February and March, several thousand people took to the streets in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, against Sandu and the country's pro-Western government with many in the crowd linked to the Russia-friendly Shor Party. The protesters demanded Sandu's resignation and called on the government to pay citizens' utility bills following a spike in energy prices caused by Russia's decision to slash natural gas exports to Europe.

Ilan Shor, the tycoon who founded the Shor Party, fled Moldova following Sandu's election in 2019.

"Russia's attempted influence operations exploit the concerns of the citizens of these countries, to destabilize legitimately elected governments for Moscow's own interests. The United States remains committed, along with the EU, to target individuals who engage in such activities against the government of Moldova," Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement.

Sandu and the government want Moldova, an impoverished former Soviet state, to join the European Union and escape Moscow's orbit. The Kremlin opposes Moldova's tilt to the West and has used its energy resources as a tool to punish Chisinau.

Russia has denied any involvement in a covert plot to destabilize Moldova.

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu, in a Facebook post, said that "we welcome today's decision by the United States Treasury Department to sanction seven more individuals with foreign citizenship who tried to destabilize the internal situation in the Republic of Moldova. This measure is an important step in our joint efforts to maintain stability and public order in our country."

It is not the first time the United States has sanctioned Russian individuals for undermining democracy in Moldova.

In October 2022, the Treasury Department designated Yury Gudilin, Olga Grak, and Leonid Gonin for their coordinated action in 2020 and 2021 to influence the outcome of Moldova's elections. The EU has also sanctioned several Russian and Moldovan individuals for activities against the government in Chisinau.

In its June 5 statement, the Treasury Department said Sapozhnikov and his group did not limit their actions to Moldova. They also targeted Ukraine, Balkan countries, the EU, Britain, and the United States.

"These malign influence operatives analyze countries vulnerable to exploitation and stoke fears that undermine faith in democratic principles in the targeted countries," the statement said.

The treasury's decision to sanction Sapozhnikov and his cohorts freezes any U.S. assets in their possession, including U.S. dollar bank accounts at foreign institutions.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-sanctions-russians- attempts-destabliize-moldova/32445806.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Robert Hanssen, 'Most Damaging Spy' in FBI History, Found Dead in Colorado Prison Cell

Sputnik News

20230605

Fantine Gardinier

Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who secretly passed intelligence to the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation, has died at the age of 79. He was serving 15 consecutive life sentences for espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage - charges to which he pleaded guilty in 2002.

The US Bureau of Prisons confirmed reports on Monday that Hanssen had passed away in his cell at ADX Florence, a supermax prison facility in Colorado.

"Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested emergency medical services and life-saving efforts continued. The inmate was subsequently pronounced dead by outside emergency personnel," the BoP said in a release.

Hannsen has been called "the most damaging spy in Bureau history" by the FBI. He obtained a job with the FBI in 1976, and three years later approached the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) with an offer to spy for them. He passed the Soviets intelligence until 1981, when a transfer affected his ability to do so, and resumed his espionage when he received a new position in 1985.

The double agent repeatedly passed the Soviets complete lists of double agents known to the FBI, including numerous CIA contacts, as well as a variety of other information, such as a secret tunnel the FBI built underneath the Soviet embassy in Washington, DC, to use for spying purposes. He also passed the Soviets signals intelligence information.

Hanssen escaped detection for years in part because he worked in the bureau's section that hunted down double agents, but also because much of his espionage period overlapped with that of Aldrich Ames, a CIA agent who passed the Soviet Union enormous amounts of information, some of which Hanssen also gave them, ignorant of Ames' work. Of all known moles in US intelligence, only Ames has surpassed Hanssen's damage.

In the end, an FBI mole hunt zeroed in on Hanssen because he told the Soviets several things about which Ames could not have known, such as the spy tunnel and an internal FBI probe into another agent who was also working for the Soviets, who then severed connections with the person.

Hanssen continued his work after the collapse of the Soviet Union, approaching the new government of the Russian Federation. Ironically, the Russian embassy reported Hanssen to the FBI because they believed he was a triple agent, but the bureau inexplicably dropped the case.

Hanssen was eventually arrested in 2001 during a "dead drop" of intelligence for his Russian handlers, by which time he had been paid some $600,000 in cash and diamonds, along with two Rolex watches and another $800,000 he had been promised was deposited in a bank on his family's behalf. It's believed that Russian intelligence never knew Hanssen's true identity and only dealt with him via his code name, Ramon Garcia.

He escaped execution by pleading guilty to 14 counts of espionage and one count of conspiracy to commit espionage, for which he was given 15 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

A Sputnik

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U.S. Sanctions Leading Members of Russian Intelligence-Linked Group Plotting to Destabilize the Government of Moldova

US Department of State

Press Statement

Office of the Spokesperson

June 5, 2023

The United States is designating seven leading members of a Russian intelligence-linked group and one entity for their role in Russia's malign influence campaigns and destabilization operations in Moldova.

These actors are a part of Russia's global information operations that have also targeted the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and countries in the Balkans. The goal of these destabilizing operations is to weaken support for democratic governments and principles. These operatives provoke, train and oversee groups in democratic countries that conduct anti-government protests, rallies, marches, and demonstrations with the goal of overthrowing democratically elected leaders and creating or exacerbating instability.

Today's action comes on the heels of the European Council and Canada imposing sanctions on several individuals for actions aimed at destabilizing, undermining, or threatening the sovereignty and independence of Moldova.

The United States, along with our Allies and partners, will continue to expose, disrupt, and deter Russia's malign influence campaigns. We will also continue to support Moldova as it makes necessary reforms to strengthen its democracy, build a prosperous and secure future, deepen its integration with Europe, and promote respect for human rights.

Treasury's actions are being taken pursuant to Executive Order 14024, which authorizes sanctions with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation. For more information about these designations, please see the Department of the Treasury's press release .

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Treasury Sanctions Russian Intelligence-Linked Malign Influence Actors Targeting Moldova

U.S. Department of the Treasury

June 5, 2023

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated seven leading members of a Russian intelligence-linked malign influence group for their role in the government of the Russian Federation's destabilization campaign and continued malign influence campaigns in Moldova. An entity owned or controlled by one of these individuals has also been designated.

"The sanctions imposed today shine a light on Russia's ongoing covert efforts to destabilize democratic nations," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "Russia's attempted influence operations exploit the concerns of the citizens of these countries, to destabilize legitimately elected governments for Moscow's own interests. The United States remains committed, along with the EU, to target individuals who engage in such activities against the government of Moldova."

Today's designations are part of an ongoing effort to combat Russia's malign influence in Moldova. The U.S. government has previously exposed Russia's attempts to use covert operatives to subvert democracy in Moldova. On October 26, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Yuriy Igorevich Gudilin, Olga Yurievna Grak, and Leonid Mikhailovich Gonin for their coordinated efforts in 2020 and 2021 to influence the outcome of Moldova's elections. Additionally, on May 30, 2023, the EU sanctioned several Russian and Moldovan individuals for engaging in destabilizing activities against the government of Moldova. The U.S. government will continue to support the Moldovan government and people in their efforts to combat coercive activities that undermine democracy in Moldova.

A MALIGN INFLUENCE GROUP WITH A GLOBAL REACH

The malign influence actors OFAC designated today are part of a large global information operation connected to the Russian Federation that targets Ukraine, countries bordering Ukraine including Moldova, Balkan countries, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These actors provoked, trained, and oversaw groups in democratic countries that conduct anti-government protests, rallies, marches, and demonstrations. These malign influence operatives analyze countries vulnerable to exploitation and stoke fears that undermine faith in democratic principles in the targeted countries.

Several of the malign influence actors designated today maintain ties to Russian intelligence services regarding matters such as planning, staffing, and budgeting for the group's activities.

EFFORTS TO DESTABILIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF MOLDOVA

Throughout February and March of 2023, several thousand demonstrators participated in multiple anti-government protests in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, and other major cities in Moldova. The protests were organized by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, whom OFAC previously designated in October 2022 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O) 14024 for being responsible for or complicit in, or for having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in interference in a United States or other foreign government election for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the government of the Russian Federation. The protestors called for the current president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, to resign. During the protests, Moldovan intelligence services and police forces maintained public order and conducted multiple raids, made arrests, and expelled foreign individuals carrying out subversive actions to destabilize the government of Moldova.

The Russian Federation-connected influence actors OFAC designated today were part of a plot to capitalize on these protests in Chisinau and seize the Moldovan Government House. As noted in the White House's March 10, 2023 statement on Russia's attempts to destabilize Moldova, this was an effort by Russia-connected malign influence actors to foment a manufactured insurrection against the Moldovan government. In February 2023, the group organized protest training, likely in support of a Moldova-focused destabilization plot. During the protests, members of the aforementioned malign influence group oversaw the movement of some personnel to locations in Moldova, including Chisinau.

Training for the protest was directed by an instructor cadre with links to Mikhail Sergeyevich Potepkin. OFAC designated Potepkin on July 15, 2020, for his role as Regional Director for M Invest, a designated company that served as cover for Kremlin-backed PMC Wagner forces operating in Sudan, and was responsible for developing plans for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to suppress protestors. OFAC sanctioned Potepkin's former employer, the Internet Research Agency, on September 30, 2019, for its efforts to influence the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.

Konstantin Prokopyevich Sapozhnikov, Yury Yuryevich Makolov, Gleb Maksimovich Khloponin, Svetlana Andreyevna Boyko, Aleksey Vyacheslavovich Losev, Vasily Viktorovich Gromovikov, and Anna Travnikova are all members of this Russia-connected malign influence group that is attempting to destabilize the government of Moldova. They are all being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being responsible for or complicit in, or for having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, activities that undermine the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States, its allies, or its partners for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the government of the Russian Federation.

Konstantin Prokopyevich Sapozhnikov is the leader of the aforementioned malign influence group and organized the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova in early 2023.

Yury Yuryevich Makolov was involved in logistical support for the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova.

Gleb Maksimovich Khloponin was involved in gathering security details on various government buildings in Moldova for the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova.

Svetlana Andreyevna Boyko is a senior member of the aforementioned malign influence group and handled budgeting for the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova.

Aleksey Vyacheslavovich Losev (Losev) conducted reconnaissance in Moldova for the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova. Losev owns Perko Julleuchter, a workshop that produces ceramic lanterns. OFAC is designating Perko Julleuchter pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Losev.

Vasily Viktorovich Gromovikov was involved in the financing of the plot to destabilize the government of Moldova.

Anna Travnikova has been involved in the aforementioned malign influence group's influence operations targeting foreign audiences. The operations were designed to sway public opinion abroad in favor of Russia in the context of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. In 2022, Travnikova coordinated with Boyko on promoting pro-Russia narratives for audiences in multiple countries, including the United States.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

For more information on the individuals and entity designated today, click here.

###

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315,000 grave violations against children in conflict over 18 years: UNICEF

4 June 2023 - A staggering 315,000 grave violations against children in conflict took place between 2005 and 2022, said UN Children's Fund UNICEF on Monday, describing it as a "stark illustration of the devastating impact of war" on the young.

The UN-verified figures were reported by the agency as States, donors and the humanitarian community meet in Norway, for the Oslo Conference on Protecting Children in Armed Conflict.

The 315,000 incidents were recorded in more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

They include more than 120,000 children killed or maimed; at least 105,000 children recruited or used by armed forces or armed groups; over 32,500 children abducted; and more than 16,000 children subjected to sexual violence.

The UN has also verified more than 16,000 attacks on schools and hospitals, and more than 22,000 instances where humanitarian access for children has been denied.

The true toll is likely to be far higher, UNICEF stressed. Additionally, many millions more children have been displaced from their homes and communities, lost friends or family, or been separated from parents or caregivers.

'War on children'

"Any war is ultimately a war on children," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

"Exposure to conflict has catastrophic, life-changing effects for children. While we know what must be done to protect children from war, the world is not doing enough. Year after year, the UN documents the visceral, tragic and all too predictable ways that children's lives are torn apart."

The UNICEF chief said It is incumbent on all in the international community to ensure children "do not pay the price for the wars of adults, and to take the bold, concrete action required to improve the protection of some of the world's most vulnerable children."

The Fund has supported the care and protection of millions of affected children across conflict situations, including through the provision of mental health and psychosocial support, child protection case management, family tracing and reunification, and services for child survivors of gender-based violence.

Rehabilitating child soldiers

Just last year, UNICEF reached almost 12,500 former child soldiers with reintegration or other protection support, and more than nine million children with information designed to help them avoid explosive remnants of war such as landmines.

The agency said that the scale of protection risks is vastly outpacing available funding however.

New analysis by Humanitarian Funding Forecasting, commissioned by UNICEF, Save the Children, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and the Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility, reveals that by 2024, the child protection sector will require $1.05 billion, increasing to US$1.37 billion by 2026, to address the protection needs of children in armed conflict.

If the current pace of humanitarian funding continues, the projected shortfall would stand at $835 million in 2024, growing to US$941 million by 2026.

This gap could leave conflict-affected children exposed to the immediate and lasting impacts of war, child labor, trafficking, and violence, UNICEF warned.

Call for new commitments in Oslo

At the Oslo conference, the agency is calling on government to make bold new commitments, including:

To uphold and operationalize the international laws and norms already in place to protect children in war - including to protect schools, hospitals and other protected objects like water and sanitation facilities from attack, to stop the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and forces, to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

already in place to protect children in war - including to protect schools, hospitals and other protected objects like water and sanitation facilities from attack, to stop the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and forces, to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Hold perpetrators to account when children's rights are violated.

when children's rights are violated. Step up with critical resources to fund the protection of children in conflict at the scale and speed required, in line with growing need. This must include investment in humanitarian response and in national child protection workforces.

"We must deliver a child protection response that is equal to the challenges we face," said Ms. Russell. "We need to do everything we can to reach all children in need, particularly the most vulnerable."

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Keel Authenticated for Future USS Pittsburgh

US Navy

04 June 2023

From Team Ships Public Affairs

Pascagoula, MS -- The keel for the future USS Pittsburgh (LPD 31), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, was ceremonially laid at Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division, June 2.

The ship is the fifth Navy vessel to be named for the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its surrounding region, which play a central role in our national defense infrastructure. The most recent USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) was a Los Angeles-class submarine, which served the Navy from December 1984 to August 2019.

The contemporary keel-laying ceremony represents the joining together of a ship's major modular components at the land level, and is a significant milestone in ship production. The keel is authenticated with the ship sponsors' initials etched into a ceremonial keel plate that is later incorporated into the ship. The LPD 31 sponsor is Mrs. Nancy Urban. The speaker at the keel laying was Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer, Ships.

"Shipbuilding is a team sport and is one of the most technically complex and challenging things we do in the defense industrial base. I would like to acknowledge the professionalism, skill and perseverance of the HII shipbuilders," said Anderson. "Thank you for spending yourselves in the worthy cause of bringing the future USS Pittsburgh into being."

The San Antonio class is designed to support embarking, transporting, and landing Marines and their equipment by conventional or air-cushioned landing craft. The ship's capabilities are further enhanced by its flight deck and hangar, enabling the ship to operate a variety of Marine Corps helicopters and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22). Because of the ships' inherent capabilities, they are able to support a variety of amphibious assault, special operations, expeditionary warfare, or disaster relief missions, operating independently or as part of amphibious readiness groups, expeditionary strike groups, or joint task forces.

"The future USS Pittsburgh's keel laying is a momentous occasion and the Navy and its industry partners look forward to working together during the construction process," said Capt. Cedric McNeal, program manager, Amphibious Warfare Program Office, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "Ultimately, LPD Flight II ships will provide capability and power projection to support a myriad of employment scenarios as a key component of the Amphibious Force structure for decades to come."

Ingalls Shipbuilding division is also currently in production on the future USS Richard S. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) and the future USS Harrisburg (LPD 30).

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, sealift ships, support ships, boats and craft.

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Vermont Guard Soldiers Return from NATO Exercise in Europe

By Maj. J. Scott Detweiler, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (MTN) June 5, 2023

JERICHO, Vt. -- Approximately 50 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers returned from Slovenia June 3 after participating in NATO's Exercise Immediate Response.

The Soldiers from 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) spent two weeks in Europe contributing to the second of three connected exercises making up the larger DEFENDER 23 operation.

"We're the Army's premier Mountain Infantry Brigade Combat Team, so the chance to operate in a true mountainous environment in the Alps and hone our skills while showcasing what we're capable of is a great opportunity. The Soldiers who went over there did a fantastic job," said U.S. Army Col. Leonard Poirier, commander, 86th IBCT (MTN). "This was a reasonably short exercise lasting only a couple of weeks, but very high payoff for that short amount of time to operate in a unique and challenging environment."

Throughout the two weeks, Vermont Soldiers worked with allies and partners at the NATO Mountain Warfare Center of Excellence. They focused on field training exercises such as reconnaissance, ambush and disruption operations while using rope bridges and rappelling to navigate complex terrain.

"I joined the Vermont National Guard last month and was able to join this mission to Slovenia. It was absolutely outstanding, a pretty incredible first experience with the National Guard," said U.S. Army Spc. Michael Bogt, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment. "I'm a former Marine and I don't regret coming to the Army. There is a ton of opportunity that prior service and people initially joining can take advantage of, so I highly recommend it. So come to Vermont, join the Mountain Brigade, join the scouts or be a sniper if you think you've got what it takes."

Immediate Response took place in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Slovenia and included approximately 2,800 U.S. and 7,000 multinational participants.

The readiness of U.S. forces across all domains is critical to building partnerships, responding to crises, providing deterrence, and supporting allies and partners.

Through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, the Vermont National Guard has worked with North Macedonia for 30 years, dating back to the program's inception in 1993. Vermont also partners with Senegal (2008) and Austria (2022).

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 86th IBCT (MTN) from the Colorado Army National Guard also participated in Exercise Immediate Response with host nation Slovenia, Colorado's state partner since 1994.

"The mountains are a mirror, and they show you all your problems. This was a chance to practice collective tasks in that environment," said U.S. Army Lt. Col Adam Cole, commander, 1-157th IN (MTN). "We're limited in what we can do in Colorado, so for Slovenia to allow us to train more extensively than we have in the past is a huge step in the right direction."

Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness 2023 (DEFENDER 23), is a multinational joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S. and NATO allies and partners. The exercise demonstrates the U.S. military's ability to deploy combat-credible troops and equipment to the European theater rapidly. This assurance of commitment to U.S. allies deters those who would threaten the peace of Europe.

VTARNG Soldiers from the 86th IBCT (MTN) formed a composite platoon for the exercise, representing units from the 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment.

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DIVARTY Post-deployment Reintegration Process

By Staff Sgt. Evan Ruchotzke June 5, 2023

FORT RILEY, Kansas -- The First Infantry Division returned from a deployment in February of 2023. The historic Division, the oldest in the U.S. Army, completed a rotation to support the nation's allies and partners in Europe as part of the ongoing Operation Atlantic Resolve. The nearly year-long deployment tested the Big Red One's mettle as it operated across nearly the entire continent, from the forests of Finland in the north to the shores of the Aegean in sunny Greece.

When the mission finally ended, what waited on the other side of the Atlantic, however, was as great a challenge as anything they faced in the old world: the logistical burden of returning an entire combined-arms division home.

For the Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY), the challenge of deliberate reintegration was a welcome one and a chance to test its elite logisticians' prowess and mental capacity.

"Redeployment and reintegration are always different, and it's always difficult," said Maj. Matthew Boudro, the DIVARTY executive officer. "But we put people first, and that's our framework for reintegration."

The ability of a unit to return to its home station is a critical task for any organization. To do so without a loss of functionality and a minimum of time is a testament to an organization's capability. Moreover, it's a vital task to rehearse in the event of a future conflict. For Boudro, after seeing the speed at which his organization reintegrated at Ft. Riley, there was no concern for the future at all.

"We have to be prepared to execute whenever the nation calls upon us," said Boudro. "If we had to execute another mission tomorrow, we absolutely could."

DIVARTY's deliberate reintegration furnished a valuable opportunity for the organization to test its junior leaders and to see how effectively it could refit and reconfigure itself after a year in the field.

"We've got the right leaders in the right place," said Boudro. "They're doing what they need to do in order to ensure that we set our Soldiers and our unit up for success and prepare our equipment for whatever is waiting on the horizon."

Boudro also acknowledged that the mission would have been impossible without its enlisted Soldiers' efforts, especially its noncommissioned officers' efforts.

"At the end of the day, we cannot do anything without the NCOs," said Boudro. "A staff can make all the great plans in the world, but if we don't have great NCOs in our formations, nothing will happen."

One of those NCOs, staff sgt. Steve Hill, the DIVARTY mobility noncommissioned officer-in-charge, was a key player in the mission's reintegration effort for DIVARTY. The ease of return was surprising for Hill, even for an NCO of his experience.

"We got everything back here quicker than I expected," said Hill. "Of course, we had our issues and delays, but that's not any one person's fault. I was blown away by how easy the return ended up being."

Hill was only at Ft. Riley for a month, having recently arrived from his previous duty assignment in Korea when he got word that he'd be headed to Europe. However, despite the extreme circumstances, he said that he didn't feel daunted.

"Yeah, I was relatively new when I heard that we were packing up the entire division," said Hill. "I'd done exercises and such for operations like this before, but never an element this size, let alone into a real-world environment."

Hill, by his own admission, enjoyed his time in Europe but said that the return journey was one of the more challenging aspects of the deployment. Even though his duties were demanding, Hill said he was impressed by how well the process came together in the final days of the mission.

"What I guess I'm trying to get at is that we just went right back into the battle rhythm; there wasn't much of a slow-down," said Hill. "We put the equipment back in the motor pool and then went on about our business."

The nuts-and-bolts work of redeploying the organization all came to a head at the port of Riga, the capital city of the Latvian Republic, from whence DIVARTY would ship all of its vehicles and equipment to Corpus Christi, Texas, where it would be unloaded and then taken across the country on a train.

"One of the biggest things was making sure all the containers were good to go," said capt. Constantine Tolias, the DIVARTY fires control officer and the mobility officer for the redeployment. "February in the Baltics is not a pleasant time, especially by the sea."

With assistance from the Latvian government and the hard work and determination of the organization, DIVARTY managed to containerize its entire organization in four days. Following that, a month-long journey on a freighter ship brought the organization's equipment back to the United States, after which a short i

"This went so well because like any great plan, it was well thought out," said Tolias. "The Ready Reserve component at Camp Funston was instrumental in completing the last leg of this mission."

After the vehicles were parked and the last Soldier was accounted for, DIVARTY settled in for some well-earned rest and relaxation during a scheduled block of leave. On the Soldier's return from leave, the organization was ready to resume their mission.

"At the end of the day, it was the guys and gals of DIVARTY that came together to get us back here," said Tolias. "I can't thank them enough for doing what it takes to get this unit out the door."

Echoing Tolias' gratitude, Boudro credited the strength and professionalism that the organization displayed in its reintegration to the healthy organizational culture that exists between the Soldiers.

"This has been the smoothest reintegration that I've ever gone through," said Boudro, who has served in the Army for 16 years. "I attribute that to the strong bonds shared by the Soldiers in our formation."

"I'm proud of them," said Boudro. "I hope they're proud of themselves and the great work they've done."

DIVARTY began regular workflow with its full organizational strength and equipment during the first week in April 2023, one month exactly from its redeployment.

Overall, DIVARTY fast and well-executed reintegration shows Ft. Riley and the 1st Infantry Division's commitment to readiness and modernization. Our Nation expects us to fight and win on the battlefield, and when our teams maintain their equipment, they are deadly force.

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CENTCOM Commander Visits Regional Partners

U.S. Central Command

June 5, 2023

USCENTCOM

June 03, 2023

Release Number 20230603-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- Over the last two weeks, Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, met with regional partners from the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel, and Jordan.

From May 15 - 16, General Kurilla traveled to UAE where he met with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Engineer Eisa Saif Bin Ablan Almazrouei. General Kurilla and President Mohamed bin Zayed discussed shared regional security concerns as well as U.S. and UAE security partnerships. General Kurilla and the UAE Chief of Defense discussed the strong military-to-military ties and the shared regional outlook of the two nations. As part of the visit, Kurilla toured the Wahat Al Karama Memorial where he placed a wreath in honor of those who had given their lives in the defense of UAE, including those who died alongside U.S. servicemembers in recent conflicts.

From May 16-18, General Kurilla traveled to KSA and met with Chief of Defense, General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili; Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Mazyad bin Sulaiman Al-Amro; Deputy Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Major General Talal bin Sulaiman al-Ghamdi; Assistant Minister of Defense, His Excellency Talal Bin Abdullah Bin Turki Al-Otaibi. The meetings focused on the strong bilateral military relationship and ways to increase joint efforts, including the Eagle Resolve 23 exercise. General Kurilla also visited the RSAF Air Operations Center where he discussed integrated air and missile defense as well as increasing the interoperability of both counties systems.

On May 18, General Kurilla visited Iraq where he met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the commander of the Joint Operations Command for Iraq, Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi AI-Abbasi. General Kurilla praised Iraq's commitment to continuing the fight against ISIS, which resulted in ISIS attacks reaching historic lows during the month of Ramadan. The leaders also discussed the current security situation in Iraq and the progress of the Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against ISIS.

From May 18-19, General Kurilla visited Kuwait where he met with the Minister of Defense, Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and the Chief of Defense, Major General Ghazi Hassan Jazaa Al-Shammari. The leaders discussed matters of regional security, shared interests, and ways to strengthen the two countries longstanding military-to-military relationship. General Kurilla expressed gratitude for the unwavering support Kuwait has provided to operations, including their immediate offer of support during the Sudan crisis.

From May 19-22, General Kurilla visited Qatar where he met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Emir of Qatar, the Minister of Defense, Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad al-Attiyah, and the Chief of Defense, Lt. Gen Salim Hamad Aquil Al Nabit. The meeting focused on the strong military to military relationship between the two countries. General Kurilla thanked the Qatari leadership for their constant support of the U.S. and our allies and partners. The leaders expressed their desire to work more closely together to meet regional security challenges.

From May 30 to June 1, General Kurilla visited Israel where he met with the Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed the importance of joint exercises between the U.S. and Israel to advance cooperation between the respective militaries and defense establishments. General Kurilla also conducted multiple engagements with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, to discuss working toward closer interoperability, building joint operational capability, and strengthening the partnership. General Kurilla visited several Israel Defense Forces operational units to gain a deeper understanding of their capabilities. He also visited Yad Vashem to honor the 6 million victims of the Holocaust.

From June 1-2, General Kurilla visited Jordan where he met with the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff, Major General Pilot Yousef Hunaiti, where they discussed the strong military to military relationship, regional security issues, and the growing concern of illicit narcotic trafficking out of Syria.

"The key to stability in the CENTCOM region is iron clad relationships and the continued building of interoperability with our partners," said Kurilla. "These visits are critical and the information I learn first-hand is invaluable. Meeting with each of our partners, discussing shared opportunities and shared concerns, allows us to deepen our ties and brings home the importance of working together to improve regional security."

-30-

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June 5, 2023

Transcript

Press Gaggle With Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III in Singapore

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III

SECRETARY LLOYD J. AUSTIN III, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Good morning, everybody.

Q: Good morning.

STAFF: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, just a reminder for the ground rules today. This will be on the record, which means you may quote the secretary by name. I will go ahead and give you a heads up when we have time for our last question, very limited on time today, but we'll try to get to all your questions. So I'll it turn it over the secretary and we'll go from there.

SEC. AUSTIN: Well, thanks a lot for being with us on a trip, and again, we're probably halfway through this trip, around the world trip. Hopefully you were able to get a lot out of the last two days. These conferences are always a good chance for us to, as ministers of defense, to catch up with each other. There are all kinds of opportunities to do bilateral engagements, trilateral, engagements, multilateral, and we took advantage of that. I know you have had a chance to review my remarks from yesterday, and my intent was to highlight some of the things that we as a team have accomplished over the last two years, especially the last year, and as you heard, it is not insignificant and clearly there's more work to be done, but what's impressive is what we see countries doing with each other. And I continue to hear a strong interest in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region; also continue to see and hear interest in countries modernizing and improving their own defense capabilities., and so we -- this is in terms of DOD.

You know this is -- this region is our number-one focus area. You've heard me describe China as our pacing challenge. That has not changed. We chose those words carefully. "Challenge" is a -- is a word that we wanted to use, and still use. So, and as you look at our budget request, you know, you heard me say this number of times as well. Our budget request is directly linked to our strategy, and you see us continuing to invest in things that are relevant to our efforts in this region, Pacific Deterrence Initiative, you know, what we're doing to invest in high-quality air forces and naval forces, and certainly what we continue to do in research and development. So again, thanks for being with us, and we'll start with your questions.

STAFF: Right. Let's go ahead and start with Matt right in the middle table.

Q: Thank you, Secretary Austin.

Yesterday during your speech you, of course, addressed the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. I wanted to ask you, as we await a Ukrainian counteroffensive, one that might go from an expected spring counteroffensive to an expected summer counteroffensive, are you concerned at all that after all of this time and after the buildup and hype that there's any worry that should Ukraine fail to make significant battlefield gains when it does go forward, that it could shake the will to support Ukraine and continue sending aid, both domestically and from allies and partners in the region? And do you personally expect that when they do go forward, without getting into timing, that they will achieve significant progress?

SEC. AUSTIN: Yes, so I try to remind people all the time that this is war. And so anybody that thinks they can accurately produce any type of outcome in a war, you know, I just have another thing coming for -- to them because it's just -- it doesn't happen that way. There will be stops and starts. There will be things that happen that, you know, Ukrainians didn't anticipate. There will be opportunities for the Ukrainians to exploit. Our goal was to -- and I remind people, that there's no certainty in any of this, and so we need to be prepared to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. In all of my engagements with our counterparts, that's what I get spontaneously as they're -- they recognize that this could be much longer than anyone anticipated, and so they're going to be in there for the long haul if that's what it takes.

In terms of expectations, I've fought this kind of fight before and I know how things can unfold but I, you know, our goal has been to provide them with the capability so that they have an opportunity to be successful. If you look at, you know, the fact that without this capability they have managed to really inflict a significant damage on Russian forces and destroyed a lot of their equipment. But what we've done is create nine additional motorized and mechanized brigades to add to their combat power, and that's -- if you add that to, you know, what they've already been doing, I think it does -- it will make a difference. In addition to that, we trained an additional three brigades to serve as, you know, reserve or follow-on forces. Those brigades are now in Ukraine as well, so that's a total of 12 brigades.

We're training three more in Germany and continuing to try to equip them as well. So, but what I convey to our colleagues in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is, this is - this doesn't end when they cross the line of departure. You know, we've got to be prepared to continue to support, continue to help them maintain and I think everybody has that mindset. Everybody's hopeful that, you know, you'd see overwhelming success but everybody has a realistic, I think most people have a realistic outlook on this. And in terms of my level of confidence, I think what really matters is how the Ukrainians feel about this and as we go forward, I think we're all sensing that Ukrainian leadership is increasingly confident in the capability that they have and opportunities that they may have. Does that mean that, you know, we're going to expel every Russian out of every corner of Ukraine? Probably doesn't but I think, you know, it may provide, it may have the opportunity to begin to change the dynamics on the battlefield and that's really what you're looking for.

Q: Thank you.

STAFF: Let's go to Anton.

CROSSTALK

Q: I'd like to ask you about the speech by the Chinese defense minister with whom you shook hands but did not extend many words. How did you -- what's your response to his speech, the tone and the specific content of what he said, in particular, the notion that the Americans are being provocative, not transits of innocent passage but intended to provoke the Chinese? And of the best thing that could happen is for the Americans to mind their own business, you know, pull back from - and in light of those comments, how do you interpret the way they intercept American aircraft and warships?

SEC. AUSTIN: Well to be truthful, I've not had a chance to read his speech yet and so -- but I certain will. I would just say that, you know, it's interesting to listen to what they say -- what he says, what's most important is, kind of, watch what they do. And what you heard me say in the last several weeks, and especially the last couple of days, you know, I've voiced my concern about the irresponsible behavior we've seen with close intercepts and the coercive behavior that we see in the waterways. And so that continues, and as we were coming in, as you know, you saw an example of one of our aircraft being intercepted by one of their aircraft at a very dangerous distance there, and so a very, very close proximity. And just recently, just in the last day we've seen another incident where one of their ships crossed in one of our ships, probably 150 feet or something like that and that's extremely dangerous.

So, you know, I call upon the PRC's leadership to really do the right things, to reign in that kind of conduct because I think accidents can happen that could cause things to spiral out of control. And we, you know, we all remember the accident we had with one of our P-3's many years ago and, you know, in those days we were talking to the PRC and it was still very difficult to manage that crisis. Imagine now if something happens and we don't have clear communications, how difficult that's going to be and what could happen in the short term. So, it's interesting to always hear what they say, but you know, I think we have to judge them by what they're actually doing and that dangerous activity continues. You know, we -- there's no question in my mind, as I have engaged our allies and partners here and in other places, they're -- everybody has the same desire to be able to sail the seas and fly the skies in international space. So what we've seen from -- continue to see from the PRC is very concerning.

They should be interested in freedom of navigation as well because without that, I mean, it would affect them. I mean, they are big on commerce, big on, you know, the international space, the international waterways, the international airways. They have to use those as well, and so if there is no -- if there are no laws, if there are no rules, things will break down for them very quickly as well.

Q: Thank you.

STAFF: Let's go ahead and go to Nancy.

Q: Thank you sir. I'd like to back to Ukraine. As you know the U.S. has put restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use weapons provided by the US to fire into Russia. But we've seen Russia increasingly fire missiles into Ukrainian territory and the Ukrainian unable to execute counterstrikes. My question to you is, do you think that restriction can and should hold and is it unintentionally giving Russia an advantage -- a battlefield advantage to strike increasingly into Russia -- into Ukraine?

SEC. AUSTIN: Nancy, I don't, I wouldn't characterize Russia has having an advantage right now. I think they're a much larger force with, you know, overwhelming numbers, superior equipment and they've been at this for a year and have been highly unsuccessful. Putin has failed strategically. He's lost a significant number of people as you -- as you guys continue to point out and it's absolutely true. If he, you know, if the war stopped today and I certain hope it does but it probably won't, it would take a long time for him to rebuild the capability that he had prior to the commencement of this. Now, you know, our goal is to provide Ukraine with the capability to defend its sovereign territory, and they've been -- we have provided them with the right things and they've been highly successful. So that will remain our focus and I think again, we certainly want to see Ukraine continue to focus on what they have set out as an objective and that is to take back as much of their sovereign territory as possible.

STAFF: Let's go to Will.

Q: Mr. Secretary, also on Ukraine. What are the main things Ukraine needs to do to succeed in its upcoming offensive? You know, what needs to go right for it to make significant gains and on the tactical level, what will Ukrainian troops have to do to break through heavy Russian fortifications that they're going to face?

SEC. AUSTIN: Well I don't want to give you a laundry list of things that they have to do to be successful. I want the Ukrainian leadership to fight this fight as they want to fight it. What I most want is to make sure that they have, their troops have the ability, the means to be successful. Now what we've done is not only provide higher end platforms like the Bradley fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and Strykers and some other things. We've trained them on a number of things in terms of maneuver. One of those things is breach, you know, in anticipation of, you know, have them to encounter complex obstacles in -- as you've, kind of, seen these obstacle belts be constructed by the Russians. You know, I'm confident at the mid-level and lower level that the troops know what to do in order to be successful in breaching those kinds of obstacles, and I just hope that, you know, they'll be able to put into play, all those skills that they've learned.

Now the other good news is, as you know those brigades have been in Ukraine for some time now, weeks. Well they haven't been sitting around watching their equipment rust, they've been actually rehearsing and training and maintaining. And, one of the challenges that you face when you have higher end platforms, is that the maintenance of those platforms becomes increasingly difficult, which is always a concern on our part, on my part and so we've been working hard to make sure that, you know, we keep those platforms in fighting condition. Even when you're training in the assembly area, you know, something can happen to make a turret go out or, you know, cause you to lose part of the electrical system or whatever.

So I -- early on in this effort I asked our guys to lean into this, to make sure that we push sustainment forward so that, you know, as we encounter problems with maintenance, we're able to quickly recover from that. So we want them to have the highest operational readiness rate that they can possibly have as they cross the line of departure. When that's going to be? I don't know. I will tell you that one of the major challenges has been weather and, you know, weather cuts both ways obviously. It's bad for the other guy if it's bad for us, but when you're trying to maneuver large, mechanized forces, you know, in the mud it takes away some of the advantage if the conditions aren't good. So the last couple of days we've seen that weather improve and, you know, hopefully, you know, they'll have windows of opportunity to conduct operations. Now it's not just a trafficability on the ground, it's also, you know, do you have clear skies so you can get -- you can see, -- you can get some ISR up there and help you out.

I do think what the other thing that's been happening is -- this has enabled them to employ their reconnaissance elements and really began to look at those fortifications that the Russians have put up. These fortifications extend hundreds of miles and I know enough about putting in a defense to know that, if you have a, you know, if you're defending along a front that long, than you cannot be strong everywhere. So, you know, their task is to figure out where they're not strong, where there are opportunities and identify and exploit those opportunities. That's basic Warfighting 101 and so, I don't know how well the reconnaissance has gone but I would tell you that it has provided them an opportunity to do that. So, we'll see.

STAFF: Go for our last question. Peter.

Q: Yes. Thanks so much for doing this. I want to give you a chance to respond to some of the points that PRC delegates have made, both in General Li's speech but elsewhere across the forum this weekend. So one of the points that they've been hammering is this reference to regional powers, which seems to be an idea that excludes the U.S. in a way that they are talking about Asia. And the second one is this talking point which they used to for many years about the need for mil-mil ties the same time on the basis of equality, and I wondered if you worry about the sanctions, which I understand there are, you know, a big decision of another agency, but I wonder if you worry that the sanctions have inadvertently given them a -- a proof point for that -- the idea, that the U.S. is not engaging with on a basis of equality?

SEC. AUSTIN: The U.S. is not engaging --

Q: -- with China on the basis of equality.

SEC. AUSTIN: Yes. You know, sanctions don't prohibit people from talking to each other. I am sure that I am -- I am personally sanctioned in Russia.

Q: Right.

SEC. AUSTIN: But, I can, if I want to, talk to the Russian minister of defense, most often I can. I've not talked to him in a while but that's just a -- that's a false narrative. That's, and they know that and they're, you know, when they -- when they're ready to engage, they will engage but it's also important to note that the mil to mil channel is not the only channel. You know, the State Department is engaging in their channels. Their national security advisor is engaging. You know, in terms of the region, what I hear a lot of is that, you know, we're -- countries tell us we're really glad to have you here. This region is more secure when you're here. We -- your presence means a lot, and this is coming from key countries in spontaneous fashion, and so they want the same thing that we want. You know, freedom to sail the seas and fly the skies but, you know, some of them are really concerned about their economic exclusion zones and you know, encroachment on their zones.

If you're a country like the Philippines or Vietnam, you know, your people make a living by fishing, and if they can't access their own fishing waters for whatever reason, it's a big deal. And so, you know, I think, you know, there's always an effort to create a false narrative that will take you one direction or another. There's a NATO narrative -- the Indo-Pacific NATO narrative that, you know, some in the PRC would like to convince people of but it's just not true. You know, and we've said over and over again that ASEAN has centrality in this region and we, that's been our focus and I think our partners and allies really appreciate that and they really appreciate the fact that we respect them. You know, we respect and we want to help them protect their rights and so it's not like the United States coming in and crushing smaller nations and compelling nations to do anything. But that's what they do, you know, they would, through economic coercion and other things, that's exactly what they're doing. We have worked hard to strengthen our relationships here in the region and I think we've done a pretty good job at doing that in the last two and a half years. And we will continue to work this because it's really, really important.

Q: Mr. Secretary can I just ask one clarifying question before we let you go? What -- there were no meetings between U.S. military, your delegation and the Chinese or any sort of lower level meetings of any kind, is that correct? Other than the handshake, there was no interaction. Is that -- is that (inaudible) sir?

SEC. AUSTIN: Yes.

Q: Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: We're willing to meet, and I think we should be meeting, Nancy, and again, you know, we've been pretty clear about that, and we'll see what happens, but I think, you know, they will change their position on this and hopefully soon, we'll see. If they don't, we'll continue to do -- continue to work with our allies and partners in the region and towards that common vision that we talked about yesterday.

CROSSTALK

STAFF: Thank you very much.

Q: Thank you. Thank you.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3416959/

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June 5, 2023

By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

Defense Official Says U.S. Remains Committed to Middle East

With over 30,000 troops in the Middle East at multiple locations, the United States' commitment to the Middle East hasn't changed  despite the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and its significant drawdown in Iraq, said the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East.

"The significant capabilities across our Navy, our Air Force, our Army and our Marines  it's still in the region," Dana Stroul told the Jerusalem Post during an interview yesterday in New York City. "And they're still doing those important activities every day."

Although the U.S. at one time had more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan and more than 160,000 troops in Iraq, the military pulled out of Afghanistan completely in 2021. And, in Iraq, operations are limited now to just a handful of troops performing advise-and-assist missions only.

But elsewhere in U.S. Central Command, the U.S. force presence hasn't changed, said Stroul. Despite a public focus on the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. has maintained troop levels and a presence.

"Our senior leaders talk about China as the pacing challenge and Russia as the acute threat," Stroul said. "What our friends and allies in the Middle East don't hear is ... how the United States racks and stacks the threats and how we're going to prepare for them. And people are nervous. They think it means that the United States and the U.S. government is deprioritizing the Middle East."

The preeminent threat in the Middle East, Stroul said, is Iran, and Iran's efforts to have a nuclear weapon. That's something she said the U.S. doesn't want to happen.

"President [Joe] Biden has been quite clear that on his watch Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon, and he means it," Stroul said.

The preferred method to ensure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon, Stroul said, is the diplomatic course. But that has to be backed up with a willingness and a capability to use force, if necessary.

"Secretary [Lloyd J.] Austin's job is to ensure that should President Biden ask for the military plans and options, he's ready to provide them," she said. "And my job as the deputy assistant secretary of defense is to make sure that we're on top of that."

Part of ensuring a credible military option, Stroul said, is the strong U.S. relationship with Israel.

"Our partnership in the Department of Defense with the Israeli ministry of defense and the Israeli Defense Forces is incredibly important," Stroul said. "In fact, it's critical. So, we are working every day to deepen and increase our military cooperation with Israel."

The work includes, among other things, intelligence sharing and military exercises.

In January, for instance, the U.S. and Israel concluded the largest military exercise the nations have held together: Juniper Oak 23.2. More than 7,000 personnel participated in the all-domain exercise, which was meant to ensure the U.S. and Israel are able to work together militarily in an emergency, Stroul said.

"It's also to make sure that both our other friends and allies in the region and our adversaries are taking note of the critical work we're doing together to be prepared should military force be required," she said.

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June 5, 2023

By Halimah Najieb-Locke, Lee Robinson and Devon Bistarkey

Collaboration and Standardization Are Key to DOD's Battery Strategy, Meeting U.S. Energy Objectives

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks has made clear a healthy battery supply chain is essential for military capabilities and national security  and when it comes to batteries, "America needs to lead the world." Batteries are a vital and dynamic sector at the center of national efforts to deliver effective battlefield operations, secure critical defense supply chains and ensure America's clean energy future. The Defense Department depends on batteries to communicate, operate autonomous vehicles, power directed energy weapons and electrify warfighting platforms.

"Advanced batteries are the single-greatest cost and a bottleneck for electric platforms due to supply chain and integration issues," said Andrew Higier, acting director of the energy portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit. "From raw materials to assembly, the commercial supply chain is heavily reliant on adversarial nations - and defense integration of new batteries is slow, cumbersome and costly."

Each year the Defense Department makes substantial procurements of specialized, bespoke battery designs to power critical weapons systems, creating challenges in affordability and pacing market capability. By better leveraging the commercial market, DOD has the opportunity to optimize its buying power across the $515 billion in active global auto industry investments, according to the 2022 Securing Defense-Critical Supply Chains report.

The supply chain report, published by the Defense Department's Office of Industrial Base Policy, was a response to Executive Order 14017, which directed assessment of potential supply chain risks and strategies to mitigate or overcome them.

As part of that effort, DOD is working to align industry and military battery standards wherever practicable - from tactical vehicles and unmanned systems to military installations - in order to ensure future defense requirements can be produced affordably, while meeting warfighter needs.

The report recognizes that despite a reliance on batteries in nearly all systems, the Defense Department can be a challenging industry partner. Currently, the battery acquisition process is often limited to low-volume purchases of bespoke batteries over short-term contracts with limited considerations for the security of the supporting supply chain. This process has resulted in high non-recurring engineering costs for vendors who preferentially select low-cost components from less-than-secure sources.

"By improving our understanding of the where, when, why and how we buy batteries, and by standardizing where it makes sense, we will increase our buying power and our ability to better inform industry of our needs in the future," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience, Halimah Najieb-Locke.

Currently , the IBP office is partnering with DIU to tap into U.S. and allied partner based industry innovation and the growing commercial battery market. As the commercial solution gateway, DIU leverages significant private sector investments in battery development in order to learn from the most knowledgeable players in the field, then uses that expertise to make scalable products with traditional and non-traditional industry partners. These technology partnerships in advanced batteries ensure the Defense Department evolves with industry in order to move beyond program-by-program procurement.

"This is important work," said Najieb-Locke. "We must send a consistent and coherent demand signal to industry - and by coordinating our efforts, we are ensuring that the batteries our forces use are available, ready and free of adversarial influence."

Action plan to standardize and aggregate battery demand will...

Bring In Commercial Best of Breed: Source rechargeable battery cells from domestic and allied battery manufacturers to serve DOD storage capacity and performance requirements Perfect the Standard Form Factors: Demonstrate these cells in high-capacity rechargeable battery packs across a range of standard use case categories: single cell batteries, hand-held, soldier-worn, ruck-able, equipment, and vehicle battery packs Integrate into Critical Platforms: Optionally, integrate newly standardized rechargeable batteries into respective devices for performance characterization and testing

The first step toward bringing the commercial market into defense batteries is currently underway with DIU's Jumpstart for Advanced Battery Standardization program that prototypes commercial batteries to electrify current and next-gen military platforms. The program focuses exclusively on leveraging commercial EV batteries at the module and pack level to inform both the process of integration into military vehicles and the military specifications for electrification of future platforms.

Additionally, DIU's Family of Advanced Standard Batteries, or FASTBat, project is focused on adopting a streamlined battery procurement and integration process, driving down supply chain and design challenges. Work under FASTBat aims to aggregate the DOD's purchasing power, increase the demand signal to commercial battery manufacturers, and provide an approved battery pack form-fit-function to power military systems. This work will include designing, prototyping, testing, and evaluating battery cells and/or packs, as well as integrating the batteries into devices as applicable.

In 2021, the Department of the Navy and IBP secured $12 million to begin investment in the JABS program, which was followed by an FY 2023 investment of $44 million in battery standardization, analytics, and infrastructure. These investments align to initiatives laid out in the DOD's Lithium Battery Strategy 2023-2030, recently released for distribution to U.S. Government personnel and contractors.

In accordance with the Department of Energy's National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries 2021-2030 ("National Blueprint"), both programs demonstrate the Department's ability to turn strategy into action.

"We are leveraging our partners in the interagency, particularly in the Department of Energy, to develop a whole of government approach to build up a domestic lithium battery industrial base that is supported by secure and resilient supply chains," said Najieb-Locke.

Budget and strategy are also aligned in this critical mission. The President's recently released FY 2024 defense budget request makes critical investments into revitalizing the defense industrial base, driving innovation, and building enduring advantages. The budget request invests approximately $6 billion in fostering industrial base resilience, including long-term investments in five defense-critical sectors in alignment with E.O.14017, including $125 million in battery and energy storage.

"This is a very exciting time to be working on industrial base and supply chain issues because the issues that we work on are central concerns of leaders across government and industry. I look forward to working with our key Departmental, interagency, and international partners when it comes to scaling up new, advanced manufacturing tech in our 'critical sectors,' which includes batteries, microelectronics, and renewable energy." said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, the recently sworn in Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.

The Defense Department is now putting those tools to work to ensure access to critical battery technologies that will power the future force.

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June 5, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Austin Says U.S. Will Continue Push for Open Indo-Pacific

The United States will continue to work with regional allies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, despite challenges emanating from China, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in Singapore yesterday.

The Indo-Pacific is the U.S. military's is No. 1 area of focus, Austin said, and China is the pacing challenge.

"As you look at our budget request ... our budget request is directly linked to our strategy, and you see us continuing to invest in things that are relevant to our efforts in this region," he said.

The United States continues to send its most modern and capable weapons systems to the Indo-Pacific. In addition, the Defense Department has budgeted more than $9 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. DOD continues to invest in research for systems tailored to the region, including work on hypersonics, deterrence of cyberthreats and more.

Austin was in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue - the premier meeting of defense ministers and experts in the region. He addressed reporters traveling with him soon after Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu spoke at the event. "I would just say that ... it's interesting to listen to ... what he says," Austin said. "[But] what's most important is  watch what they do."

The secretary has expressed his concern about China's "irresponsible behavior" in the South China Sea. "We've seen close intercepts and the coercive behavior ... in the waterways," he said.

He noted that, as he arrived in Singapore, there were reports of an incident where a Chinese ship came within 150 meters of the USS Chung Hoon and a Canadian vessel, which were transiting the Taiwan Strait. Two weeks ago, a Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace.

"I call upon [China's] leadership to really do the right things, to reign in that kind of conduct because I think accidents can happen that could cause things to spiral out of control," Austin said.

Austin spoke of the April 2001 P-3 incident where a Chinese pilot rammed a Navy P-3 aircraft. The Chinese pilot died, and the Navy plane had to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan island. "In those days, we were talking to [China], and it was still very difficult to manage that crisis," Austin said. "Imagine now if something happens and we don't have clear communications how difficult that's going to be and what could happen in the short term."

The secretary said it's interesting to hear what Chinese leaders have to say, but what they actually do is more telling. He noted the dangerous activities continue.

The freedom of navigations operations the United States and other nations engage in are perfectly legal. "They should be interested in freedom of navigation, as well, because ... it would affect them," the secretary said.

The Chinese also use the international commons. "If there are no laws, if there are no rules, things will break down for them very quickly as well," he said.

Chinese defense leaders have refused invitations to meet with Austin. The Chinese said it's because the United States has sanctioned Li Shangfu.

"I am personally sanctioned in Russia," Austin said. "But I can  if I want to  talk to the Russian minister of defense."

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Sudan : Statement by the Spokesperson on the extension or UNITAMS' mandate

European External Action Service (EEAS)

05.06.2023

EEAS Press Team

The European Union welcomes the unanimous decision of the UN Security Council to extend until December 2023 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace. We reaffirm our support for the African Union's Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan and we are pleased that the extension of the UNITAMS mandate will help ensure inclusive and coordinated regional and international action, under African leadership, to secure a viable peace process, and the resumption of the transition to civilian government and democracy in Sudan. Once again we remind the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of their obligations under international law to protect civilians and guarantee humanitarian access. Human rights violations are being monitored and documented and those responsible will be held accountable. We urge the belligerents to cease hostilities immediately, allowing space for the resumption of a credible and inclusive political transition process. We will continue to work with all regional and international stakeholders, including the African Union and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sudan, to achieve these ends.

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The Foreign Minister's opening speech at the conference on protecting children in armed conflict

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 05/06/2023

By Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt

Minister Anniken Huitfeldt's opening speech at the conference on protecting children in armed conflict. Norway is hosting the conference that takes place in Oslo, Norway.

Check against delivery

Ministers, Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear colleagues and friends,

Welcome to Oslo!

"Every war is a war against children,"



Eglantyne Jebb, the founder of Save the Children said in 1919.



Her words are even more true today - as wars now are fought in cities rather than on the battlefields of the First World War.

As we meet today, the number of countries experiencing violent conflict is the highest it has been in the last 30 years.

A staggering 1 in 6 of the world's children currently live in countries and areas affected by armed conflicts.

Children do not instigate wars.

Yet, as all present today are painfully aware of, they are often suffering most from its consequences. Consequences that cannot be captured by figures or statistics.



Conflict affects the lives and future of children in dramatic ways. Its impact spans generations. It damages prospects for conflict-resolution, peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development.

During this conference, we will hear the voices of children urging us to end wars and let kids be kids.

We must come together to heed their call.



The situation is far from hopeless.

One indication is today's strong and dedicated participation, including by countries affected by conflict.

I thank you for being willing to share your experience and expertise.

We already have the tools to protect children.

Many countries and organisations can showcase heartening examples of progress.

We have seen it in Colombia: there, children released from armed groups are being reintegrated to the society. Instead of being imprisoned.

And we have seen it in Nigeria: last Autumn, a handover protocol to protect children encountered during military operations was signed with UNICEF.

We will hear many more examples and best practices during this conference.



My point is that we all know what it takes to achieve further progress:

political will

practical measures

and funding.

International organisations, civil society and states all have a role to play.

Let us use this conference to strengthen these partnerships.

As always: Prevention is better than cure.



The UN Secretary-General's 'Our Common Agenda' sets a good path forward.

The nationwide truce by all parties to the conflict in Yemen last year clearly shows how ending armed conflicts is the most effective way to protect children.



The truce instantly led to positive gains for children and a significant reduction in the numbers of children that were being killed or injured.

As a child from Taiz stated:

"We never felt safe. However, during the truce, we felt safe going out and playing as well as going to school and studying. We knew nothing would happen because there is a truce."

Friends,



While we strive for peace, we must do more to protect children affected by conflict as it rages.

States and parties to conflict must respect international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights. Also when countering terrorism.

Protection of children must be a priority in the planning and conduct of military operations.





We cannot accept a climate of impunity for those committing crimes against children. Those who violate the law must be brought to justice.





Children that have been recruited and used in armed conflict must be treated as victims in accordance with international law.





Humanitarian actors must prioritise children in their responses. And donors must step up and fund a sustainable response for children.

We know that access to safe, quality and conflict sensitive education can help protect children and youth from death and exploitation.

We therefore call on all states:

to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration and UN Security Council Resolution 2601





to realize all children's right to education





and to re-double their efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence against children

Colleagues,

I urge all of you to make substantial commitments during this conference.

Norway has several commitments, among them:

A financial pledge of at least one billion NOK over three years.

We will seek and consolidate multi-year partnerships.

The Political Declaration on the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated areas is an important milestone. Norway will host the first follow-up conference in 2024.





We will also work to make the protection of the displaced a priority for the global refugee forum in December. This includes issues of critical importance to children, like birth registration, safe access to education and protection from sexual and gender-based violence.

Friends,

It is only through concrete action that can we ensure better protection of children in armed conflict.

That is why we are gathered in Oslo.

I am delighted - and grateful - to see so many colleagues from conflict-affected countries here today.

I cannot wait to see what we can achieve together.

Thank you.

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Strengthening the capacity of the Polish Armed Forces as part of Polish-Korean cooperation

Republic of Poland - Ministry of National Defence

05.06.2023

"Cooperation between Poland and South Korea is well advanced. The first tanks are already in Poland, the first K9 cannon howitzers are also already on the equipment of the 16th Mechanized Division. The FA-50 aircraft will also be provided to the Polish Army, replacing post-Soviet aircraft. Our efforts are focused on replacing post-Soviet equipment with modern one. Korean equipment is among the most modern. The Ministry of Defense has negotiated good prices for this equipment. Now, it is a matter of getting the Bank of National Economy [Polish: Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego] to fill the financial plans with content. As a result, we have a state-of-the-art equipment that goes and will be equipped to the Polish Armed Forces" said Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of National Defense, during his visit to South Korea.

A three-day visit of Mariusz Blaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of National Defense, to South Korea began on Monday, June 5.

"The opposition while it was in power disarmed the Polish Armed Forces and liquidated military units. More than 600 military units were disbanded during the PO-PSL coalition government. And the rule of Law and Justice since 2015 is distinguished by the fact that we are strengthening the Polish Military, establishing new military units, equipping the Polish troops with modern equipment. It is sufficient to talk to our soldiers. How do they evaluate, for instance, our K2 tanks. A few weeks ago, I spoke with the crews of Polish K2 tanks during the firing on the training ground in Bemowo Piskie. Our soldiers are amazed by these tanks. They were designed in the 21st century, they stand out with their features that other tanks do not have. These are lighter tanks than Abrams, and therefore perfectly adapted to the geographical conditions prevailing in the northeastern part of our country."

- emphasized the head of the Ministry of Defense.

During the first day of the visit, the head of the Ministry of Defense met with his Korean counterpart, Minister LEE Jong-sup, and the Minister of the Defense Procurement Agency (DAPA) who is responsible for the defense procurement program, Eom Donh-Hwan. The subject of the talks was the strengthening of the Polish Armed Forces' capabilities within the framework of Polish-Korean cooperation.

At the meeting with Deputy Chief National Security Advisor LIM Jong-deuk, further military cooperation between Poland and South Korea was discussed.

"Today, I spoke with the CEO of Hyundai Rotem about our cooperation. I also spoke with the advisor to the South Korean president, the national security advisor, as well as the minister who heads the ministry for Korean arms purchases and exports. The prospects for strengthening the Polish Armed Forces are excellent. Within the framework of the committee that will be formed in two days, we will sign an agreement with my Korean counterpart. Within this committee, teams will be set up to deal with specific types of armaments. But also scientific and research cooperation - we are looking to the future, we want to develop new technologies together. (...) My task as Minister of National Defense is to strengthen the Polish Military, and thanks to cooperation with South Korea we already have tangible results. K2 tanks, K9 cannon howitzers. Also in August of this year, the first K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery sets, with a range of up to 300 kilometers, will be delivered to the Polish Army."

- Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak noted after meetings with the South Korean side.

The Polish delegation will attend to a series of meetings with representatives of the South Korean defense industry. The leading topic of the talks will be the acceleration of the strengthening of the Polish Armed Forces' defense potential with the participation of the Polish defense industry cooperating with Korean concerns.

***

On Wednesday, June 7, Minister M. Blaszczak will participate in the official roll-out, or ceremonial departure of the first FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft contracted for Poland from the KAI Factory. The defense ministers of both countries will also observe fire training using the K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery system and the K9 self-propelled cannon howitzer.

The ministers of Poland and Korea will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which the Joint Korean-Polish Committee (JKPC) on Cooperation in the Fields of Defense and Defense Industry will be established. The program will include the first meeting of this council, which will be chaired by the defense ministers, and will consist of 6 working committees whose main focus will be on enhancing military cooperation, education and development-scientific research.

***

On September 16, 2022 in Minsk Mazowiecki, the head of the Ministry of Defense approved 2 executive contracts for the acquisition of FA-50 light combat aircraft from the Korean side in a configuration comparable to that ordered by the Republic of Korea Air Force, along with training and logistics packages and technical support services. The 12 aircraft from this contract will be delivered to the Polish Military already this year.

The adopted step-by-step method of acquiring military equipment will allow optimum management of the project and, in particular, enable the rapid achievement, already in the first stage, of the operational and training capabilities required by the Polish Armed Forces by supplying the Air Force with modern military equipment, compatible with F-16 C/D Block 52+ aircraft and contracted fifth-generation F-35A aircraft.

***

In addition, contracts are being executed with Korean industry for K2 Black Panther tanks; K239 CHUNMOO multi-launchers; and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers. The first K2 tanks and K9 howitzers have already arrived in Poland.

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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on May 29-June 4, 2023

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-06-05

International cooperation

On May 29-June 4 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled four times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On May 29 NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one Tu-134 flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad via international airspace without a pre-filed flight plan, though maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre and with its onboard transponder switched on. The Tu-134 was escorted by two SU-27 which flew out into the international airspace from Kaliningrad and then returned. The flight was conducted without a pre-filed flight plan, onboard transponders off, and without maintaining radio communication.

On May 30 NATO Air Policing fighter jets intercepted one Tu-134 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On June 2 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one Tu-134 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace without a pre-filed flight plan, not using its onboard transponder, though maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

In the course of the same scramble NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace. The flight had no flight plan, the crew kept the onboard transponder on, as well as radio commination.

June 2 NATO Air Policing Detachment fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 en route from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace. It had no flight plan, the crew maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre but the onboard transponder was switched off. The aircraft was escorted by two SU-27 flying into international airspace from Kaliningrad and back. The flight had no flight plan, onboard transponders of the aircraft were not switched on and the crews were not keeping radio communication.

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NATO reinforcements start arriving in Kosovo

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

05 Jun. 2023

NATO reinforcements started to arrive in Kosovo on Monday (5 June 2023), following the unprovoked and unacceptable violence which left almost 40 KFOR peacekeeping troops injured in clashes last week. Around 500 Turkish service members from Turkiye's 65th mechanized infantry brigade will make up the bulk of the NATO reinforcements. The Turkish Battalion will be deployed in Kosovo for as long as necessary. An additional battalion of NATO reserve forces has also been put on higher alert to be deployed if needed.

Following talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Turkiye for sending reinforcements to Kosovo. Mr Stoltenberg said: "Turkiye is an important and highly valued Ally, making key contributions to NATO. This includes troops for our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, which is even more important now, when tensions are high. I thank Turkiye for sending reinforcements to northern Kosovo, following the recent unrest." At the informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Oslo last week, the Secretary General said: "Our message both to Belgrade and to Pristina is that they have to engage in good faith in the EU facilitated dialogue; that is the only path to peace. At the same time, NATO has a responsibility to ensure stability in Kosovo, and that is the reason why we have been there for many years and why we now are increasing our presence in the region."

NATO has been leading a peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since 1999 in support of international efforts to build stability in the region. KFOR's mission is to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo, in accordance with its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. KFOR currently consists of over 4,200 troops contributed by 27 NATO Allies and partners.

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Bangladesh PM slams U.S. visa curbs, sanctions

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:57, June 05, 2023

DHAKA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina slammed a recent U.S. visa restriction for Bangladeshi individuals for "undermining the democratic election process."

"We will not be dependent on others. There is no point in fretting over who will not give us visas or who will impose sanctions," said Hasina on Saturday, as quoted by United News of Bangladesh.

The wide range of people under the purview of the new policy includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services, as per an official U.S. release.

The policy was made to support free, fair, and peaceful national elections in Bangladesh, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on May 24.

Hasina has recently made it clear that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held under her Awami League government, which now eyes the fourth consecutive victory in the election slated for early 2024.

The current government faces challenges from ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party, as Hasina did not heed their demand for a non-party caretaker government to hold the polls.

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Armenia, Azerbaijan may sign peace treaty by end of 2023: Official

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 10:01 AM

Armenia and Azerbaijan may sign a peace treaty to end the decades-old conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh by the end of 2023, a senior Armenian official has declared.

"Negotiations are going very intensively, if we maintain this intensity and there is strong support from the international community to achieve progress, then there is a chance to have a peace agreement by the end of the year," said Armen Grigoryan, the secretary of Armenia's Security Council, said during a Sunday interview with the country's First Channel.

Grigoryan went on to emphasized that Yerevan is determined to reach a peace treaty with Baku as soon as possible.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan though it is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians that have resisted Azerbaijani rule since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

In 2020, the second Karabakh war broke out, killing more than 6,500 people on both sides during a six-week conflict. The war ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of the Azerbaijani territory that it had been holding for several decades.

Both sides routinely trade accusations over ceasefire violations.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev have held several meetings, separately arranged by Russia, the European Union and the US, as they seek to resolve their dispute.

Peace talks appeared to be making progress in recent weeks, with Pashinyan expressing his country's readiness to recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

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Sudanese capital witnesses new fighting as ceasefire expires

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 12:40 AM

Sudan's army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have resumed fighting in the capital Khartoum after expiration of a temporary ceasefire, which entered into force last month.

The flare-up was reported in several areas of the capital city on Sunday, after the truce ended amid breakdown of bilateral talks in Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating negotiations between the warring factions. The ceasefire started on May 22 and expired on Saturday evening.

Hundreds of people have died since the army and the RSF started to fight as a result of a power struggle in mid-April.

The conflict has caused a major humanitarian crisis in which more than 1.2 million have been displaced, including some 400,000, who have fled to neighboring countries. It also threatens to destabilize the region as a whole.

Fighting in the capital has also led to widespread damage and looting, a collapse in health services, power and water cuts, and dwindling food supplies.

"In southern Khartoum, we are living in terror of violent bombardment, the sound of anti-aircraft guns and power cuts," 34-year-old Sara Hassan told Reuters by phone, adding, "We are in real hell."

Meanwhile. Sudan's antiquities authorities said RSF fighters have withdrawn from the national museum in central Khartoum after on Saturday, they released a video filmed inside the grounds of the museum.

Separately, a new outbreak of violence has been reported in Darfur, in the far west of Sudan, which has left at least 40 people dead and dozens more wounded.

Witnesses reported heavy fighting on Friday and Saturday in Kutum, which is one of the main towns and a commercial hub in North Darfur. The Sudanese army has denied claims by the RSF about taking over Kutum.

According to the Darfur Bar Association, fighting has also spread to the Kassab camp, which houses people displaced by earlier unrest.

Witnesses also said a military plane crashed in Omdurman, one of three cities around the confluence of the Nile, which make up the greater capital region.

The truce was violated repeatedly by both sides, but allowed a direly-needed relative respite in the standoff, enabling limited humanitarian assistance to reach the country's war-afflicted population.

The confrontation has seen the army conducting airstrikes against the RSF, which has been responding with anti-aircraft fire.

The United Nations, the Arab League, and many countries have already urged the opposing sides to show restraint and engage in dialogue to end the hostilities.

Experts are now warning about the imminent onset of the rainy season in the country that runs till around October and brings flooding and a heightened risk of water-borne diseases.

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China, US join naval drills in Indonesia amid rising tensions

American, Chinese and Russian warships are joining the Komodo Exercise in the Makassar Strait.

By Pizaro Gozali Idrus for BenarNews 2023.06.05 -- The United States and China are taking part this week in a multilateral naval exercise, which kicked off in Indonesian waters on Monday, despite tensions growing between the two superpowers over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The three nations are joining 33 others in the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo, which Indonesia is hosting through Thursday in the Makassar Strait, a strategic waterway that connects the Pacific and Indian oceans.

The drills will focus on maritime cooperation, disaster relief and humanitarian operations, officials said. The Komodo Exercise is a series of non-combat drills to build trust and solidarity among naval forces, the Indonesian Navy said, according to a report from BenarNews, an online news outlet affiliated to Radio Free Asia.

"This activity is intended to strengthen naval diplomacy and I think this must continue to be nurtured," Adm. Yudo Margono, commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, said during an opening ceremony at Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province.

The drills also are intended to foster cooperation in securing the Indonesian sea areas that border 10 countries, Yudo said.

The Indonesian Navy said the drills involve 41 warships, 17 of which are from foreign countries, including the United States, China and Russia.

The drills are taking place against a backdrop of heightened tensions between China and the United States in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

China claims most of the waterway as its sovereign territory. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have territorial claims in the sea. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the waterway that overlap Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.

'Navigational hegemony'

Beijing has repeatedly accused the U.S. of "navigation hegemony" in the South China Sea.

This past weekend, the U.S. military accused a Chinese navy ship of sailing dangerously close in front of the bow of an American destroyer during an intercept in Taiwan Strait waters.

China's defense ministry issued a dueling statement saying that Chinese forces had been tracking the movements of the U.S. destroyer, which was sailing with a Canadian warship. Its forces had conducted themselves "lawfully and professionally," the ministry said.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control.

The biennial Komodo drills, which began in 2014, also consist of an international symposium, bilateral meetings and a maritime exhibition. Other participants this year include Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The United States embassy in Jakarta said the exercise would allow it to "join together with like-minded countries, our allies and partners to work together to solve common challenges" such as humanitarian response and disaster.

China's Ministry of National Defense said last week that it would send a destroyer and a frigate at the invitation of the Indonesian Navy.

On Monday, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met with his counterparts from Australia and Germany in Jakarta to discuss defense cooperation.

Prabowo said Indonesia's relationship with Australia was supported by mutual trust, transparency and a joint commitment to a stable, peaceful, resilient and prosperous region.

"Indonesia's cooperation with Australia can provide an important contribution to regional peace and stability," he said.

He also said Indonesia and Germany had enjoyed good bilateral relations and defense cooperation for more than a decade.

"We are determined to continue strengthening cooperation and I promise to make an honorary return visit to Germany," he said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that he and Prabowo had discussed some issues that were topics at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum held in Singapore over the weekend. He declined to give details.

BenarNews is an online news agency affiliated to Radio Free Asia.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China pressures Australian press club to cancel Tibetan exile leader's speech

Penpa Tsering's appearance in Canberra will go ahead as planned on June 20.

By Yangdon Demo and Lobsang Gelek for RFA Tibetan 2023.06.05 -- China is under fire for attempting to prevent the leader of Tibet's government-in-exile from giving a speech at the Australian National Press Club in Canberra, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Chinese Embassy representatives met with press club chief Maurice Reily last week and voiced their opposition to Penpa Tsering's scheduled appearance on June 20, requesting that his invitation be revoked.

China has controlled Tibet since it invaded the region in 1949, and rejects any notion of a Tibetan government-in-exile, particularly the legitimacy of the Dalai Lama, who lives in Dharamsala, India. Beijing has also stepped up efforts to erode Tibetan culture, language and religion.

Speeches given at the National Press Club are broadcast on Australian TV and attended by prominent members of the press, so Beijing may be worried about the wider exposure Penpa Tsering would get..

"China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Australia, in disregard of China's position and concern, allowing him to use the NPC platform to engage in separatist activities," the newspaper quoted a letter from the embassy to Reily as saying.

"The Chinese side urges the Australian side to see through the nature of the Dalai clique, respect China's core interests and major concerns, and take concrete actions to remove the negative effects so as to prevent the disruption of the sound development of China-Australia relations and media co-operation."

Free Speech

Despite Beijing's pressure, Reilly told local media that there were no plans to cancel the appearance, and tickets remain on sale on the website of the press club.

He said he told the Chinese Embassy officials that the press club was "an institution for free speech, free media and public debate."

The National Press Club is a stage where everyone is allowed to share their views, Kyinzom Dhongdue, a human rights activist and a former member of the Tibetan parliament in exile, told Radio Free Asia's Tibetan Service.

"We all know how China has worked to build its influence and dependence through trade and economic ties with Australia," she said. "In the last decade we have seen Australia's top educational institution cancel a talk by the Dalai Lama, apparently due to pressure from China. But this time, putting pressure on the National Press Club is unimaginable because the National Press Club stands for Freedom of Speech."

Karma Singey, the representative for the Dalai Lama in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, said Australia would not cave to Chinese influence.

"Australia is a democratic country so we are confident that Australia will not let the Chinese government expand its influence and undermine Australian institutions," he said.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Poland to Receive First South Korean Chunmoo Missile Systems in August - Defense Minister

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Poland will receive first South Korean missile launching systems K239 Chunmoo with a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles) in August, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Monday.

Since July 2022, Warsaw has signed a number of contracts with Seoul to acquire 1,000 tanks, 672 self-propelled howitzers and three squadrons of FA-50 fighter jets. In October, Poland also signed a deal to purchase 288 K239 Chunmoo systems from South Korea.

"My role is to strengthen the Polish Military, and thanks to cooperation with [flag of South Korea], the first Chunmoo rocket artillery sets, with a range of up to 300 km, will go to [flag of Poland] Army this August. They will be mounted on [flag of Poland] Jelcz trucks - yet another example of our cooperation," the Polish Defense Ministry quoted Blaszczak as saying after his talks with South Korean Deputy National Security Advisor Lim Jong-deuk.

The Polish defense chief added that FA-50 fighters would also arrive in Poland this summer, while some South Korean tanks and howitzers were already at the disposal of the country's military.

K239 Chunmoo is a self-propelled rocket artillery system, developed in 2013, capable of firing both guided and unguided missiles of various caliber. It was reportedly worth $2.94 million in 2020.

 Sputnik

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Russia, China, 34 Other Countries Participating in KOMODO Drills in Indonesia - Reports

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The navies of 36 countries, including Russia, China and the United States attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo in the Indonesian city of Makassar, news agency ANTARA reported on Monday.

The 2023 KOMODO will take place in the Flores Sea south of the Sulawesi Island, off shore of a small Komodo Island from June 5-8. The exercise will be held under the slogan "Partnership to Recover and to Rise Stronger," the report said.

"It is an honor that this friendly activity can be held in Makassar City," Indonesian Defense Forces Commander Admiral Yudo Margono was quoted by ANTARA as saying at the opening.

Honored guests from 36 countries including Russia, the US, China, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and Canada were present at the ceremony, the report said.

The representatives of the states' navies signed a memorandum of understanding in cooperation in joint strengthening and recovery, the agency added.

During the opening ceremony, some of the participating countries demonstrated the capabilities of their warplanes within the air show, such as Russian fighters Sukhoi 2730 (SU-27), Canadian Thunder Flight and Indonesian Bonanza, the Indonesian news agency reported.

KOMODO is a non-military exercise prioritizing regional naval cooperation, disaster management and humanitarian operations for strengthening partnership between the Indonesian navy and friendly nations. The multinational maritime exercise KOMODO has been held every two years since 2014.

 Sputnik

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Armenian Security Council Says Yerevan, Baku May Sign Peace Treaty by End of 2023

Sputnik News

20230605

YEREVAN (Sputnik) - Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said on Sunday that Yerevan and Baku could sign a peace treaty before the end of the year.

"Negotiations are going very intensively, if we maintain this intensity and there is strong support from the international community to achieve progress, then there is a chance to have a peace agreement by the end of the year," Grigoryan told Armenia's First Channel.

The Armenian side intends to achieve the conclusion of a peace treaty as soon as possible, Grigoryan added.

Grigoryan also noted that the country's membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) creates "certain problems" for Yerevan, but they do not limit cooperation with other countries.

"We are working intensively with our Western partners to strengthen our security cooperation and will continue this work," Grigoryan said.

The decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh flared up in September 2020, marking the worst escalation since the 1990s. Hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered trilateral ceasefire declaration signed in November 2020. The two former Soviet states agreed to the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the region. Since then, there have been occasional clashes along the border.

In mid-May, Grigoryan said that the Armenian government mulled leaving the CSTO, adding that the organization's mechanism did not work properly and the member states failed to fulfill their commitments. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan said later that the possibility of Armenia withdrawing from the CSTO is not currently on the agenda. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has also repeatedly said that Yerevan witnessed the organization's inaction in 2021-2022.

 Sputnik

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Central Africa faces important electoral and transitional milestones: UK statement at the Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the Central African region.

5 June 2023

Thank you to our briefers. President, I will make four points today on the challenges facing Central Africa.

Thank you, President, and let me also thank SRSG Abarry, Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States President Verissimo and Ms Tamoifo for their important briefings.

President, I will make five points today on the challenges facing Central Africa.

First, as the Secretary-General set out in his latest report, the subregion is facing important electoral and transitional milestones. Inclusive, peaceful and credible political processes are critical for building and sustaining peace in the sub-region. We encourage member states to facilitate inclusive electoral and transitional processes and to draw on UNOCA support.

Second, the transition in Chad is one such potential milestone, but the Chadian Transitional Authorities must honour conditions set out in the May 2023 African Union Peace and Security Council communique to see this milestone achieved. The response to last October's demonstrations was concerning. The United Kingdom encourages the Transitional Authorities to work with UNOCA and ECCAS to ensure accountability and the release of protestors detained without due legal process.

We pay tribute to Chad's generosity in helping host tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the crisis in Sudan. The United Kingdom is also providing over $3 million in humanitarian assistance to help support vulnerable refugees from Sudan in Chad. We encourage the Chadian Transitional Authorities to use their influence with Sudan's generals to encourage adherence to the ceasefire, the facilitation of humanitarian access and progress towards a peaceful resolution to this crisis.

Third, the United Kingdom remains concerned about the situation in Cameroon, especially the humanitarian impact of the conflict in the North West and South West regions. We agree with the Secretary-General that inclusive dialogue is critical to resolve the crisis. The UK continues to call on all parties to engage and to enable safe access to schools and humanitarian assistance.

Fourth, as highlighted by my colleague the Permanent Representative of Gabon, climate insecurity is a major threat to this region. The United Kingdom welcomes UNOCA's implementation of climate security projects in Central Africa. It is essential that UNOCA's work on climate security in the region continues and that the Council supports efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change.

Finally, President, we cannot ignore the destabilising role the Wagner Group continues to play in this region. They are a driver of conflict and resource competition, motivated by their exploitation of natural resources and frequently associated with human rights atrocities. They are a part of the problem, not the solution.

Thank you, President.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

5 June 2023

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

** Hybrid Briefing

All right, this afternoon at 3:30 p.m., there will be a briefing here by Tanja Fajon, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and Ambassador [Bostjan] Malovrh, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations. They will speak on the forthcoming Security Council elections.

** Common Agenda

This morning, the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, briefed Member States on three of his policy briefs under Our Common Agenda. The three briefs deal with the topics of reform of the international financial architecture, moving beyond Gross Domestic Product and the Global Digital Compact.

The Secretary-General said the three briefs provide ideas on how we can revitalize the multilateral system; accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and keep global temperature rise to the 1.5-degree limit of the Paris Agreement.

He stressed that the briefs are meant to serve as inspiration for deliberations and decisions which are in the hands of Member States, as they prepare for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September and the Summit of the Future next year.

"What matters is that we take action to tackle new and emerging challenges in a way that delivers for all, restoring trust in international cooperation and each other," Mr. Guterres added.

We expect all the briefs  that's 11 in total  to be issued by the end of July.

** Security Council

This morning, the Security Council heard from Abdou Abarry, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).

He started on a positive note, saying the region has more opportunities and resources than challenges, noting that the preference shown by most States in the subregion is for dialogue to resolve tensions peacefully  quoting the dialogue between the Central African Republic and Chad, as well as the mobilization of States from the region to resolve the crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

But, Mr. Abarry added, the impact of the Sudanese crisis on Chad and the Central African Republic remind us of the urgent need to adopt a holistic approach to peace and security in the Central Africa subregion.

He paid tribute to the solidarity and generosity shown by the two countries, which have already taken thousands of Sudanese refugees, adding that without a rapid and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan, the impacts will be disastrous for Sudan, but also for all the countries in the Lake Chad Basin region.

His remarks were shared with you.

** Sudan

And just an update from Sudan itself: Despite the ongoing violence, we are moving humanitarian relief for people in need around the country.

Some 68 humanitarian partners are providing aid and protection across all of Sudan's 18 states. This includes UN organizations, Sudanese and international NGOs (non-governmental organizations), as well as the Red Crescent Society.

Since the start of this current phase of the conflict, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) has delivered more than 2,500 tons of health, nutrition, water and sanitation supplies, including in areas where the fighting continues. This assistance will benefit at least 1.6 million children. More than 600 tons of life-saving nutrition aid have reached now 11 states  that's enough for UNICEF and partners to treat more than 45,000 children suffering from severe wasting in the coming months.

And also, since the start of this current phase of the conflict, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has set up nearly 1,000 tents in White Nile, Kassala, Gedaref and North Darfur states to help people on the move.

We are also supporting the response in neighbouring countries hosting people fleeing the violence in Sudan. Over the weekend, the WHO (World Health Organization) delivered 10 tons of essential medicines and health supplies to Egypt. That's enough to treat 50,000 new arrivals suffering from non-communicable diseases and severe acute malnutrition.

** Central African Republic

Moving south-west to the Central African Republic, the Humanitarian Coordinator there, Mohamed Ag Agoya, said today the humanitarian situation remains critical with 3.4 million  or 56 per cent of the population  in need of humanitarian assistance.

Mr. Ag Ayoya said that the conflict in Sudan has resulted so far in the arrival of almost 14,000 men, women and children who are seeking asylum as they flee the violence; they are mostly arriving in the north-east of the country  included in that are Central African returnees. The conflict has also halted commercial traffic across the border, putting additional pressure on the limited resources available to the 130,000 extremely vulnerable people who are in the region.

Overall, displacement in the Central African Republic continues. One in five Central Africans is either internally displaced or a refugee in a neighbouring country.

Last year, the humanitarian community provided assistance to 1.9 million people. In the first three months of this year, we have provided assistance to 658,000 people with life-saving assistance.

This year, we need $533 million to assist a total of 2.4 million people. We will also continue to support people arriving from Sudan and, of course, the host communities that have opened up their arms and homes to them. The humanitarian appeal for the Central African Republic is sadly only 25 per cent funded.

** Haiti

And just turning to Haiti, in light of the devastating floods and landslides that we've seen over the weekend, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is supporting the Haitian Civil Protection General Directorate to assess needs and coordinate the emergency response.

Authorities say that at least 42 people were killed, more than 37,000 people impacted, including some 19,000 people displaced.

Alongside Haitian institutions, we and our humanitarian partners are gearing up to deliver assistance, including shelter and food supplies, drinking water, and hygiene kits and other types of facilities.

Seven of Haiti's 10 departments were impacted. The impact was worst in the West, including the capital Port-au-Prince, and in the south-west.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the situation is extremely worrying, given the hurricane season is only just beginning.

As a reminder, even before the landslides and flooding, half the population of Haiti was in need of humanitarian assistance. We urge donors to scale up the support for the country's Humanitarian Response Plan, which is sadly only 20 per cent funded, and it is an appeal for $720 million.

** Democratic Republic of Congo

Sorry, doing all the zigzagging here, heading back across to Africa, quick update from Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of our Peace Operations. Today, he is in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he is discussing with senior government officials the reconfiguration of the peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, in view of a responsible transition.

Over the weekend, Mr. Lacroix was in the Ituri province, where he met with provincial authorities, including the military governor. He visited the site for internally displaced people in Drodro  60 kilometres north of the provincial capital, Bunia  where peacekeepers provide physical protection to about 100,000 men, women and children through four temporary operating bases and one permanent combat deployment.

While there, Mr. Lacroix heard the testimonies of displaced children who were forced out of schools due to insecurity and women who are bearing, as is sadly the case, the brunt of conflict.

** Japan

Also travelling is the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, who today kicked off a five-day visit to Japan to explore how to enhance cooperation on humanitarian action. Ms. Msuya took part in a first-ever Strategic Dialogue with Japan's Foreign Ministry to discuss mounting humanitarian crises and innovative approaches to address them. While in Tokyo, she will meet with other senior Japanese government officials, as well as with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and aid organizations.

** India

And over the weekend, you will have seen we issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General's sadness at the loss of life and injury following the train accident in Odisha, India. The Secretary-General extends his deep condolences to the families of the victims, as well as the people and Government ofIndia. He wishes a full and swift recovery to all those who were injured.

** Trinidad and Tobago

Our colleagues in the office of Development Coordination tell us that Ms. Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki of Poland is taking up her new post today as UN Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago. She will also coordinate UN development operations in Aruba, Curacao, Suriname, and Saint Maarten. She brings more than 20 years of experience in international development. Her full biography is online.

** International Days

Today is World Environment Day. In his message, the Secretary-General said that this day is a call to beat plastic pollution. He called on Governments, companies and consumers alike to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste and build a truly circular economy.

Today is also the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. These activities are responsible for the loss of 1126 million tons of fish each year, a vital source of nutrition in a world of growing population and persistent hunger.

** United Nations General Assembly

An important reminder to all of you and your media organizations is that accreditation for the GA high-level meeting is open. Remember to accredit not so much yourselves but all of your colleagues. The deadline is 1 September; the GA does happen every September, so that should not be a surprise. September will see the SDGs summit, the [19th] of September is the official opening of the high-level debate.

** Financial Contribution

Super short quiz for you today from our friend Jane Gaffney; the island of Viti Levu is home to this island nation's capital city.

And if you can't figure that out, this country also is the location where  I think is Farhan Haq's favourite movie  The Blue Lagoon was filmed with Brooke Shields.

Fiji, exactly, and who co-starred alongside Brooke Shields? [response from the crowd] Christopher Atkins. Excellent.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Excellent. You played, you won. You get the first question, Michelle.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Two questions for you. First on Ukraine grain, Russia has said today that it sees no prospects for extending the Black Sea Grain deal. Would you like to respond to that?

Spokesman : No. The discussions are going on. We keep constant discussions with our partners within the framework of the JCC (Joint Coordination Centre), including the Russian Federation and Ukraine. And as we've said many a times, the grain initiative is critical to address world food prices and hunger, as is the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) we signed with the Russian Federation on fertilizer and grain.

Question : Can you give us any idea about what the hurdles are at the moment to restarting the ammonia pipeline?

Spokesman : There's a conflict going on.

James?

Question : Hang on. I'm still on two. Afghanistan, the NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council) said today that they've resumed work in Kandahar and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Has the UN made any progress in carving out more exemptions with the work of female staff? Thanks.

Spokesman : On Afghanistan, no, I don't have any more details for you on our work operations, but I'll try to get you some more details.

Edie and then James.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Does the UN have any information on what's going on the ground in eastern Ukraine?

Spokesman : Not specific military operations. We do not have the mandate nor the capacity to do that. We continue in Ukraine to address the impact of the conflict through our humanitarian and human rights missions.

Question : Is the UN still able to deliver humanitarian aid on the Ukrainian side of the front lines?

Spokesman : We continue our efforts to deliver humanitarian aid as close to the front lines as possible because those are the communities that are most in need. We report, I think, almost in real time, as soon as we have convoys. So, I have not gotten any updates on new convoys today.

Question : And on Sudan, the US and Saudi Arabia have appealed for a new ceasefire. Is the UN still able to deliver humanitarian aid or has the fighting resumed to a point where it's become difficult again?

Spokesman : There's been some challenges. As I said earlier, we are able to deliver aid where we can on, almost on a case-by-case basis depending on what is going on in the region. I know our colleagues at WFP (World Food Programme) are having some more recent challenges in food distribution. We want to see a full and complete cessation of hostilities, so we don't have to sort of negotiate on a case-by-case basis for access. We want to see the parties in Sudan stop the fighting so we can actually help the Sudanese people at the scale that is needed.

Question : And just a final question. Where is Volker Turk?

Spokesman : Volker Perthes will be making his way back to the region later this week.

James!

Question : Yeah, so two very different subjects. First, on the  what the SG has been talking about today, Our Common Agenda and these policy briefs. What is the timeline for these... When, you know, you're coming up with all these different ideas for Member States to discuss, but what do you see as a timeline going forward? Is this all aimed at the Summit for the Future?

Spokesman : I mean, it's aimed at the General Assembly debate. It's aimed at the SDG Summit. Thank you... the G20. It's aimed at all of these important dates that we're having, including the Summit of the Future.

Correspondent : Now, you've got 11 of these briefs. You've put out three today. That means there are eight more.

Spokesman : Well, no. There are others that have been published in your absence.

Correspondent : Oh, I'm sorry.

Spokesman : Yeah. It's okay. [laughter]

Question : But your AI (Artificial Intelligence) one, your AI one, that there's one on AI. Is that right?

Spokesman : The digital comp... There's the digital one, and then we have one on misinformation coming out later this week.

Question : No, I'm thinking... You were saying there was going to be an AI policy. Is that one of these policy briefs or is it something different?

Spokesman : It's included, there's reference to it, if I'm not mistaken, in the Digital Compact and also in one coming out later this week. And I won't, I mean, as I often do, listening to the Secretary-General replying to Member States today, I would encourage you to go back and look at the video. He spoke around noon.

Correspondent : I heard some of it...

Spokesman : I think I encourage you to listen to him. I do just for your programming... [cross talk]

Question : But is there another AI policy coming out? Or is it, I mean, because you did, at one point, say, oh, we'll be publishing an AI policy.

Spokesman : No. I didn't. It's addressed within this.

Question : This is within this. Okay, and so just to add to that, does he really think this timeline for all of these very important matters, the AI one, doesn't he need to be... doesn't the international community need to be addressing AI much more urgently than a Summit that's not taking place until September next year?

Spokesman : It's not saying like there is a specific timeline when decisions need to be made. These are things that need to be decided and looked upon now as... but we also, I mean, as you know, there is obviously, AI, the issue; I mean, the issue of autonomous weapons is linked to AI, which he addressed this morning. But we also can't forget the very real challenges we're facing with information integrity and with social media that still have yet to be addressed. He will be either in this room or at this stakeout, most likely on Thursday, to talk about the policy paper on information integrity.

Question : Okay. So, my very different subject was a 3-year-old Palestinian boy has died after being shot in the head by Israeli forces four days ago, Mohammed Tamimi. What is the Secretary-General's reaction?

Spokesman : Yet another horrendous example of the violence that we are seeing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There needs to be a full investigation. People need to be held to account.

Question : You say, "yet another". Yes. Yes, absolutely, yet another. Nearly 40 Palestinian children killed in 2022; about 25 of the records I can find killed in 2023. When do we get the Children in Armed Conflict report? And this... isn't it absolutely clear now that Israel must be on that blacklist, given these figures?

Spokesman : It will be released late June, early July, and I think you will have to wait for the release to judge the report.

Alan?

Question : Thank you, Stephane, I have a question regarding the ammonia pipeline. Does the UN believe that the resumption of the work of this pipeline could be accompanied by any preconditions, given the fact that this resumption was mentioned both in the agreement last year and the memorandum?

Spokesman : It's not for me to talk about preconditions. We just want to see an agreement. Obviously, it has to be discussed and negotiated with the parties, but I'm not going to start talking about required preconditions. Okay. I... [laughter] you should not take long leave. You should not take long leave.

Go ahead, James. Go ahead.

Question : Just quickly. You'd mentioned that the SG will be doing disinformation later in the week, but I think there's an important question on that right now. YouTube is no longer going to remove videos claiming that the US election was stolen. Clearly, that's just one particular issue, but it's clearly, you know, everyone knows that is untrue. It is false. It seems to go against the UN's policy on this and its Verified initiative. Is the UN concerned about that decision by Google YouTube?

Spokesman : We are concerned by any decision by social media companies that leads to increase disinformation. We believe that social media companies have a responsibility for what is put on their platform, and we think their policy should reflect that.

Question : Finally, on Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have detained, I think, 24 people to do with the anniversary of Tiananmen Square. What's the UN's reaction?

Spokesman : I would refer you to what Volker Perthes said on this today.

Michelle?

Question : Just a follow-up to Edie's earlier questions on Ukraine. Would the UN expect Ukrainian authorities to give them any kind of heads up on any new major offensive?

Spokesman : No. We're... they're not in the, I mean, as far as I'm aware, we are not privy to a preview of military operation.

Abdelhamid, did you have a question?

Question : Yes. I do. Thank you, Stephane. The number of Palestinian detainees has reached 1000 [inaudible]. The detainees started number of measures to protest that...

Spokesman : If some, hold on Abdelhamid, if you can up the volume a little bit. Not you, I'm asking our technician friends to do that. And in the meantime, I need to correct the record. The opening of the GA is the 19th, not the 26th.

Question : So is that the, is that the...

Spokesman : The Tuesday of the high-level debate, exactly. But the accreditation deadline remains the first.

Go ahead, Abdelhamid.

Question : Can you hear me?

Spokesman : Yes, sir.

Question : Now, the number of Palestinian detainees has reached 1,083, the highest ever. Detainees started on Sunday a number of measures to protest their detention, which will be followed by hunger strike. So, is there any statement or position coming from the UN for this [inaudible]?

Spokesman : Thank you. Sorry. I'm frowning because you're very, very loud all of a sudden. Sorry, if we could just fix the sound issue, if you could mute yourself, Abdelhamid, for a second. Thank you. Just to say on detainees, I think our position remains the same, is that people who are detained by the police or security forces need to be either charged or they need to be... or they need to be released.

Stefano?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Pope Francis has sent an envoy, Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi to Kyiv for... in search for peace. We know that there is a Vatican initiative, but did the Vatican have contact with the Secretary-General, in this initiative? Did they explain...

Spokesman : Good question, I have to check. I didn't, I should have asked him this morning, but I'll check.

Ms. [Paulina] Kubiak, you're up, and thank you, all.

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US Releases Video of Encounter With Chinese Warship Near Taiwan

By VOA News June 05, 2023

The U.S. military on Monday released a video of what it described as an "unsafe" maneuver in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend in which a Chinese navy ship cuts sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S. vessel to slow to avoid a collision.

During the Saturday incident, the U.S. military said, a Chinese guided-missile destroyer overtook the USS Chung-Hoon on its port side, then veered to the right across its bow at a distance of about 137 meters (150 yards), according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The American destroyer held its course, the video showed, but the military said its speed was reduced to 10 knots "to avoid a collision."

The close encounter occurred as the American vessel and the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting a "freedom of navigation" transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China, which China claims as part of its economic zone and the U.S. and its Western allies say is governed by the freedom of international passage.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday at the White House that the close encounter in the Taiwan Strait is "part and parcel of an increasing level of aggressiveness" by China's military.

He described the Chinese actions as "unsafe" and "unprofessional" and said such maneuvers could, in the future, lead to "miscalculations."

"It won't be long before somebody gets hurt," he said.

After cutting across the bow of the U.S. ship, the Chinese vessel straightened out to again start sailing in a parallel direction.

The Chinese ship did not attempt a similar maneuver on the Canadian frigate, which was sailing behind the American destroyer.

"Chung-Hoon and Montreal's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the combined U.S.-Canadian commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Indo-Pacific Command said. "The U.S. military flies, sails, and operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows."

The incident came on a day when both U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu were in Singapore for an annual defense conference.

Li defended his country's response Sunday, contending that the passage of the allied Western vessels on "freedom of navigation patrols" was a provocation to China.

Li told some of the world's top defense officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that Beijing does not have any problems with "innocent passage" through the waters separating Taiwan from mainland China but that "we must prevent attempts that try to use those freedom of navigation [patrols], that innocent passage, to exercise hegemony of navigation."

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement that guided-missile destroyer Chung-Hoon and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit "through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law."

The bilateral transit, the statement said, "demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and while the U.S. recognizes a "one-China" policy and that Beijing claims Taiwan as its own, Washington continues to sell arms to Taipei.

Li suggested the U.S. and its allies had created the danger and should instead focus on taking "good care of your own territorial airspace and waters."

"The best way is for the countries, especially the naval vessels and fighter jets of countries, not to do closing actions around other countries' territories," he said through an interpreter. "What's the point of going there? In China we always say, 'Mind your own business.'"

Austin told the same security forum Saturday that Washington would not "flinch in the face of bullying or coercion" from China and would continue regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea to emphasize they are international waters, countering Beijing's sweeping territorial claims.

In addition to Saturday's maneuvering in the Taiwan Strait, the U.S. has said a Chinese J-16 fighter jet late last month "performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" while intercepting a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, flying directly in front of the plane's nose.

Li refused Austin's invitation to talk on the sidelines of the conference, though the two did shake hands before sitting down at opposite sides of the same table together as the forum opened Friday.

Austin said that was not enough.

"A cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement," Austin said.

Despite the tensions between China and the United States, a senior U.S. diplomat held talks Monday in Beijing with Chinese officials.

The State Department described the talks, which included U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Chinese foreign ministry officials Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, as "candid and productive."

The discussions were "part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication" between the two countries, the State Department said in a statement.

Kritenbrink faced criticism for arriving in Beijing on June 4  the 34th anniversary of Beijing's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Kirby defended the timing of the trip on Monday in his White House briefing, saying that critics "are just making a whole heck of a lot out of nothing."

"We would not call it a misstep," he said in response to a reporter's question. "This was a long-planned trip, and this is the way the schedules worked out."

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Rights Groups Urge Malawi to Stop Forced Refugee Relocations

By Lameck Masina June 05, 2023

An international rights group is asking the Malawi government to stop the forced relocation of 8,000 refugees living outside a congested camp.

Human Rights Watch says it is concerned by reports that children are among those caught up in the sweeps and forcibly taken to a prison in the capital, Lilongwe. The rights group says the forcible relocation violates international conventions for refugees which Malawi ratified.

Idriss Ali Nassah, who is with Human Rights Watch covering Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, told VOA the relocation of refugees is troubling.

"There are reports of this raid being carried out by military men and the police, who are arresting indiscriminately women, children and the elderly and taking them first of all to Maula maximum security prison in Lilongwe," he said. "Not only are the authorities committing abuses during arrests and detaining children, but forcibly removing people from their homes amounts to unlawful forced evictions."

Nassah said his organization has learned that 20 refugees and asylum-seekers at Maula Prison and Dzaleka refugee camp were allegedly assaulted during raids and that their money was taken.

Last week, Malawi police arrested two police officers for soliciting money from seven refugees from Burundi to spare them from forcible evictions.

Malawi started the forcible relocation last month following the expiration of the April 15 deadline the government gave the refugees to voluntarily relocate to the camp.

The government said by staying outside the camp, the refugees threaten national security. In addition, the encampment policy prohibits refugees from staying outside the camp.

Nassah said the policy contradicts agreements that the Malawi government ratified.

"But this is contrary to what Malawi itself endorsed in 2018 when it endorsed a Global Compact on Refugees, which seeks to include and integrate refugees into host communities," he said. "Because by doing that, you allow refugees to become self-reliant if they are permitted to have access to education, labor market, access to entrepreneurship, and they contribute to the development of host communities and local economies."

Dzaleka, the only refugee camp in Malawi, was meant to house 12,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, according to UNHCR. Instead, the camp holds more than 50,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Several rights groups in Malawi and abroad, including the U.N. refugee agency, have asked Malawi to stop the relocations due to the congestion.

Patrick Botha, spokesperson for the Ministry of Homeland Security in Malawi, told VOA that the refugees outside the camp have long posed a security threat and need to be confined to the camp.

"The position of the Malawi government is that this is a necessary exercise," he said. "Actually, you have seen that some of the people we are talking about have been found with illegal documentation in South Africa  the case of this Rwandese who is suspected to be a mastermind of the genocide."

Botha said the recent arrest of a Rwandese national in South Africa who was allegedly using a Malawian passport has fueled the Malawi government to intensify relocation efforts.

However, Botha said refugees that are kept in a prison are not subjected to prison conditions.

"We are using Maula premises not as a way of imprisoning them. Actually, we are using the Maula premises as the center for screening," he said. "So, depending on what comes out of the documentation  they are either ... sent back home, if they have legitimate papers of documentation."

Nearly 2,000 refugees have relocated to the Dzaleka camp, where some refugees have told VOA they are living under dehumanizing conditions with no food, running water and shelter.

The World Food Program told VOA that the relocation exercise adds pressure on its already strained food assistance for Dzaleka camp refugees.

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Readout of Vice President Harris's Meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga

June 05, 2023

Vice President Kamala Harris met today at the White House with World Bank President Ajay Banga. This meeting was the first official U.S. engagement since President Banga took office.

The Vice President underscored the Biden-Harris Administration's strong support for World Bank efforts to make investments and spur policy reforms that reduce poverty and advance achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. She praised the steps taken to evolve the World Bankincluding expanding its mission to include building resilience to global challenges like climate change, pandemics, fragility and conflict. She underscored that addressing these global challenges is interlinked with and indivisible from the Bank's work to eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity. The Vice President welcomed President Banga's commitment and high ambition in driving forward this evolution initiative.

The Vice President conveyed the United States' intention to work with World Bank shareholders and President Banga in the leadup to the September G20 Leaders Summit to agree to steps we will jointly take to deliver:



Significant new concessional World Bank financing delivered through a new window or other innovative mechanisms to incentivize action on global challenges across all borrower countries. A new framework and principles for the targeted use of concessional resources will help deploy new financing to where it is most additional and has the highest impact.

Enhanced support for addressing the urgent needs of low-income countries, including through contributions to support crisis response in International Development Association recipient countries.



Recognizing that the public sector alone cannot meet the immense development needs, the Vice President also underscored our commitment to work with the World Bank and other shareholders to develop and implement an action plan to raise the level of ambition in mobilizing private investment.

The Vice President discussed with President Banga her work around the world, from Southeast Asia to Africa to the Caribbean. In particular, as the Vice President has made clear in this and other meetings, countries should have access to the finance and tools they need to accelerate the clean energy transition and build resilience to shocks. The Vice President and President Banga also discussed ongoing work to galvanize private investment in developing countries, particularly in Central America and Africa. This meeting comes just before the Vice President's upcoming trip to The Bahamas on June 8 to participate in the U.S.-Caribbean Leaders Meeting, alongside President Banga, where she will further discuss the U.S. commitment and actions to support sustainable and inclusive economic development in the Caribbean. To this end, she raised the importance of all creditors offering Climate Resilient Debt Clauses to allow a temporary suspension of debt service after a natural disaster.

###

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Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark Before Bilateral Meeting

June 05, 2023

Oval Office

1:45 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, welcome. I am delighted to have Madam Prime Minister here today. Great to see you again.

We were just talking about the last time we met. I had the opportunity, which was a great opportunity  unrelated to anything having to do with foreign policy  that  for her to meet my  my granddaughters, who are bright young women who are college and law school graduates, who still talk to me about their meeting with the Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER FREDERIKSEN: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: And as we all know but we don't talk often much about it, Denmark is one of our greatest allies and most reliable friends, closest friends, and in lockstep in every global issue that we've  that we've been engaged in.

And I understand today is Constitution Day.

PRIME MINISTER FREDERIKSEN: Yeah, it is. It is.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: And  and it's  it reflects the fact that we have the same values. I mean, you know, I always talk about how, wh-  it's about values, whether a country is organized around a certain set of values, and Constitution Day is not dissimilar than our U.S. Constitution. And the idea that there's a shared commitment to the core values of  that gives our strength. At least that's what I believe.

And together we're working to protect those values, including standing up for the people of Ukraine against the brutal aggression of the Russians.

And we've also addressing the global challenges, from promoting inclusive economic growth and the climate crisis. And I want to thank you for your clean energy transition leadership. I really mean it.

And together with NATO Allies, we're taking steps to strengthen our shared security, including finishing our bilateral defense cooperation agreement that we're working on.

And I want to thank you again, Madam Prime Minister, for making the effort to be here. We're anxious to see you.

So, welcome. And the floor is yours.

PRIME MINISTER FREDERIKSEN: Thank you so much, Mr. President. It's really nice to see you again and to be here.

I would  I would like to thank you for your leadership. I mean, from a European perspective, to have a President in the U.S. who is committed to the transatlantic alliance has always been extremely important.

But I mean, nowadays, when war has returned to our continent, in Europe, it is so important that our allies and our friends  that we stick together, that we are united. And we have truly been for now 15 months, in Ukraine. We will, of course, continue, from a Danish perspective, our very strong  strong support to Ukraine, but I'm looking forward to work even closer with you on defense and securities.

I would also like to thank you for your leadership on the green transition. I mean, you have brought the U.S. back to the fight against climate change, and you are doing it in a very interesting way because you  you don't  you  you have high ambitions when it comes to climate change, but at the same time you insist on making sure that Americans will have a job because of this. So, sustainable growth is so important.

So, thanks for your leadership, and thanks for welcoming us today.

PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, I'm delighted to have you here. Thank you.

Thank you all.

(Cross-talk.)

Q Will the counteroffensive work?

PRESIDENT BIDEN: (Crosses fingers.)

1:50 P.M. EDT

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Russo-Ukraine War - 05 June 2023 - Day 467

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that over the course of May 2023, Russia launched over 300 Iranian Shahed series one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA-UAVs) against Ukraine: its most intense use of this weapon system to date.

Russia is probably launching so many OWA-UAVs in an attempt to force Ukraine to fire stocks of valuable, advanced air defence missiles.

Russia is unlikely to have been notably successful: Ukraine has neutralised at least 90% of the incoming OWA-UAVs mostly using its older and cheaper air defence weapons and with electronic jamming. Russia has also likely been attempting to locate and strike Ukrainian forces well behind the front line. However, Russia remains very ineffective at hitting such dynamic targets at range because of its poor targeting processes.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of June 5th, Russian forces launched missile and 19x air strikes, launched about 30x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. Unfortunately, in addition to the destroyed infrastructure, civilians suffered.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to completely occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. During the day, 25x combat clashes took place.

Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings. The Republic of Belarus continues to support russian armed aggression - training of Russian forces continues on its training grounds.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. The adversary carried out airstrikes in the Ohirtseve and Hatishche areas of the Kharkiv Oblast. They shelled the settlements such as Seredyna Buda, Baranivka, Bunyakyne, Volfine, Kindrativka, Velyka Pisarivka, Shevchenkive, Oleksandrivka of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Basove, Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Gur'iv Kozachok, Udy, Veterinarne, Visoka Yaruga, Hlyboke, Luk' Yantsy, Staritsa, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Vovchans'k, Mykolaivka, Nesterne, Budarky, Zarubinka, Shevyakivka, Odradne in Kharkiv Oblast.

Kup'yans'k axis: Kolodyazne, Krasne Pershe, Novomlyns'k, Kutkivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kislivka, Berestov of the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivs'ke of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes in the Nevs'ke districts of Luhansk and Spirne of Donetsk Oblasts. Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Verkhn'okam'ians'ke, Tors'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery fire.

Bakhmut axis: Russian forces carried out offensive operations in the vicinities of Ivanovsky, albeit without success. They carried out airstrikes in Torets'k and Bila Hora of the Donetsk Oblast. Areas of settlements of Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Khromov, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Stupochki, Bila Hora, Diliivka and New York of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery.

Avdiivka axis: the Russian forces made an unsuccessful offensive attempt near Nevelsky. They carried out airstrikes in the Avdiivka area of the Donetsk Oblast. Occupiers shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Lastochkine, Severne, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka, Nevels'ke of the Donetsk Oblast.

Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled all 8x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Marinka. Russian forces launched airstrikes at the settlement. Hostre, Georgiyivka, Mar'inka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.

Shakhtars'k axis: the Russian forces launched an airstrike in the area of Velika Novosilka. They shelled t Vugledar, Prechistivka, Novoukrainka and Vremivka in the Donetsk Oblast.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They launched an airstrike on Beryslav, Kherson Oblast. They shelled Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil', Temyrivka settlements of the Donetsk Oblast; Olgivs'ke, Poltavka, Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipils'ke, Charivne, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Preobrazhenka, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaki, Stepove and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhia Oblast; Kozats'ke, Mykils'ke, Dniprovs'ke of the Kherson Oblast and Kherson.

Continuing the armed aggression, the Russian occupying forces suffer daily losses. Only on June 3, twenty trucks of wounded occupiers were brought to the school building converted into a field hospital for the invaders in one of the settlements of the Swativ district of the Luhansk Oblast. It is also known that about two hundred people are already undergoing treatment at the specified facility.

Kup'yans'k axis: Russia is forced to use civilian buildings of settlements in the Kharkiv Oblast as morgues, but without proper equipment.

Ukrainian Air Force conducted 18x strikes on manpower concentrations and 2x strikes on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 1x Russian reconnaissance UAV.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x control points, 10x manpower, weapons and military equipment concentrations, an ammunition warehouse, an anti-aircraft missile system and 3x Russian artillery units at firing positions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on 4 June, the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt at a large-scale offensive in South Donetsk direction. Six mechanised and two tank battalions were deployed on the AFU side.

As a result of the active actions by the units of the Vostok Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery inflicted significant losses on the enemy close to Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were 300 Ukrainian servicemen, 16 tanks, 26 armoured fighting vehicles and 14 motor vehicles.

The enemy haven't achieved the goals.

The Kiev regime continues the attempts to carry out terrorist attacks against civilians in the border regions of the Russian Federation.

Yesterday, the units of the Russian Armed Forces and the Border Guard of the Federal Security Service have thwarted an attempt by two groups of Ukrainian terrorists to enter Belgorod region close to Novaya Tavolzhanka (Belgorod region).

At around 1pm Moscow, under the cover of heavy shelling of civilian facilities, the terrorists attempted to cross the Seversky Donets River and land on the outskirts of Novaya Tavolzhanka (Belgorod region).

The terrorist formations of the Kiev regime have been destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire of the Western Military District State Border protection cover units.

As a result of the fire damage, the enemy losses were 10 terrorists, two boats and one armoured vehicle.

In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, five Ukrainian mortar platoons and Grad MLRS vehicle have been suppressed close to Volchansk (Kharkov region), as well as two Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems that were striking at the Russian territory have been destroyed.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Sinkovka, Kotlyarovka, and Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region).

Five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been foiled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Molchanovo, Olshana, Berestovoye and Orlyanka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were 90 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems and one D-20 howitzer.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 60th Motorised Infantry Brigade has been destroyed near Malinovka (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Yampolovka and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage group has been eliminated close to Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, Msta-B and D-20 howitzers, and one Nona-S self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, the active combat operations were carried out by the Akhmat special forces in the central part of Maryinka, as well as the units of the 1st Army Corps near Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units close to Berdychi, Khimik, Pervomayskoye and Kurakhovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 425 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, 14 motor vehicles, one German-manufactured Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

Two ammunition depots of the 24th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Dzerzhinsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Kherson direction, as a result of the fire damage by Russian artillery, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, two pickups, one Grad MLRS, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 126th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine has been destroyed near Nikolskoye (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 98 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 104 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down one Su-27 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Zakotnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Eight HIMARS and Uragan rocket-propelled projectiles have been intercepted.

In addition, 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted close to Shevchenko, Olshana (Kharkov region), Zolotaryovka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Vladimirovka, Kirillovka, Staromlynovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Zabarino (Kherson region).

In total, 433 airplanes, 236 helicopters, 4,486 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,431 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,114 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,009 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,688 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Q&A - IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023

Transcript

03 Jun 2023

Prime Minister

Shangri-La Dialogue; national security; foreign affairs; Australia's international relationships

E&OE

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you referenced Singapore Prime Minister Lee's recent speech in China. Singapore's Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen was in Australia recently. And there he mentioned some very positive things about Australia's potential to play a bigger role in the region and welcomed Australia's future submarines to call into Singapore's ports. But he also said something surprising, at least I found it surprising, that he said that Australia was not just an Indo-Pacific country, but an Asian country. And it's interesting to me because it's not just about Australia's strategic interests, but Australia's strategic identity. And although I suspect that went down well in Canberra, that identity has other claims upon it. Australia claims to be part of the South Pacific family. Australia has two formal allies - New Zealand and the United States. Both are members of the Five Eyes intelligence community, which is anglophone in nature, and although the Anglosphere is seen as somewhat passe, it also has a claim, I think, in some senses to Australia's strategic identity. So I would just be interested how that sits with your definition of Australia's strategic identity. How would you define it? And where would you locate it?



ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much for the question. We are, like other nations, a product of our history. And our history is, with the exception of the oldest continuous culture on earth, which is still there, that we are proud of, we are a former, of course, British colony, but located with Asia to our north, the Pacific Ocean to our east and the Indian Ocean indeed, importantly, as well, to our west. We're a large nation. We value our alliances which are there and were forged during the Second World War under John Curtin, the then-Prime Minister said we turn to the United States. Ever since then, that relationship has been critical. But we are also part of the Pacific family. But we are also a strategic partner as well. Importantly, with ASEAN. And if you look at my personal engagement and the engagement of my Government, historically, as well, particularly Labor governments have looked to our north. Our Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has visited all of the ASEAN nations and every single Pacific Island Forum nation as well. I myself have visited Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia twice, Papua New Guinea, and Japan three times in the region. Our focus, we are part of this region. Increasingly as well, if you go to Australia, what you'll see is those close connections which are there. So my friend, the Singaporean Defence Minister, of course, when he was in Australia recently, he would have been visiting, as well, I'm sure, the support that we give to his men and women in the Singaporean Defence Force, who are trained and present there in Queensland and in other parts of Australia. Those direct linkages are really important. The relationship that we have in our region is important as well. I think it is a matter of Australia as a middle power. What my Government seeks to do is to maintain our relationships with our formal allies, but increasingly, to being engaged with ASEAN countries whilst also we've played, I think, an important role in ensuring the Pacific Island Forum that did have some issues that needed to be dealt with when we came to Government just one year ago, has been brought back together, and is once again a cohesive body going forward with all members participating. And that's important. We seek to bring together people and nations in every possible forum that we can. And I think that is a role that a nation such as Australia can play, being a force for dialogue, being a force for more unity, less division, trying to engage in a constructive way, looking for common purpose, not looking for disagreement. Disagreeing where we must, with our values which we maintain. Trying to look to bring together nations in a more coherent way. That's the driving force of my Government. It's one of the reasons why we've participated in so many of the global forums. And I think that we have also encouraged, we have an improved relationship with China. We want to cooperate where we can with China as well. And we see that as a positive thing. The dialogue had broken down. There is now dialogue. It is always good for people to develop understanding and engagement.



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Opening Remarks - Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister of Vietnam

Speech

04 Jun 2023

Vietnam

Prime Minister

Check against delivery

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much Prime Minister, and thank you for the very warm welcome that you have given us here in Vietnam. Thank you, as well, to your entire people for the warm welcome that we had yesterday on our arrival.

It is indeed 50 years since the Whitlam Government made the correct decision to recognise Vietnam. Since then, we have grown into strategic partners and good friends. Good friends across defence and security issues, across our economic relationships, but also our people-to-people exchanges as well, through areas such as education. My government is committed to boosting Australia's relationships in Southeast Asia. And we are, at the moment, developing a Southeast Asia economic strategy to 2040, where Vietnam will play a central role. I'm very pleased that my Special Envoy, Nicholas Moore, visited here recently, but also just weeks ago, you had the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency David Hurley, had a very successful visit here as well to Vietnam. Our trade grew by 40 per cent just last year. I was able, as the Prime Minister said, to taste Australian wheat in a banh mi yesterday, and Australian barley in a beer made here in Hanoi. Some 99 per cent of the barley used in beer in Vietnam is from Australia. That is an example that we are seeing to diversify our trading relationships, and we see that as being very important as well.

Our friendship is absolutely vital to addressing the complex challenges that face us today in the region and indeed the world. We share a common view that the need for peace, security, stability and prosperity in our region. A common view that the rule of law must be upheld in international relations and national sovereignty respected. That is why we, of course, share those views as a basis for cooperation in multilateral forums, in ASEAN, and we recognise the centrality of ASEAN. Next year we will host a summit for ASEAN leaders in Australia, next March, which will be a very important gathering as well. I hope to welcome you to Australia, Prime Minister, at that time.

I'm very much looking forward to our discussion today. We've already had a very successful and open discussion with our one-on-one meeting this morning. It is typical of the way that we can relate to each other - with honesty, with a view to how we move forward together as well and I appreciate the spirit of that. I spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, just a couple of days ago, about ensuring that we shape our own future in this region rather than allow the future to shape us. And that is my perspective as the Australian Prime Minister. I thank you very much for what is my first visit to Vietnam as Prime Minister, but my fourth visit here, largely in a personal capacity in the past, because this is indeed a wonderful place to visit. And I note that we're going to have direct flights into Brisbane as well. That will help the people-to-people relations as well between us, because this is a relationship that is built through infrastructure and economic activity. But what it comes down to is a relationship between our people that we need to grow into the future. I thank you very much, Prime Minister.

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Press Statements - Vietnam

Transcript

04 Jun 2023

Hanoi, Vietnam

Prime Minister, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Bilateral meeting; Vietnam-Australia relations

E&OE

PHAM MINH CHINH, PRIME MINISTER OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM: The Honourable Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, distinguished delegates, once again, I'd like to extend my warmest welcome to you, Mr Prime Minister, on your first official visit to Vietnam. This visit bears great importance, for it coincides with the year of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, 1973-2023. And the fifth anniversary of our strategic partnership, 2018-2023. This visit speaks to the deepening of the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, would add depth and effectiveness. I've had excellent bilateral talks with the Prime Minister here in a frank and candid manner with a high level of trust. The two sides have reviewed all areas of cooperation and note with satisfaction the flourishing relationship between our two countries as we strive towards a brighter future. Political trust, mutual understanding and respect are constantly bolstered via delegation exchanges and contacts at the high level and between our two peoples. Economic and trade cooperation becomes a highlight in our bilateral ties for their trade turnover last year of nearly $16 billion USD, an increase of nearly 30 per cent against 2021. Defence and security cooperation enjoys with effectiveness and substance, especially in UN peacekeeping operations, combating transnational crime, cyber crimes, among others. Collaboration and education, training, agriculture, tourism culture, labour, science, technology, innovation recorded encouraging outcomes with a multitude of effective programs and projects for cooperation. The two countries share a common vision for an Indo-Pacific region of peace, stability, openness and inclusiveness with ASEAN centrality upheld. We reach a consensus on the ways and means to further bolster cooperation going forward so as to strengthen political trust for the social economic recovery and development and effectively respond to global challenges. Accordingly, first, the two countries will strive to further bolster political trust via delegation exchanges and high level contacts. The two countries will also implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms to further deepen cooperation items in our strategic partnership, with a view towards elevating such relationship to a new height in the time to come. Second, the countries will make the most of defence and security cooperation, striving to soon sign an agreement on peacekeeping partnership and work closely in combating transnational crime and other types of crime. Third, Vietnam and Australia will continue to implement the action plan to realise the EEES for 2021-2025, striving to reach a trade turnover of $30 billion USD in the time to come and double two-way investment. We shall also strive to bolster, to enhance connectivity between our two economies, including connectivities in terms of transportation, finance, banking, e-commerce. We shall encourage business communities in both countries to increase investment in each other. I do hope that Australia will continue to facilitate market access for Vietnamese agricultural goods for a better trade balance. Fourth, we shall continue to seek further collaboration between our education institutions, encouraging major Australian universities to expand their business in Vietnam, expand their operations in Vietnam and assist Vietnam in human resources development, high-quality human resources development, one of our three strategic breakthroughs. Fifth, we will step up tourism cooperation, cultural exchange, and people to people exchange. We also reached agreement on soon signing an agreement on tourism cooperation. Vietnam requested Australia to create favourable conditions for the local Vietnamese community to settle down, thereby making substantive contributions to Australia's social economy development and serving as a bridge of friendship connecting our two countries. Six, we shall expand cooperation in climate action, digital transformation, green transition and the development of the circular economy. Australia will support Vietnam in its energy transition so as to fulfill its commitment of net zero emissions by 2050. The two sides agreed to soon sign a cooperation agreement in the field of digital transformation, digital economy, digital society, digital population and in other fields of digital technology, with importance especially to the people of Vietnam. Seventh, the two countries will continue to support each other at multilateral forums, particularly the UN, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms. As necessary to both step up dialogue, build trust and encourage countries to engage in dialogue and cooperation for common goals, and ensure ASEAN centrality, the two countries will also bolster cooperation and cooperation mechanisms at the Mekong Subregion. I'd like to thank Australia for identifying Vietnam as a central partner in its development strategy and cooperation strategy with ASEAN countries. Eighth, the two sides reaffirm the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea or South China Sea. The two sides also reiterated the need to address the spirit via peaceful means in line with international law, particularly the UNCLOS 1982. The two sides agree to continue to exchange information and bolster maritime cooperation. We'd like to thank the government and people of Australia for its financial assistance for rapid and sustainable development in Vietnam. And during this visit, Mr Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also mention this assistance in a number of important fields after this remark. Mr Prime Minister, distinguished delegates, building upon the accomplishments of 50 years of excellent bilateral relations, Vietnam stands ready to accompany Australia in a new phase of cooperation, elevating our strategic partnership to a new height, with greater substance for the benefit of our two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Thank you very much for your attention.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Prime Minister Chinh, for your warm and generous welcome to Vietnam. It is a great pleasure to be back here in Hanoi, my first visit as Prime Minister, at your invitation. As our two nations commit to deepening and advancing our partnership. It is especially meaningful to be here in 2023 as Australia and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Australia was proud to be one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam, after the Paris Peace Accords in February 1973. Since then, our partnership has gone from strength to strength, across our economies in education, agriculture, security, and of course, in investment and trade, which has grown tremendously in recent years, but will grow even further in the future. Over 50 years, Vietnam has transformed into a manufacturing power, one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. Australia has been a willing partner in this transformation, delivering health, water and sanitation assistance, providing world-class infrastructure as Vietnam opened its economy to the world, including, of course, the first bridge over the Mekong, symbolising a bridge between our two peoples. And we have played a big role in education and skills provision for the people of Vietnam. Today, Prime Minister Chinh and I discussed the future of our relationship, and how we are now working together to address the challenges ahead. Challenges of security, challenges of dealing with climate change. I'm pleased to announce that Australia will be stepping up our support for Vietnam's energy transformation, with an important package of new overseas development assistance of $105 million for supporting sustainable infrastructure planning, for stimulating private investment in clean energy infrastructure, and delivering technical assistance to develop Vietnam's critical minerals sector. I'm also very pleased to announce an expansion of the Aus4Innovation program, under which Australia's CSIRO will collaborate with its Vietnamese counterparts, to build partnerships to commercialise joint scientific research in areas like applied agriculture and food research. And today, we saw the signing of a new agreement between AUSTRAC and the State Bank of Vietnam. It will enable financial intelligence to be shared to interrupt money laundering and terrorism financing. Of course, a mainstay of our relationship is education. It's important as an area to grow for our economies. But it's important also to develop those people to people relations that are so important to develop mutual understanding and cooperation. And yesterday, I was so pleased to open RMIT's Hanoi Industry and Innovation Hub, and to view RMIT's plan for its exciting next phase, including its $250 million investment in its new, upgraded Ho Chi Minh City campus. At that event, I was also pleased to acknowledge 60 new scholarships from Western Sydney University in Gough Whitlam's name. The University that ranked number one in the Global Times Higher Education Impact Rankings in just the last week. After all, it is through our people coming together that we unleash our best ideas, and we forge our deepest bonds. It is impossible to imagine modern Australia without the 350,000 Vietnamese people who've made a home there. In the spirit of helping our people stay connected, I am especially pleased to acknowledge today the announcements by Vietnam Airlines and Viet Jet of increased direct flights to Australian capitals. And in the case of Viet Jet, direct flights, for the first time, to beautiful Brisbane in the leadup to its hosting the Olympics in 2032, of course. All of this connection and cooperation comes together in our plans to elevate our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. And the Prime Minister and I discussed today how we can do that as soon as possible, to signal the trust that we have in each other as top-tier partners and enduring friends. Finally, the Prime Minister and I discussed our shared vision of an open, stable, secure, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific that is respectful of national sovereignty. Australia sees and acknowledges the centrality of ASEAN. And next year, in March, we will host in Australia, a summit for ASEAN leaders, and I of course invited the Prime Minister to fully participate in that. But in addition, I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will be able to have a bilateral visit at a mutually convenient time in the future. Both Vietnam and Australia want to see a continuation of the peace and progress our countries have enjoyed in the past half-century. We're committed to working together bilaterally and in concert with ASEAN countries and through multilateral forums to further that vision. And it is, indeed, a great honour for me to be here with Prime Minister Chinh, as our two nations look ahead to the next 50 years of friendship and progress. I thank you, Prime Minister.

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Opening Remarks - Meeting with the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam

Speech

04 Jun 2023

Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Check against delivery

VUONG INH HUE, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF VIETNAM: I am confident that your visit will be a great success. And it will make meaningful contributions to further strengthening the strategic partnership between our two countries, with a view to upgrading our bilateral ties, elevating our bilateral ties to a new height - a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Australia in the time to come. I myself paid a very fruitful visit to Australia last December, as you are well informed. And once again, let me take this opportunity to extend my thanks to you, Mr Prime Minister, and the members of the Australian Cabinet, and your Deputy Prime Minister and other ministers for having spent the time for their meetings with me and my delegation. I will also like to extend my thanks to the very warm welcome and cordial reception extended to me and my delegation back then, a visit with a very effective and substantive working agenda. It also owes much to the work of our two embassies and two ambassadors. I'm also delighted to learn that Prime Minister Minh Chinh held bilateral talks with you, Mr Prime Minister, and it has been very successful. And in this meeting, I stand ready to exchange views with you on issues pertaining to the overarching relationship between our two countries, and the relationship between our two legislative branches, so that it can live up to the skill of our strategic partnership at present, and at a time when our two countries are discussing the potential of upgrading relations in the time to come. Now, I wish to hear from you, Mr Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Your Excellency, for a very warm welcome to Vietnam. And I'm pleased to meet with you again, having seen you in Australia just last year. And you are, of course, Your Excellency, the most senior Australian alumnus in Vietnam. And I can't think of a better role model for the benefits of our education cooperation. Vietnam is Australia's fifth-largest source of international students. Australia is the second most popular destination for Vietnamese students. We want to be the first. We want to improve in the future. And RMIT, which I visited yesterday, is the premier example of our close education links. And their announcement of a $250 million investment here in Vietnam is a sign, that this education relationship and cooperation will just go from strength to strength in the future. I did have a very successful meeting with your Prime Minister this morning. A good one on one discussion, and then a good bilateral meeting. And one of the things that we discussed, my government's commitment to a Southeast Asia economic strategy to 2040. And recently, Mr Nicolas Moore visited Vietnam, as well as our Governor-General, His Excellency, David Hurley, as well as my Trade and Tourism Minister, Senator Don Farrell. So we have had a lot of contact, just this year, but we will have more in the future. We understand the centrality of ASEAN to this region and to its operation. And we believe that the economic ties between us can be even stronger in the future. Trade grew with Vietnam by 40 per cent last year, and that reflects the economic dynamism which is here. A dynamism that I've seen on my visits during the period, first beginning in 1986, for my first visit here in Vietnam. So I'm very pleased to be here on my first visit as Prime Minister, and I look forward to our discussion today, and to increase the engagement between our respective parliamentary bodies, but also between our people to people links as well, and strengthening those relationships in the future. Thank you.

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Australia- Vietnam: Looking to the future

Media release

05 Jun 2023

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded his first official visit to Vietnam, a strategic and economic partner and enduring friend to Australia. Stepping-up Australia's relations with Vietnam is an important part of the Government's determination to rebuild Australia's links with the countries of Southeast Asia.

This year marks 50 years since diplomatic relations were established with Vietnam. Since then, our partnership has expanded significantly, with work now underway to elevate the Australia-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the visit, Prime Minister Albanese met with his counterpart, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other senior leaders.

Bilateral talks focussed on ways to grow trade and investment, building on the impressive expansion of two-way trade which rose by almost 40 per cent last financial year. To reflect the vital importance of this trading relationship with a vibrant and growing economic partner, the Prime Ministers announced the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Trade Ministers' Dialogue.

Leaders discussed expanding bilateral cooperation on climate, energy and the environment, including a new Australian commitment of $105 million focussed on enabling Vietnam to increase its uptake of clean energy and clean energy infrastructure and to update its mining law to attract foreign investment to develop Vietnam's critical minerals resources.

All of this will help build a two-way partnership that contributes to global emissions reductions and is fit for the economic opportunities of the future.

Looking to the future, Leaders also welcomed growth in air links between the two countries with the increase in direct flights and the addition of new direct flights from Vietnam to Brisbane, which will boost tourism and trade ties.

Education links were another focus of the Prime Minister's visit. Marking the next stage in the education relationship, the Prime Minister launched RMIT's new Industry and Innovation Hub in Hanoi and welcomed RMIT's intention to invest $250 million in its Vietnam operations, including a major expansion of its Ho Chi Minh City campus.

Prime Minister Albanese witnessed a new agreement for Western Sydney University to offer 60 Whitlam Scholarships over two years for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian students to study business, communications and data science in Vietnam and Australia.

The Prime Minister oversaw additional announcements on increased cooperation on digital economy, science commercialisation and innovation policy development, as well as the exchanging of financial intelligence to support cooperation on money laundering and terrorism financing.

Bilateral talks emphasised the importance of a stable, prosperous and resilient region, and the crucial role of ASEAN as Southeast Asia's key forum for cooperation.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"I am honoured to visit Vietnam as we celebrate 50 years of relations between our nations.

"Australia and Vietnam are committed to working together to meet the challenges of the future, including the climate crisis. Australia is committed to becoming a renewable energy superpower and supporting our regional partners as they transition to net zero.

"Vietnam's economic growth is nothing short of remarkable - and I am proud that Australia has played a role with increasing trade, investment, and development assistance.

"I look forward to continued discussions to elevate the Australia Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

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Australia Seeks Closer Ties with Vietnam

By Phil Mercer June 05, 2023

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded a visit to Vietnam, during which he signed a multi-million-dollar agreement to help Vietnam decarbonize its economy. Tensions with China have also been the backdrop to the visit.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he wants Vietnam to become one of his country's "top tier" partners as the government in Canberra seeks to diversify from its reliance of China, its biggest trading partner.

Australia and Vietnam have signed various agreements during Albanese's two-day visit to the southeast Asian nation, including a $69.3 million package to help authorities in Hanoi decarbonize Vietnam's economy. There are also accords to share intelligence on money laundering and set up a regular meeting between the countries' trade ministers.

There was also a celebration of two new air routes linking the Australian cities of Melbourne and Brisbane to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City respectively.

Analysts have said that Vietnam shares Australia's concerns about China's moves to exert control over the South China Sea. The Vietnamese coast guard has had confrontations with Chinese vessels in waters claimed by both countries.

Speaking in Vietnam Sunday, Prime Minister Albanese said he was eager for closer bilateral ties.

"We share a common interest in a region that is stable, that is prosperous and that is resilient, and we are pleased to work with Vietnam, and we share a commitment to maintaining the global rules and norms that can ensure that stability in the region going forward," he said.

Albanese said before official talks that he would also raise human rights concerns with his Vietnamese hosts, including the case of Chau Van Kham. The 73-year-old Australian citizen has been jailed in Vietnam for membership in an anti-government group that has campaigned for democracy.

Australia's total two-way trade with Vietnam in 2021 was worth $11.8 billion, according to government data.

Hanoi and Canberra want to conclude a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by the end of this year.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on June 5, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

MASTV: According to reports, Iran's naval commander said his country and Saudi Arabia, as well the UAE and other Gulf states plan to form a naval alliance that will also include India and Pakistan to safeguard regional stability. The US, however, has said this defies reason. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Upholding the peace and stability of the Gulf region in the Middle East bears on the wellbeing of countries and people in the region and is of vital importance to safeguarding world peace, boosting global economic growth and keeping energy supply stable. China supports regional countries in resolving disputes and cultivating good-neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation. We also support regional countries in seeking development through solidarity and keeping their future firmly in their own hands. As a good friend to regional countries, China will continue to play a positive and constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

AFP: The US military has said that a Chinese navy ship maneuvered in an unsafe manner near an American military ship in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, with the distance between the ships reportedly less than 140 meters. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this matter?

Wang Wenbin: The spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command has made a statement on this. You may refer to that.

The fact is the US side made provocations first and the Chinese side only responded by handling the incident in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. China respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all countries are entitled to under international law. The actions taken by the Chinese military are necessary steps in response to the provocations by the country concerned. These actions are completely justified, lawful, safe and professional. China resolutely opposes the country concerned stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait and is firmly determined to defend its sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability.

CCTV: We noted that during the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, leaders of many countries, including Indonesia and Singapore, said that they don't want to see a "new Cold War" or be forced to choose sides between China and the US. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Those remarks are a clear indication that many countries in this region are alerted by and opposed to certain country's attempt to set off a "new Cold War" in Asia and force regional countries to choose sides. What countries want in this region is to maintain strategic independence and keep the region stable and prosperous.

What is particularly concerning is that certain countries, while claiming to champion freedom and openness and aim to preserve peace and prosperity in the region, have been in fact patching up various military blocs and extending NATO's influence into the Asia-Pacific. The attitude of the majority of countries in the region is very clear. They oppose the emergence of military blocs in the region. They don't welcome NATO's outreach in Asia. They don't want a replica of bloc confrontation in Asia. And they certainly will not allow any Cold War or hot war to happen again in Asia.

Asia is the most economically dynamic and promising region in the world. It can offer a vast stage for win-win cooperation, and should not be divided into isolated, exclusive blocs. Asian countries welcome common efforts to succeed together. They do not welcome schemes that could bring trouble to this region. China firmly supports ASEAN centrality and an inclusive regional cooperation architecture, and would like to work with ASEAN countries and other partners in the region to uphold the spirit of open and win-win cooperation, oppose any rhetoric or action that incites bloc confrontation in Asia, and together make sure that Asia will remain a pillar for peace, a pacesetter for development and a promising land for cooperation.

Reuters: This is about senior US State Department official Daniel Kritenbrink who is currently in Beijing for meetings with Chinese officials. Our questions are: Who has he met with and who else will he be meeting during his trip here? How many days will he be in China for? And he is said to be joined by the US National Security Council's official Sarah Beran. Is Ms. Beran here already and is she also attending the same meetings as Mr Kritenbrink?

Wang Wenbin: This morning, Director-General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yang Tao held talks with Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink and White House National Security Council's senior director for China affairs Sarah Beran who are visiting China. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will meet with them this afternoon. For specifics, please check back for the readouts.

China-Arab TV: Saudi Arabia's Riyadh will be hosting the 10th China-Arab Business Conference under the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum from June 11 to 12, which is said to be the largest ever business gathering between Arab countries and China. What's China's expectation for the event?

Wang Wenbin: The China-Arab Business Conference and Investment Symposium is an important institutional event under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. It is co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the General Secretariat of the Arab League, and other agencies. Since 2005, nine business conferences and seven investment symposiums have been held to date. The upcoming Business Conference and Investment Symposium will be held in Saudi Arabia from June 11 to 12.

The success of the first China-Arab States Summit at the end of last year has injected fresh impetus into the development of China-Arab relations and practical cooperation across the board. We hope this Business Conference and Investment Symposium will be a great opportunity for the Chinese and Arab business communities to have in-depth exchange, foster friendship and discuss cooperation. We look forward to a fruitful event that will make new contributions to deeper ties between China and Arab countries and the development and revitalization of both sides.

NBC: Given the close encounter in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend and a recent encounter between US aircraft and Chinese aircraft in the South China Sea last week, should any foreign aircraft or maritime vessel expect the same sort of encounter with Chinese jets or ships when traversing these areas? From China's perspective, is the message now "this is standard operating procedure or the new norm"?

Wang Wenbin: I've shared China's principled position just now. I would like to quote the response from the Chinese delegation at the Shangri-La Dialogue, who raised this question: why did all the so-called "unsafe" and "unprofessional" incidents - according to US officials - happen near the airspace and territorial waters of China, but not other countries? This deserves some serious thought.

I also want to stress that China respects the right of navigation and overflight that all countries are entitled to under international law. The Chinese military responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations. These actions are completely professional, justified and lawful.

CCTV: China and Argentina signed the cooperation plan between the government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Argentine Republic on Belt and Road cooperation. Can you share more about Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin American countries?

Wang Wenbin: In February last year, China and Argentina signed an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation, marking the official participation of Argentina in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The cooperation plan signed between the two countries has great significance to deepening strategic synergy and practical cooperation in all areas. It will also provide impetus for deeper and more substantive BRI cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI proposed by President Xi Jinping. BRI cooperation between China and Latin America has improved the life of the peoples of both sides and brought the two continents closer together. Argentina has officially become China's 21st Latin American partner in Belt and Road cooperation. China has been Latin America's second largest trading partner for ten consecutive years. Trade between the two sides hit a new record last year. We believe the Belt and Road Initiative will further deepen China-Latin America relations in a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and more benefits for the people, and open up brighter prospects for cross-Pacific friendship and cooperation.

Dragon TV: A delegation from the Arab League recently visited Xinjiang. Could you share more information on this?

Wang Wenbin: From May 30 to June 2, a delegation from the Arab League paid a visit to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. They comprised more than 30 officials from 16 Arab countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria as well as the General Secretariat of the Arab League. During their trip, the delegation traveled to Urumqi and Kashgar, where they visited mosques, Islamic institutes, local enterprises, old towns and an exhibition on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, performed prayers in mosques with the locals and got a first-hand experience of their happy life.a

Members of the delegation said that the trip had been an eye-opener about a prosperous Xinjiang. They spoke highly of the achievements of China's development model, especially its success in ending extreme poverty. They noted how the region is differently portrayed in Western media, which is not what they saw. They saw a Xinjiang that enjoys social harmony and a rapidly growing economy with residents of all ethnic groups living and working in peace and contentment. Xinjiang is making faster progress in various undertakings. Local Muslims freely exercise their ethnic and religious rights in accordance with the law. The so-called "genocide" and "religious persecution" are nothing but lies. Arab countries have commended the care that Muslims in Xinjiang and people of other ethnic minority groups have received and expressed their firm support for China's effort to promote Xinjiang's development and ensure its stability.

Arab countries have always held a just position on Xinjiang. What the Arab League delegation has seen with their own eyes in Xinjiang once again shows that truth will always prevail, and those who seek to smear China by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues will not have their way. China welcomes friends from all countries to visit Xinjiang and experience first-hand a prosperous, stable and harmonious Xinjiang.

Reuters: We have a question related to the encounter in the Taiwan Strait. The US Navy has released a video showing the Chinese warship crossing in front of the US destroyer in the Taiwan Strait over the weekend. The US calls it an unsafe interaction. Could we have any more remarks on this?

Wang Wenbin: As I said, the US made provocations first and China responded by handling the incident in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The actions taken by the Chinese military are completely justified, lawful, safe and professional. It is the US that should reflect on and correct its wrongdoing.

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China insists conflict with US would spell 'unbearable disaster' for world

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 9:24 AM

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu has warned attendees at Asia's top security summit that a confrontation between China and the United States would inflict the world with an "unbearable disaster."

"It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the US will be an unbearable disaster for the world," Li declared on Sunday while addressing the the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore

"China and the US have different systems ..., however, this should not keep the two sides from seeking common ground and common interests to grow bilateral ties and deepen cooperation," he added, however, signaling Beijing's willingness to resume military talks with Washington under improved circumstances.

In his first international address since becoming China's defense minister in March, Li further slammed what the US depicts as freedom-of-navigation patrols regularly conducted near Chinese waters by American and allied naval forces, describing the provocative maneuvers as "a pretext to exercise hegemony of navigation" in efforts to "muddy the waters to rake in profits."

His remarks came after US and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, in a rare joint mission in the sensitive waterway at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington over Chinese-claimed island territory of Taiwan.

In his speech, Li also reiterated Beijing's position on Taiwan, describing the self-ruled island as the "core of our core interests," insisting that it would never hesitate to defend China's "legitimate rights and interests."

China's defense minister also warned that Washington's pursuance of "NATO-like" military alliances in the Asia-Pacific could undermine regional peace and stability and lead to severe conflict and confrontation.

Ties between Washington and Beijing remain strained over a range of issues, including US non-adherence to the internationally-confirmed "One China" principle, trade wars, territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas, and US President Joe Biden's restrictions on semiconductor chip exports, among other issues.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called on Beijing to take part in top-level talks to avoid conflict, insisting that dialogue between the two countries was "essential."

China, however, has snubbed persisting US pleas for talks between the two countries' military chiefs in light of Washington's imposition of sanctions on Beijing's defense minister for his role in purchasing Russian military hardware and amid intensifying tensions between the two powers.

Following Li's speech, retired veteran Chinese diplomat Cui Tiankai called on the US to ease its provocative military deployments close to Chinese waters in an act of "good faith" if high-level defense talks between the two countries are to resume.

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In China, AI cameras alert police when a banner is unfurled

The surveillance technology is just one example of the proliferation of 'predictive policing' in the country.

By RFA Investigative and Gulchehra Hoja for RFA Uyghur 2023.06.05 -- A widely used Chinese video surveillance company sanctioned by Western governments incorporates an AI technology that automatically alerts authorities if a person is detected unfurling a banner.

The AI in cameras made by Dahua Technology appears to be explicitly aimed at quelling protests, according to IPVM, a U.S.-based surveillance research company that first reported the technology's existence.

Dahua deleted references to the system, called "Jinn," after IPVM asked the company for comment, but an archived version of its website discusses its use for the purposes of "social safety" and "social governance" - terms frequently used by Chinese authorities to justify surveillance and arrests.

The detection system is just one example of the growth of AI and government tracking technologies in China that have proliferated over the last several years amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A series of mass technology procurements by police forces across China have greatly increased authorities' abilities to clamp down on social freedoms, control citizens and, critics say, abuse groups targeted by the government.

'An alarm will be generated'

According to Dahua's archived webpage, the AI system was launched in 2021 and available as of May 2023.

Its debut appears to have coincided with a wave of police investment in geographic information systems across China in 2020.

It is not known what police jurisdictions use this particular Dahua AI, but the company is a major provider of police technology, said Charles Rollet of IPVM.

"With the banner alarm - that's catering to the Chinese enterprise market: the big, usually police, authorities," he said. "It's intended for police or some form of city authority ... there's no reason to track them [banners] automatically unless you want to track protests, basically."

Perhaps the most recognizable protest in China in recent years - the White Paper protest against strict COVID lockdowns - was started by a man unfurling a banner on a bridge last year a an indication of the possible relevance of the technology for police (though it is not known if unfurling banner tracking was used by police in that particular case).

Dahua, which is sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and Australian governments, provides a number of predictive policing AI technologies that can surveil civilians using biometrics data. Previously, internal documents from the company showed that it provides facial recognition AI to track Uyghurs, which led to the Western sanctions. Dahua denied racial targeting.

A demo of the banner-unfurling AI filmed in 2020 was also posted on Dahua's website before being deleted. "If a person holding a banner is detected within the camera field and lasts for a certain period of time, an alarm to police will be generated," the demo explained.

Dahua did not respond to a request for comment from RFA.

Policing tech boom

The banner unfurling technology is a continuation of "the development of AI and how that technology is becoming really available" to Chinese police, said Rollet.

China is known to collect vast troves of data on its residents, and rapidly expanding AI technologies give authorities a new way to gather intel.

A solicitation for proposals for an AI tracking project from Shanghai police also unearthed by IPVM last month lays out some of the ambitions authorities harbor for using the vast data they have gathered.

"Traditional police work needs to be transformed into digital, intelligent and convenient simplified online operation," it said. "The effective management of the model to make it play its biggest role has become an urgent problem in the development of public security technology."

The project aims to create automatic alerts to inform police of movements of particular populations in the Songjiang district of Shanghai, a populous suburb with a large population of academics and university students.

The "target populations" the project seeks to automatically track include Uyghurs; foreigners with illegal residence status; faculty and staff members of key universities; foreign journalists stationed in China; foreigners who have visited Xinjiang or other similar areas; individuals with COVID vaccinations; suspected criminals, sex workers, and drug dealers; and families with abnormal electricity consumption.

According to a notice on its website that was later removed, Songjiang police awarded the project to a technology security firm, the Shanghai Juyi Technology Development Company, that appears to specialize in government contract work.

The Shanghai Juyi Technology Development Company did not return a request for comment.

As with Dahua, the Songjiang police removed the notice after IPVM publicized it in May, and RFA was unable to reach the project's manager listed on the document.

The limits of Big Brother

The 26 categories of "target populations" in the Shanghai project are what are considered "focus personnel" by Chinese authorities, according to Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch.

"People who are petitioners, people who have a prior criminal record, people who have psychosocial disabilities and so on, ... these groups of people are being monitored by the police" both physically and through technologies, Wang told RFA.

But the way in which AI is used to track people shows both the sophistication and artlessness in how Chinese authorities think about surveillance, said Geoffrey Cain, author of "The Perfect Police State," a book on Chinese surveillance.

The parameters they use - tracking the unfurling of a banner or flagging jumps in household electricity use (in the Shanghai police project) - tend to work backwards from behaviors that might only be vaguely connected to censured activities they are trying to pre-emptively clamp down on, such as protesting or cryptocurrency mining.

"It reminds me back when this whole surveillance state really got kicking off around 2016 and 2017," Cain said. "They were going after people who suddenly start smoking or drinking or people who suddenly, you know, purchase the items being used to make a tent.

"And it's not because there's any specific reason, but the reasons they would give is that those types of behaviors are suspicious. It's almost like they've arbitrarily chosen something that would be unusual," he said.

"It's as if the authorities are moving backwards, putting the cause before the fact."

Discrimination and danger

But there is real impact for the groups targeted.

Mass surveillance of Uyghurs in particular has been a key factor in enabling their persecution, said HRW's Wang.

"Wherever they go in China, Uyghurs are essentially being singled out for discriminatory and targeted policing," she said. "And that means that they often suffer - they often are unable to find a place to stay, a hotel. Typically, when they take the train, they are subjected to investigation and interrogation and so on."

According to a May analysis of Chinese police geolocation systems acquisitions by China Digital Times, a specialist media firm, a wave of police investment in these tracking systems was first seen in 2017, and then again in 2020, increasing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Some contracts coincided with other government purchases of surveillance systems specifically designed to target Uyghurs," the report noted. "There are also notable concentrations of procurement in regions with significant Uyghur or other minority populations."

More broadly, the concern is that "these [AI surveillance] systems are all empowering authorities to violate human rights in different ways, depending on how they are used," said Wang.

"And when they are so cheap and widely available and in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, given Chinese government Chinese financing, they are spreading with detrimental impact on rights globally," she said.

Rollet agreed. "I could see this taking off in other countries," he said. "I think the bigger risk is that it sets a precedent and gives other countries ideas about what they should do, you know?"

Edited by Boer Deng

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Senior US officials visit Beijing in search of thaw

The trip comes amid an uptick in near-collisions between the two militaries.

Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.06.05 -- Two senior Biden administration officials visited their counterparts in Beijing on Monday for "candid and productive discussions" on the state of U.S.-China ties, according to the U.S. State Department.

The trip by Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and Sarah Beran, senior director for China and Taiwan affairs on the National Security Council, was meant "to maintain open lines of communication," said a press release.

It's the highest-level visit by American officials to China since U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in February nixed a trip to Beijing due to the spy-balloon episode, when a Chinese balloon drifted across U.S. airspace.

It also comes after a weekend war-of-words between the countries' top defense officials and two high-profile near-collisions between their militaries.

The State Department press release was light on details and noted little more than who Kritenbrink and Beran met with: Ma Zhaoxu, the executive vice foreign minister, and Yang Tao, director general of the foreign ministry's North American and Oceanian Affairs Department.

"The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral relationship, cross-Strait issues, channels of communication, and other matters," it added. "U.S. officials made clear that the United States would compete vigorously and stand up for U.S. interests and values."

Speaking at the State Department press briefing on Monday, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel also said he could not offer more details, but indicated Blinken had not made any new plans to visit Beijing.

"I'm just not going to get into specifics of the meeting beyond what we already shared," Patel said. "As we've previously said ... we hope to have this visit rescheduled, when conditions allow."

Escalating tensions

Kritenbrink and Beran are the highest-level American officials to visit Beijing since Blinken's cancellation, which led some Chinese officials to cut off lines of communication with U.S. defense counterparts.

Blinken's postponed trip was itself meant to be a moment of thawing in China-U.S. ties after bilateral relations hit a nadir last year following then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in August.

Rick Waters, deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan and the head of the State Department's "China House," in March also visited Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, with the State Department at that time also declining to provide many details.

Besides Waters' visit, though, U.S.-China ties have seemingly only gotten worse in the four months following Blinken's nixed trip.

Near-collisions between American and Chinese vessels and jets in the Taiwan Strait and over the South China Sea, both of which Beijing claims sovereignty over, have also become more frequent, with two such incidents occurring in the past two weeks alone.

Almost accidents

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby blamed China's military for aggressive maneuvering near American vessels making freedom-of-navigation ops, but said U.S. officials would "continue to keep lines open" to hold talks with their Chinese counterparts.

"It's part of a growing aggressiveness by the PRC that we're dealing with and that we're prepared to address," Kirby said, referring to the Chinese government. "It won't be long before somebody gets hurt."

On the weekend in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin - in an apparent reference to China's decision to cut-off communication after Blinken's trip cancellation - also accused Beijing of being "unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management between our two militaries."

Speaking at the same conference, Chinese Defense Li Shangfu called out "some country" for what he said was a "selective approach" to international law and of "forcing its rules on others."

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink's Meetings in Beijing, People's Republic of China (PRC)

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

June 5, 2023

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs Sarah Beran held meetings with PRC officials in Beijing on June 5.

Together with U.S. Ambassador to the PRC Nicholas Burns, the Assistant Secretary and Senior Director met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Director General of the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Yang Tao. The two sides had candid and productive discussions as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries. The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral relationship, cross-Strait issues, channels of communication, and other matters. U.S. officials made clear that the United States would compete vigorously and stand up for U.S. interests and values.

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink and Senior Director Beran also met with members of the U.S. Embassy community.

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China Establishing 'Commanding Lead' with Key Military Technologies

By Jeff Seldin June 05, 2023

Chinese research on some key military technologies is so far ahead that the United States and its key allies may never be able to catch up, according to a new analysis by an Australian think tank.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) issued its findings Tuesday based on a review of the top 10% of the most highly cited research papers, concluding China leads in 19 of 23 key categories, including some that are likely to play a major role in Beijing's push for military prominence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

China "has a commanding lead in hypersonics, electronic warfare and in key undersea capabilities," the ASPI study found, further warning, "China's leads are so emphatic they create a significant risk that China might dominate future technological breakthroughs in these areas."

The analysis further found that for hypersonics, nine of the 10 leading research institutions are based in China, while China is home to all 10 of the top research venues for undersea drones.

Unlike ballistic missiles, which fly at hypersonic speeds but travel along a set trajectory, hypersonic weapons are highly maneuverable despite flying at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.

And the gaps between China and everyone else are significant. With some technologies, like hypersonics, China produces more than 73% of all high-impact research, more than the U.S. and the next eight countries combined.

The analysis also found indications that China is using Western research institutions to its advantage.

More than 14% of "high-impact" Chinese authors a those who wrote the works cited most often a did their post-graduate training in the U.S., Australia or Britain, ASPI said, noting the percentage is close to 20% for researchers writing about hypersonic detections and close to 18% for electronic warfare.

There are some areas, however, where the U.S. and its allies maintain an edge.

ASPI said the U.S. leads in high-impact research on autonomous systems, quantum computing and quantum sensors, some areas of artificial intelligence and in protective cybersecurity.

When U.S. research efforts are combined with those of Australia and Britain, the so-called AUKUS partnership, the gap closes a bit more, though China still retains a considerable research advantage.

"The fact that the three AUKUS nations still trail China in some fields even when their efforts are tallied underscores the value of the technology-sharing agreement, whose aim is to accelerate shared technological development by enabling the partners to leverage one another's strengths," ASPI wrote in a statement accompanying the report.

ASPI also said it hopes the findings would "strengthen some calls for AUKUS to expand technology cooperation to other countries such as Japan."

The U.S., Australia and Britain entered into the AUKUS agreement in September 2021 to address mutual concerns in the Indo-Pacific and to boost advancements in artificial technology, quantum computing and cyber defense.

One of the most prominent pieces of the three-country alliance included a U.S.-Australian plan to build Australia at least eight nuclear powered submarines.

U.S. defense and military officials have repeatedly voiced concerns about China's expanding military and the advanced technology fueling the expansion.

In March, the Defense Intelligence Agency's chief scientist told reporters in Washington that Beijing already has the world's leading arsenal of hypersonic weapons.

The U.S. is developing its own hypersonic weapons but all of them remain in testing or development.

Other U.S. intelligence officials have also warned about China's ability to leverage advanced technology.

In February, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned that the high-altitude spy balloon China sent over the continental U.S. could just be the start of Chinese surveillance efforts.

"As technology improves, as we start to see more high-altitude vehicles, in effect, we're going to see more of this," she said. "We're going to have to understand that and manage it."

Chinese officials continue to deny the high-altitude balloon that was ultimately shot down off the U.S. Atlantic coast was a surveillance device, arguing instead it was a weather balloon.

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UN 'alarmed' by Hong Kong's Tiananmen anniversary detentions; government condemns 'smearing' of police

By Cindy Sui June 05, 2023

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Monday it was "alarmed" by the detentions in Hong Kong linked to the anniversary of China's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, but Hong Kong's government hit back at what it called attempts to "smear" lawful police work.

In a Tweet, the U.N. office said: "We urge the release of anyone detained for exercising freedom of expression & peaceful assembly. We call on authorities to fully abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that Beijing firmly supported Hong Kong authorities in their efforts to maintain security and stability, and the Ministry said in a statement late on Sunday that "today's Hong Kong is moving from chaos to stability and prosperity along the right track of "one country, two systems," according to Reuters.

Hong Kong police Monday said they detained 27 people on suspicion of destroying social peace over a two-day period as activists and ordinary people marked the 34th anniversary of the crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Those detained were all released after questioning, without being arrested and charged, police said.

Five others, however, were arrested after police rounded up the activists Saturday and Sunday at or near Victoria Park, the venue for an annual candlelight vigil to remember the hundreds and perhaps 2,000 who died in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

All five have been released on bail. Police said those under arrest could face charges related to disorderly conduct, sedition and other unlawful behavior.

Police did not identify them, but according to local media, those arrested include two activists who wore black T-shirts commemorating June 4 or emblazoned with the word "truth" on them.

One was holding flowers for the victims, and both held signs indicating they were on a 24-hour hunger strike to remember the victims. Arrested along with them was a Hong Kong graduate student who was similarly attired.

An artist who had performed at the annual commemorations in the past was also arrested and seen in widely shared videos shouting, "Don't Forget June 4th" and "Hong Kong people, don't be afraid" as officers led him away.

Separately, a 53-year-old woman was arrested and later released on bail for allegedly obstructing police work and taken away in a van after refusing to provide identification when asked to do so.

For the past three decades, Hong Kong had been the only place in China where commemorations have been allowed, and the go-ahead for the vigils was given even after the former British colony returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Over the past three years, however, the government in Hong Kong had banned the vigils, citing COVID-19 social distancing policies. Hong Kong has now fully lifted COVID-19 restrictions.

The detentions and arrests are further evidence that the rights Hong Kong people have taken for granted, including freedom of assembly and expression, are being curtailed, long-time activists said. Those rights are granted under the city's mini constitution, known as the Basic Law.

"Hong Kong's current political environment has been tightened," said Richard Tsoi, the former vice chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China. The group, which once organized the vigils, has disbanded.

Observers note that in addition to wearing black, some of those detained chose to or happened to display the pro-democracy movement's color yellow, either by carrying a yellow umbrella or wearing yellow socks. Some of the garments contained wording police considered suspicious, according to local media reports.

The observers also said Hong Kong's government didn't make it clear whether public mourning, displaying black or yellow garb, or words of commemoration were allowed.

Additionally, "Some were just holding a book (about June 4) and walking around the park," Tsoi said.

He suggested that police released most of the people detained after questioning because they have to operate according to the law and cannot charge them without reason.

"Any law enforcement department can't do whatever they want in Hong Kong; they have to consider the social response, international criticisms, so they can't overdo it," Tsoi added, while acknowledging that it is hard for people to hold collective action to commemorate the anniversary.

Analysts have said Beijing and the local government, unnerved by months of widespread, disruptive and sometimes violent protests a including foiled bombing plots a want to prevent such protests from occurring again. In 2019, Hong Kong was the site of democracy protests that triggered a widespread political crackdown.

On Monday, the Hong Kong Journalists Association issued a statement asking that police explain why officers had detained its former chairwoman at a police station Sunday for four hours until 11 p.m. local time, preventing her from doing her work.

Mai Yin-ting, Radio France Internationale's correspondent, was ordered to get into a police van near the park and taken away without explanation, even after she showed officers her journalist card, it said.

"The association urges the police to respect the work of news reporting, not detain journalists without reason, which seriously hinders the work of reporting," the association said.

Mai told VOA that in past anniversaries, police had checked her ID and that of other journalists, but she does not recall any journalist ever being taken away. Mai said she believes she and others detained were targeted because they were wearing black clothes.

"I got the sense, it's not because of what they did, but simply because they were there. Two people told me they were on their way to a nearby store to do some shopping. One person had socks with the words 'Hong Kong Add Oil (a cheering phrase)' on it. Even then, they shouldn't suspect them of harming (the) peace," said Mai.

"I certainly strongly disagree with them saying today that I was harming social peace. I was just standing there for 10 minutes observing, without talking to anyone."

The police issued a statement about the journalist's accusation, saying it did not target journalists or hinder the media from doing their work, pointing out that journalists do not have the privilege of being exempt from being stopped and searched in a high-risk area, in accordance with the law. The statement said Mai was not wearing a press card when she was stopped by the police, and had she been cooperative with them, the incident could've been avoided.

In a statement released Saturday about the activists' arrests, police said they were "highly concerned about some people attempting to incite and provoke others to commit illegal acts that endanger national security, public order and public safety."

Hong Kong's Security Bureau also issued a statement accusing the journalists association and the U.N. office of making "fact-twisting and unfounded remarks," insisting that law enforcement actions were justified and that "law enforcement agencies will continue to enforce laws without fear or favour to safeguard national security and social order."

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China officially inaugurates embassy in Honduras

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jun 06, 2023 08:56 AM

China officially inaugurated its embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras on Monday local time, less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras following Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina visiting Beijing in March.

The national anthems of both China and Honduras were played at the ceremony site. Subsequently, Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina jointly unveiled the plaque for the embassy.

In his speech at the ceremony, Yu said that the one-China principle is a common consensus and a universally recognized norm of international relations. It is an overwhelming trend supported by international justice, the general trend, and public opinion. Honduras, with a broad strategic vision and firm political will, seized historical opportunities to make the important decision to acknowledge the one-China principle and became the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China, which is highly appreciated by China.

On March 26, China and Honduras signed Joint CommuniquA on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Honduras. The two countries decided to mutually recognize and establish ambassador-level diplomatic relations from the day the communiquA was signed.

Less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides quickly connected exchanges and cooperation in various fields, constantly gathering consensus and strength to promote the development of bilateral relations, Yu noted.

Since the arrival of a preparation team from China in Honduran capital Tegucigalpa to build the Chinese embassy earlier in April, Chinese officials have held frequent and high-level meetings with multiple senior Honduran officials, fully advancing relevant preparations for the construction as well as promoting bilateral exchanges, Yu told the Global Times in a previous exclusive interview with the Global Times.

"During these meetings, the Honduran side acknowledged and promised to adhere to the one-China principle, said they will no longer have any official relations or conduct any official exchanges with Taiwan," Yu said.

Reina congratulated all concerned on the opening of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras. He stated that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China was an independent and autonomous decision by Honduras, which will help Honduras develop diversified international relations and join the world mainstream.

Honduras will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and hopes to jointly promote trade cooperation with China to improve Honduran infrastructure, assist in poverty alleviation, create employment opportunities, enhance people's well-being, and promote social prosperity, he said.

About 200 people, including the Second Vice President of Honduras Doris GutiArrez, government officials and parliament representatives, foreign diplomatic envoys and international organization representatives in Honduras, and representatives of Chinese institutions and overseas Chinese in Honduras, attended the opening ceremony.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced on Monday that she will visit China from June 9 to 14 at the invitation of China.

"At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, I will visit with a special mission, with [Foreign Minister Enrique Reina] the People's Republic of China between June 9 and 13," Castro said in a Twitter post on Monday. "The refoundation of Honduras demands new political, scientific, technical, commercial and cultural horizons."

This will be the Honduran president's first visit to China since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

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North Korea Remains Active at Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site - IAEA Chief

Sputnik News

20230605

VIENNA (Sputnik) - North Korea remains active at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said on Monday.

"The Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site remains ready to support a nuclear test, and we continue to see signs of activity in the vicinity of Adit 3 and in the support area. The reopening of the nuclear test site is deeply troubling," Grossi said in his opening statement at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting.

Grossi expressed regret over the continuation of North Korea's nuclear program, which is "a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

The IAEA chief also noted an increase in construction work at North Korea's main nuclear site at Yongbyon.

"Since March 2023, the Agency has seen indications of ongoing operation of nuclear facilities, and a significant increase in construction activities at the Yongbyon site," Grossi concluded.

On May 30, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called for boosting cooperation to block North Korea from financing its nuclear and missile programs in circumvention of UN Security Council sanctions.

On June 2, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva said that the root cause of spiraling tensions in the zone of the Korean Peninsula was the United States and its allies' desire to increase pressure on North Korea.

A Sputnik

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China supports Iran's push to form regional naval alliance

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 5, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- China says it supports a regional push by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and others to establish a naval alliance to safeguard the security of the crucial Persian Gulf region.

Upholding the peace and stability of the Persian Gulf region in the Middle East bears on the well-being of countries and people in the region and is of vital importance to safeguarding world peace, boosting global economic growth and keeping energy supply stable, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Monday.

"China supports regional countries in resolving disputes and cultivating good neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation," he said when asked about an announcement by Iran's Navy commander that regional navies would soon join forces to form an alliance.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said Friday that the new naval coalition to be established by Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq would also include India and Pakistan.

"As a good friend to regional countries, China will continue to play a positive and constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability," the Chinese spokesman said.

China helped broker a deal in March that saw Iran and Saudi Arabia restore their diplomatic relations after a seven-year rupture.

The historic deal has been touted by both sites as holding huge potential for the promotion of peace and security in the region.

**9417**4261

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IAEA chief reports progress on safeguards issues with Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 5, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has declared that the process of implementing a joint statement with Iran regarding the safeguards issues has started and that some progress has been made.

Grossi addressed the matter during his opening remarks at a session of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on Sunday.

He stated that in early May, the IAEA had installed surveillance cameras at Iranian facilities where centrifuge equipment is produced.

Additionally, he said the agency has installed monitoring devices at the Fordow and Natanz enrichment plants to oversee the level of uranium enrichment.

Iran had previously announced the presence of monitoring devices at the plants.

Grossi said that these measures would help the agency identify any changes in enrichment levels at those facilities.

Furthermore, the IAEA chief said Iran has provided its explanation about uranium traces that the agency had said were found at a site known as Marivan.

At a press conference after the BoE meeting, Grossi said the IAEA had received reasonable explanations from Iran in that regard but added that the agency would continue its investigations.

Grossi visited Tehran in March for high-level talks with Iranian officials, including with President Ebrahim Raisi, in an effort to resolve bilateral differences.

In a joint statement after the visit, the two sides agreed that interactions will continue in a spirit of collaboration and in full conformity with obligations under IAEA's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

**9417**4261

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IRGC Navy rejects US claim that merchant ship 'harassed' in Strait of Hormuz

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 7:15 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has dismissed Western claims that a merchant ship was "harassed" by its boats in the Strait of Hormuz as the elite force responded to a distress call and rushed to its help.

Brigadier General Abbas Gholamshahi, the commander of the IRGC Navy's First Zone, made the statement on Monday after the United States Navy claimed its sailors and the United Kingdom's Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the Strait of Hormuz after the Iranian force's fast-attack boats "harassed" it.

Gholamshahi said the hostile media outlets acted unprofessionally without observing the media ethics and tried to provoke insecurity and justify the "illegitimate and unjustifiable presence of the extra-regional countries in the Persian Gulf" by spreading false news.

The IRGC Navy commander said a Marshall Islands-flagged trade vessel issued a distress call when it was approaching the Strait of Hormuz at 4:15 p.m. local time on Saturday.

"The command and control center of Iran at the Hormuz Strait responded to the call immediately, and resolved the ship's concerns about the presence of non-military light boats near it after considering the request and evaluating the situation in that region," he said.

Gholamshahi said the trade vessel's captain had complained he had spotted "three non-military light boats" at a distance of a few miles, voicing concern about possible harassment.

Gholamshahi said there were no extra-regional vessels in the location where the trade vessel had requested assistance, adding that the media claims about the presence of foreign naval forces were "totally false."

The Navy commander also said ensuring security, carrying out rescue missions, and giving timely response to distress calls in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz are the ordinary tasks that the IRGC forces perform on a routine basis.

Gholamshahi said the responsibility to ensure the Persian Gulf security lies with the regional countries and the Persian Gulf states can protect lasting security in the strategic maritime region without the need for outsiders.

The Persian Gulf a which spans some 251,000 square kilometers a is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, which links the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

The inland sea is an international trade route connecting West Asia to Africa, India, and China.

Iran has made it clear that it views US military vessels lurking in the waters of the Persian Gulf as a threat to its national security and a source of tension and instability in the region.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly vowed to give a decisive response to any hostile move by Washington that would disrupt the security of the strategic waterway.

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China favors plans for regional naval alliance to maintain peace

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 6:13 PM

China says it will work for the establishment of peace and stability in the region and it supports plans for a regional maritime alliance to that end.

During a regular press conference on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded to a question about Iran's plan to form a naval alliance with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf states that will also include India and Pakistan in order to safeguard regional stability.

"Upholding the peace and stability of the [Persian] Gulf region in the Middle East bears on the wellbeing of countries and people in the region," he said.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Saturday that the country will form new regional and extra-regional alliances to enhance security.

"Today, regional countries have realized that the establishment of security in the region requires synergy and cooperation," Irani said.

In the Monday press conference, the Chinese spokesman underscored the "vital importance" of peace and stability in the region to safeguarding international peace, boosting global economic growth and keeping energy supply stable.

"China supports regional countries in resolving disputes and cultivating good-neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation."

He said Beijing would continue to play a positive and constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Rear Admiral Irani's announcement of the establishment of the joint naval alliance irked US officials. Spokesperson of the 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said on Saturday it "defies reason" for Iran to be part of a regional naval alliance, claiming that the Islamic Republic is the main reason for maritime insecurity in the Persian Gulf region.

The contours of the regional alliance is coming into shape a year after the Israeli regime announced that it, together with the United States and their regional Arab allies, would establish what they called a "Middle East NATO" to counter the influence of Iran in the region.

The concept was hyped by American and Israeli military officials ahead of President Joe Biden's visit to West Asia in July. The aim was to forge better coordination between the allies to defend each other against perceived Iranian 'threats.'

The Israeli dream of an anti-Iran alliance, however, has been shattered as a number of Persian Gulf Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, have since begun shifting their alliances and restoring their relations with Iran.

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Iran, IAEA progressing in implementation of joint statement: Grossi

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 3:42 PM

Head of the UN nuclear watchdog says progress has been made in the implementation of a joint statement with Iran aimed at expediting the resolution of outstanding safeguards issues.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said despite the progress, "sustained and uninterrupted process" is still required.

He made the remarks in his introductory statement to the Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday as he outlined his latest report on Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

"In that report you will see that the process of implementation of the Joint Statement has started and some progress has been made, but not as much as I had hoped," he said.

At the end of Grossi's two-day visit to Tehran in March, Iran and the IAEA issued a joint statement in which both sides recognized that bilateral positive engagements can pave the way for wider agreements among state parties.

Both sides agreed that bilateral interactions will be carried out in a spirit of collaboration, and in full conformity with the competencies of the IAEA and the rights and obligations of Iran based on the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

In his Monday speech, the UN nuclear agency's chief declared an increase in Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium by over a quarter in three months.

"This includes its [Iran's] stockpile of uranium enriched up to 20% U-235, which is approaching half a ton, and its stockpile of high enriched uranium - enriched up to 60% U-235 - which is well over 100 kg," Grossi said.

Back in December, Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said the country's enrichment of uranium has officially reached the purity level of 60 percent in accordance with a December 2020 parliamentary law seeking to accelerate the development of the Iranian nuclear program.

Kamalvandi later in February dismissed a report by Western media that Iran has enriched uranium to levels above 60-percent purity. He said during the enrichment process, the mere existence of individual uranium particles enriched beyond 60-percent purity does not mean that uranium is being enriched beyond that level.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Grossi said the IAEA in early May installed surveillance cameras at workshops at one location where centrifuge rotor tubes and bellows are manufactured.

He said the IAEA has for the first time installed an enrichment monitoring device at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) and at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz to be able to monitor the level of the Highly enriched uranium (HEU) being produced by Iran at declared facilities.

Grossi said a sustained process is needed for the fulfillment of "all the commitments contained in the Joint Statement" with no "further delay."

The IAEA chief said Iran has provided an explanation for the potential presence of depleted uranium in a site known as Marivan, but noted that the agency is yet to assess the matter.

IAEA dismisses Israel's accusation of 'capitulation to Iranian pressure'

Speaking at a news conference following the Board of Governors' session, Grossi rejected Israeli accusations that the IAEA had watered down its standards in an investigation into past Iranian activities.

"We never ever, never ever water down our standards. We stand by our standards, we apply our standards," the IAEA chief said.

In an unusual criticism of the IAEA, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday the agency's "capitulation" to Iranian pressure is a black stain on its record.

Grossi reiterated the IAEA's "neutral, impartial and technical" work and emphasized that the agency will "never politicize" its activities in Iran.

"We will always say things as they are. We never politicize. We have our standards and apply them always," the UN nuclear agency chief said. "The politicization is in the eye of the beholder."

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Azeris should be scared of Israeli regime not Iran, Tehran says after Baku travel advisory

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 10:22 AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman reacted to a recent travel warning issued by Baku against Iran, insisting what the Azeri people should be afraid of is the "Zionist regime" and not the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In tweets on Monday, Nasser Kan'ani emphasized that the country remains committed to visa waiver with Azerbaijan despite Baku's travel advisory.

"Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens against traveling to Iran! This is the same policy adopted by the president of the fake, child-killing, and occupying Zionist regime during his recent trip to Baku," he wrote in Persian language.

"The one that the people of Azerbaijan should be frightened of is the Zionist regime not the civilized and Islamic Iran.," he said.

Late last month, Israeli president Isaac Herzog travelled to Azerbaijan. After a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev, Herzog said the two spoke in depth about global and regional security claiming that it is "endangered and threatened by Iran."

Kan'ani also noted that Iran sticks to the policy of good neighborliness within the framework of mutual respect. "Our policy is still visa waiver and open arms to our Azeri brothers and sisters," he added.

Azerbaijan's relations with Iran were strained in January following an attack on the Eurasian country's embassy in Tehran. Politicizing the incident, Azerbaijan closed its diplomatic mission and evacuated staff over what it falsely described as a "terrorist act," with President Ilham Aliyev blaming it on the "Iranian establishment."

This is while an initial investigation pointed to "personal and family-related problems" as the motive of the assailant.

In a statement released on Saturday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry again tried to portray the incident as a "terrorist attack", calling on Azeri citizens "not to visit Iran unless absolutely necessary" and advising travelers to exercise "extra caution." It also asked Azeri citizens, who are now in Iran, to observe security measures more than before.

Meanwhile, some reports claimed that all flights from Baku to Tehran had been canceled but Heydar Aliyev International Airport denied the reports.

Azerbaijan's anti-Iranian position comes as the Eurasian country is boosting ties with the Israeli regime. Tehran has slammed Baku for its partnership with the occupying regime in efforts to establish a united front against Iran.

The Zionist regime supplies nearly 70 percent of Azerbaijan's weaponry and in return receives about half of its imported oil from Baku.

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In Rare Display Of Defiance, Iranians Dance To Mark Death Of Ruhollah Khomeini

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 05, 2023

A wave of public demonstrations has swept across Iran on the anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic, with Iranians dancing in the streets in a display of defiance of authority amid a crackdown on unrest that has swept the country.

Videos posted online showed many Iranians demonstrating on June 3, the day Khomeni died in 1989, with some showing footage of the burning of the flag, as well as images of Iran's current supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid chants of "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei, curse on Khomeini."

The public demonstrations follow a series of recent protests in Iran. Dancing, a form of expression often suppressed by the government, has emerged as a symbolic act of civil disobedience, challenging the values and rules put in place by the regime.

In recent months, the anger has focused on the mandatory hijab rule, which forces women to cover their heads while in public. Unrest erupted in September 2022 when a young woman in Tehran died while in police custody for an alleged hijab violation.

Since then, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to demand more freedoms and women's rights, with the judiciary, backed by lawmakers, responding to the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution with a brutal crackdown.

Several thousand people have been arrested, including many protesters, as well as journalists, lawyers, activists, digital rights defenders, and others. At least seven protesters have been executed after what rights groups and several Western governments have called "sham" trials.

Several more remain on death row and senior judiciary officials have said they are determined to ensure those convicted and sentenced have their punishments meted out.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranians- dance-death-anniversary-ruhollah-khomeini/32445769.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iranian Labor Groups Call On ILO To Kick Iran Out Of Organization

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda June 05, 2023

Eight independent labor organizations in Iran have called for the expulsion of the country from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and its session in Switzerland that starts on June 5.

The organizations, including the Organizing Council of Oil Contract Workers' Protests and the Iran Retirees Council, urged representative delegations from countries around the world to kick Iran out of the conference being held in the Swiss city of Geneva, as well as from the ILO, to protest against the suppression of dissent in Iran, especially with regard to workers, teachers, and protesters who have been jailed for speaking out.

The authors of the letter, which includes the names of 22 imprisoned labor activists and 19 imprisoned teachers, criticize the Iranian government's economic policies, saying they have led to widespread poverty and hardship, particularly for workers. They also highlighted "the government-sanctioned killing" of Mahsa Amini last September, which sparked public anger and spurred a movement against poverty, misery, and human rights suppression in Iran.

The letter says workers' and teachers' rights, particularly the right to form independent organizations and the right to hold gatherings and protests, are fundamental rights in any society.

The Iranian government delegation at the annual ILO conference "does not truly represent the workers, teachers, and people of Iran," it says, adding the ILO conference should make the "release of all imprisoned workers, teachers, and social activists and detainees of the movement of 'Women, Life, Freedom' and all political prisoners" and the immediate cancelation of executions in Iran as a "special agenda" for the meeting in Geneva.

The labor organizations have also demanded the "expulsion of the Islamic republic from the ILO and not allowing the delegation of this government to participate in the ILO conference in Geneva."

Iran's economy has been ravaged by U.S. sanctions, leading to a surge of protests in several cities. A report from the Labor Ministry indicated a significant increase in Iran's poverty rate, growing 50 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Unrest has rattled Iran since last summer in response to declining living standards, wage arrears, and a lack of welfare support. Labor law in Iran does not recognize the right of workers to form independent unions.

Adding to the dissent, the death in September of the 22-year-old Amini while in police custody for allegedly wearing a head scarf improperly breathed new life into the demonstrations, which officials across the country have tried to quell with harsh measures, including the death penalty.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) group said on June 1 at least 307 people -- including at least 142 people in May alone -- have been executed in 2023, a 76 percent rise compared with the same period last year.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-labor-groups-ilo-expulsion- rights/32445529.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Myanmar's junta has sentenced 156 civilians to death since coup

Military seeks to instill fear in those who oppose its rule.

By RFA Burmese 2023.06.05 -- Myanmar's junta has sentenced at least 156 people to death - including four teenagers and manyl in their 20s - since seizing power in a coup d'etat, according to a group monitoring prisoners of conscience in the country.

Thailand's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) said in a report that the junta has increasingly sentenced political activists to death since the Feb. 1, 2022, takeover as a warning to opponents of its rule. Some 42 of the convictions have been in absentia.

The real total may actually be much higher, an official from the group told Radio Free Asia, speaking on condition of anonymity citing security concerns.

"The military junta deliberately gives death sentences to instill fear in the people," he said. "However, the people of the spring revolution will continue to fight against the junta no matter how hard they try to scare them."

The list includes 18-year-old Hein Min Naing from Mon state's Ye township and three 19-year-olds from Yangon region's Thingangyun township named Zaw Lin Naing, Khant Zin Win and Khant Lin Maung Maung.

Also on the list is Kaung Set Paing, a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions in his 20s, who was charged with incitement and terrorism on April 25 and sentenced to death, in addition to life imprisonment. Kaung Set Paing, who also runs the anti-junta North Okkalapa Township Student Union, was arrested in December.

Kaung Set Paing's friend, who gave her name as Yatu, said that she was heartbroken to learn that he was tortured for a month during interrogation prior to his sentencing.

"A 20-year-old like him would have been enjoying his studies if the military coup hadn't taken place," she said. "But now, he is in a hopeless situation in prison. Since he has been sentenced to death, he could be executed ... at any time and I worry about him everyday."

The junta executed four prominent activists in July - the first judicial executions in Myanmar in more than 30 years.

Kyaw Thet, a 27-year-old resident of Mandalay's Wundwin township, was similarly sentenced to 225 years in prison in addition to a death sentence.

After being arrested in Meiktila township in January 2022, he was indicted under more than 10 counts of criminal and terrorism charges.

A person close to Kyaw Thet's family, who declined to be named, told RFA that he is in poor health in Myingyan Prison due to injuries he sustained during interrogation.

"He suffers a lot of pain in his legs and faints often, as he sustained head injuries when he was beaten during interrogation," they said. "His family cannot send him any food or necessities as they are fleeing junta arrest."

The family friend said Kyaw Thet's other relatives are "too scared to go to see him" and that the young man has been forced to "survive on the kindness of fellow prisoners, who share their food and personal items with him."

'Murders in prison'

Nay Phone Latt, spokesman for Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, accused the junta of committing "murders in prison" with the sentences handed to Kyaw Thet, Kaung Set Paing, and others.

"The terrorist military junta is killing many people in many ways outside prisons in order to stay in power," he said. "In the same way, they are committing murders in prisons, too. A legitimate government would hand out death sentences like that."

Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, composed of former military officials, claimed that the sentences are necessary, given that the military government controls the three branches of power in the country.

"From a legal standpoint, we cannot complain about such judgements and sentences given under the law," he said. "There certainly is the right to appeal, but whether or not to grant it to those given death sentences depends on crimes they have committed."

Junta Deputy Minister of Information Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, who is also the spokesperson of the military, told the media in December that those sentenced to death "will be executed."

No proper defense, appeal process

But a justice lawyer told RFA that the sentences are illegitimate as those convicted were tried in military tribunals and denied a proper defense in court.

"There is only one military court of appeal and if it rejects the appeal, the only option left for the defendant is to file a petition for mercy from [junta] chief [Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing]," said the lawyer, who also spoke anonymously.

"Their death sentences are final, as their cases could not be reviewed thoroughly in such a short time. That's why I believe ... [they] had very little right to defend themselves."

According to the justice lawyer, those sentenced to death have the right to appeal in civilian, district, and plenary courts - including to the chief justice and the supreme court.

However, he said, since seizing control of Myanmar's judicial system, the junta has manipulated the law to severely punish those who oppose it with lengthy prison sentences and death penalties.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar shutters 700 mobile bank accounts suspected of funding anti-junta forces

While some may have funded the resistance, many belong to civilian business owners.

By RFA Burmese 2023.06.05 -- Myanmar's military regime has shut down more than 700 mobile bank accounts for allegedly funding anti-junta paramilitary groups in the month of May alone, according to data compiled by Radio Free Asia, industry insiders and account holders.

The move is the latest bid by the junta to cut off the flow of assistance to Myanmar's armed resistance, which the military has vowed to eradicate in the aftermath of its Feb. 1, 2021, coup d'etat, but which has made increasing gains on the ground in key areas of the country.

An investigation by RFA Burmese found that last month the junta closed at least 721 accounts it accused of ties to anti-junta forces with mobile banking providers including KBZPay, WavePay, AYAPay, and CBPay. The junta shuttered similar bank accounts prior to May, although the number was not immediately clear.

Account holders who were locked out of their accounts told RFA that the military had ordered Myanmar's Central Bank to monitor "irregular" money transfers and deposits and to crack down on associated accounts.

While some of the closed accounts may have been used by individuals funneling money to anti-junta organizations including the People's Defense Force paramilitary group and shadow National Unity Government, others belonged to ordinary civilians running small businesses, some of those affected said Friday.

Yangon resident Wai Oo said his KBZPay account, which he opened in 2019 to run his online shopping business, was closed by the junta last week with nearly 2 million kyats (US$950) still in it. He said he went to his bank to explain the mistake, but was forced to leave without his money or account reinstated.

"If they want to cut off support to the PDF, they should do their due diligence first," he said. "Online shopping businesses like mine make bank transactions on a daily basis and they should investigate them more carefully. We are being hurt by this baseless closure of our accounts."

Amar Myint, a woman from Monywa, also had her KBZPay account frozen on the order of the central bank with no explanation given, even though she only used it for regular banking activities.

"I'm just an ordinary citizen who minds her own business and I don't get involved in any complicated activities," she said, adding that she mostly used her account to pay for her internet access and shop online. "When I talked to the bank, they didn't say anything beyond that they were instructed to do so by the central bank."

Transactions monitored daily

RFA also spoke with employees of private banks who said that, since the coup, they have had to report their institution's online and mobile bank account transactions to the central bank on "a daily and monthly basis."

"Among the accounts, those with at least 10 daily transactions and or that make transfers of 2 million kyats or more are monitored separately," said an official at one bank who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns. "When an account is suspected of transferring money to other regions, they close the account permanently."

Attempts by RFA to contact central bank officials regarding the closure of mobile bank accounts went unanswered Friday.

Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun said at a press conference in the capital Naypyidaw in September that the imposition of such strict rules was done to "prevent financial fraud and violence."

Making lives difficult

Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a group formed by former military officers, told RFA that the account closures are key to protecting the nation from terrorism.

"If you look at it from a national security standpoint, it's worrying that some huge amounts of money are transferred from one place to another for suspicious activities by using modern technology and no one can trace them," he said. "If these transactions can't be strictly controlled, the resistance groups will continue to receive support, which will lead to more rebellion and chaos for the people."

But Sayar Kyaung, the leader of the anti-junta Yangon UG Association, said that the regime's closing of mobile bank accounts impacts not only PDF groups but also the livelihoods of regular civilians.

"The junta knows that people will not be able to pay attention to the revolution if making ends meet becomes more and more difficult," he said. "The junta is trying to cripple people's businesses so that they will be less willing to support the revolution."

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content June not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Seoul Says Concerned by Pyongyang's Threat to Abandon Advance Notice of Satellite Launches

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korea is concerned by Pyongyang's threat that it would stop notifying the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about its future satellite launches due to criticism voiced with regard to the issue, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Koo Byoung-sam said on Monday.

On May 31, the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's missile launches as a serious threat to the safety of international shipping. On Sunday, North Korea responded with a statement, in which it threatened to stop informing the organization about the country's future launches.

"North Korea's attitude, which is drifting further and further away from international norms and common sense, is very disappointing," Koo was quoted as saying by a South Korean news agency.

The spokesman urged Pyongyang to return to the "right" track, adding that such threats would only alienate the international community from the country, the report said.

On May 27, North Korea reportedly informed the IMO of its plans to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11. On May 31, North Korea's state-run news agency reported the launch of the Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite mounted on the Chollima-1 carrier rocket had failed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the failed launch, arguing that any launch with the use of ballistic missiles technology contradicts the UN Security Council's resolutions.

A Sputnik

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Caught in US-China Rivalry, South Korea Inches Toward Washington

By William Gallo June 05, 2023

At first glance, it may seem strange that China expressed displeasure with South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy, which outlines the foreign policy vision of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

After all, the 42-page document does not directly criticize China. In fact, it hardly makes any explicit references to China at all, except to call it a "key partner for achieving prosperity and peace."

And yet, asked about the Indo-Pacific Strategy a day after its publication in late December, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson responded tersely, warning against the formation of "exclusive cliques."

A closer examination helps explain why. The paper was filled with what were widely seen as indirect criticisms of Beijing, which has become more authoritarian at home and more aggressive with its neighbors.

For example, the document condemned the use of force and coercion. It supported the preservation of a "rules-based international order" built on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

Perhaps most importantly, for the first time in an official South Korean policy document, the Indo-Pacific Strategy linked Taiwan's fate to that of South Korea and the wider region - contradicting China's claim that the issue is purely a domestic matter.

The incident exemplifies how Yoon has more explicitly aligned his country with the United States and become bolder about confronting China. Though carefully calibrated, analysts say Yoon's moves leave little question about his approach to the great power rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Confronting Beijing

It's not hard to find evidence of this shift under Yoon, a conservative who took office last year.

The most blatant recent example came in April, when Yoon condemned "attempts to change the status quo by force" in Taiwan - an apparent reference to China's increased military threats against the self-ruled island. The issue, Yoon added, was of global importance.

After China's foreign ministry scolded Yoon over the comments, Seoul pushed back, summoning the Chinese ambassador, blasting Beijing's criticism as "unspeakable," and lodging a complaint with Chinese state media for their "unfounded" disparagement of Yoon.

China has also watched Yoon restore relations with historical rival Japan, paving the way for both countries to cooperate more closely with the United States on shared threats.

US-led initiatives

Under Yoon, South Korea has also participated in a broad range of multilateral groups focused on countering China.

Most recently, Yoon attended the G7 gathering of advanced democracies in Japan, which resulted in the group's strongest ever statement targeting China.

Not all of this is new. It was under Yoon's liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, that South Korea first participated in meetings of the G7, as well as NATO, the Quad, and the U.S.-led Summit for Democracies.

But Yoon has gone further, joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which is meant to provide a counterweight against China's economic clout, and Partners in the Blue Pacific, which is seen as an attempt to blunt China's influence in the Pacific Islands.

Given these trends, it is apparent South Korea no longer seeks a middle ground between the United States and China, insists Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea specialist at King's College London.

"In my view, there hasn't been a big change in policy. But I think Yoon is being more open than Moon about what he's doing with regards to China," Pacheco Pardo said.

Values-led solidarity

Asked why South Korea participates in so many U.S.-led regional initiatives, South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Young-sam responded saying Seoul is also open to more participation with Beijing.

"[This is] not just U.S.-led regional cooperation or solidarity. It is universal values-led international solidarity," Choi said. "We are not just working with the U.S. because it is the U.S., [but] because it is good for freedom and peace and prosperity ... we welcome China's much more active participation in this international effort."

Choi spoke to VOA as he made final preparations to host leaders from 17 Pacific Island countries at the first ever Korea-Pacific Islands Summit.

A joint statement following the summit, held last week, emphasized the importance of "shared universal values," which Choi insisted form the basis of Seoul's foreign policy.

"Without any kind of initiative or right direction, we don't know where to go ultimately," he said. "Universal values are the direction we must head for."

Preserving its autonomy

Despite Yoon's criticism of China, areas of difference appear to remain between South Korea and the United States.

For instance, it is not certain South Korea would fight with its U.S. ally in any war over Taiwan. In an interview last year, Yoon said the U.S.-South Korea alliance should stay focused on North Korea even in the case of a Taiwan-related conflict, which he said Pyongyang may use to stage a provocation.

Under Yoon, South Korea has refused requests to directly send weapons to Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion.

South Korea has also not joined every aspect of the U.S.-led economic pressure campaign on China - perhaps an unsurprising fact, since China remains South Korea's biggest trading partner.

Most notably, South Korea has not imposed restrictions on its lucrative export of semiconductors to China, despite U.S. pressure. The likely reason: South Korea sent 55% of its semiconductor exports to China last year, according to official figures cited last week by Business Korea.

China pushing back

With the South Korean economy so dependent on China, Seoul remains susceptible to coercion by Beijing.

There are growing signs China may use that leverage, as it has in the recent past. In 2017, China began a painful campaign of economic retaliation against South Korean businesses following Seoul's installation of a U.S. missile defense system that Beijing viewed as a threat.

Late last month, China appeared to block mainland access to the website of Naver, South Korea's do-everything web portal. In addition, a growing number of Chinese state media editorials have targeted Yoon.

If the Chinese pushback intensifies, Yoon's current approach will be much more difficult, predicts Jeffrey Robertson, a professor at Seoul's Yonsei University.

In Robertson's view, South Korea's relationship toward the United States and China can be compared to a swinging pendulum.

At the middle point of that pendulum swing, he says, is South Korea's close security ties with the United States and economic ties with China.

"And those two will not change unless something drastic occurs," he said.

Lee Juhyun contributed to this story.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's greetings to the Forum of Historians' hosts and participants from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

3 June 2023 13:22

1098-03-06-2023

Colleagues,

I am delighted to welcome the participants of the Russian-Belarusian Forum of Historians' first meeting. I'd like to begin by expressing my gratitude to the hosts, including the Russian History Society, the History of the Fatherland Foundation, and academic history institutions, as well as the Russian State University for the Humanities, and our Belarusian friends. I thank you all for spearheading this important initiative. The Russian-Belarusian historical legacy is priceless and the research community should work hard to achieve an in-depth understanding of it.

Indeed, the demand for this work is high and can hardly be overestimated. The collective West is continuing with its attempts to cynically falsify history. Textbooks are rewritten, facts are distorted, and monuments are demolished. Their goal is clear for everyone to see and it is to sow inter-ethnic and inter-religious discord, to foment language chauvinism and to pit our fraternal peoples against each other in order to prevent the Union State from getting stronger.

The only way to overcome this is to recreate the objective picture of the past. It is no coincidence that historians are called memory keepers. I think it would be appropriate to recall the words of Vasily Klyuchevsky who once famously said that a nation that has no memory of its past has no future.

Colleagues,

In the coming days, you will discuss many issues, including very complex, sensitive and acute ones. Controversies and discussions are unavoidable, but, as we know, the truth is born in a dispute. I'm sure you will be able to bring your positions as close as possible and enrich historical science with new knowledge.

In the future, we should think about pooling our efforts to compile a monograph on the history of the Union State, especially as we completed a similar project earlier. I'm talking about a large-scale and extended effort by the academies of sciences of Russia and Belarus to draft a multi-volume historical and documentary publication titled "The Country on Fire."

It is hard to overestimate the importance of historical research for the edification and patriotic education of our youth. We have a duty to our young people to convey the historical truth to them in an undistorted form and ensure the continuity of generations. In this regard, I hope that the forum will contribute to deepening bilateral cooperation in education, and its outcomes will be used in the education process. The idea to harmonise education programmes, to jointly draft history textbooks and guidelines for teachers, and to develop common approaches to improving history education is quite promising.

I wish you productive communication, exciting joint projects for the benefit of our citizens and further progress in the Russian-Belarusian allied relations.

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Kremlin Says Putin Mobilization Announcement Broadcast On Radio Stations Was 'Fake'

By RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time June 05, 2023

The Kremlin says a radio address supposedly given by President Vladimir Putin about imposing martial law in Russia's three regions bordering Ukraine and announcing "a full-scale mobilization" that was broadcast on several radio stations earlier in the day was "fake."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 5 that the audio statement with a voice similar to the Russian leader was the result of a "break-in" by hackers in some regions of the country that is now under investigation.

"All of these messages are utterly fake," he said.

Peskov's statement came hours after several radio stations broadcast what was introduced as a statement by the president in which it was announced that Ukrainian forces "armed to their teeth by NATO and with support and approval of Washington" invaded the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions, and as a result, "martial law" was being imposed in those areas.

"Also, today I will sign a decree on a full-scale mobilization because to prevail the dangerous and subtle enemy we need to unite all forces of the Russian Federation," the statement, read by a voice similar to Putin's, said in the broadcast.

Peskov said control over the situation "has already been restored," but not before several Internet users placed the recorded radio statement in question on Telegram.

Local authorities in the regions of Belgorod and another near the border, Voronezh, also have called the announcement fake.

Russia's regions bordering Ukraine, especially the Belgorod region, have been shelled and attacked with drones in recent days. However, neither martial law nor the mass evacuation of local residents was introduced there.

Ukraine has denied any involvement into the attacks, while the so-called Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion, mostly consisting of Russian citizens, have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

With reporting by TASS and RIA Novosti

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-putin- mobilization-radio-fake-broadcast/32445575.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wagner Group Posts Video Of Russian Officer In Sign Of Rising Tensions With Army

By RFE/RL's Russian Service June 05, 2023

In a sign of rising tensions between Russia's Wagner mercenary group and the country's official armed forces, the private company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin has released a video of a captured Russian officer where he "confesses" to ordering an attack on the mercenaries.

The video, released by Wagner's press service on June 4, shows the apparent interrogation of a person who calls himself Colonel Roman Venevitin, the commander of the Russian Army's 72nd motorized rifle brigade. During the questioning, he says he ordered an attack on Wagner troops due to "personal enmity."

Just prior to the publishing of the video, Wagner's press service released a military report about a shootout between the mercenary group's fighters and regular Russian armed forces that allegedly took place on May 17 near Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut, the epicenter of heavy fighting between Russian troops -- backed by Wagner forces -- and Ukrainian armed forces for months.

The report said a Ural military truck was damaged during the attack.

In the video published by Wagner on Telegram, the man who calls himself Venevitin says he ordered his troops to open fire at Wagner troops aboard the truck while being under influence of alcohol. The man, who appears to have an injured nose, apologizes to Wagner for the attack.

The veracity of the video could not be independently verified. It was unclear whether the man identified as Venevitin was speaking freely and without duress in the video.

Russia's Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the video or the report.

The report and the video appear to reveal deep ongoing problems between Wagner and Russia's Defense Ministry. Prigozhin has several times openly criticized the ministry's efforts during the war against Ukraine that has followed Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

Wagner troops were seen as being instrumental in Russia's assault to take Bakhmut, and Prigozhin's stature as a major player in the war appeared to grow as his fighters took territory -- albeit with heavy losses -- regular forces seemed unable to grab.

The city now appears to be controlled by Russia, though Kyiv says the battle continues.

International military experts also have stressed that military units involved in the invasion have regularly lacked a joint command and often conflict with one another.

Prigozhin, in an audio statement on June 5, called on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the Russia's armed forces' General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to Ukraine's east and personally lead Russian units to defend positions near Berkhivka settlement.

According to Prigozhin, Ukrainian armed forces have retaken parts of Berkhivka, north of Bakhmut.

"Shoigu, Gerasimov, I call on you to come to the front line, take out your guns to lead the armed forces, to make them go forward. Go for it, you can do it! If you can't, you'll die like heroes," Prigozhin said.

Prigozhin, considered to be a close ally of Rusian President Vladimir Putin, has accused Shoigu and Gerasimov of corruption, unprofessionalism, and high treason for months.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wagner-video-russian- officer-tensions-army/32445407.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Kremlin Considers Sullivan's Remark on US' Readiness for Nuclear Arms Negotiations Positive

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Resent statements by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan regarding Washington's readiness for talks on nuclear weapons are important and positive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

During his speech at the Arms Control Association's 2023 Annual Meeting last week, Sullivan said that the United States is willing to engage in arms control talks with Russia and China without preconditions. The US is ready to begin talks with Russia on nuclear risk management and a post 2026 arms control framework, the official added.

"This is an important and positive statement by Sullivan. Of course, we expect that it will be backed up by de facto steps through diplomatic channels, and then it will be possible to consider the proposed dialogue formats," Peskov told reporters.

Russia is open to dialogue and deems it extremely important to talk about nuclear arms, the official added.

"But it is necessary first to understand how proposals are formulated. Because, of course, it is very difficult to rely on a statement in the media in such important and sensitive issues, especially when we are experiencing such, perhaps, the most acute lack of mutual trust in our bilateral relations," Peskov said.

In late April, US National Nuclear Security Administration chief Jill Hruby told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the United States would absolutely like Russia to resume its participation in the New START Treaty or begin talks on a new pact to limit nuclear weapons.

OPEC+ Format Important for Ensuring Stability of International Markets

Speaking about the recent OPEC+ decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will fulfill the general agreements existing within the framework of OPEC+, as this format is very important for ensuring stability of international energy markets.

OPEC+ agreed at the meeting on Sunday to extend the oil deal through 2024, as well as reduce the alliance's total output level by 1.4 million barrels per day starting next year.

"The format continues its work, there are general agreements that, of course, everyone will fulfill. I would also like to add that, of course, this format retains its importance for ensuring stability of international energy markets," Peskov told reporters.

Moscow Not Received Indonesia's Settlement Plan on Ukraine Conflict

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that he has no information of Indonesia transmitting its plan for resolving the situation in Ukraine through diplomatic channels to Moscow.

"I do not know that something detailed was presented via the diplomatic channels, so I cannot say anything," Peskov told journalists.

Earlier in the month, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto announced a settlement plan on the situation in Ukraine that implies a ceasefire and the creation of a demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine that would be overseen by UN peacekeeping troops.

A Sputnik

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Moscow Bans 'Unfriendly' Journalists From Economic Forum

By VOA News June 05, 2023

Moscow announced that journalists from what it deems "unfriendly countries" would not be allowed to attend this year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, marking the latest move by the Kremlin to hinder Western journalists from covering Russia.

Held annually since 1997, the economic forum is considered Russia's version of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. President Vladimir Putin uses the forum, one of the country's showpiece events, to advertise Russia's economy to global investors. This year the forum will be held June 14-17.

Western journalists have never been banned from covering the forum in such a sweeping way, according to Reuters. But this ban a announced Saturday a comes amid ever-rising tensions between Moscow and Western countries that have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia over the country's ongoing war in Ukraine.

"It was decided not to accredit media outlets from unfriendly countries to the SPIEF this time," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the state-owned news outlet Tass on Saturday. SPIEF is the forum's acronym.

The Kremlin's list of "unfriendly countries" is composed of those that have sanctioned Russia over the war in Ukraine.

"Interest in SPIEF is always great, all other journalists will work on the site," Peskov also said.

Some Western reporters were initially accredited to cover the forum this year.

Reuters' Moscow bureau received a confirmation of accreditation Thursday but was notified the next day that accreditation for its reporters had been canceled.

Foreign journalists have already been leaving Russia in droves for safety reasons since the country invaded Ukraine last year.

Those who have opted to stay face escalating risks, including arbitrary detention. American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who works for The Wall Street Journal, has been detained for over two months in Russia on espionage accusations that he and the U.S. government deny.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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Eagle Resolve 23" Exercise Continues with Participation of Saudi Armed Forces, GCC and U.S. Forces

Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, June 05, 2023, SPA -- The Saudi armed forces, represented by land, air, sea, and air defence forces, are currently conducting the joint exercise "Eagle Resolve 23" in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This exercise involves the participation of forces from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the United States of America.

During the ongoing "Eagle Resolve 23" exercise, the participating forces are currently engaged in the command center exercise at the Air Warfare Center in Dhahran.

Furthermore, the Saudi Land Forces and the U.S. Land Forces conducted defensive exercises against weapons of mass destruction and mass casualty medicine at King Khalid Military City in the northern region.

In addition, the Saudi Naval Forces and their U.S. counterparts have commenced exercises in the Gulf.

Moreover, the Saudi Air Force, its U.S. counterpart and several forces from the participating countries conducted air exercises as part of the joint exercise.

--SPA

18:12 LOCAL TIME 15:12 GMT

0039

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Deputy Eswatini PM arrives in Taiwan for visit

ROC Central News Agency

06/05/2023 06:41 PM

Taipei, June 5 (CNA) Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini Themba Masuku has arrived in the country to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen () and other senior officials to exchange views on bilateral cooperation projects, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on Monday.

Other than meeting Tsai and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (), Masuku's delegation will also meet with Minister of Labor Affairs Hsu Ming-chun (), MOFA said in a press release.

The Eswatini delegation will also visit Taipei-based Tex-Ray Industrial Company, a major investor in the African kingdom, it added.

The ongoing visit is the third high-level delegation from the African ally in the last seven months, following a visit by Eswatini's current ruler, King Mswati III, last October, and Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini in March, according to MOFA.

MOFA said in a statement released Sunday that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Eswatini will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in September. Taiwan looks forward to working with the African ally to deepen bilateral ties, the ministry added.

Eswatini is one of a handful of absolute monarchies in the world and one of 13 states to maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name, and the only one in Africa.

Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.

MOFA did not provide a scheduled date for the delegation's departure.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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China: US stirred up troubles first in recent near-collision incident

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 6:00 PM

China has accused the United States of initiating trouble in the Taiwan Strait recently, when a US guided-missile destroyer almost collided with a Chinese warship.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on Monday that China "stands firmly against provocations from certain countries in the Taiwan Strait, and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and regional peace and stability."

"I want to emphasize that the truth is that the US side stirred up troubles and made provocation first, while the Chinese side dealt with this in accordance with corresponding laws and regulations."

"China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries under international law. The actions taken by the Chinese military are necessary to respond to the provocations of relevant countries," he said.

"They are completely reasonable, legal, safe and professional. China firmly opposes certain countries making troubles in the Taiwan Strait region, and will resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability," the spokesman added.

Wang said the spokesman of the Eastern Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) had already responded to the matter. Colonel Shi Yi, with the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command, censured the provocative move by the US Navy and Canadian Navy in a written statement released on Saturday.

The US Navy had accused a Chinese warship of cutting in front of an American vessel while taking part in a joint exercise with the Canadian Navy in the Taiwan Strait, forcing the American vessel to slow down to avoid collision.

The United States military released a video on Monday of what it described as an "unsafe" maneuver by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend.

In a Sunday speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu accused the US and its allies of trying to destabilize the Indo-Pacific - just hours after the near collision.

In his speech, Li reiterated Beijing's position on Taiwan, describing the self-ruled island as the "core of our core interests."

The minister said a potential confrontation between China and the United States would inflict the world with an "unbearable disaster."

China's defense minister also warned that Washington's pursuance of "NATO-like" military alliances in the Asia-Pacific could undermine regional stability and lead to conflagration.

The near miss in the Taiwan Strait came two weeks after an encounter between Chinese and American military aircraft over the South China Sea.

The mishaps dealt a blow to recent efforts in easing a diplomatic standoff between the United States and China after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon in February.

Washington and Beijing are at odds over a number of issues which are turning to be sources of direct confrontation.

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Chinese Navy Ship's Maneuver in Taiwan Strait Legal, Justified - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20230605

BEIJING (Sputnik) - A Chinese navy ship maneuver within 150 yards hitting distance to a US destroyer in the Taiwan Strait was carried out legally and safely to respond to "provocations" by several countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

On Saturday, the US Indo-Pacific Command said the Chinese military ship PRC LY 132 came within 150 yards of the USS Chung-Hoon destroyer during a joint Canada-US exercise in the Taiwan Strait, when the ships crossed the strait.

"The actions taken by the Chinese military were necessary measures to respond to the provocations of the corresponding countries, they are justified, legal, safe and professional," Wang told a briefing.

The diplomat also said that China had always respected the freedom of navigation and flight in accordance with international law, but stressed that Beijing opposed possible incidents in the Taiwan Strait.

The situation around Taiwan escalated again after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April, with Beijing launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers.

Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing considers the island a province of China, while Taiwan says it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable.

A Sputnik

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Top political advisor meets with Taiwan's New Party chairman

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:47, June 06, 2023

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, on Monday met with Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of Taiwan's New Party, in Beijing.

While acknowledging the contributions the New Party has made to the development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful reunification of China, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored the efforts to unite compatriots of Taiwan to work together for national reunification and rejuvenation.

The policies of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are the best way to realize reunification across the Taiwan Strait, which best serves the interests of Chinese people on both sides of the Strait and the entire Chinese nation, Wang said.

"Taiwan independence" represents the serious crime of secession that will only bring disaster to the people of Taiwan, and will lead nowhere, he said.

Wang stressed the efforts to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, give firm support to patriots in Taiwan who desire reunification including the New Party, take resolute steps to oppose "Taiwan independence" and external interference, safeguard peace and stability in the region and promote cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation and integrated development.

Taiwan will have a future only when the country is reunified, Wu said, adding that the New Party takes a clear-cut stance supporting peaceful reunification and opposing "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference in cross-Strait affairs.

"People on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese and should work together to realize peaceful reunification and national rejuvenation," he said.

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TArkiye's Erdogan continues to face challenges in ties with NATO allies after re-election

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:20, June 06, 2023

ANKARA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- TArkiye's relationship with NATO allies following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for five more years is likely to remain challenging, experts said.

Erdogan won his third presidential term in an election runoff on May 28, which is considered a substantial force in how TArkiye-West ties would stay and change, especially at a time when its relations with the United States, a major NATO ally, are fraught.

Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has kept its distance from TArkiye mainly because of the latter's increasing cooperation with Russia, a trend that disturbs many Western officials and NATO.

TArkiye's decision to oppose Sweden's NATO membership bid has also impacted Ankara's relationship with the United States and other members of the Western defense alliance.

"A crisis seems to loom in TArkiye-NATO relations around Ankara's decision to stall Sweden's bid to join the alliance," Serkan Demirtas, an Ankara-based foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua.

TArkiye has "legitimate security concerns" over the Nordic country's accession to the alliance and is expecting more despite Stockholm's legal efforts to satisfy its demands, Demirtas noted.

"We will soon know if Ankara is satisfied or not, but a deadline is approaching," the Turkish analyst said, referring to the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July, where NATO wants to finalize Sweden's admission process.

Some experts believe that a compromise may be forthcoming after a phone call from Biden congratulating Erdogan on his re-election touched upon NATO expansion.

The two presidents "expressed their shared commitment to continue working together as close partners to deepen cooperation between our countries and people. They also discussed their readiness as NATO Allies to address regional and global challenges, including strengthening transatlantic security at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," said a White House issued on May 29.

"I suspect that Erdogan will ratify Sweden's membership until the NATO summit. In this way, the Erdogan administration will want to make progress on the F-16 warplanes it wants to buy from the U.S.," Moscow-based Turkish analyst Kerim Has told Xinhua.

Despite Ankara and Washington repeatedly denying TArkiye's approval of Sweden's bid is a quid pro quo for buying more U.S. arms, Has argued that the two issues are connected.

Being kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program by Washington for purchasing Russian S-400 missiles, Ankara has sought to buy more F-16 jets, but the request has been pending for months with the Biden administration and U.S. Congress.

For Has, the Turkish leader has pushed the issue about as far as he can, and may finally concede to a compromise, given his country's economic problems which could prompt him to adopt a conciliatory approach in the hope of securing much-needed capital.

Ankara ratified Finland's NATO bid in March but is still reluctant about a similar bid from Sweden over the country's alleged support for Kurdish militants considered by TArkiye "terrorists."

For Washington, the accession of the two Scandinavian states to the alliance is a must amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict since it increases NATO interoperability.

On May 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged TArkiye to finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, saying the Nordic country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara's objections.

A foreign diplomat based in Ankara whose country is a NATO member told Xinhua that TArkiye will remain a "crucially important member, despite frustration from the alliance."

"The relationship is complicated and will remain to stay so," the source said on condition of anonymity.

According to Tulin Daloglu, an independent analyst based in Ankara, given TArkiye's growing geostrategic importance amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, "the current strained but manageable relations will continue as it is for the foreseeable future".

"The U.S.-dominated NATO decision-makers want Sweden to join the club as soon as possible. TArkiye is not against this membership or NATO's open door policy," she told Xinhua.

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A125 million air crew contract supports UK jobs in the Southwest

A A125 million contract has been awarded to Ascent Flight Training, a joint venture, to create the next generation of aircrew.

5 June 2023

A A125 million contract has been awarded to Ascent Flight Training, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin UK and Babcock International, to create the next generation of aircrew.

Contract will ensure the continuation of training to key members of Mission Aircrew prior to the introduction of a new system in 2026.

It will create five new roles at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and will sustain 43 jobs across the Southwest delivering on the Prime Minister's priority to grow the economy.

A new A125 million contract will deliver vital mission aircrew training, and support around 50 UK jobs.

The training will take place at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall under the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). This critical venture will prepare Royal Navy observers and RAF weapon system officers to operate onboard Wildcat, Merlin, Poseidon and Rivet Joint aircraft.

Their training will be conducted by a collaboration of civilian instructors and military staff operating from 750 Naval Air Squadron. The continuation of this contract will also create five new roles at RNAS Culdrose and sustain 43 jobs across the supply chain. delivering on the Prime Ministers priority of growing the economy.

Lasting three years, the contract will run until June 2026 the future intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS) programme replaces it.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

It is through our talented people and our partnerships with industry that we can deploy cutting-edge capabilities wherever they are required. Not only will the new Rear Crew contract ensure the continuation of a vital intelligence gathering capability, but also secure dozens of jobs in the south-west.

By replacing the current training system with a new Airborne Mission Trainer, the Rear Crew Sustainment programme will keep aircraft in service for longer. The Avenger aircraft that is currently used will be extensively modified to accommodate an electronically scanned array radar, an electro optical camera, and reconfiguration of the cabin area and mission consoles, extending its service life 10 years from 2023 to 2033.

Additional upgrades to the ground-based training equipment will ensure better coherence across training systems.

DE&S General Director Air, Vice Admiral Rick Thompson said:

The provision of this contract will ensure the continuation of the critical training required for the production of qualified mission aircrew needed for front line duties. Rear crew observers in the Royal Navy are a key part of a flight crew on board Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, where they are expected to navigate, operate communications systems and on occasions control the weaponry.

In the RAF, a Weapon Systems Officer manages the sensors and weapons of their aircraft during operational missions, whilst at the same time gathering intelligence and supporting forces on the ground.

UKMFTS team leader at DE&S, Michelle Ostergaard said:

This contract award is a major achievement by the UKMFTS Delivery Team, in collaboration with our industry colleagues. The continuation of Mission Aircrew training at RNAS Culdrose and obsolescence removal programme over the next three years will pave the way for the Future ISTAR and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS), which will significantly uplift the training system capability and capacity.

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June 5, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Austin Talks Uncertainties of War as Ukraine Prepares Counteroffensive

The Ukrainian military is prepared for a counteroffensive against the Russian invaders, but this is war and supporters of Kyiv must be ready for the long haul, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said yesterday.

War is uncertain, Austin said. "Anybody that thinks they can accurately produce any type of outcome in a war, ... have another think coming to them, because ... it doesn't happen that way," the secretary said to reporters in Singapore. "There will be stops and starts. There will be things that happen that [the] Ukrainians didn't anticipate. There will be opportunities for the Ukrainians to exploit."

There is no certainty in war, and all those who support Ukraine in its existential fight need to be prepared to continue to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes," he said.

Allies understand this uncertainty and recognize that support to Ukraine could be required much longer than anyone anticipated, Austin said. The secretary spoke to reporters at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Ukraine has been preparing for a counteroffensive against the Russian troops that invaded their country. "Our goal has been to provide them with the capability so that they have an opportunity to be successful," the secretary said.

Ukraine has been remarkably successful in combating the Russian military, which has more troops and more equipment. The Ukrainian military has "managed to really inflict significant damage on Russian forces and destroyed a lot of their equipment" he said.

The aid Ukraine has received allowed the country to create nine additional motorized and mechanized brigades to add to its combat power. "It will make a difference," he said. "In addition to that, we trained an additional three brigades to serve as reserve or follow-on forces. Those brigades are now in Ukraine as well, so that's a total of 12 brigades."

Even as preparations for a counteroffensive continue, nations opposed to Russia's invasion continue training and equipping Ukrainian forces. "But what I convey to our colleagues in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is, this doesn't end when [Ukrainian forces] cross the line of departure."

Countries need to be ready to provide further support to "continue to help them maintain and I think everybody has that mindset," Austin said. "Everybody's hopeful that you'll see overwhelming success, but ... I think most people have a realistic outlook on this."

Austin said what really matters is what the Ukrainian leaders feel, and he believes Ukrainian leaders are "increasingly confident in the capabilities that they have and opportunities that they may have," he said.

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Conflict to 'drag on' as Ukraine's offensive thwarted by Russian military

Global Times

By Yang Sheng and Zhang Changyue Published: Jun 05, 2023 11:30 PM

Russia claimed that a recent offensive launched by the Ukrainian military has been thwarted by Russian forces, while Kiev remained low-profile on its operation. Chinese experts on Monday said that Ukrainian troops are unlikely to bring significant change to the current situation as they have suffered great losses in the previous battle in Bakhmut, and the Western supplies can't effectively help them to achieve major victory against Russia but will only be able to prolong the conflict and maintain the current deadlock on battle grounds.

This makes the conflict mediation efforts by the international community increasingly difficult, and China will uphold its objective and fair stance in future diplomatic efforts, analysts said, stressing that the peace process should include both Russia and Ukraine rather than exclude and isolate anyone of them, and the issues between them should be solved step by step via negotiations based on pragmatic principle, rather than merely stick to military measures with unrealistic plan that causes endless bloodshed.

Hard to break deadlock

According to TASS on Monday, the Ukrainian armed forces failed to achieve success in a large-scale offensive on five front sectors in the south Donetsk area, official spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said.

"The adversary launched a large-scale offensive from the morning of June 4 (Sunday) on five sectors of the front in the south Donetsk area by bringing into action 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades from strategic reserves of the Ukrainian armed forces with support from other military units and teams," the spokesman said. "The adversary's objective was to break through our defense on the most vulnerable front sector, in its opinion. The enemy failed to perform its tasks and had no success."

The adversary used six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions, the defense ministry's spokesman said. "As a result of skilled and sophisticated action of the Battlegroup East, the Ukrainian armed forces lost more than 250 persons, sixteen tanks, three mechanized infantry combat vehicles and 21 combat armored vehicles," Konashenkov stressed. The Russian spokesperson particularly noted that Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov was at one of the frontline command posts in this area.

On Monday, Ukraine's military said it had no information about a major offensive in the region.

"We do not have such information and we do not comment on any kind of fake," a Ukrainian army spokesperson told Reuters.

Chinese military experts said the information released by the Russian side such as combat details and latest activity of senior military commanders showed that Moscow is getting more and more confident in terms of intelligence while Ukraine is keeping a low-profile about the development of its operation. After the Russian troops reportedly occupied most of Bakhmut last month with only a small strip under Ukrainian control, Ukraine suffered great casualties in the tough fight, making it really difficult to launch an effective major offensive to push back Russian forces in the short term.

Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday that it's really hard for both sides to realize new military breakthrough at the moment.

"After a series of fights since more than a year ago, the two sides have built many fortifications alongside the long control line, making them have to pay very high price in every step they try to push forward against each other. This kind of deadlock is a problem, especially for Kiev, as the Western weapon supplies also can't effectively change the situation of seesaw battles," Zhang noted.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a session of the Bundestag in Berlin on May 25 that "If we stop delivering weapons, if the weapons supply ends today, the end of Ukraine would be tomorrow," according to Ruptly TV. Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also said on May 5 in an interview with media that "If we don't support Ukraine, Ukraine will fall in a matter of days," according to euronews.com.

To what extent Kiev will persist in the conflict actually depends on the confidence and determination of the West, experts said, noting Ukraine's goal of seeking complete victory against Russia and to retake all the territories it has lost is a very difficult task, so if Ukraine still cannot realize significant victory in the coming months, it's just a question of how long Western countries can preserve their determination under great economic pressures.

Difficult mediation

The diplomatic efforts for mediation made by the neutral countries of the international community including China are also in a deadlock, because Moscow and Kiev have no common ground, and their conditions for peace process are extremely contradictory, experts said.

"The good news is that more and more countries are joining the group to urge peace and negotiation rather than add fuel to the fire, but the problems of the Ukraine crisis are too complicated, and it will surely take a long time to solve," Zhang said.

Ukraine and its allies are planning a summit of global leaders that would exclude Russia, aimed at garnering support for Kiev's terms for ending the war, according to a senior Ukrainian presidential adviser and European diplomats, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 30.

European officials say they are working with Kiev to recraft Ukraine's 10-point peace plan in ways that will make it more acceptable to other global powers such as India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and China, the WSJ report said.

Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times that the plan reported by WSJ is actually trying to get support from the neutral countries to make them isolate Russia.

A fair, neutral and feasible peace plan needs to include both conflicting parties, and take their reasonable and legitimate concerns into consideration, and if a group of countries only stand on one side to isolate another, it's impossible to bring peace, Cui said.

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UK foreign secretary meets Zelensky in Kiev

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 5:24 PM

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital Kiev, promising to continue support for the country until it is "victorious."

Zelensky said on Telegram that he received Cleverly on Monday and that he is "very grateful for the support that the UK has provided and continues to provide to Ukraine."

He also posted a video in which Cleverly is heard saying that the UK "will continue backing you and your country until you are victorious."

"During the meeting, we discussed important topical issues: Ukraine's expectations from the NATO Summit in Vilnius, promotion of the Ukrainian peace formula and preparation of the global summit on its implementation, as well as the London international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine," wrote the Ukrainian leader.

The foreign secretary also reiterated that London "will continue backing you and your country until you are victorious in your self-defense."

"When we said that we would do more and go further, we meant it," he added.

Britain, after the United States, is the second largest provider of advanced armaments and munitions to Ukraine.

It became the first country to start supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, giving Kiev the ability to attack inside Russia.

Last month, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said London was sending Shadow Storm missiles to Ukraine so they could be used domestically, meaning he had received assurances from Ukraine that they would not be used to target inside Russia.

Accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, he claimed that Russia's actions had led to sending such systems to Ukraine.

Moscow said later that Kiev used Britain's long-range cruise missiles to strike two industrial sites in Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine.

Storm Shadow has a range of "in excess of 250km," according to its manufacturer, the European arms group MBDA.

That is significantly higher than the high-precision US HIMARS rocket launchers currently used heavily by Ukraine, which rely on missiles with a range of 47 miles.

Since the onset of the war in Ukraine in February last year, the West has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems despite Russia's repeated warnings that the Western military assistance will only prolong the war.

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Russia sees 'no prospects' for Ukraine grain deal renewal as deadline looms

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 4:05 PM

Russia says it sees no prospects for extending the Black Sea grain export deal, which allows grain shipments from Ukrainian ports through a safe corridor in the sea.

Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday that it was continuing consultations with the United Nations about the UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is set to expire in mid-July.

The ministry said that ship inspections had already resumed in Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

The deal was originally brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last July to allow Ukraine to resume exports from its southern ports, which had been blockaded by Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in February last year.

The agreement last came up for renewal on May 18 and Russia agreed at that point to extend it for 60 more days, to July 17.

A new round of Russia-UN talks would take place in regard to the deal in Geneva on June 9.

Ukraine was one of the world's major grain exporters before the onset of Russia's military campaign in February last year.

More than 30 million tons of grain and agricultural products have been exported under the initiative to date.

Moscow said previously that the initiative will cease unless an agreement aimed at overcoming obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports is fulfilled.

It has said sanctions on its payments, logistics and insurance industries have created barriers.

Moscow demands the reopening of a pipeline carrying ammonia from Russia to the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Pivdennyi for export to global markets. The Kremlin says the West has blocked the export of ammonia in violation of past deals. Ammonia is a core component of fertilizer.

A senior Ukrainian official has told Reuters that Kiev would consider allowing Russian ammonia to transit its territory for export on condition that the Black Sea grain deal is expanded to include more Ukrainian ports and a wider range of commodities.

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State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu called on Sunday for regional countries to stay highly vigilant and firmly reject the actions of some countries outside the South China Sea, which exercise "hegemony of navigation "in the name of "freedom of navigation". He warned that those countries just want to "muddy the waters" of the South China Sea to "rake in profits". The defense chief made the remarks in his speech delivered at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a day after United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the security forum that the US will continue to work with allies and partners to uphold "freedom of navigation and overflight" in the South China Sea. However, Li rejected such a claim, saying, "Every year, tens of thousands of ships from different countries sail through the South China Sea, transporting a total of $3.5 trillion of goods to all parts of the world". "We have never heard of any of these ships having any trouble passing through or facing any security threats." Thanks to the concerted efforts of countries in the region, the situation in the South China Sea has generally remained stable, and regional exchanges and cooperation have grown stronger, Li said. He stressed that this sound momentum on greater stability must not be disrupted, noting that solidarity among regional countries needs to be cherished. "It is natural for neighbors to disagree with each other from time to time, and countries in the region are engaging in communication and consultation for proper settlement of differences," said Li on relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "However, some countries outside the region keep sowing discord among us and fanning the flame," he warned. "We need to stay clear-eyed and level-headed over the benefits and risks." China will be working with other regional countries, fully and effectively, to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and push forward negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the region, so as to build the South China Sea into an area of "peace, friendship and cooperation", the defense minister said.
Russia says has foiled large-scale Ukrainian offensive, killed hundreds of Kiev's troops

Iran Press TV

Monday, 05 June 2023 2:43 AM

Russian Defense Ministry says its forces have thwarted a large-scale offensive by Ukraine in the southern region of Donetsk, killing hundreds of Kiev's troops.

The ministry announced the victory in an early Monday statement without specifying whether the attack was the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, which Kiev has been promising for months.

"On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction," the Defense Ministry said in its statement, noting that Ukrainian forces attacked with six mechanized and two tank battalions.

"The enemy's goal was to break through our defenses in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front," the ministry said, adding, "The enemy did not achieve its tasks, it had no success."

The statement went on to say that Russian forces had also killed hundreds of Ukrainian troops and destroyed a large number of their military vehicles.

"As a result of the skillful and competent actions of the Eastern grouping of troops, the losses of the [Ukrainian] armed forces amounted to more than 250 personnel, 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored fighting vehicles," Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russia also released a video showing its military blowing up several Ukrainian armored vehicles in a field.

It added that Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who runs Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, was in the area of the Ukrainian attack.

The new development came after frequent announcements by Ukraine that it is preparing for a counteroffensive against Russian forces to take back part of the territory it has lost throughout the war.

On Saturday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal that he is ready to launch the counteroffensive, warning, however, that it could take some time and come at a heavy cost.

Analysts believe that after receiving tens of billions of dollars of Western weapons to fight Russian forces, the success or failure of any such counteroffensive would shape the future course of the West's diplomatic and military support for Kiev.

Moscow has frequently warned that continued supply of Western arms and military equipment for the Ukrainian military would only prolong the war and add to the suffering of Ukrainian people.

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Ukraine Says 'Some' Offensive Actions Under Way As It Denies Russian Claim Of Thwarting Counterattack

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 05, 2023

Russia says its forces have repelled a multipronged "large-scale" Ukrainian offensive in the eastern Donetsk region, but Kyiv rejected the report, calling it an attempt at disinformation while denying it had launched its long-awaited counterattack to reclaim territory lost since Moscow invaded in February 2022.

Kyiv did say on June 5, however, that its forces were "shifting to offensive actions" in some areas and conducting small-scale armored operations.

The Russian claim, which came after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told The Wall Street Journal two days earlier that Ukrainian forces were ready for the counteroffensive, could not be independently verified and was rejected by the Ukrainian military.

"In order to demoralize Ukrainians and mislead the public, including their own, Russian propagandists are spreading false information about a counteroffensive, its directions, and the losses of the Ukrainian Army, even though there is no counterattack," the Ukrainian military said in a statement.

It said that Russia used old videos and pictures "as well as other fake materials" in its report about the alleged counteroffensive, in which Russian officials said Ukraine suffered heavy losses.

Earlier on June 5, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video statement saying that Ukrainian forces attacked five points in Donetsk using six mechanized and two tank battalions but their action "had no success."

The statement said that the chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, personally supervised the Russian defense.

General Oleksandr Syrskiy, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said on June 5 that Ukrainian forces kept advancing near Bakhmut, the city that has been at the epicenter of the monthslong battle for control of Ukraine's Donetsk region. But he made no mention of a counteroffensive.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that "in some sectors, we are conducting offensive actions.... We are advancing there on a rather wide front. We are having some success."

The comments about Ukrainian gains in the Bakhmut area was confirmed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's Wagner Group, whose mercenaries were at the forefront of the monthslong battle for the devastated city.

Wagner fighters claimed they had captured Bakhmut last month and handed it to regular Russian forces.

But in an audio message posted by Wagner's media arm, a voice purported to be Prigozhin's said that a village just northwest of Bakhmut has now been retaken by Ukrainian forces.

"Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away. Disgrace!" the voice attributed to Prigozhin said.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy on June 5 praised Ukrainian troops for making gains near Bakhmut.

"Well done, warriors! We see how hysterically Russia reacts to any step we take there, all positions we take. The enemy knows that Ukraine will win," Zelenskiy said.

For its part, the Ukrainian military said on June 5 that its forces had detected and repelled an attempt by Russia to infiltrate a "sabotage and reconnaissance" group in the eastern Kharkiv region.

"On the Siverskiy and Slobozhanskiy directions over the past day, the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate the state border of Ukraine in the area of the Zelene settlement of the Kharkiv region," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a message early on June 5.

The Kharkiv Region borders Russia's Belgorod region, where fighting was reported repeatedly in recent days.

For months, Ukrainian officials have spoken about preparing a counteroffensive to drive Russian forces back.

Zelenskiy told the WSJ in his interview that his country was ready to launch the action, saying, "I don't know how long it will take," and admitting that it could come at a heavy cost.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on June 5 told Reuters that Ukraine has as enough weapons to launch its counteroffensive against Russia and that the operation will lead to victory, but he declined to say if the counteroffensive had begun.

Western assessments have said the offensive will be larger and more complicated than any other effort Ukraine has conducted since the launch of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

Ukraine's newest units, plus all of its regular and irregular units, will go into their offensive with more than $32 billion in weapons and security assistance from U.S. arsenals, plus billions more from European allies.

Russia, meanwhile, has been digging in and expanding its defensive lines -- minefields, trenches, anti-tank "dragon's teeth" -- across the roughly 1,200-kilometer front that stretches from Ukraine's Luhansk region, in the Donbas, southwest to the mouth of the Dnieper River and its eastern banks in the Kherson region.

Inside Russia, anti-Kremlin Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) fighters late on June 5 claimed to have captured Novaya Tavolzhanka -- a town of about 5,000 people -- in the Belgorod region.

The claim could not be independently verified.

Based in Ukraine, the RVC and another group, the Free Russia Legion, have made stunning cross-border incursions in recent weeks, attacking Russian forces in towns and villages in the Belgorod region. Ukraine has denied it is behind the attacks.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-belgorod- skirmishes-kharkiv-fighting/32444924.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Has Ukraine's Long-Awaited Counteroffensive Finally Begun? Maybe.

By Mike Eckel June 05, 2023

For weeks now, along the nearly 1,000-kilometer Ukrainian front line that stretches from the northeastern city of Kharkiv south to Donetsk and then west to the mouth of the Dnieper River, there's been a noticeable uptick in clashes, skirmishes, and full-fledged combat between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Ukrainian officials, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy himself, have signaled that a major counteroffensive is imminent, an operation that could turn out to be pivotal for the course of the entire invasion, now in its 15th month.

Overnight on June 5, Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukraine had launched a "large-scale offensive" south of Donetsk, along the administrative border between the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions, and claimed Russian forces had thwarted the effort.

Ukraine cautioned that Russia was prone to deception and exaggeration. But a Ukrainian deputy defense minister said later the same day that "in some areas we are moving to offensive actions."

So, has Ukraine's counteroffensive finally gotten under way?

Maybe.

"There is no perfect time to launch the Ukrainian offensive, but there will be a time that is optimum for Ukrainian force preparations and where they are most able to exploit Russian weaknesses," Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army general, said in a post on Twitter on June 4. "That time is close. H-Hour approaches."

So What Do We Know?

Like all official statements, the announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry should be taken with a major grain of salt or a hefty pinch.

Ukraine on June 4 had launched a "large-scale offensive" in five places south of Donetsk, involving "six mechanized and two tank battalions," the Russian ministry said in a post published on Telegram just after midnight.

In a later update, the ministry claimed 250 Ukrainian troops from Ukraine's 31st Mechanized Brigade had been killed near the village of Neskuchne, along with more than three dozen tanks and armored personnel carriers, including U.S.-supplied Bradley vehicles.

"The enemy did not achieve his tasks. He had no success," the ministry said.

On its own, it would be easy to file that away under the rubric: "Very Unconfirmed Statements Made By The Russian Defense Ministry."

There is no easy way to independently verify battlefield reports, even under the best of circumstances. Ukraine has imposed restrictions for Ukrainian and foreign reporters accessing the front lines. The Russian reporters and bloggers who travel with Russian units frequently publish reports of questionable veracity.

But overnight, June 4 into June 5, Russian military bloggers -- some of whom are exceedingly well plugged into military and intelligence circles -- published a stream of reports pointing to intensifying localized battles near Vuhledar, the Vremevskiy ledge, Soledar, Velyka Novosilka, and other possible locations.

"A second wave of attacks...Soledar itself is under heavy fire," Semyon Pegov, a Russian blogger notorious for often propagandistic claims, said in a post early on June 5. "There is a tough fight going on."

"The enemy is also conducting offensive operations in the Artyomovsk area," Aleksandr Kots, a reporter with the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid newspaper, said on June 5. "Under artillery fire: Soledar north of the city. Fighting is also taking place to the southwest of Bakhmut."

Artyomovsk is the Soviet-era name for Bakhmut.

"For 12 hours, fighting has continued near Velyka Novosilka. The enemy continues to be active in the direction of Novodonetske. In the [Vuhledar] direction, both sides are actively working their artillery," another blogger, Boris Rozhin, wrote on June 5.

Aleksandr Khodakovsky, who commands a notorious unit of Russian-backed forces in the Donetsk region, said early on June 5 that 30 Ukrainian armored vehicles were seen moving near Novodonetske and Vuhledar.

"As a result, a strike group that is currently operating in Novodonetske entered the line of attack almost unnoticed," he wrote on Telegram. "Having...crushed any communications, the enemy was able to put us in a difficult position. The situation is developing."

Khodakovsky later reported that Leopard tanks were seen near Velyka Novosilka. If true, it would be the first time that the formidable German-made tanks were being employed by Ukrainian forces.

Rybar, a Telegram channel reportedly run by a former Defense Ministry press officer, said that as of the afternoon of June 5, Ukrainian troops were battling Russian forces near the Vremyevsky ledge and Novodaryivka, including units from the 23rd and 31st Mechanized Brigades.

The channel also reported a convoy of 30 Ukrainian armed vehicles, reportedly from the 37th Naval Infantry Brigade, taking a village in the Novodonetske district.

"Now the fighting continues under heavy artillery fire," it said. "At the moment, about half of the village is under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces."

What Are The Ukrainians Saying?

Not surprisingly, they're not saying much.

However, in a Telegram post released on the evening of June 5, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar signaled that some "offensive actions" were under way and singled out Bakhmut.

"We are continuing the defense that we started on February 24, 2022," she said, referring to the day Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. "A defensive operation includes everything, including counteroffensive actions. Therefore, in some areas we are moving to offensive actions."

"In particular, the Bakhmut direction remains the epicenter of hostilities. There we are moving along a fairly wide front. We occupy the dominant heights," she wrote. "We are successful."

Ukraine has taken pains, and struggled at times, to control the information narrative surrounding the entire invasion.

Over the winter months, Ukraine and Russia slogged through a cold stalemate, with Russian forces making several efforts to seize the initiative, probing and pushing Ukraine lines.

One push near Vuhledar, which is south of Donetsk, in January and February resulted in disaster for several regular Russian units.

More recently, Russia had declared victory in Bakhmut, a Donetsk region city of questionable strategic value that was the focus of nearly 10 months of brutal urban warfare.

The city has been obliterated. Ukraine has not conceded its loss to the Russians.

Even before Bakhmut, Ukrainian officials were signaling that a major push was forthcoming.

Western analysts say it could be Kyiv's last real attempt to reclaim momentum on the battlefield and prove to its backers in Washington, Brussels, Berlin, and elsewhere that now it not the time for peace negotiations.

NATO, and even some non-NATO members, have been training Ukrainian forces in Western-style command and maneuver tactics. These are tactics not used by Ukraine's military command, whose senior leadership traditionally subscribe to Soviet-legacy doctrines and practices.

At least nine brigades -- typically consisting of between 3,000 and 5,000 troops -- have been trained by NATO, and Ukraine itself has reorganized the military to create at least four other new brigades as well. All are expected to be the vanguard of any major offensive operation.

Judging by the initial unverified reports, only a small number of Ukrainian units were engaged in active fighting as of June 5.

Well before the recent uptick in fighting, going back to the spring of 2022, Ukraine began conducting a low-level shadow war across the border inside Russia, using drones, artillery -- helicopters, in one instance -- to target sites like fuel depots and pipelines.

Ukrainian officials have winkingly denied responsibility for the cross-border attacks, claiming to have no knowledge of them, while also in some cases endorsing them.

Incursions involving armed groups have also increased drastically since the winter, and last month, a group of Ukrainian-aligned, anti-Russian fighters held off Russian forces in the Belgorod border region for nearly two days -- the largest such incursion to date.

On June 4, another group of Ukrainian-aligned fighters said they had captured several Russian soldiers and turned them over to Kyiv, as the regional governor acknowledged yet more fighting in the border region.

On May 27, Ukraine's military published a video narrated by the country's top military officer, General Valery Zaluzhniy, in which he intoned: "It's time to take back what is ours."

And in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on June 3, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was finally ready to launch the counteroffensive. "We strongly believe that we will succeed," he said.

Still, on June 4, Ukraine's defense minister published a video, in English, exhorting the general public to keep quiet about Ukrainian operations and the coming counteroffensive.

"The beginning will not be announced," the video said.

Is It Just Propaganda or 'Maskirovka'?

Given that "information operations" or "maskirovka" is an important historical weapon in Russian military operations, it's a good question to ask: Are the Russians seeking to throw off Ukrainian commanders and the wider public as to what is happening?

Maskirovka refers to any sort of deception, feint, or denial aimed at fooling an enemy in some way.

The strategic communications unit of Ukraine's armed forces warned on June 5 that Russian social networks and bloggers were preparing to "intensify the spread of unreliable information about the combat operations...in order to demoralize Ukrainians and mislead the community (including their own population)."

"Russian propagandists will spread false information about the counteroffensive, its directions, and the losses of the Ukrainian Army. Even if there is no counterattack," the unit said.

It's in Ukraine's interest to both downplay any Russian statements and to minimize independent information about battlefield movements: "operational security" or "op-sec." And it's in Russia's interest to both exaggerate its claims, not only to try and "demoralize" Ukrainians, but also to trumpet victories, which have been far and few between.

If It's Not THE Counteroffensive, What Is It?

The size and number of Ukrainian units reported in active combat as of June 5 appears to be relatively small: a handful of brigades, at most.

That would suggest these events do not constitute the actual counteroffensive that everyone has been anticipating.

Along with the drone attacks and the cross-border raids, it may suggest what military experts call "shaping" operations: an effort to probe Russian lines, to try and find weak points, or to force Russian commanders to move units from one location to another.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-counteroffensive- russia/32445738.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US, Allies Don't Have Many Patriots in Stock, Air Defense Top Priority for Kiev - Kirby

Sputnik News

20230605

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and its allies do not have many Patriot air defense systems in their inventory, but air defense remains a top priority for Ukraine, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

"I can assure you that air defense remains top of the list of the kinds of capabilities that we're going to continue to make sure Ukraine has," Kirby said when asked if the United States is considering sending more Patriot systems to Ukraine. "There's not a lot of them, either in our inventory or the inventory of nations that have purchased them, but again, I don't want to get ahead of where we are. We know air defense is a priority."

Earlier, media reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the only system capable of intercepting some of Russia's advanced missiles is the US-made Patriot air defense system, and that Ukraine needs 50 such systems.

In December 2022, the United States announced a $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, including a Patriot air defense system expected to arrive in the coming months. Germany and the Netherlands followed suit, also pledging Patriots to Ukraine.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainian Defense Chief Says Kiev Won't Use F-16 Jets in Summer Counteroffensive

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kiev will not deploy F-16 fighters in its possible counteroffensive this summer, as it requires time and training for pilots, engineers and technicians, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said.

"F-16 will not [be a] game-changer this summer ... it will take time to train our pilots and not only pilots. Training courses, we will arrange [them] with our partners for pilots and engineers, technicians," Reznikov told a Japanese broadcaster on Sunday.

Kiev will possibly be ready to deploy the aircraft this autumn or winter, the Ukrainian defense chief added.

In May, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that Kiev needed 48 F-16 fighters to return the 1991 borders. Reznikov, on his part, refused to comment on the number of fighters and possible terms of their delivery to Ukraine.

An international coalition has been recently formed to provide Ukraine with F-16s, the fighter jets of its choice, and training. Several countries have volunteered to host the training of Ukrainian pilots, but it has not yet been decided which of them would provide it and when.

Russia has called possible deliveries of F-16s another stage of escalation and warned that the equipment will become a legitimate target for Russian forces.

A Sputnik

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Russia Sees No Prospects for Extending Grain Deal - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20230605

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The next round of consultations on Russia-UN Memorandum within the grain deal framework will be held on June 9 in Geneva, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Monday.

"We have agreed on the next round of consultations in an interdepartmental format to take place in Geneva on the June 9," Vershinin told a briefing.

At the same time, the diplomat noted that Russia sees no prospects for extending the grain deal.

The Russian official also said that conditions for the relaunch of the ammonia pipeline put forward by Kiev had brought the situation to a deadlock.

"The conditions, unfortunately, are put forward by Kiev, we have spoken about this several times. And it has been said several times that ammonia is included in the agreements that were signed in Istanbul [Black Sea grain deal], which implies that it should be exported and serve as a mutually beneficial commercial enterprise. Restricting this, as Kiev does, with various kinds of requirements, unfortunately, is very bad and has already led and is leading the situation to a dead end," Vershinin said.

However, the official noted that vessel inspections as part of the grain deal have been resumed.

"As far as we know, the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is working to overcome all the problems that arise, based on the procedural rules that were approved last year and assume that there will be a consensus solution to the problems that arise. Now, these inspections have been resumed," Vershinin told reporters.

The grain deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye in July 2022 to facilitate the export of Ukrainian agricultural products from Black Sea ports during the hostilities, which began in February that year. The package agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding between Russia and the UN to unblock Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea, which, according to Moscow, has not been implemented due to Western sanctions.

In mid-May, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the grain deal had been extended unchanged until July 17, but that if all the problematic issues of the initiative were not resolved within two months, it would be terminated after July 17.

A Sputnik

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Brussels Probes Whether Weapons it Sent to Kiev Were Used in Terror Attack Against Russia

Sputnik News

20230605

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Monday that he instructed the special services to investigate the issue of the use of Belgian weapons by a Ukrainian sabotage group in the attack on Russia's Belgorod Region.

Last week, Belgian media reported that the Belgian Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry will turn to Kiev "at the first opportunity" for an explanation due to the use of Belgian-made weapons in the Belgorod Region of by a Ukrainian sabotage and intelligence group.

"We have asked our intelligence services and the military to analyze this, to conduct appropriate contacts. I have no confirmation yet, we are studying the situation," De Croo told a Belgian broadcaster.

There are clear rules that regulate the use of weapons transferred to Ukraine, the official added.

"There are clear rules a our weapons, which are supplied to Ukraine, are intended exclusively for defense purposes on the territory of Ukraine. These rules apply to Belgian weapons and weapons of other European countries. We ask Ukrainians to clarify the situation," De Croo said.

At the same time, the prime minister did not comment on the consequences for Ukraine if the use of such weapons in the Belgorod Region is confirmed.

"First, let us try to establish the facts a do these weapons relate to the one that was transferred to Ukraine by Belgium for defense... I do not want to answer hypothetical questions yet, but there are clear rules for the use of Belgian weapons," De Croo concluded.

A Sputnik

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The enemy knows that Ukraine will win - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

5 June 2023 - 21:55

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

A report on the day.

First of all, I am grateful to each of our warriors, to all our defenders who gave us the news we expect. Bakhmut direction - well done, warriors!

We see how hysterically Russia perceives every step we take there, every position we take.

The enemy knows that Ukraine will win. They see it. They feel it thanks to your strikes, soldiers, and in particular in Donetsk region. Thank you for that!

Today, I would like to particularly celebrate several combat units of ours. These are the 5th separate assault brigade and the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade, which skillfully, decisively and efficiently defend our positions, destroying the occupiers and, most importantly, moving forward.

Thank you, warriors! Thank you all!

Second, we continue our work on sanctions against Russia.

Although the global trend is clear - Russia will lose this war, Russia's rulers continue to deny reality. They continue to try to deceive the world, to circumvent sanctions, to produce more weapons, to ensure more resources and people are spent on this aggression.

We are preparing our steps, new steps to further limit Russia's military potential. Everyone in the world who helps the terrorist state circumvent sanctions in one way or another, everyone in the world whom Russia uses for the supply of weapons, components, equipment - each such entity must feel the full force of the free world.

And we will ensure this.

It is a common task of the world to stop terror. And the main prerequisite for fulfilling this task is to stop any ways in which terrorists are still trying to get something for themselves.

More news to come soon.

Third. Today I held a long and very informative meeting on the transformation of our country and our lives - now and after the victory.

Objectively, there are fundamental security, economic, energy, technological, and simply human issues that require full and effective answers.

These answers will determine what Ukraine will be like and what life will be like for Ukrainian children when they become adults and inherit the state from the current generations.

A strong state, a free state, a modern state, a state pleasant to live in.

We are laying the foundation for this now. Everyone who fights for Ukraine. Everyone who works for Ukraine. Everyone who helps.

For example, today the government, the Office, and the National Security and Defense Council discussed the energy sector and agricultural production in a broad sense. Not only restoring what Ukraine had, but developing and expanding it, taking into account Ukraine's global role for the food and energy security of Europe and the world.

We will present all these details. It will be thorough. In particular, we will present them at the London International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will take place this month.

And, of course, we do not stop our international work with partners for a single day.

Today the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was in Kyiv. A good meeting, useful negotiations and a new strengthening of our countries and our security.

I thanked for all the defense support provided to Ukraine, and especially for the Storm Shadow missiles, which have proven to be extremely effective on the frontline. We continued the conversation about a new coalition to protect life - the Patriot Coalition. Step by step, we are moving with our partners to make this coalition as effective in protecting life and freedom as all our other defense coalitions that have already been established.

We also talked with Mr. Secretary of State about preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The Summit must be meaningful. Then it will become historic.

Thank you to everyone who helps Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who is bringing the defeat of Russian terror closer!

Glory to our warriors!

Glory to all our heroes!

Glory to Ukraine!

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The key strategic security goal of Ukraine and Europe is to prevent Russia from striking again - Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview with Rzeczpospolita

President of Ukraine

5 June 2023 - 20:37

To ensure the security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe, the world must unite and take steps to make Russia unable to strike again. A pause in the current war is unacceptable, as it may allow the aggressor to prepare, recover and start the war again. This was stated by Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview with the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita.

"The key strategic security goal for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe is to prevent Russia from striking again. First, Russia must be completely defeated, and Ukraine must return to its 1991 borders," he said.

The second condition is the transformation of the Russian political elite, because without it, the war will never end.

"If the current regime in Russia survives, they will take an operational pause for a while and learn from their mistakes. As a result, we will get a much more aggressive state, better prepared for the next stage of the war, which will be waged not only in Ukraine. It is about a number of other countries. Moscow sees Poland as one of its key adversaries because it does not give up and supports Ukraine," the Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office noted.

In addition, as Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized, it is necessary to ensure that Russia won't be obsessed with revanchism in the future.

"The Russian economy will have to take into account the payment of war reparations to Ukraine over the next 50 years. It is also necessary to completely limit their military potential and impose severe restrictions on the Russian military industry. Russia's possession of long-range missiles should be limited, and it should not be left with a nuclear arsenal," the Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized.

He expressed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime will not listen to any arguments and will not abandon their plans to destroy Ukraine, and any contacts with him legitimize the crimes he commits.

At the same time, Mykhailo Podolyak noted that Ukraine does not intend to interfere in the internal political affairs of the Russian Federation and enter Russian territory. In his opinion, changes in Russia should occur as a natural reaction of Russian society to the outcome of this war.

The Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office reminded that the Legion "Freedom of Russia" and the "Russian Volunteer Corps", which are fighting on the side of Ukraine and have already crossed the Russian border several times, include only Russian citizens.

"What is happening in Russia is an interesting phenomenon. The Kremlin demonstrates that it has no control over the internal space at all. They insisted that they had everything under control. But it is already clear that the Russian authorities cannot respond effectively to new challenges," he said.

Mykhailo Podolyak noted that Russia is very fragile and can be destroyed by the actions of dozens of active groups. According to him, there are people in Russia who want to fight Putin not by participating in peaceful protests and waving ribbons, but, for example, by striking at critical infrastructure.

According to him, after about three to six months of full-scale war, Ukraine realized that Russia is poorly governed, corrupt, and fragile. It can be attacked from within, because despite its powerful propaganda, Russian counterintelligence is not coping with its tasks.

"Russia is one big Potemkin village. They stole their own country. And the Kremlin propaganda claimed that it was a powerful state with a strong military industry, a formidable army and well-organized services. Ukraine has destroyed this myth. There is a lot of chaos there. The events in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov and Bryansk oblasts show that local authorities do not control the situation there," said Mykhailo Podolyak.

When asked whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive is already underway, the Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office said that preparations for it are underway and resources are being accumulated.

"The shelling of Russian logistics bases in the occupied territories of Ukraine is intensifying. This is called preparing the battlefield," he added.

Mykhailo Podolyak noted that Ukraine wants to receive F-16 fighter jets as soon as possible to strengthen its defense. To this end, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has created an informal coalition that includes the leaders of partner countries.

"The President has convinced them that we will not close our skies without F-16s. Political decisions on the supply of F-16s have already been made and they will be delivered to Ukraine. About 10-12 countries have declared their participation. Logistics issues are currently being coordinated, we need about 40-60 units. They will protect our skies, for example, from Russian tactical aircraft. Their planes fly to our border and fire missiles at us. We are also moving forward with long-range missiles, which are currently scarce, and not all countries are ready to supply them to us. We are talking about this with our American partners," he said.

Speaking about Ukraine's expectations from the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office expressed his belief that the Summit should clearly dot the i's and cross the t's and make unequivocal statements that Ukraine is an integral part of the European security architecture.

"We understand that the war does not allow us to officially settle our relations, but we need to hear that this will happen immediately after the end of the conflict. I think it will be a natural process, which is now being moderated by history," summarized Mykhailo Podolyak.

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President of Ukraine had a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom

President of Ukraine

5 June 2023 - 17:45

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom James Cleverly who is on a visit to Ukraine.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of State highly appreciated the assistance provided by the United Kingdom to Ukraine in the context of countering full-scale Russian aggression.

"We are extremely grateful for the significant support that the UK has provided and is providing to Ukraine. Over the past weeks, we have held talks with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. There was a direct dialogue and we reached very important agreements," the President said.

He emphasized the importance of the UK's decisions to provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles and to train Ukrainian pilots.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Russian aggressor has recently significantly intensified its missile terror against Ukraine, so our country needs to quickly and significantly strengthen its air defense systems.

"It is important that we have started discussions on the Patriot coalition. And the UK is part of these discussions," he said.

The parties had a detailed exchange of views on Ukraine's expectations from the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The Head of State emphasized that it is important for our country to receive a clear signal on the prospects of membership in the Alliance.

"This is a motivational factor for our army," the President said.

The parties also discussed the promotion of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the preparation of a global summit on its implementation. The parties agreed on the importance of involving as many states as possible, including the Global South, in this event.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and James Cleverly discussed preparations for the London International Conference on Ukraine's Reconstruction. It was emphasized that the conference should bring practical results and become an important political signal of support for our country.

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Latest in Ukraine: Ukraine Intensifies Attacks Along Border Lines

By VOA News June 05, 2023

Latest developments:

In a meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Kyiv on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed preparations for a NATO summit and Ukraine's plan for ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosted talks Monday with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen that included discussion on support for Ukraine and training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets.

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of a village near Bakhmut, Ukraine, after his Wagner paramilitary group handed its positions there to the regular Russian troops.

The European Union restricted until September 15 Ukrainian grain imports to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, but it allowed transit through them for export elsewhere, including to other EU countries.

Fighting is raging in several sections of Ukraine's front line in the Zaporizhzhia region and Donetsk Oblast on Monday, signaling that the long-expected Ukrainian assault may be underway.

During an interview in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine is weapon-ready for its much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia but remained mum as to whether it already has a or when it will a begin.

Kuleba expressed confidence that Ukraine's planned assault against Russia will turn the tide of the war and will allow Ukraine to reclaim its territories from Russia. He said such a victory will usher Ukraine into NATO.

Membership in the military alliance would "probably" only be possible for Ukraine after the end of active hostilities, he said.

Ukrainian forces have been increasing offensive operations against Russia on the border of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk provinces. But Kyiv dismissed Russian reports that the counteroffensive has begun and that the Russian military foiled a major Ukrainian offensive in the region of Donetsk.

"We do not have such information, and we do not comment on any kind of fake," a spokesperson for the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said in response to a question from the Reuters news agency.

In a tweet, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak cautioned against trusting Russian information on the fighting in Ukraine.

"Russian news reports have long since become a separate virtual meta-universe," he wrote.

Battles over Bakhmut

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukrainian wins around Bakhmut and attributed Russian claims of an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to Russian histrionics.

"We see how hysterically Russia perceives every step we take there, every position we take," Zelenskyy said.

"The enemy knows that Ukraine will win. They see it. They feel it thanks to your strikes, soldiers, and in particular in Donetsk region," he added, addressing Ukrainian fighters directly.

The Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut were also confirmed Monday by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Wagner boss said that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of a village near Bakhmut after his mercenary group had handed its positions there to Russian troops.

"Disgrace!" Prigozhin exclaimed in an audio message released on the messaging app Telegram.

"Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away," he said, urging Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to the front to rally the troops.

Denis Pushilin, the top Moscow-backed official in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region, which includes Bakhmut, told Russian state television the situation on the city's flanks was "under control" but "very difficult."

US-Danish meeting

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the White House for talks on support for Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets.

"When war has returned to our continent, in Europe, it is so important that our allies and our friends a that we stick together, that we are united," Frederiksen said in the Oval Office. "And we have truly been for now 15 months, in Ukraine. We will, of course, continue, from a Danish perspective, our very strong, strong support to Ukraine. But I'm looking forward to work even closer with you on defense and securities."

When asked about the possibility that she may become the first woman to lead the NATO alliance as its secretary-general, Fredericksen said she did not want to speculate on the matter.

She was also asked by journalists about a Vatican-led peace mission, saying, "I think all of us are very interested in peace," but "it takes two to tango," and "we still need a signal from Russia."

White House correspondent Anita Powell contributed to this report. Some information in this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Latest in Ukraine: Russia Says It Thwarted Ukrainian Attack in Donetsk

By VOA News June 05, 2023

Latest developments:

U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting talks Monday with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen that are expected to include discussion of support for Ukraine and training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth generation fighter jets.

The Financial Times reports Western countries worry that China and Russia could use tensions in the Arctic region to grow their influence there. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States paused their cooperation with Russia as members of the Arctic Council last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia said Monday its forces had repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region of southern Ukraine.

Russia's defense ministry said the Ukrainian side's goal was to try to break through what they considered the weakest area along the front lines, but that it "had no success."

The Ukrainian attack, Russia said, included six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions.

Donetsk is one the Russia-occupied areas that President Vladimir Putin claimed to annex last year in a move that was rejected by the international community.

It was unclear if the reported Ukrainian attack was part of a long-planned counter-offensive by Ukraine to try to reclaim areas Russian forces seized after launching a full-scale invasion early last year.

Ukraine's military said during a daily report that there were 29 combat clashes in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukrainian children

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his nightly address Sunday to remember the children who have died "as the result of Russian aggression" since 2014, including a 2-year-old girl in the Dnipro region late Saturday.

"Today in our country is the day of remembrance for children who died as a result of Russian aggression. Since 2014. Children who would have been alive if a bunch of thugs in the Kremlin, in Moscow, hadn't considered themselves chieftains who allegedly had the right to decide the fate of nations," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said that 485 children have lost their lives from Russian attacks.

"This is a number that we can officially confirm, knowing the data of each child. The real number is much higher," he said.

He also noted the 19,505 Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia and are still "in the hands of the enemy."

The United Nations says that around 1,000 other Ukrainian children have been wounded.

Russian soldiers captured

Also Sunday, a pro-Ukraine group of Russian partisans alleged it had captured several Russian soldiers during a cross-border raid into southern Russia and would hand them over to Ukrainian authorities, Reuters reported.

The Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, a pro-Ukraine group of Russian partisans, have claimed responsibility for a flurry of cross-border attacks into Russia's Belgorod region.

In a video released on the Freedom of Russia's channel on the messaging app Telegram, a man identifying himself as the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps showed what appeared to be around a dozen Russian soldiers being held captive, two of them lying on hospital beds.

The commander demanded a meeting with the governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, in exchange for the captives.

"Today until 17:00 you have the opportunity to communicate without weapons and take home two Russian citizens, ordinary soldiers whom you and your political leadership sent to the slaughter," read a joint statement posted along with the video.

Three hours later, Gladkov agreed to meet with the group provided the soldiers were still alive.

But in a later video, the Corps member said Gladkov had not turned up at the designated meeting place.

"We have already decided the fate of these guys," he said. "They will be transferred to the Ukrainian side for the exchange procedure."

Ukraine has denied direct involvement in the cross-border attacks.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters

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Russia says thwarted another Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, destroyed 8 Leopard tanks

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 06 June 2023 2:05 AM

Russia's Defense Ministry says its forces have foiled another major Ukrainian offensive in the Donetsk region, destroying a large number of armored vehicles supplied to Kiev by its Western allies.

"Having suffered heavy losses the day before, the Kiev regime reorganized the remnants of the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades into separate consolidated units, which continued offensive operations," the ministry said on its Telegram channel early Tuesday.

"A complex fire defeat was inflicted by [Russian] army forces, assault and operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery, as well as heavy flamethrower systems," it added.

The ministry noted that while thwarting the attack, Russian forces destroyed 28 tanks, including eight main battle Leopard tanks supplied to Ukraine by its Western allies, as well as 109 armored vehicles.

It concluded by saying that, along with the previous offensive by Ukrainian forces, their total losses now amount to 1,500 troops.

The new development came after earlier on Monday, Russia said its forces had successfully repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack in Donetsk, killing hundreds of Kiev's troops. It also released a video showing the Russian military blowing up several Ukrainian armored vehicles in a field.

"As a result of the skillful and competent actions of the Eastern grouping of troops, the losses of the [Ukrainian] armed forces amounted to more than 250 personnel, 16 tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored fighting vehicles," it said at the time.

The ministry, however, stopped short of saying whether the attack was the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, which Kiev has been promising for months.

In a promotional video released on Sunday, Ukraine's Defense Ministry urged silence concerning any military action by the country's troops, saying, "The beginning will not be announced."

Russia began the war that it calls a "special military operation" on its neighbor last February. Moscow says it has launched the operation to protect Ukraine's pro-Russian population in southern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk against persecution by the Kiev regime.

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DG Grossi Opens Board Meeting with Updates on Ukraine, Iran, Naval Nuclear Propulsion and IAEA's Impact

Joanne Liou, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

5 Jun 2023

In his opening statement to the IAEA's Board of Governors, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, "We took a step in the right direction" with regards to the situation around Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine. Last week, the Director General briefed the United Nations Security Council and received support for the five basic principles he established to prevent a nuclear accident at ZNPP, which includes that there should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant.

The five basic principles aim to prevent and avoid a nuclear accident with serious radiological consequences, he told the 35-member Board. "We hope to continue our work towards the full stabilization of the situation there." Mr Grossi's full statement is available here.

"Diplomatic and technical engagement will continue with all sides, and we hope to count on your full support in doing that," he said.

The IAEA has been monitoring the situation and assisting Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022. There have been 12 expert missions to Ukraine, of which Mr Grossi led seven of them, including two to ZNPP. In addition to ZNPP, IAEA experts maintain an ongoing presence at Ukraine's other nuclear power plants - Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine - and the Chornobyl site.

Verification and monitoring in Iran

The Director General presented his latest report on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has not implemented its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), since February 2021. The report indicates that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium has risen by over a quarter in three months, Mr Grossi stated.

He reminded the Board that earlier this year in March, the IAEA and Iran agreed to proceed with further appropriate monitoring and verification measures. "Some progress has been made but not at the level, pace and sustained rhythm that I would expect," Mr Grossi said. "The inventory of enriched uranium is growing at a very fast pace, and the activities are also growing. So, the presence of the IAEA should be commensurate with that."

Naval nuclear propulsion

Mr Grossi also discussed technical consultations in the context of naval nuclear propulsion and presented two reports - one on Brazil and one on Australia.

"We, at the IAEA, take these highly complex technical matters with utmost seriousness, and we have engaged in consultations with all sides involved in these projects because we need to provide technically credible answers to this situation," Mr Grossi said, highlighting the neutral and technical objective of the IAEA. "This is only the beginning of what is going to be admittedly a long process."

Mr Grossi previously informed the Board that the use of nuclear material in naval nuclear propulsion was foreseen by the legal framework and requires arrangementsunder countries' respective safeguards agreements and the development of appropriate Agency safeguards approaches.

IAEA impact

In 2022, the Agency supported 149 countries and territories through its technical cooperation programme. The main areas of focus last year were food and agriculture, health and nutrition, and safety and security.

Furthermore, IAEA initiatives are maximizing the contribution of nuclear science and technology to the achievement of sustainable development goals that help improve the health and prosperity of millions of people. "We should never forget that hundreds of millions deserve to live better," Mr Grossi said. Projects like Rays of Hope, Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) and NUTEC Plastics require States' support and are also an essential, indispensable part of the IAEA's work, he added.

The IAEA partners with countries and the private sector to implement such initiatives: Rays of Hope helps low- and middle-income countries establish and improve access to radiation-based medical technologies; ZODIAC supports countries' efforts to address diseases that spread from animals to humans - known as zoonotic diseases; and NUTEC Plastics integrates nuclear and isotopic techniques to address plastic pollution.

The IAEA Board is meeting this week in Vienna. Among the topics Mr Grossi highlighted in his opening speech, the Board's agenda also includes the 2022 Annual Report, strengthening the Agency's technical cooperation activities, nuclear verification and the Safeguards Implementation Report.

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TOKYO, June 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Size accounted for USD 105.9 Billion in 2022 and is estimated to achieve a market size of USD 224.1 Billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2032.



Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Highlights and Stats:

In 2021, the worldwide Biopharmaceutical Logistics market was valued at USD 105.9 Billion, and it is projected to expand to USD 224.1 Billion by 2030. The market is expected to experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.9% during this period.

North America market value occupied more than USD 44.5 billion in 2022

Asia-Pacific biopharmaceutical logistics market growth will record a CAGR of more than 8% from 2023 to 2032

Among product type, the non-cold chain logistics sub-segment generated over US$ 83.7 billion revenue in 2022

Based service type, the warehousing and storage sub-segment generated around 43% share in 2022



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Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Report Coverage:

Market Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Size 2022 USD 105.9 Billion Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Forecast 2032 USD 224.1 Billion Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market CAGR During 2023 - 2032 7.9% Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Analysis Period 2020 - 2032 Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Base Year 2022 Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Forecast Data 2023 - 2032 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Service Type, And By Geography Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled Agility, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, DB Schenker, DHL International GmbH, Fedex Corporation, Kerry Logistics Network Ltd, Kuehne and Nagel, Panalpina World Transport Ltd., SF Express, and United Parcel Service of America, Inc. Report Coverage

Market Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Competitive Analysis, Player Profiling, Regulation Analysis

Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Analysis:

The biopharmaceutical logistics market is an essential component of the pharmaceutical industry, responsible for the safe and timely transportation of high-value and temperature-sensitive drugs, vaccines, and biologics. The global market is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by factors such as increasing demand for biologics, gene therapies, and personalized medicines, rising healthcare expenditure, and the growth of the e-commerce industry. However, the market faces several challenges such as stringent regulations, complex supply chain networks, high operational costs, and the need for specialized infrastructure and equipment. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has also significantly impacted the market, leading to disruptions in the supply chain, shipping delays, and increased demand for cold chain logistics. Despite these challenges, the market continues to grow, driven by technological advancements such as the use of blockchain and AI in logistics, increasing demand for personalized medicines, and the adoption of advanced transportation modes and cold chain technologies. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve and expand, the biopharmaceutical logistics market is expected to play a critical role in ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of life-saving drugs and treatments.

Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Trends:

Remote Monitoring: Remote monitoring technologies are being used to monitor the temperature and other conditions during the transportation of biopharmaceuticals.

Personalized Medicine: The rise of personalized medicine is driving demand for customized logistics solutions that cater to the specific needs of individual patients.

Automated Systems: Automated systems are being used in biopharmaceutical logistics to improve efficiency, accuracy, and speed of operations.

Cold Chain Packaging: Innovative cold chain packaging solutions are being developed to reduce waste, improve sustainability, and ensure product safety.

Use of Drones: Drones are being tested for use in biopharmaceutical logistics to reduce delivery times and improve accessibility in remote areas.

Real-Time Tracking: Real-time tracking technologies are being used to monitor the location and condition of biopharmaceuticals during transportation, enabling timely intervention if needed.

Sustainability: There is a growing focus on sustainability in biopharmaceutical logistics, with efforts to reduce carbon emissions, waste, and improve efficiency.

Compliance: Stringent regulations and compliance requirements are a key factor shaping the biopharmaceutical logistics industry, with companies investing in technology and processes to ensure compliance.

Outsourcing: The trend of outsourcing logistics functions is growing, with companies seeking to partner with third-party logistics providers that offer specialized expertise and capabilities.

Lean Logistics: The adoption of lean logistics principles is helping companies to optimize their supply chain processes and reduce costs.

Growth Dynamics in the Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market:

Demand for temperature-controlled logistics solutions due to the rise in the number of biopharmaceutical products that require strict temperature monitoring during transportation and storage.

The growth of the biopharmaceutical industry, which requires specialized logistics services to transport and store its sensitive and valuable products.

Technological advancements, including the development of IoT-based temperature monitoring and tracking devices, which have improved supply chain efficiency and reduced product spoilage.

The growth of the e-commerce sector, which has led to an increase in direct-to-patient deliveries of biopharmaceutical products and related logistics services.

The growing trend of outsourcing logistics services to third-party logistics providers (3PLs) by biopharmaceutical companies.

The increasing use of data analytics and real-time monitoring to optimize supply chain operations and reduce costs.

The development of advanced transportation modes, such as air and sea freight, which have improved the speed and efficiency of biopharmaceutical logistics.



Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market: Reasons for Slowdown

Stringent regulatory requirements and compliance issues could increase the time and cost of product development and distribution.

The high cost of logistics services, including transportation, storage, and handling, could affect the profit margins of manufacturers and distributors.

The risk of product damage, theft, and loss during transportation and storage could lead to financial losses and damage to brand reputation.

Economic instability and geopolitical uncertainties could affect global trade and disrupt the supply chain.

Inefficient and outdated logistics infrastructure and systems could hamper the speed and efficiency of product distribution.

Shortage of raw materials and components could disrupt production and distribution of biopharmaceutical products.

Cybersecurity risks and data breaches could compromise sensitive information and disrupt supply chain operations.

The complexity of international trade regulations and customs procedures could increase the time and cost of cross-border shipments.

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https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/table-of-content/biopharmaceutical-logistics-market

Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Segmentation:

Based on Type of product

Non-Cold Chain Logistics

Cold Chain Logistics

Based on Type of service

Transportation Overland Sea Freight Air Freight

Warehousing and Storage

Other

Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Regional Analysis:

Biopharmaceutical Logistics market share for the North American region is the largest worldwide in revenue terms, due to a well-established healthcare infrastructure, rising number of biopharmaceutical companies, and increasing investments in research and development activities.

Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market share for the Asia-Pacific region is experiencing the fastest growth, due to increasing investments in the healthcare sector and rising government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure.

Europe is an important market for Biopharmaceutical Logistics, due to the presence of major pharmaceutical companies and increasing demand for biopharmaceutical products.

The MEA and South American regional markets have a smaller Biopharmaceutical Logistics market share, driven by increasing investments in the healthcare sector and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Latin America is expected to witness significant growth due to increasing awareness about biopharmaceutical products and the rising demand for personalized medicines.

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Key Players in the Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market:

AmerisourceBergen Corporation, DHL International GmbH, FedEx Corporation, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Panalpina World Transport Ltd., XPO Logistics, Inc., DB Schenker, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc., C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Agility Logistics Pvt. Ltd., SF Express Co., Ltd., Kerry Logistics Network Limited, DSV Panalpina A/S, CEVA Logistics AG, Cardinal Health, Inc., Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., Deutsche Post DHL Group, Marken, Nippon Express Co., Ltd., Dachser SE, Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd., Movianto GmbH, Versacold Logistics Services, Bio Pharma Logistics and LifeConEx, LLC.

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NEWARK, Del, June 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The bioplastics for packaging market is forecast to expand at 10.3% CAGR over the estimated time period, as per FMIs analysis. The industrys size is predicted to reach a market value of US$ 11.6 billion in 2023.



The demand for bioplastics solutions to package products is expected to be driven by government initiatives to lower ecological waste, particularly plastic packaging waste, and better the waste management processes. Governments across the globe are creating restrictions on the use of traditional plastics, which is pushing the growth of bioplastic as a steady substitute in the packaging industry.

Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6087

Developing economies, such as India, strongly rely on single-use plastics. These economies have been observing a vigorous phase-out of single-use plastics due to legislation surrounding the ban on single-use plastics. The country is projected to observe heavy developments in the bioplastics for packaging industry, in line with the goals mentioned in the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

Rigid bioplastics are utilized in the packaging of cosmetic products like lipsticks, compact powders, creams, etc. The extensive application of cosmetics makes way for heightened demand for bioplastics for packaging.

Due to the increasing buzz around bio-plastics, several bioplastics application technologies are being found in developed countries with the aid of substantial research and development funding. For example, Brown University students created a bioplastic Fette cup to swap solo cups, in July 2021. The solo cups are composed of number six plastic, which is toxic to the environment.

Top Highlights for Packaging Market:

The Europe region obtained a 36% value share in 2022.

The North America bioplastics for packaging industry acquired a 30.5% market share in 2022.

The United States bioplastics for packaging industry gained a total of 26.8% value share in the year 2022.

The German bioplastics for packaging industry acquired a 6% market share in 2022.

The Japanese bioplastics for packaging industry procured a 5.7% market share in 2022.

The Australian bioplastics for packaging industry obtained a market share of 1% in the year 2022.

The Chinese bioplastics for packaging industry are projected to expand at a prominent CAGR of 12.2% from 2023 to 2033.

The Indian bioplastics for packaging industry are anticipated to register a CAGR of 10.9% in the forecast period.

The United Kingdom bioplastics for packaging industry accounted for a CAGR of 4.9% over the estimated time frame.

On the basis of material, Bio PET is expected to gain more than 30.1% market share in 2023.

Based on end use, the food and beverages segment is expected to gain an attractive 78.9% market share in 2023.



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Innovation Watch: Key Developments in this Market:

LG Chem Ltd., which is a large Korean chemical company, in August 2022 revealed its collaboration with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM), which is a United States-based food processing company. Both companies came together to construct two manufacturing plants in Illinois, the United States. The production units produce biodegradable plastics that are widely used in food packaging applications.

Vikas Ecotech Limited officially declared in January 2022 its plans to devote in the eco-friendly BioPlastics (PHA) technology. The company is in the advanced stage of finalizing a technology joint venture or tie-up with Aurapha Private Ltd. to manufacture biodegradable plastics. The solution is to deploy biodegradable plastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

Key Players are:

Braskem S.A

Corbion N.V.

Novamont S.p.A

NatureWorks LLC

Amcor Plc

Mondi Group

Tetra Pak International SA

ALPLA-Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG

Berry Global Inc.

Uflex Ltd.

Toray Industries Inc.

BARBIER GROUP

Jolybar Group

Biome Bioplastics Limited

Plastipak Holdings, Inc.

Virent, Inc.

SECOS Group Limited

Evo & Co.

Market by Categorization:

By material, bioplastics for packaging market is segmented as:

Bio PET

Bio PA

Bio PE

Bio-PP

Bio-PS

PLA

PHA

Starch Blends

Others (PCL, PBAT etc.)



By application, bioplastics for packaging industry is segmented as:

Bottles

Cups

Trays

Clamshell

Films

Bags

Pouch & Sachet

Others (Jars, Cans, etc.)

By end use, bioplastics for packaging industry is segmented as:

Food & Beverages

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

Consumer Goods

Industrial Goods

Others (Automotive, Electrical & Electronics)

By region, bioplastics for packaging industry is segmented as:

North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific except for Japan

Japan

Middle East & Africa



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Table of Content (ToC):

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Overview

3. Market Background

4. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033

5. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Material

6. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Application

7. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By End-use

8. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Region

9. North America Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country

10. Latin America Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Country

Complete TOC: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-6087

Explore Trending Reports of Packaging:

FMCG Packaging Market Demand: Demand in the global FMCG packaging market is projected to grow at a 5.8% CAGR over the forecast period, in comparison with the 4.0% CAGR registered between 2018 to 2022.

Beverage Packaging Market Analysis: According to the study conducted by FMI, beverage packaging sales will rise 1.3 times from the base year value over the forecast period, generating lucrative investment opportunities for the manufacturers. A large share of 37.3% of the global beverage packaging market is expected to come from the Asia Pacific region by 2022.

Flexible Packaging Paper Market Size: The flexible packaging paper market is expected to grow considerably due to the increasing adoption of eco-friendly packaging products by consumers. Flexible packaging paper is widely preferred due to its properties such as lightweight, cost-effectiveness and durability.

Biodegradable Packaging Market Share: The biodegradable packaging market is projected to bolster the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging in various end use industries. A new forecast by FMI analysis estimates that biodegradable packaging sales will augment from 2022 to 2032 and is anticipated to create a growth opportunity of US$ 1.8 Billion.

Protective Packaging Market Outlook: According to the FMI study, China is expected to account for around 54% of the Asia Pacific excluding Japan's protective packaging market in 2033. End-use industries such as automotive, electronics, and chemical in China are slated to increase protective packaging demand.

Dairy Products Packaging Market Growth: The global dairy product packaging market has seen volatile market growth during the last few years due to sluggish growth on the part of global dairy production and unbalanced supply & demand. Due to the large inventory of milk in powdered form keeping overall profitability margins low, producers are reluctant to make fresh investments.

Next Generation Packaging Market Sales: Future Market Insights predict a comparison and review analysis of the dynamics of the next-generation packaging market, which is principally subjected to an array of industry factors along with a few definite influences concerning the high cost of installation of next-generation packaging technology expected to curb market growth.

Meat Packaging Market Volume: Meat packaging is a type of packaging used to protect meat and meat products from mechanical, chemical, and biological hazards during processing, storage, and distribution. It is typically made from materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride, and helps end users significantly improve the shelf life of meat products while retaining the original characteristics of the packaged items.

Liquid Carton Packaging Market Value: Sales of liquid carton packaging are expected to rise as demand for packaged foods and beverages increases, as is the ease of carrying and transporting them. In addition to this, demand for liquid carton packaging is rising on account of packaging advancements and the recyclable characteristic of cartons.

Plastic Healthcare Packaging Market Types: Demand for plastic healthcare packaging in Germany is expected to rise at nearly 3.8% CAGR over the forecast period. Germany is well known for its technology-driven industry and its developments in the healthcare sector owing to the stringent government rules and initiatives.

About Future Market Insights (FMI):

Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, Stevie Award - recipient market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10 years.

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Dublin, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Reactive Adhesive Market - Forecasts from 2023 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The reactive adhesive market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.46% to reach US$13.957 billion in 2028 from US$9.621 billion in 2021.



Reactive adhesives are hardening agents with elements and compounds that enable chemical bonding between different surface structures. These adhesives are extensively used between components and sublayers that require prominent longevity and resilient strength to provide smooth functioning between interlinked components. Therefore, reactive adhesives are used across several industries such as transportation, healthcare, renewable energy, aerospace, and construction.

Reactive adhesive products can be classified into single-component and multiple-component adhesives. In a single-component adhesive, the adhesive chemically bonds with an exterior source of energy whereas, in a multiple-component adhesive, the chemical bonding is usually amid two or more items including hardening agents and resins. For instance, epoxy resin adhesive is a two-component reactive adhesive used in glass products, timber products, and ceramics. Therefore, the extensive application of the reactive adhesive market across different industries will result in significant growth of the reactive adhesive market over the forecast period.



Market Drivers

Expansion of the building and construction sector



Due to their ability to tolerate drastic environmental and climate conditions and durability, reactive adhesives are implemented in constructing exterior structures. Polyurethane adhesives in hot melt form are usually employed in construction procedures to increase the viscosity and strength of constructed buildings.

The advancement of the real estate sectors fueled by the increasing urbanization rates across the world is resulting in the expansion of civil infrastructure across several developed and developing economies. For instance, the Associated General Contractors of America reported that the construction sector in the US contributes to the development of approximately US$1.8 trillion in infrastructure on an annual basis. Therefore, the increase in building activities across the world will result in a greater demand for reactive adhesives.



Growing demand for renewable energy sources



Due to the rising environmental concerns surrounding the use of coal-based energy sources, the renewable energy sector is witnessing high demand. For instance, the aggregate installed wind energy sources in Brazil reached 22 GW in 2022 according to the global wind energy report 2022.

Epoxy and other hybrid composition reactive adhesives are used to provide renewable energy-generating products such as wind turbines with the ability to resist and tolerate high sunlight radiations and extreme climates. Reactive adhesives must be applied in precise volumes and areas to ensure their effective functioning. Therefore, the rising demand for sustainable energy sources and the expansion of the construction sector will propel the growth of the reactive adhesive market over the forecast period.



The ill effects of reactive adhesives on health could limit the growth of the reactive adhesive market.



Certain resins used in reactive adhesives have been scientifically proven to have a negative impact on human health. For instance, long exposure to epoxy resins could lead to the generation of autoimmunity and developmental disorders in humans. Since they contain a toxic element named BPA, they also pose the threat of inducing cancer and asthma issues. In addition, excessive exposure to polyurethanes could result in cancer of different forms including lymphatic, leukemia, and breast cancers.

They have also been proven to negatively affect the working of the neurological system and genetic structure in humans. Since these resins are employed in the manufacture of domestic household goods such as tables, couches, and mattresses, the consumers could be harmed by such health dangers. Hence, this could result in a restrained growth of the reactive adhesive market.



Market Developments:



In May 2022, Bostik Company introduced two new products, SG6520 and SG6518 to its Supergrip product line. These new products are polyurethane reactive adhesives applied in the carpentry and woodwork sectors.



In February 2022, a leading chemical manufacturing company, Arkema declared its acquisition of Shanghai Zhiguan Polymer Materials, a Chinese Company pursuing the manufacture of reactive polyurethane and other adhesives in hot-melt form, to expand its adhesive products portfolio.



Asia Pacific holds a prominent share of the reactive adhesive market and is expected to grow in the forecast period.



The reactive adhesive market in the Asia Pacific region is witnessing high levels of demand due to the expansion of the consumer electronics and automotive sectors in this region. The application of reactive adhesives in the production of reactive adhesives substituting the traditional tools used in the integration of electronic components and enhancing the durability of consumer electronic goods. Hence, reactive adhesives assist electronic goods manufacturers to fulfill their design and infrastructure demands.

Hence, these adhesives are used in mp3 devices and smartphones to conveniently size these items and improve their durability. Hence, the rapid developments in the consumer electronics market of the Asia Pacific region, for instance, the launch of foldable smartphones by South Korean manufacturing company, Samsung Electronics resulting in increased consumption of electronic goods is anticipated to promote the growth of the reactive adhesive market of this region.



Market Segments:

By Resin Type

Polyurethane

Epoxy

Cyanoacrylate

Modified Acrylic

Anaerobic

Silicone

Others

By End-User

Building & Construction

Renewable Energy

Transportation

Healthcare

Electronics

Aerospace

Others

By Geography

North America

USA

Canada

Mexico

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Others

Europe

United Kingdom

Germany

France

Spain

Others

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia

Israel

Others

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Indonesia

Taiwan

Others

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 140 Forecast Period 2021 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $9.62 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $13.96 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.4% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4. MARKET DYNAMICS



5. REACTIVE ADHESIVE MARKET BY RESIN TYPE



6. REACTIVE ADHESIVE MARKET BY END-USER



7. REACTIVE ADHESIVE MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY



8. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS



9. COMPANY PROFILES



Companies Mentioned

3M

Arkema Group (Bostik SA)

Dow

Wacker Chemie AG

Henkel

APPLIED Adhesives

Evonik

Covestro AG

Jowat Corporation

Mitol (Soudal Group)

Buhnen GmbH & Co. KG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3xuv3m

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dental Mirrors Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (One-sided, Smart Mirrors), By Material (Plastic, Metal), By End-use (Hospitals, Dental Clinics), By Region (APAC, Europe), And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global dental mirrors market size is expected to reach USD 581.0 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2030.

Companies Mentioned

Parkell Inc.

Integra Lifesciences

Medesy Srl

Zirc Dental Products

Asa Dental Spa

Acteon Group

Essential Dental Systems

Carl Martin Gmbh

Kavo Kerr

Hu Friedy Group

Henry Shein

The market is a segment of the broader dental equipment and supplies industry. Dental mirrors are small handheld tools used by dental professionals to provide a clear view of the patient's teeth and gums during dental examinations and procedures. They reflect light onto the areas being examined, allowing dentists to see difficult-to-reach areas inside the mouth.

The rising cases of dental diseases and growing awareness about oral hygiene & dental care among the population are the key factors responsible for the market growth.



The industry has been growing steadily in recent years due to the increasing demand for dental care services globally. Furthermore, government initiatives aimed at promoting oral health and increasing access to dental care have been driving the market.

For Instance, in February 2021, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare proposed a National Oral Health Policy in India. The objective of the oral health policy was to deliver a framework for the prevention of oral disorders and the promotion of well-being by encouraging policies and programs that make a difference in the Indian health system. This strategy acknowledges that dental and oral health should be addressed similarly to other significant health concerns.



Dental Mirrors Market Report Highlights

The one-sided mirror type segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022 while the smart mirrors segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR over the forecast period

The metal material segment accounted for the largest share in 2022 while the plastic segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate from 2023 to 2030

Based on the end-use, the dental clinics segment dominated the global market in 2022 and is expected to continue its dominance over the forecast period

North America was the largest regional market in 2022 owing to the strong presence of key companies in the region

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $320.1 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $581 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.9% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Report Scope And Objectives



Chapter 2 Methodology



Chapter 3 Executive Summary

3.1 Market Outlook

3.2 Segment Outlook

3.2.1 Type

3.2.2 Material

3.2.3 End Use

3.2.4 Region

3.3 Competitive Insights

3.4 Dental Mirrors Market Outlook, 2022



Chapter 4 Market Variables, Trends & Scope

4.1 Market Lineage Outlook

4.1.1 Parent Market Outlook

4.2 Dental Mirrors Market Dynamics

4.2.1 Market Driver Analysis

4.2.1.1 Increasing Prevalence Of Dental Disorders

4.2.1.2 Growing Demand For Cosmetic Dentistry

4.2.1.3 Rising Dental Tourism

4.2.2 Market Restraint Analysis

4.2.2.1 High Cost Associated To Dental Procedures

4.3 Dental Mirrors Market: Business Environment Analysis Tools

4.3.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1.1 Threat Of New Entrants

4.3.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

4.3.1.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers

4.3.1.4 Competitive Rivalry

4.3.1.5 Threat Of Substitutes

4.3.2 Pestel Analysis

4.3.2.1 Political & Legal

4.3.2.2 Economic & Social

4.3.2.3 Technological

4.4 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

4.5 Technology Trend Analysis

4.6 Regulatory Framework

4.7 Impact Of Covid-19 On Dental Mirrors Market



Chapter 5 Dental Mirrors Market: Type Analysis

5.1 Dental Mirrors Type Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.2 Dental Mirrors, Type, Market: Segment Dashboard

5.3 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2018 To 2030 For The Type Segment

5.3.1 One-Sided Mirrors

5.3.1.1 One-Sided Mirrors Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

5.3.2 Double-Sided Mirrors

5.3.2.1 Double-Sided Mirrors Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

5.3.3 Smart Mirrors

5.3.3.1 Smart Mirrors Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 6 Dental Mirrors Market: Material Analysis

6.1 Dental Mirrors Material Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

6.2 Dental Mirrors Material Market: Segment Dashboard

6.3 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2018 To 2030 For The Material Segment

6.3.1 Metal

6.3.1.1 Metal Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.3.2 Plastic

6.3.2.1 Plastic Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 7 Dental Mirrors Market: End-Use Analysis

7.1 Dental Mirrors End-Use Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

7.2 Dental Mirrors End Use Market: Segment Dashboard

7.3 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2018 To 2030 For The End Use Segment

7.3.1 Hospitals

7.3.1.1 Hospitals Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.3.2 Dental Clinics

7.3.2.1 Dental Clinics Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)

7.3.3 Others

7.3.3.1 Others, Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 8 Dental Mirrors Market: Regional Analysis



Chapter 9 Competitive Analysis

9.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

9.2 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y6d3o6

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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WASHINGTON, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sabin Vaccine Institute today awarded the 30th Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal Award to Thomas P. Monath, MD, and its Rising Star Award to Sangwe Clovis Nchinjoh, MD, MPH, in a ceremony at Washington D.C.s National Academy of Sciences building.



Dr. Monath was selected for the Gold Medal for his more than four decades of commitment to advancing knowledge of arboviruses and vaccine research and development (R&D) that contributed to the development of several innovative vaccines including those for Ebola Zaire, smallpox, dengue, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile.

The Gold Medal, celebrating three decades of recognition, is Sabins highest scientific honor. It is given annually to a distinguished member of the global health community who has made exceptional contributions to vaccinology or a complementary field. Past award recipients include leaders of vaccinology and vaccine advocacy such as Drs. Barney Graham, Carol Baker, Bill Foege, Anne Gershon, Stanley Plotkin, and Kathrin Jansen.

We are delighted to recognize Dr. Monath with our Gold Medal award for his lifelong commitment to prevent and control infectious disease and for his exemplary work on numerous vaccines that have benefitted humanity and saved lives, says Amy Finan, Sabins chief executive officer. His leadership in the vaccine field is unique in that he developed important vaccines as well as led public efforts to prepare for and address major global health threats.

Dr. Monath said the Gold Medal stands out among the honors he has received over the years. It was always my ambition to develop vaccines, make vaccines, do something tangible to help people. In my early career as an epidemiologist, I didnt get a chance to develop the actual countermeasures that help save peoples lives, especially in underserved populations. That was the appeal that motivated me. It is a great honor to win this recognition, but that honor really rests on the contributions of my peers and many colleagues along the way.

After serving as an epidemiologist and Director of the Division of Vector-Borne Viral Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Monath moved to the U.S. Army to learn vaccine development first-hand and retired as colonel after serving as Chief of the Virology Division at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

In over 20 years in public service, he was deeply engaged in investigating emerging viral diseases, such as viral encephalitis, dengue, yellow fever, and Lassa fever, affecting underserved countries in Africa and Latin America. He was responsible for uncovering the rodent host reservoir of Lassa fever.

In the private sector, he developed a novel platform for vaccine development and brought four human vaccines and one veterinary vaccine through regulatory approval, including a second-generation smallpox vaccine. He has published more than 425 scientific papers, six books on virology and vaccine development, and has 35 patents to his name.

Sabins Rising Star is awarded to encourage and recognize the next generation of vaccine and immunization leaders. Dr. Nchinjoh, a physician, was selected for developing ground-breaking techniques to reach zero-dose children  those who have never received the protection of routine childhood vaccinations  in missed communities and conflict settings in Cameroon.

With his focus on strengthening immunization and health services among some of our most neglected communities, Dr. Nchinjoh exemplifies the spirit behind the Rising Star award, says Finan. His contributions to identify and immunize zero-dose children in Cameroon serves as a model for other countries trying to reach those populations and can go a long way toward improving vaccination rates in much of the world.

I am most proud of the ripple effects from this award, says Dr. Nchinjoh. Its going to help to share what weve been doing all these years, share the lessons, and help stakeholders adopt new methods for reaching communities. Its also going to touch a lot of people that I work with, who will be inspired by seeing that the work we do is appreciated.

A public health researcher with more than five years of leading and coordinating high impact multi-stakeholder programs, Dr. Nchinjohs findings led to the development and testing of service delivery models in sample communities in all ten regions of Cameroon. More than 8,500 zero-dose children in 20 target health areas were reached, including increasing vaccination coverage from 0% to 70% in a hard-to-reach island in Manoka district.

For more about the recipients, see:

https://www.sabin.org/events/2023-albert-b-sabin-gold-medal-ceremony/recipients

About the Sabin Vaccine Institute

The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non-profit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on Twitter, @SabinVaccine.

Media Contact:

Monika Guttman

Media Relations Specialist

Sabin Vaccine Institute

+1 (202) 662-1841

press@sabin.org

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fedbca03-c2ba-45e9-a3aa-c8030741e41e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3323a3a6-c03a-49ed-bd74-e307244ef87a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/496d5d29-0edf-4de1-9222-1528ebb3a954
New York, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Defense Outlook - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Key Enabling Technologies, Geo-Political Risks, and Country - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06465828/?utm_source=GNW

The cumulative defense budget is valued to be $29,031.67 billion for the period 2023-2033. The global defense market is expected to be driven by geo-political activities, technological investment in autonomous and cyber capabilities, the emergence of public and private defense industries, and contracts by the national governments, among other factors.



Global Defense Outlook: Market Lifecycle Stage



The global defense market is in the maturity stage of its life cycle, characterized by a consolidated industry, slowing growth, and increased competition for a shrinking pool of defense spending.



Impact (Overview)



The defense industry is responsible for producing the equipment and technologies that are used by military forces around the world.One of the primary effects of the defense market on the global defense scenario is that it drives innovation and technological advancement.



Companies that compete in the defense market are constantly developing new and better ways to protect soldiers, vehicles, and installations, as well as to detect, track, and engage enemy targets.This innovation helps to ensure that military forces are better equipped to confront the challenges of modern warfare.



The defense market also helps to shape alliances and partnerships between countries.Countries that purchase defense equipment from a particular supplier often develop close ties with that supplier, which can lead to increased cooperation on other issues.



Additionally, the defense market can create dependencies between countries, as some countries may rely on others for critical military capabilities. Finally, the defense market can have an impact on global economic and political stability. Defense spending represents a significant portion of many countries budgets, and the health of the defense market can have implications for government finances and employment. Additionally, the proliferation of advanced defense technologies can create security challenges, as countries may seek to acquire these technologies for their own military programs.



Overall, the defense market is a critical component of the global defense scenario, and its size, health, and trends can have far-reaching implications for countries and international security.



Country Analysis



 U.S.

 China

 Russia

 India

 Germany

 Australia

 U.K.

 Saudi Arabia

 France

 South Korea

 Japan

 Italy

 Canada

 Ukraine

 U.A.E.

 Turkey

 Israel

 Poland

 Brazil

 Taiwan

 Netherlands

 Spain

 Singapore

 Algeria

 Indonesia

 Oman

 Kuwait

 Colombia

 Pakistan

 Norway



Recent Developments in the Defense Industry



 On 20th April 2023, Rheinmetall Defence and Lockheed Martin entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a tailored solution to provide Germany with a unique rocket artillery system, maximizing existing and combat-proven components produced in Germany.

 On 20th April 2023, BAE Systems signed a contract with Ritek AS to produce two new CV90 variants for the Swedish Armed Forces. The work would be carried out in cooperation with BAE Systems Hagglunds, with the delivery scheduled between 2023 and 2027.

 On 19th April 2023, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded BAE Systems with a $8.3 million contract to develop an advanced autonomy system to speed operational planning under the Strategic Chaos Engine for Planning, Tactics, Experimentation, and Resiliency (SCEPTER) program. The program is designed to develop machine-generated strategies, evaluated within trusted simulation environments with thorough human review.

 On 13th April 2023, Boeing unveiled its Protected Wideband Satellite (PWS) design featuring Boeings Protected Tactical SATCOM Prototype (PTS-P) payload hosted aboard the U.S. Space Forces Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 spacecraft with automated anti-jam capabilities to stay connected in a contested environment.

 On 13th April 2023, Boeing and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly research, develop, and market advanced weapons systems.

 On 12th April 2023, Saab signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the support and maintenance services for the JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter aircraft. The order is valued at $29.93 million and ensures continued operation and a cost-effective solution regarding the maintenance and availability of the system.

 On 14th February 2023, Thales Australia partnered with RGM Maintenance (RGM) and Queensland SME to help optimize and advance specialized heavy vehicle maintenance and regional access to services and maintenance of Land Materiel for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

 On 29th March 2023, the French Navys Lorraine multi-mission frigate was enhanced with air defense capabilities (FREMM DA) which successfully fired the Aster 30 air defense missile.

 On 28th March 2023, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) ordered an additional Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), increasing the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) to 10 aircraft.

 On 10th January 2023, Airbus and VDL Group signed a partnership for the manufacturing and development of a laser communication terminal for aircraft, known as UltraAir. The two companies will have scheduled the preparation of a demonstration of the prototypes first flight test in 2024.



Demand - Drivers and Limitations



Following are the drivers for the global defense market:

 Rising Procurement of Multi-Mission Helicopters and Fighter Jets to have Positive Impact on Market

 Increasing Penetration of Autonomous Systems in Military Applications



Following are the challenges for the global defense market:

 Long Gestation Periods and High Import Dependency for Procurement of Defense Equipment

 High Manufacturing Cost Associated with Integration and Implementation of Air and Space Systems



Following are the opportunities for the global defense market:

 Rise of Internet of Military Things and Era of Digital Battlefield: Future and its Potential

 Ageing Fleet



How can this report add value to an organization?



Platform/Innovation Strategy: The defense industry uses a variety of strategies to develop and strategize the land, air, sea, and space domains.These include investing in research and development, collaborating with academic institutions and other companies, leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, and adapting commercial technologies for military use.



Additionally, defense companies are focused on developing integrated systems that can operate across multiple domains, as well as enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of their systems in the face of evolving threats.



Growth/Marketing Strategy: To grow the global defense market, the key players are observed to build strong relationships with customers and collaborate with other defense companies in the form of joint ventures or partnerships while working on their branding and advertising, which is boosted by the wide reach of digital marketing. Key players often engage with governments and participate in trade shows and exhibitions, further driving the growth of the global defense industry.



Key Companies Profiled



 Lockheed Martin Corporation

 Raytheon Technologies Corporation

 The Boeing Company

 Northrop Grumman Corporation

 BAE Systems

 Airbus S.A.S

 Thales Group

 Embraer SA

 Leonardo S.p.A.

 Textron Systems Aviation

 Dassault Aviation

 General Dynamics

 Saab AB

 Tactical Missiles Corporation

 MBDA Missile System



Countries Covered

 U.S.

 China

 Russia

 India

 Germany

 Australia

 U.K.

 Saudi Arabia

 France

 South Korea

 Japan

 Italy

 Canada

 Ukraine

 U.A.E.

 Turkey

 Israel

 Poland

 Brazil

 Taiwan

 Netherlands

 Spain

 Singapore

 Algeria

 Indonesia

 Oman

 Kuwait

 Colombia

 Pakistan

 Norway

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06465828/?utm_source=GNW



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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.



__________________________
TORONTO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company) reports assay results from its 100%-owned Bandeira property, located within the lithium-rich Aracuai district in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The results are part of the initial 30,000-metre delineation drill program that will culminate in an initial NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) expected by the end of Q2 2023. The MRE will include data from the last year of drilling at the Bandeira and Galvani targets, and drilling continues to further expand the resources for future resource estimates.



Bandeira is located approximately 500 metres south of Companhia Brasileira de Litios (CBL) Cachoeira lithium mine, and approximately 700 metres north of Sigma Lithium Corp.s large Barreiro lithium deposit. (See Figure 1). The Company is currently the second largest mineral rights holder in the region, controlling 14,182 hectares in this emerging hard rock lithium-producing district.

Bandeira Drill Intercept Highlights

1.31% Li2O over 14m, incl. 1.50% Li2O over 7.9m intersected at shallow depths (57m-71m down hole) (hole ITDD-23-087)

(hole ITDD-23-087) 2.29% Li2O over 7.1m and 2.17% Li2O over 5m (hole ITDD-23-083)

(hole ITDD-23-083) 2.17% Li2O over 5.8m (hole ITDD-23-082)

(hole ITDD-23-082) 1.63% Li2O over 7.7m (hole ITDD-23-094)

(hole ITDD-23-094) 1.62% Li2O over 8.2m (hole ITDD-23-096)

(hole ITDD-23-096) 1.31% Li2O over 9.4m (hole ITDD-23-084)

(hole ITDD-23-084) 1.37% Li2O over 8.8m (hole ITDD-23-089)

(hole ITDD-23-089) 1.47% Li2O over 8m (hole ITDD-23-093)

Blake Hylands, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Ionic, commented, Drilling at Bandeira has identified an impressive number of spodumene bearing pegmatites at shallow depths with grades consistent with neighbouring operations. Intercepts at Bandeira in the past few months are among the thickest and highest grades to date and we anticipate that the initial independently verified mineral resource estimate we expect to complete in the coming weeks will set a foundation for significant additional growth as we continue to drill Bandeira in the second half of the year.



The upcoming NI 43-101 MRE will be completed by SGS Canada, capturing results from ~30,000 metres drilled at the Bandeira and Galvani targets. These two properties together cover only 872 hectares of the Companys 14,182 hectares land package in Brazils Lithium Valley, a unique hard rock lithium district that is quickly emerging as an important global lithium producer.

In addition to continued drilling at its main targets, Bandeira and Galvani, a 20,000-metre drilling program is also underway on claims within its newly acquired Salinas project, which are directly adjacent to Latin Resources 13.3Mt @ 1.2% Li2O Colina lithium deposit. Exploratory drilling also continues at the Itira property, located less than a kilometre West of Galvani.





Figure 1: Bandeira Drill Highlights, Section Locations & Nearby Lithium Mines/Deposits

View Figure 1 here:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a959bd3f-bf70-4486-a9b1-c455e0ba1353

Table 1. Bandeira Drill Results

Hole ID Az Dip From To Metres Li2O (%) ITDD-23-080 150 -53 255.5 261.7 6.2 1.49 ITDD-23-082 150

-85

50.6 56.4 5.8 2.17 and 99.9 102.2 2.3 1.04 and 196.2 201.0 4.8 1.48 ITDD-23-083 150

-53

59.1 66.1 7.0 1.37 and 172.2 177.2 5.0 2.17 and 310.7 314.0 3.2 1.29 and 372.7 379.8 7.1 2.29 ITDD-23-084 150 -50 275.4 284.9 9.4 1.31 ITDD-23-085 330 -65 73.4 74.5 1.1 0.67 ITDD-23-086 150

-73

69.9 72.1 2.2 1.48 and 272.5 283.3 10.8 1.04 incl. 272.5 278.0 5.5 1.36 and 293.7 299.9 6.2 1.33 ITDD-23-087 330

-50

56.9 71.0 14.0 1.31 incl. 56.9 64.9 7.9 1.50 incl. 67.8 71.0 3.2 1.58 ITDD-23-088 150

-53

83.3 86.3 3.0 0.96 and 199.9 202.6 2.7 1.59 and 206.0 210.2 4.2 1.87 and 272.5 274.6 2.2 2.21 ITDD-23-089 330



-60



63.3 72.0 8.8 1.37 and 155.5 161.5 6.0 1.22 ITDD-23-090 150

-87

161.7 170.0 8.2 1.03 incl. 166.0 170.0 4.0 1.29 and 259.5 263.5 4.0 1.80 and 387.0 390.0 3.0 1.62 and 442.9 445.7 2.8 1.79 and 465.6 471.9 6.2 1.57 and 564.5 567.5 3.0 1.56 ITDD-23-091 150

-88

29.8 31.2 1.4 1.32 and 112.1 113.6 1.5 1.30 and 426.0 427.3 1.2 1.23 and 479.8 482.0 2.2 2.04 and 486.0 489.2 3.2 0.82 ITDD-23-092 150

-81

92.8 95.8 3.0 1.58 and 103.8 109.4 5.6 1.23 ITDD-23-093 330 -60 43.7 51.7 8.0 1.47 ITDD-23-094 150 -50 80.6 88.3 7.7 1.63 ITDD-23-095 150

-50

46.4 48.5 2.1 0.70 and 190.3 191.7 1.3 0.79 and 205.4 206.9 1.5 1.13 and 216.2 223.1 6.9 1.38 ITDD-23-096 150 -80 89.0 97.2 8.2 1.62 ITDD-23-097 150 -50 38.7 44.1 5.4 1.48 ITDD-23-098 150 -50 pending ITDD-23-099 150 -50 63.0 65.0 2.0 1.91 and 69.0 72.5 3.5 1.32 ITDD-23-100 150 -50 32.5 33.5 1.0 0.56 ITDD-23-101 0 -90 76.7 81.7 5.0 1.55



About Lithium Ionic Corp.

Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its flagship Itinga and Salinas projects cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. The Itinga Project is situated in the same region as CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas.

Quality Assurance and Control

During the drill program, assay samples were taken from NQ core and sawed in half. One-half was sent for assaying at SGS Laboratory, a certified independent commercial laboratory, and the other half was retained for results, cross checks, and future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples. Every sample was processed with Drying, crushing from 75% to 3 mm, homogenization, quartering in Jones, spraying 250 to 300 g of sample in steel mill 95% to 150. SGS laboratory carried out multi-element analysis for ICP90A analysis.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release has been prepared by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, and both are qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101.

Investor and Media Inquiries:

+1 647.316.2500

info@lithiumionic.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys ability to produce a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, the mineralization and development of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
English French

EDF intends to issue new US dollar-denominated hybrid notes and launches a tender offer on outstanding US dollar-denominated hybrid notes

EDF is announcing its intention to issue new US dollar-denominated perpetual subordinated notes (the New Notes).

EDF is also launching a tender offer (the Offer) to purchase any and all of its USD 1,500,000,000 Reset Perpetual Subordinated Notes with a first redemption at the option of EDF on 22 January 2024 (144A / Reg S ISIN: US268317AM62 / USF2893TAM83) of which USD 1,500,000,000 million is currently outstanding, which are admitted to trading on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (the Notes). The Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the offer to purchase dated 6 June 2023 (the Offer to Purchase) and is subject to the offer restrictions as more fully described in the Offer to Purchase. The settlement of the Notes validly tendered in the Offer is conditioned on the closing of EDFs proposed issuance of the New Notes.

The difference, if any, between the nominal amount of the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to the Offer and the nominal amount of the issuance of the New Notes will be offset, for the purpose of the equity content, by the bonds convertible into and/or exchangeable for new and/or existing EDF shares converted on 24 May 20231.

The result of the Offer will be announced on 7 July 2023 (subject to change as a result of any extension, withdrawal, termination or amendment of the Offer).

Forward-Looking Statements

EDF considers portions of this announcement to be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements can be identified typically by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects, may, will, could, should, intends, estimates, plans, assumes, predicts or anticipates, as well as the negatives of such words and other words of similar meaning in connection with discussions of future operating or financial performance or of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Although EDF believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time made, these assumptions are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond EDFs control; therefore, EDF can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible changes in the timing and consummation of the transactions described therein.

You are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, which speak only as at their respective dates. Neither EDF nor any of its affiliates undertakes any obligation publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by any applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimers

This announcement does not constitute an invitation to participate in the Offer in or from any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Offer to Purchase. Tenders of Notes for purchase in the Offer will not be accepted from qualifying holders in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. EDF does not make any recommendation as to whether or not qualifying holders should participate in the Offer. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the New Notes or the Offer. If any holder of the Notes is in any doubt as to the contents of the Offer to Purchase, or the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial advice, including in respect of any tax consequences, from its broker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial, tax or legal adviser.

Neither this announcement nor the Offer to Purchase constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under, or pursuant to an applicable exemption from, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in compliance with any relevant state securities laws. There will be no public offer of the New Notes in the United States.

This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA). Accordingly, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, persons in the United Kingdom other than persons who are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and who are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the Order), or (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons) and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. This announcement, any investment activity referred to in this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

In any member state of the European Economic Area (a Member State), this announcement and the Offer to Purchase are only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the Prospectus Regulation. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have been prepared on the basis that the Offer in any Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus.

This press release is certified. Check its authenticity on medias.edf.com

About EDF

As a major player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy trading, energy sales and energy services. EDF group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, having developed a diverse production mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support energy transition. EDFs raison detre is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 40.3 million customers (1), of whom 30.3 million in France (2). It generated consolidated sales of 143.5 billion in 2022. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

(1) Customers are counted per delivery site. A customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and another one for gas.

(2) Including ES (Electricite de Strasbourg) and SEI.

1 https://www.edf.fr/en/the-edf-group/dedicated-sections/journalists/all-press-releases/conversion-of-edf-oceanes-due-2024

Attachment
New York, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Smart Water Purifier Market Assessment, By Connectivity, By Type, By End-user, By Sales Channel, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2016-2030F" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06465607/?utm_source=GNW



The need for clean drinking water is growing rapidly as a result of industrialization and the growing worldwide population. Advanced technologies such as Reverse Osmosis (RO), Ultraviolet (UV), and Ultrafiltration (UF) purifications are included in smart water purifiers to ensure that the water is fit for human consumption. Due to the rising trend towards smart homes and IoT, the increase of e-commerce, and the rising emphasis on sustainability, the Global Smart Water Purifier market is estimated to reach to USD 28.94 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% for the forecast period between 2023 and 2030. The market was valued at USD 14.21 billion in 2022. The necessity of clean drinking water is becoming more widely recognized, which will lead to considerable development in the market for smart water purifiers over the next several years.



Water purifiers have become an essential appliance in every household today as many people strongly believe that drinking pure is equivalent to living pure. Also, rising living standards, increased internet subscriptions and consumption patterns coupled with smart living in leading to a higher demand for smart water purifiers. As per Culligans Global World Water Day Survey 2021, discovered that 33% of North Americans want their houses to be more connected with smart devices. Meanwhile, according to the Water Quality Association, 51% of North Americans are concerned about the quality of their residential water supply. Furthermore, the market is benefiting from the increased usage of smart water purifiers in residential and commercial sectors including educational centers, office premises, and restaurants. Additionally, while working in laboratories, clean and pure water is essential, owing to which the demand for water filtration systems has increased.



Unfortunately, there are many challenges faced by the market. A major obstacle is the expensive cost of deploying these smart technologies, especially in underdeveloped nations with limited financial resources. Moreover, poor administration and infrastructure also limit the expansion of the global smart water purifier market. In the wake of inadequate infrastructure and resources, many African and Asian nations are facing difficulty in providing access to safe drinking water. Many emerging players in the market are tapping into these areas to increase access to safe drinking water and stop the spread of water-borne illnesses.



Growing Awareness of Ecological and Eco-Friendly Features



According to a recent Water Quality Association poll, 30% of residential water utility customers were concerned about the quality of water coming from their taps. Due to this reason, health and environmental consciousness continues to grow, smart water purifiers incorporate eco-friendly features. These could include energy-efficient operation, minimal water wastage during the purification process, recyclable filter materials, and an emphasis on reducing plastic waste through reusable water bottles or dispensers. For example, using a RO system is also a more ecologically responsible option than buying individual plastic water bottles, which require oil and petrol to create and distribute. According to the National Park Service, many bottles wind up in landfills, where they can take up to 450 years to degrade.



IoT Integration and Advanced Filtration Technologies



IoT, AI, and machine learning are modern technologies that have improved the overall performance of water purifiers. For instance, by connecting smart water purifiers to the internet, IoT technology enables customers to monitor and manage the water purifier remotely via a smartphone application. Moreover, with ease of use and many advanced purifying processes, smart water purifiers have become popular on the international market. In smart water purifiers, the usage of water is timely tracked, and settings are modified as required. Smart purifiers also have the ability to send out warnings or messages to consumers to inform them when maintenance is needed.



Government Initiatives are Promoting the Usage of Clean Drinking Water



The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India has created a knowledge network to develop customized technological solutions for water challenges that are tailored to specific social contexts and meet the National Water Missions goals of optimizing water use and increasing water use efficiency by 20%. DST activities support national and collaborative developmental research to solve current and upcoming water concerns; capacity training of research experts and water managers; creation of S&T-based sustainable models in collaboration with industry and recommendation of suitable policy inputs. Similarly, the Government of the United States declared more than USD 49 billion in domestic and global action to ensure that adequate access to climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure remains a top goal in the United States and across the world. Such initiatives promote the importance of clean drinking water, thereby driving the usage of smart water purifiers.



Constant Need for Pure Water in Healthcare Industry



Hospitals, clinics, and laboratories require consistent access to clean and filtered water. Smart water purifiers with advanced filtration and monitoring functions are tailored to the demands of the healthcare industry, guaranteeing clean water for patient care, laboratory processes, and equipment sterilization. Smart water purifiers are critical for patient safety, infection control, high-quality water for laboratory applications and dialysis treatments, equipment sterilization, regulatory compliance, and long-term cost savings.



Constant increase in the number of healthcare facilities worldwide especially in the developed countries and urban areas to be specific, tends to result in the rising demand for smart water purifiers during the forecast period. United States alone has more than 6000 hospitals, United Kingdom having 1200+ hospitals and Germany having 1800+ as of 2022.



Growing Need for Disinfection Especially in Asia-Pacific



An estimated 2.1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, with 289 million residing in the Asia-Pacific . Many water sources in Asia are contaminated with industrial and urban trash, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Rising awareness related to health risks posed by contaminated water has motivated the population to utilize water purifiers, particularly in developing nations such as India and Vietnam. Due to this reason, many companies have added reverse osmosis and UV purifiers to broaden their user base in Asia-Pacific. For example, MI Smart Water Purifier by Xiomi, having a smart app connectivity, is advanced with five stage purifications process and contains both RO filtration as well as UV sterilization.



Impact of COVID-19



Due to the pandemic, people were bound to stay at home, which has raised the demand for smart water purifiers. In addition, on the account of rising concern about contamination, people were inclined towards cutting-edge filtering technology and convenient features like touchless dispensing, IoT connectivity, and UV sterilization in the water filters. On the flip side, as companies faced an economic downturn, the outbreak has resulted in a reduction in demand for commercial smart water purifiers. Therefore, there has been a decline in the need for smart water purifiers as a result of the closing of restaurants, schools, offices, and other commercial buildings. However, as the pandemic subsides, the global smart water purifier market is expected to recover and witness steady growth in the coming years.



Impact of Russia-Ukraine War



Disruptions in the supply chain have impacted the worldwide market because both Russia and Ukraine are significant producers of parts and raw materials for smart water purifiers. Economic sanctions and trade restrictions brought on by the conflict have influenced the export and import of water purifiers and the parts. This causes a rise in the cost of smart water purifiers and a fall in demand.



Key Players Landscape and Outlook



Many brands offer special seasonal discounts and technical advancements and work on product development to have an edge over the intensified competition. With increasing competition and technological advancements, the future of the global smart water purifier market looks promising.



Atlantic Filter Corporation, a provider of water treatment solutions, has been acquired by A. O. Smith. Atlantic Filters purchase broadened the companys capabilities throughout Florida and beyond. A. O. Smith is committed to expanding its water treatment business as part of its objective to provide new, unique water heating and treatment solutions.



Market Xcels reports answer the following questions:



 What is the current and future market size of the product/service in question globally or specific to different countries?



 How are the markets divided into different product/service segments and the market size and growth of each segment?



 What is the market potential of different product segments and their investment case?



 How are the markets predicted to develop in the future and what factors will drive or inhibit growth?



 What is the business environment and regulatory landscape specific to the product/service?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06465607/?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.



__________________________
NEW YORK, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Big Idea Ventures (BIV), the global leader in early-stage alternative protein and food technology investments, has welcomed eight new university collaborators to its Generation Food Rural Partners Fund (GFRP Fund).

Kansas State University  Kansas State University is a comprehensive, research, land-grant institution serving students and the people of Kansas, the nation, and the world. Since its founding in 1863, the university has evolved into a modern institution of higher education, committed to quality programs, and responsive to a rapidly changing world and the aspirations of an increasingly diverse society. Total extramural funding and support garnered by Kansas State University is on the rise and the FY 2022 total represents a $29.3 million increase in sponsored research support relative to FY 2021 for a net increase of 27% over the past five years and 41% since FY 2016. FY 2022 awards totaled $181,647,775, including a 32% increase in federal funding. Economic development and technology transfer are significant focus areas, as is growth in the number of our strategic partnerships. K-State Innovation Partners, our technology commercialization, economic development and corporate engagement unit facilitated more than $6.4 million in total licensing revenue in FY 2022 and 24 license agreements. K-State has a strong track record of commercializing the innovations developed by our researchers, said Richard Linton, K-State president. This partnership with Big Ventures will create new opportunities to keep those technologies in Kansas, which will support our Economic Prosperity Plan and our land-grant mission.





 Kansas State University is a comprehensive, research, land-grant institution serving students and the people of Kansas, the nation, and the world. Since its founding in 1863, the university has evolved into a modern institution of higher education, committed to quality programs, and responsive to a rapidly changing world and the aspirations of an increasingly diverse society. Total extramural funding and support garnered by Kansas State University is on the rise and the FY 2022 total represents a $29.3 million increase in sponsored research support relative to FY 2021 for a net increase of 27% over the past five years and 41% since FY 2016. FY 2022 awards totaled $181,647,775, including a 32% increase in federal funding. Economic development and technology transfer are significant focus areas, as is growth in the number of our strategic partnerships. K-State Innovation Partners, our technology commercialization, economic development and corporate engagement unit facilitated more than $6.4 million in total licensing revenue in FY 2022 and 24 license agreements. K-State has a strong track record of commercializing the innovations developed by our researchers, said Richard Linton, K-State president. This partnership with Big Ventures will create new opportunities to keep those technologies in Kansas, which will support our Economic Prosperity Plan and our land-grant mission. Montana State University is the state's first land-grant university and remains committed to its mission of education, research and outreach. Founded as the state's agricultural college, MSU is Montana's largest university and one of only two institutions in the U.S. designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as having both "very-high" research and an enrollment profile of "very high undergraduate." Its research expenditures top $200 million per year, including groundbreaking work in optics, photonics, biochemistry, engineering, precision agriculture and more. Students at Montana State have access to world-class faculty and opportunities to engage in hands-on research starting in their undergraduate years, all at a campus situated among the mountains, rivers and landscapes of southwest Montana.





is the state's first land-grant university and remains committed to its mission of education, research and outreach. Founded as the state's agricultural college, MSU is Montana's largest university and one of only two institutions in the U.S. designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as having both "very-high" research and an enrollment profile of "very high undergraduate." Its research expenditures top $200 million per year, including groundbreaking work in optics, photonics, biochemistry, engineering, precision agriculture and more. Students at Montana State have access to world-class faculty and opportunities to engage in hands-on research starting in their undergraduate years, all at a campus situated among the mountains, rivers and landscapes of southwest Montana. University of Arkansas  The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is home to the states premier research agency for agriculture, food and natural resources, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. In recent years, experiment station scientists have released dozens of new crop cultivars and fruit varieties, developed novel technologies to protect animal health, and generated new jobs through related startups. Through research and outreach, the Division of Agricultures mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families in Arkansas by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. As Arkansas' flagship institution, the University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation.

University of California, Davis  Founded in 1908 as a public land-grant research university, UC Davis has emerged into a tier-one research institution that regularly stands among the nations top 10 public universities. With four colleges and six professional schools, and over $1 Billion in research funding in 2022, the university continually fosters a community thats driven by curiosity and motivated to solve the worlds greatest problems. As strains on our environment and food supply accelerate, researchers at UC Davis continue to provide critical insight and inspire innovation: The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) is internationally recognized for its excellence in plants and animals, agriculture, and food science, while institutes such as the Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) and the AI Institute for Food Systems (AIFS) are pursuing innovative solutions for a path toward a sustainable future, developing and deploying breakthrough solutions to meet the growing demands in our food supply. From life-saving medical treatments to sustainable environmental solutions, innovations from UC Davis benefit everyday life in California communities and around the globe.





 Founded in 1908 as a public land-grant research university, UC Davis has emerged into a tier-one research institution that regularly stands among the nations top 10 public universities. With four colleges and six professional schools, and over $1 Billion in research funding in 2022, the university continually fosters a community thats driven by curiosity and motivated to solve the worlds greatest problems. As strains on our environment and food supply accelerate, researchers at UC Davis continue to provide critical insight and inspire innovation: The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) is internationally recognized for its excellence in plants and animals, agriculture, and food science, while institutes such as the Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) and the AI Institute for Food Systems (AIFS) are pursuing innovative solutions for a path toward a sustainable future, developing and deploying breakthrough solutions to meet the growing demands in our food supply. From life-saving medical treatments to sustainable environmental solutions, innovations from UC Davis benefit everyday life in California communities and around the globe. University of Delaware  The University of Delaware, founded in 1743, is the eighth-oldest university in the country. UDs storied tradition of academic excellence continues today in both the classroom and laboratory. UD is classified nationally as both a research university with very high activity  in the top 3%  and as a community engaged university for its long tradition of applying knowledge and creativity to critical challenges facing communities in Delaware and around the world. UD is one of a select group of institutions in the United States to hold the triple land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designation. Beyond its Georgian-inspired main campus in Newark, Delaware, UD has locations across the statein Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown and Lewes.





 The University of Delaware, founded in 1743, is the eighth-oldest university in the country. UDs storied tradition of academic excellence continues today in both the classroom and laboratory. UD is classified nationally as both a research university with very high activity  in the top 3%  and as a community engaged university for its long tradition of applying knowledge and creativity to critical challenges facing communities in Delaware and around the world. UD is one of a select group of institutions in the United States to hold the triple land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designation. Beyond its Georgian-inspired main campus in Newark, Delaware, UD has locations across the statein Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown and Lewes. University of Missouri (MU)  A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, MU improves lives as Missouris largest public research university and serves citizens statewide and beyond as a major land-grant institution. The university, which generated $432 million in research expenditures in FY2022, boasts a strong interdisciplinary culture with medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture and engineering on the same campus along with the nations only NIH-funded university rat and swine centers for translational research. MUs comprehensive life sciences research and development pipeline, which includes multiple agricultural research centers throughout Missouri, is solving problems in human and animal health, the environment and many other areas.





 A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, MU improves lives as Missouris largest public research university and serves citizens statewide and beyond as a major land-grant institution. The university, which generated $432 million in research expenditures in FY2022, boasts a strong interdisciplinary culture with medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture and engineering on the same campus along with the nations only NIH-funded university rat and swine centers for translational research. MUs comprehensive life sciences research and development pipeline, which includes multiple agricultural research centers throughout Missouri, is solving problems in human and animal health, the environment and many other areas. University of Texas at Austin  Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting some 52,000 diverse students, 3,000 teaching faculty, and top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. As Texas leading research university, UT attracts more than $650 million annually for discovery. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the university provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrows artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers. Were stronger when we work together. Thats why Texas values partnerships in education, research and community service  with businesses, our military and veteran connections, community groups and other non-profits to make an even bigger impact on our city, state and world.





 Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting some 52,000 diverse students, 3,000 teaching faculty, and top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. As Texas leading research university, UT attracts more than $650 million annually for discovery. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the university provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrows artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers. Were stronger when we work together. Thats why Texas values partnerships in education, research and community service  with businesses, our military and veteran connections, community groups and other non-profits to make an even bigger impact on our city, state and world. Virginia Tech  With campuses in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. metro area, Virginia Techs research enterprise encompasses almost $600 million in annual research expenditures. With roots in agriculture and engineering, Virginia Tech is home to several top 10 programs, 4,000 research faculty, 7 research institutes, and 9 colleges, a graduate school and medical school, all of which contribute to its robust innovation and research ecosystem. Additionally, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences research and extension offices contribute to the state of Virginias $82.3 billion industry. Home to a number of serial inventors with nearly 1,000 inventions under active management in wide ranging areas of science and technology, Virginia Techs Innovation and Partnerships team supports faculty to expand the impact of research through increasing core metrics of technology transfer and commercialization. Last year the portfolio yielded 169 disclosures, 29 license deals, and 10 startups.

The GFRP Fund will evaluate intellectual property developed at collaborating universities to identify new developments with the strongest commercialization potential. The GFRP fund will then invest in new companies formed around the groundbreaking research. These new companies will be headquartered in rural communities near the collaborating universities.

About Big Idea Ventures

Big Idea Ventures is the worlds most active investor in FoodTech investing in the best food technology and AgriTech companies globally. The company is focused on alternative protein with its New Protein Fund and commercialization of university intellectual property with its Generation Food Rural Partners fund. Big Idea Ventures has an impressive lineup of strategic partners, such as AAK, Avril, Buhler, Givaudan, Temasek Holdings, and Tyson Ventures. They are also collaborating with several governments internationally to address food security challenges and develop innovative food ecosystems. The firm has offices in New York, Paris and Singapore and has invested in more than 100 companies across 25 countries. For more information, visit bigideaventures.com.



Media Contact

Big Idea Ventures | Olivia Chavassieu | olivia.chavassieu@bigideaventures.com | +33 7 49 63 40 80

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) announced today the appointment of Jennifer Schachterle as Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development, effective June 1, 2023. In this position, Ms. Schachterle oversees FHLBank San Franciscos relationships with its nearly 330 member financial institutions across its three-state district of Arizona, California, and Nevada, leading a team dedicated to sales, business development and new member recruitment. She reports to Tony Wong, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, who manages an integrated team of sales, marketing, and business intelligence leaders.



Ms. Schachterle joins FHLBank San Francisco from Western Alliance Bank in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was the Sales Director of Warehouse Lending, leading a sales team and managing a portfolio of mortgage banking clients across the country. Prior to joining Western Alliance, she was Senior Vice President of Warehouse Lending at Comerica Bank. As a former credit risk executive at both large financial institutions and regional banks, Ms. Schachterle brings a wealth of expertise to the Bank, including in the areas of counterparty approval, policy, and monitoring, uniquely positioning her to direct our relationship management function and better serve our members. Over the course of her more than 25 years in banking, Schachterle has held positions of increasing seniority in operations, credit, and sales in the banking and mortgage finance industry, including as Director of Counterparty Risk at PennyMac and Credit Risk Management Executive at Bank of America. Since 2019, she has served on the board of directors for the California Mortgage Bankers Association.

We are delighted to welcome Jennifer to the team and know that in todays complex financial market her deep experience in managing both customer relationship and credit risk management teams will make an immediate difference across the Bank and for our members. said Mr. Wong. Ever more important today are regional banks and community-based lending institutions that are at a critical inflection point in todays financial environment. Jennifers role as our senior liaison with FHLBank San Franciscos member institutions has never been more essential as we continue to innovate and develop products, services, and tools to support and preserve local community lending.

Ms. Schachterle commented, Im excited to join FHLBank San Francisco and the team that is fulfilling their mission to provide liquidity to members and support homeownership, fund development of affordable housing, and economically energize communities. As a former member of FHLBank San Francisco, Ive seen firsthand their impact across so many touchpoints, and Im inspired by the opportunity to partner with our member banks, credit unions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies to deliver products, services, and grant programs that enhance the lives of millions of consumers.

Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The financial products and other resources and tools we provide to our member financial institutionscommercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutionspropel homeownership, help finance development of quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

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ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recent years, US-based investment firms, especially those with a global focus, recognize the potential of technology companies experiencing high growth outside the US. They are aware that innovation and market potential are not limited to a specific geographic region. As a result, many funds actively seek investment opportunities in promising overseas markets. In the meantime, the risks in the market are reaching their peak. As noted in the Statista report , business interruption, macroeconomic developments, and cyber incidents are among the leading risks for US companies.



In line with these facts, Usul Ventures partner Attorney Kaan Ozcelik indicates that companies with a solid business model and effective risk mitigation strategies are likely to attract more interest from US investors. Therefore some US-based fund institutions form partnerships with local venture capital firms in overseas markets. And as a leading law & consulting firm based in Istanbul, Usul Hukuk allows these companies to reduce risks associated with investing in unfamiliar regions by leveraging the expertise, networks, and market understanding of local partners.

Risk Evaluation is a Top Consideration

Investing in developing markets where technology is rapidly evolving, such as Turkey, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America have garnered significant interest from US investors. Specialized in capital market law, Attorney Kaan Ozcelik says the large populations, growing middle classes, and increasing technology adoption in these countries are the main attractions for US-based firms. Consequently, many firms actively seek companies with exceptional abilities, innovative ideas, and disruptive technologies regardless of their geographical location. But to him, the most important thing here to look out for is the risk management system because while FDI rates in the US get higher, the importance of applying a risk-free system is getting bigger. And a Gitnux Risk Management Report , indicating that the risk management software market is estimated to reach USD 23.57 billion by 2028, supports this idea.

In his words, US investment firms generally have a broad network and experience in the technology and venture capital sectors. They can provide valuable mentorship, guidance, and connections to foreign companies. This expertise and network can be highly appealing to technology-based companies emerging abroad as it can accelerate their growth and provide access to the US market. But these companies need to establish their corporate structures and be cautious about funding during the investment process.

A Top-Notch Consulting Service Could Make Perfect Balance Between the Investors and the New Markets

Attorney Kaan Ozcelik, a partner at Usul Ventures, a firm involved in consulting activities and having relationships with US-based fund institutions, mentioned that companies need to establish their corporate structures in the investment process and be able to determine their short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals rationally. He continued as follows:

"Startups and scale-ups that receive investments in exchange for shares can face various problems or challenges. When new investors come on board, they often acquire a percentage of the company's shares. This could lead to dilution of existing shareholders' ownership and control. At this point, it is necessary to establish the allocation of shares and management criteria. Ultimately, the investor profile I mentioned generally enters the company to evaluate liquidity, so they dont seek extra control beyond protecting the fund. Assessing the valuation of companies may not always be easy, and disagreements regarding valuation can arise between the company and the investors. So, it is necessary to work with realistic and trustworthy financial advisors, explaining all the factors related to valuation.

Indicating that new investors have specific expectations regarding the company's growth strategy and companies need to be able to construct their future projections in line with these expectations, Ozcelik emphasized the importance of striking a balance in between:

The success of the investment depends on how well the main organization can continue based on its foundations. Managing relationships with multiple investors can become complex and thats exactly when Usul Ventures gets involved to establish clear lines of communication with the investors and provide regular updates. Potential issues are easily solved by having a transparent legal service. The required support getting from Usul Ventures is important to define these bases at the beginning of the investment process, design internal mechanisms of the company in line with international corporate governance principles, and always implement a governance strategy that is transparent, open to audits, and minimizes uncertainties. It fully supports the companies, entering the investment process with its legal experts and financial team, helping them to prepare for the next level.

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MELBOURNE, Australia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Semitech Semiconductor, an innovative provider of reliable wireless and power line communication (PLC) solutions for smart grid, automotive and industrial IoT applications, today announced that its SM2400 PLC solution is now available as a Click board from MikroElektronika (MIKROE). Design engineers and system developers wishing to utilize PLC can now easily prototype their products and combine multiple functions without having to design their own board(s).



Our plug-and-play Click boards are designed to revolutionize the way developers evaluate new technologies and explore new product ideas leveraging modular, tested and affordable hardware to simplify integration and allow for later upgrade of the project or product, noted MIKROEs Head of Click Team Aleksandar Mitrovic. By adding Semitech to our roster, were opening up access to robust, versatile, high-performing PLC technology and lowering the bar for system designers to integrate it in their products.

Semitechs SM2400-based Click board can be used immediately to communicate over DC power lines and in conjunction with a coupler board to communicate over AC lines. Key benefits and features include:

Multiple communication modes via firmware downloads

Superior performance in noisy line conditions

PC-based GUI for easy evaluation and demonstration

Low system cost

Can operate on AC or DC lines

Operates in FCC band

Click boards free designers to easily evaluate our technology, experiment with our products and reduce time to market through rapid prototyping, said Sverrir Olafsson, vice president of engineering for Semitech. Making our PLC technology more accessible furthers our mission to enable robust, reliable no new wires communication that connects everything, everywhere. Our PLC Click board is a part of our overall emphasis on user friendliness and customer support. In summary, Olafsson noted that the key benefits of the Semitech PLC Click board include accessibility, modularity, and ease of evaluation, integration and prototyping.

Available through MIKROEs extensive worldwide distribution network, the PLC Click board featuring Semitech technology will be bundled with a GUI-based user application to further enable easy evaluation and testing. It supports a number of standard-based and proprietary modes offered on Semitechs SM2400 platform. For more information, please visit www.semitechsemi.com.

About Click Boards

Click boards follow a modular prototyping add-on board standard invented by MIKROE, which revolutionizes the way users add new functionalities to development boards. Click boards enable design engineers to change peripherals easily, cutting months off development time. To enable hundreds of Click boards to be connected to the microcontroller or microprocessor, we have invented socket standard  mikroBUS. This uniform connection interface allows you to connect any Click boards to a main board instantly. The company releases a new Click board nearly every day at 10am, and many leading microcontroller companies including Microchip, NXP, Infineon, STM, Analog Devices, Renesas and Silicon Labs now include the mikroBUS socket on their development boards.

About Semitech Semiconductor

Semitech Semiconductor is an innovative provider of robust, high-performance wireless and power line communication (PLC) solutions for the smart grid, automotive and industrial IoT markets. Semitech provides the most adaptable, yet cost effective, multi-modal communication solutions wirelessly and over power lines to address the diverse requirements of these markets, while avoiding the cost and complexity of additional wiring. For more information, please visit www.semitechsemi.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Stephanie Olsen

Lages & Associates

(949) 453-8080

stephanie@lages.com



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PHOENIX, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Restb.ai a pioneer in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technology in the real estate industry, today announced the successful implementation of its MLS AI Product Suite with Central Virginia Regional MLS, (CVR MLS). The deployment includes Restb.ais cutting-edge Advanced Tags and Photo Compliance solutions.



Serving over 7,300 users, CVR MLS will now offer its users the real estate industry's most proven computer vision technology offering, which will automate listing creation processes, unlock new data sets, and instantly validate property listings imagery to MLS guidelines. This advanced technology streamlines listing creation processes, unlocks fresh data sets, and instantly verifies & validates property listing images accouraging to MLS guidelines.

Restb.ai technology, which processes more than 1 billion images monthly, modernizes and speeds up the listing input process by analyzing photos and auto-populating relevant listing details extracted from the images, saving valuable time. As each listing photo is uploaded, Restb.ais industry-leading AI technology automatically detects each image's interior and exterior features, architecture styles, and room types. Tagging and labeling each image, ensures that property listings displayed on MLS and broker and agent websites comply with ADA standards.

Restb.ais Photo Compliance solution also empowers CVR MLS to automatically monitor all MLS content. It detects logos, watermarks, yard signs, people, license plates, duplicate images and more, flagging any misuse of listing photos and violations according to MLS/Association rules and regulations.

We are excited to be partnering with Restb.ai to bring this new product suite to our MLS users, said Laura Lafayette, RAR and CVR MLS CEO, CVR MLS strives to provide our users with premium tools and technology to support every aspect of their practice. Restb.ai will enhance their data quality, provide richer information to their clients, reduce hassle and save our members time when uploading listings into the MLS.

Collaborating with the proficient team at CVR MLS has been a rewarding and enlightening experience, said Lisa Larson, Restb.ai Managing Director, North America. Their commitment to delivering exceptional technology to their Membership while also focusing on replacing manual processes with AI automation is remarkable. We have also closely collaborated with their Member Support Teams to develop an effective launch strategy to inform and educate their MLS Members about the numerous benefits AI.

For a comprehensive list of MLS Product solutions visit https://restb.ai/company/press-releases/restb-ai-mls-suite .

To learn more about Restb.ai solutions for real estate, contact Managing Director Lisa Larson at lisa@restb.ai.

About CVRMLS:

The mission of the Central Virginia Regional MLS (CVR MLS) is to provide its members with the resources and services they need to conduct ethical, professional, and profitable businesses. Established in 1874, CVRMLS is owned and operated by the Richmond Association of REALTORS, central Virginias largest trade association, serving over 7300 members who live and work in the Richmond Metropolitan area. Learn more at rarealtors.com

About Restb.ai:

Restb.ai , the leader in AI and computer vision for real estate, delivers image recognition and data enrichment solutions for many of the industrys top brands and leading innovators. Its advanced AI-powered technology automatically analyzes property imagery to unlock visual insights at scale that empowers real estate companies with relevant and actionable property intelligence. Restb.ai is like having a real estate expert instantly research and provide a deep insight into each of the 1 million property photos uploaded daily.

For more information on Restb.ai, visit the website. For Restb.ai media inquiries, please contact Maya Makarem maya@restb.ai or Kevin Hawkins kevin@wavgroup.com 206.866.1220. For CVR MLS, contact llafayette@rarealtors.com.

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New York, US, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a Comprehensive Report by MRFR/Market Research Future (MRFR),  Fuel Management System Market Information By Type, Application, and Region - Forecast till 2030", The market for fuel management systems can increase from USD 0.55 billion in 2022 to USD 1.01 billion by 2030, at a rate of 7.63% between 2022 and 2030.

Fuel Management System Market Overview

The use of gasoline and stock in any business that does business by rail, road, sea, or air is controlled, monitored, and maintained by the fuel management system, which is a collection of hardware and software solutions. This system enables for tracking of delivery and usage in addition to security, management, and access to fuel stores. The majority of the time, it is used by transportation systems like trains and airplanes that need petrol to operate. Fuel management systems give you a plethora of information about your fuel use, ensuring that you use it effectively and in conformity with the law. There are various fuel supply systems that can be found in a petrol engine.

Market Competitive Landscape:

The affluent companies active in the market for fuel management systems include

Dover Fueling Solutions

The Triscan Group

Piusi S.p.a.

Franklin Fueling Systems

Timeplan Fuel Solutions

Guduza System Technologies

Banlaw

Wayne Fueling Systems LLC

Sokolis Group

Orpak Systems Ltd

Among others.



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Fuel Management System Market COVID 19 Analysis

The oil-exporting developing countries are being hit particularly hard by the combined effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the oil price shock at a time when the fossil fuel industry is experiencing a structural collapse. The majority of fragile oil exporting countries, many of which are resource dependent and were already struggling with high levels of debt and multifaceted economic and social fragility before the current crisis, will not be able to weather the current crisis on the back of sovereign wealth funds or relatively low public debt levels.

As a result of the current unrest, some nations may find themselves caught in a cycle of unsustainable borrowing. This is because developing nations that export oil have become more dependent in recent years on expensive, short-term, non-concessional private borrowing, a large portion of which is secured by oil. To create fiscal space in oil-exporting developing countries, lower the risks of unsustainable debt, corruption, and illicit financial flows (IFFs), and accelerate the transition to a greener and more sustainable future, a timely and cogent response is required, involving both concessional lenders and private financiers.

Report Scope:

Report Metrics Details Market Size 2030 2030: USD 1.01 Billion CAGR during 2022-2030 7.63% CAGR Base Year 2022 Forecast 2023-2030 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Application, and Region Key Market Opportunities Additional costs and complexity involved with the installation Key Market Dynamics Increase in fuel prices Reduction in the wastage of oil & gas with a proper increase in inventory storage An increasing number of fuel stations and growth in the automobile sector



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Fuel Management System Market USP Covered:

Market Drivers:

The demand for fuel management systems is primarily influenced by railroads. Depending on the market, fuel consumption can be divided into three categories: marine, road, railway, and aviation. The majority of the petroleum is used for maritime transportation among them. Because of the enormous rise in overall global energy consumption and the unpredictability of fuel prices, cost-effective and technologically sophisticated fuel management systems have emerged, which has led to the sector's explosive growth. Reduced fuel loss, higher productivity, and lower chances of fuelling errors are some of the aspects that are projected to speed up the growth of the fuel management system market.

Additionally, throughout the projection period, the fuel management system market will experience accelerated expansion due to increased fuel management system adoption in emerging regions, rising total energy consumption, and swift improvements in transportation infrastructure. It is anticipated that the market will expand at a faster rate due to the rising use of fuel management systems in the mining, construction, and defence sectors as well as the numerous advantages associated with their use, including higher productivity, a decrease in thefts, improved operational efficiency, and the capacity to automate processes to lower error.

Opportunities

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are two examples of cutting-edge innovation that can be used in fuel management systems to increase demand and, consequently, growth potential. The creation of sophisticated fuel management systems that are advantageous to end users is being aided by ongoing R&D initiatives. The market for fuel management systems is rapidly expanding due to all of these factors.



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Market Restraints:

A factor that can hinder the fuel management system market growth is a lack of expertise in handling car telematics software. Due to installation complexity and cyberattack susceptibility, the market for fuel management systems may face difficulties.

That being said, the launch of technologically advanced products and a growing emphasis on creative solutions are anticipated to open up lucrative opportunities for the market for fuel management systems.

Fuel Management System Market Segmentation

By Type

Card-Based, On-Site and Total Fuel Management are the three types of fuel management systems. The Fuel Management System market in 2021 was dominated by the card-based segment. Fuel cards, which are plastic cards incorporating RFID chips, can be used to buy fuel at regular petrol stations. gasoline information is automatically logged by gasoline cards that are coupled with fuel management software so that a fleet manager can access it in real-time.

By Application

Mobile Fueling Systems, Transport Fleets, and Others are among the market segments for fuel management systems, in terms of application. Fleet and fuel management systems are widely used in the transportation industry, especially to improve fuel efficiency. The use of software for truck or vehicle fuel management systems gave the overall transportation management system much-needed transparency. Additionally, the main selling point for fuel management software on the market has been automation.

Fuel Management System Market Regional Insights

During the projected period, a considerable growth rate in the Asia-Pacific Fuel Management System market is anticipated. One of the largest markets for fuel management systems is the Asia-Pacific area, which includes nations like China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia.



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The region's fuel management system market is expanding as a result of the growing adoption of fuel management systems across a number of end-use sectors, including transportation, construction, and agriculture. The expansion of new technologies like IoT and big data analytics in fuel management systems is also anticipated to contribute to the market growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Growth in the market is also anticipated to be fueled by government measures to encourage the use of fuel management systems and the rising popularity of vehicles based on hydrogen fuel cells.

Related Reports:

Automotive Engine Management System Market Research Report Information, By Engine Type, By Component, By Vehicle Type and By Region - Forecast To 2030

Automotive Battery Thermal Management Market Research Report Information By Technology Propulsion Vehicle Type And By Region - Forecast Till 2030

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New York, USA, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- US Capital Global, a leading private financial group, is pleased to announce the opening of its new Northeast regional office in New York City, further expanding the companys global footprint and strengthening its commitment to serving clients in the financial hub of the United States. The groups New York office was opened on May 18th at a grand launch reception at the University Club of New York, attended by over 200 wealth managers, family office directors, hedge fund CEOs, entrepreneurs, attorneys and accountants, and high-net-worth investors.

Headquartered in San Francisco with principal offices in Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, New York, London, Milan, Zurich, and Dubai, US Capital Global is a full-service global private financial group with an established track record in corporate finance, asset management, and capital formation services. All private placements, securities, and other related services are offered by the groups FINRA-member broker-dealer affiliate, US Capital Global Securities LLC.

We are thrilled to establish a presence in New York City, which is such an important center for finance, innovation, and entrepreneurship, said Jeffrey Sweeney, Chairman and CEO of US Capital Global. Our expansion into this vibrant market aligns with our mission to provide customized financial solutions to middle market businesses and individuals seeking growth and prosperity. We look forward to deepening our relationships with clients, partners, and the financial and business community in New York.

US Capital Globals exclusive New York launch reception was proudly sponsored by Greenberg Traurig LLP, ev Transportation Services, Condition One Nutrition, and Phoenix CG, LLC. The event was followed the next day by a Referral Agent Lunch and Program at the University Club, with presentations by Charles Towle, COO and Managing Partner of US Capital Global, and David Forman, CEO of Phoenix CG, LLC.

With guests travelling from as far off as Israel, India, and Brazil, the New York launch reception was a tremendous success, said Charles Towle. I would like to thank our generous sponsors and all the guests who attended this lively gathering, the first of many to come. Our Referral Agent Lunch the next day, which was attended by over forty referral agents, was a valuable opportunity to deepen our relationship with our dynamic network of referral agents and contacts. With a focus on innovation, integrity, and client satisfaction, our US Capital Global team is committed to delivering personalized financial solutions to drive growth and maximize value.

Mitchell R. Cohen, Esq., Senior Vice President and Partner, who leads the groups regional office in Philadelphia and now New York City, said, Our US Capital Global team could not be more enthusiastic about the launch of our New York regional office. Under the leadership of Jeffrey Sweeney, our founder and CEO, and Charles Towle, our COO and Managing Partner, we celebrated the launch at a reception at the University Club of New York, attended by over 200 guests. We look forward to continuing to expand our international investment banking and wealth management presence to the Northeast, having recently also opened an office in Philadelphia, and to working closely in the region with our clients, referral sources, and contacts.



About US Capital Global

Established in 1998, US Capital Global leverages the latest FinTech and RegTech innovation to provide sophisticated debt, equity, and investment products to lower middle market companies and investors. The US Capital Global group manages direct investment funds and provides wealth management, M&A, and capital raise services through its affiliates, including US Capital Global Investment Management LLC, US Capital Global Wealth Management LLC, and its FINRA-registered broker-dealer, US Capital Global Securities LLC. The group collaborates closely with its peers in professional banking and investment advisory. www.uscapglobal.com

To learn more about US Capital Global and its services, email Mitchell R. Cohen, Senior Vice President and Partner, at mcohen@uscapglobal.com or call +1 609-828-1788.

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Smithtown, New York, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Smithtown, NY (June 6, 2023): Americas VetDogs, a Smithtown, NY based national nonprofit that provides service dogs to military veterans, first responders and active-duty service members with disabilities, is honored to announce it has received a $18,000 grant from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, which will help fund its PTSD Service Dog Program. PTSD Service Dog training program is designed specifically for veterans who have been diagnosed with combat related post-traumatic stress. A PTSD service dog from Americas VetDogs is specially trained in specific tasks and skills that help mitigate the symptoms of PTSD to provide the emotional and physical support a veteran might need.

Americas VetDogs is extremely grateful to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation for its generous grant to support our mission of helping those who have served our country, said Americas VetDogs president and CEO, John Miller. This grant will be invaluable to our PTSD program by allowing us to increase our capacity to train and place more highly trained dogs to help change the lives of veterans.

Joseph VanFonda (USMC Sgt.Maj. Ret.), CEO of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation said, Americas VetDogs program provides the emotional and physical support that is much needed by placing these highly trained service dog with the right veteran in need.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, the Americas VetDogs programs were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans of all eras, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to live with pride and self-reliance once again. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities, but it also helps to motivate the individual to tackle everyday challenges.



Americas VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical and emotional disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals.

It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of Americas VetDogs services are provided at no charge to the individual. Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.

About the Disabled Veterans National Foundation

Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to provide critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military woundedphysically or psychologicallyafter defending our safety and our freedom.

DVNF achieves this mission by:

Offering direct financial support to veteran organizations that address the unique needs of veterans, and whose missions align with that of DVNF.

Providing supplemental assistance to homeless and low-income veterans through the Health & Comfort program and various empowerment resources.

Providing an online resource database that allows veterans to navigate the complex process of seeking benefits that they are entitled to as a result of their military service, as well as additional resources they need.

Serving as a thought leader on critical policy issues within the veteran community and educating the public accordingly.



About Americas VetDogs

For 20 years, Americas VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, Americas VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Americas VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. Americas VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but Americas VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. Americas VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

Disabled Veterans National Foundation Contact:

Communications Team

Datamize

explore@datamize.ai

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The construction of the new docks will significantly bolster the Fajardo community, driving job creation and strengthening tourism







SAN JUAN, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marina Puerto Chico, in partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, has secured a substantial Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) of $1.137 million. This funding will significantly propel the Fajardo communitys transient marina project.

This grant is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services BIG program, which recently awarded over $20 million for 2023. The BIG initiative facilitates states and territories in developing, refurbishing, and maintaining marinas and other boating infrastructure to boost outdoor recreation.

Marina Puerto Chico, demonstrating unwavering commitment towards the projects success, has applied for the grant and pledged to contribute an additional $968,582. These funds will ensure the projects successful execution in all phases.

The construction of the new docks, fueled by rising demand from transient boaters, will significantly bolster the Fajardo community, driving job creation and strengthening tourism. The grant will facilitate the construction of 41 slips, including 19 transient slips, via a floating wave attenuator. Tailoring this marina investment aims to entice both local and out-of-state boaters for short-term stays, thus not conflicting with local marinas catering to long-term tenants.

The transient marinas proposed features will include 40 to 50 new slips accommodating various boat sizes up to 50 feet and amenities such as a restroom/shower building, sanitary pumpout facilities, an ADA compliant gangway, and a fuel dock. Moreover, the construction of the docks and floating wave attenuator will aid in mitigating the impact from waves and storms.

Marlon Mellado, CEO of Grand Caribbean Marinas, disclosed that the projects total estimated cost stands at $4.5 million as of January. This transformative project signifies a significant stride in enhancing boating infrastructure and promoting tourism in the Fajardo community.

For Further Information at the Company:

Corporate Communications

www.gcmarinas.com

info@gcmarinas.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/13cae903-b1cf-49f3-8f59-3848dc9c3ba2
FORT MYERS, Fla., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) announced that six research papers, co-authored by AON physicians and the vice president of pharmacy operations, were accepted and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2023 Annual Meeting, which was held on June 2 and ended on June 6.

The following abstracts were selected either for poster discussions or presentations during the conference:

I am proud that our abstract has been selected for discussion at this years ASCO annual meeting, said Chang. It is important for a community oncology practice to have a strategy in adopting biosimilars so that we can stay competitive and be able to deliver quality care at the same time as controlling costs. Our study results demonstrate that AONs Pharmacist-Driven Biosimilar Substitution Program has not only increased the adoption of biosimilars but has also significantly reduced costs for patients, payers and providers.

I am extremely proud to represent the AON network at ASCO with four accepted abstracts, said Chaudhry. I strongly feel that clinical trials need to be available for our patients in the community setting. This fits with the broader AON mission.

Our physicians and leaders are at the forefront of cancer care, committed to discovering new findings that improve treatments for not only their patients but the millions of Americans facing cancer diagnoses, said AON Chief Executive Officer Todd Schonherz. Congratulations to Dr. Boccia, Dr. Chaudhry and Ms. Chang. To have their studies featured at the ASCO Annual Meeting is an honor not only for them but for all of AON.

The ASCO Annual Meeting brings together todays top leaders in healthcare. Over the course of several days, attendees can attend over 200 sessions that support the years theme of Partnering with Patients: The Cornerstone of Cancer Care and Research created by Dr. Eric Winer, president of ASCO.

Cancer is constantly evolving and that creates challenges for physicians who are working to develop the most effective therapy regime for their patients, said AON Research Committee Chairman Dr. Boccia, Board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. It is our duty to remain vigilant in research and education so that we can provide patients with quality care and treatments. The physicians within our network are dedicated to closing the cancer care gap, which starts by researching and then sharing the latest findings in cancer.

Several of AONs practices are research sites, including four that are strategic research sites for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute and six additional practices offering diverse clinical trials to their patients. AON practices actively enroll patients in more than 150 clinical trials. These services are offered at a community level and close to where patients live, which has been beneficial to patients' overall cancer journey.

At AON, our goal is to bring high-quality cancer care and treatments to all communities and that includes cancer research and clinical trials, said Boccia. When these resources and support are available in the communities where patients live, we can continue to serve patients with the best care possible.

For more information about AON, visit aoncology.com/.

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About American Oncology Network, LLC

The American Oncology Network, LLC (AON), an Inc. 5000-recognized company, is an alliance of physicians and seasoned healthcare leaders partnering to ensure the long-term success of community oncology. Launched in 2018, the rapidly expanding AON network represents 106 physicians and 86 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 17 states. The executive management team of AON encompasses more than three decades of oncology practice management experience, enabling physicians to focus on what matters most  providing the highest quality care for patients.

The organization provides unique and comprehensive protocols for managing administrative procedures and enhancing ancillary services for its affiliates. AON is able to aggregate volume and attain economies of scale, as it guides its member physicians and practices through the transition to value-based reimbursement models that improve the patient experience and help to reduce the per-capita cost of cancer care.

AON also provides a unique model of physician-led, community-based oncology management. With services such as a centralized specialty pharmacy, diagnostics, pathology, fully integrated electronic medical records, a care management team and a variety of financial assistance programs, an alliance with AON ensures that patients experiences are at the very pinnacle of cancer care today. Learn more at AONcology.com.

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Fort Wayne, Ind., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Wayne Metals, a leading manufacturer of precision wire-based materials and components, acquired certain equipment and assets to support tantalum production from Plansee SE, a leading materials manufacturer located in Austria.



The acquisition, which closed on Jan. 9, 2023, capitalizes on Fort Wayne Metals long-time processing capabilities  including three decades of tantalum wiredrawing expertise  to better serve existing and new customers in the capacitor market and across the medical industry. Tantalum is a refractory metal that is well suited for highly demanding environments because of its resistance to heat and corrosion and overall durability.



For the last 20 years, Plansee has been supplying tantalum wire to Fort Wayne Metals where it undergoes further processing before being shipped to customers for use in various medical devices. After Plansee shared their plan to terminate tantalum operations, Fort Wayne Metals saw an opportunity to expand its portfolio of processing capabilities by purchasing the wiredrawing equipment from the facility in Liezen, Austria.

The strong partnership we have built with Plansee is due to our mutual interest in innovative solutions, product quality, and reliability, says Scott Glaze, Chairman and CEO of Fort Wayne Metals. By further bolstering our position as a custom manufacturer of tantalum wire, Fort Wayne Metals will be able to integrate our technical expertise, processing capabilities, and value-added services to better support our customers worldwide.



Plansee leadership expressed appreciation for its collaboration with Fort Wayne Metals over the past two decades. We are confident that Fort Wayne Metals will manufacture high-quality tantalum products for existing and future customers, says Ulrich Lausecker, Executive Board Member of Plansee High Performance Materials.



Plansee staff have been instrumental in training Fort Wayne Metals personnel on the operation of the equipment in both Austria and Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne Metals plans to have tantalum processing operations ready to launch by the end of 2023.



###





About Fort Wayne Metals

Fort Wayne Metals Research Products, LLC manufactures precision wire-based materials that our customers use in medical technologies around the world to improve peoples lives. For more than 50 years, we have supported the advancement of medical devices by providing an array of innovative products, technical expertise, and value-added services. Our ability to draw wire to ultrafine sizes, to maximize the mechanical performance of alloys, and to customize materials to exact specifications has enabled us to also supply to non-medical markets, including aerospace. Learn more at www.fwmetals.com.

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BALTIMORE, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Farms announces the opening of its second location in North Carolina in Greenville on June 15th.



The first location in Grandy, NC opened on May 1st and additional stores will follow in New Bern, Lumberton, Kinston, and Jacksonville, NC. Royal Farms has plans to open more locations in other areas of the state to bring more convenient options to North Carolinas communities.

The Greenville location will provide the community with access to our signature World-Famous fried chicken, fresh-baked goods, and a variety of North Carolinas popular side dishes: potato salad, mac and cheese, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and other delicious menu items. Royal Farms customers enjoy our freshly brewed hot or iced coffee from Swiss-Made brewing machines that grind whole Arabica beans seconds before brewing.

We are very excited to open our second location in North Carolina. Greenville offers a diverse community full of families, students and professionals who we know will enjoy our World-Famous chicken complimented with some Texas Pete's Original Hot Sauce! Said District Leader, Elaina Leatherbury.

Royal Farms maintains our mission of giving back to the communities we serve with a monetary donation to two local organizations: James and Connie Maynard Childrens Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and East Carolina University Foundation. We look forward to continuing our involvement in the community and encourage first responders in uniform to visit Royal Farms for a free coffee at any time.

A carwash will be available at the Greenville location and free carwashes can be earned through the Royal Farms rewards program RoFo Rewards. Customers can sign up for RoFo Rewards on the Royal Farms mobile app or on RofoRewards.com. RoFo Rewards Members save money throughout the year, earn fuel discounts, receive rewards for everyday purchases, and redeem other surprise freebie offers.

How to Register as a RoFo Rewards Member

Download the Royal Farms app here: https://engagement.punchh.com/b/royalfarms Store and click "Sign Up" to create a RoFo Rewards account. You can also visit https://www.roforewards.com/register/ to create an account.

About RoFo Rewards

By registering a RoFo Rewards card or downloading our app you gain access to special member offers and can earn rewards points on purchases. Every time you visit Royal Farms and make a purchase, you'll receive 2 points for every dollar you spend, and one point for every gallon of gas you purchase. If you upgrade your card to RoFo Pay, you will also receive a discount on gas when you use your RoFo Rewards card to pay at the pump except for New Jersey Stores. You can keep track of points and offers at www.royalfarms.com/rewards or by downloading the RoFo Rewards app on your phone.

For more information, please contact Aliyah Atayee at aatayee@royalfarms.com.

For those interested in working for Royal Farms, please visit https://careers.royalfarms.com/ . Royal Farms offers competitive pay, medical and dental insurance, a 401(K)-retirement plan, opportunities for advancement, flexible schedules, vacation time, and our employee store discount.
English Spanish

MONTERREY, Mexico, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA or the Company) (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD, FEMSAUB) announced that it has reached two key milestones in certain transactions set forth in its FEMSA Forward strategy, as laid out in February of this year:



Divestiture of FEMSAs remaining investment in Heineken. Following a series of market transactions, FEMSA has divested its minority investment in Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V., retaining only a residual amount of shares to meet its obligations under its already issued Exchangeable Bonds.



Definitive agreement to divest FEMSAs minority stake in Jetro Restaurant Depot. Subject to customary closing conditions, FEMSA will receive total cash consideration of US$1,400 million, with approximately US$467 million payable at closing in the second quarter of 2023, and the remainder payable over a two-year term.



As announced in February of this year, FEMSA Forward laid the path for FEMSA to maximize long-term value creation by becoming a highly focused platform built on its three core business verticals: Retail, Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Digital. To achieve such a structure, FEMSA committed to several important initiatives, and last week FEMSA successfully completed two of them under favorable terms and conditions, generating significant value for FEMSA.

Daniel Rodriguez Cofre, FEMSAs Chief Executive Officer, commented:

Less than four months ago and following the definition and approval of FEMSAs long-range plan, we communicated our conviction that the best way to continue creating value at FEMSA is through a structure that focuses solely on our core business verticals, where we have built leading platforms, and that have proven capabilities, financial strength, and dynamic avenues for growth.

Last week, we announced the completion of two important steps on the path to that structure. Our team executed these complex transactions with determination, speed, and excellence, realizing positive results for our shareholders and moving us closer to our objective.

FEMSAs management team continues to work diligently to execute the rest of the strategy as directed by FEMSAs Board of Directors, while continuing the strong operating momentum and solid performance seen through the beginning of the year.

About FEMSA

FEMSA is a company that creates economic and social value through companies and institutions and strives to be the best employer and neighbor to the communities in which it operates. It participates in the retail industry through a Proximity Americas Division operating OXXO, a small-format store chain, and other related retail formats, and Proximity Europe which includes Valora, our European retail unit which operates convenience and foodvenience formats. In the retail industry it also participates though a Health Division, which includes drugstores and related activities and Digital@FEMSA, which includes Spin by OXXO and Spin Premia, among other digital financial services initiatives. In the beverage industry, it participates through Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world by volume. FEMSA also participates in the logistics and distribution industry through its Strategic Business Unit, which additionally provides point-of-sale refrigeration and plastic solutions to its business units and third-party clients. Across its business units, FEMSA has more than 350,000 employees in 18 countries. FEMSA is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability MILA Pacific Alliance, the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and the Mexican Stock Exchange Sustainability Index: S&P/BMV Total Mexico ESG, among other indexes that evaluate its sustainability performance.




Nickel 28 Capital Corp. ("Nickel 28" or the "Company") (TSXV: NKL) (FSE: 3JC0) announces that the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") today granted a petition brought by Maurice Swan, an independent director of Nickel 28 and the chair of Nickel 28's annual general and special meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders, scheduled for June 12, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time). As requested by Mr. Swan, the Court confirmed that the purported advance notice of Pelham Investment Partners LP ("Pelham"), to nominate directors for election at Meeting, did not comply with the advance notice provisions in the Company's articles (the "Advance Notice Provisions"). Accordingly, Pelham's purported nomination of directors will not be considered at the Meeting. The Court also awarded Nickel 28 and Mr. Swan their costs of the proceeding against Pelham.

At the same time, the Court also dismissed a petition by Pelham seeking, among other things, an order waiving Pelham's non-compliance with the Advance Notice Provisions, and the appointment of an independent chair of the Meeting. The Court also ordered Pelham to pay to Nickel 28 costs of Pelham's proceeding.

In seeking relief from the Court, and in opposing Mr. Swan's petition, Pelham offered no explanation other than inadvertence for its failure to comply with the Advance Notice Provisions. Pelham's failure was consistent with its conduct throughout the course of its pursuit of Nickel 28, in which Pelham has acted without regard for rules that apply to all of the Company's shareholders. The Board reminds shareholders to remain vigilant against Pelham's repeated attempts to take control of the Company.

The Company is also providing further disclosure in respect of the Company's director nominees set forth in the Company's management information circular (the "Circular") dated May 10, 2023 and the supplement to the Circular dated May 27, 2023 (the "Supplement"), which was filed on SEDAR on May 29, 2023, and is available under the document type "Other". Philip Williams was previously disclosed as the lead independent director of the Company in the Circular and the Company's other continuous disclosure documents; however, as a result of Anthony Milewski's service on the compensation committee of Consolidated Uranium Inc. ("CUR"), of which Mr. Williams serves as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Williams ceased to be independent as of December 3, 2020, being the date Mr. Milewski commenced his service on the CUR compensation committee. Mr. Milewski has resigned from and no longer serves as a member of the CUR compensation committee, and Nickel 28 previously issued the Supplement to correct prior disclosures about Mr. Williams' status. The Supplement identifies Mr. Williams as a non-independent director and as such, Mr. Williams is no longer the lead independent director of the Company, and neither the Board nor audit committee are majority independent nor are the compensation committee or the nominating and corporate governance committee comprised entirely of independent directors, in each case as previously disclosed in the Circular and the Company's other continuous disclosure documents. The Company's continuous disclosure will reflect Mr. Williams as a non-independent director going forward. The issuance and filing of this press release is intended to correct and clarify the disclosure contained in the Circular and the Supplement and has been authorized by an executive officer of the Company.

Your aligned and shareholder focused Board urges its fellow shareholders to vote the BLUE Proxy or BLUE VIF FOR Nickel 28's five director nominees to continue Nickel 28's proven strategy for value creation and strong momentum. Nickel 28 encourages you to vote well before the proxy voting deadline on June 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time).

The Circular and the Supplement provide important information on the business of the meeting, including Nickel 28's Board, as well as related matters such as voting procedures and how to attend the Meeting. Shareholders are urged to read the Circular and Supplement carefully and in their entirety. The Circular and Supplement are available on Nickel 28's website at www.ProtectNKL28.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com with the Supplement having been filed on May 29, 2023 and being available under the document type "Other".

If you have any questions or need help voting your shares, please contact Kingsdale Advisors toll free in North America at 1-888-518-1557, or call collect from outside North America at 416-867-2272, or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com if you need assistance with voting your shares.

Advisors

Stikeman Elliott LLP and Bennett Jones LLP are acting as legal counsel to Nickel 28. BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Nickel 28. Kingsdale Advisors is acting as strategic shareholder advisor to Nickel 28. Gagnier Communications LLC is acting as strategic communications advisor to Nickel 28.

About Nickel 28

Nickel 28 Capital Corp. is a nickel-cobalt producer through its 8.56% joint-venture interest in the producing, long-life and world-class Ramu Nickel-Cobalt Operation located in Papua New Guinea. Ramu provides Nickel 28 with significant attributable nickel and cobalt production thereby offering our shareholders direct exposure to two metals which are critical to the adoption of electric vehicles. In addition, Nickel 28 manages a portfolio of 10 nickel and cobalt royalties on development, pre-feasibility and exploration projects in Canada, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain information which constitutes 'forward-looking statements' and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to the Meeting and matters relating thereto. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, most of which are beyond the Company's control. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005919/en/

Contact

Investor Contact:

Justin Cochrane, President

Tel: + 1 289 314 4766

Email: info@nickel28.com

Kingsdale Advisors

Tel: 1-888-518-1557 or 416-867-2272

Email: contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com

Media:

Gagnier Communications

Riyaz Lalani & Dan Gagnier

Tel: +1 416 305 1459

Email: NKL28@gagnierfc.com
Montreal, June 6, 2023 - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTCQB: MNXXF) ("Manganese X" or the "Company") proudly announces significant advancements at its 100% owned Battery Hill Manganese Deposit, marking a crucial step towards the pre-feasibility stage. The completion of the Company's pre-feasibility diamond drilling program, focused on expanding measured and indicated resources, has yielded exceptional results. Furthermore, the Company has initiated environment studies in collaboration with WSP E&I Canada Ltd. ("WSP"), further reinforcing the commitment to responsible mining practices.

Key highlights from the final 26 holes of the 36-hole program, conducted at the Moody Hill and Sharpe Farm sectors of the Battery Hill deposit are truly impressive. Notably, Manganese X has expanded the overall mineralization with the discovery of two new zones, Sharpe Farm West Peripheral and Moody Hill Northwest, west of the main deposits.

Key Highlights (See full assay results in Table 1 and Figure 1 - Drill Plan Map)

29.1 metres (m) of 14.4% manganese oxide ("MnO") starting at 90.5m in SF23-73

80.3m of 11.5% MnO including 32.2m of 16.9% MnO starting at 7.8 metres in SF23-76

60.6 metres of 11.0% MnO starting at 29.4 m, including 47.5m of 20.4% MnO in SF23-80

73.6 metres of 10.7% MnO starting at 67.5 m, including 29.1 m of 13.8% MnO in SF23-90

45.9m of 12.9% MnO starting at 33.1m and 31.1m of 11% MnO starting at 104.3m in SF23-91

44.2m of 11.1% MnO starting at 23.8m in SF23-92

CEO Martin Kepman commented, "The remarkable continuity observed within the manganese horizons during the 36-hole infilling drill program at Battery Hill is truly exciting. We eagerly await the updated mineral resource estimate, which, combined with our ongoing environmental and geotechnical studies, are pivotal milestones in our preparation for the upcoming pre-feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment. We extend our sincere appreciation to the private landowners for their support and engagement throughout the drilling program and the environmental activities. As we progress with this 'green energy' project, we remain committed to fostering continuous communication and collaboration with the local communities and First Nations."

Manganese X steadfastly pursues its mission to become the first publicly traded mining company in Canada and the United States to commercialize high-purity electric-vehicle compliant manganese, revolutionizing the mining industry with sustainable practices and innovation.

Work programs in collaboration with WSP also include archaeology, air quality, geotechnical studies concerning water flow, geochemistry and rock mechanics. These studies will support the planned Province of New Brunswick Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the pre-feasibility study for the project.

Table 1

Battery Hill 2023 Drill Hole Intercepts Moody West Zone SF23-68 28 metres of 10.2% MnO starting at 67 metres, incl. 18m of 11.5% MnO SF23-93 61.5m of 7.4% MnO starting at 10.5m, incl. 16m of 11.1% MnO Moody Central Zone SF23-69 14m of 8.4% MnO starting at 94m SF23-70 21m of 7.2% MnO starting at 80m SF23-71 27m of 10.4% MnO starting at 46m SF23-72 14m of 11% MnO starting at 85m Moody East Zone SF23-73 29.1m of 14.4% MnO starting at 90.5m Sharpe Farm West Zone SF23-74 20.8m of 6.3% MnO starting at 57.5m SF23-75 14.5m of 11% MnO starting at 39m SF23-84 43m of 7.7% MnO starting at surface, incl. 18.9m of 10.7% MnO SF23-90 73.6m of 10.7% starting at 67.5m, incl. 29.1m of 13.8% MnO SF23-91 45.9m of 12.9% starting at 34.5m and 31.1m of 11% starting at 104.3m SF23-92 44m of 11.1% MnO starting at 23.8m and 35.2m of 8.8% MnO starting at 80.8m Sharpe Farm West Peripheral Zone SF23-85 15.7m of 9.8% MnO starting at 25.5m, and 21.3m of 8% MnO starting at 69.7m SF23-86 76.1m of 7.7% MnO starting at 60.9m incl. 62.1m of 8.4% MnO, and 37m of 10.4% MnO SF23-87 23.8m of 9.8% MnO starting at 50m Sharpe Farm East Zone SF23-76 80.3m of 11.5% MnO starting at 7.8m, including 32.2m of 16.9% MnO SF23-77 51.5m of 9.2% MnO starting at 20m SF23-78 47.5m of 10.1% MnO starting at 45.6m SF23-79 60.6m of 11% MnO starting at 29.4m SF23-80 66.3m of 11.2% MnO starting at 41.7m including 47.5m of 20.4% MnO SF23-81 42m of 10.4% MnO starting at 59m SF23-82 40.8m of 10.8% MnO starting at 44m SF23-83 29.75m of 10.8% MnO starting at 14m and 58m of 10.6% MnO starting at 58m Moody Hill Northwest Zone SF23-88 16.9m of 15.7% MnO starting at 64.6m and 18m of 8.8% MnO starting at 94.6m SF23-89 23.4m of 14.3% MnO starting at 49.7m

Most of the targets are near vertical and all but one hole was drilled at 45 degrees. True widths are estimated to range from 65-80% of core length.

Standard protocols and industry standard practices were employed in logging and sampling the core. QA/QC practices included insertion of Certified Standards, blanks and duplicates, each consisting of 5% of the total samples. Check assays of 5% of the samples are being sent to a second laboratory. Samples averaged 2 metres in width. All initial half-core samples were taken by Company personnel to the Actlabs prep lab in Fredericton, New Brunswick where they were prepped and the pulps forwarded to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, where XRF-Fusion Whole Rock Analysis (Code 4C) was performed. Actlabs is an accredited analysis laboratory.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Perry MacKinnon, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration of Manganese X and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Figure 1: Battery Hill Drill Plan Map



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2487/168855_475a4c7de4e05b76_002full.jpg

About Manganese X Energy Corp.

Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and the United States to commercialize electric-vehicle-compliant high-purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

Subsidiary Disruptive Battery Corp.'s mission is to develop an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) air purification delivery system for cleaner and healthier air, aiming to mitigate COVID-19 and other contaminants on surfaces and in the air.

For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Manganese X Energy Corp.

Martin Kepman

CEO and Director

Email: martin@kepman.com

Tel: 1-514-802-1814

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Company, such as exploration plans and the ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168855
Vancouver, June 6, 2023 - Atco Mining Inc. (the "Company" or "Atco") (CSE:ATCM) (Frankfurt:QP9) (US:ATMGF) is pleased to provide the following project and corporate update following the Company's identification of multiple high-priority targets on its 100%-owned salt projects in the prolific St. George's Bay Basin in southwestern Newfoundland.

Project Update

During the first quarter, Atco announced positive results from its 816-line kilometer airborne gravity survey over its 100%-owned licenses in southwestern Newfoundland's St. George Basin, known for hosting large, salt-dome structures. The results of the geophysical survey confirmed the presence of two to three high-priority, oval-shaped gravity and magnetic-low features that are consistent with the interpretation of salt-dome structures.

Given their unique ability to store hydrogen underground in hollowed-out caverns, salt domes are beginning to play an important role in the hydrogen-side of the ongoing clean energy transition.

Wind-generated electricity is capable of powering water electrolysis to produce hydrogen, which can be used to either fuel vehicles or be stored for later use in fuel cells to generate electricity during times of low wind and solar output. The island of Newfoundland is known to be one of the windiest places on earth. It is also an ideal geo-political business climate for new wind energy ventures, making the province a potential global leader in the conversion of wind energy to hydrogen from a logistics and political standpoint.

In April, 2022, Newfoundland's Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology announced that for the first time in 15 years, the province will allow companies to generate and export onshore wind energy, saying the province's relentless winds are now available to be harnessed.

On March 24, 2023, Newfoundland provided an update on its call for bids for Crown land for wind energy development. A total of 19 companies submitted bids to the provincial government to build wind energy projects. According to government, those companies passing Phase One review will proceed to the next phase beginning May 2023 and Atco's board and management are expecting an update shortly.

On May 17, 2023, World Energy GH2, one of Canada's premier renewable energy companies, launched a CAD$16-billion project to produce 250,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually from a new facility powered by wind turbines on Newfoundland's west coast and in Labrador, announced that they are receiving an initial $50-million (U.S.) investment in its $4.2-billion wind-hydrogen project from SK Ecoplant for a 20% stake in the GH2 project, which includes 164 wind turbines that will power hydrogen and ammonia plants in southwestern Newfoundland. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met several weeks ago and signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals, clean-energy transition and energy security.

The World Energy GH2 investment comes on the back of the Hydrogen Alliance announcement between Canada and Germany, which aims to export hydrogen to Germany by 2025. The announcement was made in southwestern Newfoundland, where Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz announced a transatlantic supply corridor for clean energy through the transportation of ammonia/hydrogen.

Atco is one of the largest publicly-traded land holders in the St. Georges Bay Basin in southwestern Newfoundland, a massive catalyst for the Company which reaffirms its vision of becoming a significant player in hydrogen storage in the region.

Interim CEO

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has appointed Etienne Moshevich as interim CEO and to its Board of Directors. Mr. Moshevich replaces Alex Klenman who will remain with the Company as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Charanjit Hayre has resigned from his position on the Board of Directors and has been replaced by Mr. Moshevich.

"As the founder and single-largest shareholder of Atco Mining, I am extremely excited to be appointed to the helm. Our company is one of the largest land-holders in what could become one of the most sought-after green-energy districts in the world. I feel the Company is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the massive investment inflow into this prolific basin. I am aligned with all shareholders and will do everything I can to turn Atco into a major success story. It is imperative that Atco has a clear focus and vision that will be accretive to all shareholders and that is what I plan to accomplish. I look forward to keeping shareholders informed over the coming months with our progress."

Mr. Moshevich currently owns and controls 3,516,000 shares of the company and is the founder of Transcend Capital Inc., an investor relations company that has served a multitude of clients since 2012.

The Company would like to thank Mr. Klenman for his services as CEO since inception of the Company and is pleased to have him continue to stay on the Board. In addition, we would like to thank Mr. Hayre for his hard work and dedication to the Company over the last several years and wish him all the very best for his future endeavors.

QP Statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by Neil McCallum B.Sc., P.Geo., of Dahrouge Geological Consulting, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Atco Mining (CSE: ATCM):

Atco is a junior exploration mining company focused on exploring for green energy metals throughout Canada. Atco is also exploring for sulphide-rich VHMS deposits in Saskatchewan as well as salt opportunities in Western Newfoundland. Investors are encouraged to visit the company's website here: www.atcomining.com.

For further information contact:

Atco Mining Inc.

Email: info@atcomining.com

Telephone: (604) 681-0084

www.atcomining.com

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 news release. The Canadian Securities has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
NYSE American: EU

TSXV: EU

www.encoreuranium.com

DALLAS, June 6, 2023 - enCore Energy Corp. ("enCore" or the "Company") (NYSE American: EU) (TSXV: EU) announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement with Anfield Energy Inc. ("Anfield") (TSXV: AEC) (OTCQB: ANLDF) whereby Anfield will acquire, from enCore, the Marquez-Juan Tafoya Uranium Project located in New Mexico in exchange for C$5,000,000 in cash and 185,000,000 of its common shares. This is the third transaction in enCore's ongoing program of divesting uranium assets that are not in its production pipeline.

William M. Sheriff, enCore's Executive Chairman stated: "enCore has acquired a series of quality U.S. projects through several mergers and acquisitions at a time when there were few competitors due to the industry downturn of recent years. We are now capitalizing on those assets that do not meet our criteria for development such as early-stage projects and, in this case, an advanced project that is conventional in nature rather than In-Situ Recovery (ISR)-amenable."

"By gaining a significant equity interest in Anfield, a company dedicated to conventional uranium development, we gain an immediate cash payment and participation as a significant shareholder in their broad portfolio of advanced projects in the southwestern United States. Anfield holds one of the very few licensed conventional uranium mills in the US making them a logical and desirable developer of the Marquez-Juan Tafoya asset. With board representation, and the right to maintain our leading shareholder position, we look forward to our involvement with Anfield as they advance this key project along with their other conventional assets," Sheriff said.

Pursuant to the Agreement, on closing of the Transaction, enCore will have the right to one seat on the board of directors of Anfield, which will be ongoing for so long as enCore holds at least 10% of the issued shares of Anfield. enCore will have the right to maintain its percentage equity interest in Anfield in subsequent share issuances as long as it holds at least 10% of the issued shares of Anfield.

Pursuant to the agreement, Anfield will, on closing, acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Neutron Energy, Inc. ("Neutron"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Transaction") which holds the Marquez-Juan Tafoya Uranium Project as its sole asset.

Closing of the Transaction is anticipated to take place on or before July 21, 2023 and is subject to stock exchange approval and other customary conditions. Red Cloud Securities Inc. acted as an advisor in connection with the Transaction.

About enCore Energy Corp.

enCore Energy Corp. is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable domestic nuclear energy by becoming the next United States uranium producer in 2023. enCore solely utilizes In-Situ Recovery (ISR) for uranium extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the leaders at enCore Energy. In-Situ Recovery extracts uranium in a non-invasive process using natural groundwater and oxygen, coupled with a proven ion exchange process, to recover the uranium. Uranium production is planned at enCore's licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant in 2023, and at its licensed and past-producing South Texas Alta Mesa Processing Plant in 2024. Future projects in enCore's production pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming, along with significant uranium resource endowments in New Mexico providing long term opportunities. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore diligently works to realize value from other owned assets, including our proprietary uranium database that includes technical information from many past producing companies, from our various non-core assets, and by leveraging our ISR expertise in researching opportunities that support the use of this technology as applied to other metals. enCore is also committed to working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments.

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information contained in this news release, including: statements pertaining to the Transaction, the Company and Anfield's ability to satisfy the closing conditions of the Transaction, the Company and Anfield's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange, any information relating to the Company being a leading uranium company; and any other statements regarding future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects; may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws and regulations (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "expects", "is expected", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken) should be considered forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of enCore to implement its business strategies; and other risks. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation exploration and development risks, changes in commodity prices, access to skilled mining personnel, the results of exploration and development activities; production risks; uninsured risks; regulatory risks; defects in title; the availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government approvals and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations; risks posed by the economic and political environments in which the Company operates and intends to operate; increased competition; assumptions regarding market trends and the expected demand and desires for the Company's products and proposed products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers, suppliers and others; the failure to adequately protect intellectual property; the failure to adequately manage future growth; adverse market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing regulatory requirements and factors relating to forward looking statements listed above which include risks as disclosed in the Company's annual information form filings. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the various securities commissions which are available online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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SOURCE enCore Energy Corp.
Vancouver, June 6, 2023 - HighGold Mining Inc. (TSXV: HIGH) (OTCQX: HGGOF) ("HighGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has granted a final order approving the Company's previously announced Plan of Arrangement (the "Arrangement") under Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "BCBCA") involving HighGold and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Onyx Gold Corp. ("Onyx Gold"). For details regarding the Arrangement, see the news releases of the Company dated May 24, 2023, March 17, 2023 and February 22, 2023.

The Arrangement is expected to become effective on or about June 6, 2023, subject to, among other things, HighGold obtaining final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") of the Arrangement and other conditions customary in transactions of this nature. As a reminder, those HighGold shareholders as of the effective date (on or about June 6, 2023) will receive one (1) share of Onyx Gold for every four (4) shares of HighGold.

About HighGold

HighGold is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade gold projects located in North America. HighGold's flagship asset is the high-grade Johnson Tract Gold-Zinc-Copper Project located in accessible Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Company also controls one of the largest junior gold miner land positions in the Timmins, Ontario gold camp. This includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization, and the large Golden Mile and Timmins South properties. HighGold also has 100% ownership of a group of properties in Yukon's emerging new Selwyn Basin Reduced Intrusive Related Gold district. HighGold's experienced Board and senior management team, are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

On Behalf of HighGold Mining Inc.

"Darwin Green"

President & CEO

For further information, please visit the HighGold Mining Inc. website at www.highgoldmining.com, or contact:

Darwin Green, President & CEO or Naomi Nemeth, VP Investor Relations

Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165

Email: information@highgoldmining.com.

Website: www.highgoldmining.com

Twitter: @HighgoldMining

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.

Forward-looking statements: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's plans to complete the Arrangement and the anticipated closing date of the Arrangement are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include, among other things, the ability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals for the Arrangement, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168950
Why Aren't More Women in Top Government Positions?

'If You Can See It, You Can Be It'

How quickly are women advancing in local government? Not quickly enough, according to researchers and government officials who focus on gender equity.Late last year, National Research Center, Inc., released data it had collected over the last five years from 20,000 local government workers in more than 40 jurisdictions. Its survey reveals some gender disparities: 39 percent of men rated their opportunities for promotion as excellent or good, compared to only 29 percent of women. And 49 percent of men rated their opportunities for career growth as excellent or good, compared to just 43 percent of women.This is particularly significant because women generally answer questions about their government jobs more positively than men, according to Angelica Wedell, head of business development and communications for National Research Center.For instance, when asked if they would recommend their employer to others, 86 percent of women said yes, compared with 79 percent of men.When women rate questions about promotions and career growth lower than their male colleagues, that needs to be paid attention to, she says.Data on this critical issue is sparse because state and local governments rarely publicly report the gender breakdown of promotions. Pamela Antil, co-founder of the League of Women in Government and the assistant city administrator for Santa Barbara, Calif., says the gender imbalance for promotions in the public sector has improved over time, but theres still a massive distance to go toward equality.Women are particularly not getting promoted to the most senior positions.At the end of 2018, only 17.9 percent of chief administrative officers (CAOs) were women, according to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). In 2014, though, that number was 14.4 percent. And in the mid-1970s, ICMA reported the number of female CAOs at less than 2 percent (although that figure was not limited to ICMA membership).Theres been progress, but I thought there would have been a lot more, says Heidi Voorhees, co-owner of GovHR USA, a recruiting firm for local government. We dont have as many candidates at the top as we need. We need to promote diversity, including gender diversity, in every way. We need to identify talent and develop it.HR leaders say it's not that women are less qualified for these jobs -- it's that many womenthey aren't qualified.Our recruiting people have told us theyll put out a recruitment for a city manager and the gender norm is that a lot of men will look at the position description and say, 'I have three of the 20 criteria -- Im going for this job,'" says Antil, "and women will say, 'I only have 19 of the 20 things theyre looking for -- I dont think Im ready.'"Theres also the factor of occupational segregation. Not only is leadership in local government male-dominated, but some of the major departments -- police, transportation, public works and fire -- have far more male than female employees.If youre working in K-12 education or child protective services, youre much more likely to find women in decision-making positions than in transportation departments where youre more likely to find men, says Mary Guy, a University of Colorado, Denver professor, who authored a landmark study on gender issues in state government in 1992. [But] the higher you go in any state agency, the more likely men will be the directors, and women will be in staff support or associate director positions.In its latest survey, ICMA also found that women were less likely than men to aspire for jobs at the top. For example, 53 percent of women said their career goal was to be the chief administrative officer -- the same was true for 72 percent of men.There are many ways to level the playing field between men and women, but the most obvious is for elected officials to appoint more women.If you can see it, you can be it, says Bonnie Svrcek, the city manager of Lynchburg, Va. In her city, women occupy the offices of the mayor, vice mayor and half of the department heads.Having women at the top of an organization can inspire other women to seek their own advancement -- and make it more likely that they're successful.In Oregon, where three of the five statewide elected offices are held by women, 51 percent of the promotions in the executive branch last year went to women, according to Sophorn Cheang, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the governors office.The more women there are in top-level positions," says Mary Guy, the professor, "the greater willingness there is to routinely authorize the hire or promotion of very skilled competent women.
Haas has fallen down the Formula 1 pecking order due to a lack of development, according to Ralf Schumacher.

Of course, Schumacher's relationship with team boss Gunther Steiner is already strained after the former F1 driver's nephew Mick was criticised and ousted last year.

But after a strong return to Formula 1 this year, Nico Hulkenberg was also disappointed after dropping from eighth on the grid to 15th at the chequered flag in Spain.

"The first five laps I was like a piece of fruit knocked to the ground. I was simply eaten up," he told Sky Deutschland.

"We are competitive on one lap but not enough over 66," Hulkenberg added. "We have to work on that."

Schumacher thinks the problem is simply that Haas is "simply not good enough at the moment" in terms of keeping up with the field in terms of car developments.

"The concept that was developed was great," he said. "But apparently they're not in a position to develop it further.

"New paths must be explored and perhaps new people in the development area must be found, since things are not really progressing.

"In the race, they have too much tyre wear, but also too little downforce," Schumacher explained.

"They're always quite good on the high-speed tracks, but that means the car has little drag but unfortunately also little downforce.

"I see Haas as a small team with small opportunities, but I had hoped that things would go uphill after last year."

(GMM)
Renault CEO Luca de Meo has rubbished rumours he might be lining up to join Ferrari in a similarly high-profile role.

Renault's Formula 1 team is Alpine, whose CEO Laurent Rossi recently aimed harsh criticism at the lack of progress so far in 2023.

De Meo is happy about what happened afterwards.

"The podium in Monte Carlo was important," he told Italian radio Rai, "especially at an event that is worth double.

"In Alpine we have a long-term project and we are aware that staying at the top levels and battling it out with big teams like Ferrari, Red Bull or Mercedes requires a lot of work," the Italian added.

De Meo also defended Alpine's current driver development program.

"Part of our project is to create an academy as it is at the top teams," he said.

"Davide Brivio, formerly in MotoGP, is taking care of it. We're trying to bring talented people into F1.

"We have always tried to be a forge of talent, as in the case of (Fernando) Alonso. He exploded with us and continues in his splendid career to be the protagonist today."

And finally, the 55-year-old Italian addressed some swirling rumours linking him with a move to Ferrari, who continue to struggle to get back to the very top in F1.

"Formula 1 is growing rapidly thanks to the extraordinary work of another important Italian in Stefano Domenicali," he said.

"Am I close to Ferrari? In the past it was just rumours. I admire (Luca di) Montezemolo a lot, but in fact I've never been close to Ferrari."

(GMM)
Gunther Steiner has told the German media to forget the past and focus more on Mick Schumacher's future in Formula 1.

This week, 24-year-old Mick will get his first outing at the wheel of a F1 car - the 2023 Mercedes - after being ousted by Haas boss Steiner for poor performance.

Lewis Hamilton, second in Barcelona, hailed Schumacher's contribution as reserve driver.

"He did a very good job in the simulator," said the seven time world champion.

"That played a part in the fact that we were able to perform like this today."

Indeed, Schumacher told the Austrian broadcaster ORF in Barcelona that his schedule is currently very busy.

"I was in the simulator until two in the morning on Saturday and then I flew straight here in the morning," he said.

He said he was tweaking the setup of Mercedes' new 'B' car upgrade.

"It seems to be working, especially in race trim," Schumacher said. "I'm really happy with that, because we've put a lot of work into the simulator and the fact that we've gotten a podium is mega."

Schumacher is also regularly seen on TV standing next to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff in the garage.

"Of course we talk a lot about what we see," he admitted. "I always try to add my two cents when I notice something that the drivers might be doing or that isn't going quite as it should."

On Wednesday, he will actually get out on track at the Pirelli tyre test at the same Circuit de Catalunya.

"A large part of it will really just be what Pirelli wants," said the German. "But maybe we can still squeeze in a little something."

Mick's uncle Ralf, a former grand prix winner, thinks the tyre test outing will be a "very important step" for him.

"On the one hand he gets a confirmation between the simulator and reality, and then of course he can also show that he can be fast in the car," he told Sky Deutschland.

"People will look at it and draw comparisons with other drivers and teams. Yes, Mick can create an exclamation mark - even within the team.

"He can show that what he does in the simulator he can also do on the track. So I'm happy for Mick."

As for Steiner, he is relieved that the focus of the German media is now on the future rather than his high-profile falling out with both Mick and Ralf.

"The separation was more than half a year ago and in Germany people are still talking about it," the Haas boss told Sport1.

"Maybe it would be better to ask Mick and his current boss Toto Wolff about his future rather than always talking about the past."

Steiner thinks the media only focused so intently on the Haas-Schumacher split because of that famous surname.

"Would it have been the same with a Rosberg? Probably not," he said.

"When we got Mick two years ago, I knew that the name was a curse and a blessing at the same time. But one thing is certain - I didn't want to destroy his career.

"We have nothing against him. We were only thinking of the team."

Steiner said the most irritating thing about the affair is that he was portrayed as an uncaring and brutal team boss.

"The drivers know me," he insisted. "They know my direct way, which is not always to show artificial harmony to the outside world. And they should be able to handle it.

"Could Mick handle it? I don't know. You'd have to ask him that."

(GMM)
Remove non-tariff barriers to push AfCFTA  Sir Sam Jonah

Vincent Amenuveve Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 07:00

The full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative can be realised if significant investment is made to develop infrastructure, technology and human capital on the continent.

Also, for countries on the continent to derive maximum benefits from the AfCFTA, non-tariff barriers such as cumbersome customs procedures, divergent product standards and other regulatory barriers that hinder cross-border trade must be eliminated.

The Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital Limited, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, who has made the call, further stated that to achieve that, African governments needed to commit to implementing the necessary reforms and improve the business environment.

Korea-Africa Business Summit

Sir Sam Jonah stated at the Korea-Africa Business Summit in Seoul, South Korea.

Held on the theme: An Era of Great Transformation: Leveraging Korea-Africa Economic Partnership, the summit attracted some former Presidents on the continent, business executives, ministers of state from Africa and Korea, and diplomats, among other dignitaries.

The AfCFTA, which came into effect in January 2021, is the largest free trade area globally, covering 55 African countries with a combined population of 1.3 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $3.4 trillion.

This landmark agreement is aimed at fostering economic integration, enhancing intra-African trade and promoting industrialisation on the continent.

One of the key objectives of the trade agreement is to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers as well as eliminating or significantly reducing trade barriers such as customs duties and import quotas.

The agreement also seeks to create a single market for goods and services within Africa; thus, the harmonisation of trade rules and procedures would stimulate trade flows and lead to increased industrialisation and economic growth.

Prospects

Speaking on the topic: "Trade and Industrialisation: Achievements of AfCFTA and Prospects for the South Korea-Africa Economic Outlook," the Jonah Capital Limited Executive Chairman, explained that the AfCFTA represented a significant opportunity for African countries to unlock their economic potential and drive sustainable development.

Furthermore, he said, it could also provide opportunities for Korean companies to access the African market and increase their competitiveness.

By taking advantage of the regional value chains and increased market access provided by the AfCFTA, Korean companies can expand their operations in Africa and increase their market share," Sir Sam Jonah explained.

To fully realise the prospects offered by the AfCFTA and the South Korea-Africa economic cooperation, it was imperative to address certain challenges, he stressed.

Challenges

These challenges, Sir Sam Jonah noted, included improving trade facilitation mechanisms, building institutional capacity, enhancing connectivity and fostering an enabling business environment.

In an era marked by global interconnectedness and economic partnerships, the AfCFTA and the potential synergy between South Korea and Africa hold tremendous promise for trade and industrial development".

On Korea's technological prowess, the Jonah Capital Limited Executive Chairman said the Universal Pass (UNI-PASS) customs clearance system had been lauded for its efficiency and had helped to dramatically reduce the time required for customs clearance in countries other than Korea.

Moreover, Korea saves $3 billion in logistics costs annually, he noted.

Recognised as the world's fastest customs clearance system, the executive chairman observed that UNI-PASS was already contributing to Ghana's economic growth.

He also called for Korean-African trade partnerships to build robust, regional supply chain hubs in the battery chemicals industry across the continent.

That, he explained, would be the surest way for trade and investment between Korea and Africa to contribute to industrialisation and sustainable development.

Today, Africans no longer desire trade that only sees Africa as a market but rather as a partnership that would add value to the domestic economy, he added.

Private sector

On the role of the private sector in trade and investment on the continent, Sir Sam Jonah further said the success of the AfCFTA would also depend on the active participation of the private sector, both domestic and foreign.

The private sector can play a vital role in driving economic growth, job creation and innovation. By investing in infrastructure, technology and human capital, the private sector can help to overcome some of the challenges that hinder trade and investment in Africa, he observed.
SIM card Deactivation: Mobile money account holders cry out

Kester Aburam Korankye Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 10:00

When the National Communications Authority (NCA) fixed June 1, 2023 as the final deadline for the SIM card re-registration, Rita Sey took it with a pinch of salt.

She held the belief that it was one of the usual warnings that had accompanied the exercise which began two years ago.

Her belief, however, came crashing down when her network subscription was blocked by the service provider on the instructions of the NCA, the regulator of the telecommunications sector.

To her surprise and pain, Ms Sey could not use neither data nor voice services. As if that was not enough, her mobile money account had also been blocked.

It was the MoMo that got me scared because all my savings are in MoMo. I dont operate a bank account, Ms Sey, who is one of the nine million subscribers whose subscriber identification module (SIM) cards were deactivated, told the Daily Graphic.

Like thousands of others, she had come to the MTN head office on Independence Avenue in Accra in a strenuous move to get her more than 13-year-old SIM card reactivated.

Hundreds affected

A visit to other offices of mobile network operators (MNOs) revealed that hundreds of subscribers whose SIM cards have been deactivated had besieged the offices to have their services restored.

As the mass deactivation of the unregistered SIM cards affects access to mobile money accounts, many say their lives almost came to a standstill during the weekend.

During an interaction with many of the subscribers, some of them said they had managed to obtain the Ghana Card, the only identification document that was accepted for the re-registration exercise only a few days ago.

They, therefore, expressed frustration and disappointment with the turn of events.

More views

A television presenter, Darlington Ampofo, popularly known as DNA, who was at the MTN head office last Friday to have his service restored, told the Daily Graphic that the sudden deactivation of his service had brought serious discomfort to him and had obstructed his business activities.

He said it was within the right of subscribers to register their SIM cards. Re-registration was not a prerequisite at the time they were acquiring the SIM card.

This is not fair because when I was acquiring the card I was not told that there would be a time when I had to register it, with any particular identification document so the sudden deactivation cannot be fair to subscribers, Mr Ampofo said.

Another affected subscriber, who only gave her name as Maame Serwaa, expressed frustration over the deactivation of her SIM card and the restriction to access her mobile money account, recounting how that had made life difficult for her and her children throughout the weekend.

She said because her mobile money account was blocked, her two children were unable to go to school yesterday.

I had to come to town to get access to an ATM to get cash so the children are at home with the caretaker, they did not go to school today, Maame Serwaa told the Daily Graphic.

System breakdown

The NCA has declined to offer any more grace period for the mass re-registration.

As such, those who visited the various MNO offices were unable to get their service reactivated because the web application used for the biometric verification component of the re-registration process went off.

The crowds waited for hours only to be turned away in the evening.

Many people had to return home because the App has been down since morning. I have been trying to load the details of one person for about two hours now but that has not gone through, an agent at one of the service centres said.

Although the process takes less than five minutes, the hold-up for reconnection had been due to the slow connection of the application provided by the regulator, the agent said.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, told the Daily Graphic that the application used for the biometric verification was restored yesterday by the vendor and that more people were expected to complete the process to have their SIM cards reconnected.

He said the grace period for reactivating of deactivated SIM cards was undefined and the public must, therefore, take advantage of it now.

The most important thing is that the grace period is not defined. The NCA has just given us this concession to go ahead and just bar, but not delete. But they are monitoring the situation and checking those who are not really interested, he said.

Dr Ashigbey added that about 8.9 million SIM cards had been deactivated since last Thursday.

Although he was unable to state the exact number of SIM cards that had been reactivated, he said the window was open now for the reactivation for those who would be able to complete the process.

You know the initial directive by the NCA was to bar, deactivate and de-link from the SIM database but engaging with players in the industry, the NCA has been magnanimous enough to say that currently we should bar.

What is happening is that, all of the 8.9 million subscribers are not able to make calls, not able to send SMS, neither are they able to also do mobile money or do any of the data services, Dr Ashigbey said.

He encouraged affected persons who had now obtained the Ghana Card to dial *404# and begin the re-registration process.

Once they do the linking, they have to go ahead and get their biometrics captured to complete their registration. When they do that,

they then restore their services and get their numbers back, Dr Ashigbey advised.

Dr Ashigbey said the option available for persons whose mobile money accounts had been blocked was the same as any other affected subscriber.

What they need to do is to get their Ghana Card and get their SIM card registered.

If they register their SIM,they will get their mobile money back but if they do not have their Ghana Card yet, they can contact the NCA on 03070114119 or reach them on the toll number 080110622, he added.

Context

At the inception of the re-registration exercise on October 1, 2021, there were about 42 million active SIM cards in the country.

They were made up of SIM cards registered with identity cards (IDs) such as the National Health Insurance Scheme cards, passports, and driving licence.

The NCA at whose behest the re-registration started said a lot of the IDs were not verified at the time they were used to register the SIMs, hence the re-registration.

After the first phase of the exercise,there were about 36 million active SIM cardsin circulation as of last month, out of which 25 million (69.6 per cent) had been duly re-registered.

This means that over 25.4 million SIM cards had completed both stages one and two of the SIM re-registration which was done with verified Ghana Cards.

The remaining 11 million,representing 30.4 per cent,include active SIM cards exempted based on various demographics and active SIM cards that had not been registeredwith the Ghana Card using the current process.

Already the NCA has deactivated about 6.1 million SIM cards which belonged to subscribers that had completed only stage one of the current registration process.
Ghana risks losing cocoa sector: COCOBOD accumulates losses, Non-producing countries start production

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 05:59

Ghana risks losing its major foreign exchange earner cocoa, due to a combination of factors such as illegal mining, accumulated losses and major developments by some advanced countries to aggressively grow and export the crop.

The Ghana Cocoa Board which is mandated to supervise the production and export of cocoa in the country is reeling under huge annual losses which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has identified as a major threat to the sector and governments fiscal efforts.

The fund in its report on Ghanas extended credit facility programme said COCOBOD had accumulated annual losses for many years.

It said those losses had been accumulated due to high rollover cost of outstanding cocoa bills, high purchase price to cocoa producers compared to its operational costs, and elevated quasi-fiscal operations such as fertiliser provision, rural roads development that have also been a burden on the boards administrative expenses.

COCOBOD in January this year defaulted on payments for maturities of its 182-day bill, rolling over outstanding securities with face value of GH 940.42 million.

The government is currently engaging with investors for a restructuring of the cocoa bills.

The sector has also not been spared the harsh realitiies of illegal minners whose activities have affected cocoa production.

In February this year, the Graphic Online reported that National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme which was done at a cost of GHC 4.2 million faces threats from illegal miners who have taken over cocoa farms across the country, including farms which were recently rehabilitated.

Foreign nationals have also taken advantage of the lapsed security issues at the district levels to perpetuate huge devastation of cocoa farms in favor of mining gold.

Government efforts at fighting these menace have so far proved futile.

These challenges, coupled with some non-producing countries in Europe and Asia venturing into the production and export of cocoa poses a huge risk to the country;s cocoa sector.

Ghana earns over $ 3 billion in forex alone for the raw exports of the cocoa beans. Ghanas cocoa commands a premium on the international market.

Competition

Ghana and Cote Dvoire are facing competition from Western and far east countries, some of whom have started experimenting with cocoa production and the possibility of exports.

The decision of the top two cocoa-producing countries, Ghana and Cote dIvoire, to institute some aggressive measures aimed at safeguarding its cocoa industry appears not to sit well with global players, some of whom are now exploring the possibility of producing their own cocoa beans.

In 2018, Ghana and Cote dIvoire agreed to set a floor price for cocoa on the global commodity market, below which none of the two countries would sell its produce.

Another key action point was the adoption of a concurrent opening season and announcement of producer prices to be paid to farmers in the two countries.

In addition to this, the two countries, in 2019, also introduced the Living Income Differential (LID), which set a standard of $400 per tonne and charged on top of world prices.

The LID was introduced to guarantee cocoa farmers a minimum price that would improve the income of farmers, many of whom live in poverty.

At a recent meeting in Accra, Ghanas Minister of Food and Agriculture reiterated that the two countries would continue to collaborate to push for good pricing on the international market

Last year, it was reported that the two countries were boycotting meetings in Brussels for the World Cocoa Foundation on cocoa sustainability because some multinational chocolate companies and traders were blocking the LID.

In what may seem like a response to these measures by the two countries that account for almost 65 per cent of global cocoa beans, China and some countries in Europe have started the production of cocoa beans.

China cocoa export

The Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), in 2021, reported that South China's island province of Hainan had exported cocoa beans to Belgium for the first time.

The China Daily newspaper quoted Hao Zhaoyun, a researcher with CATAS as saying: The first batch of 500kg of cocoa beans, worth $3,600, was produced in Xinglong, a township of Hainan with a tropical climate.

Although China currently does not appear in the 45 top cocoa-producing countries in the world, many experts opined that its full entry into the cocoa export space was a potential threat to the fortunes of the two biggest cocoa-producing countries, Cote dIvoire and Ghana.

Their apprehension was bolstered by the application of technology in cocoa production in China.

Although COCOBOD at the time expressed concern about the development, it nevertheless said it was too early for the country to panic.

We are concerned, but it is too early for anyone to start panicking because if you look at the quantity of cocoa that has been exported by China, it is quite small and less than one tonne.

We are concerned due to the fact that if production is increasing at a time when consumption in the world is not increasing, then obviously it will have an effect on the price, the Senior Public Relations Officer (PRO) of COCOBOD, Mr Fiifi Boafo, told the Daily Graphic at the time.

Cocoa production in Spain

Quite recently, a team of horticulturalists in Spain claimed to be the first in Europe to have produced a significant cocoa crop, paving the way for the production of gourmet chocolate.



The group reported that cocoa beans grown in Malaga would be used by Andalusias only surviving chocolate factory to make a limited supply of confectionery this year.

We are growing about 80 cocoa trees in two greenhouses; one heated and one unheated.

What makes this first harvest particularly successful is the fact that it has been achieved not only in the heated greenhouse but also in the unheated one, said Hormaza, who is in charge of the institutes subtropical fruit growing department.

Threat to Ghana/Cote dIvoire

In the early days, Ghana used to be a huge exporter of pineapples to Europe. However, after Costa Rica introduced its own variant of pineapples onto the European market, Ghanas export has dwindled significantly in the last couple of years.

There is also the story of how Malaysia came to learn the palm oil business from Ghana and now boasts as one of the largest producers and exporters of palm oil on the global market.

The decision of these countries to, therefore, start cocoa production should not be taken lightly, as it might lead to the overproduction of cocoa beans on the international market, which would cause cocoa prices to slump, a situation which would further reduce the meagre revenue the country gets from the commodity.

Adding value to cocoa

These developments point to the fact that the country cannot still just rely on the export of raw cocoa beans to Europe.

The country must also start eyeing the European chocolate market which was valued at about 42 billion in 2022.

Despite producing about 20 per cent of the worlds total cocoa beans, Ghana gets only $2 billion in terms of revenue from the $100 billion cocoa industry.

Together with Cote dIvoire, the two countries produce about three million tonnes of cocoa beans, which translate into about 65 per cent of the worlds cocoa, but the revenue generated from the sale of cocoa for the two countries doesnt even add up to $6 billion.

With the entire value chain expected to increase to about $140 billion by 2024, the country cannot continue to export cocoa in its raw form.

The coming on board of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement also presents the country with the opportunity to pay more attention to the local processing of cocoa beans to take advantage of the 1.4 billion market size expected to be created by the agreement.

The country currently has seven major cocoa processing companies, with an estimated processing capacity of about 500,000 tonnes.

The construction of a new 50,000-capacity processing factory in the Western Region is also currently ongoing and the new factory, when completed, will increase the capacity to about 550,000 tonnes.

With an annual cocoa production of between 800,000 to 900,000 tonnes, this means that the country currently can process even more than 50 per cent of its cocoa beans locally before export.
GRA to roll out night market tax collection exercise

Agnes Melissa Yovo, HO Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 04:08

With pressure mounting on the government to double up its domestic revenue generation efforts, the tax collecting agency is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that businesses not captured in the tax net are enrolled.

Consequently, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Reverend Ammishaddai Owusu- Amoah, has stated that night market economy taxation would be rolled out as part of initiatives to expand Ghana's tax net.

He said the authoritys core mandate was to improve tax compliance and increase revenue mobilisation towards the advancement of economic growth, hence efforts were underway to realise the required revenue.

The commissioner general made this known in a speech read on his behalf at the 3rd National Delegates Congress of the Ghana Revenue Authority Workers Union (GRAWU).

The Congress coincided with the launch of the Unions 10th anniversary on the theme GRAWU @ 10: Achievements and Challenges in Management- Labour Relations.

As part of the initiatives being carried out, the Commissioner said Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate and Electronic VAT Invoicing were being piloted.

The national revenue collector is targetting to rope in 1,600 tax payers onto the electronic VAT implementation exercise. It is expected to enable it to protect not less than 90 per cent of VAT revenue.

This year alone, nine revenue ammendment bills have been passed with implementations underway, signalling an aggressive measure to meet and exceed revenue targets for the year and beyond.

Rev Owusu- Amoah commended staff of the authority for their passion and dedication, and urged them to work together to achieve objectives of the state by ensuring that the eligible tax payer did not stay out of the tax net. "Let us stand as union members, let us stand as workers of the GRA to defend any of these initiatives to propel growth and development".

Dialogue

Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Wireku Brobbey, stressed the significant roles Workers' Union play towards the country's growth and development.

Mr Brobbey advised GRAWU to adopt social dialogue and to constructively engage management and listen to each other, as that was important for labour progress and welfare of its members.

"Championing labour progress and welfare of members is important through constructive engagement with management, and social dialogue is one laudable principle of work of the International Labour Organisation".

In a solidarity message, the GRA Public Service Workers Association, PSWU of TUC, urged GRAWU to sustain partnership to improve the welfare status of staff, as well as a stronger trade union partnership and engagements with the Ghana Revenue Authority.

United front

In his address, the National Chairman of GRAWU, Mr Dominic A. Nartey, called for a united working front with management of the GRA to ensure high productivity, as the vision of the Union was to focus on the general well-being and better future of its members.

"We must establish a good working relation with management of the GRA to ensure high productivity because we play a key role in helping management on strategies to widen the tax net for national development", he stated.

Present at the Congress were Commandant of GRA Customs Academy, Assistant Commissioner Esther Sackey; national executive committee members, Management and Staff of GRA, Custom Division Staff Association and the National Communications Authority Staff.

United front

In his address, the National Chairman of GRAWU, Mr Dominic A. Nartey, called for a united working front with management of the GRA to ensure high productivity, as the vision of the Union was to focus on the general well-being and better future of its members.

"We must establish a good working relation with management of the GRA to ensure high productivity because we play a key role in helping management on strategies to widen the tax net for national development", he stated.

Present at the Congress were Commandant of GRA Customs Academy, Assistant Commissioner Esther Sackey; national executive committee members, Management and Staff of GRA, Custom Division Staff Association and the National Communications Authority Staff Association and the GRA Public Service Workers Association.
GUTA, TAGG supports GSA to enforce standards

Kester Aburam Korankye Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 03:20

Two traders associations in the country have lent support to the Ghana Standards Authoritys (GSA) renewed enforcement drive aimed at ridding the market of substandard products.

The associations, Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG), believe that the activities adopted by the GSA, some of which are already in operation, to fight substandard goods were calculated measures that could help restore sanity into the market space and make trading in substandard products difficult for doggy importers and traders.

The President of GUTA, Joseph Obeng, and the General Secretary of TAGG, Nana Opoku, told the Daily Graphic in separate interviews that their members had been sensitised to respect the laws on standards and subject themselves to conformity assessment to help make them competitive and restore trust in the Ghanaian trading space.

Mr Obeng said in the past, when traders were not conversant with the activities of the GSA, many resorted to unconventional ways of conducting their businesses but gradually, through the engagements of the GSA, many of them had come to terms with insisting on quality.

As a trader of electrical cables himself, Mr Obeng said several discussions on standards had ensued among traders in recent times with many of the traders leaning towards conformity in appreciation of the GSA sensitisation and engagement activities over the past few years.

In the past, I used to defend cable importers just to protect the business but now that we all want to insist on quality to help boost our economy, nobody will plead for anyone who brings in substandard products because they are destroying the economy, he said.

He urged the GSA to expand its enforcement drive across the country and monitor importers who continued to smuggle substandard products into the country through the eastern corridor and unapproved routes in the area.

The only thing that will ensure quality is standards and the only way to ensure standards is through tough enforcement of the standards, Mr Obeng said.

Move beyond education

While educating the trading public on standards and their duty to consumers was a good component of the GSA sensitisation drive, Mr Opoku said it was time to move beyond lectures and strictly enforce the laws on standards.

For him, the GSA had dedicated ample time to educate the public on the laws on standards and the responsibilities of traders to source their goods from approved manufacturers.

What is left, Mr Opoku said, was the enforcement of standards without consideration or interference from politicians and high level government appointees.

You have the power to enforce the laws without fear or favour and we will be watching you to ensure that you do your work. But you can be assured that we will support you and would not allow others to interfere in your work once you enforce the laws without discrimination, Mr Opoku said.

Spirited enforcement

Involving officials of the GSA and the Ghana Police Service, the standards enforcement activities have seen the confiscation of substandard products waiting for destruction.

So far there have been raids on illegal cable manufacturers and illegal chemical producers at different locations around the capital city.

With the passage of the Ghana Standards Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1076), last year, the authority has the responsibility for the creation and promulgation of standards, its enforcement and regulatory activities in respect of weights and measurements in the country.

The Director General of the GSA, Professor Alex Dodoo, told the Daily Graphic that standards were not meaningful, if they were not enforced.

He said the enforcement of standards in Ghana would serve as a guide for other African countries to build robust standards regimes to facilitate smooth trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which has its secretariat located in Accra.

In order to ensure that the populace adhere to standards, especially in the built environment, we have to enhance our long-standing partnership by collaborating effectively in educating the public about the standards and enforcing them, he said.
Innovare sweeps 5 top honours at national brands, business awards

Joshua Bediako Koomson Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 11:51

A leading Management Consultancy and Technology Services company, Innovare, was among the big winners at this years Ghana National Brands Awards and the Ghana-West Africa Business Excellence Awards.

In all, 60 top companies and individuals from all aspects of the business sector in Ghana and other countries of West Africa were honoured at the sixth awards night for their significant role in the development of the business sector.

Among the awardees, Innovare won five awards  four corporate and another one for its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), C.K Bruce.

Event

The awards event promotes excellence in innovation, enterprise and endeavour, while it also rewards innovative ideas that have pushed the boundaries of what is possible.

The awards ceremony, held in Accra, attracted a host of dignitaries including the Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Abdal Fatah Ahmed Khalil; Peruvian Ambassador to Ghana, Abel Antonio Cardenas Tuppia, and awarding board chairman, Nana Safo Boakye III.

Nana Boakye III, in his speech, congratulated all awardees and assured entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders of an enabling environment that would aid their businesses to work in Ghana and West Africa as a whole.

He also stressed the need for businesses to aim at being part of the globalised digital economy and place their business on the world stage.

Awardees

On the night, the ultimate awards went to the CEO-Atlantic Catering And Logistics Limited, Maud Lindsey-Gamrat (Outstanding CEO of the Year), the CEO of FBN Bank Ghana, Victor Yaw Asante (CEO of the Year (Banking And Finance) and the CEO of JRA Cosmetics Limited, Jane Reason Ahadzie (Entrepreneur of the Year).

Among the other winners were Acacia Health Insurance Limited (Health Insurance Company), Accra City Hotel (Hospitality Brand of the Year), Amaris Terminal Limited (Port Terminal of the Year), Amenfiman Rural Bank (Rural Bank of the Year) and Andev Company Limited (Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Company of the Year).

Also, Anglogold Ashanti (Iduapriem) Limited won Excellence in CSR Award (Mining), Appointed Time Printing Limited ( Printing company of the Year), Bui Power Authority (Energy Company of the Year), DDP Outdoor Limited (Advertising Company of the Year), Dzata Cement Limited (Cement Manufacturing Company of the Year) and Emirates Airline Limited won double (Outstanding Safety in Airline and International Airline of the Year).



Innovare

Innovare was honoured with the Information Technology Training Company of the Year Award and the Corporate and Individual categories at this year's Ghana National Brands Awards

It also received the esteemed Management Consultancy Company of the Year Award with its Advisory Division and was named one of the top 50 Superbrands in Ghana at the Second Ghana National Brands Awards.

The CEO, Mr Bruce, received the prestigious Brand Exemplary Leadership Award in the private sector, while the companys Chief Operating Officer (C.O.O), Ebo Richardson, was named the Brand Consulting Personality of the year.

Mr Bruce expressed his excitement and appreciation for the award and indicated that while personal recognition was undoubtedly gratifying, the organisation's success was not solely dependent on individual accomplishments but on the synergy and cohesion within the Innovare Africa team.

It is the collaborative spirit, shared values, and relentless pursuit of excellence that have propelled us to this moment.

Our organisation has fostered an environment where creativity, innovation, and growth thrive, allowing us to push boundaries and deliver exceptional results.

While these awards represent a milestone in our journey, they also serve as a reminder that our work is far from over, he emphasised.

He said Innovare takes pride in being strong advocates of integrity, standards, quality and best practices, guided by a client-centric strategy geared toward helping their clients create stakeholder value.

The Head of Training at the Innovare Learning Centre, Stella Toku, also expressed her appreciation for the award and called for the need for client and prospects to prioritise training to equip themselves and their organisations with the required skills in the fast-changing digital economy.

She said the centre, which was the training division of Innovare Limited, had since its establishment trained over 5000 individuals in professional certification programmes and a host of corporate bodies based on their unique cybersecurity, risk management, audit and digital transformation requirements.
Nigerias e-naira fails but Ghana sees promise for e-cedi

Graphic Business Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 04:10

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that 98.5 per cent of Nigerias Central Bank digital currency, e-naira wallets have not been used even once, two years after its launch.

There are about 14 million e-naira wallets in existence, with over 500 million worth of e-naira ($1.21 million) already minted. The numbers by the IMF show that only about 1.5 per cent of downloaded wallets have been used, with the average value per transaction being 63,000.

According to the IMF, the total number of retail e-naira wallets is about 860,000, which is equivalent to just 0.8 per cent of Nigerias active bank accounts.

The digital currency, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emeifele said would grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $29 billion and improve financial inclusion, hasnt seen much inclusion in the financial habits of Nigerians as a large number of the population has complained about it being impractical and not having any relevant use, different from already existing stores of value.

The IMF ,therefore, held the view that these low adoption rates can only be broken by a coordinated policy drive to break it.

The e-nairas potential in financial inclusion requires a strategy to set the right relationship with mobile money, given the formers potential to either complement or substitute the latter, it said.

Nigeria was the first African country to launch an official digital currency, which came after the central bank banned all crypto activities in the country, propping the e-naira as an alternative.

So far, the CBN has partly blamed banks for the low adoption rates, claiming that traditional banks are apathetic as they do not want Nigerians to abandon their bank accounts for e-naira wallets.

The Nigeria e-naira model is account-based because at the time of its launch, there were no mobile money operators in that country. Mobile money only took off in Nigeria later last year with banking a payment service licenses to MTN, Airtel and a few others.

Nigerias e-naira is ,therefore, failing largely because it was directly issued by the central bank with no real benefits to banks and Fintech community, unlike Ghanas e-cedi, which is both bank and FinTech led, as the central bank has said it will ride on existing infrastructure to drive e-cedi adoption.

The e-Naira is ,however, likely to start doing better soon, as it pivots from a strictly bank account model to the token/value model like the e-cedi, involving mobile money operators.

Ghana e-cedi

Meanwhile, in Ghana, the e-cedi field test is completed and the central bank reports that it was very successful as it showed promise for a boost in financial inclusion when fully rolled out.

The pilot was mainly between selected customers of three institutions  Calbank (bank), IT Consortium (fintech) and Vodafone (telco) and it was rolled out in selected communities with some positive feedback.

The central bank, at a recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference said it was working to stabilise the cedi to a certain level before rolling out the e-cedi fully.

When it goes fully public, the offline version in particular, is expected to boost financial inclusion because it does not require internet connectivity to work.

Whereas Ghana is yet to fully rollout the e-cedi, other countries, including even developed economies are learning from Ghana and are fashioning their own CBDCs in line with Ghanas e-cedi model, particularly the offline version.

But the e-cedi is also being viewed as not too different from mobile money and other digital wallets hugely dominant in Ghana right now, particularly as it relates to the end user.

There has been some debate around whether e-cedi wallets would also attract interest like mobile money wallets do, and the argument from banks is that money transferred into e-cedi wallets from bank accounts, is no more available to the bank for investment so it cannot attract interest. Moreover, e-cedi is just like cash in ones pocket, which does not attract interest.

That feature of the e-cedi, to consumer activists, makes mobile money more advantageous than e-cedi and poses a threat to e-cedi adoption when fully implemented.

Meanwhile, technical work on the e-cedi is still ongoing to ensure that by the time it is implemented, it will be widely adopted by consumers due to its obvious advantages.
World trade can still drive prosperity  But the international architecture must adapt to a fast-changing world

Kristalina Georgieva, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 03:30

Rising from the ashes of three disastrous decades of deglobalisation, extremism and world war, our two institutions were built on the idea that thriving international trade goes hand in hand with global prosperity and stability.

On balance, the postWorld War II record has been impressive.

Today, fewer than 1 in 10 of the worlds people are poor, a fourfold reduction since 1990, as low- and middle-income countries have doubled their share of global trade. Pivotal to this leap in global income is a twentyfold increase in international trade since 1960.

Yet, the tide is turning against economic interdependence and international trade.

Trade restrictions and subsidies increased after the global financial crisis, and tensions escalated further as governments responded to the pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine by scrambling to secure strategic supply chains and rushing into trade-distorting policies.

Taken too far, these measures may open the door to alliance-oriented policies that reduce economic efficiency and fragment the global trading system.

They could backfire if short supply chains end up more vulnerable to localized shocks. Foreign direct investment is already increasingly concentrated among geopolitically aligned countries.

Should we abandon the idea of trade as a transformative force for good? Our answer is a resounding No! Despite all the talk, trade has continued to deliver even during recent crises.

It has great potential to keep contributing to higher living standards and greater economic opportunities for decades to come.

There are at least three reasons international trade is crucial for global prosperity.

First, it increases productivity by expanding the international division of labour. Second, it enables export-led economic growth by providing access to foreign markets.

And third, it bolsters economic security by giving firms and households valuable outside options when negative shocks hit.

During the pandemic, trade and supply chains became vital to ramping up the production and distribution of medical supplies, including vaccines.

The power of international trade as a source of resilience has become evident again during the war in Ukraine. Deep and diversified international markets for grain enabled economies traditionally reliant on imports from Ukraine and Russia to make up for shortfalls.

Ethiopia, for example, lost all its wheat imports from Ukraine, but now sources 20 per cent of its wheat shipments from Argentinaa country from which it had not imported any wheat before.

Fragmentations costs

In this context, fragmentation could be costly for the global economy. A scenario in which the world divides into two separate trading blocs could lead to a five per cent drop in global GDP, World Trade Organisation (WTO) research shows.

The IMF, meanwhile, reckons global losses from trade fragmentation could range from 0.2 to 7 per cent of GDP. The costs may be higher when accounting for technological decoupling. Emerging market economies and low-income countries would be most at risk due to knowledge transfer loss.

Reinforcing the trading system to safeguard the benefits and prevent losses is important.

But there is also an exciting forward-looking trade policy agenda that responds to the future of international trade, which we envision to be inclusive, green, and increasingly digitally- and services-driven.

Trade has done a lot to reduce poverty and inequality between countries. Yet, we must acknowledge that it has left too many people behindpeople in rich countries have been hurt by import competition, and people in poor countries have been unable to tap into global value chains and are often on the front line of environmental degradation and conflict over resources.

As we told Group of Twenty officials in a joint paper our institutions wrote with the World Bank, it need not be this way. With the right domestic policies, countries can benefit from free trades great opportunities and lift those that have been left behind.

Addressing these underlying causes of discontent would solve peoples problems more effectively than the trade interventions we see today.

Well-designed social safety nets, greater investment in training, and policies in areas like credit, housing, and infrastructure that help, not hinder, workers to move across industries, occupations and companies could all play a part.

The current push toward more diversified supply chains presents great opportunities for countries and communities that have struggled to integrate into global value chains; bringing more of them into production networkswhat we call re-globalizationwould be good for supply resilience, growth and development.

Many of todays most pressing global problems will not be solved without international trade.

We cannot overcome the climate crisis and get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions without trade.

We need trade to get low-carbon technology and services everywhere they are needed.

Open and predictable trade lowers the cost of decarbonisation by expanding market size, enabling scale economies and learning by doing.

To provide one example, the price of solar power has fallen by almost 90 per cent since 2010.

40 per cent of this decline has come from scale economies made possible, partly by trade and cross-border value chains, the WTO has estimated.

Cooperations possibilities

By updating global trade rules, governments can help trade thrive in new areas that would expand opportunities, for emerging market economies, especially.

Even as goods trade stalls, trade in services continues to expand rapidly. Global exports of digital services such as consulting, delivered by video calls, reached $3.8 trillion in 2022, or 54 per cent of total export services.

Some efforts are already underway. A group of nearly 90 WTO members, including China, the EU and the US, are currently negotiating basic rules on digital trade.

Shared rules would make trade more predictable, reduce duplication and cut the compliance costs that typically weigh heaviest on the smallest businesses.

Similarly, multilateral cooperation and common standards could speed the green transition while preventing market fragmentation and minimising negative policy spillovers to other countries.

Bringing more small and women-owned businesses into global production networksdigital and otherwisewould spread the gains from trade more broadly across societies.

Despite geopolitical tensions, meaningful cooperation on trade remains possible.

We saw this last June when all WTO members came together to deliver agreements on curbing harmful fisheries subsidies, removing barriers to food aid, and enhancing access to the intellectual property behind COVID-19 vaccines.

Governments can build on those successes at the WTOs next ministerial meeting in February 2024. And recent work by our institutions point to a way to defuse tensions in sensitive areas such as subsidies through data, analysis and common perspectives on policy design.

Navigating trade policies through the current turbulent period is challenging.

But keeping trade open and looking for new opportunities for closer cooperation will be essential to build on existing gains and to help deliver solutions to climate change and other global challenges.

The IMF, WTO and other leading international institutions have a critical role in charting a way forward that is in the collective interest. We must cooperate tirelessly to strengthen the multilateral trading system and demonstrate that our own institutions can adapt to a fast-changing world.

The IMF has a mandate to support the balanced growth of international trade. The WTO remains the only forum that brings all economies together to advance trade reform. We cannot afford to stand still.

Kristalina Georgieva Is the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
Would we ever have a Ghanaian business dynasty?

Graphic Business Business News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 02:45

I spent a couple of days with Professor of Finance and Economics, Godfred A. Bokpin, in Kumasi as part of Graphic Business/Access Bank SME clinic.

As has become the norm these days, any gathering of two or more people would bring up the topic of the countrys finances and what lies ahead.

During his presentation at the SME Clinic, Prof. Bokpin drew my attention and that of all participants to what some of us have been brooding about for some time now.

Among the top 10 billionaires in Africa, there is no Ghanaian. The first country south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule some six scores and six years ago cannot showcase one individual to represent us as a Ghanaian business worthy of note on the continent of Africa.

What a shame!

In the early days of this year, during the yearly New Year School, Mr Daniel MacKorley, popularly known as MacDan, the Executive Chairman of McDan Group of companies made a similar statement.

That Ghanaian businesses are feeding off the crumps left by the foreign companies in this country. He was emphatic and dared his audience to name one Ghanaian indigenous company among the top 10 companies in our own country.

Take a wild guess. From telecoms to banking, industry, services and supermarket chains. Foreigners have dominated every sector of this economy. This is no xenophobic statement, fellow Ghanaians, this is the very true state of our economy presently.

It is a sorry state to lament. Yes, history has not been kind to us. The Siaws, B. A. Mensahs and the Appentengs and the many industrialists who in times past had to suffer some form of regime persecution and lost their businesses.

How is that different today? A so-called democratic dispensation that springs out political entrepreneurs, whose eight-year cyclical entrepreneurship ends with a political party has become the norm. These have blighted out genuine entrepreneurs who have the vision to see opportunities and invest resources to grow the economy.

But this is just one of many ills that have affected business growth or to be more precise, indigenous business growth in the country.

Today, the only businesses thriving in this country are the ones owned by foreign nationals, who repatriate their profits offshore.

The foreigners have understood our way of thinking. That we mistrust each other so much so that these foreigners are able to pool resources together to take any indigenous companies out of any tender process.

Indeed, Ghana is NOT Poor. We have poor leaders and we have adopted a system of governance that only perpetuates poverty systemically on our people and makes foreigners the real owners of this economy.

It is sad that the Ghana we envisaged under Kwame Nkrumah, where Ghanaians were to hold the commanding heights of our economy has been nothing but a charade.

But then again, why do we blame our leaders? Are they not a reflection of who we are? A dishonest people, whose self-interests must override the national interest.

This is a country that pay judgement debts to foreign companies even when the courts have ruled in our favour.

We must go back to basics. We need to have a hard look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the question; what kind of a country do we want to build for the future generations?

Building businesses will require a deliberate attempt by those entrusted with our collective power to create opportunities for the indigenous entrepreneurs.

Nigeria has done it, South Africa and the developed world have all done it to empower their indigenous people.

We dont have to re-invent the wheel.

We just need to be intentional about creating not just Ghanaian business giants, but globally competitive Ghanaian dynasties.
Sonnie Badu writes to elders of Nogokpo

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 14:01

Award winning UK based Ghanaian artiste, Sonnie Badu has waded into conversations about Bishop Agyin Asare/ Nogokpo saga which has been making headlines in the last few days.

In a Facebook post yesterday, June 5, Sonnie Badu who is known for songs such as Wonder God, Covenant Keeping God, My Confidence and Still You Reign called for truce between the two parties urging Bishop Agyin Asare to build a school as a token of peace.

Last week, the chiefs and residents of Nogokpo in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region issued a 14-day ultimatum to Archbishop Charles Agyin Asare, the founder and leader of Perez Chapel International, to engage in peace talks.

This follows his comments that Nogokpo as the "demonic" headquarters of the Volta Region during a recent sermon.

Archbishop Agyin Asare has clarified that his comments were not intended to demean any specific town or its residents.

He explained that his remarks were meant to illustrate the principle of divine protection to his congregants but his explanations seem not to sit well with the elders of Nogokpo.

Since the ultimatum, the conversation has been turned into a religious war particularly on social media between Christians and traditionalists.

Sonnie Badu wrote,  Dear Elders of #Nogokpo,

I greet you in peace. Thank for receiving this message, as I will get straight the point. I am not a member of Perez dome and I havent spoken to Bishop in many years and he has not employed me to do this. However, i think this is going a bit too far ..

Bishop came back and explained into details (with wisdom), how the event transpired; and he went on to explain that his wife is from Volta and his kids bares Ewe names. This shows how much he loves and values the Volta region.

Sirs, in all honesty, I dont think what Bishop described in his sermon was strange to any of us. The first time - I ever heard of your town, was when A media personality took to social media to let us know she took some people there for certain doings. However, that wasnt a surprise as we know not to joke with Volta gods 

Sirs, again, what Bishop was explaining is not strange, because every town has witchcraft and sometimes when the principalities are agitated - they can cause mischief..

In this case, like the bursting of the tires .. Its was more spiritual than physical which we understood..

With that being said, Sirs, I believe Bishop has done a lot of charitable work in the Volta region (and there has not been any press release on his philanthropy).

In conclusion, I think this is a perfect time for use to know more about your town and all the good things going on there I come in love and one day I will like to visit nogokpo for a concert ..

And Dear Bishop,pops I think I have an idea. Lets build a school for the people of Nogokpo.to add to what they already have, We know how the story will be told for years to come .. The people were upset and so he built a school to show love  Love you very much BISHOP Agin Asare

We love Bishop Agin Asare .. He is a father worth emulating.. And we love the people of Nogokpo, you all are incredible..

LET PEACE, LOVE, and RESPECT reign.. I believe even the gods of #Nogokpo will agree with me  

My Name is DR SONNIE BADU .(sic)

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Mr Eazi to go bullish on tech investment as he visits Estonia

Kofi Duah Showbiz News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 10:13

Nigerian musician and entrepreneur Oluwatosin Ajibade, popularly known as Mr Eazi, has just returned from Estonia, where he attended and spoke at the countrys Latitude59 tech conference.

Billed as the flagship startup and tech event of the worlds first digital society, Latitude59 brought together over 400 investors and 800 startup reps in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, from 24-26 May.

As part of the conferences speakers program, Mr Eazi discussed his tech and creative journey  and the prospects of the African orange economy via smart governance  in a roundtable with former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

While in Estonia, he also met with industry leaders and tech entrepreneurs, including Ahti Heinla, a founding developer of Skype and the founder and CTO of robotics company Starship Technologies; and Markus Villig, the founder and CEO of mobility company Bolt. My last-minute trip to Estonia ended up being one of my favourite 24 hours this year, said Mr Eazi.

At the conference, I spoke about my career and journey from founder to musician to an investor, with my own VC fund,Zagadat Capital, investing in tech businesses.

That journey appears to be of great interest, as Latitude59 is not the only international business conference to host Mr Eazi recently. Earlier in May, he was a speaker at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, where he shared his views on African musics role in developing and stimulating the continents creative economy.

Paramount on Eazis mind in Estonia was the potential for business alliances in tech.

Estonia presently has the most start-ups per capita of any European nation. It is ranked first in the region for its business environment by the Emerging Europe IT Competitive. [Former president] Ilves shared how Estonia has been positioning itself to be friendly for tech founders and entrepreneurs through its digital e-residency program, Eazi said. You can set up your company digitally in Estonia, and become an e-resident.

Eazi, who via Zagadat Capital recently invested in Decagon, a company that trains engineers in Nigeria and pairs them with jobs worldwide, sees a major opportunity for African tech talent to gain a foothold in overseas markets such as Estonia.

You have over 10 million smart, young people getting out of university each year in need of jobs. Now, Africa  not just Nigeria, but Kenya, Ghana, Benin, Rwanda, etc  our continent has the prospect to become the highest net exporter of technology talent.

While this was Eazis first visit to Estonia, he is not a stranger to the countrys business environment. His VC fund Zagadat Capital has already invested in the mobile payment service PawaPay, which employs a number of engineers in Estonia.

I believe this is my first of many trips to Estonia, and I am excited at the fun stuff and ideas we will execute together, he stated.
Professor Ama Ata Aidoo was an accomplished Ghanaian author - GAW pays tribute to her

Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Jun - 06 - 2023 , 10:17

The National Executive Committee of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) have paid tribute to the glowing memory of the late Professor Ama Ata Aidoo.

In a statement yesterday, June 5, GAW described her as an accomplished author, playwright and poet whose contribution to the literary works had global impact.

Read full statement:

There is an Akan proverb that says:

Death, for all his power, cannot carry water from the river with a sieve.

Members of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) are saddened to hear about the sudden death of Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, which sad event occurred on Wednesday May 31, 2023, following a bout of ill-health.

Before being blown away by the shadows of eternity, born on March 23, 1940 at Abeadzi Kyiakor - near Saltpond in the Central Region of Ghana - Professor Ama Ata Aidoo (born Christina Ama Ata Aidoo) was an accomplished Ghanaian Author, Playwright and Poet.

The esteemed Writer, known for her literary work such as The Dilemma of A Ghost, Anowa,The Girl Who Can, Our Sister Kill Joy, Changes, as well as many other powerful pieces, was a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana between 1964 and 1966.

Additionally, she was a Fellow in Creative Writing at Stanford University, in the United States of America.

She also taught at the University of Cape Coast, Hamilton College in New York, Brown University in the USA, amid other institutionsof repute.

In the year 2000, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo established Mbaasem - dedicated to the promotion of Ghanaian and African women Writers.

Not only was she a Ghanaian literary powerhouse, but as the patriot that she was, Prof. served as the Secretary for Education (which position is currently known as the Minister of Education) in 1982 under the PNDC regime.

The only truly dead are those who have been forgotten.

Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo received several honours and recognition, including the 1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book (Africa) for her novel, Changes.

Good people must die, but death cannot kill their names. Until her passing, Aidoo served as the Life Chairperson for GAWBOFEST, on September 21.

Members of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) are in grief, over the death of the great woman, Ama Ata Aidoo.

Rest well Ama!

Rest well Ata!

Rest well Aidoo!

Gone but not forgotten.

National Executive Committee

Ghana Association of Writers (GAW)

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Evolving beyond June 4

Daily Graphic Opinion Jun - 06 - 2023 , 06:00

Perhaps, it is a sign of our times and the evolution of our politics that Sunday, June 4, 2023, passed without much of a whimper about the date and what it signifies in this country.

In times past, we would have been treated to a flame-lighting ceremony and a recounting ad nauseum in the media of that sacred date and the probity and accountability mantra. How times have moved on!

But then, 1979 is 44 years ago, which means everyone in this country below the age of 50 was either not born or was too young to experience and appreciate the aftermath of the coup that year.

It is, therefore, quite understandable that they would be emotionally detached from it.

Even for those who were old enough to remember, time and the vicissitudes of life have conspired to blunt the sharpness and acidity, pain and raw emotion of certain memories.

House-cleaning, democracy

I was just a few months short of my eleventh birthday when Rawlings burst on the scene, first through his unsuccessful coup attempt on May 15, 1979, and then eventually via the real deal two weeks later.

I did not understand much of what was going on or its implications.

But in Prestea, where we lived, I remember the soldiers racing through the streets in their pinzgauers, the whipping of traders for selling items above controlled price and the general terror and frenzied, sadistic violence that was unleashed by the soldiers.

I saw on the television the aftermath of the razing down of the Makola No. 1 Market in Accra, deemed the citadel of what was known as kalabule, a universal term that meant fraud, meant trying to make excessive profits or using political clout to gain an unfair advantage.

The empty space resulted in what is now known as Rawlings Park.

I do recall the execution of eight former generals, which was brought home more strongly to me in a personal way when I entered Opoku Ware School the following year, with Anthony Boakye (AF59), a son of the executed former Air Force Commander, Air Vice-Marshal G. Y Boakye (S59), himself an old boy of the school.

We shared the same house, St. John House, and I recall his mother visiting him regularly, still wearing black cloth more than one year after her husbands execution.

The soldiers told us it was a house-cleaning exercise. It appeared the blood of citizens was the detergent.

The Gen. Akuffo-led military government had lifted the ban on multi-party democracy in January of that year, and things were in full swing, with political parties campaigning for office when Rawlings and his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) struck, thereby putting everything on tenterhooks.

Eventually, the process was allowed to return to normalcy and the AFRC kept to the timetable.

Following the elections, the Third Republic was ushered into being on September 24, 1979, with Dr Hilla Limann as its first President.

Twenty-seven months later, Rawlings was back on the airwaves via the barrel of the gun, huskily announcing the suspension of the constitution, the dismissal of the President and his appointees from office and the dissolution of Parliament, all in one fell swoop.

After eleven years of what he called a revolution, we were back to civilian rule under the 4th Republic.

Political soul-searching

Since independence, our country has been on a soul-searching journey to find what governance structure fits her best.

Some of the systems have emanated from the people and others have been imposed.

We have tried the Westminster parliamentary system, the executive presidential system both under one-party and multi-party frameworks and military takeovers through an assortment of self-acclaimed liberators, redeemers and revolutionaries.

We also flirted with the idea of a Union Government, a rather strange hybrid of military and civilian systems.

The Fourth Republic, under a multi-party executive presidential system, has endured the longest.

But that, by no means, suggests that there are no issues with it.

Indeed, for several reasons, many contend that the multi-party democracy that we practice under the 1992 constitution is inadequate and unsuitable.

In its stead, it is argued we need a governance system that reflects our reality as Africans because democracy as understood within the Western construct is simply not working for us.

To deal constructively with this, it is said that many things about our constitution, including some enshrined human rights, need radical tweaking.

Indeed, quite a number of people dreamily harken back to the good old days of military rule, when human rights, with all its peskiness, were simply a luxury and there was discipline, whatever that means.

Making progress

It is true that on many fronts of our national life, we have witnessed a decline in quality rather than progress, over the decades since our return to constitutional rule.

But I think it is also a bit of a stretch to lay it all at the doorstep of our current political governance structure.

Of course, this is not to deny that our democracy, and by extension, our constitution, needs a lot of reforms to make it more viable and relevant

Amusingly, those who insist democracy as we have it is a sham and that we need a system that reflects us as Africans have not been particularly detailed as to what exactly they would like to see in place that is distinctively African.

Perhaps, if we are to stretch the argument, what system could be politically close to our African identity than chieftaincy? And yet, many of those calling for a return to our roots by way of governance baulk at that prospect.

However ideal we may think another countrys system may be, its journey has been far from perfect.

It continues to pursue tweaks and tinkering, because society by its very nature evolves all the time and, therefore, its systems must evolve to meet its needs and challenges.

I can understand the temptation to view the events of June 4 and December 31, among others, through a rose-tinted telescope, especially in the context of public indiscipline and corruption.

But by many miles, I believe the democratic journey we are on, for all its potholes  some of which are the size of craters  offers us a better route to our aspirations as a nation.

We must just never stop believing in ourselves, that we can make this nation great.

Perhaps, the late Sir Winston Churchill, a former British Prime Minister, captured it best in these words back in November 1947; Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe.

No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time

If we must remember June 4 and its military cousins each year, it must only be to say of the ignominious events they spawned, Never again!
Who pays for cost of democracy?

Lawrence Mantey Opinion Jun - 06 - 2023 , 11:52

Democracy is expensive, as they say. The system costs money, so definitely someone must foot the bill. The issue of cost, when it comes to democracy, primarily relates to political parties, and how they should be funded.

The role political parties play in democratic practice is indispensable. They make certain freedoms that are core to democracy a reality like freedom of choice and association. Political parties also groom and breed leaders for democracy.

Voters are bombarded with campaign publicity from political parties before any election. There are several hours of speeches by flag bearers of parties and also parliamentarians.

Although social media is increasingly becoming important, political parties invest in billboards and posters, organising rallies and supplying supporters with food, T-shirts and even cash.

Who pays for all the paraphernalia of electoral democracy, and what must they get in return?

Debate

This question has raged on for a long time with suggestions oscillating between public funding and private funding. Many countries practicing democracy are unable to make a choice on this issue.

Uruguay was the first country in the world to give a public subsidy to political parties in 1928. Now most democracies do so, but the subsidies are small.

In some countries there are no subsidies, but the ruling party deploys unlimited state money and resources for its political campaigns.

When it comes to the issue of private funding, corrupt political donations to political parties in some countries are resulting in demands for tightening the rules on campaign financing.

Regulation

In fact, most countries have long sought to regulate campaign financing, but often ineffectually. Corporate funding of parties has sometimes led to the private capture of government.

Now most countries are seeing the need to regulate private funding of political parties, with some laws calling for restrictions on outdoor advertisings, increasing public subsidies, barring corporate donations and regulating private donations.

Trade-offs

Campaign financing reform is fraught with trade-offs and unintended consequences. Public financing of political parties is unpopular.

When there is a low turn up at any elections, politicians tend to blame the lack of funds for campaigning.

Banning corporate donations, which exist in several other countries, results in organised crime for money. Campaign financing has tended to be a problem without a solution.

Only hard choices are available. With corporate money some will argue for obligatory disclosure rather than a ban.

Others too think, shortening the official campaign periods are necessary to cut down the costs. With great inequalities, it is hard to disagree that corporate political donations should be regulated.

Perhaps the most important thing is that, enforcing either transparency or bans require capable and neutral electoral authority and this is not what we lack in Ghana. Or do we?

The writer is with the Institute of Current Affairs and Diplomacy (ICAD).

E-mail: Lawmat2014gmail.com
Volta Regional Health Directorate denies HIV outbreak at Ho Technical University

Kweku Zurek Education Jun - 06 - 2023 , 06:31

The Volta Regional Health Directorate, under the Ghana Health Service, has refuted claims circulating on social media about an alleged HIV/AIDS outbreak at Ho Technical University.

Initial reports, originating from a blog, alleged that more than 400 students had tested positive for the virus and were instructed to leave the university. The unverified report quickly spread among social media users who quoted and shared it without conducting proper fact-checking.

However, the Regional Health Directorate has categorically dismissed the publication as false and without foundation, urging the public to disregard the information.

Following a thorough examination of HIV testing data from healthcare facilities in the Ho Municipality and the wider Volta Region, the Volta Regional Health Directorate found no indication of a rise in reported HIV cases at any facility or across the entire region.

The health authority emphasized that there had been no notable increase in HIV cases at Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region.

Meanwhile, the management of the university has warned that it "shall institute legal action against any persons sharing the said false publication".

HIV rate in region

About 20,949 persons in the Volta Region are living with HIV, according to the 2020 HIV and AIDS estimates.

Approximately 64 per cent of them can be found in the Ho, Hohoe, Ketu South, Ketu North and Kpando municipalities, and the South Dayi District.

Meanwhile, only 11,328 (55 per cent) of the estimated people living with HIV in the region are on life-long antiretroviral treatment.
21 charged in last week's renewed clashes at Lukula, Mempeasem

Mohammed Fugu Jun - 06 - 2023 , 00:00

Twenty one people arrested in connection with last week's chieftaincy and land dispute at Lukula and Mempeasem in the North Gonja District in the Savannah Region have been charged.

They were arraigned at the Tamale Circuit Court on Monday [June 5, 2023] on counts of conspiracy to commit crime to wit rioting with weapon and causing unlawful damage.

They pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Amadu Issifu granted them bail in the sum of GH6,000 each with one surety.

The case has been adjourned to June 23, 2023.

On Thursday, 118 suspects were picked up by the police in connection with the renewed chieftaincy and land disputes at Lukula and Mempeasem communities.

The suspects were transported to the Northern Regional Police Command in Tamale where 87 of them were released after screening,

The were all arrested in a swoop at Daboya, the North Gonja District capital on Friday dawn upon intelligence.

They were believed to have launched the violent attack on the two communities and fled into their hideouts.
Amedzofe bids Okusie Akyem Foli V farewell

Jemima Achivors Jun - 06 - 2023 , 13:42

The people of Amedzofe in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have laid their revered Chief Okusie Akyem Foli V to rest.

Recognised for his influential role as the Chief of Amedzofe and Senior Divisional Chief of Avatime, Chief Folis rule spanned 55 years, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in the area after ascending the throne at a tender age of 12.

During a ceremony last week Saturday to celebrate the late chief, the residents of Amedzofe expressed their appreciation for his instrumental contributions to the advancement of the region, saying his transformative endeavours in various sectors such as education, agriculture, telecommunication, and tourism had had a lasting impact on the community.

Born Emmanuel Galevo Komla Atikpui, Chief Foli assumed his chieftaincy position in 1964, at the behest of his father, the late Rev. Ambrocious Roland Atikpui, who was the crown prince and a catechist at the time.

Due to his father's demanding role as an evangelist, Chief Foli's father entrusted the chieftaincy responsibilities to his young son.

Throughout his tenure, Chief Foli motivated his people to partake in self-help projects and actively lobbied for infrastructural development from the government to enhance their quality of life.

Accomplishments

A brother of the late chief, Dr Eli Atikpui, in a tribute, acknowledged the late chiefs selflessness and unwavering dedication to humanity.

Among his noteworthy accomplishments, the late Folie facilitated the provision of electricity to the area and spearheaded the construction of a community clinic.

He also established the Amedzofe Technical Institute, where he personally covered teachers' allowances using his own resources.

"At the time when the school had difficulties in paying teacher's salary, Chief Foli, for six months, dedicated 60 per cent of his monthly salary to ensure that teachers of the school received some stipends."

Recognising the significance of communication, the late chief played a pivotal role in bringing telecommunication masts to the region, thereby improving mobile connectivity. He also focused on promoting the tourism potential of Amedzofe, notably highlighting attractions such as Mount Gemi and Ote Falls.

The Chairman of the Amedzofe Development Association, Macdonald Bubuama, commended the late Chief Foli for his unwavering devotion and commitment to the welfare of his people. He acknowledged the significant development projects that had been accomplished in the community under the chiefs leadership.

Extending condolences to the people of Amedzofe, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, encouraged them to honour Chief Okusie Akyem Foli's legacy by ensuring a peaceful transition during the installation of his successor.
Govt launches enterprise grant for PWDs

Maclean Kwofi Jun - 06 - 2023 , 07:28

The government has launched a GH12 million enterprise support programme for persons with disability (PWDs) in the country.

The PWD Enterprise Support Programme seeks to offer technical assistance and grant funding initiatives exclusively to 150 enterprises owned by PWDs.

The proposed special window is expected to promote the welfare of the enterprises owned by PWDs through business and financial management training and grant funding.

It is targeting PWD enterprises in agriculture/agro-processing, construction, education, food and beverages, health care or pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, manufacturing, information technology, tourism and hospitality.

An application portal will be opened from June 6 this year until the end of next month to enable businesses to seek the opportunity to benefit from the financial support to be implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and funded by the World Bank under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP).

Support for businesses

Launching the programme in Accra yesterday, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Stephen Amoah, said the government was committed to supporting all businesses in the country to ensure inclusive growth.

He said supporting PWDs in Ghana was essential for upholding quality inclusivity and fostering economic empowerment.

It is important to note that interventions and programmes of such nature align with the governments goals of providing training, capacity developing, funding, access to market and technology to enable them to scale up their businesses and transition into the next stage of growth, thereby improving their ability to increase sales and exports, he said.

He said the government in 2021 transformed the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) into a bigger firm called GEA to efficiently manage micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

He said in line with that, a national MSMEs policy was designed to stimulate the growth of the sector to produce quality products and services capable of competing locally and internationally.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, noted that despite the progress made in recent years, PWDs still faced significant challenges in society.

She said PWDs often struggled to access basic social amenities that most people took for granted and were frequently excluded from social, cultural and economic activities.

However, she said it was important to recognise that PWDs were an integral part of the community and had much to contribute to the economic development of this great nation.

PWDs possess unique skills, talents and perspectives that can enrich our society and help us to build a more inclusive and equitable society and future.

As a nation, we must work together to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to opportunities and resources, he said.

He said that included providing accessible infrastructure, promoting inclusive education and creating employment opportunities that were tailored to their needs.



Govt not oblivious

The Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, stated that the government was not oblivious of the various challenges faced by PWD-owned enterprises.

He said it was also determined to sustain efforts at creating a more enabling business environment that promoted growth among local businesses, including those owned by PWDs.

Here at GEA, we observed a trend where PWD firms have been underrepresented in the various technical assistance and grant programmes because the qualifying criteria seemed rather too high to effectively compete with non-PWD enterprises.

Under the first phase of the COVID-19 Response Grant Programme implemented in 2021, only three PWD enterprises were eligible for support out of over 370 firms supported with grants, she noted.

She added that the support for businesses owned by PWDs in the country was a positive development that would help promote a more inclusive and diverse society.

Driver of economic growth

The Country Director of the World Bank, Pierre Frank Laporte, noted that the bank believed that MSMEs were a key driver of economic growth in the country, contributing to job creation and socio-economic inclusion.

He said it was important to support enterprises led by PWDs and ensure they could grow and provide opportunities for more people.

Commendation

The Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union, Peter Obeng-Asamoa, commended the government, GEA and support agencies for the introduction of the PWD Enterprise Support Programme.

We have been waiting for this kind of initiative for a long time to support us to grow our businesses, the executive director said.
Keep off Anglogold Ashantis concession - Jinapor warns

Timothy Ngnenbe Jun - 06 - 2023 , 08:27

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has warned that the government will not countenance any unlawful entry into the concession of Anglogold Ashanti (AGA) in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

Mr Jinapor stressed that any person found to have illegally entered the concession to mine would be made to face the full rigours of the law.

"I want to deliver this message to the Obuasi community that the government's position is that we recognise that we need to find alternative livelihoods for the youth of Obuasi and we are working with AGA to do just that. However, I want to send a strong signal that the lack of employment can never be a justification for attacking the concession of AGA.

"We are determined to protect this mine, and I want to state forcefully that it is government's policy that AGA's concession be protected through all legal means. Therefore, the mining laws of this country will be enforced strictly," he stated.

The minister gave the caution when he paid a working visit to Obuasi yesterday, a week after some illegal miners invaded AGA's concession.

Context

On May 29, there were reports that about 300 illegal miners who encroached AGA's concession were trapped in one of the shafts at Anwiam in the Obuasi East District of the Ashanti Region.

The illegal miners were said to have entered the underground shaft to mine but were trapped after the exit routes were closed.

Two days after the incident, it was reported that 86 of the illegal miners had been rescued and handed over to the police.

Fact-finding

To unravel the mystery surrounding the issue, Mr Jinapor led a team of mining experts on a fact-finding mission to AGA Obuasi Mines and interacted with key stakeholders.

The team, which included the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi; and the advisor on mines to the Lands Minister, Benjamin Aryee, sought to unravel the circumstances under which scores of illegal miners invaded the underground shaft of AGA and how best the tide could be stemmed going forward.

As part of the fact-finding mission, the minister held a crunch meeting with the Obuasi Municipal Security Council and the Obuasi East District Security Council.

Present at the meeting were the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Elija Adansi Binnah; District Chief Executive for Obuasi East, Faustina Amissah, as well as the regional and district

commanders for the various security agencies such as the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prison Service and the Ghana Fire Service.

After the joint meeting with the security councils behind closed doors, the minister also held a meeting with the chiefs within the Obuasi area to discuss the impasse and the way forward.

Additionally, the team met the management members of AGA and the Ghana National Association of Small-scale Miners in camera so as to obtain multiple sides to the issues.

Mr Jinapor said having met and discussed the issue with the various stakeholders, he had gained deeper knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake.

Again, he said based on the facts presented to him on the issue, some conclusions had been reached to protect AGA's concession.

"I want to underscore the importance of AGA as an asset to the national economy of our country.

As we are all aware, this mine was put under our care and maintenance in 2016 because of some of these illegal mining activities happening today. Through the instrumentality of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Asantehene, the mine was brought back to life in 2019. We will not allow it to go down again," he assured.

He said no person was allowed under any circumstance to invade or attack AGA concession.

"If they do as they have done, they will be arrested, prosecuted and the law will take its course," he said.

Arrest

Responding to a question on the fate of the 86 people who were picked up for illegal entry into the AGA mining shaft, the minister said they would be made to face the full rigours of the law.

"The laws of our country will take their course. This issue will be treated like any other criminal conduct in Ghana; the laws will fully apply and if they are found to have flouted the mining laws, they have to be prosecuted.

Setting records straight

It had been reported that some 300 illegal miners had been trapped in AGA's mining shaft.

However, the Chief Executive Officer of AGA, Eric Asubonteng, said only 86 persons had surfaced from the mines.

He said all 86 persons were handed over to the police.

"We do not know where the 300 figure that was reported came from. If someone who is unauthorised enters underground, we cannot know," he said.

He added that if anyone was still underground, the main entrance was opened for such people to exit.
Oil exploration in Northern Region will attract investments  Ya-Na

Mohammed Fugu Jun - 06 - 2023 , 07:13

The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, is upbeat about the massive facelift the Northern Region is about to witness as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) inches closer to drilling an oil and gas exploration well in the Voltaian Basin next year.

The Ya- Na said upon a successful oil and gas find, the Northern Region could become a hub of petroleum production that would attract business and investments from all over the world.

The prospect of what your successful activities in the Voltaian Basin means to this region and Ghana is not lost on us and remains the basis of our continuous backing of your efforts to ensuring that the natural resources are well harnessed to support developmental activities in host communities and beyond, he said.

Courtesy

The Overlord of Dagbon was speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Deputy Minister of Energy, Herbert Krapa, and management of the GNPC.

The delegation, which included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GNPC, Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah, was in the Northern Region to gather firsthand information on the progress of seismic work underway to find hydrocarbons in commercial quantities there.

The Voltaian Basin spans about 460 communities in 13 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), 10 of which are in the Northern Region, with three others located in the Savanna Region.

The visit was necessitated by the need to thank the Ya-Na and the chiefs and people of the region for their continuous support in providing a conducive environment necessary to advancing the activities of prospecting for hydrocarbons in the onshore sedimentary basin of the Voltaian area.

Ghana had, over the years, conducted regional studies on its own as well as commissioning third-party experts such as Robertson CGG and De-Goyler and Macnaughton to deepen its understanding of Ghanas sedimentary basins.

For his part, Mr Krapa extended the governments message of appreciation to the Overload of Dagbon for his unwavering commitment from the outset when

plans of the project were first brought to his attention, and assured him that success of the project would impact positively on the development of the region.

You have been instrumental in our success so far and our mission here is to consolidate our collaboration by seeking further consultations for the next phase of the project which promises to lead us to a successful discovery and its attendant gains, the Deputy Minister of Energy stated.

The GNPC boss recounted the Ya-Nas instrumental role in ensuring that local and stakeholder conditions were right for the successful commencement of work towards the discovery of hydrocarbon potential onshore, an effort in furtherance of the corporations quest for commercial operation of its oil and gas resources.

As the Yoo Naa (Chief of Savelugu), you first received us (GNPC) in your land in 2017 and on our mission to obtain the greatest possible benefits from the development of Ghanas petroleum resources and we are grateful for the harmonious relationship which has been sustained since then, Mr Danquah said.

He used the opportunity to court further support for GNPCs continuous work in the area, highlighting the enormous windfall of opportunities the region stood to gain with the successful drilling of wells in the Voltaian Basin.

Mr Danquah confirmed that interim outcomes from work done on the project so far offered enough impetus to continue with prospecting activities.



We are likely to begin drilling of the first well on your land in 2024 and success at this will see the Northern Region emerge as a stellar area of development in Ghana and open it up to the rest of the world with opportunities for business and growth, he said.

According to the GNPC boss, the successful completion of the previous phase paved the way for the current activity and that had pushed the corporation closer to its quest of achieving the goal of drilling a well by the first quarter of 2024.

Mr Danquah said the project would be a game-changer because it would create jobs for the teeming youth and open up the area.

He, therefore, called for continuous support and corporation to enable the GNPC to achieve its objective of discovering hydrocarbons in commercial quantities and the successful drilling of wells in the Voltaian Basin.

Background

The GNPC has been exploring the hydrocarbon prospects of the countrys onshore sedimentary basin (Voltaian Basin) under a reconnaissance licence through a mix of geophysical, geological and geochemical techniques since 2017.

Currently, contractors at the various project sites are making significant progress towards the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities.

At the site at Kpalbe in the North East Gonja District in the Savannah Region, it was observed that the contractors and geological engineers from GNPC were busily undertaking the seismic work.
NCCE Citizen Week celebration: Asantehemaa encourages youth to embrace leadership and build united nation

Emmanuel Baah Jun - 06 - 2023 , 15:06

The Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, has delivered a powerful message to the youth of Ghana, urging them to embrace their responsibilities as agents of change and future leaders in building a peaceful, strong, and united democratic country.

During her address to pupils from St. Anne's Anglican Junior High School, who paid a visit to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi as part of the National Commission for Civic Education's Citizenship Week Celebration, Nana Yiadom III emphasized the need for the youth to recognize themselves as leaders of the future.

She stressed the importance of their active participation in shaping a prosperous nation.

The week-long celebration aims to provide pupils across the country with interactions with eminent personalities who serve as role models in society. This year's theme, "30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy and Building National Cohesion; The Role of the Ghanaian Child," highlights the pivotal role children play as future leaders and agents of change in peace-building.

Nana Yiadom III encouraged students to take their education seriously as a crucial step towards fulfilling their future responsibilities. Drawing inspiration from the late Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, she emphasized the value of hard work, humility, and academic discipline in preparing for leadership roles.

Furthermore, she urged students to cultivate discipline, humility, and a strong work ethic.

The Asantehemaa commended the National Commission for Civic Education for organizing the Citizenship Week and called for the program's continued implementation due to its significant benefits for society.

Among the attendees were Margaret Konama, the Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, and Andrew Ofori Larbi, the Deputy Director. The presence of these esteemed individuals underscored the importance of instilling good citizenship values in Ghanaian pupils.
Oti Region receives medical equipment from R.K. Atikpo Foundation

Daily Graphic Jun - 06 - 2023 , 12:36

The R.K Atikpo Foundation (RKAF) has presented some medical equipment and supplies to some hospitals and health facilities in the nine districts of the Oti Region.

The gesture is part of the foundations social impact project intended to improve healthcare delivery in the beneficiary districts.

It was done in partnership with the founder of the foundation, Richard K. Atikpo, who is also the Oti Regions representative on the Council of State, the German development cooperation, GIZ & Magdeburg, and another non-for-profit organisation, Networking for Hope.

Equipment

The items running into hundreds and thousands of Euros included hospital beds, defibrillators, monitor accessories, syringe pumps and cables, swimming aids and mobilisation chairs.

Others are ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic device accessories, breathing tubes, 02 sensors, suctions, resuscitators, medical supplies, consumables, ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The beneficiary districts were Biakoye, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Krachi East, Krachi West, Krachi Nchumuru, Nkwanta North, Nkwanta South and Guan.

Support

Making the presentation on behalf of the foundation, the project manager, Reginald Seth Dogbey, assured the people of the Oti Region of the commitment of their Council of State representative and his partners to work and support health institutions to further improve healthcare delivery to the people.

He further gave the assurance that the foundation was also working towards supporting the improvement of education, as well as youth development, women empowerment and sanitation in the region, with the ultimate aim of development of the area.

The Medical Superintendent of the Jasikan Government Hospital, Dr Fidelis Attia, who received the items on behalf of health institutions in the region, expressed their appreciation for the equipment, saying it would go a long way to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

He appealed for more support for the hospitals so they would also be able to efficiently and effectively provide the needed health services.

Also, to build the capacity of healthcare givers, the foundation in collaboration with its partners from Germany organised a workshop on ultrasound examination in emergency medicine for staff of the Jasikan and Nkwanta hospitals.

In addition to the theoretical knowledge, practical exercises were also carried out on patients.

The two hospitals after the training were presented with new ultrasound devices.

At the training, Mr Dogbey stated that the aim was to establish close connection with colleagues in Germany and to ensure a lasting improvement in the clinical situation in the Oti Region.

The Project Manager of R.K Atikpo indicated that a supplementary workshop had been planned for the coming year, so that an annual exchange programme would be initiated between the German partners and the region.
Police fined GH100,000 for failure to comply with Right to Information request

GraphicOnline Jun - 06 - 2023 , 12:41

The Ghana Police Service has been handed a fine of GH100,000 for its refusal to adhere to the directives of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission.

The Commission had requested that the Police Service grant access to requested information, specifically concerning cases of police brutality, as sought by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa.

Despite the request being addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Commission in a statement said the Police Service disregarded it entirely.

The RTI Commission expressed its concern over the Police Service's failure to make decisions on the applicant's request and their disregard for the Commission's letter.

Citing the Police Service's non-compliance with Act 989, the RTI Commission said such conduct undermines the right of access to information enshrined in Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The Commission denounced this behavior and imposed an administrative penalty of GH100,000.

The Police Service is required to pay this amount to the Commission within 14 days of receiving the decision.

Failure to comply will result in an additional default penalty rate of 10% on the principal penalty sum of GH100,000 for every subsequent 14-day period.
Reject gas as transition fuel  ACEES

Mary Anane-Amponsah Jun - 06 - 2023 , 13:22

The Africa Centre For Energy and Environmental Sustainability (ACEES) has called for the rejection of gas as a transition fuel that can promote a just energy transition for the country.

It said the natural gas was also a fossil fuel that emitted methane which was more harmful to the ozone layer and, therefore, could not be an alternative for a just energy transition.

At a workshop for civil society organisations (CSOs) on Just Energy Transition sustainability, the Executive Director of ACEES, Nurideen Abdulai, said focusing on gas as a sustainable renewable energy transition would not help the country achieve a just energy transition.

A just energy transition, he explained, was one that shifted from fossil fuel economy to a regenerative economy, thus an economy that healed itself from impacts.

Workshop

The workshop was to build the capacity of the CSOs to advocate an energy transition that would help the country and not further deepen the negative impact of extractive economy.

He explained that a just energy transition focused on a more sustainable and low carbon economy that was fair and equitable for stakeholders including workers, communities and the vulnerable.

"This is to say for us to achieve a just energy transition, we must move away from fossil fuels which affect the climate and have negative social and economic impact on the society".

Gas more harmful

Mr Abdulai said the idea of making natural gas a best fit for sustainable renewable energy transition should be discarded as it could be more harmful than carbons.

He explained that methane had higher global warming potentials than carbons and could avoid emissions that affected the environment.

Mr Abdulai indicated that the argument that Africans' emission of greenhouse gas was low and, therefore, should be left alone must not be encouraged because Africans were more vulnerable and less resilient to climate change.

"Here in Ghana, when it even rains heavily for five hours we know the effect it has on our people.

We cannot continue to do things which affects us greatly".

The CSOs, he said, had a role of advocating a just energy transition that would promote a regenerative economy which could cater for the development needs of the citizenry.

"There is a need for us to win the push for a just energy transition that will enable us to move from a fossil fuel economy to a regenerated economy which can fend for itself and help the development of the people, he indicated.

The country, he said, needed to focus on renewable energies such as solar, wind, mini hydro, and converting waste into energy.

Not benefitting much

Another reason why natural gas should not be an alternative was that the activities in the sector, he said, had been accompanied by several social, economic, and environmental negative impacts which included low fish catch, loss of jobs and livelihoods, environmental degradation, pollution, among others.

He added that with all those effects, the people had not benefited significantly from the oil and gas industry.

Mr Abdulai noted that a few people were benefiting from the oil and gas sector as the beneficiaries mostly had been foreign companies who took proceeds of the industry to their countries.

He presented a list of companies working in the upstream sector, thus the exploration sector, which had only two Ghanaian companies.

"We need to benefit from our resources but if we cannot benefit from the resources, then we should leave them for a generation with technical know-how to explore them," he indicated".

He said the exploration and production of oil and gas was affecting the environment and, therefore, the country must ensure that the people were the beneficiaries to those natural resources.

The assistant coordinator, Africa Coal Network, Nerrissa Edem Anku, urged the CSOs to champion an inclusive governance of natural resources.

Local communities, she said, tended to suffer from the decisions taken in how the resources were utilised and therefore, must be engaged to be involved in the process and also benefit from the resources.
Saglemi project: High Court gives Alhaji Yakubu 48-hours to show up

Justice Agbenorsi Jun - 06 - 2023 , 00:03

The High Court in Accra has given Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing 48-hours to appear before it for his plea to be taken in a criminal case pending since 2021.

Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, who gave the order on Monday (June 5) said the law would take its course if the accused person fails to show up in Court on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, was the Chief Director of the ministry from 2009 to 2017.

Despite being slapped with charges in August 2021 with a former Minister of the Ministry, Alhaji Collins Dauda, his successor, Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah and two others over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, the trial has been at a standstill due to the health condition of the former Chief Director.

The others are the Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS, the Brazilian company which constructed the affordable housing project at Saglemi, Andrew Clocanas, and a director of RMS, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) consultancy subcontractor, Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, over the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property when they made their first appearance at the Court presided over by Justice Elfreda Amy Dankyi.

New Court

The original charge sheet, bearing 52 counts against the accused persons was substituted by the state on January 24, 2023 and the case was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Owusu-Dapaa on May 31, 2023.

On the new charge sheet, the five accused persons, who are currently on bail, are now facing 72 counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property.

While the four accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the new charges, Alhaji Yakubu on the other hand is yet to plead whether or not he is guilty.

Counsel for Alhaji Yakubu, Godwin Tameklo, who submitted a letter detailing the medical condition of his client, prayed the Court to either give Alhaji Yakubu some time to recover or make video conference facilities available at the Attorney-Generals Office in Tamale or Yendi to enable him plead to the charges.

However, the prosecution, led by a Principal State Attorney, Hilda Craig, said details of the medical report indicated that the accused could walk when supported.

She added that the video conference facilities were currently not available at the A-Gs offices in Tamale and Yendi, hence it was impossible for the accused person to take his plea via the video conference.

Ruling

Giving his decision on the matter, the presiding judge said, Our criminal Justice system cannot provide what it does not have.

He, therefore ordered the accused to appear on Wednesday, June 9, 2023 at 12 noon.

Prosecutions facts

Per the old facts presented by the Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, in August 2012, the then President, John Dramani Mahama, granted Executive approval to the Ministry of Housing for the construction of 5,000 affordable housing units, to be known as the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project.

The housing units, to be executed by Construtora OAS Ltd, were to be sold to workers through mortgage arrangements provided by the then Ghana Home Loans Company.

Mr Dame said the project was funded by Credit Suisse, following parliamentary approval.

Review

Mr Dame said on February 27, 2014, Dauda, without parliamentary approval, reviewed the EPC agreement and signed both the original and the revised (restated) agreement with Construtora OAS, represented by Clocanas.

The revision allegedly changed the scope of works and the application of the $200 million approved by Parliament, the A-G said.

Disbursement

Credit Suisse, he said, disbursed the $198 million ($200 million less fees and transaction expenses) into the Escrow Account and the 40 per cent advance payment to Construtora OAS was effected on February 27, 2013.

He said the contractor failed to apply the amount towards the intended purpose.

On December 21, 2016, he said, Yakubu again reviewed the original and revised (restated) agreement and signed them (second and his revised or restated), without recourse to Parliament.

That led to a further reduction in the scope of works to 1,412 housing units at a revised price of $181 million and extended the completion period to July 31, 2017, the A-G alleged.

The prosecution further alleged that series of payments were made to the contractor and sub-contractors for no work done.
Stakeholders deliberate on biotechnology adoption in Africa

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Jun - 06 - 2023 , 14:56

An international symposium on biotechnology was last Friday held in Accra to enable players deliberate on how the technology, particularly genome editing and genetically modified organisms could be applied to benefit African farmers and contribute to food security on the continent.

Held on the theme: Increasing access to new tools, technologies and methods in Africas agriculture, the symposium brought together biotechnologists, plant geneticists, crop and animal scientists, seed breeders, biotech regulators, farmers and government officials.

Speaking at the event, Ghanaian plant geneticist and founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) of the University of Ghana, Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, said modern biotechnology tools such as the genome editing and GMOs were critical to advancing agriculture and food security in Africa.

For him, scientific innovations such as the genome editing and GMOs could not be ignored in agriculture, if Africa was to feed herself and remain self-reliant.

That, he added, smallholder farmers in Africa in particular needed access to biotech crops more than farmers anywhere else in the world, arguing that the time has come for African governments to use available data on biotech solutions to take decisions that would improve livelihoods and lift millions out of extreme hunger and poverty in the African region.

Prof. Danquah is of the view that the growing African populations required innovation and scientific technologies that would enable African farmers to produce more on less farms, hence the need to adopt genome editing technology and other biotech tools, including GMOs.

He expressed the concern that farmers across the globe were struggling with the devastating impacts of climate change, stressing that the changing climatic conditions had made biotechnology tools the most preferred solutions.

For her part, the Eastern Africa Director of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Leader of Biotechnology, Dr Leena Tripathi, expressed the concern that farmers across many African countries continue to lose greater percentage of their yields through pest infestation and diseases, thus leaving many in abject poverty.

That, she added, when farmers adopt biotechnology tools, it would enable them to overcome some of the burdensome challenges they face in their work, including pest infestation, diseases and low yields.

She explained that scientists use biotechnology tools to provide solutions to farmers, encouraging African governments to see the potential in agricultural biotechnology.

Dr Tripathi said it was not the intention of any biotechnologist to create products that would be harmful to people, societies and the environment, explaining that the pod borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea variety, for instance, had been developed to solve the menace of the maruca pests that attack the crop at all stages of its development and destroy almost 80 per cent of the yields.

She expressed the hope that stakeholders, particularly regulators would expedite work on the Bt Cowpea to enable farmers cultivate more and reduce poverty.

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said agriculture remains a major priority of the government and that the government would continue to invest in the sector to make it more profitable for both the farmers and the country as a whole.

He noted that investment in agriculture, especially in the areas of modern technologies would help to improve productivity which would ultimately contribute to food security.

The government is not relenting in its efforts to transform agriculture as the sector is the driving force behind the economy, presenting the best opportunity for accelerated industrialisation, job creation and poverty reduction, the Minister noted.
Stop stigma, reduce maternal mortality

David K. Awusi Jun - 06 - 2023 , 06:00

Maternal mortality is unacceptably high: Ghanas new-born and maternal mortality is 308 to 100,000 live births compared to the World Health Organisations (WHO) standard of 70 to 100,000 live births.

Globally, about 287, 000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020.

Almost 95 per cent of all these deaths occurred in low and lower middle-income countries. Shockingly, most could have been prevented.

Teen mothers

The WHO estimates that about 21 million girls aged between 1519 years in developing regions become pregnant with 12 million of them giving birth.

Research shows that adolescent mothers (aged 1019 years) face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometriosis and systemic infections than women aged 2024 years.

Babies of adolescent mothers also face higher risks of low birth weight, pre-term birth and severe neonatal conditions.

Preventing pregnancy among adolescents is therefore key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to maternal and new-born health.

Ghana is not immune to this crisis.

Between 2016 and 2020, Ghana recorded 542,131 pregnancies among young teenagers aged between 1519 years.

Pregnancies at such a young age have a lifelong consequence for the mother and child.

It is undisputable that todays adolescents are the drivers for the future economic and social development of Ghana.

However, if we stand aloof and watch thousands of our adolescents become pregnant  with some even losing their lives  then we cannot guarantee a sustainable and prosperous future for our beloved country.

This is why Youth Rise International (YoRI) is addressing new born and maternal mortality in a bid to reduce Ghanas current rate of 308 deaths in each 100,000 live births.

Much has already been done. Successive governments have established radical health promotion policies and programmes in Ghana since the 1990s.

CHPS compound

Key among these is the Community-based Health Promotion Services (CHPS).

Through this innovative health strategy, most rural and hard-to-reach communities now have a CHPS compound  a mini-health centre which operates 24/7 and gives easy access to health care.

These centres are the first entry point for pregnant women, including adolescent or teenage mothers to receive ante-natal care and are a lifeline for the community.

Since 2022, for example, Youth Rise International  in collaboration with the District Health Director and the District Assembly of the Ekumfi District in the Central Region of Ghana  reached out to over 10,000 people to raise awareness.

Through this, it has been able to provide direct quality health care, helping 90 high-risk pregnant women  all geared towards achieving zero home delivery and zero newborn and maternal mortality.

High risk

Today, the YRI has directly worked with over 5,000 high risk pregnant women across the district and embarked on national advocacy to promote such interventions.

Our community discussions have consistently raised the trend of high-risk pregnancy among adolescents as key.

Many reports that such young mothers often encounter systemic discrimination in the healthcare system with unprofessional and unethical attitudes among some healthcare staff.

Teen-friendly facilities

When the health system combines both adult and adolescent girls, these younger mothers often face discrimination in pre-and post-natal care.

The young mothers do not find the CHPS welcoming  instead, they avoid these services and turn to unapproved and unauthorised herbal medicines.

This worsens the already vulnerable and high-risk situation they find themselves as adolescent or teenage mothers - especially those from very deprived and rural grassroots communities.

We need a teen-friendly and trauma-informed health system that supports our vulnerable mothers.

The WHO research shows that care by skilled health professionals before, during and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns.

But consider the story of 17-year-old teen mother Grace, a recent beneficiary of our ongoing zero newborn and maternal mortality project in the Central Region.

Grace already has a one-year-old child and is currently seven months pregnant.

Grace told our team how, during her first pregnancy, her antenatal visits were marked by series of rebukes as well as insensitive and traumatising interrogations from adult pregnant women and healthcare professionals at the health centre she visited.

Even though she had heard about family planning and birth control through the radio, she was afraid to ask for this support at the clinic.

A second unplanned pregnancy was the result.

This time, she felt too traumatised to even attend the antenatal clinic  putting herself and her unborn child at risk.

Access to health

Access to health is a right. The government of Ghana  having ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990  also has an obligation to promote and ensure the health, protection and well-being of adolescents.

We call on the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to retrain health workers across the country on the patient charter -- focusing specifically on non-discrimination, inclusion and trauma-informed care.

We need to ensure that health workers serve teen or adolescent mothers with high levels of professionalism and ethical standards.

This must then be supported with teen-friendly and trauma-informed care clinics or service delivery days that cater for young women.

In this way, teen or adolescent mothers will not be hindered by ostracism, stigma, derogatory and non-dignifying comments and unnecessary interrogations from adult clients.

We must create a welcoming environment so that they will feel motivated to visit health facilities and increase their chances of a healthy birth.

We owe it to our young mothers and children.

We owe it to Ghana.

The writer is the Founder & Executive Director of Youth Rise International
Tamale Teaching Hospital gets paediatric theatre, CT scan

Mohammed Fugu Jun - 06 - 2023 , 13:31

A new CT scan and childrens theatre have been commissioned at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to offer specialist surgical operations and care to children.

Initiated by the International Child Cleft Foundation, Smile Foundation and KidsOR, the paediatric theatre has been furnished with cutting-edge equipment tailored towards meeting the surgical needs of children.

The facility is expected to improve child healthcare delivery at the hospital which serves as a major referral centre in northern Ghana.

On the other hand, the CT scan is expected to complement the existing one which has been breaking down frequently due to the pressure on it.

The frequent breakdown of the old machine over the years compelled patients to travel to as far as Techiman in the Bono East Region for scan services.

The new machine procured by the Ministry of Health has been installed at the Accident and Emergency Unit to offer emergency services to patients.

Inauguration

Inaugurating the facilities, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the TTH, Dr Atiku Adam, expressed gratitude to Smile Train and KidsOR for their collaborative efforts that led to the building of the children's theatre.

He said the hospital conducted about 328 surgeries among children alone in its shared surgical theatre in 2022 and added that the number could have been more, if the hospital had a dedicated theatre for children.

He pledged his outfit's commitment to put the facilities to good use, to enable them to serve their intended purposes.

For his part, the Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, reiterated the government's commitment to improve healthcare delivery in the country.

That, he said, would go a long way to contribute towards achieving universal health coverage by 2030.
Womens club donates to Accra Psychiatric Hospital

Daily Graphic Jun - 06 - 2023 , 14:56

A non-governmental organisation, Ghana International Womens club (GIWC), has donated assorted items worth GH50,000 to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The items included adult diapers, toilet rolls, washing power, cleaning detergents, disinfectants, deodorants, body cream, dozens of ladies panties.

Others were bottles of drinking water, soft drinks, biscuits, boiled eggs and assorted clothing, among others, to care for the patients at the hospital.

Annual donation

After handing over the items to the hospital, the president of GWIC, Nermine Kattah, said the club was a charity organisation which raised funds to support the underprivileged in society.

She explained that the objective of the donation was to show compassion, ensure that inmates at the psychiatric hospital were properly cared for and to make a significant impact on society.

In the past 40 years, she said, the club had been supporting the Accra Psychiatric Hospital with a special donation once every year to support persons battling mental health.

Apart from the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, she said, members of the club made an annual donation to institutions such as the Akropong School for the blind, Dzorwulu Special School, Betekuso Day Care Centre and the Ussher Town Clinic in James Town.

Appreciation

Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, a Senior Nursing Officer in Charge of Public Relations at the Hospital, Francisca Ntow, expressed gratitude to GWIC for the support and gave an assurance that the items would be used for their right purposes.

We are very grateful to the club for the items.

The support is very timely.

The items will help us to take care of, especially, the female patients here in the hospital, she said.

She urged benevolent individuals, institutions and churches to support the hospital as we are currently in dire need of food items such as grains, protein and vegetables and other items.

Later, the members of the club visited the childrens ward and the female Geriatric ward to interact with some of the patients on admission to hand over some of the items to them.

At the female Geriatric where six elderly women were on admission, the Deputy Ward in charge, Jennifer Ayikwei, said most of the patients in that ward were aged above 60 and because of their mental health conditions, the nurses did basically everything for them.

However, she said, the government could not bear all the cost including medication and feeding we, therefore, urge the public to support us.

Ms Acheampong said items needed for the care of patients in the ward included gloves for changing diapers of patients, adult diapers, antiseptics, canned fish and other protein products and clothings.

We call on the public to come to the aid of the ward.

We also need psychotropic medication, she said.
Derbi Avenue residents benefit from free health screening

Diana Mensah Health Jun - 06 - 2023 , 11:20

About 550 residents of Derby Avenue and its environs in the Greater Accra Region have benefitted from a free health screening and medical care exercise organised by the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The exercise formed part of activities to commemorate the 130 years of Catholicity in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

It was dubbed: 130 years of Catholicity in Sacred Heart Parish, Derby Avenue, a time to enlarge the space of our tent.

The exercise offered and saw beneficiaries screened for hepatitis B, malaria, blood sugar, blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), breast cancer, eye screening, and high cholesterol levels.

They were also screened for Covid-19.

The beneficiaries who did no have health insurance were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) while those with expired ones had their insurance renewed.

The Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Ashianor, said as part of the activities to earmark the celebration, the church saw the need to organise free health screening and extend it to the whole community.

He advised the community to take advantage, get tested for various ailments as the church had made available the necessary basic medication to enable them to seek early treatment.

A lot of Ghanaians had medical conditions that they have no idea of because of lack of necessary resources and time to undergo routine medical check-ups, so we have health experts here that they can seek medical advice from, Mr Ashianor said.

A nurse and coordinator of the medical team, Florence Mensah, said the health screening was a preventive measure to detect early signs of health problems and a unique chance for people to know their health status.

She explained that the diseases screened were prevalent in the country and so there was a need for beneficiaries to take precautionary measures to seek the appropriate medical attention.

Unhealthy lifestyles

The Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Rev Fr Delase Kojo Parku, cautioned against the community to abstain from unhealthy lifestyles such as hard drugs, alcohol and reckless living as that caused a lot of harm to their health.
NPP presidential primary: 10 Pick forms so far

Justice Agbenorsi Politics Jun - 06 - 2023 , 06:43

With about 20 days to the close of nominations for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary, a total number of 10 aspirants have so far picked up nomination forms to contest the election.

The exercise that opened on May 26 would end on June 24, 2023.

As of Thursday, June 1, 2023, a total of 10 flagbearer aspirants had picked up nomination forms and had paid a non-refundable nomination fee of GH50,000 and as part of the requirements, they would pay a filing fee of GH300,000.

Aspirants

They are a former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, who was the first to pick the form, a former NPP General Secretary and presidential spokesperson, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; a former

Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh; a former Minister of State, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

The rest are Vice- President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General and MP for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey, and a businessman and energy expert Kwadwo Poku.

Amendment

This is the highest number so far as compared to the 2007 presidential primary of the ruling party in which 17 aspirants contested in that poll to select a flag bearer for the 2008 general election.

The party has since amended its Constitution to accommodate not more than five persons for the flagbearership contest.

According to Article 13(9) of the NPP constitution: "Where there are more than five contestants for nomination as the party's presidential candidate, a Special Electoral College shall cast their votes by secret ballot for the first five contestants to be short-listed".

Profile:

Bawumia

Dr Bawumia, an economist and banker, is the sitting Vice-President. He was a Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana until his selection as the running mate of the NPPs presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the 2008 elections. He was maintained as the running mate for three consecutive times.

He was the lead witness for the petitioners in the 2012 Presidential Election Petition, which challenged the declaration of John Mahama as the winner of Ghana's 2012 presidential election.

Kyerematen

Mr Kyerematen, an economist and lawyer, served under former President John Agyekum Kufuor between 2003 and 2007 before his reappointment by President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 till his resignation early this year to enable him to concentrate on his presidential ambition.

This will be the fourth time Mr Kyerematen is contesting the NPP flagbearership contest. The first was in 2007, the second in 2010 and the third in 2014.

He was the first runner-up in all the three contests.

Mr Kyerematen has a successful career in international trade, international public policy, enterprise development, politics and diplomacy.

Dr Akoto

Dr Akoto holds a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the University of Cambridge and had been Minister of Food and Agriculture since 2017 until his resignation in January this year to focus on his presidential ambition.

He is credited with the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

He was for two terms the MP for Kwadaso in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, from 2009.

Kwabena Agyepong

Mr. Agyepong is a civil engineer who also served as the Press Secretary to former President Kufuor from 2001 to 2006.

He was one of the 17 aspirants who contested the party's presidential primary in 2007, ahead of the 2008 general election.

In 2014, Mr Agyepong contested the position of General Secretary of the NPP and won. However, he was suspended from his position as General Secretary after some party members filed a petition against him.

Ghartey

Mr Ghartey is a lawyer and MP for Essikado-Ketan in the Western Region.

He is a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and once served as the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

He is also the immediate past Minister of Railways Development.

Ken Agyapong

Mr Agyapong, a businessman, is the incumbent MP for Assin Central in the Central Region.

He has been MP since 2000 and is the Chairperson of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament.

Agyarko

Mr Agyarko is a banker, economist, former Minister of Energy and founder member of the NPP in 1992.

He was appointed National Campaign Manager of the NPP in the 2012 presidential election and Policy Adviser to the presidential candidate of the NPP during the 2016 elections.

Addai-Nimoh

Mr. Addai-Nimoh is a development planner and civil engineer.

He is a former MP for Mampong in the Ashanti Region and contested the NPP's presidential primary in 2014 ahead of the 2016 elections and placed third.

Dr Apraku

Dr Apraku, an economist, is a former Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD and also Minister of Trade and Industry in former President Kufuor's administration.

Dr Apraku was also a member of the Second, Third and Fourth Parliaments of the Fourth Republic.

He was among the 17 aspirants who contested the flagbearer slot of the NPP in 2007 ahead of the 2008 elections.

Kwadwo Poku

Mr. Poku has worked on various projects for years at different levels in the energy sector.

He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of FKP & RALD Investment Limited.
Minority parties urged to support NDC to win Assin North by-election

Daniel Kenu Politics Jun - 06 - 2023 , 10:50

A former National Treasurer of the People's National Convention (PNC), Akane Adabengba Adams, has urged minority parties especially those without representation in Parliament to support the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the June 27 Assin North by-election to maintain the current near hung Parliament in the interest of Ghana's democracy and control the public purse.

He said with the current economic downturn, an absolute majority in Parliament especially from the ruling government was dangerous for Ghana's economy and could further exacerbate the sufferings of the people.

Akane, as he prefers to be called, told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview that it was time for the smaller political parties to assume a compromised position on their ideologies and align themselves with the NDC on the by-election for the sake of parliamentary democracy.

The former treasurer who is in the Central Region as a PNC member to back the NDC candidate, James Gyakye Quayson, said an absolute majority in Parliament would lead to the passage of bills which may not be in the interest of the people of Ghana because "the majority will always use their numbers to push them through."

"There has been too much reckless borrowing in recent times with nothing to show for it.

"Now it is difficult for us to go to the capital market.

Investor confidence level has reduced.

"Too much debt has been left for future generations to pay.

A hung Parliament will promote much scrutiny and ensure that the right thing is done," he told the Daily Graphic.

The communication expert and lawyer trainee with special skills in leadership and governance said he would have made the same call if the NDC were in power.

Until James Gyakye Quaysons seat was declared vacant, the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had 137 seats each in the House with one Independent candidate who tilts towards the NPP to form a slim majority.

Ruling

In a 5-2 majority decision on April 13, 2022, the apex court ordered Mr Quayson to abstain from any parliamentary business and also refrain from engaging in activities pertaining to an MP.

Last month, the Supreme Court, by a unanimous decision, ordered Ghanas Parliament to expunge the name of James Gyakye Quayson from its records as a Member of Parliament for the Assin North Constituency.

Future

Akane said going forward, the minority parties should consider aligning themselves with either of the two biggest political parties, NDC and NPP, to remain relevant, safeguard Ghana's democracy and preserve the sanity of Parliament.

"There's an upcoming by-election, what role are the minority political parties playing?

They must be seen to be doing something and letting their voices heard.

"They must align with one of them but as things are right now, it makes sense to support the NDC to reclaim the seat to maintain the near hung Parliament.
NDC Minority caucus throws support for Gertrude Torkornoo's nomination as Chief Justice

Daniel Kenu Politics Jun - 06 - 2023 , 14:02

The minority caucus on the Appointment Committee of Parliament has thrown in their support for the nomination of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo as the Chief Justice.

According to the Minority, they will not withhold the approval of the Chief Justice nominee,

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday [June 6, 2023], spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga said Justice Torkornoo's curriculum vitae reveals a person of considerable experience.

"Women who have acquitted themselves should be given the opportunity to occupy key national offices.

"Even as we disagree with her jurisprudence, we find her qualifed to occupy the high office of the Chief Justice," Mr Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central said.
Nidec Corporation and Renesas Electronics Corporation agreed to join forces on the development of semiconductor solutions for a next-generation E-Axle (X-in-1 system) that integrates an EV drive motor and power electronics for electric vehicles (EVs).

The 3-in-1 unit E-Axle integrates a motor, inverter, and gearbox (reduction gear). To realize high-performance and efficiency as well as smaller size, light weight and lower cost, and to accelerate vehicle development, EVs are also integrating power electronics controls such as DC-DC converters and on-board chargers (OBCs). EV manufacturers in advanced markets such as China have developed an X-in-1 platform that integrates multiple functions, accelerating the adoption in many vehicle models.

As X-in-1 integrates multiple functions and increases in complexity, maintaining a high-level of quality in vehicles becomes challenging. Thus, developing preventive safety technologies such as diagnostic functions and failure prediction is crucial for ensuring safety and security in vehicles.

To address this challenge, the two companies agreed to combine Nidecs motor technology and Renesas semiconductor technology to develop jointly a highly reliable and high-performance proof of concept (PoC) for the X-in-1 system. The PoC is designed to support the industrys highest performance and efficiency as well as smaller size, light weight and lower cost for the X-in-1 system.

The companies plan to launch the first PoC by the end of 2023, which will feature a 6-in-1 system with a DC-DC converter, OBC, and power distribution unit (PDU) as well as a motor, inverter, and gearbox.

As a second phase in 2024, Nidec and Renesas plan to develop a highly integrated X-in-1 PoC that incorporates a battery management system (BMS) along with other components.

The first PoC will include power devices based on SiC (silicon carbide), and the second PoC will replace the DC-DC and OBC power devices with GaN (gallium to reduce size and cost further.

Building on the PoC developed through this collaboration, Nidec plans to productize E-Axle systems rapidly to add to its portfolio and ramp up to mass production.

Renesas plans to develop and deliver turnkey solutions for increasingly complex X-in-1 systems by expanding the jointly developed PoC for E-Axle reference designs.
SK Signet celebrated the grand opening of its EV charger manufacturing facility in Plano. This facility will expand US-based manufacturing and R&D for electric vehicle charging equipment to support the growth of Americas EV infrastructure. The project was originally announced in November 2022 by SK Signet and the City of Plano.

The ribbon cutting marked the opening of SK Signets first manufacturing facility in the United States. At full capacity, the facility will be able to produce more than 10,000 ultra-fast chargers per year and is expected to create up to 183 jobs by 2026.

SK Signets new V2 charger, which will be made at the Plano facility, provides a maximum power output of 400 kW and can charge an EV up to 80% in 15 minutes3 minutes faster than existing chargers. For consumers, the V2 is equipped with a battery diagnosis function, jointly developed with SK On, that allows the user to check the condition of their EV battery while charging.

SK Signet will make a range of ultra-fast chargers at the Plano facilityfrom standalone dispensers to power cabinets that support multiple dispensersfor use by US-based public charging operators, along with commercial companies with EV fleets and traditional gas stations or convenience stores that are expanding their offerings. SK Signet will also manufacture its 350 kW ultra-fast charger, which can fully charge EV batteries from 20% to 80% in 18 minutes.

These chargers, which supply EV users with faster and more versatile charging solutions, support the buildout of a national EV charging network and are aligned with the goals of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

In addition to manufacturing EV chargers, SK Signets Texas facility will house research and development teams, manufacture power modules for EV chargers and conduct charger testing with automakers. It also will develop EV charging software and firmware to support US customers.

SK Signet is based in South Korea with US headquarters in McLean, Virginia. The company joined the SK family of companies through an acquisition by SK Inc., the strategic investment arm of SK Group, in April 2021.
Swiss marine power company WinGD and Japanese shipbuilder and technology developer Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a partnership on ammonia-fueled vessels.

The project will see WinGD applying its X-DF-A ammonia-fueled engines to a range of vessel designs, with Mitsubishi both designing the vessels and completing the fuel chain with its ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS).

WinGDs X-DF-Aand its methanol-fueled counterpart X-DF-Mderive their diesel cycle efficiency from WinGDs X-Engines, including WinGDs popular X92-B, the leading choice for the ultra large container vessel segmentwell known for their high efficiency and reliability.

In 2021, WinGD announced that its engines will be able to run on methanol and ammonia from 2024 and 2025 respectively. Earlier this year, WinGD and CMB.TECH signed an agreement on the development of ammonia-fueled two-storke engines. (Earlier post.)

This collaboration will give both Mitsubishi and WinGD an important first-mover advantage in using ammonia in marine engines to meet IMO decarbonisation targets. It will set the path for the new generation of technology applicable to a wide range of vessels over the next decades. Manabu Kawakado, Head of Marine Engineering Center, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding

Under the partnership, WinGD will develop X-DF-A engines at appropriate sizes for the vessel designs, providing Mitsubishi with the specifications for installing the engines and the requirements for all auxiliary fuel systems. Mitsubishi will design the vessels, set performance parameters for the engines and further develop its existing AFSS for use with WinGDs ammonia engines.

The project will commence in the third quarter of 2023, with a timeline considered that could place vessels in service by 2027.
OnePlus launched the Nord N20 5G last April, and over a year later, the Chinese brand introduced its successor, dubbed the OnePlus Nord N30 5G.

Like its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 695 SoC, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM. It has 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage onboard, expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card. The Nord N30 5G runs Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1 out of the box, but it will only get one major Android update. However, OnePlus has promised to deliver security updates for three years.

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G packs a 6.72" FullHD+ 120Hz LCD with a punch hole in the center for the 16MP selfie camera. And around the back is a 108MP primary camera with 3x lossless zoom, joined by 2MP macro and 2MP depth units.

Fueling the entire package is a 5,000 mAh battery with 67W SuperVOOC support. However, in 110V areas, including North America, it will only go up to 50W.

The rest of the OnePlus Nord N30 5G's highlights include a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C, stereo speakers, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The smartphone is 8.3mm thick and weighs 195g. If all this sounds familiar, it's because the OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a rebranded Nord CE 3 Lite unveiled in April.

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G has Pastel Lime and Chromatic Gray color options, but OnePlus has only listed the Chromatic Gray color model on the phone's specs page and its online store.

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is priced at $299.99 (280/INR24,780) and is up for pre-order on OnePlus' official US website. Shipping begins on June 8, and those who pre-book the smartphone get a pair of OnePlus Nord Buds 2 TWS earphones worth $59 (55/INR4,875) for free.

You can read our OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite review to learn more about Nord N30 5G.

Source
The authorized distributor for vivo in Poland is pulling out of the country

Yesterday an unconfirmed report from Poland suggested that vivos local branch will be pulling out of the country. Now GSMOnline.pl has received the following statement from vivo (machine translated):

Continuous market analysis and selection of the appropriate business strategy in consultation with local representatives is crucial for the vivo brand. We regret to inform you that the authorized distributor of the brand in Poland has decided to stop operating. Despite this, our customers can still rely on vivo's robust products, comprehensive customer support and uninterrupted software updates.

Other local publications like Telepolis.pl received the same statement.

For now, vivo.com/pl is still up and running and retailers continue to sell its phones. Its not clear how long this situation will last and this likely means that new vivo models will not be launched in Poland.

By the way, Oppo sent a preemptive statement to GSMOnline.pl, which basically says were not going anywhere. The company even teases the Reno 10 series launch coming in July. Heres the statement (machine translated):

We strongly deny rumors about leaving Poland. The country is a very important market for us and we already have launches scheduled for the end of the year. In July, we will present the Reno 10 series and in the following months IoT devices, including the new OPPO Air3 Pro headphones, and we will expand the ecosystem portfolio.

vivo, like Oppo, shut down its site in Germany a while back. vivos Netherlands branch is offline as well, though Oppo carries on. The French sites for both brands are still operating despite reports of trouble on the horizon.

Source (in Polish)
According to reputable Weibo tipster, Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi is readying a clamshell foladable smartphone to rival the likes of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. It's probably not that big of a surprise, given that Oppo, Huawei and vivo introduced their own versions of a modern flip phone.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2

Xiaomi wants to stay competitive and it has already introduced the Mix Fold 2, which is a pretty elegant, nice-looking and thin foldable smartphone, so it's only logical to offer a flip phone handset. According to Digital Chat Station, the handset will be impressively thin and light, following the footsteps of the current Mix Fold 2, which is one of the thinnest foldables around.

Unfortunately, judging by Xiaomi's previous track record of device availability, the upcoming Mix Flip (if that's indeed the name) may not make it outside of China.

Source (in Chinese)
Two men were arrested in connection with two vehicles, reported stolen two months apart, according to court documents.

The document states that on June 4, 2023, officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Mobil gas station in East Hagatna. Upon arrival, officers saw the driver, Joseph Tomas Tenorio Salas step out of a Mitsubishi Outlander as well as another man, Shawndee Adams Duenas Santos, who walked toward police.

Officers questioned Santos, who said he followed Salas from Dededo, then stopped at the gas station. Santos went inside to purchase items and when he came out, he noticed police. Salas told Santos that the Outlander was stolen. It was reported stolen April 15, 2023.

During an inventory of items inside the Outlander, police found seven traffic signs, a Guam license plate and suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Salas said suspected drugs were his, according to the document. Salas also said that he got the traffic signs from a Tumon beach near Guma Trankilidat.

Later that day, police learned that the license plate found in the Outlander was originally traced to a 2019 Kia Sedona, which was reported stolen in February 2023.

Santos told police that he crashed the Sedona into a ditch in Tiyan and left it there.

Salas was charged with two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, and possession of a schedule II controlled substance.

Santos was charged with two counts of theft by receiving.
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Published on 2023/06/05 | Source

New stills added for the Korean drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" (2023).

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Directed by Jo Nam-hyung, Kang Sin-hyo

Written by Han Woo-ri

Network: tvN

With Lee Dong-wook, Kim So-yeon, Kim Beom, Ryu Kyung-soo, Hwang Hee, Kim Yong-ji,...

12 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:20

Follow up to "Tale of the Nine Tailed"

Synopsis

The story of Lee Yeon, a gumiho who was summoned back to a chaotic 1938 after being embroiled in an unexpected incident.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/05/06
By Sherri Norris

Lisa Wallace with the Charlotte office of the Social Security Administration, offers helpful advice to participants at the recent Lifesaver Event in Boone. Photo by Sherrie Norris

The recent Lifesaver Event in Boone proved to be just that for a number of area citizens who attended the seminar sponsored by Jason Sirmon, Edward Jones Financial Advisor, along with Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, CPAs, both of Boone. Registration assistance was provided by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.

Held at the High Country Home Builders Association in Boone, the two-day sessions brought to the forefront some of todays hot topics on aging and financial issues, led by area and state experts.

It was not only educational and informative, attendees agreed, but it was helpful to hear from others in the audiemce who have experienced, or are currently in the midst of some of lifes toughest situations.

Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and share some of their challenges with aging parents, difficult family situations, and other personal experiences that often catch seniors unaware and/or unprepared.

Billie Joe Lister was all smiles as she returned to Boone with her presentation on Medicare. Former director of the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center in Boone, Lister was recently named Northwest Regional Manager of NC SHIPP. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Several in attendance spoke of how helpful the information was to them as they begin strategic planning for their future and/or that of someone they love.

According to Dorinda Bouboulis, branch office administrator for the Edwards Jones host office in Boone, the goal of the event, which was free and open to the public, was to help inform the community about ways to prepare for Medicare and Social Security, knowing the requirements, when to sign up, etc., as well as saving and investing for the future, along with tax and estate planning.

At right, Jason Sirmon, Edward Jones Financial Advisor of Boone and host of the Lifesaver Event, welcomes Lori Hubbard, left, representing MFS (investment management) for her segment of the seminar. Photo by Sherrie Norris

These are just some of lifes big events for which we know that the earlier you start preparing, the more informed you will be.

Following the event, participants were asked to complete surveys, which helped Sirmons office measure its success and to plan for future events.

A lot of the comments we received proved that our efforts were successful, said Bouboulis. Attendees shared that they learned indepth knowledge (about Social Security and Medicare, the plans, the parts, etc.) and that the knowledge they gained will help to prepare them earlier, rather than try to fix things later, while avoiding penalties. Our goal was to provide for the community, unbiased, quality resources that allows individuals to make informed decisions that increase their quality of life. We feel good about the end results.

Presenting a high-energy and very informative 90-minute discussion on Medicare was Billie Joe Lister. No stranger to many in the area as the former director of the Lois E. Harrill Senior Center in Boone, Lister is now the Northwest Regional Manager of the North Carolina Seniors Health Insurance Information Program, and said she was happy to be back in Boone for the day.

Lisa Wallace, Public Affairs Officer with the Charlotte-based Social Security Administration, provided valuable information and cleared up questions attendees had on various Social Security topics, including coverage of benefits, surviving or divorced spouses eligibility, income limits and qualifying ages, yearly updates and rule changes.

Helpful information on market updates, investments, tax planning and related topics was provided by local financial advisor and event host, Jason Sirmon, who was joined by Lori Hubbard/Massachusetts First Securities consultant, Tara Senner and Brandy Bradley, with Blackburn, Childers and Stegall.

Estate planning and processing was covered by local attorney Nathan Miller, representing Miller & Johnson Law Firm, as well as Watauga County Assistant Clerk of Court, Patrick Campbell.

Local attorney, Nathan Miller, spoke to attendees on the importance of estate planning. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Refreshments and lunch were provided.

Sirmons office would like to thank those who helped sponsor and host the event, the representatives who enlightened their audience with helpful information and handouts, and for each participant in attendance.

Sirmon plans to offer a condensed version of the event, Lifesaver 2.0, with Medicare and Social Security topics, in September.

For more information, call (828) 264-0642 or visit edwardjones.com; the office is located at 147 Meadowview Drive in Boone.

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(HedgeCo.Net) Charges include operating unregistered exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies; misrepresenting trading controls and oversight on the Binance.US platform; and the unregistered offer and sale of securities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Binance Holdings Ltd. (Binance), which operates the largest crypto asset trading platform in the world, Binance.com; U.S.-based affiliate, BAM Trading Services Inc. (BAM Trading), which, together with Binance, operates the crypto asset trading platform, Binance.US; and their founder, Changpeng Zhao, with a variety of securities law violations.

Among other things, the SEC alleges that, while Zhao and Binance publicly claimed that U.S. customers were restricted from transacting on Binance.com, Zhao and Binance in reality subverted their own controls to secretly allow high-value U.S. customers to continue trading on the Binance.com platform. Further, the SEC alleges that, while Zhao and Binance publicly claimed that Binance.US was created as a separate, independent trading platform for U.S. investors, Zhao and Binance secretly controlled the Binance.US platforms operations behind the scenes.

The SEC also alleges that Zhao and Binance exercise control of the platforms customers assets, permitting them to commingle customer assets or divert customer assets as they please, including to an entity Zhao owned and controlled called Sigma Chain. The SECs complaint further alleges that BAM Trading and BAM Management US Holdings, Inc. (BAM Management) misled investors about non-existent trading controls over the Binance.US platform, while Sigma Chain engaged in manipulative trading that artificially inflated the platforms trading volume. Further, the Complaint alleges that the defendants concealed the fact that it was commingling billions of dollars of investor assets and sending them to a third party, Merit Peak Limited, that is also owned by Zhao.

The Complaint also charges violations of critical registration-related provisions of the federal securities laws:

Binance and BAM Trading with operating unregistered national securities exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies;

Binance and BAM Trading with the unregistered offer and sale of Binances own crypto assets, including a so-called exchange token, BNB, a so-called stablecoin, Binance USD (BUSD), certain crypto-lending products, and a staking-as-a-service program; and

Zhao as a control person for Binances and BAM Tradings operation of unregistered national securities exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearing agencies.

Through thirteen charges, we allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. As alleged, Zhao and Binance misled investors about their risk controls and corrupted trading volumes while actively concealing who was operating the platform, the manipulative trading of its affiliated market maker, and even where and with whom investor funds and crypto assets were custodied. They attempted to evade U.S. securities laws by announcing sham controls that they disregarded behind the scenes so that they could keep high-value U.S. customers on their platforms. The public should beware of investing any of their hard-earned assets with or on these unlawful platforms.

We allege that Zhao and the Binance entities not only knew the rules of the road, but they also consciously chose to evade them and put their customers and investors at risk  all in an effort to maximize their own profits, said Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SECs Division of Enforcement. By engaging in multiple unregistered offerings and also failing to register while at the same time combining the functions of exchanges, brokers, dealers, and clearing agencies, the Binance platforms under Zhaos control imposed outsized risks and conflicts of interest on investors. Those risks and conflicts are only heightened by the Binance platforms lack of transparency, reliance on related-party transactions, and lies about controls to prevent manipulative trading. Despite their years-long efforts to not be held accountable, todays complaint begins the process of doing so.

UNREGISTERED EXCHANGE, BROKER, AND CLEARING AGENCY

The SECs complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that, since at least July 2017, Binance.com and Binance.US, while controlled by Zhao, operated as exchanges, brokers, dealers, and clearing agencies and earned at least $11.6 billion in revenue from, among other things, transaction fees from U.S. customers. The SECs complaint alleges that (1) with respect to Binance.com, Binance should have registered as an exchange, broker-dealer, and clearing agency; (2) with respect to Binance.US, Binance and BAM Trading should have registered as an exchange and as clearing agencies; and (3) BAM Trading should have registered as a broker-dealer. The SEC also alleges that Zhao is liable as a control person for Binances and BAM Tradings respective registration violations.

UNREGISTERED OFFER AND SALE OF CRYPTO ASSETS

The SEC charged Binance for the unregistered offers and sales of BNB, BUSD, and crypto-lending products known as Simple Earn and BNB Vault. Further, the SEC charged BAM Trading with the unregistered offer and sale of Binance.US staking-as-a-service program. The complaint also notes that Binance secretly has control over assets staked by U.S. customers in BAMs staking program.

FAILURE TO RESTRICT U.S. INVESTORS FROM ACCESSING BINANCE.COM

The SECs complaint alleges that Zhao and Binance created BAM Management and BAM Trading in September 2019 as part of an elaborate scheme to evade U.S. federal securities laws by claiming that BAM Trading operated the Binance.US platform independently and that U.S. customers were not able to use the Binance.com platform. The complaint alleges that, in reality, Zhao and Binance maintained substantial involvement and control of the U.S. entity and that, behind the scenes, Zhao directed Binance to allow and conceal many high-value U.S. customers continued access to Binance.com. In one instance, the Binance chief compliance officer messaged a colleague that, [w]e are operating as a fking unlicensed securities exchange in the USA bro.

MISLEADING INVESTORS

According to the SECs complaint, BAM Trading and BAM Management misled Binance.US customers and equity investors concerning the existence and adequacy of market surveillance and controls to detect and prevent manipulative trading on the Binance.US platforms crypto asset trading volumes. The complaint further alleges that the strategic and targeted wash trading largely perpetrated by the Binance.US platforms primary undisclosed market making trading firm Sigma Chain, also owned by Zhao, demonstrates the falsity of statements BAM Trading made about its market surveillance and controls.
YLE on Thursday revealed that on 1 June not a single Thai worker had been confirmed to come to the country for the upcoming picking season. Finnish berry companies recruited nearly 4,000 pickers from Thailand in 2022.

THE ARRIVAL of Thai berry pickers to Finland is in doubt this summer.

The change seems to be attributable to a change in visa procedures applied to the industry. Katja Luopajarvi, the deputy head of the visa unit at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, stated to the public broadcasting company that the visa procedures have been amended in the wake of serious criminal prosecutions and human trafficking suspicions surrounding the industry.

We felt that we have to re-examine our procedures. The police investigations came to light last summer, and this is the first picking season since that, she said.

Finnish berry companies have this year taken care of the recruitment and permit procedures without the assistance of authorities. They must ensure the pickers obtain both a Schengen visa and a so-called exit visa that enables them to leave Thailand.

Birgitta Partanen, the executive director of Arctic Flavours, told YLE that official processes have been virtually at a standstill this spring. The vague nature of new instructions have caused delays, and companies in the sector have yet to receive confirmation of a single picker.

The latest information indicates that not a single visa has been granted yet. This is absolutely incomprehensible. At one point, it was looking like things would start rolling, but in practice theres been hardly any movement, she lamented.

Luopajarvi contrastively stated that authorities have not granted a single visa because not a single visa application has yet been received.

VSF, the partner company that receives the applications, has been in contact with berry companies, but according to information weve received from it documents attached to the applications have been incomplete or the applications havent been ready in other regards, she commented to YLE.

Negotiations with Thai authorities on the necessary number of visas were previously held by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

The recruits are also required to meet the same means of subsistence requirements as others seeking to enter Finland with a Schengen visa. The requirement is 30 euros a day, which adds up to 1,8002,400 euros  close to the mean annual pay in Thailand  for the two-to-three-month period berry pickers typically work in Finland.

Berry companies themselves cannot provide the subsistence due to rules prohibiting arrangements that make visa applicants dependent on the companies.

Partanen on Thursday told YLE that a failure to recruit Thai berry pickers for the upcoming season would be catastrophic for the whole berry industry.

Itd mean that quite a few companies will go bankrupt. Im hoping until the last minute that wont happen, she said, expressing her hope that the pre-trial investigations that have rocked the industry are conducted without any undue delay. If some mistakes have been made, we could get to rectifying them.

Some 90 per cent of Finnish wild berries, such as blueberries and lingonberries, are picked by foreign workers.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
THE Rabble Theatre company is to stage a new production of its critically acclaimed play Henry I in the Reading Abbey ruins, where the medieval rulers remains are believed to be buried.

Beth Flintoff, who wrote the play, says: Im really excited about it. I think its going to be a fantastic set and quite a spectacle.

It does add that layer of specialness, that feeling that were on top of history, especially as the abbey ruins are very beautiful and quite magical.

We did The Last Abbot of Reading there in 2021 and that was really amazing because the last abbot of Reading was executed there. Showing history where it happened is a joy.

The son of William the Conqueror, Henry I is perhaps best known for meeting his demise after eating a surfeit of lampreys.

But Beth, a self-confessed historical nerd, says that his path to the throne was extraordinary.

She explains: He should never have been king as he was the third son but both his brothers died, one possibly in suspicious circumstances.

Henry was actually quite a good king but he went on what at the time was considered a very successful rampage through Normandy.

Normandy was very troublesome, while England was at peace for a long time.

Henry really clamped down very successfully and then, on the way home, he went in one ship and his son and all his sons friends went in another and that ship was wrecked off the coast of France.

That had on it 300 of the brightest and best and richest young nobles of England so a whole generation of future nobility was wiped out  there was only one survivor.

Henry founded Reading Abbey to sort of atone for his sins, in grief and guilt over whether or not hed been a part of causing that shipwreck because everybody looked for religious reasons as to why terrible things happened.

They wouldnt accept that it was just because everyone got so drunk on the ship that they crashed into a rock.

Henry had only had one son because he didnt want his children fighting, so his death caused anarchy as he wanted his daughter Matilda to be queen and people struggled to accept that.

Henry I is the first play in Beths Conquerors trilogy followed by Matilda the Empress and Henry II.

She says: Henry did die of a surfeit of lampreys and we put that in Matilda the Empress.

He lived a very long life and he did want peace, which was quite unusual for the time.

You know, it was a very bloodthirsty era and he was the son of William the Conqueror, who built castles and had a more violent frame of mind.

I think Game of Thrones was inspired by this period of history.

Henry I is quite an exciting story. Its not a history lesson, its about people having to make difficult decisions, people falling in love, people doing terrible things and wonderful things. Theres heroes and villains, its that kind of story.

Beth says the importance of the abbey as part of Readings history cannot be overstated.

Reading was a tiny little hamlet before Henry decided to build the abbey and it took 30 years of work, she says.

If you look at the Blade in Reading, thats the same height as the abbey spire would have been, which is just extraordinary.

You can imagine it was such an enormous endeavour to build without mechanical equipment, just people doing it with their hands as

scaffolding.

Toby W Davies, co-founder and

co-artistic director of the Caversham theatre company, is taking the title role and is excited about performing the play in the abbey ruins. He says: We are producing the show within a few metres of where hes buried, so its an incredible opportunity and a privilege.

The show has got a lot of contemporary relevance. Its a play that champions women and there are a lot of incredible women in Henrys life who were ruling whole areas such as Normandy and people who were advising him, such as his sister.

He also tried to get his daughter Matilda on the throne after him as a queen in her own right.

When he was still alive, everyone said, Yeah, sure and then as soon as he died, everyone said no and they all tried to get his cousin Stephen on the throne.

Its also a play about vain men trying to wage wars and the effects of war caused by vanity, which has resonance today.

Joseph Black, an Off West End Theatre Awards (Offies) nominee, will play the kings spiritual guide Roger while Hollyoaks actress Amy Conachan will portray his elder sister, Adela, Countess of Blois.

Lord Robert de Belleme is played by Matthew Douglas with Anjelica Serra as Agnes of Ponthieu and Juliana of Breteuil.

Georgie Fellows, who appeared in the original 2016 production of the show, will play Queen Edith and Mabel.

Gabrielle Sheppard takes on the role of Henrys elder brother, William Rufus, and Mark Middleton is his eldest brother, Robert Curthose.

The play is directed by Hal Chambers. The set is by Sarah Jane Booth, Gareth Taylor is associate movement director and Rabbles co-artistic director Dani Davies is stage combat director.

 Rabble Theatre Company presents Henry I at Reading Abbey Ruins from Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, July 1 with previews on June 13 and 14. For more information, visit rabbletheatre.com
First Person to Start Electro Galvanized Steel Plant in India,

First Indian revolutionary to manufacture EG TV Back Plate,

The Only Company making EG Steel in India,

Dr Shubh Gautam holds many patents and first to raise the anti-dumping duty issue with government on EG Steel. Noida, 5th June 2023: Dr. Shubh Gautam FIR (First India Revolutionary), a distinguished figure in the world concerning matters of Word Trade organization, Anti-dumping regulations, Artificial Trade Barriers for developing economies has left an indelible mark on the Electro Galvanized Steel market. His expertise and dedication have had a profound impact on the industry, ensuring fair competition and protecting the interests of domestic producers and users. Anti-dumping regulations play a vital role in preventing foreign producers from selling their goods in domestic markets at prices below fair market value, thus safeguarding the domestic industries from unfair competition. In the realm of steel, particularly Electro Galvanized Steel, these regulations hold significant importance towards generating quality employment, saving on precious Forex and self-reliance including National Pride.

Electro Galvanized Steel, is a special type of Steel which is coated with a protective layer of Zinc and Zinc Alloys like Zinc Nickle, Zinc Cobalt magnesium etc to inhibit corrosion. EG Steel finds widespread applications in Defense, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Construction, Medical and other Manufacturing sectors. Its durability, surface finish, longevity and resistance to rust makes it an invaluable material for numerous industries. In coated steel portfolio it is the Greenest Steel owing to maximizing performance by minimizing unsustainable footprint.

Dr. Shubh Gautam FIR (First India Revolutionary), a pioneering figure in the industry, has embarked on a series of ground-breaking initiatives, revolutionizing the Food and Beverage and Electro Galvanized steel sector. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first person to not only initiate an Electro Galvanized (EG) Steel Plant in India but also was the first person in India to patent and produce the Sealing and Lining systems for Aerated Beverages. This significant achievement has positioned American Precoat, the company Dr. Gautam is leading, as the sole entity currently engaged in EG Steel production in the country.

American Precoat remains steadfast in their pursuit of technological advancements in the Steel, Speciality Chemicals and Food & Beverage industry, contributing significantly to India's economic development. By introducing state-of-the-art electro-Electro Galvanized Steel production capabilities, the company aims to meet the increasing demand for high-quality Steel products in various sectors, including Automotive and Consumer Electronics.

The inauguration of the First-of-Its-Kind Automotive-Grade Electro Galvanized Steel plant in India by American Precoat serves as a testament to their dedication and vision. This pioneering facility not only contributes to the growth of the company but also fosters a self-sustaining ecosystem for-Electro Galvanized Steel production in India.

Driven by an unwavering commitment to innovation, Dr. Gautam has achieved several milestones in his illustrious career. Among these milestones, the creation of the EG TV Backplate stands out as a remarkable breakthrough. This development has opened new horizons for the television manufacturing industry, particularly in the realm of Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) TVs. Recently American Precoat also got an approval from Maruti Suzuki ltd through Denso India Ltd for using their EG steel in the Audio Video housing assembly of Maruti Cars.

Furthermore, Dr. Shubh Gautam's extensive patent portfolio serves as a testament to his innovative prowess and dedication to advancing the field of technological research and creating solutions for the betterment of industry and society. With more than half a Dozen Patents - He also pioneers SRISOL which is a multicultural and multinational group which serves customers around the world with products ranging from Sealing and Lining, Coil Coatings, Surface Property Extenders, Specialty Chemicals for use in Steel, Plastic, Consumer Domain, Food & Beverage Industries. They are the worlds second largest manufacturer of Can Coating, with patented products.

As American Precoat celebrates this momentous achievement, they eagerly anticipate collaborations with industry partners, customers, and government entities. Together, they strive to create a robust and flourishing Electro Galvanized Steel market, bolstering India's position as a global manufacturing powerhouse.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
India, June 6, 2023: Graph Protocol, the leading open-source protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data, has partnered with Web3 Sabha, a passionate community of like-minded crypto enthusiasts, to introduce an exciting education initiative. This collaboration aims to empower individuals in the Punjab region with comprehensive knowledge about Web 3 and the Graph Protocol, highlighting the transformative potential of decentralized technologies.

Web3 Sabha successfully organized a series of engaging events across the Punjab region. These events served as a platform for attendees to delve into the intricacies of Web 3, a groundbreaking paradigm that aims to revolutionize traditional centralized systems by leveraging blockchain technology, decentralized applications (dApps), and peer-to-peer networks. Web3 Sabha is an initiative under the banner of Spicy Punks.

Attendees had the opportunity to explore and comprehend the various advantages offered by the Graph Protocol

Central to these events was the Graph Protocol, an innovative open-source protocol designed to enhance data accessibility for developers building on top of blockchain networks. Attendees had the opportunity to explore and comprehend the various advantages offered by the Graph Protocol, which simplifies the indexing and querying of blockchain data, facilitating convenient access to decentralized data sources.

Vinayak Kalra, a distinguished instructor renowned for his expertise in blockchain technologies, played a pivotal role in enlightening participants about the Graph Protocol. Vinayak not only provided in-depth insights into the protocol but also introduced attendees to the Graph Advocates Programme. The Graph Advocates Programme is a community-driven initiative that serves as a portal into Web3 for people worldwide. Advocates have the unique opportunity to learn and contribute to The Graph community and the Web3 mission. As part of the program, anyone can become an Advocate and subsequently join the Graph AdvocatesDAO.

The education initiative launched by Graph Protocol and Web3 Sabha, underscores their shared commitment to empowering individuals and fostering a knowledgeable ecosystem of crypto enthusiasts. By equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and resources, they aim to bridge the gap between traditional systems and the decentralized future, encouraging individuals in the Punjab region to embrace the opportunities presented by Web 3 and the Graph Protocol.

Graph Protocol's dedication to education and Web3 Sabha's commitment to community building, make this collaboration a powerful catalyst for advancing the adoption of decentralized technologies. Together, they aim to cultivate a thriving community of individuals who are at the forefront of the Web 3 revolution.

About Graph Protocol:

Graph Protocol is the leading open-source protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data. It enables developers to efficiently access and utilize blockchain data, streamlining the development of decentralized applications (dApps) across multiple blockchain networks.

About Web3 Sabha:

Web3 Sabha is a vibrant community of like-minded crypto enthusiasts dedicated to educating and empowering individuals interested in the emerging technologies of Web 3 and decentralized systems. Through educational initiatives, events, and collaborative projects, Web3 Sabha aims to build a supportive and knowledgeable community of crypto enthusiasts.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein.

The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.

Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice.
Microsoft will pay $20 million to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that the tech company illegally collected personal information from children without their parents' consent, the FTC said on Monday. Microsoft has been charged with violating U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).(AFP)

The company had been charged with violating the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from children who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without notifying their parents or obtaining their parents' consent, and by retaining children's personal information, the FTC said in a statement.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Monday.

The order requires Microsoft to take steps to improve privacy protections for child users of its Xbox system. It will extend COPPA protections to third-party gaming publishers with whom Microsoft shares children's data, the FTC said.

"Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children's privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

"This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids' avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA," Levine added.

The law requires online services and websites directed to children under 13 to notify parents about the personal information they collect and to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting and using any personal information collected from children.

From 2015 to 2020, Microsoft retained the data that it collected from children during the account creation process, even when a parent failed to complete the process, according to the complaint.
On Tuesday, Honda's Elevate SUV made its global debut in India, where the car is entering before making its entry anywhere else in the world. Takuya Tsumura, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Cars India Ltd. gestures during the world premier launch of the new Honda Elevate SUV in New Delhi on June 6, 2023. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

According to HT Auto, Elevate is a key part of the manufacturer's strategy to launch 5 SUVs in India by 2030.

Honda Elevate: Powertrain

Its engine is a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC petrol unit, which generates 121 PS of maximum power and 145.1 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, while there is an advanced CVT (continuously variable transmission) as well.

Honda Elevate: Features

The model gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which has wireless smartphone integration technology. Also, there is a 7-inch HD colour TFT instrument cluster, as well as Honda Connect with a host of connected features, including geo-fencing, emergency assistance, etc.

Honda Elevate: Passenger safety

The Honda Sensing technology suite takes Elevate's safety to the next level, claims the Japanese auto giant. While the software gets Collision Mitigation Braking, lane keeping assistance and similar technologies, the SUV is also equipped with a pedestrian injury mitigation system, reverse parking sensor and camera, and more.

Honda Elevate: Rivals

Upon launch, the car will compete with rivals such as Astor (MG), Creta (Hyundai), Grand Vitara (Maruti Suzuki), Kushaq (Skoda), Seltos (Kia) and Taigun (Volkswagen).

Honda Elevate: Launch

The model will be launched before the Diwali festive season. Booking, however, will open in July.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) not to reduce the milk procurement price fixed by the government for producers. Congress leader Siddaramaiah. (PTI)

"One cannot cut the price suddenly. Any such decision should be taken only after discussing it with the government," the Chief Minister told the Managing Director of Karnataka Milk Federation according to a government statement.

"If the price is cut, the farmers will suffer. This point should be kept in mind," he added.

READ | Karnataka government releases guidelines for free electricity scheme in state

The Chief Minister's directive comes in the wake of Bengaluru Milk Producers' Union (BAMUL) announcement of a special incentive of 2.85 per litre of milk from April 1 to May 31 due to low milk production during summer.

The BAMUL green fodder has become available due to good rains in the districts, resulting in the increased production of milk. For this reason, an order was issued to reduce the incentive by 1.50.

READ | Karnataka budget to be tabled on July 7, says CM Siddaramaiah

Ahead of the recent Assembly elections, there was a row after Gujarat based milk cooperative Amul announced its decision to enter Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd. Congress and other groups had lashed out at the th the then Bharatiya Janata Party government for allowing Amul to sell fresh milk and curd in Bengaluru, alleging that it would hurt the business of the local brand Nandini.

The row erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah in December last year called for cooperation between the cooperative-model-based dairy companies -- Amul and Nandini.
Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Monday asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar and State Home Minister G Parameshwara to set up a helpline called 'Peaceful Karnataka' to ensure no one spreads hatred. The minister had cautioned Chakravarty Sulibele for creating chaos for four years during BJP rule.

Patils request for a helpline came in reaction to a report quoting Bengaluru South MP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Tejasvi Surya saying that the BJP would set up a helpline to stop the party cadets being targeted.

READ | Karnataka government releases guidelines for free electricity scheme in state

Requesting @DrParameshwara @PriyankKharge @DKShivakumar @CMofKarnataka to consider setting up a new helpline called 'Peaceful Karnataka' to ensure there is no hatred being spread in Karnataka, and keep track of any such incidents. Our agenda is only Development & Progress, and to protect 'Brand Karnataka'," Patil tweeted.

The minister had on Sunday cautioned the Hindutva leader and author Chakravarty Sulibele for creating chaos for four years during BJP rule, and said any repetition of such incidents will land him in jail.

READ | Karnataka budget to be tabled on July 7, says CM Siddaramaiah

"Ask that Sulibele what he did in the last four years. We are rectifying whatever disturbance he had caused. We will put an end to the disturbances caused by him such as textbooks (revision), raising unwanted issues like hijab, halal and azaan. If you do such drama in future, you will have to spend time behind the bars," Patil said.
Aam Aadmi Partys Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Vikramjit Singh Sahney was conferred the Sikh of the Year Award by Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK. MP Vikramjeet Singh Sahney (second from the left) receiving the Sikh of the Year Award. (Twitter)

Sahney was awarded for his philanthropic contributions, after deliberations about their impact on society and culture. He is also the chairman of the Sun Foundation which leads various initiatives to empower the disadvantaged communities.

The award was presented at a ceremony held at historic Lincolns Inn, London.

The award was conferred by The Sikh Forum International. Ranjit Singh OBE, global president of The Sikh Forum International, presided over the ceremony.

Sahney, while thanking for the award, acknowledged the inclusiveness extended to the Sikh community in Britain. He requested for setting up a dedicated museum at London with the British government for the artifacts of Indian/Sikh origin to bring together Indian legacy at one place.

He also urged Sikh International Forum to support the education of Punjab students in Oxford, Cambridge and LSE in Britain and announced a contribution of 1,00,000 pounds towards setting up of the education scholarship fund for the same for students aspiring to work in India after receiving education there.

He has also announced scholarships for Punjab students willing to pursue preparations for civil services exam in India, in the light of recent UPSC results.
Following requests by Punjab and Haryana governments for more space for helicopter landing in the city, the UT administration is planning to develop another helipad at Rajendra Park, Sector 3,which will be used not only during the day but night as well. Besides Rajendra Park, the department of urban planning will also look for more space in Chandigarh and its periphery, for constructing helipads. (HT File)

Currently, there is only one helipad facility in the city at the same park, located near the residences of the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana, and being used by both the CMs, governors and other VVIPs.

Besides Rajendra Park, the department of urban planning will also look for more space in the city and its periphery for constructing helipads. UT has also decided to set up temporary fencing, entry gates and temporary lighting at the park after the Chandigarh Police raised the issue of security arrangements at the site.
The crime branch of Chandigarh Police has nabbed two men, both aged less than 22, who had been stealing the spare wheels of SUVs cars parked around the tricity. The accused, both aged less than 22, were arrested by the crime branch of Chandigarh Police who constituted a special team to nab the accused following a spate spare wheel thefts in the city. (HT Photo)

A total of 15 spare wheels (tyres with alloy) of Mahindra Thar cars were recovered from them. A stolen Maruti Suziki Eeco car used in the thefts was also impounded.

With the arrest of the duo, police have solved seven cases of such thefts registered in different police stations in the city.

The accused have been identified as Pawan Kumar, 19, of Bhiwani, Haryana, currently residing in Burail, Chandigarh, and Subham Arora, 22, of Kharar and currently a resident of Sector 47, Chandigarh.

While Pawan is pursuing graduation and is a first-year student, Subham dropped out of college in the second year after he was arrested in a car theft case registered at the Sector 49 police station on August 31, 2022.

As there had been multiple complaints of spare wheel thefts from different parts of the city recently, the crime branch constituted a special team, led by inspector Ashok Kumar, under the supervision of SP Ketan Bansal, that apprehended the two thieves, solving seven such cases, said an official of the crime branch.

Pawan was the first to be arrested from Sector 45, following secret information that he was going to sell the stolen spare wheels in Burail. Police recovered two wheels from him then.

Following his disclosure, police nabbed Subham from Sector 48, while he was on his way to sell the spare wheels in an Eeco car, which was stolen by him and used in the wheel thefts. Police initially recovered four spare wheels from Shubham and nine more later after his confession.

Police said Subham, a drug addict, was the mastermind of these thefts. He was previously arrested in a car theft case and recently came out of Model Jail. In order to buy drugs, he started stealing the spare wheels of SUVs from different parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Kharar, an officer said.

The accused were presented in a court that sent Pawan to judicial custody and Subham to police custody.
With multiple rounds of meetings with the Kurukshetra district administration failing to persuade protesting sunflower farmers to open the Delhi-Chandigarh highway (NH-44) near Shahabad, police resorted to lathi-charge and sprayed water cannons to disperse protesters. Farmers staged a sit-in on Delhi-Chandigarh highway demanding MSP for sunflower seeds. (PTI)

Scores of farmers, who are demanding a minimum support price (MSP) for sunflower seeds, sustained minor injuries and were detained by the police.

Earlier, the NH-44 which connects northern India states and union territories to the national capital had remained blocked for more than six hours, leaving commuters to face the brunt.

The police action was in line with the Punjab and Haryana high court orders, which directed the government to clear the blockade.

Since the farmers laid siege of the highway around 1 pm, repeated warnings were given to them by the police, but farmers, led by BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, remained adamant on their demand to ensure that the government agencies start procurement of sunflower seeds at the MSP of 6,400 per quintal.

Following the Haryana governments decision not to buy sunflower seeds at the MSP, Charuni called for farmers to reach Shahabad. Following a meeting, they decided to block the highway despite heavy deployment.

Protesters storm barricades

Led by Charuni, protesters stormed the barricades and blocked the highway by parking their tractor-trailers laden with sunflower seed. In the absence of government agencies, farmers alleged that they are being forced to sell their produce to private buyers at 4,000 a quintal against the MSP of 6,400.

District police diverted traffic via link roads, resulting in inconvenience to the commuters who were stuck in traffic jams in Kurukshetra and Shahabad for hours. Kurukshetra superintendent of police (SP) Surinder Bhoria said personnel had been deputed to assist commuters.

Situation under control: Police

Bhoria said most farmers detained during the police action were released soon after and only eight leaders including BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni were in custody.

The SP added that police had to remove farmers after repeated requests made to them to remove the blockade came to nought. He said the movement of traffic had been restored and the situation was under control.

Protesting farmers removed from Ambala Cantt

Several farmers of another faction who were protesting at the grain market in Ambala Cantonments Mohra for the last four days were also removed by the police from outside the office of market committee on Tuesday.

Tejveer Singh, a spokesperson of Shaheed Bhagat Singh faction, said the state government has betrayed the farmers by not keeping their promise to procure the produce at MSP, adding, The anti-farmers policies of the government have forced us to protest and now they are snatching our right to protest through force.

Ambala SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said a case has been registered against the protesters, details on which would be shared later. We dont have any problem with their peaceful protest. Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order, he added.

Protesters move to Yamunanagar

Following a call from Charuni, farmers went on to block the Ambala-Yamunanagar highway at Kail village in protest against the police action later in the day. They were, however, removed by the police and their efforts to return to the site thwarted amid police presence.

No blockade was reported in Ambala district till the time of filing the report.

Calls to intensify stir

Criticising the police action, meanwhile, BKU (Charuni) leader Sanju Gundiana, said the farmers were staging a peaceful protest, but were met with battens. But the government cannot suppress this protest by using police force and the call has been given to intensify the protests by blocking highways in the state, he added.

Demanding release of the detained farmer leaders including Charuni, protesters also blocked roads in parts of Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal districts and have threatened to intensify the stir.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, meanwhile, said that he will reach Kurukshetra on Wednesday and urged farmers to join him in the city in large numbers.

HAFED goes ahead with procurement

Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) chairperson Kailash Bhagat on Tuesday visited several grain markets in Kurukshetra district to oversee procurement of sunflower seed at 4,800 per quintal, while they will get 1n000 per quintal additional under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. He also assured that the payment of the procured sunflower seeds will be disbursed into the farmers bank accounts.

Farmers, however, maintain that they will incur losses of 10,000 to 12,000 per acre in the absence of the MSP.

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National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman Vijay Sampla on Tuesday issued the third notice to the Punjab government in the sexual misconduct case involving state cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchak after the government failed to submit the action taken report (ATR) despite the two notices. Lal Chand Kataruchak holds the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, forest and wildlife preservation portfolios in the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. (HT file photo)

In the third notice, the NCSC chairman directed the Punjab chief secretary, director general of police and deputy inspector general (DIG), Border Range, Amritsar, to immediately record the statement of the victim by video-conference or in person in Delhi, provide him security, and submit the ATR by June 12.

Also read: Remove minister Kataruchak from Punjab cabinet, governor tells CM

The notice comes five days after Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit asked chief minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against Kataruchak, alleging that the minister had committed a heinous crime and should be eased out from the cabinet.

Kataruchak, who is the state food and civil supplies minister, was accused of sexual misconduct by a Gurdaspur-based male victim, who, in a video, had claimed that the former had forced him into a relationship.

Taking strong note of the victims complaint, the commission had on May 5 issued its first notice to Punjab government officials and had asked them to submit the action taken report and provide security to the victim, who was allegedly receiving threat calls from the minister.

Following the notice, the state government had on May 8 constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the matter but no ATR was submitted.

On May 25, the NCSC sent a second notice to the state government. Citing threat to life of the victim, the NCSC asked the officials and police to record the statement of the victim by video-conference or in person in Delhi, provide him security and submit the report by June 1.

Sampla said, Despite repeated notices, no solid action has been taken by the state government. This shows the state governments lackadaisical and reluctant approach towards providing justice to Scheduled Caste residents.
Health authorities of Panchkula and Solan came together on Tuesday to implement all possible public health measures in Kalka, Pinjore, Nanakpur, Parwanoo and Baddi to prevent vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya amid the rains. A meeting of health officials was held on the initiative of Panchkula civil surgeon at the office of medical superintendent, ESI Hospital, Parwanoo. (Getty images)

A meeting of health officials was held on the initiative of the Panchkula civil surgeon at the office of medical superintendent, ESI Hospital, Parwanoo. Public health measures like source reduction activities are already being implemented in Kalka and Pinjore to prevent a dengue outbreak.

During the meeting, it was emphasised to carry out source reduction activities in the adjoining areas, especially in the industrial towns of Parwanoo and Baddi.

The authorities shared information and pictures of multiple water containers filled with Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae in Parwanoo. Panchkula district malaria officer Dr Suresh Bhonsle pointed out that if timely source reduction activities were not undertaken, another dengue outbreak may occur in the area.

Panchkula officials shared the districts date-wise micro plan of source reduction activities in Kalka and Pinjore with the Solan health authorities with request to prepare the micro plan for Parwanoo and Baddi area on similar lines.

District health authorities of Solan also shared their preparedness to deal with the vector-borne diseases.

Waterlogging: Rapid task force constituted

Ahead of monsoon, a rapid task force has been constituted under the chief sanitary inspector (CSI) to deal with waterlogging in Panchkula. Municipal corporation commissioner Sachin Gupta issued orders regarding the force's responsibilities on Tuesday.

Gupta said complaint of waterlogging received on helpline number 9696-120-120 via call or WhatsApp will be forwarded to the CSI. After which, the assistant sanitation inspector of the concerned ward will visit the spot and give directions to the supervisor and the cleaning staff.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested the principal of a school for alleged molestation of a girl student in Srinagar, officials said Tuesday. Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested the principal of a school for alleged molestation of a girl student in Srinagar, officials said Tuesday. (Getty Images/ Representational image)

The school education department suspended the principal and ordered an enquiry into the incident.

The officials said the principal of a government higher secondary on city outskirts was arrested following the registration of an FIR at Shalteng Police station.

A police official of Shalteng police station said that a complaint was filed by the family of a girl student studying in Class 10.

They have complained that the principal was calling the girl on her mobile number,  he said.

Meanwhile, the school education department suspended the principal following his arrest.

The accused has been attached with director school education, Kashmir, and an enquiry ordered. Further, director school education Kashmir shall conduct an enquiry into the matter and submit a detailed report along with his recommendations,  the order said
A 21-year-old youth from Solan was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Pinjore on early Monday morning. An injured Lakhwinder was rushed to the civil hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, where doctors referred him to PGIMER, Chandigarh. But he succumbed to injuries during treatment. (Getty images)

The deceased, Lakhwinder, was getting down from a truck for a quick bite at a roadside dhaba when he was hit by a speeding Maruti Suzuki Swift.

His cousin, Harpreet, 23, also hailing from Solan, told the police that he is a truck driver. On Monday morning, he and Lakhwinder were headed from Baddi to Banur in his truck to deliver medicines. On the way, they stopped at Shivalik Dhaba in Rampur Siudi village, Pinjore, around 4.30 am, when the accident took place.

An injured Lakhwinder was rushed to the civil hospital in Sector 6, where doctors referred him to PGIMER, Chandigarh. But he succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Police have lodged an FIR against the absconding car driver at the Pinjore police station.

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Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri yet again slammed the arch-rival Congress on Tuesday saying, it took NSG more than 10 hours to respond to 26/11 terror attacks, but Odisha train accident site was restored within 51 hours. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri yet again slammed the arch-rival Congress on Tuesday saying, it took NSG more than 10 hours to respond to 26/11 terror attacks, but Odisha train accident site was restored within 51 hours. (File Photo)

Congress on Sunday demanded resignation of railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for painting a rosy picture at the expense of critical infrastructure of the India railways.

The BJP government has ordered a CBI probe into the Balasore train accident.

Addressing a press conference here to list achievements of the Modi government in the last nine years since 2014, Puri said, I belong to a school of thought where one life lost is too many lives lost. The fact of the matter is that an accident has taken place. With the best will in the world and all safety precautions in place, something can go wrong and that is part of human existence.

However, within minutes, rescue teams reached there. The PM was there and so were three ministers. Railways minister Vaishnaw remained there for 36 hours. We did everything possible, and we ensured that every injured got an attendant. And, in 51 hours the rails lines were made operational, he said.

Puri said opposition parties wanted to make it a political point.

It was not the first rail accident. During their tenures (Congress regimes) many rail accidents happened and many lives lost. When the 26/11 attack was being played out on TV screens, it took 10 hours for the NSG to reach there (Mumbai from Delhi), he said.

On fuel prices, he said, from 2004 to 2014 UPA government did a novel thing by floating oil bonds of 1.41 lakh crore, for which I had to return 3.50 lakh crore. It was criminal act on their part.

The oil bonds issued by UPA government remains to be repaid. It was like a grandfather kept debts to be repaid by his grandchildren, he added.

He, however, maintained that compared globally, India had the lowest diesel and petrol prices.

He also said that though BJP government reduced central excise duty and VAT in BJP ruled states reduced VAT but non-BJP rules states didnt reduce their VAT.

He said that based upon nine years of Modi government, the BJP will approach 2024 general elections.

In nine years, the discussions are about two competing models--one of Modis, which is development-oriented Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and another is rewari bantne wala model (freebies). Congress started in Karnataka and AAP also tried in Punjab, but freebies ultimately are some taxpayers money, he said.

On much awaited assembly elections in the region, he said that J&K was undergoing a transitional phase and the authorities concerned will take the call at an appropriate time.

Earlier, people here were going through insurgency but now law and order has improved. Accordingly, a decision will be taken, he said.
DEHRADUN: A first information report (FIR) has been registered by the Uttarkashi police against unidentified people who put up posters threatening Muslim traders to leave the area by June 15 amid tension over a foiled bid to abduct a 14-year-old girl by two men, including one from the minority community, last month, the Uttarakhand police said on Tuesday. A poster that was put out on some shops in Uttarkashis Purola main market that threatened Muslim traders to leave the area

The FIR was registered at Purola police station under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 505 (statements aimed at public mischief), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint by Purola station house officer KS Chauhan.

We have filed the FIR on Monday against unidentified people for promoting enmity between different groups and threatening a particular community under relevant sections of the IPC. Our efforts are on to identify those who put up the posters in the Purola main market, said Chauhan. Muslims run about 30-40 shops in the Purola main market.

The posters surfaced two days after members of right-wing outfits held protests in Barkot and allegedly attacked shops and houses belonging to Muslims. Police are yet to arrest the people behind the attacks. The posters, which referred to Muslims as love jihadists, told them to vacate their shops before the meeting of a maha panchayat on June 15.

Uttarkashi Superintendent of police (SP) Arpan Yaduvanshi told HT on Monday that a probe was underway to identify the people behind the offensive posters.

There has been tension in Uttarkashi since May 26 when two men, later identified by the police as Ubed Khan (24), a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini (23), a motorcycle mechanic, allegedly attempted to abduct a 14-year-old girl. The two were arrested the following day from Hudoli village.

Right-wing groups spotlighted the religion of the Muslim man among the two and insisted that it was part of a continuing conspiracy of love jihad  a term used by right-wing groups to describe an alleged conspiracy by Muslim men to woo and seduce Hindu women.

On May 29, a protest march in Purola turned violent after some of the agitators attacked shops and establishments belonging to the Muslims. A similar protest was held on June 3, under the banner of Yamuna Ghati Hindu Jagriti Sangathan. Nearly 900 people took part in the stir.

Several shops run by the Muslims have remained shut since May 29.

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Two separate committees of the Delhi assembly have summoned two officials of the Delhi government over allegations of corruption and making alleged casteist remarks, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. One of the officers was engaged in a tussle with services minister Saurabh Bharadwaj over the forwarding of the file for his transfer. (ANI)

Ashish More, who was recently removed as the secretary of the services department after a tiff with minister Saurabh Bharadwaj over alleged insubordination, and YVVJ Rajasekhar -- the special secretary in the services department -- have been summoned by the Petitions Committee and the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively.

More has been asked to appear on Wednesday, while Rajasekhar was summoned on Tuesday but he failed to appear and sought two weeks time, officials said.

The conflict between the two officials began soon after the May 11 Supreme Court judgment which said that the elected government has control over all bureaucrats except those in departments related to land, police and public order.

More was engaged in a tussle with services minister Saurabh Bharadwaj over the forwarding of the file for his transfer. Later, the civil services board transferred More out of the services department.

The government ordered that Rajasekhar be divested of his charge after alleging that the special secretary (vigilance) was running an extortion racket. Rajasekhar denied all allegations against him. The lieutenant governor (LG) reinstated Rajasekhar as special secretary after the Centre promulgated an ordinance on May 19, effectively nullifying the top courts ruling, and giving the control over services to the LG.

Speaking about the petitions, an official, declining to be named, said, A petition has been received regarding allegations of land transfer fraud against Ashish More. Last year, five SDMs and one ADM were suspended for the same land transfer fraud in Jhangola Village of North district. In 2013 when Ashish More was serving as DM north district, he decided the appeals where illegal land transfers were made.

In the same land transfer issue, chief secretary Naresh Kumar and divisional commissioner Ashwini Kumar have also been summoned by the assembly panel. All of them have been asked to appear before the panel at 3:45pm.

Officials said that the assembly panel on welfare of SC and ST has received a complaint from Nakul Kashyap, the son of a deceased nursing orderly working with Lok Nayak Hospital, alleging that the Rajasekhar used casteist remarks against him.

The petition committee is currently chaired by AAP MLA Rajesh Gupta and has eight members.

More did not respond to repeated attempts to seek comment.

Rajasekhar, in a response to the assembly panel, sought two weeks to ascertain the records and appear before the committee with all the facts related to the allegation. In a letter to the assembly secretariat, Rajasekhar also said that services matters are outside the preview of the assembly. The complaint against me is far from truth, biased, Rajasekhkar said.

HT reached out to Naresh Kumar and Ashwini Kumar , but neither officer responded to requests for comment.

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Putting an end to speculation of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot forming a new party, Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday said there was no such development and it will never happen. He asserted that 90 per cent of the issues of Pilot has been resolved. Congress leader Sachin Pilot.(ANI file)

There is no such thing. Only some people in the media and newspapers are raising the issue, but there is nothing and it will not happen. I am hearing about forming a party from you only, there is no such thing. Pilot neither had this intention before nor does he have now, said Randhawa told reporters in Jaipur when asked about the news of Pilot forming a new party.

On the reconciliation meeting of chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said, We sat and held discussions for around four hours in Delhi. Everyone, including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, spoke. We heard both leaders. They both were told that together you are the asset of the Congress. They both said they will work together.

The leadership met Gehlot and Pilot separately on May 29. After the meeting, Venugopal had stated that Gehlot and Pilot  both are in agreement that the Congress party has to go together and fight the elections unitedly.

On the question of the formation of a committee on the demands raised by Pilot, he said, The case was with the high command. In the meeting, 90 per cent of the issues were resolved, and the remaining 10 per cent have no such issue. Everyone agreed, and thats why they together came outside with Venugopal, and announced in front of the media there itself.

On the reconciliation formula, Randhawa said, There was a reconciliation formula, it was known to both, and what Venugopal stated after coming out, you can understand that both want to work together.

When asked about the post or responsibility to Pilot, he said as per the stature of a leader, all of them will be given responsibility. The formula for reconciliation was finalised at the meeting itself, that formula. I will not tell you, he said.

Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot

Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in Rajasthan in 2018 and the party is seeking to broker peace between the two ahead of the assembly elections in the state, slated for later this year.

There is intense speculation that Pilot may give a clear indication on his way forward on June 11 when he marks his father's death anniversary in Dausa.

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The state government is set to organise special medical assessment camps for the differently abled children in secondary schools across the state to provide them easier access to medical tests, advice and disability certificates. Through the move, the government aims to bring these services to the children and their families and save them the pain of visiting offices. For representation only (HT File Photo)

The medical assessment camps will not only carry out medical check-ups for disabled children but also assess their disabilities to issue appropriate certificates.

Instructions have been issued by the state project director to all district basic education officers regarding the setting up of medical assessment camps. Each district will determine the venue and dates for the camps by June 30, with the aim of completing the camp by August 30, according to a government press release.

Team of experts will participate in the camp

In the instructions issued by Vijay Kiran Anand, director, state project, an orthopedic surgeon, an ENT surgeon, an eye specialist and a psychologist/psychiatrist must be included in the team of doctors for conducting the medical assessment camp.

However, in cases where audiologists and psychologists are not available, it is important to reach out to the chief medical officer/district magistrate, additional director health, Indian Medical Association, National Institute for Empowerment of Intellectual Disabilities, and Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Speech and Hearing Disabilities, Mumbai.

Some important instructions have also been given regarding the medical assessment camp. It includes inclusion of children with special needs studying in secondary schools in the camp by coordinating with the district inspector of schools. The instructions emphasise that 50 children with special needs, who do not have a disability certificate, should be included in each camp.

The instructions also state that medical assessment camps should be organised in all 886 blocks of the state.

School students to benefit

There are also additional instructions provided for the camp. Special educators assigned to their respective Nyay Panchayats (local administrative units) and nodal teachers will play a crucial role in the screening process. They will identify disabled children in their schools who require disability certificates. The database of children registered on the Samarth app can be utilised as a resource for identifying children who need disability certificates.

A list should be prepared to identify children who require specific equipment or corrective surgery. This allows for targeted support and intervention for children with disabilities.

Apart from disability assessments, the camp aims to identify and test children affected by Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome.

The medical camp aims to help children with disabilities in schools from class 1 to 12. Based on the disability certificate issued by the Medical Board, a unique Disability ID will be issued to each child. This process involves online registration for the unique disability ID (UDID) through Block Resource Centers (BRC) or Jan Seva Kendra. The details will be updated on the Samarth app. The instructions emphasise the importance of adhering to Covid-19 protocols during the camp.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched the Nand Baba Milk Mission at a cost of 1,000 crore in a bid to make U.P. a leading state in the field of milk development and milk production, a government spokesman said here. For representation only (HT File Photo)

According to him, the Nand Baba Milk Mission has been implemented to provide milk producers the facility to sell their milk at a reasonable price in villages through dairy co-operative societies.

Cabinet minister, animal husbandry and dairy development, Dharampal Singh, inaugurated the new scheme at the Kisan Bazar here besides launching the Dairy Development Portal and also unveiling the logo of Nand Baba Mission.

Speaking at the programme, the minister said, The department is making constant efforts to ensure the development of the rural economy in the state, to provide remunerative prices to farmers for their milk and to strengthen agro-based infrastructure.

He said that under this mission, it is proposed to form Dairy Farmer Producer Organization (Dairy FPO) in order to facilitate the sale of milk in producers villages itself.

In the financial year 2023-24, there is a plan to set up five Dairy FPOs in five districts of the state as a pilot project, in which women will also play a major role, the minister said.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday claimed that its revenue earnings for May this year went up by 1,211.56 crore over the corresponding period last year. HT Image

Speaking to media persons, finance minister Suresh Khanna said the state government collected a revenue of 15,351.19 crore, which was 73.9 per cent of the target of 20,782.52 crore for May. In May 2022, the government had collected a revenue of 14,139.63 crore.

Giving a breakup of the revenue earnings, Khanna said the governments GST collections went up by 595.86 crore from 4,957.30 crore it earned in May last year. The VAT collections, however, came down marginally by 77.19 crore. It earned 2625.11 crore in May this year against 2,702.30 crore.

The state governments tax collections in the first two months of 2023-2024 were 29,624.89 crore, about 73.3 percent of the target.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is in talks with the state governments of Rajasthan, Haryana, the Union environment ministry and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to establish in and ex-situ conservation programs for the critically endangered Great Indian bustard, along with long-billed vultures and white-rumped vultures. Ex-situ conservation means the conservation of species outside their natural habitat. Birds - The Great Indian Bustard

At present, there are only two Great Indian bustards left in the state at the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Nannaj, Solapur. The national population in the wild stands at less than 140 individuals. Most are confined to Rajasthan.

We are working with the Maharashtra forest department, and the Rajasthan government on a proposal for Great Indian bustard conservation in the state. A suitable land parcel for captive breeding has also been identified near Nannaj. The state will seek permission from the Centre soon, once a proposal is ready. We are still working out all the modalities. Rearing Maharashtras two remaining birds in captivity, to maintain the generic distinction, is being seriously considered, said Kishore Rithe, interim director, BNHS.

These grasslands in Solapur and Ahmednagar are the only really suitable habitats left for the bird in Maharashtra, he added.

The state government has also reached an agreement with the Haryana forest department to translocate 20 pairs of vultures (white-rumped and long-billed), which are presently only found in the protected areas of Melghat, Pench and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves in eastern Maharashtra. Plans are also afoot to establish a captive breeding centre in Ajneri near Nashik, for which the forest department has identified land.

We will be sending one pair of vultures from our captive breeding centre in Pinjore, Haryana, to Maharashtra so that the birds can hopefully start breeding there within a couple of years after relocation, said Nikita Prakash, who heads BNHS captive breeding program in Haryana.

Over the next couple of months, the forest department will be building pre-release aviaries for the 20 vultures in Melghat, Pench, and Tadoba, where the birds will be acclimatised, fed and checked for any injuries and illnesses.

Once these enclosures are ready, the chief wildlife wardens office will seek permission from the Union environment ministry to transport the birds from Haryana. Releasing them will take longer. We will have to survey their habitat extensively to ensure that it is a vulture safe zone. This means testing more than 600 carcasses of wild animals, mainly from tiger kills, to ensure that there are no traces of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the vultures food. Administration of such drugs to livestock, particularly diclofenac, has caused the population of vultures in India to crash heavily, Rithe explained.
MUMBAI: Three persons were arrested on Tuesday for robbing a Tanzanian national and fleeing with her bag containing valuables worth around 5.40 lakh, which included US$5,400 and iPhone 13 Max Pro in Colaba last week. two accused on a bike snatched her handbag and fled.

The incident occurred on June 1 around 10pm when 47-year-old complainant, Rahima Alwardi, along with her husband, daughter and daughter-in-law were returning to their hotel after dinner. When they reached Merry Weather Road, two accused on a bike snatched her handbag and fled.

The two bike-borne accused then handed the bag over to the third accused, who then made away with the loot. The police said that the accused have converted the US dollars into Indian currency.

The arrested trio are Arafat Chaudhary, 26, Saif Khan, 21, Fahim Shaikh, 26. They are friends and are residents of Mumbra. A police officer said, As per preliminary investigation, it appears that the accused are not habitual criminals, but we are checking to see if they have a criminal record.

One of the accused worked as a driver in Colaba and was familiar with the area, the other worked in a garage and the third worked as a helper with a carpenter, said the officer.

The Colaba police registered a case of robbery and formed teams along with Cuffe Parade police. They checked the footages of CCTV cameras and found the accused on some of them. However, their faces were not clear.

The police then took the help of the cyber team and identified the trio and arrested them from Mumbra.

We have seized the mobiles phones of the accused and some of the cash and the vehicle which was used in commission of the crime. We are trying to recover the remaining cash and the investigation is on, said a police officer.
A 15-year-old girl died after falling from the fourth-floor terrace of her house in Sector 11 in Noida on Monday, police officers familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, adding that the girl was reclining on the terrace railing to take a selfie when she lost her balance and fell. The girl was taken to Metro Hospital in Sector 11, where she died during treatment. On Monday night, police received information about the incident from the hospital. (Representational Image/Getty Images)

The deceased was a class 9 student at a branch of Delhi Public School, according to Amit Kumar, station house officer at Sector 24 police station. Her father works in a factory in Phase-1, Noida, and she lives with her parents and younger brother on the ground floor of a four-storey building in Sector 11.

The family lives on the ground and first floors, while the second and third floors are rented. On Monday evening, the girl and her younger brother were playing on the fourth-floor terrace of the building when the incident occurred. The girl fell from the terrace while her brother stepped down to fetch water. Her mother was at home on the ground floor and took her to the hospital with the assistance of neighbours, Kumar said.

The girl was taken to Metro Hospital in Sector 11, where she died during treatment. On Monday night, police received information about the incident from the hospital.

A police team went to the hospital after we received information. The initial investigation discovered some water supply pipes lying on the floor near the terrace railing where the girl is suspected of losing balance and falling down the terrace, said Sushil Kumar Ganga Prasad, assistant commissioner of police, Noida.

He also said that the body has been sent for a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death and that the family does not suspect foul play.

SHO Kumar added that investigators suspect the teenager was taking a selfie when she fell. We believe the girl was taking a selfie on her phone near the terrace railing when she lost her balance and fell. There are CCTV cameras in the area where the incident occurred that are also being examined, he said.
Following clashes that broke out between students of Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and security guards of Gautam Buddha University (GBU) in Greater Noida on Sunday night, at least 200 medicos residing at the hostel on GBU campus have left for their homes, GIMS officials said. Police arrested 15 people from the spot, including four students and 11 security guards. (ANI)

Clashes broke out on Sunday night at the Munshi Premchand hostel of GBU where MBBS students of GIMS have been given accommodation as GIMS hostel is still under construction.

Police arrested 15 people from the spot, including four students and 11 security guards. As many as 36 people were injured, of which 22 were students and 14 were security guards, said police.

Our parents are extremely concerned for our safety after they saw the news about the clashes at our hostel. Almost 80% of the rooms are empty now, as students have gone back home. Each student has been getting calls from their worried parents after they saw the videos of the clashes, said a first year MBBS student of GIMS.

According to director of GIMS, Dr (brig) RK Gupta, summer vacations of the MBBS batch students, which was to begin next week, has already started .

A one-week summer vacation for MBBS students was scheduled from June 11 to 18, but we advanced the dates and the vacations started on Monday itself, said Dr Gupta.

He added that the gates of the hostel building have been completely damaged; hence, students are not feeling safe in the hostel. The GIMS administration needs time to carry out repairs; so summer vacations have been announced. The gates, windows and doors of several rooms are completely damaged, and these will have to be replaced, said the director, adding that a total of 270 GIMS students -- 170 men and 100 women -- reside in the hostel.

He said of the 22 students who were injured, 18 have been discharged from the hospital while four others, who suffered severe fractures, are still under treatment.

On Monday, several students were sitting on a protest demanding that they be provided another hostel, away from the GBU campus. By evening, the students were pacified and sent back by the GIMS management.

Dr Vishwas Tripathi, GBU registrar, said the university on Tuesday suspended the 11 security guards arrested by the police. An internal three-member committee has been constituted to probe the incident. We have sent a notice to the security agency to cooperate with the committees investigation. In addition to that, the 11 security guards who were allegedly involved in the clashes and have been arrested by the police, have been suspended until the inquiry is concluded, he said.

The 14 security guards who were injured have been discharged from hospital, he added.

Meanwhile, police are scanning CCTV footage of the incident to identify more suspects. One security guard who was captured on video firing with his gun has been identified and police teams are working to arrest him.

We have applied for custody of the arrested security guards on Tuesday. Further, more suspects are being identified through CCTV footage and mobile phone camera footage. One security guard who was captured on video firing in the air during the incident has been identified but is absconding at the moment. Police teams are working to nab him, said Sarita Malik, station house officer, Ecotech-1 police station.

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Two minor boys have been apprehended for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl in their neighbourhood in a locality under the jurisdiction of Modinagar police station on Monday evening, police said Tuesday. The police said the two boys have been taken into custody. They added that the older boy raped the girl while the other manhandled her and also kept watch. (Representational Image)

According to police, the incident took place around 7.30pm on Monday when the girl was playing outside her home. The two boys, aged 15 and 16 years, allegedly lured her to the terrace of a neighbouring house on the pretext of playing games.

They took the girl to the terrace and raped her. Neighbours heard the girl screaming and nabbed the two boys. The police were called and a complaint was given by the girls family. We have registered an FIR of rape and also levied provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso), said Ritesh Tripathi, assistant commissioner of police (Modinagar).

The police said the two boys have been taken into custody. They added that the older boy raped the girl while the other manhandled her and also kept watch.

The girl was sent for a medical examination, the ACP said, adding that the reports are awaited.

The police said the two boys were flying kites on the terrace and took the girl to a room on the roof where the assault took place.

An FIR has been lodged at Modinagar police station under sections 376ab (rape with a woman under twelve years of age), 120b (criminal conspiracy) and also levied provisions of the Pocso Act.
VARANASI Banaras Hindu Universitys Malaviya Bhavan has launched 15-day free orientation courses for Yoga enthusiasts in order to prepare them mentally and physically for joining a full-fledged program. Banaras Hindu Universitys Malaviya Bhavan has launched the course. (HT File)

Yog Sadhna Kendra at Malaviya Bhavan of the varsity conducts various courses on Yoga, which are being attended by students, working professionals and people from all walks of the life. However, students after joining the course often find it difficult to learn due to lack of knowledge about basic practices or activities in Yoga.

In this context, Malaviya Bhavan has launched 15-day free orientation courses for Yoga enthusiasts in order to prepare them mentally and physically for joining a full-fledged program.

The workshops will help students overcome their hesitation and the difficulties in performing Yoga Asanas by training their body and mind during the workshops. The orientation workshops are completely free for everyone. In wake of the 9th International Yoga Day on June 21, 2023, the first Yoga Orientation Workshop is set to kick off from June 7, 2023.

Professor Raja Ram Shukla, Director, Malaviya Bhawan, said that a 15-day Surya Namaskar workshop was also organised from May 9 to May 23 in this regard. Nearly 125 students and 15 experts took part in the workshop, which was applauded widely. Prof Shukla said, Yoga shows us the way to have a healthy mind and body, which ultimately translates into a healthy society and a healthy nation. Keeping this in mind, the Malaviya Bhavan has started these free programs, so that participants become more confident and comfortable in joining a proper Yoga program.

The first workshop scheduled from June 7 will also have practice sessions on Yoga Asanas to be performed during the ninth International Yoga Day celebration on June 21. There will also be sessions on Surya Namaskar and Dhyana Yoga. Yog Sadhna Kendra, Malaviya Bhavan, is also planning to consider various other programs for specific groups like working men and women and housewives, among others.

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Chief minister Yogi Adityanath listened to the problems of over 500 visitors to the Janta Darbar at Digvijaya Nath Auditorium at the Gorakhnath Temple on Tuesday morning. CM Yogi Adityanath at the Janta Darbar at the Digvijaya Nath Auditorium of the Gorakhnath Temple on Tuesday (HT Photo)

He received the complaints of visitors and assured them that they would be covered under government housing schemes and promised to provide medical care to patients and financial help from the government.

A large number of women needed financial help for the treatment of their husbands. The chief minister handed over their application to officials concerned with instructions.

He also directed to deal with land grabbers with an iron hand.

Following the directives of the chief minister, the district police has tightened the security cover around the court to arrest hardcore criminals before they surrender in court.

However, despite the strict arrangements, three mafiosi of the region succeeded in surrendering in a span of 18 days and mafioso Vinod Upadhyay is still at large.

Abdur Rahman
Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday blamed the Portuguese, who ruled Goa for over four centuries until 1961, for destroying temples in the state while calling for wiping away the signs of the former colonial rulers in the region. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is planning the states new journey. Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant. (Twitter)

Read here: INS Tarinis 2 women sailors welcomed back after Goa-Rio de Janeiro expedition

At least after 60 years, we should wipe away the signs of the Portuguese...need to begin a new manner of going forward ...we are celebrating the 75th year [of Indias independence]... What is Goa going to be when India is celebrating 100 years [of independence]... we are thinking of that now, he said at a function commemorating the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century.

He said the Maratha ruler first mooted the idea of swaraj or self-government in the country. Sawant claimed the Portuguese began destroying temples in Goa and that the practice ceased after they signed a peace pact with the Marathas. He added that the treaty mandated the Portuguese will not destroy temples.

Sawant said that the Maratha ruler came to Goa and rebuilt the Saptakoteshwar Temple and warned the Portuguese against destroying temples. He added he was proud that the temple destruction stopped after that. This is why we say the major credit for saving the Hindu culture goes to Shivaji and [his son] Sambhaji, he said at the commemorative event at the 17th century Betul Fort built on the orders of the Maratha ruler.

Read here: Goa CM Pramod Sawant flags off 20 more electric buses

Sawant promised the fort will be notified as a state monument and restored.
LUCKNOW The Innovation Hub of Uttar Pradesh at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is taking a new initiative to encourage Green Startups that are working to protect the environment by giving them a platform for engagement with policymakers of the state government. World Environment Day programme held at AKTU. (HT File)

This year, United Nations theme focuses on the solutions related to Plastic Pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution, said AKTU vice chancellor JP Pandey. As people from across the globe come together to commemorate the World Environment Day by cleaning up beaches, planting trees, and holding marches in an effort to revive the environment, the green startups aims to take their businesses a notch up with cleaner practices.

In a unique initiative, five startups were shortlisted to pitch their sustainability startup products and services during the programme. Later, a roundtable discussion was also held for all the environment-related startups. An interaction was also held with the policymakers and bureaucrats where they shared their views.

At the World Environment Day programme held at AKTU, these green start up pitched their business models. Those present at the event included -- Sarvan Baghel, OSD to the chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, as the chief guest of the program; Rajendra Pensia, special secretary, department of Urban Planning, and Akshay Tripathi, Managing Director, U.P. Electronics Corporation graced the occasion as guest of honors. The presidential address was made by Manish Gaur, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow.

On the occasion, Sarvan Baghel said that a lot is being done by the government to make people aware of the repercussions of the hazardous waste that people are throwing in the environment. Its an added responsibility of the sustainability startups to make people environmentally conscious decisions and contribute transition to a greener future.

Many innovative solutions are being already developed by Green Startups like biodegradable plastic made from algae; measuring, reporting, and reducing the carbon footprint; alternative energy sources; protection of the waterbodies and biodiversity, reusable water bottles and many more. Establishing a sustainable startup model is not an easy process. Baghel congratulated the Innovation Hub Team for making a stupendous effort on taking up a very proactive challenge to protect the environment with robust startup solutions.

Rajendra Pensia said that more than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10% is recycled. Today, plastic clogs the landfills, leaches into the ocean and is combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to the planet. Not only that, what is less known is that microplastics find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe.

Akshay Tripathi said that inventions by Indian startups are proof of technological advancement and optimistic influence generated from maintaining an environmentally cognisant approach to business. Global climate, government backing, and private investments have developed a beneficial ecosystem for startups to test and design solutions fitted for India.

Different government initiatives such as Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) are building a robust ecosystem of sustainability drivers. The contemporary line of young eco-entrepreneurs is carrying the sustainability narrative onwards, innovating their company prototypes and presenting a sustainability first philosophy recognized in a new era of environmentally cognisant products and services. They are being supported by the vibrant multiple sustainability-driven ecosystems, strengthening its stimulus.
The number of people from Bihar who lost their lives in Fridays triple-train tragedy in Odishas Balasore jumped to 39 with the death of 18 more people reported on Tuesday, officials said. At least 52 people from the state were injured in the accident and are undergoing treatment, while 24 are still missing. The bodies of 13 victims from Bihar have been handed over to their family members so far. (AFP)

According to the disaster management control room in Patna, those who died include nine from Muzaffarpur, seven from Madhubani, six from Bhagalpur, four from East Champaran, two each from West Champaran, Purnia, Nawada, Jamui and Darbhanga, and one each from Samastipur, Banka and Begusarai.

The bodies of 13 victims have been handed over to their family members so far, said a press release, issued by the state disaster management department on Tuesday.

Among those went missing, five are from Madhubani, three from Sitamarhi, two each from Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, East Champaran, Begusarai and one each from Patna, Sheikhpura, Siwan, Khagaria, Vaishali and Gaya, the press release said.

Also Read |Odisha train accident: CBI registers case as team reaches Balasore for probe

Among the 52 injured, 24 people are from Muzaffarpur alone. They are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Cuttack, Balasore and Khantapada. They will be brought back to their native places once their treatment is over, said an official, who did not wish to be named.

Forty-seven-year-old Kunti Devi, a resident of Mahuwa Majhariya in Narkatiaganj subdivision of West Champaran, said her sons body remains in one of the morgues in Balasore as no male member in the family was there to travel to Odisha and get the body home for last rites.

My husband is in Kashmir; the elder son Ravi Paswan was in Nepal. Ravi came yesterday and left along with his uncle to bring the body back, she told HT.

At Tajpur village in Begusarai district, the family of Raja Yadav (19), who boarded the fateful Coromandel express, are still clueless about him.

I have been shuttling between Balasore and Bhubaneswar with his photograph but all my efforts to trace him have gone in vain, said Sujeet Kumar, Raja Yadavs elder brother.

Mohammad Kurban, a resident of Ghanshyam village in Darbhanga district and

the brother of Mohammad Monu, another missing man, said, None from our family has ever travelled to distant places before, except my brother (Mohammad Monu).

Ali Hussain, a resident of East Champaran and the uncle of Raza Mohammad Hawari (22), a migrant worker who died in the accident, said, We can understand what the family members of those missing must be going through. My nephew was also traceless. But his decomposed body arrived at around 10pm on Monday and the last rite was performed by 11pm.

The train crash killed at least 278 people and injured nearly 1,100.
The Bihar police on Monday unearthed a liquor mafia, which operates in a graveyard on the outskirts of Sasaram town, after a group of people, who went there for a funeral, informed officials about an open grave and some liquor pouches lying around it. The incident was reported from a graveyard near the famous tomb of Alawal Khan falling under Darigaon police station limits of Bihars Rohtas district. (Representative Image)

Police said that they reached the graveyard and recovered 25 litres of country-made liquor hidden in plastic bags. There were also at least 50 empty bags lying around the grave indicating that large-scale storage, sale and consumption of liquor had been taking place there, they added.

Earlier, Bihar, where alcohol has been banned by law since 2016, had reported recovery of liquor from coffin, septic tank and milk-tanker, as illegal traders resorted to various ways to do their business.

The incident on Monday was reported from a graveyard near the famous tomb of Alawal Khan falling under Darigaon police station limits of Rohtas district.

Darigaon station house officer (SHO) Santosh Kumar said that a case under Section 30A of the Excise Act has been registered against unknown liquor traders and police are trying to identify them.

Earlier on May 31, 1,182 liters of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) was seized from a milk tanker of a reputed company at Purnia.

On March 27, excise officials seized 240 bottles of costly IMFL concealed in a large coffin carried in an ambulance in Gaya. It was being transported to Bihar from Jharkhand when the excise officials raided it.

Next day, a huge quantity of IMFL was recovered from a septic tank, specially designed to conceal liquor in Saharsa district.

Bihar has been a dry state since 2016 after chief minister Nitish Kumar led government imposed a ban on the sale, transportation and consumption of liquor.
As many as seven excise officials were injured in an alleged liquor mafia attack in Bihars Rohtas district on Monday. The injured included an inspector and two female constables along with four other officials. (Representative file image)

The injured included an inspector and two female constables along with four other officials.

Acting on a tip off, the officials reached the Dayalbigaha village of Rohtas district on Monday evening and caught four smugglers red handed.

Also Read:Bihar East Champaran hooch tragedy accused arrested from Delhi: Police

The arrested persons were being taken in a vehicle when they were attacked by the liquor mafia goons, police said.

Assistant commissioner (excise) Amrita Kumari, however, said that it was a minor attack.

The place where the four smugglers were picked from earlier was raided again by the officials where two others were arrested.

The process for identifying and arresting the smugglers and assailants was underway, Kumari said.
Punes rapidly changing rainfall patterns are posing a serious challenge to the urban waterlogging system in the city. Over the last two years, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has identified 127 new spots prone to waterlogging. Previously, the city had 350 chronic spots, and 320 of those have been refurbished. Waterlogging spot near Vanaz Garbage Depot in Kothrud (Kalpesh Nukte/HT PHOTO)

However, effectively tackling the increasing number of critical spots has necessitated the PMC to seek funding under the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).

The citys average annual rainfall is 722 mm, but it has risen to 1,000 mm since 2005. Heavy unseasonal rains in November 2015 caused severe flooding in areas such as Dhanori, Vishrantwadi, Lohegaon, and Tingre Nagar, causing significant damage to properties and disrupting citizens lives.

With the uncontrollable growth of population and unplanned urbanisation, the drainage and sewer facilities in the city are not developing accordingly.

To address the issue, PMC hired Prime Move Infrastructure Development Consultancy, which conducted a thorough survey of the entire city. The survey split the urban region into 23 basins based on its topographical layout. Following that, a stormwater drainage plan was developed, which included the development of drains for efficient water drainage, the conversion of road pipe culverts to box culverts, and the installation of rainwater lines.

The consultants identified 350 critical water logging areas during the assessment and generated a detailed project report (DPR) for Storm Water Drainage in Pune Citys Frequently Flooding Areas. The anticipated cost for completing the requested work is 482 crore.

Hadapsar, Mundhwa, Wanowrie, Ramtekdi, Kondhwa, and Yevalewadi have been recognised as having the largest amount of water logging spots in the city when compared to other areas.

Santosh Tandale, the chief superintendent engineer of the drainage department, revealed that PMC has been carrying out the task in phases. They have replaced old culverts with new box culverts, constructed retaining walls along the nullahs, and laid down new stormwater drain lines.

Tandale added, Due to various factors such as cloud bursts, road widening, changes in design criteria of stormwater and drainage systems, and topographical changes, PMC has identified an additional 127 critical water logging locations over the past two years. We have prepared a detailed project report with an estimated cost of 250 crores to address these water logging spots.

Ganesh Sonune, head of PMCs Disaster Management Department, revealed that the Central Government has allocated funds to mitigate the risk of urban flooding under the NDMP.

Pune is one of seven cities in the country chosen to get the funds. The National Disaster Management Authority has allocated 50 crore for five years to the city. On Wednesday, PMC officials will submit the DPR at a video conference with NDMA officials to discuss funding specifics. PMC will spend funds on structural and non-structural work. Non-structural work includes constructing retaining walls, laying storm water drains, and installing culverts, whereas structural work includes establishing weather centres, installing rainwater gauges, and providing disaster management training, among other things.

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Is nudity obscene? This question has vexed lawmakers and courts alike all over the world. This week, the Kerala high court proffered an answer  not always, and definitely not linked to gender. In a case where an activist was booked for filming a video of her minor children painting on her naked upper body, the Kerala high court found that nudity and obscenity were not always synonymous, and the mere sight of a womans unclothed torso should not be deemed sexual by default. The order made two points. The first was highlighting the contrast between prevalent social attitudes to male and female bodies. The judge concluded that the presence of murals, statues, and deities displayed in the semi-nude in ancient temples prove there is nothing inherently obscene about the unclothed female form. The court also rejected the taboo around female nudity, pointing out that if half-naked bodies of men were deemed normal, so should womens bodies. PREMIUM The Kerala high court also rejected the taboo around female nudity, pointing out that if half-naked bodies of men were deemed normal, so should womens bodies(File Photo)
The anime community is currently enthralled with Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc. But while you wait an entire week for a new episode, you can watch these shounen anime series which are similar to Demon Slayer. These anime are jampacked with adventure, action, and amusement. The Swordsmith Village Arc is the latest addition to the Demon Slayer franchise, and it promises to be just as action-packed and thrilling as the previous instalments. (Ufotable)

My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is set in a world where people are born with superpower-like Quirks. The story follows a quirkless boy who is determined to become a superhero despite his lack of a superpower. This massive franchise will keep you entertained with the series as well as the movies. Readers can immerse themselves in the manga, light novels, and stage plays and gamers can explore the several video games and trading card games.

Dr. Stone

Just as Taiju Ooki was about to confess his love to his long-time crush, Yuzuriha Ogawa, dazzling green light flashes, petrifying the world and turning all humans to stone. When Taiju awakens, he joins his genius friend Senkuus scheme to revive humanity. In 2019, the manga won the 64th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shounen category. By 2022, 14 million copies of it were in circulation. The third season of the anime is currently airing.

One Punch Man

Saitamas childhood dream was to become a superhero. To fulfill this, he trains relentlessly and is eventually able to defeat his enemies with a single punch. However, this unique power soon makes his hobby uninteresting as he gets bored. Two seasons are out already and the third has been announced. The manga is one of the best-selling manga series of all time.

Hells Paradise

Ninja Gabimaru has led a blood-soaked life and, as a result, has been sentenced to death. However, when all attempts to execute him fail, executioner Sagiri offers him a chance to be pardoned for all his crimes. Set in the Edo period of Japan, the story follows the two as they search for the Elixir of Immortality. The first season of this anime is currently airing.

Blue Exorcist

Rin Okumura was leading an ordinary life till he got kidnapped and discovered that he and his twin brother were the sons of Satan. The story follows Rin who joins a secret academy that trains teenagers to exorcise demons. Two seasons and a movie are already out and a third season has been announced.

Dororo

Hyakkimaru was born without most of his body parts which were sacrificed by his father to demons. The anime follows him and an 11-year-old thief, Dororo, as Hyakkimaru defeats the demons to regain what was stolen from him. A black-and-white adaptation of the manga was first released in 1969. A live-action film was released in 2007 and in 2019, it was adapted again as an anime series.

Spy x Family

Loid Forger is a spy on an undercover mission. Anya Forger is his adopted child with telepathic abilities. Yor Forger is an assassin with whom he entered a marriage of convenience. Neither Loid nor Yor knows anyone's true identity. Only Anya knows the truth and is prepared for the drama to unfold. The anime follows this atypical family as they attempt to balance their missions with their family life. The first season of the anime is out. The second season will premiere in October 2023 and a movie will be released in December 2023.

Assassination Classroom

Koro-sensei is an octopus-like creature who has already destroyed the moon and declared his plan to destroy the Earth by the following March. He teaches a class of misfits who have been tasked with assassinating him before he destroys the Earth. The anime depicts the bond formed between the students among each other and Koro-sensei over the course of their mission. The anime is complete with both seasons out.

Millionaire Detective: Balance:Unlimited

Daisuke Kanbe is a man with limitless wealth. He is assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters where he is partnered with Haru Katou, a man with starkly different values than him. The two have to work together and solve the mysteries that challenge them. The anime consists of a single season with 11 episodes perfect to binge-watch!

Noragami

Yato is a minor deity without a single shrine dedicated to his name. Hiyori Iki, a middle-school girl, gets into a bus accident while trying to protect Yato despite him being a stranger. The accident causes Hiyoris soul to detach at times. Hiyori agrees to help Yato in his quest to gain worshippers and in exchange, Yato agrees to fix her body. It is another great anime to binge-watch with only 12 episodes.

Hopefully, these anime series will keep you occupied while you await the next episode of Demon Slayer!
Anurag Kashyap's daughter, Aaliyah Kashyap answered some questions regarding her engagement to Shane Gregoire. Aaliyah who is a social media influencer, got engaged to her boyfriend last month. Talking about it, she said she received hate when she got engaged at 22. She also shared that she and her fiance plan to get married sometime in the spring or summer of 2025. They also shared that they will be hosting engagement parties in August 2023. Also read: Aaliyah Kashyap flaunts big rock at bridal shower with Khushi Kapoor and others, friend calls her bridezilla Aaliyah Kashyap got engaged to her boyfriend Shane at 22.

Anurag Kashyap's daughter Aaliyah on getting engaged at 22

Aaliyah in her recent vlog on YouTube admitted that she got hate for her life decision, however, it doesn't bother her. She said, For me, its my life. If I feel ready, I feel ready. Were both ready. Weve been talking about this for a while. Weve already been living together for like six months. Weve been together for three years. Its just a when you know, you know situation. I know Im super happy in this relationship, and hes my soulmate. She added that she had no doubt about Shane even when they met for the first time and knew that she would end up marrying him.

"I dont really care if people have hate about us marrying young. I know we are young, but I dont really care," Aaliyah further said. Shane who was also answering questions with her, shared, I don't think it's a big deal. I don't see the issue at all. It's really stupid that people make such a big thing. I don't think your age matters, your maturity matters when it comes to decisions. Obviously, marriage is a huge decision. I don't recommend every 20 year old to go out and get married, that's now how it works. It's just a personal choice, she pointed. Aaliyah also confessed that she never thought she would get married before she was 28.

Who is Aaliyah Kashyap?

Aaliyah is the daughter of filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and his first wife Aarti Bajaj. Shane Gregoire proposed to Aaliyah in Bali. While Aaliyah is a popular YouTuber, Shane runs his own business.

Aaliyah Kashyap on her wedding plans

The two will host two engagement parties soon, one in the US and another in India in early August this year. In the same month, the two will fly to the US to celebrate the occasion with Shane's family. They also shared that they want to get married after 1.5-2 years from now.

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Filmmaker Om Raut's magnum opus Adipurush is all set to release in theatres on June 16 in 3D. Ahead of its release, makers unveiled the final trailer on Tuesday. The new trailer is overall impressive, compared to the teaser video which was previously rejected by viewers for poor VFX and animation. The film stars Prabhas as Raghava, Kriti Sanon as Janaki, Sunny Singh as Lakshmana and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh.Also read: Prabhas offers prayers at Tirupati Balaji temple ahead of Adipurush event Adipurush trailer: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan look impressive.

Adipurush new trailer

The more than 2-minute-long trailer establishes the storyline of Ramayana, starting from Sita Haran featuring Kriti as Janaki and Saif as Lankesh. Prabhas shines as Raghava on the battlefield. While the first half of the final video features fine visuals, compared to previous trailers and teasers, the quality of visual effects deteriorates a little towards the end of the trailer.

Adipurush will be released in 5 different languages in India including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. while it will hit the theatre screens on June 16, the film will also premiere on June 13 at the 2023 edition of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Prabhas at Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple

Earlier in the day, actor Prabhas offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple at Tirumala in Tirupati, hours before the trailer release. Talking about working in the film, Prabhas at the press event previously said he felt grateful to essay the role of Lord Ram in Adipurush.

As quoted by news agency PTI, Prabhas said, I should thank Om for giving me this opportunity. We have made this film with a lot of love and respect. Hope you all like it.

Om Raut on Adipurush

Director Om Raut who is known for National Award-winning Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, had dedicated the film to Ramleela artists for bringing to life the epic tale in varied forms across the country for many years. "I want to dedicate the film to each and every artist who has been a part of Ramleela. I feel the story of 'Ramayan' has always been there for years and it is like a bus. We have boarded this bus and we will continue for some years. Then we will get down and somebody else will board the bus. But the journey of Ramleela will continue. We will continue to see Ramleela in different ways as long as there is India," he had said at a press event.

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Actors and brothers Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana arrived in Mumbai from Chandigarh with their mother Poonam Khurrana. In a video that emerged online, the brothers were seen exiting the Mumbai airport. As they walked towards their car, they held Poonam's hands. (Also Read | Ayushmann Khurrna pens emotional note after father's death, his mom breaks down at prayer meet) Aparshakti Khurana and Ayushmann Khurrana with their mother.

Ayushmann, Aparshakti with their mother

In the video, Poonam walked towards their vehicle as she held Ayushmann and Aparshakti Khurana's hands. The brothers shared a conversation and smiled. Aparshakti also asked his mother something to which she nodded and smiled. For the travel, Poonam wore black and white ethnic wear. Ayushmann opted for a green T-shirt, black pants and sneakers. He also wore glasses. Aparshakti was seen in a peach shirt over a blue T-shirt, trousers and sneakers. Both the actors carried bags with them.

Fans' reaction to the brothers holding their mother's hands

Reacting to the video, a fan wrote, "Can see the deep pain of losing their loved one. God bless them." An Instagram user commented, "Good men." A comment read, "God is near to us in the form of ma and baba. Take care of your precious gift from God." Another person said, "These good sons are looking out for their beautiful mum!!! God bless always"."

Ayushmann, Aparshakti lost their father P Khurrana recently

Last month, Ayushmann and Aparshakti lost their father P Khurrana. Aparshakti had shared the news in a statement. "It's with our deep sadness to inform that Ayushmann and Aparshakti Khurana's father, Astrologer P Khurana passed away this morning at 10:30 am in Mohali, owing to a prolonged incurable ailment. We are indebted for all your prayers and support during this time of personal loss," the statement read.

Later, Ayushmann penned down a heartfelt note as he mourned his father's death. On Instagram, Ayushmann shared a string of pictures. He captioned the post, "Maa ka khayal rakhna hai aur humesha saath rehna hai. Pita jaisa banne ke liye bahut duur jaana padta hai apne pita se. Pehli baar aisa mehsoos ho raha hai ki papa bahut duur aur bahut qareeb hain humare (Take care of your mother and always stay together. To be like your dad you have to go far away from him. For the first time I am feeling that dad is very far yet close to us). Thank you for your upbringing, love, sense of humour and the most beautiful memories. Jai jai."

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Bipasha Basu has revealed that her daughter has now got her "daak naam" - pet name common among Bengalis. Bipasha and Karan Singh Grover's daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover, was born in November and they had announced their pregnancy last August. (Also read: Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover show off new 90 lakh car) Bipasha Basu reveals her daughter's daak naam is Mishti.

Devi's daak naam

Sharing a short video clip with her daughter Devi, Bipasha wrote, "Devis daak naam ( Devi's pet name) is Mishti Named by her favourite Mumu Ma @mumu_basu Suits her perfectly :) Bong girl got her daak naam #devibasusinghgrover #bongness #daaknaam #petname #mishti."

The montage showed Devi's various pictures with Bipasha. The actor is dressed in black while her daughter is dressed in off-white in the video. Bipasha's friends and colleagues were quick to shower their love on her post. Actor Arti Singh commented, "Mishtiiii."

Bipasha's fan and her mishti

Many fans also posted messages for the mother-daughter duo. One of Bipasha's fans commented, Omg I am not sure if u will read this comment but thought to put it out there. Since I was a kid I followed you as my model, inspiration and big Fan of yours. In looks, dance, even my name on fb was Bipasha, haha and I always told my family I am your Sister. Then my little girl was born before u and I named her Mishti and I was sooo happy when Devi was born for you. And today I may say there's something we connect somehow as we both have our Mishtis" Another wrote, So cute and super mommy.

Bipasha and her first child

Six years after they got married, Bipasha and Karan welcomed their first child, Devi, on November 12, 2022. They celebrated Devi's half-birthday last month. Both the actors also shared pictures from the pink-themed party on their social media pages.

Bipasha and Karan's career

Bipasha and Karan first met on the sets of their first film together, Alone. They got married only a year later in 2016. Most recently, they have worked together in the MX Player series Dangerous. Karan has Siddharth Anand's next Fighter lined up for release next. He will feature alongside Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan in the film.

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Rahul and Orhan pose at London restaurant

In the picture, Rahul and Orhan smiled as they posed for the camera. The Congress leader was seen in a blue T-shirt and denims. Orhan opted for a black T-shirt and olive green pants. The duo seemingly had lunch at a London restaurant.

Rahul and Orhan posed inside the Nobu, Old Park Lane restaurant. Sharing the first photo, Orhan wrote, "Today @lunch." He also tagged Rahul. Orhan posted the same picture in his next Instagram Stories and geo-tagged the location as Nobu, Old Park Lane.

Orhan posed with Rahul at a restaurant.

Orhan and Nysa go out with friends

Later, Orhan shared pictures as he dined with his friends including Nysa Devgan. In the first photo, Nysa, Orhan and the others smiled and posed inside a restaurant. Orhan geo-tagged the location as Busaba. He also shared several other pictures and videos as the group visited nightclubs. Nysa and Orhan also clicked pictures at a photo booth. They smiled and also made goofy faces for the camera.

Orhan often shares pictures with Nysa as they travel across countries--attending events and partying. Recently, they attended Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour concert in London. Orhan posted several clips and photos as they enjoyed the show and also posed for pictures.

Orhan shared pictures with Nysa and his friends.

Orhan shared glimpses of his evening.

Nysa is Kajol and Ajay Devgn's daughter

Nysa is the elder child of Kajol and Ajay Devgn. The actors got married in February 1999. They welcomed daughter Nysa in April 2003 and son Yug in 2010. Currently, Nysa is pursuing her higher education in Switzerland. She wrapped up her schooling at Singapore's Glion Institute of Higher Education.

Nysa clocked her 20th birthday in April this year. Ajay, on the occasion, posted a collage of a couple of candid moments of the father-daughter duo on Instagram. Sharing the picture, he wrote, #FatherofMyPride. Happy birthday baby.

Kajol posted pictures and captioned them, "This is us and our story always. Love your sense of humour and your mind and your oh so very sweet heart.. love you to bits baby girl and may you always smile laugh and snark with me forever! #daughtersrock #mybabygirl #happy20th #allgrownupnow."

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Actor Amitabh Bachchan maintained the Sunday tradition and greeted his fans outside Jalsa, one of his homes in Mumbai. The actor posted a bunch of pictures on his blog where he talked about the change in outfits with time, where one aspect has remained constant: comfort. (Also read: Amitabh Bachchan calls himself 'idiot', apologises, expresses gratitude to fan over this error. Here's what happened) Amitabh Bachchan greeted fans outside Jalsa.

Amitabh's latest blog

Amitabh penned a detailed note in his blog and talked about a number of things, from going out to meet everyone with bare feet, to posting a number of pictures of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of him. Amitabh was seen in a red and blue jacket paired over white kurta. In some of the pictures from the blog he was seen waving at his fans, and greeting them with folded hands.

Who goes out wearing socks?

He wrote, "some sarcastically commented on a few occasions ..  who goes out wearing socks and bare feet  .. I say ..I DO ! .. you got a problem with that !!?? You go to the temple bare feet .. my well wishers are my temple !!" The Pink actor also talked about the importance of comfort wear and said, "Comfort be the elements of use in these times of uncared for attitudes , breaking away from any tradition that could have been imposed .. Shoes .. The comfort of the sneakers or whatever else they may be called .. the nikes, the other brands , all .. now the formal wear irrespective .. that black patent leather, that polished bright , whatever , has disappeared .. the white bordered comfort wear be the IT .. !"

He concluded by sharing an anecdote about a French tournament where Yannik Noah gave a presentation in jeans, and how that was seemed as a surprising choice by the commentators. "Now the entire World is comforted by jeans and sneakers .. and the ladies with the same attire - even tights - for ease of movement at work .. Oh ! this is a lovely World .. !!! COVER THY MODESTY .. WITH PRIDE .. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS .."

Last year, Amitabh had written in his blog that the number of fans coming to meet him outside his Mumbai home had lessened.  I do observe though that the numbers are in lesser magnitude and the enthusiasm has lessened and the screams of joy now transferred to the mobile camera... " he wrote. Amitabh recently resumed his weekly meet and greet with fans outside the gate of his Mumbai residence. Every Sunday, he comes out of his house and greets the fans gathered there.

Amitabh was last seen in the family entertainer film Uunchai along with Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani. Helmed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film got positive responses from the audience. Fans will now see Amitabh in Project K alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. He will also be seen in Ribhu Dasgupta's next courtroom drama film Section 84.

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Eminent actress and talk-show host, Drew Barrymore, is ready to let go of her complicated past and heal her relationship with her mother, Jaid Barrymore. Drew Barrymore's journey of healing and reconciliation with mother Jaid Barrymore. (Image Credit: Instagram/Drew Barrymore)

In a candid interview with Vulture, Barrymore opens up about the challenges she has faced due to her mother's role as both her manager and a significant figure in her life during her early success as a child star.

Reflecting on the impact her mother has had on her healing process, Barrymore acknowledges that she doesn't have the same "luxury" as those whose parents have already passed away.

I cannot wait. I dont want to live in a state where I wish someone to be gone sooner than theyre meant to be so I can grow, Barrymore expressed. I actually want her to be happy and thrive and be healthy. But I have to..grow in spite of her being on this planet.

Drew Barrymore's emotional complexity

Despite the complexity of her feelings towards her mother, Barrymore clarifies that her conflicting emotions are not rooted in malice. She acknowledges the difficult choice to openly discuss these sentiments and admits that it doesn't bring her any joy.

ALSO READ| This is a safe space for you, Taylor Swift celebrates pride month and unveils exciting Latin America tour dates

The renowned talk show host genuinely cares about her mother's well-being and affirms that her love for her will always remain.

Born to actors Jaid and John Drew Barrymore in 1975, Drew Barrymore faced a tumultuous upbringing. During her challenging adolescence, which included drug-related escapades with her mother, a mandatory stint in rehab at the age of 13, and a suicide attempt, Barrymore sought emancipation from her parents. Her relationship with her mother starkly contrasts with her connection to her father, who passed away in 2004 following a battle with multiple myeloma.

Reflecting on her late father, Barrymore expressed, I just understood what an incapable human being he wasI know that must be so hard for my mom. Its like she gets all the heartache, and he gets given a free ticket.

However, the 48-year-old demonstrates a willingness to reconcile with her mother. In a text message exchange with Vulture reporter E. Alex Jung.

Drew Barrymore's emotional attachment to her parents

She told me she loved me and she was proud of me. I dont care how old you get or how big your mission is. When your mom tells you she loves you, you revert back to small. And the fact that she loves me with my truth and my honesty is the best time I have ever heard her say it, the text read.

ALSO READ| Taylor Swift and Matt Healy reportedly break up, Swifties erupt in celebration

Barrymore concludes the interview by expressing her forgiveness toward both her mother and father. She acknowledges that she hasn't yet forgiven herself but declares her readiness and desire to do so.

I forgive my mom. I forgive my dad. Ive never forgiven myself, but Id like to and Im ready to, she expressed.

Through her journey of healing and self-forgiveness, Barrymore aims to create a new chapter in her relationship with her mother, letting go of the past and embracing a path of growth, understanding, and reconciliation.

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The blossoming relationship between Matty Healy and Taylor Swift has set the music world abuzz. Following Swift's recent breakup with Joe Alwyn, she wasted no time in moving on to The 1975's charismatic frontman. As fans eagerly follow their romance, curiosity arises about Healy's London residence. Here's what we know about his extraordinary 1.25 million home and the possibility of a temporary relocation to Swift's New York City apartment. Taylor Swift and Matty Healy's whirlwind romance has captivated the music world. As fans speculate about their future, details emerge about Healy's unique 1.25 million London home, inspired by JMW Turner's artwork.

Nestled in North West London, Matty Healy's residence was crafted by renowned designer Takero Shimazaki, and it is undeniably distinct. Shimazaki aimed to create an ambiance of serene tranquility and an urban refuge, drawing inspiration from JMW Turner's 1819 painting, "Interior of an Italian Church," according to Mirror.co.uk.

The three-bedroom house, valued at over $1.5 million, boasts unpainted beige walls and gracefully arched doorways throughout. Glass floors contribute to the unique aesthetic, while the bathroom features a freestanding bath, French sinks, and brass light fixtures. The master bedroom mirrors the arched doorways with arched windows overlooking a pebbled courtyard. Concrete slabs serve as the bed frame, complementing the minimalist white kitchen.

Healy's abode exhibits a minimalist approach to decor, with sparse furnishings such as plants, rugs, lamps, and a selection of wooden tables and chairs that offer a striking contrast to the interior's subdued grayish-beige palette.

Interestingly, Healy's home is in close proximity to the North London apartment that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn once renteda luxurious six-bedroom townhouse worth $8.7 million in Primrose Hill. This neighborhood also housed notable figures like Harry Styles and Tom Hiddleston.

During the pandemic, Swift and Alwyn decided to extend their stay in London, prompting a search for more spacious accommodations. However, Swift's permanent residence remains in Nashville, while her plans for the London property following her split from Alwyn remain uncertain. If Swift were to spend time at Healy's minimalist abode, she might encounter Alwyn in the streets of the U.K.

Speculation suggests that Healy might be temporarily abandoning his London home. According to The Sun, he is purportedly moving into Swift's New York City apartment to assist her in writing her next album. Healy allegedly shipped his guitar effect pedals, audio interfaces, synths, and MacBook Pro to the States.

Also Read | Taylor Swift kisses rumoured boyfriend Matty Healy on day off from Eras tour: Report

Sources claim that Healy and Swift are deeply smitten and eager to spend as much time together as possible. Healy has reportedly informed his 1975 team that he will be conducting all band demos in America for the foreseeable future. While Swift tours, he plans to work on their collaboration and attend select shows for inspiration in crafting her upcoming album.

The insider added, "Matty is Joe 2.0her superstar status doesn't faze him in the slightest." Rumors circulated that Swift and Alwyn's mismatched fame levels contributed to their incompatibility, which seems to contrast with Healy's unwavering composure in the face of Swift's stardom.

As the relationship between Healy and Swift continues to captivate music enthusiasts, fans eagerly await updates on their living arrangements and collaborative endeavors. Will Healy's London home remain vacant, or will it be a temporary retreat as he immerses himself in the creative process alongside the pop sensation?
The pre-release event of Prabhas upcoming magnum opus Adipurush will take place on Tuesday evening in Tirupati. Ahead of the grand event, Prabhas sought the blessings of Lord Balaji in the wee hours of Tuesday. Chinna Jeeyar Swamy will attend the event as the chief guest. Pictures from Prabhas visit to the temple have surfaced on social media platforms. (Also Read | Adipurush song Ram Siya Ram: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon long to reunite in this beautifully shot bhajan. Watch) Prabhas at Tirupati Balaji temple.

Prabhas at Tirupati temple

In several pictures shared on Twitter, Prabhas was seen posing for the camera with his team. Several police officers also stood near him. He also smiled as he travelled in a cart. Prabhas greeted his fans and the paparazzi as he arrived at the temple. For the visit, Prabhas wore a white kurta and dhoti. He was also given a red shawl in the temple which he wrapped around him. The actor smiled and waved at his fans before leaving the venue.

Fans' reaction

The pictures were shared with the caption, "Ahead of #Adipurush pre-release event in Tirupati, pan India mega star #Prabhas anna had a VIP darshanam at Tirumala early this morning. On Behalf of AP Government @VikranthYReddy Received Prabhas Anna! Jai Shree Ram. Om Namo Narayana #Adipurush." Reacting to the pictures and videos, fans praised the actor. A person wrote, "His smile is pure bliss. Man with a heart of gold." Another person wrote, "At wee hours of night the whole arena was filled to see him."

All about Adipurush

Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush is the modern-day adaptation of the epic, Ramayana. The movie features Prabhas as Raghava while Kriti Sanon plays Janaki. It is gearing up for release on June 16. Om has joined hands with Prabhas for the first time in Adipurush. He had said that nobody other than Prabhas could play essay the role in this big-budget adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayan.

Om on Prabhas

In an interview with Variety, Om opened up on why he roped in Prabhas for this project. I have seen him (as the lead) in my head, on my computer, in my script  if there is anybody who can play Prabhu Ram to perfection, it is Prabhas. As the biggest star in our country, he adds to the commercial value of the film. But more than that, he has a great combination of calmness and aggression. As the writer and director, that appealed to me, he had said.

Talking about the project, Prabhas had said in a statement, Every role and every character comes with its own challenges, but portraying a character like this comes with tremendous responsibility and pride. I am very excited to portray this character from our epic specially the way Om has designed it. I am sure the youth of our country will shower all their love on our film.

Tipped to be made on a budget of 450 crore, Adipurush was originally shot in Hindi and has been dubbed into Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. The film also features Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh.

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Finn Wolfhard shared his feelings about the ending of Stranger Things, which is set to wrap up with the fifth and final season. Although the actor admitted in a new interview that he tries not to think about it too much as it makes him sad, he feels that the end will almost feel like a 'graduation' of sorts for the cast and crew involved. (Also read: Stranger Things final season production delayed due to strike, says Duffer brothers: Hope a fair deal is reached soon) Finn Wolfhard revealed his thoughts about the ending of Stranger Things.

About Stranger Things

Stranger Things follows the adventures of a bunch of kids in a small town called Hawkins and how their lives change when they lose one of their own to a shadowy dimension called the Upside Down. Finn stars in the Duffer Brothers show as Mike Wheeler, alongside actors Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin. He had earlier said that the final season will answer a lot of questions regarding the show.

Graduation for the cast and crew

Now speaking to EW about the final season, Finn said, "I definitely am excited to finish Stranger Things and see what's out there after. I've tried not to think about it or process how sad it's gonna be, obviously, but it's gonna be a graduation of sorts for all of us, for the cast and a lot of the crew, too. A lot of the same crew has been working on [the show] since the first season. So, it's gonna be amazing and pretty heavy, but really fun, always."

A month ago, the co-creators of the show, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, tweeted a statement after the Netflix shows filming process was halted due to the writer's strike. His tweet read, "Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While were excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then -- over and out. #wgastrong"

Earlier Millie Bobby Brown had also expressed her thoughts about the show ending with the fifth season and said she is ready to wrap up the show and bid farewell to this chapter of her life for new ones to open up.

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A jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) was killed in action during an encounter with a group of insurgents in violence-hit Manipur on the intervening night of June 5-6. Two Assam Rifles personnel were also injured in the firing that occurred in Manipur's Serou, army officials said. Army, Assam Rifles, CAPF & police personnel during their 'Extensive Area Domination Operations' to restore peace in violence-hit areas of Manipur. (PTI File Photo)

"One BSF Jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds (GSW) in general area Serou," the Spear Corps of the Indian Army said in a statement.

The injured army jawans were airlifted to Mantripukhri in Imphal, the officials said.

BSF constable Ranjit Yadav was posted at the Serou Practical High School in the Sugnu area of Manipur's Kakching district. Yadav is the second BSF official who has died while on duty in the state to quell the violence that started last month.

The incident occurred when the Assam Rifles, BSF and the Manipur police were conducting joint area domination operations in the Sugnu-Serou area following the recent ethnic clashes in the northeastern state.

" At around 4.05 am suspected Kuki militants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy volume of firing at the BSF personnel stationed in the Serou Practical school. Constable Yadav, who was posted with the 163 battalion sustained a bullet injury and was rushed to the Jitan hospital in Kakching where he was declared brought dead," said a BSF spokesperson.

According to army officials, the security forces and the insurgents exchanged firing throughout the night.

"Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces and group of insurgents took place throughout night of June 5-6, Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," the Spear Corps added.

The search operation is underway.

The security forces intensified the operation in the area after at least 100 houses in Serou village of Manipurs Kakching district were set on fire by suspected militants on Sunday, amid heavy firing between militant groups and security forces was reported in other parts of the district, officials said. In Serou, a mob also vandalised the house of Congress MLA K Ranjit Singh, officials said, adding that the legislator and his family escaped unhurt.

The area domination operations have so far resulted in the recovery of 40 weapons (mostly automatic), mortars, ammunition and other warlike stores.

The ethnic violence that has engulfed various parts of the state has claimed 98 lives so far, and left 310 people injured. At least 4,000 cases of arson have been reported in the state where over 36,000 people have been displaced, officials have said.

(With inputs from Pravesh Lama)

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Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is among the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has said the grapplers have no setting with Union home minister Amit Shah and the protests will continue.



Punia told NDTV he and the fellow wrestlers were told by the government not to reveal to anyone about their meeting with Shah, but they themselves leaked it to the media.



Punia said the home minister told the wrestlers that the investigation was underway. The grappler reiterated that the protest has not died down and will continue. Bajrang Punia said the wrestlers will not back down from the agitation just on the basis of government's assurances.(PTI file)

On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers had met the home minister days after threatening to immerse their medals into Ganga in Haridwar. The meeting had lasted till midnight as the grapplers pressed for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP.



ALSO READ: Rumour: Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia on reports of pulling out of protest



During the interview to NDTV, Punia said that the athletes are not satisfied with the response of the government, which is not agreeing to their demands. He asked Shah why Singh was not arrested and was shielded and asserted that the wrestlers will not back down on assurances of action.



According to Punia, the home minister assured them that they (government) were discussing it and will definitely take action. Punia recalled how the wrestlers had gone back in January on government's assurances and were declared liars.

When asked about the speculations about the fate of the protests after the wrestlers including him rejoined their Railways jobs, Punia said they took a leave from their jobs and reported back for one day to sign in after being evicted from Jantar Mantar protest site. He even said that the wrestlers are ready to quit their government jobs if it turns out to be an obstacle in the agitation.

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Efforts of the Bharatiya Janata Party to end the stalemate with protesting wrestlers, now being helmed by home minister Amit Shah, has picked pace as the party is unwilling to risk losing support of the Jat community that wields clout in at least three northern states, said functionaries aware of the details. Since the wrestlers are from the Jat community, the BJP is concerned that its continued efforts to build ties with the caste group dominant in large parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Delhi will be undone. (PTI)

Read here: Bajrang Punia opens up days after wrestlers' meeting with Amit Shah

The BJP leadership is also wary about allowing a perception to prevail that the party lags in finding solutions to deadlock, they said, seeking anonymity.

Since the wrestlers are from the Jat community, the BJP is concerned that its continued efforts to build ties with the caste group dominant in large parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Delhi will be undone. The Jats can influence electoral outcomes in as many as 40 Lok Sabha seats in these states, party leaders said.

After the 2016 Jat agitation (for reservation in jobs) in Haryana, the BJP has been cautious about how the community perceives the party, said the functionary. Although in western Uttar Pradesh, where the community is powerful, the BJP fared well in the assembly polls, there is concern that the allegations may negate the goodwill that the government has gained based on governance, the functionary said.

The support the BJP drew from Jats in western Uttar Pradesh was largely based on issue of womens safety and claims by the Yogi Adityanath government about zero tolerance on crimes against women. That claim stands invalidated if the community feels that the party has overlooked the safety of their behen-beti (sisters and daughters) to save a bahubali (muscleman), said a second party leader.

Womens safety was counted as a major reason for the community drawing close to the BJP after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

Shah on Saturday night met the wrestlers, who are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP lawmaker from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, who they allege in his capacity of chief of the Wrestling Federation of India had sexually harassed female wrestlers.

With the home minister stepping in, the wrestlers concerns have to a large extent been addressed, and some of them have returned to their jobs, the first functionary said. Since law enforcement agencies are examining the complaints, the opposition that had politicised the issue has now lost another opportunity to target the BJP government, the first functionary added.

The BJP has accused the opposition, particularly the Congress party, of using the protest to wedge differences between caste groups. Congress leaders, particularly the Hooda family in Haryana, have used the wrestlers to turn the issue into a Jat versus BJP fight, the first functionary said. And since Singh is a Rajput leader, they tried to peddle the narrative that the BJP is backing one caste group over the other, the functionary added.

On Shahs meeting with the wrestlers, the second functionary said that after the farmers protest over the now repealed farm laws, when the party expected to face a backlash in Uttar Pradesh, it was Shah who initiated an outreach through doorstep canvassing.

Ahead of the (2022) UP elections, Shah went campaigning in Kairana. He also met khap (traditional community organisation) leaders and that had a positive impact as it helped assuage the Jat community that was up in arms against the farm laws and the governments handling of the situation, the second functionary said.

Read here: Crazy: Mahua Moitra reacts to wrestler Bajrang Punia's claim after meeting Amit Shah

The party is equally concerned that there seems to be a perception that its troubleshooting abilities are being questioned.

After the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the farm laws went on for a year, it is being felt that the party allows problems to fester. The time that party took to address concerns gives the impression that it eventually gave in after failing to convey its intent or under duress, the first functionary said. This is not a good look for a party that takes pride in being decisive and taking tough decisions, the functionary went on to add.

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A Border Security Force (BSF) constable was killed while two Assam Rifles personnel were wounded in an exchange of fire with suspected Kuki militants in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on Tuesday, officials aware of the matter said. An area domination operation in Manipur. (PTI/File)

Read here: 1 BSF jawan killed, 2 Assam Rifles soldiers injured in firing by militants

Constable Ranjit Yadav, who was posted at a school at Sugnu in the Kakching district, is the second BSF trooper to have been killed while on duty in the state to quell the violence that was triggered last month.

Multiple incidents of violence have been reported from Kakching since Sunday. Mobs burnt over 100 shops and houses there while suspected militants also fired at another BSF team.

Around 4.05am [Tuesday], suspected Kuki militants resorted to an indiscriminate and heavy volume of firing at the BSF personnel stationed in the Serou Practical school. Constable Yadav, who was posted with the 163 Battalion, sustained a bullet injury and was rushed to the Jitan Hospital in Kakching where he was declared brought dead, said a BSF spokesperson.

In a tweet, the army said two Assam Rifles personnel were also wounded. ...Injured Assam Rifles personnel [have been] air evacuated to Mantripukhri [Imphal]. Search operations in progress.

It added that Assam Rifles, BSF, and the Manipur Police have undertaken extensive area domination operations in Sugnu. Intermittent firing between security forces and a group of insurgents took place throughout June 5 [Monday] night and early hours of June 6 [Tuesday]. Security forces effectively retaliated to the fire.

The Union government on Sunday formed a three-member judicial inquiry panel to probe the ethnic violence in Manipur on the recommendation of the state government.

Clashes between the Meitei community, which constitutes the majority of the states population and lives largely in Imphal, and the Kukis, who comprise 16% of Manipur and are concentrated in the hill districts, have roiled the region since May 3 and left at least 98 people dead and nearly 40,000 displaced.

Read here: Along with efforts to restore peace in Manipur, army fights disinformation

They were triggered during a protest against a proposal to grant scheduled tribe status to the Meitei community. The authorities clamped a curfew and suspended the internet. Additional security forces were rushed to the state amid spiraling clashes but tensions simmered.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Utpal Parashar Utpal is a Senior Assistant Editor based in Guwahati. He covers seven states of North-East India and heads the editorial team for the region. He was previously based in Kathmandu, Dehradun and Delhi with Hindustan Times. ...view detail

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prawesh Lama Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing, and issues of security in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also looks at special features on social welfare in the National Capital. ...view detail
Jharkhand governor CP Radhakrishnan spoke to Vishal Kant about a series of issues, including his decision to return the reservation bill to the state government, his next move on the election commissions opinion on mining lease case of chief minister Hemant Soren, and accusations by non-BJP-ruled states against the governors across the country. Edited Excerpts: PREMIUM Jharkhand governor CP Radhakrishnan was appointed on February 18. (ANI)

Read here: IEDs found in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum defused in control explosion | WATCH

Its been more than three months since you took over. What has been your first-hand experience about Jharkhand?Jharkhand is a very resourceful state but there is a huge mismatch in terms of development. Its placed at the second last spot on the list of states in the country in terms of economic development. This needs to be taken up on priority basis as the state has all the potential to become a developed state.

What do you think should be the focus areas for the state?From what I have gathered till now, the state is doing fine in implementing the health-related welfare schemes of both the Centre and the state government. The state has also implemented the Ujjawala scheme well. Other schemes like old-age pension and Kisan Nidhi scheme have also been implemented. The housing scheme for the poor is lagging with only around 30% coverage. This needs to be taken up on priority basis, especially for people belonging to the SC and the ST community with special focus on the PVTG (particularly vulnerable tribal groups) category.

But what role can Raj Bhavan play in governance?Im giving the required feedback to the state government wherever required. As far as Raj Bhavan is concerned, we are committed to provide a corruption-free education system in the state universities. We have issued a new calendar for the universities to maintain uniformity. We would ensure that the academic curriculum, starting from admission to holding classes to conducting examination and organising convocation happen as per the calendar. I have also suggested that the state government institute a separate service commission for recruitment in the universities. I have already sent a second reminder for the same.

The new calendar is being opposed by the faculty members of the state universities and colleges. Whats wrong with the calendar if we want to ensure we have classes for at least 180 days? But if some people have any issue, they can discuss it and convince me about their grievance.

We have seen friction between Raj Bhavans and state governments, especially those not ruled by the BJP. The non-BJP parties often accuse Raj Bhavan of interfering in the functioning of the state on instructions from the BJP government at the Centre. What is your take?In past three months, there has not been a single instance when I received any specific instruction from the Centre. As far as the working equation between Raj Bhavan and the state is concerned, I would only say that no one should cross the Lakshman Rekha.

What should be the Lakshman Rekha?The powers (of governor and state governments) are clearly defined. No one should encroach into the others territory. There was a recent Supreme Court judgment that said that the state governments ought not to be at the mercy of the governor. I accept it but I would like to add that the Constitution of this country also cannot be at the mercy of the state governments. If there would be any overreach, the governor would have to step in.

Read here: Soren backs Kejriwal on ordinance row: Centre speaks of federalism, but

When you took over, your office sent back the reservation bill to the state government. The ruling alliance alleges that you are interfering in policy matters.Its a false allegation. We need to see whether any law being made stands the scrutiny of the Constitution or not. The reservation bill proposes to increase total reservation in the state to 77% when there is a cap of 50%. The opinion of the attorney general of India was taken over the issue. So, I have sent the file with the observation of the attorney general and suggested the state take a second opinion from the attorney general if they think so and amend the bill accordingly. I am yet to hear from the state government over the issue.

There is another issue of the mining lease involving chief minister Hemant Soren. The BJP had sought his disqualification alleging that it amounted to holding an office-of-profit. It has been over nine months since the election commission sent its opinion over the issue, but Raj Bhavan has not taken a decision on it.My priority is to ensure development of the state. However, as far as the EC opinion is concerned, I am yet to look into it. I would take a decision on it at an appropriate time.

Your predecessor said he was seeking legal opinion over it, hence the delay. Legal and political experts say decisions on such issues should be taken in a reasonable time period.I dont think there has been any unusual delay. I havent seen what legal opinion was sought over it. As I said, I am yet to look into this issue. I would take a decision at an appropriate time.

The BJP has started raising the issue of the alleged illegal migration from Bangladesh to Jharkhand. What is your take on the issue?Yes, this issue has been brought before me. Its a very disturbing trend especially in the Santhal Parganas as it poses a direct threat to the identity of the tribal community. Illegal migrants are marrying tribal girls to grab their land. If this continues, the social character of the area would change and even the special tenancy laws made to protect tribal land would become redundant.

Read here: Heatwave condition in parts of Jharkhand from Jun 5 to 8: Weather office

How do you rate the law-and-order situation in the state?The law and order situation is very painful in a few districts. As per the statistics, the red terror has surely come down. However, there is a need to review the surrender policy (for the Maoists) in the state. I have received feedback that the policy in a few other states is better. For example, other states have better provisions of open jail. However, such things need to be reviewed before they are implemented here.
Dehradun: A red cross is marked on an unsafe building by the authorities after cracks appeared at the landslide affected area of Joshimath, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. (PTI)

The construction of the Helang-Marwari bypass road restarted in Uttarakhands Joshimath on Monday, weeks after the state government gave permission to the Chamoli district administration to do so, officials said.

The construction work of the Helang-Marwari restarted on Monday after we got approval from the state government, said colonel Ankur Mahajan, commander of the Border Roads Organisation.

Work on the 5km road was stopped after cracks developed in numerous buildings in Joshimath, the gateway town to the Badrinath shrine visited by millions of pilgrims every season between May and September. Hundreds of residents had to be evacuated, many of whom are still living in relief camps.

The BRO suffered a loss of around 10 crore due to the suspension of work, an official had earlier said, seeking anonymity. Conditional permission had been given for the construction of Helang-Marwari bypass based on the reports of experts from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, the public works department and the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, disaster management secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha had said.

An association agitating for the rights of local residents expressed concerns over the restarting of the work.

It is unfortunate that the construction work of Helang Marwari, which is right at the base of Joshimath town, has restarted, said Atul Sati, convener of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti. The blasting activity during its construction will aggravate the situation in Joshimath, resulting in the widening of cracks.

We demand the state government to make public the fact-finding report by eight government agencies on the damages in the town, Sati said.

Joshimath residents have objected to the construction as it will affect their livelihood if the pilgrimage is conducted via the Helang-Marwari bypass.

If the authorities will or have restated the construction work of bypass, we will stage a stir. It will trigger the migration from Joshimath since the project aims to bypass our town, whose economy is completely dependent on the Char Dham yatra, said Nain Singh Bhandari, president of Joshimath Vyapar Mandal, a traders body.

On the one side, the government has introduced policies to arrest migration from hills. On the other, they introduce such projects that can lead to migration, Bhandari said.

The Helang-Marwari bypass, being constructed around 13 km from Joshimath at its foothill, aims to shorten the distance to Badrinath by 30 km. It is part of the central governments 12,000 crore project to build roads to Char Dham, four Hindu shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas.

On December 14, 2021, the Supreme Court permitted the Union government to construct all-weather roads with a width of 10m as part of its Char Dham project, underlining that the recent past has thrown up serious challenges to national security, and that wide strategic feeder roads to the India-China border were required for easy access of the armed forces.

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Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda has said there has been a sea change in the governance model since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power at the Centre in 2014 and the country has moved from vote bank politics to report card politics. BJP national president JP Nadda.(PTI file)

He also lashed out at the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for questioning the country's achievements and milestones and said the party and its leader Rahul Gandhi are running a nafrat ka mega shopping mall (a mall for hatred).

The PM (Narendra Modi) has given a new disha (direction) and the dasha (state of affairs) of the country has also changed, Nadda said speaking at the launch of a book Amritkaal Ki Aur edited by Shiwanand Dwivedi and KK Upadhyay on Monday.

"It is one thing to rule, but to do so with dedication and with clarity about the basics of governance is another...PM se pradhan sevak is not just a statement, but exemplifies the ideology and deep philosophy," he said, adding that the government had not only illustrated how to rule but how to change lives and destiny.

Taking potshots at the opponents of the BJP, the party president said there is a vast, visible difference in how the country was governed from 2004-2014 and how it has emerged as the fifth largest economy, led by a government that exemplifies strong leadership and tough decision making.

"(Before 2014 ) it was taken for granted that nothing will change and there will be corruption... we were counted among corrupt nations. Every day, there was a scam... and there was no idea who the leader was. There was no clarity on leader, leadership and neeti and neeyat (policy and intent)," he said.

The political culture in the country, he said, has changed with people having moved from dynastic politics to meritocracy.

"We paid attention to vikas aur virasat (development and heritage)...There was north-south division, a language divide, but PM Modi has addressed that as well from Thiruvalluvar to Basava he has made mention of these icons ... the Sengol, installed in Parliament is an example of unity," he said.

Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who during his recent visit to the USA criticised the union government for a host of reasons, including fostering communal polarisation, the BJP president said it appears that the Gandhi scion has problems accepting the milestones that India achieves.

"Congress ke anpadh bhai (uneducated brothers) should look around; the growth rate of the country on whose soil you were giving lectures is 1.4 %. And in India it is 6.1%," he said.

Citing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said the time is not far when India will be the third largest economy, Nadda said while the world considers India as a bright spot, Gandhi seems to have a problem. "You claim you run a mohabbat ki dukkan but you run a nafrat ka mega shopping mall ... people can see through this that while opposing Modi, you end up opposing India," Nadda said.
Its name may have joy in it, but it actually means calamity in Bengali, which is apt because Cyclone Biprajoy, which developed in the Arabian Sea, may adversely affect the monsoon, which is already delayed this year. The formation process of cyclone Biparjoy began in the Arabian Sea and will have no impact over Maharashtra. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

Read here: Cyclone Biparjoy: How did it get this name, where is it headed to? All details

Biparjoy is not good for our monsoon because it is pulling all the moisture along with it away from the Indian coast. Its formation is not near the India coast and hence monsoons progress will remain very poor until around June 12. It may strengthen the cross-equatorial flow after the cyclone dissipates, but thats a long way away. We are closely monitoring onset conditions over Kerala but cloud cover has reduced owing to the rapidly intensifying deep depression over Arabian Sea. Its intensity will most definitely reach very severe cyclone phase. We are still hoping onset happens soon, said a senior IMD official who did not wish to be named.

In a statement, IMD admitted that the system is likely to influence the monsoon progress , although it stated that an update would follow on Wednesday.

To be sure, the date of the monsoons onset is not correlated with its performance, although the emergence of an El Nino phenomenon (warm currents in the equatorial Pacific Ocean which is correlated with poor monsoons) is a matter of concern. IMD has predicted a normal monsoon with rainfall that is 96% of the long period average. This is at the lower end of the normal category. According to Indias agriculture ministry, almost half of Indias farmed area, accounting for around 40% of production, is rain-fed, making the monsoon critical. With 47% of the countrys population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood (according to this years Economic Survey), a bountiful monsoon has a direct correlation with a healthy rural economy.

On May 16, IMD predicted that the monsoon was likely to make onset over Kerala on June 4 with a model error of +/-4 days. The monsoon normally sets in over Kerala around June 1. IMD has three criteria for declaring the monsoon after May 10: 60% of the 13 stations in Kerala, situated in Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore in Karnataka report rainfall of 2.5mm or more for two consecutive days; a certain depth of westerlies; and low satellite derived Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR). OLR represents the total radiation going to space emitted by the atmosphere or extent of cloudiness. These three have not been met yet, and IMD has not stated when they are likely to be met.

Read here: Cyclone Biparjoy will have no impact over Maharashtra: IMD

To be sure, IMD broke with its own protocol and declared an early arrival of the monsoon last year when the first criterion was not met, drawing criticism from experts.

IMD forecasts indicate a very severe cyclone in the Arabian Sea, driving the moisture away, instead of the expected monsoon onset. An exceptionally warm Arabian Sea, a weak monsoon onset, and favourable Madden Julien Oscillation conditions are favouring this cyclone, tweeted Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist with Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Sea surface temperatures (SST) SSTs are 31-32C, 2-4C above climatological mean. This is clearly the climate change link, as Arabian Sea warming is favoring more intense cyclones A strong monsoon means southwesterly winds in the lower atmosphere and northeasterly in the upper. This vertical wind shear is now weaker than usual in the Arabian Sea, which means a weak monsoon. This helps the cyclone to develop vertically, Koll added in another tweet.

The long-term Indian Ocean warming and the developing El Nino  both has the potential to weaken the monsoon. Are we having frequent delayed onsets? We dont know yet, he said in a third.

If the cyclone heads towards Oman/Yemen as shown currently by global models, the monsoon progress may get hampered and monsoon will stall for few days. If it goes north initially, as currently shown by IMD and Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, then initially it will help monsoon onset. After that when it heads northwest (as shown by global models) then monsoon progress likely to be impacted, explained Vineet Kumar Singh, researcher, Typhoon Research Center, Jeju National University, South Korea.

Apart from rainfall, another criterion for declaring the onset of the monsoon has also been hit.

The problem is that the cloud cover over Kerala has reduced due to the development of this depression over Arabian Sea. It is one of the criteria that should be met. We are hoping that the onset criteria are met during the next two days. When the developing cyclone moves away from the Indian coast it can pull the monsoon current along with it leading to very weak progression of monsoon over the Indian mainland. That can impact sowing of crops. We are carefully watching the system now, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather, a private weather forecaster.

Skymet has forecast below normal rainfall during the monsoon season between June and September, attributing the deficiency to a strengthening El Nino phenomenon.

Models are not providing consensus on the landfall location of Biparjoy, officials said. This is an intense cyclone and the Arabian Sea is very warm. It will intensify over the ocean but we havent provided any landfall location because there is no consensus. Sometimes these cyclones also recurve, added the IMD official cited in the first instance.

But there is also a minority expert view that the cyclone could help the monsoon. Some monsoon vortices develop in to a cyclone. Its rare but does happen. In 1979 there was a monsoon vortex that intensified into a cyclone and moved over Gujarat. So, it can happen. This cyclone also developed from a monsoon vortex, a kind of low-pressure system forming on the northern edge of the monsoon flow. Rarely they can intensify like in the case of this cyclone. My reading based on the models is the cyclone will help our monsoon during the onset phase bringing good rains to the west coast. What happens thereafter will have to be monitored depending on the track of the cyclone, said M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences. Onset vortices occur over the Arabian Sea where the sea surface temperature spikes just before the onset of monsoon.

Read here: Number theory: How have El Nino and delayed onset affected monsoon in the past

The deep depression over southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea moved nearly northwards with a speed of 4 kmph during last six hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm Biparjoy on Tuesday evening over east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea about 920km west-southwest of Goa, 1,050km southwest of Mumbai, 1,130km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1,430km south of Karachi.

It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify gradually into a severe cyclonic storm over east-central Arabian Sea during next 24 hours.
Meet Rehana Fathima, the activist who won 'nudity case in Kerala high court Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist, on Monday got relief in a POCSO case as the high court acquitted her emphasising that the right of autonomy over one's body is often denied to the fairer sex and they are bullied, discriminated against, isolated and persecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives. Read Here. Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist. (File)

Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka dam breach: What happened and why is it significant?

A huge portion of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine was destroyed on Tuesday, triggering massive floods, threatening drinking water supplies, and endangering Europes largest nuclear power plant. While Ukraine and Russia and accusing each other of blowing up the dam, some officials around the area are also saying that it burst on its own, reported Reuters. Read Here.

Suvendu Adhikari claims kin of Odisha rail mishap victims being compelled to visit Kolkata

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday took a jibe at chief minister Mamata Banerjee for asking families of those who died in Balasore train accident to come to Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata to collect promised cheques. Read Here.

Dinesh Karthik brings bad news for Ashwin and Jadeja before WTC final; Rohit, Gill might feel uneasy too at The Oval

Dinesh Karthik has landed in London and his tweets have already created a lot of buzz ahead of India vs Australia WTC final. Karthik, who is set to be a part of the broadcasting team in England, shared the first proper image of the pitch for the WTC final. While it was a welcome sight for the all fans waiting to see the 22-yards, it may not be great news for India's ace spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and to a certain extent even the openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Read Here.

Kiara Advani and Kareena Kapoor's off-duty outfits are your 101 guide to looking relaxed and stylish this summer: Watch

Actors Kiara Advani and Kareena Kapoor Khan are fashionistas in their own rights. The two divas are known for serving magical looks on the red carpet. However, their off-duty wardrobe is also full of steal-worthy pieces. For instance, the two stars stepped out in Mumbai for an outing dressed in the perfect summer fits that will help you look relaxed and stylish. Get your 101 guide to looking glam in the sweltering heat. Read Here.

Vicky Kaushal reveals Katrina Kaif holds weekly budget meetings with staff at home: I enjoy it

Vicky Kaushal reveals wife Katrina Kaif holds weekly meetings to discuss the budget of the house with her staff members. Vicky who finds it entertaining, said he enjoys watching it and is almost like an audience. He said Katrina takes account of how money is being spent and called it great. Read Here.

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The wedding procession of a Dalit groom was attacked with canes and stones allegedly by people belonging to another caste because he was riding a horse on Monday in Madhya Pradeshs Chattarpur district, police said on Tuesday. The police force reached the spot and the rest of the procession travelled ahead safely, police said, adding that three police personnel were injured in the incident. Three police personnel were injured in the incident, said officials (Representative photo)

A case has been registered against at least 50 people of Churai village in the district under 353 (using criminal force to deter public servant from discharging their duty), 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 ( criminal intimidation) and 294 (using obscene language) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 20 people have been detained. Police are trying to arrest the other accused, Chhatarpur superintendent of police Amit Sanghi said.

As per Bada Malhera sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP) Shashank Jain, Churai village has two dominant communities  Yadav and Ahirwars. They live in separate localities and have their own temples, he said, adding that the Yadav community does not allow the members of the Ahirwar community to visit their temple.

On Monday evening, Ritesh Ahirwar was riding a horse during his wedding procession in the village. Riteshs family decided to visit the temple in the locality of the Yadav community. The Yadav community tried to stop the procession and objected to the groom riding a horse. Later, they attacked them with canes and pelted stones. After which Riteshs family informed the police, who reached the spot immediately, said Jain.

Cops controlled the situation and the rest of the procession proceeded under police protection. The groom and his wedding party left for Shahgarh for the wedding and returned on Tuesday, he added.

Further probe is underway, Jain said.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) considers June 1 as the normal date of the onset of monsoon in India. This is the date on which monsoon rains have arrived on the Indian mainland (on the coast of Kerala) on average in the past. This year, monsoon rains have not started on the Kerala coast even on June 6. Can a delayed onset create a deficit in monsoon? This question is especially important this year because forecasts expect monsoon months to be affected by El Nino, a warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that decreases monsoon rains. It could, though a HT analysis suggests that the relation between monsoon onset, El Nino, and monsoon performance, is not straightforward. Here are three charts that explain this. PREMIUM This year, monsoon rains have not started on the Kerala coast even on June 6.(HT Photo/Sanchit Khanna)
An Air India flight, operating from New Delhi to San Francisco, made an emergency landing at Magadan airport in Russia on Tuesday after developing a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight AI173 was carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew. Representative Photo(HT_PRINT)

"Air India flight AI173 of June 6, operating Delhi-San Francisco has developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew, was diverted and landed safely in Magadan airport in Russia," Air India said in the statement.

The aircraft is undergoing the mandatory checks, the airline said, adding the passengers are being provided all support on the ground. The passengers will be provided an alternate option to reach their destination at the earliest, Air India added.

The diversion of the Boeing 777 widebody aircraft comes a day after the chief of the worlds largest carrier raised safety concerns about airlines flying through Russian airspace with American citizens onboard.

Whats going to happen if an airline lands in Russia with some prominent US citizens on board? That is a potential crisis in the making, Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines said on Monday.

I think we should solve it before the crisis happens.

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Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw - under fire after a horrific three-train collision in Odisha last week killed nearly 300 people - found unexpected support Tuesday from ex-prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) boss HD Deve Gowda, who chided opposition parties for demanding he resign. The triple-train accident in Odishas Balaosre killed 275 people and injured nearly 1,100 persons on Friday. (AFP)

Deve Gowda said he believed Vaishnaw is doing his best and that calls for his resignation are 'not wise'. The opposition - which has also criticised the decision to hand over inquiries to the Central Bureau of Investigation - has also accused the central government of ignoring safety red flags.

"(The) railway minister has taken necessary steps to restore damage that happened. He is working tirelessly (for the last) last 55 hours I am watching. The inquiry by CBI is different I am not going to comment on that Congress leaders have taken some stand. My point is that politically motivated attacks shouldn't be made. Let the inquiry be completed. The minister is doing his best and demanding his resignation at this stage is not wise." Deve Gowda was quoted by news agency ANI.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the accident the 'biggest of the century' and has asked for an investigation into the absence of an anti-collision system on the trains.

Opposition parties criticise railway minister, government

Apart from demanding Vaishnaw resign, the Congress has also called on prime minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge responsibility for 'perpetuating an illusion of normalcy despite the deteriorating condition of Indian Railways infrastructure, which has been ignored and neglected'.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said he had resigned after an accident in Bengal's Gaisal.

"A train accident took place in West Bengal when I was railway minister. I immediately asked then-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to accept my resignation. I will not comment if Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should resign or not, the Janata Dal (United) chief said.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said Vaishnaw had to resign on moral grounds and cited the example of another ex-railway minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, resigning after an accident.

The Odisha train crash

At least 278 people were killed and over 1,000 injured after a crash involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

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Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday hit out at former railway minister Dinesh Trivedi for alleging meticulous conspiracy behind the Odisha train accident that killed 275 people and injured hundreds, saying he is desperately trying to impress the BJP leadership so he can keep his Lutyens Delhi bungalow. Passenger and freight trains were running again on June 5 at the site of India's deadliest train disaster in decades, which officials said was caused by failures linked to signal systems.(AFP)

Top Bengal BJP leader Dinesh Trivedi, who was the railway minister for a brief period in 2011-12 after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee quit the position to become the West Bengal chief minister, alleged serious manipulation in the interlocking system that forced the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express off the main track to the loop line.

Now with more findings coming up, I am more than 100% sure that this crash was caused by sabotage and not a mere accident, Trivedi told News18.

Trivedi argued that another system called 'fail-safe' gets activated if the interlocking system goes haywire and all signals on the specific track turn red.

To me, it seems like extensive planning and calculation leading to such incidents happening one after another in a matter of a few seconds, he said.

Without taking any name, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, tweeted: A former Railway minister, who held office for 7 months and later defected to BJP, is coming up with cock-n-bull theories about the horrific Odisha accident.

He is desperately trying to impress the BJP leadership so he can keep his Lutyens Delhi bungalow, which he hasnt vacated even after ceasing to be a MP 18 months ago. Pathetic!

Meanwhile, the Railway Board has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the train accident, Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday evening and suggested that authorities were looking into a possible sabotage attempt.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising objections to the CBI probe request.

The people in charge  your goodself and Railway Minister Vaishnaw  do not want to admit that there are problems, the Congress chief said in the letter addressed to the PM.

The Railway Minister claims to have already found a root cause, but yet has requested the CBI to investigate. The CBI is meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents. The CBI, or any other law enforcement agency, cannot fix accountability for technical, institutional and political failures, Kharge argued.

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A 38-year-old man on Monday committed suicide allegedly over the delay by the police in probing the gangrape of his15-year-old daughter at a village in Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun district under Ait police station limits, police said on Tuesday. A station house officer and sub-inspector were suspended in connection with the incident, police said. The girl was gang-raped by two people on the pretext of taking her to a birthday party (Representative photo)

Soon after the alleged suicide, the deceaseds family and neighbours held a protest alleging that the police did not take timely action on the mans complaint.

Providing details, Uttar Pradesh police special director general (special DG) (law and order) Prashant Kumar said Jalaun superintendent of police Iraj Raja had been directed to take stringent action against the cops responsible for the delay in registering the FIR.

He said station in-charge Nagendra Pratap Gautam and sub-inspector Ashok Kumar have been suspended. We are monitoring the case and a report has been sought from the SP in the matter. Police have been directed to register a separate case in connection with the suicide, Kumar added. No suicide note has been found, said police.

According to police, on March 28 the girl was gang-raped by two accused by Golu and Devendra Kumar in connivance with the latters wife Laxmi on the pretext of taking her to a birthday party. She managed to escape and on March 30 narrated the ordeal to her parents, who worked as street vendors in Punjab, over the phone. The girl was staying in UP with her grandmother. Upon returning to Jalaun on May 30, they approached the police on May 31 to register an FIR into the matter. When the man and his daughter visited the Ait police station, the officials there allegedly threatened to frame him in the case instead, police said.

An FIR into the assault was finally lodged only on June 4 a day after the survivors father lodged a complaint against the local cops on the Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Jansunwai online portal.

Jalaun superintendent of police Iraj Raja said: An FIR under Sections 376-D (gang rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) and under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered against Golu, 22, and Devendra, 32, and his wife Laxmi, 29, on Sunday.

Key accused, Golu, is already lodged in the Jalaun district jail while the couple was arrested on Monday, he said, adding that the police would be seeking Golus custody in the gang rape case.

Meanwhile, after the alleged suicide, the survivors family alleged that police did not take timely action on the complaint following which the girls father hanged himself from a tree on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. They said he was not aware that his complaint had been registered on Sunday night itself. The survivors mother alleged that the officials did not take action on their complaint and instead forced them to take back the case. She said that they then approached the SP who asked them to go back to the Ait police station.

The SP has directed Konch circle officer Shailendra Kumar Bajpai to probe both the cases.
Germany on Tuesday pitched for building six advanced submarines in India under the governments strategic partnership (SP) model, to boost the Indian Navys undersea strength, during talks, between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, aimed at bolstering bilateral defence cooperation with a sharp focus on stronger industrial partnerships, people aware of the matter said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh with German federal minister of defence Boris Pistorius in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Read here: Germany, India near $5.2bn deal to build six submarines. Why is this a big deal?

The project, called P-75 India, is one of the biggest Make in India programmes.

The Germans are enthusiastic about their participation in the P-75I competition to build submarines in the country. The Indian side welcomed their participation, said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named.

Both leaders reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation and explored ways to strengthen collaboration, particularly in defence industrial partnerships, the Indian defence ministry said in a statement. Pistoriuss India visit is the first by a German defence minister in eight years. To be sure, the official statement made no mention of P-75I.

India cleared the estimated 43,000 crore project two years ago to strengthen the navys capabilities and provide momentum to the defence indigenisation drive, one of the governments key priorities.

The SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian strategic partner who will collaborate with a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to set up production facilities in the country.

We are talking about a deal of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for six submarines, but the procedure is not finished yet. I think the German industry is at a good place in that (P-75I) race, Pistorius told German reporters accompanying him. He arrived in India on Monday on a four-day visit.

In January 2020, the defence ministry cleared two Indian and five foreign shipbuilders, including German conglomerate TKMS, to take part in P-75I.

The Indian strategic partners cleared to collaborate with the foreign OEMs are Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and L&T. The foreign yards cleared for partnerships included the French Naval Group, Russias Rubin Design Bureau, Spains Navantia and South Koreas Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company.

P-75I, first talked about more than two decades ago, has moved at a notoriously slow pace. It was a part of the 30-year submarine-building programme approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999.

Read here: India, US announce paradigm changing defence road map

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is likely to be concluded by TKMS and state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders during Pistoriuss visit to Mumbai on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter said.

Such an agreement would be a step towards the two firms bidding for the multibillion-dollar submarine deal.

Pistorius told German state broadcaster ARD on Tuesday that his role is limited to assisting in negotiations between German defence firms and Indian counterparts. This would be a big and important contract not only for German industry but also for India and the Indian-German strategic partnership, Pistorius said, speaking in German.

The German side believes TKMS is one of the main contenders for the submarine deal following the withdrawal of Frances Naval Group and Russias Rubin Design Bureau a year ago. South Koreas Daewoo is also in the fray, but the submarine pitched by it is reportedly based on a German design.

Submarines built under P-75I will be equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP) systems that will enable the vessels to stay underwater for longer periods and enhance their combat capabilities. A minimum 45% indigenisation has to be ensured by the strategic partner in P-75I in the first submarine, with the indigenous content going up to 60% in the sixth, the officials said.

The project will take time to mature. If all goes well after a contract is awarded to one of the contenders, the first submarine will be delivered to the navy only after a decade, the officials said.

With P-75I being cleared in 2021, the country took a step forward towards achieving the goals of its 30-year submarine construction programme. The navy plans to operate a fleet of 18 new conventional submarines and six nuclear-powered boats. The government approved the plan to build six nuclear-powered submarines in 2015, tweaking the 1999 submarine-building programme. Also, it plans to operate a fleet of four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

India and Germany have a strategic partnership since 2000, which has been strengthened through inter-governmental consultations at the level of heads of government since 2011.

Read here: Indias dependence on Russian arms not in Germanys interest: German minister

In his talks with Pistorius, Singh highlighted new opportunities in the defence production sector, including the possibility of German investments in the countrys two defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience, the ministry statement said.

Singh stressed India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India, and high technologies and investment from Germany, it added.

Ahead of his arrival in New Delhi, Pistorius said Indias continuing dependence on Russian weapons is not in Germanys interest. He told state-owned broadcaster DW that Germany is open to the sale of submarines to India.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the invitation of the United States (US) Congressional leadership to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his state visit to Washington on June 22. Besides the address to the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the state visit, is expected to meet President Joe Biden for a private dinner on June 21 (ANI)

Read here: US Congress invitation puts Modi in elite club

Modi took to Twitter to respond to House Speaker Kevin McCarthys tweet outlining the invitation last week. The PM thanked McCarthy, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell who had jointly invited him.

Modi tweeted, I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress. We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity.

This will be the second time Modi will be addressing the US Congress. As HT reported last week, this puts him in a select group of world leaders who have had the same honour. Only Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu have got an opportunity to speak to the US legislative branch on Capitol Hill in Washington DC more than once.

Besides the address to the Congress, Modi, during the state visit, is expected to meet President Joe Biden for a private dinner on June 21; he will receive a ceremonial welcome in White House and participate in both one on one talks with Biden and bilateral delegation level talks on June 22 and attend a state dinner in his honour the same evening after addressing the Congress. On June 23, Modi is expected to participate in events around the tech partnership, address business executives and professionals at Kennedy Centre, and speak at a diaspora event before heading back to India the same night.

As HT reported last week, Modis visit will begin in New York on June 21, where he will lead the global community on the north lawns of the UN headquarters in marking the International Day of Yoga, with over 2000 participants expected to join.

Read here: Bipartisan consensus in invite to PM Modi to address US Congress

The deliverables during the bilateral leg of the visit revolve around boosting the India-US defence partnership with a focus on co-production and co-development, technology transfer and defence innovation as well as ramping up cooperation in domains such as space, artificial intelligence, high-powered computing, knowledge partnership, and easing mobility links.

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Officers of the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) on Tuesday conducted a raid at the residence of IAS officer S Malarvizhi in Chennai. The senior IAS officer is accused of swindling public funds by printing tax receipt books through private printers at exorbitant prices and high quantity which could last another 15 years. Malarvizhi is currently vice-chairperson of Science City in Chennai. The residence of Tamil Nadu IAS officer was raided in connection with a money laundering case. (DVAC website)

The charge pertains to the period when she was the district collector of Dharmapuri from February 2018 to October 2020 during the previous AIADMK regime in Tamil Nadu.

An FIR was filed against the IAS officer on June 5 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on the charge of printing receipts total of 125,500 receipt books (of house tax, professional tax, water tax and miscellaneous tax) worth 1.8 crore which were supplied to 251 Panchayats. The DVAC has accused her of misappropriating 1.3 crore in the matter.

This is the first time in the last 15 years in Tamil Nadu an IAS officer has been named in a corruption case, says Jayaram Venkatesan, founder of anti-corruption movement, Arappor Iyakkam in Chennai. The key here is the nexus between politicians and IAS officers which allows such irregularities and corruption at multiple levels so this FIR is a welcome move to begin to start cracking down on that.

While the IAS officer has been named as accused number 1 (A1), two individuals (Thageer Hussain, Proprietor of Crescent Traders and Veeraiah Palanivelu, Proprietor, Naga Traders) who ran printing operations privately are named as the other two accused (A2, A3).

There is no documentary proof to the IAS officers claim during a review meeting in Dharmapuri November 2019 that she had received an instruction from the director of rural development and panchayat raj to purchase these tax books from private institutions, the DVAC has found.

The public servant entered into a criminal conspiracy with A-2 and A-3 with the dishonest intention to commit fraud on the funds of the government by voluntarily procuring the 125,500 numbers of tax receipts to the tune of 18,197,500, the DVACs FIR states. It is further gathered that all the village Panchayats were supplied with the receipt books purchased from A-2 and A-3, the agency says, adding that the violations came to light during the collection of sources.

In February 2020, A2 supplied 61,000 tax receipt books while A3 supplied the remaining 64,500 books to various panchayats unions in Dharmapuri district. But no work orders were issued to them by A-1, the FIR says. A-1 had sanctioned 18,197,500 and paid the net amount of 17,469,600 to A-2 and A-3 after deducting 727,900 towards GST and IT.

When compared to the rates of Dharmapuri district printers service industrial co-op society ltd, the rates paid to the duo are absolutely exorbitant, the agency said. And they were paid (by four cheques in two instalments) from the funds allocated to panchayat unions for three months from January to March in 2020 under the state finance commission.

A-1 being a public servant had performed her official functions improperly or dishonestly in anticipation of or in consequences of accepting undue advantages from A-2 and A-3 and also, she being entrusted with the funds of the government, dishonestly/fraudulently misappropriated a sum of 13,177,500 and converted for her own use with their active connivance, the DVAC said.

The cost of printing one book in government societies is 40 while the IAS paid 135 per book to the printers, says Venkatesh. Thats more than three times the cost leaving the exchequer at a loss of 1.3 crore to A2 and A3. How this money has come back to the IAS officer and how much has come back will be known only after they investigate more, the activist said.

There is a government order in place since 1991 to make purchases from the Dharmapuri district printers service society which has been operating with the share capital of the Tamil Nadu government. DVAC states that all the books and receipts are being purchased from here to be distributed to all panchayat unions and government offices with good quality and at low costs across Tamil Nadu.

no rule permits A-1 to enter into these types of transactions from private firms, the DVAC said. It would arise only in case of any inconvenience happening in procuring the books from the government co-op printing press.. This too is subject to announcing an open tender under Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders, Act 1998. A-1 has thrown away all the procedures,DVAC said. She had arbitrarily issued such proceedings at her own with the dishonest intention to commit fraud on the government funds with the close connivance of A-2 and A-3 under the pretext of such vague and baseless reasons.

The agency also found that the quantity of the books purchased can be used for another 15 years but they would become low in quality due to natural decay. In one of the panchayats, only one or maximum two miscellaneous tax books are used in one year but she has supplied books which will last them more than 50 years at one go, Jayaram points out.

The IAS officers mobile phone was switched off when HT tried to contact her. The DVAC also conducted searches parallelly against P Krishnan, former block development officer of Pennagaram panchayat union in Dharmapuri in the case. The complicity of the larger conspiracy hatched by A-1 with A-2 and A-3 and the involvement of other officials in having fleeced the government money can be unearthed only through a deeper probe by scrutinising the relevant documents and examining the witnesses, the DVAC said.

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Exactly eight days before the Balasore accident involving three trains claimed 278 lives and became one of the worst tragedies in rail history, officials of the railway board briefed the parliamentary standing committee on railways on safety measures and assured it that their safety first and safety always attitude had resulted in a decline in accidents from 141 in 2010-11 to just 48 in 2022-23. A rescue and search operation being conducted at the accident site in Odishas Balasore district, on Saturday. (PTI)

Read here: Odisha train crash: Father's unwavering hope helps find son alive in morgue

The national transporter showcased an index based on the number of accidents per million train kilometres (AMTKs), which it said fell from 0.14 in 2010-11 to 0.03 in 2022-23. The optimism of the officials of Indian Railways apex management body has left many of the committee members upset after the accident.

The presentation was about how accidents are to be stopped in India, said Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane. The official did such a beautiful presentation. But if what they showed was correct, how could there be such an accident?

The meeting on May 25 was attended by 21 of the 31 members of the standing committee. It lasted 75 minutes and was addressed by the director general of safety and other officials who made a powerpoint presentation, which has been reviewed by HT.

In the presentation of six slides, the officials highlighted the work done with signalling and anti-collision systems and various measures undertaken to avoid derailment, all of which become relevant in light of Fridays train tragedy.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation and Railways own inquiry is yet to get to the exact cause of the accident, it is believed to have been caused by a malfunction of or interference with either a signal or an interconnection, or both, according to a preliminary report.

In the meeting, the officials told the parliamentarians that in order to avoid collision, Electronic interlocking along with multi aspect colour light signals has been provided at 6,396 stations out of 6, 506 stations on BG or broad gauge route, according to data till March. Among other measures, they also said the train collision avoidance system, or Kawach, was provided on 1,465 route km out of the total 65,141 route km.

Aam Aadmi Party member of Parliament Sandeep Pathak tweeted a video soon after the accident, describing how the MPs were misled at the meeting. I raised the issue in the last meeting that the government needs to focus much more on safety. It is more focussed on showing off. In 9 years, if they have only covered 2% of the tracks with Kawach, then to complete it they will take more than 400 years.

Read here: Odisha train accident survivor's nerve-chilling account: Severed head

The agenda for the meeting was safety, and there was no mention of staff shortage and allocation of funds, issues that were repeatedly flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and other parliamentary panels. The rail officials told the MPs that they had regular footplate inspections, night inspections and a constant review of safety performance at various levels. They also said that front line staff were constantly trained, including using simulators, to reduce human errors.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sunetra Choudhury Sunetra Choudhury is the National Political Editor of the Hindustan Times. With over two decades of experience in print and television, she has authored Black Warrant (Roli,2019), Behind Bars: Prison Tales of Indias Most Famous (Roli,2017) and Braking News (Hachette, 2010). Sunetra is the recipient of the Red Ink award in journalism in 2016 and Mary Morgan Hewett award in 2018. ...view detail
The Karnataka High Court on May 30 acquitted a 22-year-old man accused in a 2015 case of murdering a 21-year-old woman and engaging in sexual intercourse with her body. The court cited sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that do not explicitly address punishment for engaging in sexual intercourse with a deceased body, as the law only applies to acts involving a living person. However, the accused was charged with murder and received a life imprisonment sentence, along with a fine of 50,000, under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. On May 30, the Karnataka High Court acquitted a man accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a dead body.(Getty Images/Picture for representation)

Also Read | SC stays HCs order on examining horoscope of woman in rape case

This case brings attention to the concept of Necrophilia, for which Indian criminal laws do not currently provide specific provisions. The high court judges, in response to this case, recommended the introduction of laws addressing sexual intercourse with a dead body. The judges asked the central government to amend the provisions of Section 377 of the IPC to include the bodies of deceased individuals, regardless of gender or whether they are human or animal.

Also Read | Supreme Court stays Allahabad HC order to ascertain whether rape victim is 'manglik'

The division bench of justices B Veerappa and Venkatesh Naik T referred to examples from several countries, including the UK and Canada where Necrophilia and crime against dead bodies are punishable criminal offences

What did the judgement say?

"Admittedly, the accused had sexual intercourse on the dead body. Whether it amounts to an offence under Section 375 or Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code? A careful reading of the provisions of Section 375 and 377 of the Indian Penal Code make it clear that the dead body cannot be called as human or person. Thereby, the provisions of sections 375 or 377 of the Indian Penal Code would not attract. Therefore, there is no offence committed punishable under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, said the judgement by high court on May 30 as quoted by news agency PTI.

Also Read | Nun rape case: Franco Mulakkal quits as Jalandhar diocese bishop

What is Necrophilia and its characteristics?

Necrophilia refers to the act of a person engaging in sexual intercourse with a corpse. This act is typically driven by a desire for sexual pleasure towards a deceased individual, and such people can be referred to as 'Necrophiliacs.'

The term 'Necrophilia' originates from the Greek words 'Necro' (meaning dead) and 'philia' (meaning love or attraction), ultimately signifying the 'act of love with the dead.'

A journal titled "Sexual attraction to corpses: a psychiatric review of necrophilia," quoted by the National Library of Medicine under the US federal government, states that the authors, who examined 122 cases involving necrophilic acts or fantasies, distinguished genuine necrophilia from pseudonecrophilia. They classified true necrophilia into three types: necrophilic homicide, "regular" necrophilia, and necrophilic fantasy.

The study further highlights that neither psychosis, mental retardation, nor sadism appears to be inherent in necrophilia. The most common motive for necrophilia is the desire for an 'unresisting' and unrejecting partner. Necrophiles often select occupations that provide them with access to corpses. However, some necrophiles who have occupational access to corpses still commit homicide.

Some sections of IPC which still cannot penalise Necrophilia

According to a report from Legal Services India, currently, cases of Necrophilia in India are being referred to under the provisions of Section 297 and Section 377. Let's understand what these sections, along with others that are similar say.

Section 297: It deals with trespassing on burial grounds with the intention to wound the feelings of an individual or the religious sentiments of a community. Any act that aims to hurt the sentiments of people related to that place is considered an offence.

Section 377: It penalises any voluntary act of carnal intercourse, whether with a man, woman, or animal, that is deemed to be against the order of nature. It covers offences involving rape and other unusual sexual acts, imposing penalties accordingly.

Section 375: This section states that a woman who does not physically resist the act of penetration should not be considered as consenting to the sexual activity based solely on that fact.

Section 376: This section describes the punishment for sexual offenses such as rape.

However, neither of these provisions is capable enough to effectively address the offense of necrophiliac activities and the individuals involved in such acts.

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Bengaluru: A student, who was among the victims of a recent moral policing incident at Someshwar Beach, has lodged a complaint with the city police commissioner, alleging assault by a personnel from the Ullal police station. The moral policing incident took place on June 1. (Getty Images)

The student, who wasnt named by the police, said that after he was assaulted by locals, the sub-inspector of the Ullal police station summoned him to the station and coerced him into signing a blank sheet of paper. When the student raised concerns about this act, he claimed to have faced further physical assault.

The Mangaluru police commissioner Kuldeep Jain said that in order to conduct a thorough investigation, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), law and order, has conducted a probe into the incident. A victim student has raised a complaint against local police station personnel for improper behaviour. We have considered this complaint seriously. I have asked DCP law and order to investigate the matter. If the police station personnel are found to have committed the atrocity, disciplinary action will be taken, he said.

The incident took place on the evening of June 1, when three female students from a local paramedical college visited Someshwar Beach, accompanied by three male students from the same college.

The police said that the three boys and three girls were at Someshwara Beach. Around 7.30 pm, a group of about 10 people questioned the boys and after asking their names, the group started assaulting them. The 112 Emergency response support system vehicle of the police, which got wind of the incident, rushed to the spot.

The three injured boys were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Following their complaint against the unknown people, the city police have formed three teams to look for the people allegedly involved in the incident. Police Commissioner Jain said a case for offences of rioting (Section 146 of Indian Penal Code (IPC)) and attempt to murder (Section 307 of IPC) has been registered.
A controversy erupted in Kerala on Tuesday after the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the students wing of the opposition Congress, alleged that the mark list of SFI leader P M Arsho, a student of Maharaja's College here, showed that "passed" even though he did not attend any exams. Arsho is the state secretary of the SFI, the student organisation of the ruling CPI(M). KSU alleged that in the marklist of the third semester archaeology examination list, it is shown that Arsho had passed the exam even though he did not sit for any of the exams. (Representative image)

KSU alleged that in the marklist of the third semester archaeology examination list, it is shown that Arsho had passed the exam even though he did not sit for any of the exams.

"The marklist shows that he has passed the semester. They have fabricated the result and are now cheating the students," a KSU activist told the media.

Meanwhile, the college authorities said that it was the National Informatics Centre (NIC) that falls under the Government of India that published the result, and that it was a technical error. The mark list was later corrected by the authorities after the controversy erupted.

"He (Arsho) doesn't have any marks in it. Without any marks, how can we give a final certificate? This issue will be checked by the college," the principal told the media.

Reacting to the controversy, Arsho told the media that did not attend the examination and this could be a technical error. "A strong investigation is required into this matter. We can also doubt whether someone made this error in order to create a controversy now."

Arsho shot back about KSU's allegations. State higher education Minister R Bindu said the matter will be investigated.

Meanwhile, BJP state president K Surendran called for a detailed probe into the matter. "A detailed probe should be conducted to find out the culprits for making him pass the exam that he has not written," Surendran said. The role of college officials should also be probed, he said.

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The 279th report of the Law Commission of India recommending the retention of the sedition law, with a few not-so-significant changes in the legal regime, has brought the 153-year-old colonial law to the centre stage yet again. PREMIUM Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition law)  a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with life sentence or a jail term up to three years.(AP file photo)

Read here: Top court must strike down the sedition law

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (sedition law)  a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with life sentence or a jail term up to three years, and one that rights activists and jurists have alleged is often misused by the State to stifle protest and dissent  is currently on hold due to a continuing interim order of the Supreme Court passed on May 11, 2022.

At that time, the top court said that the colonial-era law is not in tune with the current social milieu, stressing that it will be appropriate not to continue the usage of the provision of law by the governments when the Centre itself has conveyed a desire to reconsider and re-examine the contours and validity of Section 124A.

On May 1, 2023, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the legislative process of reviewing the sedition law was in the final stages, adding the government is keen on pushing reforms and that something may be in works as early as the coming monsoon session of Parliament (July-August). The submission prompted the court to defer the judicial determination of the validity of the controversial law until the second week of August.

Meanwhile, the Law Commission came out with a report, dated May 24, as it answered a reference on the sedition law made to the panel in March 2016 by the Union home ministry. This is, however, not the first time that the Commission has scrutinised the usage of Section 124A of IPC.

The non-statutory body, which carries out research in the field of law and makes recommendations to the Centre in the form of reports, had undertaken a similar exercise five decades ago and made certain recommendations which were not translated into legislative changes. The latest report by the Commission makes it fitting to appraise the differences in the panels approach and final recommendations.

1971 Law Commission report

Headed by KVK Sundaram, a civil servant who was the first law secretary of independent India, the Law Commission dealt with the sedition law as it set down to review IPC in toto. Three years before that, the Commission, while answering a reference as to whether the punishment of imprisonment for life ought to be rigorous or simple, termed it extremely anomalous that an offence such as sedition is punishable with either a life term or a jail term up to three years, but not more. In this 39th report of 1968, the Commission said that these questions will be considered when IPC is taken up for revision.

In its 42nd report, in 1971,the Commission favoured retention of the sedition law with a wider definition but, crucially, recommended that the maximum punishment under Section 124A be fixed at seven years in jail and fine.

Calling Section 124A as defective in its present form, the report rued that the pernicious tendency or intention underlying the seditious utterance has not been expressly related to the interests of integrity or security of India or of public order. We feel that this defect should be removed by expressing the mens rea as intending or knowing it to be likely to endanger the integrity or security of India or of any State or to cause public disorder, said the report.

Read here: Sedition law mustnt trump basic rights

The Commission suggested that the scope of Section 124A should be widened to include disaffection against the Constitution of India, legislatures and the administration of justice (judiciary), along with the executive government, as a penal offence.

But the most significant recommendation of the 1971 Law Commission pertained to reducing the maximum punishment under Section 124A from life imprisonment to seven years in jail. The punishment provided for the offence is very odd. It could be imprisonment of life, or else, up to three years only, but nothing in between. The legislature should, we think, give a firmer indication to the courts of the gravity of the offence by fixing the maximum punishment at seven years rigorous imprisonment and fine, it said.

Finally, the Commission proposed a new definition for the offence of sedition: Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, excites, or attempts to excite, disaffection towards the Constitution, or the Government or Parliament of India, or the Government or Legislature of any State, or the administration of justice, as by law established, intending or knowing it to be likely thereby to endanger the integrity or security of India or of any State, or to cause public disorder shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

However, the Union government did not accept the revision proposed by the Commission.

2017 Law Commission report on hate speech and 2018 consultation paper

The 267th report of the Commission on hate speech in 2017 also touched upon the essential elements constituting the offence of sedition in India. The report distinguished between sedition and hate speech, providing that the offence of hate speech affects the State indirectly by disturbing public tranquillity, while sedition is directly an offence against the State. To qualify as sedition, the impugned expression must threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India and security of the State, added the report.

In a particular situation, the 267th report held, hate speech may become sedition, pointing out that various acts relating to hate speech overlap in IPC as they seek to prescribe punishments for offences relating to religion, public tranquillity and harmony, criminal intimidation, national integration, insult and annoyance.

In 2018, the Law Commission came out with a consultation paper on the law of sedition in the wake of the reference made to it by MHA in March 2016. It underscored that Section 124A should be invoked only in cases where the intention behind any act is to disrupt public order or to overthrow the government with violence and illegal means.

Every irresponsible exercise of right to free speech and expression cannot be termed seditious. For merely expressing a thought that is not in consonance with the policy of the Government of the day, a person should not be charged under the section... Berating the country or a particular aspect of it, cannot and should not be treated as sedition. If the country is not open to positive criticism, there lies little difference between the pre- and post-Independence eras, stated the Commission.

While it is essential to protect national integrity, the Commission maintained, the sedition law should not be misused as a tool to curb free speech. Dissent and criticism are essential ingredients of a robust public debate on policy issues as part of vibrant democracy. Therefore, every restriction on free speech and expression must be carefully scrutinised to avoid unwarranted restrictions, added the Commission, inviting public views on the retention of Section 124A.

2023 Law Commission report and the way forward

Following the conclusion of the consultation, the panel submitted its 279th report on the sedition law to the Centre on May 24 even as it recommended that the colonial law be retained. Balancing freedom of expression with collective national interest is one of the key ingredients of this law, opined the Commission, insisting that repealing the legal provision can have serious adverse ramifications for the security and integrity of the country.

Read here: Retain sedition in IPC, make it tougher: Panel

The panel mentioned statistics on deaths of security forces and civilians due to insurgency, militancy and terrorism in various states, including Chhattisgarh (Maoist violence), the North-East states and Jammu & Kashmir, to emphasise that Indias internal security must be shielded to enable it to exercise its sovereignty and protect its territorial integrity.

Opposing the repeal of the law, the Commission asserted that Section 124A has its utility in combating anti-national and secessionist elements as it seeks to protect the elected government from attempts to overthrow it through violent and illegal means. The continued existence of the government established by law is an essential condition for the security and stability of the State. In this context, it becomes imperative to retain Section l24A and ensure that all such subversive activities are nipped in their incipiency, it said.

The panel extensively borrowed from the Supreme Courts 1962 verdict in the Kedar Nath Case, which held that Section 124A was constitutional as the restriction it sought to impose on the freedom of speech and expression was a reasonable restriction under Article 19(2).

About the provision being a colonial vestige, the panel rejected the contention noting that the mere fact that a particular legal provision is colonial in its origin does not ipso facto validate the case for its repeal. What Section 124A of IPC seeks to penalise is only the pernicious tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder in the guise of exercising right to freedom of speech and expression, it said.

Thus, the Commission recommended amending Section 124A so as to bring about more clarity in the interpretation, understanding and usage of the provision.

The new definition it proposed read as: Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in lndia, with a tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

The proposed provision incorporates with a tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder in Section 124A, as elucidated in the Kedar Nath verdict, and enhances the alternative punishment from three to seven years in jail. Unlike the 1971 report, it retained life term as the maximum punishment. The expression tendency, the Commission said, means a mere inclination to incite violence or cause public disorder rather than proof of actual violence or imminent threat to violence.

It also prescribed procedural safeguards to minimise the abuse of the penal provision. This can be achieved by introducing certain procedural safeguards that can be laid down by the central government through issuance of model guidelines in this regard, stated the report, dated May 24.

Alternatively, the Commission said, Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code could be amended to hold that a first information report (FIR) under Section 124A would be registered only after a police officer, not below the rank of Inspector, conducts a preliminary inquiry, and on the basis of the report made by the officer the central government or the state government grants permission for registering the FIR.

Hours after the report was made public, Arjun Ram Meghwal, minister of state in charge of the Union law ministry, said that the government will take an informed and reasoned decision on the report after consultations with all stakeholders. The minister also stressed that the recommendations made in the report are persuasive and not binding.

In August, when the Supreme Court will take up the clutch of petitions challenging the validity of Section 124A, there will most likely be two judicial recourses presented before it. First, the government will have to satisfy the court as well as the petitioners with the legislative steps taken by it, which may include amending the provision or choosing to completely do away with Section 124A. Second, the three-judge bench will be called upon to decide on constituting a larger bench to reconsider the 1962 verdict of the five-judge bench in the Kedar Nath Singh Case.

Read here: On sedition law, govt says repealing can have adverse impact on India's security

Dissent and criticism are essential ingredients of a robust public debate on policy issues as indispensable part of a vibrant democracy, and the proceedings before the Supreme Court on the validity of the sedition law, as it stands today, will reflect the top courts definition of the central tenets of liberty, free speech and reasonable restrictions.
Moitra's reaction comes apparently after ace wrestler Bajrang Punia, in an interview to NDTV, claimed that the protesters were asked by the government to not talk about their late-night meeting on Saturday with Shah.

'Told Not To Talk About It': Wrestler Bajrang Punia On Amit Shah Meet. Wrestlers overcame fear & shame & talked about how BJP MP touched their breasts & buttocks in FIR. So why cant they talk about a mere meeting with Home Minister? What kind of intimidation is this? Crazy," the TMC's firebrand MP tweeted.

Punia, who along with Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat is leading the protest against Brij Bhushan demanding his arrest for allegedly sexually harassing seven female wrestlers, has said the grapplers have no "setting" with Union home minister and their protest will continue.

Punia told the news channel that they were told by the government not to reveal to anyone about their meeting with Shah, but they themselves leaked it to the media.

Punia said the home minister told the wrestlers that the investigation was underway. The grappler reiterated that the protest has not died down and will continue.

'Wrestlers not satisfied with govt response'

Punia said the athletes are not satisfied with the response of the government, which is not agreeing to their demands. He asked Shah why Brij Bhushan was not arrested and was shielded and asserted that the wrestlers will not back down on assurances of action.

On Saturday, the protesting wrestlers had met the home minister days after threatening to immerse their medals into Ganga in Haridwar. The meeting had lasted till midnight as the grapplers pressed for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP.

Delhi Police visits WFI chief's UP home

The Delhi Police has recorded statements of associates of the WFI chief and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of investigations into sexual harassment allegations against him.

They also said the girl whose statement was the basis of a case being registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164.

The officials said police are collecting evidence in connection with the case filed against the BJP MP, and will submit a report in court accordingly.

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Bengaluru: An anti-communal wing will be set up in the police department of Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district to stop instances of moral policing, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara announced on Tuesday, saying the move was aimed at creating an atmosphere of communal harmony so that people can live in peace. Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara says the move was aimed at creating an atmosphere of communal harmony (PTI)

If successful, such squad will be raised in police departments across the state, the minister told reporters in Mangaluru after holding a meeting with senior police officers.

The anti-communal wing will be set up in the coming days with the appointment of necessary officials by the police commissioner. They will take all kinds of steps to stop moral policing, Parameshwara said. I have instructed the (Mangaluru) police commissioner to appoint competent officers from the department to manage this wing. If the anti-communal wing will be successful in Mangaluru, we will extend it to Dakshina Kannada and the entire state.

The minister said that presence of moral policing in the society was deeply concerning. We have a well-functioning legal system and the Karnataka Police is among the best in the country. If we allow moral policing to continue, it will tarnish the image of our department and our state, and create hardships for our people, he said.

Explaining the rationale behind opting Mangaluru to start the wing, Parameshwara said, In Mangaluru, a lot of so-called moral policing is happening. The people of Mangaluru are peace-loving and hardworking, and we cannot allow few anti-social elements to disrupt their way of life.

The home minister also highlighted the Congress-led governments determination to combat drug-related issues plaguing the coastal district. We have set a deadline of August 15 for the police department to eradicate the drug menace and transform the region into a drug-free zone, Parameshwara said. I expect the police department to take stringent action against drug peddlers and consumers.

When asked a question on compensation for those who died in communal violence, the minister told reporters that there have been seven murders with communal motives, and the government will recommend compensation in all seven cases.

The minister said there was a delay in paying compensation because the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government did not take the decision on it. For whatever reasons, which I dont know, the delay has occurred, but now we have initiated that step to give them compensation to their families, he said.

Among those who died in instances of communal violence, include Deepak Rao, Mohd Fazil, Jalil, and Masood. Authorities have been instructed to submit a report on this matter.

Masood (19), a daily-wage earner from Kasaragod in Kerala, who was staying with his grandfather in Bellare, was murdered by a group of men on July 20 last year. Two days later, BJP youth wing worker Praveen Nettaru was murdered and it was perceived as the retaliation to Masoods murder.

On July 24, Fazil (23) was hacked to death, with police saying it was in relation to the killing of Nettaru, whose family was given compensation and his wife a job by the previous BJP government.

The Congress had objected to the BJP selectively providing compensation and job to Nettarus family while ignoring the other two.

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A medical student was found dead on Sunday afternoon in a water-filled quarry in Kolar district, about 25km away from her college, police said on Tuesday. The womans family has alleged that she was being harassed by a senior doctor at her college. (Getty Images)

Police suspect that the 26-year-old postgraduate student of MVJ Medical College in Bengaluru Rural district died by suicide on Sunday.

She is suspected to have died by suicide around 11.30am in Kolar district. Further investigation is underway, said a police officer aware of the developments.

The womans family has alleged that she was being harassed by a senior doctor at her college. Based on her brothers complaint, Kolar Rural Police have registered a case against Dr Mahesh under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In his complaint to the police, the womans brother said, Someone who did not go alone anywhere would not have the courage to travel nearly 25km on her own to an abandoned quarry and end her life. He also told cops that the woman would often complain of work stress, police said, adding that the family thinks that the woman did not kill herself.

Police said the woman, who belonged to Ballari, left her college on Sunday and hailed an autorickshaw to reach Kendatti quarry in Kolar district. She jumped into the quarry to end her life, police said.

Local villagers spotted the womans body floating in the quarry and alerted the police. The body was recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination.

As per police, she called her friend and informed them that she was going to end her life. The friend told the cops that she alerted the college authorities about the call, police said.

The college authorities said the woman was a bright student and had a good rapport with everyone in the college. Medical superintendent of MVJ Medical College Dr Dayanand G said the woman was on duty till 10am on Sunday and then she left the college premises.

The woman lost her father in the pandemic. She is survived by her brother and her mother, who live in Ballari district.

Further investigation in the case is underway, police said.

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Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist, on Monday got relief in a POCSO case as the high court acquitted her emphasising that the right of autonomy over one's body is often denied to the fairer sex and they are bullied, discriminated against, isolated and persecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives. Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist.

In 2020, a video of Fathima went viral, showing her partially nude with paintings done by her minor children on her body. Subsequently, she was arrested and her bail applications were repeatedly denied.

Who is Rehana Fathima?

1. In her appeal in the Kerala high court, Rehana Fathima had asserted that the body painting was meant as a political statement against the default view of society that the naked upper body of the female is sexualised in all contexts, whereas the naked male upper body is not treated to this default sexualisation.

2. Earlier, the woman was also booked by police in Pathanamthitta district under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint lodged by BJP OBC Morcha leader AV Arun Prakash.

3. Fathima was also in the news after she had attempted to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala after the Supreme Court allowed women of menstruating age to do so, and was targeted by certain groups for it.

4. This, however, was not the first time Fathima has captured headlines. In 2014, she had participated in the controversial Kiss of love protest in Kochi against moral policing along with her partner Manoj K Sreedhar.

5. Earlier, she had sought to challenge bastions of male dominance by taking part in the annual Onam tiger dance (Pulikali), a popular event in Thrissur which usually sees the attendance of all-male troupes.

6. Fathima was born into an orthodox Muslim family which required her to attend classes at a madrassa and offer namaz five times a day. But post her fathers death, Fathima has said her concept of religion changed dramatically.

What is the Kerala high court say?

1. While discharging Fathima, Kerala high court Justice Kauser Edappagath on Monday said from the allegations against the 33-year-old activist, it was not possible to anyone to infer that her children were used for any real or simulated sexual acts and that too for sexual gratification.

2. The court said she only allowed her body to be used as a canvas for her children to paint on.

3. The judge said it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act. "There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said.

4. It further said that nude display of the upper body of men is never considered obscene or indecent and is not sexualised, but "a female body is not treated in the same way".

5. The court added that there were some who consider female nudity as taboo and only meant for erotic purposes and the intention behind the video circulated by Fathima was to "expose this double standard prevailing in society". "Nudity should not be tied to sex. The mere sight of the naked upper body of the woman should not be deemed to be sexual by default. So also, the depiction of the naked body of a woman cannot per se be termed to be obscene, indecent, or sexually explicit," Justice Edappagath said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell into a 300-feet deep borewell in a field in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district on Tuesday and efforts are on to rescue her, police said. The girl is currently stuck at a depth of 20 feet, an official said, adding that the incident occurred at Mugavali village in the afternoon. A two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell into a 300-feet deep borewell in a field in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district (Representative image)

The rescue operation is on with the help of JCB machines under the supervision of senior officials, he said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who belongs to Sehore district, took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to ensure that the girl is pulled out safely.

Officials of the Chief Minister's Office are also in touch with the district authorities, it was stated. Further details are awaited.
The success of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Atmanirbhar Bharat mission aimed at developing an advanced military-industrial complex in India will depend on his upcoming visits to the US on June 22 and to France on July 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Centre), French President Emmanuel Macron (Left), and US President Joe Biden (Right).

While President Joe Biden has invited him for a state visit with a rare second opportunity to address the Congress, French President Emmanuel Macron has invited him to be part of the Bastille Day celebrations with a tri-services contingent of Indian military participating in the parade. There are some 4000 war memorials in France, which remember the contributions of Indian soldiers in the two great wars last century.

Even though archrival China has tried to belittle Indian military design, development and manufacturing through junior-level military officers briefing media on the sidelines of the recently concluded Shangri La Dialogue, the Modi government has taken significant steps to get its hardware design and manufacturing in order. While these junior PLA officials parrot the line that India is no military threat to China, they also conversely try to pitch the line that New Delhi will not be a loyal partner to Washington. Fact is that they are wrong on both counts as only India can keep more than 80,000 PLA troopers with aircraft, rockets and big guns engaged on its northern borders and distract China from any military adventure on Taiwan, which will draw Japan into military emergency and cause havoc in the South China Sea. This apart, only India has the navy prowess to counter the PLA Navy challenge in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Lastly, the Indian Army stand-offs with belligerent PLA on Doklam plateau in 2017 and in Galwan on June 15, 2020, shows the Modi governments decisive ability to take on a military challenge and come out without yielding an inch of territory or military pride unlike in the past. Both incidents could have flared into a full-fledged conflict.

Apart from the atmosphere of PM Modis visit to US, the content of the visit will reveal the depth of India-US relations today with the Biden government ready to part with top-end military technology for manufacturing in India. Even though the Biden government is still to give approval to General Electric to manufacture F-414 jet engines to power Indian Tejas Mark II fighter, it is now given that GE will manufacture the engine on themaximum transfer of technology with Indian HAL and the partnership will be later upgraded to other engines. The US is also ready to sell top-end armed drones to India and even look at manufacturing surveillance drones at a later day. With China acquiring hybrid warfare capabilities, the US is ready to share cyber-security tools and experts with India in order to firewall critical infrastructure against attacks from Beijing-sponsored hackers.

The visit to France is equally important if not more in terms of Paris ready to manufacture hardware in India and even use these manufacturing and fabrication plants for future military exports to third countries. Today, India and France are looking towards theconstruction of air independent propulsion equipped submarines at Mazagon Dockyards to provide the Indian Navy with six more latest submarines under the Project 75 India category and also using the same facility for building submarines for export to Indonesia and others. As Indias closest military partner, France is even willing to build nuclear-powered and conventionally armed submarines for India this decade to meet the Chinese challenge.

While Airbus is manufacturing C-295 transport aircraft in India, French aircraft engine maker Safran is ready to co-develop and then manufacture a 100-110 Kilo Newton aircraft jet engine which will power DRDO-designed Indias twin-engine fighter. There is also a strong possibility that French Dassault may provide two squadrons of Rafale-Maritime for INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and look towards manufacturing of Rafale fighters in India in the near future.

While all these proposals are under serious consideration and not pipedreams, the decision ultimately lies with India and its manufacturing and financial capacity to accept and absorb the new technology. The Indian decision to stay strategically autonomous is based on its national interest and is today ready to partner with the West to counter the challenge from China and its satellites in the Indian sub-continent.

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The monsoon arrival in Kerala is expected to be delayed further, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated without specifying a fresh date for its likely onset. Conditions such as westerly wind patterns were making the onset conditions conducive. But the formation of a cyclonic circulation that intensified into a depression on Tuesday over the Southeast Arabian Sea has led to a reduction of cloud coveranother key condition for the onsetoff the Kerala coast. A delayed onset has little impact on monsoon rains. (PTI)

Latest observations indicate that a depression has formed over [the] southeast Arabian Sea and about 920 km west-southwest of Goa, 1120 km south-southwest of Mumbai, 1160 km south of Porbandar... It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours over [the] Eastcentral Arabian Sea & adjoining southeast Arabian Sea, IMD said on Tuesday.

Monsoon normally arrives in Kerala around June 1 before advancing northwards and covering the entire country by July 15. IMD on May 16 said the monsoon was likely to arrive in Kerala on June 4 with a model error of +/-4 days.

On Monday, IMD said westerly winds continued over the south Arabian Sea. It cited the cyclonic circulation over the Southeast Arabian Sea and said the cloud mass was now more organised and concentrated over the area. ...There has been some reduction of clouds off Kerala coasts in [the] last 24 hours.

The monsoon is critical for Indias economy as 51% of Indias farmed area accounting for 40% of production is rain-fed. As many as 47% of the countrys population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. A bountiful monsoon is directly linked to a healthy rural economy.

HT on June 1 reported the monsoon progress was likely to be dampened after its expected arrival in Kerala around June 4 with a model error of +/-4 days due to the chances of the development of a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea around two days later. Officials then said the model outputs remained highly variable.

READ | Rainfall to continue in northwest India for next four days: IMD

An IMD official said the monsoon onset was likely to take place in Kerala by June 8. The system is getting organised now so it is pulling all convection towards it and clouds are around the system.

In a tweet, former earth sciences ministry secretary M Rajeevan cited IMD forecast models and said it suggests monsoon could arrive in Kerala on 7/8 June. All onset conditions are set to be satisfied by 8th, with deep (up to 4.5 km) strong monsoon winds, an East-West shear line at 3.1 km (black line) & good rains over Kerala, he tweeted. An onset vortex to be formed with a chance of its intensification & northward movement; may help monsoon progress further along the west coast. He underlined a delayed onset has little impact on monsoon rains.

IMD has forecast a normal monsoon at 96% with an error margin +/-5%) of the long-period average (LPA) of 87 cm calculated from 1971 to 2020.

Private forecaster Skymet Weather has said below normal rainfall was expected at 94% of LPA with an error margin of +/-5%.

IMD follows a well-laid-out process of identifying onset parameters before announcing monsoon arrival.

READ | Monsoon progress likely to be dampened post-arrival in Kerala around June 4

Rajeevan said the first thing that is considered is rainfall. Out of 14 representative weather stations in Kerala, at least 60% of stations should report more than 2.5 mm rainfall for two consecutive days. Before monsoon sets in, thunderstorms normally start, he said.

He added when at least 60% of these stations record rainfall, it means there is largescale rainfall activity in Kerala and surrounding regions. But if we have only rainfall as a criterion, then there is a high chance of bogus monsoon onset. This happened in 1995 and 2015. So, two other criteria are also critical: A cross-equatorial flow of winds or a westerly flow at both lower and higher levels and whether there is adequate clouding over the region which is also a sign of rainfall approaching.

There is a nearly 100% probability of El Nino conditions during monsoon. It is expected to continue till next year, IMD said last month. El Nino is characterised by an unusual warming of waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which has a high correlation with warmer summers, drought, and weaker monsoon rains in India.

The 2023 El Nino is expected to develop following a triple dip La Nina event (2020-22). La Nina is the opposite of El Nino and is characterised by cooler currents in the equatorial eastern Pacific.
In a relief for a women's right activist, Rehana Fathima, who was facing charges under a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) case for allowing her children paint her semi-nude body, the Kerala High Court Monday ruled that her act cannot be characterised as a real or simulated sexual act and said that the societys default view that the naked upper body of the female is sexualised in all contexts is unfair and discriminatory. Fathima had approached the High Court after her plea was rejected by the trial court.(FB/Rehana Fathima)

"The right of a woman to make autonomous decisions about her body is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. It also falls within the realm of personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution," the court said.

The case

Fathima was charged under POCSO and Juvenile Justice and the Information Technology (IT) Acts for circulating a video, in which her minor children were seen painting on her semi-nude body. Justice Kauser Edappagath discharged the 33-year-old activist from the case, citing that it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act and that it did not amount to child pornography.

The High Courts ruling came on Fathima's appeal seeking dismissal of the ongoing case after a trial court rejected it. In her appeal, Fathima contended that the act was meant as a political statement since the naked upper body of the women is sexualised in all contexts, while it is not the case for men. The court agreed with her contention and noted that Fathimas intention behind the circulation of the video was to expose this double standard prevailing in society."

The courts ruling

The prosecution had termed the act as obscene and indecent as Fathima had exposed her upper body in the video and claimed that it was against the public notions of morality. However, rejecting the contention, the court said that "nudity and obscenity are not always synonymous". "It is wrong to classify nudity as essentially obscene or even indecent or immoral," it further said.

Justice Edappagath said it could not be said that the act was done for the purpose of sexual gratification or with sexual intent. There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said.

Discriminatory practice

The court observed that all individuals were entitled to the autonomy of their body, irrespective of their gender but women are often devoid of this right. "Women are bullied, discriminated against, isolated, and prosecuted for making choices about their bodies and livesbut nudity should not be tied to sex, it said.

The court rejected the prosecution's morality argument, stating that morality and criminality are not coextensive. What is considered as morally wrong is not necessarily legally wrong. The court also noted from the statements given by the petitioners children that they are loved and cared for by their mother and Fathimas prosecution would have adverse effects on them.

The case was initiated against Fathima for her video titled "Body and Politics" on social media, following a report filed by Cyberdom, the cyber wing of Kerala police under the various sections of the POCSO and IT Act. Earlier, she was also booked by the police on the complaint lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party OBC Morcha leader A V Arun Prakash.

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Railways put the official death toll in the Odisha triple train crash at 278, stating that three more people have succumbed to their injuries. The toll was earlier put at 288, which the state government revised to 275 on Sunday, claiming some bodies were counted twice.

The state government's revised toll, however, remained unchanged at 275.

Khurda Road Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rinkesh Ray said on Monday that apart from 278 deaths, 1,100 people were injured in the June 2 accident.

On the state government's toll remaining at 275, he said, "Figures do change with time."

The toll was earlier put at 288, which the state government revised to 275 on Sunday, claiming some bodies were counted twice.

READ | Odisha train accident: 48 hours later, Assam man found alive under rubble

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also a former Railway Minister, questioned the figures, stating that 61 people from her state have died and 182 others are still missing.

Roy said of the 1,100 injured, less than 200 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.

He said that of the 278 bodies, 177 have been identified while 101 more are yet to be identified and these unclaimed bodies have been kept in six different hospitals.

Roy said the Railways has deployed people in states such as Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to locate any missing person.

He said the bodies will be preserved in a scientific manner.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said the Railway Board's recommendation for a CBI probe into the Odisha train accident was nothing but headline management for having failed to meet deadlines. While the preliminary investigation by the railways identified a change in the electronic interlocking system as the cause of the horrific train crash that killed at least 275 people and injured many, the Board, according to a senior official, has recommended a CBI probe to look into all possible reasons, including human error and sabotage. NDRF personnel during a rescue operation after three trains collided with each other resulting in a major accident at Bahanaga railway station of Balasore district in Odisha on Saturday. (Photo by Arabinda Mahapatra)

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, questioned the need for a CBI inquiry when the Commissioner of Railway Safety is yet to submit the report on the train disaster.

This is nothing but headlines management having failed to meet deadlines, Ramesh said in a tweet.

Kanpur train accident

Jairam Ramesh also listed the timeline of a probe into the Kanpur train accident in which at least 150 people lost their lives, saying aap ye chronology yaad kijiye (please recall this chronology). The Congress leader said that then railway minister Suresh Prabhu had written to the Union home minister requesting a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the November 2016 train accident.

He then pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February 2017 statement in which he said conspirators from across the border were responsible for a train derailment. Modi's remarks followed the arrest of four men in Nepal and Bihar who had allegedly told police that the Pakistani spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was behind the Kanpur accident.

The NIA, however, later said it will not file any chargesheet in the derailment case.

June 6, 2023: Still no OFFICIAL news on NIA final report on Kanpur derailment. Zero accountability! Ramesh wrote on Twitter.

A political slugfest has started over the Balasore train accident, with the Bengal BJP leader alleging conspiracy behind the incident. Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari even claimed that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the tragedy.

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Dismissing concerns over the health of democracy in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House on Monday said India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, also stressed that the US administration never shies away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 31, 2023.(Reuters)

You can do that with friends; youre supposed to do that with friends, the White House official said.

Prime Minister Modi will be on a state visit to the US later this month. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for the official state visit, which will include a state dinner, on June 22, 2023.

When asked about the reason behind the invitation for the state dinner, Kirby underlined that India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels.

"You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he said.

"I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby added.

When the reporter pressed if the Biden administration is at all concerned about the health of democracy in India, Kirby replied: India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that the strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion.

And, look, we never shy away  and you can do that with friends; youre supposed to do that with friends  you never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward.

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Suriname on Monday conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu- The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the first Indian to receive this award. President Droupadi Murmu being presented special covers of stamps to mark 150 years of arrival of Indians in Suriname by President of Suriname Chan Santokhi, in Suriname, Monday.(PTI)

Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

Murmu after receiving the award, said that the honour holds tremendous significance not only for her but the people of India.

"I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star." This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent," the President of India said in a tweet.

She dedicated the award to the "successive generations" of the Indian-Surinamese community.

"I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she further said.

On the first leg of her state visit to Serbia and Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Paramaribo, Suriname on June 4.

She was welcomed at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full state honours by Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the official release of Rashtrapati Bhavan read.

Earlier today, President Murmu commenced her engagements with the visit to the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo to meet her counterpart, President Santokhi.

She received a warm welcome from her counterpart Santokhi at the Presidential palace in Paramaribo.

The President appreciated President Santokhi's warmth and hospitality throughout the meetings. She was delighted to learn that Hindi is widely spoken in Suriname, which makes her remind of India.

India and Suriname on Monday signed four major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health, agriculture and capacity building.

The pacts were inked after Murmu and Santokhi held delegation-level talks. President Murmu led delegation-level talks between the two sides.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to be in Suriname on her first State Visit as President of India when it is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in an official release.
SHAHBAD: Farmers protesting against the Haryana governments decision not to buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP), on Tuesday blocked the National Highway-44 near Shahbad in Kurukshetra district, following which the police resorted to baton-charge and sprayed water cannon to clear the blockage. Police personnel detain farmers during their protest against the Haryana governments decision to not buy sunflower seeds on the minimum support price (MSP), in Kurukshetra on Tuesday. (PTI)

Read here: Haryana farmers face water cannons as cops clear blockade on Delhi-Chandigarh highway

Led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, hundreds of farmers laid seize to the Delhi-Chandigarh highway around 1pm by breaking police barricades and parking their tractor-trailers laden with sunflower seed, despite heavy police deployment. Several farmers were subsequently detained, police said.

Kurukshetra superintendent of police (SP) Surinder Singh Bhoria said that most of the farmers were released later in the day. Only eight farmer leaders, including Gurnam Singh Charuni, are in the custody of the police, the SP said.

The police had to use mild force to remove farmers after repeated requests made to them to remove the blockade failed to yield any result, he added. The movement of traffic on the highway has been restored and the situation is under control.

However, farmer leaders condemned police action on protesters, claiming at least 50 of them were injured.

BKU (Charuni) leader Sanju Gundiana said the farmers were protesting peacefully for their right to get the MSP fixed by the Union government. But the police beat up the farmers mercilessly and also targeted elderly. Around 50 farmers are injured. But the government cannot suppress this protest by using police force and the call has been given to intensify the protests by blocking highways in the state, he said.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait also slammed the police action on farmers. The use of force by the Haryana police on the farmers protesting in Kurukshetra, is a condemnable action. Police should immediately release the arrested farmers and farmer leaders, otherwise we will be ready for agitation, he tweeted.

The farmers were demanding procurement of sunflower seed at the fixed MSP of 6,400 per quintal. They alleged that they are being forced to sell their produce to private buyers at 4,000 a quintal against the MSP of 6,400.

Read here: Haryana home minister orders suspension of three Panipat cops over negligence in immigration fraud probe

On May 30, the BJP-led Haryana government issued a notice declaring that sunflower seeds and bajra have been included in the list of crops covered under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY), under which 1,000 per quintal is provided to farmers for selling their produce to private buyers. Crops under the BBY are not procured by government agencies on MSP.

Due to the blockade on the highway, commuters faced long traffic jams in Kurukshetra and Shahabd, prompting authorities to divert the traffic via link roads.

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At the Balasore district hospital, next to a helpdesk strewn with macabre photographs of the dead, Krupa Devi sits slumped against a wall. On Friday evening, from her home in Bihars Munger, she watched the news in horror, as television channels streamed visuals from the site of Indias worst rail accident in three decades featuring the Coromandel Express, a train her father Manoj Chaudhuri had boarded that morning from Howrah. Workers restore railway tracks at the site of collision in Odishas Balasore district on Tuesday. (PTI)

Read here: 8 days before Odisha accident, Railway Board briefed House panel on its safety-first approach

By Saturday, the 23-year-old was in Balasore, hunting for him. For the first two days, she had hoped he would be among the injured, but it was not to be. Since then, she has poured through photograph after photograph, body after body, travelled from the Balasore district hospital to the SCB Medical College in Cuttack to the AIIMS in Bhubaneswar. And in what is symptomatic of a growing challenge for the Odisha government and the railways; to combat which they have called in specialised containers, embalming experts and are beginning DNA sampling; Krupa Devi has yet to find her father.

On Friday evening, the Coromandel Express that travels from Shalimar in West Bengal to Chennai in Tamil Nadu on one of Indias trunk railway routes, crashed into a goods train, some of its derailed compartments then colliding into the Yeshwantpur Howrah Express at the Bahanaga Bazar railway station, leaving 288 dead and over 1100 injured. Of the 288, 205 have been identified and sent back to their families. For the other 83, like Devi, the wait exacerbates the pain of loss. So many of the bodies are disfigured. The eyes are protruding, the faces are bloated, they all look the same. Someone get me my father, a disconsolate Devi said.

On Sunday, aware that they were racing against time and decomposition, close to 100 bodies were sent to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for embalming, a process where formalin is injected into the arteries, normally intended to delay decomposition so the remains are suitable for a funeral, or to preserve the body in case the last rites have to be conducted a few days after death. Before the surgical embalming can begin, the body is washed in a disinfectant solution and the limbs are massaged and manipulated to relieve rigor mortis (stiffening of the joints and muscles).

On Monday, a team of doctors from Delhi from AIIMS, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital arrived in Odisha to provide their expertise. Additionally, AIIMS has called for at least five container size freezers from the Paradip Port, that have the capacity to hold 200 bodies. But doctors remain sceptical of this strategy so far.

Read here: Days after Odisha train crash, Coromandel Express passes through accident site

Ideally, embalming should be done within 6-12 hours of death. If embalming is not done for more than 12 hours after death, its loses effectiveness and decomposition happens quickly. The accident happened during the summer so that has exacerbated the process. Also if the body is damaged, embalming is difficult. If the body is damaged, it is very difficult to embalm it, said Dr Prabhas Ranjan Tripathy, professor of anatomy at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

With decomposition inevitable, the AIIMS authorities on Monday also started DNA testing, collecting blood samples from family members to match with DNA samples retrieved from the bodies, to avoid discrepancies. This is now key, officials said, because there have been instances where bodies identified by one family from a photograph, have been found to have been taken away by someone else.

A claimant from Jharkhand on Tuesday told PTI that they had identified the body of Upendra Kumar Sharma one day before, but it was handed over to someone else. What is the point of doing DNA sampling? We identified Upendra from the tattoo mark on his body, the relative said.

Read here: Odisha train accident survivor's nerve-chilling account: Severed head

As many as 10 samples have so far been collected from the claimants, a senior official of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar said.

State government officials said that the arrival of these special containers from Paradip means they have bought some time, and they will wait for a couple of days to take a final call if bodies have no claimants at all. As per IPC, we can cremate the bodies after 96 hours if there are no claimants. A mass cremation is a last resort, a senior official said.
IRCTC, the ticketing division of Indian Railways, has refuted the claims made by Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das regarding a surge in the number of ticket cancellations after the tragic three-train collision in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday night, which claimed 278 lives and left over 1,000 others wounded. Das, at a press conference, had alleged that thousands of people had cancelled their train tickets in the wake of the Balasore incident. As many as 278 people have been killed and over 1,000 were injured in the horrific three-train collision.

The Congress shared a clip of the press conference on its Twitter handle, stressing the collective pain caused by the unfortunate event.

Also read | Odisha train crash: Brother rescues 10-year-old from under heap of 7 bodies

"Such a train accident has never happened in the past. Hundreds of people lost their lives and more than a thousand people were injured. This incident has hurt everyone. Thousands of people have cancelled their tickets after the accident. They feel that travelling in the train is not safe," the Congress tweet said.

The IRCTC, however, responded to the claims on Twitter, stating the claim is factually incorrect. It also presented the data on ticket booking and cancellation after the deadly crash on Friday, June 2.

"Cancellations have not increased. On the contrary, cancellations have reduced from 7.7 Lakh on 01.06.23 to 7.5 Lakh on 03.06.23," the IRCTC said.

Odisha train accident: What we know so far

As many as 278 people have been killed and over 1,000 were injured in the horrific three-train collision. The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

Read | Odisha train crash: Father's unwavering hope helps find son alive in morgue

More than 51 hours after the triple train collision, passenger trains resumed operations on the repaired tracks, after restoration works were undertaken on a war footing, on Monday.

101 bodies are yet to be identified, and 55 were handed over to relatives, news agency ANI reported.

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Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot is still weighing his options, which includes setting up his own political outfit, but any decision is unlikely to take place on 11 June on the occasion of his father Rajesh Pilots death anniversary. Sachin Pilot (ANI)

Read here: Amid Sachin Pilot may-leave reports, Rajasthan Congress's 90% issues resolved response

The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan has conveyed his unwavering position on his three key demands and is waiting for the partys response before taking the next step, functionaries close to Pilot maintained, seeking anonymity.

For the past 22 years, Rajesh Pilots death anniversary has been observed with a prayer meeting. This year, too, no other programme has been planned, a leader close to Pilot said. If a political rally had to happen on that day, the preparations would have started much earlier.

Congress general secretary Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said there was no possibility of Pilot floating a political party and 90% of the issues by him has been resolved.

Pilot neither had this intention before nor does he have now, Randhawa said at a media briefing in Jaipur.

Both Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on May 29 in New Delhi. In the meeting, Pilot reiterated his three demandsto probe corruption charges during the Vasundhara Raje regime, disband the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and provide compensation to those affected by government job exam paper leak cases.

We sat and held discussions for around four hours in Delhi. Everyone including Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal spoke. We heard both the leaders, Randhawa said. They both were told that together you are the asset of Congress. They both said they will work together.

The party is ready to give a plump posting to Pilot in the central leadership, but he has not agreed to any offer that takes him out of Rajasthan before the assembly elections in December, a Congress leader said, declining to be named.

In such a scenario, the Pilot camp has not ruled out forming a new party before the election. But it will not happen in haste. Pilot will wait for the next few days to see how the party responds to his demands, said the leader close to him.

While Pilot had been described as an asset by the party, a prominent section of the Congress feels he has to wait. He is 45. He has already become a Union minister, pradesh Congress committee chief and deputy chief minister, another functionary said.

Pilot, who has campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar in the past two years, has done so without any official position in the party. With elections in Rajasthan due in the next six months, his options are limited.

Already six days have passed after the meeting at Kharges house. No visible action have been initiated to address some of his concerns, said a Pilot aide. Another leader argued that the party will tread cautiously with elections round the corner.

Read here: A day after Cong meet, CM Gehlot asks workers to exercise patience

After our experiment in Punjab failed (where the Congress replaced chief minister Amrinder Singh five months before the election and lost the polls), there is no such scope in Rajasthan or Chhattisgarh, the AICC leader said, wishing to remain unnamed.
Bengaluru: In a big relief to those staying in rented accommodations in Karnataka, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced that 200 units of free electricity, (as promised by the Congress ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections), will not just be restricted to those staying in their own households, but will also be extended to the tenants as well, under the Gruha Jyoti Scheme. The clarification comes a day after the Congress government had issued guidelines to avail the free electricity under the scheme. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah listens to the grievances of public, in Bengaluru, onTuesday. (PTI)

People should not get confused. We will provide 200 units of free electricity to all households, even if they are staying on rent, Siddaramaiah said.

The Gruha Jyoti scheme was one of the 5 guarantees promised by the Congress ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. Reacting to BJPs protest against the power tariff hike and the state governments decision to revisit the anti-cow slaughter law enacted by the then Yediyurappa government, Siddaramaiah sought to know what moral right the saffron party has to protest.

Karnataka energy Minister KJ George on Tuesday said, the scheme would be applicable for tenants, however, required documents will have to be submitted. Tenant should have relevant documents while applying for the scheme. There should be a record of how many years they have been in the rented house. They should have electricity bills and rental agreements. It should be ensured that the house owner pays the property tax and he must declare the total number of houses he owns, he said.

On Monday, the Karnataka government issued guidelines to avail free electricity under the Gruha Jyothi scheme. Getting the registration done on the Seva Sindhu portal has been made compulsory for availing free electricity up to 200 units.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramiah alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is instigating the misuse and extravagant use of free electricity up to 200 units scheme. We are offering free electricity to help the poor and middle-class people of the state who are in distress. We have allowed 10% more free electricity consumption than the average consumption in a year. This has been accepted and welcomed by the people of the state. But the BJP, which has been rejected by the people, is instigating misuse and extravagant use of electricity, said Siddaramaiah.

Meanwhile, the BJP unit in Karnataka on Tuesday staged protests against Congress for allegedly delaying the implementation of five poll promises made by both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in the run-up to the assembly elections.

The BJP workers also staged a sit-in protest in Bengaluru against minister K Venkateshs statement that sparked a row over the anti-cow slaughter law. However, Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP by calling it an anti-people party.

They dont have anything to do, what moral right do they have to protest? They promised to give them 10 hours of electricity. They failed to do that. They promised to waive farmers loans once they came to power, but couldnt do that. They promised to spend one-and-half lakh crores on irrigation, but they didnt do it. What moral rights do they have? Siddaramaiah questioned.

The chief minister accused the BJP of plundering the state when in power and bringing a bad name to the state. The BJP leaders are protesting because they have nothing else to do. What moral rights do they have? he asked. According to Siddaramaiah, the BJP did not fulfill any of its election promises such as 10 hours of free power, waiving farm loans and spending 1.5 trillion on irrigation.

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The union environment ministry has clarified that mining can commence in an area with forest cover even when forest clearance has been granted by it for only part of the forest land involved, although it has also clarified that the activity will be restricted to the part for which clearance has been given. The mining industry has welcome the move although some environmentalists have sounded caution.

Read here: Environment Day: Reclaimed mined land supplement income of tribal villagers in Gumla

The move, which is aimed at resolving confusion over whether work can begin in mining blocks in forest areas where a forest clearance is only available for part of the area, was welcomed by the mining industry, although some environmentalists said that it could present a fait accompli.

In a clarification issued on May 31 addressed to additional chief secretaries and forest secretaries of the states and UTs, the ministry stated that uninterrupted mining activity can be carried out in forest land for which approval has been already granted by the Centre. HT has seen a copy of the clarification.

The ministry stated that provisions are available in the Handbook of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 General Approval section to continue mining activity in a part of the forest land for which forest clearance has been granted by the Centre as per the Forest Conservation Act even if the clearance has not yet been granted for other part of the forest land involved in the lease area.

The General Approval was granted to ensure uninterrupted mining operations in already approved lease area of the user agency and to enable state governments to assign the forest land on lease under section 2 (iii) of the FC Act 1980 ( which states that any forest land or any portion thereof may be assigned by way of lease or otherwise to any private person or to any authority) for which approval under section 2 (ii) of FC Act (forest nod for non-forest use) has not yet been obtained by the user agency, the clarification stated.

The clarification underlined that mining in area approved under section 2(ii) can only be undertaken after obtaining the approval of the Central government under section 2(ii) of the FC Act 1980. This means mining activity can take place only in the part of area for which Centre has granted forest clearance.

Some environmentalists and legal experts have said this could present a fait accompli as the mining company would hope that they can mine in the entire mining lease area . HT reported on February 9 that an environment ministry panel has allowed state governments to permit commencement of mining operations on non-forest land contiguous with a forest, where both types of terrain are involved, even before the final clearance is accorded, drawing criticism from environmentalists and legal experts. HT also reported on November 20, 2021 that the Forest Advisory Committee of the ministry approved commencement of coal mining on non-forest land but imposed certain conditions. The panel ruled that in order to avoid a fait accompli, plans for mining in non-forest areas of a coal block will not involve any forest area; no component of mining activity in the non-forest land shall have any dependency in the forest area of the same block.

Read here: 34 commercial mining clusters to be operationalised

The Handbook on FC Act 1980 in its General Approval section for mining projects states that mining can commence in part of forest land which has been granted forest clearance based only on certain conditions so that there is no fait accompli situation in future. One is that the state government get from the developer the Net Present Value under compensatory afforestation in lieu of the entire forest land falling in the mining lease. Another is adherence with the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 . And yet another is that this approval does not mean automatic approval for the entire area.

We are very strict that mining should be limited to the forest land for which clearance has been granted. This will not create any fait accompli situation and they will have to follow conditions laid out, a spokesperson of the environment ministry said on Tuesday.

It is to clarify in respect of existing mining leases having forest land in part or full and where the state governments have considered the grant of general approval as per the provisions of the para 7.3 (iv) of the handbook of forest (conservation) act 1980, the existing mining operations will be restricted to the forest land already approved under section 2(ii) of the FC Act 1980. In existing leases where approval under the FC Act 1980 is available only for part of the forest land, the non-availability of approval under section 2(ii) of the Act in respect of remaining forest land will not be deterrent to undertake mining in already approved area provided the user agency has complied all conditions, as stipulated under para 7.3 (IV) of the handbook, the ministry stated.

The mining industry has welcomed the move. There are very few cases where additional forest land with no clearance is involved. But your present mining should not be jeopardised due to awaiting clearance on additional forest land. This is a very fair, very good move by the environment ministry. We have waited for a long time for this clarification . I dont see any concerns of a fait accompli , said Basant Poddar, Federation of Indian Minerals Association (FIMI) mentor for southern region.

This clarification from the environment ministry is an important one. It spells out that while mining activities can be initiated on additional forest land within existing mining leases, it will be subject to approval from the central government, as mandated by the FCA, 1980. These clauses always have concerns related to fait accompli and prioritizing mineral extraction over ecology and forest rights, even though such extraction is conditional safeguard procedures. However, what needs to be examined much more closely the implications for the federated forest governance structure in India, in the light of commercial mining. This is especially because the central governments prior approval for forest diversion continues to be on merit, and there is a possibility or permissions to be withheld even after mining operations have been initiated, explained Kanchi Kohli, legal and policy researcher.

Read here: Village-level panels to keep an eye on illegal mining in Panchkula

How mining will impact a part of the forest land involved will depends on the geography of the block being opened. If the forest land involved is separated by a hill or a river or other geological features then its all right otherwise it only creates a fait accompli situation. Impact of mining in one part cannot be limited to that part of the forest area. We have seen this happen in the past in certain cases in Hasdeo Arand block, said Sudiep Shrivastava, lawyer.
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in an annual festival scheduled to be held on the eve of the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev. Sikh pilgrims at the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of Sikhism's most holy places, during the annual 'Baisakhi' festival, in Hasan Abdal on April 14 (AFP File Photo)

During their visit to Pakistan, the pilgrims are expected to visit a number of holy sites, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. They will also participate in the festival to be held during June 8-17.

The issuance of visas is in line with the Government of Pakistans commitment to fully implement the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974. Every year, a large number of Indian yatrees visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals [and] occasions, the Pakistan high commission said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Pakistans charge daffaires Salman Sharif wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey. He said Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims.

Each year, a sizeable number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to participate in religious festivals and occasions. A number of Indian Hindus are also issued visas by the Pakistani mission to visit families and friends in Pakistan.

India too issues visas to Pakistani nationals to visit several shrines, including the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer and the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya in New Delhi.

Like exchanges and contacts in most spheres, visits by Indian and Pakistani pilgrims have been affected by the sharp downturn in bilateral relations over the past few years. The two sides opened the Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian pilgrims visa-free access to the historic gurdwara built at the site in Pakistans Punjab province where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent the final years of his life.
In 1971, two years before his death, Pablo Picasso created the painting "Buste de Femme." Art historians identified the woman in the painting as Picasso's second wife, Jacqueline Roque. Now, that painting has garnered 3.4 million ($3.65 million): on Monday, it was sold at the the Cologne auction house Van Ham in Cologne. Pablo Picasso's 'Buste de Femme' was painted in 1971. (Federico Gambarini/dpa/picture alliance)

The work was originally expected to fetch between 1.5 to 2.4 million ($1.6 to 2.6 million). But even at 3.4 million, it was still a bargain compared to the record-breaking $179.4 million dollars (some 160 million euros) paid for Picasso's "The Women of Algiers" in 2015.

The auction house launched a PR campaign to try to drive up the price of "Buste de Femme," displaying the work in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg before the auction. According to Van Ham, it was the first time in nearly 25 years that a major work by Picasso went up for auction in Germany.

The painting of Roque was originally from her estate, but was auctioned on behalf of a German private collector.

Roque devoted to Picasso

Picasso and Roque met in 1953, and Roque, who was born in France in 1927, was more than 40 years younger than the Spanish-born artist. They married following the death of the painter's first wife, Olga Khokhlova.

Picasso depicted Roque, with her thick dark hair and classically Mediterranean facial features, more often any of his numerous mistresses or his other wife.

None of her predecessors devoted their lives as fully to Picassoas Roque did. She moved back to France in 1954 and was at his side almost constantly until his death on April 8, 1973, which left her utterly bereft.

Emaciated and severely depressed, she took her own life 13 years later. Roque had worshipped Picasso and called him her "sun." At the time of her suicide, Roque was 59 years old.

Picasso used his power

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso's death, and museums around the world are paying tribute with exhibitions. But the celebrations have also increasingly focused on the Spanish-born artist's relationships with his wives and mistresses.

Only now  in the wake of the #MeToo movement and a new wave of self-assertion among women  is new focus being paid to the ways in which Picasso exploited his power and influence with women.

The artist himself made no secret of that: he once said he divided women into goddesses and doormats, and almost all of the women in his life underwent this shift at some point. But now, on the occasion of the landmark year, new books and exhibitions are drawing attention to it as well. As a result, some art connoisseurs viewing Picasso differently.
Best friends are like the family we choose. Whether near or far away, old or new, best friends help us get through life, stand by our side like a rock, give us a shoulder to cry on, celebrate our happiest moments like their own, and treat us with unconditional love. While there are many ways people celebrate their best friends across the globe, every culture celebrates their importance in our lives. June 8 is marked as National Best Friends Day in the United States and Canada. The day is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with those who are always there to catch us when we fall. National Best Friends Day falls on June 8. (Pexels)

National Best Friends Day 2023 History and Significance:

After a hearing in the US Congress in 1935, National Best Friends Day came to be celebrated on June 8. Meanwhile, the first Sunday of August was designated National Friendship Day. While it is not a national holiday, the day has gained popularity in recent times because of social media.

National Best Friends Day celebrates the bonds of friendship that connect us with our buddies. June 8 is especially marked for celebrating the ties between an individual and their close friend or group of friends. While your best friend can be your parents, grandparents, spouse, siblings or even pets, the day focuses on being grateful for the bond we share with them, cherishing all the moments experienced together, and creating new memories.

National Best Friends Day 2023 Celebrations:

There are no traditional ways to celebrate National Best Friends Day. You can have your own ways of unique celebration. If you need ideas, you can always head out to grab a drink with your friend or friends, exchange meaningful gifts, take part in an activity over which you can bond, meet at your favourite restaurant to enjoy some time together or share photos of yourselves with your friends on social media.
Last month, researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, published a paper describing an AI system that could read peoples thoughts while they were listening to a story, and translate those thoughts into a continuous stream of text. Titled 'Semantic reconstruction of continuous language from non-invasive brain recordings', and published in Nature Neuroscience, it was not the first study of its kind, but it improved on previous ones by using a technology that was noninvasive, requiring no implants. PREMIUM To go to the very basics, what is the mind?(Puneet Verma/HT)

The questions that the breakthrough raises are obvious. How efficient are such systems? What does it mean when we say they can read someones mind? To go to the very basics, what is the mind?

The science of thought

Thought is an abstract, even philosophical concept, but it has physical manifestations. It is these manifestations that the AI reads, interprets, and responds to, depending on the way it has been trained.

Every action of our bodies, including what we think, is controlled by the neurons or nerve cells in our brain. Neurons communicate with one another and with the muscles by sending and receiving electrical and chemical signals. These complex structures have inspired the building of artificial neural networks, which have digital neurons that try to mimic biological neural networks by sending, receiving and processing signals.

When we talk about AI reading the mind, we are referring to technology that measures the electrical activity caused by signals in the brain. Such technology, called brain-computer interface (BCI), can be trained to associate an activity with its trigger, or the thought or the reaction that led to the electrical activity.

Training neural networks

Training an artificial neural network requires input-output mapping, based on a large number of examples fed into it. V Srinivasa Chakravarthy, a computational neuroscientist at the Indian Institute of Technology- Madras, cited the example of a person affected by paralysis moving a cursor with thought.

What you ask them is, imagine you have to move the control the cursor left or right. When they visualise that, the activity in the motor cortical areas of the brain will have a certain pattern. Its very complicated, its very noisy, but there is an underlying pattern, Chakravarthy said.

The pattern will be different when the subject visualises moving the cursor left and when they visualise moving it right. You take a person, put electrodes on their head, and ask them to visualise left and right, left and right, hundreds of times. We record that data, feed it into the network and classify this into left or right, Chakravarthy said.

To illustrate mind reading at a more complex level, lets take a study from Purdue University, published in Cerebral Cortex in 2017. As three women watched nearly a thousand video clips, including those of humans and animals, a functional MRI (fMRI) device recorded the signals from their brains. This data was then fed into an artificial neural network.

Once it had been trained to associate various video images with various kinds of brain signals, the AI was able to decode subsequent fMRI data into specific categories and reconstruct the videos. These included videos that the AI system had not seen before.

How chatbots work
Apple's AirPlay, which lets you share videos, photos, music and more from Apple devices to Apple TV, will now work with televisions in hotel rooms as well. This was among the tons of announcements made on the first day of the company's 5-day Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which opened on Monday. Apple AirPlay for hotels(Image courtesy: Apple)

AirPlay for hotels

For this, the tech giant has teamed up with a number of hotels, the first of which will be the Atlanta-based IHG Hotels & Resorts. Here is all you need to know about it:

(1.) To use this facility, one must scan a QR code to connect their iPhone to the TV in the hotel room. The QR code bypasses the additional steps one currently has to take to use AirPlay.

(2.) It will be available only with devices running iOS 17 and above. This, therefore, means people must update their iPhone to iOS 17 to enjoy the feature.

(3.) Apple is promising a smooth integration and users will be able to continue watching a video from where they exactly left off.

(4.) AirPlay for hotels is, however, yet to go live. The company is expected to release it later in the year, most likely sometime before the end of the year.

(5.) After IGH Hotels & Resorts get this facility, the feature will be extended to other hotel chains in the near future.

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On day 1 of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled a host of new products and features, including health-related ones for iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, with a special emphasis on mental health. Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks with members of the media next to Apple's new Vision Pro virtual reality headset, during Apples Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on June 5, 2023. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP)

Our goal is to empower people to take charge of their own health journey. Mental health and vision health are important, but often overlooked, and we're excited to introduce features that offer valuable new insights to provide users with an even better understanding of their health, an Apple release quoted Sumbul Desai, the company's Vice President, Health, as saying.

Mental Health

The Health (for iOS 17and iPadOS 17) and Mindfulness (in watchOS) apps allow users to express how they are feeling, ranging from Pleasant to Very Unpleasant.

Here, they also get valuable insights to identify what exactly is contributing to their state of mind. Also, the depression and anxiety assessments often used in hospitals to determine an individual's risk-level, are easily available in the Health app.

Vision Health

The International Myopia Institute recommends 80-120 minutes outdoor minutes a day for kids. Accordingly, with watchOS 17, Apple Watch introduces the ability to measure the time spent in daylight, which can be done using the light ambient sensor. Children who do not have an iPhone can use Apple Watch's Family Setup to pair the Watch with their parent's iPhone. This way, parents, too, get to see the amount of time their kids are spending outdoors.

To lower the risk of Myopia, meanwhile, a feature called Screen Distance urge people to move their device away after the distance between them and the device has been less than 12 inches for an extended period of time.

Health app comes to iPad

iOS 17 brings the Health app to iPad, which has been designed in such a way that users get to see information from iPad, iPhone, Watch, as well as compatibly third-party devices, all in one place.

People can: track and manage their medications, use Cycle Tracking, log momentary emotions and daily moods, view available health records from multiple institutions, and more. They can also use iPadOS features such as Split View to multitask with other apps while viewing their health data.

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Top Chinese officials told Elon Musk about plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence on his recent trip to the Asian giant, the tech billionaire said Monday, in his first comments on the two-day visit. Billionaire Elon Musk(REUTERS)

The Twitter owner and Tesla CEO -- one of the world's richest men -- held meetings with senior officials in Beijing and employees in Shanghai last week.

"Something that is worth noting is that on my recent trip to China, with the senior leadership there, we had, I think, some very productive discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and the need for some oversight or regulation," Musk said.

"And my understanding from those conversations is that China will be initiating AI regulation in China."

Musk, whose extensive interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington, spoke about the exchange in a livestreamed Twitter discussion with Democratic presidential hopeful and vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert Kennedy Jr, the nephew of John F. Kennedy.

Musk did not tweet while in China and Tesla has not released readouts of Musk's meeting with officials.

But official Chinese channels said he lavished praise on the country, including for its "vitality and promise," and expressed "full confidence in the China market."

A flurry of Chinese companies have been rushing to develop AI services that can mimic human speech since San Francisco-based OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November.

But rapid advancements have stoked global alarm over the technology's potential for disinformation and misuse.

Musk didn't elaborate on his discussions in China but was likely referring to a sweeping draft law requiring new AI products to undergo a security assessment before release and a process ensuring that they reflect "core socialist values."

The "Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services" edict bans content promoting "terrorist or extremist propaganda," "ethnic hatred" or "other content that may disrupt economic and social order."

Under Beijing's highly centralized political system, the measures are almost certain to become law.

Musk has caused controversy by suggesting the self-ruled island of Taiwan should become part of China -- a stance that was welcomed by Chinese officials but which deeply angered Taipei.

The 51-year-old South African native described his meetings in China as "very promising."

"I pointed out that if there is a digital super intelligence that is overwhelmingly powerful, developed in China, it is actually a risk to the sovereignty of the Chinese government," he said.

"And I think they took that concern to heart."

ft/bfm
OnePlus on Monday opened the sale of the Jupiter edition of its OnePlus 11 in India, where the device has been named the OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey Edition. In March, the smartphone was launched in the companys home country of China, under the name OnePlus 11 Jupiter Rock Edition. OnePlus 11 5G 'Marble Odyssey Edition' (Image courtesy: OnePlus)

It is the worlds first-ever smartphone built from 3D microcrystalline rock, according to the Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer.

OnePlus Marble Odyssey Edition: Price

It is available at a price of 64,999 (inclusive of all taxes) and comes as a single variant with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal memory. Customers can place their order here.

OnePlus Marble Odyssey Edition: Discount

There is an exchange offer by availing which people can save up to 7,000 on the incoming OnePlus 11 Marble Odyssey Edition. Discounts are also available in the form of bank offers (ICICI Bank; 1,000) and OneCard and EMI and credit card transactions ( 1,000).

OnePlus Odyssey Edition: Features and specifications

(1.) Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, Android 13-based OxygenOS 13 as operating system (OS).

(2.) A 5,000 mAh battery with support to SuperVOOC charging; under-display fingerprint scanner for authentication.

(3.) A 6.7-inch 2K AMOLED display with LTPO3 panel; 120 Hz refresh rate for the display screen.

(4.) Third generation Hasselblad camera setup; a 16 MP front camera for video calls and selfies.

(5.) Sonys 50 MP IMX890 primary sensor at the back, along with 48 MP IMX851 (also Sony) ultra-wide-angle camera, and 32 MP portrait camera.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
Social media has become a place for people to share thoughts, opinions, and experiences about various aspects of their lives, including their workplaces. While many share funny moments and inspiring achievements, others share about workplace rules and policies. Recently, a Reddit user shared a screenshot of a dog rescue centres vegan-only policy, and it has sparked discussions on Reddit. After a Reddit user shared a screenshot of an email they received following a job application, the company's vegan policy became a topic of discussion on Reddit. (Reddit/@Reezeyyy)

An individual shared a screenshot in Reddits mildlyinfuriating community with the caption, Applied for a job, received this in an email. Can they really force this upon me or not hire me based on this? The screenshot of the email lists several questions that help the company shortlist the candidates. One among them is: Our workplaces are strictly vegan. You do not have to be vegan away from work, but you do need to bring vegan lunch and have plant milks to eat on site or eat lunch off site. Can you confirm you are fine with this? This particular question sparked a debate online on whether or not a company can dictate what their employees eat at the office.

Take a look at the post here:

Since being shared a few hours ago, the post has received over 13,200 upvotes. Additionally, it has also raked a plethora of comments from netizens.

Heres how people reacted to the viral Reddit post:

I will be a worktime vegan if the pay is good enough, posted an individual. Another shared, Is it kind of like how Coca-Cola employees cant be seen drinking Pepsi kinda thing. I worked in a Jewish Community Center and I was held to Kosher rules. No pork. No meat served with dairy, expressed a third. A fourth joined, That is so weird. Some startups really do the best they can not to hire, lol. To this, an individual replied, This is common for vegan brands, like beyond-meat. To be fair, it would be a bit weird to eat your ham and egg sandwich in the office of a company that wants to replace meat in the end. A fifth remarked, This is stupid. So if I work for Honda, I can only drive a Honda?

A few in the comments also shared that they work at vegan companies, and there are no such rules as this. An individual wrote, I work for a pretty well-known vegan food company, and we have no such rules. The food and snacks in the office are all vegan but you can bring whatever you want to eat yourself. People bring non-vegan treats to share all the time too. My wife sells lots of products to Impossible and Beyond Meat, and they have no requirements like this, commented another.

Some even shared that companies can prohibit whatever they want on their premises. I mean, you can prohibit whatever you want on your own premises. You can have a zero meat, dairy, egg, seafood, etc. allowed on this property rule. Food preference is not a protected class. Yes, they can choose not to hire you because of this, joined another. A third commented, It is perfectly normal for companies not to hire people who do not share the same view as the company. What are your thoughts on this?

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Royal historian Marlene Koenig joined news anchor Sally Bundock via a video call from Virginia to share insights about Prince Harrys ongoing court case. Koenig was live on BBC when her cat Fleur jumped onto her lap, seeking attention. The royal historian displayed remarkable reflexes as she caught hold of her cat and swiftly placed it on the floor. Despite the unexpected interruption, she remained composed throughout the interview but concluded by apologising for her pets appearance. The video of the incident has gone viral online, drawing numerous responses from social media users. Cat makes an appearance during a BBC interview on Prince Harry. (Twitter/@scottygb)

BBC journalist Scott Bryan shared the video on Twitter, describing it as an Incredible cat cameo. Scott Bryan also admired the presenters calm demeanour and the contributors nonchalant reaction. He replied to his own tweet and wrote, The way the presenter carries on. The way the contributor doesnt fluster. Just amazing scenes all round.

After the video went crazy viral online, Koenig told the BBC that Fleur, the two-and-a-half-year-old rescue cat, holds a prominent role in the household, referring to her as the queen of the house. Reflecting on the unexpected attention, Marlene humorously remarked, Going viral was not on my bingo card today.

Watch the viral cat video here:

The tweet, since being shared on June 5, has accumulated over 3.9 lakh views, and the numbers are still increasing. The video has sparked a wave of comments from online users. While some admirers applauded the royal historian for her remarkable reflexes, a few speculated that the cat may have made appearances during interviews earlier.

Heres how people reacted to the viral video:

An individual commented, The reflexes though! Thats not her first rodeo. The speed at which she grabs the cat makes me think its probably done this before when she is being interviewed, posted another. A third added, So good! Cant stop watching it. Oh thats just brilliant! expressed a fourth. A fifth commented, I blinked and had to rewind. Superb reflexes from this hooman.

Also Read: Viral video shows herd protecting pink baby elephant in India

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On May 30, Bharatiya Kisan Union ( BKU) chief and chaudhary (head) of the Baliyan khap in Uttar Pradesh, Naresh Tikait helped avert what would have been a national disaster when he persuaded the wrestlers to not immerse their medals  a rich haul from the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games  in the Ganga. PREMIUM Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait, rushed to Haridwar where wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and others had gathered to immerse their medals and persuaded them to not do so(ANI)

For one, khap choudharies and the thambedars (regional heads), as well as representatives of different communities, discussed the situation that arose after police detained the wrestlers on May 28 for marching from Jantar Mantar, where they had been staging a protest for over a month, towards the newly inaugurated Parliament. At the meeting, it was decided that a delegation will meet the President of India and demand the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brijbhusan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several wrestlers, including a minor. They would also petition the President to withdraw the cases registered against the wrestlers after their march.

On June 1, he held a meeting of the khap chaudharies in Soram village of Muzaffarnagar, in which the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of farmers' unions, also participated. General secretary of Sarv Khap Subhash Baliyan had said that the outcome of Sorams meeting will play a vital role in deciding the direction that the wrestlers protest will take in the coming days.

Tikait, 62, rushed to Haridwar where wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and others had gathered to immerse their medals and persuaded them to not do so. With the medals in his custody, Tikait sought five days from the wrestlers to ensure their demands were met. Since then, hes been a busy man.

On June 2, a khap maha panchayat was held at Haryanas Kurukshetra, where the leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Nareshs younger brother and farmer leader, issued an ultimatum: arrest Singh by June 9 or else, khaps representatives will descend on Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, and begin their protests.

The SKM had also planned to burn Singhs effigies across the country on June 6 and raise slogans against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief accused of sexually harassing at least 10 wrestlers.

Tikait's entry into the fray added heft to the wrestlers' demands seeking the arrest of Singh, against whom the Delhi police have lodged two FIRs, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) in April.

Meanwhile, an embattled Singh said last week that the Delhi police was conducting its probe into the allegations against him. "If there's any truth to the charges (levelled against him by the wrestlers), an arrest will be made," the six-time Member of Parliament said. Earlier, he had vowed to get the government "under the leadership of seers" to change the POCSO act on grounds that it was "being misused" against him. Several wrestlers who are part of the protest have questioned the delay in arresting Singh, in accordance with the requirements of POCSO that lays down immediate arrest.

Last week, Singh also cancelled the grand rally in Ayodhya that he planned for safety reasons.

We have cancelled the rally, you can say, due to safety reasons. Still, I welcome those who have supported me, Singh told reporters in Ayodhya on June 3.

The Jan Chetna Maha Rally was scheduled for June 5.

However, on June 3, Union home minister Amit Shah reportedly met the wrestlers in a late-night meeting that went on till midnight. He reportedly asked them to allow due process to take its course. On learning of this meeting, the BKU and several khaps that were part of the mahapanchayats, decided on June 5 to pull back from the agitation.

Rakesh Tikait and scores of khap leaders are not happy with wrestlers approaching the home minister without informing them or consulting with them. They came to know about the meeting through the media, a person close to Tikait said.

Clutching the medals in his hands near the banks of the Ganga, Naresh Tikait accused the Centre of not honouring its own slogan Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. This is no way to treat our daughters, he said.

Naresh Tikait is a well-regarded farm leader who took over the leadership of Baliyan khap in 2011, after the death of his father, a renowned farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, who also headed the BKU. Rakesh Tikait, 54, is the national spokesperson of BKU, and has also been involved in organising mahapanchayats of the clan-based outfits in support of the wrestlers protests.

Baliyan khap and Deshkhap are two largest khaps in the region with clan members spread across 84 villages in western Uttar Pradesh. Gathwala khap has members in 52 villages; Deshwal khap in about another 70. Besides these, Ahlawat khap, Kundu khap, Latiyan khap, Beniwal khap are some of the other prominent khaps in western UP, Haryana and Punjab. All khaps get together under the banner of Sarv khap whenever a pressing social matter pertaining to their clans needs to be discussed. They issue either common or separate directions for their clans to follow.

Khaps and their heads take on the responsibility of laying down prohibitions on the various members over social issues ranging from drug addiction to the right expenditures for a wedding, dowry and foeticide. Some khap heads in particular promote girls education and their participation in sports.

For the khaps, which play a vital role in the social life of its clan members, the allegations of sexual assault simply could not be ignored: the dishonour claimed by the women wrestlers became an issue involving the honour of the entire khap.

Naresh Tikaits scarring criticism of the government  so close to the 2024 general assembly polls  will no doubt be a concern for the ruling BJP, which has already encountered the Tikait brothers when they joined forces with the farmers' protests to form the SKM in 2020. Both brothers played a significant role in the farmers protests held in 2020-21 to protest against the three farm acts passed by the Parliament in September 2020. The acts were eventually rolled back.

Farmer leader Surendra Singh explained that being head of Baliyan Khap and BKU, Naresh Tikait could not ignore injustice to women who also hailed from villages and farmers' families.

Subhash Baliyan said that most of the wrestlers came from different khaps, and it was the responsibility of their khap leaders to protect them.

According to political analyst Jamshed Zaidi, BKUs call for justice for their daughters, is no small ask. Though many farmers organisations broke away from BKU after the demise of Mahendra Singh Tikait, forming their own organisations, the farmers protests a few years ago showed the unifying role that the BKU still played.

BKU is an organisation of farmers and many khap chaudharies are also associated with it. So how can they ignore issues of village daughters, Surendra Singh said.

With the BKU withdrawing from the agitation, and the wrestlers back at their government posts (all three are OSDs in the Indian Railway), it remains to be seen what will happen of the agitation against Singh. One things clear though: the five days Naresh Tikait sought were certainly eventful.
Times Square in New York is a famous tourist destination known for its lively atmosphere. It attracts performers from all over the world who showcase their talents and entertain both locals and tourists. This is the reason why videos of people performing at Times Square often go viral. And this particular video is no different. It features a woman dancing energetically to the tunes of Radha Kaise Na Jale at Times Square. The song is from the film Lagaan and is picturised on actors Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh. Asha Bhosle and Udit Narayan sang the song. Javed Akhtar wrote the songs lyrics, while AR Rahman composed it. Woman tapping her feet energetically to Aamir Khan and Gracy Singhs Radha Kaise Na Jale at Times Square in New York.(Instagram/@samadnya.k)

The video was shared on Instagram by New York-based dancer Samadnya. While sharing the video, she wrote, I had the most wholesome encounter so far, as it turned out, I just had to stay confident and keep dancing. Their reaction makes me want to go out there and push myself out of my comfort zone!

The video opens to show Samadnya, dressed in a top and palazzo, dancing her heart out at New Yorks Times Square. As the video progresses, two women passing by are captivated by her performance and pause to watch her perform. As the video goes on, Samadnya continues to showcase her dance skills, completely immersed in the music and the moment. The text overlay on the video reads, I was dancing in public and this happened.

Watch the viral video featuring Samadnyas dance here:

Since being shared three days ago on Instagram, the video has garnered more than 2.2 million views, and the numbers are only increasing. Many even took to the videos comments section to share their thoughts. While some appreciated the beauty of the dance, others raised concerns about the inconvenience caused by obstructing peoples paths.

Heres how people reacted to the video:

Many were not impressed with the woman dancing at Times Square, with some expressing discontent about the obstruction caused. An Individual posted, The dance is beautiful, but it may be disrespectful and interrupting as you are in the way of many people who might be in a hurry. Never dance in someones way. Lets start with that, added another. A third commented, I fail to understand what is the fun in obstructing like this. Omg you gotta really respect a public place! You could record your talent in a suitable place thats appreciated! This is not something you gotta be proud of, expressed a fourth.

Some even praised her dance at Times Square. I am loving the choreography, wrote an individual. Another shared, Beautifully done. Beautiful, expressed a third. A fourth shared, Hey I saw you in New York while you were shooting this. Its amazing. Amazing! Love it, commented a fifth.

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Australia's most decorated soldier was "complicit in and responsible for the murder" of three Afghan men on deployment, a judge said, elaborating on his finding against the former SAS special forces corporal in a blockbuster defamation trial. Ben Roberts-Smith(AP)

Ben Roberts-Smith, holder of the Victoria Cross and other top military honours, was also "not an honest and reliable witness in ... many areas" and a bully toward other Australian soldiers, Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko said in his full judgement released on Monday.

Besanko on Thursday threw out Roberts-Smith's defamation case against three Australian newspapers which had accused him of unlawful killings in Afghanistan. Besanko said the media outlets had proven substantial truth in their reporting, ending a case which lifted the veil of secrecy over the elite SAS.

Australian civil courts require a lower threshold to prove accusations than criminal courts do. Roberts-Smith has not been charged with any offences and has not commented since the ruling. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment. Roberts-Smith has since quit his job as a television executive.

Besanko delayed releasing reasons for his judgement until Monday to allow the Australian government time to ensure it did not inadvertently divulge national security secrets.

"I have found that the applicant (Roberts-Smith) was complicit in and responsible for the murder of EKIA56 ... in 2009 and the murder of Ali Jan at Darwan on 11 September 2012 and the murder of the Afghan male at Chinartu on 12 October 2012," Besanko said in his 736-page civil court judgment.

Roberts-Smith was accused by the newspapers of ordering a lower-ranking soldier to shoot dead an "older Afghan male", identified in the case as EKIA56, to "blood the rookie", he said.

READ | Australia's greatest living war hero murdered, committed war crimes, says court

In addition, Besanko said: "I find that in a compound in Chinartu ... the applicant, through an interpreter ordered (an un-named person) to shoot an Afghan male who was under detention".

A soldier who was there "shot the Afghan male in circumstances amounting to murder. The applicant (Roberts-Smith) was complicit in and responsible for murder", the judgment said.

Besanko found Roberts-Smith engaged in a "campaign of bullying" against another Australian soldier, including what he called a "death threat" when Roberts-Smith said: "if your performance doesn't improve on our next patrol, you're going to get a bullet in the back of the head".

He also said Roberts-Smith was not a reliable witness in one of the country's longest-running defamation cases and had reasons to lie.

"The applicant has motives to lie, being a financial motive to support his claim for damages in these proceedings, a motive to restore his reputation which he contends has been destroyed by the publication of the articles and significantly, a motive to resist findings against him which may affect whether further action is taken against him," Besanko said wrote.

"I find that the applicant was not an honest and reliable witness in ... many areas," he added.

Roberts-Smith, 44, was seen as a national hero, with his portrait hanging in the Australian War Memorial, for his actions during six tours of Afghanistan from 2006 to 2012 and military citations.A 2020 report found credible evidence that members of Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) killed dozens of unarmed prisoners in the lengthy Afghan war. Only one soldier has been charged.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to threaten his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis with kidnapping charges Monday, as a second planeload of migrants arrived via private jet in state capital Sacramento. FILE  California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks with union electricians at Proxima Solar Farm outside Patterson, Calif., on May 19, 2023. California has struggled to meet growing demand for electricity as the state transitions away from fossil fuels. Gov. Newsom has proposed the purchasing power of the state to purchase large amounts of new renewable energy, including from offshore wind and geothermal power plants. (Andy Alfaro/The Modesto Bee via AP, File)(AP)

The confrontation comes after DeSantis -- a rising Republican star and potential presidential candidate in 2024 -- has pursued a policy of flying migrants to Democratic-controlled states, in protest at President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

Last September, DeSantis arranged and paid for nearly 50 migrants to fly from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, a wealthy resort island in the northeastern state of Massachusetts.

While Florida officials have not commented on the two recent flights to Sacramento, California officials said some of the migrants were carrying documentation "purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida."

ALSO READ| Ex-US vice president Mike Pence officially enters 2024 Presidential race, files paperwork

"@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man," tweeted Newsom on Monday.

"This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?" he added, including a screenshot of California's legal code on kidnapping.

The first planeload of more than a dozen migrants, originally from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Friday.

They had crossed the United States border into Texas and were transported to New Mexico before boarding a plane.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office was "evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants."

"State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting," he said in a statement.

PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants, said the group did not know they were being taken to California, and had been approached by people offering them jobs.

A second planeload of around 20 migrants, mainly from Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Monday, the New York Times reported.

Wilkendri Rodriguez, 23, told the newspaper he had been approached by four people in El Paso, Texas and asked if he wanted to go to California.

"I don't know what is their motivation to organize these trips," he said. "I don't know if it's political, or part of the government. They didn't tell us anything."

A California Department of Justice official told US media it appeared the same company, Vertol Systems, as well as the state of Florida, had been involved in both operations.

ALSO READ| Trump too small or not (on T-shirts), US top court will decide

DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the flights.

Separately on Monday, a Texas sheriff investigating the migrant flights last September from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard recommended criminal charges.

A criminal investigation found the migrants were lured onto flights with false promises of jobs and opportunities on the other end, according to the Miami Herald.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday formally launched his 2024 presidential campaign, joining a growing Republican field led by former President Donald Trump. Christie, who served as an adviser to Trump's successful 2016 campaign but has since become a vocal critic over his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged, filed paperwork declaring his candidacy. He is scheduled to announce his White House bid later on Tuesday at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie.(AFP)

Read here: Ex-US vice-president Mike Pence enters 2024 Presidential race as challenger to Trump

A former federal prosecutor, Christie, 60, has argued he is the only potential rival with the skills and willingness to attack Trump directly.

Christie has not fared well in public opinion polling thus far, however. He netted just 1% support from potential Republican primary voters in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May, compared to Trump's 49% support and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 19% support.

Other Republicans seeking to challenge President Joe Biden include former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Senator Tim Scott. Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to enter the race on Wednesday.

Christie ran for president in 2016 but ended his bid after a disappointing finish in the New Hampshire primary and became the first major party figure to throw his support behind Trump.

He since has urged Republicans to disavow Trump's assertions about the 2020 election and told reporters he would not vote for Trump in 2024, even if Trump won the nomination.

That strategy may entice Republican voters who are ready to move past Trump, but it remains unclear whether any Republican can prevail without the support of Trump's still-loyal base.

As an underdog, Christie could end up playing the role of spoiler, a position he found himself occupying in 2016, when his dissection of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio at a debate days before Christie dropped out of the race blunted Rubio's momentum.

Christie first emerged as a national figure on the strength of his two terms from 2009 to 2017 as governor of Democratic-leaning New Jersey, where his confrontational approach to politics earned him plaudits from admirers and accusations of bullying from detractors.

His tenure was tarnished by the so-called "Bridgegate" scandal, in which two allies deliberately shut down lanes at the heavily trafficked George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York City to punish a local mayor for failing to endorse Christie's re-election.

Read here: US Presidential candidate Nikki Haley calls India one of biggest polluters, sparks row

Christie has said he was unaware of the plot at the time, but witnesses at a criminal trial for the two allies testified that the governor knew about the lane closures.

Despite his early support for Trump, Christie was passed over for vice president and for attorney general, and was fired as the head of Trump's transition team just three days after the 2016 election. (Reporting by Joseph Ax Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)
Prince Harry gave evidence on Tuesday at the High Court in London in his lawsuit against the publisher of British tabloid the Daily Mirror, which he accuses of phone-hacking and other unlawful acts. Britain's Prince Harry at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London(AP)

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, has previously admitted its titles were involved in phone-hacking, but said there was no evidence that Harry had ever been a victim.

Below are quotes and highlights from the courtroom where Harry is due to face hours of cross-examination in the witness box on Tuesday and Wednesday:

STATE OF PRESS AND GOVERNMENT AT ROCK BOTTOM

"On a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom," Harry said in a written witness statement.

"Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo."

'UTTERLY VILE' BEHAVIOUR

"In my experience as a member of the Royal Family, each of us gets cast into a specific role by the tabloid press," Harry wrote in his written statement.

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile."

PALACE REACTION

Asked why Buckingham Palace had not complained to the press complaints watchdog about a story if it was untrue, he said: "That would mean, my lord, complaining pretty much every day."

DRUG USE

Asked whether he believed the voicemails of his father King Charles had been hacked over a story about him taking drugs, Harry said: "Potentially unlawful information gathering, yes."

Andrew Green, MGN's lawyer, said that the "unpleasant reality" is that Harry's private information was "sometimes provided to the press with the consent of the palace or people within the palace".

Harry replied: "From certain individuals, yes."

JAMES HEWITT

Harry addressed the rumours that his real father was Major James Hewitt, with whom his mother had a relationship.

"They were hurtful, mean and cruel," he said in the witness statement. "I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories. Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family?"

PAUL BURRELL

One story reported Harry had sworn about his mother's former butler Paul Burrell. "That's a terminology I used when describing Mr Burrell," Harry said. "I... believe this could have been lifted directly from a voicemail I had left."

LIFE WASTED ON PARANOIA

Harry said in his witness statement: "It's only now, realising what the defendant's (MGN's) journalists were doing, and how they were getting their information, that I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

"I've always heard people refer to my mother as paranoid, but she wasn't. She was fearful of what was actually happening to her and now I know that I was the same."

'TOTAL SPECULATION'

Green suggested to Harry that his allegation that an article about him breaking his thumb as a teenager was the result of phone hacking or other unlawful information gathering was "in the realms of total speculation".

Harry said "that kind of stuff instills a kind of paranoia for a young man at school where he has to go to the medical centre and can't now trust the doctors".

BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS?

Harry was asked about a passage in his statement on the press, in which he said: "How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?"

Asked if the MGN journalists who wrote the articles at the centre of his lawsuit had "blood on their hands", he replied: "Some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases - perhaps inadvertently - death."

GIRLFRIENDS

"At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal," Harry wrote in his witness statement.

ON PIERS MORGAN

"The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mother's private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a 'nightmare time' three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick."

Morgan, the Mirror's former editor and now a high-profile broadcaster, has denied any involvement in unlawful behaviour.
The United States learned of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines three months before they were damaged last September by underwater explosions, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online. Gas leak at Nord Stream 2. (Reuters)

Read here: Russian-occupied Ukraine city 'flooded' after Nova Kakhovka dam breach

The CIA learned last June, through a European spy agency, that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to blow up the Russia-to-Germany project, the newspaper reported.

The intelligence reporting was shared online on Discord, purportedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested in April and charged in relation to the leak of sensitive U.S. documents. The Washington Post said it obtained a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends.

The intelligence report was based on information provided by a person in Ukraine, the Washington Post said, adding the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.

The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that investigations into the Nord Stream attack were active.

"The last thing that we're going to want to do from this podium is get ahead of those investigations," Kirby said when asked about The Post's reporting on the matter.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas in the political spotlight. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines hastened the region's switch to other energy suppliers.

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to pump 110 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year to Germany.

The Post said it agreed to withhold the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the suspected plan at the request of government officials, citing risks to sources and operations.

The CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not immediately confirm the intelligence cited by the Washington Post.

Several underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

Read here: Ukraine's secret sabotage: Agents and drones strike Russian targets, reveals report

The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries said the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. Those countries and Germany are investigating.

Washington and NATO called the incident "an act of sabotage." Moscow blamed the West, accusing investigators of dragging their feet and trying to conceal who was behind the attack.
Prince Harry is set to make history as he takes the witness stand at the High Court in London on Tuesday, becoming the first British royal to do so since the 1890s. The trial is part of his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, and the Sunday People tabloids. Let's dive into the details of the trial and the key moments that have unfolded so far: Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Prince Harry is due at a London court to testify against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. Harry alleges that journalists at the Daily Mirror and its sister papers used unlawful techniques on an "industrial scale" to get scoops. Publisher Mirror Group Newspapers is contesting the claims.(AP)

The Court Case Unveiled

Prince Harry, along with over 100 other individuals, is suing MGN for alleged unlawful activities between 1991 and 2011. They accuse the media group of widespread phone-hacking and obtaining private information through deception. The claimants' lawyers argue that senior editors and executives were aware and approved of these practices, while MGN contests the claims and denies knowledge of wrongdoing.

Prince Harry was chosen as one of four test cases for the trial, which commenced on May 10. However, he did not appear in court as expected on Monday, surprising both the judge and MGN's lawyers.

The Allegations

Harry claims that 140 stories published by MGN papers were the result of phone hacking or other unlawful behavior. These articles allegedly affected his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy and strained his bond with his elder brother, Prince William. MGN admitted to instructing private investigators to unlawfully gather information about Harry and apologized for their actions.

Phone Hacking Background

Phone hacking, the illegal interception of voicemails, first came to public attention in 2006 when a royal editor and a private investigator from Rupert Murdoch's News of the World were arrested and later jailed. Further revelations in 2011 led to the closure of the paper and a criminal trial. Mirror Group had previously denied involvement in hacking but admitted liability in four cases in 2014. settling over 600 claims since then.

Harry's Motivation

Harry's legal action against MGN aims to shed light on alleged unlawful activities and hold the media accountable. He views it as a broader battle against the abuse of power within the press. In addition to the MGN case, he is pursuing legal action against Murdoch's News Group Newspapers and Associated Newspapers over phone hacking and privacy breaches.

Cross-Examination and Media Attention

During his testimony, Prince Harry is expected to face cross-examination by MGN's lawyers, who will likely challenge his evidence, reliability, and the timing of his claims. The trial has attracted significant media attention, with the prince using this platform to directly accuse journalists and seek justice for what he perceives as harm caused to his mental health and the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana.

Impact on the Royal Family

Prince Harry's decision to take legal action against several British newspapers has disrupted the traditional "never complain, never explain" approach of the royal family. He sees his actions as a necessary crusade against media misconduct and has criticized other family members for prioritizing good relations with tabloids over pursuing meaningful change.

Also read | Prince Harry sets gift boundaries, puts brakes on King Charles' extravagant birthday bash for Lilibet

As the trial continues, Prince Harry's appearance in court signals a significant moment in the battle between the royal family and the tabloid press. The outcome of this case, along with his other ongoing legal actions, may shape the future relationship between the British monarchy and the media.
In a dramatic courtroom battle, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, faces off against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), revealing a web of contradictions and sensational revelations. The case revolves around the unlawful gathering of information by tabloid newspapers, alleged phone hacking, and the erosion of Harry's relationship with his brother, Prince William. Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence in London, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Prince Harry has given evidence from the witness box and has sworn to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping. He alleges that journalists at the Daily Mirror and its sister papers used unlawful techniques on an "industrial scale" to get scoops. Publisher Mirror Group Newspapers is contesting the claims.(AP)

"Mirror Mirror on the wall! Is the tabloid going to fall?"

As the proceedings unfold, here are the ten key points that have emerged, shedding light on a complex and captivating legal battle.

1] Harry's Memoir Contradictions

The courtroom drama began when Harry was forced to acknowledge that his memoir contradicted claims he made during the High Court proceedings. He admitted to not including his opposition to meeting his mother's former butler, Paul Burrell, in his memoir, a revelation that raised questions about the truthfulness of his earlier statements.

2] Seeds of Discord between the Brothers

Harry's barrister, David Sherborne, argued that tabloid newspapers' unlawful information gathering contributed to the deterioration of the relationship between Harry and Prince William. The courtroom was abuzz as Sherborne presented evidence suggesting that these newspapers sowed "seeds of discord" between the brothers.

3] The Burrell Conundrum

During cross-examination, Harry's memory faltered when asked about his stance on meeting Paul Burrell. Conflicting statements emerged, with Harry oscillating between admitting he couldn't remember and asserting that he would have wanted a meeting. The courtroom was left in suspense as Harry grappled with the past.

4] Hostility from Birth

Harry asserted that he had faced hostility from the press since birth, painting a picture of a lifelong struggle against intrusive media. The Duke detailed the shock he experienced upon discovering the unlawful methods used to obtain information for tabloid articles. His hope, he said, was to hold the tabloid press accountable and put an end to the madness.

5] Palace Collaboration

Harry made allegations that the Palace sometimes cooperated with the press on stories about him, raising questions about the extent of collusion between the royal institution and media outlets. The Duke recalled an incident involving the now-defunct News of the World and its editor Rebekah Brooks, implying that his own family was involved in negotiating stories.

6] Public Domain Defense

MGN's legal team countered Harry's claims by arguing that much of the information in the articles was already in the public domain. They highlighted instances where details about Harry's life were previously published by other newspapers, challenging the notion of unlawful information gathering.

7] Flight Blagging and Privacy Invasion

Harry accused the Mirror of invading his privacy during a Mozambique holiday. He claimed that journalists checked into his hotel before his arrival, blagged information about his travel plans, and even advertised his flight details. The Duke expressed distress and bewilderment at how such personal information was obtained.

8] Phone Hacking Allegations

Phone hacking allegations surfaced during the proceedings, further intensifying the courtroom drama. While MGN admitted one incident of phone hacking, Harry suggested a wider culture of information acquisition and fierce competition among newsrooms, making it impossible to believe that his private life was off-limits.

9] Memories and Speculations

As the cross-examination continued, Harry struggled to recall specific details and events mentioned in the articles. He admitted not remembering whether he read certain articles at the time of their publication but emphasized that information tends to circulate widely, and journalists are adept at repurposing existing stories.

10] Disturbing Effects

Throughout the trial, the Duke expressed his distress at revisiting these articles and the impact they had on his life. The courtroom witnessed a vulnerable side of Harry, as he confronted the painful memories and ongoing repercussions of media intrusion.

Also read | Prince Harry takes the stand in Mirror trial. Here's all you need to know about the royal showdown with a tabloid
In a new twist to the ongoing conflict between Republicans and the FBI, Representative James Comer (R-Ky.) has accused the bureau of withholding an unclassified document that allegedly implicates President Joe Biden in a criminal bribery scheme. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., speaks to reporters after he and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, met with FBI officials to view confidential documents Comer demanded in his investigation of President Joe Biden's family, Monday, June 5, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)(AP)

Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has stated that if the document is not released, Republicans will initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against FBI Director Christopher Wray.

The revelation came to light in a letter dated May 3, by Comer and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). They claimed to have received "highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures" indicating the existence of a document that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money-for-policy decisions.

While Wray has confirmed the document's existence, he has refused to provide it to the committee, leading to an intensifying standoff between House Republicans and the FBI.

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Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and the White House have challenged the document's credibility, dismissing it as based on unsubstantiated allegations.

In a recent meeting with Wray, Comer stated that the FBI director acknowledged the document's credibility, its origin from a trusted FBI source, and its current status as the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation. Comer emphasized the importance of the document, asserting that no amount of spin or denials from the White House or congressional Democrats could change the facts.

Comer stated, Today, FBI officials confirmed that the unclassified FBI-generated record has not been disproven and is currently being used in an ongoing investigation, added, The confidential human source who provided information about then-Vice President Biden being involved in a criminal bribery scheme is a trusted, highly credible informant who has been used by the FBI for over 10 years, and has been paid over six figures

These are facts, and no amount of spin and, frankly, lies from the White House or congressional Democrats can change this information, Comer said.

Expressing frustration over the FBI's refusal to hand over the unclassified record, Comer announced the Republicans' intention to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against Wray.

Comer expressed to the Epoch Times that the documents should be open to all: I think everybody should see it.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) supported this move, insisting that every member of the committee should have access to the document for oversight purposes. He said, Everybody on that committee has the responsibility of oversight.[Wray] needs to supply it to everybody on the committee. If not we will move forward.

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The clash between Congress and the FBI occurs against the backdrop of a series of Republican investigations into the Biden family and the administration.

Previous reports have raised questions about President Joe Biden's involvement in his son Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine, suggesting that the former vice president may have profited from those arrangements.

Should the alleged document be deemed authentic and credible, it could potentially trigger further legal actions against President Biden, who has announced his intention to seek a second term. If the Oversight Committee advances a contempt charge, it will require a full House vote. If the charges are recommended, Attorney General Merrick Garland will be tasked with determining whether a crime has occurred.

The FBI, in response to inquiries, has called the move to proceed with contempt proceedings against Wray "unwarranted."

The FBI has continually demonstrated its commitment to accommodate the committees request, including by producing the document in a reading room at the U.S. Capitol, an FBI spokesperson stated.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said late Tuesday that Britain's military and intelligence agencies were probing whether Russia blew up a dam in southern Ukraine, but that it was "too soon" to make "a definitive judgement". UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Reuters)

Read here: 'Environmental bomb of mass destruction': Ukraine's Zelensky on dam attack

Describing the destruction of the Russian-held Kakhovka dam as "the largest attack on civilian infrastructure" since the start of the war, the British leader added if Moscow was responsible, it would "demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression".

"Our military and intelligence agencies are currently looking at it... but what I can't say is if it's intentional," Sunak told reporters en route to the United States for a bilateral visit and meeting with President Joe Biden.

"Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong. We've seen previous instances of that in this conflict so far, but it's too early to say definitively," he added.

Sunak said he would be discussing the situation in Ukraine with Biden at their White House meeting on Thursday, but noted the immediate response was humanitarian.

The UK had already put resources and funding in place to support both the United Nations and the Red Cross, which can divert resources to help evacuations and other emergency responses, he added.

"We were already thinking ahead about situations like this, and I'm pleased that the UK is continuing to support Ukraine in lots of different ways," Sunak said.

Read here: Hundreds of thousands at risk from Ukraine's Kakhovka dam destruction: UN

Earlier, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly denounced the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as an "abhorrent act".

"Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime," he wrote on social media, promising support for Kyiv and those affected.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will advocate for a deepening of economic ties between the United Kingdom and the United States when he speaks to the country's lawmakers and business representatives during his trip to Washington D.C. this week, the British government said in a press release. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.(AP)

Read here: UK agencies probing Ukraine dam destruction: Rishi Sunak

Citing global threats to markets and resources, Sunak will call for economic security cooperation between the two countries to be "as extensive as our cooperation on traditional security," the British government said in a press release.

Sunak is due to be in the US capital on Wednesday and Thursday for talks with politicians in Congress and business leaders as well as with the president.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that US-built F-16 fighter jets can "accommodate" nuclear weapons and warned that supplying Kyiv with them will escalate the conflict further. F-16 Fighting Falcon.(AFP)

Read here: US had intelligence of Ukraine's plan to attack Nord Stream pipelines: Report

"We must keep in mind that one of the modifications of the F-16 can 'accommodate' nuclear weapons," Lavrov said in a speech at a military base in Dushanbe in Tajikistan, according to a transcript on the ministry's website.

"If they do not understand this, then they are worthless as military strategists and planners."

White House spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday declined to discuss the nuclear capabilities of the F-16 fighters but noted that US President Joe Biden has been consistent that he does not want to see the war escalate, certainly not into the nuclear realm.

"The purpose of providing advanced fighter aircraft is to help Ukraine defend itself defend its airspace and its territorial integrity period," Kirby said.

Kirby also had a message for Lavrov: "If youre worried about Ukrainian military capabilities, then you should take your troops and leave Ukraine."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has long appealed for the F-16 jets, saying their appearance with Ukrainian pilots would be a sure signal from the world that Russia's invasion would end in defeat

Read here: Russian-occupied Ukraine city 'flooded' after Nova Kakhovka dam breach

Biden told G7 leaders last month that Washington supported joint allied training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.

US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, however, said there was no final decision on Washington sending aircraft.
The UN warned Tuesday that the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine could spark an environmental disaster and have dire humanitarian consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. Streets are flooded in Kherson after the Kakhovka dam was blown up overnight.(AP)

Read here: Russian-occupied Ukraine city 'flooded' after Nova Kakhovka dam breach

An attack on the major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine unleashed a torrent of water that flooded a small city, inundated two dozen villages and sparked the evacuation of 17,000 people.

But the United Nations cautioned that the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the attack, for which Moscow and Kyiv traded blame, were likely to be much more far-reaching.

"We are gravely concerned about the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, ... and the severe humanitarian impact on hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the front line," the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said.

Pointing to reports from Ukrainian authorities that nearly 40 towns and villages were fully or partially flooded, the agency highlighted that "thousands have lost their homes overnight", while thousands more have lost access to water, food and basic services.

"The impact is also expected to be severe in the Russian-controlled areas," it warned.

Crimea, which reportedly receives water from the Kakhovka reservoir, would also be impacted.

While the scope and impact of the destruction of the dam and the depletion of the Kakhovka Reservoir were still being assessed, OCHA warned they were "projected to have severe and longer-term consequences on the humanitarian situation in the area".

Among other things, it cautioned, "flooding and fast-moving water can move mines and explosive ordnance to new areas which previously had been assessed as safe, thus putting more people in danger".

OCHA said emergency humanitarian response efforts were underway to provide urgent assistance to more than 16,000 people, including water supplies.

The UN's International Organization for Migration meanwhile lamented the severe damage to vital infrastructure and warned of "an environmental disaster looming".

"This attack has put thousands of lives at risk, caused severe environmental damage and led to further serious strain on response services in a country already dealing with the humanitarian fallout of more than a year of war," IOM chief Antonio Vitorino said in the statement.

Read here: Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka dam breach: What happened and why is it significant?

The agency said its initial assessment of the situation indicated that drinking water and food were the priority immediate needs, and said it was rushing in clean water supplies to areas receiving evacuated people.

"Given the effect on water supplies and the likelihood of flooding, waterborne diseases pose a serious threat," it warned.
As shelling from Russias war on Ukraine echoed overhead, dozens of evacuees on an island in the Dnieper River scurried onto the tops of military trucks or into rafts to flee rising floodwaters caused by the breach of a dam upstream. Local residents carry their belongings from a flooded house after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine.(Reuters)

Read here: Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka dam breach: What happened and why is it significant?

The unnerving bark of dogs left behind further soured the mood of those ferried to safety. A woman in one raft clutched the head of her despondent daughter. A stalled military truck stuck in swelling waters raised the panic level as Red Cross teams tried to manage an orderly evacuation.

Nobody knew just how high the waters rushing through a gaping hole in the Kakhovka dam would rise, or whether people or pets would escape alive.

The scrambled evacuation by boat and military truck from an island neighborhood off the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson downstream on Tuesday testified to the latest human chaos caused by Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of purposely destroying the dam. Russian authorities blamed recent Ukrainian military strikes.

The Russians have hit the dam, and didnt think of consequences, said Oleksandr Sokeryn, who fled his house with his family after it was completely flooded. They should not be forgiven.

Officials on both sides said the massive dam breach had caused no civilian casualties, and the hurried escape was aimed to keep it that way.

The island neighborhood was one residential area in the direct slipstream of Tuesday's catastrophe, which experts said was expected to play out over days as pent-up waters from the Kakhovka reservoir wash their way unhindered on way to the Black Sea.

Read here: 'Environmental bomb of mass destruction': Ukraine's Zelensky on dam attack

It could take days to know the real toll and damage.

In the early morning, before the floodwaters arrived, many residents tried to stick it out. But as the water level climbed in the streets, rising nearly to the tops of bus stops or the second floor of buildings, national guard teams and emergency crews fanned out to retrieve people who got stranded.

Some found themselves floating under the rafters of their homes as the waters rose. Space was limited on the trucks, and an effort to tow two rafts behind one went awry when the ropes snapped. One man chucked his German shepherd from the roof of the stalled truck onto another. Some residents clung to each other to keep from falling into the rising tide.

Officials said about 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas on the eastern side of the river, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory on the western side  areas like those evacuated on Tuesday.

The United Nations said at least 16,000 people have already lost their homes, and efforts were underway to provide water, money, and legal and emotional support to those affected. Evacuations on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the river were ferrying people to cities including Mykolaiv and Odesa to the west.

While towns and villages in downstream Dnieper River are going under water, the human and environmental cost of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam is a huge humanitarian disaster  and the international community must unite to bring those responsible to justice, said Amnesty Internationals regional director for Eastern Europe Marie Struthers.

The rules of international humanitarian law specifically protect dams, due to the dangers their destruction poses to civilians, she said.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the flood caused by the dam breach was projected to have severe and longer-term consequences on the humanitarian situation in the area such as by moving mines and explosive ordnance to new areas.

Kherson, which was liberated by Ukrainian forces last fall, has already seen some of the worst from Russias blitzkrieg campaign against Ukraine  alleged rape, arbitrary killings, and enforced disappearances during months of Russian occupation.

Read here: UK agencies probing Ukraine dam destruction: Rishi Sunak

Today, shelling regularly continues from across the nearby front line demarcated by the river.
Senior US and Chinese diplomats held candid and productive talks in Beijing and agreed to keep open lines of communication to avoid tensions from spiraling into conflict, officials said Tuesday. Senior US and Chinese diplomats held "candid and productive" talks in Beijing and agreed to keep open lines of communication to avoid tensions from spiraling into conflict, officials said Tuesday.(AP)

Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant US secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, was the most senior US official confirmed to have visited China on Monday since tensions between Washington and Beijing soared over the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon over the US in early February.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the time postponed a planned trip to China, and Beijing has since largely rebuffed attempts at official exchanges, though two top US and Chinese defense officials briefly interacted at a forum in Singapore over the weekend.

Chinas Foreign Ministry said Kritenbrink and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu had candid, constructive and fruitful communication on promoting the improvement of China-US relations and properly managing differences.

Beijing said it had stated its solemn position on Taiwan  a self-ruled island China claims as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary  and other issues and that the two sides had agreed to maintain communication.

The US State Department also said the two officials held candid and productive discussions as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and build on recent high-level diplomacy between the two countries.

The US Navy on Sunday complained about an unsafe interaction in the Taiwan Strait, after a Chinese warship came within 150 yards (137 meters) of a US destroyer. And last month, a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, where Beijing shares overlapping territorial claims with other nations.

CIA Director William Burns last month reportedly took a secret trip to Beijing in another sign the two sides are interested in restoring communication through various channels.

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In a series of intriguing developments over the past six years, the topic of UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena has taken center stage in the United States. Black and White UAP image taken from a Naval Aircraft

It all started back in 2017 when the New York Times uncovered a revelation that former senator Harry Reid had discreetly allocated $22 million in Defense funding to investigate unidentified foreign objects. Since then, numerous Navy pilots have come forward with reports of frequent UFO sightings, prompting the Pentagon to revamp its investigation process in a bid to treat the matter more seriously.

Despite heightened scrutiny, these investigations have yet to yield any significant breakthroughs, with many of the objects sighted by pilots turning out to be mere balloons.

However, a recent report by Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, part of the team that broke the Times story in 2017, offers hope to those who believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Published on the science website the Debrief, the report unveils the account of a Defense intelligence whistleblower who alleges that classified evidence of "intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin" is being concealed by the Intelligence Community.

The whistleblower, David Charles Grusch, filed a complaint asserting that the Pentagon, along with other nations and defense contractors, has retrieved fragments "of exotic origin (non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin)" based on the analysis of vehicle morphologies, material science testing, and the presence of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures.

Grusch further claims that the recovered material includes both intact and partially intact vehicles.

What sets Grusch apart from previous UFO experts discredited by skeptics is his credible background. A 36-year-old combat veteran of Afghanistan, Grusch served as a member of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Forcean Office of Naval Intelligence program dedicated to investigating UFO sightings.

From 2019 to 2021, the whistleblower represented the National Reconnaissance Office, one of the prominent U.S. intelligence agencies, on the task force. His colleagues hold him in high regard, with retired Army colonel Karl Nell, another member of the UFO task force, describing Grusch as "beyond reproach."

Nell even corroborated one of Grusch's claims in the complaint, stating that there is an ongoing competition among countries to "identify [UFO] crashes/landings and retrieve the material for exploitation/reverse engineering."

Nell affirmed, "His assertion concerning the existence of a terrestrial arms race occurring sub-rosa over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct. As is the indisputable realization that at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence." Another intelligence official investigating UFOs, Jonathan Grey, echoed these sentiments, affirming that "the non-human intelligence phenomenon is real" and that "we are not alone." He emphasized that this is a global phenomenon, yet a global solution continues to elude humanity.

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The Debrief was privy to an unclassified version of Grusch's complaint, which revealed that evidence of extraterrestrial technology was deliberately withheld from congressional oversight by the Intelligence Community, effectively impeding legitimate scrutiny of the UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) Program. When Grusch raised concerns about this, he faced months of retaliation.

To protect the ongoing investigation's integrity, the report does not disclose the specific details of the retaliation. However, in response to the whistleblower complaint, an intelligence investigation has been launched. While the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence declined to comment, the Pentagon confirmed the information presented in the report back in April. Grusch, who retired in April, expressed his hope that his claims would deliver an "ontological shock."

Heres the exclusive interview with Grusch that aired on Monday:
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the bursting of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday as "an environmental bomb of mass destruction" and said only liberating the entire country could guarantee against new "terrorist" acts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (AFP)

Read here: Hundreds of thousands at risk from Ukraine's Kakhovka dam destruction: UN

"Such deliberate destruction by the Russian occupiers and other structures of the hydroelectric power station is an environmental bomb of mass destruction," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

Zelensky said the destruction of the dam would "not stop Ukraine and Ukrainians. We will still liberate all our land.

"Only the complete liberation of Ukrainian land from the Russian occupiers will guarantee that there will be more such terrorist attacks."

In his remarks, Zelensky also said Ukrainian prosecutors had already approached prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague "to involve international justice in the investigation of the destruction of the dam".

And for the second day running, Zelensky singled out military units fighting in and near the long-besieged eastern city of Bakhmut, while giving no details of the clashes.

Read here: Russian-occupied Ukraine city 'flooded' after Nova Kakhovka dam breach

"Thank you! For moving forward!" he said.
The recent air intercept by China over the South China Sea and maritime intercept across the Taiwan straits of American aircraft and vessels are a part of the Peoples Liberation Armys increasing level of aggressiveness and it wont be long before someone gets hurt, the White House has warned. This handout photo shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon observing the Chinese PLA Navy vessel Luyang III (top) while on a transit through the Taiwan Strait with the Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Montreal. (AFP)

But it has also said that if the Chinese were sending a signal of displeasure at the presence of the United States in the region, it wont succeed. If the message that they are trying to send is that we are not welcome or our presence needs to be diminished, or they want us to stop flying and sailing and operating in support of international law: not going to happen, said John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communication at the National Security Council during a regular press briefing at the White House on Monday.

Kirby was responding to questions about two recent incidents that have escalated tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

He said, on the air intercept, that China forced an American aircraft  an RC-135  to basically go through their jet wash. You saw the bump in the cockpit. That shows you how close that Chinese fighter was to our jet.

On the maritime intercept, Kirby said the Chinese vessel came just 150 yards away. Speaking as an old sailor myself, I will tell you, thats pretty close when you are in open waters like that. And you can see the head of steam that Chinese vessel had on it as it crossed the bow of one of our destroyers. Its unsafe. Its unprofessional.

Claiming the US was acting in accordance with international law, and warning that such intercepts can lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations, Kirby however made it clear it wont change the USs posture in the region.

We are going to keep flying, we are going to keep sailing, we are going to keep operating where international law allows us to. Its an important concept, freedom of navigation  whether its in the air or on the sea. Its an important concept that the United States is going to continue to stand up for.

Kirby said that the US was a Pacific power, it had serious commitments in that part of the world, five of the USs seven treaty alliances are in the Indo-Pacific; the vast majority of international economic trade moved through the Indo-Pacific.

We have got real needs there, and we are going to stay there. And we are going to continue to strengthen and revitalize those alliances and partnerships.

The military tensions have intensified even as the US is seeking hard to restore high level engagement at all levels with China to institute guardrails in the adversarial relationship. A senior State Department and NSC official are in Beijing. Central Intelligence Agency chief Bill Burns paid a secret visit to China last month. National security advisor Jake Sullivan met senior Chinese Communist Party foreign policy figure Wang Yi in Vienna for over eight hours last month.

However, Chinese defence minister, Li Shangfu, refused to meet US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-la dialogue in Singapore last week. And US officials have expressed concern at the absence of military to military communication.

Kirby said, Secretary Austin has, for his own part, tried to get those military-to-military lines back open for himself. And we have been unsuccessful. And thats unfortunate, particularly because while we spent the first 10 minutes in this press conference talking about these two dangerous, unsafe, unprofessional intercepts. Its exactly because of that you want to be able to have open lines of communication in the military channel.

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Robert P. Hanssen was a former F.B.I. agent, who spied for Moscow intermittently for more than two decades amid and following the Cold War has died. US Federal authorities notified that he was discovered dead in his prison cell in Colorado on Monday. He was 79. The identification and business card of former FBI agent Robert Hanssen.(AFP)

The Federal Bureau of Prisons declared in a statement that at the United States Penitentiary Florence, where he was serving a life sentence, Hanssen was discovered unresponsive shortly before 7 a.m. After extensive life-saving measures by emergency medical personnel, he was officially declared deceased. The cause of death has not been not specified in the statement.

Hanssen's case was distinguished as a highly infamous spy scandal in his generation, leaving F.B.I. leaders and government officials stunned when they discovered that one of their own had been transferring information to the other side for an extended period of time. Even today, the F.B.I. refers to him as the most damaging spy in bureau history.

Hanssen exchanged a substantial sum of $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, and diamonds for which he traded a multitude of classified information with Moscow. Among the disclosed secrets was the revelation that the United States government had constructed a tunnel beneath the Soviet embassy in Washington, allowing for the covert interception of diplomatic and other types of communications. Furthermore, he provided Moscow with details regarding three K.G.B. officers who were engaged in covert espionage on behalf of the United States, resulting in the subsequent execution of two of them.

The magnitude of Hanssens crimes cannot be overstated, remarked Paul J. McNulty, the U.S. attorney who was responsible for prosecution, said on Monday in response to the news of his demise. They will long be remembered as being among the most egregious betrayals of trust in U.S. history. It was both a low point and an investigative success for the FBI.

Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent deemed a traitor by the U.S. government. (REUTERS)

After joining the FBI in 1976 as a special agent, Mr. Hanssen held various counterintelligence roles that granted him access to classified data. It was three years into his tenure when he commenced spying for the Soviet Union. he initiated his espionage activities when he was appointed to a counterintelligence unit in New York, approaching the New York offices of Amtorg, a Soviet trade organization recognized as a front for the Soviet military intelligence agency.

Between 1980 and several years thereafter, Hanssen halted his espionage activities following an incident at his residence in Westchester County, N.Y. His wife, Bonnie, unexpectedly discovered him in the basement, prompting him to swiftly conceal his papers. Subsequently, he confessed his actions to his wife and a priest associated with Opus Dei, the conservative Catholic organization with which the couple was affiliated.

In 1985, Hanssen resumed his espionage activities, resupplying information to the K.G.B. However, this time he adopted more efficient measures to conceal his actions. Employing encrypted communications and other covert techniques, he in fact remained completely anonymous even to his Russian handlers.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officers (AP)

During the 1990s, following the apprehension of Aldrich Ames, a C.I.A. agent engaged in Russian espionage, both the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. became aware of another undisclosed individual who was still supplying classified information to Russia. Consequently, they launched an operation "Graysuit" to uncover the unidentified agent. However, it wasn't until 2000 that investigators made significant progress in their pursuit.

The F.B.I. paid a former Russian intelligence officer $7 million for a file containing information on the elusive mole, who referred to himself as B. Within the file was an audio recording featuring a voice that two F.B.I. analysts, familiar with Mr. Hanssen, eventually recognized.

Using fingerprints, the F.B.I. definitively confirmed the identity of the mole as Mr. Hanssen. They then conducted surveillance on him for several months, even granting him a promotion as a strategy to closely monitor him. In February 2001, he was apprehended in Foxstone Park, situated in the Vienna area of Washington, D.C., mere blocks away from his place of residence. The arrest occurred shortly after he had left classified documents in a trash bag at a predetermined "dead drop" location under a wooden footbridge, intended for his Russian handlers.

Upon his arrest, Mr. Hanssen displayed a lack of surprise, reportedly arrogantly questioning, "What took you so long?" This response indicated a degree of anticipation concerning his apprehension. In 2003, a report from the Justice Department's inspector general highlighted that the conventional motives that usually drive traitors in the past, such as greed, ideology, career setbacks, resentment, and substance abuse, were not pertinent to Hanssens behavior.

The case of Mr. Hanssen revealed a significant failure within the American intelligence apparatus, as his ability to evade detection was a glaring flaw. Mr. Hanssen's own brother-in-law, who was also an F.B.I. employee, had raised suspicions about him to the bureau a decade prior to his arrest. However, the supervisor to whom he reported the concerns had dismissed them, further emphasizing the missed opportunities to apprehend Hanssen earlier.
Palaeontologists in South Africa said Monday they have found the oldest known burial site in the world, containing remains of a small-brained distant relative of humans previously thought incapable of complex behaviour. Researchers lay out fossils of Homo naledi at the University of the Witwatersrand's Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa(AP)

Led by renowned palaeoanthropologist Lee Berger, researchers said they discovered several specimens of Homo naledi -- a tree-climbing, Stone Age hominid -- buried about 30 metres (100 feet) underground in a cave system within the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO world heritage site near Johannesburg.

"These are the most ancient interments yet recorded in the hominin record, earlier than evidence of Homo sapiens interments by at least 100,000 years," the scientists wrote in a series of yet to be peer reviewed and preprint papers to be published in eLife.

The findings challenge the current understanding of human evolution, as it is normally held that the development of bigger brains allowed for the performing of complex, "meaning-making" activities such as burying the dead.

The oldest burials previously unearthed, found in the Middle East and Africa, contained the remains of Homo sapiens -- and were around 100,000 years old.

Those found in South Africa by Berger, whose previous announcements have been controversial, and his fellow researchers, date back to at least 200,000 BC.

Critically, they also belong to Homo naledi, a primitive species at the crossroads between apes and modern humans, which had brains about the size of oranges and stood about 1.5 metres (five feet) tall.

With curved fingers and toes, tool-wielding hands and feet made for walking, the species discovered by Berger had already upended the notion that our evolutionary path was a straight line.

Homo naledi is named after the "Rising Star" cave system where the first bones were found in 2013.

The oval-shaped interments at the centre of the new studies were also found there during excavations started in 2018.

The holes, which researchers say evidence suggests were deliberately dug and then filled in to cover the bodies, contain at least five individuals.

"These discoveries show that mortuary practices were not limited to H. sapiens or other hominins with large brain sizes," the researchers said.

The burial site is not the only sign that Homo naledi was capable of complex emotional and cognitive behaviour, they added.

- Brain size -

Engravings forming geometrical shapes, including a "rough hashtag figure", were also found on the apparently purposely smoothed surfaces of a cave pillar nearby.

"That would mean not only are humans not unique in the development of symbolic practices, but may not have even invented such behaviours," Berger told AFP in an interview.

Such statements are likely to ruffle some feathers in the world of palaeontology, where the 57-year-old has previously faced accusations of lacking scientific rigour and rushing to conclusions.

READ | Egypt unearths mummification workshops, tombs in ancient burial ground of Saqqara to revive tourism industry

Many balked when in 2015 Berger, whose earlier discoveries won support from National Geographic, first aired the idea that Homo naledi was capable of more than the size of its head suggested.

"That was too much for scientists to take at that time. We think it's all tied up with this big brain," he said.

"We're about to tell the world that's not true."

While requiring further analysis, the discoveries "alter our understandings of human evolution", the researchers wrote.

"Burial, meaning-making, even 'art' could have a much more complicated, dynamic, non-human history than we previously thought," said Agustin Fuentes, a professor of anthropology at Princeton University, who co-authored the studies.

Carol Ward, an anthropologist at the University of Missouri not involved in the research, said that "these findings, if confirmed, would be of considerable potential importance".

"I look forward to learning how the disposition of remains precludes other possible explanations than intentional burial, and to seeing the results once they have been vetted by peer review," she told AFP.

Ward also pointed out that the paper acknowledged that it could not rule out that markings on the walls could have been made by later hominins.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of The Mermoon Resort Hainan Tufu Bay, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the entry of Hilton's lifestyle brand into the unique vacation destination of Hainan Island, China's southernmost point. Inspired by a romantic local fishing legend, the hotel combines the island's fishing village culture and the natural beauty of Tufu Bay to create a modern tranquil paradise that enables travelers to explore and immerse themselves in a tropical paradise. The resort is owned by China Energy Construction Group Co., Ltd. and managed by Hilton.

The resort's design is rooted in a touching legend about a young fisherman named Ah Fu and a mermaid trapped in a wooden box. Legend has it that Ah Fu rescued the mermaid while fishing, and in return, she granted his wish for the people of the bay to lead better, more prosperous lives. This act of kindness sparked a love story that moved the mermaid to teach the locals fishing techniques and gift Ah Fu a golden "Fu Bowl" that attracted fish when struck three times.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, guests are greeted by a blue-green sculpture crafted from coloured resin, with intricate patterns representing the mermaid's underwater home. Above the sculpture, pearl-shaped chandeliers and wall decorations featuring coral and seashells mimic an underwater wonderland.

In the reception area, a magnificent sculpture created from over 60,000 mother-of-pearl beads takes centre stage, resembling a mermaid swimming freely in the ocean. As guests arrive, the sea breeze gently rustles the beads, creating a melodic sound reminiscent of a mermaid's song.

The hotel boasts 116 guest rooms and suites, all thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in the fishing village theme. Each room features a private balcony that offers stunning views of Tufu Bay or the magnificent South China Sea. The bathroom is designed to resemble a wooden boat filled with marine treasures, where the vanity mirror is supported by a pearl chandelier and the sliding door features fish scale motifs, completing the ocean-themed experience.

The hotel houses five uniquely designed restaurants and bars, featuring ingredients sourced from Hainan Island, offering guests an authentic culinary experience:

All-day dining restaurant Fu Bay is an ode to abundance and the mermaid's gift of the Fu Bowl. The lobby is a nautical haven, adorned with sails and sailor stripes, while the restaurant specialises in fresh, seasonal ingredients from Tufu Bay's fishing port, offering Western, Mediterranean and Southeast Asian dishes, as well as local Hainan favourites.

is an ode to abundance and the mermaid's gift of the Fu Bowl. The lobby is a nautical haven, adorned with sails and sailor stripes, while the restaurant specialises in fresh, seasonal ingredients from Tufu Bay's fishing port, offering Western, Mediterranean and Southeast Asian dishes, as well as local Hainan favourites. At Haitang Chinese Restaurant , guests set sail on a journey of authentic Hainan flavours. Hainan cuisine, as well as popular Sichuan and Hunan dishes, flank the restaurant's menu, highlighting the unique local culinary culture.

, guests set sail on a journey of authentic Hainan flavours. Hainan cuisine, as well as popular Sichuan and Hunan dishes, flank the restaurant's menu, highlighting the unique local culinary culture. At the lobby bar, The Mermoon Bar, guests can enjoy a range of exquisite snacks, fresh coconut water, a Blue Ocean Dream Afternoon Tea and signature cocktails like Sunset at Tufu Bay and Mermaid Island Sea.

guests can enjoy a range of exquisite snacks, fresh coconut water, a Blue Ocean Dream Afternoon Tea and signature cocktails like Sunset at Tufu Bay and Mermaid Island Sea. Located next to the outdoor swimming pool, Star Bar is a casual venue for evening drinks and cocktails. As night falls, guests can savour seafood fresh off barbeque grills and enjoy signature drinks while soaking in the starry skies and moonlit beauty of Tufu Bay.

is a casual venue for evening drinks and cocktails. As night falls, guests can savour seafood fresh off barbeque grills and enjoy signature drinks while soaking in the starry skies and moonlit beauty of Tufu Bay. The Bay Library is where guests can retreat to enjoy some leisurely time, with a book in one hand and a coffee, tea or specialty cocktail in the other. The library's undulating ceiling design mimics the lapping of beach waves against the shore and is complemented by brown-and-white striped umbrellas and pebble-styled sofa chairs for a relaxing beach-themed atmosphere.

Apart from its extensive dining options, the hotel also offers over 614 square metres of flexible event space with four banquet and meeting venues that can be combined, and a 1,000-square-metre outdoor lawn. All meeting venues are equipped with advanced audio-visual, lighting equipment and high-speed internet.

Inspired by the legend, the outdoor pool is designed in the shape of a mermaid's tail, depicting a mermaid swimming through the azure sea. The hotel also offers mermaid costumes, allowing guests to transform into Tufu Bay "mermaids" and capture enchanting vacation moments. Younger guests can enjoy a children's club and dedicated outdoor swimming pool.

Nestled in the charming Tufu Bay of Hainan Island, the resort boasts a prime location, located approximately 50 kilometres from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Guests have easy access to a myriad of popular tourist attractions, including Danjia Fishing Village, Nanwan Monkey Island, Boundary Island, Sanya Paddy Field National Park, and Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex.

The Mermoon Resort Hainan Tufu Bay is part of Hilton's award-winning guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors. In celebration of the hotel's opening, Hilton Honors members who book and stay at The Mermoon Resort Hainan Tufu Bay through Hilton's website from June 15 to September 14, 2023, will earn an additional 1,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) ("St. Joe") and Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announce the opening of the 107-suite Home2 Suites by Hilton Santa Rosa Beach. The hotel is located at 100 W. Hewett Road in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, just north of US Highway 98 and in close proximity to the iconic Scenic Highway 30A corridor, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, and the area's pristine white-sand beaches.

The hotel features 107 guest suites including some one-bedroom suites and offers a wide range of amenities, including a business center, free standard Wi-Fi, a pool, a fitness center, and an outdoor lounge with a fire pit.

This is the third of five new hotel openings planned in the first half of 2023. St. Joe's hotel portfolio now consists of 978 operational hotel rooms. Three additional hotels are currently under construction, with two planned to open later in June of this year and the other in 2024, and will bring the total to 1,298 rooms once complete.

Hotel website
Real estate investor and developer Lamington Group is adding to its pioneering eco hometel brand with the exciting opening of room2 Belfast, the fourth outpost, and first property outside England, set to open later this summer.

With the opening just a few months away, the team are giving a first look at the hometel, which is set to become a hub for the community in the heart of the bustling city, moments away from Belfast's most popular attractions. The new property will consist of 175 rooms across nine floors as well as a vibrant cafe, beautifully designed tea room, meeting and event spaces, a gym, bar, restaurant and a spacious lounge available for both guests and locals alike looking for a vibrant eco-friendly space to work, relax or simply catch-up with friends.

Green Design

Keeping in line with Lamington Group's commitment to sustainability, the fully electric room2 Belfast includes occupancy-enabled rooms, two lab rooms, solar energy generation, 100% renewable energy, local sourcing of materials, products and artwork. The building will have 100% of its embodied carbon rebalanced to zero on completion, and 100% of any operational carbon will be rebalanced to zero on an annual basis. This environmentally conscious approach aligns with Lamington Group's commitment to be net zero by 2030.

The room2 brand has gone a step further to prioritise the health and wellbeing of guests in Belfast by following the WELL building design principles, measuring air quality, designing for adequate daylight and thermal comfort, and incorporating biophilic elements to create a connection to nature.

The property's design is also focused on promoting a circular economy with progressive features throughout the whole hometel, including a cafe bar made with recycled glass, a reception desk created with soap bottles from the famed room2 Southampton and carpets made from recycled fishing nets. The team has also recently bought its own plastic shredder and moulder from the Sustainable Design Studio, to make items from plastic waste, hoping to inspire guests to reduce waste but also see waste as something with value. With the aim to educate guests, the hotel will feature a sustainability wall explaining all the features and advanced technology taking place within the property. As well as this, the on-site team will host regular sustainability workshops for guests and locals who are looking to learn how to adopt an eco-friendly routine into their everyday lives.

Community Driven

All room2 properties pride themselves in being a community hub and supporting their local neighbourhoods, making all guests feel emotionally connected with the place, community, and staff. Therefore, as well as supporting the local environment through their bold approach to a circular economy, room2 uses local suppliers where possible for all aspects of construction and design, such as using woodwork items sourced from within the city. The hometel will also support local talent, showcasing up and coming artists and designers throughout the design of the hometel as well as hosting live music shows and cooking masterclasses for budding locals. Hoping to give back to the Belfast economy as much as possible, room2 is also planning to hire the majority of on-site staff from the city.

A Place to Live not just to Stay

room2 Belfast will be adopting the brand's hometel identity, providing a place to live for anyone who steps through the door, paired with the seamless service and conveniences of a hotel. As well as mattress menus and 24-hour stays with check in at 2pm and check out at 2pm as standard, the building will have a laundry room, and co-working areas. Each bedroom will feature a fully equipped kitchenette and separate living space, providing the perfect base for a flexible city stay, whether guests are looking to visit for a night or a month. This offering is designed to appeal equally to corporate and leisure guests looking for a vibrant and comfortable stay in the heart of the city, where they can truly feel at home. For corporate travellers, four meeting rooms will provide ample space for events and networking, whilst the various workspaces give the needed seclusion often sought out in city hotels.

The hometel will be open for bookings next month, so stay tuned for more information at room2.com or follow @room2hometels on social media. Sign up to room2's mailing list today to be one of the first to hear about exclusive pre-opening offers and events: https://room2.com/family/

Hotel website
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills has announced the appointment of Chef Mathias Boirie as the five-star property's Executive Pastry Chef. Boirie brings over 15 years of pastry expertise and Michelin-starred restaurant experience to the world-class Beverly Hills property where he will be responsible for overseeing all pastry initiatives at the hotel's dining outlets including the recently opened, Espelette, and The Rooftop by JG, in-suite dining, and on-site catering and events.

Boirie's career in the pastry industry began in 2004, after completing his training in France. He received his unique experience from highly regarded, Michelin-starred chefs Mathias Dandine and Laurent Tarridec in the South of France. After working in London for a year as a pastry chef, he returned to Saint-Tropez to work at Senequier, a restaurant renowned for its pastries. In 2011, Boirie became Head Pastry Chef at La Tarte Tropezienne, a famed Saint-Tropez pastry shop known for Tropezienne pies, a dessert pastry of filled brioche named by actress Brigitte Bardot, and at Mont Blanc, a restaurant known for its chocolates and pastries.

In 2017, Chef Boirie left France to pursue his dream of working as a chef in the United States. As the Executive Pastry Chef for French Group, Le District in New York and Florida, Boirie led a talented team and expanded the restaurants' pastry offerings. Most recently, he served as Executive Pastry Chef at Norman Love Confections, known for their artistic confectionary creations.
WASHINGTON  As over 80% of hotels experience staffing shortages, hoteliers are offering potential hires a host of incentives to fill vacancies, according to a new survey of hoteliers conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

Seventy-five percent of respondents are increasing wages, 64% are offering greater flexibility with hours, and 36% are expanding benefits  but 87% say they are still unable to fill open positions.

Eighty-two percent of survey respondents indicate they are experiencing a staffing shortage, 26% severely so  meaning the shortage is impacting the hotels ability to operate. The most critical staffing need is housekeeping, with 40% ranking it as their top hiring need.

These numbers have increased slightly from January 2023, when 79% of survey respondents indicated they were experiencing a staffing shortage. The figures have improved since May of 2022, however, when 97% of survey respondents indicated they were experiencing a staffing shortage, 49% severely so.

Respondents to the most recent survey are attempting to fill almost 9 positions per property, up from 7 positions in January but still down from 12 vacancies per property in May 2022.

These staffing challenges are resulting in historic career opportunities for hotel employees. There are more than 100,000 hotel jobs currently open across the nation, and as of April, national average hotel wages were at an all-time high of more than $23 per hour. Since the pandemic, average hotel wages have increased faster than average wages throughout the general economy, and hotel benefits and flexibility are better than ever.

The need for workers throughout the lodging industry continues to drive historic career opportunities for hotel employees, who are enjoying record wages and better benefits and flexibility than ever before. Thats why AHLA and the AHLA Foundation remain focused on growing the industrys talent pipeline through workforce recruitment and retention initiatives like the Foundations Empowering Youth and Registered Apprenticeship programs. But there is still more to be done. We need Congress to help address workforce shortages with bipartisan solutions, including those that create opportunities for more immigrants to enter the American economy. AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers

As of April, the United States had nearly 10.1 million job openings, but only 5.7 million unemployed people to fill them, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Congress can help hoteliers address workforce shortages by taking the following actions:

Expand the legal H-2B guestworker program by including an H-2B Returning Worker Exemption in the Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The H-2B program is vital to helping independent hotels and resorts in remote vacation destinations fill seasonal roles, but the program is capped at 66,000 visas each year. AHLA is asking Congress to modify the H-2B nonimmigrant visa program by exempting returning workers from the inadequate 66,000 annual visa cap. These employees would provide critical staffing relief for seasonal small business hotels and help to rebuild the post-pandemic economy.

by including an H-2B Returning Worker Exemption in the Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The H-2B program is vital to helping independent hotels and resorts in remote vacation destinations fill seasonal roles, but the program is capped at 66,000 visas each year. AHLA is asking Congress to modify the H-2B nonimmigrant visa program by exempting returning workers from the inadequate 66,000 annual visa cap. These employees would provide critical staffing relief for seasonal small business hotels and help to rebuild the post-pandemic economy. Cosponsor and pass the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (S.255/H.R.1325). A historic number of asylum seekers are already housed in hotels across America. They are awaiting court dates and are following the legal process. Unfortunately, current law prevents them from legally working for at least six months, forcing them to rely on assistance from local governments and communities. This bipartisan legislation would help hotels address critical staffing needs by allowing asylum seekers to work as soon as 30 days after applying for asylum.

Methodology: AHLAs Front Desk Feedback survey of 474 hoteliers was conducted May 3-9, 2023.

About the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com.
An innovative Employability Programme aimed at supporting youth employment in Egypt is underway in Cairo and Hurghada, with scope to scale it at country level.

The project, run by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, aims to develop a model for Egypts hospitality sector, especially hotel and F&B businesses, to get more young people working in the industry.

The project is supported by the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH among others and also operates under the Invest for Jobs brand. Participating hotels include those from Marriott, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons and Radisson Hotel Group. Local hotel and F&B brands will be invited to engage in the project too.

Egypt has a robust hospitality sector, generating around 389 billion Egyptian pounds to the GDP prior to the pandemic. According to a statement by the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in April 2022, Egypts unemployment rate stood at 7.4% in 2021. Young people aged 15 to 29 years who make up 15% of the total labour force, face high unemployment rates  10.8% for males and 35.9% among females.

The Employability Programme has been developed with a focus on achieving equity for women. In this project the Alliance team will work closely with the local training partners at each stage to ensure activities are designed to address needs and remove impediments where possible so that young women can participate fully.

The objectives for this programme are to:

Develop collaborative linkages across hotel and F&B businesses and local training organisations.

Establish a local partnership structure to manage and deliver sector endorsed core soft skills and practical skills for entry level hospitality jobs.

Establish a local leadership group to own the programme, including metrics, learnings, and adaptation of the programme for high quality outcomes

This project is part of the Alliances Net Positive Accelerators  one of the new initiatives which are part of the Alliances new five-year strategic plan. The strategy, launched earlier this month, promotes Net Positive Hospitality for People and Planet. The accelerator programme aims to inspire the Alliances members and leverage their footprints and operations to launch collaborative pilot initiatives targeting systemic issues in specific destinations. The aim is to capture critical learnings and potential for scaling and replication, which will be disseminated to the broader industry.

This programme provides Egypts hospitality sector with the opportunity to benefit from young people entering the workforce. Im delighted to be working with GIZ to establish a collaborative programme that will inspire the rest of Egypts hospitality industry into investing in its young people, ultimately benefiting the country as a whole. Sustainable Hospitality Alliance CEO, Glenn Mandziuk

Our goal is to create decent jobs in our partner countries while contributing to a sustainable transformation of economy and society and at the same time empowering women and girls. I am confident that this cooperation will help us to meet these targets. Thomas Rolf, Head of Programme at GIZ

About the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition":

Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition"  the official title  offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and improve working conditions in the eight African partner countries. The Special Initiative is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH among others. Further information is available at www.invest-for-jobs.com.

About the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together the hospitality industry and strategic partners to address key challenges affecting the planet and its people, local destinations and communities. They develop practical free resources and programmes to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back more than it takes. Their members represent over 50,000 hotels  totalling 7 million rooms  and include world-leading companies including Choice Hotels International, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, BWH Hotel Group and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as regional brands. Their network also includes other parts of the hospitality value chain, including owners, investors and suppliers, to further drive joined up action on sustainability, and accelerate the industry on the path to net positive hospitality. For more information, please visit: www.sustainablehospitalityalliance.org.

Becca Smith

Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
How do you capture the mood, the mantra and the ethos of a hotel experience set to break new ground in art-forward cool when you haven't even opened your doors? How do you distill the flavour of your friends in Singapores most happening, IYKYK neighbourhood?

Turns out you make a movie. Well, a short film. Mondrian Singapore Duxton introduces Provocateurs Welcome, the spirit of what we are all about. The purveyors of art, glamour and culinary flair in the heart of Chinatown.

Provocateurs Welcome offers a glimpse into a world that will become the fresh new face of hospitality in the Lion City and the new sanctuary for the artists, dreamers, mavericks and different drummers. A taste of whats to come, and an introduction to what awaits.

The film is a clarion call to get on board, and a prompt to become one with our gang of groovers and shakers, confronters and disrupters who are shaking things up and turning Mondrian and the Duxton Hill neighbourhood into the place to be.

Ready to meet the guerillas in our midst and the citys wild at heart? Mondrian is as much about community as it is hospitality, so weve roped in some of our favourite creative boundary breakers from the Chinatown neighbourhood scene to star.

Demon barbers named after spectral hounds; cocktail alchemists from No Sleep Club; fashion influencer and Tastemaker General Jamie QQ; culinary visionary Andrew Walsh, connoisseurs of objects dart; greyscale vagabonds of the tattoo milieu; culture creators at Mandala Club and other like-minded, beautifully rebellious people. Youll encounter Ah Seng, Mondrians staff bistro manager with a difference, whose story will melt your heart even if his appearance quickens your pulse.

General Manager and provocateur-in-chief Robert C.Hauck says: I hope you enjoy this little taste of what we are about. We are on a mission to shake things up with a fresh and unexpected approach. Its a paradigm shift. I hope youll come along for the ride.

The Mondrian Singapore Duxton is now open for room reservations and restaurant bookings. The opening offer includes 30% off the best available rate, complimentary breakfasts, guaranteed late checkout and $30 Mondrian credits for use at the hotels food & beverage outlets. Book here: Mondrian Singapore Duxton

ABOUT ENNISMORE

Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. It curates and manages unique properties and experiences in some of the most exciting destinations worldwide.

Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, Ennismore and Accor entered a joint venture in 2021 to create a new autonomous entity, with Accor holding a majority shareholding. Creating the world's fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, it brings together Ennismore's know-how in building brands with creative storytelling, design, and authentic experiences, with Accor's wealth of knowledge in delivering scale, network growth and distribution.

Under Sharan Pasricha, Founder & Co-CEO, and Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO, Ennismore comprises 14 brands - with over 100 operating properties and a further 140+ in the pipeline - and a collection of over 190 culturally relevant and diverse restaurants and nightlife destinations.

Ennismore puts innovation at the center of everything it does, with four dedicated in-house specialist studios, which obsess every guest touchpoint, including Carte Blanched  a fully integrated F&B concept platform; a creative studio of interior and graphic designers; a digital product and tech innovation lab, and a partnerships and collaborations division.

Ennismore has been included in Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies lists in 2020 and 2021; ranked#29 in FT1000: Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies; and is part of FT Future 100 - the UK's fastest-growing businesses that are shaping the future of their sector.

The Ennismore brands: 21c Museum Hotel, 25hours Hotels, Delano, Gleneagles, Hyde, JO&JOE, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, SLS, SO/, The Hoxton, TRIBE and Working From.
SINGAPORE  Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Hiap Hoe Limited, through HH Properties Pte. Ltd, to bring the design-forward Aloft Hotels brand to Singapore. Following a strategic conversion, the signing of the 785-room hotel expects to open in in Q3 2023, marking the Aloft brand's debut in Singapore and the largest Aloft hotel in the world.

We are thrilled to announce our third collaboration with Marriott International as we venture and introduce the first Aloft hotel in Singapore. Aloft Singapore Novena expects to feature a contemporary and dynamic space that caters to the needs of design-savvy, next-generation travelers and locals. We are excited to provide an urban-inspired gathering place that embodies the Aloft brand's unique personality and energy, tailored for individuals who value boldness, style and connectivity. Mr. Teo Ho Beng, Chief Executive Officer, Hiap Hoe Limited.

Aloft Singapore Novena will be comprised of two towers and is strategically located in Zhongshan Park, a mixed-use development in the cultural district of Balestier. This area is renowned for its rich heritage and is situated along the Balestier Heritage Trail, surrounded by an array of famous local eateries and linked to the integrated dynamic healthcare precinct, Healthcity Novena.

Designed by Singapore-based DP Architects, the hotel's exterior takes on clean simple forms and will blend harmoniously with Zhongshan Park's natural surroundings. With interiors of the hotel aesthetically designed by KKS International, Aloft Singapore Novena will showcase a vibrant atmosphere akin to the Aloft Hotels brand. Guestrooms will feature ultra-comfortable Sealy beds, custom amenities, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 55-inch LCD televisions and walk-in rainfall showers.

Dining options at Aloft Singapore Novena include a modern Chinese and local seafood restaurant, and a Halal-certified buffet restaurant.

The range of facilities available on the property will feature an outdoor pool, state-of-the-art gym. Business travelers can also plan to host meetings in the hotel's pillarless and modern event spaces.

The signing of Aloft Singapore Novena heralds the expected arrival of Marriott International's 14th hotel in Singapore and we are delighted to be launching the Aloft brand in the country together with such an experienced partner as Hiap Hoe Limited. With the site's proximity to the city's Central Business District as well as to local attractions and green spaces, the location is strategically placed to enable us to attract both business and leisure guests. Gautam Bhandari, Market Vice President for Singapore and Maldives, Marriott International.

About Hiap Hoe Limited

Hiap Hoe Limited is a regional premium real estate group known for the development of luxury and mid-tier residential as well as hotel-cum-commercial properties that are distinct in design and preferred for their excellent location and investment prospects. In addition to the ownership of several hotels across the region, the Group also holds a diversified portfolio of retail, commercial and residential assets for property investments both locally and in overseas. Hiap Hoe's flagship development is Zhongshan Park, the integrated hotel-cum-commercial development along Balestier Road that sits just opposite the historic Sun Yat-Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, comprising Aloft Singapore Novena, formerly known as Ramada by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park and Days Hotel by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park, Zhongshan Mall and an office tower. The Group also owns two hotels in Australia, Aloft Perth Hotel, which has 224 rooms and Four Points by Sheraton Melbourne Docklands, a 273-room hotel, both managed by Marriott International. Hiap Hoe had entered the United Kingdom's hospitality industry with the purchase of a 220-room hotel, Holiday Inn Express Trafford City, in Manchester in 2017. For more information, please visit www.hiaphoe.com.

About Aloft Hotels

Aloft Hotels currently encompasses 215 hotels in 29 countries and territories. Catering to a tech-savvy, music-loving crowd, the brand offers vibrant, eclectic spaces that thrive off bringing people together. A brand for music lovers and music makers alike, Aloft is best known for its emphasis on innovative music programming through its Live at Aloft platform. Signature brand amenities include WXYZ bar, Re:mix lounge, grab-and-go breakfast concept Re:fuel by Aloft, and pet-friendly program Arf (Animals R Fun). Aloft moves to its own beat  it is Different. By Design.  using technology and design to enhance experiences and evolve with the needs of its guests. For more information, visit www.alofthotels.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Aloft is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.
Antalya, Turkey

British Airways Holidays has launched its first Travel Trends Report, examining the behaviours and attitudes that are shaping travel trends today.

Findings include that 63% of consumers say that holidays are the main way they treat themselves, more than half of Gen Z and millennials plan to book a package holiday this year and 40% of consumers associate all-inclusive with luxury

The report also highlights some of the most popular travel destinations on the cards for UK consumers this year, with the likes of Antalya, Maldives and Rhodes seeing surges in searches compared to pre-pandemic

British Airways Holidays has released its Travel Trends Report, giving an insight into the attitudes that are influencing the current travel landscape, and how these have changed in the last three years.

The tour operator has combined British Airways Holidays insight with that of industry experts, including renowned travel journalists and spokespeople from Marriott and Mr and Mrs Smith, along with UK consumer data to reveal what travellers are seeking from their holidays today.

The document has identified seven key areas for 2023, with example statistics including:

All-inclusive is in vogue: 41% of millennials plan to take an all-inclusive holiday in 2023, more than any other generation

41% of millennials plan to take an all-inclusive holiday in 2023, more than any other generation Seizing the day: Travel is a non-negotiable spend for consumers, with two-thirds saying that travel has become more precious after the pandemic. 63% of consumers say that holidays are the main way they treat themselves

Travel is a non-negotiable spend for consumers, with two-thirds saying that travel has become more precious after the pandemic. 63% of consumers say that holidays are the main way they treat themselves The best of both worlds: Travel is no longer exclusively about relaxation or adventure. Consumers are seeking a combination of both. More than half of adventurous travellers want to spend time with loved ones on holiday

Travel is no longer exclusively about relaxation or adventure. Consumers are seeking a combination of both. More than half of adventurous travellers want to spend time with loved ones on holiday Conscious consumers: A quarter of UK travellers have taken fewer but longer holidays in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. The average holidaymaker plans to spend 18 days abroad in just 2.1 trips

A quarter of UK travellers have taken fewer but longer holidays in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. The average holidaymaker plans to spend 18 days abroad in just 2.1 trips Luxury redefined: Luxury is more about once-in-a-lifetime experiences than it is about 5* hotels, say 45% of consumers

Luxury is more about once-in-a-lifetime experiences than it is about 5* hotels, say 45% of consumers Control: Consumers are balancing their desire to live for the moment with a need for tighter holiday planning. All-inclusive hotels and holiday packages are the antidote to unexpected costs. It is younger consumers who are embracing this

Consumers are balancing their desire to live for the moment with a need for tighter holiday planning. All-inclusive hotels and holiday packages are the antidote to unexpected costs. It is younger consumers who are embracing this Trusted names: More than 70% of consumers now that they prefer to book their holidays via trusted providers for extra security

In addition to identifying key trends, the report also includes analysis of website data to reveal which destinations have seen a spike in searches vs pre-pandemic. The following destinations have seen the biggest surges:

Key Destinations % Increase in Holiday Package searches Antalya, Turkey +220% Maldives +239% Rhodes, Greece +212% Nashville, USA +134% Larnaca, Cyprus +165% Marrakech, Morocco +168% Crete +126% Cancun, Mexico +134% Ibiza, Spain +115% Majorca, Spain +109%

BASED ON THE INCREASE IN HOLIDAY PACKAGE SEARCHES MADE ON BA.COM FROM 1 JANUARY TO 25 APRIL 2023 VS. THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019

British Airways Holidays Managing Director, Claire Bentley said: Whether youre a travel industry professional or simply someone who loves to travel, we hope you find this report informative and engaging. Im passionate about travel and ensuring that we remain curious and continue to analyse the data available to ensure were providing customers with the range of options they need to be able to take the holidays they deserve.

This report highlights key findings from over 2,000 consumers that were surveyed on questions surrounding value, luxury travel, all-inclusive holidays and sustainability.
Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle

Pacifica Hotels announced the recent purchase of the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle. The boutique hotel located in downtown Seattle will join the company's growing portfolio of 40+ properties located across California, Hawaii, and Oregon.

Purchased for $33.7 million, Pacifica Hotels plans to undergo a thoughtful renovation that will refresh all 125 guest rooms as well as the restaurant and lobby. Hotel Vintage Seattle, which will remain Kimpton operated, boasts 660 sq. ft. of event space, an award-winning outdoor Italian restaurant: Tulio, an on-site fitness center, and adjacent parking garage. The hotel embraces the numerous Washington wineries across the state by partnering with a dozen of the best. Local winemakers pour their vintages at the hotel's nightly wine hour and guest rooms are dedicated to some of the most renowned wineries around.

"We are excited to be expanding our footprint in the Pacific Northwest by acquiring another iconic hotel in one of the most dynamic gateway cities in the US," shared Chris Marquis, Executive Vice President of Pacifica Hotels. "We have been looking at investment opportunities in the Seattle market for over a decade and are pleased to be adding Hotel Vintage to the Pacifica portfolio at such an attractive basis."

Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle is in a prime location on 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle, giving guests easy access to the greatest Seattle restaurants, gourmet food purveyors and boutiques of Pike Place Market, Pacific Place, and historic Pioneer Square. The centrally located boutique hotel is also close to the iconic Space Needle, Seattle Center, Seattle Art Museum, Benaroya Hall, Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field, and more.

"We have witnessed a strong recovery in tourism in the Seattle market since the global pandemic," shared Matt Marquis, CEO of Pacifica Hotels. "With the addition of the new state of the art convention center totaling over 573,000 square feet of meeting space, we believe Seattle is poised for strong future growth."

Included in the acquisition of Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle is the Hotel Vintage brand. The Vintage brand was the first brand launched by Bill Kimpton in 1983 with the creation of Hotel Vintage Court in San Francisco. It later included Hotel Vintage Seattle and Vintage Plaza in Portland (currently known as Hotel Vintage), which was the first Kimpton hotel outside of California.
The Inn at Thorn Hill & Spa

Skywares personal attention, seamless implementation and easy-to-use system are a perfect fit for the luxury full-service independent hotel group

Jackson Collection, a luxury family-owned hotel group in Jackson, New Hampshire, has selected Skyware as its preferred property management system (PMS) provider. Skyware's cloud-based PMS is an all-in-one cloud solution that offers front desk management, housekeeping, booking engine, channel management, payment processing, sales and catering, POS, spa/activities management, and reporting features - offering Jackson Collection a single platform for all hotel management needs.

"The personal attention and support I receive from Skyware are tremendous, says Mark Lahood, owner-operator of The Inn At Thorn Hill and Christmas Farm Inn and Spa, collectively known as the Jackson Collection. The transition was smooth with Bob, Judie, and the team by our sides the entire way to ensure nothing went astray. Everyone at the property is pleased with the changeover from our previous PMS, and their jobs are now easier. Most hotel technology companies just seem too busy for a company of our size. I need to be able to tailor a product to fit my unique needs, and Skyware has always been able to do this for me. I should also mention that I installed my first Skyware system in 2012!

The Skyware solution is highly configurable and customizable, designed to meet the business needs of hotels and resorts, no matter their size or type. This system allows Jackson Collection to effectively manage its hotels while keeping operational costs in check.

"Selecting Skyware as our cloud-based PMS solution is a significant move for us, adds Mark. In today's competitive market, we needed a technology solution that could meet the needs of our guests and staff and scale to meet our future business needs. The user-friendly system has all the functionality I need to run my business effectively. We can now properly forecast our business, dynamically control our pricing and provide creative packaging to attract new guests. Skyware's system is an innovative solution enabling us to exceed our guests' expectations for years to come.

"Our partnership with Jackson Collection underscores our commitment to provide hotels and resorts of all sizes and types with a modern, cost-effective PMS backed by expert service and support," says Bob Palloni, CEO of Skyware Technologies. "We are proud to have been selected by such a highly regarded independent hotel group as their technology partner, and we look forward to helping them to streamline operations, increase revenue, and deliver exceptional guest experiences across their properties."

Jackson Collection's adoption of the Skyware Hotel Management System is set to improve the guest experience, drive cost efficiency, and optimize property management at every touchpoint. The collaboration is aligned with Jackson Collection's commitment to staying ahead of technology trends in the hospitality industry.

To learn why more leading independent hotels, resorts, management companies, and RV parks turn to Skyware to maximize bookings and profits, visit skywaresystems.com.

About The Jackson Collection

The Jackson Collection is an anthology of luxury resorts in the White Mountains of New England offering the finest in bespoke Travel. Our properties offer different experiences with guests planning their customized travel. The Jackson Collection is a preservation of historic properties rejuvenating and celebrating the history of Jackson, New Hampshire while elevating the offered experiences making it the ideal vacation location in New England. View our properties and experience the height of luxury in New Hampshire.

About Skyware Hospitality Solutions

Skyware Hospitality Solutions is the industrys most innovative all-in-one hospitality technology platform trusted by leading independent hotels, resorts, RV parks, and multi-property groups. The company has reimagined the fragmented, complex legacy landscape into a visionary universe of modern, integrated solutions with limitless possibilities. With more than 30 years of hospitality technology experience, Skywares solutions are carefully curated to fit the unique needs of each property and built to respond flexibly to the demanding requirements of a fast-changing industry.

Built from the ground up to centralize and simplify operations, the end-to-end cloud-based PMS suite includes Online Booking Engine, POS, Sales, and Catering, and Activity/Spa Scheduling. The easy-to-use system is up and running quickly and seamlessly, delivering a scalable, cost-effective solution that can work with or replace existing hotel systems and technology investments.

With deep industry knowledge and top-rated North American-based support, Skywares patented technology accelerates its customers' ambitions, whether to grow and transform or simply become more efficient, productive, and profitable.

Currently, over 200 unique hotel customers in over five countries look to Skyware for tools, technology, and world-class expert support. Founded in 2009, the privately held company is headquartered in Crestview, Florida. For more information, please visit skywaresystems.com.
Rendering of the Aloft Singapore Novena West Wing Lobby

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Hiap Hoe Limited, through HH Properties Pte. Ltd, to bring the Aloft Hotels brand to Singapore. Following a strategic conversion, the signing of the 785-room hotel expects to open in in Q3 2023, marking the Aloft brand's debut in Singapore and the largest Aloft hotel in the world.

"We are thrilled to announce our third collaboration with Marriott International as we venture and introduce the first Aloft hotel in Singapore," said Mr. Teo Ho Beng, Chief Executive Officer, Hiap Hoe Limited. "Aloft Singapore Novena expects to feature a contemporary and dynamic space that caters to the needs of design-savvy, next-generation travelers and locals. We are excited to provide an urban-inspired gathering place that embodies the Aloft brand's unique personality and energy, tailored for individuals who value boldness, style and connectivity."

Aloft Singapore Novena will be comprised of two towers and is strategically located in Zhongshan Park, a mixed-use development in the cultural district of Balestier. This area is renowned for its rich heritage and is situated along the Balestier Heritage Trail, surrounded by an array of famous local eateries and linked to the integrated dynamic healthcare precinct, Healthcity Novena.

Designed by Singapore-based DP Architects, the hotel's exterior takes on clean simple forms and will blend harmoniously with Zhongshan Park's natural surroundings. With interiors of the hotel aesthetically designed by KKS International, Aloft Singapore Novena will showcase a vibrant atmosphere akin to the Aloft Hotels brand. Guestrooms will feature ultra-comfortable Sealy beds, custom amenities, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 55-inch LCD televisions and walk-in rainfall showers.

Dining options at Aloft Singapore Novena include a modern Chinese and local seafood restaurant, and a Halal-certified buffet restaurant.

The range of facilities available on the property will feature an outdoor pool, state-of-the-art gym. Business travelers can also plan to host meetings in the hotel's pillarless and modern event spaces.

"The signing of Aloft Singapore Novena heralds the expected arrival of Marriott International's 14th hotel in Singapore and we are delighted to be launching the Aloft brand in the country together with such an experienced partner as Hiap Hoe Limited," said Gautam Bhandari, Market Vice President for Singapore and Maldives, Marriott International. "With the site's proximity to the city's Central Business District as well as to local attractions and green spaces, the location is strategically placed to enable us to attract both business and leisure guests."
South Africa: African Heads of State to embark on peace mission to Ukraine and Russia

President Cyril Ramaphosa along with six African Heads of State will in the coming weeks travel to Ukraine and Russia on an African Peace Initiative concerning the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said the African Heads of State have been involved in discussing initiative of peace making over a number of months.

Yesterday we met and confirmed that we now at a stage where we are going to visit Kyiv and Moscow and our mission is a peace mission and we want to dub it as 'the road to peace'.

The first thing that we discussed among ourselves is that we want to listen to both sides. They need to outline to us their own perspective on the war as well as what are their minimum requirements for bringing the conflict to an end," the President said.

President Ramaphosa said that the two Presidents will explain where they are themselves and the African Heads of State will be there to listen.

He emphasised that it is important to listen first, when you make an intervention for peace making.

You should listen to where the parties are coming from and where they are and also where they want to go and having done so we will be able to give a good perspective in terms of how we see this war having an impact on Africa in relation to food prices, grain prices.

"We will also look at the impact it is having on Europe and the rest of the world. It has become a rather global kind of conflict. It is in that context that we will say we desire that there should be peace, and this being our peace mission we will essentially be seeking for peace and a commitment from both sides that they too should seek for peace to end this conflict, he said.

President Ramaphosa said their position is that every conflict often ended through discussions and negotiation unless there is an outright defeat which they do not see here.

Therefore we see one option and one alternative which is parties sitting down to peaceful negotiations. Both of them are saying to us 'yes we are ready to negotiate' but we would like to reiterate that conflicts of this nature are having such an overriding impact on the lives of people therefore they should be negotiated and lay out precisely what they see as an end game, he said.

The Presidents involved in the African Peace Initiative include the President of the Comoros Islands and current President of the African Union Othman Ghazali, President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Senegal Macky Sall, President of Uganda HE Yoweri Museveni, and President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema.

The foreign ministers of the respective countries were tasked to finalise the elements of a road-map to peace. The Presidents confirmed their availability to travel to Ukraine and Russia in mid June.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Williamstown Board of Health Reduces Number of Tobacco Licenses

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Board of Health on Monday morning decided to reduce the town's number of tobacco sales licenses by one and tentatively agreed to hold a public hearing in July to overhaul the town's regulations on those sales.

In a unanimous vote at the end of its monthly meeting, three members of the five-person board decided to trim the number of tobacco licenses from seven to six, reflecting the fact that only six of the available licenses currently are in use.

It also discussed a more long-term strategy of inserting into the town's health code language that "retires" licenses in the future if and when they go out of use.

That was one of the amendments suggested by South County's Tri-Town Health Department, which last month agreed to do a comprehensive review of Williamstown's local tobacco regulations in order to align them with current state law.

Jim Wilusz of Tri-Town remotely attended Monday's meeting and reviewed proposed changes with four members of the Board of Health  Erwin Stuebner, Ronald Stant, James Parkinson and Devan Bartels.

Bartels, who needed to leave the meeting before the subsequent vote to make the immediate change to the number of licenses available in town, was one of several members who supported the idea of "retiring" unused licenses when the code is revamped.

That was one of three major substantive changes that Tri-Town suggested, along more minor amendments, like adding "whereas" clauses that will make the local regulations more able to withstand challenges from parties found in violation.

The other two big suggestions: banning "smoking bars" in town and banning the sale of flavor enhancers.

Wilusz explained that the latter suggestion would address a workaround the tobacco industry developed in response to the commonwealth's ban on selling flavored tobacco products for off-site consumption.

"There are some products out there that the state law doesn't capture," Wilusz said. "For example, flavored hemp products, flavored rolling papers.  The intent of the state law is to ban flavored tobacco. As the industry responds back, they're putting out all sorts of products that are used to enhance the 'non-flavored' tobacco.

"One policy you could consider is, if you don't want to allow enhancers of any magnitude, you could leave this [suggested] language in there."

Smoking bars, Wilusz said, remain fairly uncommon in Massachusetts, which has only a couple of dozen active facilities.

"That's the only place people can get access to flavors, but they have to consume on site," Wilusz said of the bars. "Some towns are considering not allowing smoking bars in their communities."

Williamstown currently has none, but it has talked in the past about implementing a pre-emptive ban before a license is sought, Health Inspector Jeff Kennedy told Wilusz and the board.

The board members agreed that it makes sense to include the smoking bar prohibition along with the full complement of amendments suggested by Tri-Town.

The next step, Kennedy explained, is to hold a public hearing on the proposed changes and vote them into effect.

The BOH members agreed to have Kennedy take a final pass through the code amendments suggested by Tri-Town and distribute them to the members for review in the next week or two. If the members respond individually to Kennedy saying that the amended language is ready to post, he said the town could advertise the hearing as soon as July.

Kennedy also said he would notify the six current tobacco license holders of the proposed changes and the date of the hearing to allow them to testify to the board.

In other business on Monday, the Board of Health heard a follow up on a complaint from a resident about rats in her apartment building and met with a resident who said noise from his neighbor's rooster is diminishing his quality of life.

A resident of an apartment on North Hoosac Road told the board that an infestation in the walls of her unit continues even after a court dismissed her complaint against her landlord following work by an exterminator.

Jennifer McCue told the Board of Health that her complaints were "shrugged off" in a court hearing last week even though the problem continues.

"We're still hearing them in the walls," McCue told the BOH. "Where they were chewing the other day, it sounded like a beaver in the wall. There's no way a beaver could get into the wall, so obviously it was a rat."

She said she heard the rodent activity near electrical wiring and was worried that it could lead to a fire in the building.

Kennedy told the board he was informed that the exterminator was not finding any new animals in its traps, which indicated that the problem was addressed. But he promised to continue contacting the apartment's manager and the exterminator to monitor the situation.

"We'll certainly try to help you as much as we can," Stuebner told McCue.

Another resident, James Abdou of 392 White Oaks Road, met with the board Monday in hopes it could intervene on his behalf with a neighbor whose rooster crows "13 hours per day," Abdou said.

"Today, the rooster started at 5:50 a.m., but it really got going at 7 a.m.," Abdou said. "They stopped at 8 p.m. last night. I'd say they're active about 15 minutes every hour. During that period, the noise occurs every 15 seconds. When you do the math, it's 800 times a day.

"I cannot perform work [in my house]. I can't sleep, can't read, can't watch TV, can't crack a window. It's decimating my quality of life and probably decimating my property value."

Abdou said the problem began for him in the spring after he was away from his White Oaks residence in the winter. He said the rooster's coop is about 70 feet from the property line and about 100 feet from his house.

Kennedy told the board that in his capacity as the town's animal inspector, his responsibility is to ensure that livestock are adequately housed and fed. Neither he nor the board members could find anything in the town's health regulations that specifically addressed the type of noise vexing Abdou, who came with articles documenting how other communities in Massachusetts have dealt with similar complaints.

spreadsheet maintained by the Northeast Organic Farming Association and posted on the mass.gov website shows that local regulations vary wildly, with most towns tracked allowing at least some "backyard chickens" but many, like Great Barrington, banning roosters.

Kennedy said if the Board of Health wants to add language on roosters into the town code, it should collaborate with the Agricultural Commission, which has the right to review farm-related regulations in the town. He offered to reach out to the chair of the commission on behalf of the Board of Health.
A public meeting to review a study done by DRA Architects included group sessions by members of the school community to discuss successes and challenges. Equity and safety were prime concerns.

Community Speaks on Pittsfield Public School's Restructuring Study



Educators focused in on Morningside's issues, including the open space classrooms. More sessions are planned in developing the master plan for the school system. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The School Department held the first of three public engagement meetings on last week at Morningside Community School.

In March, the School Building Needs Commission accepted a bid from Drummey, Rosane, and Anderson (DRA) Architects for a restructuring study after the district re-issued a request for quotes.

Pittsfield High School, Conte Community School, Crosby Elementary School and Morningside were identified as needing a significant amount of capital work.

During their inspection of the schools, the team found that most of the classrooms are well sized, the buildings are generally in good condition but with four needing considerable investment, most roofs are in need of attention, the fields are in very good condition though playgrounds have needs, and the parking lots and driveways are in need of repair.

Some accessibility issues and security vulnerabilities were also found, such as having only one barrier of entry as the main access to a school.

What DRA has found is that there are funding options available and it has been a while since the city has requested funding for a project, DRA's senior project manager Gregory Smolley said.

"And we see this as a starting point for a new district," Smolley said.

Some challenges for the school district that DRA has to consider is the declining enrollment, the lack of local funding, people not wanting to be part of the solution and the feeling of some in the school community that "nobody will listen."

DRA is trying to determine the residents' opinions on the district and what they would like changed in the future. A survey was conducted to gauge teachers and families' thoughts on the schools in the near future.

The firm received 416 responses from parents and guardians and 385 responses from students.

The data provided at the session was not broken down by each school, and Smolley said there is not much you can learn from separating the data that way.

The goal is to determine how the community feels about the district as a whole and within the survey, concerns about individual schools are articulated.

While parents noted the best feature of the school is the classrooms, students reported that it was the teachers.

Parents and guardians rated the district's facilities and the environment as average while teachers reported it below average.

Students rated their happiness toward the overall buildings and grounds at a 6.5 out of 10 and reported their safety in the building at a 6.78 out of 10.

"So it's not as dire as we might have been thinking when we started asking that question and the backup on it kind of supports the fact that the kids are coming here, they're happy with the teachers, they feel safe in the school and they think that the school is helping them learn and do better, probably," DRA President Carl Franceschi said.

Some community members at the meeting said the survey questions did not take into consideration environmental and economic factors. They asked if there were any disparities in the data based on the location of the school in relation to income and requested a more inclusive data-collecting process.

They also want more in-depth information regarding the data and how the grants work to maintain level funding.

During the group presentations by community members, parents, guardians and educators, a common theme that developed was the importance of equity and improving security.

Morningside co-Principals Elisabeth Lamoureaux and Jennifer Teichert noted the security concerns included limited entry and exit points. They also mentioned it would be helpful if the district's security systems were the same throughout the schools.

Multiple attendees noted that the school's lack of walls makes it difficult to provide secure lockdown situations.

Morningside third-grade teacher Emily Marcella and her group echoed those remarks noting that there are many doors in the building that do not lock. They also expressed their concern regarding the unsafe electrical outlets that have been known to spark.

Many of the attendees also mentioned the issues the district's buildings have with the performance of the heating and cooling systems.

If the students are uncomfortable they tend to underperform, one attendee said.

Other features they would like to see is retaining or having small class sizes, space for movement and cross-curricula activities such as sensory, and staffing rooms.

A virtual meeting was held on Thursday and a multilingual public engagement event is set for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, at the schools' Administration Center.

Pittsfield Public Schools Master Plan by iBerkshires.com on Scribd
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Location: London, UK

Angus Gregory is CEO of Biomni, the designers of Tenjin. Tenjin is a virtual assistant combining AI with a crowdsourcing approach to make business knowledge easy to access, always current and relevant to its intended audience.

What was the most valuable piece of career advice that you received? Rather than a specific piece of advice, the most valuable encouragement I have received over my career is recognition. It spurred me on to do better and do more. Not just for myself, but because I felt I was helping the company do well and improve, it made me want to learn more.

What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? There is no specific piece of advice that comes to mind - even if it has not worked out, all the advice I have received so far has been a learning experience.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IT/tech? Firstly, find something that you enjoy doing. Enjoyment is a massive driver to learn more. Even better still, it should be something you love doing. Also, dont give up. It is not going to be an easy road! Finally, be inquisitive and ask questions. It shows employers you are a keen learner as well as empowering you with knowledge to further your career.

Did you always want to work in IT/tech? No, I actually wanted to join the RAF as an Engineer, but carved a path in IT instead.

What was your first job in IT/tech? Initially, I started as a trainee in a Computer Reseller in the mid-eighties. This started as a dBase programmer and customer support person.

After moving to a large rapidly growing IT Services Organisation I was soon involved in the emerging eCommerce solutions of the time. In the early 1990s, I realised the concept of a very successful eCommerce solution to assist customers procuring products and services. This was to be the beginning of Biomni.

What are some common misconceptions about working in IT/tech? It would be that you need to have a computer or maths degree. There are so many different aspects to the IT sector and there are so many roles that this just doesnt hold up. In fact, experience from other industries can bring an array of new skills to the sector.

What tips would you give to someone aiming for a c-level position? To those aiming for the c-suite I would say:

Ensure you always retain grass roots level involvement and keep that two way feedback avenue open. These insights are always vital whatever role you are aiming for.

Expect some failures along the way and call them out quickly. It is not going to be plain sailing on your c-suite journey.

Remember: failure is only the end if you decide to stop  This is a quote by Richard Branson, which I totally agree with.

Seek assistance from others with more experience. There will always be more people who know more than you and this is something not to shy away from. In fact, collaborating and crowdsourcing for knowledge should be a fundamental value for anyone in the c-suite.

You must always keep in mind that you have shareholders, customers and staff who all have different priorities at different times. So, knowing what those are and how to address them at the right time is key.

What are your career ambitions and have you reached them yet? I dont think I've reached my career ambitions just yet. Myself and Biomni have had the privilege of working with fantastic global clients and talent so far, but there is still lots to achieve I think.

Do you have a good work life balance in your current role? To a large degree, yes. It is not always easy, but I have been very fortunate in my career to have been able to have had a pretty good balance. It is something that takes continued work.

What, if anything, would you change about the route your career path has taken? Not a huge amount. I feel very fortunate to have had the career I have had so far and it has got me to the position I am in today. But maybe to have listened to the quiet, wise people more in certain circumstances, you know the ones in the corner of the room who dont say a lot!

Which would you recommend: A coding bootcamp or a computer science degree? I have not done a Computer Science Degree, so this may be biased on my part, but a coding bootcamp is a great way to quickly understand if this is the career you really want. Some people prefer to do hands-on learning amongst mentors, of which I was one!

How important are specific certifications? Certifications are important when you need to demonstrate that you have achieved something or have maintained a certain level in order to carry out specific jobs. However, it is worth remembering that you need a drivers licence (certification) to drive, but we still have bad drivers. So, whilst they are required it is no guarantee that a job will be done well.

What are the three skills or abilities you look for in prospective candidates? Experience (if it is a more senior role) - Not just specific subject matter expertise, but also how they respond to challenging situations, manage people and navigate stakeholder priorities.

Willingness - This is a willingness to learn and work well with others.

Attitude - Especially a proactiveness to help and support the wider team.

What would put you off a candidate? I would say arrogance - there is always something more to learn and no-one knows it all!

What are the most common mistakes made by candidates in an interview? How can those mistakes be avoided? One key mistake is not doing research on the company beforehand and this can clearly shine through in their answers.This should include what they do, who their customers are etc.Online research on all publicly available information can ensure candidates are well-equipped.

Do you think it is better to have technical or business skills  or a mix of both? I think it is best to have a mix of both. This enables you to have empathy with your wider team both on the business aspects, like client management, but also be able to support on technical challenges.
Trend Micro published a new research uncovering the inner workings of cybercrime organizations. The report, Inside the Halls of a Cybercrime Business, examined the operations of small, medium, and large criminal groups. The report details a day in the lives of employees and how they operate within hierarchies that increasingly resemble legitimate businesses as the group expands.

Trend Micro report shows how criminal organisations come to resemble legitimate businesses as they grow

While small cybercrime groups typically consist of a few members operating under a partnership model  most of whom usually have day jobs on top of their role in the group  employees of larger organizations tend to lead lives similar to corporate workers at legitimate software companies. Large cybercrime organizations tend to have corporate-like departments such as human resources (HR) and information technology (IT), and might even have employee-of-the-month recognition programs and performance reviews.

Ian Felipe, Country Manager, Trend Micro Philippines, shares, The criminal underground is rapidly professionalizing  groups are beginning to mimic legitimate businesses that grow in complexity as their membership and revenue increases. At the same time, many Filipino businesses are grappling with high cyber risk levels and a challenging threat landscape. In a recent survey we conducted, nearly 40% of Filipino IT leaders rated their organizations cyber risk levels as at the very least high, and nearly half of businesses believe that it is impossible to futureproof their cybersecurity as threats are always changing. To that extent, understanding cybercriminal operations can go a long way in helping to stay ahead of threats and enhance cyber preparedness. This report will aid investigators in the ongoing fight against cybercrime by helping them better understand the entities they are dealing with.

Using examples where Trend Micro collected the most data from law enforcement and insider information, the report examined three types of cybercrime organisations based on size.

Small criminal businesses (e.g., Counter Anti-Virus service Scan4You):

A day in the life of an employee: Members often handle multiple tasks within the group and also have a day job on top of this work

Members often handle multiple tasks within the group and also have a day job on top of this work Typically, one management layer, 1-5 staff members, and under US$500K in annual turnover

Comprise the majority of criminal businesses, often partnering with other criminal entities

Medium-sized criminal businesses (e.g., bulletproof hoster MaxDedi):

A day in the life of an employee: Members work full-time for the group, managing various tasks within an eight-hour shift

Members work full-time for the group, managing various tasks within an eight-hour shift Typically have two management layers, 6-49 employees, and up to US$50m in annual turnover

They usually have a pyramid-style hierarchical structure with a single person in charge

Large criminal business (e.g., ransomware group Conti):

A day in the life of an employee: Members work from home based on a rigid, predictable schedule, and communicate frequently with their line manager about productivity and performance  similar to remote workers at legitimate corporations

Members work from home based on a rigid, predictable schedule, and communicate frequently with their line manager about productivity and performance  similar to remote workers at legitimate corporations Typically have three management layers, 50+ staff, and over US$50m in annual turnover

Implement effective OPSEC and partner with other criminal organisations

Those in charge are seasoned cybercriminals and hire multiple developers, administrators, and penetration testers  including short-term contractors

They may have corporate-like departments (e.g., IT, HR) and even run employee programs, such as performance reviews

Knowing the size and complexity of a criminal organization can provide critical clues to investigators, such as what types of data to hunt for. Understanding the size of targeted criminal organizations can also allow law enforcers to priorities better which groups should be pursued for maximum impact.

To read a full copy of the report, please visit: www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/inside-the-halls-of-a-cybercrime-business
A payment fintech launched in 2021 is transforming the landscape of the Philippine digital economy by enabling more than 400 small businesses to accept and process Bitcoin payments. Pouch.ph is tapping into the countrys vast pool of tiny merchantsfrom mom-and-pop stores to boutique hotels.

Digital payment platform Pouch.ph is helping more local merchants join the new frontier of digital economy.

Pouch.ph utilizes Lightning Network built atop Bitcoin to make digital payments quicker, cheaper, and more user-friendly. This payment protocol allows customers to pay by scanning a merchant's QR code with any Bitcoin wallet. Pouch.ph then converts that Bitcoin to Pesos and sends the money directly to the merchant's bank or mobile money account, making the process easy and efficient for both parties.

One of the most significant challenges for the growth of small businesses is the availability of payment methods, with credit cards charging fees up to three percent. With the growing number of internet and smartphone users in the Philippines, Bitcoin as a payment method will allow those who do not have credit cards or even local fiat currency to make online or in-store purchases. Were helping businesses open up a vast market that was previously untapped, said Pouch.ph CEO Ethan Rose.

More than 250 local businesses in the popular tourist destination of Boracay, including convenience stores, cafes, hotels, and restaurants, have already enrolled with Pouch.ph and have been integrating Bitcoin payments into their daily operations.

For Erielyn Gaston, owner of Kasbar restaurant, accepting Bitcoin as payment allowed her to attract a wider customer base and increase sales. [Pouch.ph] has been very helpful as another mode of payment other than credit cards and e-wallets which is the usual mode of payment here [in Boracay], she said in a panel discussion during the Bitcoin Island conference.

It's very convenient to have a payment service that's fast and easily available so that for us, in regards to increasing the revenue, it allows people to stay longer because the other alternative that is there is one of these ATMs that are not from the banks the tourists [use]. If you ever add up the fees they charge for credit card users minus the exchange rate difference, you end up paying 10% to 11% if you withdraw from these ATMs, TIB Market manager Marcel Selfer said.

Building on this success, the fintech firm is actively expanding its reach beyond Boracay Bitcoin Island and has onboarded merchants in Cebu City, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Bacolod City.

In Metro Manila, some establishments have also started accepting Bitcoin as a valid form of payment through Pouch.ph such as the night bar URBN QC in Quezon City, Draper Startup House in Makati City, and niche retailer KosneyLand located inside a mall in Mandaluyong City.

Aside from receiving payments, some partner merchants use Pouch.ph for payroll. With Batch Pay feature, business owners can instantly send money in batches to employees, suppliers, and other recipients, including transfers to all major banks and e-wallets. They can transfer payroll directly to a Pouch Netbank Account with no fees, or to a nominated bank account for a minimal fee. This innovative solution aims to simplify and streamline payment processes for businesses across the country.

Pouch.ph is also preparing to extend its Batch Pay services for over-the-counter remittances through LBC, M Lhuillier, and Palawan Pawnshop.

Locals and tourists can find merchants that accept Bitcoin payments using BTCMap.org.
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Distressed family members of victims of the Odisha train crash are being forced to take DNA tests before claiming the corpses of their loved ones, following chaos and confusion over bodies with multiple claimants.

Five days after India witnessed its worst rail accident this century, at least 82 bodies remained unclaimed at the AIIMS hospital in Bhubaneswar city.

At least 33 DNA samples collected from those claiming to be relatives of the dead have been sent to the capital Delhi for verification. The reports will be handed over to the authorities in Odisha in two days, officials said.

The death toll from Fridays accident was revised for the fourth time to 288 late on Tuesday, Odisha chief secretary PK Jena said.

The crash took place when the overcrowded Chennai-bound Coromandel Express entered a loop track and ploughed into a parked freight train near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore.

The crash caused the engine and first four or five coaches of the Coromandel Express to jump the tracks, topple and hit the last two coaches of the Yeshvantpur-Howrah train heading in the opposite direction at 78mph on the second main track.

Some relatives of victims from neighbouring West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand have tried and failed to identify their kin despite two large screens at the hospital displaying graphic images of charred and bloodied bodies with an allocated number.

Several of the bodies are damaged beyond recognition, with relatives looking for tell-tale pieces of clothing in the images instead.

Rana Saha, who had been looking for his father for the past four days, told The Independent: I have given a DNA sample at the hospital and was asked to wait for two days.

There are headless bodies, maybe my father is one of them. But we dont remember what he was wearing when he boarded the train, he said, adding that the wait had been extremely painful for his mother and the rest of the family.

Mohammad Imam Ul Haqs relatives bid farewell to other family members before an ambulance leaves with a makeshift coffin carrying his nephew (REUTERS)

Chaos ensued on Tuesday after multiple people placed a claim on a single body amid allegations that officials have been handing over corpses to the wrong family.

Parvej Sahraj Laskar from West Bengals Couth 24 Parganas district travelled more than 100 miles to Balasore to claim his fathers body, only to find out that it had already been claimed by someone else.

His cousin, Jakari Laskar, said that upon showing the photo of his uncles body with the tag number at the mortuary, they were told the body had been released to a family in Malda district.

They are now asking us to give our DNA sample for matching but what is its use if the body has already been handed over to another family? Mr Laskar was quoted by the New Indian Express as saying.

Mohammed Imam Ul Haq, from Bihar, said he found the body of one nephew on Tuesday, but the remains of what he thinks was a second nephew were claimed by another family.

Mr Haq had also been searching for four days for his brother, who he believed had also died with his children.

He said he believed a body at the hospital was that of his 12-year-old nephew, but added that there are five more claimants who are saying it is their relative.

We are left with no option but to do a DNA test to determine whose body it is. The whole process takes really long, he told Reuters. I hope we can claim the body soon.

Bhubaneswar Municipal commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange said that from now on wherever there is confusion over the identity of a body, a decision will be taken only after conducting DNA tests of those involved.

He added that unidentified bodies would be kept in the hospital morgue for the next 10 days. The government would not hurry to cremate or bury them, he said, though it remains unclear what will happen once the deadline is passed.
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It started as a heart-warming tale of a sherpa who abandoned his own clients Everest summit attempt to rescue a climber from certain death on the worlds tallest mountain.

Within days of his rescue, the climber appeared on several TV channels talking about his life-changing experience but curiously failing to mention the name of his heroic saviour  an act that did not go unnoticed by the mountaineering community breathlessly following the story.

It escalated further when the Malaysian climber  identified as Ravichandran Tharumalingam or T Ravichandran  appeared to block Gelje Sherpa on social media, astounding several people in the community who are now accusing him of erasing the sherpas act of courage.

How it all started

On 18 May, Gelje Sherpa was guiding a client up Mount Everest when he says he spotted Ravichandran stranded in Everests death zone. The 36-year-old sherpa says in an Instagram post that he saw the climber shaking and clinging to a rope, a man who needed rescuing and no one else was helping.

Gelje, who calls himself a mountain tiger and a fighter, says he convinced his Chinese client to cancel their own expedition so he could help the Malaysian climber down to safety. He carried him on his back down from the death zone, the highest part of Everest at an altitude above 26,247ft (8,000m) where atmospheric oxygen is so low that cells in the human body die in the absence of any supplementary oxygen.

On his Instagram account, the sherpa wrote that the climber would have died up there alone without his help, adding: I carried him myself all the way down.

The Nepalese authorities have led the mountaineering community in hailing Geljes very rare death zone rescue mission. It is almost impossible to rescue climbers at that altitude, Bigyan Koirala, an official from the Nepal department of tourism, told the Guardian of Geljes heroic actions. It is a very rare operation.

Yet bizarrely there is one person who appears not so impressed with Geljes feat  Ravichandran himself. The climber, who goes by the handle @ravieverest on Instagram, has received a backlash online amid suggestions that he failed to sufficiently credit Gelje for saving his life, and instead blocked him on Instagram.

Ravichandran was put on a flight back to Malaysia after the rescue operation.

He appeared on TV channels talking about his Everest experience and thanked the expedition partner company  but didnt mention Geljes name there either.

Netizens soon pointed out the alleged erasure and panned him for what they described as a lack of gratitude for the man who carried him to safety.

I was so desperate to prove a point

When commentators began asking Ravichandran about Geljes role in his rescue, he appears to have blocked the sherpa on Instagram.

Some said Ravichandran had also deleted references to the sherpa in the comments on his posts.

This coming from the 58-year-old Malaysian, who is a veteran mountaineer himself, shocked many. Ravichandran lost eight fingers to frostbite during his Everest expedition in 2007. He told Channel News Asia last year after his third summit and first after his disfiguration: I was so desperate to prove a point, I was pushing myself too much that I ignored the pain in my fingers. He said he wanted to conquer old demons.

Every time you go back to places that make you feel dark in your thoughts, and (you) overcome the challenges better, it gives you a brighter space and brighter view, he said.

In one Instagram post after last months everest rescue, Ravichandran wrote: I am alive today because I had the best and dedicated Partners  The 14th Peaks Expedition Co and Global Rescue Inc.

This narrative contrasts with what Gelje maintained from the start. No one was helping him, no friends, no oxygen, no sherpas with him, no guides  so this is quite dangerous for him, he told CNN.

You are alive today because a sherpa and his friend took you down to safety and it was documented for everyone to see. Acknowledge that, commented Instagram user @tristupe on the climbers post.

@tristupe later claimed he [@ravieverest] has been deleting comments not suiting the narrative.

Users also speculated about why the climber did not acknowledge Gelje.

I cant even wrap my head around why? asked Twitter user @solarsystern.

Why would you thank the expedition company you climbed with but not the individual that saved your life?

In his Instagram post about the rescue, Gelje, earlier in May, noted: Saving one life is more important than praying at the monastery. He told the media that the rescue on 18 May was massively difficult.

Gelje, who grew up near Everest in a small village, started out as a porter, which he says is a relentless job with small pay. He has also worked as a Khumbu icefall doctor  possibly the most dangerous job known to man  and has carried out more than 55 rescues till date. But he said the 18 May rescue of the Malaysian climber was the hardest in my life.

Gelje shares criticism of Ravichandran

The bizarre Everest saga took a turn on Sunday when Ravichandran, seemingly facing pressure from the mountaineering community for his social media activity, reportedly unblocked Gelje.

He has acknowledged and unblocked @Geljesherpa19 finally, tweeted @tristupe.

In an unusually lengthy Instagram post, Ravichandran finally acknowledged Gelje  while also maintaining in the comments that he had thanked the sherpa two weeks ago.

Gelje Sherpa reshared stories critical of Ravichandran on his Instagram stories (Instagram / Gelje Sherpa)

Sherpas are people who are so committed and dedicated to their clients especially coming from 14 Peaks Expedition Co & The Seven Summit Expedition Co. They never leave you behind.

I experienced it this year. When descending the summit I had difficulty. Tashi heard that I am in trouble, he organised the rescue team (Mingma Tendi, Gelje Sherpa, Nima Dorchi, Nima Tashi, Dawa and Dipen Bhote). They are high-altitude sherpas who make lots of sacrifices for their clients. They brought me to 7300 metres for Heli pick-up for a quick Heli flight to the hospital, Ravichandran continued.

Sherpas are important in my 8000-meter expeditions.

Thank you [prayer emoji]. I hope you are recovering well, responded Gelje in the comments.

Gelje was applauded on social media for the tremendous grace of his response.

Other commentators apologised to Gelje. Thank you for your kindness, we are truly sorry for his ignorant attitude, said one comment.

Observers pointed out the discrepancy between Ravichandrans post and Geljes accounts to the media.

Funny how this thank you post doesnt mention the words thank you and the story doesnt really add up to Geljes version of events either. But hey guess its something, read one comment.

Then on Monday morning, Gelje started resharing stories critical of Ravichandran.

Story critical of Ravichandran, the Malaysian climber that Gelje rescued, was reshared by the sherpa (Gelje Sherpa / Instagram)

An Instagram story that Gelje reshared read: When he [Ravichandran] is bashed by everyone he gave a subpar credit to the hero who have [sic] saved his life as if it is their job to ensure that he stays alive.

Gelje also shared a story by a user who called Ravichandran an ungrateful bum on his Instagram stories.

While the mudslinging continues online, Gelje has now left Nepal for Alaska where he is attempting to scale Mount Denali aka McKinley  the highest peak in North America.

The Independent has reached out to Ravichandran, Gelje and Tashi Sherpa of 14 Peaks Expedition Co for their comments on the saga.
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The UK competition watchdog has more than doubled its reward to potential informants who can help it clamp down on illegal cartels.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said the reward will increase from 100,000 to 250,000.

Illegal cartels involve businesses agreeing not to compete in order to keep prices higher for customers.

The CMA is running its cheating or competing campaign to provide advice for people and businesses to help them spot and report anti-competitive practices.

Because cartels are generally conducted in secret, we need to encourage people to come forward and provide us with the information we need to crack down on cartels and protect people and businesses from the harm they cause Michael Grenfell, CMA

Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said: Cartels can cause serious damage to their customers, whether businesses or individual people, weakening price competitiveness  a particular concern at a time of cost-of-living pressures.

The CMAs job is to stamp out illegal cartels, but because cartels are generally conducted in secret, we need to encourage people to come forward and provide us with the information we need to crack down on cartels and protect people and businesses from the harm they cause.

For these reasons, we are today increasing the maximum financial reward for informants and whistleblowers who provide us with valuable information about cartels so that we can take action.

Businesses found to have been involved in cartels can be fined up to 10% of annual turnover and individuals directly involved can face up to five years in prison.

The reward for reporting on cartel behaviour is separate to the watchdogs leniency programme, where firms or individuals involved in cartel activity can escape sanctions if they come forward with information, provided conditions are met.
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New York City and large parts of the tri-state area were placed under air quality alerts on Wednesday as wildfires continued to explode across Canada.

The Big Apple was the worlds most polluted major city for a few hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, surpassing Delhi, Baghdad, Doha, Kuwait and Dhaka.

The air quality for New York stood at 174 on Wednesday, a level that is considered unhealthy for everyone as Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to mask-up.

If you are an older adult or have heart or breathing problems and need to be outside, wear a high-quality mask (eg N95 or KN95), the office of mayor said in a rare advisory on masking.

Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports, Mr Adams office said.

The city also urged New Yorkers to stay indoors when possible as outdoor activities in schools were cancelled.

New York City was experiencing hazy skies and the sun blotted to a deep orange by the smoky conditions on Tuesday.

The sun over New York City takes on a red appearance on a hazy morning resulting from Canadian wildfires (Getty Images)

After New York, Detroit was the most polluted city in the US, with air quality of 155, making to the top 10 list of IQAir, a Swiss technology company that monitors air quality.

Heavy smoke from Quebecs wildfires began moving over eastern New York and western New England on Monday evening, prompting health advisories in cities across the northeastern coast.

Satellite images show smoke cover reaching as far as the Carolinas, covering much of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic by Tuesday.

The source of the pollution is more than 160 forest fires that have broken out in the province of Quebec with at least 114 raging out of control as officials warned that its shaping up to be Canadas worst fire season ever.

There are more than 400 wildfires across the country as leaders appealed for international help to bolster local fire crews. An additional 200 firefighters are coming from France and the US, and Quebec is also in talks with Costa Rica, Portugal and Chile as it searches for additional resources.

Fires have forced about 10,000 people from their homes in Quebec, with most of those in the northwestern Abitibi region and the eastern Cote-Nord region.

No one has died in the Quebec fires, but crews were forced to pull back from the hamlet of Clova around 200 miles northwest of Montreal.

Unfortunately, we lost control, Quebec Premier Francois Legault told The Associated Press. We are going to be obliged to let Clova burn. Authorities said the communitys 36 residents have been evacuated.

Smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec is shown over Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday (AP)

Wet weather in the Atlantic Coast province of Nova Scotia has allowed that province to free up water bombers to dispatch to Quebec, where wildfires flared up this past weekend.

Air quality advisories were in effect for the New York City metro area, along with Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Eastern Lake Ontario, and Central Regions.

The alerts also cover northern South Carolina, much of North Carolina, northern Virginia, much of Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and western New Hampshire.

Officials recommended that individuals limit strenuous outdoor activity to reduce health risks and that extra precautions are taken when it comes to young children and those with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma or heart disease.

Climate scientists agree that, although fire is a natural part of some ecosystems, the climate crisis is making wildfires larger, more intense, and more common overall.

With reporting from The Associated Press
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The UK owes 6.2 trillion in climate reparations by 2050, according to a ground-breaking new study that quantifies how much highly industrialised nations should be liable to pay for emitting more carbon than others.

The study published in the scientific journal Nature Sustainability finds that countries in the global north, including the US and the UK, owe a staggering 137 trillion in total in climate reparations for emitting more carbon than countries in the global south.

The research is groundbreaking as it quantifies for the first time the amount of reparations owed by affluent nations for surpassing their allocated carbon budget.

The carbon budget represents the limited amount of carbon emissions that the world can release before reaching dangerous levels of global heating.

The researchers took the carbon budget available for the world in various scenarios, such as the 1.5 or 2C agreed by countries in the Paris Agreement.

Starting from 1960, the carbon budget is equivalent to 1.8 trillion tons of CO2 in the 1.5C scenario, according to the UNs top scientific body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The researchers then calculated a fair share of that total carbon budget for 168 countries, based on population size.

The study highlights that rich industrialised nations have already significantly exceeded their share of the global carbon budget, depriving poorer nations of their rightful allocation that could be used by them to develop and grow their own economies.

Consequently, developing countries are faced with the challenge of decarbonising their economies at an accelerated pace, despite contributing significantly less to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The top five historical emitters, which include the US, UK, Germany, Russia and Japan, are alone responsible for paying 105 trillion for overusing the climate budget, the study noted.

Climate change reflects clear patterns of atmospheric colonisation. Jason Hickel, co-author and professor

The US, which has used more than four times its fair share to become the richest country in the world, would be responsible for 64 trillion in reparations.

On the other hand, the UK has used 2.5 times its fair allocation and would be liable to pay 6.2 trillion for its excessive emissions by 2050.

The reparation amount proposed by the research, which comes to about 4.83 trillion per year, should be paid to developing and poor countries deprived of their share of the climate budget and forced to mitigate and adapt faster because of the worsening impacts of the climate crisis, the study says.

It is a matter of climate justice that if we are asking nations to rapidly decarbonise their economies, even though they hold no responsibility for the excess emissions that are destabilising the climate, then they should be compensated for this unfair burden, said Andrew Fanning, lead author and visiting research fellow at the University of Leeds Sustainability Research Institute.

The study takes several scenarios of carbon budget into consideration. Based on the target of limiting the average global temperature increase by 1.5C, which is a more idealistic target of the Paris Agreement, approximately 75 per cent of the carbon budget of regions like sub-Saharan Africa and India was already found to be utilised by rich countries.

In a net-zero scenario, five low-emitting countries with large populations  India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and China (currently the worlds largest emitter)  would be entitled to receive 82 trillion for sacrificing their fair share of the carbon budget.

India has historically been a low carbon emitter and could be entitled to receive compensation of 45 trillion each year until 2050.

While some countries are still within their fair share of the global carbon budget, many other rich nations such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the EU bloc have already massively overshot.

Rich countries are responsible for most of the planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions, which have already warmed the world up by approximately 1.2C, leading to more frequent and extreme weather events.

Climate change reflects clear patterns of atmospheric colonisation, said Jason Hickel, co-author and professor at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Responsibility for excess emissions is largely held by the wealthy classes [within nations] who have very high consumption and who wield disproportionate power over production and national policy. They are the ones who must bear the costs of compensation.

There have recently been increased calls to compensate vulnerable countries that are facing devastating impacts of climate crisis. At the recent UN climate summit held in Egypt, Cop27, countries agreed to set up a loss and damage fund for nations that have faced irreversible damages.

However, reports show rich nations have so far failed to honour their previous pledges for climate finance to facilitate poorer countries to meet climate goals and adapt to a rapidly heating world.
Labours flagship policies to tackle climate change are coming under attack from critics both inside and outside the party, with the underlying fear that the costs and debts involved in funding them will also become increasingly unpopular with voters as the general election nears and they are subject to more intense scrutiny.

Keir Starmer has had to face some hostility at the GMB conference over his plan to end new fossil fuel projects in the North Sea. He has also had to justify accepting a 1.5m donation from Dale Vince, the owner of the green electricity company Ecotricity and a high-profile supporter of Just Stop Oil  which advocates precisely the policy on UK oil and gas exploration that Labour has just adopted.

The Conservatives have also suggested that Labours 28bn climate investment pledge is unaffordable. So the question arises: are Labours green policies sustainable enough to make it into government?
The blowing up of the Kakhovsky dam in a Russian-occupied area of southern Ukraine might change the dynamic of any Ukrainian plans for a big offensive  but it is coming.

For months speculation about a Ukrainian offensive has grown in proportion to the increasing array of powerful Western-supplied weapons, including tanks, devastatingly precise missiles and artillery of the sort needed to spearhead a large-scale offensive.

The Russians are adamant it has started and Moscow even boasted its forces had already smashed the Ukrainian onslaught, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers and destroying many tanks.
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Of all the distractions from achieving social justice, the idea of a universal basic income is the most persistent. It is a zombie policy, impossible to kill off, no matter how many studies or experiments are carried out, or how many economists point out that it wont work.

It flared back to life at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. A large group of opposition MPs of various parties urged Rishi Sunak to bring in a temporary basic income as the solution to the economic shock of the lockdown. Fortunately, the Treasury ignored them and devised a furlough scheme to support the incomes and preserve the jobs of affected workers.

This month, a German institute is launching the countrys largest independent academic research project, by giving people a basic income with no strings attached. The idea is that by paying people selected at random 1,200 (1,083) a month unconditionally, it will encourage the recipients to fulfil themselves, by making it easier for them to retrain, set up a business, change jobs or work different hours.

Other benefits claimed for basic income schemes are that they would simplify welfare payments, and help people adjust to the inevitable job losses caused by artificial intelligence. Neither of those will be tested by the German scheme, as it is a private initiative by a campaign group called Mein Grundeinkommen (My Basic Income), whose 130,000 supporters are paying for the experiment.

So far the debate has resembled a philosophical salon at best, and a religious war at worst, said Jurgen Schupp, who heads the experiment at the German Institute for Economic Research, as if his institute is going to bring about the Enlightenment and the Reformation at once.

I admire their altruism, but I despair that it is so misdirected. There is no need for another experiment to find out if a basic income would work. There have been many experiments since the 1970s and they have all come to the same conclusion, summed up three years ago by John Kay, one of the great economists of our time: Either the level of basic income is unacceptably low, or the cost of providing it is unacceptably high. And, whatever the appeal of the underlying philosophy, that is essentially the end of the matter.

Yet the appeal of the underlying philosophy is so powerful that well-intentioned people continue to try to push their magic water uphill. It is a lovely idea: that you could give every citizen enough to live on, as of right, thus ending means-testing and liberating people to find their own productive and fulfilling economic destiny.

The same impulse inspired some of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnells programme: they looked to universal benefits rather than means-tested ones, for student fees, childcare and even broadband. Each of them progressive and enlightened in principle but in practice a huge subsidy to the better-off.

A similar belief in the virtues of simplification and computerisation lay behind universal credit as a well-meaning reform of the benefits system. (Well meaning may seem an unfamiliar phrase to attach to something designed by Iain Duncan Smith, but there was a strong dose of Christian idealism behind the scheme, until George Osborne decided to use it as the means by which to make huge cuts in welfare.)

The tragedy is that all the effort and cash put into lobbying for basic income schemes could be devoted to practical reforms of existing policies to support people who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. As the (targeted) furlough scheme is unwound, it is much more important to devote our reserves of compassion to designing (targeted) schemes to help people into the jobs of the future.
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Paediatricians have warned vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children and are calling for disposable vapes to be banned.

Many parents may be concerned about their own childs health if theyre vaping.

In May, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH ) warned there had been a 50% rise in the proportion of children vaping  from 7.7% of 11 to 17-year-olds trying e-cigarettes last year to 11.6% this year.

And because vapes havent been around long (theyve only been on sale in the UK since 2007) there havent been any long-term studies on the effect on health, and particularly on young lungs, hearts and brains.

However, responding to a current Government consultation on e-cigarettes, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has warned e-cigarettes are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes.

The RCPCHs vice president for policy and paediatric respiratory consultant, Dr Mike McKean, says: Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned. Youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children, and I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis.

But its a crisis many parents are ill-informed about  so heres what the experts think parents should know

What are vapes?Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive at ASH, describes vapes  also known as electronic cigarettes  as a battery-powered heating element which heats a liquid  generally containing nicotine and other ingredients  thats then inhaled as a vapour by users.

Some vapes are single -use and come in bright packaging, with exotic flavours and enticing, sweetie-type names like strawberry ice cream, cotton candy and cherry cola, others are rechargeable.

Can children buy vapes?

Its illegal to sell vapes to under 18s in the UK. However, youngsters are clearly still getting their hands on them.

McKean, who practises in the north-east of England, says hes concerned to hear theres been an increase in unregulated e-cigarettes hitting the UK market recently. He points out that in the north-east alone, more than 1.4 tonnes of illegal e-cigarettes  which Trading Standards said were often indistinguishable from regulated products  were seized from shops in the second half of last year.

Its impossible to know what these products contain or how they might impact young peoples health, he says. The thought that these products are ending up in the hands of children is terrifying.

What do they contain?

The crucial thing for parents to know is that they contain nicotine, which is harmful and addictive.

Gurch Randhawa, professor of diversity in public health and director of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire, says: E-cigarettes do not burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, the most harmful aspects of smoking cigarettes. E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings.

Are they addictive?

Yes. McKean warns: Vaping is far from risk-free, and in many cases can be very addictive.

Cheeseman adds: It appears likely that people who have not smoked can become addicted to nicotine through vaping.

What are the health impacts long-term?

Randhawa says that because vapes are a relatively new product, evidence on their health impacts isnt clear. Experts are concerned though  especially because people under the age of 18 are still developing.

Nicotine is known to cause an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, flow of blood to the heart and a narrowing of the arteries.Cheeseman says: We dont know what the health implications will be long-term. It seems likely there will be some, but until we have a population of people who have exclusively vaped without smoking for many decades it will be difficult to fully assess the impact.

Decades ago, no one knew about the devastating health impacts of smoking either.

How can parents help children quit?

Ensure your child has all the correct information and risks associated with vaping. Rather than setting strict punishments, try to be understanding and have a gentle discussion about peer pressure and having the confidence to say no.

Cheeseman says nicotine replacement therapy can be used for children as young as 12.

Randhawa points out that e-cigarettes should only be used to help people stop smoking. If you havent smoked, you should not use e-cigarettes, as they contain nicotine, which is addictive. This message needs to be understood and articulated across society and schools to support children to not take up vaping.
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Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace have been spotted out in public for the first time since his teenage daughter reportedly filed a restraining order against them both.

The Welsh actor, 49, and Wallace, 29, were seen taking their dog out for a walk near their home in Los Angeles, a week after 13-year-old Ella is said to have filed the paperwork.

Last August, the Titanic star obtained a three-year restraining order against his estranged wife Alice Evans, which also bans her from mentioning him and Wallace on social media.

The new restrictions were imposed after Gruffudd claimed Evans, with whom he shares Ella and Elvie, had continued to cause him problems by using social media accounts to harass, threaten, and disturb the peace of both me and my girlfriend.

His daughter Ella also reportedly sought a civil harassment protection order against her father.

According to documents seen by the Daily Mail, the teenager applied for a temporary restraining order on 31 May, with a hearing date of 23 June.

She reportedly submitted the application after an incident at Gruffudds home in Los Angeles earlier this month, which allegedly occurred while Ella and her younger sister Elvie, nine, were visiting.

Bianca Wallace and Ioan Gruffudd attend Wales To The World at Sony Hall on November 14, 2022 (Getty Images)

It is not known what the incident involved or what led to Ellas decision.

The Independent has contacted a representative for Gruffudd for comment.

Gruffudd previously filed for joint custody of his daughters and claimed Evans tried to sever communication between him and their children. Evans claimed that Gruffudd refused to see them for over a year in response.

The former couple met during the production of the 2000 film 102 Dalmations. They married in September 2007.

Ioan Gruffudd of 'Liar' speaks onstage during the SundanceTV portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 29, 2017 (Getty Images)

Evans announced their separation in January 2021 and Gruffudd filed for divorce two months later.

The Vampire Diaries star accused her ex-husband of having an affair with Wallace, who was her friend, for three years while they were still married.

However, wardrobe assistant Amy Douglas, who worked with Gruffudd and Wallace on the Australian series Harrow, said they didnt begin speaking until filming for series three began in 2020.

Being her friend I KNOW it didn't happen, she said of Wallace. I know her as a person and her principals. You do not.
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Jared Leto was spotted scaling the wall of a hotel in Germany without a harness.

The actor and musician, 51, was filmed climbing the stone wall of the five-star Hotel De Rome in Berlin on Monday (5 June). The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman  who appeared to not be wearing a harness  was seen scaling the wall while wearing a black T-shirt, camouflage-printed joggers, and sneakers.

In videos shared to Twitter, the stunt drew a small crowd of onlookers outside the Hotel De Rome. Leto climbed only a few feet off the ground to the hotel balcony, before climbing back down the stone wall safely.

Its unclear why Leto climbed up the hotel wall. However, TMZ reported that he was spotted with popular TikToker Younes Zarou, who is known for his illusion videos and wild stunts. According to TMZ, the gang was shooting some other segments with Jared near the hotel.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Leto for comment.

As videos of his gravity-defying stunt circulated online, many people shared their amusing reactions on Twitter.

When your intrusive thoughts get to you, wrote one person on Twitter, while another person asked: Where does he get all the energy Ill have what hes on

A third user wrote, Bro thinks hes Spider-Man.

Last May, Leto pulled another stunt when he arrived at the 2023 Met Gala wearing an over-the-top cat costume inspired by German designer Karl Lagerfelds beloved feline, Choupette.

On 1 May, the House of Gucci star posed on the Met Gala red carpet in the full-length white cat costume. Leto then removed the oversized cat head to unveil his blue-eyeshadow makeup look underneath, before unzipping the outfit to show off another red carpet look.

While many fans applauded the actor for embracing the Met Gala theme  Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty  others were not surprised that Leto took things one step further. Only Jared Leto would, one person tweeted, while another said: Of course it had to be Jared Leto.

The Oscar-winning actor wasnt the only one dressed as a cat for the 2023 Met Gala, which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Doja Cat also arrived on the red carpet in an outfit that was influenced by the German designers white cat.
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Pete Davidson has said he doesnt regret standing up for his family in an explicit voicemail to Peta, in which he told the controversial animal rights group to "suck my d***, after they criticised the Saturday Night Live alum for purchasing a dog from a pet store.

The King of Staten Island actor and his girlfriend, Chase Sui Wonders, were recently spotted purchasing a new cavapoo from Citipups in New York City  weeks after announcing that his family was mourning the loss of their two-year-old dog, Henry, who got very sick very fast.

However, Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) took issue with the comedian purchasing his familys new pup from a pet store, rather than adopting one from a shelter. Daphna Nachminovitch  Petas senior vice president of cruelty investigations  criticised Davidsons decision in a statement to TMZ on Monday (5 June).

Its tragic that Pete didnt seek out a borough-born mutt from a city animal shelter, because a scrappy New Yorker with charm, personality, and unconventional handsomeness could have been his perfect match, she said. Since shelters in New York and across the country are overflowing with homeless animals, Peta urges Pete to show some big heart energy by adopting, not shopping, in the future.

It seemed that the Bupkis actor caught wind of Petas public service announcement when he left an explicit voicemail to Nachminovitch. In the voicemail, which was released by TMZ, Davidson explained his reasoning for purchasing the pet  while still telling the organisation to suck my d***.

Hi, my name is Pete Davidson. This message is for Daphna, he said in the voicemail. Thank you so much for making comments publicly that I didnt adopt a dog. I just want to let you know Im severely allergic to dogs so I have to get a specific breed.

The Meet Cute star mentioned that he purchased the puppy because his family has been so sad since the passing of their two-year-old dog, Henry. He also explained that hes allergic to dogs, and claimed that cavapoos are the only breed that dont activate his allergies.

Davidson continued: Im only not allergic to cavapoos and those type of dogs and my moms f***ing dog, whos two years old, died a week prior and were all so sad so I had to get a specific dog.

So why dont you do your research before you f***ing create news stories for people because youre a boring tired [bleeped, unclear], he added. F*** you and suck my d***!

Peta then doubled down on their criticisms of Davidson in another statement to TMZ, claiming that theres no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

If Pete had done his research, he would know that theres no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, that at least a quarter of dogs in shelters are purebreds, and that Petfinder has listings for homeless dogs of every breed under the sun, including the one he purchased, they replied.

Now it appears that Davidson has calmed down since leaving the expletive-heavy voicemail to Peta. While the 29-year-old actor defended some of his comments, saying that he was not sorry for standing up for his family, Davidson did admit that he used a poor choice of words in his leaked voicemail.

I havent seen my mom and sister cry like that in over 20 years, Davidson told TMZ on Tuesday (6 June). I was trying to cheer up my family. I was already upset that the store had filmed me without my permission or acknowledgment. Then this organisation (Peta) made a public example of us, making our grieving situation worse.

I am upset. It was a poor choice of words, he added. I shouldnt have said what I said, but I am not sorry for standing up for myself and my family.

The Independent has contacted Davidson for comment.

Last month, Davidson revealed that his familys dog Henry had died at just two years old. Dave Sirus, who is a writer on Davidsons new comedy series Bupkis, shared the announcement on behalf of Davidson to his Instagram account.

Yesterday we lost a key member of the Davidson family. Henry was only two years old but unfortunately got very sick very fast. My mom, sister and I got Henry at the beginning of the pandemic and he saved our lives, the post read. Not sure Id even be around without him. He was the happiest and sweetest dog ever, he used to get excited when he saw me and would pee everywhere.

When I was working at SNL my mom would send me videos of him watching, smiling and making noise when I came on screen. I dont ever really watch any of my stuff with anyone as Im far too scared but I didnt mind watching with Henry, he recalled.

Davidson went on to describe Henry as truly the best, adding that he and his mother, Amy Waters Davidson, and sister Casey were broken and will miss him forever.

We love you Henry, he said. Thank you for making our lives fuller and reminding me what actually matters.
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King Charles III has said he believes it is crucially important to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference of Windrush arrivals and their descendants ahead of a BBC documentary.

Windrush: Portraits Of A Generation follows a project by Charles, who has commissioned 10 artists, from Britain and abroad, to create portraits of those who arrived to the UK from the Caribbean more than 70 years ago.

The 75-minute programme marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush to a dock in England and is being released on National Windrush Day this month.

The King said: It is, I believe, crucially important that we should truly see and hear these pioneers who stepped off the Empire Windrush at Tilbury in June 1948  only a few months before I was born  and those who followed over the decades, to recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country.

The first wave of hundreds of workers from countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago arrived in the UK on June 22 1948.

The Windrush Portraits Committee  a sub-committee of the Windrush Commemoration Committee  which has former childrens TV presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin and EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker as members  selected the sitters from across the UK.

The documentary will also focus on stories from the group  who include Sir Geoff Palmer, who is being painted by Derek Fordjour; Laceta Reid, who is being painted by Serge Attukwei Clottey; Jessie Stephens, who is being painted by Sahara Longe; and Carmen Munroe, who is being painted by Sonia Boyce  arriving in Britain and making their lives in the country.

Delisser Bernard, painted by Honor Titus; Alford Gardner, painted by Chloe Cox; Linda Haye, painted by Shannon Bono; Edna Henry, painted by Amy Sherald; and Gilda Oliver, painted by Clifton Powell are also among the sitters.

King Charles has said that recognising the immeasurable difference made by Windrush arrivals and their descendants (PA Wire)

Directed and produced by Suniti Somaiya, the programme  which is made in partnership with The Open University  also follows the making of the portraits and the artists insights into their own unique creative approach.

The 10 portraits will become part of the Royal Collection and commemorate those gave so much of themselves to rebuild a nation devastated by war.

The portraits will also go on display at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh from June 22 to October 16.

Windrush: Portraits Of A Pioneering Generation will then be shown at the Queens Gallery, Buckingham Palace in London from November 10 to April 14.

Windrush: Portraits Of A Generation airs on BBC Two on June 22.
 Close Prince Harry arrives at High Court for battle with MGN over phone hacking

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Soap actress Nikki Sanderson said her hair was set on fire by a group of girls after Mirror articles painted her as a stuck up, nasty, party girl.

She said in her witness statement: People would elbow me, push me and, on one occasion, a group of girls even set my hair on fire. This particular incident happened in the toilets of a club and the group of girls had been bothering me all night.

I had gone to the toilets on my own and I was washing my hands and I smelt burning. I looked down and they had set fire to the back of my hair. Fortunately, I wasnt wearing any hair product, otherwise, my hair would have gone up in flames.

She added: Its because of this narrative created and repeated by MGN that I was stuck up, nasty, rude, promiscuous, and a party girl. It feels like character assassination.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex has landed back in Los Angeles, after a flying visit to the UK to give evidence in his High Court phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
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Watch Prince Harry leave the High Court in London after giving evidence in his battle against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

The Duke of Sussex is suing the group for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception.

He did not appear in court on Monday, but arrived shortly after 9:30am on Tuesday 6 June.

The royal alleges around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Yesterday, David Sherborne, acting for Harry, referred to a 2003 article which detailed an alleged row between the duke and Prince William, over their mothers former butler Paul Burrell.

Even at this very early formative stage... the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown, the barrister said.
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Giving evidence in his ongoing case against the Daily Mirrors publisher at Londons High Court on Tuesday morning, Prince Harry has slammed the press with a damning witness statement.

In the 55-page long document, available to read in full below, the Duke of Sussex said that the alleged unlawful actions of journalists from The Mirror Group affected every area of my life, questioning How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?

The Duke of Sussex is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Follow our live blog for latest updates

Noting that his voicemails would include incredibly private and sensitive information about my relationships, my operational security and that of my family, the Duke details that he believes both he and his associates voicemail messages were hacked by MGN.

They could have heard anything and everything, his statement detailed.

Elsewhere, he added that he felt physically sick over the eight payments made by MGN titles to private investigators related to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales
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A delighted Princess Eugenie has given birth to her second child, the royal has announced, as she shared the baby boys unusual name.

The late Queens granddaughter, 33, and husband Jack Brooksbank, 37, told followers that their son, who weighed 7lb 1oz, was born nearly a week ago on May 30.

Their eldest son, two-year-old August, is loving being a big brother already, the princess said.

Eugenie posted on her Instagram account: Jack and I wanted to share the news that we had our little boy, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank on 30th May 2023 at 8.49 weighing 7.1lbs.

He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald. Augie is loving being a big brother already.

Eugenie shared a sweet picture of Ernest, wearing a knitted blue and white hat, asleep in a Moses basket, and one of August tenderly stroking his brothers head.

Ernests great-great-great grandfather was King George V who also had Ernest as a middle name  with his full name being George Frederick Ernest Albert.

The babys middle name is also a tender tribute to Mr Brooksbanks father George who died in 2021.

Eugenies father-in-law Mr Brooksbank had been ill for some time and had previously been seriously unwell with Covid.

Ronnie is a nod to Sarah, Duchess of Yorks father, the former royal polo manager Major Ronald Ferguson who died in 2003 and who was dubbed the galloping major following tabloid exposes of his private life  and a title he used for his autobiography.

Ernest has arrived in the Kings coronation year, just weeks after the ceremony.

He is the first of the late Queens great-grandchildren to be born since her death last September.

The newest member of the royal family, whose title is Master Brooksbank, is 13th in line to the throne, moving the Duke of Edinburgh down to 14th place.

A heavily pregnant Eugenie, daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, joined the Windsors to witness her uncle Charless coronation in Westminster Abbey at the start of May.

Mr Brooksbank was seated next to the Duke of Sussex in the third row.

August with his little brother, Ernest

The princess is close to her cousin Harry, whose biography caused ructions when he laid bare his fraught relationships with the King and the Prince of Wales.

When she was just weeks away from giving birth, Eugenie joked she would use her baby bump to clear a path through the busy crowds at a Coronation Big Lunch on Chalfont St Giless village green in Buckinghamshire during the celebratory weekend.

Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank had expressed their excitement ahead of becoming a family of four.

The princess posted a photograph of August, in a burgundy winter hat, matching trousers and wellies, embracing her and kissing her bump, to announce her pregnancy in January.

Were so excited to share that there will be a new addition to our family this summer, she wrote.

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank was born at the exclusive Portland Hospital in central London on February 9 2021.

He made an appearance at the Platinum Jubilee pageant celebrations last year wearing a Union flag jumper as Eugenie bounced him up and down on her knee in the royal box.

Eco-conscious Eugenie has pledged August will be an activist from two years old and spoken of her own attempts to stop using plastic at home.

The princess and Mr Brooksbank married in a glittering ceremony in the gothic surroundings of St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, in front of royal and celebrity guests in October 2018.

Mr Brooksbank has worked as a European brand director of Casamigos Tequila, co-founded by actor George Clooney.

He met Eugenie through mutual friends while on a ski trip to Verbier.

Eugenie is a director at the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in London.

She is patron of several charities, including the Elephant Family, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Coronet Theatre and the European School of Osteopathy, and also founded the Anti-Slavery Collective charity.

Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank arrived at the coronation with the princesss disgraced father, Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his controversial Newsnight interview and the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The duke went on to pay millions to settle a civil sexual assault lawsuit to a woman he claimed never to have met. He denied the claims.

The baby is Andrew and his ex-wife Sarahs third grandchild, joining August, and Princess Beatrices one-year-old daughter Sienna.
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A former federal correctional officer was convicted Monday of sexually abusing two inmates at a womens prison in California where the warden and other employees were charged with similar conduct.

A jury found the officer, John Russell Bellhouse, guilty on five counts of sexual abuse for incidents involving the two women between 2019 and 2020 at FCI Dublin, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Oakland.

Bellhouse, 40, was scheduled to be sentenced in August.

My clients feel heard, Jessica Pride, an attorney for the victims, told KTVU-TV. Regardless of a prisoners crime, sexual assault is not part of their punishment."

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Bellhouse began to express an interest in a particular female inmate and started calling the inmate his girlfriend in 2020. Authorities said he inappropriately touched the woman and that she performed oral sex on Bellhouse twice in the prisons safety office.

All sexual activity between a prison worker and an inmate is illegal.

Prosecutors said Bellhouse allowed one woman to use an office phone  a violation of Bureau of Prisons policy  and also gave her earrings. Another inmate was tasked to act like a lookout during at least one of the sexual encounters, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Bellhouse, Shaffy Moeel, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment.

Bellhouse is the sixth employee at the prison to be charged with sexually abusing inmates. The prisons former warden, Ray Garcia, was convicted in December of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose naked in their cells. He was sentenced to serve six years in prison.

An Associated Press investigation revealed a culture of abuse and cover-up that had persisted for years at the facility.

Since the AP's investigation, the Bureau of Prisons launched new training for prison wardens and created specialized teams aimed at curtailing sexual abuse at the nations federal prisons.
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The mystery client who hired a detective to secretly track Reno's mayor with a GPS device is trying to persuade Nevada's Supreme Court he has a First Amendment right to remain anonymous, a protected privilege he says is a cornerstone of democracy and part of the business of politics.

The high court allowed lawyers representing John Doe to file the latest brief in the case  with his true name under seal  last week so as to keep his identity secret, at least for now.

Chief Justice Lidia Stiglich set additional filing deadlines into July as the justices consider an appeal the detective filed last month seeking to overturn a Washoe County judge's order that he name the person who hired him to keep tabs on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and a county commissioner before the November election.

John Doe's lawyers said the U.S. Supreme Court "has repeatedly affirmed that the First Amendment protects anonymous political activity."

For better or worse ... the use of private investigators to conduct investigations of elected officials and/or candidates is just politics as usual, they wrote in the June 1 filing.

Schieve filed a civil suit in December seeking damages from private detective David McNeely for a violation of her privacy after a mechanic alerted her to the clandestine GPS tracking device, which was attached to her vehicle.

Sparks police determined it was purchased by McNeely. Ex-Washoe County Commissioner Vaugn Hartung joined the suit in February, alleging a GP monitor also was secretly attached to his vehicle to track his movements.

The placing of the devices on the cars wasn't illegal because no Nevada law specifically outlawed the practice at the time. But the Legislature approved and Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law last week a prohibition on placing GPS trackers on vehicles with the exceptions of law enforcement officers with warrants and in some cases certain creditors.

Lawyers for McNeely said in last month's appeal to the states high court that divulging the name of a client would violate the long-accepted and expected confidentiality of a private investigator-client relationship.

Lawyers for John Doe joined the appeal last week, arguing that the First Amendment protects John Does right to anonymously investigate elected officials to help uncover misconduct or malfeasance.

Anonymous pamphlets leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all, said the brief filed by Las Vegas lawyers Alina Shell and Jeffrey Barr.

Even the Federalist Papers, written in favor of the adoption of our Constitution, were published under fictitious names, they said.

They said that without the assurance of confidentiality, Doe wouldn't have hired the detective to investigate any alleged misconduct by the politicians. They said earlier he'd received information that suggested the officials may have been involved in some sort of wrongdoing but haven't provided any further details.

The filing says private investigation of elected officials and candidates has and likely will always be part of American politics.

The late Sen. Edward Kennedy hired a private investigator while seeking re-election in 1994 to dig up damaging information about challenger Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, it said. American journalist James Callendar remained anonymous while revealing President Thomas Jefferson had fathered children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves, it added.

In Nevada, the Culinary Union and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association hired a detective to surveil the movements of Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs-McDonald in 2006 to show she lived outside her commission district, the lawyers said.

They said in earlier filings in Washoe District Court that Doe had not broken any laws or disseminated any of the information gathered on his behalf and never instructed McNeely to place GPS trackers on vehicles.

The tracking device was on Schieves vehicle for several weeks and Hartungs vehicle for several months, their lawsuit says.

Schieve said McNeely trespassed onto her property to install the device, which a mechanic noticed while working on her vehicle last year about two weeks before she won re-election in November.

Hartung also won re-election but later resigned to become chairman of the Nevada Transportation Commission.

Judge David Hardy said in his May 4 ruling that the use of a GPS tracking device to monitor the movements of a person could be a tortious invasion of privacy.
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Police in South Florida arrested two men over the weekend and a third on Monday suspected of going on a Memorial Day shooting spree along a busy beachside promenade that injured nine people.

Detectives from the Hollywood Police Department took Ariel Cardahn Paul into custody on Sunday night and Lionel JeanCharles Jr. on Monday afternoon, the agency said in a news release. On Saturday, Hollywood detectives and the U.S. Marshal's Task Force arrested Jordan Burton.

JeanCharles, Paul and Burton have been identified by police as the shooters, the agency said.

They will each face charges of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

Two men who were involved in the altercation that led to the shooting  Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, both 18  were arrested last week on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, with one of them reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said.

Police and witnesses say the shooting began late in the afternoon on Memorial Day after a fight broke out in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk, which is south of Fort Lauderdale. Bystanders frantically ran for cover as gunshots rang out.

Two of the nine injured remain in the hospital, police said.

It was not immediately known whether those who were arrested have retained lawyers who could speak on their behalf,
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A silver-plated pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler has sold for a 10th of its pre-auction estimate at a Belfast auction house.

The pencil sold for 5,400 to an online bidder at Bloomfield Auctions in the Northern Ireland capital on Tuesday.

It had been expected to fetch between 50,000  80,000.

It is believed the pencil had been given to the Nazi dictator by his long-term partner Eva Braun as a gift for his 52nd birthday on April 20, 1941.

It is inscribed with Eva in German and the initials AH.

The pencil was originally purchased by a collector at an auction in 2002 and since then has remained in the collectors family.

A number of other items associated with the Nazi regime in 1930s-40s Germany also went under the hammer on Tuesday.

An original signed photograph of Hitler, expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000, sold for 6,200.

A section of Swastika bunting sold for 170 and an armband sold for 190

All items were bought by online bidders.

The wide-ranging militaria auction which went on for most of the day also included historic British Army medals, deactivated guns, a PSNI peaked cap believed to have been worn by former Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and a treaty with notes written by Irish unionist leader Edward Carson.

A rare Royal Pardon issued by Queen Victoria to Irish rebels convicted of high treason was among the last items set to be sold.

The pardon is believed to have been issued by the monarch in 1869, and includes Queen Victorias personal signature and seal.

Royal Pardons allow monarchs to withdraw or provide alternatives to death sentences or exile to those convicted of crimes against the crown.

One of the key individuals referenced in the pardon is JFX OBrien, an Irish nationalist revolutionary who participated in a rising against British rule in 1867, and was tried for high treason, convicted and sentenced to death.

OBrien was released in 1869 with Queen Victorias pardon and went on to become the President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and an MP for Cork City.

Bloomfield Auctions had been urged to halt the sale of the Nazi linked items for moral reasons by the chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin.

He described the trade in items which belonged to senior Nazis as an insult to the millions who perished in the holocaust, as well as the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere.

However the auction house stressed that the item is a part of history, adding those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history.

They insisted they did not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society, adding: All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history.
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BBC journalists are to stage a 48-hour strike in a dispute over cuts to local radio services in England.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said 1,000 of its members will walk out on Wednesday and Thursday.

The union says it is protesting at BBCs plans to dramatically reduce local radio services across England.

The strikes follow industrial action by journalists in March.

The NUJ said negotiations with the BBC had stalled, adding that the proposals have failed to address the unions concerns about the impact of fewer services, and an increase in shared programmes.

Paul Siegert, the NUJs national broadcasting organiser, said: Journalists are striking in defence of services that are valued by communities across the country.

We do not oppose change within the BBC but believe the manner in which the Digital First strategy is being enforced will destroy access to relevant, local radio that so many rely on.

This 48-hour strike is about journalists standing up for local radio services, and the public have rallied behind members in their fight to keep local radio local Paul Siegert, NUJ

This 48-hour strike is about journalists standing up for local radio services, and the public have rallied behind members in their fight to keep local radio local.

A BBC spokesperson said: We understand this is a difficult period of change for many colleagues and we will continue to support everyone affected by the plans to strengthen our local online services across news and audio.

Our goal is to deliver a local service across TV, radio and online that offers more value to more people in more local communities.

While the plans do impact on individual roles, we are maintaining our overall investment in local services and expect our overall level of editorial staffing across England to remain unchanged.
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A High Court challenge by the UK Government to block the UK Covid-19 Inquirys request for Boris Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks could be heard by the end of June, a minister has suggested.

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin said the matter was being expedited and that it would likely be heard on or shortly after June 30.

He said all Government correspondence relating to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic would be made transparently available to Baroness Halletts investigation.

But he repeated the Cabinet Offices earlier argument that the inquiry, in its request for former prime minister Mr Johnsons unredacted messages and notes, was asking for information it deemed to be clearly and unambiguously irrelevant.

Let them have everything they want and let's get to the truth Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh

In a statement in the Commons on Monday, Mr Quin said: That material includes, for example, communications about purely personal matters and about other aspects of the Governments policy and work, which have nothing to do with Covid.

The Cabinet Office confirmed last week it would be applying for a judicial review after missing Lady Halletts Thursday deadline for handing over the information.

Mr Quin said he recognised that it was important that this is resolved in the courts as soon as possible.

He told MPs: It is my understanding that the courts have indicated that we can use an expedited process and have a divisional court hearing which is expected to be held on or shortly after June 30.

Mr Quins argument was rebuffed by senior Conservatives, who urged the minister to hand over all documents requested by the inquiry.

Veteran MP Sir Edward Leigh said ministers should let everything hang out.

He added: Let them have what they want and lets get to the truth.

William Wragg, Conservative chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said it was for Lady Hallett, a retired senior judge, to determine what was relevant to her inquiry.

Questioning the decision to pursue court action, Mr Wragg said: Theres no prospect, and it is rather spurious nonsense to hear some ministers witter on about personal information about their children being disclosed.

That is not the case and nor is it my understanding that any of this material would be subject to freedom of information request.

Mr Johnson has been at the centre of the row between the Cabinet Office and the national inquiry into the pandemic, which he set up when in Downing Street.

He has vowed to send all his messages to the official investigation directly, circumventing the Cabinet Office.

Mr Quin would not confirm reports that his department had written to Mr Johnson warning him that he could lose public funding for legal advice if he breaks conditions such as releasing evidence without permission.

Asked about the reports by Labour shadow Cabinet Office minister Fleur Anderson  who suggested a judicial review could mount up legal fees costing hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxpayers money  Mr Quin replied: There is a long tradition, under all administrations, that ministers should be supported with their legal fees in their support and work to help the inquiries that are established.

That is the right thing to do.

Mr Johnson changed phones in May 2021 after security concerns were raised that his mobile phone number had been publicly available for 15 years online.

He was advised to stop using the phone and not to access it again.

The former Tory leader has written to the inquiry to say he hopes to be able to hand over the messages from the locked phone, which are likely to relate to the ordering of three lockdowns in England in 2020.

Lady Hallett is expected to respond to the judicial review decision during a preliminary hearing of her inquiry on Tuesday.
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An inquest has heard that two youngsters died from drowning after a suggestion that they got into difficulty by getting caught in a riptide in the sea off Bournemouth beach.

Joe Abbess, 17, from Southampton, and Sunnah Khan, 12, from Buckinghamshire, were rescued from the sea during the incident on Wednesday, but both died in hospital.

In a hearing to open the inquest proceedings at Bournemouth Town Hall, Dorset coroners officer Nicola Muller said that post mortem examinations carried out by Home Office pathologist Basil Purdue showed the cause of their deaths was drowning.

Sunnah Khan was just 12 years-old when she died during the half term break (Twitter/Stephanie Williams)

She said that Joe, a trainee chef, was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was pronounced dead, and Sunnah was taken to Poole General Hospital.

She said that Joe was identified by Detective Constable Hannah Webster by a photograph provided by his family, and Sunnah was identified by her father at the hospital.

Joe Abbess was a trainee chef (PA)

Describing the incident, Ms Muller said: The brief circumstances are that emergency services were contacted by members of the public following swimmers had come into difficulty in the water, following suggestion they had been caught in a riptide.

Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset, said: I understand there is an ongoing police investigation, despite that, I have already submitted the appropriate paperwork and released both Joes and Sunnahs bodies for the purposes of their funerals.

In relation to that ongoing police investigation, I am unable to make any progress in my inquiries.

Its very important people do not speculate on the circumstances surrounding Joe and Sunnahs deaths and allow the police investigation to proceed, which will allow my investigation to proceed.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to Joe and Sunnahs families, my thoughts are very much with them at this difficult time following this tragedy.

My thoughts are also with those who attended or witnessed the traumatic events.

A cruise boat called the Dorset Belle which has been impounded at Poole Harbour after the two deaths (PA)

It's very important people do not speculate on the circumstances surrounding Joe and Sunnah's deaths and allow the police investigation to proceed, which will allow my investigation to proceed Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset

She added: I wish to take this opportunity to remind all those who enter the sea or open water to be aware of the powers of the water and the risks of swimming in open water.

Its important they are aware of how to respond when problems arise and urge people to follow guidance from public agencies such as the RNLI.

Ms Griffin adjourned the hearing until a pre-inquest review to be held on September 18.

Neither of the families of the two deceased were present at the short hearing.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has expressed concern about a lack of clarity from local police officers about the incident, which he said had led to wild speculation on social media.

We do need to understand, learn lessons from this, provide clarity early on, just so people can have an assurance of mind as to what roughly happened, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

(The Independent/Datawrapper)

The Bournemouth East MP said: Certainly anybody would not want to impede or prejudice the investigation.

But if the absence of any comprehensive statement becomes standard, I can see who, speaking on a wider picture and security level, those who wish us harm could leverage the void by misleading messaging.

But David Sidwick, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Dorset, defended the polices handling of the complex case.

Dorset Police have said that the beach was extremely busy but that neither of the deceased young people or anyone else pulled from the sea at the time of the incident was involved in any collision or contact with any vessel in the water.

A man in his 40s, who was on the water at the time, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and was released under investigation on Thursday.

The Dorset Belle sightseeing boat was impounded by Dorset Police after the incident.

Flowers left on the beach following the double tragedy (PA)

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan said: We continue to keep an open mind around the circumstances that have led to the tragic death of two young people in the water off the beach.

Our thoughts remain with the families of those young people.

As with any investigation of this nature, we have to look at all factors connected to the state of the water.

One of those lines of inquiry has involved the pleasure boat, which was in the area at the time of the incident. These inquiries also include examining wind, other weather and general coastal conditions at the time.

We are working with experts from partner agencies to understand all of the factors and this will take time to establish.

Air ambulances landed on the beach during the incident (PA / Professor Dimitrios Buhalis )

Joe Abbesss family paid tribute in a statement saying: We are heartbroken and devastated at the death of our Joe. He was a wonderful son and brother who is sadly missed.

His family and friends will always love him and we are incredibly proud of the fabulous young man he was. He was kind and generous, loving and caring, hardworking and funny.

Joe was a talented trainee chef, with a bright future ahead of him.

We were privileged to have him in our lives for 17 years and we are so sorry he will never fulfil his dreams and ambitions.

He was enjoying a day at the beach on Wednesday and we would like to thank his friends and all of the emergency services who helped him, when this tragedy unfolded.

Sunnah grew in confidence over her first 10 months at Bourne End. She developed a bold and happy personality which resonated throughout the school community Bourne End Academy spokesperson

A spokesperson for Bourne End Academy said: It is with great sadness that we can confirm that one of our students, Sunnah Khan, died during the half-term break.

As a student, Sunnah grew in confidence over her first 10 months at Bourne End. She developed a bold and happy personality which resonated throughout the school community.

Her energetic character and fierce sense of loyalty meant that she had built strong and positive relationships with her peers and teachers. She will be enormously missed.

Our deepest condolences are with the family and their friends during this difficult time and in due course we will share details of a fitting memorial for Sunnah.
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Tragedy struck a packed Bournemouth beach yesterday as two youngsters died after being pulled from the sea.

Eight other people were recovered from the water after getting into difficulty off the main pier as thousands of beachgoers enjoyed the sunny half-term weather.

They were treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has been launched by Dorset Police, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Dorset Police said the two deceased - a 17-year-old boy from Southampton and a 12-year-old girl from Buckinghamshire - sustained critical injuries.

Police said that, following initial enquiries, a 40-year-old man - who had been on the water at the time - has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. It is believed the man was on a jet ski.

What we know about the area

Jet skis and other watercraft operating in the Bournemouth and Poole areas must follow specific rules between April and October.

Bournemouth, a popular seaside town on Englands south coast, is popular with locals and tourists during the summer months.

Average temperatures in and around the pier area of the sea are 12.4C for the month of June and can exceed 16 in September, according to the surf-forecast website.

The website says the area tends to receive a mix of groundswells and windswells, with surfers warned to watch out for rips and crowds.

A lifeguard raises a supervised swimming flag on Bournemouth Beach a day after tragedy (PA)

Bournemouth Pier, like all outcrops in the ocean such as groins, headlands or sandbars, presents danger for swimmers due to riptides, or rip currents.

Rips, as they are commonly known, occur when water that has been pushed towards land by the sea, is tracking back out, creating a channel of water which pulls back out to sea.

Rips are often harmless, and swimmers will barely notice them, but typically around large headlands or piers, they can be powerful and drag unwitting swimmers and surfers out to sea, particularly if there is a large swell running.

Piers and cliffs also present a hazard in summer because of the popular pursuit of tombstoning, or cliff-jumping, where thrill-seekers throw themselves into the sea off of the side of these outcrops.

Frequently people unfamiliar with conditions are hurt, or even killed, due to shallow water, hitting people in the ocean below, or landing in a dangerous position.

The sea conditions in Bournemouth when the incident happened appeared to be calm, with very little swell running. The water temperature was 15 degrees, meaning a wetsuit is required to swim comfortably.

The tides at Bournemouth see two highs and two lows in a 24-hour period. Like the rest of the UK, the tidal range is large, exposing large swathes of sand at low tide.

Low tide on 31 May was at 1:44pm and it was a 1m tide, while high tide was at 7:35pm and was 1.89m - making it a large tide.

This means the incident happened at mid-tide when the water would have been pushing shorewards.

What else have the police said?

At a press conference on Thursday, Dorset Police dismissed reports that the deceased had jumped from the pier or had been hit by a jet ski.

Rachel Farrell, assistant chief constable, confirmed that none of the swimmers had been in "physical contact" with any vessel.

She said that a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and the force was investigating what caused that to happen.

As we have a person in custody, you will know there is only limited information I can give about the investigation, Ms Farrell said.

"However, to avoid further speculation, I am able to tell you that its clear that yesterday a number of people already in the water got into difficulty and we are investigating the circumstances or event that caused that to happen.

Ms Farrell added that the two who died were not related to each other and those involved were "different people from different families" who were assisted by "great-spirited members of the public".

She added: "We are all truly devastated that two young people have lost their lives.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire And Rescue Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell and Vikki Slade, leader of the local council (PA)

"My thoughts and those of all the emergency services are very much with their loved ones at this horrendous time and we are doing all we can to support their families."

Ms Farrell added: "As you can imagine, we are at the early stages of our investigation, and we would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident to both protect our inquiries and out of respect for the victims and their families.

"We are aware of a number of videos circulating on social media and we would urge people to refrain from doing this.

"We know the beach was very busy when the incident occurred. I am today urging anyone who saw what happened or has any information that may assist to please come forward.

"If anyone has relevant phone footage then they can contact Dorset Police through our major incident public portal where they can upload the images and we will share the links on social media.

"This operation is named Operation Marble. So please share the images with the police rather than on social media."

She added: "I would sincerely like to thank members of the public who helped people in trouble in the water and also I am very grateful to wider beachgoers who really quickly moved from the beach to allow emergency workers do their work."

Witnesses see beachgoers filming aid effort

An air ambulance lands on Bournemouth beach (Max Willcock/BNPS)

People on the beach said they witnesses other beachgoers filming paramedics delivering CPR to people involved in the incident.

Nicola Holton, who was at the beach with her husband, said she witnessed lifeguards entering the sea trying to help multiple people who were struggling in the water.

[There were] loads of idiots ignoring lifeguard requests to get out of the water and clear the beach, she said.

People were running towards those having CPR filming on their phones.

A doctor who said he was involved in the resuscitation attempt on the young girl praised the work of the beach lifeguards and also hit out at those filming the incident.

Those videoing the desperate CPR attempts should think long and hard at their actions, the tragic death of a child is not something anyone should voyeuristically observe, he told MailOnline.

Council to assess safety of sea near pier

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council leader Vikki Slade said the authority is working with the emergency services and will be assessing safety in the water near the pier.

There are specific rules relating to the buoys in the water but there is no evidence that any of these rules have been breached, she said.

Tobias Ellwood, the MP for East Bournemouth and chair of the Commons defence committee, told Sky News that the pier was involved in the tragedy.

The local council will review its protocols in relation to what can be conducted on the pier, he added.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said the incident is a salutary lesson that danger is ever present on beaches and the ocean.

Beachgoers shocked at tragedy

The two youngsters who died off Bournemouth beach had not jumped from the pier or been hit by a jet-ski, police have confirmed ( (Andrew Matthews/PA))

Families arriving at the beach on Thursday spoke of their shock at the previous days events.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "Its such a shame, people just come here to have fun, its a real tragedy."

Mourners were seen placing a bunch of flowers on the beach close to the pier early on Thursday morning.
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The Duke of Sussex has faced a second day of questioning in his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for alleged phone hacking.

Throughout his High Court trial, Prince Harry has made several bombshell claims about the publisher of the Daily Mirror, such as using unlawful information-gathering to leak details about his personal life.

In fact, much of Harrys case against MGN has focused on his past relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, a Zimbabwean businesswoman whom he dated from 2004 to 2011.

During his testimony on Tuesday (6 June), Harry blamed the prying eyes of the tabloids for ultimately leading to their breakup. Our relationship was long distance for the majority of the time we were together, with Chelsy and I often living in different countries, so we relied on communicating by phone a lot, he said in his 55-page witness statement obtained by The Independent.

We, naturally, spoke about all types of personal matters, including all aspects of our relationship and this was often through voicemail, he said. As my girlfriend, I trusted Chelsy with the most private of information and visa versa.

Prince Harry accused MGN of blagging the couples flight details and hotel bookings, as well as intercepting their voicemails after journalists turned up while they holidayed on a small island off Mozambique.

I remember that whenever Chelsy and I went on a trip to Bazaruto, a small island off the coast of Mozambique, to try and get away from all the madness and enjoy some peace and quiet, journalists and photographers from MGN and the other tabloids would literally turn up and book into the hotel before we got there, he claimed. I now believe they had blagged our flight details and hotel bookings and/or intercepted our voicemails.

We were never on our own and able to enjoy each others company away from the prying eyes of the tabloids. This put a huge amount of unnecessary stress and strain on our relationship.

Prince Harry arrives for day two of Mirror Group phone hacking trial in London (Getty Images)

Prince Harry also referred to a 2006 article that claimed Davy had gone berserk and slammed the phone down on Harry over his night out with Sandhurst cadets at the Spearmint Rhino club. The article said that Davy had blew her top that Harry had received a lap dance at the club.

I dont think Chelsy did go mad about me going there, he said in his witness statement. We did speak about it over the phone, but I promised her that I hadnt had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends.

The duke said he believed journalists had access to one of their phone records and put two and two together to make a story.

Prince Harry said that their circle of friends became smaller and smaller and he found it hard to trust anyone, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia. Ultimately, these factors led (Chelsy) to make the decision that a royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time, Harry said.

He believed that tabloids wanted him to be single because it was more interesting and the twisted objective to ruin his relationships continues to this day in his relationship with wife Meghan Markle.

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy attend 2008 Investec Challenge match in London (Getty Images)

I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers, the duke said. Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible.

This twisted objective is still pursued to this day even though Im now married.

He continued: At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal.

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy reportedly met in Cape Town in 2004, while Harry was on his gap year. After meeting, the two began dating and she pursued a law degree in Leeds which allowed her to be closer to Harry.

Over the years, Davy was seen attending Princess Dianas memorial service alongside Harry on the 10th anniversary of her death. She was also invited to Prince Charles 60th birthday, and is said to have met the late Queen Elizabeth II at a society wedding during her relationship with Harry. Despite their split in 2011, she was invited to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middletons in April that year.

Chelsy Davy attends wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on 19 May 2018 (AFP via Getty Images)

In his memoir Spare, which was released earlier this year, Prince Harry recalled how difficult it was to see Chels at Willys wedding and remembered feeling a certain way about seeing Davy speak to other men throughout the night.

The royal also shared in his memoir that he couldnt help but think what his grandmother thought about Davys free-spirited lifestyle, and he wasnt sure at the time whether Davy was the one for him. The whole world isnt made to put up with constant scrutiny, and I dont know if Chels could bear it, and I couldnt ask her to, he said.

Speaking to The Times in 2017, Davy opened up about the press attention she received while with Prince Harry. It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldnt cope, she said. I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible.

In 2018, Chelsy Davy attended Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. She married hotelier Sam Cutmore-Scott in May 2022 and gave birth to their son, Leo, earlier that year.

Additional reporting from PA.
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The Duke of Sussex is not suing the Daily Mirrors publisher because of a vendetta against the press but to hold them to account, the High Court heard on the eve of Harrys appearance in the witness box.

On Monday, the dukes individual case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering got under way.

Barrister David Sherborne claimed the duke was subjected to unlawful information-gathering activity right from when he was a young boy at school into adulthood, adding: Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds.

He continued: Every part of the princes life during these years was invaded by these three papers using these unlawful methods.

The barrister said, contrary to some criticism of Harry, it was the use of these methods by a national media group that has brought him here, not some vendetta against the press generally.

Harry is suing the publisher, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them. The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Mr Sherborne has previously claimed that unlawful information gathering was habitual and widespread at MGNs titles over almost two decades.

The barrister told the court on Monday that Harry, 38, was the biggest target, adding that it was implausible there were no admissions from MGN except one.

He claimed that Harrys phone would have been hacked on multiple occasions, adding that his details appeared in the PalmPilot of a journalist who was one of the most prolific phone hackers.

Mr Sherborne later said: What he has been able to do as a result by bringing this claim, he has been able to focus the attention that comes with his position on these activities and the fact that they have been carried out not just by journalists, but they have been concealed, even though they were known about by the senior members of the board of this PLC, as well as the legal department.

It is the focus on these activities and bringing the defendant to account which is why he is bringing this action.

The duke had been expected to arrive at court on Monday but will not appear until Tuesday.

The hearing in London heard Harry had flown to the UK from Los Angeles in the US last night, as he was celebrating his daughter Lilibets second birthday on Sunday.

Brothers can sometimes disagree, but once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded Barrister David Sherborne

Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge hearing the case, said he was a little surprised to hear that Harry would not be attending court on Monday.

Set to enter the witness box on Tuesday morning, Harry is due to face up to a day-and-a-half of cross-examination from MGNs barrister.

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

Harry alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Mr Sherborne told the High Court in London that no aspect of the young princes life was safe from press intrusion and that details of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles.

The court was later told that a 2003 article detailed an alleged row between the duke and his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, over their mothers former butler, Paul Burrell.

Brothers can sometimes disagree, Mr Sherborne continued, adding: But once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded.

Mr Sherborne also said the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was a huge target for MGNs newspapers, adding that certain unlawful activities in relation to her would have also affected Harry.

He read out two letters from Diana to entertainer Michael Barrymore, which referred to private meetings between the pair, and in one of the letters Diana referred to being devastated to learn that the Daily Mirror had contacted her office about him and their meetings.

However, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, said Harrys claim had become rather fantastical.

The barrister said: The defendants position is that there is simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.

He said that payment records used in the dukes claim simply do not demonstrate unlawful conduct or knowledge thereof.

He also said that there was a lack of call data in Harrys case, telling the court: There is no call data whatsoever for the Duke of Sussex and scant call data for his associates.

Mr Green later said the duke faced a very difficult starting point for the claimant proving he was habitually hacked.

The barrister also said a suggestion that its journalists had hacked the phone of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, was total speculation.

He told the court: Mr Sherbornes suggestion that MGNs journalists hacked her phone is total speculation without any evidential basis whatsoever.

The letters you were shown, to Michael Barrymore, are not evidence of voicemail interception, Mr Green said, adding that plainly no such finding could be made.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Mr Green said voicemail interception was denied in all four cases and that there was no evidence or no sufficient evidence.

The barrister continued: There is some evidence of the instruction of third parties to engage in other types of unlawful information gathering in respect of each of the claimants, save for Mr Turner whose claim is entirely denied, and MGN has made pleaded admissions in respect thereof.

MGN unreservedly apologises for all such instances of unlawful information gathering, and assures the claimants that such conduct will never be repeated.
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The Duke of Sussexs courtroom evidence is to be reconstructed by an actor who featured in Outlander in a series of special programmes for Sky News.

Actor Laurence Dobiesz will be bringing to life significant moments from the statements made by Harry in Londons High Court this week in his claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

The duke, 38, is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

MGN is contesting his claim and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity.

Each night at 9pm, Sky News broadcaster Jonathan Samuels is set to present the special, titled Harry In Court, with Dobiesz voicing evidence given by the duke.

The actor has previously appeared in historical drama Outlander as well as 2011s Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows which starred Robert Downey Jr.

A preview clip of Dobieszs portrayal has gained considerable attention from social media users after it was posted on Sky Newss Twitter account.

Some questioned the editorial decision of the broadcaster to recreate the scene while others were not convinced by Dobieszs impersonation.

On Tuesday, Harry faced nearly five hours of questions from a barrister for MGN as he became the first senior royal in more than two decades to personally appear in court proceedings.

His claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Sky Newss executive editor and managing director Jonathan Levy has said the reconstruction of the dukes evidence will offer viewers an accurate and fair representation of what is said and a better understanding of how the case unfolds as no cameras or recording are allowed in the courtroom.

Sky News has a long tradition of reconstructing off-camera proceedings, with our re-enactment of the Michael Jackson trial in 2005 and Hutton Inquiry in 2003, he added.

Broadcaster GB News also featured its own reconstruction of court room proceedings, following the first day of Harrys evidence.

A clip posted online showed an unnamed white actor with ginger hair in a mocked up court room setting, answering questions from another actor, dressed as a barrister.
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The Duke of Sussexs relationship with his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy and his bond with his brother were damaged by newspaper articles produced by alleged unlawful information gathering, the High Court was told.

Harry believes Ms Davy decided a royal life was not for her due to a string of stories about the couple, the trial heard.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

When the duke clashed with his brother over the best way to handle Paul Burrell, their mothers former butler, their alleged disagreement was the subject of a 2003 story in The People that contributed to the seeds of discord being sown between the siblings.

The press intrusion left Harry, who in 2020 stepped down as a working royal and moved to California with his wife Meghan, suffering bouts of depression as a result, his barrister David Sherborne told the court.

Mr Sherborne said that in his witness statement, yet to be made public, the duke described the constant stream of stories about his relationship with Ms Davy.

The barrister told the High Court the duke referred to how little chance this relationship was given because of this and described how it affected his relationships going forward.

Zimbabwean-born Chelsy dated Harry for about seven years. They coped with a long-distance relationship while the duke was training in the Army and overseas and Chelsy was at university in South Africa.

They split in early 2009 and, after both reportedly had flings, rekindled their relationship, and in May 2010 Ms Davy made a rare public appearance to watch Harry receive his wings after completing his Army Air Corps helicopter pilot course.

The reunion was not permanent and the couple broke up again. They remained friends and she attended his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.

Mr Sherborne said: As he explains, it was as if they never felt they were on their own, which placed a huge amount of strain on their relationship and ultimately led Ms Davy to decide a royal life was not for her.

Mr Sherborne added: It also caused their circle of friends to become smaller and smaller, meaning that relationships were lost entirely unnecessarily.

Harry alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

One of the articles put before the trial is a December 2003 report from The People, headlined: Wills Seeing Burrell is only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets. Harry no Burrells a.

Mr Sherborne referred to the article which detailed an alleged row between the duke and his brother over Mr Burrell.

The barrister said: Even at this very early formative stage, the seeds of discord between these two brothers are starting to be sown.

Brothers can sometimes disagree, Mr Sherborne said, adding: But once it is made public in this way and their inside feelings revealed in the way that they are, trust begins to be eroded.

The barrister added: One can see how the mistrust can set in from an early age, exactly because of this type of activity.

The brothers are now estranged, with the breakdown in their relationship laid bare in the dukes controversial autobiography Spare, which claims William physically attacked Harry and teased him about his panic attacks.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.
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A university student was suffocated with a facemask and dumped inside a large suitcase by an obsessed man who followed her to Britain, a court has heard.

Hina Bashir, 21, who was studying business management at Coventry Universitys London campus, went missing after visiting the home of warehouse worker Muhammad Arslan in Ilford, east London, last July.

Days later, her body was found stuffed in a large suitcase and dumped in undergrowth near Upminster. Police uncovered evidence that 27-year-old Arslan had become obsessed with Ms Bashir, jurors were told.

The pair had grown up in the same village in Pakistan and the defendant followed Ms Bashir months after she came to Britain to study in November 2021.

Ahead of his Old Bailey trial on Tuesday, Arslan pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but he denies murder and perverting the course of justice by concealing her body.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said the victim visited Arslans home to collect some belongings she had left there while moving accommodation on the evening of July 11.

She did not leave the house alive, jurors were told.

Mr Patterson said: The next morning, the defendant set off from his house, dragging behind him a suitcase containing Hina Bashirs dead body.

He got a lift from a taxi driver who lived in his house and travelled to an industrial estate by the M25 near Upminster, near a business where he was employed as a warehouse worker.

He got out of the taxi and dragged his suitcase to the side of a lane where he hid it in some undergrowth. He left the suitcase concealed there in the days that followed.

After Ms Bashirs worried friends and family alerted police, the defendants suitcase was found and opened, revealing Ms Bashirs body squeezed inside.

Mr Patterson told jurors: On examination, the pathologist found that a facemask had been pushed inside her mouth. It was found there balled up.

As for the cause of her death, Hina Bashir had been killed through asphyxia. The facemask that was forced into her mouth had stopped her from breathing.

Investigators found a wealth of evidence implicating Arslan in the killing, despite his initial denial, the court heard.

Defendant Muhammad Arslan pleaded guilty to manslaughter ahead of his Old Bailey trial but denies murder (PA Archive)

Jurors heard the victims blood was found on his bed and bedclothes, matching facemasks were recovered from his house and telephone evidence showed the defendant had Ms Bashirs phone and was looking at her messages and photographs in the hours after her final visit.

The taxi driver confirmed he drove Arslan with his heavy suitcase to the industrial estate the next morning, the court was told.

CCTV footage captured Arslan leaving his house with the suitcase and then later dragging it along the lane to where it was eventually discovered, Mr Patterson said.

In addition, Arslans DNA was identified on the suitcase handle and soil from the deposition site was found on his shoes.

Referring to his earlier guilty plea, Mr Patterson said: All the evidence proved what the defendant has finally accepted today  that he was responsible for the killing.

Following Arslans arrest, police found evidence on his phone that he had become close to the victim when she was a teenager growing up in Pakistan.

Mr Patterson said: The defendant was later to insist to the police that there was no relationship between the two of them, however when the police translated the materials found on his phone they found that he had been repeatedly in contact with her, declaring his love for Hina Bashir.

He had allegedly spoken about wanting her to be his wife and having a family with her, while other messages suggested she was engaged to another man, the court was told.

Arslan allegedly reacted to the information with shock and sent messages to suggest that he thought she had cheated on him.

In more recent messages from 2021, Arslan appeared to be trying to contact Ms Bashir by posing as a woman, it was claimed.

Mr Patterson said: The police also found on his phone a very large number of photographs of Hina Bashir, some of them having been photoshopped or altered using software or apps.

They found pictures of her on which love hearts had been added and they found collages that had been created of her image. The evidence suggests that he was obsessed with her.

After moving to Britain, the intensity of the defendants feelings continued and he described her as his fiancee, the court was told.

Mr Patterson added: However, it appears Hina Bashir did not want to be with him and in fact had a relationship after she came here with another young man.

The trial before Judge Richard Marks KC is expected to continue for two weeks.
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A wealthy businessman at the heart of an alleged bomb plot in Britains legal district has described how he spent most of a 2.4 million lottery win on his brother.

Jonathan Nuttall, 50, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of conspiring to plant two devices in Grays Inn in London over a financial wrangle with the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Nuttall had allegedly become unhappy at the prospect of losing his family home, Embley Manor in Romsey, Hampshire, to pay off a 1.4 million legal settlement.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Nuttall told jurors how his wife Amanda won 2.4 million on the lottery the first time she bought a ticket.

He went on to say that it was extraordinarily good fortune but regrettably most of it went to pay off his brother Philips debts.

Asked by defence barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC why he had done that, Nuttall said: Hes my brother.

Nuttall told jurors how he had started out in business working from his bedroom, eventually expanding into offices in Piccadilly, central London.

As the business grew, he turned to Philip who was living in Australia and offered him a job in 1999.

Nuttall said: I wrote to him. It took about 10 days for my letter to arrive and I was very surprised at the speed he responded. With hindsight I should have realised he answered too quickly.

The defendant said his older brother returned to the UK within a fortnight and began working with him on a equal footing.

Later, he discovered that his brother had a gambling habit, only finding out after everyone else and assuming it was to do with his love of horse racing.

He said: I did not realise it was a problem until a considerable time later.

Nuttall told jurors that his brother had been behaving erratically and stopped opening letters which led to a visit by HM Revenue and Customs.

The defendant went on to receive a 12-month conditional discharge for failing to pay a bond after his business was reclassified as high risk.

Nuttall claimed his brother also made ridiculous financial demands, including for 6 million to be paid in seven days or he would seek to destroy the whole family.

The court heard Nuttall had received a series of financial orders by the NCA from 2011.

He described how a search and seizure warrant was issued in 2015 as a result of which the NCA arrived very loudly at our front door.

He said receiving a freezing order had a catastrophic impact on the finances, affecting the mortgage on his home Embley Manor and family members bank accounts.

The prosecution allege Nuttall had targeted the lawyers acting for the NCA in the long-running case who were Andrew Sutcliffe KC and his colleague Anne Jeavons.

Nuttall, who also has a home in west London, allegedly recruited his driver, Michael Sode, 58, to act as a middleman with former Royal Marine Michael Broddle, 46, who planted the devices.

Broddle had in turn roped in sons Charlie, 18, and Joshua, 20, to the scheme, it was claimed.

Nuttall denied in his evidence that he had asked Sode to do anything other than act as his driver and told jurors he did not know any of the Broddle family.

Mr Carter-Stephenson asked Nuttall: Have you ever asked Michael Sode to engage anybody on your behalf to intimidate or frighten Andrew Sutcliffe KC or Anne Jeavons?

Nuttall replied: No, I have only asked him to drive me.

Nuttall also said he had not asked Sode to do any research into Mr Sutcliffe and he had never seen Michael Broddle in an area anywhere, never mind an area close to Sloane Square, which is a short distance from his home in London.

Nuttall, of Romsey, Hampshire, Sode, of Deptford, south-east London, and Charlie and Joshua Broddle, from Hounslow, west London, deny two charges of conspiring with Michael Broddle to place an article with intent on or before September 14 2021.

Charlie Broddle denies possession of an explosive substance in relation to one of the devices.

Nuttall, Sode, Michael Broddle, Joshua Broddle and George Gray, 25, of Hounslow, deny conspiring to transfer criminal property.

Nuttall faces six charges and Sode two charges of failure of comply with a notice.
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Police are searching a river for clues about a woman who vanished 17 years ago in Leicester, as they arrested a man in connection with her disappearance.

Detectives have launched a renewed appeal for information about Malgorzata Wnuczek, a Polish woman who was last seen taking a bus from work into Leicester city centre in 2006.

While the family of Ms Wnuczek  who was 27 when she disappeared  have lived their lives in darkness ever since, police have said they firmly believe there are people out there who know what might have happened to her.

The cold case took a fresh turn early on Tuesday morning, as a 39-year-old man was arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

His arrest came as specialist teams were rallied to carry out a search of the River Soar, close to Leicesters Mill Lane Bridge, as officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit collaborate with detectives in Poland.

The renewed search falls two days after the 44th birthday of Ms Wnuczek, whose family affectionately referred to her as Gosia.

Her whereabouts have remained a mystery since two days after their last contact with her via text message on 29 May 2006. She was last seen after taking a bus from her place of work at Peter Jackson Logistics, on Leicesters Sunningdale Road, into the city centre.

Detectives have now said they believe there may be people within Leicesters Polish community who know what happened to her.

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Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, said: Malgorzata was 27 when she was last seen. Two days ago it was her 44th birthday.

Officers both in the UK and in Poland have remained in contact with her family since she was last seen. Following information provided to us by our Polish colleagues, we are carrying out a search of the River Soar in the hope we might find something that can help us to establish Malgorzatas whereabouts.

Since the investigation began, more than 2,000 potential witnesses have raised more than 2,500 lines of enquiry, with more than 100 statements taken. But we still do not know where Malgorzata is or what mightve happened to her.

However, I firmly believe there are people out there who do. For more than 17 years, her family have lived their lives in darkness and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have.

Im making a direct appeal to the people of Leicester  and in particular our Polish community  to come forward if they have any information that could help. You might think what you know is insignificant, but it might just be something that leads us to Malgorzata.

What have you heard? What do you know? Any details youre able to provide could be of great importance.

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information to visit the Leicestershire Police website and quote incident 362 of 2 June, or to call 101.
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A US airman has been charged with multiple counts of rape at an RAF base.

Lee Bogstad is accused of three counts of raping a UK citizen at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire between November 2020 and February 2021.

The 21-year-old will appear before magistrates in Northampton on June 29, Northamptonshire Police said.

Police said they led the investigation with the full cooperation of the United States Air Force (USAF).

RAF Croughton was put in the spotlight in 2019 after teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn was killed by American citizen Anne Sacoolas as she drove on the wrong side of the road after leaving the base.
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A campaign group has lost a High Court fight with the Government over arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) had challenged the lawfulness of a decision to continue licensing arms exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for possible use in a war in Yemen.

The group had taken legal action against International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.

Two judges on Tuesday dismissed CAATs claim for judicial review.

Lord Justice Popplewell and Mr Justice Henshaw had considered arguments at a High Court hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice complex in London earlier this year.

Lawyers representing the Government had disputed CAATs claim and said it should be dismissed.

CAAT won a similar fight in 2019, when Court of Appeal judges said continuing to license military equipment for export to Saudi Arabia was unlawful.

The Government said then that it would temporarily halt the granting of new licences to export arms to the Saudis.

CAAT said it had returned to court because sales had resumed  and challenged a decision to continue granting licences.

Judges said the claim focused on airstrikes conducted by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia in support of the legitimate government of Yemen against the Houthi rebellion.

They said Ms Badenoch was obliged to cease granting new licences and suspend existing licences where there was a clear risk that arms might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international human law.

Lawyers representing the Government said there had been very careful, thorough and detailed analysis of incidents which had raised concern.

They said there was no irrationality in the way the analysis was designed or carried out.

Judges ruled in favour of the Government and said there had been continuing rationality in a risk assessment.

Barrister Ben Jaffey KC, who led CAATs legal team, had told the hearing how appeal judges had, in 2019, quashed previous decisions not to suspend extant licences and to continue to grant new licences.

The process has been informed by analysis, carried out by the Ministry of Defence, of allegations of violations of international humanitarian law which are reported in the press or social media, or which are brought to its attention ... Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Government

He said, following that ruling, that former prime minister Liz Truss  who was then the international trade secretary  modified her decision-making process and retook the decision on whether to grant licences.

On July 7 2020, the secretary of state wrote to CAAT to outline her new decision, Mr Jaffey added.

She found that there was no clear risk that such violations of international humanitarian law may recur since she considered these breaches to be isolated and without an underlying pattern.

Sir James Eadie KC, who led the Governments legal team, had argued that international humanitarian law analysis complied with the correct legal approach and was rational.

He said: The process has been informed by analysis, carried out by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), of allegations of violations of international humanitarian law which are reported in the press or social media, or which are brought to its attention by, for instance, NGOs or UN bodies.

In response to the single flaw identified by the Court of Appeal, the MoD developed its analysis of individual allegations to incorporate an assessment against the relevant principles of international humanitarian law.
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A man who streamed a video of an offensive song about murdered Co Tyrone woman Michaela McAreavey has lost his case at an employment tribunal that he had been unfairly dismissed from his job.

Andrew McDade, from Portadown, Co Armagh, lost his job as a lorry driver for the Norman Emerson Group after a clip from the video sparked outrage last May.

He had been attending an event at Dundonald Orange Hall when he livestreamed footage, including the singing of a song which appears to mock the daughter of former Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte, who was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011.

Mr McDade said he had not been aware of the song.

He streamed the video live to his Facebook page.

A clip of the video went on to go viral on social media and the song was condemned.

Mr McDades employer became linked to the video because it was listed as his employer on his Facebook page.

He was dismissed following a disciplinary process.

While he did not appeal against the dismissal at the time, Mr McDade went on to take an unfair dismissal case against his former employer.

However his claim has been dismissed by a panel of judges led by tribunal president Noel Kelly, who heard arguments in the case last month.

In a written ruling, the panel described a claim which was always misconceived and without merit.

They described the singing of the song by a large group of people and applause as a truly disgraceful event and reminiscent of a Munich Bierkeller in the 1930s.

Persons not singing had laughed at the lyrics and had clapped. Others gave stiff arm salutes, they said, but added the decision had been based on the correct legal tests.

They said they were satisfied the respondent had adopted a fair procedure in both investigating and in determining this matter, and that the decision to summarily dismiss the claimant was a decision which had been well within the range of reasonable responses open to the respondent in all the circumstances of this case.

Any reasonable employer, given the conduct of the claimant and given the clear and undisputed damage to both customer relationships and workforce relationships could, and in fact would, have summarily dismissed the claimant in all the circumstances of this case, they concluded.

This is a claim which was always misconceived and without merit. Therefore the claim of unfair dismissal is dismissed.
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Breastfed children were almost double as likely to achieve high marks in their GCSEs compared with those who were not, a study has found.

The study found that longer breastfeeding was associated with better education outcomes even when factors such as cognitive ability and socio-economic status were taken into account.

Children who were breastfed for longer were more likely to have a high pass in their English and Maths GCSEs and less likely to fail GCSE English (but not maths) when compared with children who were never breastfed.

Those who were breastfed for at least four months had, on average, a 2-3 point higher attainment 8 score and were more likely to pass five GCSEs.

Researchers at Oxford University looked at the association between breastfeeding duration and education outcomes at the end of secondary education.

Approximately 5,000 children from the Millennium Cohort Study - those born in 2000-2002 - in England were included in the analysis.

GCSEs are now graded 1-9 rather than the old system of U-A* with 9 being the top grade.

A longer breastfeeding duration was associated with modest improvements in educational outcomes at age 16, after controlling for important confounders, the study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood journal, concluded.

Renee Pereyra-Elias, from the Nuffield Department of Population Health, the lead author, said the results showed that breastfeeding should continue to be encouraged when possible.

Breastfeeding should be encouraged when possible, lead author says (Getty Images)

She added that potential improvements in academic achievement were only one of the potential benefits of breastfeeding.

The studys authors said there were several reasons why breastfed children performed better in their exams.

The main reason, they suggest, is breastfeeding improves cognitive development.

Breast milk contains polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients, which enhance neurodevelopment.

However, education may also be a marker of cognitive ability, the studys authors add

Similarly, breastfeeding was associated with intergenerational upward social mobility (change in occupational social class) in the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts, and this effect was mediated by cognitive performance.

It has also been proposed that breastfeeding may enable mother-child bonding, which would favour both cognitive and academic performance.

The NHS recommends that, mothers who are able to, should breastfeed their babies for six months before moving to a combination of breast milk and normal food.

Breastfeeding can also protect babies from diseases and infections and mothers from breast and ovarian cancer.
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A sailor has told how his yacht was thrown around like a rag doll by killer whales near Gibraltar in the latest in a growing number of orca attacks on boats.

Iain Hamilton, 60, said he was left marooned for a few days after a pod of five whales attacked his boat, the Butey of Clyde, while he was sailing 20 miles off the coast of the British territory.

He said his boat was wrecked by the mammals as they tore off its rudders.

I noticed a fin then noticed a light bump and then a very big bump and looked round and there was a very large whale pushing along the back and trying to bite the rudder, he told BBC Radio 4.

To begin with there was one big whale and four smaller whales and they were just bumping it and bumping it and then one of them managed to take off one of the rudders - the boat has two.

Then we lost the second rudder so we had no mechanism of steering the boat and the whales were in charge of the boat and they pushed us around like a rag doll, he added.

Marine experts hope that by tracking killer whales with tags they can prevent future attacks, the scale of which Mr Hamilton said was way larger than people realised.

Last month sailors in the straits of Gibraltar were warned to protect themselves against the growing number of orca attacks.

More than 250 boats have been damaged, with three sunk, since the attacks off the coast of Spain and Portugal were first reported in 2020.

Fifteen of the regions 35 killer whales are said to be responsible - but it is thought a female orca called White Gladis was the one to teach others to attack the passing vessels after she collided with a boat.

Orca attacks can last for over an hour and generally involve the orcas headbutting a vessels rudder until it is destroyed.

People remove water from a sailing boat severely damaged by killer whales off the coast of southern Spain, (April Boyes/Instagram @ april_georgina/via REUTERS )

However, sprinkling five to eight kilograms of sand in the water around the rudder confuses the animals sonar, said the Cruising Association, adding the crew should bang pots and pans on deck at the same time.

There have been 20 incidents this month alone between the highly social apex predators and small vessels sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar, according to the Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA), with dozens of orca attacks on ships recorded on Spanish and Portuguese coasts this year.

Most interactions have been harmless, with orcas only touching an estimated one in every 100 boats passing through the area, according to biologist Alfredo Lopez Fernandez, of the GTOA and University of Aveiro, who said that three vessels have sunk so far.

Experts believe White Gladis may have suffered a critical moment of agony, such as colliding with a boat or becoming entrapped during illegal fishing, which altered her behaviour in a defensive fashion.

That traumatised orca is the one that started this behaviour of physical contact with boats, Dr Lopez Fernandez told Live Science.

We do not interpret that the orcas are teaching the young, although the behaviour has spread to the young vertically, simply by imitation, and later horizontally among them, because they consider it something important in their lives, he said.
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Sixteen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from the Algarve holiday apartment where she was sleeping next to her infant twin siblings, police have launched a major new search for evidence.

After laying dormant for several years since David Cameron kickstarted an ultimately fruitless Metropolitan Police inquiry in 2011, the case of the missing three-year-old was revived once more in 2020 when German prosecutors revealed a new suspect.

Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest updates

But three years on, 43-year-old convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner  who denies any connection to the missing youngster  is yet to be charged, as he languishes in a German prison for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman two years prior to Madeleines disappearance at the same resort.

Madeleine McCann went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007 (PA)

However, on Monday, police activity was spotted at a reservoir some 30 miles from the Praia da Luz resort, in what was soon reported to be international authorities gearing up for a major new search this week based on leads suggesting Brueckner made repeated trips to the area which he dubbed his little slice of paradise.

The fresh search at the reservoir  one of six in the Algarve  is the first in Portugal since 2014, and comes as the Metropolitan Police were granted a further 110,000 by the Home Office to fund their search for Madeleine, who would turn 20 this month.

It brings the total amount spent on the search for the Leicestershire-born girl, codenamed Operation Grange, to just shy of 13.1m since 2011, and is significantly less than the more than 300,000 approved by the Home Office the year prior.

While the costs incurred by German and Portuguese authorities are unknown, Lisbons then-attorney general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said in 2012 that the search for Madeleine had been the most expensive in the countrys history.

As they began their fresh search near the Arade reservoir on Tuesday, police combed the waterways banks with the help of sniffer dogs, rakes and pickaxes, with emergency service divers spotted on a rigid-hull inflatable boat.

Further along the banks of the reservoir, emergency services and officials from Portugal, Germany and the UK were seen holding briefings near blue police tents.

Four teams of officers from the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria are involved in the operation, along with at least 20 of their German counterparts, Portuguese news outlet SIC said. A no-fly zone has been put in place over the water and media and other onlookers are being kept a mile back from the site of the search.

Police used pickaxes and divers in their search on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

The reservoir was previously searched in 2008, at the height of efforts to find Madeleine, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it, claiming to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleines body was there.

Earlier this month, Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a short statement on their Find Madeleine Campaign website to mark the anniversary of her disappearance.

They said: Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. Still missing still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel.

The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough.

Additional reporting by PA
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Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old girl from Rothley, Leicestershire, was reported missing from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve on 3 May 2007, a case still unsolved and still the subject of intense interest among the public and press.

Follow all the latest updates on The Independents live blog

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, posted a statement on the Find Madeleine website on 3 May 2023 marking the latest anniversary of their daughters disappearance, reiterating their hopes of being reunited with her one day and posting a poem, The Contradiction by Clare Pollard, to express their feelings.

Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleines abduction. Still missing... still very much missed, they wrote.

The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support- it really helps.

Here is a reminder of the events of the case.

The story began when the McCanns  affluent doctors Kate and Gerry, their three-year-old daughter Madeleine and her two-year-old twin siblings  joined a group of seven family friends and their five children on holiday at the Ocean Club in the village of Praia da Luz on the southwestern tip of Portugal on 28 April 2007.

After a pleasant spring break by the sea, the adults in the party went out for dinner at the resorts open-air tapas bar on 3 May, gathering at 8.30pm. The children were left behind sleeping in their respective apartments with the doors unlocked and a rota system in place among the parents to ensure that someone returned every half-hour to check on them.

When Kate McCann took her turn and returned to her apartment at 10pm, she raced back to the restaurant screaming Madeleines gone! Someones taken her! The police were quickly called and 60 staff and fellow guests searched the complex, calling out the girls name in vain until daybreak the following morning.

Border police and airport staff were put on alert and hundreds of volunteers joined the efforts to find the missing girl over the coming days, the case fast becoming a sensation.

Madeleine McCann (PA)

The Portuguese authorities would later attract criticism over their conduct in the crucial earliest hours of the investigation when the trail might still have been warm, accused of making rudimentary mistakes like failing to conduct a house-by-house search of every local residence or interview all of the other guests at the resort, acting slowly to erect roadblocks and potentially compromising forensic evidence at the crime scene.

The police initially stated that they believed Madeleine was still alive and had been abducted from the room by a stranger as the parents described their anguish and despair over her vanishing, a worst fear realised for any parent.

On 26 May, police issued a description of a suspicious man seen on the night of the girls disappearance. The individual in question was spotted by Jane Tanner, one of the McCanns dining companions, who said she had seen a Mediterranean man with dark hair and beige trousers carrying a child close to the apartment when she went to check in on her own children. Scotland Yard would later come to dismiss the sighting as a red herring.

The search continued as the summer progressed amid a wild media circus and with huge fundraising activities underway, the McCanns setting up Madeleines Fund on 15 May to raise cash to support further investigation and keep the profile of the case high, attracting generous donations from celebrities like Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, JK Rowling and Coleen Rooney. By 30 May, the case was such a cause celebre that they were being flown out to meet the Pope at the Vatican in Sir Phillip Greens Learjet.

A local man, Robert Murat, subsequently became its first suspect and had his house and car searched, his swimming pool drained and his electronic devices confiscated but no evidence was found to link him to Madeleine and the matter was soon dropped.

By June, the Portuguese police admitted that they had failed to protect potentially useful evidence at the scene as frustration with the lack of developments grew and the media began to question whether the McCanns themselves had been involved in the matter.

Lurid tabloid allegations suggested the couple and their friends might have been swingers and that the McCanns, as physicians, might have been in the habit of sedating their children, while others claimed inconsistencies in their version of events.

Gerry and Kate McCann (AP)

The intensity of the hostility towards the parents would later be described by Roy Greenslade of The Guardian as no journalistic accident, but a sustained campaign of vitriol against a grief-stricken family, singling out The Daily Express and Daily Star for particular condemnation.

In July, assistance offered by former South African police officer Danie Krugel  who claimed his handheld matter orientation system could help to find Madeleine  was rubbished, while British police sent over two springer spaniel sniffer dogs to search for DNA.

Relations with the local authorities would ultimately sour as the latter came to resent British intrusion into a Portuguese inquiry, according to Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swans book Looking for Madeleine (2014).

By August, Madeleine has been missing for 100 days and police admitted for the first time that she may never be found. They also told the McCanns that they were no longer considering the matter an abduction case but, rather, a murder inquiry.

The McCanns themselves were interviewed as arguidos (suspects) by Portuguese police in September, with the parents told that the dogs had discovered DNA evidence from the missing girl in the boot of their holiday rental car, lines of inquiry that had already been leaked to the British press. They vehemently denied having any part in her disappearance.

Despite being listed as suspects (a designation that would linger until the following July), the McCanns were allowed to return to Britain on 9 September. A day later, chief inspector Tavares de Almeida of the Policia Judiciaria in Portimao signed a nine-page report concluding that Madeleine McCann had died in their apartment as a result of an accident, that the tapas dinner and rota checks on the McCann children had been part of a planned cover-up, that the familys friends had helped to mislead the police and that the McCanns had concealed the body and then faked an abduction. A public prosecutor subsequently applied for the confiscation of Kate McCanns diary and Gerry McCanns laptop plus the groups phone records.

On 2 October, chief inspector Goncalo Amaral was removed from the case and transferred after alleging that the British police were only interested in pursuing leads favourable to the McCanns. He would later publish a book, Maddie: The Truth of the Lie, the following summer, resulting in a lengthy libel battle with the McCanns that would run back and forth through the courts until March 2017.

Back in Britain, Gerry McCann issued a video that November in which he speculated that his family had been watched by a predator during their stay at Praia da Luz. His wife had come to believe that a potential perpetrator could have seen a note in the resorts guest book visible to all in reception noting their dining arrangements on the evening of Madeleines disappearance. The couple followed up on 20 January 2008 by releasing a sketch of a creepy man they said other holidaymakers had said they had seen loitering at the Ocean Club.

In April, a month before the one-year anniversary of the fateful night, Portuguese police travelled to Leicestershire to conduct further interviews with the McCanns friends.

Then, on 21 July, Portugals attorney general, Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, announced that there was no evidence to link either the McCanns or Robert Murat to the disappearance and closed the case, unsolved.

With the trail cold and no closure in sight, the McCanns continued to publicise their cause, issuing computer-generated images of how Madeleine might look now that she had aged on 3 November 2009 and condemning the release of previously unseen Portuguese police files  detailing possible sightings of their daughter  to British newspapers in March 2010.

The McCanns published a book of their own about their ordeal in May 2011, entitled simply Madeleine, which was serialised in The Sun as the newspaper led a campaign calling on British prime minister David Cameron to launch a new inquiry. He did so.

Commenced by then-home secretary Theresa May, the Metropolitan Polices Operation Grange would be led by commander Simon Foy and comprise a team of three detective inspectors, five detective sergeants, 19 detective constables and six civilian staff.

It began to yield results in 2013, with Scotland Yard formally announcing a new investigation in July and saying in October it had identified 41 potential suspects. That same month, BBC Crimewatch released an e-fit image of a man of particular interest who had been seen in Praia da Luz with a child matching Madeleines description in May 2007.

Detectives arrived in Portugal in January 2014 promising new arrests and finally searched the village in June, interviewing four people the following month but without unearthing new information. The quartet would be definitively ruled out in April 2017, before the UK government said it would continue to fund the investigation until 2020, having already admitted it had cost 10m in its first four years of operation.

That investment had enabled detectives to have tens of thousands of documents translated, investigate over 8,000 potential sightings, take 1,338 statements, collect 1,027 exhibits and investigate 650 sex offenders and 60 persons of interest, all without definitively establishing the truth.

The Madeline McCann case lay dormant before suddenly exploding into life in June 2020 when German media revealed that Christian Brueckner, a 43-year-old prisoner with a track record of child abuse and drug trafficking, had been identified as a new suspect by the public prosecutor of the German city of Braunschweig.

Christian Brueckner (Italian Carabinieri)

He had reportedly been living in a Volkswagen camper van in the Algarve at the time of Madeleines disappearance and one woman has since come forward to suggest she saw a girl that might have been Madeleine speaking German in a supermarket in Portugal in 2017.

German investigators classified their probe into his movements as a murder inquiry, saying they were working on the assumption that Madeleine is dead and reporting in July 2021 that they had found an abandoned cellar beneath his former allotment near Hanover where she could, theoretically, have been held captive.

Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor leading the investigation into Brueckner, has said he was very confident the inmate is responsible for kidnapping her.

If you knew the evidence we had you would come to the same conclusion as I do but I cant give you details because we dont want the accused to know what we have on him  these are tactical considerations, he told the BBC.

It was subsequently revealed that Madeleines Fund still had 773,629 to spend as of 31 March 2020, meaning the McCanns can continue to bankroll a private investigation to find their daughter long after the police hunt is finally drawn to a close, should they choose to.

Brueckner was formally made a arguido in relation to the case on 21 April 2022.

On 19 September, the McCanns lost their libel case against Mr Amaral, the former chief inspector who had investigated the disappearance, before the European Court of Human Rights.

The couple had attempted to argue that Mr Amaral was responsible for damaging their reputation and breaching their rights to respect for their private life and to be presumed innocent after taking exception to his book and associated media appearances in which he had repeatedly suggested they were responsible for the vanishing.

Their complaint also argued that Portugals Supreme Court had failed to allow them proper redress over the alleged libel by Mr Amaral after judges threw out their earlier claim in 2017.

The verdict left the McCanns with three months to appeal against the decision.

In February 2023, a Polish woman called Julia Faustyna made headlines by claiming she was Madeleine, using the Instagram name @iammadeleinemccann.

Ms Faustyna, 21, did not provide any supporting evidence but sought DNA tests to prove her origins. The results ultimately revealed that she was entirely of Polish origin, with no British heritage, disproving her claims for good.

In April 2023, a court in Braunschweig dropped a rape charge against Brueckner, unrelated to the Madeleine McCann case, concluding it did not have jurisdiction.

Police in Germany continue to claim they have concrete evidence that Madeleine is dead but this has still not been confirmed and their investigation is ongoing, with Brueckner still not charged in the McCann case.

Like her parents, Madeleines sister Amelie, now 18, observed the 16th anniversary of her disappearance in May 2023.

Speaking publicly for the first time at a prayer meeting in Rothley, she said: Its nice that everyone is here together but its a sad occasion.

Amelie McCann reportedly joined in with chants including Never never give up, leave no stone unturned, dont forget about me and still missing, still missed.
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A migrant processing site at Manston in Kent will not be able to cope with rising small boat crossings and faces overcrowding, disorder and the spread of disease, a report has warned.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons found several asylum seekers had attempted to kill themselves at the facility, where guards had been using force against detainees without recording why.

The watchdog warned that the Home Office was detaining children unlawfully and that staff were not spotting or helping vulnerable people, including women who had been raped.

Charlie Taylor, HM chief inspector of prisons, said that while Manston was functioning when it was fairly empty during his visit in February, he expected the situation to worsen.

I was not assured that if numbers increase, as they are expected to in the summer, the site will be able to cope much better than it did during the autumn, he added.

This could lead to vulnerable children and families remaining on the site for too long, the risk of infectious disease spreading and an increased possibility of disorder.

It must be an absolute priority for the Home Office to make sure that there are enough on-site staff and onward accommodation, so that migrants pass through Manston without delay.

The report said that without change, the site would not be able to operate safely when numbers increase and the overcrowding, unlawful detention, disease and disorder seen in October and November could be repeated.

The warning came a day after Rishi Sunak announced the procurement of two new barges for use of asylum accommodation, as the government attempts to reduce the use of hotels to house asylum seekers facing record waits for decisions on their claims.

Ministers are also pushing to transform two former military bases into accommodation, but are fighting legal challenges against local authorities who say the sites are unsuitable.

A failure to secure sufficient accommodation caused overcrowding at Manston over last summer and autumn, when people were detained far beyond legal time limits and a man died of diphtheria.

A detainee being escorted inside Manston (AFP/Getty)

Ministers later changed the law to lower statutory standards of detention and raise the time limit from 24 to 96 hours, or longer if authorised by the home secretary in exceptional circumstances.

But the HM Inspectorate of Prisons report said the facilities at Manston were still not suitable for stays longer than 24 hours, with detainees kept in marquees and having to sleep on the floor.

It warned that a mix of Border Force staff and multiple private contractors on site meant staff could not say who was in charge and a lack of oversight meant that vulnerable people were not being properly identified or supported.

This was compounded by a failure to make sufficient use of interpreting services, so those at risk could easily have been missed, the report added, saying inspectors had observed people being asked questions about modern slavery and trafficking they clearly did not understand.

Inspectors said the use of force against detainees and violent incidents at Manston were not being properly monitored and records that were kept did not include whether it was justified by the circumstances.

People had been restrained, handcuffed and locked in cell vans to calm down on dozens of occasions, but the watchdog found there was no investigation or review of incidents.

The watchdog said that the Home Office had no accurate data on the number of violent incidents at Manston, and provided details of just three incidents when local records indicated many more, including fights, assaults, escapes, protests and general unrest.

An initial holding area at Manston (HM Inspectorate of Prisons)

The report said records of self-harm and attempted suicides were also poor, but that at least three people had attempted to kill themselves at Manston.

Detainees often struggled to obtain information or resolve difficulties, and we were not confident that welfare issues were being properly identified or handled, it added.

Detainees had limited access to any form of communication with the outside world at all sites, including contacting their families after their journeys. They were not made aware before leaving of where they were going and what would happen next.

The report said that Home Office staff were not properly explaining to people why they were being arrested and having their phones seized after arriving in small boats, and that bail documents were in English only and requests for information were refused.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons demanded immediate action by the Home Office on four of its 11 concerns: detaining asylum seekers for too long, including children over the legal limit; safeguarding failures; use of force; and lack of language interpretation.

It said that several of its previous recommendations had not been implemented, including on the protection of children, vulnerable people and trafficking victims, the use of force against asylum seekers and a call to allow them internet access and phone calls in detention.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We welcome this report, which highlights improvements we have made to our short-term holding facilities at Manston, Western Jet Foil and the Kent Intake Unit.

As part of our ongoing work to stop the boats, we have already taken action to address some of the recommendations and look forward to working with the inspectorate on continuing this process.

Our staff are working relentlessly to reduce detention times, improve facilities and provide specialist medical care for unprecedented numbers of migrants arriving in the UK illegally.
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As the first senior British royal to give evidence in court in 130 years, Prince Harry arrived a day late for his historic appearance at the High Court in London in his ongoing case against the Daily Mirrors publisher.

He is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, arguing that journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

His failure to turn up on Monday prompted Mr Justice Fancourt, who is presiding over the case, to express surprise at the no show, which was blamed on tricky security and travel arrangements after the Duke flew to the UK following his daughter Lilibets second birthday celebration.

Follow our live blog for latest updates on Prince Harrys trial

So who is the High Court judge hearing the case, and what is his professional background?

Sir Timothy Fancourt  known as Mr Justice Fancourt  has been President of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal since August 2019, which deals with disputes over property and land. As both president and High Court judge, he is responsible for leading the chamber, which was founded after the Second World War.

He is no stranger to dealing with cases of alleged hacking on the part of newspapers.

In 2021, he presided over the case of Sienna Miller and Paul Gascoigne in their alleged case of phone hacking against News Group Newspaper.

He refused a request by NGN lawyers to conduct parts of the hearing in private, saying the allegations were already in the public domain. The case was later settled.

Studying law at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, Mr Justice Fancourt was first called to the Bar by Lincolns Inn in 1987.

Mr Justice Fancourt is the High Court judge hearing the case (Judicial Office, England & Wales)

First specialising in real property and landlord and tenant law, in 1996, he was elected to the Bar Council of England and Wales. He took Silk in 2003  an honour bestowed upon elite lawyers  and was later appointed as a Recorder (Crime) in 2009.

Sitting at Harrow Crown Court until 2017, he became chairman of the Chancery Bar Association in 2012.

In 2013, he was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge, moving up to the position of High Court Judge in 2017, where he was assigned to the Chancery Division.

He received a knighthood in May 2019, and is now a co-editor of Muir Watt & Moss: Agricultural Holdings.
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An influential group has called for the structural design of many of Britains multi-storey car parks to be carefully considered amid fears that older designs cannot cope with the weight of electric vehicles.

New guidance from The Institution of Structural Engineers calls for the car park design to evolve to cope with bigger, heavier electric cars, some of which have batteries which can weigh around 500kg.

Ten experts contributed to the guidance, which flags that the greater weight is putting strain on car parks that were built in the 1960s and 1970s for cars of that day and age.

For example, the 1970 Mini 1000 - a popular saloon from the day - weighs 620kg whereas the Kia E-Niro, a contemporary electric car, weighs 2,230kg.

Institution Fellow, Chris Whapples, who is an overseeing consultant for the guidance, told the Telegraph on Monday that many of the 6,000 multi-storey car parks across the UK could be under pressure.

Potentially if we just ignore this issue then we could have a partial collapse, he said.

Im not trying to create any scaremongeringnot all car parks will have to close, only the very old ones, built in the 60s and 70s, which are in a very poor state of repair and have weakened over time which will probably need to have some work done to them.

He emphasised city electric cars are less likely to be a problem but more executive saloons or people carriers. The Mercedes EQV can weigh up to 2,921kg.

Mr Whapples fears the problem could worsen with the UK set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel fuel cars from 2030.

Newer car parks are not likely to face the same issues (BAA)

The Institution of Structural Engineers had commissioned a team of 10 led by Mr Whapples to review the issue. This proposed that car park owners should have their infrastructure reviewed by engineering firms to see if it needs to be strengthened.

However, if this may prove too expensive to some owners Mr Whapples suggests a 2,500kg weight limit could be enforced.

Operators need to be aware of electric vehicle weights, and get their car parks assessed from a strength point of view, and decide if they need to limit weight, he added.

I think a lot of old owners will opt for imposing a weight limit rather than paying for strengthening measures.

The Department for Transport has been contacted for a response.

The article was amended on June 6 to state that the Mini was a saloon and not a hatchback as previously reported.
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Prince Harry has claimed that the UK government is at rock bottom in an extraordinary intervention into politics during his High Court case against a tabloid newspaper group.

The Duke of Sussex used a remarkable 55-page witness statement in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged phone hacking to lash out at the standards of British government and democracy.

Accusing the government of being too scared of the press, he said: Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Harry said: Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

The royal added: If theyre supposedly policing society, who on earth is policing them, when even the government is scared of alienating them because position is power. It is incredibly worrying for the entire UK.

Furious Tory MPs fired back at Harrys unwise comments  urging him to keep out of British politics, or renounce his title and stand for election if he wanted to be politician.

Former minister Andrea Jenkyns said: If Harry has got such contempt for the British government and the British media then its a good job he lives in America. He shouldnt be intervening in British politics  thats not his role.

Henry Smith, a member of the Tory Common Sense Group, said: I feel sorry for hardworking royals that Harry continues to cause so much embarrassment, adding: Sussex is disappointed with its absent Duke.

The MP told The Independent: Its very unwise of him to stray into British political comment  but if he wants to he should renounce his title and stand for election. Sussex is disappointed with its absent Duke.

Another senior Tory MP said Harry had broken the golden rule of commenting on politics, saying royals do not comment on politicians and politicians do not comment on royals.

Harry said he felt physically sick over press use of private detectives (Reuters)

It comes as Harrys explosive witness statement also claimed:

Stories about rumours his father was James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family

Revealed he was worried Eton would kick him out after stories about drug-taking

Claimed he was only 5 per cent funded by the taxpayer as a working royal

Said he has never received a bill for a mobile phone  dealt with by the Royal Family

Harry said he felt physically sick over payments to private investigators related to his late mother Princess Diana, the High Court has been told as he began his evidence.

He blamed the tabloids for inciting hatred and harassment in his private life  claiming he was depicted as a playboy prince, a thicko and a drug taker when he was younger.

He is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  including Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Harry arrives at court ahead of explosive hearing (Vianney Le Caer/Shutterstock)

In his witness statement for the case, Harry said he was shocked and appalled by the number of payments made by MGN titles to private investigators.

He said he wanted to hold former Mirror editor Piers Morgan and others accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour. Mr Morgan has denied any knowledge of phone hacking, and has said he was not going to take lectures on privacy invasion

Harry alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

The duke said his acute paranoia of being constantly under surveillance was not misplaced after discovering private investigator payments related to Chelsy Davy, his ex-girlfriend.

Duke of Sussex being cross examined by Andrew Green KC (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Had she not been in a relationship with me, she would never have had to endure such a horrific experience at the hands of MGNs journalists, he said.

Harry added: There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim. This makes me feel physically sick.

Duke of Sussex has suggested newspaper stories about rumours his father was Diana, Princess of Wales former lover James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

Referring to an article in The People from 2002 with the headline Plot to rob the DNA of Harry, he said: At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me.

He added: They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories. Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

Harry arrives in court for explosive hearing (AP)

Harry also said the media felt they owned him  but insisted that the state paid for only 5 per cent of his activities. Despite the common misconception, I was no more than 5% funded by the taxpayer while I was a working royal in the UK, yet it felt as the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely.

He also said a story published in 2002 about his smoked cannabis had a huge impact on his life. Eton had a zero drugs policy in place, and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled.

The duke also told the court that he ended up playing up to a lot of the headlines about his playboy lifestyle as a teenager and in his early twenties.

I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well do the crime, so to speak.

Referring to a story in The People in 2006 which said Ms Davy had gone berserk and slammed the phone down over a night out Spearmint Rhino club, the duke said: I dont think Chelsy did go mad about me going there.

He said: We did speak about it over the phone  but I promised her that I hadnt had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends.

The duke said he doubted the loyalty of people around him, including his former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke and former royal equerry Mark Dyer. Its only now, realising what the defendants journalists were doing  that I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

Prince Harry said he was never an account holder or received a bill for his mobile phone  saying it was handled by the Institution, presumably for security purposes although that now seems rather ironic.

Downing Street said it would not comment on Prince Harrys remarks about the government as they were part of a live legal process.
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With A-list clients including Paul McCartney and Johnny Depp, barrister David Sherborne is no stranger to high-profile cases.

He has even represented the late Princess Diana - and now its Prince Harrys turn, as the Duke of Sussex takes his long-running battle with the British press to the High Court.

An expert in privacy law and defamation, Mr Sherborne is acting for Harry and other claimants taking on Mirror Group Newspaper (MGN) and News Group Newspapers over alleged phone-hacking.

Barrister David Sherborne arriving at court (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mr Sherborne claims both publishers made payments, totalling millions of pounds, to private investigators to report private stories about celebrities and that the invoices were authorised at the highest levels, which MGN denies.

A US-native, Mr Sherborne came to attention in the UK again for his role in the Levenson Inquiry, representing a host of celebrities who had their phones hacked by the now-defunct News of the World.

According to his online professional profile on 5RB, Mr Sherborne is particularly well-known in the industry and press for his extensive reputation management practice, as well as his ground-breaking pre-publication injunction work.

Mr Sherborne is responsible for a number of landmark privacy cases, including Douglas v Hello. Actors Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2003 successfully claimed damages against Hello! magazine over unauthorised pictures of their wedding.

Mr Justice Lindsay ruled that the Douglases wedding was a private event and that Hello! had acted unconscionably by publishing snatched photographs of the couple without their permission.

The Duke of Sussex at the Rolls Buildings in central London for the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (PA)

The magazines claim to freedom of expression, said the judge, was not a trump card and was in this case overridden by the manner in which the Hollywood couples confidential agreement with OK! magazine had been breached by Hello! The judge found against the couple on a number of other issues.

Mr Sherborne also represented Coleen Rooney in her Wagatha Christie libel action against Rebekah Vardy - a case that also attracted significant media attention.

Fellow lawyers who watched Mr Sherbornes three-day cross-examination of Ms Vardy last year witnessed the best and worst of his style, describing it as a mixture of undoubted charm, showboating and frequently p***ing off the judge, The Guardian reported.

Mr Sherborne attending the infamous Wagatha Christie trial (PA)

The barrister has also generated a few headlines of his own. A complaint was made against Mr Sherborne over allegations that he had a relationship with another lawyer involved in the Leveson inquiry.

Mr Sherborne, twice married, and Patry Hoskins, counsel for the inquiry who was married when they met, said their relationship did not begin until after the Leveson report was published in November 2012.

The pair, who went on holiday to Italy after the trial, became an official couple after the case was published.

The complaint was dismissed by the Bar Standards Board, which said there was no realistic prospect that a disciplinary tribunal would make a finding of professional misconduct.
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A police motorcyclist in the Duchess of Edinburghs escort could face criminal charges after a fatal collision.

Helen Holland, 81, died after she was hit by the officers vehicle during the incident in Earls Court on 10 May.

Announcing the criminal investigation into her death, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death.

This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision-making of the officer under investigation.

Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London (Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London )

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses, the director added.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

The IOPC confirmed the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. The unnamed individual is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct.

Following the crash last month, Ms Hollands son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.

Ms Holland was using a safe route of [a] pedestrian crossing when she was struck by the motorcycle, according to her grandson. She was in London visiting her older sister at the time of the accident.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

Her Royal Highnesss deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Hollands family.

The IOPC first appealed for witnesses to the incident on 19 May, confirming that it had taken CCTV from nearby properties for examination. Police body-worn video footage was also reviewed as part of the investigation.

The Special Escort Group of the Metropolitan Police accompanies various prominent individuals, including members of the Royal Family, for security.
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Tesco has urged its 20 million Clubcard customers to cash in their rewards over the next fortnight before they are cut from three times to two times their value.

The UKs biggest supermarket announced in March that its Clubcard points will be worth twice their value when customers cash them in, rather than three times as they are now, from June 14.

Rewards ordered up to and including June 13 will continue to be valid for one year from the date of issue.

The popular scheme enables shoppers to collect points for money spent at Tesco and exchange them for vouchers which can be used in store or for excursions to locations such as Pizza Express, Legoland and Alton Towers.

The grocer first introduced Clubcard in 1995 and promptly saw a 28% spending uplift.

Tescos chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said: While we are making a change to how members can use their vouchers with our reward partners, we want to remind millions of Clubcard holders to redeem their vouchers at three times the value until June 13 so they can use their reward partner codes to give themselves and their families a well-deserved treat.

We have extended the validity of redeemed codes at the 3x rate, so if swapped before the deadline, they will be valid for a year, instead of six months, to give customers even more time to enjoy them.

Customers expressed their disappointment at the change, pointing out it came as the cost-of-living crisis was already placing pressure on household budgets.

One shopper posted: Tesco #clubcard now only worth x2  gee thanks #Tesco  you really care about your loyal customers  not. Maybe time to shop elsewhere.

A second Clubcard user wrote: We were always grateful for the @Tesco Clubcard X4 when our kids were younger, it helped out massively on days out, we used our vouchers to buy towards Merlin passes which saved us so much money.

We use it now for ourselves and X3 is good, but what an insult #X2 is to customers!

A third wrote: Dear @tesco Just got your email re clubcard voucher exchange value changing to 2x, not 3x the value.

Really disappointing! Not that long ago they were worth 4x the value. Are you not making enough profit already?

One woman tweeted Tesco that its Clubcard scheme had kept me shopping with you but now with your prices soaring and the announcement about the points changes Ill be looking elsewhere.

I bet a lot will do the same. It really helped us all out. Disappointed in you Tesco, she added.

Sainsburys and Boots also cut the value of their loyalty schemes recently.

From May, Boots Advantage Card holders have received 25% less for every 1 they spend in store, earning 3p rather than 4p.

In November Sainsburys Bank cut the amount of Nectar points customers could earn by 75%, from two points for every 1 spent to one point for every 2.
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Damage to a major dam in Ukraine is a catastrophe and abhorrent act, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls.

Officials have described the breach as an ecological disaster, while Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

Russian officials claim the dam, on the Dnipro river, was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

James Cleverly tweeted: The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act.

Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe.

The Foreign Secretary visited Kyiv this week, where he met his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

There are concerns that the damage to the dam could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

Mr Zelensky said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged that Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure and that some 80 settlements were in danger.

The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said the ecocide was really terrible.

Igor Zhovkva told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme Russias claims that shelling had caused the damage were absurd, saying: I know that there was a blast and it was made on purpose because you cannot ruin this dam (only) by shelling.

But Evgeny Popov, a member of the Duma for Vladimir Putins United Russia party, claimed Ukraine would profit from the damage and said Russia is evacuating 22,000 people from the area.

He accused Ukraine of a war crime by carrying out the attack.

We dont need to do that. We are not attacking civilian infrastructure, he told the same programme.

Downing Street said the UK is ready to offer humanitarian and economic support but it is too early to tell what is needed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesman also said he wouldnt rule out bringing up the attack with Russia but at the moment we are looking into the situation.

None of this would be taking place if it was not for Russias illegal invasion. We are steadfast in our support, the official said.

Mr Cleverly told reporters in Kyiv that there was no difference between the UK and US over the use of donated equipment on cross-border raids against Russia.

All countries, including the United Kingdom have put limitations on the military equipment that we have donated, he said.

And in most instances, that means that that equipment can only be used within Ukrainian territory and on that issue, the UK and the US are in exactly the same place.

He told reporters that we have always made it clear that we support Ukraines self-defence and, of course, the decisions about how Ukraine conducts that self-defence are rightly decisions which are made by Ukraines leadership.

Mr Cleverly said he wanted the war to quickly come to a conclusion which is fair, which is right for the people of Ukraine and, of course, is a conclusion which reinforces rather than undermines the UN Charter and the concept of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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Kemi Badenoch said that she was not an arsonist as she clashed with Tory MPs over the decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws.

The Business and Trade Secretary was grilled by MPs during an appearance at the European Scrutiny Committee, amid Brexiteer anger about changes to plans for a bonfire of retained EU laws.

The Government had originally promised a sunset clause on all laws carried over from the trade bloc by the end of 2023 under its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

But the blanket sunset clause was ditched earlier this year and replaced with a narrowed target of 600 such laws to be revoked by the end of the year, well short of the more than 4,000 previously pledged.

What we want to do is get rid of laws we don't need and there is a process for that. It is not the bonfire of regulations. We are not arsonists. I am certainly not an arsonist. I am a Conservative Kemi Badenoch

Ms Badenoch defended the decision and insisted that Government policy had not fundamentally changed, during a fiery back-and-forth with Brexiteer David Jones.

What we want to do is get rid of laws we dont need and there is a process for that. It is not the bonfire of regulations. We are not arsonists. I am certainly not an arsonist. I am a Conservative. I dont think a bonfire of regulations is what we wanted. What we wanted was the reform and removal of things we did not need, she told the Clwyd West MP.

Until I did this, no one knew what was happening. No one knew what was being revoked or reformed. And we could end up in a situation where were telling ourselves there is a big bonfire of regulations, and no one would have known what would happen until after the sunset.

Mr Jones said that the Commons had in fact voted for a bonfire of regulations and said that modifying the Bill in the House of Lords could be seen as disrespectful to MPs.

What I am finding difficult to understand is that when a Bill passes through the House of Commons unamended and therefore clearly has the complete approbation of the House of Commons, you then change your approach completely, he told his party colleague.

You dont tell the Commons you are changing your approach, you dont have the courtesy to come before this committee, so this committee can scrutinise the changes you are proposing, then you come back to the Commons, it having gone through the Lords, presenting the Commons effectively with a fait accompli.

Dont you think that is disrespectful of the House of Commons?

But Ms Badenoch rejected his claims and said the Government was still delivering on the intention behind the Bill.

She said that there would have been little point coming before the committee when she was new in post, before adding: Something you are not saying, we had private meetings David, we had private meetings where we discussed this extensively, because I knew you had concerns.

And it is public knowledge we had private meetings, because when I thought I was having private and confidential meetings I was reading the contents in the Daily Telegraph.

The Cabinet minister was also asked whether the changes to the Bill were part of a deal with the European Union to secure the Windsor Framework, the agreement agreed between Brussels and London in a bid to resolve unionist concerns about the impact of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.

Ms Badenoch told South Dorset MP Richard Drax that the framework had nothing to do with it, warning her fellow MPs to stop floating suggestions that the UK still had not fully left the EU.

We are at risk of talking down the significant thing we have achieved by making the perfect the enemy of the good, she said.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) could create a dystopia a government minister has warned after Rishi Sunaks adviser on the technology said it could become powerful enough to kill many humans in only two years time.

Matt Clifford said even short-term risks were pretty scary, with AI having the potential to create cyber and biological weapons that could inflict many deaths. It comes as Mr Sunak heads to the US, where he is set to try to persuade president Joe Biden of his grand plan for the UK to be at the centre of international AI regulation.

The PM wants Britain to host a watchdog for AI similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and will also propose a new international research body.

Paul Scully, minster for tech and digital economy, told the TechUK Tech Policy Leadership Conference on Tuesday that there should not solely be a focus on a Terminator-style scenario.

He said: If we get it wrong, there is a dystopian point of view that we can follow here. Theres also a utopian point of view. Both can be possible.

If youre only talking about the end of humanity because of some, rogue, Terminator-style scenario, youre going to miss out on all of the good that AI is already functioning - how its mapping proteins to help us with medical research, how its helping us with climate change.

All of those things its already doing and will only get better at doing.

We have to take breathing space to make sure were getting this right for the whole of society, as well as the benefit of the sector.Mr Clifford said that that unless AI producers are regulated on a global scale then there could be very powerful systems that humans could struggle to control.

Mr Cliffords intervention come after a letter backed by dozens of top experts  including many of the pioneers of AI  warned that the risks of the technology should be treated with the same urgency as pandemics or nuclear war.

Senior bosses at Google DeepMind and Anthropic signed the letter along with the so-called godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton. Mr Hinton resigned from his job at Google earlier this month  warning that in the wrong hands, AI could spell the end of humanity.

Mr Clifford is advising Mr Sunak on the development of a government taskforce which is looking into AI language models such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, and is also chairman of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).

He told TalkTV: The near-term risks are actually pretty scary. You can use AI today to create new recipes for bio weapons or to launch large-scale cyber attacks. These are bad things.

The No 10 adviser added: The kind of existential risk that I think the letter writers were talking about is ... about what happens once we effectively create a new species, an intelligence that is greater than humans.

Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak are set to discuss AI in Washington (PA Wire)

While conceding that a two-year timescale for computers to surpass human intelligence was at the bullish end of the spectrum, Mr Clifford said AI systems were becoming more and more capable at an ever increasing rate.

Asked what percentage chance he would give that humanity could be wiped out by AI, Mr Clifford said: I think it is not zero.

He continued: If we go back to things like the bio weapons or cyber [attacks], you can have really very dangerous threats to humans that could kill many humans  not all humans  simply from where we would expect models to be in two years time.

I think the thing to focus on now is how do we make sure that we know how to control these models because right now we dont.

AI apps have gone viral online, with users posting fake images of celebrities and politicians, and students using ChatGPT and other language learning models to generate university-grade essays.

But AI can also perform life-saving tasks, such as algorithms analysing medical images such as X-rays, scans and ultrasounds, helping doctors to identify and diagnose diseases such as cancer and heart conditions more accurately and quickly.

No 10 adviser has warned AI poses existential risk (PA Archive)

Mr Clifford said that AI, if harnessed in the right way, could be a force for good. You can imagine AI curing diseases, making the economy more productive, helping us get to a carbon neutral economy, he said.

As well as a new global regulator based in London, Mr Sunak is keen for the UK to host an international AI summit this autumn, according to Politico.

The prime minister will also suggest to Mr Biden that a new international research body, similar to the CERN institute that exists for particle physics, is set up for AI.

The PMs official spokesman said he did not want to pre-empt Mr Sunaks conversation with Mr Biden  but said that the UK could become a global leader on both the new technology and regulatory systems for AI.

We are not complacent about the potential risks of AI. Equally, it does present significant opportunities for the people of the UK. The UK is looking to lead the way in this space, said the No 10 spokesman, adding: You cannot look to proceed with AI without having the right guardrails in place.

Former Tory leader William Hague said it was in both countries interests to co-operate on stronger oversight. If the US and UK could work together on such regulation while remaining more agile than contrasting approaches in the EU and China, they could create a transatlantic model of good governance, he wrote in The Times.

Labour is pushing for ministers to bar technology developers from working on advanaced AI tools unless they have been granted a licence.

Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell, who is due to speak at TechUKs conference on AI on Tuesday, told The Guardian that AI should be licensed in a similar way to medicines or nuclear power. That is the kind of model we should be thinking about, she said.
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Rishi Sunak has suggested he is willing to overrule the House of Lords and ram the small boats bill through parliament amid opposition to his plans.

The prime minister hinted he was open to using the nuclear option of the Parliament Act to defy the upper chamber and push through the Illegal Migration Bill.

Mr Sunak said the plan detain and deport those arriving on small boats have been backed very strongly in the Commons, as he warned against any attempt to thwart the incredibly important legislation.

Asked twice if he was willing to use the Parliament Act, the PM told The Telegraph: It passed the House of Commons very strongly. And my intention is to see this piece of legislation on the statute books so that we can start using it.

On Monday peers called for the highly-controversial bill to be delayed until an impact assessment is published, while the Liberal Democrats have previously attempted to block the legislation.

A senior Tory source told The Independent the government would stand firm and refuse to water down the bill if it comes back to Commons with wrecking amendments.

Using the Parliament Act to overrule the Lords if the bill was opposed would be highly unusual. The last time it was used was the Hunting Act of 2004, when the New Labour government banned fox hunting.

Peers threatened to delay the small boats crackdown bill until the government publishes the facts and figures showing the financial impact of the controversial proposals. Home Office minister Lord Murray was in the Lords as he repeatedly said it would be published in due course.

The bill faces a rocky ride in the Lords, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby previously condemning it as morally unacceptable and politically impractical.

Peers have discussed amendments to the list of countries or territories where a person may be removed, with suggestions to explicitly state that LGBT+ people should not be taken to some of them due to fears of persecution.

A separate amendment also suggested removing Rwanda from the list given legal action to challenge the plan.

Rishi Sunak on board cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover (PA Wire)

It comes as Mr Sunak insisted that his plan to tackle the problem of small boats in the English Channel is starting to work, as he hailed a 20 per cent fall in asylum seekers making the crossing.

The PM also claimed that a 90 per cent drop in the number of Albanians in small boats was proof migrants can discouraged from making the crossing by his policies  but experts said it was too early to tell if there was a deterrent effect.

Hailing the impact of his returns agreement with Albania, Mr Sunak said: This is proof that our deterrence strategy can work. When people know that if they come here illegally they wont get to stay, they stop coming.

The Independent understands that many Border Force staff believe the reduction in crossings is largely due to poor weather conditions in the Channel.

Mr Sunak announced that two more barges will be used to house asylum seekers off the coast of Britain, despite Tory MP Richard Drax lashing out at quasi-prison conditions on offshore vessels.

Ex-justic secretary Robert Buckland and other Tory MPs have warned that the lack of widespread returns deals remains a problem. Despite the fall in Albanians making the crossing, there has been a surge in Turkish earthquake victims in small boats.

Home Office figures published yesterday show 389 Turkish nationals crossed the Channel since April, while 610 Afghans and 408 Iranians also arrived.
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The Post Office should be ended in its current form and run as a mutual, according to the head of non-profit organisation Tax Policy Associates.

Dan Neidle, tax lawyer and founder of the group, described the Post Office Horizon scandal as the single greatest challenge to the rule of law.

The scandal saw more than 700 Post Office branch managers handed criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software made it appear as though money was missing.

A public enquiry into the scandal  which has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history  was launched after a series of convictions were overturned after the Post Office settled the cases of 555 claimants.

No privately owned business would ever have survived this, and its wrong that the Post Offices current status means that it has Dan Neidle

In a speech to the City of London Solicitors Company, Mr Neidle said the Post Office would have collapsed if it were a private business amid the aftermath of the lengthy legal battle.

He said: The Post Office should itself suffer the ultimate penalty, and be ended in its current form.

No privately owned business would ever have survived this, and its wrong that the Post Offices current status means that it has.

The business we all know and rely on should be given to past, current and future postmasters, and run as a mutual, with continuing government support where necessary.

The remainder of the business should continue for the sole purpose of compensating postmasters.

In 2021, Post Office chief executive officer Nick Read indicated that the business could seek to share profitability with postmasters, raising speculation it could move towards a form of mutualisation.

We must strike a new deal with postmasters which recognises that, without them, there is no Post Office, he said in a speech.

And, as this partnership takes shape and breeds success over time, we must find a way for them to share, directly, in its profitability.

It comes after reports that previously convicted postmasters have seen compensation pay-outs heavily reduced, with the Daily Mail reporting how an 80-year-old former postmaster saw his pay-out reduced from around 330,000 to 8,000 due to tax and bankruptcy proceedings.

Mr Neidle claimed that the compensation scheme is itself a scandal.

We need to change the incentives so nothing like this ever happens again, and demonstrate to everybody the consequences of so horrifying an abuse of the legal system, he added.

A Post Office spokesman said: We are acutely aware of the severity of the impacts on some postmasters lives caused by Post Offices past failings.

The schemes independent advisory panel of experts assesses individual claims and there are no caps on the compensation offered.

Offer letters strongly encourage postmasters to take independent legal advice, the cost of which is reimbursed.

Legal costs are also provided for postmasters who wish to dispute an offer, together with an interim payment of up to 80% of the proposed settlement is available to help alleviate financial pressures.

Offers totalling around 100 million have been made to all but 16 of the 2,400 applicants in the Scheme, the vast majority of which are already agreed and paid.

Earlier this year, Mr Neidle also helped to reveal that former Conservative chair Nadhim Zahawi was under investigation over his tax affairs.

The speech is one of a series of talks for the City of London Solicitors Company as part of its Food for Thought initiative.
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The chairwoman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is expected to respond for the first time to a High Court challenge of her request for Boris Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages.

Baroness Heather Hallett is due to hold a preliminary inquiry hearing on Tuesday in which she is set to address ministers decision to bring forward a judicial review.

The retired senior judges deadline for the UK Government to hand over the former prime ministers WhatsApp messages and notebooks in an unredacted format was missed by the Cabinet Office last week, with ministers instead announcing plans to challenge the request in the courts.

It wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment on this ongoing legal process Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin looked to defend the move in the Commons on Monday, telling MPs that the High Court case would mean it was lawyers and not politicians who would decide what is and what is not relevant information for the inquiry.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to comment on the row over Mr Johnsons messages.

It wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment on this ongoing legal process, Mr Sunak told The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Quin told MPs that he expected judges to hear the Governments judicial review very soon, with a hearing on or shortly after June 30.

He denied accusations of a cover-up, saying that all Government correspondence relating to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic would be made transparently available to Lady Halletts investigation.

But he repeated the Cabinet Offices argument that the inquiry, in its request for Mr Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp correspondence and written notes, was asking for information ministers deemed to be unambiguously irrelevant and that had nothing to do with Covid decision-making.

Conservative MPs criticised the Governments position, however, arguing it should be for Lady Hallett to decide what was relevant to her investigation.

Veteran MP Sir Edward Leigh said: Let them have what they want and lets get to the truth.

Elkan Abrahamson, a solicitor representing the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group at the inquiry, said the only logical response if chairwoman Lady Hallett does not get access to the material is for her to step down because she cant properly do her job.

During Tuesdays preliminary hearing, Lady Hallett is due to focus on Module 2 of the inquiry, which will look into core political and administrative decision making by the UK Government.

Preliminary hearings are for consideration of how the investigation should be run rather than taking evidence.

The first evidence session is due to take place next week, with Lady Hallett set to hear from witnesses about the UKs pandemic preparedness and resilience as part of her Module 1 investigation.

Public hearings are scheduled to conclude by summer 2026, with interim reports published before then.

Lady Hallett hopes to publish reports for Module 1 and 2 next year, according to the inquirys website.
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Barges housing asylum seekers will reportedly be moored near Liverpool and Middlesbrough.

Rishi Sunak revealed two more giant vessels will be used for migrant accommodation as he insisted his plan to stop Channel crossings was starting to work.

According to The Guardian, these are expected to be moored at Teesport in the North East as well as in docks close to Liverpool.

The Home Office refused to comment on the reports, although the Government is expected to confirm which locations will be used in the coming weeks.

It comes after the Prime Minister declined to say where the two new barges would be moored amid widespread speculation one could be based on Merseyside.

A spokesman for Wirral Council told the PA news agency: No decisions have been made and conversations are continuing with the Home Office.

The newspaper also cited sources which said discussions over the acquisition of further barges and disused cruise ships had taken place, meaning thousands of asylum seekers could be housed in vessels on Tyneside near Newcastle, Harwich in Essex, Felixstowe in Suffolk and the Royal London docks near City Airport. These reports have not been confirmed.

Meanwhile Dorset Council confirmed it would not launch legal action over the Home Offices decision to site a vessel which can house around 500 migrants in Portland Port.

The council leader and the countys police and crime commissioner (PCC) had voiced concerns about the ports decision to allow the Bibby Stockholm to dock.

But in a statement on Tuesday a council spokesperson said: After much careful consideration, Dorset Council has decided to not pursue legal action to challenge the Home Offices decision to site a barge for asylum seekers in Portland Port.

Based on specialist legal advice, and the experience other councils have had across the country, any legal action we take is unlikely to be successful and would incur high costs to Dorset taxpayers.

We are committed to working with the Home Office and our partners to ensure minimal impact to public services for local people and that provision for the asylum seekers is properly resourced and is effective.

In a speech in Kent on Monday, Mr Sunak said the number of people making the journey across the Channel was down by around a fifth since last year but acknowledged the Government has a long way still to go.

But during his visit to Dover, he played down suggestions that fewer crossings were a result of poor weather conditions at this time of year rather than policy decisions.

Opposition critics likened the announcement of yet more measures to tackle the crisis to Groundhog Day and accused Mr Sunak of cynical spin.

It comes as peers threatened to delay the Illegal Migration Bill until the Government publishes the facts and figures showing the financial implications of the proposals.

Opposition peers called for the proposed legislation to be stopped from progressing further through Parliament until the findings of an economic impact assessment could be considered.

The Telegraph said Mr Sunak indicated he was open to using the Parliament Act to push through the Bill if needed. The rarely used law allows the Commons to overrule the Lords.
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Navy veteran Ernie Davies has said how happy he was to see so many people ahead of the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, as the number of survivors able to attend memorial services dwindles.

Mr Davies, 98, was among the 11 British veterans who travelled across the Channel to France to mark the anniversary of the historic military invasion, and met some old friends and had a few drinks along the way.

Mr Davies, from Hornchurch, east London, also recalled his own role in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Cotton during the summer of 1944.

He said: I was in the Channel in a Navy destroyer looking for U-boats. It was desperate. It was the end of the war, for them, they had nothing to lose.

We did our best to keep them at bay. They knew they were beaten, they were taking desperate measures and we did as well.

During a youth commemorative service, beginning two days of commemorative events, French schoolchildren laid wreaths, gave speeches and met veterans at the British Normandy Memorial in the French town of Ver-sur-Mer.

The site overlooking the Normandy beaches pays tribute to 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who were killed on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy.

John Pinkerton, who accompanied a D-Day veteran, said: Theyve got to learn what sacrifices people had so we can have freedom today.

They need to know what happened at the time, its very important we pass on what happened here nearly 80 years ago.

London black cab driver and Taxi Charity for Military Veterans volunteer Tony Neal, said: Watching the childrens faces, seeing the interaction between the children and veterans, its the love, its brilliant to see.

Mr Neal and fellow Londoner Danny Shelton were among the volunteers who helped take the veterans to the D-Day memorial events, with some of their journeys taking about 12 hours.

The men said it was a rewarding experience. Mr Shelton said: Sitting in the bar with the veterans having a laugh and a joke  the stories you dont hear.

Mr Neal added: They talk about how they lost their friends and the last moment with their best friend.

They always say theyre not heroes, but we know they are.

The British Normandy Memorial will also host the Royal British Legions remembrance service on June 6, alongside a number of events taking place in Ver-sur-Mer and Bayeux.

It is the first time the international ceremony, which brings together Allied nations and Germany, will be held at the site since it opened in 2021.

The latest addition to the British Normandy Memorial is an avenue of 70 trees planted to mark the reign of, and in memory of, Queen Elizabeth II.

The gift was offered by French President Emmanuel Macron for the Queens Platinum Jubilee, and the trees were planted on January 11.
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Scotland could see its first by-election held under parliamentary recall rules after MP Margaret Ferrier was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching Covid rules.

MPs overwhelmingly voted to impose the ban on the Rutherglen and Hamilton West politician, potentially paving the way for a by-election.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs who are suspended for 10 sitting days or more are liable to face a by-election  but only if 10% of their constituents sign a recall petition.

This has never happened before in Scotland and has only occurred twice in the UK since the procedure was introduced in 2015.

A by-election would be seen as a test for new SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, with Ms Ferrier having originally been elected as an SNP MP in 2019 before having the whip suspended after her breaches of coronavirus rules emerged.

With polls indicating support for Labour in Scotland has increased, Sir Keir Starmers party is keen for an election to bolster signs of a revival in fortunes north of the border.

Sir Keir visited Rutherglen last month ahead of a possible vote, saying then he was in no doubt that locals would take the chance to get rid of Ms Ferrier if a by-election is held.

Labours candidate for the seat, Michael Shanks, said MPs voting to approve Ms Ferriers suspension was welcome news for those of us who live here.

But with the procedures having been delayed, he added it was a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.

Ms Ferrier travelled from Scotland to Westminster after testing for Covid in September 2020, and went on to speak in the House of Commons while waiting for the results.

Later, after the test confirmed she was positive for the virus, she took the train back to Scotland.

Mr Shanks said: Weve spoken to thousands of voters who feel let down by Margaret Ferriers actions  people who made sacrifices during the pandemic and rightly expected their MP to do the same.

The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve so much better than a rule-breaking MP.

Speaking after the Commons voted by 185 to 40 to approve her suspension, the Labour candidate added: I want to be the local champion this area deserves, and I am ready to fight for every vote and deliver the change Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs.

SNP by-election campaign co-ordinator David Linden said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule breach first came to light in 2020.

We'll work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them David Linden, SNP

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign  and well work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: I welcome todays news because its important that we all take responsibility for the decisions we make, especially where public safety is involved.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are unequivocally in favour of a recall petition and a by-election.

Not only is this a chance to give Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation it deserves, it is also a chance to send a message to the new SNP First Minister that people are sick of the divisive and out of touch politics he and his party represent.

Commons voting records show 32 Conservative MPs among those who opposed the 30-day suspension for Ms Ferrier, with these including former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill and DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.

South Lanarkshire Council, meanwhile, confirmed the recall petition will open on Tuesday June 20, with locals having until Monday July 31 to sign it.
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Labour has accused Suella Braverman of getting her figures wrong after the Home Secretary claimed the backlog of people awaiting an initial decision on their asylum claim has reduced.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called on Ms Braverman to withdraw the claim in the Commons.

But the Home Secretary declined to respond to the criticism.

Ms Braverman made the initial claim when making a statement updating the Commons on the Governments progress on its stated goals of reducing the number of small boats crossing the Channel, and finding alternative ways to house people who have arrived in the UK.

Ms Braverman said: The asylum initial decision backlog is down by 17,000, and we are on track to abolish all legacy cases by the end of this year, having doubled the number of asylum decision-makers over the last two years.

Making a point of order after the statement, Ms Cooper said: (Ms Braverman) said the asylum initial decision backlog is down by 17,000, whereas the Home Office official statistics say the asylum initial backlog is now over 170,000, up from 160,000 in December.

So the facts are, the asylum initial decision backlog is up over 10,000, not down by 17,000.

I know there was a lot of nonsense in what the Home Secretary said, sometimes its hard to know where to start, but this is about facts, the facts given to Parliament.

Will she now withdraw this incorrect statement that she has made because her facts are wrong?

Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing asked the Home Secretary if she wished to say anything in response, but Ms Braverman, who was sitting on the Government front bench, shook her head.

Some 172,758 people were waiting for an initial decision on asylum applications at the end of March, up 57% from a year earlier and the highest figure since comparable records began in 2010, according to Home Office figures.

Ms Braverman had earlier told the House Labour did not have a plan, and said: Unlike the British people, the Labour Party wants more migration not less, they want open borders, not control.

She said: We are committed to stopping the boats. We have a plan to do so, and we are delivering that plan.

Independent MP Scott Benton (Blackpool South)  who used to sit as a Conservative but had the whip suspended earlier this year after an undercover Times expose allegedly showed him offering to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors  insisted claims must be processed properly despite the intention to reduce the backlog.

He told the Commons: We are still accepting a majority of asylum claims from a number of safe countries, in stark contrast to many other European nations who reject a far higher proportion of claims from those same countries.

Whilst we all want to reduce the asylum case backlog, does the Home Secretary agree with me that it must be done properly, and we cant merely accept claims in a cynical attempt to drive down that backlog quickly?

Ms Braverman said: My honourable friend is absolutely right. Unlike the Opposition, we are not going to grant an amnesty to people in our system.

It is absolutely important that all cases are considered on their individual merits, but that actually we take a robust approach to applications and that we take an approach which makes it clear that if you come here illegally you will be detained, and you will be removed, and you wont be entitled to a life in the UK.

Tory vice chairman Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, asked when the Rwanda plan could be implemented, telling MPs: Sharing rooms and barges, and relying on the French is not the answer.

I think we all know, anybody with common sense in this place knows what the answer is, and that is to get the flights off to Rwanda as quickly as possible.
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British Second World War veterans have paid tribute to their fallen comrades as they marked the 79th anniversary of D-Day at a service in France.

Former servicemen attended the Royal British Legion-organised event at the British Normandy Memorial outside Ver-sur-Mer on Tuesday to share their experiences of the biggest seaborne invasion in military history, which led to the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to attend the international ceremony of Allied nations and Germany later on Tuesday afternoon at the British Normandy Memorial as D-Day commemorations continue.

At the earlier service, 98-year-old Ken Hay, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment during the Battle of Normandy, read a poem he wrote last year to remember the friends he lost.

Mr Hay, from London, who was just 18 during the invasion and was later a prisoner of war and forced to work in coal mines in Poland, said: I didnt regard myself as a poet.

People say thank you for that. Veterans come up to me and say you put into words what we were feeling.

His poem contains the lines: With memories I come each year, and often shed a tear,

To understand that I came home, to live another year.

I still can see, each passing day, the friends I left behind,

The price they paid, I nearly paid, is clearly brought to mind.

Elsewhere, at an afternoon service at the Bayeux Cemetery in France, children held signs reading: Thank you veterans, the youth do care.

George Barrett, who joined the 9th Airborne regiment of the Royal Engineers in 1947, said he was glad children were attending the services to keep this remembrance commemoration going for years.

The 95-year-old said he has lost count of the number times he travelled to Normandy for D-day anniversaries, and this year he was among a party of 10 from Birmingham.

Chairman of the 1944 Alliance, Alan James, who organises the travel for veterans from Birmingham each year, said of the dwindling numbers: Its completely changed now. When I first started it was 24 veterans on the bus, now were down to two  we lost 13 veterans to Covid.

At the Bayeux service, D-Day veteran Stan Ford shared his account aboard HMS Fratton, which was torpedoed on August 18 1944, causing a huge explosion that damaged his legs and back.

The 98-year-old from Bath said: HMS Fratton sank in four minutes, taking with her 31 of the crew of 80.

I was lucky when so many of my shipmates were not, and I often ask myself why me?

HMS Fratton still lies about a mile off of Arromanches and I will always remember the crew that I served with, and I will keep coming back to Normandy as long as I can do so.

A small number of people headed to the Normandy beaches at sunrise to pay tribute to the servicemen and women who began their assault at first light on June 6, 1944.
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Ever fancied owning an iconic piece of Britain? Nows your chance, with the sale of Kilnsey Crag, one of Yorkshires best-known landmarks, currently on the market for 150,000.

The 52-metre (170ft) limestone cliff, which dominates the drive into Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales, has been described as a genuinely unique opportunity. About eight hectares (19 acres) of land, including the crag, is part of the sale.

Featuring on countless postcards, the crag is a well-known climbing hot-spot and was even painted by JMW Turner in 1816.

Agents Savills said: The sale represents a genuinely unique opportunity to purchase one of the Big Three limestone crags in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The overhanging cliff, formed by the force of the Wharfedale Glacier thousands of years ago, is awe-inspiring and internationally recognised.

The sale details point out that the cliff and surrounding grassland is teeming with rare flora and fauna and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The estate agent adds that the sale offers significant amenity, biodiversity, and environmental opportunities.

The crag has a 12-metre (40ft) overhang which, along with its proximity to the main road through Wharfedale, has made it one of the most challenging and popular rock-climbing locations in the north of England.

It forms one of the Big Three limestone crags in the Yorkshire Dales, along with Gordale Scar and Malham Cove.

The crag is also the backdrop to the annual Kilnsey Agricultural Show, which happens on the Tuesday after the summer bank holiday in August.

The show culminates in the British Open Fell Running Association fell race, which includes a descent of the chimney, a steep crevice of rock in the crag face.

Will Douglas, director in the rural agency team at Savills in York, whose team is handling the sale, described the crag as a popular tourist attraction.

He said: The sale offers significant natural capital, amenity, biodiversity and environmental opportunities and we fully expect its availability will capture the imagination of many interested buyers.
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A Republican donor whose family was killed when a private jet crashed after flying through restricted Washington DC airspace had previously lost a daughter in a scuba diving accident 29 years earlier.

Businessman John Rumpel, 75, told The Washington Post that his daughter, grandchild and her nanny were onboard the Cessna Citation that crashed in Virginia on Sunday.

It was in fact Mr Rumpels adopted daughter Adina Azarian, 49, and her two-year-old daughter Aria who were killed in the accident, reported The Daily Mail.

Azarian, a real estate agent by trade, was adopted by the family at the age of 40 because she reminded them of their late biological daughter Victoria, who had passed away at the age of 19 in 1994, the couple told the newspaper.

The two women had the same fire in their bellies, and they were loving, caring children, they said.

After Victorias death, Mr Rumpel and his wife bought an 11-storey building in Melbourne, Florida, and turned it into Victoria Landing, an assisted-living facility named after their late daughter.

Victoria Landing gets its name from Victoria Rumpel. Victoria was Johns daughter who died tragically at the young age of 19 in a scuba diving accident, its website states.

John honors the memory of his daughter with the Victoria Landing name. With that honor comes the responsibility to make Victoria Landing the very best it can be in commemoration of Victoria and in celebration of everything life can and should be. Life is simply too precious.

Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where a Cessna Citation crashed over mountainous terrain near Montebello (AP)

When Sundays tragedy struck, the family had been returning home to East Hampton, New York, after a four-day trip to Mr Rumpels home in North Carolina, he told The New York Times.

My family is gone, my daughter and granddaughter, Barbara Rumpel, an NRA executive, wrote in a Facebook post.

The Cessna Citations lone pilot was seen slumped over in his seat before it crashed in a heavily-wooded area near Waynesboro, Virginia, a source told CNN.

The flight had been travelling from east Tennessee to Long Island, New York, at 34,000 feet when it became unresponsive and triggered an interception by military fighter jets protecting the US capital.

John Rumpel said his daughter, grandchild and her nanny were onboard the plane (AP)

When the F-16 jets reached the plane at around 3.20pm ET they fired flares to try and get the pilots attention, according to a statement from the Continental US North American Aerospace Defense Command Region.

The pilot was unresponsive and the Cessna subsequently crashed near the George Washington National Forest, Virginia, the release said.

NORAD attempted to establish contact with the pilot until the aircraft crashed.

The jets were authorised by officials to travel at supersonic speeds, which led to a boom across the DC area.

The F-16s did not shoot down the plane, a US official told CNN.
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Charities have defended a Colorado couple charged with a criminal case following the death of their two-day-old baby.

Brittany Diekneit and her partner Sean Byrne, of Aurora, face charges of child abuse resulting in death after their baby died while sleeping in bed with his parents.

The cause of Walkers death remains undetermined after a three-month-long autopsy was completed in April. Police in their affidavits alleged the couple had alcohol and ignored the substantial and unjustifiable risk of co-sleeping with Walker while being incapacitated and they were thus unable to check on him, reported the Denver Post.

I had my perfect family of four, said Ms Diekneit in her first comments since losing her child last September. Its all I ever wanted. I had it for less than 48 hours, she told Fox News.

Its so traumatic. It makes me feel like I have to put the grief on hold sometimes.

Defence attorney Adam Yoast said the parents blood test did not show they were intoxicated.

At the end of the day, this case is about SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and it is an unexplained infant death that cannot be attributed to any one person, Mr Yoast said, according to Fox News.

The issue was, is, a natural occurrence, phenomenon, occurred that night that no one could have prevented. Our government, instead of allowing that to exist, has taken upon themselves to criminalize every natural occurrence and every transaction that we undertake in our day-to-day lives.

Non-profit organisations Elephant Circle, Soul2Soul Sisters, and ProgressNow Colorado have written to the DAs office condemning the charges against the mother of the toddler.

Advocates need to have the frame of reproductive justice to a different degree now, post-Dobbs [the case in which the US Supreme Court reversed abortion rights], Kayla Frawley, ProgressNows legislative director told the Denver Post.

We have to see how these cases relate to the criminalization of pregnancy itself now. We know the gravity of these cases and that theyre happening and theyre often not amplified and not publicized because theyre done to families that are very low-resourced.

Since their childs death, the couples two-year-daughter has been living with Ms Diekneits parents as they are not allowed to meet the toddler alone or have contact with each other.

Im not very good with words when I speak them out loud, but Id like to say Im really good at writing, Ms Diekneit said and added that she created an email account for their son and writes to him as a way of remembering him.

I promised myself that I would remember everything about him from when he was here. The way he smelled, every single [thing] I can remember about him  I repeat it to myself so Ill never ever forget.

An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for 16 June.
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The parents of Colorado motorist Christian Glass  who was fatally shot by police after calling 911 for help  have called for the resignation of the sheriff in the same county whose commissioners on Tuesday released a statement underscoring their lack of faith in him.

The Clear Creek County Board of Commissioners completely supports the Glass Familys efforts to ensure that events such as the killing of Christian will never be repeated, the board said in the statement, just days before the one-year anniversary of the young mans death.

It continued: The Board does not believe that the Sheriff has adequately accepted responsibility for his central role in this tragedy or the need to swiftly correct all of the gaps in training and protocols that existed at the time of Christians death.

Christian Glass smiles with his parents, Sally and Simon Glass, from England and New Zealand, respectively (The Glass Family)

Christian was shot dead after calling 911 on 10 June 2022 after his car became stuck in a dark, rural and rocky area near Silver Plume, an old mining post. Former Clear Creek deputies Andrew Buen and Kyle Gould  who were terminated by the sheriffs office following the shooting  have been charged in Christians death and are awaiting trial.

They have pleaded not guilty.

The commissioners statement came two weeks after the announcement that the Glass family would receive a $19m payout, the largest for police misconduct in the state of Colorado.

Christians parents, Sally and Simon  from the UK and New Zealand, respectively  have vocally called for more charges to be filed. Seven officers responded from five agencies and spoke with Christian for more than an hour before he was tased and fatally shot as he sat in the drivers seat.

On Tuesday, the Glass family released a statement serving to applaud the board of commissioners commitment to ensuring that the senseless and preventable use of force that resulted in the tragic murder of their son, Christian, never happens again.

Sheriff Albers refusal to accept any personal responsibility for this unjustifiable loss of life demonstrates a lack of leadership and a disregard for the trust placed in him by the community, the statement read. Sally and Simon Glass join the Board in condemning Sheriff Albers conduct and call for his resignation.

By resigning, Sheriff Albers can begin to acknowledge and take responsibility for the failures that occurred under his watch. Only then can we begin to rebuild the shattered trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to protect.

Simon and Sally Glass were present in court this week in Georgetown, Colorado for the first court appearance of two officers charged with murder in the death of their son, Christian, 22 (Sheila Flynn)

The Independent has reached out to the sheriffs office but did not immediately hear back on Tuesday.

Sheriff Albers released an apology to the family last month along with the announcement of the historic settlement.

The events that transpired the night of June 10-11, 2022, that ended in Christians death, continue to be disturbing, he wrote. The initial press release did not give an accurate description of what occurred. Rather, as stated in the conclusion of the investigative report ... the deputy who killed Christian Glass used lethal force that was not consistent with that of a reasonable officer.

Four Colorado state governments will each pay parts of the newly announced settlement with the Glass family to reach the record amount. In addition to the funds, the family will also receive assurances that the state and its police agencies are enacting measures to ensure a similar incident doesnt occur again.

As part of its statement on Tuesday, the Clear Creek County Board of Commissioners wrote: The Countys Emergency Medical Services and Human Services Divisions were directed to research and implement a mental health crisis co-responder program. The pilot for this program will launch this summer with grant funds and staffing secured by the Board.

We are also pursuing a partnership with a regional communications center that already has extensive experience with co-responder programs, training, and protocols in place to effectively differentiate between mental health crises and public safety concerns.

It concluded: We understand that no amount of money can bring Christian back or ease his familys pain. Christians killing never should have happened, and the Board is unanimously committed to doing its part to ensure that a reprehensible act like this is prevented from ever happening again.
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In 2014, Francesca Williams moved her family from Colorado to a remote valley in Ecuador famous for the longevity of its residents to pursue their dream of building their version of Shangri-La.

She and her husband Michael paid about $10,000 for a 10-acre plot of land on the side of a mountain just outside Vilcabamba to raise chickens, goats, horses, pigs, ducks and guinea fowl on a sustainable farm with their three daughters.

It was a life they never could have afforded in the United States, but after years of hard work was starting to come to fruition, Francescas mother Marianna Benedict-Bacilla, 61, told The Independent in an interview.

Francesca, a gifted artist, linguist, translator and published childrens author, threw her boundless energy into making the farm a success, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

When Michael would travel back to the US for work, Francesca would remain in Ecuador with their three teenage daughters Rebekah, 19, Rachel, 17, and Renee, 14, and her elderly father John to tend to the animals and plant crops.

On 20 May, that idyllic life was shattered when at least four men armed with rifles burst onto the farm and shot Francesca dead.

The attack was sudden, and extremely violent. The men knocked out Michael before he even realised they were on the property, and stabbed Williams elderly and infirm father John when he tried to intervene.

Ms Benedict-Bacilla said Francesca had been hanging out the washing when she saw the assailants attack her father, and rushed to help him.

Francesca gave her life trying to save her fathers, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

My daughter was petite, but she guarded her family ferociously. She always knew if there was ever a problem, nothing would get in the way.

Francesca Williams, left, with husband Michael, centre front, father John, and their three children Rachel, Renee and Rebekah (GoFundme)

Rachel, their middle daughter, told Colorado news site KDVR in an interview last week that she had seen her mother scrambling after a man trying to fight him off.

Then she saw two sparks of a gun as the assailant fired at her mother. Her older sister ran to a neighbours for help.

The stick up crew tied up Michael, John, and two of the daughters, and locked them in separate rooms throughout the house before making off with wallets, iPads and computers.

It was horrendous. They were essentially hostages in their own home, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

Rachel recalled hearing the men asking in Spanish for the large aunt, and thought they might have targeted their home by mistake.

It was only when Michael managed to untie his hands about an hour later that he found his wifes body, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

After neighbours arrived to help, Michael put Francesca in the car and raced down the mountain to meet the ambulance, where Francesca was pronounced dead.

John was transported to the hospital, and Michael was treated on scene. The girls were physically unharmed.

We were very humble people, we dont understand why we were targeted, Michael told San Diegos KGTV.

Francescas death has torn open the familys generational trauma from the 1967 unsolved murder of her aunt Nikki Benedict who was stabbed to death walking home from school aged 14, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

Everything was taken from them

Three years before her death, Francesca Williams had written of her fears of home invasion and violent crime in her adopted home on the knowledge-sharing website Quora.

Asked about Ecuadorean stereotypes, Williams said she had been told of the high risk of robberies prior to moving there.

We have not experienced this as of yet, but live in constant awareness of this danger, she said.

I know many, many foreigners who have experienced home invasion robberies and I would not have come here if I had any idea of how close to home such attacks would be. It is essential that one have intimidating dogs and bars on ones windows.

Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent the family had been especially on edge after an expat neighbour was shot dead trying to repel a home invasion.

The gunmens modus operandi in that case was eerily similar to the attack that killed Francesca, she said.

The homeowner had confronted a group of assailants as they tried to break in, and was shot dead. Ms Benedict-Bacilla believes they could be the same group that targeted her family.

The family are holding out hope of finding justice for Francesca, but say not enough is being done to make the town safe for the vibrant community of artists and retirees who have made it their home.

The government isnt putting any effort into investigating the things that happen there, she told The Independent.

She said the local police were doing their best. But they dont give them the resources that they need and these murders arent being investigated.

Francesca Williams, left, with her mother Marianna Benedict-Bacilla on her wedding day. Williams was killed in a home invasion on her farm in Ecuador on 20 May (Courtesy of Marianna Benedict-Bacilla)

No suspects have been identified in either killing. The local Vilcabamba police force was doing what it could, she said, but without the support of the Ecuadorean National Police there seemed to be little chance of finding the killers.

The Policia Nacional del Ecuador did not respond to numerous requests for comment about the investigation. It has barely received any mention in the Ecuadorean press.

In a statement, a US State Department spokesperson told The Independent: We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.

We are in contact with the family and are providing all appropriate consular assistance.

We refer you to the government of Ecuador for information regarding any local investigation.

State Department figures show 15 US citizens were murdered in Ecuador between 2010 and June 2022, but its unclear if those figures capture recent attacks around Vilcabamba.

Francescas family have taken little comfort from the Ecuadorean authorities response, and will not be returning, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

Everything was taken from them.

The Valley of Longevity

In expat forums, adopted residents have spoken out about the impotence of the local police force to combat a rising tide of rape, home invasion and murder against the foreigners who have made Vilcabamba their home.

In response, local expat communities have formed neighbourhood security groups, and any disturbances are quickly shared through WhatsApp groups.

The town, situated in the lower Ecuadorean Andes near the border with Peru, gained worldwide attention in the 1970s, when Harvard professor Alexander Leaf travelled there to report on claims that residents were living to the age of 130 for National Geographic.

The subtropical valleys year-round spring climate, crystal-clear water, pollution-free air and abundance of produce supposedly supposedly allowed the male residents to continue to carry out manual labour and conceive children until well past 100.

The sustainable farm near Vilcabamba, Ecuador, where Francesca Williams and her family were building a new life (Courtesy of Marianna Benedict-Bacilla)

The area, known as The Valley of Longevity, became inundated with gerontologists who wanted to know more about how that delicate balance of good genes and healthy natural environment was prolonging lives.

They later grew sceptical about some of the residents claims when they were unable to produce credible birth records.

But that didnt stop a large number of expats moving there to buy property over the years, gentrifying the area, and sometimes bringing them into conflict with the locals who still worked the fields for a few hundred dollars per month.

By 2007, that global fame was harming Vilcabambas local community, according to a Reuters report.

These days, the famous elders of Vilcabamba are dying at a younger age, the result of the stresses of modern life brought by the scores of tourists and health buffs who flock here in search of eternal youth, Reuters wrote.

Generational trauma

In May 1967, Ms Benedict-Bacillas sister Nikki Benedict was stabbed to death while she walked home from her friends house in Poway, near San Diego, aged just 14.

She suffered knife wounds to the neck and chest in the brazen daylight attack and was found bleeding to death in a field. The murder has never been solved.

Their mother had been the editor of the local newspaper at the time, and had to write an article about her own daughters death, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

Nikki Benedict, the aunt of Francesca Williams, was murdered in 1967 in Poway, California, at the age of 14. It remains unsolved (Supplied)

Ms Benedict-Bacilla was five at the time, and the tragedy, and lack of answers about what had happened defined her childhood, she said.

It was all I ever knew, she said. Weve had so much family tragedy. You dont heal, you just get stronger.

Ms Benedict-Bacilla runs the Nikki Benedict Memorial Page Facebook group, and speaks out every anniversary of her death to keep focus on solving the heinous killing.

As a way of dealing with her own psychological wounds, Ms Benedict-Bacilla became a volunteer with the San Diego Trauma Intervention Program.

She likens the kind of generational trauma that her family suffered after Nikkis murder to a cancer that can never fully heal, but can only be managed through finding strength in keeping their loved ones memory alive.

She had seen Francesca grow up in the shadow of that trauma, and took comfort from the fact that her granddaughters would be one generation removed from it.

They stole (Francescas) future, and they stole her childrens future. It will be part of them now because thats how generational trauma works, she told The Independent.

A quest for knowledge

Francesca Williams excelled at anything she turned her hand to, Ms Benedict-Bacilla told The Independent.

She was an extraordinarily gifted person, just mega-smart, Ms Benedict-Bacilla said.

Coming from four generations of journalists and editors, Francesca Williams wanted to be a writer from an early age, her mother said.

But when it was time to choose a major, she opted to study linguistics at the University of California, San Diego. She was fluent in French and Lithuanian, her great-grandmothers home tongue.

Mother of three Francesca Williams, 44, had studied languages at university (Facebook)

Francesca and Michael had known each other since childhood. After marrying, they moved from Poway, to Hawaii and Alaska, in search of a healthy and affordable place to raise their children.

They later moved to Kremmling, Colorado, where Michael worked in telecommunications, before moving to Ecuador, where they were able to purchase land.

Francesca hadnt known Spanish prior to moving to Ecuador, and within a year she was fluent and carrying out legal transcriptions, her mother said.

She had also recently published her first illustrated childrens book, The Kings Magic, and was a brilliant artist on any medium, her mother says.

Anything she touched she turned into beautiful art. A lot of people who are that bright can get into trouble in life, she put it all into a quest for knowledge.

Francescas body was returned to the US last week, but the family are still trying to get their beloved Corgi Banksy home.

Her funeral was held in Colorado on Saturday 3 June. A GoFundme page has been set up to help the family.
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Police in Richmond, Virginia, responded on Tuesday to a shooting that took place during a high school graduation ceremony on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Seven people were shot in the incident, leaving with three people life-threatening injuries and four with non-life-threatening injuries, Richmond interim police chief Rick Edwards said during a press conference on Tuesday. Two people were killed in the shooting, WRIC reports, and children were among those wounded in the incident, according to the outlet.

Five others went to the hospital with other injuries, he added. Bystanders also sustained injuries fleeing the shooting, including individuals who fell and someone who was struck by a car.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the violence, Mr Edwards said.

According to the universitys safety alert system, shots were fired on the Monroe Park campus after 5pm Eastern time, near the Altria Theater.

Children were involved here ... this is their graduation day, Richmond mayor Levar Stoney said on Tuesday. The question that comes to my mind right now is, is nothing sacred any longer? Is nothing sacred any longer?

This does have to stop. We know where it starts, lieutenant governor Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears said on Tuesday, speaking to reporters from campus. If I had the accountability and the responsibility, this wouldnt keep happening. The peope who are elected here, theyre in charge. They must make that adjustment so that this, the shooting, doesnt keep happening.

Three off-duty officers were inside the theatre and heard gunshots around 5.13pm, running outside and encountering the victims.

VCU police said on Tuesday theres no ongoing threat to the public.

Multiple injuries reported. There is no immediate threat to the public, the Richmond Police Department tweeted on Tuesday. Avoid the area.

The shooting took place outside of Huguenot High Schools graduation ceremony, Richmond Public Schools told the station.

Jason Alexander, whose son was part of the graduation ceremony, told NBC12 the shooting sounded like fireworks and sent crowds scattering outside the theater.

The man says he saw multiple injured and estimates he heard eight to 10 shots fired.

It just dont make no sense, another bystander told the station. Were supposed to be happy about people. Were supposed to be supporting one another, loving on another, hugging one another. Come on now. I just think its bad. We have to do better.

The man told the station one of his daughters friends was among the wounded.

Everyone literally started running for their lives, a witness told 8News.

The incident occured close to the end of the ceremony, witnesses told WTVR.

This is heartbreaking, congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. My staff & I are closely monitoring this situation. Praying for the safety of everyone involved. I encourage everyone who can to avoid the area.

Bystander video of the shooting from bystanders shows throngs of people running across the campus green after the shooting.

Virginia state police and Richmond police enforcement officers are on campus investigating.

Police were seen by local reporters searching a car near the campus.

Richard Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday following the shooting, school officials wrote on the RPS website.
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An agent integral to spy Robert Hanssens capture has said the former FBI agent had blood on his hands  and that Hanssens death in prison this week left a chapter in his own life unresolved.

Eric ONeill, a so-called spycatcher who helped take down the career traitor, tweeted on Monday: BREAKING: I just heard that the FBIs most damaging spy Robert Hanssen, code name: Gray Day, passed away in his jail cell today. This closes the door on a huge moment in my life. I had hoped to confront him one last time, face to face.

The former agent continued: I had hoped to meet with #RobertHanssen one last time in his cell at Supermax in Colorado. With his death this morning, I wont be able to fully resolve the impact this spy had on my life.

A great lesson to never delay important actions, tweeted Mr ONeill, who authored 2019s Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose Americas First Cyber Spy. The future is always uncertain. I had hoped to one day revise the final chapter of Gray Day with a conversation with the spy who was one of the most influential people in my life.

Mr ONeill had been just 26 years old when his FBI bosses assigned him to work undercover as an assistant for Hanssen, who had become the focus of a long-term search for a mole within the agency. Hanssen, a conservative father of six, had been passing secrets to the Russians for 22 years by the time he was caught by the FBI.

He was found dead in his cell in Colorado on Monday at the age of 79.

Following news of his death, the International Spy Museum in Washington DC tweeted a photo of an electronic device thats on display within its walls.

Former FBI operative Eric ONeill @eoneill worked undercover as Robert Hanssens aide. His mission? To expose his boss as a Russian spy, the museum tweeted. ONeill acquired Hanssens PalmPilot which held an encrypted dead drop schedule... the smoking gun needed to take down Hanssen.

Mr ONeill also called attention to the device on Twitter on Tuesday, sharing a picture of a PalmPilot used in the 2007 movie Breach, which was based upon the thriller-esque true tale of Hanssens espionage and capture.

Hanssen was arrested on 18 February 2001 after leaving a dead drop location at a suburban Virginia park.

The spy, Mr ONeill tweeted on Tuesday, was directly responsible for deaths of our sources in Russia.

Hanssen certainly had blood on his hands. In 1984 and 1985 (what we call the year of the spy) Hanssen and Aldrich Ames are responsible for the loss of every asset we developed in Russia. We were blind.

When asked by a Twitter user about the cause of Hanssens death, he answered: Natural causes. He was 79 years old and Supermax is a horrible place.
 Close Seven shot, at least two dead at high school graduation in Richmond

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Amari Pollard, the 19-year-old suspect in the gun attack on a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, was arraigned on Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of second-degree murder, according to the Richmond Police Department (RPD).

Seven people were shot in the incident on Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Monroe Park campus on Tuesday afternoon, with Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather Lorenzo Smith, 36, dying of their injuries.

I didnt know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died, Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras told CNN on Wednesday. I cant shake the image of him receiving CPR on the ground, still in his graduation gown.

The outburst of gunfire caused a stampede as graduates and guests attempted to flee the vicinity, a moment of panic captured in at least one video subsequently posted to Facebook. The Richmond Police Department told The Independent in a statement that detectives have determined the shootings were not a random act but resulted from an ongoing dispute between Mr Pollard and Jackson.

This should not be happening anywhere, lamented city mayor Levar Stoney.

Whether its in Richmond, its in Virginia, in the United States this should not be happening anywhere. A child should be able to go to their graduation and walk at their graduation and enjoy the accomplishment with their friends and their families.
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A New York writer who won a $5 million jury verdict against ex-President Donald Trump cant win a pending defamation lawsuit against him because the jury agreed with Trump that he never raped her, his lawyers told a judge Monday.

The lawyers urged Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to reject columnist E. Jean Carrolls bid to win $10 million or more in a second judgment by rewriting the 4-year-old lawsuit against Trump to conform with the findings of the jury that last month concluded Trump sexually abused Carroll but did not rape her.

The lawsuit was filed after Carroll said in a 2019 memoir for the first time publicly that Trump attacked her in the dressing room of a midtown Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The lawsuit has been stalled because the U.S. Justice Department wants to substitute the United States for Trump as the defendant on the grounds that he was acting in his capacity as a president when he spoke on the issue in response to questions by reporters in 2019.

After the civil jury concluded Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll with comments last fall and awarded $5 million in damages, lawyers for Carroll, 79, asked Kaplan to amend the original defamation lawsuit to seek $10 million in compensatory damages and very substantial punitive damages.

They also sought to add defamation claims to the original lawsuit, citing comments Trump, 76, made at a CNN town hall shortly after the jury verdict.

Trump's lawyers wrote that the jury verdict favors Trump's position in the pending lawsuit that he never defamed Carroll by claiming that he never raped her because the jury rejected the rape claim at trial. Trump, who never attended the trial, is appealing the jury verdict.

Kaplan must decide whether to accept the rewrite of the original defamation claim and Carroll's assertion that the pending defamation case could go straight to the penalty phase of a trial because a jury had already concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll. He also must decide whether the United States can be substituted as the defendant in place of Trump, which would effectively nullify the action.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, said in a statement Monday in response to the filing by Trump's attorneys that the jury verdict supported the claims in the pending lawsuit.

A unanimous jury found that Donald Trump inserted his fingers into E. Jean Carrolls vagina against her will and then defamed her when he said that he did not know who E. Jean Carroll was, that he had never met her at Bergdorf Goodman, and that she had made the whole story up as part of a con job or hoax," Kaplan said.

"Contrary to Donald Trumps latest arguments, the jurys verdict makes complete sense  because the jury believed E. Jean Carroll when she testified that Trump had sexually abused her, it concluded that Trump knowingly lied about Ms. Carroll when he later claimed otherwise, she added.
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Survivors of Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking ring have written to JPMorgan Chases top executives pleading with them to admit what they knew about the paedophiles offending, as the banking giant faces two lawsuits alleging it was complicit in financing the decades-long scheme.

The US Virgin Islands and several Epstein victims are suing JPMorgan in federal court in New York for allegedly turning a blind eye to the late financiers sex-trafficking and abuse of underage girls.

CEO Jamie Dimon was questioned under oath last month where he denied having any contact with Epstein or even having heard of the disgraced paedophile until after his arrest in 2019, according to a transcript of the deposition.

Mr Dimon also testified during the deposition that he didnt recall receiving a letter from one of Epsteins victims, but said he had enormous sympathy for them and was prepared to make a personal apology.

The survivor who wrote to Mr Dimon was Haley Robson, who was a high school student when she was recruited by Epstein, the Daily Beast revealed after obtaining a copy of her letter.

Dear Jamie Dimon, I cannot begin to explain how Epstein has consumed my life, Ms Robson, who has previously spoken out about the abuse, wrote.

I cannot make you see, force you to feel or even request that you show compassion to all the survivors.

I dont understand how so many people, colleagues, knew what was going on, or had evidence and information that could have helped us, and chose not to speak up, she said.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon denied having heard of Epstein until after his arrest in 2019 at a deposition last week (Associated Press)

Ms Robson went on to reference a smear campaign by Epsteins attorneys against the victims after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from young girls in 2008.

Why did we all get picked apart publicly when the reality is you and many more knew something and didnt speak up? she asked.

If you are a good human you will just admit to making a mistake and be the first to try to do what is right to end this chapter on a positive note for all of us.

Another survivor, Courtney Wild, wrote to JPMorgan executive Mary Erdoes last month asking her to support the victims quest for justice, the Daily Beast reported.

Ms Wild wrote that she believed JPMorgan was Epsteins right hand man in allowing him to become the most abusive sex offender in history.

Haley Robson wrote to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon asking him to admit what he knew about Epsteins abuse (Netflix)

Yet, rather than acknowledging a wrong doing, accepting responsibility, making an apology to all of us, and doing what is right, I understand that JP Morgan has unleashed an army of lawyers to torture the victims who brought the cases and put them through even more pain and suffering, she wrote.

Does nobody at JP Morgan have a conscience?

Another unnamed victim wrote to Ms Erdoes last year about how she was abused by Epstein during a job interview.

Ms Erdoes, JPMorgans asset and wealth management CEO, sat for a deposition in April in the lawsuit in April, where she testified that she had visited Epsteins townhouse twice and exchanged emails and phone calls with him.

She admitted being aware of accusations against Epstein as early as 2006, seven years before JPMorgan cut ties with him.

The US Virgin Islands lawsuit alleges that JPMorgans Rapid Response Team raised red flags as early as 2006 that Epstein was making cash withdrawals of between $40,000 and $80,000 several times each month, totalling over $750,000 per year.

In March, a judge ruled that both the USVI and victims lawsuits could proceed, and ordered JPMorgan to hand over its records on Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein (PA Media)

JPMorgan has sought to blame former executive Jes Staley, who had close ties to Epstein, and filed a so-called third-party complaint against him claiming he was solely liable.

A JPMorgan spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.

Epstein died aged 66 in a Manhattan detention facility while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and abuse charges.

His death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner.

The lawsuits claim that JPMorgan concealed wire and cash transactions that were part of a criminal enterprise whose currency was for the sexual servitude of dozens of women and girls in and beyond the Virgin Islands.

Deutsche Bank last month paid $75m to settle a lawsuit brought by Epsteins victims alleging it had been complicit in his offending.
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A judge in DC federal court has asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to decide within a week how it will handle a Freedom of Information request from the conservative Heritage Foundation for the immigration records of the Duke of Sussex.

DHS has so far not responded to the request, prompting legal action from the foundation, in which they pointed to Prince Harrys previous admissions of drug use, such as in his memoir Spare.

The department argued that an injunction to force DHS to expedite the request shouldnt go ahead as the foundation hasnt shown how they will suffer irreparable harm if the information isnt shared.

Representing the government, Assistant US Attorney John Bardo argued on Tuesday that it wouldnt make a difference when the request was handled, even if the response came a year from now.

The Heritage Foundation said the interest in Prince Harrys immigration status would wait.

Large parts of the hearing centred on the amount of media attention on Prince Harry and his supposed drug use which some legal experts say would have barred him from entering the US.

The Heritage Foundation has suggested that the federal government may have been engaging in favouritism and may have turned a blind eye to actions which may have caused the authorities to reject the visa application. The foundation also argued that the public should be allowed to see Prince Harrys immigration records to see if he may have provided untruthful answers.

Mr Bardo argued that sufficient coverage from mainstream US media was required for a request to be expedited. He mentioned outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and the TV networks.

Heritage lawyer Samuel Dewey meanwhile argued in front of Judge Carl Nichols that DHS regulations simply say media without specifying where the outlets are based.

Mr Dewey told The Independent that you can't define mainstream. That's almost absurd in this context. So as a policy matter, that is a very alarming statement for the press and for transparency for the administration.

Nile Gardiner, the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the foundation, added: I do find it astonishing that the British press is referenced as obscure.

These are big publications with a wide global reach including millions of Americans who read these newspapers and I find it absolutely astonishing this description today [that theres] some media that actually count and matter and others that do not. That is an extraordinary statement to make and absolutely unacceptable, he added.

Mr Dewey argued in court that todays media is global, noting that The Daily Mail had 100 million page views in the US in the month of April.

At the Tuesday hearing, Judge Nichols gave DHS a deadline of Tuesday next week  13 June  to outline via email if it will expedite the request or provide a response.

Three agencies within DHS, including USCIS and US Customs and Border Protection, have rejected the FOIA request, but DHS HQ has so far not responded, with Mr Bardo saying during the hearing that no search for the files has been conducted at DHS HQ.

DHS said in legal filings that the US Customs and Border Protection denied the requests because Prince Harry hasnt consented to the release of the files, with Mr Bardo saying in court that an individuals visa is confidential.

Speaking to reporters outside the DC federal courthouse, Mr Dewey said that Prince Harry had foregone his right to privacy after his series of highly publicised interviews and Netflix documentary series.

Mr Dewey argued in court that the case is part of a larger probe into the conduct of the federal government, specifically into DHS supposedly not following the law in other areas of its responsibilities, such as not protecting the US border with Mexico.

What are we asking for here? Mr Dewey told reporters outside the courthouse. We are only asking for the records that are related to this question that has been raised about the drug use and admission ... he's talked about it, he's written about it extensively, he has waived any privacy interest he has in his drug use, he has bragged about it in Spare and sold that.

We are calling for accountability, transparency and openness from the Biden presidency, Dr Gardner said. We believe there is a tremendous public interest in the release of these records in order to establish that US immigration law is fair, [that] it applies equally to everyone.

It is our view, definitely, that the public needs to see these ... documents and [what] exactly what Prince Harry put down on his application, especially in relation to his widespread drug use admitted to in Spare, he added.

Dr Gardner said the foundation wants to establish whether or not any favours were granted to Prince Harry, whether there was a preferential treatment given to Prince Harry in any way.

The director of the Oversight Project at The Heritage Foundation, Mike Howell, told reporters after the hearing that the everyday American is absolutely sick and tired of globalist elites lecturing us, looking down at us, dominating our cultural institutions, and no one proves that point more than Prince Harry.

They're also sick and tired of a broken immigration system, one that we see a dual standard at play every single day, he added.

Prince Harry wrote in Spare that cocaine didnt do anything for me.

Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me, he added.

Also on Tuesday, Prince Harry was giving evidence in his phone hacking trial in London against the publisher of a UK tabloid.
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The son of a late Second World War American intelligence spy has warned about the catastrophic consequences of extremism and Nazi rhetoric.

A week after Adolf Hitler fatally shot himself and as the Allies officially recognised Germanys unconditional surrender of its military forces, Richard Helms managed to find Hitlers stationery to send a letter that is now displayed at the CIAs private museum.

The man who might have written on this card once controlled Europe  three short years ago when you were born, Helms, an American spy with the Office of Strategic Services, wrote in the 8 May 1945 letter addressed to his then three-year-old son Dennis. Today he is dead, his memory despised, his country in ruins.

Seventy-eight years after Helms penned the letter to mark Victory in Europe Day, his son is speaking up against the harmful rhetoric that cost millions of lives during the Second World War and is still being used by extremist groups in the US and the world.

Those people have no idea, the history and foulness of that, Dennis Helms told The Guardian, noting that the vast political divide in America has been used to further push those dangerous ideologies. There can be nothing thats worse  I cant say enough bad about that.

In the less-than-100-word letter, Helms conveyed the magnitude of the atrocities committed by the Nazi party but also gave an insight into a world of possibilities that opened up upon Hitlers defeat.

Helms, who went on to become the CIA director from 1966 to 1973, also noted that millions of Jews paid with their lives for that new beginning.

[Hitler] had a thirst for power, a low opinion of men as an individual and a fear of intellectual honesty. He was a force for evil in the world, he wrote. His passing, his defeat  a boom to mankind. But thousands died that it might be so. The price of ridding society of bad is always high ... Love, Daddy.

OSS spy Richard Helms sent a heartfelt letter to his then-three-year-old son Dennis to mark Victory Day in Europe (CIA/US Government)

Picture dated 06 August 1973 of Richard M. Helms, in Washington, D.C., testifying in front of the Watergate commission (CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP v)

The progress that Helms likely envisioned has seen setbacks as white supremacism continues to be a problem today, his son told The Guardian. That type of rhetoric has been behind an alarming number of violent attacks in America in recent years.

Just last month, a white supremacist opened fire at a Texas mall, killing eight people, including three children.

Mr Helms, now 80, said that certain political figures, most notably Republican primary candidate Donald Trump, have fostered an environment of hate and spitefulness, despite publicly denouncing white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

He lies all the time, he cheats, Mr Helms told The Guardian, adding that his father just rotates in his grave when Mr Trump goes on his hate-filled rants. I think that he is a guy who has none of the values that my father did.

Mr Helms said white supremacist rhetoric is extremely harmful. Just last month, a white supremacist opened fire at an Allen, Texas mall, killing three children and five adults (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Mr Helms also condemned Kanye West for defending Hitlers regime and posting an image of a swastika inside the Star of David on Twitter. Hate, Mr Helms remarked, can be devastating and has no place in the post-war world that many like his late father fought for.

There is no excuse for that, he said. Not that there ever was.
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A one-year-old child has drowned in a bucket of water at home.

Little Perola Isadora reportedly fell into the water-filled container while playing. She was found by her mother who was doing housework at their home.

The toddler was also with her sister when the tragedy happened in Jupi, northeast of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 4 June.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body was taken to the Legal Medical Institute in Caruaru to undergo an autopsy.

(Jam Press)

The Civil Police said the toddler was found inside a bucket full of water and registered the case as a death to be clarified.

It is unknown if the water bucket contained bleach or any other cleaning products.

A police spokesperson stated: An investigation has already been opened to establish all the facts. Steps have already been initiated and we will continue until everything is clear.

In a statement on 5 June, the Jupi Government paid tribute to the girl.

A spokesperson said: The municipality of Jupi offers our most sincere condolences and shares the pain of family members and friends.

The investigation into the death of the young girl, who attended the Tia Dora Nursery School, is ongoing.
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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged a reporters question concerning extraterrestrial life, referring the query to the Pentagon during the White House press briefing on Tuesday 6 June.

The question was related to a recent report from a whistleblower who claims the US government has concealed physical evidence of non-human origin craft from Congress and filed a complaint for alleged retaliation.

The reporter asked Ms Jean-Pierre: This whistleblower report alleging that the US militarys been retrieving craft of non-human origin for at least several decades. Are we alone? And if we were not, would you even tell us?

In response, Ms Jean-Pierre said she would refer that question to the Department of Defense and let them answer that.

The whistleblower, David Charles Grusch, is an Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office.

Mr Grusch served as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys senior technical adviser for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) analysis with Top Secret/Secret Compartmented Information clearance, according to The Debrief.

He claims during his time on the UAP task force, he was refused access to a materials recovery programme that included physical evidence of crafts. He believes the materials recovery programme was shielded from proper congressional oversight.

These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, Mr Grusch told NewsNation this week.

Mr Grusch told The Debrief that he chose to share the classified information, confidentially to the Department of Defense Inspector General, but that his identity was somehow disclosed.

Now, hes filed a whistleblower complaint, alleging that he suffered retaliation for disclosing the confidential information.

The Independent has reached out to the Intelligence Community Inspector General for comment regarding the whistleblower complaint.

Sue Gough, a spokesperson for the DOD said in a statement provided to The Independent that to date the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) does not have any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) investigates unidentified flying objects and other phenomena in the air, sea, land or space.

Ms Gough said the AARO is committed to following the data and its investigation wherever it leads adding that they are working with the Office of the General Counsel and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to establish a safe and secure process for individuals ot come forward with information to aid AARO in its congressionally-mandated historical review.

AARO welcomes the opportunity to speak with any former or current government employee or contractor who believes they have information relevant to the historical review, Ms Gough added.
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Myanmars Supreme Court has agreed to hear a special appeal of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyis bribery conviction for allegedly receiving gold and thousands of dollars from a former political ally, legal officials said Tuesday.

Suu Kyi, 77, was arrested when the army toppled her elected government in February 2021, and was tried on a range of charges for which she was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison. Her supporters and independent legal experts say the cases were politically motivated in an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys takeover while preventing her from returning to politics.

Two legal officials familiar with Suu Kyis cases said the Supreme Court decided last Friday to hear the special appeal of the corruption case, in which she was convicted of receiving $600,000 and seven gold bars in 2017-18 from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, the countrys biggest city. She was sentenced to five years in prison in April last year after being found guilty of bribery. Her lawyers, before they were served with gag orders in late 2021, said she rejected all the corruption allegations against her as absurd.

The legal officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release information about the courts decision, said it has not yet scheduled a date for the appeal hearing. Her lawyers initial appeal of the conviction to the Supreme Court was rejected last November.

In April, the Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals of Suu Kyis convictions in five other corruption cases, and requests for reduced sentences in cases in which she was accused of breaching the official secrets act and election fraud. The dates for the hearings for those appeals have also not been set.

Suu Kyi has been convicted on a range of charges, including illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, sedition, breaching the secrets act and election fraud, as well as corruption. Most appeals filed by her lawyers on her behalf have already been rejected.

Suu Kyis legal team has faced several handicaps, including being unable to meet with her to receive her instructions as they prepare her appeals. They have applied at least three times for permission to meet with Suu Kyi since they last saw her in person in December, but have not received any response, one of the legal officials said.

The armys 2021 ouster of Suu Kyi triggered widespread peaceful protests that were crushed with deadly force and evolved into armed resistance.
 Close Chris Christie lays into Trump at 2024 campaign launch

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Chris Christie is punching back at Donald Trump after the former president responded to his campaign announcement with a juvenile video edit making fun of Mr Christies weight.

The former New Jersey governor appeared on CNN on Wednesday after launching his campaign with a town hall event at St Anselm College a night earlier in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Its so juvenile. He is such a spoiled baby, Mr Christie said.

This is the second time Mr Christie has made a bid for the White House, the first being in 2016 when he lost to former president Donald Trump.

Though Mr Christie lent his support to Mr Trump in 2016 when he dropped out of the race, he has since changed his opinion of the former president and become a vocal critic.

That was evident on Tuesday, as he denounced his former ally as a corrupt narcissist and vowed to draw blood in his quest for the Republican nomination. He did so several times during the town hall event, notably by tearing into the former presidents family for breathtaking levels of corruption and grift, which he said had followed them through the White House and beyond.
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Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has filed paperwork to launch his 2024 presidential bid.

Mr Christie, who faces long odds in the competition for the GOP nomination, is expected to formally kick off his campaign during a town hall in New Hampshire.

Mr Christie plans to focus on the Granite State, an early primary state that he hopes will help give his campaign momentum. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, leads the increasingly crowded GOP field. But Mr Christie will look to position himself as a more moderate alternative to Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently launched his own GOP presidential bid.

At one point, Mr Christie appeared to be in the running for an administration post in Mr Trumps government, rumoured to be a top contender for the positions of attorney general or potentially secretary of state. But the former governor has since become a vocal critic of the former president, who faces criminal charges in New York City and the prospect of additional charges at the federal level and in Georgia.

In the days immediately following January 6, he urged his fellow Republicans to impeach the president for whom he had once considered working, on the grounds of inciting an insurrection  a highly serious charge that ended up going further than even the select committee formed to investigate the attack would later recommend in its referral to the Department of Justice.

Just as recently as March, the ex-governor was laying out what he believed was necessary to stop Mr Trump from attaining the GOP nomination, something many in the partys donor class are hoping to avoid given the presidents performance in 2020 and the woeful showing by the Republican Party in the 2022 midterms.

You better have somebody on that stage who can do to him what I did to Marco [Rubio], because that's the only thing that's gonna defeat Donald Trump, he said at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. And that means you have to be fearless, because he will come back, and right at you.

His comments referred to the infamous moment during a February 2016 Republican debate wherein Mr Christie battled a then-surging Senator Marco Rubio onstage  in a series of brutal takedowns, the governor deconstructed his opponents debating approach and eviscerated it, leaving the crowd jeering as the senator attempted to respond.

It was a moment that quickly cemented itself in political debating history, but ultimately proved next to meaningless given that both men would be utterly overwhelmed in the contest by another man on the stage that night: Donald Trump.

And it remains unclear whether that same mastery of the debate stage demonstrated by Mr Christie will serve him well against Mr Trump. In one famous instance from the 2020 contests, Mr Trump bullied his way through an initial debate with now-President Joe Biden, talking over his opponent and ignoring the rules and moderator.

Matching Mr Trumps energy both onstage and off has turned into a major challenge for Republicans, including both those who seek to end his dominance of the GOP and those who wish to emulate his style for their own gain.

Though Mr Christie is a veteran of the presidential campaign universe, his chances of winning the GOP nomination are slim. He is currently polling around 1 percent in surveys of the Republican field which include him; the vast majority of voters are currently aligned behind Mr Trump and his second-place challenger, Floridas Ron DeSantis.
 Close Defiant Donald Trump attacks nasty Pence and deranged special consul Jack Smith

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Former president Donald Trump gave defiant speeches at two Republican state conventions on Saturday in Georgia and North Carolina, just one day after he was indicted for keeping highly-classified information at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

The 49-page, 38-count indictment was unsealed after Mr Trump released a series of social media posts revealing that he has been indicted by a grand jury under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The indictment details the charges against Mr Trump and Walt Nauta, a former US Navy noncommissioned officer who left government service to work for Mr Trump after his term ended in January 2021.

The former president has fumed online about the charges and lashed out at Mr Smith calling him a deranged lunatic. The special counsel for his part gave a brief explanation of the sweeping indictment and reiterated that in America, the law applies to everyone.

Mr Trump repeated his attacks on Mr Smith onstage in Georgia before flying up to his second event. On the flight, he told Politico he would not quit the 2024 primary race even if convicted.

Meanwhile, Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon will remain on the case unless she recuses herself.
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A federal judge has partially struck down Floridas ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, in a ruling that condemns anti-trans bigotry and debunks bogus claims from state officials.

The ruling from US District Court Judge Robert Hinkle on 6 June grants a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of a law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and rules that prevent a group of trans youth who sued the state from accessing widely accepted care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, as their legal challenge plays out.

A decision from Judge Hinkle, who was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton, follows a lawsuit against the states surgeon general from a group of Florida families with trans children, who argued that the state could not demonstrate any rational basis, much less an important or compelling one, for the transgender medical bans which prevent transgender adolescents from getting safe and effective medically necessary healthcare.

Judge Hinkles ruling eviscerates the states arguments and points to discriminatory language and bigotry that have fuelled Floridas rules as well as similar legislation across the country, condemning the unspoken suggestion running just below the surface in some of the proceedings that led to adoption of the statute and rules at issue  and just below the surface in the testimony of some of the defense experts  is that transgender identity is not real, that it is made up.

The elephant in the room should be noted at the outset. Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear. The medical defendants, speaking through their attorneys, have admitted it, the judge wrote.

Any proponent of the challenged statute and rules should put up or shut up: do you acknowledge that there are individuals with actual gender identities opposite their natal sex, or do you not? Dog whistles ought not be tolerated, he added.

The judge said widely accepted standards of care supported by major health organisations and physicians and the great weight of medical authority supports affirming healthcare, and that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in the case on their claim that a prohibition against such care is unconstitutional.

The judges order also slams Floridas dubious claims regarding transition regret and false statements that the state joined international consensus against affirming healthcare.

This assertion is false. No matter how many times the defendants say it, it will still be false, he wrote. No country in Europe entirely bans these treatments.

Jane Doe, who joined the lawsuit on behalf of herself and trans daughter Susan, said in a statement that the family is breathing a huge sigh of relief following the ruling.

My husband and I have been heartbroken and worried sick about not being able to care for our daughter in the way we know she needs, she said. Im sure most any parent can imagine the sense of powerlessness that comes from being unable to do something as basic as get medical care for your child.

The families are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.

A statement from the groups supporting the families said the ruling is a powerful affirmation of the humanity of transgender people, the efficacy of well-established, science-based medical care, and of the rights of parents to make informed healthcare decisions for their children.

The Independent has requested comment from Floridas Department of Health.

By the end of May, state lawmakers across the country had introduced more than 500 bills impacting LGBT+ this year, including 220 bills specifically targeting trans and nonbinary Americans, according to an analysis from the Human Rights Campaign. More than 70 such bills have been signed into law.

At least 19 states have enacted laws or policies banning affirming healthcare for young trans people, all against the guidance of health providers and major medical organisations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Rep Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution to hold a former New York City prosecutor in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify about charges against former president Donald Trump.

The resolution requests that Mark Pomerantz, who worked in the New York County District Attorneys office before resigning, be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

Mr Pomerantz had previously been tapped to serve in the district attorneys office by its previous occupant Cyrus Vance to investigate former Mr Trump. But Mr Pomerantz quit his position last March under current District Attorney Alvin Bragg and then authored a book that claimed that Mr Bragg backed off indicting Mr Trump despite the fact the indictment had been authorised by Mr Vance.

Mr Braggs office later indicted Mr Trump and he was arrested in April. The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government subpoenaed Mr Pomerantz shortly thereafter. Mr Bragg authorised Congress to question Mr Pomerantz.

Mr Pomerantz later testified before the committee on 12 May but repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.

Through his lack of testimony, Mark Pomerantz has undoubtedly undermined the legitimacy of this witch hunt indictment against President Donald Trump, Mr Gaetz said in a statement. Mr Pomerantz pled the Fifth to nearly every question about his time in the Manhattan DAs office, despite writing a tell-all book about his time there.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 charges related to his allegedly making hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for an affair they had before he became president.

Mr Gaetz said that Mr Pomerantz unfairly went after Mr Trump.

I believe Mr. Pomerantz engaged in misconduct in his targeting of President Trump, and his refusal to answer simple questions should not go unpunished, he said. He should be held in contempt of Congress and be compelled to answer the questions regarding the weaponization of the Manhattan DAs office. If he fails to comply with the congressional subpoena, then the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives must summon him by force.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom suggested he may be considering kidnapping charges against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the 2024 GOP primary candidate flew a group of migrants from Texas to Sacramento on allegedly false pretences.

Mr Newsom called Mr DeSantis a "small, pathetic man" in a tweet on Monday, and then provided a snippet of the state's laws regarding kidnapping.

"Every person who, being out of this state, abducts or takes by force or fraud any person contrary to the law of the place where that act is committed, and brings, sends, or conveys that person within the limits of the state, and is afterwards found within the limits thereof, is guilty of kidnapping," the snippet reads.

On Friday, more than a dozen migrants were brought into California on a private jet. The migrants were left at a Catholic facility in Sacramento with "no prior arrangement or care in place," according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

California officials learned the migrants crossed into Texas, where they were approached by an individual who said they could help them, according to local broadcaster KXTV. The migrants were reportedly sent to New Mexico before they were flown to Sacramento. Officials found the migrants holding documents claiming to be from the state of Florida when they arrived in California.

Mr Bonta said the state is investigating the incident and "evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants."

While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting. He said both the state and the city would welcome these individuals with open arms and provide them with the respect, compassion, and care they will need after such a harrowing experience.

Mr DeSantis pulled a similar stunt last year when he flew more around 50 primarily Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, where they were told jobs and access to migrant services would be provided. The GOP governor and other Republicans who support the flights argue that states like New York and California offering themselves up as "sanctuary" states invites illegal immigration.

The Independent has reached out to Mr DeSantis for comment.

Mr Newsom's spokesperson Anthony York said the administration continues to work with the California Department of Justice as they investigate the circumstances behind these flights and will look to hold anyone criminally accountable for misleading, manipulating and transporting individuals under false pretenses. In California we work together to humanely welcome migrants, support our local communities and address the challenges of a broken immigration system with dignity and without stunts.

The migrants are being served by a local faith-based group in Sacramento and will be processed by US immigration services, according to Deadline.
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Embattled congressman George Santos has launched an appeal after he was told by a judge that the identities of the trio who paid his $500,000 bail must be publicly revealed.

Mr Santos, a Republican from New York, pleaded not guilty last month to federal charges of defrauding his campaign supporters, lying to obtain unemployment money and making false statements on congressional disclosure forms.

Magistrate Judge Anne Shields ruled on Tuesday that Mr Santos has until 12pm on Friday to appeal her decision at which point the names would be unsealed. She also sealed her decision, keeping the names a secret until the deadline.

On Friday morning, Mr Santos filed an eight-page appeal against the decision, arguing that if the three people involved were identified they may have to withdraw from acting as his guarantors, CBS News reported.

Lawyers for Mr Santos had argued on Monday that the names should not be made public, stating that they truly fear for their health, safety and well being.

The lawmakers attorney, Joseph Murray previously said that Mr Santos would rather go to jail ahead of his criminal trial than let the names become public.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, Mr Murray had said.

The charges against Mr Santos include seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

Prosecutors allege he lied on financial forms submitted as part of his House candidacy, failed to disclose forms of income, overstated earnings, and used donations from his political campaign for personal purposes, including thousands of dollars of the solicited funds on personal expenses, including luxury designer clothing and credit card payments.

Mr Santos, who beat an incumbent Democrat to win his Long Island seat in 2022, has refused to resign despite the controversies he has become embroiled in.

Following his indictment, House Democrats introduced a resolution to have him expelled from the chamber. The House voted along party lines on Thursday to refer the resolution to the House Ethics Committee, with Mr Santos himself voting against his explosion.
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Democratic presidential candidate and anti-vaccine advocate Robert F Kennedy Jr said during a Twitter Spaces event on Monday that he would not take away peoples guns as a solution to reducing mass shootings and instead pointed the finger at pharmaceutical drugs.

My position on the gun control is Im not going to take away anybodys guns, Mr Kennedy, 69, said in response to a listener-submitted question about gun control while speaking about his political platform with Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks. Im a constitutional absolutist. We can argue about whether the Second Amendment was intended to protect guns. That argument has now been settled by the Supreme Court.

Instead, Mr Kennedy made unfounded claims that psychiatric drugs are linked to mass shootings,

Theres something happening in our country right now that is not happening anywhere, that has never happened in human history, he said.

Guns, the proliferation, clearly, abets violence, but anybody who tells you that they can remove enough guns, AR-15s, by tinkering at the margins and get to the situation they have in western Europe is puling your leg, he added. Its not going to happen.

According to researchers, theres no evidence for a link between pharmaceutical drugs and mass shootings.

Over 10 per cent of the US population takes anti-depressants, and experts say if such medicines were linked to violence, one would expect to see more shootings, and more shootings committed by groups who are prescribed the treatments at a higher rate.

"If there was a connection or link, one would expect it to be pronounced, or at least much greater than we are seeing," Dr James Knoll, director of forensic psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, told Politifact. "Why do we not see increased violence in women? People over 60?"

In fact, according to a USA Today review of mass shootings, a minority of school shooters were prescribed medications.

"I am unaware of any consistent, credible accounts that provide strong evidence regarding the prevalence of SSRI usage in cases involving school shootings or a causal relationship between SSRIs and school shootings," Daniel Mears, a professor of criminology at Florida State University, told the paper.
 Close Ron DeSantis snaps at reporter who asked why he wasnt taking questions from the public

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Florida governor Ron DeSantis appears to be the preferred Republican candidate among right-leaning millionaires, according to the latest CNBC Millionaire Survey, although his arch-rival and front-runner Donald Trump is seemingly also picking up support among wealthy Americans.

The poll shows that 32 per cent of Republicans with qualifying millionaire status currently support Mr DeSantis, a drop from 54 per cent at the end of 2022, while Mr Trump now has the backing of 28 per cent, up from 17 per cent last year.

Meanwhile, the governor has met with sheriffs in Arizona and defended his states recent decision to fly migrants from the US-Mexico border to Sacramento, California, a move widely derided as a cruel political stunt but which he insisted was above board because the west coast state had essentially invited them with its liberal immigration policies.

I think the border should be closed. I dont think we should have any of this, Mr DeSantis said. But if theres a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that.
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The premium cable network Showtime halted the planned airing of a Vice investigation into Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his service as an attorney for the US military, just as the Republican candidate faces questions about the issue on the campaign trail.

The move was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that the episode had originally been set to air on 28 May. The reason for the episodes change was not given, and a rerun was played in place of a new episode during Vices 28 May timeslot on Showtime.

Mr DeSantis, 44, is considered to be the second-place contender for the Republican nomination as the GOP primary heats up. He announced his candidacy four days before the Vice investigation was supposed to drop, in an awkward Twitter Spaces event with CEO Elon Musk delayed by significant technical issues.

His military service record is considered a key part of the political pedigree that vaulted him to office, first in Congress and later to the governors mansion. But a dispute has arisen over whether Mr DeSantis was physically present for the forced feedings of inmates at the infamous military prison  what has been called torture by some international rights groups and experts  in response to a hunger strike at the facility.

Two former Guantanamo detainees dispute Mr DeSantis claim that he was not present for those sessions. One told The Independent that the governor spoke to him personally.

A spokesperson for Vice told The Independent on Monday that the investigation itself may still make it to air.

As with all current affairs programming there can be scheduling changes, and we are very much still in discussion about the scheduling of this episode. We are proud of our reporting and of our continuing partnership with Showtime, said the networks representative.

Showtime, meanwhile, said only that it would not comment on scheduling decisions.

Mr DeSantis addressed the question about his service at Guantanamo in the days leading up to his official 2024 campaign announcement; in comments to reporters, he ridiculed the idea that any individual detainee at the prison would have remembered him. He has also rejected the idea that he would have had the authority to order such force-feedings, though he does not appear to have been accused of doing so.

Do you honestly believe thats credible? Its ... 2006, Im a junior officer, do you honestly think that they wouldve remembered me? he asked a reporter in a flash of anger on 27 April.

Polling shows the Florida governor firmly behind former President Donald Trump in the contest for the GOP 2024 nomination, while he remains the only other Republican registering competitive levels of support at this time.
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As a major piece of gun control legislation looks poised to die in the Senate for the umpteenth time, a group of grieving families is turning pain into action.

On a breezy Tuesday morning in Washington, the families erected a small collection of lawnchairs and a small tent roof, and unfurled banners and shirts with a simple message: Ban assault weapons.

Their push for Congress to make meaningful changes to Americas culture of guns and the nightmarish shooting attacks that make the US stand out among its Western peers is nothing new. Whats new is their anger, and perhaps an acceptance of the idea that many in Congress are simply not interested in working to find a solution.

Thats the sense that you get when you talk to Samuel Schwartz, a volunteer with the survivors, who pointed out that some among the families gathered in small circles under the trees had been a part of this movement for more than a decade. Some lost loved ones in the horrific Uvalde elementary attack, others had even more recent experiences in Nashville and Highland Park, and still others came to Washington from Parkland and other scenes of mass violence.

A sit-in is something that I feel like is done when we have exhausted all our other options, Mr Schwartz told The Independent. The fact that we still have to come out here and do this 20 years later is shameful...The senators are doing nothing. Not saving any lives.

Mr Schwartz, whose cousin was killed in the Parkland massacre, and his allies hope to press a number of Democratic holdouts into supporting the assault weapons ban, even as they understand that getting Republican votes on top of those members is a steep ask. And therein lies the anger: There remains little to be called a path forward, at least through the Senate, for the foreseeable future. Thats a reality that hasnt changed in a long time.

(John Bowden/The Independent)

A bill banning assault weapons passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last year. It hasnt gone anywhere in the upper chamber, however, and leaders of the presidents party are doing little to champion the issue beyond press releases and the occasional public statement.

We're going to say nothing during this event that hasn't been said before. What we're doing differently is actually sitting here and not leaving until we do something that's different, Mr Schwartz said.

(John Bowden/The Independent)

His group, which numbered at least 30 on day one, plans to grow and encourage others to join them as their protest persists throughout the week. Volunteers plan to stay on-site 23 hours a day.

Mr Schwartz described what it was like to be fighting alongside families and survivors who had been pressing for these changes for more than a decade, and how that reality was changing the tone of the movement itself.

It's like monotonous. Sometimes it feels discouraging. And it's like, you just get in your own head that nothing will ever change.

He went on to say: Maybe five to 10 years ago, when Americans heard about a mass shooting, their initial reaction was sadness. Now that has changed, to their initial reaction being anger.

I feel like anger leads to just movement and momentum. So I mean, we're all angry or peaceful, obviously, but we're pissed.
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Former Attorney General Bill Barr has weighed in on Donald Trumps legal problems relating to the trove of classified documents found at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

Mr Barr told CBS Mornings that the former presidents problems are of his own making and the case against him and any probe of his retention of secret papers would have gone nowhere if he had just returned them.

This is not a case of the Department of Justice conducting a witch hunt, he began, noting how delicately they had approached the case.

This would have gone nowhere had the president just returned the documents, but he jerked them around for a year and a half. The question is Did he deceive them and if there is evidence of that then that says more about Trump than the Department of Justice, that is that he is so egotistical that he has this penchant for conducting risky reckless acts to show that he can sort of get away with it, its part of asserting his ego.

Hes done this repeatedly at the expense of all of the people who depend on him to conduct the publics business in an honourable way  we saw that with both impeachments  and there is no excuse for what he did here.

Mr Barr is the latest former ally of Mr Trump to give his assessment of the swirl of legal woes surrounding the one-term president.

His former lawyer Ty Cobb told CNN in May that he believed Mr Trump would go to jail if he is indicted in special counsel Jack Smiths investigation.

Then last week, Mr Cobb reiterated his confidence in the potential indictment to CNNs OutFront, after it was reported there is an alleged recording of Mr Trump discussing classified material he kept after leaving the White House in 2021.

Mr Cobb said if the recording is real: It further enhances the obstruction case because it eviscerates the two defences that Trump has put forward. The first being that merely by taking documents he declassifies them or that he has the authority, if he is playing with the ducks in the hot tub, to declassify them in his own mind.

The former president lashed out at Mr Cobb on Truth Social, calling him a disgruntled former lawyer who knows absolutely nothing about the Boxes Hoax and accused the Department of Justice of interfering with the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election which Mr Trump claimed he was leading.

His words are angry, nasty, and libelous, only because I did not continue using him (and paying him), and for good reason. He will be held legally responsible for his false statements!

Mr Cobb served as a lawyer for Mr Trump while he was in the White House from July 2017 until May 2018. He provided assistance during the Mueller special counsel investigation.

Mr Barr served as Attorney General in the Trump administration from February 2019 to December 2020 taking over after Jeff Sessions departed and resigning after it became clear to him that Mr Trump lost the 2020 election.

He also served as attorney general under President George HW Bush in the early 1990s.
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Federal investigators have reportedly trained their attention on an employee at former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago, who, in the process of draining a swimming pool on the property last year, flooded a room where computer servers containing video surveillance logs were stored.

According to reporting by CNN, investigators have asked at least one witness in the investigation into Mr Trumps handling of classified documents about the flooding of the server room. It is as of yet unclear whether the room was flooded intentionally or on accident.

Prosecutors have reportedly been told that the IT equipment in the room was not damaged during the flooding incident.

The investigation into the conduct and intentions of Mar-a-Lago employees comes as investigators attempt to dechiper whether multiple people were involved a criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Justice Departments probe into Mr Trumps handling of classified documents after leaving the presidency in early 2021.

Mr Trump suggested earlier today on the social media platform Truth Social that he will likely be charged in the case.

HOW CAN DOJ POSSIBLY CHARGE ME, WHO DID NOTHING WRONG, WHEN NO OTHER PRESIDENTS WERE CHARGED, WHEN JOE BIDEN WONT BE CHARGED FOR ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT HE HAS 1,850 BOXES, MUCH OF IT CLASSIFIED, AND SOME DATING BACK TO HIS SENATE DAY WHEN EVEN DEMOCRAT SENATORS ARE SHOCKED, the former president wrote.

The post, in which Mr Trump also claimed he was being treated unfairly because former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was not indicted for having emails with information later deemed to be classified stored on a private email service, came shortly after Mr Trumps attorneys met with Department of Justice officials in Washington.

Mr Trump is already facing a bevy of legal problems: hes been indicted in New York for his role in an alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the buildup to the 2016 election and is also being investigated for interfering in the 2020 election in Georgia. That investigation may also be expanding.

Mr Trump is alsoa candidate for president again and has taken a sizeable lead in early polling of the Republican primary contest. His opponents, including recent entrant Gov Ron DeSantis, have yet to repeatedly attack Mr Trump over his legal problems  seemingly hesitant to align themselves with the prosecutors investigating the former president.

The potential destruction of the server room may be of particular importance in the classified document investigation given that the FBI first subpoenaed the Trump Organization for Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage last summer prior to the much-publicised search of the property last August.

Two Trump Organisation employees, Mr Trumps body man Walt Nauta and a maintenance worker who helped Mr Nauta move classified documents prior to the FBIs visit, have already attracted the attention of investigators for their conduct.

According to CNN, the maintenance worker who helped move the documents is also the person who is believed to have drained the pool and flooded the server room.

The Justice Department has said in court that it believes government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room prior to the agents search.
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A wealthy businessman has been fined an extraordinary 104,000 for speeding in Finland, where tickets are calculated as a percentage of the offenders income.

Anders Wiklof was caught driving 51mph (82km) in a 30mph zone (50km) on the Aaland Islands, an autonomous region of Finland in the Baltic Sea, when police stopped and ticketed him Saturday.

I really regret the matter, the 76-year-old told Nya Aland, the main newspaper on the island. I had just started to slow down, but I guess it wasnt going fast enough and thats how it went.

Along with the 121,000 euro fine, he had his drivers license suspended for 10 days, the newspaper said. Mr Wiklof said that he hoped the fine would be used on the countrys healthcare system.

He added: I have heard the government wants to save 1.5bn on healthcare in Finland, so I hope that my money can fill a gap there.

It wasnt the first time Mr Wiklof was caught driving too fast. In 2018, he was fined 54,000 (63,680 euros) and he had to pay out 81,000 (95,000 euros) five years earlier.

Unlike many other European countries, Finland does not have a fixed-price penalty for speeding and it is instead calculated on the basis of an offenders income. Fines are also levied depending on level of income for other offences, such as shoplifting or violating financial or trading laws.

Mr Wiklof is not the only wealthy Finnish businessman to be caught out. In 2015, Reima Kuisla was forced to pay 43,000 after going 65mph in a 50mph area.

A native of Aaland, Mr Wiklof is chairman of a holding company that includes businesses in the logistics, helicopter services, real estate, trade and tourism sectors.

The archipelago sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, between the Finnish city of Turku, on mainland Finlands west coast, and Swedens capital of Stockholm.
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Madeleine McCanns disappearance has puzzled detectives for more than 15 years  but in 2020 a new potential suspect emerged. Now, police are searching a remote reservoir in Portugals the Algarve that he used to visit in a renewed effort to shed further light on the case.

Follow all the latest updates on the Independents live blog

German prisoner Christian Brueckner was first named in connection with the unsolved mystery that summer, and officially named as a suspect last year. His yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan was reportedly identified as having been near to the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the young girl went missing on May 3, 2007.

Christian Brueckner is serving seven years behind bars in Germany (Reuters)

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the bed of her holiday apartment while her parents and family friends dined 180 feet away. Her two-year-old twin siblings were also in the apartment she went missing from. Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since.

The Metropolitan Police took over the investigation, Operation Grange, in 2011 but they hit dead ends. There has not been another significant suspect in the case since 2007 until Brueckner.

Who is Christian Brueckner?

German prisoner Christian Brueckner is a prolific burglar and has been previously convicted for sex crimes against young girls.

He was born in Germany in 1976 and moved to Portugal in his late teens.

It is believed he lived there between 1995 and 2007 working in the food industry.

Brueckner is described as being about 6ft tall, slim and white with short blond hair.

Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz (PA Archive)

What are the accusations against him?

Brueckner was declared a prime suspect in the case of the disappearance of Madeleine by Portuguese police in April 2022.

Already in prison in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman, he has now also been charged with multiple sex offences which are alleged to have taken place between 2000 and 2007.

Police in Germany claim to have concrete evidence that the British girl is dead though this has not been proven.

A spokesperson from the Braunschweig prosecutors office previously said: The accused is the same person against whom charges were brought in connection with the disappearance of the then three-year-old British girl Madeleine Beth McCann.

Specifically, the accused is charged with three offences of aggravated rape and two offences of sexual abuse of children.

The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann continues.

The charges mentioned do not relate to the McCann case. But in May German police claim to have found new evidence linked to Madeleine inside a van belonging to Brueckner.

Madeleines parents Kate and Gerry McCann have been searching for answers ever since her disappearance (PA Wire)

How was he identified as a suspect?

Brueckner had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz  the Algarve resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished.

German prosecutors say telecomms data shows Brueckner received a phone call on 3 May 2007 near the Praia da Luz holiday apartment from which the three-year-old went missing, but he reportedly claims to have been miles from the scene with a young German woman.

Brueckner, who has always denied any involvement in Madeleines disappearance, insists he drove the woman, who was on holiday with her parents, to the airport in Faro for her return flight home the following day. They were stopped and photographed at a police roadblock, according to Sky News.

When Portuguese police named Brueckner an arguido  a formal suspect  on 21 April last year, it was the first time they had identified an official suspect since 2007.

Back then, they named Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann as suspects but both were later cleared.

Brueckner is the first significant suspect in the case since 2007 (PA Media)

Why is he in prison in Germany?

In April 2022, Brueckner was jailed in Germany for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in the same resort - Praia da Luz - as where Madeleine went missing.

Police in Germany, who are treating the case as a murder enquiry, believe Brueckner planned to rob the holiday apartment but moved on to a sexual motive.

It is believed he has a total of 17 convictions including burglary as he steals from hotels and holiday let apartments.

Other cases Brueckner has been linked to

Brueckner has also been linked to other disappearances of children, including a boy, six, in Portugal in 2000, a five-year-old girl in Germany in 2015 and a number of others.

In 2020, he was being investigated over the rape and murder of Tristan Brubach, a 15-year-old boy from Germany.

Belgian authorities have also linked him to the murder of teenager Carola Titze, 16. She went missing while on holiday in De Haan, Belgium on July 5, 1996 and her body was discovered among sand dunes severely mutilated on July 11.

Other cases believed to be linked to Brueckner include that of Inga Gehrike who went missing from Saxony-Anhalt in Germany on May 2, 2015, Rene Hasee, six, who vanished while on a family holiday in Aljezur, Portugal on June 21, 1996 and Jair Soares who disappeared in August 1995.

Peggy Knoblochs case has also been linked to Brueckner after she went missing in May 2001.
 Close Police were scouring the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in the Algarve, Portugal last week, around 35 miles from where the then-three-year-old went missing in 2007 while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz

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Soil from a reservoir in Portugal searched by police last month is being compared with samples from main suspect Christian Brueckners camper van, it has been reported.

Detectives believe Brueckner visited the remote Barragem do Arade reservoir in Portugals Algarve region days after Madeleine disappeared.

Officials now believe they can prove that Brueckners van was in the area at the time the three-year-old was abducted , sources told The Daily Mirror.

The insider claimed that if the soil sample analysis reveals a positive match, police may be able to further close the net around Brueckner, 45, who has not yet been charged.

Earlier, a forensics expert warned that traditional evidence will be difficult to find after 16 years have passed since Madeleine McCanns disappearance.

Dan Matthews said that investigators would have searched the remote reservoir in Portugal for things that couldve stood the test of time and not been destroyed by its passage, such as clothing fragments or jewelry.
 Close Ukraine: Soviet-era dam destroyed near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

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Ukraines military has claimed to have recaptured their first village since launching counter-offensive actions against Russia.

Ukrainian soldiers were filmed hoisting their blue and yellow flag at a damaged building in what the army said was the village of Blahodatne, in the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region in the southeast of the country.

The unverified video was published by the 68th Separate Hunting Brigade of the Armed Forces. It comes after president Volodymyr Zelensky said that counter-offensive and defensive actions are under way against Russian forces in an apparent confirmation of the long-awaited pushback of Putins troops.

The Russian Defence Ministry has continued to insist that it is repelling Ukrainian attacks in the Donetsk region. It said in a statement that Ukrainian attempts at offensive operations on the southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia axes of the frontline over the past 24 hours have been unsuccesful.
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An aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who left the USSR as a child has created robot planes that he says could change the world and hopes theyll be used in the war to help his birthplace.

Gene Avakyan knows what its like to grow up during times of tension, having been born in Kyiv, Ukraine, before leaving the country when he was just nine years old  fleeing in the middle of the night and made to walk a gauntlet of soldiers with AK-47s just to get on a train.

Follow our live blog for latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine

Since then, his life has changed dramatically, with the 52-year-old falling in love with aviation and space travel as a teenager, and dedicating his time to developing new technologies in this area.

The founder of Edison Aerospace, who has 10,000 followers on Instagram (@geneavakyan), originally launched the company to create robotic aircraft for crop-dusting, but now hopes that his creations can help swing the war in his home countrys favour.

He has been in talks with US defence officials and Ukrainian politicians about aircraft designs for military use  including ones for locating anti-aircraft missile batteries and for delivering cargo and dropping munitions.

When I left Ukraine I was nine years old and it was 1980  we had to pass through an empty railway yard in the middle of the night, past Soviet soldiers with AK-47s, Gene told Jam Prime.

The experience of leaving the country was very memorable.

It took us over four months to finally reach the US, after a harrowing experience actually crossing the border in Chop, Ukraine.

I left with my parents and grandfather, and we were heading to San Francisco, California, where our relatives had established themselves after also fleeing two years prior.

This kind of experience gives you the perspective that things can change in an instant, and you need to be ready to drop everything, sacrifice some comforts, and run.

My mission as an entrepreneur is to really help Ukraine down the road, both with military and agricultural aviation, because it's a huge market for agriculture and will require modernization of its defence capabilities.

Once you can lift a tonne of weight and fly it for 100 miles, you can make your fields grow better, plant seeds or even drop bombs.

Its really a question of what is the right thing to do at any given time.

(Jam Press/edison.aero)

Gene, who studied aerospace engineering at UCLA in California, now lives in Florida but still feels passionate about Ukraine and the injustice of the war being fought there.

He said: I felt disbelief when the invasion started.

I couldnt believe it was happening and was worried it would be over in a week, that Russia would just roll over Ukraine.

I was very happy to see that didnt happen with the help of the US and Europe.

But the events of the past year have shocked everyone the world over.

I want to get involved and be on the right side of history.

And I believe that the war in Ukraine is pretty clear cut.

Gene Avakyan at his high school military training (Jam Press/edison.aero)

He is currently working with the US Federal Government within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

This is the US civil aviation administration, the equivalent of EASA in Europe.

Genes technology involves electric, optionally-manned aircraft that are piloted from a truck trailer on the ground or can fly fully autonomously.

His aircraft can fly for about an hour, with a battery roughly the size of the one in Musks Tesla Model Three.

The full-sized planes wingspan is 40 feet, it carries 200 gallons of payload to spray, and will replace the manned spray aircraft flying today.

Aside from the war efforts, he hopes that this will help rebuild the country, as well as improve agriculture across the globe.

At present, crop spraying is done by pilots climbing into a small plane and spraying the fields by flying low and fast  which is very dangerous.

Gene said: Around 10 pilots are killed in the US alone every year from colliding with trees, hills, power lines and other terrain.

I hope that our aircraft will help prevent these deaths in future.

Gene Avakyan with a construction set before going to the US (Jam Press/edison.aero)

We want the same guys who fly the existing planes today to switch to flying my planes, its very important to my business ethos that we are not displacing anybody but making the existing workers and companies better off.

At present, the companies who fly crop dusters spend too much money on buying and servicing the planes, so their profit margins are very low or they go into the red when theres an unplanned breakdown of a plane

My aeroplanes will cut their operating costs in half.

Gene also believes that electric passenger planes will soon become a reality  starting with air taxis.

Hes hoping to raise funding to build a series of prototypes.

Aside from Edison Aerospace, Gene and his wife, Victoria Unikel, an artist and businesswoman, have founded several other businesses such as VUGA Media Group, Gossip Stone TV, and 24Fashion TV.

And he says the couple work great together.

(Jam Press/edison.aero)

He said: My wife is my hero, working with her is a lot of fun and I couldnt have made it to where I am without her.

We created everything we have together.

I lead on the Edison Aerospace stuff, and she leads in the other businesses, because theyre much more relationship-based  and shes got bucketloads of charm.

Gene feels grateful for how much his life has changed since childhood and the luxuries he can now afford.

He added: My parents decided to flee and take me away from the USSR because to save me from living a life under communist despots.

They themselves faced a decline in quality of life to do this, a sacrifice, to see me grow up in the US and to see their grandchildren born in US as well.

I feel grateful for the life I have now.
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As Ukraine accuses Russia of decimating a major dam in the Moscow-seized area of Kherson, the countrys national energy company has warned of the risk to Europes largest nuclear power plant.

A video shared by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky early on Tuesday morning appeared to depict water gushing through the remains of the Soviet-era dam, built in 1956 on the Dnipro river. This footage remains unverified.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station, sending water gushing from the breached facility and risking massive flooding (AP)

Energoatom, Ukraines national nuclear energy company, expressed concern over the threat to the nearby Zaprozhizhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is dependent on water from the dams reservoir.

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The dam is 150 kilometres away from the plant.

As a result of the detonation, the water level in the Kakhova reservoir is rapidly decreasing, which is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, the companys statement, shared to its official Telegram channel, read.

Water from the Kakhova Reservoir is necessary for the station to receive power for turbine capacitors and safety systems."

The stations cooling pond is now full: as of 8:00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is sufficient for the stations needs.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has since confirmed that its experts are closely monitoring the situation at the scene, adding on Twitter that there is no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant.

Mr Zelenskys senior advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, has described the situation as a global ecological disaster, stating that thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Likewise, Andriy Yermak, head of Mr Zelenskys office, described the destruction of the dam as the largest man-made disaster in the world in recent decades, expressing concern over the environmental impact.

At least 16,000 people are in the critical zone of the damaged dam. Evacuation trains are set to depart from the city later on Tuesday, Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed to local media.
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Thousands of people are being evacuated after a major dam was blown up in southern Ukraine  an act of destruction Kyiv blamed on Russia's desperation to slow a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The Nova Kakhovka dam  which Moscow's forces have control of  sits on the Dnipro river, with Ukrainian and Russian troops controlling opposing banks.

Aerial footage showed a broad section of the dam having collapsed, unleashing a huge torrent of water from the reservoir behind  which was already sitting at record levels  towards dozens of towns and villages.

The Nova Kakhovka dam on 4 June and then 6 June (Reuters)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called the destruction of the dam "a war crime" and act of "terrorism" as well as the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades.

The water in the reservoir supplies to a wide area of southern Ukrainian farmland, including the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula, as well as cooling the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

The attack, which occurred early on Tuesday morning, raised fears over the safety of the plant, but the UN nuclear watchdog said that there was "no immediate risk" even if it was gradually run out of cooling water. It added that other sources of water were available.

Around 40,000 people need to be evacuated, Deputy Prosecutor-General Viktoriya Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television  17,000 people in Ukraine-controlled territory and 25,000 around Russian-controlled areas.

For its part, Moscow blamed Ukrainian shelling for the attack, with the Kremlins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, labelling it a sabotage attack.

Heavy floods hit Kherson after damn collapses-.mp4

Russian-installed officials had earlier given conflicting accounts, some saying the dam had been hit by Ukrainian missiles overnight, others saying it had burst on its own due to earlier damage. Some of the officials also sought to downplay the gravity of the situation.

The US government has intelligence leaning towards blaming Russia for the attack, NBC News reported, citing two unnamed US officials and one Western official. The White House said that the US was assessing reports that the blast was caused by Moscow.

In a Twitter post, Mr Zelensky dismissed the Russian suggestion, saying: It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside, by shelling. It was mined by the Russian occupiers. And they blew it up.

Last November, Mr Zelensky said that he believed Russia had mined the hydroelectric station and was plotting to destroy it, suggesting this would cause a a large-scale disaster.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a chief advisor to President Zelenksy, told The Independent that he believed the goal for Russia was to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the Armed Forces echoing earlier statements from Ukraines southern command of its army that said they believe Russia blew up the dam to stop a Ukrainian advance across the Dnipro river.

Damage at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam at Nova Kakhovka, near Kherson (Energoatem/AFP/Getty)

This once again confirms that the Kremlin does not think strategically, but in terms of short-term situational advantages,  Mr Podolyak added.

Moscow has sought to claim that the attack was a divisionary tactic by Ukraine  from what it has claimed is a "failed" counteroffensive. That is despite the initial assaults by Ukrainian forces looking more like probing efforts to ascertain weaknesses in Russian lines.

Mr Podolyak also warned of a global ecological disaster that will impact worldwide food security. Mr Podolyak told The Independent that millions of cubic metres of water which had already partially submerged several areas and killed thousands of animals would in a few days reach as far as Mykolaiv a region some 90km away leaving destruction in its wake.

The House of Culture on a flooded street in Nova Kakhovka after the nearby dam was breached (Tass via Reuters)

Compounding the crisis was the fact that at least 150 tons of machine oil from the plant had already entered the Dnipro river, and there is a risk of further leakage of more than 300 tons.

There is no doubt that this will lead to large-scale environmental, economic and human consequences. And the results of such a war crime are equivalent to the use of unconventional weapons, he said.

The instantaneous death of a large number of fish and animals, the waterlogging of drained [agricultural] lands and the change in the climatic regime of the region, will later be reflected in the food security of the world.

A one-time reduction of water in a huge reservoir will [also] lead to unpredictable ecological consequences", he added.

Rescue workers in the Kherson region ( State Emergency Service of Ukraine/EPA)

We already know about the mass death of animals, in particular, in the local zoo, Mr Podolyak said, a reference to the Kazkova Dibrova zoo on the Russian-held riverbank. which was completely flooded. A representative said via the zoo's Facebook account that all 300 animals had died.

Any potential death toll was not immediately clear, but spokesman for the White House, John Kirby said the attack had probably caused "many deaths".

The small town of Oleshky, on the Russian-controlled bank, was almost completely flooded, a Russian-backed official said. "Evacuation ... is possible only using special equipment," Andrei Alexeyenko, chairman of the Russian-appointed government of Ukraine's Kherson province, said on Telegram.

A resident on a flooded road in Kherson (AP)

The Moscow-installed mayor of the town of Nova Kakhovka said water levels had risen to 11 metres (36 feet). He did not say how high water levels were before the dam burst.

Some residents on the Russian-controlled bank had decided to stay in their homes. Yevheniya, a female resident, told Reuters via telephone that the water was up to the knees of the Russian soldiers walking the main street in high rubber boots. "If you try to go somewhere they don't allow, they immediately point their machine guns at you," she said. "More and more water is coming every hour. It's very dirty." A man, Hlib, said Russian troops "say they are ready to shoot without warning."

Western allies of Ukraine lined up behind Kyiv.

"The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act. Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime," the UK's foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said

The Nato secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, called it "an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine".
President Joe Biden laughed and ignored reporter's questions as he welcomed Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen to the White House on Monday, 5 June.

Both world leaders exchanged words and laughed at the meeting as journalists shouted questions before being ushered out of the room.

Reporters were escorted out of the Oval Office and were not allowed to ask president Biden questions.

Mr Biden met with the Danish prime minister to discuss the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The meeting comes as thousands of Ukrainians are being evacuated after a dam was blown up in southern Ukraine.
CCTV footage shows a sweet-toothed shoplifter stealing 144 bars of chocolate from a Co-op shop in Worthing, West Sussex.

Jordan Thomson, 30, made off with 116 worth of chocolate, including 48 Twix bars, 48 Snickers bars, 24 Bounty bars and 24 Yorkie bars.

Sussex Police shared videos of the incident on social media, confirming the thief has been jailed with a pun-filled post.

Jordan Thomson has been up to his old Twix. The sweet-toothed shoplifter is behind bars again, after stealing a Bounty-ful supply of chocolate, the force wrote.

This is a real Boost for the business community, with theft being a hot Topic recently.
Four teenagers from Ohio were rescued after becoming stranded on a remote area of the Tuscarawas River on Memorial Day, authorities said.

The Ohio State Patrol Aviation Unit was called to assist the Tuscarawas County Sheriffs Office in the search for the missing teens overnight Monday into Tuesday (30 May) after they didnt return from a tubing trip.

A video shared by the OSP shows the aerial unit locating the teens early on Tuesday before the rescue was made.

There were no injuries reported.
The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg scolded the shows audience for booing and jeering senator Tim Scott as he attempted to answer a question.

The 2024 presidential candidate was a guest on The View on Monday, 5 June, where he outlined his plan to beat former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the GOP nomination.

During the heated debate, co-host Ana Navarro grilled Mr Scott and asked him if he believed Mr DeSantis and the Republicans had gone too far with their rhetoric on culture wars.
Footage appears to show a house floating down the Dnipro river after a major dam near Kherson was destroyed.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant structure, while Moscow has put the blame on Kyiv.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on Tuesday 6 June.

While it is unclear how extensive the flooding downstream will be, there are fears it could be devastating for settlements that are home to about 16,000 people.

The video of the house floating down the Dnipro river has been verified by the BBC, with more unverified footage circulating on social media.
James Cleverly met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday 5 June.

The meeting between the president of Ukraine and the UKs foreign secretary in the war-torn nations capital came amid signs the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive against the Russian invasion may have started.

Mr Cleverly spoke of how much life has returned to Kyiv, having previously visited in the winter when it was cold and dark.

The Ukrainian people are not going to allow themselves to be broken by this, he said of the war.
The Independents White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg questioned John Kirby on the case of the Afghan war hero who fled to the UK on a small boat and is being threatened with deportation to Rwanda.

Mr Feinberg pressed the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications on an email from the Air Force, which said the publicity may invite more requests for support.

Mr Kirby denied there had been a policy change for support to Afghan refugees who had served in the war.

The Independent has campaigned to give refuge to Afghan war heroes who served alongside British forces.
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Running for president is as much about timing as anything else. When Barack Obama ran, Ted Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedy clan who had a failed White House run under his belt, notably told the would-be president: You dont choose the time. The time chooses you.

The 2012 presidential race was likely Chris Christies time. In 2009, he won the governorship in staunchly Democratic New Jersey and had become a favorite of conservatives for his willingness to combat teachers unions and other Democratic groups in moments that went viral in the right-wing media ecosystem. It was owning the libs before owning the libs was a thing.

But he notably passed on running for the nomination to challenge Mr Obama, saying in 2011, Now is not my time.

At the time, the move seemed prudent. In the weeks before the 2012 election, he led the state during Hurricane Sandy and while images of him hugging Mr Obama angered conservatives in the weeks before voters cast their ballots, it led to him winning re-election in 2013 by overwhelming margins.

Of course, we know what happened next. Revelations that members of Mr Christies team ordered two of the three lanes on the George Washington Bridge to be closed, which caused a massive traffic jam, cratered the governors numbers. He entered the 2016 Republican primary badly bruised from the scandal. He left the contest after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary, but not before infamously performing a kamikaze mission on Sen Marco Rubio (R-FL) in one of the debates that made the one-time conservative phenom seem rehearsed and someone who could not deviate from his prepared lines.

In the following days, Mr Christie endorsed Donald Trump, rarely leaving his side at one point was considered to be a potential running-mate or attorney general in a Trump administration, an idea vetoed by Jared Kushner. Nonetheless, Mr Christies endorsement of the future president lent him credibility and gave Republicans something they needed to cast their ballot for the reality television star who had never held public office before  permission.

Now, Mr Christie has announced another quixotic White House run. As an elected official who left his office in disgrace and who has not held a position for years in a radically changed GOP, Mr Christie is unlikely to win. But most observers see his run as an attempt to stop Mr Trump from winning again.

Republicans are about as likely to receive his message warning about the perils of another Trump presidency as they would be likely to receive the message from Liz Cheney.

Indeed, many other Republican presidential candidates face the very same problem. As McKay Coppins at The Atlantic has noted, former vice president Mike Pence spent years convincing evangelical Christian voters that they could support Mr Trump despite his character shortcomings. Mr Trumps conduct would be immaterial as long as he enacted an agenda they wanted and he would nominate the right judges, which he did when he picked the Supreme Court jurists who helped overturn Roe v Wade. But now Mr Pence finds himself in a bind because personal decency isnt seen as a reason hed be a better option than Mr Trump.

The same goes for Sen Tim Scott (R-SC). On Monday, he went on The View and said that voters found his optimistic, positive message refreshing as opposed to having a message around populism, having a message on principles. But Mr Scott served in the Senate throughout Mr Trumps tenure in the White House and did little to temper Mr Trumps scorched earth rhetoric about America Carnage. By doing so, he made Republican primary voters see aggressive nationalistic, anti-immigrant and oftentimes racist rhetoric to be acceptable as a form of conservatism.

Mr Trumps most credible challenger, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, also finds himself in the same predicament. Hes sold himself as someone who can not only enact a conservative agenda without all of the personal baggage, but someone who also can win when he does so, going from barely winning his first gubernatorial contest to winning re-election by almost 20 points. But Mr DeSantis sold himself as an acolyte of Mr Trump in his 2018 primary campaign and did little to push back on Mr Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen. If voters dont believe Mr Trump lost, then it renders the idea Mr Trump is a loser and Mr DeSantis is a winner moot.

All of these Republican candidates now find themselves in a prison of their own making; ever since Mr Trump became the GOP nominee for president seven years ago, they served as the spoonful of conservative sugar to help the Trump medicine go down. But now, GOP voters see Mr Trump as the standard bearer and will reject anyone who tells them otherwise, including the people who fed him to them in the first place and as they have gone past their expiration date.
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In 2018, Steve Bannon, the on-again-off-again strategist and consigliere to former president Donald Trump, notably told Michael Lewis that The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with s***. The point for Mr Bannon is to inundate the press with a tsunami of disinformation which makes it impossible for them to fact-check something or to sift through what is true and false.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Bannon has boosted Robert F Kennedy Jr, the son of the 1968 presidential candidate and former environmental activist who in recent decades has become more infamous for promoting the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism. Now, Mr Kennedy has found another benefactor who seems to enjoy deluging the press with excrement: Elon Musk.

Of course, this isnt the first time Mr Musk has hosted one of these forums. Last month, he hosted Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican nomination for president.

But the two venues seem to differ: while Mr Musk had previously praised the Florida governor and said he leaned toward supporting Mr DeSantis as early as last year, his forum with Mr Kennedy seemed more about taking glee in flouting all sense of decorum and platforming a known conspiracy theorist just because he can.

Like Mr Trump, Mr Musk knows that because he runs the Twitter show and he is already famous, anything he says instantly becomes news and will require the media to cover it. His decision to platform someone like Mr Kennedy would put the press in a predicament between having to air the sound and fury of someone whose ramblings about vaccines have led his own prestigious political family to disavow him.

But despite the marquee attractions, not much in the way of political fireworks happened. The two seemed perfectly content to air their grievances about their supposed persecution (despite being one of the wealthiest men in the world and the son of a senator who many believe would have become president had he not been killed) and the moneyed interests that large corporations which led to Mr Kennedy bemoaning supposedly being unfairly censored when social media outlets simply booted him for continuing to spread lies.

Mr Kennedy grovelling to Mr Musk, of course, allowed the Tesla owner to see himself as a media playmaker who sets the agenda, not unlike how many right-wingers believe mainstream media colludes to set an agenda.

But incidentally, Mr Musk, who promotes himself as a man of science whose innovations will save humanity, did not push back on many of Mr Kennedys claims about vaccines, perhaps one of the most lifesaving medical innovations in the past century. There is also a bit of irony in that Mr Musk publicly disclosed that he has Aspergers Syndrome on Saturday Night Live in 2021 (even though the term is no longer officially used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and Hans Aspergers involvement with the Nazi regime has tarnished his image).

In addition, Mr Musk did not challenge Mr Kennedy when he seemed to shift the blame on school shootings from the proliferation of guns to the rise of psychiatric drugs, despite little evidence of a link between the two. Of course, given the fact that many of Mr Musks diehard fans are now on the right, he couldnt because it would mean putting the onus on Americas gun violence epidemic on firearms, which would lose him support among the paid-for blue checks.

Moreover, Mr Musks forum with Mr Kennedy went on for more than two hours, which made it all the moe difficult for reporters and fact-checkers to keep up with the it or to maintain their attention. But that was the point for him; Mr Musk clearly wanted to run reporters ragged so that they couldnt keep up with the misinformation or have them divert their attention to other topics.

Incidentally, his side quest with Mr Kennedy came just as Mike Pence filed paperwork to run for president, Sen Tim Scott (R-SC) went on The View to joust with the liberal co-hosts and the day after Nikki Haley hosted a town hall with CNN. But Mr Musk made all of that irrelevant and put all eyes on him. And the press fell for it, so there is every reason to expect him to do this more.
It's a lesson that ed-tech founder Wendy Oke, one of the Sunday Independents 30 under 30 entrepreneurs, learned the hard way as a teenager in Cork, when she was dealt a bad hand.

I really wanted to study medicine or become a lawyer and then my mum got really sick. I did really badly in my Leaving Cert because my mum was so sick. Things arent always going to happen the way you want them to happen, and thats really important in business because stuff always goes wrong.

She tried her hand at a few things but nothing stuck until she did a post-graduate course in early childhood education and saw how under-resourced the sector was. I went on LinkedIn and I started kind of ranting. I was asking the question, Why is no one investing in pre-school education?

Education is life to Oke, whose grandfather went from a makeshift hut to a supreme court judge because of good teachers.

More than three years and close to a million euros on from her LinkedIn rant, Okes business, TeachKloud, a compliance, e-learning and communications platform, now provides resources for 6,000 teachers, over 19,000 kids and 21,000 parents.

Oke was the keynote speaker at the African Professional Network of Irelands recent Lions Den business pitch event, which was won by South African entrepreneur Goodman Lepota. His business, Preamble, uses data visualisation to keep the African diaspora informed.

Ireland, the UK, Australia and the US have the highest population of young South Africans living abroad, he says. When you think about remittances: we send money home, we contribute directly or indirectly to economies across Africa, so I wanted [to use] data to speak to that generation that have left.

A year in the making it started off as an Instagram page in May 2022 and took off when a post about African-owned unicorn businesses blew up  the Preamble website is gearing up for an official launch this year, ahead of the 2024 South African elections.

For the first time, the born frees  people born post-1994, when Nelson Mandela was freed  are actually going to be adults. I thought it would be really historic for Preamble to create an independent site for those young people to have a voice around the election.

Where Lepota going is a long way from where he started: I have a bit of an unconventional story to how I ended up in Dublin. I was born in the townships in South Africa, a construct of apartheid. I grew up with a mum who sold second-hand clothing.

He made it from the townships, via scholarships, to university in New York and in 2019, he moved to Dublin, where he is currently working for Google.

Michael Jacob, one of the Lions Den runners-up, has quit his day job to work full-time on his fintech, Billout, which automates streaming subscriptions and bill payments.

With the cost of living going up, more and more people have the appetite to look around for cheaper alternatives

He and his now-wife came up with the idea when they were getting married and scrambling to keep track of all the payments they had to make.

The app is currently in development, with a launch date set tentatively for the end of the summer. Jacob and his three co-founders  his brother-in-law and his wife are also on board  hope it will save people money as well as keep them organised.

With the cost of living going up, more and more people have the appetite to look around for cheaper alternatives. We want to make it easier for people, he said.

Jacob, who is from Nigeria but grew up in Ireland, comes from a family of business people. But this is his first venture into the entrepreneurial world.

Ive had so many ideas over the years. Ive never pursued them, for one reason or the other. But I believe in one thing: we need to take risks. And if you dont take risks, you wont get a reward. But obviously, it needs to be a calculated risk.

Im going to make non-alcoholic drinks fun and interesting

For Meath-based Felicia Awe, it didnt feel like taking a risk, as her business was first a hobby that grew out of a concoction she made for a charity event when she was 16.

From a religious point of view, we are encouraged not to drink. So every time I went out with my friends, I was always the one who was not drinking, and it was seen as something bad, or youre not fun. So I thought, Im going to make non-alcoholic drinks fun and interesting, and they are going to look exactly like youre drinking an alcoholic cocktail.

Her virgin pina coladas and mojitos are now sold out in Aldi, but she is looking for a new kitchen to make more. Funding her business, Awe-Some Creations/Drinks, hasn't been easy, but Awe is used to hard work.

Back in Africa, my mother was actually a hairdresser. There was no such thing as child minders, so she would take us to her salon and we would be there until midnight while my mum was doing hair. Growing up, seeing the resilience, seeing the determination she had, subconsciously it did influence my entrepreneurial behaviour. Ive just been surrounded by really amazing women. Its influenced me a lot without realising it.

Africa Day was on May 25.
The demand for seaweed biomass and seaweed-based products globally is currently outstripping supply

A new strategy published by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) sets out a plan for the development of a profitable seaweed sector in Ireland.

Seaweed is now being used in a number of different industries, including food production, pharma and agriculture.

Annual global seaweed output is in excess of 35 million wet tonnes, BIM reported. The majority of this farmed seaweed comes from countries in Asia, including China and Indonesia.

The BIM Irish Macro-Algal Cultivation Strategy to 2030 will focus on three pillars.

The first will focus on building the sector, increasing the area under cultivation and providing targeted support to those in the sector.

The second focus of the strategy includes market analysis, as well as the production of artisan products and simple food ingredients.

The final stage will focus on establishing a robust licensing process for industry participants, as well as a focus on adhering to existing EU legislation. There will also be a push for research and innovation to support changes in cultivation, harvesting and processing of native species.

To ensure a sustainable and economically profitable aquaculture industry in Ireland, the volume of farmed seaweed must increase, BIM chief executive Caroline Bocquel said.

Irelands long coastline and clean, cold waters present the ideal conditions to cultivate seaweed, and to sustainably develop this crop that is highly resource efficient, requiring minimal resource input.

There are currently 25 licenced seaweed farms in Ireland, located along the north-west, west and south-west coastline.

Farmed seaweed here is grown on ropes and nets.

Seaweed farmer Michael ONeill, who is based in west Cork, welcomed the new strategy.

Ireland has always been a supplier of high-quality seaweeds for various uses, but there have been limitations, to date, on the scalability of the industry, he said.

The advances in cultivation technology and processing leaves Ireland extremely well positioned to become a major player in the international seaweed industry.

He added that the demand for seaweed biomass and seaweed-based products globally is currently outstripping supply, presenting an opportunity for the industry in Ireland.
Irish Strategic Investment Fund has holdings in firms named by UN as working in Occupied Territories

Protest: Marchers in Dublin have called for sanctions to be imposed against Israel over Palestine. Photo: Getty

State wealth fund, Isif, has indicated it won't sell stakes in Israeli banks linked to illegal settlements unless forced to do so by law.

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, which is funded by taxpayers, has invested in four Israeli banks named in a UN report from 2020 as helping support illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories.

Sinn Feins spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady, has introduced a bill designed to compel Isif to divest holdings in companies listed as operating in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Isif confirmed to the Irish Independent that it owns shares in the four banks: Mizrahi Tefahot, Bank Hapoalim, Israel Discount Bank and Bank Leumi-Le Israel. The stocks are on a public register of Isif's voting records at the annual general meetings of the companies.

The banks were among 112 companies named in a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights report listing businesses that have ties to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. The report prompted a number of international investors to divest themselves of those stocks.

There are no legal barriers to Irish money managers investing in Israel, however any investment directly linked to illegal settlements is politically controversial. Dail Eireann passed a motion in 2020 condemning Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.

Isif said it works within the legislative framework set by Government.

The Oireachtas is currently debating proposed legislation which, if enacted, may result in the sale of certain investments, an ISIF spokesman told the Irish Independent.

Isif has, to date, completed several divestment programmes and excluded investments from the Fund, consistent with legislative changes enacted by the Oireachtas which have had a consequential impact on Isifs investment strategy, the spokesman added.

These changes have resulted, for example, in Isif having no direct holdings in fossil fuel.

Nick Ashmore heads up Isif. Photo: Chris Bellew/Fennell

The fund is part of the National Treasury Management Agency and will share an updated list of its holdings in the NTMAs annual report, due to published shortly.

It held 50,000 worth of shares in Israels third largest bank Mizrahi Tefahot at the end of 2021, participating in its annual meeting last December. It held shares worth the same amount in Bank Leumi-Le Israel, voting in its annual meeting in June 2022.

Isif held shares in Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank worth 20,000 and 30,000 respectively. It participated in the annual meetings for both last June, according to records reviewed by the Irish Independent.

The banks were flagged by the UN for providing services and utilities which support the maintenance and existence of the settlements.

The UN highlighted that the operations of these banks help to develop, expand or maintain Israeli settlements and their activities, including loans for housing and development of businesses.

The UN stated that companies could be removed from the database if they could prove that they were no longer involved in these activities. The UN told the Irish Independent there has been no further update and it remains in contact with a number of named businesses.

In 2021, Norways largest pension fund KLP said it would divest from 16 firms following the report, including the four banks where Isif held shares.

KLP senior analyst Kiran Aziz said there is unacceptable risk that the excluded companies contribute to violations of human rights in war and conflict situations.
Why our island farmers feel ACRES is a threat to their way of life  and to tourism and biodiversity

As they transition from a successful local programme, Inis Oirr farmers share their concerns about the new scheme that groups them in with the Burren  they fear that with reduced financial incentives, there will be less farming and less habitat management

Centuries-old tradition: Michael Francis O Conghaile on his farm on Inis Oirr. Photos: Natasha Barton

Azmia Riaz Tue 6 Jun 2023 at 03:00
Environmental activists of Greenpeace hang a banner on the facade of the Europa building as they protest against the trade agreement with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) during the meeting of ministers in charge of foreign trade in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25, 2023. Photo: Ata Ufuk Seker/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The European Commission has said it is a priority to conclude a long-delayed trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc, as the EU seeks new allies to reduce its dependence on China and the United States, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The policy paper, due to be presented by the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell on Wednesday, sets out the importance of securing priority access to Latin America's raw materials and other resources, in the face of "increasing geopolitical challenges".

It appeared to be a bid to give fresh impetus to efforts to rekindle relations with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Such a deal would help the EU take a more independent stance and rely less on Beijing and on Washington, especially if Donald Trump wins re-election next year, EU diplomatic sources told Reuters.

An EU-Mercosur trade pact was agreed in principle in 2019 but is still waiting to be ratified in the parliaments of those countries involved.

France - where the deal is unpopular with local farmers - has since said it wants the Mercosur side to agree to various additional commitments, notably on respecting EU rules on deforestation, before it can back it.

"By strengthening the partnership between two regions that are among the world's most closely aligned in terms of interests and values, EU and LAC (the Latin America and Caribbean region) will be better placed to confront global challenges," the document, seen by Reuters on Monday, reads.

Latin America and Europe should work on reducing "excessive dependency" on third countries, it adds.

The document sets out a roadmap for concluding a number of free trade and partnership agreements with Latin American countries as soon as possible, as well as for boosting bilateral relations with Mexico and Brazil.

Many of the deals would build on an EU programme to invest in green and digital transition projects in Latin America which is due to be approved at a July 17-18 summit between the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU, the first since 2015.

The supply of energy resources to the EU will also play a prominent role in the new relationship, with Brussels looking to sign agreements with Latin American countries as envisaged under the EU's new Critical Raw Materials strategy, document says.

That aims to mitigate the risks to supply chains for materials related to sustainable energy that were highlighted by shortages during the pandemic and in the energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Negotiations are most advanced with Chile and Argentina, and a deal could be announced as early as July, according to the European diplomatic sources.

Reuters
Dispute over who will pay for motorway work threatens to derail vital Galway scheme

The long-term viability of dozens of farms and homes in south Galway could be in doubt, as a disagreement between Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Galway County Council threatens to derail the long-awaited South Galway/Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme.

Over the winter of 2015, more than 200 farms, 35 homes and 36 farm buildings were flooded in Kiltartan and other areas north of Gort. The flood waters took months to fully recede and caused millions of euros worth of damage to homes and farms.

Similar catastrophic flooding events have hit the area on a number of occasions in recent decades, with devastating floods in 2009 and in the 90s.

Farmers in the area have been pinning their hopes on a long-awaited flood relief scheme, which has been in development for more than a decade.

In 2021, the South Galway/Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme received a positive cost benefit analysis and engineers have spent the past two years designing a preferred route with local landowners.

On the back of the positive cost benefit analysis, the joint Galway CC and Office of Public Works (OPW) scheme received assurances of government funding once the required environmental assessments were completed.

However, a disagreement between TII and Galway CC over the culverts on the M18 has stalled progress on the scheme, and could derail it entirely.

The M18 runs in a north/south direction between Gort and Oranmore. For the proposed flooding scheme to work, millions of litres of water will have to travel in an east/west direction from Gort to the ocean at Kinvara.

It has emerged that the culverts on this section of the M18, which was opened in September 2017, are not big enough to take the large volumes of water needed to make the scheme viable.

The only possible engineering solution to this problem is an open cut of the new motorway, a costly and time-consuming project which would result in the motorway being closed for weeks or perhaps months.

More worrying for local farmers, however, is that if the costs of these works are added to the overall costs of the flood relief scheme, it will no longer have a positive cost benefit analysis and will likely be shelved.

Both Galway CC and a local group, the South Galway Flood Relief Committee (SGFRC), say that TII, then known as the National Roads Authority (NRA), were made aware of the need for larger culverts to be installed before the motorway was built, but decided to ignore it.

The engineering consultants have come up with a scheme which will, more or less, eliminate flooding in south Galway, said said David Murray, chairperson of SGFRC.

This scheme requires a flow rate [of flood water] to go under that motorway that is much bigger than what the culverts have been designed for. This is a big problem. Until this is resolved, the flood relief scheme is not viable.

Livestock in the floods

When they were preparing to build this section of the motorway, I did a report for them [NRA/TII] myself, because I was very concerned about the situation. When there is a significant flooding event, the turloughs in this area overflow, one overflows into the next and that creates a cascading effect.

During previous floods, there has been a significant flood channel across the land which the motorway now crosses. I wrote a report and gave it to TII outlining that they needed to design in the right sized culverts at the right location.

In 2011, six years before this section of the M18 was opened, the OPW commissioned a report by consultants Jennings and ODonovan which highlighted the needs for flooding to be taken into account when constructing the motorway.

The report said it was absolutely essential that the design of the new motorway includes a culvert capable of handling a flow rate of 100 cubic metres of water per second  far in excess of what was included in the motorway.

Enda Gallagher, senior engineer with Galway CC and project lead for the flood relief scheme, said the local authority also warned TII about the needs for larger culverts before the motorway was built.

Flooding concerns at the Kiltartan/Raheen areas had been raised with TII by the OPW, Galway CC, local residents and public representatives prior to the construction of the M18. TII were aware of the Jennings ODonovan report at the time, he told the Farming Independent.

To convey the flood waters, one of the existing culverts under the M18 would have to be replaced with a new 8.5 metre wide by 2.5m high culvert, at a lower level than the existing culvert. This culvert would be over 30m long. Without the proposed upgrade works, flood levels would remain unacceptably high in the Kiltartan area, with houses, farm buildings and the church under threat of flooding.

A spokesperson from TII said the agency had taken the Jennings and ODonovan report into account, but had disagreed with its conclusions. The spokesperson also said the culverts on the M18 were built to the specifications of the planning approval granted to Galway CC itself.

NRA/TII did take into account the findings of the OPWs Jennings and ODonovan report from 2011, but did not agree on all the reports conclusions due to the complexity of the hydrological challenges in and around the projects boundary, said the spokesperson. Additional works outside of the M18 project boundary would be required to deal with these challenges. For example, OPWs Jennings and ODonovan report indicated significant improvements could be achieved by finding an outlet to the sea for the water from the lough on the west side of the motorway and improve a culvert on a local road downstream.

The statutory approvals to build the project were in place by 2007, before the report from Jennings and ODonovan in 2011. The culverts in question were constructed in accordance with the planning approval granted to Galway CC for the N18 Oranmore to Gort Scheme.

A change to the culvert size during the construction phase would have been at variance with the statutory approval and add significant cost to the project, which could not be justified at that time.

Both Galway CC and the SGFRC have raised concerns that if TII do not fund the culvert works on the M18, the flood scheme itself is unlikely to proceed.

According to Mr Murray, local farmers have been traumatised by the risk of flooding in this area for decades.

We have two main concerns. Firstly, we have no decision over where and how this [culvert] is going to happen. Until that happens the environmental consultants cant sign off on the project and we cant move forward, he said.

Farmers have been living with this for decades. They are sick with worry that their land might be flooded, their sheds might be flooded, their homes might be completely inaccessible again.

We have had horror stories here over the years. It is having a very debilitating impact on the local community here, especially the farming community. Its really traumatic for these farmers.

The bigger concern is who is going to pay for this. TII were warned, they were consulted and they put in culverts which were not fit for purpose. They should be the people to foot the bill for this.

If the cost of this is put on the flood scheme, it is likely to make the scheme unfeasible. They [TII] had the information and they went ahead anyway.

Mr Gallagher said the cost associated with the M18 culverts has the potential to impact the overall cost benefit position of the flood relief scheme.

Engagement between Galway CC and TII is ongoing in relation to the matter with a view to ensuring that the viability of the South Galway/Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme is not undermined by the funding burden of the culvert upgrade works, he said.

The Farming Independent understands that some negotiations are taking place between Galway CC and TII on this issue but no significant progress has been made to date.
Over-eights let down by lack of public eye-care scheme in several parts of the country

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has been urged to plug gaps in optometry services for children.

Children in need of eye care, including routine examinations and glasses, are facing a postcode lottery with no HSE public service in some regions, a new survey has revealed.

The survey looked at HSE optometry services across the country for children over the age of eight years.

It found particular blackspots in the northwest and in parts of Dublin.

The research by Optometry Ireland shows there is no public eye-care scheme for children of this age in HSE regions covering Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Wicklow and south Dublin.

There is a service for eye examinations and eye care through optometrists in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway. However the professional body said there were issues around payments to optometrists and there was no formal agreement in place.

In other areas, parents whose children have been on a lengthy HSE waiting list can be referred privately but the subsidy varies.

In Tipperary, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, parents must pay a 22.51 top-up fee if their child is referred to a private optometrist by the HSE

However, in Meath, Louth, Kildare, west Wicklow, Dublin south-central and Dublin south-west, parents must pay a full fee, which can range from 30 upwards.

Children requiring complex glasses are entitled to 150 towards these in some areas, while other areas either have no voucher, or a voucher up to only 51.

Optometrists insist this unfair geographical inequality and gaps in childrens eye care must end and have called for a national public programme for the over-eights.

Optometry Ireland said the HSE must fast-track the rollout of a standardised nationwide optometrist-led eye-care programme and deliver on the States commitment to ensure routine eye examinations and glasses-fitting would be readily available to all children.

Optometry Ireland chief executive Sean McCrave said optometrists had the resources to provide a consistent and universal planned scheme for over-eights in all regions across the country  with no additional staffing, equipment, or training required to provide it.

We know that delay in providing needed glasses to children negatively affects their learning, he said.

The ongoing gap in the provision on childrens eye care, particularly for eight to 16-year-olds, for whom there is no national eye-care scheme, needs to be addressed urgently.

The current gaps contravene our childrens constitutional right to state-covered eye care.

The HSE acknowledged this gap years ago and said it was committed to addressing it.

However, the response has been very slow, minimal and piecemeal.

Optometry Ireland is calling on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to intervene, and for TDs and Senators to call out this issue.

We want to sit down with the HSE and together implement a consistent and equitable scheme, with protocols and clarity in all regions.

Mr McCrave added: There are 300 optometry practices and 700 practitioners who are highly trained, have state-of-the-art equipment and have available capacity to provide eye care examinations, glasses fitting, care and monitoring to children.

Resourcing the needs of children aged over-eight, via a public agreement with optometrists, would also free up resources in hospitals and HSE clinics for adult eye-care to help address very lengthy waiting times.
Exclusive | Evil rapist Richard OBrien was a monster in a house of horrors  Two of his daughters and two sisters tell their stories and how authorities failed them
First phase of industrial action due to begin this Tuesday with work-to-rule Minister for Local Government Darragh OBrien has the power to resolve dispute over pay and working conditions

Retained firefighters around the country are beginning industrial action this morning in protest over pay and conditions.

Minister for Housing and Local Government Darragh OBrien had the power to stop the proposed nationwide firefighters strike  simply by lifting the phone this weekend and initiating meaningful negotiations, according to a union leader.

Stephen McFadden of the National Retained Firefighters Association of Ireland (NRFA) said the first phase of industrial action will begin this Tuesday, when the work-to-rule will start.

A week later, on June 13, half of the countrys retained part-time firefighters will strike. The following week, June 20, this will escalate to an all-out strike unless the dispute over pay and conditions is resolved.

There are currently around 3,000 firefighters nationwide. More than 2,000 of these are employed as retained rather than full-time firefighters. Retained staff are paid an annual retainer to be available for call-outs, but their pay depends on the number of incidents they attend.

They are allowed to work part-time jobs to supplement their income, but do so knowing their second job must be within 2.5km of their fire station.

Retained firefighters must also live within that same distance from the station they are attached to, in order to respond within five minutes of being paged to report to work.

We do not want to go on strike. This is a position we have been forced into. We have yet to meet Darragh OBrien despite seeking it. He has the power this weekend to lift the phone and reach out to us and resolve this, said Mr McFadden.

If he wants to stop this before it seriously escalates on June 13, he should meet us next week.

What we are doing is trying to save the fire service. If we dont get better working conditions, the service will collapse. A recent major report showed that around 60pc of firefighters plan to quit the service within the next 18 months, because of conditions.

Mr McFadden also expressed concern that the countrys 31 local authorities, who have been given notice of the strike action, are entirely unprepared for what happens next.

The local authorities have no contingency plans. It is their responsibility to provide a fire service for Ireland. I dont think they are ready for this.

This strike is about ensuring the conditions are better for the next generation of firefighters  because if things dont change, the reality is that there wont be a next generation he said.

Ciaran Finn, station officer at Ashbourne fire station, agreed the strike action is needed to send a message to Government that the current working conditions for firefighters are unsustainable if the service is to survive.

Mr Finn (53), originally from Drumcondra in Dublin, has been a firefighter since 1999.

The fire service doesnt offer a future right now for recruits. We do not want to strike. But something has to be done to make them listen. We love our work. The stress around the job is not the work itself, its the conditions. Its about being constantly on call, and not receiving any real pension benefits.

He said the idea of an all-out strike on June 20 fills me with dread... we know all the people in the local community. If there was a major fire and the strike is on, the lads would go through the wall of the station to help.

But this is about making a stance. We are good people who are proud of what we do. We just need things to change so that firefighters keep joining up.

While retained firefighters are entitled to work part-time, Finn said employers no longer want firefighters, as they must always be on call and therefore are not fully committed to other work.

The prospect of my first ever strike weighs heavily. But if we dont take action now to change the service, then once the original crew retires therell be no one to run the service  and that scares me more.

A spokesperson for Mr OBriens department said: Minister OBrien commissioned a report which found that the work/life balance of retained firefighters needs to be addressed to ensure the sustainability of retained fire services as an attractive employment option.

"Work is under way to begin implementing the recommendations set out in this report, through agreed structures, that will include active engagement with staff representatives in the Retained Fire Service.

While a positive conclusion to the process to the satisfaction of all parties has not yet been reached, Minister OBrien encourages all parties to continue to engage constructively on resolving the outstanding industrial relations issues within the established forum.
Irish women now suffer from the 10th highest rate of melanoma skin cancer in the world.

The alarming revelation came as it emerged that Ireland is also ranked sixth overall in the world for non-melanoma skin cancers  fifth highest for men and sixth highest for women.

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) data showed that Ireland, despite decades of health campaigns about the dangers of sun overexposure and the need to use skin protection when outdoors, now suffers from a worryingly high rate of skin cancers.

Melanoma is one of the worlds most feared cancers.

While readily treatable when caught in its early stages, if allowed to spread to other parts of the body melanoma can become a highly aggressive form of cancer.

More than 1,200 people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in Ireland each year. The fresh data reveals how Irish women rank 10th in the world for melanoma detection  at 20.3 incidents per 100,000 people.

Danish women have the worlds highest rate of melanoma detection at 33.6, with Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Switzerland also in the top 10.

Studies are under way to determine whether such high rates are linked to a failure to use proper skin protection when on sun holidays.

In terms of non-melanoma skin cancers, Ireland ranks fifth highest in the world for men and sixth highest in the world for women.

Irish men are ranked at 64 cases per 100,000  behind Australia at 169, New Zealand at 148, the United States at 92 and Canada at 76.

However, Irelands rating is considered quite high given that men in Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada face far greater geographical summer sun challenges.

Irish women ranked sixth highest in the world for non-melanoma skin cancers at a rate of 30.2 per 100,000.

The highest in the world was for Australian women at 111.5.

Irish farming and construction industry groups maintain a special health awareness campaign focused on the threat posed by skin cancer.

Central Statistics Office figures indicated that one-in-four skin-cancer related deaths in Ireland occurred in people connected to farming, construction, fishing and outdoor work.

It indicated that prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV radiation  often without adequate protection  is a major factor.

Four people die on average each week because of skin cancer.

The number of melanoma cases in Ireland has increased by more than 300pc since 1995, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

In 2014, Ireland broke the 1,000 mark for the first time in terms of the number of new melanoma detections in a single year. That figure soared to 1,138 by 2016. In 2019, it was just under 1,100  with slightly more women diagnosed than men.

Health campaigners warned that unless Irish people radically alter their precautions to sun exposure, the rate of the disease is likely to double by 2040.
Handout photo dated 26/05/23 issued by Bloomfield Auctions of a silver-plated pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler.

The sale of an inscribed silver pencil once owned by Adolf Hitler has slumped at a Belfast auction house.

Carrying a pre-sale estimate of 50,000-80,000 Sterling, the birthday present from the dictators girlfriend Eva Braun was knocked down for a hammer price of 5,400.

The pencil carries the initials AH on its butt and an inscription marks Hitlers birthday on 20 April 1941, just before the invasion of Russia.

The engraved dedication concludes sincerely, Eva in German. It received much international publicity.

Pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler to go under hammer in Belfast

But the price refused to rise at Bloomfields auction today when Lot 148 was reached.

By contrast, a personally autographed portrait photo of Hitler from the early 1930s sold for 6,200, showing that the market for Nazi memorabilia remains generally strong.

Similarly a lead crystal wine goblet from the Berghof, the dictators eagles nest in the Bavarian alps, fetched 4,800.

It was from Hitlers personal table service.

Prominent Jewish figures declined to publicly comment on the prices fetched, but one said privately: The sale and marketing of these items has regularly been deplored.

Interest in them seems frankly sinister. There is nothing to commemorate or memorialise about the Third Reich and its millions of victims. A milk jug with Nazi eagle emblem from Hitlers private dining car in his sonderzug, or personal special train, sold for 1,100.

And a silver serving tray from the same place fetched 3,400. But a fork from the same location was passed after being offered at 500.

The lots ironically came up on the 79th anniversary of D-Day in 1944, when tens of thousands of soldiers were safely landed on five Normandy beaches  Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword, leading to the ultimate liberation of Europe from Hitler and his henchmen.

Karl Bennett, managing director of Bloomfields, had predicted wide interest in Hitlers engraved personal pencil, saying it gave a unique insight into Hitlers personal relationships, which he scrupulously kept hidden.

Looting of Hitler-related material from the both Berghof and the bunker where he and Eva Braun died in April 1944 was commonplace, with all kinds of materials pocketed by Allied soldiers.

Mr Bennett said he could understand distaste about Nazi memorabilia and militaria, which has occasionally given rise to controversy.

They preserve a piece of our past and should be treated as historical objects, he said, no matter if the history they refer to was one of the darkest and most controversial recorded.
Dublin Airport's operator daa has advised passengers to seek updates from their airline

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has called on President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to take action and protect flights as a result of French air traffic control strikes.

Speaking from Ryanairs Dublin operation centre this morning, Mr OLeary said only domestic flights in France should be cancelled and that it is absolutely indefensible that other flights across Europe and Ireland are disrupted.

He said countries like Spain, Italy and Greece already protect overflights when their national ATC unions go on strike.

This comes as over 30 flights to and from Dublin Airport have been cancelled today.

Ryanair has warned passengers that the strike will run until Wednesday morning.

Flights to and from Ireland that depend on French air traffic controllers will be impacted as a result.

Again today weve had to cancel just about 400 flights out of the 3,200 flights we had scheduled to operate today, he said.

All of these flights have been cancelled because of the latest French ATC strike. The vast majority of these are overflights, theyre not going to France. Theyre flights from Britain to Spain, from Portugal to Germany, from Italy to Ireland.

Theres no reason why these overflights are being cancelled during a day when French ATC are on strike.

We respect their right to strike but if they go on strike, it should be French domestic flights or local flights in France that get cancelled. They have alternatives.

But people flying across France are having their flights unnecessarily cancelled because the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen will not take action.

Last week Ryanair submitted a petition signed by over 1.1 million of our very fed-up customers calling for the Commission to insist that France protects overflights during French ATC strikes.

Europe is a single market, in a single market the overflights and the skies over Europe must be protected.

Lets stop the scandal of families having their holidays destroyed because overflights are being unnecessarily cancelled.

Flights from all airlines which pass through France may be affected and a spokesperson daa, which operates both Dublin and Cork airports, said passengers should seek updates about specific flights should contact their airline directly.

Smooth sailing at Dublin Airport as travellers jet off on busy Bank Holiday with effortless departures

The strike is expected to impact flights today in particular.

According to the live air traffic website, Flight Radar 24, 16 flights to Dublin Airport and 15 flights from the facility, which were scheduled for today and tomorrow, have been cancelled so far.

The cancelled flights are as follows:

Todays arrivals

08:20 KL933 Amsterdam (AMS) KLM

11:05 FR1987 Nantes (NTE) Ryanair

11:20 EI693 Dusseldorf (DUS) Aer Lingus

11:35 EI681 Geneva (GVA) Aer Lingus

13:05 FR4284 Marseille (MRS) Ryanair

14:00 FR5061 Cagliari (CAG) Ryanair

15:00 FR5132 Basel (BSL) Ryanair

16:35 FR23 Paris (BVA) Ryanair

17:00 FR1983 Biarritz (BIQ) Ryanair

17:00 TO7908 Paris (ORY) Transavia France

17:45 FR1959 Nice (NCE) Ryanair

20:05 FR1985 Carcassonne (CCF) Ryanair

22:40 FR1115 Reus (REU) Ryanair

23:10 FR5406 Murcia (RMU) Ryanair

23:10 FR25 Paris (BVA) Ryanair

Todays departures:

06:35 FR1986 Nantes (NTE) Ryanair

07:10 FR5060 Cagliari (CAG) Ryanair

07:40 FR4285 Marseille (MRS) Ryanair

08:55 KL934 Amsterdam (AMS) KLM

10:10 FR5131 Basel (BSL) Ryanair

12:00 FR1958 Nice (NCE) Ryanair

12:20 FR1982 Biarritz (BIQ) Ryanair

12:55 FR22 Paris (BVA) Ryanair

15:00 FR1984 Carcassonne (CCF) Ryanair

16:30 FR5405 Murcia (RMU) Ryanair

16:55 FR1116 Reus (REU) Ryanair

17:40 TO7909 Paris (ORY) Transavia France

19:30 FR24 Paris (BVA) Ryanair

19:55 BA823 London (LHR) British Airways

19:55 FR6485 Bordeaux (BOD) Ryanair

Wednesdays arrivals:

00:35 FR6484 Bordeaux (BOD) Ryanair

A spokesperson for Ryanair told Independent.ie that affected passengers have been notified and advised of their options.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: We are operating our schedule as planned today, Monday 5th June, however we continue to monitor air traffic control strike action in the French region very closely. We will notify customers directly of any changes to their flights."

Dozens of strikes by air traffic controllers in France have already been held this year in response to pension reforms by the government there that will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Teachers, transport workers and refuse workers take also take part in tomorrows industrial action.

While in many other countries such as Spain and Italy, overflights transiting through their airspace during strike action are protected from being diverted or grounded, there is no such protection in France.

It comes as Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has called on the European Commission to act on the impact of air traffic control strikes.

Last week, Mr OLeary delivered the Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open petition to EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyens office  having collected more than 1.1 million signatures from what the airline described as fed-up passengers demanding that the EU Commission protect overflights and EU citizens freedom of movement during repeated ATC (air traffic control) strikes.

"In the first five months of 2023, there have been 57 days of ATC strikes (10 times more than 2022) forcing airlines to disproportionately cancel thousands of EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland while France in particular, uses Minimum Service Laws to protect their domestic/ short-haul flights while disproportionately cancelling overflights. France (and all other EU states) should copy the example of Spain, Italy and Greece all of whom use Minimum Service Laws to protect overflights during ATC strikes.

"If this means that a greater number of domestic or short-haul flights are cancelled, then so be it, but flights over France must be protected during French ATC strikes, Ryanair said in a statement.

"Respect the strike rights of ATC unions, but protect 100pc of overflights (like Greece, Italy & Spain) during national ATC strikes.

"If ATC strikes require cancellations, then allocate these to domestic/short-haul flights to/from the affected State. Enforce binding arbitration for ATC disputes before strike action. Require a 21-day notice of strike action. Require a 72h [hour] notice of employee participation in ATC strikes to minimise passenger disruption.
News that Italian cardinal Matteo Zuppi has been asked by Pope Francis to undergo a peace mission aimed at ending the war in Ukraine is a precious spark in the dark.

No matter how far apart both sides are, a point will come when talks are the only way forward.

The tragedy continues to turn on how much more life will be wasted, and blood spilled, before such conditions can be met.

A statement from the Vatican reads: This is an initiative whose main purpose is to listen in depth to the Ukrainian authorities on the possible ways to reach a just peace and support gestures of humanity that may help ease tensions.

However forlorn the prospects for the initiative, to hear words like peace and humanity being mentioned in association with this deepening war has a consolation in itself.

It is understood that Cardinal Zuppi is associated with the SantEgidio Community. The justice group was credited with brokering a deal to end the civil war in Mozambique which had, up until then, claimed one million lives in 1992.

Two months ago, China proposed a 12-point peace plan for dealing with the war. It amounted to a reiteration of Beijings talking positions on the war. It called for dialogue, respect for all countries territorial sovereignty, and an end to economic sanctions. And it also urged all parties to avoid nuclear escalation. But critically, it failed to recommend that Russia withdraw its forces.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his soldiers have launched their much-anticipated offensive. It still seems somewhat incredible that lines of tanks could be rolling towards each other on continental Europe.

Nor can the reality be avoided that our world is sliding into a new age of heightened nuclear risk.

We are a single miscalculation or accident away from calamity. All the advances the nuclear powers made in the 1990s through arms control and non-proliferation are being surrendered before our eyes.

Moscows deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is but the latest example.

Intentionally or not, the spread of the war inevitably accelerates the danger.

For instance, anti-Putin militias conducted an armed raid near the Russian town of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine. It is known to be a central storage facility for some of Russias 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons. While last month the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant  Europes largest atomic power station  suffered its seventh power loss since Russias invasion. The International Atomic Energy Agency was sufficiently worried to warn the plant is extremely vulnerable.

While its six reactors are shut down, a continuous power supply is vital for cooling. Any efforts that carry hope of de-escalating risks must be supported. Nuclear perils or tank battles in Europe seemed unthinkable not too long ago.

With the chance of a mistake or misunderstanding intensifying as the war deepens, channels for dialogue are more crucial than ever.
Deputy Mick Barry - there has not been a more important protest in Cork this year than the Raise the Roof rally.

The Socialist TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry TD said the three Cork Ministers at Cabinet table need to feel far more pressure from the people of Cork on the housing issue.

A CALL has gone out to people from across Cork to take to the streets of the city on Saturday to voice their anger and frustration at Government over the ongoing housing crisis.

The Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry, has urged people come out in their droves for the Raise the Roof rally, which will assemble outside Connolly Hall on Lapps Quay from 12.30pm.

Deputy Barry said the rally, organised jointly by trade unions, housing and cost of living campaigners and opposition parties, will offer people an opportunity to air their huge dissatisfaction at the Governments failure to tackle the housing crisis.

Addressing the issue in a private members motion on home ownership in the Dail last week, Deputy Barry said young people were being forced out of the housing market as they cannot afford to buy or rent and are forced to either live at home with their parents or emigrate.

He said Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures released in February showing the average house price in the county at 304,000 and in the city at 284,000 - up by 24,000 and 22,000 respectively when compared to 12-months earlier.

He said the annual increase was not much less than the wages paid to many young workers.

Rents are averaging 1,700 in the city, or more than 20,000 a year, which is again not too much less than the average wages of young people, said Deputy Barry.

The Government feels under pressure to on the housing issue  but not nearly as much as it should, he added.

Deputy Barry said the three Ministers from Cork at the Cabinet table need to feel far more pressure from the people of Cork on the housing issue.

This country needs a mas housing protest movement on the streets, like we had with the water charges. That is why I am appealing for people to come out to the streets on Saturday June 10. I hope to see them turn out in their thousands..

Speaking this week ahead of Saturdays rally, Deputy Barry said he hoped it would unite renters, people seeking affordable housing, those on social housing lists and those directly affected by the lifting of the eviction ban.

There hasnt been a more important protest in Cork this year than Saturdays Raise the Roof rally, said Deputy Barry.

Government Ministers need to see and feel the huge dissatisfaction thats out there when it comes to their performance on the housing issue. I appeal to people who feel angry at the housing situation in this city and in the country to join together and to come out in the streets of Cork this weekend, he added.
Farmers increasingly concerned about being scapegoated and misrepresented in the media

A UCD study into mental health within the farming community found that a quarter of farmers surveyed were at risk of suicide and more than half had experienced moderate to extremely severe depression. One of the key causes of stress cited was Government policies designed to address climate change.

Cork North-West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan said farmers are being unfairly labelled as the bad guys in the climate change debate.

A CORK TD has called for urgent implementation of mental health initiatives to assist farmers he said felt under siege in the ongoing climate action debate.

Cork North-West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan said the issue is so serious some farmers are even considering taking their own lives after being branded the bad guys in relation to climate change.

A report published last October by the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and funded by the HSE National Office for Suicide found that almost a quarter of farmers surveyed were at risk of taking their own lives and that more than half had experienced moderate to extremely severe depression.

The report also stated that almost 40% of farmers were experiencing moderate to extremely severe anxiety and stress.

The study identified the major causes behind increasing levels of stress within farming communities, chief among them being Government policies designed to address climate change.

The authors of the report, UCD academics Dr Tomas Russell and Alison Stapleton, said the study findings tallied with their teams qualitative work whereby farmers mentioned being scapegoated for climate change, being misrepresented in the media and worrying about succession.

Following the publication of the report Dr Russell said it was hoped that its findings would help to build effective mental health interventions for farmers and the farming community at large.

The report was referenced at a recent event in Brussels focussing on mental health and suicide prevention within the farming community hosted by MEP Maria Walsh. She described mental health difficulties as being a silent epidemic that is casting a shadow across the farming community in rural Ireland.

Farm safety is a major issue in rural Ireland. It is one that we hear about in the media and through safety campaigns, and rightly so. The difficulty, however, is that mental health is just as much of a problem in our farming community today, and sadly, we are still not talking about it, said Ms Walsh.

We need to break down the barriers and address the taboo. Our farming community, particularly in rural Ireland, is finding it really tough and we are continuing to ignore the difficulties, she added.

Deputy Moynihan, the Fianna Fail spokesperson on Well Being, Public Health and the National Drugs Strategy, said that the climate change debate in particular was a critical issue for farmers that must be urgently addressed.

Its staggering that the UCD study found that over half of the farmers surveyed experienced moderate to extremely severe depression. Its is clear that It is clear that many farmers are distressed and struggling with their mental health as they deal with pressures that are in many cases out of their control, said Deputy Moynihan.

He said it was significant that climate change was among the top three causes of stress for farmers.

This is understandable as farmers feel under siege every time there is a debate about climate change. They are unfairly presented in the whole equation as the bad guys. This feeling has intensified as the debate over climate concerns has grown. They feel like they are under threat, said Deputy Moynihan.

He said that in order to counteract this and help improve farmers mental health urgent action was need to act on recommendations in the UCD report, such as facilitating interventions with psychologists and agricultural advisors for farmers at risk of suicide.

While considerable funding has been put into mental health initiatives for the farming community more needs to be done, said Deputy Moynihan.

Increasing supports will help farmers get in touch with services to discu

ss their problems before their mental health significantly deteriorates, he added.
Wayne McMahon is also the owner of an Irish setter, an Irish terrier and bulldog, meaning he owns 15 dogs in total.

The Meath based man is planning to bring his dogs into the city centre to offer people the chance to see and learn about Irish Wolfhounds. Mr McMahon admitted that he is fascinated by his dogs and wants to share his knowledge on the history of them.

He told Idependent.ie: Were giving people a chance to meet the wolfhounds. Theyre the tallest dog breed in the world. Theyre part of Irish history, they go back as far as the Romans, theyre just so entwined in our history and our poetry, theyre magnificent.

People want to meet them. When I'm out walking, people ask me about them. You cant walk down the road without getting stopped. I get asked for pictures, how do I feed them, all those sorts of things. People are fascinated, so I want to do this. I want to tell the story of the Irish wolfhounds.

Were hoping to do it in Stephens Green and around that part of the city. Were chatting with the OPW, and theyll be giving us the go ahead soon.

Wayne McMahon with his dogs.

Wayne is excited to let people meet his dogs and to talk about the history of the legendary breed.

Therell be a meet and greet and therell be a little bit of walking, it may change as time progresses. Im hoping to start this in the next 10 days.

There are only so many pubs that tourists can go to. Its an historical experience. The dogs love getting out too, they love seeing the car keys.

Im hoping kids will take an interest. I hope it opens the door to Irish history, to stories like Cu Chulainn.

"Therell be a tourist market but Im hoping younger people take an interest. Im incredibly lucky to have them all and to be able to offer this, he added.

You can find out more about The Wolfhound Experience here.
Kenneth Grealy (46) hurled abuse at the garda who found him intoxicated. Stock image

A drunken man who told a garda Im going to beat you was a public order offender with teeth to him, a judge said.

Kenneth Grealy (46) hurled abuse at the garda who found him intoxicated in a west Dublin car park.

Judge David McHugh gave him a two-month suspended sentence after hearing alcohol was a demon for Grealy but he was now of sober habits.

Grealy pleaded guilty to public intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Blanchardstown District Court heard gardai were called to a public order disturbance at Tower Road, Clondalkin at 2.35pm on May 18 last year.

The accused was on the grounds of a car park in an intoxicated state and became aggressive to the investigating garda, telling him to f**k off and Im going to beat you.

He was also arrested for similar offences last November 15.

Its more a nuisance than anything else, his lawyer said.

I wouldnt agree, Judge McHugh said.

Hes not simply on the side of the road stumbling around, he has teeth to him, and he uses the English language in a vernacular way.

Grealy had been for alcohol treatment but every day is a battle, his lawyer said.
Agite Closet, who sells pre-loved clothing, and Dogs Dinner Studio, who upcycles clothing to give it a second chance of life, have teamed up to make a one-of-a-kind clothing range.

Monica Martinez, from Agite Closet, told Independent.ie: I met Dogs Dinner Studio at the flea markets in Dublin and I wanted to work with them at some point.

After a while, I realised a lot of the pre-loved clothing was damaged, has holes and its not in a good condition to sell.

I thought of calling Dogs Dinner Studio to do something together. She can make new items and designs from these fabrics.

I had a lot of clothing I wasnt selling because of the quality, and they decided to work with all of that.

Agite Close and Dogs Dinner Studio have teamed up to make a one-of-a-kind clothing range.

Dogs Dinner Studio is taking used denim to create unique up-cycled pieces. They use all fabric possible from the old jeans, and now, the pieces are nearly ready to sell.

According to Monica, between 80 and 100 billion new clothing garments are produced globally every year, but only 1pc of clothes will get recycled into new garments.

The majority of the materials and fibres used to make clothing will end up in either incinerators or landfills, and only 20pc of discarded textiles are collected.

Were trying to use all of the clothes that can no longer be used. Fast fashion quality is really bad, its cheap, it wont last, she said.

These items of ours will last because of the design. Theyll be more unique than something from a fast fashion shop too.

Its taken months to make all of these. We started after Christmas; were working the weekends for hours to design and create each piece.

The clothing will launch online on June 12. Therell be a mix of preloved and upcycled clothes available, Monica added.

More information on where to find this denim range will be available in the coming days.
Research led by Atlantic Technological University may have found a simple yet effective solution to supply clean drinking water to rural areas around the World.

New research has found that polypropylene (PP) based transparent jerrycans (TJC) and the power of the sun's ultraviolet rays, could be an effective low-cost solution for treating and collecting safe drinking water in rural areas in developing countries. This investigation was published this week in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (Link: Efficient solar disinfection (SODIS) using polypropylene based transparent jerrycans: An investigation into its effectiveness, viability, and water sample toxicity). Researchers from ATU included are Kris ODowd and Suresh C. Pillai.

With over 2.1 billion people across the world lacking access to safe water, this EU funded H2020 project, may have developed a novel and cost-effective treatment solution to remove contaminants from water.

The study, conducted by a team of researchers, evaluated the efficacy of using Solar Disinfection (SODIS) for water disinfection. The results showed that the SODIS process was capable of significantly reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms, including E. Coli, MS2, and Cryptosporidium parvum.

It is estimated that by 2025, over 50% of the world's population will have insufficient access to safe drinking water. Therefore, this research provides hope for a practical and accessible solution to this pressing issue.

The idea for the study uses plastic transparent Jerrycans filled with water from local water sources and placed on roofs of houses. Once left on the roof, ultraviolet light from the sun kills bacteria such as E. Coli, leaving safe drinking water at little cost.

The research found that the PP TJC had a 6 log (equivalent to a 99.9999% ) microbial reduction value (LRV) in E. coli after 105 minutes of solar irradiation, a 3 LRV (equivalent to a 99.9%) in MS2 after 5 hours, and a 3 LRV (equivalent to a 99.9%) in C. parvum after 2 days of solar treatment, which corresponds to a 2-star performance according to the Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) guidelines from the WHO which states water at this level offers Comprehensive protection through high pathogen removal .

"This is a wonderful example of international collaborative research at its best. Researchers from Ireland, Spain, India and the UK have worked together to find sustainable solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing vulnerable communities across the globe - that of reliable access to safe drinking water in a time of climate crisis." Said Prof. Kevin McGuigan of the Royal college of surgeons Ireland, who coordinates the PANIWATER project.

In addition to evaluating the efficacy of the Solar Disinfection process with the Jerrycan, the study also analysed the plastic's structural properties after advanced weathering and its cytotoxicity after extended use. The plastic Jerrycan was found to be non-toxic to human cells and biocompatible. However, after two weeks of accelerated ageing, the plastic became brittle and more susceptible to breaks.

Further research will focus on developing appropriate UV stabilizers for the plastic Jerrycan to increase the plastic's structural lifetime. This study highlights the potential for using plastic Jerrycans as a low-cost and effective method for water disinfection in rural areas, where safe drinking water is often inaccessible.

This study was led by ATU along with Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT, Spain, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain, Buckinghamshire New University, United Kingdom and RCSI University of Medicine and Healthcare, Dublin, Ireland.

This project is a part of the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme PANIWATER, funded jointly by European Commission and Department of Science and Technology, India. PANIWATER project is coordinated by Prof. Kevin McGuigan of Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and ATU, RCSI and Maynooth University are the Irish partners along with 16 EU and Indian partners.
Four nursing students and two staff from St. Angelas College, Sligo will visit Uganda in July to embark on a number of humanitarian community engagement activities there. This international programme will give General Nursing and Intellectual Disability Nursing students a unique opportunity and a chance to work on projects that will improve the lives of many who have been neglected by their government and in some cases society and their own families. Projects will include carrying out General health and vision assessments, administration of essential medication and providing eyeglasses as required. The team will also be delivering nutrition and health workshops to health care workers as well as identifying the needs for an inclusive school based in Entebbe.

In collaboration with Carlow University (Pittsburgh), St. Angelas will join US students and faculty for a busy 14-day programme that will see them visit many rural sites where communities live with limited means to basic needs. In addition, St. Angelas have now established a partnership with Bright Kids Uganda (NGO), and founding director, Dr Victoria Nalongo Namusisi. As well as being an influential community leader, Victoria has recently received the African Humanitarian Award 2023.

Uganda programme co-ordinator, Sean Kelly said: Working on the group and directly with those who often struggle to survive will be something our students havent experienced before but were confident they will take from it, a perspective and sense of gratitude for what we take for granted here at home, and this will stay with them as they move forward in their nursing careers. Its really important that were not simply going there to fix things and then leave again - what we want to see is the start of new practices and ideas that Ugandans will be empowered with to continue long after were gone and having a trusted community leader like Victoria makes this possible.

In Ugandan society, giving birth to a child with a disability is considered a curse and a burden so children are often abandoned, sometimes just left on the street. Thanks to Bright Kids Uganda, there is now a haven where they can be cared for. Also included in the itinerary is a visit to the site of a new health clinic which has come about thanks to the drilling of a new clean water well in the area that St. Angelas contributed to back in 2017.

Head of School of Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies, Dr Edel McSharry, will also be joining the team. Community engagement of any kind is at the heart of what we do and to be able to experience this on a global scale will enhance our students and indeed my own learning. This project will help us to begin to understand the life and health challenges these communitys face which can only improve our cultural sensitivity and communication for our future practice, she said.

Dr McSharry added: As nurses, we can bring our professional knowledge but perhaps more importantly in these settings, our practical and valuable health promoting skills.

Nursing students Emily Kelly (Sligo), Sorcha Higgins (Longford), Erin Russell (Mayo) and Eabha Heffron (Clare), together with Sean and Edel, have been gathering donations and fundraising for the various projects there and know that any amount goes a long way over there.

If you would like to make a donation of any size, you can do so a number of ways and youll find more details at www.stangelas.ie/uganda2023
(Back row) Niall Walsh (Glenart College), Alison Norman (Business in the Community Ireland), Ailbhe Rowlands, Alannah Doyle, Sarah Keeley, Leaha Walker Moore, Deirdre Keogh (SSE Renewables) and Damien Cloney (Glenart College). (Front row) Ross Burke Murphy, Adam Higgins, Daniel Therkelsen and Zachary Du Preez.

STUDENTS from Glenart College in Arklow completed SSE Renewables second year of the one-to-one student mentoring programme facilitated by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI).

Delivered through one-to-one monthly sessions over the 2022/23 academic year, Glenart College students Ailbhe Rowlands, Sarah Keeley, Ross Burke Murphy, Zachary Du Preez, Leaha Walker Moore, Adam Higgins, Kade Van de Vyuer, Daniel Therkelsen and Alannah Doyle took part in the programme.

The student mentoring programme is designed to facilitate personalised sessions covering topics including goal setting, career investigation, CV and interview skills preparation. Sessional content was drawn from a suite of Business in the Community Ireland-approved resources, and students soft skills and resilience building were encouraged throughout the programme.

The programme was over-subscribed, and selected students were matched with mentors based on metrics like skills, hobbies, career interests and programme value to the individual student.

This year was particularly noteworthy in that the students were specifically acknowledged at the Business in the Community Ireland National Mentoring Celebration held in the Grand Masonic Lodge, Molesworth Street, Dublin.

Niall Walsh, Programme Co-ordinator at Glenart College said: The feedback from our students has been overwhelmingly positive. It has boosted their confidence and challenged them to think creatively about their future education and career options.

Were very grateful to the mentors for their enthusiasm, preparation, encouragement and integrity demonstrated throughout the mentoring sessions.

Alison Norman, Regional Co-ordinator, Business in the Community Ireland said: The programme has grown from strength to strength this year and has achieved tangible benefits for students from Glenart College who participated.

The programme encourages retention, increases self-esteem, and develops an awareness of workplace practices and expectations.

Nationally, 265 students and mentors have participated in the programme this year, with 2,279 students and 2,109 mentors have participated to date.

Currently, there are 26 student mentoring programmes running across the country. We look forward to continuing the very positive relationship with Glenart College and SSE Renewables into the coming year.

Deirdre Keogh, Community Engagement Manager, SSE Renewables said: With Leaving Certificate being such an important year, its beneficial to have support from working professionals in our Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 project team who can lend their insight, and experiences and help the students face the challenges ahead with state exams, and in the longer-term for college, training and the world of work.

As a company, we benefitted hugely from our association with Business in the Community and our partner school Glenart College.

The mentoring programme aligns well with our companys commitment to supporting education and training in communities near our development sites like Arklow.

It gives us a chance to give something back as a company and most importantly, our support helps contribute to talent and skills development for young people and a collective better future for all.

On behalf of our mentors, which included me, Deborah Coleman, Rob Sheldon, Aoibhin Flanagan, Hugh Connell, Ann Fahy, John OSullivan, Richard Irving and Aaron Henry from SSE Renewables, it was a pleasure to be involved with the programme and mentor such bright, earnest, and ambitious students.

We wish our mentee students and all those sitting state examinations, every success.
Australias worst serial killer Kathleen Folbigg is granted pardon after inquiry

Kathleen Folbigg was serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted of killing her four children

Kathleen Folbigg had been convicted of killing four of her children. Photo: AP

Stuti Mishra UK Independent Tue 6 Jun 2023 at 03:30






Rosanna Davison: Now women know our value is more than our cup size. Or how we look in underwear
North America

In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you  Trump blasts federal indictment as 'baseless' in speech
Europe

Western tanks seen in battle as counter-attack by Ukrainians gets under way
India-Iran Multilateral Trade Dynamics and Future Outlook

Amidst the challenges posed by recent constraints, India and Iran are actively seeking avenues to deepen their economic integration. This article delves into the multilateral trade dynamics between the two nations, with a special focus on the strategic significance of the Chabahar port as a gateway to Central Asia and Europe. By revitalizing infrastructure projects and fostering energy cooperation, both countries are poised to unlock promising prospects for enhanced economic collaboration and partnership.

The historical and cultural ties between Indians and Iranians form a robust foundation for both economic and civilizational relations that span thousands of years. While bilateral trade between Iran and India experienced fluctuations over the past decade, it achieved a significant milestone in the 2000s with the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two nations.

Indias economic strength, sizable population, military capabilities, nuclear power status, and its membership in BRICS have garnered Irans attention. In line with its Look East roadmap, Tehran is increasingly prioritizing the enhancement of ties with India. From Irans perspective, multilateral organizations like the BRICS bloc and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization play a pivotal role. Recently, Irans trade with BRICS member countries reached a substantial US$34 billion.

At the same time, as India continues to navigate geopolitical challenges, its dedication to fortifying trade relations with Iran remains resolute. By actively engaging in strategic dialogues and exploring avenues of cooperation, India aims to forge a mutually beneficial and resilient business environment that transcends external pressures.

Its important to note that India and Iran do not view each other as geopolitical rivals. Irans approach of multiple commitments and pursuit of a multipolar world, alongside the reconstruction of alliances among global powers, has fostered a new phase in the New Delhi-Tehran relationship.

India and Iran strengthen economic cooperation: Opportunities and challenges

India and Iran have witnessed a notable surge in bilateral trade, with exports and imports between the two countries experiencing significant growth. Despite facing challenges such as sanctions and import restrictions, both nations recognize the immense potential for economic cooperation.

Indias foreign trade policy (FTP) 2023 outlines key objectives, including strengthening exports, promoting growth, and transforming India into a leading commercial trade center. Emphasizing the use of the Indian rupee in cross-border trade and deepening trade relations, the policy document highlights the rupee as a potential global currency in the years to come. These goals hold considerable relevance for trade with Iran.

The value of Indias exports to Iran saw a remarkable increase in 2022, reaching US$1,847 million, representing a substantial increase of 44 percent. At the same time, Indias imports from Iran experienced a significant rise of 60 percent, totaling US$653 million. The notable growth in bilateral trade was largely driven by Indias rice exports to Iran, which reached an impressive value of US$1.098 billion, demonstrating a remarkable growth rate of 52 percent.

The signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had initially propelled trade relations between Iran and India to reach an impressive volume of US$18 billion. However, the subsequent withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA in May 2018 and the imposition of multi-layered sanctions on Iran presented formidable challenges to bilateral trade.

While trade between the two nations experienced a decline between 2018 and 2021, the financial year (FY) 2021-2022 witnessed a significant resurgence. Bilateral trade between Iran and India reached US$2.5 billion in 2022, reflecting a notable increase of 48 percent compared to the previous years figure of US$1.693 billion.

Diversifying India-Iran trade portfolio

Currently, agricultural products and fruits constitute a significant portion of trade between India and Iran. Mutual investment support, expanded cooperation in medicine and pharmaceutical raw materials, and stronger bilateral and multilateral trade agreements can further enhance economic ties.

Irans major export goods to India predominantly include petroleum products, which experienced a four-fold growth in 2022. Other notable export goods from Iran to India include paint raw materials and fruits.

Moreover, the trade potential between the two nations extends to a wide range of products such as fruit, tea, sugar, fresh fruits, drugs/medications, soft drinks, industrial machinery, meat, minerals, organic chemicals, fertilizers, plastics, glass, leather, almonds, pistachios, dates, and saffron. Furthermore, non-oil trade opportunities encompass goods, services, investment, tourism, education, and hold immense potential for exponential growth in the medium and long term.

India-Iran energy and infrastructure collaboration

Despite facing hurdles such as import restrictions on Iranian oil and reduced Indian involvement in projects like the Chabahar port, energy, and infrastructure, both countries recognize the substantial potential of their economic cooperation. The vast hydrocarbon reserves in Iran and Indias energy needs have served as a solid foundation for their economic collaboration over the past decades.

In 2022, the export of Iranian oil products to India experienced remarkable growth, reaching US$175 million, quadrupling the previous years figure.

Moreover, Irans abundant gas reserves, which rank second globally, present opportunities for fuel diversification, decarbonization, and increasing the share of gas in Indias energy mix until 2030. Submarine pipelines offer a viable means for transferring Iranian gas to India, and reviving the Iran-Pakistan India gas pipeline (IPI) remains a possibility.

Furthermore, investment and infrastructure collaborations present opportunities for New Delhi to re-engage with Iran. Areas such as the development of offshore gas fields like Farzad B, as well as the petrochemical and fertilizer industries, hold potential for cooperation between India and Iran.

India-Iran evaluating scope for long-term agreement to enhance trade and transportation

India and Iran have been engaged in discussions and plans for a potential long-term agreement, similar to the 25-year agreement between Iran and China. This agreement, if materialized, would have significant implications for trade between the two countries.

India is determined to fortify its trade relations with Iran without succumbing to Western pressure, despite remaining vigilant about the comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement between Iran and China.

In 2021, Indian Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar became the inaugural foreign guest of Irans newly-elected president, Ebrahim Raisi. Over the past year, there has been a significant expansion of efforts to revive economic relations between the two countries. Irans Foreign Minister, Amir Abdollahian, held meetings with Indias Prime Minister, ministers, and businessmen, stressing the importance of developing a roadmap to enhance the comprehensive and extensive strategic relations between India and Iran.

While India has made progress in signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, it is important to note that Iran is not a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Negotiations for the Indo-Iran Bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) are underway, aiming to diversify trade portfolios by including sectors such as manufacturing, services, pharmaceuticals, and mutual investment promotion. This agreement would bring about reduced tariffs and expanded business opportunities.

A significant step towards expanding joint trade was taken with the signing of a joint cooperation statement between India and Iran. This statement encompasses various fields and includes the establishment of a joint working group, leveraging new technologies for financial transactions, organizing joint commission meetings, and facilitating financial exchanges using local currencies (rials and rupees).

In July 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a system for the settlement, billing, and payment of exports and imports in Indian Rupees (INR). This mechanism has played a crucial role in facilitating trade transactions with Iran, representing notable progress in overcoming one aspect of the challenges faced in bilateral trade.

Leaders and officials from both countries are accelerating discussions to expand relations, particularly in the economic and commercial spheres. These efforts aim to solidify the foundation for stronger collaboration. Recent discussions between India and Iran have focused on crucial matters such as dollarization and the removal of sanctions, leading to the signing of a joint cooperation statement aimed at increasing trade and transportation participation.

Enhancing Indias trade connectivity with Central Asia and Eurasia through Iran

Iran plays a crucial role for India in expanding trade with Central Asia and Eurasia, as well as countering Chinas influence in Pakistans Gwadar region.The formation of multilateral economic collaborations, including potential tripartite partnerships such as India, Iran, and Armenia, or cooperation between Russia, Iran, and India, are on the rise.

New Delhi is actively leveraging various variables and policies, such as the Ashgabat Agreement of 2018, the establishment of the India-Central Asia Trade Council, and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), to bolster trade with Eurasia through Iran.

Established in September 2000 by Iran, Russia, and India in St. Petersburg, INSTC is a 7,200-kilometer corridor of sea, rail, and road routes provides India with a direct link to the Caspian Sea, Russia, and Northern Europe through Iran, facilitating trade between the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Caspian Sea regions.

Despite challenges such as the Ukraine crisis, the INSTC remains an attractive option for bolstering trade between India, Iran, and Russia while significantly reducing transportation time and costs between Eurasia and the Indian Ocean.

Furthermore, Indias strategic collaboration with Iran extends to the development of the Chabahar port. The cooperation agreement signed in 2003, along with a memorandum of understanding in 2016, demonstrates New Delhis continued focus on the ports progress. The Chabahar port offers advantages such as enhanced security and access to affordable gas. Negotiations between India and Iran are underway to fulfill obligations related to equipment installation in Chabahar, increasing cargo movement through the Chabahar route, and encouraging investments by Indian companies in the Chabahar Free Zone. Additionally, both countries are actively working on long-term agreement contracts for Chabahar.

Capitalizing on the Chabahar Free Trade Zone is another priority for New Delhi, which seeks to maximize its benefits. Previously, India was one of the largest purchasers of Iranian oil. Given Indias rapid economic growth, limited domestic resources, emphasis on diversified energy imports, and energy security concerns, the Chabahar port assumes significant importance for Indias trade and strategic interests.

Reviving economic ties: Unlocking potential for Iran-India trade

In recent years, the trade relationship between India and Iran has faced significant hurdles, including challenges related to money transfers, sanctions, and political tensions. Bureaucracy, tariffs, legal barriers, and ambiguous business procedures have further complicated trade relations. However, the potential revival of the JCPOA offers hope for overcoming these barriers and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to prioritize the establishment of preferential trade agreements that align the economic and geopolitical interests of both India and Iran. This strategic approach would focus on key areas such as transit, energy, and trade.

With the prospects of the JCPOA revival and the potential lifting of sanctions, Iran could rapidly increase its oil production. This development presents an opportunity to revive the extensive trade relations that existed between India and Iran in the past.

Revitalizing trade relations would not only support the development of infrastructure at the Chabahar port but also encourage mutual investment and the activation of important corridors. Tripartite cooperation involving India, Iran, and Russia could play a crucial role in fostering multilateral collaboration in the Makran region.

Additionally, Indias investment in Iranian oil and petrochemicals, along with the development of sea lines and the export of technical and engineering services, would contribute to expanding trade between the two nations.

Also read
Delhi: Fintech company BharatPe Tuesday announced the appointment of Kohinoor Biswas as the Head - Consumer Lending.

Kohinoor brings with him over 14 years of experience in various aspects of consumer lending, cards portfolio management, business strategy, and digital initiatives, a press release said.

At BharatPe, he will be responsible for leading the entire postpe business, the credit-first consumer vertical of BharatPe, it read.

He is a postgraduate from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Kohinoor will be reporting to Nalin Negi, CFO, and Interim CEO, BharatPe and will be building the consumer lending vertical.

This is the third leadership appointment for BharatPe in 2023.

The company earlier announced the appointment of Aparna Kuppuswamy as Chief Risk Officer, BharatPe Group and Sandeep Indurkar as Chief Business Officer- Banking and Alliances.

Kohinoor Biswas has extensive experience in Cards Business & P&L management, Risk & Analytics, Credit policy, and Cards & Mobile Payments Technology, the company said.

Prior to joining BharatPe, he was the Head of Credit Cards Portfolio at ICICI Bank and he spearheaded the overall credit cards strategy driving cards spends, loyalty, balance build-up through emi-zation & Personal Loan on Cards and the overall P&L for the Credit Card business.

Prior to ICICI Bank, Kohinoor was the Vertical Head for Credit Card Portfolio at HDFC Bank.

He has also been associated with companies like Intellect Design Arena Ltd, JP Morgan Chase and American Express.

Commenting on the appointment, BharatPe CFO and interim CEO Nalin Negi said, I am confident that Kohinoor, with his in-depth knowledge of banking services, combined with his experience in cards and payments, will be a great asset to us as we build the consumer side of our business. I am delighted to welcome Kohinoor Biswas to the BharatPe family and look forward to partnering with him to build postpe 2.0.

BharatPe Head- Consumer Lending Kohinoor Biswas, added, I am excited to join the BharatPe team as the Head of Consumer Lending. I look forward to strengthening the existing relationships with the postpe customers by offering new credit products as well as new payment and commerce use cases, With the digital ecosystem in India evolving and maturing, I am confident that we will be able to build new-age lending products that appeal to a larger customer set.
New Delhi: FMCG major DS Group, popularly known for making Rajnigandha pan masala, on Tuesday announced the acquisition of The Good Stuff Pvt Ltd, which owns the LuvIt Chocolate and Confectionery brand.

"This acquisition is a strategic move to grow and strengthen the Groups Confectionary portfolio, whilst widening its distribution reach across grocery and other retail outlets," the company said in a statement.

The Good Stuff Pvt Ltd (formerly known as Global CP Pvt Ltd) was earlier owned by Goldman Sachs and Mitsui Ventures, according to the media release.

DS Group entered into the confectionery business in 2012 and has a strong assemblage of popular non-chocolate brands like Pass Pass, Pulse, Chingles, Rajnigandha Silver Pearls, Maze, and the recent partnership with luxury Swiss chocolate brand Laderach for its maiden launch in India.

DS Group has been focusing on increasing its presence in the confectionary segment for the last many years. Acquisition of LuvIt was a strategic decision to enhance our confectionary basket and enter the Chocolate segment with an impressionable footprint. This would enable us to expand our product portfolio thereby reaching new consumers and markets too," said Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, DS Group.

The Good Stuff Pvt Ltd was founded in 2014 and the company had a turnover of more than Rs 100 crores (F/Y 21-22) with nearly 90% contribution from the brand LuvIt.

"The Indian confectionery market is valued at approximately Rs 23,000 crores, out of which, chocolates as a category dominates with almost 60% share at Rs 13,800 crore. The Indian chocolate market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.69% till 2028," said DS Group quoting an industry report.

(With UNI inputs)
Kolkata: Automobile major Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship company of the Hinduja Group and Indias leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, on Tuesday, said it is aiming to touch its pre-pandemic level of sales in medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24).

"In 2017-18, the MHCV industry had touched the peak," Sanjeev Kumar, head for MHCV at Ashok Leyland, told reporters in Kolkata.

He said the company had hit the peak MHCV sales volumes in 2017-18 at around 130,000 units.

He said: "This year we are aiming to reach the highest peak."

He said the industry is expected to grow at 8-10 percent this year.

Kumar shared that in FY23 MHCV industry had registered a growth of 48 percent while Ashok Leylands growth was recorded at 78 percent.

He said the company is looking forward to East and North India to register growth in the MHCV segment.

"East is becoming an attractive destination at this point in time. So, the eastern region is important for the overall scheme of Ashok Leyland," he said.

He said the company had clocked 3 percent market share in the Eastern region last year.

Across the country, the company had a five percent market share during the same period.

Kumar said the company is planning to make 15-16 launches in bus and truck segments in FY24.

He said the Commercial Vehicle (CV) industry is undergoing a mega change at present.

Interestingly, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) & Ashok Leyland recently unveiled Indias first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) powered Heavy Duty truck.

Ashok Leyland, along with RIL, has been developing this unique technology over the past year and has been under test since August 2022.

The Ashok Leyland H2-ICE heavy-duty truck range (19-35 Tonne) is powered by Hydrogen, a renewable and clean energy source, maintaining overall architecture similar to a conventional diesel-based combustion engine thus helping quicker migration to cleaner energy sources at relatively lower cost delta.

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS and Reporting by Supriyo Hazra)
Kolkata/IBNS: Will globalization and technological advancements bring a sea change in the workplace? What will the worker, workplace and work itself look like in the future?

These and other issues took centre stage at a panel discussion recently organised by the Indo British Scholars' Association (IBSA) in association with The Bengal Club and University of Birmingham.

The discussion was pegged on a new book - Work 3.0  authored by Avik Chanda, columnist and business advisor and Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, Professor of Economics, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Moderated by Dr. Sandip Chatterjee (neurosurgeon), the panel was also attended by Joydeep Datta Gupta (Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP) and Barsha Sanyal (Partner and General Manager, PwC SDC).



Subrata Paul, President, IBSA, highlighted the importance of the future of the workplace in the context of globalization and technological advancement, in his welcome address.

Guest of honour, Dr. Debanjan Chakraborty, Director, British Council, East & North East, spoke about challenges in the evolving workplace.

Dipankar Chakraborti, Regional Director - South Asia & Middle East, University of Birmingham gave the vote of thanks.

About the book

In the book Work 3.0 authors Avik Chanda and Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay employ rigorous research supplemented with industry reports, business case studies, expert interviews, anecdotes, their personal expertise and insights, to present a rich multi-disciplinary brew that spans economics, statistics, public policy, history, sociology, psychology, law, political science, literature and philosophy.



About the authors

Avik Chanda is a bestselling author, columnist, and business advisor, with two decades of Global Big 4 Consulting experience. His book, 'From Command To Empathy', featured in Amazon India's best reads for Business, Strategy and Management, and 'Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King', reached the top spot in the National Non-Fiction Bestsellers list. Chanda is Founder-CEO of NUVAH, and Director of the international literature festival, CANTO.

Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay is Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham, where he leads the multi-disciplinary Centre for Crime, Justice and Policing, as well as the 21st Century Transnational Crime theme at the Institute for Global Innovation. A multi-disciplinary scholar, he has published in internationally leading journals in Economics, Politics, Law and Medicine.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Srinagar/UNI: Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested four drug smugglers and recovered contraband substances from them in Jammu Kashmirs Baramulla district.

Police said three drug peddlers identified as Shafeeq Ahmad Naikoo, Yasir Ahmad Lone and Fayaz Ahmad Wani residents of Dangerpora Sheeri were nabbed during checking at Dangerpora Market.

The trio were coming on a Motorcycle from Dangerpora towards Mallora and upon seeing the checking party they tried to flee from the spot but were apprehended tactfully.

During the search 170 grams of contraband Charas-like substances were recovered from them and were taken into custody immediately. The Motorcycle was also seized, police said.

Another drug smuggler identified as Bilal Ahmad Shah a resident of Kalsari Pattan was arrested during checking at Nehalpora Cheksari Pattan. The accused was coming from Checksari towards Pattan and upon seeing the police party tried to flee from the spot but was apprehended tactfully.

During the search 70 grams of contraband Cannabis Powder and 5 Kgs of Poppy Straw like substances was recovered from him and was taken into custody, they said.

Cases under Narcotic Drugs and Phototrophic Substances (NDPS) Act registered in concerned police stations and investigations set in motion, police added.
Image: Wallpaper Cave

Imphal/IBNS: One Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles soldiers were injured in a firing between the security forces and the insurgents in Manipur's Serou on the intervening night of June 5-6, media reports said.

The Spear Corps of the Indian Army said as quoted by NDTV, "One BSF Jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds (GSW) in general area Serou."

The injured soldiers were air evacuated to Mantripukhri, the officials said.

The search operation is underway.

Manipur witnesses violence

On May 3, Manipur witnessed violence the Meiti community and the Kuki tribals clashed following a 'Tribal Solidarity March'.

The tribal unrest against the Manipur High Courts order directing the Manipur government to take a decision on the demand of the Meitei community to include them in the ST list flared after attacks and counterattacks between the two communities and soon engulfed a greater part of the state, including the capital city Imphal.

Following the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the security forces have appealed to all to surrender the snatched items if they are possessing the same.
Image Credit: IBNS File

Kolkata/IBNS: Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly targeting his family for political gains.

Abhishek made the comment after his wife Rujira Narula Banerjee was stopped from boarding a Dubai-bound flight at the Kolkata airport.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Rujira, who was stopped by the immigration department, two days later for quizzing in connection with the coal pilferage scam.

Accusing the country's ruling BJP of political vendetta, Abhishek said, "They are not able to fight me so they are targeting my wife and children. People, who are watching everything, will give a befitting reply to them."

"They are not able to fight me politically so they are using ED-CBI and trying to frame me in multiple cases. But they are failing.

"I reiterate that I would hang myself to death publicly if they are able to bring any evidence in the public. But we don't have to take lessons of honesty from people who were caught accepting money on television cameras," the the TMC MP said.

Abhishek, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accused the saffron party of disrupting the 'Trinamoole Nabojowar Yatra'.

"The BJP is trying to disrupt our Yatra because they don't have people's support. They are using ED-CBI against TMC because we are fighting against the BJP in favour of the people," Abhishek said.

The ED, which probes the financial irregularities, has claimed companies- Leaps and Bound Pvt. Ltd. and Leaps and Bound Management Services LLP- are connected to Abhishek and his family.

The two companies received protection funds from a construction company through the accused who are being probed in the case, the ED has claimed.

Slamming the action against Rujira at the airport, Mamata earlier on Monday said, "She (Rujira) is a Punjabi girl, Her mother is ill... This is inhumanity."
Image: UNI

Colombo/UNI: Grid link between Sri Lanka and India would be implemented by 2030, Sri-Lanka Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said.

Following a meeting the day before with World Bank Director of Regional Integration Cecile Fruman and Country Manager Chiyo Kanda, Wijesekara tweeted early on Tuesday that the World Bank has been helping the government-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) understand the technical requirements and business models for the project.

In 2022, Sri Lanka and India abandoned an earlier plan for a submarine cable in favour of an over-the-water cable to connect their respective electricity systems.

Since the 1970s, there has been talk about connecting the electrical grids of India and Sri Lanka.

The new strategy calls for a partnership between the Ceylon Electricity Board and Power Grid Corporation India.

After 2002, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/South Asia Regional Initiative on Energy Project) and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) both undertook updated feasibility studies on the concept.

From Madurai to Anuradhapura, a 285-kilometer High Voltage Direct Current link with 50 kilometers of undersea cabling is part of an earlier design.

Both researches concluded that a short- and medium-term connection was more likely to succeed than a long-term one.

A 500MW short-term link and a 1000MW medium- and long-term link will be generated between the two countries,

The building of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) link connecting Madurai and Anuradhapura was recommended based on cost assessments.

A short-term link (500MW) would cost 340 million dollars to build, while a longer/medium-term link would cost 430 million dollars, according to the PGCIL.

Initial plans by the two nations called for the installation of a 500MW cable, which would eventually be expanded to a 1000MW cable for a cost of $340 million, according to economYnexT.
Image: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: Wrestling Federation chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing some of the country's top wrestlers, has been questioned twice by the Delhi police, media reports said.

The police, who have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter, have questioned around 200 people in the case as well, said reports.

The police will file a status report in the court, listing the details of all the inquiries they have held so far.

As per reports, the police have looked into every allegation and questioned the people allegedly present at the time.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh earlier claimed that he will come out clean from the charges of sexual harassment levelled against him by the wrestlers.

Singh had said he has full faith in the judiciary and also expressed faith in the investigating agencies. He claimed that he and his supporters will get justice.

On April 29, two separate police cases were filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, after allegations of sexual harassment by seven wrestlers, one of them a minor.

The cases were filed after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police. One of them is under POCSO, the stringent law against sexual assault of children.

Meanwhile, India's top wrestlers, including Sakshee Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, who have been at the forefront of the massive protest against Singh, have resumed their duties in the Railways.

However, both Malikkh and Punia have denied the reports of withdrawing from the protest. "This is our fight for justice. We will not step back," Malikkh told reporters as quoted in media channels.

"We have resumed our duties in Railways, but we are also working on our future strategy," she said.

The protesting wrestlers had also met Home Minister Amit Shah late Saturday evening to request an impartial probe against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven female wrestlers, including a minor.

The development occurred days after the protesting wrestlers were evicted from Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where they had been protesting since April.

The wrestlers were detained on May 28 as they attempted to stage a demonstration outside the newly inaugurated Parliament building, where Singh was also present.

Following the alleged manhandling of the wrestlers during the detention, they announced their decision to immerse their medals into the river Ganga in Haridwar.

Later they temporarily shelved their plan after intervention from farmer leader Naresh Tikait.

The Delhi Police had accused the protesting wrestlers of rioting during their protest march to the new Parliament, saying they broke the law in a frenzy despite repeated requests.
Image:  WFP/Jonathan Dumont

New York: A staggering 315,000 grave violations against children in conflict took place between 2005 and 2022, said UN Childrens Fund UNICEF on Monday, describing it as a stark illustration of the devastating impact of war on the young.

The UN-verified figures were reported by the agency as States, donors and the humanitarian community meet in Norway, for the Oslo Conference on Protecting Children in Armed Conflict.

The 315,000 incidents were recorded in more than 30 conflict situations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

They include more than 120,000 children killed or maimed; at least 105,000 children recruited or used by armed forces or armed groups; over 32,500 children abducted; and more than 16,000 children subjected to sexual violence.

The UN has also verified more than 16,000 attacks on schools and hospitals, and more than 22,000 instances where humanitarian access for children has been denied.

The true toll is likely to be far higher, UNICEF stressed. Additionally, many millions more children have been displaced from their homes and communities, lost friends or family, or been separated from parents or caregivers.

War on children

Any war is ultimately a war on children, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

Exposure to conflict has catastrophic, life-changing effects for children. While we know what must be done to protect children from war, the world is not doing enough. Year after year, the UN documents the visceral, tragic and all too predictable ways that childrens lives are torn apart.

The UNICEF chief said It is incumbent on all in the international community to ensure children do not pay the price for the wars of adults, and to take the bold, concrete action required to improve the protection of some of the worlds most vulnerable children.

The Fund has supported the care and protection of millions of affected children across conflict situations, including through the provision of mental health and psychosocial support, child protection case management, family tracing and reunification, and services for child survivors of gender-based violence.

Rehabilitating child soldiers

Just last year, UNICEF reached almost 12,500 former child soldiers with reintegration or other protection support, and more than nine million children with information designed to help them avoid explosive remnants of war such as landmines.

The agency said that the scale of protection risks is vastly outpacing available funding however.

New analysis by Humanitarian Funding Forecasting, commissioned by UNICEF, Save the Children, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and the Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility, reveals that by 2024, the child protection sector will require $1.05 billion, increasing to US$1.37 billion by 2026, to address the protection needs of children in armed conflict.

If the current pace of humanitarian funding continues, the projected shortfall would stand at $835 million in 2024, growing to US$941 million by 2026.

This gap could leave conflict-affected children exposed to the immediate and lasting impacts of war, child labor, trafficking, and violence, UNICEF warned.

Call for new commitments in Oslo

At the Oslo conference, the agency is calling on government to make bold new commitments, including:

To uphold and operationalize the international laws and norms already in place to protect children in war  including to protect schools, hospitals and other protected objects like water and sanitation facilities from attack, to stop the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and forces, to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Hold perpetrators to account when childrens rights are violated.



Step up with critical resources to fund the protection of children in conflict at the scale and speed required, in line with growing need. This must include investment in humanitarian response and in national child protection workforces.

We must deliver a child protection response that is equal to the challenges we face, said Ms. Russell. We need to do everything we can to reach all children in need, particularly the most vulnerable.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy Twitter page

A dam, which is located in the Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine, has been destroyed, leading to flooding and an exchange of words between the two nations.

Ukraine's military and Nato have accused Russia of blowing up the dam, while Russia has blamed Ukraine, reports BBC.

A large number of people have been evacuated from the area.

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is in the city of Nova Kakhovka in Ukraine's Kherson region, which is currently under Russian occupation, reports BBC.

It's unclear when exactly the dam was first damaged, but satellite images verified by the BBC suggest its condition has deteriorated over a number of days.

A road across the dam appears to be damaged from 2 June, but there does not seem to be a change to the flow of the water until 6 June when the breach of the wall and collapse of nearby buildings can be clearly seen on video. It is currently unclear whether the damage to the road is linked to the 6 June breach, the British media reported.

The head of the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, told Ukrainian TV this morning that eight villages had been fully or completely flooded already, with more expected to be flooded, BBC reported.

It's not yet clear what caused the breach in the dam, but Ukraine's military has accused Russia of deliberately blowing it up. This seems plausible, as Moscow may have feared that Ukrainian forces would use the road over the dam to get troops across the river into Russian-held territory, as part of a counter-offensive, the British media reported.

What did Ukraine say?

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the incident as a 'Russian act of terrorism'.

This is just one day of Russian aggression. This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime. Now Russia is guilty of brutal ecocide. Any comments are superfluous.



The world must react. Russia is at war against life, against nature, against pic.twitter.com/CUd1UNmcW5    (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

He tweeted: "This is just one day of Russian aggression. This is just one Russian act of terrorism. This is just one Russian war crime. Now Russia is guilty of brutal ecocide. Any comments are superfluous."

"The world must react. Russia is at war against life, against nature, against civilization. Russia must leave the Ukrainian land and must be held fully accountable for its terror," he said.

In its statement, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said: "We consider the Russian Federation's detonation of the dam of the KHPP as a terrorist act against Ukrainian critical infrastructure, which aims to cause as many civilian casualties and destruction as possible."

"The terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP was previously intensely discussed at the level of the occupation forces in the Kherson region and propagandists on Russian television, which indicates that it was planned in advance," read the statement.

"The explosion of the dam of the Kakhovka HPP is an ecological and technological act of terrorism, the biggest technological disaster in Europe in recent decades, yet another example of Russia's genocide against Ukrainians. This is the Kremlin's response to countries calling for peace talks with the Russian Federation," the statement said.

"Due to the decrease in the water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir, there is also a danger of an incident at another critical infrastructure facility occupied by Russia - the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant," read the statement.

UN reaction:

Interestingly, The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has warned that lack of cooling water at the Zaporizhzia nuclear plant could disrupt its emergency diesel generator.

" Absence of cooling water in the essential cooling water systems for an extended period of time would cause fuel melt and inoperability of the emergency diesel generators," read a statement issued by Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"However, our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant," he said.

He said: "The IAEA staff on the site have been informed that the damage to the Nova Kakhovka dam is currently leading to about 5 cm/hour reduction in the height of the reservoir. The team continues to monitor this rate and all other matters on the site."

He said: "The main line of cooling water is fed from the reservoir and pumped up through channels near the thermal power plant to the site. It is estimated that the water through this route should last for a few days."

He said: "Water in the reservoir was at around 16.4 m at 8 am. If drops below 12.7 m then it can no longer be pumped."
Image: UNI

Seoul: Four Russian and four Chinese military jets entered the South Korean air defense identification zone (KADIZ) without notice on Tuesday without violating the countrys airspace, South Korean Yonhap news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the military.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that between 11:52 and 13:49 local time (02:52 and 04:29 GMT) Russian and Chinese aircraft flew into the southern and eastern parts of the KADIZ and then left it, according to the report.

The JCS specified there was no intrusion into the countrys air space.

"Our military identified the Chinese and Russian planes before their entry into the KADIZ and deployed Air Force fighters to conduct tactical steps in preparation against potential accidental situations," the JCS said in the statement.

South Korea has already reported the entry of Russian jets into the KADIZ on several occasions.

Seoul notes that Russia does not violate any international norms as the KADIZ is not a national airspace, but other countries jets usually inform South Korea before entering the area while Russian ones do not.

In 2021, Russia and South Korea sign a memorandum of understanding that provides for the creation of a hotline between both countries militaries.

However, following the start of Russias military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, this initiative was put on hold, Russian Ambassador to Seoul Andrey Kulik said.

(With Sputnik/UNI inputs)
Image: ISPR website

Islamabad: A Pakistani soldier was killed during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan army said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said the fire exchange took place on Monday in the Ladha area of South Waziristan, a district bordering Afghanistan.

"Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location," the ISPR said. However, during the intense fire exchange, a soldier lost his life, it added.

After the incident, sanitization of the area was carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the ISPR said.

The Pakistani security forces remained determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country, the military said.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: Pixabay

Dhaka/ UNI: Bangladeshs Opposition party BNP in a meeting with US ambassador Peter Haas on Tuesday accused the ruling Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of destroying the democratic institutions, including the electoral processes.

In an hour-long meeting on Tuesday afternoon at the US embassy in Dhaka is the second meeting between the secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Earlier, he had met with Haas on April 16 accompanied by two other leaders of the party.

The BNP leader told UNI that the US ambassador wanted to know BNPs stance and reaction over the fresh visa policy the United States announced to ensure free and fair elections in Bangladesh.

"We think as the government has destroyed the democratic institutions, including the electoral processes, the United States as a democratic country has come up with this visa policy to ensure free and fair elections in the country. This is our stand as presented to Peter Haas," said the BNP leader.

The US ambassador sought Fakhruls opinion on the overall situation, including the alleged political crisis in the country and the next elections.

Replying to the query, the BNP leader said his party thinks it is not possible to hold free and fair elections under the current government.


Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Twitter page

The United States will continue to work with regional allies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, despite challenges emanating from China, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in Singapore on Monday.

The Indo-Pacific is the U.S. military's is No. 1 area of focus, Austin said, and China is the pacing challenge.

"As you look at our budget request  our budget request is directly linked to our strategy, and you see us continuing to invest in things that are relevant to our efforts in this region," he was quoted as saying by the US Department of Defence website.

The United States continues to send its most modern and capable weapons systems to the Indo-Pacific. In addition, the Defense Department has budgeted more than $9 billion to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. DOD continues to invest in research for systems tailored to the region, including work on hypersonics, deterrence of cyberthreats and more.

Austin was in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue  the premier meeting of defense ministers and experts in the region. He addressed reporters traveling with him soon after Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu spoke at the event. "I would just say that  it's interesting to listen to  what he says," Austin said. "[But] what's most important is  watch what they do."

The secretary has expressed his concern about China's "irresponsible behavior" in the South China Sea.

"We've seen close intercepts and the coercive behavior  in the waterways," he said.

He noted that, as he arrived in Singapore, there were reports of an incident where a Chinese ship came within 150 meters of the USS Chung Hoon and a Canadian vessel, which were transiting the Taiwan Strait. Two weeks ago, a Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace.

Alongside our allies and partners, the United States force posture in the Indo-Pacific is more mobile, distributed and resilient. https://t.co/wSyS2Fnr2y  U.S. Army (@USArmy) June 5, 2023

"I call upon [China's] leadership to really do the right things, to reign in that kind of conduct because I think accidents can happen that could cause things to spiral out of control," Austin said.

Austin spoke of the April 2001 P-3 incident where a Chinese pilot rammed a Navy P-3 aircraft. The Chinese pilot died, and the Navy plane had to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan island. "In those days, we were talking to [China], and it was still very difficult to manage that crisis," Austin said. "Imagine now if something happens and we don't have clear communications how difficult that's going to be and what could happen in the short term."

The secretary said it's interesting to hear what Chinese leaders have to say, but what they actually do is more telling. He noted the dangerous activities continue.

The freedom of navigations operations the United States and other nations engage in are perfectly legal. "They should be interested in freedom of navigation, as well, because  it would affect them," the secretary said.

The Chinese also use the international commons. "If there are no laws, if there are no rules, things will break down for them very quickly as well," he said.

Chinese defense leaders have refused invitations to meet with Austin. The Chinese said it's because the United States has sanctioned Li Shangfu.

"I am personally sanctioned in Russia," Austin said. "But I can  if I want to  talk to the Russian minister of defense."
Norway joins Finland, Sweden & the UK in introducing greater safeguarding for children. In the US 8 states thus far have banned affirmative care under 18
Meloni: Charity ships must stop acting as ferry boats for illegal migrants going back & forth with human traffickers to shuttle people from one country to the other
Niger Delta Conscience Coalition (NDCC), says no amount of blackmail or group-sponsored communications will prevent Godswill Akpabio from becoming Senate President of the incoming 10th National Assembly.

Information Nigeria reports that the submission comes amid reports that Akpabio may be out of the race for Senate President.

In a statement released by the coalition to Daily Sun on Monday, the decision to support Akpabios bid stems from their deep understanding of the Senators personality, character, potential, and leadership abilities.

We wish to state that no amount of blackmail and paid advertisements will sway both the public empathy and support of the majority of senators-elect of the 10th senate from toying the path of honour, fairness and equity in their decision to elect this uncommon leader with undeniable capacity to lead the 10th senate, the statement signed by the NDDC president and secretary, Aniefiok Fabian and John Adango respectively read.

As a detribalized Nigerian, Senator Godswill Akpabio will no doubt use his position as senate President to cement the bond of unity in Nigeria as he has been noted for his ability to work with Nigerians across party and ethnic divides in his previous positions and offices.

This erudite legal practitioner, with almost 40 years post call to bar experience, brought about massive turnout in various sectors of Akwa Ibom State economy during his time as Governor of the state. His uncommon achievements speak for themselves.

READ ALSO: Hoodlums Beat Up PDP Members At Ogun Tribunal Premises

As minority leader of the 8th senate, Akpabio clearly gave a satisfactory representation to the interest of the minority, and such should be a suitable conviction to minority members of the 10th senate that Akpabio as senate president would create harmonious relationship with members across divides.

It is common knowledge that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had since establishment ran its operations from a rented facility as headquarters, it was during Sen Godswill Akpabios brief stay in office as Minister, Niger Delta Affairs that the commissions permanent office was completed and put to use.

From these undeniable facts, we can strongly affirm that Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, beyond the demands of justice and equity that the President of the 10th Senate has to rightly emerge from the south-south region, is a tested and trusted face of hope for the 10th senate in a time like this.

We therefore call on Nigerians from all walks of life, political leanings and ethnic divides to drum support behind this proud son of Niger Delta to emerge president of the 10th senate.

We also want to use this medium to commend, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for unanimously zoning the senate presidential seat to the South-South region and the endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the NDDC concluded.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a lawsuit filed by five locals of the Federal Capital Territory, aiming to prevent the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president.

Presiding Judge, Inyang Ekwo announced the decision on Tuesday, instructing the lawyer representing the five plaintiffs to pay N10 million each to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Recall that after the announcement of Tinubu as president-elect following the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), different groups have approached the courts seeking to stop his inauguration.

READ MORE: Tribunal: I Was Forced To Sign Presidential Poll Result In Kogi  Witness

Several disqualifying issues were raised including the allegations of manipulation and INECs non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022 and guidelines for live transmission of results of the elections directly from the polling units, which have since been taken to the Presidential Election Petitions Court.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that there are now three petitions consisting the Labour Party (LP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after those of Action Alliance (AA) and Allied Peoples Party (APP) were dismissed upon their withdrawal.
On Monday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court,Abuja, nullified a suit filed by a former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) February 25 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Keyamo, who served as the spokesman of the dissolved All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) had a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023 filed on January 20 sought an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the former Vice President for alleged corruption.

Recall that ex-ministers action followed claims by one of Atikus aides, Michael Achimugu that the PDP candidate conspired with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to rip off the country through Special Purpose Vehicles between 1999 and 2007.

He filed the suit after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum given to the anti-graft agencies to investigate the allegations.

READ ALSO: EFCC, ICPC Request Dismissal Of Keyamos Suit Seeking To Probe, Prosecute Atiku

The former vice president, according to Keyamo, violated Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 96(1) of the Penal Code with his actions and therefore unqualified to take part in the election.

However, at Mondays proceeding, the judge fined the APC chieftain N10 million for filing a frivolous suit against Atiku.

A breakdown of the fine revealed that N5 million would go to Atiku and the remaining N5 million to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The judge, who described the suit as frivolous, vexatious and abuse of court processes, directed that the fine should be paid at 10 percent per annum until the cost is finally liquidated.

The order followed an oral application by counsel for Atiku, Benson Igbanoi, and that of the ICPC, Oluwakemi Odogun, asking for cost after the matter was dismissed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it will appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, which on Monday, acquitted a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye of N2bn money laundering charge brought against him and others by the Commission.

In dismissing the charge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the Commission failed to establish the charges against the defendants.

However, EFCCs spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said the the trial judge erred by overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in the course of the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe.

READ ALSO: N2bn Fraud: Court Acquits Former Head Of Service, Oronsaye

Recall that Oronsayes corruption trial commenced in 2015 when he was arraigned alongside the Managing Director of Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Osarenkhoe Afe and three companies  Cluster Logistic Limited; Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants had between 2010 and 2011 used some firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud.

The EFCC equally accused Orosanye and the others of using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances, and other schemes to siphon money from accounts containing pensioners funds.

But Justice Ekwo held that the anti-graft agency failed to supply the court, with ingredients that could establish the alleged corruption charges against Oronsaye.

The judge subsequently dismissed the charges in relation to Oronsaye, discharged and acquitted him.

Uwujaren however now says the Commission has therefore decided to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
A section of Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, was gutted by fire suspected to have been caused by a spark from an electricity transformer.

Mr Nnenna Onuoha, Chief Registrar, Ebonyi High Court, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday that the fire which occurred on Friday Night also burnt exhibits and the court One Chamber in particular.

READ ALSO: 10 Dead, Others Injured As Petrol Tanker Catches Fire In Jos

We were alerted by our colleagues living at the Magistrate quarters. It took the intervention of security men, some staff members and state fire service to put the fire under control.

A lot of exhibits and the court chamber were destroyed by the inferno. We lost an estimated property worth N40 million (Forty Million Naira).

We thank God, no life was lost in the incident. The fire was quenched by the help of the state fire service. The firefighters were able to secure the court and case files.

Our files are intact only that the court building and exhibits tendered for various cases were burnt.

Actually, we have been informed that the fire was caused by a spark from the electricity transformer, she explained.

A Magistrate, who spoke to Daily Post on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the fire started from one of the transformers in the court premises.

We sighted the fire in the first place. I quickly informed my colleagues and we were able to make use of some of the fire extinguishers before the fire service could come around, the magistrate added.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has demanded payment of a new minimum wage of N200,000 monthly owing to the hardship faced by Nigerians, with the removal of petrol subsidy.

TUC also demanded that the government reverted to the old N185 pump price of petrol per litre to allow for a conducive environment for negotiation.

According to a statement, the President and Secretary General of TUC, Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, respectively said: For immediate implementation: Status quo ante of PMS pump price should be maintained while discussion continues.

The minimum wage should be increased from the current N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023, with consequential adjustments on the Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA ), like feeding, transport, housing, etc.

A representative of state governors will be party to this communique and all the governors must commit to implement the new minimum wage.

Tax holiday for employees both in government and private sector that earn less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly whichever is higher. PMS allowance to be introduced for those earning between N200,000 and N500,000 or 500USD to 1,200USD whichever is higher.

The exchange rate for retailing PMS in the country must be kept within a limit of two per cent for the next 10 years where the fluctuation is more than two per cent, the minimum wage will automatically increase at the same rate.

READ ALSO: Subsidy Removal: Kwara Govt. Directs Civil Servants To Work Three Days A Week

Setting up of intervention fund where the government will be paying N10 per litre on all locally consumed PMS. The primary purpose of this fund is to solve perennial and protracted national issues in education, health and housing. A governance structure that will include labour, civil society and government will be put in place to manage the implementation.

Federal government should provide mass transit vehicles for all categories of the populace. State governments should immediately set up a subsidized transportation system to reduce the pressure on workers and students. The framework around this will be worked out.

Meanwhile, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani reacted to the proposition of an increase in the National Minimum Wage from N30,000 to N200,000 via Twitter on Monday night.

According to Sani. the proposition of N200,000 as the new minimum wage sounds good but it is unrealistic.

The former lawmaker reminded the TUC that many states are not yet paying the current minimum wage, except the Federal Government will print more money.

He tweeted: 200k as minimum wage sounds good, but the proponents need to be reminded that many states are not yet paying the 30k. Except if the Government will print more money.
The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have suspended its indefinite strike for 21 days.

The suspension of the industrial action was announced after a meeting between the leadership of the union and President Bola Tinubu, on Monday.

Confirming the situation on Mondays night, Obinna Ogbonna, JOSEHUs acting chairman, said the union is suspending the strike and giving the government a 21-day window opportunity for the government to address those issues as presented.

READ MORE: Ill Resolve Your Issues, Return To Work  Tinubu To Striking Health Workers

The various engagements so far and some of the various processes reactivated. With the intervention of our president today and his plea that we should consider suspending the strike because he is now involved in the matter. The issue was brought to the national executive council, and it was looked at, and we agreed to suspend the strike giving the 21-day window opportunity for the government to address those issues as presented.

Expressing the unions readiness to get its members back to work, Ogbonna pleaded with Tinubu to pay attention to Nigerias healthcare delivery system through adequate investment, infrastructure, and better welfare for workers.

The president pleaded that we need to build confidence and trust, and we believe he is not going to disappoint us or renege on the process that has been started already.
Terrorists have reportedly killed two persons and abducted about 30 others in communities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A survivor, Mallam Isa told Daily Post that the communities affected were Shiwaka, Unguwan Bagudu and Sabonlayi.

According to Isa, more corpses would be found in the bushes if a thorough search was conducted.

The locals, according to him, could not pay the levies imposed on them by the bandits, hence the communities were attacked.

READ ALSO: Suspected Terrorist Blows Self Up To Evade Arrest In Kaduna

He explained, They attacked on Monday, around 11:30 am while most people went to their farms. Its the deadline for the levy imposed by the bandits.

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu government to tackle the menace of banditry headlong.

He lamented that, even if the levy is paid, the bandits will never stop carrying out their attacks against innocent locals.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, has faulted the process leading to the recent unveiling of Nigeria Air.

The Committee members also expressed misgivings towards the unveiling of the national carrier during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Meribole; the Interim Managing Director, Nigeria Air, Dapo Olumide as well as heads of aviation agencies on Tuesday

While criticising the unveiling of Nigeria Air saying the project was shrouded in secrecy at the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi wondered why the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika hurriedly unveiled a national carrier on the last day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Olujimi said the aircraft used during the unveiling was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines and after the unveiling, the aircraft went back with their aircraft.

Meanwhile, responding to the Committee, Dapo Olumide said Nigeria Air was unveiled at the time it was to prove to Nigerians that the project is not a fluke.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Air Plane Lands In Abuja (Video)

The resolve of the House of Representatives reads: The Committee after careful evaluation of the issues on deliberation is totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, Sen, Hadi Sirka in going ahead to flag off the operations of Nigeria Air despite a standing Court injunction against such, and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.

We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airline in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations.

A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community.

We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof.

While the Committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation. However, such a process should be transparent and all embracing.

READ ALSO: nMany Airlines Around The World Arent Owned By Their Governments  Buharis Aide Defends Nigeria Air Plane Belonging To Ethiopian Airlines

We, as a Committee, would not accept any attempt by any individual or group of individuals or organization to hide under the project and siphon our commonwealths.

Consequently, the Committee hereby resolves to:

1. Direct the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flights operations and every other actions with respect to the Nigeria Air;

2. Urge our new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President and C-in-C, to as a matter of urgency constitute a high-level Presidential Committee to undertake a holistic Review of the Processes of the whole Nigeria Air project, and advice the government on the way forward.

3. Ensure that all individuals, or groups, or organization involved in the controversial shenanigan named Nigeria Air Take-Off are brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned.
Controversial Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has slammed critics over the current loggerheads with the Lagos State government.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported earlier that the Nollywood actress took to social media to call out the Governor of Lagos State and the entire state government over the bizarre tax bill sent to her.

According to the picture of the notice received from the Lagos State Government, Iyabo Ojo has a tax liability of N7,376,000.00 for the year 2022 and an outstanding liability of N11,264,092 for the 2021 income year.

Reacting via a lengthy post on her Instagram page, Iyabo Ojo expressed displeasure at how the government comes up with such an outrageous amount.

The actress noted she had earlier filed a complaint regarding the tax issue and nothing was done.

She added that she isnt paying anything and the Sanwo-Olu can arrest, jail, or kill her because she is not afraid to die.

However, some social media followers mocked and taunted her over the issue while reminding her of her support for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The actress who later deleted the social media post calling out Sanwo-Olu shared another post saying she would not bow down to any tribal bigots.

She also reiterated her support for Peter Obi, stating her desire is for a better Nigeria and will not be afraid to speak.

READ MORE: Iyabo Ojo Blows Hot, Calls Out Goldmyne TV Boss Over Her Alleged Affair With Dino Melaye

Iyabo Ojo added that her belief will only change if after 8 years Nigeria has renewed hope.

She wrote: I stand & re stan obediently on my beliefs.. I can never be pressured nor shaken . I will never bow down to tribal bigots. I want a better Nigeria, i dont care whose ego gets bruised. we can not all believe in the same thing

I see no tribe. I only see my country, Im a Nigerian. I am not afraid of death, for that is inevitable

I will never be afraid to air my opinion, for that is my right.

I have no enemies, We may not all believe in the same course, we may not see things the same way but youre not my enemy bcos at the end of the day, either, good or bad.. were in it together . were all citizens of Nigeria.

I have empathy for my country & not for stomach infrastructure. If after 8 years Nigeria has a renewed hope, then my beliefs may change, but till then, i obediently stand on my beliefs .. if you didnt make me, you cant break me, you can take the body but never my soul.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday night suspended their strike scheduled for Wednesday.

The decision to suspend the planned strike was taken after a meeting with the federal government representatives at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday night.

Recall that the organized labour had planned to embark on a nationwide strike action on Wednesday but after Mondays meeting, they have made a U-turn and suspended their planned strike.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who disclosed the outcome of the meeting to State House correspondents, read a communique stating that the agreement struck between the NLC, TUC and the team set up by President Bola Tinubu to discuss the issues arising from the subsidy removal.

The parties also agreed to set up a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

READ MORE: I Knew NLC Would Renege Initial Stance To Support Subsidy Removal  Keyamo

The resolution read thus:

Resolution of Engagement between the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Federal Government to resolve the issues associated with the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) on June 5, 2023

Following the engagements between the Federal Government, TUC and the NLC, with the intervention of the Speaker, House of Representatives to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS the following resolutions were reached:

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program.

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with Labor centers in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.

The Labour centers and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The Labour centers and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nations refineries.

The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.

 All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.

Consequently, the parties agreed follows:

The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above

The Labour Centers and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.
The family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, revealed that his medical team has arrived in Abuja.

According to Vanguard, Kanus younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu said the team came for the emergency ear surgery recommended by the Department of State Services (DSS), medical unit.

He said that the team was awaiting permission from the DSS to access the IPOB Leader to properly examine him.

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu Might Die In Detention  Ozekhome Raises Concern Over IPOB Leaders Health

The medical unit of the secret service had about a week ago, recommended urgent ear surgery for Kanu.

Recall that Kanu has remained in solitary confinement at the Abuja headquarters of the DSS since his abduction in Kenya and subsequent extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in June 2021.

Despite several court judgements as well as the United Nations Opinion that Kanu be unconditionally released and compensated, the Federal Government is yet to release him.
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri says that by law, the presidential candidate of Labour party, Peter Obi, and all Nigerians are expected to hang up a photo of President Tinubu in their work places.

Reno made this known in a post via his social media page, stressing that the elections are over and Peter Obis supporters should focus on the new administration of Bola Tinubu.

The controversial writer further stated that by law, the former governor of Anambra State is expected to hang a photo of Tinubu in all his business, adding that Tinubu is now the president pending the outcome of the case in court.

READ MORE: This Might Be Seen As A Pro-Peter-Obi Stance  Reno Omokri To NLC On Strike Notice

His post read, Sadly, many of Peter Obis supporters lack political maturity and emotional intelligence. If I praise Tinubu, they will attack me and say I have collected money from him or want appointments. These guys are better suited for war. In their minds, if you supported another candidate during the elections, you MUST hate Tinubu and condemn ANYTHING he does. But that is not politics. That is hatred

Elections are over. The case is now in court. There is nothing we can do about it.

Now, we must focus on the government. Who is the President for now? Tinubu. By law, even Peter Obi has to hang Tinubus photo in ALL his businesses. And from his ward to his Local Government to his State Government, they must all adorn Tinubus picture.

Be objective. Rein in your propensity to insult. Support Nigeria. If Tinubu does well, encourage him. If he does wrong, discourage him by criticizing and opposing him. Because, whether you like it or not, he is the driver of a car on which you are a passenger. If he crashes that car, you will crash too!
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested four suspects in possession of human bones.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), of the command, ASP Mahid Abubakar disclosed this on Monday in Gombe while briefing journalists.

Abubakar said the suspects were arrested following complaints from some residents of Taraba who they allegedly scammed.

READ ALSO: Troops Rescue 21 Pregnant Women In Abia Baby Factory

He said, One Isa Musa of Bali LGA of Taraba State came to Gombe State to meet one Alhaji Auwal of Gombe, who is now at large, through one of their friends who said Alhaji will pray for them to see more success in their businesses.

The said Auwal collected the sum of N650,000 from the complainants. After some time, the complainants, having seen no improvement in their businesses, demanded their money back, he said.

He said that upon demand for their money, Auwal referred them to a 65-year-old Ibrahim Adamu of Dukku LGA in Gombe State and since then Auwal had been on the run.

The Spokesperson said during investigation, one Ibrahim Adamu of Bagadaza Quarters, Gombe, was also arrested at Auwals house with some traditional charms, sand from a grave, one white cloth, which they use for their devilish work.

The Spokesperson stated that efforts were being intensified to arrest the main suspect, Auwal who is now at large while investigation is still ongoing.

He said items recovered from the four suspects now in the police net included some human bones, sand from the grave, and other items for traditional charms and a piece of white clothes.

According to him, the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Abubakar said two other suspects were also arrested for shopbreaking and motorcycle theft, noting that the suspects had confessed to the crimes and would soon be charged to court.

Yusuf Alado, one of the victims from Taraba, said he and his friend were told about Auwal in Gombe who was said to be praying for people to succeed in their businesses.

So we travelled to meet the Auwal, who collected the sum of N650,000 from us to pray and make the money produce more money, he said.

Alado said they had not seen Auwal or any positive effect of what they paid for, which was why they reported to the police.

He urged Nigerians to be careful with any of these fake prophets, adding that he had learnt his lesson the hard way.
Former presidential aide and socio-political activist, Reno Omokri has outlined the achievements of Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his inauguration as Nigerias President a week ago.

Omokri in a Twitter post on Tuesday, pointed that President Tinubu has in one week exhibited the ability of his administration to tackle key issues in the country by taking some tough decisions.

The staunch supporter of the Peoples Democratic Partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar cited the removal of fuel subsidy, the quelling of nationwide strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress as some of the achievements.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi Is Expected To Hang Tinubus Photo In All His Businesses  Reno Omokri

He tweeted that Tinubu has been more accessible to labour and trade unions in one week, than Buhari was in four years.

Waziri Atiku Abubakar is my preferred choice. He would have been better than Tinubu. And May the Presidential Election Petition Court give him victory.

However, I do note that the fuel subsidy is gone. A single Naira exchange rate is emerging. The NLC has been persuaded to see reason.

And President Tinubu is meeting with heads of strategic agencies, and giving them executive direction. The military is harmoniously subordinate to his regime.

Nigeria has just posted a trade surplus. The stock market has received a boost and rallied. And there is relative peace in the country.

Yes, he has known cartel links, nevertheless, President Bola Tinubu has performed very well for his first week in office.
Six members of a criminal syndicate who specialize in vandalizing electrical installations have been nabbed by the Bayelsa Community Safety Corps and local vigilante.

The suspects were caught at the weekend in Angiama community while vandalizing electrical towers supplying power from Kolo Creek to the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Ebitei Tonyon, who confirmed the arrest on Monday said the suspects dismantled one of the towers at the Angiama axis of the electric line.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Three Suspects For Allegedly Vandalizing BEDC Equipment in Ekiti

The suspects arrested are identified as follows: Obadiah Abule, 22, of Oporoma, Desmond John, 22, Daniel Tonifia,21, Diapreye Ebifadei, 29, Ibrahim Usman, 27, from Nasarawa State, and Prince You, 43, from Yenagoa LGA.

Hon. Ebitei expressed displeasure over the incessant vandalism of electrical installations by young youths, which twats government efforts to provide basic amenities to the people.

He however warns those exhibiting these ugly acts to desist from it or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

The commissioner thanked the team of the community safety corps, the Nigerian Police, and the local vigilantes, for their cooperation in the successful arrest of these vandals, saying that they would be tried and prosecuted according to the laws, to serve as deterrent to others with similar intent.

Hon. Ebitei used the medium to charge community leaders to safeguard government properties in their domains to serve the purpose for which they are executed. Saying that, no government would function effectively without the support from the people.
Frank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has charged the immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, to throw his law certificate into the dustbin following the defeat he suffered at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It was gathered that Keyamo had accused Atiku of using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to corruptly enrich himself while he was vice president of Nigeria under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.

He relied on an affidavit allegedly deposed by Atikus former media aide, Michael Achimugu, against his former boss in filing his suit.

The former Minister prayed to the court to compel anti-corruption agencies in the country to investigate Atiku for his alleged corrupt activities.

However, the court, on Monday, dismissed the case brought before it by Keyamo.

The court, in a judgement that delivered by Justice James Omotosho, held that the suit lacked merit.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Atikus spokesman, Shaibu said that while Keyamo was eager to satisfy his paymasters, he did not wait for up to three days for the EFCC and other agencies to act on his petition but hurriedly filed a suit before the court seeking an order to mandate the agencies to act on his petition.

According to Shaibu, the judgment was clear evidence that the former minister was only playing cheap politics.

READ MORE: Stop Misleading Nigerians, Tinubu Didnt Remove Fuel Subsidy  Keyamo Slams Media

He said that, Keyamos incompetence has been confirmed by Justice Omotosho. One wonders how he was elevated to the rank of senior advocate. Despite several clarifications that the allegations levelled against Atiku were trumped up, Keyamo refused to listen to reason.

Shaibu further stated that Rather than act like a refined lawyer as expected of a senior advocate, he decided to act like a political jobber. Now, he has been disgraced before the entire world. This was a man who served under the legendary Chief Gani Fwehinmi? What a shame.

He noted that Keyamos latest defeat was not surprising given the fact that he had lost many high profile cases in court while he was an EFCC prosecutor.

Shaibu added that When the jobless former minister was filing the frivolous case, we informed Nigerians that he would lose. The prediction was in line with his antecedent as a failed EFCC prosecutor. Today, we have been justified.

He was the EFCC prosecutor against Governor Timipre Sylva but he lost the case. He represented the EFCC against Femi Fani-Kayode and also lost.

Even the case he instituted against the Lagos State House of Assembly during the Tinubu certificate scandal marked ID/639M/99, Keyamo didnt do better. In the case of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, in which Keyamo was the lead prosecutor, it also ended in another abysmal failure.

Keyamo made a name for himself by constantly filing frivolous suits in order to entertain the media. He needs to throw his law certificate into the dustbin so he can face his job as a social media influencer.
Three of the top 10 most recession-proof jobs were in sales or sales-related, according to a study released earlier this year from compensation research service Payscale. Read more

Three of the top 10 most recession-proof jobs were in sales, according to a study released earlier this year from compensation research service Payscale. For most of my clients, this is not a surprise. When the economy slows, business owners and managers look to reduce overhead. But they are loath to cut back on anyone who can generate more revenue.

The people that deserve to make the most money are salespeople, said John Oliver, president of the National Association of Sales Professionals, an online community that provides training and other support tools for salespeople. Theyre bringing the sales that pays for every other salary, including the CEO.

No one will argue that salespeople arent important. But the biggest challenge most business owners face is not whether they should retain, or even hire more in a slow economy. Its how to best compensate their sales professionals to keep them motivated and bring in more business. Its not an easy question to answer because there are many factors to consider.

Compensation depends on the job

For starters, its important to recognize that compensation depends on the nature of the job  and even your industry. Should you pay straight salary? Commission? A combination?

Jeff Zinser, a principal at staffing firm Right Recruiting in Blue Bell, said that if the job is transactional where a salesperson can make a number of sales a day in a retail shop or complete a sale a few times a week  like selling roofing services or air-conditioning systems to homeowners  then salaries can be lower and compensation can be commission-based.

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But if making the sale involves months or even years  such as selling an airplane or a big-ticket piece of machinery  then youll need to pay a higher salary and add on a commission or bonus when its completed, because pushing a salesperson to always be closing isnt always the right approach.

There are hunters, and there are gatherers, he said. The last thing that company should do is incentivize that salesperson heavily by commissions if their job is not transactional.

Commission can be calculated on either revenues or gross margin

Once you figure out the balance between salary and commission, youll want to answer the next obvious question: How much?

According to Miriam Eiseman, a longtime sales executive who is now the cofounder and chief sales officer at Express Employment Professionals, a Bryn Mawr-based recruiting and staffing firm, salaries have to be competitive both locally and in your industry. Eiseman mentioned good places online such as Payscale, Indeed,or LinkedIn to compare salaries. But thats just the first step.

After that, youll have to determine how you want to calculate commissions, Eiseman said.

Most companies Eiseman works with pay their salespeople on their top line revenue amount, rather than on the gross profit of a sale (which is the net of gross revenues less direct costs). The reasons vary, but mostly its because it requires less accounting and less disclosure because, Eiseman said, sometimes business owners are reluctant to share their profits with their employees. But to her, this is not a deal breaker.

When I was working as a salesperson, I never knew what the gross profit was on anything I sold, she said. My employers didnt tell me because I dont think they wanted to tell me. But as a salesperson, that was fine by me, as long as I got the revenue in I didnt have to worry about anything else.

A commission-heavy compensation plan should also take into account up front the amount of time a new salesperson may need to get up to speed. Zinser said hes not averse to guaranteeing commissions for new salespeople at least for the first few months on the job but is also clear about when he expects to start seeing results.

Its fine to do this to help the new salesperson maintain their current lifestyle, but then its important have a clear timeline for when this ends, he said.

Everyone in the process should get incentivized

But paying your salespeople doesnt stop with just the person who closes the deal. Thats because a sale oftentimes involves more than one person. Because of that, Oliver says its important to recognize everyone involved.

Whether its someone on the outside meeting customers, someone on the inside making phone calls, or the customer service representative ensuring delivery, everyone should get something, he said. Even the intern who makes calls and sets up appointments provides value and should be incentivized.

Eiseman said its important that whoever is responsible for keeping a customer should also continue to receive some sort of commission.

You can pay your salesperson a commission for bringing in the sale, but you should consider a smaller percentage going forward for holding on to the customer, she said.

All of these tactics will help to motivate your salespeople, but in the end, compensation can only go so far. Thats because good salespeople  like any good employee  usually have the aspiration to succeed.

It really doesnt matter how much someone gets paid if they dont have what it takes because a good salesperson has to have the drive to make sales, said Eiseman. I can teach anything, but I cant teach that innate desire.

Gene Marks is the founder and president of the Marks Group, a small-business consulting firm based in Bala Cynwyd.
NewsGuild members of the Austin American-Statesman picketed in Austin, Texas, on Monday. The mostly one-day strike aimed to protest the company's leadership and cost-cutting measures imposed since its 2019 merger with GateHouse Media. Read more

Hundreds of journalists at Gannett, publisher of USA Today and more than 200 local newspapers across the country, walked off the job this week to protest their working conditions and the companys leadership. Two dozen newsrooms across seven states, including New Jersey, participated.

While it wasnt a companywide strike, it was the largest work stoppage Gannett has experienced in its history, according to the NewsGuild-CWA, the union that represents about 1,000 Gannett journalists in about 50 bargaining units. The pay and staffing issues the guild raised were relevant to news organizations across the company, regardless of whether they belong to the union.

Some of the walkouts started Monday, and others started or continued on Tuesday. Among those walking out were employees of the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey.

Despite the work stoppage in some of our markets, there was no disruption to our content or ability to deliver trusted news, a Gannett spokesperson said in an email to The Inquirer. Our goal is to preserve journalism and serve our communities across the country as we continue to bargain in good faith to finalize contracts that provide equitable wages and benefits for our valued employees.

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These walkouts are the latest in a string of recent work stoppages by unionized journalists at media organizations of various sizes. It started with a strike by some staff at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beginning in October, which has gone on for more than seven months. A smaller strike across 14 Gannett newsrooms took place in November.

More than 1,100 staff at the New York Times held a one-day strike in December. Employees at digital news outlet Insider, formerly known as Business Insider, went on strike Friday after their union was unable to reach a collective bargaining agreement with management.

While Gannett has acquired numerous local media organizations in recent years, including some in the Philadelphia region, newsroom staff has been substantially reduced across much of the organization. Gannett owns more than a dozen news organizations in Pennsylvania, nine in New Jersey, and the News Journal in Delaware.

Some of them are longtime holdings, such as the Courier Post in Cherry Hill. Others were acquired more recently through Gannetts merger with Gatehouse Media in 2019.

Gatehouses publications included the Bucks County Courier Times, Doylestown Intelligencer, and Burlington County Times, which Gatehouse had bought just a couple years before from a local owner, Calkins Media. Gatehouse had owned several other Delaware publications that no longer exist.

Why did some Gannett newsrooms stop work?

Journalists at various regional publications joined the strike to protest massive staff cuts in recent years and delays in their union contract negotiations and to demand better pay.

Walkouts on Monday coincided with Gannetts annual shareholder meeting. The NewsGuild, which owns shares in Gannett, issued a letter to shareholders to vote against reinstating CEO Mike Reed, citing a 70% decline in Gannetts share price since the Gatehouse merger, which they called an unmitigated disaster. Reed was reelected Monday.

The letter listed examples of newsrooms where staff have been cut drastically in the past decade. It also showed how this has reduced the number of local stories in Gannett publications.

The Asbury Park Press, for example, had 36 stories written by local journalists in a typical Wednesday issue in April 2013. The same Wednesday in April 2023 had seven local stories.

The reduction in newsroom employees means that editors need to make choices about stories to cover, the letter said. Inevitably, it means that certain subjects are no longer covered.

Why didnt all the newsrooms join the walkout?

While they have the same parent company, employees of the local news organizations do not all have the same contract terms.

Some are unionized, and some are not. Among the union shops, some have a no-strike clause in their contracts, which bars them from participating in this weeks walkout.

Journalists at the News Journal and Delaware Online News are unionized with the NewsGuild, but they have a no-strike clause in their contracts.

In Indianapolis, staff of the Gannett-owned IndyStar found a way to demonstrate their discontent even with the no-strike clause in their contract, by removing their bylines from stories indefinitely.

What newspapers near Philadelphia are owned by Gannett?

Gannett lists the following news organizations and papers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Only a few of them participated in the strike that took place this week, and not all of them have unionized staff.

(Organizations with a * are members of the NewsGuild, but not all of these members participated in this weeks walkout.)

Pennsylvania:

Pocono Record, Stroudsburg

Bucks County Courier Times, Levittown

The Intelligencer, Doylestown

Ellwood City Ledger, Ellwood City

Beaver County Times, Bridgewater

The Daily American, Somerset

The Record Herald, Waynesboro*

Tri-County Independent, Honesdale

Erie Times-News, Erie*

York Daily Record, York*

Chambersburg Public Opinion, Chambersburg

Hanover Evening Sun, Hanover

Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon

New Jersey:

The Record, Woodland Park

The New Jersey Herald, Newton*

Burlington County Times, Willingboro

Courier Post, Cherry Hill

Daily Journal, Vineland

Asbury Park Press, Neptune*

Home News Tribune, Middlesex County *

Courier News, Somerville*

Daily Record, Parsippany*

Delaware:

The News Journal, New Castle*
From left: Ellen Yin, Hanna and Chad Williams, and Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon at the 2023 James Beard Awards in Chicago. Read more

Philadelphians won three major categories of the James Beard Awards Monday night as Friday Saturday Sunday was named Outstanding Restaurant and Ellen Yin Outstanding Restaurateur, while Chutatip Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya won for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.

It was the citys strongest showing in the prestigious food awards since 2017, when restaurateur Stephen Starr and chefs Michael Solomonov and Greg Vernick won their categories. Aside from civic pride, the awards drew attention from national food and travel publications.

This years Beard winners were a diverse assortment  ethnically and geographically. Idaho (Kris Komori of KIN) and Oklahoma (Andrew Black of Grey Sweater) saw their states win Beards for the first time. . Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan was Puerto Ricos first winner. Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, R.I., celebrates local Native American food traditions. Vince Nguyen of Berlu in Portland, Ore., stretches the boundaries of Vietnamese cooking.

Friday Saturday Sundays Chad Williams, turning to address the staff members assembled behind him on stage at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, said, I am eternally grateful for everything you bring to the restaurant every day. You bring our vision to life and you have changed our world, and it means everything to the guests that come in and make this place their second home.

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Williams also thanked his wife, Hanna Williams, with whom he opened the fine-dining restaurant in late 2016 at 21st and Rittenhouse Streets, on the site of a long-ago Rittenhouse Square restaurant of the same name. Both of them grew in Philadelphia  he in West Philadelphia and she in Mount Airy.

Yin, a five-time finalist for the restaurateur award, opened Fork at 306 Market St. in 1997, helping to catapult Old City into a restaurant destination.

Yin has been a force in Philadelphia dining, cofounding the Sisterly Love Coalition to champion women in hospitality and leading relief efforts during the pandemic, as well as raising money for anti-Asian discrimination through the Wonton Project, inspired by her mother.

With partners, including chef Eli Kulp, she went on to open a.kitchen on Rittenhouse Square and High Street, now at Ninth and Chestnut Streets.

I fell in love with this industry when I was a teenager, but it took me 25 years to realize that a restaurant was the first place that I felt a true sense of belonging, said Yin, who started in the business in her hometown of Rumson, N.J.

In Philadelphia, she said, she found a world-class restaurant [industry] that represents our diversity, ethnicity, history, and resiliency. Referring to her staff and her fellow nominees, I could not be more proud to accompany such a talented group of Philadelphians to represent our city.

Suntaranon, a finalist last year for the Mid-Atlantic award, is known to all as Nok (say it nook).

A native of Thailand, she started her career as a flight attendant and fell into owning an Italian restaurant in Bangkok. She moved to Philadelphia in 2010 with her husband, Ziv Katalan, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Seeking a creative outlet, she took classes in New York at the French Culinary Institute and got a degree in French cuisine, interning with Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

With a now-former partner, in 2019 she opened Kalaya as a BYOB on Ninth Street in the Italian Market, naming it after her mother (say it kah-lay-YAH) and celebrating the food of southern Thailand.

Kalaya was named the countrys top newcomer that year by Esquire and Food & Wine.

Kalaya moved earlier this year to sumptuous quarters four times its original size at 4 W. Palmer St. on the Fishtown-Kensington line in a new partnership with chef Nick Kennedy, Al Lucas, and Greg Root of the Defined Hospitality group, which owns Suraya and Condesa.

 READ MORE: Follow along with Craig LaBan on a trip to Thailand with Nok

From the beginning, I always wanted [the Beard award], she said backstage. Im very competitive and not in a very quiet way. ... Until today, I never [gave] up. I keep pushing and I just never see myself work less than the first day.

Yesterday, my husband asked me to write, a practice acceptance speech or whatever, Nok told the audience. Sometimes, I dont speak English ... so when I started like a few words, I started crying because this is something I want so bad.

 READ MORE: Philly bartender Toby Maloney wins a 2023 James Beard book award

She noted that she named the restaurant after her mother, who worked really hard and devoted every minute of her life to make my life and my brothers life better.

She thanked her husband, her partners, developer Roland Kassis, and the James Beard Foundation for changing this industry for more equitable treatment of chefs. She also thanked the people of Philadelphia who love my food.

Three other chefs and restaurateurs from Philadelphia made it to Chicago for the ceremony. Amanda Shulman of Her Place Supper Club was a finalist for Emerging Chef. Jesse Ito of Royal Izakaya and Dionicio Jimenez of Cantina La Martina were both in the running for the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category.

The awards show will be rerun on the Cooking Channel from 6 to 8 p.m. June 16.

(Disclosure: Some current Inquirer staff members have served on or are part of the James Beard Awards voting body.)
From left to right, Dylan Jackson, Rebecca Crosby, Gayle Burstein, Jordan Teitelbaum and Sharone Bilenkin toast during Spaghetti Western night at Couch Cafe, a supper club at Liz Grothes apartment in Northern Liberties. Read more

One of the best dining experiences in Philly materializes for a single night only, on a side street past the buzzy bars and established restaurants of Northern Liberties, in Liz Grothes living room. She calls it Couch Cafe.

Normally, Grothe, 28, works as a sous chef at Fiorella, Marc Vetris much-acclaimed pasta bar in the Italian Market. But once a month, on her day off, Grothe arranges the tables and chairs jigsaw-like in her open-concept apartment and cooks exactly whatever she wants for a dozen friends and strangers. She posts the menu in advance on Instagram and people pre-pay via Venmo.

I dont have enough friends to have a monthly dinner party where everybody helps me pay for groceries, Grothe joked. So thats why I had to sell tickets.

At the end of May, Grothe hosted a dinner called Spaghetti Western, which involved making four types of pasta from scratch, smoking 7 pounds of crawfish on her back porch, and whipping through three dozen eggs for lemon souffles. In between the nights two seatings, Grothes roommate darted out from his room to retrieve the cat.

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Informal supper clubs like this one are some of the most imaginative places to eat in Philly right now. Operating out of chefs apartments and advertised on social media, they allow rising stars like Grothe to design and cook their own sometimes outlandish concepts. (The vibe is very much Sydney Adamu, the young, brilliant sous chef on The Bear, hosting a seven-course meal at her apartment).

Existing in the blurry space between dinner party and restaurant, supper clubs also cultivate a kind of priceless exclusivity: its informal, but if you dont know the cool kids, youd never know to go.

People are like, I dont quite know how to explain it but we went to a dinner party in someones apartment, said Daniel Solway, a sommelier who runs a supper club called Sante out of his apartment in the Italian market.

By the midpoint of the Spaghetti Western dinner  seven-courses for which guests paid a flat $65  Grothes Birkenstocks were soaking wet and she was operating all four burners at once. Her boyfriend, Jake Lante, until recently a sous chef at the tapas and sherry bar Oloroso, was furiously washing stacks of dishes in the regular-size kitchen sink. (Lante, 30, has celiac disease; his devotion to Grothes pasta-themed meal was rooted in love).

In addition to Lante, Grothe had hired a Fiorella colleague, Elizabeth Sloane, to run front of house operations. Sloane had designed three cocktails, including one featuring arugula amaro, to match the evenings theme. On her day off, she appreciated that she could play with ingredients that would be hard to scale for a large restaurant, like a garnish of cherry tomatoes rolled in habanero jelly.

The guests were thrilled. Around the living room, they chatted happily, helping themselves to communal plates of spicy sthridhlja, a type of hand-pulled noodle, and brothy crab tortellini. Some had worked with Grothe in the restaurant industry; others were dedicated foodies used to scouring the city (and Instagram) for new dishes.

Would die for the salad. Would die for the lemon wedge, said Maddie Zelicoff, 33, seated by the window with a friend. Theres something about the level of care and comfort thats very enticing.

Grothe has always cooked for people. When she was little, her mother, who is Filipino, would set her up with elaborate tasks in the kitchen while her brothers went to wrestling tournaments. Sometimes that meant cleaning and pulling the heads off 10 pounds of fresh shrimp for a seafood feast, or rolling hundreds of lumpia to freeze for future parties.

After college Grothe got a job as an industrial safety manager at Tyson, a high-pressure job that boiled down to telling grown men, Hey, guys, please do not stick your fingers into those moving plates, she said.

But she missed cooking, and when the pandemic hit, she no longer wanted to be responsible for the safety of hundreds of workers. She began washing dishes at River Twice and worked her way up cooking at Oloroso.

Though she soaked up the skills of a restaurant kitchen, Grothe found the culture at Oloroso stultifying.

I really needed an outlet to cook and itd be fun again, Grothe said. As a humanities major, she had learned that every great artistic movement is a reaction to another. So she started Couch Cafe.

Its hard to know how many supper clubs like hers have popped up in living rooms and kitchens across the city, because they operate under the radar.

Solway, the sommelier, has run Sante out of his apartment in the Italian Market since 2020, collaborating with different chefs for weekly 25-person dinners. In the beginning he transformed his home into a semi-restaurant by hiding extra furniture with hanging bedsheets, borrowing folding chairs from his dads house in Mt. Airy, and buying secondhand dishware at Philly AIDS Thrift. The menus were printed at Staples.

We werent trying to hide the fact that it was an apartment, Solway, 31, said. The spirit was cobbled together, hodgepodge.

Now he runs Sante full-time, hosting private events as well as dinners at his apartment.

A five-course meal at Sante runs $75, plus $35-40 for beverage pairings. He sees supper clubs as part of a uniquely Philly culture.

Philly has a lower threshold for bulls-- than other cities, Solway said. People in New York have a high tolerance for bullsh--. They eat it up.

Philly has a long history of semi-secret, semi-legal, much-beloved supper clubs. Amanda Shulman, the chef behind Her Place Supper Club, got her start cooking five-course meals in her West Philly apartment when she was a Penn undergraduate, posting a menu on Facebook and charging $35. Her Place, named the best restaurant of 2022 by Craig LaBan, prides itself on being kind of like a restaurant but kind of like a dinner party.

Other supper clubs are run by enthusiastic home cooks without formal restaurant training.

By day, Aaron Davis, 27, works as a data analyst. But by night, roughly every other month, Davis hosts a 12-person supper club at his apartment, featuring food from the Northern coast of Peru, where his mother was born. He calls it Boy Supper Club, typically offering a sliding scale between $35-$50. The dinners are intimate and labor-intensive: Davis grows the peppers and herbs himself and begins each meal with a caldo, a traditional chicken broth that takes hours to make.

That kind of care is essential to the supper club culture. At Couch Cafe, as the Spaghetti Western plates were cleared, Grothe called the room to attention.

Our phones died so we cant stream music anymore! she said, thanking everyone for coming.

You guys can hang out for a bit longer, but dont stay too long, she said, because I have to go to sleep and go to work tomorrow. In her living room, all the customers clapped.
A recent KFF study of ACA plans found that even when patients received care from in-network physicians  doctors and hospitals approved by these same insurers  the companies in 2021 nonetheless denied, on average, 17% of claims. Read more

Millions of Americans in the past few years have run into this experience: filing a health care insurance claim that once might have been paid immediately but instead is just as quickly denied. If the experience and the insurers explanation often seem arbitrary and absurd, that might be because companies appear increasingly likely to employ computer algorithms or people with little relevant experience to issue rapid-fire denials of claims  sometimes bundles at a time  without reviewing the patients medical chart. A job title at one company was denial nurse.

Its a handy way for insurers to keep revenue high  and just the sort of thing that provisions of the Affordable Care Act were meant to prevent. Because the law prohibited insurers from deploying previously profit-protecting measures such as refusing to cover patients with preexisting conditions, the authors worried that insurers would compensate by increasing the number of denials.

And so, the law tasked the Department of Health and Human Services with monitoring denials both by health plans on the Obamacare marketplace and those offered through employers and insurers. It hasnt fulfilled that assignment. Thus, denials have become another predictable, miserable part of the patient experience, with countless Americans unjustly being forced to pay out-of-pocket or, faced with that prospect, forgoing needed medical help.

A recent KFF study of ACA plans found that even when patients received care from in-network physicians  doctors and hospitals approved by these same insurers  the companies in 2021 nonetheless denied, on average, 17% of claims. One insurer denied 49% of claims in 2021; anothers turndowns hit an astonishing 80% in 2020. Despite the potentially dire impact that denials have on patients health or finances, data shows that people appeal only once in every 500 cases.

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Sometimes, the insurers denials defy not just medical standards of care but also plain old human logic. Here is a sampling collected for the KFF Health News-NPR Bill of the Month joint project.

Dean Peterson of Los Angeles said he was shocked when payment was denied for a heart procedure to treat an arrhythmia, which had caused him to faint with a heart rate of 300 beats per minute. After all, he had the insurers preapproval for the expensive ($143,206) intervention. More confusing still, the denial letter said the claim had been rejected because he had asked for coverage for injections into nerves in your spine (he hadnt) that were not medically needed. Months later, after dozens of calls and a patient advocates assistance, the situation is still not resolved. An insurers letter was sent directly to a newborn child denying coverage for his fourth day in a neonatal intensive care unit. You are drinking from a bottle, the denial notification said, and you are breathing on your own. If only the baby could read. Deirdre OReillys college-age son, suffering a life-threatening anaphylactic allergic reaction, was saved by epinephrine shots and steroids administered intravenously in a hospital emergency room. His mother, utterly relieved by that news, was less pleased to be informed by the familys insurer that the treatment was not medically necessary.

As it happens, OReilly is an intensive-care physician at the University of Vermont. The worst part was not the money we owed, she said of the $4,792 bill. The worst part was that the denial letters made no sense  mostly pages of gobbledygook. She has filed two appeals, so far without success.

Some denials are, of course, well considered, and some insurers deny only 2% of claims, the KFF study found. But the increase in denials, and the often strange rationales offered, might be explained, in part, by a ProPublica investigation of Cigna  an insurance giant, with 170 million customers worldwide.

ProPublicas investigation, published in March, found that an automated system, called PXDX, allowed Cigna medical reviewers to sign off on 50 charts in 10 seconds, presumably without examining the patients records.

Decades ago, insurers reviews were reserved for a tiny fraction of expensive treatments to make sure providers were not ordering with an eye on profit instead of patient needs.

These reviews  and the denials  have now trickled down to the most mundane medical interventions and needs, including things such as asthma inhalers or the heart medicine that a patient has been on for months or years. Whats approved or denied can be based on an insurers shifting contracts with drug and device manufacturers rather than optimal patient treatment.

Automation makes reviews cheap and easy. A 2020 study estimated that the automated processing of claims saves U.S. insurers more than $11 billion annually.

But challenging a denial can take hours of patients and doctors time. Many people dont have the knowledge or stamina to take on the task, unless the bill is especially large or the treatment obviously lifesaving. And the process for larger claims is often fabulously complicated.

The Affordable Care Act clearly stated that HHS shall collect the data on denials from private health insurers and group health plans and is supposed to make that information publicly available. (Who would choose a plan that denied half of patients claims?) The data is also supposed to be available to state insurance commissioners, who share with HHS the duties of oversight and trying to curb abuse.

To date, such information-gathering has been haphazard and limited to a small subset of plans, and the data isnt audited to ensure it is complete, according to Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at KFF and one of the authors of the KFF study. Federal oversight and enforcement based on the data are, therefore, more or less nonexistent.

HHS did not respond to requests for comment for this article.

The government has the power and duty to end the fire hose of reckless denials harming patients financially and medically. Thirteen years after the passage of the ACA, perhaps it is time for the mandated investigation and enforcement to begin.

Kaiser Family Foundation Health News is a national newsroom that produces journalism about health issues.
Nurses cite high volume of patients without enough staff to provide adequate care as one reason for burnout. Read more

Pennsylvania has taken a step to join California as the second state that requires a set number of nurses in hospitals, a move that proponents say could improve patient safety and help retain nurses in bedside jobs.

 READ MORE: Should hospitals be required to have a certain number of nurses?

The Patient Safety Act would require each hospital unit to meet specific staffing ratios based on the level of the care delivered. It passed Tuesday out of the Health Committee in the state House of Representatives, but its prospects of becoming law this year remain uncertain.

The legislation would require, for example, one nurse for each patient in active labor or every two patients in intensive care. Hospitals failing to meet the requirement would be fined.

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Nurses deserve to have an assignment that they feel they can deliver the best possible care to their patients, said Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, a Democrat from Lackawanna County, who worked as a registered nurse prior to joining the House. Thats why we are here today.

Unions representing nurses throughout the state lobbied in support of the bill, including the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals that represents nurses in a number of Philadelphia-area hospitals.

A trade group for state hospitals, the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and multiple health systems opposed the requirement. Critics contend that a one-size-fit-all mandate lacks flexibility for hospitals financial, staffing, and patient care needs. They also say hospitals already are struggling to fill a high number of vacant positions for nurses.

A similar version of the bill had been proposed in the previous legislative session. But the then-Republican chair of the committee, Rep. Kathy Rapp of Warren County, did not bring it up for a vote.

 READ MORE: As many nurses say they plan to leave bedside care, these Philly-area grads cant wait for their first hospital job

The bills prospects changed when Democrats took control of the House last November, and then held onto their narrow majority in recent special elections.

Tuesdays vote split along party lines, with Republicans voting against the bill, and Democrats voting in favor of advancing it.

Prior to the vote, Rapp said that the bill would force already financially struggling small and rural acute care hospitals to downsize services or close. She also called the legislative push an effort to force collective bargaining on hospitals statewide.

This bill will decrease care, not increase it, she said. Mandating safe staff ratios when hospitals are struggling to find nurses is not going to suddenly create a pool of ready-to-work nurses.

 READ MORE: Punched, kicked, threatened with rape: Einstein nurses raise alarm about dangerous work environment

California is the only state that currently mandates nursing levels. The law took effect there in 2004 and it did not lead to the negative fallout that opponents feared, Linda Aiken, director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania, told the committee in a hearing last month. She noted that Pennsylvania has sufficient registered nurses, just not enough nurses providing patient care in hospitals.

Her analysis of the bill found that if Pennsylvania hospitals had the staffing levels it would require, the state could prevent 1,155 hospital deaths and 771 hospital readmissions every year.

More than half of House members, including some Republicans, have cosponsored the bill, which can get a floor vote as early as this month. But if passed, the bill would face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled state Senate.
Lily Hamilton with the Community Action Relief Project protests the closure of Wright 4, an addiction treatment center in Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, saying the move will limit options for people with addiction in West Philadelphia. Read more

Saying that Penn Medicine is not prioritizing care for opioid addiction at a time of soaring overdose deaths, several dozen protesters chanted patients over profits to protest the closure of a West Philadelphia addiction treatment unit at a rally last week.

The protest urged Penn to keep open Wright 4, an 18-bed addiction treatment unit at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

The ward will shut down entirely next month, after all current patients have completed the maximum 30-day stay there. In its place, Penn plans to offer 16 inpatient addiction treatment beds between Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania  Cedar Avenue, located about two miles west of Presbyterian, and Pennsylvania Hospital in Center City. The move is part of a consolidation of the systems mental health crisis services at HUP Cedar and Pennsylvania Hospital.

But some protesters, including some who work in the Penn health system, say that Penn hasnt provided enough information about how treatment will be delivered at the new locations, and that theyre concerned for people without housing for whom inpatient treatment was particularly helpful.

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For the last two years, HUP Cedar has maintained 16 detox beds for five-day placements that shepherd someone with addiction through the early days of withdrawal.

But simply undergoing detox for a few days isnt enough time for most patients to stabilize, protesters said. They said they feel Penn hasnt been clear about when longer-term inpatient beds will open and whether patients can expect the same kind of longer-term care as they received on Wright 4.

In a statement, Penn Medicines vice president for public affairs, Patrick Norton, said that the health system will transfer its inpatient drug and alcohol services from Presbyterian to HUP Cedar on July 1 without providing further details.

Norton said that standards of care around substance use treatment have changed in recent years: For instance, some substance use treatment which was previously delivered in an inpatient setting is now provided through intensive outpatient programs.

Penn Presbyterian will continue to offer outpatient treatment, Norton said, and has doubled its number of outpatient substance use disorder counselors. Norton noted they will also connect patients who need inpatient care with other facilities that do offer it. Penn officials have also offered to meet with protesters about the units closure.

City officials said that they do not anticipate that patients will have difficulty accessing inpatient beds after Wright 4s closure. The city has maintained good capacity and flow in the substance use disorder treatment system, said Rhashidah Perry-Jones, the senior director of communication for Community Behavioral Health, the city entity that oversees programs like Wright 4 that accept government-funded health insurance.

We wont go lightly

At Thursdays protest, speakers contended that for people without housing, inpatient care is crucial to help them stabilize while recovering from addiction. (Penn recently announced it is participating in a new initiative with Project HOME to offer immediate housing to homeless patients with addiction.)

A 30-day stay is vital, especially for people who are unhoused, said Kelsey Leon, a research coordinator in Penns emergency department. Leon is also involved with the Community Action Relief Project, a harm-reduction group based in Kensington, which helped to organize last weeks protest. Its important just to be able to have a space to reacclimate with how your body is feeling.

Wright 4 has built a reputation among people with addiction as a safe, welcoming place to recover, advocates said. They said they feared that reputation would be lost with the units closure.

[Penn] is compromising this unattainable golden nugget  trust, from people who have no reason to trust anyone, said Billy Ray Boyer, a organizer with SOL Collective, another harm-reduction group that organized Thursdays protest.

A Penn spokesperson said that staff from Wright 4 would transfer to HUP Cedar, ensuring that the welcoming culture patients have come to expect remains in place.

In a news release, Penn officials said that the addiction treatment beds on Wright 4 will be converted to medical-surgical beds to shorten emergency room wait times and provide more beds for patients recovering from surgery.

Leon and other advocates called the plan a money move that doesnt prioritize some of the citys most vulnerable patients: Lower income people with addiction who rely on the governments Medicaid health care program to pay for treatment. Those programs often reimburse hospitals for health-care costs at a lower rate than private insurance. Penn officials did not respond to a question about that characterization.

At Thursdays protest, advocates called on Penn to keep Wright 4 open and to expand their addiction treatment offerings across the health system, including opening more inpatient beds. They also want the hospitals to offer methadone treatment for inpatient addiction patients.

We want to deliver a really strong message about who will be impacted by this closure, and we wont go lightly. This is not a one-off protest for us  we will be back in many different ways, Boyer said.
Pareto Health, a Philadelphia firm that helps small and midsize companies self-insure for health care, has a new investor: Warburg Pincus. Read more

Pareto Health, a fast-growing Philadelphia company that helps smaller employers self-insure for employee health benefits, announced Monday that Warburg Pincus had joined as a private-equity investor in the firm.

Pareto previously secured an $80 million private-equity investment from Great Hill Partners in September 2019. Since then, Pareto has grown to 2,200 employers from 800. Its reach has extended to 400,000 from 100,000 covered employees.

About 200 of its affiliated employers, with 35,000 employees, are in the Philadelphia area.

Pareto, based in Center City, has seen its own employment ranks jump to 200 from 30, said Pareto founder and CEO Andrew Cavenagh.

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Cavenagh, a Swarthmore College graduate who founded Pareto in 2011, did not disclose the size of the Warburg Pincus investment, but a news release said that Great Hill and Warburg Pincus have equal stakes in the company. Given Paretos growth, Warburg must have invested more than $80 million.

The motivation was to get another super smart and sophisticated investor in our boardroom, Cavenagh said, citing what he described as Warburgs proven track record in health care and insurance.

Paretos clients average 170 employees. Historically, such firms would have been too small to self-insure.

Self-insured employers pays their employees health-care bills directly instead of buying insurance from a company such as Independence Blue Cross or Aetna.

Self-insuring can help companies to save money, but also carries risks. To avoid the volatility that can come with self-insurance, Pareto arranges for groups of employers to band together to smooth out the impact of extremely costly episodes of care, including cell and gene therapies with prices of more than $1 million per dose.

Cavenagh said he sees three big health insurance trends affecting small- and medium-sized businesses: Overall costs are rising, volatility caused by catastrophic claims is increasing, and multiyear claims related to specialty drugs are becoming more common.

Regular insurers dont do a good job of protecting employers from that. That is our specialty, he said.
Anthony Ant Smith, back center, receives a hug from friend Alyssa King, among the friends and family who arrived at the federal courthouse in Center City to support him as he pleaded guilty Tuesday to obstructing police during civil disorder in 2020. Read more

A prominent West Philadelphia activist, who was the lead plaintiff in a civil rights lawsuit over the police response to the racial justice protests that roiled the city in May 2020, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges tied to his actions during those demonstrations.

Anthony Ant Smith  a charter school teacher and organizer with the Philadelphia Coalition for Racial, Economic and Legal Justice (Philly for REAL Justice)  told a federal judge he and others flipped a police car parked outside City Hall as thousands gathered in Center City to protest the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

His guilty plea  to one felony count of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder  comes two months after the city agreed to pay him and about 350 other demonstrators and city residents a combined $9.25 million to settle a civil suit over what they described as an overzealous police response.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia will pay $9.25M to protesters over police use of tear gas and rubber bullets during 2020 unrest

Smith, 31, said little in front of a courtroom packed with dozens of supporters as U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez walked him through a series of questions to ensure he understood the consequences of his guilty plea. Under state law, the felony charge will likely bar Smith from teaching for 10 years, his lawyer said.

Smith declined to comment after Tuesdays proceedings, as family and community members greeted him with hugs.

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Anthonys bad judgment during that extraordinary moment in our history is not a reflection of who he is as a person, and his longstanding effort to be a positive force in the community, said his lawyer, Paul J. Hetznecker. It is my hope that the judge will see what a remarkable young man [Smith] is by the time we get to sentencing.

Smith was one of six people charged by federal prosecutors in the months following those demonstrations with setting police cars ablaze.

But his case emerged as a flashpoint in the debate around those demonstrations because of his profile, the nature of the charges against him, and the timing of his arrest.

In a splashy news conference, then-U. S. Attorney William M. McSwain unveiled the indictment against Smith  a social studies teacher at the North Philadelphia charter school YouthBuild Philadelphia  and two codefendants just weeks after Smith had become the lead plaintiff in the civil suit and days after his activism had drawn praise from Philadelphia Magazine, which named him one of the citys most influential residents.

As in the other cases, prosecutors filed federal arson charges  which carry a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence. But Smiths initial charging documents were scant on details of what exactly he and others were accused of doing.

At the time, McSwain, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, declined to answer questions about those specifics, instead using the indictment to make broader statements about Philadelphia as a city that he saw as standing on the precipice between respect for democracy and destruction.

He would later launch an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for governor, building his campaign around many of the same talking points and citing his record of charging demonstrators such as Smith.

Though McSwain stressed that he drew distinctions between the thousands who protested Floyds death peacefully and those involved in property destruction, Hetznecker and members of the Philadelphia activist community accused the government of using the stiff sentence that comes with the arson charge to intimidate and to quell constitutionally protected rights to protest.

Since then, the governments position on those cases has softened. Under new U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, an appointee of President Joe Biden, prosecutors have extended plea deals to all six who were facing arson charges.

As in Smiths case, those agreements allowed them to plead guilty to lesser charges of civil disorder  slashing the potential prison time from a seven-year mandatory minimum to a five-year maximum sentence.

Even in that context, Smiths case stands apart. Each of the other defendants admitted, as part of the plea deal, to igniting police cars with lit road flares or Molotov cocktails.

But the portions of Smiths plea agreement that outline the exact conduct to which he admitted Tuesday make no mention of his directly setting any fire  despite the arson charge he initially faced.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz told the judge the government had video evidence of Smith and others rocking a white police sedan back and forth amid the protests. She said another person, whom she did not identify by name, placed a lit flare inside the car, igniting the fire that consumed it.

That distinction could have a significant effect on the punishment Smith faces at a sentencing hearing in September. The five other defendants who were initially charged with arson received sentences ranging from one to five years.

Sanchez imposed many of those sentences, but he offered no indication Tuesday of what sort of punishment he might hand down to Smith.

We have a right to peacefully assemble and protest, the judge. But the right to  destroy property, we dont have that right.

The judge, however, did lift an order that had kept Smith on home detention since his 2021 arrest, noting that hed complied with all its conditions.

I feel good about todays outcome, Smiths father, Romeo Smith said in a statement following the hearing. Anthony was composed and professional during the hearing, as he always is. Im proud of him and what he stands for.

In the civil suit settled earlier this year, Smith and his fellow plaintiffs accused officers of using heavy-handed tactics to disperse crowds  including indiscriminate use of tear gas and rubber bullets  that trampled on their rights to free expression and freedom from excessive force.

Smith told The Inquirer at the time he was arrested by Philadelphia police that officers drove him around in a police van for hours before releasing him at 3 a.m. from a precinct in North Philadelphia with a $20 curfew violation.

On Monday, Hetznecker stressed the difference between Smiths criminal case and the lawsuit settlement. He noted that Smith took responsibility in court for property damage on May 30, 2020, while the settlement with the city pertained to a physical assault by police using tear gas and other munitions on human beings the following day.

 READ MORE: Besieged, then betrayed: As protests intensified, police blanketed W. Philadelphia's 52nd Street in tear gas

The $9.25 million settlement, which also included agreements to fund counseling for victims of police violence and committed police officials to periodic meetings with West Philadelphia residents, is the largest settlement in a mass protest-related case in the citys history.
Former Philadelphia resident Julie Sullivan has written a debut novel, The World is Full of Champions, that looks at class-based friction between the Black elite and Black people from more modest means. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan. Read more

Julie Sullivans debut novel, The World is Full of Champions, takes a critical look at the chasm that exists between a fictional family from the Black elite in Philadelphia and their working-class maid and her family.

Part history, part saga, part Cain and Abel, and part romance novel, Champions tells a story that spans three decades of Georgia Smythes life.

Georgias mother works as a maid for the Whitmans, a judge and his wife who live in the Philadelphia suburbs. Georgia grows up playing with the Whitmans two sons. When she is 6, her father is killed in a mining accident.

As a young woman, Georgia falls in love with one of the Whitmans sons. But the upper-class parents prefer that he marry Claire, the daughter of their close friends, another professional couple who join them on vacations in Cape Cod.

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Sullivan, the daughter of a Philadelphia icon, the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan  who led Zion Baptist Church in North Philadelphia for 38 years  knows firsthand the tensions that can simmer between Black people from different economic backgrounds.

That distinction became clearer after her father was named to the board of General Motors in 1971  the first Black person named to a multinational corporate board in America. He helped develop the Sullivan Principles to work toward dismantling apartheid in South Africa.

Thus, the author had a window into the world of the Black elite. But she also had an understanding and deep immersion into the world of Black people struggling to make ends meet in North Philadelphia.

I lived in both worlds, she said. I had a shoe in both worlds.

A clinical assistant professor who teaches health-care ethics at Arizona State University, Sullivan is also the author of a nonfiction book, Against the Tide, about the life of her great-grandfather, a Black steamboat captain who battled prejudice in the Chesapeake Bay region.

She talked more about her first novel with The Inquirer.

What was the driving force behind this book? Did it come about from what you observed growing up as the daughter of a prominent Black man who led a church located in a neighborhood that became a pretty rough section of town?

There is a component of this book  but not its entirety  that addresses the juxtaposition of being the daughter of an international figure who had resources and status, with the humble and simple values of faith and persistence that he advocated in our household, and which were derived from his childhood in West Virginia.

My father never forgot where he came from. He saw himself as a country boy, who grew up in poverty.

Where does the novels title come from?

One definition of a champion is a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition. Thats the definition most often used in Western society, and it often refers to people who, because of the sheer luck of the draw, have pathways to become known and well-regarded. But another definition of a champion is a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.

Its that second type of champion that interests me. Theyre often not well known and are individuals who do not stand out because of their wealth or number of social media followers, but because they have fought hard battles and have survived.  People who stand up for the rights of marginalized communities (e.g. Black and native women, LGBTQ, children in war-torn areas). They are all champions, even though most are unknown.

How did your life change after your father joined the board of General Motors?

Our family moved from Mount Airy to Rydal [in Abington Township,Montgomery County]. We had a bigger house, we went to summer camp, and we had a summer house on Cape Cod [like the characters in the book].

I remember thinking even as a child that other people should be able to have access to the same resources, and I applied that to my work as a professor and in my work in Africa. [Sullivan is the former executive director of IFESH, the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help, an organization her father founded that is no longer active.]

I also saw the warmth that could happen in families living in more modest circumstances, not based on wealth. One of my favorite memories was going to the house of one of my fathers best friends for Labor Day. Their house was small, and they put up little dining trays by the couch, but they squeezed a lot of people into their house. Those were happy times.

The Whitmans sons are constantly fighting. Their father shows favoritism to one son over the other. When one brother dies in a tragic accident, there is a moral question about whether the surviving brother bears an indirect responsibility. Is this a tale of Cain and Abel? Is the tension between the brothers a metaphor for the tension between Black people from different backgrounds?

Most sibling rivalries occur in homes where there is a heightened sense of conflict, as well as increased competition. Both of those factors existed in the Whitman home. The biblical story of Cain and Abel is ultimately a fable of forgiveness and the ability to refashion oneself. This happens here also. The surviving brother is given a fresh start, or a second chance, to redeem himself.

And yes, I am making the case that African Americans who have reached a level of achievement where they are not food or housing insecure have a responsibility to help the Black poor, rather than distancing themselves from them.

Georgias father is killed in a mining accident in Pennsylvania. Your father had two relatives who were killed in coal mines. How did those real-life events affect your father and your familys personal history?

My fathers grandfather and his great-grandfather both died in the coal mines of West Virginia. I think thats why, when he started the OIC [Opportunities Industrialization Center] in West Virginia, he talked about how it is important for poor white people, as well as poor Black people, to have job training and better opportunities.

Georgia is a young woman when Philadelphia police bomb the MOVE house on Osage Avenue, killing adults and children. Her anger is palpable. Were you similarly affected by the May 1985 bombing ?

Like Georgia, I was mortified. My family and I were living in Chestnut Hill. I was 24 at the time. The MOVE burning affected me greatly. It was a horrific taste of how the machinations of law and order could unleash cruelty on innocent victims. I fervently watched the news and was moved by the loss of life by fire, particularly the five children.

The police deciding to let the fire burn was horrific. I remember seeing the compound engulfed in smoke. I believe that the mayor at the time, Wilson Goode, who is a good man, was nonetheless misinformed and made ill-informed decisions driven by uncaring people in the [police] force.

Your book tackles homophobia when the closeted gay brother and his boyfriend are attacked by two other teens. Is the book also a demand to advocate for people who face discrimination or violence because of their sexual identity?

I knew several people in the church who were gay but closeted. From what I could see, they led tortured lives, in part, because of the pressure the Black church exerted on them to fulfill their manhood in an environment of oppression. I wanted to address the fact that gay people, particularly men, should not feel ashamed of who they are.

I believe that I did want to speak out as an advocate for those who are mistreated because of their sexual identity.

Ultimately, despite tragedy and conflict, the book ends on an optimistic note. Was that intentional?

I did want the book to end on a hopeful note, because I feel as though social media and the weight, for poor Blacks, of being the underdog  their culture, food, music, and dance appropriated by any or all  have already excavated and mined the sadness. I believe that [the next generation of children in the story] are models of the future.
Vice President Kamala Harris smiles as she is welcome on Tuesday during a moderated conversation with the international executive board for SEIU, the service employees union in Philadelphia. Read more

Vice President Kamala Harris is traveling to Philadelphia Tuesday to speak with labor leaders in Center City.

Harris was scheduled to arrive at Philadelphia International Airport at 9:20 a.m. before traveling to the Sheraton Hotel on North 17th Street to participate in a moderated conversation with the Service Employees International Union, according to the White House.

The vice president will remain in Philadelphia until about noon, when shes scheduled to make her way back to Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, D.C., to participate in a Cabinet meeting with President Joe Biden scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at the White House.

This isnt the first time Harris has traveled to Philadelphia during her tenure as vice president. In April 2022, she rallied with Philadelphias Sheetmetal Workers Local 19 on the Delaware River waterfront as part of a series of stops with then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. She was also in town with Biden in February to address the winter meeting of the Democratic National Committee.

Philadelphia, for myself, for President Biden, and I know for so many of you, this is what it all comes down to: dignity, and dignity of work, Harris said at the April 2022 event. The president and I will always stand with you  and our administration will do everything in our power to ensure the workers of our nation can succeed and thrive.

Harris chairs the White House Labor Task Force, which is working on reducing barriers to worker organizing. The group announced in March that the number of Federal Government employees in a union increased by nearly 20% from September 2021 to September 2022.

Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this article.
Philadelphia SWAT police at the intersection by the 2800 block of Ruth Street in the Kensington section of Philadelphia on May 31. A police officer was shot in the hand. Read more

Philadelphia police identified the man who was fatally shot by officers during a standoff in Kensington last week as Dimitri Klimov, 36, who they said was armed but did not fire any shots at police. And they said an officer at the scene who was shot in the hand was accidentally struck by a bullet fired by a colleague.

About 7:30 p.m. on May 31, police said, officers nearby heard gunshots coming from the 2800 block of Ruth Street. According to preliminary information from police, heres what happened next:

Klimov was arguing with a group of men outside his home, then went inside to retrieve a gun, came back out, and fired two shots. He then ran back into the house. No one was injured.

Officers Thomas Ditro and his partner, sitting in their cruiser nearby, heard the shots and saw people running, as they responded to the block. Sgt. Michael Spicer also arrived at the scene, as did a fourth officer. They found one fired bullet casing at the steps of a front door.

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Spicer heard noises and movement coming from inside the house, and forced entry to look for potential shooting victims. Inside, police found two women and a man unharmed, and escorted them outside.

In the basement, officers found Klimov hiding in a crawlspace. Spicer went to one side of the crawl space, while the three other officers gathered on the other end of it.

The officers yelled for Klimov to show his hands and come out of the crawl space. He was holding a rock in his hand.

After several minutes, an officer  whom police did not name  drew his Taser and pointed it at Klimov, who tried to grab it. The Taser was deployed, police said, but it was not clear whether it struck Klimov.

Sgt. Eric Gripp, spokesperson for the Police Department, said investigators believe the officer deployed the Taser.

At one point, Gripp said, the officers saw that Klimov was armed with a gun. He said he did not know how officers came to see the gun, and he did not say whether the gun was ever pointed at police.

Three of the officers  Spicer, Ditro, and Tyler Cespedes  then fired their guns at Klimov. Two officers fired at least once, while the third fired multiple times, Gripp said.

Klimov was struck twice in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

As police fired their guns, the fourth officer stumbled to the ground and shouted that he was shot in the right hand. Police believe the officer was injured by a bullet fired by one of his colleagues as they shot into the crawlspace.

Investigators do not believe that Klimov fired his gun inside the home or at police.

According to an obituary online, Klimovs family was expected to hold a funeral for him on Tuesday in Princeton. He is survived by an 18-year-old son, who is a student at Penn State University majoring in physics, according to a family GoFundMe.

His family could not immediately be reached Tuesday.

 READ MORE: Officer shot in Kensington standoff, suspect shot and killed by police

The officer who was shot in the hand, a 27-year-old who has been with the department for one year, was hospitalized in stable condition and later released.

The three officers who fired their guns have been placed on administrative duty amid an investigation, officials said. Spicer has been with the department for 28 years, Cespedes for 3 years, and Ditro has been on the force for 10 months, police said.
Troop K Commanding Officer Captain Gerard McShea speaks to reporters Monday after a Pennsylvania state trooper shot and killed 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr. on I-95 Sunday morning while responding to reports of illegal drag racing and large car meetups. Read more

Officials in Philadelphia offered few answers Monday to a host of questions involving the death of Anthony Allegrini Jr., an 18-year-old from Glen Mills whom a Pennsylvania state trooper shot and killed on I-95 Sunday morning.

The fatal shooting occurred as police said they were called to five different locations across the city to deal with reports of illegal drag racing and other large car meetups. Videos shared online showed drivers zigzagging across Philadelphia Sunday night, including on I-95.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters Monday the investigation into the shooting wont be quick, and encouraged anyone with information or videos of the incidents  including Allegrinis death  to contact law enforcement.

There will come a time when we know what happened, Krasner said, and whatever flows from that, or does not flow from that, will be based on the truth.

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Heres what we know and dont know.

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper shot and killed Anthony Allegrini Jr.

According to State Police Capt. Gerard B. McShea, two troopers responded to reports of illegal street racing and car drifting on I-95 near Penns Landing around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Once there, the officers saw four people  including Allegrini  get into an Audi S4 with an obscured license plate stopped on the shoulder.

McShea said police tried to box the car in, using their cruiser and on foot, but the people in the car failed to yield and struck the two troopers while trying to drive away. At that point, one of the troopers fired a shot into the car, fatally striking Allegrini, who was the driver.

The troopers suffered minor leg injuries, McShea said.

Tire marks and donuts were still visible on I-95 near Walnut Street Monday.

A number of questions remain about the shooting and Allegrinis death

A host of questions remain about the shooting, which is under investigation.

The two troopers involved have yet to be identified. McShea said they were placed on administrative leave due to their involvement in a critical incident and will be interviewed in the near future.

We also dont know where the car was in relation to the trooper who opened fire, or where Allegrini was struck by the bullet. It also remains unclear how Allegrini managed to get out of the car after being shot.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show Allegrini physically struggling after being shot while lying on the highway  even as a nearby trooper appeared to turn his gun toward a motorist filming the scene instead of rendering aid.

As far as protocol, there are times when people are removed from the vehicle for treatment purposes, McShea said. Obviously, I cant go into this one because of the active investigation.

McShea said the other passengers in the car were questioned, but have not been charged or publicly identified.

Allegrinis friends and relatives have pushed back on the polices narrative

Allegrinis girlfriend and parents stood behind their familys attorney, Enrique Latoison, and pushed back against the polices narrative Monday evening.

Weve all said, This doesnt sound like that guy. This is not the guy that we know, Latoison said. Im not making an excuse and the familys not making an excuse. But you know, when you watch what happens on TV, Fast and Furious movies and everything, as soon as the cops come, everybody runs. And thats part of the fun to those kids  getting away, running to the next place. Not Im here to commit aggravated assault or homicide or attempted homicide upon an officer.

The family is calling for a thorough investigation, and Latoison questioned whether troopers are trained to handle these types of situations.

You know  it makes you wonder what experience did these individual officers that responded to this have? Latoison said. There were hundreds and hundreds of cars there. So why is it that this individual was acting out of the norm in a way that would result in him being killed?

Allegrini's father, Anthony, called his son a bystander.

Anyone that knows him knows he would never intentionally hurt anyone, his father told The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: The family of an 18-year-old fatally shot by Pa. State Police called for a full, transparent investigation into the incident

Police faced a chaotic Sunday morning, with illegal street races across Philly

On Monday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw detailed a chaotic Sunday morning, in which police responded to five car meets across the city. Many of the cars gathered for illegal street races, Outlaw said, and swelling crowds of hundreds of people presented problems, including some who threw objects at responding officers.

The behavior that we saw over the weekend is not only unacceptable but it will not be tolerated, Outlaw said. The type of behavior exhibited at these car meetups over the weekend were just outrageous, quite frankly. Property was destroyed. Officers and civilians were assaulted. And countless, countless individuals had their lives put at risk because of the behavior that we witnessed.

 READ MORE: A look at drag racing and car meetups in Philadelphia

Staff writers Chris Palmer, Rodrigo Torrejon, and Emily Bloch contributed to this article.
Both Toba and Nakamura, who were fatally shot in Manila, were executives of a firm in which Iwama was a large shareholder; their deaths would have resulted in large insurance payouts for the company. As per the high court ruling, the crime was viewed to be highly likely to be premeditated, intended to ensure the victims were killed without the perpetrator doing it himself.
Under the prohibition orders, all six are prohibited from providing any financial advisory service, as well as taking part in the management, acting as director, or becoming a substantial shareholder of any financial advisory firm. Likewise, they are also banned from carrying on business as, and from taking part in the management of, any insurance intermediary.
TMK also recently announced the appointment of Luke Fardell as a cybersecurity specialist. Fardell brings extensive experience from his previous roles in intelligence for the UK Ministry of Defence and leadership in digital forensics investigations and incident response at the National Cyber Security Centre. The team was further strengthened by the addition of cyber underwriters Luke Ogunlaja and Kieran Shiret last year, with plans for additional hires in the near future.
How did I fall into insurance? she said. Its really interesting, because Ive been having conversations here in the London market with market leaders and insurance people across the sector and I can tell you that I dont think theres a single person whos in insurance who chose to be in insurance.
John has been an inspirational group CEO and leaves Chaucer in an extremely strong position to thrive as we look forward, Jardine said. He has been instrumental in driving the successful performance of the business over many years and particularly since Chaucer was acquired by China Re.
The IBA team relied on an independent and esteemed panel of judges to select the winners. The team and the judges reviewed all nominations to whittle down the list to the final 53 Elite Women. Self-voting and voting for relatives were prohibited to avoid conflicts of interest.
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, one of the countrys fastest-growing privately held insurance brokerages, has announced the launch of its National Healthcare Services Practice Group. This marks the second in a series of niche practice groups that Liberty plans to introduce throughout the year.
Throughout a conversation with Insurance Business, Kuhn spoke about how the current property and casualty market may look different for insurers and policyholders. He also revealed what Westfields recent acquisition from Lloyds means for the company and how he did not have a detailed blueprint for starting the firm.
Alabama lawmakers legalized medical marijuana two years ago. But that came with a high hurdle: Dispensaries, growers, processors and other license applicants must have at least $2 million of liability and casualty insurance.

Now, the Alabama Department of Insurance says it cant find an insurance market for that and is asking insurers to fill the prescription.

At this date, the Alabama Department of Insurance has had difficulty determining whether such liability and casualty insurance in the medical cannabis area is available in the Alabama market, reads a bulletin posted in May. The Department encourages property and casualty insurers to submit rates and forms

The cannabis law, known as the Darren Wesley Ato Hall Compassion Act, after the son of a state representative who died of AIDS more than a decade ago, took effect in May 2021. The window for marijuana business applications closed Dec. 31, 2022. Some 90 enterprises, including some of larger names in the cannabis business, have applied for licenses, according to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.

But the lack of available insurance appears to be a missing ingredient in approving the licenses.

The department noted that the filing process for insurers may not be so onerous: All insurance filings will be file and use, except for workers compensation coverage, which must be approved by the department before policies are offered. The filing fee is $100 per form or rate, with a maximum of $5,000 per submission.

Cannabis-related rates would remain in effect for three years or until DOI actuaries are better able to forecast rates based on statewide experience. More information is available from erick.wright@insurance.alabama.gov.

Some 38 states now allow the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and insurance requirements vary greatly. Florida regulations require a performance bond of as much as $5 million. Georgia may require a surety bond in some cases, according to Insureon, an insurance brokerage.

But some states, including nearby Mississippi and Tennessee, have no business insurance requirements.

Topics Carriers Cannabis Alabama
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Eleven people have filed a federal lawsuit saying they were assaulted by police or wrongfully arrested while peacefully observing a June 2020 protest in Massachusetts second-largest city over the killing of George Floyd.

The lawsuit filed last Thursday names as defendants the city of Worcester, the former city manager, the chief of police and more than a dozen officers.

The lawsuit also claims that city police were not properly trained for crowd control or the use of less-than-lethal pepper spray projectiles and that city officials and police engaged in a wide-ranging coverup of the nights events.

While the protest on the night of June 1 and 2 turned violent, the lawsuit said none of the plaintiffs was involved in the violent conduct.

At a demonstration in Worcester on the night of June 1-2, 2020, police retaliated against peaceful bystanders whose only offense was to observe  and in many cases to record  the officers conduct, the lawsuit says. For that, plaintiffs in this action suffered gratuitous violence, false arrest and malicious prosecution on baseless criminal charges, theft or damage of cell phones, and in some cases racist slurs  all from officers under a duty to keep the peace.

Charges Dropped

The charges against those arrested were later dropped by prosecutors because of insufficient evidence.

We are aware that a lawsuit has been filed, however, the city has yet to be served, the city managers office said in an email Friday. There is no statement or comment at this time.

A spokesperson for the police said in an email Friday that the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The Worcester protest, about a week after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck, started peacefully. But later, some people lit fires, vandalized structures, blocked downtown traffic and pelted officers with glass bottles, rocks, concrete and fireworks, Worcester police said at the time. One man was arrested after police found three Molotov cocktails in a satchel he was carrying.

According to the lawsuit, one plaintiff who attended the protest was attacked by officers after she objected to police shoving demonstrators. The woman was punched in the face and the ribs, was brought to the ground where an officer placed a knee on her spine, and she suffered a knee injury that was so severe that she could not stand on her own. She had not done anything illegal, the lawsuit said.

A Clark University student who lived in the area of the protest and was using his cellphone to record event was tackled by several officers who pinned his head and limbs to the pavement, kicked him, placed a knee in the back of his neck, and punched him repeatedly, the lawsuit said.

He suffered visible bruising to his face, legs, back and neck and sees a counselor as a result of the emotional distress he experienced, the lawsuit said.

In handling the protest demonstration the city and its police department demonstrated complete indifference to the rights of people under the laws and constitutions of Massachusetts and of the United States to be free from wrongful arrest, assault, and criminal prosecution in retaliation for the peaceful exercise of their rights, Hector Pineiro, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

The lawsuit alleges the use of unreasonable force by police; constitutional violations; assault and battery by some officers; false arrest and malicious prosecution; and infliction of emotional distress. It seeks unspecified damages.

The U.S. Justice Department in November opened a civil investigation into whether the Worcester Police Department routinely uses excessive force or discriminates against residents based on race or gender.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Massachusetts
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A slate of gun control measures was headed Saturday to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamonts desk, after an all-night state Senate debate and early morning vote to approve the states most wide-ranging gun legislation since the laws that followed the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting.

Lamont, a Democrat, plans to sign the measure. He said in a statement that the legislation would modernize our firearm safety laws in a smart and strategic way to help prevent tragedy from happening.

Among other things, the changes would ban openly carrying firearms and prohibit selling more than three handguns within 30 days to any one person, with some exceptions for instructors and others.

Other provisions include expanding Connecticuts current assault weapon ban to include some other similar weapons; stiffening penalties for possession of large- capacity magazines; expanding safe-storage rules to more settings; and adding some domestic violence crimes to the list of disqualifications for having a gun.

The measure passed the Senate 24-11, following a 96-51 House vote last week. Democrats control both chambers.

The measure comes as mass killings occur at a record pace in the United States.

Nearly half the states have passed legislation addressing guns or school safety this year, but the measures differ sharply depending on legislatures partisan makeup.

Democratic-led states have enacted new laws to restrict semiautomatic weapons and expand background checks and waiting periods to buy guns. Republican- controlled states have backed the right to carry concealed guns without permits or for trained staffers to bring guns to school.

In Connecticut, Republican lawmakers have complained that majority Democrats are punishing law-abiding gun owners, not targeting criminals who commit gun violence.

Lamont, however, maintained that the overwhelming majority of Connecticut residents supports the changes.

They want to live in a community that has common-sense measures that encourage gun safety and prevent harm from impacting our neighborhoods and homes, he said.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Gun Liability Connecticut
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The New Jersey Supreme Court has affirmed that whether an employer is vicariously liable under the borrowed-employee doctrine is a question of fact that should be decided by the jury, not the judge, unless the evidence is obviously one-sided.

The high court ruled in a personal injury case where it said the evidence was mixed and the trial judge wrongly vacated the jury verdict.

The case involved application of a multi-factor test announced in the 2004 opinion in Galvao v. G.R. Robert Construction Co. for evaluating whether a worker who negligently caused a plaintiffs jobsite injury is a so-called borrowed employee of the plaintiffs own employer.

The high court was asked to considered whether an employers vicarious liability under the borrowed-employee doctrine, as guided by the Galvao factors, is a question of law to be decided by the court or, a question of fact reserved for the jury. The court found that nothing in the Galvao test alters the traditional role of the jury as a finder of fact in resolving borrowed-employee questions, stating:

Factual disputes about control and business advantage can readily turn on the assessment of the credibility of competing witnesses. Juries are well-suited to making those assessments, as they are for a host of other factual disputes entrusted to them at trial.

A personal injury case was brought by Philip Pantano, a mechanic employed by Container Services of New Jersey (CSNJ), who was injured at work while attempting to move a heavy piece of industrial equipment. Lawrence Giamella, who was also working on the site that day, tried to help plaintiff move the equipment with a forklift. Pantanos foot was crushed in the process.

Pantano collected workers compensation benefits from his employer, CSNJ. He and his wife also brought a personal injury action against numerous defendants, including Marine Transport, Inc., which is owned by the same person who owns CSNJ.

The core of the parties dispute concerned which entity or entities employed the negligent worker, Giamella, at the time of the accident: MT, CSNJ, or both companies.

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of CSNJ.

MT also moved for summary judgment, arguing that it was not Giamellas employer and was therefore not vicariously liable for his negligence. Although Giamella was on MTs payroll, MT raised the affirmative defense that he was a borrowed servant or special employee working for CSNJ at the time of the accident, applying the multi-factor test set forth in Galvao.

The trial judge did not rule on the MT motion at first, reserving judgment for after the jury verdict.

Under an agreement reached by counsel, the jury was asked to presume that MT was vicariously liable and was not asked to resolve the borrowed-employee question. Instead, counsel assented to have the court resolve the borrowed-employee argument through the mechanism of MTs yet-to-be-decided motion.

This agreement contemplated that if the court ruled in MTs favor on the motion and found that Giamella was, in fact, a borrowed employee working for CSNJ, then MT would not be liable for a jury award. Conversely, if the court denied MTs motion, then MT would be liable for the award.

The jury found Giamella 70% negligent and Pantano 30% negligent. It awarded Pantano damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and loss of consortium, which the trial judge molded to $861,000

The trial judge then vacated the jury verdict and awarded judgment to MT, concluding that Giamella was a borrowed employee working for CSNJ when the accident occurred. The Appellate Division reversed, vacated the directed verdict, and reinstated the jury verdict in plaintiffs favor.

The state Supreme Court granted MTs petition for certification limited to whether the court or the jury should determine the borrowed- employee issue.

The Supreme Court opinion, which was 6-0 with one judge not participating, held that application of the Galvao multi-factor test  which can involve matters of disputed fact and witness credibility  is presumptively for a jury to determine.

The court itself should not resolve the borrowed-employee issue unless the evidence concerning the factors is so one-sided that it warrants judgment in a moving partys favor as a matter of law, the court stated.

Because the evidence in the Pantano case concerning the Galvao factors pointed in both directions and was not sufficiently one-sided, it was improper for the trial court to decide in MTs favor with such a mixed evidence record.

Borrowed Employee

According to the court, an employer is generally responsible for harm suffered by third parties through any negligent work-related acts of its employees. In some situations, an employer, known as a general employer, loans one of its workers to another employer, known as a special employer, for defined tasks or purposes. When such arrangements are created and the loaned or borrowed worker negligently injures someone, questions arise regarding whether the general employer is vicariously liable for that negligence, whether the special employer is liable, or whether both employers are liable.

According to the court, Galvao fused two historical tests for resolving the liability issue in borrowed-employee cases  the control test and the business furtherance test. Control is the threshold inquiry. There are four methods by which a party can demonstrate control: through direct evidence of on-spot control, or by showing that an employer has broad control based on (1) the method of payment; (2) who furnishes the equipment; or (3) the right of termination. If (and only if) the general employer is found to have control, the analysis moves onto the business-furtherance prong. A worker is furthering the general employers business if the work being done is within the general contemplation of the general employer and the general employer derives an economic benefit by loaning its employee. Galvao also provided guidance for when a worker may be serving as a dual employee of both the general and special employers.

Case law before Galvao plainly signified that a jury, not a judge, presumptively must evaluate whether a negligent worker who causes an accident was or wasnt a borrowed employee of the special employer. Galvao did not change this tradition, the high court affirmed.

Since due to the parties agreement a new trial was not requested, the Pantano jury verdict is reinstated and MT is held vicariously liable for the damages.

Topics New Jersey
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted on Monday a huge role for Israel in reducing risks from artificial intelligence and eyed investment opportunities in the country even as it debates whether and how to regulate the technology behind ChatGPT.

Altman is one of the tech worlds most prominent voices urging governments to rapidly come up with regulations to make sure AI is used responsibly.

After crisscrossing Europe last month meeting lawmakers and national leaders to discuss the prospects and threats of AI, Altman now plans to travel to Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India and South Korea  all this week.

He is currently in Israel, which a Stanford University study has ranked among the top five countries for significant machine learning systems and concentration of AI skills.

I have been very heartened as I have been doing this trip around the world, getting to meet world leaders, in seeing the thoughtfulness, the focus, and the urgency on figuring out how we mitigate these very huge risks, Altman said during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The energy on making use of the technology and its positive benefits is fantastic to see, and I am sure Israel will play a huge role.

Visiting Microsoft Corps R&D center in Israel, Altman was asked whether his company might also open a local office.

According to a Microsoft statement issued in Hebrew, he (Altman) said the company prefers to work together in one location but is studying various investment options in Israel.

Altman downplayed fears of the impact AI will have on jobs. He said there will always be jobs for humans, despite the growth of automation, although the jobs of 100 years from now will look almost nothing like the jobs of today.

SAFETY CONCERNS

The rapid development and popularity of generative AI since Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year are spurring global lawmakers to formulate laws to address safety concerns linked to the technology.

I think it would be a mistake to go put heavy regulation on the field right now or to try to slow down the incredible innovation, Altman told an audience of some 1,200 people at Tel Aviv University, but said he would obey regulations unlike some social media companies.

The European Union is striding ahead with its draft AI Act, which is expected to become law later this year, while the United States is leaning toward adapting existing laws for AI rather than creating whole new legislation.

Britain also wants to avoid heavy-handed legislation that could stifle innovation.

Israel  like Britain, and to a great extent like Canada, too  is at the U.S. end of the spectrum, Ziv Katzir, director of national AI planning at the Israel Innovation Authority, told Reuters.

It has been working on this matter for the last 18 months or so, with a view to achieving the right balance between innovation and the preservation of human rights and civic safeguards.

Israel published a 115-page draft AI policy in October and is collating public feedback ahead of a final decision.

Altman also said that the company plans to open source more models over time. But I dont think its the right strategy to open source everything, he said.

Altman spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who tweeted that the two discussed opportunities and challenges facing the world and the State of Israel in relation to AI as well as Israeli cooperation to develop the AI field.

Topics Tech
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The bodies of three men have been removed from the site of a collapsed six-story apartment building in Davenport, Iowa, about a week after part of the century-old structure tumbled to the ground, the citys police chief announced Monday.

We dont have any other information at this time that there are any additional people missing, Chief Jeff Bladel said.

As officials were announcing the recovery of the bodies, the first of what could be numerous lawsuits by residents and their families was filed. Tenant Dayna Feuerbach is accusing the city of Davenport and the buildings current and former owners of knowing of the deteriorating conditions and failing to warn residents of the risk.

The lawsuit alleges multiple counts of negligence, seeks unspecified damages and notes that additional suits are likely.

The city had warning after warning, attorney Jeffrey Goodman said in an interview with The Associated Press. He called it a common trend in major structural collapses hes seen. They had the responsibility to make sure that the safety of the citizens comes first. It is very clear that the city of Davenport didnt do that.

The police chief said Branden Colvin Sr.s body was recovered Saturday. The body of Ryan Hitchcock was recovered Sunday and Daniel Prien early Monday. City officials had said earlier that Colvin, 42; Hitchcock, 51; and Prien, 60; had high probability of being home at the time of the collapse.

The discoveries came after authorities announced that the search for survivors had been completed, with attention turning to shoring up the remaining structure so recovery efforts could begin. The remains of the apartment building were constantly in motion in the first 24 to 36 hours after it collapsed on May 28, putting rescuers at great risk.

Matson said Monday that neither he nor other city officials have been in touch with building owner Andrew Wold.

Wold released a statement dated May 30 saying our thoughts and prayers are with our tenants. He has made no statement since then, and efforts to reach him, his company and a man believed to be his attorney have been unsuccessful.

County records show Davenport Hotel L.L.C. acquired the building in a 2021 deal worth $4.2 million.

Bladel said the Davenport fire marshals office had begun an investigation of the building collapse with help from the state Division of Criminal Investigation, Davenport police and the medical examiners office.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she would tour the site with officials in Davenport on Monday.

On Friday, Scott County prosecutor Kelly Cunningham cautioned against assuming a criminal prosecution is appropriate, saying an independent investigation needs to be conducted into the cause of the buildings structural failure, and right now its in the citys jurisdiction.

Davenport officials said they were consulting with experts how how safely level the rest of the structure. The city fire marshal earlier said explosives would not be used because its close to other buildings in a busy part of downtown Davenport.

Unresolved questions include why neither the owner nor city officials warned residents about potential danger. A structural engineers report issued days before the collapse indicated a wall of the century-old building was at imminent risk of crumbling.

Documents released by the city show that city officials and the buildings owner had been warned for months that parts of the building were unstable.

Tenants also complained to the city in recent years about a host of problems they say were ignored by property managers, including no heat or hot water for weeks or even months at a time, as well as mold and water leakage from ceilings and toilets. While city officials tried to address some complaints and gave vacate orders to individual apartments, a broader evacuation was never ordered, records show.

Current and former residents told The Associated Press about interior cracks on the wall that ultimately collapsed that were reported to building management. One woman whose apartment ended up in a huge pile of rubble had to have her leg amputated in order to be rescued.

Photo: Emergency crews work the scene of a partial building collapse on the 300 block of Main Street, Sunday, May 28, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa. (Nikos Frazier/Quad City Times via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Iowa
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A single voicemail message left on a cellphone without permission is enough to allow an individual to proceed with a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, a panel with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday.

The appellate panel reversed a District Court ruling that found Matthew Dickson lacked standing to pursue a lawsuit against Direct Energy LP because he suffered no concrete harm.

The 6th Circuits ruling in Dickson v. Direct Energy resolves a critical legal issue for TCPA plaintiffs on Article III standing and will allow our case to move forward and hopefully secure a judgment for the in excess of 2.5 million class members who were subjected to Direct Energys illegal prerecorded telemarketing calls, Dicksons attorney, Brian K. Murphy, said in an email.

The TCPA allows civil penalties of $500 per call, or $1,500 for willful violations. Murphy, who is a partner with the Murphy Murray Moul + Basil law firm in Columbus, Ohio, said Dickson is seeking damages in the range of $1.4 billion to $4.2 billion for Direct Energys robocalling campaign.

Dickson alleged in a lawsuit that he received multiple ringless voicemails, known as RVMs, on his cell phone in November 2017.RVM technology allows telemarketers to automatically dial telephone numbers and deliver prerecorded voice messages without triggering the devices ringer.

Congress passed the TCPA in 1991 to bar automatic telephone calls to people who have not given permission. Dickson alleged that the pre-recorded messages placed on his cell phone by Nancy Brown with Direct Energy were a nuisance and a violation of the law. He filed a lawsuit and sought class-action status to seek damages for an estimated 2.5 million consumers who received voicemails during Direct Energys telemarketing campaign.

During discovery, Dickson said he received 11 ringless voicemails from Direct Energy. An expert for Direct Energy, however, concluded that only one of those RVMs came from the company, which sells electricity distribution plans to residents and businesses.

US District Judge John R. Adams, with the Northern District of Ohio in Akron, ruled that a single RVM was not enough concrete harm to give Dickson standing because Dickson was not charged for the call and the call did not tie up his phone. Dickson appealed, arguing that even one call was an intrusion upon seclusion.

The 6th Circuit panel said it has never before been asked to decide whether a single call is enough to give a consumer standing under the TCPA. The panel reviewed several decisions by the Supreme Court and other Circuit Courts to decide that it is.

Citizens have a common-law right to privacy, which includes the right to be left alone, the panel said.

From a lay perspective, we can see why members of the public and Congress, through the TCPA, deemed such calls intrusive, the opinion says. For example, some consider their phone number a matter of private information in and of itself. People commonly exercise discretion in publicizing their phone numbers, entrusting them only to their circle of friends, family, and select others on an as-needed basis.

The panel said the District Court relied on two 11th Circuit rulings that found an invasion of privacy must be substantial to create a concrete harm that would give Dickson standing to pursue his lawsuit. Those rulings are not persuasive, the panel said, because they did not look to both history and the judgment of Congress to determine whether an intangible harm is sufficiently concrete to constitute an injury in fact.

Dicksons receipt of an unsolicited RVM bears a close relationship to the kind of injury protected by the common law tort of intrusion upon seclusion; and his claimed harm directly correlates with the protections enshrined by Congress in the TCPA, the panel concluded. Therefore, Dickson suffered a concrete injury in fact sufficient for Article III standing purposes.

Photo: (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)
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On March 24, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill 837, resulting in the enactment of sweeping tort reform (the Act). The Act impacts various aspects of the civil justice system. The most salient features of this latest wave of tort reform are discussed below.

Plaintiffs Who Are More than 50% at Fault Recover Nothing

Prior to the amendment of Florida Statute  768.81, Florida was considered a pure comparative fault state, meaning that a claimants contributory fault diminished the amount of damages awarded in proportion to the claimants fault, but it did not bar recovery. Now, however, Florida has shifted to a modified comparative fault scheme. This means that although a claimants fault will still diminish the amount of damages awarded in proportion to their fault, a claimant will be barred from recovery if they are more than 50% at fault. This bar to recovery does not, however, apply to actions for personal injury or wrongful death arising out of medical negligence.

Lodestar Fee is Sufficient

I n cases where courts are authorized to award attorney fees, Florida courts have historically increased the Lodestar amount (i.e., the reasonable hourly rate multiplied by the reasonable number of hours expended) by applying a contingency fee multiplier in certain cases. With the amendment of Florida Statute  57.104, the Legislature has created a strong presumption that a Lodestar fee is sufficient and reasonable in cases where attorneys fees are determined or awarded by the court. This presumption may be overcome only in rare and exceptional circumstances, and evidence that competent counsel could not otherwise be retained is required. Hence, the Legislature hasin effectvirtually abolished the use of contingency fee multipliers except under very limited circumstances.

Near-Elimination of One-Way Attorney Fees

Previously, insurers were generally required to pay attorneys fees in first-party cases where the insured prevailed. This is no longer the case. Under the newly created Florida Statute  86.121, an insurer is required to pay attorney fees only in declaratory actions, and only if (i) there has been a total denial of coverage, and (ii) the named insured, omnibus insured, or named beneficiary prevails in the declaratory action. Notably, this statute does not apply in actions arising under a residential or commercial property insurance policy. One-way fees in property insurance claims litigation were already limited by Senate Bill 2A, approved in December.

Insurer Protections from Bad-Faith Actions

The Legislature has also increased insurers protections from bad faith actions. In a nutshell, an insurer may not be sued for bad faith if it tenders the lesser of the policy limits or the amount demanded within 90 days of actual notice of a claim. Alternatively, if there are multiple claimants, insurers may file an interpleader action within 90 days of receiving notice of competing claims or make the policy limits available, pursuant to binding arbitration.

Time Limit for Negligence Actions Cut to Two Years

The time for commencing action for negligence has been cut in half; parties now have two years to file suit under Florida Statute  95.11(4)(a). The effect of this amendment is that the statute of limitations applicable to ordinary negligence claims now mirrors that applicable to claims for professional malpractice.

Uniform Standards for Calculating Medical Damages

In the newly created statute, the Legislature has provided guidelines regarding the admissibility of evidence to prove past and future medical expenses in personal injury or wrongful death actions. Notably, evidence offered to prove the amount of damages for past medical treatment or services that have been satisfied is limited to evidence of the amount actually paid, regardless of the source of payment.

As to unpaid charges for already incurred medical treatment or services,  768.0427 sets forth a non-exhaustive list of evidence which may be introduced. The type of evidence which may be admitted is contingent upon whether the claimant has insurance and, if so, the type of insurance. The same holds true for future medical expenses.

Transparency on Letters of Protection

A letter of protection is a written agreement between a patient and a medical provider wherein the latter agrees to defer collection of any medical bills until the patient recovers in a lawsuit. The intent is for the medical provider to be paid from the proceeds of the lawsuit.

Letters of protection are often executed after an attorney refers their client to a physician. The existence of a referral relationship is relevant to potential financial bias. Nevertheless, in the landmark case of Worley v. Central Florida YMCA, 228 So. 3d 18 (Fla. 2017), the Florida Supreme Court held that a lawyers referral of a client to a medical provider is protected by the attorney-client privilege.

Under HB 837, the Legislature has completely abrogated Worley. Claimants must now disclose specified information regarding letters of protection, including whether the claimant was referred for treatment. If the claimant was referred, they must disclose the identity of the person who made the referraleven if the referral was made by the claimants attorney.

Substantive Versus Procedural

Significantly, whether the enactments brought about by the Act apply to cases filed prior to the effective date or solely to cases filed after March 24th is a point of contention between plaintiffs and defense lawyers. It is well settled in Florida that procedural law applies retroactively, substantive law does not; substantive law affects vested rights and duties, while procedural law constitutes the means for effectuating or enforcing already existing rights.

Although Section 30 of HB 837which states that the act shall apply to causes of action filed after the effective datewould seem to resolve the question of the new enactments temporal reach, statutory language regarding temporal reach is not dispositive. In the Florida Supreme Court case of State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Laforet, 658 So. 2d 55 (Fla. 1995), the court reviewed a statute enacted in 1990 which expressly stated that it would apply retroactively to 1982. However, the court opined that in determining whether the statute would indeed apply retroactively, it was not the language in the statute that governed. Instead, the nature of the statute was dispositive. Because the court concluded that the statute under review was substantive in nature, it held that despite the clear statutory language regarding temporal reach, it could not be applied retroactively.

Under this framework, at least one Florida trial court has already held that Florida Statute  768.0427 is procedural and applies to pending cases. On May 19th, Circuit Court Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe of Hillsborough County entered an order granting the defendants motion in limine in the case styled Sharon M. Sapp v. James Brooks (Case No.: 17-CA-5664). In so doing, the judge ruled that  768.0427 applies to pending cases, notwithstanding Section 30 of HB 837.

Continued litigation can be reasonably anticipated on the substantive-versus-procedural debate.

Jessica Hernandez is an associate attorney and Norman Waas is a shareholder with Falk Waas, an insurance defense law firm in Florida.

Topics Lawsuits Florida
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Floridas insurance commissioner has appointed two longtime veterans of the department to high-level regulatory positions.

Virginia Christys name will be familiar to anyone who has read Florida Office of Insurance Regulation consent orders when property insurers are deemed insolvent. Since 2017 she was the director of the Property and Casualty Oversight unit at OIR and her affidavits and analyses of carriers financial straits have accompanied delinquency proceedings notices.

Now, Christy has been elevated to deputy commissioner of property and casualty, a role that was held for many years by Susanne Murphy. Murphy stepped down late last year to become a consultant at a regulatory and lobbying law firm.

Commissioner Michael Yaworsky, who took office in February, said in a statement that Christy is a skilled regulator with more than a decade in the regulation field. Before leading the oversight unit, Christy, an attorney, was OIRs chief assistant general counsel. Prior to joining the office, she was an assistant public defender in Florida, the OIR said in a news release. She has a bachelors degree from Missouri Southern State College and a law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville.

Yaworsky also named Sheryl Parker as the states first deputy commissioner of market regulation, overseeing insurer reporting, examination and consumer protection requirements that were beefed up by recent legislation. The position may be little change in function for Parker, who has been OIRs director of P/C market regulation since 2019, handling examinations and investigations of insurance companies.

Parker started at OIR in 2012 and had previously worked at the Department of Financial Services. Before that, she was a licensed insurance agent in Florida and North Carolina, OIR noted. Parker earned her bachelors degree in business administration at Kaplan University.

Topics Florida Legislation
Sacramento and the citys school district will pay more than $52 million to settle lawsuits alleging negligence by officials after an aide pleaded guilty to sexually abusing at least eight elementary school students nearly a decade ago.

Joshua Vasquez was sentenced to 150 years to life in prison in 2016 after admitting he molested children as young as seven in a classroom at Mark Twain Elementary School. Vasquez worked as program leader for the citys START after- school program and also as a part-time employee with the Sacramento City Unified School District.

A settlement agreement finalized last week calls for a $40 million payout for five of the victims, with the city paying about 60% and the district the rest, the Sacramento Bee reported Sunday. A separate deal for a sixth victim resulted in a $12.5 million payout.

As part of the settlement, the city also provided one-page letters to the victims lauding their courage for coming forward.

Please accept our sincere apologies for what you suffered due to Vasquezs conduct and we hope our settlement of this matter will help you in your efforts to heal from this horrible and most regrettable experience at the hands of our former employee, said the letter, signed by Jackie Beecham, the citys director of youth, parks and community enrichment.

Officials said since the cases were brought to light, the district has implemented a series of policy and procedure changes, including additional training and stricter requirements for how and when a staff member can be alone with students.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California K-12 Education
Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper has filed legal action with the Nevada District Court to place Friday Health Plans of Nevada under regulatory supervision.

The action will enable Kipper to assume oversight and management of the day-to-day operations of the company while performing a financial analysis.

Friday Health Plans of Nevada is a Nevada-domiciled health insurance company and a subsidiary of Colorado-based Friday Health Plan Group.

The company has been licensed to sell insurance in Nevada since May 2020 and currently has 2,805 individual enrollees in Nevada, according to Kippers office.

Policyholder contracts will remain in effect and members must continue to pay their premiums in accordance with the terms of their policies to ensure continuation coverage.

Once the court places the company in receivership, Kipper, through an appointed special deputy receiver, plans to communicate with policyholders during the receivership process.
Austin, TX June 5, 2023  The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, a leader in professional insurance and risk management education, proudly announces its media partnership with the highly anticipated Insurtech Insights 2023 Conference.

As the worlds premier insurtech event, Insurtech Insights brings together a diverse audience of industry leaders, pioneering entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors. The conference takes place in New York City from June 7-8, 2023.

As a media partner, The National Alliance will further its contributions to the global discourse on the rapidly evolving insurance landscape. The National Alliances acclaimed Awkward Insurance podcast team will be on-site, engaging with attendees, and facilitating discussions with key industry players.

Academic Director and Podcast Host, Dustyne Bryant, CIC, CISR shares: I am beyond excited that the Awkward Insurance Podcast is attending Insurtech Insights to record live Awkward Takes from the conference floor. While engaged with this community in 2022, I was impressed by the wealth of expertise on current and emerging Insurtech and industry topics that will impact insurance professionals now and well into the future.

Awkward Insurance is a podcast dedicated to connecting with and educating insurance professionals on topics relevant to their daily lives and preparing them for the future. The opportunity humbles us, and we eagerly anticipate sharing innovative and enlightening discussions from influential C-level executives, leading insurance companies, reinsurers, innovative start-ups, and passionate attendees driving innovation in the insurance industry.

The conference agenda highlights a variety of pertinent topics, underlining the dynamic and evolving nature of the insurance industry. The National Alliance cordially invites attendees to connect with our team during the event.

About The National Alliance

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is a leading provider of insurance education and training courses. With a commitment to delivering high-quality, comprehensive insurance education, The National Alliance has helped thousands of insurance professionals elevate their careers. To learn more, visit www.scic.com.

Media Contact:

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512-349-3303

Marketing Director

Gcastillo@scic.com

Topics InsurTech Tech Training Development
Source: Rob Goff

June 6, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) This positive start to 2023 bodes well for the company turning EBITDA positive later this year, which is expected, noted an Echelon Capital Markets report.

CloudMD Software & Services Inc. (DOC:TSX.V; DOCRF:OTCQB; 6PH:FSE) announced solid Q1/23 results that "highlight emerging double-digit baseline growth," reported Echelon Capital Markets analyst Rob Goff in a May 30 research note.

"We are encouraged to see Q4/22 and now Q1/23 results support baseline organic revenue growth of about 10% with expanding gross margins," Goff wrote. "We remain bullish toward a more focused and efficient CloudMD emerging."

CloudMD offers health technology solutions on a software-as-a-service basis to North American medical practices; operates a network of interconnected medical clinics and two pharmacies; and provides cloud-based software for electronic medical records, medical billing, and practice management.

122% Possible Return

Goff noted this Canadian healthcare services firm offers investors a significant potential gain of about 122%. This is based on the difference between Echelon's CA$0.40 per share target price on CloudMD and its current CA$0.18 share price.

The company is a Speculative Buy.

Quarter Results at a Glance

Echelon calculated that in Q1/23, CloudMD achieved about 10.8% year-over-year (YOY) organic revenue growth, Goff highlighted. This figure accounts for one-time COVID-related revenues of US$4.1 million (US$4.1M) in Q1/22 and YOY reductions related to the lost Ontario iCBT program (US$2.6M) and VisionPros challenges (US$0.6M).

Because in Q1/23, CloudMD continued integrating acquisitions, including networks and back-end systems, its topline results for the quarter were largely in line with those of Q4/22. The exception was gross profit, which came in about US$0.4M higher.

Goff presented CloudMD's key Q1/23 numbers. Revenue was US$26.1M, ahead of Echelon's US$25.9M forecast but below the consensus US$27M estimate.

Gross profit was US$9.4M, above Echelon's US$9M estimate and in line with consensus expectations.

EBITDA was (US$1.6M), better than both Echelon's (US$2.4M) estimate and consensus (US$2M) projection.

Positive EBITDA on Horizon

Goff pointed out that Echelon expects the company will turn EBITDA positive in Q4/23 and cash flow positive in 2024, both potential catalysts for its stock.

"As CloudMD approaches EBITDA-positive results, we believe the company will hold considerable potential for a significant valuation rerating either organically or via takeout," Goff commented.

Echelon also forecasts that by year-end 2023, CloudMD will achieve quarterly run-rate revenues that exceed US$30M and an annually recurring revenue of US$40M. Echelon forecasts annually recurring and reoccurring, or high-quality, revenues will increase to comprise a larger share, about 90%, of the mix, and gross margins to reach 36% or higher.

Echelon also anticipates CloudMD will gain material refinancing flexibility throughout 2023, noted Goff, to end the year with about US$9.5M in cash.

Estimates Raised, Upside Exists

Goff wrote that Echelon revised its full-year 2023 (FY23) gross profit and EBITDA forecasts for CloudMD, increasing the former by US$0.6M and the latter by US$1.4M.

For FY23, Echelon now estimates revenue of US$111.7M, gross profit of US$40.4M, and EBITDA of (US$3.1M).

For FY24, Echelon projects revenue of US$126.6M, gross profit of US$46.6M, and EBITDA of US$2.6M.

In addition to these expectations, wrote Goff, "We see potential upside to our baseline forecasts where CloudMD's sales pipeline stands at over US$55M in annual recurring revenue and where management indicated on its Q4/22 call (approximately one month ago) that its communicated pipeline does not consider a few potential larger deals with more nuanced procurement processes and longer sales cycles."

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June 6, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Dolly Varden Silver (TSXV:DV, OTC:DOLLF) has begun its 2023 exploration program with four diamond drill rigs operating at Kitsault Valley, the company's silver and gold project located within the Golden Triangle region of northwestern BC.

The land package, which includes the Dolly Varden silver property and the Homestake Ridge gold-silver property, hosts one of the largest undeveloped high-grade precious metals projects in Western Canada.

Last year, DV embarked on a comprehensive drill program at Kitsault Valley. The goal was to upgrade the inferred mineral resource to the measured and indicated classification, to expand the known deposits, and to discover new silver-gold mineralization along the Kitsault Valley trend.

Specifically, the objective was to expand the wide, high-grade silver mineralization at the Wolf Vein, step out and infill at Torbrit and the nearby Kitsol Vein, and test several other nearby exploration targets.

Over 37,000 meters of drilling in 108 holes was completed.

In summary, the grade and consistency of silver mineralization from both the Kitsol and Wolf veins indicated the potential for an underground bulk-mineable deposit. The Wolf vein area has also emerged as a large system rivaling the Torbrit deposit.

Drilling from the newly acquired Homestake Ridge property demonstrated strong continuity of mineralization over wide intervals, similar to that of Kitsol and Wolf.

According to the company, not only were the gold and silver grades some of the highest from the property, they were also up there with the best of the Golden Triangle's 2022's drilling season.

Drilling at the northern limits of the Wolf deposit returned an 8.77-meter intercept of 1,499 g/t silver, 1.89% lead and 0.46% zinc. Within that intercept was what the company called "jewelry-box-style" mineralization, grading 23,997 g/t silver, 1.24% lead and 0.34% zinc over a true width of 0.19 meters.

Towards the southern limits of the Wolf Vein, drilling encountered 321 g/t silver, 0.84% lead and 0.84% zinc over 12.85 meters, including 664 g/t silver, 1.24% lead and 3.54% zinc over 1.63m.

"Results from the Wolf Vein continue to exceed expectations, returning the highest-grade silver assay yet received, more than doubling the strike length of the deposit through step-outs to the north and south as well as returning wide, robust silver and base metal grades at depth," Khunkhun said in the Feb. 6 news release.

It's tough to get the market's attention these days, but Dolly Varden is one of the few junior resource companies to have done so. From just 36 cents a share at the end of September, 2022, DV's stock price more than tripled to a five-year high of $1.23/sh on April 10, 2023. A pullback to around $0.85 presents a good entry point for shareholders wanting to capitalize on another strong set of drill results.



Source: Yahoo Finance

Dolly Varden: Wolf and Kitsol Veins

In kicking off its 2023 drill program, the Vancouver-based company said two rigs will target the Wolf Vein, and two will be at Kitsol, with a fifth rig available as the 45,000-meter program progresses.



Kitsault Valley trend with 2023 exploration drilling targets

"We have hit the ground running with four drills on our fully funded 2023 exploration drilling program. We have already completed several drill holes at Wolf and Kitsol, where aggressive step-outs in 2022 significantly expanded silver mineralization along strike to the north and south as well as down-dip," Shawn Khunkhun, President and CEO of Dolly Varden Silver, said in the June 5 news release.

"The team is excited to test numerous new target areas beneath the sediment cap with the objective of connecting these two wide and high-silver-grade areas," Khunkun added.

As disclosed previously, the priority of the 2023 exploration program is to connect the Wolf deposit with the Kitsol deposit, located 1,400 meters apart.



Long section (top) and plan view of 1.2 km target area between Wolf and Kitsol

Drilling allocated to the Wolf deposit expansion (approx. 13,000 meters) will focus on both infill drilling of the wide-spaced intercepts from 2022, as well as further step-out holes in several directions where high-grade silver mineralization remains open. Similar step-out drilling will follow up on high-grade silver mineralization at the Kitsol Vein.



Wolf Vein long section outlining 2023 exploration drill targets

Homestake Ridge: Main and Silver

In several weeks, the drills will be moved up the valley to the Homestake Ridge deposits. Here, 2023 drilling is influenced by structural information gained from infill drilling at the Main deposit, where two main plunge directions have been identified. The planned drilling will target the down plunge extensions of higher-grade and wider zones of gold mineralization. Drilling at the Silver deposit will prioritize step-out holes where 2022 expansion drilling had success at the southern extent.

Geology crews have been on site since early May, completing a program of additional sampling of core from 2022 Homestake Main drilling where assay results revealed an extensive low-grade gold (>0.1 g/t Au) envelope to high-grade mineralization.



Homestake Ridge long section outlining 2023 exploration drill targets

Conclusion

Dolly Varden's 2022 success at the drill bit pointed to at least one potential bulk mining operation, at the Wolf Vein, and showcased some mind-blowing grades.

CEO Shawn Khunkhun has told reporters that Torbrit represents a 50-million-ounce silver deposit, which after depletion currently has about 35Moz left in the ground. Khunkhun and the Dolly Varden team want to find another Torbrit and they think they've found it in Wolf.

What else is Dolly going to discover, as it embarks upon an even bigger drill program in 2023?

The 163-square-kilometer project already hosts the high-grade silver and gold resources of Dolly Varden and Homestake Ridge, along with the past-producing Dolly Varden and Torbrit silver mines. It is considered to be prospective for hosting further precious metal deposits, being on the same structural and stratigraphic belts that host numerous other high-grade deposits, such as Eskay Creek and Brucejack. The Kitsault Valley project also contains the Big Bulk property, which is prospective for porphyry- and skarn-style copper and gold mineralization, similar to other such deposits in the region, such as Red Mountain, KSM and Red Chris.

As summer exploration in the Golden Triangle gathers pace, I expect Dolly Varden Silver to be one of the most exciting juniors to watch.

Dolly Varden Silver Corp.

TSXV:DV, OTC:DOLLF

Cdn$0.85, 2023.06.05

Shares Outstanding 254.6m

Market cap Cdn$216.4m

DV website

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

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Fairfax, VA - June 6, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Today before a joint hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives titled, "ESG Part II: The Cascading Impacts of ESG Compliance," the American Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) president and CEO Carolyn Berkowitz submitted a written statement for the record emphasizing that "restricting or discouraging ESG imperils free enterprise."

Berkowitz commented on today's hearing, "ESG is a proven strategy for investor success and is backed by 70% of CEOs who say it provides increased financial returns for their companies. To describe ESG as a 'progressive scheme' is an overreach that defies the business acumen of the world's leading CEO's and the free choices of retirees, consumers, and employees. Distorting facts will not help our economy grow or our businesses succeed."

The joint hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs and the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services was held to examine ESG practices and regulations. ACCP, the nation's leading advocate for corporate social impact professionals, was asked to educate the committee on the urgent importance of businesses to prioritize ESG practices..

In a statement for the record submitted to the Committee for today's hearing, ACCP president and CEO Carolyn Berkowitz stated that:

"Taken together, the ESG discipline provides corporations with data and strategies that are material to their companies' success. CEOs and corporate boards are embracing and increasing ESG practices because of its measurably positive impact on business outcomes.

Restricting or discouraging ESG imperils free enterprise. To do so disadvantages financial competitiveness, limits participation in global markets, restricts opportunities to attract and retain top talent, increases risk, and jeopardizes reputation among consumers and other stakeholders. Corporations must have agency to carry out strategies that aid in their success, regardless of irrelevant culture wars imposed by activist legislators."

Berkowitz outlines four clear pro-business growth reasons why ESG practices are essential to the health and long-term success of the U.S. business sector:

ESG Practices Provide Financial and Competitive Advantage: 70% of U.S. CEOs said in a recent KPMG survey that their ESG programs improved their companies' financial performance.



2. Employees Prioritize Working at Purpose-Driven Companies: Utilizing proven strategies for recruiting, retaining, and engaging top talent is critical for innovation in a rapidly changing business environment.



3. ESG Helps Mitigate Risk and Is Required for Commerce in the Global Economy: Without considering ESG practices, companies risk lower valuation, increased operational threats, and restrictions on their ability to conduct business internationally. ESG Contributes to a Positive Corporate Reputation: Reputation takes years of consistent work to build and communicate, but only minutes to destroy when misleading, inconsequential sound bites generate factless backlash. When the reputations of companies are deliberately destroyed in a culture war, America cannot and will not achieve its economic potential.

Berkowitz recently penned a guest opinion-editorial in Investment News titled, "Why the ESG backlash has little effect on corporations: Politicians' manufactured controversies are having minimal impact in boardrooms." In the piece, Berkowitz writes, "In 2023, shareholder meetings are more likely than ever to promote the value that environmental, social and governance and corporate social responsibility programs provide to their businesses' bottom lines."

The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) is the preeminent membership organization advancing the practice of corporate social impact. ACCP increases the effectiveness of CSR & ESG professionals and their companies by sharing knowledge, fostering solutions, and cultivating inclusive and supportive peer communities. ACCP amplifies the voices of its practitioner network to elevate strategies that work, provide innovative solutions, and expand impact.

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A former employee of Joseph Brennan's Bakeries has been awarded 15,000 for unfair dismissal after he was fired for smoking in his van in the bakery car park.

In a decision issued by the Workplace Relations Commission on 22 May 2023, it was ruled that although smoking outside a designated smoking area was against Joseph Brennans Bakeries company policy, there were a number of serious defects in the process of dismissing the employee.

The complainant, Darren Kiernan, was dismissed from his job as a general operative with Brennans in December 2021, after he was seen on CCTV smoking in his personal van in the site parking lot, rather than the designated smoking shed.

Brennans said that statutory health and safety regulations relating to the processing of flour and other combustible materials meant that smoking outside designated areas on the site was a serious misconduct, and that the company disciplinary policy states that this is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Brennans noted that there were three previous incidents of employees being dismissed for smoking in the wrong place, and in this case Mr Kiernan was smoking in his van which was approximately 20 yards from a diesel tank, 50 yards from the boiler house and 75 yards from the flour silos.

'Given permission'

Mr Kiernan said that he had been given permission to smoke in his van by the manager of the site, Trevor Glavin, but Brennans said that Mr Glavin denied this, and the company preferred his account during investigation of the incident.

Coming to his decision, WRC Adjudication Officer David James Murphy said that if Mr Glavin had given permission, it would have likely amounted to a serious misconduct on his part.

The adjudicator said that the moment this defence was raised, the investigation (which was being conducted by a subordinate of Mr Glavin) should have been restarted with a more appropriately placed member of management, to conduct an appropriately independent investigation.

The decision also identified an issue with the way the former employee was interviewed about the CCTV footage, without prior warning that he was at risk of dismissal.

The adjudicator ruled that while it was reasonable for Brennans to treat smoking outside the designated area as grounds for dismissal, the employer did not properly investigate Mr Kiernans claim that he had permission.

Award halved

Mr Kiernan was awarded a total of 30,000 for financial loss under section 7 of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, as he was dismissed in 2021 and subsequently secured a lower-paid position.

However, the award was halved to 15,000, as the WRC adjudicator sad that Mr Kiernan was well aware that what he was doing was contrary to company policy.

It was determined that even if his defence of having permission from the site manager was successful, Brennans would still have been within their rights to issue a disciplinary sanction short of dismissal.
Jenny Fitzgerald

The faces of the women of Irelands revolutionary period are burned into Jenny Fitzgeralds brain.

Women like Countess Markievicz, Ada English and the Cork-based Wallace sisters, who fought and supported the Irish Free State movement and whose stories Jenny researched for her final year artwork, Cumann na mBan, part of the Crawford Graduate Exhibitions.

I did a massive amount of research. I felt I knew these women. It was like a detective room in my studio  their images were everywhere, says the 23-year-old, an alumna of Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane.

Driving her work was a desire to restore to these women what should have been rightfully theirs  historical recognition of their contribution to the Irish rebellion.

Fitzgerald has absorbed the spirit of strong women. My mothers from Tipperary. Her mother, Brigid, was a strong countrywoman who raised 12 children. She was a bit intimidating but she had character. At 80, she was bringing cattle to the co-op. She was 96 when she died.

There was strength in the Irish women of that generation and it carried through. My mother has it. This strong feminine Irish identity needs to be highlighted  else it goes unrecognised, unnoticed.

Portraits of six of the revolutionary women comprise part of Fitzgeralds artwork. In depicting them, I faded them out a small bit. I didnt want to create a shrine. They probably wouldnt have wanted that. The portraits are a subtle nod to their identities, rather than creating this icon. They highlight their identity, but also show how theyve been hidden from the limelight of history.

For another work, she used the composition of Sean Keatings iconic Men of the South, while also using her own artistic licence. I named it Women of the Revolution.

Fitzgerald believes writing women out of history has a negative legacy. It doesnt give the next generation of women hope that they have this ability, this strength. It reiterates the typical vulnerability of the female role. When girls read history books all about men, they think maybe I am secondary, maybe I cant do as well, be as great.

She wants to continue collecting primary stories for an eventual Masters in Fine Art Practice. Theres so much uncovered history in Ireland. My great-grandfather was involved in the Crossbarry Ambush. He was running from the British and robbed my great-grandfathers ticket to America.

Everybody I talk to about this period has a story.

Melanie McGrath

Third-year student Melanie McGrath from Glanmire with her final year project titled The Blight of Dereliction. Pic: Darragh Kane

Passing through Cork city every day, Melanie McGrath started noticing just how many buildings have been left vacant and derelict.

It was really shocking when I stopped and took it in. And I saw how people have become complacent to how these buildings have just been left.

A strong urge to highlight the issue inspired her final year project, The Blight of Dereliction. This is me trying to take some sort of initiative to call it out, says the 22-year-old from Glanmire.

At derelict properties on Fr Matthew Quay, North Main Street, Albert Road, Evergreen Street, Barrack Street, she collected graffiti, marks, text  either sprayed on a wall or words gathered from found content. I was mostly drawn to the political graffiti, tags: Not in Use, Time for Change, Speak up, Speak out. Another that struck me was Home?

McGrath gathered imagery from each site and translated the photographs into screen-prints. Inspired by building paraphernalia she saw at the sites  chipboard boarding up windows, bags of cement that were to be used in construction but got abandoned  she used building materials to create an immersive installation and to capture the energy of the urban landscape.

I work with large scale and three-dimensional pieces to represent the scale and abruptness of urban life, she says, describing herself as big into the urban environment.

Im big into street culture. I do a lot of skate-boarding and that feeds into my art. She started skate-boarding during the pandemic. It was a boredom thing, but I stuck at it and I love it. I like the adrenalin of learning a new trick and having everyones support with it.

It also has to do with the urban landscape  skaters find their own way to skate, even if there isnt a park. They use different structures  they skate off kerbs, concrete bricks.

McGrath reads the urban environment, finding it eloquent in what it has to say. And this she has expressed in The Blight of Dereliction. The messages are right in front of us. We have to take notice of what these buildings are doing in the city. Theres such an amount of homelessness in the city  yet plenty of buildings that could be used as accommodation.

Oskar Szewczuk

Oskar Szewczuk from Poland with his series of work based around the vulnerability of a queer body with a contradiction of the masculine. Pic: Darragh Kane

A childhood experience of a military-type summer camp in Poland inspired the main element of Oskar Szewczuks artwork, which explores queer identity and which is on display at the Crawford Graduate Exhibitions.

Szewczuk did the week-long camp for a few years from when he was eight  he has lived in Ireland since he was 13. I hated the camp so much. I was forced into it. It wasnt me in any way or form. I remember it as quite violent, loud, obnoxious, which scared me. There were guns, old World War I military cars. It was supposed to be this really great summer camp  I didnt enjoy it.

Szewczuk titled the quilt at the centre of his exhibition Transformation. Its a big quilt, the size of a single bed. I used a lot of army patterns and colours, representing masculinity and the whole aspect of the army.

Szewczuks quilt has  on its right hand side  a stitched design of a full-bodied figure, which represents him today, aged 22. On the left, theres a stitched figure of me as a four-year-old. In that figure Im looking down  I have my moms high-heeled boots on. It represents my baby self  this happy little queer kid. And my big self is saluting my little self with an army salute.

The work represents the battles Szewczuk has fought with his own body. I struggled with my body through the years. My weight fluctuated a lot when I was young, so my body isnt like every other boys body  my chest area is quite large. I was bullied in school because of how my body looked.

His work has always centred around themes of body and the human form. The use of my body in my work is all about vulnerability. I wanted to explore it, show its ok, that everybody is beautiful and there is no shame anymore.

Szewczuk says he has always been drawn to textures, the qualities of fabrics. For his final year project, he did a quilt to show he was  after four years  able to do one on his own. Quilts are technical and difficult to make. Theyre time-consuming and have to be very precise. So a quilt represents patience. And in the context of exploring vulnerability, he says a quilt also offers comfort and warmth.

His future plans? I would definitely rather live in Ireland. I know Poland [can be] a very homophobic country. And I would love to work for a book bindery.

MTU Crawford College of Art & Design: Fine Art & Applied Art Exhibition runs until Thursday, June 8. The exhibition is open from 11am-6pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and 11am-8.30pm on Thursday, at MTUs Sharman Crawford Street Campus
Julie Kelleher, the Cork woman who is artistic director of the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, Co Wicklow, is directing a play for the first time since leaving the Everyman nearly three years ago.

Found by Aideen Wylde was inspired by the author/actors connection to Newfoundland in Canada, and is a Brokencrow production in association with the Everyman and Clonmel Junction Arts Festival.

Kelleher says she is hugely excited about the play, a five-hander with Wylde in the lead role of Eileen. She goes from being someone who is invisible, a bit bland, unable to register with people to becoming the hero of the story, says Kelleher. On one level, its about a womans journey of self-actualisation. On another level, the show is I think a real argument for the value of folklore and oral heritage.

"The mode of the play is very much storytelling and song. Its a collection of stories that spark Eileens imagination and send her on a quest. Theres the story of her voyage across the sea and the people she meets in the place where she lands. Its called Old Lost Land and is an imagined version of Newfoundland.

Wylde, who is from Clonmel where the play will be staged in July, has been interested in Newfoundland since she was a child. Her father, who worked as a camera man with RTE, was involved in the making of documentaries about the Canadian province. The accents of people from there used to intrigue Wylde when she answered the phone to them. They spoke with Irish accents.

Aideen Wylde was inspired to write Found by her fascination with Newfoundland.

So much of the Irish cultural tradition is preserved in Newfoundland but the sense of Irish there doesnt have the same traumatic underpinning that it has here," says Kelleher. There is something really joyful about this sense of the culture reflected back. The play is really a fun thing even though its sometimes dark and scary. But theres lots of magic and joy in it.

There is a strong tradition of oral storytelling in Newfoundland. The play comes from a place of really deep research and love for the place. Theres live music in it as well. Its the kind of play that really gets me excited. Its like an invitation to the audience to come and imagine along with us, to almost join in. To me, thats the most exciting thing theatre can do.

Kelleher is on her own journey in the arts. She has recently completed the CLORE fellowship programme, a professional development programme based in the UK for cultural leaders from all over the world. She received a bursary last year from the Arts Council to take up the Jerome Hynes Fellowship which funds Irish people to do the programme.

On the programme, youre encouraged to focus on what makes you really authentically yourself and to bring that to your leadership role, whether its running a venue or a rehearsal room. One of the things Ive been thinking about myself is having access to my own creativity, being able to express that in some way. I realise it makes me better at what I do because its a nourishment.

The CLORE programme included talks, workshops, training around conflict resolution and self-directed work. You also get seconded to another arts organisation to give you some perspective. I went to a venue called New Diorama in London. Its a small fringe space, an 80-seater theatre. They produce new theatre, a lot of devised work rather than playwrights work. The focus of the fellowship is around leadership so its broader than artistic practice. I got to see all facets of what Diorama does and designed a programme for artists who were sent away on a retreat for three days.

Currently rehearsing Found in Clonmel, Kelleher says: While theres great value to be had from watching Netflix or theatre on screens, there is something quite thrilling about the connection thats possible between people in a room when theres that sense of crackle in the air. That sort of work sets my heart on fire.

Found is at Graffiti Theatre as part of Cork Midsummer Festival from June 23-25; and is at Clonmel Junction Arts Festival on July 1-8; www.corkmidsummer.com
LAST week interim justice minister Simon Harris launched the Serious Consequences awareness campaign to warn people that threatening to share intimate images of another person is a crime.

While the campaign is new, the legislation  known as Cocos Law  has been in place since February 2021. A child under 17 can only be charged with such an offence with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Recently, footage of a teenager being assaulted in Navan was circulated on social media. While such incidents are not new, sharing images and videos is a contemporary phenomenon that we must negotiate.

The capacity to capture and share incidents with smartphones in real time is a double-edged sword. Without the footage, identifying the perpetrators of assaults is difficult, but using the footage to destroy the victims reputation is inexcusable.

I have treated many young people who have been casualties of similar incidents, with footage of them being cruelly pranked in a school bathroom or intimate images of them shared among large online communities. The social and psychological ramifications of these types of incidents are profound.

One young client believed that moving school was his only option, but the footage of him had been shared in schools within a 60km radius of his home. His experience illustrates the dangers of the global village: Once content is shared, it cannot be managed or controlled. A post can be pollinated to thousands in seconds, often without any thought for the person in the footage.

Technology companies need to regulate content before it is uploaded, rather than the victim going through the complex process of trying to have it taken down.

Post-event intervention is flawed and ineffective. However, the designers of these platforms are unlikely to vet posts before they are made widely available, not because it is too difficult to do, but because the internets secret sauce is that its unregulatable.

Designers know that regulation, age verification, and content vetting would mark the end of social medias appeal, so we need to concentrate on the technology users, not the technology. Given the limitations of the technology to retrieve content that has been uploaded, the focus needs to be on stopping users from sharing this type of content in the first place.

Dont encourage the bully

Focusing on the actions of bystanders is critical if we are to curtail bullying. When bullies or aggressors lose the support of the online or offline gallery, they no longer hold power. The attention of the bystander is the currency and fuel for the cruel performative action. If the people around the aggressors starved them of attention and endorsement, it would soon stop the bullying.

This is all very well in theory, but going from a bystander to an upstander is difficult. We all like to think we would stand up and intervene if we witnessed an injustice, but your reaction can be quite different when you are in that situation. How many of us have seen a couple having a serious argument and, rather than intervene and see if both parties are OK, we ignore them and cross the road? How many of us have watched a small child being harshly treated by a parent in public and kept walking? Most of us have been that soldier at some point. We fail to act because we fear the aggressor turning on us. The fear of becoming the target of the aggressors anger is real and understandable. So asking young people to advocate and risk becoming the target is too much to expect.

However, asking young people not to endorse the aggressors actions by liking or sharing the incident on social media seems a good place to start. We are all guilty of rubbernecking and slowing down to look at a road-traffic accident; it is often an involuntary action that keeps us watching a dramatic incident to see how it unfolds. But filming and sharing the accident with others is inexcusable.

Sharing online material involves some degree of thought and intent, and it is imperative that we intercept the process to help young people consider the potential victims in these scenarios and help stamp it out.

Instead of embarrassing footage of someone else being regarded as content that will boost your online popularity or get you more followers, young people need to see it as an act to be frowned upon. Culture eats policy for breakfast. Therefore its vital to create a culture in which sharing content that embarrasses or humiliates is regarded as a profoundly undesirable act that reflects poorly on the person sharing it. In the evolving AI (artificial intelligence) world, the regulation of technology may be a utopian ideology, but a culture that disapproves of the sharing of humiliating content is a distinct possibility.

Change the culture

We have seen in Ireland in recent decades how cultures can shift. When legislation made it illegal to leave children in the back of a car without seatbelts, for example, something that was previously socially acceptable no longer was. There is no reason we cant do the same with online sharing. And let us not underestimate how the impact of small collective actions can lead to large-scale change.

While no country has solved the sharing of harmful content online, Britain is making a concerted effort. The UKs Online Safety Bill aims to introduce laws to regulate video-sharing platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitch.

British psychologist Jo Hemming points out that exposure to harmful content can desensitise young people and that people react differently when they see something harmful in real life  they report it to the police or a parent  than when they see the same thing in the virtual world.

A 2022 UK Ofcom study found that nearly a third of 13-to-17-year-olds didnt report potentially harmful online content, because they did not consider it bad enough to do something about it.

Along with the Serious Consequences campaign, we also need to consider a campaign that deems the sharing of embarrassing footage of another person as irresponsible, cruel and damaging.

While we have little influence over how tech companies respond, sharing content is entirely within our power.

Lets teach our young people to pause before they post and think about the consequences of what they share, so they can self-police their online communities.

We must commit to a future where the sharing of damaging content is unacceptable.
Simon Coveney has spent exactly half of his 50 years in politics, and he is not going anywhere.

The Fine Gael TD may have moved to a home outside his own constituency boundary for "family reasons" but he is "loyal" to those he serves in Cork South Central.

"I think it's important to put that into context [moving house]. I mean, I'm looking at my constituency, I live a couple of hundred yards from Cork South Central," he says.

Mr Coveney claims he has never been more committed to politics but warns Irish people perhaps do not realise how good they have it and his party will have to work hard to reinforce that message.

He has also firmly ruled out a coalition with Sinn Fein, saying Mary Lou McDonald's party is "not compatible" with Fine Gael.

"I don't believe that a Fine Gael-Sinn Fein government would last."

The father-of-three sparked political rumours he might run in Cork East after recently purchasing Ballynoe House in Cobh.

The departure of long-serving TD David Stanton only added fuel to the gossip flames, as the upcoming vacancy now provides Coveney with an easy transition to Cork East.

Simon Coveney sparked political rumours he might run in Cork East after recently purchasing Ballynoe House in Cobh.

However, he strongly rules this out and instead points to a number of very promising councillors in the area who he hopes will "make the choice to step up and run".

He insists the move across constituency boundaries to the five-bed home set on about six acres was solely to provide more room for his family.

"I didn't move house just to move constituency.

"The reason why I moved was for family reasons, for my children mainly, but I'm still very connected to Cork South Central, my office is on the main street in Carrigaline, I'm in and out of Cork South Central when I'm in Cork all the time and we're as busy as we've ever been in the office.

"I'm as motivated as I've ever been," Mr Coveney says when asked about his intentions for the next general election.

A move to Europe, which has also been speculated after his tenure in the Department of Foreign Affairs, is also off the agenda, at least for now.

That's certainly not the plan. Who knows what the future holds? I mean, I'd be a fool to just sort of rule things out categorically, but I don't see myself as a European Commissioner in the foreseeable future."

Coveney, while committed to his party, has undoubtedly seen his standing within Fine Gael diminish since losing out to Leo Varadkar in the 2017 leadership race.

If he were to make another try for the top slot - he gives the standard answer that there is currently no vacancy - he would likely have the younger contenders of Simon Harris, Helen McEntee, and possibly Peter Burke or Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to take on.

His performance in this Government could be described as patchy, having inflicted significant damage on both his own personal reputation and that of Fine Gael with the Zapponegate controversy.

Instead of quashing the matter, he fanned the flames in the summer of 2021 when he suggested that the botched appointment of Katherine Zappone as UN special envoy was "a relatively minor issue" pointing out in a radio interview that he had just come back from Africa where he had been working on human rights issues linked to our role in the Security Council.

Coveney, however, did well in Foreign Affairs and gained respect for his quiet but effective approach to the Brexit protocol issue.

But in his current role, he was seen to have judged things wrong again when in February he claimed Ireland was over the worst of the tech sector layoffs.

'Coveney clause'

Coveney was viewed as one of the more conservative voices around the Cabinet table when a repeal of the Eighth Amendment was being discussed ahead of what would eventually result in a historic referendum result.

So much so that some within the previous government dubbed the insertion of the three-day wait period for abortion services as "the Coveney clause".

This reflection period has again come up for discussion following the publication of an independent review of abortion care in this country.

Last week, the report's author Marie O'Shea told an Oireachtas committee there was no legal or medical reason to retain the mandatory wait time and has suggested that it instead be made optional.

When it is put to Coveney that the three-day wait period has not worked well, he quickly says: "I don't think anyone has said that it has not worked well.

"I mean, not everybody has been interviewed in relation to people who've had abortions in Ireland in recent years."

He still believes the three-day clause was still the right thing to do.

"I advocated for a yes vote in the referendum on the basis of clarity around the legislation that we were going to pass, and I think that was the right decision now and I think it was the right decision then.

"I thought then, and I think now, that a reflection period on a decision as significant as a termination of pregnancy was an important part of a piece of legislation," he says before adding that he, of course, will have an open mind to listen to counter-arguments.

"But I believe that that was the right thing to do then, and I still think it has an important role to play today."

Simon Coveney: 'The way in which Ireland is seen from abroad is often not reflected in the way in which many people in Ireland see ourselves.'

As Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, he sees his job as ensuring we continue to have a strong economy where young Irish people have career options when they leave school or college and do not have to emigrate.

But with unemployment figures now at a record low, ensuring the workforce is there to meet demand from employers is a challenge he faces.

He says the first priority is to try to fill roles with Irish people who may be looking for work and he will not be moving to open up the visa system to those arriving here from Georgia.

I don't believe that we should move to a work permit system that simply allows anybody who wants to come to Ireland to come to work here."

Instead, a "balancing of needs" is required, particularly given the pressures we already have on housing and other services in this country.

He adds: "I don't envisage that we're going to do something special for Georgia. I don't think we should necessarily cross over people who are coming here seeking international protection with work permits. They are two separate systems and we need to keep them separate for good reason.

'You can't have an open-door migration policy'

"You can't have an open-door migration policy, particularly when you have housing pressures like we have, and when you have population growth at the pace that we have. So we need to be sensible about how we manage that."

While housing and healthcare are still serious issues that need to be addressed, he suggests Irish people sometimes do not recognise how good of a place the country is now in.

"The way in which Ireland is seen from abroad is often not reflected in the way in which many people in Ireland see ourselves.

I think one of the challenges for the Government is to turn what is an extraordinary economic success story into contentment across Irish society. Ireland is actually doing quite well.

"I think that will be a big focus for Fine Gael going into the next general election cycle."

It's an election Coveney is very much focused on, despite rumours to the contrary.

"I have no difficulty getting up in the morning to go to work. I'm very driven. I always have been in politics, and I still am," he insists.
Gardai were called to Burrow Beach in Co. Dublin for a second time in two days due to reports of a public order incident on Monday evening.

Uniformed gardai from the Raheny District and the Public Order Unit attended the scene at the Sutton Beach and a crowd of people were cleared.

"A presence was maintained until large crowds that had gathered there for much of the day had dispersed safely. No arrests were made," a Garda spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.

It is the second incident to happen in the past two days. On Sunday evening, gardai were called to the scene of what was described as a "mass brawl" on the same beach.

Local Labour councillor Brian McDonagh told RTE's Morning Ireland on Monday that the beach has seen "increasing problems over the last few years".

He said the two main reasons contributing to this was overcrowding and anti-social behaviour which was "predominantly related to alcohol on the beaches".

Mr McDonagh has called for an increased presence from gardai and to have them "proactively seizing alcohol" saying it it has worked before at Portmarnock.

Gardai have said they will continue to carry out high-visibility patrols in the area across the summer months as part of Operation Irene.

The campaign is targeted to combat underage alcohol consumption and consumption of alcohol in public places throughout the Dublin Metropolitan area.

Gardai in Raheny are appealing to any person who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them at Raheny Garda Station on 01 666 4300, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
An Irish MEP has said fertility information should be included in sexuality education classes in schools as part of a new EU white paper.

About one in six couples in Ireland will suffer with fertility issues, a statistic which mirrors the overall EU rate.

Fertility Europe has ranked Ireland 40th out of 43 countries for access to fertility treatment  with only Poland, Albania and Armenia below us.

In its white paper, The Imperative of Equal Access to Fertility Treatments across Europe, it writes: "Unfortunately, funding of fertility treatment in Europe is very diverse  from unlimited in Israel and Serbia, through generous in Belgium, France and Finland, to non-existent in Poland, Ireland (where it is under legal proceedings) and Armenia.

Systemic lack of funding puts those needing costly fertility treatment, already stressed and exhausted, in the distressing situation of gathering funds that are often beyond their reach."

The Government committed to publicly-funded IVF in Budget 2023, but no further clarity has been provided thus far as to how this will be implemented.

As part of her role on the Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality, Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald has said people can no longer turn a "blind eye" to the heartbreak of infertility.

Writing in the white paper, Ms Fitzgerald said: "Infertility has a deeply personal and heartbreaking resonance for so many Europeans. With one in six couples worldwide experiencing some form of infertility, it is long overdue to ensure that access to fertility treatments and psychological support are available to all Europeans."

Frances Fitzgerald: 'We need to see action on this from the Department of Health. Across Europe, governments are funding treatments, supporting couples and families to deal with infertility.' Picture: Robbie Reynolds

She added on Tuesday: "The first solution must be to inform people about the facts. This is why the proposal to include fertility information in our curriculum for relationship and sexuality education is so important.

Treatments are available and if we do not give people the information they need they may continue to silently struggle alone. Ireland does not have a great record in this area."

The white paper contains 12 recommendations to improve equal access to safe and efficient fertility treatments.

These include:

Creating safe and inclusive regulations considering the rights of all parties  people who need medical help to conceive, children, donors and surrogates;

Guaranteeing legal access to treatment without any form of discrimination to all who need it;

Providing sufficient funding for the whole range of treatments that allow people a reasonable chance to have children.

Ms Fitzgerald added: "We need to see action on this from the Department of Health. Across Europe, governments are funding treatments, supporting couples and families to deal with infertility. Ireland should not be bottom of the class."

- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
Almost 40 flights to and from Ireland were cancelled on Tuesday while over 100 were delayed due to French air traffic control (ATC) strikes.

Dublin Airport bore the brunt of the ATC strikes with 39 flights cancelled.

Some 18 flights due to depart Dublin were cancelled in addition to 19 due to arrive, the majority of which were Ryanair flights to or from France, Italy and Spain, some Aer Lingus flights such as from Amsterdam and Geneva were also cancelled.

The majority of Tuesdays flights faced some form of delay with almost 100 being delayed by at least 45 minutes, according to Flight Radar.

Just two flights at Cork airport were cancelled, those arriving to and from Carcassonne. However, eleven flights faced delays of at least 45 minutes.

The ATC strikes which began on Monday evening and are set to continue until Wednesday morning saw 400 Ryanair flights across Europe cancelled on Tuesday alone.

The strikes, which are in response to President Emmanuel Macrons plans to increase the state pension age from 62 to 64, have sparked calls for reform of EU air traffic control as flights flying over France, not to or from the country, were cancelled.

'Farcical'

Tuesday marked the 59th day of ATC strikes so far in 2023, over eleven times more than in the entirety of 2022, according to Ryanair who submitted a petition of 1.1 million fed up customers to the EU Commission calling for action.

Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher said it is farcical that strike action by French ATC is causing the cancellation of flights that are not landing in or taking off from France.

The French are entitled to strike if they choose to, but they cannot hold the rest of Europe hostage. The cost to airlines is huge in terms of compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.

Ultimately, these costs have to be passed onto customers in terms of higher airfares and many longed-after family holidays have been ruined, he said.

Mr Kelleher said a solution in the short-term, would be to allow other air traffic control bodies to manage flights flying over France until the strikes are concluded.

Longer term, we need to move away from individual countries operating semi-independently, and begin the process of developing what is known as the 'Single European Sky'.

The European Commission believes such an initiative would assist in de-fragmenting the European airspace, reducing delays, increasing safety standards and flight efficiency to reduce the aviation environmental footprint.

The proposal has been stuck in legislative limbo for a number of years, but these French strikes remind us that doing nothing only harms our consumers, he said.

Similarly, Ryanair outlined the need for France to use Minimum Service Laws to protect overflights during ATC strikes similarly to Greece, Italy and Spain, which protect overflights regardless of industrial action.

These repeated ATC strikes have unfairly forced airlines to disproportionately cancel thousands of EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland while France in particular, uses Minimum Service Laws to protect their domestic/short-haul flights while cancelling overflights, they said.

Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary said the vast majority of Tuesdays 400 cancelled Ryanair flights were overflights and not going to or from France.

We respect the right of French ATC to strike, but if they go on strike it should be French domestic flights or local flights in France that get cancelled, he said.

Mr OLeary said it is absolutely indefensible that flights going from Ireland to Italy are being cancelled simply because the French want to prioritise their domestic flights and cancel all the overflights.

People flying across France are having their flights unnecessarily cancelled because the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen will not take action, he said.
They seek them here, they seek them there  the public has been asked to get their detective hats on to spot one of Irelands most beloved but elusive creatures, the otter.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has teamed up with researchers at Queens University Belfast and the National Biodiversity Data Centre in order to survey the number of otters in Ireland but needs help from people across the country to do so.

The last survey was carried out in 2010 and 2011, and NPWS teams said they will be looking for characteristic signs of otters at more than 900 sites throughout the country, including rivers, lakes, and the coast.

Ireland remains a bastion for otters in Europe, despite the global and domestic biodiversity crises that have engulfed the world in recent decades.

The NPWS said that the otter suffered significant declines across Britain and much of continental Europe during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s but remained widespread in Ireland.

The most recent Irish survey found signs of otters from all counties and from seashore to mountain streams, it said.

The otter is something of a Scarlet Pimpernel of the animal kingdom.

Ferdia Marnell, mammal specialist with the NPWS, said: The otter is one of Irelands most elusive animals so getting as many people involved in the survey as possible will be important if we are to get good coverage.

Otters are rarely seen, so instead, over the coming months, NPWS staff will be searching for otter tracks and signs.

Giveaways to the otters presence can be found by observant eyes, Dr Marnell said.

Otters have large webbed feet and leave distinctive footprints, but these can be hard to find, she said. Fortunately, otters mark their territory using droppings known as spraints.

Otters deposit spraints conspicuously on boulders along riverbanks, logs on lake shores, or the rocky high tide line.

Spraints can be up to 10cm or 3in long, black through to white but commonly brown, tarry to powdery in consistency and straight or curved, making them tricky to identify. Luckily, they commonly contain fish bones and crayfish shells which are the otter's favoured diet, making them easy to tell apart from the droppings of birds and other mammals.

According to the NPWS, otters are mostly active at night and most typically seen at dawn or dusk.

They may be spotted from bridges swimming in rivers or along the rocky seashore, it said. Otters are brown, about 80cm long, and can be seen gliding along the water surface before diving to show their distinctive long pointed tail which is almost as long again as their body, the NPWS added.

Sightings can be reported at the National Biodiversity Data Centres dedicated web page: biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/national-otter-survey/
Its a dull old thing, the Census. Loads of tables, pie charts, and graphs. So let me tell you why, when I ploughed through it, I felt like dancing a celebratory jig. I do that sort of thing in private  not a pretty sight!

I was six when I was taken to my first pantomime. Maureen Potter and Danny Cummins in the Gaiety. I can still remember one of Danny Cummins one-liners from that night. I dont know if it would pass the politically correct test these days, but here goes.

Once upon a time there were two Chinese. (Pregnant pause.) And would you just look at how many there are now! (Cue raucous laughter.) The year I was born there were 2,960,593 of us (Irish, that is, not Chinese). And would you just look at how many of us there are now.

They started counting our population in 1841. There were 6.5m of us then. In the first decade of that counting, we lost 1.5m people, through starvation, disease, poverty, and emigration.

Poverty and emigration became the key factors in determining the number of Irish people who could live in Ireland and support themselves for the next century and a bit. It went down and down and down, and it wasnt until 1979 that our population again passed 3m.

But in the last 20 years weve added more than 1m people and have gone past 5m. Isnt that incredibly exciting? And isnt it an amazing comment about how our country has changed?

For the great bulk of the last century  from the moment our State was founded  Ireland was a country that people had to leave. For all of this century, Ireland is a country that people want to come to.

And they dont just want to come here, they want to be part of us. The biggest single change I could find in the Census figures was the number of people who want to add Irish citizenship to their own.

Some 170,000 extra people in the population are now dual citizens. We might have Brexit to thank for some of that, if you count the significant number of British-born people who have taken out Irish citizenship since the last Census.

Thats only a tiny part of the story. Our population is rising rapidly for three broad reasons. Many are coming home, some are coming to find safety and sanctuary here, some want to make a fresh start. All of them have talents and ambition and potentially an amazing contribution to make.

Increase in average age

In recent days, Ive listened to a lot of scary news about how our population is ageing and about the pensions timebomb that represents.

Soon, it seems, there wont be enough young people at work to support the older people retiring.

Youd be tempted to say, So what else is new? When were we ever able (or willing) to guarantee that old age would always be accompanied by dignity and respect? I can remember a time when old men in county homes were supplied with one clean shirt a week, when they slept in dormitories, when they queued up in the mornings to have loose cigarettes doled out to them.

That was public provision back then  and Im not talking about pre-Civil War times in Ireland. Colour television was introduced here in the early 1970s  but people who depended on the State lived utterly grey lives until long after that. I worked in some of those homes, and I can remember the grimness of it.

But you can also look at it a different way: A growing population is actually one of the best pre-conditions for a growing and stable economy. When our population was only 70% of what it is now, in 1991, the unemployment rate was one in six of our people. Now we have full employment.

Since the last Census alone, the number of people at work has gone up by 16% and its higher than it has ever been in our history.

Of course, theres no direct or automatic correlation  no one can argue that the bigger the population, the lower unemployment will be.

But what todays figures show is that we can find a place for everyone in the world of work.

Its possible. And if thats possible, so is it also possible to build a decent set of securities for the future. We just have to set our minds to it.

In all sorts of other ways, were pretty much the same as weve always been. For sure, we seem to be losing our religion, bit by bit, and we all know the reasons for that. But were still, for example, pretty committed to marriage. Six per cent of people in the Census reported themselves as divorced or separated.

Every time I see figures like that, I remember the campaigns that told us that if we removed the constitutional ban of divorce in Ireland it would be Hello divorce, bye bye Daddy.

Polling day in Ballymun, Dublin for the divorce referendum. Picture: Photocall Ireland

The most popular recurring phrase throughout those campaigns was that the floodgates would open. They said it about gay marriage too, of course. They even said that any measure that advanced the rights of children would undermine the fabric of marriage and society. Hopefully next time they try that rubbish, we can all point to the Census.

Perhaps though the floodgates have opened in other ways. We are a much more diverse place now than when we were younger. I was 16, on a visit to London, before I saw my first black face.

When I was in school it was commonplace to mock and jeer  and worse  anyone you suspected of being gay. And it is sadly still the case in Ireland that we havent fully gotten over all the prejudices of the past. Were still capable of hate.

Enhancing our culture

But were getting there. Diversity means all sorts of different things after all. I live in a village in Dublin where we can walk to buy Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian food (as well as some of the best pizzas around!).

Its only one of the ways in which the arrival of foreign cultures has enriched our lives. Sport is another  one of the great joys in life is watching your country do well on the playing field, and our heroes no longer have to have red hair and freckles (nothing wrong with red hair and freckles, of course!).

Heres the thing: I grew up in a country that was dark and often miserable.

I never wanted to leave, but most of my family did, and they didnt all come back. We wouldnt have grown as rapidly as we have if we hadnt changed  pretty well from the ground up.

Next week Ill probably be angry again about how weve let people down in one or other aspect of our public policy. But right now we need to celebrate  how many of us there are, who we are and who we have become, where weve come from, and where we can go.

We used to think of ourselves as a great little country. Were still great. Just not so little any more.
This June, inquests will be held into the deaths of Geraldine Yankeu and Tatenda Mukwata  two women who died in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in Irish maternity services after giving birth.

Their inquests are mandatory. Following the adoption of the 2019 Coroners (Amendment) Act, coroners are held to conduct inquests into all maternal deaths, leaving no leeway for a verdict of natural causes without an impartial investigation.

The 2019 Coroners (Amendment) Act was a milestone. Not only did it promise us that families would no longer have to fight for years to find out what caused the death of their loved ones, but it also provided an opportunity to uncover systemic and structural failures within Irish maternity services.

In adopting the 2019 act, Ireland also set an important example for other countries in which maternal deaths are still not fully or independently investigated.

The adoption of the 2019 act showed Irelands commitment, on paper, to uphold its international legal obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This provision lays down the right to life of all, which includes an obligation for states to ensure timely, independent, effective investigations into all unnatural deaths.

These investigations need to be public and involve the next of kin. It is a procedural obligation, meaning that although a state may not directly or indirectly be responsible for the death or deaths in question itself (a substantive matter), it can still be held accountable for a violation of the right to life if it does not take the necessary procedural steps after the death has occurred, such as doing all that it can reasonably be expected to do to find out how that person has died.

The mandatory inquests should provide the bereaved families with answers and, importantly, give insight into any systemic and structural flaws in the maternal healthcare system. It is these innate shortcomings that should, in turn, be addressed by the state as part of its substantive obligations under the right to life. Hence the new law is vital in ensuring compliance with both types of obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Most importantly, the new law should lead to safer maternal healthcare for all.

Systemic shortcomings

But adopting a law is, in itself, not enough. What matters is whether Ireland took the necessary measures to ensure effective implementation of its 2019 act and whether all maternal deaths are now subjected to an effective and impartial investigation in a timely manner.

The delayed inquests into Geraldine Yankeu's and Tatenda Mukwatas cases and the initial dismissal by the Cork coroner of the case of Geraldine Yankeu raise concerns about the effectiveness of the act in practice.

Geraldine Yankeu, a Cameroonian woman who died after the stillbirth of her daughter. Picture: Forevermissed.com

During a discussion on the effectiveness of the 2019 act in Europe House, Dublin, last March, it emerged that there are structural and systemic shortcomings in the acts implementation.

Crucially, a panel of legal experts and an audience consisting of midwives, scholars, family members directly affected by maternal deaths, a member of the European Parliament, and a coroner, highlighted that no general oversight mechanism was established and that no funding had been dedicated to those bodies which must put the law into practice. This includes the coroners offices that must carry out these inquests and who, as sociologist Dr Jo Murphy-Lawless pointed out, are "totally under-resourced".

Families 'feel like furniture'

In terms of the inquest proceedings itself, problems have surfaced with its adversarial nature and the lack of a duty of care towards the affected families. Rather than the inquisitorial procedures which should be at the heart of all inquests, in which parties are looking to establish the facts so that future incidents can be prevented, State or private institutional care providers have come to maternal death inquests legally represented to defend their cases.

This has required bereaved families to seek experienced legal counsel. As barrister Doireann OMahony put it, the families are often left feeling "like furniture". A lack of any enforcement or oversight mechanisms, lawyers have also pointed out, results in a lack of consistency in the inquest proceedings, leading to subjectivity rather than objectivity.

Barrister Doireann O'Mahony attending a pre-inquest submission in relation to the death of Geraldine Yankeu. Picture: Larry Cummins

It appears that although a beautiful law exists on paper, its effectiveness in practice remains elusive. And this is to be regretted for more than one reason.

Last January, the Elephant Collective travelled to Brussels with their Picking up the Threads exhibition, creating awareness of the persisting numbers of maternal deaths, the disproportionate number of women of colour affected, and the 2019 act that was adopted by Ireland to address this problem. Hosted by Irish MEP Clare Daly, it was officially launched by Robert Biedron, chairman of the Womens Rights and Gender Equality Committee of the European Parliament and attended by politicians and parliamentarians from all ends of the political spectrum.

MEP Clare Daly TD. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

The event was very successful. As Daly noted during the discussion in Europe House last March, parliamentarians are still coming up to her about the exhibition, and a petition on the rising number of maternal deaths is under way.

A model for Europe?

By prioritising the effective implementation of the 2019 Coroners (Amendment) Act, Ireland can fulfil its international legal obligations and lead the way in ensuring timely and impartial investigations into all maternal deaths.

The 2019 act has the potential to serve as a model for Europe. But in order to do so, Ireland must step up its game and show that it is truly committed to protecting the rights and lives of women in childbirth. Effective implementation requires action and funding.

With the eyes of Brussels upon Ireland, the time for action is now.

Dr Fleur van Leeuwen is an assistant professor in international law at Bogazici University, Istanbul and an affiliated senior researcher at Atria: Institute on Gender Equality and Womens History in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She chaired an event an Elephant Collective event in Dublin recently focused on the 2019 Coroners (Amendment) Act and mandatory maternal inquests.
Frances beloved abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel has celebrated 1,000 years since the first stone was laid.

The anniversary of the Unesco World Heritage site and Normandy tourism magnet is being celebrated until November with exhibits, dance shows and concerts. And now a presidential visit.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited on Monday and delivered a speech in which he called on the French to push themselves further in global and existential challenges like that of climate change.

He drew a comparison with the abbey that has stood strong over time and embodies the French spirit of resilience and resistance.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

It was veiled rhetoric, coming one day before another protest against his contested pension reform law that has been passed.

Ever since former President Francois Mitterrand in 1983, Frances leaders have flocked to this symbolically important site to send out political messages. In 2007, former President Nicolas Sarkozy even launched his presidential campaign there.

Mr Macrons presidential advisers had said of this visit that the walls and the eternity of the mount seem to carry the notions of resistance and resilience of the D-Day landings that are being commemorated this week in the same region.

Mr Macron also visited a new exhibit tracing the abbeys history via 30 objects and pieces, including a restored statue of Saint Michael.

Emmanuel Macron, centre, visits an exhibition tracing the abbeys history (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

Legend has it that the archangel Michael appeared in 708, duly instructing the bishop of nearby Avranches to build him a church on the rocky outcrop.

The exhibit, two years in the making, opened last month. It covers the complex process of building what is considered an architectural jewel on a rocky island linked to the mainland only by a narrow causeway at low tide.

Four crypts were constructed on the granite tip along with a church on top. The exhibit explains how the original structure, built in 966, became too small for pilgrims, spurring on the builders to create the 11th-century abbey that stands to this day.

France has spent more than 32 million euros (27 million) over 15 years to restore the building, and the work is nearing completion. Authorities have also tried in recent years to protect the monuments surrounding environment from the impact of mass tourism.

One of the most popular French destinations outside Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel island attracted 2.8 million visitors last year, including 1.3 million for the abbey.

It was not closed to visitors for the presidential visit, but local authorities were taking measures to make it go as smoothly as possible.
Former US president Donald Trumps lawyers have urged a New York judge to reject a defamation lawsuit from a writer because a jury agreed their client never raped her.

The lawyers on Monday urged Judge Lewis A Kaplan to reject E Jean Carrolls 10 million US dollar bid against the ex-president.

They want the four-year-old lawsuit rewritten to conform with last months finding of a jury  which awarded Ms Carroll five million dollars  which concluded Mr Trump did not rape her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1980s.

E Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court in New York (AP)

After the civil jury concluded Mr Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll, 79, her lawyers asked the judge to amend the original defamation lawsuit to seek 10 million dollars in compensatory damages and very substantial punitive damages.

They also sought to add defamation claims to the original lawsuit, citing comments Mr Trump, 76, made at a town hall meeting broadcast on CNN shortly after the jury verdict.

Mr Trump, who never attended the trial, is appealing the jury verdict.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, said in response to the filing by Mr Trumps attorneys that the jury verdict supported the claims in the pending lawsuit.

She said: Contrary to Donald Trumps latest arguments, the jurys verdict makes complete sense  because the jury believed E Jean Carroll when she testified that Trump had sexually abused her, it concluded that Trump knowingly lied about Ms Carroll when he later claimed otherwise.
Britain's Prince Harry has arrived at the High Court in London to give evidence in his claim against the publisher of the Mirror over alleged unlawful information-gathering.

Prince Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

The 38-year-olds claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

The duke arrived on Tuesday at the Rolls Building, which was surrounded by journalists and a heavy police presence.

He had been expected to attend court on Monday but his lawyers said he would not appear until Tuesday, when he is due to face cross-examination from MGNs barrister.

David Sherborne, representing the duke and the other claimants, said as the hearing began on Monday that Prince Harry had flown to the UK from Los Angeles in the US on Sunday night, after celebrating his daughter Lilibets second birthday.

Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge hearing the case, said he was a little surprised to hear that the duke would not be attending court on Monday.

The judge said he gave a direction earlier in the trial that witnesses should be available the day before their evidence was due to be heard in case the legal teams opening speeches ran short.

Prince Harry at the Rolls Buildings in central London. Picture: Jeff Moore/PA Wire

Mr Sherborne told the court on Monday that the duke was subjected to unlawful information-gathering activity right from when he was a young boy at school into adulthood, adding: Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds.

He continued: Every part of the princes life during these years was invaded by these three papers using these unlawful methods.

The barrister said that, contrary to some criticism of Prince Harry, it was the use of these methods by a national media group that has brought him here, not some vendetta against the press generally.

Prince Harry alleges that about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Mr Sherborne said the 147 articles in Prince Harrys claim are a fraction of all the articles written about the dukes private life during that time, adding that MGN disclosed almost 2,500 articles published about him throughout that period.

He said MGN had a huge interest in the royal family, the duke in particular, and every aspect of his private life.

The barrister later described Prince Harry as one of the most written-about individuals in those newspapers for several years.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.

Prince Harrys court appearance will come just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father, King Charles III.

Prince Harry at the Rolls Buildings in central London. Picture: Jeff Moore/PA Wire

It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

On the first day of the trial, lawyers for MGN said the publisher unreservedly apologises to the duke for one instance of unlawful information-gathering and that it accepts he is entitled to appropriate compensation.

Andrew Green KC said it is admitted that a private investigator was instructed, by an MGN journalist at The People, to unlawfully gather information about Prince Harrys activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004.

Otherwise, the specified allegations are denied, or in a few cases not admitted, he added.

The three other representative claimants are Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster in the long-running soap, former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, and comedian Paul Whitehouses ex-wife Fiona Wightman.

Mr Green said at the outset of the trial that voicemail interception is denied in all four cases and that there is no evidence or no sufficient evidence.

The barrister continued: There is some evidence of the instruction of third parties to engage in other types of unlawful information-gathering in respect of each of the claimants, save for Mr Turner whose claim is entirely denied, and MGN has made pleaded admissions in respect thereof.

MGN unreservedly apologises for all such instances of unlawful information-gathering, and assures the claimants that such conduct will never be repeated.

At the start of the trial in May, an MGN spokesman said: Where historical wrongdoing has taken place we have made admissions, take full responsibility and apologise unreservedly, but we will vigorously defend against allegations of wrongdoing where our journalists acted lawfully.

MGN has previously settled a number of claims against it in relation to unlawful information-gathering, but a 2015 trial of representative claims, including those brought by former Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati, ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne and actress Sadie Frost, is the only other trial to have taken place during the long-running litigation.
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls, sending water gushing from the facility and risking massive flooding.

Officials have described the breach as an ecological disaster.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

Russian officials claim the dam, on the Dnipro river, was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH    (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

The fallout could have broad consequences: flooded homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleted water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power station; and drained supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

The dam break adds a new complex to Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month, as Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 620 miles of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

Amid outrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged that Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure and said some 80 settlements were in danger.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the blowing up of the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but at the moment the situation is controllable.

The damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Picture: Ukraine's Presidential Office via AP

The UNs International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Twitter its experts are closely monitoring the situation at the power station upstream and there is no immediate nuclear safety risk at the facility.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organisation, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would only start dropping after five to seven days.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash 4.8 billion gallons of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where hundreds of thousands of people live.

According to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting the wars environment impact, a total collapse of the dam would wash away much of the left bank and a severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the nuclear power station of crucial cooling, as well as dry up the water supply in northern Crimea.

The damaged Kakhovka dam near Kherson, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Picture: Ukraine's Presidential Office via AP

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover  one showed floodwaters inundating a long road, while another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the rivers right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances and leave  while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said on Tuesday that numerous strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves and water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream.

Mr Leontyev said the strikes were a very serious terrorist act and Moscow-appointed authorities are preparing for the worst consequences  though he stopped short of urging an evacuation of city residents.

Water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Kakhovka, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP

Damage to the station is beyond repair and it will need to be rebuilt, he added.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnipro, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire countrys drinking water and power supply.

Footage on social media from what appeared to be a monitoring camera overlooking the dam purported to show a flash, explosion and breakage of the dam.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7am the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror and said water will reach critical levels within five hours.

The dam was destroyed, Ukraines state hydro power generating company wrote in a statement. The station cannot be restored, Ukrhydroenergo said.

An overview of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Monday, June 5, 2023. Picture: Maxar Technologies via AP

Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room, it claimed.

Energoatom said the Kakhovka reservoir, where water levels are rapidly decreasing, is necessary for the plant to feed the turbine condensers and ZNPP safety systems, the statement said.

Currently the station cooling pond is full: as of 8am, the water level is at 16.6 meters, and this is enough for the needs of the station, it said.

Energoatom will continue to monitor the situation together with the IAEA, the statement said.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Mr Zelenskyy predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.
A man who admitted killing American mathematician Scott Johnson by punching him from a clifftop at a gay meeting place in Sydney in 1988 deserves no leniency and should face the longest time in jail, the victims brother said.

Scott Phillip White, 52, appeared in the New South Wales state Supreme Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

White had pleaded guilty to murder last year but changed his mind and had that conviction overturned on appeal.

Mr Johnsons Boston-based older brother Steve Johnson said White lost the familys sympathy by withdrawing his murder confession.

So I am hoping the judge will give him the stiffest sentence he possibly can

He and his wife Rosemary felt some compassion because of his generous plea. Today I have no sympathy, Steve Johnson said in a victim impact statement read out to the court.

Any gratitude the family felt was undone after Whites conviction and jail sentence were overturned on appeal, he told reporters after the hearing.

So I am hoping the judge will give him the stiffest sentence he possibly can, he said.

Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Whites decision to flee the scene without calling the police had prolonged the familys grief and loss for decades, Mr Johnson said.

He didnt check on Scott. He didnt call for help. He notified no one. He simply let Scott die, he said.

You are loved, you are missed, your life mattered and you have not been forgotten

In her own statement, Rosemary Johnson spoke of her sweet, kind and gentle brother-in-law.

You are loved, you are missed, your life mattered and you have not been forgotten, she said.

In the heat of an argument on December 10 1988, White said he threw a punch at Scott Johnson, 27, causing him to stagger backwards and fall to his death over a cliff at North Head that was known at the time to be a meeting place for gay men.

Los Angeles-born Scott Johnsons death was initially called a suicide, but his family pressed for further investigation.

Almost three decades passed before New South Wales state police began investigating his death as a suspected gay hate crime.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield conceded the judge overseeing the new sentence may find there was not enough evidence to show White was motivated to attack Mr Johnson because of the victims sexuality.

Its a serious example of manslaughter entailing a significant degree of criminality

However, Mr Hatfield still sought a higher jail sentence, saying it was an unprovoked attack on a vulnerable individual who was naked in a remote location.

Its a serious example of manslaughter entailing a significant degree of criminality, Mr Hatfield said.

Whites lawyer Tim Game urged for leniency because of his clients cognitive difficulties at the time of the crime as well as his dysfunctional background.

He had just become an adult and his life was chaotic and a terrible mess, Mr Game said.

White will be sentenced on Thursday.

He had been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for murder before that conviction was overturned.
A Norwegian aiming to be the fastest climber to scale the worlds 14 highest mountains said she can achieve her goal in half the time she initially planned.

Kristin Harila, on return to Nepals capital from the mountains on Tuesday, said she is setting a new target of scaling the peaks in three months, having already climbed eight of them in 40 days.

She is trying to beat the 2019 record set by a male climber, who did it in little more than six months.

We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good

Ms Harila, 37, is yet to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal, which she hopes to do in the next few days, and then the five remaining peaks in Pakistan, including K2, the second highest in the world.

She also reached K2 last year.

I believe we can do it, if we do Manaslu now and the five in Pakistan, we can do in three months. So yes, three months is possible if we do Manaslu now, she said.

We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good, she said.

Ms Harila began in April by scaling Mount Shishapangma, followed by other peaks in China as well as Nepal, including Mount Everest.

Her latest one was Mount Annapurna on June 5.

Norwegian climber Kristin Harila, 37, left, and her guide Tenjen Sherpa pose for a photograph in Kathmandu, Nepal (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)

Her climb of Annapurna came very late in the spring season when most teams had already left the mountains.

It was very nice but very difficult to climb Annapurna alone. No one was around, it was different. When there is lot of people it is much easier, she said.

Ms Harila began her attempt in April 2022 with the aim of completing it by September.

But she only managed 12 peaks because Chinese authorities restricted access to foreign climbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The current record is held by Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born British citizen who scaled the 14 highest peaks in 189 days in 2019, beating the previous record of more than seven years set by a South Korean climber.

Mr Purjas climbs were later made into a popular Netflix documentary, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible.
The dramatic rupture of the dam that upheld Ukraines largest reservoir released a torrent of water Tuesday, raising fears of widespread damage and flooding in areas where tens of thousands of people live.

Its not clear what caused the breach in the Kakhovka dam, which was already damaged. Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the facility, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian military strikes.

Why is the dam important?

The 30-meter-high (98-foot-high) dam and associated hydroelectric power station sit in Russian-controlled territory along the Dnieper River about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of the city of Kherson  a flashpoint of Russias war in Ukraine.

Together with the power station, the dam helps provide electricity, irrigation and drinking water to a wide swath of southern Ukraine, including the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Ukraines vast agricultural heartland, which is partially fed by the Dnieper river, is crucial to worldwide supplies of grain, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs. Global wheat prices rose Tuesday on concerns that production might be disrupted.

The reservoir created by the dam holds some 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water  a volume nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the United States. Those waters supply cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where fighting has repeatedly raised fears of catastrophic accident.

What has happened to the dam during the war?

Russia has controlled the dam since the early days of the war, and Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of shelling it. Ukraine said that last fall, the troops occupying it detonated explosives that damaged three sluice gates, which help regulate water levels when operated properly. Signs of damage to the gates were evident in late May.

Via: Graphicnews

Even before the devastation wrought by Tuesdays breach, hydropower generation was at a fraction of peak levels. Ukrainian officials and independent experts say Russian forces have failed to maintain the dam  built in the 1950s  either deliberately or through neglect.

Earlier this year, water levels in the reservoir were so low that many across Ukraine and beyond feared a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Since mid-February, the water level has steadily increased, according to data from Theia, a French geospatial analytical organization.

The Ukrainian government-backed company that manages the dam and power plant estimates that it will take about four days for the reservoir to reach equilibrium and stop discharging massive amounts of water.

Who and what is at risk?

As floodwaters swelled, both Russian and Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations of towns and villages, though neither side reported any deaths. Officials said about 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory.

Ukraines Energy Ministry said there is a risk of flooding at energy facilities in the Kherson region. Nearly 12,000 consumers in the city of Kherson have already been left without electricity, and water supplies are also at risk.

Upstream, riverbanks extended as water levels dropped. At the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europes largest, the Ukrainian utility operator and the U.N. atomic energy agency said the situation was under control and there was no immediate risk to safety.

Experts warned about the possibility of an environmental disaster for wildlife and ecosystems  in Ukraine and beyond. The dam was one of the biggest in the world in terms of reservoir capacity.

A local resident makes her way through a flooded road in the wake of the explosion at the Kakhovka dam in Kherson overnight. Picture: AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

The biggest impact of the breach is likely to be upstream, said Mark Mulligan, a professor of physical and environmental geography at Kings College London and co-leader Global Dam Watch, a project that collates information on dams and reservoirs.

This huge reservoir is going to drain down and the shallows upstream are going to dry out, causing significant ecological damage to aquatic vegetation and wildlife that have relied on the water for seven decades, he said. The rapid flow of freshwater into the Black Sea could also damage fisheries and the wider ecology of the northwest part of the sea.

What does this mean for the war?

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up the major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine they control, threatening a massive flood that could displace hundreds of thousands of people, and ordered residents downriver to evacuate. Picture: Maxar Technologies via AP

Ukrainian officials said that the Russians destroyed the dam to prevent Ukraine from launching a counteroffensive in the area.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that it was Ukraine that destroyed the dam to prevent a potential Russian attack on the western bank.

Either way, the destruction of the dam severs a key crossing of the countrys most important river. The dam served as a bridge, enabling vehicles to pass over; its destruction also unleashed torrents of water that make it harder to cross the river by other means.

Since last fall, the lower portion of the Dnieper has made up an important part of the frontline that stretches more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The crossing repeatedly came under rocket fire as Ukrainian forces led a successful counteroffensive in November that drove Russian forces back across the Dnieper.

Ukraines military has used groups of scouts to try to gain control of small islands near the Russia-controlled eastern bank and areas in the rivers delta. But experts say a broader offensive would involve major risks and logistical challenges.

Crossing the wide river was always seen as a daunting task for the Ukrainian military, and most observers expected it to launch a counteroffensive in other sectors of the front.

Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said that the flooding would make crossing the river even more difficult, noting that it would impact the minefields on the Russia-controlled eastern bank. Minefields were flooded, mines will be washed off and no one knows where they will surface, he said.
Second World War veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name Papa Jake, enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Mr Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

I got in on the planning of D-Day  Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm.

Second World War veteran Jake Larson attends a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control, at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France (Thomas Padilla

You can see me all over: Papa Jake. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about.

Mr Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

Im 100 without an ache or a pain. You cant fake that, he said.

On Monday, Mr Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

That is where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran.

British Second World War veteran Bill Gladden, left, with US veteran Jack Larson at the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, on Monday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Mr Larson told Mr Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went on Sunday into a parade alongside other US veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered a big hug, to their joy.

Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell of their emotion at seeing him.

Mr Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota.

He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 years old at the time.

US veteran Jake Larson talks to a girl wearing an American flag during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, on Sunday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland.

He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.

After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Mr Larson was in Normandy with a group of more than 40 US veterans who travelled with the Best Defence Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps them visit former battlefields.
A major dam in southern Ukraine has collapsed, flooding villages, endangering crops in the countrys breadbasket and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, built in the 1950s on the Dnieper River in an area that Moscow has controlled for more than a year, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area.

It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting claims.

Russian and Ukrainian officials used terms like ecological disaster and terrorist act to describe the torrent of water gushing through the broken dam, whose reservoir is one of the worlds largest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres called it a monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe and another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The environmental and social consequences quickly became clear as homes, streets and businesses flooded downstream and emergency crews began evacuations, officials monitored water for cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and authorities expressed concern about drinking water supplies in both Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

In the downstream city of Kherson, a woman who gave her name only as Tetyana waded through thigh-deep water to reach her flooded house and rescue her dogs.

They were standing on any dry surface they could find but one pregnant dog was missing.

Its a nightmare, she kept repeating, declining to give her full name.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses to move residents to safety.

About 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory, according to official tallies.

This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows an overview of the damage on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

A satellite photo on Tuesday morning by Planet Labs PBC analysed by The Associated Press showed a large part of the dams wall, more than 600 metres (over 1,900ft), missing.

The dam break, long feared by both sides, added a stunning new dimension to Russias war, now in its 16th month.

Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of the front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear why either side might destroy the dam, and its collapse might have resulted from gradual degradation.

Both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands were at risk.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent potential Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive.

He claimed Ukraine had lost 3,715 troops and 52 tanks since Sunday, and  in a rare acknowledgment of Russias own losses  said 71 Russian troops were killed and 210 wounded.

A resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight in Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Ukraine followed its standard practice of not commenting on its casualties.

Mr Zelenskyy told reporters his government had information about Russia mining the dam last year, so there may come a moment when an explosion occurs.

Other Ukrainian officials alleged Russia blew up the dam to hinder Kyivs counteroffensive, even though observers note that crossing the broad Dnieper would be extremely challenging.

Other sectors of the front line are more likely avenues of attack, analysts say.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the alleged Russian destruction of the dam is a profoundly defensive measure showing the lack of confidence in Russias longer-term prospects in the war.

Experts have previously said the dam was in disrepair, which could also have led to the breach.

David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir since the war began, said in an email it was not clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect from Russian forces occupying the facility.

But Mr Helms also noted a Russian history of attacking dams.

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Monday (Maxar Technologies via AP)

Underscoring the global repercussions, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse.

It is unclear whether the surge in wheat prices was due to a real threat of floodwaters destroying crops.

Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Authorities, experts and residents have expressed concern for months about water flowing through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

After heavy rains and snow melt last month, water levels rose beyond normal, flooding nearby villages.

Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Mr Zelenskyy alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2.50am (2350 GMT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side  aimed at cutting water supplies to Crimea.

Water runs through a breakthrough in the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Office via AP)

White House officials were trying to assess potential impacts of the dam collapse and were looking to see what humanitarian assistance can be provided to Ukrainians being displaced, according to a US official.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster.

Ukraines Presidential Office said some 150 metric tons of oil escaped from the dam machinery and that another 300 metric tons could still leak out.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines Presidents Office, posted video showing the flooded streets of Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region where about 45,000 people lived before the war.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers right bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said the city was being evacuated as water poured in.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said via Telegram that the damage to the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Europes biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is controllable.

The UNs International Atomic Energy Agency reported no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, which has been shut down for months but still needs water for its cooling system.

A local resident with a bike and a dog walks past buildings in Kherson, Ukraine, which were flooded after the Kakhovka dam was damaged overnight (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

It said the dams reservoir level is falling by five centimetres (2in) an hour.

At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The Zaporizhzhia power plant has alternative sources of water, including a large pond that can provide water for some months, according to the IAEA.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash a volume of water estimated as nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the United States, flooding Kherson and dozens of other areas where thousands live.

Mohammad Heidarzadeh, from the University of Baths Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, said the Kakhovka dam is one of the worlds biggest in reservoir capacity, 90 times bigger than the UKs largest, Kielder dam in Northumberland.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded, predicting that the water level would start dropping within a week.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Mr Zelenskyy, said thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

People board an evacuation train at a railway station in Kherson, Ukraine (Nina Lyashonok/AP)

Online video showed water inundating a long road; another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply and that of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraines state hydro power generating company said the dams power station cannot be restored.

Ukrhydroenergo also claimed Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of attacking the dam.
The appearance of Britain's Prince Harry in a UK high court witness box revealed a host of claims about his life, the behaviour of the press and the impact of media scrutiny on him.

Harry sat through nearly five hours of questioning as he gave evidence in the trial over his allegations of unlawful information-gathering by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

MGN is contesting his claim and has either denied or not admitted that articles about Harry being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity.

Harrys cross-examination by MGNs barrister on Tuesday, and his written witness statement, covered a wide range of issues.

Here are some of key points from Harrys evidence:

The Duke of Sussex arriving at the High Court (Jeff Moore/PA)

 Harry felt physically sick over detective payments about Diana

In his witness statement, Harry said he was shocked and appalled by the number of payments made by MGN titles to private investigators.

There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim, he said, adding: This makes me feel physically sick.

 Journalists alleged actions affected every area of his life

Harry claimed in his statement that he now believes that both his and his associates voicemail messages were hacked by MGN, and that it also used other unlawful means to obtain private information.

This not only creates a huge amount of distress but presented very real security concerns for not only me but also everyone around me, he said.

I would say their actions affected every area of my life.

 Harry had huge amount of paranoia after alleged press intrusion

He said in his witness statement he lost friendships entirely unnecessarily due to the paranoia caused by alleged unlawful information-gathering.

Harry wrote: As I am uncovering the extent of the unlawful activities carried out by MGNs journalist (sic) and senior executives towards me, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family had, in fact, been misplaced, although feel sad for how much it impacted my adolescence.

He later said in his statement that he can now see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

The Duke of Sussex spent hours being cross-examined by MGNs barrister Andrew Green KC (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

 Accusations of press having blood on their hands

In his witness statement, Harry accused the press of having blood staining their typing fingers, with some responsible for causing pain, upset and death.

Harry also branded journalists the mothership of online trolling.

Trolls react and mobilise to stories they create. People have died as a result and people will continue to kill themselves by suicide when they cant see any other way out, he said.

How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness(?)

 British press and the government are at rock bottom

Harry said in his statement that in order to save journalism as a profession, journalists need to expose those people in the media that have stolen or hijacked the privileges and powers of the press, and have used illegal or unlawful means for their own gain and agendas.

He said he did not want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level, adding: But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government, both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo, he said.

In a separate comment about the power of the press, Harry claimed the police and UK government were scared to hold them accountable, with the Government also having no appetite for press regulation.

 James Hewitt father rumours aimed at ousting Harry from UK royal family

Harry suggested in his witness statement that newspaper stories about rumours his father was Diana, Princess of Wales former lover James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

Harry referred to an article in The People from 2002 which reported a bid to steal a sample of the Harry's DNA to check his parentage.

He said that at the time of the article he was not aware that his mother had not met Major Hewitt until after he was born.

Harry said stories like this felt very damaging and very real to me at the time, adding: Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

 Accusations against Piers Morgan

In his witness statement, Harry alleged Mr Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror, had been intimidating him and his wife since he launched legal proceedings against the publisher of the Mirror newspaper.

Harry claimed he and his wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan.

Piers Morgan was accused of making personal attacks against the Duke of Sussex and his wife (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

- Harry singled out as pussy by peers

He claimed in his witness statement that he was singled out as a pussy by his peers following press reports of his injuries during his time at school and military training at Sandhurst.

Harry said it was shocking that a November 2001 Sunday Mirror article, which covered an injury he had received playing polo, reveals such specific, detailed and private medical information including the advice that my doctors had given me, which he was not freely revealing to anyone.

I wasnt reading these stories, but others at school were and I was treated differently as a result, he wrote.

I was often singled out for being a sick note or a pussy because articles like this made routine injuries seem like such a big deal.

 Claims tabloids wanted Harry to be single and tried to ruin every relationship

He said in his witness statement: I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers.

Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible  This twisted objective is still pursued to this day even though Im now married.

Harry added: At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal.

 Discrepancies over meeting with Paul Burrell

Harry was challenged in court over discrepancies between his autobiography Spare and his witness statement over whether he wanted to meet ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, whom he admitted branding a two-faced shit.

Harry claims his remarks about Mr Burrell were obtained illegally by MGN from a voicemail he left for his brother, and that he was firmly against meeting the former confidant of his mother.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, said Harry wrote in his memoir that he wanted to fly back to confront Mr Burrell, rather than being against a meeting.

Harry said in court: I honestly cant remember whether I wanted a meeting or not.

 Harry was extremely worried about being expelled from Eton after drug-taking reports

His statement addressed a January 2002 Mirror article about him using drugs and what he told his father.

Harry said: This article, along with the News Of The World coverage, had a huge impact on my life. Eton had a zero drugs policy in place and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled.
Burma Child Killed as Myanmar Junta Pounds Shan State Town With Artillery

Resistance fighters evacuate a wounded combatant during a clash with junta forces in Mobye town on Monday. / Mobye PDF

A child was killed and two adult civilians wounded when Myanmar junta forces bombarded a town in Pekon Township, southern Shan State with artillery on Monday amid heavy clashes with resistance fighters, according to the Mobye Peoples Defense Force.

Fighting broke out in Mobye at 10.30 am when Mobye PDF combined with the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and Urban Revolution Front (URF) to defend the town against a regime raid.

The town was then struck by over 100 shells fired by junta artillery battalion 422 from outside the town, said Mobye PDF.

The bombardment killed a 10-year-old child and left two civilians with injuries while also destroying two houses by fire and damaging other buildings.

A Mobye PDF spokesperson informed local media that the towns phone lines and electricity supply had been cut off after one artillery round hit a power line.

Many residents fled to nearby villages while others are still in the town, the resistance spokesman told Karennis Voice, a local media outlet.

The fighting stopped at 5:30 pm the same day, leaving at least 10 regime troops dead, the Mobye PDF said. Resistance forces had also seized a weapon from the invading troops, it added.

The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the military casualties.

Two resistance fighters were also wounded in the clashes.

The local PDF group has urged residents to avoid the clash sites as tensions between regime forces and local resistance groups remain high in the town.

People have also been urged to avoid the local stretch of the Loikaw-Pinlaung highway due to the potential for clashes.

The junta is conducting artillery and air strikes on the town and nearby villages sheltering displaced people without any provocation, according to resistance groups and local rescue teams.
Burma Myanmar Junta Launches Airstrikes as Offensive in Chin State Repelled

A Chin resistance fighter patrols in Thantlang, which is under the control of Chin forces. / The Chin Journal

Myanmars military regime launched fresh airstrikes near the Chin State capital of Hakha after suffering heavy casualties in clashes with resistance forces on Saturday, according to the Chin National Army (CNA).

Clashes erupted in Thee Mit valley last week after 150 junta troops left Hakha and advanced on Thantlang, 35 kilometers to the west.

Salai Htet Ni, a CNA spokesperson, said the Myanmar military launched an offensive after dividing into two columns above and below the Three Mit creek.

The resulting week-long clashes have seen over 50 regime troops killed and around 20 wounded, according to the CNA. Meanwhile, 13 Chin resistance fighters have been killed and nearly a dozen wounded, it said.

Three regime warplanes bombed resistance forces eight times on Saturday, but there were no casualties reported from the attacks, the spokesman said.

We are preparing ways to crush this military column, which is aiming to occupy our headquarters in Thantlang. We are putting up strong resistance in ground battles, Salai Htet Ni told The Irrawaddy.

Combined resistance forces of the CNA, Chin Defense Force (CDF)-Hakha, and Chin Defense Force-Zophei are operating against regime troops in Thee Mit Valley, which lies 8 kilometers from Hakha.

Clashes in the area continued on Sunday and Monday as regime troops advanced on territory controlled by Chin resistance forces. However, the junta soldiers advance was blocked by Chin resistance forces, the CNA spokesperson said.

When our attack halted the regime column, they turned to air power and heavy weapons. A fighter jet also flew over on Sunday but there were no airstrikes, Salai Htet Ni said.

The CNA is the armed wing of the Chin National Front, which is based in Thantlang Township. A junta airstrike on CNA headquarters in January left five resistance fighters dead and many others injured. Thantlang is currently under the control of Chin resistance forces and is suffering frequent airstrikes by regime forces.

Further to the east, the Chin Defense Force-Mindat has reopened the Mindat-Kyauthtu road, where fierce fighting was reported last week. Clashes reportedly broke out at Htin Chaung village, 6km from Mindat, when around 200 regime troops from Mindat advanced towards Kyauthtu in Magwe Region. The CDF closed the Mindat -Kyauthtu road during the clashes, which it said had resulted in heavy casualties among regime troops.
Burma Myanmar Junta Soldiers Behead Teenager in Arson Attack on 10 Sagaing Villages

Na Be Pin Hla village after it was raided by junta troops on Saturday. /Wetlet informational network

Myanmar junta troops have beheaded a teenager, shot dead a man, and arrested 15 civilians in raids on 10 villages in Sagaing Regions Wetlet township over the past few days, according to local sources.

Regime soldiers beheaded Hla Soe Aung, 18, and burnt his body during their raid on Na Be Pin Hla village on Saturday, locals reported.

He was just an ordinary villager and not a member of the People Defense Force [PDF], a local resistance member said.

He was also tortured before junta troops cut off his head, according to a witness.

Sagaing, a resistance stronghold, has been the focus of numerous arson attacks and atrocities perpetrated against civilians by junta forces in the past two years.

Elsewhere, U Kyaw Win, 60 was injured when troops opened fire on villagers as they fled a junta arson attack that burned over 70 houses and a monastery in Na Be Pin Hla village on Saturday.

The monastery was set on fire because it was used by members of the People Defense Force, a source said.

There were no reports of local resistance forces suffering casualties during the raids.

On Sunday, junta soldiers killed a man in Ta Mar Kan village, according to local sources.

Two junta columns that had been raiding villages in eastern Wetlet township since Thursday reportedly merged into one column on Saturday.

One source said the junta troops pretended to be local resistance members by deploying weapons used by the local PDF.

Two residents of Taung Kone village were arrested after mistaking junta soldiers for PDF members, a source said.

Another source said junta troops also arrested more than dozen mostly female residents during a raid on Tha Yine Min Kone village in Wetlet on Thursday.

Fifteen civilians were arrested on Thursday, but the 12 female detainees were released later that day. One male detainee had escaped while junta troops were burning down houses, a member of peoples administrative team said.

The fate of the other two detainees is still unknown.

Local resistance forces said they ambushed junta soldiers with a mine attack near Tha Yine Min Kone village, killing one soldier.

The Irrawaddy could not independently confirm the claim.

On Monday, residents of five local villages were displaced while junta troops continued to raid Sint Kaing village in Wetlet, according to sources.
Guest Column Myanmar Civil Society Organizations Face a Moral Conundrum on Funding

A Cyclone Mocha-affected residential area in the Rakhine State capital Sittwe / The Irrawaddy

This is an ends-justifying-the-means problem. Local organizations, usually committed volunteers, need funding to support the most vulnerable in Myanmar. International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and international non-government organizations (INGOs) have this funding but dont have access or capacity to manage a lot of projects. This appears to be a symbiotic or win-win relationship. However, what if the international organization is registered with the junta? Here lies the moral conundrum. Civil society organizations (CSOs) need to know the consequences of working with these organizations and few do.

The fact that the international organizations unintentionally offer legitimacy to the junta by registering, signing MoUs and having propaganda photos taken has been widely criticized, as has the fact that the UN has very limited access to those in need and virtually none in resistance areas. However, there are other reasons why CSOs should reconsider working with the UN and INGOs and should do due diligence before signing contracts.

International organizations have to provide regular certified audit statements to the junta every six months and also respond to all ad hoc inquiries from the junta. This and the requirement to name leadership of projects can put Myanmar nationals and their families at risk.

Basically, anyone operating in Myanmar has to pay income tax, VAT etc. and if they let their registration expire, they have to pay penalties to renew it. This is money into the junta coffers to use as they wish. Even worse, these organizations have to pay the junta at the juntas fixed exchange rate. The exchange rate is 3,000 kyats to the US dollar but the official rate is 2,100. The juntas fixed exchange rate allows it to exploit the floating exchange rate through black market transactions in dollars to procure such things as helicopters and aircraft. The tax is then literally funding war crimes. To renew their registration most contractors with a team of 30 or more will be paying approximately US$100,000 in fines in addition to fees for late income tax, VAT etc. However, apparently, USAID, and likely other donors, will reimburse this, so perhaps the INGOs are not so concerned. The bottom line is that any dollars going into Myanmar are allowing the junta to expand its foreign reserves and conduct more air strikes. The donors seem to have a suspension of disbelief or very perverse logic to be able to allow this.

Local organizations need to question their potential funders about the above to be able to make an informed decision. These international organizations have made their decision for their own reasons (one is tempted to say self-interest) but local organizations need to weigh up the pros and cons and make their decisions on whether to work with these international organizations.

In Myanmar the contractors such as INGOs and the UN are hedging their bets at the moment. Their priority is preserving their forward market. They are concerned about legitimizing the regime, but if it means missing future donor contracts, they will renew their MoUs. Unfortunately, donors such as USAID have not taken a strong stance on this. While the consensus seems to be that international organizations risk even more scrutiny if they dont register with the junta, the real question is, do they really need to be in the country at all?

Ideally donors should be fully aware of this and seek alternative avenues of funding such as the NUG, ethnic revolutionary organizations (EROs) and CSOs, as stipulated in the Burma Act passed by the US Congress. Unfortunately, many donors have surprisingly limited knowledge of the situation in Myanmar, so blindly fund through the UN, which is also easier for them. There obviously needs to be independent analysis of the cost versus impact of funding through the UN in Myanmar and the juntas exploitation of it, but in the meantime CSOs need to ask the right questions and make their own informed decisions.

Paul Greening is an ex-UN senior staff member with over 20 years experience in six Asian countries working for six UN agencies and four INGOs. He worked in Sittwe, Rakhine State for the International Organization for Migration from 2017 to 2020 and since then has been involved in advocacy against the illegal attempted coup and supporting those who have suffered from it.
Tuesday, Jun 6th, 2023 (9:10 am) - Score 5,904

Some customers of SpaceXs popular Starlink broadband ISP in the UK have started reporting that their download speeds are being throttled, often to around 50Mbps, when they hit a certain threshold. So its perhaps no coincidence that theyve also launched a PRIORITY  1TB plan for 180.

Customers in the UK typically pay from 75 per month, plus 449 for the regular home kit (standard dish, router etc.) and 20 for shipping on the Standard Starlink package, which gets you unlimited usage, a monthly contract term, fast latency times of 25-50ms, advertised downloads of c. 50-200Mbps 25-100Mbps and uploads of c. 5-15Mbps 5-10Mbps (speeds may change as the network grows).

NOTE: Starlink now has around 4,200 LEO satellites in orbit around the Earth (altitude of c. 500km+) and they have approval to add roughly 7,500 more by the end of 2027.

Starlink tends to adopt different approaches to package design and traffic management in different countries, which partly reflects issues of access to ground stations, access to spectrum and so forth (i.e. weve seen data caps and throttling being used in some other countries before). At the same time, the provider also needs to be making a profit from what is an incredibly expensive network to build, which is a tricky thing to do without either raising prices or placing more restrictions on network capacity.

The aforementioned context is important because it may help to explain some of what UK customers on Starlinks Standard package have recently been reporting via Reddit. But we should stress that, at the time of writing, this seems to be impacting some UK customers, but not all.

Example Starlink User Complaint 1 Ive had my starlink for a couple of weeks now and it looks like were all being throttled to 50Mbps if we download anything for more than 15 minutes.

Example Starlink User Complaint 2 Damn, found this post by accident but this is happening to me too. My speedtest.net is over 200Mb here in rural Aberdeenshire but right enough the throughput reduces to slightly over 50Mb when downloading large files even though it starts off well over 150Mb for the first ten minutes or so.

Example Starlink User Complaint 3 I was finding it hard to believe all the posts myself so I thought id try downloading a 10GB file a couple of times: https://lon.speedtest.clouvider.net/10g.bin Sure enough, 15 mins, I go from 200Mbps to a hard capped 50Mbps.

However, we note that UK customers who try to order Starlinks service today are now also being offered a PRIORITY  1TB package option for a whopping 180 per month (unaffordable for most homes), which we suspect may be partly related to the issues being reported above. The service description now describes both plans as follows:

Standard Plan Standard service for typical residential customers at one location. This plan assigns an unlimited amount of Standard data each month to customers. Priority  1 TB High-speed, priority service for high demand users at one location, includes public IP and priority support. After using 1 TB of Priority data, continue receiving unlimited standard data. Priority data is given network precedence over Standard data, meaning users will experience faster and more consistent speeds.

In addition, Starlink has weakened the performance definition of their Standard plan. Until recently it advertised downloads of c. 50-200Mbps (now reduced to 25-100Mbps) and uploads of c. 5-15Mbps (now reduced to 5-10Mbps). By comparison, PRIORITY offers speeds similar to what Starlink originally launched with  downloads of 40-220Mbps and uploads of 8-25Mbps.

In fairness, the operator does apply a general Fair Usage Policy (FUP) too, but this is one area where the operator may be at risk of clashing with the UKs Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). This is because Starlink largely only make vague references to network management measures, such as temporarily reducing a customers speeds, to prevent or mitigate congestion of the Services.

The ASA has long since effectively prevented UK broadband and mobile operators from imposing more than moderate throttling on packages advertised as offering unlimited usage (or similar terminology)  see details. In practice, this approach makes it very hard for any ISP to throttle traffic  outside very generalised measures  while also promoting an unlimited service, as Virgin Media, Lebara and many others have since found.

ASA Statement on Unlimited Terminology Unlimited claims are likely to be acceptable provided that:  The legitimate user incurs no additional charge or suspension of service as a consequence of exceeding any usage threshold associated with an fair use policy (FUP), traffic management policy or the like; and  Provider-imposed limitations that affect the speed or usage of the service are moderate only and are clearly explained in the marketing communication. So, marketers will no longer be able to use a fair-use or traffic management policy to slow down legitimate users, nor will they be able to impose an additional charge or suspend the service. A policy which does not affect the majority of customers but impacts significantly on a small number of heavy users is unlikely to be considered moderate. In 2013 the ASA upheld complaints about several companies that offered unlimited data but imposed limitations for exceeding the threshold of FUPs

Naturally, the question of whether or not Starlink is actually now throttling Standard users in a more aggressive fashion remains to be answered (i.e. it could just be a network bug or temporary issue), which makes it difficult to know whether the ASAs rule would even apply.

Likewise, the fact that Starlink promotes a download range of 25-100Mbps may also work in their favour, since 50Mbps is above the minimum. But individual customer experiences do count for the ASA too, and the fact that Starlink keep downgrading the advertised speeds is another potential bugbear for the ASA.

Starlink never seems to respond to our comment requests, so were unlikely to get a clear answer from them directly. But if those impacted find that the issue continues, then it might be worth dropping a complaint into the ASA (here), although they do tend to take the best part of about half a year to reach a conclusion.

UPDATE 12:56am

Some of those affected by the issue are now reporting that the throttling has stopped, or at least been tweaked to be less annoying.
June 5, 2023



Idaho State University will soon bring much-needed health care training and care to rural southern Oregon, thanks to a partnership with the Umpqua Valley Development Corporation in Roseburg, Oregon.

The agreement brings together local and regional community leaders, health care facilities and Idaho State University to create a proposed Southern Oregon Medical Workforce Center.

The goal is to train health care professionals in fields where there is a critical need. Of the 36 counties in Oregon, 26 are fully or partially designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration, and 24 of those counties are in rural areas. Nationwide, and especially in Idaho and Oregon, rural communities bear the brunt of health care worker shortages, as many health care workers tend to stay and practice near where they train.

We are excited to provide much-needed health care education and training opportunities to rural Oregon. This opportunity showcases ISU's dedication to the health of our communities, said Idaho State University President Kevin Satterlee.

Idaho State University has already created models for helping fill rural health care workforce needs. Idaho State Universitys pharmacy program in Anchorage, Alaska, for example, partners with the University of Alaska Anchorage to fill workforce gaps. In Idaho, Bengal Pharmacy trains students and provides pharmaceutical care at clinics in Challis and Arco, reducing the need for residents to travel to receive basic health care.

We partner with communities to bring health professions education where its needed most- where the gap is large, said Rex Force, Idaho State Universitys vice president for health sciences.

The project is still in the planning stages, Force said, but Idaho State plans to bring training in a wide variety of fields, from physician assistant and nurse practitioner training to mental health care and medical laboratory science. The first programs could be available beginning in Fall 2024.

Our goal is to work with community colleges and partners to create pathways to our programs, Force said.

Health care is in crisis mode in many rural communities like ours. We simply cannot find qualified and trained staff to care for patients, said Kelly Morgan, recently retired CEO of CHI Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg and Vice Chair of the Umpqua Valley Development Corporation. This project and these partnerships will give us the ability to train and maintain a health care workforce right here in Douglas County.

The Oregon Legislature approved $5 million in general fund dollars in 2022 for launching the Southern Oregon Medical Workforce Center.

This is an investment in both our health care and in our workforce, said Steve Loosely, president of the Umpqua Valley Development Corporation. The vision from the beginning has been to address the lack of health care providers by creating opportunities for Southern Oregon residents to pursue rewarding careers in the medical field. Partnering with the highly respected Idaho State University program will provide high-caliber education and training.
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.
Today

Sunny with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 86F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 64F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. High 91F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
" " Despite that fearsome visage, there have been only 10 documented attacks on humans by lemon sharks  and none were fatal. Jim Abernethy/Barcroft Media/Getty Images

The silhouette of a massive shark lurking below the ocean's surface doesn't exactly conjure up images of a laid-back creature that prefers to chill with its posse. But research shows there's a yellow-hued giant  the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris)  who isn't a fan of aggression and seems to have quite the social life.

Lemon sharks hang out in subtropical, coastal waters and can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters), weigh up to 551 pounds (250 kilograms) and live to be up to 30 years old. Besides sporting an unusual skin color for a shark, they're recognizable by their short, blunt snout and two similar-sized triangular fins on their back, positioned behind the pectoral fin.

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Vancouver (Special to Informed Comment)  It is, unfortunately, not an understatement to say that our world that is becoming increasingly divided, increasingly tribalized.

Tribalism is also growing within the United States of course,: racism, homophobia, blue states versus red states, neo-nazis declaring, Jews will not replace us!, and simmering anger  dramatically illustrated by the January 6 attempt to violently overthrow the government in order to keep a demagogue in power.

There are increasing threats to elected officials, vote counters, and other public servants.

And in the first 150 days of 2023, there have been 263 mass shootings  incidents with 4 or more people shot  reported in the U.S., with 327 victims killed. Both those figures are the highest ever recorded this early in a year. []

Of course, there are a host of factors that contribute to these dangerous trends, from inequality and lives of despair to toxic masculinity, internet silos, and Fox News, along with those politicians and their backers who employ the old tactic of divide and conquer.

At a rally in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday, Senator Bernie Sanders explained that the ruling elite and monied oligarchy win, when they divide the working class and those living in poverty.

In every way that you can think, said Sanders, there are really smart peopleout there polling todaysaying: How do I get you to vote against your own self-interest? How do I get black and white and Latino and Native American, Asian American, gay, and straight against each other so that the big-money interest laugh all the way to the bank.

So what our movement is about, is precisely the opposite of what the big-money interests want, he continued. They want to divide us up and we are determined to bring working people togetherblack and white and Latinoall of us together around an agenda that works for us not just the billionaire class!

Article continues after bonus IC video

RAISE THE WAGE

A related issue is identity politics  the tendency of people to identify primarily with their kind  whichever group that is  rather than humanity as a whole. (And no group is more focused on their racist identity than the Ku Klux Klan).

In fact, the whole idea that humanity is divided into races is a relic of European colonialism (as I explained in this essay).

This us-versus-them dichotomy is extremely flexible, however, depending on the circumstances. It is the norm, for instance, to see strangers work together cooperatively when they face a common threat, such as after a hurricane or an earthquake.

The challenge is to be aware of our tendency to otherize people and to resist this natural, but unhealthy, tendency.

One very powerful example of the triumph of humanity over identity is the story of the American heroes who literally put themselves in the line of fire to end the My Lai massacre in Vietnam.

Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson was 25 years old when he was piloting a helicopter along with two crewmates: Glenn Andreotta, 20 years old, and Lawrence Coburn, who was just 18. On March 16, 1968, they were on patrol when they noticed a number of wounded and dead civilians all over the area. They stopped several times to attend to the victims, and a short while later, they saw other Vietnamese being chased by a U.S. Army patrol. Thats when Thompson chose humanity over tribalism and did the courageous thing  he told his crew to land the helicopter between their fellow U.S. Army troops and the Vietnamese civilians. Thompson got out of the copter and ordered the soldiers of Charlie Company to stop the massacre  or else.

His men backed him up, and the killing stopped.

Thompson then radioed two nearby pilots to come to his aid, and around a dozen Vietnamese civilians were taken out of harms way.

It is estimated that up to 500 Vietnamese had been killed during this massacre  and almost all were women, children, and the elderly.

The bravery of Thompson and his crew saved hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Vietnamese lives.

As usual, the U.S. military tried to cover up the story, as they did with dozens of similar atrocities in Indochina. However, in 1969, U.S. freelance journalist Seymour Hershs investigation discovered the truth about the My Lai massacre. (In 1970 Hersh was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting).

In 1998, thirty years after their heroic actions, Thompson, Andreotta, and Coburn were finally awarded the Soldiers Medal.

Along with their bravery, these heroes have provided a powerful example of how important it is to take to heart the words of Betrand Russell and Albert Einstein, who wrote in 1955 that it imperative to: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest.

And when we do remember our own humanity, we also remember the humanity of other people.

Given todays problems, from wars to the climate crises to hunger to growing nationalism to epidemics and nuclear weapons, the only hope we have is that enough of us will take those words to heart and stand for the right thing against tribalism and conspiracy theories.
Illegal Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian residents of the village of Burqa near Nablus in the northern West Bank on Sunday evening, shooting at least four people and injuring 55 others, Anadolu has reported.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society confirmed that its medical teams treated four people injured by shrapnel from live fire, as well as 55 cases of tear gas inhalation during the settler attack. As usual, the settlers were protected by Israeli occupation soldiers during the attack.

A group of settlers from the Homesh settlement infiltrated the village under the protection of the Israeli army, and attacked Palestinian homes in several areas of the village of Burqa, explained Ghassan Daglas, who monitors settlement issues in the northern West Bank Fighting broke out with the residents who confronted the settlers during the attack, which led to injuries. About fifty settlers also attacked three houses on the outskirts of the village with stones, and smashed the windows of a number of vehicles, he added.

The village of Burqa is under constant attacks by settlers, as it is located near the once-evacuated Homesh settlement. In March, the Israeli Knesset approved the repeal of what is known as the Disengagement Law, allowing settlers to return to four settlements in the West Bank that were evacuated in 2005, including Homesh.

All of Israels settlements on occupied Palestinian land are illegal under international law, as are the settlers who live in them. Despite this, the governor of Salfit in the occupied West Bank, Abdullah Kamil, has publicised details of a new settlement plan aimed at seizing more than 2,471 acres of Palestinian land in the governorate for settlement expansion.

The occupation authorities announced the decision to seize land belonging to the towns of Al-Zawiya, Deir Ballut, Rafat and Masha in the west of Salfit governorate, as well as in Suniriya, in the Qalqilya governorate, explained Kamil. The land is to be used for settlers industrial and tourist areas, settlement units and roads linking the settlements.

In a related incident, reported the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, six-year-old Amin Daoud suffered bruises and contusions when settlers assaulted his family while they were grazing sheep in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron.

The Israeli NGO Peace Now says on its website that more than 465,000 settlers currently live in 132 settlements and 146 random outposts on the [Palestinian] land of the West Bank.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GPG) (OTCQB: GPTRF) (FSE: GPB) ("Grande Portage" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced crew mobilization and expects to begin drilling on schedule at its 100% controlled Herbert Gold project located in SE Alaska.

As a result of its recently completed equity financing, Grande Portage intends to increase its planned drill program. The Company expects to drill approximately 15-20 holes from up to four different platforms which will test numerous separate primary veins and their satellitic structures. The upcoming drill program is a continuation of previous drilling which successfully tested multiple gold-quartz veins of the Herbert mesothermal vein system with very encouraging results.

The drill program will target many geologically promising high value targets at the Main, Goat, Deep Trench, Ridge, and Sleeping Giant veins from multiple locations and is expected to conclude in late October 2023.

Ian Klassen, Grande Portage's CEO, commented, "Our geological team has gone to great lengths to design a very ambitious program for 2023. Our project is well situated in a historically proven and prolific gold belt. We look forward to building upon the Herbert resource, a high-grade gold system that has a current National Instrument Mineral Resource of 1,196,800 ounces of gold (Indicated) at an average grade of 10.23 g/t gold and an (Inferred) resource of 325,900 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.91 g/t gold."

Past drilling has yielded very encouraging results including numerous multi ounce assays on several veins including those listed below (all holes are reported as true widths):

37.07 g/t Au over 15.27 meters (Deep Trench vein)

59.91 g/t Au over 8.08 meters (Deep Trench vein)

30.24 g/t Au over 9.08 meters (Goat Creek vein)

28.41 g/t Au over 11.58 meters (Deep Trench vein)

21.55 g/t Au over 6.46 meters (Main vein)

15.76 g/t Au over 2.81 meters (Goat Creek vein)

21.22 g/t Au over 2.25 meters (Main vein)

13.91 g/t Au over 3.12 meters (Main vein)

Investors are encouraged to visit the Company's website at www.grandeportage.com for a more detailed summary of past drill results and a corporate presentation.

This news release has been prepared and approved by Carl Hale, CPG, a geologist with more than 40 years of experience and a Qualified Person as defined under NI #43-101.

About Grande Portage:

Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Herbert property. The Herbert Gold property system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced over seven million ounces of gold. The Company's updated NI#43-101 Mineral Resource estimate reported at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 3.0 grams per tonne gold (g/t gold) and consists of: an indicated resource of 1,196,800 ounces of gold at an average grade of 10.23 g/t gold (3,637,000 tonnes); and an inferred resource of 325,900 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.91 g/t gold (1,138,000 tonnes), as well as an Indicated resource of 686,700 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.87 g/t silver (3,637,000 tonnes); and an inferred resource of 169,300 ounces of silver at an average grade of 4.63 g/t silver (1,138,000 tonnes).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ian Klassen"

Ian M. Klassen

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 899-0106

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.grandeportage.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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", "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 as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE
MONTREAL, June 5, 2023 /CNW/ - Auxico Resources Canada Inc. (CSE: AUAG) (OTCQB: AUXIF) (the "Company" or "Auxico") is pleased to announce that it has received approval for a temporary, 2-year, environmental license for small-scale open-pit mining from the Colombian Environmental Authority, the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Orinoquia (Corporinoquia). This follows the recent approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment study ("EIA") for the Company's Minastyc property, as announced on April 12, 2023.

The ability to exploit and commercialize the Minastyc property is a key advancement, with timing that coincides well with recent metallurgical testing developments for the separation of light and heavy rare earths. Auxico has demonstrated the ability to process concentrate samples taken from the Minastyc property into light and heavy rare earth commercial concentrates; dysprosium up to 16.1% (concentrated 20 times from its initial feed), and terbium up to 3.42% (refer to press release dated April 20, 2023). Dysprosium, one of the world's most magnetically susceptible elements, along with terbium, are two heavy rare earths crucial for weapons systems as well as EV motors, in order to maintain an electric powertrain magnet's coercivity through repeat cycles of heating and cooling. Only automotive manufacturers with access to heavy rare earths could expect to produce EVs in 2030, while those without them may be selling their EVs factories. Auxico's Minastyc property has one of the highest-grade heavy rare earth deposits globally according to industry expert, Jack Lifton.

Nd Pr Dy Tb Y La Ce Sm Gd Er Light REE 46.9 % 14.0 % 1.0 % 0.49 % 1.1 % 23.1 % 1.3 % 8.7 % 2.8 % 0.2 % Heavy REE 14.9 % 0.0 % 16.1 % 3.42 % 12.4 % 0.0 % 8.5 % 9.8 % 10.3 % 7.5 %

Table 1: Results of the testing on Colombian Minastyc property demonstrate the ability to produce commercial concentrates of light and heavy rare earths, per press release dated April 20, 2023.

The Minastyc Project has received approvals for the exploitation and beneficiation of minerals including Niobium, Tantalum, Vanadium, Zirconium, Tin and Gold, and the noted minerals respective concentrates, per resolution number 500.36.22.2089 from the Colombian Environmental Authority, Corporinoquia, dated December 30, 2022.

This approval and resolution number 500.36.22.2089 authorizes Auxico to execute its first phase of the Minastyc Project, as per regulatory decree No. 1666 issued October 21, 2016, by the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy, related to the following mining classification as reference in Table 2.

Classification - Mineral Small scale  Open pit  Less than 150 Hectares Metallics (Tonnes/Year) Up to 50,000 Non Metallics (Tonnes/Year) Up to 50,000 Precious Metals (Gold, Silver, Platinum) Up to 250,000 M3/Year Construction Material Up to 30,000 M3/Year

Table 2: Small-scale mining license classification per the Presidential Decree number 1666 issued on October 21, 2016

Auxico intends to commence a comprehensive and systematic planning phase to initiate operations on the Minastyc property, given the presence of critical minerals including coltan, rare earth elements, tin, along with precious metals. With previously announced test results on samples from pits located on and adjacent to the Minastyc property indicating 33.75-62.13% Tin Oxide content (refer to news release dated June 24, 2021), and following the recent environmental license approval, the Company will focus on further developing tin concentrate operations in Colombia with material sourced from its own property. This development provides the Company with greater material sourcing independence, as a producer, and the ability to swiftly execute on already established off-take agreements such as the previously announced tin concentrate sales agreement with Cuex Metal AG (refer to news release dated August 22, 2023).

The temporary environmental licence issued to Auxico has a validity of two years, pending the approval of a Global Environmental Licence, that will be valid for the life span of the project. Following the issuance of the environmental license for small-scale open-pit mining from the Colombian Environmental Authority, all conditions precedent have been met in order to commence the title transfer of the Minastyc property to Auxico (refer to news release dated May 16, 2022), making it a wholly-owned asset of the Company.

Qualified Person

Mr. Ricardo Sierra, B.Sc. of Science a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM 3078246), is a qualified person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release and in relation to the Minastyc Project in Vichada Colombia. Mr. Ricardo Sierra is an independent technical consultant to Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

About Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Auxico Resources Canada Inc. ("Auxico") is a Canadian company that was founded in 2014 and based in Montreal, trading on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) under symbol AUAG and on the OTCQB Market under symbol AUXIF. Auxico is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Additional information on Auxico can be found on the Company's website (www.auxicoresources.com) or on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under "Auxico Resources Canada Inc."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 signed.   signed.  Pierre Gauthier Mark Billings CEO & President, Auxico Resources Canada Inc Chairman, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cell: +1 514 299 0881 Cell: +1 514 296 1641

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the planned studies, drill program and the development of the Minastyc or Massangana Project, its sampling program, indications and other mining projects and prospects thereof, related to the Company's operations in Brazil, Colombia and/or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various risk factors. These factors include, among others, uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors, and their potential effects, which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Except as required by securities law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.
TORONTO, June 5, 2023 /CNW/ - Orford Mining Corp. ("Orford" or the "Company") (TSXV: ORM) is pleased to announce that it has closed $1.92 million, the first tranche of its previously announced $6.2 million non-brokered private placement. The first tranche closing included (i) 1,108,065 "Critical Minerals flow-through" units ("CMFT Units") at an issue price of C$0.248 per unit, (ii) 6,032,058 "Flow-through" units ("FT Units") at an issue price of C$0.215 per unit, and (iii) 2,673,637 million "Hard Dollar" units ("HD Units") at $0.1305 per unit (the "Offering"), for gross proceeds of $1,920,602.44 from the sale of CMFT Units, FT Units, and HD Units. Each CMFT Unit, FT Unit and HD Unit consists of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.22. Alamos Gold (AGI-TSX) has participated in the financing to maintain its pro rata holding of approximately 26.18% of Orford's outstanding common shares.

Orford intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to explore its exploration properties, in particular its Qiqavik Gold project summer 2023 RAB Drilling program and its summer 2023 Nunavik Lithium inaugural exploration program in addition to its Joutel Eagle project, all in northern Quebec, and for general corporate purposes. The South Gold Zone on the Joutel Eagle property in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Northern Quebec is intended to be the focus of a 2024 winter geophysics and drilling program. The Qiqavik project represents what Orford believes is a new gold district discovery in the Cape Smith Belt of Northern Quebec. The Joutel Omega properties are in the Joutel area of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Northern Quebec.

The remainder of the $6.2 million Offering as announced on May 12, 2023 is anticipated to close in one or more tranches on or before June 20, 2023, and is subject to the prior approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months plus a day from the date of closing of the applicable tranche.

Finders received compensation in respect of a portion of the financing consisting of an aggregate of $46,710 in cash and 321,794 non-transferable finder's warrants. Each finder's warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for a period of two years at an exercise price of C$0.22.

The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months plus a day from the date of closing.

The purchase of securities pursuant to the Offering by Alamos (an insider of Orford) will constitute a "related party transaction" as such term is defined by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The transaction will be exempt from the MI 61-101 valuation and minority approval requirements for related party transactions in connection with the Offering under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involves the Related Parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101).

About Orford Mining Corporation

Orford Mining is a gold and critical mineral explorer focused on highly prospective and underexplored areas of Northern Quebec. Orford's principal assets are the Qiqavik, West Raglan and lithium exploration projects comprising a land package totaling over 111,000 hectares in the Cape Smith Belt of Northern Quebec. The Qiqavik Project hosts several new high-grade gold discoveries along a mineralized trend in excess of 40 km. The West Raglan Project hosts a number of high-grade Raglan-style nickel/copper/platinum group metal discoveries along a 55 km mineralized trend. In early 2023 Orford acquired large claim blocks targeting lithium in the Nunavik Region. These lithium claim blocks have been carefully selected as having promising lithium potential after an exhaustive compilation of available data. Orford also has four property positions in the Joutel region of the Abitibi District of Northern Quebec, which hosts historical deposits such as the Eagle/Telbel, Joutel Copper, Poirier Copper, and Vezza deposits. Orford continually seeks new gold exploration opportunities in North America. Orford's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ORM. This information from neighbouring properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on Orford Mining's properties.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including without limitation statements relating to the exploration potential of its mineral properties.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Orford to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of drilling; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the properties; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals, failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Orford's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although Orford 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 made as of the date of this news release and Orford 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 applicable securities laws.

The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Awale Resources Limited ("Awale" or the "Company") (TSXV: ARIC) is pleased to announce it has commenced a 2500 metre RC and diamond drill program at its Odienne Project in Cote d'Ivoire.

This program will follow-up on recent discoveries at the Charger and Sceptre East Targets, where significant intrusion related gold-copper mineralisation has been intersected (see Company News Release dated March 29th 2023). The Company also expects to undertake maiden drilling into the much anticipated Lando and Sceptre Main Targets (see Company News Release dated Nov 28th 2022, and 13th Jan 2022 ). Additionally, the company completed a permit wide detailed airborne magnetic and radiometric survey last week, with processed data expected in mid-June.

The Odienne JV is a Joint Venture fully funded by Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") with a 3 million USD budget allocation for 2023.

"The Charger and Sceptre targets are truly exciting new discoveries with significant resource potential. This program will see the first diamond core on these prospects as we begin to test their depth and scale to deliver both high grades and volume in what is now an emerging Mineralized district in Cote d'Ivoire.

As we advance the Sceptre and Charger discoveries toward resource development, we are equally excited to be drilling the first holes at Lando where a 4km long up to 2.5 km wide copper-gold geochemistry footprint that neatly aligns with induced polarized geophysics. Further to this rock chip samples* from the prospect returned grades of up to 4.8 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold. Lando presents as a high-order drill target where the team has systematically advance the prospect to drill ready status. We are enthusiastic about the potential of Lando to deliver a fourth discovery at the Odienne Project", said Andrew Chubb, Awale's Chief Executive Officer.

Highlights from the Charger and Sceptre East Targets to be drilled in this program include the following,

CHARGER TARGET  High Grade Gold - Silver - Copper Target

Two drill holes targeted intrusive-hosted sulfide mineralization underlying previously untested gossans and new artisanal workings. Highlights include:

Hole From (m) to (m) Width (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) OERC-132 74 106 32 3 6.6 0.17 Including 78 82 4 12.4 30 0.7

SCEPTRE EAST TARGET  New Discovery - Large Porphyry/Intrusion Related Gold-Copper Target

Initial scout drilling at Sceptre East focused on an approximately 1km long section of a multi-kilometer combined ground geophysical (Induced Polarization, or IP) and soil 'Cu-Au anomaly'. Over 500m x 300m of open mineralization has been identified at Sceptre east, with all drill holes ending in mineralization.

Hole From (m) to (m) Width (m) Cu Eq.* Au (g/t) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Mo (ppm) OERC-128 6 126 (EOH) 120 0.29 0.14 0.13 1.5 82 Including 39 52 13 0.43 0.3 0.12 1.6 146 and 78 126 48 0.36 0.11 0.21 2.2 102 OERC-129 11 132 (EOH) 121 0.42 0.21 0.18 2.4 136 Including 30 50 20 0.46 0.3 0.13 1.7 183 and 72 94 22 0.93 0.5 0.43 6.6 171 OERC-130 5 138 (EOH) 133 0.43 0.15 0.13 1.6 312 Including 14 52 38 0.46 0.21 0.13 1.7 284 and 62 90 28 0.48 0.21 0.14 1.9 296.1 * Calculated using Following Prices Au-1737/Oz, Cu 3.6/lb, Ag 21/Oz and Mo 40,000/ tonne (average closing price since 2019) Using the following formula - Cu+0.7Au+0.0087Ag+0.0006Mo

The Sceptre Main and Sceptre West targets, within an adjacent 3km long soil Cu-Au anomaly, was not tested during this scout drill program.

The Odienne JV

The Odienne project JV is subject to an earn-in agreement with Newmont Ventures Limited ("Newmont"; see Company News Release dated May 31, 2022) through which Newmont retains the option to earn-in to a minimum of 65% interest, from Awale, in the project in return for USD 15M of exploration expenditures. Newmont is funding the exploration program at Odienne and Awale is managing the project in the initial three-year phase. The JV budget from Newmont for 2023 is USD 3M.

Next Steps

At Sceptre, IP surveys are currently being extended across the entire Sceptre Target area, which will include pole  dipole sections as well as gradient array. Trenches are also being opened along the three mineralized drill sections at Sceptre (649275E, 649575E and 649775E). Follow up drilling has now commenced with a view to expand and complement the previously reported mineralization and push the targets toward resource development drilling. The follow up programs will be accompanied by discovery drilling at the Lando prospect. These RC and diamond drill programs are expected to be completed before the wet season onset in July.

Airborne magnetic/radiometric survey permitting is now complete with processed data and initial interpretations expected in mid-June  this helicopter borne survey covered the entire permit at a 100m line spacing. Additionally, a ground gravity survey has commenced this quarter, this survey is planned on a 400m grid spacing and is planned to cover the entire permit. The gravity survey will initially be focused on the known prospects (Sceptre, Charger, Lando) and then expand to cover the entire permit. Detailed geophysics will aid the company in understanding the structural architecture and assist in drill and exploration planning.

*Rock chip sampling is selective and not necessarily representative of the overall grade of mineralization for this prospect.

Quality Control and Assurance

Analytical work for drill samples is being carried out at the independent Intertek Laboratories in Ghana and Australia Ltd. an ISO 17025 (2017) Certified Laboratory. Samples are stored at the Company's field camps and put into sealed bags until collected by Intertek from the Company's secure Odienne office and transported by Intertek to their preparation laboratory in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire for preparation. Samples are logged in the tracking system, weighed, dried, and pulverized to greater than 85%, passing a 75-micron screen. Two pulps are prepared from each sample with 1 stream to Intertek Ghana for Fire Ass and a second to Australia where the sample analysed by 52 element ICP/MS with an Aqua Regia digest. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference material (standards) are being used to monitor laboratory performance during the analysis.

Mineralized Interval Calculations

Significant intervals reported in this news release are calculated downhole length weighted intercepts. For the Sceptre Target broad Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.05%Cu lower cut grade and 10m of internal included intervals are calculated using a combination of 0.1%Cu and 0.15g/t Au with 10m and 5m of internal waste respectively. For the Charger Target initial intervals are calculated at a 0.2g/t interval including 3m of internal waste. Included intervals are at a 5g/t Au cut off with no waste. True widths are unknown as all reported intervals are from RC drilling with a limited number of holes for each prospect.

Qualified Person

The technical and scientific information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved for release by Andrew Chubb, the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr Chubb is the Company's Chief Executive Officer and holds an Economic Geology degree, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a Member of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr Chubb has over 18 years of experience in international mineral exploration and mining project evaluation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

AWALE RESOURCES LIMITED

"Andrew Chubb"

Andrew Chubb, CEO

About Awale Resources

Awale is a diligent and systematic mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of large high-grade gold and copper-gold deposits. The Company currently undertakes exploration activities in the underexplored parts of Cote d'Ivoire. Awale's exploration success to date has culminated in a fully funded earn-in Joint Venture with Newmont (the "Newmont JV") covering 1 permit and 1 application within the greater the Odienne Project in the Northwest of Cote d'Ivoire, where three significant gold and gold-copper-silver-molybdenum discoveries have been made. The Sceptre East and Charger discoveries have significant scope for growth with future discovery and resource development drilling. The project has multiple pipeline prospects that follow the same geochemical fingerprint as Iron Oxide Copper Gold ("IOCG") and intrusive related targets. The 400km2 of granted tenure and 400km2 under application remains underexplored and offers significant upside potential. The Newmont JV forms a solid foundation for the Company to continue exploring in a pro-mining jurisdiction that offers significant potential for district scale discoveries.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to statements regarding, the Company's presence in Cote d'Ivoire and ability to achieve results, creation of value for Company shareholders, achievements under the Newmont JV, planned drilling, commencement of operations. Although the Company believes any forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the potential inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other applicable closing conditions; possible adverse impacts due the global outbreak of COVID-19; the Company's inability to generate sufficient cash flow or raise sufficient additional financing requirements; volatility in metals prices; the ability of the Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel; conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company; actual or alleged breaches of governance processes or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption; exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Suriname ; equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and maintain necessary permits, including environmental authorizations and water use licences; extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain, permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comply with the terms of such permits; risks of doing business in Suriname , including but not limited to, labour, economic and political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Company's common shares may be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange if it cannot maintain compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and other risk factors described other filings with Canadian securities regulators, which may be viewed at www.sedar.com . 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, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Cautionary Statement

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.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from seven vertical, reverse circulation ("RC") holes and one vertical core hole recently completed at its 5,166 hectare (51.6km2), 100% owned Atlanta Gold Mine Project, located in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Highlights:

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AT23WS-23 230.2 332.3 102.1 2.45 10.1 Includes 288.1 300.3 12.2 8.78 11.8 AT23WS-18 225.6 283.5 57.9 1.48 8.5 AT22WS-1^ 239.3 304.9 65.5 1.52 11.6

Table 1. Highlight holes released today along Section 22-17N. Mineralization occurs along near-horizontal horizons with true mineralized thickness in vertical holes estimated to be 95-100% of reported drill intercept length. ^Denotes hole that bottomed in mineralization.

Holes released today are located 300m northwest of the Atlanta pit along Section 22-17N where drilling continues to extend thick, high-grade oxide mineralization northward along the West Atlanta Graben (" WAG "). Drill hole AT23WS-23 intercepted 102.2m of 2.45 g/t Au including 12.2m of 8.78 g/t Au , while drill hole AT22WS-1 intersected 65.5m of 1.52 g/t Au and bottomed in mineralization (Figure 1). Bounded on its east side by the West Atlanta Fault, the WAG is approximately 150m wide and contains sub-horizontal oxide mineralization ranging from 50m to 200m thick hosted within silicified Tertiary volcanics and underlying silica breccia that developed in strongly decalcified Ordovician dolomite along the unconformable contact. Gold bearing fluids were channeled into the unconformity via high angle faults that cut the stratigraphy and also localized felsic intrusive dikes that display a very close spatial relationship to the gold zone.

northwest of the pit along Section 22-17N where drilling continues to extend thick, high-grade oxide mineralization northward along the West Atlanta Graben (" "). Drill hole , while drill hole (Figure 1). Bounded on its east side by the West Atlanta Fault, the WAG is approximately wide and contains sub-horizontal oxide mineralization ranging from to thick hosted within silicified Tertiary volcanics and underlying silica breccia that developed in strongly decalcified Ordovician dolomite along the unconformable contact. Gold bearing fluids were channeled into the unconformity via high angle faults that cut the stratigraphy and also localized felsic intrusive dikes that display a very close spatial relationship to the gold zone. Grades and mineralized thicknesses currently being encountered within the WAG show strong potential for substantially increasing the overall Au/Ag resource at Atlanta . The Gustavson 2020 resource model primarly focused on the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" AMFZ "), which is immediately adjacent to the WAG on its eastern side, while drill density within the WAG itself was in many cases insufficient for providing the lateral continuity of mineralization necessary for establishing resources.

. The Gustavson 2020 resource model primarly focused on the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" "), which is immediately adjacent to the WAG on its eastern side, while drill density within the WAG itself was in many cases insufficient for providing the lateral continuity of mineralization necessary for establishing resources. A good example of this is seen along Section 22-17N (Figure 2) where historical hole DHRI-11-15C had no other hole eastward along the section to tie to. Consequently, the Gustavson 2020 resource model extended the thin, low grade intercept (0.28 g/t Au over 67.1m ) to the east and gradually pinched it out, showing no evidence for more resource to the east. In stark contrast, today's banner intercept in AT23WS-23 ( 102.2m at 2.45 g/t Au), located only 50m east of DHRI-11-15C, is considerably thicker and nine times stronger in terms of grade compared to DRHI-11-15C, significantly changing the Company's interpreted resource potential along this section. Consequently, the current drilling program is centred on expanding the WAG mineralization northward, southward, and to depth.

Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, commented, "Section 22-17N generally mimics the structural, stratigraphic and mineralization patterns seen in adjacent Section 22-16N (released February 13, 2023) and in sections previously released further south along lines 22-5N through 22-10N. We are seeing a northward narrowing of mineralization along the AMFZ starting at Sections 22-16N and 22-17N, and this is probably due to the northerly-trending Atlanta King Fault having been faulted out just north of the pit. At the same time, we see a new high-grade zone developing within the WAG between the West Atlanta #1 and West Atlanta #2 Faults (Figure 2). The thick, higher-grade intercept in AT23WS-23 is more typical of intercepts seen within the narrow graben blocks between the Atlanta King and East Atlanta Faults, so the West Atlanta Fault #1 may be the western analog of the Atlanta King Fault, which acts as an important fluid conduit responsible in part for the high-grade mineralization seen along the eastern side of the AMFZ."

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AT22WS-1^ 239.3 304.9 65.5 1.52 11.6 AT22WS-11^ 193.6 283.5 89.9 1.05 19.1 AT22WS-12^* 204.3 259.1 54.9 0.21 1.2 AT23WS-15 213.4 248.5 35.1 0.50 8.4 AT23WS-18 225.6 283.5 57.9 1.48 8.5 AT23WS-23 230.2 332.3 102.1 2.45 10.1 Includes 288.1 300.3 12.2 8.78 11.8 AT22NS-26T+ 119.2 138.3 19.1 0.39 11.3 AT22NS-27 51.8 71.6 19.8 0.41 12.5

Table 2. Newly released holes used on Section 22-17N. ^Denotes holes bottoming in mineralization. *Denotes aggregate assay interval. +Denotes core hole.

Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) AT21-11* 15.2 21.3 6.1 0.45 10.9 AT21-10^ 150.9 152.4 1.5 0.24 0.7 DHRI-11-15C+ 266.7 333.8 67.1 0.28 8.4

Table 3. All previously released holes used on Section 22-17N. AT21 series drilled by Nevada King in 2021. DHRI series drilled by Meadow Bay in 2011. *Denotes aggregate assay interval. +Denotes core hole. ^Denotes hole bottomed in mineralization.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101").

About Nevada King Gold Corp.

Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016, the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada.

The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $20.0 million as of June 2023.

The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine

Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000

Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.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 Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.
TORONTO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dore Copper Mining Corp. (the "Corporation" or "Dore Copper") (TSX-V:DCMC; OTCQB:DRCMF; FRA:DRM) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), pursuant to which the Corporation sold an aggregate of: (i) 5,760,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation (the "Offered Common Shares") at a price of $0.20 per Offered Common Share for gross proceeds of $1,152,000; (ii) 1,900,002 common shares in the capital of the Corporation that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) (the "Traditional Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.24 per Traditional Flow-Through Share for gross proceeds of $456,000.48; and (iii) 2,875,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and section 359.1 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) (the "Charitable Flow-Through Shares" and together with the Traditional Flow-Through Shares, the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.415 per Charitable Flow-Through Share for gross proceeds of $1,193,125, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Corporation of $2,801,125.48.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Paradigm Capital Inc. acted as finders (each, a "Finder") in connection with the Offering. In consideration for acting as a Finder in connection with the Offering, the Corporation paid an aggregate of $21,000 in cash finder's fees to the Finders, representing 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offered Common Shares and Traditional Flow-Through Shares that were sold to subscribers introduced by such parties, and issued an aggregate of 91,500 non-transferable warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to purchase common shares in the capital of the Corporation (the "Finder's Warrant Shares") to the Finders, representing 6% of the Offered Common Shares and Traditional Flow-Through Shares that were sold to subscribers introduced by such parties, with each Finder's Warrant being exercisable for one Finder's Warrant Share at a price of $0.20 per Finder's Warrant Share until June 5, 2025. In addition, the Corporation also paid fees in the amount of approximately $20,000 (plus applicable taxes) in respect of one subscription under the Offering.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Common Shares will be used for exploration and development activities and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Corporation will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur, directly or indirectly, expenses ("Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Corporation's projects in Quebec, on or before December 31, 2024, that are eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), which, in the case of the Traditional Flow-Through Shares, will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), and, in the case of the Charitable Flow-Through Shares, will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), and renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the applicable subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective December 31, 2023. In addition, with respect to Quebec resident subscribers who are eligible individuals under the Taxation Act (Quebec), the Canadian exploration expenses will also qualify for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.10 of the Taxation Act (Quebec) and for inclusion in the "exploration base relating to certain Quebec surface mining expenses or oil and gas exploration expenses" within the meaning of section 726.4.17.2 of the Taxation Act (Quebec).

Mario Stifano, the Executive Chairman of the Corporation, Ernest Mast, the President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Corporation, 1974899 Ontario Ltd. ("1974899"), a corporation wholly-owned by Gavin Nelson, the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, and funds managed by Equinox Partners Investment Management, LLC ("Equinox Partners"), an insider of the Corporation, subscribed for 125,000 Offered Common Shares, 208,334 Traditional Flow-Through Shares, 100,000 Offered Common Shares and 500,000 Offered Common Shares, respectively, under the Offering on the same terms as arm's length investors. Additionally, the Corporation understands that funds managed by Equinox Partners were party to an arrangement with the initial subscribers of the Charitable Flow-Through Shares or donees thereof, pursuant to which funds managed by Equinox Partners purchased 2,875,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation. The participation of Messrs. Stifano and Mast, 1974899 and Equinox Partners in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Corporation is exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Offering in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the related parties nor the fair market value of the consideration for the securities issued to the related parties exceeds 25% of the Corporation's market capitalization as calculated in accordance with MI 61-101. The Corporation did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Offering as the aforementioned insider participation had not been confirmed at that time and the Corporation wished to close the Offering as expeditiously as possible.

The Offering was made by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements and, in the case of the Offered Common Shares, in certain other jurisdictions, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws. The Offering of the Offered Common Shares was conducted on a private placement basis to persons in the United States who are "accredited investors", as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D ("Regulation D") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and in compliance with Rule 506(b) of Regulation D and applicable United States securities laws. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on October 7, 2023. The Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Dore Copper Mining Corp.

Dore Copper Mining Corp. aims to be the next copper producer in Quebec with an initial production target of +50 million pounds of copper equivalent annually by implementing a hub-and-spoke operation model with multiple high-grade copper-gold assets feeding its centralized Copper Rand mill1. The Corporation has delivered its PEA in May 2022 and is proceeding with a feasibility study.

The Corporation has consolidated a large land package in the prolific Lac Dore/Chibougamau and Joe Mann mining camps that has historically produced 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 4.4 million ounces of gold2. The land package includes 13 former producing mines, deposits and resource target areas within a 60-kilometer radius of the Corporation's Copper Rand Mill.

For further information, please visit the Corporation's website at www.dorecopper.com or refer to Dore Copper's SEDAR filings at www.sedar.com or contact:

Technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Chibougamau Hub-and-Spoke Complex, Quebec, Canada" dated June 15, 2022, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The Technical Report was prepared by BBA Inc. with several consulting firms contributing to sections of the study, including SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and WSP Inc.



Sources for historic production figures: Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963989 - Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp, Northeastern Abitibi, Canada by Francois Leclerc et al. (Lac Dore/Chibougamau mining camp) and NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Joe Mann Property dated January 11, 2016 by Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc. for Jessie Ressources Inc. (Joe Mann mine).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the use of proceeds of the Offering, the timing and ability of the Corporation to receive necessary regulatory approvals, including the final acceptance of the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange, the renunciation to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Shares and timing thereof, the tax treatment of the Flow-Through Shares, the Corporation's ability to meet its production target, the commencement, timing and completion of a feasibility study, and the plans, operations and prospects of the Corporation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. 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. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) (FSE: B04Q) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to C$1,000,000 and its intention to complete a consolidation of the issued and outstanding common shares immediately prior to the closing of the Offering on the basis of five (5) existing common shares for one (1) post consolidation common share (the "Consolidation"). The Offering will be comprised of the sale of any combination of the following:

units of the Company (each, a " Unit ") at a pre-Consolidation price of C$0.04 per Unit and a post-Consolidation price of C$0.20 per Unit; and

") at a pre-Consolidation price of per Unit and a post-Consolidation price of per Unit; and flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit", and together with the Units, the "Offered Securities") at a pre-Consolidation price of C$0.05 per FT Unit and a post-Consolidation price of C$0.25 per FT Unit.

Red Cloud Securities Inc. will be acting as a finder for the Company under the Offering.

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a pre-Consolidation price of C$0.06 (post-Consolidation price of C$0.30) at any time on or before the date which is 36 months following the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for the exploration of the Company's projects in Saskatchewan and for general working capital purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures.

The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. The Unit Shares, FT Shares, Warrant Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from any finder's warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day following the closing date of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Consolidation

This Consolidation will reduce the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company from 76,276,702 to approximately 15,255,340 common shares, assuming no other change in the issued capital of the Company and prior to the completion of the Offering. The exercise or conversion price of warrants and stock options and the number of common shares issuable thereunder will also be proportionately adjusted upon the completion of the Consolidation. The number of post-consolidated common shares to be received will be rounded up to the nearest whole number for fractions of 0.5 or greater or rounded down to the nearest whole number for fractions of less than 0.5.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the Articles of the Company, the Consolidation was approved by way of resolutions passed by the board of directors of the Company but remains subject the approval of the TSXV.

The Company will apply to the TSXV for approval of the Consolidation. The Company's common shares will commence trading on a post-consolidated basis on a date to be determined in consultation with the TSXV, which date will be announced in a subsequent news release once confirmed. The Company's name and trading symbols will remain unchanged.

The board of directors and management believe that the share consolidation is necessary to provide the Company with a share structure that will better attract capital financing and that will provide for future growth opportunities.

The Company intends to close the Offering immediately after the Consolidation.

About SKRR Exploration Inc.

SKRR is a Canadian-based precious and base metal explorer with properties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan  some of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious and base metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen  although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Sherman Dahl

President & CEO

Tel: 250-558-8340

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 securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the Offering, expected use of proceeds, the Consolidation and other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, the ability to secure equipment and personnel to carry out work programs, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There is a possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to secure personnel and equipment for work programs, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, decrease in the price of gold, copper, nickel, uranium and other metals, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) warned on Tuesday that Azerbaijan is spreading disinformation in an attempt to substantiate its ceasefire violations.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has spread a usual disinformation, falsely claiming that it has disrupted reinforcement works in the Askeran, Martuni and Karvajar regions and about reinforcement works being carried out by the Defense Army. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry is once again distorting reality in an attempt to substantiate the regular ceasefire violations committed by its units, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh said in a statement.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM) (FSE:FIRA) (OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to provide an update on the progress of diamond drilling designed to test coincident geological, geochemical, and geophysical anomalies on its 100% owned Buenavista target located along the world's pre-eminent porphyry copper belt in northern Chile.

Highlights - Buenavista Target Drilling:

Three diamond drill holes for 1,957 metres completed. Core processing in progress with assay results expected by end June.

Hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation indicative of the upper epithermal, in transition to a porphyry copper system (or systems), was intersected in all three holes.

Intermediate argillic and sericite alteration typical of the peripheral parts of porphyry systems and associated with several narrow intercepts of copper sulphides comprising enargite, some chalcopyrite, and traces of chalcocite occur. Pyrite is common as disseminations and in breccias, with molybdenite common in hole BV01-2023. Quartz veinlets are variable, but intense on occasions. Narrow sulphide-rich breccias and quartz-sulphides veins, together with narrow, granodiorite dykes, occur in holes BV02-2023 and BV03-2023.

Current interpretation is that the dacite porphyry and quartz-veinlet stockwork zone targeted by BV01-2023 represents a separate porphyry centre to the quartz-sulphide breccia zone including early-stage inter-mineral dykes cut by holes BV02-2023 and BV03-2023.

A main-stage inter-mineral porphyry source is interpreted to lie beneath, or to the side of holes BV02-2023 and BV03-2023, with a separate source likely to the north of BV01-2023.

Commenting on the results, Joseph van den Elsen, President and CEO, stated:

"The Buenavista target displays many characteristics indicative of a large, fertile, Tertiary aged, porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold system and we are very pleased to have successfully demonstrated this potential in the recently completed three-hole scout drilling program. Detailed geological logging and sampling together with complementary studies including petrography of key alteration types is in progress, and we look forward to updating the market following receipt and interpretation of assays."

Buenavista Drilling Program:

Drill hole BV01-2023, collared on the dacite porphyry with quartz veinlet stockwork in the Buenavista porphyry alteration zone, cut the previously dated Early Tertiary (+/- 60 Ma) dacite porphyry intrusion with variable quartz veining and visible pyrite-molybdenite disseminations, prior to entering Paleozoic granite country rocks with early porphyry phase quartz-magnetite veining and breccias at depth. BV01-2023 was completed to a vertical depth of 553m. As BV01-2023 exited the dacite porphyry at 475m depth, it is interpreted that the porphyry is tilted to the north with its likely roots coincident with an IP chargeability anomaly which is located 750m north of the hole collar position.

Drill hole BV02-2023 was collared 450m west of hole BV01-2923 on a mapped quartz-sulphide breccia zone with visible copper oxides at surface. Drilling intersected Paleozoic aged rhyolite volcanic and granite batholithic rocks crosscut by a series of quartz-sulphide (pyrite-enargite) veins and thin granodiorite dykes with porphyry style quartz veining, pervasive phyllic alteration, and visible pyrite-chalcopyrite (+/- molybdenite) disseminations. This series of dykes and veins is currently interpreted to represent a Tertiary-aged, early inter-mineral phase of a porphyry system. Hole BV02-2023 was completed to a down-hole depth of 670m, angled at 60 to the southwest.

Drill hole BV03-2023 was collared from the same platform as hole BV02-2023 and drilled at a steeper angle to target the interpreted source of the narrow granodiorite dykes intersected in hole BV02-2023. Similar geology to that seen in hole BV02-2023 was intersected. Hole BV03-2023 was completed to a down-hole depth of 734m, angled at 80 to the southwest.

Hydrothermal Breccia with Sulphides and Sericite

Buenavista Target - Section 7205000N - Showing Completed Drill Holes over IP Chargeability, 3D Magnetics, and Geological Interpretation (ordered top-bottom)

About the Buenavista Target

Buenavista displays characteristics indicative of a large, fertile, Tertiary aged, porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold system, located along the world's preeminent porphyry copper belt in northern Chile;

Intense, sub-cropping, quartz-veinlet stockwork occurs at Buenavista within a dacite porphyry and interpreted phreatomagmatic breccia complex, flanked by a quartz-sulphide breccia to the west and skarn-type mineralization to the east, and is coincident with key geochemical and geophysical anomalies;

Anomalous soil and trench geochemical values of copper, molybdenum, and gold (and other pathfinders) in a heavily supergene leached desert environment, coincide with mapped geology, hydrothermal alteration, magnetic and induced polarisation (IP) geophysical anomalies, and other complementary data including 3D modeling and age dating;

The Buenavista Target footprint comprising geological, geochemical, and geophysical anomalies is approximately 1.5 km E-W by 1 km N-S along a significant geological structure;

The presence of several other geophysical anomalies under post-mineral covered portions of the broader project is suggestive of a potential "cluster" of porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold systems, a characteristic typical of some major porphyry copper districts in Chile and worldwide.

Buenavista - Location Along Domeyko Cordillera Porphyry Copper Belt

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is a Canadian company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE:FIRA) and OTC (OTCQB:PMMCF) exchanges which wholly owns a 47,400 hectare portfolio of seven projects highly prospective for copper, molybdenum and gold located along proven and highly productive mineral belts in Chile, one of the world's top mining jurisdictions. The Company is actively advancing its projects through systematic exploration and drill testing of the highest priority targets, with a current focus on the Buenavista Project.

The Company's vision is to create significant value for shareholders and stakeholders through the application of its technical and commercial expertise towards exploring for a major copper discovery along the prime mineral belts of Chile. For more information, please visit Pampa Metals' website at www.pampametals.com.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G, Geologist and a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego is a consultant to the Company.

Note: The reader is cautioned that Pampa Metals' projects are early-stage exploration projects, and reference to existing mines and deposits, or mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties, is not necessarily indicative of any mineralization on Pampa Metals' properties.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

INVESTORS CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV:TSLV) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its non-brokered private placement, the terms of which were announced April 3, 2023 (the "Offering"). In the second and final tranche of the Offering the Company issued 4,942,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$1,235,500 bringing the total gross proceeds from the Offering to C$2,641,000.

In connection with the second tranche of the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finders' fees of C$25,380 (C$69,210 in total for the Offering) and issued 101,520 non-transferable finders' warrants (276,840 finders' warrants in total for the Offering), with each finders' warrant exercisable for one common share of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.35 until April 21, 2025. The finders' fees and finders' warrants were paid to Research Capital Corporation, Haywood Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., German Mining Networks GmbH; StephenAvenue Securities Inc. and Red Cloud Securities Inc., all of which are arm's length to the Company and who referred participating investors to the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to resume exploration and prepare for drilling at the Curibaya project and for general working capital purposes.

A Message from Peter Dembicki, President, CEO & Director: "We would like to thank all of our supporters who participated in the private placement. This additional capital allows us to enter the next phase of work at Curibaya as we lead up to drilling."

The securities being issued are subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law. Final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange is expected upon filing standard documentation.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.

Peter Dembicki

President, CEO and Director

For further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, VP of Communications, at (778) 729-0600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

About Tier One

Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Company's exploration assets in Peru include: Hurricane Silver, Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com.

Forward-Looking Information and General Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events in connection with the outlined financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the Company's exploration plans and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.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.
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - June 6, 2023 - Recharge Resources Ltd. (Recharge or the Company) (RR:CSE) (RECHF:OTC) (SL50:Frankfurt) announced today that all assays have been received on its fully-funded, spring drill program at its 100% owned Brussels Creek Gold-Copper-Palladium Project in Kamloops, BC, Canada. A new near surface discovery has been made of a gold zone from 25.75m to 29.25m (3.5m) assaying 5.08 g/tonne gold.

The aim of the 900-meter NQ drill program was to test the potential for copper-gold mineralization similar to that present at the adjacent New Afton mine owned by New Gold Inc. NGD.V ($1.18 Billion Market Cap). The New Afton Mine occupies the site of the historic Afton Open Pit mine, which operated from 1977 to 1997. The present mine and concentrator facility commenced production in July 2012. The mine is a block caving operation. In 2021, the mine produced 52,542 oz Au and 61,700,000 lbs Cu.

Fig. 1 Brussels Creek location and proximity to New Afton Mine

Fig. 2 2019 sampling and 2023 drill hole locations

CEO, David Greenway, summarised, Recharge is pushing forward on all fronts with drilling at the Brussels Creek Copper-Palladium-Gold Project. Future work will zero in on large geophysical and geochemical anomalies near the new gold zone. Drilling is pending at the Pocitos lithium brine project and a Spring recon program now approved for the Georgia Lake Lithium project.

We thank Mr. Shearer and all those involved in the consultation and drill planning process. Recharge is committed to sustainable exploration and mining practices. This is a pivotal time for the Brussels Creek Project in BC, with the drill program successfully indicating a significant bedrock gold zone.

Brussels Creek Project

The BC property is an early-stage exploration property, located approximately 24 kilometres west of Kamloops, and is immediately adjacent to New Golds New Afton mine. The property has 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.

The interval that ran 7.44 g gold came back in the quartered core as 16.35 g Au between 28.75m and 29.25m. Over the 3.5 meters from 25.75m and 29.25m the quartered core averaged 5.08 grams per tonne. Gold mineralization starts at the overburden-bedrock contact.

This gold zone is hosted by quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusive likely associated with the Iron Mask plutonic suite. The mineralized zone is characterized by pervasive quartz sericite alteration with overprinting by clay-carbonate stockworks containing pyrite and sphalerite along with traces of chalcopyrite and galena.

The Property is largely underlain by a northwest trending, moderately southwest dipping sequence of andesitic volcaniclastic rocks and siltstones of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. Some massive, well-indurated andesitic flows, flow breccias and agglomerates (Nicola Group) also occur. The Nicola rocks are cut by later porphyritic rhyolitic dikes, sills and plugs that are possibly related to the Iron Mask Plutonic Suite or younger rocks.

The area drilled focussed on the southeast eTh/K anomaly coincident with strong IP response. Future work will zero in on the eTh/K anomaly A to the northwest of the 2023 drilling once archaeological studies are completed. Comparison of the gamma-ray spectrometry included in the two public domain surveys indicates notable eTh/K anomalies spatially correlating to identified zones of magnetic disruption and complex structure. The low eTh/K areas of interest may be delineating enhanced alteration. The ADUF mineral showing in particular is adjacent to Anomaly A, proving encouragement for further investigation.

In these areas of anomalous gold, the rhyolitic rocks are quartz-sericite altered and country rocks are strongly altered to an assemblage of carbonate (ankerite and calcite), quartz, with sericite near the dike contacts and grading to chlorite further away. Outside of this zone, calcite, chlorite and locally epidote are predominant as a propylitic halo. As much as 5 per cent disseminated pyrite occurs in the altered rhyolite dike rock and adjacent carbonate altered andesitic volcaniclastic. Limonite after pyrite occurs as films on some fractures and as seams and blebs associated with quartz-calcite veins, and opaline silica veins.

As reported in the 1985 Assessment Report (#13877), anomalous gold values (85 to 3500 ppb) are localized in and about some of the smaller north-northwesterly trending porphyry rhyolite dikes that cut the andesitic volcaniclastics and related siltstones. This zone is oriented NNW-SSE and is about 400m long and up to 200m wide. In these areas of anomalous gold, the rhyolitic rocks are quartz-sericite altered and country rocks are strongly altered to an assemblage of carbonate (ankerite and calcite), quartz, with sericite near the dike contacts and grading to chlorite further away.

Outside of this zone, calcite, chlorite and locally epidote are predominant as a propylitic halo. As much as 5 per cent disseminated pyrite occurs in the altered rhyolite dike rock and adjacent carbonate altered andesitic volcaniclastic. Limonite after pyrite occurs as films on some fractures and as seams and blebs associated with quartz-calcite veins, and opaline silica veins.

XRF assays throughout the 3 drill holes show high potassic alteration. Complex faulting and shearing was evident towards the bottom of holes 2 and 3. Highly siliceous and sheared feldspar-quartz porphyry was observed near the end of hole 2.

Brussels Creek Web Page: https://recharge-resources.com/projects/brussels-creek/

Recharges management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Recharge may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Companys properties.

The core was carefully sawn with a diamond saw and put in plastic bags under lock and key until they were delivered, in person, to ALS Labs in North Vancouver by J.T. Shearer. ALS Labs is a globally certified lab. Standards and blanks were inserted into the sample stream.

Qualified Person

Johan T Shearer, 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.

All stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on , , and Instagram.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

David Greenway

David Greenway, CEO.

For further information, please contact:

Recharge Resources Ltd.

Joel Warawa

Phone: 778-588-5473

E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.
Additional Surface Soil Sampling Along 4 km of Strike Returns High-Grade Chemical Assays of Over 1.0% U3O8

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (the "Company" or "Kraken Energy") is pleased to announce geochemical assay results from its maiden drilling program at the Garfield Hills Uranium Property ("Garfield Hills" or the "Property") in west-central Nevada.

A total of 1,697.2 meters ("m") were drilled in the 2022 and early 2023 Phase I exploration program. The 11 completed holes over a surface area of 400 m by 900 m confirmed historical drilling and extended the mineralization at the Garfield Hills property. Of the 11 completed holes, 7 holes encountered shallow, flat lying uranium mineralization, highlighted by hole GH22-01 which intersected a broad 12.5 m interval of 0.036% U 3 O 8 starting from a depth of 23.0 m, and hole GH23-04 which returned 7.0 m of 0.029% U 3 O 8 from 17.5 m.

Additionally, the Company announces that regional exploration and new soil sampling continues to encounter high grade surface and soil samples of up to 1.007% U 3 O 8 along strike to the east of Phase I drilling and up to 0.320% U 3 O 8 to the west of Phase I drilling, identifying a mineralized trend of over 4 kilometers ("km").

Matthew Schwab, CEO of Kraken Energy, stated, "We are pleased with the initial results showing continuity of shallow, flat lying uranium mineralization over a large 400 m by 900 m area. These results confirm our geological model, and coupled with recent surface sampling over a 4 km strike length it furthers our confidence in Garfield Hills as the project continues to provide an exceptional exploration opportunity for our shareholders. We are eager to plan and execute a Phase II drilling program on the property in the coming year."

Highlights & Geochemical Assay Results:

New surface sampling grids include samples of 0.275%, 0.320%, and 1.007% U 3 O 8 Along strike east and west from Phase I area of drilling extending the target area to over 4 kms

Drillhole GH22-01 intersected a total of 12.5 m of mineralization at 0.0357% U 3 O 8

(between 23.0 to 42.0 m) Including 1.0 m at 0.0942% U 3 O 8 and 1.0 m at 0.0830% U 3 O 8 in two separate intervals

Drillhole GH23-04 intersected a total of 7.0 m of mineralization at 0.0294% U 3 O 8

(between 17.5 to 26.5 m) Including 1.0 m at 0.0940% U 3 O 8

Drillhole GH22-02 intersected a total of 2.0 m of mineralization at 0.0287% U 3 O 8

(from 42.0 to 44.0 m)

Drillhole GH23-06 intersected a total of 7.0 m of mineralization at 0.0258% U 3 O 8

(between 16.5 to 27.0 m)

Drillhole GH23-02 intersected a total of 4.5 m of mineralization at 0.0202% U 3 O 8

(from 15.5 to 20.0 m)

Drillhole GH22-03 intersected a total of 10.0 m of mineralization at 0.0169% U 3 O 8

(between 2.0 to 26.5 m)

Drillhole GH22-05 intersected a total of 4.0 m of mineralization at 0.0161% U 3 O 8

(from 59.5 to 63.5 m)

Figure 1: Phase 1 Drill Program Plan Map

Figure 2: Downhole Assay Cross Section

The 1,238-hectare (3,060 acre) Garfield Hills Property is located within the jurisdiction of Nevada's Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"), 19 kilometers ("km") (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada.

Technical Information:

All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Matthew Schwab, P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, and Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Chairman of the Company. Each of Mr. Schwab and Mr. Ainsworth is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thicknesses are yet to be determined. Samples from the drill core are split in half on site in 0.5 m to 1.0 m intervals with one half of the slit sample being sent for analysis. All samples were submitted to American Assay Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 Accredited Facility) in Sparks, Nevada for lithogeochemical analysis using their "IM-4AB28 Package".

About Kraken Energy Corp.:

Kraken Energy Corp. is a new energy company advancing its portfolio of high-grade uranium properties in the Unites States. The Company is advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada which is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property. The past-producing Garfield Hills Uranium Property covers 1,238 ha (3,060 acres) and is located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Kraken Energy has also recently staked the Huber Hills Uranium Property, located 136 km (85 miles) north of Elko, Nevada which covers 1,044 ha (2,580 acres) and encompasses the historic Race Track open pit mine. The Company has recently entered into an option agreement to earn 75% of the Harts Point Uranium Property. The Harts Point Uranium Property covers 2,622 ha (6,480 acres) and is located 49 km (30 miles) northwest of Monticello in San Juan County, Utah.

For more information about the Company, please visit; www.krakenenergycorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Kraken Energy Corp.

Matthew Schwab

President & Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Office:

Suite 907 - 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6E 2Y3

T: (604) 628-2669

For investor relations inquiries, contact:

Kin Communications Inc.

T: (604) 684-6730

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include our plans for exploration at the properties. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
ATHA holds the largest reported cumulative exploration package in the Athabasca Basin  one of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries.

VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - ATHA Energy Corp. ("ATHA" or the "Company") (CSE: SASK) (FRA: X5U) (OTCQB: SASKF) is pleased to announce that Doug Engdahl will be joining ATHA's board of directors in addition to assuming the role of Managing Director. Mr. Engdahl brings a wealth of uranium experience as a former Senior Mine Geologist for Cameco Corporation's McArthur River Mine, the world's largest high-grade uranium mine,1 and will be responsible for managing ATHA's land development programs and technical personnel to further advance the exploration of the Company's 3.4-million-acre land package. Alongside Mr. Engdahl, ATHA is pleased to announce the addition of five technical team members in anticipation of its maiden exploration program this summer, where ATHA intends to leverage their technical expertise to help the Company define and develop prospective properties.

Led by Doug Engdahl, the group brings extensive knowledge and experience in the successful execution of global mining exploration, including in uranium and within the Athabasca Basin. This includes expertise in all aspects of geological, geophysical, environmental, and community engagement efforts, which will be instrumental in conducting geophysical and geological data compilation as well as interpretation work on ATHA's land package.

Mike Castanho, CEO of ATHA commented: "With a depth of experience in the Athabasca Basin with companies like Cameco, Orano, NexGen Energy and Denison Mines, we are delighted to add such an accomplished group of individuals to the ATHA team at such a formative time for the Company. Our shared vision, coupled with their proven track record of success, ensures that our exploration efforts will be guided by the very best minds in the business."

The Technical Team

Doug Engdahl, P.Geo  Managing Director

Mr. Engdahl has over 20 years of experience managing various companies with over 15 years of geological experience in both junior and major exploration and mining sectors across North America and in Africa. His extensive mineral exploration experience has been focused on data compilation and interpretation, drill target generation and drill program management, as well as resource and mine modeling with focus on structural geology and resource calculations. Mr. Engdahl has extensive Athabasca Basin resource experience having previously spent over eight years working as a Senior Mine Geologist on Cameco Corporation's McArthur River Mine, the largest high-grade uranium mine in the world.1

Doug Adams, B.Sc.  VP, Exploration

Mr. Adams has over 17 years of geoscience experience working in the mining industry with a specific focus in uranium. Mr. Adams spent over 10 years as a geologist with Cameco where he managed multiple projects and was responsible for drill targets, downhole data interpretation, and supervision of junior geologists. Beyond Cameco, Mr. Adams also brings uranium experience from his time working with Denison Mines, 92 Energy and Okapi Resources and has been part of significant uranium discoveries and advancement of known deposits throughout the Athabasca region. Mr. Adams has been a key contributor in discoveries at Eagle Point, McArthur River & West McArthur River, Crowe Butte, Brown Ranch, and most recently the GMZ zone on 92 Energy's Gemini project. He has extensive experience with unconformity, roll-front and tabular deposits in the US and Canada.

Rob Friesen, M.Sc.  Environment Specialist

Mr. Friesen has over 15 years of experience in environment, regulatory frameworks, building relationships, and communications for various resource sectors with a primary focus in mining. Mr. Friesen has managed and implemented environmental management systems and programs conforming to regulatory and ISO 14001 standards for uranium and gold mining operations within Saskatchewan, including Cameco Corporation's McArthur River Mine, the largest high-grade uranium mine in the world. Along with his technical expertise, Mr. Friesen has extensive experience as a subject matter expert for industry and community in a variety of engagement and educational opportunities and is well-versed in building regulatory, community and business relationships associated with the mining industry in Saskatchewan.

Chris Brown, P.Geo  Geophysical Specialist

Mr. Brown has 17 years of experience in applying borehole, ground, and airborne geophysical methods to enhance mineral exploration projects in a wide range of environments globally. Mr. Brown has also been extensively involved in geophysical project management from business development, client retention and budgeting, as well as survey planning, data acquisition, processing, modelling, and interpretation. He has interpreted datasets for myriad mineral deposit types including uranium.

Melissa Engdahl, MBA, MSW  Community Relations Specialist

Ms. Engdahl has over 25 years of experience working with individuals, community, public sectors, non-profits, and private enterprise facilitating groups, leading community development initiatives, implementing organizational strategies and building shared value principles, and social awareness into core business models, operations, and service/supply chains. Ms. Engdahl's experience working with Indigenous communities over the last decade underscores the importance of reciprocity, trust, transparency and authentic relationship building in her practice. Her unique experience and diverse education align to support and innovate corporate strategies for corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance activities for the organizations she serves.

Ty Magee, M.Sc., P.Geo  Geochemical Specialist

Mr. Magee has over 8 years of academic and professional exploration experience and has worked with in North America and internationally on multiple projects from grassroots to brownfield exploration on various types of commodities in several roles, including as a Contract Geologist for Denison Mines. Mr. Magee brings exploration experience with focus on data compilation, QA/QC and sampling methods, geological mapping and prospecting, geochemical data interpretations/modeling, project planning and targeting, and technical writing.

The engagement of the members of the Technical Team was completed pursuant to the terms of a master services agreement that the Company entered into with Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. ("Axiom") on June 5, 2023. Pursuant to this agreement, Axiom will provide certain technical, geological, geophysical and environmental consulting services, and the Company will pay Axiom a minimum monthly retainer, as well as any additional approved costs, and will reimburse Axiom for any ancillary costs.

The Company also announces the resignation of Joerg Kleinboeck as Vice-President, Exploration. ATHA would like to thank Mr. Kleinboeck for his contributions during his time with the Company. The Company has appointed Doug Adams as Vice-President, Exploration.

Additionally, the Company announces the resignation of Morgan Tincher from the board of directors of the Company. Mr. Tincher will continue to provide ongoing consulting services to ATHA moving forward. The Company would like to thank Mr. Tincher for his efforts and perspective during his time as a member of the board.

OTC Listing

ATHA is pleased to announce that on June 1, 2023, its common shares were listed for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") under the trading symbol SASKF. The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol SASK and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FSE") under the symbol X5U.

Notes:

[1] World Nuclear Association

About ATHA

ATHA is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest and title to the Golden Rose Property located in Northeastern Ontario and has acquired 3.4 million acres in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan and Alberta along with a 10% carried interest portfolio of claims operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. (TSX: NXE) and IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX-V: ISO).

For more information visit www.athaenergy.com

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "targets," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "an opportunity exists," "is positioned," "estimates," "intends," "assumes," "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," "will" or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved." In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances such as statements referring to the upcoming exploration and drilling program to be undertaken by the Company and any results that may be obtained therefrom contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by ATHA as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the inherent uncertain nature of exploration work, unforeseen weather and other events that may delay or otherwise impede the proposed work programs to be undertaken by the Company as well as the factors described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of ATHA's final prospectus dated March 23, 2023, available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect ATHA; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and ATHA expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (FSE: HLI) (OTCQB: HUSIF) (the "Company" or "Nicola") announces that it has commenced a diamond drilling exploration program (the "2023 Program") at its wholly-owned New Craigmont Copper Project ("New Craigmont"), located near Merritt, BC, and 33 km south of Teck Resources Ltd.'s Highland Valley Copper, Canada's largest copper mine.

The Company announced in its May 2, 2023 news release, that it had hired an Economic Geologist / VP of Exploration to lead the 2023 Program and is pleased that Will Whitty, P.Geo has joined the team. Mr. Whitty has over fifteen years of advanced-stage exploration experience working on a variety of porphyry copper +/- molybdenum deposits and copper skarns as well as Carlin-style gold and orogenic gold deposits. Mr. Whitty completed his B.Sc. degree in geology at Carleton University in Ottawa and his M.Sc. degree in geology with the Mineral Deposit Research Unit ("MDRU1") at UBC in Vancouver. After graduating, he worked as a consultant for TetraTech EBA, providing technical services to the mining industry. He subsequently, moved to Arizona where he worked for Freeport-McMoRan for nine years. As part of Freeport's mine site exploration group, he had the opportunity to visit most of the company's mines in the southwest US, run drill programs, and provide geological services.

Mr. Whitty subsequently worked for Nevada Gold Mines, a Barrick-Newmont joint venture, Goldrush Mine Project2, which is located within the Cortez district in northern Nevada. As Senior Geologist at a newly producing mine, he successfully built and developed a team of geologists and managed multi-million dollar drill programs. Responsibilities included leading all surface and underground drilling, which included both exploratory and underground grade-control responsibilities, as well as providing senior management key recommendations.

Serendipitously, Will's role as VP of Exploration at Nicola includes working closely with the MDRU and Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences ("EOAS2") at the University of British Columbia. The Company has commenced working with the MDRU, which has established a team to work on the 2023 Program.

Peter Espig, CEO of Nicola, commented, "Firstly, we are very excited to have a geologist with the caliber of Will Whitty join our team. His commitment to the Company and passion towards the geological potential of New Craigmont have already become apparent. Secondly, we are very encouraged to have MDRU / EOAS' increasingly active participation at New Craigmont as we endeavor to unlock its potential. Finally, it's gratifying to witness years of foundational geological efforts that include combining Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic, airborne electromagnetic and induced polarization surveys, as well as mapping, logging of historic holes, reviewing historical drill logs and conducting various laboratory and on-ground research culminated into drilling efforts. The Company faced market pressure to put metres in the ground; however, we have and remain committed to a long-term strategy and firmly believe that superior understanding will potentially facilitate superior outcomes."

Qualified Person

Kevin Wells, P.Geo, a consulting geologist to the Company, is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Nicola Mining

Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture and Frankfurt Exchanges that maintains a 100% owned mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has signed Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high grade gold projects. Nicola's fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes.

The Company owns 100% of the New Craigmont Project, a high-grade copper property, which covers an area of 10,913 hectares along the southern end of the Guichon Batholith and is adjacent to Teck Resources Ltd.'s Highland Valley Copper, Canada's largest copper mine. The Company also owns 100% of the Treasure Mountain Property, which is comprised of 51 mineral tenures, 21 legacy claims: 100 cell units, and five crown grants for a total of approximately 2,850 hectares.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Espig"

Peter Espig

CEO & Director

For additional information

Contact: Peter Espig

Phone: (778) 385-1213

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

URL: www.nicolamining.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.

1 MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Unit is a collaborative research venture between the minerals industry and The University of British Columbia's (UBC) Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences.

2 Goldrush Mine Project: https://www.barrick.com/English/operations/nevada-gold-mines/default.aspx
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silver Bull (the Company) announces today that it has taken significant steps in its pursuit of compensation regarding the Sierra Mojada Project. On March 2, 2023, the Company served a Notice of Intent with Mexico to initiate a legacy NAFTA claim, seeking damages resulting from the unlawful blockade of its project.

In conformity with NAFTAs dispute resolution provisions, Mexico extended an invitation for Company representatives to a meeting held in Mexico City on May 30, 2023. The purpose of the meeting was to explore the possibility of reaching an amicable settlement and avoid arbitration. Under NAFTA, the parties had 90 days to mutually resolve the matter, which expired on June 2, 2023.

The Company was represented at this meeting by Brian Edgar, Chairman, two experienced local lawyers, and the Companys London-based senior legal counsel specializing in representing mining companies in disputes with governments, Timothy Foden of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

The next phase of the process entails the Company filing a Request for Arbitration in mid-June, formally commencing the arbitration proceedings. The claim filed by Silver Bull will be for not less than US$178 million dollars.

Having filed the Notice of Intent, Silver has appointed Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, and terminated the engagement of arbitration consultant Mr. Erinn Broshko.

Management is confident that it has successfully assembled the right team to pursue a favorable outcome in the arbitration.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Barry

Tim Barry, CPAusIMM

Chief Executive Officer and Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

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Cautionary note regarding forward looking statements

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The Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in southern Ukraine was partially destroyed on Tuesday, with Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of being responsible.

News of rising water levels were noted in several areas near the dam as expectations built over Ukraine's long-awaited offensive against Russian forces.

"Kakhovka hydroelectric plant. Another war crime committed by Russian terrorists. The president has convened the National Security Council," the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram.

The Kakhovka dam, seized at the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, notably supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

"Multiple strikes targeted the Kakhovka dam" overnight in Nova Kakhovka, the head of the city's Moscow-backed administration, Vladimir Leontiev said, claiming they had destroyed the dam's gate valves and caused an "uncontrollable" flow of water.

Built on the Dnipro River in 1956, during the Soviet era, the structure is partly made of concrete and partly of earth. It is one of the largest pieces of infrastructure of its kind in Ukraine.
The partial destruction Tuesday of a major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine unleashed a torrent of water that sent people fleeing flooding on the war's front line.

Moscow and Kyiv traded blame for ripping a gaping hole in the Kakhovka dam as expectations built over the start of Ukraine's long-awaited offensive.

People in the neighbouring city of Kherson were heading for higher ground as the water levels rose in the Dnipro River, which was held back by the dam and hydro powerplant.

"There is shooting, now there is flooding," said Lyudmyla, who had loaded a washing machine onto a cart that was attached to an old Soviet car.

Vladimir Leontyev, the Russian-installed mayor of the town of Nova Kakhovka where the dam is located, said residents of "around 300 homes" had been evacuated.

On the Russian-occupied side of the Kherson region, officials said there was "no threat" of major population centres being flooded, but said that more than 22,000 people were at risk.

The Kakhovka dam and its hydropowerplant were seized by Russia in the first hours of the war.

- 'War crime' -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his National Security Council over what he called a "terrorist attack".

Western powers also blamed Russia for the damage to the Kakhovka dam, with EU chief Charles Michel calling it a "war crime."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the dam breach was "outrageous" and "puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage."

Russia however said the dam was partially destroyed by "multiple strikes" coming from Ukrainian forces.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the destruction was the result of a "deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side."

The Soviet-era dam sits on the Dnipro river, which provides cooling water for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The flooding fuelled already existing fears for the safety of the Zaporizhzhia plant, under Russian control.

The plant is some 150 kilometres (about 90 miles) away from the damaged dam.

Moscow and Kyiv offered conflicting versions on the safety of the facility.

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its experts "are closely monitoring the situation" but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at plant."

The Russian-installed director of the plant, Yuri Chernichuk, echoed the UN agency and said that "at the moment, there is no security threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant."

"The water level in the cooling pond has not changed," he said, adding that the "situation was controlled by personnel."

Chernichuk said the water cooling system was not in direct contact with the outside environment and could be refilled from several alternative sources.

Ukraine -- which in 1986 suffered the devastating Chernobyl nuclear disaster -- sounded the alarm.

- 'Slow down' Ukraine-

"The world once again finds itself on the brink of a nuclear disaster, because the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost its source of cooling. And this danger is now growing rapidly," Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

The Ukrainian nuclear operator, Energoatom, said the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir was "rapidly decreasing, which is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant."

It said it was "monitoring the situation" and that currently the cooling plant's pond water level is "sufficient for the power plant's needs."

News of the damage came amid increasing speculations over Ukraine's long-expected counter-offensive.

Ukraine has for days called for silence ahead of its counteroffensive and said there would be no announcement about when it would start.

On Monday, Zelensky praised his troops for advances claimed near the devastated city of Bakhmut, while Russia said it had repelled a large-scale attack.

Ukraine said that Russia's goal was to "create obstacles" for Kyiv's long-awaited counteroffensive to retake territory from Moscow's forces.

Kyiv already accused Moscow of mining the dam as combat raged nearby in October, during the last major offensive by Ukrainian forces seeking to regain lost territory, which Russia denies.

Built in Soviet times in the 1950s, the Kakhovka dam has strategic value as it pumps water into the North Crimean Canal, which starts in southern Ukraine and crosses the entire Crimean peninsula.

This means that any problem with the dam could cause water supply problems for Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
Ukraine branded Russia a "terrorist state" at the UN's top court on Tuesday, accusing Moscow of blowing up a major dam as part of a campaign to wipe it off the map.

The two sides faced off at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a case brought by Kyiv alleging that Moscow backed rebels for eight years before last year's invasion.

Russia's support for separatist fighters from 2014 made a mockery of international law and was a harbinger of the February 2022 invasion, Ukrainian officials told the court.

"Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian iinfrastructure to try to freeze us into submission. Just today, Russia blew up a major dam located in Nova Kakhovka," Ukrainian diplomat Anton Korynevych said.

"Russia's actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor. But such actions did not appear out of the blue," he added in his opening remarks.

"They are the tragic but logical outcome of the situation we brought to this court's attention back in 2017" when it originally filed the case.

Russia denies funding or supporting the rebels. Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame for the destruction of the dam in southern Ukraine, which has unleashed a torrent of flooding.

- 'Cultural erasure' -

Ukraine alleges that Russia breached UN conventions on financing terrorism and on racial discrimination, and is seeking damages for attacks by pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Fighting broke out after pro-EU protests overthrew Ukraine's Moscow-allied government, and Russia then annexed Crimea.

About 13,000 people died in the violence including 298 who were killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine with a Russian-made missile in July 2014.

Ukraine has filed a separate case related to Russia's February 2022 invasion, accusing Moscow of planning genocide. The ICJ in that case ordered Russia to suspend the invasion.

But Korynevych, an ambassador-at-large in Ukraine's foreign ministry, said that "Russia's contempt for international law didn't start in 2022."

"Beginning in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Crimea and then engaged in a campaign of cultural erasure, taking aim at ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars," he said.

Russia's invasion was now "trying to wipe us from the map" completely, said Korynevych.

"The lesson this case teaches is simple: the past is prologue."

Moscow's lawyers will present their arguments on Thursday. Ukraine will then reply on June 12 and Russia on June 14.

- 'Reign of terror' -

Ukraine's lawyers pointed to a Dutch court verdict last year, which sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian to life in absentia over the shooting of MH17.

Russian officials were "guilty of terrorism financing" as they had supplied the missile in the knowledge that rebels would use it to shoot down an aircraft, they said.

"The destruction of flight MH17 is another tragic exmaple of the consequences of Russia's total non cooperation" with the UN terrorism convention, lawyer David Zionts told the court.

Russia had also supplied rebels with rocket systems that were used in a "reign of terror" on civilians in eastern Ukrainian cities in 2015, lawyer Marney Cheek said.

"What did Russia do to prevent and suppress this financing of terrorism? Nothing," she said.

A verdict in the case could take years to come from the ICJ, which was created after World War II to deal with disputes between UN member states.

Moscow meanwhile faces a wider campaign of "lawfare" -- the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimise an opponent -- over the situation in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) -- a separate war crimes tribunal which like the ICJ is also based in The Hague -- issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March.

dk/ach

Malaysia Airlines
YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar.

Mirzoyan and Klaar discussed issues concerning regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in a readout. In this context, the sides discussed the latest discussions around the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The continuity of the process in an atmosphere void of belligerent rhetoric and threat of force was highlighted.

Reiterating Armenias commitment on establishing comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, FM Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of maintaining mutual commitment to address key existing issues for comprehensive resolution and the continual efforts by international partners in this direction.
The JTBC medical series "Doctor Cha" finally closed its curtains after eight consecutive weeks. Starring Uhm Jung Hwa, Kim Byung Chul and more, the series received great reviews all over the globe.

However, not all feedback was positive. Its conclusion also stirs buzz, causing immense "frustration" and "disappointment" among viewers. Here's what happened.

'Doctor Cha' Ending Divides Public Opinion

After two long months, JTBC's "Doctor Cha" starring Uhm Jung Hwa finally closed its curtains on a happy note.

The drama received an impressive score of 18.5% with its ultimate episode, which is also the work's highest rating in its entire broadcast.

However, feedback from fans weren't all positive as the ending polarized the public's opinion. In episode 16, Uhm Jung Hwa's Cha Jung Suk finally divorced Kim Byung Chul's Seo In Ho.

Both of them walked separate paths without regrets. However, Cha Jung Suk turned down Min Woo Hyuk's Roy Kim's confession, proving that her happiness isn't dependent on any man.

Due to the lack of romance at the end, the series received negativity from the viewers who tuned into the series since the premiere.

READ MORE: 'Doctor Cha' Episode 16: Uhm Jung Hwa's Ultimate Liberation





One fan argued that forgiving people and having an open ending isn't the best way to end a series. Some of them are also disappointed after learning that Cha Jung Suk didn't end up with Roy Kim.

why does the writer believes that having a happy ending = acting forgiving ? & why do they keep making me feel like me wishing for the nasty individuals to be punished = me being evil



tbh, this ending was in a no-way good or satisfying.#DoctorChaEp16 #DoctorCha https://t.co/BmWW6ldMBG pic.twitter.com/Wf2rbtVizL    (@uri_chil) June 4, 2023

People that are upset that Dr Cha didn't end up with Roy are funny cause it was obviously shown that she didn't have deeep feelings for him and Please let sis love herself and fix her life before getting into a new relationship after divorce. I love the ending.  #DoctorChaEp16  Chloe (@misschloemaraj) June 4, 2023

#DoctorCha isn't a love story, it was clear from the beginning. it's cha jeongsuk's life and liberation from a bad marriage, constant what ifs and uncertainties.



to end the story with her living her best life, happy and alive, is the only way to end #DoctorChaEp16. pic.twitter.com/tDvwcL3BYk  Mary. (@pearlnquartz) June 4, 2023

However, one viewer defended the writers, saying that "Doctor Cha" isn't a love story; it's a story of an empowered woman who pulls through life's challenges and succeeds on her own.

While the public is divided with the ending, like most K-Drama finales, it's no doubt that "Doctor Cha" is one of the best works ever released this 2023.

'Doctor Cha' Bests 'Itaewon Class' In JTBC History

For eight long weeks, Uhm Jung Hwa's "Doctor Cha" secured its spot at the top as the best drama of 2023.

It enjoyed immense hype and double digit scores during its entire run. The finale recorded a nationwide rating of 18.5%, which marks the highest rating for "Doctor Cha."

In addition, it also marks the fourth highest rating series in the JTBC history, besting Park Seo Joon and Kim Da Mi's "Itaewon Class" which scored 16.5% during its conclusion in 2020.

Despite the work's fair share of backlash over the course of its broadcast, "Doctor Cha" still sits at No. 1 among other weekend dramas across cable channels in South Korea.

How did you find the conclusion of "Doctor Cha"? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
K-drama leading man, Cha Eun Woo reportedly present at the "Wonderful World" script reading. Want to know more updates about the actor's upcoming series? Then keep on reading the article.

Cha Eun Woo Attends 'Wonderful World' Table Reading

Based on a report cited by a media outlet, the cast and crew of "Wonderful World" will conduct a script reading session on June 5 in Seoul. The said gathering marks the first official schedule of the drama, in addition, Cha Eun Woo and Kim Nam Joo are expected to be present at the table reading.

What We Know So Far About Kim Nam Joo & Cha Eun Woo's Drama

Emotional-healing thriller series "Wonderful World," tells the story of Eun Soo Hyun, who unfairly lost her young son, and decides to seek revenge. When the mastermind manages to evade punishment through the legal system, Eun Soo Hyun makes her agenda to punish the culprit on her own.

Veteran actress Kim Nam Joo, who is returning to the small screen after a long hiatus, will headline the project. Her role, Eun Soo Hyun is a successful and well-known psychology professor and writer who falls in despair after losing her son.

Cha Eun Woo is Kwon Sun Yool, he grows up in a wealthy family but ends up losing his parents due to an unexpected incident. After dropping out of medical school, he lives a rough life until he winds up entangled with Eun Soo Hyun and starts to heal each other's wounds.

In addition, Cha Eun Woo's former "True Beauty" co-star Im Se Mi is also rumored to join the cast.

Lee Seung Young, who is the creative mind behind the dramas "Tracer," "The Missing," and "Voice 2," is assigned to helm the series.

'Wonderful World' to Premiere in First Half of 2024

In a separate report, one of the drama's production representatives remarked that viewers will be able to see a different side of the idol-actor through the character of Kwon Sun Yool. The team also advises the viewers about the upcoming synergy of Kim Nam Joo and Cha Eun Woo.

"Wonderful World" is scheduled to hit primetime in the first half of 2024.

What are you anticipating about Cha Eun Woo's upcoming drama with Kim Kang Woo? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. On June 6, between 11:00 and 17:30, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the ceasefire in the central, eastern and southeastern directions of the contact line by using small firearms.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh, the Armenian side has no losses.

The ceasefire violations were reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.
Han Moo Young (Kim Dong Wook) ends up in the police station after Lee Ro Um (Chun Woo Hee) gets in trouble again following her release from prison in "Delightfully Deceitful" episode 3.

'Delightfully Deceitful' Episode 3: Lee Ro Um Entangled in New Trouble

tvN provided new snaps for the upcoming "Delightfully Deceitful" episode 3, which is set to air on June 5 at 8:50 p.m. (KST).

In the released stills, con artist Lee Ro Um was summoned by the police after having a scuffle with a stranger, and Han Moo Young goes out to deal with the incident.

Lee Ro Um who was released from prison after 10 years, appointed Han Moo Young to take charge of her national compensation suit, causing a properly intertwined relationship between the two.

In particular, the conflict became more complicated after Moo Young showed up and stopped Shin Ki Ho, who was hospitalized in the hospice as one of the personnel of the Redwood Foundation.

Han Moo Young Makes Surprise Visit to Lee Ro Um at the Police Station

Lee Ro Um blocked access to Han Moo Young, who reached out to properly dig into her parents' murder case, with an uncooperative attitude. Lawyer Han then announced that he would postpone it for a while.

In the drama still, Lee Ro Um is fulfilling a social service order. She looks to be working diligently, but her sudden change of behavior occurred when she completely crashes with a stranger.

Will Han Moo Young Help Lee Ro Um?

She ends up in the police station for investigation. Unexpectedly, Han Moo Young, who she thought parted ways with her, appears. Since she ends up in an accident right after she got released from jail, her deep expressions stand out as trying to understand Han Moo Young's agenda.

In addition, curiosity arises for the next episode as Lee Ro Um tries to handle her contract with Han Moo Young. Also as the lawyer appears, will he finally continue his business with Lee Ro Um, even after knowing she is a con-artist.

Catch the new episodes of "Delightfully Deceitful" every Monday and Tuesday on tvN.

What can you say about the upcoming "Delightfully Deceitful" episode 3? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Min Woo Hyuk, who took everyone's breath away as a handsome surgeon in "Doctor Cha," expressed his gratitude to the viewers who supported the work from the beginning.

Following the drama's conclusion, the actor opened up his honest feelings regarding its ending, much to fans' delight. Read to know more.

Min Woo Hyuk Reveals Dissatisfaction With 'Doctor Cha' Ending

On June 6, Min Woo Hyuk entertained his fans through a brief interview with JTBC where he talked about the recently concluded series "Doctor Cha."

In the series, he played the role of a handsome surgeon from America named Roy Kim. For eight consecutive weeks, Min Woo Hyuk dominated the Hallyu scene with his charisma.

Roy Kim was also the second male lead, and fans rooted for him to end up with Uhm Jung Hwa's Cha Jung Suk. Sadly, none of this happened in the next, much to fans' disappointment.

However, it's not only the fans who were extremely saddened by the conclusion. Min Woo Hyuk was titled by the finale, most especially because of his character.

His character even volunteered to donate his liver to Cha Jung Suk whom he genuinely adores. Roy Kim has a deep regard for the other and he wants to protect her.

In the drama, Roy Kim gives up on Cha Jung Suk and meets another woman, which didn't sit right with the actor that he didn't even want to film the ending if it weren't for everyone's effort.

Min Woo Hyuk would have preferred it if his character had just gone back to the States instead of entering a different relationship. Many fans also agreed with the actor.

While many believe that Cha Jung Suk should have ended up with Roy Kim, a lot of viewers argued that "Doctor Cha" isn't a love story but a work of hope and self-rediscovery.

Min Woo Hyuk Reflects on Acting Career

Although he's quite sad with the drama's conclusion, he's still immensely thankful to the viewers who tuned in to "Doctor Cha."

Unbeknownst to many, Min Woo Hyuk is a musical actor who has appeared in many plays like "Frankenstein."

"Doctor Cha" is definitely a breath of fresh air for the actor. Min Woo Hyuk confesses that he doesn't want to let go of Roy Kim because of the happiness and new friendships it brought him.

He worked hard for the work and seeing it enjoy a syndrome-level success is enough to make his heart full. With this, Min Woo Hyuk promises to return with much greater work in the future.

The actor also plans to challenge himself with a villainous role if given the chance.

"I love what I'm doing right now," Min Woo Hyuk confessed. "I want to show everyone what I'm capable of, and become an actor who knows the essence of his works."

In particular, "Doctor Cha" marks Min Woo Hyuk's comeback drama after briefly participating in Ji Chang Wook's "If You Wish Upon Me" in 2022.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
The dam of Kakhovka hydro power plant (HPP)was exploded, the Dnipro river water rushed flooding the adjacent districts. Head of Kherson regional Council Oleksandr Samoilenko said the microdistrict Korabel is partly flooded.

June 6, 2023, 15:20 Water in Dnipro River rises forcing Kherson region residents to evacuate

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6, ARTSAKHPRESS: The peak of water rise was expected at about 11:00 local time, the area of Korabel has cut off power for security reasons, says Head of Military Regional Administration.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an urgent security meeting.

Zelenskyy also reported that the internal detonation of the dam occurred at 02:50 a.m. In addition to the evacuation, the president instructed to provide drinking water to all cities and villages that received water supply from the Kakhovka Reservoir.

Russia denies explosion accusations and blames Ukraine for the dam.
It is nearly universally agreed that the United States of America is a great nation with the worlds strongest economy, an expansive international presence, and being physically one of the largest countries in the world. The groundwork for this expansion, both in size and economically, was grounded in our concept of manifest destiny  the belief that as a nation, we were intended to span from ocean to ocean. For years, this expansion was seen as a glorious event as settlers spread out over the land, establishing new farms and industries. However, recent historical discussions have brought to light the plight of the individuals who paid the price for this land expansion: namely, the Native Americans, whose land was forcefully taken with laughable compensation.

At the time, the abuse of Native Americans was justified by the prevailing view that they did not possess the same rights as others because they were considered subhuman or unworthy of the same rights and dignity afforded to all Americans. Despite opposition from multiple civic and religious organizations that supported the rights of Native Americans, they were easily dismissed by newspapers, corporate entities, intelligentsia, university leaders, and local, state, and federal government officials. For example, in one of the grievances against King George in the Declaration of Independence, a future U.S. president referred to Native Americans as merciless Indian savages.

There were numerous other examples of entire groups of people being treated unjustly, from Jewish and Italian garment workers toiling in inhumane conditions in Manhattan, to the grossly underpaid Irish youth working as train brakemen (considered the most dangerous job in the world at that time, with thousands dying each year), to Eastern Europeans working endless hours for low pay in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, to Chinese workers assigned the most dangerous and grueling tasks in building the Transcontinental Railroad. And, of course, we are all aware of the grave injustice of the slavery system. All of these actions were undertaken in the name of building the U.S. economy, with the rights of a nation aspiring to greatness being considered more important than the rights of these marginalized members of society.

In all of these cases, the abuses started once the public was convinced that the targeted group was not fully human and therefore not worthy of full rights. How else, for example, could this country stand by and allow thousands of brakemen to die, even after Westinghouse had invented the highly effective air brake? After all, the lives of a so-called subhuman group were considered of lesser value compared to the costs needed to install these systems, which could potentially derail the profits made by the railroad industry.

Decades later, we look back at these injustices with shame, as we rightfully should, although many injustices continue to persist. This brings us to the topic of abortion. While no reasonable person would deny that an unexpected pregnancy can be very difficult for the woman involved and her family, are we not approaching this topic from the wrong perspective? While the focus has been on rights and economics, should not the first question we ask be, What is inside a pregnant woman? Is it a human being or not? If it is, then it deserves the same rights that all humans should be granted.

One can argue, based on embryology, that the fetus is indeed human. The second related question is whether the fetus is fully human. To help answer this, consider why a 24-week fetus that is wanted by its mother is considered fully human and worthy of all reasonable medical care, while an unwanted fetus is considered not to be. With future advances in neonatal care, including the real possibility of artificial wombs, this question will arise for much younger fetuses. What will be the answer then? Assigning any group of people a status of less than human is not grounded in biology (lets follow the science) and is truly an arbitrary decision.

We have witnessed enough injustices where society has deemed someone or some group as less than human. We have seen the disastrous consequences of such categorizations time and time again. Let us pause and examine abortion through this lens, so that decades from now, our society does not look back with shame. Let us learn from history.

The author is an anonymous physician.
Environmentalists have raised a red flag about the continued global forest cover decline, calling for immediate action to save the environment.

The executive director of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Dr. Akankwansah Barirega revealed that between 1992-2020, the world lost 178 million acres of forest cover and it is estimated that 40% of tropical forests have disappeared to commercial agriculture between 2000 and 2010 and about 33% of global forest cover disappeared to substance farming in the same period.

He says the situation is not so different in Uganda, where forest cover from 1990 dropped from 24% to 9.5% in 2015.

However, Akankwansah said due to concerted efforts by the government and private sector, the curve has been reversed now moving from a negative to a positive trajectory which is a great achievement in a bid to preserve the environment.

He explains that the forest cover has improved from 9.5% in 2015 to 13.3% to date and he is optimistic that the country is still on track to achieve the 15% forest cover by 2040 as outlined in the National Development Plan.
Security scholars have warned that a corrupt army signals great danger for the country.

The president recently told National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs during a 10-day caucus retreat in Kyankwazi that the attack on the ATMIS forward operating base in Somalia that is manned by UPDF troops was a result of corruption in the army.

The president said corruption started during the recruitment of soldiers here in Uganda where those who were not combat-ready found themselves in Somalia through corrupt ways.

Speaking to KFM, Dr Solomon Asiimwe, an international relations and security studies scholar at Nkumba University says an undisciplined army cannot protect the nation and ensure its stability.

He says the current state of affairs in the army is worrying and will have huge economic and political repercussions on the country.

Dr. Asiimwe, however, says the president has the duty to reign in on the force.

If the president has said so, now it is up to him as the Commander in Chief to ensure that the corrupt officials are brought to book because if the security sector or army is corrupt then were not at peace as a country. A corrupt army cannot protect the nation, Asiimwe told KFM.
On June 6, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Alexander Schallenberg, the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria.

June 6, 2023, 15:32 Armenian, Austrian foreign ministers discuss regional stability and security issues

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6, ARTSAKHPRESS: The interlocutors touched upon the agenda of bilateral cooperation as well as issues of mutually beneficial collaboration in multilateral platforms, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a readout.

Views were also exchanged on the Armenia-EU partnership, it added.

Issues on regional stability and security were also discussed.
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has agreed to scrap the use of the word expired in the categorization of academic programmes at universities and tertiary institutions, pending a review exercise expected to end weeks of national anxiety.

The Council chaired by Prof Eli Katunguka, the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University reportedly reached the decision during a meeting held last evening

It is, however, still unclear whether the council agreed to rename academic programmes whose status is under consideration as due for review, rather than expired as suggested by vice chancellors earlier.

The country was thrown into panic last month and graduates questioned the credibility of their academic documents after the University of Bristol in the UK and other universities in Europe and the United States bounced some Ugandan graduates applications on grounds that their first degrees were in programmes listed as expired on the NCHE website.
Police in Kampala have arrested a 29-year-old security guard deployed at City Oil station located along Martin Road who is accused of shooting and injuring a one Ronald Mukulu on Tuesday morning.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Mr. Luke Owoyesigyire says it is alleged that Mukulu had a disagreement with the driver of a commuter tax registration number UAW 979S and the security guard tried to mediate but ended up shooting the victim in the upper right arm.

The suspect who police have identified as Ronald Kyasesa, a resident of Kagugube village in Kampala is detained pending a court trial. Additionally, Mukulu has been admitted to hospital for better management.

Mr. Owoyesigyire has decried the increasing cases of gun violence orchestrated by security guards.

We condemn the act of security guards shooting at people they have disagreements with. You can choose to use other means in case you are confronted in any way. The judgment of the security guards is still wanting, Mr. Owoyesigyire noted.
By David Oduut & George Emurion

Two more aspirants are expected to be nominated to contest for the local council five chairperson seat in the Bukedea district by-election today.

According to Suleiman Kato, the Bukedea district returning officer, those expected are Paul Okiria of the National Unity Platform and Pius Edekeny, another independent candidate.

Three people were successfully nominated yesterday for the race to fill up the seat that fell vacant following the death of Moses Olemukan in December last year.

Those nominated yesterday are National Resistance Movement candidate, Mary Akol, Oita Sam Odeke of the Forum for Democratic Change, and Lokwiisk Tychicus Ebukalin an Independent candidate.

Another independent candidate David Steven Omagor failed to be nominated after his nomination papers were reportedly stolen in a raid by armed men purportedly in police uniform at a house he was lodged in at Bukedea Town Council Sunday night.

Oscar Ageca, the east Kyoga police spokesperson, says they have launched investigations into the said raid that left the papers of David Steven Omagor stolen by unidentified persons in the said raid.

The race now pits two National Resistance Movement supporters against each other with Mary Akol the party flag bearer facing a tough challenge from Lokwiisk Tychicus Ebukalin who ran away from the party to contest as an independent.

The FDC, NUP, and the other independent candidates are all not written off as they also have high hopes in winning the race with elections set for Wednesday, June 14.
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khaskhabar.com : , 06  2023 12:01 PM
Are you a Lalor, Lawler or Lawlor? You are invited to attend the O Leathlobhair annual clan rally which takes place in Abbeyleix, Laois from Friday, July 7 to Sunday July 9, inclusive.

The Lalor Clan was the second most powerful family/clan unit in the ancient territory of Laois after the OMoores, and their castle was at Dysart, Portlaoise. Little of the castle remains now but its outline can be still defined.

The clan is now in existence for over 30 years and attracts people from all over the world. However during the pandemic activities were suspended and this years gathering will be attracting clan members from Spain, England and USA as well as Ireland.

Foremost among the clan in recent years was the Lalor family who resided at Tennakill, Raheen. Their ancestry were members of the Seven Septs of Laoise who were transplanted to the Tarbert area of Kerry following the enforced signing of the deed of Transplantation at Lalors Mills, Portlaoise on St Patricks Day 1607. The other septs which were transported to Kerry were OMoores, OKellys, ODowlings, ODorans,ODevoys (ODeevys or later Dees in Kerry) and the McEvoys (Cladeboys).

Prominent among the Lalor names are those of Honest Patt Lalor the first Catholics to be elected, with his friend, Daniel OConnell, The Liberator, to Westminster since the reign of King James 11.

Eldest of Honest Patts sons was James Fintan Lalor, advocate of land reform and Young Irelander who was jailed for his involvement in the abortive uprising at Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Other sons included Richard who succeeded his father at Westminister and who was opposed to the Act Union and was active in the Repeal Movement.

Another son, Peter, went to Australia where he led the gold miners at the Eureka Stockade, suffered a gunshot wound and had to have his arm amputated and later was on the run with a price on his head.

He was subsequently pardoned, stood for parliament and was elected and held many government posts and was appointed Speaker of the House of Parliament in Victoria State.

A daughter of Honest Patt also went to America where she founded a an Order of Nuns. There are many, many others of the name who have distinguished themselves in so many diverse fields. The event is open to all Lalors, Lawlers, Lawlors, their spouses, partners or descendants.

For Further details contact Clan Secretary, Mary Lalor OMahony at 087-9015280 or Clan Treasurer Paddy Lalor at 087-9015780
A nationwide strike by Siptu members in local authority water services, which was due to start on Wednesday June 7, was recently called off.

The dispute related to a demand that the Government protect all earnings for local authority water service workers if they did not transfer to the state-owned utility company Uisce Eireann, formerly known as Irish Water.

Siptu said Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien had conceded to their demands over overtime, conditions and allowances.

Siptu public administration and community division organiser Karan O Loughlin said: A strike which was to commence on 7th June and could have adversely impacted water services across the country has been averted by the intervention of minister OBrien.

This evening the minister has written to Siptu and categorically stated that workers who opt to stay in local authority employment rather than transfer to Uisce Eireann will have all their earnings protected.

The letter specifically includes guarantees in relation to workers allowances and overtime payments they accrue currently as part of their work.

The letter gives concrete examples of how the earnings of our members will be protected and removes an attempt by individual local authorities to renege on this commitment.

The minister had previously said that no-one would be transferred to Uisce Eireann on a compulsory basis.

Speaking in the Dail on Thursday, Mr OBrien said workers will be transferred with existing terms and conditions.

Those who decide to stay within the local government sector will have their terms and conditions also protected.

Siptu said this was a major success for its members.

Local authority worker and chairman of the Siptu water workers national negotiating committee, Stephen Kelly, said: We believe we have now secured such a guarantee from the minister in a manner which will not allow individual local authorities to deviate from it.

Siptu sector organiser Brendan OBrien said: The protection of our members earnings was a commitment given by local authorities and the Government in the framework for the future of water services document which lays out the move towards a national public water utility.

Unfortunately, as this document was being implemented it became clear certain local authorities were not living up to the protection of earnings commitment.

This forced our members to vote for strike action which they were to commence next Wednesday.
Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar.

June 6, 2023, 17:31 Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar discuss Armenia- Azerbaijan normalization

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6, ARTSAKHPRESS: Mirzoyan and Klaar discussed issues concerning regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in a readout. In this context, the sides discussed the latest discussions around the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The continuity of the process in an atmosphere void of belligerent rhetoric and threat of force was highlighted.

Reiterating Armenias commitment on establishing comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, FM Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of maintaining mutual commitment to address key existing issues for comprehensive resolution and the continual efforts by international partners in this direction.
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(Kitco News) Russia's central bank sold four tonnes of gold and 2.59 billion yuan (USD$365 million) from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) accounts to raise additional money to finance the budget deficit, according to the Finance Ministry.

The sale took place in May and helped allocate 48.97 billion rubles (USD$606 million) to fund the deficit.

"In May 2023  a portion of NWF money at accounts with the Bank of Russia totaling 2.59 bln yuan and 3.86 metric tons of gold in the depersonalized form were sold at 48.967 bln rubles. The money earned was credited at the integrated federal budget account to finance its deficit," the ministry said.

Russia reported a 3.4 trillion-rouble (USD$42 billion) deficit in the first four months of the year, citing lower energy revenues.

The Finance Ministry blamed May's low oil and gas revenues for the deficit, which fell 36% from the same period last year. In May, oil and gas revenues were 30.6 billion roubles (USD$379 million) below expectations. In June, the ministry expects a 44-billion-rouble shortfall (USD$545 million) from federal energy revenues.

The NFW accounts with the country's central bank hold 9.054 billion euro, 285.7 billion yuan (USD$40.2 billion), 517.1 metric tons of gold, and 228 mln rubles (USD$2.82 million), according to the latest data.

The NWF holds Russia's oil revenues and was created to help support the pension system. "NWF is dedicated to support pension system of the Russian Federation to guarantee long-term sound functioning of the system," the Finance Ministry's website states. The Fund's primary mission is to "co-finance voluntary pension savings of Russian citizens and to balance budget of Pension Fund of the Russian Federation."

The fund's assets held in euro, pounds, and Japanese yen were frozen after sanctions were introduced on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Back in January, Russia already sold 3.6 tonnes of gold and 2.3 billion Chinese yuan from the NWF to cover the budget deficit as income from oil and gas revenues fell. This marked the first move of its kind.

Two years ago, the NWF ditched all of its U.S. dollar assets and boosted its gold, euro, and Chinese yuan holdings.

And at the start of this year, the Russian Finance Ministry said it had doubled its holding limits of gold and Chinese yuan within the National Wealth Fund (NWF). The new maximum holding limits are set at 40% for gold and 60% for yuan. The previous limits were at 20% and 30%, respectively.

In other news, Russia's finance ministry also said Monday that it will be increasing its daily foreign currency sales to the equivalent of 3.6 billion roubles ($44.3 million) per day between June 7 and July 6. This move is meant as additional compensation for falling fuel revenues.
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(Kitco News) China has embarked on a new massive project focusing on deep-Earth exploration. The world's largest economy began drilling a 10,000-meter hole  one of the deepest holes in the world.

The goal is scientific exploration, according to the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency.

China began the drilling last week, with the borehole depth set to reach 11,100 meters (36,417 feet) in just 457 days. The dig is happening in the Taklimakan Desert - China's largest desert located in the resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

China will use equipment weighing more than 2,000 tonnes to complete the project.

The drill will break through more than ten continental strata, including the Cretaceous system, a stratified layer of rock dating back to 145 million years ago.

The drilling of China's first borehole over 10,000 meters deep for scientific exploration began on Tuesday in NW China's Tarim Basin, a great feat in China's deep-Earth exploration. The project is expected to be completed in 457 days. pic.twitter.com/Qs7Sn9cZus  People's Daily, China (@PDChina) May 30, 2023

"The construction difficulty of the drilling project can be compared to a big truck driving on two thin steel cables," Xinhua cited Sun Jinsheng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as saying.

The massive undertaking is an unprecedented opportunity to explore the unknown territory of the Earth.

According to China National Petroleum Corp., the country's largest oil producer leading the project, the drilling will provide new data on the Earth's internal structure and test China's latest deep underground drilling technologies.

Deep-Earth exploration is connected to China's hunt for resources. China's President Xi Jinping addressed this topic in a speech in 2021, calling for progress in deep-Earth discoveries, especially when it comes to identifying mineral and energy resources and being able to predict environmental disasters.

The world's deepest manmade hole is the Kola Superdeep Borehole. Drilled by the Societ Union, it is located in northwest Russia. It reached a depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet) in 1989, after 20 years of drilling.
When an infant was born prematurely and needed care at a children's hospital, the family's health care plan rejected the transfer request.

That's when New York Attorney General Letitia James intervened. Her office's health care bureau asked the insurer to review the medical necessity of the transfer and it was approved.

The case is one example provided by James' office highlighting the work of the health care bureau and its helpline. The bureau's helpline handled 2,309 consumer complaints in 2022 and recovered or saved more than $1.5 million.

The complaints included six from consumers who were billed hundreds of dollars for COVID testing in 2020 and 2021  testing should have been free during that stage of the pandemic. The health care bureau, led by Darsana Srinivasan, responded to the complaints and the patients' balances were adjusted so they wouldn't owe anything for the tests.

One consumer saved nearly $1,000 after the health care bureau responded to their complaint. The patient was billed nearly twice the initial estimate for in-network services at a hospital. The matter was resolved when the hospital issued a zero-balance statement, according to the attorney general's office.

In another case, a patient injured their foot and needed an MRI before receiving treatment. But the insurance plan wouldn't cover the testing and denied the patient's appeal. A complaint was filed and the attorney general's office got involved. The insurance plan reversed course and approved coverage for the MRI.

The attorney general's office explained that the helpline cannot resolve every complaint, but it is a "crucial source of reliable and objective information for New Yorkers."

"Access to health care is a fundamental right for every New Yorker," James said in a statement. "Through the critical work of our helpline, we saved New Yorkers more than 1.5 million last year, while helping to ensure people have access to the medical care they need. Anyone who believes they were wrongfully billed or denied health benefits are encouraged to contact my office for support."

The phone number for the helpline is 1-800-428-9071. A complaint can be filed online at ag.ny.gov/file-complaint.
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(Kitco News) - According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru (MINEM), copper production in Peru, the worlds second largest copper producing country, amounted to 221,999 tonnes in April 2023, up 30.5% compared to April 2022 (170,168 tonnes).

MINEM said that this positive performance was mainly due to higher production by major local copper mining companies, including Southern Peru Copper Corporation (+70.1%), Minera Las Bambas S.A. (+58.9%) and Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A. (+3.1%).

At the company level, Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A. is first with an 18.5% share in total Perus copper output, followed by Compania Minera Antamina S.A. (15.8%) and Southern Peru Copper Corporation (14.0%).

MINEM added that at the regional level, Arequipa is first with an 18.7% share in the countrys total copper production, followed by Ancash (16.0%) and Moquegua (15.8%).

In January-April 2023, Peru produced 837,514 tonnes of copper, which is an increase of 15.7% from January-April 2022 (723,931 tonnes).

The ministry noted that Anglo Americans new Quellaveco copper mine began commercial production in September 2022. In January-April 2023, the mine produced 82,196 tonnes of copper (January-April 2022: no production).
June 6, 2023 - As the number of litigations involving digital assets continues to rise, courts have increasingly grappled with how the U.S. securities laws apply to novel fact patterns that, in many instances, involve conduct occurring outside the U.S. Step one in this analysis is to determine whether they apply at all.

The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Morrison v. National Australia Bank Ltd. sets forth the test for determining which transactions are sufficiently "domestic" to fall within the scope of the U.S. securities laws. 561 U.S. 247 (2010).

The Morrison Court held that they apply in two circumstances: (1) for "transactions in securities listed on domestic exchanges"; and (2) for "domestic transactions in other securities" Id. at 267. Transactions are considered "domestic transactions" where "irrevocable liability" is incurred within the U.S. See Absolute Activist Value Master Fund Ltd. v. Ficeto, 677 F.3d 60, 67 (2d Cir. 2012).

As the Supreme Court explained, this test would help apply the general presumption against extraterritoriality in all cases going forward, "preserving a stable background ... with predictable effects." Morrison, 561 U.S. 247 at 261. Consistent with that principle, courts have held that even where transactions may fall under the categories enumerated in Morrison, they may be "predominantly foreign" so as to preclude application of U.S. securities laws. Parkcentral Glob. Hub Ltd. v. Porsche Auto. Holdings SE, 763 F.3d 198, 216 (2d Cir. 2014); Cavello Bay Reinsurance Ltd. v. Shubin Stein, 986 F.3d 161, 166 (2d Cir. 2021).

The Supreme Court's test has not provided the predictability it promised in all circumstances, however. The digital asset space is a prime example. Given the inherently borderless nature of most digital asset related conduct and transactions, courts have taken different, nuanced approaches regarding how to apply Morrison in private civil litigation.

For example, in In re Tezos Securities Litigation, the court held that the sales of digital tokens to persons in the U.S. were sufficiently "domestic" where the complaint alleged that plaintiffs were located in the U.S., participated in the Initial Coin Offering ("ICO") through an interactive website hosted on a U.S. server, and participated in response to marketing that almost exclusively targeted U.S. residents.

The court additionally noted that, as alleged, purchasers' contribution of ether (the native crypto asset to the Ethereum network) to the ICO "became irrevocable only after it was validated by a network of global 'nodes' [i.e., computers running specified software] clustered more densely in the United States than in any other country." No. 17-cv-06779-RS, 2018 WL 4293341 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 7, 2018).

Somewhat in contrast, another district court concluded that for transactions not occurring on domestic exchanges, the location of the purchasers or title passing over servers located in California did not control; rather, the transactions became "irrevocable" when the transaction was validated by a single node, and thus the location of the first node to validate the transaction was what mattered. Williams v. Block one, No. 20-cv-2809 (LAK), 2022 WL 5294189, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 15, 2022).

Yet, in the high-profile enforcement action, SEC v. Ripple Labs, Inc., the court held that token sales were sufficiently alleged to be "domestic" when they occurred on multiple digital asset trading platforms that were incorporated in, had principal places of business in, and were based in, the U.S. 2022 WL 762966 (S.D.N.Y. March 11, 2022). Moreover, the defendants' offers to sell tokens (as opposed to sales) were sufficiently alleged to be domestic where the defendants made the offers from the U.S. because they resided in California and "directed their offers and sales ... from within the United States ... by making offers on digital asset trading platforms directly ... and by making offers through [GSR], a global digital asset trading firm with an office in the United States." Id.

Plainly, despite the Supreme Court's goal of predictability, courts have applied Morrison to the facts and circumstances of a number of digital asset cases and have reached results that differ  likely due to the complicated, amorphous and nuanced nature of the transactions at the core of these decisions.

Appellate guidance may be on the way. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument in April in Anderson v. Binance, a case in which plaintiffs allege that digital asset platform Binance sold "securities" without registering as an exchange or broker-dealer or filing a registration statement. The district court dismissed these claims because plaintiffs failed to allege facts sufficient under either prong of Morrison. Anderson v. Binance, No. 1:20-cv-2803 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2022).

Under the first Morrison prong, the district court held that "although Plaintiffs allege that much of Binance's infrastructure is based in the U.S., they only identify as U.S.-based infrastructure Amazon Web Services computer servers, which host Binance, and the Ethereum blockchain computers, which facilitate certain transactions on Binance. Such third-party servers and third parties' choices of location are insufficient to deem Binance a national securities exchange." Id. at *4.

Under the second Morrison prong, the court explained that plaintiffs must provide more than conclusory allegations such as "plaintiffs bought tokens while located in the United States and that title passed in whole or in part over servers located in California that host Binance's website." Id.

The Morrison question was heard on appeal. At oral argument, plaintiffs argued that they viewed this case as different from other cases where trades occurred on-chain. Because Binance trading purportedly occurred within its own, off-chain system, plaintiffs urged the court to look at where Binance's infrastructure was located to determine domesticity. Plaintiffs further argued that because Binance's servers allegedly are located in California and are tended by U.S. employees, the plausible inference is that U.S. securities law covers the transactions.

Meanwhile, defendants argued that the case presents a straightforward application of Morrison, consistent with the district court's decision. They contended that servers or orders being located in the United States is not the test, and that plaintiffs' conclusory allegations that title to the tokens passed in whole or in part in the United States is not enough.

The anticipated decision may provide guidance in an area that presents novel fact patterns. As the law around digital assets continues to develop, the need for predictability on these questions will only grow in importance.

Alex Drylewski is a regular contributing columnist on cryptocurrency and digital assets for Reuters Legal News and Westlaw Today. Eryn Hughes, an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, contributed to this article.
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(Kitco News) - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and the Office of the Accountant General at the Israeli Ministry of Finance (MOF) have announced the successful completion of the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) phase for Project Eden, a blockchain-based digital bond system created as part of the Israeli government's efforts to modernize the countrys financial markets.

The project, first announced in October, was designed to showcase the potential for innovative technologies like blockchain, smart contracts and tokenization to reduce risk and improve efficiency and transparency in the financial markets.

Project Eden is very important for the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, said Ittai Ben Zeev, CEO of TASE. Within TASE we have tremendous technology talent and market structure leadership. We believe that the capital market information will be completely different in a few years, and it is our job to lead the revolution.

This joint endeavor marks a significant milestone in revolutionizing the settlement and issuance processes in traditional capital markets, the announcement said. The collaborative team has dedicated substantial effort and expertise to examine the application of blockchain infrastructure in the issuance and settlement of digital government bonds.

As part of the trial, TASE held a go-live event on May 31 that brought together prominent international and local banks, including Bank Discount, Bank HaPoalim, Bank Leumi, Bank Mizrahi, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, First International Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch.

During the go-live event, the MOF issued and minted the first dummy digital governmental bond on a blockchain-based platform as an ERC-1155 security token using a dedicated decentralized app (dApp) that was specifically developed for this PoC.

A digital Payment Token representing one Israeli Shekel was also introduced as part of the Eden ecosystem. The payment token served as a fundamental component of the settlement process.

During the Live day event, the primary dealers securely transferred dummy funds through their digital accounts, the press release said. The Eden system was constructed in this configuration to facilitate the settlement of security tokens against various digital currencies, potentially including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). This aligns with ongoing projects led by central banks worldwide, as they explore the integration of CBDCs into traditional financial systems.

Atomic Settlement was used to complete the settlement process between the security tokens and payment tokens, transforming the traditional securities settlement process through the dedicated TASE Bond Management smart contract.

The TASE Bond Management smart contract served as an intermediary between the issuer and the investors, which helped ensure the verification of valid and approved tokens, prevent inconsistencies or incomplete transfers, and guarantee the accurate transfer of tokens.

The go-live event demonstrated the successful implementation of advanced technologies, showcasing their ability to transform financial markets including the issuance, settlement and clearing of financial assets such as government bonds, TASE said. By leveraging DLT [distributed ledger technology] and tokenization, financial institutions can enhance efficiency, reduce operational risks, and create new opportunities for investors, thereby transforming traditional financial markets.

"The success of the Live Day event brought what we all imagined into reality - the interaction across wallets and token standards allowing for the near-frictionless issuance and trading of treasury bonds, said Michael Shaulov, Co-founder and CEO of Fireblocks.

There is no doubt that the world is undergoing significant changes, which are also impacting traditional systems, said Orly Grinfeld, Executive Vice President and head of clearing at TASE. By leveraging blockchain technology, smart contracts, and tokenization, we have the potential to enhance traditional capital markets, making them more efficient, faster, and less risky. This has the power to revolutionize the way we conduct business. By harnessing this technology, traditional exchanges can create new business models, ultimately improving the services we provide to our valued investors and clients.
MILAN, June 6 (Reuters) - Italian digital lender AideXa has completed a 20 million euro ($21 million) capital raise from shareholders as lending to the small businesses it targets grows strongly amid a wider credit squeeze, it said on Tuesday.

AideXa, founded by veteran former UniCredit executives Roberto Nicastro and Federico Sforza, said it had granted 400 million euros ($428 million) to small Italian businesses so far, with an average loan size of less than 200,000 euros.

Such small loans do not make economic sense for traditional lenders so AideXa uses a proprietary credit-scoring algorithm to select the soundest among companies that are too small to be served by high street banks.

Like other digital banks AideXa is more exposed than traditional commercial lenders to higher funding costs as official rates rise.

"New lending is growing at an annual 70% rate for us. This rapid pace of growth, which other fintech lenders are also recording, is good news because it allows us to offset higher funding costs than traditional banks," Nicastro told Reuters.

"We do pay more than high street banks for liquidity but as digital branchless bank we have a more efficient business model and we're pricing our loans accordingly," he added.

AideXa said its core capital would rise above 35% following the capital raise.

Three quarters of its loans are covered by state guarantees it said, adding that performing loans considered at risk, so called 'Stage 2' loans, together with gross impaired loans accounted for 6.9% of total lending. ($1 = 0.9338 euros)

($1 = 0.9348 euros)
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(Kitco News) - Russian megabank Rosbank has announced the launch of a pilot program for cross-border payments using cryptocurrency, becoming the first systemically important Russian bank to launch such a service in the country.

According to a report from local news service RBC, Rosbank utilizes a fintech intermediary that buys cryptocurrency abroad at the expense of the importer and transfers it to a foreign supplier. Russian fintech service B-crypto, which specializes in making international payments in digital currencies, has been selected to provide technical support for cryptocurrency settlements.

A representative from Rosbank said that corporate and private clients have already begun to use the service to conduct pilot transactions.

In order for a Russian individual or company to use the new service to pay for imported goods with crypto, they must first complete the Know Your Client (KYC) verification process with both Rosbank and B-crypto.

In order to use the service for business settlements, importers are required to stipulate in their contracts with suppliers that payments via cryptocurrency are possible and must register the recipients crypto wallet. The supplier can then issue an invoice to the Russian company for payment in cryptocurrency which includes the address for the crypto wallet where payments are to be sent.

Once the importer and B-crypto sign an agreement, the importer can deposit fiat funds for the purchase of cryptocurrency to an account with Rosbank, which then transfers money to B-crypto. B-crypto then uses the transferred funds to buy cryptocurrency in friendly countries and transfers it to the foreign supplier.

Rosbank is the only major Russian bank to provide a cross-border crypto payments service at present. According to Alexey Voylukov, Vice President of the Association of Banks of Russia, cross-border cryptocurrency transfers are the business of small banks, and such services have not yet been encountered among large credit institutions.

Voylukov added that the leading banks are not interested in providing the service at this time due to the lack of cryptocurrency liquidity necessary to service the operations of large clients.

Cross-border transfers in cryptocurrencies raise multiple concerns regarding the circumvention of sanctions, said Eduard Davydov, a senior partner at Emet Law Firm.

Davydov noted that many countries are currently in the process of updating or amending laws to include cryptocurrency transactions in their sanctions regimes, meaning such transactions would be viewed as illegal and would result in legal consequences for the parties involved.

An example of this has already occurred in the European Union, where leaders introduced a new set of sanctions in October that includes a complete ban on cross-border crypto payments between Russia and the EU. The new sanctions were put in place in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Other services that can no longer be provided to the government of Russia or its legal residents include IT consultancy, legal advisory, architecture and engineering services.

While the integration of cryptocurrency payments offers an additional route for cross-border settlements, Vladimir Chistyukhin, First Deputy Chair of the Bank of Russia, said that cryptos will not become a panacea for international payments, but underscored that everything must be done to use any means of settlement with foreign partners.

Ksenia Yudaeva, First Deputy Chair of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), recently warned about the perils of allowing the use of cryptocurrencies in the Russian economy, saying that Russian businesses using cryptocurrencies in cross-border settlements must do so in a way that ensures crypto does not spread throughout the Russian financial system.

Our main condition, as the Central Bank, is that the creation of such platforms does not lead to the infection of our financial system with cryptocurrencies and does not create a stir in society associated with the desire to hold [digital assets], she said. We have always been, are, and remain against encouraging or allowing the use of cryptocurrencies within Russia, but we believe that cryptocurrencies and digital assets can be used in international trade.

The State Duma is currently debating a bill related to the legalization of cryptocurrency mining and experimental legal regimes. If these measures are adopted, the Central Bank of Russia plans to start testing cross-border payments in cryptocurrency mined by miners through authorized organizations.

In May, the State Duma committee on the financial market announced that it was abandoning its plans to create a national cryptocurrency exchange and will instead move to establish rules governing the use of cryptocurrency exchanges for cross-border transactions.

As part of the pivot away from a national crypto exchange, the Russian Ministry of Finance will also work to help new exchanges get established so they can provide a workaround to the sanctions Western nations have placed on Russia.

According to Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma committee on the financial market, the CBR will be tasked with regulating cryptocurrency exchanges interested in facilitating cross-border transactions, and the rules will be included in the draft law on experimental legal regimes currently being developed.
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(Kitco News) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Coinbase on Tuesday, accusing the exchange of offering unregistered securities, just one day after it sued Binance on similar grounds.

According to the announcement from the SEC, Coinbase was charged with operating its crypto asset trading platform as an unregistered national securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency, as well as failing to register the offer and sale of its crypto asset staking-as-a-service program.

Coinbase is the largest crypto exchange in the country and the second largest in the world after Binance with nearly $1.5 billion in daily trading volume and over 34 million monthly visits according to CoinGecko.

The SEC alleges that since at least 2019, Coinbase has made billions of dollars unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities, and that their business combines the traditional services of an exchange, broker, and clearing agency without having registered any of those functions with the Commission as required by law. They also accuse the exchange of engaging in an unregistered securities offering through its staking-as-a-service program, which they claim was never registered with the Commission.

We allege that Coinbase, despite being subject to the securities laws, commingled and unlawfully offered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse functions, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. In other parts of our securities markets, these functions are separate. Coinbases alleged failures deprive investors of critical protections, including rulebooks that prevent fraud and manipulation, proper disclosure, safeguards against conflicts of interest, and routine inspection by the SEC. Further, as we allege, Coinbase never registered its staking-as-a-service program as required by the securities laws, again depriving investors of critical disclosure and other protections.

The SECs complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and alleges that Coinbase violated the registration provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the securities offering registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, penalties, and other equitable relief, according to the announcement.

Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them, said Gurbir Grewal, Director of the SECs Enforcement Division. While Coinbases calculated decisions may have allowed it to earn billions, its done so at the expense of investors by depriving them of the protections to which they are entitled. Todays action seeks to hold Coinbase accountable for its choices.

For the broader crypto industry, the most interesting information in the court filings could be the sections that detail the SECs rationale for why 13 specific tokens - Solana, Cardano, Polygon, Filecoin, The Sandbox, Axie Infinity, Chiliz, Flow, Internet Computer, Near, Voyager Token, Dash and Nexo - qualify as securities.

Nearly half of the 101-page filing is devoted to evidence for why each of these tokens are actually unregistered securities in the eyes of the Commission, with page after page of quotes from the companies own business and promotional materials and the public statements of their senior leadership. These detailed analyses will no doubt be used by market participants to infer the SECs definition of digital securities, which they have declined to provide to date.

The SEC charges come just weeks after the Commission once again refused to share their legal definition and criteria for what constitutes a security in the digital assets space. Coinbase originally filed a petition in July 2022 demanding that the SEC propose and adopt a clear regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry in the U.S. and establish guidelines for companies like Coinbase to work from as they build out their businesses.

The petition included 50 questions that covered a wide range of topics related to the regulatory treatment of certain digital assets. Of specific interest for Coinbase, as well as numerous other players in the ecosystem, is the question asking the SEC to provide clarification about its process of determining the classification of a token as a security or a commodity.

In documents filed with the court on May 15, the SEC insisted that they are not obligated to fulfill the demands Coinbase outlined in its petition.

The SEC argued that no applicable laws or regulations impose an obligation to issue the broad new regulations regarding digital assets Coinbase has requested, nor are they required to do so on a specific timeline.

The SEC also said that they have every right to continue their enforcement actions based on securities regulations already on the books. Agencies routinely enforce existing rules while considering further amendments to regulatory requirements, they wrote. Coinbases preference for faster or different regulatory action by the Commission does not entitle it to extraordinary relief from this Court. The petition should be denied.

In the absence of comprehensive cryptocurrency regulation, todays lawsuit, and the detailed critiques of 13 tokens that it contains, may constitute the clearest guidance that Coinbase and the U.S. crypto ecosystem can hope to receive from the SEC for the foreseeable future.

Dave Weisberger, CoinRoutes CEO and former managing director of Citigroup, told Kitco News that he found the timing of these moves by the SEC surprising.

Theyve come just days after Congress proposed a cessation to the agencys regulation-by-enforcement approach, he said. Moreover, Republicans in the House have been circulating a draft bill that would provide a fair and very workable framework for regulating the digital asset industry in the United States.

Weisberger characterized the Coinbase and Binance lawsuits as a direct attack against the digital asset industry in the United States, and said that the allegations made against Coinbase contain precisely zero evidence of harm to investors.

It seems as though the only harm here is that inflicted by the SECs heavy-handed actions  namely, potentially fining Coinbase clients into bankruptcy, he said.

Aaron Kaplan, co-CEO of Prometheum, which recently became the first-ever crypto custodian to receive full SEC approval, told Kitco News that the crypto exchanges really should have seen this coming.

SEC Chairman Gensler has said multiple times previously that time was running out for virtual currency exchanges to register under the securities laws, he said. The enforcement actions against Binance and Coinbase make it clear that time has now run out.

Kaplan said that the debacles of 2022 proved the crypto industry needed proper regulation and oversight to ensure that investors are protected, markets are fair and orderly, and that customers' assets are properly segregated, custodied, and secured.

The SEC has systematically gone after almost all elements of crypto-related financial services - it began with lending, then staking, then stablecoins, then custody and finally virtual currency exchanges, he said. There is a compliant path forward for crypto trading and custody in the United States, but that requires being properly licensed under the federal securities laws.

Coinbase (COIN) shares fell 16% in early trading Tuesday, opening at a 2023 low of $48.43 after falling over 9% following Mondays announcement of charges against Binance. At the time of writing, Coinbase was trading at $51.04, down 13% on the session.
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(Kitco News) - The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), the largest interbank messaging system in the world, has announced a new collaboration with Chainlink, the worlds largest web3 services platforms, to explore how institutions can use Swift and Chainlinks Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to seamlessly connect their systems with any blockchain network.

Institutional investors increasingly are considering investments in tokenized assets as they seek new forms of value  but they face a complex challenge, Swift said in the announcement. These investments are tracked on a diverse range of blockchain networks that are not interoperable - each has its own functionality or liquidity profile, which creates significant overhead and friction in managing and trading the assets.

According to Swift, more than a dozen major financial institutions will take part in the trial to test how these firms can leverage their existing infrastructure to efficiently instruct the transfer of tokenized value over a range of public and private blockchain networks.

Participants include Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, Citi, Clearstream, Euroclear, Lloyds Banking Group, SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC).

Chainlink will facilitate the process by providing connectivity across public and private blockchains for these experiments.

If even a small portion of the quadrillions of dollars in value flowing through the Swift network and its over 11,000 member banks makes its way onto blockchains, the entire blockchain industry could grow multiple times larger very quickly, said Sergey Nazarov, the co-founder of Chainlink. We are extremely excited to help accelerate the speed at which banks can utilize blockchains and believe that it will be a watershed moment when the first bank consortiums begin interacting via CCIP.

This new round of experimentation follows a series of trials in 2022 that explored how Swift could integrate digital currencies and tokenized assets with the worlds existing financial ecosystem. This trial will also explore how the industry could address potential operational and regulatory pitfalls facing financial institutions when operating in a blockchain environment.

One of the main goals for Swift is to connect siloed blockchain networks into an interoperable system that allows financial institutions to easily interact with multiple blockchain-based networks in a secure and trusted way, similar to how they currently function when facilitating the trading of traditional assets.

Theres unlikely to be a single prevailing blockchain network, said Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer at Swift. We would expect to see a multitude of different platforms emerging, each serving different customer segments with their own bespoke capabilities and requirements. In such a highly fragmented ecosystem, it would simply not be feasible for financial institutions to connect to each and every platform individually. Thats why the community is working with Swift to develop an interoperability model that would enable access to different platforms globally.

Its also not feasible for financial institutions to build new infrastructure and technology stacks entirely from scratch, so Swift is looking to help these firms leverage their existing infrastructure to connect to blockchain ledgers, where tokens are recorded in a way that is both compliant and secure.

Not only would this help firms simplify their architecture and operations, but it also minimizes investment costs and reduces risk of technology obsolescence, Swift said.

Our experiments will help advance the industrys understanding about the technical and business requirements involved when interacting with and between multiple blockchain networks, said Jonathan Ehrenfeld, Head of Securities Strategy at Swift. They will also highlight the potential value of using a blockchain interoperability protocol to securely transfer data and value between legacy systems and a potentially unlimited number of blockchains.

The main focus of the upcoming experiments will be to show how Swifts infrastructure can be leveraged to facilitate interoperability, enabling tokenized value to be transferred between existing systems and both public and private DLT platforms with existing connectivity, standards, and messaging.

This includes the transfer of tokenized assets between two wallets on the same public blockchain network, the transfer of tokenized assets from a public blockchain to a permissioned blockchain, and the transfer of tokenized assets from Ethereum to another public blockchain.

Chainlink will be used as an enterprise abstraction layer to securely connect the Swift network to the Ethereum Sepolia network, while Chainlinks Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol will enable complete interoperability between the source and destination blockchains.

Were excited to work with Swift, said Nazarov. Its clear that as banks endeavor to access multiple blockchains, a common connectivity layer across the various chains will be a critical building block for their adoption of on-chain finance. This collaboration between Swift and Chainlink could pave the way for leading institutions like DTCC, Euroclear, BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, Citi, and many others to issue and transact trillions of dollars using smart contracts. Not only would this grow the blockchain industry by multiples from where it is today, but it would clearly show capital markets the many benefits of adopting on-chain finance.

Swift said it will also explore a set of non-technological considerations that are necessary for regulated institutions to interact with public blockchain networks and engage in cross-network transactions. This encompasses a range of operational, compliance, and regulatory challenges, including key focus areas like confidentiality and privacy of data, or liability and recourse when transacting with public blockchain environments, they said.
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(Kitco News) - Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing for the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help the government collect the taxes owed by digital assets companies.

Brad Sherman, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, and Stephen Lynch, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel on Monday urging them to help close the tax gap by bringing crypto firms into compliance.

We write to express our deep concern about the state of tax compliance by the cryptocurrency industry, they said. For years now, that industry has been a major source of tax evasion and a significant part of the nation's tax gap.

Sherman and Lynch wrote that in September 2020, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) issued a report claiming that [t]he IRS cannot easily identify taxpayers with virtual currency transactions because of the lack of third-party information reporting that specifically identifies virtual currency transactions.

In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which required crypto brokers to begin tracking and reporting customers crypto transactions on behalf of the IRS. The law clearly states that taxpayers should begin receiving 1099s for tax filing year 2023, they said.

But in December 2022, the Treasury Department told cryptocurrency brokers they would not have to track customer transactions until it issued final regulations about this requirement. They said that Treasury completed its review of the regulations in February. It is now May, and the proposed regulations have yet to be promulgated, they wrote.

The cryptocurrency industry had all of 2022 to prepare for the infrastructure law's tax reporting requirements and now it apparently gets 2023 off as well, the Congressmen said. We hope Treasury/IRS will promptly release the proposed regulations so we can close the tax gap and bring the cryptocurrency industry into full tax compliance.

Not all their fellow members of the House are quite so eager to see the IRS with more power over crypto, however. In March, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers co-led by House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry and Rep. Ritchie Torres announced plans to reintroduce legislation that would reform the crypto tax reporting provisions that were first introduced in 2021s IIJA. The lawmakers want to change the Keep Innovation in America Act by narrowing the definition of a crypto broker for tax purposes.

Based on a draft of the bill, the requirement for brokers to report on digital asset transactions worth more than $10,000 to the Internal Revenue Service would be pushed from 2024 to 2026. The terminology has also been altered so that miners and validators, hardware and software developers, and protocol developers are not considered to be brokers.

At the time the bill was first introduced, crypto advocates said that the laws treatment of digital assets would burden non-financial firms like crypto miners and certain software providers with impossible-to-fulfill reporting requirements.

The updated draft bill addresses those concerns and goes a step further by applying significant limits to the federal governments ability to define what a digital asset is. The IIJA originally gave the Treasury Department discretionary power to define digital assets, but the changes to the Keep Innovation in America place limits on that power.

According to Rep. McHenry, the bill rectifies misguided policy and regulatory overreach [that] threatens to push this dynamic industry  and its potential benefits  overseas.

And later in March, Treasury and the IRS issued new guidance on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and asked for feedback on their plan to tax them as collectibles.

NFTs have seen a significant rise in popularity since the bull market of 2021, with billions of dollars worth of transactions happening on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, LooksRare and Blur.

There are also numerous accusations of rampant wash trading and money laundering occurring via NFT markets, leading the industry to become a point of focus for global regulators looking to clamp down on illegal activities.

The IRS and Treasury appear to be particularly concerned about the purchase of NFTs in retirement accounts and the dangers they pose to the long-term financial health of retirees.

Interested parties can provide comments to the IRS until June 19 on topics such as when an NFT is considered to be a work of art.

The IRS has been making a concerted effort to regulate the crypto industry in recent months. In October, the tax collector released a draft bill proposing the addition of a well-defined Digital Assets section to the 2022 IRS tax forms that included detailed guidance on how to report on cryptocurrencies and nonfungible tokens (NFT).

And in November, reports emerged that the agency's criminal investigation (CI) division was gearing up to bring the hammer down on crypto tax evaders and was building hundreds of cases focused on things like off-ramping transactions, where digital assets are exchanged for fiat currency, as well as people being paid for work in crypto and not reporting that income on their taxes.

According to IRS special agent Thomas Fattorusso, who is in charge of IRS-CIs New York field office, Cryptocurrency is here to stay, so the tax-collection agency is looking to partner with the crypto industry to fight financial crime.

Fattorusso said the agency could not take a hostile approach to the technology and instead must embrace it since it isnt going anywhere anytime soon and its becoming more legitimate as the years roll on, along with becoming more sophisticated.

He stressed that it is a goal of the IRS to work towards getting more cooperation from crypto companies and developing a non-contentious relationship that is more symbiotic than oppositional. It helps them in their legitimacy. This is a new industry for everybody. I think were still trying to feel our way around it. The companies are feeling their way around it.
Already poor air quality in Cayuga County from wildfire smoke drifting from Canada has become worse Wednesday morning.

The Cayuga County Health Department reported the federal air quality monitoring system has now put Cayuga County air into the most-severe "hazardous" category.

This level means all residents are advised to take precautions

"Everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels," the county health department said in a press release. "If you are spending time outdoors, high- quality masks, such as N95 and KN95 masks, can be worn outdoors to reduce the inhalation of fine particles from the air. During this time, keep your windows and doors closed to avoid letting outdoor air inside of your home. Use air purifiers or air conditioning units with high-efficiency filters to improve indoor air quality if possible."

As of 1 p.m., the federal airnow.gov monitoring site put Auburn's air quality index level at 438. Readings above 300 are considered hazardous.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has encouraged school districts around the state to suspend outdoor activities in response to the air conditions.

Neighboring Onondaga County is also in the hazardous level for air quality, with the health department there urging the cancellation of outdoor activities.

EARLIER WE REPORTED:

Smoke from wildfires in Canada is causing hazy conditions and poor air quality in Cayuga County and across upstate New York.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory through Wednesday due to the worsening conditions. As of 1 p.m., Auburn's air quality index was 191  an unhealthy level, especially for older adults, young children and people with certain health ailments, such as heart disease or respiratory problems.

An alert issued by the Cayuga County Health Department, citing guidance from the state Department of Health, advises the public to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity and wear a high-quality mask, such as an N95 or KN95, if they are spending time outside.

"During this time you may want to keep your windows and doors closed to avoid letting outdoor air inside of your home," the local health department wrote in a news release. "Use air purifiers or air conditioning units with high-efficiency filters to improve indoor air quality if possible."

The conditions are hard to miss in Cayuga County. A smoky scent greets those walking outside and the haze is noticeable, especially in open areas. Two Cayuga County-area school districts, Jordan-Elbridge and Moravia, canceled outdoor activities because of the poor air quality.

An update from the National Weather Service notes that thicker smoke, with visibilities of 1.5 to 3 miles, is moving south from the wildfires in Canada. The agency, like others, advised residents to limit outdoor activities.

The wildfires causing the haze and poor air quality are mainly in Quebec, where nearly 160 fires have been reported. Smoke from the wildfires is descending on the United States, with several states reporting decreased air quality.

A DEC forest ranger, who is an expert wildland firefighter, has been deployed to Nova Scotia to assist with the firefighting efforts.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said Tuesday that his department's meteorologists have been closely monitoring weather patterns and other information to produce the air quality forecasts.

"DEC and our partners at the (state Department of Health) will continue to keep the public informed with the latest on air quality alerts, and I also continue to hope that all the responding firefighters, including our forest ranger, remain safe while working to get these blazes under control," Seggos said.
June 6, 1993

Rain didnt seem to dampen the spirit of spectators yesterday afternoon, as the Auburn Kiwanis fifth annual Duck Derby got underway.

Released by the Mill Street Dam, the yellow rubber duckies made their way down the race course in the Owasco Outlet.

About 25 minutes later, the first duck, Mae-Mae, crossed the finish line, awarding its owner  Anna McCulloch, of 118 E. Genesee St., Auburn  a seven-day trip for a family of four to Walt Disney World.

Here is a list of the rest of the winners and their prizes:

 First place: a three-day cruise in the Bahamas for two adults  Sandra Rosekrans, Auburn;

 Second place: Four days in Las Vegas for two adults  Mary Ellen Cereo, Auburn;

 Third place: Five days in Myrtle Beach for two adults  Al Robinson, Auburn;

 Fourth place: Three days in Toronto for two adults  Fred Tenity, Auburn;

 Fifth place: A dinner cruise on Skaneateles Lake for two adults  Beatrice Miller, Auburn.

Also, Jackie Smith, of Montezuma; and Dan Moochler, Mildred Driscoll, John Martellaro and Jaci Cioffa Muraton, all of Auburn, each won $100 cash.

The last-place duck, Darrow, won his owner, Tyrell Seamans of Auburn, a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

Officials said that more than $1,000 worth of door prizes were also awarded.

They said a list of those winners is posted at the YMCA, where they can pick up their prizes. YMCA officials asked that no one phone the Y, but come in person.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 70F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 47F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Columbia City Council will hear numerous utility rate and planning and zoning proposals at their Monday meeting.
This stunning Marcellus colonial with over 3,300 square feet is the one you've been waiting for! Located on a quiet cul-de-sac and sitting on over an acre, you can enjoy peaceful country living while still being conveniently located. The newly finished basement provides an additional living space that includes a guest bedroom and full bathroom with walk-in shower. If you work remotely, you'll love the new custom built-in desk and shelves in the front office! Upstairs you'll find four huge bedrooms, and the primary bedroom features two walk-in closets, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and whirlpool tub. Entertain guests in your gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and open floor plan. The sunny morning room is the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee, and you'll enjoy hot summer days hanging out on the Trex deck by the pool! Plus, you'll have plenty of space to store your toys in the huge three car garage. Schedule your showing today! *Delayed showings until Friday, June 2nd at 5:00* *Open House w/refreshments: Sunday, June 4th from 11 am until 2 pm.* *Delayed negotiations until Monday, June 5th at 11 am.*

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Chinook Tyee Industry Ltd (CVE:XCX  Get Rating) shares shot up 21.6% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as C$0.53 and last traded at C$0.45. 203,469 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 356% from the average session volume of 44,615 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.37.

Chinook Tyee Industry Stock Up 21.6 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$0.45 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.45. The company has a market capitalization of C$9.10 million and a PE ratio of -2.60.

Chinook Tyee Industry Company Profile

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Chinook Tyee Industry Limited operates as a financial service company in Canada. The company was formerly known as Global Railway Industries Ltd. and changed its name to Chinook Tyee Industry Limited in August 2013. Chinook Tyee Industry Limited is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Sunday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.00-$1.20 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.16. The company issued revenue guidance of $20.20 billion-$21.20 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $21.18 billion. Dell Technologies also updated its FY 2024 guidance to $5.25-$5.75 EPS.

Dell Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of DELL opened at $45.49 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $33.26 billion, a PE ratio of 17.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.02. Dell Technologies has a 52-week low of $32.90 and a 52-week high of $51.40. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $44.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $41.94.

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Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 1st. The technology company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.45. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.01% and a negative return on equity of 147.96%. The company had revenue of $20.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.27 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.64 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 19.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Dell Technologies will post 4.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Insider Buying and Selling

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $45.00 to $48.00 in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Dell Technologies in a research note on Monday, March 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Dell Technologies from $50.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Friday. Raymond James raised their price objective on Dell Technologies from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, KGI Securities upgraded shares of Dell Technologies from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $49.81.

In related news, General Counsel Richard J. Rothberg sold 200,958 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.36, for a total transaction of $9,115,454.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 149,379 shares in the company, valued at $6,775,831.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Dell Technologies news, General Counsel Richard J. Rothberg sold 200,958 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.36, for a total transaction of $9,115,454.88. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 149,379 shares in the company, valued at $6,775,831.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 15,983 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.49, for a total value of $583,219.67. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 841,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,695,643.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 522,371 shares of company stock valued at $22,038,868. Company insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DELL. Toroso Investments LLC lifted its stake in Dell Technologies by 93.8% in the first quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 12,587 shares of the technology companys stock worth $506,000 after acquiring an additional 6,091 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 17,414 shares of the technology companys stock worth $700,000 after purchasing an additional 773 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 36.6% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 4,677 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $188,000 after purchasing an additional 1,254 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 43.9% during the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 16,420 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $659,000 after buying an additional 5,013 shares during the period. Finally, Sender Co & Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in Dell Technologies in the first quarter worth about $361,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.42% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

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Dell Technologies, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of information technology hardware, software, and service solutions through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), Client Solutions Group (CSG), and VMware. The ISG segment includes servers, networking, and storage, as well as services and third-party software and peripherals that are closely tied to the sale of ISG hardware.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of EVERTEC (NYSE:EVTC  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday morning.

Separately, Raymond James raised their price target on EVERTEC from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd.

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EVERTEC Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EVTC opened at $35.08 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $34.00 and a 200 day moving average of $34.09. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. EVERTEC has a 12 month low of $30.17 and a 12 month high of $40.29. The stock has a market cap of $2.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.23 and a beta of 0.95.

EVERTEC Dividend Announcement

EVERTEC ( NYSE:EVTC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $159.81 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $152.17 million. EVERTEC had a return on equity of 29.70% and a net margin of 36.65%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that EVERTEC will post 2.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. EVERTECs dividend payout ratio is currently 5.83%.

Insider Buying and Selling at EVERTEC

In other news, CEO Morgan M. Schuessler sold 29,578 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.61, for a total value of $1,023,694.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 127,072 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,397,961.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Morgan M. Schuessler sold 29,578 shares of EVERTEC stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.61, for a total transaction of $1,023,694.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 127,072 shares in the company, valued at $4,397,961.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Morgan M. Schuessler sold 27,101 shares of EVERTEC stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.94, for a total transaction of $974,009.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 169,750 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,100,815. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 97,142 shares of company stock valued at $3,409,682. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of EVERTEC by 9.2% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,066,208 shares of the business services providers stock worth $315,575,000 after acquiring an additional 845,669 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of EVERTEC during the 4th quarter valued at about $19,676,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of EVERTEC by 592.1% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 638,644 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $26,139,000 after purchasing an additional 546,369 shares during the last quarter. One Fin Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of EVERTEC during the 3rd quarter valued at about $10,346,000. Finally, Laurion Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of EVERTEC during the 3rd quarter valued at about $7,838,000. 97.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

EVERTEC Company Profile

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EVERTEC, Inc engages in the provision of transaction services. It operates through the following segments: Payment Services-Puerto Rico and Caribbean, Payment Services-Latin America, Merchant Acquiring, Business Solutions, and Corporate and Other. The Payment Services segment is involved in the authorization, processing, management and recording of automated teller machines (ATM) and point of sales transactions, and ATM management and monitoring.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) CFO Mark Kempa sold 4,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.04, for a total value of $75,388.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 241,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,865,976.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Performance

Shares of NCLH stock traded up $0.56 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $16.74. 13,761,656 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 14,342,030. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $10.31 and a fifty-two week high of $18.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 184.14, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.26. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $13.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.33.

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The company reported ($0.30) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.51) by $0.21. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative return on equity of 448.59% and a negative net margin of 23.54%. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.74 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($1.90) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 249.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will post 0.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 1.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,714,581 shares of the companys stock worth $530,678,000 after purchasing an additional 863,553 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 0.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,716,207 shares of the companys stock worth $318,983,000 after acquiring an additional 77,389 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 15.7% during the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 21,242,007 shares of the companys stock worth $464,775,000 after acquiring an additional 2,875,079 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 1.3% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,503,855 shares of the companys stock worth $181,627,000 after acquiring an additional 169,406 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 2.3% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,850,121 shares of the companys stock worth $118,885,000 after acquiring an additional 196,978 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.17% of the companys stock.

NCLH has been the topic of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Norwegian Cruise Line in a report on Friday, April 28th. They issued a neutral rating and a $15.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $22.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Citigroup lowered their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Susquehanna dropped their price target on Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $15.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reissued an underperform rating and set a $13.00 price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.50.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various locations, including destinations in Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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Ather Energy has announced an industry-first 60-month vehicle loan for the 450X electric scooter in a bid to make the model more accessible to customers. The announcement comes days after the electric scooter received a price hike due to the revised FAME II subsidy regulations . This is the first time that a five-year finance product has been rolled out in the EV industry.

Ather Energy says that the new five-year loan offer will bring monthly equated monthly instalments (EMIs) to as low as 2,999 on the 450X. The company has partnered with IDFC First, Bajaj Finance, and Hero FinCorp to offer a five-year loan window for electric two-wheelers. The 60-month window is a big step up from the current 36-month loan window provided by banks and NBFCs in India for electric two-wheelers. Certain financial institutions do provide a 48-month loan window under special circumstances.

Also Read : More affordable Ather 450S electric scooter is here, priced at 1.29 lakh

Ather says customers taking loans on electric two-wheelers have increased from 20% to 50% since November 2022

Speaking on the industry-first initiative, Ravneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer - Ather Energy, said, Affordable vehicle loan products have for long been a critical last-mile enabler for the stupendous growth of the Indian two-wheeler market. The growing popularity of EV scooters in the country has necessitated the need for vehicle loan products with a longer tenure. It is an ongoing journey for us to ensure we make our scooters accessible to a wider audience, and attractive financing is an effective tool to quicken EV adoption in the country. As an industry pioneer, Ather has worked closely with some of Indias leading retail finance players, banks, and NBFCs to design and offer the countrys first 60-month EV loan product and pave the way for other OEMs. We believe this extended loan period will make EVs even more lucrative and bring in more customers. We hope and expect other two-wheeler brands, particularly in the EV market to also start offering a similar 60-month loan product to their customers."

Since November 2022, we have seen the number of customers who opt for loans increase from 20 per cent to 50 per cent now. With the segment poised to grow in the coming years, attractive EV financing schemes are even more relevant and they will be crucial to fuel the industrys growth in the coming years. I am very happy that Ather is the first to offer a 60-month loan in the Indian EV two-wheeler industry," Ravneet added.

Ather expects more banks and NBFCs to join the initiative in a bid to make electric vehicles more accessible. Not just the Ather 450X but other manufacturers too announced price hikes due to the revised subsidy norms. The price hike for the 450X lineup ranges between 20,500 and 30,000 for the base and Pro Pack variants. Prices now start at 1.45 lakh, going up to 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom).

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In May this year, Great Wall Motor (GWM) sold 101,020 new vehicles, marking a year-on-year increase of 26.18%, according to the automakers press release. Its monthly sales volume has been climbing steadily since the beginning of 2023.

GWM said its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales reached 23,755 units in May, accounting for a record-high share of 23.52% in the companys overall sales. In the same month, overseas market sales also reached a historic high of 25,131 units, showing a remarkable year-on-year growth of 104.04% and accounting for 24.88% of GWMs total sales.

HAVAL Xiaolong MAX, HAVAL Xiaolong; photo credit: GWM

The HAVAL brand achieved a remarkable performance in May with 55,600 vehicles sold, reflecting a growth of 33.18% from a year ago. Hitting the market last month, the HAVAL Xiaolong MAX and the HAVAL Xiaolong recorded a combined sales volume of 3,088 in May. Additionally, the second-generation HAVAL Dagou (Big Dog) PHEV achieved a monthly sales volume of 3,325 units.

The WEY brand recorded sales of 5,770 units in May, representing a year-on-year spike of 128.97%. The WEY Blue Mountain DHT-PHEV, a flagship 6-seater SUV in the 300,000 yuan price range, saw its first full-month sales reach 5,136 units.

Besides, the ORA brand also experienced positive growth in May with sales reaching 10,616 units, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 19.27%. Meanwhile, Tank brands sales in May leapt 30.07% from a year earlier to 10,429 units.

Great Wall Pick-up sold 18,605 units in May, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.39%. The hotter-selling Great Wall Poer pickup model had a sales volume of 14,006 units last month, which were 6.19% more than that of the year-ago period.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In the month of May 2023, Chery Holding Group sold 139,172 vehicles, representing a remarkable year-on-year growth of 63%, according to the groups press release. This marks the twelfth consecutive month in which Chery's monthly sales exceeded 100,000 units.

For the first five months of this year, Chery Holdings cumulative sales volume amounted to 596,220 vehicles, leaping 61% from a year earlier.

Breaking down the sales data by specific brands, in May, Chery brand sold 103,160 vehicles, an increase of 61.2% compared to the same period last year. From January to May, its sales volume totaled 433,545 vehicles, a year-on-year growth of 55.9%.

EXEED brand sold 7,612 vehicles in May, reflecting a year-on-year spike of 109.2%. In the Jan.-May period, its cumulative sales volume reached 31,980 vehicles, a year-on-year hike of 101.1%.

JETOUR brand sold 19,821 vehicles last month, displaying a 72.1% surge from the previous year. Its year-to-date sales reached 90,774 vehicles, zooming up 97.3% from the year-ago period.

Among Chery Holding's top three sales contributors, namely the TIGGO 8, TIGGO 7, and JETOUR X70, they contributed 17,219 units, 18,976 units, and 10,186 units of sales in May, respectively.

TIGGO 9 hitting market; photo credit: Chery Holding

Chery Holding has been accelerating its pace in launching new products and new technologies this year. Just in May, the TIGGO 9, the groups first production model to ride on Cherys Mars Architecture-Super Hybrid Platform, hit the market globally. This flagship SUV not only adds another powerful member to the TIGGO family, but also sets a new benchmark for the 200,000-yuan-level SUV market in China, offering an ultimate comfortable experience, said the automaker.

Kunpeng super-performance electric hybrid C-DM-dedicated engines and transmissions; photo credit: Chery Holding

Just three days later, on June 2nd, Chery Holding witnessed the all-new Kunpeng super-performance electric hybrid C-DM-dedicated engines and transmissions roll off line.

By 2024, Chery Holding plans to launch more than 20 C-DM models. Along with the introduction of new all-electric vehicle models by its independent new energy electric vehicle brand, iCAR, the group's comprehensive strategy of new energy vehicles, including multiple scenarios, brands, and technological routes, is being fully implemented.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Teslas Gigafactory Shanghai delivers 77,695 vehicles in May

In May 2023, the deliveries of the vehicles manufactured at Teslas Gigafactory Shanghai reached 77,695 units, representing a year-on-year spike of 142%, according to the data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Model Y; photo credit: Tesla

Magna names new president for China region

May 31, 2023 marked a significant leadership transition within Magna's China division as Ms. Wu Zhen, former Head of Magna China at Magna International, assumed the role of President for Magna China. In her new capacity, Ms. Wu will take charge of strategic planning and execution for the China region, overseeing all aspects of business operations and reporting directly to Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Executive Officer of Magna.

Ms. Wu Zhen; photo credit: Magna

CATL, Yutong Commercial Vehicle team up on battery swapping for long-haul logistics

In a move to further expand in the long-haul logistics market, Yutong Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. this week entered into a long-term strategic partnership with CATL for duration of five years (2023-2028). The collaboration aims to focus on and cultivate the market for electric truck battery swapping on long-haul routes.

At the same time, both companies will share resources in the field of commercial vehicle battery swapping. They will collaborate on the development and application of new materials, systems, and technologies, working together to establish industry standards for commercial vehicle batteries.

General Motors introduces Proxima design project at Shanghai-based design studio

On June 6, General Motors ("GM") unveiled the progress achieved by the GM China Advanced Design Center since the studio was expanded and renovated, highlighting the studio's creative growth and contribution to GM's global advanced design footprint.

Among the projects undertaken by the studio is Proxima, named after the Portuguese word for "next," reflecting the studio's commitment to designing for the next-generation users in China. Proxima, the studio's first major accomplishment in its transition towards EV design, reimagines flagship sedan proportions, enhances interior spaciousness, and delivers a residential in-cabin experience. It represents sophisticated simplicity and purity tailored to China's tech-focused market environment.

Greater Bay Technology launches self-developed Phoenix Battery

On June 6, Guangzhou Greater Bay Technology Co., Ltd. ("Greater Bay Technology"), which specializes in the production, development and sales of super-fast charge lithium batteries, officially launched its in-house developed Fenghuang (translated as 'Phoenix') Battery, as a result of the innovations in battery materials and structure.

Nissan Motor sees China sales rise YoY, MoM in May 2023

Nissan Motor's China sales for May 2023 reached 66,096 units, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10.7% and a month-on-month growth of 7.8%, the Japanese automaker said on Tuesday.

SinoHytec announces establishment of hydrogen technology subsidiary

Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd. ("SinoHytec"), a Chinese developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell engine systems, announced the official establishment of a subsidiary dedicated to development of hydrogen technologies, named Beijing SinoHytec Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. ("Hydrogen Technology Company"), on June 6. The new company aims to consolidate its resources and expand its presence in the hydrogen production sector, thereby achieving diversified business development.

Chery Holding boasts 61% YoY surge in Jan.-May 2023 auto sales

In the month of May 2023, Chery Holding Group sold 139,172 vehicles, representing a remarkable year-on-year growth of 63%, according to the groups press release. This marks the twelfth consecutive month in which Chery's monthly sales exceeded 100,000 units.

Great Wall Motors monthly NEV, overseas market sales hit all-time highs in May 2023

In May this year, Great Wall Motor (GWM) sold 101,020 new vehicles, marking a year-on-year increase of 26.18%, according to the automakers press release. Its monthly sales volume has been climbing steadily since the beginning of 2023.
Addressing the National Law Conference yesterday (03), President Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lankas next country assessment on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism will commence soon. The assessment, slated to commence soon, holds immense significance as it directly impacts the countrys ease of doing business rating and its ability to attract foreign investments.

In an important development, Sri Lanka has been informed about the impending country assessment on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. This assessment holds significant weight as Sri Lankas compliance in these areas is crucial for enhancing the ease of doing business rating and attracting foreign investments.

As discussions unfold, it becomes apparent that addressing the identified gaps in the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework is of utmost importance. Failure to rectify these gaps poses a potential risk of Sri Lanka once again being labelled as a country with strategic deficiencies. Such a designation could have severe adverse effects on the countrys economic development.

Recognizing the urgency, it is imperative for Sri Lanka to prioritize bridging these gaps, which will also support the governance and anti-corruption framework, ensuring the successful implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

During the discussions, various issues have come to light. One major concern is the bureaucratic hurdles and legal complexities faced by the citizens, resulting in frequent court visits. Participants reflect upon the past, where significant infrastructure projects were accomplished within specified timeframes, even amidst an ongoing war. However, the current administrative structure and an excess of legal professionals hinder the timely completion of projects, demanding a comprehensive review.

To tackle these challenges effectively, a recommendation is made for all stakeholders, including the bench, the bar, the government, and the parliament, to convene and compile a joint report. This collaborative effort would provide a clear roadmap for addressing the backlog and delays caused by legal proceedings. Additionally, it is emphasized that the formulation of a national policy, determined by parliament rather than the cabinet, is essential to resolve various issues and ensure broad agreement on critical subjects.

Following is the speech delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Well, its been a long and fruitful discussion, but I dont think I should keep you all too long because yesterday, I was given 15 minutes, but I nearly took twice that time. As the representative of the government, along with the three panel members, I will address the issues raised. One of the primary complaints has been the bureaucracy, laws, and the increasing frequency of court visits. Reflecting on my 17 years in government, during the first ten years, we successfully constructed seven large reservoirs in the Mahaveli scheme, as well as Samanala Wewa and Lunugam Vehera outside of it. We also built the Left Bank canals, Right Bank canals, and completed all these projects on time.

During President Jayawardenas tenure, we established two investment promotion zones and a new capital with a parliament, along with several buildings. During President Pramadasas time, we developed two more investment promotion zones, including 200 garment factories. We managed to stay on schedule, with no major overruns, despite the on-going war at that time. However, the current circumstances make it challenging to achieve similar results. Therefore, we need to re-evaluate the entire administrative structure. Regarding the issue of backlog and law delays, which Justice Priyantha Gunawardane emphasized, I propose that all stakeholders, including the bench, bar, government, and parliament, come together to produce a unified report. This would facilitate parliamentary action and allow input from opposition lawyers.

We can all convene and work out the necessary steps within a short period of time. As a representative of the government, I will ensure the involvement of the Secretary and the treasury, depending on the available resources. Adequate funding is essential. Additionally, I recommend that the unofficial bar, official bar, and bench provide a report on other raised concerns. The lack of a national policy contributes to some of these problems. While most governments have neglected the formulation of national policies, our constitution places the responsibility on parliament rather than the cabinet. Therefore, we aim to implement this system and have already established a committee on national policy. Though agreement among all may not be guaranteed, striving for the broadest possible consensus on various subjects is our objective, ensuring their enactment.

Now, addressing the energy issue, we must first focus on unbundling the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Unbundling was advised by the Asian Development Bank in 2003, but later, due to union influence, the government reversed the decision. The unions now insist on unbundling. Had we done it in 2004, we would have avoided the current problem.

The second issue pertains to renewable energy. We have a renewable energy authority under the 13th Amendment and its under the Provincial Councils and the other is hydroelectricity. As for the national grid, its definition remains incomplete, allowing for the possibility of parallel grids. Consequently, an energy regulator, specifically an electricity regulator, is necessary to balance the powers of the CEB and the Provincial Councils. We are currently exploring the appropriate regulatory framework and seeking resolutions for the raised concerns, including tariffs. Furthermore, we have initiated a committee on Digital Transformation to drive digitalization in the government. During my tenure as Minister of Industries and Technology, we discussed digitalization in customs, but even after 30 years, progress has been insufficient. The presence of numerous lawyers leads to further complications, with court stays being sought amid on-going processes. To address this problem, we are introducing a new system inspired by the Malaysian model the Lab methodology. This system involves bringing all stakeholders together to discuss and provide a report within six weeks, which the government will then implement. In the Sinhalese language, we refer to this approach as Sanghayana where everyone participates, discusses, and returns with recommendations. This methodology aims to resolve government-related issues and streamline procedures in collaboration with the private sector. Lastly, regarding the local firms, we will provide assistance to competitive companies to improve their competitiveness. However, non-competitive local firms cannot expect special treatment. In the past, we focused heavily on the construction sector, providing BOI proposals and tax incentives. Our economy became overly reliant on concrete-related activities. While we support the growth of our construction and real estate firms, we also encourage other companies to come if they meet our standards. A level playing field is essential for development. By looking beyond our borders and adopting a unified policy, we can overcome the challenges we face. I wont take any more of your time as you have other sessions and a lunch break. I extend my gratitude to all of you, and lets follow up on these matters. Finally, I want to emphasize that we are preparing for the upcoming country assessment on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. Sri Lanka recognizes the importance of addressing the identified gaps, strengthening our governance framework, and ensuring compliance. With the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, we strive for sustainable economic development and international cooperation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kaushalya Navaratne, President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka addressing the gathering said, The aim of this conference is to initiate a dialogue between the legal fraternity, policymakers, bureaucrats, and the business community. Recognizing the significance of both entrepreneurship and the rule of law, it is crucial for these sectors to understand each others importance for the nations prosperity.

To ensure a fruitful discussion, it is essential to involve the political leadership, and we appreciate the dedication of President Wickremesinghe in joining us for this event. The presence of senior judicial officers, policymakers, bureaucrats, lawyers, and corporate leaders will contribute to candid and open discussions.

The focus of the conversation should be on real problems and realities, aiming to find long-lasting solutions. With this in mind, let us commence the conversation and work towards a productive outcome.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Faiszer Mustapha PC, Chairman NLC said, Reflecting on the past 75 years since our independence, we acknowledge the initial optimism for Sri Lankas growth. However, the devastating impact of war and economic mismanagement has hindered our progress and led us to our current challenges. It is now our duty to rectify past mistakes and confront these obstacles.

We must begin by addressing our debt and engaging in debt restructuring to regain control of our economy. Business as usual is no longer an option; we must forge a new path towards efficient economic growth and sustainable development. This requires a deep understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the legal fraternity, judiciary, entrepreneurs, and guardians of the rule of law.

The business community plays a crucial role in job creation, wealth generation, and innovation. Without a thriving business sector, our nations advancement will be compromised. It is essential for the legal fraternity and judiciary to foster trust and collaboration with the business community, while businesses must uphold the rule of law and consider their social responsibilities beyond individual targets.

Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Jayawardena PC said, The significance of this conference cannot be understated, particularly in light of the unprecedented economic and financial challenges our nation is currently facing. It is our collective responsibility to strive for the betterment of our country and overcome this situation.

The fact that we have gathered here today is a testament to the shared interest we all have in this conference. Throughout the event, we will be focusing on important topics such as improving the ease of doing business, enhancing contract enforcement within a favourable legal framework, and related subjects.

It is crucial to note that Sri Lankas current rankings by the World Bank place us at 29th in the ease of doing business index and 164th in enforcing contracts. These rankings significantly influence investment decisions, making it imperative for us to address these parameters for the economic revival of our nation.

Mr. M. Rajaram, Partner/Chairman, K&L Gates Straits Law LLC (Singapore); Investors perceive Sri Lanka as an increasingly attractive destination for investments, as acknowledged in discussions held in Singapore, India, the UK, and the US. However, investors seek certain assurances and a level of comfort when considering investment opportunities. When disputes arise, investors prioritize two key factors: certainty of outcome and a fast resolution.

Drawing from Singapores experience, specialized judges and a case management system have been established to address different types of issues, aiming to resolve cases within 15 months in most instances. Additionally, modernization efforts, such as paperless filings and electronic hearings, have been implemented in Singaporean courts.

Despite being a small nation with limited natural resources and a smaller population compared to Sri Lanka, Singapore has successfully embraced these measures. Therefore, the suggestion is made to consider modernizing Sri Lankas court system using artificial intelligence (AI) and implementing strict case management controls.

Presidents Counsel Dr. K Kanag-Isvaran, Presidents Counsel Dr. Faiz Mustapha, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, Presidents Senior Adviser on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H. Samaratunga, attended the conference as panelists while Presidents Counsel Mr. Chandaka Jayasundere moderated the panel discussion.

Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, Mr. Ronald Perera PC, Chairman, Bank of Ceylon, Chairman, Sri Lanka, Insurance Corporation Mr. Thulci Aluwihare, Deputy Managing Director, CHEC Port City Colombo(Pvt) Ltd, Mrs. Nadeeja Tambiah, President- Head of Legal and Secretarial- John Keells Holdings, Mr. Mohamed Azmeer, CEO, Amana Bank PLC, Mr. Premalal Brahmanage, Chairman, Prime Group, Mr. Nirmal Cooke, Group Director Capital Maharaja Organization, Mr. Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman, Hirdaramani Group, Mr. Asgi Akbarally, Executive Director, Akbar Brothers Group, Mr. Dipak Das, Managing Director, Lanka IOC PLC, Mr. Imal Fonseka, Chief Executive Officer, Richardson Group, Mr. Janaka Abeysinghe, Chief Executive Officer, Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr.Thushan Meemanage, Director, Scope Cinemas (Pvt) Limited and a distinguished group of Supreme Court judges and lawyers attended this event.

President's Media Division (PMD)

04-06-2023

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Read more: www.pmd.gov.lk
NewsVoir

Manipal (Karnataka) [India], June 6: Manipal's American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA) offers a medical program where students start their medical education journey at MAHE, Manipal (India), continue pre-clinical sciences in its Antigua campus (Antigua & Barbuda), and then undergo clinical rotations in affiliated teaching hospitals in the US/UK/Canada. On successful completion of licensing exams, students graduate with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree awarded by the American University of Antigua.

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Manipal's AUA graduates are eligible to apply for residency placement in the US & ultimately realize their dream of being a practicing doctor in the US (or UK/Canada). At present, AUA graduates are enrolled in over 700 residency programs across the US.The Pre-Med to MD program is a 6.5 years program designed for high school graduates and non-traditional students who are all set to pursue an international career in medicine.

Medical aspirants who possess a Bachelor's degree in Science (BSc) from an accredited university and meet the prerequisite course requirements are eligible to apply for direct enrolment into AUA's prestigious 4.5-year MD program. AUA's Doctor of Medicine (MD) program for Bachelor degree holders consists of 2.5 years of Pre-Clinical Sciences at AUA in Antigua, followed by 2 years of Clinical Rotations at affiliated hospitals in the USA (or UK/Canada/India).

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Manipal's AUA is now accepting applications for the Fall September 2023 batch of the Pre-med to MD program at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Interested aspirants who have completed the 12th standard and have qualified NEET exams can apply for this program with their score or predicted NEET score.

To find out more about the admission process, click here

American University of Antigua (AUA), part of the Manipal Education and Medical Group, founded in 2004, focuses on addressing the growing shortage of doctors in the United States. Backed by the 70-year Manipal legacy in medical education & healthcare, AUA has developed into a hub for international education, spread over a modern 150,000 sq. ft. technologically advanced campus. Located in Antigua and Barbuda, AUA is an international medical school with a US-modelled curriculum that emphasizes hands-on training and personalised learning with small batch sizes.

With clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals across the United States, UK & Canada and a vast network of accomplished alumni practicing currently in more than 700+ residency programs worldwide, AUA provides a dynamic and nurturing environment for students to develop their medical expertise.

Manipal's AUA is one of the few Caribbean med schools which is recognised by the Medical Board of California (MBC), approved by the New York and Florida Education, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM- HP). The student, upon successfully passing the licensure exams, can aim for residency and become a practising doctor in any of the 50 states in the USA, UK or Canada.

For more information, please visit www.auamed.org.

(Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
How Dogetti is redefining the future of cryptocurrencies, With Cardano and Polygon

ATK

New Delhi [India], June 6: Dogetti has emerged as a unique and exciting player, challenging the status quo and redefining the future of the industry. In this comparative analysis, we will explore how Dogetti (DETI) stands out from other prominent projects like Cardano (ADA) and Polygon (MATIC), examining their approaches, features, and potential impact on the market. Join us on this journey as we delve into the world of cryptocurrencies and uncover the distinctive qualities that make Dogetti a compelling investment opportunity.

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Dogetti Meme Magic Ignites Crypto Renaissance

Dogetti, similar to renowned meme coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, presents itself as a fun and engaging altcoin within the cryptocurrency space. However, what sets Dogetti apart is its underlying purpose and commitment to its community, referred to as "The Family." Inspired by mafia-themed books and films, Dogetti fosters a sense of unity and togetherness among its holders.

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The primary goal of the Dogetti project is to elevate the overall net worth of every member of The Family. This objective is achieved through a 2 per cent reflection protocol that rewards holders regularly. By providing tangible rewards, Dogetti incentivizes its community to actively participate and contribute to the project's growth.

The Power of Utility in Dogetti

Dogetti goes beyond the concept of a meme coin by incorporating various forms of utility that serve as its core foundation. This focus on utility sets Dogetti apart from many other meme coins, positioning it as a serious contender in the market.

One of the key utilities offered by Dogetti is its potential for future adoption and integration. As the crypto industry continues to evolve, the ability for a coin to find real-world use cases becomes increasingly crucial. Dogetti recognizes this and strives to establish partnerships and collaborations that enable its adoption in different sectors.

Additionally, Dogetti aims to create an ecosystem that allows its holders to engage in a variety of activities within the platform. This includes features such as staking, decentralized applications (dApps), and a robust marketplace for goods and services. By providing these diverse utilities, Dogetti enhances its value proposition and offers a multifaceted experience to its community.

Comparing Dogetti, Cardano and Polygon

While Cardano and Polygon have established themselves as prominent players in the cryptocurrency space, they differ significantly from Dogetti in terms of their core focus and approach.

Cardano, known for its innovative blockchain technology, aims to create a secure and scalable infrastructure for decentralized applications. While Cardano focuses on building a robust foundation for the future, Dogetti embraces a more community-centric approach, fostering a strong bond among its holders and prioritizing regular rewards.

Polygon, on the other hand, offers a scalable and interoperable framework for creating and connecting blockchain networks. While Polygon focuses on technological advancements and seamless integration, Dogetti places emphasis on creating a vibrant and engaged community, providing them with an array of utilities and opportunities to participate actively.

Dogetti stands out as a project that combines the excitement of meme coins with a purpose-driven approach. By prioritizing its community, rewarding holders, and offering diverse utilities, Dogetti is redefining the future of cryptocurrencies.

While Cardano and Polygon have their unique strengths, Dogetti's focus on building a united community and providing tangible benefits sets it apart. As the crypto market continues to evolve, Dogetti's commitment to its holders and the potential for widespread adoption make it an appealing investment opportunity.

To embark on this journey with Dogetti and become part of The Family, visit their website and join the revolution today.

Check out Dogetti (DETI):

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Website: https://dogetti.io/

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PNN

New Delhi [India], June 6: Rohit Uttamchandani, a renowned expert in growth strategy consulting, has launched "D2C Growth Blueprint: An Actionable Roadmap to Efficiently Scale Your D2C Brand to 10,000 Orders a Month, Within a Year of Starting up."

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The comprehensive guide provides early-stage direct-to-consumer (D2C) founders and growth teams with the knowledge and strategies needed to achieve rapid and sustainable growth in today's competitive market.

Rohit, the book's author, has successfully worked with numerous brands across various sectors and has helped them develop winning growth strategies, scale their brand presence, and leverage media and technology to achieve their business goals. Understanding how daunting building a successful D2C brand, especially in the early days, can be, Rohit wanted to create an extensive handbook that would help entrepreneurs navigate this crucial phase and lay a strong foundation for growth.

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"As a growth strategy consulting firm, we've partnered with multiple early-stage D2C brands, helping them successfully scale. However, with thousands of such brands out there, we faced a pressing question: "How can we help all of these brands at scale?" That's when the idea of creating this blueprint was born. I wrote 'D2C Growth Blueprint' to provide early-stage D2C founders with a comprehensive manual to navigate the challenges they face and accelerate their growth. I wanted to offer practical strategies and insights that can be implemented immediately, saving time, resources, and missed opportunities," said Rohit Uttamchandani.

Each chapter of "D2C Growth Blueprint" focuses on a specific aspect of scaling a D2C business, covering essential topics such as product efficacy and innovation, customer service, unit economics, brand communication, online store optimization, supply chain management, performance marketing, retention strategies, data infrastructure for scale, talent acquisition and much more.

The blueprint also includes practical checklists and templates for various aspects, such as tracking unit economics, communication strategy, and budget planning. These resources will further enhance the reader's ability to effectively implement the book's strategies.

The book is now available for purchase on Amazon, Flipkart, Tacheon and Notion Press. The author also has a free sample on his website, which new entrepreneurs can download to get an idea of the book before ordering a copy.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to unlock the potential of their D2C business and achieve significant growth. By investing in "D2C Growth Blueprint," readers will gain invaluable knowledge, practical insights, and a roadmap that can save them from costly mistakes and propel their businesses to new heights.

Rohit Uttamchandani brings a wealth of expertise to the table, having played the role of a fractional CMO/CGO at multiple brands to help them scale. He is the founder of Tacheon, a growth strategy consulting firm. Recognized as one of the 100 Smartest Digital Marketing Leaders by the World Digital Marketing Congress and featured in the exchange4media Digital 40 Under 40 list, Rohit Uttamchandani is renowned for his insights and practical approach to driving growth.

For more information, please visit https://tacheon.com/d2c-growth-blueprint/.

For media inquiries, author interviews, or review copies of "D2C Growth Blueprint," please reach out to team@tacheon.com.

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New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Delhi's Education Minister Atishi Marlena has moved Delhi High Court against concerned ministries of the Central Government for allegedly delaying her travel clearances to the UK.

She has been invited in her official capacity by the prestigious Cambridge University to speak at a conference on 'India at 100: Towards Becoming a Global Leader' to be held on June 15.

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Atishi is a Minister in the Council of Ministers, Government of NCT of Delhi holding portfolio of Education, Public Works Department, Power, Art Culture & Languages, Tourism, Women & Child Development.

The plea stated that the respondent authorities are delaying travel clearances to the UK from June 14, 2023, to June 20, 2023. Therefore, urgent directions are required from Court to grant her the requisite clearance.

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The petition stated that Atishi is invited in her official capacity by the prestigious Cambridge University on June 15, and thereafter, she has arranged multiple visits to primary schools in the UK as well as meetings with potential Teacher Training partners, to make the most of her visit to the UK and ensure that Delhi's children gain from best practices in primary school education abroad.

The discretion to grant or deny travel clearances to State ministers is exercised by the Union of India. The petitioner received an invitation dated May 10, 2023, from Judge Business School, University of Cambridge to attend and speak at a conference organized by them on June 15, 2023.

"Subsequently, in accordance with the above-mentioned memorandum, the Petitioner applied for relevant clearances. The administrative clearance for Petitioner's request for travel dated 18.05.2023 was granted by the GNCTD. Thereafter, over a week later, the Lieutenant-Governor approved the proposal on May 26 and forwarded it to the Union of India for requisite clearances," stated the plea.

"Certain queries were raised on May 31 and subsequently on June 5 which were promptly answered to. Without a decision on such clearance, the present Petitioner is unable to apply for a visa permit for her proposed travel. Once the clearances are made, the process of applying and obtaining a visa will itself take some time and the Petitioner apprehends that the delay on account of the respondent Authorities will render the proposal for the official visit entirely infructuous and irreparably prevent the gains that Delhi's governance and schools could have made from this visit," the plea read.

The plea further added that the aforesaid official tour is significant for Delhi's governance - not only will it allow the Delhi Government to showcase the leaps that Delhi has made in education, health, and urban development generally, it will allow Delhi, particularly the children of Delhi, to benefit from learnings from other jurisdictions. (ANI)

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Calcutta (West Bengal) [India], June 6 (ANI): The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought report from the Central government over the non-release of funds allotted to the West Bengal government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The court also directed the Center to conduct a proper investigation so that the beneficiaries of the scheme do not get deprived. The Center has been directed to submit a report to the court by June 20. The court has also mentioned that if the state government wants to issue any statement they need to inform within a week.

Also Read | Judges Slam Russia over Navalny Poisoning Probe Failings.

The High Court has listed the matter for hearing again in the next month. The PIL for this was filed by Pashchim Banga Khet Majdoor Samiti.

The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government and the Centre had often been at loggerheads with one another over release of funds by the Centre. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier accused the Centre of discriminative behaviour towards her State.

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Earlier in March, Banerjee said, "Centre has stopped giving money for 100 days of work. Nothing was given to Bengal even in the budget, so I will protest in front of the Ambedkar statue on March 29-30 against the dictatorship of the central government." (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) A 27-year-old food delivery agent was allegedly mowed down by a bus in north Delhi's Civil Lines area, police said on Tuesday.

The driver of the bus has been arrested, they said.

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The deceased was identified as Dhanvir Singh alias Tanvir of Nepal and was working as a delivery agent at an eatery here, police said.

A video of the incident is being circulated on social media.

Also Read | Odisha Train Tragedy FIR By CBI Provides for a Maximum Five-Year Jail Term.

The incident took place on Saturday at IP College traffic signal. The injured was rushed to the Sushruta Trauma Centre, Civil Lines where he was declared brought dead, a senior police officer said.

A case under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC was registered at Civil Lines police station, police said.

After scanning the CCTV footage of the spot, police found that a bus was coming from ISBT, Mori Gate side and turned towards Ring Road when it hit the victim who was crossing the road, the officer said.

Police also found that after hitting the victim, the driver slowed down the bus for a moment, but later increased its speed, ran over him and fled away, the officer said.

After the analysis of the CCTV footage, Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC was also added to the FIR, police said.

The bus driver, identified as Firoz Khan from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested and the vehicle was seized, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

During interrogation, Khan said that he was working with a transport company for three years, police said.

On the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, Khan drove the bus carrying passengers to Kashmere Gate ISBT from Dehradun, they said.

After dropping the passengers, he was on his way to Jagatpur, Wazirabad through Ring Road. He stopped at a petrol pump near Permanand hospital to refill fuel, police said.

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Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): To get respite from the scorching heat of the plains, tourists have started visiting hill stations in Shimla.

Apart from visiting hill stations with families and friends, tourists are also seen enjoying desi roadside delicacies in Shimla.

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As most tourists are travelling in their private cars, traffic in some places is moving at a slow pace. All the tourism stakeholders are expecting tourism to see a boost as the people flocking to Shimla are already huge in number.

The hotels in the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh are also running at their full capacity for tourists.

Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Accident: Seven Women Killed, 20 Others Injured As Tractor Travelling to Wedding Overturns in Guntur (Watch Video).

According to the Director Tourism Department of Himachal Pradesh, from January to May, over 72 Lakh tourists arrived in the region.

"Pre Covid years, we had an annual number of One crore 70 Lakh tourists but during the Covid years, it was first 32 Lakh and later 57 years. Last year, we received 1 Crore 51 Lakh tourists. It shows that we had revived tourism in the state with aggressive marketing and other strategies. This year, we have received 72 lakh tourists till May and by June end, we are executing a huge footfall. At the recent weekend, we had a good footfall. And by June end the number of tourist arrivals would be satisfactory," Amit Kashyap said.

He further said that more tourists are expected to arrive in the region in the month of June.

"The tourist arrival has increased and the pleasant weather conditions in the state and more tourists are expected in the region in the month of June. The foreign tourist arrival has not yet increased this year. By the end of this year tourism will benefit the HP Tourism Development Corporation in the near future," he said.

"In Shimla, we have nearly 70 per cent of people and on weekends the occupancy in Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotels and in Manali, we have 100 per cent occupancy," he further added.

However, sharing her experience of the tour, a tourist from Delhi Shrishti Sahu said, "I came here on Saturday, there are lots of crowds, prices are high, the weather is good and it is a very nice experience. I am from Delhi there we live in AC and it is chilling here."

The tourists are shifting to the outskirts of Shimla instead of staying in the capital city of Shimla.

"I am from Punjab, it is a very good place, I have done my studies in Shimla. We are staying in Kufri, there is so much rush here and tourists are shifting to the outskirts of Shimla," said another tourist, Saloni from Punjab.

Tourists from neighbouring states also find the hill town Shimla a second home to enjoy the summers away from home.

"We came here three days ago and there was a festival time here and large numbers of tourists were here, the weather is very pleasant here. I came most of the time to Shimla, away from the hot temperature here, we come here and it is good to be here," said Gaurav, a tourist from Chandigarh.

Thousands of tourists annually visit the hill state, and as per data available with the tourism department of Himachal Pradesh in 2019, nearly 17,20,000 tourists including nearly 4,00,000 foreign tourists visited the state with a jump of nearly 5 per cent in comparison to the year 2018.

During the year 2021, a total of 56,37102 tourists visited India.

This year till now 73 Lakh tourists have arrived in the state. An economy of over 11,000 Crore is generated in the state of Himachal Pradesh in the tourism sector and it is considered a backbone for the economy in the state which contributes to 7.3 per cent of the state GDP. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) An indigenously developed heavy-weight torpedo of the Indian Navy successfully engaged an underwater target that was described by the force as a "significant milestone".

In a brief statement, the Indian Navy said on Tuesday that the torpedo's engagement of the target reflected its commitment to "future proof combat readiness" through self-reliance.

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"Successful engagement of an underwater target by an indigenously developed heavy weight torpedo is a significant milestone in Indian Navy's and the Defence Research and Development Organisation's quest for accurate delivery of ordnance on target in the underwater domain," it said.

"This showcases our commitment to future proof combat readiness through Aatma Nirbharta (self-reliance)," the Navy said.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Group of People Throws Ink at Damoh District Education Officer SK Mishra, Raises Slogan of Jai Shri Ram (Watch Video).

In the last few years, the Navy has been focusing on bolstering its combat readiness, especially in the Indian Ocean in view of Chinese Navy's growing forays into the region.

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Thoubal, June 6: A jawan of the Border Security Force (BSF) sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds in Manipur's Serou in firing between security forces and a group of insurgents on the intervening night of June 5-6, army officials said.

"One BSF Jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds (GSW) in general area Serou," the Spear Corps of the Indian Army said in a statement. Assam-Meghalaya Border Shooting: Four Persons Killed in Firing Incident in Mukroh.

The injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri, officials said. "Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces and group of insurgents took place throughout night of June 5-6, Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," they added.

The Indian Army along with Assam Rifles, CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and police started its extensive area domination operations following the recent crisis in Manipur. The search operation is underway.

The Army, Assam Rifles, police and CAPFs commenced Area Domination Operations in the hills and valley area across Manipur on Saturday, said Army officials. Conducted under the surveillance cover of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Quadcopters, the operations have so far resulted in the recovery of 40 weapons (mostly automatic), mortars, ammunition and other warlike stores. Manipur Violence: Home Minister Amit Shah Asks Security Forces To Take Stern, Prompt Actions To Prevent Violence, Bring Back Normalcy.

Manipur witnessed violence on May 3 during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The march was organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the State's Meitei community in the ST category, following an April 19 Manipur High Court directive.

Following the directions during visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Manipur Security Forces have once again appealed to all those in possession of snatched weapons to surrender the same at the earliest for ensuring peace and stability in Manipur. Security Forces also warned that failure to surrender these weapons will make all such people liable for strict legal action.

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MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media banner MasonicBoys has release The Covenant, the fifth chapter in its series Apprentice Tyler, starring Chase Tyler, Adam Snow and Kristofer Weston.



In the new episode, Apprentice Tyler is ready for his covenant ritual, and he is excited to learn that Masters Snow and Weston are set to oversee the ceremony. After The Interview, The Calling, Anointing and Atonement, the young apprentice is ready for his new phase within The Order to begin.



Carnal Media CEO/founder Legrand Wolf said, Viewers have had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable journey of Chase Tyler, from The Interview to Atonement; now with the release of The Covenant, Apprentice Tyler is in rare form with Masters Snow and Weston, in an incredible scene that brilliantly explores and solidifies Tylers place withinand his deep connection toThe Order.

For more information about Masonic Boys, Carnal Media and streaming platform CarnalPlus, visit MasonicBoys.com and CarnalPlus.com , and follow on Twitter @masonicboysxxx @RealCarnalPlus and @CarnalMedia
Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 6 (ANI): A group of upper caste villagers pelted stones after a dalit groom sat on a mare for performing wedding rituals in which some people, including three police personnel got injured in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, a police official said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in Chorai village under Bakswaha police station limits in the district on Monday evening.

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"There was a wedding ceremony in dalit community in the district in which the groom was to perform a ritual by sitting on a mare. The people belonging to other communities (referring to upper caste people) protested the act. There was a possibility of a dispute, due to which the police force was already deployed in the village," Chhatarpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Sanghi told ANI.

After performing the rituals of Devi Pujan, the family members of the groom were returning to home in police protection but in the meantime, stones were pelted on them in which three police personnel also sustained injuries, he added.

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The official further added that the groom had to take rounds of the village and had to visit temples as a part of tradition, an objection was raised against it, which was illegal.

Following the incident, a case has been registered against 20 named and 30 unknown persons in the matter under various sections, including obstruction in government work. The police launched a search operation and the accused will be arrested soon, SP Sanghi added.

Notably, it is not the first case, there have been many such incidents that have occurred in this area in the past.

Reacting to the incident, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath wrote on twitter, "Despite the presence of the police, the matter of stone pelting on a wedding procession of a Scheduled Caste groom is very serious in Chhatarpur district. Although later the procession was taken out under police protection, but it is a matter of concern why such a thing is being seen again and again in Madhya Pradesh."

"This is not just a matter of a wedding procession but a matter of social justice to the Scheduled Castes. If the BJP-led Shivraj government cannot give the right to the deprived section of the society to live with respect, then there is nothing left to say about the law and order of the state. I demand from the Chief Minister to take strict action in the matter and run a special campaign for social harmony," Nath added. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra on Monday said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) responded swiftly in carrying out rescue and relief work in the wake of train accident in Odisha in which 275 people lost their lives.

"NDRF responded swiftly and reached the Odisha train accident site at the earliest. This force has earned many accolades internationally also," Mishra told reporters.

Also Read | Odisha Train Tragedy FIR By CBI Provides for a Maximum Five-Year Jail Term.

He said the Railway Minister had answered queries regarding the accident.

Earlier, a 10-member CBI team reached the site of train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Tuesday as part of its investigations into the tragedy that took place on June 2.

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The CBI is probing the accident that involved two passenger and a goods train.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said on Sunday said that the Railway Board had recommended a CBI probe into the tragic accident.

The minister had also said that the accident occurred due to a "change in electronic interlocking".

Electronic interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that facilitates the safe movement of a train through an arrangement of tracks.

The aim of this system is that no train gets the signal to proceed unless the route is safe.

The Railways is also conducting a probe into the accident.

The three-way accident involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods trains on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the Balasore district. (ANI)

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 6 (ANI): Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations at the premises of a Bengaluru-based firm and its director in connection with a money laundering case.

The search operations were conducted at Shree Parvathi Tex (India) Pvt Ltd and its director Rajendra Patil in acase registered under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.

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According to ED statement, the premises covered include the residential premises of Patil as well as the office premises of Shree Parvathi Tex (India) Pvt Ltd, where Rajendra Patil is one of the Directors along with his family members.

The searches were conducted on June 2.

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ED initiated the investigation under provisions of FEMA, 1999 on the basis of Panama Paper leaks where the name of Rajendra Patil surfaced. It was alleged that Patil made an undisclosed credit of Rs 66.35 crore in offshore entities.

The searches conducted revealed that Patil has invested in various companies in Dubai, Tanzania and the British Virgin Islands. Further, he also held bank accounts in Dubai and Tanzania, the agency said.

During the course of the search, several documents related to the overseas investment made by Rajendra Patil were recovered and seized.

Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)

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Kolkata, June 6: All passengers were brought down from a plane at the NSC Bose International Airport here after a man started shouting before take-off that there was a bomb in the aircraft, airport sources said on Tuesday.

The Qatar Airways flight to London from here via Doha with 541 passengers on board was getting ready for take-off at 3.29 am on Tuesday when one passenger started shouting that there was a bomb in the plane, the sources said. Spicejet Delhi-Pune Flight Bomb Threat: Call Received Regarding Explosive inside Plane, All Passengers Safe, Say Police.

The airline crew immediately informed the CISF. All the passengers were brought down from the plane and the aircraft was thoroughly searched by police with sniffer dogs but nothing was found, the sources said. The CISF detained the passenger who shouted bomb in the aircraft and questioned him. Bomb Threat To Delhi Airport: Man Claims To Have Bomb in His Bag During Security Check at IGI Airport, Disallowed From Boarding Plane.

During interrogation, the man said that another passenger on the plane told him that there was a bomb in the plane. The father of the detained man was called to the Airport police station. The father showed some medical documents to police which stated that his son was undergoing treatment for mental illness.

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Bhubaneswar, June 6: A 10-member CBI team reached the site of train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Tuesday as part of its investigations into the tragedy that took place on June 2 and resulted in death of 275 people. The CBI is probing the accident that involved two passenger and a goods train.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said on Sunday said that the Railway Board had recommended a CBI probe into the tragic accident. The minister had also said that the accident occurred due to a "change in electronic interlocking". Odisha Train Accident: Death Toll Rises to 278 in Balasore Triple Train Crash As Three More Succumb to Injuries.

CBI Team Visits Crash Site of Train Accident in Balasore

#WATCH | A 10-member CBI team at the site of the three-train accident in Odisha's Balasore pic.twitter.com/3Saro12Mlj  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

Electronic interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that facilitates safe movement of a train through an arrangement of tracks. The aim of this system is that no train gets the signal to proceed unless the route is safe. Balasore Train Tragedy: Dead Body Identification Major Challenge for Odisha Government After Triple Train Crash.

The Railways is also conducting a probe into the accident. The three-way accident involved Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods trains on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar Station in the Balasore district.

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New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Two persons have been apprehended for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old man to death here in New Delhi's Neb Sarai area, police said on Tuesday.

The deceased identified as Sachin, a senior police officer said.

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According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Chandan Chaudhary, the accused were known to the deceased.

"A 23-year-old man was stabbed near Neb Sarai area. The victim named Sachin had major injuries. He had previous involvement with the accused. The deceased had a fight near his house & accused who attacked him were known to him," the DCP Chaudhary said.

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"We have registered a case. Further investigation is underway," the DCP added.

Both the accused persons have been apprehended.

Police identified the accused as Devraj alias Annu (18) and Ayush Thapa (18), both residents of Devli Village, New Delhi.

"The motive behind the murder is the personal enmity between the accused and the deceased regarding a year-old feud. The deceased had also threatened them with dire consequences," police said.

The weapon of offence and the blood-stained clothes of the accused persons have been recovered, police said.

Police said, on June 5 at 11:30 am, two boys stopped the deceased near his house.

"The boys stabbed him following an argument. He was rushed to All India Institute of Medical Science's Trauma Centre by his brother and family members where he was declared brought dead," police said.

The crime team inspected the scene, police said.

Vinita, an eyewitness, said that Devraj and Ayush stabbed Sachin. "He was taken to the hospital," she told police.

A case was registered on the basis of the complaint of her statement, police said.

"The CCTV footage was analyzed. The accused persons were identified with the help of technical surveillance and local information, and both the accused persons were apprehended," police added. (ANI)

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Patna (Bihar) [India], June 6 (ANI): Additional Chief Secretary for Bihar Road Construction Department Pratyaya Amrit on Tuesday said that the investigation into the collapse of the under-construction bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur will be completed soon adding that a new bridge shall be constructed.

While talking to ANI, Pratyaya Amrit said, "We will try to complete the investigation at the earliest. We have served a showcause notice to SP Singla and Company as to why they should not be blacklisted. They have been given 15-day time to reply. For serious dereliction of duty, the Executive Engineer of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam posted at Khagaria has been put under suspension and departmental proceedings have started. The Managing Director of Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation has also been showcaused as to why was there a delay when the instructions were very clear to completely demolish pier 5. A new bridge will be constructed. We will try to prioritise it so that the work on this can start after monsoon."

Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy Latest Update by IMD: Cyclonic Storm Moves North in Arabian Sea, May Skirt Mumbai.

"When its pier no.5 collapsed on April 30, 2022, we deployed an IIT Roorkee team for its investigation. There were some defects in its structural audit. Taking a cue from that, we had asked IIT Roorkee to examine the entire design. We suspected the same defects to be there in the design. We were waiting for that report to come. Today, we got that report also. We will examine the report and what are the recommendations of IIT Roorkee," Pratyaya Amrit added.

Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed in the Patna High Court seeking an independent inquiry into the collapse of the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur on Sunday.

Also Read | Balasore Train Accident: Culpability of Specific Railway Employees Not Been Ascertained in FIR, Says CBI.

The petitioner, Manibhushan Pratap Sengar, in his writ petition, sought an independent probe instead of a departmental inquiry and action against SP Singla Company, involved with the construction of the bridge.

The PIL also sought recovery of losses of thousands of crores to the exchequer due to the collapse of the bridge.

As the politics over the bridge collapse in Bihar gained momentum, state Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of demolishing the bridge.

"The bridge has been demolished by BJP. We are building the bridge and they are demolishing it," Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters on Monday.

On the other hand, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded an audit of all under-construction bridges in Bihar after the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the collapse of an under-construction bridge in Bhagalpur and asked the officials to identify those responsible for the incident.

Nitish Kumar on Monday instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the "poor construction work" of the under-construction bridge over River Ganga.

"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," CM Nitish Kumar said on Monday. (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 6 (PTI) Venture capital giant Sequoia Capital will split into three entities across the globe, and the India and Southeast Asia firm, which manages over USD 9.2 billion across 13 funds, will now be known as Peak XV Partners.

Sequoia, known for its early backing of Google, Instagram and some of China's biggest internet companies, operated as three already largely independent ventures - one focused on China, another on the US and Europe, and a third on India and Southeast Asia.

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The three will split up into independent partnerships and separate firms, operating under different brands, by the end of March next year, the company said.

"Sequoia India & Southeast Asia, the largest venture capital firm in the region which manages over USD 9.2 billion across 13 funds, will now be known as Peak XV Partners," a company statement said.

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Peak XV (pronounced Peak Fifteen) was the original name given to Mount Everest and symbolises the relentless pursuit of audacious goals by founders.

The firm will continue to back ambitious founders in India, Southeast Asia and beyond from its current funds, which include USD 2.5 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) of uninvested capital.

Shailendra Singh, Managing Director of Peak XV Partners, said, "It's a new beginning for us as Peak XV Partners, but unlike most beginnings, this is an opportunity for us to build on top of the foundation laid over the last 17 years. Our firm will continue to be managed by the present leadership team and will continue to invest from the most recently raised set of funds focused on India and Southeast Asia".

Since its inception, Sequoia Capital (US/Europe), Sequoia China and Sequoia India/ SEA have been built as separate businesses with independent investment decision-making.

Over the years, the strategies for each business have diverged and the scale and market leadership across different geographies has started to result in brand confusion and portfolio conflict. This has led the leaders of each business to collectively decide to move to fully independent partnerships with distinct brands, in order to serve founders and Limited Partners in the best manner.

"We are seeing companies emerge from every region with global ambitions. The flexibility that comes with the new structure will open up an unbounded global opportunity and help create more value for our founders and LPs," Singh said.

Over the last 17 years, Sequoia India & SEA has raised 13 funds, and invested in over 400 startups, with 50-plus companies valued at USD 1 billion and above. The portfolio has seen 19 IPOs and multiple successful M&As resulting in USD 4.5 billion of realised exits so far. The investment team is led by 11 managing directors with an average tenure of over 12 years at the firm.

Peak XV Partners will continue to invest across stages (seed, venture, growth) and sectors like SaaS, AI, developer tools, cyber security, cloud infrastructure, climate tech, fintech, health tech and consumer. The firm will further strengthen its unique and industry-leading programmes like Surge and Spark, which have been very well received by founders.

The firm remains committed as ever to help audacious founders build iconic companies that can be regional and global category leaders, the statement 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 6 (PTI) Torrent Power on Tuesday inked an initial pact with the Maharashtra government for the development of three pumped storage hydro projects of 5,700 MW capacity, entailing an investment of about Rs 27,000 crore.

These projects are likely to generate 13,500 jobs.

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Projects would be executed at three sites identified by Torrent -- Karjat (3,000 MW) in the Raigarh district, Maval (1,200 MW) and Junnar (1,500 MW) in the Pune district, a company statement said.

According to the statement, all the sites are off-stream and the projects are planned to provide a minimum of six hours of energy storage on a daily basis.

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"Torrent Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra for the development of three Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) Projects of 5,700 MW capacity in the State of Maharashtra," it said.

The projects would entail an investment of about Rs 27,000 crore and would provide employment to about 13,500 people during the construction period, it stated.

Torrent intends to execute these projects over a period of five years.

The share of renewable power, which is intermittent in nature, is rapidly increasing in the grid.

This necessitates energy storage for load management and meeting peak demand. Pumped Storage Hydro is an established, proven and cost-effective technology for firm, flexible and dispatchable power.

The PSH is a configuration of two water reservoirs at different elevations. Water is pumped to the upper reservoir at the time of excess power when it is the cheapest.

At the time of demand when power is expensive, water flow from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir generates power with a hydraulic turbine.

The PSH is a much superior solution than Battery for energy storage as it is cheaper, has a longer life of 40 years and provides longer duration storage of 6 to 10 hours with the feasibility of multiple cycle operations during the day.

Torrent Power currently has an aggregate installed generation capacity of 4.1 GW, which consists largely of clean generation sources such as gas (2.7 GW) and renewables (1.07 GW). It also has a Renewable capacity of 0.7 GW under development.

Torrent's growth focus in power generation remains on renewables.

To complement its growing portfolio of renewables and distribution, Torrent is strategically entering the storage space to fulfil the void left in the grid by intermittent renewable power.

Torrent Power, with a turnover of Rs 25,694 crore (about USD 3 billion), is the integrated power utility of the diversified Torrent Group with group revenues of Rs 37,500 crore (about USD 4.50 billion) and group market cap of Rs 87,000 crore (about USD 10.50 billion).

It is one of the largest companies in the country's power sector with a presence across the entire power value chain of generation, transmission, and distribution.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kyiv, Jun 6 (AP) The wall of a major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed on Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River in an area that Moscow controls, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area. It was not possible to verify the claims.

Also Read | Nova Kakhovka Dam Damaged: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Destroying Major Reservoir Near Kherson, Warns of Ecological Disaster (See Pics and Videos).

The potentially far-reaching environmental and social consequences of the disaster quickly became clear as homes, streets and businesses flooded downstream and emergency crews began evacuations; officials raced to check cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant; and authorities expressed concern about supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses for residents. About 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory, according to official tallies. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

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The dam break added a stunning new dimension to Russia's war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam, since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk.

The damage could also hinder Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south and distract its government, while Russia depends on the dam to supply water to Crimea.

Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security Program at Chatham House think tank in London, said apportioning blame is difficult but "there are all sorts of reasons why Russia would do this".

"There were reports (last fall) of Russians having mined the reservoir. The question we should pose is why the Ukrainians would do this to themselves, given this is Ukrainian territory," she said.

Experts have previously said the dam was suffering from disrepair. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir since the start of the war, said in an e-mail that it wasn't clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect from Russian forces occupying the facility.

But Helms reserved judgement, also noting a Russian history of attacking dams.

Authorities, experts and residents have expressed concern for months about water flows through -- and over -- the Kakhovka dam.

After heavy rains and snow melt last month, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Amid official outrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2.50 am (2350 GMT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Zelenskyy said in October his government had information that Russia had mined the dam and power plant.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it "a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side  aimed at cutting water supplies to Crimea".

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster. Ukraine's Presidential Office said some 150 metric tonnes of oil escaped from the dam machinery and that another 300 metric tonnes could still leak out.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's President's Office, posted a video showing swans swimming near an administrative building in the flooded streets of Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region where some 45,000 people lived before the war. Other footage he posted showed flood waters reaching the second floor of the building.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dnieper's right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said it was being evacuated as water poured into the city.

Ukraine's nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the damage to the dam "could have negative consequences" for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europe's biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is "controllable".

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement there was "no immediate risk to the safety of the plant," which requires water for its cooling system.

It said that IAEA staff on site have been told the dam level is falling by five centimetres (two inches) an hour. At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The plant also has alternative sources of water, including a large cooling pond that can provide water "for some months", the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dam's failure could unleash 18 million cubic metres (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where thousands of people live.

The World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organisation, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after five-seven days.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the broad river's left bank, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting the war's environmental effects.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that "a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours".

Video posted online showed floodwaters inundating a long roadway; another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the "outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine".

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the country's drinking water and power supply.

Ukraine's state hydro power generating company wrote in a statement that "The station cannot be restored."

Ukrhydroenergo also claimed Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, said numerous Ukrainian strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and "water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream".

Leontyev added that damage to the station was beyond repair, and it would have to be rebuilt.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
LOS ANGELESAward-winning gay director, producer, and author Steve Balderson has released his memoir, Year of the Whore, and he's celebrating Gay Pride Month by kicking off an Indiegogo campaign to turn the book into the feature, Love Venezia.

Balderson's Love Venezia will go into production later this year with half the feature to be filmed in Italy. Balderson has written the script and cast mainstream and adult stars in what can be described as Eat Pray Love or Under the Tuscan Sun, but with a gay protagonist. Mink Stole who starred in John Waters' productions, has been cast. Adult stars Dante Colle and Danny Wilcoxx have roles in the movie, as well as Pleasant Gehman and Spike Mayer.

Balderson has partnered with a production company that will partially finance the production. Additionally, he's launched an Indiegogo campaign here to raise $70,000 to complete his budget and celebrate Pride Month. The cast and Balderson have posted a video on the Indiegogo page and Instagram to encourage donations. Backers can also score perks, including a digital download of Love Venezia, a guided mediation MP3, a Q&A with the cast, an intimacy workshop led by a relationship and sex therapist, a chance to appear in a scene and attend the premiere, an executive producer or producer credit, and more.

Balderson said, "Now that the script is written and we've cast the film, I'm excited to go into production. One-third of the film budget is covered, but we still need to raise the rest. I hope everyone will contribute on Indiegogo and/or tell all their friends and get the word out there. This is an important film that's very close to my heart since it's my life that will be on the big screen. Plus, it will reframe how the LGBTQ+ community and gay love is portrayed in the world."

Year of the Whore is available on Amazon as an audiobook and paperback at yearofthewhore.com. It's also available on Amazon in the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Australia, and Japan.

For more information, visit Balderson's official website SteveBalderson.com and Dikenga.com for his releases, books, audio, and podcasts.

Follow Balderson on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Get all of his links here.
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, laid a wreath at National War Memorial in Delhi on Tuesday.

A German delegation led by Pistorius arrived in India on Monday.

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Upon his arrival in India from Indonesia, German Embassy in India tweeted, "A warm welcome to India, German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius & his team from @BMVg_Bundeswehr. Very happy to have you here and excited for two packed days in Delhi and Mumbai!"

Pistorius will today hold a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He is also likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a press release.

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On June 7, German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the Defence Ministry statement said.

Ahead of his visit to India, the German Defence Minister said India's continuing dependence on Russian weapons is not in Germany's interest, German news agency Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

"It is not up to Germany to change that on our own," Pistorius said in an exclusive interview with DW's top political correspondent Nina Haase in Jakarta. Pistorius was in Jakarta ahead of a four-day trip to India.

"This is an issue we have to solve jointly with other partners. But of course, we can't have an interest in the long run that India is so dependent on Russia's delivery of weapons or other materials," he added.

Boris Pistorius said that Germany is ready to support partners like India. He said, "I want to send a signal that we are willing to support our partners, our reliable partners like Indonesia, like India," DW reported.

Bilateral ties between India and Germany are founded on common democratic principles and are marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Germany after the Second World War. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, June 6: Pakistan's former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was among some of the top leaders of Imran Khan's party to be arrested following the May 9 violent protests, was released from a prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday following a court order. The Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was arrested last month on a plethora of charges, including inciting violence following chairman Imran Khan's arrest in a corruption case on May 9.

Qureshi, 66, served as Pakistan's foreign affairs minister from 2018 to 2022 under Khan's regime. On Tuesday, the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench ordered the PTI leader's immediate release and set aside his detention orders. Upon his release from Adiala Jail, Qureshi said he will meet PTI chief Khan at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Wednesday. Pakistan: Former Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Arrested Again After Being Released From Prison.

Tomorrow I will meet Khan, present to him my political analysis and seek guidance, he said upon his release. He said that he would hold a press conference after meeting Khan. "I want to tell the PTI workers that the 'flag of justice' is in my hands and I am still part of this movement," he said. Addressing PTI supporters, the former minister said: This is a testing and difficult time but don't lose hope because after every night there is a dawn. I think in different jails there are countless innocent people who should be released. I will try, and we will pursue their cases after consultation with our legal team, Qureshi added.

On May 18, the Islamabad High Court ordered the former foreign minister's release. However, his release was delayed due to his apparent reluctance to provide an undertaking to refrain from engaging in unruly protests. On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. Imran Khan To Be Arrested Again? Former Pakistan PM Says 'Police Have Surrounded House, My Arrest Is Imminent'.

The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail. The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved. Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 10,000 workers of Khan's Pakistan party across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab province.

The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different joint investigation teams to probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed "Black Day". Following the May 9 incidents, several senior leaders of Khan's party were taken into custody. The leaders included Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Shireen Mazari, Maleeka Bukhari, and Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan.

A few days later, many prominent leaders including Fawad, Imran Ismail, Shireen Mazari, Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, Firdaus Ashiq Awan and others quit Khan's party. Last week, a delegation of former leaders of Khan's party comprising Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, Mahmood Moulvi and Aamir Kiani met Qureshi in Adiala jail and tried to convince him to part ways with the deposed prime minister. However, Qureshi's son Zain Qureshi said that his father has only done politics of "principles" not "position and greed".

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday said Germany, India need more cooperation in defence industry and element cooperation.

The German Defence Minister while talking about his meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, said: "We've totally agreed about German and European role in the Indo-Pacific. We agreed that more engagement of Europe and Germany is necessary."

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Pistorius said: "We need more Cooperation, literally, not just by exercises but also by the defence, defence industry, element cooperation and we are working on it, for example, regarding the submarines, but also regarding other materials, we are talking about."

The German Defence Minister said more needs to be done in the Indo-Pacific in partnership with India, "because we are approaching times where we can't really predict what's going to happen in the next few years."

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Pistorius said Germany "needs strategic partners like Indonesia, like India, for example, especially, to make sure that the Law of Free navigation, and the free trading routes will be achievable during the next decade too. And this is an issue for several partners, but not each partner for itself, rather as a team."

On Germany's standing on submarines, the German Defence Minister said: "We are talking about a deal of TKMS, about six submarines but of course the procedure is not finished yet but I think the German industry is at a good place in that race."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Tuesday discussed regional issues and shared priorities. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.

Sharing details regarding his meeting with Boris Pistorius, Rajnath Singh in a tweet stated, "Had fruitful discussions with the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius. His passion for Yoga is commendable. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities."

We also agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between India and Germany.

Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at National War Memorial in the national capital.

Pistorius, who arrived in the national capital yesterday is accompanied by a German delegation. Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence earlier said in a statement.

On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): The New Zealand High Commission in India on Tuesday celebrated the 70th Anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay becoming the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point in the world.

It was on May 29, 1953, seventy years ago that Hillary, a beekeeper from South Auckland and Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, became the first humans on earth to conquer the Everest summit.

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The occasion was celebrated by the New Zealand High Commission in India with events in Nepal, New Delhi and London.

In New Delhi, it co-hosted the 70th-anniversary celebrations together with the British High Commission.

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A panel discussion 'Mountains to Move' was held which reflected on the legacy of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary inspiring people to engage with nature around the world. It focused on ways to lift equitable access and balance the impact of tourism on our natural environment as more people seek to engage more closely with the natural world.

The panel discussion talked about Peter Hillary, mountaineer, philanthropist and author who is the son of Sir Edmund Hillary. Peter completed his first summit of Everest in 1990. This made the Hillarys the "first family" of Himalayan mountaineering with two generations of Everest climbers. They are also the first two generations of one family to have each established new routes across Antarctica to the South Pole.

Peter reached the South Pole in 1999 and completed the Seven Summits in 2008.

Talks were also held on the legacy of Jamling Tenzing Norgay, a mountaineer, author and motivational speaker who is an Indian-Nepalese mountaineer. In 1996, Jamling retraced his father Tenzing Norgay's footsteps and summited Mount Everest, which was the subject of the IMAX documentary 'Everest'.

He is a motivational speaker and the author of the bestselling book, Touching My Father's Soul. He runs Tenzing Norgay Adventures which was founded in 1978 by his father. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Rawalpindi [Pakistan], June 6 (ANI): Residents of Pakistan's Rawalpindi city and cantonment expressed strong concerns about 'Gas Leakage' in several areas but the concerned authority has been dealing with the issue non-seriously, according to The News International Newspaper.

The News International is an English-language newspaper in Pakistan.

Also Read | Nova Kakhovka Dam Damaged: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Destroying Major Reservoir Near Kherson, Warns of Ecological Disaster (See Pics and Videos).

As per Rescue 1122, a total of 16 incidents of gas leakage appeared in a month and due to it six people including four children died. This ratio of gas leakage incidents was continuously increasing day by day.

A week back, a gas leak incident in Shamsabad left four children dead and their mother in critical condition at the Holy Family Hospital. Another incident of similar nature claimed the life of a teenage boy and injured seven members of the family in a two-storey house in People's Colony near Tench Bhatta.

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The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Senior General Manager Syed Mukhtar Shah told 'The News' that he has formed special teams to end gas leakage in all areas. He advised people to switch off the gas, particularly at night.

He also advised not to use rubber pipes because they were too dangerous. He has appealed to the public to inform SNGPL immediately in case of any leakage, as per The News International newspaper.

A local, Rizwan Ahmed, said that SNGPL officers do not attend telephone calls from the public. He said: "We prove ourselves good citizens to inform the concerned department about gas leakage but in vain."

An advocate, Shazia Tabasum, said that higher authorities should investigate gas leakage. The higher authorities should inquire how 16 gas leakage blasts appeared and how six people including four children died due to these blasts, she demanded. Police and rescue officials said the explosions occurred possibly due to a gas leak.

Well-placed sources informed that higher officials have taken notice of these incidents and given this task to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the matter.

The FIA has started an investigation on the issue, the sources claimed. The FIA will also investigate illegal gas connections and illegal pipelines.

According to The News International, the residents of Rawalpindi were facing low to zero gas pressure even in the peak summer season in June. Innocent consumers wait for gas pressure therefore they on gas stove switch in day and night.

"Where the gas was going, nobody knows," affected people belonging to different walks of life said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Rome, Jun 6 (AP) Police on Tuesday searched the offices and homes of a former Italian premier and several leading business executives in an investigation of alleged corruption involving the sale of military planes, ships and submarines to Colombia, Italian state television reported.

Massimo D'Alema, a leftist politician who served as Italian premier from 1998-2000, is among those reported to be under investigation.

Also Read | Shah Mahmood Qureshi Released From Jail: Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Out of Rawalpindi Prison; To Meet Imran Khan Tomorrow.

The sales deal, said to be worth 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion), has been under scrutiny for some time. Last year, a top Italian CEO, Alessandro Profumo, told the Senate defense commission that D'Alema had no role in the dealings for the sale on behalf of Leonardo, a major Italian aerospace and defense manufacturer.

Italian state television, citing Naples-based prosecutors, said that Profumo is among prominent business figures under investigation. Profumo's mandate as CEO of Leonardo ended last month.

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Neither Profumo nor D'Alema could be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported that the investigation looked into initiatives to sell M-346 jets, an advanced military training aircraft manufactured by Leonardo, and corvettes, which are fast naval vessels, and small submarines produced by Fincantieri, a major Italian shipbuilder.

Four Colombians, including a former foreign minister, were among others being investigated, Corriere della Sera said.

Naples prosecutors' offices were closed Tuesday evening, and officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment on the Italian news reports. (AP)

(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, June 6: The Delhi High Court has issued a restraining order against Dabur, an Indian multinational consumer goods company, prohibiting the circulation of its WhatsApp advertisement featuring Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone for "Dabur Amla Hair Oil."

A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla passed the order in response to a lawsuit filed by Marico Limited seeking an ad interim injunction to prevent Dabur from circulating or forwarding its WhatsApp and print advertisements for Amla hair oil. Delhi High Court Says Can't Force Citizen to Choose Between Education and Reproductive Autonomy.

It also claimed that Dabur's advertisement disparaged the reputation and goodwill of its product, "Nihar Natural Shanti Badam Amla Hair Oil," and its registered "Nihar" trademarks.

The court stated that Marico failed to establish a prima facie case against the print advertisement but did demonstrate a prima facie case regarding the WhatsApp message/advertisement.

Regarding the print advertisement, Marico argued that Dabur's opening statement, "Yaad Rakhna, Sasta Amla, balo ko mehenga padega" (Remember, cheap Amla will cost your hair a lot), was alarming and threatened consumers, suggesting that other inexpensive Amla hair oils were inferior and harmful calling it generic disparagement.

While the court declined to injunct the print advertisement, it restrained Dabur and its associates from circulating the WhatsApp message or advertisement for Amla hair oil during the pendency of Marico's lawsuit. Delhi High Court Dismisses PIL On Rs 2,000 Notes, Says Courts Should Not Sit As Appellate Authority.

Regarding the absence of any explicit reference to Marico in the challenged print advertisement, the court stated that any such reference would require a leap of imagination, which it deemed unwarranted.

The court viewed the advertisement as merely suggesting potential negative consequences of using cheaper Amla hair oils in terms of quality and price.

Justice Chawla also emphasised that an advertisement should be evaluated from the perspective of an ordinary consumer, who would likely view it as a puffery rather than from the standpoint of a sensitive competitor like Marico.

The court concluded that the advertisement merely expressed an opinion that purchasing cheaper Amla hair oil might be harmful to the hair, but it was not defamatory towards all hair oils of lower price compared to Marico's product.

Regarding the circulation of the challenged WhatsApp advertisement, the court noted that the ordinary consumer would not have access to both the WhatsApp message/advertisement and the print advertisement simultaneously. The connection between the two could only be made by individuals who received the WhatsApp advertisement alongside the print advertisement.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 06, 2023 04:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Noida, June 6: In a tragic incident, a 12-year-old boy died due to drowning in a swimming pool on Monday evening at a private school in Narela. The news was made public by police officers associated with the case. An FIR has been registered against the authorities of the educational institute over negligence, said the police.

According to a report published by the Hindustan Times, the deceased boy was identified as Rajab, a class five student. He lived with his parents in Kureni village in Narela. As per the information provided by the police, the swimming pool at the school was designated for student use during the day, while in the evenings, it was open for visitors. The unfortunate incident involved a 12-year-old boy who was not enrolled as a student in the school. He was part of the group of visitors who paid to utilise the school's swimming pool for evening swimming lessons. The boy had accompanied his 19-year-old cousin to the pool, the report said. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Youth Making Instagram Reels In Ganga River Drowns While Taking a Holy Dip in Bulandshahr (Disturbing Video).

The boy was rushed to the Satya Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival. The hospital staff then informed the police about the death. According to the initial information provided by the police, it was determined that the boy mistakenly entered the section of the pool that had a depth of five feet instead of the intended three-foot-deep area. Delhi University Student Drowns To Death in Swimming Pool During Birthday Party in Gurugram, Investigation Underway.

According to the police, the management of the swimming pool was present at the scene when the tragic incident occurred. As a result of their investigation, a First Information Report (FIR) is being filed against the school authorities for their alleged negligence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 06, 2023 05:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Thane, June 6: Thane Police have seized 17 country-made pistols, 12 live cartridges and 31 magazines from two men hailing from Madhya Pradesh, a senior officer said on Tuesday. The accused duo, arrested on June 1, hails from Burhanpur.

"Police have stepped up vigil in view of the rise in the incidents of the use of firearms in crime in Thane, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai over the last few months. Police had received information that these illegal weapons were supplied from some areas in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shivraj Patil. 140 Weapons Surrendered in Manipur After Amit Shah's Appeal.

A team of Thane police, comprising officials of the property cell, arrested two men on June 1 and seized three country-made pistols, six magazines, and four cartridges from them. Constable Nabs Armed Robber on Spot in Delhi's Rani Bagh.

The duo led the police to Pachore-Dhunki area on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where 14 more pistols, 25 magazines and 8 live cartridges were seized, the police officer said. Police are investigating whether firearms were smuggled earlier also in Maharashtra from other states and used in crimes.
On 5 June Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his environment minister, Marina Silva, announced a series of measures destined to strengthen the countrys green agenda and sustainability efforts.

Analysis:

Marking World Environment Day, the announced measures seek to burnish the Lula governments green credentials after a series of recent setbacks in the area. Indeed, last week Brazils congress approved a decree stripping Silvas ministry of key attributes while the chamber of deputies moved forward with legislation threatening indigenous lands, which are proven to be a bulwark against deforestation.

Lula signed off on eight decrees yesterday which, among other things, create new protected areas and establish a number of bodies responsible for different aspects of the climate agenda, from the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted by deforestation to the hosting of the COP30 climate conference in 2025 in the Amazonian city of Belem.

The president pledged to update Brazils nationally determined contributions (NDCs), a commitment initially made under the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change but which was weakened by revisions under the Jair Bolsonaro government (2019-2023).

government (2019-2023). Announcements also included a plan for the security and sovereignty of the Amazon, which aims to reinforce public security infrastructure in the rainforest region to combat illegal activities on protected lands such as land grabbing, mining, fishing and poaching, and logging.

Lula and Silva both paid tribute to Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips , the Brazilian indigenous expert and British journalist who were murdered a year ago in the Amazon. Five men involved in illegal fishing have been charged in relation to the crime. The best way of honouring them is to guarantee that their fight will not have been in vain, Lula said.

and , the Brazilian indigenous expert and British journalist who were murdered a year ago in the Amazon. Five men involved in illegal fishing have been charged in relation to the crime. The best way of honouring them is to guarantee that their fight will not have been in vain, Lula said. In his speech Lula stressed that economic development is not at odds with environmental conservation, while also throwing a jab at developed countries for having failed to stick to their promises of funding less wealthy nations environmental efforts.

Looking Ahead: Lulas wholehearted commitment to making Brazil once again a global reference on sustainability and fighting climate change comes as the presidents dedication to his ambitious green agenda has been in doubt, notably following disagreements with Silva over an oil exploration project near the mouth of the Amazon River. Wary observers will be looking for actions to follow words.
A United States Supreme Court case decided May 25 might be the perfect catalyst for talking about property tax law and protections for homeowners across the country, according to Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar.

The case in question, Tyler v. Hennepin County, was brought by a Minnesota woman named Geraldine Tyler. Tyler owned a condominium but owed about $15,000 in unpaid real estate taxes, interest, and penalties.

Tyler is 94 years old. She owned her Minneapolis condo for more than a decade and used it as her primary residence until her family moved her to a senior community in 2010. Nobody paid property taxes on the condo from that point on.

The county in which she lived, Hennepin, seized her home and sold it for $40,000, over $25,000 more than the value of Tylers debt. Tylers case centered on the idea that the county had basically stolen her home equity.

The Supreme Court decided the county had unconstitutionally taken more than their fair share by retaining the excess on top of Tylers debt. In a unanimous decision, the sale was found to be a violation of the Takings Clause in the Fifth Amendment, and the Excessive Fines Clause in the Eight Amendment.

Overdue property taxes are not handled the same way in Minnesota and Arizona, so Benatar said her office is looking at a gray area in applying any precedents set by Tyler.

In Coconino County, a lien is attached to property on Jan. 1 of each calendar year. The lien dissolves when property taxes, which are levied in September, are paid in full.

If youre paying by halves, the first half is due by November 1st, 2023 before interest accrues. The second half is due by May 1st of 2024 before interest accrues. If youre paying full year, its due December 31st, she said.

If a homeowner fails to pay overdue taxes for 2023 by December 2024, then the county could sell the lien on the property, which is not the same as foreclosing on or selling the property itself.

An investor can purchase the lien and pay a certain amount of interest. If the house reaches foreclosure and the homeowner cant pay off the lien, the deed for the property is transferred to the investor.

In Minnesota, what happened is the counties there foreclosed on the property. We dont foreclose on the property, Benatar said. In theory, yes, there could be situations where a property owner doesnt pay their taxes, they lose their home. The value of the property is worth more than the taxes due and they are out the difference. It could happen. Thats where that gray area is. Where do we fall in Arizona?

Whether that case will directly affect policy in Arizona remains to be seen, but Benatar said theres no reason why the decision shouldnt spark a broader conversation about protection for homeowners.

The SCOTUS opinion is clear and thats something I do agree with. Property is something we all work hard to have. We work hard to own our homes, she said. I always say property ownership is the most affordable form of housing. If you can own your home, especially nowadays, your mortgage payment is probably less than rent in this town. If you own it free and clear, your annual taxes are probably less than what your rent would be. We want to keep people in their homes.

In Coconino County, less than 25% of homeowners are still paying down mortgages. The other three quarters are mostly concerned with paying their property taxes to retain ownership of their homes.

We should be having this conversation. [Tyler] was a unanimous decision. This is not a partisan issue. You work hard for your property, and yes we all go through ups and downs in finances. You can get sick, have unexpected medical bills. Things happen, and so if for whatever reason you get to that point, you should not be punished for it even further, Benatar said. Its a great opportunity for us to add protections for our property owners and constituents.

Recently, Benatar helped lead an initiative to update A.R.S. 42-17303, a tax deferral statute that aims to protect economically vulnerable homeowners.

In theory, the law allows for something that looks very much like a reverse mortgage. Qualifying applicants can have their property tax balance covered by the state treasurer for as long as they live in their home and it is their primary residence.

Benatar said she believes the statute is too outdated to be effective. In order to qualify for the program, a homeowner must earn less than $1,000 annually. Their property value cant be higher than $150,000.

I dont know whos earning less than $10,000. If youre on Social Security, youre earning less than $10,000, Benatar said. Even if youre only earning $10,000, what property is valued at that in Flagstaff?

In 2020, Benatar worked on drafting SB 1491, which would have updated the statute in a few important ways.

It would have lifted the age limit from 70 years to 65 for applicants. It also would have worked toward attaching the income limit to Social Security pay  so the two would adjust alongside one another.

The goal was to change the income requirement, have it be aligned with Social Security and follow whenever they do any adjustments, it changes as well so that youre capturing those of fixed incomes. Reduce the age from 70 down to retirement age," she said. "Then include in there the ability for those who are permanently disabled to qualify for the program as well. Then, the value of the property should be based on the average value for the county specifically."

The bill was never heard. But after Tyler, Benatar hopes lawmakers might be willing to come back to the table to adjust the law.

In the meantime, she said, she would like to see more people taking advantage of the states existing safety nets.

In 2022, voters approved Proposition 130, a tax exemption for veterans with disabilities. There are also exemptions for people with permanent disabilities and a widower exemption. Seniors can also work with the Coconino County Assessors office to apply for a valuation freeze  which freezes the taxable value of their property for up to three years. At that point, seniors can re-apply for the program if they still qualify.

It provides a mechanism to help people, especially when theyre on a fixed income, to afford their home, Benatar said.

She added the Department of Housing has aid available for homeowners to pay their property taxes, and that her office regularly refers people who are struggling to Housing Solutions and legal aid to help them retain their residences.

Benatars office also helps residents craft payment plans where possible.

Its a housing issue. We always talk about housing issues, and I feel home ownership honestly does slip through the cracks. Just look at our community. We have multi-generational homes, working families who have been here 30 years who did pay off their 30-year mortgage, and are now close to retirement age, she said. Id rather have you stay in this community and stay in your home, versus going out into the rental market.

Coconino Countys tax collection rate is close to 90%. That means the vast majority of people are able to, and do, pay their taxes on time.

I always tell the County Board of Supervisors, my dream is that I am at 100% collection. Everyone is paying their taxes on time. That is my goal. Will I get there? Probably not, but I can work so hard towards it, Benatar said.

The county treasurers office now accepts property tax payments via Venmo and PayPal in pursuit of that goal. They started printing information about payment plans and exemption applications on the back of tax notices.

I highly recommend, if youre a property owner, youre going to get your taxes in September. Look at the back of your notice. The front is going to have your dollar amounts, but the back is going to have information and resources. Well talk about, hey, theres this program through the assessors office. Because the value reduction programs and valuation freeze is done through the assessor, but we have all that information there, Benatar said.

During a housing crisis, especially, she said shes passionate about filling in all of the gaps  and making sure the remaining 10% of constituents know there are resources available to them.

People are paying attention, but there are people out there that I know could qualify. Look, it wont hurt. Come down to the assessors office, Benatar said.
On 5 June Hondurass government led by Presidentannounced that China had opened an embassy in the capital Tegucigalpa.

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On 5 June Paraguays president-electrevealed his first cabinet pick for the all-important position of interior minister.

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A Florida couple is now confronting many serious criminal charges, totaling nearly 50, as authorities assert that they engaged in a pattern of abuse and facilitated the mistreatment of multiple children, according to The Blaze.

The 32-year-old Florida man, Shawn Stone, was taken into custody by Florida police on May 9 following revelations by his girlfriend, Taylor Schaefer, who alleged that Stone had inflicted harm upon her children.

One particularly distressing incident involves Stone's alleged physical assault on Schaefer's 5-year-old child, purportedly in response to bedwetting, which tragically resulted in a skull fracture.

The incident itself was reportedly captured on a surveillance video within the home. At the time, Stone faced severe charges of child abuse.

It was revealed that Schaefer, who allegedly witnessed multiple instances of child abuse without reporting them, now faces charges about her alleged inaction, according to a recent announcement by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office on Saturday.

READ NEXT: California Parents Plead Not Guilty to Child Abuse, Murder Charges

Disturbing Details Emerge in Florida Abuse Case as Sheriff's Office Reveals Alarming Findings

Startling revelations have come to light in the harrowing case of a Florida couple accused of subjecting children to unimaginable abuse.

The sheriff's office has uncovered shocking evidence, including witness interviews and text conversations, shedding further light on the crimes' severity, per CW39.

The Florida man and his girlfriend allegedly kept a 5-year-old kid in a dog cage and let him starve, according to authorities.

The distressing details emerged after detectives meticulously interviewed witnesses and scrutinized text exchanges related to the case.

Further investigation has uncovered accounts of another older child enduring unspeakable acts of violence.

This includes being forced to consume boiling water, sprayed with boiling water, and enduring beatings with various household objects.

In a chilling twist, a second child was said to have witnessed the "brutal abuse" inflicted upon the 5-year-old victim, adding another layer of horror to the case.

In addition to these heartbreaking revelations, deputies also discovered a third child suffering from a severe medical condition.

Disturbingly, this child was reportedly neglected and deprived of adequate care and proper nutrition, compounding the abuse the first two victims suffered.

Florida Man's Girlfriend Called 911

Following a distressing incident in which a child suffered a fractured skull, Schaefer initially contacted 911 and expressed her concerns, describing a "gut feeling" that her partner, Shawn Stone, was responsible for the abuse, Yahoo! News noted.

Her suspicions were seemingly confirmed when she viewed surveillance footage documenting the incident.

However, further investigation revealed hours of footage contradicting Schaefer's claims. Authorities allege that not only did she witness the child's visible signs of distress, including limping and injuries, but she also failed to provide any assistance.

Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant shed light on a particularly troubling aspect, stating that on the day Schaefer reported the abuse, video evidence depicted her allegedly cleaning the area where the child was beaten, using a mop handle.

Stone, the Florida man at the center of the case, is now facing numerous charges, including two counts of tampering with a witness in a life felony proceeding, eight counts of neglect of a child causing great bodily harm, five counts of aggravated child abuse, four counts of neglect of a child, three counts of failing to report suspected child abuse, and two counts of false imprisonment of a child under 13. He is now being held without bond.

Meanwhile, authorities revealed that 28-year-old Taylor Schaefer faces 25 charges related to allegations of witnessing abuse on multiple occasions but failing to intervene or report it. However, her whereabouts remain unknown currently, according to Gant.

READ MORE: Chicago: Shooting Erupts During Memorial Gathering

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WATCH: Deputies: Volusia County couple facing several charges for 'brutal pattern of child neglect, abuse' - From WESH 2 News
In what may be a sign that the Trump classified documents case is winding down, Donald Trump's lawyers met with the Justice Department on Monday. It was a meeting that the Trump attorneys requested themselves last month.

Sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that Trump attorneys - John Rowley, James Trusty, and Lindsey Halligan were at the Main Justice building to meet with Jack Smith and federal prosecutors. Their meeting lasted just under two hours, with the lawyers declining to comment about what happened inside.

The former president's attorneys reportedly asked to meet with top federal law enforcement officials, though Attorney General Merrick Garland, who approved the meeting, did not attend.

People familiar with what happened inside stated that the Trump legal team was "frustrated" with how the Justice Department was handling attorney-client matters recently. They are reportedly likely to raise the issue again when prosecutors discuss related issues in front of the grand jury.

This may involve Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran, who recently left the defense for the Trump classified documents case because it was found that Donald Trump lied to him regarding where the classified documents were being kept.

This act, which would have prevented the lawyer from doing his duty to comply with a subpoena, would theoretically cancel out attorney-client privilege regarding the matter, allowing Corcoran to testify against his client in court.

Donald Trump Attorneys Asked Justice Department Not To Charge Former President

According to the Washington Post, two Trump advisers have already been briefed on what happened during the meeting. These advisers stated they were already planning for a potential indictment of the former president before the meeting, and the meeting itself did not change their expectations.

During the meeting, the Trump attorneys reportedly made their case on why their client should not be indicted concerning his possession of classified documents after leaving office.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Caught On Tape Talking About Classified Document He Kept

However, while attorneys trying to change the mind of DOJ officials with such meetings are not uncommon, these acts rarely change the minds of prosecutors, many of whom have already spent months gathering evidence against the defendant.

Donald Trump Rants on Social Media After Attorneys Met With Justice Department

While the Justice Department's decision on whether or not to indict the former president is still unknown, Donald Trump himself is not making his case any better as he lambasted the DOJ shortly after the meeting.

In another all-caps rant on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, "HOW CAN DOJ POSSIBLY CHARGE ME, WHO DID NOTHING WRONG, WHEN NO OTHER PRESIDENT'S WERE CHARGED, WHEN JOE BIDEN WON'T BE CHARGED FOR ANYTHING." He then went to his go-to line whenever he faces any legal ramifications, "ONLY TRUMP - THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME!"

Trump continued his whataboutism-filled rant by pointing fingers at President Joe Biden. Trump claimed that Biden, who he might face off against in 2024, kept "1850 BOXES [of documents]. MUCH OF IT CLASSIFIED."

However, Rolling Stone pointed out that only a relatively small number of classified documents were found in several of Biden's residences and offices, with the current president being investigated by his own Justice Department over this.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Rape Case: Judge Allows Grab 'Em by the P*ssy' Tape as Evidence

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WATCH: Charging decision in Trump documents case looms as more GOP challengers enter race - CBS Evening News
The court has dismissed a protracted money laundering case against Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez, as prosecutors and state agencies concluded that there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing on her part, AP reports.

Federal judge Sebastian Casanello removed Fernandez from the high-profile "K money trail" case, which revolved around kickbacks and money laundering allegations involving businessman Lazaro Baez and the Fernandez family.

"Without an accusation, there is no possibility of a criminal process," Casanello wrote in his three-page resolution.

Prosecutor Guillermo Marijuan confirmed that the former president, who held office from 2007 to 2015, has been cleared of involvement in the corruption scandal that led to Baez receiving a 10-year prison sentence last month.

This is not the first time Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez has been discharged from a pending corruption prosecution before trial.

However, it is important to note that Fernandez still faces legal consequences from a separate case.

She was sentenced to six years in prison for fraudulent administration in December last year, as she was found guilty of favoring Baez in allocating public works contracts.

In addition to the prison term, Fernandez has been banned from holding public office for life. It is worth highlighting that this conviction is unrelated to the ongoing "K money trail" investigation concerning money laundering.

While there remains a possibility of the vice president's conviction being overturned on appeal, it is likely to be a lengthy process. Until the October elections, Fernandez is protected from arrest.

READ NEXT: Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez Found Guilty of Fraud

Argentinians Express Skepticism of Judicial System Following Ruling on VP's Money Laundering Case

Monday's ruling in Argentina has further fueled public skepticism towards the country's judicial system, as cases often face prolonged delays and uncertainty, per Al Jazeera.

"The Argentine justice system is infiltrated by politics," remarked Lucas Romero, head of Synopsis, a prominent political consulting firm. He emphasized that political interests from all sides significantly influence the federal courts.

Supporters of Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez will undoubtedly view the dismissal as validation of her longstanding claims of innocence. At the same time, critics will point to it as evidence of her alleged ability to evade accountability for potential wrongdoing.

In addition to Fernandez, Lazaro Baez also shared a close association with Nestor Kirchner, her late husband, who served as Argentina's president from 2003 to 2007.

Initially, allegations surfaced that Baez had received payments for incomplete public works projects and subsequently laundered the money on behalf of Kirchner and his wife.

As a result of Fernandez's continued political influence, both the Argentina tax agency and the anti-money-laundering agency have removed her from a case dating back to 2013.

Prosecutor: No Evidence Linking Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez to Money Laundering Case

In a recent development, Prosecutor Guillermo Marijuan has reiterated his stance that there is no evidence involving Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez in the $65 million money laundering case that resulted in the conviction of businessman Lazaro Baez, according to LA Times.

Marijuan had previously acknowledged the existence of a "close and direct personal relationship" between Baez and the vice president. However, he stressed that this connection did not establish the vice president's involvement in the money laundering scheme.

During the administrations of Fernandez and her late husband, Baez held ownership of Austral Construcciones, a prominent company that secured significant public works contracts.

In a recent interview, Marijuan reaffirmed his position, stating that he has not discovered any conclusive proof linking Argentina VP Cristina Fernandez to the money laundering case.

READ MORE: Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira Murders

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WATCH: Argentine Vice President Sentenced To Six Years For Fraud Charges - From NBC News
The Republican primaries are heating up as former Vice President Mike Pence officially joined the 2024 presidential race. He will join an already crowded field of Republicans as more GOP politicians are expected to make more candidacy announcements.

Pence reportedly filed his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to become a presidential candidate on Monday, officially joining the 2024 race, which already includes his former boss, ex-POTUS Donald Trump, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Arkansas Governor Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Pence, who served as Trump's VP and is the 48th vice president of the United States, will formally announce his 2024 run with a video and kickoff event in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday. This also happens to be his 64th birthday, as the Associated Press pointed out.

While he was Trump's vice president, Pence had already fallen out with his former running mate after the events of January 6, where Trump urged his supporters to go after the then-VP. The pro-Trump January 6 rioters infamously shouted, "Hang Mike Pence!" as they took over the Capitol.

However, many political experts believe that Pence is still a longshot from getting the Republican nomination, with Trump getting the lion's share of the Republican votes with DeSantis polling in second, though Trump does have a double-digit lead over him.

While Pence may take some of the more conservative and evangelical elements of the Republican party, Trump's MAGA movement and DeSantis's culture war agendas have proven to be much more popular. However, unlike the other two, Pence has so far stayed away from scandals, as Trump faces multiple investigations while DeSantis runs the risk of dividing the country up even further with his policies.

RED NEXT: Florida Immigrants: 'Day Without Immigrants' Protest Vs. New Ron Desantis Law

More Republicans Expected To Announce Candidacy in 2024

With Pence and Christie already confirmed to run, more Republicans may announce their candidacies as well. They are expected to formally announce their respective candidacies later this week.

However, NPR pointed out that a third candidate might also announce his candidacy this week, and that is North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Much like Christie and Pence, as well as Hailey and Tim Scott, he is also considered a longshot, with the 2024 GOP primaries being seen as a 2-horse race between Trump and DeSantis.

However, a more crowded field might ultimately be more beneficial for Trump as the votes of anti-Trump Republicans will be divided among other candidates while he keeps his MAGA base secure.

New Hampshire Republican Governor Will Not Run in 2024

The theory that more candidates would be beneficial to Trump was recently echoed by New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who was one of the people projected to run for president in 2024.

However, the Republican governor begged off the race, announcing during a recent interview and in an op-ed that he would not run next year. He also implored other Republican candidates to have the "courage" to get out of the election because more candidates would largely favor Trump.

"I will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024," Sununu stated on social media. "The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen."

According to the Associated Press, Sununu said that he would ultimately endorse whoever the Republican nominee is but stressed that the Republican Party must embrace a "course correction" away from Trump. "If he is the nominee, Republicans will lose again. Just as we did in 2018, 2020, and 2022," he warned.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Caught On Tape Talking About Classified Document He Kept

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WATCH: Former VP Mike Pence enters race for 2024 presidential run - 11Alive
A devastating plane crash in the mountains of Virginia on Sunday has resulted in the loss of four lives, including the daughter and granddaughter of a well-known Florida businessman and a member of the National Rifle Association's (NRA) executive committee, Fox News reports.

The tragic incident unfolded when a Cessna jet violated restricted airspace in Washington, DC, before crashing.

Barbara Rumpel, an NRA Women's Leadership Forum member, took to Facebook on Sunday night to express her grief, revealing that her family had been among the victims.

However, her Facebook profile is currently inaccessible to the public as of Monday morning.

The plane's owner, John Rumpel, who serves as the head of Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc., a Florida company, confirmed the heartbreaking news.

He disclosed that his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter, the child's babysitter, and the pilot were all on board the ill-fated flight.

According to Rumpel, they had recently departed from his residence in North Carolina and were en route to East Hampton, Long Island, when the tragedy occurred.

READ NEXT: Washington DC 'Sonic Boom' Caused by US Fighter Jets

Cessna Jet Pilot Losses Consciousness, Causing the Plane Crash

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on Monday that a tragic Cessna Citation crash near Waynesboro, Virginia, claimed the lives of one pilot and three passengers. According to official reports, there were no survivors.

Investigators are now focusing on the possibility of hypoxia, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood, as a potential factor in the accident, per CNN.

Concerns have been raised over the pilot and passengers' failure to respond to attempts made by air traffic controllers and other civilian aircraft to establish contact with the ill-fated plane.

Aviation experts speculate that the insidious risk of hypoxia, particularly during high-altitude flights, may have been triggered by a decompression event in the aircraft's pressurized cabin.

At an altitude of 34,000 feet, the pilots would have had only 30 to 60 seconds to don their gas masks before experiencing a drop in cabin pressure.

Without prompt action, they would have rapidly lost consciousness during their journey from East Tennessee to Long Island, New York.

According to the FAA statement and data from the air travel tracking website FlightAware, communication with the jet was lost a mere 15 minutes after takeoff.

Unresponsive Cessna Jet Prompts US Jet Fighters to Intercept

The unresponsive Cessna jet, belonging to a prominent Florida businessman, flew over Washington DC's skies, leading to the deployment of military fighter jets and a resounding sonic boom that reverberated throughout the nation's capital and Virginia, CBS News noted.

Tragically, the aircraft later crashed in Virginia, resulting in the loss of four lives, according to authorities.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) swiftly mobilized F-16 fighter jets to intercept the unresponsive Cessna as it traversed the airspace over Washington, DC, and Virginia.

NORAD confirmed that the scramble operation was executed by the 113th Fighter Wing of the DC National Guard, as disclosed by a US official.

"The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds, and a sonic boom may have been heard by residents of the region," NORAD stated.

The command also revealed that flares were employed to get the Cessna jet pilot's attention, and these flares may have been visible to the public.

Quick-thinking residents who happened to capture the loud sonic boom on video swiftly took to social media, sharing their footage and describing the startling disruption that pierced the otherwise serene afternoon.

READ MORE: Colombia Plane Crash

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WATCH: Feds probing deadly crash of plane intercepted by US fighter jets - From ABC 7 Chicago
Forest managers are planning to burn 4,500 acres of the Coconino National Forest about 10 miles southwest of Flagstaff this week.

The burn, dubbed the Crater Sinks project, is a collaboration between the National Forest and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and is on both federal and state lands in the area.

Forest managers say the fire will help create healthier forests and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to Flagstaff and other nearby communities.

The burn comes as the Coconino National Forest has been conducting several prescribed burns in recent weeks, and has been managing a handful of lightning-caused fires in a similar manner.

Last week, members of the media toured the Volunteer Fire southwest of Flagstaff. Firefighters have been using that fire to improve forest health, and conducting back-burns around the blaze to not only reduce fuels such as small and downed trees and pine needles, but also control the boundaries of the fire.

Where such fuels are already burned, the fire cannot spread and future fire risk is reduced, officials say.

Similar operations are also taking place about 8.5 miles west of Clints Well on the Wilbur Fire.

In recent days, firefighters working that blaze have been lighting similar back-burns and are hoping to keep the fire out of West Clear Creek Wilderness.

The Wilbur Fire is burning in an area with an extensive road system that firefighters are using for travel and as control lines. For public and firefighter safety, forest officials say visitors should travel with caution as fire crews will be on roadways during operations.

The Wilbur Fire received rain this weekend, with winds spreading smoke down West Clear Creek into the Verde Valley and along portions of state Route 260.

The precipitation did nothing to hamper back-burns that firefighters were lighting around that blaze.

Crater Sinks project

Forest officials say the Crater Sinks burn has been in the planning stages for more than 4 years.

Firefighters plan on using a helicopter for ignitions by air.

Winds are forecast from the south/southwest at approximately 13 mph, which means smoke will disperse toward the north/northeast and should travel up and over Flagstaff. However, smoke will likely impact areas of Oak Creek Canyon overnight as temperatures cool and settle and may impact Flagstaff.

The Crater Sinks project is part of the wildfire crisis strategy recently announced by the chief of the Forest Service, in which national forests across the country are working more closely with partners such as state agencies to restore healthy, resilient landscapes, officials say.

Prescribed burns are always dependent upon weather and wind conditions, as well as approval from Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

The public can view approved prescribed burns on ADEQs website at smoke.azdeq.gov. Coconino NF burns begin with the designator COF.

During prescribed burns, smoke will be visible from several areas across the forest. Forest officials ask members of the public to refrain from contacting dispatch or 911 to report prescribed burn smoke so lines can remain open for emergencies.
An Easton man currently serving a prison sentence for child pornography is accused of sexually abusing two children over two years in the city, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Angel Luis Colon Rossy, 32, was arraigned May 25 on four counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecent exposure, and a single count of corruption of minors, charges that were filed in February, according to court records.

Colon Rossys bail was set at $100,000 in the case. A defense attorney has not yet entered an appearance.

Colon Rossy is currently in state prison, after being being sentenced for possession of child pornography last fall in Northampton County Court, records show.

The sentence is 30 months to five years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, and Colon Rossy has to register as a sex offender under Pennsylvanias Megans Law.

In the child porn case, state police said they received a tip in 2021 from Snapchat that a user uploaded a video of apparent child pornography.

Investigators linked the IP address used to upload the video to Colon Rossy and raided his home in Easton, troopers said. An iPhone belonging to Colon Rossy was seized and investigators said they found 2,000 files of apparent child pornography, and more than 2,000 files of child exploitation material.

Some of the materials depicted juveniles being inappropriately touched, state police said, and chat records on the phone detailed trading and exchanging the files and links.

Colon Rossy was being held on bail in June 2022, when a woman called authorities after her children reported being sexually abused by Colon Rossy, court records say.

At the time of the assaults, Colon Rossy lived on Lehigh Street in Easton, troopers said.

The children told investigators Colon Rossy molested each of them and exposed himself to them between November 2020 and April 2022, when they were both under the age of 16, court records say.

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An Easton woman has admitted shaking her baby in 2021, causing brain bleeds in the infant that led to seizures and surgery, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Catherine Erickson, 32, pleaded guilty Monday in Northampton County Court to aggravated assault and child endangerment, the Northampton County District Attorneys Office announced.

Two other counts of aggravated assault and a single charge of simple assault were withdrawn, court records say.

Erickson is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 13 and there is no sentencing agreement. Maximum sentences for the charges are 20 years for aggravated assault and seven years for child endangerment, prosecutors said.

Erickson has been free since posting $25,000 bail in September 2021, records show. A message left for her defense attorney, Molly Heidorn, was not immediately returned Tuesday morning.

Easton police said they were contacted June 28, 2021, by the Northampton County Division of Children, Youth and Family Services concerning a near fatal incident, court papers say.

The baby, who was 3 months old at the time, was admitted to a local pediatric intensive care unit after multiple brain bleeds and then transferred to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, court papers say.

A caseworker from the childrens hospital and a doctor told Easton police the baby suffered bilateral subdural hemorrhages, diffused lack of oxygen to the brain, seizures and bilateral brain hemorrhages, and that the injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma.

The baby had old brain bleeds, in addition to newer brain bleeds, consistent with a course of conduct of abuse, prosecutors said. Medical records later indicated the incident was labeled as nearly fatal based on the babys injuries and the amount of treatment required to stabilize her, court records say.

In a June 28 interview with police, Erickson reportedly told officers she was the primary caregiver for the child and the baby began to have seizures about 1 p.m. the day before, according to court records.

Erickson waited 11 hours for the childs father to come home to take the baby to get checked out, and the infant had multiple seizure-like episodes and vomited during the wait, police previously said.

In a July 4 interview, Erickson reportedly admitted she got angry and shook the baby on multiple occasions while in her care, police said. The baby started to have seizures and vomit on June 26, 2021, and Erickson told police she realized that she hurt the baby by shaking her, court records say.

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MORE: How U.S. schools are handling hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke

Smoky conditions Tuesday across the Lehigh Valley region and western New Jersey worsened throughout the afternoon, due to Canadian wildfires.

Emergency radio broadcasts carried call after call into dispatchers about smoke conditions outdoors.

In Monroe County, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Director Maryellen Keegan issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying: Due to the wildfires in Quebec, Canada, National Weather ServiceMount Holly has forecasted Monroe County will experience hazy, smoky skies through sunset tonight into tomorrow morning.

Monroe County OEM & 911 are urging residents to be discerning when calling to report smoke conditions to prevent overload on 911 system. If residents visually observe a fire or emergency they are urged to call 911 immediately.

Lehigh County emergency management officials issued a similar statement via social media. Northampton County Emergency Management Services said they are monitoring and have been in contact with the National Weather Service about the smoke conditions.

If you are seeing a haze or smelling an odor of something burning without a source, it is likely the wind carrying the smoke into our area from the wildfires being battled in Canada, Northampton County officials said in a statement.

Warren County sent out a reverse-911 call to residents about the wildfire smoke, urging caution while driving due to reduced visibility, county Public Safety Director/OEM Coordinator Frank Wheatley said. The countys 911 center was getting swamped with outdoor odor calls as the smoky conditions deteriorated Tuesday afternoon, resulting in emergency services being dispatched, he said.

But you can never take the chance, Wheatley said about calls for a possible fire. These guys are doing what theyre supposed to be doing.

Environmental officials issued an Air Quality Alert Day for in and around the Lehigh Valley on both Tuesday and Wednesday, due to the wildfire smoke.

A separate Red Flag Warning remains in place through 8 p.m. Tuesday across a region that includes the Lehigh Valley and Pocono Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania plus western New Jersey. It states: The combination of very dry conditions, low humidity, and gusty winds will result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires on Tuesday.

Easton's Cottingham Stadium is masked in smoke from Canadian wildfires the afternoon of Tuesday, June 6, 2023.Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Smoke from Canadas wildfires has been moving into the United States since last month. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days.

The Code Orange Air Quality Alerts issued for Tuesday and Wednesday across eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey mean air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups, the National Weather Service said Wednesday. Sensitive groups include children...people suffering from asthma... heart disease or other lung diseases...and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

Experts advise to put off yard work and outdoor exercise. If you go out, consider wearing an N95 mask to reduce your exposure to pollutants.

Stay inside, keeping your doors, windows and fireplaces shut. Its recommended that you run the air conditioning on a recirculation setting.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires fills the air over Grape Street in Whitehall Township the afternoon of Tuesday, June 6, 2023.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Trans-Bridge Lines has added more drivers, so it can now add more bus runs to New York City and more destinations to places such as New Hope and Flemington, according to a news release.

This is something weve been wanting to do for some time now, said Tom JeBran, president of the Bethlehem-based bus lines.

Changes include:

Two new Allentown-to-New York City runs at 6 a.m.

Two new New York City-to-Allentown runs.

New stop locations on some routes to allow for quicker arrival times.

Some routes that were offered on Friday only are now offered Monday through Friday.

Two new runs leave for Wall Street for commuters who need a later arrival to Lower Manhattan and a later return. The runs will operate Monday through Thursday.

By popular demand, Trans-Bridge will resume weekend service from New York to Doylestown/Flemington, the news release says.

We have several New York passengers who use the routes to travel to areas like New Hope for leisure and recreation and weekend getaways, said Trans-Bridge Director of Operations Mark Ertel. They relied on this service in the past, and we are proud to reinstate it into our schedules after a seven-month hiatus.

Trans-Bridge is also bringing back pier transportation to Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, the release says.

We have received hundreds of email messages inquiring about its return over the past few years, said Trans-Bridge Communications Manager Jennifer Lechiski.

Its one of the many routes Trans-Bridge temporarily cut due to the nationwide shortage of bus drivers, according to the news release. But Trans-Bridge now has drivers trained and ready to go, the release says.

The pier line is reservation-based. It also serves the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. The schedule coincides with the cruise lines itinerary times to cruise ports. The pier bus leaves from Lehigh Valley International Airport and the Clinton, New Jersey, Park and Ride.

This latest round of schedule changes is our biggest since the pandemic and the result of passenger requests and travel trends, JeBran said.

JeBran said the bus industry has changed forever since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the new runs and schedules make our employees excited for the future and motivated for what we can accomplish in the future for our customers.

We are thankful for the opportunity for growth, he said.

Founded in 1941, Trans-Bridge Lines offers daily bus service to New York City and Newark Airport from the Lehigh Valley and Clinton, New Jersey, as well as weekday service to Wall Street.

Check out their new schedules on the Trans-Bridge website.

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Cruinniu na nOg Laois promises to be day of creativity for children and young people under 18 on Saturday, June 10.

Laois County Council says the day celebrates and encourages participation in culture and creativity through doing, making, and creating from visual and performing arts to workshops and adventures in heritage, libraries, culture, science and technology, music and dance.

The council says events are free, local and activity-based at venues right around the county on Saturday, June 10.

Laois Libraries have organised a diverse range of workshops for Criunniu which are jam-packed with activities

Abbeyleix Library  The MaKey MaKey and Scratch Workshop on Saturday 10th June at 10.30am-12.30pm. Suitable for children age 8-12yrs. Invent your own multimedia instrument with everyday objects, the MaKey Makey circuit board and Scratch, a block based coding language in this hands-on workshop. Booking essential. Contact us abbeyleixlibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Mountrath Library will host an interactive storytime session with fun, stories play, and interaction with storyteller Paul Timoney in the library for ages 4/11 from 10.15-11.15 am .

Bookings please -mountrathlibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Portlaoise Library will host an interactive storytime session with fun, stories play, and interaction with storyteller Paul Timoney in the library for ages 4/11 from 10.15-11.15 am.

Poems and Stories with Paul Timoney

Why was my hat eaten by a seagull? How long did it take the fifty-headed man to brush his teeth? What atrocious crime got the potato sent to jail? Who on Earth were The Three Lidl Pigs???

For the answers to these and other important questions please come along.

Saturday 10th June at 2pm. To book a place email portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie Bookings please -portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Rathdowney Library will feature a Puppet show from 11-12pm in the library by well know Puppeteer Julie Rose Mc Cormick . The show Beauty and the Beast is A classic tale of not judging people because they are different 

Beauty and her family move house after losing all their money, but one day her father meets a strange creature called Beast , who helps him but wants to meet a girl with a good heart , because only she can break the spell cast on him, which will soon kill him if he does not get the kiss to break the spell. But will Beauty be able to save him?

All are welcome for this family show, booking advised -email rathdowneylibrary@laoiscoco.ie or phone 050546852

Portarlington Library  Lego Robotics Workshop -Join MakerMeet and explore different ways to use Lego to build a moving robot! This workshop is a very hands-on introduction to using Lego, robotics, how they are used and basic coding. Saturday June 10th 10:30-11:30am. Suitable for 7-10 yrs. Free workshop but limited spaces so booking is essential. Call 057 8643751 or email portarlingonlibrary@laoiscoco.ie to book a place.

Mountmellick Library Makermeet will hold a non-traditional music workshop from 12.30-1.30 p.m. MakerMeet will bring a wide variety of very unusual instruments and ideas on how to make sounds, resonance, reverberations and music. These include Otamatones, programmable colour recognising rings, real fruit and much for. Participants can explore all these and begin to make their own sounds by looking differently at how audio works!

Go Fly a Kite will hold a workshop in Mountmellick for 511-year-olds where you can design your kite and take it home to fly over the summer months.

Places are limited for both workshops so book ahead on 0578644572 or email mountmellicklibrary@laoiscoco.ie.

Portlaoise Library will also hold Go Fly Your Kite workshops

Children aged 5-11 years old. Come and join Go Fly Your Kite to celebrate Cruinniu na nOg 2023 a free day of letting your creativity flow . An opportunity to design by hand or trace your favourite picture onto a real blank kite that really does fly. Its a blank canvas to go creative crazy. We then build your kite and take it outside and watch it fly majestically up into the sky. A day to be proud of your kite creation. Spaces are limited, early booking is recommended.-portlaoiselibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Stradbally library  The Last Beekeeper Storytelling Event

The Library in Stradbally a re delighted to host an this Engaging and entertaining storytelling event with with author Johnny Renko. Two best friends, one great journey, the adventure of a lifetime. Their quest, to find The Last Beekeeper, and save the world. Age range 9-12 years.Starting Time:12:00pm-booking- stradballylibrary@laoiscoco.ie

Launch of Laois Libraries Storystroll

Laois County Libraries will be launching their summer storystroll in The Peoples Park, Portlaoise at 12.noon on Criunniu na nog -June 10th featuring Local author Donna Mills. Join Donna at 12 noon for the launch of the library Summer Storystroll and exhibition in the Peoples Park, Portlaoise, with an interactive, fun storytelling session. Donnas first chidlrens publication, What Can I Do, has been brought to life on a series of storyboards throughout parks and outdoor areas.This colorful trail will encourage reading, storytelling, literacy, and play during the summer months, and will be displayed in other public parks and amenities throughout the county during the summer months season.

Laois Arthouse, Stradbally are inviting all young people to take part in the FREE Cruinniu na nOg events that will be taking place in Stradbally on Saturday 10th June 2023. Below is various workshops hosted by Stradbally Library and Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally.

City of Dreams Create a model city using geometric shapes from various materials with with artist Evgeny Chubat at 10am. The activity aims to develop creativity, ability to build logical chains, and spatial reasoning. Age range for 5-18 years.

Adelle Hickey will host a Printmaking workshop at 11.am .Create prints through different techniques of mark making. Mono printing and overlaying will be explored to create placement and repeat patterns with artist Adelle Hickey. Age range 5-18 years.

A sustainable textile workshop at 12 noon is being facilitated Niamh Bakker . Create a woven piece of art make out of sticks and found/donated wool. The aim of the workshop is to educate the young people about textile art with artist Niamh Bakker. Age range 5-18 years.

Limited spaces available, booking is essential. To book a place, email creativelaois@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057 868 9386

Mountrath Youth Theatre invites you to take part in a taster workshops in youth theatre.Experience the creativity of youth drama in these high-energy workshops. Explore your imagination and self-expression by devising, creating and performing.

There will be three workshops suitable for ages 8-15!

The workshops are free but booking is essential. Book now by contacting Mountrath Youth Theatre at 087 6184404 or email mountrathyt@gmail.com

Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, features Slapdash Circus Show by Symmetry Circus at 2pm

Join Aoife and Ria from Symmetry Circus. They have a bag load of eye popping tricks to show you what circus means these days! Featuring acrobatics, audience interaction, physical comedy, crazy skipping, hula hoops and slapstick fighting this is a show which is fun for all the family.

Advance Booking recommended on 057 866 3355 | www.dunamaise.ie

Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise, 1-4pm features Music Generation Laois (MGL) and Laois Integration Network (LIN) celebrate new communities in Laois. Join us for a jam packed afternoon of early years music, MGL Ukulele Circle, MGL Bodhran/Drumming Circle, and Beat Goes On body percussion workshop.

Experience the colourful and uplifting performance of the Malva Ukrainian Choir on the Main stage with Open mics and Laois Partnership Afterschool performances , arts and crafts activities and so much more. All details and family programme available at www.musicgenerationlaois.ie. Supported by Creative Ireland, Laois Partnership Company, and Laois County Council.

Buioch Workshops in Laois Music Center

Join Laois band Buioch in Laois Music Center on June 10th from 10-1pm for their composition workshop for children and young people aged 10-18 along with a short gig where they will play some original tunes off their album to inspire the young people to create new music. Working in groups , each group will be taught about the different processes that Buioch have gone through to write their music. Each group will be taught about chord structure, Key signature, Time Signature and staff notation and any relevant theory pertaining to Traditional Irish music.

Please register your interest at buiochtrad@gmail.com

Cruinniu na nOg comes to Treo Nua , Knockmay in Portlaoise, 124.00 pm for an exciting afternoon of drumming workshops (7/8 yrs), clown workshops(1/8 yrs), spot prizes, face painting, and so much more. In addition, the BIG DIG will be arriving with The School of Irish Archaeology showcasing a Viking DIG from 12 noon.

For more information and/or to book a workshop: Erica -Treo Nua Centre, 057 868 6145 or Joan  Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, 057 868 6151. This family event has been created in collaboration with the young people and their families of Knockmay Estate, Treo Nua Centre and Portlaoise Family Resource Centre, Laois Arts Office and Music Generation Laois.

Makeport, Portarlington, times -TBC Virtual Reality and Podcast demos at Makeport makerspace for ages 8-12 and 13-18 showcasing how VR technology works with Oculus Rift headsets and also an introduction to making your own podcasts utilising green screen technology.

These workshops are in collaboration with the Makeport Team and LOETBs Local Creative Youth Partnership. Places limited, booking essential at info@makeport.ie.

For a full listing of all activities and information on how to join in for Cruinniu na nOg  go to laois.ie/cruinniu2023 and also to the national website at www.cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie/events/location/laois




An Independent TD says funding for specialists to treat eating disorders has not been allocated in Laois Offaly.

Deputy Carol Nolan is engaging with the office of the Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler to establish why midland counties in the HSEs CHO Area 8 have not been allocated part of the 8 million Programme for Government funding for eating disorder posts.

The HSEs CHO(Community Health Organisations) Area 8 comprises Laois/Offaly, Longford/Westmeath and Louth/Meath.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after Minister Butler confirmed that the 8 million investment funded the set-up of eating disorder teams in CHO7, CHO4 (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services(CAMHS)), CHO9, CHO6 (Adult).

Deputy Nolan said the Minister stated that funding has also enabled the establishment of teams at varying stages of recruitment in CHO4, CHO5, CHO1 (Adult), CHO2, CHO6 (CAMHS). Recruited clinicians for these teams are currently delivering eating disorder care and receiving training via The National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCPED).

According to the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, Bodywhys, an estimated 188,895 people in Ireland will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. It also estimates that approximately 1,757 new cases occur in Ireland each year in the 10-49 age group:

There is a pattern developing here that is totally unacceptable, said Deputy Nolan.

Last month it was confirmed to me that midland counties were to be excluded from the roll-out of Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams. This month we have the Minister confirming that Laois/Offaly, Longford/Westmeath and Louth/Meath are also being impacted by the lack of dedicated ringfenced funding for an eating disorder team. What has this Government got against the midlands? she asked.

I appreciate that some level of care for those suffering from eating orders may be accessed in other CHO areas, but the fact remains that people in the midlands also have a right to a local team that can support people who need these services, said Deputy Nolan.

It is absolutely vital that the HSE and Government take all action necessary to enhance integrated care pathways between community eating disorder teams and our acute hospitals, she concluded.
Irish Water / Uisce Eireann (IW) was criticised by a number of Kildare county councillors at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District (MD) meeting on Friday, June 2.

Social Democrats Cllr motioned for Kildare County Council (KCC) to facilitate 'an immediate meeting with IW to discuss the persistent mains water issues to the following areas: Allen, Pluckerstown, Ballintine, Kilmeague, Allenwood, Bluetown, Allenwood South, Lullymore, Drimsree, Killinagh, Dreenane, Derrinturn, Ballyhagan, Ticknevin, Kishawanny, Coolearagh, Blackwood, Robertstown, Dreenane, Robertstown, Newtown Donore, Downings South, Prosperous, Killybegs, Landenstown, Drummin West and surrounding areas in County Kildare.'

His motion was seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick.

Commenting on the issue, Cllr Farrelly said: "Something seems to be structurally wrong with the mains line (supporting the areas listed)."

Cllr Fitzpatrick added that there seemed to be a burst watermain affecting the areas 'at least once a fortnight'.

He added: "All of us here have had difficulty engaging with IW in the past, but we do need to engage with them as soon as possible (regarding this issue).

"IW needs to come into a public forum and discuss the matter."

Fine Gael Cllr Tim Durkan voiced his support for Cllr Farrelly and Cllr Fitzpatrick, adding: "I can give an account of one issue with IW that took three years to resolve."

When the prospect of writing to IW came up, Independent Cllr Padraig McEvoy suggested that the MD office could write to IW ahead of its next clinic (IW run quarterly online clinics), so that the group could carry out research and collect the necessary facts before discussing the issue with the councillors.

In response to their queries, KCC suggested that the councillors could contact IW directly via their email support address at localrepsupport@water.ie, or by phoning 0818178178, or to raise their issues at their next Councillors Clinic, which is due to be held on June 26.
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After 16 years awarding third level student scholarships, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship scheme is once again reminding students from County Leitrim that the 2023 closing date is fast approaching and inviting all applicants to submit their entries.

The Naughton Scholarships are a scheme of scholarships to promote the study of engineering, science and technology at third level by students in Ireland.

Each year from February to May, Leaving Certificate students can apply for a scholarship if they intend on studying science, computer science, mathematics, engineering or technology at third level that year.

The closing date for receipt of application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship 2023 is Friday, 30th June 2023 at midnight. There will be one guaranteed scholarship for each of the participating counties, 36 allocated in total.

The Naughton Foundation was established by Dr Martin and Carmel Naughton in 1994 and its goal is to support worthwhile causes in the arts and education.

In 2008 they decided to create the scholarship programme to increase their support for Leaving Certificate students who would like to study engineering, mathematics, science, computer science and technology at third level in Ireland.

Originally, the scholarship programme only applied to students from counties Louth, Meath and Monaghan however it has since expanded nationwide and students from all Counties in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply.

Students are invited to apply if they are currently attending secondary schools in County Leitrim, and if they are studying two or more of the following subjects - physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics, and applied mathematics.

Each Naughton Scholarship is valued at 20,000 so it is a contribution of 5,000 for each year of the students third-level course for a student studying science, engineering, maths or technology in any publicly funded university or third-level institution in Ireland, including Northern Ireland.

The school of each winner is also awarded 1,000. Applications must be submitted before, or on this date to be considered eligible for the scholarship, this deadline will not be extended.

The 2023 application forms for The Naughton Foundation Scholarship Programme are available for download and can be completed online on The Naughton Foundation website.

www.thenaughtonfoundation.com

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 30th June, 2023.
French President Emmanuel Macron with soldiers from Operation Barkhane in Port-Bouet, Cote d'Ivoire, on December 20, 2019. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

France is preparing to reduce the number of soldiers stationed at its various African bases by several hundred over the coming months, sources told Le Monde, confirming initial reports in the Africa Intelligence newsletter on May 9. This downsizing will first be implemented in the Abidjan base in Cote d'Ivoire, followed by Dakar, Senegal, and Libreville, Gabon. Djibouti, where 1,500 military personnel are stationed, will not be affected.

This withdrawal comes after a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on February 28, outlining the main aspects of his roadmap for Africa during his second term in office. No figures were given at the time but Macron had then said the change would be "visible" and spoke of possibly "co-managing" military bases with partner countries.

Three months later, the forthcoming changes' broad outlines have been agreed upon. Hundreds of French soldiers will exit Cote d'Ivoire, which currently has 950 troops, along with Senegal and Gabon, each home to around 350 permanent staff. The future allocation between the three countries has not yet been officially decided, but this new wave of military withdrawals will take effect, for some of these bases, by the end of the year.

Following the termination of Operation Barkhane in West Africa in the fall of 2022, and after a 10-year presence in Mali, France intends to withdraw from Africa. While Barkhane had up to 5,000 troops, the French forces of the defunct operation are now divided between Chad (1,000 soldiers) and Niger (1,500), from where authorities manage the bulk of French operations in West Africa  mainly counter-terrorism.

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In Niger, the French army is keen on not appearing on the front line, even though this method has been tried unsuccessfully in Mali. "We're helping Niger fight its war," said a regional expert, referring to the support provided to the Nigerien armed forces. Paris also wants to apply this approach to its traditional training activities, in which soldiers from various French regiments have been taking part for years from bases in Senegal, Gabon and Cote d'Ivoire.

The French government is hoping to revitalize regionally-oriented national schools (ENVR), structures that France has been financing in part since the late 1990s, but which are little known by the general public. Fifteen such facilities are located in Africa: In Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Niger, Togo and Benin. They provide training for regional armies in all areas of security and defense but are currently home to only a handful of French aid workers.

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THE HEADLINE above says half a million euro farm but nobody would be surprised if 49 acres at Lissowen, Doon well exceeds that guide price.

It is brought to the market by James Lee of REA John Lee who reports very good interest in the land for sale by private treaty.

This is a prime holding containing some of the most productive lands in the region situated 900m from Doon village. The lands are in excellent condition, in permanent pasture and laid out in easily managed fields. The farm contains a considerable amount of road frontage (600m) with a holding yard, cubicle shed with 50 cubicles, four column hayshed, loose shed, cattle pen and crush, said Mr Lee.

There is a bungalow residence on the farm which is in need of renovation.

Mr Lee is guiding at between 10,000 and 11,000 an acre but wouldnt be surprised if the final price agreed exceeds that figure. There are a number of good dairy farmers in the locality who may see this as a perfect opportunity to extend their enterprise. It could also be attractive to outside buyers.

It is a great block of ground and is good dry land. It is situated in a superb location only 20 minutes drive from Limerick city, sums up Mr Lee.

Final offers by Friday, June 23 at noon.
PATIENCE and planning have paid off for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) - and one Limerick man- to reintroduce the White-Tailed Eagle (WTE) to Ireland as a male eagle released in 2008 has bonded with a female released in 2020 and they have now produced two chicks together.

Nature conservation, particularly where efforts to protect an endangered species is concerned, can take quite some time to see success. The male eagle had previously partnered with, and produced chicks. Sadly, the previous partner succumbed to Avian Flu and this male eagle had lived alone in East Clare for the past four years until he recently paired up with his new partner.

Castleconnell man Eamonn Meskell, who heads up the NPWS White-Tailed Eagle Reintroduction project, proudly said: We have been monitoring these eagles for many years and of course we feel very familiar with their history as part of the project.

"The male eagle has been single for four years since his previous partner died. Of course the fact that he has now found and bred with a new partner is significant to our project but were also delighted to see this eagle that we know well make a new bond and start a new family.

Mr Meskell said a story like this really brings their reintroduction programme to life.

"It helps people to learn about eagle breeding behaviour and the fragility of our reintroduction efforts, all told through the story of a widowed eagle. For our project, the appearance of any new chick is a milestone and shows that the continuation of the project is proving successful," said Mr Meskell.

In addition, at another site in County Clare - eagle-eyed NPWS staff have in recent days observed and tagged three chicks reared by one of the male eagles offspring from his previous partner. This earlier offspring, a female eagle, has thus far reared 10 chicks which are spread around the island of Ireland, some of whom themselves are forming pairs.

Mr Meskill added: It is also incredible that one of his offspring is now herself rearing three chicks. This is a very rare occurrence, as a very small minority of nest sites - in Ireland, Norway or anywhere else - have more than two chicks on nest. This is the second year that three chicks are on the nest at this particular nest site. This shows how suited Ireland and our lakes are from a habitat and feeding perspective for this reintroduction project.

The male eagle who has found a new partner was originally released in Killarney National Park in 2008 and set up territory with a female from that batch, eventually making a nest in the Lough Derg area.

In 2013, this pair nested successfully and fledged a pair of White Tailed Eagle chicks  the first hatching and fledging of a White Tailed Eagle chick in over 110 years in Ireland.

The same pair successfully fledged White Tailed Eagle chicks for the next four years until 2018, when the female of the pair died after contracting Avian Influenza. The male held the same territory without any mate for the next four years.

In 2020, 16 White Tailed Eagle chicks were collected from the wild nests in Norway and sent to Ireland for the release programme that year.

A female chick from this group (B for Bernadine) released at a site in Lough Derg, flew back to Scotland after her release but returned to Ireland six months later and bonded with the widowed male. They then set up a territory together, building a nest in February of this year on an island in Lough Derg, They subsequently mated and the female successfully hatched out one White Tailed Eagle chick.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD said: The successful hatching of these White-Tailed Eagle chicks symbolises the patience and careful planning of a long term project such as the White Tailed Eagle reintroduction project. It gives us great hope and encouragement for the project which we always knew would take time and perseverance.

As this story shows, reintroduction of the White Tailed Eagle hasnt always been straightforward with factors such as Avian Flu and in the past illegal poisoning scuppering efforts. The current phase of the release programme aims to ensure the population is robust enough to give this once extinct species the best possible chance of long-term success in Ireland.

"The news from Clare of five chicks born to eagles from both phases of the reintroduction programme  and indeed to their offspring - shows why our continued efforts, perseverance and hope can lead not just to lovely stories such as this, but to hope and good news for nature."
LIMERICK athlete Sarah Lavin has paid a tribute via social media to "someone very special" after her latest race at the FBK Games in the Netherlands at the weekend.

The Olympian, who finished over 10 hurdles with a time of 12.91, shared pictures and a video of her time at the track, along with a heartwarming picture of her latest pair of runners, which have the initials CB, along with a heart, engraved into the laces.

This "lovely touch" as it was coined in her comments, is said to be in memory of her late "sweetheart", Craig Breen.

On social media, the sprint athlete said, "12.91 season's best and someone very special with me every step."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarah Lavin (@sarahlavin_)

Many others joined in celebrating Craig in the comments, with boxer Kellie Harrington, race-walker Robert Heffernan, and Olympian Laura Muir sharing their support for Sarah.

As a rally driver, 33-year-old Craig lost his life while participating in a pre-test event ahead of the 2023 Croatia Rally, and was revealed to be Sarah's partner in an emotional tribute she shared at the time of his death.

She wrote, "my best friend, I will miss you forever Craig. Thank you for showing me true love. You were so much more than a driver to so many people. I will love you always, sweet dreams sweetheart."
A PEACEFUL protest over the number of pedestrian deaths in Charleville will take place on Friday, June 16.

Charleville Community Forum, organisers, say in a statement sent to local media it will be held in the town plaza, main street from 5.30pm to 6pm. Eight people have died in the last 10 years with two fatalities within a fortnight of each other last month.

"This will be a family friendly protest, no speaking, just a presence for now. This course of action is the result of a public meeting in the Charleville Park Hotel on Wednesday, May 31, to discuss pedestrian safety," reads the statement.

Read a full report from the meeting on the link below

The statement from the Charleville Community Forum says that a large number of people attended the meeting, where "a tangible sense of frustration was evident over the abandonment of necessary infrastructure in Charleville by Governments, Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland".

"The community of Charleville and surrounding areas remain traumatised, fearful and outraged, after two

pedestrians recently lost their lives on the main street of Charleville - Pat Galvin, Newtownshandrum on April 29 and

Margaret Lyons, Charleville, on May 15.

"Sadly bringing the total of fatalities to 8 people within a 10 year period. All the incidents involved heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Families, loved ones, and friends of the victims, have to endure unbearable heartbreak. The impact and trauma on the lives of the drivers of the HGVs involved, the emergency services who attended and the eye witnesses," reads the statement.

Following the seventh fatality, Charleville Community Forum held a meeting on May 3 and launched a campaign Enough is Enough.

"We all know something must be done urgently to prevent any more loss of life on the main street of Charleville. Unfortunately the clock is already ticking for another family to experience such devastation as Charleville town has returned to normality, with no changes towards pedestrian safety implemented by Cork County Council.

"The high volume of HGVs now passing through our town is beyond ridiculous. Safety issues were highlighted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in 2019 and still no action. Cork Port grew by 30% in 2022, if it continues to expand, the safety risk to our pedestrians is increasing daily.

"We highlight our dismay and frustration that no immediate safety measures have been put in place. All responsible Government parties must act immediately, and take the lives of the Charleville community and surrounding areas into consideration. That is the reason, there will be a Peaceful Protest on Friday, June 16.

"Stop the abandonment of Charleville town and save the lives of our pedestrians," concludes the statement.
MANAGEMENT at a Limerick-based IT firm have confirmed a number of jobs have been shed after the loss of some lines of its business.

Everise, which is located in an office complex at Catherine Street in the city centre, provides back-office support to a number of companies including Indeed - one of the world's biggest jobs search websites.

It also has a number of other blue-chip clients from across the world.

Business Leader understands the cessation of a number of projects with the recruitment giant has resulted in the firm reducing its headcount in Limerick.

Headquartered in Florida, USA, Everise teams up with third party organisations to provide the customer support.

It has offices in six countries across three continents, including in Limerick.

Its experience centre opened in the city centre in 2019, and, following the lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, it accelerated its recruitment in the Mid-West.

With Everise, its understood agents locally work on improving Indeeds Artificial Intelligence capabilities, as well as logging identifier keywords on job applications to help whittle down the search.

Sources have indicated that around 70 of the 200 staff have been issued with redundancy notices by the company.

However, in a statement, Everise did not confirm numbers.

Site director of operations for Everise Ireland Robert Byrne wrote: While we continue to maintain a footprint in our Limerick site, our client volumes fluctuate. In recent months, certain lines of business have been reduced or discontinued which has caused some customer service roles to have either been reprofiled or terminated.

Mr Byrne added: Everise always considers the impact our business decisions have on our employees. Market dynamics and requirements of the customers we serve affect our talent hiring and retention initiatives.

Its understood Indeed still maintains a number of other projects for which Everise staff are providing support to.
A strike by French air traffic controllers is causing disruption of flights in and out of Ireland and across Europe.

The 36-hour industrial action started on Monday evening and will continue until Wednesday morning.

Passengers due to fly have been advised to check their airline websites for updates.

Speaking on a video message shared on social media, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said the airline has had to cancel around 400 flights across Europe and the UK on Tuesday as a result of the French strike.

He said they "respect the right of French ATC to strike" but said this should only affect French domestic and local flights. Mr O'Leary urged the EU commission to step in to ensure flights traveling over France are no longer affected.

He said Spain, Italy and Greece protect overflights across their respective countries and he called on the European Commission to take action to ensure the same for France.
A silver-plated pencil purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler has sold for a 10th of its pre-auction estimate at a Belfast auction house.

The pencil sold for 5,400 to an online bidder at Bloomfield Auctions in the Northern Ireland capital on Tuesday.

It had been expected to fetch between 50,000  80,000.

It is believed the pencil had been given to the Nazi dictator by his long-term partner Eva Braun as a gift for his 52nd birthday on April 20, 1941.

It is inscribed with Eva in German and the initials AH.

The pencil was originally purchased by a collector at an auction in 2002 and since then has remained in the collectors family.

A number of other items associated with the Nazi regime in 1930s-40s Germany also went under the hammer on Tuesday.

An original signed photograph of Hitler, expected to sell for between 10,000 and 15,000, sold for 6,200.

A section of Swastika bunting sold for 170 and an armband sold for 190

All items were bought by online bidders.

The wide-ranging militaria auction which went on for most of the day also included historic British Army medals, deactivated guns, a PSNI peaked cap believed to have been worn by former Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and a treaty with notes written by Irish unionist leader Edward Carson.

A rare Royal Pardon issued by Queen Victoria to Irish rebels convicted of high treason was among the last items set to be sold.

The pardon is believed to have been issued by the monarch in 1869, and includes Queen Victorias personal signature and seal.

Royal Pardons allow monarchs to withdraw or provide alternatives to death sentences or exile to those convicted of crimes against the crown.

One of the key individuals referenced in the pardon is JFX OBrien, an Irish nationalist revolutionary who participated in a rising against British rule in 1867, and was tried for high treason, convicted and sentenced to death.

OBrien was released in 1869 with Queen Victorias pardon and went on to become the President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and an MP for Cork City.

Bloomfield Auctions had been urged to halt the sale of the Nazi linked items for moral reasons by the chairman of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin.

He described the trade in items which belonged to senior Nazis as an insult to the millions who perished in the holocaust, as well as the few survivors left, and to Jews everywhere.

However the auction house stressed that the item is a part of history, adding those who buy such items are legitimate collectors who have a passion for history.

They insisted they did not seek to cause hurt or distress to any one or any part of society, adding: All items have a story and tell of a particular time in history.
Stephanie Cobian |

Lincoln Universitys Cooperative Extension and Research (LUCER) will host its 2023 George Washington Carver Farm Field Day on Wednesday, June 14, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carver Farm, located at 3804 Bald Hill Road, approximately 10 minutes from Lincoln University of Missouris (LU) Jefferson City campus. Visitors will learn about ongoing research and extension projects at the 150-acre farm, one of three research farms owned and operated by LU, and share the latest developments in modern agriculture.

Interested guests, including local agricultural producers, legislators, prospective college students and the general public, are invited to register online to attend Carver Farm Field Day. The event is free.

We are excited to host Carver Farm Field Day to showcase the innovative research and extension programs made possible through land grant funding at Lincoln University," said LU Farm Superintendent Chris Boeckmann. This field day is an opportunity to educate the public and show the far-reaching impact of the work made possible through state and federal dollars.

The field day will begin at 8 a.m. on June 14. A trolley will transport visitors around the farm to explore and delve into various sectors of the agriculture industry. At each trolley stop, researchers, extension specialists and demonstrations will share information on a diverse range of agricultural topics and share the latest developments in research advances taking place at LU. Topics to be covered include greenhouse production, poultry, quinoa, industrial hemp, water resources, food safety, aquaculture (recirculating systems and pond production), native plants, pest management, livestock grazing, small ruminants and hydroponics.

Beginning at 1:15 p.m., LUCER specialists and researchers will lead presentations to provide more insight into the research and agricultural advances taking place at LU, with a focus on sustainable farming practices.

Presentations will include Sustainable Small-Scale Hydroponics, Heritage Breed Poultry, and Small Ruminants: Semen Analysis at 1:15 p.m. At 2:15 p.m., visitors can learn about Quinoa: Super Crop for Grains & Leafy Greens, Overview of Missouri Agriculture and Economic Impact, and Small Ruminants: Parasite Control in Sheep & Goats. The last presentations, beginning at 3:15 p.m., will include Ultrasound Carcass Evaluation, Industrial Hemp for the Midwest, and Small Ruminants: Nutritional Management & Fecal Egg Count.

As part of its land-grant mission, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research (LUCER) aims to enhance the quality of life for people throughout Missouri with limited access to resources. Utilizing research-based education, LUCER programs address the needs of small farm owners throughout the state. Programs teach key skills relating to sustainability, leadership, agricultural innovation and more, so farmers throughout Missouri and beyond can keep up with a changing economy and continue to meet the needs of their customers.
New Delhi: Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) on Tuesday announced the acquisition of The Good Stuff Pvt Ltd, backed by Goldman Sachs and Mitsui Ventures. Formerly known as Global CP Pvt Ltd, the company sells chocolates and confectionary under the LuvIt brand.

DS Group declined to share the deal value.

Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman, DS Group, said the company could scale the LuvIt brand to 500 crore, up from the current 100 crore. Over a five-year period, its chocolates and confectionery business could grow five fold to touch 5,000 crore, up from 900 crore now, Kumar added.

DS Group entered into confectionary business in 2012. Its portfolio comprises brands such as Pass Pass, Pulse, Chingles, Rajnigandha Silver Pearls, Maze. It recently partnered Swiss luxury chocolate brand Laderach for its India entry. The group also has interests including a large pan masala business apart from a presence in other consumer goods categories such as spices and bottled water under the Catch brand.

The Good Stuff was started by Arumugham Mahendran, a former executive with Godrej Consumer Products, in 2014. Goldman Sachs and Japanese conglomerate Mitsui, through associated entities, came on board as investors having put in more than 500 crore in the company. Mahendran stepped down from the company in 2018.

This acquisition is in line with the Noida-based groups plans to grow its confectionary portfolio, while widening distribution across grocery and other retail outlets. This deal will strengthen the groups presence in southern India. LuvIt sells chocolate, crunchy wafers, fruit and chocolate flavoured lollipops, eclairs, sugar panned chocolates and choco snacks.

DS Group has been focusing on increasing its presence in the confectionary segment for the last many years. Acquisition of LuvIt was a strategic decision to enhance our confectionary basket and enter the chocolate segment with an impressionable footprint. This would enable us to expand our product portfolio thereby reaching new consumers and markets too," Kumar said.

The Good Stuff reported a turnover of over 100 crore last fiscal, with nearly 90% of sales driven by brand LuvIt.

The Indian confectionary market is valued at approximately 23,000 crore.

DS Group was founded in 1929. It sells mouth fresheners, food and beverages, confectionery products; it also has interests in the hospitality, agri, and luxury retail businesses. Its portfolio of packaged consumer good brands includes Rajnigandha, Catch, Pulse, FRU, Maze, Ksheer, Pass Pass, Baba, Tulsi.
NEW DELHI : The local arm of Japanese automaker Honda Cars is making a strategic comeback into Indias rapidly expanding passenger vehicle sub-segment, with the launch of a new mid-sized sport utility vehicle (SUV)the Elevate.

The carmaker expects the new product to propel sales by 35% in the second half of the financial year, surpassing 2021-22 figures, as it intends to increase production and focus on delivering the car during the festive season, said a top company official.

Elevate will face stiff competition from established rivals such as Hyundais Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Suzukis Grand Vitara, in this fiercely contested segment.

Honda has laid out comprehensive SUV roadmap for the Indian market, aiming to launch five new models, including the Elevate, by 2030. It also plans a fully-electric model based on the Elevate by 2026.

Despite its long history in India, Honda Cars India Ltd has encountered challenges in gaining a significant foothold in mass-market passenger vehicles segment, due to its premium pricing compared to most original equipment manufacturers.

Takuya Tsumura, chief executive, Honda Cars India, said the automaker will price SUVs competitively and cover 40-45% of total PV market which derives sales from SUV segment. The company is ramping up manufacturing at its Rajasthan facility, and expects to hit 180,000 units in annual sales in three years. Honda has been profitable for last two years and hopes to sustain profitability, he said.

We understand SUVs are important and we have to bring them to mainstream. That is why we developed the Elevate for India, and the price must also reflect that. We may price a little bit higher than some models but its not like we will position it too high," Tsumura added.

The Elevate will exclusively be available in a petrol variant, as the company expects demand for hybrid vehicles to remain limited, with rival OEMs like Suzuki and Toyota ramping up their play in the segm-ent, but other SUV models Honda brings in could have hybrid powertrains as well.

However, with rivals Suzuki and Toyota aggressively expanding their presence in the segment, Honda aims to differentiate itself by exploring hybrid powertrains as well for other new SUV models.Honda Cars India discontinued its diesel engines in India completely earlier this year, and will not bring them back in light of Indias emissions reduction requirements as well as the companys global roadmap to electrify two-thirds of its product portfolio by 2030, and 100% by 2040.

After some restructuring three years back, for the last two years we are back to black. Business is picking up but we have only three models, Amaze, City and City HEV, especially after RDE regulations came in force in April. So, we are participating in just 10% of passenger car market. Now, with the new SUVs we will enter 40-45% of the market. In our estimate, in October-March, we will grow our sales by 35% in FY23," he said. We are prepared. Our production last year was 540 units per day, and now it is at 660 units at our Rajasthan factory."

In terms of global sales, India ranks 6th or 7th for Honda. However, in India, it has slipped to seventh place, after its sales for May dipped 41% to just 4,660 units.

Meanwhile, MG Motor India managed to surpass Honda, securing the sixth position. The erosion in market share can be attributed to Hondas scaled-back product portfolio, which no longer offers the same breadth and variety as before.

Honda currently has an installed capacity of 180,000 units, which can be expanded to 200,000 units by putting in an extra shift. Exports to countries in South Africa, Middle-Eastern Countries and Mexico account for 20% for Honda Cars Indias total annual sales.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alisha Sachdev Alisha Sachdev is an assistant editor with Mint based in Delhi. She reports on the auto and mobility sector, with a special focus on emerging clean mobility technologies. She also focusses on developing multimedia properties for Mint and currently hosts the 'In A Minute' series and the Mint Primer podcast. Previously, she has worked with CNBC-TV18 and NDTV. Read more from this author
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman Tuesday said the company has no plans to go public any time soon.

Responding to a question on whether he will take OpenAI public Altman said, "I don't want to be sued by ... public market, Wall Street etc, so no, not that interested, " reported Reuters. The OpenAI CEO was addressing a conference in Abu Dhabi.

When we develop super intelligence, we are likely to make some decisions that most investors would look at very strangely," Altman added.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has so far raised $10 billion from Microsoft at a valuation of almost $30 billion as it invests more on building computing capacity.

"We have a very strange structure. We have this cap to profit thing," he said.

OpenAI started off as a non-profit organisation but later created a hybrid "capped-profit" company, that allowed it to raise external funds with a promise that the original non-profit operation still benefits.

While building their artificial intelligence capacities, Altman and many prominent scientists involved with creating and marketing the technology have warned of the threat it poses, particularly content-creating generative AI such as ChatGPT, with some equating it to extinction-level risk. They have demanded regulation.

While in Europe the OpenAI CEO got into controversy for saying OpenAI may leave the region if it becomes too hard to comply with planned laws on AI, But later reversed his stance.

"We did not threaten to leave the EU," Altman said. "We expect to be able to comply. There's still more clarity we are waiting for on the EU AI Act, but we are very excited to operate in Europe."

The EU is working on a set of laws to govern AI, including proposals that would force any company using tools like ChatGPT to disclose copyrighted material used to train its systems.

Altman, however, found support from EU tech chief Margrethe Vestager, who said she did not perceive Altman's comments as a threat but as a promise to do his best.
Byju's has filed a lawsuit against the lenders of its $1.2 billion term loan B, which it raised in the US in November 2021. The company has also said that it will not be making any further interest payments until the case is resolved.

Byjus has taken the decisive action to file a complaint in the New York Supreme Court to challenge acceleration of the US$ 1.2 billion Term Loan B (TLB) and to disqualify Redwood Capital Management, who contrary to the terms of TLB, purchased a significant portion of the loan while primarily trading in distressed debt," the company said in a statement.

The company also said that it had taken these measures following a series of "predatory tactics" by the lenders, led by Redwood. These tactics, according to Byju's, included threatening to seize the company's assets and demanding that it make early repayments on the loan.

Given that legal proceedings are now on foot in both Delaware and New York, it is clear that the entire TLB is disputed. As such, Byjus cannot be expected to and has elected not to make any further payment to the TLB lenders, including any interest, until the dispute is decided by the court," the company said.

Byjus will remain open to discussions with TLB lenders and is ready, willing and able to continue making payments under the TLB if the lenders withdraw their ill-conceived actions and honour the terms of the agreement," the company said.

Byju's has disputed the lender acceleration of repayment.

It said on March 3, the TLB lenders had unlawfully" accelerated the repayment TLB on account of certain alleged non-monetary and technical defaults," the statement said.

Byjus has been in default of the loan agreement because of its failure to file FY22 financial statements by September 2022  a key covenant in the agreement it signed while raising the TLB. The company has so far called it a technical" default, noting that it had made all the coupon payments on time and was not in monetary default.

Separately, it had been in a fight in Delaware with the lenders. On May 19, the lenders accused Byjus of draining its US entity Byjus Alpha of the $500 million. The edtech at the time defended its actions at the time saying that it was legal and not in breach of its agreements. At the time, Byjus said  it has fulfilled its contractual payment obligations as agreed upon in the term loan B signed in 2021 and has not missed a single payment. There have been no monetary defaults on the loan. The lenders allegations (which we dispute) concern merely insignificant technical and non-monetary defaults."

On Tuesday, Byjus provided additional information. It said that Redwood had attempted to deprive Byjus of its contractual rights to disqualify lenders in opportunistic trades.

The loan agreement allows for Byju's to bar certain lenders from buying up the TLB debt, and Byju's can disqualify these lenders - such as competitors  if it chooses to.

The TLB lenders undertook unwarranted enforcement measures including seizing control of Byjus Alpha and appointing its own management. Not resting content with this, the TLB lenders (acting through their agent, GLAS Trust Company) commenced litigation in Delaware in an attempt to lend credence to these actions," the company said on Tuesday morning.

In the Delaware proceedings, the TLB lenders (unsuccessfully) attempted to deprive Byjus of its contractual right to disqualify lenders engaged primarily in opportunistic trades. The Delaware court rejected this attempt, ruling that the TLB lenders have not demonstrated either irreparable harm or the balance of the harms as required to support a provision restraining" this contractual right of BYJUS," Byjus said.

Thereafter, Byjus said that the lenders issued a notice demanding  immediate payment of the entire amount under the TLB, despite knowing that this purported acceleration was under challenge before the court" the company said.

The TLB lenders agent also declined to identify the TLB lenders to Byjus something Byjus is entitled to under the TLB, the company said.

At the same time, Redwood  a lender known to primarily trade in distressed debt  consistently increased its exposure by acquiring a sizeable stake in the TLB with the intent of making windfall gains," the firm said.

In the wake of all these actions, BYJUS was left with no option but to commence proceedings in New York  the contractually agreed forum  challenging the acceleration. Along with this, BYJUS has also issued a notice to the Redwood entities disqualifying them. Once such disqualification takes effect, Redwood would be restrained from exercising critical rights under the TLB. It is important to note that Byjus had so far demonstrated remarkable restraint by refraining from utilising the disqualification clause, instead striving for months to achieve an amicable resolution with the hawkish trader-lenders," the compay said.

Byjus is backed by investors like Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, Naspers, CPPIB, General Atlantic, Tencent, Sequoia Capital, Sofina, Verlinvest, IFC, Aarin Capital, TimesInternet, Lightspeed Ventures, Tiger Global, Owl Ventures & Qatar Investment Authority.
With a post-covid global surge in demand subsiding, many pockets of goods exports from India are facing growth challenges. Even as total goods exports from India rose 6% to about $447 billion in 2022-23, export of goods other than petroleum products and gems and jewellery have effectively remained flat at $315 billion, an analysis of trade data shows. Petroleum products saw a 40% jump in exports as Indian refiners imported Russian crude, processed it and sent it to the West.

As the global economy recovered from covid-19, and goods began to move more freely, exports of goods made in India had surged. In 2021-22, exports of goods other than petroleum and gems and jewellery increased about 30% compared with 2020-21. A year later, it appears, the post-covid surge that lifted many boats seems to have tapered off.

The growth question hung uncomfortably at the top end of the Indian export basket. Of the top 10 goods categories (out of 30), which together accounted for about 82% of Indias exports in 2022-23, four endured a drop in revenues. In three categories, revenues grew less than 5%. Sharp declines were seen in cotton yarn and handloom products (down 28%), and plastic and linoleum products (down 15%). Besides petroleum products, only two categories saw a sizeable jump: rice (up 15%) and electronic goods (up 51%), though the latter was mainly due to the promotion of exports of mobile phones under the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

Broad-based Decline

Drilling down further confirms the story of growth pangs facing sections of Indian exports, but it also shows that the decline is less broad-based than in 2019-20.

At the first level of categorization, Indian exports are classified into 30 groups as mentioned above. At the second level, they can be classified into 99 commodity groups. In 2022-23, 26 of these 99 commodity groups saw a year-on-year decline in value of above 10%.

Overall, in 2022-23, 45 of 99 commodity groups saw a decline in exports of any extent. This is in stark contrast to 2021-22, which was a blockbuster year for exports, and saw 80 of 99 commodity groups register an increase in exports of above 10%.

However, compared with 2019-20, which saw a decline in overall exports of 5%, the 2022-23 decline was less broad-based. In that year, 63 of the 99 commodity groups had seen a decline in exports.

Chinese Closures

China-number three in Indias exports in 2021-22, with a 5% sharewas a major reason for the lacklustre performance of Indian exports in 2022-23. Recurring lockdowns in China in 2022-23 meant that Indias overall exports to it fell by 28% compared with 2021-22, and exports other than of jewellery and petroleum products slumped 30%. Major categories of exports to China that suffered in 2022-23 include organic chemicals (down 36% to $1.5 billion), seafood (down 20% to $1.3 billion) and electrical machinery (down 18% to $679 million). Elsewhere, exports to other major trading partnersAsean, Europe, North America and the Gulfremained in positive growth territory. These four groups of countries and China account for around 70% of Indias total exports. Excluding China, however, still makes Indian export performance only slightly less lacklustre. Non-oil and non-jewellery exports, without taking China into account, rose by only 1.5% over 2021-22.

Manufacturing Dilemma

Besides oil, another bright spot was electronic goods, whose exports surged 51% in 2022-23 to $23.5 billion. Of this, $11.1 billion came from mobile phone shipments, against $4.8 billion in 2021-22, mainly due to government incentives under the PLI scheme. However, a recent paper by Rahul Chauhan, Rohit Lamba and Raghuram Rajan points to the flip sidea sharp jump in imports of components used in the assembly of mobile phones. This is borne out by trade data for 2022-23.

Thus, the authors say, India is currently an assembler of mobile phones, rather than a manufacturing powerhouse in its own right. This is because PLI incentives are given for finishing the phone in India, not on how much value is added by manufacturing in India". If the weakness in export demand persists, this notion will be challenged further, across sectors.

www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data.
The government has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of 14 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs, citing no therapeutic justification". Mint explains the backstory and the rationale behind this move:

What are FDC drugs? What are their risks?

An FDC is a cocktail of active ingredients used in a fixed ratio in a single pill or syrup. Such combinations can reduce the pill burden, improve adherence to therapy and bring down costs. Thousands of FDC drugs are available in India and have been sold for decades. Many FDCs are considered safefor instance, in the treatment of tuberculosis or HIV. However, there are certain combinations that can be pharmacologically incompatible, have abuse potential and could lead to antibiotic resistance in the population. A drug that has both acidic and alkaline ingredients would be ineffective.

What are irrational FDCs?

FDCs using a combination for the first time are deemed new" drugs and, hence, require prior approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) before being licensed by the state licensing authorities (SLAs). However, many FDCs were licensed by SLAs without prior approval of DCGI, leading to an influx of drugs with little evidence on safety and efficacy. In 2016, after a panel found many of these FDCs irrational", the government banned 344 FDCs. However, this ban was stayed by the Delhi high court. The Centre then moved the Supreme Court against the stay order.

What happened after that?

The apex court referred the issue to the governments expert body, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, in an order in December 2017 for a fresh review. The apex court, however, kept 15 FDCs licensed prior to 1988 outside the purview of its order, but allowed the government to carry out an inquiry. In September 2018, the government banned the remaining 329 FDCs.

Whats behind the latest ban?

The ban on 14 FDCs (for instance, Nimesulide + Paracetamol dispersible tablets) licensed prior to 1988, was recommended by an expert committee constituted by the union government. Around 40-50 brands currently available in the market could be affected by the ban. These drugs are used for cough, fever, pain and common infections. Paediatricians have welcomed the move, calling many of these combinations harmful. But many want to ban Nimesulide for single dose use as well, citing risks to the liver.

Should we be cautious about cough syrups?

One of the most pervasive use of FDCs is in cough syrups. Many experts argue that the ingredients used in them often work against one another, nullifying the effect. The evidence that cough syrups reduce the natural course of cough is weak. The USFDA has warned against their use for children. However, expectorants which ease the release of mucus is okay to use. Even among adults, cough suppressants should not be used without prescriptions, for it can pose risks to those with lung problems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tauseef Shahidi Tauseef Shahidi has been with Mint since September 2020. He writes both data-based stories and longform features across beats. As he could not make up his mind to pursue one discipline, he became a journalist to dabble in everything. Read more from this author
Leading US cryptocurrency platform, Coinbase Global Inc. is sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a federal court hearing on Tuesday in New York. Allegations are that the crypto firm broke the regulator's rule by allowing its users trade numerous crypto tokens which were unregistered securities.

A spokesperson for Coinbase did not immediately reply to a request for comment, reported Bloomberg.

Read here: Sequoia splits into 3 entities: India, China and US entities to operate independently from March 2024

Further, as per the Bloomberg report, in July, Coinbase was under SEC investigation. On March 23, the company said it had received a warning SECs Binance Lawsuit Strikes at Heart of Ailing Crypto Sector notice from the regulator about a potential coming enforcement action.

In the federal court, the SEC alleged that Coinbase used its staking" service that lets customer turn over their crypto tokens to facilitate transactions on a blockchain -- which further then pays a return to these users. This is in violation of SEC's rule.
Steel makers saw some respite in the March quarter (Q4FY23) with volumes and domestic prices rising sequentially. Seasonality had a role to play here as Q4 is usually the strongest quarter. Also, the margin performance improved across most companies.

The average domestic hot rolled coil (HRC) price increased by over 6% sequentially in Q4 to 59,228 per tonne, according to SteelMint. This led to an improvement in realization per tonne. Data from Motilal Oswal Financial Services shows that the average of consolidated realization per tonne of steel companies under its coverage rose by 2,290 sequentially in Q4. These companies are Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, JSW Steel Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd and Steel Authority of India Ltd.

View Full Image Graphic: Mint

However, in Q1FY24, margins of steel companies are likely to contract sequentially, given the high-cost inventory of coking coal. True, coking coal spot prices are trending lower, but the gains would reflect in the financials with a lag. In Q1 so far, average prices of coking coal are at $244 per tonne and nearly 29% lower than Q4, according to CoalMint. Thus, a good share of the benefit from lower coking coal prices would flow through from Q2 onwards.

Iron ore, another key input, has also seen a reduction in price. State-owned iron ore producer NMDC cut prices of lumps and fines by 7-11% from 29 May.

Indeed, there are levers for expansion in steel companies margin, but the demand environment continues to remain sombre. In Q1 so far, the average domestic HRC price is 2.4% lower than Q4. As per our channel checks, traders are waiting for price announcements by the major mills in June 2023 and are expecting a cut of 1,500-2,000 per tonne for HRC and rebar prices, and slightly more for cold rolled coil/coated products," said analysts at ICICI Securities in a report on 3 June.

Moreover, Q1 is a seasonally weak quarter. Tata Steel in its Q4 earnings call said it expects volume in Q1 to be lower sequentially, impacted by shutdowns. However, for FY24, the company sees its volume rise by 1.5 million tonnes from almost 29 million tonnes in FY23.

Another concern is that the domestic steel price is at a premium to import prices, which means there is further downside risk.

Imported steel prices from Vietnam and Japan are working out to be cheaper than domestic prices. For instance, Vietnam July 2023 HRC landed price delivery is currently quoted at a discount of 5,000 per tonne, compared to domestic prices," said analysts at Motilal Oswal in a report on 5 June.

To be sure, a pick-up in global steel prices is necessary to provide a boost to domestic HRC prices. This, to a great extent, depends on the rebound in the Chinese economy, a key market for metals. Demand uptick in China has remained elusive despite strong credit indicators, notes ICICI Securities.

There is a silver lining, though. Given that China has environmental restrictions, production cap would mean production of steel would be at par or lower this year versus the last. This could mean exports from China would dip in 2HCY23 thus resulting in favourable demand supply dynamics, which may augur well for domestic steel price," said Satyadeep Jain, an analyst at Ambit Capital. Having said that, one needs to monitor global demand closely, he added.

Shares of key steel companiesTata Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, and Steel Authority of India Ltdare down by 8-16% from their respective 52-week highs. While it is crucial for demand to bounce back, margin trajectory also requires tracking.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vineetha Sampath Vineetha Sampath is a chartered accountant and is experienced in the field of research analysis. She joined Mint's Mark to Market team recently and this is her first stint in journalism. Read more from this author
The expiry day for Bank Nifty futures and options on a weekly basis will now be on Friday with effect from June 7, from its earlier Thursday. This move of National Stock Exchange's (NSE) comes after its counterpart BSE started to tweak the lot size and expiry day of options contracts which had gained popularity due to low charges. In regards to traders, the shift in the weekly expiry of Bank Nifty is significant as now investors have the opportunity to bet in different themes across different expiries on NSE.

From the investor-traders perspective, Rajesh Palviya, SVP - Technical and Derivatives Research, Axis Securities said, one of the critical points of consideration is volume, and NSE is still placed much better in market share than BSE, and hence, is most likely to continue its dominance. Secondly, the volatility, particularly in NIFTY, is expected to come down by roughly 20% -22% as the components of Bank Nifty will be more active on Friday's expiry than Thursday's weekly expiry."

At the same time, the monthly expiry, which includes stocks of the Bank, will be settled last Thursday. Hence, there are chances of more or less muted monthly Bank nifty expiry.

Read here: NSE, BSE Expiry Calendar: Heres a look at F&O expiry days for Nifty50, Bank Nifty, BSE Sensex, other contracts

If compared with only index options OI, Palviya highlighted that 70% of it is of Nifty while 26% is that of Bank, which again hints that volatility in Nifty's weekly and monthly expiry is likely to come down. Moreover, the reduction of lot size from 15 to 10 by the NSE of Bank is also expected to have a significant impact as margins used on Thursday expiry for Nifty options can be used for Bank options expiry on Friday.

Meanwhile, according to Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, though Bank Nifty is a thematic index while Nifty is a broad based index, and though both differ in terms of volatility and price ranges, they are often traded in tandem, with each taking cues from the other, especially during expiry day fluctuations. However, once expiry days become different, it is possible that such a link might diminish.

Read here: NSE reduces Bank Nifty lot size to 15 from July 2023 expiry

James believes this move is more significant than any of the other similar changes wrt expiry days brought in for Finnifty or that of BSE indices etc, as Nifty and Bank Nifty constitute the lion's share of derivative volumes. One could argue that too much may not be good, as now one would have to spare the heightened allocation of resources in terms of attention, research, time etc. to yet another day. It can also be said that this move might make way for more dedicated attention for each of the indices and its constituent stocks.

The correlation between the two indices or the ratio between the two indices which traders often eye, could also see changes initially.

Technically, earlier, Bank Nifty futures contracts used to expire on the last Thursday of the expiry month. If the last Thursday is a trading holiday, the contracts expire on the previous trading day.

With Friday becoming Bank Nifty's F&O's weekly expiry, investors will have more room to trade in F&O contracts expiring on different days throughout the week

In a broader picture, Mukesh Kochar , National Head - Wealth , AUM Capital Market said, NSE does continuous settlement from Tuesday to Thursday for their different contracts. NIFTY finance on Tuesday, Nifty Midcap on Wednesday , Nifty 50 on Thursday and now bank Nifty shifted to Friday.

So, he added, "investors will have the opportunity to play different themes across with different expiries. Generally investors avoid trading exposure on weekend and from that prospective Friday settlement is a good thought to get into the entire week."

Similarly, Parth Nyati, Founder, Tradingo said, in recent times, there has been a notable shift in trading volume towards the options segment, particularly index options, due to the implementation of peak margin norms. Recognizing this trend, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has been actively focusing on index options and has introduced a Friday expiry for Sensex and Bankex option contracts. To respond to this market development, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has also decided to move its BankNifty expiry to Fridays. Moreover, the success of Finnifty's Tuesday expiry has served as a source of inspiration for the NSE to experiment with multiple expiries. As a result, the NSE now offers four expiries per week, including Nifty Midcap options on Wednesdays.a

Finally, Arvinder Singh Nanda, Senior Vice President, of Master Capital Services said, this modification shifts the expiry day from Thursday to Friday, providing traders with an additional day to trade and manage their positions for both weekly and monthly expiries. The adjustment is expected to enhance liquidity and volatility in the markets, while concurrently aligning the monthly expiry of the S&P 500 with the last working day of the month, which is Friday.

However, Singh also stated the change in expiry day will not affect BSE F&O contracts, as the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has not revealed any plans to modify the expiry day for its F&O contracts.

It needs to be noted that BANK Nifty futures contracts have a maximum of 3-month trading cycle - the near month (one), the next month (two) and the far month (three). Also, a new contract is introduced on the trading day following the expiry of the near month contract.
BBC has also acknowledged that it may have paid lower taxes than its liability. The broadcaster needs to take a formal route to comply by filing revised returns and paying all dues, penalties, and interest.

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said that the UK broadcaster was cooperating with the tax authorities.

The BBC is cooperating fully with the Indian tax authorities enquiries and will continue to do so. The process is ongoing and will take time to conclude. The BBC of course takes its tax obligations very seriously," it said.

As per the HT report, the UK government-funded broadcaster sent an email to CBDT confessing that it underreported 40 crore of income in its tax returns.

The CBDT officials said that the law is the same for everyone in the country and there is no special dispensation for either a media company or a foreign entity.

"BBC must act as per the stated procedure or face the law. The Department will continue to take action against it until the matter is taken to the logical conclusion," an official said.

The tax department official said that BBC tried to create an impression that the action by the I-T sleuths was a vendetta by the Central government but now the broadcaster has informally accepted, "They were involved in deliberate tax evasion and the action was against their unscrupulous behaviour".

In mid-February, teams from the Income-Tax department were at the BBC office in New Delhi and Mumbai conducting a survey" for alleged tax evasion. At that time, the officials had alleged that the income and profits disclosed by the organisation's units were "not commensurate with the scale of operations in India".

BBC director-general Tim Davie had told Indian employees that the broadcaster does not have an agenda and we are driven by purpose.

The British government also defended the BBC and its editorial freedom, emphasising the importance of media freedom and freedom of speech in robust democracies.

The Indian government's reaction to the documentary has been strong, and the searches of the BBC's offices in India have been seen by some as an attempt to silence critical voices.
Lincolns Google data center project appears to still be moving forward, even as the company pauses other projects elsewhere.

Some work has occurred over the past few months at the site on the northwest corner of the 56th Street interchange on Interstate 80, and some public filings suggest additional work is likely to happen soon.

Google has never publicly announced it is the company that has proposed the large data center, but the entity that filed for tax incentives is one of the companys subsidiaries.

The data center project, originally proposed in 2019, showed a phased build-out that could include as much as 2 million feet of building space and 960 employees at the site by 2040.

There has been speculation that the project could be in danger of being shelved, largely because of a lack of work at the site since the announcement but also because of moves by Google elsewhere.

For example, in April 2022, the giant technology company announced plans to build a data center in northwest Omaha  its third in the Omaha metro area. That move cast some doubt on its need for a fourth data center just an hour away.

In December, numerous media outlets reported that Google was halting a data center project in Becker, Minnesota, that appears to be similar in size and scope to the one planned in Lincoln.

Also, there was a report in April that Google was putting a planned 80-acre mega campus in San Jose, California, on hold, although the company later disputed that report.

In February, Google said in a conference call with financial analysts that it plans to evaluate all of its real estate holdings.

In Lincoln, a subsidiary company named Agate LLC paid nearly $18.6 million for about 600 acres. That amount, however, is a drop in the bucket for a company the size of Google, which reported more than $60 billion in earnings in 2022.

Google also so far has failed to publicly announce its U.S. capital expenditure plans for the year, something it has done in the spring for several years in a row.

But recent applications made to regulatory bodies do seem to indicate that the Lincoln project is continuing to move forward, albeit slowly.

In February, the project sought an administrative amendment to its original application to the city of Lincoln, seeking to "provide street profiles, grading and draining, and water quality information so the applicant may proceed with a building permit and/or final plat."

Also in February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy posted a joint public notice that they were reviewing the project for state certification in accordance with the provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which ensures that any discharges into regulated bodies of water will comply with regulations.

That application shows seven different phases of the project.

The entities apparently have since approved a stormwater pollution prevention plan, which shows that mass grading of approximately 400 acres of the site is scheduled to begin sometime in June.

And at its May 19 board meeting, the Lincoln Electric System approved a resolution to allow its CEO to negotiate a one-year facility extension and interconnection agreement with Agate LLC.

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The under-construction bridge collapse in Bihar's Bhagalpur area has raised huge concerns. The Aguwani-Sultanganj Ganga bridge was being built at the cost of 1,760 crore. The visuals of the bridge collapse were widely shared on social media platforms with people questioning the quality of construction.

According to a report published by The Indian Express, the infrastructure firm constructing the Bihar bridge which has recently collapsed is also the contractor of the Signature bridge project in Dwarka along with two other infra-building projects in Gujarat.

Government officials on Monday informed that the infrastructure firm SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd, the company which is building a 962 crore four-lane cable-stayed Signature Bridge across the sea connecting the island of Bet Dwarka to Okha on the mainland, is now under the scanner, Indian Express reported.

The incident took place in the Bhagalpur district on Sunday night - the second time that the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge over the river Ganga has collapsed.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe into the collapse. The CM said on Monday that he had instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible for the poor construction work".

"The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously. It is not being constructed correctly that's why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it, I have instructed officials to visit the site and action will be taken," he said.

Images of the bridge collapse that took place in Khagaria evoked immediate criticisms from the opposition, prompting Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction Department, Pratyay Amrit, to hold a hurried press conference.

There is a tradition of seeking commission (bribe) in this government. It is a consequence of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar mentality of political instability that there's administrative anarchy and corruption. System is collapsing but they are talking about Opposition unity," asserted Leader of Opposition in Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha.

He further stated that there should be an immediate enquiry into the incident.

"There needs to be accountabilty in this incident. Those involved in corruption in the government have fixed their commissions. Where is your zero tolerance on the corruption?" he said.
A total of 101 bodies are yet to be identified out of 275 people who died in the Odisha train accident , said officials on Monday, adding that around 200 injured are still being treated in hospitals. The tragic train accident in Odisha has left more than 1,100 people injured.

Speaking to ANI, Divisional Railway Manager of the Eastern Central Railways Rinkesh Roy said, About 1,100 people were injured in the accident, out of which about 900 people were discharged after treatment. Around 200 people are being treated in various hospitals in the state. Out of 278 people who died in the accident, 101 bodies are yet to be identified."

Of the total 193 bodies kept in Bhubaneswar, 80 bodies have been identified, of which 55 bodies have been handed over to their relatives, informed Vijay Amrit Kulange, Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

More than 200 calls have been received on BMC's helpline number 1929. The dead bodies are being identified and handed over to the relatives," Kulange added.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is poised to take charge of the investigation into the Odisha train accident, which claimed the lives of 275 people and left over 1,100 injured.

Roy said that the CBI has reached the accident site in Balasore and an inquiry is being done. CBI team has reached the accident site in Balasore. Inquiry is being done."

#WATCH | Odisha: About 1,100 people were injured in the #BalasoreTrainAccident, out of which about 900 people were discharged after treatment. Around 200 people are being treated in various hospitals in the state. Out of 278 people who died in the accident, 101 bodies are yet to pic.twitter.com/9VDPxYr5Jn  ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2023

The decision to involve the CBI was prompted by findings from a preliminary probe that suggested "deliberate interference" in the signaling system, necessitating a thorough investigation by a professional agency.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has been overseeing the restoration work at the crash site, announced on Sunday evening that a CBI probe had been recommended into the accident.

Earlier speculations of sabotage and tampering with the electronic interlocking system, which detects train presence, had surfaced as potential causes for the collision involving the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train.

While the CBI takes charge of the investigation, the focus remains on restoring confidence in the safety of railway operations and preventing future mishaps.

The Odisha train accident has underscored the importance of stringent measures to safeguard the integrity of signaling systems and the need for a thorough examination of railway safety practices.
China has ramped up infrastructure work at Akasai Chin, according to a report by a UK-based think tank. China has established an extensive ecosystem to support troop deployments in the disputed Aksai Chin region, Chatham House said in its report citing satellite images.

Based on satellite images since October 2022, China has ramped up infrastructure on their side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since the start of the military standoff with India in 2020 May.

The images showed that Aksai Chin has "expanded roads, outposts and modern weatherproof camps equipped with parking areas, solar panels, and even helipads".

Besides, the Chinese side is also building a new heliport in the disputed territory that comprises 18 hangars and short runways for use by helicopters and possibly drones which will "significantly enhance the operational capabilities" of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in and around Aksai Chin.

Last week, Planet Labs also shared images of China's expansion of airfields along the LAC since 2020.

In the past, similar reports have emerged where China has upgraded the infrastructure for its army near the LAC.

In 2020, Chinese troops attacked Indian Army at Galwan Valley in which 20 soldiers were killed. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated further. The border standoff has taken India-China relations to a six-decade low.

The External Affairs Ministry and other top leadership in India have maintained that ties cannot be normalised until steps are taken to address the abnormal" situation on the LAC.

According to the UK-based think tank, a number of PLA bases connected by roads can now be seen leading up from the main standoff site".

There is also some major activity that can be seen at the Depsang plains, one of the remaining friction points in the Ladakh sector of the LAC.

At Raki Nala, a river valley south of the Depsang plains, Chinese outposts are visible, potentially able to block Indian patrols in the area".

And at Pangong Lake in Ladakh, a bridge is nearing completion and when finished, it will allow the rapid deployment of Chinese forces from PLAs Rutog military garrison to mountain ridges overlooking the water body. The proposed Chinese G695 highway, intended to link Xinjiang with Tibet, is due to be completed in 2035.

As per the report, the new highway will run the length of Aksai Chin through the Depsang Plains, south past Galwan Valley, and towards Pangong Tso.

The report suggested that Indian armed forces will now have to match a large-scale presence of China along the border with Aksai Chin, perhaps for years to come.
The White House on Monday stated that India is a vibrant democracy, dismissing concerns about its democratic health. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for a state visit to the US later this month.

John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House's National Security Council, expressed, India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion."

Kirby highlighted that India is a significant ally of the United States across various aspects of their partnership. "Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," Kirby said in response to a question.

Kirby mentioned that during the Shangri-La conference, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced further defence cooperation plans with India.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held wide-ranging talks with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin focusing on crucial aspects of the India-US defence relationship and the regional security landscape, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

The discussions primarily revolved around strengthening defence collaboration between India and the US, encompassing areas such as strategic alignment and increased cooperation. The defence minister emphasized the importance of enhancing ties between the two nations.

According to Rajnath Singh the partnership between India and the US is "critical" for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region."

Meanwhile, Kirby also highlighted India's membership in the Pacific Quad and its crucial role as a friend and partner in ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Kirby stressed, The president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a Joint Meeting of the United States Congress on June 22 during his state visit to the country. The honour to address joint meetings of Congress is generally accorded to the close allies of the United States or major leaders of the world. Previously, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the Congress in April.

This will be the second time PM Modi is addressing the joint meeting of the Congress after 2016. In 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first leader of India to address such a meeting in the United States.
Indian Navy informed on Tuesday that a heavy weight indigenously developed Torpedo successfully engaged an underwater target. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also congratulated Indian Navy and DRDO for the remarkable feat while commenting that it showcases India's commitment to future proof combat readiness through aatmanirbharta.

Announcing the news on Twitter, Spokesperson of the Indian Navy wrote, Successful engagement of an Underwater Target by an indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo is a significant milestone in #IndianNavy's & @DRDO_India's quest for accurate delivery of ordnance on target in the underwater domain."

"This showcases our commitment to Future Proof Combat Readiness through #AatmaNirbharta." they added

Successful engagement of an Underwater Target by an indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo is a significant milestone in #IndianNavy's & @DRDO_India's quest for accurate delivery of ordnance on target in the underwater domain. #AatmaNirbharBharat@DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/ZMSvtFSobE  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 6, 2023

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also praised the Indian Navy on Twitter, he wrote, "Another significant milestone achieved by Indian Navy! An indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo successfully engages an Underwater Target! Congratulations to @indiannavy & @DRDO_India for showcasing s commitment to Future Proof Combat Readiness through #AatmaNirbharta"

Another significant milestone achieved by Indian Navy!

An indigenously developed Heavy Weight Torpedo successfully engages an Underwater Target!

Congratulations to @indiannavy & @DRDO_India for showcasing s commitment to Future Proof Combat Readiness through #AatmaNirbharta pic.twitter.com/F0Wot1kLTM  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 6, 2023

Just last week, MH-60 Romeo multi-mission helicopter took its maiden landing on the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. MH-60R helicopter manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors.

Senior navy officials had said that integration of MH-60 R with Indian Navy warships would further strengthen the Navy's capability to counter underwater threats, monitor maritime activities and conduct surveillance operations.

Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos are currently in Maldives for the sixth edition of Exercise Ekatha with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The annual exercise is being held from June 4 till July 3 in a bid to enhance interoperability in diving and special operations between the two forces.
Amid the ongoing clashes between the military forces and insurgents, Manipur government announced to extend its internet ban till June 10. The suspension of internet services has been extended till 3 pm of June 10, said the state Commissioner, H Gyan Prakash, in an official order on Tuesday.

Notably, there have been constant clashes between the forces and insurgent groups in the domination operations ongoing in different regions of the state.

The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10, an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said. The ban was imposed in the state on May 3, due to the eruption of violent clashes in the state.

Meanwhile, the ongoing violent clashes between the security forces and insurgents have costed the lives of two Border Security Forces soldiers on Tuesday. Another two Assam Rifles personnel were also injured in the encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur's Serou area early Tuesday.

The exchange of fire between the two sides broke in a school in Sugni in Kakching district. The deployed BSF troops at the Serou Practical High School came under an unprecedented heavy firing by the suspected Kuki miscreants, said a BSF official. In the clash, constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury, and was later declared dead.

The ethnic clashes in Manipur have claimed more than 90 lives and left 310 people injured. The clashes between different communities broke out a month ago. Currently, a total of 272 relief camps have sheltered around 37,450 people in different parts of Manipur.

Clashes first erupted in Manipur on May 3, after the organisation of a Tribal Solidarity March in the hill districts. The march was carried out to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis consist of about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and most of them live in the Imphal valley. Tribal people of Nagas and Kukis make up another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 army and Assam rifles personnel were deployed in the state to control the situation that went out of government's hands in last one month.
In a significant development, the minor among the group of seven female wrestlers who had accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a BJP MP, of sexual harassment and stalking, has retracted her allegations.

The Indian Express has learned that the 17-year-old has now provided a fresh statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a magistrate, which holds evidentiary value in court.

This latest statement casts uncertainty over the future of the charges, as the court will now be tasked with determining whether the case can proceed and which of the conflicting statements made under Section 164 will carry more weight. LiveMint could not independently verify the report.

Previously, in an FIR filed with the Delhi Police, the minor's father said that Singh's alleged sexual harassment continued to haunt her. The complaint detailed an incident in which Singh tightly held the girl, feigning a photo opportunity, but then proceeded to press forcefully against her shoulder and deliberately brushed his hands against her breasts.

On May 10, the minor initially recorded her statement before a magistrate, providing a detailed account of the sexual harassment incidents involving Singh. As a result, Singh was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, carrying potential prison terms ranging from one to three years.

It is to be noted that, under the POCSO Act, the accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty, and the entire burden of proof" lies on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused. In order to obtain a favourable decision from the court, one must provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the relevant facts pertaining to their case.

With the minor now retracting her allegations, the court will play a crucial role in assessing the validity and credibility of both her withdrawal and the initial statement made under Section 164. This assessment will determine the future course of legal action in this high-profile case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is poised to take charge of the investigation into the Odisha train accident, which claimed the lives of 275 people and left over 1,100 injured. The decision to involve the CBI was prompted by findings from a preliminary probe that suggested "deliberate interference" in the signalling system, necessitating a thorough investigation by a professional agency.

In accordance with the established procedure, the CBI will take over the Balasore GRP case number 64, which was initially registered by the Odisha Police on June 3. The case has been filed under multiple IPC sections, such as those concerning causing hurt, endangering lives through rash or negligent action, and common intention.

Additionally, sections of the Railways Act addressing unlawful and negligent actions endangering the lives of railway passengers have been invoked.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has been overseeing the restoration work at the crash site, announced on Sunday evening that a CBI probe had been recommended into the accident. Earlier speculations of sabotage and tampering with the electronic interlocking system, which detects train presence, had surfaced as potential causes for the collision involving the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train.

As investigations proceed, concerns have been raised by opposition parties, including the Congress, regarding the need for a CBI probe. However, railway officials assert that the agency's involvement is crucial due to the wealth of information obtained during the preliminary inquiry, necessitating the expertise of a professional investigative body.

"Unless there is deliberate interference in the system, it is impossible that a route set for the main line is switched to the loop line," PTI quoted a Railways official as saying.

While the CBI takes charge of the investigation, the focus remains on restoring confidence in the safety of railway operations and preventing future mishaps. The Odisha train accident has underscored the importance of stringent measures to safeguard the integrity of signalling systems and the need for a thorough examination of railway safety practices.

Several political parties in Odisha, including the Congress and Left parties, have rejected the idea of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Balasore train crash. Instead, they are demanding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure an impartial inquiry into the incident. Furthermore, these parties have called for the resignation of Vaishnaw to facilitate an unbiased investigation.

(With PTI inputs)
Four people, including the pilot, were killed in Sunday's crash of a ghost plane that caused a security scare when it flew over restricted airspace near Washington, authorities said.

The Department of Defense scrambled F-16 fighter jets, which triggered a sonic boom over the US capital as they pursued the private Cessna that crashed in southwest Virginia.

The pilot appearing to be unresponsive at the controls, possibly rendered unconscious when the pressure inexplicably dropped. The aircraft then crashed near Raphine, Virginia, leaving a crater" that suggested almost a nosedive.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that all the four people were killed in the crash, without identifying them. There were no survivors, Virginia State Police said. The crash site had at most only four recognizable pieces from the plane, the New York Post reported citing a responder. There was nothing really bigger than your arm," the responder said.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage was highly fragmented. The accident site is heavily wooded, and the rural mountainous terrain makes it "a very challenging accident site." The NTSB will remove wreckage and move it to a secure location in Delaware.

"Basically everything is on the table," Gerhardt said of the investigation. "The airplane, the engines, the weather conditions, pilot qualifications, the maintenance records  all aspects will be of course items we routinely look at."

The Cessna was not required to have a black box, but investigators will search in the hopes there was one, Gerhardt said.

He said a preliminary report on the crash could be out in about 10 days, although a final report would likely take one to two years.

John Rumpel of Encore Motors confirmed that his daughter, 2-year-old granddaughter and a nanny were aboard the doomed flight along with their pilot.

The Cessna appeared to be flying on autopilot, a report said though its not clear why the plane was nonresponsive or why it crashed.

Rumpel told the New York Times his family was returning to their East Hampton home Sunday after visiting him in North Carolina.
Prince Harry has made a historic appearance at the High Court in London to give evidence in his legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.

The 38-year-old prince is seeking damages, alleging that journalists at these publications engaged in illegal practices, including phone hacking, deception to gather information, and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

Originally scheduled for June 5, Prince Harry's testimony has been rescheduled to June 6, marking the first time in 130 years that a prince has appeared as a witness in court, reported The Independent. During the proceedings, David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, highlighted how the articles published by MGN had strained his client's relationship with his brother, the Prince of Wales, due to the lack of trust they engendered.

The Duke of Sussex is determined to prove that the Mirror publications were complicit in unethical activities, spanning from 1996 to 2010, including phone hacking, deceptive practices, and the involvement of private investigators.

MGN, the defendant in the case, denies or has not admitted to the allegations brought against them and contends that some claimants have initiated legal action beyond the permissible timeframe. Today, the Duke of Sussex is expected to face cross-examination from the publisher's legal team, a crucial moment in this high-profile trial.

During the opening arguments presented by Prince Harry's lawyer, David Sherborne, it was claimed that Mirror journalists had accessed voicemail messages of the late Princess Diana during Piers Morgan's tenure as editor.

Sherborne further emphasised that this intrusion had created a sense of mistrust between Prince Harry and Prince William, as per Sky News. He also highlighted the invasive nature of the reporting on Prince Harry's relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, which he argued was driven by unlawful activities.

According to Sherborne, there was no respite from such intrusions throughout Prince Harry's life, with no boundaries or safeguards protecting him from this illicit information gathering. As the legal battle unfolds, the court will closely scrutinise the evidence and arguments put forth by both parties, seeking to shed light on the extent of any unlawful practices and their impact on the lives of those involved.
The Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an 11th-hour attempt by Attorney General Austin Knudsen to cancel a high-profile climate change trial set to begin in Helena next week.

The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by a group of young Montanans represented by the environmental group Our Childrens Trust. It alleges that the states policies in support of fossil fuels, and the resulting impacts of climate change in Montana, violate the plaintiffs right to a clean and healthful environment outlined in the state Constitution.

In a 6-1 decision, the high court rejected Knudsens argument that a state law being challenged in the lawsuit, the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), had been changed so much by the Legislature during its most recent session that the plaintiffs need to advance a fresh set of legal arguments. Knudsen asked the justices on Monday for a writ of supervisory control that would have overridden a district court judges prior order to go ahead with the trial next week.

In this case, the state has provided no reason why the district courts ruling cannot be reviewed on appeal, if necessary, the justices wrote in their order. ... Moreover, trial, with preparation literally years in the making, is set to commence less than a week from now. We are not inclined to disturb the district courts schedule at this juncture.

MEPA lays out the environmental review process for the states permitting agencies. The lawsuit argues that a carve-out in the law, which allowed the state to ignore environmental impacts that were global in nature, fails to live up to the Montana Constitution, including a provision tasking the Legislature with protecting the environmental life support system from degradation.

Knudsen is named alongside the governor and several state agencies as a defendant in the lawsuit. In the petition he filed with the Supreme Court on Monday, he argued that House Bill 971, signed into law last month, changed MEPA enough that the trial should be vacated and the plaintiffs should have to rebuild their legal arguments based on the laws new language.

HB 971 effectively strengthened the carve-out, explicitly denying the state the ability to make regulatory decisions based on the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate in the state or beyond its borders.

The justices wrote that Knudsen failed to show how that new language changes the case.

Since the complaint was filed, the theory of this claim has been that prohibiting consideration of the impacts of climate change in environmental review violates the Montana Constitution, they wrote. The state does not explain how HB 971 changes that issue for trial."

Justice Jim Rice was the lone dissenting voice in the courts order. He would have ordered a response and postponed the trial, the order states.

District Court Judge Kathy Seeley has previously narrowed the scope of the case, and last month tossed out a portion of the complaint that challenged a law that was repealed by the Legislature earlier this year.
Former FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who took over $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Russia, was found dead on Monday in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado.

Hanssen, 79, is believed to have died of natural causes.

He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole since 2002, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges.

He had divulged a wealth of secrets about US intelligence gathering since at least 1985.

Authorities said using the alias Ramon Garcia", he passed some 6,000 documents and 26 computer disks to his Russian handlers.

They detailed eavesdropping techniques, helped to confirm the identity of Russian double agents, and spilled other secrets.

Authorities also believed that he had tipped off Moscow to a secret tunnel the Americans built under the Soviet Embassy in Washington for eavesdropping.

Hanssen was believed to have been partly responsible for the deaths of at least three Soviet officers who were working for US intelligence and executed after being exposed.

Hanssen had said he was motivated by money rather than ideology.

Hanssen went undetected for years. He was caught taping a garbage bag full of secrets to the underside of a footbridge in a park in a dead drop" for Russian handlers.

The FBI has been notified of Hanssens death, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

(With inputs from AP)
When the commodity derivatives market was opened up in 2002, which led to the creation of new online multi-commodity exchanges, the goal was to enable better price discovery. The focus was on agricultural commodities where it was believed that a vibrant futures market would provide the right signals to farmers on what to grow and when as well as where to sell.

It is known in the field of agriculture that there exists the cob-web syndrome. Farmers choose the crop to sow based on prices received in the previous season. Hence if the price of soybean was high in 2022, there would be an inclination to grow more of this crop. The result is over-supply, which depresses prices. Ideally, farmers should be looking at the futures prices, and if possible, sell the crop in advance if the price is favourable. Deliveries are enabled if the parties so desire or the contracts can be reversed before due date. Either ways, the price has been hedged. It has been observed that farmers often switch crops that require similar geographic and soil conditions.

It was with this objective that the Forward Markets Commission (now merged with Securities and Exchange Board of India, or Sebi) regulated the contracts; and commodity exchanges facilitated them among traders. NCDEX became the preferred exchange for farm products while MCX dominated the energy, metals and bullion markets. To begin with, progress was remarkable as NCDEX got in the value-chain participants to trade in products such as oilseeds complex, pulses, sugar, wheat, spices (jeera, chili, turmeric and dhaniya) and guar. While the goal was to reach out to the farmers ultimately, given access issues, price signals were picked up through intensive price dissemination processes set up by the exchanges. Subsequently, with Sebi formally taking charge of oversight of these markets, the push was given to bring in the farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to educate and enable them to play the role of aggregator to participate on these platforms.

However, there have been too many vested interests, which have led to political decisions being taken to ban futures trading. This has been a major setback for the markets because useful price signals have been lost. What started off as bans on tur and moong, have now been widened to cover chana, soybean, soy oil, mustard seed and wheat. In all these cases, there were robust price-discovery processes in place. Frequent bans lessen the credibility of the market as players tend to lose money when such decisions are taken.

In fact, deliveries have been robust in India unlike in other countries, even though delivery is typically an expensive proposition. But this has lent credibility to the system as it brings value-chain members on board. It also confirms that it is not a speculative market, as has been made out often by lobby groups. Ensuring deliveries has led to the development of a transparent logistics ecosystem, which includes systems of grading and standards, weighing, warehousing, assaying, among others. This has helped the government develop the electronic national agricultural market (eNAM), which is an electronic spot market.

The results of the series of bans has narrowed the basket of commodities that are now available. Volumes of trading in farm products for NCDEX had peaked at 16.64 trillion in 2011-12. Subsequently, there was a sharp and continuous fall to 8.70 trillion in 2014-15. An improvement followed in 2015-16 to 5.96 trillion, after which the downward descent resumed to 2.02 trillion in 2022-23. There is a need to reconsider these bans.

One thing which has been established by Sebi and the exchanges is that the regulatory processes are in place and are being followed to ensure that there is no space for manipulation of the markets. There are position limits in place to ensure that there is no cornering of the market and the price limits control volatility. Curiously, every time there has been a ban which blame futures trading for price increases, the exchanges have proved that the link does not exist, and also that after the ban, prices continue to move up as the supplies are low.

Agriculture continues to be an area that is vulnerable to shocks. Even a normal monsoon does not preclude certain areas and hence crops from receiving less rainfall, thus running the risk of lower production. The futures market picks up these signals. This is useful not only to farmers and value-chain participants, but also the government. A rise in futures prices before harvest indicates an expected shortfall in output and can trigger an appropriate response from the government in the area of imports or exports.

Therefore, there is strong reason to revoke the ban on futures trading in all products, which range from pulses to cereals and oils, to ensure that there functions a market-oriented system that provides the right signals. This will help the farmers, hedgers (value-chain players) and the government. Price hedging by farmers will also be useful for banks, which run the risk of building up bad loans if crops fail. Vested interests should not be allowed to prevail and politics should definitely be kept out of it. The farm sector is in need of booster reforms and removing the ban can be a good first step. The market players also need to be assured that while trading norms can be altered depending on the conditions (limits on prices and positions), the edifice will remain intact. This is too good a system to lose.
Bajrang Sena joined the Indian National Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Congress chief and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath confirmed the development to the media.

"They (Bajrang Sena workers) have supported Congress. They have supported the truth. They too can feel where is Madhya Pradesh being dragged to - be it corruption, unemployment or any other area. I congratulate and welcome them that are supporting the truth." Kamal Nath told ANI.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath says, "They (Bajrang Sena workers) have supported Congress. They have supported the truth. They too can feel where is Madhya Pradesh being dragged to - be it corruption, unemployment or any other area. I congratulate and pic.twitter.com/zP2NZAcZ7d  ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 6, 2023

The development comes ahead of yet another crucial state assembly polls scheduled to be held in the state later this year. The state assembly polls will be held in or before November 2023 to elect all 230 members of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is looking to regain its power in the state government, after in March 2020, 22 Congress MLAs resigned from the assembly, and defected to Bharatiya Janata Party along with now union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, resulting in the collapse of the state government and resignation by Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Subsequently BJP formed the state government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan becoming Chief Minister.

Tension arose in Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, after Congress took to microblogging site Twitter to publish a long formulated post about a series of surveys that had been conducted and pointed to a possible win for the grandold party in the upcoming assembly elections.

Notably, one of the surveys was conducted by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS), considered a mentor group for the ruling BJP.

Meanwhile, two senior Congress leaders sparred over the choice of Madhya Pradesh unit president Kamal Nath as the party's chief ministerial face for the state Assembly polls likely to be held at the end of the year.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has exuded confidence that the party will bag 150 seats in the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.
Amid the call for opposition unity ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2023, JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda said they are yet to decide on this. Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy said currently, the priority is to develop the party on their own.

We've not taken any discussion. First of all, we want to strengthen the party for the local body elections: Devegowda told ANI when asked about Opposition parties coming together for 2024 polls.

We've not taken any discussion. First of all, we want to strengthen the party for the local body elections: JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister HD Devegowda when asked about Opposition parties coming together for 2024 polls pic.twitter.com/TAqFwqLeaP  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

Meanwhile, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy when asked about whether JDS is going with BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls said, "Our priority is to develop our party on our own. Let us see."

If national parties think they have already finished JD(S) then they are in fool's paradise. We will organise our party. I know what will be the performance of Congress govt. I know how they will go with good governance, Kumaraswamy said.

#WATCH | "Our priority is to develop our party on our own. Let us see," says JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy when asked about JDS going with BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls pic.twitter.com/HKwqFFUK16  ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

To forge unity among opposition ranks to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has taken a lead in speaking to several regional satraps besides the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and the Left.

Nitish Kumar has held separate meetings with leaders of many parties, including Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Delhi chief minister and AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and NCP's Sharad Pawar.

Opposition unity is a complicated topic: Rahul Gandhi

During his US trip, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was vocal about his opinion on the unity of the Opposition and stated that it is pretty well united. He, however, added that it is a complicated topic

He said that lot of good work is happening but he pointed out that it is a complicated discussion

"I think it's getting more and more united. We're having conversations with all the Opposition (parties). I think quite a lot of good work is happening, " Gandhi said.

"It's a complicated discussion because there are spaces where we have competing also with (other) Opposition (parties). So, it's a little bit of give and take as required. But I'm confident that that will happen," he said.
H-E-B announced on Tuesday, June 6, that the company plans to open two Joe V's Smart Shop locations in Dallas, with the first expected opening in a little more than a year. It will be the first time the more affordably-minded concept is opened outside of the Houston area, the San Antonio-based grocery business announced in a news release.

With the introduction of Joe Vs Smart Shop to Dallas, we are excited to build on our longstanding presence in the area and commitment to serve more customers in this dynamic and growing part of Texas, said H-E-B COO Roxanne Orsak in the release.

The first of the two stores is expected to open by late summer 2024 at 4101 W. Wheatland Road, Dallas, TX 75237. The second store's opening is being planned for Spring 2025 at 5204 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, TX 75227. Groundbreaking ceremonies for each will include more specifics on each store, and are expected to be announced soon, the release noted.

The more wallet friendly concept is substantially smaller than an average H-E-B, clocking in at roughly 55,000 square-feet. Meanwhile, the Georgetown H-E-B that held a grand opening the same day as the Joe V's announcement measures in at a massive 121,000 square-feet, and replaces a 67,000-square-foot store.

Courtesy H-E-B

That means a substantially smaller selection at the flagship brands smaller sibling. But where Joe V's excels is in its pricing, with the release highlighting "community focused products, and the most relevant, high-quality, fresh products H-E-B is known for at even lower prices."

The stores still feature many of the grocer's signature products, such as store-made tortillas, sushi, and baked goods, as well as pre-made Meal Simple dishes, deli meats, and fresh-cut fruits.

With each store we open, our goal is to provide the best shopping experience, offer fresh, top-quality products, and create jobs and career opportunities that help build a stronger community," Orsak said.

Some 150 employees are expected to be employed at each of the Dallas locations, and the grocer's release states more than 1,500 people are employed in the Houston area's nine stores. The Joe V's Smart Shop concept opened in 2010 and capitalizes on "operational efficiencies and new technologies" to keep prices low without sacrificing quality.

In addition to the future Joe V's outposts, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is also home to multiple Central Market stores, which are also H-E-B concepts. The growing grocer has made substantial strides in North Texas within recent years, with stores opened in Plano and Frisco last year, and with several more H-E-B stores planned, including under-construction locations in McKinney, Allen, Alliance, and Mansfield.
Just weeks after he faced criticism for holding a town hall event with former president Donald Trump that turned into a circus, CNN chief executive Chris Licht is again facing questions about his leadership of the network following an extensive profile in the Atlantic that portrayed him as ineffective and lacking internal support.

Headlined "Inside the Meltdown at CNN," the 15,000-word story that published Friday took apart Licht's leadership style and his strategy for rescuing the network, which has been beset by historic declines in ratings during the Biden administration.

It also painted a portrait of a leader who lacks the confidence of his employees. "Licht lived on an island, surrounded by people who disliked him, or doubted his vision for the company, or questioned his competence, or were outright rooting for his ruin," wrote journalist Tim Alberta. The story included little on-the-record praise for Licht, quoting his gym trainer, as well as longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz.

Internally, there has been considerable backlash to revelations about Licht in the story and to quotes he gave, including criticisms of the network's coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. A veteran producer at the network who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment described Licht's decision to participate in the profile, which Alberta spent months working on, as "a massive self-inflicted wound."

An on-air personality at CNN who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly described the story as "a debacle."

"This just seems unsustainable," said the on-air personality, who questioned how long Licht could last at the network.

Among Licht's critics has been veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, who called out his decision to host the Trump town hall during a commencement address for the Columbia Journalism School. Amanpour received public praise from several of her colleagues at CNN.

Licht addressed the Atlantic's story during the network's daily editorial meeting on Monday morning and apologized for becoming the center of public attention. "I read that article. I found myself thinking, 'CNN is not about me,'" he told employees. "I should not be in the news unless it's taking arrows for you."

"I fully recognize that this news cycle and my role in it have overshadowed the incredible week of reporting we just had and distracted from the work of every single journalist in this organization," he added. "And for that, I'm sorry."

Addressing worker concerns that he has been distant, both metaphorically and literally, Licht told employees that he will move his desk to the newsroom to be more visible and closer to the action.

"This experience has been tremendously humbling," Licht said, "and to those whose trust I lost, I will fight like hell to win it back."

Licht, who only took over as chief executive of CNN in May 2022, had struck a more defiant tone when defending his decision to host a town hall with Trump on May 10. Despite fierce blowback to the event, during which Trump badgered and spoke over CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins, Licht told his employees the following morning that "America was served very well by what we did last night."

Ultimately, Licht's fate at the network rests in the hands of the man who picked him for the role: David Zaslav, chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery. In comments over the past few months, Zaslav has defended Licht and his vision of CNN, though he has said that Licht has "gotten a lot wrong."

In a statement that was originally written for the Atlantic story and that was provided to The Washington Post on Monday, Zaslav praised the value of CNN and said Licht is making progress in his turnaround plan for the network, which involves making it a more welcoming place for viewers and guests across the political spectrum and putting more emphasis on news, not emotion.

"We set a high bar for ourselves and while we know that it will take time to complete the important work that's underway, we have great confidence in the progress that Chris and the team are making and share their conviction in the strategy," Zaslav said in the statement.

Just last week, Licht trumpeted the announcement that a longtime Zaslav lieutenant, David C. Leavy, would join the network as chief operating officer. Some insiders, however, have questioned whether the move suggests that Licht's power is being watered down.

Licht built a lengthy career as a master programmer who helped launch MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and revamped CBS's morning show, but his early programming decisions at CNN have backfired.

In November, CNN launched a new morning show that represented his first big swing, pairing up veteran journalists Don Lemon and Poppy Harlow with rising star Collins. While Licht told The Post in an October interview that the hosts "have a genuine camaraderie that will translate perfectly to a morning show," it didn't work out that way. Lemon immediately drew controversy for his on-air comments, and he was ultimately fired by the network; in retrospect, Licht's decision to remove Lemon from his prime-time perch and put him a morning show seemed to be a miscasting.

But Licht's biggest blowup was the Trump town hall, which kicked off a slate of prime-time town hall events that the network will hold in advance of the 2024 presidential election. On Sunday, Nikki Haley participated in a town hall event moderated by Jake Tapper, drawing significantly less controversy and more focus on the Republican presidential candidate's remarks, particularly about transgender children.

Many journalists at the network still compare Licht, unfavorably, to former CNN president Jeff Zucker, who fostered loyalty from his staff by giving them more opportunities, generous contracts and leeway to express their personal sentiments about the news. Zucker was forced to resign in February 2022 after not disclosing a romantic relationship with a close colleague.

Another CNN journalist who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment said that Licht was put in a bad position, and that some of the blame should be given to Zaslav.

Even if Licht were to be replaced, the CNN journalist wrote that "people are going to be mad at whoever the new president or C.E.O. is because it isn't Zucker."

Licht found support on Monday morning outside the walls of CNN, from his former colleagues on "Morning Joe," who praised his mea culpa and expressed confidence in his skills. "I would never bet against Chris Licht," said Donny Deutsch.
NEW YORK - Luminous Kelli O'Hara takes just one sip of a brandy Alexander in the magnificently sung stage version of "Days of Wine and Roses," and you can feel her character's inner light begin to dim. O'Hara's witty, bookish Kirsten is a New York secretary who goes on the town one night with a hard-drinking P.R. man played by Brian d'Arcy James. The simultaneous event, though, is her blind date with the devil in the bottle.

Through their superb leading players, composer Adam Guettel and book writer Craig Lucas revisit the classic "The Days of Wine and Roses," a cautionary 1958 teleplay and 1962 film about the wages of booze. The new musical at Atlantic Theater Company - off-Broadway birthplace of "The Band's Visit" and "Kimberly Akimbo" - sets the anguishing consequences of addiction to the rhythms of transgressive escapes and broken hearts.

It's two tortured love stories, actually. One is between O'Hara's Kirsten Arnesen and James's Joe Clay, the other a menage a alcool - among Kirsten, Joe and anything that's 80 proof. As if to underline the cone of mutual enabling in which Joe and Kirsten live, they're the only characters in a cast of nine who sing (although their daughter Lila, played by Ella Dane Morgan, gets a few bars in a couple of numbers).

And sing Guettel's opera-adjacent score with all of the glorious technique and intensity that a composer (or director Michael Greif) could possibly ask for. Guettel and O'Hara worked together in 2005 on Lincoln Center Theater's "The Light in the Piazza," and once again, her exceptional coloratura proves irresistible for a Guettel-mixed cocktail of ecstasy and pain. James, a Tony nominee for his recent Broadway stint as the Baker in "Into the Woods," is O'Hara's match for power here, in a part that requires him to be yin to O'Hara's needy yang.

At a time when the American musical seems ever more pumped up on pop, what a pleasure it is to encounter a palette of new show tunes delving deeply into character, that favor sweeping emotionality over Spotify familiarity. Not that Britney Spears isn't fun to listen to - there are now three shows on Broadway ("Moulin Rouge," "& Juliet" and "Once Upon a One More Time") containing songs originally written for her. But the richness of musical theater degrades if bubble gum up-tempo becomes the default beat.

"Days of Wine and Roses" returns us to the middle of the last century, when alcoholism was perhaps more of a hot-button social issue. But its catalyzing role in a co-dependent relationship remains dramatically interesting, especially as charted in Lucas's outstanding book for the show. (Even in an eventual segue into 12-step intervention, Lucas avoids clinical cliches.) What fires up the story is how alcohol migrates from the periphery to the core of Joe and Kirsten's lives, how it becomes both the magnet and the wedge in their marriage.

"Two people stranded at sea, two people stranded are we," they sing in the opening moments of the show, a lyric that identifies pivotal psychological elements in the musical: the alienation Joe and Kirsten both feel, the release from social responsibility they both seek. Drinking is the hobby that becomes the occupation, and Guettel finds a marvelous melodic outlet for their epiphany, in a song O'Hara and James sing together, "Evanescence."

The song soars with their drunken rising spirits, the permission that singing it together gives them to just let go of shame and inhibition. Rarely does a piece of music define so profoundly the benefits of a mood swing engendered by artificial means.

And rarely, either, does a musical commit so generously to the synergy between star-crossed central characters. Besides Lila, the only other complex character is Kirsten's taciturn father, portrayed with an intriguingly enigmatic ache by Byron Jennings. Morgan's Lila is herself a splendidly specific portrait of the daughter of alcoholics, a child who has to learn not only that grown-ups are not reliable, but also that she has to be a parent to them.

Costume designer Dede Ayite does wonders with crisp and prim Fifties silhouettes, and set designer Lizzie Clachan puts the emphasis on scenery portability in her evocation of Joe and Kirsten's liquor-aided downward mobility. Ben Stanton's lighting, too, aids in the sense of a marriage always pitched on the edge of darkness.

James is one of America's best musical-theater actors, a pro with a common touch, not to mention a regal one: he was the original King George III when "Hamilton" was off-Broadway. May his partnership with O'Hara be a long one, in part because this may be O'Hara's best role ever.

Of course, I think that with practically every O'Hara role. Kirsten's descent into dipsomania mandates a performance that at times has to be hard to watch, and O'Hara is not afraid to go there; there's a fine actress to go along with that peerless voice.

It's to James's and O'Hara's credit, though, and Greif's and Guettel's and Lucas's, that downward doesn't mean a downer. Because nothing says hope like a song that illuminates truth.

- - -

"Days of Wine and Roses," book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel. Directed by Michael Greif. Sets, Lizzie Clachan; costumes, Dede Ayite; lighting, Ben Stanton; sound, Kai Harada; choreography, Sergio Trujillo and Karla Puno Garcia; music direction, Kimberly Grigsby. With Eddie Cooper, Olivia Hernandez, Sharon Catherine Brown. About 90 minutes. At Atlantic Theatre Company, 336 W. 20th St., New York. atlantictheater.org.
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LONDON (AP)  Prince Harry's historic showdown Tuesday with the publisher of a British tabloid exposed his deep suspicions of the press but offered little concrete evidence to support accusations of phone hacking that he said caused so much anguish in his life.

The Duke of Sussex became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in more than a century as he held a Bible in his right hand and, in a soft voice, swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in the High Court in London.

Harry accuses the publisher of the Daily Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an industrial scale to score front-page scoops on his life.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie as he sat in the witness box, Harry told Mirror Group Newspapers attorney Andrew Green that he had "experienced hostility from the press since I was born." The prince accused the tabloids of playing a destructive role in my growing-up.

Green apologized for the one instance Mirror Group has admitted to hiring a private investigator to dig up dirt on Harry, which was not among the claims he has brought. Mirror Group denies or doesn't admit his other allegations.

Green acknowledged that the duke had lived a life of tabloid life intrusion," and then in a sympathetic tone set about dismantling his case.

Taken back in time to his 12th birthday and onward through early adulthood, he was confronted with articles that he has complained about and asked to identify the source of wrongdoing by Mirror Groups's journalists.

Harry was forced almost immediately to acknowledge that he wasnt certain he read the 33 specific articles about him when they were published.

Is it realistic, when you have been the subject of so much press intrusion by so many press, both domestic and international, to attribute specific distress to a particular article from 20 years ago, which you may not have seen at the time? Green asked.

It isnt a specific article; it is all of the articles, Harry said. Every single article has caused me distress.

He suggested the articles were the result of phone hacking or some other unlawful information gathering method that desperate journalists relied on for any news nugget about his life.

The 38-year-old son of King Charles III is the first senior British royal since the 19th century to face questioning in a court. An ancestor, the future King Edward VII, appeared as a witness in a trial over a gambling scandal in 1891.

Harry has said the royal family avoided legal entanglements to prevent having to be put in the witness box.

The case dates from 1996 to 2011  a period when phone hacking by tabloid journalists was later discovered to have been widespread. It led to revelations of more intrusive means such as phone tapping, home bugging and using deception to obtain flight information and medical records.

Harry's fury at the U.K. press runs through his memoir, Spare." He blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, and said intrusion by the U.K. press, including allegedly racist articles, led him and his wife, Meghan, to flee to the U.S. in 2020 and leave royal life behind.

When pressed to be specific about what information had been illegally harvested, Harry repeatedly told the lawyer that the source of information in stories was highly suspicious or that he should ask the reporter who wrote the article.

He said some of the journalists had been known for hacking or that there were invoices to third parties, including private investigators known for snooping, around the time of the articles. He suggested other records had been destroyed.

Time and again, as Green laid out evidence to the contrary and what was described by Harry as a nefarious act had a more innocent explanation.

The source of a 1996 story that mentioned how badly he was taking his parents' divorce appeared to have come from public comments his mother, the late Princess Diana, had given to reporters.

Information about his 18th birthday came from his own mouth and, apparently, palace press people who set up an interview with him and the Press Association, which was widely used or quoted in many papers, including the Daily Mirror.

A Daily Mirror story headlined Snap, Harry breaks thumb like William" in 2000 came from a spokesperson at his fathers office, which had given the Press Association the news the day before.

Harry remained steadfast that the paper's former royal editor, Jane Kerr, who is due to testify Wednesday, relied on some unlawful means to report the story.

Probably herself or she got someone else to do her dirty work for her, he said.

When asked whose phone she hacked, Harry suggested it could have been the doctor's.

Are you not in the realms of total speculation? Green said.

No, I do not believe so," Harry said.

Harry said the articles caused him to become depressed and paranoid, distrustful of friends, who he feared were feeding information to the media. His circle of friends shrank, relationships fell apart and he felt constantly in the glare of the journalists who were shaping the narrative of his life.

I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," Harry said in a written witness statement released Tuesday.

Setting out the princes case, his lawyer, David Sherborne, said Monday that from Harry's childhood, British newspapers used skullduggery to cover all facets of his life  from school injuries to experimenting with marijuana and cocaine, to ups and downs with girlfriends.

Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds for the tabloids, the lawyer said.

Green said Monday that there was simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.

Mirror Group has paid more than 100 million pounds ($125 million) to settle hundreds of unlawful information-gathering claims and printed an apology to phone hacking victims in 2015.
The local Medline facility presented a check of $10,000 Saturday to Bethany House, supporting a years worth of fresh fruit for Bethany House meal programs, as now all food assistance recipients will receive fruits as part of their meals. It also allowed for about two dozen of their volunteers to help in beautification projects in the shelter.

We have been in partnership with Bethany House for many, many years, and we are helping them enjoy a better lifestyle for the needy as we are providing them with fruits and vegetables through this $10,000, said Kavita Idnani-Ramos, human resources manager at Medline. By eating healthier, you live longer and you have a healthier life.

Idnani-Ramos said that 28 volunteers from their company answered the call of going out and volunteering for the day at the shelter. She said that out of the 375 employees they have in their Laredo facility, many wanted to attend but they needed to shrink the numbers considering the size of the shelter.

Monica Bautista, director of development for Bethany House, said the donation and the volunteer help were much appreciated, as she said their efforts are significant in helping provide fresh meals. With the $10,000 donation, Bautista said the shelter now has the funds to provide fruits for all meals to those who get any meals from Bethany House for the remainder of the year.

Because our kitchen prepares 1,000 meals every day, we have to make sure that we are fully sourced every day, Bautista said. So this $10,000 that Medline is donating is going to fruits particularly, which is a big expense for us. We will be using it for our different programs from the ones we serve here on-site at Bethany Hosue but also for the meals that we distribute to the seniors at their homes, and the plates that we even distribute that are not close to the downtown areas but could maybe want a meal.

Bautista also said that volunteering is integral to Bethany House being successful, and that whenever such a large group of volunteers comes all at once to help, a lot more can be done.

Volunteering is key to our operation, as there is some stuff that these volunteers were able to do that our staff cannot get to such as some paint jobs, basic landscaping and some cleaning and help us provide some breakfast, Bautista said.

Bautista said the volunteers told her that it was a very rewarding experience to be able to help out at the shelter, especially when they served breakfast and made that direct contact with the people who use the resources at Bethany House. One of these volunteers was Jose de Jesus Garza -- a production lead at Medline -- who called it a privilege to be able to go out and help.

There is always an opportunity to elevate oneself to helping our neighbors, as it is a good neighborly thing to provide that assistance, Garza said.We are all very dedicated to our jobs, and we are all very happy to be here and support, as this time we are spending here we do it from the bottom of our hearts. It is an excellent way of saying that we are here for you and we are going to do our best to support in any way that you guys need it.

Idnani-Ramos said they will continue supporting the shelter and all other organizations that help the most vulnerable in the community, as they hope to expand on what they provide and make others join in the cause.

It is always rewarding giving back to the community and it is always something that we want to make sure that we are part of an organization that is really going to contribute to the community in Laredo, Idnani-Ramos said. We also choose Bethany Hosue because it is always in need, as you always see homeless people out here and you want to see what we can do to help the homeless and help that population and just help them be out of the street. They also dont ask questions, as you can be anybody who is in need and they could be here to help you.

The donation is not the first that Medline has made in the past few months, as just last year the company donated $5,000 to Bethany House for the purchase of a water boiler for the residents in the shelter.

I encourage other organizations that may see these examples of giving and gives them the interest to come in and engage with nonprofits like us at Bethany House, as we welcome the help throughout the year, Bautista said. I invite them to come out and reach out, and if it is not Bethany House, then to go to any cause that they connect with.

Bethany House of Laredo is located at 817 Hidalgo St. and can be contacted at 956-722-4152.
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office has filed criminal charges relating to a flight paid for by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration that carried 49 migrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard last September.

According to the Texas Tribune's Uriel J. Garcia, the sheriff's office had completed its investigation as of Friday and filed "several counts of unlawful restraint, both misdemeanors and felonies." The sheriff's office didn't reveal when it transferred the investigation to the District Attorney's office and withheld the names of the individuals charged.

At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DAs office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public, the sheriff's office said in a statement to the Tribune. Sheriff's office spokesperson Johnny Garcia said in a separate statement that the case was "recently" turned over to the DA's office and that "At this time we are not naming the suspects involved in the case.

"The complaint will undergo our normal and meticulous intake review," the Bexar County DA's Office said in a statement issued Tuesday. "The process of determining whether enough evidence exists to charge anyone with a crime and convince a jury of Bexar County citizens 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that a crime has been committed may be lengthy and labor-intensive under the best of circumstances," the DA's office continued.

In September of last year, Perla Huerta, a former combat medic and U.S. Army counterintelligence agent, offered $10 McDonald's gift certificates to around 50 migrants in exchange for signed consent forms to board a flight to Martha's Vineyard, according to the Tribune's reporting on a lawsuit filed on behalf of some of the migrants.

DeSantis took credit for the flight in a news conference the next day. He has since said that the flight was part of a Florida state program to transport migrants to so-called "sanctuary" cities and counties. State records show the DeSantis Administration has spent $1.2 million out of a total $12 million set aside for the program so far, per the Tribune's Garcia.

News of the criminal charges comes after California Attorney General Rob Bonta accused DeSantis' administration of recruiting migrants in El Paso to fly from Texas to Sacramento. Bonta's accusation came after 36 South American migrants were flown from El Paso on two separate flights arriving Friday and Monday in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Bee.
In the summer of 2021, Azita Jawady and Hamid Sadra were a young, married couple in love, living in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, and expecting their first child. They felt good about their future and their country. Despite decades of war, Afghanistan seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

At least in urban areas, women could attend school and university, enter the workforce and participate in public life. Jawady believed this was a lasting transformation since the end of the first Taliban regime in 2001.

For 20 [years] we tried to make a good Afghanistan, Jawady said. We were an open-minded people. We go to restaurant, we work with men. We never thought that Afghanistan fall downs again.

But on Aug. 15, 2021, their lives changed in an instant. Two weeks before the U.S. military ended its 20-year presence in Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of Kabul and the country. Jawady, Sadra and many others didnt expect it to happen so quickly  if at all.

Tens of thousands of Afghans who had worked for the U.S. government or other Western entities were now at risk. That included Jawady, who was a social worker for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Sadra, who worked for ArtLords, an Afghan artist-activist group that had done work for the U.S. Embassy and painted murals with themes of peace, health and human rights on the blast walls that protected buildings from bombs across Afghanistan  themes that conflicted with the Talibans stringent rules against behavior considered un-Islamic.

Even speaking English was dangerous. A Taliban fighter at a security checkpoint once asked Sadra, in English, what his job was, and Sadra pretended not to understand. He felt he was being tested.

I really was scared, and all of my body was shaking. I didnt say anything, he said.

They feared for their lives, and for the life of their unborn son, and fled the country on Dec. 1, 2021, on a flight arranged by nongovernmental organizations including Sadras employer. After staying at a military base for a month in Qatar  where Jawady was treated for Bells palsy, a partial facial paralysis, usually temporary, that she thinks was triggered by stress  they were sent to a U.S. Army base in New Jersey, then to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and finally arrived in Austin in February 2022.

More than 97,000 Afghans have come to the United States since the Afghan government collapsed in 2021, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson. Federal data indicates at least 3,800 Afghans came to Texas as refugees or with special immigrant visas during that time.

Since fiscal year 2010, at least 17,000 Afghan refugees and those with special immigrant visas have arrived in Texas. Only California surpasses it, with at least 40,000 Afghans arriving during that time.

Texas has long been one of the top states for refugee resettlement in the country. Almost 220,000 refugees arrived in the state between 1980, when the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program began, and 2018, according to research conducted by Germanys Georg-August-Universitat-Gottingen and the University of Western Australia.

Most recent Afghan refugees are here through humanitarian parole, which allows people facing an urgent humanitarian crisis permission to stay in the United States for a short time. They dont receive visas or permanent residency  better known as green cards  but they are eligible for public benefits and can apply for temporary work permits.

Afghan parolees now have up to four years to either figure out a way to stay in the country for good or leave when their parole expires. Their best option for eventually getting a green card is the so-called Afghan Special Immigrant Visa. Afghans who worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan for at least one year are eligible, as are their spouses and children. Many SIV applicants worked as interpreters for the U.S. military.

In 2021, the Department of Homeland Security estimated that more than 40% of Afghan parolees were eligible for SIVs because of their previous work with the U.S. government. But what should be a minimum nine-month visa process is currently taking at least 10 months to navigate, and has climbed to as much as 33 months in recent years.

The State Department has historically been slow to process SIVs, but it became a crisis when thousands of Afghans eligible for those visas arrived in the United States after the fall of Kabul. The State Department was understaffed and reported receiving hundreds of thousands of emails between August 2021 and October 2021. It took at least a year to clear the backlog of inquiries.

At their home in Austin, Azita Jawady, her husband Hamid Sadra and their 1-year-old son Qmars look through wedding photos from Afghanistan. Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune

For now, Jawady and Sadra are trying to focus on what they can control. That includes adjusting to refugee life in Austin, where they live with 1-year-old Qmars, a gentle boy with fluffy spikes of dark hair, in an apartment they found about 15 miles north of downtown.

After first working at an online retailers fulfillment center, Sadra, who was an artist in Afghanistan, now works as a technician testing building materials for construction sites. He says hes become a workaholic after starting over in Austin and struggling to keep up with the citys high cost of living. Jawady tutors other Afghan refugees in English; she also teaches refugees how to access health care services in Texas through a nonprofit organization.

Navigating the labyrinth of federal, state and local entities in charge of helping them get health care, food and housing support and even diapers and formula for their son has been a head-spinning experience.

We thought the American people has a special benefits to the babies  maybe some nurses help? Because it's my first experience of being a mom, so its very hard for me, Jawady said. In America, we have a lot of expectation. But its different.

And their immigration status is always on their minds. Jawady applied for an SIV and said she hasnt heard anything from immigration officials since four months ago, when they said her case was in stage one. Sadras not eligible for an SIV because he didnt officially work for the U.S. government, so he applied for asylum in April.

Receiving asylum gives someone temporary permission to stay in the United States and the ability to apply for a green card after a year. The best-case scenario for the family would be that Jawady receives an SIV, which would cover Sadra and Qmars too.

Felix Villalobos, an attorney for RAICES, which provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrants and refugees, said so many Afghans have arrived in Texas after the fall of Kabul that he formed a rapid response team that has counseled Afghan families mostly about special immigrant visas and asylum. He estimates RAICES has worked with 400 Afghan refugees so far, and that has just been in San Antonio, where RAICES operates.

It is very time-consuming work, Villalobos said. Its not their fault, and theyre just having to deal with the realization that  theyre in a new country, they may lose status here in the next few months and theyre trying to find a way to stay because they cant go back.

A system under stress

For refugees, getting help from an immigration attorney can give them the best chance for a favorable decision in their case. But for refugees in Texas with little to no money, free or affordable legal help is hard to come by.

Villalobos is one of those hard-to-come-by attorneys. Hes trying to beat the clock and submit around 200 applications for Temporary Protected Status in the next few months as parole begins to expire for his clients. TPS prevents someone from getting deported for a designated period of time if theyre from a country the U.S. deems unsafe. Recipients get temporary authorization to work, but unlike parole, they dont get access to public benefits.

And while his clients are also now eligible to extend their parole for two more years, hes not convinced it will be a smooth process or that it ultimately serves his clients best interests.

Helping Afghan clients over the last year and a half has been unnerving for Villalobos and others. Getting official documents out of Afghanistan can be difficult to impossible since its government fell to Taliban rule and its president fled the country.

Houston-based refugee advocate Khalil Arab, an Afghan refugee who received his special immigrant visa in 2019 after spending five years interpreting for the U.S. military and coalition forces, said Afghan refugees without concrete documentation are unlikely to be granted visas.

Villalobos says every one of his clients is eligible for an SIV, including some who risked their lives assisting the military at prison camps, in black ops missions or in confrontations with the Taliban. Not receiving a visa at the end of it all would be a huge broken promise, he said.

All of them had the expectation that upon arrival to the U.S., they would get their green cards, he said, referring to the fact that under normal circumstances they would have finished the SIV application process prior to leaving Afghanistan and received a green card once they arrived. It took quite a while for them to understand and figure out that that was no longer the case.

They have also arrived when the U.S. refugee safety net is badly frayed. The Trump administration drastically reduced the number of refugees allowed into the United States for several years  from 110,000 when Donald Trump took office to 18,000 in 2020. The Biden administration has since raised the limit to 125,000 for fiscal year 2023. But the effects of the previous cuts linger because less federal funding had been flowing to agencies and to the system as a whole.

An aircrew assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron prepares to load Afghan evacuees aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021. Credit: U.S. Central Command Public Affairs/Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Crul

Ian Kysel, an expert in migration and refugee law and a professor at Cornell Law School, says that created a vicious cycle starting with the federal government ending contracts or cutting off support to some organizations  starving the resettlement system, according to a 2020 Migration Policy Institute report  which caused those organizations to lay off workers and limited how many refugees they could work with at a time.

Texas largest refugee resettlement agency, Refugee Services of Texas, collapsed in the wake of those cuts. In March, the organization announced a budget shortfall, and in early May, it announced it was cutting staff and closing some offices. On May 26, it announced it was closing completely. Over the last seven months, the agency has served almost 1,000 refugees in its seven offices across Texas.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban, the system couldnt accommodate the surge in demand  especially for Afghan refugees who needed specialized help such as Pashto or Dari interpreters.

Khaleemullah Ghazi, a former interpreter for U.S. Special Forces and an Afghan refugee who resettled in Austin after evacuating his country in August 2021, worked at a Texas resettlement agency in 2022 and said caseworker pay is low, especially given the skills needed.

The person who has a skill of three or four languages, he still is getting paid $16 or $17 an hour, Ghazi said. Every person has more than 15 or 20 cases. Theres a ... heavy load of work on everybody.

The refugees have allies who are trying to help them. One veterans organization, Houston-based Combined Arms, has been lobbying Congress to pass legislation that would streamline the Afghan immigration process.

Khalil Arab, the Houston refugee advocate who also works for Combined Arms, said this is an emotional issue for many veterans who feel a deep moral injury about how the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan unfolded.

They left their comrades behind. A lot of them have seen their interpreters or their comrades suffering, go into hiding, some of them even got a family member killed by the Taliban, Arab said. So the expectation is to provide them a pathway to legal residency and eventually to citizenship.

Still waiting

Jawady and Sadras humanitarian parole expires in about seven months. In a perfect system, that should be just enough time for Sadras asylum to be approved and Jawadys SIV application to be finalized.

But neither is certain.

The good news for Jawady is that processing time for the visas dropped significantly at the end of last year. The bad news is that the recent end of Title 42, a public health order that went into effect at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed border officials to swiftly deport people who had crossed the U.S. border illegally, could delay refugee processing. Villalobos of RAICES said hes already seeing the effects.

USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] has canceled asylum interviews for our clients to move resources to the border. We had several clients set to go to interviews next week and they were all canceled on us yesterday, Villalobos said on May 11, the final day Title 42 was in effect.

Despite all that his family has gone through since fleeing Afghanistan, though, Sadra isnt cynical.

I trust one thing: America is very, very, very lawful, he said.

But the closing of Refugee Services of Texas seemed to shake Sadra. A lawyer from the organization had been helping them navigate the system, and now they have to start over with another agency, which could further delay things like renewing his work permit.

Honestly, we dont have a good feeling, but we dont have any other option, Sadra said.

Refugee Services of Texas said in a press release that all of its Austin cases will now be managed by Episcopal Migration Ministries.

One thing keeping Jawady and Sadra grounded is their close ties to family and friends in Afghanistan. But they also feel responsible for them. They were the lucky ones who got out, and they worry about their loved ones well-being given the damage to Afghanistans economy since the U.S. withdrawal. Sadra feels obligated to send money back home.

When  Afghanistan fell down, all of the jobs go down  no education, no work, no money, no income. So we should support them, Sadra said.

They still feel the weight of how their country transformed seemingly overnight. Jawady grieves for the girls who arent allowed to go to school or work like she did. To an observer, Jawadys new jobs with refugees as a tutor and health care advocate could be interpreted as subtle acts of defiance against the Taliban regime.

It's really hard for us, all of us just cry, Jawady said, reflecting on what Afghans have gone through during the last couple of years.

A few minutes later, she quoted the Farsi version of the saying, This too shall pass.

Jawady, Sadra and Qmars outside their Austin home. Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/06/texas-afghan-refugees-visa-asylum/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
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LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigan lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation Tuesday that would give victims of sexual abuse more time to sue for damages as the state again looks to overhaul laws following multiple sexual abuse scandals.

The legislation, which appeared before a committee Tuesday afternoon, would expand the civil statute of limitations for sex abuse victims from age 28 to 52. If enacted, victims would also have a two-year window to sue retroactively, regardless of the time limit.

The new measures would allow victims of the late Dr. Robert Anderson at the University of Michigan and others additional time to bring lawsuits that have previously been barred by the statute of limitations. Government entities could not use the immunity defense if they knew or should have known of an accuseds prior sexual misconduct and failed to intervene.

In 2018, Michigan increased the statute of limitations to 28 years old following the conviction of Larry Nassar, who sexually abused hundreds of female athletes under the guise of medical treatment, including at Michigan State University.

Advocates say the time limit still denies delayed justice for many victims who often keep trauma to themselves, citing research that shows many victims don't come forward until their 50s. Vermont, Maine and Maryland have removed the statute of limitations for child sex crime lawsuits.

Much of the reform began after reports across the U.S. of abuse dating back decades by Roman Catholic clergy. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel opened an investigation into sexual abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Church in 2019, which has resulted in eight criminal convictions to date.

Greg DAlessandro and Brian Hurtekant spoke publicly for the first time Monday with The Associated Press about abuse they had suffered decades before at the hands of Catholic priests. Both men have been unable to bring civil lawsuits because of Michigan's statute of limitations.

DAlessandro, who is now 45 years old, has accused two priests of sexually abusing him between the age of 9 and 13 while he was a student in metro Detroit. DAlessandro said he had repressed memories of the abuse for years and only recently, through hours of therapy, began to understand what happened to him as a child.

If its not the worst thing that one human being can do to another, especially a child in the name of God, then I don't know what is, DAlessandro said in a phone interview.

Both priests, Lawrence Ventline and Timothy Szott, have been identified by the Archdiocese of Detroit as having been credibly accused. Szott, who was sentenced to 18 months probation after pleading no contest to possession of child pornography in 2003, is now deceased.

Ventline's educationally limited counselors license was revoked by a state board in 2019. But Nessel said at the time that "the statute of limitations bars us from prosecuting Mr. Ventline for any crimes we believe he may have committed.

The Associated Press was unable to reach Ventline for comment about the allegations.

Hurtekant, who is now 56, said his abuse began at the age of 13 following the death of his brother. The priest, James Martin Novak, had overseen his brothers funeral and acted as his therapist as he processed the grief. The sexual abuse began in the sixth grade and continued until the ninth grade, Hurtekant said.

In 2019, the St. Therese Church in Lansing published a list of 17 priests, including Novak, who had been credibly accused of abusing minors. There were 73 allegations against the priests. Novak could not be reached for comment by the AP.

We were children that were raised in sexual abuse, Hurtekant said. We deserve our day in court and for justice to be served.

The House committee did not vote on the package Tuesday after several Democratic lawmakers expressed a desire to amend the legislation to completely eliminate the civil statute of limitations. Jamie White, an attorney representing Hurtekant and DAlessandro, said they hope to continuing working with lawmakers to make the change.

The package would also create a Survivors Bill of Rights," that would, among other things, require that survivors are informed of their right to access advocates, attorneys, counselors and other supports as they navigate through the reporting process.

This will be the third time the legislation is introduced in the Michigan Legislature but the first since Democrats took full control of the Legislature and governor's office this year.

Pushback has previously come from universities, schools, municipalities, businesses and the Catholic Church over the financial implications of facing an unknown number of lawsuits for old allegations.

In a statement provided to the AP, the Michigan Catholic Conference, the church's voice in the state for public policy, said it opposed the legislation, explaining it would unjustly require public and private entities to defend claims from many decades past.
AMERICAN CEMETERY, Normandy, France (AP)  U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Tuesday that fighting in Ukraine has increased, but he cautioned against reading too much into each days operations.

Theres activity throughout Russian-occupied Ukraine and fighting has picked up a bit, Milley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France  the final resting place of almost 9,400 troops who died 79 years ago during the allied D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Milley said it was up to Ukraine to announce whether its counteroffensive campaign has formally begun, but he said Ukrainian troops are ready for this fight.

Its our estimation that the Ukrainian military is well prepared for whatever they do  they choose to fight in the offensive fight or in the defense," he said. "Theyre well-prepared.

But he also warned that as time goes on the fighting will vary.

Like the Battle of Normandy or any other major battle, warfare is a give and take, Milley said. There will be days you see a lot of activity and there will be days you may see very little activity. There will be offensive actions and defense actions. So this will be a back-and-forth fight for a considerable length of time.

The U.S. and allies and partners have been pouring billions of dollars in military weapons into Ukraine and have set up a wide range of combat training so Kyiv's forces can maintain that equipment and prepare for the long-anticipated counteroffensive.

Milley spoke as Ukrainian forces are widely seen to be moving forward with a new surge of fighting in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of front line in the east and south. The troops were moving to end what has been a winter-long battlefield stalemate and punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine after 15 months of war.

Punctuating that fighting was the stunning collapse Tuesday of a dam in southern Ukraine, triggering floods, endangering crops in the countrys breadbasket and threatening drinking water supplies. Both sides blamed the other, as they scrambled to evacuate residents.

The surge in fighting comes after a long winter of preparation. Nearly weekly at times, the U.S. and allies pumped millions of rounds of artillery and other ammunition into Ukraine, along with increasingly lethal air defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries, tanks, drones and other weapons.

Looking back over the past year, Milley said Ukrainian forces defended their country well from the start of the invasion in February through the middle of the summer, and then did two successful offensive operations in Kharkiv and Kherson. Milley said he believes the training and weapons supplied by the allies over the winter have prepared Ukraine for the coming fight.

A lot of training went into that, a lot of supplies, a lot of ammunition was provided by other countries to include the United States, said Milley. "Theyve been training now we think pretty well in combined arms operations. So I think theyre prepared for what they think they need to do, no matter what type of operation they run.

Standing in front of rows of white crosses at the cemetery, Milley spoke just a few minutes after he and other top U.S. and allied military leaders laid wreaths and saluted the gathering of the last surviving World War II veterans attending the ceremony. The veterans, some of whom had stormed Omaha Beach, were almost all in their late 90s. But as Taps played, many rose from their wheelchairs to stand for the tribute.

Reflecting on their fight, Milley said there is a thread of similarity in the wars.

You cant really compare that campaign to whats happening in size and scale and scope ... in Ukraine. But the purpose is very similar, which is the Ukrainians, obviously, their objective is to liberate the Russian-occupied Ukraine, Milley said.
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KHERSON, Ukraine (AP)  A major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which sits on the Dnieper River in an area Moscow has controlled for more than a year. Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area, where the river separates the two sides.

It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting claims.

Russian and Ukrainian officials used terms like ecological disaster and terrorist act to describe the torrent of water gushing through the broken dam and beginning to empty an upstream reservoir that is one of the worlds largest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As homes, streets and businesses flooded, authorities expressed concerns about drinking water supplies and emergency crews evacuated thousands of people from Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

In the downstream city of Kherson, angry residents cursed as they tried to preserve their pets and belongings. A woman who gave her name only as Tetyana waded through thigh-deep water to reach her flooded house and rescue her dogs. They were standing on any dry surface they could find but one pregnant dog was missing. Its a nightmare, she kept repeating, declining to give her full name.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses to move residents to safety. About 25,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 17,000 in Ukrainian-held territory should be evacuated, Ukraines deputy chief prosecutor Viktoriia Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

A satellite photo Tuesday morning by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed more than 600 meters (over 1,900 feet) missing from the wall of the 1950s-era dam.

The dam break, which both sides long feared, added a stunning new dimension to Russias war, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear why either side might destroy the dam, and its collapse might have resulted from gradual degradation. Both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands were at risk.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. He claimed Ukraine had lost 3,715 troops and 52 tanks since Sunday, and  in a rare acknowledgment of Russias own losses  said 71 Russian troops were killed and 210 wounded. Ukraine followed its standard practice of not commenting on its casualties.

Zelenskyy told reporters his government knew last year that Russia had mined the dam, so there may come a moment when an explosion occurs. Other Ukrainian officials alleged Russia blew up the dam to hinder Kyivs counteroffensive, even though observers note that crossing the broad Dnieper would be extremely challenging. Other sectors of the front line are more likely avenues of attack, analysts say.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the alleged Russian destruction of the dam a profoundly defensive measure showing the lack of confidence in Russias longer-term prospects in the war.

Experts have previously said the dam was in disrepair, which could also have led to the breach. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir, said in an email it wasnt clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect by occupying Russian forces.

But Helms also noted a Russian history of attacking dams.

Underscoring the global repercussions, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse. Its unclear whether the surge was due to a real threat of floodwaters destroying crops. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Authorities, experts and residents have been concerned for months about water flowing through  and over  the Kakhovka dam. After heavy rains and snowmelt last month, water levels rose beyond normal, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Zelenskyy alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Monday, 7:50 p.m. EDT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side aimed at cutting water to Crimea.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. cannot say conclusively what happened and declined to assess the impact on Ukraines counteroffensive.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council later in the day, the U.S. deputy ambassador offered no clarity about what Washington sees as the cause of the dam's collapse, while the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors traded blame.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster from polluted waters partly caused by oil leaking from the dams machinery and farmland deprived of irrigation.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers western bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that at least 40 settlements in the Kherson region were already flooded.

The Russia-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which had a prewar population of about 45,000, said the city was being evacuated.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes biggest, relies in large part on water from the dams now-emptying reservoir. The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency reported no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, whose six reactors have been shut down for months but still need water for cooling. It said the rate of the drop in the dams reservoir level increased from 5 centimeters (2 inches) to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) an hour and could be depleted in a couple of days. The plant has alternate water sources that can last for months, according to the IAEA.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash a volume of water estimated as nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S state of Utah.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, warned thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply and that of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of attacking the dam.

___

Blann reported from Kyiv. Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Atlanta City Council has approved funding for the construction of a proposed police and firefighter training center, rejecting the pleas of hundreds of activists who packed City Hall and spoke for hours in fierce opposition to the project they decry as Cop City.
Editor's note: The University of Montana's Office of Research & Creative Scholarship along with the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West have produced a series of stories called the "This Is Montana Community Vitality Program." In partnership with the program, Lee Newspapers will be regularly running their Treasure State treasure trove of stories.

CHOTEAU  Dubbed the Front Porch of the Rockies!, Choteau sits about 20 miles to the east of one of the great American landscapes: the abrupt collision of the Northern Rocky Mountains and the prairie.

Jt's Montanas Rocky Mountain Front.

The folks living here own bragging rights to residing amid some of the finest outdoor opportunities and scenery anywhere.

The place has a story that goes back in time to the dinosaurs and ancient travelers. Paleontologists, including Jack Horner, of MSUs Museum of the Rockies, have discovered dinosaur-nesting grounds on the appropriately named Egg Mountain just west of town.

This finding of a vegetarian, nurturing, prehistoric animal challenges the old vicious, voracious carnivore image that had been held of these creatures. The approximately 10,000-year-old Old North Trail, leading from the Arctic to Central America, and used by the first people to enter North America, as well as Indian tribes that arrived in what would become Montana, is still visible in places along the base of the mountains to the west.

Records indicate that in 1854 James Doty was probably the first white man to explore this area, although fur traders and trappers who didnt leave a written record visited the Rocky Mountain Front well before Doty. In 1859, Jesuit priests established a short-lived mission three miles south of todays Choteau.

Cattle ranching got its start in 1853 when James Gibson brought livestock into the country. And A.B. Hamilton and Isaac Hazlett opened a trading post on the Teton River in the early 1870s, stocking it with goods brought by steamboats to Fort Benton.

The towns strongest roots come from the Old Agency.

From 1855 until 1869, the Blackfeet Indian Agency was located at Fort Benton. Hostilities of the settlers against Indians who visiting the agency there forced the US Government to move it.

In December 1868, Captain Nat Pope, the Blackfeet agent, with the aid of some of the chiefs, selected a site 3 1/2 miles northwest of present-day Choteau. That site eventually took on the name Old Agency. The post closed in 1876 when the New Agency was built on Badger Creek.

In 1883, Hamilton and Hazlett platted the new town of Choteau. Apparently, it still retained the moniker Old Agency because Hamilton arranged for the post office there, serving the local white settlers, to be named that.

It was officially dubbed Choteau in 1893. The name is a misspelling of the Chouteau family name. Pierre Chouteau, Sr. was the head of the American Fur Company, the dominant trading outfit on the upper Missouri River.

The Choteau inhabitants preferred to keep the incorrect spelling so as to distinguish their city from Chouteau County. The town of Choteau is the seat of Teton County; Fort Benton is the seat of Chouteau County.

Life in this gentle community revolves around ranching and farming.

The US Forest Services Rocky Mountain ranger station is located on the north end of town. The Old Trail Museum, exhibiting fossils, dinosaur bones and items of Choteaus history used to offer paleontology workshops. And myriad other businesses, including a movie theater, hospital, eateries, various shops, gas stations, motels and a highly respected weekly community newspaper, The Choteau Acantha, mix together to create an inviting atmosphere. Built around the old (1906) County Courthouse at the head of Main Street, the town has a prosperous look to it.

Its the landscape that attracts people to this place. On the west, beyond the Rocky Mountain Front, the peaks, rivers and forests of one of the nations great pieces of wild country sprawls out  the contiguous Bob Marshall and Great Bear wilderness areas.

One of the main routes into The Bob, the Headquarters Pass Trail, takes off at the terminus of the South Fork of the Teton Road, about 35 miles from the center of town.

Teton County is one of the few places left where grizzly bears still venture out to the prairie as they did in the days of Lewis and Clark, before the march of civilization forced them into the mountains. The Nature Conservancy of Montanas Pine Butte Swamp Preserve, a magnificent stretch of prairie wetlands, between the Front and Choteau, serves as spring habitat for these big bears.

Twelve miles to the southeast, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area provides nesting grounds for waterfowl and a rest stop for thousands of migrating birds. Pelicans, geese, hawks, and tundra swan are amongst the winged critters that frequent its waters and sky.

Pishkun Reservoir, southwest of Choteau, is popular for rainbow trout and northern pike. The South and North forks of the Teton River, tumbling out of the high country to the prairie, are fished for rainbow, brook and brown trout.

The North Fork and South Fork Teton roads open up numerous hiking and cross-country ski routes into the backcountry and display spectacular mountain scenery. And Teton Pass Ski Area, now open after a two-year hiatus and re-named Teton Pass Ski Resort, located off the North Fork of the Teton Road, is perhaps one of the most scenic downhill ski areas in the state.

Choteau, with a population according to the 2010 census of 1,781 inhabitants, is one of the most perfectly placed towns. No wonder those who call it home have such a great sense of ownership and feel the responsibility to take good care of the landscape.

We thank Melody Martinsen, editor of the Choteau Acantha, as well as reporter and founder of Friends of the Old Agency, a historical group, Nancy Thornton, for their assistance in checking this article for accuracy.
The wing that broke off a single-engine Cessna 182 plane landed on Fingerboard Road in Polk County before the plane crashed deep into a wooded area.
White House announces that U.S. President Joe Biden has signed the debt limit bill into law.
O'Reilly and Sons Longford, the new name for Dacia in Longford will have the new Jogger Hybrid available for test drive soon.

Dacias Jogger has gained a new hybrid engine. The seven-seater model combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with electric motors. Dacia is introducing its first electrified model with a new hybrid version of its seven-seat Jogger MPV.

The Jogger Hybrid uses a setup borrowed from its parent firm Renault, combining a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a compact 1.2kWh battery.

Driven through an automatic gearbox, this setup delivers 138bhp and a 0-60mph time of 10.1 seconds, while CO2 emissions stand at 112g/km. Dacia claims up to 56.5mpg combined, too.

The Jogger is currently available with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but the Hybrids emissions undercut the regular cars 130-131g/km significantly.

Dacia Jogger Hybrid

The Jogger Hybrid combines a petrol engine with two electric motors. Dacia says that thanks to regenerative braking and high levels of energy recovery, the Jogger Hybrid can spend up to 80 percent of drive time on urban roads in electric-only mode, saving 40 per cent on fuel compared with the standard model.

A specific B mode  standing for Brake  maximises the level of regenerative braking available, helping to capture even more energy when slowing down in the process. The battery is also covered by an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

All cars get plenty of standard equipment.

Despite the fitment of the new battery and motors, the Jogger retains its seven-seater configuration, while entry-level Expression cars benefit from a high level of standard equipment including front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and an eight-inch media display with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A range-topping Extreme SE version throws 16-inch black alloy wheels into the mix, alongside heated front seats, sliding tray tables and an upgraded sound system.

For more call to OReilly and Sons, Dublin Road, Longford N39 NW02 ; telephone 043 33 46321 ; website - www.oreillyandsons.ie




IFA farm business chairperson, Rose Mary McDonagh, said credit unions expanding their lending to farmers is important for competition in the market.



It has been reported that credit unions are planning to expand their Cultivate offering to agriculture with a new secured loan offering of up to 300,000 for 30 years with an APR of 5.49%.



This is a timely development to add more competition in the Irish market for farmers who require long term lending after the recent departure of Ulster Bank and KBC, Ms McDonagh said.



My understanding, from speaking to credit union officials, is that as with the original Cultivate offering which has been beneficial to many farmers all over the country this will be introduced to a small number of Credit Unions first and then rolled out to others over time, she added.



I hope with more competition in the agri lending market that lending can be offered at the lowest rate possible. Farming, like everything else, is going through a period of spiralling costs and its imperative that farmers can access finance at competitive rates.
Farm groups used words like rejoice in their reaction to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will limit the federal government's authority on waterways and drainage. But the future of water regulations is still somewhat muddy.

The May 25 ruling in Sackett v. EPA narrows the "waters of the U.S. -- or WOTUS -- definition under the Clean Water Act to navigable waters and those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to those waters as being subject to federal regulation. The ruling unanimously rejects the previous significant nexus standard that farm groups and other industry groups argued amounted to government overreach.

"Cattle producers across the country can breathe a sigh of relief today. Since EPAs adoption of the 'significant nexus' test, cattle producers have had to retain costly legal services to determine if water features on their property are federally jurisdictional, Todd Wilkinson, South Dakota cattle producer and president of the National Cattlemens Beef Association, said in a statement after the ruling was announced.

But Kale Van Bruggen, a Minnesota attorney specializing in water and drainage issues, said it will take some time for the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to interpret the ruling and provide guidance to staff.

It takes some time for big decisions like this to trickle down to the boots-on-the-ground staff who implemented the laws, said Van Bruggen, an attorney with Rinke Noonan in St. Cloud, Minnesota, but with clients in other Midwest states. I'll be watching and waiting to see what the guidance is from the top of the agency to its employees on the ground and what impact that will have on folks.

He said farmers and ranchers will need to continue to be cautious if there are ways to mitigate the risk of potentially violating the Clean Water Act and incurring criminal penalties. But the court ruling makes that less likely.

Part of the opinion that I found particularly important for farmers in the Prairie Pothole region was the comments the court made about when you have the Clean Water Act with criminal penalties and very, very severe civil penalties. That is a situation where the law needs to be absolutely clear about what's wrong  what's right. And to say that you need to rely on the boots on the ground, EPA staff or Army Corps to go through a long list of analysis that they had to go through to do the significant nexus test, flies in the face of that, Van Bruggen said.

The EPA will likely have to go back to rewriting the WOTUS rule -- a process that can take months -- based on the Supreme Court decision.

The EPA, in a statement after the ruling, said:

The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to establish a durable definition of waters of the United States that safeguards our nations waters, strengthens economic opportunity, and protects peoples health while providing the clarity and certainty that farmers, ranchers, and landowners deserve. These goals will continue to guide the agency forward as we carefully review the Supreme Court decision and consider next steps.

There are still pending legal challenges to the Biden administrations WOTUS rule.

One of the pending legal cases was filed in federal court in Fargo. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland in April issued an injunction, suspending the implementation of the Biden administration rule in 24 states, including North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. That rule was announced earlier in 2023, despite the pending Sackett decision.

Todays victory will help us challenge the EPAs new, even broader attempt to overregulate Americas waters, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said in a statement. President Bidens new definition allows the federal government to regulate as much as 97% of Iowa land ... . I hope the EPA learned its lesson in Sackett v. EPA because were going to keep the fight going in our WOTUS lawsuit against the Biden rule to protect Iowas farmers, landowners, homebuilders, and producers.

In addition to the challenge filed in North Dakota, there was another challenge filed in Texas, led by the American Farm Bureau Federation, and another in Kentucky. It's not clear how those cases will be resolved.

The EPA clearly overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act by restricting private property owners from developing their land despite being far from the nearest navigable water, Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said in a statement. The justices respect private property rights. Its now time for the Biden administration to do the same and rewrite the Waters of the United States Rule. Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources theyre entrusted with, but they deserve a rule that provides clarity and doesnt require a team of attorneys to properly care for their land.

Charles Yates was part of the litigation team for the Pacific Legal Foundation that argued the case for the Sacketts, a couple from Idaho that was told they could not add fill material to a piece of property near a lake.

The case dates to 2007, a year after the Supreme Court ruling established the significant nexus test. Yates said the Biden rule hinged on using the significant nexus test, and rejecting that test should end the constant game of regulatory ping pong that has ensued.

The federal agencies have been utterly unable since 2006 to come up with a clear definition of what is a WOTUS that satisfies the requirements of the Clean Water Act and survives judicial review, as you've seen, every administration since Bush has tried and failed to give effect to the Clean Water Act and defend it, Yates said.

He said there are three other key outcomes from the ruling:

It reinforced the rights of property owners.

It reestablished the separation of powers, curtailing the power of the EPA and forcing it to stick closer to what Congress intended with the Clean Water Act.

It backed up the concept of federalism and the ability of states to regulate the environment.

Because, really, the states and local governments are in a much better position to assess whether or not a project will be harmful, how land should be used, than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., are, Yates said.
The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow controls has collapsed  triggering floods, endangering Europes largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the emergency.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper River, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

It was not possible to verify the claims.

The potentially far-reaching environmental and social consequences of the disaster quickly became clear as homes, streets and businesses flooded downstream and emergency crews began evacuations, officials raced to check cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station and authorities expressed concern about supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Tuesdays dam break adds a new dimension to Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month.

Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 620 miles of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

It was not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam, since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk of flooding.

The damage could hinder Ukraines counteroffensive in the south and distract its government, while at the same time Russia depends on the dam to supply water to Crimea.

Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security Programme at the Chatham House think tank in London, said apportioning blame is difficult but there are all sorts of reasons why Russia would do this.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH    (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

There were reports (last autumn) of Russians having mined the reservoir. The question we should pose is why the Ukrainians would do this to themselves, given this is Ukrainian territory, she said.

Experts said previously the dam structure was suffering from disrepair.

David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir since the start of the war, said it was not clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect from Russian forces occupying the facility.

But Mr Helms reserved judgement, noting a Russian history of attacking dams.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council.

He alleged that Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2.50am (11.50pm on Monday GMT) and said some 80 settlements were in danger.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side  aimed at cutting water supplies to Crimea.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  06 June 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/18XvgXo2lo #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/jC9D3JuSjO  Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 6, 2023

Ukraines Presidential Office said some 150 metric tonnes of oil escaped from the dam machinery and another 300 tonnes could still leak out.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraines Presidents Office, posted a video showing swans swimming near an administrative building in the flooded streets of Russian-occupied Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson region where some 45,000 people lived before the war.

Other footage he posted showed flood waters reaching the second floor of the building.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry called for residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances and leave  while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said it was being evacuated as water poured into the city.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the damage to the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but said that, for now, the situation is controllable.

The UNs International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement there was no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, which requires water for its cooling system.

It said IAEA staff on site have been told the dam level is falling by five centimetres an hour.

At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing. The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  05 June 2023. Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/fntGJL5SvM #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/PpArQfcsEA  Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 5, 2023

The plant also has alternative sources of water, including a large cooling pond than can provide water for some months, the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities have previously said the dams failure could unleash 4.8 billion gallons of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where hundreds of thousands of people live.

The World Data Centre for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organisation, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded.

It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after five to seven days.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the broad rivers left bank, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting the wars environmental effects.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Mr Zelensky, said a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover, with one showing floodwaters inundating a long road and another showing a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

The incident also drew international outrage, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire countrys drinking water and power supply.

Ukraines state hydro power generating company said in a statement the station cannot be restored.

Ukrhydroenergo also claimed Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Mr Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, said numerous Ukrainian strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves and water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream.

Mr Leontyev said damage to the station is beyond repair and it will have to be rebuilt.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Mr Zelensky predicted Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages.

Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: June 06 2023

Task force will focus on meeting current and future training needs of businesses at Long Island innovation park at Hauppauge.

HIA-LI, one of Long Islands largest business advocacy organizations, has created a Workforce Development Task Force that will focus on maximizing employee training opportunities to support the employers at the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge (LI-IPH).

As the largest business park in the Northeast, the 1,400 companies in the LI-IPH employ approximately 55,000 people. One in 20 jobs on Long Island is dependent upon the park, which delivers an annual economic output of $13 billion.

The task force was formed in response to a problem widely viewed as Long Islands most significant business challenge: finding skilled workers and filling the talent pool of today and tomorrow. Its mission is to align resources to meet the needs of business  and to seek solutions in recruiting and developing the skills required for high-demand careers in industry sectors driving Long Islands economy.

Its approach will be to help connect business, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations to attract, train, and retain the parks talent pool.

The task force will be chaired by Rich Humann, President and CEO of H2M Architects & Engineers, and Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College. Both are members of the HIA-LI board of directors.

As an example of the type of academia-business partnerships the task force aims to promote, its organizers cite Suffolk County Community Colleges recently launched Solar Installer Certificate Program, a hands-on training course taught by industry experts that includes a paid externship with SuNation Solar, a solar company based in the LI-IPH.

No single entity in Nassau or Suffolk surpasses the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge when it comes to job creation and economic impact, said Carol A. Allen, President and CEO of People's Alliance Federal Credit Union and Chairperson of the HIA-LI board. Long Islands long-term business health is heavily dependent upon this park. This new task force will help ensure that our employers will be able to count on access to a properly skilled workforce.

As Long Island continues to come back from COVID, business owners and organizations say that one of their biggest issues is the availability of a talent pool thats suited to their immediate and future needs, said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President and CEO of HIA-LI. This task force will help align the efforts of key private-sector and public sector players to deliver the kind of skills training that will benefit the Long Island economy well into the future.

At Suffolk County Community College, weve taken strategic steps to shape our curriculum so that our graduates will have the skills necessary to enjoy promising careers with the businesses of the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge, and other employers, said task force Co-Chair Dr. Edward Bonahue. Our Solar Installer Certificate Program serves as a perfect illustration of the kind of customized workforce development programs this task force aims to create.

Theres a void today between businesses who need workers with certain kinds of talent  and workers who possess the right skills to fulfill these needs, said task force Co-Chair Rich Humann. Fortunately, HIA-LI is an excellent position to help fill this void because of its strong relationships with business, academia, local and state government, and workforce development organizations. We can serve as a hub that helps to unify these key players.

The task force will commission the New York City-based James Lima Planning consulting firm to undertake an LI-IPH In-Demand Skills Assessment  and conduct stakeholder meetings  to identify current and future skill sets needed for park occupants post-Covid.

The skills set analysis and stakeholder meetings will be funded by a grant from the Workforce Development Institute, a statewide, non-profit organization that promotes the expansion of workforce opportunities. The $15,000 grant  applied for in partnership with the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency (Suffolk IDA)  will be supplemented with additional funding from HIA-LI and the Suffolk IDA.

The results of the assessment will be shared with academia to help it better connect to the business sector  and to develop future programs that will best prepare graduates to thrive in the Long Island economy of tomorrow. The assessment will also be presented at a future HIA-LI workforce development conference to be attended by the regions key business and institutional leaders.

Task force organizers note that as technology has become more commonplace, the regions businesses need to develop talent in technological disciplines that may not exist today. Thus, one key goal of the task force is to recognize the future needs of Long Islands workforce.

They note that smaller businesses in particular are likely to have more difficulty in predicting their future needs with respect to job skills. HIA-LI, the Suffolk IDA, and James Lima Planning will engage with business park tenants to help them better judge where these small firms need to be in the future  and what skills will be required to get them there. Future workforce development programs will then be tailored to train the parks workers in these needed skills.

The Workforce Development Institute works actively statewide to increase opportunities for all New Yorkers to succeed in the workforce while earning family-sustaining wages, said Robyn Fellrath, Long Island Regional Director of the Workforce Development Institute. Were proud to support the efforts of HIA-LI and the Suffolk IDA in ensuring that the members of the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge workforce are well-positioned for success.

Attracting and retaining skilled workers is one of the biggest challenges facing Long Island businesses, especially in high-demand industries like manufacturing and the trades, said Kelly Murphy, Acting Executive Director of the Suffolk County IDA. Regional employers have been experiencing a brain drain because of such factors as the high cost of living and the shortage of affordable, attractive housing for young people. This task force will help us overcome these big challenges.

The success of our regional economy depends heavily on the Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge and the skilled workforce it attracts, commented Joe Campolo, Chair of HIA-LI's Long Island Economic Development Task Force. The Workforce Development Task Force's report will augment our LI-IPH sustainability study and to prioritizing workforce development as a critical strategy for ensuring that businesses in the park have access to the trained professionals they need to thrive, and for attracting new companies to the region.

The task forces work will complement the regional component of a statewide, $350-million initiative launched last year under Governor Kathy Hochul that aims to improve workers skills to match jobs that employers are having difficulty in filling. The statewide program, managed in Nassau and Suffolk counties by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, was created by Empire State Development, the states primary economic development agency.

The regional council issued a report in cooperation with Ernst & Young last November that spelled out a strategy for forward-looking workforce development approaches for the region that dovetail with the new task forces agenda, noting that aligning the many assets and partners on Long Island is key to solving the workforce challenges of today and the future.

In 2019, Newsday and The Rauch Foundation conducted a survey showing the degree to which young workers are planning to exit Long Island. Based upon 1,800 interviews with people between 18 and 34 years of age, 67 percent of those surveyed said they planned to leave Long Island within the next five years.

ABOUT HIA-LI
Pro-Syrian regime ground forces, backed by Russian airpower, have taken the Islamic State-held town of al Mayadin in Deir Ezzor province, eastern Syria. They laid siege earlier this month and captured it this past weekend, facing relatively light resistance. They are preparing to cross the Euphrates River, heading toward the Omar oil fields according to Syrian propaganda.

Previously, the Islamic State used Mayadin as a major hub and its personnel retreated there as the group lost ground in Iraq and Syria. The US-led coalition has run a targeted air campaign in and around Mayadin.

The pro-Syrian regime alliance has signaled its plan to conquer the remaining strongholds of the Sunni-jihadist group in Syria. Shiite jihadists led by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are not only instrumental but count for the bulk of the offensive that includes Syrian government forces and pro-Assad Tiger Forces. Last summer, the IRGC launched ballistic missile toward Islamic State positions around Mayadin in revenge for Junes terrorist attacks in Tehran.

Leading up to the Mayadin offensive, a commander in the Afghan Fatemiyoun Division spoke with IRGC-affiliated Tasnim. He said the forces were launching an offensive from the recently-captured Deir Ezzor city and that they would continue marching down the Euphrates Valley toward al Mayadin and the border town of Al Bukamal, which sits on a major highway between Iraq and Syria. Damascus held the border crossing until insurgents shut it down in 2012.

We are moving toward al Mayadin, and soon with the conquer of this area and reaching the Bukamal border, the promise of the dear Haj Qassem [Soleimani] for the destruction of DAESH [Islamic State] by the sons of Fatimah [daughter of Prophet Muhammad] in the Fatemiyoun Division, resistance warriors and Syrian army will be fulfilled, the Afghan commander said. He was referring to last weeks statement by Soleimani, the chief of the IRGC Qods Force, in which he had vowed that the Islamic State would be destroyed in three months.

On Oct. 13, the day when pro-regime forces declared victory in Mayadin, IRGC social and formal media announced the death of a senior Iranian commander during the offensive. Brigadier General Abdollah Khosravi was commander of the Fatehin Battalion, an Iran-based special unit of the IRGC Basij paramilitary that undergoes advanced military training and has deployed to Syria. Last year, the IRGC announced the expansion of the Fatehin unit beyond the capital Tehran and across the country. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, IRGC to expand Basij special forces]

The IRGC has also publicized more drone strikes against the Islamic state. It claims these strikes occurred somewhere in the Syrian desert between T-2 pumping station and al Mayadin. The footage corresponded with that of an Iranian Shahed-129 drone. The IRGC has increasingly publicized its drone strikes during the offensives in eastern Syria to showcase its role in fighting the Islamic State and project an image that it is an anti-terrorism force. [see FDDs Long War Journal report, IRGC promotes more drone strikes against the Islamic State]

The pro-regime forces are racing to capture territory and oil and water resources by the Euphrates River and the border area with Iraq and deny those areas to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Iran furthermore seeks to re-assert land routes between it and Syria.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces and allies backed by the US have launched offensives toward the Al Qaim border crossing, which is adjacent to Al Bukamal.

Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

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Ukraine launched a flurry of localized offensives across the battlefield on June 4 and 5, most notably in Russian-occupied southern Donetsk Oblast. These attacks likely aim merely to probe Russian defenses or divert Russias attention from a forthcoming larger offensive. Nevertheless, the early stages of Kyivs much-anticipated counteroffensive appear to have begun.

Ukraine reportedly launched assaults in or around Marinka, Avdiivka, and Bakhmut. In the south, Russian sources said Ukraine conducted small-scale reconnaissance-in-force near Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and stepped up incursions across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. In addition, groups of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine conducted the latest in a series of raids across the Russian-Ukrainian border into Belgorod Oblast. These assaults follow a weekslong campaign of strikes against targets deep in the Russian rear.

The most significant Ukrainian attacks occurred in southern Donetsk Oblast. Much about the offensive remains murky. Accounts from Russian sources vary, while the Ukrainian government has kept particularly quiet regarding its military operations in the area. Available evidence suggests Ukrainian forces achieved some modest gains while also taking significant losses.

According to Russias Ministry of Defense (MoD), Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction on Sunday morning, seeking to break through what they saw as the most vulnerable part of the front. Ukraines newly formed 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades led the offensive, supported by other units, the MoD said, adding that a total of six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions participated. Ukraines newly formed 47th Artillery Brigade also appears to have recently deployed to the area.

Russian sources said Ukrainian motorized infantry units, supported by tanks, launched assaults near the Russian-occupied villages of Neskuchne, Rivnopil, Novodarivka, and Levadne on Sunday. These settlements are located southwest of Ukrainian-controlled Velyka Novosilka, a small but tactically important town in southern Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine may have also attacked toward Blahodatne (a.k.a. Oktyabar), south of Neskuchne, and settlements south of Vuhledar, where Russia conducted an ill-fated offensive last winter.

Some popular Russian military bloggers indicated that Ukraine managed to take Neskuchne and Novodarivka and then pushed southward toward adjacent settlements. However, various Russian sources, including the MoD, later claimed that Russia had pushed the Ukrainian attackers back to their original positions. According to the MoD, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who has commanded Russian forces in Ukraine since January, led the defense from a forward command post in the area.

Drone footage confirms that Ukrainian forces at least temporarily reached the outskirts of Novodarivka. In a video posted on Sunday, two Ukrainian tanks faced off against three Russian tanks on the outskirts of Novodarivka. One of the Russian tanks was destroyed. A subsequent video, released by the MoD, shows an assault in the same area by at least 10 Ukrainian vehicles, most of which appear to be mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPs. Several were damaged or destroyed, perhaps after hitting some of the many mines Russia has laid in recent months. But the other vehicles pressed on.

MoD-released footage also shows a number of Ukrainian vehicles, mainly MRAPs or other lightly armored wheeled vehicles, knocked out west of Neskuchne and northwest of nearby Storozheve. Another video captured 10 destroyed or abandoned Ukrainian vehicles northeast of Rivnopil, including a T-72 tank and various Western-supplied armored vehicles.

On Monday, Ukraine reportedly launched additional, larger assaults, this time attacking in seven directions with forces from five different brigades, per the MoD. The ministry said three Ukrainian battalion tactical groups, reinforced by tanks, attacked Russian positions near Blahodatne as well as Novodonetske, a settlement southeast of Velyka Novosilka. These forces allegedly came from Ukraines newly formed 37th Marine Brigade, reinforced by elements of the 68th Jaeger Brigade. A video shared on Monday shows what appear to be two abandoned French AMX-10RC assault vehicles, which the 37th Brigade operates, although its unclear where the video was taken.

In addition, the MoD said that consolidated units from the 23rd and 31st mechanized brigades, along with an unnamed fresh brigade, continued attacking near Novodarivka and Levadne. Russian sources also reported Ukrainian attacks toward Neskuchne and Storozheve.

Although Moscow claimed the assaults failed, Russian war correspondents said Ukrainian forces reached the outskirts of Novodonetske. A Western official said they advanced up to 5 or 6 kilometers in the area. One Russian correspondent said the Ukrainians sought to bypass Novodonetske from the west, perhaps seeking to reach Staromlynivka, around 16 kilometers south of Velyka Novosilka, to cut Russias main supply route in the area. However, some Russian sources claimed Ukrainian troops had retreated by Wednesday morning.

Unlike in Ukraines wildly successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast last fall, Russian war correspondents and military bloggers praised the Russian Air Forces role in blunting the Ukrainian assaults earlier this week. A video shared by a Russian Telegram channel showed Russian helicopters conducting nine anti-tank guided missile strikes on Ukrainian vehicles, allegedly during the recent attacks.

On Monday, a Russian-installed official in Zaporizhzhia Oblast claimed Russian tactical aviation was bombing Ukrainian equipment concentrations from Velyka Novosilka to Zaporizhzhias city of Hulyaipole, where Ukrainian authorities reported a bomb strike the day prior. If true, these strikes likely used Russias newly UMPK kits, which turn dumb bombs into precision-guided glide munitions with standoff range.

Although several of Kyivs newly formed brigades have allegedly entered the fray, most of the forces it set aside for the counteroffensive have not. Ukraine apparently still hasnt committed eight of its nine newly formed brigades trained in NATO countries and equipped largely with Western-donated tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers.

The Ukrainian attacks earlier this week appear to be reconnaissance-in-force operations, probing for weaknesses in Russian defenses. Kyiv might also hope to divert Russian attention from wherever it intends to launch its main effort.

If Kyiv elects to ramp up offensive operations in the southern Donetsk area, it may seek to push southward toward the occupied coastal city of Mariupol. That attack could constitute Ukraines main effort or a secondary one, perhaps supporting a drive toward Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

As analyst Rob Lee noted, Kyiv may see Russias position in southern Donetsk Oblast as vulnerable because Moscow recently redeployed some units from there to hold the Wagner paramilitary groups flanks and stem Ukrainian counterattacks around Bakhmut. Moreover, Russian fortified defensive lines in southern Donetsk Oblast appear to be thinner than in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Moscow likely expects the main thrust of Ukraines counteroffensive to occur.

Wherever Kyiv elects to strike, its troops will likely face dug-in Russian forces and withering artillery fire. Ukraines counteroffensive has a fair chance of success but will probably be a tough slog even if ultimately successful, much like its offensive in Kherson Oblast last year.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

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A Bismarck woman has pleaded not guilty to having sex with a student while employed as an instructional aide at Century High School.

Victoria Reiswig, 24, entered her plea Tuesday. Her trial is scheduled Aug. 29.

Authorities allege Reiswig had a relationship with a 17-year-old male student and admitted to having sex with the boy over the 2022-23 Christmas break.

She's charged with felony corruption of a minor, a count punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Reiswig is no longer employed by Bismarck Public Schools, according to the district.
Covid-19

Penalty handed down by US Department of Transportation after airline failed to offer passengers timely refunds for canceled flights

British Airways was fined $1.1 million (1.02 million) by the US Department of Transportation on Thursday after it determined that the airline had failed to offer passengers timely refunds for canceled flights to and from the US during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Customers were unable to submit refund requests on BAs website from March to November 2020, and were unable to reach customer service over the phone for several months during 2020 because the carrier failed to operate its phone lines adequately, the DOT said in a consent order filed Thursday.

Refunds emerged as a contentious topic at the height of the pandemic as ever-changing and often contradictory travel restrictions upended the aviation industry. Cash-starved airlines tried to steer passengers toward rebooking or accepting credits for future flights, which the DOT called out in the consent order.

The DOT said it has received more than 1,200 complaints since March 2020, claiming BA didnt offer timely refunds for canceled or significantly disrupted flights to or from the US.

We view British Airways practice to be unfair because consumers were subjected to extreme delays in obtaining refunds and some may have been effectively denied refunds, the DOT said.

The DOT said it would reduce $550,000 (510,906) from the penalty because BA did refund more than $40 million (37.16 million) to customers with non-refundable flights to or from the US in 2020 and 2021.

BA acted lawfully at all times during the pandemic and allowed customers whose flights were canceled to either rebook flights on different dates or claim a refund, the carrier said in a statement. BA said it had issued more than 5 million refunds since the pandemic began.

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Debt

Passing of final stage comes at some political cost for President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy, both criticised within their own parties

US President Joe Biden gestures to the press on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, as he returns from Colorado Springs  Photo credit: AFP

The US Senate has passed legislation to suspend the debt ceiling and impose restraints on government spending through the 2024 election, ending a drama that threatened a global financial crisis.

The measure now goes to President Joe Biden, who forged the deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and plans to sign it just days ahead of a looming US default.

The 63-36 vote on the bill was carried by moderates in both parties, many of whom aired their misgivings about parts of the deal but were convinced that their concerns werent worth risking the havoc a default would unleash.

If we do this we will not default, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said just before the vote. That is very, very important.

Investors have largely judged the risk of a US default as resolved and are shifting attention to other uncertainties, such as Federal Reserve policy. Benchmark Treasuries dipped in Asia trading on Friday, while equities in the region followed US benchmarks higher amid continued strength in tech shares.

A hard-fought compromise reached after weeks of private talks and public finger-pointing, the legislation is a rarity in a highly polarised Washington where dealmaking has become a lost art form.

Amendments fail

Getting it through the Senate on Thursday night took hours of negotiations between the two parties, with independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema shuttling in designer sneakers between Republicans lunching on the second floor of the Capitol and Democrats on and off the Senate floor.

Ultimately, they settled on allowing uncharacteristically speedy votes on 11 amendments - all of which failed - and a pair of statements from Schumer aimed at soothing concerns about defence spending levels and other potential cuts.

Schumer made it clear that the Senate could bypass the spending caps in the bill for Ukraine, defence and domestic priorities using emergency funding, though the Republican-controlled House would have to concur.

Senate passage ends the worst standoff over the US debt in a dozen years. But it comes at some political cost for Biden and McCarthy, who have taken fire from lawmakers on their respective partys flanks who insist too much was given away in the negotiations.

The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus intensified its criticism of McCarthy after more Democrats voted for the bill in the House than Republicans. Caucus members will meet next week to discuss their next steps, which could include an effort to oust McCarthy.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer  Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP

For Biden, the vote risks alienating well-known progressives ahead of a reelection campaign where he will rely on them to rev up enthusiasm and stump for him among critical constituencies.

Row postponed until after next election

But the president isnt facing a serious primary challenge from the left, and the deal averts an economic upheaval heading into his reelection bid. It also strengthen his reputation for pragmatism and working across party lines.

The bill would set the course for federal spending for the next two years and suspend the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025 - postponing another clash over borrowing until after the presidential election.

In exchange for Republican votes for the suspension, Democrats agreed to cap federal spending for the next two years. The bill also green-lights Equitrans Midstreams stalled Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia.

Spending restraints in the deal may have a big impact on young college graduates who will have to resume student loan payments and some lower-income Americans hit with benefit restrictions or service cuts.

Bloomberg Economics economists Anna Wong and Maeva Cousin wrote on Tuesday that the two-year spending caps called for in the agreement will deal an additional short-term blow to an economy already vulnerable to a recession. Yet theyll barely dent the unsustainable medium-term trajectory of US federal debt - which we estimate is still on track to rise from 97% of GDP in 2022 to more than 130% of GDP by 2033.

The hard choices on how to adjust government services are mostly left to Congress to negotiate in separate spending packages due before the Oct. 1 start of the next federal fiscal year.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the spending caps will require $64 billion (59.4 billion) in cuts next year, though White House officials claim they have a side deal to counteract most of those cuts, effectively amounting to an overall spending freeze.

Biden, in a statement minutes after the Senate vote, thanked Schumer and McConnell, and called the agreement a reminder of whats possible when we act in the best interests of our country. I look forward to signing this bill into law as soon as possible.

The White House said the president would address the nation on Friday evening to discuss the accord.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Climate change

Roughly 90% of investors in North Americas two largest oil producers shot down a proposal by environmental group Follow This

Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. shareholders soundly rejected activist demands to take responsibility for curbing emissions by motorists and industries that burn their fuels.

Roughly 90% of investors in North Americas two largest oil producers shot down a proposal by environmental group Follow This that urged executives to set targets for reducing so-called Scope 3 emissions. For Exxon and Chevron, support for the measure slipped by more than half from a year ago.

Exxon, Chevron and many of the other major international oil explorers and refiners already have laid out plans to cut climate-damaging pollution from internal activities such as drilling and fuel-making, also known as Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Scope 3 controls have been a tougher sell among US fossil-fuel producers because executives maintain that those emissions are the responsibility of customers that burn their products. One of the industrys only options would be to curtail production of things like gasoline and diesel.

Targeting Scope 3 emissions is a deeply flawed approach, Exxon Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods told investors.

If an energy company discontinues operations to meet Scope 3 targets while the demand for energy remains, consumers can be forced to make do with less energy, pay significantly higher prices or return to higher-emitting sources, he said.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, meanwhile, urged shareholders to vote down the proposal, noting that the majority of Chevrons Scope 3 emissions result from the use of products by customers, not activities controlled by Chevron.

Follow This Founder Mark van Baal said its incomprehensible that most investors still accept these supermajors refusal to cut emissions this decade.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Sanctions war spillover

ERG tests market demand for "green" iron ore after biggest customer cut off by trade sanctions

Luxembourg-based Eurasian Resources Group is considering producing a feedstock for low-carbon steel production, after sanctions blocked its iron-ore shipments from Kazakhstan to Russia.

ERG halted sales to its biggest customer, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works PJSC, after the US imposed sanctions on the Russian company last year. That prompted ERG  40% owned by the Kazakh state  to weigh building a hot briquetted iron plant to supply electric-arc furnaces making low-carbon steel.

As iron ore can no longer be shipped to Russia, we are seriously considering the project, Kazakhstans Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said in interview in Astana.

ERGs plan underlines how the war in Ukraine is changing traditional trade flows. The project will also challenge Russias Metalloinvest Holding, the largest producer of HBI, in which billionaire Alisher Usmanov is the biggest shareholder. The company has already been forced to refocus its sales toward Asian markets, including China, as sanctions and trading restrictions prevent exports to Europe.

The first $1 billion phase of ERGs HBI plant, with an annual capacity of 2 million tons, could start operating in 2026, Serik Shakhazhanov, general director of the companys Kazakhstan business, said in a separate interview. There is preliminary agreement with state-owned QazaqGas to supply the first phase with gas, while a second phase with same capacity may be ready by 2028, he said.

The new HBI plant could target the Chinese market, with ERG securing preliminary agreement for an offtake deal, Shakhazhanov said.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
A Mandan man has pleaded guilty for setting one of his former girlfriends cars on fire and threatening to kill the other.

31-year-old Jesus Guilbe originally pleaded not guilty in January and was set to appear on trial this Wednesday. He has since changed his plea guilty and was sentenced to a 3-year probation.

Last fall, Guilbe set fire to his former girlfriends car after police served a protection order on him. He also called another woman he dated and told her in Spanish, Im going to kill you. This is the moment. Police later found Guilbe and arrested him with felony terrorizing and a misdemeanor violation of a restraining order.
Banking

UBS considers delaying results after Credit Suisse rescue deal

Pushing second-quarter results until the end of August would buy the bank time to work through complex takeover

UBS logo  Photo credit: AFP
June 2-4

Attend the European Design Festival, submit your real life issues for a comedian to make fun of them, or join a theatrical clowning workshop

The European Design Festival

Luxembourg will host this five day celebration of all things design over the weekend. Entrance is free and the roundtable talks and conferences at Rotondes and Casino will operate on a first-come-first serve basis. The programme also includes parties, exhibitions, markets and workshops - in other words, a little something for everyone.

When: 31 May - June 4

Where: Venues across Luxembourg (Link)

Cost: Free to the public (First-come-first-serve)

Usina23 Festival

This two day open festival will take place at Neischmelz just outside Dudelange in the south and will feature artists from Luxembourg and abroad, including German one-album wunderkind Peter Fox as well as Luxembourgs De Lab. You could either nab individual day passes depending on the line-up or get a weekend pass at a reduced rate. Check out Den Aterliers site for more info on ticketing.

When: June 3 - 4

Where: Neischmelz, Dudelange

Cost: Day 1: 59 / Day 2: 49 / Weekend Pass: 82

Cola - Live at Rotondes

Having released their debut record only last year, Cola is made up of members of the former Canadian outfit Ought. But while the line-up and sound have been shaken up, Colas emphasis is on straight-forward and lowkey post-punk. Also check out Rotondes summer programme for upcoming gigs.

When: Friday, June 2, doors 8:30pm

Where: Rotondes

Cost: 13 Presale or 15 at the door

Fake Freuds: A comedy self-help show at Rocas

Let slip the Freudian slips onFriday at Rocas with comedian Dan Belkin. Before the show, the audience is asked to anonymously submit their real life issues which are then addressed with humour onstage. While solutions arent guaranteed the Belkin approach at least provides some relief - since laughter is the best medicine.

When: Friday, June 2, doors 8pm

Where: Rocas Cafe

Cost: Online 10-15 / Doors 18

Mental Palace at Neumunster Abbey

Fill your mind with the sweet sound of music on Sunday at Neumunster Abbey where fusion band Mental Palace will be taking to the stage. At the crossroads of jazz and progressive rock, the hour-long gig might prove a potent palate cleanser for a laid-back Sunday.

When: Sunday, June 4, 11am-12pm

Where: Neumunster Abbey

Cost: 5

Effortlessly Funny: An introduction to theatrical clowning with Jamie Wood

A two-day workshop meant to break down barriers between people, Jamie Woods workshop is all about theatrics and acting the fool. With an open atmosphere and promising lots of laughs, the idea is to embrace ones inner clown.

When: June 3, 10pm & June 4, 5pm

Where: 56 Rue du Fort Neipperg

Cost: 95 per participant

Regular guided tours: The Luxembourg Story

The Luxembourg City Museum gives weekly guided tours on the Luxembourg Story in lots of languages, including English. The English language tour starts at 4pm and covers a thousand years of history - and takes place every weekend. The museum recommends reserving in advance to guarantee a spot.

When: Sunday, June 4, 4pm

Where: Luxembourg City Museum

Cost: 5 entrance fee

Films

Check out this weekends film listings at cinemas across Luxembourg by clicking here.
Ukraine

Two-day summit debating how to deepen ties with Kyiv without immediately bringing it into the fold as a member amid Russia's ongoing war

French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a bilateral meeting at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Moldova on Thursday  Photo credit: AFP

France is pushing for a concrete path for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance, but Germany is urging more caution about discussing membership in light of Russias ongoing war.

Frances wish is that we clearly design a path with stages and progressions so that Ukraine can, when the time comes, join us in good security conditions, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said in an interview on the sidelines of a gathering of NATO counterparts in Oslo. Will there be dates or a calendar, Im not sure because there are still many points to discuss.

While Ukraine joining NATO is not something for today, Colonna said, we need to do more than 2008, referring to an agreement that year by allies that Ukraine would eventually join.

By contrast, Germanys Annalena Baerbock told reporters its clear that we cannot talk about a new membership in the middle of a war.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is contending with how to deepen ties with Kyiv without immediately bringing Ukraine into the fold as a member, given that the blocs Article 5 security guarantees could draw allies into Russias war against the country.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that we cannot talk about a new membership in the middle of a war"  Photo credit: Britta Pedersen/dpa

The top envoys are addressing the question of membership at their two-day meeting in Oslo, which started on Wednesday, in advance of a NATO summit in July when leaders will sign off on a broader package of long-term support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for clear signals in support of his countrys membership at the July summit, urging allies to provide a more concrete perspective beyond the 2008 statement. But opinions differ about how specific allies should be.

Security guarantees are very important not only for Ukraine but also for our neighbor Moldova because of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and potential aggression in other parts of Europe, Zelenskiy told reporters in Moldova on Thursday, at the start of a European Political Community meeting.

Coalition of patriots

Zelenskiy said he would discuss a coalition of patriots and strong support on the battlefield. Ukraine recently received Patriot air defense units from its western partners.

Colonnas comments come a day after French President Emmanuel Macron advocated for a path toward membership for Ukraine to NATO. The comments were a welcome surprise for Baltic nations, which have been pushing for a more concrete road map for Ukraines membership, according to an official from one of the countries.

While the US has repeatedly backed the 2008 statement about Ukraines prospects and is looking to ensure a stronger political relationship with Kyiv, its unclear whether that will necessarily involve providing Ukraine with a timeline to membership, a senior US official said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Thursday hes confident we will find consensus on the way forward and weve had good informal discussions already and we agree on core messages. He added that all allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of this alliance and Ukraine is moving closer to NATO.

Upgrading Ukraines Ties

As part of the Vilnius package, allies are expected to upgrade the formal status of NATOs relationship with Ukraine with a new NATO-Ukraine Council, allowing the country to directly take part in broader discussions about the alliances security.

NATO leaders are also expected to agree to a long-term fund with a total of 500 million a year to help Ukraine with non-lethal aid and other support. The aim is to bolster Ukraines own defences to deter Russia from attempting another invasion after the current war ends, with recent plans by allies to train pilots on F-16 fighter jets fitting into that long-term goal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday  Photo credit: AFP

The fund, among other things, would finance efforts to modernise Ukraines military, including by rebuilding military infrastructure or training soldiers on how to use and maintain modern equipment, thereby keeping readiness high. While the fund has already received hundreds of millions of euros this year, allies may struggle to provide the same level of support over the long term given that commitments are not locked in for future years.

Security Guarantees

Kyiv has also demanded effective bilateral security guarantees before it becomes a full member. Stoltenberg remarked recently that a commitment by a large ally could very closely resemble the Article 5 collective security commitments.

Under the Kyiv Security Compact, a proposal drafted by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Zelenskiys chief of staff Andriy Yermak, allies would commit to enabling Ukraines self-defense with binding commitments to provide the necessary military and non-military resources.

Macron appeared to back such a proposal on Wednesday when he urged allies to provide Ukraine with tangible, credible security guarantees - somewhere between those similar to what is offered by the US to Israel and full-fledged NATO membership. Colonna said numerous countries are reflecting on what they could offer in terms of security guarantees and considering different formats.

Ukraine is preparing a much-anticipated counter-offensive, armed with billions of dollars worth of European and US weapons. Kyiv may seek to launch the counter-punch ahead of the leaders summit in July, in an effort to convince allies that further military support is warranted.

(Additional reporting from Ott Ummelas, Katharina Rosskopf, Iain Rogers, Michael Nienaber, Andra Timu and Irina Vilcu)

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
European Union

Country's reforms violated EU law, Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice rules

The European Court of Justice in the Kirchberg area of Luxembourg's capital  Photo credit: Arne Immanuel Bansch/dpa

Poland lost the final round of its legal battle at the European Unions top court over a controversial regime to discipline national judges who failed to toe the populist governments line.

The EUs Court of Justice ruled on Monday that Polands reforms violated EU law. The defeat follows a simmering dispute with the EUs executive arm over the rule of law in Poland that sparked record daily EU fines of 1 million.

EU nations must ensure that, in the light of the value of the rule of law, any regression of their laws on the organization of justice is prevented, the court said.

The law handed monopolistic control to a single body in Polands supreme court and threatened to weaken peoples fundamental right to justice when combined with prohibitions and disciplinary infringements, it said.

The dispute has forced the populist government to backtrack on some of its reforms - seen by critics as a way to oust those who dont back the populist Law & Justice party.

Lars Bay Larsen, the EU top courts vice president, recently cut the daily penalties in half, in recognition of changes made by Poland since the dispute erupted. But he stopped short of toppling the punishment completely, saying the government hadnt yet fully complied with all requests.

Poland has so far failed to pay a cent of its bill, which currently stands at 556.5 million. Thats led the European Commission to withhold 360 million from EU funds earmarked for the nation, for the period between November 2021 to October 2022.

Government U-turn

The daily fines will stop accruing following the pronouncement of the EU courts ruling.

However, this does not affect Polands obligation to make the daily penalty payments due in respect of the past, the court said on Monday.

The EU court slapped the record fine on Poland in 2021  Photo credit: Shutterstock

The governments u-turn earlier this year - passing legislation to reverse some of the contested changes in the judiciary - gave rise to hopes that the bitter rule of law feud could be wrapped up.

Such hopes could now be thwarted after Poland passed a new law last month that allows its ruling party to probe opposition leader Donald Tusk ahead of elections later this year.

This would create a special committee to probe alleged Russian meddling in Poland, with unprecedented powers that could also possibly prevent officials from pursuing public office.

The move raises serious concerns in terms of conformity with EU law, the EUs Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told lawmakers last week. We understand it grants significant powers to an administrative body, which could be used to bar individuals from public office, and which hence could restrict their rights, Reynders said.

EU milestones

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Friday proposed measures to soften parts of the legislation in an attempt to defuse the row.

The commission has said it will carefully analyze the new law and wont hesitate to take action, meaning Poland could face another round of EU legal action, yet again.

Still, Polands changes in the judiciary could help it not just stop the fine from accumulating but also meet EU-set milestones to access post-pandemic aid. But things are on hold until the Polish law on judicial reforms takes effect and passes the EUs vetting.

It will be important that the final law as adopted raises the standards on judicial independence, Reynders said.

(Additional reporting from Piotr Skolimowski)

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Guide:

Some children learn best at their own pace or in a self-directed way, so what are the options for homeschooling in the Grand Duchy?

It is legal to home school but you need approval if your child is under 12 years  Photo credit: Shutterstock

Despite the choice of schools in Luxembourg, school places are often oversubscribed and private options too expensive for many budgets. In some cases, parents find school curricula and teaching methods too restrictive or limited. The pandemic also allowed many parents to try an alternative method to traditional classroom teaching.

For these reasons and others, some parents in Luxembourg opt for home schooling, which can be tailored to an individual childs needs, provide one-to-one support, and encourage self-directed learning.

Our guide to home schooling gives you an overview of what it is and what you need to do if you choose this educational path for your child.

What is home schooling?

Luxembourg offers a free choice of education and it is legal to home school your child. You can choose to follow the Luxembourgish curriculum or any others already offered at state or private schools, or if you prefer, to follow a self-directed path of education.

Approximately 157 children in the primary age bracket, and 48 secondary-aged children are schooled at home in Luxembourg (figures for 2022).

Why home school?

There is an assumption that children dont want to learn, so they must go to school. Most children, when left to their own devices, are curious and will explore their environment, directing their own learning, says Max Sauber, a founding member of ALLI Asbl, an association set up by parents who have opted to educate at home.

Katy Zago, another co-founder, agrees: You dont need a school to be educated. Its really a question of what environment you want and can provide for instruction, and what is best suited to the learner.

Both suggest that home schooling or even unschooling offers a viable alternative to traditional schooling, where parents can adjust and expand the learning environment for their child, using a much more diverse range of educational approaches than those available in current school systems.

Home schooling also allows for greater flexibility on timetables or holiday dates. Education can be tailored, and children tend to develop a vested interest in their education, with more freedom to think outside the box when it comes to their approach to learning.

How do you apply for home schooling?

The process is different for primary and secondary level students in Luxembourg.

Primary level process

Parents looking to home school a child aged 4 -12 years must first find out which director is responsible for education in their district. They can do this via Men.lu (the Ministry of Education website).

Parents should then write a letter of motivation to the relevant director. The ALLI Association advises that the letter should be positive, and include the parents rationale for home schooling, such as their philosophy on education, and why public schools are not providing specific learning possibilities or support, such as opportunities for informal learning.

The letter does not need to be long, but should not just list criticisms of any current school your child attends, says Sauber. He also adds that there has only been two cases he is aware of where the director has refused the letter of motivation.

You should receive written authorisation from the director by email or letter (this can take a couple of weeks), which you should take to your commune. After that you can begin schooling at home.

Secondary level process

At secondary level (aged 12-16 years) the process is less complicated. Parents must write to their commune to inform them that their child will be home schooled. Sauber comments that at secondary level, many children choose to enrol with an online school or programme, which will provide materials, teaching support and lead to a specific academic qualification such as IGSCEs or a Baccalaureate. The online programme will provide the necessary documentation for the commune.

Yannick Bartocci at the Ministry of Education is in charge of home schooling at a secondary level and can help families navigate the system. The ministry in general prefers online courses, but parents can defend their decision for less formal education, particularly if a child has suffered burn out as a result of school. ALLI can also provide guidance.

How to choose an online course or school

These days it is possible for children to work in virtual classrooms, and complete materials by correspondence or online with the support of parents or virtual teachers. This is a good option if your child might return to school in the future, as you can choose a course that will ease a possible return to school or preparation for certified exams.

But Zago cautions that a young person that quits school because it is not right for them will not necessarily want to study an imposed curriculum at home. First, they will need to recover their pleasure of learning by finding what makes sense in their life.

Clonlara is a popular home schooling organisation. The Off-Campus Program gives children the culture of school and the opportunity of a formal recognition of self-directed informal and non-formal learning.

Children can decide how to approach a subject and will be guided into a way of exploring it. The system also validates academic achievements based on a pupils projects, and offers an American High School Diploma that is recognised by many universities. Learning advisors provide support in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Hungarian. It essentially works like an online alternative school.

Another popular choice is Wolsey Hall Oxford which has a highly-commended online learning platform and tutor team which can deliver primary and secondary classes and works towards IGCSE and A'Level qualifications. It's used in more than 100 countries across the world and recognised by Luxembourg's education ministry as an alternative platform for education. It's most famous student, Nelson Mandela, studied his law degree with Wolsey Hall whilst in prison on Robben Island.

Another popular choice if you want to follow the British curriculum is the Minerva Virtual Academy. The Certified Online Academy also offers IGCSEs and teaches the Cambridge curriculum, whilst EduWW offers an accredited American curriculum.

You can also complete the International Baccalaureate through online courses. You can find a list of other home schooling providers in Europe and worldwide, here.

The self-directed education approach

Both Zago and Sauber opted for self-directed learning, where education is the childs responsibility. A parent should never become the teacher at home, just the facilitator. Its important that parents maintain their role as loving carers for children, highlights Sauber.

Self-directed education encourages a child to explore and pursue their own interests, with freedom to play and learn. Childrens curiosity leads them to learn and as Sauber explains, there are plenty of opportunities to cover the curriculum in every day life. He gives the example of cooking as a way to learn weights and measures.

Children learn experimentally and in a pluri-disciplined way, focusing on topics rather than how to read, write or conduct certain experiments.

Saubers daughter (now an adult) took a self-directed learning approach, whilst Zagos daughter decided to return to school, but maintains her self-directed learning style.

Home school inspections

Parents will work with education inspectors whose role is to ensure that a child or young person is receiving an education to develop physical, intellectual and moral qualities. Home schooling parents have to explain their approach and cooperate with the inspector. There will be some general requirements, such as showing progress that your child has learned at least one of Luxembourgs official languages, but if you plan to stay temporarily, you can gain exemptions from these.

Self-directed learning puts the child at the centre of their learning Photo: Shutterstock

Parents will work with education inspectors whose role is to ensure that a child or young person is receiving an education to develop physical, intellectual and moral qualities. Home schooling parents have to explain their approach and cooperate with the inspector. There will be some general requirements, such as showing progress that your child has learned at least one of Luxembourgs official languages, but if you plan to stay temporarily, you can gain exemptions from these.

If you choose a self-directed learning path, you must show the inspector that there has been progress in a broader sense  that your child is becoming autonomous and responsible.

As long as you can show progress in different fields, your evidence does not need to be in line with specific standards in the curriculum for a specific age. Sauber admits it can be tough to evaluate informal learning for inspectors, who are not familiar with this approach. He has used portfolios of work rather than standardised tests.

University applications

Most universities tend to give offers in the most commonly taken educational qualification of the country in which they are located. However, in Europe, national, international and European Baccalaureates are widely accepted by most universities, as are IGSCEs and A'Levels. Those students following an online course or school will be able to provide details of their performance or predicted grades.

The Khan Academy provides advice on university applications for home schooled children, whilst children who have had a self-directed education can have their academic achievements validated by Clonlara.

Bill of law on home schooling

A bill of law on homeschooling has been up for discussion in Luxembourg since 2016 but as yet no new laws have been passed. It aims to recognise the status of home schooled pupils until a certain age, and it will clarify what learning progress is expected in certain fields and languages. It will also define the process to apply for home schooling authorisation more clearly, as well as certifications and inspections, with a view to a more open-minded approach to self-directed education.

Network of home schoolers

ALLI Associations Facebook page has an area dedicated to events and gatherings, usually organised by parents, which children and parents can attend. These offer home schooled children the chance to socialise, play or make friends in a multi-lingual, mixed-age environment, says Sauber. ALLI also run a Facebook page Home Education in Luxembourg which is a good forum for home educators but also if you are thinking of following this route but have more questions.

You'll also find a group of home schooling families on LuDUS which in addition to having a list of resources, has a learning centre open from 8.00 to 16.30 on Monday to Friday during term times (registration is required).

The Alternova Centre in Garnich offers a learning space to home schooled children aged 3-12 years, and has thematic rooms for science, games, art, language and a silence room, which children can circulate in freely. You can find more information on their Facebook page.

In Luxembourg, children are also free to join extra-curricular activities organised by the communes or local associations or dance and music schools.

Next steps for parents

It is illegal to home school without authorisation in Luxembourg. So long as parents can demonstrate they can provide a suitable learning environment, authorisation should not be an issue.

ALLI Asbl Association is formed from parents who have taken the home schooling journey. They can help with advice on authorisation and self-directed learning, and the forum also provides a place for discussion and exchange of resources, in addition to organising social meet-ups.

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Marine Biology

Jenny Biver sits down with one of Odysseas founders to find out what drives this organisation in landlocked Luxembourg

Anna Schleimer studied the grey whales off the coast of Vancouver Island, B.C. and the humpback whales in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec  Photo credit: MICS photo

In landlocked Luxembourg, the first question many people ask Anna Schleimer of Odyssea, the country's first association devoted to marine biology and conservation is what the organisation really does in Luxembourg.

Are you just studying the fish in the Mosel and the Stausei? people ask. While it could be a very irritating question, its really the opposite: that fact that people question it is the very reason Odyssea exists, Schleimer said.

Many people live in their little bubble and think that we dont have access to an ocean, so why should we bother, she added.

Out of sight, out of mind

Founded in 2013, Odyssea is the passion project of two marine scientists who were lacking a local community dedicated to the work around our oceans.

When I was younger, marine biology just wasnt considered as an option in school and I want to give students the space to explore it, said Schleimer, who concluded her PhD thesis on fin whales in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean sea in 2021. Her work has previously led her to the Philippines to study whale sharks and to Vancouver Island, B.C, to study grey whales.

While marine biology is not the most obvious career path for students in Luxembourg, Odyssea has grown to more than 20 members in the last 10 years. From fieldwork in Antarctica to studying the effects of climate change on coral reefs in Australia to turtle conservation in Mayotte, Mozambique  traces of Luxembourg in the research and conservation of our oceans can be found all over the world.

But its not all scuba dives and dolphin sunsets. When I was working on research boats in Canada, we would get up at 5am every day, prepare the boats and spend hours searching for whales, some days without success, explained Schleimer.

Once the whales are located, the number one priority is to collect data through taking photos of each whale and noting GPS positions, data which is later analysed on computers.

When I was younger, marine biology just wasnt considered as an option in school"  Photo credit: Anna Schleimer / Odyssea

Once the whales are located, the number one priority is to collect data through taking photos of each whale and noting GPS positions, data which is later analysed on computers.

Anna remembers a specific whale encounter with a group of tourists, which, for her, was a stressful moment because of the large number of whales that all needed their data recorded. When we stepped off the boat, one of the tourists thanked me and said this was the best day of their life. And it not only made me remember how privileged I am to work in this amazing environment, but also how powerful the feeling of wonder that the ocean can draw forth is  if people dont know, how can they care?

The butterfly effect

Odyssea isnt only active outside of the Grand Duchy. To raise awareness locally, the association organises workshops and presentations at schools, museums and science fairs to urge people to think about the different ways we are linked to the ocean and the different ways we impact it.

The most obvious connection is found on our plates: Luxembourg had the fourth highest fish consumption rate per capita in the EU (33 kg per year) in 2019, a European Commission report states. Eating fish is no longer a luxury, its becoming a household staple, said Schleimer. While you can even buy sushi at the gas station nowadays, the oceans are facing significant issues due to overfishing, bycatch [the unintended catching of other wildlife], and waste pollution.

8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year  Photo credit: Anna Schleimer / Odyssea

The most obvious connection is found on our plates: Luxembourg had the fourth highest fish consumption rate per capita in the EU (33 kg per year) in 2019, a European Commission report states. Eating fish is no longer a luxury, its becoming a household staple, said Schleimer. While you can even buy sushi at the gas station nowadays, the oceans are facing significant issues due to overfishing, bycatch [the unintended catching of other wildlife], and waste pollution.

According to the UN, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year, equal to dumping a garbage truck of plastic every minute. A total of 80% of that waste is made of plastic and as many as 51 trillion microplastic particles  500 times more than the stars in the galaxy  are floating around in our oceans and ending up in the guts of many marine species.

Luxembourg also harbours a growing maritime sector: more than 200 boats fly the Grand Duchy flag, ranging from smaller boats to container ships and around 225 companies active in the marine sector are established in the country and are overseen by a maritime affairs commission, all of which currently employ around 1,000 people. We also rely on the oceans resources for the development of medicines that help with treatment of cancer, arthritis, Alzheimers disease, and heart disease.

Bottom-up and top-down

In parallel to raising awareness, Odyssea also works on outreach projects and policy work. To really have an impact, its important for us to have this bottom-up approach where we raise awareness among the public, but also the top-down approach through pushing for regulations and protection, said Schleimer.

Co-founder Pierre Gallego represents the Luxembourg government at the International Whaling Commission and collaborates with international NGOs to promote marine mammal conservation.

Our greatest ally

Covering over 70% of the Earths surface, the oceans not only produce around 60% of our oxygen, but also play a crucial role in absorbing a quarter of CO2 emissions that human activity generates each year, making it one of the worlds largest carbon sinks.

Ultimately, our planet depends on the vitality of the ocean to thrive. At the end of the day, you cant just sit in your little bubble and think that your life doesnt have an effect on the ocean, said Schleimer. Sure, there are countries with direct access, but their legislation only covers the first 200 nautical miles (370 km). Beyond that you have the open sea, and thats ocean that belongs to nobody and all of us at the same time."

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Adoption

Full adoption for single and unmarried on table in new law

Draft bill aims to update legislation following reprimand from European Court of Human Rights and country's approval of same-sex marriage
Compliance

Luxembourg lawyer fined 10,000 for money laundering gaps

Ruling by Bar Association comes less than a year after same lawyer was fined in a criminal case connected to the breaches
Ric Blum, pictured at the court in 2020, is set to appear again at the inquest on Thursday  Photo credit: 7News
Employment

Draft bill proposes up to five days leave a year for family care responsibilities, and a sixth day for urgent situations

Workers in Luxembourg could be entitled to claim leave for caring responsibilities or to deal with an accident or illness involving a family member, under a draft law debated by a parliamentary committee.

Up to five days per year of leave would be granted for family care duties under the new legislation, which is yet to be approved and is still working its way through parliament. The paid days off would allow an employee time to care for a family member or someone living in the same household, the committee heard on Thursday.

Workers would also have the right to take one day a year off for an unexpected and urgent family reason like illness or accident of a family member, the draft bill states.

Lawmakers on parliaments employment committee quizzed Labour Minister Georges Engel on Thursday about potential safeguards for preventing workers abusing the leave, according to a report of the closed-doors meeting published on parliaments website.

The five days of carers leave would be approved subject to a medical certificate and proof of the relationship with the employee making the request, Engel told the meeting.

The bill aims to bring Luxembourg law in line with an EU directive aimed at allowing greater balance between the professional and private lives of parents and other carers.
A family friend recently returned home to Bismarck for the summer after being out of state for college. Hes having a hard time adjusting back to the judgment he faces surrounding his sexual orientation in our community versus the acceptance he feels from his campus community.

Last week, The Forum published a story on how recent legislation and culture wars have led members of the LGBTQ+ community to leave our state. While disappointing, it is certainly not surprising that LGBTQ+ individuals and young people, in general, want to leave North Dakota. And quite frankly, I think that is the outcome some of our lawmakers hope for.

I do not want to speak for a group, but I can only imagine how exhausting it is to have the details of your existence judged, debated and legislated. Although our community includes welcoming and inclusive people, silent support does not hold any weight against hateful rhetoric advanced by leaders or biases held by other community members.

Pride month presents a good opportunity for allies to reflect on ways we can balance the scales and make it a little easier for LGBTQ+ individuals to remain in our community. There are steps we can take in our personal and professional lives to show support, eliminate bias, and make our community a more welcoming place.

The most basic step people can take is to educate themselves about the LGBTQ+ community and issues they face. There is so much power in seeking to understand another persons lived experience. Although we may never experience the issue, we can understand and shift our perspectives from listening and learning. Once educated, we can offer insight to family members or friends that they might not otherwise have.

One of the biggest steps we can take is to be present. Pride events are scheduled across the state this month and continuing throughout the summer. Many of these events include community gatherings with vendors, art and food. This can be a great place to network and show your support. As a professional, this can also be a great opportunity to sponsor the event and market your services. When you or your company is present at Pride events, you are sending a message that you will treat LGBTQ+ clientele with respect -- something that cannot just be assumed, even in a professional setting.

Another step we can take is to be visibly inclusive in our lives and professions. In our lives, this can mean writing to our representatives when harmful legislation is proposed, asking someone not to use offensive language in front of you, or adding a Pride Month sticker to your Facebook profile photo. In our professions, this can mean having a rainbow sticker in your office, putting your pronouns in your email signature, or updating your website to include a statement of values or inclusion commitment.

My examples are minimal actions we can take to ensure everyone in our community is treated with kindness and respect.

To members of the LGBTQ+ community, please know there are people in North Dakota who welcome you, support you, and want you to stay here. This is your home too.
Terrorism

An 18-year-old man was arrested on Friday in connection with a post on Instagram, the public prosecutor's office said

The 18-year-old was arrested in connection with a post on Instagram, the prosecutor's office said  Photo credit: Shutterstock

An 18-year-old man from Luxembourg has been arrested for posting suspected terrorism-related content on social media, the prosecutor's office said.

The man was arrested on Friday after German authorities raised the alarm over an Instagram post "likely to constitute [...] an act of provocation to terrorism", the prosecutor's office said in a statement, which did not state where in Luxembourg the arrest took place.

It comes after three people were charged with terrorism financing in April, following searches in the south of the country.

Around 1,000 reports concerning suspected terrorist financing were lodged with the Cellule de Renseignement Financier (CRF) - the financial crime taskforce of the public prosecutor's office - in the three-year period from 2020 to 2022, according to figures released by the Justice Ministry last month in response to a written parliamentary question.
Elections

When and where to go to vote on Sunday, how the voting system works and how candidates will be elected

Luxembourg will be heading to the polls on Sunday for the local elections to elect mayors and councillors to run each municipality. The Luxembourg Times has put together everything you need to know ahead of the vote.

When does the vote take place?

It takes place on 11 June and polling stations are open between 8am and 2pm. The local elections take place every six years, usually in October but this year they are held in June because the national elections will take place in October.

What do I need to do on the day?

Each registered elector will receive a letter at least five days before election day, specifying which polling station they need to go to. All voters must take an ID card, passport, residence permit or residence card to the polling station on the day.

What are we voting for?

Every commune has a municipal council with a mayor, aldermen and councillors. The election determines who gets to sit on the council. Councillors determine who amongst them becomes the mayor, but it usually goes to the head of the winning party or, for councils that don't have parties, to the person who received the most votes. They decide on matters such as housing and infrastructure within the commune.

Who is allowed to vote?

All residents, who are aged 18 or older on the day of the election and have registered to vote, can cast a ballot - regardless of nationality and length of time living in the country. Registration closed in April. This is the first year that foreigners can vote immediately after moving to the country. In previous years, foreigners had to have lived in the country for five years to be eligible to vote.

Is voting compulsory?

Once you have registered, you must vote. If you dont, you may get a fine of between 100 and 250, unless you have a valid excuse, which you must put in writing and send to the public prosecutors office at your district court.

Can you vote by post?

Yes, postal voting is available to all voters.

Those who have applied for a postal vote receive their ballot around two weeks before the election. Ballots come with two separate envelopes that must be used. No need to buy a stamp, the main envelop is pre-paid. Voters can post their ballot at any point before the election, but must make sure it arrives at the polling station before or on 11 June.

Once you have requested a postal vote you can no longer vote in person.

How does the voting system work?

In communes with fewer than 3,000 residents, each voter can cast as many votes as there are seats on the communal council. This means that if the commune has seven seats, each voter will get the chance to cast seven votes but can choose not to use all seven.

The number of seats depends on the number of inhabitants: for example, communes with up to 999 residents will have seven council positions to fill and electors will be able to vote for seven candidates on the list. They can choose to give two of their seven votes to any candidate. Communes of between 1,000 and 2,999 inhabitants have nine seats, and therefore electors may cast nine votes. If you exceed your allocated number of votes, the ballot becomes invalid.

In bigger municipalities, with more than 3,000 residents, the same rule applies but voters may choose to give all their votes to one party  which automatically gives one vote to each candidate in that party  or dish them out to individual candidates across parties.

Communes of between 10,000 and 14,999 inhabitants have 15 council seats and communes with more than 20,000 inhabitants will need to elect 19 councillors.

The only exception is Luxembourg City with 27 council seats.

How are the seats distributed on the council?

In communes with fewer than 3,000 residents the seven or nine candidates with the most votes win a seat. A simple majority is enough.

In the larger communes the seats distributed to parties in accordance with how many votes the party received. For example, if a party gets 25% of the votes, they also receive a quarter of the seats. The seats are then distributed among the candidates with the most votes on the list.

How are the mayors and aldermen appointed?

After the results have come in, political parties will start negotiating the composition of the council of mayor and aldermen. The mayor role tends to go to the head of the list of the party that came out on top, with the posts of aldermen distributed among members of the local coalition.

In municipalities with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants, the mayor is generally the candidate who received the most votes during the ballot.

When will the results come in?

From 2pm the ballot boxes are opened and the votes are counted. The results come in later on Sunday evening.

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Flying

Flying will be far more expensive this summer with flights such as a New York to Hong Kong economy ticket costing almost a third more than last year

Soaring ticket prices are lining the pockets of the worlds biggest airlines, providing balm to the economic wounds suffered during the travel lockdowns of Covid-19. But as the industry takes off, airports say they have been forgotten at the gate.

Flying will be far more expensive this summer, according to corporate travel manager American Express Global Business Travel, which analysed tens of thousands of client transactions on international flights to and from Asian destinations. A typical New York-to-Hong Kong flight in economy class cost more than twice as much this year as in 2019, and almost a third more than last year.

Major carriers heading to this weeks annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association have enjoyed a quick recovery. Fares have been bolstered by tight capacity going into travels peak season and customers are eager to book, often upgrading to more expensive tickets. British Airways owner IAG posted a surprise quarterly profit last month and raised its outlook for the full year. Dubais Emirates and Singapore Airlines reported record earnings, with Australias Qantas on course to follow suit.

Airlines have benefited unusually from the supply shortfall that boosts the price of tickets, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Denise Wong.

Airports struggle

Airports, meanwhile, continue to struggle, lacking the same flexibility to raise prices on fees and tariffs that are fixed, regulated or commercially negotiated. London Heathrow, the home base of BA, has warned of ongoing losses and is withholding dividend payments to its owners.

Dublin Airport is also wrestling with regulators and airlines on the increase in fees it can charge airlines. Irish low-cost powerhouse Ryanair Holdings, a major tenant, routinely threatens to leave over such costs. The discount carrier has also scaled back in Germany, saying high airport fees there make operations unsustainable at airports like Frankfurt.

Airports, on the other hand, say a divergence of fortunes is holding back investment, after staff shortages and other snafus caused backups that ruined many travellers vacations last summer. From terminal expansions to runway extensions, electrification and the installation of upgraded scanning devices, airports are continuing to pour resources into their facilities.

The sharp increase in airfares is hampering the recovery of the entire aviation ecosystem, said Airports Council International Asia-Pacific, a trade group representing 132 companies across 623 facilities in Asia and the Middle East. Many of of its members have lost money for 10 consecutive quarters. The group said it wants carriers to exercise responsible and fair pricing that supports the travel recovery and consumers best interests.

Landing fees

The frequent jousting over airport landing fees has intensified in the wake of the health crisis. Airlines received more direct financial support during the pandemic, and now have the freedom to quickly raise prices. IATA Director General Willie Walsh has lobbied fiercely to prevent tariff increases from endangering their recovery.

Heathrow has sought backing from Britains Civil Aviation Authority to raise fees, saying any higher costs shouldnt be borne by travellers but instead shared between the airlines and the airport. Critics of higher fees, like Virgin Atlantic, have said such a move would only benefit the airports mainly foreign shareholders, and represent a bad deal for consumers and airlines.

Animosity between airports and airlines boiled over last year when Heathrow imposed a cap of 100,000 departing passengers a day through much of the summer schedule amid a lack of workers. The move drew the wrath of airlines including Emirates, which flies about half a dozen Airbus A380s into the UK capital each day and said in July that Heathrow chose not to act, not to plan, not to invest.

There is always a bit of a tension between the two, which is typical between a supplier-customer relationship, said Mabel Kwan, a Singapore-based managing director at aviation consultancy Alton. Airlines are a very powerful customer and client from a negotiating standpoint, and fee increases are politically and socially sensitive, she said.

Airports also earn revenue from commercial rents, advertising and other items often dependent on volumes, which have varied across the global recovery.

A record summer

In the background of the rift is a peak travel season just getting under way  in Asian countries such as China, international flights have recently reopened after tighter Covid restrictions. Airlines, airports and ground-services providers have held meetings and turned on the hiring spigot to avoid the disruptions that took place in Europe and the US last year.

However it unfolds, travellers will be paying more. Economy and business-class passengers on the most in-demand corporate routes are seeing higher prices this year, Amex GBTs analysis showed.

We expect air fares to continue to rise this summer, said Jeremy Quek, principal global air practice consultant for Amex GBT. The level of increases will moderate a little as airline capacity recovery continue to grow through the second half of 2023.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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Lycoming College sorority Beta Phi Gamma, in conjunction with a community-based committee, organized the return of the annual Relay for Life event to celebrate cancer survivors from the College community, as well as to raise funds to help take action against cancer. Representing Lycomings 15th Relay for Life event, and the first since the start of the pandemic, the event was held Saturday, April 15, at 12 p.m. in the Keiper Recreation Center.

Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event where participants take turns walking around a track non-stop to signify that cancer never sleeps. At Lycoming, individuals and teams of students, faculty, and staff from across campus raise money for cancer research by selling treats and providing fun activities for participants. Although the event was only six hours long this year compared to the usual twelve, activities were held every 30 minutes to ensure it was as successful and fun as possible.

This years event was especially impactful since it was dedicated to Lycoming Colleges own Beatrice Gamble, a staff member who recently passed away following a strong battle against cancer. Momma B, as she was lovingly called around campus, was honored with a special luminaria and brief speech, as well as a table with a flame that burned through the entire event.

Several speakers provided inspirational remarks at the opening ceremony, including Lycoming College President Kent Trachte, English major Leahvella Rambus 24, and Kyla Ortiz, Gambles daughter. In addition, attendees enjoyed a musical performance by Lyco Voices before moving on to fun events and snacks that keep students, faculty, and staff, and other community members fueled, entertained, and ready to burn enough calories to see the event all the way through, such as a Basket Raffle.

Perhaps the most special time of the event came toward the closing, when all participants remembered loved ones who have passed away from cancer during the Luminaria Ceremony, while a poem was recited in a loving tribute to those lost.

The Relay for Life has always been super important to me, said business major Zion Resto 23, a member of Beta Phi Gamma and the events lead organizer. We all wanted to bring it back in a special way, to show how much it means to everyone and to help in whatever way we can.

The Survivor Dinner, which celebrates those who have won the battle against cancer and usually kicks off the event, has been postponed until July. Those interested should keep an eye out for forthcoming details.
LIVONIA, MICH.  Madonna University is pleased to announce its upcoming graduate open house on June 14th, inviting all individuals considering a graduate degree. Whether you have a specific program in mind or are exploring your options, our graduate open house offers valuable insights and resources to aid in your decision-making process. Madonna University offers over thirty graduate programs in business, clinical psychology, criminal justice, education, nursing, and social work. With both on-campus and virtual attendance options available, our graduate open houses provide convenient and comprehensive opportunities to address all your questions.

Program directors will be present at the open house to answer inquiries, provide a deeper understanding of program curriculums, and offer personalized guidance to ensure your personal goals align with the program of interest. Representatives from the Office of Financial Aid will also be available to help determine your eligibility for financial aid options and address any concerns. Our admissions representatives will guide you through the application process, clarify required materials, and assist with submission. Attending the open house also grants you an application fee waiver, simplifying the admissions process.

Join us at the Madonna University graduate open house to gain some valuable insights, connect with faculty and staff, and access the resources needed for your graduate education. Virtual attendees can join via Zoom from 5:00 pm  6:00 pm, and in-person attendees will meet at Madonna Universitys Welcome Center from 6:00 pm  7:00 pm. We look forward to welcoming you on June 14th as you take the first steps towards a brighter future!

To RSVP, please visit madonna.edu/gradevents
Dashboards and reporting For many organizations, much of their financial information is spread across disparate systems or can get tied up in manual processes. This makes it difficult to not only access this information, but to also get it efficiently to the people and teams that need it. So, how can this best be fixed? Browse this white paper to learn more.

Why Growing Businesses Choose Sage Intacct Todays finance and accounting (F&A) leaders are expected to meet business goals with efficiency. However, with new demands and pressures facing teams, this is easier said than done. Access this guide to discover top tips for success.

Looking Ahead: 7 Key Trends That Will Reshape Accounting and Finance in 2023 In this modern era, its critical for organizations to not just prepare for change but embrace it. However, despite developments in recent years, many organizations still struggle to keep up with the pace of transformation. Access this guide to discover the top 7 trends you should keep up with.

Future of Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting and Reporting Despite the want for data accuracy, only 33% of companies report significant changes done to their planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes in the last year. So, how can organizations keep up and make time for this transformation? Browse this report to discover more.

Intelligent inventory Effectively managing inventory is a crucial step in the efficiency of supply chains. However, many leaders and teams today continue to struggle with a multitude of challenges. So, how can you combat these issues? Dig into this white paper to learn more.

The Future of Manufacturing Manufacturers understand the importance of quality. However, ensuring quality can be made difficult by a number of challenges. So, how can companies revamp their operations to best prioritize quality in their processes to improve their profitability and the bottom line? Dig into this white paper to learn more.

Looking Ahead: 7 Key Trends That Will Reshape Accounting and Finance in 2022 Accounting and finance organizations, like all organizations, continue to be challenged to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. Reflecting on recent trends can afford accounting and finance leaders the opportunity to determine where their companies strengths and challenges lie. In this e-book, explore 7 trends from last year.

Three emerging roles of CFOs 78% of UK finance leaders say the industry needs a new class of CFO. The role of the CFO is expanding, with more diverse responsibilities forcing CFOs to evolve and redefine their position. This infographic explores the ways in which CFOs are evolving, analyzing 3 different categories of how the position has changed. Read now to learn more.

The switch to cloud HR and payroll: Easier than you think Moving from the comfort zone of spreadsheets and folders to a cloud-based HR and payroll platform can seem overwhelming. Download this infographic to learn how in just 3 stages, you can make the move to cloud HR and payroll.

The Circular Economy and what it means for your business As businesses continue to prioritize the rethinking and reorienting of their processes and operations to be more sustainable, many have turned to Circular Economy strategies to eliminate waste throughout their processes. But what exactly is the Circular Economy? And how can you better understand it? Access this white paper to learn more.

A Guide to Telling your ESG Story Today, employees, customers, and investors are demanding greater accountability from companies and want them to take a stance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. However, organizations can get intimidated by this push for transformation, and even more dont know where to start. Access this guide to learn more.

The State of the Circular Economy Report As the benefits of a Circular Economy and sustainability continue to be recognized, it becomes increasingly important for organizations to advance their strategies for success. Access this State of the Circular Economy Report to learn more about and discover how you can best implement strategies across your business for success.

Payroll tax pocket guide 2022  2023 This comprehensive payroll tax pocket guide is the one-stop resource for payroll and HR professionals in South Africa who want the latest employment tax details for 2022-2023.

Agility in HR: 4 ways you can drive agile ways of working Less than 1 in 3 HR leaders say their workforces are organized around speed, agility and adaptability making it difficult for them to create systems of prevention and recovery to deal with potential threats. Access this e-book for effective ways to drive agile working, ensuring that your workforce is productive and performing at its best.

Business resilience and agility: How HR & payroll leaders can empower change Now more than ever, organizations are facing pressured to create a safe environment for their employees, making sure they remain engaged, connected and productive, all while trying to keep costs down. Access this guide for more agile ways to manage employees with new methods of working and tips for transitioning to modern work environments.

Your guide to payroll Tax Year-End Coming soon, organizations must be ready to submit their annual employer reconciliation returns within 60 days of the beginning of the Employer Tax Filing season. With the right support and platform, this is an easy objective for employers to succeed at. Read on to learn more about what to expect and how to be prepared come tax time.

How technology is transforming payroll and HR in SAs medium-sized businesses 64% of medium-sized businesses have increased their use of payroll and HR technology in response to remote working trends. However, many organizations dont have a specialized system, meaning that insights can be lost or difficult to access when needed. Access this infographic to see how you can use your data for HR and payroll success.

Payroll and HR in SA With 63% of small businesses struggling to securely share personal employee information and 37% still using outdated manual and on-premises payroll and HR systems, its become clear that some HR and payroll system updates are in order. Access this infographic to see how you can digitize HR and payroll data.

The quick guide to payroll compliance Managing the many aspects of payroll compliance can be tricky with the landscape of rules changing so often. Because of this, failure to maintain compliance tends to take a toll on the time and money of businesses. Access this guide to payroll compliance to find best practices and solutions to help your payroll function run smoothly.

Budget Speech: 2022/2023 All you need to know The following white paper details tax tables, tax rates, payroll taxes and other changes to the tax system in South Africa for 2022-23. Access the white paper here.

Payroll and HR in SA: Rising to the challenges of change Download this Sage research report to find out how other businesses are navigating complexity in HR and payroll alongside ever-evolving compliance regulations, workforce health needs, and cloud migration.

The future of payroll and HR in a hybrid working world The hybrid working world has greatly complicated HR and payroll systems. However, cloud-based software has proved to be valuable in todays digital-first world: 86% of businesses have linked cloud technology to easily adapting to remote and hybrid working environments. Access this e-book to unlock key insights into the future of payroll and HR.

Global manufacturers get serious about sustainability Global discrete manufacturers are pursuing sustainability with 97% of green manufacturers having adopted a circular economy strategy and 95% expecting a positive impact over 2 years. Access this infographic to learn more about why companies are prioritizing sustainability and servitization.
A proposed domestic flight ban within Spain could cost the Spanish economy 329 million euros and the loss of 6,000 full-time jobs, a report by PwC has concluded.

Madrid is currently considering a similar domestic flight ban to that which was finally introduced into law by the French government last month. Under the French ruling, domestic flights are barred if theres a high-speed train service of two and half hours or less also available between the same destinations.

PwC looked at how those same rules might hit domestic flights within Spain and discovered that there were five possible routes that could be impacted. Those five routes were between Madrid and Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Sevilla and Valencia.
Mallorcan Toni Company is the most handsome man in Spain! The 26-year-old from Palma was crowned Mister International Spain 2023 at the final gala in Tenerife last weekend. He prevailed against 53 other male candidates, winning in the end ahead of the contestants from Malaga and Segovia, Jose Calle and Sergio Martin. It is the first time that a Mallorcan has won this competition.

Toni Company has been interested in fashion since he was a child and presented clothes at fashion shows for a boutique in Palma at a young age. The Spaniard, who describes himself as quiet, respectful and sincere, studied International Hotel Management and has a Master's degree in Management. In the meantime, he works in the real estate industry.
The Department of Energy agreed to Monday to reduce the barriers to the development of offshore wind energy in the wake of the strong investor interest in the emerging technology.

We are pleased with the positive response from local and foreign investors eyeing our RE potential. We are working on policies that would minimize roadblocks, especially for offshore wind installations, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

In the coming weeks, the DOE will issue the policy and administrative framework for the optimal development of OSW resources, including speeding up the approvals of necessary permits,. Lotilla said.

He said the agency was working with concerned government agencies, local government units and the transmission concessionaire to implement the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under Executive Order No. 21.

Under EO 21, the DOE is directed to publish the policy and administrative framework for the efficient and optimal development of OSW resources in the country within 60 days from its issuance.

The President issued EO 21 on April 19, 2023.

The EO seeks to harmonize and streamline permitting processes and leasing fees under a whole-of-government approach and fully implement the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop System to cover all relevant government agencies and bureaus.

The DOE said among the available incentives for RE projects under the 2022 Philippine Strategic Investment Priority Plan are income tax holidays, duty-free importation and tax exemption of carbon credits provided under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act.

Lotilla welcomed the enthusiasm of local and international investors for unlocking the country renewable energy potential.

He said investments in OSW from foreign companies such BlueFloat Energy would bring cutting-edge technology with the company plan to leverage its floating wind expertise and experience to develop projects along the Philippine coasts.

Bluefloat Energys proposed Philippine projects collectively represent the largest single country planned initiative of BlueFloat at 7,600 megawatts.

BlueFloat Energy announced its market entry in the Philippines through the acquisition of wind energy service contracts in four sites in Bataan, Batangas, Cagayan and Ilocos and Southern Mindoro.

The DOE also received an overwhelming response for the second round of the Green Energy Auction Program with 118 pre-qualified companies that seek to inject capital for 11,600 megawatts of RE capacities between 2024 and 2026.

Lotilla said these investors would work with the various coastal host communities in enhancing the local livelihood opportunities and environmental protection.

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Infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expects to complete the delisting process this year despite the delay in tender offer because of the need to select a new independent financial adviser.

MPIC chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said in an interview at the sidelines of the companys annual stockholders meeting the MPIC bidders would have to select a new independent financial adviser after the Philippine Stock Exchange did not confirm the independence of the financial adviser earlier appointed to create the valuation report.

The issue was the one that was hired is not independent enough. Because as I understand it, they have done work with other shareholders of MPIC, First Pacific and GT Capital, Pangilinan said.

The bidders will have to appoint a new independent financial adviser so it is back to square one, he said.

The consortium of bidders that plan to take MPIC private earlier requested to defer the shareholders vote on its delisting to a later date as the valuation report had yet to be finalized.

The consortium consists of Metro Pacific Holdings Inc., GT Capital Holdings Inc., Mit-Pacific Infrastructure Holdings Inc. of Japans Mitsui and MIG Holdings Inc. of Pangilinan.

To qualify for delisting, 95 percent of all common shares of company including existing shareholders should accept the tender offer. If this threshold is not achieved, Pangilinan said MPIC would have to remain a public company unless the condition is waived by the PSE.

Pangilinan also reiterated that while MPIC is a publicly-listed firm, it was not able to raise public funds for many years now because its share price was undervalued.

We have believed the intrinsic value of MPICs investments in infrastructure in Philippines has not been fully reflected in share price in many years, Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said MPIC was relying on debt to fund its expansion program for many years. However this strategy is not sustainable over the long term especially during the current high interest environment.

We are really in a dilemma how to fund the growth in order to add more value to the company knowing that share price is undervalued, Pangilinan said.

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Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women and continues to be among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the Philippines.

Esteban Abada Elementary School Principal Jocelyn A. Lopez, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Noel Bagano, DepEd Asec. Dr. Dexter A. Galban, Parents-Teachers Association President Hernan Gana, Mr. Mon Paolo Padanas from the Office of Rep. Arjo Atayde, MPH- Regional Director of Metro Manila Center for Health Development/DOH NCR Dr. Aleli Annie Grace P. Sudiacal and MSD in the Philippines President and Managing Director Andreas Riedel join students at Esteban Abada Elementary School as they form a human cervical cancer ribbon to commemorate the school-based immunization launch in Quezon City.

In a multi-stakeholder effort to promote a healthy future for young learners, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Local Government of Quezon City, in partnership with healthcare company MSD in the Philippines, organized a school-based vaccination event titled Sa Aking Paglaki, Walang HPV at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City. As part of the school-based immunization program, grade 4 students ages 9 to 13 will receive two doses of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to help protect them against HPV-related diseases and cancers, such as cervical cancer. This year, the program aims to vaccinate 15,000 eligible students in Quezon City.

The event was organized pursuant to DepEd Memorandum No. 173, series of 2017, also known as the Inclusion of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination in School-Based Immunization Program, as well as DOH Department Memorandum No. 2015-0316, also known as Guidelines in the Implementation of HPV Vaccination.

DOH OIC-Undersecretary Dr. Beverly Ho thanked the stakeholders for launching the HPV school-based immunization program in the city and expressed the commitment of the DOH to providing learners with a healthier future.

We would like to thank our partners today for taking a stand against HPV and, more importantly, bringing life to school-based immunization. We laud the local government of Quezon City for always being an early adopter and innovator, Dr. Ho said. HPV infections is one of the vaccine-preventable diseases, but what makes it more relevant is the fact that some strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer, Dr. Ho added.

Dr. Erwin De Mesa, a leading OB-oncologist from the Philippine Gynecology Society, gave a lecture on what HPV is and its effects on the human body.

HPV is a virus with over 100 sub-types that can affect both men and women. About 30-40 subtypes are considered high-risk that may possibly develop into cancer, Dr. De Mesa said.

HPV vaccination helps prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases and cancers. Besides getting vaccinated with the HPV vaccine, women should also undergo regular pap smear tests to detect the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells, Dr. De Mesa explained. Cervical cancer may be treated and cured if detected in its early stages. If treatment is not provided, cervical cancer may be fatal. Thats why we are encouraging women to consult their health care provider about vaccination and screening to help reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the country, Dr. De Mesa added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Connie Gepanayao, Head of the School Health and Nutrition Section of DepEd-NCR, emphasized that there is a need to address adolescents health and development needs.

I believe that todays activity is only the beginning of succeeding interventions of the Schools Division Office of Quezon City to strengthen programs for adolescent reproductive health, Dr. Gepanayao said.

DepEd Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs & Special Concerns Dr. Dexter A. Galban also graced the event and highlighted the importance of health and education in creating a better future for the youth.

It is imperative for us to show that education and health are an integral part of the formation of our learners. It is important for us to highlight that through our initiatives, by teaching the next generation of leaders how to take care of themselves and protect their future, we will be able to build a better nation, Asec. Galban said.

On behalf of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Dr. Krizia Linsangan of the Project 7 Health Center cited the increasing number of cases of cervical cancer should prompt students and parents to have their children vaccinated.

Cervical cancer is a vaccine-preventable disease, which is why it is important for us to get vaccinated early on. We are working closely with our stakeholders to enhance our information dissemination about this pressing health issue and to encourage more parents to allow their children to get vaccinated, Dr. Lisangan said.

Addressing the burden of HPV and cervical cancer

In the Philippines, 37.8 million women are at risk for cervical cancer, with an annual burden of 7,897 cervical cancer cases and 4,052 deaths. However, despite government efforts to curb cervical cancer, the Philippines lags behind other low-middle-income countries when it comes to HPV vaccination coverage, where only 23% of the target population got their first dose, and only 5% got their final dose.

Most cases of cervical cancer may be prevented with HPV vaccination if the vaccine is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. In addition to vaccination, cervical cancer screening is still recommended as it is equally important to mitigate and control the effects of cervical cancer among Filipina women.

Stakeholders unite to strengthen our Kalasag ng Kalusugan

Dra. Krizia Linsangan of the Quezon City Project 7 Health Center, DepEd Asec. Dr. Dexter A. Galban, Mark Christian Paez of the Department of Health, and MSD in the Philippines President and Managing Director Andreas Riedel form the Kalasag ng Kalusugan as part of Sa Aking Paglaki Walang HPV commitment exercise.

At the launch, government and private sector stakeholders, including Dra. Krizia Linsangan of the Quezon City Project 7 Health Center, DepEd Asec. Dr. Dexter A. Galban, Mark Christian Paez of the Department of Health, and MSD in the Philippines President and Managing Director Andreas Riedel pledged their continued support to the health departments cervical cancer elimination program by forming a symbolic health shield or Kalasag ng Kalusugan.

The Kalasag ng Kalusugan commitment exercise brings together health authorities, the education department, the local government units, and parents to embrace a whole-of-society approach to strengthen their efforts to help protect children against cervical cancer through vaccination.

Vaccination is like a shield or kalasag that may help protect communities against diseases because it builds immunity against infectious diseases. When individuals are vaccinated, they develop antibodies that recognize and fight off specific disease-causing pathogens4. As a result, if an individual is exposed to the disease, their immune system is able to mount a rapid response and prevent the infection from taking hold.

Vaccination also helps protect the community as a whole by creating whats known as herd immunity. When a large proportion of the population is vaccinated against a disease, it becomes much harder for the disease to spread from person to person. This is because there are fewer susceptible individuals for the disease to infect, and the pathogen is less likely to find a host to thrive in.

Pupils from Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City receive their first dose of HPV vaccine during the ceremonial vaccination flanked by stakeholders from the education and health departments, and patners from the private sector.

The Department of Health, including its partner organizations and stakeholders, vows to work together and ramp up government programs to address the challenges that the country faces in creating an HPV-free society.

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Ten Democratic Republic of Congo citizens have died in Sudanese army strikes on a Khartoum university campus, the Congolese government said on Monday.

Sudan has been mired in a political and humanitarian crisis since mid-April after fighting erupted between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The capital Khartoum has been an epicentre of the hostilities and civilians have been caught in the crossfire, including foreigners not already evacuated.

Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula told reporters that bombardment killed 10 DRC nationals on the campus of the International University of Africa in Khartoum on Sunday.

The strikes, carried out by the regular army on an area occupied by civilian and unarmed populations, including foreign nationals, seriously wounded other compatriots, he added.

Lutundula said he received the charge daffaires of Sudans embassy in Kinshasa on Monday to convey the message of sadness and protest of the government.

The DRC asked for an explanation of events and measures from the Sudanese government allowing the return of the bodies, he added.

The seven weeks of war between the Sudanese army and the RSF have killed more than 1,800 people and displaced over one million, while multiple ceasefires between the rivals have been broken.

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The only real rule for NPR's annual Tiny Desk Contest is that there must be a desk somewhere in the video of your performance  and as you can see above, the Boston Typewriter Orchestra definitely understood the assignment. Wearing white button-ups and ties, the group transforms the bland life of an office drone into an epic percussive banger performed entirely on typewriters (with occasional embellishments from other office supplies).

Here's the group describes themselves:

A collective endeavor which engages in rhythmic typewriter manipulation combined with elements of performance, comedy and satire. BTO aims to entertain the masses while providing an outlet for the creative urges of its members. *BTO promises to protect customer confidentiality with the utmost vigilance while remaining irreverent at all times.

A recent article in The Boston Globe goes into a little more detail on the band's history, which dates back to 2004, when one of the group's founding members was using his typewriter at a bar. After a frustrated server asked him to please stop with all the banging, he sarcastically replied that he was busy conducting an invisible orchestraand thus, an idea was born.

Now, nearly every Wednesday night, the group gathers in the third-floor of O'Grady's house in East Boston to rehearse  along with aplentiful supply of beer. "I started out with it because I like typewriters and mechanical stuff, and I thought it was weird and twitchy and musical," said biologist Alex Holman, 44. "It ended up being a drinking club with a typewriter problem." Usually, they perform once a month, appearing at museums, festivals, and private events  even "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

The group owns a collection of dozens of typewriters, each with a different timbre that suits different songs. The whole project reminds me of Elmer Rice's infamous 1923 play The Adding Machine, with its absurdist sci-fi take on the industrialization of offices (and which in turn was adapted into an Off Broadway musical that also employed the percussive rhythms of the adding machines into the score).

A symphony of typewriters? These machines are the offbeat instrument of choice for the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. [Kate Armanini / The Boston Globe]
 Leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters, Inc. launches the third and final tower of the P5.3-billion Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao, with its first two towers 80% sold out.

 Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao is the second project of CLIs beachtown brand, following sold-out Costa Mira Beachtown Mactan, which won Best Waterfront Condo Development at the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2022.

 Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao presents a total of 1,056 units ranging from P2.8M to P8M.

Cebu Landmasters P5.3 billion Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao is the second project of the companys beachtown residences.



Leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) through CLI-Lite Panglao, Inc., the companys joint venture with Lite Properties Corporation, announced the opening of the third tower of Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao.



Lite Properties Corporation is an affiliate company of Lite Shipping Corporation of the Lim family of Bohol that operates a fleet of roro ferries in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao is located on a 4.05-hectare-lot at Totolan town in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, which is known for its lush greenery and clear waters. The property has a total of 1,056 combined studio, 1-BR and 2-BR units.

The first two towers of Cebu Landmasters beachtown residences in Panglao island in Bohol, are now 80% sold since market introduction a few months ago.



Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao is a P5.3-billion tropical beach community located on a 4.05-hectare lot at Totolan town in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol, which is known for its lush greenery and clear waters.

Strategically located near Dauis Bridge that leads to the provincial capital Tagbilaran City, the development connects residents to modern conveniences while being surrounded by natural wonders, including having convenient access to Bohols top dive spots.



Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao was designed with the idea of tropical paradise in mind, one that showcases Bohols rich culture and beautiful natural resources while standing out as signature CLI development, CLI chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III said.

We take pride in the success of Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao with our partner LiTe Properties Corporation as we launch its third tower to accommodate more residents aspiring for an inspiring and relaxed life in Bohol.



Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao figures as the second project under CLIs beachtown residences, following the success of the Costa Mira Beachtown Mactan. The Cebu property was awarded the Best Waterfront Condo Development at the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards 2022.



With the launch of its third tower, the total unit inventory of Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao climbs to 1,056, spread across three categories. Studio units present a floor area from 22 sqm to 25.36 sqm with balcony. Meanwhile, 1-bedroom units offer 38.85 sqm to 45.88 sqm with balcony. Lastly, the floor area for 2-bedroom units stands at 51.40 sqm. Unit prices at Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao range from P2.8M to P8M.



Making each unit at this Bohol property special is the design inspiration that takes cues from the local culture. The masonry wall finish and ceilings are painted to reflect the relaxing beauty of Panglao, while porcelain floor tiles provide a sleek and modern look.



Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao also comes complete with exclusive amenities that residents can enjoy. Families can spend quality time at the adult & kiddie pools or kids playground. For those pursuing an active lifestyle, theres a fitness gym and jogging paths as well. Meanwhile, the clubhouse and indoor and outdoor lounges provide spaces for social interactions or peaceful introspections.



Security is likewise highly valued at Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao, with 24/7 CCTV and a security/guard house ensuring the residents peace of mind. The development is managed and maintained by Cebu Landmasters Property Management, or CLIPM.



CLI has more than 100 existing developments in 16 key cities in Visayas and Mindanao, with another P29.75 billion worth of projects in the pipeline. This year, the listed company will be celebrating its 20th year of providing quality homes to Filipino families in VisMin.



For more information about CLI and Costa Mira Beachtown Panglao, visit https://www.cebulandmasters.com/project/costa-mira-beachtown-panglao/.



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Massachusetts ranked low in a recent ranking published by WalletHub on Tuesday that showed the best and worst states for racial equality in education.

The state ranked 41st and received a ranking of 31.88, according to WalletHub. Massachusetts was just under Ohio and right before New Jersey, with New Mexico ranked at the top of the list at 77.24 and Wisconsin at the very bottom with 12.6.

Read more: Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative teachers form union

Its been decades since the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education declared school segregation unconstitutional in 1954, though it took years for schools to actually adopt that ruling, WalletHub said of the ranking. Now, no one can be denied enrollment in a school due to the color of their skin, but that doesnt necessarily mean that educational conditions are equal for all students.

WalletHub pointed to findings made in a recent study published by EdBuild, which found that nonwhite school districts receive $23 billion less than white districts. Less funding runs the chances of a lower-quality education, which can affect not only a persons income trajectory but also their career trajectory for the rest of their life, WalletHub said based on EdBuilds study.

In the context of a school funding system reliant on local taxes, smaller districts can have the effect of concentrating resources for a small, privileged few, EdBuild said about Massachusetts.

Massachusetts also ranked among the states with the highest gap in the share of adults with at least a bachelors degree, at 49th, according to WalletHub. It ranked 36th among the share of adults with at least a high school degree and 27th when it came to public high school graduation rates.

WalletHub also noted that Massachusetts ranked among the top half of states in three other areas regarding racial equality in education. The state ranked 19th with a mean total of SAT scores, and ranked 14th between standardized testing scores and average ACT scores.

WalletHub followed these metrics to rank each state and give them their overall placement in the ranking.

For more information about EdBuilds study and what findings they made about other states, click the link here to find out.
A 17-year-old boy surrendered in Boston Municipal Court on Tuesday in connection with the second of two shootings near Revere Beach Memorial Day weekend, the second of which injured a teen boy and a woman, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The 17-year-old boys name was not released, as he is a juvenile and has not been indicted as a youthful offender, nor charged with homicide, police said.

The boy surrendered and was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on June 6, and was ordered to be held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Monday in Chelsea District Court, police said.

Officers from the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit obtained an arrest warrant to charge the child with several firearm possession offenses, including carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

The teen has not yet been charged for the non-fatal double-shooting, police said.

Police responded May 28 to a report of shots fired on Revere Beach Boulevard, near the bathhouses, at 8:05 p.m. This was the second call to the Revere Beach area for a report of shots fired in less than an hour that evening, following a 7:11 p.m. call to 123 Centennial Ave., two blocks from Revere Beach.

Read more: Revere Beach reopens for Memorial day after Sunday night shootings

In the Revere Beach Boulevard shooting, a 17-year-old boy and a 51-year-old woman were hurt with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The woman was shot in her legs and first responders rushed her to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment, police said, while the teen boy was grazed by a bullet. Police said he declined to be taken to the hospital.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, police said, and additional charges against the 17-year-old boy are possible.

Revere Beach was closed after the shootings and reopened in time for Memorial Day with more law enforcement.
As we approach the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, MassLive asked readers and staff to identify people who are emerging Black leaders throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.

These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Aby Haile is the president of Massachusetts of Association of Student Councils. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Abyssinia (Aby) Haile

Age: 17

Community: Wilbraham

Her story: Abyssinia Haile is making history as she becomes the first Black female student to become state president of the Massachusetts Association of Student Council (MASC).

Haile will be serving as the Massachusetts Association of Student Council (MASC) state president for the 2023-2024 school year. Shes the first Western Massachusetts student to have the honor since 2015, and is the first time a Black female student has ever assumed the position.

The junior at Minnechaug Regional High School began by participating on her schools student council board for the past three years. She was elected to the Western Massachusetts Association of Student Councils (WMASC) board as vice-president her sophomore year.

However, it was the inequities I saw in terms of access to student council opportunity for people living in Western Massachusetts that inspired me to run for the position of State President, hoping to increase the breadth and spread of representation to all students in Massachusetts, she said.

She is responsible for leading the MASC executive board, including planning leadership summits and workshop opportunities for student council delegates across the state. One event is the yearly Presidents Dinner in Franklin, where the MASC invites student council presidents from more than 90 schools throughout the state for a formal dinner reception to begin the school year. They also organize a yearly Bocce tournament for students with special needs through Special Olympics of Massachusetts.

But thats not all.

She also represents Massachusetts on the National Association of Student Council (NatStuCo).

In her words: There are so many inequities I witness on a daily basis in my school and throughout my own school district, and it pains me to go on with my life without doing anything or not speaking up. And there are people that I know are either scared or dont have the resources to make their voices heard. So its kind of become an intrinsic duty for myself to utilize the privileges I have of being able to attend a school that offers me so many opportunities to amplify my own voice, thoughts, ideas, and concerns and use that to uplift and showcase what others who dont have the same access to opportunities have to say. If you demonstrate this opportunity, I truly believe you have what it takes to be the best possible student leader for our state and greater community.

Each day, we will introduce more of Massachusetts emerging Black leaders, and were always open to hear about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
SPRINGFIELD  A $75,000 grant from an education group will help American International College to boost student readiness for successful careers.

The college is among 10 member institutions to receive part of a three-year $2.5 million grant to the Yes We Must Coalition from Ascendium Education Group to integrate career preparation into its four-year degree programs.

In each of the three years of the grant, AIC will receive $25,000, totaling $75,000 for the life of the grant, said Denise Vozella, AICs public relations and communications manager.

The grant  dubbed Addressing Inequity in College Retention of Low-Income Students: Collaboratively Creating Pathways to Careers in Four-Year Degree Programs  will aid the college in implementing new curricular and co-curricular strategies for career readiness.

The award will support a partnership among AIC, Jobs for the Future and Sova Solutions to ensure equal opportunities among students, including those who qualify as low income.

AIC called the integrated programming a groundbreaking step that recognizes the evolving demands of the employment market.

By aligning academic coursework with real-world skills, students will be better equipped to navigate their future careers upon graduation. The degrees slated for redesign include psychology, biology, business, sociology, theater and criminal justice, the college said in a statement.

Integrating career preparation into our degree programs aligns perfectly with our mission of preparing students for meaningful lives and productive careers. This partnership will undoubtedly enhance our students educational experiences and empower them to thrive in an ever-changing job market, said AIC President Dr. Hubert Benitez in a statement.

Alongside AIC, the participating YWMC member institutions receiving the grant are Augsburg University (Minnesota), Benedict College (South Carolina), Calumet College of St. Joseph (Indiana), Mars Hill University (North Carolina), Mercy College (New York), Saint Elizabeth University (New Jersey), Trocaire College (New York), Union College (Kentucky), and Villa Maria College (New York).

Founded in 1885, AIC is a private, co-ed, doctorate-granting institution made up of its School of Business, Arts and Sciences; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Education.
Last week Sen. Ted Cruz denounced the Ugandan government's new law that makes being gay a crime punishable by death. Professional fisherman Blake Dyer, felt he had to weigh in with his own opinion. He responded to Cruz's tweet by saying, "with Uganda on this one." In other words, LGBTQ people need to be murdered by the state.

Dyer's comment was not well received. His Twitter account is gone, his Instagram account is locked down, and today, Canyon Club Brewery dropped its sponsorship with Dyer. It said, in a Tweet, "We learned of Mr Dyer's view this morning and immediately severed our relationship with him. We could not disagree more strenuously with Mr. Dyer's view and the abomination that is going on in Uganda."

So far, Dyer's other sponsors, which include @RangerBoats, @Shimano_Fishing, @MercuryMarine, @yamamotobait, @simmsfishing, @BillLewisLures, have remained silent on Dyer's disgusting comment.
Editors Note: This article contains a description of domestic violence.

A GoFundMe page has been created for the family of a New Hampshire mother and toddler that police said was killed by the toddlers father.

Nicole Hughes, 35, of Franklin, N.H., and her 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter Ariella Bell were determined by autopsy to have been killed by multiple gunshot wounds in their Franklin home, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella.

Jamie Bell, 42, was found on the bank of the nearby Merrimack River in Franklin and died of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound according to his autopsy, Formella said.

Hughes 5-year-old daughter from another relationship was also injured by gunshots police say Bell inflicted on her, but she survived, according to the Boston Globe.

Makayla Hughes, Nicole Hughes sister, wrote that she created the GoFundMe page after many reached out asking how they could help.

As many of you know, my sister, Nicole Hughes and nice Ariella (Ella) were taken far too soon, Makayla Hughes wrote in the GoFundMe. Left behind is my brave, strong, amazing niece Abrianna (Brina), who was Nicoles oldest daughter (5).

Makayla Hughes continued that Abrianna is expected to make a full recovery.

As terrible as this situation is, we are so grateful for her to still be in our lives, she wrote. This GoFundMe is set up to ensure Brina receives anything she may need as far as medical bills, a college fund, and any future needs that might come up.

As of 8:30 Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $19,000 of its $20,000 goal.

WHDH reported that a vigil will take place for Nicole Hughes and Ariella in Franklin on Tuesday evening.

In an interview with WMUR-TV, Franklin Superintendent Daniel LeGallo said Abrianna, who is a kindergartener in the district, has been released from the hospital.

I had a really good talk with her grandmother earlier this morning, and I was very hopeful from what I was hearing, so were just going to take it one day at a time at this point, LeGallo told the news station.

The district is getting ready to support students and staff as they deal with the tragedy, according to WMUR.

Makayla Hughes concluded the GoFundMe message with a note of thanks.

Again, I want to thank everyone for respecting our privacy while we heal and all of the kind words, support and love that has been sent our way. Please know how much it has been appreciated, she wrote.

If you are a victim of domestic or dating violence, you are not alone.
A group of good Samaritans helped police arrest a Marshfield man who was resisting arrest after he fled the scene of a car crash on Saturday, police said.

James Michael Shields, 37, was arrested and charged with offenses including three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and intimidating a police officer, according to the Marshfield police.

Shields bail was set at $10,000 on June 3, but after being arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Monday, his bail was lowered to $1,500, police said.

Around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Marshfield police officers were dispatched near Ferry Street and Clay Pit Road for a report of a car crash, police said.

One of the cars involved in the crash passed an officer, police said. The officer then followed the car near Furnace Street, but the car didnt stop.

The car then accelerated and swerved in front of another vehicle, while shifting lanes, police said. The car, still with heavy damage from the accident, then turned right into a business parking lot on Plain Street and stopped.

The officer got out of his car to check on the driver of the damaged vehicle, Shields, who then started to walk away, police said.

Shields placed his right hand inside his sweatshirt and began swearing at the officer, police said. The officer tried to gain control of Shields, but he began to pull away.

Three people near the area helped the officer control Shields and place him in handcuffs, police said.

Shields continued to fight with the officer and three civilians who bravely put their own safety aside to assist the officer, police said. Shields continued to scream, yell, kick and spit at other responding officers as they arrived on scene while a large crowd from the local businesses witnessed this.

Shields continued to spit and swear at the officers, police said. While he was being booked, he threatened to kill one officer and his family. He also threatened to kill the initial responding officer and the officer who took him to the station.

We are grateful beyond words to the three civilians who took it upon themselves with no regard for their own safety to assist the initial responding officer during this dangerous encounter, police said.
A Fairhaven man was sentenced on Monday to serve between 12 and 15 years in state prison for killing a man at a homeless encampment in 2019, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said Tuesday.

Matthew Lariviere, 43, was convicted of killing Robert Jones III at a homeless encampment in a wooded area behind 105 Nauset St., Quinns office said.

During Larivieres sentencing hearing in Fall River Superior Court, assistant district attorneys Shawn Guilderson and Matthew Sylvia argued for a 17- to 20-year state prison sentence, while the defense requested a more lenient eight- to 12-year prison term, Quinns office said. Judge Raffi Yessayan sentenced Lariviere to serve 12 to 15 years in state prison.

New Bedford police were dispatched to the area of that address on Aug. 6, 2019, based on an anonymous claim that there was a body in the wooded area behind that address, Quinns office said. The anonymous tipster informed police upon arrival that the discarded body belonged to Lawrence, actually Jones, and died from stab wounds in the wooded area.

This wooded area was being used as a homeless encampment comprised of a loose collection of various structures consisting of tents and tarps located throughout the wooded area north of Nauset Street and south of Nash Road, Quinns office said in a statement.

The tipster, Jones cousin, identified others living in the encampment, including Matt, later identified as Lariviere, Quinns office added. The tipster said Lariviere confessed to stabbing Jones because Jones accused Lariviere of stealing his backpack.

Police searched the area and found Jones body under a tarp, with a knife and bloody clothes also found in the area, Quinns office said. A medical examiner counted at least 137 stab wounds on Jones body.

The defendant brutally killed the victim, but unfortunately there were no eyewitnesses, Quinn said in his statement. The jury found that there was an issue of self-defense in the case or some other mitigating factors. I respect the jurys verdict. The defendant has a long history of drug abuse. His violent and excessive conduct clearly demonstrates that he poses a danger to the public.

Lariviere also awaits trial based on armed carjacking and armed robbery charges for actions committed the same day police found Jones body, Quinns office said. New Bedford police responded to a carjacking in the area of 570 North Front St., where they found a female victim who was placing her infant son in her Toyota Corolla when a man approached her with a knife demanding money.

Quinns office identified this man to be Lariviere, who they said ordered the woman to take her son out of the car before he drove off. Her handbag and cell phone were still in the car, so police tracked down Larivieres location and a pursuit followed.

Between the carjacking and locating the car, police also learned there had been another armed robbery at a Shop and Save at 807 Ashley Blvd., with a suspect matching Larivieres description. Lariviere approached a store clerk, demanded money at knifepoint, took bills from the cash register and fled.

Lariviere crashed the car and fled on foot, Quinns office said. Police apprehended him after a short chase.
SPRINGFIELD  In the craziest episode in the 140 years at Baystate Health, a trucking firm and two drivers saved the day in a cloak-and-dagger operation to get desperately needed masks to healthcare workers.

Over the past three years, the story of the extraordinary efforts to secure the masks has been repeated in The New York Times, broadcast on CNN and appeared in other national news.

But little has been said about the people who actually delivered the masks. That ended Monday.

Three years ago, about a month into the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital officials found themselves with less than a weeks worth of medical grade N95 masks. Nurses, doctors and other personnel were using upwards of 2,000 a day  and the only way to keep them safe, so they could treat patients, was to find more, said Mark Keroack, Baystates president and CEO.

Baystates supply experts were calling in every favor, every friend of a friend and every sketchy contact they could find in the hopes of making it through a few more weeks, said Patrick Sheehy, vice president of finance and supply chain for Baystate.

Baystate has long kept a pile of supplies in a warehouse and had backup plans so it never faced an equipment shortage. But COVID changed that. Even staff who were experts at finding things were coming up empty, no matter who they contacted.

Baystate Health's vice president of finance hospital operations and supply chain, Pat Sheehy, shakes hands with A-C Motor Express employees as they are being honored at Baystate Medical Center Monday. The business provided Baystate Health with trucks and drivers in procuring personal protective equipment at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

And then lightning struck. A guy who called himself Jersey Joe was ready to broker a deal in a New Jersey suburb close to Philadelphia that would secure between 500,000 and 1 million KN95 masks from China, Sheehy said.

Baystate trustees agreed to cut a check for $3.5 million for the supplies. MassMutual offered a private plane to send a team down to test them and buy them if they passed.

But as soon as the team arrived at the warehouse, and confirmed the masks were medical grade through a fit test, they were confronted by a team of agents from the FBI and Homeland Security, said Dr. Andrew Artenstein, the Baystate Health chief physician executive and chief academic officer, who lead the team.

Just that weekend they started reporting that the administration was seizing materials, Artenstein said. In fact, there was some thinking that some of the materials were being seized and rerouted to donors and friends of government officials because there was such a scarce amount, so we were very concerned.

The agents said they were checking to ensure the materials were not going to the black market, so the team waited. After six hours, Artenstein called Keroack, explained the snag that could topple the deal and asked if the Baystate president had any ideas.

Every day of the pandemic was a set of problems I had never seen before and I dont think anyone had seen before. But this one had to take the cake, Keroack said.

Phone a friend

Out of desperation, he called U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, then chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. Keroack said he doesnt know who Neal talked to, or what he did, but Neal and his staff sealed the deal.

Baystate had to find someone it could trust to drive the precious cargo back to Massachusetts. That someone turned out to A-C Motor Express, a family owned business in West Springfield.

After state and national COVID emergencies expired in May, Keroack and Artenstein said it was finally time to formally thank A-C Motor Express owners John Nekitopoulos and his sisters, Kathy Nekitopoulos and Susan Maxfield, and their drivers.

Their involvement started the same way a lot of the mask search took place.

My best friends father was a trucker, so I talked to him and he said call them, said Kelly Salls, director of finance for Baystate Health.

Juliana Nekitopoulos, a nurse at Baystate Medical Center, all smiles while looking at her dad John Nekitopoulos as he's being honored at Baystate Medical Center Monday. John and his business, A-C Motor Express, provided Baystate Health with trucks and drivers in procuring personal protective equipment at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Meanwhile, John Nekitopoulos said he had just been meeting with others in the company about efforts to disinfect the trucks and make sure their drivers  who mostly carry food to supermarket warehouses  were safe. During that discussion, they asked each other if they were doing enough to help the community through COVID.

Everyone was looking for a way to help and no one knew what to do, he said.

Then the phone rang. Nekitopoulos, whose daughter Juliana had started working at Baystate as a nurse, not only agreed to the mission, but refused to take any money for the work, Keroack said.

I realized my job was to take care of the people who take care of patients, Keroack said. It was really harrowing and for you to deliver us from that scary outcome, we are very much in your debt.

Stroke of luck

As the story has been repeated, many people have said using trucks marked for groceries was a stroke of genius in the covert operation. Keroack admitted it was more a stroke of luck since that is what A-C Motor Express mostly delivers.

Because he knew the route was going to be complex and the drive difficult, Nekitopoulos said he asked for volunteers. Nearly all of his staff stepped up. Many offered to deliver the masks without pay.

He didnt take them up on that offer. Driver Francisco Miranda said he had to take the next day off because his hours exceeded federal regulations and Nekitopoulos paid him for that.

Miranda and fellow driver Cristian Rodriguez, both of Springfield, planned to drive down to New Jersey, load up the masks and drive back. They didnt expect the wait, but stuck with the team.

Once the masks were loaded into his truck, Miranda said he realized it was going to be a long drive back to Western Massachusetts.

I was a little nervous. I was told dont stop. Dont go to the bathroom. Dont go over the George Washington Bridge. Dont take (Interstate) 95, said Miranda, a 10-year employee of the company.

When he finally got to Western Massachusetts, Baystate officials were waiting at the warehouse with the doors open, welcoming him home.

It was nerve-wracking, said Rodriguez.

The two were unescorted and both drove a roundabout route through upstate New York taking about five hours to get to the warehouse. Rodriguez, who has now worked at A-C Motor Express for four years, said it was worth it.

When I got back I felt relieved and I felt helpful, he said.
The public is familiar with involuntary commitment. If they havent seen it personally, theyve watched it play out on TV. Involuntary commitment usually begins with an ambulance ride to an Emergency Room to assess risk to self or others, followed by an inpatient hold for further evaluation and treatment.

However, what most people dont know is that a fight  invisible to most  is being waged over something proponents call assisted outpatient treatment.

Massachusetts is one of only three states still trying to block this form of treatment  and with good reason.

AOT may best be understood as probation for someone convicted of no crime. Instead, they are deemed at risk (due to inpatient hospitalizations, suicidal thoughts, etc.), and are ordered to take medications, attend therapy, and meet other requirements under threat of being brought back to the hospital if they dont.

The argument over this mental health treatment commonly devolves into what I see as a false binary: Does the use of force violate peoples right to liberty, or does lack of treatment itself deprive them of their right to health?

Most acknowledge that personal rights are lost through such mandates, but supporters of assisted outpatient treatment refer to the alternative as dying with your rights on. This debate is not without merit. However, it dances around crucial points, including the impact that use of force has on a person and its potential to worsen things, as well as whether treatments that are being forced even work.

People in favor of assisted outpatient treatment provide horror stories about family tragedies that could have been prevented. Some news stories cite such cases, even when the person written about wouldnt have qualified for an AOT order). This manipulates an audiences emotions whether or not the facts add up.

In some ways, AOT makes sense. Its human nature to seek easy answers, especially after something bad happens. Communities want  perhaps need  to believe that preventive measures have been taken. Unfortunately, these measures amount to little more than illusion, and can make things worse even as they claim to be the fix.

In 2020, the group I direct, the Wildflower Alliance, conducted preliminary research into the impact of the pandemic on suicidal thoughts.

People were asked if they experienced the pandemic as loss of power, if they had experienced prior losses through forced treatment and whether suicidal thoughts increased during this period.

The results were consistent with an earlier study regarding adverse childhood experiences.

The impact of losses of power is cumulative. Sixty percent of people identifying prior experience with force saw an increase in suicidal thoughts, compared to 25% of people without that history.

This aligns with a 2019 study suggesting that even the perception of coercion when admitted to a psychiatric facility led to increased risk of suicide upon discharge. Several other studies have correlated forced treatment with people wanting to die.

The problem is bigger than that. Journalist Rob Wipond dedicates a chapter in his book, Your Consent is Not Required, to the science examining the efficacy of force. He cites a remarkable lack of experimental studies on the utility of force, and the research that exists doesnt favor it.

Research on AOT is even weaker. It points to a history of racially biased implementation and suggests significant potential alienation when thrust upon people who most need aid. Additionally, fear of force contributes heavily to people not seeking help from the start.

And, what of the trauma and cost of an unfunded mandate on police to bring in individuals who do not comply? This remains largely unexplored.

The assisted outpatient treatment interventions themselves lack evidence of efficacy. In 2018, Norwegian officials determined that compelling use of antipsychotic drugs was inconsistent with their laws because the probability of positive outcomes was too low. Other research indicates that long-term use of these strategies tends to lead to worse outcomes in every possible area.

If force increases alienation and all kinds of risks, and forced treatments are failing the majority, why would we spend valuable resources on more of the same?

In the words of Pat Deegan, leader in the field of mental health recovery, Help is not help if it doesnt help. And, it certainly is not help if it hurts.

Sera Davidow is a mother, advocate, author, filmmaker, and director of the Wildflower Alliance, a peer support and international training organization in Western Massachusetts.
After years of unsuccessful attempts to give cities and towns the option to tax home sales to support local affordable housing, advocates this session are putting forward a new version of the bill with more flexibility for municipalities to choose a plan that works for their community.

The bill, known as H. 2747 and S. 1771, authorizes communities to adopt a transfer fee of between 0.5% and 2% on real estate transactions above $1 million to create a trust to fund affordable housing. Among the new provisions is a carve-out for municipalities whose county median sales price is below $750,000.

Median home sale prices in April were below $750,000 in every Massachusetts county except for Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, according to The Warren Group. For communities whose real estate prices are below this threshold, they could opt-in to impose a fee on sales above the countys median sale price for a single-family home.

Read more: Massachusetts looking for new ways to compete in biotech industry

Our goal here is to enact a policy thats going to help our partners all over the commonwealth. I am from Ware, Massachusetts. Nothing there sells for a million dollars. But theres still an affordability crisis. So this bill allows municipalities to do what is best for them when its right for them to tackle this crisis, said Mark Martinez, a housing staff attorney at the nonprofit and civil legal aid organization Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.

Martinez and Matt Walsh, a policy analyst at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, co-lead the Local Option for Housing Affordability Coalition, who were on Beacon Hill Tuesday advocating for the policy.

Opponents label the proposals as taxes while supporters call them fees. Rep. Mike Connolly, who sponsored the Houses version of the bill, said Tuesday that it is an excise, not technically a tax as it is levied on a specific amount and type of transaction.

Either way, the bill would offer municipalities the option to enact the policy in their communities  not mandate it  and to decide what it should look like for them.

With the new bill language, cities and towns could choose to create exemptions, such as for first-time homebuyers, owner-occupant landlords, or to protect a vulnerable community, Martinez told the News Service.

Towns could also come together with neighboring municipalities to create a combined affordable housing trust, which Martinez said would be valuable in Western Massachusetts where the policy could be more effective at combating homelessness and housing insecurity with a regional approach.

Cities and towns would also have the option to set the million-dollar or county median home sale threshold higher if they want to only tax even higher-value homes.

What it really says is, can our communities, can our cities, retain just a fraction of the wealth that is being created in this real estate boom, Connolly said.

He referenced the Davenport Building apartments in Cambridge, in Connollys district, which he said was sold for over $200 million recently 12 or 13 years after it changed hands for $70 million.

So now the question is for us in our community, why does the investor get to walk away with $100 million, or whatever it might be, in profit? Arent we entitled to retain just a fraction of that so we can reinvest it in affordable housing right in our community? he said.

Community support and real estate opposition

Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chatham, Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, Somerville, and Wellfleet have each filed home rule petitions to impose the policy, with Northampton and other communities working on their own, according to the coalition.

A recent study from the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness shows that there is an 11,000 unit affordable housing gap in the three most western counties alone, which is projected to increase to 19,000 by 2025, according to the organizations director Pamela Schwartz.

The Metro Mayors Coalition Regional Housing Task Force, made up of 15 cities and towns in greater Boston, set a production goal to build 185,000 new housing units by 2030, said Somerville mayor and coalition co-chair Katjana Ballantyne.

We desperately need more resources to make these goals a reality, Ballantyne said. Were here seeking the opportunity, not to mandate or force fees where the communities dont agree. But our communities have spoken and the state needs to listen.

The renter-majority city of Somerville has seen large jumps in median housing prices in recent years, affecting rent as well, the mayor said. Median two bedroom rents are approximately $3,200 per month, and the citys Office of Housing Stability has fielded roughly 1,600 requests for assistance over the last 12 months.

On Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, advocates say high-dollar housing prices have pushed year-round residents off the islands.

For NaDaizja Bolling, director of the Aquinnah Cultural Center and member of the Wampanoag Tribe, being unable to afford to live on the Vineyard represents a loss of community, culture and way of life.

My blood and bones are on that island, and when Wampanoag people are separated from our home, and when our feet are not connected to that land, we fall down. We lose the balance that has maintained these homelands and our good relation to them for thousands and thousands of years, Bolling said. Weve been pushed to one end of the island, Aquinnah, with less than 1% of the islands land left in indigenous hands to steward.Realtor and chair of the Nantucket Affordable Housing Trust Brian Sullivan said the island has 40 open positions in its schools, and a third of the fire department members commute on the ferry from mainland Massachusetts for their shifts, due to the expensive prices of homes.

Sullivan said that though he owns a real estate company on Nantucket, he supports the policy. Real estate groups have long been the voice of opposition to transfer taxes.

While we understand with and agree on the need to create more affordable housing in Massachusetts, transfer taxes are not the way to achieve this, CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Greg Vasil said in a statement in March. Transfer taxes create unnecessary, additional costs that make it harder for all - from first-time buyers to retirees - to own a home. Instead, cities and towns should focus on utilizing the Community Preservation Act, which already exists as a local option tool to fund and create affordable housing.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors said in a statement that the policy increases the cost of housing, which is already dramatically inflated in many areas of the state because of highly restrictive zoning and other land use limitations, and that they support building more housing instead.

Sullivan, however, said that he was unwilling to profit off of the real estate market and not be a part of the solution.

In my community... there are only three single-family homes for sale under $2 million. The first one is $1.695 million and its a one-bedroom, one-bath that was built in 1950 and it hasnt been renovated, he said. Its desperate in all areas. Without assistance, housing is unattainable for the majority of people.

Last year Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proposed a real estate transfer fee that would have applied to properties that sell for $2 million or more, and the tax would have only been assessed on the value of the property above $2 million, rather than the full amount.

Based on 2021 sales data, city officials projected the tax would have generated $99.7 million annually, at a time when the city budget allocated about $71.5 million for affordable housing programs.

The Boston home rule petition was reported favorably from the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling and given initial approval in the House, but ultimately died at the end of the session without further action.

Support on Beacon Hill

Boston was one among several communities, including Somerville, Provincetown, Concord, Arlington, Cambridge, Nantucket and Chatham, who filed bills to impose the policy last session. None of the bills ever emerged for serious debate in either the House or the Senate.

But advocates this session are hopeful, with two new advantages  someone who they see as a supporter in the corner office, and worsening cost and unaffordability trends. New Housing Committee Co-chair Sen. Lydia Edwards has also said she supports the idea.

Ive had personal conversations with Maura Healey, I know Senator Cyr and many of my colleagues have had conversations with her where shes indicated her willingness to support localities who want to do this, Connolly said.

When asked about transfer fees, as well as other long-discussed proposals such as rent regulation and increased eviction protections, Healeys newly-sworn in Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus last week did not take a position.

Read more: Chicopee City Councilor Lopez announces run for mayor

What I want to do is kind of get up to speed on all of those and make sure that we are looking at all those tools that are available to use, but we have to think outside of the box, Augustus said. I think we need to think creatively. The same old isnt going to get us where we want to go. And so we need to be creative and we need to be open-minded to a lot of different ideas that maybe previously, we werent open-minded to.

In March, Senate President Karen Spilka addressed transfer fee advocates in the Senate Chamber  where she allowed them to sit at senators desks before they lobbied lawmakers throughout the State House. While she did not express support for any particular approach, the move could indicate a change in tune for leaderships attitude toward the measure.

In the 200-seat Legislature, Connollys bill has two dozen cosponsors and Sen. Jo Comerfords version has 14, including ten Senate Democrats. The bills were assigned to the Joint Committee on Revenue in February and have not yet received a public hearing.
Massachusetts prides itself for being a global hub for the biotech and life sciences industries, but with other states on its heels  or themselves boasting of being number one  Bay State leaders are looking for new ways to compete.

At least 18,000 people have flooded into Boston this week for an annual international convention on biotech and life sciences, hosted this year at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Industry leaders and government officials from around the country and the world are among those attending.

As Boston welcomes BIO here, as you can see from the thousands that are already here and that will flood these floors throughout the week, we want to make sure that Massachusetts signals to the world that we are open for business, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones said on Monday.

Massachusetts was one of the first states to invest in the biotechnology industry, and government officials continue to see this sector as an important part of the states economy. But workforce shortages continue to challenge the industry, as well as competition from states like California, Texas and North Carolina.

There are over 1,000 biotech companies in the Bay State, and 18 of the top 20 biopharma companies have a physical presence in the commonwealth, according to MassBio CEO Kendalle Burlin OConnell.

We didnt get to be the best place in the world for life science by accident. Its because of an incredible collaboration that we have here between industry, government and academia, Burlin OConnell said. Industry leaders say the universities in and around Boston churn out a highly educated workforce that feeds directly into the field.

Different states, different landscapes

Most of Massachusetts industry is centered around the greater Boston area. But larger states have several biotech hubs within their borders.

We have five different markets within Texas, said Victoria Ford, president and CEO of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute. You have the Houston market, which has a heavy focus on cancer cell therapy, and you also have an international port. Theres significant infrastructure in Dallas. Dallas has a lot of health care experts, and UT Southwestern is an anchor in that market ... San Antonios life science industry focuses on military infrastructure because theres so much of it there. Austin has all different parts and pieces as well as UT Austin ... And El Paso partners with the city of Juarez, its Mexico sister, where there are maquiladoras  large manufacturing plants to support other markets,

Similarly, in California there are three major markets in the north, south and central parts of the state.

The West Coast market is also deeply connected to other countries, including those in Australia, Japan and Korea, according to Biocom California President and CEO Joseph Panetta.

In California, the industry has about three times more workers than Massachusetts, employing about 400,000 people, compared to roughly 118,000. And compared to Massachusetts 1,000 companies, Panetta said California has about 5,000 life science businesses.

South San Francisco Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas said the Bay Area also has the advantage of being close to Silicon Valley, as biotech is converging with the high-tech industry.

Panetta said that despite some of Californias advantages, Massachusetts state government has invested in the industry in a way the West Coast state hasnt.

Massachusetts invests very heavily at the state government level in promoting biotechnology, in fact youve got the [Massachusetts Biotechnology Council]. We dont have that in California, he said. And Ive tried to encourage our lieutenant governor, who is responsible for international trade, to take a look at what goes on in Massachusetts at the state level, because Ive said we could benefit by doing similar things.

Since 2008 when Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a 10-year, $1 billion investment into Massachusetts life sciences, the state has seen almost a 100 percent increase in the number of employees in the industry, according to MassBios head of external affairs, Ben Bradford.

However, the explosive growth of this industry has slowed down over the past year. Despite record-breaking growth in 2020 and 2021, Bradford said, 2022 saw some slackening in the market.

I think in the big picture, we are still the envy of all other biotech ecosystems. While money is not flowing as it once did, call it 18 months ago and prior to that, money is still flowing into Massachusetts-headquartered companies more than almost any other location in the country and in the world, Bradford said.

Bradford partly attributed this slow-down to attention shifting away from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Massachusetts-based biopharma companies played major role in vaccine development.

He added that although there was not as much growth as years past, 2022 was still the second highest venture capital funding year on record. In the first nine months of last year the state added over 12,000 jobs in just biopharma, Bradford said.

Meanwhile, 2022 was one of the biggest years so far for North Carolina. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center reported that companies announced 33 projects totaling $2.1 billion of investments and more than 2,700 new jobs in life sciences and related fields, according to WUNC North Carolina Public Radio.

Gov. Maura Healey announced on Tuesday that she plans to continue the high-dollar commitment to the life sciences sector that began under Patrick, although she didnt assign a dollar value or duration to her developing plans.

Former Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 signed off on $623 million in additional bond authorization and tax credits for the sector over five years, and lawmakers have extended the program until 2025. The extension gives Healey some time to develop legislation.

A baby company thats growing

Elected officials in Texas are also planning big investments and tax cuts for the sector over the next few years.

The Texas Legislature passed a new inventory tax exemption for medical and biomedical products in May, Ford said, which goes before voters this November as a ballot question.

The Legislature is very interested in supporting this industry and making sure that it continues to grow, she said.

Despite talk of Massachusetts businesses moving to cheaper states, Ford said she has never had a company tell her that they came from Boston. Most of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institutes members are homegrown, she said.

But, many of the companies starting in Texas are building partnerships with biotech companies in the more-established markets in Massachusetts, California and North Carolina, according to Ford.

The thing about Massachusetts is theres really like a higher level of experience, a little bit longer theyve been doing it. So when I have a baby company thats growing, that really needs to be able to draw on that experience, there arent that many people in our area that have that kind of extensive experience, she said. And so they will partner with and then find somebody from another state, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, to draw on that experience.

While he is aware of concerns some have that biotech companies may take their business south to cheaper states, Bradford said that the ecosystem of life sciences that exists in Massachusetts cannot be easily replicated elsewhere.

Because of the science thats happening here in Massachusetts, it cant be done everywhere. We have the talent coming out of our academic institutions. We have the know-how being trained through certificate programs and community colleges that make companies want to stay here, he said. It is that perfect storm that they cant necessarily get elsewhere.

Panetta echoed Bradfords sentiments, saying that people have talked about businesses fleeing California for the entire 24 years Ive been involved in the industry.

If you look at it superficially, yeah there are cheaper states, he said. Theres cheaper water and cheaper power in other places. But there isnt, and I think we share this with Massachusetts, the depth of research. The intellectual property, the entrepreneurial culture, and workforce.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Monday that the city will add 1,000 new workers into the sector by 2025 via a $4 million grant application to connect companies with city residents seeking good-paying life sciences jobs and career paths. These grants will focus on helping those without four year degrees, as well as those underrepresented in the industry.

In Texas, at least six community colleges have targeted two-year associates degree programs for manufacturing biotechnology, Ford said.

In life science, you have two levels. You have a manufacturing level, and you need folks who are actually on the floor and doing the science, Ford said. All four community college systems in the Houston region are working together and have a focus on educating people to work on the manufacturing side of life science. So in that middle space, were really coming out gangbusters.

Reshma Kewalramani, CEO and President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals based in Boston, said a few years ago she was challenged on how many jobs at Vertex required a four-year degree or more education. The answer was 100 percent, she said.

Kewalramani said the company now has 400 well-paying, very necessary roles, that dont require four-year degrees.

The Healey administration is also newly promoting a MassTalent platform to shore up the workforce in the life sciences, clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, and to provide job seekers with training opportunities. About $50 million is available in the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to support partnerships for training partners and companies, the governors office said.
In Espanola, New Mexico, Sonic Drive-In customer Celine Gonzales had happily taken a bite from her hot dog when she felt something odd in her mouth. Turns out, a bag of cocaine had managed to find its way onto the bun.

Gonzales called police who watched surveillance video from inside the restaurant. On screen, they saw Sonic cook David Salazar making the hot dog and then "frantically searching for something he lost." From

According to KOB4, "police said he admitted to them it was his cocaine, and told them he bought it from someone in the Sonic parking lot."

"That's kind of crazy," another customer said. "I just got an ice cream. I hope we're good."
(New York, USA) DelveInsights Crohns Disease Pipeline Insight 2023 report provides comprehensive global coverage of pipeline Crohns Disease therapies in various stages of clinical development, major pharmaceutical companies are working to advance the pipeline space and future growth potential of the Crohns Disease pipeline domain.

For Crohns Disease emerging drugs, the Crohns Disease pipeline analysis report provides a 360 view of the therapeutics landscape by development point, product type, route of administration, molecule type, and MOA. The pipeline research covers business opportunities, challenges, future partnerships, strong competitors, and growth strategies.

Key Takeaways from the Crohns Disease Pipeline Report

DelveInsights Crohns Disease Pipeline analysis depicts a robust space with 90+ active players working to develop 90+ pipeline therapies for Crohns Disease treatment.

The leading Crohns Disease companies include Janssen, RedHill Biopharma, Amgen, Pfizer, Prometheus Biosciences, AgomAb Therapeutics, Hoffmann-La Roche, Gilead Sciences, Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, AstraZeneca, Mesoblast, Alfasigma, Tiziana Life Sciences, Abivax, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Cytocom, HAV Vaccines Ltd, Enzo Biochem Inc., Stero Biotechs, Reistone Biopharma Company Limited, Qu Biologics, Pfizer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Soligenix, Immunic, Pfizer, Atlantic Healthcare, 4D Pharma, Landos Biopharma, Janssen, Roche, Eisai, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Iltoo Pharma, Suzhou Connect Biopharmaceuticals, Theravance Biopharma, TaiwanJ Pharmaceuticals, Celularity, Cerecor, GlaxoSmithKline, KangStem Biotech, Immunic, Alpha Cancer Technologies, Koutif Therapeutics, Tract Therapeutics, Trio medicines, ChemoCentryx, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Neuclone, JHL Biotech, Innovative Pharmacological Research (IPHAR) Co Ltd, Innovation Pharmaceuticals, Exeliom Biosciences SAS, AbbVie, Finch Therapeutics, Akeso Biopharma, Draconis Pharma, MakScientific, Engitix, Origo Biopharma, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Orchard Therapeutics, Xbrane, Thetis Pharmaceuticals, Temisis Therapeutics, Synedgen, Synlogic, Morphic Therapeutic, Metacrine, Curacle, Commence Bio Inc, Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp, Avobis Bio LLC, Avexegen Therapeutics, Assembly Biosciences, Aibios Co Ltd, Aclaris Therapeutics, Athos Therapeutics, Denali Therapeutics, Educell doo, and others are evaluating their lead assets to improve the Crohns Disease treatment landscape.

Key Crohns Disease pipeline therapies in various stages of development include Guselkumab, ABP-654, RHB-104, Etrolizumab, PRA-023, AGMB-129, Filgotinib, Mirikizumab, Ozanimod, Brazikumab, Remestemcel-L, Rifaximin, Foralumab, ABX-464, Etrasimod, CYTO-201, Masitinib, HAV anti-MAP vaccine, Alequel, Cannabidiol, SHR0302, QBECO-SSI, PRV-6527, PF-06651600, MT-1303, TAK-018, SGX203, IMU 838, Alicaforsen, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, BT-11, JNJ-64304500, E6011, BMS-986165, Spesolimab, Aldesleukin, CBP-307, TD-1473, JKB-122, PDA-001, MDGN-002, GSK1070806, Furestem-CD, IMU-856, ACT-101, KT-1002, TregCel, TR8, CCX507, NP-178, NeuLara, JHL1255, Anti-inflammatory drug LIS, Brilacidin, Research programme: anti-fibrotic therapeutics Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii, Navitoclax, Research programme: Crohns disease therapeutics, AK 101, IBD Program, MAK 11049, GI restricted TGF- inhibitor, Research programme: mannose receptor-targeted therapeutic agents, Research programme: haematopoietic stem cell based ex vivo gene therapy, Xcimzane, TP317, TEM1657, SYGN 313, SYNB 8802, MORF 057, IBD Program, CU06, MSC1 & MSC2, Phospholipid A2 (PLA2), CKD-506, Implantable cell therapies, Neuregulin-4 (NRG-4), ABBV-154, AIB-301, ATI-2138 ITK/TXK/JAK3 Inhibitor, JAK1/JAK3 Inhibitor, ITK/TXK/JAK3 Inhibitor, ATH-105, ATH-63, DNL975, CrohnArt, and others.

In May 2023, Rinvoq (upadacitinib) has been approved by the FDA for individuals with moderate to severe active Crohns disease who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor blockers. Rinvoq is the first FDA-approved oral medication for the treatment of moderately to highly active Crohns disease.

In February 2023, Janssen collaborated with Eli Lilly to address the lack of pediatric therapies for Crohns Disease. The agreement between Eli Lilly and Janssen was established to allow the two companies to share resources to accelerate the evaluation of the respective companies assets, mirikizumab and Tremfya (guselkumab) .

In February 2023, Agomab Therapeutics reported positive data from its Phase I study of AGMB-129 to treat Fibrostenosing Crohns Disease (FSCD). The trial was designed for assessing the tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety of the oral, gastrointestinal (GI)-restricted, small molecule kinase ALK5 (TGFbRI or ALK5) inhibitor AGMB-129 in healthy participants. TGFb is a known master fibrosis regulator.

Request a sample and discover the recent breakthroughs happening in the Crohns Disease pipeline landscape @ Crohns Disease Pipeline Outlook

Crohns Disease Overview

Crohns disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who first described the disease in 1932, Crohns disease belongs to a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which also includes ulcerative colitis. The exact cause of Crohns disease is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and immune system factors. Symptoms of Crohns disease can vary from person to person and may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition. The severity of symptoms can also fluctuate over time, with periods of remission and periods of flare-ups. In some cases, Crohns disease can also cause complications such as strictures, fistulas, abscesses, and bowel obstructions.

Diagnosing Crohns disease typically involves a combination of medical history evaluation, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, and imaging scans. There is no cure for Crohns disease, and the primary goal of treatment is to control inflammation, manage symptoms, and achieve and maintain remission. Treatment options for Crohns disease include medications, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, surgery. Medications commonly prescribed for Crohns disease include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, antibiotics, and biological therapies.

Find out more about Crohns Disease medication @ New Drug for Crohns Disease

Crohns Disease Treatment Analysis: Drug Profile

Guselkumab: Janssen

Guselkumab is a human immunoglobulin G1 lambda (IgG1) monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-23 specifically. IL-23 is an inflammatory cytokine that activates the CD4+ T-helper (Th17) cell pathway, mediating the inflammatory cascade that leads to the production of psoriatic plaques. Guselkumab indicated enhanced skin clearance and symptomatic improvements in dermatological symptoms of psoriasis in clinical trials. The clinical trial is currently in Phase III.

RHB-104: RedHill Biopharma

RHB-104 is a potentially game-changing, patented experimental medication in the form of an oral capsule with powerful intracellular, antimycobacterial, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The clinical trial is currently in Phase III.

Key Crohns Disease Therapies and Companies

Guselkumab: Janssen

RHB-104: RedHill Biopharma

Filgotinib: Galapagos/Gilead Sciences

Mirikizumab: Eli Lilly and Company

Ozanimod: Celgene Corporation

Brazikumab: AstraZeneca

Etrolizumab: Roche

Learn more about the novel and emerging Crohns Disease pipeline therapies @ Crohns Disease Clinical Trials

Crohns Disease Therapeutics Assessment

By Product Type

Monotherapy Combination Therapy



By Stage

Discovery Pre-Clinical Phase I Phase II Phase III Pre-registration



By Route of Administration

Oral Parenteral Intravenous Subcutaneous Topical

By Molecule Type Monoclonal Antibody Peptides Polymer Small molecule Gene therapy



Scope of the Crohns Disease Pipeline Report

Coverage : Global

Key Crohns Disease Companies : Janssen, RedHill Biopharma, Amgen, Pfizer, Prometheus Biosciences, AgomAb Therapeutics, Hoffmann-La Roche, Gilead Sciences, Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, AstraZeneca, Mesoblast, Alfasigma, Tiziana Life Sciences, Abivax, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Cytocom, HAV Vaccines Ltd, Enzo Biochem Inc., Stero Biotechs, Reistone Biopharma Company Limited, Qu Biologics, Pfizer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Soligenix, Immunic, Pfizer, Atlantic Healthcare, 4D Pharma, Landos Biopharma, Janssen, Roche, Eisai, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Iltoo Pharma, Suzhou Connect Biopharmaceuticals, Theravance Biopharma, TaiwanJ Pharmaceuticals, Celularity, Cerecor, GlaxoSmithKline, KangStem Biotech, Immunic, Alpha Cancer Technologies, Koutif Therapeutics, Tract Therapeutics, Trio medicines, ChemoCentryx, Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Neuclone, JHL Biotech, Innovative Pharmacological Research (IPHAR) Co Ltd, Innovation Pharmaceuticals, Exeliom Biosciences SAS, AbbVie, Finch Therapeutics, Akeso Biopharma, Draconis Pharma, MakScientific, Engitix, Origo Biopharma, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Orchard Therapeutics, Xbrane, Thetis Pharmaceuticals, Temisis Therapeutics, Synedgen, Synlogic, Morphic Therapeutic, Metacrine, Curacle, Commence Bio Inc, Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp, Avobis Bio LLC, Avexegen Therapeutics, Assembly Biosciences, Aibios Co Ltd, Aclaris Therapeutics, Athos Therapeutics, Denali Therapeutics, Educell doo, and others.

Key Crohns Disease Pipeline Therapies : Guselkumab, ABP-654, RHB-104, Etrolizumab, PRA-023, AGMB-129, Filgotinib, Mirikizumab, Ozanimod, Brazikumab, Remestemcel-L, Rifaximin, Foralumab, ABX-464, Etrasimod, CYTO-201, Masitinib, HAV anti-MAP vaccine, Alequel, Cannabidiol, SHR0302, QBECO-SSI, PRV-6527, PF-06651600, MT-1303, TAK-018, SGX203, IMU 838, Alicaforsen, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, BT-11, JNJ-64304500, E6011, BMS-986165, Spesolimab, Aldesleukin, CBP-307, TD-1473, JKB-122, PDA-001, MDGN-002, GSK1070806, Furestem-CD, IMU-856, ACT-101, KT-1002, TregCel, TR8, CCX507, NP-178, NeuLara, JHL1255, Anti-inflammatory drug LIS, Brilacidin, Research programme: anti-fibrotic therapeutics Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii, Navitoclax, Research programme: Crohns disease therapeutics, AK 101, IBD Program, MAK 11049, GI restricted TGF- inhibitor, Research programme: mannose receptor-targeted therapeutic agents, Research programme: haematopoietic stem cell based ex vivo gene therapy, Xcimzane, TP317, TEM1657, SYGN 313, SYNB 8802, MORF 057, IBD Program, CU06, MSC1 & MSC2, Phospholipid A2 (PLA2), CKD-506, Implantable cell therapies, Neuregulin-4 (NRG-4), ABBV-154, AIB-301, ATI-2138 ITK/TXK/JAK3 Inhibitor, JAK1/JAK3 Inhibitor, ITK/TXK/JAK3 Inhibitor, ATH-105, ATH-63, DNL975, CrohnArt, and others.

Dive deep into rich insights for drugs used for Crohns Disease treatment; visit @ Crohns Disease Drugs

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Crohns Disease Pipeline: Overview 4. Analytical Perspective In-depth Commercial Assessment 5. Crohns Disease Pipeline Therapeutics 6. Crohns Disease Pipeline: Late Stage Products (Phase III) 7. Crohns Disease Pipeline: Late Stage Products (Phase III) 8. Crohns Disease Pipeline: Mid-Stage Products (Phase II) 9. Crohns Disease Pipeline: Early Stage Products (Phase I) 10. Therapeutic Assessment 11. Inactive Products 12. Company-University Collaborations (Licensing/Partnering) Analysis 13. Key Companies 14. Key Products 15. Unmet Needs 16. Market Drivers and Barriers 17. Future Perspectives and Conclusion 18. Analyst Views 19. Appendix

For further information on the Crohns Disease therapy in the pipeline, reach out @ Crohns Disease Medication

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Molecular quality controls are useful in monitoring the efficiency of in vitro nucleic acid testing procedures for viral load assays, universal healthcare infections, and infections involved with sexually transmitted diseases. The main objective of these quality controls is to test the molecular diagnostic products to determine defects and notify management authorities. This influences the choice of whether or not to reveal the product.

The primary application of molecular quality control is to monitor the efficiency of in vitro nucleic acid testing methods for viral load assays as well as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and urinary tract infections. The central objective of molecular quality control is to assess the quality of molecular diagnostic products, detect any flaws, and promptly report them to relevant authorities.

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Note  Updated Version 2023 is available

 Brief Overview to the research study.

 Table of Contents the scope of the studys coverage

 Leading market participants

 Structure of the reports research framework

 Coherent Market Insights research approach

Drivers:

The growth of the molecular quality control market is anticipated to be fueled by the expansion of major players. As an example, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. disclosed the release of its new quality control system, Amplichek Quality Control, indicating its entrance into the molecular diagnostic testing market in July 2016. This system is utilized for the molecular diagnostic testing of infectious illnesses.

Additionally, Bruker unveiled its plans to enlarge its product lines, including the MALDI Biotyper, IR Biotyper, and Fluorocycler XT, in April 2019. These particular products are intended for identifying microorganisms, managing infections, and carrying out molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases.

Furthermore, the growth of the molecular quality control market is anticipated to be fueled by a rise in partnership initiatives. An example of this is the collaboration announced by Randox Laboratories in February 2018 with Qnostics, which aims to boost the market potential of Qnostics products.

Restraints:

The market growth of the molecular quality control is likely to be impeded by the prevalence of unreliable genetic tests. An illustration of this was observed in August 2017, when Invitae Corporation detected a quality control problem with a hereditary cancer test. This test produced inaccurate negative outcomes, particularly in patients with a rare genetic mutation in the MSH2 gene that is linked to Lynch syndrome.

Regional Analysis

The global market for molecular quality control is classified based on geographical areas such as Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

The global market for molecular quality control is anticipated to be led by North America due to the rise in the release of novel control panels by major players. Microbiologics, Inc. is an example of a key player that launched two new panels, namely the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) and respiratory molecular assays, in December 2018 with user-friendly characteristics like swabs that simulate patient sample processing, multiplexed pellets, and storage at room temperature.

Moreover, the global molecular quality control market is anticipated to experience substantial expansion in the Asia Pacific region as a result of growing collaborative efforts among major industry players. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. disclosed its collaboration with West China Hospital of Sichuan University in June 2016 with the aim of boosting the accuracy of pathological research and diagnosis and expediting the advancement of precise pathological diagnosis.

Major players, including Microbiologics, Inc., Seracare Life Sciences, Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc., Theranostica, Zeptometrix, Quidel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Abbott Laboratories, and Qnostics, are operating in the global molecular quality control market.

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Classification of the Molecular Quality Control Market

Based on the type of product

Instrument Specific- Control

PCR (Polymer Chain Reaction)

DNA Sequencing and NGS (Next Generation Sequencing)

Independent Control

Others

Based on the type of analyte

Multi Analyte

Single Analyte

Based on the type of application

Genetic Testing

Infectious Diseases

Oncology

Others

Based on the type of end users

Clinics and Hospitals

IVD Manufacturers

Research and Academic Institutes

Contract Research Organizations

Clinical Laboratories

Others

Based on the type of geographical region:

Africa

Latin America

North America

Asia Pacific

Middle East

Europe

       :

 : Offers detailed information on Molecular Quality Control by the key market players in the Molecular Quality Control market.

   : Provides intelligent information on future technologies, new product developments and research and development activities in the Molecular Quality Control market.

 : Provides information about the new product launches, recent development, geography as well as investment in the Molecular Quality Control market.

 : Provides detailed information about the lucrative emerging market as well as examines the market for the Molecular Quality Control industry.

   : Comprises an exhaustive assessment of the market strategies, shares, products and manufacturing capabilities of the key players in the Molecular Quality Control market.

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Table of Contents with Major Points:

Executive Summary

Introduction

Key Findings

Recommendations

Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Overview

Definition of Molecular Quality Control Market

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Trends and Developments

Key Insights

Key Emerging Trends

Key Developments Mergers and Acquisition

New Product Launches and Collaboration

Partnership and Joint Venture

Latest Technological Advancements

Insights on Regulatory Scenario

Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Insights Impact of COVID-19 on Global Molecular Quality Control Market

Supply Chain Challenges

Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact

Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak

Conclusion

Appendix

Data Sources

Abbreviations

Disclaimer

TOC Continued!

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Vision care is concerned with the prevention of or the reduction of any risk to the eyes or the integrity of vision. The market for vision care in North America includes an in-depth examination of a variety of topics, including market size and an overview of market segments including Rx lenses, frames, non-Rx sunglasses, contact lenses, readers, and contact lens solutions.

Statistics:

By the end of the year 2027, it is anticipated that the market for vision care in North America would account for a value of 110,648.3 million United States dollars.

North America Vision Care Market: Drivers

The rising incidence of cataracts is anticipated to be a primary driver of growth in the eye care market in North America over the course of the projected period. For instance, the number of individuals in the United States who have cataracts is predicted to reach 50 million in the year 2050, according to forecasts made by the National Eye Institute.

A further factor that is anticipated to contribute to the expansion of the market is the growing elderly population. For example, projections made by the United States Census Bureau indicate that the number of elderly people living in the United States would reach 77 million by the year 2035.

In 2019, the United States had the dominating position in the North American market for vision care, accounting for 88.7% of the market share in terms of volume. Canada was in second place.

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North America Vision Care Market: Restraints

It is anticipated that constraints on business practices and an adverse environment regarding insurance would impede the expansion of the industry. Because of employment regulations, unlicensed individuals and businesses are not permitted to hire optometrists. In addition, optometrists are unable to grow their businesses by adding new offices since branch office limitations hinder them from doing so. Under the terms of the Affordable Care Act, consumers do not receive complete coverage for vision insurance (ACA). On the other hand, the Affordable Care Act extends coverage to include pediatric vision treatment beyond vision screening.

In addition, the expanding use of e-commerce in business is anticipated to obstruct the development of independent optometry practices in the market, which will, in turn, obstruct the development of the market to a certain extent.

North America Vision Care Market: Opportunities

It is anticipated that market participants would have access to lucrative growth prospects if there is an increase in the number of individuals who are covered by health insurance.

In addition, people living in rural regions and those with lower incomes are at a greater risk for visual impairments in the United States than those who reside in metropolitan areas. As a result, market participants can concentrate their efforts on broadening their geographical presence in order to increase their market share.

The Rx-Lenses section of the North American vision care market had a value of US$ 23,914.0 Mn in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 52,170.0 Mn by 2027 at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period. In other words, the segments valuation in 2019 was 23.914.0 Mn dollars.

Market Trends/Key Takeaways

The expansion of the market is being fueled by the growing acceptance of eye care across various social media platforms in the form of reviews. On numerous social media sites including Pinterest, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and SnapChat, customers discuss their experiences with various vision care products.

Partnership tactics are becoming increasingly popular among market participants as a means to increase their overall market share. For instance, Midwest Vision Partners entered into a partnership with Rosenbaum Eye & Laser Center and its vision correction clinic, Michigan Laser Eye Associates, in February of 2020 in order to provide services in the areas of medical and surgical eye care.

North America Vision Care Market: Competitive Landscape

The leading companies in the North American vision care market are Novartis AG, CooperVision, Inc., Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., SynergEyes, Inc., ZEISS International, Essilor International, and Luxottica. Other major players include Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and SynergEyes, Inc.

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North America Vision Care Market: Key Developments

In order to broaden their product offerings, the major market participants are concentrating their efforts on the approval and introduction of new products. For instance, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted permission to CooperVision in November 2019 for their MiSight 1 day contact lens, which is intended to decrease the progression of myopia in children 8-12 years old.

To broaden their offerings, industry participants are also concentrating their efforts on the introduction of intelligent contact lenses. For instance, in January of 2020, Mojo Vision made the announcement that the company is working on the Mojo Lens, which will be the first real smart contact lens ever created.

Report Attribute Details The market size value in 2023 USD 6,439.5 million The revenue forecast in 2030 USD 8,775.4 million Growth Rate CAGR of 4.5% The base year for estimation 2022 Historical data 2017  2021 Forecast period 2023  2030 Growth Drivers: Increasing prevalence of vision disorders, Aging population, Technological advancements in eyewear, Increased awareness and education. Restraints & Challenges: Affordability and accessibility, Limited awareness and education, Shortage of eye care professionals, Technological advancements and adoption.

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Table of Contents with Major Points:

Executive Summary

Introduction

Key Findings

Recommendations

Definitions and Assumptions

Market Overview

Definition of North America Vision Care Market

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Trends and Developments

Key Insights

Key Emerging Trends

Key Developments Mergers and Acquisition

New Product Launches and Collaboration

Partnership and Joint Venture

Latest Technological Advancements

Insights on Regulatory Scenario

Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Insights Impact of COVID-19 on Global North America Vision Care Market

Supply Chain Challenges

Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact

Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak

Conclusion

Appendix

Data Sources

Abbreviations

Disclaimer

TOC Continued!

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Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a wearable ultrasound system that can monitor deep tissues, as far as 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) below the surface of the body. Moreover, the team employed a machine learning algorithm to reduce the noise associated with movement, helping to obtain reliable readings while the wearer goes about their day. The system learns to do this individually for each wearer. The deep tissue functionality and twelve hour battery life mean that the wearable is suitable to monitor a variety of useful physiological parameters, including cardiac output, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Ultrasound-enabled wearables are enjoying a moment, with a variety of these technologies emerging recently. These miniaturized, portable, and wearable versions of traditional bulky and stationary ultrasound equipment may be a game changer in terms of increasing the utility and application of ultrasound. This latest technology provides deep tissue imaging, further expanding the scope of what is possible with wearable ultrasound, and uses machine learning to refine the signal in moving patients.

This technology has lots of potential to save and improve lives, said Muyang Lin, a researcher involved in the study. The sensor can evaluate cardiovascular function in motion. Abnormal values of blood pressure and cardiac output, at rest or during exercise, are hallmarks of heart failure. For healthy populations, our device can measure cardiovascular responses to exercise in real time and thus provide insights into the actual workout intensity exerted by each person, which can guide the formulation of personalized training plans.

The technology can monitor tissues as deep as 164 mm (6.5 inches) below the surface of the skin, and the device is flexible, allowing good skin contact and comfort during use. Interestingly, the researchers had originally intended to design a blood pressure monitor, but realized that the technology may have greater functionality.

At the very beginning of this project, we aimed to build a wireless blood pressure sensor, said Lin. Later on, as we were making the circuit, designing the algorithm and collecting clinical insights, we figured that this system could measure many more critical physiological parameters than blood pressure, such as cardiac output, arterial stiffness, expiratory volume and more, all of which are essential parameters for daily health care or in-hospital monitoring.

Study in journal Nature Biotechnology: A fully integrated wearable ultrasound system to monitor deep tissues in moving subjects

Via: UCSD
DEPUTY CHIEF OF PARTY

Long Term Technical Assignment

Democratic Republic of Congo

Company profile :

SoCha (a portmanteau of social change) is an independent monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) company that provides tailored solutions to social challenges. SoCha is a U.S.-registered small business that implements development assistance programs in Asia and Africa on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Background :

SoCha is the prime contractor responsible for implementing the Mission Strategic Support Program (MSSP) for the USAID Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (USAID/DRC). MSSP is a five-year activity (2021-2026) that provides technical and advisory services for monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) across the Missions portfolio of activities in the DRC and the Central Africa region.

The MSSP scope of work calls for tasks and services necessary to assist the Mission in achieving the following seven objectives:

1) Strategic monitoring and analytics

2) Data quality assessment, data management, and geographic information systems (GIS)

3) Evaluations, assessments, and studies

4) Collaboration, learning and adapting

5) Capacity building and coordination

6) Communication and outreach

7) Third party monitoring

By the end of the program, MSSP will empower USAID/DRC staff and stakeholders to work more efficiently, effectively, and transparently to achieve development objectives. The Mission will utilize evidence, manage performance, collaborate, learn, and adapt to foster better development outcomes across the DRC and Central Africa.

*** This position is open to expatriates. It may be located in Goma or Kinshasa, DRC. Goma is a non-accompanied post. Expatriate benefits are provided at post. ***

Scope of work :

The Deputy Chief of Party  Field Monitoring, Evaluation and Verification (DCOP-FMEV), works with the Chief of Party to provide technical leadership, administrative oversight, and overall coordination of the activity, to manage staff, to ensure MSSP meets stated goals and reporting requirements, and to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under MSSP. The DCOP-FMEV will focus activity-level data needs to ensure high quality evidence is gathered and analyzed for the Mission's strategic objectives.

Reporting to the Kinshasa-based COP he/she will:

Lead, supervise, and bear primary responsibility for the delivery of MSSPs evaluations, assessments, studies, and monitoring under Program Objectives 3 and 7

Provide technical leadership, administrative management oversight and overall coordination of MSSP activities conducted in the E-DRC or elsewhere as required

Collaborate with the Kinshasa-based DCOP to lead and oversee deliverables contributing to MSSP objectives in support of USAID activities under MSSP Objectives 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6

Design scopes of work for any of the above and lead procurements where needed;

Recruit, supervise, evaluate and manage staff to ensure MSSP goals and reporting requirements are met, and staff safety and welfare is ensured

Ensure compliance to SoCHA corporate policies, e.g., employee handbook and other legal and regulatory norms of USAID

Use data management tools efficiently for activity planning and tracking and execution of deliverables

Ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all deliverables, including reports and related products and activities generated by MSSP

Contribute to regular reporting on MSSP activities

Lead client relations, communications and outreach with USAID/DRCs program office, technical offices and implementing partner

Lead, participate or attend regular meetings with USAID, SoCHA HO, IPs, and others as required in furtherance of MSSP objectives

Champion process improvement, change, and capacity enhancements within MSSP team and larger MEL community

Required Qualifications :

Education: Masters degree or Ph.D. in subject matter relating to MEL and/or International Development. A Bachelors degree in combination with 5 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a Masters or Ph.D.

Language: Proficiency in French and English is required

Years or Experience: 3 years in Central Africa or 5+ years in Africa; and 10 years in a senior technical role at least 5 of which must involve MEL and/or CLA

Strong research and evaluation skills and a minimum of eight years of experience using qualitative and quantitative research methods

Understanding of international development sectors, including youth, health, education and governance;

Demonstrated practical experience in using monitoring and evaluation and learning activities to inform activity implementation and results

Prior experience working on USAID-funded activities

Location :

Goma or Kinshasa

How to apply :

To lodge an application & to send your cv, please use the following link: https://jobs.socha.net/deputy-chief-of-party-drc/06/02/2023/

Submission of applications closes on June 23rd, 2023. Promising candidates may be selected before this date.
We've run many posts about the various "tourons" who illegally handle, pose near, or simply get too close to the park's wildlife  you know, people who mistake wild creatures for bunnies at a petting zoo. But for some reason, tourists at Yellowstone National Park can't seem to get the park's oft repeated memo: Do not get close to or handle the wildlife! (Yellowstone officials continually plead for visitors to stay at least 25 feet away from park animals.)

And last week, some tourists took it a step further, actually putting a newborn elk into their car and driving away with it, to a police station on the other side of the park.

From CBS:

Officials said that over Memorial Day Weekend, visitors put a newborn elk in their car while driving in the park and brought the animal to the West Yellowstone, Montana, Police Department. Park officials said the calf "later ran off into the forest and its condition is unknown." Officials did not say why the tourists drove the animal to the police station but said they are investigating. "Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in some cases, their survival," the park said. "When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, on a road, or in a developed area, leave it alone and give it space."

The elk ride occurred right around the same time a man from Hawaii was charged with a misdemeanor and ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines for handling a baby bison at Yellowstone. The man's intentions seemed to be in the right place, telling officials he was trying to save the calf from drowning, but the young bison was then rejected from its herd and thus euthanized by park staff. So much for lending a helping hand.
by Fern Siegel , June 6, 2023

Ogilvy Canada just named Jeremy Daly its Chief Strategy Officer.

Daly will work across various offices for clients including Mondelez, TD Bank, Unilever, Hellmanns, Absolut and Kimberly-Clark.

Daly has held posts at Droga5, Havas, Mekanism, and Wieden+Kennedy. He began his career at Ogilvy Toronto, later leading digital strategy for IBM in New York.

Anibal Casso, Chief Strategic Officer for Ogilvy North America, said Dalys deep understanding of brands, culture, and consumer behavior will be an incredible asset to our people and clients alike.

This year, Ogilvy Canada created two Super Bowl ads for TD Bank, work for Absolut Vokda and was part of the global agency team behind Doves Cost of Beauty film, which addressed the rise in youth mental health issues linked to social media.

Ogilvy Canada is on a creative tear with award-winning and culturally impactful campaigns, added Daly, whose work includes Charles Schwabs Talk to Chuck, Dos Equis Most Interesting Man and Deltas Keep Climbing.

Ogilvy is a WPP company.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 5, 2023

Alexa users want a federal appellate court to reinstate a privacy lawsuit claiming that Amazon targets ads to people based on their interactions with voice-controlled devices.

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein in the Western District of Washington dismissed the lawsuit last month, ruling that even if the allegations in the complaint were proven true, they wouldn't show that Amazon misrepresented its policies regarding Alexa's voice data.

Last week, attorneys for the consumers who sued -- Ohio resident James Gray and Massachusetts resident Scott Horton -- initiated an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Lawyers for Gray and Horton haven't yet made substantive arguments to the appellate court.

The dispute dates to last year, when the consumers alleged in a class-action complaint Amazon uses Alexa-collected voice data for ad targeting. Gray and Horton raised several claims, including that Amazon violates users' privacy, and that it engages in misleading and unfair conduct.

The suit came soon after researchers posted the paper Your Echoes are Heard: Tracking, Profiling, and Ad Targeting in the Amazon Smart Speaker Ecosystem, which concluded that Amazon processes voice data to infer user interests.

That paper doesn't claim that Amazon secretly listened to conversations, or directly shared voice recordings with third parties.

After the paper was posted, Amazon said it is not in the business of selling data, and doesn't share Alexa requests with ad networks.

Amazon also said in court papers that since at least 2016, it has disclosed that data like interactions with Alexa might be used for ad targeting.

Rothstein initially dismissed the lawsuit in January, ruling that Alexa's terms of service incorporate Amazon's privacy policy, which discloses that the company uses personal information for ad targeting.

She said at the time that Gray and Horton could revise their allegations and bring them again. In March, the duo filed a proposed amended complaint with Rothstein.

Last month, she threw out the case with prejudice, ruling that Gray and Horton's new complaint repeated the same theories she previously rejected.
by Tanya Gazdik , June 5, 2023

Visit Philadelphia is launching a public service announcement in partnership with CBS New York and CBS Philadelphia that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.

The 30-second TV spot features Philadelphia drag queens Brittany Lynn and Morgan Wells taking turns reading the childrens book Giraffes Cant Dance," which features an inclusive message.

The total ad value of the PSA is over a quarter of a million dollars -- a testament to Visit Philadelphias commitment to ensuring that all visitors feel invited and welcomed to the city, according to the tourism group.

The audience includes a group of children and their parents in front of Independence Hall and concludes by displaying the message: In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union, with the word perfect rotating on screen into the words kind and respectful.

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The video was shown Sunday at the Philadelphia Gay News Pride Brunch and Stonewall Awards and makes its television premiere today on CBS affiliates in New York and Philadelphia

We were inspired to juxtapose Independence Hall, the very birthplace of our nation and where some of the first gay rights protests in the country were held, with this drag queen storytime, said Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia, says in a release.

According to a recent study of LGBTQ travelers to Philadelphia by market research firm Ipsos, two thirds (63%) of respondents cited Philadelphia as an LGBTQ-friendly destination.

The marketing organization is also currently running print and digital advertisements with Q Digital, Philadelphia Gay News and Washington Blade, among others.

Messaging includes the phrase Philly's kind of a drag, and we're OK with that. Come for Philadelphia. Stay for Philly," doubling down on support for the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers.

Visit Philadelphia will also promote the PSA via a new video series on its social media channels throughout Pride Month.

The additional clips will feature Lynn and Wells visiting iconic Philadelphia sites and locations, including the National Constitution Center.
by Ray Schultz , June 5, 2023

As announced last week, hundreds of Gannett employees walked out on Monday to protest the alleged hollowing out of local newsrooms under CEO Mike Reed.

The labor action was the largest in Gannetts history, according to The New York Times.

No action against Reed was taken at a Gannett shareholders meeting on Monday. The NewsGuild, the union representing Gannett newsroom workers, had demanded a vote of no confidence in Reed.

The staff walkouts were slated to continue into Tuesday at some locations.

The walkouts occurred at The Arizona Republic, The Austin American Statesman, The Florida Times-Union, The Asbury Park Press and other publications.

Union members charged that Gannett had failed to support them.

For years, weve been handed poverty wages and continually stripped of the resources we need to do our job, said Cheryl Makin, reporter for the Home News Tribune and vice chair of the APP-MCJ Guild, last week. My colleagues and I are each doing the work of several reporters.

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According to the Times, a statement from Gannett spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton says, During a very challenging time for our industry and economy, Gannett strives to provide competitive wages, benefits and meaningful opportunities for all our valued employees.

Anton adds, Our leadership is focused on investing in local newsrooms and monetizing our content as we continue to negotiate fairly and in good faith with the NewsGuild.
by Ray Schultz , June 5, 2023

Vox Media has named Lillian Xu as executive director of its audio business. Xu will lead strategic initiatives, franchise expansions, partnerships, and business operations and partner with She'll partner with Ray Chao, SVP and general manager for audio, to support expansion of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Previously, Xu was senior director of strategy and business development at New York Public Radio. While there, Xu worked with Vox to distribute its daily news podcast, Today, Explained, to public radio stations and oversaw partnerships and growth initiatives for podcasts like Radiolab and the New Yorker Radio Hour.

Xu has also served as a management consultant in Oliver Wymans Digital practice.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 5, 2023

Microsoft has agreed to pay $20 million to settle allegations that it violated the federal children's privacy law by gathering data from Xbox users under the age of 13.

Microsoft "collected personal information from children before notifying parents and obtaining parental consent," the FTC and Department of Justice alleged in a complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The company also allegedly failed to tell parents about what information it collected from children, and why, and failed to notify parents that it discloses some of this information to third parties."

The government adds that Microsoft "retained personal information from children longer than necessary, putting childrens data at risk for uses outside parents reasonable expectations and for compromise by unauthorized third parties.

The complaint claims the company violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) -- which prohibits online businesses from knowingly collecting personal data from children under 13 without their parents' approval, and requires companies to delete children's data after it is no longer needed.

The alleged violations occurred before 2021, according to the complaint.

Among other specifics, the FTC said Microsoft required Xbox users, including young children, to consent to a service agreement that until 2019 included a pre-checked box allowing Microsoft to send them promotional messages and to share user data with advertisers.

Microsoft asked for all that information even from users who had just told the company they were under 13, the FTC stated. Only after gathering that raft of personal data from children did Microsoft get parents involved in the process.

In addition to the $20 million fine, the proposed settlement requires Microsoft to obtain parental consent for accounts created before May of 2021 if the account holder is still under 13.

The agreement also requires Microsoft to inform video game publishers when it shares children's personal information. That move will require the publishers to apply COPPA's protections to that child.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, June 6, 2023

Embattled CNN CEO Chris Licht apologized to the news staff during a Monday meeting, following the publication of a lengthy, damaging profile in The Atlantic dubbed Inside the Meltdown at CNN.

CNN is not about me, he said, according to multiple reports based on a transcription, and inside sources. I should not be in the news unless its taking arrows for you. Licht also vowed to fight like hell to earn back the newsroom's trust.

The profile, written by Tim Alberta after Licht gave him months of extensive access, portrays Licht, who has been CEO for just a year, as floundering and dependent on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslavs cues amid ongoing ratings losses and a crisis of confidence among the staff.

Alberta opined that while Lichts theory of CNN  what had gone wrong, how to fix it and why doing so could lift the entire industry  made a lot of sense, his execution has been another story: Every move he made, big programming decisions and small tactical maneuvers alike, seemed to backfire.

One day prior to the profiles publication, Zaslav announced the appointment of David Leavy as CNNs chief operating officer. While the move was positioned as meant to give Licht more time to focus on programming, it immediately spawned speculation that Leavy could ultimately replace Licht.

The drumbeat grew louder on Monday, after Brian Stelter  who was fired from CNN last August by Licht  posted a column in New York claiming that Zaslav had Leavy start immediately (not on June 20, as the release had stated) to survey and repair the damage after The Atlantic piece hit on June 2.

Stelter said Leavy has been besieged by key CNN staff expressing concerns about Licht, and quoted anonymous staff making statements about Licht such as Hes done, and Theres no coming back from that profile.

WBD and CNN have not responded to the reports. CNN is considered crucial to WBD's success as it pushes to transition from traditional media to streaming.

Licht took over CNN a year ago, simultaneous with the plug being pulled on the just-launched CNN+ streamer. Since then, the news operation has seen layoffs, an overhaul of the daytime lineup, the dismissal of high-profile anchor Don Lemon, and the exit of some seasoned news talent, as Licht has sought to shift programming away from its former liberal bent. That push has included more visibility for Republicans, including the controversial, live town hall with Trump on May 10. Another town hall, with Republican presidential nomination candidate Nikki Haley, took place June 4.

But despite a bump to 3.3 million viewers for the Trump event, CNNs average audience in May dropped 16% versus April, to 494,000 in prime time, and dropped 13%, to 416,000 for total day. That puts the network at #14 in prime-time viewing among cable networks and fifth in total-day viewership.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 6, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a privacy bill that gives state residents limited ability to control their data, but doesn't appear to require companies to allow consumers to opt out of many forms of online ad targeting.

Senate Bill 262allows consumers to learn what information about them has been collected by the largest tech companies, and to have some data deleted. Most of the law's provisions apply only to companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, and that also glean at least half of their revenue from ads, or operate a smart speaker, or operate an app store with at least 250,000 different apps.

The law also requires large tech companies that target ads based on non-pseudonymous data to allow consumers to opt out. Companies that target ads based on pseudonymous data -- such as information linked to cookies -- are not required to allow opt-outs, provided the pseudonymous data is stored separately from identifiable data.

The measure defines targeted advertising as displaying ads based on data collected over time from unaffiliated sites and apps, as well as from sites and apps that are affiliated with each other. Other states that define ad targeting typically exempt first-party data -- meaning information collected from affiliated sites and apps -- from restrictions.

Consumer Reports, which previously criticized the bill, is urging lawmakers to revise the measure by applying its requirements to a broader range of companies.

While we recognize that big tech companies are usually some of the worst privacy offenders, they are far from the only privacy offenders, policy analyst Matt Schwartz stated Tuesday. This law should apply to any entity that collects significant amounts of consumer data.

The organization also noted that while the law technically gives consumers the right to opt out of ad targeting, that right is largely meaningless because it doesn't apply when ads are targeted based on data stored in pseudonymous cookies.

In addition to the privacy restrictions, the law also has provisions aimed at political content. One provision requires Google or other large search engines to disclose how whether they prioritize speech based on political partiasanship or political ideology.

Another provision prohibits government officials from asking social media companies to remove content or engage in other content moderation efforts.

Florida is now the fifth state this year to enact privacy legislation. Others are Iowa, Indiana, Montana and Tennessee. Texas lawmakers also recently passed a privacy bill, which is still awaiting the governor's approval.

Those states all allow residents to wield some control over their data, but only Indiana and Montana require companies to allow consumers to reject ad targeting based on pseudonymous data, such as information tied to cookies.

Five other states -- California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia -- previously passed privacy laws that allow residents to reject behavioral ad targeting, including targeting based on pseudonymous information.
by Colin Kirkland , June 6, 2023

One day after filing thirteen charges against Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sued Coinbase , the largest leading domestic exchange, on the basis that the company has violated securities laws.

The regulator alleges that Coinbase, which has serviced over 108 million customers, accounting for billions of dollars in daily trading volume in crypto assets, and has never registered with the SEC as a broker, national securities exchange, or clearing agency, thus evading the disclosure regime that Congress has established for our securities markets.

Similar to its claims against Binance, the SEC said that Coinbase has used its unregulated status to earn billions of dollars in revenues via collecting transaction fees from investors, adding that Coinbase has for years defied the regulatory structures and evaded the disclosure requirements that Congress and the SEC have constructed for the protection of the national securities markets and investors.

These trading platforms -- they call themselves exchanges -- are commingling a number of functions, SEC chair Gary Gensler said on CNBC Tuesday. We don't see the New York Stock Exchange operating a hedge fund, he said -- adding that we don't need more digital currency. We already have digital currency. It's called the U.S. dollar, it's called the Euro, it's called the Yen. They are all digital right nowso what is the real underlying value of these tokens?

At least thirteen crypto assets available to Coinbase customers were listed as crypto asset securities by the SEC, including Solana's SOL token, ADA, MATIC, FIL, SAND and AXS. Bitcoin and Ethereum -- the two largest cryptocurrencies in the market -- were not mentioned.

The SEC's reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting America's economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance, said Paul Grewal, chief legal officer and general counsel of Coinbase. The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation. In the meantime, well continue to operate our business as usual.

Due to its advertising efforts, Coinbase is often thought of in the crypto community as sophisticated and a safer, regulated option compared to other exchanges. The SEC has now used that message against the exchange, due to its potential to lure new investors into a risky trading environment.

Gensler also said that the SEC is focused on bringing investors and issuers in the crypto space into compliance. We brought a number of actions. We stand ready to continue to work with the industry.

Coinbase's shares fell 13% in Tuesday afternoon trading after having already fallen 9% on Monday, after the SEC's charges against Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 6, 2023

Four Democratic lawmakers are questioning Twitter owner Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino about the company's compliance with Federal Trade Commission consent decrees that imposed privacy and security requirements on the social platform.

Regardless of his personal wealth, Mr. Musk is not exempt from the law, and neither is the company he purchased, Senators Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Ron Wyden (Oregon) and Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii) wrote late last week in a letter to Musk and Yaccarino.

The lawmakers voiced concerns about numerous developments at Twitter since Musk took control of the company in October -- including last week's departures of trust and safety head Ella Irwin, and brand safety and ad quality head A.J. Brown.

The senators also noted other changes at Twitter, including employee departures and the launch of the paid Twitter Blue service.

Reports ... indicated that the launch of the updated Twitter Blue subscription service 'disregarded the companys normal privacy and security review,' the letter states, citing to a November article from The Verge.

Warren and the others write that if reports about Musk's actions are accurate, the company may have violated settlements it entered into with the FTC in 2011 and 2022.

Mr. Musks behavior reveals an apparent indifference towards Twitters longstanding legal obligations, the lawmakers write.

Twitter must meet the requirements it agreed to under the 2011 and 2022 FTC agreements, the letter continues. If reports about Mr. Musks actions are correct, it appears that the company may not be doing so.

The 2011 consent decree prohibits Twitter from misleading consumers about privacy. That order stemmed from allegations that security glitches resulted in hackers obtaining access to some users' names, passwords and private messages.

Last year, Twitter agreed to a second consent decree to resolve charges that it violated the earlier order by asking people to provide contact information for security purposes, then using that information for ad targeting. That second settlement, finalized in 2022, also required Twitter to pay $150 million, create and maintain a comprehensive privacy and security program, and conduct a risk assessment before implementing or modifying products.

The lawmakers ask Musk and Yaccarino to answer a series of questions regarding privacy and security practices, including whether the company's ability to maintain a privacy and security program has been affected by staff departures, and whether it conducted assessments before launching or revising products since last October.

The senators are requesting answers by June 18.
Jeanette Lodoen, an 87-year-old artist from the Canadian city of Saskatoon, gave Jason Warick of CBC News unrestricted access to her medically-assisted death to help Canadians understand what it's like. On the night before she died, she and her family had a special get-together where they all decorated her coffin with art and poetry. Jeanette wanted to help people understand the realities of medically-assisted dying. In her words, "They aren't aware a person can have control and dignity when they die, control over how they die."

This choice by Jeanette is part of a bigger trend in Canada, with more and more people choosing medically-assisted dying. Experts believe this trend will continue as more people learn about it and understand that it can be an option. Through her story, Jeanette hoped to show people the process of medically-assisted dying and encourage thoughtful decision-making about it.

Why did Jeanette choose assisted death? How did it feel to know the exact moment she would die? How did she spend those last weeks, hours, minutes? Formal interviews soon gave way to unstructured chats, with Jeanette often asking as many questions as she answered. As the day neared, and her remaining time and energy diminished, videographer Don Somers and I mainly stayed in the background, observing. With visitors unable to pretend they'd see her again, we witnessed one funny, sad, tender exchange after another. Jeanette often told them she tried to live a good life. Now, she was seeking a good death.

Head to CBC News to follow Lodoen's end-of-life story from January 23 to her final day. (Digg)
by Colin Kirkland , June 6, 2023

Following in line with other leading social platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, Instagram is developing a multi-personality AI chat experience that answers user questions and more, according to a tweet from mobile developer Alessandro Paluzzi.

According to Paluzzi's screenshot, Instagram's feature in testing invites users to Bring AI to your chats for a more fun and engaging experience.

Similar to Snapchat's controversial My AI tool, which garnered widespread flack from Snapchatters, Instagram's feature wants users to seek advice from the chatbot, with options to pick between 30 different AI personalities.

Users will also be able to call upon the chatbot to inspire your creativity, by helping them draft direct messages between friends.

The development follows in line with a statement made on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's Instagram Channel.

In the short term, we'll focus on building creative and expressive tools, Zuckerberg stated. Over the longer term, we'll focus on developing AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways. We're exploring experiences with text (like chat in WhatsApp and Messenger), with images (like creative Instagram filters and ad formats), and with video and multi-modal experiences.
Ohio cop Caleb Savage, 30, was charged with child sexual abuse and domestic violence, hired after the former charge was dropped, then went on to kill a motorist. He's been indicted by a grand jury on a charge of reckless homicide, reports WCPO News.

In Fayette County, in April 2019, Savage was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was scheduled to appear in court for trial in August 2019, but the case was dismissed after the victim declined to testify. In Clark County, in October 2019, Savage was charged with one count of domestic violence and one count of assault, court records show. Documents filed in the case say that, while arguing with a woman and wrestling for her cell phone, Savage punched the woman in the back of the head. Savage ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct in that case, according to court records. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but those 30 days were intended to go unserved unless Savage re-offended within that time. He was also sentenced to pay a fine.

The circumstances of the motorist's death suggest an unnecessary pursuit, but the cameras were off. That it conforms to "protocol" to run people off the road then leave them to die without even stopping is a reminder that problem officers are not the biggest problem at hand.

Savage allegedly chased Mitchell onto KY-3056 and, two miles after the chase began, Mitchell lost control of the Dodge Charger and crashed off the side of the road.  KSP's investigators presented the case to a Mason County Grand Jury, which ruled to indict Savage on two charges: Reckless homicide and Failure to render aid/leaving the scene of an accident. KSP said Savage was charged with the second one because the agency's investigation showed Savage did not try to help Mitchell after the crash and instead drove straight back to Ripley. Ripley Mayor Nowana Bingaman said Savage broke department protocol by not turning on his body-worn camera after beginning a pursuit, but said Savage followed all other protocols.

Florida welcomes you, Caleb!
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken to complaining about the media's treatment of Florida's First Lady Casey DeSantis. In a radio interview, DeSantis displayed his inflated sense of entitlement by asserting a bias against his wife due to her conservative political stance. According to him, if Mrs. DeSantis were a Democrat, she would be the It Girl of the fashion world, conveniently ignoring the fact that the fashion industry is teeming with conservatives.

"If she were a Democrat, she'd be on every fashion magazine," said the unpleasant governor on the Mark Levin Show. "They would be making her out to be the biggest deal. But because we're conservative, we know that that's not what happens."

DeSantis also praised his wife's supposed contributions to Florida communities, particularly in aiding underprivileged individuals. However, he conveniently omitted the fact that he himself has engaged in dubious practices like kidnapping underprivileged people and transporting them under false pretenses to other states.

It becomes clearer every day that DeSantis, plagued by his fragile ego, mean-spiritedness, and bizarre phony laugh, is incapable of salvaging his unsavory public image.
Local muralist Krystal Cooke has quickly made a name for herself in the art world and has recently spread her wings south in the Lone Star State. In Michigan, her work is the mural of Anthony Bourdain located in downtown Flint, and after that success, she is now traveling across the country doing what she loves.

On Monday, she wrapped up a portrait mural of Farrah Fawcett in Corpus Christi, the birthplace of the late actress and 1970s bombshell. Before the mural in Corpus Christi, she was in the southeast Gulf Coast region of Beaumont, where she created a mural of Barbara Lynn, a rhythm and blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter from the area who is still alive and well at age 81.

Before the days of spray paint cans and electric painter scissor lifts, she was a traveling musician, a free spirit battling her own issues of life, strife and finding her way. Cooke has recently become well-known for her portrait murals with a faster-than-normal track to success on pure talent alone.

She never planned the road map to her mural success; she only started in 2019. Now at age 29, she's sharing her work and talents across the country.

Krystal Cooke

"I have traveled around in my early to mid-20s," Cooke explained. "I worked at pizza joints, helped clip weed in California, spent some time in Alaska, and started playing music in bars to help pay my way. I was always talented in the arts, but honestly, I have never taken an art class or studied art or anything, and my first mural was just a few years ago when all this started."

Cooke shares her story of battling an auto-immune disease called Interstitial cystitis that changed her life and perspective in her early 20s.

"Having a disease that creates an existence of chronic pain day in and day out left me in a state of deep depression, and art gave me an outlet and the opportunity to try things and fail and become fearless," she said. "Once you go through an illness like that which is still a chronic problem, it puts life in a different perspective. The disease left me in a position to fight for my well-being, and I studied holistic medicine for a few years and then focused on art and music."

"The murals align me with my purpose, which feels good," Cooke explains that she works to give back to the communities that share her art with murals of people representing their communities.

She is also involved in a program called REACH, where she helps youth groups with alternative learning programs in art, with her following plans to support a youth group in Louisiana, an upcoming project on her agenda. Cooke's work is featured on her Instagram page, with an array of work already under her belt for the young artist as she sets off on an artistic life-path already taking her places.
Elkton Lions Club/Contributed

The Elkton Lions Club is hosting a drive-thru pantry  its 250th since the start of the pandemic  on Thursday, June 8 in Elkton.

The free food distribution is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Elkton United Methodist Church, 150 Main St. Volunteers should arrive by 9:30 a.m.
Submitted photo/ Jeanne Butterfield

MANISTEE  In honor of Pride Month, the Young Progressive Activists of North-West Michigan, Manistee Area Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative, PFLAG Manistee and Pride in the Stee will be co-hosting a special event with the Rev. Nicholas Love leading a discussion on diversity and inclusion for gender and sexual minorities.

The event is free, open to the public and will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on June 17 at West Shore Community College Manistee Downtown Education Center, located at 400 River St. in Manistee.
Tereasa Nims/Daily News

A Beaverton man was shot and killed about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Lakefront Estates mobile home park.

Beaverton police were searching for the shooting suspect in the area of 385 West Brown Street where a home invasion was believed to have occurred.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and later met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

Blinken's trip, his second to Saudi Arabia since becoming America's top diplomat, comes after the kingdom under Prince Mohammed has been more willing to disregard the U.S. in striking its own decisions. Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with President Joe Biden on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and reaching a detente with Iran mediated by China. Biden also pledged to make Saudi Arabia a pariah over the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, Saudi Arabia still relies  like other Gulf Arab nations  on the U.S. to be the security guarantor for the wider Middle East as tensions over Iran's nuclear program in recent years have spilled over into a series of attacks. Riyadh and Washington also have been working in tandem to try and strike a lasting cease-fire in Sudan, which has been elusive during weeks of fighting between that country's military and a rival paramilitary force. And Saudi Arabia wants to end its war in Yemen, something also sought by the U.S.

Under the hood, especially when it comes to security and a few other matters like that, the relationship is stronger than it was a year ago, said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. It looks more strained  and in some superficial ways it is  but it is overall stronger.

Blinken arrived to a Saudi Arabia more eager to engage internationally, particularly after being involved in prisoner swaps in Moscow's war on Ukraine. The kingdom hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month at an Arab League summit, then Russia's sanctioned interior minister immediately after.

With oil prices well below $100 a barrel, the Biden administration doesnt have an immediate concern over prices at the pump in the summer driving season. Washington likely does hope to leverage its security relationship with Saudi Arabia as it gets warmer with China and Russia. However, the Saudis likely want guarantees that Biden can't provide when it comes to Congress stopping arms sales to the kingdom, Ibish said.

Khashoggi still haunts the halls of Congress. I dont think thats over in Washington, Ibish said. The rest of the world has moved on, but I dont think that Congress has moved on.

Asked about Blinken bringing up human rights issues, including Khashoggi's death, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim told journalists last week that human rights are a pillar of how this administration engages with countries around the world and in this region. Benaim declined to discuss specifics.

I think what youll see on this trip is a vision of the U.S.-Saudi relationship thats both rooted in our historic mainstays of cooperation in areas like defense and security and counterterrorism, includes ongoing important regional diplomacy when it comes to Yemen and Sudan, and looks for opportunities for regional de-escalation and regional integration, Benaim said.

He added: We will not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region.

Blinken met Prince Mohammed early Wednesday, with State Department saying they discussed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond.

The secretary also emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights, a statement added.

A Saudi statement acknowledged the meeting, but offered no specifics.

Blinken's visit comes after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, traveled to Jeddah in May and met Prince Mohammed. The prince also hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime foe of America, for a meeting late Monday, Saudi state television reported.

Outside of meeting Prince Mohammed and other Saudi officials, Blinken also will attend an anti-Islamic State meeting in Riyadh and meet with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The six-nation GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A deeper diplomatic engagement by the United States is likely to produce better outcomes in the long run than simply washing our hands and pulling back from the region, wrote Brian Katulis, the vice president of policy for the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

However, the challenges are many.

The Yemen war continues despite prisoner swaps and efforts to end the conflict. Meanwhile, both sides likely have wants that won't be fulfilled. Saudi Arabia increasingly has pushed for a nuclear cooperation that includes America allowing it to enrich uranium in the kingdom  something that worries nonproliferation experts as spinning centrifuges opens the door to a possible weapons program. Prince Mohammed has said the kingdom would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran had one.

Blinken on Monday night told a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that the Biden administration continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to verifiably, effectively, and sustainably prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. However, he added: All options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Blinken first traveled to Saudi Arabia as America's top diplomat last year as part of Bidens trip there. That trip saw Biden fly directly from Israel to the kingdom. Just before it, Saudi Arabia allowed overflight rights to Israeli airlines heading to Asia  a major move allowing them to save both flying time and jet fuel.

A diplomatic recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia though appears unlikely at the moment, despite neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognizing Israel in 2020. Saudi Arabia under King Salman has repeatedly called on Israel to allow the Palestinians to create a state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now oversees the most right-wing and religious government in Israels history, making such a move highly unlikely given heightened violence and tensions there.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.9 struck southern Haiti early Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring 36 others, authorities said.

The quake struck before dawn near the southwestern coastal city of Jeremie at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

I thought the whole house was going to fall on top of me, Eric Mpitabakana, a World Food Program official in Jeremie, told The Associated Press by phone.

Two homes collapsed in the quake, and a key route that connects Jeremie and Les Cayes was blocked, according to Haiti's Civil Protection Agency.

Three of the fatal victims were from the same family and were found under a collapsed house where rescuers were searching for more people, Frankel Maginaire, with Haitis Civil Protection Agency in Jeremie told the AP.

He said that several children were hospitalized with injuries they received after they panicked and ran.

A crowd of people gathered around one home that collapsed as they tried to search for survivors in the rubble. They carried out at least one victim wrapped in a sheet.

Mpitabakana said things fell around his house and that he and other colleagues are contemplating sleeping outdoors if there are strong aftershocks.

There were so many people out on the street, and a lot of panic, he recalled of the moments after the quake struck.

Claude Prepetit, a geologist and engineer with Haiti's Bureau of Mines and Energy, told Radio Caraibes that smaller earthquakes that occurred earlier this year in southern Haiti led to the bigger one that struck Tuesday.

The earthquake struck almost two years after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti and killed more than 2,200 people, with Les Cayes sustaining the most damage. Some people who lost their homes last August are still living in camps.

Allen Joseph, a program manager with global aid organization Mercy Corps, said in a phone interview that schools, banks and other institutions in Jeremie remained closed on Tuesday and that rescue teams had been searching for survivors in the rubble earlier.

He said the organization was still evaluating the situation to determine what help might be needed.

There was a lot of panic, he said. Everyone was rushing to get outside...The neighbors were yelling, Go, go, go!"

Paul Pierre, a driver for a nongovernmental organization based in Jeremie, told the AP in a phone interview that he was barely waking up when he felt the house rocking.

Everyone ran outside with their children, their babies, he said. There were some houses that collapsed.

Pierre said he remained calm and sought shelter until the earth stopped moving, adding that he's used to earthquakes.

In 2010, a magnitude 7 quake near the densely populated capital, Port-au-Prince, killed at least 200,000 people and caused widespread devastation to buildings.

Tuesday's earthquake comes as Haiti struggles to recover from heavy floods over the weekend that killed at least 51 people, injured 140 and flooded nearly 31,600 homes. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has requested international assistance.

Disasters keep hitting Haiti, left and right, said Dr. Didinu Tamakloe, Haiti director for Project Hope, a U.S. aid organization. People have not had sufficient time to recover from previous disasters, only to be hit by flash floods, an earthquake and landslides in a matter of days.
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Two Connecticut restaurant chefs and a West Hartford restaurant nominated for James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards didn't end up taking home honors, but the winner of the Best Chef: Northeast category has strong ties to New London County.

Sherry Pocknett, a Native American chef and owner of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, R.I., was the victor in the category. Pocknett, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts and the former food and beverage manager at The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center in Mashantucket, is the first Indigenous woman to win a James Beard award.

In a Zoom interview from the Lyric Opera in Chicago following her win, Pocknett said she was "overwhelmed and ecstatic."

"This award shows all my hard work for years and years," she said. "It's a dream come true."

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The James Beard

Sly Fox Den "is not just a restaurant and bar, but a cultural center that educates the public on Indigenous food ways, culture and history," the restaurant's website reads. "At Sly Fox Den Restaurant and Bar, we specialize in the food that has always been here, and the traditional techniques in farming, hunting, fishing, and cooking that make that food possible."

During her time at the Pequot Museum, Pocknett transitioned the menu at the 250-seat restaurant from hot dogs and hamburgers to native foods.

"They allowed me to really do what I wanted to, and I did what native people ate back in the days before colonialism  turtle soup, frog legs, venison, smoked salmon and bluefish," she said.

Pocknett opened Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown in 2021, but her original plan was to open the restaurant in Preston before the impact of COVID-19. She still owns the Connecticut building, and eventually has plans to open a 200-seat restaurant in its space.

The chef has an obstacle to overcome in the meantime, she said. Battling breast cancer, she recently finished chemotherapy treatment and now faces surgery.

"I'm just waiting for all that to be over, to get on with it," she said. "I just want to cook, I just want to create. I just want people to know that Wampanoag people are here, and we're not going anywhere. We're still cooking, we're still moving and grooving and winning James Beard awards."

Pocknett shared some of her favorite Thanksgiving dishes with Connecticut Magazine in 2016, which used traditional flavors and ingredients from Connecticut and the surrounding region.

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The James Beard

West Hartford's Coracora and two Connecticut chefs were nominated for 2023 James Beard Foundation awards, the most prominent honors in the culinary industry. The Peruvian restaurant was a finalist in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category, while chefs Christian Hunter, formerly of Community Table in New Preston, and Renee Touponce of Oyster Club and Port of Call in Mystic were nominated as finalists for the 'Best Chef' award in the Northeast category.

Before 2023, Connecticut did not have a finalist or winner in those categories for the prestigious food awards in 17 years.

Coracora's 2023 nomination was its second consecutive honor as a restaurant. It was named a semifinalist in the 'Outstanding Restaurant' category in 2022, and Macarena Ludena, the daughter of the restaurant's founders Hector Ludena and Luisa Jimenez, was nominated in the 'Best Chef: Northeast' category the same year. The family opened the restaurant in 2011, and it's been a staple for Peruvian cuisine in West Hartford ever since.

Ludena was also selected as one of 15 chefs to cater the tasting reception following the awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera. She served an assortment of the restaurant's signature empanadas, with fillings like guava and cheese, vegetable, lomo (beef) and aji de gallina (Peruvian chicken stew), along with alfajores, or butter cookies with dulce de leche filling.

Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The James Beard
KYIV, Ukraine - A critical dam in southern Ukraine was heavily damaged after a reported explosion early Tuesday, sending water gushing toward dozens of communities, including some occupied by Russia, and prompting officials to evacuate thousands of people at risk of catastrophic flooding.

Russia seized the dam, which is part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, on the first day of its invasion in February 2022 because of its crucial role in supplying fresh water to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

It was not clear who was responsible for the damage, which occurred as Kyiv stepped up offensive operations on the eastern front as part of what is expected to be a major counterattack over the coming weeks. Ukraine and Russia quickly traded blame for the blast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of blowing up the hydroelectric power plant from inside. ."The disaster at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant caused by Russian terrorists will not stop Ukraine and Ukrainians," Zelensky said in his evening address, posted as a video to social media.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that the damage was "a deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side," in part to deprive Crimea of water. "Apparently, this sabotage is related to the fact that the Ukrainian armed forces, having started the offensive two days ago, are not achieving their goals now," Peskov said Tuesday during his daily conference call with reporters.

U.S. officials had not made a determination about who or what caused it, a White House spokesman said Tuesday.

"We are working with the Ukrainians to gather more information, but we cannot say conclusively what happened at this point," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House.

As floodwaters continued to rise, Ukrainian authorities said 40,000 people should be evacuated from the Kherson region. By Tuesday afternoon, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said, about 1,300 people had been evacuated.

The dueling accusations by Kyiv and Moscow set off intense speculation about which side might have more to gain by flooding the battlefield in the south, as well as deep consternation about the extent of environmental and economic damage.

The cause of the dam's breach remained unclear.

On one occasion, as Ukrainian forces plotted a counteroffensive in the Kherson region, they conducted a test strike using an American-provided HIMARS rocket launcher to puncture three holes in one of the floodgates of the Kakhovka dam.

Maj. Gen. Andriy Kovalchuk, who led the Kherson offensive, told The Washington Post late last year that the goal was to see if the water level of the Dnieper River could be raised enough to stymie Russian crossings but not flood nearby villages. The test was a success, Kovalchuk said, but commanders decided to hold off on such an operation.

Tuesday's dramatic events in the south came amid an escalation in Ukrainian combat activity, including a series of offensive operations on the eastern front, signaling that Kyiv's forces may have launched the preliminary phases of their long-awaited counteroffensive.

Russia claimed Tuesday that it had repelled "a long-promised offensive" mounted by Ukrainian troops at a dozen points on the front line over the previous three days. Ukraine denied that assertion. "Attempts to attack were thwarted, the enemy was stopped," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Kyiv has previously dismissed Russian claims that its army has repelled Ukrainian attacks as disinformation aimed at undermining the assault. Leaders in Kyiv have cautioned repeatedly in recent days that no single action would mark the start of the counterattack, nor would it be announced.

It remained to be seen how the flooding would affect troop movements.

In an interview with The Post, Ihor Syrota, general director of Ukraine's state hydroelectric company, Ukrhydroenergo, said the dam was "irreparable" and all of the water in the Kakhovka Reservoir could spill out within the next four days.

Syrota also warned of environmental damage. About 450 tons of oil had begun seeping from the station into the river, he said. "It is heading toward Kherson and the Black Sea," he said. "This will be an ecological catastrophe."

Ukrhydroenergo, in a statement on Telegram, said the hydroelectric plant was "completely destroyed" as a result of an explosion inside the engine room.

Aerial videos showed heavy structural damage to the dam, which appeared to be missing sections measuring hundreds of feet.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian military's southern command, said in a radio interview that the dam was not completely destroyed but sustained serious damage. She accused the Russians of targeting the dam to stop Ukraine's expected counteroffensive.

Andrii Pidlisnyi, a captain in Ukraine's armed forces now based in the south, accused the Russians of trying to destroy positions that Ukrainians could use as springboards for attack. By flooding the area, Russians could prevent Ukrainians from moving south by land along the Dnieper's east bank in a bid to oust the Russians from parts of Kherson they control.

But Pidlisnyi argued that the Ukrainian-controlled west bank is higher in elevation than the east, and that Russia's military positions "are simply flooded" and had to be evacuated. Russian units there, Pidlisnyi said, "were not aware of this whole situation. They're just shocked."

Michael Kofman, a Russian military analyst at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security, said he did not expect the dam breach to have a big impact on Ukraine's offensive. The likelihood of a Ukrainian offensive operation across the river south of the dam was quite low, he said.

"The flood washes away Russian defenses there but makes a river crossing now exceedingly more difficult," Kofman said.

In the Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka, adjacent to the dam, water levels were several feet high in front of the city council building, according to video published by Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne. Swans could be seen on the water.

The Ukrainian former mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Volodymyr Kovalenko, said in an interview that a zoo, a recreation area and a sports complex were flooded within hours. While he was not in the Russian-occupied city, Kovalenko said, he spoke to residents through encrypted channels.

At the submerged zoo, home to 260 animals, only the ducks and swans could be saved, according to UAnimals, Ukraine's largest animal charity, which said it spoke with the zoo's management.

In the low-lying city, located on the east bank of the Dnieper, the water in some places had overflowed by about 1,600 feet from the normal shoreline. Kovalenko said he feared it would reach two-to-three-story homes and cottages in an old part of the city. "At any moment, the water may have reached these houses," he said.

The dam sits at the end of the Dnieper River, in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Its reservoir stores roughly the same amount of water as the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Russian occupying forces pushed the Ukrainian workers out of the plant, created a military base at the site and, in October, cut it off from Ukraine's electrical grid.

The fast-rising water levels threaten residents from northern Kherson, where the dam is located, down to the Black Sea.

The reservoir also supplies water, through canals, to occupied Crimea and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in Russian-controlled Enerhodar. Ukraine's atomic-energy authorities said the plant so far has not been affected by the dam breach.

Ukrainian officials blamed Russia. "This is a heinous war crime," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko warned residents that the flood could wash up Russian mines.

Vladimir Leontyev, the Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, said water levels have risen by 16 feet, flooding several downstream settlements. Those in the immediate vicinity of the water were being moved to dry places, he said, but "large-scale" evacuations were not expected.

"The situation is under control," Leontyev said. "The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was built in such a way as to be able to withstand a nuclear strike." He said that the upper part of the plant was destroyed but that the dam was only partially damaged.

The Russian-installed authorities of the Kherson region later announced the evacuation of residents of three districts, urging them to pack personal belongings and documents, carry food and drinking water for three days, and turn off gas and water in their homes before leaving. Earlier, the head of the Russian occupation administration of the region, Vladimir Saldo, said there was no need for mass evacuation.

Even as the floodwaters rose, Russian forces continued bombing Kherson city, which is controlled by Ukraine, and the surrounding areas. Two police officers from Kherson were wounded by shrapnel during evacuation measures in the city, according to Ukraine's Internal Affairs Ministry.

- - -

Abbakumova reported from Riga, Latvia, and Korolchuk from Dnipro and Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Kamila Hrabchuk and Kostiantyn Khudov in Kyiv, Mary Ilyushina in Riga, Latvia, and Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report.

- - -

Sources: Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project, OpenStreetMap, OpenInfraMap. Brady Africk, who analyzed satellite imagery from Copernicus Open Access Hub, provided fortifications data, which does not include all fortifications in Ukraine; some defenses predate Russia's full-scale invasion.
According to The Debrief (link here), David Charles Grusch, who served as a representative to the U.S. Department of Defense's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), has turned whistleblower, and has given Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General classified information about covert programs that retrieved and now hold "intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin."

Grusch said the recoveries of partial fragments through and up to intact vehicles have been made for decades through the present day by the government, its allies, and defense contractors. Analysis has determined that the objects retrieved are "of exotic origin (non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin) based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures," he said. In filing his complaint, Grusch is represented by a lawyer who served as the original Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG).

If you're skeptical, as I am, you'll ask, Who is Grusch?

The whistleblower, David Charles Grusch, 36, a decorated former combat officer in Afghanistan, is a veteran of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). He served as the reconnaissance office's representative to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force from 2019-2021. From late 2021 to July 2022, he was the NGA's co-lead for UAP analysis and its representative to the task force.

If you're still skeptical, as I am, you'll ask, Is anyone else, with higher authority, coming out to back Grusch up?

Christopher Mellon served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

"A number of well-placed current and former officials have shared detailed information with me regarding this alleged program, including insights into the history, governing documents and the location where a craft was allegedly abandoned and recovered," Mellon said. "However, it is a delicate matter getting this potentially explosive information into the right hands for validation. This is made harder by the fact that, rightly or wrongly, a number of potential sources do not trust the leadership of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office established by Congress."

Karl Nell, a retired Army colonel who also worked on the UAPTF:

"His assertion concerning the existence of a terrestrial arms race occurring sub-rosa over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct, as is the indisputable realization that at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence."

If you're still skeptical, as I am, you'll ask, What kind of journalists wrote this article?

The authors of the Debrief article were co-authors of the 12/16/17 front-page New York Times article that disclosed the existence of a secret Pentagon program investigating UAP. And the article includes a link to a piece about the investigative and fact-checking process the journalists underwent.

If you're still skeptical, as I am, you'll ask, Then why am I reading about this on Boing Boing, linking to The Debrief, and not The New York Times?

I'm sure there's a good reason.
NEW YORK (AP)  Rep. George Santos lawyer said Monday the indicted New York Republican would risk going to jail to protect the identities of the people who cosigned the $500,000 bond enabling his pretrial release.

The lawyer, Joseph Murray, urged a judge to deny a request by news outlets to unseal the names of Santos' bond suretors, or guarantors, suggesting they could suffer great distress," including possible job losses and physical harm, if they're identified publicly.

My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come, Murray wrote in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Shields.

Murray asked that she give them time to withdraw as cosigners if she decides to unseal their names, which Shields kept off the public court docket at the lawyer's request.

Murray said he, Santos and Santos' staff have been receiving threatening and harassing calls and messages, including death threats. The lawyer said he received a call Friday from someone shouting, Who paid Santos' bond? and said he worries Santos' critics are just waiting to pounce on the people backing his release.

We truly fear for their health, safety and well being, Murray wrote.

Santos pleaded not guilty on May 10 to a 13-count indictment charging that he duped donors, stole from his campaign, lied to Congress about being a millionaire and cheated to collect unemployment benefits he didnt deserve. He is due back in court on June 30.

The 34-year-old, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, has defied calls to resign and has said he won't drop his bid for a second term.

Prosecutors have not taken a position on the unsealing request.

In a letter last week, a lawyer for news outlets urged the judge to the release the names of Santos' bond suretors, citing a compelling public interest in maintaining the greatest transparency possible in these proceedings.

The New York Times first wrote to Shields on May 23 asking to unseal the names. Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, joined the fight a few days later.

Separately, the House Ethics Committee wrote to Santos on May 16 asking him to identify the people who cosigned his bond.

Murray said Santos originally lined up three financially responsible cosigners as suretors, but one backed out and the other two didn't show up to his arraignment.

That forced them to make other confidential arrangements to ensure Santos' release, Murray said.

Santos' bond is unsecured. That means his cosigners didn't have put up any money up front, but could be forced to pay the full amount if he doesn't comply with his release conditions or fails to show up for court.

__

Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
BEIRUT (AP)  The health of a son of Libya's late leader Moammar Gadhafi was deteriorating three days into a hunger strike to protest his detention in Lebanon without trial, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Hannibal Gadhafi was suffering from headaches, muscle pain and difficulties moving around, his lawyer Paul Romanos said. He started his hunger strike Saturday.

He has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 after he was briefly kidnapped from neighboring Syria, where he had been living as a political refugee. He was abducted by Lebanese militants demanding information on the whereabouts of prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr who went missing in Libya 45 years ago.

Lebanese police later announced it had collected Hannibal from the northeastern city of Baalbek where he was being held. He has been detained in a Beirut jail without trial since then.

Romanos said Gadhafi was also suffering from back pain due to being held in a small room where he cannot move freely or exercise.

He is continuing his hunger strike and his health is deteriorating, Romanos told The Associated Press in a voice message.

A Lebanese security official who spoke on condition of anonymity said he had no information on Gadhafis health status.

The disappearance of al-Sadr in 1978 has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The clerics family believes he may still be alive in a Libyan prison, though most Lebanese presume al-Sadr is dead. He would be 94 years old.

Al-Sadr was the founder of the Amal group, Arabic for hope, and an acronym for the militias Arabic name, the Lebanese Resistance Brigades. The group later fought in Lebanons 1975-90 civil war. Lebanons powerful Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri heads the group.

Most of al-Sadrs followers are convinced that Moammar Gadhafi ordered al-Sadr killed in a dispute over Libyan payments to Lebanese militias. Libya has maintained that the cleric and his two traveling companions left Tripoli in 1978 on a flight to Rome and suggested he was a victim of a power struggle among Shiites.

Gadhafi was killed by opposition fighters in 2011, ending his four-decade rule of the north African country.

Hannibal Gadhafi was born two years before al-Sadr disappeared. He fled to Algeria along with his mother and several other relatives after his father's fall from power. He later ended up in Syria where he was given political asylum before being kidnapped and brought to Lebanon.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawyers for Donald Trump met with Justice Department officials on Monday as a decision nears on whether to bring criminal charges over the handling of classified documents at the former presidents Florida estate.

The Trump lawyers two weeks ago requested a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to raise concerns about what they alleged was prosecutorial misconduct and overreach by the team led by special counsel Jack Smith. But a defense attorney meeting with Justice Department officials is also often used as an opportunity to try to persuade prosecutors against bringing charges in the final stages of an investigation.

It was not clear what was discussed during the meeting, but Trump, in a social media post and talk radio interview, signaled that he was prepared for the possibility that he would be charged and reiterated his attacks on the investigation.

A trio of Trump attorneys  James Trusty, John Rowley and Lindsey Halligan  exited the Justice Department headquarters in Washington on Monday morning after spending well over an hour inside. They got into a black sport utility vehicle and did not respond to reporters' questions.

Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco were not present for the meeting but special counsel Jack Smith was. The Justice Department had no comment on the meeting.

After the meeting ended, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform in capital letters: How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong when no other presidents have been charged. He referenced the investigation into his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton, which ended without criminal charges, and a separate ongoing probe into the presence of classified documents at an office and home of President Joe Biden. And he characterized it as a witch hunt.

He also called into the Todd Starnes radio show, where he confirmed the meeting with his lawyers and said, Well, I can just say this: They did go in and they saw em and they said very unfair. No other president has ever been charged with anything like his.'"

The Trump investigation differs from both the Biden and Clinton probes, though, in that prosecutors for months have examined whether Trump or his representatives sought to obstruct their inquiry and their efforts to recover classified documents. After suspecting that not all classified documents had been turned over, the FBI in August obtained a search warrant and returned to Mar-a-Lago and recovered an additional 100 documents with classification markings.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation into the potential mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, with a charging decision likely coming soon. Prosecutors have placed a broad cross-section of witnesses, including lawyers for Trump and close aides, before a grand jury.

Trump's lawyers issued a letter to House lawmakers in April that laid out possible defenses and referred to the investigation as misguided, politically infected, and severely botched.

Besides the Mar-a-Lago investigation, Smith is leading a separate probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

_____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www/twitter.com/etuckerAP
"Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely."

As the sun set on the blood-stained beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's message to the thousands of Allied troops dispatched to carry out the largest amphibious landing in military history rang true.

The invasion, codenamed Operation Neptune and remembered as D-Day, sent roughly 156,000 British, Canadian, and American troops to the Nazi-occupied French coast by air and sea, beginning the multi-month Battle of Normandy and the liberation of Western Europe from Hitler's Wehrmacht. This week, as millions gather in Normandy to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, National WWII Museum senior historian Rob Citino emphasized that the impact of the landings came at a tremendous human toll. By the end of the Normandy campaign, hundreds of thousands of Allied and Axis soldiers and civilians had died and been wounded, with those involved in the initial landings suffering disproportionately.

"Certain sectors and certain minutes, casualties were 100 percent," Citino said.

Citino described the most perilous jobs American troops performed to help make the D-Day landings a World War II turning point. "It was bad enough but would have been worse," he says.

Read more: 3 unsung World War II female spies who helped make D-Day a victory

1. The Pathfinders

A paratrooper with a Thompson M1 submachine and heavy equipment. (Image: The National WWII Museum)

The earliest paratroopers of the US Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions jumped into enemy territory in the dark, facing unrelenting attacks with little back-up and a lot of pressure to light the way.

Strategy and scope: Upwards of 13,000 American paratroopers would jump in the early days of Operation Neptune, the Allied invasion of well-guarded Normandy.

Minutes after midnight on June 6, around 300 101st Pathfinders, nicknamed "the Screaming Eagles," went in first. Paratrooping in lean, highly-trained formations, the Pathfinders were not out to engage in combat. They were to quickly set up lights and flares to mark drop zones for paratroopers and landing paths for the gliders preparing to land.

General Eisenhower's advice to the 101st ahead of D-Day? "The trick is to keep moving."

The Pathfinders paved the way for waves of paratroopers to follow, but paid a heavy price.

Pathfinders with the 82nd Airborne Division jumped from C-47 transports into occupied France under the cover of darkness. (Photo: The National WWII Museum)

Threats and losses: The equipment they carried  from parachutes and life jackets to lighting systems they were to set up once on the ground  made their packs so heavy that they had to be helped onto the planes.

Then there was the jump.

Amid the bad weather and limited visibility that night, some were blown wildly off course after leaping from the C-47 Skytrains. Even those who managed textbook landings into the intended locations were at risk.

"It's the loneliness  out there all by yourself with no one riding to your rescue in the next 10 minutes if you get in trouble. You're against all the elements," Citino said.

Impact: While the Pathfinders saw heavy losses, they ultimately enabled more accurate, effective landings and ability for Allied troops to withstand counterattacks.

Read more: Here's what it took 75 years ago to pull off the biggest amphibious invasion in history

2. The Ranger Assault Group scaling Pointe du Hoc

They climbed 100-foot cliffs under fire to take out key German artillery pieces aimed at the beaches. (Photo: The National WWII Museum)

Strategy and scope: Once dawn broke on June 6, 1944, a force of 225 US Army Rangers of the 2nd and 5th Ranger battalions began their attempts to seize Pointe du Hoc. Their mission: Scale the 100-foot rock and upon reaching the cliff top, destroy key German gun positions, clearing the way for the mass landings on Omaha and Utah beaches.

The multifaceted naval bombardment sent the highly trained climbers hauling themselves up the cliffs using ropes, hooks, and ladders. Two Allied destroyers would drop bombs onto the Germans in an attempt to limit the enemy's ability to simply shoot the Rangers off the cliffs.

The Rangers climbed the cliffs in sodden clothes while Germans above them shot at them and tried to cut their ropes.

The sheer cliff walls the Rangers scaled, shown about two days after D-Day when it because a route for supplies. (Photo: U.S. Army)

Threats and losses: Beyond the challenging mountain climbing involved in getting into France via the cliffs along the English Channel, the Rangers faced choppy waters and delayed landings, which increased the formidable enemy opposition.

Nazi artillery fire sprayed at the naval bombardment. Landing crafts sank. Those who made it to the rocks were climbing under enemy fire, their uniforms and gear heavy and slippery from mud and water. Germans started cutting their ropes. Rangers who reached the cliff top encountered more enemy fire, along with terrain that looked different from the aerial photographs they had studied, much of it reduced to rubble in the aftermath of recent aerial bombings. And they discovered that several of the guns they were out to destroy had been repositioned.

Impact: The Rangers located key German guns and disabled them with grenades. They also took out enemy observation posts and set up strategic roadblocks and communication lines on Pointe du Hoc. The 155mm artillery positions they destroyed could have compromised the forthcoming beach landings.

3. The first troops on Omaha Beach

US soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division aproach Omaha Beach in a landing craft. (Photo: The National WWII Museum)

Members of the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions and the US Army Rangers stormed the beach codenamed "Omaha" in the earliest assaults. These were the bloodiest moments of D-Day.

Strategy and scope: Beyond enemy fire, the Allies were up against physical barricades installed to prevent landings onto the six-mile stretch of Hitler's "Atlantic Wall."

To break through, infantry divisions, Rangers, and specialist units arrived to carry out a series of coordinated attacks, blowing up and through obstacles in order to secure the five paths from the beach and move inland.

A fraction of the first assault troops ever reached the top of the bluff.

American troops approach Omaha Beach on June 7. (Photo: The National WWII Museum)

Threats and losses: In pre-invasion briefings, troops were told there would be Allied bombing power preceding them and that the Germans would be largely obliterated and washed ashore, Citino said.

While there were aerial bombings, the impact was not as planned. Some of the B-24s and B-17s flying overhead missed their targets. German troops sprayed guns and mortars with clear views of the soldiers, stevedores, porters, and technical support charging the narrow stretch of beach. Men waded through rough, cold water from Allied landing crafts under withering heavy fire. The dangers continued with mines in the sand.

The scene was similarly gruesome for combat engineers moving in with Bangalore torpedoes to blow up obstacles. Meanwhile, amphibious tank operators tried to shield Allied infantry and medics came ashore to try to administer emergency care while facing counterattacks and navigating around the dead and wounded.

Impact: A fraction of those who landed reached the top of the bluff. Some company headcounts went to single digits. But the troops who helped secure Omaha and the five paths off the beach in the coming days cleared the way for massive tanks, fuel, food, and reinforcements important to the rest of the campaign.

4. The 320th Balloon Barrage Battalion

Soldiers prepare to deploy a barrage balloon on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion. (Photo: The National WWII Museum)

These combat troops landed on Utah Beach and set up key lines of defense to prevent Luftwaffe raiders from strafing the incoming army of troops and supplies.

Strategy and scope: The Allies knew that as soon as the landings began, German air attacks would present a major threat to the masses of troops arriving in thousands of landing crafts. To defend against air raids, they turned to defensive weaponry units, including the 621 African-American soldiers in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, to land with 125-pound blimps and work in teams to anchor them to the ground. Each blimp was filled with hydrogen and connected to small bombs that could denote if enemy aircraft made contact with the cables.

Threats and losses: They came ashore on Utah Beach from some 150 landing crafts on the morning of June 6, facing the dangers of fellow infantry and the added threats that came with maneuvering heavy cables and balloon equipment on the beach under fire. They set up barrage balloons, digging trenches to take cover as waves of fellow soldiers landed.

The air cover allowed Allied troops to move inland with less threat of being bombed or strafed by German planes.

U.S. Army troops administer first aid to the survivors of sunken landing craft, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. (Photo from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives)

Impact: As landing craft after landing craft came ashore on and after D-Day, the 320th's balloons gave Allied troops and equipment some protection, allowing them to move inland with less threat of being blown into the sand by German fighters.

The hydrogen-filled balloons they deployed along the coast created barriers between the Allied troops and the enemy aircraft out to decimate them. Citino said that their actions setting up the defensive balloons under enemy fire were "as heroic as it gets."

More From Business Insider:
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Republicans and Democrats in Washington have been trading accusations for weeks now over the potential impact of proposed budget cuts on veterans' benefits. What that conflagration missed is that millions of veterans are already effectively being denied their benefits due to an unnecessarily complex and arcane disability compensation system.

Even worse, there are legislative proposals under consideration in Congress that would make it even harder for veterans to navigate that system. Instead of cutting benefits or putting up roadblocks, Congress should be honoring our veterans by making it as easy as possible for them to receive the benefits they earned.

I have witnessed firsthand how difficult it is for veterans to obtain what is owed to them under the law. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for six years, I was proud to take a position in 2009 at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a rating veteran service representative, or rater, where I reviewed disability compensation applications and assigned disability ratings, determining the amount of benefits veterans would receive.

But over the course of my tenure at the VA, I became disheartened by the process. While we were certainly helping some veterans, far too many were being denied benefits they earned due to an absurdly complicated system. Through no fault of their own, veterans were receiving lower disability ratings than they deserved or were simply waiting years to receive final determinations on their benefits.

By 2015, I had seen enough. I left the VA and joined my wife in starting a company focused on helping veterans to navigate the VA system. Much like a tax service provider, our company helps Americans travel through a byzantine bureaucracy to get what they are owed.

Unfortunately, our ability to continue helping veterans in this way is under threat. Some members of Congress, concerned about bad actors seeking to take advantage of veterans, have introduced overly broad legislation, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, that would make it illegal for well-intended and ethical private-sector companies like ours to assist veterans. This legislation would needlessly deny veterans the freedom to choose whether to use experienced private-sector guides. And it would worsen the VA's claims case backlog.

It is clear that our services are needed. At present, only 5.2 million of 19 million eligible veterans are receiving benefits. That means millions of eligible veterans are not receiving benefits they have earned, either because they aren't aware of their eligibility, have already tried to receive benefits and were wrongly denied, or are too intimidated by the process to even apply.

Further still, the influx of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and new legislation such as the PACT Act, have overwhelmed the VA, which now faces a backlog of almost 200,000 claims and a claims inventory of more than 800,000 and rising. VA medical personnel and contractors can't keep up with the demand, leaving many veterans experiencing insufficient and rushed medical exams, resulting in inaccurate claims applications. Veterans service organizations, or VSOs, which are intended to represent veterans in the process, are understaffed and too often inadequately trained.

And attorneys who are accredited by the VA to assist veterans are paid to help only during the appeals process, which occurs only after a veteran has been denied their benefit or received an inaccurately low disability rating. Even worse, the attorneys are incentivized to drag out appeals, since they are paid a percentage of the veteran's benefit back pay.

Our company and other private-sector guides are helping to address this problem. Rather than dragging out appeals or trying to complete a large volume of applications, we focus on helping each veteran to submit a fully developed and accurate claim, to avoid the need for appeals and speed up the final benefits decision. Our role in the process cuts back on VA paperwork and labor, which reduces the long claims backlog and saves taxpayer dollars. And our veteran clients receive an average increase in annual benefits of $13,200, benefits they would not receive without our help.

Critics of private-sector companies that guide veterans argue that veterans shouldn't pay to receive benefits they have earned and that free help is available through VSOs. But the reality is that veterans are already paying through the current system because they are not receiving their full benefits in a reasonable time frame.

In fact, more than 70% of our clients first tried navigating the VA process on their own or with the help of a VSO representative, but were either denied the full benefit they earned or felt the process was too slow. And all of our clients are informed of the availability of free services before we work with them, but they choose to use us anyway.

Instead of outlawing services like ours, Congress should focus on ensuring honorable private-sector companies can continue helping veterans while putting up guardrails that would stop bad actors in the space. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., a former lieutenant general in the Marine Corps, has introduced legislation, the PLUS for Veterans Act, that would do just that. His bill would impose criminal penalties on those seeking to take advantage of veterans, establish safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest and impose caps to prevent unreasonable fees, while still preserving the right of veterans to seek assistance from the private sector.

Veterans have served our country with honor and distinction. If our VA disability system is too complicated to be navigated on your own or with available free help, veterans deserve to have the choice of using experienced private-sector guides to help them receive the full benefits they earned from their service in a timely manner.

-- Josh Smith is CEO and founder of Veteran Benefits Guide.
Patryk Vega, also known as Besaleel, is one of Poland's biggest filmmakers, best known for movies where the good guys take down criminal gangs and the gangsters who lead them. His most recent effort will be his English language debut, and the gangster he wants to bring down is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He's calling it an "artistic protest" against the Russian president and his war in Ukraine. Right now, Vega's film is in its conceptual stages, but he has already raised $12 million to begin production. The filmmaker says he wants to help Westerners understand the mind of a man like Putin.

"Americans and even Western Europeans fail to comprehend Putin," he said in a statement. "I am a person stigmatized by communism, as I grew up in communist Poland. At the same time, I have been shaped by the audiovisual culture of Hollywood. For that very reason, I find myself capable of translating the intricacies of Eastern culture into the language of the West."

The script was originally called "The Vor In Law," a Russian mafia term that loosely translates to something like "The Godfather." A concept trailer links Putin to the Russian mob as far back as 1990, when Putin was an international adviser to Anatoly Sobchak, the mayor of Saint Petersburg.

He was also deputy mayor and head of the Committee for Foreign Economic Relations. Putin's position allowed him to issue licenses and contracts to conduct foreign trade inside the Soviet Union. Later investigations found that Putin used his position without authorization in thousands of cases, leading some to agree with the Polish filmmaker that Putin has been corrupt ever since.

Vega's film is pitched as a political thriller and psychological portrait of Putin, which would bring characters from the real world together with cultural figures from Russian and Western art.

"I want the characters of saints and demons in my movie to be perfectly blended into the world of Saint Petersburg's streets [full] of ragged and disheveled people with tormented Russian souls," Vega said.

"Putin" won't be Vega's first foray into political films. In 2019, he released the limited television series "Polityka," which lampooned the right-wing Law and Justice Party in Poland on the eve of national parliamentary elections. The series depicted members of the party engaging in cheating, bribery and other dirty tricks to gain an upper hand.

Before the series was released, he warned Law and Justice Party leader Jarosaw Kaczynski to "be very afraid" that the show would be unrelenting in its depiction of Law and Justice members who are "bad, immoral, unpatriotic and capable of all sorts of misdemeanors." Law and Justice won the parliamentary elections anyway and has been the majority party since 2015.

The bulk of Law and Justice's voter base comes from historically Russian-dominated areas of Poland. Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ruling party has been outspoken in its opposition to Russian aggression, and was instrumental in persuading Germany to send advanced Leopard II tanks to Ukraine, putting Patryk Vega and the right-wing party on the same side, at least temporarily.

Vega is one of Poland's most successful filmmakers, earning more than $100 million in box-office revenues. It's safe to say he knows his audience. With the release of "Putin," we'll find out whether he can speak to Western audiences, too.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

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Christopher Nolan's 2010 movie "Inception" was nearly 2 hours long. "The Dark Knight Rises" clocked in at 2:45. The World War II drama "Dunkirk" was his shortest, coming in at 1:46. When "Oppenheimer" is released on July 21, 2023, it will be his longest ever, running three hours long.

It's probably because J. Robert Oppenheimer's story doesn't end with the Manhattan Project.

The movie stars Cillian Murphy ("Inception") as Oppenheimer, along with Emily Blunt ("Sicario"), Robert Downey Jr. ("Iron Man"), Matt Damon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Kenneth Branaugh ("Dunkirk"), Josh Hartnett ("Black Hawk Down"), Rami Malek ("Mr. Robot") and Scott Grimes ("Band of Brothers").

It's also rare for Nolan's films to receive an R rating, which only two of his previous films, "Memento" and "Insomnia," received. Despite the violence depicted in his Batman movies and even the World War II combat scenes of "Dunkirk," those films are rated PG-13.

"Oppenheimer" is Nolan's autobiographical adaptation of authors Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's 2005 book "American Prometheus," which won the Pulitzer Prize. Sherwin spent 20 years researching the life and historical impact of Oppenheimer before Bird compiled it into a narrative.

Central to the book is Oppenheimer's work on the Manhattan Project, which created the atomic bomb during World War II.

Oppenheimer was more than the coordinator of the Manhattan Project; he was a theoretical physicist, born into a Jewish family that emigrated from Germany in the late 1800s. He knew Nazi Germany also had an atomic weapons program and was determined to be the first to build a bomb.

The United States was, of course, successful in building the first atomic bomb and used it to hasten an end to World War II, but Oppenheimer's story doesn't end with the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He, and many other atomic scientists, were opposed to the use of the bomb at Nagasaki, believing it unnecessary.

After the war, Oppenheimer was named chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the United States Atomic Energy Commission. He was outspoken in his support of preventing nuclear proliferation, especially to the Soviet Union, fearing it would spark an arms race.

His opposition to the development of bigger nuclear weapons with increasingly deadly effects, especially that of the hydrogen bomb, put him at odds with American government officials and defense contractors during the Cold War.

He became a victim of the Red Scare, a period of persecution against suspected communist sympathizers and others with left-leaning political views, which saw his security clearance revoked in a series of secret hearings.

J. . Robert Oppenheimer (left) and Gen. Leslie R. Groves examining the remains of a steel tower at the Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico, September 1945. (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Although Oppenheimer continued his work in nuclear and quantum physics, his days as a moral compass for American nuclear weapons policy were ended. "The Father of the Atomic Bomb" spent the rest of his life branded a suspected spy for the Soviet Union.

It wasn't until 2022 that the United States admitted its error and reversed its 1954 decision to strip Oppenheimer of his clearances and prestige. Transcripts of the hearings, which were declassified in 2014, offered no evidence against him. Oppenheimer died in 1967 at the age of 62.

With all this in mind, Christopher Nolan's film likely isn't limited to the creation of the Manhattan Project. Its three-hour run time likely delves into the fallout of handing weapons of mass destruction to an American defense apparatus forever changed by a global war.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

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Frank Grillo is one of the most fascinating people working in Hollywood today, and it primarily comes down to how seemingly contradictory his existence has become. In short, Frank Grillo is a man of two worlds.

For starters, despite being in his late 50s, Grillo has the body of a teenage athlete, which is equally impressive and mind-boggling. However, when it comes to Grillo's career, things become even more intriguing.

To the general public, Grillo appeared in a handful of Marvel films and the Hulu flick Boss Level. However, in the world of Chinese action films, he is one of the most iconic villains in cinema, thanks to his role in Wolf Warrior 2.

A few months ago, when James Gunn announced the production slate for his DC universe, eagle-eyed fans saw that Frank Grillo was going to jump ship from Marvel to DC. In the video linked above, Grillo sits down with the Inside of You podcast to discuss joining Marvel's distinguished competition.
The Blue Jays announced a series of roster moves today, the most notable of which is that right-hander Alek Manoah has been optioned to the Florida Complex League. The club also optioned right-hander Jay Jackson and infielder Ernie Clement. To fill those three roster spots, righty Chris Bassitt has been reinstated from the paternity list, infielder Santiago Espinal has been reinstated from the injured list and right-hander Bowden Francis has had his contract selected. To open a spot on the 40-man for Francis, righty Zach Thompson was designated for assignment.

The 2023 season has been a stunning fall from grace for Manoah, 25, who had previously been on a meteoric rise. The Jays selected him 11th overall in the 2019 draft and it didnt take him long to make it up to the major leagues. He made six Low-A starts in his draft year, then the minor leagues were wiped out by the pandemic in 2020. In 2021, he was sent to Triple-A and allowed just a single earned run through three starts before getting the call to the majors.

It was an aggressive move given his lack of minor league innings but Manoah quickly justified it. He eventually posted a 3.22 ERA over 111 2/3 innings in that season, finishing eighth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. He took things to another level last year with a 2.24 ERA over 196 2/3 frames, striking out 22.9% of opponents against a 6.5% walk rate. He finished third in the AL Cy Young vote, trailing only Justin Verlander and Dylan Cease.

He seemed to be an ace in the making and was given the Opening Day nod for the Jays here in 2023. Unfortunately, just about everything has soured for him this year. His strikeout rate is down to 17% and his walk rate has more than doubled to 14.9%. His ERA on the year is 6.36, almost triple his earned run rate from last year. Its been speculated for weeks as to whether some kind of action was necessary but he seemed to finally put the writing on the wall last night when he allowed six earned runs against the Astros while only recording a single out, forcing the bullpen to absorb 8 2/3 innings.

After that trouncing, manager John Schneider said that everything is on the table in how to move forward. It seems that wasnt just bluster as the club will now send Manoah to their Florida Complex facilities to see if he can figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. The length of that process could potentially have implications for Manoahs future earning power. He came into this season with one year and 30 days of MLB service time. A new year flips over at 172 days, so hes already gone over the two-year mark, but this move makes it less likely hell qualify for Super Two status at seasons end.

Of course, thats likely just a minor detail right now. In the grand scheme of things, the long-term trajectory that once seemed so straightforward suddenly seems incredibly murky. Both Manoah and the Blue Jays will undoubtedly be keenly focused on figuring out how to get him back to being a viable major leaguer, for this season and for the rest of his career.

In the meantime, the Jays will now have to patch over a hole in their rotation. Kevin Gausman, Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi should have the next four days spoken for but the Jays figure to require another starter by Saturday. Its possible that Francis, 27, could be a factor there, either as a traditional starter or part of a bullpen game of some kind. Drafted by the Brewers in 2017, he came over to the Blue Jays alongside Trevor Richards in the 2021 deal that sent Rowdy Tellez to Milwaukee.

Between those two organizations, Francis posted a 3.93 ERA in the minors in 2021, split between Double-A and Triple-A. That got him a spot on Torontos 40-man roster in the winter to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft. He struggled in 2022 and lost his roster spot, posting a 6.59 ERA in Triple-A, though he did make his major league debut with a scoreless outing that lasted two thirds of an inning.

Despite that rough year, hes had some decent momentum since. He joined Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico for some time in winter ball, posting a 1.51 ERA in 35 2/3 innings there. He then had a 1.08 ERA in 13 Spring Training innings before heading to Triple-A Buffalo. He made a couple of starts before going on the minor league injured list but has been back in action for a couple of weeks now and has a 2.89 ERA in the minors so far this year. The Jays havent made any announcements about their future rotation plans, but its possible that it could be contingent on whether or not Francis is needed before Saturday. With the bullpen fairly taxed after Manoahs start last night, he could be pushed into action sooner if another starter struggles this week.

One player who apparently wont be an option to join the rotation is Thompson. He came over to the Blue Jays from the Pirates in an offseason trade but has a 6.89 ERA through 11 Triple-A starts on the year so far. His 8.8% walk rate is fairly average but his 14.4% strikeout rate is well below. He seemed to break out as a viable big league pitcher with the Marlins in 2021, posting a 3.24 ERA in 75 innings that year. But he struggled in 2022 after getting traded to the Pirates, registering a 5.18 ERA last year.

The Jays will now have one week to trade Thompson or pass him through waivers. His poor results both last year and this year will obviously temper interest, but he has past major league success and a full slate of options. With many teams around the league dealing with injuries and in need of pitching depth, he could still find some interest. If he were to clear waivers, he would not have the right to elect free agency since he doesnt have three years of service time or a previous career outright.
ORION TWP., MI - Michigan is full of waterslides, but only one place has launch slides. New for 2023, these fast, steep slides, located on a beach, will send you flying into the water.

Theyre located at Water Warrior Island water park at Bald Mountain State Park at 3361 South Lapeer Road in Lake Orion, which is just north of Auburn Hills.

There are three slides in all, each 30-feet high sending sliders down at around a 75-degree angle. At the bottom, sliders are launched high into the air, like jumping off of a swing, getting plenty of airtime before splashing into the water.

Its called the Water Whoa Slide. Its the first one in the country, Water Warrior Island co-owner, Sam Fulton excitedly told MLive. It launches you about 20-feet out. Each slide launches you a little higher.

Its $5 for one slide, $10 for three slides, $15 for five slides or $25 for 10 slides. You can also slide as much as you want beginning at 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays and beginning at 7 p.m. on weekends for $55. Sliders must weigh a minimum of 75 pounds.

Sam and Aaron Fulton bought the land along the lake seven years ago and opened Water Warrior Island. The slides they built are just scratching the surface as the park also has an inflatable water park in the middle of the lake along with kayak and paddle board rentals. Floating cabanas are also new for this year.

This is just a full-fun experience all the way around for summer fun with the inflatables, launch slides and floating cabanas. said Aaron Fulton. This is a great family fun-filled day out at the beach, added Sam Fulton. Its a place where people can make great memories all summer long.

Water Warrior Island, itself, is free to enter and hang out at the beach and swim in the lake. You do need a State Recreation Pass to get into Bald Mountain State Park. If you didnt buy one when renewing your drivers license, you can get one at the park entrance for $18 and its good for a full year at any Michigan state park.

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HOUGHTON, MI  Houghton brought together a group of community leaders in late February to make sure they understood a looming threat to the citys finances: Walmart was asking the Michigan Tax Tribunal to grant it a sharp reduction in the property tax assessments on its store off of M-26.

If the big box retailer got what it was asking for, it wouldnt just mean less tax money going forward, but as much as $1.2 million in retroactive payments from the city, from the local schools and the library, from veteran and senior service agencies.

But that dispute is partly settled, and Walmart is getting more than what it originally asked for.

A Walmart subsidiary first brought the case of the Houghton store to the Michigan Tax Tribunal in 2018. The tribunal is the court that hears tax appeals from across the state. The retailer asked that the taxable value on the Houghton store be reduced from slightly less than $4.7 million to just under $4 million.

A settlement approved by the tribunal last week would make it less than $2.4 million for the 2018 tax year and only slightly higher for 2019 and 2020. Another tax dispute over the same store filed in 2021 is ongoing.

The settlement is particularly remarkable because the retailer signed a development agreement with the city of Houghton in 2004 that laid out conditions for the retail giant to expand the store.

The city agreed to give Walmart $300,000 to offset the costs of wetland mitigation work and agree to provide long-term environmental monitoring of the surrounding wetlands and drain systems.

In return, Walmart agreed to a $1.95 million increase in the taxable value of the property, raising its overall taxable value to nearly $4.5 million when the expansion was completed in 2005.

It appears everyone was working together in good faith when the development agreement was signed and the expansion took place, said Houghton City Manager Eric Waara in a statement, but now we too are being subject to a dark store appeal and they want to contend the conditions in that agreement somehow no longer apply.

The dark store argument has saved retail giants hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes in Michigan over the last decade and cost local governments the same amount.

It posits that big box retail stores are best assessed not as the sites of successful businesses but as what they would be worth empty.

And, because the massive buildings that house those stores have few other obvious uses and, in some cases, because restrictions on selling the buildings to competitors put in place by the companies themselves reduce the pool of potential buyers, they often sell for far less than they cost to build.

The dark store argument has survived several legal challenges and strong opposition from local governments and from a few state legislators.

But its become well enough established that, when retailers such as Walmart, Menards or Home Depot ask for a tax cut, local governments settle rather than fight.

Read more: The dark store theory has cost Michigan cities millions. Its facing new challenges. - mlive.com

Houghton has sued Walmart in federal court, alleging breach of contract, and that lawsuit is ongoing.

The city will continue to seek a resolution but is reviewing extra services provided to Wal Mart and is exploring other options to ameliorate the unique costs incurred by the city because of Wal Marts store in Houghton, Waara said in a statement.

Randy Hargrove, Walmarts senior director of national media relations, said in a statement that the retailer is committed to Houghton, and were pleased we could reach an agreement with the city. Houghton is home to many of our associates and customers, and we look forward to continuing to serve the community moving forward.

Read more at MLive:

U.P. city facing potentially devastating reduction in Walmart property taxes

During the darkest days of COVID, some Michigan hospitals made 100s of millions

Michigans nonprofit hospitals get big tax breaks. They dont always give much in return.
DETROIT -- A Canadian pastor who met a Michigan girl online in 2013 and had sexual intercourse with her has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to the Department of Justice, Timothy Milley, 69, was sentenced last week in federal court after he was convicted in October of the online enticement of a minor.

Milley was accused of meeting the girl online and having text message conversations with her over the course of several months. Eventually Milley traveled to Michigan from Canada and convinced the girl to meet him outside of her Detroit-area high school. Milley picked the teen up and drove her to a hotel where he had sex with the underage girl.

After that, Milley drove the teen back to the school and dropped her off outside the building before leaving.

This defendant groomed the vulnerable minor victim and preyed upon her youth and inexperience. Thanks to her bravery in coming forward years later, we were able to arrest him and prevent further victimization of other minors, said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison.

The victim in the case came forward years later after she decided to look Milley up online. During her research, she learned that Milley been charged and convicted in Canada of a similar crime, leading the victim to contact law enforcement agents at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

An investigation was launched and Milley was eventually taken into custody and charged in mater.

Individuals who prey on children, especially those in positions of public trust, should expect to be held fully accountable for their actions, said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie. M. Salazar. I commend the victim for her courage in coming forward to ensure that Milley is unable to continue to victimize and exploit children.

READ MORE:
During the first years of the pandemic, Michigan hospitals told the public their situation was dire. Their staffs were overworked. Emergency rooms were bursting with patients. Resources were limited.

Many furloughed staff, cut workers salaries or trimmed executive pay, at least temporarily.

But an examination of tax records, audited financial statements and federal data collected by a nonprofit found that a few hospitals and health systems did great, posting increases in both operating profits and overall net assets as the pandemic raged.

In December of 2021, Bill Manns, president and CEO of Bronson Healthcare, said in a video message the southwest Michigan health system was at the highest level of disaster response in our history and that its staff and resources were stretched beyond anything we could have ever imagined.

What Manns didnt say was that Bronson, a four-hospital system based in Kalamazoo, was on track to post $112 million in operating profits that year, more than twice what it made in 2019. More than $30 million of that came from federal COVID relief money.

McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, too, saw its profits rise in 2020, and it had a banner year in 2021.

The 14-hospital health systems net assets rose by nearly $700 million in the fiscal year that ended that September, thanks in part to lucrative investments, according to audited financial reports.

It also made more than $170 million in operating profit, all while taking $53 million in COVID relief from the government.

McLaren declined to discuss its finances or to answer a list of specific questions sent by MLive.

But Becky East, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Bronson Healthcare, said under the new CEO the health system introduced a strategic market initiative, a performance improvement tool used to help capture revenue and growth opportunities. Based on community need, they expanded capacity and invested in primary and cancer care, among other services.

Which isnt always obvious to patients.

The profits are a lot, and I dont really see anything coming out of it, Caitlin Fee, 25, of Kalamazoo said as she left the emergency department May 18 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Shed waited 3  hours for treatment for her 4-year-old daughters mouth infection, she said. It was after 7 p.m. and the girl, holding her mothers hand, was tired and teary eyed.

It seems like they need more staff in there, and more hospital beds.

Sixty-four of 116 Michigan nonprofit and government hospitals made more money in 2021 than they did in 2018, when looking at the hospitals independently and not the overall operations of the health systems that often own them, according to the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy. The increases generally came with the help of money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

Among those experiencing the largest gains are Metropolitan Hospital in Wyoming, Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield, Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids, long known as St. Marys.

Marilyn Bartlett, a senior policy fellow for the Center for Health System Costs at the National Academy for State Health Policy, said the questions for health systems that saw their financial fortunes improve as the pandemic tore through hospitals across the country, are where did the money come from, and where did it go?

"Did it go into more investments?" she asked. "Did it go into building more facilities, buying physician practices?"

A financial buffer for the future

The onset of the pandemic was "a blow to the vast majority of our hospitals," said Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Hospitals were going through as many masks, gloves and gowns in a week as they normally would in a year, he said. Staffing costs "exploded" as hospitals brought in travelling nurses to plug holes in the nursing workforce. At the same time, they stopped performing most elective procedures.

"One of the things that that was exposed by the pandemic is the fragility of our traditional volume-based reimbursement system, which traditionally has paid hospitals and physicians and other providers for every additional test, every additional procedure," he said.

But, in the first year of the pandemic, federal money filled the gaps.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that the $175 billion that went to hospitals through the CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act kept profit margins stable and actually increased profits for many small and rural hospitals.

Taxpayers not only bailed out the hospitals but also gave them more of a financial buffer for the future, said Ge Bai, one of the authors of the study and a professor in Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and its Bloomberg School of Public Health.

By 2021, Peters said, the relief money was flowing and the initial difficulties securing protective equipment had largely been worked out, but staffing costs were also rising, in part because hospitals were using more nurse traveler agencies and those agencies rates were going up.

The difficulty, he said, is that hospitals generally cant respond quickly when prices change.

The gas station when the price of gas goes up through the supply chain, they can literally reprice that gas at the pump every morning, he said. In healthcare, Medicare tells us what they will pay us. Medicaid tells us what they will pay us. The private insurance contracts are negotiated well in advance.

Executive pay increases

In the first month of the pandemic, the state office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration got five complaints about McLarens hospital in Flint saying, among other things, that COVID-19 patients are spread throughout the hospital and we have zero PPE available to keep us safe.

At least two employees died from the disease: Patrick Cain, a nurse, and Roger Liddell, who worked in procurement.

McLaren Macomb "was hit very hard with COVID patients to the point that there was a freezer truck out back, and I want to say this as respectfully as I can, but full of the bodies of COVID patients who had passed away," said Dina Carlisle, president of OPEIU Local 40.

By mid-April, McLaren had announced temporary furloughs and other cost-saving measures, necessitated, it said, by "the cancellation of nonessential procedures."

Kevin Tompkins, a spokesman for McLaren Health, said at the time that hundreds of leadership level employees would be giving up a week of pay, roughly a 2% pay cut.

But, according to tax filings, McLaren CEO Philip Incarnati got a raise of nearly 12 percent that year, bringing his 2020 salary to more than $8.1 million.

Michael Lacusta, the senior vice president for business development, saw his compensation rise by more than 50 percent, an increase of nearly $457,000.

Tom Brisse, the CEO of McLaren Macomb, saw his compensation almost double to $1.85 million.

In fact, most of the McLaren senior executives listed in the health systems tax filings saw their compensation rise significantly in 2020.

Its worth noting that a Trump-era tax law mandates a 21 percent excise tax on all nonprofit compensation over $1 million a year, which must be paid by the nonprofits themselves. That means Incarnatis salary alone costs the health system nearly $1.5 million in additional taxes.

That does put a bad taste in a lot of the nurses mouths, said Laken Gray, registered nurse at McLaren Bay Region Hospital in Bay City, particularly those who have been at the hospital through the worst.

"They feel like McLaren is not supporting us nurses who are actually at the bedside caring for these patients and keeping them safe," she said.

Bronson, too, mandated furloughs in 2020 for several hundred non-clinical employees. Manns took a 25% salary reduction. Other executives also took pay cuts for a few months.

But any sacrifices made during the early months of the pandemic are not reflected in top administrators pay.

Executive compensation for Bronson Healthcare increased from about $9.7 million in 2019 to about $12.2 million in 2020, according to tax filings.

Longtime CEO Frank Sardone retired in 2019 but received more than half his salary  almost $900,000  in 2020. Manns worked part of the year in 2020 and earned about $798,000. A senior vice president who was paid about $881,000 served as interim CEO from January to March.

East, the financial officer, noted executive compensation amounts to less than 1% of the salaries paid at Bronson and these leaders receive significant specialized training and typically have years in the field in a variety of management positions.

The board, she said, sets the salary levels based on several factors, including industry standards, market information, skills and experience, level of responsibility and quality of leadership.

But the health care system ended 2020 with operating profits just shy of $75 million - $47 million of which came from federal COVID relief money  and an overall increase in net assets of nearly $172 million.

Earlier in the year, the revenue loss had been significant and expenses were not decreasing, East said. The health system did not know what relief funds it would receive.

If we would have had a crystal ball, it would have been a lot easier to make some operational decisions, she said.

The federal dollars were intended to help hospitals make up for lost revenue and cover additional operating expenses, East said, which greatly improved Bronsons margins through the pandemic, but it still didnt cover all of that.

East said use for the funds was very prescriptive. They had to go toward the pandemic and additional incurred expenses.

In January of 2021, Bronson opened its new $60 million cancer pavilion in Kalamazoo named for Sardone, who served the hospital for 32 years.

That summer, it broke ground on a new $35 million in-patient behavioral health facility in Battle Creek, a joint venture with Acadia Healthcare Co.

I mean I feel like their services should be better if they made that much, or maybe they should give the employees a raise, said Tee Washington, 25, of Kalamazoo, as she walked to Bronson Methodist Hospital one May evening. She had a friend recovering from surgery, and he was having trouble securing staff assistance in a timely manner.

Where did it go? What did they invest? I know for sure the employees pay did not change. I worked here over a year ago, said Washington, who made minimum wage working in the hospital kitchen for a few months. As a mother of two young children, she quit during the pandemic, but still works in health care.

To have all that money, I would have thought somebody would have got a raise around here, between COVID, everybody was risking their life, life or death at the time.

Map: Michigan hospitals operating profits (2018-2021)



Data from National Academy for State Health Policy.

No pressure to pause or slow down

McLarens operating profit, the money it made from its business operations excluding investments, pension adjustments and the like, was $148 million in 2020. Thats nearly $100 million more than it made the year before the pandemic.

That year, McLaren got $146 million of COVID relief money from the federal government and $386 million in accelerated Medicaid payments.

And, as Corporate Vice President of Facilities Management Dan Medrano put in that years annual report, "the corporation stayed committed to its major capital projects. There were no corporate financial cuts, and no pressure to pause or slow down."

McLaren pushed forward on the new $600 million hospital it was building in Lansing and on renovation projects at hospitals across the state.

It also acquired St. Lukes hospital outside of Toledo. The financial details of the deal werent disclosed, but McLaren promised to invest $100 million over five years to improve St. Lukes campus. Instead, McLaren announced this past March that it planned to close St. Lukes and sell off the land and facilities, citing "declining revenues and an unstable reimbursement."

Its hard to distinguish for profits from non-profits

Both McLaren and Bronson are nonprofit health systems, but even hospitals that arent operated for profit are subject to what leaders in health care call the tension between margin and mission. Without money, its hard to do much good.

Citizens want nonprofit hospitals, in return for their tax-free status, to provide benefits to the communities and the people they serve, said Dr. John Ayanian, a primary care doctor and director of the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan.

"They also have to generate enough margin to maintain their capital, their equipment, their buildings, to hire appropriate staff," he said. "So, we dont want hospitals operating with deficits because of unpaid patient bills. Butthey should not be generating huge profits or huge margins and financial reserves that are more for the benefit of the management team."

And its not hard to find those who think the balance has tipped too far toward making money.

"Its hard to distinguish for profits and nonprofits, because theres really no structure that demands it," said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that advocates for health system reforms, including prioritizing healing over profits.

American hospitals make money on a fee-for-service basis, he said. The ones that can get the most people coming in to get the treatments with the highest profit margins will make the most money, which isnt the same as serving the needs of their communities.

"Theres no sort of oversight about capacity, how much of which kinds of services a hospital can provide and spend money on and really be good at," he said. "And theres no real reckoning with actual need."

Vivian Valdmanis, a professor at the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs at Western Michigan University, said that part of the issues is youre bringing in businesspeople to run hospitals. In business school, you dont learn how to give money away.

Julie Fream, for example, is chairperson of the board for Corewell Health, the newly named behemoth born when Beaumont Health in Southeast Michigan merged with Spectrum Health on the states west side. Shes also the president and CEO of Southfield-based Original Equipment Suppliers Association, which champions the interests of automotive suppliers.

Martha Fuerstenau is board chair at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. She is president and CEO of American 1 Credit Union.

McLaren Central Michigans chairperson is Doug Ouellette, a president for Mercantile Bank of Michigan.

Hospitals are not marketing to poor people, Valdmanis said. They are working to attract people with quality insurance, people who can pay. Thats is clear from the way they advertise. They do not boast about doling out charity care. They tout the quality of their services.

As a paying person or a person with insurance, whats more important to you, the hospital with all the latest technology or the hospital thats generous to the poor population? she said.

Declines

For Bronson and McLaren, the successes of the pandemics first years didnt last.

McLarens operating profits fell below $80 million in 2022. Its overall net assets fell by more than $300 million. At Bronson, operating profits dropped to just over $50 million and its net assets declined by more than $16 million.

Federal assistance had largely dried up. The strains of the pandemic became an ongoing staffing shortage. A Michigan Health and Hospital Association survey completed in March found that the states hospitals had 27,000 job openings, among them nearly 8,500 open nursing positions.

By late 2022, hospitals across Michigan had lost an aggregate of 1,700 staffed beds. Hospital leaders were looking for the state to help. And the Health and Hospital Association was talking about a funding crisis.

The pandemic showed the fragility of our traditional system, Peters said, and its forced our member hospital and health system leaders to really think about a new model.
IRON MOUNTAIN, MI  A man who was convicted of sexually assault against a 7-year-old girl, which was caught on a nannycam, has been sentenced in Michigan court, WLUC reports.

Justin Harvala, 34, of Kingsford, is sentenced to 142 months (11 years and 10 months) to 420 months (35 years) in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree criminal sexual conduct against a child under 13 years old, the report said. He was sentenced by Judge Christopher Ninomiya in Dickinson County Circuit Court.

Harvala plans to appeal the guilty verdict and sentence, the report said.
Butterworth Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids was recently named one of the least generous nonprofit hospitals in America.

Thats according to the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that advocates for health system reforms, which compared the tax breaks that nonprofit hospitals get to their spending on charity care and community investments.

Butterworth fell $134 million short in 2020, the institute said in a report released earlier this month, enough to pay off medical debts for 110,000 Michiganders.

Only five hospitals in the country had larger gaps.

Corewell Health, the hospitals parent company, doesnt agree with the assessment.

The Lown Institutes calculations intentionally exclude three categories of what hospitals call community benefit spending: research, training for new doctors and Medicaid shortfall, which is the difference between what Medicaid will pay for a procedure and what a hospital says it costs.

The rationale, Lown says, is that they dont make a direct difference for community health.

Corewell said the omissions paint a false picture. The report fails to accurately depict the community benefit of nonprofit hospitals, including ours, the company said in a statement.

But the ranking points to something larger.

Michigan is among the minority of states that ask for nothing from nonprofit hospitals beyond the minimal requirements set by the federal government, and, on average, the states nonprofit hospitals arent as generous as hospitals elsewhere.

In aggregate, they spent less on community benefit than hospitals in any of the other Great Lakes states in 2019, according to data compiled by Community Benefit Insight, an organization that works to improve public awareness of hospitals charitable spending. That year, Michigans nonprofit hospitals ranked 35th on spending per capita nationwide.

Farhan Bhatti is the CEO of Care Free Medical, a free clinic in Lansing that gets support from Sparrow Health System and McLaren Health Care. Hes also the state lead in Michigan for the Committee to Protect Health Care, a national Michigan-based organization that works to increase health care access and lower prices for patients.

While there are community-based hospitals that do contribute to the health and wellness of the communities that they are located in, theres definitely more that hospitals in Michigan could do to serve the communities where they are located he said. As long as theyre going continue to benefit from not paying taxes, those dollars should be reinvested in communities.

Do nonprofits earn their tax breaks?

Under federal rules, hospitals have to do just a few things to keep their nonprofit status.

They have to have a financial assistance policy, do a formal assessment of their communities health needs every three years and have a plan for meeting those needs, among other things. The government says nothing about how much they need to spend on such programs.

In some cases, they dont spend much.

A recent study by researchers at KFF, formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that the total value of the tax breaks given to nonprofit hospitals across the country were worth $28 billion in 2020. The amount those hospitals spent on free or discounted care was about $16 billion.

Charity care is just one piece of most hospitals community benefit spending, which can include everything from health education programs to housing assistance.

Rick Pollack, the president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said in a blog post that KFF had essentially ignored everything else hospitals do for their communities.

The AHA commissioned a study from Ernst and Young that puts nonprofit hospitals total community benefit spending at nearly $111 billion in 2019 and the value of the federal taxes they dont have to pay at $12.4 billion. The study doesnt take state or local taxes into account.

But, even when you factor in everything, a substantial number of hospitals fall short.

A 2021 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University that tracked community benefit spending over most of a decade found that nearly 40% of nonprofit hospitals didnt spend as much as they got in tax benefits. It also found wide variations in spending, with the most generous 10% of hospitals giving away 20 times as much as the least generous 10%.

And multiple studies have found that for-profit hospitals provide as much charity care and shoulder a similar amount of unreimbursed Medicaid costs as nonprofits.

Without clear standards or accountability efforts, there isnt necessarily the move towards doing more than maybe has been done in the past, said Simone Singh, an associate professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan.

Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act changed the landscape of community benefit spending, because more people with insurance meant fewer people needed charity care.

In Michigan, the Medicaid expansion implemented in 2014 added coverage for more than 650,000 residents.

The year before the expansion, the states nonprofit hospitals provided more than $360 million in financial assistance to patients, according to Community Benefit Insight. The year after the expansion, they provided about $122 million, a drop of more than 60 percent.

Hospitals did increase investment in other areas, but not enough to offset savings. Overall community benefit spending dropped by more than $158 million.

The hope was that hospitals would be shifting some of the savings, so it goes from reduced charity care to more intentional spending on things that might benefit the community more broadly, Singh said, but you havent really seen that.

Shortfall

The Lown Institutes assessments of whether Michigan hospitals are paying their fair share may be an incomplete assessment of nonprofit hospitals contributions, but they also offer a rare state-to-state comparison.

And, in that comparison, Michigan looks bad.

The state ranked 47th for 2019, with a gap of more than $1.2 billion between the value of hospitals tax breaks and what they were giving back in charity care and community investment, Lown reported. And it ranked 47th again in 2020, this time with a gap of $901 million.

The institutes analysis of 2019 spending includes a ranking of the 25 hospital systems with the largest gaps.

Lown ranked Trinity Health, a Catholic health system headquartered in Livonia, as the second worst in the country, with tax breaks worth $617 million more than it spent on charity care and community investment.

Henry Ford Health System ranked 20th, with a $213 million gap.

Spectrum Health, which has since merged with Beaumont Heath to become Corewell Health, came in at number 22 with a $181 million gap.

All three of those hospital systems note that Lown simply omits certain kinds of community investment from its analysis, including Medicaid shortfall, which is nonprofit hospitals single largest category of charitable spending.

The figures in question are from 2019 and we consider them to be inaccurate, as they unfortunately do not take into consideration some of the important community benefits we contribute to, including medical education and unfunded costs of government programs including Medicaid and Medicare, said Lauren Zakalik, a spokesperson for Henry Ford. That year, we provided more than $600 million in uncompensated care and community benefits, and our most recent numbers from 2021 show that number rose to more than $700 million.

A spokesperson for Trinity, which operates 88 hospitals around the country, said it reported $1.4 billion in total community benefit for the 2022 fiscal year exceeding the amount of taxes we would have paid by more than $720 million. She called the Lown Institutes report inaccurate and, sadly, misleading.

Lown says its simply focusing on those measures that have the most to do with community health.

Regarding research spending, for instance, we arent claiming it isnt a good thing for them to do. It is, spokesperson Aaron Toleos said in an email. But to a lower-income community where people are having their feet amputated because of a lack of diabetes care, curing a rare disease that affects only a handful of people around the world probably isnt what theyd prefer to have their tax dollars spent on.

As for the decision to exclude Medicaid shortfall, Lown said that, while the organization doesnt question the value of hospitals treating Medicaid patients, in practice they make up for lower Medicaid reimbursements by charging private insurers more and dont claim discounted rates offered to insured patients as a community benefit.

Medicaid shortfall

Medicaid shortfall can be slippery category, according to Morgane Mouslim, a policy analyst with the Hilltop Institute, a nonpartisan health research organization at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

In many cases, she said, hospitals base the reported figures on the difference between their sticker prices and what Medicaid pays, and hospitals kind of make up those sticker prices, she said.

There is no standard for what the sticker price isso it is truly artificial, she said. They take that difference between that artificial sticker price and what Medicaid pays and thats how hospitals can truly artificially inflate some of their community benefit.

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association reports that hospitals in the state absorbed $1.5 billion in Medicaid shortfalls in 2020, more than half of overall community benefit spending.

Laura Appel, the organizations executive vice president of government relations and public policy, said all of that is based on the costs incurred. Its not related to the charges, which can be much, much higher.

State regulations

Illinois requires most hospitals to treat uninsured low-income patients for free. It limits how they can collect medical debts from the uninsured. It offers property tax exemptions only to hospitals whose spending on charity care is at least equal to what they would have spent on property taxes.

To qualify for property tax exemptions, Pennsylvania requires a hospital to give away a substantial portion of its services. One of the seven ways to satisfy that requirement specifies donating at least 3 percent of total operating expenses.

In 2019, Oregon passed one of the most ambitious plans for ensuring that nonprofit hospitals give enough to merit their tax benefits. The state has begun setting minimum community benefit spending levels for each nonprofit hospital and requiring hospitals to check patients eligibility for financial assistance before sending medical debts to collection or charging interest.

Lawmakers havent put forward any such plan in Michigan.

Bhatti sees room for more structure for nonprofit hospitals, particularly measures that would further accountability to the communities theyre supposed to be serving.

Unless you make someone do something, nonprofit, for-profit or whatever, they are not going to do it, said Vivian Valdmanis, Western Michigan University professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs. She has taught health economics, and other related policy topics for more than 20 years.

Theyve gotten a lot of carrots and maybe now its time for some sticks.

Appel, of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, said commenting on the possibility of future regulation would be too speculative.

But she added that the states nonprofit hospitals understand the federal community benefit spending requirements well.

We believe that our hospitals take that very, very seriously, she said. I think the IRS does a good job of demonstrating that they have an expectation that hospitals act appropriately to maintain that.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom had some choice words for Florida's Ron DeSantis after the petty governor allegedly used his own state's taxpayer dollars  again  to deceive migrants, this time flying 16 asylum-seekers from Texas to Sacramento unannounced.

Gavin first hurled insults at DeSantis, calling him "small" and "pathetic," and then seemed to accuse the Florida dictator of kidnapping.

"@RonDeSantis, you small, pathetic man," he tweeted last night. "This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?"

Gavin then attached a kidnapping law (California Code, Penal Code  PEN  207) to the Twitter post: "(d) Every person who, being out of this state, abducts or takes by force or fraud any person contrary to the law of the place where that act is committed, and brings, sends, or conveys that person within the limits of this state, and is afterwards found within the limits thereof, is guilty of kidnapping." (See tweet below.)

From the Los Angeles Times:
GRAYLING, MI -- Recreation areas have reopened and local roads will open Tuesday in a Northern Michigan wooded area where fire burned 2,400 acres.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff on Monday, June 5 announced that the fire, known as the Wilderness Trail fire, is now more than 90 percent contained. The area is just southeast of Grayling.

In a statement issued Monday, the DNR said recreation and beach areas at Kneff Lake and Staley Lake have reopened. Local roads should be reopened Tuesday.

DNR staff is asking people curious about the fire to stay out of blackened areas because dead tress can pose a hazard and the ground may still be warm.

Mike Janisse, commander of the DNR Incident Management Team assisting with the fire, said its preferred if people temporarily avoid the area.

But if people do visit, they should stay on roads and keep pets on leashes. Fire crews likely will be in the area to finish duties and the DNR asks motorists to drive slowly.

The fire started about 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3 from a campfire on private property. It burned jack pine, mixed pines and hardwood trees.

With the recent warm and dry weather, the fire danger in Michigan is high.

More from MLive

Amtrak to suspend some Michigan-to-Chicago trains for 8 weeks

Michigans fire danger is extreme, DNR says
WARREN, MI  Police have identified one suspect after shots were fired outside a Michigan high school Monday afternoon while students were boarding buses, Macomb Daily reports.

Warren Police Commission William Dwyer told the newspaper that a male suspect has been identified using videos of the incident. He expects to make an arrest by Wednesday, the report said.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday outside Michigan Collegiate High School on Ryan Road in Warren, the report said. Four to eight shots were fired into the air near where school buses were parked while students were boarding after classes let out. No one was injured.
We now have an end date for the pause on student loan payments.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed a bill that suspends the U.S. governments $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, averting a first-ever default. Tucked away in the measure was a provision that restarts federal student loan payments after a pause that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restart date is Aug. 29, meaning people will have to once again be required to make student loan payments, likely starting with their September bills. Loans will begin accruing interest then as well.

The White House has ruled out more extensions though the debt deal put that in stone  no extensions could be given unless approved by Congress.

The end of the pause means some 43 million borrowers will once again have to make payments on their student loans. The Education Department will notify borrowers before repayments begin.

Still undecided, however, is what impact President Joe Bidens massive student loan forgiveness plan  currently in front of the Supreme Court  will have on the future of payments. The White House plan would forgive up to $10,000 in student loans for federal borrowers or up to $20,000 for those with Pell Grants. That decision is expected in June or July.

The original payment pause and interest waiver was enacted under President Donald Trump in March 2020 and was set to expire in September 2020. It was subsequently extended eight times with the last one announced Nov. 22, 2022.
Update: Portal open for Ann Arbor program guaranteeing $528 per month in income

ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan are teaming up to launch a guaranteed-income program giving a leg up to residents with entrepreneurial spirit.

The plan is to give 100 families and individuals roughly $528 per month for two years and study the impacts.

The pilot program will target residents in low- and moderate-income households who are engaged in some form of entrepreneurship, Deputy City Administrator John Fournier said, explaining it could be a home-based business.

It could be gig work or side hustles, he said. In the household I grew up in, my mom was a stay-at-home mom, but she made wedding cakes out of our kitchen and that was a really important source of income for our family.

Deputy City Administrator John Fournier speaks about a guaranteed-income pilot program for lower-income residents at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on June 5, 2023, joined by Kristin Seefeldt and Trevor Bechtel of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions team.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Fournier presented the concept for the new program to City Council Monday night, June 5, joined by Kristin Seefeldt and Trevor Bechtel from UMs Poverty Solutions team.

Council decided in April 2022 to set aside $1.6 million of the citys federal stimulus funds for a universal basic income program to be modeled after one in Stockton, California. Its now called guaranteed income and its one of a number of similar income experiments being conducted across the country.

Council voted unanimously Monday to OK an agreement to have Poverty Solutions administer the program and conduct research. UMs team, which is providing nearly $170,000 in matching staff costs, will help the city explore whether the monthly payments positively contribute to participants health and wellbeing and help stabilize or grow their businesses.

Its an important question to ask, because in cities all across the country when we see guaranteed-income programs, there are always critics who step up and say giving away free money for nothing will cause people not to work, Fournier said.

Findings from the Ann Arbor program will help cities design such programs to produce better health, wellness and economic outcomes, Fournier said.

Many low- and moderate-income people are engaged in different types of entrepreneurial activity  some because they hope to grow a business, and others because they need the income to cover their monthly expenses, said Seefeldt, a UM associate professor of social work and public policy and associate director of Poverty Solutions.

We want to see how this guaranteed income allows this community to improve their personal economic security and wellbeing, whether thats through expanding their business efforts or by scaling back, she said.

Kristin Seefeldt of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions team speaks at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on June 5, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Poverty Solutions is planning outreach and collaboration with nonprofit entities to help recruit participants.

We plan to cast a wide net, Seefeldt said, noting her team plans to work with Friends In Deed, a local nonprofit that provides assistance to low-income entrepreneurs.

Theyve been running their Circles program that does this for about five years and theyre currently in their sixth cohort, so theyre definitely a group that we want to be able to tap into their network, she said. But we also are going to collaborate with just a wide variety of stakeholders and service providers.

Whether the program should be limited to Ann Arbor residents was discussed Monday, with Seefeldt noting there are people priced out of the city by housing costs. Council unanimously supported an amendment by Council Member Erica Briggs, D-5th Ward, to make city residency a requirement.

At the urging of Council Member Chris Watson, D-2nd Ward, council also amended the proposal to stipulate priority will be given to residents who receive any existing form of public assistance, such as housing or food benefits, and other residents who engage in entrepreneurial work must demonstrate economic need or hardship to be eligible.

Council Member Chris Watson, D-2nd Ward, speaks at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on June 5, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Seefeldt said her team has been in conversations with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is submitting an application for a waiver so the monthly stipends wont count as income that could cause program participants to lose other benefits. Confidentiality for participants also will be taken seriously, she said.

Watson said he was wondering if the city was looking to stimulate minority-owned, low-income small businesses with the investment its making. Mondays presentation clarified its less about business growth and more about health outcomes, he said.

Poverty Solutions doesnt want to mandate anyone use their guaranteed-income payments for any particular purpose, Seefeldt said.

If they want to use it toward their business, terrific. If not, thats great, too, she said.

Theres also no stipulation participants must keep working on a side business to continue receiving payments, she said.

The Ann Arbor City Council meeting on June 5, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Mayor Christopher Taylor and other council members expressed excitement about getting the program started.

It will have a tremendous and important effect for folks on the ground in the here and now and will also leave a legacy of information and instruction for other jurisdictions who look to take our work and then build upon it, Taylor said.

In addition to city staff and Poverty Solutions, council members thanked Council Member Linh Song, D-2nd Ward, for her advocacy to help start the initiative. They see it in part as a way to help residents negatively impacted by the pandemic.

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One of four men still facing trial in connection to the Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer kidnap plot is expected to change his not-guilty plea.

Shawn Fix, 40, of Belleville, is scheduled to appear in Antrim County Circuit Court at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, for a plea hearing. He previously pleaded not guilty to counts of providing material support for terrorist acts, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, punishable by a mandatory two years in prison.

Fix is accused of conducting surveillance near Whitmers vacation home on Birch Lake with defendants Eric Molitor, 39, of Cadillac; and 41-year-old twin brothers Michael and William Null, of Plainwell and Shelbyville, respectively.

The Nulls and Molitor are awaiting trial on charges of providing material support for terrorist acts, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, punishable by a mandatory two years in prison. The trial, expected to last 15 days, is set to begin Aug. 21.

Antrim County defendant Brian Higgins, 54, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty March 15 to attempting to provide material support for terrorism, punishable by up to five years in prison, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed a count of providing material support for terrorist acts, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Nine other defendants were charged in connection to the kidnap plot, including three in Jackson County and six in Grand Rapids U.S. District Court.

After being found guilty in a jury trial, Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson on Dec. 15 sentenced Pete Musico of Munith to a minimum of 12 years in prison; Joseph Morrison of Munith to a minimum of 10 years in prison; and Paul Bellar of Milford to a minimum of seven years in prison.

After being convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction during a second jury trial  the first ended with a hung jury  a U.S. District judge sentenced Barry Croft Jr. of Bear, Delaware, to nearly 20 years in prison and Adam Fox of Wyoming, Michigan, to 16 years.

Jurors acquitted Brandon Caserta of Canton and Daniel Harris of Lake Orion at a federal trial.

Kaleb Frank of Waterford and Ty Garbin of Livingston County each pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to kidnap and cooperated with investigators. Franks was sentenced to four years in prison while Garbin, the first to plead guilty, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- An Ann Arbor man charged with assaulting a woman in downtown Ann Arbor in May will be evaluated for competency.

Durrell Perkins, 35, was charged with aggravated assault and trespassing on Monday, May 8, in the 15th District Court.

Perkins was ordered to undergo a competency examination on Wednesday, May 31.

Surveillance footage captured Perkins assaulting a 56-year-old Ann Arbor woman around 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, according to Ann Arbor police.

The woman had been walking southbound across Catherine Street near North Main Street when the man allegedly came up behind her, she told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

Read more: Womans jaw fractured in 3 places after assault in downtown Ann Arbor

The woman suffered three fractures to her upper jawbone and was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital. The two did not know each other, police said.

Perkins is also being charged with trespassing in connection with an early April incident. That case is still open.

Perkins is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

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MILAN, MI - When Tailee Bevins approached her cousin Mark Davis-Craig about coordinating a surprise visit to the United States to see her brother graduate from high school, Davis-Craig said he took his role as the familys secret keeper very seriously.

Stationed as a Lance Corporal with the Marines more than a year into a three-year tour in Okinawa, Japan, Bevins knew there would come a time when she would want to return to her hometown of Milan, keeping June 4 circled with the pending graduation of her brother, Tason.

Davis-Craig held up his end of the bargain, keeping the secret from family and friends for months while arranging to pick Bevins up at the airport in Chicago over the weekend. From there, he helped Bevins coordinate two surprise encounters, including one after Tason received his diploma during Milan High Schools graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 4.

We agreed that I would be her secret keeper because I can keep a secret and its hard for other people in the family to do that, Davis-Craig said.

To say Tason Bevins was surprised by his sisters presence at the ceremony would be an understatement. He was so surprised, in fact, that when his sister handed him a flower while he went through the line to receive his diploma, he didnt even realize it was her initially.

Shes the one who handed me (the flower) and I didnt even realize it because I was so surprised, Tason said. I was really happy and I tried to give her a hug and talk to her and she was like, You gotta go, there are more people behind you in line.

She played it off pretty nice, because when we were on the phone, she would say, I might go home next year, or something. Thats why I was so shocked to see her at my graduation.

After purchasing a plane ticket in March, Tailees return to the United States required about 36 hours of traveling that left her feeling exhausted.

The decision to come home, however, was easy for Tailee, who knew she wanted to be able to witness a significant moment in her younger brothers life.

Its been kind of hard to keep the secret because theyd all be like Oh, I miss you, when can you come home? she said. Its a stepping stone in my brothers life - something Id want to be there for. Its definitely very important thing. Hes worked so hard for and something I wanted to be there for.

Arriving in the United States the day before her brothers graduation on June 3, Tailee managed to fit in another surprise when she arrived to see her mother Holly Bevins-McKeen at her condo in Milan.

The reaction was about what youd expect, Tailee said.

She just screamed - she was very surprised, she said. Im pretty sure she was in shock because she didnt really know what to say.

For Bevins-McKeen, being able to share the momentous occasion in her sons life with her daughter made for a moment that was both extremely emotional and extraordinary.

It was a moment that literally, as they say, took your breath away, she said. That was what it was for so many of us.

It was just unbelievable and surreal, she said. " It was one of the best moments of my life.

With Tailee in the United States until June 23, the family plans to make the most of their time together, including spending time in the outdoors camping.

Thats what we always used to do before I left, Tailee said. We have a cabin up north and were going to be going up there this weekend and just spend time outside.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- Police are investigating after a woman fired a gun through an apartment window near University of Michigans campus.

Campus police were called to the 1600 block of Cram Circle around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 5, for a report of a woman forcing her way into an apartment. The resident told police a woman had entered his apartment without permission after requesting a glass of water and directions.

The woman had an unopened folding knife in her hand. The resident sustained minor injuries after a brief scuffle. The woman then left the apartment.

Two gunshots were fired through the apartment window within a minute of him closing the door, police said. The shots did not strike anyone.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security at 734-763-1131.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

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FLINT, MI -- Theres no ambiguity in Flints charter when it comes to adopting an annual budget -- it must be done on or before the first Monday in June.

But on Monday, June 5, the City Council didnt come close to approving a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins in just four weeks, setting up a special meeting on Thursday, June 8, to debate the $66.6-million general fund budget, the citys operating millage rates, and assessments for street lighting and garbage collection.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley blamed the delay on obstruction by two council members but those two members -- Eric Mays (Ward 1) and Tonya Burns (Ward 6) -- said Neeley has himself to blame for not having important financial information available or knowledgable personnel at their meetings to answer questions.

Mays was also critical of other council members for not having spent more time working through the budget, not having a work session to review it, and for scattered attendance during special budget hearings for individual city government departments.

Council President Allie Herkenroder (Ward 7) and Vice President Ladel Lewis (Ward 2) called for Thursdays special meeting.

In a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal, Neeley warned that failing to adopt a budget soon amounts to playing with fire.

The most painful outcome of the failure to adopt a budget could be a shutdown of the city government, which would have far-reaching consequences for the delivery of city services and directly impact the daily lives of Flint residents, the mayors statement says. Im calling upon our entire community to hold City Council obstructionists accountable for this massive failure.

Neeleys statement doesnt use the names of Mays or Burns, identifying each only by the wards they represent.

He said that although Mondays meeting was called for the express purpose of adopting the city budget, other items were added to the agenda and the meeting was spent arguing about procedures rather than adopting the financial plan.

Burns said Tuesday that she wont apologize for not rubber-stamping the budget and said the mayor is responsible for not keeping key positions in his administration filled, for a lack of transparency and for his staff members not having answers to basic financial questions posed by council members.

Already, this years budget process is proving more difficult than it was a year ago when council members approved a $64.8-million general fund budget without making a single amendment to it.

Burns cast the lone no vote against that budget and said she still needs additional information from the administration before she can support the financial plan for the coming fiscal year.

Council members asked for information that wasnt available Monday on the citys remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds and the status of a $170-million pension bailout that its applied for through the state of Michigan.

Almost a year ago, Neeley administration officials announced the city would receive the pension funding but only recently told council members they were actually required to apply for the money -- something it did only last week.

Without the state pension funding, former Chief Financial Officer Robert Widigan has said, the city faces insolvency.

8th Ward Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer said he believes the budget will be approved by the end of the month, avoiding a potential financial crisis for the city.

Pfeiffer made the motion to adjourn Mondays meeting before the budget was considered, saying it was clear that the council wouldnt be able to approve the budget because of in-fighting among members.

The council has been deeply divided by accusations of racism, race-baiting and bullying for more than a year with Mays often at the center of controversies about how meetings are governed and how council rules are enforced.

Neeley said councils failure to act threatens to overshadow the progress weve made in the city of Flint, especially in the arena of economic development ...

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Flint City Council president becomes second member targeted for recall

Flint faces insolvency without cash infusion for pensions, CFO warns

Neeley delivers $66.6M budget proposal to City Council

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FLINT, MI  Federal authorities have charged a man employed as a freelance photographer for area gymnastics events with the possession and distribution of child pornography, according to a criminal complaint.

David Eric Yellen, of Royal Oak, is named in a two-count indictment dated Friday, June 2, and is accused by federal investigators of committing the crimes between May 11 and June 1, according to the complaint.

Yellen does not yet have an attorney, according to records.

While investigating peer-to-peer file sharing programs sometimes used to exchange child pornography, investigators came across a computer being used to download 14 files of investigative interest, Matthew Hughes, an FBI special agent, wrote in an affidavit for Yellens June 2 arrest.

Hughes wrote that when he downloaded these same files to review them, he was able to see 13 of the 14 and found many of the files appeared to depict real minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

On May 23, the IP address used to download those images was linked to Yellen.

A review of publicly available social media showed that Yellen appears to be a freelance photographer and has photographed and video-taped multiple youth female gymnastics events, Hughes wrote in his affidavit. Yellen appears to have received credit and accolades for attending and photographing multiple events over several years. Some of the events Yellen has photographed include young, pre-pubescent males and females.

A federal search warrant was executed at Yellens home on Thursday, June 1.

While the search was underway, Yellen was interviewed and admitted he possessed child pornography on his home electronic devices, Hughes wrote.

Yellen stated that he used BitTorrent (a file-sharing program) regularly but denied uploading or downloading child pornography, Hughes said in his writing. Yellen claimed that he had downloaded child pornography 10 years ago, has retained that child pornography, and did not know that the child pornography he continued to possess was available for download by others.

Given his extensive use of BitTorrent, I do not believe that he was unaware that he had his files in a location that allowed for sharing with others.

Yellen denied producing child pornography, according to Hughes, but said he often surreptitiously photographed the bare feet of children at the gymnastics academy he was employed by and at gymnastics events he attended as a photographer.

Yellen said he would then masturbate to the images, according to the affidavit.

A computer taken from Yellens home had at least 1,500 files constituting images of child sexual exploitation, 500 of which met the federal definition of child pornography, Hughes wrote.

A hard drive attached to the computer contained a folder titled BFK, which Hughes wrote stood for Barefoot Kids. The agent would go to explain that the folder contained at least 200 images of bare feet children who apparently attended Yellens gym and gymnastics events.

Grand Blanc Gymnastics Co., which had previously hired Yellen to do photography work at events, sent an email to families with children who have used their services addressing Yellens arrest.

To date, there is no evidence of child sexual abuse images involving any children at this gym, the company wrote. Out of an abundance of caution we wanted to make you aware of this information. We understand that you may experience many different emotions from hearing this, and you may have some questions and concerns. We are working with the FBI to set up a parent meeting to address any questions or concerns.

Yellen was released on bond Monday following a detention hearing.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

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More than 600 high school students at Rich Township High School in Illinois received stoles with the unfortunate misspelling of the word 'graduate' as "gradutate." The mistake went unnoticed until after some students had already attended their gradutation ceremonies. The school apologized and promised to replace the stoles, but parents were angry, feeling that the damage had already been done.

In a letter to the community, the high school admitted the oversight and blamed their vendor, Herff Jones, for the error. They acknowledged that the mistake was not discovered until after the stoles had been distributed and the gradutates had already walked the stage. The school plans to rectify the situation by digitally editing the misspelled word from gradutation pictures and sending replacement stoles with the correct spelling along with the diplomas.

The Hill:
FLINT, MI -- Genesee Countys Operation Arrowhead, a targeted crime enforcement initiative in downtown Flint, could be changing from a pilot program to a fixture in the central business district and at surrounding college campuses.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has told the county that it has approved a grant worth more than $1 million to pay for most of the programs expenses through May 31, 2024, provided the county spends an additional $250,000 to support the program.

Members of the county Board of Commissioners are scheduled to consider that grant and the matching funds during a committee meeting on Wednesday, June 7.

Weve been able to solve problems and not just with arrests, Sheriff Chris Swanson said on Tuesday, June 6. The success is built into the relationships we build with each call.

In a memorandum to commissioners, Swanson said there continues to be a need for increased public safety resources within the city of Flint, which consistently ranks among the most violent cities in America.

Due to dwindling resources, the Flint Police Department has been forced to take a mostly reactive posture related to crime, the sheriff said. There are limited resources to target crime hot-spots in a proactive manner.

Since last June, Operation Arrowhead has focused on a 4.8-square-mile area of the city that includes downtown and is bounded by Longway Boulevard on the north, Dort Highway to the east, Dupont Street on the west and I-69 on the south.

The Sheriffs Offices average response time so far has been 4.2 minutes and deputies have responded to 2,544 police calls, conducted 1,111 business checks, and 1,198 neighborhood checks.

Swanson said police have made 327 felony and 701 misdemeanor arrests.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and Flint Police Chief Terence Green have supported the Operation Arrowhead program and the Mott Foundation has provided the bulk of the financial backing so far.

Ridgway White, president and chief executive officer of the Mott Foundation, said in a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal that Swansons office has shown positive outcomes working in the city.

The Mott Foundation also has made public safety grants to the city of Flint and the University of Michigan-Flint, Whites statement says. All three agencies have been working to ensure Flint will be a safer place for all residents to live, learn, work and play.

Last year, the county agreed to accept the Mott grant and to contribute ARPA funds to the program despite opposition from two Republican commissioners.

Commissioner Shaun Shumaker, R-Fenton Twp., opposed spending ARPA funds on the program last year, saying the city of Flint deserved no more additional help with public safety than other communities in the county.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

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FLINT, MI -- Two of the four top administrators that quit from Flint Community Schools in the past three months cited difficulties with the board of education as the reasoning behind their resignations, according to resignation letters.

Each of the four administrators who resigned from Superintendent Kevelin Jones leadership team left within a six-week period.

The district lost its chief financial officer first on April 7, then subsequently lost its executive director of Human Resources, assistant superintendent and executive director of Academics.

Diona Clingman, who served the district as the executive director of Academics, said the environment the school board created weighed heavily on her as an employee, according to her resignation letter.

I have tried to overlook the constant arguing, negative emails, and the inability to make decisions to move the district forward, Clingman wrote. However, it seems to continue to happen causing additional barriers to the day-to-day work that needs to occur.  I pray that the constraints are lifted at the board table so that the remaining staff and scholars receive the resources and opportunities that they deserve.

Former HR leader Sharita Galloway shared similar feelings about the board of education in her letter of resignation.

It has become apparent that regardless of our greatest efforts and attempts, there is a lack of understanding and desire to improve the district from the BOE, she wrote. ... Unfortunately, I cannot continue to work two full time jobs with more responsibilities than that and fearlessly lead other that are being required to do the same with constant interference and sabotage.

Former CFO Latisha Wolf and former Assistant Superintendent Keiona Murphy both chose not to give reasoning in their letters of resignation. Murphy was a member of the Flint Community Schools district for the past 22 years.

I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that Flint Community Schools has afforded me both as a student and an employee, Murphy wrote.

The district is currently being assisted by the Genesee Intermediate School District at the request of Jones.

Michigan State Superintendent Michael Rice penned a letter to the district after the wave of resignations acknowledging the districts turnover rates.

The letter, which cited grave concerns, requested that current board of education members complete board-superintendent governance training on a consistent basis to maintain roles and responsibilities.

Amidst a revolving door of administrators, the district is wrapping up another year without making crucial decisions on rightsizing the district that has lost two-thirds of its enrollment in the past decade.

The teachers union has been calling for the district to close buildings and reinstate steps in teacher contracts that will help recruitment and retention.

These resignations should be of grave concern for the board. These jobs are difficult and there is rarely a simple answer to anything. We are directly asking the board to support Superintendent Jones and the action items he, and his team, bring forward especially personnel recommendations, Bruce Jordan, MEA UniServ director, wrote in a letter to the board last month.

Board President Michael Clack said board infighting is what put it over the top for the departed administrators.

Its unfortunate that weve had those major resignation take place in such a short time, Clack said. ... Looking forward, we are trying to remain positive about it and trying to keep the district moving forward.

Read more on MLive:

In past decade, Flint schools have lost 66% of their students

With no distribution plan, Flint school board votes to allocate $1.5M for teacher payments

Buick City redevelopment that will generate $300M local investment breaks ground

Clio schools to sell Lacure Elementary, all K-3 students will be in new building

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Michigans largest Asian-Pacific celebration is returning this weekend to downtown Grand Rapids.

The Asian-Pacific Festival is put on by the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Foundation (GRAPF) and celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage and culture.

The festival will begin Friday, June 9 and run through Sunday, June 11 on Calder Plaza, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. The event includes merchandise from a variety of businesses, 19 food vendors, performances and more. The festival is open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Festival organizers call the event an immersion of a world of flavor, music and fun on the festivals Facebook page. Though the event celebrates AAPI heritage, people of all backgrounds are welcome to the community event.

Some of the food vendors signed up for the festival include Monsoon Vietnamese Cuisine, Indian Masala, Mais Spicy Kitchen, Angel Thai Cafe, Amazing Myanmar Asian Cuisine, Hmong Palace, Toastn Tea, ZINI Vodka Ice Cream and RAK Thai.

Each food vendor is serving something different, GRAPF Executive Director Ace Marasigan told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Theres so many to choose from, youre getting Asian cuisine from all different countries.

Marasigan said some of the offerings at the festival include Korean corn dogs, twisted potatoes, papaya salads and fried chicken with purple sticky rice.

RAK Thai, a popular Downtown Market restaurant, will be serving mochi donuts, crab cheese nachos and fresh fruit cups during the festival.

One of the musical performances scheduled during the festival is SuddenRush, a popular Hmong-Canadian rock band. Also performing is Vichai Cheng & Lit Factory, a Twin Cities band that covers popular Thai and Laos songs along with original music.

There will also be a Vietnamese variety show, a K-Pop dance competition on Friday night, Pacific Islander dances and family games.

One of the most highly anticipated games is the spicy noodle challenge, which was a hit at Noodle Fest in March. The noodles being served are Buldak brand spicy instant ramen and the first person to finish the spicy noodles wins.

People do tap out, Marasigan said. Its incredibly spicy.

The Asian-Pacific Festival also includes childrens activities, karaoke and a cornhole tournament.

At the festival, the GRAPFs Elder of the Year will be honored for their contributions to the community. The inaugural recipient of this award will be announced around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The festival also includes educational panels and history lessons, including one about the first Filipino solider in the Civil War from West Michigan.

The Asian-Pacific Festival is sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., the city of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events, Experience Grand Rapids, Corewell Health, Gun Lake Casino and LiveSpace, among others.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The body of a missing Grand Rapids man has been found in Cass County.

The body of Johnny Hollis Bolden, 76, was found around 8 p.m. Monday, June 5, in a heavily wooded area in Dowagiac, about a mile from where Cass County sheriffs deputies found the mans car.

He was last seen Tuesday, May 30, in the Rockford area. Police found his vehicle on Sunday.

About 60 volunteers were searching for Bolden when his body was recovered, Cass County sheriffs deputies said. He had reportedly experienced dementia issues, police said.

Firefighters from 10 departments, tracking dogs from Michigan Professional Search & Rescue and rescuers from several other agencies, took part in the search effort, police said.

The incident is under investigation.

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MECOSTA COUNTY, MI -- A man has filed a federal lawsuit after he was shot and injured by an off-duty state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officer at a Mecosta County campground.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, was filed Monday, June 5 by Brandon Davis and seeks $250 million in damages.

The attorney for Brandon Davis, injured in the May 13 shooting at Merrill-Gorrel County Park in Barryton, claims the officer used excessive force and was grossly negligent when he fired the gun. It also claims assault and battery.

Related: Off-duty DNR officer shoots person while camping

The lawsuit names Ryan Cox as the defendant.

Attorney Brian Dailey, representing Davis, said Davis was hospitalized, lost a kidney and so far has had six surgeries. Davis lives in Mount Pleasant.

The day of the shooting, Davis had a verbal argument with another person he knew. Davis was camping at the county property.

According to Dailey, the father of the off-duty conservation officer then approached the two people and grabbed and pushed Davis. He said Davis then employed defensive tactics in self-defense.

It was at that point, Dailey said, that the off-duty officer showed up and identified himself as a state conservation officer before the shooting happened.

Dailey claims that Davis was no longer involved in any physical skirmish with Coxs father when a gun was fired more than once.

Defendant Coxs actions were not objectively reasonable given the low severity of any potential crime at issue and because Plaintiff posed absolutely no immediate danger to the officers and also did not attempt to resist or flee in any manner, Dailey wrote in the lawsuit.

Dailey said Davis was not armed with any weapon.

Davis injuries included loss of a kidney, permanent intestinal injuries, permanent spinal injuries, colostomy bag, according to the lawsuit.

The attorney for Cox contacted MLive late Monday.

Attorney Ben Hall said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not provide extensive comment.

Obviously I dispute the narrative from the attorney for Mr. Davis, but I need a chance to review the complaint prior to any comment, Hall said in an email.

A DNR spokesperson, Ed Golder, said the officer has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting.

He said state police continue to investigate the shooting.

When asked for a response to the lawsuit, Golder said We dont typically comment on ongoing litigation.

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Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs wants control over communications with public, press
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A man was critically injured late Monday, June 5, when his Jeep hit a ditch, went airborne and flipped several times before landing on its top.

The victim, a 31-year-old Grand Rapids man, was airlifted from the scene in Ottawa Countys Blendon Township by an Aero Med helicopter and taken to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital.

He was in critical condition, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.

The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. at 72nd Avenue in Bingham Street. Police said the man was driving a 2004 Jeep north on 72nd Avenue when it struck a mailbox. The driver overcorrected, causing his vehicle to leave the left side of the road. It struck a ditch, went airborne and slipped several times, police said.

The driver was unresponsive. He was trapped in his vehicle until he was freed by Blendon Township firefighters.

The crash remains under investigation.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Ottawa Countys new approach of having County Administrator John Gibbs office review all department communications to the public and press before dissemination isnt about censorship, officials say.

What were looking at right now  is applying the best practices to those messages, Ottawa County Communications Manager Shannon Felgner told commissioners Tuesday, June 6. Sometimes there might be language change or message change, because, Did you think of this? or We should also make sure that we add this.

But censoring a message? No, thats not what were looking at. Were looking at how can we reach more residents with the messages they need when they need it using the best method thats right for them.

Over the past two month, Gibbs has moved to tighten control over how a number of county departments interact with the public and press by having all county press releases, media inquiries and social media posts be coordinated through his office, according to a recent report from the Holland Sentinel.

Felgner confirmed to the MLive/Grand Rapids Press that she has asked all departments who report to Gibbs to send public communications to her for review.

While Felgner said on Tuesday the centralization of communications through the administrators office isnt about censorship, Gibbs has already stepped in to control messaging from some of the countys departments.

In February, Gibbs ordered the Ottawa County Department of Public Health to retract a press statement to MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that had explained how the departments role in a sex education week event at Grand Valley State University was minor and came with no financial contributions to the event  contrary to the misleading partner logo listed and later removed on the events website.

Far-right conservatives, including Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss and founder of the political group Ottawa Impact, had taken aim at the department for its association with the GVSU event, which featured discussions about sex toys as well as about sexual health and relationships.

Health department officials, in the later retracted statement, explained the departments role was limited to STI testing and providing condoms.

Related: Kinky karaoke, sex toy talk prompt GOP outrage at GVSU sex ed week

On April 11, the health department issued a press release announcing it had won both national and state awards for its public health emergency and disaster response planning.

A day later, Felgner asked departments to send her all press releases for Gibbs to review at least 24 hours in advance of dissemination, according to emails obtained by the Holland Sentinel.

MLive/The Grand Rapids Press has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the emails.

Felgner told commissioners Tuesday that when departments need immediate and urgent communication with residents, such as information on controlled burns or disease prevention, they can put those messages out without first consulting the administrators office.

Some departments, like parks and public health, have their own spokespeople.

Gibbs new policy of having public communications, and requests for media comment, be funneled through his office came up during the Tuesday meeting of the Ottawa County boards Finance and Administration Committee during a discussion on elevating Felgners position.

By a 7-2 vote, the committee gave initial approval to upgrade Felgners communications manager position in the administrators office to a communications director at an annual cost of about $20,000. Final approval is expected at a later date by the full board of commissioners.

The move, Gibbs said, aligns with best practices and paves the way for a new county communications office that could produce podcasts and videos about county business and answer questions from residents. Communications office staff would also help with county website redesigns and upgrades.

A request for creating a communications department was not on the agenda for commissioners Tuesday.

During public comment, Port Sheldon resident Dan Zimmer expressed concern about the new communications policies and the proposed communications director, which he wondered if it would be nothing more than a spin doctor overseen by Gibbs.

The collective knowledge and skill sets of subject matter experts will need to pass the central gag order checkpoint, Zimmer said. The ulterior motive and potential for abuse makes the request for communications director very suspect as being a good governance must-have given the known operational methods of this board.

A majority of the countys 11-member board of commissioners are part of the far-right Ottawa Impact group that was seated Jan. 3. The group campaigned last year on frustrations over the countys COVID-19 mask mandate in schools.

Ottawa Impact board members have made a number of controversial changes to Ottawa County government since taking office, including the ongoing attempt to fire health department director Adeline Hambley and replace her with a candidate more politically aligned with the board majoritys opposition to COVID-19 masking.

The new board also hired Gibbs on Jan. 3 in a surprise move that immediately replaced then-County Administrator John Shay.

In pitching a possible communications department, Gibbs mentioned a county in Virginia that was recently recognized by the National Association of Counties for a podcast series answering resident questions.

Those are the kinds of things that are now outside of the question for us, Gibbs said. For being able to have more transparency, in order to be able to respond to our constituents who are wanting different types and more communication from us, I think this is a very exciting move. I think its a very good move.

And its very much in line with what organizations of our size -- whether in the private sector or the public sector -- are doing.

Holland-area County Commissioner Doug Zylstra, the sole Democrat on the board, asked Gibbs if the county is currently unable to do podcasts.

Its not necessarily that you cant do it, Gibbs responded. Its that it will be more efficient to do it under a departmental structure than just having one person do it.

Zylstra made a motion to table the request for an upgraded communications director position for six months.

Zylstra said he was interested in seeing how the new centralized communications policy plays out in the current situation and then re-assessing half a year later. He expressed concerns about not being able to downgrade the communications director back to a communications manager, as well as scaling back the proposed communications department.

The motion failed by a 2-7 vote, with County Commissioner Jacob Bonnema joining Zylstra. Zylstra and Bonnema were the sole no votes Tuesday on the action request for a communications director.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  One of two men critically injured in a multi-vehicle crash on I-94 in Jackson County Saturday has been upgraded to stable condition.

Rescue crews were called at 5:37 p.m. Saturday, June 3, to a multi-vehicle crash on westbound I-94 between Airport Road and M-60, where they found two critically injured men pinned inside a Ford Ranger pickup after crashing into the median wall, according to the Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety.

The men were extricated utilizing the Jaws of Life and rushed to Henry Ford Hospital Jackson in critical condition for emergency medical treatment.

On Monday, June 5, the passenger of the vehicle was upgraded from critical to stable condition, police said. The driver of the vehicle, 34, remains in critical condition.

The initial investigation indicated the driver of the Ranger crashed into a Ford Bronco also going west, which lost control and hit a large Michigan Department of Transportation arrow direction trailer, police said.

The struck MDOT trailer was pushed into the left lane causing another motorist to swerve to avoid crashing into it, which in turn led to that vehicle hitting a fourth vehicle when it left the freeway and hit a tree, police said.

The initial reports indicate that several witnesses saw the Ranger was driving in a reckless manner prior to striking the Bronco. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, police said.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Sgt. Rick Gillespie from Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety at 517-788-4223.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter.

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KALAMAZOO, MI -- After a string of comments from concerned citizens, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted to pause a proposal that would have expanded police surveillance downtown.

On Monday, June 5, city of Kalamazoo postponed action on a $375,000, three-year contract with Fusus, Inc. for a real-time crime center video and collaboration platform.

The proposed system would allow police to connect to the live video camera feeds of any business that opts in. It would also streamline the process for residents to share videos with police.

The proposal aimed to implement the system downtown, but didnt specify exact boundaries.

Fusus would bring together real-time data from a variety of sources - automatic license plate readers, private security cameras, doorbell cameras, traffic cameras, body cameras, and other emergency response platforms, the city agenda says.

Residents highlighted the possible negative outcomes.

It seems to me youre trying to turn Kalamazoo into a gated community, Edison neighborhood resident Brian Smith said, urging the city to reject the contract. He asked if certain groups would face more challenges than others because of the technology.

Who is this going to affect? he said.

Several people spoke against the contract Monday, sharing privacy concerns and questions about how the contract would work.

Some pointed out the city agenda said $100,000 would be contributed by the Peregrine Foundation, but the agenda was changed to list a different entity when it came before commissioners. Staff members explained the error, but people said they wanted more time to research the entity and the proposal.

Another speaker identified himself as ES and asked about loss of privacy and worries people already facing inequity would be impacted more by this.

The mass surveillance proposed to the City Commission is purposedly vague, he said.

Westnedge Hill resident Amanda Stuart said she searched for Peregrine Foundation and found no business or nonprofit records for it.

So if the Peregrine Foundation does not exist, where is this money coming from? Stuart said. She questioned the source of funding and that organizations can place restrictions on how the money is used.

Public Safety Chief David Boysen attended the meeting and gave a presentation. He stressed Fusus does not allow facial recognition.

This is not a mass surveillance system, Boysen said. This allows us to leverage existing cameras as we respond to crimes in progress.

Security cameras along the Kalamazoo Mall on June 2. The city of Kalamazoo will consider a plan to give police access to camera feeds at businesses downtown. Businesses would be able to join the program on a voluntary basis, police said.

However, the presentation left some unanswered questions.

Commissioner Qianna Decker asked for more clarity about where the funds are coming from.

Commissioner Stephanie Hoffman said the department is not doing the work to improve government community relationships. She mentioned tension between the community and police.

Clearly there is not a lot of clarity for the community, Hoffman said. Sometimes, its OK to press pause.

Antonio Mitchell, director of Community Planning and Economic Development, said the city engaged with downtown businesses about the system.

In a separate action item, the city voted to accept $100,000 from the Hall Downtown Initiate Fund to support costs of using Fusus in Kalamazoo. The phrase Peregrine Foundation in the original agenda was replaced with Hall Downtown Initiate Fund before the vote.

City staff said the grant was needed to cover some of the trial work that has already been done with Fusus in a pilot program.

The commission voted to delay consideration of the item until its June 20 meeting.

10 1 / 10 Security cameras in Kalamazoo

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MUSKEGON, MI  Muskegon is seeking funding for several neighborhood art projects, and your help is needed to help get it.

The city is seeking grants from the Michigan Municipal League Foundation for public art projects in the Glenside, Lakeside and McLaughlin.

All are in the semi-final round for funding, during which public votes are cast to help determine grant winners. Voting is done online through Sunday, June 11. Each person can cast one vote per day.

The Bridge Builders Main Street Microgrants are for up to $5,000 each and are designed to bring together artists and businesses in downtowns and business corridors.

Here are the proposals:

Bandshell mural at McGraft Park in the Glenside Neighborhood. The mural will be designed by a local artist, neighborhood youth and park and recreation enthusiasts. Vote here for this project.

Cross Walk Art Project in the Lakeside Neighborhood. The grant would pay for colorful street murals on four crosswalks across Lakeshore Drive. Those include the crossings at Mann, Moon, Torrent and Blodgett streets. To vote for this project, click here

A new fence mural at McLaughlin Community Park in the McLaughlin Neighborhood. The current colorful fence mural is in disrepair. A new fence will be installed and an artist will design the people and images that will be painted on it. Click here to vote for this project.

Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter.

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-
Here conservative news folks buried deeply on the Dish Network rage about teaching kids that things like deodorant exist. I would think this interaction was scripted and made up, but its so foolish it can not even be that.

The high point is when host Karyn Turk erupts in objection over a school teaching about deodorant, but the entire exchange is foolish. It may not be appropriate to show people a rough drawing of a disposable pad until college!

Crooks and Liars:

"An elementary school, I think he's out in the West, and he said an elementary school offered sex-ed lessons to students without parental consent," Real America's Voice co-host Ed Henry announced on Monday. "For again, elementary school. This is not high school. This is not college." Henry pointed out that one lesson included information about deodorant. "Of course, okay, deodorant," Henry said. "People need to learn about that as they're growing up." "Not in school!" Turk gasped. "I don't think they need to learn that in school. Elementary school. They learn that at home?"

When I invent an elementary school, it is always "up North" or "down South," never "out in the West."
MIDLAND, MI  The Midland Mall has a new owner in local entrepreneur Jordan Dice, who, at the age of 13, dropped out of seventh grade to enroll in college and begin his career at his familys business, DICE Corp.

Dice bought the Midland Mall, located at 6800 Eastman Ave., for more than $5 million in an online auction in March.

Dice is the principal in the firm J.R. DICE, a real estate brokerage and property management company of closely held real estate that will manage the mall. He is also president and CEO of IPtelX.

Related: Sold! Midland Mall auction ends with bid totaling nearly half 2018 sales price

The Midland Mall was built in 1991 on nearly 33 acres near US-10 and Eastman Avenue. It has more than 40 retailers and six anchors, including Target, Planet Fitness, Dunhams, Barnes & Noble, MyMichigan Health and Hobby Lobby, which plans to open in the fall.

Great Neck, New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased the Midland Mall for $9.4 million in 2018, MLive.com reported at the time. That was nearly two years after CBL and Associates Properties, the malls former owner, went into foreclosure after defaulting on a $31.9 million loan.

Dice believes malls have played an important role in the community and wants to continue that legacy, according to a news release issued by the Midland Mall.

I grew up with the Hampton Square Mall near Essexville, and it was a shame to see it close, Dice said in a statement.

Dice said he sees potential in the Midland Mall and has a plan to put the malls more than 100,000 square feet of common space to better use.

The mix of local and national retailers is important, and I am involved in several ongoing discussions with other retailers and potential franchises for the food court, Dices statement continued.

Angela Browning, the malls general manager, said in a statement, I am very excited for the potential and future of the mall. Im looking forward to working with Jordan and having him here locally.

According to the release, Dices family has deep roots in Midland County that go back several generations. In 1985, his father, Cliff Dice, founded what became DICE Corp. out of the basement of his house in Bay Countys Hampton Township. The company became a world leader in automation software for the alarm and security industry.

Jordan Dice dropped out of the seventh grade to enroll in college and begin his career at DICE Corp., the release states.

The following year, he started his first business, StarNet Wireless, a local internet service provider in Bay City that quickly grew to serve more than 1,200 subscribers and earned its first $1 million in sales within a few years.

Jordan Dice is a graduate of Delta College and received degrees in computer science and accounting before obtaining his high school equivalency certificate. He also holds various professional licenses as a real estate broker, builder, title agent and insurance professional.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.

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At the annual gathering hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce on Mackinac Island last week, representatives of the states major industries mingled with lawmakers at the Grand Hotel. After all the schmoozing and buffet grazing, here were a few noteworthy items from this years confab.

Workforce issues dominated

If there was a central policy question at the heart of this years Mackinac Policy Conference, it was how to get and hold onto workers.

At the heart of employers strife is Michigans own decades-long population stagnation, where qualified workers have fled the state for jobs elsewhere. During this policy conference, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other elected leaders strove to demonstrate they were tackling the problem head on.

Read more: Michigans population trend could bring economic pain. How are policymakers responding?

Its a broad, systemic issue that touches all corners of the workforce. In northern Michigan, where housing is particularly scarce, some businessowners have taken to building their own accommodations to house seasonal staff.

Building more housing stock statewide is seen as one facet of the solution, and to that end Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposed taxing land and buildings separately in Michigans largest city, a move that he said would punish those sitting on empty land while rewarding homeowners.

Still, the state is facing a ticking time bomb in the form of an aging workforce without enough folks to replace them. An issue large enough that Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said he is thinking about it every day.

Congress  and congressional candidates  werent around

The federal contingent of the policy conference was conspicuously absent from this conference.

Normally members of the Michigans congressional delegation are seen hobnobbing with attendees, but the looming deadline on the debt ceiling had consumed Congress right as the conference got underway.

A Tuesday evening mixer with the delegation was canceled outright, as the lawmakers flew to Washington, D.C., to vote on the 11th-hour deal pulled together by the White House and U.S. House Republicans.

President Joe Biden signed the debt ceiling deal on Saturday, just two days before the Treasury Department predicted the government would run out of money.

As the same time, despite an increasingly large field of Democrats looking to succeed Michigans U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2024, they were conspicuously few of them on the island last week.

ML Elrick of the Detroit Free Press noted no Republican candidates had registered for the conference, and only one Democratic candidate, who has yet to launch a campaign, was in attendance.

Inclusion was high on the agenda

The conferences theme was stylized as the power of &, mostly left up to guests to freely interpret.

Conference programming at least alluded to what the Detroit Regional Chamber was trying to get at this year: There was a panel on inclusive policymaking another on increasing equity through mobile solutions and a third on where the goals of business and equity intersect. That was three panels, up from one the year prior.

And for the first time, on June 1 the chamber arranged for one of the four U.S. flags on the Grand Hotels famous porch to be swapped out for a progress pride flag.

Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks, made some news of his own on the topic.

Call me woke  you dont need to call it DEI, you can call it whatever you want  I call it good business, Cuban said during an on-stage interview. It means taking the people that youre selling to and making sure your workforce looks like them, and making sure you can reflect their values and being able to connect to that. Thats what works for me.

A new chapter with Democrats in charge

This was the first Mackinac Policy Conference in decades where lobbyists were catering their pitches to a state government controlled wholly by Democrats, and some of those leaders were feeling the contrast.

Weve had more conversations about economic development and more conversation with business leaders, not just big business leaders, but those mom-and-pop shops in our districts in the  first five months of our majority, then Ive had in so many years when Republicans were in charge, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids said in an interview.

Brinks said Democrats emphasis on economic development and inclusive policies would lead to a more business-friendly environment. Policymakers were also quick to reassure the business community they were willing partners.

Were not interested in doing things to industry, were interested in doing things with industry, Gilchrist told MLive.

Perhaps emblematic of the crowds political inclinations, former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, a former congresswoman who gained the national spotlight for unfettered criticism of former President Donald Trump, was a hotly anticipated guest at the conference.

Cheney, who has one of the most conservative voting records in the U.S. House, told the crowd the Republican Party has embraced insurrection, and is willingly trapped in Trumps cult of personality.

While she demurred on what her own future political plans would be after her ouster from the U.S. House, she said she was committed to ensuring Trump didnt win reelection to the White House. She left to a standing ovation.

Some more conservative Republicans believe little has changed. Meshawn Maddock, the former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party and a loyal Trump ally, was on hand and told MLive, the truth is this conference has always been leftist-leaning.

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Michigan must expose political dark moneys corrosive influence, AG Nessel says

Thinking of sending an unsolicited nude? Think again, say Michigan Dems.

Cat declawing could get scratched in Michigan
The act of sending an unwanted nude photograph in Michigan could soon end up costing you  and not just from a relationship standpoint.

Under House Bill 4535, a person over the age of 18 who knowingly sends either a sexually explicit video or photo by text or electronic message  such as email or through a social media app  could see a $500 fine if the message is sent without the other partys consent.

The person who receives this unwanted message could also bring a civil suit, recouping damages for emotional stress or other appropriate relief, against the person who sent the message under the bill.

Rep. Lori Stone, D-Warren, said she sponsored the bill in the hopes of cracking down on whats known as cyberflashing or the act of sending obscene photos to strangers, typically through Apples AirDrop feature.

(Its) people who are looking for a reaction, to be able to see someone open a file and see their reaction  usually in a public venue where adults, anyone, might come across it and not know what theyre looking at, she said. You go, you see somethings been AirDropped to you and ... then you end up with something of a rude awakening.

Should Michigan sign off on the measure, it would join a growing number of states with some form of unsolicited nudes statute on their books. They include Virginia and Texas, the latter of which was the first state to criminalize the act.

It came as part of an effort to crack down on the sending and receiving of unsolicited nude photographs through the networking and relationship app, Bumble.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said there are already some laws that could be utilized like what Stone is proposing, with the crime effectively boiling down to being indecent exposure with the use of a cell phone or a computer.

We see digital photos like this all the time, Becker said. I guess its never been presented as a complaint up to this point because I think, for most  and mostly  women ... they probably dont realize it could be a crime.

He added that while he could see how there would be a gray area for how to maneuver charging such a crime, I dont think its an impossible burden.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Criminal Justice, where it has yet to receive a hearing.

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GRAYLING, MI  Amber Duncan and Michael Drabik arent using their fire pit at the state trail campground where they are staying because they dont want to spark a wildfire.

Duncan said they roast marshmallows over a candle and then promptly blow it out. Drabik said hes even been putting out his cigarettes and carrying the butts in his denim shorts pocket rather than throwing them on the ground, pulling out a handful as proof.

The couple have been extra careful not to cause a forest fire because weather conditions have remained extremely dry. Despite their fire risk awareness and caution, not everyone was so careful.

State authorities confirmed this weeks large wildfire southeast of Grayling was ignited by a campfire on private property. The wildfire started on Saturday and burned 2,400 acres before firefighters contained more than 90% of the blaze.

The wildfire kept Duncan and Drabik from their campsite Saturday night, so they stayed in a motel room in town. There was no way to know whether their belongings would be destroyed in the wildfire.

When it got dark you could see the glow, Drabik said. But it was better than being here when it happened. We were relieved when we got back, and the campground was still here.

Duncan agreed with Drabiks gratitude but said her nerves are not entirely settled: Should we be concerned about another fire?

The wildfire happened in the heart of Crawford Countys jack pine forestland, an ecosystem at high risk for wildfire because of the dry conditions of jack pine stands.

Dry, windy, weather conditions prompted weather officials to issue red flag warnings about fire danger for days on end across much of Northern Michigan. No burn permits have been issued by the state.

Dangerous fire risk conditions are expected to continue this week in the Grayling area and across the state, said Mike Janisse, commander of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources incident management team on the ongoing fire.

Locals confirmed those extremely dry conditions.

We havent had rain in over three weeks, said Sandy Beaudet, Beaver Creek Township clerk.

Beaudet opened the township hall Saturday afternoon as a haven for evacuees and said a few area residents stopped in for food and water as they waited out the danger of the fire. Only two stayed overnight, though.

Luckily it stayed in a mostly non-populated area, said Dan Bonamie, township supervisor.

Bonamie said hes now thinking about continued and future fire risk across the community. His concern is how hardwood forests are being clear cut across the region and replaced with red pine plantations  another fire-prone species highly valued in the forestry industry as building material.

Is that going to lead to more and worse fire danger? It makes us question, Bonamie said. We arent foresters or biologists, but it makes us question.

Gary Corwin lives on a section of his familys longtime heritage farm along Four Mile Road, where he said the wildfires smoke could easily be seen when it first grew out of control Saturday afternoon. He and his wife had just returned from a trip to town and saw the heavy smoke.

Corwin drove an all-terrain vehicle toward the back of the farm, and said it looked like the fire started about a half-mile from his property line.

We could see it just intensifying. It was nerve-wracking here for a while not knowing which way the wind was blowing, Corwin said, though authorities never evacuated him and his wife.

I was worried for the whole place.

A cousin who lives on the other side of the heritage farm was evacuated, he said.

I feel sorry for the people. I feel sorry for the guy who may be responsible, Corwin said about the painful life lesson igniting such a large wildfire will become.

Some in the community are less sympathetic.

It was a stupid thing to be burning anything at all, said Asa Apley, an employee at local favorite doughnut shop Goodales Bakery & Deli in downtown Grayling.

Apley said he saw smoky conditions across Interstate 75 on Saturday afternoon as he was driving home to Roscommon, getting through before authorities shut down traffic on that section of the freeway.

Local road closures around the wildfire on Saturday included parts of Four Mile Road, both northbound and southbound I-75, as well as Staley Lake Road, Barker Lake Road, and Wilderness Trail. Some roads and public lake access sites remained closed until Tuesday.

Temporary flight restrictions went into effect on Saturday during the height of the wildfire. Aircraft from both the Michigan State Police and U.S. Department of Agriculture have helped with fire suppression efforts.

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Michigans new, $85-million psychiatric hospital is preparing to open to patients and staff in the coming weeks.

State officials commemorated completion of the new 100-bed, 130,000 square-foot hospital Monday, June 5, in Caro, which is located in the thumbs Tuscola County.

The new Caro Psychiatric Hospital replaces its predecessor on Chambers Road, which opened in 1914 as the Caro Farm Colony for Epileptics. It served only individuals with seizure disorders until 1997.

Ensuring Michiganders have access to vital physical and mental health resources are key focuses of my administration, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was in town for the hospitals unveiling. She called the facility an important investment in behavioral health services for both families in need and the Caro community as an employer.

The psychiatric hospital includes four patient neighborhoods that are differentiated by color schemes for the four seasons. Most rooms are single-bed suites with private bathrooms, though there are some double rooms and those setup for geriatric patients.

Theres also a downtown-themed area where patients can visit a hair care salon, exercise room, greenhouse, and recreation room, and an outdoor courtyard for recreational space.

Related: New, 96-bed psychiatric hospital to meet growing behavioral health need

Other improvements include updated HVAC, building access controls and video surveillance, and modernized spaces for staff to conduct treatment consultations.

As a state, Michigan operates five in-patient psychiatric hospitals that serve almost 650 patients and are accredited by The Joint Commission. Caros hospital is one of three facilities that only serve adults.

In 2017, legislators approved financing to build a new, $115-million replacement hospital at the Caro location. The plan was a new 200-bed facility to be completed in 2021.

But by 2019, Whitmer halted construction on the project and the state hired an outside consultant over concerns about staffing and accessibility at the Caro Center. The group was tasked with reviewing the project, and found advantages as well as challenges to Caro as a build site for a new facility.

Residents rallied to keep the facility after the initial construction was halted, noting its importance as an economic-driver in the community.

The state decided to move forward with constructing a new hospital at the location, though it came with half of the beds that were planned in 2017.

Beyond the Caro facility, Michigan is planning to build a new, $325-million psychiatric complex in place of the existing Hawthorn Center on Haggerty Road in Northville. The current in-patient facility opened its doors in 1956 and needs to be replaced due to aging infrastructure, officials said.

The new Northville location is expected to be finished in 2026. During construction, patients and staff from the existing Hawthorn Center will be in a separate unit at the Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland.

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PHILADELPHIA -- Alex Faedo went to the doctor for a checkup on his bum finger on Tuesday and got the pitchers version of a manicure.

The Detroit Tigers right-hander had a portion of the fingernail on his right middle finger removed. Faedo said he hopes the procedure will let the damaged nail heal faster while causing him fewer problems going forward.

I should be good sooner than later, Faedo said.

Lefty Tyler Alexander will start Tuesday in Faedos spot in the rotation, although it will essentially be a bullpen game, as Alexander is probably not stretched out to throw more than two or three innings.

The Tigers may use a similar arrangement for the next few starts while Faedo is on the mend.

In a coincidence that the injury-riddled Tigers probably would prefer never to repeat, left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez saw the same Philadelphia-based finger specialist on Tuesday.

The doctor cleared Rodriguez to resume playing light catch nine days after he went on the injured list with a ruptured A4 pulley in his left index finger.

The injury is common to mountain climbers. Treatment and recovery time can vary greatly.

Rodriguez didnt offer a timeline for his return, but he said he was pleased to be throwing the ball again so soon.

After nine days it just feels really good to go out and play catch, he said. As for the timetable, I dont really know. I just feel happy right now that I have the clearance to start playing catch. Thats all that matters for me right now.

Well see where we are tomorrow, the next day and the day after that.

Rodriguez is 4-4 with a 2.13 ERA through 11 starts this season. Hes struck out 67 and walked 16 in 67 2/3 innings. At the time of his injury, he had the fourth-lowest ERA in the major leagues among qualified pitchers.

Its encouraging on both fronts, said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. I dont know fast the nail can heal and I dont know how fast a pulley can heal, but Im glad they were able to see a specialist and give us a bit of a clearer path.

Rodriguez and Faedo are among nine Tigers pitchers currently on the injured list.

TIGERS 40-MAN ROSTER (40)

Left-handed pitchers (6): Tyler Alexander, Matthew Boyd, Tyler Holton, Eduardo Rodriguez*, Chasen Shreve, Joey Wentz.

Right-handed pitchers (13): Braden Bristo, Jose Cisnero, Seth Elledge, Mason Englert, Alex Faedo*, Jason Foley, Garrett Hill, Alex Lange, Michael Lorenzen, Reese Olson, Spencer Turnbull*, Will Vest, Brendan White.

Catchers (3): Eric Haase, Jake Rogers, Donny Sands.

Infielders (12): Javier Baez, Miguel Cabrera, Andy Ibanez, Ryan Kreidler, Andre Lipcius, Nick Maton, Zach McKinstry, Tyler Nevin, Wenceel Perez, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Short, Spencer Torkelson.

Outfielders (6): Akil Baddoo, Kerry Carpenter*, Riley Greene*, Jake Marisnick, Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling*.

Players on the active roster are in bold.

*Player on 10- or 15-day injured list.

Outfielder Austin Meadows (anxiety); left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal (flexor tendon); and right-handed pitchers Matt Manning (right foot fracture), Casey Mize (Tommy John surgery), Beau Brieske (right ulnar nerve entrapment), Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain) and Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis) are on the 60-day injured list and do not count against the 40-man roster.
05.06.2023 LISTEN

Ghanas multiple award winning multilingual female radio personality and entrepreneur Harey Adjoa Owusu Kusi popularly known as DJ Ohemaa Woyeje of Angel Broadcasting Networks Angel FM in Accra will be representing at the 14th Annual Juneteenth NY Celebration 2023 under the theme Kaleidoscope Of Black Culture.

The Juneteenth NY Celebration was created to empower the Black community, advance the economic and cultural arts in underdeveloped areas as well as champion small, Black-owned businesses.

Over the past 14 years, Juneteenth NY has grown and expanded exponentially from a local gathering to a nationally recognized event with this years attendees expected to reach over thirty-seven thousand.

Kicking off virtually and in-person on Friday, June 16 to 18 from the epicentre of Black culture and community in Brooklyn, NY, attendees of the three-day celebration will experience the best in Black culture and community with live performances, exhibitions, authentic local cuisine, wellness and other family fun activities.

Participating partners for the Juneteenth NY Celebration include Airbnb, Atlantic Terminal Mall, Black Restaurant Coalition, Brooklyn Nets, Brooklyn Navy Yard, The Drivers Cooperative, The Home Depot Foundation, Liberty Coca Cola Beverages, New York Liberty, NY State of Health, PacSun and Visa.

Official Media Broadcast partner is WABC-TV, the #1 Station in New York and the Most Watched Local Station in the Country.

Emmy nominated Artist Julian King To Headline Juneteenth NY Celebration 2023 Concert.
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Kumasi, Elijeko Foundation has dispatched a delegation to participate in the 10th Edition of the World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit held in Newport Beach, California, USA.

The foundation focuses on providing free preventative health education and pre-hospital emergency services.

Organized by the Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF), this milestone event marked the conferences 10th anniversary and was the first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic. Renowned global experts convened to discuss the contemporary challenges and solutions in patient safety.

The Ghanaian delegation attending the conference comprised of officials who are dedicated to fostering a culture of safety and establishing international connections with like-minded individuals working towards eliminating preventable harm to patients, and healthcare workers.

The annual World Patient Safety, Science, and Technology Summit serves as a platform for various stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, governmental entities, and private stakeholders. Notably, former U.S President Bill Clinton graced the summit as the Special Guest Speak. President Clinton, also the Founder and Board Chair of the Clinton Foundation, has long been a supporter of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation.

During his address at the conference, President Clinton placed emphasis on the importance of collaboration in the effort to boost patient safety globally and called for a culture of conversion to promote patient safety in healthcare.

Mr. Andrews Kwabena Nyantakyi, the Founder and CEO of Elijeko Foundation, led the Ghanaian delegation and reiterated the critical need for hospitals and healthcare institutions in Ghana to prioritize patient safety.

He explained the rationale behind sending the Ghanaian delegates to the summit was to solidify the relationship between Elijeko Foundation and the Patient Safety Movement Foundation as both organizations collaborate to promote and prioritize patient safety, striving towards zero harm for individuals seeking medical care.

Mr. Nyantakyi stressed that patient safety initiatives are crucial in preventing harm and protecting lives.

Every patient in Ghana deserves safe and effective care and reducing preventable deaths should remain paramount, he added.

Medical errors, which can occur at various stages of healthcare provision, including diagnosis, treatment, medication administration, surgical procedures, and communication among healthcare providers, must be addressed. Thus, the participation of the Ghanaian delegation in the summit holds significant importance.

Mr. Nyantakyi was joined by Elijeko Foundations Country Director, Miss Celestina Kalor Abapiri, Mr. Richard Addo, a Pharmacy Technician at Manhyia District Hospital in Ashanti Region, and Ms. Kamelin Donkor.

Mr. Joe Kiana, the founder of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation in his closing remarks tasked the participants to demand their elected officials to hardwire patient safety into national agenda and align incentives so that hospitals worldwide can put evidence-based practices in place.
Members of Perez Chapel International are embarking on a week-long fasting and prayers amid the controversy between its Founder Archbishop Charles Agyinasare and the Chiefs and people of Nogokpo in the Volta Region.

The Presiding Bishop of Perez Chapel International, Benjamin Ohene Aboagye declared the one-week fasting and prayers on Sunday, June 4.

He was standing in for Archbishop Charles Agyinasare who is on an international mission.

Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, the leader of the Perez Church International has been summoned by the Chiefs of Nogokpo after he allegedly cast a slur on the town and its deity.

During a Supernatural Summit held at the headquarters of Perez Chapel in Accra on Thursday, May 25, Archbishop Agyinasare preached about divine protection where he described Nogokpo as the demonic headquarters of the Volta Region.

Unhappy with this, the chiefs of Nogokpo during a press conference on Friday, June 2, issued a 14-day ultimatum to Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, to appear before them to address the issue.

Speaking to Citi News on the matter, the convener of the community, Nufialaga Mawufemor Korbla Nonyigbey stressed that if Archbishop Agyinasare refuses to come before the Chiefs, they will use him as a scapegoat.

If you listen to what Archbishop Agyinasare said on Sunday, it wasnt an apology. He rather came to justify it and that is where we realised that hes taking us for granted. Or perhaps he thinks we cannot do anything. This is very disrespectful, he disrespected his wife and looked into our eyes his in-laws and insulted us.

No amount of grammar, English can change what he said, and we were expecting him to come out with a sincere apology not for him to come and start speaking grammar to us. We have given him the 14-day ultimatum, if he likes he should come and do the needful if he likes he should refuse.

He can decide to refuse, and we shall see who the controllers of cosmic power are. If he doesnt do the needful we shall use him as scapegoat, Nufialaga Mawufemor Korbla Nonyigbey threatened.
A man in Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with punching a 1-year-old child in the face. The baby is not his and the mother does not know him, according to a press release from Charlotte-Mecklenberg P.D. The baby received minor injuries and was treated and released from Levine Children's hospital.

Charlotte, N.C.  (Sunday, June 4, 2023)  Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Central Division are conducting an investigation near the intersection of W Summit Ave and S Tryon St in Central Division.

Shortly after 11:41 a.m., officers responded to an assault on a child call for service near this address. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim's mother who reported that her 1-year-old had just been punched in the face by an unknown man. Officers were quickly able to take the suspect into custody due to the assistance of bystanders and witnesses. The suspect was identified as Rico Limon Williams, DOB 12/10/1996, who is being charged with Assault on a Child Under 12.

The old question: are things worse now, or did we just not get to hear about the baby punching in the past? The answer seems clear in the numbersviolent crime is still close to historical lows despite ticking up during the pandemicbut modern life does have its weird nasty edge.
The opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Electoral Commission (EC) of plotting to robe in an unqualified candidate in the upcoming Assin North by-election.

Lawyer Edudzie Tamakloe, a member of the NDC legal team, made these claims during a discussion on TV3's 'New Day' morning show.

According to Tamakloe, Sammy Gyamfi the NDC's National Communications Officer has raised concerns about a plot involving the EC and the NPP to transfer the voter registration of a candidate named Charles Opoku from Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency to contest the NPP primaries in Assin North Constituency.

He said, Sammy Gyamfis message was simple. As the National Communications Officer of the party, he had put out there that the NDC had become aware of a plot by the EC together with the NPP to cause the transfer of the voter registration of a candidate in the NPP primaries by name Charles Opoku.

Providing further details, Lawyer Edudzi mentioned that Charles Opoku is a registered voter in Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency.

Charles Opoku has his voter registration number in Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency, the lawyer said.

According to Mr Tamakloe, Section 22 of CI 127 stipulates that a registered voter who has resided in a constituency for at least 12 months can apply to have their name transferred to the voter list of another constituency before an election. The voter transfer he stressed must be processed at least 42 days prior to the election.

The law says in sessions 22 of CI 127 that A registered voter who before an election is resident for not less than 12 months in a constituency other than that in which the registered voter is registered may apply to the returning officer of the constituency where the registered voter is resident for the name of the registered voter to be entered onto a transfer list of polling station in that constituency," Tamakloe said.

Based on the provisions of CI 127, Regulation 22, he argued that the transfer of Charles Opoku's vote cannot meet the 42 days period judging from the June 27 date set for the by-election.

He said, Now the law further says that you can do that 42 days before the election. As we speak, the Electoral Commission has put a notice out therethere is going to be a by-election on the 27th of June.

Our point is this, by reason of this CI 127, regulation 22, that transfer cannot happen within the 42 days period, he added.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory, Paul Frimpong, says that China has shown credible pathways for creating win-win cooperation with Africa, making the country the continents favorite partner.

Paul Frimpong made this revelation while delivering a speech at the 12th meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum 2023 held in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, China.

The Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University (IASZNU) launched the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in October 2011 to establish a forum for discussion and exchanges between Chinese and African think tanks. After eleven years of unremitting efforts, CATTF has successfully held eleven sessions in Africa and China.

Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), CATTF nurtures long-term cooperation and encourages academic exchanges among academics and policymakers in China and Africa.

He was speaking on the topic "leading at the edge of chaos: why China became Africas perfect partner".

According to Mr. Frimpong, "the significance of when China showed up in Africa to provide the needed support has often been overlooked. More often than not, its lost completely in the Africa-China debate, and that is very intriguing."

He said the relationship between China and Africa is built on trust and mutual respect, rather than out of convenience.

"In the year 2000, the entire African continent was labeled as "the hopeless continent" by Western actors. It was within the same year, in October, to be specific, that the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held," he added.

"Twenty-two years later, FOCAC continues to serve its purpose as a platform for collective discourse on cooperation between Africa and China." "It has delivered tangible results and opportunities for multiple African countries, and this will continue to grow into the future."

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he concluded.

This years forum attracted Chinese and African government officials, African diplomatic envoys in China, representatives of international organizations, leaders, experts, and scholars of well-known think tanks, and representatives of Chinese and African media and enterprises to pool the wisdom of the Chinese and African think tanks.

Source: www.africachinacentre.org
05.06.2023 LISTEN

Mr Mawutor Agbavitor, Volta Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged the Partys commitment to delivering one million votes in the region for the Party in the 2024 general elections.

He said the Party would also win all the 18 parliamentary seats in the region, especially regaining the Hohoe Constituency seat.

Mr Agbavitor speaking at the 44th anniversary of the June 4 uprising in Hohoe, said the choice of Hohoe to host the anniversary celebration was for the Party to reflect on the anomaly of losing the parliamentary seat which they were determined to correct in the 2024 general elections.

He said the celebration marked in Hohoe and the Volta Region was the revolution launch of the Party's campaign towards 2024.

Mr Agbavitor said the importance of June 4 could not be lost on the Party, taking into consideration the bravery displayed by forebearers and the courage of fighting and standing for the truth.

Probity, accountability, and transparency were the core values. It is for us today, as young people, to imbibe those principles to guide our political journey.

He said party members must be fair to everybody, and work hard saying, the greatest honour for the forebearers was winning the 2024 general elections.

Mr Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Hohoe Constituency, said it was the June 4 uprising that brought sanity into the country.

He said the Party in the Constituency became more united after the parliamentary primaries and were ready to deliver the parliamentary seat for the NDC in 2024.

The event was on the theme: Saving our Democracy: The spirit of June 4.

A health walk was also held as part of activities to commemorate the event.

GNA
National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah has challenged the candidacy of the deposed Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson in the upcoming primaries.

According to him, the embattled parliamentary candidate misled his people into believing he was a Ghanaian while he was still holding a Canadian citizenship.

On the score, the ruling partys spokesperson in a tweet on Monday, June 5, argued that the action has affected the constituency negatively as evidenced by the current lack of representation in parliament.

Mr. Ahiagbah further told the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to stop peddling falsehoods about the NPP and instead deal with their internal wrangling.

The NDC must worry about itself, not the NPP. The NDC has a real problem in Assin North to do with its candidate whose false declaration in 2020, has adversely impacted the constituency and forced a by-election.

Mr James Quyson is not a viable candidate having misled the people. The NPP will settle on a candidate on Wednesday 7 June, 2023. So, it is not true that we are trying by any means to insert the name of a non-existing candidate into the register. This misinformation from the NDC must be ignored, he noted.

This comes after Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC National Communications Director in a statement on Sunday, June 5, alleged that the NPP is "in cahoots with their collaborators in the Electoral Commission to transfer and insert the name of one Charles Opoku, into the Voters Register of the Assin North constituency."

Both the EC and the NPP have denied the allegations, calling it an attempt to mislead Ghanaians, particularly the Assin North constituents.
Chairman of the Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang has urged delegates who will be voting to elect Presidential and parliamentary candidates should not allow money to influence their choice of candidate.

According to Hon. Owusu-Agyemang, who is also a former Member of Parliament for New Juabeng North, some delegates are normally influenced by money which affects the quality of elected leaders.

Speaking on OTEC FM breakfast show on Monday, June 5, 2023, the former Minister of Water, Works and Housing, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs advised delegates of NPP to focus on the competencies and capabilities of candidates.

We are in a moment almost every Ghanaian is complaining of hardships but the 2024 election is also critical to the NPP. The delegates should note this because chances are that some candidates might influence their votes with money. They should rather focus on the capabilities and messages of those who can execute the job, he told the programmes host Captain Koda.

The NPP opened nominations on 26th May and the window for filing is expected to close on Saturday 24 June. All aspirants who picked presidential forms paid a non-refundable nomination fee of GHC50,000.

All aspirants are expected to file completed documents on or before Saturday 24th June 2023 and pay a filing fee of GHC300,000.

Aspirants

As of today, Thursday 1 June, Boakye Agyarko, the former energy minister, Francis Addai Nimoh, the former MP for Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, the former general secretary of the NPP, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, an economist and former minister for regional co-operation, and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former minister of food and agriculture, have picked forms to contest the presidential primaries.

The other people who have also picked forms are the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, an energy expert Kojo Poku, Alan Kyerematen the former minister of trade and industry, Kennedy Agyapong, the sitting MP for Assin Central in the Central Region and Joe Ghartey, the former minister of railways development and sitting Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan in the Western Region.

Super delegates

At the close of nominations on Saturday 24th June 2023, if all the ten aspirants who picked nomination forms go ahead to file, the NPP will hold a super delegates conference to trim the number of aspirants to five as required by the partys constitution.

But the NPP Chairperson of the Council of Elders indicated that If you are a candidate, ask yourself if you are capable of doing the job. At this moment, the candidates must tell delegates what they can do for the Party. Candidates should be able to convince delegates that they have the competencies and capabilities to manage the Ghanaian economy and also have answers to questions that might emerge going into the 2024 election.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has after receiving the full verdict, challenged the Supreme Court's decision to depose James Gyakye Quayson as Member of Parliament for Assin North.

The party says the ruling contradicts election laws in the country.

Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC's National Communications Director, noted in a statement that according to Section 20 (d) of the Representation of the People's Act (PNDC Law 284), a candidate must be qualified at the time of election, not nomination as stated by the apex court.

"Strangely, the Supreme Court of Ghana in their judgment says that qualification must be at the time of NOMINATION...The decision of the Supreme Court to annul Hon. Gyakye Quaysons election is solely based on the fact that, at the time he submitted his nomination form to the EC on 9th October, 2020, he had not received his certificate of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship," Mr. Gyamfi said.

The legal practitioner argued that even by the court's own interpretation, the lawmakers nomination was valid because the nomination period includes the period used by the Electoral Commission (EC) to scrutinize nominations.

During this period, the EC, according to Sammy Gyamfi, invited Mr Quayson to respond to a petition against his nomination.

"A day before he appeared before the EC at their Headquarters in Accra, that is on 26th November, 2020, Hon. Quayson received his certificate of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship.

This is why after investigating the matter, the EC accepted his nomination as valid and cleared him to contest the election on 27th November, 2020 because he had already received his certificate of renunciation a day prior," he noted.

Mr. Gyakye Quayson received the renunciation certificate 10 days before the election, thus meeting the qualification deadline, the opposition partys spokesperson added. "As a discerning and objective Ghanaian, judge for yourself if the Supreme Court's decision to annul Hon. Quaysons election is fair or not."

The Supreme Court's ruling comes after Mr Quayson's election was challenged on grounds of citizenship.

Mr Quayson, who risks 10 years in jail over criminal charges, has declared his intention to contest the upcoming by-election slated for June 27.

"The Assin North constituents will have an opportunity to reelect him in the polls," according to Sammy Gyamfi. "In all this, I am glad that the good people of Assin North in whom sovereignty resides, will have the opportunity to do JUSTICE in this matter once and for all, on 27th June, 2023."

I have no doubt in my mind, having been on the ground and interacted with many of them the past few days, that they will not falter. And that, they will vote for Hon. James Gyakye Quayson," said disappointed Sammy Gyamfi.
06.06.2023 LISTEN

The Nogokpo community in the Volta region has called on outspoken cleric Archbishop Charles Agyinasare to eat a humble pie.

They have asked the revered man of God to simply apologize and be free rather than continue his church's 7-day fasting and prayers.

Archbishop Agyinasare recently described Nogokpo as "the demonic headquarters in the Volta region", sparking outrage from the town's chiefs and residents.

They issued a 14-day ultimatum for the Perez Chapel founder to appear before them, but instead, his church declared a weeklong fasting in solidarity with him.

However, the Nogokpo community says the Archbishop's actions are misleading his followers.

In a Facebook post, Nogokpo wrote: "The worst thing happening to our continent is the way 'some' Christian leaders ignorantly mislead their followers based on their selfish interest."

They pointed out that Archbishop Agyinasare attacked "a whole community and not a shrine or deity" and the chiefs demanding an apology "are not chief priests or any evil doers."

Nogokpo urged: "The best thing to do is rather apologize and be free. Do not wait for this to turn any spiritual which you might not win."
The Volta Regional Health Directorate has debunked a viral report alleging over 400 students at the Ho Technical University have tested positive for HIV.

In a statement, the Directorate described the report by one unverified ajnewonline.com, titled, Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive as "false and unfounded.

A review of HIV testing data in all health facilities in Ho Municipality and the Volta Region, according to the statement, showed "no increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the Region as a whole.

The Regional Health Directorate emphasized, "there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region."

The Directorate urged the public to ignore the report, saying several strategies have been implemented to reduce new HIV infections and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

The Volta Regional Health Directorate and its partners have over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS.

These strategies seek to reduce new infections by 85% and eliminate mother-to-child transmission, it noted.

The Directorate assured the public that privacy and confidentiality are upheld in HIV services available in all health facilities in the region.

The statement concluded by stressing that HIV is still real and called for sexual abstinence, faithfulness and consistent condom use.

Read a full copy of the release as copied to ModernGhana News below;

FALSE REPORTAGE ON THE HIV INCIDENCE IN THE HO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

The attention of the Volta Regional Health Directorate has been drawn to an online publication by an unverified and unknown news portal 'ajnewonline.com' with the headline Hookup Trend Leads to HIV Outbreak at Ho Technical University: Over 400 students suspected positive.

The publication has subsequently been quoted by various social media actors without any form of due diligence.

The Regional Health Directorate by this release is informing the public to disregard the said publication since it is false and unfounded.

A review of the HIV testing data in all the health facilities in the Ho Municipality and the rest of the Volta Region does not suggest an increase in recorded HIV cases within any facility or the Region as a whole.

For the avoidance of doubt, the region states emphatically that there has not been a surge of HIV cases in the Ho Technical University or any other tertiary institution in the Volta Region.

The Volta Regional Health Directorate and its partners have over the period successfully implemented several strategies to fight HIV/AIDS.

These strategies seek to reduce new infections by 85% and eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

The Region however encourages its inhabitants to avoid stigmatization and fully lend themselves to the disease awareness campaigns and tailor-made services that meet their specific needs so as to consolidate the gains made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.

HIV services are available in all private and public health facilities in the Volta Region.

The public is assured that their right to privacy and confidentiality will always be upheld as is the case in all disease conditions.

In conclusion, let us take note that HIV is still real, and all must endeavor to live positively through sexual abstinence or by both uninfected partners being faithful to each other, and by the consistent use of condoms
Prophetess Mrs. Lina Biney of the Crystal Grace Chapel International has urged Christians to live righteous lives and avoid the influence of the ungodly.

Delivering a sermon on the theme "Our Walk with God" on Sunday, June 4, at the Church auditorium in Accra, Prophetess Biney said Christians who deviate from God and follow the counsel of the ungodly will face curses.

Preaching from Psalm 1:1-3, the prophetess said "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."

She warned Christians against being deceived by people's outward appearance, saying "there are many in the church who pretend to be holy but turn otherwise the moment they step out of the auditorium."

The revered Prophetess condemned people who rejoice at the downfall of others, describing them as ungodly.

"God sees pretenders as ungodly and places curses on them," she said, and further urged the congregants to be righteous and not emulate the lives of the ungodly.

"Blessed is the man who thinks and rejoices over the word of God at all times...Such persons shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper," she added, quoting Psalm 1:2-3.

She admonished Christians to meditate on God's word daily and avoid being scornful towards others.

Bringing the sermon to an end, Prophetess Biney urged the congregation to "choose their friends wisely" and avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers.
France's iconic abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is celebrating 1,000 years since the laying of its first stone in 923, with President Emmanuel Macron marking the occasion in Normandy on the eve of the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The one-thousand-year commemoration of the UNESCO World Heritage site is being celebrated through to November with exhibits, dance shows and concerts.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the abbey, where he called on the French people to "go beyond" 21st-century challenges, reflecting on the "trials of time" endured by Mont-Saint-Michel, calling it a symbol of a certain "French spirit."

Macron also viewed a new exhibit tracing the Romanesque abbey's history via 30 objects and pieces, including a restored statue of Saint Michael.

Legend has it that the Archangel Michael appeared in 708, duly instructing the bishop of nearby Avranches to build him a church on the rocky outcrop.

Millions for restoration of 'architectural jewel'

The exhibit  two years in the making  opened last month and covers the complex process of building what is considered an architectural jewel on a rocky island linked to the mainland only by a narrow causeway at low tide.

Four crypts were constructed on the granite tip along with a church on top. The exhibit explains how the original structure, built in 966, became too small for pilgrims, spurring on the builders to create the 11th century abbey that stands to this day.

France has spent more than 32 million over 15 years to restore the building, and the work is nearing completion.

In recent years, the French authorities have also tried to protect the monument's surrounding environment from the impact of mass tourism.

One of the most popular French destinations outside Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel attracted 2.8 million visitors last year, including 1.3 million to the abbey.

The site was not closed to visitors for during Monday's presidential visit, but local authorities took measures for it to go as smoothly as possible.

D-Day commemorations

Meanwhile on Tuesday morning, Emmanuel Macron will travel to Colleville-Montgomery  the site of the D-Day landings  to attend the annual commemoration organised by the French Marine Rifles rather than the traditional 6 June ceremonies, which are taking place at Ver-sur-Mer and will be presided over by Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Macron will be joined by 100-year-old Leon Gautier  the last living Frenchman to have taken part in the D-Day landings  to present green berets to military recruits who recently completed their commando training course.

The presence of the French head of state is intended as a tribute to the 177 Frenchmen who landed on 6 June 1944 as part of the Kieffer Commando Unit, alongside 132,000 Allied Forces.

President Macron also use the occasion to officially set up a public interest group that will be responsible for the preparation of the 80th anniversary commemorations taking place in 2024.
Robert Hanssen's espionage exploits were a striking throwback to the cold war at a time people thought that sort of thing was historyhe had, of course, been at it for decades by the time authorities collared him. Jailed for life for handing secrets to the Soviet and then the Russian government, he was found dead yesterday in his prison cell at the federal prison in Florence, Colorado.

Hanssen appears to have died of natural causes, according to two sources briefed on the matter. Three years after he was hired by the FBI, Hanssen approached the Soviets and began spying in 1979 for the KGB and its successor, the SVR. He stopped a few years later after his wife confronted him. He resumed spying in 1985, selling thousands of classified documents that compromised human sources and counterintelligence techniques and investigations in exchange for more than $1.4 million in cash, diamonds and foreign bank deposits. Using the alias "Ramon Garcia," he passed information to the spy agencies using encrypted communications and dead drops, without ever meeting in-person with a Russian handler.

Obligatory:
06.06.2023 LISTEN

BlueCrest College, a renowned institution for higher education in Ghana, celebrated its 19th graduation ceremony with great fervor and enthusiasm.

The graduation ceremony, held at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, was themed "Unleashing Potential: Empowering Change Makers. Distinguished guests, faculty members, proud parents, and the graduating students themselves gathered to commemorate this momentous occasion.

The highlight of the ceremony was the inspiring speech delivered by the esteemed rector of BlueCrest College, Dr. Sujith Jayaprakash.

In his address, Dr. Sujith Jayaprakash emphasized the importance of embracing technology and digitization in today's rapidly evolving world. He highlighted that technology and digital literacy have become integral in every sphere of life, including education, business, communication, and beyond. Dr. Sujith Jayaprakash urged the graduating students to harness the power of technology and leverage it to drive positive change in their respective fields.

The guest speaker for the event, Captain Rtd. Prince Kofi Amoabeng, captivated the audience with an enlightening speech on the significance of time management. Captain Prince Kofi Amoabeng emphasized that time is an invaluable resource, equating it to money and stressing the need to make the most of every second. He further emphasized that success looks different for everyone, and each individual has their own unique journey and pace to achieve their goals.

During the ceremony, BlueCrest College also recognized and awarded the Best Graduating students from each department. These students were honored for their outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities, and exemplary dedication to their studies. The recipients of these awards were applauded for their exceptional achievements, serving as role models for their fellow students.

The overall Best Graduating student Marvic Judicael Cocouvi, who achieved the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) among all the graduates, delivered his speech. He expressed his appreciation to BlueCrest College for providing a conducive learning environment and for the guidance received from the faculty members. He shared his personal journey, highlighting the challenges he overcame and the support he received from his peers and mentors.

He also emphasized the importance of perseverance and the value of seizing every opportunity for personal and professional growth. He encouraged the continuing students to remain committed to their studies, embrace challenges, and make the most of their time at BlueCrest College. His inspiring words resonated with the audience, inspiring a sense of determination and a drive to excel.

The graduation ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of degree students in various disciplines, including Information Technology (IT), Mass Communication, Business, and Fashion. Overall, 103 students graduated from the BlueCrest College, recognizing the hard work, dedication, and exceptional skills of its graduates, who are now poised to make significant contributions to their respective industries.

In addition to the degree students, the graduation ceremony also acknowledged the accomplishments of Diploma, Certificate, and Master's degree students. The ceremony concluded with the conferral of degrees, the tossing of graduation caps, and the heartfelt expressions of joy and gratitude from the graduating students. BlueCrest College takes immense pride in its graduating class, believing that they are prepared to make significant contributions to society and become catalysts for positive change.

BlueCrest College remains committed to nurturing and empowering future generations of change makers. The college envisions a future where its alumni continue to push boundaries, drive innovation, and positively impact their communities.

Source: BlueCrest College
06.06.2023 LISTEN

A paediatrician at the Bono Regional Hospital in Sunyani, Dr. Bright Asiamah has cautioned mothers to stop using naphthalene balls in their babies clothes.

He said that naphthalene balls can cause jaundice, a condition that causes the skin and eyes to turn yellow.

Newborn jaundice is a common condition that occurs in about 60% of babies. It is caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a yellow pigment, in the blood. Bilirubin is produced when red blood cells break down. In newborns, the liver is not fully developed and cannot remove bilirubin from the blood as quickly as it should.

Naphthalene balls are made of a substance called camphor. Camphor can break down red blood cells, which can lead to jaundice.

Dr. Asiamah said that mothers should stop using naphthalene balls in their babies clothes and instead use other methods of keeping their babies clothes smelling fresh, such as airing them out or using a natural deodorizer.

We advise mothers to stop using naphthalene balls Camphor in the items of their babies because we have identified that it causes Jaundice among babies.

Dr Asiamah disclosed this in Sunyani during the celebration of this year's New Born Jaundice Awareness Month which was under the theme: Spot The Yellow, Stop Disability and Death.

He also admonished mothers to bring their babies to the hospital when they notice that the skin and the colour of the eyes of their babies have turned yellow.

Nana Akosua Akomah Dankari I, the Sompahemaa of the Sunyani Traditional Area who spoke at the celebration urged parents to abide by the education given by the health personnel in the prevention and treatment of newborn jaundice.

Parents have a critical role to play if newborn jaundice is to be reduced in the region. Let's abide by the education they give to us.

The month-long celebration included; a float on the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness about disease.

The SDA and Sunyani Municipal Hospitals currently do not have fire flyers which helps in the treatment of Jaundice among babies and they have to depend on the Bono Regional Hospital.

NGOs, corporate bodies and individuals have been urged to come on board to support the hospitals to get fire flyers to help in the treatment of Jaundice among babies in the two facilities.
Concerned Staff of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has responded to the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah over comments she made regarding their earlier press statement issued, demanding the interdiction of the Council Chairman.

Prof. George Kankam, Snr. who signed another press release on behalf of the Concerned Staff of UEW, responding to the Acting Registrar indicated that there is no peace on campus as claimed by her.

According to Prof. George Kankam, Snr. in the last couple of weeks, two (2) former employees and four (4) active staff of the University have been accused of financial malfeasance and have been directed to step aside.

One of the former employees, Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduro whom he said was accused of dereliction of duty, in his response on 31st May, 2023 accused the current Management of UEW of indulging in create, loot and share.

Prof. George Kankam, Snr. who attached a copy of Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduros response to their press release asked why Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah was silent on the accusations leveled against the current Management of UEW by Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduro.

The silence of Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah on this issue, he said, intertwined with the blatant refusal of the Council Chairman to take steps to implement the recommendations of the 2021 VC Search Committee Report has further heightened tension in UEW.

If others have been accused of financial malfeasance and asked to step aside, why are others still in office when they have been accused of same? he asked.

Below is the full Press Release and the attached Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduros response

Concerned Staff Response to Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, Ag. Registrar, University of Education, Winneba (UEW)

For Immediate Release

Monday, 5th June, 2023.

In her Rejoinder to the Press Statement of we the Concerned Staff of UEW, Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah stated that: A statement by a certain concerned staff of UEW signed by Prof. George Kankam Snr., which he later followed up with an interview on Eyewitness News of Citi FM on Thursday, 1s June, 2023, in connection with the above-mentioned subject, has come to our attention.

She further fumbles that: Be that as it may, we wish to respond as follows.

One is at a loss as to why all those whose attention was drawn to the Press Statement by the Concerned Staff and all those who wished to respond, did not all sign the Press Release of Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah.

Prof. Kankam Snr. signed on behalf of a group, so it is erroneous to state that it was a statement by a certain concerned staff.

1. Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah claimed under her point one that there is absolute peace on campus. This is laughable!

In the last couple of weeks, two (2) former employees and four (4) active staff of UEW have been accused of financial malfeasance and the active staff have been directed to step aside. One of the former employees, Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduro (accused of dereliction of duty), in his response on 31 May, 2023 accused the current Management of UEW of indulging in create, loot and share (a copy of Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduros response is attached).

Why is Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah silent on the accusations levelled against the current Management of UEW by Dr. Isaac Marfo Oduro? The silence of Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah on this issue, intertwined with the blatant refusal of the Council Chaiman to take steps to implement the recommendations of the 2021 VC Search Committee Report has further heightened tension in UEW. If others have been accused of financial malfeasance and asked to step aside, why are others still in office when they have been accused of same?

2. If Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah and her associates werent aware of the existence of the 2021 VC Search Committee Report, then on what grounds was Prof. Stephen J. Mitchual being touted around as the next Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UEW; and introduced as such by someone to the President of the Republic during the recent Investiture of the Chancellor?

3. Nowhere in the Press Statement by we the Concerned Staff did we state that the recently appointed Chancellor was not shortlisted. This is erroneous on the part of Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete Mensah.

4. Another incorrect submission by Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah. We stated that the unseen hand (someone else) did the said introduction, and not the beleaguered Council Chairman.

5. Interestingly, Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah admitted that the said joint Press Statement was actually released. The circumstances under which it was retracted is an open secret.

5. This is a clear attempt by Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah to mislead the public, and she has dramatically failed. It is highly unconventional, and against all established procedures that a Council Chairman proposed a particular candidate among a shortlist of three (3) for appointment.

This is what we the Concerned Staff are concerned with here.

7. Previously, the University vehicle picks the Chairman of Council from his home or wherever he maybe, to the Council Meeting venue and proceed to drop the Chairman back to his home or wherever, and the vehicle returns to the University immediately the Council Chairman is dropped off. However, in the case of the current Council Chairman, the vehicle (GC 5867-20), is permanently stationed with him together with a driver.

8. UEW doesnt have separate National Laws governing it. The laws of Ghana apply uniformly to both UEW and the University of Ghana, Legon (UG). A Search Committee was set up by UG, just like UEW. Both ended up at the High Court. A precedent was set in the case of UG. Why didnt UEW go the UG way?

9. There is no Statutory provision in UEW Statutes against those on post-retirement contracts holding positions of responsibility. It is a Directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), directing all tertiary institutions in Ghana to desist from appointing those on post-retirement contracts to headship positions. Nowhere in the Concerned Staff Press Statement is it mentioned that Prof. Kankam Snr. represented Convocation on the 202 1VC

Search Committee. Another ambiguous statement by Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, which is tantamount to a clear intent to deceive the public.

10. Readers can glean from the above rebuttals as to who is a liar. If Prof. George Kankam Snr. is known to spew lies, then Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, is very well-known to create, polish and share lies! Even though the issue about contracts wasnt part of the Concerned Staff Press Statement, it is obvious that it has been deliberately thrown in by Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah as a tool to divert attention from the core issues. We challenge Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah, to substantiate her claim that: About two weeks ago, he wrote to the Chairman alleging the award of two contracts at the university at the cost of GHS 100 million each to 

Similarly, we challenge her to provide documentary proof to back her claim that Prof. Kankam, has for some time made unsuccessful overtures to win favours from the chairman.

A post-retirement contract, just like the issue of contracts, didnt form part of the issues raised by we the Concerned Staff in our Press Statement dated 1st June, 2023. therefore, it is clear that Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah has no answers to the substantive issues we raised, and as a result, has resorted to insults and personal attacks against the signatory of our Press Statement, purposely to divert the attention of the public from the fundamental issues in our Press Statement, which she has awfully failed to achieve.

Judging from the deceptive statements Of Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah as outlined above, it is clear that she is not a credible person, so the general public is accordingly advised to treat her pooh-poohs with the contempt that they rightly deserve.

We wish to put on record that we are not morally bankrupt like Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah to issue a statement on 4th June, 2023, and mischievously back date it to 2nd June, 2023 (evidence of this moral decay symptom exhibited by Mrs. Wilhelmina Tete-Mensah with regard to her response to our initial Press Statement) is on the UEW website). A swift and not a belated response to this our second release, would be most welcome!

Issued by Concerned Staff, UEW

Signed:

Prof. George Kankam, Snr. (0209024356)
His Majesty King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse who doubles as President of the Ga Traditional Council of Accra, Ghana and Ga Amanklado, Nii Adote Otintor II and other paramount chiefs engaged with Gas leaving in diaspora in MinneapolisSaint Paul in the United States of America.

The aim of the gathering was to help further unify the Ga state.

Speaking at a conference over the weekend under the theme: The Restoration of Our Heritage Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II said This is part of the effort towards the consolidation and unification of the Ga state."

This follows a meeting the Ga Mantse, on Friday October 22, 2021 had with the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to help change the name of the Greater Accra Region to the Ga-Adangbe Region.

Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II in his speech said Ga Dangbe is sad. "Sad because of a lot of things that are being done against us."

According to the Ga King, his people are sad about the situation.

We are sad about the way we are being treated in the capital. People just get up, go to places and start building why? Without even consulting a traditional authority, he said.

The Ga Mantse also called on authorities to intervene in what he called the gradual phasing out of the Ga Adange language in schools in the region.

The Ga language has been threatened in recent years. Indeed, many schools do not teach Ga anymore in the Greater Accra Region.

Today, it is a big threat to our very existence and our culture because we evolve from it. We are asking that teachers that are trained to teach Ga to be posted to our Ga communities, he said.

He stated that Gas have the ability to decide the outcome of the 2024 general election, thus should be recognised as key stakeholder in the affairs of the country.

We will decide this election in 2024 because Accra is the pivot of the election. Accra is Ghana and Ghana is Accra, dont take us for granted, he stated.

Dr. Samuel Twumasi  Nii Addo Nmai I
Some residents of Atwima Takyiman-Denkyemuoso Electoral area in the Kwadaso Municipality of the Ashanti Region have accused government of listing non-existing road projects in the area on the website of the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

According to them, a document they cited on the website of the Ministry of Roads and Highways listed a 0.73 kilometres of asphalted road on the Ohwimase-Denkyemuoso road, something they described as false.

Some residents in an interview with this reporter on Monday June 5, 2023 said there was no such road project as listed on the Ministry's website.

They explained that the road in question was indeed tired, but developed hundreds of potholes few months after it was constructed days ahead of the 2020 polls.

"Claims by government that, the road has been asphalted is not true, we may not have the technical eye in such instances, but our consultation with some contractors with the technical know-how, have proven that, this is not an asphalted road.

"As we speak, 0.73 kilometres they constructed have developed hundreds of potholes, the drains constructed along it have been destroyed by floods, so what are they talking about?"

The residents have therefore appealed to government to visit the area again and get information on grounds to update its list, in order for their road to get the needed attention.

The Assembly Member of the Area, Hon David Asare responding to the document expressed worry over the inaccuracies captured at the Ministry's website.

He noted that residents in the area will be very disappointed in government if the information is not updated to reflect the situation on the ground

He called on the government to fix the road in order to encourage residents in the area who are mostly NPP members to vote for the incumbent government come 2024 polls.
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has joined Media General Ghana Ltd., the owner of Onua TV and Onua FM, to an earlier defamation suit against the company's presenter Blessed Godsbrain Smart (Captain Smart).

The host on the synched morning show of both the TV and radio stations, suggested on one of his editions that Mr Ofori-Atta got 10 per cent of the IMF's recently-approved US$3 billion bailout facility for Ghana.

In his amended statement of case filed on Monday, 5 June 2023, Mr Ofori-Atta stated that Media General Ghana Ltd (the second defendant), by its actions and inactions, looked on, permitted and/or encouraged the first defendant, Blessed Godsbrain Smart (aka Captain Smart), by the use of its platform and resources, to defame him, the plaintiff, unjustifiably.

Mr Ofori-Atta is praying the court to award him GHC10 million in general damages, including aggravated and or exemplary damages for defamation for the libel uttered by the two defendants (Media General Ghana Ltd, the operator of Onua TV and Onua FM, in addition to Blessed Godsbrain/Captain Smart).

classfmonline.com
Outspoken social activist and #FixTheCountry convener Oliver Barker Mawuse Vormawor has called on government to either increase the allocation per child under the School Feeding Programme or scrap it entirely.

In a tweet on Tuesday, June 6, Mr. Vormawor expressed displeasure at the GH1 allocation per child.

"If we are only willing to spend 1 Ghana cedi per child, I honestly think the Government should stop the school feeding programme, he expressed.

He questioned how caterers could survive in the programme with the little amount per child.

Mr. Vormawor warned that "very soon, either a major scandal will break that some caterers are mixing saw dust into their food; or we are nearing major outbreak of food poisoning that will result in the death of school children."

He described the current allocation as "the largest Government funded 'Kwashiorkor' programme I have ever seen."

The School Feeding Programme aims to promote health and nutrition by providing daily meals to pupils in public basic schools in the country.

However, critics say the current funding is woefully inadequate, coupled with non-payment of caterers allowances.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia today, Tuesday, for talks on global security and economic issues, as the conflict in Sudan enters its eighth week.

Blinken will discuss US-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral issues including economic and security cooperation, the State Department said in a statement.

The talks are also likely to include new discussions on Sudan.

The five-day extension of the US- and Saudi-brokered truce formally expired on Saturday evening in Sudan.

Unsuccessful talks

The Sudanese army had previously withdrawn from the talks set in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday last week. A day later, the US-Saudi mediators declared them officially suspended.

Washington wants to resume the talks, but only if all parties are "serious" about the ceasefire.

Representatives of Sudan's regular army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) came back to Jeddah again, the Saudi foreign ministry said, and remain in the city, despite the collapse of ceasefire talks.

The Saudi and US mediators again called for the parties to agree to and effectively implement a new ceasefire, with the "aim of building to a permanent cessation of hostilities", Riyadh added.

The main goal is to allow humanitarian aid and safe passage into areas of Sudan ravaged by the fighting.

The United States on Thursday slapped sanctions on both warring parties, holding them both responsible for provoking "appalling" bloodshed.

Mounting humanitarian needs

Meanwhile, more than 1,800 people have been killed in the past seven weeks of fighting, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

To date, 1.2 million people have been displaced within Sudan, according to the UN, while more than 425,000 have fled abroad.

Overall, some 25 million people are now in need of aid and protection, which is more than half Sudan's population.

The fighting erupted on 15 April in the Sudanese capital between the army led by de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF commanded by his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

(with newswires)
06.06.2023 LISTEN

Akwasi Asante, one of the 14 alleged murderers of Major Mahama has denied his involvement in the murder of the army officer.

It is not true I fired at the head of late Major Mahama, resulting in his death, he said.

The accused told the court that, even though he was seen in the video holding a gun, he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mr Asante was answering questions after his evidence in chief in a cross examination by Mrs Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney.

Initially, the prosecution identified the accused person both in a photo album and in an amateur video wearing a white T-Shirt with a yellow collar and a pair of black trousers, wielding with a gun.

The accused person said even though he was seen at the scene, he did not fire any gun at the deceased.

The prosecution said on May 29, 2017, the accused ran to one Opanyi Dumors room, a witness in the trial, to pick a gun and went back to the scene purposely to shot the soldier but the accused disagreed.

Mr Asante agreed that he took the gun from Opanyi Dumors room but it was not functional, hence his desire to repair it but the prosecution insisted that per a ballistic expert, who was a witness in the trial, the gun was functional.

It suggested to the accused person that on the said day of the incidence, he together with other accused persons intentionally cause the death of the Major Mahama but again Mr Asante disagreed.

My Lord, even killing an animal is not easy, how much more a human being, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, he added.

The accused person at all material time insisted he was standing by the roadside waiting for a vehicle but the prosecution insisted he was part of the alleged persons who lynched the army officer.

Initially, the accused in his evidence-in-chief told the court that, the day before the incident, he went out to repair his gun but could not finish the repairs.

He said, he continued the following day, which was May 29, 2017 and on standing at the roadside, he could not get a vehicle.

The accused person said, while there he saw two boys on a motorcycle, he stopped them but they ignored him and again he stopped another motorcycle, which stopped for him.

He said this was when he was told that there was a thief around the community, who had shot one of the guys on the motorcycle so they were on their way to the hospital.

Mr Asante said this put fear in him, making him to hide in the bush, still holding the disfunctional gun.

While in the bush, l hear shouting and firing of gun shots amidst the shouting, thief, thief, we have arrested him, he added.

At this point, the court fixed June 26, 2023 to ensure that all parties received the records of proceedings, where further directions would be given.

Fourteen persons are standing trial at the Accra High Court over the killing of Major Mahama, who was an officer of the 5th Infantry Battalion, at Burma Camp.

The late Major Mahama whiles on duty at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region on May 29, 2017, was allegedly mistaken by some residents for an armed robber and lynched him, ignoring his persistent plea that he was an officer of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The accused persons are, William Baah, the Assembly member of Denkyira-Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah, alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a Abortion, Charles Kwaning a.k.a Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor.

The others are, John Bosie, Akwasi Asante, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima.

GNA
A Accra High Court has ordered Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing to appear before it within 48 hours to respond to charges.

Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, the third accused person in a case, involving four others, including Alhaji Collins Dauda and Dr Kweku Agyeman-Mensah, both former Ministers of Water Resources, Works and Housing, are facing 70 charges in the Saglemi Affordable Housing case.

Following the amended charge sheet moved by the State in January this year, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu through his lawyers have indicated to the court that he had since suffered a stroke and cannot walk unsupported.

When the case was called at the last adjourned date, the two former Ministers, Mr Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, had their plea taken but, Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu was absent.

This had made the court to order the accused person to appear for his plea to be taken.

I order Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu to appear before this Court on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (within 48hrs) for his plea to be taken, he said.

The court said, after the taking of his plea, the court would put him to the election of how he could be permitted to defence himself before the court in his present situation.

Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, Counsel for the accused person, told the court that his client was put before the High Court differently constituted and the (previous) charges read to him and, which he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He argued that, he was then granted bail and same orders were duly executed and that the accused person was also attending the court until he suffered stroke.

He said We have previously brought this to the attention of the court and a medical reports issued.

Mr Tamakloe said it was not the desire of the accused person to be absent from court, therefore prayed the court to consider the reports before it to permit the accused some time to recovery from the stroke.

He also prayed the court to make other facilities available to the accused like a video conference at the Tamale High Court or at the Yendi Office of the Attorney General to enable him duly participate in the proceedings of this court.

The Counsel said in the era of technology, it should be possible for the court to make an order for the State through the Attorney General in Yendi or Tamale to make such facility available to the third accused.

In view of the fact that the fair trial rule requires the trial to be conducted in the presence of accused, I submits that the video conferencing facility will achieve the same aim of the Constitutional provision that the trial be done in his presence, he added.

He said with the video conferencing facilities, the plea of the Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu could also be taken in respect of the specific charges related to him.

The Counsel said because of the difficulties in transporting him, they would pray the court to consider their suggestions for a video conferencing technology to be used.

Madam Hilda Craig, a Principal State Attorney, agreed that the accused was present in court when the plea was first taken before another court and he was regular until the unfortunate happened him as narrated by his Counsel.

She also agreed that the Counsel had brought and presented medical reports of the accused person, indicating the Medical condition of his client.

Subsequently, when the charge sheet was substituted the accused person was not present for his plea to be taken and we indicated to the court then that the medical reports that they kept presenting had a particular line running through them.

The particular line, said the accused is put on specialist medication and responding to treatment, however, he still finds it difficult to walk unsupported, he added.

We indicated to the court that the word 'unsupported' means he can be supported to the court for at least his plea to be taken. Madam Craig said.

She said they have spoken about the issue of technology but their Office in Tamale and the Tamale High Court did not have these facilities and it would be difficult for them to try it there.

She referred to Article 19(2)(f) of the 1992 Constitution, indicating that we are saying he should come for his plea to be taken and then when he cannot be in court, his lawyer will do all that matters for him adequately.

Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court Judge, after listening to the parties, said both the defence and prosecution in their arguments failed to point to a single precedent of an accused whose plea had to be taken via video conferencing.

He said the court haf to exercise discretion judiciously and that no accused person is inferior or superior to the other.

The court said, it is only death that will practically prevent an accused from standing trial or where an accused is mentality unsound.

Justice Owusu-Dapaah said, the accused, who was facing most of the 70 counts whether separately or jointly had not pleaded to the 70 counts yet.

He said, embarking on separate trial without the third accused would create or result in unnecessary complication of evidence and cause embarrassment to the rest of the accused persons without him.

The Court said, it had taken judicial notice and the fact that the prosecution did not have reliable internet facilities to enable accused to give evidence in the comfort of his house or the Tamale High Court or the hospital facility, he ought to appear before the court within 48 hours to respond to the charges.

The case adjourned to June 7, 2023 for the plea of the third accused to be taken.

Alhaji Dauda, and others have been slapped with 70 charges of causing financial loss to the state over the Saglemi Affordable Housing project and intentionally misapplying public property

The amended charge sheet replaced the previous 52 charges pressed against them in July 2021.

Alhaji Dauda and three others pleaded not guilty and are on bail.

GNA
This video of Peoria, Illinois resident Jon Daker bravely struggling through "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "That's Amore" is the sweetest and most awkward-but-charming thing I've seen on the internet lately. I absolutely agree with Reddit user Beeyull's review, which really sums up the scene:

I feel like I just saw a piece of art. The lady at the beginning had me wanting more and then John swept me away. 4 stars.

Jordan M. Poss provides this more detailed description:

It's an accidental comedy masterpiece, growing continuously funnier from start to finish. Daker awkwardly introduces himself, he misses his first cue and rushes to catch up, he visibly forgets the lyrics to his second number, he tries to recover with a little gesture and movement at the mic only to end up humming his way to the final lines of the song, and all the while Mrs Unsicker, the piano teacher, sits playing away at her upright piano like a machine. Daker's portion of the show is only a minute and a half long, but he wraps those ninety seconds up with an iron-jawed stoicism and an obvious sense of relief.

I had to know moreWho is Jon Daker? When, Where, and Why was this video made?so I did some poking around and found out some information about the video's origins and about the man who became an unlikely internet hero when the video was first uploaded to YouTube in 2006.

Jonathan Aigner provides some information about the origin of the video:

Peoria resident Reva Singley Cooper Unsicker taught voice, piano, and organ lessons for some six decades until her death in 1995 at the age of 80. For most of those years, her studio recitals were held in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Peoria where she attended. I have never found out how this happened, but at some point in the 80s she was offered the chance to broadcast her recitals on local public access TV station. Reva jumped at the chance, which according to one source, elicited a collective sigh of relief among the church staff, as Reva was, shall we say, a bit particular about these recitals. Nobody was ever supposed to see them again, but God in His mercy had other ideas. While a few brief clips from others remain, much of one 1990 recital is preserved on YouTube.

Jordan M. Poss describes why Daker's performance is so charming and touching:

I've watched this clip every so often for close to twenty years, and it never, ever stops being funny. But why? Part of it is the obviousit's awkward, it's embarrassing, he forgets the words, he clearly doesn't know what to do with his face. His utterly rigid body language screams his keen, moment by moment awareness of how badly it's going, and that with the pianist pounding through his two songs like an automaton heedless of his calamity there is no stopping. Then there are subtler thingsthe perfect comedy timing of his name, misspelled, popping up onscreen after his introduction and in perfect time with Mrs Unsicker's first chord; or the truly daft pairing of Charles Wesley with Dean Martin. The more you watch it the more you see. But for me, the laughterand I laugh till I cryis also a laugh of recognition. It's sympathetic, even affectionate. I see in Daker's ninety seconds of gawping, humming, halting Sprechgesang my own worst-case scenario for public performance. I flop sweat for him as he nears the end of his set. It's the laughter you share with your buddy who completely blew his lines in the Christmas cantata, grateful it wasn't you but glad you can laugh him through the embarrassment. Because in that situation Daker is me, right down to the eyebrows.

I feel all of this so very deeply. In fact, Daker is also me. Daker is all of us. Last year, Jonathan Aigner, upon hearing of Jon's passing at the age of 82, shared this beautiful tribute:
Mr. Winston Hayford, a lawyer and the Registrar of the Tema Circuit Court, has noted the Tema Bench, Bar, and Prosecution Court Unit (TBBPCU) Public Schools Outreach programme, aims to assist students who attend public schools in setting higher goals for themselves and believing that they are attainable.

He said the group thought the project was crucial, especially in this day and age when kids are exposed to so many harmful things that keep them from concentrating on their education and ultimately realizing their ambitions.

Mr Hayford who spoke to the media in Tema following the programme as it was being monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema stressed that the TBBPCU public school outreach campaign also seek to serve as a platform to inform students about the importance of placing a priority on their education.

The mission of the group is to bring these kids up close and personal with people in illustrious professions so the kids can take inspiration from them, he said. "Our main targets are pupils from public schools who are not as fortunate as their counterparts in other private schools," he said.

Mr. Hayford claimed that after the project's start in March, they went to several public schools and engaged the kids in conversation with judges, solicitors and police prosecutors.

He claimed they had encouraging comments from the kids and the school administration, who stated their opinion that the kids' dreams had been enhanced so they could soon hold those jobs and other important ones around the nation.

He urged well-meaning Ghanaians, all other education sector stakeholders, businesses, organizations, and other groups with a similar vision to help the programme in any manner they could, whether it be with money or in-kind contributions.

Some of the schools who benefited from the outreached programme includes: Tema Metropolitan area, Community 8 Number 3 Junior High School; Manhean TMA Junior High School 1 and 2; and Aggrey Road Numbers 1 and 2 Junior High School were among the benefited schools.

Mr. Richard Clarke, a Tema-based lawyer and a member of TBBPCU,

He said the programmes goal was to spark students' interest in aspirations to climb higher academic ladders through intensive learning.

In order for the students to effectively carry out their obligations, Mr. Clarke suggested that they consider some fundamental questions to which they might require the answers.

He also suggested that they help dispel certain myths about judges, solicitors and the police department.

Mr. Clarke added that the goods included mathematics sets, exercise books, sanitary towels, pencils, and pens.

He claimed that 1,634 kids had been designated to get some teaching and learning resources to support their study.

In order to encourage as many pupils as possible to develop the habit of learning and to refrain from engaging in social vices, illicit drug use, and other socially unacceptable activities, Mr. Clarke also disclosed that the outreach initiative would shortly be reproduced in other districts.

The TBBPCU outreach initiative was conducted in various schools in Tema with the assistance of a group of solicitors, circuit court judges, physicians, police prosecutors and other significant professionals.

In order to prepare them for a better future, the students were given the chance to ask questions about the future careers they would like to pursue.

CDA Consult II Contributor
An Accra High Court has given Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, former Chief Director at the Ministry for Water Resources, Works and Housing, 48 hours to appear before it for his pleas to be taken in connection with charges relating to causing financial loss to the state in the $200 million Saglemi Housing project scandal.

The accused has been absent from the trial a number of times due to ill health and his counsel, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has consistently presented the prosecution and the court with a medical report indicating that he would not be able to attend court unaided.

Alhaji Yakubu is standing trial together with former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who doubles as NDC MP for Asutifi, over 70 charges of causing financial loss to the state among others.

The prosecution has amended the charges against the accused persons and the case has been placed before a new court differently constituted and presided over by Justice Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge.

The court on May 31, 2023, took the pleas of Alhaji Collins Dauda, Agyeman-Mensah, a former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing; businessman Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited as well as Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited, who all pleaded not guilty.

The court could however, not take the pleas of Alhaji Yakubu who was absent on that day, and subsequently adjourned the case to yesterday to hear arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel with respect to Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution and decide on how to proceed with the accused person.

Mr. Tameklo, counsel for Alhaji Yakubu, yesterday told the court that it was not a willful decision by the accused person to be absent in court and prayed the court that based on the medical report, the accused should be given time to recover from his illness.

Alternatively, he prayed the court to make other facilities available to the accused either by way of video conference at the Tamale or Yendi Office of the Attorney General so that he can duly participate in the proceedings of the court.

He further suggested that in view of the fact that the fair trial rules requires that the trial be conducted in the presence of the accused person, video conferencing facility would achieve the same end of the constitutional provision which requires that the trial be done in his presence.

Hilda Craig, a Principal State Attorney said that all the medical reports that were submitted to the court indicate that the accused could not walk without any support and therefore suggested that Alhaji Yakubu could be supported to come to court at least for his plea to be taken given the fact that he is facing a bulk of the charges.

She said the accused could be duly represented by his counsel at subsequent sittings if he would not be able to appear in person.

She also told the court that neither the Tamale office of the Attorney General nor the Tamale High Court has the facility to allow the plea of the accused to be taken via a live video feed.

Justice Owusu-Dapaa, in his ruling, said it is only death that prevents an accused from standing trial or when there is a proper medical report pointing to the fact that the accused is not mentally sound.

He said conducting a separate trial for Alhaji Yakubu will not favour the other accused persons and, therefore, ordered him to appear before the court on June 7, 2023, for his plea to be taken while a decision is taken on his subsequent appearances.

Meanwhile, the court has given the prosecution up to June 9, 2023, to file the witness statements for their remaining two witnesses.

Daily Guide
Parliament resumes today under the shadow of the $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance programme, with Members returning to the fray reinvigorated, after a two-month break.

The agenda will be dominated by debates on the specifics of mega-bills and regulations to be presented by the Ministries of Finance, Health, and Education, as well as the mid-year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who gave the hint, said the Ministry of Finance had scheduled a presentation in Parliament for consideration of five financial regulations.

These are Customs (Amendment) Act, Revenue Administration Regulations, 2023, Income Tax (Amendment) Regulations, VAT (Amendment) Regulations, and Insurance Regulations, 2023.

According to him, the Ministry of Health is scheduled to present five bills as Parliament resumes, and mentioned them as the Ghana Red Cross Society Bill, Traditional & Alternative Medicine Bill, Health Security Bill, Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, and Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Bill.

He added that the Ministry of Education would also present some bills & regulations, and named them as the Ghana Book Development Agency Bill, Ghana National Service Authority Bill, Ghana Library Service Bill, and the Institute of Directors, Ghana Bill among others.

The MPs went on a recess on March 31, 2023 and they are being recalled for the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament.

The House will commence proceedings at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin said in a notice.

DGN online
The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) claims that the government's intention to hand over property rate tax collection to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is patently illegal and breaches Article 240 (1) of the 1992 Constitution.

The Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema received a statement from ChaLoG that read, "ChaLoG wishes to state without any fear of equivocation that, Property Rate Tax is a ceded revenue for District Assemblies as enshrined in Section 124 (3) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and, therefore, cannot be collected by any other institution other than the District Assemblies."

It came to the conclusion that the government's stated justifications for taking over property tax collection, such as the challenges in locating properties on the ground and identifying property owners, were unrealistic.

According to ChaLoG, who also asserted that this was inaccurate, the government was not justified in asserting that the 185 MMDAs lack valuation information on their properties and that the law mandates that properties be evaluated before rates are imposed.

The GRA's physical identification of properties on the ground before taking over the electronic payment platform for the collection of the Property Rate Tax, as well as its physical identification of property owners/payers after taking over in January 2023, were both questioned by the Chamber.

It also questioned if the Authority independently acquired the valuation and ratepayers' phone numbers before sending text messages to the 185 MMDAs, which the government said did not have their properties appraised.

ChaLoG said that while it believes that District Assemblies have teething problems when collecting property taxes, this situation contrasts noticeably with the government's botched plan to take over the collection of a revenue source that was ceded to District Assemblies.

The Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936)'s Section 124(b) requires that District Assemblies have some autonomy to raise their own Internally Generated Funds (IGF) without interference from the central government. According to ChaLoG, the government's action was clearly an affront to fiscal decentralization.

ChaLoG urged the government to immediately halt the collection of property rates by the GRA and allow the MMDAs to resume the collection in order to protect the MMDAs from the severe liquidity issues they were facing and their impact on the public services they were expected to provide to the general public.

In order to promote neighbourhood development efforts, they encouraged the government to discontinue collecting property taxes through the GRA and grant the MMDAs the ability to do so.

According to ChaLoG, if the government is still adamant that the District Assemblies are unable to collect Property Rates, it should go back to Parliament to amend Section 124 (3) and remove it as a source of IGF (ceded revenue). This would protect the integrity of local government and fiscal decentralization in Ghana.

CDA Consult II Contributor
06.06.2023 LISTEN

Dr. Kwabena Donkor, a former Minister of Power has criticized the World Bank's Country Director Pierre Frank Larporte's remarks that the former Mahama administration is responsible for the burdensome Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Mr. Laporte said Mahama administration is equally to blame for Ghana's economic problems as a result of the Power Purchase Agreements that were negotiated under a take-or-pay arrangement, which required Ghana to pay for extra electricity that it did not use.

Dr. Donkor reacted to the comment on Bernard Avle's Point of View on Citi TV by asking why the World Bank Country Director would criticize the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been in power for close to seven years.

The current Energy Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, will tell you that on the NDCs side, a number of us were quietly working together as a team, as a country to find a way out of our energy conundrum and then this gentleman [Pierre Frank Laporte] comes in, in the cloak of the World Bank but as a partisan to throw a hammer into the works with a blame game, Dr. Donkor said.

He added, NPP has been in power for at least 6 years into the 7th year and to still blame the past administration, blame the PPAs for all the challenges especially relating it to the fact that Ghana has its debt situation because of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) is unfortunate.

The former Energy Minister accused the World Bank Country Director of being partisan in Ghana evidenced by his accusations.

This is a politician who needs friends in the neighborhood for his political edges ambitions, Dr. Donkor stated.

He clarified that when decisions are made in an emergency situation, it is hard to get the most value for money.

He [Laporte] said we have contracted very expensive PPAs and I will tell you, and this has been proven by a PWC value for money review that, the Ameri Power Plant levelized over the 20 years is still the cheapest thermal plant in Ghana Anywhere in the world, when you have to do things under conditions of emergency you often do not get the best value for money, Dr. Kwabena Donkor stated.

He says the deteriorating exchange rate is the major contributing factor to the huge debt crippling the energy sector.
Ghana Police Service has been fined GH100,000 for its refusal to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Commissions directives, which required granting an applicant access to requested information.

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa, had sought information on the status of cases involving police brutality.

Despite addressing the request to the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service completely ignored it.

The RTI Commission in a statement highlighted the Respondents failure to make decisions on the applicants request, along with their disregard for the Commissions letter.

Based on the Respondents failure to make decisions on the Applicants application lodged with it, the Respondent has clearly failed to perform its obligation under Act 989. This is coupled with its failure to respond to the Commissions letter received by it.

Such a posture by the Respondent is not to be encouraged as it is an affront to the right of access to information enshrined under Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and affirmed by Act 989 and same ought to be disapproved in strong terms.

For this reason, an administrative penalty of GH 100,000.00 is imposed on the Respondent and this shall be payable to the Commission not later than 14 days after receipt of this decision of the Commission by the Respondent.

The penalty so imposed shall attract an additional default penalty rate of l0% on the principal penalty sum of GH100,000.00 in the event of default for any additional 14 days thereafter.

citinewsroom
06.06.2023 LISTEN

The Minority Members on the Appointments Committee of Parliament have unanimously approved the appointment of Justice Getrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo as the new Chief Justice.

Justice Torkornoo was told by the Minority that the caucus would want to view her portion of her written judgment in the James Gyakye Quaysons case before taking part in voting during the Committee's vetting of her on Friday, May 26.

During a press conference on 6th June 2023, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members on the Appointments Committee said they reached a unanimous decision to approve the Chief Justice nominee.

The MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, spoke on behalf of the Minority, explaining that despite their initial disagreements with Justice Torkornoo, they think she is qualified to be Chief Justice.

Her impressive curriculum vitae highlights her extensive experience, having served as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal, and eventually at the Supreme Court. We firmly believe that capable women should be afforded opportunities to hold key national positions. Despite our disagreement with her jurisprudence, we recognize her qualifications for the esteemed position of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, stated Mr. Ayariga.

By this decision, Justice Torkornoo will be approved on consensus in a report to be submitted to plenary as Parliament resumes on Today.

Justice Torkonoo is set to be Ghanas next Chief Justice after Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah bowed out of office on his mandatory retirement at 70 on Wednesday, May 24.
For ignoring and refusing to grant a legitimate request for information by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa, the Right To Information Commission has fined the Ghana Police Service GH100,000.

CHRI had written to police chief George Akuffo Dampare asking to know the status of cases of police brutality against civilians but drew blank.

In a statement, the RTI Commission said: Based on the respondents failure to make decisions on the applicants application lodged with it, the respondent has clearly failed to perform its obligation under Act 989.

This is coupled with its failure to respond to the Commissions letter received by it, the statement added.

The Commission said such a posture by the respondent is not to be encouraged, as it is an affront to the right of access to information enshrined under Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and affirmed by Act 989 and same ought to be disapproved in strong terms.

For this reason, an administrative penalty of GH100,000.00 is imposed on the respondent and this shall be payable to the Commission not later than 14 days after receipt of this decision of the Commission by the respondent.

The penalty, so imposed, shall attract an additional default penalty rate of l0% on the principal penalty sum of GH100,000.00 in the event of default for any additional 14 days, thereafter.

 ClassFMonline.com
06.06.2023 LISTEN

Members of the minority caucus on the appointments committee of parliament have said they will not withhold their approval of the Chief Justice nominee Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo by consensus although they disagree with her interpretation of the text of the 1992 Constitution as regard the James Gyakye Quayson case.

The minoritys position comes after the Supreme Court released a document detailing the reasons for annulling the election of James Gyakye Quayson as MP for Assin North, as a result of which it ordered parliament to expunge his name from its records.

The minority, in a statement signed by the Deputy Ranking Member of the appointments committee, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, noted that when the CJ nominee appeared before the vetting committee, she said she was a textualist in her preferred approach to interpreting the 1992 Constitution.

With this in mind, the minority caucus noted that the text in dispute in the James Gyakye Quayson case was Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, which read 94(2) a person shall not be qualified to be a member of parliament if

(a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.

The minority said at the time of being sworn in as an MP, Mr Quayson had successfully renounced all allegiances to any other country and his allegiance was to only the Republic of Ghana.

The minority is of the view that the controlling provisions in the resolution of the dispute are the words qualified to be a member of parliament.

The statement said they are disappointed that a textualist like Justice Torkornoo abandoned the text and chose to read into the text, a replacement text: Qualified to file nomination papers to contest for an election as a member of parliament

The statement added that while the clear language of the Constitution was dealing with qualification, to be a member of parliament, the Supreme Court veered off and was dealing with eligibility or qualification of a person to contest as a Member of Parliament.

Regardless, the Minority noted that James Gyakye Quayson is gearing up to contest the by-election in Assin North constituency, which has been brought about by the Supreme Court decision, and, in that regard, we the members of the appointment committee representing the NDC will not withhold our approval of the CJ nominee by consensus.

The Minority stated that Justice Torkornoos CV reveals a person of considerable experience having serve as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court.

Women who have acquitted themselves should be given opportunities to occupy key national offices. Even as we disagree with her jurisprudence, we find her qualified to occupy the high office of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, the statement noted.

According to the Minority, the image of the judiciary is not in a good shape because several opinion polls show that and expressed hope that Justice Gertrude as a Lady Chief Justice, will restore the dignity of the judiciary.

Classfmonline.com
Local Government Elections in Ghana are particularly poorly patronized by the Ghanaian voter population. If voter turnout in the last three decades of local Government elections in Ghana is anything to go by, then it is safe to predict that, less than 35% of the voter population will turnout for this years (2023) elections if nothing is done to change the trajectory. Despite the importance of the local governance system to any democratic dispensaton, historical trends and predictive analysis conducted on voter turnout since 1988/89 point to gross indifference of the ordinary Ghanaian voter.

Ghanas Local Government Elections are characterised by high levels of apathy. The records show that, participation in the local government elections that followed the 1989 elections has declined so much to the worry of many local governance experts. Only the 1988/89 elections is on record to have registered the highest voter turnout till date. Since inception of the local government elections, average voter turnout is 38% with probably the lowest being the 29.3% recorded in the 1994. The December 20191 elections was not different in terms of voter turnout as the Electoral Commission, and the media have all recounted the low numbers recorded and have since called for national attention to help contribute to increasing voter turnout.

Several genuine reasons have been given for the low voter turnout. Research has also shown that perceived irrelevance of the assembly members office, disenchantment of voters, voter fatigue, fear of intimidation, inadequate voter education,

religious alignment, long queues at polling stations and the perception that ones candidate will not win have being given as the major reasons accounting for the low voter turnout. These factors have been addressed at various levels including the continuous education of the electorate by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), creation of new polling and voting stations as well as the introduction of the Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) which quickens the voting process, thereby reducing time spent in queues. In spite of all these, there have not been much improvement. Conversely, a recent survey by the CDD revealed that more than seven in 10 Ghanaians (76%) favour the election of MMDCEs but there is little to tell as to whether this perception will translate directly into voter turnout at the local level.

The figure below demonstrates why not much will change in the upcoming 2023 Local Government Elections. A forecasting method is conducted using simple exponential smoothing technique. Four trails are conducted using various random alpha values of 0,1,3 and 8 to predict the likely outcome to the 2023 elections.

The results shows that the behaviour of two alpha values (0.8 and 1) shows a sensitive smoothing line with the actual average voter turnout at midpoint whiles the other two (0.3 and 0) appear insensitive. The mimicking behaviour of alpha 0.8 and 1 from period 6 signals that the predictive turnout for the 2023 elections could still hover around 33%-34%. Therefore, unless there is a substantial input, turnout for the 2023 local government elections voter may not experience anything beyond the poor historical performance.

In addition, there are over 17 million qualified voters and over 38,000 voting stations on the ECs register. Yet, despite the impending elections, there appears to be very little concern among the major key stakeholders on the exact date of the district election. One would have expected that the details of the elections should be clear at the beginning of year 2023. Yet, two (2) elections including the National Democratic Congress primaries and the Kumawu by election have just gone by with little to nothing known about the 2023 district elections.

The Electoral Commission (E.C) of Ghana is expected to conduct elections for all the 216 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to elect Assembly and Unit Committee Members for the next four years i.e., 2023-2027. This is a legal provision under the

article 6 (1) of the Local Governance Act 936 of 2016. The District Level Elections (DLE) in Ghana are an essential part of the nation's decentralized governance system. Every four years, these elections give citizens a chance to actively engage in local decision-making, ensuring that power is distributed at the local level.

Even though Ghana's Local Government Elections have significantly improved local democracy, there are still issues that need to be resolved. The general lack of knowledge and comprehension of the elections among citizens is a major problem. Public awareness campaigns about the significance of these elections and how they affect local governance should be timely and deepened. This should be well recognized in the dedication and celebration of a day, week or month on Local Governance issues particularly the elections.

Additionally, it is important to guarantee the fair representation of underrepresented groups in the political process, such as women, young people, and people with disabilities. Despite the advancements made, more has to be done to promote their active engagement and remove the structural obstacles they encounter. Particularly for the youth there should be an incentive package for their representation, this could motivate the over 40% of the electorate who are youth to identify with and drive their participation in the Local Government Elections.

Measures should be taken to improve the election process, including the strengthening of technology for voter registration and result collation, in order to increase the elections legitimacy and transparency. The EC should work towards developing a system where the electorate can vote in the comfort of their homes using their mobile devices. This could increase the turnout rate.

Ghanas decentralization systems since introduction have been a source of learning and inspiration for many African countries. We must not look on unconcerned as the system deteriorate this way. We have a huge task as a country to reverse this trend and restore our local governance to a path of progress. The EC, NCCE, MMDAs, CSOs state institutions and development partners must awaken to this call and act immediately.

All hands must be on deck.

By: Solomon Okai

Snr. Programmes Officer for Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA)
Buffalonians love their thrift stores, and new Google search data pulled by EmpireStakes.com shows the Buffalo region is near the top of the list when it comes to the number of thrift stores it has and the frequency it searches for thrift stores.

The data also reveals which thrift stores Buffalonians frequent most and what apps they use to thrift online.

As Heart, Love and Soul celebrates 40 years, food pantry confronts higher costs, more need Heart, Love and Soul opened as a food pantry in Niagara Falls in 1983. As it celebrates it 40th anniversary, the food pantry has flourished into a full nonprofit hunger relief and social care campus  and the community's need for help hasn't diminished.

The most searched vintage store was Goodwill, whose thrift stores support its mission of helping people prepare for, find and keep good jobs. The generic term vintage stores was the second-most searched, followed by Buffalo ReUse, which collects and sells used building materials.

Tied in fourth place are My Cuzin Vintage, the Elmwood Avenue shop known for its vintage Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres gear, sneakers and concert T-shirts that can fetch top dollar; and Paloma Exchange on Grant Street, which specializes in such retro and trendy looks as dad sneakers and peasant vibes, according to its website.

Theyre followed by Sloans Antiques on William Street, a breathtaking jumble of old furniture, signs and housewares; Timeless Babez on Allen Street, a punk shop specializing in vintage band T-shirts; and Buffalo Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, another buyer and seller of building materials, furniture and appliances.

With 62 thrift stores in the region, it is second in the concentration of thrift shops only to New York City, which has more than a thousand, according to the site, which cites Google Maps data.

When thrifting online, Buffalonians most often use eBay, followed by Craigslist, Poshmark, Mercari and TheRealReal, according to the data. Buffalonians search for thrift stores online more than 100,000 times per month  thats more than three times as often as Albany.

Overall, the state of New York ranks 10th in thrift store Google searches. The top spot went to Vermont, followed by Oregon and Washington.

 Samantha Christmann

Orchard Park Aldi

sets opening date

A long-awaited Aldi grocery store in Orchard Park has finalized its grand opening date: June 22. The no-frills, deep-discount grocer is located at 3366 Orchard Park Road.

The project has been in the works since 2021. It fills a void left in 2020 by Orchard Fresh, an experimental concept grocer owned by Tops Markets, which closed during the pandemic.

Zia Coffee Shop opens

on the East Side

Zia Coffee Shop has opened at 595 Fillmore Ave., in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood in what was once the Jankowski Cigar shop and is now the Cigar Factory Apartments.

In addition to coffee, the Bangladeshi cafe serves lassi yogurt drinks and shahi kulfi ice cream. It also has a menu featuring several halal meals and sandwiches.

Global NY Promotion Tour

Global NY, the international division of Empire State Development, will send representatives from its foreign offices to Buffalo as part of a tour across New York to help New York businesses understand how to export their products around the world. Representatives from Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Israel, India and China will be in attendance.

The representatives will deliver presentations and share guidance on how to export New York goods into international markets. There will also be a question-and-answer session and the opportunity to schedule one-on-one consultations with representatives.

Todays global marketplace is extraordinarily complex, and we want New York-based businesses to know that ESD can help them unlock the world of economic opportunity that exists beyond our borders, said Hope Knight, Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner, in a statement. With some of the finest and most diverse goods produced right here in New York, Global NYs Export Promotion Tour will help companies understand how to export their products from the Empire State to the world.

The tours Western New York stop will take place at the Burchfield Penney Art Center auditorium, 1300 Elmwood Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 16. Free reservations are required on the Empire State Development website.
Kadija Simboro, a distinguished energy expert and Senior Energy Advisor at Practical Action has been invited as a speaker at the highly anticipated 23rd Gender Summit in Accra, Ghana.

Taking place from June 8 to 9, 2023, the significant event will revolve around the theme of Africa's energy transition pathways and the vision of the Green New Deal through a gender lens.

Simboro's presentation will delve into the challenges and opportunities that arise from Just Energy Transitions, specifically in relation to climate change and gender equity in Africa. Her profound expertise in renewable energy and its potential to promote gender equity and sustainable development in the region will be invaluable to the summit's attendees.

She will also share learnings and solutions from Practical Actions work with a new generation of women energy entrepreneurs who transform lives and livelihoods. Her insights will promote knowledge on how to move from dependence on fossil fuels to renewable, reliable, affordable low-carbon energy sources.

As an organization that works with communities on the frontline of climate change, Practical Action is committed to ensuring that people can make a living and live well in the face of climate change and the changing environment.

As the head of Practical Action's energy work in West Africa, Simboro boasts an impressive track record of over eight years in the renewable energy sector. She has provided technical input to Practical Action's projects in the region, spearheaded energy access initiatives, and led numerous consulting assignments.

Additionally, Simboro is a co-founder of Farafina Eco-Engineering SARL, a notable social enterprise focused on water and energy access, as well as Farafina Agri-Funding, an innovative platform facilitating farmers' access to finance and cutting-edge technologies through crowdfunding and agri-marketing approach.

Simboros organization, Practical Action, a globally recognized development organization, is renowned for its commitment to working alongside communities, enabling them to thrive and achieve a sustainable livelihood in the face of climate change and shifting environmental conditions.

The UK-based organization has been actively engaged in West Africa and worldwide, offering quality, efficient, and effective consulting services. By harnessing the expertise of its regional team and drawing upon the experiences of over 500 global Practical Action staff and its extensive network of over 1000 associates, the organization continues to drive positive change.

Expressing her excitement about participating in the summit, Kadija Simboro stated, "I am honoured and thrilled to be part of the 23rd Gender Summit in Accra.

"This platform provides a vital opportunity to address the pressing issues of gender equity and sustainable development within the context of climate change and energy transitions. Practical Action values this opportunity to contribute to the discourse on just transition, climate change, and gender equity, as we believe that a collaborative approach is essential in driving transformative change."

Simboro's forthcoming presentation at the Gender Summit in Accra promises to significantly advance gender equity and sustainable development efforts in Africa and beyond.

Her insightful perspectives and extensive experience in the renewable energy sector will equip attendees with invaluable knowledge on how to promote gender equity within the context of climate change and energy transitions.

The summit will serve as a unique platform for stakeholders to learn from Simboro and other esteemed experts in the field, fostering collaboration towards the promotion of gender equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields and beyond.
The Golden Jubilee of the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS) has been observed with the launch of its 50th Anniversary cloth with pump and pageantry under the theme Girl Child Education a Critical Tool for Development.

From its inception in 1956, then Bolga Government Girls Middle Boarding (BGGMB), nine years down the lane, it became Bolga Womens Training College (BTWC). It later changed to Bolgatanga Girls Secondary School (BOGISS) in 1973, with a student population of 35 as its first batch.

The 2007 educational reforms again changed the name to Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISHS). The student population of the schools was over 3000 and since then has braced all the odds to be among the best.

In her address, the school's Headmistress Patricia Agoteba Anaba paid a glowing tribute to the founding members and all those who lent a shoulder to lift the school to its present height.

She added that academic performance in every academic institution is the yardstick by which every academic institution is measured. She stated that as management, staff, and stakeholder, it gives them a huge task for academic excellence.

The Headmistress indicated that BOGISS like any other institution, has got its own challenges. That notwithstanding, she noted that the school is determined to move on to achieve what it is set out to achieve through a single-sex school. She described the schools performance from 2019 to 2022 as remarkable.

The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu, who was a special guest of honor at the occasion, advised the students to set goals for themselves and work hard towards achieving them.

The Regional Minister urged the students to take their studies seriously with the determination to be great in the future.

A representative of the Director General (DG) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Dr Eric Nkansah, lamented the poor performance and the state of indiscipline in the various academic institutions.

He added that there may be myriad challenges but there is the need to take consolations in the quality and the caliber of the programs offered in the institution.

He stressed that the Ghana Education Service is doing everything possible to improve the academic performance of every institution across the country.

Story filed by:

Emmanuel Akayeti
Young Female Influencers (YFI), a group of young female change-makers, has held training for girls and young women to equip them with digital literacy skills and how to safely navigate the digital space.

The one-day intensive training, on June 2, 2023 was themed "SecureTechSistars". It brought together young females and students from basic and senior high schools in Wa, Upper West Region.

The participants were taken through sessions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), productivity software, and cybersecurity tools and techniques to enhance their work and studies.

Miss Rahimatu Sumaila, a member of the YFI, said the training was aimed at encouraging girls and young women to take active part in technology and digitalization processes.

She intimated that the world was fast globalizing with the advancement of technology and digitalization indicating that females ought not to be left out in what many have described as 'men's thing'.

She encouraged that technology and digital innovations are not only limited to males but that females also have equal chances of leveraging digital spaces for their development.

"You see when it comes to ICT, we [females] are always timid, we are afraid that it is for only men.

"So we [YFI] are now bringing it up to our young girls to mentor them, show them the way, [and] to also let them know that it is not only for men, [that] it is for all of us," Miss Sumaila said.

She encouraged the young girls to be bold and confident in themselves and work hard with a sense of purpose to achieve their career and life goals.

Abdul Fatawu Mahabub, an Associate Facilitator with Noni Hub, who facilitated the sessions together with young female tech enthusiast Winifred Zoyaar, encouraged participants to be wary of the activities of cyber bullies and 'scammers' and always exercise caution before engaging in online interactions.

Miss Ernestina Biney, SheLeads Project Coordinator with CARD Ghana, speaking during the session, encouraged the girls and young women to take up leadership positions in the schools, institutions, and social groupings they found themselves.

"To bold and confident enough to stand up and take leadership positions, don't say that if I go in for it, I may lose. It's part of of life, but it gives you the experience to challenge yourself next time to even go higher than what you wanted before," she urged.

Some of the participants, who shared their experiences with Info Radio, said the training opened their minds to some opportunities and threats that were associated with cyberspace which they did not know.

Miss Ruby Nadibo, a participant, said she felt encouraged to pursue studies in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) because the world was currently resolving around technology and digitalization.

"Nowadays everything is done concerning ICT and if don't have the knowledge concerning ICT, it means you're lagging behind, so in order to catch up with the world, females should also have the zeal to learn ICT," she said.

"I am glad with the things I've learnt here today. All I will say is, we girls should not fear to go into ICT," Saani Ummul-Khayr Mwinebuobo, another participant, said.
06.06.2023 LISTEN

Americas muscle-flexing ahead of parliamentary polls in Bangladesh manifested, in the State Departments open declaration that it would deny visas to persons obstructing free and fair elections, undermining democracy, or violating human rights, is really bad news for India.

Washingtons intention is crystal clear. It has put Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government on a tight leash to dissuade it from resorting to so called undemocratic, illegal, and extra-constitutional methods to win the upcoming general elections like the previous elections in 2014 and 2018. But New Delhi, in contrast, wants Hasina to win by any means.

On the one hand, the US has such grave misgivings about Hasina that it wants to evict her from power. And on the other hand, the biggest priority of Indias foreign policy-cum-security establishment is to get Hasina re-elected in January 2024 for a fourth successive term at any cost.

The gaping chasm underlines the India-US conflict over Bangladesh and raises valid questions about Indias capabilities to pursue its goal of defying the US  and whether it is wise to do so. It also flags gross US insensitivity to Indias interests even in Indias own backyard and how the US always expects India to quietly sacrifice its interests for America if they happen to clash!

In this regard, we can draw an example from SNM Abdi's view who is a distinguished journalist and ex-Deputy Editor of Outlook. He wrote and published an article titled 'Indias Stakes at Risk as the US Armtwists Bangladesh Over Election' on the 'Quint' online journal on June 06, 2023. In his article he said that India's national interests demand that the Awami League forms the government yet again. It is 100% true.

India's National Interests

Indias national interests demand that the Awami League forms the government yet again so that its needs and requirements in Bangladesh are met without even having to ask. For India, there is no alternative to Hasina  New Delhis tried and tested ally. But the US is neither in Hasinas nor Awami Leagues favour  it is in favour of an outright regime change, no less.

There is no doubt that Washingtons sudden assertiveness has thrown a spanner in New Delhis works. It has jolted the Ministry of External Affairs, the Research and Analysis Wing, the National Security Coordination Secretariat, and even the Prime Ministers Office. It has certainly made Foreign Minister S. Jaishankars and National Security Advisor Ajit Dovals life a little difficult and increased their workload.

And its hardly a secret that more US measures are in the offing to rein in Bangladesh and tie down Hasina before the January 2024 elections, adding to Indias concerns and worries.

India's Image as South Asia's Superpower

Importantly, US intervention has come as a shot in the arm for the beleaguered Bangladesh Nationalist Party Which New Delhi abhors for its anti-India policies in collusion with Pakistan when it was last in power from 2001 to 2006 during Begum Khaleda Zias prime ministership. In that period, Islamabad had outsourced to Dhaka the job of exporting terror and subversion to India.

Any such outcome -- unimaginable until the Biden Administration doubled down on the Hasina regime in end-May with ominous visa curbs -- will come as a big blow to India in its immediate neighbourhood and dent its image as South Asias superpower.

Moreover, US pressure tactics will inevitably drive Bangladesh further into Chinas arms for comfort which will be naturally very discomforting for the Narendra Modi government, especially as Indias relations with China are currently at their worst since 1962 when they fought a war.

Other Repercussions of US Intervention

Moreover, US pressure tactics will inevitably drive Bangladesh further into Chinas arms for comfort which will be naturally very discomforting for the Narendra Modi government, especially as Indias relations with China are currently at their worst since 1962 when they fought a war.

US intervention can have other repercussions too. Any rise in Beijings clout in Dhaka is bound to reinvigorate Islamabads influence over Islamist and Jihadi forces in Bangladesh to the detriment of Indias national security. If the ISI gains elbow room in Dhaka under the Chinese umbrella, it is bound to take advantage of the turmoil in Indias northeast. Unless Hindu-Christian fires burning in Manipur are not extinguished quickly, the state will turn into a magnet for agents provocateurs.

However, Indias national interest demand should be that the Awami League forms the government yet again.

Ajanta Acharya PhD is a senior researcher at South Asian Geopolitics in Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India.
Accra, Ghana - In a significant step towards the eradication of malaria, Ghana launched the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative (ZMBLI) on June 1, 2023. This groundbreaking initiative brings together public and private sector stakeholders in a united front against one of Africa's deadliest diseases.

The launch event, held in Accra, was attended by high-ranking government officials, representatives from the private sector, international partners, and key stakeholders in the fight against malaria. The initiative is led by Ecobank Ghana, in collaboration with Speak Up Africa and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, with the aim of mobilizing resources, promoting awareness, and advocating for stronger political leadership to eliminate malaria in Ghana.

Malaria remains a significant health challenge in Africa, with devastating effects on communities, economies, and healthcare systems. In Ghana alone, malaria is the leading cause of outpatient department attendance and a major cause of hospital admissions. The economic impact is also substantial, with malaria estimated to cost the country 1-2% of its GDP annually and businesses approximately US$6.58 million each year.

The ZMBLI launch showcased the collective determination to combat malaria in Ghana. Dr. Edward Botchway, Executive Director and Head of Consumer Banking at Ecobank Ghana, emphasized the role of the private sector in driving positive change and sustainable development. He stated, "At Ecobank, we firmly believe that the private sector has a crucial role to play in driving positive change and fostering sustainable development. It is in this spirit that we proudly lead the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative."

The initiative sets forth three key objectives: increasing and sustaining funding for national malaria elimination, strengthening the network of private sector malaria champions, and enhancing coordinated action at the national level. By mobilizing resources, advocating for change, and forging strategic partnerships, the ZMBLI aims to drive meaningful impact and create a transformative force in the fight against malaria.

One notable contribution from Ecobank Ghana is the establishment of the Zero Malaria account with an initial seed fund of USD 120,000. This fund will support the efforts of the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the government's initiatives to eradicate malaria. The ZMBLI also calls on the Ghanaian private sector to join the cause and commit to sustainable participation in the fight against malaria at various levels.

Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, Dr Baffour Awuah, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Agyeman, officially launched the initiative and expressed his gratitude to Ecobank, Speak Up Africa, and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria for their leadership and commitment. He emphasized the importance of a multi-sectoral approach, stating, "By aligning our efforts with the country's National Elimination Strategy and with strong commitment from all partners, it is feasible to eliminate malaria from our country by 2030."

The launch of the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative in Ghana marks a significant turning point in the fight against malaria. It represents a collaborative effort to leverage the power of partnerships, innovation, and investment in order to create a malaria-free future. By uniting public and private sectors, Ghana is taking a bold step towards improving the well-being of its citizens, fostering economic growth, and achieving sustainable development goals.

As the ZMBLI takes flight, Ghana paves the way for other countries to follow suit and intensify their efforts to combat malaria. It is a rallying cry to all stakeholders, urging them to join forces, make a difference, and contribute to the ultimate goal of zero malaria cases in Africa.

With determination, shared responsibility, and unwavering commitment, Ghana is poised to make a mark in the malaria elimination agenda in Africa.

Article written by:

Kamal Deen Habib,

Advocacy Officer,

Speak Up Africa.
A former communications member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Stephen Atubiga says he has uncovered plans by some people within the party to take his life.

In a short post on Facebook on Tuesday, June 6, Stephen Atubiga alleged that some people within the largest opposition party are planning on how to assassinate him before the 2024 General Election.

Mr. Atubiga says he is unfazed, knowing that he has God.

I hear how some people in the NDC wants me dead before the election 2024 and how to assassinate me after I survived their poison attempt in 2021, I say God is good, the former NDC Communications team member said.

Stephen Atubiga after resigning from the NDC formed his own political party, the National Liberation Congress.

From time to time, he shares his view on critical national issues through statements and posts on his social media page.

It is unclear if he will run for President in the 2024 general elections.
Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a special aide to former President John Mahama has said for Ghana to develop to the satisfaction of citizens requires a President who respects the 1992 Constitution.

The former President's aide believes Ghana's progress hinges on readiness to adhere to the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances and independence of key state institutions as enshrined in the Constitution.

Without this, Mrs Bawa Mogtari said even autonomous institutions may find it difficult to operate impartially.

In a tweet on Tuesday, June 6, Mrs Mogtari who is also a spokesperson for Mr Mahama's campaign said: "To build the Ghana we want together will require an Independent EC, an independent Judiciary, an independent Auditor General and a President who respects the constitution!"

While the comment was not directed at anyone, it comes at a time the opposition NDC and some governance experts have accused President Akufo-Addo of interfering in the affairs of state institutions like the Electoral Commission, Judiciary and Audit Service.

Meanwhile, the Ghana we want mantra has been a key message in former President Mahamas campaign.

The NDC flagbearer has promised to rebuild the nation that will benefit the interest of the citizens if re-elected in the 2024 general elections.
The Minority NDC in Parliament has approved the nomination of Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo as the new Chief Justice of Ghana, though the Caucus disagree with some of her judicial reasoning and rulings in the annulment of James Gyakye Quayson's election as Member of Parliament for Assin North.

In a statement released on Tuesday, June 6, the NDC MPs on the Appointments Committee said Even as we disagree with her jurisprudence, we find her qualified to occupy the high office of Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

The approval clears the way for Justice Torkornoo to be sworn in as Ghanas Chief Justice.

The statement critiqued Justice Torkornoos reasoning in a recent Supreme Court case involving MP James Gyakye Quayson.

Fidelity to the text of the constitution of Ghana would have dictated that the controlling provisions in the resolution of the dispute are the words 'qualified to be a member of Parliament.

Disappointingly, a professed textualist like our CJ nominee abandoned the text and chose to read into the text a replacement text 'qualified to file nomination papers to contest for election as a Member of Parliament, the 3-paged statement read in part.

However, the NDC MPs said they would approve her nomination due to her experience and qualifications.

Her curriculum vitae reveals a person of considerable experience having served as a judge from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and ultimately at the Supreme Court, they noted.

They also cited the need to support women in leadership and hoped she would help restore the judiciarys image.

MP Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee who drafted the statement hinted at the need for exceptional women to be given a benefit of the doubt.

Women who have acquitted themselves should be given opportunities to occupy key national offices. ... We hope that Justice Gertrude, as a lady Chief Justice will restore the dignity of the judiciary, he wrote.

Justice Torkornoo will replace former Chief Justice Akwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired on May 24 after three years in office as Chief Justice.

Her appointment is seen as a historic moment for women in Ghanas judiciary coming in as the third female judge to hold the highest office in the service.

Find copies of the Minority Caucus statement below;
06.06.2023 LISTEN

The Minority in Parliament has hit back at critics accusing former President John Dramani Mahama of contributing to Ghanas current economic crisis.

The leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been on the receiving end of backlash after World Bank country director, Pierre Frank Laporte said Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed under the erstwhile Mahama administration did not help the country.

In the aspect of Ghana, those contracts you signed with the PPA are too expensive. The kind of PPA you signed, it means Ghana is paying for electricity not in use through doubling of capacity.

The fact is, in the last few years, Ghana entered into some PPAs that were wrong. These types, in our view, were at the wrong rate and at the wrong prices and today youre paying duly for it. And today the country is being billed for many of these wrong PPAs, Pierre Frank Laporte told Joy News in an interview.

Addressing the comments which have generated a lot of controversy, the Minority in Parliament says it is not accurate.

In a press statement, the Minority said the claim is baseless and must be treated with contempt.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the NDC Minority in parliament completely and vehemently reject the suggestion that the PPAs executed under the Mahama administration are the cause of the current poor state of the economy, especially in reference to the energy sector. This baseless claim is untrue and cannot stand the test of time.

We are in this current quagmire because of the economic mismanagement of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led government, hugely influenced by unbridled and reckless borrowing with very little investment in critical capital expenditure.

President Mahamas record in the energy sector remains unmatched and cannot be watered down by such trivialities and distorted narratives clothed with political mischief, parts of the response from the Minority said.

The Minority is of the view that the comments by the World Bank Country Director have been given extensive twists by NPP pro-government media houses seeking to blame President Mahama for the current economic mess that the country finds itself in.

The Minority insists that President Akufo-Addo and his head of the economic management team, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must accept responsibility and find reasonable solutions to the current economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian and stop blaming others.

Read the full statement from the Minority below:

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE NDC MINORITY ON THE STATE OF GHANAS ENERGY SECTOR

The attention of the Minority in Parliament has been drawn to a video recording of the World Bank country director Mr Laporte which has been given extensive twists by NPP pro-government media houses seeking to blame President Mahama for the current economic mess that the country finds itself.

On the issue of the take-or-pay agreements, Mr. Laporte may provide us with evidence of peer countries where would-be investors are willing to invest $300 million and above in Gas-to-power projects at that time of emergency without demanding some form of supply and payment guarantees.

We wish to state unequivocally that the claim by the Vice-President and others that Ghanas electricity tariffs are the highest in the sub-region is completely deceptive. Available records will attest to the fact that despite having a lower hydro ratio power mix, Ghanas electricity tariffs are within the lower bracket in the subregion. A comprehensive study published by the Africa Development Bank (AFDB) titled: Comparative Analysis of Electricity Tariffs in ECOWAS Member Countries (See Appendix-1) will confirm that Ghanas tariffs (both Generation and end-user tariffs) are indeed lower than most countries including Cote DIvoire.

On the issue of capacity charges, we wish to state that there are standardised and regulated industry tools used by electricity utilities to recover infrastructure expansion costs triggered by new development. The PURC tariff setting guidelines defines Capacity Charges as the amount spent by electricity distributor utility to acquire or enhance fixed assets, such as land, building, and major equipment which is recovered over their useful life. The decision to factor in capital recovery pre-dates the Mahama administration, e.g., power plants such as CENIT, Cenpower, TICO, Asogli -1, and TT2PP which were negotiated before the Mahama administration all had capacity charges to ensure capital recovery. Agreeing to capacity charges did not start with the Mahama administration neither has it stopped under the Akufo-Addo-led government.

It is imperative to reiterate that almost all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), including Early Power, Amandi, AKSA, Ameri etc, were submitted to parliament for consideration and approval. It is equally instructive to note that all these agreements were approved on consensus by both sides of the house without objection from the NPP minority in Parliament. It will therefore be hypocritical for the very people who participated in scrutinising and approving the agreements to turn around and criticise the very agreements they approved.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, it may shock you to note that despite the consistent claim by the NPP government that Ghana has too much electricity capacity and does not need most of the Independent Power Plants (IPPs), as soon as the 5-year 370MW AKSA PPA signed under the Mahama led government elapsed, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government quietly and surreptitiously signed a new 15-years PPA with AKSA for the same plant, and more surprisingly the contract contains take-or-pay clauses. Can the AKUFO Addo government explain the justification for the extension in years of the KarPower Barge - what were the changes made in that very contract extension? Again, the critical question to ask is, since when did the so-called excess capacity vanish into thin air?

As if that is not enough, the current Government has gone ahead to sign a completely new 207MW PPA with AKSA for a 20-year period, and guess what? this very agreement also contains take-or-pay clauses.

Ladies and gentlemen, we would at this juncture like to use this opportunity to shed light and provide details on these energy sector payments, which unfortunately have been described by government spokespersons as excess capacity payments.

A critical look at documents submitted by the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta and other energy SOEs to parliament will reveal that these payments are actually meant to cover the following;

Cover payments for fuel consumption which otherwise should have been recovered through the tariff structure. Increased technical and commercial losses, which has increased to over 30% under this government. Parment for forex losses, which hit a record high of GHS4.8 billion in 2022 alone due to the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, with the cedi depreciating over 50% and attaining the unenviable of being rated as the worst currency in the world. Payments for required reserve margins which have not been factored into the PURC tariff rate setting methodology. Settlement of outstanding electricity bills accrued by Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Payments for non-power sector-related fuel consumption by essential service providers such as the Military, Police, Health etc.

We have attached the Excel spreadsheet of these payments for your own perusal. How anyone is able to come up with such warped logic that President Mahama can be held responsible for these energy sector payments is most disingenuous and outrageous.

From the information provided, we wish to reiterate our opposition that the recent claim by Vice-President Dr Bawumiah, that his government has made some 17 billion Ghana cedis payments arising from excess capacity payments is bogus and deceptive at best.

In the petroleum sector, despite the criticism levelled against the Mahama led Government, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government has signed a 20-year gas contract with Tema LNG Co. Ltd. with take-or-pay clauses, but more surprisingly, the pricing formula of this contract has been indexed to crude price making it the most expensive gas contract in Ghana. A look at the PURCs WACOG gas rate setting will reveal that whilst Sankofa gas is pegged at $6.78/MMbtu, Tema LNG is pegged at $8.4/MMbtu.

Is the World Bank country director, Mr. Laporte oblivious to these latest developments we have enumerated? What is his position on these latest contracts?

This NPP government will go down in history as the luckiest ever, having received unpreceded revenues of about GHS24 billion from ESLA and GHS40 billion from oil revenues alone. It will be recalled that despite their failure to scrap the ESLA, this NPP Government went further to introduce a completely new tax known as the Energy Sector Recovery Levy in the 2021 budget, ostensibly aimed at paying for the so-called energy sector capacity payment. What has happened to revenues accruing from this tax?

Even more shocking is the fact that despite securing approval from parliament in the year 2018 to use proceeds ($1 billion) of the Eurobond issuance to refinance some power-related investments, the funds have been grossly misapplied by this government, contributing to the current economic meltdown.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the NDC Minority in parliament completely and

vehemently reject the suggestion that the PPAs executed under the Mahama administration are the cause of the current poor state of the economy, especially in reference to the energy sector. This baseless claim is untrue and cannot stand the test of time.

We are in this current quagmire because of the economic mismanagement of the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia led government, hugely influenced by unbridled and reckless borrowing with very little investment in critical capital expenditure.

President Mahamas record in the energy sector remains unmatched and cannot be watered down by such trivialities and distorted narratives clothed with political mischief.

President Mahama can be credited for the Sankofa Gas project, which has been key in providing energy to Ghana since 2018, with the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts through power plants for around 1.6 million households and many businesses. The 250MW Ameri power plant is now an asset to the Republic of Ghana, with a useful life of about 20 years. President Mahama bequeathed the ESLA to this current government, which has accrued revenues of about 24 billion Cedis. The Mahama led administration before leaving office secured funding from Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and commenced the construction of a 330KV transmission line project from Ghana to Burkina Faso. This project which was supposed to be completed in 2018 was intended to increase Ghanas exportation of power from 100MW to 200MW to Burkina Faso and beyond. This project suffered undue delays solely due to unnecessary political interference by this government, leading to losses to the state.

Ghanaians are sick and tired of the unnecessary and flimsy blame game strategy adopted by this government and their hirelings. President Akufo-Addo and his head of the economic management team Dr Bawumiah, must accept responsibility and find reasonable solutions to the current economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
The Minority in Parliament has implored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to accept responsibility for the economic crisis facing Ghana.

In a press statement after addressing the press on the state of Ghanas energy sector, the Minority argued that Ghanaians are sick and tired of the blame game strategy adopted by the President and his Vice President.

Ghanaians are sick and tired of the unnecessary and flimsy blame game strategy adopted by this government and their hirelings. President Akufo-Addo and his head of the economic management team Dr. Bawumia, must accept responsibility and find reasonable solutions to the current economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian, the Minoritys press statement said.

The Minority held the press conference today to respond to recent comments made by World Bank Country Director Pierre Frank Laporte which has generated a lot of controversy.

Speaking to Joy News, Pierre Frank Laporte said Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed when the NDC was in power contributed to the economic crisis.

In the aspect of Ghana, those contracts you signed with the PPA are too expensive. The kind of PPA you signed, it means Ghana is paying for electricity not in use through doubling of capacity.

The fact is, in the last few years, Ghana entered into some PPAs that were wrong. These types, in our view, were at the wrong rate and at the wrong prices and today youre paying duly for it. And today the country is being billed for many of these wrong PPAs, World Bank Country Director, Pierre Frank Laporte told Joy News in an interview.

The Minority is of the view that the comments by the World Bank Country Director have been given extensive twists by NPP pro-government media houses seeking to blame President Mahama for the current economic mess that the country finds itself in.

The group insists that it is hypocritical for NPP officials to be riding on the comments to attack the former President when these said PPAs were signed with the consent of Parliament.

It is imperative to reiterate that almost all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), including Early Power, Amandi, AKSA, Ameri etc, were submitted to parliament for consideration and approval. It is equally instructive to note that all these agreements were approved on consensus by both sides of the house without objection from the NPP minority in Parliament.

It will therefore be hypocritical for the very people who participated in scrutinising and approving the agreements to turn around and criticise the very agreements they approved, the Minority argued in its statement.

Read the full statement from the Minority below:

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE NDC MINORITY ON THE STATE OF GHANAS ENERGY SECTOR

The attention of the Minority in Parliament has been drawn to a video recording of the World Bank country director Mr Laporte which has been given extensive twists by NPP pro-government media houses seeking to blame President Mahama for the current economic mess that the country finds itself.

On the issue of the take-or-pay agreements, Mr. Laporte may provide us with evidence of peer countries where would-be investors are willing to invest $300 million and above in Gas-to-power projects at that time of emergency without demanding some form of supply and payment guarantees.

We wish to state unequivocally that the claim by the Vice-President and others that Ghanas electricity tariffs are the highest in the sub-region is completely deceptive. Available records will attest to the fact that despite having a lower hydro ratio power mix, Ghanas electricity tariffs are within the lower bracket in the subregion. A comprehensive study published by the Africa Development Bank (AFDB) titled: Comparative Analysis of Electricity Tariffs in ECOWAS Member Countries (See Appendix-1) will confirm that Ghanas tariffs (both Generation and end-user tariffs) are indeed lower than most countries including Cote DIvoire.

On the issue of capacity charges, we wish to state that there are standardised and regulated industry tools used by electricity utilities to recover infrastructure expansion costs triggered by new development. The PURC tariff setting guidelines defines Capacity Charges as the amount spent by electricity distributor utility to acquire or enhance fixed assets, such as land, building, and major equipment which is recovered over their useful life. The decision to factor in capital recovery pre-dates the Mahama administration, e.g., power plants such as CENIT, Cenpower, TICO, Asogli -1, and TT2PP which were negotiated before the Mahama administration all had capacity charges to ensure capital recovery. Agreeing to capacity charges did not start with the Mahama administration neither has it stopped under the Akufo-Addo-led government.

It is imperative to reiterate that almost all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), including Early Power, Amandi, AKSA, Ameri etc, were submitted to parliament for consideration and approval. It is equally instructive to note that all these agreements were approved on consensus by both sides of the house without objection from the NPP minority in Parliament. It will therefore be hypocritical for the very people who participated in scrutinising and approving the agreements to turn around and criticise the very agreements they approved.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, it may shock you to note that despite the consistent claim by the NPP government that Ghana has too much electricity capacity and does not need most of the Independent Power Plants (IPPs), as soon as the 5-year 370MW AKSA PPA signed under the Mahama led government elapsed, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government quietly and surreptitiously signed a new 15-years PPA with AKSA for the same plant, and more surprisingly the contract contains take-or-pay clauses. Can the AKUFO Addo government explain the justification for the extension in years of the KarPower Barge - what were the changes made in that very contract extension? Again, the critical question to ask is, since when did the so-called excess capacity vanish into thin air?

As if that is not enough, the current Government has gone ahead to sign a completely new 207MW PPA with AKSA for a 20-year period, and guess what? this very agreement also contains take-or-pay clauses.

Ladies and gentlemen, we would at this juncture like to use this opportunity to shed light and provide details on these energy sector payments, which unfortunately have been described by government spokespersons as excess capacity payments.

A critical look at documents submitted by the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta and other energy SOEs to parliament will reveal that these payments are actually meant to cover the following;

Cover payments for fuel consumption which otherwise should have been recovered through the tariff structure. Increased technical and commercial losses, which has increased to over 30% under this government. Parment for forex losses, which hit a record high of GHS4.8 billion in 2022 alone due to the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy, with the cedi depreciating over 50% and attaining the unenviable of being rated as the worst currency in the world. Payments for required reserve margins which have not been factored into the PURC tariff rate setting methodology. Settlement of outstanding electricity bills accrued by Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Payments for non-power sector-related fuel consumption by essential service providers such as the Military, Police, Health etc.

We have attached the Excel spreadsheet of these payments for your own perusal. How anyone is able to come up with such warped logic that President Mahama can be held responsible for these energy sector payments is most disingenuous and outrageous.

From the information provided, we wish to reiterate our opposition that the recent claim by Vice-President Dr Bawumiah, that his government has made some 17 billion Ghana cedis payments arising from excess capacity payments is bogus and deceptive at best.

In the petroleum sector, despite the criticism levelled against the Mahama led Government, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia led government has signed a 20-year gas contract with Tema LNG Co. Ltd. with take-or-pay clauses, but more surprisingly, the pricing formula of this contract has been indexed to crude price making it the most expensive gas contract in Ghana. A look at the PURCs WACOG gas rate setting will reveal that whilst Sankofa gas is pegged at $6.78/MMbtu, Tema LNG is pegged at $8.4/MMbtu.

Is the World Bank country director, Mr. Laporte oblivious to these latest developments we have enumerated? What is his position on these latest contracts?

This NPP government will go down in history as the luckiest ever, having received unpreceded revenues of about GHS24 billion from ESLA and GHS40 billion from oil revenues alone. It will be recalled that despite their failure to scrap the ESLA, this NPP Government went further to introduce a completely new tax known as the Energy Sector Recovery Levy in the 2021 budget, ostensibly aimed at paying for the so-called energy sector capacity payment. What has happened to revenues accruing from this tax?

Even more shocking is the fact that despite securing approval from parliament in the year 2018 to use proceeds ($1 billion) of the Eurobond issuance to refinance some power-related investments, the funds have been grossly misapplied by this government, contributing to the current economic meltdown.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the NDC Minority in parliament completely and

vehemently reject the suggestion that the PPAs executed under the Mahama administration are the cause of the current poor state of the economy, especially in reference to the energy sector. This baseless claim is untrue and cannot stand the test of time.

We are in this current quagmire because of the economic mismanagement of the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia led government, hugely influenced by unbridled and reckless borrowing with very little investment in critical capital expenditure.

President Mahamas record in the energy sector remains unmatched and cannot be watered down by such trivialities and distorted narratives clothed with political mischief.

President Mahama can be credited for the Sankofa Gas project, which has been key in providing energy to Ghana since 2018, with the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts through power plants for around 1.6 million households and many businesses. The 250MW Ameri power plant is now an asset to the Republic of Ghana, with a useful life of about 20 years. President Mahama bequeathed the ESLA to this current government, which has accrued revenues of about 24 billion Cedis. The Mahama led administration before leaving office secured funding from Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and commenced the construction of a 330KV transmission line project from Ghana to Burkina Faso. This project which was supposed to be completed in 2018 was intended to increase Ghanas exportation of power from 100MW to 200MW to Burkina Faso and beyond. This project suffered undue delays solely due to unnecessary political interference by this government, leading to losses to the state.

Ghanaians are sick and tired of the unnecessary and flimsy blame game strategy adopted by this government and their hirelings. President Akufo-Addo and his head of the economic management team Dr Bawumiah, must accept responsibility and find reasonable solutions to the current economic hardship confronting the ordinary Ghanaian.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
Elon Musk's Tesla Inc. is catching flak from its neighbors near the South Park Avenue factory  and the Buffalo Planning Board.

What should have been a routine approval on Monday of an expanded parking lot for Tesla instead turned into a parade of complaints from residents against the California company.

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They were worried that the parking would encroach or destroy the green space buffer between the RiverBend factory and their homes on nearby Abby, New Abby and Baraga streets. They also complained about noise and garbage generated by Tesla and its workers.

And they criticized the electric car and solar roof manufacturer over its proposal to add 570 parking spaces on a new solid asphalt lot, instead of building bus shelters to encourage the use of alternative transportation.

"Why are we talking about expanding parking?" one woman asked. "Shouldnt we be encouraging a greener community for Buffalo?"

Tesla officials and their engineering consultants were caught off guard by the comments, which they said they had only learned of earlier that day after more than 10 opposition letters were filed with the city.

And they said they would work with South District Common Council member Chris Scanlon to set up a community meeting to respond to the quality-of-life concerns.

"We are very empathetic to the concerns of our neighbors on the residential side," said Shatorah Roberson, an attorney and staff policy advisor for Tesla. "Its really important that we are good neighbors to the folks that we are impacting in the community."

But Roberson, former chief diversity officer for the City of Buffalo, argued that the company had addressed the issues that related directly to the parking lot itself. She noted that the lot would include a landscaped berm, while the company would plant more than 100 trees and shrubs along the southeastern border.

"All the other issues, we havent directly heard before. Had we heard from the community that these were things that they were experiencing, we would have already had that interaction with them," she added, offering to report back to the panel later about the community discussions. "I believe weve met the requirements of the Planning Board to proceed with the full site plan."

But board members weren't buying it.

If we approve, youre not coming before the Planning Board for anything else, said board member Horace Gioia. I think you look at the letters and address them. Then I would expect youll be in good shape the next time we meet.

Tesla, which now has 1,200 parking spaces for its Gigafactory New York, wants to construct additional parking on a 7.4-acre vacant field with an electrical substation at 1331 South Park, on the southeast side of the factory, to serve the 2,000 employees who work there.

Neighbors questioned whether it was really necessary, instead urging more use of public buses at four nearby stops. But Tesla officials insisted that, even though they offer employees various public transit benefits and plan to add a bus shelter at the factory, the expanded lot was needed because the company is hiring and growing.
A former member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Stephen Atubiga has made some wild allegations against some unnamed members of the party.

The leader and founder of the newly formed National Liberation Congress (NLC) said some NDC members want him dead.

According to him, the said persons are plotting to assassinate him before the 2024 general elections.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 6, Mr Atubiga, who has for some time now been criticizing what he calls ills in the opposition party, said he was once poisoned in 2021 by some members of the party.

"I hear how some people in the NDC want me dead before the election 2024 and how to assassinate me after I survived their poison attempt in 2021, I say God is good," reads his post.

It may be recalled on May 21, Mr. Atubiga, then a senior communicator of the NDC, resigned after being suspended by the party in March following his refusal to render an unqualified apology for some remarks he made about Prof. Joshua Alabi.

In a letter, he communicated his decision to form "another social democratic party" with a section of people in his circle.

Since then, Mr. Atubiga has been a vocal critic of the party and its flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama on issues he describes as "unfair and unfit" for the party left behind by late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
The Management of the Gambaga Witches' camp is appealing for support to rehabilitate the dwelling places of the inmates as the rainy season sets in.

In 2021, a philanthropist built a four-room block for some of the inmates, but management of the Camp could not raise more funds to rehabilitate or build new residences for the more than 80 women.

The inmates live in a segregated community in the Gambaga Township of the North-East region.

The camp, which was established about a century ago, was to accommodate alleged witches banished from their various families and communities who sought refuge at the residence of Gamba-Rana, the paramount Chief of Gambaga.

Currently, Naa Yahaya Wuni, the Gamba-Rana, is the spiritual overseer of the camp where 93 women and two men are housed.

Mr Samson Laar, the Assistant manager of the camp, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, said this year all the huts of the inmates could not be rehabilitated due to inadequate funds.

He said management had reroofed some of the huts, adding that We are trying to find grass to roof a number of the huts so that when we are able to find some more funds, we can do same for the other huts.

He reiterated the call for benevolent groups, societies and individuals to support the camp.

The camp, built with mud and thatched roof, is expected to be rehabilitated before every rainy season, however due to unavailability of funds, some of the huts had not been worked on for some years and inmates may have to endure the inconvenience of water dripping into their huts.

The six northern regions are characterized by annual strong winds, heavy rains and floods, therefore, to withstand the harsh climatic conditions, the thatched houses are rehabilitated yearly to survive the harsh weather.

Meanwhile, the old women who fend for themselves through selling fuel wood, said walking long distances to fetch grass for the roofing of their rooms was a difficult task, and reiterated their call for assistance.

The impact of the climate, especially heavy rainfall and floods affect the Northern regions causing lots of displacement and loss of property and economic livelihoods across communities.

GNA
The Nogokpo traditional council has confirmed receiving a letter from the National Peace Council indicating plans to amicably resolve the impasse with Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, the founder of Perez Chapel International.

While the Traditional Council prepares to send a response to the Peace Council, it insists that Archbishop Charles Agyinasare must avail himself before the elders and people of Nogokpo to apologise for describing the town as the demonic headquarters of the Volta Region.

In an interview with Citi News on Tuesday, June 6, the spokesperson for the Nogokpo traditional council, Nufialaga Mawufemor Korbla Nonyigbey said the Council will consider dragging Archbishop Charles Agyinasare before the Nogokpo deity (the thunder god) if he refuses to comply with their 14-day ultimatum.

All options are on the table for us. Including that one (going to the Thunder god for Justice) because all we want is Justice.Now attention is being focused on the Archbishop but we are not looking at the damage that he has caused people of the Volta Region and Nogokpo in particular. Our youth, our women, are going to have issues, Nufialaga Mawufemor Korbla Nonyigbey stated.

The spokesperson of the Nogokpo Traditional Council continued, Already when one hears that you are from the Volta Region you are tagged and then such an influential figure will come and make such a statement about a region and narrow it to Nogokpo, my brother the implications for our younger generation, for our people is very very negative. So this issues we must get to the bottom of it so that the right thing is done. So that nobody again will just get up to defame a community.

Meanwhile, Peace Council has indicated that it is keen on engaging both parties to resolve the matter.
Former Science and Environment Minister, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, is facing another defamation lawsuit from a member of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuf0-Addo's security team.

Edmund Kwadwo Koda, also known as Captain Koda, has accused Frimpong-Boateng of making defamatory statements about him in a leaked report on illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as galamsey.

In the suit, Koda is seeking damages of five million Ghana cedis and an apology and retraction of the reports portions that are deemed injurious to him.

The suit quoted portions of the said report before proceeding to state how injurious the claims against him were.

The suit stated that In their natural and ordinary meaning, the words complained of meant and were understood to mean that:

a. Plaintiff is a saboteur of the President's initiatives and policies especially the President's fight directed at illegal mining,

b. Plaintiff is disloyal to the President and only pretends to have his interests at heart,

c. Plaintiff is against the current government's fight to combat illegal mining,

d. Plaintiff is an obstruction to the fight against illegal mining,

e. That Plaintiff acts with impunity without recourse to law and authority,

f. That Plaintiff obstructs the discharge of justice in general and particularly in the fight against illegal mining,

g. That Plaintiff is unpatriotic and a traitor.

Frimpong-Boatengs report stated that two years ago, the attention of the IMCIM's task force was drawn to a site that had been degraded, and the tailings from there were directed into the Birim River near Anyinam.

The task force impounded two excavators and deposited them at the police station in Anyinam. Frantic telephone calls were received from Koda, who asked for the excavators to be released, and informed the task force that the owner of the concession, George Kwame Aboagye, MP for Asene Akroso Manso, is his brother.

-DGN online
In a display of unity and community spirit, Let Love Lead Big Dawood, an NGO pioneered by Renowned Philanthropist Big Dawood, embarked on its annual sanitation drive under the theme "Health. Wealth. Charity."

This remarkable event, held in collaboration with the Krowor, Ledzekuku, and Tema West Municipalities, saw the convergence of local leaders, businesses and enthusiastic volunteers committed to creating cleaner, healthier communities. It was also in light of the tragic explosion at Circle 8 years ago, which claimed over 150 lives due to poor sanitation.

Despite the uncertainty of the weather, the Ledzekuku Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Honourable Joshua Nii Bortey and the manager of Palace Mall, Mr Mohammed Salami, were present, emphasizing the importance of corporate responsibility in uplifting society.

The Let Love Lead Big Dawood team, accompanied by a contingent from Zoomlion Ghana, a leading waste management company, set out to clean the gutters along the designated route at 8am with an eager aura.

Dawood Akwesi Agyemang, affectionately known as, Big Dawood and passionate volunteers, led by example in extracting excess waste from the gutters. The event attracted distinguished personalities such as Joshua Ampah of KECHE, Dr Poundz, and CODED OF 4x4, who showed their support for the initiative, responding to the Renowned Philanthropist's charisma and infectious charm. The team exemplified communal unity as they traversed the streets.

The spirited sanitation exercise stretched from the renowned Palace Mall in Spintex to the Baatsonaa Total Filling Station. With each step, the Let Love Lead Big Dawood team left behind a trail of cleanliness within the community.

As the sun set on this awe-inspiring day, the Let Love Lead Big Dawood team left an indelible mark on three municipalities. The memories of their infectious enthusiasm, coupled with the enduring impact of their efforts, will continue to inspire generations to come.

The significance of the day was not limited to the removal of litter and debris. In a gesture of compassion and solidarity, Let Love Lead Big Dawood donated to victims of the June 3, 2015 explosion, demonstrating their collective empathy and commitment.

However, this is not the only initiative. Let Love Lead Big Dawood has embarked on.

Big Dawood recently donated essential items to Suhum Otwe No. 2 (Kokobibiam), a suburb in the Eastern Region, including rice, tin tomatoes, oil, clothes, and shoes. He also constructed a mechanized borehole to provide clean water and transform the lives of the community's residents, earning him a chieftaincy title, NENE LARTEY OSAKONOR I.

The NGO organized a free health screening exercise in Mfantsiman West Municipality and distributed medical supplies to over 500 individuals, including children. Through undisclosed donations, the event empowered widows and single mothers in Cape Coast to become financially self-reliant.

In a remarkable display of generosity, Let Love Lead Big Dawood distributed 5,000 packs of food to residents in Accra, as well as free trotro rides and chocolates to commuters traveling on the Teshie-Nungua, Ashaiman, and Accra Mall routes.

Embracing the notion that children are the future as well as being a lover of kids, Let Love Lead Big Dawood donated essential items to the New Life Nungua Children's Home International.

These selfless acts of kindness and dedication to community upliftment show the unwavering commitment and love that Big Dawood holds for the less fortunate. Through their remarkable initiatives, they are reshaping communities and spreading the message that together, we can make a difference.
888 reaffirmed their maintains rating on shares of Southwest Gas (NYSE:SWX  Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports.

SWX has been the subject of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Southwest Gas in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an underweight rating and set a $95.00 price target (down from $100.00) on shares of Southwest Gas in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Southwest Gas from $66.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Southwest Gas from $78.00 to $75.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Southwest Gas from $71.00 to $63.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.00.

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Southwest Gas Price Performance

Shares of NYSE SWX traded down $0.73 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $59.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 300,171 shares, compared to its average volume of 546,084. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.22 billion, a PE ratio of -15.61, a P/E/G ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.40. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $58.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.49. Southwest Gas has a 52 week low of $53.79 and a 52 week high of $94.99.

Southwest Gas Announces Dividend

Insider Activity

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be paid a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Southwest Gass payout ratio is -65.44%.

In related news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn acquired 2,332,835 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $60.12 per share, with a total value of $140,250,040.20. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 8,944,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $537,741,235.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Southwest Gas news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn purchased 2,332,835 shares of Southwest Gas stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $60.12 per share, for a total transaction of $140,250,040.20. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 8,944,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $537,741,235.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn purchased 26,310 shares of Southwest Gas stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $60.09 per share, for a total transaction of $1,580,967.90. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 9,509,797 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $571,443,701.73. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 3,350,789 shares of company stock valued at $201,194,382 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SWX. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in Southwest Gas during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Spirit of America Management Corp NY purchased a new position in Southwest Gas during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Southwest Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 556 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Southwest Gas during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. 87.59% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Southwest Gas Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc engages in the energy business. It operates through the following business segments: Natural Gas Operations and Utility Infrastructure Services. The Natural Gas Operations segment focuses on purchasing, distribution, and transportation of natural gas in Arizona, California, and Nevada.

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Barclays PLC (LON:BARC  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 238.56 ($2.97).

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group set a GBX 238 ($2.96) price objective on shares of Barclays in a research note on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Barclays from GBX 240 ($2.98) to GBX 200 ($2.49) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Barclays in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 270 ($3.36) price objective on shares of Barclays in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of Barclays from GBX 240 ($2.98) to GBX 250 ($3.11) and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th.

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Barclays Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of BARC stock opened at GBX 156.76 ($1.95) on Tuesday. Barclays has a twelve month low of GBX 128.12 ($1.59) and a twelve month high of GBX 198.86 ($2.47). The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 153.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 161.91. The stock has a market capitalization of 24.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 472.06, a P/E/G ratio of -1.09 and a beta of 1.36.

Barclays Company Profile

Barclays PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International divisions. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.

Further Reading

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Black Stone Minerals (NYSE:BSM  Get Rating) and Galp Energia, SGPS (OTCMKTS:GLPEY  Get Rating) are both mid-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Black Stone Minerals and Galp Energia, SGPS, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Black Stone Minerals 0 1 2 0 2.67 Galp Energia, SGPS 0 3 1 0 2.25

Black Stone Minerals presently has a consensus target price of $19.00, suggesting a potential upside of 18.23%. Galp Energia, SGPS has a consensus target price of $12.97, suggesting a potential upside of 132.38%. Given Galp Energia, SGPSs higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Galp Energia, SGPS is more favorable than Black Stone Minerals.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Black Stone Minerals 77.07% 54.18% 36.42% Galp Energia, SGPS N/A N/A N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

This table compares Black Stone Minerals and Galp Energia, SGPSs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

16.5% of Black Stone Minerals shares are owned by institutional investors. 20.5% of Black Stone Minerals shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Black Stone Minerals and Galp Energia, SGPSs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Black Stone Minerals $663.60 million 5.08 $476.48 million $2.76 5.82 Galp Energia, SGPS $18.48 billion 0.46 $4.73 million N/A N/A

Black Stone Minerals has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Galp Energia, SGPS.

Volatility and Risk

Black Stone Minerals has a beta of 1.04, meaning that its share price is 4% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Galp Energia, SGPS has a beta of 0.7, meaning that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Black Stone Minerals pays an annual dividend of $1.90 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.8%. Galp Energia, SGPS pays an annual dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Black Stone Minerals pays out 68.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Black Stone Minerals has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Black Stone Minerals is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

Black Stone Minerals beats Galp Energia, SGPS on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Black Stone Minerals

(Get Rating)

Black Stone Minerals LP is an exploration company. The firm engages in the exploration of oil and natural gas minerals. It focuses on the operation of Louisiana-Mississippi Salt Basins, Western Gulf, Permian Basin, Palo Duro Basin, East Texas Basin, Anadarko Basin, Appalachian Basin, Arkoma Basin, Bend Arch-Fort Worth, and Southwestern Wyoming. The company was founded in 1876 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

About Galp Energia, SGPS

(Get Rating)

Galp Energia SGPS SA engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas. It operates through the following segments: Upstream; Refining and Midstream; Commercial; and Renewables and New Businesses. The Upstream segment includes exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons, mainly focused on Brazil, Mozambique, and Angola. The Refining and Midstream segment owns refineries in Portugal, and also includes all activities relating to the wholesale marketing of oil products, gas, and electricity. The Commercial segment encompasses the area of retail to final customers of oil, gas, and electricity. The Renewables and New Businesses segment covers Galps presence in the renewable energies industry. The company was founded on April 22, 1999 and is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal.

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Chicos FAS, Inc. (NYSE:CHS  Get Rating) shares gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $4.89, but opened at $4.71. Chicos FAS shares last traded at $5.15, with a volume of 295,779 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on CHS. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Chicos FAS in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a market perform rating and issued a $6.00 price objective on shares of Chicos FAS in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, B. Riley reiterated a buy rating on shares of Chicos FAS in a research note on Thursday, April 13th.

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Chicos FAS Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $658.36 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.85 and a beta of 1.22. The firms 50 day moving average is $5.16 and its 200-day moving average is $5.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.14.

Insider Transactions at Chicos FAS

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Chicos FAS news, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 69,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.28, for a total transaction of $437,088.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 704,640 shares in the company, valued at $4,425,139.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other Chicos FAS news, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 30,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.15, for a total value of $186,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 774,240 shares in the company, valued at $4,761,576. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, Director Bonnie R. Brooks sold 69,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.28, for a total value of $437,088.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 704,640 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,425,139.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY raised its holdings in shares of Chicos FAS by 33.2% in the 3rd quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 7,558 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,885 shares during the period. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in Chicos FAS during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in Chicos FAS by 20.6% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 14,093 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 2,404 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Chicos FAS by 54.9% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 8,655 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 3,067 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirabella Financial Services LLP acquired a new position in shares of Chicos FAS in the 1st quarter worth $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.59% of the companys stock.

About Chicos FAS

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Chicos FAS, Inc engages in the retail of womens private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy apparel, intimates, and complementary accessories. It operates through the following segments: Chicos, White House Black Market, and Soma. The Chicos segment sells exclusively designed, private branded clothing focusing on women with moderate-to-high household income levels.

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Corebridge Financial (NYSE:CRBG  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Bank of America from $28.00 to $26.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Corebridge Financial in a research note on Monday, April 10th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Corebridge Financial from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price target for the company from $25.00 to $23.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Corebridge Financial from $28.00 to $21.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $26.00 price objective on shares of Corebridge Financial in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Corebridge Financial currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $24.45.

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Corebridge Financial Trading Down 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE CRBG opened at $17.69 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Corebridge Financial has a 1 year low of $14.01 and a 1 year high of $23.50. The firms 50-day moving average is $16.51 and its 200-day moving average is $18.90.

Corebridge Financial Dividend Announcement

Corebridge Financial ( NYSE:CRBG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.21 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.15 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Corebridge Financial will post 3.93 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.20%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CRBG. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Corebridge Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. bought a new position in Corebridge Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Corebridge Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in Corebridge Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Operose Advisors LLC bought a new position in Corebridge Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 22.16% of the companys stock.

About Corebridge Financial

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Corebridge Financial, Inc provides retirement solutions and insurance products in the United States. It operates through Individual Retirement, Group Retirement, Life Insurance, and Institutional Markets segments. The Individual Retirement segment provides fixed annuities, fixed index annuities, variable annuities and retail mutual funds.

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Two Canadians died Tuesday afternoon when a small plane crashed and burned just off the runway at Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport, right after taking off.

The victims were identified later Tuesday as Roger Ryall, 52, of Toronto, who was the pilot, and his passenger, David Hughes, 52, of British Columbia.

Chautauqua County Sheriff James B. Quattrone confirmed that the plane was a Cirrus SR-22T during a news conference that was livestreamed on WGRZ-TV. The plane had flown to Erie, Pa., then stopped at the Jamestown airport to refuel. It was based in Oshawa, Ont., Quattrone said, and was headed to Waterloo, Ont.

It was the second fatal plane crash in Western New York in nine days. Two men, one from Rochester and one from Brockport, died May 28 when an experimental plane went down in Orleans County in an orchard along Townline Road in Ridgeway.

Quattrone said the four-seater plane, which likely carried 92 gallons of fuel, had just fueled up before takeoff. He described the fire as intense and said it was extinguished within a half-hour. The sheriff described the area where debris from the plane was found as relatively confined.

Quattrone said a parachute aboard the plane was activated. He described it as a single parachute specifically for the plane.

A cause of the crash has yet to be determined, and an investigation is ongoing. Quattrone said local officials are still awaiting officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to arrive. The airport was reopened Tuesday night.
Digital China Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:DCHIF  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $0.48 and last traded at $0.48, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $0.48.

Digital China Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average of $0.48 and a 200 day moving average of $0.46.

About Digital China

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Digital China Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, provides big data products and solutions for government and enterprise customers primarily in Mainland China. The Big Data Products and Solutions segment sells data software products focused on spatial-temporal big data and artificial intelligence.

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Finning International Inc. (TSE:FTT  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$39.48 and last traded at C$39.46, with a volume of 126121 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$38.84.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on FTT shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Finning International from C$38.00 to C$43.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Finning International from C$42.00 to C$43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. National Bank Financial downgraded shares of Finning International from an outperform market weight rating to a sector perform market weight rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. National Bankshares cut shares of Finning International from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a C$40.00 target price for the company. in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Finning International from C$44.00 to C$45.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$43.29.

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Finning International Stock Up 1.9 %

The firms 50-day moving average price is C$35.36 and its 200 day moving average price is C$34.98. The firm has a market capitalization of C$5.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 98.71, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

Finning International Increases Dividend

About Finning International

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 25th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.53%. This is a positive change from Finning Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. Finning Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.32%.

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Finning International Inc sells, services, and rents heavy equipment, and power and energy systems in Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and internationally. The company offers telehandlers, articulated trucks, asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, cable assist vehicles, cable yarding systems, chip dozers, cold planers, compactors, dozers, drills, electric rope shovels, excavators, material handlers, motor graders, off-highway trucks, pipelayers, remixing transfer vehicle, road reclaimers, road wideners, skid steer and compact track loaders, tack distributors, track loaders, underground-hard rock, wheel loaders, wheel tractor-scrapers, and windrow elevators, as well as attachments.

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Hugo Boss AG (ETR:BOSS  Get Rating)s stock price rose 2.9% on Monday . The stock traded as high as 66.66 ($71.68) and last traded at 66.46 ($71.46). Approximately 227,906 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 29% from the average daily volume of 321,526 shares. The stock had previously closed at 64.56 ($69.42).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on BOSS. Jefferies Financial Group set a 69.00 ($74.19) price objective on Hugo Boss in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a 70.00 ($75.27) price objective on Hugo Boss in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a 68.00 ($73.12) price objective on Hugo Boss in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada set a 71.00 ($76.34) price objective on Hugo Boss in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Baader Bank set a 72.00 ($77.42) price objective on Hugo Boss in a research report on Thursday, March 9th.

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Hugo Boss Stock Up 2.9 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 88.10. The business has a 50-day moving average price of 66.49 and a 200-day moving average price of 61.11. The firm has a market cap of $4.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.38.

Hugo Boss Company Profile

Hugo Boss AG, together with its subsidiaries, develops, markets, and distributes clothes, shoes, and accessories for men and women worldwide. It offers business, casual, athleisure, and evening wear; shoes and accessories; and licensed products, including fragrances, eyewear, and watches, as well as children's fashion products.

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Osisko Gold Royalties (TSE:OR  Get Rating) had its price objective raised by investment analysts at Raymond James from C$25.00 to C$25.50 in a report released on Friday, The Fly reports. The brokerage presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Raymond James price objective suggests a potential upside of 19.72% from the companys current price.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on OR. Haywood Securities cut Osisko Gold Royalties from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. TD Securities increased their target price on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$22.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. National Bank Financial upped their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Osisko Gold Royalties from C$21.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, CIBC boosted their price target on Osisko Gold Royalties from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$25.63.

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Osisko Gold Royalties Price Performance

OR stock traded down C$0.34 during trading on Friday, reaching C$21.30. 109,693 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 462,572. The company has a market cap of C$3.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.09, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.65. Osisko Gold Royalties has a 52-week low of C$11.90 and a 52-week high of C$24.42. The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$22.14 and its 200 day moving average price is C$19.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.14, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 8.82.

Insider Transactions at Osisko Gold Royalties

About Osisko Gold Royalties

In related news, Director Victor Bradley sold 5,000 shares of Osisko Gold Royalties stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$21.76, for a total transaction of C$108,794.00. Company insiders own 0.52% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd acquires and manages precious metal and other royalties, streams, and offtake and other interests in Canada and internationally. It also owns options on royalty/stream financings; and exclusive rights to participate in future royalty/stream financings on various projects. The company's primary asset is a 5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine located in Canada.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Revvity (NYSE:PKI  Get Rating) in a report issued on Saturday. The firm issued a hold rating on the medical research companys stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Revvity in a report on Wednesday, February 15th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Revvity from $140.00 to $125.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Revvity from $170.00 to $160.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Revvity from $182.00 to $165.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Revvity from $145.00 to $135.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $158.60.

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Revvity Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:PKI opened at $115.24 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.57 billion, a PE ratio of 15.01, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.10. Revvity has a 1 year low of $113.46 and a 1 year high of $170.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $127.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $133.05. The company has a current ratio of 2.43, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48.

Revvity Announces Dividend

Revvity ( NYSE:PKI Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The medical research company reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $674.87 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $686.30 million. Revvity had a return on equity of 11.17% and a net margin of 28.94%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.41 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Revvity will post 4.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be given a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. Revvitys dividend payout ratio is 3.65%.

Insider Transactions at Revvity

In related news, insider Daniel R. Tereau sold 10,741 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.72, for a total value of $1,328,876.52. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,436,512.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Revvity news, insider Daniel R. Tereau sold 10,741 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.72, for a total transaction of $1,328,876.52. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,436,512.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Andrew Okun sold 2,435 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.51, for a total transaction of $332,401.85. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,356 shares in the company, valued at $594,637.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 15,349 shares of company stock valued at $1,953,042 over the last three months. 0.52% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Revvity in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Revvity in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Revvity in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Revvity in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, FourThought Financial LLC acquired a new position in Revvity in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. 85.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Revvity

(Get Rating)

Revvity, Inc provides health science solutions, technologies, expertise, and services that deliver complete workflows from discovery to development, and diagnosis to cure. It focuses on translational multi-omics technologies, biomarker identification, imaging, prediction, screening, detection and diagnosis, informatics.? The company was founded by Richard Scott Perkin and Charles W.

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Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL  Get Rating) CAO Thomas Michael Duncan sold 3,000 shares of Travel + Leisure stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.92, for a total value of $122,760.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 17,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $706,729.32. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link.

Travel + Leisure Stock Performance

NYSE:TNL traded up $1.43 on Tuesday, reaching $40.88. The companys stock had a trading volume of 802,141 shares, compared to its average volume of 735,527. The firm has a market cap of $3.12 billion, a PE ratio of 9.08, a PEG ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.67. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $37.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.80. Travel + Leisure Co. has a 1-year low of $33.57 and a 1-year high of $52.44.

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Travel + Leisure (NYSE:TNL  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $879.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $840.65 million. Travel + Leisure had a negative return on equity of 43.00% and a net margin of 10.17%. Travel + Leisures revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Travel + Leisure Co. will post 5.53 EPS for the current year.

Travel + Leisure Dividend Announcement

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Travel + Leisure

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.40%. Travel + Leisures dividend payout ratio is currently 40.27%.

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TNL. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 3.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 6,652 shares of the companys stock worth $385,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Travel + Leisure by 39.4% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 58,299 shares of the companys stock worth $3,378,000 after buying an additional 16,478 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in shares of Travel + Leisure by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 31,627 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,832,000 after acquiring an additional 3,015 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Travel + Leisure by 13.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,806,796 shares of the companys stock valued at $568,206,000 after acquiring an additional 1,197,611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Travel + Leisure by 1.7% during the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 47,819 shares of the companys stock worth $2,771,000 after acquiring an additional 819 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.54% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on TNL shares. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $31.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Bank of America initiated coverage on Travel + Leisure in a report on Monday, April 17th. They issued an underperform rating and a $42.00 price target for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Travel + Leisure from $69.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $50.43.

Travel + Leisure Company Profile

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Travel + Leisure Co is a membership and leisure travel company, with a portfolio of nearly 20 resort, travel club, and lifestyle travel brands. It operates through Vacation Ownership and Travel and Membership segments. The Vacation Ownership segment is involved in developing, marketing, and selling vacation ownership interests to individual consumers, providing consumer financing in connection with the sale of vacation ownership interests, and providing property management services at resorts.

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The unveiling of Hondas all-new Elevate SUV has proven once again, that despite its recent setbacks, the brand commands a sort of fan-following few brands can hope for. The Elevate is a Creta-rivaling, compact SUV featuring the Honda Citys powertrain and is the first of the five models by Honda that are scheduled for launch till 2030. The 4.3-metre SUV, whose price will be announced prior to the festive season, comes loaded with safety features, including rarities like rear seat belt reminders, UN127 pedestrian impact compliance, and ADAS features similar to the ones found in top-end specs of the Honda City. It is, in short it is Hondas hail mary attempt at resuscitating his fortunes in a country where its grasp over market share remains tenuous thanks to having only one hit product: the City, that now appears to be past its prime. For a brand that intends to go all-electric by 2040, it needs a win, immediately. Honda Cars entered the Indian market back in 1995, finding itself in a technologically moribund playground, in a recently liberalised economy. Soon after, its first offering, the Honda City, became a benchmark of efficiency and performance, going on to achieve cult status among the countrys growing cadre of car modifiers. The original Honda City perfectly encapsulated Hondas appeal. Unlike Suzuki, the other, most prevalent Japanese manufacturer in the market, Honda was not here to chase entry-level volumes. It had the reliability and robust build quality that Japanese manufacturers were famous for, but with a penchant for performance and speed that was new to the market. Honda was already something that neither Hyundai nor Maruti Suzuki was: aspirational. Soon after, Mitsubishi Motors rode in on a similar promise, giving us a taste of rally-bred performance with the formidable Lancer. Honda, however, had cut its teeth in tough markets such as the US, and had accrued multiple Formula One Constructors titles. Today, however, its a very different story. The brand has discontinued once-popular models such as the Jazz, the WR-V, the Amaze diesel and the current-gen Honda City diesel in order to comply with Real Driving Emission norms, which will come into effect by this April. That will leave the brand with the Amaze and the City. And while the latter is to shortly receive a lifespan-extending facelift, the former has received no major update since 2021, prompting the question: how does Honda Cars find its way out of the quagmire it is currently in? The answer is the Elevate. The golden era The first car Honda brought in was a sixth-gen Civic-based Honda City, featuring a 1.3-litre petrol engine. But it was the 1.5-litre VTEC version, followed by the launch of the luxurious Honda Accord, that catapulted Honda into the big league. The year 2003 marked a slight downturn, when Honda, in a bid to create a more affordable mid-size sedan segment, launched the second-gen City, based on the international Honda Jazz. It was built for Indian market requirements but didnt sit well with the enthusiasts. Fortunately, by 2006, the Honda Civic was introduced, preceded by the CR-V SUV in 2004. Occupying a more premium segment, the Civic was a beautifully sculpted model, with international good looks, a 1.8-litre VTEC engine and a novel digital speedometer  it was a delicious slice of the future that established Honda as one of the coolest car brands in the country. It also helped that the Civic, while being quick, was also more reliable and easier to maintain than its European arch-rival, the Skoda Octavia. By 2008, Honda seemed to have perfected the mid-size sedan cocktail with the Gen 3 Honda City. It was what todays Hondas arent: ahead of its time. It offered dual airbags, ABS, EBD, a solid 1.5-litre VTEC engine making116 bhp, and it rightfully sat atop the segment, while the Civic and the CR-V continued to pull in good numbers. The missteps Things first started to go awry in 2011, marking a downward spiral for the brand, which it is yet to fully recover from. Competition from brands such as Volkswagen meant that the City  still the flagship product, was no longer the best-selling mid-size sedan in the market. According to a case study published by ICMR India, the brand lost the title of the best-selling mid-size sedan to the Vento within eight months of that cars launch. It wasnt just Vento's arrival that perturbed the City. Honda now had to diversify its portfolio, bereft of prestige models such as the Civic (discontinued in 2012). It had launched the punchy Brio; marrying VTEC performance with compact dimensions and taking on the likes of the Polo, but it wasnt until 2015 that it hit the mark with the Honda Jazz. That same year, Honda hit its all-time peak of 200,000 units sold. However, Honda hasnt been as quick to adapt to the fast-changing preferences of the market. Nor were its vehicles being updated to meet those requirements. It entered the diesel segment famously late, and both the Jazz and its cladded-up crossover counterpart the WR-V received the bare minimum updates in their less-than-a-decade-long run. Slow reaction times meant that Honda now had a perception problem. And adding new models such as the BR-V was no longer enough. Even the City, its only golden goose, hasnt been given a proper upgrade since 2020 and continues to be sidelined by consumers in favour of new SUVs (both diesel and petrol). Honda Cars India was now hobbled by the one thing its Formula One powertrain cannot be accused of: slow reaction time. Even so, the new Civic, launched in 2019, quickly became the best-selling sedan that year. . The nadir was Honda shutting down its plant in Greater Noida in 2020, forcing us to bid goodbye to cars like the Civic and the CR-V, two models that continued to represent what Honda was always supposed to be: aspirational, superbly engineered and fun to drive. The last three years have been extremely tumultuous for Honda Cars, with year-on-year losses, translating to month-on-month losses. Even cars such as the Ciaz, which never held a candle to the City, benefited from Hondas image problem to surpass the City. The CR-V and the BR-V both werent a volume success and the absence of a clear 5-year floor plan (such as Skoda VWs India 2.0 plan) saw the faith of many true believers start to dwindle. The long-overdue comeback In 2022-2023, Honda Cars experienced a 7 per cent increase in annual domestic sales meaning that its cyclical uptick in sales has already begun. With its arsenal comprising exclusively of the City and the lacklustre Amaze, Honda intends to make up for lost time by entering the increasingly popular SUV space, that which it has been conspicuously absent from for too long. And given how aggressively SUVs have eaten away the sedan market share, only a compact SUV can help Honda claw back some of that lost ground. While the WR-V failed to take on the likes of the Brezza, its only an SUV-like the Elevate that could, so to speak, elevate the brands image in India. Although pricing will be key in determining how well the Elevate performs, prima facie, it appears to have what it takes to battle the Creta. For starters it is a shade bigger in length, height, wheelbase and boot space. Until the next-gen Creta arrives, its also got the upper-hand in terms of safety features. While the Elevate misses out on a diesel option, it will soon be equipped with Hondas hybrid powertrain, which will undoubtedly help it beat the likes of the Grand Vitara whose hybrid isnt quite as powerful as the V-Tec packing Honda. The City, while still popular enough to get a facelift, isnt likely to stave off the competition for much longer. Its fought a good fight, but it can no longer be Hondas singular response to the demands of the market, especially since the central government intends to give no quarter to Japanese carmakers championing the cause of hybrid mobility. But the road to profitability will not be easy for Honda, which has always been a relatively premium brand, and has burnt its fingers trying to be anything else, especially a mass market one. When it had the market largely to itself, in the 2000s, Hondas success was assured, given the level of quality and efficiency it brought to the market, both in the volumes segment and the more premium end. Until the likes of Volkswagen, Hyundai and later, Kia Motors and MG Motors flooded the market with more aggressively priced, feature-rich products spanning segments. The Elevate appears to be just what people expect from Honda, a well-equipped, well-specced offering, higher on quality than its competitors and efficient to boot. Honda Cars India also needs to highlight a clear EV roadmap for India. At the unveil of the Elevate, it announced that it intends to have only BEVs and FCEVs in its portfolio by 2040, a good decade after many international brands have fully electrified their fleet. Most notably, Honda has announced that it will be launching its first battery EV in the country within the next 3 years. Currently, Hondas international EV portfolio consists only of the pint-sized e, but thats one more than the number of Honda EVs India has. While its rivals have already begun launching EV after EV, Honda is still studying the Indian EV market, and reeling from the outrageous hybrid GST structure. The upcoming EV will be based on the Elevate and will be one of the four SUVs launched by the brand till 2030, making the Elevate Hondas most crucial offering in India, this decade. Hondas two-wheeler subsidiary Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India, on the other hand, has stated that it intends to set-up its EV facility at its Naraspura plant in Karnataka with a targeted production capacity of 1 million units to be achieved by 2030. So, even though strong hybrids account for 8 percent of Hondas sales in the country, its not a volume segment. A clear strategy, a strong SUV line-up led by the Elevate, and a detailed short-term EV plan is what it will take to bring Honda back. The Amaze and the City have been described as two strong pillars for Honda Cars India, but the Elevate - the third pillar may likely prove to be the strongest one yet.
Electric vehicle player River has raised $15 million in a fresh funding round led by Dubai-based conglomerate Al Futtaim Group with participation from existing investors Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures, Maniv Mobility, and Trucks VC. "This fundraise is mainly for our working capital needs. Setting up distribution centres, working capital for starting local sourcing and manufacturing of parts for EVs and also for R&D," said Aravind Mani, Cofounder and CEO of River in an interaction with Moneycontrol The fresh funding will be also utilised by the firm towards River's growth, priming its manufacturing and distribution networks for the August 2023 delivery that it had earlier announced, the firm said in a media statement on Tuesday. Bengaluru-based River was founded in 2021 by Aravind Mani and Vipin George. River directly competes with Ola and Ather and has launched its first EV for consumers called 'Indie' which starts at Rs 1.25 lakh. However, after the Indian government announced that the subsidy for EVs will be removed from June 1, 2023, EV makers are mulling to increase prices. "There is going to be a price increase for sure. This subsidy slashing has prompted other players also to think about a price hike we will also follow suit," Mani said. The move will also promote more manufacturing within India, he added. "This is a sign of industry maturing and we need to practise without the subsidy. We are already sourcing our inputs locally and this will only further improve domestic manufacturing," he noted. River is also looking to increase its capacity gradually going ahead. Its overall installed capacity is around 100,000 EVs per annum. "We want to get to a point of making 60,000 units per annum by this year, which is around 5000 units per month and then reach the full capacity by the end of 2024," Mani said. The company is planning to start distributing its scooter by the end of August this year in Bengaluru and four more cities. "At River, we've been quietly working in the background for the last two years. In just 20 months, we launched our first product, the Indie, which has by now successfully covered 100,000+ kilometers in testing. Now weve set the base to build a billion-dollar business and we thank all our investors for supporting us in our journey," said Mani, Cofounder and CEO of River. The new funding marks River's third round, following a $2 million seed round in March 2021 and a $11 million Series A round in July 2022. Notably, River is the sole Indian investment for Al Futtaim group, Toyota Ventures, Trucks VC, and Maniv Mobility. We evaluated over 50 electric two-wheeler start-ups, and are impressed by the teams vision and relentless commitment to in-house product development. I am confident that their products will see great success, in India and internationally," said Paul Willis, President of Al Futtaim Automotive.
HDFC Banks suspension of a manager for alleged unruly behaviour with junior team members during a sales conference call is symptomatic of the larger issue of pressure to sell third-party financial products, experts said. A video circulating on Twitter showed the manager shouting at his junior colleagues for not selling enough banking and financial products. This bears reference to a recent social media report. Basis a preliminary enquiry in the matter, the concerned employee has been suspended and a detailed investigation has been initiated which will be undertaken as per conduct guidelines of the Bank," HDFC Bank said in a statement made available to Moneycontrol on June 6. The bank said it has zero tolerance for any form of misconduct at the workplace and believes in treating all employees with dignity and respect. Deeper problem Bankers told Moneycontrol that the incident highlighted a deeper problem: the pressure to sell third-party products such as insurance policies. Bankers are under lots of pressure, not only in the private sector but also in the government sector, to sell third-party products, said a banker who did not wish to be identified. This was one reason for the mis-selling or forced selling of financial products, the bankers said. We are forced to sell insurance products. Even though we are bankers, we have become agents of insurance companies, said a manager-level employee of Bank of Baroda on condition of anonymity. In the last 1-2 years, core banking work has been disturbed badly as our workforce was involved more in selling insurance products, an official said. Gaurang Shah of Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol that ethics should be maintained above everything else. He said companies must train their employees on compliance and ethics. There are targets in all fields and for that you need team-driven qualities. One cannot use unparliamentary language or behave rudely, said Shah. Ashwin Parekh, MD of Ashwin Parekh Consultancy, said the aggressive approach to selling insurance products is not limited to banks. It is also with insurance companies' agents, said Parekh. Not only private banks The pressure to sell third-party products is not restricted to private banks. In February, Moneycontrol reported that state-run bankers faced immense pressure from the top management to sell third-party products like insurance. Failure to meet targets invites informal penal actions, while meeting targets brings perks such as parties in five-star resorts, bankers told Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. Banks typically cross-sell the insurance products of their subsidiaries, and sometimes of other companies, along with loan products. Many times banks insist on the purchase of policies along with loan products. While this has been the case for long, of late, the pressure has grown manifold on mid-level bank executives who typically do not speak in the open, fearing the wrath of senior colleagues, said bank executives. RBI caution On June 5, an expert panel appointed by the Reserve Bank of India under the chairmanship of former deputy governor BP Kanungo proposed a list of recommendations to improve customer service standards in regulated entities. The proposals include reviewing charges levied by entities and extending deposit insurance cover to bank prepaid instruments and later to non-bank prepaid instruments. It said cross-selling of third-party products should be subject to verification by the audit function to ensure there was no mis-selling and all instructions and guidelines with respect to the sale of such products are followed.
After robust exports and better prices in 2022, the prospects are not looking bright for the Indian tea industry this year. While a stalemate in Iran has affected exports, production has taken a hit due to erratic weather. The fall in exports in turn has taken a toll on the prices, which have declined in the last few months. Outbound shipments of tea are down by 6 percent in the first three months (January-March?) in 2023 over the previous year as per Tea Board data. The downturn has continued in subsequent months as well, according to exporters. At 227 million kg in 2022, tea exports from India touched the highest after the pandemic struck, registering a 15 percent rise from the previous year. The rise was more due to higher demand of Orthodox tea variety from Iran and the United Arab Emirates as Sri Lanka, a major producer of the variety, was yet to recover fully from the economic turmoil the island nation faced. The UAE has emerged as one of the important destinations for Indian tea in the last few years, partly due to the country becoming the transit point for other West Asian nations like Iran, Syria and Turkey. This year Iran has not signed any new contracts for import from India. The country accounts for around 25 percent of our total tea export. While Russian buying has been okay, purchases by Ukraine have come down due to the war. A weak yen has also forced Japan to buy less, said Anshuman Kanoria, chairman, Indian Tea Exporters Association. In the circumstances, he expects shipments to be lower than last year. Orthodox tea comprises about 10 percent of the total tea produced in the country and is primarily exported. The rest is the CTC variety that is mopped up largely by the domestic market. With the Orthodox variety going at good prices, tea producers were gearing up to raise production. But that may not happen this year as the Orthodox tea prices have plunged, said Ajay Jalan, president, Tea Association of India. Tea auction prices have dropped with exports taking a hit. South Indian tea prices have fallen by 12 percent on average from January till May to around Rs 111 per kg, as per Tea Board figures. Tea prices in North India, where the cropping season starts after the winter months in March, dipped by 7 percent from April to around Rs 192 per kg in May. Inclement weather has kept production low so far during 2023. Hot weather and scanty rains have affected the production in West Bengal. The output from Assam has been partly good with certain regions showing good production, said Jalan. The setback in West Bengal production could affect the output of Darjeeling tea, which fetches the highest price from India. It may be too early to comment. Since the main cropping season extends from July to October in North India, the shortfall could be made up to a great extent with a good monsoon. It looks like the overall production may be same as in the previous year, said Jalan The total tea production in India was marginally higher in 2022 at 1,365 million kg. It stood at 1,343 million kg in the previous year, around 7 percent higher than the output in 2020. To add to the woes, tea imports to India went up in 2022. At 29.84 million kg in 2022, inbound shipments were up 12 percent year-on-year. A significant part of the flow was from Nepal, which has duty-free access to the Indian market. The industry feels higher imports could depress domestic prices. In South India, where the cropping season starts right from January, irregular weather and pest attacks have reduced output. Till April in 2023, the South Indian production is lower by around 12 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. The full estimate in May is yet come but the crop is said to be lower in certain regions of Nilgiris and Wayanad, said R Sanjith, secretary of The United Planters Association of Southern India. In addition to these problems, there has been a wage hike for workers in tea plantations in Kerala. The wages have been increased by Rs 41 to plus Rs 470 per day. With all fringe benefits it could add up to Rs 700 and is perhaps the highest in the world. The problem is that there has been no proportionate increase in the revenue, said Mathew Abraham, MD, Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company.
Buffalo was tied with Dayton, Ohio, for 18th place among cities where dogs attacked postal employees in 2022, the U.S. Postal Service announced. A total of 18 dog bites were registered.

Houston saw the most dog bite incidents last year, with 57. Next were Los Angeles with 48; Dallas with 44; and Cleveland with 43.

California was ranked as the top state for dog bites, with 675, up from 656 in 2021. Texas was second, registering 404, up from 368. New York was third, with 321, up from 239 the previous year.

The numbers were announced as part of the annual USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Week public service campaign, which continues through Saturday.

"When letter carriers deliver mail in our communities, dogs that are not secured or leashed can become a nemesis and unpredictable and attack, said Leeann Theriault, USPS employee safety and health awareness manager. She advised mail customers to keep their dogs inside the house, behind a fence or on a leash until after mail arrives.
Chartered accountants and the 12 public-sector lenders in India plan to come up with a portal in three months that will confirm account balances of companies, providing more transparency, efficiency and reducing auditing costs, people familiar with the proposal said. Private banks and mutual funds are likely to come on board the platform at a later stage, they said. The platform will be owned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Indian Banks Association. The Indian Banks Association and chartered accountants discussed suggestions to deal with practical difficulties faced by auditors in obtaining account balance confirmations from banks. We are going ahead with the development of a balance confirmation portal with IBA, a senior member of the ICAI told Moneycontrol. Presently, there is no standard process or format to obtain balance confirmations from banks. Auditors are exposed to risk if they use incomplete confirmation as audit evidence, the ICAI member said. In recent years, auditors roles have come under scrutiny in cases such as Satyam Computer Service and the Adani Group companies. Difficulties involved Auditors say they face difficulties in obtaining confirmations from banks and in some cases, the information needed is delayed or insufficient. Auditors are required to report on various matters including those related to assets, quarterly returns, statements filed by the borrower company to banks, defaults in repayment of loans to banks, and declaration of a company as a wilful defaulter by banks. Some banks used the services of third-party vendors to provide confirmations and charged auditors a fee. The proposed common platform will cover public sector banks initially and private banks and financial institutions may be added later. IBA is talking to the Reserve Bank of Indias Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) and the National E-Governance Services Ltd. (NeSL) to develop the portal in collaboration with PSB Alliance. It will take at least three months for the portal to come up. The public sector banks are on board. Costing and other details have to be worked out, a senior banking official told Moneycontrol. PSB Alliance is a joint venture formed by all 12 public sector banks. IDRBT is an RBI subsidiary while NeSL is a government entity. There is no question of the RBI raising an objection as there is no third party involved which is non-regulated. PSB Alliance is also a public sector entity, which will coordinate and be an aggregator, the official said. Auditors faced flak in the Satyam Computers case of 2009 after the company faked the balance certificates of banks. Today, auditors have to audit accounts that companies may have in 10 banks. A member of the auditors staff has to be sent to each branch for balance confirmation, which has high costs. The auditors cannot use a third party for this because it has no validity. However, if the auditors are able to get balance confirmations from an authenticated authority, as proposed in the portal, they need not visit each branch. Under the proposed system, there will be a regulatory set-up comprising ICAI, IBA, PSB Alliance and IDRBT or NeSL. As banks will take responsibility for balance confirmations, there will be no cost levied on auditors for obtaining balance confirmations. The system is expected to be beneficial to auditors as it will be highly efficient, reliable and have appropriate authentication, the official said.
India will not face any shortage of coal this year even during the monsoon, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday. No matter what is the demand this year, the government is prepared to meet the same, the minister said at a conference on underground coal mining here. "I assure the country on behalf of Coal India and the coal ministry that there will not be any shortage of coal even in the monsoon this time," he said. The preparation is good and it is "our responsibility" to meet the entire demand this year, Joshi said. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the event, the minister said while 35 million tonne (MT) coal is at thermal power plants, 65 MT is lying at pit heads of Coal India and private miners and another 10-12 MT is in various stages of transportation. On the movement of coal through rakes, Joshi said the ministry is working in close coordination with Railways for movement of the dry fuel from pit heads to locations. Earlier, the minister also unveiled Coal India's 'UG Vision Plan', which is a roadmap for achieving 100 MT production from CIL's underground mines by FY 2028. At present, Coal India produces around 28 MT coal from underground mines. Its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) alone contributes 11.5 MT coal from its 45 underground mines, Sanish Chandra, an official of SECL said.

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Indian states will aim to raise an aggregate of 173 billion Indian rupees ($2.09 billion) on Tuesday through the sale of bonds maturing in five years to 30 years. The Reserve Bank of India will likely set cutoff yields for the 10-year bonds in the 7.32%-7.35% band, according to a Reuters poll of 13 traders. Note Quantum (in bln Median Min Max rupees) 5-year 10 7.20% 7.18% 7.22% 6-7 year 13 7.28%-7.30% 7.26% 7.32% 8-10 year 40 7.32%-7.35% 7.31% 7.36% 14-30 year 110 7.32%-7.40% 7.30% 7.42%

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The Indian government recently banned the 14 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs, citing a lack of therapeutic justification and potential risks to individuals. FDCs are medications containing multiple active drug ingredients prescribed for specific diseases. One of the popular FDCs on the banned list is nimesulide+paracetamol, commonly used to alleviate pain associated with toothache, ear pain, joint pain, headache, menstrual cramps and fever. Another combination that has been banned is amoxicillin+bromhexidine, typically prescribed for lower respiratory tract infections. The ban particularly targeted drugs in the cough and cold segment, including combinations with codeine, an opioid pain reliever. The moves come against the backdrop of recent incidents of deaths linked to the use of cough syrups exported from India, which raised concerns about the scrutiny of Indian drug regulators and affected the reputation of Indian pharmaceutical companies. The ban will result in several popular over-the-counter drugs being removed from the market, including well-known cough syrups like Mankind's Codistar and Tedykoff, and Glenmark's Ascoril C. While the list also targets some drugs with sizeable market share, analysts do not see the ban causing much disruption in revenues for companies. "Among the companies that saw their drugs in the banned list, Alkem Laboratories, Mankind Pharma and Abbott India are likely to feel a 1-2 percent impact on their revenues," said Mitesh Shah, pharma research analyst at Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities. As for others like Cipla or Glenmark, the impact is unlikely to be materially significant, Shah added. He also pointed towards another roadblock that will be triggered by the drug ban. "As the DGCI (Drugs Controller General of India) turns more cautious of the FDC drugs available in the market, the ban is also expected to result in much tighter scrutiny in receiving drug approvals at the state level." Also Read: Govt bans 14 cocktail drugs for posing health risks, lack of therapeutic justification Bino Pathiparampil, head of research at Elara Capital, seconded the view that the drug ban will not have a material impact on many listed companies. However, he does believe that the move will have adverse implications for players that are unlisted. "Generally it is the unlisted players that have difficulties around safety and compliance when it comes to drug regulations. Listed companies tend to have their quality checks under control and, hence, the ban will not make things any more difficult for them," Pathiparampil added. Given that the recent news of people dying due to the use of Indian cough syrups has been also attributed to lapses at small, unlisted pharma companies, some analysts also believe that the step to tighten regulations is in the right direction. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Shares of Wonderla Holidays extended their gains to the fifth session and scaled a 52-week high in early trade on June 6. Sentiment for the stock has been running high, especially after the Tamil Nadu government waived off the Local Body Tax (LBT) for the company. The company has announced that the 10 percent Local Body Tax (LBT) will be waived off for a duration of 10 years starting from the commencement of commercial operations. However, it is important to note that this waiver is contingent upon the condition that commercial operations must begin within two years from June 2, 2023. The company anticipates initiating operations at the Chennai project as soon as possible, in order to maximise the benefits of the tax waiver. In five straight sessions, the stock has notched 15.5 percent gains. At 10:50 am, shares of Wonderla Holidays were trading at Rs 553.95, around 2 percent higher on the National Stock Exchange. The stock also hit a 52-week high of Rs 569.85 earlier in the session. Follow our live blog for all the market action The financials The company has a market capitalisation of Rs 3,129 crore. Wonderla Holidays also released a stellar set of quarterly numbers, which saw net sales jump 70.92 percent to Rs 98.60 crore in the March quarter. The quarterly net profit was at Rs 35.05 crore, reflecting a surge of 311.97 percent from Rs 8.51 crore in the same period a year ago. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has commenced work on designing a minimum assured returns scheme (MARS) under the National Pension System (NPS) architecture, and it will be rolled out in near future, PFRDA chairman Deepak Mohanty has said. The minimum assured returns scheme has been in the works for some time. It is very much on our agenda. Our statute also requires that we ought to offer this guarantee, Mohanty told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview. Also read: MC Exclusive: Govt-appointed panel will explore how NPS can be improved for its employees: PFRDA Chairman Deepak Mohanty However, if a guarantee is offered, the cost will go up too. At present, the low-cost structure is one of the key selling points of the NPS. The maximum investment management fee that pension fund managers can charge is 0.09 percent if the assets under management are less than Rs 10,000 crore. For the Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore slab, the charges are up to 0.06 percent, while the AUM bracket of Rs 50,000 crore to 1.5 lakh crore will attract charges of up to 0.05 percent. If assets under management are over Rs 1.5 lakh crore, the maximum charge allowed is 0.03 percent. Also read: NPS sees remarkable 650% growth in voluntary subscribers' AUM, outpacing other segments The low-cost pension funds are very thinly capitalised, because it's mostly a pass-through vehicle. If you bring in a guarantee, that will change. There will be additional capital and solvency requirements, besides the cost of guarantee, Mohanty said. The guaranteed return will have to be alluring enough to attract subscribers who might be risk-averse. You will have to provide a return which should look attractive to the market, he said. At the same time, costs and risks will have to be borne in mind. The risk, cost, and returns need to be balanced, Mohanty said. While work on designing the product is in progress, no specific deadline has been set for its rollout. It should fructify, but I cannot give a timeline. We should be able to come up with something in the near future, Mohanty added. The NPS was initially launched for central and state government employees on January 1, 2004. Subsequently, in 2009, it was offered to all individuals, whereby citizens could voluntarily contribute to build a retirement kitty and ensure regular pension income. As per PFRDA data as on May 27, 2023, since inception, pension funds have generated a 9.49 percent annualised returns under the central government scheme, while the state government scheme has delivered 9.35 percent returns. Its equity scheme  open to all Indian citizens  yielded 12.5 percent returns, while scheme C (corporate bonds) and scheme G (government securities) logged 9.26 percent and 8.84 percent returns, respectively, since inception.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it will conduct a three-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction for a notified amount of Rs 75,000 crore on June 6. This is the third back-to-back auction announced by the central bank in last three days. The auction will take place between 12:30pm and 1pm, the release said. The reversal of these funds will take place on June 9. The VRRR is usually undertaken to withdraw excess liquidity from the banking system. Liquidity in the banking system is estimated to be in surplus of around Rs 2.26 lakh crore. On Monday, the central bank conducted four-day VRRR auction for a notified amount of Rs one lakh crore. However, demand remained muted and the auction got partially subscribed. Banks parked Rs 66,640 crore at 6.49 percent cut-off rate at four-day auction. Prior to this, the central bank also conducted a 14-day VRRR auction for a notified amount of Rs 2 lakh crore but received a muted response from the banks, which parked only Rs 50,868 crore. In the April monetary policy review, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that in the period ahead, the Reserve Bank will remain flexible in meeting the productive requirements of the economy through two-way operations, as may be necessary.

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Hyderabad outshone Bengaluru with the highest new office supply in fiscal 2023 with almost 14.94 million square feet of office space getting added and accounting for a 31 percent share of the total supply in the top seven cities, according to a report by Anarock Research. Office supply completions in Hyderabad were 27 percent higher than in FY22. In contrast, Bengaluru saw approximately 12.66 mn sq ft of office supply completions, about 13 percent lower than the last fiscal. Bengaluru had a 26 percent share in total supply in top metros. NCR was close behind with around 8.82 mn sq ft office space completed in FY23  up by 52 percent annually. MMR saw a mere 4.18 mn sq ft of new office supply completed in FY23  down 46 percent from the previous fiscal. Office space absorption Net office absorption was highest in Bengaluru (approximately 9.88 mn sq ft), followed by NCR and Hyderabad with approximately 6.89 mn sq ft and 6.88 mn sq ft, respectively. In fiscal 2023, the average monthly rentals of Grade A office spaces pan-India reached Rs 79/sf  a 4 percent increase over FY22. This upward trend can be attributed largely to the escalation in input costs. MMR maintained its position as the most expensive office rental market, with monthly rentals soaring to Rs 132/sf. Bengaluru followed at Rs 85/sf, and NCR came third with rentals averaging at Rs 82/sf. On the other end of the spectrum, Kolkata had the lowest average office rentals in the current fiscal, with Rs 54/sf. Leading the pack with the highest year-on-year (yoy) increase in average office rental values were Pune and Bengaluru, with growth rates of 10 percent and 9 percent respectively. Hyderabad came next with a 7 percent yoy gain, and both MMR and NCR saw a 5 percent increase each. Dim outlook The robust growth seen in the office real estate market in the first half of FY23 was short-lived. The global slowdown in major economies of the world cast a shadow on the Indian office market in the second half. This trend is likely to continue in the near future. Major headwinds including layoffs by corporates and global recessionary trends will continue to mar office space growth in India, said Prashant Thakur, senior director and head  Research, Anarock Group. The currently depressed Indian office market may not improve till the first half of 2024. Many IT/ITeS companies have scaled down their business and are not looking to expand. Office markets across the top seven cities will thus remain muted in the remaining months of 2023 and early 2024. We expect some stability from the second half of 2024, depending on how the global economy shapes up, he said.
The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) has deregistered as many as 55 real estate projects across the state over the past three years, officials said, citing lack of demand and insufficient funds as the probable reasons. At least two applications for withdrawal of project registration are pending with the regulator, according to UPRERA officials. The largest number of deregistered projects was in Lucknow, where 12 projects were surrendered, according to information provided by UPRERA. That was followed by eight each in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Varanasi. Three projects each were located in Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Agra, Meerut and Mathura and two projects each were in Muzaffarnagar, Chaundali and Barabanki districts. One project each was in Kanpur City, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Unnao and Amroha. Also Read: MC Explains: Six things you need to know about proposed deregistration of 88 real estate projects in Maharashtra An UPRERA official said the first application for withdrawal of project registration was in Muzaffarnagar and the request was approved in July 2020. Projects not viable Since July 2020, as many as 55 projects were deregistered upon request by promotors across 17 districts of the state, an official of UPRERA told Moneycontrol, requesting anonymity. The latest project that was granted approval for withdrawal of registration was Artha Infratech and the authority gave approval for the request in March 2023. The official said two promoters have applied to surrender their projects in Ghaziabad and Lucknow. One of them, Mahagun (India), has asked to surrender its Mahagun Mascot Phase-II project in Crossings Republik township in Ghaziabad. Mahaguns application is being scrutinised. It is under process, the official said. There was no immediate response from the promoters of Mahagun and Artha Infratech. Officials said the reasons for withdrawal or surrender of registration of real estate projects could be lack of demand in the region, failure to generate the anticipated sales, or shortage of funds to complete the project. According to UPRERA officials, promoters can surrender their projects only after clearing all the dues or claims of investors and homebuyers. According to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, promoters can deregister or surrender projects if they are not viable. The promoter has to make a formal request to surrender the project and publish a public notice asking investors and homebuyers who booked apartments in the project to submit their claims so that they can be cleared. Also Read: UPRERA disposes of over 88% consumer complaints, most of them against promoters Officials said if no claim is submitted within the stipulated time, the process moves to the next level. The process ensures that the interests of all stakeholders, especially homebuyers, are protected.
As India Inc prioritises sustainability in its business models and moves towards more environmental, social and governance (ESG)-compliant, the need for talent is rising. Not just technical knowledge, companies in the renewable energy sector are looking for candidates for departments such as Business Development, Finance etc. Currently, there are close to 41,000 active jobs in the renewable energy sector, job platform foundits data showed. Top officials from Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL), Hero Future Energies, and Gautam Solar, among others, told Moneycontrol they are recruiting across verticals for experienced talent. However, hiring freshers to arrest attrition and women to increase diversity is also among the focus areas. While the power and energy sector has a major focus on renewable energy, some of the other industries which have soaring demand are construction, oil & gas, agriculture & dairy, consulting, and research. Hiring to drive growth In line with TPRELs plans for rapid expansion and new projects, it will double its workforce in the current fiscal year by hiring 2,500 people. The focus is on recruiting individuals with expertise in areas such as solar cell and solar module manufacturing, solar and wind project management, operations and maintenance, supply chain management, engineering and technology, as well as business development. Gautam Solar is currently looking to hire talented individuals for two specific job profiles. Firstly, as it is expanding its operations to 1 GW, the firm is looking for individuals with expertise in manufacturing for upcoming sites. ALSO READ | India Inc looks for talent from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and remote areas Secondly, with its plans for international expansion, the hunt is on for candidates with experience and knowledge in navigating global markets, understanding international business practices, and developing effective marketing strategies to promote the products and services globally. With our focus on renewable energy, we anticipate recruiting approximately 100 individuals for various roles in this sector. This will help us expand our capabilities and drive our commitment towards sustainable energy solutions, said Gautam Mohanka, MD of Gautam Solar. Skills in demand To meet the talent demand, companies are going heavy on the filtration process to identify the best among the rest. Depending on the role, Sekhar Garisa, CEO of foundit, said companies nowadays administer skills assessments or tests to evaluate candidates' technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge. He said strong technical knowledge and skills related to renewable energy technologies are essential. They include understanding the principles, operation, and maintenance of various renewable energy systems like solar PV, wind turbines, hydropower plants, and energy storage systems, along with policy and regulatory knowledge. AutoCAD is a must-have skill in engineering and design. Skills in data analysis, statistical modelling, and problem solving are valuable for optimising energy systems, identifying efficiency improvements, and making informed decisions. However, it is equally important for candidates to possess softer skills, including problem-solving abilities, logical reasoning and a passion for contributing to the renewable space and bringing societal impact, said Rajlaxmi Dubey, AVP, HR of Avaada Group, a green energy developer which plans to hire 250 people this year. Battling attrition and diversity gap India has the potential to create up to 35 million green jobs by 2047 across traditional and emerging sectors. However, it also highlighted that only 35 percent of working professionals were aware of the specific job roles or skill-building programmes for the green jobs. Besides, though the share of women in the renewable energy sector is high, compared to the overall energy sector, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2019 found that womens participation is much lower in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs (28 percent) than in administrative jobs (45 percent). Challenges with the renewable industry are high attrition due to demand-supply gap and lack of diversity in terms of gender, said Bhawna Kirpal Mital, Head of HR, Admin, IT & CSR at Hero Future Energies. ALSO READ | Why candidates remain confident of switching jobs despite recession fears With initiatives to hire more women employees, Hero Future Energies hiring strategy involves the participation of employees through an encouraging incentive scheme of Employee Referral. TPRELs recent recruitment drive for women operators, in collaboration with the Tirunelveli district administration, attracted over 5,000 candidates across various educational streams, including BSc, BTech, Diploma, ITI and 12th Std. The Tata firm was able to select around 1,000 women for operator-level training.
A man on parole who pointed a gun at police officers during a foot chase pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced.

William A. Fugate, 33, of Buffalo, faces a maximum of seven years in prison when he returns for sentencing July 31 before County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. He continues to be held without bail.

Prosecutors said the incident occurred after Fugate fled from the back seat of a vehicle stopped by Buffalo Police at Northland Avenue and Lonsdale Road after it made an illegal U-turn at about 10:25 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2019.

Officers shot Fugate after they saw him point a gun at them while he was running away. He was found hiding in a yard and was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center, where he was treated for four bullet wounds in his side.

Officers recovered an illegal pistol at the scene. An investigation by the District Attorney's Office determined that the use of force by police was appropriate.
We started off small in 2021. Today we have more than 50,000 users across the globe and 60 percent of our business comes from the US, says Vishal Virani, founder of Dhiwise, a programming platform where developers can convert their designs into developer-friendly code for mobile and web apps. I got inspired by Girish (Mathrubootham, founder and CEO of Freshworks). How he built the entire community sitting in Chennai and went for a US listing. It had a trailblazing effect Im building my playbook in a similar manner. We are, in fact, the first company in Surat to have grabbed the attention of VCs like Accel and Together fund, says Virani. Those who visit Surat will quickly notice that it is a hub for many things. To name just two, it is the world's largest diamond manufacturing centre; it is also a textile powerhouse, home to Indias largest synthetic fabric market. And now, inspired by the brilliant minds in the southern jewel that is Chennai, it is fast becoming a hub for Software as a Service (SaaS) startups, home to entrepreneurs such as Virani. Local talent Data sourced from Tracxn shows that Surat has more than 2,530 startups, of which 164 are SaaS-based startups offering services such as financial management, export-import management and cloud-based solutions. Together, they have raised nearly $224 million so far. Among the prominent SaaS startups in the city are Dhiwise, Trezix, Ezee, VideoSDK and Wishbook. They have clients in markets stretching from Gujarat and Chennai, to the UK and the US. In all, some of these fledgling companies employ about 150-200 people. Many of these employees are graduates of the local National Institute of Technology, so the companies do not have to cast a wide net to draw in developers. Inspired by Chennai The first SaaS startups in India were outsourcing services such as Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). The success of Zoho and Freshworks, the posterboys of the SaaS industry, fostered the belief that an Indian company could build for global markets from India. Many top executives from Zoho and Freshworks left to start up on their own. Chennai became their hub and is home to more than 1,132 such startups today, according to data from research agency Tracxn. Indeed, this prowess has earned the city the sobriquet SaaS capital of India. Chennai certainly played a part in inspiring Virani, who attended a SaaS community event in the city. The event was organised by SaaSBOOMi, an industry body representing founders and product builders shaping the SaaS ecosystem, which was conceived by Mathrubootham and other SaaS entrepreneurs. Virani returned home, shared his takeaways and encouraged others to attend such events. In 2022 there were 12 people who accompanied me. In 2023, it was 25, and the number will keep growing. Im seeing a lot of interest, he says. Today, he heads the Surat chapter of SaaSBOOMi. Avinash Raghava agrees. Mark my words. In the next 5-10 years, the next Zoho and Freshworks kind of a company is going to be coming from Surat and other smaller tier III and IV cities like Rajkot or Bhopal, says Raghava, who is the CEO of SaaSBOOMi and former managing partner of the SaaS-focussed Together Fund. The Gujarati way These guys are very smart, they understand how a business works. They don't understand the VC business; they only know that there is X amount of money going into the investment, there is some profit, and I must make this profitable, says Raghava. A SaaS founder offering products in HR services seems to epitomise that assessment by Raghava. I have a very Gujarati mindset.I dont know much about many finance metrics but all I know is that I need to make profits in the business that I do. And I do make profits, consistent ones, says this founder, on condition of anonymity. He claims that his company is closing in on a funding round and presently reports an Annualised Revenue Run Rate of (ARR) of $6 million. As with any business in Gujarat, costs are watched closely. If you need $10 million to build a company from Bengaluru, we can build it in $1 million. The real estate is very cheap, says Dhiwises Virani. For Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, you will get a rockstar software programmer in a city like Surat, but the same guy in Bengaluru will cost you Rs 2-3 lakh. That's the kind of difference, added Raghava. A leg up Industry associations also played a role in putting Surat on the SaaS map. In 2018 and 2019 industry bodies started emphasising the importance of startups and started conducting events here in Surat. TiE events started happening in Gujarat and Surat, says Vipul Kapoor, Cofounder of Ezee Technologies, which offers a suite of products, including eZee FrontDesk, a desktop-based hotel management solution. We did a small session on marketing back in 2010 and for the first time I saw a founder coming from Rajkot to Bengaluru. It was really fascinating for me; many didnt even know where that city was, recalls Raghava of SaaSBOOMi. The efforts began to pay off. Once people started seeing our metrics, we started seeing huge traction. Sequoia, Accel and others want to invest here. I have many DMs (direct messages) in my LinkedIn approaching me to understand the company and invest here. In the past two years things have changed, says a Surat-based founder. Since 2018, however, some startups in Surat have been moving beyond SaaS converting the SaaS offerings into products which has helped firms in clocking more profits. We started as a SaaS company and transformed to a SaaP firm as it is more profitable, says Kapoor of Ezee. Tapping local industries Unlike the SaaS startups in Chennai, which largely target global enterprises, the ones in Surat also cater to traditional industries locally. Indeed, many SaaS products or services in Surat are solving for the traditional textile or diamond industry. Traditional industries are looking at modernisation or digitalisation. For example, there is a SaaS product built for textile manufacturers to manage their warehouses and other needs. The diamond industry is also undergoing a transformation. Many startups started building SaaS products for these traditional industries, says Arjun Kava, CEO of VideoSDK, which enables developers to easily build live audio-visual experiences on any platform. It was founded in 2021. TreZix Software Private Limited is a SaaS company digitising the import-export process for SMEs and automating collaboration with stakeholders. Surat is like an ignition. There are large manufacturing companies ready to give you business and you can literally start from there and scale up. You will get a very quick validation here, says Haresh Calcuttawala, the companys cofounder. Local talent pool Just as IIT Madras and many leading engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu played a pivotal role in producing talent for deep-tech and SaaS firms in Chennai, many founders say that Surat-based Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) university has played a big role in creating a talent pool for the citys startups. NIT has got really good students. AI/ML and next-gen knowledge and other latest tech are taught in this college, says TreZix's Calcuttawala. But the talent isnt just local. Software engineers from Mumbai and Pune, and astonishingly, even some from Bengaluru, have shifted to Surat and are currently working from there. A large amount of talent from Gujarat moved to Pune and Mumbai before the pandemic and they all came back to their hometowns. The engineering talent wanted to settle in Surat or Ahmedabad. In the last four years, the standard of learning has improved, with colleges in Saurashtra, Ahmedabad and Surat doing well, Kava added. Trezixs Calcuttawala says the sense of community makes Surat different from other SaaS hubs. The entrepreneurship here is very different. The Community plays a larger role than competition. Professional rivalry is also not very big. Right from help with financials, networking, sourcing and others, I can depend on another founder, he says. Challenges aplenty Visibility is still a major challenge that SaaS startups in Surat face. Consequently, funding has been hard to come by, even in 2021, when it was in free flow. We struggled to raise our first rounds, we had more than 40 rejections to be honest. Finally, India Quotient gave a seed round and then we got selected for Accel Atoms (an accelerator programme). That gave us great exposure, recalls Virani. Only a few startups could attract investors. The first few investments were local in many of the startups. The first believers were those who had worked with founders already. However, we need a huge mindset change among investors, says Kava. Some investors have made that shift. Today, venture capital firms such as Accel, India Quotient, Together Fund and Upekkha are willing to bet on enterprises from smaller towns. Many Tier-2 cities, especially those with strong IT services and freelance IT developers, are picking up. We have founders building in Jabalpur, Indore, Raipur, Chandigarh, says Krishnamoorthy of Upekkha. Another challenge is the lack of understanding about government initiatives and schemes. The only thing that is limiting is the lack of knowledge  many firms dont know about these initiatives and programmes, says Kava. Again, while there is enough developer and engineering talent, management-level talent is still hard to come by. We can get engineering talent but for GTM (go-to-market) or management, talent, it is a little difficult. We are hiring from Delhi and Bengaluru, says Virani. To be sure, Surat has made a decent beginning. But it still has a long way to go to match Chennai.
Private equity firm WestBridge Capital has picked up a majority stake in Tamil Nadu-based fruits and vegetable retail chain KPN Farm Fresh, sources said, as it seeks to double down on its bets in the India consumption and retail theme. KPN, which stands for Kovai Pazhamudhir Nilayam, is one of Tamil Nadus most ubiquitous fruit and vegetable retail chains. Its rise from a single pushcart in Coimbatore to a thriving business that is still run by a family is the stuff of entrepreneurial legend and tenacity. Moneycontrol learns that the deal values KPN at Rs 800 crore, with WestBridge picking up a nearly 70 percent stake in an all-cash deal for about Rs 550-600 crore. The remaining 30 percent will stay with the promoters, and Senthil Natarajan, the current Managing Director, will continue to the run the operations. The chain is said to have revenues of Rs 400 crore and is profitable. While it currently has stores across Tamil Nadu, it is looking to expand in other southern states as well. The deal was concluded a few weeks ago. A market source said Veda Corporate Advisors were advisors for the transaction. While WestBridge and Veda did not respond to queries, KPN MD Senthil Natarajan said he had no comments to offer. KPNs journey began in the 1960s in Coimbatore when Senthils father R Natarajan, the second of four brothers, dropped out of school to sell fruits with his older brother, to support his family, after losing their father, who was the only income producer. The two brothers used his savings to open his first store in the year 1965, with an investment of Rs 300. The shop was named Pazhamudhir Nilayam. It pioneered the concept of fair, fixed prices and sold items by their weight instead of by the dozen. The two brothers, also initially, sold fruit juice, when they saw a slump in sales. The juice was however, just pulp with no added water and thus it attracted customers to eventually buy fruits, according to a report by The News Minute, which profiled the two brothers. In 2012, they formally established KPN Farm Fresh with 60 percent stake in the company, while the balance was distributed among partners in existing KPN outlets, according to another media report. The company has one 20,000 square feet warehouse in Coimbatore and another 1.5 lakh square feet warehouse located in Vanagaram, on the outskirts of Chennai, according to The Weekend Leader report. WestBridge Capitals move, meanwhile, to buy a majority stake in KPN Farm Fresh comes at a time when the private equity firm, one of the most active startup investors in India, has slowed the pace of deploying capital, amid deteriorating macroeconomic climate. The PE has just participated in one deal so far this year while it invested in 25 companies in 2022. But, the private equity firm has a few consumer technology companies dealing in the food and beverages space on its portfolio like VnF and Fraazo on its portfolio. According to sources WestBridge is also close to investing in Milky Mist, one of the largest manufacturers of dairy products.
As the battle between tech titans to gain market share in the artificial intelligence (AI) business intensifies, Microsoft is leaving no stone unturned to maintain its current lead and early-mover advantage due to its collaboration with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. It looks like Microsoft has spotted another startup to align with early on, as it continues to scout for enterprise-level AI capabilities to enhance its products. Microsoft recently acquired stake in London-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup Builder.AI, and entered into a strategic partnership to deploy its bot Natasha.ai on Teams. This comes barely two months after Microsoft launched its AI assistant Copilot for all Office 365 apps and services, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Business Chat. So why add another AI bot. Builder.ai offers AI-based solutions to develop applications that require limited to no coding, for businesses. Its solution helps clients develop apps faster and at a lower cost. But as an AI assistant, Natasha.ai has a very different use case. Builder.AIs founder and chief wizard Sachin Dev Duggal strongly feels that it makes sense for Microsoft to adopt Natasha.ai along with Copilot. We have an internal project called Hummingbird, which is designed on how Natasha can be right at the edge where conversations are happening between teams in an enterprise. So you could be in a team that looks at warehouses and you're talking about a problem. Natasha can tell you that a warehouse scanner might help resolve the issue, says Duggal. For instance, if there are five warehousing teams globally in a company, Natasha would know if the person is in the New Delhi team, and inform him in case the Tokyo warehousing team has already developed an app that largely addresses his issue. The Delhi team can just add a couple of features (if required) to the same app and be in the market in three weeks, he adds. All of such conversations on Teams can be tracked by Natasha for the right solutions, besides other use-cases. In comparison, Copilot, which is also available on Teams, is more of a productivity enhancement tool used for tasks like taking notes, etc., said Duggal. While Microsoft got a headstart in deploying AI for its Bing search engine as well as Office 365, at the recent annual developer conference Google I/O, its rival also announced an AI-infused auto email composing feature and search engine. The search giant also unveiled Bard, which competes with ChatGPT. There are other AI tools that are also gaining prominence among enterprise clients, such as Bedrock and DALL-E. Bedrock is a service that helps build generative AI applications on Amazon's cloud computing platform. OpenAIs Dall-E is a generative AI technology that enables users to create images with text prompts. Despite its leadership in productivity tools among enterprise clients, Microsofts Teams still faces competition from Zoom and Google Meet, besides others. Hence, it is imperative for the company to accelerate the adoption of AI to boost its customers productivity. Funding and expansion Founded in 2016 by Duggal, Builder.ai has till date raised $450 million. In May, the startup had raised a $250-million Series D round led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), with participation from Iconiq Capital, Jungle Ventures, and Insight Partners. Around 35-45 percent of the fresh capital will be used for R&D, and the rest will be ploughed into market expansion. Builder.ai is also looking at geographical expansion and potential mergers and acquisitions. Duggal said the companys key markets include India, Singapore, the GCC, the US; and the UK, where it plans to expand further. In India, the startup has its offices in the Delhi-NCR area. Speaking of the scope of the partnership with Microsoft, Duggal said, Microsoft is a special partner for us, where there is a shared vision for the product, technology, and go-to market. At present, Builder.ai is working towards its plan to enable building 77 apps per hour by 2030. The focus for us is to get more customers that need less knowledge around building apps, and get them to be more productive by supporting them with software, he said. Dangers of AI As the startup ecosystem globally is riding on the buzz and promise of AI and ChatGPT, around $1.7 billion was raised by generative AI startups in the first quarter of 2023, according to PitchBook. Another $10.68 billion worth of deals were announced in the same quarter but are yet to be completed. Microsoft too had announced a $10 billion infusion into OpenAI in January. Amid a funding winter and cut in tech spends due to macroeconomic uncertainties, AI has become a sunrise segment for both venture capital firms and IT services companies. But the extent of its risks and dangers are yet to be estimated. Also, whether this trend is here to stay or will it become a fading fad like the metaverse remains to be seen. While top Indian and international IT services companies are developing generative AI-related offerings for their clients, Duggal advises caution. We are still early. I feel enterprises are just starting to flirt with the use of AI for productivity. If it's anything more than productivity, it could be a little dangerous. Because companies don't fully understand the impact (of AI), Duggal said. He added, The SI (IT systems integration and services) companies most definitely do not understand the impact of AI. But they're selling it as a shiny, new toy just to get a few more Dollars from clients. Not only is this dangerous, its also a little irresponsible. Examples of what could go wrong with generative AI that could be replicating a politicians voice, creating fake social media posts, etc., added Duggal. (Note: This copy has been updated to reflect Builder.AIs responses after Moneycontrol published the story earlier today.)
Indoco Remedies shares were trading with marginal gains in the early business hours on June 6 after the company's board cleared its acquisition of 85 percent equity stake in FPP Holding Company. Indoco Remedies has acquired 85 percent of equity stake in the US-based FPP Holding Company, LLC for $4 million from Contract Pharmacal Corp. FPP Holding is the holding company of Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC, and engaged in marketing and distribution of generic pharmaceutical products in the US. The strategic investment by Indoco marks a significant milestone, solidifying its position as a key player in the US market. Catch all the market action on our live blog This development will facilitate exchange of knowledge and best practices, further enhancing the overall competitiveness and growth potential of both organizations. Leveraging FPP's well-established distribution network, Indoco will have a greater reach and accessibility to a wider US customer base, said Aditi Panandikar, Managing Director  Indoco Remedies. The companys Clinical Research Organisation, AnaCipher, located in Hyderabad, was inspected by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in July 2022. The regulator has confirmed that no objectionable conditions were observed during their remote assessment, the company said in a June 4 statement. At 9:24am, Indoco Remedies was quoting at Rs 335.00, up Rs 1.45, or 0.43 percent on the BSE. The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 423.10 and a 52-week low of Rs 307 on January 2, 2023 and April 26, 2023, respectively. It is trading 20.82 percent below its 52-week high and 9.12 percent above its 52-week low.

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La Opala RG share price gained over 2 percent on June 6, a day after Nippon India Mutual Fund bought 18.82 lakh shares or 1.69 percent stake in the tableware company at an average price of Rs 399.05 per share. Malabar India Fund was the seller of the block. At 12 pm, La Opala was quoting at Rs 412 on the NSE, higher by 2.2 percent from previous close. The stock was up 4 percent on June 5 as well. Follow our live blog for all the market action Apart from Nippon India MF, other fund houses that have a stake in the company include ICICI Prudential MF, DSP MF, HDFC MF and Whiteoak Capital. For the quarter ended March 2023, La Opala reported a 52 percent year-on-year increase in net profit at Rs 29 crore. Revenue grew 21 percent to Rs 109 crore in the quarter. Meanwhile, operating margin increased 100 basis points to 37 percent. Monarch Network Capital, that has a Buy rating La Opala at Rs 570, said, We believe the brand La Opala remains extremely strong and the companys strategy to add new retail touch points and focus on improving visibility (aggressive marketing spends continue) is likely to keep growth going. The report further said that La Opala has recently started with the distribution of Borosilicate glass and has received a positive response. This is expected to raise their spending on brand building. Till the new furnace reaches peak utilisation, margins could be impacted, it added. La Opala's peak margins are at 40 percent. The stock is up 5 percent in 2023 so far. The stock touched a 52-week high of Rs 433 on 14 November 2022. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Those who visit New Delhi can witness India's vibrant democracy, the White House said on June 5, dismissing concerns about the state of democracy in the country. A state visit by the Prime Minister to the United States is scheduled for later this month. "India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference here. "Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," Kirby said in response to a question. Kirby said India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels. "You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he said. "I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.
Today is the fifth day of the Odisha train tragedy. The post-accident story has unfolded fast. Extraordinary camaraderie and cooperation of union government, state government and common man has ensured resumption of train operation at the site within 52 hours. The action has now shifted. One, to the crucial task of saving over 250 injured passengers undergoing treatment in hospitals in Odisha, more specifically at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack where over 200 injured are admitted. Two, to the impossible task of preventing bodies from decay and decomposition at morgues (permanent and makeshift). Attempts to claim ownership of unidentified deceased is on, because of the higher ex gratia to the dead. Even bodies that are identified must wait for the complex medico-legal process to be completed. Inquiries, Politics, Root Causes Three, at Delhi, where a political slugfest has begun even before the mandatory submission of the Chief Commissioner Railway Safetys (CCRS) statutory inquiry report and the police inquiry report by the Government Rail Police (GRP) Odisha. Like what happens in the aftermath of a major railway accident, the opposition parties want the head of the Union railways minister, as if it is a panacea that will prevent future mishaps. As regards the railway minister, he has overnight stumbled upon the root cause of the accident (change of electronic interlocking and points) and persons responsible for having caused it. With the minister having publicised the cause of the accident, the Railway Board has, unsurprisingly, recommended an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to nab the culprits. When will the focus shift to root causes of railway accidents like problems with track, bridges, signalling and rolling stock? But the storys not over yet. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking a direction to the central government for setting up an inquiry commission to probe the cause of the train accident. The PIL seeks an expert inquiry commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court and consisting of technical members to analyse and review the risk and safety parameters in the railway system and to suggest systematic safety modifications for strengthening railway safety mechanisms. Appalling Track Record Notwithstanding the bold statement of the railway minister, two days is too short a time frame for the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to conduct an inquiry and submit the report (preliminary and final) through the Chief CRS (CCRS) to the Railway Board. Further, going by the past track record, instead of months, years pass without an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the CRS Inquiry Report. And hardly any meaningful action is taken. Thereafter, it is business as usual till the next accident happens. Moreover, the Railways ministry has already ruled out any fault of the loco pilot of Coromandel Express and failure of signals. It suspects or rather seems to be certain of sabotage and has recommended investigation by CBI. The recommendation has been accepted by the CBI and the probe has started. A question arises as to why a CBI inquiry without waiting for the CRS report? Possibly, the government might have reasons which a layman like me does not know. A CBI inquiry may be good to deflect initial pressure. Also, CBI is the apex crime investigation body and definitely has a better track record than state police forces but if the experience of the CBI investigation of the 2010 Gyaneshwari Express accident is anything to go by, a CBI probe may not yield the best result. Relatives of many missing victims of the Gyaneshwari Express are yet to get compensation nor have the guilty been punished. What Next? A judicial commission under the Commission of Enquiry Act, headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice, with clear terms of reference and fixed time-frame would have been preferable, given the gravity of the disaster. But the rational me would vote for Indian Railways to distil the pearls of wisdom lying in reports of various safety committees like the Kunzru Committee (1962), Wanchoo Committee (1968), Sikri Committee (1978), Khanna Committee (1998) and more recently the Dr Anil Kakodkar Committee (2012), and implement them within a fixed timeframe. My final take: Pause before accelerating. If need be, sacrifice speed and punctuality and first fix line capacity, track, rolling stock, signalling and communication. A clear message  Safety First  has to go down the ranks. By adding more trains on the same infrastructure year after year, Indian Railways has surrendered the little safety margin it had in maintenance. Akhileshwar Sahay is President (Advisory Services), BARSYL. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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The brand-new Parliament building was inaugurated with a lot of ceremony and fanfare inviting a lot of media attention. A large chunk of the opposition boycotted the event as they felt that the President and Vice President of India should have been part of the grand inauguration ceremony. Three important implications of the unveiling of a new platform for deliberations of the most authentic chambers that represent the popular will of the people of the country, merit elaboration. Firstly, this important landmark in the history of Indian democracy is truly a moment of celebration. It was aimed at representing the dawn of a new phase of Indias democratic politics. The Importance Of Consensus Ideally, this celebration should have been marked by a consensus across the political spectrum. Such a consensus could well have been possible if a core philosophical underpinning of democratic politics  consultation rather than information, had been practised in both letter and more importantly, in spirit. As a nation, we have been consistently maintaining that our historical roots and philosophy have been rooted in an approach of "taking along all sections of society and opinion". This has been our cultural heritage and legacy. One would have hoped that in organising an event of this significance, a process of consultation among all stake-holders had been initiated so that a sense of ownership for a decision on the way forward for inaugurating a new platform for democratic deliberations was truly in place. The Numbers Anxieties Secondly, the new-grand chambers for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha provide for an expanded capacity for seating. The Lok Sabha can accommodate 888 members (its current strength is 545) and the Rajya Sabha can seat 384 members (its present strength being 250). This permits just over a one-thirds increase in the strength of the two houses of Parliament. For quite some time now, there has been a debate on the need to increase the strength of the two houses. If this was to be taken forward there would be a major challenge that awaits us. The 84th Amendment to the Constitution mandates that this exercise could be done after 2026 based on the population figures as per the latest Census. If the distribution of seats across the country were to be done on the basis of the latest Census figures, it would have important implications. The proportion of seats that have been reasonably successful in population control measures through the 1980s and 1990s would see a drop in their share of seats. On the other hand, those states which have been less successful in limiting population growth would be assigned a larger proportion of seats. An important consequence would be the proportion of seats for states in South India may actually reduce and the states of North and Central India would be the key beneficiaries. Strictly going by the logic of numbers, this would be a fair requirement in a democratic polity. Prudence On Delimitation Yet, democracies also need to take into account political realities and their implications. Is the better route to follow the one adopted in the last delimitation exercise? The proportion of seats allotted to every state remained the same while the internal boundaries of Lok Sabha seats in each state underwent a change to ensure that there was parity in numbers within a state though there were differences across states. As this decision on increasing the number of seats is made, would it be prudent to maintain the equilibrium across states by retaining the current percentage share of seats of each state? This would be an important decision that needs to be made and is best resolved if decisions were made on the basis of consultation, deliberation and arriving at a consensus. No Debate, Only Disruption Thirdly, with a new and modern Parliament building, the question arises whether the spotlight of attention should also be on the nature and quality of deliberations of the two houses. How important do members of the two houses see their role within the House in terms of participating in its deliberations? A few facts merit attention here. For the past two years, all the sessions of the Lok Sabha have been adjourned much in advance of the scheduled day that the sessions were to conclude. In the last two years (2021 and 2022), save for the budget session, the other sessions have seen the Lok Sabha deliberating for much shorter periods of time, thanks to the repeated adjournment of the house. In 2023, even the budget session saw a curtailment of the deliberations on account of protests and frequent disruptions of proceedings. The monsoon sessions have been the most badly hit in 2021 and 2022 with the Lok Sabha meeting for only 21 percent of the scheduled time in 2021 and 47 percent in 2022. The winter session of the Lok Sabha also saw close to one fourth of its time being lost in disruptions in 2021. Given the above facts, the question that arises is whether the highest deliberative bodies of peoples representatives are actually making full use of the time available to them for discussing issues of concern of the electorate that they represent? A modern sophisticated chamber with state-of-the-art facilities is very much needed for the highest deliberating body of the peoples representatives. Yet, the question needs to be asked  have past records indicated that Parliament has put its time for deliberations to the best use? If the seat of deliberative democracy is to function with vigour and vitality, we would need to address the above three questions and arrive at a meaningful and fair consensus. That would truly do justice to the new structure we have created and represents the `peak of deliberations` in our democratic polity. Sandeep Shastri is Director, NITTE Education Trusts, Bengaluru, and National Coordinator, Lokniti Network. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
In a way, this says it all: Just as the Ukrainians finally appear to be launching their long-expected counteroffensive against the Russian invaders, the latter preempt the former with another war crime. Theyve blown up a huge dam that blocks the Dnipro. The floodwaters will deluge several villages and maybe a city. The attack will probably also put a hydroelectric power plant out of commission. It may even compromise the cooling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant just up the river. Is this fair game? There are different ways to answer this question, none of them satisfying. You can start with the inner logic or illogic of warfare, the long history of such tactics, or international law. But however you choose to look at these Russian detonators, theyre hardly comparable to Britains dambusters of 1943. Those dambusters  in what was called Operation Chastise, later heroised on the big screen  were fighting a World War against the Third Reich, which had started the conflict by invading much of the continent. So the British tried to take out dams on rivers in Germanys prime industrial area, and factories that powered the Nazi war machine. More than a thousand civilians were killed, whereas the strategic value of Chastise is still debated. Morally and legally, however, the operation can be justified in the context of the war and Holocaust being waged at that time. Especially in places defined by rivers, like Ukraine and its Dnipro, the manipulation of floodwaters has always been popular as a tactic. In Mesopotamia (the land between rivers), Cyrus the Great took Babylon in one night by diverting the Euphrates. Seventeen centuries later, the Mongol conqueror Hulagu used the flood waters of the Tigris for victory there. More than seven centuries hence again, in the 1980s, the Iranians bombed Iraqi dams. The most recent to target them was the Islamic State. The worst modern dam attack was launched by the defending side in its own country. In 1938, Chinese Nationalists fighting Japanese invaders blew up the dikes holding back the Yellow River. Hundreds of thousands of civilians died, either by drowning or losing drinking water and shelter. The breach slowed the Japanese advance, but didnt stop it. On it goes, with almost every major belligerent using the tactic at some point or another  the Americans bombed dams in North Korea and North Vietnam, for instance, and again in Syria in 2017. As a weapon, water is both obvious and frightening. But is it ethical, or even legal? As ever when lawyers are involved, that question leads to frustrating quagmires of fine print. The oldest answers come from so-called customary international law, which derives from established practices among states rather than the written words in treaties. It acknowledges that bombing dams may be fair game (as in the case of Operation Chastise, in my opinion) when the targets have military importance, as long as the consequences for civilians are proportionate. The first international treaties dealing with attacks on dams were the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1977. They stipulate that dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations, shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives, if such attack may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population. (Emphasis added.) Note the telling conflation of floodwater and nuclear radiation in the protocol. These two hell scenarios have much in common, in that a belligerent can take out a target with ambiguous military relevance  the dam on the Dnipro or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant  and kill, harm and terrorise vast numbers of civilians in the vicinity. In that sense, dams and nuclear stations make perfect targets for the least scrupulous. That would be Russian President Vladimir Putin. Throughout his murderous assault on Ukraine, hes threatened to turn the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station into a second Chernobyl, or even to launch nuclear weapons. Reading him the finer points of the Geneva Conventions (to which Russia is a signatory) feels a bit like singing Kumbaya to Sauron. All the more reason why Ukraine must defeat him, and the West must help. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg
The Town of Tonawanda police officer badly injured while he was dragged during a traffic stop has been released from the hospital, officials said Monday, while new court records reveal more about the investigation into what happened.

Officer David Piatek was discharged last week from Erie County Medical Center.

"We start out by thanking everyone for their prayers last week as he and his family dealt with this trauma," Town Supervisor Joseph Emminger told The Buffalo News.

Emminger asked the community to keep the officer in their thoughts because, he said, "He's obviously not out of the woods yet."

Suspect in hit-and-run of Tonawanda officer has 3 other criminal cases pending The 19-year-old suspect in the hit-and-run of a Town of Tonawanda police officer that left the officer badly injured was allegedly driving a stolen Kia. According to prosecutors, it's far from the first time the man has been accused of a crime.

The two-year department veteran was injured about 8 p.m. May 29, police and prosecutors say, when the driver of a stolen SUV that Piatek had stopped at Sheridan Parkside Drive, near Pyle Court, sped off while Piatek was speaking to the driver and his passenger. Piatek clung to the door of the speeding vehicle, urging the driver to stop, before he was thrown onto the road, authorities said.

Documents obtained Monday from Tonawanda Town Court reveal more about the incident and how police found the two people now charged.

Police said the vehicle Piatek stopped after it drove through a red light was stolen at 3:45 a.m. that day from a driveway on Main Street in East Aurora.

The 2019 Kia Sportage SUV was worth about $30,000 and had a $200 bridesmaid's dress and $70 cash inside, the owner told East Aurora/Town of Aurora police just after 7 a.m.

Town of Tonawanda police arrested Dareious T. Akbar, 19, of Buffalo, on May 30 after sending a photo of the driver to a Buffalo police lieutenant, who said he recognized Akbar from previous encounters, most recently in February.

Akbar is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault upon a police officer, assault and criminal possession of stolen property and also is charged in several other pending criminal cases.

The woman police identified as Akbar's passenger, Mariah Pietrangeli, also 19, of Lewiston, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Town police took a statement from Pietrangeli's mother in which she identified her daughter, on a video shown to her by investigators, sitting next to a friend the mother referred to as "Dirk."

Second person in vehicle that dragged and injured Tonawanda officer is charged Town of Tonawanda Police say Mariah Pietrangeli, 19, of Lewiston, was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Dareious Akbar, 19, of Buffalo, that dragged and injured Officer David Piatek on Monday.

The mother said this friend had come to their home several times in the past few months. She told detectives she later learned his full name when she saw Dareious Akbar's mug shot in a news article following his arrest.

The mother said Pietrangeli is likely to face charges in Niagara County stemming from another stolen-car incident and expressed hope her daughter can get the structured support she needs.

"If there is a way to mandate she gets this kind of help I don't think she would be getting into things like this," the mother stated.

Piatek was discharged on Wednesday, according to ECMC, welcome news for members of the town police union. The Town of Tonawanda Police Club in a Facebook post on Thursday thanked everyone who reached out to help Piatek, his family and fellow officers.

"You all made a very difficult time a little easier and we appreciate the continued support," the post read.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has launched a protest against the Congress-led Karnataka government for raising the power tariff by Rs 2.89 per unit, accused the state-ruling party of "betraying" the public mandate. "Congress promised to give 200 units of free electricity in Gruha Jyothi Yojana, but instead of delivering on their promise, they let the electricity prices increase," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said. Tejasvi Surya, the saffron party's Lok Sabha MP from South Bengaluru, said the Congress' policy of cross-subsidisation will hurt the state's economy in the long-run. "Congress' latest betrayal - After promising 200 units of free electricity, CM Sri @siddaramaiah has hiked price of one unit of electricity by Rs 2.89. Their cross subsidization model will not work in the long run & will only make cost of living dearer for citizens (sic)," Surya tweeted. The hiked fare will be applied on electricity readings above the 200 units. For those consuming less than 200 units of power per month, the electricity bills will be waived off from July 1, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said earlier today, as he rolled out the Gruha Jyoti' scheme. "We will provide free power (up to 200 units) to those living in rented accommodation as well. Poor people who consume less than 200 units of power will not have to pay the bills," he said. "This (scheme) will be applicable to the tenants, Siddaramaiah told reporters here.We will provide free power (up to 200 units) to those living in rented accommodation as well," the chief minister added. Siddaramaiah also clarified that this scheme was not applicable for commercial usage. The 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme was one of the 5 guarantees promised by the Congress ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. Reacting to BJP's protest against the power tariff hike as well as the state government's decision to revisit the anti-cow slaughter law enacted by the then Yediyurappa government, Siddaramaiah sought to know "what moral right" the opposition party has to protest. The chief minister accused the BJP of "plundering" the state when in power and bringing a bad name to the state. According to Siddaramaiah, the BJP, which held power in the outgoing assembly, did not fulfill any of its election promises such as 10 hours free power, waiving farm loans and spending Rs 1.5 lakh crore on irrigation. Charging the BJP with finding fault with the pro-people measures, the CM said, "These people (BJP) are anti-people party. They looted and indulged in bribery when they were in power, brought a bad name to the state and then left. What to say when they come to preach us?" Meanwhile, the BJP's protest against the hike in power tariff by Rs 2.89 per unit and state Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh's remark over the anti-cow slaughter law, entered the second day. Protests took place in different parts of the state including Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Davangere. Protests took place in different parts of the state including Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Davangere. (With PTI inputs)
Several universities in Australia have decided to place restrictions on applications of students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir over alleged submission of fraudulent documents and high rate of dropouts, The Print reported. Every year, Australia enrolls a massive number of Indian students, which in 2023 is reportedly set to surpass the previous high of 75,000 in 2019. This, however, comes as Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales recently joined the list of universities that decided not to take in Indian students from these states. The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs, Federation University's letter to agents as accessed by The Sydney Morning Herald said. It added it is clear that a trend is emerging but it hopes this would be a short-term issue. Western Sydney University also told agents that they must not enroll students from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat as most of the Indian students who began the courses in 2022 dropped out. The university has observed a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from some Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs, the letter to agents sent earlier this month stated. Earlier this year, five other universities in Australia -- Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, University of Wollongong, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University -- announced that they would be restricting applications of Indian students, especially those applying from Punjab and Haryana in response to a surge in fraudulent applications seeking to work, and not study, in the country, Australian media reported. Meanwhile, the Australian High Commission in India told The Print that they were unaware of restrictions being imposed by Australian universities on Indian students. Australian universities have the authority to make their own decisions on recruitment or admission, which may affect their intake from certain regions. The Australian High Commission is not aware of any institutions that currently restrict access for students from these regions, the communication read. The Australian government does not place bans on applicants from specific regions to apply to study in Australia -- nor does the Australian government have the authority to advise or instruct institutions, such as universities, to ban applicants from certain regions, it added. Read more: India, Australia will keep working towards vibrant bilateral friendship: PM Modi
All passengers from a Qatar Airways flight to London via Doha from Kolkata airport were offloaded after a passenger started shouting before take-off that there was a bomb in the aircraft, airport sources said on Tuesday. The flight with 541 passengers on board was getting ready for take-off at 3.29 am on Tuesday the incident happened. The airline crew immediately informed the CISF. All the passengers were brought down from the plane and the aircraft was thoroughly searched by police with sniffer dogs but nothing was found, the sources told news agency PTI. The CISF then detained the passenger who had raised the alarm and questioned him while summoning his father. During interrogation, the man said that another passenger on the plane told him that there was a bomb in the plane. When the man's father arrived at the Airport police station, he showed some medical documents which stated that his son was undergoing treatment for mental illness. In a similar incident in February, a 59-year-old man, who was denied boarding on his Hyderabad-Chennai flight for turning up late at the airport in Hyderabad on Monday, allegedly made a hoax call to the police saying there was a bomb on the plane. A senior official of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said the Indigo flight with 183 passengers was isolated and thoroughly checked but no suspicious item onboard was found. The belongings of the passengers were also thoroughly checked. The passenger was- then apprehended by the police and later let off with a legal notice issued to him. (With inputs from PTI)
A barbecue restaurant in China has come under fire for a poster with a misogynistic slogan to promote alcohol sales to women sparking outrage and fuelling a public debate on growing sexism in the country. The controversial poster, which has since been shared online, depicts the back of a woman wearing revealing underwear and fishnet stockings, accompanied by a slogan that reads, "Get drunk to give him a chance." The photograph, taken inside the restaurant located in Shaanxi province in China, quickly circulated on social media platforms, attracting widespread criticism. People expressed their disappointment and anger towards the restaurant for promoting such sexist and offensive content. A woman who works at the restaurant attempted to downplay the issue by dismissing the slogan as a mere "joke" and claiming that the poster had been displayed for years without facing any criticism. "It depends on how you think about it. You don't have to take it seriously," she stated, oblivious to the harm caused by perpetuating harmful stereotypes and objectifying women. Her response only served to further intensify the public's condemnation of the restaurant and the underlying issue of sexism in China. Get yourself drunk to give him a chance: eatery poster reignites sexism debate https://t.co/FPB4tff9J9  South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) June 6, 2023 On Chinese social media platforms, the restaurant's slogan was denounced as not only a negative influence but also as potentially inciting criminal behaviour. Chinese criminal law explicitly states that engaging in sexual intercourse with intoxicated women without their consent constitutes rape, carrying a prison sentence ranging from three to ten years. Taking note of the public outcry, the local food administration intervened, and the restaurant had to remove the offensive poster. This incident is not an isolated case. Last month, a women's wellness tonic brand named Five Doctors attempted to promote its products using a video in which women were shown shouting hysterically into the camera. The advertisement was widely criticised for capitalising on the stereotype of women being anxious about their age, a tactic that many found exploitative and offensive. Also read: Chinese woman charges Rs 11 to help strangers 'feel alive'. Here's what she offers Another high-profile case involved the American consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, which issued an apology last year for claiming, without scientific evidence, that "women's feet smell five times worse than men's" in a promotional article aimed at selling cleansing products in China.
Rehana Fathima, a Kerala-based activist, has found respite in a POCSO case where the state High Court discharged her citing that a womans autonomous decision over her body is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. Fathima, 37, was facing charges after a video of her posing semi-nude as her minor children painted on her body went viral in 2020. She was subsequently arrested and her bail applications denied. The Kerala High Court judge called the act an "innocent artistic expression" and dismissed any claims that the act was sexually explicit. "There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said discharging her. Who is Rehana Fathima? Fathima has been a prominent face for women's rights and gender equality in the state. She has been vocal on other issues such as religious freedom, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ rights. She routinely participates in relevant causes and protests to bring about societal change. The Sabarimala Temple controversy One of the major controversies surrounding Fathima was her attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple in 2018 following the Supreme Court's landmark verdict lifting the ban on the entry of women of menstruating age into the sanctum sanctorum. Her actions, however, sparked widespread outrage among certain sections of the society, leading to her arrest on charges of hurting religious sentiments. Following her arrest, Fathima faced an onslaught of online abuse and threats, prompting her to seek police protection. Her home was also vandalised. She also dressed in black (the colour most Lord Ayyappa devotees wear), smeared her forehead with sandalwood paste, and pulled up her knees in front to mimic the Lord Ayyappa pose in a selfie that drew massive outrage. Other work She has also been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has participated in initiatives aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues. She is also a model and acted in a Malayalam film 'Eka' which talks about the struggles of intersex people.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the treatment meted out on her nephew Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira who was detained at the Kolkata airport. Rujira is currently under investigation for her involvement in a coal case and was stopped from boarding an international flight by an agency on Monday. Banerjee stated that she had followed the Supreme Court directive of informing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before leaving Kolkata. "It is unfortunate what the ED and CBI are doing. They are harassing people. Abhishek Banerjee's mother-in-law is unwell, and hence her wife was traveling to meet her mother. The Supreme Court had said that if she were to leave the city, she could inform the ED and do so, which she did well in advance. But summoning her at the airport itself, is nothing but harassment," Mamata Banerjee told NDTV. Abhishek Banerjee's mother-in-law is unwell, and hence her wife was traveling to meet her mother. The Supreme Court had said that if she were to leave the city, she could inform the ED and do so, which she did well in advance. But summoning her at the airport itself, is nothing but harassment," Banerjee said. The Trinamool Congress felt that the central government had been affected by the launch of the "Trinamoole Nabo Jowar" campaign and was looking out for ways to harass the opposition. "You have seen that ever since our Trinamoole Nabo Jowar yatra began, the Opposition party wants to obstruct it and are looking out for ways to harass us and ensure that I am mentally puzzled. I would tell them that there is no use doing this," Mr Banerjee said. "I will not bow down my head even if ED arrests my wife, my children, or me. With all due respect to the chair of the Prime Minister, I wish to remind him that he is almost twice my age. Your political experience might be the same as my age. Yet, you are not able to fight me politically in the people's court," he added. Allegations are baseless- BJP The BJP responded to Banerjee's reaction by stating that the allegations against them were "baseless". "The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI or ED. The allegations are baseless. If they have any complaints, they can always move court," party leader Rahul Sinha said.
After having 102 kids and 578 grandchildren, a man from Uganda has admitted to being irresponsible for producing so many children whom he can't look after. Ugandan villager Musa Hasahya Kasera said he does not even remember most of their names. But while the 68-year-old now feels that enough is enough, he does not use contraception. Instead, his 12 wives are now on birth control pills. "At first it was a joke..." Kasera told news agency AFP referring to his number of offspring. "But now this has its problems. With my health failing and merely two acres of land for such a huge family, two of my wives left because I could not afford the basics like food, education, and clothing." "My wives are on contraceptives but I am not. I don't expect to have more children because I have learned from my irresponsible act of producing so many children that I can't look after," Kasera, who is currently unemployed but has become something of a tourist attraction in his village Bugisa, said. Polygamy is legal in Uganda -- a country with one of the highest birth rates in the world, with only 50 percent of women getting access to modern birth control, according to the UN. Musa Hasahya, a 68-year-old man in Uganda has 12 wives and has fathered 102 kids. Hasahya says he often forgets his children's names. He said: "My income has become lower and lower over the years due to the rising cost of living and my family has become bigger and bigger. I pic.twitter.com/TGDUDWqCsz  Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) June 5, 2023 Recounting his first marriage, Kasera said it happened in 1972 with a traditional ceremony when they were both about 17 and his first child Sandra Nabwire was born a year later. "I was advised by my brother, relatives, and friends to marry many wives to produce many children to expand our family heritage," Kasera said. "The challenge is I can only remember the name of my first and the last born but some of the children I can't recall their names," he said as he rummaged through piles of old notebooks looking for details about their births. "It's the mothers who help me to identify them." But sometimes, Kasera can't even recall the names of some of his wives and has to consult one of his sons, Shaban Magino, a 30-year-old primary school teacher who helps run the family's affairs and is one of the few to have received an education. A local official who oversees the village of about 4,000 people, said that despite the challenges, Kasera has "brought up his children very well" and there had been no cases of theft or fighting for example. (With inputs from AFP) Read more: Saudi man marries 53 times in pursuit of stability
McDonald's has announced the return of Grimace, the lovable purple monster who captured the hearts of children in the 1970s and 80s. The fast-food giant made the announcement on Twitter, and the response from fans and other brands was nothing short of extraordinary. The company has changed its profile photo to that of Grimace and its social media team has been tweeting as the character. Tech billionaire Elon Musk joined in the fun and tweeted a screenshot of a conversation between AXE deodorants and Grimace. "An example of great interaction between brands @McDonalds @AXE," Musk tweeted along with the screenshot. The image showed McDonald's tweeting a string of nonsensical characters (fhioea;odijcfaewklcldW), to which AXE responded with concern, asking if everything was okay. McDonald's then explained, "Srry I have purple handss, (sic)" to which AXE said I forgive you. An example of great interaction between brands @McDonalds @AXE pic.twitter.com/krnQ0g5N7T  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2023 In the original thread many others joined in the fun. Merriam Webster, the renowned dictionary, joined in by sharing a screenshot of the word tweeted by Grimace, which unsurprisingly, could not be found in the dictionary. Grimace, never one to back down, replied, "can we change grimace in the dictionnairy (sic)." Webster, intrigued, asked for a definition. McDonald's, with a touch of humour, replied, "justa litttle purple guy." The playful banter continued as Grimace interacted with other commenters, saying it is learning to tweet with its purple hands. canwe change grimace inthee dictionnairy  McDonald's (@McDonalds) June 5, 2023 Alongside Grimace's grand return, McDonald's will introduce a new burger and shake to its menu this summer. The highlight of the expanded menu will be the Grimace shake, described as a purple berry-flavored shake with a whipped topping. There is also a new Grimace Birthday Meal, which includes the shake, fries, and a choice of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac. The return of Grimace is McDonald's deliberate embrace of nostalgia, harkening back to its iconic ad campaigns of the 1970s and 80s. Grimace made his debut as a large purple being with four arms and two legs who had an insatiable love for milkshakes. However, after the initial campaign, Grimace underwent a redesign, reducing his arms to two, which is the way he appears today. Notably, the resurgence of Grimace comes at a time when McDonald's has relied less on its signature mascot, Ronald McDonald. The clown, once beloved for his association with children, faced a decline in popularity due to a series of "creepy clown sightings" that swept across the United States in 2016. Reports of individuals dressed as clowns carrying weapons transformed harmless pranks into a cause for concern, leading McDonald's to retire Ronald as its prominent mascot.
Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal or 'Prachanda, walked into a storm of protests in Kathmandu after his outstandingly successful visit to Delhi, as a united opposition in Nepal called his four-day trip a total "sell out" to India. The opposition parties disrupted parliamentary proceedings on Sunday and continued their protest the next day, demanding that the Prime Minister convene a special session to tell the House about his visit. In another setback for Prachanda on Monday, the Supreme Court, through an interim stay order, stopped the new Citizen Law from being implemented. The law passed on the eve of the Prime Ministers departure to India would have allowed children born to Nepalese women married to non-Nepalese men to be citizens of the country. Many see the new law signed by President Ram Chandra Poudel as a decision to make India happy since it would mostly benefit people in the Terai region who have Indian origins. Much significance was attached to Prachandas visit to India from May 31 to June 3. Agreements It was seen in both capitals as an opportunity to put bilateral relations back on track since they had been strained in recent years. The two sides succeeded in signing a number of agreements during his visit. These ranged from trade and investment to transit and connectivity, hydropower development, power trade, irrigation, agriculture, the expansion of petroleum pipelines, and the construction of integrated check posts. Besides, there were agreements on air entry routes, railways, bridges, and transmission lines. During their discussions, Modi and Prachanda also agreed to take up the pending and contentious land boundary issues like Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh urgently. The leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and a former prime minister of Nepal, K P Sharma Oli, had included the three disputed areas as part of Nepalese territory in a new map and got it passed in parliament in 2021. The incident evoked strong protests from India, and Oli claimed he was forced to step down as prime minister and lost the support of his coalition partners because he included those areas in the map of Nepalimplying an Indian hand in his ouster. Oli is now the leader of the opposition in parliament and is one of the most prominent pro-China leaders in Nepal. The protests that greeted Prachanda on his return from India were largely engineered by him. Course correction Prachanda, the main leader of the 10-year-long Maoist insurgency in the country before he decided to join the mainstream and became prime minister in 2008, was once seen in India as a pro-Chinese leader of Nepal. To burnish his anti-India stand, he chose to visit Beijing first and not Delhi, as most newly-elected leaders in Kathmandu do, when he became prime minister. He followed it up by sacking the army chief of Nepal. But with Indias backing, the army chief managed to stall his dismissal. Instead, Prachanda lost his support in parliament and had to step down as prime minister in 2009. In the subsequent years, he was forced to do some introspection and came to the conclusion that he could not play a prominent political role in Nepal by alienating India. The fact that his visit to India was his first foreign visit since he became Nepals prime minister in December and not to China shows Prachanda had made a course correction. His visit to India took place at a time when India and Chinas tussle over expanding their influence in the region, particularly Nepal, has become more acute. India and China are also locked in a military standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the informal border between the two countries, since May 2020 and the strains in their bilateral relations are also felt in the neighbourhood. During his visit, Prachanda appreciated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis "Neighbourhood First" policy, which calls for strong India-Nepal ties. Prachanda also told his media delegation that the personal intervention of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured the success of his visit. He said "Modijis" initiative allowed the two sides to move forward when a breakthrough seemed difficult to reach during negotiations. But given the current fractured polity of Nepal, Prachanda is likely to find it difficult to undo the decision that Oli took to include the disputed territories as Nepals. Though Prachanda has the support of Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deoba, Madhav Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Socialist), and other parties in the House, he may find undoing the map a huge challenge. But the Nepalese Prime Ministers bigger challenge will come from his ability to juggle his relations with India on the one hand and China on the other. It is reported that he met senior Chinese leaders before his visit to India to assure them of his countrys commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Beijing. He is scheduled to visit China either in late July or early August, when he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. Prachanda has made it clear that both India and Chinathe two big neighbours of Nepalare important to the country. But many experts are growing sceptical about the Nepalese leaderships ability to maintain equidistance from its big neighbours. They feel that sooner or later, Prachanda may have to make his choice clear. In the next few months, when he visits China, he may be forced to end this ambiguity. Until then, neither India nor China would like to lose Nepal to the other.
JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon does not intend to run for office, the company said, after speculation in recent days about his potential political aspirations. As he has said in the past, Jamie has no plans to run for office," the company said in a statement. "He is very happy in his current role. The comment comes after billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said last week Dimon should run for president in the next U.S. elections. When asked by Bloomberg News last week if he would ever consider public office, Dimon said: "I love my country, and maybe one day I'll serve my country in one capacity or another," without specifying a role. Bank CEOs including Dimon are sometimes floated as potential candidates for senior government positions such as U.S. Treasury secretary or other economic policy roles. Henry Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO, led the Treasury during the financial crisis. Last month, Dimon, 67, said he leads the largest U.S. bank with the same intensity as when he was younger, but noted with a laugh that he plans to remain another "3-1/2" years. Dimon stressed the bank's plans regarding his tenure were unchanged, although did not give specifics, at a gathering of investors in New York. When asked at various points during his 17-year tenure about succession plans, Dimon had previously given five years as a timeline for stepping down. He expressed confidence in the next generation of management and the board's succession planning.
ALBANY  Shirley Hamilton, the former president of the Niagara Falls NAACP, died in March at the age of 66. In the months before her death, Hamilton was taking on a final cause: what she believed to be discriminatory practices at the New York Power Authority, her employer of 44 years.

Her complaints, and those of two authority colleagues, were highlighted by an advocacy group ahead of a joint State Senate confirmation hearing for the Power Authority's acting president and CEO, Justin Driscoll, held Tuesday evening.

Before her death, Hamilton had connected with Patrick Robbins, who works with the Public Power NY Coalition, which opposes Driscoll's nomination.

In conversations and emails, Hamilton told Robbins how few African Americans worked at the Power Authority, a public benefit corporation charged with providing low-cost power to New Yorkers. She charged that Driscoll had played a role in marginalizing discrimination complaints during his nine years at the authority.

I want you to know that Justin Driscoll was the Lead Attorney for NYPA during this period, Hamilton wrote to Robbins in a December email. As I have said, NYPA has great policies, they just refuse to implement those policies or hold people accountable for the violation of the policies, and federal and state laws.

Driscoll began as general counsel at the Power Authority in 2014 and began as acting president in October 2021. He was recommended to more permanently fill the position last year by Gov. Kathy Hochul, but must be confirmed by the Senate. At the Power Authority, all discrimination complaints are investigated by the counsels office that Driscoll ran.

Asked about the discrimination complaints at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Driscoll said that before complaints ever got to his office, they were vetted at several levels within the state government, both within the agency and outside it  by some 10 to 15 people. He noted that of NYPA's nine top executives, three are Black. The last two managers of the Niagara Power Project, where Hamilton worked, have been Black.

"Anyone who knows me knows thats not me, thats not how I operate," Driscoll said of the accusations. "I would never try to minimize complaints."

On Tuesday evening, Driscoll was easily approved in separate votes by the Senate Energy and Finance Committees, with only four votes against him between the two bodies. Driscoll's nomination will now go this week to the full State Senate for a final vote.

Hamilton began working as seasonal groundskeeper at the Niagara Power Project in 1979, and rose to become the first Black female control room operator at the Lewiston plant.

Her standing as a civil rights activist was such that following her death, State Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, introduced a resolution calling for the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant to be renamed the Shirley J. Hamilton Niagara Power Plant.

Near the end of Hamilton's career, Christopher Carey was the operations superintendent at the Niagara Power Project.

Nick Gilewski, an outage coordinator there who is white, grew concerned about a series of comments that Carey reportedly made about Hamilton  and reported his concerns to a regional Power Authority manager.

Carey, who is white, would berate, belittle and discredit Hamilton in front of other employees; referred to how she made crazy and wild complaints; talked about how Hamilton was prone to make mistakes on the job; and said that no one could have Hamilton fired because she was Black and untouchable, but that he would get her fired and be the first, according to a complaint Gilewski later filed with the state Division of Human Rights.

Carey reportedly stated that he had "management so bamboozled that I could run around the control room nude with Shirley and no one would believe her," according to the complaint.

Carey routinely reviewed records of Hamilton's work as a control room operator and highlighted errors  while ignoring errors made by white colleagues holding the same position as Hamilton, according to Gilewski.

In the same complaint, Gilewski claimed that he was also denied a raise and disciplined by Carey in retaliation for coming forward to an authority manager about Carey's disparaging comments. Carey denied the charges. But the state Division of Human Rights in January 2021 found probable cause to support the allegations.

Five months earlier, in August 2020, Power Authority chief diversity officer Nancy Harvey had written a letter to Gilewski, stating that the authority could not substantiate Gilewskis claim of retaliation. But Harvey did write that administrative action has been recommended to address Mr. Careys unprofessional conduct toward Shirley Hamilton.

Yet following that action, Carey's pay jumped from $166,000 in 2020 to nearly $195,000 in 2021, and he gained the new title of superintendent. Last year, he made more than $202,000.

Probe says Power Project workers' conversation was bugged; no charges filed Sgt. Russell J. DeFranco has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the New York Power Authority, claiming his firing in February 2020 after years of tension between him and a supervisor was unjust and discriminatory.

Gilewski resigned from NYPA last year, and now works in an executive position at Samsung, he said.

In his resignation letter, Gilewski cited the fact that Carey's pay kept going up, while Gilewski was threatened with firing, and Hamilton was demoted. He also referenced a third person managed by Carey: Rudolph June, a Power Authority electrical maintenance supervisor who filed a complaint against Carey and ended up being fired.

In 2016, June, who is Black, had accused Carey of "continued racial discrimination, harassment and retaliation," according to a wide-ranging federal lawsuit June filed last year.

According to June's lawsuit, of roughly 54 management employees at the Niagara Power Project, only three were African American.

In December 2015, June wrote a letter to Driscoll directly, complaining about discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation that he and other African American employees reportedly suffered at NYPA.

"There are many African-Americans who work at Niagara that can attest to the preferential treatment afforded their Caucasian coworkers, while receiving equally disparaging and/or fewer opportunities for career advancement," he wrote to Driscoll.

In the letter, June noted a past incident in which drawings were found in a communications tunnel depicting African Americans as Black Minstrels.

"For anyone to feel comfortable enough to commit these hate crimes speaks volumes for the culture at Niagara," June wrote.

After the paintings were discovered, NYPA management directed them to be painted over.

June also wrote about how a co-worker had physically threatened him with violence. The "perpetrator admitted to his actions," but "no significant action was taken," June wrote.

Driscoll responded in a letter on Dec. 16, 2015.

"While I can appreciate your frustration, I want to assure you that the Authority conducted a thorough investigation into your claims," Driscoll wrote. "I also want to assure you that the Authority takes its commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as employee safety in the workplace, very seriously. That commitment is evidenced by the regular trainings conducted at all of the sites on these issues. To that end, the Authority is exploring additional trainings on the issue of sensitivity in the workplace for the year 2016."

June, who was fired from the agency in 2019, claims he was terminated for making a series of such complaints. (June said the agency's reason for the firing was that he'd reportedly become a "safety hazard.") He names Driscoll as a defendant in the lawsuit, which is ongoing in federal court in the Western District of New York.

In an interview, June said he often copied Driscoll on other complaints he filed reporting discrimination, which were routinely not substantiated by Harvey, the chief diversity officer. He believes management sought to avoid the potential legal liability that would come if claims were found to have merit.

"Nothing's ever substantiated there," June said. "And if you make a complaint there, you become target. I was getting positive (performance) reviews, and once I brought these issues forward, it went from all 'meets expectations' to my next review, where I met zero expectations."

In a court filing, the Power Authority has denied June's allegations and said Driscoll committed no wrongdoing. The agency declined to provide an on-the-record response to questions from The Buffalo News on Monday.

"The Power Authority has no tolerance for discrimination and has strong policies in place to protect our employees from misconduct," Power Authority spokeswoman Susan Craig said. "We are proud of our talented, diverse team and are always working to ensure Power Authority workplaces are equitable and inclusive. All allegations of discrimination or retaliation asserted by any employee are fully and thoroughly investigated internally by the New York Power Authority Office of Civil Rights & Inclusion, as well as by external investigators, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission."

She said the authority holds regular anti-discrimination trainings for employees and includes "diversity, equity and inclusion proficiency" as part of its performance review evaluations for employees and managers.

The agency declined to make Carey available to comment.

After this article was published Tuesday morning, opposition to Driscoll's nomination emerged from the politically powerful health care workers union 1199SEIU, which tweeted that NYPA needed a "leader with values of equity and inclusion." The union said The News' reporting raised "troubling concerns." Still, Driscoll appears poised to be confirmed to the position.
Morgan Stanley warns of a 16% drop in profit for S&P 500 companies this year, followed by a sharp rebound in 2024 when analysts say the Federal Reserve's policy will become more accommodative. Strategists led by Michael Wilson said in a note on Monday that they expect earnings to rebound sharply, with a 23% jump next year. The Wall Street bank warned that the EPS of S&P companies could slip to $185 from $195 in 2023 before recovering to $239 next year. "The boom/bust period that began in 2020 is currently in the bust part of the earnings cycle  a dynamic that's not yet priced," Wilson said. Morgan Stanley predicted the index to rebound to 4,200 levels in 2024 while keeping its 2023-end target unchanged at 3,900. The index closed at 4,282.37 on Friday. A slew of positive news, with expectations of a Fed pivot, persistent improvement in liquidity, and AI-related tailwinds to mega-cap names such as Nvidia Corp, have buoyed indexes so far, Morgan Stanley said. Such factors have held back a correction in markets, the bank added.

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Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp will expand the production of electric vehicle batteries at a factory in Nevada jointly operated with Tesla Inc, the Nikkei reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company's unit, Panasonic Energy, will install a 15th production line at Gigafactory Nevada, the report said. The report comes after Panasonic said last month it plans to build at least two new factories for the production of Tesla 4680 battery cells in North America by 2030. With that move, it seeks to boost its auto battery capacity to 200 gigawatt hours per year by March 2031, about four times its level at the end of this March. At the time, Panasonic had not disclosed where in North America it would add the production capacity. Annual production capacity at the facility is estimated to increase about 10% from the current 38 gigawatt-hours to 39 GWh - enough for 500,000 to 700,000 Tesla Model 3s, according to the report. Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Panasonic was not available for comment outside of their working hours. Tesla recently told Panasonic it would "buy as much as [Panasonic] can make", according to an executive at the Japanese manufacturer, the report added. Panasonic is running a pilot 4680 production line at its Wakayama factory in Japan, while Tesla is already producing the 4680 battery cells, which Musk has touted as being key to making cheaper and compelling electric cars.

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Russia launched a new wave of overnight air strikes on Kyiv, with officials at the Ukrainian capital saying that air defence systems downed more than 20 cruise missiles on their approach. "All were shot down, there were no hits," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Reuters' witnesses reported hearing several blasts that sounded like air defence systems while the city was under air raid alerts for more than four hours, starting soon after midnight on Tuesday. Falling debris hit road surfaces and damaged power lines to the trolley system in Kyiv's Desnianskyi district, the military said. The district, on the left bank of the Dnipro River is Kyiv's most populous. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties, the officials said.

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A torrent of water burst through a gaping hole in a dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine on Tuesday, flooding a swathe of the war zone and forcing villagers to flee. Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam from the inside in a deliberate war crime. Russian-installed officials gave conflicting accounts, some blaming Ukrainian shelling, others saying the dam had burst on its own. The Nova Kakhovka dam supplies water to Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, both under Russian control. The vast reservoir behind it is one of the main geographic features of southern Ukraine, 240 km (150 miles) long and up to 23 km (14 miles) wide. A swathe of countryside lies in the flood plain below. The destruction of the dam creates a new humanitarian disaster in the centre of the war zone and transforms the front lines just as Ukraine is unleashing a long-awaited counteroffensive to drive Russian troops from its territory. Russia has controlled the dam since early in the war, although Ukrainian forces recaptured the northern side of the river last year. Both sides had long accused the other of planning to destroy it. "Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russians had "carried out an internal detonation of the structures" of the dam. "About 80 settlements are in the zone of flooding," he said on Telegram. The Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region accused Kyiv of striking the dam with missiles to distract attention from what he said were the failures of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the east. However, other Russian-installed officials said the dam had burst on its own due to earlier damage. Neither side offered immediate evidence proving who was to blame. The vast reservoir above the dam supplies fresh water to huge swathes of agricultural land, including the Crimea peninsula, which Russia claims to have annexed in 2014. It also provides cooling water for Europe's largest nuclear power plant, located in Russian-held territory on the southern bank. The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation, but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant". Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom also said the dam breach did not pose a threat for now to the plant and said the situation was being monitored. SURGING WATERS The water level at the town immediately adjacent to the breached dam could rise by up to 12 metres, its Russia-installed mayor, Vladimir Leontyev, said on the Telegram messaging app. Video showed water surging through the remains of the dam - which is 30 metres (yards) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long. Some 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in Ukraine's southern Kherson region are at risk of flooding, Russia's RIA news agency quoted the Moscow-installed head of the region as saying. Kherson is one of five regions, including Crimea, that Moscow claims to have annexed. The Russian-backed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said there was a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnipro river, could fall. Crimea had sufficient water reserves for the moment, and the level of risk would become clear in coming days. A Russian-installed official in the town of Nova Kakhovka said residents of around 300 houses had been evacuated, state-owned news agency TASS reported. He said it would likely be impossible to repair the dam. The dam breach came as Ukraine prepares its long-awaited counteroffensive to drive Russian forces from territory they have seized during more than 15 months of fighting. Russia said it had thwarted another Ukrainian offensive in eastern Donetsk and inflicted heavy losses. Kyiv has maintained strict silence on the counteroffensive but has dismissed Russia's claims to have thwarted Ukrainian assaults. Russia also launched a fresh wave of overnight air strikes on Kyiv. Ukraine said its air defence systems had downed more than 20 cruise missiles on their approach to the capital. The Shebekino district of Russia's Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border came under renewed shelling on Tuesday, local authorities said, urging residents to take cover. Anti-government Russian fighters based in Ukraine claim to have infiltrated the area, seizing villages near the border. Ukraine's military intelligence agency said on Telegram that Russian forces had blown up the dam "in a panic", in what it said was "an obvious act of terrorism and a war crime, which will be evidence in an international tribunal". Zelenskiy will hold an emergency meeting about the dam's collapse, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said on Twitter. UKRAINIAN ATTACKS Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year in what the Kremlin expected to be a swift operation, but its forces suffered a series of defeats and regrouped in the country's east. Tens of thousands of Russian troops dug in over the winter, besieging the eastern city of Bakhmut for months and bracing for an expected Ukrainian counterattack. Ukrainian officials have made clear they will not comment on the start of their campaign, although in his nightly address on Monday Zelenskiy was enigmatic, hailing "the news we have been waiting for" and forward moves in Bakhmut in Donetsk. Russia says it thwarted a major Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region over the weekend and on Tuesday the defence ministry said a fresh Ukrainian assault had also been repelled. Writing on Telegram, Russia's Wagner militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said Moscow's claims of huge Ukrainian losses were "simply wild and absurd science fiction."
June 06, 2023

New Nord Stream Cover-Up Story Is Based On Dubious 'Leak'

On April 10 some briefing slides for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff appeared on the internet. They seemed to be genuine. But later a second larger batch was claimed to have come into the hands of so called journalist. I had and still have strong doubts about that second round:

When media reported on the first batch of 'leaked' Pentagon briefing slides they also published pictures of the originals. Then came a second round which conveniently was more about bashing Russia than on the releases itself. Those leaks were labeled as new or from a previously unknown source. Among those stories were: ...

...

We have pictures of the first stash of the files. The briefing slides seem real to me. The language is correct Pentagon lingo. The abbreviations used are typical. But some of the information therein, like the casualty numbers, is dubious. Do the Joint Chiefs of Staff really get briefed with Ukrainian defense ministry numbers that are know to be mere fantasies? The Pentagon and/or the CIA certainly have their own casualty estimates. Why not brief those? We have seen no picture of any slide that the additional stories are based on. Why were those not published? A plausible explanation is that the first release was a real leak but that someone is now pushing new 'leaks' to dedicated outlets that are only half true or mere propaganda.

Another 'exclusive' in today's Washington Post, allegedly based on the same leak, only increases my doubt about that alleged second stash of documents:

U.S. had intelligence of detailed Ukrainian plan to attack Nord Stream pipeline

Three months before saboteurs bombed the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, the Biden administration learned from a close ally that the Ukrainian military had planned a covert attack on the undersea network, using a small team of divers who reported directly to the commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces. Details about the plan, which have not been previously reported, were collected by a European intelligence service and shared with the CIA in June 2022. They provide some of the most specific evidence to date linking the government of Ukraine to the eventual attack in the Baltic Sea, which U.S. and Western officials have called a brazen and dangerous act of sabotage on Europes energy infrastructure. The European intelligence reporting was shared on the chat platform Discord, allegedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira. The Washington Post obtained a copy from one of Teixeiras online friends.

How convenient!

The U.S. had motives and means in place to blow up the pipeline. Seymour Hersh has sources who claim the U.S. did it.

But now WaPo gets its hands on a 'leaked document' that says Ukraine's General Zaluzny was the man in charge of the issue:

The European intelligence made clear that the would-be attackers were not rogue operatives. All those involved reported directly to Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the countrys highest-ranking military officer, who was put in charge so that Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, wouldnt know about the operation, the intelligence report said.

Zaluzny is in charge of Ukrainian military. He is busy and not the man to run secret missions and to get direct reports from everyone involved in them.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief, or the SBU, the civil intelligence service of Ukraine, would be in charge of such a mission.

(Budanov probably died on May 30 during a Russian attack on the bunker of the Military Intelligence headquarter in Kiev. He hasn't been seen or heard of since.)

The claim that Zaluzny was involved thus makes me even more skeptical.

I am not the only one who has doubts about the new 'leak':

Aaron Mate @aaronjmate - 15:34 UTC  Jun 6, 2023 The CIA gave its first Nord Stream cover-up story to the NYT, only fair to give their follow-up cover-up story to the Washington Post.

(https://mate.substack.com/p/in-nord-stream-attack-us-officials)

I will file the Washington Post report in the same 'nonsense' folder as this:

A 'Russian soldier' ... with a beard?

According to the Chapter 8 Article 344 of the Charter of the Armed Forces servicemen are obliged to regularly bath, brush teeth, cut nails, hair and shave clean.

Just two months ago that order was reinforced:

The commander of Russias forces in Ukraine has ordered soldiers to cut their hair and shave, sparking a row with his bearded Chechen and mercenary allies.

...

Western intelligence said that General Valery Gerasimov, appointed overall commander of Russias forces earlier in January by Vladimir Putin, was trying to promote more discipline in the Russian army.

The 'Russian soldier' claim is as real as the WaPo's claim about the Ukrainian involvement in the Nord Stream case.

The person in Kiev who tweeted the above clip has probably filmed his neighbor.

Posted by b on June 6, 2023 at 16:32 UTC | Permalink

Comments

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The forecast: "Smoke."

That's according to the National Weather Service, and if you went outside or looked out your window Tuesday in Western New York, you saw the heavy haze  and smelled it, too.

Ask Don Paul: Is there a link between smoky skies and climate change? "It is most likely that we are seeing a blend of extreme weather events being multiplied and exacerbated by the human activity-caused warming climate," writes Don Paul.

Smoke from about 100 wildfires in Quebec has drifted south over Buffalo and most of New York State and was expected to persist through the week. An air quality advisory was issued for all day Wednesday for Western New York and most of the rest of the state.

The smoky conditions across New York haven't been experienced since 2002, state officials said.

The smoke thinned in Buffalo during the morning hours Tuesday, but by midday it reached levels considered "unhealthy" and was continuing to grow worse Tuesday afternoon, according to the website AirNow.gov, which tracks air quality.

Don Paul's forecast: Periodically smoky, consistently dry Tuesday and Wednesday will be mainly sunny and dry, with seasonable highs in the low 70s and a north-northwest 10-15 mph afternoon breeze.

Officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health held a videoconference Tuesday afternoon with media across New York State to alert the public of the dangers.

"It's no secret  New York is facing extraordinary air quality conditions today," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

The state issued an "air quality health advisory" for most of the state because of the level of particulate matter in the air. Anything over 100 prompts an advisory. Buffalo was at 168 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to AirNow.gov, which is operated by the EPA and its partners.

People can expect to feel some irritation in their eyes, nose and throat, and the impacts can be worse for people with asthma and heart disease, Seggos said.

The high levels of particulate matter "can penetrate pretty deeply" into the lungs, said Gary Ginsberg, director for the Center for Environmental Health at the state Department of Health. "It makes it harder for our whole respiratory tract to work."

He advised everyone, not just those with heart and lung issues, to limit their time outdoors.

"Our general advice is go slow," Ginsberg said. "Monitor your own symptomology. Be a guide for yourself. Realize these are unusual circumstances. If you are having symptoms, go inside."

And for those having acute symptoms, like having serious difficulty breathing, he advised calling your health care provider or going to urgent care. When air quality worsens, he said, hospitals tend to see a rise in admissions.

School officials should consider canceling or postponing outdoor sporting events, the state officials said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Kelly said a "denser area of smoke" moved into the area midday Tuesday.

Another round of thicker smoke is expected Wednesday morning, and possibly even Thursday, too.

At the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, where the weather service has its Buffalo office, visibility was down to 5 miles.

The smoky conditions are even worse to the east. In Syracuse, visibility was down to 2 miles, Kelly said.

Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein said that when there are elevated levels of particulates in the air from pollution sources, the resulting poor air quality can be dangerous.

"And, in this case, in our region right now, it's smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and that's traveling on wind currents, and we are feeling those effects," Burstein said.

"The larger particles in the polluted air can irritate your eyes, nose and throat and lungs as your body tries to filter out these irritants and try to keep it out of your respiratory system," Burstein said.

She said everybody can be vulnerable to the negative effects of poor air quality, "but there are some people who are most vulnerable."

These would include older adults, those with respiratory conditions  such as emphysema, COPD  as well as smokers whose lung capacity is already compromised, people with heart or lung disease and children  particularly those suffering from asthma.

"In our area, asthma is a rather common lung condition," Burstein said.

News Staff Reporter Harold McNeil contributed to this report.
June 06, 2023 Nova Kakhova Dam Breach - Updated (12:15 UTC) Updated throughout (12:15 UTC) A few hours ago an alleged explosion blew up the Nova Kakhova dam in Ukraine.

bigger It was either that or structural damage from previous strikes. Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel - 6:31 UTC  Jun 6, 2023 The dam was already under enormous strain and damaged.

Then things got worse. On 2 June, it looks like a road over the dam failed. That could be indicative of a larger structural failure.

... In consequence the huge reservoir behind the dam is now flooding lower level land south of Kherson (Xepcoh). The pictures show the before and after of potential flooding due to the breach:

bigger

bigger Previously the Russian army had pulled back its troops from the northern part of Kherson oblast because a dam breach would endanger their supply route. We do not know yet how much of the dam has been damaged. How much water will be flowing out of it depends on the part of the wall that is still standing below the current water level. Of note is that the Ukraine had previously filled the upstream dams on the Dnieper to the brim to increase the potential damage. Those waters were released in early May. Notice the date of the following tweet. ZOKA @200_zoka - 14:12 UTC  May 4, 2023 Water level in Kakhovka reservoir in Zaporozhye region risen by 17 m and almost reached critical level. Under threat of destruction of dam in Kamenka Dneprovskaya, dozens of villages may be flooded.

Kyiv opened the floodgates in Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye.

Embedded video The Ukrainian propagandists are claiming that the Russian blew up the dam. That is however unlikely. On October 21 2022 Vasily Nebenzya, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General about the plans of the Kiev regime to destroy the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. In a report about last years Kherson counteroffensive the Washington Post reported of Ukrainian plans and attempts to blow up the dam: [Maj. Gen. Andriy] Kovalchuk considered flooding the river. The Ukrainians, he said, even conducted a test strike with a HIMARS launcher on one of the floodgates at the Nova Kakhovka dam, making three holes in the metal to see if the Dniepers water could be raised enough to stymie Russian crossings but not flood nearby villages. The test was a success, Kovalchuk said, but the step remained a last resort. He held off. Destroying its own infrastructure is nothing new for Ukrainian servicemen. In April 2022 the New York Times already noted this: What happened in Demydiv was not an outlier. Since the wars early days, Ukraine has been swift and effective in wreaking havoc on its own territory, often by destroying infrastructure, as a way to foil a Russian army with superior numbers and weaponry. Demydiv was flooded when troops opened a nearby dam and sent water surging into the countryside. Elsewhere in Ukraine, the military has, without hesitation, blown up bridges, bombed roads and disabled rail lines and airports. The goal has been to slow Russian advances, channel enemy troops into traps and force tank columns onto less favorable terrain. Quoting the above Washington Post piece Andrew Korybko points to a possible motive for today's demolishing of the dam: [Kovalchuk's] remark about how the step remained a last resort is pertinent to recall at present considering that the first phase of Kievs NATO-backed counteroffensive completely failed on Monday according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Just like Ukraine launched its proxy invasion of Russia in late May to distract from its loss in the Battle of Artyomovsk, so too might does it seem to have gone through with Kovalchuks planned war crime to distract from this most recent embarrassment as well. The most recent embarrassment was the failure of yesterday's attack near Novodarovka and Levadnoye. As the Russian Ministry of Defense noted in a special statement: As a result of active and self-sacrificing actions of the Vostok Group of Forces, which displayed courage and heroism, the enemy has been stopped, and the set tasks havent been achieved. The AFU formations and military units suffered significant losses. Total AFU losses in South Donetsk direction were over 1,500 Ukrainian servicemen, 28 tanks, including FRG-manufactured 8 Leopard tanks, three French-manufactured AMX-10 wheeled tanks, and 109 armoured fighting vehicles. (I have seen pictures of the destroyed AMX-10 reconnaissance tanks but not yet of any destroyed Leopard.) Interestingly the 'western' media, pressed into compliance by the Ukrainian government, were thanked for their pro-Ukrainian reporting on the issue around the time the dam was breached: Michael Tracey @mtracey - 9:42 UTC  Jun 6, 2023 Top advisor of Zelensky thanks journalists in advance today for helping the Ukraine government win the "diplomatic and informational battle" around the bombing of the Nova Kakhovka dam. Helpful reminder of the state imperatives these journalists are expected to abide by Image The attached image of the top advisor's Telegram post has a 3:03 timestamp. The destruction of the dam is certainly not to Russia's favor. As the 'western' aligned Moscow Times noted six months ago (link corrected): In a catastrophic scenario, destroying the dam could send a highly destructive flood wave down the Dnipro River, causing severe flooding in large areas of southern Ukraine. Backswell would also likely flood the Inhulets River, a tributary of the Dnipro. However, terrain levels mean the flooding would likely be worse on the Russian-held left bank of the Dnipro, making a detonation of explosives on the dam an unlikely move for Moscow. "[Destroying the dam] would mean Russia essentially blowing its own foot off, military analyst Michael Kofman said on the War on the Rocks podcast last month. [It] would flood the Russian-controlled part of Kherson [region] much more than the western part that Ukrainians are likely to liberate." And the secondary effects of blowing the dam could be just as severe for Russia. Lowering the river level behind the dam threatens both water supplies to Moscow-annexed Crimea and risks cutting off access to cooling water for the Russian-controlled nuclear power plant in Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region. Water from the dam was also used to irrigate the southern Kherson oblast. The lack of water will disable the power generation at the dam which supplied the south. The flood is likely to dissipate in a week or two but that does not change the major damages to the parts that Russia claims as its own. The water will then have destroyed Russian mine fields on the left bank (seen from the spring) of the river. This will open routes for Ukrainian troops to cross the river and to attack into the southern Kherson oblast towards Crimea. There have previously reports that the Ukraine received bridging and ferry equipment for exactly this purpose. Posted by b on June 6, 2023 at 8:24 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
More FM and Frontier Touring are proud to announce that 15-time GRAMMY winners, FOO FIGHTERS will return to New Zealand this summer - bringing their unrivalled, stadium live show to fans in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in January 2024.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A judge's order that would eliminate requirements that health insurance plans include cost-free coverage of HIV-preventing drugs, cancer screenings and various other types of preventive care should remain on hold while it is appealed, the Biden administration argued before an appellate panel Tuesday.

It's the latest legal skirmish over mandates in former President Barack Obama's signature health care law, commonly known as Obamacare, which took effect 13 years ago.

Enforcing the judge's order could jeopardize preventive care for at least some of an estimated 150 million insured people, Alisa Klein, arguing for the administration, told three 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in New Orleans.

Jonathan Mitchell, arguing for the law's challengers, said a stay on the ruling is unnecessary. Insurers and employers who provide employee health insurance would be unlikely to drop preventive coverage before the case is finally resolved because they would risk prosecution if they lose, he argued. No rational employer or insurer can take the risk, he said.

That drew a skeptical response from Judge Leslie Southwick. I dont quite see how that fits into our analysis, said Southwick, who during the hearing asked attorneys to try to reach an agreement on how and when the lower court ruling should be enforced pending appeal. You may be right, but it really is speculation if you want us to apply some of our sense of how insurance companies react.

The March ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor affected requirements for coverage driven by recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. O'Connor ruled that because the task force is made up of volunteers, enforcing its recommendations violates the Constitutions Appointment Clause, which lays out how government officials can be appointed.

As appeals continue, the administration isn't attempting to block immediate enforcement of O'Connor's ruling as it applies to the handful of Texas plaintiffs who filed suit. But it should not apply to the millions of people affected nationwide, Klein argued.

Southwick questioned that assertion. Once the district court decided that all these decisions were beyond the authority of the body that made it, Im not sure what relief would have been appropriate, he said.

Not all preventive care is affected under the judge's ruling. An analysis by the nonprofit KFF foundation found that some screenings, including mammography and cervical cancer screening, would still be covered without out-of-pocket costs because the task force recommended them before the health care law was enacted in March 2010.

OConnor, a nominee of former President George W. Bush, is the same judge who ruled more than four years ago that the entire Obama health care law was unconstitutional. That ruling was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Those suing the federal government in this case include a conservative activist and a Christian dentist who oppose coverage for contraception and HIV prevention on religious grounds. The appellate judges are Edith Brown Clement and Southwick, who were also nominated by Bush; and Stephen Higginson, nominated by Obama.

An immediate ruling is not expected.
Members of the Texas Public Policy Foundation shared a recap of the 88th Texas Legislative session on Tuesday at the Petroleum Club.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a research and educational institution whose self-stated mission is to promote liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise in Texas and the U.S. by educating and affecting policymakers, according to its website.

Sherry Sylvester, distinguished senior fellow of the TPPF, said the foundation and state legislators scored big wins on taking on the woke culture during the session.

Sylvester referenced legislation like Senate Bill 14, which prohibits minors from receiving gender-modifying medical procedures, puberty-blocking medication and the like. Sylvester called the piece of legislation a total TPPF bill.

She also discussed SB 17, which bans Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices on public college campuses in Texas.

I just want to read to you what the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officers of America say their job is -- engaging in ongoing ways to incorporate alternative narratives in the curriculum on the history of racism, colonization and conquest and to show how higher education and other sectors of American society maintain white privilege, Sylvester read aloud.

Sticking with higher education, Sylvester touched on SB 18, which would make it more difficult for professors at public Texas college to achieve tenure.

Sylvester also discussed House Bill 2127, The Death Star Bill, as Sylvester called it. Officially, its called the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act.

That is taking back control of our Democrat cities, Sylvester said, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, they all had initiatives for mandatory minimum wage laws. San Antonio tried to override our abortion ban, they tried to legalize marijuana within the city limits, no eviction notices. She said the Death Star Bill will disallow local governments from overriding state law.

Austin Prochko, associate vice president of Policy for the TPPF, addressed SB 8, the hotly discussed state legislation pertaining to school choice. Prochko said the Senate passed SB 8, and then, the Texas House watered it down and watered it down, until it was just all water. The Texas House then attempted to pass H.B. 100, which would put $4.4 billion into the school system.

The Senate said, Well fine, were not going to just pass $4.4 billion without trying again on parental choice, Prochko said, so they put the original version of SB 8 onto H.B. 100 and they said, Here House, the ball is in your court. Prochko said the public-school establishment disputed and killed that bill.

Heading into anticipated special session regarding school choice, Prochko said supporters of school choice need to keep that momentum alive, keep everyone on-message and show legislators that were not the crazy ones with this idea to empower parents, were actually the reasonable ones.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York writer who won a $5 million jury verdict against ex-President Donald Trump cant win a pending defamation lawsuit against him because the jury agreed with Trump that he never raped her, his lawyers told a judge Monday.

The lawyers urged Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to reject columnist E. Jean Carrolls bid to win $10 million or more in a second judgment by rewriting the 4-year-old lawsuit against Trump to conform with the findings of the jury that last month concluded Trump sexually abused Carroll but did not rape her.

The lawsuit was filed after Carroll said in a 2019 memoir for the first time publicly that Trump attacked her in the dressing room of a midtown Manhattan Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

The lawsuit has been stalled because the U.S. Justice Department wants to substitute the United States for Trump as the defendant on the grounds that he was acting in his capacity as a president when he spoke on the issue in response to questions by reporters in 2019.

After the civil jury concluded Trump had sexually abused and defamed Carroll with comments last fall and awarded $5 million in damages, lawyers for Carroll, 79, asked Kaplan to amend the original defamation lawsuit to seek $10 million in compensatory damages and very substantial punitive damages.

They also sought to add defamation claims to the original lawsuit, citing comments Trump, 76, made at a CNN town hall shortly after the jury verdict.

Trump's lawyers wrote that the jury verdict favors Trump's position in the pending lawsuit that he never defamed Carroll by claiming that he never raped her because the jury rejected the rape claim at trial. Trump, who never attended the trial, is appealing the jury verdict.

Kaplan must decide whether to accept the rewrite of the original defamation claim and Carroll's assertion that the pending defamation case could go straight to the penalty phase of a trial because a jury had already concluded that Trump sexually abused Carroll. He also must decide whether the United States can be substituted as the defendant in place of Trump, which would effectively nullify the action.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, said in a statement Monday in response to the filing by Trump's attorneys that the jury verdict supported the claims in the pending lawsuit.

A unanimous jury found that Donald Trump inserted his fingers into E. Jean Carrolls vagina against her will and then defamed her when he said that he did not know who E. Jean Carroll was, that he had never met her at Bergdorf Goodman, and that she had made the whole story up as part of a con job or hoax," Kaplan said.

"Contrary to Donald Trumps latest arguments, the jurys verdict makes complete sense  because the jury believed E. Jean Carroll when she testified that Trump had sexually abused her, it concluded that Trump knowingly lied about Ms. Carroll when he later claimed otherwise, she added.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The fallout from the breach of a dam in southern Ukraine is wreaking havoc on lives, livelihoods and the environment amid the war.

When the Kakhovka dam ruptured on Tuesday, it sent a torrent of water from Ukraine's largest reservoir into cities, towns and lowlands downstream on the Dnieper River, where fighting is raging.

It's not clear what caused the breach in the dam, which had already been damaged in the war.

Ukraines government, which controls the rivers western bank and the city of Kherson, accused Moscows forces of blowing up the facility. Russia, which controls the eastern bank for about the last 300 kilometers (about 185 miles) before the river reaches the Black Sea, blames military strikes ordered by Kyiv.

Operational since the mid-1950s under the Soviet Union, the dam and its associated hydroelectric power station sit about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of Kherson, and supply electricity, irrigation and drinking water to a wide swath of southern Ukraine and its residents.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS?

Authorities and rescue workers on both sides stepped up efforts to move beleaguered residents to higher and drier ground  although some complain of an uneven response.

The U.N.'s humanitarian aid agency warned that the disaster will likely get worse in the coming hours. It said access to drinking water and health risks associated with contaminated water were among the most pressing concerns.

About 3,000 people were evacuated from areas on both sides of the river, officials said.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional administration, said about 1,700 people had been evacuated in Ukraine-controlled areas as of Wednesday. Hundreds of calls for help were still flooding a government hotline, Prokudin said. The area has a population of about 42,000.

On the Russia-controlled bank, Moscow-appointed regional Gov. Vladimir Saldo said up to 40,000 people remained in flooded areas. His deputy, Tatyana Kuzmich, said 1,274 people had been evacuated, and that the emergency response would last at least 10 days.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said nearly 12,000 bottles of water and 10,000 water purification tablets were distributed to five municipalities in Kherson and in Mykolaiv, where most of evacuees are staying. The U.N. also distributed ready-to-eat meals to about 400 people, he said.

WHAT REMAINS AT RISK?

The office of Ukraines general prosecutor said water levels downstream rose as much as 12 meters (39 feet) above normal.

Vladimir Rogov, an official with the Russia-appointed administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, said the Dnieper had narrowed Wednesday by as much as 65 meters as the reservoir drained.

The head of national hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo, Ihor Syrota, said authorities were holding water in upstream reservoirs to compensate in part for the loss of the dam.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that hundreds of thousands of people were without normal access to drinking water.

Experts warned about an environmental disaster for wildlife and ecosystems. Minefields were inundated, raising the prospect that the explosives could be dislodged.

Ukrainian authorities urged locals to drink only bottled water and avoid eating fish from the river.

HOW HAS RUSSIA RESPONDED?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, blamed Ukraine in his first comments on the incident. He said it was a barbaric action that "led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophe, a Kremlin account said.

Some residents in Russian-controlled areas criticized the response from the occupying authorities.

Yevhen Ryschuk, the Ukrainian mayor of Oleshky who fled the city after Russian forces occupied it, said locals told him that Russian authorities hadn't mobilized evacuation efforts and had left many people stranded.

Ukrainian forces said they were reaching across the front line to help supply civilians in Russian-controlled areas.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry tweeted a video showing a drone  presumably one of its own  dropping a bottle of water to a woman in a rooftop window in Oleshky. The Ukrainian military will never leave civilians behind, it said.

Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that evacuation efforts in occupied areas had completely failed.

WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT ON FARMING?

In a blow to one of the worlds biggest breadbaskets, Ukraines agriculture ministry said about 94% of irrigation systems in the Kherson region have been left without a water source, as well as nearly three-quarters of those in neighboring Zaporizhzhia and about 30% in Dnipropetrovsk.

The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station will lead to the fact that the fields in the south of Ukraine next year can turn into deserts, it said.

Prices for wheat and corn stabilized Wednesday after rising sharply a day earlier over concerns about Ukraines ability to ship its grain supplies to developing nations where people are struggling with hunger and high food prices.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.
After being closed for two years in a row, Buffalo plans to reopen its outdoor municipal swimming pools this summer.

None of the city's nine outdoor pools were opened last summer because the city could not find enough certified lifeguards, which the city is working to correct, Mayor Byron Brown said.

The mayor said the city still has not hired enough certified lifeguards to open all of its municipal pools by July 1.

"We don't have enough now to open every single pool. We are hoping that we will get there. Right now, we trained or recruited over 40 lifeguards," Brown said.

The city's recruitment has been aggressive, he added. That includes increasing the hourly wage city lifeguards receive to $20 an hour from $16 an hour last year.

"We've increased the hourly wage to make the recruitment easier, to make the position more attractive for young people to want to get trained to become lifeguards. We did paid training. We did free training. So we've done everything that we can to increase the number of lifeguards and get pools in Buffalo open this summer," Brown said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the mayor said that number of pools that will be opened by July 1 has yet to be determined.

Michael J. DeGeorge said Monday that city officials are hoping to open a number of outdoor pools this summer. The Parks and Recreation Department is working on finalizing the total number of lifeguards it has available by July 1, and that will determine how many pools will be open.
Changpeng Zhao, founder and chief executive officer of Binance, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 16, 2022.
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Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
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A car seat safety event will take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Jacksonville Fire Department as part of an effort to improve the statistic that 46% of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly.

Certified car seat technicians will be at the event to help parents and caregivers learn about child passenger safety and have their car seats checked for proper use and installation.
Only minutes into a doomed journey that ended on a remote Virginia mountain, the pilot of a business jet was not responding to air traffic control instructions and the situation was soon reported to a network that includes military, security and law enforcement agencies, according to federal aviation officials.

Despite being out of contact on its ascent Sunday afternoon, the jet that had just taken off from a Tennessee airport continued toward its intended destination on New York's Long Island, then turned to fly back to Virginia where it slammed into a mountain, killing the four people aboard.

Family and friends identified two of the victims as an entrepreneur known in New York real-estate circles and her 2-year-old daughter.

Outside aviation experts speculated the pilot likely lost consciousness from a lack of oxygen inside the jet when it climbed above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), the altitude that typically requires cabin pressurization.

The most likely scenario right now is a pressurization failure or a mis-setting of the pressurization system, said Alan Diehl, an aviation psychologist who previously worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Air Force. In the late 1960s, Diehl also helped design the original model of the plane, the Cessna Citation, that crashed in Virginia.

It's unclear when the pilot stopped responding to air traffic controllers. But their last attempt to reach him occurred 15 minutes after takeoff, according to the FAA.

The plane could have surpassed 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) in just a few minutes, Diehl said. However, the pilot may have had to wait for some period of time after takeoff before he was cleared for higher altitudes.

Depending on the jet's altitude as well as the pilot's age and health, he likely had minutes  or even less than a minute  to react as his brain suffered a decline in oxygen, Diehl said.

The one other thing that they probably cant eliminate at this point is some kind of medical issue, Diehl said.

A heart attack, brain aneurysm and over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, can affect a pilot's ability to fly the airplane and recognize there may be a problem with the cabin's oxygen levels and pressurization.

Fighter jet pilots sent to intercept the business jet reported that its pilot appeared slumped over and unresponsive, three U.S. officials said Monday. The officials had been briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation.

The plane took an erratic flight path  turning around over Long Island to fly directly over the nations capital  which prompted the military to scramble fighter jets. This caused a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

John Rumpel, the owner of the plane, said his daughter, Adina Azarian, 2-year-old granddaughter, Aria, and the girl's nanny were the victims, along with the pilot. He said they were returning to their home on Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina.

Rumpel told The Associated Press Tuesday that new radios had been installed in the plane two or three weeks ago and the aircraft was equipped with emergency oxygen. Rumpel said he also believes the pilot, who he identified as Jeff Hefner, probably lost consciousness from a lack of oxygen. Rumpel said Hefner had recently had a physical and he was not aware of any concerning medical conditions.

He was top shelf, absolutely top shelf. I wouldn't have had my daughter and my grandbaby fly with him if he wasn't, Rumpel said Tuesday.

Rumpel said he wonders if a flashing light on the plane that should have warned the pilot that he was losing oxygen somehow malfunctioned.

To the best of my knowledge, the emergency masks never dropped, he said.

Rumpel also said it is common practice for pilots to put their destination, along with an emergency return destination into the auto pilot system, which he said would explain why the plane turned around and headed south again once it flew over its destination of MacArthur Airport on Long Island. He said the emergency return destination would have been the airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, where the flight took off from.

On Monday, it took investigators several hours to hike into the rural area where the plane crashed about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Charlottesville. They expected to be on the scene for at least three to four days.

Diehl, the aviation psychologist, said investigators often dig deeply into a pilot's background following a crash. For instance, did he or she have training in the military to recognize the signs of low-cabin pressure? Were they a risk taker? What were the results of their last flight physical?

Investigators will also review the recordings of the pilot's last communications with air traffic control. They'll check for a change in speech patterns, such as slower talking, that could indicate low-oxygen levels. But testing oxygen levels in blood and human tissue could be unlikely given the high impact of the crash, Diehl said.

At a briefing Monday, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said the wreckage is highly fragmented. It was not clear if the plane had a flight data recorder. A preliminary report will be released in 10 days.

The plane flew directly over the nations capital. According to the Pentagon, six F-16 fighter jets were deployed to intercept the plane, including two from a base in Maryland, two from New Jersey and two from South Carolina.

The plane climbed to 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers), where it remained for the rest of the flight until 3:23 p.m. when it began to descend and crashed about nine minutes later, according to the NTSB.

Brumfield reported from Silver Spring, Maryland. Associated Press writer Denise Lavoie contributed from Richmond, Virginia. Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York, and White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
June 6, 2023

Campaign financials for June primaries

Campaign committee financial reports, required by law to be filed with the State Board of Elections 32 days before the June primary, are now publicly available. Here's who raised the most and spent the most in a few of the most closely watched primary races.

Buffalo Common Council (Democratic primary)

Ellicott District: As expected, front-runner Leah Halton-Pope raised the most money  $45,644  according to reports filed with the Board of Elections. Matt Dearing, who is endorsed by the Working Families Party, raised $11,816. Halton-Pope has more than $35,000 remaining in her account, while Dearing has just over $3,000.

Reports for Cedric Holloway and Eddie Egriu, who are also running in the primary, were not available on the BOE website.

Masten District: Zeneta Everhart raised $63,858, nearly three times as much as her opponent, India Walton, who raised $22,280. Everhart spent big during the most recent reporting period and has $20,000 left in her account, while Walton has between $10,000 and $13,000 in her account, records show.

Erie County Legislature (GOP, Conservative primaries)

10th District: Legislator James Malczewski raised $37,527 and spent roughly $6,600. His opponent, Lindsay Bratek-Lorigo, raised $10,930 during the most recent reporting period and spent nearly $1,600, according to reports filed with the BOE. Malczewski has about $31,000 remaining in his campaign account, while Lorigo has $9,300.

Commentary: Navigating the State Board of Elections' campaign finance website continues to be a frustrating experience for voters, reporters and candidates alike. Despite multiple revamps, the site sometimes shows reports for certain candidates  and sometimes doesn't.

 Charlie Specht

The politics of immigration

Migrants are entering the United States almost 2,000 miles away, but the issues related to that influx have landed on the doorstep of politicians and organizations across New York.

As Gov. Kathy Hochul called for federal help to allow asylum-seekers to work while they are in this country  an idea that received tepid support from the New York Farm Bureau  Rep. Nicholas Langworthy called for swift federal action to deal with the issue. Immigration has also become a campaign issue in the race for Erie County executive, where incumbent Mark Poloncarz and challenger Chrissy Casilio staked out opposing positions. Read my main story here.

Additional coverage: Maki Becker's story about what's behind the sudden influx of migrants, Sandra Tan's story about how much any incoming asylum-seekers will cost the county and Tan's story about how Republican county legislators tried to bar asylum-seekers from being housed in Erie County but were rebuffed.

 Charlie Specht

News & Notes

The tense relationship between County Clerk Mickey Kearns and County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick didn't get any better last week after Hardwick asked the County Legislature to intervene in a dispute with Kearns over access to bank accounts, Sandra Tan reports.

There's a shake-up at Buffalo City Hall, where Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, who served as Mayor Byron W. Brown's deputy mayor and chief-of-staff, is leaving to take a job as chief diversity officer and senior vice president at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Rodriguez-Dabney had been serving in a key role for Brown and her name was mentioned by political observers as a possible mayoral candidate in the future.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy , D-Buffalo, has introduced a bill giving Hochul authority to enter a new casino compact with the Seneca Nation of Indians, a required step towards finalizing an agreement. But the bill also contains provisions granting the Nation new advantages in its ongoing negotiations with Hochul's office, raising concerns within the Hochul administration, Chris Bragg reported. But a follow-up story by Bragg noted that since the bill's introduction, a disconnect has emerged between the Nation and Kennedy, its most valuable ally in the State Legislature.

The League of Women Voters and PUSH Buffalo will host a Buffalo Common Council Democratic primary candidate forum Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Auditorium.

Former County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw is the new deputy communications director for Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Mychajliw confirmed. He splits his time between WNY and Columbus, Ohio, where Ramaswamy's campaign is headquartered.

Stay tuned to this space for more political news and please share this newsletter with your friends! We send out a newsletter once a week, usually on Tuesday mornings.

How to sign up for this newsletter  Click the following link: buffalonews.com/newsletters/.

Have thoughts on the [BN] Politics Now newsletter? Email cspecht@buffnews.com.
Polands state media criticized for its coverage of huge anti-government march View Photo

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polands state broadcasting authority has received multiple complaints over the way state media covered a huge anti-government protest over the weekend, an official said Tuesday.

State broadcaster TVP played down the size and significance of the protest led by the main opposition leader, Donald Tusk. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in Warsaw, making it possibly the largest demonstration in decades in Poland.

Organizers estimated that 500,000 people took part. The number is impossible to verify but the march stretched for kilometers through the streets of Warsaw along the main route and down side streets. Protests were also held in other Polish cities.

TVP, which has long vilified Tusk in its reports, said there were no more than 150,000 people.

Unlike independent broadcasters, TVP didnt show the march live. At one point, however, it did offer viewers live coverage of the National Parade of the Circles of Rural Areas Housewives.

It referred to the peaceful and orderly demonstration as a march of hate because of some isolated vulgarities chanted against the government.

Andrzej Krajewski, secretary for the independent Society of Journalists, said that his group considered TVPs coverage scandalous.

The spokeswoman for the National Broadcasting Council, Teresa Brykczynska, told The Associated Press in an email that the council had received 12 complaints alleging a lack of pluralism, of objectivity, violation of media law, lack of live coverage of the march and (complaining) over the content of news tickers.

The council, also controlled by the governing Law and Justice party, would analyze the complaints and will write to TVP for an explanation, Brykczynska said.

Law and Justice has for years been using state media, especially TVP, as a mouthpiece.

The march was held on the anniversary of a crucial moment in Polands history, the partly free election on June 4, 1989, which paved the way for the end of communist rule. It was held months before an autumn election in which the conservative Law and Justice is fighting for a third term.

The partys control of taxpayer funded media was among the many issues that people singled out while protesting at the march, which was held in support of democracy and in opposition to the policies of the government.

In another incident reported by Polish media, a TVP reporter didnt have his stations logo on his microphone while interviewing participants, hiding his broadcasters identity. When he went on air, the logo was visible.

An image posted by another TVP reporter was framed to suggest there were very few people at the march.

These reactions reminded older Poles of how the communist authorities used the same technique to falsely minimize the appearance of huge crowds for the Polish pope, St. John Paul II. The pontiff made historic visits in 1979 and in the 1980s to his homeland that inspired mass resistance to the communist government.

Asked about a lack of live coverage of the march, government spokesman Piotr Mueller argued that there is no obligation in Poland to report every march of Civic Platform, the main opposition party which led the demonstration.

Another TVP reporter tweeted that the majority of people he talked to said they had come to Warsaw to see the zoo, the National Stadium or eat cotton candy in good weather, an observation whose absurdity triggered mockery and jokes online.

Political observers have argued that the large turnout points to growing opposition to the government as the fall election draws close.

Law and Justice has led opinion polls since it won power in 2015, but has seen growing criticism of its policies. Some argue that the minimization of the marchs significance may come from a realization that the party will have serious competition in the fall election.

Commentator Andrzej Stankiewicz said on the Onet news portal that the march showed that for the first time since it took power, Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has someone he can lose to.

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA

Associated Press
Lawyer: Health of Gadhafis son, detained in Lebanon, deteriorating 3 days into hunger strike View Photo

BEIRUT (AP)  The health of a son of Libyas late leader Moammar Gadhafi was deteriorating three days into a hunger strike to protest his detention in Lebanon without trial, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Hannibal Gadhafi was suffering from headaches, muscle pain and difficulties moving around, his lawyer Paul Romanos said. He started his hunger strike Saturday.

He has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 after he was briefly kidnapped from neighboring Syria, where he had been living as a political refugee. He was abducted by Lebanese militants demanding information on the whereabouts of prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr who went missing in Libya 45 years ago.

Lebanese police later announced it had collected Hannibal from the northeastern city of Baalbek where he was being held. He has been detained in a Beirut jail without trial since then.

Romanos said Gadhafi was also suffering from back pain due to being held in a small room where he cannot move freely or exercise.

He is continuing his hunger strike and his health is deteriorating, Romanos told The Associated Press in a voice message.

A Lebanese security official who spoke on condition of anonymity said he had no information on Gadhafis health status.

The disappearance of al-Sadr in 1978 has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon. The clerics family believes he may still be alive in a Libyan prison, though most Lebanese presume al-Sadr is dead. He would be 94 years old.

Al-Sadr was the founder of the Amal group, Arabic for hope, and an acronym for the militias Arabic name, the Lebanese Resistance Brigades. The group later fought in Lebanons 1975-90 civil war. Lebanons powerful Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri heads the group.

Most of al-Sadrs followers are convinced that Moammar Gadhafi ordered al-Sadr killed in a dispute over Libyan payments to Lebanese militias. Libya has maintained that the cleric and his two traveling companions left Tripoli in 1978 on a flight to Rome and suggested he was a victim of a power struggle among Shiites.

Gadhafi was killed by opposition fighters in 2011, ending his four-decade rule of the north African country.

Hannibal Gadhafi was born two years before al-Sadr disappeared. He fled to Algeria along with his mother and several other relatives after his fathers fall from power. He later ended up in Syria where he was given political asylum before being kidnapped and brought to Lebanon.

By BASSEM MROUE

Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Lawyers for Ukraine told the United Nations' top court Tuesday that Russia bankrolled a campaign of intimidation and terror by rebels in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014 and sought to replace Crimea's multiethnic community with discriminatory Russian nationalism after its occupation and annexation of the region.

The claims came at hearings at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscows 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Four days of hearings in the courts ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice opened against a backdrop of Europes deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia were trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Lawyers for Kyiv presented legal arguments to support their case Tuesday. Russia's lawyers will address judges Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.

When it could have instructed its officials not to fund groups committing violence against civilians, Russia did nothing, Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, told judges. Instead, as more deadly weapons arrived in Ukraine and more Ukrainian civilians suffered atrocities, Russian officials escalated their illegal supply of monies and weapons sending."

Koh said that in July 2014, a Buk anti-aircraft system was sent into Ukraine "after which Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed.

Another lawyer on Ukraine's team, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fueled this campaign.

The Ukrainian legal team said Russia did nothing to prevent or help Ukraine investigate the financial streams.

Turning to alleged breaches in Crimea of a convention to combat racial discrimination, Koh said that, following its illegal occupation and annexation of the peninsula, Russia sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterized Crimea before Russias intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism.

He told judges that Russian policies amount to "a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians Ukrainians and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars.

The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russias illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities  a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored.

In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court doesn't have jurisdiction.

Not far away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia isn't a member of the court and doesn't recognize its jurisdiction.

A Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has contempt for international law, a senior Ukrainian diplomat, Anton Korynevych, said. Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KHERSON, Ukraine (AP)  A major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which sits on the Dnieper River in an area Moscow has controlled for more than a year. Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area, where the river separates the two sides.

It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting claims.

Russian and Ukrainian officials used terms like ecological disaster and terrorist act to describe the torrent of water gushing through the broken dam and beginning to empty an upstream reservoir that is one of the worlds largest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As homes, streets and businesses flooded, authorities expressed concerns about drinking water supplies and emergency crews evacuated thousands of people from Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

In the downstream city of Kherson, angry residents cursed as they tried to preserve their pets and belongings. A woman who gave her name only as Tetyana waded through thigh-deep water to reach her flooded house and rescue her dogs. They were standing on any dry surface they could find but one pregnant dog was missing. Its a nightmare, she kept repeating, declining to give her full name.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses to move residents to safety. About 25,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 17,000 in Ukrainian-held territory should be evacuated, Ukraines deputy chief prosecutor Viktoriia Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

A satellite photo Tuesday morning by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed more than 600 meters (over 1,900 feet) missing from the wall of the 1950s-era dam.

The dam break, which both sides long feared, added a stunning new dimension to Russias war, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear why either side might destroy the dam, and its collapse might have resulted from gradual degradation. Both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands were at risk.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. He claimed Ukraine had lost 3,715 troops and 52 tanks since Sunday, and  in a rare acknowledgment of Russias own losses  said 71 Russian troops were killed and 210 wounded. Ukraine followed its standard practice of not commenting on its casualties.

Zelenskyy told reporters his government knew last year that Russia had mined the dam, so there may come a moment when an explosion occurs. Other Ukrainian officials alleged Russia blew up the dam to hinder Kyivs counteroffensive, even though observers note that crossing the broad Dnieper would be extremely challenging. Other sectors of the front line are more likely avenues of attack, analysts say.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the alleged Russian destruction of the dam a profoundly defensive measure showing the lack of confidence in Russias longer-term prospects in the war.

Experts have previously said the dam was in disrepair, which could also have led to the breach. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir, said in an email it wasnt clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect by occupying Russian forces.

But Helms also noted a Russian history of attacking dams.

Underscoring the global repercussions, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse. Its unclear whether the surge was due to a real threat of floodwaters destroying crops. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Authorities, experts and residents have been concerned for months about water flowing through  and over  the Kakhovka dam. After heavy rains and snowmelt last month, water levels rose beyond normal, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Zelenskyy alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Monday, 7:50 p.m. EDT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side aimed at cutting water to Crimea.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. cannot say conclusively what happened and declined to assess the impact on Ukraines counteroffensive.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council later in the day, the U.S. deputy ambassador offered no clarity about what Washington sees as the cause of the dam's collapse, while the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors traded blame.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster from polluted waters partly caused by oil leaking from the dams machinery and farmland deprived of irrigation.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers western bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that at least 40 settlements in the Kherson region were already flooded.

The Russia-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which had a prewar population of about 45,000, said the city was being evacuated.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes biggest, relies in large part on water from the dams now-emptying reservoir. The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency reported no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, whose six reactors have been shut down for months but still need water for cooling. It said the rate of the drop in the dams reservoir level increased from 5 centimeters (2 inches) to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) an hour and could be depleted in a couple of days. The plant has alternate water sources that can last for months, according to the IAEA.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash a volume of water estimated as nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S state of Utah.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, warned thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply and that of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of attacking the dam.

___

Blann reported from Kyiv. Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
MERIDEN  As a mother with a son diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Marta Persia knows how much time a mother dedicates to their child, leaving almost none for themselves. With this in mind, Persia decided to recognize and pamper two mothers who have children diagnosed with ADHD.

She treated the two mothers, Joan Soto Melendez and Amalia Medina, to a spa day including facials and getting their hair and nails done at Senias Hair Salon, 35 West Main St.

Senia Martinez, owner of the salon, was on board with helping Persia glam up the mothers.

I, just like these other women, also had to struggle and overcome obstacles to get where I am today, Martinez said.

Martinez is from New York and when she came to Meriden, her life became difficult. She had to look after her three children while also starting her business.

Astrid Ruisanchez, 52, and Anna Dominguez, 45, market partners for Monat, a company that specializes in premium hair, skincare, and wellness products, did the facials on Medina and Soto. The pair also shared skin care techniques for use at home.

In addition, they received recognition for their leadership and commitment to Advocacy Academy. Two other women were also recognized by Persia, Wanda Mendez and state Rep. Hilda Santiago.

According to Persia, Santiago is an avid supporter of her organization.

The nonprofit organization was established in 2016 by Persia with the mission to enrich the quality of learning for students with mental health disabilities. Different services include college preparation, support groups, community service, transition preparation and training.

I have the goal to help families that may not know where to go when they need help for their child, Persia said.

In 2019, Soto, of Bristol, met Persia after trying to find resources for her son, who was diagnosed with ADHD and trauma due to domestic violence. Her son was in the first grade, and she was concerned that his school wasnt providing the right resources. According to Soto, the school didnt want to provide a paraprofessional for him.

I dont speak perfect English and I felt as though they took advantage of that, she said. Marta really helped and was able to get the school to provide a paraprofessional for him.

Soto came to the United States mainland eight years ago from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She then had her son, and took care of him while getting her masters in counselor education with a specialization in clinical professional and rehabilitation counseling. She graduated in 2018.

Soto is constantly researching and educating herself on how to provide help for her son.

Its trial and error, Soto said. If I notice that one thing isnt working, then I find something else.

Now, Joan Soto is a therapist for her company Rumbo Al Bienestar LLC. As a therapist, she works with adults who struggle with mental health, depression, and anxiety.

Amalia Medina, of West Haven, came in contact with Persia in 2007 during their training with the National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) in New Haven. The two then started training families who were involved with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) on mental health and how to communicate with each other.

Since then, the two have been in contact and now Medina is board president at Advocacy Academy. Medina also has a son with ADHD, which is why she strongly advocates for mental health disability services.

Its important to keep providing services for families, Medina said. With the pandemic over and the Meriden library opening back up soon, we are hoping to go back to the library to provide in person services.

Prior to the pandemic, Advocacy Academy would provide their training and support group at the Meriden Library.

For more information on Advocacy Academy, visit https://advocacyacademyae.com/.
A Meriden man faces charges after state police say he was seen drag racing in a stolen car in Berlin.

The arrest occurred amid law enforcement efforts to crack down on street takeovers, which police say often involve illegal racing, but have led to numerous other crimes in Connecticut and the region.

After extensive intelligence-gathering efforts over the weekend, police say that on Sunday at around 11:30 p.m. a white Honda Civic with no registration plate was seen drag racing on Route 9 in Berlin with an apparent drag chute attached to the rear of the vehicle. Troopers later observed the Honda Civic being loaded onto a flatbed trailer pulled by a Ford F-350 pickup truck.

State police said the Honda Civic was found to be stolen out of Danbury, and the trailer plate was misused. When troopers initiated a motor vehicle stop, the operator was allegedly transporting the Honda to a second racing location.

Flor Hiram Santiago, 43, of Meriden was charged with racing, reckless driving, reckless endangerment in the second degree, larceny in the first degree, failure to renew registration, misuse of plates, theft of plates, operating without insurance, operating under suspension, and improper parking.

Santiago was held on a $500,000 bond and appeared at New Britain Superior Court. He was also wanted by East Haven police on a first-degree larceny charge. The Ford F-350, the Honda Civic, and the towing trailer were all seized as evidence in this investigation, according to state police.

nzappone@record-journal.com
MERIDEN  Yale New Haven Healths goal to build a comprehensive medical center at the site of the former Macys at Meriden Mall remains behind schedule.

We are still in the planning stages at this juncture and will update everyone as we move ahead, Yale New Haven spokesman Mark Dantonio stated in a email. No other updates at this time.

Yale New Haven officials said the 179,258-square-foot former Macys store will be used to provide out-patient care for patients through partnerships with Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Yale New Haven Heart and Vascular Center and Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital.

The site will also offer blood draw and radiology services.

Construction workers have been doing interior demolition and recently filed a plan revision with city building officials, said city Economic Development Director Joseph Feest.

After purchasing the former anchor store for $2.8 million in October, Yale New Haven Health initially said it planned to start construction in early 2022, and open some services in the next 18 to 24 months. The project was expected to be completed by the end of 2023 or early 2024.

But Yale representatives recently told Hearst Media, Like many health systems across the country, Yale New Haven Health is facing headwinds stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic climate. We are being very thoughtful in our planning and will update everyone as we move forward.

The move puts Yale in the backyard of Hartford HealthCare which owns MidState Medical Center also on Lewis Avenue. The two organizations are among the largest health networks in the state and have been creeping into each others service areas.

Theyre committed to the project, Feest said. They paid for the interior demo and the remediation has been done already. They are waiting for the next stage of construction on the interior. Last month, they sent in some revisions. Based on that, you know they are still working on it.

Meriden Mall is among other struggling malls in the state as management attempts to move toward non-retail uses to fill vacant space. After the sale of the former Macys store to Yale in 2021, the mall had seen interest in a dinner theater next to a former Best Buy that is also on the southern wing of the retail center. The future of the dinner theater is unknown, but activity has stalled.

Neither mall or dinner theater representatives could be reached for comment.

The mall welcomed a new and unique addition in March called Petrillos Fairs and Festivals, a company that produces free, fun events for the entire family to enjoy. The business, which hosts vendors and other activities, is open on the weekends.

This is a great concept to draw more people into the mall, Midstate Chamber of Commerce President Rosanne Ford said in March. So you know theyre there for the event, theres great exposure for the vendors, but also a good additional way to draw traffic to some of the stores in the mall like Boscovs.

Another attraction had been the Meriden Public Library, which operated a temporary location at the mall during renovations to the main library building on Miller Street. The temporary mall location closed last week ahead of a July 14 reopening of the Miller Street building.

mgodin@record-journal.com203-317-2255Twitter: @Cconnbiz
After two decades of historic private investment, job creation, positive economic impact and the support of essential services like education, health care, housing and more, the Seneca Nations gaming compact is facing an uncertain and potentially perilous future. The New York State Legislature can act to protect it.

State Sen. Tim Kennedy has introduced legislation that would grant Gov. Kathy Hochul the authority to sign a new compact with the Seneca Nation, while also ensuring the Nation retains vital protection under federal law. Both are needed.

The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) requires that Native Nations have a valid compact in order to conduct casino gaming. The law also requires that states negotiate with Native Nations in good faith, and allows Native Nations to sue in federal court if the good faith obligations are not honored. A Supreme Court case provided states an avenue to avoid such challenges, in conflict with existing federal law.

States can act to ensure that Native Nations have this legal protection, which is fundamental to the IGRA. Many states, including California, Washington and Michigan, have done so. New York should do the same by passing Kennedys bill.

New Yorks legislative session ends June 8. Ongoing negotiations between the Seneca Nation and New York State will continue after legislators leave Albany. The proposed legislation will ensure that negotiations continue and are completed in an arena of fairness and good faith between partners who have admittedly not always seen eye to eye.

A choice not to pass the bill is a tacit approval for the use of bad faith tactics in the negotiations. This does not square with the Legislatures responsibility to provide a check on the Governors Office. That is especially important here, where the governor is recused from negotiations and decision-making rests with unelected appointees.

The Legislature needs to pass this bill now; otherwise it creates the very real possibility that the parties cannot legally agree to a compact even when we come to terms. It also creates the stark possibility that there will be no compact, jeopardizing a significant economic engine for Western New York, and a vital economic lifeline for the Seneca Nation and our people.

New York holds itself as a standard bearer for progressive values and fair treatment for all. Why would the state then want to deny Indigenous people the protection of federal law?

Kennedys legislation levels the playing field by holding the state to the standards envisioned and established by Congress.

This is about the future of the Seneca Nation and the future of Western New York. The time to protect that future is now. The New York State Legislature has just days to stand for fairness  for the Seneca Nation, and for Western New York.

Rickey Armstrong Sr. is president of the Seneca Nation.
SELF-EXILED former Zanu PF political commissar and Cabinet minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has joined the presidential race ahead of this years harmonised elections set for August 23.

Last week, Kasukuwere issued a teaser on Twitter using the handle @NewAllianceZW calling himself President Kasukuwere.

He shared a picture of himself with other former Cabinet ministers Walter Mzembi, Patrick Zhuwao and Nkosana Moyo.

The New Alliance Zimbabwe has also been actively sponsoring Kasukuweres candidature on Twitter.

In a post accompanying the photos of Kasukuwere and his former Cabinet colleagues, the alliance said: Dear Zimbabwe. Please brace yourself for big surprises this election season. But please do not over-react. We only have this country for the future to inherit. We must continue to act with focus and restraint. We love you Zimbabwe.

In another post, the political grouping said: By standing in the August 2023 elections, president Kasukuwere is representing the voiceless masses, the downtrodden, the disenfranchised citizens, as well as patriots who were violently driven from the shores of the motherland. He is standing against black-on-black oppression.

A disclaimer, however, indicates that the 52-year-old Kasukuwere does not run the handle, adding that it is strictly a supporters interactive handle.

However, Kasukuweres interaction with South African journalist Sophie Mokoena on Twitter yesterday attracted attention and debate after the announcement of his candidature.

Breaking News. There you have it @Hon_Kasukuwere says he will be contesting the presidential election in Zimbabwe on 23 August 2023. The other candidates includes (sic) @edmnangagwa and @nelsonchamisa. For more, watch #sabcnews Channel 404 or @SophieMokoena.

Kasukuwere, currently in self-imposed exile in South Africa, also confirmed the news in response to Mokoenas post.

The call has been made and yes, I will be making a formal statement on my candidature, he said.

Many observers believe Kasukuweres candidature would divide and weaken Mnangagwas Zanu PF after the latter allegedly failed to unite the ruling party since the 2017 coup, while the fissures in the party have continued to widen following bitterly contested internal polls to choose election candidates.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Kasukuwere said: I know people are interested to know (about the candidature), but I can assure you that you will be the first to get the official statement.

Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said it was dangerous for Zanu PF to let Kasukuwere contest in the forthcoming elections.

If that happens, then Mnangagwa is gone.

But I can tell you, Mnangagwa and his allies are busy doing what they can to stop Kasukuwere from contesting, he said.

If he does, he will divide the Zanu PF vote.

But I dont think he will even make it to the Nomination Court.

Chances are very slim. Mnangagwa wont fold his hands and let it happen.

Kasukuweres political star shined in the ruling partys youth league, propelling him to the late former President Robert Mugabes Cabinet as Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister.

He is also a former Environment, Water, and Climate minister.

Kasukuwere, Mnangagwa and Mugabes wife Grace teamed up to topple former Vice-President Joice Mujuru during his tenure as party political commissar.

The alliance, however, fell apart when Kasukuwere and Grace were joined by another former minister Jonathan Moyo and members of the G40 group, which turned its guns on Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led by General Constantino Chiwenga, now Vice-President, ousted Mugabe in a coup in 2017.

Kasukuwere, Moyo, Mzembi and Zhuwao fled the country during the coup.

The former Cabinet ministers face arrest over a litany of charges, including corruption.

Kasukuwere briefly returned home in January 2018 and was arrested on corruption charges, which were later dismissed by the Harare Magistrates Court, but not before he left the country again.

In October 2020, the government sought Kasukuweres extradition from South Africa after issuing a warrant for his arrest.

Zanu PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said: Zanu PF does not lose sleep over nothing. There is no Zimbabwean constituency across the Limpopo to the extent that you are aware.

We are focused on winning the election for development and our indomitable presidential candidate H.E Cde ED Mnangagwa does not lose sleep over a barking fugitive of justice. After all, its good to have ambitions, but it will be foolhardy and tomfoolery to aspire to empty an ocean using buckets.

We have already set preparations in motion for the inauguration of would-be President-elect, Cde ED Mnangagwa. Let Tom, Dick and Harry throw their hat in the ring, but in the end, Floyd Mayweather has no defeat.

 NewsDay

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. Generally speaking, MDs take a dim view of osteopaths. I have a friend who came from a family of MDs who swore by the one her husband saw to treat the various twinges he got from being a dentist and having to stand in unnatural postures a fair bit of the day. In many (most? all?) states, osteopaths can prescribe, so that gets them a long way towards being able to provide similar care to what most people see as more conventional doctors.

In a bit of synchronicity, Paul R recently sent me a 2020 Niskanen Center article, The Planning of U.S. Physician Shortages. If you read only the KFF Foundation story, youd think the lack of rural doctors is an unfortunate act of nature, when there was a concerted effort to cut back on doctor creation. The top of this important story gives you the drift of the gist:

The number of practicing physicians per person in the United States is lower than in just about any other developed country. Yet from 1980 to the early 2000s, the prevailing wisdom was that the number of physicians within the United States ought to be reduced. During this period, a series of ill-judged reports by the federal government warned of an impending physician surplus. These reports ushered in a period in which both private and public actors took actions to constrain the supply of U.S. physicians, the most significant of which was the medical school moratorium. The resulting dearth of physicians had the effect of making U.S. health care more intensive and less accessible than it otherwise would have been. The physician surplus narrative

In 1976, the secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the Department of Health and Human Services) commissioned the Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee (GMENAC) to intensively study the U.S. physician workforce and provide policy recommendations. The committees mandate was to answer the question whether a rapid increase in the number of U.S. physicians that had occurred over the previous decade was cause for concern. Released in 1981, the GMENAC report concluded that the United States was on the verge of a massive physician surplus, recommending immediate action to curtail both the domestic training of physicians as well as the admittance of those trained outside of the country. Its difficult to overstate the influence of the GMENAC report in cementing the narrative of physician surplus during the 1980s and 90s. The report is pervasively referenced in medical and policy journals during this period. In subsequent years, the surplus narrative would be routinely endorsed by governmental bodies. The congressionally-authorized Council on Graduate Medical Education repeatedly endorsed the need to constrain physician numbers in order to avoid a surplus in its annual reports between 1988 and 2000. Workforce modeling by the federal Bureau of Health Professions endorsed the same conclusion. And in 1997, a consensus statement by the American Medical Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and other prominent medical associations declared the same.

Now to the main event.

By Tony Leys, KFF Health News Rural Editor/Correspondent, is based in Des Moines, where he worked 33 years as a reporter and editor for The Des Moines Register. Tony was the Registers lead health care reporter for more than 20 years and served four terms as a board member for the Association of Health Care Journalists. Originally published at KFF Health News

For 35 years, this towns residents have brought all manner of illnesses, aches, and worries to Kevin de Regniers storefront clinic on the courthouse square  and he loves them for it.

De Regnier is an osteopathic physician who chose to run a family practice in a small community. Many of his patients have been with him for years. Many have chronic health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or mental health struggles, which he helps manage before they become critical.

I just decided Id rather prevent fires than put them out, he said between appointments on a recent afternoon.

Broad swaths of rural America dont have enough primary care physicians, partly because many medical doctors prefer to work in highly paid specialty positions in cities. In many small towns, osteopathic doctors like de Regnier are helping fill the gap.

Osteopathic physicians, commonly known as DOs, go to separate medical schools from medical doctors, known as MDs. Their courses include lessons on how to physically manipulate the body to ease discomfort. But their training is otherwise comparable, leaders in both wings of the profession say.

Both types of doctors are licensed to practice the full range of medicine, and many patients would find little difference between them aside from the initials listed after their names.

DOs are still a minority among U.S. physicians, but their ranks are surging. From 1990 to 2022, their numbers more than quadrupled, from fewer than 25,000 to over 110,000, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. In that same period, the number of MDs rose 91%, from about 490,000 to 934,000.

Over half of DOs work in primary care, which includes family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. By contrast, more than two-thirds of MDs work in other medical specialties.

The number of osteopathic medical schools in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2000, to 40, and many of the new ones are in relatively rural states, including Idaho, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. School leaders say their locations and teaching methods help explain why many graduates wind up filling primary care jobs in smaller towns.

De Regnier noted that many MD schools are housed in large universities and connected to academic medical centers. Their students often are taught by highly specialized physicians, he said. Students at osteopathic schools tend to do their initial training at community hospitals, where they often shadow general practice doctors.

U.S. News & World Report ranks medical schools based on the percentage of graduates working in rural areas. Osteopathic schools hold three of the top four spots on the 2023 edition of that list.

William Carey Universitys osteopathic school, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is No. 1 in that ranking. The program, which began in 2010, was intentionally sited in a region that needed more medical professionals, said Dean Italo Subbarao.

After finishing classwork, most William Carey medical students train in hospitals in Mississippi or Louisiana, Subbarao said. Students become part of the fabric of that community, he said. They see the power and the value of a what a primary care doc in a smaller setting can have.

Leaders from both sides of the profession say tension between DOs and MDs has eased. In the past, many osteopathic physicians felt their MD counterparts looked down on them. They were denied privileges in some hospitals, so they often founded their own facilities. But their training is now widely considered comparable, and students from both kinds of medical schools compete for slots in the same residency training programs.

Michael Dill, director of workforce studies at the Association of American Medical Colleges, said it makes sense that osteopathic school graduates are more likely to go into family practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics. The very nature of osteopathic training emphasizes primary care. Thats kind of their thing, said Dill, whose group represents MD medical schools.

Dill said he would be confident in the care provided by both types of doctors. I would be equally willing to see either as my own primary care physician, he said.

Data from the University of Iowa shows osteopathic physicians have been filling rural roles previously filled by medical doctors. The universitys Office of Statewide Clinical Education Programs tracks the states health care workforce, and its staff analyzed the data for KFF Health News.

The analysis found that, from 2008 to 2022, the number of Iowa MDs based outside the states 11 most urban counties dropped more than 19%. Over the same period, the number of DOs based outside those urban areas increased by 29%. Because of the shift, DOs now make up more than a third of rural Iowa physicians, and that proportion is expected to grow.

In Madison County, the picturesque rural area where de Regnier practices, the University of Iowa database lists seven physicians practicing family medicine or pediatrics. All are DOs.

De Regnier, 65, speculated that the local dominance of the osteopathic profession is partly due to the proximity of his alma mater, Des Moines University, which runs an osteopathic training center 35 miles northeast of Winterset.

Des Moines University has one of the countrys oldest osteopathic medical schools. It graduates about 210 DO students a year, compared with about 150 MD students who graduate annually from the University of Iowa, home to the states only other medical school.

Many patients probably pay no attention to whether a physician is an MD or a DO, but some seek the osteopathic type, said de Regnier, who is a past president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Patients might like the physical manipulation DOs can use to ease aches in their limbs or back. And they might sense the professions focus on patients overall health, he said.

On a recent afternoon, de Regnier worked his way through a slate of patients, most of whom had seen him before.

One of them was Ben Turner, a 76-year-old pastor from the nearby town of Lorimor. Turner had come in for a check of his diabetes. He sat on the exam table with his shoes off and his eyes closed.

De Regnier took out a flexible plastic probe and instructed Turner to say when he felt it touch his feet. Then the doctor began to gently place the probe on the patients skin.

Yup, Turner said as the probe glanced against each toe. Yup, he said as de Regnier brushed the probe against his soles and moved to the other foot. Yeah. Yeah. Yup. Yeah.

The doctor offered good news: Turner had no signs of nerve damage in his feet, which is a common complication of diabetes. A blood sample showed he had a good A1C level, a measure of the disease. He had no heaviness in his chest, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Medication appeared to be staving off problems.

Chris Bourne, 55, of Winterset, stopped in to consult de Regnier about his mental health. Bourne has been seeing de Regnier for about five years.

Bourne takes pills for anxiety. With input from the doctor, he had reduced the dose. The anxious feelings crept back in, and he had trouble sleeping, he told de Regnier, sounding disappointed.

De Regnier noted the dose he prescribed to Bourne is relatively low, but he had approved of the attempt to reduce it. Im glad you tried, he said. Dont beat yourself up.

In an interview later, Bourne said that until he moved to Winterset five years ago, hed never gone to an osteopathic physician  and didnt know what one was. Hes come to appreciate the patience de Regnier shows in determining what might be causing a patients problem.

When he sits down on that stool, hes yours, Bourne said.

Another patient that day was Lloyd Proctor Jr., 54, who was suffering from previously undiagnosed diabetes. His legs were swollen, and he felt run-down. Tests showed his blood sugar was more than four times the normal level.

The pancreas isnt happy right now, because its working too hard trying to take care of that blood sugar, the doctor told him.

De Regnier diagnosed him with diabetes and prescribed medication and insulin, saying he would adjust the order if necessary to minimize Proctors costs after insurance. He brought out a syringe and showed Proctor how to give himself insulin injections. Proctor listened to advice on how to measure blood sugar.

And maybe I should quit grabbing Mountain Dew every time Im thirsty, the patient said, ruefully.

De Regnier smiled. I was just getting to that, he said.

The appointment was one of the doctors longest of the day. At the end, he reassured Proctor that they could get his diabetes under control together.

I know thats a lot of info. If you get home and think, Whatd he say?  dont hesitate to pick up the phone and give me a call, de Regnier said. Im happy to visit anytime.
Ukraine and Russia are pointing fingers at each other over the massive breach of the Nova Kakhova dam. Readers likely recall that the fear that Ukraine would blow up the dam led Russia to take the seriously-bad-from-an-optics perspective move of pulling out of Kherson City. Destruction of the dam would flood its low-lying sections and the resulting damage would make the already-difficult task of supplying troops close to impossible.

Note many commentators are jumping to the conclusion that the dam was destroyed (being critically damaged versus destroyed may seem too fine a point, but it can have implications for the severity of flooding). I am trying to get the input of construction/major earthworks expert bob from Syracuse, who provided very detailed commentary on the failure of the Oroville Dam in California.

Nevertheless, a seriously big time flood is underway:

This is bad. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Plant by AFU today means:

The left side of Kherson will be flooded soon, including several villages.

Crimea will have water supply cut off.

Kakhovka reservoir was the key to the irrigation system in the south of pic.twitter.com/3Ynh9V8do4  Julia Kanin (@julia_kanin) June 6, 2023

If you look at the water, you can see it is rushing over the center but the dam was not taken out from side to side.

What matters in terms of flood levels is how many feet down the dam has been taken out, which no one not on site can readily guess well, at least now1. How much the water level rises below the dam depends on how low the lowest level of water restriction now is, and whether that gets eroded any further due to the action of the flood.

Also keep in mind the lower Dnieper is marshy, a flood plain near its mouth. So even if the water rise is not as bad as it could have been, it will still damage a lot of terrain.

The destruction of Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. More than 80 settlements, including Kherson, will be in the zone of rapid flooding. Hundreds of thousands of people could be affected. pic.twitter.com/mo33GyvU9g  Trollstoy (@Trollstoy88) June 6, 2023

The New York Times has some intel on flooding (note each snippet as a separate source ffrom the Times staff which I omitted to reduce visual clutter):

The local Ukrainian military administration said that water downstream of the dam will reach critical levels in five hours, or around noon local time. The water level in the Kakhovka Reservoir is dropping at a rate of about 15 centimeters, or 6 inches, per hour, the military administration in Nikopol, a Ukrainian-controlled city on the shore of the reservoir, said in a statement. Ukraines Ministry of Interior said local authorities in 10 towns and villages and in the city of Kherson were told to prepare to evacuate residents. Some low-lying neighborhoods in Kherson city are at risk but not the entire city.

Evacuations have started. From CNN:

In a video statement posted on Telegram, Oleksandr Prokudin, the Ukraine-appointed head of the Kherson region military administration, said the water will reach critical level in five hours. Prokudin said evacuations in the area of danger around the dam had started and asked citizens to collect your documents and most needed belongings and wait for evacuation buses. I ask you to do everything you can to save your life. Leave the dangerous areas immediately, he added. Units of Ukraines National Police and the state emergency service of the Kherson region have been put on alert to warn and evacuate civilians from potential flood zones, Ukraines Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

Also note Twitter is full of the charge that this is a war crime.largely blaming Russia. This is on its face nonsensical. What is damaged is Kherson, territory that Russia says is now its own, even if it controls only part now, and water supplies to Crimea. The flooding is also taking out defensive fortifications and mines planted by Russia.

You dont salt land in your own territory, and Russia has taken the legal steps under its law laying claim to all of Kherson.

Reuters tries to stand a bit above the fray:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blamed Russia for the damage. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Ukraines military said that Russian forces blew up the dam. Russian-installed officials in Kherson said Ukraine struck the dam at 2300 GMT several times, destroying the hydraulic valves of the hydroelectric power station but said the dam was not totally destroyed. We ask all residents of coastal settlements to be ready for evacuation, the Russian-controlled region said. Emergency and special services of the region are in full readiness and will provide all necessary assistance.

The Washington Post is also not assigning blame, perhaps a signal that the US does not want NATO dragged in (a least unless and until Ukraine can provide receipts. Its headline is Ukraine live briefing: Major Ukrainian dam damaged, threatening southern areas with flooding. First para:

A major dam in southern Ukraine has been damaged, allowing large amounts of water to flow out of a reservoir and prompting officials to order residents of surrounding areas to evacuate. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Both Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of plotting to destroy the dam, without providing evidence.

This is bad. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Plant by AFU today means:

The left side of Kherson will be flooded soon, including several villages.

Crimea will have water supply cut off.

Kakhovka reservoir was the key to the irrigation system in the south of pic.twitter.com/3Ynh9V8do4  Julia Kanin (@julia_kanin) June 6, 2023

Before the Kakhovka dam was blown up, Western analysts *admitted* Ukraine had the motive  NOT Russia. Now they're trying to erase these facts from the internet. They have to pretend the war crime was ordered by Putin, not Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/jIhAYo2oeU  Clint Ehrlich (@ClintEhrlich) June 6, 2023

Some early confirmation of the Ukraine skeptics case:

Ukrainian military fired at the Kakhovka HPP at night with the "Olha" (Alder) MLRS,  emergency services told the media. The "Olha" (Alder) MLRS is a  modification of the Smerch. Looks like Kiev couldn't coordinate their own coverup story.  Dr.Snekotron (@snekotron) June 6, 2023

This act looks like a Ukraine twofer:

1. A statement that if Ukraine has no good prospect of retaking territory now under Russian control, it would rather destroy it than let Russia have it

2. An effort to get NATO to commit troops

There has also been noise about risk to the Zaporzhizhia power plant. Some Twitterati say this is not an issue due to the degree to which the plant has been mothballed:

ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR: LOSS OF KAKHOVKA DAM Zaporizhzhia NPP, Europe's largest, draws cooling water from a reservoir whose dam is now severely damaged. All six reactors are off & cold. Almost no cooling water needed. Unfolding event, but not a serious risk for nuclear accident. pic.twitter.com/rDfdWdKbbV  Mark Nelson (@energybants) June 6, 2023

Ukraine sources seem to agree:

The destruction of Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant can have negative consequences for Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but currently the situation is under control  Ukrainian Energoatom. "The water from Kakhovka reservoir is necessary to power turbine capacitors and safety pic.twitter.com/t0eGuvtZHs  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 6, 2023

And an update (4:40 AM EDT) from Slavyangrad:

There is no water rise at the Zaporozhye NPP, there is no threat to the safety of the station due to the explosion of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam; There is no threat of flooding in Crimea due to the destruction of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, Aksenov said There is a risk that the North Crimean Canal will become shallow. Drinking water is more than enough. Work is underway to minimize water losses in the canal, the Governor of Crimea added.

Rybar is more alarmist:

* * *

I am afraid I am giving the promised second half of the post short shrift due to the hour.

We now seem to have a Schrodingers counteroffensive, with two major Washington whisperers, the New York Times and The Hill, weirdly reluctant to call whether the famed Ukraine counteroffensive has started. First from the New York Times, in As Ukrainian Attacks Surge, U.S. Officials See Signs of Counteroffensive:

Ukrainian forces have stepped up artillery strikes and ground assaults in a flurry of military activity that American officials suggested on Monday could signal that Kyivs long-planned counteroffensive against Russia had begun. The fighting, which began on Sunday, was raging along several points on the front line, but farther to the east of where many analysts had expected Ukraines counteroffensive to launch. Even if it has started in that eastern area, experts said, the battle would allow Kyivs troops to try to accomplish the same goal: Head south toward the Sea of Azov and cut off the land bridge connecting occupied Crimea to mainland Russia.

And The Hill in Ukraines counteroffensive appears to have started: Heres what to know:

Ukraine began launching attacks in the eastern Donetsk region over the weekend in what appears to be the first wave of Kyivs long-anticipated counteroffensive. Ukrainian commanders have sent in mechanized brigades, including heavy battle tanks, along with conventional troops to assault several locations in the southern Donetsk region, where Russian troops are entrenched.

Maybe thats just to keep their options open. If these attacks can be tarted up as meaningful successes, this will later be deemed as the start of that overdue initiative. Otherwise, it will be branded as yet more reco in combat or deception operations.

Dima at Military Summary reported that the Ukraine push in the Vremevka bridgehead resulted in Ukraine capturing a couple of small settlements, with Russia pushing the forces nearly all the way back overnightat a cost claimed by the Ministry of Defense of 300 Ukrainians and 56 combat vehicles, including 16 tanks. Ouch. Dima also described meaningful Russian gains in Marinka.

By contrast, Rybar is critical of how the Russian regular forces have managed the rotation of forces in Bakhmut, saying that Ukraine forces were able to exploit communication gaps. However, other sources are not citing meaningful Russian setbacks or outsizes losses. By contrast, Dima describes two Ukraine assaults in Bakhmut, one where they created a bridgehead that Prigozhin complained about bitterly, while on his map, Dima outlined one penetration to the north area and deemed it to be an artillery bag as in Ukrainians whod entered were not likely to leave (Dima tends to be excitable, so an underreaction is not in character for him). Dima reported on Ukraine claims of territorial gains by Ukraine further north in Bakhmut and to its south. He discounted the how much part but thought it did mean an attempt was made, Ukraine might have taken some terrain, and there were costs on both sides.

Finally, some have rejected the Ministry of Defense claims below, but there were reports earlier of up to 1000 Ukraine casualties a day. If Ukraine has been attacking at more points on the extended front lines and Russia now has much more ammo and men and even better command of the air than before, I dont see how this can be rejected out of hand:

It seems Zelensky's instincts were right, Ukraine really wasn't ready for a counteroffensive. If the numbers are legit, this is catastrophic.  Russian Ministry of Defense: On June 5, the enemy continued the offensive, concentrating the main efforts on the Vremevsky ledge  Chebureki Man (@CheburekiMan) June 5, 2023

But yes, we should also wait for further indicators of large losses, like hospitals (again) filling up.

This is so sad and ugly. We are the ones who keep pressing Ukraine to keep throwing itself against a formidable force that still has a lot in reserve. The human and environmental costs to Ukraine will continue to mount. And we stepped in to prevent a peaceful end in April 2022. You could blame Russia for starting the conflict, but its continuation and escalation is all on the West.

____

1 People on site might have good proxies as to how far down the cement has been obliterated relative to the pre-strike water level, like the speed of the water flow.

The dam looks to have been blown up, but theres even a dispute as to how. Ukraine is claiming Russia mined it underwater long ago and blew it now.

Some pointed out that the water behind the dam was at record levels and thus could have been deliberate negligence:

MEDIA: More detailed and close up footage being released of the remains of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. No evidence of fire and explosive damage or debris anywhere. #dam #ukraine #crimea #russia pic.twitter.com/z5oOkYeVLI  Stellar Man (@stellarman22) June 6, 2023

CNN did point out at the end of its story:

In November, the dam was damaged in shelling and satellite images from Maxar Technologies obtained by CNN showed water flowing out of three sluice gates at the dam.

But later:

*Unverified* video from Russian telegram sources purported to be of an underwater explosion at Kakhovka dam pic.twitter.com/JCypiREvPf  Dmitri Alperovitch (@DAlperovitch) June 6, 2023

So we have contradictory video evidence.
You could be forgiven for imagining that state legislatures around the country are lurching rightward, thanks to the media spotlight given to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's culture warring in his state. Other deep-red states are not far behind.

This is why the Minnesota Miracle, which is only beginning to get the attention it deserves, is so important. The avalanche of progressive legislation that the state's two vote Democratic majority in the Minnesota House and one-vote advantage in the state Senate have enacted this year is a wonder to behold.

To detail everything Gov. Tim Walz and his legislative partners accomplished would far outstrip the space allocated here. Minn Post reporters Peter Callaghan and Walker Orenstein offered a bracing race through the list:

"Democrats codified abortion rights, paid family and medical leave, sick leave, transgender rights protections, drivers licenses for undocumented residents, restoration of voting rights for people when they are released from prison or jail, wider voting access, onetime rebates, a tax credit aimed at low-income parents with kids, and a $1 billion investment in affordable housing including for rental assistance."

Take a breath and move on: "Also adopted were background checks for private gun transfers and a red-flag warning system to take guns from people deemed by a judge to be a threat to themselves or others. [Democratic] lawmakers banned conversion therapy for LGBTQ people, legalized recreational marijuana, expanded education funding, required a carbon-free electric grid by 2040, adopted a new reading curricula based on phonics, passed a massive $2.58 billion capital construction package and, at the insistence of Republicans, a $300 million emergency infusion of money to nursing homes." The mix of tax cuts and increases, by the way, will make the state's revenue system more progressive.

There's a lot more, including laws strengthening workers' rights and unemployment insurance for hourly workers previously left out of the system; a refundable child credit for lower-income Minnesotans; and free breakfast and lunch for all Minnesota K-12 students.

It's no wonder former president Barack Obama tweeted recently: "If you need a reminder that elections have consequences, check out what's happening in Minnesota."

True, but not all electoral consequences are so momentous. What makes Minnesota's experience this year unusual? State Democratic leaders said in interviews that as soon as they learned last November that they would have their first trifecta in a decade  meaning control of both chambers and the governorship  they decided they would not hold back to calculate the politics of every move.

"I thought this would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it should be viewed that way," Walz told me. "And I've always said you don't win elections to bank political capital. You win elections to burn the capital to improve lives."

Democratic leaders quickly worked to bring together legislators from the metro Twin Cities, many on the left, and those closer to the center from rural and small-town areas. House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she appointed a staunch progressive from Minneapolis to chair one of the body's tax committees and a moderate from the increasingly conservative Iron Range to chair the other. "If we couldn't get both of them on board, then it wouldn't be something our caucus could do."

Hortman added that while a two-year budget surplus of $17.5 billion set expectations "very high" for what could be done, $10 billion of it was "one-time money," meaning that programs had to be funded and revenue raised for the long term.

Because Democrats already held the House, many of their ideas had been worked through over the previous four years. Hortman and new Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic worked closely to make sure any differences between the two chambers' bills were ironed out in advance.

Most important, said Hortman and House Majority Leader Jamie Long, was the experience of the Democrats' trifecta a decade ago. As Long put it, the party "passed a lot of really good things" but worried about how various bills might "affect them electorally."

"There were many things they decided not to do because they figured 'well, we should win our re-elections and then we'll come back and do all those things next time.'" But there was no next time because Democrats were clobbered in the 2014midterms. Hortman said leaders from that time told this year's trifectarians that the only regret they had "were the things that they had left on the table."

One other lesson for states that want to emulate Minnesota: Keep in mind what Long called "the Wellstone Triangle," a governing concept framed by U.S. Sen. Paul D. Wellstone.

Hortman explained: "You need good ideas.  You need elected politicians who are going to be supporting those ideas, and then you need outside organizing for elections and to support those votes." All three are key to getting things done. In Minnesota, key players included unions, environmental groups and faith-based organizers in the appropriately named Isaiah organization. In the run-up to the session, the outside groups were brought into the task of crafting an agenda.

Democrats in the state are known as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party from their merger with a third party in the 1940s. True to the name, the party's agenda combined social concerns such as abortion rights with what Long called "bread-and-butter, populist things that sell everywhere in the state."

Walz thinks this will help win back some of the voters who drifted Republican in the Trump years. "There's nothing extreme about feeding kids," he said. "There's nothing extreme about women making their own healthcare decisions. There's nothing extreme about saying don't demonize these trans children. Just make a place for them. We'll all be okay. And I think I think it's working."

It sure did this year.

Democratic leaders quickly worked to bring together legislators from the metro Twin Cities, many on the left, and those closer to the center from rural and small town areas.
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 Western corporations are refusing to go along with the US-Western strategy of decoupling from China  and the militarisation of great-power relations. Is the capitalist class revolting against the military-industrial complex and the neocons? A THREAD.https://t.co/QBYjVvFfTX  Thomas Fazi (@battleforeurope) June 6, 2023 DEA: Chinese organized crime laundering money for Mexican drug cartels NBC (furzy)

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France faces 14th day of nationwide protests to derail pension reform France24 The host then asks him why we "never respond to the attacks we suffer?" He has a really powerful answer: "First, because there is a real, internalized weakness. And it also because it has a cost. When Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin decided to use the resources they pic.twitter.com/cj0wkOxk1E  Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) June 4, 2023

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The demise of CNN Robert Reich (furzy) BREAKING: Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. claims Pfizer funneled $12 million dollars to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper as part of a deal to promote mRNA COVID jabs to the American public.  Leading Report (@LeadingReport) June 5, 2023

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Yves here. I very much welcome reader perspectives on this topic, since I dont have any contact with campus life. The problem I have with this sunny tale about forums for free speech is that it sounds a lot like access to health care. My perception from afar is that there is a lot of actual and self censorship. For instance:

Young people have been inculcated to be very conflict averse. College debate judges who were debaters when young were telling me ~15 years ago that the students in the room would tense up when the judges disagreed with each other and seemed to regard what was once normal constructive criticism as rude and demeaning. Just think how you have to walk on eggshells if a casual remark might be deemed a microagression. Even if, by the numbers, cases of censorship of campus speakers are rare, they have a chilling effect There seems to be a lot of group-think, particularly on topics like Trump, Covid, and Russia. Countering that seems to result in more heated opposition than before (weirdly contradicting the first point, you are supposed to tread carefully.save when defending an orthodoxy?)

By Bradford Vivian, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State. Originally published at The Conversation

The claim that college students censor viewpoints with which they disagree is now common. Versions of this claim include the falsehoods that students shut down most invited speakers to campuses, reject challenging ideas and oppose conservative views.

Such cynical distortions dominate discussions of higher education today, misinform the public and threaten both democracy and higher education.

Indeed, politicians in states such as Florida, Texas and Ohio argue that a so-called free speech crisis on college campuses justifies stronger government control over what gets taught in universities.

Since 2020, numerous state legislatures have attempted to censor forms of speech on campuses by citing exaggerations about students and their studies. Passing laws to ban certain kinds of speech or ideas from college campuses is no way to promote true free speech and intellectual diversity. The most common targets of such censorship are programs that discuss race, gender, sexuality and other forms of multiculturalism.

My concerns over public discourse about higher education extend from my book on popular misinformation about universities and why it threatens democracy. In it, I show that many negative perceptions of students and universities rest on factual distortions and exaggerations.

The character of public debates about higher education is important. Millions of Americans rely on a healthy system of university education for professional and personal success. Rampant cynicism about higher education, leading to declines in public support for it, only undermines their pursuits.

Based on my research, I offer alternative ways to frame debates about higher education. They can lead to discussions that are more constructive and accurate while better protecting fundamental American values such as free speech and democracy.

1. Avoid Stereotypes About College Students

The idea that college students are hostile to opposing viewpoints is false. Pundits and media personalities have promoted this falsehood aggressively. Such figures have benefited, politically or financially, from sensationalism about a college free speech crisis.

In opinion polls, college students typically express stronger support for free speech and diverse viewpoints than other groups. Partisan organizations often cherry-pick that data to make it seem otherwise. But poll results tell only part of the story about college campuses today.

Several thousand institutions make up U.S. higher education. The system includes hundreds of thousands of students from different backgrounds. College campuses are often more demographically and intellectually diverse than surrounding communities.

Judgments about higher education based on sweeping generalizations about college students conflict with the full realities of campus life. A wider range of perspectives, including from students themselves, can enrich debates about university education.

2. Consider All Forums for Free Speech in Universities

Universities protect free speech more effectively than do other parts of society. They dont do so perfectly, but more effectively.

Universities are major centers for the study of the First Amendment, the free press, human rights, cultural differences, international diplomacy, conflict resolution and more. Many institutions require students to take basic speech and writing courses that enhance their skill in argument and debate.

Manufactured outrage about college students who protest invited speakers fuels sensationalism about free speech on campuses. Despite occasional disruptions over bigoted speakers, universities offer numerous forums for free speech, open debate and intellectual diversity.

Just one large university holds thousands of classes, meetings, performances and other events on a daily basis. People freely express their views and pursue new ideas in those settings. Now multiply that reality by several thousand different institutions.

Debates over free speech in higher education can be improved by acknowledging the many forums in which people speak freely every day.

3. Recognize the True Threats to Free Speech on Campuses

For the past several years, many state legislatures have promoted the falsehood that universities are hostile to various ideas. The most commonly cited examples are conservative ideas, traditional expressions of patriotism and great works of Western literature.

The notion of hostility to such ideas on college campuses has surfaced in numerous bills that create new forms of state interference in education. Thirty-five pieces of legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in colleges have been introduced in state legislatures. So far, three of them have been signed into law, while four are pending final legislative approval.

Tenure for faculty members, which protects independent thought, is also under assault in states such as Florida and Texas. Politicians in those states justify ending tenure protections by claiming that professors teach students to censor free speech.

Such rising government interference creates a genuine threat to free speech on college campuses and in society beyond. A historic increase in state censorship, which began with higher education, has spilled over into censorship of materials about race, gender, sexuality and multiculturalism in K-12 schools and public libraries.

Advocacy organizations like the ACLU and the American Association of University Professors have condemned this censorship. So have numerous conservative leaders.

Informed scrutiny of university policies and what faculty members teach is always welcome. But cynical distortions have fueled anti-democratic censorship of universities, not constructive efforts to improve them.

4. Understand the Role of Academic Freedom

The ability of citizens to exercise academic freedom is not only vital in education. Its also training for democracy.

Academic freedom includes the freedom to attend a university of ones choice. The freedom to learn what one chooses in that university. The freedom of an institution to offer a wide range of subject matters to students. And the freedom to teach or conduct research without political interference.

These freedoms are not reserved for Ivy League universities. U.S. higher education includes state schools and community colleges that serve middle- and working-class communities. Those institutions are the backbone of many professions, from health care and technology to engineering and education.

The quality of public debate over free speech in higher education matters. Government interference with colleges does not punish elites. It rewards deeply cynical views of higher education and restricts a freedom that should be available to all Americans.
My position with the Post has evolved since 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and The City Paper, after which I worked with both publications. The City Paper ceased operations in 2013, two years after I was named Post managing editor. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post.

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(As delivered)

You are strengthening your national security and your resilience, and by nearly doubling defence spending this year. And you are firmly committed to your European future, as we saw when you hosted the second European Political Community meeting in Chisinau last week, when NATO AWACS helped secure the skies of Chisinau.

We also deeply appreciate Moldovas contributions to NATOs peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, helping to promote stability in this critical region at a time of heightened tensions.

The Republic of Moldova contributes to Euro-Atlantic security. NATO supports Moldovas security, in full respect of your constitutional neutrality.

NATO is stepping up political and practical support in line with your requests, including through an enhanced defence capabilities building package, to support the development and modernisation of Moldovas defence and security institutions with cybersecurity, strategic communications, and training and education.

Allies fully support the Republic of Moldovas European integration. And our cooperation will help you to implement the necessary reforms on the path to EU membership.

The Republic of Moldovas future is in the family of European democracies. It has never been more important, and our cooperation has never been closer.

We look forward to welcoming the Republic of Moldova to the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in July. Thank you again, dear Minister, dear Nicu, for your personal leadership and commitment. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership.
(Natural News) President Joe Biden secretly sent the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to China last month in a bid to thaw the increasingly tense relations between the two nations.

CIA Director William Burns trip to Beijing has been the highest-level visit by any member of Bidens administration since both nations became entangled over the Chinese spy balloons flight across the U.S. earlier this year.

It also comes as China and the U.S. grow increasingly at odds with each other over issues such as the South China Sea, the future of the democratic and self-governing island of Taiwan and the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. (Related: Chinese fighter jet flies too close to US recon plane flying over South China Sea.)

Information regarding Burns trip to China comes from at least five people familiar with the situation who spoke anonymously with the Financial Times, including a former top diplomat frequently entrusted with delicate overseas missions.

Last month, Director Burns traveled to Beijing where he met with Chinese counterparts and emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communications in intelligence channels, said one U.S. official.

Another official claimed that Burns was not able to meet with any Chinese diplomats and instead only engaged with intelligence officials.

The results of Burns meetings with Chinese officials are not yet known. But the revelation that he secretly engaged with Beijing comes as China has repeatedly and publicly rebuffed American requests for high-level meetings between Chinese and American officials.

Last week, China rejected a request for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to meet with his newly-inaugurated Chinese counterpart, Minister Li Shangfu, on the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore later this year.

The White House has also been trying to resurrect a trip to China that Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled over the Chinese spy balloon incident, but the Chinese Communist Party has so far refused to assent to his visit.

Burns regularly sent by Biden all around the world

Biden has repeatedly used Burns as his proxy to conduct delicate diplomatic missions that he himself cant be seen at.

The CIA director reportedly traveled to Moscow in November 2021 to warn the Kremlin not to invade Ukraine. He also reportedly traveled to Capitol Hill in late July 2022 to try and convince then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not to travel to Taiwan.

As both an experienced diplomat and a senior intelligence official, Burns is uniquely placed to engage in a dialogue that can potentially contribute to the Biden administrations objective of stabilizing ties and putting a floor under the relationship, said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at public policy think tank German Marshall Fund.

[Chinese officials] know him as a trusted interlocutor. They would welcome the opportunity to engage with him quietly behind the scenes, said Paul Haenle, a former China director for the White Houses National Security Council under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. They will see a quiet, discreet engagement with Burns as a perfect opportunity.

This also continues a long tradition of White House administrations using CIA directors for sensitive diplomatic missions.

Learn more about the threat China poses to the U.S. at CommunistChina.news.

Watch this clip from Fox News as former national security advisor to former President Donald Trump Robert OBrien warns about Chinas rapidly growing global influence.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

US signs defense pact with Papua New Guinea to counter Chinas growing influence over Pacific nations.

China quickly expanding use of yuan in global trade as it seeks to dethrone US dollar as worlds top currency.

Biden crime family profited from influence peddling, received $10 million from China and other countries.

Generals warn of aggressive Chinese military expansion into Latin America.

Global military spending hits record-high $2.24 trillion amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, heightened tension in Taiwan.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

FT.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Amid declining sales following a boycott caused by its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light has donated $200,000 to an initiative that supports LGBT-run businesses.

In a May 30 press release, the St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch  which brews Bud Light  announced the donation to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). The $200,000 will go to the NGLCCs Communities of Color Initiative (CoCI) which is designed to support the growth and success of minority LGBT-owned businesses through certification, scholarships and business development in an effort to create equal opportunities for the economic advancement of small businesses in the LGBT community.

Aside from this, the press release also stated that Bud Light will support the NGLCCs first-ever CoCI Biz Pitch program. The winning minority LGBT business owner will receive $5,000 and have the chance to go on to compete at the 2023 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference LGBT Biz Pitch Competition for $50,000 in cash and prizes, it said.

Bud Light was brewed to be an Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy beer for everyone 21 [years old and up], and that still holds true today, Anheuser-Busch said. We look forward to extending our work with the NGLCC to continue making a positive impact on the LGBT businesses that play a critical role in bringing people everywhere, together.

Meanwhile, the NGLCC said it was honored to continue our partnership with Bud Light in support of LGBT businesses. We appreciate the brands ongoing efforts to bolster [the] CoCI that empowers and supports both minority LGBT business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as the vital roles they play in communities across the United States.

According to the press release, Anheuser-Busch has a strong track record of industry leadership in supporting the LGBT community. It cited the more than $13 million it has contributed to local and national non-profit organizations that are committed to advocating for LGBT equality for the past two decades. The $200,000 donation adds to that total amount, Breitbart pointed out.

Bud Light also sponsors Pride marches

The news of the donation followed the aftermath of a boycott against the beer brand launched on April 1. Conservatives who were once the target market of Bud Light turned their backs on the brew after it partnered with Mulvaney. The transgender activist proudly posted a Bud Light can that had his likeness on it, purportedly as a celebration of his 365 days of womanhood.

Several personalities publicly denounced the beer since then, and many others followed suit. This caused Bud Light to suffer from negative profits and even prompted it to buy back unsold beer nearing expiry. But it appears that the brand hasnt learned its lesson of not alienating its customer base, as it is set to sponsor several Pride parades scheduled in June.

The Daily Wires Spencer Lindquist reported that Bud Light, and by extension Anheuser-Busch, is listed as a major sponsor in at least three Pride marches. (Related: Bud Light to sponsor pride parades despite ongoing boycott.)

The beer brand is listed as a sponsor of the Cincinnati Pride Parade, alongside Planned Parenthood and the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. It is also listed as a presenting sponsor of the St. Louis Pride Parade, to be held at Anheuser-Buschs home city.

Moreover, Bud Light is also listed as a diamond sponsor of Stonewall Columbus. The group is responsible for organizing the annual Pride Parade at the city of Columbus in Ohio.

Aside from Bud Light, other Anheuser-Busch products are also listed as sponsors for LGBT gatherings in different cities. Corona and Corona Hard Seltzer are listed as sponsors of the upcoming Los Angeles Pride Parade. Meanwhile, Cutwater Spirits is listed as a sponsor of the 2023 Chicago Pride Fest scheduled a week before the Windy Citys Pride Parade.

Visit GayMafia.news for more stories about Bud Lights support for LGBT.

Watch the father and daughter tandem of Dinesh DSouza and Danielle DSouza Gill discuss the effectiveness of boycotts against companies like Bud Light and Target below.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Analysis: Half of the 10 most popular beers in the US support LGBT.

Pro-LGBT businesses increasingly push transgender propaganda in pride month ads.

Budweiser commits corporate SUICIDE by trying to shove TRANS perversion down the throats of beer drinkers.

Dylan Mulvaney HANGOVER: Bud Light buying back nearly-expired beer as fallout from disastrous publicity stunt persists.

Bud Light sales are horrific after marketing ploy with trans-activist backfires that the company is buying beer back from wholesalers.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

WebWire.com

Brighteon.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

UGANDAN opposition leader Bobi Wine has castigated the Zimbabwean Parliament for passing the Patriotic Bill in what he described as another chapter of persecution' of dissenting voices.The Criminal Law Code Amendment Bill, also known as the Patriotic Bill sailed through the National Assembly last week and is now expected to go before senate then presidential assent.Echoing local critics' sentiments, Bobi Wine born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu slammed the law saying it undermines the democratic fabric of the nation."This move resonates with calls previously made by regime officials here in Uganda to pass a similar law, which is concerning."We express our solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as they face yet another chapter of persecution for daring to oppose their leaders."The so-called "Patriots law" severely curtails Zimbabweans' freedom of expression and their ability to hold their leaders accountable."Witnessing attempts to suppress dissent and undermine the democratic rights of citizens is deeply troubling.He said the new amendment unfairly restricts the fundamental rights of Zimbabweans."In solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, we urge their Government to reverse this law and safeguard the democratic values and rights of its citizens, especially their freedoms to speak and associate freely with each other."Last week, Zimbabwe's Parliament passed an amendment to the Criminal Law Code that punishes citizens for any actions that "willfully damage the sovereignty and national interests" of the country, along with other actions considered "unpatriotic."Violation of this law is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and possible revocation of one's citizenship.
(Natural News) Hillary Clinton, a former presidential candidate, believes voters are right to be concerned about President Joe Bidens age.

Clinton was asked about the issue during the Financial Times Summit in Washington, D.C. Specifically, Clinton was asked about the president stumbling at the G7 Summit in Japan.

Thats not the first and last time Biden has been caught on video stumbling or tripping. Earlier this year, the president was recorded falling while walking up the stairs of Air Force One as he was about to leave for his trip to Ukraine and Poland. In 2022, Biden was also seen falling off his bike while talking to reporters in Delaware, his hometown.

Just recently, Biden tripped and fell during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force academy. The president, 80, was quickly helped up by three people, and walked back to his seat unassisted following the incident in Colorado.

His age is an issue, and people have every right to consider it, said Clinton. She added that it is a concern for anyone. (Related: AP-NORC POLL: Bidens approval rating plummets due to his gun control, illegal immigration and economic policies as reelection bid starts.)

Clinton, who is 75 years old, added that the country has had presidents who had fallen before who were a lot younger, and people didnt go into heart palpitations.

However, Clinton believes Biden can still be reelected despite her comments about his age.

At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest president in American history. White House aides have also downplayed concerns about Bidens mental and physical fitness. Yet at a press conference in April, Biden was seen using answer cards that proved he had advanced knowledge of certain questions.

Biden himself shrugged off a question about his age at an event that also featured South Korean President Yoon Sun Yeol.

With regard to age, I cant even say  I guess how old I am, I cant even say the number, it doesnt register with me, said Biden. The president added that he expects voters to also consider his age, something he claims he did himself before he decided to run for office.

Mental acuity a must for candidates in presidential elections

Ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has suggested mental health fitness tests for anyone older than 75. Some say her comment was a jab at both Biden and Donald Trump.

But Trump, who is 76, backed Haleys suggestion, saying that great mental acuity and physical stamina are essential for anyone who wants to run for president.

Republicans have scrutinized Biden for his verbal gaffes, with some saying he should undergo a cognitive examination.

Last February, Biden got a clean bill of health after his annual physical. However, the presidents doctor didnt say whether he examined Bidens mental acuity.

Biden will be on full public display this year as the campaign ramps up ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.

During the 2020 election, Biden campaigned mainly online and rarely left Delaware due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump was 70 when he entered the Oval Office in 2017 after beating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. If Trump wins a second term, he will be 78 and the second oldest president in history after Biden.

Visit JoeBiden.news for more updates on Bidens physical and mental health.

Watch the video below of Hillary Clinton talking about Joe Bidens age being an issue.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden campaign hired same tech firm used by Hillary Clinton to spy on Trump: FEC records.

Hillary Clinton: Joe Bidens AGE is a legitimate issue to consider ahead of 2024 presidential elections.

Hillary Clinton already denying results of 2024 presidential election.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Independent.co.uk

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Phone users often get into a heated debate on whether iPhones are better than Android phones.

For those using food delivery service DoorDash, iPhone users get the short end of the stick. A lawsuit has revealed that they are being charged more when they use the app because they allegedly make more money than Android phone users.

DoorDash is now being sued for $1 billion following claims that the company charges customers using an iPhone more than it does Android users.

Screenshots filed in a class-action lawsuit have revealed that iPhone users were often charged $1 to $2 more than Android customers for delivery on identical orders.

The suit suggests that the reason for the shocking discrepancy is because studies have found that iPhone users are more likely to earn more money compared to people who own other phone brands.

DoorDash, a food delivery app that has at least 32 million users, is also facing allegations that it is charging customers who pay for its $9.99-a-month discount service Dashpass extra fees.

Ross Hecox has brought the class-action suit to the U.S. District Court of Maryland, citing DoorDashs deceptive, misleading and fraudulent practices. (Related: Uber Eats to deploy an additional 2,000 delivery robots, putting more jobs in peril.)

After suspecting that the DoorDash app was unfairly calculating delivery fees depending on the device they were ordered from, Hecox ran several tests to check if this was true or not.

Several tests show similar results: DoorDash charges iPhone users more than it does Android users

In one test, he placed orders from different physical locations that were about 15 miles apart. He ordered the same items each time: an avocado, egg white, spinach and cheese on a sprouted grain bagel and a chocolate chip bagel from Panera.

Both orders were placed at the same time, with the same tip, and both had a subtotal of $7.98. But in the test, the iPhone user incurred a 99-cent expanded fee range. The Android user did not.

Hecox then performed a second test with Chick-fil-A. The orders were placed at slightly different times and results showed that the iPhone user was again charged more, this time an extra $1, for delivery.

For the third test, Hecox placed the same orders to the same addresses, but both were filed from the same physical location. This time, the iPhone user was strangely charged an extra $1 for the delivery on top of a 99-cent expanded range fee while the Android didnt incur any extra charges.

This means the iPhone user was charged $27.52 while the Android user was only charged $25.53 despite placing the same orders at Chipotle.

Hecox conducted seven tests in total and the results all showed that an iPhone user was being overcharged for their orders.

The test also accounted for device types including other IOS products like iPhones, iPads and Macbooks and different Android systems.

The complaint reads: As the above tests demonstrate, and upon information and belief and subject to further investigation and discovery, DoorDash routinely charges iPhone users more than Android users for reasons wholly unrelated to delivery and service costs.

According to the complaints, DoorDash could be charging iPhone users because several studies suggest that iPhone users earn more money compared to Android users.

It adds that the underhanded tactics are simply money grabs.

Separately, the lawsuit also raised concerns about the apps discount service DashPass, which is a $9.99 a month service that gives users free delivery on all orders over $12.

According to Hecox, his tests confirm that DashPass customers are more likely to be charged with the expanded range fee than those who do not pay for the services.

In a test on the DoorDash Platform, however, DoorDash applied the Expanded Range Fee to a DashPass account, but not to a standard account when each account placed the same order at the same time to the same restaurant for delivery to the same home, read the complaint.

Hecox is seeking $1 billion in damages for all the customers who fell prey to DoorDashs illegal pricing scheme over the past four years.

A DoorDash spokesman said Hecoxs claims are baseless and simply without merit. DoorDash ensures that all fees are disclosed throughout the customer experience, added the spokesman.

Visit Corruption.news for more on scams and lies by big companies.

Watch the video below of a food delivery company in Shanghai that uses self-driving delivery cars.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ANALYSIS: Grubhub and Doordash revealed as money losing scams that only exist to sucker naive investors.

Digital fraud: How to avoid QR code scams.

Drone-based pizza delivery service launched in Iceland wont the pizza get cold?

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) British multinational luxury vehicle manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is recalling nearly 6,400 I-Pace electric crossover SUVs in the U.S. due to the very high risk that their batteries might catch fire when they overheat.

Jaguars I-Pace is just the latest electric vehicle plowing the roads and highways of the U.S. recalled due to safety issues. It isnt even the first to be recalled due to the potential fire hazard of its battery. (Related: Over 1.1 million Tesla electric cars in China RECALLED over dangerous braking defect.)

Jaguar first launched I-Pace in 2018, its first and only supposedly zero-emission car model, although it has promised to invest over $18 billion over the next five years to develop and manufacture more EVs, including a brand new electric Jaguar in 2025.

Documents posted on Wednesday, May 31, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that the recall covers I-Pace SUVs with model years from 2019 through 2024.

The NHTSAs announcement notes that the vehicles batteries were made by South Korean tech giant LG Energy Solution, which is currently under investigation by the agency after five other automakers  General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Volkswagen  issued recalls from February 2020 due to possible defects that could cause stalling or fires.

The probe against the South Korean company began in April 2022 and is covering more than 138,000 electric vehicles that have the companys lithium-ion batteries installed. They mostly involve internal battery failures that can massively increase the risk of fires.

Jaguar to replace batteries and update battery modulating software

Jaguar noted that its engineering team has not determined whether the battery pack assembly is defective or a cause of reported thermal overloads, but out of an abundance of caution decided to recall the vehicles as a response to the NHTSAs warning.

An internal investigation found at least eight instances of I-Paces in the U.S. catching fire, but no accidents or injuries, according to a company filing with the NHTSA.

Jaguar, owned by Indian car manufacturing giant Tata Motors, told customers that they should park their I-Paces away from structures until recall repairs are completed. If possible, they should also charge their I-Paces outdoors. Owners with any other concerns or questions are referred to their local dealers.

Jaguars plan during the recall is to update the I-Paces battery energy control module software either with a dealer or online. Dealers are also instructed to replace battery modules as needed.

LG Energy Solution similarly noted that it is working with Jaguar on the update to the battery-managing software on the affected I-Pace models while the incidents that led to the recall are being investigated.

LG Energy Solution continues to closely work with our client Jaguar Land Rover to ensure that the investigation is concluded, the company said in a statement a day after the NHTSA documents were published.

Learn more about the many shortcomings of electric vehicles at FlyingCars.news.

Watch this video from Wide Awake Media explaining how electric vehicles are neither safe and effective nor ethical and green.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EVs are NOT zero emissions: It takes 500,000 pounds of earth material to build a single 1,000-pound battery.

Tow American vehicle companies recall over 600 electric trucks due to safety issues.

When an electric vehicle crashes, even in a minor accident, insurance companies junk the entire car because its battery has to be tossed.

IMPRISONED: Climate police want EV batteries to have less capacity so electric car owners cant travel very far.

Ford halts production and shipping of F-150 Lightning EV due to unspecified battery issue.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

Fortune.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Border towns are suffering under the worst U.S. southern border crisis in history, with hordes of people coming into the country illegally. These groups may include innocent women and children who are seeking refuge, but these groups are also riddled with the most abusive, violent drug dealers and human traffickers. To make matters worse, military-grade weapons are turning up in Mexican border towns, creating a war zone at the border.

Ever since Biden took office, the violence and power of the Mexican drug cartels have escalated to new heights. The cartels latest display of strength was seen in a TV spot that surfaced online, showing cartel members wielding an anti-tank rocket launcher in a border town near Texas.

Cartels at the southern US border now wield rocket launchers

Mexican TV Channel Milenio published an article titled, Mexican cartels prepare for a war; they have military grade Rocket Launcher. The video shows a man dressed up in casual clothing, walking away from the camera menacingly, with a military-grade rocket launcher strapped to his side. According to the report, the Gulf Cartel member was caught carrying a military-grade grenade launcher during a checkpoint in Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Matamoros directly borders Brownsville, Texas. According to Milenios Azucena Uresti, the rocket launcher is a Raytheon-made FGM-148 Javelin, which sells on the black market from anywhere between $20,000 and $60,000. These are the same kind of military-grade weapons that are being sent to Ukraine, and now they are turning up at the Mexican border.

The use of such heavy artillery is a clear indication that the cartels are willing to go to any length to protect their business interests, including using military-grade weapons against law enforcement agencies and rival gangs. The footage has sparked concerns over the growing power and influence of cartels, which appear to be acquiring increasingly sophisticated weaponry. The use of such weapons not only poses a threat to law enforcement and military personnel but also to innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

US failures abroad are coming back home to its borders

This latest incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Mexico in its fight against drug cartels and underscores the need for continued efforts to address corruption and strengthen both law enforcement capabilities and national defense.

It is unclear how the cartel obtained these weapons, but authorities are working to track down their source and put an end to their illegal distribution. The investigation highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to combat Mexicos ongoing drug war and prevent further escalation of violence. However, much of the damage at the border and around the world is already done. A future presidential administration may have to consider that the U.S. is under attack and may need to take offensive wartime actions to provide for the common defense, to re-secure the border, and protect the border towns.

Under the Obama-Biden Presidency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) was caught running guns into Mexico under Operation Fast and Furious. This empowered the gangs and escalated the violence. Under Biden, the military was ordered to leave behind a large amount of military equipment in the historic, botched Afghanistan withdrawal. This equipment has been dispersed to Americas enemies and may be coming to the southern border. Today, the Biden regime is pumping an untold amount of arms and cash into Ukraine, and this military-grade equipment could also make its way to the border. This out-of-control regime is basically setting the United States up to be attacked by its own weaponry, as the U.S. southern border is primed to become a war zone.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

Milenio.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

TheDefensePost.com
(Natural News) Below is my column in The Hill on the increasing justification of violence by the left on our campuses by declaring speech itself violence. It is part of the license of our age of rage for many who want to silence opposing viewpoints. There is, however, a way to end this anti-free speech movement sweeping through higher education.

(Article by Jonathan Turley republished from JonathanTurley.org)

Here is the column:

Silence is violence. When those words became a popular mantra years ago on college campuses, I wrote that the anti-free speech movement was moving toward compelled speech while declaring dissenting views to be harmful.

Today, it isnt just silence that is considered violence on college campuses. It is also speech, as both faculty and students are actively shutting down opposing views on subjects ranging from abortion to climate change to transgender issues.

Recently, many people were shocked by a videotape of Hunter College professor Shellyne Rodriguez trashing a pro-life student display in New York. Most were focused on her profanity and vandalism, but there were familiar phrases that appeared in her diatribe to the clearly shocked students.

Before trashing the table, she told the students, Youre not educating st [] This is fking propaganda. What are you going to do, like, anti-trans next? This is bullst. This is violent. Youre triggering my students.

The videotape revealed one other thing. At Hunter College, and at other colleges, it seems that trashing a pro-life student display and abusing pro-life students is not considered a firing offense. Hunter College refused to fire Rodriguez.

The PSC Graduate Center, the labor organization of graduate and professional schools at the City University of New York, supported that decision and said Rodriguez was justified in trashing the display, which the organization described as dangerously false propaganda and disinformation.

Rodriguez later put a machete to the neck of a reporter, threatened to chop him up and then chased a news crew down a street with the machete in hand. Somewhere between the machete to the neck and chasing the reporters down the street, Hunter College finally decided that Rodriguez had to go.

Rodriguez denounced the school for having capitulated to racists, white nationalists, and misogynists. She explained that her firing was just a continuation of attacks on women, trans people, black people, Latinx people, migrants, and beyond.

The redefinition of opposing views as violence is a favorite excuse for violent groups like antifa, which continue to physically assault speakers with pro-life and other disfavored views. As explained by Rutgers Professor Mark Bray in his Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, the group believes that free speech as such is merely a bourgeois fantasy unworthy of consideration.

As one antifa member explained, free speech is a nonargumentyou have the right to speak but you also have the right to be shut up.

When people criticized antifa for its violent philosophy, MSNBCs Joy Reid responded to the critics that you might be the fascist.

Faculty members have followed this sense of license to silence others. Former CUNY law dean Mary Lu Bilek even insisted that disrupting a speech on free speech was free speech. (Hunter is part of the CUNY system.)

The same week as the Rodriguez attack at the State University of New York at Albany, sociology professor Renee Overdyke shut down a pro-life display and then allegedly resisted arrest.

Just last week, the Pride Office website at the University of Colorado (Boulder) declared that misgendering people can be considered an act of violence.

This week, University of Michigan economics professor Justin Wolfers declared that some of those boycotting the store Target over its line of Pride Month clothing were engaging in literal terrorism. (He insists that he was referring to those confronting Target employees.)

Faculty have also justified attacks on pro-life figures. At the University of California, Santa Barbara, feminist studies associate professor Mireille Miller-Young physically assaulted pro-life advocates and tore down their display.

She pleaded guilty to criminal assault, but the university refused to fire her. Instead, some faculty and students defended her, including claiming that pro-life displays constitute terrorism. The University of Oregon later honored Miller-Young as a model for women advocates.

Likewise, at Fresno State University, public health professor Dr. Gregory Thatcher recruited students to destroy pro-life messages.

Other faculty have called for or countenanced violence against Republicans and conservatives. Professors have shouted down speakers, destroyed property, participated in riots and verbally attacked students.

University of Rhode Island professor Erik Loomis defended the murder of a conservative protester and said he saw nothing wrong with such acts of violence. He was later elevated to the position of director of graduate studies of history.

As faculty commit or support violence, students are assured that others are the violent ones. Recently, at the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Kirsten Bradbury tested her students on psychology by asking them which sociodemographic group is most likely to repeatedly violate the rights of others in a pattern of behavior that includes violence, deceit, irresponsibility, and a lack of remorse? Of course, the answer was wealthy white men.

The lesson took with students. A recent poll shows that 41 percent of college students now believe violence is justified to fight hate speech. At Cornell, a conservative speaker was shouted down, met with the common mantra that your words are violence. At Case Western, the student newspaper editorialized against university recognition of a pro-life group because its pro-life views are inherently violent and a danger to the student body. At Wellesley, student editors declared that it was time to shut down conservative speakers and that hostility may be warranted. They added, The spirit of free speech is to protect the suppressed, not to protect a free-for-all where anything is acceptable, no matter how hateful and damaging.

Those views did not spontaneously appear in the minds of these students. At one time, tolerance for free speech was the very touchstone of higher education and a common article of faith for students. These students are the product of years of being told that free speech is dangerous and harmful if left unregulated. From elementary school to college, they were taught that they did not have to be triggered by the speech of others.

We are still (thankfully) drawing the line at machete attacks. But it is the underlying views of Rodriguez that are the true threat, and they are being replicated throughout the country. We are raising a generation of censors and speech-phobics.

If we want to stop or reverse this trend, Congress must act. I have proposed legislation that would deny federal funding to schools that do not protect core free speech principles. We are funding schools that are taking a machete to the defining right of our democracy.

It is akin to the recent resolution of the case of an antifa member who took an axe to Sen. John Hoevens (R-N.D.) office in Fargo. Thomas Tas Alexander Starks, 31, was given probationand his axe back.

We may not be able to deter people from speaking through machetes and axes, but we can at least stop subsidizing the hardware.

Read more at: JonathanTurley.org
(Natural News) Poland will not send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, according to the countrys Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. However, he called on other nations to provide the aircraft at the soonest.

We have too few F-16 aircraft. So at the moment today, there are no such expectations from us, Morawiecki said during a June 1 press conference on the first day of the European Political Community Summit in Moldova. Polskie Radio reported that the Polish leader also noted Warsaws lack of Patriot air defense systems to send to Kyiv.

The Polish Air Force officially has 48 F-16 fighter jets, 12 of which are training variants. It has ordered 48 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle jets from South Korea and 32 F-35 jets from the United States. However, the 80 jets Warsaw ordered have not yet been delivered.

We handed over our MiG-29 [jets]  good planes, good fighters  and this is greatly appreciated, Morawiecki added. Poland followed Slovakia in sending Ukraine some units from its fleet of 19 MiG-29 jets to aid the beleaguered nation.

The Polish prime minister added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked him for organizing the F-16 coalition, pertaining to the effort by several members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to supply Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets. While Poland and other NATO member states have offered to train Ukrainian pilots, it remains unclear where the planes would actually come from.

Morawiecki also shared some bad news regarding the Patriot air defense systems in Ukraine that were damaged or destroyed by Russian missile strikes.

Just as we dont have enough F-16 fighter [jets], we cant hand over our Patriot systems to Ukraine for the same reason, he said. Nevertheless, the Polish leader exhorted other nations with Patriot systems to share them with Ukraine as soon as possible.

Patriots and F-16s are the latest game-changer weapons Kyiv has demanded from the West to bolster its forces combat capabilities against Russia, especially in the light of its planned counter-offensive, Russia Today (RT) pointed out.

Lavrov: Moscow will react to F-16 deliveries to Ukraine

Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022, Kyiv has already received German Leopard, British Challenger and U.S. Abrams tanks. It has also received a plethora of towed and self-propelled NATO artillery, as well as portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft rockets. Poland has also become both a hub for arms supplies bound for Ukraine and a training ground for Ukrainian soldiers. (Related: Footage captures large amount of US military equipment at Polish port.)

Both the U.S. and the European Union have also provided direct financial aid to Kyiv to keep its government functioning, something Moscow has frowned upon. Russia has warned that military aid to Kiev makes Western countries de facto direct participants in the conflict. It has also emphasized that foreign weapons systems would be treated as legitimate targets on the battlefield.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated this warning, according to a May 29 RT report. The Russian military has the means to respond to Western F-16 jet deliveries to Kyiv, he said during a press conference in Kenya that day. Lavrovs comments came in response to an announcement by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Denmark and the Netherlands would be helping Ukraine prepare for the jets.

The Russian official said the actions by Copenhagen and Amsterdam were driven by their desire to please the hegemon. He continued: In European affairs and at European forums, these countries are actively pursuing Washingtons line first and foremost.

Lavrov ultimately remarked that he had no doubt the Russian Armed Forces have the ability to react to this. He refused to provide specific details on how Moscow will react to the aircraft deliveries.

WWIII.news has more stories about Ukraine obtaining F-16 aircraft against Russia.

Watch this video about the U.S. and NATO agreeing to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

This video is from the MEGA (Make Earth Great Again) channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FLIRTING WITH DISASTER: Biden clears way for Ukraine to obtain F-16 fighter jets.

After securing new tanks from US and Germany, Ukraine now demanding F-16 fighter jets to combat Russia.

RINO ALERT: Sen. Graham wants the US to send F-16s to Ukraine and declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Sources include:

RT.com 1

RT.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Security camera company Ring, which Amazon acquired in 2018, has agreed to a $5.8 million settlement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused it of privacy violations linked to its doorbell cameras.

In a May 31 statement, the FTC said Amazon agreed to settle out of court to avoid being charged by the federal government. The amount involved in the settlement will be used for consumer refunds, it also noted.

A separate report pointed out that the e-commerce giant would be shelling out a total of $30.8 million to settle with the FTC. The additional $25 million was in relation to its Alexa voice assistant storing childrens voices and location data, violating child privacy laws.

The agency alleged that Ring compromised the privacy of consumers by allowing any employee or contractor to access consumers private videos. It also alleged that the California-based company failed to implement basic privacy and security protections, enabling hackers to take control of consumers accounts, cameras and videos.

A May 31 court filing elaborated on the FTCs allegations. It accused Ring of granting hundreds of employees and third-party contractors based in Ukraine full access to every customer video, regardless of whether the employee or contractor actually needed that access to perform [their] job function. The agency also accused the company of providing no training on privacy or data security prior to May 2018  which permitted dangerous and unnecessary access to highly sensitive data for some time.

Ring will also be required to comply with a proposed order subject to approval by a federal court. Under the order, it must delete data, models and algorithms derived from videos it unlawfully reviewed. It must also implement a privacy and security program with novel safeguards on human review of videos as well as other stringent security controls, such as multi-factor authentication for both employee and customer accounts.

Moreover, Ring must delete any customer videos, face embedding  data collected from an individuals face  that it obtained prior to 2018 and any work products it derived from these videos. It must also alert the FTC about incidents of unauthorized access or exposure of its customers videos and notify consumers about the agencys action.

FTC: Ring employee viewed footage of more than 80 women

Rings disregard for privacy and security exposed consumers to spying and harassment, said FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine. The FTCs order makes clear that putting profit over privacy doesnt pay.

The agencys May 31 court filing outlined one particularly egregious instance that happened in 2017. Between June and August of that year, a male Ring employee viewed thousands of video recordings belonging to at least 81 unique female users on hundreds of separate occasions. He typically accessed cameras located in intimate spaces such as bedrooms, the filing stated.

Ring failed to detect the employees unauthorized access through any technical means, only managing to do so after a female co-worker discovered the breach and reported the misconduct to her supervisor. Initially dismissing the report, the supervisor only escalated the report upon noticing that the male employee was only viewing videos of pretty girls. The erring employee was later terminated.

Following the 2017 incident, the company tightened its security policies. Despite this, employees were still granted sweeping access to customers cameras. The filing remarked: It is highly likely that numerous other incidents of spying, prurient behavior, and other inappropriate access occurred entirely undetected. (Related: Amazons Ring doorbell cameras spy on users and their neighbors.)

Aside from this, Rings lax security policies enabled hackers to take control of security cameras. The filing said bad actors utilized the devices they hijacked for nefarious ends.

In many cases, these instances of unauthorized access were not short-lived invasions. For example, the bad actors maintained unauthorized access to the accounts devices for more than one month. [Moreover], the bad actors were not just passively viewing customers sensitive video data  [they also] took advantage of the cameras two-way communication functionality to harass, threaten and insult individuals  whose rooms were monitored by Ring cameras.

Visit PrivacyWatch.news for more stories like this.

Watch Harrison Smith of The American Journal disclosing how the Ring app for Android exposed camera recordings to strangers below.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Amazon illegally harvested kids data via Alexa-powered smart speakers.

FTC to sue Amazon for illegally harvesting data of children via smart speakers.

Amazon buys iRobot, meaning Jeff Bezos may now have a map of your entire home.

Amazon is being sued for secretly collecting biometric data from NYC Amazon Go store customers.

Amazons iRobot Roomba vacuums caught spying on users, taking photos of them on the toilet and posting to social media.

Sources include:

RT.com

FTC.gov 1

FTC.gov 2 [PDF]

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A federal court ruling likely to drop this month should provide a good indication as to whether America still has a fully functioning First World justice system. The case, involving an investigation from New York Attorney General Letitia James into the supposed mismanagement of controversial news outlet VDare.com, has received zero media coverage so far, despite it being as crude, brutish, and nakedly political as James other lawfare campaigns (notably against former President Trump and the NRA). In fact, its arguably worse, as it was clearly designed to dox VDares writers and volunteers and bankrupt the tiny outlet out of existence.

(Article by John Kline republished from AMGreatness.com)

In a recent column about James investigation, VDare founder and editor Peter Brimelow recounts with frustration the increasing difficulty his outlet has had in spreading its advocacy of immigration patriotism over the years. This includes being blocked by social media and payment processors, potential advertisers being subjected to Anti-Defamation League-style intimidation campaigns, and even lawyers and accountants being unwilling to help the group publicly. Its very ability to exist online was threatened a few years back when a black supremacist lawyer now leading the Justice Departments Civil Rights section tried to pressure its registrar into delisting its domain.

Considering Brimelow is a bestselling author, a reputable financial journalist going back decades, and, according to him, someone who has not changed his views on immigration, diversity, and racial issues generally since he was writing about them in National Review years back, the increasing prejudice and character attacks do draw sympathy as well as a considerable amount of head-scratching.

Post-Trump, it is basically impossible for the group to host anything publicly, as its forced conference cancelations can attest (more than a dozen, Brimelow says). In a 2017 case that should have created a national furor, a VDare conference scheduled in Colorado Springs was met with an announcement by city mayor John Suthers that he would direct local police not to protect the venue in case Antifa or BLM protesters showed up. Considering this was quite literally an open invitation to cause violence, venue management understandably canceled the event.

Even in light of all this, Brimelow says James current attack is the most serious threat he and his wife and VDare-partner, Lydia, have ever faced in the outlets 24-year history.

Among the claims James is investigating is that VDares New York-registered foundation has been dormant for some years. (Says Brimelow: We were working through another foundation registered in a different state. This is why we made no further filings: they were not necessary.) She also alleges the Brimelows are taking advantage of a conference center bought by their nonprofit (a historic house in West Virginia) by living in it rent-free (something that is palpably not true, they assert). James also claims VDares board is solely overseen by Brimelow family members (again, not true, they assert, but, in any case, not abnormal). Oddly, she further impugns the fact that the Brimelows failed to specify in VDare filings that they are married.

Finally, James asserts that the conference center was bought by the Brimelows foundation but then transferred to a for-profit corporation controlled by Peters wife. But according to tax records available on VDares site, its not Lydia, but the same foundation that actually controls it. As Peter wryly states in his column: FOR THE RECORD: every step of the [conference center] transaction was carefully monitored by expensive lawyers  because we were well aware that we were susceptible to scrutiny by a malicious and unscrupulous politically motivated regulator.

Considering the investigator in question, the real motivation behind the charges certainly deserves strong skepticism. Having campaigned for her attorney general position by promising to go after Trump without even specifying on what basis (just like New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg), James has tainted everything she touches. Around 100,000 charities are registered in New York, and the number of open investigations being pursued by the attorney generals charity bureau cannot be more than a few dozen. And, again, Brimelows operation deals primarily with West Virginia and effectively has had no ties to New York for some years.

But even if dismissed by the courts as meritless, just by opening an investigation, James knows the costs to the organization will be destructive. Peter Brimelow says, in addition to severely limiting VDares normal operations, the compliance costs to the small, two-employee outlet have so far topped $300,000. This mainly involves complying with James mammoth subpoena, which encompasses close to 50 separate demands for internal documents, nearly all of them wildly improper, Brimelow explains. Among them is a perplexing order to produce deposition transcripts from his 2019 defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, something that appears to have zero relevance to James role as a charity regulator.

Then there is the aforementioned and highly disturbing demand that Brimelow hand over [d]ocuments sufficient to identify the names and addresses of all of VDares past and present employees, volunteers, and independent contractors, including the many pseudonymous writers VDare publishes. Considering such information is clearly unnecessary to investigate Brimelows own supposed misconduct, one can fairly conclude James subpoena is simply designed to dox and intimidate and is steeped in political discrimination. (Jamess office has leaked GOP donor information before.) New York state and congressional Republicans, as well as privacy advocates generally, should be condemning her attacks in the strongest terms possible.

Despite their good-faith efforts to comply with James bad-faith subpoena, continued, unyielding pressure from James office has forced the Brimelows to file a federal lawsuit claiming, among other things, that the First Amendment rights of its past and present contractors, etc., are being violated (the decision we should be getting soon).

In his column, Brimelow alleges James office initially asked for an extension of the three-week response time to their federal claim because an attorney working the case came down with COVID. But that was a ruse. According to Brimelow, the point of the extension was to allow James team to stealthily file a state court petition in ultra-friendly Manhattan to force VDare to comply with the subpoenas demands.

Filed on a special expedited basis, the petition was intended to secure a ruling on the subpoena before a decision could be rendered in Brimelows federal claims  something which state courts usually await before issuing their own ruling. Unfortunately, earlier this year, that special and rarely-awarded request was granted to James, and with the unprecedented speed of a single business day after it was filed, by Manhattan judge and Democrat Sabrina Kraus  Kraus gave James everything she wanted, basically. If Peters claims are true and James lied about her fellow attorneys COVID, this would be a striking level of professional malfeasance even for her.

Now, on top of seeking to enjoin James subpoena entirely on First Amendment grounds, the Brimelows are mounting an ethics complaint against James and demanding her disbarment.

American conservatives should send the Brimelows their support and wish them all the best in their David-versus-Goliath-esque battle. Not defending them against such a patent abuse of power is to display the same disregard for justice and fairness that James is guilty of  Brimelows former employers at the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and, yes, National Review have so far been silent about James clear abuse of state power.

And after all, no conservative advocacy group will be unaffected should VDare get taken down. The Southern Poverty Law Center labels VDare as a designated hate group, but it did not always. It took years of conservatives looking the other way for Democratic Party attack dogs like the SPLC to shift its defamation campaign from cartoonish KKK-types to immigration reform groups, like VDare, until, finally, they came for Christian and other conservative groups as well. That shift will happen with Democrat-run apparatuses of state and private power too, if it has not already.

As Evangelist Franklin Graham recently warned after the Family Research Council was de-banked by junior staffers before being reinstated by the banks president: Listen, those junior people  guess what  are gonna be in the next five or 10 years the senior people. For American justice (as opposed to their justice) to prevail, conservatives cannot afford to stay cowed any longer.

Read more at: AMGreatness.com
(Natural News) It has always been astounding to me that people think for even a second that their government makes decisions to help the people  that has never been the case.

(Article by Todd Hayen republished from Off-Guardian.org)

If a governments decision helps anyone it is always an after effector an afterthought or a collateral unintended benefit. The primary intent is for power, control, and money to satisfy individual pursuits and goals of the global narcissistic/god-complex elite.

Anyone (which turns out to be most everyone) who supports this and thinks their government, or their nation, is operating in the peoples interest is signing their own death warrant.

Dont be so negative, Dr. Todd, there are good things in life too!

Oh my yes, there are: newborn babies, sunsets, oceans, art, music, forests, waterfalls, sex with your lover, dogsmillions of things. But that is not what I am writing about right now. I am writing about the thing, and group of things, that will wipe all of that good stuff off the face of the earth. Sure, sure, sure, it wont be forever. Good will prevail, but it could be a million years before it all comes back if we let it go now. And I think it is worth the fight to preserve what weve got.

Needless to say, people have always followed leaders. I am not an anthropologist, but I would take a guess that even in primitive times there were leaders of tribes, chiefs, kings, queens, or whatever. I would also guess that this arrangement probably worked well more often than not. Societies were close knit; if a leader went bonkers it was probably easier to just push him or her off a cliff somewhere. And considering how different things were back then, there probably was not as much incentive to be selfish, power hungry, wampum hungry, or weird in other ways. I also would guess this complacent sort of culture, if there ever was such a thing, did not last very long.

Im sure adjacent tribes had some things the neighbors wanted, and sure the all too human trait of wanting power over others did not take too long to appear. Being the Grand Poobah of many people had to have the same allure it has today. Wars broke out, discrimination certainly reared its ugly head (that tribe over there has longer necks than we do, lets kill them!), and of course truly important issues caused conflicts, like need for food, water, etc.

Things were a lot worse back in history than today in a lot of ways. But things along these lines did actually get better, in my humble opinion, during a brief period in the West. The establishment of a new country with fresh ideals was a sight for sore eyes back in the late 1700s. I dont think anything like it, on that particular scale, had been attempted in the human experience post antiquity (which we, regardless of what we have been told, know very little about). It indeed was a grand experiment  the new colonies in North America shedding the shackles of the tyranny of King George III of England.

The new fledgling country created a Constitution that was truly inspiring at the time. The checks and balances incorporated in that government was also inspiring, and did hold itself together fairly well for quite some time. Of course there are always problems, as there would be with anything brave and novel. But it all hung together fairly well for a bit of time.

Ill stop there with the history lesson, which may not be all that accurate anyway, but I think you get the picture. Even if you disagree that the new United States of America was an exciting bit of work, you probably can agree that putting one man, or woman, in charge of a lot of people, has never gone all that well. Before the presidency of the United States, there were of course Kings and Queens. Even the US was concerned about having a single person at the head of the executive branch of government, lest it be too much like a monarchy. Some continue (many actually) to believe that the US form of government is still the best, and if certain things are readjusted, the US will continue to be the greatest country in the world.

I digress.

Wherever you are on that fence, you must agree that things are rather different now than what the founding fathers envisioned. Why? That would take a book, or several, to address. Point here is that we can no longer trust this system to be objective, compassionate, fair, benevolent, and not self-serving and destructive. In fact, it seems that the system itself is selling out to foreign interests, and the actual sovereignty of the nation is threatened, and this threat is largely coming from within.

We see this with other nations as well, basically handing over their sovereign rights as a nation to the likes of the WHO, or the UN, or even the WEF. What we see is much like watching a Sci-Fi motion picture where the bad guys are stripping a nation of everything that makes it the representation of the people into a personal self-serving slave to unelected powers.

What does this mean? Well, when you really think about it, there is no way this sort of global takeover could ever be in the best interests of other human beings living on the planet. Even if you could have a benevolent world power (which is an oxymoron, in my opinion) you would, just by its nature, have to rule in very broad strokes, i.e., everything you implemented would have to be implemented for the good of the majority. That leaves quite a few people out. The hundreds of diverse cultures and the billions of humans that make them up would have to be reduced down to manageable attributes  becoming more and more like each other.

What does this sound like? If you thought prison you win the prize. Look at cultures like North Korea, and you will get some idea of what would be happening. And it is worse than that, because North Korea did not start out as a diverse culture  unlike the diversity of the entire globe.

And all that assuming this world system is benevolent, which it most certainly is not. Of course they present themselves as benevolent, and much like all fictional evil leaders (as well as the real ones throughout history), they may even believe they are benevolent. But any world leader(s) will have to focus on the destruction of humanity before they can accomplish any sort of world control over its inhabitants. That is simply the nature of the beast. Ill say it again: any world leader(s) will have to focus on the destruction of humanity before they can accomplish any sort of world control over its inhabitants. No two ways about it.

And of course, in our modern age, this destruction of humanity is quite a bit more complex than literally whipping people into compliance like they did in the old days. Right now (and this will probably change) most of the psyop is accomplished either through the carrot enticement and then ruling with the stick, or through fear (stick first, carrot as a reward for compliance.)

It is the same game.

Read more at: Off-Guardian.org
(Natural News) The Media Research Center (MRC) Free Speech America has found that President Joe Bidens administration spent $40 million dollars of taxpayers money in grants to destroy conservatives.

According to reports gathered via the media watchdogs Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, the money was funneled to a program that facilitated seminars where an Antifa member instructed attendees to de-platform people they think are fascists off the internet and prevent them from gathering in public.

Paul Dragu, the director of communications of the political advocacy group John Birch Society, slammed Biden for repeatedly lying that white supremacy is actually the largest domestic threat. So, it should be no surprise that at least one beneficiary of your money is an Antifa member whose agenda is to completely de-platform so-called fascists and outright Nazis off the internet as well as prevent them from gathering in public. Well, look at this twisted logic shortly, Dragu said in a recent interview with the New American TV.

Under President Donald Trumps administration, the Targeted Violence & Terrorism Prevention Grant Program (TVTP) was used to prevent terrorism. It was revamped under the Biden administration and renamed to provide funding for localities to combat all forms of terrorism and targeted violence, an article on the MRC news website Newsbusters read.

Instead of focusing on preventing actual violence and terrorism, the program is now being used to target the entire spectrum of the political right and Christians through media literacy and online critical thinking initiatives and other so-called training seminars as part of a coordinated effort to make America into a one-party system, the watchdogs media site added.

As per reports, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, awarded 80 grants through an anti-terrorism program. The report from MRC included that the department awarded the University of Dayton in Ohio $352,109 in the fiscal year 2022 to develop and implement modules on the risks of and protective factors for radicalization to violence related to media literacy and online critical thinking for students.

The PREVENTS-OH program at Dayton received the grant after a seminar held at the universitys Human Rights Center tied conservative groups to known hate organizations.

DHS denies allegations despite solid evidence

Researchers at Dayton later referenced the seminar as part of their grant proposal for the Homeland Security program. The agency awarded the program its funds in September 2022. But a spokesperson for the agency denied it. This seminar was not funded, organized or hosted by the DHS, the spokesperson said.

MRC slammed DHS for not admitting the allegation, especially since a DHS employee also participated in the seminar in a virtual session to talk about the agencys Center for Prevention Programs and Partnership.

DHS is lying through its teeth once again, MRC Vice President Dan Schneider said in a statement. DHS did indeed fund the PREVENTS-OH program a year after a graph and documents were presented that equated Nazis to conservatives, Christians and Republicans.

Each project under the program has received between $85,000 and $1.19 million.

Dragu said the project put on seminars and lectures by people like Michael Loewenthal, an open Antifa member who presented the Pyramid of Far-Right Radicalization in one of the PREVENTS-OH seminars.

Loewenthal tied groups such as the Republican National Committee, the Heritage Foundation, the National Rifle Association and Fox News to known hate organizations like the neo-Nazi paramilitary group the Base and the white supremacist website the Daily Stormer. He also linked Breitbart News, PragerU, Turning Point USA, the Christian Broadcasting Network, the American Conservative Union and the nonpartisan outlet Quillette with far-right, radical groups.

This is the perfect example of the biggest problem we have in America today. The functionally mentally ill-disguised as college professors should be stripped of all certifications, diplomas, etc. and be relegated to the janitorial staff, Dragu said.

The irony is that forging any partnership with the government to silence and banish people from the economy for thought crimes, makes them the actual fascists. Once again, we have a case of whatever they accuse others of doing. Theyre the ones actually doing it. (Related: Many Antifa members arent oppressed minorities but actually privileged White kids.)

Check out BigGovernment.news to know how the Biden administration is weaponizing government programs to destroy its enemies.

Watch the clip from the New American TV episode with Paul Dragu below.

This video is from the New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ACLU has long provided political cover for far-left Antifa terrorists: Analysis.

Southern Poverty Law Center attorney charged with domestic terrorism for allegedly rioting with Antifa.

Moment hundreds of Antifa terrorist storm, take Atlanta Police training compound captured on video.

MARSCHALL: American cities burn as liberals continue to deny Antifas existence.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NewsBusters.org

DHS.gov

NYPost.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) Youth League has announced that on June 16, 2023, it will close all ports of entry in Matebeleland to stop the smuggling of resources from the region.MRP claimed that the smuggling of resources such as gold had become rampant, as it was carried out by individuals linked to Zanu-PF, who walked away scot-free and richer than the average person on the street.Chairperson of the MRP Youth League, Mudenda Chilumbo told CITE the party chose June 16 because it was a significant date in Africa, as oppressed black students in neighbouring South Africa stood up to the Apartheid regime on a day that profoundly changed the socio-political landscape there."16 June is a very important day on the African continent. African sons and daughters of the soil stood up to impunity, acrimony and apartheid rule, because of those sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives. We are inspired by such acts and we are saying we can't allow them to smuggle our gold anymore, which is why we have pronounced June 16 as the day we will hold the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa to account," Chilumbo said.Chilumbo said the party had a constitutional right to protest and will on that day "bring everything to halt" in order to control smuggling."No take-off will be allowed at Joshua Mqabuko International Airport, no landing of any aeroplane from anywhere around the world at the same airport together with the Victoria Falls International Airport," he said."No truck shall be allowed to use the Beitbridge Border Post, Ramokgwebana or any border surrounding Matebeleland."The MRP youth chair alleged that high-ranking authorities smuggled minerals such as gold on a daily basis and became richer while the common public remained impoverished."We still have people moving more than 20 km to access medical facilities including children who walk such long distances to go to educational facilities at the behest of Zanu-PF and Mnangagwa. It is our standing point and in the spirit of our revolution that we are bringing everything down," Chilumbo said."It's better to go dry for two days when we are preparing for the future of the upcoming generation. We are demanding back our gold."Chilumbo remarked that only the aggrieved felt inspired to act against resource plundering in the country, thus as Matebeleland youth, they had to act."It is only the people of Matebeleland who have the right to stop this nonsense and they are stopping this through those prescribed activities. We don't expect any movement from any truck, even those from Hwange Colliery Company to any destination, that is our coal!" he said."No truck shall be allowed to carry our timber from Lupane or Nkayi to any destination until Mnanagwa steps down as our president. Our airports are going to be grounded to halt on the specified date."This call from MRP comes after the party said action was needed to stop gold smuggling, as seen in the four-part Al Jazeera documentary, The Gold Mafia, which sparked outrage in the country claiming large amounts of gold are smuggled clandestinely from Zimbabwe every month, assisting money laundering through an intricate network of shell businesses, fake invoices, and paid-off officials, some linked to the government led by President Mnangagwa
(Natural News) China has resumed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) amid surging reinfections in the two cities, as confirmed by several mainstream media outlets in the country.

Chinese social media users have confirmed the presence of PCR testing kiosks in the capital, posting that the latter have silently resumed operations on May 29. The media outlet City Interactive, a subsidiary of Zhejiang City Express, later corroborated the reports circulating on social media. It stated that one of the PCR testing booths has been constantly offering tests in Beijings Xicheng district, albeit the exact duration of its operation remains unclear.

The outlet also mentioned that the testing kiosk in the capitals Chaoyang central business district has resumed operations since March. According to staff members of the kiosk, the testing booth is located in the health center near Jinsong Middle Street.

Similary, PCR testing booths in Qingdao City  the largest city in Chinas eastern Shandong Province  have also reopened. The Laoshan District Health Bureau in Qingdao issued an online notice stating that from May 29, they would regularly conduct COVID-19 PCR testing for all willing individuals. Xinmin Evening News confirmed the resumption of free testing on May 31, citing staff members of the health bureau.

The reopening of the PCR testing boots in the two areas only point to a small peak in infections between the end of April and early May. Chinas leading respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan dubbed this as the start of a new COVID-19 wave that the country has been expecting. (Related: Asia braces for new wave of coronavirus infections, more countries to see spikes in caseloads.)

The Epoch Times reported in late April that Chinese citizens had been discussing COVID-19 reinfections on social media. Meanwhile, state-owned media outlets promptly denied the existence of any new outbreak.

Zhong: New COVID-19 infections expected to peak in late June

In a warning published by the China News Agency, Zhong said a new wave of COVID-19 infections in China could peak in late June. He added that weekly cases during this period could potentially reach 65 million. Zhongs prediction scared users on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

The expert emphasized that COVID-19 prevention and control during the upcoming wave should focus on mitigating severe symptoms, with the latter also serving as a point of discussion on social media.

Some expressed frustration about the lack of relief from the pain and discomfort  which include intense pain, high fevers lasting for days and overall weakness. Others also shared that the symptoms associated with these reinfections involved a high fever followed by a sore throat, causing so much pain.

These remarks aligned with Zhongs statement that a person infected with the B11529 omicron variant can transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus to more than 30 people. Given this, controlling the spread of infections has proven to be difficult.

Chen Cao, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Preventions Institute of Viral Diseases, said that majority of COVID-19 infections in the mainland are associated with the XBB series mutant strains of omicron. He told the media that the strains accounted for 95.6 percent of imported cases in the first 10 days of May 2023 alone. According to Chen, the XBB strains are more transmissible and exhibit greater immune evasion properties compared to the early omicron mutant strains.

Head over to Infections.news for more stories about the resurgence of COVID-19 in China.

Watch this video about how the omicron XBB 1.5 variant is more likely to infect fully vaccinated persons.

This video is from the AxeTruth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel hit by new wave of COVID-19 infections despite very high vaccination rates among its population.

Washingtons harvest season brings new wave of coronavirus infections.

Suddenly, theres a new wave of panic buying of food across China.

Second wave of coronavirus in Europe starting to affect the elderly.

Projecting wave 2 and wave 3 of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A senior official of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in charge of artificial intelligence (AI) has admitted to misspeaking about a purported instance of an AI-powered drone killing its human operator.

Col. Tucker Cinco Hamilton, the USAFs chief of AI test and operations, earlier claimed during the Future Combat Air and Space Capabilities Summit that the military branch conducted a simulated test that ended tragically. The said test allegedly involved an AI-powered drone that went rogue and killed its human operator.

The British Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), which hosted the summit, later clarified that the USAF never actually performed such a test  whether in a computer simulation or in reality. It told Motherboard in an email that the Hamiltons test description was a hypothetical thought experiment based on plausible scenarios rather than an actual simulation.

The RAeS quoted the colonel: Weve never run that experiment, nor would we need to realize that this is a plausible outcome. Despite this being a hypothetical example, this illustrates the real-world challenges posed by AI-powered capability and is why the [USAF] is committed to the ethical development of AI.

Even USAF spokeswoman Ann Stefanek clarified that the USAF has not conducted any AI drone simulations. She told Insider that the military branch has not conducted any such AI-drone simulations and remains committed to [the] ethical and responsible use of AI technology. Stefanek continued: It appears the colonels comments were taken out of context and were meant to be anecdotal.

During the RAeS summit in May, Hamilton presented the hypothetical scenario of an AI-enabled drone that exhibited unexpected behavior to achieve its objective. The colonel said the drone began attacking U.S. personnel and infrastructure when the human operator issued a no order in a bid to prevent it from killing a designated target. According to Hamilton, the drone even resorted to destroying the communication tower used by the operator.

DARPA: AI could successfully control an F-16

Hamilton, who also commands the USAFs 96th Test Wing, previously gained recognition for spearheading the development of Autonomous Ground Collision Avoidance Systems (Auto-GCAS) for F-16 fighter jets. The Auto-GCAS prevented F-16 aircraft from crashing into the ground while allowing for autonomous operations through AI.

Back in December 2022, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA)  the research arm of the U.S. Department of Defense  announced that AI has successfully controlled an F-16 jet through its algorithms.

However, DARPA clarified that its intention is not to have the plane fly without a pilot. Rather, it seeks to integrate AI into the aircrafts systems  allowing the human pilot can focus on larger battle management tasks while the AI takes control of the jet and supplies live-flight data. (Related: Autonomous KILLER BOTS to dominate battlefields soon as war in Ukraine leads to significant advances in drone technology.)

In an interview with Defense IQ Press during that same year, Hamilton expressed the need to face the reality of AIs presence. AI is a tool we must wield to transform our nations, he said. The colonel warned, however, that it will be our downfall if not approached with care and caution.

Check out DroneWatchNews.com for more stories about drones.

Watch InfoWars founder Alex Jones put in his two cents about the suicide drones the U.S. is sending to Ukraine below.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

US weapons package for Ukraine includes 100 KILLER DRONES.

UN report: Killer AI drones with no remote pilot hunted down humans.

Attack of the drones: Army wants miniature suicidal drone to kill from six miles away.

Biden regime significantly escalating conflict likelihood with Russia after decision to send Switchblade kamikaze drones to Ukraine.

Next-gen warfare: DARPA tests Drone swarms that will be operated by artificial intelligence, not human beings.

Sources include:

VICE.com 1

VICE.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Over the past five years, East Coast-based grocery chain Giant Food has seen a tenfold increase in retail theft, which has prompted the company to restrict entry and exit points, beef up store security  some of them armed at certain locations  and pulling high-dollar items from shelves so as to deter thieves.

It is a trend that many American retailers are facing as the economy shatters, seemingly in slow motion, and the system unwinds. The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) only exacerbated the problem further, leaving in its wake a shellshocked and increasingly desperate populace grabbing whatever it can before the ship sinks.

The last thing I want to do is close stores, but Ive got to be able to run them safely and profitably, said Giant Food CEO Ira Kress about not just thefts, but also violence at his companys stores, which he says has increased exponentially in recent years.

Unlike Lululemon which has a pro-shoplifting stance  Lululemon actually fired two of its workers at an Atlanta location recently for calling the police on looters  Giant Food operates on slim margins and wants to stay in business.

We used to chase shoplifters, Kress explained about how things used to be prior to COVID, the George Floyd incident, and the Donald Trump years, all of which saw a major breakdown in civility and social relations across America.

And youd get the product back, and nobody would ever fight you. I didnt worry about somebody pulling a knife or gun on me [40] years ago.

(Related: Burnt coffee chain Starbucks has reportedly had to close stores due to similar problems with rising thefts.)

Some Whole Foods stores now leaving high-dollar items (i.e., supplements and alcohol) in back room so customers have to ask an employee to retrieve them

Inner city businesses are feeling the worst of it as urban dwellers tend to be more prone to ransacking stores and engaging in smash-and-grab stunts like the kinds circulating across social media.

The George Floyd riots set a whole new tone for vandalism, looting, and violence, which have since become the norm in urban enclaves like Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Grocery stores like Giant Food cannot afford to lose their product in the same way that Lululemon or Starbucks can because supermarkets in general operate on extremely thin margins.

For the big box and the grocery [stores], which are trying to optimize a single-digit margin, it is very difficult to operate, and you will see more and more exits happening, warned Lakshman Lakshmanan, senior director at Alvarez & Marsals consumer and retail group.

Were seeing the highest level of organized retail crime and theft ever.

For Giant Food, it used to just be the occasional cigarette pack swipe, but conditions have worsened in todays world to the point that the grocery chain is now having to watch out for thieves stealing everyday essentials.

Its continued to escalate, so now its Tide and Dove and razor blades and Olay, or roasts or shrimp or crab legs, Kress said.

In 2021 at the height of COVID, incidents of organized retail crime jumped by an average of 26.5 percent, according to Alvarez & Marsals. Store owners say around half of the $94.5 billion lost that year was due to retail shrink, aka stolen merchandise.

Whole Foods Market is similarly seeing a rise in crime to the point that some stores have posted signage in front of empty shelves that used to contain high-dollar items like alcohol and expensive supplements informing customers that they must now ask an employee to retrieve such merchandise from the back room.

I was kind of surprised at the amount of effort that went into trying to mitigate the situation, said Chris Torossian, a former manager in the bakery department of Whole Foods San Francisco location.

The latest news about the engineered takedown of America can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) One of the most common strategies used by the political left to attack 2nd Amendment supporters is to ramp up the anti-gun hype every time a crime involving a gun is committed. They dont care much about the tragedy itself, they only care about how they can use it for political gain. However, its very important to understand that this is not only about removing gun rights for leftists  Its also about creating a false association in the public consciousness that guns = crime.

(Article by Brandon Smith republished from Alt-Market.us)

That is to say, they want to condition people to believe that once guns are gone, crime and murder will be gone also. But, firearms have been an integral part of American society for hundreds of years, and gun ownership has been present through times of relative peace as well as times of increased violence.

In the case of countries like the UK with incredibly strict gun laws, muggings, rape and homicides have been rising with knife attacks in particular increasing by 80%. While it is technically more difficult to murder a person with a knife, its also a lot easier for larger, stronger assailants and gangs to succeed in harming people when those people have no equalizer. Disarmament makes life EASIER for criminals, not harder.

So, if guns are not the catalyst for rising violence, then what is? In reality, the very people who want guns taken from the hands of law-abiding Americans are the same people largely responsible for the spike in homicide rates. Imagine that

In the US, violent crimes and murders are exponentially higher in Democrat-run cities, many of them with increased gun control measures. In fact, of the top 30 most violent cities in the US, 27 of them are Democrat-controlled. Wherever leftists dominate politically, violence, theft, rape and murder are sure to follow. Anti-gun proponents often try to cite high homicide numbers in certain conservative states like Texas, but the majority of those crimes are actually committed in cities run by leftists.

The truth is, blue cities are dragging red states and the rest of the country down. According to the statistics, in theory, if the public was to replace all Democrat city politicians with conservative leadership murder rates would immediately plunge across the US by virtue of policy.

But what is it specifically about Democrat leadership that leads to far higher crime? There are other trends to consider, such as incarceration rates in any given state or county, severity of punishment for violent crimes and repeat offenders, and lets not forget a subject a lot of people dont want to talk about  The separation of the mentally ill from the rest of society. Leftists often support revolving door policies for criminals, reduced sentences for violent crime (if the perpetrator is a minority) and they are adamantly opposed to incarceration for those with dangerous mental illness.

Theyre happy to take away the 2nd Amendment rights of innocent Americans, but they have no interest in keeping criminals in prison or keeping mentally unstable people away from normal society. Perhaps because their goal is NOT to reduce violence, but to use exponential violence in society as a reason to erode the constitution.

Incarceration does in fact work, far better that gun control does. But in order to understand the incarceration rate and its effectiveness in stopping violence, we have to look at two systems simultaneously  Prison incarceration and mental asylum incarceration. The following data shows US incarceration per capita in various prison systems for the past century:

The next graph shows homicide rates per capita for between 1900 to around 2010

And this graph shows homicide rates from the 1960s up to the 2020s.

One issue that is immediately noticeable is that prison numbers spiked massively starting in the mid-1980s, after which homicide rates began to plunge. Also note that less incarceration in the early 1900s coincides with much higher murder rates across the nation. But what about that dip in murders from the 1930s to the 1960s? What caused that?

Well, its not necessarily an economic problem as many progressives might suggest. The country was hitting peak prosperity in the 1920s and murder rates were still sky high. On the opposite end, the system was still in depression turmoil in the 1930s to 1940s, but homicide rates plunged. So, what caused violent crime to fall in that era?

The only factor that seems to coincide with this period of relative peace is the sudden increase in psychiatric incarceration from around the 1930s onward.

While prison rates remained low and mostly static between the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s, the number of mental asylums holding dangerous patients was growing. And, like magic, violence in the US dropped off a cliff.

By extension, as asylums began to shut down in the 1970s, murders jumped back once again to record highs. Without asylums and with low prison incarceration, homicides spread like wildfire and it did not stop until the mid-1980s when prison rates spiked. In other words, the prison system and the legal system had to finally pick up the slack left behind as the mental asylums disappeared.

Finally, take note of the recent jump in homicides and violence in the past few years in graph #3  It matches almost exactly with falling incarceration trends in Graph #1. This has been mostly encouraged by Democrat policies in blue cities and blue states. Also keep in mind that the Democrats of today are part of a new woke cultism  They are not necessarily the same Democrats from 30 years ago. Woke Democrats want all barriers to criminal activity removed, including incarceration.

Furthermore, mental illness in the US is on the rise. Over 42% of Gen Z has been diagnosed with at least one mental health condition and psychiatric drugs are doing little to help. We have minimal mental illness facilities in place to deal with the influx of unstable people permeating society. We are about to REPEAT the pattern of the early 1900s, with a lower prison population and no asylums, violence will likely continue to spiral out of control.

To be sure, in the past there were some terrible practices involving mental health establishments and it doesnt do anyone any good to repeat those mistakes. In the early days of psychiatry they cast a wide net that caught a lot of dangerous people, but they also locked up anyone with marginal mental problems as well. This led to abuses.

That said, its foolish to dismiss the numbers; asylums worked. They helped to reduce murders dramatically. At least 1% of the human population has psychopathic traits (including lack of empathy) and these people cause at least 30% of all crime in the US. At least 3% of the human population exhibits psychotic tendencies, which means they are prone to abrupt violence without treatment. Something has to be done to address the mentally unstable in our nation. Their odds of recidivism are extremely high, and they will keep on committing the same crimes over and over again until they are stopped.

This is the elephant in the room that the political left doesnt want to talk about. They try to hide it with social justice platitudes and feel-good welfare programs, but these things are clearly useless. Separating dangerous and insane people from the rest of the population is the only sure method for saving lives in the long run and keeping civilization intact.

The solution is simple and two-fold: Get rid of leftist leaders in major cities that set violent repeat offenders free, and bring back mental health facilities to lock up the crazies if necessary. This is the ONLY WAY to stop the avalanche of violent crime that awaits Americans as the next few years unfold.

Read more at: Alt-Market.us
(Natural News) Over the next three years, the government of Ireland is planning to murder upwards of 200,000 head of cattle because allowing the creatures to live might warm the planet too much, they claim.

Internal documents show that the plan is to spend more than $250 million a year on the slaughter of at least 65,000 cows every year for the next three years. Doing this, Irelands globalist leaders claim, will help the country to achieve its climate goals.

Irelands Department of Agriculture said the report calling for the culling of 200,000 dairy cows is a modeling document that the government is using to try to meet the climate emissions targets set forth for the United Kingdom.

The paper referred to was part of a deliberative process  it is one of a number of modeling documents considered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and is not a final policy decision, a spokesperson for the agency said.

As part of the normal work of government departments, various options for policy implementation are regularly considered.

(Related: The globalist leaders of Ireland share the same view as the globalist leaders of The Netherlands, which falsely believe that nitrogen is a pollutant.)

The climate cult wants to destroy all life forms to save the planet

For some bizarre reason, the climate lunatics have convinced themselves that animals, air, and nature itself is causing the planet to die, and thus must be obliterated. In this case, cows simply existing is too much for the climate lunatics to bear, so they are hellbent on committing bovine genocide so they can feel better about the planet.

Never mind the fact that millions will die without the milk and other foods these animals provide: as long as those methane farts are stopped, the climate lunatics can sleep easy at night believing that they are helping to cool the planet.

The corporate media is now going so far as to even blame the entirety of agriculture itself as being Irelands single biggest greenhouse gas polluter, accounting for 37.5 per cent of the countrys emissions in 2021.

If the natural gases produced by plants, animals, and humans are erroneously designated as pollutants in this way, then the greenies will use that  and they are  to argue for the annihilation of it all in order to save the world from life itself.

It would seem as though the climate lunatics want all life to end, and for the planet to be devoid of anything that breathes. Plants breathe carbon dioxide and oxygen, and so do humans, in a symbiotic relationship that the climate cult wants to destroy by recategorizing these so-called greenhouse gases as pollutants that must be eliminated.

Two-thirds of Irelands agricultural output is beef and dairy, which is slated for elimination as part of the nations climate goals. Beyond that, upwards of 90 percent of Irelands produce is exported, meaning people in other countries will suffer as well.

Ireland produces Kerrygold grass-fed butter, for instance, which is sold all across the United States. If Ireland loses these 200,000 cows, will that affect the countrys ability to continue providing this nutritious, healthy food to people all around the world?

Naturally, the climate cult is arguing that humans simply need to shift away from animal products like butter, dairy, and meat, and instead choose plant-based foods made from genetically engineered (GMO) ingredients. If saving the planet is really their aim, then why do they want us to eat fake foods made from chemicals that are actually polluting the world in the way they falsely claim meat and dairy animals are?

More of the latest news about the globalist push to annihilate all life forms in order to save the planet can be found at GreenTyranny.news.

Sources include:

NewsTalk.com

Buzz.ie

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The tens of thousands of illegal migrants who are pouring across the southern border day after day, week after week, can now apply for free college in the state of Minnesota under its so-called North Star Promise program.

Illegal aliens who apply can have their entire tuition paid if they enroll in a two- or four-year program within either the University of Minnesota or Minnesota State education system, just so long as they make $80,000 a year or less.

The only other caveat is that an illegal alien will have to have either graduated from a Minnesota high school or have lived in the state for a full year without being enrolled in college full-time.

We want to make sure that when were expanding opportunities for everybody, were doing it for all Minnesotans, regardless of background, regardless of their documentation status, said Democratic state Senate Higher Education Chair Omar Fateh.

(Related: Fake president Joe Biden also wants to give illegal aliens free government health care, even as millions of legal American citizens struggle without it.)

Only in the globalist-controlled West are illegals treated better than native citizens

In order to qualify, illegal aliens seeking free college in Minnesota must also submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, with the first availability for college enrollment under the program beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.

The first year of providing free college for illegal aliens is expected to cost taxpayers $117 million, even though these same taxpayers children cannot qualify for free education under the program because they are citizens and not illegals.

Weve been seeing declining enrollment on all campuses, Fateh added about the North Star Promise legislation that is making this all possible. If we dont do something quick, were at risk of shutting down some campuses  I see this bill as an enrollment driver.

California has a similar program in place offering free education to illegals. A California Student Aid Commission report reveals that 14 percent of Californias eligible illegal immigrants are taking advantage of the program.

The Minnesota program is a follow-up to the recent expiration of Title 42, a Trump-era policy that was used to rid the country of migrants during the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Now that Title 42 has ended, the fresh influx of illegals will be hauled off to Minnesota to occupy the states colleges and universities, all on the taxpayers dime.

In the comments, someone lamented that in the course of just six months, Minnesota has become the most radical state in the U.S. as far as catering to illegal aliens goes.

All of these dirtbags are giddy as hell about their newfound piggy bank to fund their romper room insanity, wrote another. Insane Clown Posse is running rampant throughout society, in the good old days, they would all have been lined up and shot.

Numerous others complained that as citizens of America, they had to pay their own way through school with much hardship, and now all these illegals are being handed the keys to the kingdom for free.

I had to work full time going to college, then enlisted in the USMC for the GI Bill. This disgusts me.

It isnt your state or nation any longer, responded another, explaining that the globalists are in charge now and they hate whitey with a passion.

You are nothing more than a vessel to capture revenue so politicians can play a real-life game of Sim City  unfortunately their game has real and profoundly negative consequences on Americans, our security, our prosperity, and our culture.

The latest news about the controlled demolition of the formerly United States can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

AlphaNews.org

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has warned that the East Coast and the Gulf Coast are sinking faster than other regions in the continental United States, but the sinking land levels arent caused by climate change.

Land subsidence  the downward motion of land  is a legitimate concern for scientists due to the higher flood risk in coastal cities. This phenomenon is caused by human activity, such as the extraction of oil, water or minerals from underground. Buildings can also cause land subsidence by adding weight on the soil and pushing it down.

But according to NASA scientist David Bekaert, some land subsidence is linked to deep natural processes over long periods of time  such as responses to activity at the tectonic plates or the retreat of glaciers from the last Ice Age.

If we look at the data, we dont see a city as a whole, uniform society, he said. We generally see regions of hot spots where you can see parts of cities subsiding depending on what is happening.

In the western Gulf Coast, Bekaert and his colleagues found Houston to have the fastest peak subsidence rates nationwide  about 17 millimeters (0.67 inches) per year from 2014 to 2020. They found that the majority of areas affected by flooding from Hurricane Harvey back in 2017 had high subsidence rates. Meanwhile, groundwater withdrawal largely caused land sinking in the Houston-Galveston area.

Parts of New Orleans are also experiencing high rates of land sinking due to natural and anthropomorphic causes. A separate study noted that land subsidence rates are highly variable across the Crescent City, ranging from 150 mm (5.9 in) to 500 mm (19.7 in) over the past 20 years. According to city authorities, shifting of underground faults is also to blame.

Data from 2009 to 2012 showed the highest subsidence rates along the Mississippi River near industrial areas in Norco and Michoud  both in Louisiana  with up to 50 mm (1.97 in) of sinking annually. The Bonnet Carre Spillway, intended to reduce flood risk for the Pelican State, experienced up to 40 mm (1.57 in) of annual sinking behind it. NASA reported that the primary contributor is pumping groundwater.

NYC sinking into the sea

Meanwhile, New York City in the East Coast is sinking into its surrounding bodies of water at a rate of one to two mm (0.04 to 0.08 in) a year, with some areas subsiding much faster. (Related: Heavy skyscrapers causing New York City to sink, geologists warn.)

The more than one million buildings in the Big Apple, including the iconic Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, were found to weigh nearly 1.7 trillion pounds  roughly equivalent to 140 million elephants. Tom Parsons, a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, warned that the gradual sinking makes the city extremely vulnerable to natural disasters.

But University of Rhode Island geophysicist Matt Wei pointed out that the Big Apples skyscrapers arent the only ones to blame.

NYC is sinking not because of the weight of the buildings. Its mainly because of the glacier rebound, he said. But there are places suggesting the weight of the buildings might have contributed to the accelerated rate.

Post-glacial rebound, the phenomenon Wei mentioned, pertains to the rise of land masses previously depressed by the huge weight of ice sheets during the last Ice Age. It is also called continental rebound, isostatic rebound or isostatic adjustment. But the Big Apple isnt the only one affected by this.

The city of Norfolk in Virginia is also sinking, thanks to a crater stemming from a meteorite impact millions of years ago. Softer dirt that entered the crater has since compacted and shifted downward, causing the land around the crater to subside.

But aside from this, Bekaert mentioned that groundwater pumping is also worsening the subsidence. Historically, paper mills near Norfolk did a lot of pumping  but operations ceased with new regulations.

Head over to Disaster.news for more similar stories.

Listen to this edition of the Finding Genius Podcast that discusses coastal restoration in Louisiana to save its sinking land.

This video is from the Finding Genius Podcast channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

California sinking ONE FOOT each year from groundwater depletion.

The San Joaquin Valley is rapidly sinking due to groundwater extraction some areas have fallen 28 feet and its accelerating.

Mexico City sinking at unstoppable rate of up to 20 inches a year, study finds.

A new conundrum for city budgets: A city in Virginia is sinking  unevenly  according to NASA.

Sources include:

MSN.com

GreatGameIndia.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) According to sources (see below), the Pentagon is now taking thousands of mothballed military aircraft and restoring them to full service capability in an obvious run-up to World War III with both China and Russia. These aircraft reportedly include F-16s, C-130 transport planes, AWACS aircraft and more.

This intel has been related by John Moore, The Liberty Man, in his June 5, 2023 broadcast, available at the John Moore Show channel on Brighteon.com.

I called John Moore yesterday to ask for additional confirmation. He reiterated that his military-tied sources were observing (so far) hundreds of aircraft at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona being taken out of storage and restored to full service capacity. This process has only been under way for a few weeks, and it appears to involve hundreds of military personnel.

Once restored, the aircraft are reportedly being sent to two destinations: 1) The Philippines (a staging area for war with China), and 2) Europe (most like Poland), a staging area for war with Russia. This indicates that the Pentagon is gearing up for kinetic conflict with both Russia and China in the near future.

Following the fall of Bakhmut and the failed counteroffensive that fizzled, Ukraine appears to have run out of steam (and men) to fight Russia. This means direct NATO engagement of Russia is likely not far away. The proxy stage of this war, in other words, is drawing to an end, and NATO forces will soon be fighting Russian forces directly.

This means the world will soon be engulfed in global war, and that war is likely to go nuclear. Russia, it turns out, has the most advanced nuclear ICBMs and nuclear-equipped hypersonic missiles in the world, and once NATO unambiguously enters the war, every American city will become a legitimate nuclear target in the eyes of Russia.

This is what corrupt fake president Joe Biden is attempting to achieve: The nuking of America by Russia. This is how Democrats and communists plan to destroy the United States of America while blaming it all on Russia.

Evacuating the last weaponry from CONUS

This effort to ship out nearly all combat aircraft currently remaining in the United States will also set up the USA for a purge attack from within, where communist Chinese military agents have already crossed the wide open southern border by the hundreds of thousands, positioning themselves across US cities to prepare for Activation Day. On that day, they will unleash kinetic attacks against US infrastructure, targeting ports, refineries, power grid stations, communications infrastructure, military bases, bridges and more.

Communist military personnel will attempt to execute all Republican governors, senators and political leaders, while seizing control over state capitols, radio stations and other broadcast media. Think Red Dawn but with the cooperation of nearly all Democrats (i.e. communists).

Domestic US military forces will be largely unable to defend CONUS because they will have already shipped out nearly every remaining military asset to Ukraine, including artillery rounds, fighter jets, rifle ammunition, main battle tanks, anti-tank weapon systems, military drones and more. The USA will be left defenseless while treasonous Mr. Austin (who pretends to be the Secretary of Defense) keeps pushing covid jabs to maim and murder US military personnel and leave the country vulnerable to a communist takeover attempt.

This means the defense of America is going to come down to armed citizens and militia groups. This is why the treasonous ATF is trying to outlaw arm braces and label nearly every gun owner in America a felon  so they can be rounded up and exterminated in death camps as the communist Activation Day gets under way. (Yes, federal agencies are now working directly for Communist China, and the entire Biden regime is compromised by the CCP.)

Where to find the pilots to fly F-16s?

I asked John Moore about where the USA would find enough pilots to fly F-16s, A-10s and other combat aircraft needed to wage war with Russia and China, and he said that a significant portion of todays airline pilots are retired military pilots who can be reinstated into active military service after a declaration of war.

Its worth noting, however, that the level of physical fitness required to operate an F-16 in a combat environment is extremely high, and retired former military pilots dont have the same physiology as a young, fit pilot. This means combat maneuvers that are required to dodge incoming missiles, strike ground targets or engage enemy aircraft may not be attainable by older pilots. Their combat effectiveness, in other words, is compromised due to age and lack of fitness.

It is noteworthy that Russia holds the worlds most advanced anti-aircraft military equipment, meaning that US fighter pilots will be subjected to the most rigorous anti-air defenses ever deployed on planet Earth. This means we should reasonably expect a very high loss rate of both US military aircraft and pilots. At the same time, the impact of the loss of commercial transport pilots on the domestic economy will be devastating. Air cargo shipments, for example, may have to be shut down during the war, and carriers like Fedex and UPS would likely have to shut down air transport services altogether. Airlines would go bankrupt, requiring the printing of yet more bailout money to keep them in business, even as there arent enough pilots to fly the routes.

I am scheduled to interview John Moore later this week, and that interview will be published Friday. We will ask him for more details during the interview.

Listen to todays Brighteon Broadcast News for more details and a full analysis:

 New intel reveals Pentagon gearing up for World War III with China and Russia

 Strategic dam blown up in Ukraine, likely by the Zelensky regime

 World War would halt the 2024 election and allow Biden to declare endless national emergencies

 Announcement about deployment of Monero crypto for Brighteon tipping system

 History of Monero and forking of crypto projects

 Why every crypto project should fork if its original founder is a psychopath or a scammer

 US government leaking alien craft narrative in preparation for COSMIC FALSE FLAG to push one world government

 Full interview with Dr. Brian Hooker and Natalie Sadie from Childrens Health Defense (CHD)

Brighteon: Brighteon.com/7c8f3b5c-ef1e-439c-9244-f50ca5ef8c26

Rumble: Rumble.com/v2sg20o-bbn-june-6-2023-pentagon-mobilizing-thousands-of-aircraft-for-wwiii-confron.html

Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/zhIdQa2ASts5/

Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=647f3458492826dd9deba01c

iTunes podcast: Healthrangerreport.com/brighteon-broadcast-news-june-6-2023-pentagon-mobilizing-thousands-of-aircraft-for-wwiii-confrontations-with-china-russia

Discover more interviews and podcasts each day at:

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(Natural News) Stockholm police have announced the expansion of their unmanned aerial systems (UAS) surveillance program to several new locations to combat crimes and maintain public safety as criminal factions engage in violent gang wars on the streets of the Swedish capital.

Its not clear, however, if these gang wars are real or just staged to justify the expansion of the program. Its interesting to note that the lead actors in these gang wars are immigrants.

Multiple areas in Stockholm County are now under constant surveillance, and the suburbs of Ragsved, Hagsatra, Hokarangen and more than 60 other locations have been added to the list of monitored locations. The surveillance program was initially authorized until May 31, but has now been extended until January 8 next year. (Related: Sweden goes from being one of the safest countries in Europe to the second most dangerous.)

Stefan Singman, the head of the police camera surveillance section, acknowledged the concerning trend in Stockholm and emphasized the need for a prolonged and dedicated approach to combat crime effectively.

This is a worrying development we have seen in Stockholm. In order to get rid of crime, we will probably have to keep going for a long time, Singman said.

Gang-related killings associated with increasing number of immigrants in Sweden

The initiation of the UAS surveillance program was in response to a surge in gang-related killings in 2022, which has been associated with the increasing number of immigrants in the country.

Once known for its low crime rate, Sweden now has a murder rate well above the European average. Social unrest, arson attacks and riots have become recurring problems in the country.

According to a Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention report, Sweden has experienced the highest number of firearm-related deaths in Europe in the past 15 years. This was based on an analysis of data from 22 European countries provided by Eurostat and the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the victims are men between the ages of 20 and 30.

The increase in such incidents is associated with immigration. This is evident in gang wars and so-called honor crimes to defend a familys reputation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has acknowledged the failure of multiculturalism under her administration and expressed concerns about the weakening of Swedish society, which she believes has led to a significant increase in crime rates.

During her speech in 2022, Andersson admitted that integration efforts were inadequate and that the country had experienced high levels of immigration. She emphasized that the Swedish society was not sufficiently strong, and the funding allocated to the police and social services was insufficient. The prime minister also highlighted the existence of parallel societies in Sweden, where different realities coexist despite being part of the same country.

The adoption of multiculturalism by Riksdag, Swedens parliament, resulted in a 300 percent increase in violent crimes. Additionally, rape cases rose by a staggering 1,472 percent as Sweden ranked second globally in terms of countries plagued by rape after Lesotho in South Africa.

In 2021, Sweden experienced a record number of shootings, with 46 fatalities in 335 incidents nationwide. Most of these shootings occurred in cities such as Malmo, Gothenburg and Stockholm. The inability of Swedish law enforcement to effectively combat the escalating crime committed by migrant gangs has contributed to Swedens second-place ranking in gun crimes, surpassed only by Croatia.

Migrants.news has more articles about the negative effects of illegal immigration.

Watch this news clip from Russia Today discussing Swedens immigration problem and the rise in crime that follows.

This video is from the Eddie English channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Financial Times says Europeans should prepare for demographic replenishment by Arabs and Asians.

Michael Cutler warns Americas open borders will destroy the nation  Brighteon.TV.

Swedish researchers under attack for writing a paper analyzing rape cases committed by migrants in Sweden.

NY Times FINALL gets around to reporting on Swedens immigrating gang problem a year after bashing Trump for pointing it out.

Swedish PM admits failure of integrating migrants, laments society becoming too weak.

Sources include:

Rmx.news

TellerReport.com

HumansBeFree.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) One of Targets Pride Month partners is an organization called GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), the mission of which is to brainwash public school children by lacing sexually explicit gender ideology into their curriculum. And GLSENs treasurer is none other than Carlos Saavedra, who just so happens to also be Targets vice president of brand marketing.

In light of the recent Pride Collection scandal at Target, of which Saavedra was a part, it is important to connect the dots between the various people and organizations that are pulling the LGBT strings both at corporations and in academia. As you might expect, it is one big incestuous network of child-grooming perverts who aim to take advantage of children in every sector of society.

When children are not being groomed into transgender perversion in the classroom, they are being pushed to buy pride-wear at Target and march in pride parades at their local libraries. This is why the Carlos Saavedras of the world are embedded in key positions at influential businesses and organizations that have access and reach to children.

(Related: Targets LGBT child-grooming tactics are the same ones used by fake president Joe Biden and his pervert-pedophile regime to trans-ify the nation.)

GLSEN teaches public school districts how to hide anti-white racism, LGBT curriculum, and student transitions from parents

According to Target, the reason why it chose GLSEN as one of its partners is that the organization leads the movement in creating affirming  and anti-racist spaces for LGBTQIA+ students  anti-racism being code for anti-white racism.

We are proud of 10+ years of collaboration with GLSEN and continue to support their mission, Target added, noting that it donates at least $2.1 million every single year to GLSEN.

GLSEN continues to call on public schools all across the country to lace their curriculum with as much anti-white racism and LGBT perversion as they can get away with. The group makes it as easy as possible to do this by providing educators with explicit instructions about how they can make even classes like math more inclusive of trans and non-binary identities by including they/them pronouns in word problems.

One major problem that GLSEN continues to encounter are angry parents who do not want their children being indoctrinated into such filth while in the classroom. To overcome this, GLSEN provides teaching tips to school districts about how to hide the truth from parents.

When a student decides to transition, for instance, GLSEN provides the tools for teachers and administrators to hide it from the students parents until the damage is already done. By the time the parents figure out what their student has done, the student has already become trans.

[The local education agency] shall ensure that all personally identifiable and medical information relating to transgender and nonbinary students is kept confidential, GLSEN says regarding its policy for school districts.

Staff or educators shall not disclose any information that may reveal a students gender identity to others, including parents or guardian  This disclosure must be discussed with the student, prior to any action.

GLSEN also provides explicit books for free to school districts so they can expose their students to them. Much of this literature contains pornographic and deviant imagery designed to lure young children into experimenting with sexual deviancy.

This far-left grooming has to stop, one commenter wrote about the matter. No matter how hard they push, this behavior isnt normal. Show how we feel with our spending and dont shop at Target, North Face, etc.

The latest news about the trans-ification of America can be found at Transhumanism.news.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

NaturalNews.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

Professor Jonathan Moyo's recommendations that Dr Thokozani Khupe withdraw from running against Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, as the latter has a better chance of developing Cowdray Park, have been ridiculed by the opposition and several analysts who believe Zanu-PF is to blame for underdevelopment in the city.Khupe will most likely represent the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) for the Cowdray Park seat, a contest in which Prof Moyo stated that she "will be well advised not to take a dive into" because "Prof Ncube is the best possible candidate for Cowdray Park and the region."Without disparaging Dr Khupe's candidacy, Prof. Moyo contended that elections should be won by the most qualified and well-positioned candidates, in this case, the finance minister."It is manifestly clear that Prof Ncube deserves support from everyone not only in Cowdray Park but also across the region, including and particularly from Dr Khupe. It is not an indictment of Dr Khupe but an acknowledgement of the objective reality on the ground in Cowdray Park and the region that there is really hardly much that she would be able to do differently or better now for either the constituency or the region which she has not been able to do since 2000, when she first went to Parliament," he said on his Twitter platform.Prof Moyo's notions were, however, disputed by CCC Bulawayo Provincial Spokesperson, Swithern Chirowodza."Ever since Jonathan Moyo made an offer to train polling agents which the CCC was slow to respond to, he has been acidic on social media and continues fighting with the CCC," he said.According to Chirowodza, there are some manipulative elements that could lead to a Zanu-PF victory in Cowdray but not on the basis of merit."If Zanu-PF had any chances of winning Cowdray Park, it would be due to the allotment of stands through the Garikai/Hlalali Kuhle housing saga, which gave stands to Border Gezi recruits and the army. After Murambatsvina, the government pretended there was a housing programme that benefitted citizens but it was designed to cushion the army and Border Gezi graduates," he claimed.The displacement of people's names on the voter's roll said Chirowodza, also reversed the gains made in trying to democratise the vote and bring polling stations closer to people since voters previously travelled long distances."Now the displacement of voters which looks deliberate is something we think may bring false patterns and also the transportation of voters from the rural areas to urban areas where they are not resident is most likely to change patterns. Those are the most likely reasons that can cause an upset in the voting patterns in Cowdray Park," Chirowodza said."To suggest that Khupe will lose per se is to say Mthuli Ncube has a better brand than Khupe. Ceteri paribus (all other things being constant), if we, as CCC were to field a donkey against Mthuli Ncube, the CCC donkey, will win because of the brand CCC."Political analyst, Bernard Magugu, felt Prof Moyo was losing focus as development in the southwestern part of Zimbabwe had not come under Zanu-PF."Prof Moyo is an indirectly interested party because he supports Zanu, so would always speak on their side. The idea in Bulawayo, Matebeleland and Midlands provinces is to keep Zanu out of those provinces because Zanu has been a great impediment and albatross in the development of this country," he said.Magugu stated Zanu-PF has been in power since 1980 but "nothing has come out for people in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, Matebeleland, Midlands and other provinces.""To allow Zanu to creep into power, there is a problem there. Khupe must assist to keep Zanu out of Cowdray Park. Mthuli is keeping civil servants hungry by paying them in RTGS when he himself does not pay himself such."Another political expert, Effie Ncube, noted that Prof Moyo was contributing to an ongoing, uncomfortable and "very" hard debate about the politics of Matebeleland regarding the debilitating poverty, hunger and unemployment in the region."This is a question that has been asked again and again, albeit in hushed voices. Independence has not served the people of Matebeleland and every election since has not delivered for the poorest of the poor," Ncube said."For example, independence brought the Gukurahundi genocide and immense economic dislocation. The question is whether politics in the region is responding to those lived realities or it is now responding to external pressures and guidance at the cost of local interests."Ncube said every political party and people of Matebeleland themselves must answer this question, of which at the top of that question was the role of Zanu-PF."The vote for Zanu-PF in Matebeleland North and Matebeleland South has not translated into development, freedom and justice either. Needless to say, it is under the leadership of Zanu-PF that Matebeleland is at the tail-end of development. The poorest districts are in Matebeleland. Extreme hunger and poverty are highest in Matebeleland. This is not a result of opposition politics but rather a product of misgovernance at national level," he echoed."That said, thinking and acting locally in order to influence nationally is a global trend. Local interests must come first. Any politics that does not is useless politics."A local activist, Mbuso Fuzwayo, said it was unfortunate for Prof Moyo to suggest that Prof Ncube will bring development to Cowdray Park when the central government through Murambatsvina created the chaos seen in that constituency."After causing chaos, they later handed it to council. Mthuli, as the manager of the government purse, has failed to repair national roads. The health sector is failing l don't understand how he will develop a constituency which must be developed by the local authority," he said.Critical studies scholar, Dr Khanyile Mlotshwa said he could follow what Prof Moyo is trying to say but it was "nonsense considering that Mthuli has failed to do anything for the people of Zimbabwe as Minister of Finance.""What has he achieved? At least Dr Khupe managed to have maternity fees waived at some point as Deputy Prime Minister. The women have not forgotten that," he said.On the other hand, another commentator, Patrick Ndlovu said Prof Moyo is "completely on point" and questioned what Dr Khuphe achieved for Bulawayo since she went to Parliament over 20 years ago."It's just a means of living for her and her family. Mthuli hasn't been in Parliament as a representative before. He has shown that he has the financial muscle to do something for his constituency," he said.
Multiple dog deaths have been reported in Ireland over the past week, with local veterinarian authorities blaming the 'blue green algae' for causing serious illnesses like organ failures to the animals.

The authorities are warning pet owners to keep their canine friends away from stagnant waters in lakes and ponds, which are some of the evident habitats of the eukaryotic organisms.

While an official investigation has been launched into the incident, the experts are still confident that the presence of algae in a lake between the border of Leitrim village and Fermanagh county. A 'water quality advice' has been issued by local officials as the threat did not only occur recently. However, one fact is certain that the dogs became sick after swimming in the said lake.

Ireland Dog Deaths

Aoife Ferris, who works at the Lakeland Veterinary Services in Belleek, stated they have already observed multiple dogs that requires serious veterinary intervention after swimming in the lake over the past 48 hours as of Friday, June 2, the Irish Examiner reported.

Ferris warned the blue green algae in the lake has been proven to be toxic to pets and it is the cause of a number of serious symptoms that leads to acute organ failure, at least in some cases. She also spoke to RTE radio's 'News at One,' revealing her work led to encountering the said cases where the animal died after swimming in Lough Melvin, a lake in Europe.

Also Read: Evolution of Brown Algae Has a Big Help to Biofuels

What are Blue Green Algae?

Also known as cyanobacteria, the blue green algae are any large, heterogenous group of photosynthetic organisms. This means they acquire energy through the process of photosynthesis, just like plants do.

Sometimes spelled as 'blue-green algae,' the organism is actually bacteria that have resembling qualities of algae and other plants. Its name cyanobacteria are derived from 'cyan,' which means "blue-green." They are commonly found both in terrestrial and marine environments like rivers, estuaries, and ponds, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

In such an environment, the algae can reproduce quickly due to the combination of sunlight, warm temperatures, and nutrient-rich waters. In terms of its morphological appearance, 'blue-green blooms' can be found floating to the surface and appear to be several inches thick near the shoreline.

Blue Green Algae Symptoms

In the case of the intoxicated Irish dogs, the animals immediately showed symptoms from the blue green algae such as drooling and frothing at their mouth, as well as seizures. Experts assert the algae also pose a threat to humans and other animals aside from dogs.

Dogs are vulnerable to blue green algae either they swim or drink contaminated water. In addition, they can also acquire it when it comes into contact with their fur and ingest it while cleaning themselves afterward, according to the United Kingdom's Blue Cross organization.

Related Article: Toxic Algae Blamed For Shut Down of Access in Some Parts of California River
Mangoes are one of the most important crops in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta region, where they contribute significantly to the economy and livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.

However, mango production in Vietnam faces many challenges, such as low productivity, high production costs, poor fruit quality, and short shelf life.

One of the main factors affecting these issues is the overuse of fertilizers, which not only increases the input costs but also harms the environment and human health.

A recent study by researchers from the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) and the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) has shown that lower application rates of fertilizers do not affect the yield or quality of two mango varieties in Southern Vietnam, and can lead to increased profitability and sustainability for mango farmers.

Fertilizer Practices and Effects on Mango Yield and Quality

The study was part of a larger project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which aims to improve smallholder farmer incomes by increasing the competitiveness of selected mango value chains in Southern Vietnam, as per Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

The project surveyed the current fertilizer practices of mango farmers in Dong Thap and Tien Giang provinces and found that most farmers applied excessive amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers to their mango trees, hoping to maximize their yield.

However, this practice resulted in higher production costs, lower fruit quality, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.

The study also found that most farmers lacked knowledge and skills in fertilizer management and did not follow scientific recommendations or soil test results.

To test the effects of different fertilizer rates on mango yield and quality, the researchers conducted trials on two popular mango varieties: Cat Chu and Cat Hoa Loc.

They applied four NPK fertilizer treatments: 0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the recommended dose based on soil test results.

They measured the yield, fruit size, weight, length, width, edible portion, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and TSS/TA ratio of each treatment.

The results showed that there was no significant difference in yield or quality between the 50%, 100%, and 150% treatments for both varieties.

However, there was a significant difference between the 0% treatment and the other treatments, indicating that some fertilizer application was necessary for optimal mango production.

Also Read: Meet India's 'Mango Man' Who Grew a Tree With 300 Flavors

Implications and Recommendations for Mango Farmers

The study concluded that lower application rates of fertilizers could maintain mango yield and quality while reducing production costs and environmental impacts, as per Phys.org.

The researchers estimated that by applying 50% of the recommended dose instead of 150%, mango farmers could save about 3.6 million VND (156 USD) per hectare per year on fertilizer costs.

Moreover, by reducing fertilizer use, farmers could also reduce water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and health risks associated with fertilizer exposure.

The study recommended that mango farmers should adopt more efficient and sustainable fertilizer practices based on soil test results and scientific recommendations.

The study also suggested that farmers should be provided with training and extension services on fertilizer management and decision-making.

Furthermore, the study highlighted the need for more research on other aspects of mango production, such as irrigation, pruning, pest control, and post-harvest handling, to improve the overall competitiveness and profitability of mango value chains in Southern Vietnam.

Mangoes are one of the main tropical fruits grown in Vietnam, second only to bananas.

Most Vietnamese mango production is concentrated in the Mekong Delta region, which accounts for 48% of the country's total production area and produced 567,732 tonnes last year, nearly two-thirds of the total national output.

Vietnam is also among the world's top 15 exporters of mangoes, with a total export value of 310 million USD in 2021.

However, there is still room for improvement and growth in Vietnam's mango industry, as it faces competition from other major mango producers such as India, Thailand, and Mexico.

By adopting better fertilizer practices and other interventions along the value chain, Vietnamese mango farmers can increase their income and sustainability while meeting the growing demand for high-quality mangoes both locally and internationally.

Related article: California Ventures into Farming Avocados, Mangoes, Agave in Response to Climate Change
According to information published by The Hindu on June 6, 2023, the visiting German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, discussed the progress of a deal for the procurement of six advanced conventional submarines by the Indian Navy under Project-75I during his talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

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HDW class Dolphin AIP submarine. (Picture source: TKMS)

The visiting German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, discussed the progress of a deal for the procurement of six advanced conventional submarines by the Indian Navy under Project-75I during his talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Pistorius made a strong pitch for German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and stated that the submarine deal could become a "flagship project."

He expressed Germany's support for the "Make in India" initiative and emphasized the need for cooperation between companies on both sides. The P-75I deal, expected to cost over 45,000 crore, is likely to be won by Germany, as they and South Korea are the only countries that technically meet the bidding criteria.

The German Defence Minister also discussed the issue of global supply chain disruptions and India's request for Germany to diversify its supply chains to stable and open countries like India.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invited German investments in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu defence corridors and highlighted the potential for collaboration between the Indian and German defence industries.

During his visit, Minister Pistorius also interacted with Indian defence start-ups and discussed the promotion of co-development and co-production between Indian and German start-ups.

Additionally, the two Ministers discussed the German and European role in the Indo-Pacific, with Pistorius stating the importance of strategic partnerships to ensure free navigation and trading routes in the region. Germany has announced plans to send two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024 as part of its commitment to upholding the rules-based international order and protecting major maritime passages.
News / National

by Staff reporter

#ZimElection2023



DR THOKOZANI KHUPE WITHDRAWN FROM CONTESTING PROF MTHULI NCUBE IN COWDRAY PARK AND REDEPLOYED TO TOP CCC SENATE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION PARTYLIST



In a new twist to what was promising to be a Battle Royale in the 23 August harmonised general election  pic.twitter.com/oib08DvZq2  Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) June 6, 2023

In a new twist to what was promising to be a Battle Royale in the 23 August harmonised general election - between the much adored Dr Thokozani Khupe and the odds-on favourite Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube - for the honour to represent Bulawayo's Cowdray Park constituency in the National Assembly, Dr Khupe has been withdrawn and put on the top of CCC's Bulawayo metropolitan province's Senate proportional representation party-list, on which Prof Welshman Ncube is number two after her.While the new twist is on the back of what has manifestly become an indefinitely prolonged, opaque, dysfunctional and centrally manipulable CCC "candidate selection" process underwritten by intrigue and uncertainty, Dr Khupe, who has not been seen in public doing active politics for some time, is in fact not feeling her best; and good sense appears to be finally dawning on all and sundry that it would be just too much and even cruel to have her slug it out in what is most definitely going to be a gruelling election contest.Makhupe is not well, and this is not a secret to those close to her. That's why right from the start, the understanding and her expectation was that she would be on a party-list for either the women's quota or the Senate. But overzealous yet cowardly self-appointed CCC apparatchiks afraid of taking on Prof Mthuli Ncube then conspired to come up with Machiavellian claims that Dr Khupe was the only one in CCC who could "defeat" Prof Ncube in Cowdray Park.Meanwhile - as captured in the attached audio - a hurriedly convened and chaotically organised CCC "candidate selection caucus" for Cowdray Park run by a nervous team from Harare, had already "selected" Dr Khupe in her absence as the party's National Assembly candidate for the constituency.Out of a paltry 342 "voting" CCC activists  some of them who were not registered as voters  Dr Khupe was "selected" by just 222 in a constituency that had 24, 403 registered voters as of 30 May 2022, when the delimitation voters roll was closed.It is no wonder that  despite having touted its murky "community selection caucuses" some three months ago as an "innovative and democratic" candidate selection process in which communities would have the last word on the choice of their local authority and parliamentary representatives under the CCC banner, the latest CCC propaganda is that in fact, none of the community processes has the last say.This has left little if any doubt that the final word is with Advocate Nelson Chamisa who said last year that he would personally approve each and every nomination form for CCC local authority and parliamentary election candidates in the 2023 election who number some 2,440.Interestingly, Cowdray Park is a new peri-urban constituency in Bulawayo with three big wards: 6, 15 and 28 which are essentially ruralised.Since 30 May 2022, and especially after Prof Ncube's candidature was confirmed, the constituency has registered very high numbers of new voters up 2 June 2023, when the voters registration was closed to enable ZEC to prepare the final voters roll for the harmonised general election on 23 August 2023!
Microsoft is launching its first cloud region in Italy, the company said on Monday.

The new region, which will have three data centers, will be located in Lombardy  an administrative area in Northern Italy whose capital is Milan.

Enterprises will be able to start using the new region using Microsoft Azure or Microsoft 365 in the coming weeks, the company said, adding that other services such as Dynamics 365 and Power Platform are expected to follow soon.

The data centers in Lombardy are part of Microsofts Ambizione Italia (Ambition Italy) program launched in 2018. Later in 2020, the company said it would invest $1.5 billion over the next five years under the program to improve cloud infrastructure and provide digital skills training.

Microsofts ecosystem in Italy and its enterprise customers together could add about $135 billion and 237,000 jobs to the Italian economy over the next four years, according to a joint study by Microsoft and IDC. Of the $135 billion, the Lombardy region alone is expected to contribute over $22.95 billion.

Microsoft said it would provide cloud services to the Italian Public Administration as part of the National Strategic Hub by leveraging Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, which was launched in July last year.

The new region in Lombardy will add to over 60 cloud regions that Microsoft has globally and is expected to be one of the largest data center regions in Europe. The company has a total of 17 regions in the continent.

Microsoft is the latest among large public cloud service providers to add a region in Italy. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Oracle already have cloud regions in Milan.

Public cloud service providers have been rapidly expanding their cloud infrastructure globally and are expected to do accelerate the same with the proliferation of compute-intensive AI and generative AI based applications including OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Last month, Oracle said it is opening a new region in Serbia just after opening a second region in Singapore.

AWS, too, recently launched a region in Malaysia with a $6 billion commitment. Google has also announced its intent to launch new cloud regions in the coming quarters.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Four Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) activists, currently detained for allegedly spraying graffiti on government buildings, had their bail application turned down Tuesday by Harare magistrate, Learnmore Mapiye.The group comprises Emmanuel Sitima, 24, Comfort Mpofu, 22, Tawanda Watadza, 24 and Lionel Wadamombe.The University of Zimbabwe students stand accused of defacing several government buildings within the Harare CBD through spray painting their walls with messages demanding the release of jailed opposition lawmaker, Job Sikhala.Sikhala will on 14 June this year cloak a full year under pre-trial detention for alleged violence incitement.The students were arrested on 16 May and charged with 7 counts of malicious damage to property for defacing 7 city buildings with graffiti.They are alternatively being charged with counts of criminal nuisance.Allegations are that on May 14, 2023, the four, together with others who are still at large, went around protesting for the release of Sikhala.Prosecutors allege they drew graffiti on the High Court of Zimbabwe building walls, Parliament building, the Methodist Trinity Church building and the Constitutional Court building.They allegedly did the same at the Harare Civil Court, Runhare House building and at Karigamombe building.In her ruling, the magistrate declared that evidence against the four was overwhelming."The state case is strong; if they are released on bail they will team up with some others who are outside to commit further offences."Those who are not yet apprehended pose a threat to the investigations."The buildings which were painted, including the Parliament of Zimbabwe are serious buildings."Violations of state institutions must be protected and releasing the four students is risky," she said.They will be back in court on June 21 for their routine remand.
Arshad Khan By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Airfares have surged sharply over the weekend, especially on routes that were earlier serviced by Go First.

In some cases, the fare is now 10 times higher than what it what just days ago. On Monday, the cost of an economy class ticket on a non-stop Delhi-Mumbai flight for Tuesday ranged between Rs 16,000 and Rs 30,000. On the Delhi-Chennai route, the prices ranged between Rs 17,000 and Rs 32,000.

To address the situation, Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held a meeting with the Airlines Advisory Group and urged all airlines them to self-regulate their ticket prices. The airlines must self-monitor airfares on certain select routes that have seen considerable surge pricing of late, particularly those that were earlier being serviced by Go First. A mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high RBDs (Reservation Booking Designator) may be devised by airlines. This shall be monitored by the DGCA, Scindia said after the meeting with the Airlines Advisory Group.

Go First stopped flying on May 3, which led to a reduction of capacity at a time when the peak domestic air travel period is around the corner. IndiGo and the Air India group have been accused of using the demand-supply mismatch to raise ticket fares.

Mark Martin, founder and CEO of Martin Consulting, said that it is very important for the government to set checks and balances to protect consumers interests, especially from price cartelisation by airlines. A fresh body should be enacted to monitor ticket prices on an ongoing basis. India is one of the worlds largest aviation markets and therefore it is mandatory that common travellers should not suffer on account of duopolies (referring to IndiGo and Tata Group airlines), Martin told TNIE.

Meanwhile, Scindia urged airlines to provide free cargo services to the families of those who died in the Odisha rail accident.

NEW DELHI: Airfares have surged sharply over the weekend, especially on routes that were earlier serviced by Go First. In some cases, the fare is now 10 times higher than what it what just days ago. On Monday, the cost of an economy class ticket on a non-stop Delhi-Mumbai flight for Tuesday ranged between Rs 16,000 and Rs 30,000. On the Delhi-Chennai route, the prices ranged between Rs 17,000 and Rs 32,000. To address the situation, Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia held a meeting with the Airlines Advisory Group and urged all airlines them to self-regulate their ticket prices. The airlines must self-monitor airfares on certain select routes that have seen considerable surge pricing of late, particularly those that were earlier being serviced by Go First. A mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high RBDs (Reservation Booking Designator) may be devised by airlines. This shall be monitored by the DGCA, Scindia said after the meeting with the Airlines Advisory Group.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Go First stopped flying on May 3, which led to a reduction of capacity at a time when the peak domestic air travel period is around the corner. IndiGo and the Air India group have been accused of using the demand-supply mismatch to raise ticket fares. Mark Martin, founder and CEO of Martin Consulting, said that it is very important for the government to set checks and balances to protect consumers interests, especially from price cartelisation by airlines. A fresh body should be enacted to monitor ticket prices on an ongoing basis. India is one of the worlds largest aviation markets and therefore it is mandatory that common travellers should not suffer on account of duopolies (referring to IndiGo and Tata Group airlines), Martin told TNIE. Meanwhile, Scindia urged airlines to provide free cargo services to the families of those who died in the Odisha rail accident.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Two persons were killed and two others were injured in Assams Dhemaji district on Monday when unidentified gunmen fired at them, allegedly from Arunachal Pradesh.

The incident occurred at Panbari near the interstate border when the victims were planting trees and saplings. The deceased were identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi. When reports last came in, the situation in Dhemaji was tense. The locals protested the killings and demanded the arrest of the culprits.

"I strongly condemn the act of violence at the Panbari area of the Assam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji, where one person named Boga Chutia of Borbila Chutiakari village of my constituency has been killed, and 3 persons - Monitu Gogoi, Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village have been injured, Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu tweeted.

I strongly condemn the act of violence at the Panbari area of the Asam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji, where one person named Boga Chutia of Borbila Chutiakari village of my constituency has been killed, and 3 persons - Monitu Gogoi, Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village  Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) June 5, 2023

He updated the death toll in another tweet where he wrote, Very sad to share that Monitu Gogoi has succumbed to his injuries. Director General of Police GP Singh said senior police officers were at the site and efforts were on to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the police would probe the case and take action against the culprits. We have not yet been able to demarcate the (interstate) boundary in different areas of Dhemaji district. Some people from the neighbouring state get aggressive over greed for land, Sarma said. His Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu said the culprits would not be spared. It is an unfortunate incident. As soon as I heard it, I called up our local MLA and the DC (Deputy Commissioner) and instructed them to visit the site and talk to people, Khandu said.

The incident occurred at Panbari near the interstate border when the victims were planting trees and saplings. The deceased were identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi. When reports last came in, the situation in Dhemaji was tense. The locals protested against the killings

GUWAHATI: Two persons were killed and two others were injured in Assams Dhemaji district on Monday when unidentified gunmen fired at them, allegedly from Arunachal Pradesh. The incident occurred at Panbari near the interstate border when the victims were planting trees and saplings. The deceased were identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi. When reports last came in, the situation in Dhemaji was tense. The locals protested the killings and demanded the arrest of the culprits. "I strongly condemn the act of violence at the Panbari area of the Assam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji, where one person named Boga Chutia of Borbila Chutiakari village of my constituency has been killed, and 3 persons - Monitu Gogoi, Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village have been injured, Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu tweeted.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I strongly condemn the act of violence at the Panbari area of the Asam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji, where one person named Boga Chutia of Borbila Chutiakari village of my constituency has been killed, and 3 persons - Monitu Gogoi, Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village  Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) June 5, 2023 He updated the death toll in another tweet where he wrote, Very sad to share that Monitu Gogoi has succumbed to his injuries. Director General of Police GP Singh said senior police officers were at the site and efforts were on to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the police would probe the case and take action against the culprits. We have not yet been able to demarcate the (interstate) boundary in different areas of Dhemaji district. Some people from the neighbouring state get aggressive over greed for land, Sarma said. His Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu said the culprits would not be spared. It is an unfortunate incident. As soon as I heard it, I called up our local MLA and the DC (Deputy Commissioner) and instructed them to visit the site and talk to people, Khandu said. The incident occurred at Panbari near the interstate border when the victims were planting trees and saplings. The deceased were identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi. When reports last came in, the situation in Dhemaji was tense. The locals protested against the killings
By Online Desk

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has acknowledged that it may have paid lower taxes than its liability, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The BBC has sent an email to the Central Board of Direct Taxes confessing that it underreported Rs 40 crore of income in its tax returns, HT reported.

The broadcaster is now required to file revised returns and settle outstanding dues, penalties, and interest.

Tax surveys were carried out at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai by the Income Tax Department in February. In its statement following the action, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said it had found discrepancies and that the income and profits disclosed by the organisation's units were "not commensurate with the scale of operations in India".

In the wake of the action, the British government strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament saying: "We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is vital."

The BBC had in January released the documentary film titled 'India: The Modi Question," which features the Gujarat riots of 2002. The film caused controversy for alluding to the leadership of Modi as chief minister during the riots while disregarding the clean chit given by the Supreme Court.

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has acknowledged that it may have paid lower taxes than its liability, as reported by Hindustan Times. The BBC has sent an email to the Central Board of Direct Taxes confessing that it underreported Rs 40 crore of income in its tax returns, HT reported. The broadcaster is now required to file revised returns and settle outstanding dues, penalties, and interest.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Tax surveys were carried out at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai by the Income Tax Department in February. In its statement following the action, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said it had found discrepancies and that the income and profits disclosed by the organisation's units were "not commensurate with the scale of operations in India". In the wake of the action, the British government strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament saying: "We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is vital." The BBC had in January released the documentary film titled 'India: The Modi Question," which features the Gujarat riots of 2002. The film caused controversy for alluding to the leadership of Modi as chief minister during the riots while disregarding the clean chit given by the Supreme Court.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP took a swipe at the Congress on Tuesday, asking if it wants to begin its term in Karnataka with a nod to cow slaughter, amid suggestions the state government may revisit the law banning it.

BJP leader and Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Sonia Gandhi should speak on the issue.

"Do they (Congress) want their government to start its tenure with cow slaughter," Rupala said

READ MORE | BJP slams Karnataka Ministers 'why can't cows be slaughtered' remark

He was responding to a related question at a BJP press conference where he highlighted the Modi government's achievements.

When asked about it, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said the Cabinet would discuss the matter. Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh has said that his government might revisit the state's anti-cow-slaughter law. Venkateshs statement saying asking if buffaloes can be slaughtered, and why not cows, was slammed by BJP leaders.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Minister Venkateshs statement is condemnable. Looks like Venkatesh is trying to woo a certain section of people.

"Once the ruling party in the state takes a final stand, the central government will take cognisance of the issue," Rupala said. He added that the development has brought to the fore the mindset of the Congress.

Lauding the central government's initiatives in the sector he is overseeing, the minister said that the entire expenditure on fisheries from Independence to 2014 was Rs 3,860 crore.

But one scheme alone, the 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana', has a budget of Rs 20,500 crore and an additional fund of Rs 8,000 crore has been created to fill in the infrastructure gap to boost the industry along India's coastline.

ALSO READ | BJP to protest Karnataka govts anti-people decisions: MLC N Ravikumar

He noted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who showed the foresight and courage to create a separate ministry for this.

"Animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries are the backbone of the rural economy," Rupala added.

The central government also launched mobile veterinary units and supported states by funding 60 per cent of recurring costs, he said, lauding the dispensation for its nationwide vaccination programme for bovines that helped remove many diseases.

The country is also proud of the government's decision to send money to panchayats directly and transparently, the Union minister said.

NEW DELHI: The BJP took a swipe at the Congress on Tuesday, asking if it wants to begin its term in Karnataka with a nod to cow slaughter, amid suggestions the state government may revisit the law banning it. BJP leader and Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Parshottam Rupala said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Sonia Gandhi should speak on the issue. "Do they (Congress) want their government to start its tenure with cow slaughter," Rupala saidgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); READ MORE | BJP slams Karnataka Ministers 'why can't cows be slaughtered' remark He was responding to a related question at a BJP press conference where he highlighted the Modi government's achievements. When asked about it, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said the Cabinet would discuss the matter. Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh has said that his government might revisit the state's anti-cow-slaughter law. Venkateshs statement saying asking if buffaloes can be slaughtered, and why not cows, was slammed by BJP leaders. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Minister Venkateshs statement is condemnable. Looks like Venkatesh is trying to woo a certain section of people. "Once the ruling party in the state takes a final stand, the central government will take cognisance of the issue," Rupala said. He added that the development has brought to the fore the mindset of the Congress. Lauding the central government's initiatives in the sector he is overseeing, the minister said that the entire expenditure on fisheries from Independence to 2014 was Rs 3,860 crore. But one scheme alone, the 'Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana', has a budget of Rs 20,500 crore and an additional fund of Rs 8,000 crore has been created to fill in the infrastructure gap to boost the industry along India's coastline. ALSO READ | BJP to protest Karnataka govts anti-people decisions: MLC N Ravikumar He noted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who showed the foresight and courage to create a separate ministry for this. "Animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries are the backbone of the rural economy," Rupala added. The central government also launched mobile veterinary units and supported states by funding 60 per cent of recurring costs, he said, lauding the dispensation for its nationwide vaccination programme for bovines that helped remove many diseases. The country is also proud of the government's decision to send money to panchayats directly and transparently, the Union minister said.
By PTI

IMPHAL: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur's Serou area early Tuesday, officials said.

The exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district, the officials said.

A BSF official said suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at the Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am. Constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight and was evacuated to Kakching's Jivan Hospital where he was declared dead, the official said.

The two injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, the Indian Army's SpearCorps, headquartered in Dimapur, added on Twitter.

"Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June.Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," SpearCorps posted on its official Twitter handle.

ALSO WATCH |

A fierce exchange of fire was also reported between security forces and suspected Kuki militants from Phayeng in Imphal West district, police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty.

Irate villagers had earlier on Sunday night set ablaze an abandoned camp at Sugnu in Manipur's Kakching district on Sunday night, where militants from the United Kuki Liberation Front(UKLF) were staying after signing a peace accord with the government.

The villagers were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit at Serou in Kakching district on Saturday midnight.

ALSO READ | Govt sets up three-member panel to probe Manipur violence

Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended its ban on internet services till June 10.

"The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10", an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said.

The ban was first imposed on May 3. At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.

Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undetaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire

(1/2) pic.twitter.com/TQvpzlmLwb

Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police undertook in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between security forces and a group of insurgents took place throughout the night of June 5-6. Security forces effectively retaliated to the fire, officials said.

READ MORE: 98 killed, 310 injured in Manipur ethnic violence: Govt

ALSO WATCH |

IMPHAL: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur's Serou area early Tuesday, officials said. The exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district, the officials said. A BSF official said suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at the Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am. Constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight and was evacuated to Kakching's Jivan Hospital where he was declared dead, the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The two injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, the Indian Army's SpearCorps, headquartered in Dimapur, added on Twitter. "Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June.Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," SpearCorps posted on its official Twitter handle. ALSO WATCH | A fierce exchange of fire was also reported between security forces and suspected Kuki militants from Phayeng in Imphal West district, police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty. Irate villagers had earlier on Sunday night set ablaze an abandoned camp at Sugnu in Manipur's Kakching district on Sunday night, where militants from the United Kuki Liberation Front(UKLF) were staying after signing a peace accord with the government. The villagers were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit at Serou in Kakching district on Saturday midnight. ALSO READ | Govt sets up three-member panel to probe Manipur violence Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended its ban on internet services till June 10. "The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10", an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said. The ban was first imposed on May 3. At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace. Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undetaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire (1/2) pic.twitter.com/TQvpzlmLwb  SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) June 6, 2023 Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police undertook in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between security forces and a group of insurgents took place throughout the night of June 5-6. Security forces effectively retaliated to the fire, officials said. READ MORE: 98 killed, 310 injured in Manipur ethnic violence: Govt ALSO WATCH |
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked Kharagpur police in West Midnapore to register a murder case in connection with the death of IIT student Faizan Ahmed after the second autopsy report suggested it was a case of homicide.

The high court's order followed a petition by Faizans family members alleging that he was murdered.

Last month, the court ordered for the second post-mortem of the deceased stating that it was necessary to determine whether Faizans death was a case of suicide or not. Accordingly, police exhumed Faizans body from a burial ground in Dibrugarh, Assam.

On October 14, the body of the third-year mechanical engineering student was found in his hostel room in IIT Kharagpur.

Responding to a petition filed by Faizans family members, Justice Rajsekhar Mantha, last month, had directed that the second post-mortem be conducted at a state-run medical college and hospital. He had directed the investigating officer to coordinate with Assam police and bring the body to Kolkata.

Justice Mantha had also directed that Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, a forensic expert appointed by the court for his opinion, will conduct the second post-mortem process in the presence of doctors who conducted the previous autopsy.

Gupta stated in a preliminary report submitted before the court that two injury marks on the back of the head of the deceased were not mentioned in the first autopsy report. He also mentioned some cut marks on the arms of the victims body.

In the seizure-list, the police mentioned the seizure of a chemical called sodium nitrate in a bottle from Faizans room.

Court-appointed amicus curiae Sandip Bhattacharya submitted in the court that sodium nitrate, a yellowish powder, is normally used to preserve meat. A report submitted before the court mentioned that there was some yellowish residue in a bucket found by Bhattacharya and Gupta during their visit to the room from where the body was found.

In the court, it was also stated that when a body starts decomposing, it is impossible that fellow inmates living in adjoining rooms in the hostel would not be able to detect it, but mysteriously there was no stench from the body for three days.

The presence of the chemical opens up serious questions in regard to the time of death and whether it may have been used to preserve the body after the death of the victim, Mantha mentioned in his observation.

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked Kharagpur police in West Midnapore to register a murder case in connection with the death of IIT student Faizan Ahmed after the second autopsy report suggested it was a case of homicide. The high court's order followed a petition by Faizans family members alleging that he was murdered. Last month, the court ordered for the second post-mortem of the deceased stating that it was necessary to determine whether Faizans death was a case of suicide or not. Accordingly, police exhumed Faizans body from a burial ground in Dibrugarh, Assam.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On October 14, the body of the third-year mechanical engineering student was found in his hostel room in IIT Kharagpur. Responding to a petition filed by Faizans family members, Justice Rajsekhar Mantha, last month, had directed that the second post-mortem be conducted at a state-run medical college and hospital. He had directed the investigating officer to coordinate with Assam police and bring the body to Kolkata. Justice Mantha had also directed that Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, a forensic expert appointed by the court for his opinion, will conduct the second post-mortem process in the presence of doctors who conducted the previous autopsy. Gupta stated in a preliminary report submitted before the court that two injury marks on the back of the head of the deceased were not mentioned in the first autopsy report. He also mentioned some cut marks on the arms of the victims body. In the seizure-list, the police mentioned the seizure of a chemical called sodium nitrate in a bottle from Faizans room. Court-appointed amicus curiae Sandip Bhattacharya submitted in the court that sodium nitrate, a yellowish powder, is normally used to preserve meat. A report submitted before the court mentioned that there was some yellowish residue in a bucket found by Bhattacharya and Gupta during their visit to the room from where the body was found. In the court, it was also stated that when a body starts decomposing, it is impossible that fellow inmates living in adjoining rooms in the hostel would not be able to detect it, but mysteriously there was no stench from the body for three days. The presence of the chemical opens up serious questions in regard to the time of death and whether it may have been used to preserve the body after the death of the victim, Mantha mentioned in his observation.
By PTI

JAIPUR: Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of dissident leader Sachin Pilot floating a new party.

Randhawa, who reached Jaipur in the evening, also said that the party will assign responsibilities to Rajasthan leaders according to their stature.

"I am hearing this from you, I think there is no such thing. He (Pilot) did not have this in his mind before and does not have it now," he told reporters when asked about speculations of the formation of a new party by Pilot.

Randhawa also said it is the media which is raising the issue. He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders "agreed to work unitedly."

"Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi listened to both of them carefully and both were told that they are the assets of the Congress...Both said that they will work together," he said.

Randhawa said that 90 per cent of the matter was resolved and the rest was also not an issue.

When asked about the "formula" to broker peace between Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said he will not share it with the media. However, he said that both Gehlot and Pilot know about the formula.

On the party's plan to give responsibility to Pilot, Randhawa said, "We will definitely do it for everyone and will decide the responsibility of leaders according to their stature."

Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in Rajasthan in 2018 and the party is seeking to broker peace between the two ahead of the assembly elections in the state, slated for later this year.

There is intense speculation that Pilot may give a clear indication on his way forward on June 11 when he marks his father's death anniversary in Dausa.

JAIPUR: Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of dissident leader Sachin Pilot floating a new party. Randhawa, who reached Jaipur in the evening, also said that the party will assign responsibilities to Rajasthan leaders according to their stature. "I am hearing this from you, I think there is no such thing. He (Pilot) did not have this in his mind before and does not have it now," he told reporters when asked about speculations of the formation of a new party by Pilot.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Randhawa also said it is the media which is raising the issue. He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders "agreed to work unitedly." "Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi listened to both of them carefully and both were told that they are the assets of the Congress...Both said that they will work together," he said. Randhawa said that 90 per cent of the matter was resolved and the rest was also not an issue. When asked about the "formula" to broker peace between Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said he will not share it with the media. However, he said that both Gehlot and Pilot know about the formula. On the party's plan to give responsibility to Pilot, Randhawa said, "We will definitely do it for everyone and will decide the responsibility of leaders according to their stature." Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in Rajasthan in 2018 and the party is seeking to broker peace between the two ahead of the assembly elections in the state, slated for later this year. There is intense speculation that Pilot may give a clear indication on his way forward on June 11 when he marks his father's death anniversary in Dausa.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the Election Commission should muster the courage to tell people why assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held.

"Is there pressure on them (EC) not to hold elections? Let the Election Commission show some courage and say that they are under pressure. There is something fishy," Abdullah, a former chief minister told reporters outside the party headquarters here.

Abdullah also said the Election Commission should be asked when it plans to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The media seems to be more concerned about the elections than us. Election is our right but we are not going down on our knees for it. If they want to snatch the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, if they get some pleasure out of it, let them do it. We also have some self-respect and dignity," he added.

He said the Chief Election Commissioner, during his last visit to the Union territory, admitted that there was a vacuum in J&K.

"If CEC saw a vacuum here at that time, why is it not being filled? What is the compulsion?" he asked.

When asked about an army commander's statement that the time was not right for the withdrawal of the army from the hinterland in Kashmir, Abdullah said he agreed with the General as the situation has worsened over the past few years.

"We are also saying that the situation is not normal. The General is also saying the situation is not right. There is militancy in the areas which were cleared of militancy earlier. Look at how their people are seeking security from the government as they are scared. General Sahib has said it right," he said.

VIDEO | Elections are the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If robbing us of our rights will help them (central government) gain confidence, then so be it, says National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on J&K Assembly polls. pic.twitter.com/Meq7GZtThS  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 6, 2023

The National Conference vice president said there was an attempt to cover up the situation in Kashmir by holding the G20 meet here but the local people know the reality.

He said, "You cleaned the roads for the G20 (delegates) but local people know what it takes to travel from one place to another. Where they used to take five minutes to cover a particular distance earlier, they now spend 40 minutes."

"Students are not able to reach schools in time, employees are late to work, and a patient dies in an ambulance. We know what the situation is," he added.

The third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting was held in Srinagar last month.

SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the Election Commission should muster the courage to tell people why assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held. "Is there pressure on them (EC) not to hold elections? Let the Election Commission show some courage and say that they are under pressure. There is something fishy," Abdullah, a former chief minister told reporters outside the party headquarters here. Abdullah also said the Election Commission should be asked when it plans to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The media seems to be more concerned about the elections than us. Election is our right but we are not going down on our knees for it. If they want to snatch the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, if they get some pleasure out of it, let them do it. We also have some self-respect and dignity," he added. He said the Chief Election Commissioner, during his last visit to the Union territory, admitted that there was a vacuum in J&K. "If CEC saw a vacuum here at that time, why is it not being filled? What is the compulsion?" he asked. When asked about an army commander's statement that the time was not right for the withdrawal of the army from the hinterland in Kashmir, Abdullah said he agreed with the General as the situation has worsened over the past few years. "We are also saying that the situation is not normal. The General is also saying the situation is not right. There is militancy in the areas which were cleared of militancy earlier. Look at how their people are seeking security from the government as they are scared. General Sahib has said it right," he said. VIDEO | Elections are the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If robbing us of our rights will help them (central government) gain confidence, then so be it, says National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on J&K Assembly polls. pic.twitter.com/Meq7GZtThS  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 6, 2023 The National Conference vice president said there was an attempt to cover up the situation in Kashmir by holding the G20 meet here but the local people know the reality. He said, "You cleaned the roads for the G20 (delegates) but local people know what it takes to travel from one place to another. Where they used to take five minutes to cover a particular distance earlier, they now spend 40 minutes." "Students are not able to reach schools in time, employees are late to work, and a patient dies in an ambulance. We know what the situation is," he added. The third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting was held in Srinagar last month.
By PTI

AURANGABAD: If the Opposition comes up with a "credible" alternative ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, people may consider it, said NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, stressing that the decision on the new Parliament building could have been taken through dialogue with political parties.

The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was speaking in a 'Sauhard Baithak' (meeting to foster amity) at Mahatma Gandhi Mission University in Maharashtra's Aurangabad.

Speaking about next year's general elections, he said, "My concern is if people will have the same approach for the (2024) Lok Sabha elections as they have for states (assembly polls). If the Opposition unites and offers a credible alternative, people may consider it."

If the Opposition doesn't move wisely, it can't expect people to think of a different choice on their own, he said. Many opposition parties, including the Congress and JD(U), are trying to forge unity ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

If rulers accept the policy of peacefulness and dialogue, one can come up with a solution for any issue, he said. "Today, the situation (in the country) is really worrying," said Pawar.

He cited the example of developments over the Babri Masjid issue when Chandra Shekhar was the prime minister. "The then PM called Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and me to find a way out over the Babri issue through dialogue. While both (Hindu and Muslim sides) wanted to resolve it through talks, the government collapsed," he said.

Earlier, Pawar said, they faced challenges while changing the name of the Aurangabad-based Marathwada University to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. It was first opposed and the government revoked the decision, he said. "But later we reached out to students in several colleagues and implemented that decision because we had a dialogue (with them)," Pawar said.

The NCP leader said rulers and administrators should work with the thinking that "everyone is ours" and deliver the message effectively. "Else, wrong things will happen. In the recent period, such things are happening in many places," Pawar said.

He also expressed concerns over attacks on Muslims and Christians. "The picture in the country today makes me worry about Muslims and Christians. In many states, churches are being attacked. Christians are peaceful and they never take an extreme stand," he said.

"If someone decides to embrace a different religion, it is a personal call. But some people attack their entire community. Mistakes can be made by both Muslims as well as Hindus. In our country the number of Muslims who are backward cannot be neglected," Pawar said.

"A section can't be ignored if society has to be taken on the path of development. Though the common public thinks positively about Muslims, some people focus on how to grow bitterness and hatred. This is a big challenge for our country," he said.

The senior NCP leader rued that there has been a general decline in engaging in dialogue for parliamentary activities. Earlier too, he said, political parties had differences but they tried to resolve them through dialogue.

"I didn't understand why there was a need for a new Parliament building. The decision about it could have been taken through dialogue (with political parties). But I learnt about the new building through newspapers," he said.

As many as 20 Opposition parties stayed away from the inauguration of the new Parliament building which was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

The Congress accused the PM of treating the inauguration like a "coronation."

Without naming anyone, Pawar said, "Key persons from the government do not regularly attend Parliament sessions. If the head of the government comes to Parliament someday, that day feels different. Parliament is above all. If importance is not given to it, people's perception (of it) also gets impacted."

Calling himself the leader of a "small" political party in Parliament, Pawar said, "We (opposition) demanded to invite the President for the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building. There was no need to oppose it (by ruling BJP). A photograph clicked after the first session of Parliament had many leaders of the country, including Dr B R Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru," Pawar said.

The Opposition parties boycotted the event accusing the BJP-led Centre of sidelining President Droupadi Murmu. They insisted that the inauguration be done by President Murmu as she is the constitutional head of the country.

Pawar also alleged that elected leaders didn't get the chance to enter the new building first.

He said, "The first photo of the new Parliament building that came out was not with the elected members but with people who were wearing saffron clothes."

AURANGABAD: If the Opposition comes up with a "credible" alternative ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, people may consider it, said NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, stressing that the decision on the new Parliament building could have been taken through dialogue with political parties. The senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was speaking in a 'Sauhard Baithak' (meeting to foster amity) at Mahatma Gandhi Mission University in Maharashtra's Aurangabad. Speaking about next year's general elections, he said, "My concern is if people will have the same approach for the (2024) Lok Sabha elections as they have for states (assembly polls). If the Opposition unites and offers a credible alternative, people may consider it."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If the Opposition doesn't move wisely, it can't expect people to think of a different choice on their own, he said. Many opposition parties, including the Congress and JD(U), are trying to forge unity ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls. If rulers accept the policy of peacefulness and dialogue, one can come up with a solution for any issue, he said. "Today, the situation (in the country) is really worrying," said Pawar. He cited the example of developments over the Babri Masjid issue when Chandra Shekhar was the prime minister. "The then PM called Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and me to find a way out over the Babri issue through dialogue. While both (Hindu and Muslim sides) wanted to resolve it through talks, the government collapsed," he said. Earlier, Pawar said, they faced challenges while changing the name of the Aurangabad-based Marathwada University to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. It was first opposed and the government revoked the decision, he said. "But later we reached out to students in several colleagues and implemented that decision because we had a dialogue (with them)," Pawar said. The NCP leader said rulers and administrators should work with the thinking that "everyone is ours" and deliver the message effectively. "Else, wrong things will happen. In the recent period, such things are happening in many places," Pawar said. He also expressed concerns over attacks on Muslims and Christians. "The picture in the country today makes me worry about Muslims and Christians. In many states, churches are being attacked. Christians are peaceful and they never take an extreme stand," he said. "If someone decides to embrace a different religion, it is a personal call. But some people attack their entire community. Mistakes can be made by both Muslims as well as Hindus. In our country the number of Muslims who are backward cannot be neglected," Pawar said. "A section can't be ignored if society has to be taken on the path of development. Though the common public thinks positively about Muslims, some people focus on how to grow bitterness and hatred. This is a big challenge for our country," he said. The senior NCP leader rued that there has been a general decline in engaging in dialogue for parliamentary activities. Earlier too, he said, political parties had differences but they tried to resolve them through dialogue. "I didn't understand why there was a need for a new Parliament building. The decision about it could have been taken through dialogue (with political parties). But I learnt about the new building through newspapers," he said. As many as 20 Opposition parties stayed away from the inauguration of the new Parliament building which was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. The Congress accused the PM of treating the inauguration like a "coronation." Without naming anyone, Pawar said, "Key persons from the government do not regularly attend Parliament sessions. If the head of the government comes to Parliament someday, that day feels different. Parliament is above all. If importance is not given to it, people's perception (of it) also gets impacted." Calling himself the leader of a "small" political party in Parliament, Pawar said, "We (opposition) demanded to invite the President for the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building. There was no need to oppose it (by ruling BJP). A photograph clicked after the first session of Parliament had many leaders of the country, including Dr B R Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru," Pawar said. The Opposition parties boycotted the event accusing the BJP-led Centre of sidelining President Droupadi Murmu. They insisted that the inauguration be done by President Murmu as she is the constitutional head of the country. Pawar also alleged that elected leaders didn't get the chance to enter the new building first. He said, "The first photo of the new Parliament building that came out was not with the elected members but with people who were wearing saffron clothes."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Supreme Court has upheld an appeal by the justice minister and the attorney general who were both challenging a High Court order directing them to draft a code of conduct Bill for senior government officials.Last year, the High Court ordered Ziyambi Ziyambi and AG Prince Machaya to craft a code of conduct for vice presidents and ministers.But a three-panel bench chaired by Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza Tuesday ruled in favour of Ziyambi and Machaya after finding that there was no a law that compels them to do that.According to court, full reasons for the ruling will be availed in due course.Harare lawyer Nyasha Chiramba had dragged Ziyambi and Machaya to court demanding the enactment of a law seeking to govern the conduct of vice presidents and cabinet ministers.This was after state vice president Kembo Mohadi was in 2021 forced into an ignominious resignation from the top job after being mired in a sex scandal involving married women.Ziyambi and Gwaunza were given 45 days starting June 8, 2022, to draft the Bill but they ignored the order prompting the suit for contempt of court.They later lodged an appeal through the Supreme Court.In submitting his application, Chiramba had relied on section 106 (3) of the Constitution which requires the regulation of the conduct of vice presidents, ministers and deputy ministers.Chiramba submitted that the senior officials were involved in different types of misdemeanors including sexual misconduct and abuse of State resources, hence any errant behaviour by the holders of the country's lofty offices should be kept in check.High Court judge David Mangota ruled in his favour and ordered the minister and AG to submit to cabinet for consideration, the Bill envisaged by section 106 (3) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.He directed the two to submit to cabinet this Bill by August 17, 2022.Representing Ziyambi and Machaya in their Supreme Court appeal, Harare lawyer Olivia Zvedi had argued the two had no authority to make such decisions."The law-making organ within the legislative process is the Cabinet. My view is that the President, Vice President and Ministers fall under the Office of President."These principles would need to emanate from the office. Even the minister of Justice needs to be given his code of conduct."It would be improper to say the Minister of Justice should come up with a code of conduct. He also needs to have his code governed," she said.Zvedi said, "The functions of the AG are not to initiate legislation. Section 114 (4) of the Constitution which outlines the functions of the AG says it is the role of the AG to act as a principle legal advisor of the government."We submit that such a role has not been assigned to the AG in any Act of Parliament."We therefore do not accept the argument that it is the role of the Minister of Justice and AG to come up with the legislation in question."If the court finds that the judgement of the court a quo has no fault, the AG's offices are not adequately staffed and 45 days would not suffice to come up with the legislation. Maybe six months would be enough."In response, Wilbert Mandinde who was representing the applicant, Nyasha Chiramba said the justice ministry was the one currently seized with constitutional affairs."The removal of the responsibility does not remove some of the responsibility of the Ministry."It still has the office of constitutional affairs under it."Constitutional implementation still resides with the Ministry of Justice. My learned colleague has not given another ministry which could be in charge of constitutional implementation," he said.In upholding Ziyambi and Gwaunza's appeal, Supreme Court judge Gwaunza said, "The appeal be and is hereby allowed with costs. The judgement of the lower court is hereby set aside on its entirety"
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in New Delhi on Tuesday. The German minister reached India on June 5 for a four-day visit.

The Ministry of Defence in a statement said, Both ministers reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, particularly defence industrial partnership.

Rajnath Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience, added the MoD.

When asked about the status of the ongoing selection process for submarine manufacturing in India, the minister told the accompanying German journalists that talks about a deal on the TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems) and about six submarines (Project 75I) are on but the procedure is not finished yet. I think the German industry is at a good place in that race, he said.

The Indian Navy is suffering from depleted underwater combat capability. Currently, it has 16 conventional submarines of which 11 are over two decades old.

ALSO READ | India, US firm up ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation

The request for proposal (RFP) for the Rs 50,000 crore deal was issued over two years back. In January 2020, the Rajnath Singh-chaired Defence Acquisition Council had shortlisted Mazgaon Docks Ltd (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the Indian partners for the Project-75I deal. Of the five foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEM), France pulled out of the race saying that it did not meet the criteria laid down in the RFPs. According to sources, only Germany and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (South Korea) meet the criteria to be in the race.

During the talks, Rajnath stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strengths, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany.

India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000, which has been strengthened through inter-governmental consultations since 2011 at the level of heads of government.

The two ministers also had a talk on the Indo-Pacific region and the German minister felt that as the situation there is turning unpredictable, there is a need for strategic partners. Pistorius told the German media, "I think we should and we can and we ought to do more in that region in partnership with India, because we can't really predict what's going to happen in the next few years. We need strategic partners like Indonesia, like India, for example, to make sure that free navigation and free trading routes will be achievable during the next decade too."

Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting. From the German side, State Secretary from the Ministry of Defence Benedikt Zimmer was present, apart from senior officials and the German Ambassador to India. This is the first visit of a German Defence Minister to India since 2015.

The bilateral meeting was preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary.

Later in the day, Pistorius interacted with some Indian defence start-ups at IIT Delhi in an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

On Wednesday, he will be traveling to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to visit the Western Naval Command headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in New Delhi on Tuesday. The German minister reached India on June 5 for a four-day visit. The Ministry of Defence in a statement said, Both ministers reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, particularly defence industrial partnership. Rajnath Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience, added the MoD.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When asked about the status of the ongoing selection process for submarine manufacturing in India, the minister told the accompanying German journalists that talks about a deal on the TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems) and about six submarines (Project 75I) are on but the procedure is not finished yet. I think the German industry is at a good place in that race, he said. The Indian Navy is suffering from depleted underwater combat capability. Currently, it has 16 conventional submarines of which 11 are over two decades old. ALSO READ | India, US firm up ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation The request for proposal (RFP) for the Rs 50,000 crore deal was issued over two years back. In January 2020, the Rajnath Singh-chaired Defence Acquisition Council had shortlisted Mazgaon Docks Ltd (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the Indian partners for the Project-75I deal. Of the five foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEM), France pulled out of the race saying that it did not meet the criteria laid down in the RFPs. According to sources, only Germany and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (South Korea) meet the criteria to be in the race. During the talks, Rajnath stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strengths, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany. India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000, which has been strengthened through inter-governmental consultations since 2011 at the level of heads of government. The two ministers also had a talk on the Indo-Pacific region and the German minister felt that as the situation there is turning unpredictable, there is a need for strategic partners. Pistorius told the German media, "I think we should and we can and we ought to do more in that region in partnership with India, because we can't really predict what's going to happen in the next few years. We need strategic partners like Indonesia, like India, for example, to make sure that free navigation and free trading routes will be achievable during the next decade too." Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting. From the German side, State Secretary from the Ministry of Defence Benedikt Zimmer was present, apart from senior officials and the German Ambassador to India. This is the first visit of a German Defence Minister to India since 2015. The bilateral meeting was preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary. Later in the day, Pistorius interacted with some Indian defence start-ups at IIT Delhi in an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX). On Wednesday, he will be traveling to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to visit the Western Naval Command headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Monday concluded a roadmap for defence industrial cooperation that is expected to create access to cutting-edge technologies besides co-producing military platforms, at a meeting defence minister Rajnath Singh had with visiting US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin here.

The US Department of Defence (DoD) said the roadmap will fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain.

The initiative aims to change the paradigm for bilateral cooperation, including specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge tech and support defence modernisation plans, the DoD said.

Sources said the discussions included General Electrics proposal to manufacture GE414 jet engines in India, which is in a mature state.

The Indian side asked the US to increase local sourcing for manufacturing. The US was requested to establish MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities in India for equipment in use with the Indian armed forces. Sources added that capacity building, including maritime domain awareness and strategic infrastructure, was also discussed.

The Ministry of Defence said, Both sides will identify opportunities for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems. The regional security environment was also discussed, including the Indo-Pacific. Austin also held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. His trip was meant to do the spadework before big-ticket deals are announced later this month when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his official state visit to Washington.

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Monday concluded a roadmap for defence industrial cooperation that is expected to create access to cutting-edge technologies besides co-producing military platforms, at a meeting defence minister Rajnath Singh had with visiting US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin here. The US Department of Defence (DoD) said the roadmap will fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain. The initiative aims to change the paradigm for bilateral cooperation, including specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge tech and support defence modernisation plans, the DoD said. Sources said the discussions included General Electrics proposal to manufacture GE414 jet engines in India, which is in a mature state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Indian side asked the US to increase local sourcing for manufacturing. The US was requested to establish MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facilities in India for equipment in use with the Indian armed forces. Sources added that capacity building, including maritime domain awareness and strategic infrastructure, was also discussed. The Ministry of Defence said, Both sides will identify opportunities for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems. The regional security environment was also discussed, including the Indo-Pacific. Austin also held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. His trip was meant to do the spadework before big-ticket deals are announced later this month when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his official state visit to Washington.
By Express News Service

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar exclusively spoke to Sudhir Suryawanshi on the Supreme Court judgment in connection with the disqualification of 16 MLAs of Shiv Sena that includes Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Narvekar said that there would not be any intentional delay from his side while hearing all the disqualification petitions and it will be a landmark verdict.

After the Supreme Court verdict over the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction, another faction led by Uddhav Thackeray has met you and given the letter to act on the judgment and take the decisions soon. When will the hearing process start?

After the Supreme Court judgment, there are certain guidelines that are laid down and the speaker is called upon first to assess which group represented the political party back in June 2022. After that, he will have to take the desire of the political party and recognise the whip and its party leader as well. So, the starting point for my mind will be which is the right political party. Thereafter, recognise the whip, then get into the merit of each case filed by both the factions of the Shiv Sena. I have to also check and see whether they comply or meet the requirements of schedule 10, para II of the Constitution.

The whip is a major contentious issue. So, whose party whip will be applicable? The court said the elected representatives cannot be the party, and the political party will be the only party that has the right to appoint the leader and the whip. So, whose whip will be applicable?

The Supreme Court said the political party can nominate the group leader or party leader and the whip. And this perhaps is the interpretation of Schedule 10 of the Constitution. So, based on that we will take a decision on whose political party is party and who has the right to appoint the whip.

The Supreme Court is clear on whose whip is valid and whose is invalid. How you will interpret it?

I do not think the Supreme Court has specifically stated in the judgement. The Supreme Court has left it to the speaker to adjudicate who really represents the political party. And based on that what was the desire of the political party? All aspects we have to check and take the decisions.

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional discipline where the legislature has recognised to do its own work, while the judiciary will do its own work and the executive will do its own work. So, there is interference in each other work and jurisdictions. So, deciding disqualification is the authority of the Speaker.

The court has rightly held that Speaker has to decide on disqualification matters. So, they refused to intervene in this matter.

Everyone, including the Opposition and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is claiming that the judgment is one of the best and its in their favour only. How do you see it?

Everyone is free to interpret the Supreme Court judgement and analyse it and what they feel it is the right judgement for them. But at the end of the day, the Constitution is supreme.

Neither the Supreme Court nor the speaker is above Constitution, nor is the executive. We have to abide by what the Constitution has said and its constitutional provisions. There is no question that anyone is right or wrong.

An important line of the judgment is speaker has to deal with the disqualification petitions in a reasonable time. So, what exactly is the reasonable time? Can you specify?

Reasonable time is a very subjective term and the criteria depend on case to case, the facts of each case, and the complexity of each case. However, it is my endeavour to decide and adjudicate the matter at the earliest possible possible occasion. I would like to emphasise that there will not be any delay from my side while dealing with this matter. But we have to keep in mind that we have to carry out all procedures laid down by the business rules of the House and the Constitution. We have to follow all the rules. We have to follow the principle of natural justice. And then take the decisions.

While hearing the matter, the 16 MLAs disqualification petitions will be dealt with or remaining MLAs' petitions will be heard?

There are a total of 34 petitions filed before the Speakers office and legislate secretariat. We have to hear all these filed petitions and take the decisions.

These petitions have been filed by both the Shiv Sena factions  Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. We also need to see the sequence of the petitions.

You are the Speaker of the Maharashtra assembly but at the same time, you are also a member and MLA of the ruling party BJP. So, will it have an impact on your decisions and dealing with the disqualification petitions of the MLAs? Is there any pressure from the party side or the alliance side?

Individuals are the member of the party and they are elected on the party ticket and symbol. But when the MLA of any party is elected as speaker of the House, he or she is not more part the party in House. He or she represents the entire House, not any particular party. So, it will be unfair to attribute malice to the speaker's office only because he is a member of any political party.

Every speaker of the State Assembly is a member of some other political party. But when he assumed the office, then he removes the gown of his party and political party and plays an impartial role while running the procedure of the House.

There is no pressure but this is a very interesting case and the judgement of this case will be a landmark judgement. The decisions, in this case, will be taken in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions. So, I will try to deliver as responsibly as possible.



Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar exclusively spoke to Sudhir Suryawanshi on the Supreme Court judgment in connection with the disqualification of 16 MLAs of Shiv Sena that includes Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Narvekar said that there would not be any intentional delay from his side while hearing all the disqualification petitions and it will be a landmark verdict. After the Supreme Court verdict over the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction, another faction led by Uddhav Thackeray has met you and given the letter to act on the judgment and take the decisions soon. When will the hearing process start? After the Supreme Court judgment, there are certain guidelines that are laid down and the speaker is called upon first to assess which group represented the political party back in June 2022. After that, he will have to take the desire of the political party and recognise the whip and its party leader as well. So, the starting point for my mind will be which is the right political party. Thereafter, recognise the whip, then get into the merit of each case filed by both the factions of the Shiv Sena. I have to also check and see whether they comply or meet the requirements of schedule 10, para II of the Constitution. The whip is a major contentious issue. So, whose party whip will be applicable? The court said the elected representatives cannot be the party, and the political party will be the only party that has the right to appoint the leader and the whip. So, whose whip will be applicable? The Supreme Court said the political party can nominate the group leader or party leader and the whip. And this perhaps is the interpretation of Schedule 10 of the Constitution. So, based on that we will take a decision on whose political party is party and who has the right to appoint the whip.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Supreme Court is clear on whose whip is valid and whose is invalid. How you will interpret it? I do not think the Supreme Court has specifically stated in the judgement. The Supreme Court has left it to the speaker to adjudicate who really represents the political party. And based on that what was the desire of the political party? All aspects we have to check and take the decisions. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional discipline where the legislature has recognised to do its own work, while the judiciary will do its own work and the executive will do its own work. So, there is interference in each other work and jurisdictions. So, deciding disqualification is the authority of the Speaker. The court has rightly held that Speaker has to decide on disqualification matters. So, they refused to intervene in this matter. Everyone, including the Opposition and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is claiming that the judgment is one of the best and its in their favour only. How do you see it? Everyone is free to interpret the Supreme Court judgement and analyse it and what they feel it is the right judgement for them. But at the end of the day, the Constitution is supreme. Neither the Supreme Court nor the speaker is above Constitution, nor is the executive. We have to abide by what the Constitution has said and its constitutional provisions. There is no question that anyone is right or wrong. An important line of the judgment is speaker has to deal with the disqualification petitions in a reasonable time. So, what exactly is the reasonable time? Can you specify? Reasonable time is a very subjective term and the criteria depend on case to case, the facts of each case, and the complexity of each case. However, it is my endeavour to decide and adjudicate the matter at the earliest possible possible occasion. I would like to emphasise that there will not be any delay from my side while dealing with this matter. But we have to keep in mind that we have to carry out all procedures laid down by the business rules of the House and the Constitution. We have to follow all the rules. We have to follow the principle of natural justice. And then take the decisions. While hearing the matter, the 16 MLAs disqualification petitions will be dealt with or remaining MLAs' petitions will be heard? There are a total of 34 petitions filed before the Speakers office and legislate secretariat. We have to hear all these filed petitions and take the decisions. These petitions have been filed by both the Shiv Sena factions  Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. We also need to see the sequence of the petitions. You are the Speaker of the Maharashtra assembly but at the same time, you are also a member and MLA of the ruling party BJP. So, will it have an impact on your decisions and dealing with the disqualification petitions of the MLAs? Is there any pressure from the party side or the alliance side? Individuals are the member of the party and they are elected on the party ticket and symbol. But when the MLA of any party is elected as speaker of the House, he or she is not more part the party in House. He or she represents the entire House, not any particular party. So, it will be unfair to attribute malice to the speaker's office only because he is a member of any political party. Every speaker of the State Assembly is a member of some other political party. But when he assumed the office, then he removes the gown of his party and political party and plays an impartial role while running the procedure of the House. There is no pressure but this is a very interesting case and the judgement of this case will be a landmark judgement. The decisions, in this case, will be taken in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions. So, I will try to deliver as responsibly as possible.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A city court in Chennai has granted bail to a suspended faculty member of the Rukmini Devi College for Fine Arts, run by the Kalakshetra Foundation, Hari Padman, who was facing sexual harassment charges.

The Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Saidapet granted him bail on June 3 after it was earlier refused by a magistrate court and the principal sessions court.

Padman, who was arrested on April 3 by police following complaints of sexual harassment by students of the institute, had earlier moved the Madras High Court with a plea for bail but it was turned down. However, he withdrew the petition before filing a fresh one.

ALSO READ | Inquiry committee set up to probe Kalakshetra harassment; arrested faculty member suspended

When the second bail application came up before Justice AD Jagadish Chandira on Tuesday, Padman's counsel sought to withdraw it, citing a grant of bail by the city court. Subsequently, the judge allowed the taking back of the application.

After the allegations, the foundation constituted a committee headed by a retired judge to go through the issue. Some affected students approached the Madras High Court seeking the framing of a gender-neutral policy to protect them from being sexually harassed.

The court ordered the foundation to frame such a policy and re-constitute the internal complaints committee with representatives of parents and teachers.

CHENNAI: A city court in Chennai has granted bail to a suspended faculty member of the Rukmini Devi College for Fine Arts, run by the Kalakshetra Foundation, Hari Padman, who was facing sexual harassment charges. The Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Saidapet granted him bail on June 3 after it was earlier refused by a magistrate court and the principal sessions court. Padman, who was arrested on April 3 by police following complaints of sexual harassment by students of the institute, had earlier moved the Madras High Court with a plea for bail but it was turned down. However, he withdrew the petition before filing a fresh one.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Inquiry committee set up to probe Kalakshetra harassment; arrested faculty member suspended When the second bail application came up before Justice AD Jagadish Chandira on Tuesday, Padman's counsel sought to withdraw it, citing a grant of bail by the city court. Subsequently, the judge allowed the taking back of the application. After the allegations, the foundation constituted a committee headed by a retired judge to go through the issue. Some affected students approached the Madras High Court seeking the framing of a gender-neutral policy to protect them from being sexually harassed. #MadrasHC orders #Kalakshetra Foundation to constitute ICC with parents and teachers#TamilNadu CM #MKStalin to meet President #DroupadiMurmu on Friday WATCH | A brief #news bulletin from the #TamilNadu bureau of @NewIndianXpress by @pujanayar pic.twitter.com/zWCFYnyqPk  TNIE Tamil Nadu (@xpresstn) April 26, 2023 The court ordered the foundation to frame such a policy and re-constitute the internal complaints committee with representatives of parents and teachers.
By ANI

MUMBAI: A 20-year-old youth was allegedly murdered by four of his friends during his birthday party following a dispute over sharing the food bill, police said.

Police arrested all four accused, out of which two were sent to jail while two minor accused were sent to a juvenile home, police said.

According to the police, the deceased's birthday was on May 31. He had thrown a party at around 8 pm at a dhaba in Govandi in Mumbai's Shivaji Nagar police station area.

The bill came to around Rs 10,000 which was paid by the victim. The rest of his friends had allegedly agreed to pay him later.

When the victim later asked his friends for the money, they refused to pay and threatened him. All four accused thrashed the victim and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon leaving him grievously injured. The accused then fled from the spot.

Upon receiving information, the police reached the spot and took the victim to the hospital but doctors declared him brought dead.

Following the murder, two of the minor accused were detained. The other absconding accused were held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

MUMBAI: A 20-year-old youth was allegedly murdered by four of his friends during his birthday party following a dispute over sharing the food bill, police said. Police arrested all four accused, out of which two were sent to jail while two minor accused were sent to a juvenile home, police said. According to the police, the deceased's birthday was on May 31. He had thrown a party at around 8 pm at a dhaba in Govandi in Mumbai's Shivaji Nagar police station area.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The bill came to around Rs 10,000 which was paid by the victim. The rest of his friends had allegedly agreed to pay him later. When the victim later asked his friends for the money, they refused to pay and threatened him. All four accused thrashed the victim and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon leaving him grievously injured. The accused then fled from the spot. Upon receiving information, the police reached the spot and took the victim to the hospital but doctors declared him brought dead. Following the murder, two of the minor accused were detained. The other absconding accused were held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who returned to Delhi from Balasore in Odisha after reviewing the rescue and restoration work following the triple train accident, held a high-level meeting with officials here on Tuesday.

Sources said Vaishnaw instructed Railway Board officials to draw plans to make the railway network completely tamper-proof from external elements.

The minister was also scheduled to hold a meeting with general managers (GMs) and divisional railway managers of zonal railways on the issue of safety, but it was chaired by Railway Board Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti. The virtual meeting which began at around 5 pm lasted a couple of hours, officials said. The minister was not present in the meeting, a railway spokesperson said.

On Monday, the Railway Board had issued instructions to all GMs to ensure that the protocol around the signalling systems are made tamper-proof.

The train accident in Balasore involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train laden with iron ore occurred around 7 pm on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station. At least 278 people were killed and more than 900 were injured in the accident.

Sources indicate that an initial probe into the accident has revealed not just a "signalling interference" but also a likely human negligence whereby the door of the relay room where the signalling system is installed, had been kept open. However, this has not been confirmed by officials here.

Following the incident, the minister claimed that it was a "criminal act" in which changes were made to the interlocking system, while railway officials have termed the system "99 per cent tamper-proof and fail-proof," thus providing no clear explanation for the tragedy.

While unanswered questions regarding technical aspects around the incident will come to light after the Commissioner of Railway Safety's probe report, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also started its probe into it.

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who returned to Delhi from Balasore in Odisha after reviewing the rescue and restoration work following the triple train accident, held a high-level meeting with officials here on Tuesday. Sources said Vaishnaw instructed Railway Board officials to draw plans to make the railway network completely tamper-proof from external elements. The minister was also scheduled to hold a meeting with general managers (GMs) and divisional railway managers of zonal railways on the issue of safety, but it was chaired by Railway Board Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti. The virtual meeting which began at around 5 pm lasted a couple of hours, officials said. The minister was not present in the meeting, a railway spokesperson said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On Monday, the Railway Board had issued instructions to all GMs to ensure that the protocol around the signalling systems are made tamper-proof. The train accident in Balasore involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train laden with iron ore occurred around 7 pm on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station. At least 278 people were killed and more than 900 were injured in the accident. Sources indicate that an initial probe into the accident has revealed not just a "signalling interference" but also a likely human negligence whereby the door of the relay room where the signalling system is installed, had been kept open. However, this has not been confirmed by officials here. Following the incident, the minister claimed that it was a "criminal act" in which changes were made to the interlocking system, while railway officials have termed the system "99 per cent tamper-proof and fail-proof," thus providing no clear explanation for the tragedy. While unanswered questions regarding technical aspects around the incident will come to light after the Commissioner of Railway Safety's probe report, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also started its probe into it.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: With an eye on the big battle of 2024, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav commenced his partys Samajik Janjagran Yatra from Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday to raise the issues of caste census and social justice. The party has planned to take out the yatra in all 80 parliamentary constituencies across the state.

Akhilesh has been seeking a caste census for a long-time and intends to make it one of the major poll planks in 2024. While taking out the first yatra in Lakhimpur Kheri, the SP chief said his party would make people aware of the significance of a caste census without which social justice was not possible.

Akhilesh also launched a scathing attack on the state government over a number of issues.

Addressing party workers at an event, he took a swipe at the BJP for not appointing a full-time DGP saying: This is the first time since Independence that the state got its third acting DGP in a row. Are the engines of Lucknow and Delhi colliding?

Notably, Vijay Kumar, a 1988 batch IPS officer has been appointed as acting DGP of Uttar Pradesh. He replaced RK Vishwakarma and DS Chauhan, both of whom served as acting police chiefs of the state.

"With the appointment of acting police chiefs, the BJP leaders can do whatever they wish," the Samajwadi Party chief alleged.

Referring to the Lakhimpur Kehri violence in which four of the agitating farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars in 2021, Yadav said, "BJP members have nothing to do with the law."

He also cited the wrestlers' protest demanding the arrest of BJP MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh facing sexual harassment charges to say, "Our daughters had to sit on dharna for justice."

The Samajwadi Party president alleged that several encounters have taken place in the state under the BJP rule but the police could not produce in courts the pistols used by them in the exchange of fire.

Claiming that during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, people's enthusiasm was in favour of his party, the SP chief said the results were contrary to peoples emotions.

People were seen with the SP but the results were not in our favour. Had we managed booths, the results would have been different, he said.

The Samajwadi party chief said that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be defining and decide the countrys future.

It is the responsibility of the people of Uttar Pradesh to uproot them (BJP from power) in 2024. The new parliament building has been constructed. It may happen that you might not be able to vote in future. They might have learnt from Russia to continue ruling the country, Yadav told the gathering of SP workers.

LUCKNOW: With an eye on the big battle of 2024, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav commenced his partys Samajik Janjagran Yatra from Lakhimpur Kheri on Tuesday to raise the issues of caste census and social justice. The party has planned to take out the yatra in all 80 parliamentary constituencies across the state. Akhilesh has been seeking a caste census for a long-time and intends to make it one of the major poll planks in 2024. While taking out the first yatra in Lakhimpur Kheri, the SP chief said his party would make people aware of the significance of a caste census without which social justice was not possible. Akhilesh also launched a scathing attack on the state government over a number of issues.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Addressing party workers at an event, he took a swipe at the BJP for not appointing a full-time DGP saying: This is the first time since Independence that the state got its third acting DGP in a row. Are the engines of Lucknow and Delhi colliding? Notably, Vijay Kumar, a 1988 batch IPS officer has been appointed as acting DGP of Uttar Pradesh. He replaced RK Vishwakarma and DS Chauhan, both of whom served as acting police chiefs of the state. "With the appointment of acting police chiefs, the BJP leaders can do whatever they wish," the Samajwadi Party chief alleged. Referring to the Lakhimpur Kehri violence in which four of the agitating farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars in 2021, Yadav said, "BJP members have nothing to do with the law." He also cited the wrestlers' protest demanding the arrest of BJP MP and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh facing sexual harassment charges to say, "Our daughters had to sit on dharna for justice." The Samajwadi Party president alleged that several encounters have taken place in the state under the BJP rule but the police could not produce in courts the pistols used by them in the exchange of fire. Claiming that during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, people's enthusiasm was in favour of his party, the SP chief said the results were contrary to peoples emotions. People were seen with the SP but the results were not in our favour. Had we managed booths, the results would have been different, he said. The Samajwadi party chief said that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be defining and decide the countrys future. It is the responsibility of the people of Uttar Pradesh to uproot them (BJP from power) in 2024. The new parliament building has been constructed. It may happen that you might not be able to vote in future. They might have learnt from Russia to continue ruling the country, Yadav told the gathering of SP workers.
Shruti Kakkar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday turned down the States request to transfer the case pertaining to Margadarsi Chit Fund Private Limited (MCFPL) to the Andhra Pradesh High Court from Telangana High Court. While hearing the plea of the AP government, a vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal issued notices to MCFPL and other respondents and posted the matter to July 18. Were not passing any interim order. We will hear out the matter, the bench said.

Urging the court to transfer the pending case, counsel for the State government and senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul said the pleas should not be pending in the Telangana High Court.

Opposing the plea, senior advocate Harish Salve for Margadarsi Chit Fund argued, This kind of politics should not be allowed. What is worse, they challenge the jurisdiction in HC and the HC upholds it.

The State government had argued that the Telangana HC lacked jurisdiction as all the investigations were undertaken by the authorities pursuant to the registration of FIRs not only for violating the Chit Funds Act but also under the IPC.

The plea said, The cause of action is that the situs of the offence is in AP, and thus, it is only the Honble High Court of Andhra Pradesh that will have jurisdiction over these matters and no other High Court. The mere fact that the corporate office of MCFPL is in Hyderabad would not confer any jurisdiction, whatsoever, on the Telangana HC.

The AP government had contended that even if it is held that a small part of cause of action may arise in Telangana because of the location of MCFPLs registered office, the majority of the cause of action arises in AP since the investigations are being undertaken by the AP police and other authorities under the Chit Fund Act.

Largest number of subscribers to the chit funds of MCFPL is located in AP, the plea said and argued, In any event, even under the Chit Fund Act, every branch office/foreman under MCFPL is deemed to be an independent office, and is subject to the jurisdiction of the local Registrar of Chits in the district concerned.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday turned down the States request to transfer the case pertaining to Margadarsi Chit Fund Private Limited (MCFPL) to the Andhra Pradesh High Court from Telangana High Court. While hearing the plea of the AP government, a vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal issued notices to MCFPL and other respondents and posted the matter to July 18. Were not passing any interim order. We will hear out the matter, the bench said. Urging the court to transfer the pending case, counsel for the State government and senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul said the pleas should not be pending in the Telangana High Court. Opposing the plea, senior advocate Harish Salve for Margadarsi Chit Fund argued, This kind of politics should not be allowed. What is worse, they challenge the jurisdiction in HC and the HC upholds it. The State government had argued that the Telangana HC lacked jurisdiction as all the investigations were undertaken by the authorities pursuant to the registration of FIRs not only for violating the Chit Funds Act but also under the IPC. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The plea said, The cause of action is that the situs of the offence is in AP, and thus, it is only the Honble High Court of Andhra Pradesh that will have jurisdiction over these matters and no other High Court. The mere fact that the corporate office of MCFPL is in Hyderabad would not confer any jurisdiction, whatsoever, on the Telangana HC. The AP government had contended that even if it is held that a small part of cause of action may arise in Telangana because of the location of MCFPLs registered office, the majority of the cause of action arises in AP since the investigations are being undertaken by the AP police and other authorities under the Chit Fund Act. Largest number of subscribers to the chit funds of MCFPL is located in AP, the plea said and argued, In any event, even under the Chit Fund Act, every branch office/foreman under MCFPL is deemed to be an independent office, and is subject to the jurisdiction of the local Registrar of Chits in the district concerned.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with his deputy Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday in Delhi, where it was decided that BJP and Shindes Shiv Sena will jointly contest the Lok Sabha, assembly and local body elections in the state, sources said.

Shinde also reportedly discussed the Maharashtra cabinet expansion besides inducting two Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs as a cabinet and minister for state in the Central government. After the meeting, Shinde said the other topic of discussion was agriculture and cooperative department-related matters.

Our alliance is very strong for the development of Maharashtra. In the last 11 months, we have taken up big developmental projects, said Shinde. In the meeting, it was also decided that Shiv Sena and BJP will jointly contest the upcoming Lok Sabha, assembly and local body elections. We are confident that we both will win all these elections with a majority, Shinde said.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has been feeling left out in terms of its representation in the Central government. Besides, for more than 10 months since the alliance government took, there has been no state cabinet expansion. Shinde groups Lok Sabha MPs are also waiting for their share in the pie at the Centre.

Shinde has also asked for an adequate number of seats for his party in the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Shinde wants assurance from the top BJP leadership that he runs the government with a free hand and the alliance can contest future elections under his leadership, sources said.

Shah is said to have been concerned about the image of the Shinde government. The Shinde government was reminded about the significance of Maharashtra in the LS polls it sends 48 MPs to the House, a number which is the second highest after Uttar Pradesh. The BJP also wants Shinde to cover the ground and snatch the Sena base from Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, said a source.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with his deputy Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday in Delhi, where it was decided that BJP and Shindes Shiv Sena will jointly contest the Lok Sabha, assembly and local body elections in the state, sources said. Shinde also reportedly discussed the Maharashtra cabinet expansion besides inducting two Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs as a cabinet and minister for state in the Central government. After the meeting, Shinde said the other topic of discussion was agriculture and cooperative department-related matters. Our alliance is very strong for the development of Maharashtra. In the last 11 months, we have taken up big developmental projects, said Shinde. In the meeting, it was also decided that Shiv Sena and BJP will jointly contest the upcoming Lok Sabha, assembly and local body elections. We are confident that we both will win all these elections with a majority, Shinde said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has been feeling left out in terms of its representation in the Central government. Besides, for more than 10 months since the alliance government took, there has been no state cabinet expansion. Shinde groups Lok Sabha MPs are also waiting for their share in the pie at the Centre. Shinde has also asked for an adequate number of seats for his party in the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Shinde wants assurance from the top BJP leadership that he runs the government with a free hand and the alliance can contest future elections under his leadership, sources said. Shah is said to have been concerned about the image of the Shinde government. The Shinde government was reminded about the significance of Maharashtra in the LS polls it sends 48 MPs to the House, a number which is the second highest after Uttar Pradesh. The BJP also wants Shinde to cover the ground and snatch the Sena base from Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, said a source.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: In strife-torn Manipur, three persons were killed while three others were injured on Monday. Official sources said the incident occurred at Phayeng in Imphal West district when suspected Kuki militants opened fire. One person was killed there on May 28 in a similar attack. In another incident on Sunday, a mob reportedly killed three persons travelling in two vehicles, including an ambulance, at Iroisemba in Imphal West district. The report could not be officially confirmed.

The violence has more or less subsided everywhere, except Imphal West and Kakching districts. In the past two days, combined teams of Manipur Police commandos and Border Security Force destroyed two camps of Kuki militants near Sugnu and Serou in Kakching district after fierce gunfights and drove away the rebels, official sources said. There have been some incidents in the two places since May 28 when militants came down the hills, torched houses and opened fire on villagers. Some people had lost their lives.

Meanwhile, some Kuki groups lifted the blockade on National Highway-II, which enters Manipur from Nagaland, for seven days in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shahs call but with a rider that vehicles carrying essential commodities and medicines should be escorted by Central forces.

According to local media reports on Monday, a mob attacked the houses of two tribal leaders in protest against the withdrawal of the blockade. Shah has invited the states all 10 Naga MLAs, including three from BJP, to Delhi for a meeting. It is likely to take place on Tuesday. The Nagas have remained neutral in the conflict between Meiteis and Kukis.

At least 98 people have died and over 300 are injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40% of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.

GUWAHATI: In strife-torn Manipur, three persons were killed while three others were injured on Monday. Official sources said the incident occurred at Phayeng in Imphal West district when suspected Kuki militants opened fire. One person was killed there on May 28 in a similar attack. In another incident on Sunday, a mob reportedly killed three persons travelling in two vehicles, including an ambulance, at Iroisemba in Imphal West district. The report could not be officially confirmed. The violence has more or less subsided everywhere, except Imphal West and Kakching districts. In the past two days, combined teams of Manipur Police commandos and Border Security Force destroyed two camps of Kuki militants near Sugnu and Serou in Kakching district after fierce gunfights and drove away the rebels, official sources said. There have been some incidents in the two places since May 28 when militants came down the hills, torched houses and opened fire on villagers. Some people had lost their lives. Meanwhile, some Kuki groups lifted the blockade on National Highway-II, which enters Manipur from Nagaland, for seven days in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shahs call but with a rider that vehicles carrying essential commodities and medicines should be escorted by Central forces.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to local media reports on Monday, a mob attacked the houses of two tribal leaders in protest against the withdrawal of the blockade. Shah has invited the states all 10 Naga MLAs, including three from BJP, to Delhi for a meeting. It is likely to take place on Tuesday. The Nagas have remained neutral in the conflict between Meiteis and Kukis. At least 98 people have died and over 300 are injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipurs population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40% of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.
South Africa: SA, Portugal sign Agreement on Defence Cooperation

South Africa and Portugal have signed an Agreement on Defence Cooperation, which is expected to provide a legal framework for closer cooperation for the two countries.

The agreement was signed following official talks at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, where President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa on a State visit.

During the visit, the two Presidents discussed opportunities of mutual benefit in defence, science and innovation, education and energy.

Speaking during a media briefing, President Ramaphosa said the agreement is a "great signal" to both countries.

We are keen to see higher levels of trade and investment between Portugal and South Africa across a range of sectors.

The Agreement on Defence Cooperation, which was signed following the official talks, is expected to provide a legal framework for closer cooperation in this area of the relationship, the President said.

Explaining what the agreement means, President Ramaphosa said the two countries want to learn from each other, as they are both involved in peacekeeping missions across the globe.

There is a lot we can learn from each other around the defence of our borders and the maritime [space]. We are also two countries that happen to get involved in peacekeeping missions. Being able to cooperate on defence level through an agreement also enhances that.

In as much as there is a conflict that is raging in another part of the world, it does not mean that we should be deterred from entering into agreements that will bring us closer and cooperate much more effectively. This agreement is a great signal to both countries, he said.

The two Heads of State also had an opportunity to discuss issues of regional and international importance, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

President Ramaphosa said they also discussed effective responses to other issues that confront humanity today, such as climate change.

We consider visits such as this one to be important not only for South Africa, but also for the African continent. The operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area will bring great benefits not only to African countries but also to other countries that have trade and investment ties with the continent.

In conclusion, I wish President Rebelo de Sousa and his delegation all the best for the remainder of their visit to South Africa and a safe journey home, he said. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
News / National

by Leonard Koni

The Zimbabwean harmonised elections are around the corner. The date to hold the election has been announced and every serious political party is now gearing for this do or die election where a battle and contestation of ideas is now at full throttle.Interestingly the story of the entrance of Zanu PF's prodigal son Mr Saviour Kasukuwere into the political ring to wrestle power from Emmerson Mnangagwa seems to be gathering momentum.Kasukuwere nicknamed Tyson by his staunch followers in the political circles, used to command a higher post in the former Mugabe's regime dubbed the first republic. He was actually leading a Zanu PF group of young turks which was preparing to take over from Mugabe. The group which called itself The G40 is still kicking and alive causing sleepless nights to Team Lacoste.At this juncture the electorate is now caught in between two horns of a dilemma and with some not trusting Kasukuwere because of his Zanu PF's umbilical cord which he is carrying. Saviour could have repented but still no one trust his political moves and this is likely to dampen the spirit of would be voters who want to see change in the country.He could be wholly owned Zanu PF subsidiary and Zimbabweans will be much careful whether to take him seriously. Some sections of voters are likely to reject him hook, line and sinker.August 23 election must usher in a leader who should take charge of the country and take it to another level. As a presidential aspirant will Saviour Kasukuwere be representing the generality of the population that has no political home especially the disgruntled Zanu PF G40 members who felt outdone by Team Lacoste and those that have but are not happy for one reason or the other?It is however his democratic right to contest but looks like the room or space for him to campaign freely will be jeorpadised a little bit by ruthless Mnangagwa. He is lilkely to use security apparatus to twart his campaigning trail because he feels Kasukuwere poses a threat to his political career.Constitutionally as a citizen of Zimbabwe he must be allowed to campaign like every political leader in the country.I think he must come in and split the Zanu PF votes and this will definitely give Nelson Chamisa of Citizens Coalition for Change an edge ro win resoundingly. Alternatively Nelson Chamisa must not go to sleep but must pile up more pressure in all Zanu PF's strongholds.The timing of Saviour Kasukuwere in the ring is well timed. If he is serious, he is likely to grab some of those rural areas like Mt Darwin, Guruve and Nyamapanda.For a starter I think Kasukuwere should endorse Nelson Chamisa and then work together thereafter to represent the voiceless masses, the downtrodden, the disenfranchised citizens of Zimbabweans.This is a generational consensus. Zimbabwe needs young people to take charge of their destiny. Its not too late to bury our political differences.I really go for his hat in the ring despite his political history and the way he harrased most Zimbabweans during Mugabe's era. It works well to split votes and decimate known political foesZimbabwe needs a new political trajectory in order to move forward. Governments run through a coup have never been succesful as they are full of fissures of misgovernance.In a World Bank regional statistics it shows that when President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over power through a coup, poverty levels were at 29 % and as of July 2022, it was at 49%.This is so embarrassing for a country that used to command a very good economic growth.Email - konileonard606@gmail.comTwitter- @Leokoni
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed while two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in a gun battle with the militants in strife-torn Manipur in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The incident occurred at Serou in the Kakching district of the Imphal Valley.

The slain soldier, Ranjit Yadav, was from the BSFs 163rd battalion. He was grievously injured in the gunfight and was evacuated to a local hospital where he was declared dead.

A defence ministry statement said multiple incidents of violence, arson and firing in Serou and adjoining Sugnu had necessitated the re-deployment of additional troops in the past 48 hours. It said additional troops were tasked to beef up extensive area domination operations, ambushes and measures to prevent arson and violence.

As a result of extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and police, intermittent exchange of fire took place between security forces and the insurgents during the night of 05/06 June. Security forces took adequate measures to prevent insurgents from breaking contact and running away to nearby areas, the statement said.

One BSF personnel sustained fatal injuries when the gunfight intensified in the wee hours. The two injured Assam Rifles personnel were evacuated by an Army helicopter to Mantripukhri in Imphal, the statement further said.

Inputs indicate some casualties on the side of insurgents and are being verified on the ground, it added.

During the preliminary search, two AK series rifles, one 51mm mortar, two carbines, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered. The operations were in progress to sanitise the area.

The incident comes after combined teams of Manipur police and paramilitary forces destroyed two camps of the militants at Sugnu and Serou in the past two days after fierce gunfights.

There have been several incidents in the two places since May 28 when the militants came down the hills, torched houses and opened fire on villagers. Some people had lost their lives.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended the suspension of internet services till June 10. The ban was imposed on May 3 when violence first broke out after a tribal solidarity march against the move to grant Scheduled Tribes status to the majority Meitei community.

GUWAHATI: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed while two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in a gun battle with the militants in strife-torn Manipur in the wee hours of Tuesday. The incident occurred at Serou in the Kakching district of the Imphal Valley. The slain soldier, Ranjit Yadav, was from the BSFs 163rd battalion. He was grievously injured in the gunfight and was evacuated to a local hospital where he was declared dead.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A defence ministry statement said multiple incidents of violence, arson and firing in Serou and adjoining Sugnu had necessitated the re-deployment of additional troops in the past 48 hours. It said additional troops were tasked to beef up extensive area domination operations, ambushes and measures to prevent arson and violence. As a result of extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and police, intermittent exchange of fire took place between security forces and the insurgents during the night of 05/06 June. Security forces took adequate measures to prevent insurgents from breaking contact and running away to nearby areas, the statement said. One BSF personnel sustained fatal injuries when the gunfight intensified in the wee hours. The two injured Assam Rifles personnel were evacuated by an Army helicopter to Mantripukhri in Imphal, the statement further said. Inputs indicate some casualties on the side of insurgents and are being verified on the ground, it added. During the preliminary search, two AK series rifles, one 51mm mortar, two carbines, ammunition and war-like stores were recovered. The operations were in progress to sanitise the area. The incident comes after combined teams of Manipur police and paramilitary forces destroyed two camps of the militants at Sugnu and Serou in the past two days after fierce gunfights. There have been several incidents in the two places since May 28 when the militants came down the hills, torched houses and opened fire on villagers. Some people had lost their lives. Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended the suspension of internet services till June 10. The ban was imposed on May 3 when violence first broke out after a tribal solidarity march against the move to grant Scheduled Tribes status to the majority Meitei community.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six years after announcing its intention to make access to the internet a basic right, the Left government on Monday launched its most ambitious project to this end -- the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON).

Finally, #Kerala has realized the dream of becoming the first state with its own internet service! It was a proud moment to dedicate #KFON to the people. It offers free internet connections to 20 lakh families, thus ending the digital divide by ensuring internet access for all. pic.twitter.com/aKXiZQaaEG  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) June 5, 2023

A first-of-its-kind in the country, the project aims to provide free internet connectivity to 20 lakh economically backward families. in its first phase, K-FON will look to provide free internet to 14,000 households and 30,000 government offices in the state. So far, 17,412 government institutions and 2,015 homes have been serviced.

Additionally, 9,000 households have been linked by cable. General customers can access services, with the basic rate starting at Rs 299 per month for a 20 Mbps connection. The state government has obtained a category 1 licence to provide basic internet services as part of the project, in addition to the internet service provider (iSP) category B unified licence to officially provide internet services.

BSNL will be the internet service provider for the project. inaugurating the project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said all houses and government offices in the state will be provided with broadband connectivity and internet services as soon as possible.

Internet services have already been made available in offices and homes under K-FON, he said.

India has the most number of internet shutdowns in the world. There have been more than 700 shutdowns in the past 10 years. it is in such a country that a state government is uniquely involved in making the Internet available to all. As such, the K-FON project is becoming another example of the governments and nations popular alternative policies, the CM said.

Kerala's own internet, K-FON, will be launched tomorrow. Aimed at bridging the digital divide, the project will provide high speed internet to 20 lakh families for free, & at nominal rates for the rest. A big step in transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy!#Kfon #Kerala pic.twitter.com/ZOeurtNr2w  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) June 4, 2023

Highlighting the benefits of K-FON in the post-pandemic scenario, the CM said, A new work culture is emerging in the post-Covid era, where work from home, work near home and work away from home are becoming increasingly common. Better internet services should be provided everywhere if our youth are to benefit from them. K-FON project makes that possible."

K-FON will benefit tourism sector, says Pinarayi

Kerala CM said K-FoN can also benefit the tourism sector.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan having a chat with ministers Roshy Augustine, Antony Raju and K N Balagopal at the inaugural function of the K-Fon project at the Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday | B P Deepu

Many tourists come to Kerala with the intention to live here and work from here. through K-FoN, we can create a big movement in the states economic sector by attracting people with such a mindset. At the same time, by ensuring connectivity in places such as Edamalakuudy, we can ensure that everyone is part of this real Kerala story,  he said.

ALSO READ | Kerala CM to launch K-FON project on June 6

Popular alternative K-FoN can be a popular alternative for the corporate sector in the telecom field, the cM said. the project has been launched to free people from the exploitation of private sector cable networks and mobile service providers. K-FoN services are available at rates lower than those offered by other service providers. these can be provided at high speed and with the same quality throughout Kerala, irrespective of urban and rural areas, he added.

He also interacted with some beneficiaries of the project spread across the state through live streaming over a K-FoN connection. transport Minister Antony Raju presided over the function. Finance Minister K N Balagopal inaugurated the KFoN website, while LSG Minister M B Rajesh inaugurated the  Ente K-FoN mobile app.

Power Minister K Krishnankutty switched on the modem while Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine and Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil offered their felicitations.

Satheesan making a mockery of himself: Cm counters Oppositions jab

Coming down heavily on V D Satheesan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the leader of the Opposition was making a mockery of himself by raising insignificant allegations.

The CMs statement came following Satheesans remark earlier in the day wherein he said the government was making a mockery of the people in the state with the K-FON project. The CM said the opposition is asking why the common people need the internet.

ALSO READ | Kerala Opposition leader Satheesan alleges severe lapses in K-FON scheme

From this question, it is evident that the Opposition is narrow-minded. Our world is changing. So, the lives of the common people should also change, the chief minister pointed out.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Six years after announcing its intention to make access to the internet a basic right, the Left government on Monday launched its most ambitious project to this end -- the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON). Finally, #Kerala has realized the dream of becoming the first state with its own internet service! It was a proud moment to dedicate #KFON to the people. It offers free internet connections to 20 lakh families, thus ending the digital divide by ensuring internet access for all. pic.twitter.com/aKXiZQaaEG  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) June 5, 2023 A first-of-its-kind in the country, the project aims to provide free internet connectivity to 20 lakh economically backward families. in its first phase, K-FON will look to provide free internet to 14,000 households and 30,000 government offices in the state. So far, 17,412 government institutions and 2,015 homes have been serviced.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Additionally, 9,000 households have been linked by cable. General customers can access services, with the basic rate starting at Rs 299 per month for a 20 Mbps connection. The state government has obtained a category 1 licence to provide basic internet services as part of the project, in addition to the internet service provider (iSP) category B unified licence to officially provide internet services. BSNL will be the internet service provider for the project. inaugurating the project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said all houses and government offices in the state will be provided with broadband connectivity and internet services as soon as possible. Internet services have already been made available in offices and homes under K-FON, he said. India has the most number of internet shutdowns in the world. There have been more than 700 shutdowns in the past 10 years. it is in such a country that a state government is uniquely involved in making the Internet available to all. As such, the K-FON project is becoming another example of the governments and nations popular alternative policies, the CM said. Kerala's own internet, K-FON, will be launched tomorrow. Aimed at bridging the digital divide, the project will provide high speed internet to 20 lakh families for free, & at nominal rates for the rest. A big step in transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy!#Kfon #Kerala pic.twitter.com/ZOeurtNr2w  Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) June 4, 2023 Highlighting the benefits of K-FON in the post-pandemic scenario, the CM said, A new work culture is emerging in the post-Covid era, where work from home, work near home and work away from home are becoming increasingly common. Better internet services should be provided everywhere if our youth are to benefit from them. K-FON project makes that possible." K-FON will benefit tourism sector, says Pinarayi Kerala CM said K-FoN can also benefit the tourism sector. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan having a chat with ministers Roshy Augustine, Antony Raju and K N Balagopal at the inaugural function of the K-Fon project at the Legislative Assembly complex in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday | B P Deepu Many tourists come to Kerala with the intention to live here and work from here. through K-FoN, we can create a big movement in the states economic sector by attracting people with such a mindset. At the same time, by ensuring connectivity in places such as Edamalakuudy, we can ensure that everyone is part of this real Kerala story,  he said. ALSO READ | Kerala CM to launch K-FON project on June 6 Popular alternative K-FoN can be a popular alternative for the corporate sector in the telecom field, the cM said. the project has been launched to free people from the exploitation of private sector cable networks and mobile service providers. K-FoN services are available at rates lower than those offered by other service providers. these can be provided at high speed and with the same quality throughout Kerala, irrespective of urban and rural areas, he added. He also interacted with some beneficiaries of the project spread across the state through live streaming over a K-FoN connection. transport Minister Antony Raju presided over the function. Finance Minister K N Balagopal inaugurated the KFoN website, while LSG Minister M B Rajesh inaugurated the  Ente K-FoN mobile app. Power Minister K Krishnankutty switched on the modem while Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine and Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil offered their felicitations. Satheesan making a mockery of himself: Cm counters Oppositions jab Coming down heavily on V D Satheesan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the leader of the Opposition was making a mockery of himself by raising insignificant allegations. The CMs statement came following Satheesans remark earlier in the day wherein he said the government was making a mockery of the people in the state with the K-FON project. The CM said the opposition is asking why the common people need the internet. ALSO READ | Kerala Opposition leader Satheesan alleges severe lapses in K-FON scheme From this question, it is evident that the Opposition is narrow-minded. Our world is changing. So, the lives of the common people should also change, the chief minister pointed out.
Sukanta Sahu By

Express News Service

BALASORE: The desperation is visible on the face of 44-year-old Meera Devi who has come all the way from Nepal to find her son who is missing since the deadly train crash at Bahanaga on June 2.

Ramanand Paswan (21) was on his way to Chennai in the doomed Coromandel Express in search of a job.

I havent heard from him since the mishap, said Meera who came to know of the train accident while watching TV at her home in Pakaha Manipur of Parsa district in Nepal. Worried sick about Ramanands condition, she decided to come to Balasore in search of him.

I managed to reach Balasore with much difficulty. I searched the local medical college and hospital but could not find my son. People manning the help desk there are also unaware of his whereabouts, said a worried Meera.

ALSO READ | Victims kin continue search as bodies reach Bhubaneswar

She has been advised to search for her son in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. But Meera is at a loss as she is unable to converse in Hindi or English properly. Similarly, Kusum Devi, also from Nepal, is looking for her brother Amarjeet Paswan (25) who was in the ill-fated train. Amarjeet was going to Vijayawada to join the office in a private company. Since the accident, he is untraceable. No one has any information about my brother. I dont know if he is alive or dead, she sobs.

ALSO READ | Odisha train crash: Survivors families battle heat, agony at SCB medical college

BALASORE: The desperation is visible on the face of 44-year-old Meera Devi who has come all the way from Nepal to find her son who is missing since the deadly train crash at Bahanaga on June 2. Ramanand Paswan (21) was on his way to Chennai in the doomed Coromandel Express in search of a job. I havent heard from him since the mishap, said Meera who came to know of the train accident while watching TV at her home in Pakaha Manipur of Parsa district in Nepal. Worried sick about Ramanands condition, she decided to come to Balasore in search of him. I managed to reach Balasore with much difficulty. I searched the local medical college and hospital but could not find my son. People manning the help desk there are also unaware of his whereabouts, said a worried Meera.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Victims kin continue search as bodies reach Bhubaneswar She has been advised to search for her son in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. But Meera is at a loss as she is unable to converse in Hindi or English properly. Similarly, Kusum Devi, also from Nepal, is looking for her brother Amarjeet Paswan (25) who was in the ill-fated train. Amarjeet was going to Vijayawada to join the office in a private company. Since the accident, he is untraceable. No one has any information about my brother. I dont know if he is alive or dead, she sobs. ALSO READ | Odisha train crash: Survivors families battle heat, agony at SCB medical college
By PTI

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the armies of Bangladesh and India should strengthen their collaboration and suggested international peacekeeping operations as a new area for bilateral cooperation.

Hasina made these remarks when visiting Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh paid a courtesy call at her official residence here.

"Cooperation and collaboration should be strengthened between the armies of the two neighbouring countries," a premier's office spokesman quoted Hasina as telling Gen.Pande.

Referring to setting up the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) by her government, Hasina said that there are opportunities for the exchange of activities between the two countries for mutual welfare.

The premier recalled with gratitude the support and role of the Indian government, the Indian Army and its people during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War while the two countries were enjoying excellent bilateral relations.

Hasina said poverty remained a challenge for the two countries requiring Bangladesh and India to join hands to defeat the common enemy while both Dhaka and New Delhi laid importance on socio-economic development through utilising this relation.

"Poverty is the main enemy of the people in the region and countries of this region will have to work unitedly to eradicate poverty," she said, adding Bangladesh is an overpopulated country but her government was trying hard to advance it socio-economically despite various limitations and limited resources.

The Indian Army chief said the cooperation and collaboration between Bangladesh and India in the defence industry sector was progressing very well.

Pande assured her that India's cooperation for the modernisation of the Bangladesh Army would continue in the days to come and there was potential to further strengthen cooperation between the two friendly countries in the areas of technical and other fields.

The Indian Army chief stressed the need for utilising these opportunities for mutual benefit.

Pande informed the premier that he visited Bangladesh Military Academy in Chattogram and he was really impressed to see the modern facilities there.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Army chief joined as the chief guest of the passing out ceremony of officer cadets of Bangladesh military's 84th long course at Bangladesh Military Academy.

He inspected the parade and distributed awards among select cadets from home and abroad for their extraordinary excellence.

On Monday, Pande held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and, according to a military statement, the two Army chiefs discussed the existing bilateral ties and future cooperation for the progress of the two countries.

Pande placed wreaths at the altar 'Flame Eternal' at the Dhaka Cantonment paying his tributes to Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War martyrs and thereafter a Bangladesh military contingent presented him an honour guard at the Senakunja area at the garrison where he planted a sapling as well.

He added that the Indian Army chief was visiting Bangladesh five weeks after his counterpart visited India to witness an identical passing out parade at Officers' Training Academy in Chennai.

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the armies of Bangladesh and India should strengthen their collaboration and suggested international peacekeeping operations as a new area for bilateral cooperation. Hasina made these remarks when visiting Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh paid a courtesy call at her official residence here. "Cooperation and collaboration should be strengthened between the armies of the two neighbouring countries," a premier's office spokesman quoted Hasina as telling Gen.Pande.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Referring to setting up the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) by her government, Hasina said that there are opportunities for the exchange of activities between the two countries for mutual welfare. The premier recalled with gratitude the support and role of the Indian government, the Indian Army and its people during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War while the two countries were enjoying excellent bilateral relations. Hasina said poverty remained a challenge for the two countries requiring Bangladesh and India to join hands to defeat the common enemy while both Dhaka and New Delhi laid importance on socio-economic development through utilising this relation. "Poverty is the main enemy of the people in the region and countries of this region will have to work unitedly to eradicate poverty," she said, adding Bangladesh is an overpopulated country but her government was trying hard to advance it socio-economically despite various limitations and limited resources. The Indian Army chief said the cooperation and collaboration between Bangladesh and India in the defence industry sector was progressing very well. Pande assured her that India's cooperation for the modernisation of the Bangladesh Army would continue in the days to come and there was potential to further strengthen cooperation between the two friendly countries in the areas of technical and other fields. The Indian Army chief stressed the need for utilising these opportunities for mutual benefit. Pande informed the premier that he visited Bangladesh Military Academy in Chattogram and he was really impressed to see the modern facilities there. Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian Army chief joined as the chief guest of the passing out ceremony of officer cadets of Bangladesh military's 84th long course at Bangladesh Military Academy. He inspected the parade and distributed awards among select cadets from home and abroad for their extraordinary excellence. On Monday, Pande held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and, according to a military statement, the two Army chiefs discussed the existing bilateral ties and future cooperation for the progress of the two countries. Pande placed wreaths at the altar 'Flame Eternal' at the Dhaka Cantonment paying his tributes to Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War martyrs and thereafter a Bangladesh military contingent presented him an honour guard at the Senakunja area at the garrison where he planted a sapling as well. He added that the Indian Army chief was visiting Bangladesh five weeks after his counterpart visited India to witness an identical passing out parade at Officers' Training Academy in Chennai.
Class On Rapidly Expanding: Now Serving 400+ Partner Schools and Over 2 Lakh Registered Students

VMPL, New Delhi, June 5 Class On, the extraordinary specifically tailored for Indian schools, is making waves in the education industry with its rapid expansion.

Class On Rapidly Expanding: Now Serving 400+ Partner Schools and Over 2 Lakh Registered Students

With a staggering 400+ Partner Schools and an impressive 2 lakh+ Registered students, Class On has firmly established itself as a frontrunner in revolutionizing school management across the nation.What sets Class On apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to excellence. With over 80 modules, 3 mobile apps, and an extensive suite of 30+ school services, Class On has rightfully earned its reputation as India's premier School ERP software. It offers an unmatched range of features, comprehensive services, and round-the-clock support, all at an affordable price, making it an unparalleled choice for educational institutions.The meteoric rise of Class On is a testament to its unwavering dedication to providing exceptional services. This fast-growing organization boasts an impressive enrollment of 10,000+ teachers, operates in 15+ states, and offers an array of 30+ school services. It is a one-stop solution for all the needs of Indian schools, setting itself apart as perhaps the world's first company to guarantee its services at such an affordable rate. In fact, Class On goes a step further by offering a money-back guarantee if another company can provide the same features at a lower cost.Here are the top 10 reasons why schools should strongly consider choosing Class On as their preferred School ERP software. Firstly, the company takes pride in constant innovation, ensuring a guaranteed new model every month, a unique offering that sets it apart from the competition. Secondly, the Class On app is available in the top 10 Indian languages, providing ease of use and accessibility to users across the country.Furthermore, Class On boasts unparalleled support, going so far as to offer a refund if any issue remains unresolved for more than 24 hours. Their dedicated 24/7 support system ensures assistance is readily available whenever needed. By opting for Class On, schools can streamline their operations, resulting in significant time, money, and energy savings that can be better allocated to educational purposes.Class On also offers comprehensive resources such as detailed video tutorials and a helpful chatbot, making it effortless for users to navigate and utilize the software effectively. The company's commitment to trust and certification is reflected in its ISO, SSL, and Google certifications, which guarantee the highest standards of quality and security. These achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Digital Edupreneur Award in 2022, Shiksha Ratan Award in 2021, and the Innovation in Education Technology Award in 2019.Embracing the "Go Digital Go Smart" movement, Class On aims to drive digital transformation in Indian schools, empowering them to enhance their efficiency through technology. Understanding the unique challenges faced by Indian schools, Class On has tailored its software to address these issues, offering personalized solutions that cater specifically to their needs. With highly advanced and unique modules and structures, Class On equips schools with cutting-edge tools for effectively managing various aspects of their operations.Choosing Class On means accessing a fully secured cloud system, lifetime free updates, and the convenience of no hardware requirements or technical skills. The company guarantees a reliable support system, supports third-party integration, ensures 100% data security and privacy, and offers a lightning-fast and user-friendly experience. Moreover, Class On proudly holds the distinction of being an ISO, SSL, and Google Certified brand.With its remarkable journey and accolades, including the Best Website Award in 2015 and the Excellent Work Award in 2012, Class On App has emerged as the undisputed leader in School ERP Software in India. Its comprehensive range of features, comprehensive services, and unparalleled support make it the ultimate choice for Indian schools. With a vision for digital transformation and a commitment to continuous innovation, Class On empowers Indian schools to thrive in the modern age of education.The success of Class On can be attributed to its unwavering dedication to providing an exceptional user experience. The software's fully secured cloud system ensures the safety and privacy of sensitive school data. With lifetime free updates, schools can stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in school management technology without any additional costs. Moreover, Class On's user-friendly interface and lightning-fast performance make it a breeze to navigate and utilize.Class On's rapid expansion, exceptional features, and unmatched support have made it the leading School ERP Software in India. Its extensive range of modules, comprehensive services, and dedication to innovation have set a new standard in the industry. With a firm focus on the digital transformation of Indian schools, Class On provides tailored solutions that address the unique challenges faced by educational institutions. By choosing Class On, schools can embrace technology, streamline their operations, and enhance their efficiency in an increasingly digital world.For more information visit(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI05 June 2023

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Kasturi Banerjjee: Barun Sobti was totally living his character in Asur 2

Mumbai, June 5: 'Kundali Bhagya' famed actress Kasturi Banerjjee, who is currently seen in the show 'Asur 2', is all praise for her co-actor Barun Sobti. She said that the actor was living the character and was very methodical.

Kasturi Banerjjee: 'Barun Sobti was totally living his character in 'Asur 2''

Kasturi essays the role of a psychotherapist named Zoya, who is warm, empathetic, loving yet very professional.Speaking on his working experience with Barun, Kasturi said "I have had heard very good things about Barun and his acting skills but never got a chance earlier to meet him in person. I met him for the very first time on the set only."Kasturi described him as a "chilled, very calm, comforting, receptive and no hang-up individual.""What I could gauge was that he was totally living his character. He was very methodical and always engaged in his character. This is indeed his best quality as an actor," she concluded.IANS05 June 2023

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Mouni Roy turns up the heat in Marks & Spencer swimwear range

PNN, Mumbai, June 5 Get ready to sizzle this summer as Mouni Roy sets the pages of Lifestyle Asia ablaze, flaunting the must-have swimwear collection by Marks and Spencer.

Mouni Roy turns up the heat in Marks & Spencer swimwear range

With her sultry looks and captivating presence, Mouni Roy embodies the essence of sultry sophistication, making these swimwear pieces an absolute must-have for anyone looking to turn up the heat.From the glamourous Sparkle Plunge Green Swimsuit to the alluring Orange Sparkle Bikini set and Fuchsia high waisted bikini set, Marks and Spencer's swimwear collection guarantees to make heads turn and hearts skip a beat. Whether you're craving timeless elegance, flirtatious charm, or fashion-forward allure, this collection has you covered, ensuring you'll be the center of attention wherever you go this summer!Complete your hot summer look with Marks and Spencer's stunning range of accessories, including fashionable hats, stylish cover-ups, jute bags, and glamorous sunglasses. Embrace your inner beach goddess or poolside prince with these show-stopping additions.The swimwear collection is available at all Marks and Spencer store and online atFor more looks, follow @marksandspencerindia(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI05 June 2023

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EAM Jaishankar, Namibia Deputy PM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah discuss advancing ties

Windhoek [Namibia], June 5: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday co-chaired the first Joint Commission of cooperation between India and Namibia with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and discussed advancing ties between two nations in energy, green hydrogen, transport, connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, food security, science, technology and culture.

EAM Jaishankar, Namibia Deputy PM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah discuss advancing ties

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar underscored that the contemporary cooperation between India and Namibia should be build on political goodwill and growing development partnership.Jaishankar tweeted, "Co-chaired the 1st Joint Commission of cooperation between India and Namibia with DPM and FM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah this morning. Underlined that our contemporary cooperation should build on long-standing political goodwill and our growing development partnership. Discussed advancing our ties in energy, green hydrogen, transport and connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, food security, science and technology and culture. As also wildlife collaboration and eco tourism. Our perspectives regional and global issues are similar and drive our working together in international forums."Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Windhoek to further strengthen relations with Namibia. He was received by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu.Upon arrival in Namibia, EAM Jaishankar in a tweet stated, "Arrived in Windhoek. Thank Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia, Jenelly Matundu for receiving me so warmly. Look forward to a productive visit that takes our time-tested ties forward."On Sunday, Jaishankar addresed the Indian diaspora in Namibia. He said that the condolence messages and the outpouring of suppot that he received in the wake of the horrific train accident in Odisha shows how connected the world is with India."A lot of leaders from all over the world and the foreign minister from here [Namibia] also has expressed solidarity and sent sympathy," EAM Jaishankar said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Namibia on Sunday."I received many messages and foreign ministers and friends from across the world. The Prime Minister also received lots of messages. This is an example of how globalised today's world is and how the world is connected with India," he added.Before arriving in the Namibian capital on Sunday, the External Affairs Minister was in Cape Town, South Africa to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting.In Cape Town, Jaishankar invoked the three-decade-old ties between India and South Africa stating that there is a very "deeply emotional" connection between the two countries. He said India's and South Africa's respective struggles were "deeply intertwined". He made these remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Cape Town.ANI05 June 2023

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Mongolia has welcomed over 216,000 foreign tourists in 2023

Ulan Bator, June 5: Mongolia has welcomed 216,668 foreign tourists so far this year, with Russia and China being the biggest source of arrivals, the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism said on Monday.

Mongolia has welcomed over 216,000 foreign tourists in 2023

The Mongolian government has been taking measures to revive the pandemic-hit tourism sector, reports Xinhua news agency.In January, it exempted citizens of 34 countries from visa requirements for up to 30 days until the end of 2025 for tourism purposes, bringing the total number of visa-free countries to 61.The country has also classified 2023, 2024 and 2025 as "Years to Visit Mongolia" and is expected to organise more than 90 events in 2023 to promote tourism.Mongolia sees tourism as the most viable way to diversify its economy.It has set a goal of welcoming at least 1 million foreign tourists and earning $1 billion from tourism in the coming years.The country received 290,400 foreign tourists in 2022, earning $350 million from the tourism sector.IANS06 June 2023

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I first met Oscar and Darwin in 2019. Donald Trump was president and had recently come under fire for separating children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. While the infamous Zero Tolerance policy was quickly scrapped, few acknowledged the way that his policies  and the policies of presidents before him  continued to separate couples and families hoping to reach safety in the United States. Oscar and Darwin, a queer couple from Honduras, are one of many couples whose lives were thrown into chaos when they were separated at the border.

As I got to know them and their story, I was struck by how few ways they had to communicate with one another. Despite living in a world where they were used to being in constant communication on WhatsApp and Instagram, Oscar and Darwin had to turn to love letters, sent from one ICE detention center to another, first just to find one another, and then to find a way to feel connected to one another, even when they were physically apart. It is as romantic as it is tragic.

Lately, I find myself wondering what Oscar and Darwins journey would look like today. Even though President Biden scrapped many of Trumps most notorious immigration policies, he prolonged just as many  such as the Remain in Mexico policy, which forces people to wait for their asylum appointments in Mexico, and Title 42, which used public health as an excuse to deport people during the pandemic, and long after the pandemic was over. Would they have been forced to wait in a cramped shelter in Mexico, while the pandemic raged outside? If they arrived at the border now, they might even be subject to a new policy, forcing people to apply for asylum in the first safe country that they set foot in. Many experts worry this policy will destroy the asylum system as we know it.

To me, Oscar and Darwin  along with many of the other couples who told me their stories for my new book Love Across Borders  are a testament to the love, strength, and tenacity that it takes to overcome borders with the hope of living happily ever after.

I was afraid of the journey, Oscar Juarez Hernandez, who was only nineteen years old at the time, told me, when I asked him what it was like to make the decision to come to the United States as a couple. It was technically my idea, Darwin Garcia Portillo interjectedhe is a little bit older, and Oscar clearly looks up to him. Unfortunately, in our country, you can be killed for being gay, he continued. It is very sad.

Homosexuality is technically legal in Honduras, but homophobia and discrimination are everywhere, and it is not easy to live together as an openly gay couple, especially in a city like San Pedro Sula. Oscar tried to apply for jobs, only to have potential employers look down on him, asking him why he shaved his eyebrows and wore such tight-fitting clothes. He had tried to come out to his mother when he first met Darwin, but she couldnt wrap her head around the fact that he was falling in love with a man, so he moved out. Once they were living together, they tried to include their families in their relationshipbut were frequently met with snide remarks and cold shoulders. Often, they told us our relation ship was a sin, Darwin remembered.

And then, there were the gang members who started harassing them, every time they left the house. Maricon, they shouted after them, even during the day when they were just going to the grocery store. Fucking faggots. Gangs like the Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, and their rivals, Calle 18, are notorious in Honduras, particularly in areas where the government is weak, slipping into power vacuums to recruit new members and intimidate anyone who is not with them. As a queer couple, Oscar and Darwin were easy targets.

We cant keep living in this country, Darwin groaned to Oscar one night, when it felt as if the harassment might never end. Ever since more people started joining the caravans going to the United States in 2018, he had been pushing for the two of them to leave. As the oldest son in a family without a father, Darwin felt enormous pressure to provide for his younger brother. After his mother passed away when he was young, he no longer felt like it made sense to do it from Honduras. Besides, he wanted to live somewhere where he could be himself for a change.

But Oscar had heard stories of people dying after tumbling from trains, falling victim to corrupt police officers who shook them down for bribes. Stories of exploited and extorted migrants hung vividly in his imagination. Besides, he didnt want to leave his mother and sister behind. But staying in San Pedro Sula was becoming a little bit more dangerous every day. Oscar was just growing accustomed to the way that armed men shouted at them from a distance when they started sending him threatening messages on Facebook, making him feel like he was being personally targeted. One night, he was leaving a party with Darwin when they turned the corner to see a group of men waiting for them outside, guns cocked in the air. RUN, Darwin shouted. Oscar took off in one direction, Darwin in the other, his feet pounding the ground so quickly that he hardly noticed his heart racing inside of his chest. He peeled around one corner, and then the next, trying to lose the gang members and failing every time. Gunshots crackled behind him, as a bullet whizzed past his ear. Somehow, around the next corner, he found Darwin, who was clutching his arm, as blood poured on the street.

We have to leave, Darwin said, tightening his grip on the blood soaked T-shirt. As soon as we possibly can.

So, their journey beganfirst, across the border to Guatemala, and then through Mexico, where they would make their way to Tijuana and wait to turn themselves in at the border. So many people showed us kindness, Oscar told me, as he recalled the journey, which was peppered with as many people offering them a free meal or lodging as it was with intimidating police officers and nights spent sleeping in the street. But that kindness stopped the moment they crossed the border into California and were escorted by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to a detention center that felt like a prison. It was a cell just for LGBT people, Oscar said, remembering the first few hours when they were detained with another couple, who were equally confused about what was going on. A few hours later, another CBP officer came, and took one of the men away, leaving his partner alone, hysterically sobbing. I could feel his pain, Oscar said, remembering the moment that he realized that they were separating people from their partners. I just knew at that moment that they were going to take Darwin away, and that was going to be me, too.

A few hours later, his worst nightmare came to life: a CBP officer came and took Darwin away, leaving Oscar completely alone. I just watched them taking him away, he told me. They didnt even let us hug goodbye.

For two months, Oscar didnt hear any news from Darwin. I didnt think I had enough money to make a call, Oscar remembered. Even if he did, the only way to contact anyone was through the detention centers pay phones, which charged extortionate fees to even make local phone calls. Personal cell phones were prohibited, as was access to the internet. It was easy to feel as if he had disappeared. After keeping him one week in Arizona, ICE had transferred Oscar to a different detention center, in Colorado. One of the men that he was detained with in Arizona had given him five dollars, but he didnt think it was enough. Nevertheless, he decided to try, and dialed Darwins aunt, whose number he had memorized in case of an emergency. To his surprise, she picked up. If Darwin calls you, please give him my address, he said spitting out the words quickly, fearing that the call could drop at any minute.

Darwin had been taken to a detention facility in Mississippi, where he was trying to reach his family, but he didnt have any money either. I befriended a guy who was from Peru, he remembered. As a gift, he offered to pay for a phone call. Darwin immediately called the same auntand when he found out that not only had she heard from Oscar, but that she had also gotten an address, it felt like the clouds were parting and he could see a ray of light.

Please let me call my boyfriend in Colorado, he begged one of the guards. But it is against ICEs rules for a detainee to call someone in another detention center. The only thing that he could do was write him a letter.

Dear Oscar, he began. While he had Oscar had texted and talked extensively while they were living apart from each other in Honduras, he realized at this moment that this was his very first love letter. "I hope you are keeping your spirits up and are in good health. I am at a detention center in Mississippi and I miss you every day. Do you know anything about your case? Please write to me and let me know. Love, Darwin

Oscar Juarez Hernandez?

Oscar wasnt expecting to hear his name called. Sometimes the guards called him in for a medical check, but he wasnt expecting a letter. As soon as he heard the name of the sender, he jumped out of bed for the first time in weeks, not quite able to believe that he wasnt dreaming until he was pressing the envelope to his chest. My hands couldnt stop shaking, he told me. I wanted to open it, but I was crying too much. Finally, he managed to open the envelope, not quite able to believe that the words in front of him were written by Darwin. After two months of not knowing where Darwin was, if he had been sent back to Honduras or even if he was alive, he finally had a way of being in touch with the person that he loved so much.

That night, Oscar wrote him three pages, front and back.

Oscars story of writing Darwin love letters from inside of a detention center sits at the far end of a timeline that started with the raids along the USMexico border in the 1930s, followed by the US governments interception of love letters between the Braceros and their girlfriends and wives, before Operation Wetback normalized INS immigration raids across the country. Next, President Nixon declared a war on drugs in 1969, which, in an act of pure political theater, allowed warrantless searches of every car driving across the border, while increasing mini mum sentences for marijuana possession. This made it easier to deport immigrants for minor drug crimes, and it especially targeted both Black and Latinx immigrant communities.

Soon, Nixon turned his attention toward people who were attempting to cross the border via other routesspecifically those who were coming to the United States by boat from Haiti, fleeing political repression under Francois Duvaliers dictatorship. Many had survived torture as political prisoners and had no other choice but to leave Haiti on makeshift boats courageously pushed into the Caribbean Sea. No one with any other safer option would undertake that journey, but Nixon refused to accept them as refugeesdoing so would sour US relations with Duvalier, who was their ally in the global fight against communism.

Instead, he authorized the INS to build the first immigration detention centers, which would imprison Haitianssometimes for years at a timeuntil they could prove that they were worthy of asylum in the United States. Cubans, most of whom were fleeing Fidel Castros Communist government, were granted asylum much more easily, even given stipends to start a new life in the United States. Peoples real lives were caught in these political crosshairs.

Even though the Refugee Act of 1980 was drafted to right these political wrongsstating that anyone, regardless of where they were from, had the right to ask for asylum in the United StatesRonald Reagan later used this to crack down on people who were fleeing Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, claiming that many were actually economic migrants and should not qualify for protection. Never mind that many were fleeing poverty that had caused them to be in danger, and violence that had then created poverty. Instead, they were indefinitely detained, testing the policy of incarcerating people until their hearings, all the while making flimsy, arbitrary distinctions between economic migrants and refugees that could affect the rest of their lives.

Since then, immigration detention has not only expanded but has become a three-billion-dollar industry that fuses for-profit prisons with immigration policies built around securing the border. Now there are more than two hundred immigration detention centers across the United States, detaining a total of more than 500,000 people. Trump became notorious for separating children from their mothers in 2018 as a part of his zero-tolerance policy, but even beforeand afterTrump, the system separated and continues to separate couples and families by default. A straight couple is automatically separated from each other by genderand while children are typically detained with their mothers, they are still ripped apart from their father. If a queer couple is detained together, it is purely dumb luck. For most, like Oscar and Darwin, CBP will interview and process them as two individuals, even if told that they are a couple.

Even the term detention centers is misleading. As immigration violations are a civilnot a criminaloffense, these facilities are not technically prisons, and immigrant detainees are not technically prisoners. However, they are prisons by another name: immigrant detainees are held together in cells, with limited access to the outside world. Unlike prisoners with criminal convictions, immigrant detainees do not have a fixed sentence, and do not know how long they will be in jail. They do not have a right to a public defender, or a fair trial. Instead, those who are seeking asylum are often expected to plead their case without representation, in a language that they do not speak and a system that they do not understand.

Nevertheless, Darwin continued to embrace pen and paper and, with it, hope. Have faith, mi amor, he would write. Soon, all of our nightmares will be over, and we will be together again.

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I plant trees everyday, urge residents of state to plant trees on their special days: MP CM Chouhan

Bhopal, June 5: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that he plants trees everyday and also urges the residents of the state to plant trees on their special days.

I plant trees everyday, urge residents of state to plant trees on their special days: MP CM Chouhan

CM Chouhan made the remark while addressing a program organised on the occasion of World Environment Day at Ravindra Bhawan in the state capital Bhopal on Monday.Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said, "Do not exploit nature, instead use it. Take as much from nature as it can bear, there is no harm in it. But the forests got cleared (deforestation), it is a sin. We all are responsible for that."Talking about the untimely rain in the state, the CM said that this year, rain did not stop. It rained continuously in the months of April, May and June. It was never seen before, we (human beings) disturbed the balance of nature."Today, on the occasion of World Environment Day, I am warning that if we do not understand even today, then nature will not be suitable for the generations to come. I plant a tree everyday and I will tell the residents of Madhya Pradesh to plant trees on their special days," the CM said.The population of the state is nine crores. If everyone makes a joint effort, then nine crore trees will automatically be planted in a year in the state, he added.He also said to save electricity and not to use plastics on the occasion."On the occasion of World Environment Day, I want to convey the this message that we all should make efforts together, only then the earth will be saved for the coming generations," Chouhan further added.ANI06 June 2023

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Panjab University emotional, cultural legacy of Punjab: Mann

Chandigarh, June 5: Asserting that Panjab University in Chandigarh is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday categorically said they need no share of Haryana in the university -- an apex educational institute of the region.

Panjab University emotional, cultural legacy of Punjab: Mann

"Neither any college of Haryana will be given affiliation from the university nor will any attempt of Haryana for backdoor entry in the senate of the university be allowed," the Chief Minister said while interacting with the media here.The Chief Minister said regular attempts are being made to change the status of the university. However, he said the Punjab government will not allow any such move in the larger interests of the students.Mann said 175 colleges of the state are affiliated with this premier university due to which generations of Punjab are emotionally attached with it.The Chief Minister said the university caters only to the state of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh.Citing the history of the university, its constitution, its ethnic, socio-cultural and historical roots as well as its faculty and students who hail primarily from Punjab, Mann said it is important that the present legal and administrative status of the Panjab University should be preserved.He reminded that at the time of the reorganisation of the State of Punjab in 1966, Panjab University was declared as an 'Inter State Body Corporate' under section 72 (1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 enacted by the Parliament.The Chief Minister said ever since its inception, Panjab University has been continuously and uninterruptedly functioning in Punjab. Mann recalled after Partition it was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh, the present capital of Punjab.He asserted that the entire territorial jurisdiction of Panjab University lies primarily in the state of Punjab and the union territory of Chandigarh.The Chief Minister said despite increased financial burden caused by withdrawal of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the creation of new universities in the state, Punjab has continued to support Panjab University to ensure that the historical and emotional attachment of the people of Punjab with the university is maintained and preserved.He said recently also the state government has given Rs 49 crore for construction of hostels to the university, even though no demand was made for it.Mann said the state government has left no stone unturned for the holistic development of the university in all possible manners.The Chief Minister said after assuming the charge of office he had written two letters to Union Ministers Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan asking them that the university is heritage of the state and any sort of change in it will not be tolerated.Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to avert any change in the nature and character of Panjab University, he said the state government is committed to safeguard the rights of the state and its people.IANS06 June 2023

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TN Guv for aligning higher education with needs of current age

Chennai, June 5: Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Monday said that the higher education system in the state needs to be aligned with needs of current age.

TN Guv for aligning higher education with needs of current age

While speaking at the conference of 'Vice Chancellors of State and Private Universities of Tamil Nadu' at the Udhagamandalam Raj Bhavan, Governor Ravi said that the conference was extremely important to deliberate upon how to impart appropriate time-bound education.He said that time-bound education means education that meets the demands and needs of the current time and stated that this was the time of Artificial Intelligence which was making an impact on agriculture, industry, processing, production and marketing.The Tamil Nadu Governor, however, said that since the time of former Chief Minister, K. Kamaraj, all governments of Tamil Nadu have focused on policies aimed at ensuring maximum accessibility to basic education. He said that the spread of basic education is not enough to meet the needs of the job markets of the day and added that higher education needs to have requirements of job markets in mind.The Governor said that graduates are not able to do jobs commensurate to their basic qualifications and added that several business leaders with whom he had spoken to have informed him that polytechnic students from Industrial Training Institutes have better prospects in job markets than engineering graduates.He said that even though the state of Tamil Nadu was much better than many other states in terms of education and development, there has been a decline and pointed out the state falling into fifth, sixth or seventh place in many key indicators.It is to be noted that the conference of Vice Chancellors was organised in Udhagamandalam on deliberations regarding translation of textbooks of higher education institutions into Tamil. He said that in countries like China and Japan, doctors, engineers and scientists speak and study in their native languages.The Tamil Nadu Governor said that many students who wanted to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses had a mental block in studying these subjects as they were not proficient in English language. He said that if the textbooks in higher education institutions are available in Tamil and other regional languages, more students would opt for STEM courses.He also called upon the Vice Chancellors of government and private universities to work together and collaborate to produce students to meet the needs and demands of modern industry and entrepreneurship. He added that the culture of private and public institutions working in isolation have to end, and called upon them to work in collaboration.IANS06 June 2023

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KCR lays foundation for BRS Centre for Excellence & HRD

Hyderabad, June 5: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) launched work on Centre for Excellence and Human Resource Development here on Monday, which will provide training to the party leaders.

KCR lays foundation for BRS Centre for Excellence & HRD

BRS national President and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao laid the foundation stone for Bharat Bhavan at Kokapet in Hyderabad.Stating that political parties are the pillars of the democratic governments, he called for developing more effective leadership in tune with the aspiration of the people of the country.KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said that to prepare youth as the future leaders, education and training in political, social, economic, cultural and ideological fields are imperative."Today's India needs effective leadership that understands the aspirations of the people of the country. It is our responsibility to develop leadership and help them to contribute to the development of the society," he said."We will invite great intellectuals and Nobel laureates who have experience in the respective fields from all over the world and provide leadership training. We will develop a leadership that helps to give good governance to the people. Thus, we will work to consolidate the democratic structure of the country," he said.The BRS chief said that experienced political scientists, economists, sociologists, writers, professors, retired officials and others, who contributed to the development of the society, will be invited from across the country to provide training in political, social and economic fields. Social activists, politicians and leaders from all over the country will have access to the comprehensive information available at the Bharat Bhavan.KCR said that facilities will be provided for those who come here for training. The centre will be have training classrooms, mini halls with projectors, spacious meeting halls, digital libraries with latest technology, and luxury rooms for accommodation.The Chief Minister said that the newspapers of the country and abroad, works and books of world intellectuals belonging to the world's political, social and philosophical fields will be made available in the centre. A facility to watch local, domestic and international media channels will be set up in the information centre. A platform will be created to study the progress taking place in the social, economic, political and cultural fields around the world. Systems will be set up to analyse and compile the news articles from time to time.He said that there will be special training classes for awareness about social media which is affecting people regularly. Senior technical teams will also work towards introducing the latest technology in the media. Information will be available to study the welfare and development sectors in the training.KCR said that the construction of the building will be undertaken on a small part of the land allotted to Bharat Bhavan and the rest of the land will be filled with greenery. Those who come to the centre for leadership training will undergo training in a pleasant environment.IANS06 June 2023

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Think more carefully rather than more quickly: How network structure affects judgement

Berlin June 5: When addressing difficulties, do intelligent people think more quickly than others? The findings of a recent study conducted by Human Brain Project researchers at Charite University Berlin and their collaborators at University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, which was published in Nature Communications, cast doubt on this widely accepted notion in the field of intelligence. They developed 650 customised brain network models (BNMs) using data from the Human Connectome Project and replicated the dynamics of the problem-solving brain using a physiologically inspired methodology.

Think more carefully rather than more quickly: How network structure affects judgement

Observations from the brain simulations were compared to empirical data of the 650 participants taking the so-called Penn Matrix Reasoning Test (PMAT), consisting of a series of increasingly difficult pattern matching tasks. The results of these were quantified into participants' fluid intelligence (FI), which could roughly be described as the ability to take difficult decisions in new situations."We found that people scoring higher on fluid intelligence (FI) took more time to solve the more difficult tasks compared to people with lower FI. They were only quicker when responding to simple questions," explains Petra Ritter of Charite University, senior author of the study. "We first observed this in our simulations, and then only afterwards we saw that the empirical data of participants taking the intelligence tests corresponded to this trend." Ritter's lab and many other research groups at HBP use brain simulation to complement observational data, in order to develop a theoretical framework of how the brain works.In this case, brain simulation has been employed to determine the link between functional and structural connectivity in the brain and cognitive performance. A more synchronized brain is better at solving problems, but not necessarily faster. "As synchronization is reduced, decision-making circuits in the brain jump faster to conclusions, while higher synchronization between brain regions allows for better integration of evidence and more robust working memory," says Ritter. "Intuitively this is not so surprising if you have more time and consider more evidence, you invest more in problem solving and come up with better solutions. Here we not only show this empirically, but we demonstrate how the observed performance differences are a consequence of the dynamic principles in personalized brain network models. We thus present new evidence that challenges a common notion about human intelligence."Previously established local circuit models of working memory (WM) and decision-making (DM), both important for intelligence, were plugged into The Virtual Brain (TVB), of which the latter provided a simulation at the whole-brain level.The simulations were run using a multi-scale brain modelling approach; brain imaging data were processed with automated containerized pipelines. The processing of the highly sensitive brain data took place within a secure Virtual Research Environment of EBRAINS Health Data Cloud. These technologies are accessible though EBRAINS to the global research community.The ultimate goal of the study is not to find out how fast you should think, but rather to understand how biological networks determine decision-making for the development of bio-inspired tools and robotic applications. Modelling brain dynamics of intelligent decision-making is therefore a promising approach to building smart applications. "We think that biologically more realistic models may outperform classical A.I. in the future," says Ritter.ANI06 June 2023

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EAM Jaishankar inaugurates IT centre at Namibia University built with Indian assistance

Windhoek [Namibia], June 6: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the Namibia University's fully equipped IT center, known as The India Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) built with Indian assistance.

EAM Jaishankar inaugurates IT centre at Namibia University built with Indian assistance

The center, equipped with cutting-edge IT infrastructure, is a product of the collaborative efforts between India and Namibia in development, cooperation, and capacity-building."It is an outcome of the development, cooperation and capacity-building partnership between India and Namibia. And it is being pursued in line with the shared desire to develop human resources, especially of the youth, and give them the right skills in the technology domain," he said.While addressing the inauguration event of the INCEIT, EAM Jaishankar said that it reflects the long-standing people-to-people friendship and linkages between India and Namibia.This centre started offering courses going back to November 2019, when the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) provided the course materials, the reference books and much of the IT hardware and software, EAM said."The remaining installations were completed in very challenging circumstances during the Pandemic," Jaishankar added.Speaking on the trainers teaching at the INCEIT, EAM informed that six master trainers from Namibia were given training in CDAC in India.The Centre is additionally equipped with a CDAC PARAM Supercomputer with High-Performance Computing (HPC) Applications. Now, since its deployment, the supercomputer has seen the installation of numerous application software to ensure its optimum usage.Acknowledging the support and collaboration of the Vice Chancellor and his team, Minister Jaishankar expressed gratitude for their "unstinted support and collaboration to make this project a reality with the objective of developing industry-oriented programmes to address skill requirements in areas such as cybersecurity, big data analytics and e-governance applications and software development."The Centre has been able to offer courses and to train more than 275 professionals, government officials from various ministries students, teachers and researchers, Jaishankar informed.Jaishankar also appreciated a student who won a reward in a cybersecurity competition."I'm happy to note that a student from this very centre has won a trophy with the first position at the 6th Namibia National Cybersecurity Competition," Jaishankar said."The courses that the centre is offering are truly vital for Namibia in building a knowledge society, and this has to be done on the foundations of innovation and technology which will emerge from here," he added.Jaishankar said that India's home-developed Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has revolutionised digital transactions in India, taking financial inclusion, to new levels that 40 per cent of the world's real-time digital payments take place in India.Speaking on the INCEIT again, Jaishankar said that the unique feature of this centre is that it is powered by the Param Supercomputer rightly named Arup.The Centre is additionally equipped with a CDAC PARAM Supercomputer with High-Performance Computing (HPC) Applications.Now, since its deployment, the supercomputer has seen the installation of numerous application software to ensure its optimum usage."This centre is the latest in our strong partnership with Africa, which particularly targets the gen next in Africa and India. It has been established in several locations across the continent vocational training centres, IT centres, science and technology parks, entrepreneurship development centres and geoinformatics applications for rural development," Jaishankar said while concluding his address.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and Namibia to create and operate the India Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) for training in specialised areas of Information Technology. The government of India initiated a proposal for the setting up of CEIT with the intent of having international outreach for imparting ICT education in Namibia.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) signed an Agreement on July 16th, 2018 for the setting up of an India Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.ANI06 June 2023

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Govt sources say Railways spent over Rs 1L cr of RRSK funds on safety in five years

New Delhi, June 5: Following the horrific train accident in Odisha's Balasore on Friday evening that claimed 275 lives, an official document showed that the national transporter did not have lack of funds, as it spent over Rs 1 lakh crore between 2017-18 and 2021-22 from its Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) funds.

Govt sources say Railways spent over Rs 1L cr of RRSK funds on safety in five years

The Railways has announced a high-level probe as well as an independent inquiry by the Commissioner of Rail Safety, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that "all the empty safety claims" of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have been "exposed".He also said there is serious concern among people about the deterioration in safety standards of the Railways.An official government data showed that capital expenditure on all projects of Indian Railways, including safety related works, is funded from three major sources -- gross budgetary support (GBS), internal generation of Railways, and external borrowing.The document said that RRSK was introduced in 2017 after recognising the importance of ensuring adequate funds for railway safety with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to be utilised over a period of five years starting 2017-18 for critical safety related works."Contrary to the statements being made, the Railways has ensured that this fund was fully utilised," a government source said."From 2017-18 to 2021-22, Railways spent more than Rs 1 lakh crore on RRSK works," the source said, adding that the government also extended the validity of RRSK for another five year from 2022-23," the data stated.Showing the expenses made by the Railways on track renewal in the last five years, the data said, "Track renewal is an important component of safety and expenditure on track renewal during 2017-18 to 2021-22 has reflected a steady growth."It said that from Rs 8,884 crore in 2017-18, the expenditure on track renewal increased to Rs 13,522 crore in 2020-21 and to Rs 16,558 cr in 2021-22.In total, Railways spent Rs 58,045 crore on track renewal during this period, the data showed.It also highlighted that the CAG report of 2022 on "derailment in railways" was laid on the floor of the House on December 21 last year."The coverage of RRSK utilisation, in the report, is limited to three years - 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. Hence, it gives a partial picture on actual expenditure that has been undertaken on both track renewal as well as safety related works by the Indian Railways," the source said.The source also said that as per the practice, a detailed reply on all issues raised in the CAG report will also be sent shortly."The factual position on expenditure, therefore, is completely contrary to the figures being quoted in some sections of the media, The actual trend of expenditure on track renewal has increased from Rs 47,039 crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14 to Rs 1,09,023 crore during 2014-15 to 2023-24, reflecting an increase of more than double," the source said.The remarks from the government sources came after the Congress cited several reports that included the CAG report on derailment, claiming less amount was spent on track renewal and even non-utilisation of RRSK funds for safety works.The Congress said that as per the latest audit report, between 2017-18 and 2020-21, almost seven out of the 10 train accidents happened due to train derailment. It also said that from 2017 to 2021, there was zero testing of rails and welds (track maintenance) for safety in East Coast Railway and asked why was it sidelined.The Congress also asked why 79 per cent funding work was done in RRSK, while Rs 20,000 crore was to be made available every year. It asked why has there been a huge decrease in the amount for track renewal works.The government source also stated that the expenditure on safety related works, which include track renewal, bridges, level crossings, ROB or RUBS, signalling works etc. has increased from Rs 70,274 crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14 to Rs 1,78,012 crore during 2014-15 to 2023- 24, reflecting more than two-and-a-half fold rise.The source further said that even the GBS for railways in the last nine years has increased almost five times as compared to the GBS between 2004-05 and 2013-14.The data showed that from 2004-05 to 2013-14, the Railways had a GBS of Rs 1,64,743.45 crore, which in the last nine years (from 2014-15 to 2023-24) stands at Rs 8,26,323.48 crore.The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following the horrific accident in Balasore.To a question about the February 8 letter by the Principal Chief Operating Manager of South Western Railway Zone urging and warning to repair the signalling system citing a tragedy in Mysore in which two trains were saved from collision, the source said, "One unsafe incident was reported on February 8 this year and during our inquiry, human error was found. So that was pointed out and the deficiency was rectified."He also said that the kind of error in the February 8 incident was completely different as compared to the latest train accident.IANS06 June 2023

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Haryana will not get any share in Panjab University: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Chandigarh, June 5: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that the state government does not want a share of Haryana in Panjab University adding that the University is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of the state.

Haryana will not get any share in Panjab University: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

While addressing the media, Punjab CM Mann said, "Neither any college of Haryana will be given affiliation from the university nor will any attempt of Haryana for back door entry in the senate of university be allowed."On the occasion, Chief Minister bemoaned that regular attempts are being made to change the status of the university."Punjab government will not allow any such move in the larger interests of the students. Bhagwant Mann said that 175 colleges of the state are affiliated with this premier university due to which generations of Punjab are emotionally attached to it," CM Mann said.The Chief Minister said that the University caters only to the state of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh.Citing the history of the University, its constitution, its ethnic, socio-cultural and historical roots as well as its faculty and students who hail primarily from the state of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said, "It is important that the present legal and administrative status of the Panjab University should be preserved. He reminded that at the time of the reorganization of the State of Punjab in 1966, Panjab University was declared as an 'Inter State Body Corporate' under section 72(1) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 enacted by the Parliament."The Chief Minister said that ever since its inception, the Panjab University has been continuously and uninterruptedly functioning in the state of Punjab.Bhagwant Mann recalled that after partition it was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh the present capital of Punjab.He asserted that the entire territorial jurisdiction of Panjab University lies primarily in the state of Punjab and Union territory of Chandigarh.The Chief Minister said, "As per Sub-section (4) of Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, the maintenance deficit grants to the University were to be shared and paid by the states concerned, i.e., Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT Administration of Chandigarh in the ratio of 20202040, respectively.""In 1970 the then Chief Minister of Haryana Bansi Lal voluntarily pulled out his state's share from the university adding that in 1973 even the state called back its members of senate from university. Bhagwant Mann said that since then the state of Punjab and UT Administration of Chandigarh have borne the financial responsibility of paying maintenance deficit grants to the University in the ratio of 4060 respectively," he added.The Chief Minister said that despite increased financial burden caused by withdrawal of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the creation of new universities in the state, Punjab has continued to support Panjab University to ensure that the historical and emotional attachment of the people of Punjab with the University is maintained and preserved."Recently also the state government has given Rs 49 crore for construction of hostels to the university, even though no demand was made for it.The state government has left no stone unturned for the holistic development of the university in all possible manners," he said.The Chief Minister further said that every step will be taken to retain the Interstate Status of the university."No one will be allowed to make any change in it. Interests of the state are not saleable so that anyone will offer money and purchase it. Haryana government's proposal to bear the share of grants in university is totally unacceptable and unwarranted too," he said.The Chief Minister, while quoting a letter written by the Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana to the Vice Chancellors of all the universities of the state, said that the Haryana government had through communique expressed its inability to give funds to universities.He said that in this letter the Universities were asked to manage their own resources whereas on the other hand Haryana is too eager to put a share in Panjab University which indicates some nefarious designs of the state.Bhagwant Mann said, "How can any state which is not able to manage its own universities fund a university of stature of Panjab University until and unless some higher agency was not funding it in a clandestine manner? "The Chief Minister said that after assuming the charge of office he had written two letters to Union Ministers Amit Shah and Dharminder Pradhan asking them that the university is heritage of the state and any sort of change in it will not be tolerated.The Chief Minister also said that a resolution was also passed in Punjab assembly on June 30, 2022 to retain the original status of PU to avert any sort of intrusion in the senate of university."State government is not against the people of Haryana and it is also a well known fact that 35% students in university are from Haryana. Bhagwant Mann categorically said that Haryana is free to make its university anywhere but they will not be allowed any share in the Panjab University," he said.Chief Minister also slammed them for backstabbing the state and its people. He said that the then Chief Minister of state late Parkash Singh Badal wrote a letter to erstwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 26, 2008 seeking central status for Panjab University.Bhagwant Mann said that going beyond that, the Akali Dal government had issued an NOC to the Union government for converting this premier institute into a central university.The Chief Minister said, "On what grounds the Akali leaders are thumping their chest when everyone knows that they have worked overtime against the interests of the state and its people."Granting NOC for the central university was a treacherous move aimed at weakening the claim of state over the university. Bhagwant Mann said that Akali Dal has no moral right to say even a single word on the issue," he added.The Chief Minister said that these leaders and parties had always preferred their own interests by jeopardizing that of the state.He also mentioned that Congress was also dyed in the same wool as a female Congress MLA of Haryana had in August 2022 moved a resolution in state Vidhan Sabha to affiliate colleges of state with Panjab University.Bhagwant Mann said, "Both these parties were hypocrites who had always ignored the interests of the state for their selfish interests."ANI06 June 2023

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Dubais DET reaffirms commitment to raise Dubais status as sustainable global tourism destination

Dubai, June 5: As the world unites on June 5th to commemorate World Environment Day, Dubai has reiterated its pledge to advancing efforts to promoting sustainability and responsible tourism.

Dubai's DET reaffirms commitment to raise Dubai's status as sustainable global tourism destination

In the bustling metropolis of Dubai, which is home to a thriving and vibrant tourism industry, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has established itself as a prominent entity leading the charge in environmental conservation.With a resolute commitment to sustainability, the Department has spearheaded a multitude of pioneering strategic initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and forging a greener and more sustainable future for the city's tourism sector.One of the unique initiatives DET has launched to reduce single use plastic consumption is the Dubai Can. Since its launch in February 2022 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the citywide sustainability movement has achieved extraordinary success.The transformative programme empowers communities to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic bottles and embrace sustainable alternatives. To date, the collaborative efforts of Dubai Can and its partnership with Talabat have yielded extraordinary results, with a reduction of over 10 million 500ml single-use plastic water bottles.This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the resounding success of the initiative and the unwavering dedication of the local community, stakeholders and partners involved.By encouraging simple changes such as adopting the culture of using refillable water bottles and utilising public water stations, residents and visitors alike are urged to adopt a 'refill for life' mindset, as well as implement this practice in their households and offices.With 50 strategically placed public water fountains across the city, Dubai is leading the charge in championing a refill culture, resulting in a substantial reduction of millions of single-use plastic water bottles.Driven by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) is another DET initiative that is at the forefront of positioning Dubai as a leading sustainable destination.Aligning the tourism sector with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE's Net Zero 2050 strategy, DST is pioneering a transformative journey towards a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible tourism sector.Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance sector, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, said, "World Environment Day serves as a powerful catalyst for global action, and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism is proud to lead the charge in promoting sustainability and responsible tourism.The remarkable achievements of the Dubai Can initiative are a testament to our unwavering commitment to protecting the environment and shaping a greener future for Dubai's tourism industry. The initiative's recent figures display the transformative power of Dubai Can and the collective efforts of our community in embracing sustainable alternatives.Beyond Dubai Can, we are actively driving change through innovative strategies and partnerships. The Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative serves as another shining example of our unwavering dedication to fostering sustainability within the tourism sector."Dubai's commitment to sustainability extends far beyond World Environment Day, as the city gears up to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.As 2023 has been designated as the 'Year of Sustainability' in Dubai, the city is poised to showcase its dedication to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change on a global stage.COP28 will bring together world leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the globe to engage in crucial discussions and negotiations to shape the future of our planet. As Dubai assumes this pivotal role, it underscores the city's determination to lead by example and drive impactful change through sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and collaborative partnerships.With COP28 on the horizon, Dubai is not only showcasing its sustainability initiatives but also facilitating a platform for international cooperation and knowledge exchange to tackle the pressing environmental issues of our time.Central to the Dubai Sustainable Tourism strategy is the ground-breaking Dubai Carbon Calculator, an innovative system that measures and tracks the carbon footprint within Dubai's hospitality sector.Launched in 2017, Dubai Carbon Calculator empowers hotels to accurately assess their carbon emissions, enabling them to identify cost-saving opportunities and manage their energy, water and waste consumption more efficiently.DST's commitment to sustainability goes beyond carbon footprint measurement. The initiative has mandated hotels in Dubai to comply with the 19 Sustainability Requirements, encompassing sustainable management approaches, performance metrics, energy and water management plans, guest education and employee training initiatives.By embracing these requirements, hotels not only contribute to environmental conservation but also enhance their brand value, resource efficiency and overall competitiveness.Recognising that collaboration is key to achieving sustainability goals, DST aims to establish partnerships with various stakeholders, including Etihad ESCO, Emirates Environmental Group, and Emirates Green Building Council, Goumbook and Emirates Nature WWF.Through comprehensive training programmes and educational initiatives, the initiative ensures that hotels and resorts have the necessary tools and knowledge to implement sustainable practices and contribute to Dubai's sustainability goals.By fostering strong partnerships and sharing best practices, Dubai is setting an example for destinations worldwide and inspiring a collective commitment to sustainable tourism. (ANI/WAM)ANI06 June 2023

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IT Centre at Nambia University outcome of capacity building partnership between India, Namibia: Jaishankar

Windhoek [Namibia], June 6: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence for Information Technology (INCEIT) at Namibia University an outcome of the development cooperation and capacity building partnership between the two countries.

IT Centre at Nambia University outcome of capacity building partnership between India, Namibia: Jaishankar

While addressing the inauguration event, Jaishankar said, "This Centre is an outcome of the development cooperation and capacity building partnership between India and Namibia and it is being pursued in line with our shared desire to develop human resources, especially of the youth and give them the right skills in technology domain. It of course reflects the long-standing people to people friendship and linkages which I think you heard the Deputy Prime Minister remind us and today, in fact, when I called on the, His Excellency the President, he himself was witness to events in our past history for which such sentiments have, never have adequate words to describe them."In his address, he also thanked Namibia's Deputy Prime Minister for offering condolences over the train accident in Odisha.Jaishankar noted that the courses offered in the centre are vital for Namibia in building a knowledge society. "We're doing an inauguration because in a way, it is an acknowledgement of a great effort that has yielded fruits; that we have today a centre which is very much an inspiration, as Namibia embarks on its own digital journey.""The courses that the Centre is offering are truly vital for Namibia in building a knowledge society and this has to be done on the foundations of innovation and technology which will emerge from here. Let me illustrate some examples of the importance of such endeavours from my own experience, and very recent experience.He also spoke about the Cowin application which provided the technological data bone for the COVID-19 vaccination programme in India."India's Co-win Application, actually this app provided the technological data backbone for our Covid-19 vaccination programme, and it enabled the delivery of over 2.5 billion doses of vaccination without any confusion. So, when we were struggling through the COVID, one part of the challenge was obviously to produce and distribute vaccines, but the other part of the challenge which is often not spoken about, is really to organize a massive programme, which would allow its injection to be done very smoothly and this happened really because of the effectiveness of the Cowin platform," Jaishankar said.The EAM also talked about the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) which has revolutionised digital transactions in India."Similarly, our home developed Unified Payment Interface (UPI), it has actually revolutionised digital transactions in India, taking inclusion, financial inclusion to new levels, to the extent today that 40 per cent of world's real time digital payments actually take place in India, and we see this revolution, every day in our lives, that whether it is, today, house building programmes, whether its health coverage, whether it is insurance, whether its socio-economic benefits including support for farmers when they are undertaking crop programs for tap water connections, for electricity connections," he added.He noted that the unique feature of the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence for Information Technology (INCEIT) is that the centre is powered by the PARAM Super Computer. Jaishankar also stated that the Cheetah is the new symbol of the partnership between India and Namibia."Now, the unique feature of this Centre is again, other speakers have mentioned it, is that it is powered by the PARAM Super Computer, and I think you have rightly named it ARUB, and I must tell you the Cheetah today is the new symbol of our partnership. And in fact, I have in my delegation a particular senior official who has negotiated this and who's come back here to report to the President that the Cheetahs are doing well, and we looking after all Namibians, including Cheetah, very very well in India. Now, since its deployment, the Supercomputer has seen installation of numerous application softwares to ensure its optimum usage," he said.Jaishankar said that INCEIT is the latest in the strong ties of India and Africa. He said that India has established vocational training centers, IT centres, Science and Technology parks, Entrepreneurship Development Centres, and Geo-informatics Applications for Rural Development in various regions across Africa."I would also like to add that this Centre, is in fact, the latest in our strong partnership with Africa which particularly targets the Gen Next in Africa and India, in fact has established in several locations, across the continent, vocational training centers, IT centres, Science and Technology parks, Entrepreneurship Development Centres, and Geo-informatics Applications for Rural Development," Jaishankar said."And I mention this because today in our discussion in the Joint Commission which I had the honour to chair along with the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, we are looking to see how can we take our partnership forward, particularly in these knowledge-driven domains and I certainly hope that we will have many more inaugurations in the times to come," he added.Jaishankar said that India has been at the forefront to provide capacity building and training to Namibian nationals under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and vocational training centres, IT centres, Science and Technology parks, Entrepreneurship Development Centres, and Geo-informatics Applications for Rural Development under the ICCR Scholarship Schemes. He noted that about 1,500 Namibian nationals have so far received training under various programmes."While, I have described a lot of these developments and cooperation, largely in a bilateral framework, I would also like you to understand that this is really a reflection of a larger approach towards our relationship with Africa that has particularly deepened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014," he said.EAM Jaishankar recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Africa in 2018."We have seen since then intensified connects. We have seen more exchanges. We have seen projects, such as these and I can see that they have made a real difference. When Prime Minister Modi was visiting Africa in 2018 in one of the parliaments of this continent, he had actually declared that the priority of our partners is our priority," he said.Jaishankar stressed that the centre could act as a bridge between academia and industry. He said that he is confident that the Centre will contribute to Namibia positioning itself as an ICT powerhouse in Africa and beyond.In a tweet, Jaishankar stated, "Delighted to participate in inauguration of India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) in Windhoek. Thank DPM and FM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Minister of Higher Education Itah Kandjii-Murangi for joining. This Centre is a notable contribution to our partnering with Digital Africa. It is in line with Namibian priorities and will contribute to research, innovation cyber security and good governance. Confident that Namibia's youth will also use it as a platform to demonstrate their talent and creativity The PARAM Super Computer installed here, aptly named ARUB (Cheetah), is an affirmation of the time-tested India-Namibia partnership."On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the roadmap of the growing partnership between both nations covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, food security, digital, defence and arts as he concluded the first India-Namibia Joint Commission of Cooperation.ANI06 June 2023

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11 Home and Away spoilers for next week

Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.

Coming up on Home and Away, Marilyn's under attack from Stunning Organics and Justin receives a mysterious plea for help.

Elsewhere, Tane questions whether he can trust Kahu, and Mac receives devastating news about Gabe.

Here's a full run down of 11 massive moments coming up.

1. Marilyn faces Roo's wrath

Channel 5

Marilyn is still pushing on with her money-making venture despite Roo's allergic reaction to the Stunning Organics face mask.

Roo can't believe Marilyn won't even put a simple warning on the product that landed her in hospital and demands her friend shut her business down.

As the two women continue to clash, Alf is forced to intervene and recalls the Stunning Organics sun cream from the Surf Club.

John also gets involved by warning customers against using the product, much to Marilyn's horror.

2. Marilyn makes a disturbing discovery

Endemol Shine - Channel 5

Alf manages to reunite warring Roo and Marilyn, and with peace restored, the pair start investigating whether other people have experienced dangerous reactions to Stunning Organics products.

The friends' digging unearths some dark truths as they discover the unscrupulous company has a history of exploiting its workers and customers.

Appalled, Marilyn decides to terminate her contract, but Stunning Organics refuse her request, citing a one-year lock-in period.

3. Marilyn feels trapped

Endemol Shine - Channel 5

Now trapped into a 12-month contract with Stunning Organics, worried Marilyn seeks advice from her lawyer.

Unfortunately, they only clarify her dilemma and warn she is at risk of getting sued if she doesn't honour their terms.

Alf advises Marilyn to give Stunning Organics a taste of their own medicine by playing dirty. But has she underestimated just who she's dealing with?

4. Mali gives John a helping hand

Channel 5

There's excitement in the Surf Club as Mali's launch of Mantaray Boards proves a huge success. Jealous of his colleague's abilities, John decides to up his game and declares the Surf Club needs a makeover.

However, his enthusiastic pitch for a revamp falls flat when Mali refuses to work for free.

Left on his own to do the job, John realises he's severely lacking in artistic skill and taste. Mali soon takes pity on John's failing project and offers to lend a hand, free of charge.

5. Justin wrestles with his demons

Channel 5

Believing his trauma is incurable, Justin has turned his back on counselling. Leah believes he's been too hasty and questions who will be on the receiving end of Justin's protective anger next time he snaps.

While Leah fears for the future of their family, Justin arrives at his first day of community service. With Cash in charge, Justin is quickly singled out as the cop's mate and makes enemies among the bunch of petty criminals.

6. Justin receives a mystery SOS

Channel 5

Justin struggles to control his temper during the first session of his community service. A young thief pushes his buttons by trying to recruit him into stealing from their clean-up job, however Justin exerts his self-control and doesn't rise to it.

Without Justin realising, a note is slipped into his backpack through the fence of the neighbouring house he's cleaning.

Later, Justin discovers the handwritten note, seemingly from a child, begging for food and help, and questions if it's a prank.

7. Kirby feels pushed out

Channel 5

Remi is determined to get Lyrik in shape for their comeback tour, but Eden remains uncomfortable about her song for Cash being on the set list.

The band come up with a new arrangement for the love song, which leads Eden to have a change of heart and she declares she's ready to record her music on Lyrik's first album.

Meanwhile, Kirby can't help but feel she has been supplanted by Eden and starts to question her role in the band.

8. Bree is haunted by the past

Channel 5

Since reconnecting in the bedroom, Bree and Remi can't keep their hands off one another. But although Bree is chuffed to have her relationship back on track, she's not enjoying sharing her man with his bandmates.

Suffering from songwriter's block, Kirby asks Lyrik members to share their biggest secrets and pushes Bree to spill hers. Bree is affronted by the personal probe and makes it clear her life is none of their business.

With Remi about to head off on tour, Bree is triggered by the trauma of her long-distance abusive marriage to Jacob. Concerned for her wellbeing, Remi asks Cash to keep an eye on his girlfriend while he's away.

9. Kahu is hiding something

Channel 5

Eager to please his cousin Tane, Kahu agrees to undertake a TAFE course. However, it soon becomes clear the newcomer isn't being entirely honest when he calls his mum and makes out that he's working on a successful fishing trawler.

Pleading poverty, Kahu asks Tane to loan him the $1500 TAFE course fees upfront. Tane is wary of Kahu's motives given his reputation for fickleness and wonders if he's been taken for a fool.

Felicity persuades her husband to give him the benefit of the doubt, so Tane agrees to give Kahu the money.

10. Mac receives devastating news

Channel 5

Mali and Mackenzie are enjoying living together at the farmhouse. With both of their families far away from Summer Bay, the pair are finding comfort as housemates.

Mali is buzzing after the successful Mantaray Boards launch and Mac is there to cheer him on.

It's soon Mali's turn to support Mac when she receives a call to say her former love Gabe has lost his fight against cancer.

11. Xander collapses

Channel 5

Xander remains adamant he wants to turn his back on being a paramedic and makes it official by handing in his resignation.

Later, Xander pushes through the pain of his surgical stitches as he takes his first surf since the attack. Bree and Rose are worried it's too soon for him to be riding the waves, but Xander won't listen as he's happy to finally feel free.

However, Xander ends up paying the price for his premature adventure when he collapses unconscious on the beach. Will he pull through?

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.

Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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Amtrak Applies for Federal Grants to Improve Long Distance Network

WASHINGTON: Amtrak has submitted applications for approximately $716 million in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for 16 proposed projects around the country that would improve Long Distance reliability, reduce travel times and expand service.

Amtrak Applies for Federal Grants to Improve Long Distance Network

Amtrak's Long Distance routes are vital mobility and economic links for communities around the country and we're continually working to enhance them, said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia. These grant applications reiterate our commitment to improving service for all Amtrak customers, from small, rural towns to major metropolitan areas.The applications were submitted through two FRA programs funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding opportunity for projects outside the Northeast Corridor and the Corridor Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID Program).Example Long Distance projects includeMultiple Cardinal and Sunset Limited service improvementsIncrease service to operate daily - up from 3x/week currently (Corridor ID Program)Increase Cardinal train speeds and reduce travel times between Indianapolis and Dyer, Ind.Sunset Limited return to PhoenixSouthwest Chief signal modernization between Colorado and New MexicoEmpire Builder rail enhancements in MontanaI-20 Crescent service extension from Mississippi through Louisiana to TexasConstruction of new Crystal City station that would add service to Arlington, Va.In addition to these Long Distance grant applications submitted in conjunction with various partners, Amtrak also applied for several grants to improve Northeast Corridor and State Supported routes and provided letters of support for 83 projects outside the Northeast Corridor submitted by others.REACTIONSSenator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)This investment from the infrastructure law will connect Louisiana's I-20 corridor with Atlanta and Dallas. It strengthens north Louisiana cities by better integration into interstate commerce.Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)Whether it's connecting communities from Raton, Las Vegas, or Lamy or bringing thousands of Scouts every summer to the Philmont Scout Ranch, Amtrak's Southwest Chief is essential to New Mexico. Vital infrastructure investments like train signal modernization will go a long way toward ensuring the long-term viability of this important long-distance passenger rail line so it will keep running for generations to come.Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)Rail service is crucial to so many Virginiansahelping them access job opportunities and stay connected with loved ones. I'm proud of steps we've been able to take together, including passing my Long Bridge Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, that have helped pave the way for Amtrak to come to Crystal City. I'm going to keep working to finish the job and to find other opportunities to support expanded rail service across the Commonwealth.Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)Phoenix is the largest city in the country not served by Amtrak, but thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're working to fix that. This support for the Return to Phoenix Project will finally bring together Arizona communities, the railroads, and Amtrak to develop a comprehensive plan to connect Phoenix and Tucson with passenger rail and connect Phoenix to Amtrak's nationwide network.Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)As someone who's spent my entire life farming in north central Montana, I know just how critical the Empire Builder is to families and small businesses along the Hi-Line. Long distance passenger rail helps to keep Montana connected, and improvements to the Empire Builder will help to keep rural America strong as we work to improve economic opportunities across the Treasure State. I'm happy to see Amtrak prioritizing passenger rail in places like Montana, and I'll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure these critical programs are adequately funded.Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)Bringing Amtrak services to Crystal City would provide Virginians with efficient, cost effective travel throughout the country. I am excited about the possibility of moving this project forward and will continue to do everything I can to make sure Virginia's application is considered.Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX-32)As Texas continues to grow, we need more transportation options to give folks the flexibility they need to travel and connect our communities. This funding was made possible thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I proudly helped pass. I support this project because building long-distance rail along the I-20 corridor will benefit folks from Dallas to Longview and all the way to Louisiana - all while helping to grow our economy.Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN-07)This funding will help shape a Midwest that is better connected than ever before. By cutting travel time between Indianapolis and Chicago, more Hoosiers will be able to reach their destinations safely and efficiently, all while reducing congestion on roadways. Year after year, I've requested increased funds to maintain and improve services across the National Network, including the Cardinal line. I'll continue to advocate for a stronger, faster rail system to link communities across the country.Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA-02)Transit and passenger rail are key to connecting metropolitan hubs, small towns, and communities all over the country. The improvements made in Louisiana because of these grants will increase reliability, expand service, and provide overall enhancements. Full steam ahead!Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01)This infrastructure will set the groundwork towards revitalizing historic downtowns across the First District of Texas and catalyzing local economic development, while expanding opportunities in these communities. Thank you to Amtrak for their support and recognition of the need to expand much-needed transit across East Texas through the I-20 Passenger Rail Corridor project.Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04)Phoenix is the largest city in the country without passenger rail service. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided historic funding for Amtrakanow is the time to seize on this investment, creating new economic opportunities and reducing congestion and emissions on our highways.Louisiana Multimodal Commissioner Renee LapeyrolerieThe unprecedented federal investment, working in partnership with Amtrak and with other states, are the forward steps needed to expand passenger rail in our region. In addition to expanding access to job opportunities for Louisiana's workforce, passenger rail allows us to abate vehicular traffic congestion and carbon emissions.City of Kissimmee City Manager Mike SteigerwaldFor the City of Kissimmee investing in our infrastructure is a priority. Thanks to Amtrak our residents can cross states and connect across the country. Having an environmentally responsible and reliable form of transportation is something we look forward to. 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These investments along Montana's Hi-Line will not only improve Empire Builder operations (rippling out across the entire route), but also benefit freight rail and, ultimately, set us up for success in expanding the long-distance national network across the Greater Northwest Region of America.Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission Director Laura KliewerThe Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) is proud to be a co-applicant with Amtrak on a federal application to service the Midwest's state-owned locomotives, and to have Amtrak partner with us on MIPRC's CRISI grant application to further region-wide planning. The commission steadfastly supports Amtrak's daily long-distance service, which serves many urban and rural communities across the Midwest, and also provides the backbone for additional state-supported services. We applaud Amtrak for pursuing improvements to long-distance lines, as well as their plan to restore daily Cardinal service, a long-sought goal of our member states that the IIJA could make possible.Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox RossThe Southern Rail Commission is pleased to partner with Amtrak and the Louisiana and Mississippi Departments of Transportation as a part of a Federal/State Partnership application to begin the work to implement Amtrak service on the I-20 Corridor. The SRC and its partner cities on the corridor are excited about the potential of connecting our unique offerings of culture and opportunity with the rest of the country. Amtrak's historic commitment to studying this service is a significant first step in making that connection a reality.Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim MathewsFrom the proposal to bring daily service to the Sunset Limited and Cardinal to the exciting prospect of new service across the U.S. Southeast, these are vital and long-overdue investments in a connected America. Every dollar the IIJA invests in passenger rail creates a return on taxpayers' equity, delivering many multiples in annual economic benefits to the communities where these new and improved services will run. These interstate corridors connect small towns and big cities alike, and we applaud Amtrak's grant requests and their efforts to ensure that the 62 million people who live in rural Americaaa quarter of whom are veterans and another quarter who are seniorsaaren't left behind.About AmtrakFor more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com and connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.About Amtrak's Historic Infrastructure InvestmentsAmtrak is leading a new era of passenger rail, investing in modern trains, enhanced stations, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. We're enhancing the customer experience across the country, improving safety and reliability, driving economic development, reducing trip times, expanding capacity, advancing accessibility and promoting a more sustainable future.Traditionally known as a passenger rail operator, today Amtrak is also a major construction company executing the largest capital program in Amtrak's history. 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Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji, says PM Modi after President Murmu conferred with Suriname award

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Excelencia iTech Consulting Announces Expansion into Europe with New Office in Germany

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Official Helicopter Ticketing Sub-Agency in Kedarnath: Shivoham Heli Service Now Offers Kedarnath Helicopter Bookings

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US imports of Chinese goods decline to lowest levels

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New Delhi, June 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Tuesday discussed regional issues and shared priorities. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.

Rajnath Singh, German counterpart Pistorius agree to strengthen New Delhi-Berlin defence cooperation

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Bangladesh to respond to US Congressmen on letter alleging human rights abuses, update them on regular basis

Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahariar Alam said there is a significant gap in the information and they will respond to issues raised in the letter."We have received the letter. We will reach out to all these members and not only to them but also to all those who are interested in these, we will update them on a regular basis about the issues covered in the letter. There is a significant gap in the information," he said.Six US Congressmen wrote a letter to President Biden on May 17 and referred to upcoming general elections in Bangladesh."We request urgent action to stop the human rights abuses by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazad of Bangladesh, and to give the people of Bangladesh the best possible chance for free and fair parliamentary elections to be scheduled this fall."The letter said that various NGOs have documented "hundreds of human rights abuses by Sheikh Hasina's government since assuming power in January 2009".The letter referred to reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House and United Nations and alleged that these show that Hasina government has "increasingly repudiated democratic systems, perpetrated widespread abuse against its citizens..." ."The well-documented abuses by the Hasina government are not confined to her political opponents; the government also has persecuted ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh," the letter said.US Congressman Scott Perry, Bob Good, Barry Moore, Tim Burchett, Warren Davidson, and Keith Self signed the letter and all six of them belong to the Republican Party.The US Congressmen alleged that religious minorities are also suffering in Bangladesh."Since Sheikh Hasina's rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved. Looting and burning of households, destruction of temples and religious idols, murder, rape, and forced religious conversion are causing Hindus to flee Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina's government also has persecuted Bangladesh's minority Christian population - burning and looting places of worship jailing pastors, and breaking up families when a religious conversion occurs," the letter said.The US has issued a new visa policy for Bangladesh."A new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C)( "3C") of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladesh's goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections...This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security service," the US State Department had said.It said that the United States had notified the Bangladeshi government of its decision on May 3.Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Momen had said earlier this month that that the latest US visa policy to promote free and fair elections in Bangladesh will not impact the ruling party Awami League."The latest US visa policy will not have any impact on Awami League and its workers, Awami League is a great believer in people and democracy," he said.ANI06 June 2023

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Kathmandu, June 6: Indian embassy in Nepal has handed over 275 LPG gas stoves, cylinders and other accessories to underprivileged families in Tirhut Rural Municipality of Saptari district in the Himalayan country.

India hands over LPG gas stoves, cylinders to underprivileged families in Nepal

Consul General of India Nitesh Kumar and President of Nepal-India Women Friendship Society (NIFWS) and Member of House of Representatives Chanda Chaudhary handed over the cylinders on in Saptari district on June 3.A total of 3,000 sets of LPG stoves and 14.2 Kg cylinders and other accessories like regulators and pipes were gifted by the Government of India to underprivileged families of the districts of Sarlahi, Rautahat and Saptari. Approximately, 500 sets were distributed in Kaudena Municipality of Sarlahi district on April 19 this year.Vijay Yadav, Chairman of Tirhut Rural Municipality; Narendra Karki, SP of Saptari; Radha Kayasth, Vice-President of Nepal-India Women Friendship Society; local journalists and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.The families were identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) list in coordination with District Administration Office (DAO) and local level. Social welfare councils have also been roped in for the distribution process. The government of India has approved Nepalese Rupees 2,40,90,000 for this purpose.Consul General congratulated the beneficiaries and noted that the use of traditional cooking fuel is detrimental to the health of rural women and the environment. The gifting of these LPG gas stoves and cylinders reflected the continued support of India to Nepal.NIWFS President Chanda Chaudhary thanked the Indian Government for its continued developmental support to women. Distribution of these LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories will replace the use of traditional cooking fuels like firewood, coal, and cow-dung cakes, which produce heavy smoke and cause health hazards.The gifting of stoves and cylinders is one of the 75 projects being inaugurated this year in Nepal as part of "India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav". The Project is inspired by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) of the Government of India which is a flagship scheme with the objective to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels.Since 2003, India has taken up over 535 High Impact Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal in various sectors Health, Education, Drinking Water and Irrigation, Electrification, etc. and has completed 476 projects and 59 ongoing projects.Amongst these, 81 projects have been undertaken in Province-2, including 19 projects in Sarlahi; 5 projects in Rautahat and 9 projects in Saptari Districts. In addition to these, 87 ambulances to various health posts and 3 school buses have been gifted in these three districts by India.As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of this project reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal for the upliftment of its people.ANI06 June 2023

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20-year-old, Tom McKibbin wins maiden DP World Tour title

Hamburg, June 6: Tom McKibbin held his nerve in Hamburg as he claimed his first DP World Tour title with a two-stroke victory at the Porsche European Open.

20-year-old, Tom McKibbin wins maiden DP World Tour title

The Northern Irishman, just 20 years of age, produced a display of maturity beyond his years as he battled home favorites Max Kieffer and Marcel Siem for the title at Green Eagle Golf Courses as they were bidding to end a 15-year wait for the next German winner on home soil.India's lone entrant Manu Gandas had missed the halfway cut.The trio shared the lead at one stage on the back nine, but McKibbin, who made the turn three under par, recovered from dropped shots on the 11th and 13th holes with a birdie on the 15th to move clear on eight under par.Kieffer narrowly missed an eagle putt on the 18th which would have taken him to eight under, settling for a seven under par total. Siem joined him on that number with a birdie of his own on the 72nd hole, as did Frenchman Julien Guerrier who also shared second place.McKibbin, who earned his card for 2023 after graduating from the European Challenge Tour, hit his drive on the 18th just right of the fairway, but then hit a nerveless five iron into the heart of the green, two-putting for birdie, a three under round of 70 and a nine under par total, as per the official press release.He joins Holywood Golf Club Coursemate Rory McIlroy as a winner on the 2023 Race to Dubai after the four-time Major Champion's triumph at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.Tournament title sponsors Porsche donated EUR120,000 to charities supporting Ukrainian aid projects in Hamburg as part of their Birdies for Charity initiative. In keeping with the sports car manufacturer's 75th anniversary, EUR75 was donated for every birdie recorded across the four rounds.ANI06 June 2023

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South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol meets Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and the European Union agreed on Monday to step up cooperation on security amid tension over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korean nuclear threats.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit in Seoul with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, during which the leaders also pledged to work together on climate change, health and supply chains.

"South Korea and the EU are important partners that share universal values of freedom, human rights and rule of law," Yoon told a joint press conference.

Yoon has been pushing for greater security ties with Europe and other U.S. allies to address global challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine and tension over China's stance towards self-ruled Taiwan. He also wants cooperation to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. In June, he attended a NATO summit for the first time as a South Korean leader.

At Monday's talks, which mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations, Yoon and the EU leaders in a joint statement condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a grave violation of international law. They also criticised North Korea's ongoing efforts to develop its nuclear arsenal and Pyongyang's threats of the possible use of nuclear weapons against South Korea.

"Russia must stop its aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine," the statement said.

A major producer of artillery shells, Seoul has not provided lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its ties with Russia, but Yoon signalled a possible shift in his stance against arming Ukraine in an interview with Reuters last month.

At the press conference, von der Leyen thanked Yoon for South Korea's financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Yoon and the EU leaders also called for freedom of overflight and navigation in the South China Sea, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, saying they oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific.

South Korea and the EU will also reinforce cooperation on economic security, including early warning systems to detect and address potential supply chain disruptions in key industries, such as semiconductor chips.

South Korea is a staunch U.S. ally and hosts some 28,000 U.S. troops. It has also developed a crucial economic relationship with China, South Korea's largest trading partner.

Yoon faces a tricky task of balancing those two relationships, while at the same time fending off a belligerent North Korea, which is ramping up its arsenal of nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

On other global issues, a "green partnership" will be created with the EU to spur an environmentally friendly transition, the statement said, warning that a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution poses an "existential threat."

Both sides also reached an agreement to boost health cooperation, under which they will work together to identify and counter health threats, and assist other countries to prevent and respond to them.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Ed Davies and Sharon Singleton)
Youth urges nations to scale up climate action

Bonn, June 6: YOUNGO, the Official Children and Youth Constituency to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has been participating throughout the 58th Meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB58) to the UNFCCC held here till June 15 to advocate for immediate action to achieve climate justice and to ensure that the voices and concerns of youth worldwide are integrated into the outcomes of the negotiations.

Youth urges nations to scale up climate action

Over the course of the conference, which began on Monday, YOUNGO members will engage with stakeholders, take part in actions, and push for transformative and innovative policies to ensure those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change are not left behind in their fight for a sustainable and livable future.YOUNGO firmly believes that all registered participants must have equitable access to resources and visa support to engage in UNFCCC processes to ensure that those coming from most marginalised communities are fairly represented and that the voices of youth and children are meaningfully included in the negotiations.For years, young people have faced administrative visa challenges hindering their full participation. As reported by Klima delegation, at least 70 youth delegates have faced issues in their visa applications this year.They urge for greater visa support in the future ensuring the accessibility of UNFCCC processes to all children and youth. "Getting here has not been easy for many of us; and despite over three decades of SBs, young colleagues, notably from Africa, are persistently denied visas. We implore you to tackle this inaccessibility, which is within your power to resolve," said Ishraq Imadeldin Abdalla from Sudan in her delivery of the YOUNGO intervention at the Opening Plenary of SB58.The re-activated YOUNGO COI WG will prioritise building awareness of conflict of interest as an issue, scrutinizing the ongoing observer review processes by the UNFCCC Secretariat, encouraging parties to adopt their own conflict of interest politicizes for their delegations, and working across constituencies to build a broad civil society coalition on the issue.The need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is evident and as urgent as ever.YOUNGO calls upon parties to assume an efficient and solutions-oriented approach that will effectively ensure the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised communities most in need of rapid mitigation measures.YOUNGO calls for a dedicated energy track within UN climate negotiations, as an outcome of the Mitigation Work Programme, and a full phasing out of fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources.Almost eight years ago, the parties to the Paris Agreement agreed on implementing a Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).With the yearly $100 billion of climate finance hopefully delivered from this year on, there are no hurdles to agree on the goal with specific targets and indicators focusing on youth and children as a vulnerable group.The YOUNGO Adaptation Working Group has been actively lobbying on this front and the latest out of its two submissions on building a youth-focused target under the GGA with possible indicators to measure these targets has been included for consideration for the 6th GGA workshop.At COP27, major steps have been taken by parties to address loss and damage through the establishment of a dedicated finance facility.YOUNGO has been ardently lobbying for loss and damage finance through both its interventions and its actions, and calls on the parties to act with urgency and with the understanding of the magnitude of the loss and damage that exists today in the operationalization of the finance facility and in the delivery of concrete outcomes at COP28.YOUNGO will continue amplifying the voices of those communities most at risk from climate change impacts and most in need of urgent and immediate financial assistance.IANS07 June 2023

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CVoter Sanitation Survey: 60% report reduction in sexual assault

New Delhi, June 6: The availability of a functional toilet in India has led to a significant reduction in sexual assault of women.

CVoter Sanitation Survey: 60% report reduction in sexual assault

This was the opinion of a majority of respondents during an exclusive survey conducted by CVoter Foundation in late April across India.More than 60 per cent of the respondents answered in the affirmative to the question Has there been a reduced incidence of sexual assaults on females after getting a toilet in your area?While three out of every five Indian agrees, about one in every five thinks that there has been no reduction in sexual assaults on women.Before the launch of the Swach Bharat programme in 2014, young girls and females were vulnerable to molestation and rape while going out to defecate in the open during early morning or in the dark after sunset.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed this aspect while launching the mission to make India free of open defecation. This was a serious problem for females particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.The exclusive survey conducted by CVoter Foundation across India was initiated to find out success and failures of the Swach Bharat campaign. To make the survey more representative of reality on the ground, all the respondents came from the lower income background, with incomes below Rs 3000 per month.The underlying assumption is that it is the very poor who defecate the most in the open. The NHFS-5 series data for 2021 confirms this it's the two poorest states Bihar and Jharkhand reporting the highest rates of open defecation. Not surprisingly, the two states continue to suffer from high numbers of assault on women who have to go to the fields for defecation.CVoter Foundation will expand the initial scope of this survey into a larger one which will facilitate a state wise ranking on the issue.IANS07 June 2023

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Assam Education Council declares Class 12 result

Guwahati, June 6: The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) on Tuesday declared the Class 12 examination results. Students were seen celebrating after the announcement of results.

Assam Education Council declares Class 12 result

The overall pass percentage of Higher Secondary (Class 12) examination in Arts stream this year was 70.12 per cent while it was 79.57 percent in Commerce stream and 84.96 percent in Science stream, the AHSEC said.From the Arts stream, 2,61,231 students had appeared in the examination and 28,651 students have secured first division, 58,869 students secured second division and 95,660 students secured third division.Among the Arts candidates, Sankalpjit Saikia of Ramanujan Senior Secondary School of Nagaon secured first position, while Diya Mahanta of the same institution secured second position, Shreya Sarkar of Nabarup Jatiya Bidyapith Secondary School and Junior College of Nagaon secured third position.From Commerce stream, out of 20,417 students who appeared in the examination, 5,254 students have secured first division, 6,486 students secured second division and 4,505 students secured third division.Among the Commerce candidates, Varsha Bothra of KC Das Commerce College, Guwahati and Sukanya Kumar of Malaybari Senior Secondary School of Kamrup (Metro) jointly secured first position, Zilik Shill of Sankardev Senior Secondary School, Nagaon secured second position and Jahangir Alom Choudhury of Paramount Sr Secondary School of Hailakandi secured third position.From Science, out of 46,383 students, 18,868 students have secured first division, 16,455 students secured second division and 4082 students secured third division.Nikhilesh Dutta from a non institutional private school secured first position, Areejeet Roy, Biswajyoti Das, Rishab Upadhyay of Ramanujan Senior Secondary School of Nagaon jointly secured second position and Prarthana Priyam Saikia, from the same institution, secured the third position.ANI07 June 2023

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AAP suffers setback as its leader Uday Singh Chauhan joins BJP in Gujarat

Gandhinagar, June 6: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat faced a significant setback on Tuesday as its leader Uday Singh Chauhan, who had contested the elections from the Balasinor constituency in Mahisagar district, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chauhan's move to join the ruling party is seen as a blow to the AAP's prospects in the state. The formal induction took place at the party's state office, Kamalam in Gandhinagar, in the presence of CR Paatil, the state president of the BJP.

AAP suffers setback as its leader Uday Singh Chauhan joins BJP in Gujarat

Chauhan's decision to switch sides comes after several AAP councillors in Surat had also defected to the BJP, weakening the AAP's presence in the region. Welcoming Chauhan to the BJP, CR Paatil presented him with a traditional topi (cap) and a saffron-coloured scarf, symbolising his new association with the party. Supporters of Chauhan, who accompanied him, also joined the BJP, boosting the party's ranks in the area. Prominent leaders, including Gordhan Zadafia, deputy state president of the BJP, were present during the induction.Explaining his reasons for joining the BJP, Chauhan cited the development-oriented politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He emphasised that his alignment with the party's ideology predates his membership and clarified that his departure from the AAP was due to personal reasons.Chauhan pledged his dedication to working towards securing a resounding victory for the Panchmahal Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections.Chauhan had contested the 2022 assembly elections from Balasinor on an AAP ticket but faced defeat at the hands of the BJP candidate. Securing the third position, Chauhan received 39,569 votes, accounting for 28.22% of the total votes cast. In October 2022, he parted ways with the Congress and joined the AAP. However, circumstances have now led him to leave the AAP and align with the BJP. The Balasinor constituency encompasses parts of the Mahisagar and Kheda districts.IANS07 June 2023

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India, Germany hold talks to enhance bilateral defence cooperation

New Delhi, June 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius here on Tuesday, during which the two ministers reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, especially the defence industrial partnership.

India, Germany hold talks to enhance bilateral defence cooperation

Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.A Defence Ministry official said that the Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience.As per the ministry, Singh stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength like skilled workforce and mutual strengths like skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and technologies and investment from Germany.India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000, which is being strengthened through inter-governmental consultations since 2011 at the level of heads of government.Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting.This was the first visit of a German Defence Minister to India since 2015. The bilateral meeting was preceded by a tri-service guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.Pistorius will also interact with some Indian defence startups at IIT Delhi during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).The German minister arrived in India on June 5 on a four-day visit. On Wednesday, he will be travelling to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of the Western Naval Command and the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.IANS07 June 2023

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Federal Bank launches I am Adyar, Adyar is me campaign in Chennai

Chennai, June 6: The Federal Bank has launched a campaign to celebrate people and their culture by transforming an entire bank branch into a museum of local stories.

Federal Bank launches 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me' campaign in Chennai

The 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me' campaign has handpicked 40 compelling stories of individuals, which are showcased in an exclusive exhibition at the Adyar branch of Federal Bank.This art exhibition will run for two weeks between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.The campaign is a first-of-its-kind micro-marketing initiative in the banking industry, which is aimed to showcase the soul of Adyar, including its people's struggles and triumphs which make it special.The walls of the Adyar Branch have been adorned with vibrant paintings which reflect the lively spirit of the locality. The bank's team ventured into the neighborhoods of Adyar, listening to the people and collected around 100 stories and photographs of the individuals interviewed.Over 100 auto-rickshaws have been decorated with the campaign's branding.Federal Bank Chief Marketing Officer M.V.S. Murthy said the 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me' campaign is a sincere effort by the bank to celebrate life, living and memories of the people of Adyar.He said that the bank is honoured that the neighbours around its branch in Adyar have graciously shared their stories in an authentic and inimitable way."Their faces and stories trace the everyday journeys, joys and accomplishments of Adyar," he said.IANS07 June 2023

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Artificial Intelligence

UC Berkeley Startup Accelerator and Nonprofit Cal Hacks to Host Generative AI Hackathon

Berkeley SkyDeck, a startup accelerator at the University of California, Berkeley, and Cal Hacks, a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering a culture of hacking, entrepreneurship, and social good, are teaming up to create a two-day generative AI hackathon to explore the potential of large language models and build a new generation of responsible AI. Taking place June 17-18 on the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley LLM Hackathon is offering more than $250,000 in prizes, including the chance to join the Berkeley SkyDeck portfolio of startups.

Participants will have access to the invite-only OpenAI API (including GPT-4 access), plugins, and other tools, as well as workshops presented by UC Berkeley researchers, mentorship opportunities, and other resources. The top four teams, selected by a panel of judges from venture capital firms such as Sequoia, Mayfield, and Lightspeed, will receive $50,000 each from Berkeley SkyDeck to pursue their project full-time.

The competition is open to college and university students, new graduates, and young alumni (those who have received their undergraduate degree within the past 10 years). For more information, visit the hackathon website.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain throughout the day. High 66F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph.
Patients with heart disease could benefit from less extensive interventions thanks to cutting-edge technology that creates 3D computer models of blood flow through the heart's arteries, according to research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society in Manchester.

When the research team trialled the VIRTUHeartTM technology with doctors treating heart attack patients, they found that using it would have changed the treatment of more than 20 per cent of patients. In many cases, it would have led to fewer patients undergoing an invasive procedure such as having a stent fitted.

By giving doctors a clearer picture of a patient's arteries, the research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) showed that VIRTUHeartTM could help more heart patients to get the right treatment for them, free up doctors' time and better meet demand on heart care services.

The researchers are currently investigating the impact this technology could have if it was used widely in the NHS, including the effect it might have on waiting lists. They hope that it could be in use in as little as three years.

Dr Hazel Arfah Haley, Interventional Cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led the study. She said:

"By giving doctors a better understanding of what is happening inside their patient's blood vessels, we've shown that this technology has the potential to help improve how we assess and treat heart disease, ensuring patients have the treatment that best meets their needs.

"Our team are also investigating whether VIRTUHeartTM could improve treatment for people with another common heart condition called angina, helping to make sure that even more patients get the treatment they need first time around."

There are up to 250,000 coronary angiograms performed in the UK every year - a test which allows doctors to look inside a patient's coronary arteries (which supply the heart muscle with blood) and check for blockages. This is one of the first tests that patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack will undergo and helps doctors plan treatment to restore blood supply to the heart muscle.

But angiograms can be hard to interpret when an artery is only partly blocked, and this can make it challenging for treatment decisions to be made, particularly when doctors are managing patients with complex heart disease.

The innovative technology, developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, re-creates another invasive but underused test called a Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) in which doctors insert a special wire into arteries to calculate how well blood is flowing. FFR is underused for several reasons including time pressure, availability, complex anatomy, and operator's familiarity.

Using only the images from a patient's angiogram, VIRTUHeartTM works as a "virtual FFR" and creates computer models of their blood vessels, allowing doctors to calculate blood flow and find out more about the extent of blockages.

There are around 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks, mostly caused by the coronary arteries becoming narrowed and blocked by a build-up of fatty plaques. Technologies like VIRTUHeartTM show real promise to improve treatment as well as reducing unnecessary interventions, expense and complications and freeing up clinicians' time to treat other patients." Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation

The study involved 208 patients who were admitted to hospital with an NSTEMI  a type of heart attack where the affected coronary artery isn't completely blocked. All of the patients had their coronary arteries reconstructed using VIRTUHeartTM.

After the patients had been treated, the researchers revealed the virtual blood vessel models to their doctors. They found that using the technology would have changed how doctors treated 46 patients (22 per cent). Of these, 21 patients who had an invasive procedure such as a stent would have instead been treated with medication only if the technology had been used to plan their treatment.

Overall, using VIRTUHeartTM to plan treatment would have led to 42 fewer stents being fitted  a decrease of 18 per cent.

The VIRTUHeartTM system was developed by the Mathematical Modelling in Medicine research group in the department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sheffield, in partnership with the Insigneo Institute and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Have you ever wanted to convey a feeling but just couldn't find the right words? Millions of people struggle with a personality trait known as alexithymia, which means "no words for feelings." Individuals with alexithymia have difficulty identifying and describing their emotions. This trait can harm their social and intimate relationships. They are likely to miss social cues and thus fail to recognize or understand the feelings of others. Past research has suggested that a history of child maltreatment could play a role in developing adult alexithymia.

A new meta-analysis published this month in Psychological Bulletin, led by Stanford University researchers, is the first study to synthesize empirical evidence in global literature on links between adult alexithymia and all forms of child maltreatment.

"We can say now with more confidence that these phenomena  child maltreatment and alexithymia  are related to each other to a great extent," said senior co-author Anat Talmon, who supervised the study as a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University and currently serves as an assistant professor with the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The researchers examined 78 published sources that reported details of potential child maltreatment and levels of alexithymia in adulthood. In total, 36,141 participants were included in the study conducted by the Stanford Psychophysiology Laboratory with collaborators at the Hebrew University and Adam Mickiewicz University.

One in four children worldwide is maltreated, but it often goes unrecognized." Julia Ditzer, lead author of the study, graduate researcher at Stanford University, and PhD student in psychology at the Technical University of Dresden

Types of child maltreatment

Three child maltreatment types  emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and physical neglect  were particularly strong predictors of alexithymia. Emotional neglect and physical neglect commonly occur together. Two other types  sexual abuse and physical abuse  were related to alexithymia but were less strongly predictive.

Emotional neglect occurs when caregivers fail to provide for a child's emotional needs, including security and comfort. Emotional abuse happens when caregivers ridicule, belittle, or blame children, making them responsible for household or caregiver problems. Physical neglect involves caregivers who fail to provide adequate food, clothing, or a safe environment.

"When someone is sexually or physically abused, he or she often knows, to a certain extent, that something is wrong," said Talmon. Emotional neglect and emotional abuse, however, are often more difficult to identify by the victim or other family members or neighbors. Victims may be less likely to seek help. "Emotional neglect and emotional abuse are extremely devastating experiences for a child," said Talmon. "No one is fulfilling your emotional needs, but you lack the ability to identify and recognize your emotions on your own, which increases the likelihood of developing alexithymia."

About 10% of the general population have clinically relevant levels of alexithymia. For women, it's about 7%. For men, it's almost double that, about 13%. High levels of alexithymia are associated with psychological disorders, including autism, depression, and schizophrenia. According to James Gross, who is the Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology in the School of Humanities and Sciences, "It is increasingly clear that both alexithymia and child maltreatment are transdiagnostic risk factors, meaning that their presence puts a person at higher risk for developing a wide range of mental disorders. However, what is not yet clear is how these two risk factors are related to one another, and why they often co-occur."

To understand the links between alexithymia and child maltreatment, it is helpful to consider the crucial role played by caregivers. Caregivers are typically the most important model for children in their emotional development. Yet caregivers are also the most common perpetrators of child maltreatment. Maltreated children grow up with fewer examples of positive coping strategies under stress and less opportunity to express emotions appropriately.

In response to negative events, some maltreated children can behave aggressively or violently, while others shut down with a flat emotional affect or dissociation. Past research has shown that childhood dissociation  detachment from feeling  is strongly related to emotional abuse or the unavailability of caregivers.

"These children might say, 'I don't care. I'm just surviving,' " said Talmon. "They don't know what they want because they don't know what their inside voice is, and what their true will is."

But some forms of maltreatment can be subtle. Well-meaning caregivers could be chronically ill, clinically depressed, or unable to support children emotionally for other reasons. "No one living in that environment might see what's happening as maltreatment," said Talmon.

Alexithymia therapy could help

Improved therapeutic interventions for adults with alexithymia are needed, the authors note. People in treatment for depression or PTSD might score high on alexithymia, making it more difficult for them to be introspective and successful in therapy.

Therapists assess patients' difficulty in expressing and identifying emotions. Treatment for adults with alexithymia often involves helping them develop an ability to be in touch with their emotions, understand them, and explain them in an embodied way. "Before you can work on regulating your feeling, you first need to understand and recognize your feeling," said Talmon.

Family members and friends should try to understand that people with alexithymia often do not identify and express their feelings as readily as others do or understand the feelings of others. "They are not trying to be difficult," said Ditzer. "They just really struggle with this."
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire has received the bronze Award of Hope from UW Organ and Tissue Donation for its efforts in 2022 to provide care to patients undergoing organ donation.

We are committed to supporting patients and families decisions to give the gift of life through organ donation, said Anne Pretasky, who is a registered nurse and manager of the critical care unit at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and member of the hospitals organ donation committee. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, but there are more than 100,000 people in the United States waiting for a lifesaving transplant. It is vital we provide exceptional care to these patients to maximize their gift and their legacy.

In 2022 HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital helped families choose to donate organs, tissues and eyes, resulting in more than 600 lives improved or saved.

Gifts of tissue, which include bone, skin, heart valves, connective tissue and veins, are used in more than 1 million surgeries routinely performed each year in the United States.

Pretasky said its important to tell loved ones if you want to be a potential organ and tissue donor and include that information in advance directives paperwork.

She also recommends community members register online to be a donor through Donate Life Wisconsin, or register at the Department of Motor Vehicles when completing a drivers license or state ID application.
Tinnitus, the ringing, buzzing or hissing sound of silence, varies from slightly annoying in some to utterly debilitating in others. Up to 15% of adults in the United States have tinnitus, where nearly 40% of sufferers have the condition chronically and actively seek relief.

A recent study from researchers at the University of Michigan's Kresge Hearing Research Institute suggests relief may be possible.

Susan Shore, Ph.D., Professor Emerita in Michigan Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology and U-M's Departments of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, led research on how the brain processes bi-sensory information, and how these processes can be harnessed for personalized stimulation to treat tinnitus.

Her team's findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

The study, a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, recruited 99 individuals with somatic tinnitus, a form of the condition in which movements such as clenching the jaw, or applying pressure to the forehead, result in a noticeable change in pitch or loudness of experienced sounds. Nearly 70% of tinnitus sufferers have the somatic form.

According to Shore, candidates with bothersome, somatic tinnitus, as well as normal-to-moderate hearing loss, were eligible to participate.

After enrollment, participants received a portable device developed and manufactured by in2being, LLC, for in-home use. The devices were programmed to present each participant's personal tinnitus spectrum, which was combined with electrical stimulation to form a bi-sensory stimulus, while maintaining participant and study team blinding." Susan Shore, Ph.D., Professor Emerita in Michigan Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology and U-M's Departments of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering

Study participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group received bi-sensory, or active, treatment first, while the second received sound-alone, or control, treatment.

For the first six weeks, participants were instructed to use their devices for 30 minutes each day. The next six weeks gave participants a break from daily use, followed by six more weeks of the treatment not received in the beginning of the study.

Shore notes that every week, participants completed the Tinnitus Functional Index, or TFI, and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, or THI, which are questionnaires that measure the impact tinnitus has on individuals' lives. Participants also had their tinnitus loudness assessed during this time.

The team found that when participants received the bi-sensory treatment, they consistently reported improved quality of life, lower handicap scores and significant reductions in tinnitus loudness. However, these effects were not seen when receiving sound-only stimulation.

Further, more than 60% of participants reported significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms after the six weeks of active treatment, but not control treatment. This is consistent with an earlier study by Shore's team, which showed that the longer participants received active treatment, the greater the reduction in their tinnitus symptoms.

"This study paves the way for the use of personalized, bi-sensory stimulation as an effective treatment for tinnitus, providing hope for millions of tinnitus sufferers," said Shore.

Auricle Inc., the exclusive licensee of the patents related to the bi-sensory stimulation, was launched with the help of Innovation Partnerships, the central hub of research commercialization activity at the University of Michigan. Auricle will work towards gaining regulatory clearance and then commercializing Shore's novel bi-sensory tinnitus treatment.
Defibrillators are being used in just one in ten cardiac arrests where the lifesaving devices are available, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester.

The research drew upon data from the East of England Ambulance Service and The Circuit, the national defibrillator network developed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The Circuit maps the location of defibrillators across the whole of the UK, so that emergency services can direct bystanders to the nearest defibrillator in the event of a cardiac arrest.

They then analyzed the density of defibrillators across geographical areas, the number of cardiac arrests, as well as the frequency that defibrillators were used from April to September 2022.

The results found that 1649 cardiac arrests occurred in the East of England in the six-month period. Public access defibrillators were available (within 500m of the cardiac arrest) in 1302 (79 per cent) cases, but only used in 132 (10 per cent) of cases.

The researchers say these findings underline the need for better education and awareness around defibrillators, so that they are used more frequently.

The study, from researchers at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC), part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT), and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) also found that there are fewer defibrillators in more deprived areas, compared to the most affluent.

The researchers overlayed data on defibrillator density and cardiac arrests with data from the 2019 index of multiple deprivation. This revealed that Luton, the most deprived area in the East of England had the lowest rates of defibrillators in the region, with 16 defibrillators per 100,000 people, compared to the mean for the East of England of 72 per 100,000 people.

There are more than 30,000 deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, and fewer than one in ten people currently survive. Prompt CPR and defibrillation can more than double someone's chances of survival.

Dr Thomas Keeble, Consultant Cardiologist at Essex CTC which is part of MSEFT, and Associate Professor at Anglia Ruskin University said:

"Our study highlights strikingly low numbers of publicly available defibrillators being used in the event of a cardiac arrest in the east of England area, which suggests that much more needs to be done to promote awareness and education around CPR and defibrillation. It is also concerning to see far fewer defibrillators in the most deprived areas  such a finding should prompt further discussion about more consistent and effective placement of defibrillators in communities."

Prompt CPR and defibrillation from bystanders can be the difference between life and death, so it is concerning to see low rates of defib use. There are many known reasons for the low use of defibrillators, including not having enough bystanders available at the scene of an emergency, difficulty in accessing a defibrillator at the time when it is needed, or fear of it using it. More needs to be done to encourage people to use these life-saving devices when they are available. We also know there are thousands of unregistered defibrillators which means their location is not known to the ambulance services. We are calling upon everybody who owns or looks after defib to register it on The Circuit today  this could help save someone's life." Judy O'Sullivan, Director of Innovation in Health Programmes at the British Heart Foundation

Dr Simon Walsh, Medical Director at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust said:

"The East of England Ambulance Service Trust has been working with The Circuit to maximize the number of maintained Public Access Defibrillators on our Computer Aided Despatch system, and since September 2022 we have added a further 1,534 PADs to the database.

"We have also expanded our community first responder and staff responder schemes with the aim of increasing the likelihood that someone will be able to locate the nearest PAD to a patient in cardiac arrest. We continue to work closely with the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre and other partner organizations in the East of England to improve outcomes of cardiac arrests in our communities."

The study was funded by the East of England Cardiac Network.
Tirzepatide, a drug approved for diabetes and on the fast track for approval as a weight loss therapy, works through a unique ability to activate two different mechanisms the body uses to control insulin secretion and energy balance, Duke Health researchers report.

The finding, reported June 5 in the journal Nature Metabolism, is the first study to use cells from human donors to demonstrate how tirzepatide stimulates insulin secretion, an important action utilized by this drug to lower blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

"Understanding the potential of drugs that target more than one mechanism opens a whole new world of discovery for better weight-loss and diabetes drugs," said senior author Jonathan Campbell, Ph.D., associate professor in the departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Medicine, and member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute.

Tirzepatide is marketed under the brand name Mounjaro. It and similar therapies are known as receptor agonists, meaning they bind to a certain receptor in cells, triggering a specific action for that cell to carry out. There is a long history of diabetes therapies that target the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor.

For people with type 2 diabetes, these GLP-1-based drugs restore insulin production and lower blood glucose. The therapies also make people who take the medication feel full longer and reduce appetite, which leads to people dropping weight over time. This has made GLP-1 based therapies very attractive for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Tirzepatide is unique in this class of drugs, in that it targets not only the GLP-1 receptor, but also an additional receptor for the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). In theory, this additional receptor gives the drug a broader range of activity inside the body.

However, the GIP receptor has historically been overlooked as a target for metabolic disease, with some people even proposing to block this receptor rather than activate it. This history fed speculation from some in the field that the activity of tirzepatide at the GIP receptor was not important, inferring that tirzepatide worked as a "super" GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Campbell and colleagues originally expected to find that most of the activity of tirzepatide was at the GLP-1 receptor. But in experiments using donated cadaver islet cells, they found that it was the GIP receptor that was indispensable for the insulin secretion that occurred when the islets were stimulated with tirzepatide.

They also found that tirzepatide stimulated the production of glucagon, another islet hormone. GIP stimulates glucagon secretion, while GLP-1 inhibits it. The finding that tirzepatide stimulates glucagon secretion is more evidence that this drug has important activity at the GIP receptor.

Because our work shows that tirzepatide is a true multi-receptor agonist, and not just a super-GLP-1 receptor agonist, it validates the potential of using single molecules with activity at more than one receptor as a viable approach to treat metabolic disease. Extending these studies to the cell types that control appetite and body weight should be an important and exciting future direction." Jonathan Campbell, Associate Professor, Medicine and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine

In addition to Campbell, study authors include Kimberley El, Jonathan D. Douros, Francis S. Willard, Aaron Novikoff, Ashot Sargsyan, Diego Perez-Tilve, David B. Wainscott, Bin Yang, Alex Chen, Donald Wothe, Callum Coupland, Mattias Tschop, Brian Finan, David A. D'Alessio, Kyle W. Sloop, and Timo D Muller.

The study received funding support from the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K01 DK132461, R01 DK123075, DK125353, DK046492), the European Research Council (no.695054), the German Research Foundation (DFG TRR296, TRR152, SFB1123 and GRK 2816/1), the German Center for Diabetes Research, the European Research Council (no.101044445), the Helmsley Charitable Trust Foundation, and investigator-initiated grants from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Proteostasis.

Tirzepatide is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company. The Campbell group receives funding for basic science from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Additional disclosures are acknowledged in the study.
According to the federal government's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, nearly 3 million people worldwide -; with almost a third in the United States -; are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disabling neurological disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks nerves feeding information to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Although rarely fatal, MS can lead to long-term disabilities, and impair movement, muscle control, vision and cognition.

There currently is no cure for MS. However, findings from a new Johns Hopkins Medicine study provide strong support for a promising advance toward that goal: the ability to reverse -; and in many cases, completely alleviate -; MS-like symptoms in mice.

The study appears today in the journal Science Advances.

For an unknown reason in people with MS, some of the body's first line of defense against foreign invaders -; immune cells known as CD4+ T cells -; fail to recognize that myelin (the fatty material surrounding and protecting nerve cells) is a normal part of the human system. If these wayward, or effector T cells, become dominant, they may provoke inflammation that damages or destroys the myelin sheath, which in turn, can severely disrupt or curtail transmission of nerve impulses from all parts of the body to the brain.

"We developed a method for 'tipping the balance' of the T cells reaching the central nervous system from effectors to regulatory T cells, or T regs, that modulate the immune system and have been shown to prevent autoimmune reactions," says study co-senior author Giorgio Raimondi, Ph.D., M.Sc., associate director of the Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Research Laboratory and assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Using this therapy on mice bred to exhibit symptoms modeling those seen in humans with MS, we found we could enhance the growth of T regs while simultaneously reducing the number of effectors, resulting in reversal of the MS-like symptoms in 100% of the mice, and even more exciting, achieving a full recovery in 38% -; in other words, more than a third were cured of their disease." Giorgio Raimondi, Assistant Professor, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

The researchers achieved these intriguing results by using biodegradable polymeric microparticles -; tiny bioengineered polymer spheres -; to deliver three key therapeutic agents: (1) a fusion of two proteins: interleukin-2 (IL-2), which stimulates T cell production and growth, and an antibody that blocks certain binding sites on IL-2 to optimize the ones relevant to T reg expansion; (2) a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule with a myelin peptide (protein fragment) "presented" on its surface to immunologically select myelin-specific (and therefore, protective of the nerve cell covering) T regs rather than other T cell types; and (3) rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug that helps lower the number of effector T cells.

"We inject the loaded microparticles near lymphatic tissues to stimulate the production and growth of T regs and facilitate their travel to the central nervous system via the lymphatic system," says study co-senior and corresponding author Jordan Green, Ph.D., director of the Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Laboratory and professor of biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Our study findings showed that in all of our mice, the T regs stopped the autoimmune activity of the effectors against myelin, prevented further damage to the nerves and gave them the time needed to recover."

Furthermore, Raimondi says, the MS-like mouse disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, was completely cured in more than a third (38%) of the animals.

Along with further studies to confirm the effectiveness of their potential MS therapy, Raimondi, Green and their colleagues plan to try their microparticle therapy-delivery system on other autoimmune diseases.

"First in line will be a mouse version of type 1 diabetes," says study co-senior author Jamie Spangler, Ph.D., director of the Spangler Lab at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and assistant professor of biomedical engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering at The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering. "To engage and grow T regs specific for the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas damaged or threatened by that disease's autoimmune activity, we'll exchange the myelin peptide we used in the MHC-peptide portion of the MS therapy with one from those cells."

"The belief is that by simply changing the presented peptide each time, we can target our therapy to tackle a wide variety of autoimmune diseases," adds Green. "We hope to have a cache of potential therapies ready to go before moving forward to safety and efficacy studies in mice, followed hopefully by human trials."

Along with Raimondi, Green and Spangler, the members of the study team from Johns Hopkins Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins are study lead author Kelly Rhodes, Marcos Iglesias, Dongwoo Lee, Shirley Lowmaster, Sarah Neshat, Kaitlyn Storm, Stephany Tzeng and Derek VanDyke.

The study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants R21AI160738, R01EB029455 and P41EB028239; JDRF grant 1-INO-2020-923-A-N; and Department of Defense grants W81XWH-18-1-0735 and MS200251.

The Johns Hopkins University has filed patents related to technologies discussed in the paper for Raimondi, Green, Iglesias, Rhodes, Spangler, Tzeng and VanDyke. The study authors report no other competing interests.
Ford Motor Co said on Tuesday it is expanding and issuing a new recall for 125,000 sport utility vehicles and trucks because engine failures may cause a fire.

The recall covers various Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs and Maverick compact pickup trucks from the 2020-2023 model years with 2.5L hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford said isolated engine manufacturing issues can cause the engine to fail prematurely and in that event engine oil or fuel vapor may be released, increasing the risk of fire and injury.

Also Read: Nissan Magnite Crosses the 1 Lakh Production Milestone, Details Inside

Ford initially recalled 100,000 Escape, Corsair and Maverick in the United States in July 2022 after identifying 23 reports globally of a fire or smoke after a suspected block or oil pan breach.

Ford said on Tuesday it had reports of at least three vehicles that suffered fires after getting the 2022 recall fix.

Ford and NHTSA advised owners to park and shut off the engine if they hear unexpected engine noises, notice a reduction in vehicle power, or see smoke.

Ford said the new recall fix is under development.

The No. 2 U.S. automaker last week said it was recalling 142,000 Lincoln MKC SUVs in the United States due to fire risks and advised owners to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.

Ford said last week that dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit.
The all-new Honda Elevate SUV has finally made its global debut in New Delhi, India. It will be pitted against the likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq and MG Astor in the Indian market. The company claims that Honda Elevate is an urban SUV for new-gen buyers who intend to make a statement. India would be the first market globally to get the Elevate SUV.

Honda has said that it will launch 5 SUV models by 2030 in India. Furthermore, the all-electric version of the Elevate SUV could be introduced in the next few years in the Indian market.

Honda Elevate Design

It flaunts LED headlights and Rear LED tail lamp cluster. It has a ground clearance of 220 mm.

Honda Elevate Features

Honda Elevate is equipped with Honda Sensing ADAS tech which comprises of several advanced features such as Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System, Auto High Beam, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lead Car Departure Notification.

Some of the notable safety features in the SUV include Lane Watch, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Rear Parking Sensor and Emergency Stop Signal. The comfort features on-board are 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless smartphone integration, 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, Automatic Cliamte control, Premium Sound System and Rear View Camera. In addition, Honda Connect connected car tech is also on offer with features like Remote Engine Start and Geo Fencing.

Honda Elevate Engine Specs

It is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine which develops top power of 119 bhp at 6600 rpm and peak torque of 145 Nm at 4300 rpm. This engine will be RDE compliant and E20 fuel ready. The gearbox choices on offer will be a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic unit.

Honda Elevate Price in India

Honda Elevate price announcement will take place during the festive season this year as the bookings start in July 2023.

Honda Elevate Variants in India

Honda Elevate variant details would be disclosed in the coming few months.
Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. (NMIPL) has announced the production rollout of its 1,00,000th Magnite from its Alliance plant (RNAIPL) in Chennai, which is an impressive accomplishment. Since its launch in December 2020, the Nissan Magnite, a symbol of the companys Make in India, Make for the World" production philosophy, has enjoyed enormous popularity among customers.

The Nissan Magnite, designed in Japan and manufactured in India, has garnered immense popularity since its launch in December 2020, emerging as the preferred choice for many customers. It is a global product that is currently exported to 15 markets worldwide, with recent launches in Seychelles, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Brunei. Furthermore, Nissan Motor India has exported over a million vehicles from its Chennai plant to 108 destinations, spanning New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia, SAARC, Sub Sahara, and African regions.

The Chennai Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs recently recognised Nissan Motor Indias remarkable contributions to exports as well as the companys dedication to Make in India, Make for the World." Nissans confidence in Indias potential as a significant automotive manufacturing hub is strengthened by this acknowledgment.

Also Read: Nissan Magnite GEZA Special Edition Launched in India, Priced at Rs 7.39 Lakh

Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, expressed his enthusiasm about this milestone, stating, The Big, Bold, Beautiful Nissan Magnite has been a game-changer in the Indian market. The production of the 100,000th Magnite is testimony to Nissans brand promise of providing customers with products that offer exceptional value, safety, and strong customer service, making it a global sensation. At Nissan, we are not just building carswe are building the future of mobility through product innovation, technological distinction, and customer satisfaction."

Since its launch, the Nissan Magnite has won a number of important awards, most recently being named the 2023 ICONIC Brand of the Year" at the Dainik Jagran INext ICONIC Awards. Among other major honours, it was named Compact SUV of the Year 2021" by Top Gear, won the Game Changer" award from Motor Octane, and was named Value for Money" by Autocar India.

Keerthi Prakash, MD, Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, The Nissan Magnites 100,000 production rollout is a proud moment for the Nissan Family and a significant milestone in Nissans commitment to Make in India, Make for the World. The Chennai plant, in addition to catering to the domestic market, exports vehicles to 108 destinations in collaboration with our supply chain partners. We produce high-quality products with best-in-class safety features that exceed customer expectations."

Furthermore, Nissan has taken action to ensure a smooth transition for its customers to BS6 Stage 2 standards. The automaker unveiled the Nissan Magnite BS6 Stage 2 RDE-compliant version earlier this year, which boasts a GNCAP 4.0 safety rating and new best-in-class safety features as standard across all models.

To celebrate this production milestone, Nissan Motor India recently launched the Magnite Geza Special Edition, the first in a series of planned product actions for the Magnite this year. Inspired by Japanese theatre and its expressive musical themes, the Magnite Geza Special Edition offers a range of feature enhancements and an advanced infotainment system, providing an enhanced sensory experience to customers.

With the production of the 100,000th Magnite, Nissan Motor India has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering top-notch products and services while positioning India as a key player in the global automotive manufacturing landscape.
In a major development, Virgin Atlantic has announced the beginning of a daily direct service between Bengaluru and London (Heathrow) starting from March 31, 2024. With this, the airline now offers a fourth daily route to India that accommodates both passenger and cargo needs.

With this expansion, Virgin Atlantic aims to enhance connections between Bengaluru and the United Kingdom while providing seamless connectivity and a consistent long-haul experience for customers traveling via London Heathrow to destinations across North America.

Virgin Atlantic plans to operate its Bengaluru flight on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This particular aircraft is known for its exceptional passenger comfort and cutting-edge technology. Having said that, this state-of-the-art aircraft features a range of seating options including 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium, and 192 Economy Delight, Classic, and Light seats. In addition to this, all the passengers traveling in the Upper Class can relax and socialize during their journey by accessing the airlines exclusive social space.

We continue to expand our India offering by increasing connectivity for customers not only between the city and the UK but to key tech hubs in the US, including Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles," stated Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic. This expansion will further facilitate travel to prominent technology destinations for passengers from Bengaluru.

Also Read: Odisha Govt Launches Viability Gap Funding Scheme, High Hopes from Tourism Industry

With 20 tonnes of cargo space available on each aircraft, Virgin Atlantics new BengaluruLondon route will offer cargo services in addition to passenger services. This gift will promote commerce and improve the movement of products between the two cities.

This new daily direct route between Bengaluru and London underscores Virgin Atlantics dedication to growing its international network and giving customers better travel experiences. Undoubtedly, this initiative will aid in the expansion of trade, business, and tourism between the two thriving towns.
Bank Locker Agreement Update: Customers with lockers in different banks will have to sign the revised locker agreements by June 30. RBI had extended the deadline for banks to finish the renewal procedure in stages by December 31, 2023. On June 30, 2023, the first instalment of the renewal of 50% of the contracts is due.

Updating its customers, State Bank of India on Monday informed that, We request our esteemed customers to contact their locker holding branch and execute the revised/supplementary locker agreement as applicable," SBI said in a tweet on Monday.

Also Read: Rs 2,000 Note Exchange In SBI, PNB Or HDFC; Check Rules Of Your Bank Here

Bank has issued a revised/supplementary locker agreement incorporating the customers rights. Customers availing locker facilities from SBI are requested to contact their locker holding branch and execute the revised/supplementary locker agreement as applicable," the statement added.

We request our esteemed customers to contact their locker holding branch and execute the revised/supplementary locker agreement as applicable.#SBI pic.twitter.com/e7Gk5b3Unu State Bank of India (@TheOfficialSBI) June 5, 2023

The RBI in January extended the deadline till December-end for banks to enter into revised agreements with safe deposit locker holders as a large number of customers are yet to do so.

In August 2021, RBI had asked banks to enter into revised agreements with the existing locker holders by January 1, 2023, in view of various developments in the area of banking and technology, nature of consumer grievances and also the feedback received.

However, it has come to the notice of RBI that a large number of customers are yet to sign the revised agreement. In many cases, the banks are yet to inform the customers about the need to do so before the stipulated date (January 1, 2023)," the central bank had said in a statement while extending the deadline for banks to complete the process of renewal of agreements for the existing safe deposit lockers in a phased manner by December 31, 2023.

The RBI found that not only were customers facing difficulty in renewing their contracts, but many banks were yet to inform customers about the need for the renewal of locker agreements.

The RBI has set the following deadlines for the renewal of bank locker agreements:

April 30, 2023: Banks should notify all their customers about the revised requirements.

June 30, 2023: Banks should ensure that at least 50% of their customers have renewed their agreements.

September 30, 2023: Banks should ensure that at least 75% of their customers have renewed their agreements.

Banks also have to facilitate execution of the fresh/supplementary stamped agreements with their customers by taking measures such as arranging stamp papers, electronic execution of agreement, e-stamping, and providing a copy of the executed agreement to the customer.

The RBI also said in cases where operations in lockers have been frozen for non-execution of agreement by January 1, 2023, the same shall be unfrozen with immediate effect".

The August 2021 guidelines pertain to customer due diligence, model locker agreement, locker rent, security of strong rooms, and attachment and recovery of contents in a locker and the articles by any law enforcement authority, among others.

The RBI had also said there is a need for revision in the Model Agreement drafted by the Indian Banks Association (IBA) to fully comply with the revised instructions.
The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) announced the Assam HS Result 2023 today, June 6. At the official websites ebaonline.org and resultsassam.nic.in, students who took the Class 12 Arts, Science, Commerce, and Vocational Stream Board Exams may now check their results.

The Assam board also released the number of students who passed the examination, the overall passing percentage, and the HS topper list for 2023. According to the list of HS exam toppers, Sankalpajit Saikia took first place in the arts stream with 490 marks, while Nikhilesh Dutta placed first in the science stream with 484 marks.

Varsha Bothra and Sukanya Kumar tied for first place in the commerce stream with 472 marks in the Assam Class 12 examinations 2023.

Here is a list of the top scorers in each stream for the 2023 Assam High School Examinations:

Assam HS Arts Stream topper list 2023

Rank 1: Sankalpajit Saikia  490 Marks

Rank 2: Diya Maranta 488 Marks

Rank 3:Shreya Sarkar  487 Marks

Rank 4: Suklenmung Chetia  486 Marks

Rank 5: Sekh Sania Tasnim Rohman  482 Marks

Assam HS Commerce Stream topper list 2023

Rank 1: Varsha Bothra, Sukanya Kumar  472 Marks

Rank 2: Zilik Shill  471 Marks

Rank 3: Jahangir Alom Choudhury  468 Marks

Rank 4: Surya Jain  467 Marks

Rank 5: Kesika Jain  466 Marks

Assam HS Science Stream topper list 2023

Rank 1: Nikhilesh Dutta  484 Marks

Rank 2: Areejeet Roy, Biswajyoti Das, Rishab Upadhyay  482 Marks

Rank 3: Prarthana Priyam Saikia  479 Marks

Rank 4: Satyajit Kaman  478 Marks

Rank 5: Gorangajit Gogoi  474 Marks

The Assam HS 2023 examinations were held for roughly 3,42,689 students from February 20 to March 20. This year, the pass rate for the science stream was 84.96 per cent. The arts stream has a pass percentage of 70.12 per cent, while the commerce stream has a pass percentage of 79.57 per cent. In the vocational stream, the pass rate is 85.91 per cent. The total pass rate for boys is 66.94 per cent, while the pass rate for girls is 72.92 per cent, showing that girls have fared better overall.

Students who wish to have their answer scripts reviewed once must submit an application on the AHSEC website within two days of the results being announced. Students will be entitled to get copies of their answer papers through this method. They must apply for this after ten days after the results are declared on ahsec.assam.gov.in.
The West is Rediscovering India Published: 02 June 2023 by Mike Buetow by Mike Buetow

The subcontinent explodes with new EMS work, prompting a spate of IPOs.

Putting aside the obvious supply chain disruptions, the two big stories out of the EMS industry in 2022 were the emergence of India, led in particular by Apple's pivoting from China, and the number of IPOs.

While the Indian government is aggressively recruiting foreign electronics investment, there's no question India's appearance as a viable competitor to  dare we say it?  China is being driven by Apple. The world's most valuable company tripled its production to more than $7 billion of iPhones in what is now the world's most populous country during the past fiscal year,1 mostly at the expense of China. Some reports hold Apple will raise India's share of its production to 25% in two years.

One of the winners was Pegatron, which beat out Foxconn for the India orders, and is reportedly investing $150 million in a second iPhone manufacturing facility in Chennai.2 Luxshare, called little Foxconn by some, has also barged in, buying two of Wistron's plans in India, and projecting unit sales to more than double to nearly 50 million units this year.

Not to be outdone, Foxconn will invest a reported $700 million on a plant in southern India to make telecom components and possibly iPhones.3

The EMS operations of Salcomp, the Finnish maker of mobile chargers, currently are just under $500 million in India alone, and the company expects to surpass $2 billion in the country by 2025.4 It plans to double its workforce there to 25,000 in that time.

Contrarily, Wistron is bailing on India, with plans to sell its remaining plants to domestic giant Tata Group.5 Tata is India's largest company, with revenues of $128 billion last year. Drawing a range of end-markets  aerospace, industrials, finance, IT, and telecom, among them  Tata is perhaps best known outside India for its auto unit, which brought in $44 billion in revenue in 2022. While its market cap is roughly one-tenth that of Apple, it appears to be taking advantage of Wistron's inability to generate profits from the iPhone business, which, coupled with well-publicized worker riots, pushed the Taiwanese ODM back to less challenging locales.

Not everyone is focusing on smartphones, or even going it alone. Reliance Industries, an Indian conglomerate, plans to invest 16.7 billion rupees ($221 million) to form a joint venture with Sanmina.6 The new entity would make hardware for 5G communications, cloud infrastructure, healthcare systems, clean technology, and defense and aerospace, Reliance said.

Another ODM that is aggressively expanding is VVDN Technologies. The privately held company was founded by ex-Silicon Valley engineers in 2007, and now claims to be India's largest ODM.7 In February it announced plans to invest $100 million over the next five years in a new 100-acre factory in Tamil Nadu. That plant will add PCB fabrication capability, rounding out the firm's vertical integration strategy.

Besides India, perhaps no other country has benefitted from the China migration more than Mexico. Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, Kimball, and NeoTech are among those adding capacity south of the US border.

Other Southeast Asian nations are also reaping the spoils. Foxconn (again), Pegatron (again), Luxshare, Key Tronic, Spartronics and others either added or plan to add capacity in Vietnam. GPV's largest plant is in Thailand, and it plans to expand the production area by some 75,000 sq. ft. in 2023, bringing it to 237,000 sq. ft. Not to be outdone, Plexus just opened a 400,000 sq. ft. site in Bangkok. And Fabrinet, which has the largest footprint of any EMS in Thailand, opened a 1 million sq. ft. building on its Chonburi campus.

Long an electronics power in its own right, Malaysia has set its sights on capturing a 15% market share of the global semiconductor and electronics sector by 2030, according to government officials.8 Eolane is launching a new subsidiary in Penang.

Some perspective on how this may play out, however. As of the end of 2021, Thailand had fewer electronics enterprises than the Silicon Valley. Malaysia has a population of about 33 million. Thailand's is twice that, and Vietnam's is about 100 million. Based on that, plus its longstanding warm ties with the US, Vietnam is better positioned than most other Southeast Asian countries to attract Western electronics companies. And India is poised to trump them all.

If we look at the countries represented on the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50, it's plain to see how the landscape is shifting. Europe and the US have fewer entries than ever (TABLE 1), even with Creation Technologies' relocation from Canada. Meanwhile, India and China continue to emerge.

Table 1. Top 50 Entrants by Nation

Defining the Data

Before we go further, some explanations are in order. The industry classifies companies by size, called tiers. Definitions vary. Investment bank Lincoln International, for example, calls EMS companies with revenues greater than $3 billion Tier 1, $300 million to $3 billion is Tier II, and below $300 million is Tier III. We feel revenue is only one measure of classification. A private company with a single site and specializations in prototypes and small runs has little in common with a publicly traded firm with operations in multiple countries or regions  which the all-encompassing Tier III definition could entail. As such, we add a Tier IV, which covers entities up to $50 million.

Next, for every EMS company in the world, there are almost as many business models. Standalone; vertical; NPI; volume; design; regional; multinational; plastics; sheet metal; components; subsidiary to an OEM; parent to an OEM: You could almost say, if you've met one EMS company, you've met one EMS company. One look at the Top 50 list (TABLE 2) and the variations become apparent.

Table 2. The CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50 EMS Companies, 2022

Some lists attempt to split the baby by differentiating between pure-play EMS companies (electronics assembly and tightly related services) and those that have a wider variety of offerings (such as manufacturers that build the entirety of white goods for name brands). Where the effort falls down, of course, is that while not every list includes, say Taiwanese mega-ODMs Compal or Quanta, no one dares omit Foxconn. Yet Foxconn's side businesses, such as FIH Mobile (a $1 billion+ cellphone subsidiary), Foxconn Interconnect Technology (connectors) and Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. (networking equipment ODM), are themselves larger than most other EMS companies, and are publicly traded besides. We don't attempt such maneuverings, if only because they obfuscate the true picture. The would-be no. 51 company on our list won't like it, but Compal performs more contract electronics assembly in a day than 96% of the world's EMS companies do in a year, and it deserves recognition.

Same goes for New Kinpo Group. The 46% owner of Cal-Comp (Thailand), Kinpo has vast other holdings including AcBel Polytech, Qbit Semiconductor and XYZprinting. It also has EMS operations separate of Cal-Comp (Thailand). We split the two for the purposes of this list. Combined, Kinpo would have revenues of $9.36 billion, including its branded (non-EMS) companies.

For years we have included the major fabricators that also offer EMS on our list. Our argument in favor of inclusion boils down to this: If Sanmina, which derives most of its revenue from EMS work but is also a significant bare board fabricator is eligible, then Zhen Ding, DSBJ (MFlex) and Nippon Mektron, three of the world's largest flex circuit makers which also happen to have hundreds of SMT lines, should be included as well.

The trick, then, is to determine a formula for reporting the EMS side of their respective businesses. For years, we calculated by estimating that the assembly portion of a populated flex circuit was approximately 40% of the entire unit. (This is less, of course, than the value of a typical rigid board assembly, wherein the bare board cost might be 4% of the total unit cost.)

However, according to Dr. Hayao Nakahara of N.T. Information, the world's foremost market researcher for PCBs, there's no one-size-fits-all equation. For a camera module, for instance, the unpopulated flex circuit value might be 15% of the total unit cost. But for a cellphone board, perhaps 40% would be attributable to the flex circuit, 40% to components, and 20% to labor and equipment amortization. Thus, knowing the product mix is important to understanding the "true" EMS portion of a flex circuit manufacturer, and even they might not know for certain.

That said, we do our best to exclude non-ODM/EMS revenue from the data. Luxshare, for instance, generates about 15% of its sales from connectors, so we deduct that much from its revenue on the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50. Likewise, we cut $575 million from Flex to account for its Nextracker (solar products) and Sheldahl (flex circuits and materials) subsidiaries. Goertek, a major Chinese ODM of smart electronics wearables and home devices, generates about 18% of its sales from components. Dixon Technologies shows EMS only, not white goods, LEDs, etc. BYD includes just the electronics unit, not the auto group. DSBJ's (M-Flex) figures are based on the 65% of its revenue that comes from PCBs, then weighted for (estimated) EMS value. There will be mistakes.

Jabil includes Green Point (plastics) and Nypro/Johnson & Johnson (health care devices). If we include just the EMS unit, calendar 2022 revenues were $17.38 million, about half the overall sales. But, its diversified manufacturing services do include some sales that would be otherwise "EMS" had Jabil chosen a different reporting configuration.

Going Public

Even with GPV's acquisition of Enics and Neways going private, there are now about 130 publicly traded companies offering electronics manufacturing services either primarily or through a subsidiary. At least nine companies have gone public or announced plans to do so since January 2022 (TABLE 3). Continuing the theme, many of them are India-based. Most fall in the Tier III range, with annual revenues of $50 million to $300 million.

Table 3. EMS IPOs Since January 2022

Notably, no North American-based EMS/ODMs have gone public in that time, nor has any firm listed on the primary US exchanges. We expect that to change over the next five years as private equity groups begin to wind down their investments.

TPV Technology went private in 2019, then was "acquired" in a reverse IPO by Nanjing Huadong Electronics in 2021 and is public once more. Another of the hybrid ODMs, TPV designs and manufactures products for numerous branded TV and PC makers, distributes its self-owned brands (which include AOC, AGON and Envision), and manufactures and sells Philips' monitors, TVs and AV products. It is 25% owned by Nanjing CEC Panda Information Industry Group, which is part of China Electronics Corp. (see below for more on that).

Gaining Currency

Most major currencies fell against the US dollar in 2022 (TABLE 4). For those companies reporting revenues in non-US currencies, we converted the numbers using the averages set forth on May 23, 2023. Currency fluctuation will account for why some companies appear on some industry lists and not others. Likewise, CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY attempts in all cases to use the calendar year, not company financial years. Again, differing methodologies explain variances with other rankings.

Table 4. Currency Conversions

The Future

Predicting the EMS industry is more complex than it seems. Who among us, for instance, anticipated the meteoric rise of Luxshare? But much like Apple is the must-watch (no pun intended) entity on the hardware side, the EMS/ODM to stay locked on to is also the largest in its class: Foxconn. Last year, the company established the Hon Hai Research Institute to focus on key technologies in the next three to seven years. After R&D results are mature, they will be transferred to the business department for commercialization. Few of Foxconn's competitors are willing to underwrite this type of R&D (Jabil is one). Such forward-looking strategy coupled with ample capital reserves (and little to no pressure from shareholders) suggest that barring a geopolitical disaster, Foxconn will remain in the driver's seat for years to come.

Omissions

Every year there will be omissions, some intentional, some not. Some examples:

China Electronics Corp. The third-largest assembly operation in China, behind Foxconn and BYD. CEC, which owns Great Wall Computers and a moderate stake in TPV, among others, is also a thinly veiled subsidiary of the Chinese army.

Lens Technology. One of China's largest suppliers to the phone, computing and TFT markets, Lens is a highly vertically integrated $6.5 billion behemoth. It has electronics ODM capacity, but it is unclear how much of its revenue comes from that segment versus its glass materials and optical modules.

Diehl Controls. We have seen this German OEM of white goods and industrial electronics listed elsewhere. It says it produces around 50 million electronic units per year on a contract basis, and some lists indicate its revenues fall between those of Kitron and Neways, but we have no such insight.

iHPS. The EMS arm of Hytera Communications, it is likely over $500 million.

BOE Technology. Yet another Chinese company, with revenues over $30 billion, BOE both OEMs and private labels IoT devices, semiconductor displays, and various other components like sensors. Dissecting the integrated design and manufacturing services from the rest of the mix is not possible based on the information the company makes public.

ATA IMS Berhard. This Malaysian EMS lost its largest customer, Dyson, which made up 81% of its business. Revenue dropped by more than 50% from the first half to the second.

Lacroix Electronics. At $522 million in 2022, it misses the list. Add in the non-electronics revenue and it's a different story.

Katolec. Distribution revenue is 27% of its sales. EMS portion is $520 million.

TT Electronics. The conglomerate has OEM products, components, distribution and EMS. The latter was just under $400 million in 2022.

Computime, another OEM-EMS blend, generates about 70% of its revenue from contract assembly, putting its EMS sales at just under $400 million as well.

The author apologies for any oversights.

REFERENCES

1. Sankalp Phartiyal, "Apple India iPhone Output Soars to $7 Billion in China Shift," Bloomberg, Apr. 13, 2023.

2. Anusuya Lahiri, "Apple Supplier Eyes Second India Factory to Assemble Latest iPhones," Reuters, Mar. 24, 2023.

3. Siladitya Ray, "iPhone Maker Foxconn Reportedly Expands in India Amid Claims Apple Wants To Bolster Manufacturing There," Forbes, Mar. 3, 2023.

4. Nivedita Bangari, "Wistron is Exiting India and Will Sell All its Factories in the Country," May 22, 2023.

5. Praveen Paramasivam, "Apple Supplier Salcomp Sees India Revenue of $2-$3 Billion, Plans Rapid Hiring," Reuters, Feb. 13, 2023.

6. P.R. Sanjai, "Reliance to Invest $221 Million to Make Electronics With Sanmina," Bloomberg, Mar. 2, 2022.

7. Mike Buetow, "VVDN Goes Vertical," PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, May 2023.

8. Opalyn Mok, "Zahid: Malaysia Eyes 15pc Market Share in Semiconductor, Electronics Sector by 2030," Malay Mail, May 23, 2023.

MIKE BUETOW is president of PCEA (pcea.net); mike@pcea.net.
Assam doctor Mayur Hazarika achieved a remarkable feat as he topped in UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 among male candidates and secured 5th rank on his first attempt. Despite being a doctor, his desire to crack the civil services exam began in his third year of MBBS. His aim is to become an IFS officer and work on various foreign relations in the country.

I did have an inclination towards civil services even before I joined medical. But due to a lack of guidance and resources back in 2015 that would guide me toward civil services, I opted to go for medical studies. Towards the end of my third year of MBBS, that desire towards civil services started to resurface and thus I decided to pursue that dream," said he.

Also read| Meet Rukmini Riar, Who Failed In Class 6, Got AIR 2 In UPSC 2011 On 1st Attempt

Currently settled in Tezpur, Assam, Mayur attended Guwahati Medical College to pursue his MBBS degree and graduated in the year 2020. He did not expect he would secure such a high rank. Although he was quite hopeful about making it to the final list, he told News18.com. The desire to serve the country and the urge to represent the country at an international level is what motivated him to appear for the exam. I want to become an IFS officer and work on various foreign relations in the country," he said.

Along with his UPSC preparation, the 26-year-old fulfilled his duties at a hospital in Nagaon district as part of his rural posting under the National Health Mission. He joined the online GS foundation batch of NEXT IAS while he was in rural service. Since he was a working candidate he had time constraints so he primarily relied on self-study. However, guidance from the online classes was really helpful, especially with respect to dynamic subjects like economy, science and tech, and current affairs, he said.

Mayur completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Tezpur followed by Ramanujan Junior College. He lives with his parents and his sister. His father is an engineer, while his mother is a homemaker.

Talking about his preparation strategy, he informed for prelims he relied on limited credible quality sources and went for multiple rounds of revisions. For mains, he went for a large-scale value addition in the form of statistics, data, govt schemes, anecdotes, etc.

Mayurs optional subject was Anthropology. Physical anthro portion had significant parallels with my medical-based knowledge and social anthro portion helped me with GS compulsory topics," he said.

Sharing his interview experience he said since his first preference was IFS, a large portion of his interview revolved around International Relations. Most of the conversation with the chairwoman was on IR covering topics like Global South, Indias relation with neighbors, etc. Besides these, there were questions on nuclear diplomacy, medical diplomacy, the Right to Health Bill, New Education Policy, etc.
The Common University Entrance Test of 2023 for admission to graduate-level courses was conducted recently. As per reports, the CUET result for 2023 will be declared in the third week of June. Candidates can check their results of the examination on the official website, cuet.samarth.ac.in, once declared.

Admission to graduation for most of the universities in India is done based on the results of CUET. The details of the students rank, qualifying status, and subject-specific marks will all be included in the CUET result. Lets take a look at the cut-off score of CUET for admissions to prestigious institutions like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Banaras Hindu University.

As per reports, experts have suggested that most programmes require a minimum score of 60% or higher for CUET admission to Delhi University. A minimum CUET score of 480 out of 800 is required for admission to DU.

While it is important to check the exact criteria for the program one are interested in. Some programs may have higher cut-offs. The admission portal for CUET will be live from mid-June only. Candidates who obtain the minimum CUET cutoff 2023 percentile will be considered eligible for DU 2023 registration.

For Banaras Hindu University, the expected cut-off score should be 352 for UR (unreserved category), 352 for OBC, and 209/265 for ST/SC, respectively. This was predicted keeping in mind the cut-offs from the previous year.

The eligibility criteria for various UG and PG programs at Jawaharlal Nehru University may differ based on the stream and educational background. The CUET score is yet to be released by JNU for admission.

However, the CUET 2023 cutoff for each university will differ according to the programs. As per reports, CUET passing marks for 2023 should be between 300 and 400. The CUET cutoff for 2023 will be made based on the difficulty level of the exam, the number of candidates who appeared, and the seats available. The allocation of seats is based on CUET 2023 exam scores. The CUET 2023 exam was held from May 21 to 31 for UG courses this year.
While the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras retained its position among the countrys top-ranked educational institutes in the overall category for the fifth time, some Delhi University (DU) and other colleges moved up and down the charts slightly, according to the eighth edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) report released on Monday, which also highlighted the lack of teaching faculty with doctoral degrees, a skewed gender ratio in engineering institutes, and quality research being limited to the top 100 institutions only.

Among engineering institutes, IIT Delhi replaced IIT Bombay for the third position in the overall category this year. Some of the top IITs including IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Guwahati remained on the list of the top 10 institutes in the overall category again this year, as per the report, which was released by union minister of state for education and external affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.

In the universities category, the top four remained the same as last year while Banaras Hindu University (BHU) climbed into the top five. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, remained on top followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, and Jadavpur University.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) too moved up to the ninth position to feature in the top 10 universities from being in the 11th spot last year.

Among colleges, Delhi University (DU)s Miranda House emerged on top for the seventh time in a row. DUs Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College fell to the ninth position from being among the top five last year.

Similarly, Loyola College, Chennai, which used to be among the top five for the last few years fell to the seventh position. St Xaviers College, Kolkata, moved up to the fifth rank from being in the eighth position last year.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad has been ranked the top management college in the country, even as three engineering colleges, including IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, and National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai, made it to the top 10 B-schools list.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) ranked sixth and 10th in the overall category.

The institutions were ranked under 13 categoriesoverall, university, colleges, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medical, architecture, dental, research, agriculture, and innovation. They were evaluated on five broad generic parameters including teaching, learning, and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. The agriculture and allied sector category was included in NIRF for the first time this year.

As many as 8,686 applications were received for the rankings this year compared to 7,254 in 2022. The number of categories has increased from four in 2016 to 13 in 2023.

Given the increase in the number of engineering institutes, both government and private, across the country over the past decade, there are challenges in trained faculty and employability of its students, the report said.

According to the findings, of the total 1,61,195 faculty members across engineering colleges, only 44.51% are those holding PhD degrees while the larger chunk, 55.49%, are those with Masters degrees. Also, those with doctoral qualifications are concentrated in the top 100 institutes only, which it termed a serious handicap.

It was observed that faculty with doctoral qualification is concentrated in the top 100 institutions, remaining institutions have fewer faculty with doctoral degree. This is a serious handicap since mentorship received during the doctoral training can play a vital role in preparing the faculty for a teaching career in higher education, the report stated.

Data shows that faculty with PhD in the top 100 institutions vary from a minimum of 61.06% in case of colleges to a maximum of 91.60% in case of management institutions. The faculty with PhD in remaining institutions vary from a minimum of 33.27% in case of pharmacy institutions to a maximum of 64.29% in case of universities.

Another important fact was the skewed faculty-student ratio (FSR), the report showed. There are 421 institutions (33.98%) that qualify the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-prescribed FSR of 20 students per faculty whereas remaining 818 institutions are trying to achieve the norms prescribed by the AICTE, it said.

Also, 62.48% of the research publications come from the top 100 institutions in overall category with the remaining 1,094 participating and eligible institutions contributing the remaining 37.52% of research publications.

The report also showed that the Indian share of the overall world publications is about 4.81%. In the management discipline, the publications share of India is 5.32%.

The NIRF rankings were launched by the Narendra Modi-led government in 2016, which is the only university ranking system in India.
Speculation about Sachin Pilots next move refuses to die down as several media reports have claimed that the former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan has made up his mind to quit the Congress and may float a new party ahead of the crucial state assembly elections, slated to be held later this year. It is learnt that he is likely to make a big announcement on June 11 when he marks his fathers death anniversary in Dausa.

The power tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Pilot has been obvious since Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against Gehlot after which he was removed from the posts of the partys state unit president and deputy CM.

Sachin Pilot to Quit Congress?

On Tuesday, sources close to the 45-year-old leader Pilot told the news agency PTI that he was firm on his demands, including action against alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government, and was waiting for a definitive response from the party high command.

Commenting on the media reports, sources said that Pilot is focussed only on the fulfilment of his demands that the Gehlot government takes action against alleged corruption during the previous BJP regime and acts on issues of the youth such as those related to government recruitment examination paper leaks.

He (Pilot) is waiting for a response from the party leadership, the ball is in their court," a source was quoted as saying.

Leaders close to Pilot said he has taken a principled position" and it is not about posts. The issues of corruption and paper leaks are his top priority, they added.

When asked by the media about reports on Pilot likely to announce new party on June 11. Congress partys in-charge for Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was qouted as saying by news agency ANI, I am hearing this from you. I think there is nothing like that. He didnt want that earlier, he doesnt want it now."

Big Announcement on June 11?

The preparations for the programme marking Rajesh Pilots death anniversary, which is held annually, are going on in full swing in Dausa and are being supervised by Minister of State for Agriculture Marketing Murari Lal Meena, who is known to be close to Pilot.

With all eyes on that programme, Meena told reporters, I have no idea from where the speculation of the new party started. I do not see any substance in such speculations. I work following the ideology of the party."

Congs Peace Formula Failed?

According to PTI sources, the crucial face-to-face meet of Gehlot and Pilot with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on May 29 did not result in any resolution of core issues" between the two Rajasthan bigwigs. The meeting was held to address the internal strife within the Rajasthan Congress.

Congress President @kharge and @RahulGandhi met this evening with @ashokgehlot51 and @SachinPilot. The Congress party is well on its way to repeat its Karnataka success in Rajasthan as well. pic.twitter.com/i6bSKalfp9 Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 29, 2023

Speaking to reporters after the four hour-long meeting in Delhi with the party high command, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal had said that Gehlot and Pilot have unanimously agreed" to fight the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections in a joint fight against the BJP".

We have decided to fight elections unitedly. Definitely, we will win the elections in Rajasthan. Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have unanimously agreed with the proposal. It is very clear that Rajasthan is going to be a strong state for the Congress party. We are going to win. Therefore, both the leaders Gehlot ji and Sachin ji have decided to go together. The Congress party will fight elections unitedly," Venugopal had said.

Notably, this was the first face-to-face interaction between Gehlot and Pilot in the presence of senior party leaders in quite some time.

(with inputs from PTI)
John Krasinski returns in and as Jack Ryan for one last mission in the fourth and final season of Prime Videos action thriller series. Based on the characters from Tom Clancys books, Jack is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and army man who is requested by the US president to help assess the latest threat to the country. The first three seasons had everything an action junkie would want - epic action sequences, a gripping storyline, and the jaw-droppingly handsome John Krasinski fighting the bad guys. With the final season gearing up for an epic release, here are five things from the edge-of-your-seat trailer that got us excited for season 4!

Jack Ryans final mission

John Krasinski was widely loved in the Amazon Original Tom Clancys Jack Ryan. Over the past seasons, fans have raved, watched, and followed Jacks globetrotting journey with fevered interest and even waited patiently for the final season. Now fans worldwide are experiencing a bittersweet moment with one last mission in the mix, Jack Ryans season 4 trailer has hinted at a thrilling finale yet also bid adieu to Jack Ryans universe!

First look at Michael Penas Character

The trailer gives us an interesting look at Domingo Chavezs character, an ex-CIA who joins forces with Ryan in his final mission. Michael Penas impeccable screen presence makes him a highly awaited addition to the already spell-binding cast, and we cant wait to see him in action.

Ramped up on action, thrill, and drama

The thrilling, pacy, and adventure-filled trailer of Jack Ryan season 4 ensures fans that there are no stones left unturned in making Jack Ryans last mission an epic and unforgettable experience for fans worldwide. With mind-blowing action sequences, stunning locations like Croatia, Spanish island of Gran Canaria amongst others; and a story woven to engage, the final season looks high on all elements that make Jack Ryan unbeatable.

Jack Ryan is now acting Deputy Director at the CIA

With a brand new designation attached to his name, Ryan proves that no job can tie him to a desk. After severely affecting international relations and trotting the world to stop deadly criminals, Jack Ryans promotion comes as a fresh twist, but how long until he can sit on his desk when hes needed out in the real world?

The series OGs

Betty Gabriel, Wendell Pierce, and John Krasinski himself, the final season wouldve been incomplete without the series OGs whove journeyed alongside Jack Ryan since season one and never left his side. Fans have supported the incredible journeys of these characters throughout the past three seasons, and it will be interesting to see where they ultimately end up.
Netflix is back with the second part of its hit comedy, Lust Stories. The anthology film brings together four fresh stories, directed by four filmmakers  R Balki, Konkona Sen Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh and Amit Sharma  and stars Mrunal thakur, Vijay Verma, Kajol, Neena Gupta and Tamannaah Bhatia in pivotal roles. The cast also stars talented actors Neena Gupta, Amruta Shubhash, Angad Bedi, Kajol, Kumud Mishra and Tillotama Shome. The streaming giant unveiled the teaser for the movie on Tuesday morning.

In the teaser, Neena Gupta jokingly asks, Before buying a car, dont you go for a test drive? So why not have a test drive before marriage?" The witty dialogue leaves Kajol bursting into laughter while Vijay Varma and Mrunal Thakur feel a bit embarrassed.

According to Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films at Netflix India, the highly praised and Emmy-nominated anthology Lust Stories is back with four gripping new stories. These stories are crafted by credible directors in the industry. The first set of stories from this series sparked significant discussions, and this new collection takes it even further with more innovative, multicultural, and progressive narratives from different parts of India.

Ronnie Screwvala, on Lust Stories 2, said, We are proud to bring to our audiences the second edition of our Emmy Nominated anthology, Lust Stories 2. We have seen all our films that we have done with Netflix like Mission Majnu, Lust Stories, Paava Kadhaigal, Raat Akeli Hai and Dhamaka, being recognized and loved by a global audience, making it the ideal platform for Lust Stories 2. Working with Netlfix and Ashi Dua once again on this much loved anthology made the entire process that much better and we cant wait for our audiences to see the film.
The statement made by Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh suggesting the withdrawal of the anti-cow slaughter legislation has sparked a political battle in Karnataka.

The opposition BJP, planning to protest across the state, has been outraged by the Congress governments announcement.

The previous BJP administration had considered the anti-cow slaughter legislation a key priority, aligning with their core ideology. The Congress Ministers declaration of its withdrawal has greatly unsettled the BJP, who was defeated in the recent Karnataka Assembly elections.

We will not allow the Congress government to withdraw the anti-cow slaughter legislation. We will stage a protest across the State on Monday and in Bengaluru on Tuesday against such a move, BJP State general secretary and MLC N. Ravikumar was quoted as saying by The Hindu. We will intensify our agitation if the government does not change its plans, he added.

Amid the development, lets take at the anti-cow slaughter legislation and its various aspects in the state:

The Anti-Cow Slaughter Law in Karnataka

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, which was passed by the BJP-led government in Karnataka in February 2021, extended the existing ban on cow slaughter to include bulls, bullocks, oxen, and calves. However, even before this law, cow slaughter was already prohibited in several other states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, in accordance with Article 48 of the Constitution. With the exception of Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Lakshadweep, all states and union territories in India have legislation in place regarding cow slaughter. It is noteworthy that the laws banning cow slaughter in many states are about 50 years old and were enacted during the tenure of the Indian National Congress, as per a 2017 report by India Spend.

The BJP-led government in Karnataka had previously introduced two bills in 2010 and 2012, which aimed to amend a 1964 Act. However, these bills were withdrawn in 2014 following a change in the state government. The current law, passed in 2021, introduced a more comprehensive ban, prohibiting the slaughter of cows, calves, bulls, bullocks, and she-buffaloes under the age of thirteen, in contrast to the 1964 Act in Karnataka, which allowed the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, and buffaloes.

Why Did Congress Say They Wanted to Withdraw It?

On Saturday, Karnatakas Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Minister, K Venkatesh, highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in managing aged cattle and disposing of deceased animals. In questioning the distinction between slaughtering buffaloes and bulls versus cows, he raised the point that if the former is permissible, why should the latter be treated differently.

The minister emphasized that amending the bill would serve the greater benefit of farmers in the state. This suggests that the proposed changes aim to address the difficulties faced by farmers in maintaining aging cattle and dealing with their carcasses.

However, the BJP protested vehemently against this.

Later, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the law will be discussed in the Cabinet.

According to him, there already existed a Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 but it lacked clarity due to which an amendment was brought. However, the Congress government again went back to the 1964 Act. They (BJP) had again brought an amendment. We will discuss in the Cabinet. We have not decided anything yet," the CM clarified.

Why Did the BJP Protest It?

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday staged protests against Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkateshs statement that if buffaloes can be slaughtered, why not cows.

Referring to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, which is also known as anti-cow slaughter law, Venkatesh had said on Saturday in Mysuru that the government will revisit the law.

His argument was that the previous BJP government had promulgated the law, which allowed slaughter of buffaloes.

Responding to a question on the difficulties faced by farmers in managing aged cows, the minister shared his own example where he had to get an earthmover to bury his dead cow.

The protests took place in Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Davangere and a few other parts of the state. In Mysuru, the BJP workers raised slogans against the Congress government for its decision to revisit the anti-cow slaughter law.

In response to Venkateshs remarks, V Sunil Kumar, a former minister and BJP legislator, accused the Congress of lacking love for both the nation and the cow.

Whatever Indian ethos that are followed by people, the Congress hates them. Rescinding the cow slaughter prevention Act is one such example, Kumar told reporters in Karkala, his assembly constituency, as per a report by The Hindustan Times.

The BJP had formulated a law to prevent cow slaughter after holding a series of consultations with the people. The Congress had raised objections even when the BJP passed it, he said. Congress leaders and ministers have been repeatedly stating that the government will withdraw the act and revise textbooks. These clearly indicate the aim of the Congress government.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, a former minister of the BJP, made an appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress ministers, urging them to empathize with the sentiments of the people.

People have voted for you and you got elected as chief minister. But, that does not mean that you have all powers and do as you wish. If you bring amendments and changes to the cow slaughter prohibition law, members of the BJP will strictly oppose this and will fight against any move, Poojary, a member of the legislative council, said.

When the BJP was ruling, it brought the cow slaughter prohibition bill in both houses in support of farmers and to protect cows. This has become the law as Hindus worship the cow and it is necessary to protect them, he added.

With inputs from agencies
A dam located in southern Ukraine, which is under Russian control, was damaged on Tuesday. Both Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations, blaming each other for the destruction of the dam. As a result, local residents were forced to evacuate due to the rising waters.

The authorities installed by Moscow claimed that the dam was partially destroyed due to multiple strikes." This incident occurred at a time when expectations were growing regarding the commencement of Ukraines anticipated offensive, as per AFP.

On the other hand, Ukraine has accused Russia of being responsible for the explosion at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant, which led to the damaging of the dam.

The terrorists goal is obvious  to create obstacles for the offensive actions of the armed forces," Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

Ukrainian President Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his National Security Council over the Russian war crime", said his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

Several villages have been completely or partially flooded" following damage to the dam and evacuations from the area have begun, a Ukrainian official said.

About 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Kherson region," Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson miliary administration, said on social media, adding that there was flooding in eight areas along the Dnipro River.

What is the Kakhovka Dam?

The Kakhovka dam, which has been under Russian control since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, plays a crucial role in supplying water to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Constructed in 1956 during the Soviet era, the dam is a significant piece of infrastructure in Ukraine, consisting of both concrete and earth components.

The news of the dams damage emerged following Ukrainian President Zelenskys praise of his troops for their claimed advancements near the devastated city of Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Russia stated that it had successfully repelled a large-scale attack.

Zelensky expressed his appreciation to the Ukrainian soldiers in a video message shared on social media, stating, Well done, warriors! We see how hysterically Russia reacts to any step we take there, all positions we take. The enemy knows that Ukraine will win."

Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar had noted some success" on the battlefield. The Bakhmut sector remains the epicentre of the hostilities. We are advancing there on a rather wide front," she said.

The defensive operation includes counteroffensive actions. Therefore, in some sectors, we are conducting offensive actions," Malyar added.

What Does Damage to the Dam Mean?

The fallout could have broad consequences: Flooding homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleting water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power plant; and draining supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

The dam break added a complex new element to Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000-kilometers of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the blowing up of the dam could have negative consequences" for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europes biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is controllable.

The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on Twitter that its experts were closely monitoring the situation at the plant, and there was no immediate nuclear safety risk" at the facility.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where hundreds of thousands of people live.

The World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after 5-7 days.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the left bank and a severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the nuclear plant of crucial cooling, as well as dry up the water supply in northern Crimea, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organization of environmental activists and experts documenting the wars environmental effects.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover. One showed floodwaters inundating a long roadway; another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

Reply to Counteroffensive?

In May, Russia claimed to have seized the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which was once the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the war.

Ukraine has been preparing for a significant offensive to regain territory lost to Russia, but they have not announced the specific timing of the operation.

On Sunday, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov posted a cryptic tweet quoting lyrics from the Depeche Mode song Enjoy the Silence," suggesting that words can only cause harm.

US President Joe Biden expressed his support for Ukraines anticipated counteroffensive on Monday.

When asked by AFP if he believed the expected Ukrainian pushback would be successful, President Biden responded by silently raising his hand and crossing his middle and index fingers. In recent weeks, the conflict has escalated with increased attacks on both sides of the border between Ukraine and Russia.

Military experts anticipate that Ukrainian forces will first probe Russian defenses to identify any weaknesses before launching a full-scale offensive.

Large-scale offensive

Earlier on Monday, Russias defence ministry said the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front" on Sunday in the south of the Donetsk region.

Moscow said it had thwarted the offensive, killing a total of 1,500 servicemen" and destroying more than 100 armoured vehicles.

But the claims were dismissed on Tuesday by the boss of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as wild fantasies".

Prigozhin has been embroiled in a public spat with Russias regular army and has accused Moscows military leadership of not supplying enough ammunition, among other criticisms.

Large parts of Donetsk have been held by pro-Moscow separatists since 2014.

It is one of four eastern Ukrainian territories that Russia formally annexed in September last year, along with Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, despite never fully controlling them.

The ministry posted what it said was a video of the battle, showing Ukrainian armoured vehicles coming under heavy fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putins top commander in Ukraine, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, was at one of the advanced command posts", the ministry said.

The ministry later said it defeated new attempts to pierce Russian defences" in southern Donetsk.

The Russian and Ukrainian claims could not be independently verified.

AFP, Associated Press contributed to this report
The IT success story in Telangana is not only about its capital, Hyderabad, but also about its Tier-2 cities. State IT minister KT Rama Rao, on the sidelines of releasing the annual IT progress report, said the government will set up IT Towers in Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar. The BRS working president also alleged despite the pandemic and the state not receiving help from the Centre, Telangana witnessed an explosive 31.44% growth in IT exports in 2022-23.

Revealing another impressive statistic, KTR said Telangana contributed 44% of jobs in the IT sector in the country in 2023.

The minister also listed the number of MNCs who have chosen Hyderabad as their preferred place to open offices. The government had earlier identified the pitfalls of developing only Hyderabad as an IT hub and had started expanding to other cities.

Warangal, which is 146 km away from Hyderabad, was chosen to be developed as the second hi-tech hub after the capital city. It has already seen investments from companies like Tech Mahindra, Cyient, Genpact, among others. Tier-2 towns in Telangana witnessed the inauguration of LTI Mindtree, Genpact, HRH Next, and Hexad Solutions Pvt. Ltd, further establishing them as emerging IT hubs.

Mahabubnagars IT Tower was also inaugurated, providing space for companies and the governments innovation ecosystem.

We met with NRI CEOs in Washington DC during our recent US trip and highlighted the growth of IT in Telanganas Tier-2 cities and explained the measures taken by the state government such as setting up IT Towers in Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar. Many companies signed MOUs with the government to set up their offices in cities such as Nizamabad, Siddipet and Nalgonda. Very soon, Tier-2 cities in the state will get more than 2,500 IT jobs, which will in turn create indirect employment for 10,000 people, the minister said.

The report also shows that IT exports in the country grew at 9.36% in 2022-23, whereas for Telangana it was at 31.44%.

Google is building their largest campus outside their Mountain View, USA campus, in Hyderabad. Was thrilled to have broken the ground for their 3.3 million sq ft energy efficient, sustainability built campus that will stand as a landmark for Hyderabad for decades to come," KTR added.

Microsoft is also establishing three more data centres in Hyderabad in addition to the three they committed to previously. Microsoft has the largest development centre in Hyderabad outside of the USA.

Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services announced to set up state-of-the-art data centres in Hyderabad and committed to invest Rs 36,300 crore. The three data centres form an integral part of AWSs goal of strengthening its cloud infrastructure to serve its customers in India and worldwide.
The Allahabad High Court recently denied bail to a Muslim man accused of hiding his religious identity to trap a Hindu woman into establishing a physical relationship with him and forcing her to convert to Islam.

A bench of Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery rejected the argument that it was a case of honeytrap and it was the woman who had lured the accused into a relationship to later frame him in a rape case.

The woman filed the First Information Report (FIR) on August 28, 2022. In the FIR, she alleged the accused, Chand Babu, introduced himself as Vishal, and when they started talking, he proposed to her. Subsequently, she started visiting him. Later, the accused threatened her of making her photographs viral and repeatedly raped her, she alleged in the FIR.

The woman alleged on August 24, 2022, when the accused took her to a hotel, she learnt that his real name was Chand Babu and that he was a Muslim.

She alleged she confronted him as to why he had introduced himself as a Hindu, upon which, the accused started forcing her to convert to Islam. Thereafter, she was again allegedly raped at the said hotel by the accused. She alleged she escaped from the hotel by luck and lodged the FIR under Sections 376(2)(n), 420, 506 of the IPC and 3/5 of the UP Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

The counsel contended that it was impossible that while the woman was meeting the accused regularly, she remained unaware of his religion.

However, the high court noted that except the assertions, there was no material, even prima facie, on record that the accused had been honey-trapped.

The court noted that in his statement, the manager of the said hotel had stated that at the hotel, a copy of Aadhar card of the accused only had been submitted and the signature of the woman was in the name Seema which showed that she did not know that her name in the register showed her as a Muslim.
A South Middleton School Board member challenged the public Monday to push lawmakers to change the way state government supports public education.

The current state funding system is inadequate and needs to be reformed, Jim Decker said. We passed a budget tonight that had a tax increase. None of us are happy with a tax increase.

Regulations governing cyber charter schools, for example, tie the hands of school districts, forcing boards to make difficult decisions regarding property taxes, Decker said.

The board Monday voted 8-0 to adopt a $45.4 million budget for 2023-24 that includes a 4.1% real estate tax hike. The increase would raise the tax rate by 0.4845 mills to 12.3022 mills.

Based on the median property value for South Middleton School District, the owner of a home assessed at $206,000 could expect to pay an additional $99.80 per year.

The budget includes about $102,652 to pay the salary and benefits of a new position of supervisor of school safety/security officer. There was discussion during the budget review process to only fund that position if the district could obtain a grant.

During the meeting Monday, Decker asked about the grant application and whether the district could receive the money in time to hire a person before the start of the academic year on Aug. 24.

We are in a holding pattern waiting for the state to pass its budget to allocate dollars to its various departments, Superintendent Kevin J. ODonnell Jr. said. While a grant award is possible, it may not be probable before classes resume, he said.

That leaves us with a few options, ODonnell said. It is well within the authority of the board to direct the administration to post the job and then use general fund dollars for that.

ODonnell suggested that the board delay a decision on posting the job until after it has the opportunity to discuss the matter during its next regular meeting scheduled for Aug. 7. ODonnell said he would rather have a grant pay the start-up costs of the new position.

The position would combine administrative duties with routine patrols of school district property. As an administrator, the supervisor/security officer would work full-time out of the district office and report to the assistant to the superintendent. The officer would manage the safety and security plans for the district along with its emergency response procedures.

The officer also would patrol school district buildings and grounds to prevent disruptive or illegal activity, access to restricted areas and theft or vandalism. The job description allows the security officer to interview, detain and hold serious offenders until police arrive.

Board member Eric Berry was absent from Mondays budget vote.
Haryana-based SP Singla Constructions is under the Bihar governments scanner after the Rs 1,710 crore four-lane road bridge, which was being constructed by the company, collapsed for the second time in 14 months. The under-construction bridge over the river Ganga connected Sultanganj in the Bhagalpur district and Aguwani Ghat in the Khagaria district.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, which is facing flak over the bridge collapse, on Monday served notice to the construction company, while it also suspended an Executive Engineer of the Road Construction Department.

The Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd has served notice to S.P. Singla Construction, asking why the Bihar government should not blacklist this company. If the company did not respond to the notice in 15 days, it could be blacklisted by the government.

Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer is facing the charge of failing to keep an eye on construction proceedings and irregularities the construction company had opted for during the construction of the bridge.

Sources told news agency IANS that the company has used low-grade materials during the construction and the pilings are also under a question mark.

Allegations Against the Company

According to a district administration official, irregularities and designer faults, on a massive scale, appeared during the design and construction of the bridge. He said that the construction company has piled 150 feet to construct a pillar on the banks of the river but the same height was used for the middle of the river where water is generally at the highest level.

The company needed to pile more than 200 feet in the middle of the river which was not the case in this bridge, thus leading to two back-to-back two collapses in the last 14 months.

There are 22 pillars in the middle of the river and as the depth of the piles are all 150 feet deep, it was inevitable that deterioration would arise in all these pillars.

About SP Singla Constructions

Headed by Sat Paul Singla, SP Singla Constructions is a family-run company with registered offices in Delhi and Haryana.

As per a report by India Today, the company was incorporated in 1996 and has a net worth of approximately Rs 869 crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2022.

The company specialises in deep foundations, long-span bridge construction, and urban flyover construction, among other things, as per its website.

Company In Controversies Before

As per India Today report, SP Singla Constructions, headed by Sat Paul Singla, came under the scanner for the first time in May 2020, after three children died when a concrete slab fell on them during the construction of Lohiya Chakra Path, Nitish governments ambitious project.

At the time, an inquiry was ordered into the incident, but later no action was taken against the construction company.

SP Singla Constructions reportedly bagged several government projects in Bihar, including a six-lane bridge across the river Ganga in Patna from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Lohia Path Chakra on Jawaharlal Nehru Road and the Sherpur-Dighwara bridge among others.

Major Clients of SP Singla Constructions

Apart from Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd (BRPNNL), some of the major clients of SP Singla Constructions include Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Ltd (JKPCC), Border Roads Organization (BRO), and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), according to India Today report.

GSIDC, Goa, Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, Indian Railways and PWDs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam are also reportedly its clients among others.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met Indian diamond businesses from Gujarat in Namibia on Monday and lauded their contribution to the local economy, saying that they are advancing the countrys economic interests while building real friendships.

Jaishankar arrived in the capital city of Namibia after concluding the BRICS Foreign Ministers Summit in South Africa. During his visit, EAM held several meetings with the top leadership of the country.

Good to see Indian diamond businesses from Gujarat active in Namibia. They are advancing our economic interests while building real friendships. The Namibian Government is appreciative of their contribution to the local economy," Jaishankar tweeted.

Minister Jaishnkar met the diamond traders after concluding the Joint Commission Meeting with the Namibian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Pleased to conclude the 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission of cooperation and sign its minutes.The roadmap of our growing partnership covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, wildlife conservation, trade and Investment, food security, digital, capacity building, health, pic.twitter.com/dMgOJhtDou  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 5, 2023

Jaishankar said that the roadmap of the India-Namibia partnership covers a number of domains including energy, infrastructure, food security, digital, capacity building and defence.

Pleased to conclude the 1st India-Namibia Joint Commission of cooperation and sign its minutes. The roadmap of our growing partnership covers the domains of energy, infrastructure, wildlife conservation, trade and Investment, food security, digital, capacity building, health, defence and arts, culture, heritage and people to people linkages," the minister tweeted.

On Monday, Jaishankar also discussed advancing bilateral ties in energy, green hydrogen, transport and connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, science and technology.

Discussed advancing our ties in energy, green hydrogen, transport & connectivity, digital, pharmaceuticals, food security, science & technology and culture. As also wildlife collaboration and eco-tourism. Our perspectives (on) regional and global issues are similar and drive our working together in international forums, Jaishankar tweeted.

Co-chaired the 1st Joint Commission of cooperation between India and Namibia with DPM and FM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah this morning.Underlined that our contemporary cooperation should build on long-standing political goodwill and our growing development partnership. Discussed pic.twitter.com/thJYoUh88H  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 5, 2023

The external affairs minister also called on President Hage G. Geingob and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Thank President @hagegeingob of Namibia for receiving me so warmly. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Valued his sentiments for our relationship and the vision to taking it forward, the minister said in another tweet.

He also briefed the president on the productive Joint Commission meeting and affirmed Indias commitment to deepening our partnership further.

The minister also visited the Namibian Independence Museum. A powerful reminder of a shared struggle and the Global South solidarity, he said.

In Windhoek, Jaishankar also participated in the inauguration of the India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT).

This Centre is a notable contribution to our partnering with Digital Africa. It is in line with Namibian priorities and will contribute to research, innovation cyber security and good governance, the minister said.

Confident that Namibias youth will also use it as a platform to demonstrate their talent and creativity The PARAM Super Computer installed here, aptly named ARUB (Cheetah), is an affirmation of the time-tested India-Namibia partnership, he added.

Delighted to participate in inauguration of India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT) in Windhoek.Thank DPM and FM Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Minister of Higher Education Itah Kandjii-Murangi for joining. This Centre is a notable contribution to pic.twitter.com/uh8n7c6dlA  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 5, 2023

Jaishankar arrived here in Namibias capital on Sunday from Cape Town on a three-day visit. On the same day, he interacted with the Indian community in Windhoek on Sunday evening.

Shared with them the history of our ties, as well as the new expressions of friendship. Also discussed the progress in India and its impact on Indians living abroad, the minister tweeted.
At a time when talks are on to resolve decades-old border disputes between northeastern states, an incident of firing has been reported from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border leaving two dead and two injured.

The firing incident was reported from the Dhemaji district of Assam which falls along the Arunachal Pradesh border. According to initial reports, miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh came in and opened fire on three people on Assams side who were planting trees and saplings.

The deceased have been identified as Boga Chutia and Monitu Gogoi. Two others injured are- Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village.

Speaking about the incident Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, We are yet to mark our permanent border with Arunachal Pradesh. But in most instances, its not the neighbouring state attacking us. Its some miscreants of the state who for their personal benefits, and greed for property, attack us. I have ordered the superintendent of police (SP) and district commissioner (DC) to look into the matter. Discussions are going on for border talks with Arunachal. Pradesh. Will talk and review again. 

Assam and Arunachal share an 804.1-km-long border. Governments of both states signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last month to resolve their border disputes.

Assam shares disputed interstate borders with other Northeastern states which have led to many such incidents in the past.

Recently the Assam CM Sarma and Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma also sat for a very high-level meeting in an effort to solve the border issue at disputed areas.

Condemning the incident Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu also wrote on Twitter, I strongly condemn the act of violence at the Panbari area of the Assam-Arunachal border in Dhemaji, where one person named Boga Chutia of Borbila Chutiakari village of my constituency has been killed, and 3 persons - Monitu Gogoi, Puspa Gogoi and Akoni Gohain of Milonpur village have been injured. District Admin and @DhemajiPolice are on the spot.
In the 733-page charge sheet filed by Mumbai police, bookie Anil Jaisinghani, his daughter Aniksha Jaisinghani, and their cousin Nirmal have been booked for bribery and extortion in the case involving Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The FIR filed with Malabar Hill police on February 20 stated that Aniksha tried to bribe Amruta to save her father from several cases registered against him.

The charge sheet contains excerpts of the chats between Aniksha and Amruta and the latters conversations with Anil as well.

In the chats, Amruta said the following to Anil: If you are wrongly framed, I can talk to Devenji and tell him to do justice but I cant succumb to the demands which Aniksha made about earning illegal money I know I have not done anything wrong and you and Aniksha, with an intention to blackmail me, have operated from day oneAt the most these videos can defame me for some time but once truth is out, it will not have any effect.

Some of the conversations in the charge sheet date back to four days after the FIR. However, police sources said that Amruta was asked to continue the conversation so that they could trace Jaisinghanis location, who has been on the run for around eight years now.

One of the conversations dating back to February 24 reads: I will talk to Devenji one thing I know about him is that once he verifies and feels you are victimised, he will 100% do justice."

The charge sheet also mentions that Anil made a claim in a chat with Amruta that he made a loss of Rs 1,000 crore in the past few years because he was on the run for eight years over 17 cases registered against him.

When the father-daughter duo approached Amruta, they allegedly offered to pay her Rs 1 crore for helping them by withdrawing multiple cases against the alleged bookie. However, according to the FIR, when she refused to help, they started sending her videos and voice chats. They also blackmailed her and demanded Rs 10 crore for not making the videos public. Police sources said that the videos were fabricated.

Dear Didiji, if you talk to me it will help both of us. You give Rs 10 crore one time and help my father in police case. I promise you I will give you all original video and audio recording I will not keep anything with me and my father will also delete all the recording and nobody will come to know and all will be happy, read a message sent by Aniksha on February 21.
The White House has expressed that it regards India as a thriving democracy, which can be witnessed by anyone visiting New Delhi firsthand, seemingly refuting apprehensions surrounding Indias democratic standing. In the upcoming weeks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to embark on a state visit to the United States.

India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference, reported PTI.

Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. Youre supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward, Kirby said in response to a question.

Kirby said India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels.

You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that were going to pursue with India. Of course, theres an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security, he said.

I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship, Kirby said.
India and the US on Monday concluded an ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to fast-track technology tie-ups and co-production of military platforms like air combat and land systems, a move that comes amid Chinas increasingly aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific.

Besides firming up the roadmap two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Washington, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, in their wide-ranging talks, also agreed to initiate negotiations on the security of supply arrangement and a reciprocal defence procurement pact to promote supply chain stability.

At a media briefing, the US defence secretary said the US-India cooperation matters because we all face a rapidly changing world. We see bullying and coercion from the Peoples Republic of China and Russian aggression against Ukraine that seeks to redraw borders and threatens national sovereignty.

Austin, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday on a two-day visit, said the India-US partnership is a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific and that the US is putting its full weight behind supporting Indias defence modernisation.

The Pentagon said the roadmap aims to change the paradigm for cooperation between the US and Indian defence sectors, including the implementation of a set of specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies and support its defence modernisation plans.

It is learnt that Singh and Austin also touched upon General Electrics proposal to share technology with India for fighter jet engines and New Delhis plan to procure 30 MQ-9B armed drones for over USD 3 billion from US defence major General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

The jet engine deal is likely to be announced during Prime Minister Modis visit to the US.

People familiar with the matter said both projects will be part of the roadmap that will also provide for cooperation in areas of intelligence sharing, surveillance and reconnaissance, munitions and the undersea domain.

We established an ambitious new roadmap for defence industrial cooperation with a fast-track (and) high-priority for co-development and co-production projects and to build closer ties between our defence industries, Austin said at a media briefing.

We look forward to advancing some of those projects during the upcoming visits, he said, indirectly referring to Modis upcoming tour of the US.

Describing the US-India relationship as one of the most consequential ones, he said Washington only shares technologies with countries that it absolutely trusts.

There is an increasing desire for us to share (them) with partners here in India.

Austin said the US-India partnership is a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the deepening of the ties showed how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between the two great powers can be a force for global good.

The US defence secretary also held separate talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

In a statement, the defence ministry said both sides will identify opportunities for the co-development of new technologies and the co-production of existing and new systems besides facilitating increasing collaboration between defence start-up ecosystems of the two countries.

Towards these objectives, they concluded a roadmap for US-India defence industrial cooperation which shall guide the policy direction for the next few years, it said.

The ministry said the meeting between Singh and Austin was warm and cordial and the two sides discussed a substantial range of bilateral defence cooperation issues, with a particular focus on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.

The Pentagon said the new roadmap will fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain.

The Secretary and Minister Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation and to initiate negotiations on a Security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defence Procurement agreement, which will promote long-term supply chain stability, it said.

In a series of tweets, Singh said the talks revolved around enhancing defence cooperation in several areas including the convergence of strategic interests and security cooperation.

India-US partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to closely work with the US across the domains for capacity building and further consolidating our strategic partnership, Singh said.

The Pentagon said Austin and Singh also committed to strengthening operational collaboration across all military services, with an eye to supporting Indias leading role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

They discussed new opportunities to strengthen information sharing and increase cooperation in the maritime domain. On this note, Secretary Austin welcomed Indias leadership role in the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA), which will provide cutting-edge domain awareness capability to countries across the Indo-Pacific region, it said.

In his meeting with NSA Doval, Austin exchanged views about regional and global security issues of concern, including maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Secretary welcomed Dovals perspective about shared security interests and objectives, including his ideas for greater maritime collaboration, the Pentagon said in a statement.

In all of his engagements, the Secretary underscored the centrality of the US-India partnership to maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, it added.

The defence ministry said both sides reviewed the robust and multifaceted bilateral defence cooperation activities and agreed to maintain the momentum of engagement.

They welcomed the inaugural dialogues held recently focusing on defence artificial intelligence and defence space. They also discussed the regional security issues given their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.

In his remarks at the media briefing, Austin said that as the worlds two largest democracies, India and the US have a unique role in preserving the rules-based international order that keeps us all secure.

Our global and strategic partnership has continued to rapidly grow. Today the US-India partnership is a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our deepening bond shows how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between two great powers can be a force for global good, he said.

Secretary Austin described his talks with Singh and Doval as productive

Democracies must now rally together in common interests and shared values. Preserving and protecting freedom are essential to peace and prosperity and require vigorous leadership from the US and India, he said.

So we still have a lot of work to do. I am confident that the US-India partnership will help secure an open and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the wider world, he said.

The Pentagon said Austin and Singh also discussed the growing importance of defence innovation and cooperation in emerging domains such as space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence.

They also welcomed the establishment of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), a new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation, it said.

The initiative, which will be launched by the US-India Business Council on June 21, is designed to complement existing government-to-government collaboration by promoting innovative partnerships between US and Indian companies, investors, start-up accelerators, and academic research institutions, it said.

It is Secretary Austins second visit to India. His previous trip to the country was in March 2021.

Great to meet again with my friend @rajnathsingh and thank him for his unwavering commitment to U.S.-India defense relations. His leadership has helped paved the way for deeper collaboration, joint exercises, and technology sharing between our two countries, Austin tweeted.

In a major move, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced in May last year the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation.

The iCET is expected to forge closer linkages between the government, academia and industry of the two countries in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G and 6G, biotech, space and semiconductors.

The India-US defence and strategic ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The two countries have inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each others bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.

In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties.

The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
The Kerala government on Tuesday decided to categorise a massive landslide that had rocked a tiny hamlet in northern Kannur district last year as a special case and distribute compensation to the victims on the lines of 2018-19 deluge.

Landslides, triggered by heavy rains, wreaked havoc in the high ranges of Kanichar, located in Iritty taluk of Kannur in August, 2022, causing loss of lives and property.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to give compensation to the villagers whose houses were damaged in the disaster.

The compensation would be on the lines of aid distributed to the victims of 2018-19 floods, a statement from the chief minister's office here said.

A total of Rs four lakh from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) would be given to those whose houses were completely destroyed, it said.

Financial assistance would also be provided to those whose houses were partially damaged.

A total of Rs five lakh  Rs four lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs one lakh from the CMDRF  would be provided to the kin of those who were killed in the landslides, it said.

Compensation would also be given to those who had to spend time in relief camps and other such facilities due to the disaster.

An advance of Rs 20 lakh would be granted to Kannur District Collector for allotting emergency aids and job loss relief assistance to the victims, the statement added.

Among other things, the government also decided to enhance the freedom fighters' pension in the state from Rs 11,000 to Rs 14,080, with effect from April, 2023, it said.

The tenure of 56 special fast track courts allotted in the state and the tenure of the posts of temporarily created special public prosecutors there would be extended up to March 31, 2023, the CMO statement added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday confirmed that he will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country.

The PM accepted the invite by Senator Majority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and said he is looking forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress.

PM Modi said India is proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity.

Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress. We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, https://t.co/yeg6XaGUH2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2023

This will be the second time that Modi will be addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress. He is the first Indian PM to do so twice. Globally, as a Head of State/Government, PM Modi is second only to Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel, who has done it thrice.

On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is our honour to invite you (Prime Minister Modi) to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22," top congressional leaders said in a statement.

It is my honor to invite @PMOIndia@narendramodi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22nd.This will be an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India and speak to the global challenges our countries both face. pic.twitter.com/gu68UjJltG  Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 2, 2023

The statement was signed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an Official State visit to the US, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.
Violence continued to plague certain pockets in Manipur on Tuesday, following tensions that erupted in the Churachandpur district on May 3. The ongoing conflict has led to over 90 deaths, including civilians from both warring communities.

Following Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to the troubled state, a three-tier Unified Command under State Security Advisor Kuldeep Singh was established to restore normalcy. Chief Minister N Biren Singh paid tribute to a slain BSF soldier.

Army Operations in Sugnu & Serou

The Army reported multiple incidents of violence, arson, and firing in Sugnu and Serou, leading to the redeployment of additional troops in the area over the past 48 hours.

The troops were assigned to strengthen ongoing area domination operations, conduct ambushes, and prevent further violence and arson.

According to the Army, Intermittent exchange of fire took place between security forces and insurgents during the night of 5th and 6th June as a result of extensive area domination operations. Security forces took measures to prevent insurgents from escaping. However, firing intensified in the early hours, resulting in fatal injuries to one BSF personnel. Two Assam Rifles personnel were wounded and evacuated to Imphal. Initial reports suggest casualties among the insurgents, which are currently being verified. The area is being sanitized as operations continue."

Kuki Claim and World Meitei Councils Concern

The Kuki militant groups, who signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Centre and Manipur government in 2008, maintain that they have not violated any ground rules.

They emphasise their demand for a separate administration of hill areas in Manipur during future peace talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

However, the World Meitei Council expresses skepticism about the ground situation and questions whether the Kuki militants have returned to their designated camps as requested by the Union Home Minister.

The Council raises concerns about the governments inability to contain the situation and demands an investigation into the 10 MLAs who have called for separate administration.

As per certain reports, Manipur has witnessed a loss of 98 lives, with approximately 40,000 people seeking refuge in 272 relief camps and others fleeing to neighbouring states and Myanmar.

Nabakishore Yumnam, National Spokesperson of the World Meitei Council, highlights the issue of Kuki illegal migrants engaging in poppy cultivation in Manipur and challenges their claims of persecution. He cites documented records that depict the Kuki community as immigrants and provides supporting evidence.
The lone minor among seven female wrestlers has reportedly withdrawn her complaint of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. However, a few reports quoted her father as saying that the information is fake".

A report in Indian Express quoted sources as saying that the 17-year-old recorded a fresh statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

This statement could mean that it will be up to the Court to decide if the charges can be pursued and a trial will decide which statement under 164 will be given precedence, the report stated.

ALSO READ | FIR Says Brij Bhushan Singh Molested Wrestlers, Demanded Sexual Favours; His UP Rally Put Off

While the minors father did not respond to a query by the IE, he spoke to The Print and said: The news is completely fake. I have not withdrawn the complaint. I have taken the decision to fight it out and I will."

The father, however, added that the journey to justice is proving to be extremely tough and that there are days when he and his daughter find themselves questioning their determination. Yes, I have the spirit to fight. I am fighting it, but till when can I keep going? This experience has completely drained me," he said.

The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh. While the first FIR relates to allegations by a minor wrestler and has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the second is related to outraging modesty.

Brij Bhushan Singh, who has repeatedly denied all charges against him, has said that he would hang himself if a single allegation is proved against him.

Last week, Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat went to Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar along with their supporters to throw their medals in the Ganga. However, they relented after khap and farmer leaders sought five days time to address their grievances.

The wrestlers, who had been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23 seeking the arrest of Singh, were removed from the site by the Delhi Police on May 28 after they tried to march to the new Parliament building that was inaugurated the same day.

The wrestlers had called for a womens Mahapanchayat at the new Parliament building at a time when it was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had condemned the manner in which the protesting Indian wrestlers were being treated by Delhi Police, terming it very disturbing" in a strongly-worded statement.

The IOCs reaction followed the United World Wrestlings (UWW) criticism of the detention of the grapplers during their protest at Jantar Mantar, in which the sports world body threatened to suspend the national federation if it fails to hold its election within the stipulated time.
Every year, state and federal sources award millions of dollars in grants to government agencies, municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Cumberland County.

In the series Where Does the Money Go, The Sentinel will take a deeper dive into how these grants are game-changers to many of the recipients. This series will detail the rationale behind each grant request and the way the money will be used.

Hampden TownshipGrant amount: Four grants totaling $2.3 million

Grant source: Cumberland County and state agencies

Grant purpose: To rehab the Hampden Pool

Location: 5002 Hampden Park Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA

The Hampden Pool has been making a big splash as a summertime attraction for 50 years now.

Without question, its one of the largest and best maintained pools in central Pennsylvania, Township Manager Kevin Metts said recently. Its a popular feature.

But like any community pool, theres a demand for constant upkeep along with an occasional project to rehab the facility to stay ahead of aging infrastructure.

No question improvements need to be made for it to continue to operate, Metts said. With each season, there are maintenance challenges, but it has never shut the pool down.

About 18 months ago, the township hired Waters Edge, an aquatics design consulting firm out of Kansas City, Kansas, to develop a feasibility study of different options, said Nate Silcox, president of the township board of commissioners.

Township staff also dived into the work of securing grants to fund core repairs and maybe add recreational features to boost the pools appeal. So far, the township has been approved for:

A $985,000 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority that was drawn from the Local Share Account program supported by revenue collected through Pennsylvanias Gaming Act.

A $500,000 grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget.

A $495,000 grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program administrated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

A $400,000 grant from the $49.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to Cumberland County in 2021.

Of that money, the $985,000 grant has been set aside specifically for work to replace the pool gutter, filtration system, main drain and piping along with electronic and mechanical upgrades to the filter building.

All these funds give a nice shot in the arm in terms of these upgrades, Silcox said.

The facility consists of an Olympic size swimming pool, a zero depth entry tot pool, a spray ground, a double flume waterslide, a first-aid room, a concession stand, picnic tables and a pavilion.

In its study, Waters Edge identified options that range from keeping the pool at status quo with regular upkeep to undertaking a major rehab project to putting in such extra features such as a lazy river and cabanas. The Cambridge online dictionary defines a lazy river as a pool or waterpark feature in which a slow moving current carries people and small boats along. A cabana is a small cabin or tent-like structure used for shade or for changing clothes.

The options total $7 million, Silcox said. By comparison, the four grants come out to about $2.3 million.

In January, the township entered into an agreement with MKSD Architects of Allentown to design multiple pool improvements including the gutter and filtration, improvements to the bath house and the possible construction of shade structures.

Sometime this summer, the commissioners plan to receive bids on the design specifications for possible review and approval, Metts said. The goal is to start construction on the upgrades once the current pool season ends after Labor Day, he said.

The contractors would have until mid- to late May to complete the rehab work before the start of the 2024 season on Memorial Day weekend, Metts said. The grants that we received for the anticipated improvements are greatly appreciated and will go a long way to ensure the future operation of this public pool facility.
Will the National Investigation Agency take custody of Ali Asgar Shirazi, a close aide of wanted criminal Kailash Rajput, to investigate his alleged links to gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel, and the drug nexus in Mumbai? Sources privy to the investigation say it is likely, given the drug link, even as the Mumbai Police and NIA have not confirmed the development.

The Mumbai Police, in its remand application on Monday, stated that Shirazi had links to Ibrahim and Shakeel.

ALSO READ | Dawood Remarried, 2nd Wife Pak Pathan: Nephews Claim on Don, Plan to Attack Big Leaders, Bizmen

Shirazi was arrested at the Mumbai airport on May 22, while he was trying to flee to Dubai. He was named as the main accused in the case related to smuggling of ketamine and viagra worth Rs 8 crore to Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) using a courier service. His boss and international drug dealer Rajput exported banned drugs to the UK, United States (US) and Australia through Shirazi.

D-COMPANY LINKS; TERROR FINANCING ANGLE

Rajput ran the international drug racket at the behest of the D-gang.

As Shirazi handled his operations from Mumbai, he was also put on the wanted list. He had a lookout notice issued against him, but he wasnt aware of it, which is how he got arrested.

The Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai crime branch is also investigating Shirazis investments to determine whether proceeds from the drug money was used to finance these businesses or for terror financing.

CASE FILED IN MARCH

The AEC of the crime branch in March raided the premises of a courier office in Andheri East and seized 15 kg of ketamine and 23,000 tablets of viagra.

According to police sources, Shirazi used to smuggle ketamine and other banned substances through three courier companies  International Express, One Logistics and Pan Frent.

ALSO READ | D Company Has Moved Into Legal Businesses, Invested in Real Estate in Several Countries: Chhota Shakeel to News18

The remand application also mentioned that technical data such as chats have been deleted, which they were trying to investigate.

Shirazi was on Monday produced before the magistrate at Qila court, where he was represented by Abrar Shaikh, associate of advocate Taraq Sayyed. He has been remanded in judicial custody. Around seven accused have, so far, been arrested in the case.
Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised on the Golden Temple premises Tuesday by supporters and activists of radical Sikh outfits on the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.

The slogans of Khalistan Zindabad were also raised by activists of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by MP Simranjit Singh Mann and his associate former MP Dhian Singh Mand at the Akal Takht. Mann was also present on the spot.

Radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsas activists were seen holding placards bearing portraits of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhidnrawale and raising pro-Khalistan slogans. Hundreds of Sikh youths, led by the Dal Khalsa, were carrying Khalistani flags and photographs of damaged Akal Takht.

#WATCH | On the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star, Bhindranwale posters and pro-Khalistan slogans raised at the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar pic.twitter.com/VapwQgyCWe ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

The entire marbled periphery of Golden Temple near Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans. Elaborate security arrangements were in place in Amritsar to ensure that the event passed off peacefully.

Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh, in his message to the Sikh community, said the need of the hour was Sikh preachers and scholars should visit villages to promote Sikhism to apprise the youth with rich Sikh tenets and Sikh history in order the unite them under the banner of Akal Takht. He spoke about the issue of drug menace which has afflicted many youths.

He alleged that governments would never help the Sikh community to make them strong. He said Sikhs were never scared and panicked even after the incidents that happened in 1984.

Rather all such incidents had made the Sikh community stronger and Sikhs would continue their struggle to get justice and would never be scared to stand with the truth," he said. The Jathedar alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to weaken the Sikh community socially, economically and politically.

Now the time has come for the community to get united, he said. He said the Sikh community did not have any positive hope from successive governments as they were attempting to take over Sikh religious institutions and also playing a major role in dividing the community by using all unfair means.

On this occasion, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh religious body, displayed the bullet-ridden holy saroop (volume) of the Guru Granth Sahib. The saroop, which was installed in the sanctum sanctorum at that time, was hit by a bullet during the army action in 1984.

The Operation Bluestar was a military operation carried out in 1984 to flush out militants from the Golden Temple.

Security in Amritsar on Operation Bluestar Anniversary

Security was stepped up in Punjabs Amritsar ahead of the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla (law and order) Sunday reviewed security arrangements in the city on Sunday.

Operation Bluestar was the Army operation which was carried out in June 1984 to flush out the militants from the Golden Temple. Strict security measures are in place with increased patrols by local police and paramilitary forces in inner and outer areas," said Shukla.

Police said 68 checkpoints have been set up for round-the-clock surveillance while patrolling teams have been deployed in congested areas of the city.

Special DGP Shukla through media asked people not to believe any rumours on social media and warned of strict action if anyone tries to spread any.

Replying to a question on security arrangements in Amritsar, Shukla said four companies of CAPF (central armed police forces) have been deployed in the district, in addition to 3,000 Punjab police personnel.

The senior police officer said not only in Amritsar, security has been beefed up all over Punjab. Eleven companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state, in addition to police force mobilisation, he said.

Shukla said on June 6, sizable gathering can be expected at the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht where Operation Bluestar anniversary will be observed. He said all sensitive and hypersensitive points in the city have been covered by police to ensure peace at religious congregations in the Golden Temple on June 6.

To a question on a bandh call given by radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa on June 6, Shukla said it was the prerogative of shopkeepers and business establishments as nobody will force them to shut their shops.
Adipurush is one of the most awaited movies and while everyone is eagerly waiting for the Prabhas starrer, makes have left all even more excited with a new trailer. In a momentous celebration of cinematic brilliance intertwined with spiritual reverence, director Om Raut, producer Bhushan Kumar and actors  Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh, launched the highly anticipated final trailer of the magnum opus at Tirupati on Tuesday. The trailer offers a glimpse into the valour, power and triumph of good over evil that the film embodies. It showcases how Raghav and the Vanar Sena embark on an extraordinary journey to bring back Janaki and fight Lankesh. The new Adipurush trailer is a visual treat and has further intensified the anticipation for the films release.

For more: Adipurush New Trailer: Prabhas Ram Fights Saif Ali Khans Lankesh For Adharm Ka Vidhwans

Swara Bhasker is pregnant! The actress took to her social media accounts to reveal that she and her husband Fahad Ahmad are expecting their first baby together. Taking to Instgram, Swara shared a picture in which Fahad was seen craddling Swara as she showed her baby bump. She shared the news exactly six months after the couple got married in court.

For more: Swara Bhasker Announces Pregnancy Six Months After Marrying Fahad Ahmad, Shares Baby Bump Photos

Nawazuddin Siddiquis ex-wife Aaliya Siddiqui recently reacted to a social media user who asked her to drop actors surname. After Aaliya introduced her new-found love to the world by sharing a mushy photo with a mystery man on her Instagram account, a user commented, Surname change karlijye aap (You should change surname)". Aaliya was quick to reply as she wrote, bohot jaldi (very soon)".

For more: Nawazuddin Siddiquis Ex-Wife Aaliya Reacts As Netizen Asks Her To Drop Actors Surname

Amitabh Bachchan has long been known for his iconic Sunday tradition of greeting his fans outside his residence, Jalsa. He always greet them with bare feet and finally today he revealed the reason behind this. He also shared a picture on his Instagram handle.

For more: Amitabh Bachchan Finally Reveals Why He Greets His Fans Barefoot Every Sunday Outside Jalsa

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been making headlines for a long time now but for all the wrong reasons. After Jennifer Mistry accused the makers of sexual harassment, Bawri aka Monika Bhadoriya also accused Asit Kumar Modi of misbehaving on sets. Now, in a latest interview, Monika has claimed that she wanted to commit suicide due to mental torture on sets.

For more: TMKOC: Monika Bhadoriya Claims She Was Told Log Marte Hai, Kaam Karna Padta Hai After Her Moms Death
Arjun Rampals girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades is all set to welcome her second child. She is currently pregnant. The South African model and creative director recently clapped back at a troll passing a nasty remark about her. Gabriella recently shared a bundle of photos on her Instagram handle.

One of the photos featured her flaunting her baby bump. The other pictures offered glimpses of her daily life, including her baby boy Arik. While fans showered the post with love, a netizen took to the comments section and wrote, When will u get married .u stay in India not ur born place.. You ppl spoil youth mentality. Gabriella then gave a befitting reply to the troller saying, yes the mentality here is spoilt by bringing beautiful souls into the world , not by small minded bigots . 

Gabriellas comment went viral on social media, and several fans came out in support of her. One of them replied to her comment and wrote, Just ignore the haters, another reply read, @gabriellademetriades ignore such people. You are in a beautiful phase of life right now. Just let them be. You deserve all the happiness and love in the world. More power to you.

Earlier last month, Gabriella announced her 2nd pregnancy with a maternity shoot. In the pictures, Gabriella was seen wearing a brown flowy gown while putting her baby bump on full display. Sharing the photos, Gabriella wrote, Reality or AI ? Shot by @taras84 creatively directed by us at @stu.dio84 makeup by @sonamdoesmakeup and hair by @makeupbyvishakha wearing @deme_love_

Arjun and Gabriella have been together for over four years now. In August last year, Arjun shared a video celebrating their fourth anniversary of togetherness and wrote, Happy 4th to Us  my love. Thank you for all the beautiful memories. To making many more. #4thanniversary.

Arjun and Gabriella met in 2018 through mutual acquaintances and hit it off right away. Arjun has two daughters  Myra and Mahika  with his first wife Mehr Jesia. With Gabriella, Arjun shares a son, Arik. The couple frequently posts photos and videos of their son. The couple isnt married yet, and it doesnt appear like they are in any haste to do so.

Speaking with Pinkvilla, Arjun said that he thinks they are already married since they connect with each other on a deeper level and are perfectly in sync with each other. He also said that they dont need a piece of paper to prove their relationship to anyone.
Television actress Charu Asopa, who is also Sushmita Sens estranged sister-in-law, has shared a new detail about the Aarya 3 stars heart attack. For the unversed, Sushmita left the country in shock in March this year when she revealed she had suffered a heart attack. The actress, who has now receovered, said that she suffered a heart attack while filming for an upcoming project.

In a new interview, Charu revealed that Sushmita called the doctors herself when she experienced the heart attack and did not tell the family. Iske baare mein family mein kisi ko nahi pata tha because I think didi ne kisi ko bataya nahi tha. (No one in the family knew about this because I think she didnt tell anyone about it). So when it happened, she was in Jaipur and before she could tell anyone, she herself called the doctors," Charu told ETimes.

When I got to know this, I called my mother-in-law and asked her about it and she told me that now she (Sushmita) is fine. No one expected it and everyone was shocked, added the TV star, who is currently undergoing a divorce proceeding with Sushmitas brother Rajeev Sen.

In March, Sushmita shared the shocking news on Instagram. She revealed that she experienced a heart attack and underwent angioplasty and stent implant. Keep your heart happy & courageous, and itll stand by you when you need it the most Shona (Wise words by my father @sensubir). I suffered a heart attack a couple of days backAngioplasty donestent in placeand most importantly, my cardiologist reconfirmed I do have a big heart. Lots of people to thank for their timely aid & constructive actionwill do so in another post! This post is just to keep you (my well wishers & loved ones) informed of the good news that all is well & I am ready for some life again!!! I love you guys beyond!!!! #godisgreat #duggadugga," she wrote at the time.

Sushmita recently wrapped the filming of Aarya 3. Meanwhile, Charu is slowly finding her footing as a single mother as she moved out of Rajeevs house and rented a place for herself and their daughter.
Ever since Divya Agarwal and Varun Sood parted ways, the two have been often asked about the reason behind their breakup. However, in a recent interview, the Bigg Boss OTT winner finally revealed what happened between her and Varun. She admitted having a confusion and revealed that their abrupt breakup was because of her.

With Varun, I felt all over the place. With Apurva, I would feel calm and mature. I made Varun meet Apurva. I told him clearly that I had a problem. I had a confusion. Whatever has happened is very wrong and it has happened because of me. I need to put a stop somewhere. And thats why it was an abrupt break-up. I just got the car to a screeching halt," Divya said in Amrita Rao and RJ Anmols podcast recently.

This thought would always come to my mind that if I was to get married to my now ex (Varun) would I want to invite Apurva and if I invite him, would I be ok seeing him on that side. Apurva has been the most important person in my life. I had so many complex emotions in my head," the actress added.

Divya Agarwal and Varun Sood dated each other in the past but announced their breakup in March 2022. Back then, the Bigg Boss OTT fame issued a statement announcing that she and Varun are no longer dating each other. In March this year, the Abhay actress mentioned that it is best to separate if a relationship becomes the cause of unhappiness.

Why does society blame only women for the ending of a relationship? In my opinion, its sometimes the best decision to part away when the relationship becomes the cause of unhappiness and I did the same. For the benefit of society, women have long put aside their self-respect and interests. She is made to feel guilty or labeled as a rebel if she thinks about herself," she told IBT India.

Meanwhile, Divya is now engaged to entrepreneur Apurva Padgaonkar. The latter proposed to the actress on her 30th birthday in December 2022.
Actress Kriti Sanon has left fans in awe as she was spotted at the airport today in ethnic wear. The actress looked ethereal as she made her way to the Adipurush event happening in Tirupati. Earlier, it was reported that Prabhas and Kriti Sanon along with director Om Raut will be attending a special trailer launch in Tirupati today. Reportedly, the makers have spent Rs 2.5 crores for just this event.

In the video, shared by Viral Bhayani, we can see Kriti coming out of her car. She is looking simply gorgeous in a blue colour traditional angrakha. She effortlessly donned a resplendent ethnic ensemble, radiating grace and charm. She kept her makeup subtle and left her hair open. The actress completed the look with a blue printed mojari. Kriti before heading inside the airport pose for shutterbugs too. Fans hailed her look. One of the fans wrote, She manages to look Gorgeous even in Simple Outfits. Another wrote, So beautiful and pretty.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

The Adupurush Pre-release event will take place at Tirupati Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) Stadium. A sea of fans are expected to attend the event. While the prep is underway, Siasit.com reported the Adipurush makers are not holding back to make this event a memorable affair. It is claimed that the makers have spent a whopping Rs. 2.5 crore on the event. It is also reported that crackers worth Rs 50 lakhs have been arranged for the Adipurush pre-release event. The team is yet to react to the claims.

Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush is a cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana. While Prabhas will be playing the role of Raghav in the film, Kriti Sanon will play Janaki. The film also stars Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist, portraying King Ravana and Sunny Singh as Laxman. Adipurush is being considered as the biggest film in Prabhas career. It is a mythological drama that has been made on a budget of Rs 300 crore. The film is jointly bankrolled by Bhushan Kumars T-series and Retrophiles. The film will be released on June 16, 2023.
Nandamuri Balakrishna, who is commonly known as NBK or Balayya, is one of the most popular and respected actors in the South Indian film industry. He enjoys a massive fan following in the Telugu film industry and has worked in more than 100 films. Apart from having a fantastic career, he is also involved in politics as well. He founded the Telugu Desam Party and even won the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Elections from the Hindupur Assembly Constituency seat with a reasonable majority.

Earlier, there was news that Balayya Babu and ace director Anil Ravipudi had collaborated for the first time on a high-budget entertainer. It was NBKs 108th film and was tentatively titled #NBK108. Now, there are reports that the title of the film and the first look will be revealed on June 8, two days prior to Balayyas birthday. The popular actor celebrates his birthday on June 10th, and the makers have revealed that there will be several treats for the actor on his special day.

The makers said, A powerful title is locked, and we need to wait for three more days to witness the first-look poster too. A bigger surprise is being planned for Balakrishnas birthday on June 10, but we cant reveal details right now."

This is one of the most anticipated films by Nandamuri Balakrishna. According to reports, Kajal Aggarwal has been roped in to play the female lead in the film. Reportedly, Arjun Rampal will be making his Telugu debut and will be seen playing an important role. Apart from them, Sreeleela has also been included to play a crucial role.

#NBK108 is a pan-India film that is expected to hit theatres on Vijayadasami or Dussehra. Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi are producing the film on a huge scale under the Shine Screens banner. The music is by S Thamam, and the cinematography of the film is helmed by C Ram Prasad.

Earlier, the makers revealed two different looks of NBK on Ugadi Eve, which created a storm among the fans of the superstar.
Nawazuddin Siddiquis ex-wife Aaliya Siddiqui is in love and she is not shying away from accepting it in public. Aaliya Siddiqui on Monday introduced her new-found love to the world by sharing a mushy photo with a mystery man on her Instagram account.

Sharing the picture, Aaliya Siddiqui wrote, It has taken over 19 years to get out of the relationship that I treasured. But in my life, my childrens are my priority, they were always and they will be. However, there are few relationships that are bigger than and beyond friendship, and this relationship is the same relationship and I am very happy about the same hence shared my happiness with you all. Dont I have the right to be happy?"

Who Is Nawazuddin Siddiquis Ex-wife Aaliya Siddiquis Lover?

Aaliya Siddiqui has moved on in her life. She told The Times of India in an interview that she shares more than friendship" with the mystery man, who hails from Italy. The two reportedly met in Dubai.

What Happened Between Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya Siddiqui

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya Siddiquis public spat over their divorce grabbed many headlines. It began when she accused her estranged husband of abuse. She even verbally attacked him for allegedly misusing his power. Earlier, Aaliya had claimed that Nawazuddin disowned their children and alleged that the actors mother Mehrunisa harassed her by not giving her access to the actors Mumbai home. Aaliya also revealed that she already applied for divorce but the court asked the former couple to settle things outside the legal purview.

In a recent chat with News18, Aaliya spoke about why she decided to take to social media to shed light on her marital issues with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. I had to talk about these things in public because I was suffering a lot. I felt like I would suffocate if I didnt. The decision taken by the court finally makes me feel Im at peace. Only I know what I went through mentally. One can imagine the kind of misery a person is in if they talk about their private matters in public, she stated

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya Siddiqui were married in 2011. The two have two kids together- daughter Shora and son Yaani. Aaliya confirmed heading for a divorce from Nawazuddin in March 2023.
Nawazuddin Siddiquis ex-wife Aaliya Siddiqui recently reacted to a social media user who asked her to drop actors surname. After Aaliya introduced her new-found love to the world by sharing a mushy photo with a mystery man on her Instagram account, a user commented, Surname change karlijye aap (You should change surname)". Aaliya was quick to reply as she wrote, bohot jaldi (very soon)".

It has taken over 19 years to get out of the relationship that I treasured. But in my life, my childrens are my priority, they were always and they will be. However, there are few relationships that are bigger than and beyond friendship, and this relationship is the same relationship and I am very happy about the same hence shared my happiness with you all. Dont I have the right to be happy?" Aaliya had written in the post while sharing a photo with her new-lover.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya Siddiquis divorce battle grabbed everyones attention. The two levelled several allegations against each other. Earlier, Aaliya claimed that Nawazuddin disowned their children and alleged that the actors mother Mehrunisa harassed her by not giving her access to the actors Mumbai home. Later, the actor also claimed that his estranged wife only want money, a charge denied by Aaliya.

In a recent conversation with with News18 Showsha, Aaliya talked about why she decided to take to social media to shed light on her marital issues with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. I had to talk about these things in public because I was suffering a lot. I felt like I would suffocate if I didnt. The decision taken by the court finally makes me feel Im at peace. Only I know what I went through mentally. One can imagine the kind of misery a person is in if they talk about their private matters in public, she stated.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya Siddiqui tied the knot in 2011. The two have two kids together - daughter Shora and son Yaani.
Farmington Elks Lodge 1765 has announced that the Farmington High School and St. Paul Lutheran High School Students of the Year for 2022-2023 are Thomas (TJ) Benoist and Abby Castien, respectively. They were previously chosen as Students of the Month in October 2022.

The awards were announced at the Youth Awards Banquet held May 7 at the lodge. Keith Huck emceed the event.

Thomas (TJ) Benoist

Benoist, the son of Tom and Tammy Benoist of Farmington, was selected to attend Boy's State in the summer of 2022. He is a Life Scout member in the Boy's Scout of America, and was awarded First Place in District 12 FBLA competition in journalism, HR management and business law.

Benoist has been involved in many organizations, serving as chapter treasurer of the FBLA, selected as Student Council student body vice president (2022-23) and class president (2021-22) plus representative (2019-21), live director of BKTV Studios, Knights in Action member (2020-23) and attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy in 2021. To top it all off, at this year's FHS graduation ceremony, Benoist was named Knight of the Year.

He plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to study pre-law.

Abby Castien

Castien, the daughter of Elizebeth and Stephen Castien of Farmington, is a member of the Student Leadership Team, scored a 30+ on her ACT, won the Mineral Area College Writing Contest in 2022, and was valedictorian of her senior class. During her high school years, she sang in the school choir (four years), and worked on many service projects in the community, including the food pantry, Parkland Hope Center, Engler Park Trail repair, Bethel Bible Camp and highway cleanup.

Castien plans to attend Concordia University in Nebraska, to major in education and become a teacher.

Trade School Scholarship winners were Kadyn Coke, Isaiah Faulkner and Carson Short.
Actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khuranas father, P Khurrana, passed away on May 19. His last rites took place in Chandigarh. Now, the actors along with their mother Poonam Khurrana have returned to Mumbai. In a video that surfaced online, the brothers were captured exiting the Mumbai airport, displaying a heartwarming gesture of support and affection by holding their mothers hands as they made their way towards their car.

Earlier, Ayushmann Khurrana along with his brother Aparshakti Khurana and their mother Poonam, shared a heartwarming moment captured on a flight. Ayushmann took to his Instagram Stories to post a selfie of the three of them, radiating joy and love. The caption Maa" expressed Ayushmanns affection for his mother. Later, they were also spotted by the paparazzi at Mumbai airport. Ayushmann and Aparshakti walked on either side of their mother and were seen holding her hands. Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani)

The actors garnered a lot of praise from the fans. Son should be like this, wrote a fan, while another one said, Lucky mom. A comment read, God is near to us in the form of ma and baba. Take care of your precious gift from God."

It was last month their father P Khurrana passed away. Aparshakti shared the news in a statement. Its with our deep sadness to inform that Ayushmann and Aparshakti Khuranas father, Astrologer P Khurana passed away this morning at 10:30 am in Mohali, owing to a prolonged incurable ailment. We are indebted for all your prayers and support during this time of personal loss," the statement read.

Later Ayushmann Khurrana penned an emotional note as he mourned his fathers death. Maa ka khayal rakhna hai aur humesha saath rehna hai. Pita jaisa banne ke liye bahut duur jaana padta hai apne pita se. Pehli baar aisa mehsoos ho raha hai ki papa bahut duur aur bahut qareeb hain humare. Thank you for your upbringing, love, sense of humour and the most beautiful memories, his post read.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Work-wise, Ayushmann Khurrana was last seen in Anubhuti Kashyaps Doctor G alongside Rakul Preet Singh in the lead. He will next be seen in the much-awaited Dream Girl 2 along with Ananya Panday in the lead.
Shreyas Talpade has carved a massive fan base among the audience with films like Iqbal, Welcome to Sajjanpur, and others. But, there was a time when he had to face tough times in the initial days of his career. He has recalled one of those incidents in the talk show Khupte Tithe Gupte hosted by Avadhoot Gupte. Zee Marathi Official has shared a promo of Shreyass episode on Instagram. This episode will be telecast on Zee Marathi on June 11 at 09:00 PM.

Shreyas told Avadhoot that he was called to give auditions for one of the serials. The actor said that he was about to speak his dialogue when the cameraman asked him to pause for a moment. According to Shreyas, the cameraman had told him that there was a technical problem that could not be fixed even after a long time. The actor remembered the cinematographer calling him Panauti (unlucky or bad omen) for this. The Golmaal Again actor said that he didnt know how to react since he didnt have any work in hand at that time. Fans have loved the promo and many of them commented that Shreyas has now come a long way since that incident.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zee Marathi (@zeemarathiofficial)

On the work front, Shreyas will play the role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the film Emergency directed by Kangana Ranaut. This film revolves around the incidents that took place when the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an emergency in India in 1975. Shreyas had told PTI that Atal Ji is one of the most revered, intelligent, learned, influential, and one of the most loved leaders in India and across the world. He said that it is a big privilege, huge honour, and a bigger responsibility as well to portray him on screen. I hope I live up to everybodys expectations. I am trying my best to portray the part, Shreyas said.

Produced by Renu Pitti and Ranaut, Emergency will release on October 20. Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik, and others have also essayed key roles in this film. Besides Emergency, Shreyas has also acted in the serial Mazhi Tuzhi Reshimgaath.
ON THIS DAY IN 1984: On this day in 1984, the Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple complex as part of its Operation Blue Star. The operation was undertaken to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other armed militants who had been hiding inside the temple premises. While Bhindranwale and his aides were killed in the military operation, many civilians also lost their lives.

#WATCH | Punjab: 39th anniversary of #OperationBlueStar being observed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar pic.twitter.com/hFsi2r6HhL ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2023

Bhindranwale was at the forefront of the Khalistan movement that gained traction in the 1980s. As part of the movement, the extremist leader wanted the Indian government to pass the Anandpur resolution and make a separate state of Khalistan for Sikhs.

Bhindranwale garnered support for the movement and Punjab was devastated by militancy. In 1983, Bhindranwale and some armed militants entered the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib Complex and set up their base inside it.

The militants took control of the temple while being armed with sophisticated weapons including machine guns and RPGs (rocket-propelled grenade launchers). This prompted the Indian government to launch Operation Blue Star and regain control of the Golden Temple.

The Indian Army penetrated the premises of the Golden Temple that witnessed a heavy exchange of fire between the militants and the army.

The operation turned out to be successful as the Indian Army managed to eliminate Bhindranwale along with many of his supporters holed up inside the holiest shrine of Sikhs. Some of the militants also surrendered.

Around 250 militants were killed in the operation and many were wounded. The Indian Army also suffered casualties where many soldiers and officers died or were wounded.
Extreme heat conditions in Assam in June, with temperatures hovering over 39 degrees Celsius, around 6-8 degrees above normal, have forced people to remain indoors. The average Assam temperature in June ranges typically between 28 to 33 degrees.

The opposition in Assam, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, chose to spend the hot afternoon on Tuesday under shady trees in the capital city of Guwahati. APCC working president Kamalakhya Purkasthya was seen reading a newspaper under a Gulmohar tree, while TMC Assam President Ripun Bora and other party members gathered under a large tree to escape the scorching sun.

This follows Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimarys advice to state residents to spend time under trees to reduce power bills.

As the state does not have its own electricity production and as we depend on others, we must find ways to combat it. We need to explore alternatives, such as spending time under trees, in order to reduce power bills," he said.

The observation made by the Speaker, which the opposition claims to be bizarre, has sparked criticism.

According to Ripun Bora, President of TMC Assam, the government has repeatedly increased electricity bills and introduced smart meters, leading to inflated bills.

The government has repeatedly increased electricity bills and introduced smart meters, which also inflate the bills. The present government is looting the common people by raising the charges per unit by 30 to 70 paisa, while failing to provide uninterrupted electricity. Adding insult to injury, the Speaker of the assembly asks people to sit under trees to save on electricity bills. It is audacious of him to make such a statement, and it is unbecoming of a person of his stature to demean the citizens of the state" Bora said.

Congress MLA and Working President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Kamalakhya Purkashtya was spotted sitting beneath a shady tree in front of the Assam Speakers official bungalow, reading the morning newspaper.

I am a peoples representative, and the Speaker of the Assembly has advised us not to use fans and instead sit under trees to cope with the soaring electricity bills. The Speaker has actually spoken based on facts. While Rajasthan and Punjab governments provide subsidies and free electricity, our government continues to raise electricity bills every other month. The government claims it is for the benefit of the state, but I ask how? I am ready to sit under a tree for five days, but I urge the government to reduce electricity bills," Purkasthya said.

According to reports, APDCL is planning to hike tariffs by 30 paise to 70 paise per unit of electricity consumed. For consumers under the subsidised Jeevan Dhara scheme, the increase will be 30 paise per unit, while for other consumers the hike will be 70 paise.

The notification also included that households consuming 5 to 30 kilowatts of electricity will be required to pay Rs 8.15 per unit, while business establishments will have to pay Rs 8.60 per unit.

In January, APDCL proposed a hike of Re 1 per unit in charges across the state. The proposal was forwarded to the Electricity Regulatory Commission for its decision.

According to sources, APDCL made the decision to ensure a reliable supply and provide better services to customers. Just a few days before that, the rates were increased by 30 paise per unit.

APDCL had decided to charge an additional 30 paise per unit for all power consumers, effective from November 2022.

In relation to this, customers were issued directives by APDCL on December 9.

On November 25 last year, APDCL announced that it would impose a Fuel and Power Purchase Price Adjustment (FPPPA) charge of 79 paise per unit on all categories of consumers in electricity bills for the months of November, December 2022, and January 2023.
Sugar cooperative mills play a major role in Maharashtra politics and that is why there are tough fights in elections for these factories. Big state leaders either contest these polls or put their might behind the panel of local supporters. But since the past few years, many sugar mills have been facing a financial crunch due to sluggish domestic demand, no exports, and an increase in the prices of sugarcane without a commensurate rise in sugar prices.

Often these sugar mills have to apply for loans from the Centre-run National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). After carefully examining the audits of these sugar mills, the NCDC makes its decision. This time, the Maharashtra government had also sent applications of sugar mills run by BJP leaders for margin money loan. But the NCDC didnt approve the applications, saying the sugar mills dont fit in the criteria.

The state cooperative department was told by the NCDC that if the Maharashtra government takes responsibility for the repayment of this huge loan, then the corporation will think positively about the proposal. So the cooperative department made the proposal for a loan of Rs 1,023.57 crore for nine sugar mills connected to BJP bigwigs like union minister of state Raosaheb Danve, state revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, former ministers Panakja Munde and Harshvardhan Patil, Member of Parliament Dhananjay Mahadik, and MLA Abhimanyu Pawar.

This proposal was presented in the state cabinet for approval in April. But, surprisingly, a few ministers from the BJP opposed it. They raised the concern that If the government helps only a few sugar mills then the wrong message could be sent to the public. It was supported by ministers from the Eknath Shinde camp along with the finance and planning department of the state government. The opposition also raised its voice, threatening to go to court. A cabinet subcommittee was appointed, which took a decision on certain parameters by approving the proposals of six sugar mills of Rs 550 crore.

According to sources, the approved proposals for loans dont include the sugar mills connected to revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and former minister Pankaja Munde. This has raised eyebrows and again the issue of infighting" in the state BJP is being discussed in the political corridors of Maharashtra. Panakja Munde, who was a cabinet minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government, never had a cordial relationship with the then CM. When her father and BJP top leader Gopinath Munde was alive, he was the face of Maharashtra BJP. Following his death, there were talks that Pankaja could become the first woman CM of Maharashtra. In 2014, the BJP won the Maharashtra elections and Devendra Fadnavis was made the CM and Panakja Munde was made a cabinet minister. But the differences between Fadnavis and her have increased, say sources.

According to political analysts, after becoming the CM of Maharashtra in 2014, Fadnavis tactically targeted those BJP leaders who opposed him. Some analysts are of the opinion that scams, which came out against senior BJP leaders and former minister Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde, and Pankaja Munde were part of that strategy.

In January, Pankaja remained absent during the official visit of Fadnavis on her home turf. Fadnavis also didnt consider Pankajas name while appointing candidates for the previous state legislative council elections. After getting the post of BJP national secretary, Panakja has made it clear that her leaders are Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda.

Another BJP leader who has received much attention in a very short period since joining the party is Radhakrishana Vikhe Patil. Being the leader of the opposition from 2014 to 2019, Vikhe Patil took Fadnavis head-on when the latter was CM. Regarding allegations levelled by Vikhe Patil on the Mumbai city development plan, Fadnavis had also sent him a legal notice. But later Vikhe Patil joined the BJP. When the disqualification plea of the Uddhav Thackeray camp against Eknath Shinde and his MLAs was in the Supreme Court, there was speculation that Vikhe Patil could become the next chief minister if the apex court order was against Shinde. His access to top BJP leaders in the national capital in a short time has raised eyebrows among party leaders in the state. According to sources, Fadnavis had expressed his displeasure to Vikhe Patil regarding his working style and the way he is running the important department of state revenue.

According to reports, Vikhe Patils name may be considered for the post of CM of Maharashtra in the 2024 assembly elections because there is a chance that Fadnavis may get elevated to national politics. In such a scenario, Vikhe Patil and Pankajas sugar mills finding no place in the loan list is garnering attention. It also indicates what signal Fadnavis wants to send to these leaders who may go against him in the near future. After all, sugar mill politics holds the key to the politics of Maharashtra.
Apple Inc has acquired Mira, a Los Angeles-based AR startup that makes headsets for other companies and the U.S. military, the Verge reported on Tuesday, citing a post from Mira CEOs private Instagram account and a person familiar with the matter.

This comes a day after Apple unveiled a costly augmented-reality headset called the Vision Pro, one of its riskiest bets since the introduction of the iPhone more than a decade ago, barging into a market dominated by Meta Platforms.

Apples headset will test a market crowded with devices that have yet to gain traction with consumers and put it in direct competition with Facebook-owner Meta after years of clashes between the companies over issues like user privacy and control of developer platforms.

Miras military contracts include a small agreement with the U.S, Air Force and a $702,351 agreement with the Navy, according to government records and press releases, the Verge report said.

The Verge added that Apple had confirmed the acquisition saying that it buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and generally does not discuss its purpose or plans.

Apple has brought on at least 11 of Miras employees as part of the acquisition, according to the report.

Apple, Mira and its CEO Ben Taft did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia Tuesday on a trip to strengthen strained ties with the long-time ally as the oil-rich kingdom forges closer relations with Washingtons rivals.

Blinkens three-day visit will also focus on efforts to end conflicts in Sudan and Yemen, the joint battle against the Islamic State group (IS) and the Arab worlds relations with Israel.

His trip comes at a time of quickly shifting alliances in the Middle East, centred around a China-brokered rapprochement in March between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Another landmark change saw Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad invited back to the Arab League last month for the first time since the start of the 12-year civil war in which his government has been backed by Russia and Iran.

There is just a tremendous amount of work that were trying to do," a US State Department senior official dealing with Arabian Peninsula affairs, Daniel Benaim, said before Blinkens trip.

Were focused on an affirmative agenda here and the great deal of work our countries can do together."

Blinken landed in the Red Sea city of Jeddah Tuesday evening and is expected to meet Saudi Arabias de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a US official, before heading to Riyadh Wednesday for a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.

- Energy prices -

The visit is Blinkens first since the kingdom restored diplomatic ties with Iran, which the West considers a pariah over its contested nuclear activities and involvement in regional conflicts.

The United States offered cautious support for the deal that was sealed in China, the rising power making inroads in the Middle East.

US-Saudi relations, centred for decades on energy and defence, were badly strained by the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

Washington was also upset when Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, refused to help bring down skyrocketing energy prices after Russias attack on Ukraine in February last year.

Rights activists including Abdullah Al-Qahtani, a US citizen whose father, Mohammad Al-Qahtani, was jailed for 10 years after founding a civil rights group in Saudi Arabia and who remains unaccounted for, urged Blinken to raise their concerns.

He has to bring up my dads situation. Is he alive? Is he being tortured? We dont know," Abdullah Al-Qahtani told a virtual news conference.

Prince Mohammed, 37, has steered an independent foreign policy course, also hosting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday.

Iran, the arch-enemy of the United States and Israel for decades, reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday following a seven-year hiatus.

Still, US-Saudi strategic relations remain close, especially on defence: Washington has long provided the Sunni Arab giant security protection from Shiite Iran, and Riyadh buys cutting-edge US weaponry.

- Israel relations -

US and Saudi diplomats have cooperated closely on efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire in Sudans eight-week-old war, so far unsuccessfully, and Saudi help was crucial in evacuating thousands of foreigners from the war zone.

The two allies are also engaged in the ongoing battle against IS, the jihadist group that has lost all its territory in the Middle East but is increasingly active in parts of Africa.

They are also discussing efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has long provided military support to the government in a fight against Huthi rebels backed by Iran.

The United States also hopes that Saudi Arabia will eventually agree to normalise relations with Israel, which has already built ties with several other Arab countries under the Abraham Accords brokered by the Donald Trump administration.

On the eve of his Saudi trip, Blinken reiterated that the United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia".

He said Washington has no illusions" that this can be done quickly or easily, but stressed that we remain committed to working toward that outcome".

Saudi Arabia has so far maintained that Israel must first recognise an independent Palestinian state.
A former executive at ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok, said in a legal filing that the Communist Party of China (CPC) accessed the data of TikTok users in Hong Kong in 2018, the Wall Street Journal said in a report. TikTok and ByteDance have denied the allegations.

The former executive, Yintao Yu, made the revelations in a wrongful-dismissal lawsuit filed in early May in San Francisco Superior Court.

Yu said the committee members focused on civil rights activists and protesters in Hong Kong and accessed TikTok data which contained their network information, SIM card identifications and IP addresses, in order to identify and locate those users, the Wall Street Journal said.

The former executive also alleged that TikTok stored all users direct messages, search histories and content viewed. He also alleged that ByteDance maintains a backdoor channel for the CPC to access American user data.

Yu said the CPC committee accessed user data of protesters, civil rights activists and their supporters and also of users who were identified from previous protests that they may have attended. People who uploaded protest-related material were also surveilled.

The Wall Street Journal highlighted that TikTok-parent ByteDance has a room in one of its Beijing offices where a Chinese police cybersecurity team is stationed, highlighting it is common practice at Chinese tech companies.

Yus lawsuit and a separate report by the New York Times claims ByteDance scrapes content from competitor social-media platforms and posts it on TikTok to make the app more popular while also engaging in fabricating users and exaggerating key engagement metrics.

He served as the head of engineering for ByteDances US offices from 2017 to 2018 and is a California resident. He also spent time in ByteDances offices in Los Angeles and Beijing.

A spokesperson for ByteDance said Yu is making these allegations to garner media attention and highlighted he did not make these allegations in the last five years after his dismissal.

Charles Jung, Yus lawyer, told the Wall Street Journal that his client came forward because he viewed TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chews testimony at the congressional hearing in March as a misdirection. He said that his client is placing himself at risk. My client is placing himself at risk by telling his story in court. But the truth is powerful, and telling the truth is whats needed to bring social change, Jung was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal.

I have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data. They have never asked us. We have not provided, Chew told during the hearing in March.

ByteDance has tried to reassure the US government on several occasions that TikTok is safe for American users. Several US states and the Biden administration have imposed bans on installing and using TikTok on government devices fearing that the data of American users is not in safe hands and amid fears that the Chinese government may use TikTok to promote certain content.

India banned TikTok in June 2020 over privacy concerns and concerns about how China harvests data of Indian users.
Pakistans former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was among some of the top leaders of Imran Khans party to be arrested following the May 9 violent protests, was released from a prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Tuesday following a court order.

The Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party was arrested last month on a plethora of charges, including inciting violence following chairman Imran Khans arrest in a corruption case on May 9.

Qureshi, 66, served as Pakistans foreign affairs minister from 2018 to 2022 under Khans regime.

On Tuesday, the Lahore High Courts Rawalpindi bench ordered the PTI leaders immediate release and set aside his detention orders. Upon his release from Adiala Jail, Qureshi said he will meet PTI chief Khan at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Wednesday.

Tomorrow I will meet Khan, present to him my political analysis and seek guidance, he said upon his release. He said that he would hold a press conference after meeting Khan.

I want to tell the PTI workers that the flag of justice is in my hands and I am still part of this movement, he said.

Addressing PTI supporters, the former minister said: This is a testing and difficult time but dont lose hope because after every night there is a dawn. I think in different jails there are countless innocent people who should be released. I will try, and we will pursue their cases after consultation with our legal team, Qureshi added.

On May 18, the Islamabad High Court ordered the former foreign ministers release. However, his release was delayed due to his apparent reluctance to provide an undertaking to refrain from engaging in unruly protests.

On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad.

His party workers vandalised over 20 military installations and government buildings, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad.

The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Khan was later released on bail.

The violence elicited a strong reaction from the government and military with vows of taking action against the culprits, leading to an ongoing crackdown against those involved.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested over 10,000 workers of Khans Pakistan party across Pakistan, 4,000 of them from Punjab province.

The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different joint investigation teams to probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed Black Day.

Following the May 9 incidents, several senior leaders of Khans party were taken into custody. The leaders included Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Shireen Mazari, Maleeka Bukhari, and Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan.

A few days later, many prominent leaders including Fawad, Imran Ismail, Shireen Mazari, Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan, Firdaus Ashiq Awan and others quit Khans party.

Last week, a delegation of former leaders of Khans party comprising Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, Mahmood Moulvi and Aamir Kiani met Qureshi in Adiala jail and tried to convince him to part ways with the deposed prime minister.

However, Qureshis son Zain Qureshi said that his father has only done politics of principles" not position and greed.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) may not go into polls from a single platform, coalition partner Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, according to a report by the Dawn.

The PDM is not an election alliance and it is unlikely that it contests the next polls on one platform. Every party has its own manifesto. However, the parties in the PDM may go for seat-adjustment at local levels, the president of the party said.

The PDM president appeared to reject the request of defence minister Khawaja Asifs request that the coalition should contest the upcoming polls together.

The nine-party alliance, led by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-(N)), which also contains the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) (PML-Q) and the Jahangir Khan Tareen group, are taking steps to accommodate leaders who have left former prime minister Imran Khans Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the incidents of May 9.

The fundamentalist leader also said that he welcomes a court ban on PTI and said he fully supports the army in its decision to sue PTI cadres under the draconian Army Act.

He said never before in the history of Pakistan members of a political party were involved in plotting attacks on army installations. He said no talks will be held with Imran Khans party and he and his partys cadres should face the law for the May 9 violence.

The fundamentalist leader remained tight-lipped about elections being held in October. Rahman said decisions regarding the polls will be taken in consultation with the coalition parties.

The PDM has on several occasions pointed out that it wants simultaneous polls across the country and earlier in May, both PDM and PTI agreed on holding general elections across the country on the same date, however, both parties were at loggerheads over the date of the polls.

It is unlikely that another round of talks will be held anytime soon as the Army and the government want to punish PTI leaders and their chief Imran Khan for the May 9 violence.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo.  Truman State University has released its academic honor rolls for the spring 2023 semester.

Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the spring semester can now find their honor roll information posted online.

The Presidents List, for students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, can be accessed at truman.edu/honors/spring-2023-presidents-list. The Vice President for Academic Affairs List, featuring students with a grade point average between 3.50-3.99, can be found at truman.edu/honors/spring-2023-vice-president-for-academic-affairs-list.

To qualify for either list, a student must be an undergraduate and complete at least 12 hours of credit during the semester.

Lists are organized by state and hometown. Hometowns are based upon the permanent address given to the University by the student. Students who have requested a directory hold on their information are not included on the lists. Any questions regarding student eligibility for inclusion on the lists can be directed to the Academic Affairs Office at (660) 785-4105.

Founded in 1867, Truman is Missouris public liberal arts and sciences university. U.S. News & World Report has rated Truman as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region for 26 consecutive years, and Washington Monthly ranked Truman as the No. 7 masters university in the nation.

The list of Parkland students and their hometowns include:

Bismarck, President's List: Dakotah Mandina

Bonne Terre, President's List: Cole Mullins

Cadet, President's List: Laura Haarmann

Doe Run, Vice President of Academic Affairs List: Heather Beard

Farmington, President's List: Dreston Hoffman, Breanna Mathes

Farmington, Vice President of Academic Affairs List: Lily Borrego, Kate Howard, Alexander Karst, Caitlyn Mabry, JC Odle

Ironton, Vice President of Academic Affairs List: Hannah Helvey

Ste. Genevieve, President's List: Mary Roth, Alexandria Werner
Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin decried the loss to Ukrainian forces of a village near Bakhmut and said tactics used by regular Russian forces would lead to more setbacks within two weeks.

Prigozhin made his comments on Monday as a top Russian-backed official in the occupied Donetsk region described the military situation around Bakhmut as difficult.

Prigozhins private Wagner militia captured virtually all of Bakhmut in Ukraines east last month after the longest battle of the war and handed its positions there to regular Russian troops.

Since then, Ukraine has continued to attack areas north and south of the city.

Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away. Disgrace!" Prigozhin said in an audio message published by his press service.

Berkhivka lies about 3 km (2 miles) northwest of Bakhmut, and Wagner claimed its capture on Feb. 24.

In an interview posted on Telegram later on Monday, Prigozhin said Russias defence ministry was duping the public and Kremlin leaders with its tactics.

He said Ukrainian movements in the area can happen much faster than our advances".

The Ministry of Defences tactics are malicious and deceptive," he said in the online interview.

The Ministry of Defences main goal is to pretend that everything is ok and that we are advancing. In reality, what is happening now  will result in significant tactical defeats in two weeks time."

Prigozhin also denounced the Russian Defence Ministrys latest account of fighting in the Donetsk region, which detailed big losses inflicted on Ukrainian forces, as simply wild and absurd science fiction".

Denis Pushilin, the top Moscow-backed official in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk region, which includes Bakhmut, told Russian state television the situation on the citys flanks was under control" but very difficult".

Prigozhin has urged Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to the front to rally the troops.

Come on, you can do it!" he said in his message. And if you cant, youll die heroes."

Prigozhin has waged a public feud with Shoigu and Gerasimov for months, accusing them of failing to provide sufficient ammunition and support for Wagner in the field, and so causing it to suffer needlessly heavy losses.

In recent days, Prigozhin has further escalated the row, accusing regular forces under the command of the defence ministry of mining roads out of Bakhmut used by Wagner units.
Russia said on Tuesday it had thwarted another major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, inflicting heavy losses, while Ukraine hailed progress in fighting in the east, although it was unclear if it marked the start of a long-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.

On Monday, Russia said Ukrainian forces over the weekend had begun a major offensive in the southern part of the Donetsk region, which it had also thwarted.

Ukrainian officials have made no mention of any broad, significant new campaign, although in his nightly address on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was enigmatic, hailing the news we have been waiting for" and forward moves in Bakhmut in Donetsk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year in what the Kremlin expected to be a swift operation, but its forces suffered a series of defeats and regrouped in the countrys east.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops dug in over the winter, besieging Bakhmut for months and bracing for an expected Ukrainian counter-attack to try to cut Russias so-called land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.

The latest Russian defence ministry statement said Russian forces had inflicted huge personnel losses on attacking Ukrainian forces and destroyed 28 tanks, including eight Leopard main battle tanks and 109 armoured vehicles. It said total Ukrainian losses amounted to 1,500 troops.

Having suffered heavy losses the day before, the Kiev regime reorganised the remnants of the 23rd and 31st mechanised brigades into separate consolidated units, which continued offensive operations," the ministry said on Telegram.

A complex fire defeat was inflicted by army forces, assault and operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery, as well as heavy flamethrower systems."

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv about Russias assertions.

Russia and Ukraine have often made claims of inflicting heavy human losses on each other which could not be independently verified.

The Washington Post reported that some US officials thought the counteroffensive was underway, but White House national security spokesperson John Kirby declined to say whether he thought this was the case.

Im not going to be talking for the Ukrainian military," he told a regular briefing.

(But) whenever they decide to step up and whatever they decide to do, the president is confident that we did everything we could over the last six, eight months or more to make sure that they had all the equipment, the training, the capabilities to be successful."

In a promotional video released on Sunday and urging silence in regards to any military actions, Ukraines defence ministry said: Plans like silence - the beginning will not be announced."

HIGH STAKES

The success or failure of a counteroffensive, expected to be waged with billions of dollars worth of advanced Western weaponry, is likely to influence the shape of future Western diplomatic and military support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Reuters on Monday Ukraine now had enough weapons for a counteroffensive but declined to comment when asked whether it had begun.

Russias defence ministry said previously Ukraine had launched a large-scale offensive on Sunday in five sectors of the front in southern Donetsk, an area where Moscow has long suspected Ukraine would seek to drive a wedge through Russian-controlled territory.

The enemys goal was to break through our defences in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front," it said. It had no success."

In its evening report on Monday, Ukraines General Staff made no mention of any large-scale offensive, nor did it suggest any deviation from the usual tempo or scope of fighting along front lines that have not changed significantly for months.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram Ukraine was shifting to offensive actions" along parts of the front but dismissed suggestions of a major operation.

The main focus now is on the Bakhmut sector," said Maliar. This has resulted in certain successes, including advances. We have taken control of certain heights."

Russian Wagner group mercenaries captured Bakhmut last month and handed their positions there to regular Russian troops.

Writing on Telegram, Wagner militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has often clashed with the Russian defence ministry, said its latest statement and the huge Ukrainian losses it described was simply wild and absurd science fiction."

Russia now controls at least 18% of internationally recognised Ukrainian territory and has claimed four more regions of Ukraine as Russian territory after annexing Crimea in 2014.
The United States said on Tuesday it was not certain" who was to blame for a burst dam in Ukraine, but it would not make sense for Ukraine to have done this to its own people and territory, as Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the disaster.

The 15-member U.N. Security Council met on Tuesday at the request of both Russia and Ukraine after a torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates the opposing forces in southern Ukraine.

When asked if the United States knew who was responsible, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, told reporters ahead of the council meeting: Were not certain at all, we hope to have more information in the coming days."

But, I mean, come on  why would Ukraine do this to its own territory and people, flood its land, force tens of thousands of people to leave their homes - it doesnt make sense," Wood said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier on Tuesday that the world body did not have any independent information on how the dam burst, but described it as another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Many Security Council members also asserted during Tuesdays meeting that the crisis would not have occurred if Russia had not invaded neighboring Ukraine in February last year.

Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia blamed Ukraine, without providing evidence, accusing it of trying to create favourable opportunities" for it to regroup its military units to continue a counter offensive.

The deliberate sabotage undertaken by Kyiv against a critical infrastructure facility is extremely dangerous and can essentially be classified as a war crime or an act of terrorism," Nebenzia told the council.

Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of a terrorist act against Ukrainian critical infrastructure," without providing evidence.

It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside by shelling - it was mined by the Russian occupiers and they blew it up," Kyslytsya said.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that the sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realized in the coming days."

But its already clear that it will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine on both sides of the front line through the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods," he added.
The UK government has ordered China to shut unofficial police stations operating on British soil, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat told parliament on Tuesday.

The Foreign Office told the Chinese Embassy that any functions related to such police service stations in the UK are unacceptable and that they must not operate in any form," a written statement said.

The embassy responded that all such stations have closed permanently", it added.

British police began investigations after the human rights group Safeguard Defenders reported their existence in the UK, Tugendhat said.

According to the group, they were officially set up to provide administrative services but were also used to monitor and harass diaspora communities and, in some cases, to coerce people to return to China outside of legitimate channels", he added.

Tugendhat said police visited each location identified by Safeguard Defenders and have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites".

We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had," he added.

However, these police service stations were established without our permission and their presence will have worried and intimidated those who have left China and sought safety and freedom here in the UK," Tugendhat said.

In April, The Times newspaper reported that Chinese businessman Lin Ruiyou, with links to the ruling Conservative party, operated a food delivery business in the London suburb of Croydon that doubled as an undeclared Chinese police station.

Beijings embassy in London denied the Times report at the time and warned against false accusations" spread by the media.

Similar operations have been investigated in the United States, Canada and several European countries.

US authorities in April arrested two men for allegedly setting up one such outpost in New York and charged dozens of Chinese security officials over a campaign to monitor and harass US-based dissidents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russian forces terrorist as a major Soviet-era dam in the Russian controlled part of southern Ukraine was breached on Tuesday, news agencies reported.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

Videos of the water gushing into through the remains of the dam and into nearby localities are now going viral on social media. A video of dam water flooding nearby areas was also shared by the Ukrainian President.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single metre should be left to them, because they use every metre for terror, Zelensky said.

Its only Ukraines victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else, the Ukrainian President said.

All services are working. I have convened the National Security and Defense Council. Please spread official and verified information only, he further added.

The dam is significant because of the amount of water it holds. It is 30 metres (98 feet) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long, and was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, according to a report by Reuters.

The report also pointed out that the volume of water in the reservoir is about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah. The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and is also the eighth largest lake terminal lake in the world. Terminal lakes are bodies of water that have no outlet or natural drainage.

The water from the Kakhovka Dam also supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, which remains under Russian control, and also to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which also came under Russian control after the onset of the war in 2022. The reservoir supplies cooling water to the nuclear plant.

Russian officials blamed Ukrainians for damaging the dam and said that they struck the dam in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

They said the dam was not fully destroyed but the hydraulic valves of the hydroelectric power station are no longer functioning.

It remains unclear whether this will impact Ukraines counteroffensive plans.

The local residents, according to the Reuters report, were shocked as water levels rose by metres within a few hours of the breach.
The United States called Tuesday on Pakistan to grant consular access to a prominent fashion designer with dual citizenship who was detained in a wave of protests.

The State Department said its diplomats have not had access to Khadija Shah, the founder of the luxury fashion brand Elan, who was produced before an anti-terrorism court following protests over the May 9 arrest of ousted prime minister Imran Khan.

We have asked Pakistani officials for consular access to her," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters, confirming Shahs dual nationality.

He indicated that more US citizens have been arrested.

Whenever a US citizen is arrested overseas, we stand ready to provide all appropriate assistance and we expect Pakistani authorities to respect all fair-trial guarantees owed to these detainees," Patel said.

Shahs family said that she took part non-violently in protests on May 9. Some demonstrators took aim at the powerful military, alleging a plot to sideline Khan, who was arrested on corruption allegations.

Shahs family said that she voluntarily showed up to an investigation only to be arrested. When she appeared in an anti-terrorism court, her face was covered.

Thousands of people, including grassroots supporters and key Khan aides, have been rounded up since the Supreme Court declared that his detention was illegal and allowed him to walk free.
The United States learned of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines three months before they were damaged last September by underwater explosions, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online.

The CIA learned last June, through a European spy agency, that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to blow up the Russia-to-Germany project, the newspaper reported.

The intelligence reporting was shared online on Discord, purportedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested in April and charged in relation to the leak of sensitive U.S. documents. The Washington Post said it obtained a copy from one of Teixeiras online friends.

The intelligence report was based on information provided by a person in Ukraine, the Washington Post said, adding the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.

The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that investigations into the Nord Stream attack were active.

The last thing that were going to want to do from this podium is get ahead of those investigations," Kirby said when asked about The Posts reporting on the matter.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put Europes reliance on Russian natural gas in the political spotlight. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines hastened the regions switch to other energy suppliers.

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russias state-controlled Gazprom to pump 110 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year to Germany.

The Post said it agreed to withhold the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the suspected plan at the request of government officials, citing risks to sources and operations.

The CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not immediately confirm the intelligence cited by the Washington Post.

Several underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries said the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. Those countries and Germany are investigating.

Washington and NATO called the incident an act of sabotage." Moscow blamed the West, accusing investigators of dragging their feet and trying to conceal who was behind the attack.
On Monday, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced an audit will be conducted on the City of Desloge Municipal Court following concerns raised about possible fraud. The decision came in response to a submission made through the Whistleblower Hotline website, which raised questions about funds being embezzled from the court system.

The whistleblower submission, received by the State Auditor's Office in October 2022, alleged that the former court clerk may have misappropriated payments for fines within the municipal court. After conducting an initial investigation, the State Auditor's Office deemed the concerns to be credible, leading to the decision to launch a formal audit of the City of Desloge Municipal Court.

Individuals may provide confidential information for consideration during the audit to the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at 800-347-8597, by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or by visiting www.auditor.mo.gov/hotline.

In a statement, Fitzpatrick emphasized the importance of the audit in addressing taxpayer concerns and ensuring accountability within the municipal court.

"Our goal with the audit is to get answers for taxpayers and root out any waste, fraud, or abuse that may exist within the city's municipal court. The people of Desloge deserve a court that has proper oversight and conducts its business in a fair and just manner," said Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick went on to highlight the Whistleblower Hotline as a crucial tool for ensuring transparency and accountability in taxpayer-funded organizations and programs

When asked about the audit, Desloge Mayor Pete Pasternak said he agreed fully with Fitzpatrick.

Desloge will fully cooperate with the state auditor's office. Because of a prior situation that was discovered, the city administrator of Desloge contacted the state auditor's office to request a full audit of our municipal court," Pasternak said. "She was directed to fill out a form on the Whistleblower Hotline. During this time, the Desloge Municipal Court will continue to operate normally.

The formal audit of the City of Desloge Municipal Court will be conducted by an audit team designated by the State Auditor's Office. The team will delve into the financial records and operations of the court system to determine the credibility of the allegations and to identify any potential irregularities or misconduct.

As the investigation progresses, the State Auditor's Office will release updates on its findings.
A retired sailor in Germany has been warned that he needs to retire from marijuana dealing as well. The 82-year-old man, who has 24 previous convictions and an ongoing suspended sentence, was convicted of selling several dozen grams of pot, but judges at a district court in eastern Germany decided not to grant prosecutors' request for a 34-month prison sentence, Deutsche Welle reports. He was given another suspended sentence on the grounds of ill health and poverty, reports the AP. The presiding judge said it was the man's "very last warning" to avoid jail time. He told the judges that he sold pot because he couldn't get by on his $855 monthly pension alone. (Read more Germany stories.)
After 34 years working for the city of Farmington, long-time Fire Chief Todd Mecey retired June 2 to begin a second career. While his new job will require extensive travel, he and his family will still live in Farmington, the city where he was born and raised.

I went to high school here, graduated, and had a job at Holmes Tomboy, Mecey said. My dad and uncle worked there as butchers. I did checking and stuff. They were downsizing a little bit right after high school, so I started looking.

A friend of mine was on the fire department in Desloge. It was like, Hey, you ought to go get on the fire department in Farmington. So, I did that and got it. I was basically a paid volunteer. We call them part-time, but its really a volunteer that's getting compensated.

Mecey joined the fire department at the right time  a position in the police departments dispatch office became available. He applied and got the job.

I did the dispatching thing for a while, he said. At that point, we were dispatching for Farmington police, Farmington fire, the Wolf Creek and Doe Run fire departments  they were all handled out of Farmington. I did that, but I didn't see a lot of opportunities for advancement. At that point, to be a full-time fireman, you had to go to St. Louis. Back then, that seemed like a really far stretch to go all the way to St. Louis to be a fireman.

So, they talked to me about an opportunity in the police department. All this time, I was staying on at the fire department, but looking at doing other things for the city. I went through the police academy, but before I graduated, an animal and nuisance officer position became available. I did that for a bit. Then I got my certification and got on full-time with the police department as a patrolman. I did that up until July of 1998."

According to Mecey, in 1996, the Farmington Fire Department started having serious discussions with the city government about transitioning to a full-time force.

We had two paid people, he said. Phil Johnson was the fire chief and Alan Thomure was the captain. They worked out a split shift during the day, during the week. Our call volume was enough. We saw that we were gonna have to make that swap to a full-time department at some point. So in about '96, that really started getting engaged and happening, and in July of 1998, we truly became a full-time fire department.

I was very fortunate. In 1996, I got promoted to deputy chief with the fire department, but I was still in a volunteer part-time position. So, I got to really play an integral role in that development of where we were gonna go and how we were gonna make it all work. So since July of '98, Ive been here with the fire department full-time.

Promotion to fire chief

Mecey was promoted to full-time assistant chief, a position he held until 2008 when Chief Johnson retired and Mecey was promoted to fire chief.

I raised up through the ranks, he said. I worked my way up through the city and it's been a great career. The city's been great to me, the community's been great. I've seen a ton of changes. The city's grown and the community's grown. I still feel like there in the beginning  especially 34 years ago  we were really still a small town. We're still a small town, but it doesn't have as much of a small-town feel. During the day, it is so busy now around town. There's just so much activity going on that it has more of that.

"As [Development Services Director] Tim Porter would say, it's a mini-opolis  which I believe is the technical definition  and it is! We're like that little metropolis hub but in a rural area. We're not big enough to really be a metropolis, but we're a mini-opolis. Obviously, we've had a ton of growth in the fire department. We started out with a bare minimum in 1998. We had nine full-time guys, including the fire chief, who had to work 24 hours just to ride on the fire truck. I believe it was in 1999 or 2000 when the chief could go back to the office.

Mecey recalled that it wasnt until 2015 that the fire department added additional staff.

We added a couple of guys, and then finally last year we were able to make that full swap. Now we're staffing a minimum of seven people 24 hours a day running two engine companies. In 1998, we were running 1,200 calls a year and we felt it was a service to the community, and just the impact it had of running that many calls, trying to use people being recalled from home for everything, where now we're running 3,500 calls a year. So, those two engine companies are extremely busy.

If you look at us compared to St. Louis City, theyve got 30 fire stations, and so they are much larger. But each one of those fire stations has a coverage area. If you look at it from the perspective of a single engine house, between Farmington and St. Louis, were the busiest engine house. Only a couple of the engine houses in St. Louis City are busier than we are. So, for being a single-engine house covering less than 12 square miles, we're busy  and it's because our community's busy.

Move to Columbia Street

Mecey recalled the fire departments move from the old Big River Broadband building to its new location on Columbia Street in 2010.

The reason why we built it where we did is because of a really smart guy named Jason Gillam back in that era that worked for the city, he said. Jason was a great numbers guy and he actually plotted population and call volume for multiple years into a CAD system and we were able to search that and find the highest percentages of calls, and the highest percentage of population. So we landed in this 10-square-block area of downtown. In that 10-square-block, we were serving over 85% of the population, and over 85% of the calls in our two-and-a-half mile or mile-and-a-half that we use when we're calculating those things through the ISO standards.

We took it as a great location for a fire station. It was also a great opportunity for the city to do redevelopment in the downtown. That's the reason the building is what it is and looks like it does. As a city, we got all these other business owners downtown to invest and try to make the downtown hearty and appealing. And it was an opportunity for the city to do the same thing. The police department, fire department, library, all of those buildings. The city hall, even as old as it is, is still a very attractive building. We've tried to make that investment and, hopefully, we make the investment for the community too.

City support

Asked if he has had the citys support during his time as chief, Mecey said, Absolutely, I mean, we wouldn't or couldn't be where we are today without the support. [City Administrator Greg Beavers] came in not too long after we were full-time. He has been fantastic to work with, he has truthfully seen the need. He's one of those guys that will just listen. He takes it in. He listens, and he evaluates, because he has to look out for everything. He can't just look out for the fire department. He has to look out for the entire city, all the departments, and the community. You have to find a balance. We can't over-invest in any one area, but he's been great about taking, prioritizing funding, and getting it where it needs to be. Weve also had a super-supportive city council throughout those years. I have never had a problem getting funding for anything we truly needed.

In the last year, we've had to do some real scrambling on future planning because historically, we put the specs together, go through a bidding process, award a contract, and in six to 12 months, we would have the fire apparatus. Now, we're going through that same front-end process, but we are 38 to 46-and-a-half months to take delivery. We really had to do some moving around of funds. We maintain capital improvement plans to try to forecast those expenses. The city knows we're gonna have this expense or that expense coming up in the future. We've really had to do some scrambling to figure out how we're gonna afford to continue on the path we are. We're having to look internally, what are the things we can do to make changes or do differently. But at the end of the day, we provide a service and we have to figure, we have to provide that service at the highest level we can.

A new fire chief

Now that Mecey has retired, the city has a new fire chief for the first time in many years. With the appointment of Kyle Carter to the position, the former fire chief feels hes leaving the department and city in good hands.

Kyle has a similar background as I did, Mecey said. He's got some volunteer experience and he's got some full-time fire experience. He's got a background in law enforcement. He worked for the Missouri State Fire Marshal, so he's got a pretty extensive background in fire investigation.

For me, from a relationship standpoint and a knowledge standpoint, having that law enforcement background has really helped me in my career as a fire chief. Having a better understanding and knowing the laws a little more than an average person would. I think it's gonna allow Kyle to take things and just run with it.
A state school board voted Monday to approve what would be the first publicly funded religious school in the nation, despite a warning from Oklahoma's attorney general that the decision was unconstitutional. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-2 to approve the application by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma to establish the St. Isodore of Seville Virtual Charter School. The online public charter school would be open to students across the state in kindergarten through grade 12. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond had warned the board that such a decision clearly violated the state constitution, the AP reports.

"The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers," Drummond said in a statement after the board's vote. "It's extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars." He added that the decision could lead to a costly court battle, and the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State vowed in a statement Monday to take "all possible legal action" against the approval. "It's hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nation's first religious public charter school," said Rachel Laser, the group's president and CEO, in a statement.





(Read more Oklahoma stories.)
Another big name is entering the 2024 presidential race, though not for one of the two main political parties. Dr. Cornel West, the well-known progressive scholar, philosophy professor, and activist, said Monday that he will run for the nation's top office on the People's Party ticket, the New York Times reports. The third party was founded by Nick Brana, a member of Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign team, but Sanders himself declined a bid from the party for him to get involved before the 2020 election, in which he again ran as a Democrat. West, who has taught at Yale, Princeton, Harvard, and, currently, Union Theological Seminary, says he is concerned with "the destruction of American democracy," and that he is more concerned about voters than other politicians, whether Democrat or Republican, Politico reports.

"Neither political party wants to tell the truth about Wall Street, about Ukraine, about the Pentagon, about big tech," the left-wing academic said in a campaign video posted to Twitter; in the video he referenced a 2022 interview in which he called former President Trump a "neo fascist" and President Biden a "milquetoast neoliberal." (He's also criticized former President Obama, and Forbes says he's a non-Marxist socialist and Christian who has supported Sanders in the past and considers himself a populist alternative to mainstream politicians.) West says he is concerned with issues including the living wage, affordable and guaranteed housing, abortion rights, universal health care, mass incarceration, and climate change. "I enter in the quest for truth, I enter in the quest for justice, and the presidency is just one vehicle to pursue that truth and justicewhat Ive been trying to do all of my life," West said. (Read more Cornel West stories.)
Tim Scott braved The View on Monday to discuss his presidential campaign, and the Republican senator got booedthough co-host Whoopi Goldberg had his back, in a way. The boos came when Scott, commenting on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' ongoing feud with Disney, said, "Disney and Ron have been in a combat zone over what I thought is the right issue, which is our young kids and what they are being indoctrinated with." As the audience made its displeasure clear, Goldberg jumped in, the Hill reports.

"No, no, no, not here," she said to the audience before turning to Scott to say, "Im sorry, sir." She turned back to the audience to continue, "Do not boo; this is The View. We accept we dont have to believe everything people say, but you cannot boo people here, please." Asked if governments should be intervening in corporate policy, Scott said only, "If people dont like whats happening with a corporation, stop shopping there."

Fox News reports things also got a bit heated between Scott and the hosts when he referenced co-host Sunny Hostin's past comments accusing him of not understanding systemic racism; at the time, she said, "One of the issues that Tim Scott has is that he seems to think, Because I made it, everyone can make it. Ignoring, again, the fact that hes the exception and not the rule. And until hes the rule, then he can stop talking about systemic racism." Scott, who is Black, said that sends the message "that the only way for a young African-American kid to be successful in this country is to be the exception and not the rule. Thats a dangerous, offensive, disgusting message." (Read more Tim Scott 2024 stories.)
Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up a dam in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, threatening catastrophic flooding. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in Nova Kakhovka, one of six dams along the Dnipro River, holds as much water as Utah's Great Salt Lake, per Reuters. Images show most of the 100-foot dam wall destroyed as water gushes downstream. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 80 communities were in the flood zone. Eight villages have already been completely flooded, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration, said early Tuesday, per the BBC. He said 16,000 people were in a "critical zone" on the Ukrainian-controlled northern bank of the river, though flooding is expected to be worse along the Russian-controlled southern bank.

Evacuations are underway in several communities including the city of Kherson, whose harbor and docklands "are likely to be inundated," per the Guardian. But there are concerns beyond flooding. The power plant supplies water to various upstream communities as well as the Crimean peninsula and is important for irrigation. It also provides cooling water for the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, about 100 miles upstream. The International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring the situation but says there is "no immediate nuclear safety risk at the plant."

Ukraine's military intelligence agency said Russian forces blew up the dam in "an obvious act of terrorism and a war crime, which will be evidence in an international tribunal," per Reuters. Russian forces have attacked dams throughout Ukraine, per the BBC, which notes the road over the dam would've allowed Ukrainian forces to move troops into Russian-held territory. According to the Guardian, the bridge was the only river crossing south of Zaporizhzia after retreating Russians destroyed the Antonivksy road bridge at Kherson in November.

The "internal detonation ... only confirms for the whole world that [the Russians] must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," Zelensky responded, per Reuters. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov instead claimed "deliberate sabotage" by Ukraine in an effort to "deprive Crimea of water," per CNN. Some Russian officials say the upper part of the power plant was destroyed by shelling, but others say the dam burst on its own. If that is the case, the Russians may ultimately be to blame "due to 6 weeks of over-topping and stress on the structure," according to former US military meteorologist David Helms. Experts say the reservoir's water level reached a 30-year high last month as Russian occupiers had opened few sluice gates, per the Guardian. (Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
The Florida judge who oversaw the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail "vitriolic statements" directed at Cruz's attorneys, and allowing "emotions to overcome her judgment," reports the AP. The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated rules governing judicial conduct during the six-month trial last year that ended with Cruz receiving a life sentence for the 2018 murders of 14 students and three staffers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after the jury couldn't unanimously agree he deserved a death sentence. The commission found Scherer "unduly chastised" lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz lawyer of threatening her child, and improperly embraced prosecution members in court after the trial.

The commission, composed of 15 judges, lawyers, and citizens, acknowledged that "the worldwide publicity surrounding the case created stress and tension for all participants." Regardless, the commission said, judges are expected to "ensure due process, order, and decorum, and act always with dignity and respect to promote the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary." "In limited instances during this unique and lengthy case, Judge Scherer allowed her emotions to overcome her judgment," the commission said in its report to the Florida Supreme Court, which will make the final decision. Scherer announced last month she'd be retiring from the bench on June 30. The commission said the resignation was not part of any deal struck with the judge.

The commission report said that Scherer acknowledged during her testimony that her conduct during the trial "fell short" of what's expected of judges, and that "her treatment of members of the defense team was at times not patient, dignified, or courteous." Scherer, a 47-year-old former prosecutor, was appointed to the bench in 2012, and the Cruz case was her first capital murder trial. Broward County's computerized system randomly assigned her Cruz's case shortly after the shooting. Her attorney, Thomas Panza, didn't immediately respond to a call or email seeking comment. Scherer's handling of the case drew frequent praise from the parents and spouses of the victims, who said she treated them with professionalism and kindness, but her clashes with Cruz's attorneys and others sometimes drew criticism from legal observers.

After sentencing Cruz, 24, to life without parole as required, Scherer left the bench and hugged members of the prosecution and the victims' families. She told the commission she offered to also hug the defense team. That action led the Supreme Court in April to remove her from overseeing post-conviction motions of another defendant, Randy Tundidor, who was sentenced to death for murder in the 2019 killing of his landlord. One of the prosecutors in that case had also been on the Cruz team, and during a hearing in the Tundidor case a few days after the Cruz sentencing, Scherer asked the prosecutor how he was holding up. The court said Scherer's actions gave at least the appearance that she couldn't be fair to Tundidor.

(Read more Nikolas Cruz stories.)
Prince Harry made a little history in London on Tuesday: He became the first prominent member of the royal family to testify in court in more than a century, notes the New York Times. Harry is on the stand testifying against a tabloid publisher, the Mirror Group, he accuses of hacking his phone years ago to get his voicemails, mostly from 1991 to 2011, per the Guardian. Some of the early moments of his testimony and his witness statement:

"I remember on multiple occasions hearing a voicemail for the first time that wasnt newI would simply put it down to perhaps a technical glitch ... or even just having too many drinks the night before and having forgotten that Id listened to it," he said, per the BBC. Other times, the voicemail symbol would disappear before he listened to it, or people wouldn't get voicemails he sent them.

"It created a huge amount of paranoia in my relationships. I would become immediately suspicious of anyone that was named in a story about me. ... "I felt that I couldnt trust anybody, which was an awful feeling for me especially at such a young age."

"I've experienced hostility from the press since I was born," Harry said. When pressed by a defense lawyer if he remembered reading a particular article cited in his lawsuit that came out when he was 12, he responded: "I was a child, I was at school. These articles were incredibly invasive, and every single time one was written it had an effect on my life and the people around me, my mother in this case."

He said some editors and journalists have "blood on their hands" and were responsible for causing pain and upset and perhaps, inadvertently death."

The BBC notes that he was addressed as "your royal highness" initially but asked to be called "Prince Harry."

In his written statement, Harry wrote that "I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever hadbe that with friends, girlfriends, with family, or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," per the AP.

Harry also went after Piers Morgan, who was once editor of the Daily Mirror. "The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages ... makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour," he said in his statement.

(Read more Prince Harry stories.)
Bud Light sales heading into to Memorial Day weekend were down by nearly 24% from 2022, reports CNN, but it remains America's best-selling beer. The Memorial Day week numbers marked a mild improvement over previous weeks, suggesting the brew has weathered the worst of the fallout from the right after its backing of trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Conservative protests aren't the only cause of the dip, however, as LGBTQIA+ groups objected to the muted way Anheuser-Busch responded to criticism. Forbes reports that some analysts believe Anheuser-Busch may see a "permanent" 15% decline in sales, but that this decline could also make it an attractive stock purchase.

CNN notes that Bud's diminished market dominance has been beneficial for its competitors, even if the Anheuser-Busch product remains top dog. Miller Light, owned by MolsonCoors, has seen a 26% sales boost, and Coors Light is up by 23%. Additionally, sales of Modelo Especial and Modelo Oro, a light beer, are up by almost 10 percent. Bud Light, however, led with 35% of the market, well ahead of No. 2 Coors Light at 22%. Forbes points out that similar backlash is hitting beyond Big Beer: After Target incorporated Pride Month into its advertising, its stock dropped by 17%. And Business Insider notes that Disney was hit with protests over its ongoing fight with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Read more Bud Light stories.)
The collapse of a major dam in southern Ukraine helped send global prices of wheat and corn higher on Tuesday, per the AP. Underscoring the global repercussions on the war, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse, apparently on fears that floodwaters would destroy crops. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other food to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. It wasn't just wheat: The cost of corn rose more than 1% (to $6.04 a bushel) and oats gained 0.73% ($3.46 per unit).on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Prices were even higher earlier in the day, but faded.

Ukraine has historically been one of the major exporters in the world wheat market, said Joe Janzen, assistant professor at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, also pointing to the country's historic corn production. Anytime theres news out of that part of the world, the market is sensitive to that." There are massive agricultural fields in southern Ukraine where the dam burst. The collapse has endangered crops in the countrys breadbasket and threatened drinking water supplies, with officials also warning of a looming environmental disasterpointing to oil escaping from the dam machinery and significant flooding.

Andrey Sizov, managing director of Black Sea agricultural markets research firm SovEcon, said the dam's collapse looked "like a big escalation with dire consequences and huge headline risk. This "could be just the start of the bull run" on prices, Sizov wrote on Twitter. Ukraine has blamed Russia for blowing up the dam, but Moscow denies it, asserting that Ukraine's own bombs in the region were responsible, per the AP.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
"Gender identity is real," a federal judge said in a ruling Tuesday, siding with parents who sought to block parts of Florida's new transgender care law. US District Judge Robert Hinkle's ruling issued a preliminary injunction allowing three transgender children to receive puberty blockers despite the state's ban on gender-affirming care for youths, the New York Times reports. In his ruling, Hinkle said the record makes it clear that gender identity is realand "proper treatment" can include mental health treatment followed by puberty blockers. Florida, he wrote, "has adopted a statute and rules that prohibit these treatments even when medically appropriate."

The statute, Hinkle said, "ignores the benefits that many patients realize from these treatments and the substantial risk posed by foregoing the treatments." "It is is fanciful to believe that all the many medical associations who have endorsed gender-affirming care ... have so readily sold their patients down the river. The great weight of medical authority supports these treatments, the judge said, per WKMG. He said bigotry appeared to play a large role in the Florida law, noting that one state lawmaker referred to transgender people as "demons" and "mutants." The judge said he was issuing the injunction because he believes the plaintiffs will succeed in their claim that the law is unconstitutional.

Simone Chriss, a lawyer representing parents who challenged the law, said she hoped health care providers and prosecutors would view the ruling as applying statewide, the AP reports. The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, however, said it would only apply to the three children. "We will continue fighting against the rogue elements in the medical establishment that push ideology over evidence," said press secretary Jeremy Redfern. Chriss said she hopes the state won't prosecute doctors who provide care "that is aligned with every major medical organizationnot a rogue few, but all of them." (Read more Florida stories.)
Chris Christie officially joined the race for the GOP White House nomination Tuesdaygiving frontrunner Donald Trump a rival more outspoken than most. The former New Jersey governor, as expected, filed paperwork for his candidacy Tuesday and he plans to formally announce the bid at a town hall-style event in New Hampshire Tuesday evening, the New York Times reports. Christie, who dropped out of the 2016 race and endorsed Trump soon after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, broke with the former president over his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and has become one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics.

While rivals including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have largely steered clear of directly attacking Trump, Christie has called him a loser, slammed him for failing to deliver on his promises as president, and accused him of inciting the Capitol riot, the Times reports. Christie sees himself as the candidate best positioned to take on Trump in the GOP primaries and appeal to independent voters in a general election against President Biden, CNN reports.

"Im not dumb. The way to win is to beat the guy whos ahead," he said in a recent podcast interview, per the AP. "And so what would a campaign look like? A campaign would look like a direct frontal challenge to Donald Trump trying to return to the presidency." Another anti-Trump Republican, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, said Monday that he has decided not to run. (Read more Chris Christie stories.)
Joe Eldred, a survivor of childhood sexual assault featured in the documentary "Procession," speaks to the audience about his story after the documentary screened Friday in Overland Park, Kansas (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector).

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas  When Joe Eldred was a child, he was sexually abused by three Catholic priests while attending Nativity of Mary Catholic Church and the accompanying elementary school in Independence, Missouri.

Eldred told his story in Procession, a documentary directed by Robert Greene that tells the story of six men who were abused by priests in the Catholic church. The documentary starts in Kansas City, Missouri, where much of the abuse occurred, and follows the survivors as they face their trauma and work to heal together.

Most of the abuse Eldred discussed in the film occurred at Lake Viking, a private, man-made lake in northwest Missouri. There, a priest introduced him to Thomas Reardon.

I remember Father Reardon saying, Come on, lets show them how much fun this can be. And thats when he raped me, Eldred said in the documentary.

Through the filming process, Eldred was able to physically go to the lake and face the nightmares he had of his abuse there.

The documentary was shown for the first time in Kansas on Friday at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Overland Park. After the screening, Kansas Reflector editor Sherman Smith led a discussion panel with five of the survivors, Greene, and Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, surrounding the film, questions from the audience and recent changes in Kansas law to the statute of limitations.

Legal limitations

Effective July 1, the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of childhood sexual abuse will be removed in Kansas. Additionally, the timeframe for civil lawsuits involving child sex crimes will be extended to 13 years after the victim turns 18 or three years after the abuser is criminally convicted, whichever occurs later.

While survivors of child sex crimes will be able to file for criminal prosecution at any time, many survivors have already missed the deadline for civil lawsuits.

Its too late for justice for us, said survivor Michael Sandridge, one of the men featured in the documentary. The important part is to make sure theres justice in the future for people.

The Procession team still has hope for additional change.

I definitely have hope that its going to change some things, but I dont think itll have much of an impact on the decision making within the Catholic Church, Eldred said. I feel that theres still a long ways to go since they still tend to not be transparent with whats been going on.

Holscher said she is thrilled to have the statute of limitations removed from criminal prosecution cases, but there is still work to be done to continue working on the civil side.

In Missouri, where Eldred was abused, the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution was removed in 2018. However, like Kansas, there is an age limit of 31 to recover damages. An effort to raise the age limit to 41, inspired by widespread allegations of abuse at Christian boarding schools around Missouri, fizzled during the recently adjourned legislative session.

Eldred said he doesnt understand why there are statutes of limitations at all. He didnt get back his repressed memories until he was 38 and is still receiving counseling in order to continue remembering.

I dont think you can force that on people, Eldred said. I mean, I think its awful. A victim finally comes up with the strength to confront, and they try to seek some kind of help and then a law shuts them down again. I think that is emotionally toxic and abusive. And probably, in some cases, even deadly.

It was like a playbook

During the filming of Procession, when Eldred told his story about being abused at a lake, another survivor featured in the documentary named Dan Laurine shared a similar story.

Laurine said the men were kind of reclusive and shut down at the beginning of this process because of the abuse and it took them coming together for this project to open up about their experiences.

Thats really shown in the movie  a lot of the similarities between everybodys stories, Laurine said. You could tell that in the diocese and church groups, there was a fraternal nurturing of the abuse.  It was like a playbook they gave each other. They all refine how to do it and get away with it, or at least they thought they were getting away with it.

Laurine said his abuser is still free and living in Florida.

Its a daily thing: You wake up, and you feel like, ah f***, Laurine said. Like its the thing I wake up to every day and the exhaustive feeling of I just cant do it. I dont know how to do it. I dont know where to turn.

The healing process for abuse victims is not something in which you can receive treatment and are suddenly OK, Eldred said.

When it comes to abuse survivors, they dont have that luxury, Eldred said. Theres no test you can take, theres no amount of time thats going to pass by  and everybody is different in how they react to it, how they treat it, how they overcome it. And you never truly overcome it. Its always there. Its always affecting you. And even you might not realize its affecting you, but its always there, hanging over your head.

Moving forward

Now living in Springfield, Eldred works for the state Division of Youth Services to help teenage boys who have been abused or have been the abuser. He has also shown them the documentary.

It does, I think, help them to see that theyre not alone and that, you know, in their own misery and probably self hatred and depression based over what happened to them, that they can overcome it and survive it, and then learn to thrive again, Eldred said.

Greene said the film is about coming together and was glad that the showing Friday allowed for the documentary to be seen as it was meant to be, together.

The Procession team invited members of the Office for Protection and Care of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, and Journey to Bethany, a program from St. Joseph, Missouri, focused on broadening awareness for healing resources and sexual abuse help, to represent the church at the showing, and they attended the screening, said Alison Byrne Fields, impact producer for the film.

Although all dioceses have a dedicated staff member charged with the care of victim/survivors, each individual diocese is responsible for taking the steps needed to work towards trust, accountability and reconciliation, said Anita McSorley, spokeswoman for the Kansas Catholic Conference, in a statement. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is using restorative principles and a survivor-centered approach to work towards atonement for clergy sexual abuse in the archdiocese. Particularly, they are reaching out to victim/survivors who have reported abuse in the past as well as caring for victim/survivors who come forward today.

Through his healing processes, Eldred wrote a letter to his younger self about the struggles he faced and the strength it took to get to the other side. He said that he used to love Superman and that he always wanted to be like the superhuman hero.

The ending of Eldreds letter to himself: Make no mistake, you are the epic hero in the story of us.

This story originally appeared in the Kansas Reflector, a States Newsroom affiliate.
If Rep. George Santos is a man of his wordand the charges against him suggest that's a big "if"there's a chance that he could be in jail within days. A federal judge has rejected the Republican congressman's effort to keep the identifies of the three people who guaranteed his $500,000 bond on 13 fraud-related charges last month secret, the Guardian reports. On Monday, lawyers for Santos said he would rather go to jail than have the identities of the the guarantors made public.

A motion from Santos' lawyers said the bond sponsors are likely to suffer "some unnecessary form of retaliation" if their identifies are made public. US Magistrate Judge Anne Shields gave Santos a deadline of noon Friday to appeal the ruling and said the names should remain sealed until then, the Hill reports. The New York Timesone of the media organizations that requested the release of the bail cosigners' identitiesreports that the House Ethics Committee is already investigating the bail arrangement, according to a letter shown in court Monday by a Santos attorney. (Read more George Santos stories.)
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The hearing that had been slated for Tuesday morning for Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, the Albemarle County mother and socialite charged with child enticement and child pornography, appears likely to be continued, according to an unopposed motion in federal court in Washington, D.C.

The defense needs additional time to review discovery, meet with Ms. Hoppe, obtain relevant records, and perform necessary investigation, wrote Assistant Federal Public Defender Ned Smock in the motion. This adjournment will allow the defense adequate time to prepare.

Hoppe, who was once married to Charlottesville-based federal Judge Joel Hoppe, faces a potential life sentence on the most serious of her three federal charges: enticement of a minor.

Federal investigators allege that Eleanor Hoppe used encrypted communications to plan a rendezvous at a Warrenton motel with someone she thought was a perverted parent. But when she arrived at the motel in late March, she was arrested.

Reached by telephone Monday, her attorney Smock declined comment to the Daily Progress.

The court records do not include a written account of why the defendant, who attended a private Richmond girls school called St. Catherines and whose family founded what became Richmonds largest law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth, qualified for the services of a public defender.

Smocks motion requests a delay in the case of 60 days.

While the motion to continue the case was unopposed, it was not yet ruled on by the close of business Monday evening, according to Patty Hartman, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano

A prominent animal rescue shelter in Bahrain is running at full capacity and struggling financially, it has been revealed.

Bahrain Rescues which is run by three regular volunteers is now appealing to the public for assistance. Money donated to the shelter covers the costs of safe drinking water, food, vet bills, utility bills, and rent.

How do the animals end up at Bahrain Rescue?

Mojda Banahi, who handles public relations for Bahrain Rescues, told The Daily Tribune that their Instagram message board was constantly bombarded with fresh cases. Since they are already at capacity and have limited volunteers and funds, they must prioritise these messages. She said that they were in a desperate situation, with up to four canines living in a cage (about 2 by 3 metres in size), and can only accept cases that, based on their long expertise, cannot live without human assistance. Animals do not end up in our shelter unless they need critical medical care, which, unfortunately, has become all too common, Mojda said.

As Bahrain Rescues only contains three volunteers and limited funding, the responsibility of caring for all the animals can become overwhelming. She said that even after years in this field, people still do not comprehend or understand the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to care for these animals, as well as running a rescue centre with limited resources.

We are still met with hostility and threats when we do not accept cases, but the public must understand how difficult it is to find appropriate forever homes for the animals, she emphasized.

We have experienced several failed adoptions in the past, meaning that now, our screening process is extremely strict as we do not skip corners when it comes to the animals future.

Responsibility

Many also do not understand the critical responsibility that comes with owning a pet. Mojda said that the welfare and safety of the animals is their number one priority, especially after the extensive time it takes on their physical and mental recovery journey.

To make matters worse, a few months ago, their Instagram account, where they receive most inquiries and funding, was deactivated and never retrieved. This was a major blow to us financially, as people were not able to find our new account to stay updated with our cases and donate money, Mojda relayed.

Moreover, she said, years of their history at Bahrain Rescues were erased. However, she said: What keeps us going is the sense of joy that comes over us when seeing our animals in new homes, finally feeling safe, and bringing them happiness.

Despite the adversities, Bahrain Rescues continue to do its best to take care of rescue animals, she added. To support Bahrain Rescues, contact bahrainrescues on Instagram.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Work on the sanitary drainage project in bloc 733 in the Capital Governorate is on track as planned. Works Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for sewage projects Fathi Abdulla Al Farea inspected the project, as part of a strategy to expand drainage networks across the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Tender Board had awarded the urban infrastructure project to Al Naseef Construction Company under a contract for BD260,000. Al Farea stressed the importance of optimizing the use of treated water by expanding pumping, transporting and distributing services.

He stressed the ministrys continuous efforts to benefit from triple-treated sewage water to irrigate crops in streets and parks, in addition to supplying farms with treated water.
AFP | Jakarta

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The United States and China have sent warships to the multinational naval drills that began in Indonesia yesterday, despite the rifts between the two powers.

Washington and Beijing are engaged in fierce competition on diplomatic, military, technological and economic fronts.

The US military has stepped up its Asia-Pacific operations to counter an increasingly assertive China, which has recently staged several rounds of war drills around Taiwan.

But both dispatched warships to the 2023 Multilateral Naval Exercise (MNEK) hosted by Indonesia in its eastern waters off Sulawesi island from yesterday to Thursday.

The US Navy has sent a littoral combat ship to the exercise, a US embassy spokesperson in Jakarta said on Sunday.

The drills will allow the United States to join together with like-minded nations, our allies and our partners to work on solving common challenges such as humanitarian and disaster response, the spokesperson said.

The Chinese defence ministry said last week that it would send a destroyer and a frigate at the invitation of the Indonesian navy.
One mans repeated sexual contact with a local girl came to a criminal conclusion Monday with a pair of guilty pleas to felony counts that could send him to jail for 20 years.

Jose Napoleon Herrera-Martinez, 50, pleaded guilty in Charlottesville Circuit Court to exposing himself to a child and using an electronic device to solicit sex from a child.

I accept your pleas of guilt, said Judge Claude E. Worrell.

Prosecutor Andrew Wilder laid out a troubling set of facts about the violation of a girl named in court documents only as K.G.

This started when she was in third grade, Wilder told the court.

Wilder said that Herrera-Martinez lived with the girls family and would take advantage of times when the parents were away to lure K.G. to his bedroom at the Prospect Avenue residence.

She stated that after each incident he would buy her candy or toys and tell her not to tell her parents, Wilder said.

The abuse only came to light because a cousin on an extended-family vacation at the Outer Banks happened to see K.G. talking on a FaceTime call with a man back in Charlottesville, Wilder said. The cousin captured evidentiary video of Herrera-Martinez exposing himself on the call, Wilder told the court.

Wilder also told the court that K.G. informed a forensic interviewer at the Foothills Child Advocacy Center that Herrera-Martinez put his penis into her, against her objections, on multiple occasions. Defense attorney Bryan Jones offered nothing in defense, and Herrera-Martinez had no questions.

Wilder told the court that the commonwealth agreed to drop a rape charge in exchange for the two guilty pleas.

Pressed afterwards for an explanation, Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania said the move was made because the rape charge would require K.G., now 12 years old, to testify and possibly endure additional trauma.

The commonwealth had two other charges that it could prove without her testimony, Platania told The Daily Progress.

Platania said that his office ensured that the two guilty pleas contain no sentencing cap, so Herrera-Martinez could be sentenced to the maximum term of 20 years. Whatever term he gets, Platania said, Herrera-Martinez must also register as a sex offender.

We were set for trial, said Platania, but the trauma of testifying might have caused great anguish to this child.

Retired forensic psychologist Jeffrey Fracher said that the decision makes sense.

Its a choice that is often made because its really awful for these kids to revisit it and be put on cross-examination, Fracher told The Daily Progress. The bottom line is you get a conviction, you put him away, and get him on the sex offender registry.

The handcuffed and shackled Herrera-Martinez sat through the roughly 40-minute hearing which was translated into Spanish for him by an interpreter.

The judge ordered the creation of a presentence report and ordered Herrera-Martinez back for sentencing on Aug. 10.
AFP | Kuwait City

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Polls opened on Tuesday in Kuwait's seventh general election in just over a decade, following repeated political crises that have undermined parliament and stalled reforms.

More than 793,000 eligible voters will have the chance to determine the make-up of the 50-seat legislature.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and are due to close at 8:00 pm, with the results to be announced the following day.

Voters queued outside in the sweltering summer heat, many of them dressed in traditional thob gowns.

"I came to perform my patriotic duty and I am hopeful that things will get better," Maasoumah Bousafar, 64 told AFP after casting her ballot.

Kuwait's emir, Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, called the vote last month after he had again dissolved parliament amid a persistent deadlock with the executive branch that has deterred investment and impeded growth.

A total of 207 candidates are running for a four-year term as lawmakers, the lowest number in a general election since 1996. They include opposition figures and 13 women.

All but three of the 50 members of parliament who won in 2022 are seeking re-election.

Despite widespread frustration with the political elite, human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais said it was still important to cast a ballot.

"This is the only place where I have a voice, and boycotting means giving up my right as a citizen," she told AFP.

"I have to participate, even if I do not expect the new parliament to tackle issues" concerning the country's human rights record, Buqrais said.

Since Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962, the legislature has been dissolved around a dozen times.

- 'Failure in leadership' -

In March, the constitutional court annulled the results of last year's elections -- in which the opposition made significant gains -- and reinstated the previous parliament elected in 2020.

"Many in Kuwait do feel as if they are being asked to participate in a political process that does not serve them," said Daniel L. Tavana, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Penn State University.

"This is because the electoral system is broken" he told AFP, arguing that "there are limits to what we can expect an elected legislature to do".

While lawmakers are elected, Kuwait's cabinet ministers are installed by the ruling Al-Sabah family, which maintains a strong grip over political life.

Continual standoffs between the branches of government have prevented lawmakers from passing economic reforms, while repeated budget deficits and low foreign investment have added to an air of gloom.

Oil-rich Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, boasts seven percent of global crude reserves. It has little debt and one of the strongest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

But its lack of stability has scared off investors and dashed hopes of reform in a wealthy country struggling to diversify in similar ways to Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"Kuwait is not doing well," said Bader al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University. "Elections on steroids... are not the only solution.

"The Kuwaiti political system is in dire need for innovation," he told AFP, criticising a "failure in leadership in Kuwait's often recycled political class, whether in government or parliament".
In a move that could ripple across both art and AI communities worldwide, Japan has declared that using datasets for training AI models doesn't violate copyright law.

This decision means that model trainers can gather publicly available data without having to license or secure permission from the data owners.

"We asked questions about generative AI from two perspectives: copyright protection and utilization in educational settings," said Takashi Kii, a member of the House of Representatives for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, during a meeting of Japans Financial Oversight Committee. In Japan, works for information analysis can be used regardless of the method, whether for non-profit purposes, for profit, for acts other than reproduction, or for content obtained from illegal sites."

Kii acknowledged that "the fact that it can be used even when it is against the will of the copyright holder is problematic from the viewpoint of rights protection," suggesting a need for "new regulations to protect copyright holders." ...continue reading
OTTAWA, ON, June 5, 2023 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves to fully participate in all spheres of society, regardless of gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Across the country, 2SLGBTQI+ communities are facing an alarming rise in hate, and Pride organizations are working hard to make sure that their festivals are safe and secure.

To support this acute need, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced up to $1.5 million for Fierte Canada Pride (FCP) to administer an emergency fund to help pride organizations cover the increasing security costs at Pride events.

The emergency funding provided to Fierte Canada Pride will enable them to help Pride organizations with the rising costs of security and insurance for events across the country. These costs could include additional security resources and training to increase the capacity of volunteers and community members this Pride Season.

Last August, the Government of Canada laid the groundwork to continue supporting the community through the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, which aims to advance rights and equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada. The Action Plan addresses the substantial and persistent inequities faced by 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and communities. While this work is ongoing, the Government of Canada continues to engage leaders, experts, and advocates to respond to the needs of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and ensure a safer, more inclusive country for all.

More needs to be done to assist 2SLGBTQI+ communities to counter misinformation/disinformation, raise awareness and combat hate. To confront hate in all its forms, including hate faced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities, the Government of Canada has committed to introducing a new Action Plan to Combat Hate. This new Action Plan will include measures to combat hateful rhetoric and build safer, more inclusive communities.

As we mark the beginning of Pride Season, it is important that all Canadians are safe attending and participating in these celebrations, as they are part of the cultural fabric that make for a more vibrant and inclusive country.

Quotes

"Now more than ever, as allies, as leaders, as parents, as friends, and as Canadians, we need to wake up to the reality that 2SLGBTQI+ people are facing today. The Government of Canada heard the community's concerns, and we are putting forward emergency funding that will go directly to Pride organizations to help them cover increased security costs and continue to host events that are not only safe for everyone, but also continue to celebrate the resilience of the community. We know that we need to continue combatting hate in all its forms  not just for during Pride, but every single day."

The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth

"We are immensely grateful to the federal government for its vital funding to Fierte Canada Pride, empowering festival and event organizers nationwide to combat the increasing prevalence of 2SLGBTQIA+ hate. While this support is a crucial step as prides across the country prepare for upcoming events in our collective fight against anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate, we acknowledge the need for ongoing efforts. FCP remains committed to collaborating with the government to promote anti-hate measures and foster safe, thriving communities for all."

Julie Nobert-DeMarchi, President, Fierte Canada Pride

"Pride festivals are about having fun, but they are also driving serious business and contributing to our visitor economy in a big way. Our government has been proud to contribute to significant progress for 2SLGBTQI+ rights, but we know that these hard-earned results are at risk because of the rising tide of hate we see both online and in real life. That's why this investment is key to help ensure the safety and security of all participants in Pride festivals. Together, we all must stand together to push back against hate."

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Quick facts

Fierte Canada Pride is the national association of 65 Canadian Pride organizations, representing festivals and events in every part of the country. They work to strengthen Pride organizations and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through elevating equity-denied people, practising reconciliation in action, collaborating intentionally, building capacity, and advocating for systemic change.

Pride organizations who are not members of FCP but are organizing a Pride event may also be eligible to receive the funding.

Women and Gender Equality Canada is providing up to $1.5 million in funding to Fierte Canada Pride under the terms and conditions of Women and gender Equality's Equality for Sex, Sexual orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SSOGIE) Program.

in funding to Fierte Canada Pride under the terms and conditions of Women and gender Equality's Equality for Sex, Sexual orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SSOGIE) Program. Fierte Canada Pride will administer this emergency funding and manage the costs for intake, review, processing, and disbursement to pride festival and event organizers, supporting training and program administration for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. All Canadian Pride organizations, affiliated or non-affiliated with FCP, will be able to apply to FCP for this funding.

Associated links

Follow Women and Gender Equality Canada:

SOURCE Women and Gender Equality Canada

For further information: Johise Namwira, Press Secretary and Issues Manager, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, 873-353-0985, [email protected]; Media Relations, Women and Gender Equality Canada, 819-420-6530, [email protected]
Federal investigators began the task Monday of looking for the fragmented wreckage of a Sunday plane crash in the Saint Marys Wilderness just off the Blue Ridge Parkway that killed all four passengers on board.

The Cessna Citation twin-engine plane left Elizabethton, Tennessee, and was headed to Long Islands MacArthur Airport on Sunday afternoon when it mysteriously switched course and headed south. After being intercepted by fighter jets from Marylands Andrews Air Force Base, the plane crashed into the rugged terrain of Mine Bank Mountain in Augusta County, about a mile and a half south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The crash site borders Nelson County.

The F-16 jets used to intercept the plane caused a sonic boom heard across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Virginia State Police assisted the National Transportation Safety Board in collecting evidence and the four crash victims remains, including three passengers and a pilot. State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said remains found at the site were to be taken to the Office of Virginia Medical Examiner for examination, autopsy and identification.

A New York Times report identified two of the passengers on the plane as the daughter and granddaughter of John Rumpel, who told the Times the two had been visiting his North Carolina home. Rumpel also said his granddaughters nanny was on the aircraft besides the pilot. The plane was registered to Encore Motors of Florida, which Rumpel runs.

Getting to the crash scene was a formidable task, requiring at least three hours for investigators.

Air safety investigator Adam Gerhardt with the safety board said accessing the wreckage in a heavily wooded and rugged terrain complicates the investigation. Gerhardt said Monday that time is of the essence.

With the passage of time, it is harder to collect evidence, said Gerhardt, who added that investigators would spend at least three days methodically removing the crash remnants. He also said everything is on the table in the investigation, including the engines, weather conditions, maintenance records and pilot qualifications.

A major mystery is why the planes pilot became unresponsive and why the plane flew in the direction it did. Gerhardt said the investigation will try to determine when the pilot became unresponsive and why the plane flew the unusual track.

Gerhardt said parts of the plane will be removed from the crash site and taken by helicopter to a Delaware laboratory. The Cessna aircraft was not required to have a black box, flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder. But he said there could be other avionics equipment with data to assist the investigation.

Gerhardt said he anticipates a preliminary report on the crash in 10 days, but said a final report offering the accident cause could take 12 to 24 months.

The Augusta County Sheriffs Office was notified of the crash about 3:38 p.m. Sunday, said Sheriff Donald Smith. He said 10 deputies and Augusta County Fire-Rescue were sent to help find the crash, but Smith said the crash scene was found Sunday night with the help of a Virginia State Police helicopter.

Smith said the logistics of getting to the crash scene proved difficult. There is no quick way to go, he said. The terrain makes the deployment of all-terrain vehicles useless. Smith said a mobile command center set up at a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook is there to help in the investigation.

The crash occurred just a few miles from the Montebello community in Nelson County.

Montebello Country Store general manager Christy Humphreys said she didnt hear the crash herself, but others around the Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort and store did. Humphreys husband, a few friends working outside, an employee and some campers staying at the resort heard what sounded like an explosion, then sirens, and saw a jet and helicopters.

David Parr is the supervisor of Nelson Countys West District, which covers Montebello, Massies Mill, Tyro and Piney River and has some of the steepest terrain in the county. He said he was on the phone around 3:45 p.m. when he heard a jet, which he thought was odd for a Sunday. Then he said he saw the state police helicopter flying in the same direction.

Wintergreen Fire and Rescue Chief Curtis Sheets said he thought his team would be the first on the scene, responding with a fire truck, ambulance and all-terrain vehicle to a fire road Blue Ridge Parkway near Wintergreen Resort. But, instead, Sheets said he never actually saw the crash site  Wintergreen crews learned the area was further west and south and left around 6 p.m. after Augusta and Rockbridge county police and rescue personnel took over the search.

Sheets said there have been two to three other plane crashes in the Wintergreen area since he started with the department in 1999, and he had no clue the crash was national news when his crews were responding. Sheets said he couldnt even send a text where his crews were searching. It wasnt until he got back to a vehicle with satellite radio that he heard about a plane crash in Southwest Virginia.
2035 could be the start of global recessions and depressions that virtually never end. China still has 10-15 years where its economy will not be truly horrible. This is also the time, when European economies also get terrible and the US exists its millennial echo-boom. The only hope will be if AI, robotics and self-driving cars creates an offsetting economic boom or if radical antiaging technology is developed to restore vitality and fertility to humanity.

China will be continuing to leverage the last effects of urbanization. China is at about 65% urban and China can go to 80% urban. Chinas overall population has started to shrink. Chinas fertility rate has been about 1.18 for the past three years. Previous, UN population forecasts where China loses the population of Japan by 2050 (dropping from 1.42 billion to 1.3 billion) assumed that China would have a fertility rate of 1.6. 35% fewer babies per year means 9 million babies per year instead of 13 million. The drop accelerates as 2 million fewer girls do not exist to have babies in the 2040s. There is a chance that the fertility rates drops to the 0.8 level of South Korea.

Urbanization can continue to offset the declining overall population until around 2035. The population decline then gets even worse and the urbanization process will be completed.

China will be aging at the same time. China will be going from an average age of 38 now to over 50 years in 2050. The aging population will be a 20-40% hit on GDP.

The GDP hits by 2035 will already be at the level that Japan has experienced from 2008 to 2023. Japan has lost 6 million people from its peak. Economic growth from technology and other factors have barely offset the economic impacts of demographic decline.

The projections for China are worse than current UN estimates. China in 2050 will likely look more like current China in 2070 projections.

China could keep to 2-3% GDP growth per year and contribute 0.3 to 0.5% to overall world GDP from now to 2035. After 2035, China could have persistent -2 to -3% GDP growth. This would be a 0.3 to 0.5% drag on the overall world GDP.

China entering sharp decline from 2035-2050 will then be a negative drag on overall world GDP growth. This will be at about the same time that there will growing negative effects from Japans decline, German decline, Korea, Italy and Spain decline.

There will be less positive contribution from India and other countries.

In 2035-2040, the US and Canada will be ending the surge in economic growth from the echo boomers (Millenials).

All developed countries will have median ages from up from 40 to about 50. This will be a negative 1% per year.

The lower demand in China, Europe and Japan will cause a property bust. This could put the banks in China, Europe and Japan at risk.

Debt problems and financial systems will be get worse and there will be less growth and earnings to offset.

China, Japan and Europe have almost half of the globally important banks.

The lower number of girls in 2050 means that the decline and economics get far, far worse from 2050 to 2100 and beyond.
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HAMDEN  The firm behind the construction of an affordable housing complex on Mather Street is looking to bring more low-cost units to Hamden, this time on a five-acre State Street property.

New York-based Regan Development Corp. last month pitched a $26 million project that would involve construction of 64 units at 2980 State St. and the addition of infrastructure improvements aimed at making the roadway more pedestrian-friendly.

Thirty of the rentals would be one-bedroom units, 32 would be two-bedroom units and two would be three-bedroom units, Ken Regan, vice president of Regan Development, said in an email.

Fifteen percent of all units would serve people earning 30 percent or less of the area median income, he said. Of those, some would be reserved for renters with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, Regan wrote, while a couple would be reserved for individuals who were recently experiencing homelessness.

The complexs remaining units would serve households making 60 percent of the area median income or less, according to Regan.

For fiscal year 2023, Hamden's AMI for a family was $111,900, according to the Department of Housing & Urban Development's income limit database. HUD determined that income for a three-person household making 50 percent of the AMI was $51,650, the database shows.

The firm is working with the town to seek state funding that would help offset the cost of the project.

To that end, the Legislative Councils Economic Development Committee on Monday approved a resolution for the town to apply for $8 million from the state Community Investment Fund, according to a meeting recording and agenda on the town website.

If granted, some of those funds would help make up a funding gap in construction costs, said town Economic Development Director Erik Johnson, while the rest would support the installation of new infrastructure along State Street like crosswalks and sidewalks, making the area more pedestrian-friendly.

The resolution still needs the approval of the full Legislative Council.

The potential development on State Street just represents another example of how the town of Hamden is trying to work proactively to not only increase its inventory, but to also create more inclusive and affordable spaces for people to live, Johnson said.

Regan Development owns a second property in town at 415 Mather St. The complex was completed about two years ago and has units dedicated to housing veterans, Larry Regan, the companys president, told the Legislative Council during a May 1 meeting, according to a recording available online.

The firm focuses on creating green and energy-efficient housing, he said, and units typically cost between $1,000 and $1,500 below market rate.

We use a mix of State/Federal sources including tax credits, plus substantial private investment and Developer equity to fund our developments, Ken Regan said in the companys statement.

The State Street property currently is occupied by a single-family home and is located near the Skiff Streat intersection.

At 6:30 p.m. June 8, A Church for the City will host a community input meeting about the proposal at 2105 State St.
Hearst Connecticut Media file

WEST HAVEN  The West Haven Historical Society on Thursday will host George Campbell, a descendant of Adj. William Campbell, for a tour of his fifth-generation grandfather's brief but pivotal time in West Haven.

George Campbell and his daughter Miriam will travel from Edinburgh, Scotland, to retrace the steps of William Campbell, who participated in the British invasion of West Haven on July 5, 1779. William Campbell, who arrived on West Haven's shores as part of an invading force, made the call to spare the life of a wounded minister, the Rev. Noah Williston, shortly before Campbell himself was killed by gunfire himself.
Meghan Friedmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A Hamden man was found guilty Tuesday of a sexual assault he committed in 2021, officials say.

In a news release, the New Haven States Attorney Office said a jury found Daren Sarcione, 55, of Hamden, guilty of first-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint.
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  As LGBTQ+ advocates celebrate a federal judge's ruling declaring Tennessee's so-called anti-drag show law unconstitutional, questions remain over whether the law will be enforced after the court declared that the decision only applied to the state's most populous county.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker ruled that the first-in-the-nation law was unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad," and encouraged discriminatory enforcement."

The ruling came just as many Pride events were scheduled across the heavily conservative state, including events where drag performers were expected to appear publicly and many of which were designated for all ages.

Yet even after Friday's ruling, questions remain about how prosecutors will respond. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that the law remains in effect outside of Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis. However, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that he believes district attorneys won't enforce a law that a federal judge says violates the First Amendment.

We are reviewing the order and expect to appeal at the appropriate time, Skrmetti said.

The lawsuit seeking to overturn the legislation was spearheaded by a Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater group, Friends of George, which argued that the law would negatively affect them because they produce drag-centric performances, comedy sketches, and plays with no age restrictions.

Initially, the complaint listed Mulroy, Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Skrmetti as defendants. The plaintiffs later agreed to dismiss the governor and the attorney general as defendants,  although Skrmetti continued to represent Mulroy.

Because Mulroy's authority only applies within Shelby County, Parker's ruling applied solely to that jurisdiction.

Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that the Trump-appointed judge was clear the statute violated the First Amendment.

"Therefore, I think it is unlikely, or should be unlikely, that other DAs around the state will enforce it," he said. And then, if they do attempt to enforce it, I think the defendant will have a very strong First Amendment defense.

Mulroy, a Democrat, added that he was probably never been happier to lose a lawsuit."

Ive always thought that the drag show bill was a solution in search of a problem and that by chilling free expression and making the LGBT community feel targeted has done more harm than good, he said.

Gov. Lee has refused to weigh in on whether district attorneys should continue enforcing the law. Instead, the Republican said he would defer to Skrmetti about enforcement.

Lee added that he had not spoken to the attorney general about Parker's ruling and that he no plans to because it's in the judicial branch.

"That bill was created to protect children for the state. Ill continue to do that whenever we can," Lee said.

Tennessees Republican-dominated Legislature advanced the anti-drag law earlier this year, with several GOP members pointing to drag performances in their hometowns as reasons why it was necessary to restrict such performances from taking place in public or where children could view them.

Notably the actual word drag doesnt appear in the statute. Instead lawmakers changed the states definition of adult cabaret to mean adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors. Furthermore, male or female impersonators were classified as a form of adult cabaret, akin to strippers or topless dancers.

The law banned adult cabaret performances from public property or anywhere minors might be present. Performers who broke the law risked being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a repeat offense.

While LGBTQ+ rights advocates praised the ruling, Republican lawmakers quickly urged Skrmetti to appeal the decision. So far, he hasn't.

The drag law marks the second major proposal targeting LGBTQ+ people passed by Tennessee lawmakers this year. Lee also signed into law GOP-backed legislation banning most gender-affirming care for minors, which is being challenged in court.

___

Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
SHELTON  A Milford woman was arrested and charged for robbing a TD Bank last month, police say.

The Shelton Police Department said Bernadette Diana Volikas, 46, was charged with first-degree robbery and fourth-degree larceny a robbery at the TD Bank on Bridgeport Avenue on May 4.

Police said Volikas was quickly identified as a suspect as Stratford police investigated a similar robbery, which occurred in their town in February. They said officers from Shelton and Stratford went to Volikas' residence in Milford to take her into custody on an arrest warrant held by the Stratford Police Department.

Police said Volikas, who has been incarcerated since that arrest on May 4, was served on the Shelton arrest warrant Friday. They said she was held on $20,000 bond for the Shelton bank robbery and remained in custody of the Department of Correction. She is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Derby on June 22.
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear declared Tuesday that he's been steadfast in the fight against crime, hitting back against his Republican challenger's attacks on public safety issues  which have risen to the forefront of Kentucky's closely watched gubernatorial campaign.

Flanked by a bevy of current and retired law enforcement officers backing his reelection campaign, Beshear laid out his record on criminal justice issues. As governor, he said, he pushed for large pay raises for state troopers as well as increased training for police officers. As attorney general, he prosecuted child sex offenders, cleared a rape kit backlog and combated senior scams, he said.

Leadership is about stepping up and doing the work," Beshear said. "Running toward challenges, not abdicating responsibility. During my time as attorney general and now as governor, Ive always tackled challenges ... in crime head on. Leaning into problems, not backing away and blaming others.

Beshear's comments were aimed at his Republican challenger, Daniel Cameron, the state's current attorney general.

While campaigning last week, Cameron said Beshear bears all of the responsibility for what the Republican nominee claimed were rising crime rates. Cameron did not mention that as attorney general he's the state's chief law enforcement officer  an omission that drew a pushback from Beshear.

Thats not just wrong," the governor responded. "Thats hiding from problems and blaming others."

Beshears campaign said an FBI database shows Kentuckys violent crime rate is well below the national average, and that every state bordering Kentucky has a higher rate than Kentucky's with one exception -- Virginia.

Beshear said he would push for additional funding for law enforcement training and body armor to protect law officers if he wins another term in November.

Cameron has pointed to his own considerable support from the law enforcement community.

Meanwhile, Cameron's campaign has blasted the governors decision to allow the early release of some nonviolent inmates during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people released ended up committing new crimes, Cameron said. State Republican Party spokesman Sean Southard on Tuesday referred to them as the "governors getaways," adding: "Crime is bad enough without Andys help."

Beshear responded that more than 20 governors from both parties took the same action to release low-level, nonviolent inmates near the end of their sentences to help ease the spread of the virus in prisons.

The governor then went on the offensive, slamming Cameron's response to the hundreds of pardons and commutations issued by former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in his final days in office.

I believe that the people of Kentucky can recognize the difference between letting low-level offenders out during a deadly pandemic near the end of their sentence, versus our current attorney generals failure to appoint a special prosecutor or do anything about Matt Bevins pardons of rapists and murderers," Beshear said.

Democrats accuse Cameron of shirking his duties by failing to hold Bevin accountable for pardons of violent criminals and others before Bevin left office following his electoral loss to Beshear in 2019.

Cameron has referred to the Democratic attack ad as completely absurd. He said his decision to turn the investigation over to the FBI drew broad support at the time.

In another development, a top aide to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has joined Cameron's campaign, adding another political heavy hitter to his team in trying to defeat Beshear.

Terry Carmack, the senator's chief of staff, will assume a senior management role in Cameron's campaign, Southard said. Cameron's campaign said the addition of Carmack reflects an all-hands-on-deck approach by a unified GOP in support of his bid to unseat Beshear.

Cameron won former President Donald Trump's endorsement early in the primary campaign and he's a McConnell protege, having previously worked as the senators legal counsel. Cameron has shown an ability to bridge an ever-expanding gulf between the ex-president and the Senate GOP leader.

Carmack said Republicans are excited to make history by electing Cameron as governor. Cameron would become Kentucky's first Black governor if elected.

The Democratic Governors Association, meanwhile, had a different characterization of Carmack's role.

Daniel Camerons campaign has a new babysitter on loan from Mitch McConnell, who is once again trying to hand Daniel a political office, said DGA Communications Director Sam Newton.

Carmack has extensive political experience at the state and national levels. He served previously as state party chairman in Kentucky, chief of staff to members of Congress and as political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

His addition to the Cameron campaign was described as a terrific move by Scott Jennings, a Kentucky-based Republican political commentator and former adviser to President George W. Bush.

Terry is one of the most experienced guys in Kentucky politics, said Jennings, who has close ties to McConnell. We are in for a close, hard-fought race and you wont find a smarter, savvier operator than Carmack. He knows the state like the back of his hand.

Carmack is taking a leave of absence and will return to McConnells staff after the November election.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  The mystery client who hired a detective to secretly track Reno's mayor with a GPS device is trying to persuade Nevada's Supreme Court he has a First Amendment right to remain anonymous, a protected privilege he says is a cornerstone of democracy and part of the business of politics.

The high court allowed lawyers representing John Doe to file the latest brief in the case  with his true name under seal  last week so as to keep his identity secret, at least for now.

Chief Justice Lidia Stiglich set additional filing deadlines into July as the justices consider an appeal the detective filed last month seeking to overturn a Washoe County judge's order that he name the person who hired him to keep tabs on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and a county commissioner before the November election.

John Doe's lawyers said the U.S. Supreme Court "has repeatedly affirmed that the First Amendment protects anonymous political activity."

For better or worse ... the use of private investigators to conduct investigations of elected officials and/or candidates is just politics as usual, they wrote in the June 1 filing.

Schieve filed a civil suit in December seeking damages from private detective David McNeely for a violation of her privacy after a mechanic alerted her to the clandestine GPS tracking device, which was attached to her vehicle.

Sparks police determined it was purchased by McNeely. Ex-Washoe County Commissioner Vaugn Hartung joined the suit in February, alleging a GPS monitor also was secretly attached to his vehicle to track his movements.

The placing of the devices on the cars wasn't illegal because no Nevada law specifically outlawed the practice at the time. But the Legislature approved and Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law last week a prohibition on placing GPS trackers on vehicles with the exceptions of law enforcement officers with warrants and in some cases certain creditors.

Lawyers for McNeely said in last month's appeal to the states high court that divulging the name of a client would violate the long-accepted and expected confidentiality of a private investigator-client relationship.

Lawyers for John Doe joined the appeal last week, arguing that the First Amendment protects John Does right to anonymously investigate elected officials to help uncover misconduct or malfeasance.

Anonymous pamphlets leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all, said the brief filed by Las Vegas lawyers Alina Shell and Jeffrey Barr.

Even the Federalist Papers, written in favor of the adoption of our Constitution, were published under fictitious names, they said.

They said that without the assurance of confidentiality, Doe wouldn't have hired the detective to investigate any alleged misconduct by the politicians. They said earlier he'd received information that suggested the officials may have been involved in some sort of wrongdoing but haven't provided any further details.

The filing says private investigation of elected officials and candidates has and likely will always be part of American politics.

The late Sen. Edward Kennedy hired a private investigator while seeking re-election in 1994 to dig up damaging information about challenger Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, it said. American journalist James Callendar remained anonymous while revealing President Thomas Jefferson had fathered children with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves, it added.

In Nevada, the Culinary Union and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association hired a detective to surveil the movements of Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs-McDonald in 2006 to show she lived outside her commission district, the lawyers said.

They said in earlier filings in Washoe District Court that Doe had not broken any laws or disseminated any of the information gathered on his behalf and never instructed McNeely to place GPS trackers on vehicles.

The tracking device was on Schieves vehicle for several weeks and Hartungs vehicle for several months, their lawsuit says.

Schieve said McNeely trespassed onto her property to install the device, which a mechanic noticed while working on her vehicle last year about two weeks before she won re-election in November.

Hartung also won re-election but later resigned to become chairman of the Nevada Transportation Commission.

Judge David Hardy said in his May 4 ruling that the use of a GPS tracking device to monitor the movements of a person could be a tortious invasion of privacy.
HARTFORD  A $51 billion state budget -- with tax cuts and a boost for education funding -- won resounding bipartisan approval Tuesday in a 35-1 state Senate vote after more than five hours of debate.

"We've certainly come a long way from years past, where we had to make very difficult decisions in order to lay the ground work to have these kinds of budgets that we've had over the past few years," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. "We have people who are moving into our state. They see the changes we are making in our long-term fiscal situation. They love many of the policies we have voted on here in the state Senate and in the legislature over the years that are welcoming and inclusive."

Duff stressed that additional educational funding and municipal aid will make cities and towns happy. "Through so much hard work we have a budget here that invests [and] that gives taxpayers relief that helps our middle class and working class families," Duff said.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning the House of Representatives overwhelmingly endorsed the spending plan by a 139-12 vote -- after Democrats agreed to remove sections of the budget that Republicans opposed. A small band of conservative Republicans opposed the budget, which includes the first cut in the state income tax since it was enacted more than three decades ago.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chairwoman of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, called the budget -- $25.1 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and $25.9 billion in the second year -- a humane package. The first year of the budget would be $14.4 million under the statutory spending cap, while the second year would be $2.2 million under that limit.

"This budget grows upon the historic investments made in our communities from the underlying 22-23 budget, which gave our non-profits a 7-percent raise, spent tens of millions of dollars on our childcare workforce and brought town aid to an unprecedented high," Osten said. "Our budget for 24-25 builds upon this base by annualizing the raise for non-profits and giving them an additional $206 million over the biennium; investing an additional $150 million over the scheduled (Education Cost Sharing) increases in our elementary education system; and prioritizing and strengthening our health care system, all while staying within the fiscal guardrails we re-established at the beginning of this year."

Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, the longtime co-chairman of the tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, called the revenue side of the budget a "pro-growth" document that culminates five years of stabilizing state finances in preparation for supporting more economic growth.

"There are no less than 17 individual actions that reduce the costs to families and businesses by way of tax rate reductions, tax credits, fee reductions and other options," he said.

Compared to the current budget, which runs through June 30, spending in the first year would will increase by $918 million. Next February the General Assembly meets in a shorter, February-to-May session.

A couple hours into the Senate debate, Lamont met reporters in his Capitol office and complimented lawmakers. "It's an honestly balanced budget," he said. "No gimmicks. It's a budget that's really focused on growth and opportunity. We have a lot to be proud of than where we have been in many a year."

In the Senate, Sen. Eric Berthel of Watertown, a top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said that while the more than $600 million in tax reductions is a positive move, the state could have made it much higher. Earlier in the session, Senate Republicans offered an alternative budget with $1.5 billion in tax cuts.

"We are in a very good spot, I would say at this point in the process," said Berthel, who is in his fifth term in the legislature and pointed to the imminent adjournment of the part-time House and Senate at midnight on Wednesday. "The House has already taken up this measure, and here we are with a day and a half left, and assuredly we will vote on this budget at some point of time through the course of this day. We have met our obligation to provide and presumably pass a balanced budget. We have had sessions that I have personally endured where we were back in this beautiful chamber in November, where we still had not passed a budget."

The long summer of 2017, under then-Gov. Dannel Malloy, led to a bipartisan deal that included new spending and bonding caps that are regularly cited by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as a turning point in state finances. Those "guard rails" were reinforced near the start of the current session, which began on Jan. 4.

"In my opinion, we are in the economic and fiscal state we are in, with a surplus, with the money that we have to make increased investments, with the money that we have to provide tax relief for the middle class, because of the bipartisan budget, due to the work of this legislature in 2017," said Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, recalling previous years of budget deficits after he was first elected to the House in 2014.

Sen. Henry Martin of Bristol, a top Republican on the Finance Committee, recalled that when he was elected, also in 2014, the state was in perpetual finance crisis. "We were always in deficit," he said, adding something he read had stuck with him. "The states and the communities that have less spending and lower taxes are the communities and states that have the greatest economic growth. I have always kept that in my mind. How do we turn our state economy around? I am happy to say I believe that we have turned the corner here in the state of Connecticut, from the last decade or two decades of reoccurring deficit after deficit."

Only conservative Republican Rob Sampson of Wolcott voted against the package, although many in the 12-member GOP minority said it was a lost opportunity for even more cuts in taxes.

This budget just feeds the monster that has become our state government, and I just cannot vote for it, and I am sorry that there are not more members who see this as I do, who are willing to stake out a different path for our future and say 'no' to business as usual," Sampson said "But I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspective this afternoon.

Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, summed up the budget with a fond what-might-have-been, if Republicans held the majority.

"Imagine a $1.5 billion working and middle-class tax cut," Kelly said. "Imagine a direct property tax deduction, or a $2,000 income tax deduction for every child in your household. Imagine an income tax cut for this year, retroactive to January. Imagine that you only pay for the cost of electricity on your electric bill. Imagine a 30 percent reduction in your health care premiums to provide true affordable health care to middle-class families. Well all your imaginations could have come true had our Senate Republican budget been adopted."

But during a period of robust surpluses and record tax cuts, few GOP lawmakers could vote against it. "So while this budget may have some deficiencies, it does include a lot of good ideas," Kelly said, thanking Lamont for holding the line on adhering to the so-called fiscal guard rails on spending and bonding limits.

While the Senate took up the budget, the House of Representatives, which finished the budget at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, considered dozens of other bills awaiting action. And after the Senate vote, Duff called more legislation to keep the chamber busy for the rest of the night, heading to the Wednesday midnight finale.

House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said the impressive support of GOP lawmakers was based on the adoption of their ideas by Lamont and Democratic lawmakers who have a 98-53 majority in the House and a 24-12 edge in the Senate. "A lot of the stuff we proposed in our budget got incorporated into the final product," he said.

Sen. Herron Gaston, D-Bridgeport, said that targeted spending is aimed at lifting children out of poverty through education. "Education is the gateway to opportunity and that it is the doorway to helping individuals not only be successful for themselves but to help lift themselves and their families from the bitter grip of poverty," said the first term lawmaker.

But Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, warned that nursing home workers and other social service professionals are still being underpaid. He remarked on the protesters from non-profit agencies that have demonstrated for weeks outside the Capitol.

"They think that what we are trying to do here doesn't work for them," Winfield said. "They know that in their lives they are struggling. We are responding with this budget, but we had options that we did not take. And if you say to somebody, well that at least you got a tax cut of $200, $300, $400 while people are saying I'm making $17 an hour and I need more. I need $20 an hour, which is $6,000 a year."

Lamont, sitting behind his office desk in front of a Norman Rockwell painting, told reporters he has also heard the protesters too. "We made a big start there," he said. "Everybody comes into me and says we have to make up for 30 years of being short-changed, given the boom-and-bust cycle of what's going on in this building. We're making significant investment for the non-profits in general and for the group homes in particular, which I think are the folks that take care of the most-vulnerable in society."

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, whose closing statement just prior to voting is a Senate tradition, agreed that providing more funding for non-profits will be a goal in next year's session. "During all of our years of budget crisis going back to 2009 until the last couple of years, every year in fact they were shorted," Looney said. "They provide essential services in the state of Connecticut, in many ways being surrogates in the state of Connecticut."
For one family, school pride runs deep. Four generations deep that is.

Bonetta Horn remembers being a part of the booster club and learning how to type shorthand in her high school years. Now she is watching her great granddaughter graduate from the same school  what is now West Albany High School. Its also the same school her son and his daughter attended.

It makes me feel very old, she said with a laugh as she ran her fingers through the black and white images of the graduating class of 1955 in her yearbook.

Back then, the classes she took prepared her for her job working at the bank, she said. Many of the girls she knew married and had children right out of high school she said. She gazes upon the faces that grace the yearbooks glossy pages marked with blue cursive signatures.

Some of which are familiar faces she has seen at reunions over the years, others that feel more faded, faces of those who passed away long ago.

Ive got some pride that four generations came out of that school, not many people can say that, Kenneth Horn said.

He went to West Albany in the 1970s, he said. He remembers going to Lakeshore Lanes on the weekends for Moonlight Bowling or riding down the gut, a stretch of street teenagers would frequent and sometimes caused nuisances to the point where the city put out an ordinance against it, he said.

Back then, Kenneth Horn said, life felt more simple.

It was fun times and now I look back and wonder why I was in such a hurry to get out, he said.

Theres a lot of changes at West Albany High School since his mother wandered the halls. The building is completely restructured, she said, but some things haven't changed.

Theres a lot of pride in West Albany and theres strong traditions, said Sarah Haile, who graduated from West Albany in 2003.

There are assemblies, school chants and now a sort of lip sync battle to rally in school spirit, Haile said. Now that she is watching her daughter graduate, shes seen a lot of the people she grew up with become teachers, she said.

I think it says a lot that they came back to the school, she said.

Haile got decent grades but her attendance fell when she was going through a rough time, she said.

Now, watching her oldest daughter graduate, she is proud to watch her overcome her own struggles.

Rylee Mitchell is often thinking about the future. And between volleyball practice, work, school assignments, graduation and the great unknown, theres a lot to worry about.

I constantly feel like my mind is in other places and Im doing things wrong, she said.

There are some similarities across her familys high school experiences, but what stands out to Mitchell are the differences. For one, going through the pandemic has shaped this generation of high school graduates, she said.

Not being able to interact face-to-face set a lot of people back.

Its difficult to craft a culture when you dont have the next generation to look up to, she said.

Mitchell is often busy. When she isnt in school or in volleyball practice she is working at a pizza shop, manning the counter or the oven. Shes saving money to go to nursing school, she said.

School hasnt always been easy for her since she had trouble concentrating with her attention deficit disorder, she said.

She seeks solace in her room and loves to read. Shes reading Harry Potter for the twelfth time, she said.

When her mind is racing, she puts it to words, writing poetry. Right now the feelings are bittersweet, as endings make way for new beginnings. Maybe that is something that hasnt changed over the generations.

Im sad to think about not seeing people everyday even if I havent interacted with them much, they have somehow shaped me, she said.

But at the same time, its a milestone. It feels like an accomplishment to be proud of and she's excited for the future, she said.

We are a close family in a lot of ways, Kenneth Horn said as he sits next to his mother and across from his daughter and granddaughter at the dining table of his home.

The four generations see each other for each volleyball tournament, BBQ and every holiday, Sarah Haile said.

On Thursday, June 8, Mitchell will graduate from West Albany just as her mother, grandfather and great grandmother did before her. And together they will be cheering her on in the stands.
Comedian, actor and TikTok star Matt Rife is coming to Uncasville for four nights during his ProbleMATTic World Tour.

The shows are set for four nights from Feb. 22 through Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Originally, Rife was set to perform Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, but due to high demand he added two additional shows.

"Two extra dates have been added for a record-breaking fourth consecutive show," Mohegan Sun said in press release announcing the additional dates.

Rife announced his first world tour in a promo video posted to social media Monday. In the video, he summons a genie, played by Ashton Kutcher, and asks for a series of wishes, including going on a date with Mila Kunis, Kutcher's wife. Kutcher rejects this wish and Rife instead asks for a world tour.

I wish for a world tour, bigger than anything I couldve ever dreamed of. And I want it to be fully sold out with people from across the world who just want to come out and have a good time and laugh, Rife said in the video.

Rifes tour has more than 100 dates and kicks off July 20 at Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon. He will stop in major cities across North America like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and more. He will also make stops in Australia and Europe throughout 2023 and 2024.

Rife has more than 14.1 million followers on Tik Tok with over 2 billion views. He also has 3.8 million followers on Instagram. Rife made his television debut on MTVs Wild N Out" during season 7 and has appeared on the show's Fresh Off the Boat and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, according to IMDb.

In 2021, Rife produced his first one-hour comedy special on YouTube, Only Fans. He released his second stand-up special, Matthew Steven Rife in April.

Ticket prices for the ProbleMATTic tour range from $59.50 to $149.50. Pre-sale starts Tuesday at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. General sales begin Friday at 10 a.m.
Adewale Egbedun, a 38-year-old member of the Osun state house of assembly, has been elected as the speaker.

Egbedun was unanimously elected during the inauguration of the states 8th assembly on Tuesday.

The lawmaker representing the Odo-Otin constituency was nominated by Ibrahim Abiola of the Irewole/Isokan constituency and seconded by Areoye Samuel.

Egbedun, born on June 29, 1985, is a graduate of business information systems from the University of East London.

He is a first-time elected lawmaker into the state assembly and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also, Akinyode Oyewusi, representing Ife north constituency, was elected as the deputy speaker.

Oyewusi is a postgraduate student of international law and diplomacy at Leed City University.

The inaugural sitting of the 8th assembly was presided by Simeon Amusan, the clerk of the house.

Earlier this year, Timothy Owoeye, the former speaker of the Osun assembly, lost his re-election bid into the house to PDPs Olatunbosun Oyewole.

The new assembly will be working with Ademola Adeleke, whose election as Osun governor was affirmed last month by the supreme court.
The legal team of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it was denied access to electoral documents by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite paying N6 million.

The team is requesting the documents as exhibits, to tender before the presidential election petition tribunal, to prove its case against the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the last election.

Eyitayo Jegede, lead counsel to Abubakar, told the five-man tribunal on Tuesday that INECs refusal to provide the documents is frustrating the PDP candidates case.

Jegede had sought to tender results from 10 out of 21 LGAs in Kogi state to prove the former vice-presidents case against Tinubu.

The LGAs whose results were sought to be tendered are Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu, and Igalamela Odolu.

Jegede said the team had to subpoena INEC officials to provide the required documents before the tribunal.

However, Haruna Tsammani, chairman of the tribunal, said the court would have difficulty marking and numbering the documents as exhibits, adding that it was insensitive to tender such sensitive documents piecemeal.

Jegede sought adjournment of the case to enable his team to get the required documents from INEC.

The commission, represented by Abubakar Mahmoud, did not object to Jegedes request for adjournment.

Also, Wole Olanipekun, Tinubus lawyer and Lateef Fagbemi, counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not oppose the request for adjournment of the case.

Tsammani subsequently adjourned the case to June 7.

Tinubu, the standard bearer of the APC, was declared the winner of the February 25 election with 8,794,726 votes.

The outcome of the election is being challenged by Abubakar and Peter Obi, flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP).
The house of representatives committee on aviation has faulted the process leading to the unveiling of Nigeria Air.

Speaking at an investigative hearing on Tuesday with Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and representatives of ministry of aviation, Nnaji Nnolim, chairman of the committee, said the unveiling of Nigeria Air was a fraud.

The committee also passed a resolution asking the federal government to suspend the operations of Nigeria Air.

Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation, unveiled Nigeria Air  the national carrier  about three days before the end of the former president Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The committee said it is totally dissatisfied with the actions of Sirika flagging off the operations of Nigeria Air despite a standing court injunction and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.

A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community, the committee said.

The committee asked the ministry of aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flights operations

The committee also called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently constitute a high level presidential committee to undertake a holistic review of the processes of setting up Nigeria Air.

The lawmakers said, all individuals, groups or organisations involved in the controversial shenanigan named Nigeria Air take-off must be brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned.

THE BACK AND FORTH

While speaking before the committee, Emmanuel Meribole, permanent secretary of ministry of aviation, said there was no money spent on the unveiling of Nigeria Air.

He said the national carrier has yet to be issued an air operator certificate (AOC) but that the processes are ongoing.

Meribole said from 2017 to date, not up to N3.8 billion has been spent on the national carrier project.

However, Rowland Iyayi, a member of the AON, alleged that the Nigeria Air project has gulped about N85.4 billion.

The Nigerian government has appropriated N85. 2 billion. The point is what exactly are we talking about when youre talking about Nigeria Air? In one breath, were told in the outline business case that its a flag carrier. In another breath, we were told its a national carrier, he said.

Theres a clear distinction between what a national carrier is and a flag carrier and to all intents and purposes, what we have here is a flag carrier.

Nigerian should not be hoping to believe that we have a national carrier. What were saying is, we need accountability to tell us exactly what has been with all the funds appropriated since 2017 and 2016. And if indeed all the shareholders are party to this, how much have they contributed?

Tayib Odunowo, the managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), said the aircraft which was used for the unveiling was granted a landing permit as a chattered flight.

It was a chartered flight, and it left the next day, he said.
The senate has approved a request from President Bola Tinubu to appoint 20 special advisers.

Tinubus request was read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

The president did not list the names of the prospective special advisers.

After the letter was read, the upper legislative chamber gave speedy approval to the request.

The senate president said it is of utmost urgency that the president has a team to work with.

Because there is no name for special advisers we will just approve it from here, Lawan said.

We feel that that this is something of utmost urgency.

The development came days after Tinubu announced the appointment of Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the house of representatives, as his chief of staff.

George Akume, former minister of special duties, was named the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former deputy governor of Jigawa state, was appointed deputy chief of staff.
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by five residents of the federal capital territory (FCT), who sought to stop the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, on Tuesday, ordered the lawyer representing the five residents to pay the sum of N10 million each to the attorney-general of the federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The plaintiffs had averred that Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 was filed on April 28.

The plaintiffs  Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu  sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

They had asked the court to determine whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT.

The plaintiffs also wanted a declaration extending former President Buharis tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in.

Ruling on the case today, Ekwo held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit.

The presiding judge said the suit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.
Two men died in a crash on Highway 126E close to the Lane and Linn county borders, according to authorities.

Frederick Albert Dawson, 40, of Eugene, was driving eastbound at around 8:53 p.m. Friday, June 2, an Oregon State Police news release states, when he attempted a left turn into a campground.

Riding a black Harley Davidson motorcycle behind the Toyota, Sean Michael Lenninger, 46, of Coquille tried passing the pickup on the left, but Lenninger clipped its front driver side and went off the road, OSP said.

Lenninger was declared dead by medical responders at the scene. Dawson was taken to the University District Hospital in Eugene with minor injuries. Highway traffic was affected for around an hour.

Stay up to date on mid-Willamette Valley news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Albany and Linn County news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.




Following their alleged role in facilitating vote buying, the Federal Government has charged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, a leading Deposit Money Bank, Zenith Bank Plc and its Managing Director, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, to court for alleged conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.





According to the charge sheet of the case with no AB/10C/2003 filed at the High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta Division and dated June 2, 2023, Adebutu, along with Messers Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adegoke, Hon Dare Lukman Ogunleye, Dayo Fasina, Wasiu Enilolobo and Malik Badmus, is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on a four-count charge, namely one count of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, bribery contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and two counts of undue influence contrary to section 127 of the Electoral Act, 2022.





The charges were filed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B Abubakar; the Assistant Chief State Counsel, Aderonke Imana and Senior State Counsel, Bagudu Sani, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.





On his part, Onyeagwu, along with one Celestina Appeal and Zenith Bank Plc, was charged with failing to report suspicious transactions on verve cards with the inscription Dame Oladunni Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged between February and March 2023 and thereby committing an offence contrary to section 7(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022; and failing to verify the identity of customers carrying out electronic transactions on verve cards with the inscription Dame Oladunni Memorial Endorsement Scheme For Less privileged, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 37 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2022.





According to the particulars of the offence, Adebutu and the co-accused on or about 18th of March at Ibara, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to corruptly give gifts in form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun State.





Adebutu was further accused of providing 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 each and inscribed with the same name for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP candidates during the said elections.




Health workers under the auspices of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP, have made eight demands from the present administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid the fuel subsidy removal.





Recall that President Tinubu announced the fuel subsidy removal during his inaugural speech last month.





He said that the subsidy could no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.





Tinubu promised to re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that would materially improve the lives of millions.





However, NAGGMDP, in a statement signed by Dr Sofiri Starson Peterside Jnr, the National President and Dr Enobong Akpan, the Secretary General, urged the Federal Government to urgently suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of PMS to avert the looming multisectoral industrial disharmony that may grind Nigeria to a halt.





They also urged the Government to put measures to stop crude oil theft, secure the countrys borders and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.





Here are NAGGMDPs eight demands:





That we strongly align in solidarity with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and call on the Federal Government to urgently suspend the removal of fuel subsidy and revert to the old pump price of PMS to avert the looming multisectoral industrial disharmony that may grind the country to a halt.





That our refineries should be revamped to functional capacity as soon as possible, and licenses should be given for the establishment of more refineries to encourage local production of Petroleum products.





The Federal Government should institute measures to stop crude oil theft, secure our borders and stop leakages within the oil and gas sector.





There should be a committee set up by the Federal Government to audit the subsidy regime since its inception and the use of funds recurrently allocated for the repair of our refineries and that the culprits brought to book.





There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to strengthen healthcare financing by ensuring at least 15% budgetary allocation to the health sector. There is also a need to achieve universal health coverage through primary healthcare and National/State health insurance schemes across the country in order to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee accessible and affordable healthcare.





The Federal Government should set up a robust economic team that will establish cushioning measures to protect citizens when the subsidy is eventually removed. Priority should be given to measures aimed at addressing the widespread hunger and poverty in the country. They should also bring on board palliative measures to mitigate the impact of the eventual subsidy removal on citizens, especially those on low incomes.





That the Federal Government, in the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice, should take measures to cut down the cost of governance by the Executive and the National Assembly, reduce borrowing, and channel such funds to other critical sectors of the economy, including minimum wage increase.





The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration should demonstrate empathy to the citizens of this country by doing what is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.




The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have suspended the planned nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal.





The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed this on Monday night after a meeting between the federal government and the unions at Aso Villa.





According to him, the Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC would establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.





The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC would review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the programme, a communique signed after the meeting reads in part.





Earlier NLC and TUC had threatened to embark on nationwide strike on Wednesday.





Meanwhile, it was reported that the National Industrial Court in Abuja ordered the Labour unions not to embark on strike.





The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited on Wednesday last week announced a new price template for fuel nationwide.





The development saw fuel pump price increase from N197 per litre to over N500.





Gbajabiamila added that the meeting also agreed to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.





The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nations refineries.





The Federal Government provides a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.





All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee, he said.





He stressed that the NLC agreed to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations as well as continue the ongoing engagements and secure closure on the resolutions.





The resolution was endorsed by the Presidents and Secretaries of the NLC and TUC, and Ms Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Employment.
The Oyo state police command has confirmed the death of Opeyemi Ajewole, a professor of social and environmental forestry at the University of Ibadan (UI).

Adewale Osifeso, the police commands spokesperson, told NAN on Tuesday that there is an ongoing investigation into the matter.

It is understood that the professor was killed by suspected gunmen on his way home on Monday night.

The matter is under investigation. Updates would be provided accordingly, Osifeso was quoted to have said.

A lecturer at the institution, who preferred anonymity, also told NAN that the assailants took away the professors car after killing him.

It is true, he was killed last night while returning home. They shot him and took his car away, the source said.

The varsity is yet to speak on the issue as of the time of filling this report.

The development comes amid concerns over rising insecurity across various states in the country.

In March, Felix Akpan, a professor of political science at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), was also found dead in his apartment.

Irene Ugbo, the Cross River police command spokesperson, had said Akpans body was discovered with multiple stab wounds in his apartment in Calabar, the state capital.
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Marcus Tibetan, a popular Lagos prophet of a white garment church, has been accused of a N65 million land scam by his church member, David Timileyin, whom he allegedly promised land near the recently inaugurated Dangote refinery in the state.

According to Timilehin, a real estate businessman, his relationship with Tibetan was that of a father and son as he had taken the prophet as a spiritual guide.

Timilehin said, in 2022, Tibetan informed him of the availability of two hectares of land (30 plots) supposedly in Ketu, Epe area of the state, belonging to Omolara Akintonde, another church member and former first lady of Ogun state. The value of the land was put at N2 million per plot and some additional costs, which put the total money at N65.5 million.

After he showed interest in the land, Timilehin said Tibetan offered himself as a go-between for the transaction. He said he told the prophet that he would need to get a lawyer to help seal the deal given the huge amount involved, but the prophet told him he would not need a lawyer since he is the one involved.

Timilehin said he paid the N65.5 million cost of the land to the prophet to be transferred to Akintonde. But a year after, Timilehin has not been allocated the land; neither did he receive a receipt of payment nor any documentation of the land. Instead, he has been involved in a back-and-forth conversation with the prophet and Akintonde.

There are indications that Tibetan and Akintonde have connived to deny me my hard-earned money, Timilehin said.

He has not denied collecting money from me. The transaction evidence is there in the audio. On the other hand, Akintonde has also not denied collecting money from Prophet Tibetan.

The situation, however, got messier when Timilehin visited the land without Tibetans knowledge and discovered that it was not what was described to him by the prophet.

The prophet told me the 30 plots of land were close to the Dangote refinery. But I have since discovered that the land is in the forest of Epe. It is largely an uncultivated land in the remote areas of Epe which cant sell for more than N1 million per plot, Timilehin said.

The prophet was furious when he got to know I went to check the land. It was like I had done something evil. That was after I had paid. I wonder why he was so annoyed that I went to check the land I paid for. It was when I saw the land that I discovered it was not the land they told me about.

Later, the woman said the earlier price of N2 million per plot was a mistake, that the land actually cost N5 million per plot. So, for the 30 plots of land, I may have to pay N150 million. It was at this point I said Im no longer interested in the land and they should refund me. The woman has blocked me from her phone.

Before she blocked my number, she asked me to go and meet the prophet since it was the prophet who collected money from me. I had to use a friends phone to reach her to put further pressure on her to return my money.

At a point, the prophet told me even if the woman agrees to refund the fund, what if she dies in the process, what would I do? He had also made several insinuations about an impending doom. He told me one time that there are people who build mansions and never lived in them. When he was trying to discourage me from getting a lawyer, he asked if I have heard of cases of lawyers being killed or kidnapped.

In a letter to Akintonde, Ayo Durojaiye, Timilehins lawyer asked for a refund, saying the land deal is tainted with fraud.

The lawyer said his client also discovered that the land was allocated to Akintonde by the Lagos state government for purely commercial purposes and not for residential buildings. According to Durojaiye, the land was supposed to be for a petroleum refinery.

In a phone call with TheCable, Tibetan denied receiving money from Timilehin.

Im not dodging; Im not running and Im not a small boy in Nigeria. I also met Timilehin through the Internet. I didnt know Akintonde. She happens to be a member of Celestial Church and Im a shepherd in the church, Tibetan said.

She told me she had land to sell, a gigantic land given to her by Lagos state. Ive helped a lot of people abroad to buy land through the woman. I dont collect commissions. They brought the land documents to my house and Timilehin came from Abuja and signed it. Then, I told Timilehin and the woman that my job of connecting them is done and Im no longer involved in the deal. I didnt collect a commission from the woman and Timilehin. He should go and meet the woman to refund his money. I didnt collect any money from Timilehin.

However, bank statements presented by Timilehin showed he sent about N63 million in instalments to the prophet from February to March 2022.

Several calls and messages to Akintondes phone number seeking her side of the story were neither picked up nor acknowledged.

Meanwhile, in a voice note, Akintonde said all enquiries should be directed to the prophet to whom Timilehin paid the money.
A federal high court in Abuja, on Monday, restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) from detaining Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state.

Giving the order on an ex-parte motion filed by Michael Aondoakaa on Yaris behalf, Donatus Okorowo, the judge, also stopped the Department of State Services (DSS) from detaining the senator-elect, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Okorowo ordered the respondents (EFCC, ICPC, DSS) to show cause in the next adjourned date on why the prayers sought on the motion ex-parte should not be granted.

The respondents are however restrained from detaining the applicant until the return date for the order to show cause, the judge ruled and adjourned the matter until June 8.

Through his team of lawyers led by Aondoakaa, former minister of justice, Yari had filed the ex-parte motion marked FHC/ANJ/CS/785/23 asking the court to restrain the EFCC, ICPC and DSS from arresting him.

In the motion dated and filed on June 2, Yari sued the EFCC, ICPC and DSS as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

He prayed the court to stop the three agencies from arresting and/or threatening to arrest and detain him to prevent him from participating in the proclamation of the 10th senate by President Bola Tinubu on June 13.

Yari, who gave 15 grounds on why the application should be granted, averred that he was desirous of contesting the position of the president of the senate in accordance with the 1999 constitution (as amended), and pursuant to the senate standing orders 2022 (amended).

He said his aspiration to contest the position had received overwhelming support from the general public and senators-elect irrespective of party affiliations.

The former governor said the support which he has continued to garner across party lines has drawn consternation from some members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), who have allegedly resorted to using the respondents and their agents to harass and threaten to arrest and detain him on trumped-up charges for the period leading to the first sitting of the senate when nominations and election of presiding officers would be constituted.

The respondents and their agents have threatened to violate the applicants rights as enshrined in the constitution by unlawfully threatening to arrest and detain the applicant, the motion reads.

The respondents and their agents are mandated to operate within the ambit of their establishment laws, and to respect the fundamental human rights of the applicant as enshrined in the constitution.

Yari said if the order was not given, his rights would have been breached by the respondents.

In May 2022, the EFCC arrested Yari over alleged fraud relating to the subsidy reinvestment and empowerment programme (SURE-P).

The former Zamfara governor was also arrested in connection to the fraud allegations levelled against Ahmed Idris, the suspended accountant-general of the federation.
Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the most viable party to take Nigeria out of its current socio-economic hardship.

A statement issued on Tuesday by Paul Ibe, Abubakars special adviser on media, said the politician made the remarks while congratulating Bala Mohammed and Sim Fubara on their election as PDP governors forum chairperson and deputy respectively.

The PDP remains the most viable party to bring Nigeria out of the current socio-economic hardship, Abubakar was quoted as saying.

Abubakar, who was the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, asked all elected officials of the party to keep their focus on policy initiatives that will make life more pleasant and comfortable for the people.

Last week, Abubakar said the PDP is government-in-waiting.

Abubakar, who was addressing PDP lawmakers-elect in Bauchi state, said party members must remain hopeful while waiting for the resolution of the dispute at the presidential election petition tribunal.

Abubakar was defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election.

The PDP and Abubakar are currently challenging Tinubus victory at the election petition tribunal.

Dont ever lose hope. The role of the opposition is to hold the government and majority party to account. And in doing so, you demonstrate that you and your party are ready to govern in the shortest possible time  a government-in-waiting  so to speak, Abubakar told the lawmakers.
Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has handed over to his successor, Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the house of representatives.

The handing over, witnessed by President Bola Tinbu, took place on Monday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

On Friday, Tinubu appointed Gbajabiamila as his chief of staff.

In a tweet thanking the president, Gbajabiamila said he would assume office on January 14, adding that he would give his best when he takes office.

Gbajabiamila, who has spent 20 years in the lower chamber, was re-elected to represent Surulere 1 federal constituency, in the general election.

He was first elected to the house of representatives in 2003 and had won five straight elections before now.

The speaker had previously served as minority whip, minority leader and majority leader before being elected as the speaker in 2019.

See photos below.








Pope Francis returned to the Vatican before noon on Tuesday after being taken briefly to hospital for some clinical examinations, Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni made the announcement.





The pontiff was taken to the Gemelli Clinic for a few hours but the Vatican did not provide any information about the nature or purpose of the examinations.





According to local media reports, he was released after what they referred to as pre-planned medical checks.





The head of the Catholic Church was hospitalised for several days at the end of March because of bronchitis.





He returned to the Vatican in time for Holy Week and Easter weekend celebrations.





At the end of May, the pope had to cancel planned audiences and appointments on one day because of a fever.
An out-of-control burn pile leading to a fire has Sweet Home officials reminding the public all open burning is prohibited as of June 3.

Sweet Home Fire District responded to Berlin Road for the blaze at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 4, according to a news release.

A homeowner reportedly lost control of a burn pile due to windy conditions, and the fire jumped to a nearby shed and overhead trees, the release states, adding that firefighters snuffed the flames quickly using a command brush rig, heavy brush engine and water tender.

Fire officials said in the release the public should always call the Linn County Burn Message (541-451-1904, press 1) prior to burning. However, burning season isnt expected to reopen until after fall.

Stay up to date on mid-Willamette Valley news, wherever you go Easily access the latest Albany and Linn County news in an app that lets you select the topics that matter most to you.

Sweet Home was supported at the scene by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Linn County Sheriffs Office while Lebanon Fire District provided standby coverage.
Ibrahim Hamza, a witness of Atiku Abubakar, has told the presidential election tribunal that the result sheet for the poll in Nasarawa was altered after he had signed the document.

Hamza was the collation officer for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the February 25 presidential election in Nasarawa.

According to NAN, Hamza told the tribunal on Monday that he had also appended his signature to the results sheet under duress because if I did not sign, I would not be given the result.

I did not state this in my witness statement of oath because I know a day like this would come, the witness told the court.

The results were altered after I appended my name and signed.

Due process was not followedI had to sign to obtain a copy of the results because there was this intimidation that if I did not sign, I would not be given the result.

Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) won Nasarawa state during the presidential election.

Obi got 191,361 votes over PDP, who finished second with 147,093 votes, and APCs 172,922 in third.

Recall that Abiye Sekibo, another witness of Atiku, told the tribunal that agents of the All Progressives Congress attacked voters and truncated the electronic transmission of results in Rivers state.

Sekibo claimed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were prevented from using the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) to upload results collated from polling units across the state.




Prince Harry has just arrived at the High Court in central London, where he will give evidence in his case against publisher, Mirror Group Newspapers.





Hell be giving evidence for the first time today, and becomes the first senior member of the Royal Family in modern times to be cross-examined in court, BBC reports.





Prince Harry, and three other people, sued the publisher, Mirror Group Newspapers, alleging information about them was illegally gathered to generate stories.





As part of this illegal gathering, they believe journalists from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People exploited a security gap to access their voicemails and hear messages left by friends and family.





Mirror Group Newspapers has previously admitted phone hacking took place but says it didnt in these cases.





This is a test case  if Harry and the other claimants win, the judge will use it to set the level of damages (amount of money) MGN could pay in other cases from other celebrities.
A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has mocked the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike over his remark on President Bola Tinubu offering him an appointment.

Sani said Wike was talking about appointments more than members of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Recall that Wike had visited Tinubu twice since he assumed office as president.

Speaking with BBC Pidgin, Wike said he would consult his wife and friends if Tinubu offers him an appointment.

The former governor also vowed to assess himself to see if he is prepared for any national assignment, should Tinubu offers him an appointment.

Reacting, Sani tweeted: Wike is talking about appointments more than even members of the ruling party.




The University of Lagos on Tuesday morning confirmed the killing of a 200-level student of the Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Adekunle Agboola, who was shot outside the University premises on Saturday while trying to retrieve his mates phone from robbers.





In a condolence message to the bereaved signed by the UNILAG Principal Assistant Registrar, Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, the institution expressed sadness over the incident, stating that the police are investigating the case.





The release read, It was with heavy heart, that the Management of the University of Lagos, received the sad news of the death of Mr Al Ameen Adekunle Agboola, a 200-level student of the Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering who died outside the University premises on Saturday, June 3, 2023.





The unfortunate incident surrounding his death is being investigated by the Nigerian Police Force, with the full cooperation of the University.





The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, on behalf of the entire University community, commiserates with the family of Mr Agboola, and prays that God grants the bereaved family the strength and fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.





It was reported on Tuesday that the deceased and his colleague identified simply as Opeyemi boarded a shuttle bus from Yaba to UNILAG and while in the vehicle, a man, who was hanging at the back of the bus, dispossessed Opeyemi of her iPhone 7 plus.





Aggrieved by the development, Opeyemi raised the alarm and Adekunle, in a desperate attempt to retrieve the phone from the robber who jumped down from the bus and fled, chased after him.





Upon observing that Adekunle was closing in on the suspect, it was learnt that one of the hoodlums suspected to be working with the fleeing suspect came out of nowhere and shot the 23-year-old.




A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has been shot dead by a suspected armed robber while reportedly trying to recover a stolen phone.

The student, identified as Adekunle, was said to have been shot on Saturday along Harvey Road, Moore Road Junction, in the Yaba axis of the state.

It is understood that Adekunle and Opeyemi, another UNILAG student, had boarded a shuttle going to the school from Yaba.

While on their way, a man, said to be hanging at the back of the vehicle, had forcefully collected an iPhone 7 plus belonging to Opeyemi.

Adekunle was said to have jumped out of the vehicle to pursue the fleeing robber in a bid to recover his colleagues phone.

In the process, however, another man believed to be working with the fleeing robber shot Adekunle in the head.

The 23-year-old student was said to have died on the spot.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos state police spokesperson, confirmed the students death on Tuesday.

Hundeyin said there is an ongoing investigation into the matter. He also disclosed that no arrest has been made so far.

Yes, it is true that the student was killed. No arrest has been made so far, we are still investigating the matter, he said.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has referred to the terror attack in Owo on June 5, 2022, as a tragic event that devastated both the government and people of the state.

Akeredolu stated that the state would always remember the tragedy that occurred in Owo Kingdom when innocent worshippers were attacked at St. Francis Catholic Church.

The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, reflected on the massacre that took place a year ago, which resulted in the death of 41 individuals and numerous injuries.

He lamented that the workers of evil invaded the peaceful land of Owo land and ended the lives of innocent worshippers, causing a black Sunday.

The Governor acknowledged that even one year later, they were still grieving over the incident, and the scars of the heavy blow inflicted on them would always remind them of their losses and the pain they had endured.

He described the attack as a brutal act that could occur in any society, with the Church of God being desecrated and turned into a slaughter slab.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Since moving to a new area, Ive found that people ask where my family is from and react oddly when I confess that I dont know.

We are white, and we have lived in the rural South for generations. Growing up, it never seemed strange to me that we had no other explanation for our presence there. My great-grandparents were all born in the American South, and they never mentioned any ancestry from anywhere else.

Since moving to a large city in the North, the topic of heritage has come up a few times in conversation. When people ask, I say the name of my home state. They then elaborate, asking where we come from, and I have to explain that I dont know where my family is from. I know, of course, that we must have immigrated at some point, but I dont know from where.

People here seem to find this very strange. Several have recommended I take a DNA test or investigate my genealogy, with some going so far as to ask, shocked, why I havent done this already.

I dont have a good answer; its just that it isnt important to me.

I have, however, taken offense on more than one occasion when people have said that we must have something to hide, such as slave ownership, connections to the Nazi party or other such historical horrors.

Given my lack of information, I cant in good faith deny anything outright, but when did this become an acceptable thing to accuse someone of? Why is it so strange to people that I dont know where we are from? How can I politely respond to their questions and occasional accusations?

GENTLE READER: Said once, to a newcomer, Where are you from? may be a harmless conversation opener. Said repeatedly, even after receiving an answer, is not.

A lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth found that out the hard way. At a charitable function in Buckingham Palace, she kept pressing a Black guest to tell where she was really from, despite that ladys having repeatedly said that she was British-born. She also touched the guests hair, brushing it aside to see her name tag.

After her behavior was denounced by the palace, and she resigned from the royal household under pressure, the offender apologized to that British guest.

The racial element may have been lacking in your case, but it is nonetheless rude to press people to disclose their supposed origins, and atrociously rude to suggest that only shame could prevent them from answering nosy questions.

Miss Manners is aware that this intrusiveness has become common in these identity-conscious days. But there is an essential difference between wanting to know about ones own family and demanding an accounting from others.

Just repeat, as did the guest at Buckingham Palace, I told you where I was from. And cut off insults by walking away.

***

MORE FROM MISS MANNERS:

Miss Manners: Were a family that loves olives, but we dont know how to politely deal with the pits

Miss Manners: I wish someone volunteered to make 6-hour drive home from a wedding with me

Miss Manners: Im left shaking my curly head when people ask if my hair is natural

Miss Manners: I never know how to react when my daughter-in-law says sorry about the messy house

Miss Manners: Are elbows still not allowed on dinner tables?

***

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

***

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DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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A man who previously admitted intentionally setting an apartment fire last year that left a 22-year-old man dead was sentenced Monday to 22 years in state prison, authorities said.

First responders were dispatched to a fire at the Tara Hall Apartment Complex in Pemberton Borough during the early morning hours of April 20, 2022, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.

Detectives discovered that Newlin Evans IV, 23, of Burlington Township, cut the screen of a ground floor apartment, broke the window and threw material soaked in gasoline that he had lit on fire into the unit, the office said. The blaze killed 22-year-old Camryn Powell, who lived in the apartment.

Evans, who was burned during the incident, fled the scene and was later taken to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment, but was arrested upon being discharged in May 2022, investigators said. He has been held in the Burlington County Jail since that time.

Evans pleaded guilty in January to aggravated manslaughter in exchange for his sentence and must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, the office said.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the crime.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A man has been charged in the homicide of a victim who was found shot outside of his residence, Bridgeton Police Chief Michael A. Gaimari said.

William O. Ware IV, 25, of the Rosenhayn section of Deerfield Township, was arrested at Bridgeton Police headquarters Monday afternoon on a warrant charging him with murder, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon, officials said.

Police responded to North Street in Bridgeton shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday and located Brock Hogans, 29, who was outside his home suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at Cooper University Medical Center about an hour later, police said.

The department did not say how Ware was identified as a suspect, but confirmed that he was known to the victim.

An investigation by Bridgeton Police and the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office is ongoing.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
PHILADELPHIA  When Eagles running back Boston Scott first entered the league in 2018, he was an undrafted free agent looking to earn a spot on the roster and find a way to remain in the league. As OTAs continue at the NovaCare Complex, Scott will be heading into his sixth season with the team and becoming the longest-tenured player in his position after the departure of Miles Sanders in free agency.

Scott, who signed a one-year deal this offseason to remain with the Eagles, is part of a backfield that includes Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, who joined the Eagles early last season, and new additions DAndre Swift and Rashaad Penny. With so many new faces in the running back room, Scott said he looks forward to helping everyone else, being as open as he can to assist them with the offense because he was once in their shoes.
The student loan repayment pause will end August 30 after the White House and Congress reached a deal, according to CNBC.

The deal, which President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) agreed on, marks an official date for the pause on loan repayments.

The debt ceiling bill passed by Congress establishes that the paused student loan payments will restart at the end of August. Interest will also restart at that time.

The Supreme Court must decide on the legal implications of the Biden student loan forgiveness plan, which was not addressed in the debt ceiling bill and would forgive as much as $20,000 for eligible borrowers. The courts decisions are expected sometime this month.

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The woman testified she saw Naeem Miller holding the gun after a man was shot and killed outside a Newark bar and another left wounded. What jurors didnt know was she was facing jail time of her own in an unrelated case and would get a good deal for helping out prosecutors.

Nearly two decades later, an Essex County judge has ordered a new murder trial for Miller, finding authorities wrongly withheld that information from him and the jury that sent him to prison.
Six minors between the ages of 12 and 14 were arrested Sunday after they allegedly stole a car in Fairfield and later crashed it following a police pursuit, authorities said.

A resident of Big Piece Road called the police shortly after 3 a.m. after seeing several people pulling on car door handles in his driveway, according to a statement from the Fairfield Police Department. The people were soon seen leaving the area in a stolen red 2020 Kia Forte, driving toward Horseneck Road, police said.

Officers found the car on Esposito Drive and tried to pull it over but the driver refused to stop. Cops chased the car, but stopped due to the high speed of the chase, the department said. A short time later, the sedan crashed in nearby West Caldwell and three minors who were inside were arrested, police said. They were taken to police headquarters and processed.

The West Caldwell police then began receiving calls about three other minors banging on doors in a residential area not far from the crash site. Police said they were also inside the stolen Kia, and the three were arrested, as well.

All six were charged with receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, conspiracy, burglary, and possession of burglary tools, and released to the custody of their parents with the exception of one, who was taken to the Essex County Youth House in Newark, investigators said. Their names were not released due to their age.

Fairfield Police Chief Anthony G. Manna said Sundays arrests part of a bigger problem in the state.

This case strongly emphasizes the problem of the continuing stolen car epidemic in New Jersey as the ages of the juvenile offenders involved in this case ranged between 12-14 years of age with one of these offenders having a court-ordered monitoring device on him at the time of the arrest, Manna said.

Until there are meaningful consequences for such activity or until our society can divert these youthful offenders away from committing such crimes and rather be involved in other productive activity, we will continue to be faced with this problem.

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What, you may wonder, is going on inside Chris Christies head as he begins his impossible quest for the presidency? Has he lost his mind?

Hes a reviled figure among Republican primary voters, with 60 percent saying they will never vote for him, no way, no how. Hes sunk below 1 percent in the polling average. And his strategy? To pound the guy who is the unshakeable favorite of most Republican voters.

So, what is Christie thinking? His people all say hes serious, that he sees a path to victory that no one else can see, that American politics is full of surprises. If you believe that, theres nothing I can do for you.

As it happens, though, I just spoke with one of the leading psychics on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, and she took me inside Christies head for a look. Heres a transcript of the story hes telling himself as he prepares to announce his candidacy Tuesday in New Hampshire:

So, Mike Pence in the race. Wow, how electrifying. This guy calls his wife mother. And after four years of selling his soul to Trump through gritted teeth, he still cant break 4 points in the polls. Pathetic.

At least I know Im going to lose. Thats right, Im not an idiot and I can see that my moment came in 2012 and is long gone now. They loved me back then, but I knew Obama would eat my lunch, so I figured Id wait until 2016, and go toe-to-toe with Hillary.

But by then, things had changed. Everyone kept asking me why I hugged Obama when he came to Jersey after Superstorm Sandy. Let me just say this: I-DID-NOT-HUG-HIM! It was a handshake, with a pat on the back. The man was bringing me truckloads of cash, I cant be civil?? Man, if I could take back the hug. Which was not a goddamn hug.

Back to this race. Yes, I have to pretend I have a real shot. Thatll bring in money from big donors who cant stand Trump and know nothing about politics. Sorry, boys, but its for a good cause.

The cause? I am being honest about that. I want to take down the Orange Man. What people are getting wrong is that I know I cant beat him in the primary. My party has gone crazy, beyond all my worst dreams. If primary voters dont pick crazy Trump, theyll pick crazy DeSantis. This fever has not passed.

No, Im thinking about the general election. Look, Liz Cheney is right when she warns that a second term of Trump could crack the nation in two and wreck our democracy. He promises to start with a pardon of the Jan. 6 rioters who injured 140 police officers? How much more obvious can the guy be? (And has anyone noticed that DeSantis is talking about pardons, too, for the rioters and for Trump? This is the guy who is supposed to be Trump without the crazy?)

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Look, my audience is the not the MAGA voters who will pick the nominee. Theyre dead to me. And hey, Im dead to them. Ill be speaking to the millions of reasonable Republicans who might be persuaded to join me in refusing to back Trump in the general election, even if he wins the Republican nomination.

My hope is to destroy Trump during a debate, just like I destroyed that little imp Marco Rubio in 2016 New Hampshire. (God, Im good!) The truth is I do care about this country, and I know the guy is nuts.

Granted, my audience -- call it the Reasonable Republican Caucus -- has been whittled down to a nub. But its still enough to make a difference in a close general election. If I can convince 10 percent of Republicans to stay home that day, or even 5 percent, Trump will lose. Even 1 percent might do the job in swing states like Pennsylvania.

Yeah, I know even that wont fully redeem me. Sucking up to Trump for four years leaves a sour taste even for me, and I know millions of people will always hate me for that.

But damn, everyone remembers I was the first big-shot Republican to endorse Trump, and no one seems to remember I was the first to shoot down the Big Lie, on election night, on national TV! I get no credit for that, which sucks.

And please, folks, this is a patriotic mission, but only partly. I always keep a close eye on my own self-interest, too. So, lets game this out. Maybe I damage Trump enough so that he loses the primary to someone else, and the eventual Republican nominee feels enough gratitude to make me Attorney General, the cabinet job Ive always wanted. Maybe I have no impact on the race at all, but I win some hearts and minds, raise my profile, and even my speaking fees. What do I have to lose?

And yeah, maybe I actually get a shot at the nomination. Maybe Trump goes to jail, DeSantis implodes, and I do better than sixth place in New Hampshire. One things for sure: No hugging Democrats this time around. Not that I ever hugged Obama!

Should we trust this boardwalk psychic? I dont know, but I think shes landing closer to the truth than Christie will on Tuesday when he announces that hes in this race to win it.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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It was close to 1 a.m. on a night last week when Artisha Premon and her fiance woke up to the strong smell of smoke in her familys River Edge home. Within minutes, they realized there was a fire in the garage and rushed to grab their 5-year-old son from his bed and alert the rest of the family  Artishas parents, her two brothers and her aunt.

They then frantically scoured the home in search of their three dogs. But despite repeatedly calling out for him, they couldnt find Souffle  their sweet, snow-colored Morkie. We kept yelling for him again and again but the flames just got bigger and bigger and he never came out, Artisha says sadly.

She told me she and her relatives, who all ran out in our pajamas, stood on the street utterly stunned. Right in front of their eyes, the beautiful two-story house that for nearly 25 years had been their beloved home was being completely devoured by flames. And there was nothing they could do about it.

It was by far one of our darkest moments, she said. But thankfully, she told me, we werent alone. Through it all, and in that darkness, their neighbors were right there with them.

Right away, they all ran out of their homes, she says. Even though it was so late, they ran over to us to make sure we were OK ...they were bringing out blankets and sweaters for us, giving us water, offering us a place to stay, and really just being there, so caring and supportive.

Her voice breaks as she talks of the deep gratitude she feels to be alive, to know all her relatives made it out of the home unscathed, and to be on the receiving end of so much kindness from her neighbors and from so many others in the River Edge community, who shes never even met.

The two-story house that for nearly 25 years was a beloved home for the Premon family was completely destroyed by a fire on Saturday, May 27. Thankfully, Artisha Premon says, the family wasn't alone in their "darkest moment"  their neighbors were right there with them showing them love and support.Courtesy of Artisha Premon

Thinking of our little Souff, somewhere in the house, taking his last breath all alone is so painful, thinking of all we lost, of our memories, of our house burning and everything turning to ash, its truly devastating, she says. But at the same time, were just so incredibly touched by everyone whos helped us and everyone whos still trying to help us.

Debra Ibrahim, whos lived next door to the Premons for about a decade, was ready to help the family right away. On the night of the fire, she immediately ran over and hugged them. I was in disbelief ...I just wanted to cry with them and take their pain away, she says. Its what we all wanted to do.

The next day, she created a GoFundMe for Artishas family thats since raised nearly $23,000. (Separately, a close family friend also set up a GoFundMe for the Premons.)

The idea, Debra said, was to help in any way possible. They left the house with nothing but their lives and the clothes on their bodies ...if we can just take away some of the stress of having to buy new clothes or pay for a hotel, thats one way we can help.

Artisha says her parents, who are semi-retired, worked extremely hard for everything they had. Theyre both immigrants from Thailand, who years back owned a small chain of Thai restaurants in northern New Jersey. She tells me it was only through their blood, sweat and tears that their house was also a home. And says the family is sticking together  in the same hotel but in different rooms  until they figure out whats next in terms of more permanent housing.

Veera Premon, 72, and his wife, Rattalee Jiasuvan, 67, both of River Edge, are now semi-retired. But their daughter, Artisha Premon, 29, says the couple  immigrants from Thailand  worked "extremely hard" for years to provide for the family and obtain everything they had. A longtime neighbor describes them as "wonderful, kind neighbors, who always lent a helping hand."

The Premons, Debra says, are wonderful, kind neighbors, who always lent a helping hand when needed. To watch their house burn down, she tells me, has caused unbelievable grief to all in the neighborhood. River Edge police chief Michael Walker says the cause of the fire was ruled as undetermined by the River Edge Fire Department.

That night [of the fire], we all came together, Debra said. We have differences. We may not all know each other well but if you can help someone in need, you should. At the end of the day, were all human and its important for us to remember that.

Debras children  her son, whos 10, and her daughter, whos 7  are learning that important lesson from their mom. Just days ago, they set up a lemonade stand with other kids in the neighborhood to raise money for the Premons. And sales were good: they raised over $200.

Donna Tartini, a River Edge resident who lives about a block away from the Premons, told me though shed never met the family she too felt compelled to help them.

What theyre going through is a total nightmare, she said. Its unimaginable, I mean they lost their home, they lost their dog, I couldnt just stand by and not help. She quickly enlisted her own support system of friends to collect gift cards, clothing and other items including luggages, where Artisha and her relatives can store their new belongings.

Donna tells me she and Artisha have become fast friends and text each other daily. I keep trying to lift her spirits and remind her that as overwhelming as this is, its only temporary, she said.

And as I listen to her speak, I think of what a treasure neighbors like Donna and Debra are. That we could all have neighbors and people in our communities, who are so invested in lifting us up when were down  thats true wealth!

I think of my own neighbors, whove lifted me up in my times of need, whove taken my kids to school or picked them up when I couldnt, whove lent me their car when mine was in the shop, who always, always come through for me in one way or another, and I feel hopeful that the Premons will be just fine.

Yeah, theyre gonna get through this because theyre not alone, Donna assures me. They got this very generous and helpful community here and theyre going to get treated really well by us.

Daysi Calavia-Robertson may be reached at dcalavia-robertson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram at @presspassdaysi or Twitter @presspassdaysi. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
When I was a kid, I worked a game stand on the Seaside boardwalk. The next stand over was a shooting gallery. It featured .22 caliber rifles with live ammunition.

Its a good thing they dont have those rifles around anymore, says my old co-worker Bob Stewart. These days the kids will grab anything thats within reach.

They come up to my stands, said Stewart. They pick up the balls and throw them. I cant keep them on the counter anymore.

Other businesses have been hit a lot harder by roving packs of young people. Over Memorial Day weekend, a gang of hundreds came to Seaside after they were kicked off nearby Ortley Beach, which has a 10 p.m. curfew.

Boardwalk merchant Bob Stewart on the Seaside boardwalk during the coronavirus pandemic. This year it's rowdy kids who are hurting boardwalk business.

On the way, the mob hit a CVS store, he said. They went down the aisles, sweeping the merchandise onto the floor.

Then, Stewart said, Forty of them ran two blocks on the boardwalks and knocked about 30 people over.

Down in Cape May County, the mayors of Ocean City and Sea Isle City called a news conference to complain about bad behavior in their towns, which are usually among the most placid on the Shore.

Ocean City is famous for being a dry town, one in which there are no liquor outlets. But the young people get around that by carrying their booze in backpacks.

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The law restricts the power of police to search minors for drugs and alcohol. So last week the city council enacted an ordinance banning backpacks on the beach after 8 p.m.

Towns all along the Shore are taking similar actions. The mayors blame that package of bills passed in 2021 to implement marijuana legalization.

The intent was to protect young people from being hassled by police searching for pot. But by the time the legislators were done it with it, the bill also protected them from searches for alcohol.

The statement for the bill on the Legislatures website says that the bill amended the law to provide that a person under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages or cannabis items who is in violation for possessing or consuming an alcoholic beverage, marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item shall not be transported to a police station, police headquarters, or other place of law enforcement operations except if needed to gather information to give the kid a written warning. But no summons is permitted.

Theres another wrinkle that keeps the cops from enforcing the new law. Thats the restriction on searching minors for drugs or alcohol.

The kids these days have social media and they know that no police officer is going to risk his freedom, said state Sen. Mike Testa. Theres not a cop in the state whos gonna touch a kid who has marijuana or alcohol.

Testa, a Republican who represents Cape May County, said the backers of the law may have had good intentions, but theyre not getting good results.

My understanding was that this was done because they had the statistics that show so many more youth of color were getting searched, he said. But its the children of the privileged who are doing this. Ive never before seen curfews being imposed in towns like Avalon, Ocean City and Sea Isle City.

The kids often coordinate their actions online, he said.

Thats what happened in Wildwood last year when they had a flash mob at a car show, he said. This was not a licensed car show. It was a rowdy event and two people were killed.

North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello said his town has been hit as well.

If youre under 21, youre basically immune to police interaction, Rosenello said. Now weve got very large groups of underage kids drinking and smoking pot.

Rosenello said most voters who approved a 2020 referendum legalizing marijuana did not mean to legalize underage drinking as well.

Nowhere in that ballot did it say your child could have alcoholic beverages, he said. That would have been beaten 95 to 5.

Testa is pushing a bill that would permit searches of those suspected of having drugs or alcohol if the person cannot provide proof of being over 21. He also wants to repeal the law threatening police with criminal prosecution.

I think this was all done in too quick of a rush, he said. It could have been done a lot more cleanly.

It certainly could have. The time for rushing wasnt then; its now.

Summer hasnt even begun yet. But if things keep going the way theyve gone, it will be no day at the beach.

More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns.

Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com.

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UPDATE: Ex-N.J. governor, GOP truck driver win closely watched N.J. legislative primaries. Heres who else won.

The polls are now open for Primary Election Day 2023 in New Jersey.

Topping the ballot this year is the entire the state Legislature, the body in Trenton that writes the states laws and passes the state budget. Tuesdays primaries are for the major-party nominations to run in Novembers big general election for all 120 seats.

There are also several county and municipal races across the Garden State.

Heres what you need to know:

Polls across New Jersey are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you are allowed to vote. The same goes for if youre dropping off a vote-by-mail ballot in a dropbox. The dropboxes are locked at 8 p.m., but if theres a line at that time youll be able to drop your ballot in the box.

You need to be a registered member of a political party to vote in a primary election, whether it be Democratic, Republican, or third party. The deadline to switch parties has passed.

But theres a caveat: Unaffiliated registered voters can cast ballots by walking into a polling station and ask for a ballot.

That, however, means youre now a member of that party unless you later re-register as an unaffiliated voter or a member of another political party.

Check here to see if youre registered.

Most attention Tuesday is on the primaries for the Democratic and Republican nominations in all of the Legislatures 40 districts, which have been slightly altered because its a redistricting year.

The state redraws its legislative districts every 10 years to reflect new U.S. Census numbers, with a bipartisan commission determining the new map. That means you might have been moved into a different district.

There are many new names and faces on the ballot because 27 sitting lawmakers are either retiring or seeking to move up from the Assembly to the Senate  a much larger number than the states previous two redistricting cycles.

But there are only 19 contested legislative primaries across the state. Some are still very heated, though  especially those in Republican races in the 3rd, 4th, 24th, and 26th districts and the Democratic race in the 27th district. Read more about them here.

Whoever wins will run in the general election Nov. 7. Democrats currently hold a a 25-15 majority in the Senate, the Legislatures upper chamber, and a 46-34 majority in the Assembly, the lower chamber. But Republicans gained seven seats two years ago and are now eyeing to further chip away those numbers.

MORE: All you need to know about N.J. primary elections Tuesday, including some nasty races for Legislature

Voters get to choose only the Senate and Assembly nominees in the district where they live. Click here to see your district. Remember: You may be in a different district now because of redistricting.

Your polling place is assigned based on your address. Click here and plug in your address to find where you vote.

You can either vote in person on traditional machines or drop off a mail ballot at your countys Board of Elections office or one of the hundreds of drop boxes across the state by 8 p.m.

But its important to remember that mail-in-ballots need to be put in boxes located within the county where youre registered to vote. If you drop yours off in a box outside of where youre registered  maybe because you see a dropbox on your commute to work  your vote will most likely not be counted, election officials have warned.

Heres a complete list of drop box locations. If you have questions, check your county website.

After returning a ballot, you can check on its status at the states Track My Ballot website.

The New Jersey Secretary of State serves as the states chief election official. If you have concerns about voting and elections, call the state Division of Elections voting information and assistance line at 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837).

Separately, the state Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigates public corruption and election crimes. To report a potential crime, call 844-OPIA-TIPS. The Attorney Generals office has an anti-corruption reward program that will offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption. For more details, see http://nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.

There will be full results and coverage of key races on NJ.com after the polls close.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @johnsb01.
Three New Jersey State Police troopers helped deliver a baby boy on the side of Interstate 287 in Bridgewater last month after the mom went into labor while en route to the hospital.

Trooper Michael Morreale received the delivery of the baby, Jack, on the side of a white SUV at about 2:39 a.m. on May 21  about two minutes after the troopers arrived at the scene, officials said.

The other two troopers  Ryan Van Arsdale and Anthony Makhnin  repositioned the mom and Jack after the umbilical cord became briefly wrapped around the boy due to the position of the mother.

Emergency workers arrived and took both Jack and his mom to the hospital.

Mom and baby Jack are doing great! State Police said in a social media post. Jack and mom are healthy and appreciative of the outstanding job by our Troopers.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch is airing on Tuesday, June 6 at 10 p.m. You can watch live as it airs on Philo (free trial).

Heres the information youll need to watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch on History Channel or via a free live stream online.

How to watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch without cable

If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can live stream The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch on either of the following streaming platforms:

Philo (free trial)

Fubo TV (free trial)

What time is The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch on TV?

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch airs on Tuesday, June 6 at 10 p.m. on History Channel. It will run for approximately three hours.

The series features astrophysicist Dr. Travis Taylor as he and his team work with real estate tycoon Brandon Fugal.

What channel is History Channel?

You can use the channel finder on your providers website to locate it: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish.

How to watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch online on-demand

If you missed an episode of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch or want to binge watch the series online when it becomes available, check out either of the following streaming platforms:

Philo (free trial)

Fubo TV (free trial)

What is The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch about?

According to the official History Channel website:

The investigation of the worlds most mysterious hot spot for UFO and High Strangeness phenomena continues as astrophysicist Dr. Travis Taylor returns to join real estate tycoon Brandon Fugal, along with his team of scientists and researchers on Utahs notorious Skinwalker Ranch. In this groundbreaking second season, the team goes deeper and higher than ever before, applying cutting edge technology to investigate the 512-acre property to uncover the possibly otherworldly perpetrators behind it all. With everything from mysterious animal deaths to hidden underground workings and possible gateways that open to other dimensions, witness the close encounters that go beyond conventional explanation, as the team risks everything to finally reveal the ultimate secret of Skinwalker Ranch.

Heres a look at The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Beyond Skinwalker Ranch, courtesy of History Channels official YouTube channel:

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Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com.
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday he has scheduled three briefings for senators on artificial intelligence, including the first classified briefing on the topic.

In a letter to colleagues on Tuesday, the Democratic leader said senators need to deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence.

"AI is already changing our world, and experts have repeatedly told us that it will have a profound impact on everything from our national security to our classrooms to our workforce, including potentially significant job displacement," Schumer said.

The first briefing is a general overview on AI, the second will examine how to achieve American leadership on AI and the third briefing, which will be classified, will concern defense and intelligence issues and implications, the letter said.

Dates and times of the hearing will be announced later, he said.

Schumer launched an effort in April to establish rules on artificial intelligence to address national security and education concerns, as use of programs like ChatGPT becomes widespread.

ChatGPT, an AI program that recently grabbed the public's attention for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide range of queries, has attracted U.S. lawmakers' attention. It has become the fastest-growing consumer application in history with more than 100 million monthly active users.

Schumer's plan will need the approval of Congress and the White House and could still take months or more. However, is the most concrete step yet that the U.S. government may adopt new regulations to address rising concerns about generative AI.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Photograph of a sail is meant to convey the sensation of a cool breeze on a peaceful day
Rainbow flags will fly, glitter will shimmer, and LGBTQ+ identity will glow on Saturday, as the New Orleans Pride parade rolls through the French Quarter, starting at 6 p.m.

The procession will include 10 to 15 sponsored floats, several of the Crescent Citys marvelous Carnival marching clubs, such as the Krewe of Dolly (Parton), Disco Amigos, NOLA Cherry Bombs, and the Rolling Elvi. Plus various social and support organizations.

Though the 2023 parade has no official theme, organizers predict that participants may exhibit the sentiment that drag is not a crime, referring to recent restrictions on drag performances in Tennessee  which a federal judge has deemed unconstitutional.
Two New Orleans restaurants recasting the idea of the chef's tasting menu and one neighborhood institution carrying on Old World traditions were finalists for James Beard Awards this year, though none would end up nabbing the top honors in their categories.

This was the second year in a row that New Orleans was shut out of James Beard restaurant and chef awards, following a revamp of the way the James Beard Foundation doles out its top honors. The last time no New Orleans name came away with one of these awards was 2012.
Indian press reports are suggesting that state-owned operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) may be shut down in the face of continuing losses and mounting debt.

The story, first run in business publication Mint, suggests that as well as shutting down MTNL, government may relocate its staff and operations to another state-run operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). This would apparently end plans for a BSNL-MTNL merger.

MTNL's debt  one estimate puts it at 40,000 crore (US$4.8 billion)  is massive. In the event of a merger it would probably undermine BSNL, hence the possibility of closure. MTNL has already had problems with debt payments, notably an interest payment to Union Bank of India last year.

BSNL, a much bigger and more diverse concern, looks in slightly better shape thanks to government aid, and a big 4G equipment purchase order, not to mention its own rollout of 4G and, in the longer term, 5G services. BSNL has also enjoyed revenue growth from fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections and leased lines, among other services.

While the government has not confirmed plans to shut MTNL down, it's not entirely clear where earnings could come from for the company, which outsourced the maintenance and running of its wireless networks in Delhi and Mumbai to BSNL in 2021 to improve service quality. In fact, Delhi and Mumbai are its main service areas, though its subscriber numbers in these cities are not vast; its monopoly in service provision ceased in 1992.

As regular readers will know, the high debt of MTNL was one of the financial reasons cited as contributing to the deferred merger of MTNL with BSNL last year.
The Louisiana Senate Tuesday rejected amendments the House made to a bill limiting minors' access to library books, meaning lawmakers have two days to agree on a version to send to Gov. John Bel Edwards desk before the legislative session ends.

Senate Bill 7 by Sen. Heather Cloud, a Turkey Creek Republican, requires libraries to set up a system allowing parents to choose a library card for their children or teens restricting them from checking out material their local library board determines to be sexually explicit.

Under the original bill, a library patron could challenge a book, and the library board of control would have to review that complaint. On Monday, the House changed the bill so that the person challenging the book would have to be at least 18 years old and a resident of the parish. They also raised the threshold so that ten people would have to challenge a particular title before the board would have to review it.

Rep. Tanner Magee, a Houma Republican, proposed those changes, saying he wanted to prevent a busybody who wants to cause problems from challenging a bunch of titles in libraries across the state.

If you cant find nine parents to agree with you that a book is questionable, then the books not questionable, he said.

If the board determined a book to have sexually explicit material as defined in the bill, libraries would not have to remove them from shelves or move them to a particular section of the library. But the book would be added to a list of titles minors with a restricted card couldnt check out.

Some libraries in the state already have a similar system in place, including recently St. Tammany Parish, which saw an influx of complaints in the last year.

Rep. Julie Emerson, a Carencro Republican who handled the bill in the House for Cloud, objected to the amendment, saying the 10-person requirement could be a little bit cumbersome.

I certainly understand that, hey, if something really is sexually explicit, then maybe it wouldnt be super hard to find nine people, she said.But I think thats an extra step that you put in the process, of trying to get together nine other people.

The House adopted it 61-42 anyway. They also voted for an amendment by Rep. Mary DuBuisson, a Slidell Republican, to push back the deadlines for libraries to develop a new system that complies with the law to Jan. 1, 2025.

The Senate Tuesday voted unanimously to reject those changes, with Cloud saying shes working with Magee and DuBuisson on a good compromise.

On the House floor Monday, Rep. Mandie Landry, a New Orleans Democrat and lawyer, said she thought the bill could violate the U.S. Constitution and raise freedom of speech protections or equal protection issues, should some parishes restrict access to more books than others.

There are constitutional issues with applying speech differently per parish, she said, adding, This is absolutely censorship.

Rep. Barbara Freiberg, a Baton Rouge Republican, said, there's a lot of confusion on the part of librarians and libraries throughout the state.

"I would hope that you could guarantee us that if this bill passes that, we'll send some clarifying documents to the libraries, Freiberg said.

Emerson did not respond to Freiberg and instead asked to waive questions after nearly 50 minutes of debate. Freiberg voted for the bill anyway.
Bidders seeking properties are pictured at a St. Tammany sheriff's tax sale in 2007. The bidding process is done online now, with the annual sale scheduled for July 10. A complete list of delinquent properties will be published in the St. Tammany Farmer on June 7 and again July 5, in advance of the sale. Those on the list are encouraged to pay their taxes prior to the scheduled sale on July 10.
Kyron Fazande, the man accused of killing a waiter outside of Mandinas Restaurant, is now back in New Orleans.
Police officers would have a 25-foot safety zone while carrying out their duties under a bill given final passage by the state Legislature Monday.

House Bill 85 by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, could fine or imprison anyone convicted of coming within 25 feet of an officer after the officer orders the person to to stop approaching or to retreat.

HB 85 goes to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature or veto.

Johnson said police need to know that members of the public wont interfere with their work.

But Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, criticized the bill, saying it was unconstitutional.

It would create a chilling effect for ordinary citizens observing police misconduct, Duplessis said in an interview after the Senate passed HB 85 on a 29-10 vote. Two Democrats, Sen. Gary Smith of Norco and Sen Greg Tarver of Shreveport, voted with all Republicans for it.
On Wednesday, a pro-Stephen Waguespack group began slamming Jeff Landry in a TV ad.

Now a pro-Landry group is attacking Waguespack with its own TV spot.

It blames Waguespack for economic problems that occurred while then-Gov. Bobby Jindal, Waguespacks boss for five years, was in office.

Were still recovering from the last time Stephen Waguespack ran Louisiana into the ground, a narrator says, making it seem as if Waguespack was governor then.

Political analysts have been predicting that Republicans running for governor this year would attack each other during the primary.
Clancy DuBos: The gloves come off early in the governor's race
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EAST CHICAGO  A major investment in life-saving cardiac care at St. Catherine Hospital is being hailed as a victory for East Chicago.

The long-standing hospital in the Indiana Harbor neighborhood landed a $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to improve health care access for people who are medically vulnerable or underinsured.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan helped line up the money and helped announce the investment.

"Today is a victory for the residents of East Chicago because it's access to health care," he said. "I was born at St. Catherine Hospital. My grandparents were taken here. My mom and dad were cared for here. My sister was a candy striper here and went on to become a nurse practitioner for Northwestern. This was and still is an anchor for the community."

East Chicago leaders were concerned about the hospital's future after Franciscan Health decided to close the similarly aged former St. Margaret Hospital in neighboring Hammond, Northwest Indiana's most populous city.

"They wanted to make sure the safety-net hospital continued," he said. "What today is about is assuring the city of East Chicago and every resident that St. Catherine is thriving and investing in new technology that gives them access to care equal to anywhere around the world. This is an investment in East Chicago itself, and it allows the residents to understand they have access to quality care here in the city."

When Mrvan was North Township trustee, he often heard complaints from residents that they didn't have access to care.

"This is a safety-net hospital. That means it takes care of the most vulnerable populations," he said. "This technology is the gold standard for Northwest Indiana. It's the same technology you would have in the city of Chicago, but it's right here in East Chicago. The hospital is working to provide world-class health care. As a congressman, I will listen to your concerns and try to provide access to health care, the best technology and the best for East Chicago."

St. Catherine CEO Leo Correa said the hospital continues to provide advanced technology to East Chicago and surrounding communities.

"St. Catherine Hospital is committed to ensuring that our community has state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home," Correa said. "It's a well-known fact that in the 1960s, St. Catherine Hospital became the choice facility in the Chicagoland area for the treatment of heart disease, performing the first open-heart surgery in Northwest Indiana. And today, we continue to invest in cardiac care and treating heart disease."

The hospital will install an Azurion 7 C20 Catalyst table, an image-guided therapy system that provides high-quality images with low doses of X-rays. Philips Healthcare is installing the new technology in its cath lab, which is undergoing a multiphase modernization project.

It will allow for precision diagnosis and treatment for patients. The new technology can capture uncommon angiography views, provide real-time 3-D impressions for complex vascular interventions and better visualize stent and balloon placement in coronary arteries.

"Our patients and clinicians benefit from the fast procedure times, reduced radiation exposure and superior image quality of this new technology," said Mary Miller, director of Cardiovascular Services.

St. Catherine Hospital has long placed an emphasis on cardiac care while serving the community for nearly a century, Correa said.

"During that time, we built a reputation for providing unparalleled cardiac care," he said. "That did not happen by chance. That's the result of an intentional investment in top health care providers and resources.

"We have fortified a culture of excellence in cardiac care by continuing to invest in skilled specialists and technologies to diagnose and treat heart disease. St. Catherine, along with our fellow hospitals in Community Healthcare System, Community Hospital in Munster and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, operates one of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in Northwest Indiana. Our hospitals are certified chest-pain centers that are fully accredited by the Joint Commission or the American College of Cardiology.

"Every day, highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, electrophysiologic and cardiac support staff walk through our doors and use their expertise to treat patients who put their trust in us."
Cocaine Approximately two pounds of cocaine were seized during a traffic stop Monday morning on Interstate 80/94, according to a release from Indiana 

NORTHWEST INDIANA  A state trooper seized two pounds of cocaine and 17 pounds of marijuana between two traffic stops Monday on Interstate 80/94, according to a news release from Indiana State Police.

A 7:45 a.m. traffic stop resulted in the arrest of Briseida Montenegro-Barrera, 24, of Aurora, Ill. and Luis Alberto Sanchez-Espinoza, 38, of Jalisco, Mexico. Both were charged with dealing cocaine, a level two felony. The duo were stopped near a Chesterton-area exit. During the traffic stop investigation, a search of the trunk revealed approximately two pounds of cocaine that had been concealed in a duffel bag. They are both being held at the Porter County Jail.

The same trooper stopped a driver around 3 p.m. near the border of Lake and Porter counties for traffic violations. Upon smelling a strong scent of marijuana, the trooper searched the vehicle and found numerous marijuana vape cartridges and edible marijuana products, according to the release. The suspect was cited for the offense, a class B misdemeanor, and released.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail April Wright Fallon Stone Kecelyn Sydner Hilario Torres Jr. Shawn Washington Steven Petrisko Roosevelt Pickett Jr. Andre Patterson Kenneth Mack Jr. Rachel McKinney Patrick Noonan Bradley Kelly Jason Howard Tena Johnson Leslie Hawkins Chanel Copeland Tameera Dillon Elvee Evans III Totianna Gaston Olivia Blakeley Steven Bogner Kristina Bohn Tammy Berry Christopher Arroyo Melvin Pumphrey III Dakota Robinson Michael Sullivan Shauntwain Johnson Karley Jensen Cali Huerta Cindy Irons Jack Hampton John Huber Chauncey Hackett Jr. Antwon Butler Aundra Butler
PORTAGE  An intoxicated driver collided with a city fire truck after being found passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle on the Interstate 94 exit ramp on to Ind. 249, police said.

The fire truck had been positioned in front of the vehicle, which was still in drive, in anticipation of it moving forward when the driver was awakened, Portage police said.

"As Jeremy (Lewis) regained consciousness, he released his foot from the brake pedal and the vehicle began to slowly accelerate forward," the incident report reads.

The driver of the fire truck honked a horn and police yelled in a failed attempt to get Lewis to stop his vehicle.

"Jeremy was unable to successfully apply the brake pedal, which resulted in his vehicle colliding into the Portage fire truck," police said.

Drugs overtaking alcohol as culprit in impaired-driving arrests, officials say as crackdown mounts Drug-impaired driving is increasing enough across Indiana and the nation that it is beginning to outpace drunken driving, according to Devon M

Lewis, 35, of Sauk Village, Illinois, smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated during the incident shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, according to police. He reportedly told police he was heading from Sauk Village to Hammond.

Lewis was uncooperative and refused to take part in sobriety testing, requiring police to obtain a warrant to draw his blood.

Police said they found a bag of marijuana in the vehicle belonging to Lewis.

He was taken to the Porter County Jail and faces charges of possessing marijuana and operating while intoxicated, including a count of endangering others, records show.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail Brandon York Rebecca Edwards Gracey Lovitt Christopher Harbison Mathew Koch Ronald Deluna Marlene Fair Wendell Webb Barry Smith James Wayte Dwayne McMullen Curtis Sconyers Jerry McGee Kelvin Breland Jr. Daniel Calvillo Cortez Jones Luis Sanchez-Espinoza Brisedia Montenegro-Barrera Christopher Loar Jeremy Lewis Tataneisha Jones Marktwain Green William Munchenburg Robert Rohweder Michael Vasquez Tylor Ahrens Kevin Byrnes Jennifer Steinke Alyssa Ramirez Nicholas Rangel Eric Henderson Justan Ostertage Catherine Gallas Amarion Bradford Amy Aliaga John Garner III Jalen Ray Danny Contreras Tianna Campbell
HAMMOND  A federal lawsuit challenging the selection process for nearly all Lake County judges is inching closer toward a final ruling.

The plaintiffs in the case  the city of Hammond; Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.; state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; and Eduardo Fontanez  as well as the defendants  the state of Indiana; Secretary of State Diego Morales; and the Lake County Board of Elections  each filed paperwork Monday urging U.S. District Judge Philip Simon to grant summary judgment in their favor.

Records show the litigants now have until July 20 to submit responses to the summary judgment motions. A decision by the federal judge is likely to follow in late summer or fall.

The lawsuit, initially filed May 7, 2021, contends the merit selection process imposed by the Indiana General Assembly for the appointment of Lake Superior Court judges runs afoul of the federal Voting Rights Act, as well as two provisions of the Indiana Constitution.

In Lake County, and in Marion and St. Joseph counties, all superior court judges are appointed by the governor from a list of candidates recommended by each county's judicial nominating commission.

A new Lake Superior Court judge serves an initial two-year term before Lake County voters decide whether to retain the judge for a renewable six-year term, according to the Indiana Code.

However, in Indiana's 89 other counties superior court judges are elected directly by the citizens of each county, typically in partisan contests. Circuit court judges, who largely exercise identical jurisdiction as superior court judges, are elected in all 92 counties.

The plaintiffs contend state laws denying residents of Lake County, Indiana's second-most populous county, along with its most populous (Marion) and fifth-most populous (St. Joseph), the same opportunity to elect their superior court judges must be struck down.

Specifically, they note 66% of black Hoosiers live in the three counties where superior court judges are appointed, while more than 80% of white Hoosiers live in counties where superior court judges are elected.

They claim that distinction clearly violates the plain language of the federal Voting Rights Act by giving minorities less opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives, including judges, of their choice.

Likewise, the plaintiffs argue that singling out Lake and the two other counties for special treatment contravenes the Indiana Constitution's prohibitions on special legislation and granting privileges and immunities to some Hoosiers but not all Hoosiers absent appropriate justification.

"The entirety of the merit selection process must (be) scrapped in favor of statewide elections or the merit selection process must be imposed statewide. No other remedies can cure the constitutional infirmity," the plaintiffs said.

The state, on the other hand, contends there is no Voting Rights Act violation because federal judges at the district and appellate level previously have held the law does not apply to appointed posts, and even if it did, minority voters are not unduly impacted in Lake County because no Lake County residents are entitled to vote for superior court judges.

That argument appears to ignore the plaintiffs' observation that county judges in Indiana actually are state officers that some Hoosiers get to elect, while others, particularly in counties with large minority populations, only get to ratify or reject once appointed.

Beyond that point, the state argues a federal court is no place to resolve state constitutional claims.

Though, even if it was, the state defendants posit the General Assembly has decided Lake County is sufficiently unique to warrant special treatment relating to judicial selection and no special privilege or burden has been created by the nomination and retention method.

"The plaintiff's Voting Rights Act claim fails, and thus, so does this court's jurisdiction to hear plaintiffs' case under federal question jurisdiction," the state defendants said.

The Lake County Election Board moved separately for summary judgment because it said it merely administers elections as directed by law and has no control over whether Lake Superior Court judges are directly elected or subject to appointment and retention.

"The injuries alleged by the plaintiffs in this case are not fairly traceable to the election board," it said.

A ruling in favor of the plaintiffs would not immediately upend Lake County's judiciary.

While they're asking the judge to strike down the statutes targeting Lake County, they also want him to give the Indiana General Assembly time to fashion an appropriate statewide remedy  be it all elected or all appointed superior court judges.

It's not clear which direction the Republican-controlled Legislature might go. The plaintiffs' lawsuit was sparked in part by a 2021 law change reducing the size of the Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission and letting the Republican governor pick half its members, instead of continuing to rely on Lake County lawyers and judges.

Last year, the Lake County Council and Board of Commissioners each adopted resolutions encouraging the General Assembly to enable voters to elect all Lake Superior Court judges.

A separate lawsuit making many of the same arguments, but centered on alleged Voting Rights Act and constitutional violations in Marion County, was filed last month at the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana, records show.

Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2
Parents and guardians of Indiana children with disabilities can take advantage of a state program giving them total control over their child's education funding.

The Indiana Education Scholarship Account program offers maximum flexibility to families who choose to opt out of traditional schooling in favor of finding on their own appropriate educational programs and services for their eligible child.

"Our Indiana ESA gives parents with children who have their own ways of learning the ability to find the tools to best fit their needs," said Republican state Treasurer Daniel Elliott, the ESA program administrator.

The program provides tax-free money to eligible students for authorized education expenses, including tuition and fees, therapies, assessments, educational camps and fee-for-service transportation through preapproved service providers.

Participating students receive 90% of their basic state tuition support as well as 100% of the special-education dollars allotted to their student. The total amount varies by local school district.

The money will be deposited directly into each students Indiana ESA account in quarterly payments. This account will be available to parents via a secure online portal, which they'll use to make payments directly to providers from the students account.

Debit cards are not available, and funds are not deposited directly into personal bank accounts.

Scholarship recipients cannot be enrolled in a public or charter school, or receive a state voucher for private school tuition. But they can use their scholarship funds to purchase services from a public or private school if the school participates in the program.

"My team and I believe that the future of education is not forcing a child to fit into the system but giving parents the instruments to build around the individual needs of their child," Elliott said. "Our ESA program is guided by that principle, and we believe in (that) mission."

The Indiana ESA application window for the 2023-24 school year runs through Sept. 1. Altogether, $10 million is available for the program.

The application for parents and prospective providers, and more information about the program, are available online through the state treasurer's office: in.gov/tos/inesa.

Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
Three railroad crossing projects in Northwest Indiana will receive more than $21 million in federal financial support as part of the first round of the Railroad Crossing Elimination grant program.

The Governor's Parkway Railroad overpass in Hammond, the Buffington Harbor Gateway in Gary and the Kennedy Avenue overpass in Schererville will each receive grants from the Federal Railroad Administration, the agency announced Monday.

"Every year, commuters, residents and first responders lose valuable time waiting at blocked railroad crossings  and worse, those crossings are too often the site of collisions that could be prevented, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in announcing more than $570 million for 63 projects in 32 states.

As part of President Bidens Investing in America agenda, were improving rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time and resources for American families.

The Region grants:

 Governor's Parkway, Hammond, $7 million: The project will eliminate two grade crossings where Parrish and Arizona avenues intersect with Norfolk Southern Railway's rail line and build a grade-separated road overpass and a new road alignment to be called Governor's Parkway. Hammond, the FRA said, "a city with 53 at-grade crossings, will benefit from safe routes where vehicles can avoid crossings blocked by trains in a four-mile area."

The city, state and Norfolk Southern will contribute 26% of the project cost. The project includes more than $2.6 million in money from the Federal Highway Administration.

 Buffington Harbor Gateway, Gary, $4.5 million: The project will support construction to eliminate eight at-grade rail crossings on a freight corridor that sees more than 134 train crossings a day and is part of the militarys Strategic Rail Corridor Network. Closing the Clark Road crossings, the FRA said, "will significantly enhance safety in the area, facilitate the smooth movement of freight goods and prevent supply chain disruptions."

The project will straighten an S-shaped curve at a road intersection and shift another roadway alignment north. The city and Indiana Department of Transportation will contribute a combined 49% of the project cost. Financing includes more than $9.6 million from the Federal Highway Administration.

 Kennedy Avenue railroad overpass, Schererville, $8.5 million: The project will fund final design and construction of a grade separation at a crossing that sees more than 32 trains a day. "The new structure is expected to improve existing capacity challenges," the FRA said. The Town of Schererville, Norfolk Southern and Canadian National Railway will contribute a combined 30% of the project cost.

Other projects in Indiana receiving funding include $76,000 to partially cover a feasibility study in Peru to study eliminating one or more of six at-grade crossings and construction of an underpass along Norfolk Southern right of way; and $1.1 million to partially fund the Wells County Hoosier Highway crossing elimination, an effort to close three at-grade rail crossings on Norfolk Southerns rail line by re-aligning Hoosier Highway.

This inaugural round of money will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, according to the FRA. Over each of the next four years, additional RCE program funding will be made available annually.
Its so fulfilling being here, seeing this, said Savy Dunlevy, a 23-year-old gender nonconforming audio engineer. Sporting a tapered bob cut and blue blazer, Savy stood last Thursday on the back terrace of House of Yes, the cavernous warehouse-turned-disco in Bushwick, and thought on the awkwardness of an earlier prom .

Then a self-identifying queer woman , Savy remembered teasing the idea of going to prom with a crush in 2014 while a senior in high school  only to have the girl respond with an awkward no. You see this and then you think of yourself from 10 years ago and you want to tell yourself Youre going to figure it out. Youre going to be okay.

Savy and hundreds of others had gathered in Bushwick for Pride Prom, a revisionist soiree thrown on June 13 by the dating app Hinge in celebration of World Pride 2019. The 21-and-over celebration served the dual purpose of raising money for It Gets Better, the L.G.B.T.Q. youth suicide prevention nonprofit, and affording community members a chance to relive a possibly painful moment of self suppression.
An Enterprise High School teacher has won a prestigious Advisor of the Year award for SkillsUSAs Region 2 for his participation in SkillsUSA and career and technical education.

Steve Icenogle has been the Automotive Service Technology Instructor at Enterprise High School for 19 years. There, he teaches four levels of automotive service courses, including dual enrollment for Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

Icenogle oversees the certification process for his students through Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and develops relationships with employers in the community for job placement of his graduates.

A teacher for 23 years, Icenogle previously taught Automotive Service Technology at Houston County Career and Technical Center in Ashford. He decided to pursue a career in education following a positive experience as a student with his own high school mentor and instructor. That experience made him want to use his knowledge of mechanical repair to help others, and he eventually earned masters level alternative professional certification through Athens State University in 2006.

Icenogles program has received numerous awards in skill and leadership competitions at the local, district, state and national levels. In 2021, he was awarded Teacher of the Year for Enterprise High School and Secondary Teacher of the Year for Enterprise City Schools.

In 2022, he was awarded the Alabama Innovator Award by Alabama Works and was named the VFW local and district Teacher of the Year. This year the SkillsUSA chapter earned a Gold level Chapter of Distinction in the Chapter Excellence Program. In his free time, Icenogle volunteers at the local Autism Clinic, using his skills to help improve their facilities. He enjoys playing guitar and loves traveling with his family.

Steve is a SkillsUSA champion with a true passion for helping students develop their talents and leadership, said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. He supports quality programming for students built around the SkillsUSA Framework, which prepares them for further education or joining Americas skilled workforce, she added.

SkillsUSA created the Advisor of the Year award to recognize dedicated career and technical education instructors who serve as SkillsUSA advisors. Each state selects a winner, and then a regional winner is selected. The top five regional finalists will be interviewed for SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year on June 20 and the national winner will be announced that night at the Opening Session of the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. Region 2 includes Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SkillsUSA is Americas proud champion of the skilled trades. Its a student-led partnership of education and industry thats building the skilled workforce our nation depends on with graduates who are career ready, day one. Representing nearly 380,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSAs mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into classroom curriculum. Through Framework instruction, students develop the character-shaping leadership skills  teamwork, communication, professionalism and more  that successful careers and lives demand. At the same time, students hone their high-level technical skills against current industry standards in more than 130 skilled trade areas, from 3-D Animation to Welding. The result? Focused, confident and highly skilled graduates who are ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in our schools, workplaces and communities. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. For more, visit www.skillsusa.org.
Why It Matters: The actors have the same worries as the writers.

Many of the actors concerns echo what the Writers Guild of America is fighting for: higher wages; increased residual payments for their work, specifically for content on streaming services; and protections against using actors likenesses without permission as part of the enhanced abilities of artificial intelligence. According to the writers, the studios offered little more than annual meetings to discuss artificial intelligence, and they refused to bargain over limits on the technology.

The Directors Guild, in contrast, said on Sunday that it had reached a groundbreaking agreement confirming that A.I. is not a person and that generative A.I. cannot replace the duties performed by members. Details about what that meant were not revealed.

Background: It has been a long time since the last actors strike.

The last time the actors went on strike was in 2000, in a dispute over commercial pay. The strike lasted close to six months.

Whats Next: Negotiations begin on Wednesday.

With negotiations expected to begin on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA is bullish about what this strike authorization means. Were obviously coming in from a position of strength, but were not looking to strike, said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the unions chief negotiator. Were here to make a deal. He added: But were also not going to accept anything less than what our members deserve. If a strike is necessary to achieve that, were prepared.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement that we are approaching these negotiations with the goal of achieving a new agreement that is beneficial to SAG-AFTRA members and the industry overall.
Mr. Solano-Arias was tasked with keeping the many federal employees and visitors to 26 Federal Plaza safe, said Damian Williams, Manhattans top federal prosecutor, in a statement.

Instead, he used his uniform and firearm to force a vulnerable individual who was seeking asylum to perform oral sex on him, Mr. Williams said.

Mr. Solano-Arias was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, involving kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse. If he is convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of life in prison. His lawyer, Sylvie Jill Levine, did not immediately respond to a message for comment.

The victim is part of a mass migration made up mostly of people from Latin America fleeing poverty and unrest at home. New York officials have said more than 70,000 migrants have arrived since the spring and more than 40,000 are in the citys care.

On May 4, the victim went to Federal Plaza and was standing in line when Mr. Solano-Arias approached him, according to the complaint. Speaking in Spanish, he asked the victim, who knew little English, why he was there and whether he had any family with him.
A state trooper was charged by the New York attorney generals office on Monday with killing an unarmed man in downtown Buffalo by shooting him after a high-speed highway chase.

The trooper, Anthony Nigro IV, a 15-year State Police veteran, was charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter in the death of James Huber, 38, on Feb. 12, 2022, the attorney general, Letitia James, said in a news release.

Trooper Nigro, 39, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Erie County Supreme Court, Ms. James said. Justice M. William Boller, rejecting prosecutors request that bail be set at $250,000, released Trooper Nigro on his own recognizance. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of first-degree manslaughter, Ms. James said.

Charles W. Murphy, the president of the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, said that Trooper Nigro should not have been criminally charged and was justified in his use of force and that Mr. Hubers dangerous actions had threatened the safety of innocent motorists on the Thruway and in the city of Buffalo.
Over Memorial Day weekend, many people on social media reacted to a video showing the actor Damson Idris and his girlfriend, the model Lori Harvey, at a Beyonce concert. In one clip, Mr. Idris leans over to kiss her while swaying back and forth as Ms. Harvey cocks her head slightly to receive his kiss on her cheek before turning away and smiling.

Although the clip lasted just eight seconds, many online became self-certified body language experts. One Twitter user assumed the gesture meant she wasnt feeling him. Another argued that maybe she just doesnt like P.D.A. One person said that hes just madly in love. Many suggested that a breakup was looming.

For the average person, being comfortable with P.D.A. is probably easier without the fear of cameras capturing every second, despite the rise of people filming strangers in public for content. But depending on the relationship dynamic, there are still other concerns over how it may be perceived or the discomfort a partner may have with it.

Ms. Conde, who is of West African descent and was raised Muslim, said that the one place she probably wouldnt engage in P.D.A. with her boyfriend was around her family  out of respect, she said, and in deference to cultural norms. And being in an interracial relationship, they have received comments from passers-by for simply being together.

They just go in on it like theyre complimenting, but it feels like ostracization in a way, Ms. Conde said. But its never made us not want to hold hands, itll just throw me off.

David Mendoza, 29, a manager at a home health clinic, said that a difference in opinion over P.D.A. was one of the reasons he and his boyfriend broke up three weeks ago: Hes not so into P.D.A., and I need P.D.A.
If not for the unbridled drinking, it might easily have been a screwball comedy. Just look at them: Kirsten, blondly beautiful with a tolerant smile and a quick riposte; Joe, curly-haired cute but too arrogant to grasp that hell have to up his game to win this woman.

Within moments of their meeting in 1950 in New York City, he bursts suavely into song  some presumptuous romantic blather about the two of them together under a chapel of stars. Whereupon she teases him right back down to earth.

Wow, she says. Who are you wooing? It cant be me; you dont know me.

This is the addiction-canon classic Days of Wine and Roses, though, so some of us already know them. In JP Millers luridly frank 1958 teleplay, starring Piper Laurie and Cliff Robertson, and in Millers somewhat defanged 1962 film adaptation, starring Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon, Kirsten and Joe are the attractive pair who make a harrowing, hand-in-hand descent into self-destruction by way of alcohol.

In Craig Lucas and Adam Guettels jazzy, aching musical based on the teleplay and the film, Kelli OHara and Brian dArcy James are an awfully glamorous Kirsten and Joe  OHara, in exquisite voice, singing 14 of the shows 18 numbers, seven of them solos. Directed in its world premiere by Michael Greif for Atlantic Theater Company, this Days of Wine and Roses fills the old Gothic Revival parish house that is the Linda Gross Theater with glorious sound.
School reunions, like work and family ones, are fertile ground for dramatists, offering an excuse to gather disparate characters with a catalog of ready-made conflicts. (Theres always someone who got dumped, dissed or disowned x years ago.) Add alcohol or pot to fuel the resurgence of old feelings and loosen the tongue, then let the heavy compression of the timeline, just a weekend or even a night, do the rest.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins juggles all of these elements in The Comeuppance, which opened Monday at the Signature Theater. But if hed merely updated the formula of The Big Chill  now ready for a 40th reunion itself  this world premiere production, directed by Eric Ting, would have been not much more than sentimental and funny. Instead, invoking the litany of violence and disaster that has punctuated the lives of its characters, for whom the Columbine massacre in 1999 and the Sept. 11 attacks were high school bookends, it is also a profound tragicomedy, or perhaps vice versa, about the reunion that awaits us all.

The border between worldly and otherworldly is porous here. After only five seconds of human activity at the start of the play, Death shows up  or really a psychopomp, that folkloric being, known to many cultures, that collects the souls of the recently deceased to lead them to the afterlife. Jacobs-Jenkins renders him as a wry, friendly figure who occasionally takes over the bodies of the other characters to explain what is happening beneath their jabber. (I say him because the first body he inhabits is male.) The rest of the time, he watches and waits, invisibly playing the long or short game, wanting to know his customers before they buy the farm.

Its an odd sensation to side with Death, but we want to know these people, too. They are alumni of St. Anthonys School, a Catholic academy in Washington, who have gathered on the porch of a home in the suburbs to pregame their 20th reunion. Each has struggled to achieve maturity or happiness or just a sense of belonging  a problem that was already evident in high school when they bonded as members of MERGE, a multiethnic reject group with a problematic extra E.
During the first year of Russias war in Ukraine, the Biden administration fretted constantly that if Kyiv hit back inside Russian borders, President Vladimir V. Putin would retaliate against not only Ukraine, but also possibly NATO and the West.

But those fears have ebbed. As Ukraines counteroffensive edges closer, a series of bold attacks in Russia, from a swarm of drone attacks in Moscow to the shelling of towns in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine and an incursion into the country using American-made armored vehicles, have been greeted by the Biden administration with the diplomatic equivalent of a shrug.

Its not like were going to go out and investigate this, John F. Kirby, a National Security Council spokesman, said last week, in a reference to whether Ukraine or Ukrainian-backed groups were behind the attacks in Moscow. On Monday, fighters attacked at least 10 villages in the Belgorod region with heavy shelling, its governor said.

Behind closed doors, senior administration officials have seemed even less fazed. Look, its a war, one senior Pentagon official said last Thursday. This is what happens in a war.
A faked declaration of martial law and military mobilization by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia aired Monday on a number of Russian radio and television networks, an incident that the Kremlin described as a hack.

The bogus speech, which was broadcast on the Mir radio station and television networks, said Ukraine had invaded three border regions and urged their residents to evacuate to the Russian heartland.

The clip also depicted Mr. Putin declaring a general mobilization, saying all the power of the country needed to be harnessed to defeat a dangerous and insidious enemy.

The press service of Mir, a Russian public broadcaster, said in a statement released to the state news agency Tass that its radio and television channels had been illegally interrupted for a little more than a half-hour before being restored.
Ukrainian forces have stepped up artillery strikes and ground assaults in a flurry of military activity that American officials suggested on Monday could signal that Kyivs long-planned counteroffensive against Russia had begun.

The fighting, which began on Sunday, was raging along several points on the front line, but farther to the east of where many analysts had expected Ukraines counteroffensive to launch. Even if it has started in that eastern area, experts said, the battle would allow Kyivs troops to try to accomplish the same goal: Head south toward the Sea of Azov and cut off the land bridge connecting occupied Crimea to mainland Russia.

On Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian authorities said that Russias military had blown up a major dam on the Dnipro River, sending torrents of water downstream and potentially imperiling population centers and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which draws cooling water from the dams reservoir.

A local Russia-appointed official said Ukrainian shelling was to blame, but it was unclear who was responsible.
Francoise Gilot, an accomplished painter whose art was eclipsed by her long and stormy romantic relationship with a much older Pablo Picasso, and who alone among his many mistresses walked out on him, died on Tuesday at a hospital in Manhattan. She was 101.

The death was confirmed by her daughter Aurelia Engel, who said Ms. Gilot had recently been dealing with heart and lung ailments.

You imagine people will be interested in you? Ms. Gilot quoted a surprised Picasso as saying after she told him that she was leaving him. They wont ever, really, just for yourself. Even if you think people like you, it will only be a kind of curiosity they will have about a person whose life touched mine so intimately.

But unlike his two wives and other mistresses, Ms. Gilot rebuilt her life after she ended the relationship, in 1953, almost a decade after it had begun despite an age difference of 40 years. She continued painting and exhibiting her work and wrote books.
A community gathering will be held Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. at 4184 Myles Street in Marianna to celebrate the start of construction on a new home for a local family.

The family was not named in the public notice announcing the event, but the project was described as a pilot project to assist qualified city employees who are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Michael.

Marianna is partnering with the North Florida Inland Long Term Recovery Group in the effort, along with volunteers from Orland Park Church of Illinois to build the house over a period of six weeks.

Construction begins Monday, Jan. 30. Other involved entities noted were the Chipola Baptist Association, World Renew and Jackson County.
Lincoln Center did not provide an estimated cost or timeline for the project. Timms said that it was a major effort that would help define the modern legacy of Lincoln Center and that it was a natural next step after the recent $550 million renovation of David Geffen Hall, the home of the New York Philharmonic, which was also aimed, in part, at deepening community ties and attracting new audiences.

This is a very significant priority of the institution, he said. If we can get the idea right, Im confident that we can work hard and get the necessary resources to create something amazing for New York City.

The area surrounding the western campus includes the Amsterdam Houses, a public housing complex that first opened in 1947 for World War II veterans. Across the street is LaGuardia High School, known for its music and performing arts programs, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex, which houses six high schools.

Lincoln Centers leaders said plans for the renovation would depend on public input, but they identified several broad aims. The area under exploration includes the stretch of Amsterdam Avenue from West 62nd to West 65th Street, as well as Damrosch Park and the northwest corner of campus, home to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Anna Shay, an heiress and Los Angeles socialite who became a breakout star of the Netflix reality show Bling Empire, has died. She was 62.

Her family confirmed her death to The Associated Press in a statement, which said the cause was a stroke. It was not immediately clear when or where she died.

It saddens our hearts to announce that Anna Shay, a loving mother, grandmother, charismatic star, and our brightest ray of sunshine, has passed away, said the statement provided to The A.P. Anna taught us many life lessons on how not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the finer things. Her impact on our lives will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Bling Empire, which ran for three seasons on Netflix starting in 2021, centered on wealthy Asian and Asian American fun seekers in Los Angeles and was billed as the real-life version of the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Ms. Shay appeared in 22 episodes, according to the Internet Movie Database.
Park Hotels & Resorts, the operator of two of the most prominent hotels in San Francisco, is handing in the keys on the properties  and, in essence, giving up on a city that has fallen on hard times.

Park Hotel stopped making payments on a $725 million loan tied to the Hilton Union Square and Parc 55, the real estate investment trust said on Monday. The hotels, a few blocks from the once-bustling Moscone Center conference hall, have a combined total of nearly 3,000 rooms.

A slowing economy and a remote-work thunderclap have emptied offices across the country, with some warning of a ticking bomb in the commercial real estate market. Slammed by a wave of layoffs in the tech industry and a steep slowdown in Moscones conference calendar, downtown San Francisco has been hit hard.

Now more than ever, we believe San Franciscos path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges that will reduce demand for business and leisure travel, said Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., the chief executive of Park Hotels & Resorts.
Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valleys most prominent venture capital firms, is breaking itself up, spinning out its Chinese unit into an independent company at a time of rising tensions between China and the United States over investment and access to advanced technologies.

The firm announced on Tuesday that it planned to split into three independent partnerships, with its businesses in China and India adopting new brands and the firm in the United States and Europe retaining the Sequoia name. The firms global footprint had become increasingly complex to manage, said a statement from Sequoias managing partner Roelof Botha; the firms China head, Neil Shen; and its India head, Shailendra Singh.

In an interview, Mr. Botha said that Sequoia had evaluated whether a centralized model made sense over the years. The issue came to a head in the past couple of months, and it just became clear to us that the cost of holding it all together and background wasnt worth it, he said.

Increasingly, we deal with portfolio conflicts across entities because founders really now have global ambitions, Mr. Botha said. And the brand confusion was just starting to chafe at everybody.
Shortly before the houses in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were vandalized, Ms. Chooljian had published an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by Eric Spofford, the founder of New Hampshires largest network of addiction rehabilitation centers. Her house was attacked less than two days after New Hampshire Public Radio refused Mr. Spoffords demand to take down Ms. Chooljians online article.

Mr. Spofford has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct and has said he had nothing to do with the vandalism. (The man in the blue raincoat, who was caught on video, is not him.) Last year, he accused New Hampshire Public Radio, which has about two dozen journalists, of trying to pin the attacks on him to try to deter me from bringing legal action, because they know I will win. Mr. Spofford soon sued NHPR and Ms. Chooljian, among others, for libel.

Ms. Chooljian and her colleagues do not know who was behind the vandalism, but they are convinced that it was connected to their investigation into Mr. Spofford.

Thats being a journalist in America today, Ms. Chooljian said in an interview.

Mr. Spofford said in a statement that The New York Times was spreading the same false accusations that NHPR had aired. We should all be concerned when media outlets team up in an unfair character assassination, he said.

This week, New Hampshire Public Radio is releasing a podcast, The 13th Step, about its investigation into Mr. Spofford and the broader recovery industry, as well as the threats the news organization has faced along the way.
Coinbase has elevated its interest in increasing its profits over investors interests, and over compliance with the law and the regulatory framework that governs the securities markets and was created to protect investors and the U.S. capital markets, the filing said.

Coinbase went public in April 2021, an event seen as a milestone in cryptos march into the mainstream. The company handled $830 billion worth of trades last year, with nearly nine million users making at least one trade per month.

The S.E.C. said Coinbase had made billions easing the sale of crypto assets but deprived investors of significant protections. Its complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan, claims that the company operated as an unregistered exchange even though it told investors in going public that regulators might deem some of the products traded on its platform to be securities.

Coinbase has argued that its business model got tacit approval from the S.E.C. when the agency approved its initial public offering. The company has said it is willing to work with the S.E.C. but does not agree with its position that all digital assets offered on its trading platform must be registered securities, which require more strict oversight.

The action is consistent with the S.E.C.s long-held view that most crypto products are no different from stocks, bonds and other securities. That means the firms that operate as exchanges and provide a platform for trading and selling crypto products must be registered like any exchange or brokerage that facilitates stock or bond trading.
When I was there with the scientists, we talked about this human dent, but we also talked a lot about geology. About how mundane, ever-churning forces like plate tectonics, weather and gravity, when applied over long enough time scales, can cause colossal changes to landscapes and rocks.

The thing you realize, when youre sitting on a boat in the Colorado, surrounded by the spectacular products of those changes, is that geologic processes might be slow, but theyre constantly at work. At any point in time, the world we see is somewhere in between being created and being destroyed. It is seldom static, which is why, if there are things we cherish about the present, its on us to preserve them  maybe not against geological forces, but at least against smaller-scale agents of destruction.

The Grand Canyon as we know it is pretty young by geologic standards, only about six million years old. That means we humans happen to be here on this planet at exactly the right time to experience it: after natures forces have had enough time to form it, but before those same forces have had too much time to grind it all down to nothing. Once, eons ago, there might have been grander canyons. Eons from now, there will probably be even more wondrous ones. This one is ours.

You can read my full article from the canyon here.
Headliner

Casa Lever

The eye-catching collection of Andy Warhol portraits are gone. The walls of Casa Lever, the elegant Milanese-style Italian restaurant that just reopened after months of renovation in the landmark Lever House on Park Avenue, will now display two colorful Damien Hirst paintings, Summer of Love and Love and Hate. And the menu offers some new items, including lunchtime surprises like a lobster roll and a dry-aged short rib and brisket cheeseburger, the melt contributed by Taleggio. The menu  with Iacopo Falai, the groups culinary director, in charge  also includes the addition of hamachi crudo, a crab pancake, paccheri with lobster, pan-seared turbot with artichokes, roast veal, and roasted baby carrots with avocado. In the atrium, the newly redone outdoor seating area and bar has sculptures by Ellsworth Kelly provided by the artists foundation in honor of his 100th birthday. Originally designed by Mark Newsom in 2002, the restaurant became Casa Lever when it was taken over by Sant Ambroeus Hospitality Group in 2009. An intimate private wine room has also been added.

390 Park Avenue (53rd Street), 212-888-2700, casalever.com.

Opening

Southern Charm

Brian Cartenuto, a Florida native who is the chef and owner of the West Village restaurant Bird Dog, where the South meets Italy, is opening this biscuit house nearby. Biscuits  buttermilk, Cheddar-jalapeno, gluten-free or daily specials like sweet potato on Wednesdays  are served with more than a dozen flavored butters or several jams. Biscuit sandwiches include fried chicken, country ham, pimento cheese and bacon, BLT and chicken salad. Its open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with 30 seats plus another six at the bar.

523 Hudson Street (West 10th Street), 646-584-3608, southerncharmnyc.com.

21 Greenpoint

The ongoing reconfiguring of the dining options in Rockefeller Center includes a new name, Under 30, for what had been the Concourse  dual passageways lined with shops and small eateries beneath 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the skyscraper that anchors the complex. The latest addition to Under 30 is this Manhattan outpost for Homer Murrays popular spot in Brooklyn. (Mr. Murrays father is the actor Bill Murray.) A straightforward collection of dishes include crispy artichoke hearts, vegetable dumplings, oysters, wedge salad, cheeseburger, crab toast, rigatoni with braised lamb neck and nachos with chicken tinga. Theres waiter service. (Thursday)

30 Rockefeller Plaza, Rink Level, 332-205-3560, 21greenpoint.com.

El Cid Cafe by Five Flies & Co.

A coffee shop, Five Flies, in Washington Heights, will also be serving its beverages, gelato, sandwiches and pastries on the new seasonal terrace cafe at the Hispanic Society. El Cid refers to a statue in the museum. Though the Five Flies is also the name of a venerable restaurant in Amsterdam, the connection is not so far-fetched considering that Spain once ruled the Low Countries. (Thursday)

Audubon Terrace at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, 3741 Broadway (West 155th Street), 212-926-2234, hispanicsociety.org.
Ronnie Cummins, a ponytailed activist who became one of the countrys leading advocates for organic food and a leading critic of genetically modified food, died on April 26 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he lived and worked part-time. He was 76.

Rose Welch, his wife and partner in starting the Organic Consumers Association, an advocacy and informational organization, said his death, which was not widely reported at the time, was caused by bone and lymph cancer.

Mr. Cummins was a lifelong activist and protester, beginning with his opposing the Vietnam War and nuclear power. He settled on organic food activism in the 1990s after he was hired as a director of the Pure Food Campaign, a lobbying group that sought to broaden awareness of the dangers of genetically engineered food while pushing for responsible labeling and government testing.

Mr. Cummins worked in the field for the campaign, raising alarm at rallies and supermarkets about the perils of foods using genetically modified ingredients. He handed out leaflets, wrote opinion articles and answered consumers questions as a campaign spokesman.
One of the most famous Seinfeld episodes involves Jerry wearing a flamboyant puffy shirt  which was pretty much a copy of the ultimate poets shirt sold by International Male. The piece of apparel might be a pop culture footnote now, but for a while the mail-order catalog that inspired it meant quite a lot, as evidenced by Bryan Darling and Jesse Finley Reeds documentary.

In the early 1970s, Gene Burkard, a gay former airman turned entrepreneur, slightly retooled a medical garment called a suspensory into a jock sock. Its mail-order success eventually led to Burkards launching International Male, whose catalog peddled unabashedly outlandish mens clothing modeled by unabashedly sexy hunks.
Special agents with Alabama Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into a deadly vehicle pursuit involving officers with the Daleville Police Department, according to ALEA Senior Trooper Kendra McKinney.

At approximately 7:20 p.m. Monday, a crash occurred during a vehicle pursuit on Alabama 123 near the 8 mile marker in Geneva County. As a result of the crash, the driver of the vehicle, William Earl Durham, 51, of Daleville, was fatally injured. No officers were injured over the course of the incident.

Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division provided traffic control during the road closure on Alabama 123. The roadway has since reopened, and the scene is clear.

ALEAs SBI will continue to investigate the incident, however, nothing further is available as the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Once complete, the findings will be turned over to 33rd Judicial District Attorney Kirke Adams office, McKinney said.
The 2023 Tribeca Festival is coinciding with Pride month, and as L.G.B.T.Q. rights come under renewed attack, the festival includes a handful of films that show the resilience of the community.

This years event, which runs Wednesday through June 18, will show 109 features, including 93 world premieres. (For more information, go to tribecafilm.com.)

From that robust list, these five films are worth a closer look.

Chasing Chasing Amy

Director: Sav Rodgers

The documentarian Sav Rodgers examines the significance of the writer-director Kevin Smiths 1997 comedy through a number of lenses. Rodgers grapples with the film  about a young comic-book artist who finds himself attracted to a lesbian  as a career turning point for Smith, and as the inspiration for a debate about sexual identity. Most important, Rodgers wrestles with the role the film had in his own self-discovery.
Judge Shields was not persuaded by Mr. Santoss arguments, but she gave him until noon Friday to appeal her decision to a district court judge on Long Island. She also took the unusual step of sealing her decision to protect the names until the appeal was ruled upon.

Legal experts said there was little chance Mr. Santos would actually be detained even if his sureties were to back out. But the fight over their identities raised new legal and ethical complications as the Republican congressman fights charges of fraud, money laundering and stealing public funds.

Mr. Murray shared a letter with the court on Monday showing that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee was already scrutinizing the bail arrangement, requesting information from Mr. Santos in mid-May that could help determine whether you may have solicited or received an improper gift in connection with the bond sureties.

House members must adhere to strict ethical rules, including a policy limiting the kind of gifts  broadly construed as something with monetary value for which you do not have to pay  that they can receive from people outside of their families.

The committee, which is also investigating Mr. Santos for a range of potential wrongdoing, asked him to identify the co-signers of the bond and to disclose any payments made by you or on your behalf to the co-signers as compensation for securing the bond.
When New York State began laying the groundwork for its recreational cannabis industry last year, officials cast atoning for the harm done by the war on drugs as a cornerstone of the ambitious plan  and promised to give people who were previously convicted of marijuana offenses the first opportunity to sell it legally.

Today, that effort appears to be foundering: Although Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested last fall that more than 100 dispensaries would be operating by this summer, just 12 have opened since regulators issued the first licenses in November.

In a letter to regulators and the governors office last month, a coalition of dozens of the prospective dispensary operators described being blocked by the state from selecting their own storefront locations. Some said that they felt pressured to accept inflated rents and construction costs, while others said that the state was withholding funding from those who wanted to lease space or handle matters on their own, according to the letter, which was also sent to The Times.

The prospective sellers said that they appreciated how the states tight control over the program was meant to benefit them but added that, more often, it was holding them back.
The News

The Manhattan district attorneys office on Tuesday sought the dismissal of 316 convictions tied to a group of New York Police Department officers, sergeants and detectives who have been convicted of crimes related to their work.

Hundreds of misdemeanors were thrown out in court on Tuesday, and eight felonies are expected to be tossed Wednesday. The reason was due process violations, according to a statement from the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg.

The convictions occurred between 1996 and 2017. Fifty-seven resulted in incarceration and 132 in fines, according to a news release.

Eight of the officers who brought the cases have been convicted of charges such as official misconduct, planting drugs, taking bribes, petty theft and lying under oath. A ninth officer, Oscar Sandino, has been convicted of two counts of deprivation of civil rights, a federal misdemeanor, for coerced sexual misconduct against two women in custody.

While we hope that this moment delivers some justice and closure to the New Yorkers impacted by these tactics, the sad reality is that many were forced to suffer incarceration, hefty legal fees, loss of employment, housing instability, severed access to critical benefits and other collateral consequences, Elizabeth Felber, head of the Wrongful Conviction Unit at the Legal Aid Society, said in a statement.
Instead of treating a seat at one of these institutions as something that applicants have earned and are entitled to, admissions should be based on expectations of future benefits to society from educating talented students from all backgrounds, evaluating them on what they have accomplished given their backgrounds and the opportunities available to them. This would better justify the large public subsidies that these institutions receive.

But lower-income students need more financial aid to attend, and every dollar spent on aid cant be spent on other things valued by faculty, administrators and students who dont need financial aid. Many of these selective schools currently actually reject talented students based solely on this financial need.

To create incentives for alternatives, access to those large public subsidies should be contingent on colleges and universities serving talented students from all backgrounds, with talent measured by applicants potential to contribute to the public good, not by accomplishments at age 18 made possible by their families wealth.

Catharine B. Hill

New York

The writer, president emerita of Vassar College, is managing director of Ithaka S + R, which offers strategic advice for academic and cultural institutions.

To the Editor:

David Brooks tries to bolster his argument by quoting the organizational psychologist Adam Grant, who wrote: Academic excellence is not a strong predictor of career excellence. Across industries, research shows that the correlation between grades and job performance is modest in the first year after college and trivial within a handful of years.
As Republican candidates enter the race for their partys 2024 presidential nomination, Times columnists, Opinion writers and others will assess their strengths and weaknesses with a scorecard. We rate the candidates on a scale of 1 to 10: 1 means the candidate will probably drop out before any caucus or primary voting; 10 means the candidate has a very strong chance of receiving the partys nomination next summer. This entry assesses Mike Pence, the former vice president.

Candidate strength averages

How seriously should we take Mike Pences candidacy?

Frank Bruni At least a bit more seriously than the fly that colonized his coiffure during his 2020 debate with Kamala Harris did. He is polling well enough to be part of the Republican primary debates. Lets hope that Chris Licht at CNN has an entomologist at the ready for the post-debate panel.

Jane Coaston Not very.

Michelle Cottle As seriously as the wet dishrag he impersonated for most of his term as V.P.

Ross Douthat On paper, a former vice president known for his evangelical faith sounds like a plausible Republican candidate for president. But in practice, because of Pences role on Jan. 6 and his break with Donald Trump thereafter, to vote for Trumps vice president is to actively repudiate Trump himself. So until theres evidence the G.O.P. voters are ready for such an overt repudiation (as opposed to just moving on to another candidate), there isnt good reason to take Pences chances seriously.
Because of our decentralized election system, the responsibility to sort out this mess falls to the states. Federal and state laws require states to maintain accurate voter rolls, but the states have no established way to communicate and coordinate with one another. The existence of searchable voter data itself is relatively new: As recently as 2000, only seven states had computerized statewide voter databases.

In short, its easy to proclaim that free, fair and well-run elections are the lifeblood of democracy; its a lot harder to put that ideal into practice. One early effort, the Interstate Crosscheck program, failed miserably because of inadequate data analysis and poor security practices. ERIC has succeeded by devoting the time, money and expertise necessary to build a comprehensive, secure and useful database of voter information. That information  drawn from voter rolls, motor vehicle department records, Social Security death records and change-of-address data  gets analyzed, matched and compiled into reports that are provided to the states to help them clean up their rolls.

The work has paid off: Through April 2023, ERIC has identified nearly 12 million voters who moved across state lines, more than 24 million whose in-state registrations required updates, more than one million in-state duplicates and nearly 600,000 dead people who had not been removed from the rolls. In addition, ERIC requires that member states reach out to eligible but unregistered voters, although it is difficult to determine just how many new voters have signed up as a result.

ERIC did all of this in a true example of bipartisanship. Its a place where red and blue states were able to come together, have this really boring but really effective data system for keeping the right people on the rolls and removing the wrong people from the rolls, said Danielle Lang, the senior director of the voting-rights program at the Campaign Legal Center.

The reviews, especially from Republicans, were glowing. When Florida joined ERIC in 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was the right thing to do for our state, as it will ensure our voter rolls are up-to-date and it will increase voter participation in our elections. This year, Iowas Republican secretary of state called ERIC a godsend; his counterpart in Ohio said it was one of the best fraud-fighting tools that we have. By 2022, 31 states and the District of Columbia had signed up to pay the organizations $25,000 membership fee. (States also pay annual dues based on their voting-age population.)
We saw this dynamic at work last week when the court issued its decision in Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174. The case involves a struggle in Washington State between workers represented by the Teamsters and their employer, a concrete manufacturer.

In its lawsuit, Glacier alleged that its workers timed a 2017 strike so that it would begin after some of the companys mixing trucks were already filled with wet concrete, a perishable material. Glaciers non-unionized workers were able to remove the concrete before the trucks were significantly damaged, but the company sued the Teamsters in state court anyway for damages relating to lost revenue from the wrecked concrete.

The union countered, citing the right to strike. It also noted that the damaged concrete was essentially spoilage of a product, for which unions have not generally been held liable. The Washington State Supreme Court dismissed the suit on the grounds that the dispute was pre-empted by the National Labor Relations Act.

The Supreme Court took Glaciers appeal. And in an opinion joined by Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett held that unions are liable for damages during strikes under federal labor law when they take affirmative steps to endanger the employers property rather than reasonable precautions to mitigate that risk. She also sent the case back to the Washington State court for further litigation.

In a separate concurrence joined by Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas said the Supreme Court should reconsider its 1959 decision in San Diego Building Trades Council v. Garmon, which held that state courts are barred from handling claims concerning conduct that is arguably covered by the National Labor Relations Act. Under Garmon, employers must first receive a favorable ruling from the National Labor Relations Board if they want to sue a union for striking in state court. Tossing Garmon would bring labor law much closer to its pre-N.L.R.A. status quo, when conservative judges treated union actions as little more than criminal conspiracies to harm employers. Justice Samuel Alito also filed a concurrence in support of the majority.
It may be that Ukraines long-awaited counteroffensive, which could be in its early stages, will be as fruitless as Russias winter offensive. Defenders typically have advantages over attackers in trench warfare, and the Russian Army has had months to dig in.

But its also possible that the Ukrainians could achieve breakthroughs that could put the end of the war in sight this year. What then? How should this end?

We can start by listing the ways in which it shouldnt. The first is the one suggested last year by President Emmanuel Macron of France. We must not humiliate Russia, he argued, so that the day when the fighting stops we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means. At the time, to not humiliate Russia was code for allowing Russia to preserve its ill-gotten gains while it was on the offensive.

Wrong. A crushing and unmistakable defeat is precisely what is necessary to put an end to Russias imperialistic ambition. Its easy to forget now that last years invasion was the third time Vladimir Putin launched a war of conquest, intimidation and annexation against his neighbors, after the invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the seizure of Ukrainian soil in 2014. And thats not counting cyberwarfare against Estonia, assassinations on British soil, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 or the annihilation of Aleppo and Grozny.
In 1964, John Cheever published a short story called The Swimmer in which a seemingly happy suburbanite endeavors to swim his way home across New Yorks Westchester County, by going from one backyard pool to the next in an odyssey that reveals the truth of his world.

Its a scenario that sprang to mind during the last cruise (or resort) season, a monthlong series of extravaganzas in far-flung destinations that came to an end last week. It was not hard to imagine fashionistas hieing their way from show to show to show before finally returning home.

They could have started in Los Angeles with Chanel on May 9, moved on to Seoul with Gucci, on to Mexico City for Dior, then to northern Italy for Louis Vuitton (which had confusingly held a separate pre-fall show in Seoul just a few weeks before) and Alberta Ferretti, ending in Rio de Janeiro on June 1 with Carolina Herrera. Many of them may have been treated to their trips by the brands themselves (The New York Times does not accept press trips, so yours truly watches the shows on the computer), caravanning around the globe as if the pandemic was a speck in the rearview mirror.




CGTN: On June 5 local time, the Chinese Embassy in Honduras held an inauguration ceremony. The Charge dAffaires of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras and the Honduran Foreign Minister jointly unveiled the plaque for the embassy. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: On June 5 local time, the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Embassy in Honduras was held in Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. All the Chinese diplomats at the embassy, representatives from the Honduran government and National Congress, renowned figures from various sectors, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from Chinese institutions and the Chinese community in Honduras attended the event.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations over two months ago, China and Honduras have been delivering on their commitments and working together to get bilateral relations off to a strong start on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. The two sides have already achieved some early harvests. It fully shows that to stand for the one-China principle is the right thing to do, which has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the prevailing trend of the world. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples.

The newly opened Chinese Embassy in Honduras will serve as a bridge between the two countries for deeper political mutual trust, more practical cooperation and closer friendship between the two peoples. Honduras is working intensively to set up its embassy in China. China is ready to vigorously support and facilitate that effort.

China stands ready to work with Honduras to step up friendly exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, and let the China-Honduras friendship flourish to the benefit of both countries and peoples.

AFP: US Republican Party presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has suggested recently that every family in Taiwan should own and be trained to use AR-15 rifles to protect against what he sees as a potential invasion by Beijing. Does the foreign ministry have any comments on these remarks specifically, or more generally, how does it view the tough rhetoric towards China used by many US presidential candidates lately?

Wang Wenbin: The Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair. We urge relevant US politicians to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. Taiwan people should not be treated as cannon fodder.

China Daily: According to reports, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech on June 5 that The small-scale alliance relevant to nuclear-powered submarines among the US, Britain and Australia is becoming a concern for ASEAN and countries in the region because ASEAN is a nuclear weapon-free zone, and we oppose nuclear weapon proliferation. He said the military alliance is the starting point of a very dangerous arms race and if this situation continues, the world will face a bigger danger. Whats your comment?

Wang Wenbin: Prime Minister Hun Sens remarks speak to the concerns widely shared by regional countries, including the ASEAN nations. The AUKUS security partnership and related nuclear submarine cooperation creates nuclear proliferation risks, threatens the international nuclear non-proliferation system, undermines the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, and undercuts ASEAN countries efforts to establish a Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone. According to estimates by international arms control experts, the weapons-grade nuclear materials the US and the UK plan to transfer to Australia would be sufficient to build as many as 64 to 80 nuclear weapons. If the three countries are set on advancing their nuclear submarine cooperation, it is bound to deal an irreversible heavy blow to the integrity, efficacy and authority of the international nuclear non-proliferation system and trigger similar behavior in other non-nuclear-weapon states, thus turning the region into an arena of arms race. Such practice of seeking ones own security at the expense of other countries security and plunging other countries into security anxiety is extremely irresponsible and dangerous.

As ASEANs comprehensive strategic partner and friendly neighbor, China firmly supports ASEAN nations efforts to establish the Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone. China is the first nuclear-weapon state to openly support the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and have expressed readiness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty.

We once again call on the US, the UK and Australia to heed the concerns of the international community, stop acts of nuclear proliferation such as their nuclear submarine cooperation, stop undermining the international nuclear non-proliferation system by applying double standards, and stop brewing storms over the Pacific Ocean.

CCTV: According to reports, on June 2, Ambassador Geng Shuang, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, criticized the US and the ROKs issuance of the Washington Declaration to strengthen extended deterrence, which runs counter to the goal of promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. A senior official at the ROK embassy in China responded on June 5 by saying that China should not only stress the DPRKs legitimate security concerns, but should also consider the ROKs legitimate security concerns, adding that the ROK will continue to urge China to play a role consistent with international norms in realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Whats your comment?

Wang Wenbin: Regarding the Washington Declaration and extended deterrence, weve stated our position more than once. China opposes relevant parties military exercises that could be perceived as provocative and creation of blocs to exert pressure and engage in confrontation around the Korean Peninsula. These practices are the result of a Cold War mentality. They will only exacerbate tensions and fuel escalations in the region without contributing to diffusing conflict or enhancing mutual trust.

On the issues of the Korean Peninsula, China decides its position based on the merits of the matter itself and believes that the legitimate concerns of all parties should be addressed in a balanced manner. Theres no such thing as caring only about the concerns of one particular party. China has been working actively for the political settlement of the issues of the Peninsula and has played a constructive role to this end. The international community sees our efforts. That will remain our position and the basis for future efforts to play our due role in this process.

Reuters: According to a news report, French President Emmanuel Macron has objected to NATOs proposal to open an office in Tokyo, saying NATO should remain focused on its own north Atlantic region. What is the ministrys comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports. NATO has publicly stated on many occasions that it remains a regional alliance and does not seek a geopolitical breakthrough. Asia lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic and has no need for a replica of NATO. However, we have seen NATO bent on going east into this region, interfering in regional affairs and inciting bloc confrontation. What is NATO really up to? This calls for high vigilance among countries in the world, particularly in Asia. As I said yesterday, the attitude of the majority of countries in the region is very clear. They oppose the emergence of military blocs in the region. They dont welcome NATOs outreach in Asia. They dont want a replica of bloc confrontation in Asia. And they certainly will not allow any Cold War or hot war to happen again in Asia. NATO needs to have a sober understanding of this. Japan should make the right call in keeping with the regions stability and development interests and refrain from doing anything that may undermine mutual trust between regional countries and peace and stability in the region.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Last week, Pakistans first-ever seafood cargo container arrived in Kashgar, Xinjiang. What is its significance and do you have any comment on that?

Wang Wenbin: As all-weather strategic cooperative partners, China and Pakistan have engaged in close cooperation in trade and other fields. We welcome quality agricultural products from Pakistan into Chinas market and stand ready to continue to work with Pakistan to boost our trade through land transportation, achieve sustained growth of bilateral trade and deliver more benefits to our two peoples.

Bloomberg: The US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that military interception maneuvers by Chinese ships and planes suggest a growing aggressiveness from Beijing and could lead to an accident. Whats the foreign ministrys comment on Mr. Kirbys remarks?

Wang Wenbin: I responded to relevant remarks by the US side yesterday. Let me make clear again that the truth is, the US has been sending warships and military aircraft halfway around the world to Chinas doorsteps and engaging in close-in reconnaissance and showoff of military muscle near Chinas territorial sea and airspace. This is not about freedom of navigation, but hegemony of navigation and distinct military provocation. And such hegemonic practice is the root cause of security risks on the sea and in the air.

China respects the right of navigation and overflight that all countries are entitled to under international law, but firmly opposes acts that undermine Chinas sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight. The Chinese military responded to the situation in accordance with laws and regulations. These actions are completely professional, lawful and justified.

Reuters: A Chinese research ship and its escort left Viet Nams EEZ on Monday night after nearly a month of operations that prompted protests from Hanoi. What was the reason for this withdrawal?

Wang Wenbin: China has sovereignty over Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. It is legitimate and lawful for Chinese scientific research vessels to carry out normal research activities in waters under Chinas jurisdiction. There is no such thing as entering in other countries exclusive economic zones.

Kyodo News: On June 5, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink met with Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, on which the foreign ministry has released a readout. Do you have more information to share?

Wang Wenbin: China has released a readout on the talks and meeting between Chinese and US diplomatic officials in Beijing. Yesterday, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink and White House National Security Councils senior director for China affairs Sarah Beran visited China. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu met with them. Director-General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yang Tao held talks with them.

The two sides had candid, constructive and productive communication on improving bilateral relations and managing differences appropriately in accordance with the common understandings between the two presidents reached in Bali last November. China stated its serious position on Taiwan and other major issues of principle. The two sides agreed to maintain communication.
Renowned Alabama historian Dr. Wayne Flynt has chronicled and penned a marvelous book appropriately entitled Afternoons with Harper Lee. This gem is published by New South Books with editing by Randall Williams. It is receiving worldwide acclaim. If you are a fan of Harper Lee and her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, it is a great read. Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville in 1926 and died in Monroeville 90 years later in 2016. It was fitting that Dr. Wayne Flynt would give her eulogy. Her book, To Kill A Mockingbird, is one of the five most bought and read books in the history of the world. It is second to only to the Bible in most countries. In secular Great Britain, it surpasses the Bible and is No. 1.

Dr. Wayne Flynt is probably the most significant and accomplished historian on Alabama history in my lifetime. He taught history to over 60,000 undergraduate and graduate students at Auburn University for over 28 years. He was beloved, and he loves Auburn. He is very proud of his 43 car tag, as he often told Nelles accomplished sister Alice.

Dr. Flynt taught history at Samford University for 12 years before beginning his 28 years at Auburn University. During his illustrious career of 40 years, he authored 14 books, all centered around southern politics, history, and southern culture. He is very proud of his heritage of being the son of a sharecropper and growing up in the Appalachian culture of rural Calhoun County.

It is so poetic that the most renowned southern Alabama historian of this century would write the most revealing and detailed history of Alabamas and arguably the worlds most famous author of this century. He tells Nelle Harper Lees story explicitly and with authenticity.

Dr. Flynt and his beloved wife of 60 years, Dorothy Dartie, became Harper Lees best friends in the twilight of her life. Wayne and Dartie Flynt journeyed from Auburn to Monroeville and spent 64 afternoons over 12 years visiting and chronicling Harper Lees life story as she lived in a modest retirement home in Monroeville even though the royalties from the book were over a million dollars a year.

The book is part memoir and part biography. It truly tells the intimate story of legendary author Harper Lee. It encompasses her life and intertwines it with Alabama history. It is like we Alabamians like to say, they were sitting on a big front porch swapping life stories. Flynt and Lee were both southern storytellers. They were often joined by Nelle Harper Lees two sisters, Alice Lee and Louise Lee Conner.

Alice Lee was 10 years older than Nelle and was famous in her own right. She was one of the first female lawyers in Alabama. She was one of Monroevilles most prominent lawyers for close to 80 years. She practiced law until she was over 100 years old, and was a leader in the Alabama Methodist Church.

Louise Conner introduced the Flynts to Nelle Harper. They met at a History and Heritage Festival in Eufaula in 1983.

Nelle Harper Lee was the classic recluse. She was very private and very secretive; she liked to drink and curse and speak her mind. She never married and never really dated. She wore frumpy, dowdy, non-stylish clothing and disdained being around people and speaking in public.

She lived most of her life in her modest apartment in New York City. She lived there mostly from ages 23-81, 58 years, with only brief journeys home to Monroeville, Alabama, by train as she did not fly. New York City gave her the anonymity she desired.

The book tells of her celebrity and meeting other famous people who desired to meet her, including Presidents Lyndon Johnson, George Bush, and Barack Obama. She especially liked Lady Bird Johnson, who also had Alabama roots.

She adored Gregory Peck, who was the star of the movie To Kill A Mockingbird. He won an Oscar and every award imaginable for his role as Atticus Finch in the movie.

Only after a stroke in 2007 at 81 did Nelle Harper Lee return home to Monroeville.

Dr. Flynt is also an accomplished ordained Baptist preacher. He is a true kind-hearted gentleman, who speaks kindly of everyone in his book. He and Dartie grew to love the foul tempered eccentric, cynical, opinionated, irascible, uninhibited, very private and reclusive author. He discerns and captures her true humility. She really felt and often said, modestly, But all I did was write a book. She wrote a pretty good one, and so did Flynt.

See you next week.
On a recent evening, the British actor Will Keen was onstage at the Noel Coward Theater in London playing one of the worlds most divisive men: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

For much of the first half of Patriots, which is largely set in the 1990s after the Soviet Unions collapse, Keen portrays the character sympathetically  as a minor politician who could only afford cheap suits and whose success was dependent on a friends largess. Later on, when an adviser suggests Putin, now president, should keep his enemies close, Keens portrayal becomes chilling. Why would I want to do that, he replies, when I can simply destroy them?

Written by Peter Morgan, the creator of The Crown, Patriots stars Tom Hollander as Boris Berezovsky, a real-life oligarch who made a fortune in post-Soviet Russia, only to fall out with Putin and end up exiled in London, where he died under mysterious circumstances, in 2013.

Despite that focus, its Keens performance that has grabbed attention since the play debuted at the Almeida Theater, in London, last June. Arifa Akbar, in The Guardian, said that even when Putin grows more megalomaniacal, Keen avoids caricature and keeps his characters self-righteous desire for Russian imperialism convincingly real, and chilling. Matt Wolf, reviewing that production for The New York Times, said that Keen astonishes throughout. In April, Keen won the best supporting actor award at the Olivier Awards, Britains equivalent of the Tonys.
A romantic island getaway in the Maldives. A safari in Kenya. A visit to the pyramids in Egypt.

Apart from being popular on bucket lists, these vacations have one thing in common: Their destinations have strict anti-L.G.B.T.Q. legislation. In the Maldives, gay sex may be punished with lashes and up to eight years in prison. In Kenya, it can bring a sentence of up to 14 years. And in Egypt, the authorities are known to throw people in jail for simply waving a rainbow flag.

Paradoxically, these trips are also all offered by travel companies founded by and catering to members of the L.G.B.T.Q. community. In interviews, the founders of four of these companies, which take a combined total of 3,000 tourists  most of them American  abroad each year, said they were providing a safe way to meet a growing demand for trips to countries that criminalize L.B.G.T.Q. people.

Im gay and I want to visit these places, said Darren Burn, the founder of Out of Office, an inclusive luxury travel company. And if I want to visit these places, then there are other gay people who do, too. So if we can enable them to do it in a fun, exciting and safe way, then thats exactly what were here for.

A world that isnt always friendly

By some metrics, certain L.G.B.T.Q. Americans have it easier when it comes to planning their next trip. Same-sex couples tend to have more disposable income because they are less likely to have children and more likely to both be employed, according to census data. Married gay men have the most spending power, with a median household income that is more than $25,000 higher than their straight and lesbian counterparts.



Even so, being out and getting out can be at odds in a world where many places are hostile  and sometimes outright dangerous.
The Atlanta City Council voted overwhelmingly early Tuesday to approve $31 million in funding for the construction of a sprawling $90 million police and fire training complex, backing a project that has provoked nearly two years of sustained protests and further inflamed tensions over law enforcement in the city.

The atmosphere inside City Hall leading up to the vote reflected how emotionally charged the debate over the planned complex had become. City employees were instructed to work remotely on Monday, as officials warned of security threats. The building was packed deep into the night and into Tuesday morning, as hundreds of people jammed inside for the council meeting.

It lasted more than 16 hours, with well over 300 people addressing the council before the vote. One after another, the speakers expressed opinions that illuminated the complex tangle of racial, political and environmental considerations that have shaped the citys conversation over the project, which has become known to many by the nickname conceived by its critics, Cop City.

The vast majority of those who stepped up to speak were critical, echoing arguments that had been repeated through months of demonstrations: The facility was costing money that could better be directed elsewhere; it would train the citys police force to become more militarized; and it would disturb a precious expanse of green space in a rapidly developing metropolis.
Daniel wrote about his parents, who raised him in Berkeley in the 1960s and 70s and now worry that new apartment buildings and other development might change the character of the neighborhoods that they cherish. His mother and father have long harbored an old left-wing suspicion of real estate developers that has deep roots in the Bay Area, tracing back to when real estate development was seen as destroying nature and enabling racist housing practices.

But he also explored his own concerns about the states out-of-control housing market: that his college-age daughters may never be able to afford to live in the region where they grew up, and might be forced to move far from nearly everyone they know.

I had been really raised and was deeply sympathetic to a view that real estate development is always wrong, always speculative, always venal, Daniel told me. So when I started to follow the YIMBY arguments, I became interested in what a political and ideological inversion it was, on this really key point, from the values in which I had been raised.

He said writing the article was an important way for me to simultaneously keep my heart open to what it all really meant to my parents and their neighbors, while keeping my mind alive to what the stakes are for me and my kids, and everybody elses kids  and the nature of the society were building, or not building.

For more:
An eye-watering and cough-inducing smoky haze from Canadian wildfires smothered a swath of the eastern and northern United States on Tuesday, with officials warning residents with health risks to stay indoors and keep their windows closed.

Health alerts were issued from New York to the Carolinas, and as far west as Minnesota. In New York City, the smoke could be tasted as well as smelled, and it wrapped the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Manhattans other landmarks in a blanket of orange-gray haze.

IQAir, a technology company that tracks air quality and pollution, said New Yorks air quality was among the worst in the world on Tuesday night; the city usually does not rank in the top 3,000. One fan at the game between the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox being played in the Bronx likened the experience to being inside one of those old-school Weber grills, although the game continued without interruption.
Columbia University announced on Tuesday that its undergraduate schools would no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, the first major university to refuse to supply information to the influential undergraduate guide for students and parents.

Columbia said it had become concerned about the outsized influence the rankings played in the undergraduate admissions process. Much is lost in this approach, the university said in an announcement signed by officials including Mary C. Boyce, Columbias provost.

Columbia also noted that the expected U.S. Supreme Court decision to end or curtail affirmative action may well lead to a reassessment of admissions policies in ways we cant even contemplate at this point.

Columbias move comes after it dropped in the rankings released in September  to No. 18 from No. 2  and after many prestigious law and medical schools, including Columbias, decided to boycott the listings by refusing to provide data to U.S. News. Calling the rankings unreliable and unfair, the schools criticized them for skewing educational priorities.
A woman in Ocala, Fla., who confronted a neighbor who had thrown an object at her children, was shot and killed through the door of the residence, the local sheriff said, in a case that is complicated by the states stand your ground law after days without a decision on possible charges.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his deputies had initially responded to a trespassing call on Friday at about 9 p.m., but by the time they had arrived, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Ajike Owens, 35, a mother of four, was given first aid and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the sheriffs office said. The shooter, a woman, has not been identified by the authorities.

The sheriff said the confrontation came after a neighborhood feud over time and there was a lot of aggressiveness at the door, whether it be banging on the doors, banging on the walls and threats being made, though he noted that it was an incomplete account of the dispute. Sheriff Woods did not offer many details on how the shooting unfolded, saying his office did not have all the facts and citing an ongoing investigation.




A federal judge in Florida issued a scathing assessment on Tuesday of the states ban on gender transition care for minors, asserting in a ruling that the families with transgender children who sued the state are likely to prevail on their claim that the prohibition is unconstitutional.

Judge Robert L. Hinkle of Federal District Court in Tallahassee ruled specifically that three transgender children can be prescribed puberty blockers despite the new state law, which also adds new hurdles for adults who seek similar care.

But as legal challenges have been mounted to new restrictions on transition care that have been enacted across the country, Judge Hinkles ruling exemplifies the kind of chilly reception that the bans may receive from judges.

Gender identity is real, Judge Hinkle wrote, adding that proper treatment can include mental health therapy followed by puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Florida has adopted a statute and rules that prohibit these treatments even when medically appropriate.
Former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who announced a second campaign for president on Tuesday after a disappointing run in 2016, has had a roller coaster of a political career in more ways than one.

In the span of four years, he went from star presidential recruit to scandal-dogged sixth-place finisher in New Hampshire. In the next seven, he went from serving as one of Donald J. Trumps most influential advisers to advertising himself as the only candidate brave enough to denounce Mr. Trump to his face.

Here are five things to know about Mr. Christie.

He had a meteoric rise in his first term as governor 

Mr. Christie first drew national attention in 2009, when he was elected governor of New Jersey over a Democratic incumbent, Jon Corzine.

He quickly notched legislative victories for Republicans in a Democratic-leaning state, including passing a major overhaul of New Jerseys public employee pension system.
Tuesday evenings statement was the first time that Mr. DeSantiss administration had addressed the flights since they landed in Californias capital city. At a bill signing ceremony on Tuesday morning, the governor, unusually, did not take questions from reporters. The silence from Mr. DeSantis on a high-profile incident drawing national interest was uncharacteristic, especially given the pointed attacks against him by Mr. Newsom and others.

In an interview, Californias attorney general, Rob Bonta, said it was appropriate that Mr. DeSantis and Florida officials were accepting blame for their reprehensible and morally bankrupt conduct. The migrants who arrived on Friday had been dropped off outside the Catholic Archdiocese of Sacramento, Mr. Bonta said, and left dazed and confused, violated and hurt on the doorstep of an archdiocese that wasnt even open.

He said the migrants had both told him personally and signed statements saying that they had come to California because the contractor, Vertol Systems Company, had falsely represented the transport as a way to obtain desperately needed employment.

It was a lie, Mr. Bonta, a Democrat, said. It was false. You cant consent based on deception.

Roughly three dozen migrants have arrived in Sacramento on two charter flights since last Friday. The migrants, most of whom are from Venezuela, said they had been recruited for the flights outside a shelter in El Paso. Several said they were promised help finding work. They are now staying at motels in the Sacramento area, according to local nonprofits.

Vertol Systems Company, which is based in Florida, was the same private contractor that arranged sending two planeloads of migrants from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard last year in an operation funded by Florida taxpayers.
Cloud accounting software has become a game-changer for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking efficient, streamlined financial management solutions.

These software solutions provide a range of features and benefits that help businesses effectively handle invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting. By utilising cloud-based accounting software, SMEs can access their financial data securely from anywhere, collaborate with team members, and make data-driven decisions to drive growth.

Whether youre a startup or an established SME, embracing cloud accounting software can revolutionise your financial processes and contribute to the overall success of your business. So, lets explore the top cloud accounting software options specifically tailored to SMEs in this weeks edition of Tech Tuesday.

Rounded

Rounded.com.au is a cloud-based invoicing, accounting and business management tool built for Australian freelancers. Its available via any internet-connected browser or smartphone app.

Launched in 2016, it was built to address the need for more fit-for-purpose, easy-to-use and affordable tools available to freelancers to help manage their business finances. Since its launch, Rounded has become the go-to app for thousands of Australian freelancers who want to be in better control of their businesses.

It enables them to send quotes and invoices, track time and expenses and get paid faster. Rounded gives its customers the information needed to easily navigate business critical events such as tax time and the insights and control to make the right decisions for their business.

Xero

Xeros online accounting platform provides the foundation on which businesses can build a complete business solution. It connects businesses with their bank, accounting tools, their accountant, payment services and third-party apps, so everything is securely available at any time, on any device.

Additionally, with Xero, accounting and bookkeeping practices gain access to efficient compliance tools, smart practice management software, and a cloud-based single accounting ledger for every client in one place.

Xero provides pricing plans starting from $11 to $62 per month.

Wiise Accounting and Financial Management

Wiise is an award-winning cloud business software helping Australian organisations streamline their accounting and operations and use real-time insights to accelerate growth and adapt to changing market conditions.

ISO-certified, built on Microsoft Business Central with localised features to meet banking, tax, and compliance requirements, Wiises powerful and user-friendly accounting solutions include local bank feeds, enhanced business reporting and intelligence, and integrations with eCommerce and other apps.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is a widely used cloud accounting software suitable for SMEs. It offers a comprehensive set of features to manage various financial aspects of a business. With QuickBooks Online, you can create professional invoices, track payments, and manage cash flow. It also allows you to track and categoriseexpenses, connect bank and credit card accounts for automatic transaction imports, and reconcile accounts seamlessly.

Additionally, QuickBooks Online provides robust financial reporting capabilities, enabling you to generate balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and customisable reports to gain insights into your businesss financial health.

QuickBooks Online offers several pricing plans to cater to different business needs. The plans range from $25 to $150 per month.

Zoho Books

Zoho Books is a comprehensive cloud accounting software that offers various features to streamline financial management for SMEs. It provides invoicing capabilities, allowing you to create and send professional invoices to clients. Expense tracking features help you manage and categorise business expenses, ensuring accurate record-keeping.

Zoho Books also includes bank reconciliation functionality, enabling you to reconcile bank accounts and credit card transactions effortlessly. It also offers project management features to track expenses, billable hours, and profitability.

Zoho Books offers monthly pricing plans from $9 to $29 per organisation.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is an intuitive cloud accounting software designed for service-based businesses. Its user-friendly interface and features simplify invoicing, time tracking, expense management, and client management. FreshBooks enables you to create professional-looking invoices, track time spent on projects, manage expenses and store client information. It also offers integration with popular payment gateways, making it easier to receive payments from clients.

FreshBooks offers pricing plans starting from $15 to $50 per month.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting

Sage Business Cloud Accounting is a scalable accounting software suitable for SMEs. It provides essential features for managing financial processes, including invoicing, bank reconciliation, financial reporting, and inventory management. With Sage Business Cloud Accounting, you can create and send invoices, reconcile bank accounts, generate financial reports, and manage inventory levels. It offers scalability options, allowing you to add more features and users as your business grows.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers monthly pricing plans from $10 to $25.

TaxLeopard

TaxLeopard is an all-in-one cloud accounting software designed by accountants for sole traders. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionality, TaxLeopard simplifies bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. It replaces complicated accounting software and offers access to experienced CPA accountants for end-to-end support.

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Why It Matters: Support for Ukraine could be at risk.

While some U.S. officials are becoming more comfortable with Ukraines covert attacks on Russia, concerns remain about the possibility of miscalculation by Ukraine while conducting such operations. Sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines was exactly the kind of operation that would concern the United States  a symbolic attack with little military value that carries a high risk of fracturing the alliance supporting Ukraine.

So far, that has not happened. Even as Germany and other European countries have learned of Ukrainian involvement in the pipeline attack, they have nevertheless increased their military aid.

American officials insisted on Tuesday there has been no determination about who within the Ukrainian government may have planned or authorized the attack. If it is eventually pinned on senior officials, European attitudes about support for Ukraine could change.

Background: Ukraines control over covert action groups is murky.

The Post withheld some details of the intelligence, including the name of the European country giving the report to the United States, to protect the sources of the information.

U.S. officials have long acknowledged they were aware of a warning that came from a European ally about a potential attack on the pipelines, but for months after the attack they maintained they were unsure who conducted it.

While officials acknowledged there was some early intelligence pointing to Ukraine, they said it was contradicted by other material, in essence saying they did not believe the European warning was a smoking gun.

As the investigation continued, U.S. and allied officials became more convinced that pro-Ukrainian groups carried out the attack and parts of the Ukrainian government were somehow involved.

The Post reported that the European intelligence report said the Ukrainian operatives involved in the plot to destroy the pipelines reported to Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraines senior military officer.

American officials have still not confirmed General Zaluzhnyis involvement. But they said again on Tuesday that they do not believe President Volodymyr Zelensky knew about it. Officials have previously described a system created by Ukraines government that insulates Mr. Zelensky from covert action programs.

That allows parts of the Ukrainian government to use pro-Ukrainian groups or sympathizers in Russia to conduct covert attacks, and for Mr. Zelensky to deny responsibility for such actions.

Whats Next: Europe is still investigating.

The C.I.A. declined to discuss the document or the attack investigation. John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said he would not discuss intelligence matters, highlighting that the document was one that The Washington Post even said was not corroborated by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Mr. Kirby said the United States was still awaiting the results of three ongoing investigations of the Nord Stream sabotage.

Officials say the United States is unlikely to place any public blame for the destruction of the pipelines on Ukraine until after those investigations are done.

Aishvarya Kavi contributed reporting.
Having a former vice president contest the president he served for their partys nomination in contested primaries is like a 234-year flood, said Joel K. Goldstein, a specialist on the vice presidency at the St. Louis University School of Law. It doesnt happen.

Defeated presidents dont run again in modern times, he added, and vice presidents tend to inherit support from their administrations supporters, not become pariahs to them as Mr. Pence has since defying Mr. Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The broken relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence is itself a historical anomaly, of course. Mr. Trump sought to pressure Mr. Pence to claim the power to effectively reject Joseph R. Biden Jr.s victory in the Electoral College, a power the vice president said he did not have. Mr. Trump was so angry that he publicly excoriated his own vice president, prompting a mob to hunt for him while chanting hang Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021. According to testimony, Mr. Trump suggested to aides that maybe his supporters were right.

The reason why no other vice president appears to have run against his president is that he was selected by the president, and there is almost always a personal bond stemming from a sense of loyalty and gratitude, said Richard Moe, who was the chief of staff to Vice President Walter F. Mondale. I cant think of another vice president who was treated more disrespectfully than Pence was by Trump.

There are no precise parallels to the current situation. In 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson challenged President John Adams, defeating the incumbents bid for a second term. In those early days of the republic, however, the vice president was not the presidents running mate, but the second-highest vote recipient in the previous election. Adams and Jefferson had run against each other in 1796, with Adams prevailing and Jefferson becoming vice president because he was the runner-up.
The latest twist in the inquiry into former President Donald J. Trumps handling of classified documents is the surprise revelation that a previously unknown federal grand jury in Florida has recently started hearing testimony in the case.

The grand jury in Florida is separate from the one that has been sitting for months in Washington and has been the center of activity for prosecutors as they investigate whether Mr. Trump mishandled classified documents after leaving office or obstructed efforts to retrieve them. Among those who have appeared before the Washington grand jury in the past few months or have been subpoenaed by it, people familiar with the investigation said, are more than 20 members of Mr. Trumps Secret Service security detail.

But there are indications that the Washington grand jury  located in the citys federal courthouse  may have stopped hearing witness testimony in recent weeks, according to three people familiar with its workings.

As for the Florida grand jury, which began hearing evidence last month, only a handful of witnesses have testified to it or are scheduled to appear before it, according to the people familiar with its workings. At least one witness has already testified there, and another is set to testify on Wednesday.
The News

Brazils former president, Jair Bolsonaro, is scheduled to go on trial this month on charges that he abused his power as president to make baseless attacks against Brazils election systems. If convicted, he would be ineligible to run for office for eight years.

A panel of seven judges in Brazils electoral court will decide the case, which is scheduled to start on June 22. The court aims to reach a decision this month, though the case could be delayed if any judge requests more time.

A rival political party has accused Mr. Bolsonaro of abusing the office of the presidency when, less than three months ahead of Brazils elections last year, he summoned foreign diplomats to a meeting, made false claims about the countrys voting systems and broadcast the remarks on state television.
But it is disappearing, fast.

The Nazi defense and lookout point between two landing beaches in Normandy, which American Rangers conquered, suffered another three landslides this spring. Inspections revealed that waves had chewed a cavity more than two and a half yards deep into their base.

There is absolutely no doubt we are going to lose more of our cliff, said Scott Desjardins, the American Battle Monuments Commissions superintendent of the site that receives an estimated 900,000 visitors annually. We know we are not going to fight Mother Nature. Whats frightening now, is the speed at which it is happening.

Climate change and erosion are eating at the French coasts, raising gnawing questions about property rights, safety and sustainable development. But along the northern ribbon of beaches and cliffs in Normandy, where 150,000 Allied soldiers landed to confront machine guns and fascism, history, memory and even identity are at risk too.

When the sites are gone, how will France recount to itself, and the rest of the world, the impact of that moment? Alternatively, at what cost should they be saved?
Much of Harrys case against Mirror Group Newspapers focuses on leaked details about his relationship with his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur whom he dated on-and-off from early 2004 until mid-2010.

In written testimony filed to the High Court in London on Tuesday, Harry said his and Ms. Davys phones were repeatedly hacked while the two were dating. Harry and Ms. Davy, who were mostly in a long-distance relationship, would speak frequently by phone. Newspaper articles routinely mentioned private conversations between them that Mirror journalists would have not have been able to obtain other than through illicit means, he said.

Many of Harrys accusations relate to tabloid coverage of his breakup with Ms. Davy, who is now married and named Chelsy Yvonne Cutmore-Scott. One article that he cites as evidence said that Ms. Davy gave him a tongue-lashing down the phone for flirting with another woman at a party. The details about their phone communications were not attributed to any sources, Harry said in the written testimony.

A second article described an emotional phone call in which Ms. Davy asked Harry for a trial separation. In another, a journalist reported that Harry had slammed the phone down on his father, Charles, after an argument about Ms. Davy.
Follow our updates as Prince Harry resumes his testimony.

Prince Harry finally got his day in court against the British tabloid press that he has long reviled, taking the stand in London on Tuesday to accuse the Mirror Newspaper Group of hacking his cellphone more than a decade ago.

Through five hours of polite but persistent grilling, Harry stood by his claims that the Mirror Groups reporters intercepted his voice mail messages and used other unlawful means to dig up personal information about him, creating an atmosphere of distrust and even paranoia that has shadowed him since childhood.

It was a spectacle both extraordinary and ordinary: Harry, 38, the second son of King Charles III and the first prominent royal to testify in more than a century, declared that editors and journalists have blood on their hands because of the lengths to which they went to ferret out news about him and his family, not least his mother, Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997 after being pursued by photographers.

Yet for all the celebrity of the plaintiff, the scene in the packed High Court took on the rhythms of any other legal proceeding, as Harrys cross-examination got underway. A lawyer for the Mirror Group, Andrew Green, repeatedly pressed him for hard evidence that its journalists had hacked his phone. Much of the information that Harry said was illegally obtained was available from other sources, the lawyer argued.
To illustrate their case, Harrys lawyers submitted 147 articles that it said were based on information obtained using illegal means. These covered a stretch from his childhood through his school years and the years following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in 1997 after being pursued by photographers.

Every facet of his life was splashed across the paper as an exclusive, a story too good not to publish, Mr. Sherborne said. Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds, and there was no protection from these unlawful information gathering methods.

Many of the journalists who used those methods are still employed by The Mirror, and some have risen to positions of authority in the company, Mr. Sherborne said. The notion that this took place years ago is misplaced, he said.

Still, that is the nub of the case made by the Mirror Groups lawyers. Because the bulk of this activity took place between 1991 and 2011, the lawyers said in a filing, it lies well beyond the six-year time limitation that generally applies to legal complaints of privacy violations. The practice of phone hacking has all but vanished since the scandal erupted in 2011, according to lawyers who specialize in these cases.

Lawyers for Harry and three other plaintiffs in the case counter that the company concealed its illegal activity from them, so they could not reasonably have been expected to discover it sooner. In addition to Harry, the others are Nikki Sanderson and Michael Taylor, who both appeared in the popular TV series Coronation Street, and Fiona Wightman, the former wife of a well-known comedian, Paul Whitehouse.
Harry wants people to see the bigger picture.

The British tabloids need to be held accountable, Harry said. My view is: How can anybody possibly trust a media organization that enjoys the liberties of free press, when their own legal people and board covers up the truth? he asked. Even the police and the government are scared to hold them accountable or seek justice against them. They can truly believe they are above the law, he said.

Discussing the specific breaches at the center of the lawsuit, Harry pointed to details cited in a litany of articles that he suggested could be explained only by phone hacking or other forms of illegal news gathering. He recalls how his whereabouts was suspiciously well known by paparazzi, including when he went to meet Ms. Davy at the airport or visited a nightclub. He recalled how sometimes the voice mail symbol on his phone would vanish before he had a chance to listen to the message, and how friends would ask him whether he had heard voice mail messages he had never seen.

The Mirror says suspicion is not proof.

The publisher contends that the prince has provided no solid proof of phone hacking. Some of the articles in question were published before the prince had a phone, argued its lawyer, who told Prince Harry that however much sympathy there was for him over the troubling press intrusion, it doesnt necessarily follow from that that it was the result of unlawful activity.

Mr. Green spent much of Tuesday examining the stories Prince Harry had cited, pointing to other possible explanations for how detailed information became known to reporters  including tipoffs, information from friends or aides, other press reports or just official statements from Buckingham Palace.

The lawyer even cited Spare, the princes own memoir, in an attempt to refute Harrys claim that a story about his drug taking may have come from unlawful means. Referring to the book, Mr. Green argued that the details included in at least one story may have come from Buckingham Palace playing ball with the tabloid press, using his own words against him.

There were new insights into royal family strife.

Years before he stepped down from his official duties, Harry was worried that his place in the royal family was being undermined. In his witness statement, he cited articles based on a rumor that his biological father was James Hewitt, a former a cavalry officer and lover of Princess Diana.

At the time, he wrote, he wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born, and he called the reports hurtful, mean and cruel. But he also added: I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories. Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

In a different vein, it emerged from the testimony that the press is not the only British institution Harry holds in disdain. The prince appears to be no fan of the current British government, which is led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. At the moment, Harry wrote, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Megan Specia contributed reporting.
In his hacking lawsuit being heard in a British court, Prince Harry aims to land another blow against a tabloid industry that has long been accused of widespread privacy abuses but that has been forced in recent years to rein in its excesses.

So even if Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, wins his suit against the Mirror Group Newspapers for allegedly hacking his cellphone more than a decade ago, analysts question how much of an impact a legal victory would have on publications that have already had to adapt because of hefty legal settlements, prison time for their journalists and the threat of regulation.

The prince, who took the stand on Tuesday, has been at war with the raucous, freewheeling press for years. And since Britains phone-hacking scandal broke, it has forced a News Corporation publication to close, helped send several prominent journalists to jail, reaped hundreds of millions of pounds in legal fees and compensation for victims, and led Parliament to seriously consider regulating the industry.

At the same time, the once-mighty British tabloids have been weakened by a digital revolution that has transformed the global media landscape by gutting revenue, even as the publics appetite for celebrity news has not waned.
Family businesses make up around 70 per cent of all businesses in Australia. With an estimated $3.5 trillion expected to transition generationally in the next two decades, succession planning has become a crucial focus for family business owners.

Surprisingly, despite this attention, 70 per cent of families globally still need a succession plan in place. Various factors contribute to this low percentage, ranging from a need for more awareness about the need for a plan to denial of the necessity of handing over the business. Some leaders may also have personal aspirations they wish to fulfil before relinquishing control. However, having a documented plan is crucial to align business leaders and family members.

Daniel Trimarchi, Director of Family Enterprise Advisory at KPMG Australia, highlights the importance of managing the transition and making continuity planning a central objective. Embedding continuity planning into broader wealth preservation plans is essential for success. This requires deliberate actions and careful planning around governance.

Trimarchi emphasises that successful succession is not merely about passing the CEO baton to the next generation. Instead, it involves ensuring the continuity of the family and its wealth, treating the family business as an asset or vehicle for wealth. KPMG is witnessing increased demand for family advisory services that integrate family office structures mirroring corporate frameworks.

Dealing with generational transitions within family businesses requires unique skills. Many family enterprises lack knowledge of governance frameworks and the process of creating them. In fact, a majority of businesses have inadequate governance structures. KPMG provides guidance on the why and how of achieving effective generational transitions, looking ahead a decade or more.

Robyn Langsford, KPMGs Global Head of Family Business starting from June 1, 2023, emphasizes that experience and knowledge in business do not automatically translate into successful succession within family businesses. Competing agendas, complex governance challenges, and inter-generational dynamics often come into play.

As a co-author of the whitepaper Reimagining Family Business Transitions: Rethinking, Rebalancing, Reinventing, Trimarchi encourages business families to view transitions as human processes that impact both individuals and the organization equally. He suggests focusing on continuity issues and rethinking the familys shared purpose during the transition of roles and responsibilities within the business. KPMG recommends the three Rs for family businesses: Rethinking, Rebalancing, and Reinventing the transition process.

Trimarchi advises starting by facilitating the right conversations in the appropriate settings with the relevant individuals. Providing support for both senior and rising generations in making successful personal transitions and choices is crucial in the transition process.

Developing a succession plan

Developing a succession plan is crucial for every business owner, according to Peter Blassis, Senior Risk Advisor from Honan Life Insurance Group. Whether its due to retirement, illness, or pursuing other ventures, having a well-thought-out succession plan ensures a smooth transition of the business. In unfortunate cases of untimely death, it also provides clarity to immediate friends and business partners regarding the next steps.

The initial step in creating a succession plan is to select a successor, whether its a family member, friend, or colleague, and clearly communicate this decision. Unlike the ambiguous and secretive succession document in the TV series Succession, the chosen successor should be openly acknowledged. Valuing the business and understanding the legal rights and obligations associated with succession planning is also vital. To assist business owners in preparing their succession plans, the Australian government offers a free succession plan template.

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On the eastern side of the river, which is under Russian control, at least four villages  Korsunka, Krynky, Kozachi Laheri and Dnipryany  were flooded, the Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontiev, told the Russian newspaper Izvestia. He said 17 of the roughly 900 people rescued were picked up from the roofs of their houses.

In telephone interviews arranged by a group distributing humanitarian aid in the village of Antonivka, residents described how they had watched as rising waters crept from house to house. They said they kept their distance from the river bank, where Russian snipers on the opposite side had in the past fired at residents.

Mykolaiv, a Black Sea port city that was already under strain as a hub for people fleeing fighting, and other nearby cities are now offering shelter to the new evacuees.

A rising toll of loss and damage.

The water level in the city of Kherson peaked at about 10 feet above normal and will begin to recede in the coming days, according to Ukrhydroenergo, Ukraines largest hydro generating company. More than 2,700 houses had been flooded, some 2,200 people had been evacuated and three people were missing in areas controlled by Ukraine, the National Police said.

In Russian-controlled territories, at least seven people were reported missing, the Russian state news agency Tass reported, citing Mr. Leontiev, the Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed occupation governor in the Kherson region, said that 48 temporary housing facilities with 2,700 beds had been set up, in part with the help of Russias emergencies ministry. He declared a state of emergency and listed 35 towns that had been impacted by the flooding on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River, in some cases up to the roofs of buildings.
Armies have been storming trench lines for more than a hundred years, but for all the advances in military technology, it is no less harrowing now than it was when soldiers were crossing the muddy battlefields of World War I.

Assaults can be stealthy and surgical, employing surprise, or launched with overwhelming force, using drone strikes, or tanks and artillery. The goal is to breach a maze of protected firing positions and bunkers linked by sunken walkways and guarded by the enemy.

Ukrainian soldiers chose the louder option for an assault on a trench line in May. Some who participated described a fast, well-choreographed operation of a type that is likely to play a pivotal role in Ukraines long-anticipated counteroffensive, which U.S. officials suggested on Monday has begun, and which will entail breaking through belts of Russian land mines, tank barriers and trenches.

During the assault in May, Ukrainian mortar units bombarded the position. A tank rumbled out and opened fire. Then armored Humvees bounced forward over a field, firing machine guns, the men said. The assault group fired 3,000 bullets from two American-provided Browning machine guns, one commander named Kozak said, in an indication of the immense ammunition requirements for troops on the offensive.


San Jacinto River Authority (TX) Needs PR Support Wed., Jun. 7, 2023 The San Jacinto River Authority is looking for a PR partner to support its Woodlands division that serves as a wholesaler to 11 municipal utility districts in Texas and is in need of an infrastructure overhaul.
A defendant convicted of assault and possession of a weapon will be medically assessed to ascertain whether he is able to undertake community service before his case is concluded.

Artur Rydzak (43) of 22 Cnoc Na Gaoithe, Lanesboro, Longford pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of a knife on November 21, 2021, at Main Street, Lanesboro, and one count of assault on Ryan Garland on the same date.

Garda Rachel Duignan took to the stand to outline the details of the offences. Garda Duignan said on the night of the incident she conducted a licence inspection at Clarke's Public House, Lanesboro.

While at the pub the officer was informed of an incident earlier in the evening when a male customer was brandishing a knife in the premises.

Garda Duignan was told the man, who was wearing khaki combat trousers, left the bar.

When the garda was on patrol in the town the squad car was waved down by Ryan Garland.

Mr Garland had visible facial injuries and claimed he was assaulted by the defendant. The officer spoke to Mr Rydzak and a search of the defendant found he was in possession of a knife.

Garda Duignan arrested him at 12:25am, describing Mr Rydzak as highly intoxicated at the time.

The witness agreed with defence counsel, Niall Flynn BL, that the defendant is well known in the area as a freshwater fisherman.

The court heard that when Mr Rydzak left the public house he was followed into the street by other patrons of the bar.

The defendant took exception to being followed and a melee ensued resulting in a volatile situation.

Garda Duignan said the defendant fully cooperated with the gardai, however the other parties on the scene were acting aggressively and in intimidating manner, with one man taking off his shirt.

That individual was arrested for a breach of the public order.

In interview Mr Rydzak, a Polish national living in Ireland for the last 15 years, admitted hitting the other man but said it was in self defence.

The victim in the assault declined to make a statement to the court.

Counsel for the defendant, Mr Flynn, said his client has suffered from depression and was on medication at the time.

He said alcohol was a major factor in the offending. He explained that Mr Rydzak was out fishing earlier in the day and that was why he had the knife on him.

Mr Flynn explained the defendant had served in the army in his native Poland and was well able to look after himself when confronted by the other parties outside the pub.

The barrister highlighted the garda evidence that the other parties were more agitated than his client.

Mr Flynn said the defendant just wanted to put this sad affair behind him.

In summing up Judge Kenneth Connolly referenced a number of mitigation factors including the defendant being confronted, his co-operation with gardai, his early plea of guilty and the remorsefulness expressed in the probation report.

Judge Connolly said he would impose 200 hours of community service in lieu of nine months in custody.

He adjourned the sentence to facilitate a medical report confirming Mr Rydzak's suitability for community service.
Plans to accommodate refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine in the former Sacred Heart Convent site in Roscrea have prompted local representatives to seek clarity on several issues concerning the local community.

Construction work to prepare the site, which has been partly dormant since 1999 when it closed after 157 years of providing education, began last month amid local speculation about what the landmark building will be used for.

Rumours of protests online and local concerns that Roscrea, which has a direct provision centre located in Corville House in the former Sean Ross Abbey site, is already struggling to accommodate the sudden influx of residents.

Local Independent County Councillor, Shane Lee, told the Tribune that he is urging the owner of the former Sacred Heart Convent and Secondary School and Minister for Integration, Roderick OGorman, to meet and engage publicly with local people to clarify the plans for the building before any decisions on its future use are made.

Cllr. Lee said it is understood that an application has been lodged seeking to provide accommodation in the building for up to 400 Ukrainian people, who are fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.

"Basically, the people of Roscrea are being kept in the dark", Cllr. Lee said.

"Not informing people of their plans has resulted in a backlash from many people, with rumours spreading that a second Direct Provision Centre could be located in the premises. One already exists in Roscrea.

"The town is also home to a large number of non-nationals currently employed in local industries and businesses and residing in accommodation across the town", he said.

"Services in Roscrea are already under severe pressure. Accessing GP and medical services as well as securing school places are some of the key concerns that local people have raised with me.

"There is also huge anxiety around policing in the town, as the Garda Station is significantly under-resourced and is only open to the public for limited periods during the day. At night, the town is dependent on Gardai being dispatched from Stations in nearby towns some twenty miles away", Cllr. Lee said.

"The people of Roscrea are kind-hearted and generous, however I am satisfied that Roscrea is already overburdened and not capable of taking in upwards of 400 additional people as it cannot provide for their needs.

"Had those who made this decision conducted proper research they would have immediately ascertained that fact. Local people are angry with the secrecy around plans for the former Sacred Heart Convent and Secondary School. They feel that they have a right to know what is happening in their hometown", Cllr. Lee said.

"Earlier additions to the population of the town have already resulted in Roscrea people struggling to access vital services. They feel that their town is being taken over without any engagement or consideration for their needs and they have had no opportunity to establish the facts on what is happening, much less voice an opinion.

"This lack of information and consultation is resulting in frustration. This anger will continue to grow until the people of Roscrea are given the opportunity to hear from the owner what his present and future plans entail", Cllr. Lee said.

"People feel that the owner and the Minister also need to hear the views of the Gardai, local Doctors, schools and transport providers as their services are critical to further expanding the population of the town. If these critical services can not be provided the result will be a catastrophe.

"I am requesting, as a public representative of the local people, that the owner of the former Convent and the Minister come to the town to outline their intentions before any further moves are made.

"I am asking that they engage with local people and listen to their views and the views of the necessary service providers", Cllr. Lee told this newspaper.
Opinion: Will Nepals India Policy Be Constructive?

Feature

lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh

China has been working very hard to distance Nepal from India. Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been ambiguous on his India policy. He needs to be constructive. He must display statesmanship in the interest of Nepal and its neighbourhood.

The summit dialogue Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal this week attained several historic breakthroughs.

Observers say that in course of the dialogue between the two leaders, Modi assured Dahal of his whole-hearted cooperation in resolving the current boundary dispute between the two nations. The two sides launched several projects to improve rail connectivity, inaugurated a new integrated check post to facilitate cross-border trade, and unveiled plans for cross-border petroleum pipelines.

Why Prachanda termed his India tour as 'astounding success'

India and Nepal signed seven agreements, including the revised Treaty of Transit. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Nepal Clearing House Limited (NHCL) for faster cross-border payments. The two sides reached an agreement on long-term power trade. Under this, India will import 10,000 MW from Nepal in the next 10 years. The two sides also marked the handing over of the Kurtha-Bijalpura section of a railway line.

The observers say the new agreements between New Delhi and Kathmandu need to be complied with in their letter and spirit. This would benefit the citizens of both nations. The revised Treaty of Transit will give the people of Nepal access to India's inland waterways. The MoU on faster cross-border payments will benefit businesses, students and tourists of the two nations. The rail links will cut transportation costs and time for trade between the two nations.

The resolution of the border dispute must get priority attention of both the Prime Ministers. Most of the 1,850-km border between India and Nepal has been demarcated. There are differences between the two sides only on two sections -- at Kalapani and Susta. For this, Prime Minister Dahal needs to be very constructive in his policy towards India.

Dahal has a tough task ahead. Relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi have not been fine in recent years. In 2015, some Nepali politicians blamed India's hand behind the then Madhesi movement in Nepal. After K.P. Sharma Oli became the Prime Minister of Nepal in 2018, things turned worse. Under the influence of Beijing, Kathmandu raked up the issues ranging from Nepal's territorial disputes with India in Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh to questioning the birthplace of Lord Ram. Then Prime Minister Oli even went on to blame India for the spread of coronavirus in Nepal terming it the "Indian virus."

It is to be seen how Dahal goes about conducting Nepal's India policy in the near future. Communist China has been working very hard to distance Nepal from India. Its influence in Kathmandu has been increasing. Nepal and China share common border running for nearly 1,400 km along the Himalayan mountains. The border is well delineated in a series of treaties signed between the two countries in the early 1960s. But China has been encroaching into Nepal along the their border.

Besides, Dahal himself has been known as an avowed Maoist and pro-China. It is Mao Zedong's ideology which inspired him to lead a decade-long insurgency in the country. Right now, he is the Prime Minister of the country with support from China's surrogate Oli.

Prime Minister Dahal has been ambiguous on his India policy. He has said in the past that Nepal must develop a new understanding with India on the basis of the "changed scenario" in Nepal. Kathmandu should address all outstanding issues, like a revision of the 1950 Friendship Treaty and resolving Kalapani and Susta border disputes.

Dahal needs to display statesmanship in the interest of Nepal and its neighbourhood. He needs to see to it that the border disputes between India and Nepal do not come to hurt the historical, cultural, religious and geographical linkages between the peoples of the two nations.

Nepal PM Prachanda Urges Modi To Resolve Border Issues Through Bilateral Talks

Dahal must bear in mind that India and Nepal have always shared close relations characterized by their open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts. India's involvement in Nepal has consistently been informed by its principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and the policy of 'Neighbourhood First.' India has been Nepal's largest trading partner. It has implemented various projects in the areas of infrastructure, health, water resources, education and rural & community development in Nepal.

Dahal would do well also to bear in mind that India is the world's largest republic today. It can guide other republics in the world towards their democratic journey for peace, stability and development in the respective nations. Nepal's is a new republic. It could very well learn from India.

(Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 10:07 [IST]
AIIMS Delhi Hit By Fresh Cyberattack For Second Time In A Year

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The cyber-security systems at AIIMS New Delhi detected the attack at 2:50 pm on Tuesday, promptly taking action to neutralize the threat.

In a tweet, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi said, "A malware attack was detected at 14:50 hrs by the cyber-security systems in AIIMS, New Delhi. The attempt was successfully thwarted, and the threat was neutralised by the deployed cyber-security systems. The eHospital services remain to be fully secure and are functioning normally."

It is worth noting that AIIMS New Delhi had previously experienced a similar attack in November of the previous year, which resulted in the disruption of hospital registration, admission, and discharge services for a period of two weeks.

The server failure at AIIMS Delhi was initially reported on November 23, 2022. As a result of the incident, two analysts responsible for server security were suspended due to alleged breaches in cyber security protocols.

In response to the recent attack, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted, "E-Hospital.aiims.edu is an internal application not available for internet users. Someone may have tried accessing this portal, and the alert was generated due to the security layer used by AIIMS. The same person may have taken a screenshot of the error message and circulated it. There is no cyber incident or breach. Error messages have also been rectified now."

E-Hospital is an internal application not available for internet users.



Someone may have tried accessing this portal and alert generated due to security layer used by AIIMS. Same person may have taken a screenshot of error msg and circulated it.



There is no cyberincident or https://t.co/pmfNpanIzd  Rajeev Chandrasekhar  (@Rajeev_GoI) June 6, 2023

AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Doctors Dispatched To Balasore, Cuttack to Aid Relief Efforts

E-Hospital is an internal application intended solely for internal use and is inaccessible to the general public.

It was revealed in December of the previous year that the attack on AIIMS Delhi's computer server was carried out by Chinese hackers, according to a senior government source. The source stated that out of the 100 servers at AIIMS, five physical servers were successfully infiltrated by the hackers. However, the damage was contained, and data from the affected servers has been successfully retrieved.

"The AIIMS Delhi server attack was carried out by the Chinese, as detailed in the FIR, which states that the attack originated from China. Among the 100 servers (40 physical and 60 virtual), five physical servers were successfully infiltrated by the hackers. While the attack could have been much more severe, it has now been contained. Data from the affected servers has been successfully retrieved," revealed the source from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
There must be justice for the millions of Ukrainians whose lives have been disrupted and destroyed by the unprovoked war of aggression launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin, declared U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack in recent Congressional testimony.

The United States is pursuing multiple pathways to justice for those responsible for these abuses. The first involves internationals courts and institutions, said Ambassador Schaack:

Our efforts here include working to establish and then to renew the mandate of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry devoted to Ukraine. Multiple invocations of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We've also sought to intervene in Ukraine's case against Russia under the Genocide Convention before the International Court of Justice. And then finally. . .the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court . . . has successfully achieved two arrest warrants.

The second pathway to justice aims to strengthen and increase the capacity of Ukrainian institutions to document, investigate, and prosecute crimes in Ukrainian courts, explained Ambassador Van Schaack:

The Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General. . .has now recorded almost 90,000 potentially prosecutable crimes. Through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group . . . we are providing expert assistance and advice, capacity building, expert training on a whole range of prosecutorial and investigative needs of the prosecutor general . . . This includes very focused attention to the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence.

The third pathway to justice is supporting strategic litigation that may happen in third states, including in Europe, explained Ambassador Schaack.

Prosecutions for the crime of aggression is another means of justice, said Ambassador Schaack:

Permitting impunity for Russia's illegal war of aggression will embolden other actors who will engage in similar blatant violations of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. For this reason, we are supporting the establishment of a special tribunal dedicated to the prosecution of the crime of aggression to those most responsible.

There can be no secure or lasting peace without justice, declared Ambassador Schaack. Holding Russia to account for its war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities within Ukraine and against the Ukrainian people [is] foundational to the defense of U.S. values and also the maintenance of a peaceful, just, and secure world.
Air India Delhi-San Francisco Flight Diverted To Russia After 'Technical Issue'

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

An Air India flight, AI173, en route from Delhi to San Francisco encountered a technical problem with one of its engines, prompting a diversion to Magadan airport in Russia.

The aircraft, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members, landed safely at its new destination.

The airline has assured that all necessary assistance is being provided to the passengers on the ground, and alternate travel arrangements will be arranged promptly to ensure they reach their destinations as soon as possible.

Abhishek Banerjee's Wife Stopped From Boarding Flight To UAE, Summoned By ED

Currently, the aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks while stationed on the ground, as confirmed by an Air India spokesperson.

"The passengers are being provided support on the ground and will be provided alternate an option to reach their destination at the earliest. The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks on the ground. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers," Air India said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 17:52 [IST]
Army Updates Soviet Era Konkurs-M missiles with Sarisa Thermal Imagers

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

Amid heavy defence spending with thrust on indigenisation, the Indian Army has recently updated its 9K111M Konkurs-M anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with Tonbo Imaging's Sarisa cooled, longwave Infrared (LWIR) thermal imagers.

The Army had signed a contract worth Rs 3,131.82 crore with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) on 3rd February last year to manufacture and supply Konkurs-M ATGMs. The missile can be launched either from the Army's BMP-2 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle or from ground launcher.

Konkurs-M is being manufactured by BDL under a licence agreement with a Russian original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The missile has been indigenised upto maximum extent. BDL is also offering the missiles for export to friendly countries. The company said it lays a lot of thrust on indigenisation of its products manufactured under transfer of technology with foreign OEMs.

Sarisa comes with mounting brackets for installation in front of the optical channel of the Konkurs-M ATGM launcher. It is a thermal imaging camera that detects, recognises and identifies dangers at vast distances during the day, night and in poor weather conditions. Before launching the missile, it can lock onto a stationary or moving target.

Chandrayaan-3 To Be Launched In July, Launch Window Opens On June 12: ISRO Chief

The missile is deployed as a clip-on with built-in collimated optics, allowing the user to engage with the targets using the same sight channel of direct-view optics as the Konkurs launcher. The thermal imager is designed in accordance with MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F standards, according to a report published in Militaryleak.com.

The 9M113 Konkurs is a SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile developed by the erstwhile Soviet Union. This missile can use the same launchers and looks remarkably similar, with just a tiny bulge towards the end of the Konkurs' missile tube distinguishing it. The missile is intended to be launched from tracked/wheeled vehicles, but it may also be launched from later types of 9M111 launchers.

The launcher tracks the position of an incandescent infrared bulb on the back of the missile relative to the target and transmits appropriate commands to the missile via a thin wire that trails behind the missile. The operator can then take manual control, reducing the missile to MCLOS. The SACLOS guidance system has many benefits over MCLOS.

The Konkurs-M system was developed by then TsKB-14 (now KBP Instrument Design Bureau) situated in Tula, Russia. A development of the 9M113 Konkurs with greater firepower, 9M113M Konkurs-M Tandem warhead -- with extended explosive probe.

The Konkurs-M ATGM system is designed to engage modern tanks fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA), light armored vehicles, fortifications and engineer structures at ranges of 75 to 4,000 metre, day or night. The 9K111-1M Konkurs-M was developed to counter ERA-protected targets.

The 9M113M Konkurs-M system consists of The 9P135M1 ground launch system (GLS) and the 9M113M missile. Owing to its launcher design, the system can be installed on a variety of wheeled and tracked platforms, as per the report.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 18:17 [IST]
BBC Admits It Underreported Rs 40 Crore Income, Paid Lower Taxes In India

India

oi-Prakash KL

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has admitted that it evaded taxes in India, according to a report in Hindustan Times. The UK-based media company is yet to file revised returns.

It sent an email to CBDT admitting that it underreported Rs 40 crore of income in its tax returns. An official has told the daily that the media house should file IT returns and email has no "legal sanctity."

Another official stated that the law is the same to everyone in the country and it applies to media houses as well. "BBC must act as per the stated procedure or face the law. The Department will continue to take action against it until the matter is taken to the logical conclusion," the official told the daily.

The officer further stated that the UK-based company tried to project initially that it was a vendetta by the BJP government following the controversial series against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Now, they informally accept they were involved in deliberate tax evasion and the action was against their unscrupulous behaviour," he said.

In February, the Income Department conducted surveys at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. Tax authorities made an inventory of the available stock, recorded the statement of some staffers and impounded some documents as part of the survey action that continued for three days clocking about 57-58 hours, officials had told PTI.

Defamatory: Delhi High Court Issues Summons To BBC Over Modi Documentary

The survey was carried out to investigate issues related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies, they had said. The I-T teams had reportedly sought answers on financial transactions, the company structure and other details about the news company, and copied data from electronic gadgets as part of their task of collecting the evidence.

"Survey operations also revealed that services of seconded employees have been utilised for which reimbursement has been made by the Indian entity to the foreign entity concerned. Such remittance was also liable to be subject to withholding tax which has not been done," the statement from the I-T had said.

However, the Opposition parties and some organisations denounced the I-T department action against BBC, terming it "political vendetta".

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 12:19 [IST]
SC issues notice to Bihar govt, others on plea against premature release of Anand Mohan

Caught On Cam: Under Construction Bridge Over River Ganges in Bihar Collapsed

Bihar Bridge Collapse: Company Show Caused; Executive Engineer Suspended

India

pti-PTI

Taking a grim view of the bridge collapse incident two days ago, the Bihar government has slapped a show cause notice on the construction company concerned, a top official said on Tuesday.

Pratyay Amrit, the Additional Chief Secretary for the road construction department, also said that the executive engineer concerned has been suspended.

"The Haryana-based company, which was awarded the contract, has been served with a show cause notice by the Managing Director of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam and asked to reply within 15 days", Amrit told PTI.

The company has been asked to explain why it should not be blacklisted by the government and further action taken against it, he said.

"The department has also suspended the executive engineer concerned for his failure to keep an eye on the quality of the work", added the Additional Chief Secretary.

Constructed over the river Ganges, the bridge was supposed to link Bhagalpur and Khagaria districts.

The under-construction bridge, a portion of which caved in on Sunday, involved a cost of over Rs 1,700 crore and was supposed to be completed by 2019. The foundation stone of the structure was laid in February 2014, by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav had earlier indicated that portions of the bridge had been demolished earlier in a planned fashion and the final collapse indicated that fears about the structural stability of the bridge were correct.

The incident took place a year after another portion had collapsed during a thunderstorm.

The chief minister had, on Monday, voiced strong displeasure over the poor quality of the work and the inordinate delay in completion.

The BJP, which had been in power in the state till about a year ago, has been pinning the blame on "corruption" and demanding the chief minister's resignation.
From Porn Sites To How To Dispose Of A Body: What Mumbai Murder Accused Search History Revealed

Birthday Ends In Tragedy As Youth Killed By His Friends Over Food Bill In Mumbai

India

oi-Prakash KL

The birthday of a youth ended in a tragedy as he was killed by his four friends over a dispute over a food bill. The incident occurred in the Baiganwadi area of Govandi in Mumbai.

The deceased identified as Sabir Ansari had thrown a party for his four friends on the occasion of his 20th birthday at a roadside dhaba on May 31.

The bill had come around Rs 10,000 and the friends had agreed to pay their share of the amount.

The birthday boy had gone to the houses of the accused Shahrukh and his 3 other friends to ask for his money. However, they refused to pay and threatened him.

In Delhis Horrific Murder, Police Look To Re-Create Murder Scene

A day later, he was celebrating his birthday with his other friends in the Shivaji Nagar area of Govandi around 8 pm. All the four accused turned up at the party and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. He was grievously injured while the accused escaped from the crime scene.

The victim was rushed to the hospital after the cops arrived at the spot. However, the hospital authorities declared brought dead.

Later, the cops arrested two of the accused, Shahrukh and Nishar from Ahmedabad, and sent the other two minor accused to the juvenile home. The case has been registered under sections 302, 323, 109 and 34 of the IPC, according to a report in India Today.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 13:31 [IST]
BSF Jawan Killed In Manipur, Two Assam Rifles Personnel Injured

India

oi-PTI

A BSF jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel suffered gunshot wounds in Serou area of Manipur's Kakching district, the Army said on Tuesday. The injured have been evacuated by air to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, the Army's SpearCorps headquartered in Dimapur said on Twitter.

"Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur... Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," it posted on Twitter.

A fierce exchange of fire was also reported between security forces and suspected Kuki militants from Phayeng in Imphal West district, police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty. Irate villagers had earlier on Sunday night set ablaze an abandoned camp at Sugnu in Manipur's Kakching district on Sunday night, where militants from the United Kuki Liberation Front(UKLF) were staying after signing a peace accord with the government.

The villagers were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit at Serou in Kakching district on Saturday midnight.

Centre Constitutes 3-Member Commission To Probe Manipur Violence

At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 13:07 [IST]
The Maharashtra twist and an eerie similarity to what Deve Gowda did in 2006

Doing His Best: Deve Gowda Backs Ashwini Vaishnaw

India

oi-Deepika S

JDS Supremo H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday came out in support of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is under fire after a horrific three-train collision in Odisha last week killed 278 people.

Deve Gowda said he believed Vaishnaw is working tirelessly to restore damage and demanding his resignation at this stage is not wise.

"The railway minister has taken necessary steps to restore damage that happened. He is working tirelessly for the last last 55 hours... I am watching. The inquiry by CBI is different... I am not going to comment on that... Congress leaders have taken some stand. My point is that politically motivated attacks shouldn't be made. Let the inquiry be completed. The minister is doing his best and demanding his resignation at this stage is not wise." Deve Gowda was quoted by news agency ANI.

Several opposition parties, including Congress have called for the rainway minister's resignation and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge responsibility for perpetuating an illusion of normalcy despite the deteriorating condition of Indian Railways infrastructure.

The forme prime minister also said that he did not sound very optimistic about the ongoing efforts to forge an anti-BJP front nationally, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"I can analyse in detail about this country's politics, what is the use? Show me one party which has not associated with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. Show me one party in the whole country, then I will answer," Gowda said in response to a question about Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trying to forge an anti BJP front at the national level.

Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called a meeting of opposition parties in Patna on June 12. The decision was taken after several leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Stalin and the chief of another party had expressed their inability to be present on June 12. A new date will be fixed soon.
Locals Complain Of Foul Smell From Mangled Coach; Railways Says It's From Rotten Eggs, Not Human Bodies

Father Refuses To Believe Son Died In Odisha Train Crash, Finds Him Alive In Morgue

India

oi-Deepika S

In a heartwarming story of an unwavering belief, a father who refused to believe his son had died in the Balasore train crash, traveled over 230 kilometers from Kolkata to Balasore and found him alive in a makeshift morgue in Odisha.

A deadly train crash involving two express trains and a goods train claimed at least 278 lives and left over 1,100 others wounded.

Helaram Malik, a shopkeeper based in West Bengal's Howrah received the news of the Odisha train crash hours after he dropped his son Biswajit off at Shalimar station to board the Coromandel Express. He then called his 24-year-old son to check if he was okay.

Without wasting time, Helaram along with his brother-in-law Dipak Das, contacted Palash Pandit, a local ambulance driver, and decided to travel 230 km to the site of the crash at Odisha's Balasore and embarked on a frantic search for his son.

After reaching Balasore on Friday, Helaram could not find his son, who was presumed to have died in the Balasore train accident.

Determined to find his son, Helaram went from one hospital to another, seeing the bodies of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Miraculous Survival: Man Found Alive 48 Hours After Deadly Train Collision In Odisha

"We never gave up. We went around asking people, hoping to get leads on where to go next. One person told us that if we could not find anyone in the hospital, we should look at the Bahanaga high school, where the bodies were kept. We could not accept it, but went anyway," Dipak told Times of India.

Finally, after hours of search, Helaram reached the makeshift morgue in Odisha, where Biswajit was found lying unconsciously and injured badly.

He immediately took him to the nearest hospital for medical aid. Later, Helaram got his son discharged and headed back to Kolkata where he underwent surgery at SSKM Hospital's trauma care unit.

According to reports, Biswajit suffered multiple fractures to his right hand but his condition is stable.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 11:07 [IST]
India Set To Reimpose CVD On Import Of Certain Steel Products

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

In order to safeguard the interests of local manufacturers and counter the influx of cheap imports, the government is considering the reintroduction of anti-dumping duty on certain stainless steel imports. It seeks to counter the challenges posed by imports that have gained an advantage from substantial import subsidies.

The proposal, which has gained support from the Union Steel Ministry, came after the Union Finance Ministy received a recommendation from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), the investigation arm of the Union Commerce Ministry, for imposition of countervailing duty (CVD) to the extent of 18.95%.

The suggestion came after DGTR conducted a sunset review investigation in April-May this year on imports of hot-rolled and cold-rolled stainless steel flat products imported from China. The duty is to be imposed on certain flat-rolled steel products imported from China for five years to guard domestic manufacturers against subsidised imports.

In its findings, the directorate has concluded that the Chinese imports are undercutting the domestic prices and there is a likelihood of continuation of subsidisation on the products by China if the existing CVD was discontinued in the light of the surplus capacities maintained by the Chinese producers.

What is CVD

The anti-dumping or countervailing duty is a measure typically employed to shield local companies from the adverse effects of cheap imports that benefit from subsidies provided by exporting nations. By levying a duty on such imports, the aim is to restore a level playing field and prevent unfair competition that could harm domestic manufacturers, as in the case of stainless steel imports.

How domestic steelmakers are affected

The surge in cheap imports has had a detrimental effect on domestic steelmakers in India. These imports, particularly from countries like China and Russia, have distorted the steel market by flooding it with subsidized products.

As a result, smaller local companies have been compelled to put their hiring and expansion plans on hold. Instead of focusing on growth, they have been forced to navigate the role of traders in the commodity. This situation has hampered the growth and competitiveness of domestic steel manufacturers.

Russia's entry

While imports from China have historically been high, Russia has emerged as a notable exporter of steel to India. This shift occurred when traditional European markets imposed economic sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Russia's exports to India have steadily increased, contributing to the challenges faced by domestic steelmakers.

Reintroducing the duty

India had removed CVD in its Budget for the fiscal year 2021-22. The steel industry has long called for the reinstatement of the duty due to the continued impact of imports on small and medium enterprises. These enterprises have experienced a significant decline in their capacity, with some even facing closure. The CVD is seen as a crucial measure to help revive and stabilize these enterprises.

It was earlier expected that the reopening of the Chinese economy would ease imports from China and other countries. However, the anticipated reduction in imports has not yet materialized. Steel consumption in China and other key economies remains stressed, which has sustained the high volume of exports to India. Hence the fresh proposal.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 10:27 [IST]
Minor Girl Falls Into 300-Feet Deep Borewell In Madhya Pradesh's Sehore

India

oi-PTI

A two-and-a-half-year-old girl fell into a 300-feet deep borewell in a field in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district on Tuesday and efforts are on to rescue her, police said.

The girl is currently stuck at a depth of 20 feet, an official said, adding that the incident occurred at Mugavali village in the afternoon.

The rescue operation is on with the help of JCB machines under the supervision of senior officials, he said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who belongs to Sehore district, took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to ensure that the girl is pulled out safely.

Officials of the Chief Minister's Office are also in touch with the district authorities, it was stated. Further details are awaited.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 20:27 [IST]
Delhi University vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh thanked his predecessors for their hard work after the varsity saw a marginal improvement in the National Institutional Ranking Framework. This year the university gained two spots to secure the 11th position in the Union Ministry of Education-adopted ranking methodology. The varsity's status has risen in the entire rankings by a spot.According to the eighth edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) announced by Union Minister of State for Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the University of Delhi (DU) is ranked after the city-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), which have retained the second and third positions, respectively, under the university category. The university, which was ranked 13th in the university category last year, secured the 12th position in 2021. It was ranked 11th in 2020, 13th in 2019 and seventh in 2018."The rankings have been finalized on the basis of data from three years  2019, 2020 and 2021. The improvement in rankings has been possible due to the hard work of my predecessors. I am thankful to them. We are working to improve the rankings and our work show in the next few years," Singh told.Last year, Singh had said that a low student-teacher ratio could be one of the reasons for the varsity slipping in the rankings. "We are working to improve the teacher-student ratio and recruitment is being carried out," he said. The NIRF took into account the number of research articles published and citations received by publications in the span of 2019, 2020 and 2021.The rankings have been carried out in various categories like overall, universities, colleges and research institutions among others. The NIRF provides for ranking of institutions in five broad generic groups of parameters namely, teaching, learning and resources (TLR), research and professional practice (RP), graduation outcome (GO), outreach and inclusivity (OI) and perception (PR).DU has witnessed an improvement in all these parameters, barring perception this time. In 2022, it scored 43.1 in TLR, which has increased to 51.89. In terms of GO, the score has increased to 97.84 as opposed to 91.86 last year. The varsity also saw a minor decline. In PR its score has declined from 56.15 in 2022 to 51.89 this year.Meanwhile, the RP and OI stood at 54.31 and 63.98 this year, respectively, against last year's scores of 52.82 and 58.87. Five DU colleges have also been placed among the top 10 colleges in the rankings with Miranda House bagging the top spot for the seventh consecutive year. "We are trying to improve in terms of research outreach and inclusivity. The teaching and non-teaching staff have worked hard for this. The fact is that we do not rest on past laurels. The rankings provide us a way of learning and it goes the same for all colleges. It is definitely a challenging job to maintain rankings. Through the rankings, the government is also providing guidance to us," said Miranda House principal Bijayalakshmi Nanda.Having secured a place among the top 10 colleges in the country category, DU's Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD) was ranked above Lady Shri Ram College and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). "We have scored 80 out of 100 in research and professional practice, which is the highest among all DU colleges. I thank all the faculty members. They are doing quality research and it is being published in science journals," ARSD principal Gyantosh Jha."Even in terms of graduation outcomes, our students are doing well. We are showing 100 per cent results in terms of placements and our students are going to renowned universities for higher education. In terms of perception, we have improved from a score of 24 to coming close to 40. Had we scored a point more in perception, we would have been at the third spot," he added.In the overall ranking, DU has climbed to the 22nd rank. In 2021, it was ranked 19th, while in 2020 and 2019, it secured the 18th and 20th rank, respectively. The varsity bagged the 14th rank in 2018. Among the top colleges, the Miranda House and the Hindu College have retained their rankings by bagging the top two spots whereas Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, which secured the seventh position last year, has climbed a spot up.Meanwhile, Kirori Mal College (KMC) and Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) have shared the ninth spot. Last year, LSR secured the fifth spot while KMC stood at 10th place. "They have the same scores. Since it's a tie, both of them are given the same rank, and the next rank is 11th (rank 10th is not assigned to any institute) as per standard practice," a senior ministry official said. As for the other well-known DU colleges, the SRCC has bagged the 11th spot while Hans Raj College, Sri Venkateswara College and St Stephen's have bagged the 12th, 13th and 14th spots, respectively.
Nudity Should Not Be Tied To Sex: Kerala High Court

India

oi-PTI

Noting that nudity and obscenity are not always synonymous, the Kerala High Court has quashed a case registered against a woman's rights activist, who was charged with offences punishable under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Rehana Fathima, a woman's rights activist, was facing charges under various provisions of the POCSO, Juvenile Justice, and the Information Technology (IT) Acts for circulating a video in which she was seen posing semi-nude for her minor children, allowing them to paint on her body.

Discharging her from the case, Justice Kauser Edappagath said that from the allegations against the 33-year-old activist, it was not possible for anyone to infer that her children were used for any real or simulated sexual acts and that too for sexual gratification.

The court said that she only allowed her body to be used as a canvas for her children to paint on.

"The right of a woman to make autonomous decisions about her body is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. It also falls within the realm of personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution," it said.

The order came on Fathima's appeal against a trial court decision dismissing her plea to be discharged from the case.

In her appeal in the high court, she had asserted that the body painting was meant as a political statement against the default view of society that the naked upper body of the female is sexualised in all contexts, whereas the naked male upper body is not treated to this default sexualisation.

Agreeing with her contentions, Justice Edappagath said that painting on the upper body of a mother by her own children as an art project "cannot be characterised as a real or simulated sexual act nor can it be said that the same was done for the purpose of sexual gratification or with sexual intent".

The judge said it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act.

"There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said.

The prosecution had claimed that Fathima had exposed her upper body in the video and hence, it was obscene and indecent.

Rejecting the contention, the court said that "nudity and obscenity are not always synonymous".

"It is wrong to classify nudity as essentially obscene or even indecent or immoral," it further said.

The court pointed out that women of lower castes in Kerala had once fought for the right to cover their breasts and that there were murals, statues and art of deities in the semi-nude in ancient temples and various public spaces all over the country and these are considered as "holy".

It further said that nude display of the upper body of men is never considered obscene or indecent and is not sexualised, but "a female body is not treated in the same way".

"Every individual is entitled to the autonomy of his/her body - this is not selective on gender. But we often find this right is diluted or denied to the fairer sex.

"The women are bullied, discriminated against, isolated, and prosecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives," the court said.

The court further said that there were some who consider female nudity as taboo and only meant for erotic purposes and the intention behind the video circulated by Fathima was to "expose this double standard prevailing in society".

"Nudity should not be tied to sex. The mere sight of the naked upper body of the woman should not be deemed to be sexual by default. So also, the depiction of the naked body of a woman cannot per se be termed to be obscene, indecent, or sexually explicit," Justice Edappagath said.

The prosecution had also contended that the video was against the public notions of morality and would have a morally corruptive effect on the minds of people who watch it.

The court rejected this argument also by saying that notions of social morality are inherently subjective.

"Morality and criminality are not coextensive. What is considered as morally wrong is not necessarily legally wrong," it said.

The court pointed out that adultery, consensual same-sex relations and live-in relationships are considered immoral by many, but they are legal acts.

"Society's morality and some people's sentiments cannot be the reason for instituting a crime and prosecuting a person. An action is permissible if it does not violate any of the laws of the land," it said.

The court also noted that even from the statements given by Fathima's children, they are loved and cared for by their mother.

"A mother-child relationship is one of the earth's most solemn and pious relationships. There is no bond stronger and more sincere than the one between a mother and her child.

"No doubt, the prosecution of the petitioner (Fathima) will have torture and adverse effect on the children. Hence, in the best interest of the victims also, the prosecution cannot be allowed to be continued," it said.

Justice Edappagath said that the lower court completely overlooked the context in which the video was published and the message it had given to the public at large.

"There is no sufficient ground for proceeding against the petitioner. The impugned order is, accordingly, set aside and the petitioner is discharged," the high court said.

The case was registered by Kochi city police under various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IT Act based on a report filed by Cyberdom, the cyber wing of Kerala police, against her for posting the video titled "Body and Politics" on social media.

Earlier, the woman was also booked by police in Pathanamthitta district under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint lodged by BJP OBC Morcha leader A V Arun Prakash.

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had also sought a report on the matter from Pathanamthitta district police chief and had also directed the police to register a case against the woman under various sections of the POCSO Act.

Fathima had attempted to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala after the Supreme Court allowed women of menstruating age to do so, and was targeted by certain groups for it.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 8:39 [IST]
CBI Team At Odisha Train Crash Site To Probe Sabotage Angle

India

oi-Deepika S

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday took over the investigation into Odisha's triple train crash, which claimed the lives of 278 people.

A 10-member CBI team arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Tuesday and took over the investigation from Odisha police.

The team inspected the tracks, signal room and talked to railway officials at Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district. A forensics team, which is accompanying the CBI officials, also spoke to signal room employees and sought information about the functioning of different equipment.

The CBI investigation is significant as a detailed probe can establish criminal tampering, if any, or the electronic interlocking system, or a signaling issue.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday recommended a probe by the CBI into the train accident that killed at least 278 people and wounded more than 1,000.

Odisha Train Accident: Not A Single Penny Spent On Anti-Collision System Despite Rs 468.9 Cr Allocation

The Odisha Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the train accident that occurred in Balasore last Friday.

The case has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Railway Act, including charges of deaths caused by negligence and endangering the safety of persons.

The Railways hinted at the possibility of sabotage and tampering with the electronic interlocking system.

Miraculous Survival: Man Found Alive 48 Hours After Deadly Train Collision In Odisha

Meanwhile, Congress slammed the government over the Railways seeking a CBI probe into the Odisha railway tragedy, saying it is nothing but headline management for having failed to meet deadlines.

"Even before the Commissioner of Railway Safety has submitted his report on Balasore train disaster, a CBI inquiry is announced." This is nothing but headlines management having failed to meet the deadline," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
Locals Complain Of Foul Smell From Mangled Coach; Railways Says It's From Rotten Eggs, Not Human Bodies

Odisha Train Tragedy: 101 Bodies Yet To Be Identified

India

oi-Deepika S

Around 101 bodies are yet to be identified following the horrific train tragedy, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and the goods train in which at least 278 people lost lives in Orissa's Balasore.

Speaking to ANI, Divisional Railway Manager of the Eastern Central Railways Rinkesh Roy said that around 200 people are still being treated in various hospitals in Odisha.

"About 1,100 people were injured in the accident, out of which about 900 people were discharged after treatment. Around 200 people are being treated in various hospitals in the state. Out of 278 people who died in the accident, 101 bodies are yet to be identified," Roy told ANI.

"Of the total 193 bodies kept in Bhubaneswar, 80 bodies have been identified. 55 bodies have been handed over to the relatives. More than 200 calls have been received on BMC's helpline number 1929. The dead bodies are being identified and handed over to the relatives," he added.

Meanwhile, Odisha police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the train accident that occurred in Balasore last Friday.

Doctors In Balasore for Embalming: How And Why It Is Done?

The case has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Railway Act, including charges of deaths caused by negligence and endangering the safety of persons.

The Railway Ministry has requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the train accident in Odisha, which involved three trains: a goods train, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express.

After ruling out driver error and system malfunctioning, the Railways is now considering the possibility of sabotage and tampering with the electronic interlocking system. This raises concerns about intentional interference in the functioning of the railway infrastructure.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 9:21 [IST]
Odisha Train Tragedy: Woman Attempts to Deceive Authorities for Compensation By Falsely Claiming Dead Body

India

oi-Prakash KL

An incident of a woman fraudulently claiming a dead body as her husband has come to light in Odisha after a Balasore train tragedy where 288 people died.

She was found crying non-stop but when the officials contacted the police in Badamba, they found out that no one from the area was travelling in any of the ill-fated trains. The reason for such a fake claim is - compensation!

As a result, the Odisha government has ordered the police department and the Railway authorities to strictly deal with fake claimants. "All should be very careful in this regard and take prompt as well as stern action in such cases," Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena tweeted on Monday by tagging the Odisha DGP, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and railway ministry.

Odisha Train Crash: CBI Team Reaches Site, Probe On

As far as the compensation is concerned, the Odisha government has announced Rs 5 lakh exgratia to the kin of the deceased who belongs to Odisha while the Prime Minister's Office is paying Rs 2 lakh with the Railway department handing over Rs 10 lakh to the victim's families.

A 40-year-old woman named Gitanjali Dutta from the Baramba area in Cuttack appeared at the temporary morgue in North Orissa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Park in Balasore where the bodies have been kept for verification by the family members.

"I suspected her intention as she looked unusually calm unlike the bereaved kin of the other deceased passengers. She saw some of the photographs of the unidentified bodies that we had displayed outside the temporary morgue. She picked up one photo and claimed him to be her husband," The Times Of India quoted Bikas Kumar Palei, an SI, as saying.

On asking her to produce relevant documents, she gave her Aadhaar Card which had the name of her husband Bijay Dutta. "Then she showed her own Aadhaar card. We tried to verify her claim by contacting the Baramba police station under which she stays. Baramba police reverted after an hour and informed us that her husband is alive. She started running when we reprimanded her and warned her of arrest. Her intention was to claim the compensation," Palei said.

In order to authenticate the identification of bodies and keep fake claimants at bay, the Odisha government on Monday started conducting DNA sampling in certain doubtful cases before handing over the mortal remains to genuine relatives.

Odisha Train Accident: Not A Single Penny Spent On Anti-Collision System Despite Rs 468.9 Cr Allocation

"We will hand over the body only if the DNA matches. We suspect some people might be making false claims over bodies because of the hefty compensation from the Railways and the respective state governments," an official told PTI.

Meanwhile, around 101 bodies are yet to be identified following the horrific train tragedy, involving the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and the goods train.
OPINION: Will Minorities Be Better Off In Nepal Now?

On Way Back From US, PM Modi Likely To Visit Egypt

PM Speaks With Saudi Crown Prince, Thanks Him For Support During Evacuation Of Indians From Sudan

PM Modi Will Be 1st Indian Prime Minister To Address US Congress Twice

India

oi-PTI

India is proud of its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US that is built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks in a tweet while thanking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the invitation to address a joint meeting of the US Congress during his visit to the country later this month.

"Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress," Prime Minister Modi said on Twitter.

"We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity," he said.

Prime Minister Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country. He will share his vision of India's future and speak on the global challenges facing the two countries, top congressional leaders had announced on Friday.

President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit to the US, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.

India Is A Vibrant Democracy, Go To Delhi And See For Yourself: US Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

"On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is our honour to invite you (Prime Minister Modi) to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22," the congressional leaders had said in a statement.

This will be the second time that Prime Minister Modi will address a joint meeting of the US Congress after June 2016.

Prime Minister Modi's upcoming address to the joint meeting of the US Congress is historic, officials said, noting that he is the first Indian prime minister to do so twice.

Globally in this respect, as a head of state or government, Prime Minister Modi is second only to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu who has addressed the US Congress thrice, they said.

This honour bestowed on Prime Minister Modi shows the bipartisan respect and support for him in the US, they said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 23:27 [IST]
Rajasthan: Amid Rift With CM Gehlot, Sachin Pilot To Float New Party? Here's What Congress Says

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

As the political pot boils in election-bound Rajasthan, speculations are rife that former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot appears ready to sever his ties with the Congress and go his own way.

While some reports suggest that Pilot may announce the formation of a new party, others, quoting sources, indicate that his focus remains solely on the fulfillment of his demands.

However, Congress general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa ruled out the possibility of dissident leader Sachin Pilot floating a new party.

Randhawa, who reached Jaipur in the evening, also said that the party will assign responsibilities to Rajasthan leaders according to their stature. "I am hearing this from you, I think there is no such thing. He (Pilot) did not have this in his mind before and does not have it now," he told reporters when asked about speculations of the formation of a new party by Pilot. Randhawa also said it is the media which is raising the issue.

Video: Ashok Gehlot Loses Cool, Throws Mic At Collector At Public Event

He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders ''agreed to work unitedly''.

He reiterated that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had recently talked to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Delhi in which both the Rajasthan leaders ''agreed to work unitedly''.

The power struggle between Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, which emerged since the Congress-formed government in Rajasthan in 2018, has persisted throughout the five-year term. With the state due to undergo elections later this year, the infighting has escalated further. In April of this year, Pilot defied warnings from the party and observed a day-long fast against the alleged "inaction" of the Gehlot government in investigating the corruption allegations.

According to a report from PTI, a recent meeting between Chief Minister Gehlot, Pilot, and party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi failed to resolve the "core issues" between the two prominent leaders in Rajasthan.
Gruha Jyoti: How To Apply For Free Electricity Scheme In Karnataka, Eligibility, Other Details

Siddaramaiah To Discuss Anti-Cow Slaughter Law In Cabinet Meeting

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amidst widespread protests triggered by a statement made by a Karnataka minister calling for a review of the stringent anti-cow slaughter law, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the matter would be deliberated upon during an upcoming cabinet meeting.

Siddaramaiah expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the law implemented by the previous BJP government and affirmed that the state government would hold discussions regarding the issue in the cabinet meeting.

However, he clarified that no decision had been made thus far. "We will discuss it in the Cabinet. We have not decided anything yet," Siddaramaiah stated.

Earlier, K Venkatesh, the Animal Husbandry Minister of Karnataka, stirred controversy with his statement questioning why buffaloes could be slaughtered while cows were protected. "The previous BJP government introduced a bill allowing the slaughter of buffaloes but prohibited cow slaughter. We will discuss and make a decision," he told the media.

Venkatesh also suggested that slaughtering aged cows could assist farmers in managing cattle-related challenges.

The BJP organized statewide protests over the past two days in response to the minister's statement.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned Venkatesh's remarks in a series of tweets and urged Siddaramaiah to offer appropriate advice to his colleague. "Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh's statement is shocking. We condemn his statement. We Indians have an emotional connection with cows and revere them as mother figures," Bommai expressed.

BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan remarked, "There's no good reason for Congress to repeal the cow slaughter bill. Congress is going against the sentiment of Hindus. They are trying to disturb communal harmony. They want unrest."

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act enforces a complete ban on cattle slaughter in the state. The only exceptions are terminally-ill cattle and buffaloes above the age of 13, which may be slaughtered.
Suriname Confers Its Highest Civilian Honour On President Murmu

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

President Droupadi Murmu has been conferred with the highest civilian honour of Suriname, in the capital city of Paramaribo on Tuesday. President Murmu is presently on a visit to the tiny country on the commemoration of the 150th year of arrival of Indians in Suriname.

The President said she was greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. "This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent. I also dedicate this honour to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she said.

Addressing the event to mark the arrival of Indians, President Murmu said, "It is my hope that in the days to come, the Indian community will continue to strengthen this relationship, and each and every individual among you will continue to act as a bridge between India and Suriname, connecting both countries. On this occasion, I invite all of you to come to India, to witness India's development journey and to participate in it."

"Today, on this historic occasion, I am very pleased to announce at this forum, that my government has approved extending the eligibility criteria for the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card from the fourth generation to the sixth generation," she said, highlighting the similarities between India, that is well known for its diversity, and Suriname.

I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star."



This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent.



I also dedicate this honor to the pic.twitter.com/m74V8TfwjG  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2023

President Murmu said the deep attachment and love demonstrated by the Indian Surinamese in their efforts to protect this rich heritage and language, and to convey it to the young generation, touches the hearts of all Indians. "The people of both countries could integrate very easily in each other's societies. I feel like I am at my own home!" she said.

President Murmu was received by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport with full State honours.
Explained: What is the KYC-Based Caller Name Display and how does it help

TRAI Asks Telcos To Have One Site For DND Consent Of Customers

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

Are you inundated with promotional calls and messages but, at the same time, wary of sending out 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) notices all those callers and senders? The national telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has come up with a solution to this common irritant.

In order to curb the menace, TRAI has directed the telecommunication service providers or telcos to develop a unified digital platform to seek, maintain and revoke customers' consent for receiving these kind of pesky calls and SMSes. The regulator has set a deadline of two months for the telcos to develop the site.

In the first phase, only subscribers will be able to initiate the process to register their consent for receiving promotional calls and SMS, and later, businesses will be able to reach out to customers to seek their consent to receive promotional messages, TRAI said in a statement.

"TRAI has now issued a direction to all the access providers to develop and deploy the Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) facility for creating a unified platform and process to register customers' consent digitally across all service providers and principal entities," it said.

No single platform

At present, there is no unified system to show customers' consent for receiving promotional voice and text messages. The absence of a unified digital platform makes it impossible for telcos to check veracity of consents.

TRAI directs telecos to urgently take steps to improve quality

"Considering the volume of work involved, TRAI has allocated two months time to develop such facilities by all Access Providers and thereafter implement it in a phased manner. This direction has been issued by TRAI under its Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018," the regulator added.

Under the prevalent system, consent is obtained and maintained by the various principal entities such as banks, other financial institutions, insurance companies, trading companies, business entities, real estate companies etc.

"The DCA process shall have facility to seek, maintain and revoke the consent of customers, as per the processes envisaged under TCCCP... The consent data collected will be shared on the Digital Ledger Platform (DLT) for scrubbing by all access providers," TRAI further said.

Common short code

Access providers, which include telecom players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, have been further directed to use a common short code starting with 127 for sending consent seeking messages.

"The purpose, scope of consent and principal entity or brand name shall be mentioned clearly in the consent seeking message sent through the short code," the regulator said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 12:46 [IST]
Watch: How A Lone Buffalo Survives An Attack From Lion Pride

India

oi-Prakash KL

A video of a buffalo surviving an attack from a lion pride has caught the attention of the netizens.

The incident was captured by Antoni Britz, who is the manager at Elephant Walk Retreat, at Kruger National Park, South Africa. "The Vurhami Pride paid us a visit at Ellie Walk yesterday, they were attempting to hunt this lone buffalo... giving our guests and our staff quite a show," Elephant Walk Retreat captioned the clip.

In the viral footage, the lions try to attack the lone buffalo, but it outsmarts and escapes from the crocodile-infested river.

"On this particular day one of our staff members, Sipho, who was working in unit 8, spotted lions from the deck and came to call me," Latest Sightings quoted Antoni Britz as saying.

He said that it was the lone buffalo that had come to drink water at the river. Luckily, it saw lions stalking him and charged. "It was the Vurhami Pride, and they have quite a few sub-adults in the pride, who are quite inexperienced, they seemed nervous of the buffalo and didn't want to take him on properly. They kept their distance, but didn't give up," he added.

The buffalo realised that it will not survive if it does not cross the river and crossed over to the other side.

According to him, by observing and imitating seasoned hunters in the pride, young lions develop their confidence in hunting. "The lions accepted their defeat and began to drink water. You could almost see the relief on the old buffaloes' face as the lions left the riverbed one by one. Perhaps they too didn't feel brave enough to cross crocodile-infested water just to get some food."

This clip is winning the hearts of the netizens. Responding to the clip, a user said, "Wow! What a herd, what a sight!" Second user said, "Wonderful sighting- thanks for sharing."

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Story first published: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 16:39 [IST]
AW-Energy, a leader in near-shore wave energy technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kaoko Green Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd in Namibia.

The MOU is devoted to the development of renewable energy and aims to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources including wave energy. This latest initiative comes on the back of AW-Energy's latest advancement of its WaveRoller technology.

Finland, May 3, 2023: AW-Energy, a leader in near-shore wave energy technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kaoko Green Energy Solutions (Pty) Ltd in Namibia.

The MOU is devoted to the development of renewable energy and aims to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy sources including wave energy. This latest initiative comes on the back of AW-Energy's latest advancement of its WaveRoller technology.

Christopher Ridgewell, CEO of AW-Energy, says: "With a energetic and consistent wave resource Namibia is very well positioned to utilize the benefits of wave energy to enable sustainable industry and jobs.

"The partnership with Kaoko is exciting. We're enjoying working with Kaoko's innovative team to support Namibia's sustainability goals and it is an initiative that provides an excellent environment for deploying WaveRoller technology into Namibia's energy mix. We are looking forward to taking the next steps together and to demonstrate WaveRoller's value in desalination and green hydrogen production."

It is an initiative that supports a mutual intention to co-operate and explore knowledge share opportunities for the development of clean and sustainable ocean energy resource and the assessment phase of wave farm developments in Namibia.

Sacky Nalusha, a Director for Kaoko Green Energy Solutions, says: "It is an open secret that the energy sector in the Southern Africa is currently underdeveloped, creating opportunities for innovative solutions and partnerships that can grow the sector. The current energy shortages in the region have paved ways to explore alternative, untapped and sustainable energy sources. Ocean waves have the potential to provide a sustainable solution to our energy needs and demands."

Operated in three phases, Phase 1 will include a detailed site design and cover the fabrication and deployment of a WaveRoller wave farm on the coast of Swakopmund, Namibia, to deliver renewable power to support in-land resettlement and development. Phase 2 will assess the capacity for wavefarms in several locations in Namibia. The final Phase will expand wave energy plants to deliver power to the grid and help in new ways to provide energy for desalination and green hydrogen projects.

Namibia is aiming to become a green hydrogen superpower in the coming decade by positioning itself as a leader in the emerging markets and an international exporter of green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen will be an important source of foreign investment and is important for the country's energy security and transition. The government plans to use it extensively to decarbonize its own economy.

Namibia's Green Hydrogen Council launched its green hydrogen strategy at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, which supports the country's commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, with the ultimate goal of reducing emissions to net zero by 2050. The strategy will also allow Namibia to become a net exporter of energy by unlocking its potential to meet global demands of 10 million metric tons by 2030 while playing a pivotal role in energy security for the region.

A critical part of the country's growth in clean energy is the upskilling of the domestic workforce to maximize local employment.

"This MOU is designed to help facilitate ways in which the WaveRoller wave energy device and its technology can be fabricated, manufactured and deployed using local people to support owner-operators in Namibia," highlights Ridgewell. "Combined with other renewable energy sources such as solar, WaveRoller enables significant cost reductions in green hydrogen production and represents a viable solution in the drive to execute the world's clean energy hydrogen roadmap.

AW-Energy's WaveRoller WaveFarms are one of the most advanced wave energy technology solutions available in industry. It has created an industrial package comprising the WaveRoller wave energy converters, all WaveFarm infrastructure, logistics, life-cycle services, product documentation and everything that a customer needs to produce indigenous stable renewable clean energy.
India Is A Vibrant Democracy, Go To Delhi And See For Yourself: US Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

International

oi-Prakash KL

The White House on Monday dismissed the concerns about the health of democracy in India and said anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves.

"India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference in Washington.

Responding to a question, he said, "Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward,"

The US' top official claimed that India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels."You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he added.

"I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby further stated.

The statement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country and will share his vision of India's future and speak on the global challenges facing the two countries.

During his visit from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend several events which include meetings with prominent business leaders and several community events.
Pakistan's Army chief General Raheel Sharif has warned India of "unbearable damage" if it tried to impose a short or long war on his country. The remarks were a pointed response to a statement by Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag who said last week that Indian army was prepared for "swift, short nature of future wars". He also warned that Kashmir cannot be out in the back-burner.
It's rare enough to see a senior British royal testifying in a court of law. What Prince Harry said in the witness box at Britains High Court and in his written witness statement was just as unusual. His testimony shone a light on life as a royal and on Harrys bitter personal feud with the press. Harry described a lifetime of press intrusion that he says cast him as a thicko and wrecked his personal relationships. He lashed out at Mirror Group Newspapers for its treatment of his late mother, Princess Diana, and called for regulation of the British press. But he was grilled by the newspapers' lawyer, who said many of Harry's allegations of illegal activity were speculation.
In a stroke of legal coincidence, Prince Harry will be the subject of a court case in America on the same day he is due to appear in London's High Court.
The Chinese embassy has been told running overseas police stations in the UK is "unacceptable" and that "they must not operate in any form".
British scientists found an "incredibly rare" genetic mutation could have been responsible for the deaths of two children after their mother, who was originally jailed for killing them, has now been pardoned.
AFP English 07 Jun 2023

Images distributed by the Ukrainian Army on June 7, 2023, show flooding in what they say is the Russian-controlled area of..
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#ontario #dubai #ontarioassociation #peo #jenniferquaglietta #montemcnaughton #statisticscanada #canadians #toniechaltas #chaltas
Having turned down a PRO-39 offer from the LAUSD, the only option left for Dr. Mark Ryan and the remaining management of the North Valley Military Institute is a proposed lease agreement with the Los Angeles Mission College. Otherwise, the charter school will have no other place to conduct classes when the new school year begins.



(Image by Los Angeles Community College District Board) Details DMCA



Approval of this lease appears on the agenda for a regular meeting of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 1:00. The public can attend the meeting in person in the Board Room at the Educational Services Center located at 770 Wilshire Boulevard. It will also be streamed on Zoom and on YouTube. I have sent the following email to make the case for the Trustees to reject this proposed lease:

On the agenda of the meeting on June 7, 2023, is a proposal to "Authorize Lease of District Facilities at Los Angeles Mission College" to the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) College Preparatory charter school. When considering this proposal, I hope that you will ask questions about the pervasive operational difficulties that NVMI has faced throughout its entire history. Unless you can be given concrete assurances that the school can fulfill its obligations under this agreement, you have a fiducial responsibility to reject the proposal.

"

While NVMI's management likes to blame others for these problems (most recently saying that their financial problems are because the LAUSD would not fulfill its PROP-39 request to be on one campus), the facts show that there is a lack of organization controls that have caused problems to multiply. As the latest example, the Board of Trustees voted to approve a land use agreement for space on the Mission Hills campus despite the fact this document was not available for them to review.

"

It has also just been revealed that NVMI is undergoing an "extraordinary audit" after spending over $90,000 of public funds for a "leadership retreat" to Las Vegas. The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), which has responsibility for oversight over this school, has "reason to believe that fraud, misappropriation of funds, or other illegal fiscal practices may have occurred" in the expenditures for this trip.

"

When the NVMI charter was last submitted for renewal, the LAUSD Board rejected it citing poor student achievement, poor financial condition, and management that was less than proficient. The school appealed this decision to the county and the Los Angeles Office of Education (LACOE) staff also recommended a denial. Unfortunately, this recommendation was rejected by the LACOE Board. Dr. Monte E. Perez recused himself from the vote due to his relationship with Dr. Ryan and NVMI but still involved himself in the discussion despite the admitted conflict of interest. This Board needs to ask if these same conflicts were present during the lease agreement negotiations and if they were, did Dr. Perez take the steps to make sure that he had no influence over the decisions being made.

"

As predicted by both the LAUSD and LACOE staff, NVMI is currently on the verge of implosion. According to Dr. Ryan, it will end the fiscal year with just $18,000 in the bank. This calls into question the school's ability to meet the financial obligations of a lease that lasts two years. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the school will maintain the charter from LACOE that it needs in order to continue operation. Not only has NVMI not yet filed the required Material Revision with LACOE to reflect the changes in its program that will occur if the proposed move occurs, but the ongoing fiscal audit over its allegedly illegal financial practices could also result in the charter's revocation.

"

There are also questions about the effect moving to a college-based program will have on the 20.8% of NVMI students who have disabilities. Dr. Ryan has warned families that IEPs will not be honored in classes taught by Mission College staff, which is a direct violation of student rights under FAPE. Additionally, he has said that the availability of special day classes for those with the most severe needs is dependent on the number of students with these needs that are still enrolled after the proposed move. Not offering these classes when they are specified in an IEP would also be a violation of the law.

"

A lease agreement of four rooms calls into question how the school plans to operate on the campus, especially if the current enrollment requires space for Special Education day classes. While the financial terms of the lease were included in the published Agenda Item Details, nothing is said about how the charter high school will be integrated with the operations of the college.

"

Finally, I hope that you will take into account the lack of female empowerment in the NVMI program. The demographic data shows that only 37.5% of the student body identifies as female. Also, according to reports from the public school where NVMI is currently co-located, sexual harassment and bullying are rampant. The school also faced an allegation of allowing conditions where "abhorrent child sex abuse" occurred. This lawsuit also included an allegation that parents who reported this abuse were subject to retaliation.

"

The subject of charter schools versus public schools is an issue that divides those in the education community. However, the matter of North Valley Military Institute is one that should rise above politics. While the school's aspirations may be laudable, it has repeatedly failed in implementation. Whatever metric you want to use, academic achievement, financial stability, or governance, NVMI is failing and children are being harmed. Please do not let these failures continue on an LACCD campus.

"

Thank you,

Carl Petersen



(Image by Los Angeles Community College District Board) Details DMCA



Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
When youre driving through a tunnel 1,500 feet below the Earths surface as you make your way to your destination at the Leeville mine, you are deep inside the heart of one of the richest gold deposits in the United States.

The Leeville deposit was discovered by Newmont Corp. in 1992, and the first ore was produced in 2005. Since then, Leeville has become a key asset in the Nevada Gold Mines portfolio. NGM is a joint venture formed in 2019 with 61.5% owned by Barrick Gold Corp. and 38.5% by Newmont Corp.

Leeville employs around 7% of NGMs 7,000 employees and is part of the world-renowned Carlin Complex  NGM and Barricks largest gold-producing complex. The complex, which consists of a series of open pit mines, underground mines, and processing facilities, is located approximately 45 minutes west of Elko, Nevada in the northeast corner of Eureka County.

Leeville is one of the largest underground mines in NGMs portfolio right now, said Leeville Operations Superintendent David Byrnes. Currently, were sitting at just over 520 employees and move anywhere from seven to eight thousand tons of total material per day, with four to five thousand of that being hoisted ore. Its a large, complex operation with a lot of fast-moving parts, employees, and equipment.

Leeville is a massive ore body, said Michael Beyer, the mines superintendent of geology. The size of Leeville and the potential that we have here is quite unique.

And after 17 years of full production, this rich and complex deposit still has a lot to offer.

Exploration & resources

During a visit to the mine, we started the day with geologists reviewing maps and talking about the current resource and growth opportunities identified since the formation of the joint venture. Geologic maps of the site highlight how drilling has upgraded the resources and expanded the exploration potential to the north, east and south of Leeville. A fresh look at the exploration data in combination with knowledge from the mine geologists has improved the understanding of the mineralization controls and informed exploration targets along key structures.

Much of the mining at Leeville now is 1,500 to 2,000 feet beneath the surface, which is around 4,000 feet above sea level, with some of the new targets trending deeper, up to 2,500 or more feet beneath the surface. These targets continue to grow, with several new high-grade intercepts reported each quarter.

The big takeaway from the comparison maps is that you see not only the increase in our resources and reserves, but also the increased size of the exploration footprint. Much of that is due to the great work of our exploration team and the drilling that has been done to add to the resource, said Carlin Growth Superintendent Chris Mack.

As geologists, one of the helpful aspects of the joint venture is that we are able to look at each sites data. Now we have a much better understanding of our structural trends as a region, as opposed to just an isolated area at a specific site.

Four Corners

Before going down into the mine we stopped at an overlook site and viewed some settling ponds in the distance. About 1,700 feet underneath those ponds is Four Corners, the underground zone where we would soon be visiting.

Right below us, a drill rig was drilling in preparation for the installation of a cased surface-to-underground borehole, designed to deliver paste backfill to the Four Corners area. Paste backfill is a pumpable concrete used to fill in mined-out voids.

Surface to underground boreholes at Leeville are relatively challenging to drill compared to the other mines in the Carlin Trend, so this is a big project, said Leeville Engineering Superintendent William Newman.

You would imagine if you were to drill a hole it would turn out perfectly straight, Newman said. But a hole this size never ends up that way, it deviates. Well drill the hole approximately two-thirds of the way down, survey it, and find out exactly where its deviated to. That way well be able to position our access drift underneath it, so that we break into it perfectly.

In the distance we could see the paste plant where the paste backfill is mixed.

To deliver paste backfill, we use a large two-cylinder piston pump to move it from the paste plant to the borehole collar, Newman said. Once its at the borehole collar, everything else is done by gravity.

From the overlook, we made our way to the headframe and used the service cage to travel down into the mine. We made our first stop at the main mechanic shop where most of the service work is done on the underground equipment. While there we saw a Caterpillar AD30 underground haul truck being serviced.

At this point in our tour, we finally reached the Four Corners zone to see the work thats being done there. Four Corners is one of the original three orebodies identified at the Leeville mine over 20 years ago and is the most recent one to be accessed for mining.

Its the newest zone that weve been developing, and it will be our most important mining zone for at least the next three years, said Newman. Four Corners will be the predominant gold producer for Leeville. There are several large-scale projects that we are working on to ensure we can deliver the ounces in our business plan. These projects include paste delivery, truck load outs, and vent raises.

Truck load outs offset the truck and loader elevations so the loader can work on a level thats uncongested and can directly load trucks with an operator in the cab, or semi-autonomously with the operator stationed on surface, said Byrnes.

Truck load outs are more efficient. Our sister mines at the Portals have them and they work well, so were excited to get them implemented at Leeville. Were in the final stages of getting the second of five Four Corners truck load outs constructed and commissioned.

Ground support

Next, we stopped by an area where bolter operator Juan Vera was installing short-term ground support, a process that involves wire mesh and eight-foot-long expandable rock bolts. The expandable bolts are installed inside a drill hole and then inflated using high-pressure water.

Once inflated, the friction between the bolt steel and rock surface is what creates the anchorage that holds everything in place, Newman said.

Additional long-term ground support is installed in all drifts with longer lifespans. Long-term ground support consists of grouted or resin bolts. At Leeville, a modified hollow rebar is used.

We call them Nevada bolts, said Dan Kough, a senior geotechnical engineer for Leeville. They were specifically designed for Leeville ground by Leeville employees.

As the ground moves after initial excavation, the Nevada bolt can handle up to six inches of stretch and still maintain its full strength, Kough said. This has allowed us to mine through some of the most challenging ground in the world.

Installing the ground support is part of the process of progressing a new drift, which can advance anywhere between 6 and 12 feet at a time. Miners working on development crews follow the design guidelines developed by the engineering team.

Juan will be done in about three hours, Byrnes said. We will then bring in a loader to clean up so we can move a jumbo drill, and depending on how abrasive the rock is, the jumbo will take anywhere from an hour and a half up to three hours to drill a round out; theyll drill holes in the face. Once drilled off, a powder crew will load explosives into the drill holes, and we will initiate the blast remotely from surface during shift change while no personnel are underground, and start the cycle over again.

Newman said they generally create about eight to nine miles of new drifts every year at Leeville. However, that doesnt mean the total miles of open drift increases by that much, because older drifts that no longer serve a purpose are backfilled.

Drilling for gold

On the last stop of our tour, we visited an Aries B exploration drill which was being used to collect samples of rock. These samples are sent to an assay lab where they are analyzed to determine the gold content of the orebody.

This drill has become very useful for us the last few years by helping us better predict what were going to be mining. We can drill out 300 feet in a shift, which is a lot for a rig like this, Beyer said.

Beyer added that any drill rig is only as good as its operator, and he said that Jesus Romero, who was leading the drilling crew, is one of the best. At the time of our visit, the drillers were dealing with a challenging section of ground.

There are some faults here that were drilling into, which take a little bit more effort to drill, Romero said.

Four Corners has difficult ground conditions but they say the gold is where the ground is bad, Beyer added.

Leeville is poised to continue to be a top producing site for NGM and Barrick for many years to come, with a current mine life extending through 2036 and promising exploration potential.

Nevada Gold Mines says Leevilles world-class workforce of 520 is focused on safely producing along with implementing the companys refreshed Journey to Zero safety program. The program includes an emphasis on Stop Unsafe Work Responsibility, encouraging employees to stop, speak up, and make it right when they see unsafe work or behavior. The team also takes pride in embracing NGMs mission and core values, also known as the companys DNA  and are dedicated to achieving their goals as one team with one mission through effective communications and collaboration across the site. 
It has long been an inside joke for someone to say that Juneteenth was a

testament to ignorance. The ignorance was that slaves in Texas were supposedly too dumb, ignorant, or uninformed, or all three, to realize that two-plus years had passed since they were freed.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. As of that day, the enslaved in states in rebellion against the United States were technically freed. Yet it supposedly took two more years for enslaved Blacks in Texas to figure that out. This horrible tall tale repeatedly cropped up and became part of the sometimes amusing folklore around Juneteenth. It was just that, folklore, not fact.

A substantial amount of oral history was done with and about slaves in Texas and other states. The former slaves insisted that they were not dumb or hoodwinked about slavery's technical end with Lincoln's proclamation. Felix Haywood, a slave in Texas during the Civil War, in one of the oral history interviews debunked the myth of slave ignorance, "We knowed what was goin' on in [the war] all the time. We all felt like heroes, and nobody had made us that way but ourselves."

The profound importance of Juneteenth began the moment Union Major General Gordon Granger read his proclamation Order #3. The order had absolutely nothing to do with informing the former slaves that they were now free. The order spelled out the labor, social, and property rights, of Blacks as well as the place of free Blacks within white society.

Granger specified that the order guaranteed "absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves." It further clarified the relationship between slaveholders and the formerly enslaved as one "between employer and hired labor."

Granger's other great concern was to make clear what the Union troops and the government were prepared to do to assist the freedmen. As it turned out very little. In fact, Granger was blunt. They would have to work for wages, and in doing so "idleness" would not be tolerated, let alone subsidized.

The former enslaved knew this. The former slave masters knew this too. Texas newspapers ran countless stories and editorials mostly denouncing Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation as well as Granger's order. That ensured that the order would be widely if not incessantly discussed by whites, especially the slave masters. The formerly enslaved

Blacks and the many free Blacks did much to spread the word about the new order of race relations.

There was yet another reason Graham had to spell out in harsh and forceful terms the end of slavery. Texas slaveholders and most whites in the state bitterly resisted slavery's end. They tried every subterfuge from murder and naked terror to even trying to continue to buy and sell slaves. Every stop was pulled out to keep alive the near-dead institution.

The counter was a massive show of force by the Union army and federal officials. They needed the support of the former slaves to finally force the former slave masters to capitulate. To secure that they imposed a code of relations and a guideline on the status of the Blacks. The key

element was that the Blacks had to be reassured that they were truly free laborers with full civil rights, and the legal right to own property.

Granger's order, then, was a pragmatic tact to ensure stability, control, and the rule of law. One historian observed, "It's not that General Granger was giving information to the enslaved people. He was giving it to the masters."

The order, though, wasn't the magic tonic to force compliance. The estimate is that four hundred Blacks were murdered between 1865 and 1868. The terror was designed to intimidate the former slaves. The death toll was almost certainly far higher.

There was yet another reason for the seeming lag in the Texas slaveholder's capitulation to emancipation. Texas was a well-established dumping ground slaveholders in other states such as Mississippi and Alabama used to move their slave property to. The aim was to put as much distance as possible from the Union army and officials who sought to implement emancipation. Texas was ideal for that purpose.

It was on the far periphery of the South's slaveocracy. It was still largely frontier, and transportation and communication were primitive to non-existent in many parts of the state. Therefore, it was simply convenient to use Texas as a fail-safe area to maintain slavery as long as possible after its formal end. Granger's added aim, then, with the issuance of the order was to break the back of the last bastion of the slaveocracy. Thus, it took a

special measure, General Order #3, to drive that point forcefully home not to the slaves, but their enslaver captors.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book is The Juneteenth Drama (Middle Passage Press) He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network. His political affairs commentaries can be found weekly on thehutchinsonreport.net.
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Decline. It's a word that hasn't been much in the American vocabulary, though, as retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, historian, and TomDispatch regular William Astore suggests today, it certainly should have been. In fact, you could argue that we're talking about 30-plus years of all-American decline, during much of which, after the Soviet Union imploded in 1991, American politicians continued to hail this country as the planet's "last" or "sole superpower." That it, like the Soviet Union, was headed for the imperial exit ramp, even if ever so slowly, seemed inconceivable.

That pace, of course, would only speed up with the launching of the war on terror and the disastrous conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. And yet, even then, triumphalism remained the note of the day in Washington, as this country poured ever more tax dollars into the Pentagon budget (a phenomenon that even the debt-ceiling dispute has hardly affected).

But don't think that nobody noticed. To my mind, the most striking thing about Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign was the slogan that's become such an acronym (MAGA) that no one even thinks about what it stands for anymore. Trump, I suspect, won that year in large part because of that slogan, Make America Great Again! (yes, with that very exclamation point attached!), which caught the mood of all too many Americans, even if no other politician would then admit that America was no longer "great."

As I wrote in April 2016 in a piece I headlined "Has the American Age of Decline Begun?":

"With that 'again,' Donald Trump crossed a line in American politics that" represented a kind of psychological taboo for politicians of any stripe, of either party, including presidents and potential candidates for that position. He is the first American leader or potential leader of recent times not to feel the need or obligation to insist that the United States, the 'sole' superpower of Planet Earth, is an 'exceptional' nation, an 'indispensable' country" Donald Trump, in other words, is the first person to run openly and without apology on a platform of American decline."

Now, after his own decline, he's once again running for president, this time under the unspoken slogan MTGA! (Make Trump Great Again!). With that in mind, let Astore bring us up to date on just where on the downhill slope this increasingly chaotic country now finds itself. Tom

Clinging Bitterly to Guns and Religion

The End Stage of American Empire

By William J. Astore

All around us things are falling apart. Collectively, Americans are experiencing national and imperial decline. Can America save itself? Is this country, as presently constituted, even worth saving?

For me, that last question is radical indeed. From my early years, I believed deeply in the idea of America. I knew this country wasn't perfect, of course, not even close. Long before the 1619 Project, I was aware of the "original sin" of slavery and how central it was to our history. I also knew about the genocide of Native Americans. (As a teenager, my favorite movie "" and so it remains "" was Little Big Man, which pulled no punches when it came to the white man and his insatiably murderous greed.)

Nevertheless, America still promised much, or so I believed in the 1970s and 1980s. Life here was simply better, hands down, than in places like the Soviet Union and Mao Zedong's China. That's why we had to "contain" communism "" to keep them over there, so they could never invade our country and extinguish our lamp of liberty. And that's why I joined America's Cold War military, serving in the Air Force from the presidency of Ronald Reagan to that of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. And believe me, it proved quite a ride. It taught this retired lieutenant colonel that the sky's anything but the limit.

In the end, 20 years in the Air Force led me to turn away from empire, militarism, and nationalism. I found myself seeking instead some antidote to the mainstream media's celebrations of American exceptionalism and the exaggerated version of victory culture that went with it (long after victory itself was in short supply). I started writing against the empire and its disastrous wars and found likeminded people at TomDispatch "" former imperial operatives turned incisive critics like Chalmers Johnson and Andrew Bacevich, along with sharp-eyed journalist Nick Turse and, of course, the irreplaceable Tom Engelhardt, the founder of those "tomgrams" meant to alert America and the world to the dangerous folly of repeated U.S. global military interventions.

But this isn't a plug for TomDispatch. It's a plug for freeing your mind as much as possible from the thoroughly militarized matrix that pervades America. That matrix drives imperialism, waste, war, and global instability to the point where, in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, the risk of nuclear Armageddon could imaginably approach that of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. As wars "" proxy or otherwise "" continue, America's global network of 750-odd military bases never seems to decline. Despite upcoming cuts to domestic spending, just about no one in Washington imagines Pentagon budgets doing anything but growing, even soaring toward the trillion-dollar level, with militarized programs accounting for 62% of federal discretionary spending in 2023.

Indeed, an engorged Pentagon "" its budget for 2024 is expected to rise to $886 billion in the bipartisan debt-ceiling deal reached by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy "" guarantees one thing: a speedier fall for the American empire. Chalmers Johnson predicted it; Andrew Bacevich analyzed it. The biggest reason is simple enough: incessant, repetitive, disastrous wars and costly preparations for more of the same have been sapping America's physical and mental reserves, as past wars did the reserves of previous empires throughout history. (Think of the short-lived Napoleonic empire, for example.)

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Hundreds of drone specialists from across Europe and beyond will gather at the International Drone Show in Denmark in August in Denmark to discuss the latest drone developments and explore future potential. Leading experts will present key topics including defence, Nordic airspace, vertiports, digital air traffic control and securing critical infrastructure. Denmark has become a leading northern European hub for drone technologies. On 29 August, drone companies and end users 
The brother of a Portland musician who was shot to death on a remote Cascades hiking trail last summer has asked Washingtons state attorney general to take over the investigation.

In a May 25 letter sent to Lewis County, Wash., prosecuting attorney Jonathan Meyer and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Portland lawyer Pilar C. French asked the elected officials to call for an independent review of the case by Attorney General Robert Ferguson.

French represents Silverton music teacher Corey Christensen, Aron Christensens brother.

The plea came in the same month his sister and brother-in-law, acting as Aron Christensens estate, confirmed they plan to file a $20 million lawsuit against the Lewis County Sheriffs Office, alleging detectives purposely and maliciously sabotaged the investigation into Aron Christensens death.

Aron Christensen, on an annual camping trip with friends, set out August 19 on a solo hike with his four-month-old cattle dog, Buzzo, up the Walupt Lake Trail in Washingtons Cascade Mountains. The 49-year-old avid outdoorsman, who grew up in Klamath Falls, was expected to return to the campground the next afternoon.

Instead, the next day a pair of hikers reported finding a mans body near the trail, next to the body of a small dog.

Even though those hikers  and another couple who were riding on horseback  told law enforcement they saw what looked like a gunshot wound, the first deputy to reach Aron Christensens body decided a homicide detective wasnt needed at the scene. When his supervisor agreed, the deputy called for help to bag and remove the bodies. Minimal evidence was collected from the scene, according to case records that have been publicly released.

The investigation into the deaths turned into a tumultuous, frustrating waiting game for Aron Christensens family and friends that lasted more than seven months.

Meyer, the Lewis County prosecutor, ultimately decided there wasnt enough evidence to bring felony manslaughter charges against the only suspect in the fatal shooting.

A 20-year-old Lewis County man named Ethan Asbach admitted he fired a gun on Aug. 19, 2022, in the area where the bodies of Christensen and Christensens dog were later found, and forensic evidence linked the bullet that killed Christensen to Asbachs gun, according to the Lewis County Sheriffs Office investigation. Asbach said he was hiking on the trail with his then-16-year-old girlfriend.

The evidence didnt meet the threshold for proving criminal recklessness or criminal negligence, Meyer determined. In his decline-to-prosecute letter, he pointed out that Lewis County police officers, detectives and forensics professionals made mistakes that compromised the case.

The old adage of investigate it like its a homicide until it isnt was not followed here, he wrote.

Meyer wrote that the case was problematic from the onset and listed various errors beyond the initial failures at the crime scene, including likely cross-contamination when the same tools were used during the autopsies of Aron Christensen and his dog.

Had the case been fully investigated, and from the beginning been treated like a homicide, I dont know what evidence would have been found, Meyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive in April. Its hard to say All I know is, with the evidence we have now, theres not enough to go forward.

Meyer personally interviewed Dr. Megan Quinn, the pathologist who worked on the case. She told him she believed she was being given a narrative by the Lewis County Sheriffs Office and was expected to make findings that fit with that story, according to Meyers own account. The sheriffs office wanted Quinn to conclude that Aron Christensen died from a heart attack before he was shot, Corey Christensen and his lawyer allege.

Quinn concluded that Aron Christensen was alive when the bullet entered his body.

French, Corey Christensens lawyer, copied several federal and Oregon officials in her letter calling for an independent investigation.

In an email response the next day, May 26, Meyer said Frenchs letter didnt provide any new information and that his office would not take any further action.

Gov. Inslee on Tuesday confirmed his office had received the letter and forwarded it to his legal team. Attorney General Ferguson has not responded to the letter.

Corey Christensen said if the Washington attorney general wont investigate either the homicide or the Lewis County Sheriffs Office for mishandling the case, then hell go to the FBI next.

He added:

Clearly Oregonians should not be camping and hiking in Washington if public safety is lacking.

 Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens
A 30-year-old man accused of setting a Southwest Portland apartment building on fire last month was indicted Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court on 55 charges, including 29 felonies.

Garrett Repp was charged with 28 counts of first-degree arson and one count of first-degree criminal mischief, all felonies, five counts of first-degree animal abuse and 21 counts of reckless endangerment in the May 16 fire at the May Apartments, court records show.

Repps court-appointed attorney requested he undergo an evaluation to determine if he is fit to proceed with the court case, court records show.

Repp is being held in the Multnomah County Inverness Jail until his next court appearance on June 23.

Portland police arrested Repp on May 25, nine days after a four-alarm fire destroyed the 113-year-old apartment building on Southwest 14th Avenue and Taylor Street. All 16 people inside at the time escaped uninjured.

The fire displaced all of the residents of the buildings 42 units and killed an unknown number of pets.

The charred building partially collapsed the day after the fire and will likely be torn down.

A fire investigator determined the fire likely started in unit 310  Repps apartment  and spread to the fourth floor, according to a probable cause affidavit.

An accelerant-detecting dog from Portland Fire & Rescue went into Repps apartment on May 24 and sniffed out five possible spots of ignitable liquid, according to the affidavit.

The May Apartments landlord had initiated an eviction order against Repp in February, saying he owed $3,400 in back rent and fees, court records show.

Repp allegedly started the fire about an hour before Multnomah County sheriffs deputies were scheduled to evict him on May 16, according to court records.

-- Catalina Gaitan, cgaitan@oregonian.com, @catalingaitan_

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Kann, chef Gregory Gourdets paean to the Haitian cuisine of his forebears, was named Americas best new restaurant at the James Beard Foundations 2023 Awards show Monday at Lyric Opera of Chicago, the first time a Portland restaurant has earned that honor.

In what emerged as a huge night for Portland restaurants, another local chef, Vince Nguyen of Southeast Portlands Berlu, took home a regional award in the newly redistricted Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category, besting Thomas Pisha-Duffly of Portlands Gado Gado, Josh Dorcak of Ashlands Mas and chefs from Seattle and Juneau, Alaska.

The awards ceremony, often called the Oscars of the food world, took place as the foundation  a lightning rod for criticism since its founding in 1991  attempts to respond to changes in the greater restaurant industry, making its once-opaque awards process more equitable for a diverse roster of chefs.

(Change) is happening, just look around you, said Bay Area chef Tonya Holland, the award committee chair. When I was on the stage at these awards 21 years ago, I didnt see many people who looked like me. Now we have a Hawaiian female restaurateur, a Haitian gay male chef, and indigenous female chef, a queer black wine educator, and on and on.

In a ceremony that stretched on for nearly four hours, included at least four hosts, featured appearances by Chicagos mayor, Illinois governor, sponsor representatives, the head of the local tourism board and even a pre-recorded video of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken -- during which he listed every ingredient of a dish from a recent state dinner -- Portlands Nguyen kept his speech blessedly short.

Thank you to the community of chefs, diners, media in Portland who have supported me from day one, even though Im from Orange County, Nguyen joked in remarks that lasted around 40 seconds. Thank you to my staff, old and present, even if you worked for me for a day, I learned from that experience. And most of all thank you to my wife, who is my support and inspiration.

Berlu, The Oregonians 2019 Rising Star restaurant, spent the pandemic reinventing itself first as a night market, then a bakery, then a Vietnamese tasting menu experience.

In other categories, folding Hawaii into the Northwest region allowed the Beard Awards to move Idaho into a new Mountain district, freeing former Portland chef Kris Komori to win for his work at Boises Kin.

How many of you thought someone from Boise would be up here? Komori said.

Portlanders also did well in the Beard Foundations annual media awards Saturday, when The Oregonians own Gosia Wozniacka won an investigative reporting award for previous work with the website Civil Eats, while Eater PDX editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden took home the local voice award and an All The Homies Network episode won in the reality visual media category.

Near the end of a chef ceremony Monday that featured several expected wins  Philadelphias Kalaya in the Mid-Atlantic region, Atomix for New York State  Kann, the odds-on favorite to win best new restaurant, appeared to be in strong position to win its categroy. After opening last August, Gourdets first solo project after years helming downtown Portlands Departure has cleaned up with both national and local awards, taking the No. 1 spot on Esquires annual restaurant guide and being named The Oregonians our own 2022 Restaurant of the Year.

An exterior view is seen at Kann, a Haitian restaurant by Gregory Gourdet in Portland, on Thursday, November 10, 2022.Vickie Connor/The Oregonian

After Kanns number was called, Gourdet took the stage in a sharp suit with a half dozen principal Kann staffers, pausing to give a quick Haitian Creole lesson, teaching the crowd how to ask Sak pase? (Whats up?) and answer Nap boule (Its burning, though, ironically, probably closed in meaning to Chilling).

Gourdet kicked off his speech with a sigh, and a long lens:

Whew, where to start? he asked. In 1492, Christopher Columbus...

The audience laughed (it was a good line) but Gourdets had picked his starting point in earnest.

...he landed on Haiti, Gourdet continued, and he forever changed the fate of the native Taino people and the fate of the enslaved Africans that came over. For 300 years they were exploited, abused, and used to make Haiti one of the richest colonies in the world, producing almost all of the sugar and coffee that was exported to Europe.

As Gourdet explained, Haiti endured nearly 13 years of revolution before becoming the first worlds Black-led Republic.

From barbecue to liberation, we have a lot to give to Haiti, he said.

Gourdet thanked his assembled team, including business partner Tia Vanich, chef de cuisine Varanya Geyoonsawat, general manager Damont Nelson, pastry chef Gabby Borlabi, sous chef Hannah-Ruth Wilson and assistant general managers Erica Namare and Brandon Hightower, as well as his parents, the Beard Foundation and the City of Portland for allowing us to create something that all the world would want to visit.

From the beginning, we always wanted to do things extremely differently, and it hasnt been easy. we had the grace of the pandemic to allow us to see what we think needed to change in our industry, and we try to stand, we hope to stand as an example that paying people fairly, having diverse and mixed gender teams is not just equitable, but effective.

Today I stand the son of Haitian immigrants, a son of my ancestors, and the member of a team 45 people deep who are committed to telling the story of Haiti and its contribution to the culinary arts, to American culture and to global culture altogether.

Want to learn more about Kann? I suggest starting with my 2022 review, Kann is unlike any restaurant Portland has seen before. Want to try it for yourself? Heres my guide to getting into Kann, with or without a reservation.

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

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Wildfire smoke is causing an increase in unhealthy air quality days across Oregon, according to the states environmental agency.

The annual report from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality summarizes the agencys air quality monitoring for particulate matter during wildfire seasons through the 2022 season.
Police are investigating a potential bias crime after Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch reportedly found a dead raccoon and a sign with intimidating language directed at him and another city councilor on the front door of his office Monday morning.

The Redmond Police Department said in a press release that the sign mentioned Fitch and Councilor Clifford Evelyn by name. Police provided a photo but intentionally blurred what the sign says to maintain the integrity of the investigation, said Heather Cassaro, a city spokeswoman.

Fitch declined Monday to elaborate on specifically what the sign said, but added: I feel bad for Clifford. It seems theres some people in town that cant accept the fact that Clifford is Black and is on the City Council.

READ MORE AT THE BULLETIN: Redmond police investigating dead raccoon, hateful sign left on mayors doorstep

 Bryce Dole, 541-617-7854, bdole@bendbulletin.com
Student loan debt forgiveness is being attacked from all sides.

We know that people who hold the vast majority of student loan debt are working people, including LGBTQ folks, women, people of color, people with families and more.

Whether its farmers in Minnesota or teachers in Mississippi, theyre worried about the future of affording and paying back their loans.

Are you one of them?

Between now and September, we want to share real stories of people most impacted by the student loan debt crisis.

Youre welcome to remain anonymous or provide your name and contact information in the form below. You can also email Reckon reporter Alexis Wray at awray@reckonmedia.com.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (L) and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna (Photo: VNA)

Minister Son, who is on France visit from June 5-6, made the statement during his talks with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna on June 5.

It has been the first exchange of delegation at the ministerial level in the past decade, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Expressing their delight at the sound development of bilateral ties over the past years, they wished to work closely together to elevate ties to a new height.

The two ministers agreed to continue facilitating visits and contacts at all levels in the coming time, especially between senior leaders. They also vowed to maintain cooperation mechanisms, including resuming the strategic security and defence dialogue at the deputy ministerial level between the two countries foreign and defence ministries, as well as conducting political consultations at the department head level between the two foreign ministries.

They were pleased to note the recovery of two-way trade following the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 5.3 billion USD in 2022, an increase of 10% compared to 2021, with still untapped potential. They promised to continue with the effective implementation of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Son suggested the French government back and push forward the French parliaments early approval of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission (EC) to lift the yellow card warning against Vietnamese aquatic products.

The French minister expressed her appreciation for joint economic projects, especially the Nhon-Hanoi urban railway project, a symbol of Vietnam-France economic cooperation.

The two sides also discussed how to boost cooperation in climate change response, renewable energy, science-technology, education and training, and pledged to jointly hold activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

The Vietnamese guest suggested France continue offering support to the Vietnamese community living here, contributing to upholding their role as a bridge between the two countries.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they vowed to work closely together and offer mutual support at multilateral organisations and forums, especially the United Nations (UN), and advancing the framework of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they shared views on ensuring peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in the region, and settling disputes via peaceful means in line with international law and the UN Charter, and respecting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, Son invited Minister Colonna to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The latter accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
Under the theme "Common Endeavor for a Resilient and Sustainable Planet" the meeting held on May 20, 2023, as part of the expanded G7 Summit, focused on discussing crucial topics such as climate change adaptation, sustainable energy transition and environmental protection. During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech affirming that, in recent years, Vietnam has been implementing various comprehensive measures in the field of energy transformation, and green energy growth, which have been highly regarded by the international community. Vietnam also reaffirmed its commitment to actively pursue sustainable development, climate change adaptation, emission reduction, energy transition, and the determination to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition, Vietnam expressed support for Japan's "Asian Net Zero Emissions Community" (AZEC) initiative and proposed that G7 countries and partners continue to assist Vietnam in implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership Agreement (JETP) in a substantial and effective manner. This support aims to assist Vietnam in maximizing its potential and advantages, becoming a regional renewable energy hub, and deeply engaging in energy-efficient and circular industrial production chains.

Leaders attending the G7 Open Summit Conference pose for a joint photo in Hiroshima, Japan. (Picture: g7hiroshima)

The declaration of the expanded G7 Summit and the commitment to continue accelerating the implementation of COP 26 have created numerous opportunities, motivations, and challenges for scientists and innovators worldwide, including Vietnam regarding research and application of new technological solutions for energy transition and emission reduction.

It is common knowledge that the primary causes of climate change and global warming are the emissions of internal combustion engines in various modes of transportation such as automobiles, trucks, vessels, other machinery and airplanes which are primarily powered by fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, and gas).

After extensive research and experimentation, KOGI Group (a Vietnamese research group based in Vietnam and abroad) has developed a brand-new technology to generate renewable hydrogen gas which has numerous superior advantages compared to existing methods and other inventions and innovations worldwide (eliminating the need for input material planning, eliminating harmful emissions generated in the engine's combustion chamber such as NOx, CO, CO2, SO2 exceeding Euro 6 standards; enabling thorough combustion and prolonging fuel burning time; maintaining optimal combustion chamber temperature; not requiring additional energy support sources; cleaning carbon from the engine and prolonging engine life) applicable to all types of internal combustion engines (gasoline, diesel, and gas)

This technology invention by the KOGI Group has been successfully tested in practice, applied to a wide range of internal combustion engines, and registered for global intellectual property protection (WIPO/PTC, USA, Japan, etc.). This technology by the KOGI Group is one of the practical solutions contributing to the effective implementation of COP26 and the joint declaration of the G7 Summit regarding energy security, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, emission reduction, and energy transition, aiming to build a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and sustainable world. The technical solution provided by the KOGI Group is not only scientifically sound and highly applicable but also cost-effective for end users of vehicles.

To have the patented product mass-produced and widely used globally, besides the efforts of scientists, entrepreneurs, overseas intellectuals, the timely support from the leadership of the Vietnamese Government and governments around the world is crucial, particularly the assistance and favorable conditions in all aspects between the Vietnamese and Japanese Governments (mechanisms, policies, capital, taxes, land area, locations for research, production, and installation facilities) within the program to enhance cooperation between the two governments in science, technology, innovation, research and development; semiconductor manufacturing, new energy (such as hydrogen), renewable energy, etc.

Energy plays a particularly important role in the implementation of Vietnam's international commitments on climate change. (Illustration)

Leveraging the role of overseas Vietnamese people, especially with the support of intellectuals and businesspeople in Japan, The Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese (BAOOV) has proposed and gained collaboration from leading Japanese industrial corporations to work with KOGI Corporation in researching, validating, and widely applying KOGI's new invention in the field of producing new energy sources and renewable energy worldwide in order to fulfill the commitment of achieving zero emissions by the mid-century.

The invention by the Group holds not only scientific significance but also deep political implications, affirming that Vietnam possesses the potential, strength, and capacity to integrate deeply into the international community. It contributes significantly to the collective efforts of the international community in maintaining peace, stability, and promoting economic development on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and in line with the interests of developing countries. Moreover, it serves as a practical activity that further enhances the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (September 21, 1973 - September 21, 2023)./.


NEW YORK (AP)  One recent day, Broadway star Betsy Wolfe was up at 4 a.m. to perform on Good Morning America. Then there was a formal gala lunch and a few snuggle hours with her young daughter. Finally, as the sun set, her main job beckoned: A big new musical that needed her voice.

Such is the life of a Tony nominee, something Wolfe has earned this season for the first time. The most grateful exhaustion is the best way I can possibly describe it, she says with a laugh. I am drinking way too much coffee this time in life.

Wolfe stars in & Juliet a Tony-nominated musical which reimagines what would happen if "Romeo and Juliet didn't end so sadly and adds some of the biggest pop hits of the past few decades by the likes of Britney Spears and Katy Perry. Wait, a jukebox musical on top of Shakespeare?

Theres a healthy amount of doubt that everyone has when you first hear about this piece. Weve seen jukebox musicals before. Ive been in them, she says. But theres something about this one  its truly a unicorn.

Wolfe plays Williams Shakespeares wife, Anne, who in playwright David West Read's book challenges her husband to change Juliet's story for future generations, and it changes her life, too.

Women often shrink themselves  to not intimidate, to not threaten their partner. And so to be able to come out within the first five minutes of the show and not do any of that, but just be fearless, saying, I think we can make this better.

Wolfe, whose Broadway credits include Waitress and Bullets Over Broadway and revivals of Falsettos and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, has often played a girlfriend or a wife of a more successful artist but is one of the two heroines now. Where most of my roles have seemingly ended in the first five pages, this one began.

The musical's crowning achievement is its ability to use massive pop hits by Max Martin, who had a hand in Backstreet Boys' Larger Than Life, Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone, Celine Dion's Thats The Way It Is and Justin Timberlake's Cant Stop the Feeling.

In one special move, Spears' Im Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman is sung by Juliets nonbinary friend, May, played by genderqueer Justin David Sullivan. Its a landmark moment for Broadway, allowing a nonbinary main character to talk about being misgendered and what its like to date while trans.

It is the first project Wolfe has tackled since the pandemic and the birth of her child, 3-year-old Poppy, with husband Adam Krauthamer, a Broadway musician. She was six months pregnant when the pandemic began, and Poppy was 18 months old when Wolfe agreed to do the show, taking the family to Toronto during its first runs.

I knew that the projects that I would choose from here on out would be shaped by the fact that it had to be worth the time and the sacrifice that it takes from all parties involved. And this story in particular just really spoke to me, she says.

I went in doubting how it could possibly work and honestly, by Page 3, maybe four, I was cracking up and I had this feeling in my gut that this was the next show that I wanted to do. This was the story I wanted to tell, and this was a show that I needed to see.

Some audience members have walked out on her show, unhappy with the direction of a feminist Romeo and Juliet or the pro-transgender-rights theme.

Occasionally, for some people its too much. And thats OK. But the point is this: I think that were pushing the conversation forward in a thoughtful way, she says.

Stark Sands, who plays William Shakespeare, calls Wolfe the best scene partner I could ever ask for. He says she's playful, genuinely funny and surprising  constantly trying new ways to deliver.

She knew that when she looked in the audience and saw moms and their daughters watching this, she knew what it could mean, he says. This is her opportunity to have an impact in a story about empowerment.

On Sunday, Wolfe faces-off in the category of best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical with Julia Lester from Into the Woods, Ruthie Ann Miles in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Bonnie Milligan of Kimberly Akimbo and NaTasha Yvette Williams from Some Like It Hot."

But even if she doesn't win, she's gotten the approval of one person that means the world to her  her daughter. Poppy just saw the show for the first time, loves singing Roar and hanging out with Juliet, played by Lorna Courtney.

I was thinking like, Oh, this will be so enlightening. Like, Shell get to see this really cool rewrite. And whats even sweeter for me is this just might be the world that she thinks is normal, Wolfe says.

This is not a rewrite for her. This is the world and how beautiful that this story becomes her normal. And if thats the starting place for maybe a generation, that's actually the coolest gift that I could give her.

___

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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One of China's top battery-makers believes it has cracked a technology to provide even cheaper and more powerful packs for electric vehicles.

Gotion High-Tech recently unveiled a lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate battery - LMFP for short - which it says will power an EV for 621 miles on each charge. Until now, it's been largely the more expensive nickel-cobalt batteries that have provided that kind of range.

"It's an upgrade; it's a leap for energy density," Cheng Qian, executive president of Gotion's international business unit, said in a phone interview from Tokyo.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer, Jr., announced in October a state incentive package approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund to bring Gotion to Big Rapids. The state House and Senate also approved the incentives.

Gotion's $2.364 billion investment in Michigan will create up to 2,350 new jobs in Big Rapids and the surrounding area and serve increasing demand in the battery production industry. Gotion chose Michigan over potential sites in Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Illinois and Ohio. The proposed Gotion battery plant has been met with some community pushback - notably from Congressman John Moolenaar, whose district includes western Midland County. "To take millions of dollars from Michigan taxpayers and give it to a subsidiary of a company that pledges allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party is a historic mistake by the Michigan legislature," he stated in an April press release. "This proposed facility will be 100 miles from Camp Grayling, where the Michigan National Guard has trained military partners from Taiwan to prepare for possible CCP aggression. Yet, Michigan's state government leaders are siding with CCP-affiliated companies." State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet said there was a huge amount of misinformation spread about the proposed Big Rapids plant. She specifically noted that Gotion - widely referred to as a Chinese company by critics like Moolenaar - has a majority stakeholder in Germany, but does have ties to China. There are many companies in this state that have ties to the Chinese government, McDonald Rivet said. I was satisfied to vote yes for a couple of reasons. It creates jobs in a region that desperately needs them, it was thoroughly vetted from a security perspective by the federal government, it has done its environment due diligence, and I was inundated with calls from local residents asking me to vote yes. Gotion, listed in Shenzhen and with Volkswagen as its largest shareholder, expects its LMFP battery to cost 5% less than a conventional LFP battery in terms of dollars per kilowatt hour, Cheng said. That would be as much as 20% to 25% cheaper than nickel-cobalt units. Gotion's offering adds manganese to existing lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry that was commercialized in China and has been adopted by major EV makers from BYD to Tesla as a method of cutting the cost of some models. Improvements in LFP that pack more power into smaller packages have helped popularize the technology, which is typically cheaper to manufacture.

LFP batteries almost hit a ceiling of energy density at 190 Wh/kg, Cheng said, while Gotion's new battery could achieve 240 Wh/kg. That means it can store more energy in every battery cell, minimizing the weight and size of the pack.

The innovation highlights how battery technology and raw material needs are still evolving and unpredictable as the world's automakers seek to slash costs while boosting EV performance. It also shows how Chinese companies continue to pioneer those advances.

The LMFP chemistry can replace some of the industry's nickel-cobalt cells "with the same performance but lower costs and better safety," Cheng said. "I think it's very attractive for carmakers, and I have to say a lot of companies will follow this trend."

LMFP technology is not new, but traditionally the cells are not used in EV applications for reasons from low conductivity to high-temperature dissolution or low density. Gotion said its battery - which it calls "Astroinno" - has overcome those technical challenges.

Gotion's manganese-added cells "will create real opportunity to compete with some NCM chemistries where standard LFP struggles to compete on energy density," said Victoria Hugill, battery research analyst at London-based consultancy Rho Motion. LMFP could take a 6% market share by 2040, likely surpassing other emerging options like sodium-ion batteries, she said.

Astroinno could be in mass production as soon as the second quarter next year, according to Cheng. It has passed safety tests and the LMFP batteries will be manufactured in two plants in China's Anhui province.

Gotion has been ramping up overseas expansions, from planning the Big Rapids plant to raising a global depositary receipts offering in Switzerland last year. The company was the world's eighth-largest battery manufacturer last year, according to SNE Research.

Astroinno joins some other significant battery innovations by Chinese companies in recent years. In 2020, BYD launched its Blade battery - an LFP unit with sleeker shape and improved energy density. Contemporary Amperex Technology is developing what it calls a condensed-state battery.

Among advantages will be an ability for fast charging that could take just a shade more than a quarter of an hour, according to Gotion's Cheng.

"You can have a cup of coffee and rest at the charging station, and the battery will be charged from 10% to 80% within 18 minutes using the step charging," he said.
Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Department and the Midland Police Department, compiled by Dan Chalk.

Monday, June 5

10:13 p.m. - A deputy was requested by Midland City Police to search a Porter Township rural area to check for a suicidal 20-year-old man who was threatening to jump off a bridge. The deputy located the man, who was threatening to jump off the edge of the bridge. The deputy spoke with the man and talked him down from jumping. The male was later turned over to the city police for further mental health treatment.

9:34 p.m. - Deputies were sent to a Lincoln Township parking lot and spoke with a 17-year-old Gratiot County male and his 18-year-old Midland brother, who had an altercation over a vehicle that the 17-year-old stole from their mother. The 17-year-old was cited for driving while unlicensed/minor in possession of tobacco. The 17-year-old and the vehicle were turned over to his mother per Gratiot County's request.

8:46 p.m. - A 43-year-old Midland man was arrested for several misdemeanor warrants out of the 75th District Court following a traffic stop. He was also cited for driving while his license was suspended and was taken to Midland County Jail without incident.

6:54 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township residence in response to a 28-year-old man and his 50-year-old mother arguing. The son was arrested for domestic violence and was lodged at Midland County Jail without incident. A report is being sent to the prosecuting attorney.

6:39 p.m. - Officers responded t Byrd Street at Wyllys Street for a driver operating while intoxicated.

4:38 p.m. - Deputies conducted a traffic stop at a Lee Township location and discovered that the 53-year-old male driver didn't have a valid driver's license. He was issued a citation.

4:21 p.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Mills Township residence for a burning complaint. The fire was extinguished and Mills Township Fire cleared the scene prior to the deputy's arrival. The deputy discussed what can and what can't be burned with the 51-year-old female homeowner.

9 a.m. - A Coleman gas station reported a dark blue truck left without paying for $50.09 in gas. No plate number was obtained.

1:09 a.m. - Officers responded to a report of criminal sexual conduct in the 2700 block of Novak Street.

1:03 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to Lincoln Township to attempt a civil stand-by for a vehicle that belonged to the 43-year-old female caller. A 44-year-old man refused to give up the keys, so the woman elected to have the vehicle towed to her residence. Deputies stood by as the vehicle was towed away.

Sunday, June 4

9:56 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to Edenville Township for a well-being check of a 58-year-old Edenville man in poor health who was not answering the door. The deputies located the man deceased in his home from what appeared to be natural causes.

6:31 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to speak with a 26-year old woman, who said someone tried to deposit about $4,725 into her bank account, but the checks bounced. The woman wished for the incident to be documented.

8:56 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Urgent Care for a 78-year-old Midland man who suffered a dog bite while at his 57-year-old son's house in Lee Township. The son was issued an isolation notice.

4:33 a.m. - Officers responded to westbound US-10 at Bay City Road for a second-offense operating while intoxicated and a traffic crash.

3:36 a.m. - Officers responded to the 3900 block of Gettysburg for a report of domestic violence.

Saturday, June 3

9:41 p.m. - A 64-year-old Warren Township man was arrested for operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop in Warren Township for not wearing his seat belt. The man was transported to the MCJ without incident.

9:19 p.m. - A 29-year-old Auburn man was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs after being involved in a traffic crash in Larkin Township. The man was lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident and the vehicle was towed away from the scene.

5:18 p.m. - A 27-year-old Macomb County woman was cited for driving with license suspended after a traffic stop in Midland.

2:55 p.m. - A deputy transported a 39-year-old Bay City man to the Midland County Jail after he was arrested by Bay City Public Safety on a misdemeanor warrant out of Midland County.

12:40 p.m. - Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 4500 block of Bay City Road.

1:07 a.m. - Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 4800 block of Meyers.

12:06 a.m. - Officers responded to breaking and entering in the 3600 block of McKeith.

Friday, June 2

11:32 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township residence for a report of a 28-year-old man yelling at the 34-year-old female complainant. The man left the residence prior to deputies' arrival. There is a conditional bond in place through the 75th District Court which allows peaceful contact only. A report is being sent to the prosecutor requesting bond violation charges.

10:32 p.m. - A 37-year-old woman was arrested and lodged at the Midland County Jail for operating while intoxicated after a traffic stop for speeding in Jerome Township.

9:05 p.m. - A deputy cited a 34-year-old man in Midland for having no insurance and an expired license plate. The man obtained insurance and drove his vehicle away from the scene.

7:36 p.m. - A deputy responded to a Lincoln Township residence for a death investigation for an 88-year-old woman. The death is believed to be of natural causes.

7:24 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Ingersoll Township residence for a 45-year-old female reporting that her 26-year-old son had assaulted her. The son had two misdemeanor warrants out of Midland County and was arrested and lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident.

6:18 p.m. - Deputies spoke with a 30-year-old woman who had said a 57-year-old woman was at her residence acting disorderly over money that the caller owed her. Deputies trespassed the 57-year-old from the property and advised her to go to court over the money owed.

3:58 p.m. - Deputies responded to Lee Township for a report that a 16-year-old girl had broken into a residence and taken property. The girl had left the area but was later located by a deputy and lodged at the Juvenile Justice Center.

2:23 p.m. - A 65-year-old Lee Township man was cited and a 51-year-old Lee Township man was arrested for an outstanding warrant out of Roscommon County after a traffic stop in Lincoln Township. The 51-year-old was lodged at the Midland County Jail.

11:42 a.m. - Officers assisted firefighters in the 6900 block of Eastman.

11:36 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township business because a 38-year-old woman had violated a personal protection order. A report was sent to the prosecutor.

10:37 a.m. - A 40-year-old Edenville Twp. male was cited for having no insurance and for driving with license revoked in Lincoln Township.

2:15 a.m. - A deputy and MyMichigan EMS responded to a Midland Township roadway for a single-vehicle rollover crash. Two juveniles suffered minor injuries. The driver was cited for traffic offenses and a report was forwarded to the prosecutor.

12:20 a.m. - During a traffic stop in Jerome Township, a 45-year-old male driver was cited for not having a valid license and for having an improper license plate.
BERLIN (AP)  German authorities detained a second man Tuesday in connection with a racist arson attack on a shelter for asylum-seekers 32 years ago in which a Ghanaian man was killed.

Federal prosecutors said Peter St., whose full surname wasn't released due to privacy rules, was detained by police in the western state of Saarland on suspicion of being an accessory to murder and accessory to attempted murder.
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TEKNAF, Bangladesh (AP)  On Dec. 1, 2022, a boat carrying around 180 Rohingya refugees set out from Bangladesh, bound for Indonesia. On board were babies, pregnant women and children fleeing surging violence in Bangladeshs refugee camps. One week later, the boat vanished.

The Associated Press has reconstructed the passengers journey based on dozens of interviews, audio recordings of calls from the boat, photos and videos. The APs reporting reveals the boat sank during a storm a week into its journey.

Human rights advocates say what happened to those on board is the latest example of political inaction and global apathy toward the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar. At least 348 Rohingya died or went missing while attempting to cross the Bay of Bengal or Andaman Sea last year  the highest death toll since 2014, according to the UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. Yet the UNHCR says its repeated pleas to maritime authorities to rescue some of these distressed boats in recent months have been ignored.

Here are the key takeaways from APs investigation:

FEAR AND MISERY FUELING THE EXODUS

Last year, more than 3,500 Rohingya attempted to cross the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea  a 360% increase over the previous year, according to United Nations figures that are almost certainly an undercount.

The reasons so many Rohingya have boarded these boats are written on face after gaunt face in Bangladeshs squalid refugee camps, where around 1 million Rohingya have been living for years in sweltering, overcrowded huts.

Most of the Rohingya in these camps fled what the United States has declared a genocide in Myanmar in 2017. In recent years, however, brutal killings by gangs and warring militant groups  many in broad daylight  have become commonplace. So, too, have fires, some of them acts of arson.

Beyond the spiraling security situation is worsening hunger. The Rohingya are banned from working and rely on food rations, which have been slashed due to a drop in global donations. Meanwhile, a military coup in 2021 in Myanmar has made any safe return home at best a distant dream.

Many of those aboard the boat at the heart of APs investigation were terrified for their lives, including its captain, Jamal Hussein. And so, out of options, they headed out into the Bay of Bengal in the hopes of ultimately reaching Malaysia, via Indonesia.

They never made it.

THE FATE OF JAMALS BOAT

One week into the passengers journey, a storm struck the Bay of Bengal. On Dec. 7, a woman on board Jamals boat named Setera Begum used the vessels satellite phone to make a frantic call to her husband, Muhammed Rashid, who was in Malaysia.

Rashid recorded the call and shared it with the AP. In the recording, Setera  who was traveling with two of her teenage daughters  shouts: Oh, Allah, our boat has sunk! Only half of it is still afloat! Please pray for us and tell my parents!

Rashid asks where she is, and Setera at first says Indonesia, before checking with a fellow passenger and saying India. She then cries, Oh, Allah, its sunk by the waves, its sunk by the storm!

Soon after, the call cuts out.

Jamals boat was being followed by another vessel carrying Rohingya refugees. The captain of the second boat, Kafayet Ullah, says he watched as Jamals boat made a sharp turn in the waves, and flipped over. Kafayet heard people screaming.

Then the screams stopped. The light on board Jamals boat blinked out.

No trace of the passengers has been found.

SURGE IN DEATHS BLAMED ON GLOBAL APATHY

Jamals boat was not the only one to run into trouble in recent months. Yet time after time, the Rohingya aboard those distressed boats were abandoned by governments in the region and left to die.

In many cases, the boats had satellite phones and officials therefore knew their precise locations. But even then, the UNHCR says maritime authorities in the region repeatedly ignored its pleas to rescue some of those vessels.

Governments ignore the Rohingya because they can. While multiple international laws mandate the rescue of vessels in distress, enforcement is difficult.

In the past, the regions coastal nations hunted for boats in trouble  only to push them into other countries search and rescue zones, says Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which monitors the Rohingya crisis. But now, they rarely even bother to look.

The lucky ones are eventually towed to shore in Indonesia by local fishermen. Yet even rescue can be perilous  a Vietnamese oil company saved one boat, then promptly handed the Rohingya over to the same deadly regime in Myanmar from which theyd fled.

There is no reason why regional governments could not or cannot coordinate and rescue these boats, says John Quinley, director of human rights group Fortify Rights.

It was a total lack of political will and extremely heartless, he says. The accountability and the onus really lies on everyone.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces his new cabinet in Ankara, Turkiye, June 3, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's relationship with NATO allies following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for five more years is likely to remain challenging, experts said.

Erdogan won his third presidential term in an election runoff on May 28, which is considered a substantial force in how Turkiye-West ties would stay and change, especially at a time when its relations with the United States, a major NATO ally, are fraught.

Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has kept its distance from Turkiye mainly because of the latter's increasing cooperation with Russia, a trend that disturbs many Western officials and NATO.

Turkiye's decision to oppose Sweden's NATO membership bid has also impacted Ankara's relationship with the United States and other members of the Western defense alliance.

Delegates attend a ceremony for Finland's accession to NATO at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"A crisis seems to loom in Turkiye-NATO relations around Ankara's decision to stall Sweden's bid to join the alliance," Serkan Demirtas, an Ankara-based foreign policy analyst, told Xinhua.

Turkiye has "legitimate security concerns" over the Nordic country's accession to the alliance and is expecting more despite Stockholm's legal efforts to satisfy its demands, Demirtas noted.

"We will soon know if Ankara is satisfied or not, but a deadline is approaching," the Turkish analyst said, referring to the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July, where NATO wants to finalize Sweden's admission process.

Some experts believe that a compromise may be forthcoming after a phone call from Biden congratulating Erdogan on his re-election touched upon NATO expansion.

The two presidents "expressed their shared commitment to continue working together as close partners to deepen cooperation between our countries and people. They also discussed their readiness as NATO Allies to address regional and global challenges, including strengthening transatlantic security at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," said a White House issued on May 29.

The national flag of Finland and emblem of NATO are seen at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"I suspect that Erdogan will ratify Sweden's membership until the NATO summit. In this way, the Erdogan administration will want to make progress on the F-16 warplanes it wants to buy from the U.S.," Moscow-based Turkish analyst Kerim Has told Xinhua.

Despite Ankara and Washington repeatedly denying Turkiye's approval of Sweden's bid is a quid pro quo for buying more U.S. arms, Has argued that the two issues are connected.

Being kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program by Washington for purchasing Russian S-400 missiles, Ankara has sought to buy more F-16 jets, but the request has been pending for months with the Biden administration and U.S. Congress.

For Has, the Turkish leader has pushed the issue about as far as he can, and may finally concede to a compromise, given his country's economic problems which could prompt him to adopt a conciliatory approach in the hope of securing much-needed capital.

Ankara ratified Finland's NATO bid in March but is still reluctant about a similar bid from Sweden over the country's alleged support for Kurdish militants considered by Turkiye "terrorists."

For Washington, the accession of the two Scandinavian states to the alliance is a must amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict since it increases NATO interoperability.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Ankara, Turkiye, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

On May 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkiye to finalize Sweden's accession to NATO, saying the Nordic country had already taken significant steps to address Ankara's objections.

A foreign diplomat based in Ankara whose country is a NATO member told Xinhua that Turkiye will remain a "crucially important member, despite frustration from the alliance."

"The relationship is complicated and will remain to stay so," the source said on condition of anonymity.

According to Tulin Daloglu, an independent analyst based in Ankara, given Turkiye's growing geostrategic importance amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, "the current strained but manageable relations will continue as it is for the foreseeable future".

"The U.S.-dominated NATO decision-makers want Sweden to join the club as soon as possible. Turkiye is not against this membership or NATO's open door policy," she told Xinhua.

Editor: ZAD
Paducah, KY (42003)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 75F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The World Bank uesday announced the release of a comprehensive review of human capital outcomes in The Gambia and necessary actions to build, utilize, and protect human capital in the country
New York, US (PANA) - Despite critical gains by Central African nations in advancing stability and cooperation, the region faces multiple crises, and the coming months mark an important turning point, the top UN official there told the Security Council on Monday
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The National Centre for Disease Control has announced that it will be launching a five-day measles vaccination campaign from 18 to 22 June at vaccination centres in the municipalities of Ghat, Gatroun, Wadi Al-Ajal and Wadi Al-Chati, in the south of the country
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Ministry of Economy and Trade of the Government of National Unity has banned the import of clothing, ready-made garments, fabrics, textiles, footwear and all other goods, and their circulation on the markets that violate public order and public morality in Libyan society
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA)  South Africas Department of Defence is sending a 13-member delegation to the United States to attend the 19th SA-USA Defence Committee Meeting in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday to engage the US Department of Defence on a range of military-to-military issues
Kinshasa, DRC (PANA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) says 10 of its students have been killed in bombardments on the campus of the International University of Africa located in Khartoum where they were students
Another Blatant Attack on the Black Family and the Church

The Second Coming of "The Color Purple:" Another Attack on Black Families and the Church!



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Fair Park Bible Fellowship

June 6, 2023



DALLAS, June 6, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Black America has been the guinea pig in the Progressive Marxist offensive scheme to undermine our nation's religious liberty and moral values radically. Through deliberate infiltration and indoctrination, the black community has been seduced into embracing a value system devoid of the divine. As a result, right and wrong have been redefined, contributing to black families' slow disintegration and encumbering black churches' ability to influence community values.



The second making of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" will continue the assault on a community already reeling from the deceiving lies of progressive socialism. Pastor Stephen Broden of Fair Park Bible Fellowship said, "The Color Purple's message is destructive to the black family and seeks to redefine femininity into a gruff imitation of maleness." Broden further said, "That an image of a male-hating lesbian black woman presented positively on the big screen will have a long-lasting impact on the psyche of black girls and further contribute to the destruction of black families."



Dr. Randy Short, Pastor of SALT ministry, added, "All God-fearing Americans who are disgusted by the moral decline and rancid nature of public education, our nation, and its institutions can strike a blow for moral and spiritual renewal by boycotting any and everything touched by the Luciferian poxed hands of Oprah Winfrey, Alice Walker, and Whoopi Goldberg."



Traditional values are being perverted in America, it's time for Black Pastors and the Black community to join the fight!



SOURCE Fair Park Bible Fellowship



CONTACT: Contact Pastor Stephen Broden or Dr. Randy Short, 214-394-0098


In the beautiful field in Pushan village, east China's Zhejiang province, tourists joined a bamboo dance led by villagers, immersed in a joyful atmosphere filled with laughter.

No one would believe that the place was once covered by illegal buildings and stinky trash dumps.

Photo shows a fitness park in Deqing county, Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Xie Shangguo)

"It was smelly in hot weather, with flies and mosquitoes flying all over the space," villager Lei Hongchen recalled.

Deciding to change the situation, the village removed illegal buildings, refurbished the walls of residential buildings and upgraded public spaces. Today, with the idyllic landscape and unique local features, the village has become a renowned photogenic spot for social media.

The story of Pushan village is a miniature of how Zhejiang province has promoted its green program in rural areas, which aims at practicing the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" in rural areas.

In June 2003, under the initiative of Xi Jinping, who once served as provincial Party chief, Zhejiang launched the Green Rural Revival Program, which selects 10,000 administrative villages in the province for comprehensive improvement, and plans to turn 1,000 of them into demonstration villages of moderate prosperity in all respects.

Over the past two decades, a number of projects were launched under the program, including sewage treatment, closures of coal mines to tackle air and land pollution, and trash classification, which comprehensively lifted the image of the countryside in Zhejiang province.

Thanks to the program, the living environment was bettered in 27,000 administrative villages across the province. A total of 2,170 featured villages and over 3 million beautiful rural courtyards were built. The forest coverage in Zhejiang now exceeds 61 percent, indicating substantial improvement in rural ecology and environment.

In 2018, the program won the Champions of the Earth award, the highest environmental honor given by the United Nations.

Tourists visit a terrace in Yunhe county, Lishui, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Jinhong)

Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Over the recent years, Zhejiang province has vigorously developed eco-agriculture, rural e-commerce and rural tourism sectors, drawing a picture of a vibrant eco-driven economy.

In Miaoshan village of Huzhou, Zhejiang province, B&B hotels in the shape of straw hats were built, an old bucket factory was turned into an art gallery, and an ancient livestock farm was changed into a water park. Thanks to these transformations, the village saw a collective operating income of 2.28 million yuan ($322,974) last year.

In today's Zhejiang, parks are commonly seen in villages, where residence buildings have been turned into B&B hotels. Villagers became shareholders who benefited from the local resources.

In 2022, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in the province stood at 37,565 yuan, up 6.6 percent from a year ago. The urban-rural income gap was narrowed to a ratio within 1.9 ahead of schedule. This has laid a solid foundation for Zhejiang to build itself into a demonstration zone for achieving common prosperity with its high-quality development.

The sound ecology is a big attraction to talents. Twelve kilometers away from Miaoshan village, there is a "valley of science" in Xisai Mountain, which is home to 23 small-sized scientific research institutions.

According to an official with Huzhou's science and technology bureau, the valley has attracted over 500 sci-tech talents and 24 research programs. A batch of universities will be built there soon, including Huzhou College, the official said.

Exploring featured paths while sticking to historical and cultural traditions helps realize better development.

Photo shows a view of Xikou township, Longyou county, Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Feng)

In Longxian village of Lishui in southwest Zhejiang, villager Wu Yongqiang runs a B&B hotel. Traditional fish-shaped lanterns are hanging inside the hotel and outside of it there are layers of terraces, where visitors can join rice transplanting, harvesting and fish-catching activities.

The traditional Rice-Fish Culture system, which fertilizes fields with fish manure and feeds fish with rice in turn, has a history of over 1,000 years in Longxian village. It was listed in the world's first group of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems designated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2005.

Inheriting its unique farming traditions and leveraging local features, Longxian village has built a new form of rural tourism that combines sightseeing and experience activities based on the inheritance and conservation of the traditional Rice-Fish Culture system.

Up to now, Zhejiang province has 14 nationally important agricultural heritage sites and four Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. It has put 432 key villages and 2,105 general villages under protection and proper utilization in 10 batches of projects.

Aiming at environmental treatment, Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Program comes with targeted measures and well-coordinated plans in light of local conditions. It places importance on the conservation of traditional culture and characteristics of villages, and promotes transformation in development models and lifestyles.

The program has drawn a picture of China's new countryside, which proves that Chinese modernization, with a feature of green development, follows a win-win approach to both economic progress and environmental protection.

In the future, the country will continue making steady efforts in building a beautiful and harmonious countryside that is desirable to live and work in, work for a beautiful China, and make more contributions to the world's ecological progress.

Photo taken on March 26, 2023 shows rapeseed flower fields around Yangqitan village, Chun'an county, Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Jianlin)

Editor: ZAD
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, has informed the chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, about efforts within the Security Council to coordinate the international position on political and security developments in the country
Photo: (Photo : Ramin Talebi on Unsplash)

Would you love to update your school playground equipment? Do you want to make sure your kids are going to school with the best playground equipment available? As time goes on sometimes adaptations, replacements, repairs and enhancements need to occur in order for the playground to truly make a positive impact on pupils in the school. To help give you a great idea of the various considerations you need to make when talking to your kids school about planning on a playground upgrade, read on:

An Inclusive, Safe And Modern Design

Updating the playground means completely revisiting the design as a whole, including factors such as the flooring, the position of the equipment, the layout, fencing, and the equipment pieces chosen. Consider the following factors when you think about updating your equipment:

Inclusive Of All Needs

Does the playground invite students of all needs and abilities to learn? Is it age-appropriate according to the latest laws and guidelines? Do you have special needs equipment such as a DDA roundabout, DDA swingset, or sensory outdoor equipment? Over 1.4 million pupils in the UK are SEN (Special Educational Needs) pupils, who can and should be included in outdoor play.

Do you have large-print signage? Do you have signage suitable for EAL (English As An Additional Language, of which there are 1.6 million pupils in the UK) students? Your playground should invite all pupils to engage with the equipment and environment, so that everybody can benefit from this vital outdoor space.

Meets Current Safety Standards

Safety standards are improving all the time, and with regular maintenance visits from a professional service you should have regular advice as to how you can update the playground to meet the latest requirements. These guidelines and laws are science-led, so it makes sense to ensure current equipment is upgraded, and any new equipment is purchased from a trusted playground equipment company known to only source equipment of the highest possible standards.

Surface Repairs & Improvements

Upgrading your playground may mean repairing the surface so that it is safe and aesthetically appealing. Additionally, you may want to upgrade the surface further with colourful options like Vivid Grass and Wetpour, which enables you to make the whole playground look beautiful and much more inviting to children, who respond to bright colours.

Some schools also choose to enhance their playground with thermoplastic markings, which come in a range of colours and designs, are naturally non-toxic, reflective, and will last a lot longer than painted markings. If you are currently investing in painted playground markings, this upgraded design should definitely include thermoplastic markings which will last season after season without fading.

Exciting Enhancements

You may want to enhance the playground far beyond repairs and general maintenance. Maybe you want an eye-catching centrepiece like a full climbing frame with slides and tyre swings, or a large tower with a bridge. Maybe you want to move the entire location of the playground so it is bigger, or more suited to the layout of your school's outdoor space. Perhaps you'd love a timber trail, or some really exciting pieces like school trampolines or zip wires. Enhancing your school playground can be done in many different ways, and can only benefit the children at your school in their ability to have fun and learn everyday.

Funding

An incredible design is a great thing to have when you want to update your playground, but, as with everything, it has to be paid for. Whilst schools can get some funding for playgrounds, realistically a formal proposal has to be made and then various regulatory bodies and boards have to be presented with the proposal. In many cases they may only provide partial funding, or none at all. In this case, you may need to do some fundraising and apply for grants from various charities and organisations. The most trusted professional playground equipment companies will usually not only provide a transparent quote and advisories for maintenance, but they will offer detailed and helpful guidance on getting funding based on their extensive experience acquired from years in the industry.

Why Not Seek Advice From The Professionals Today?

For detailed advice based on your unique needs, the next step is to speak to a professional playground equipment supplier. They can provide you with lots of information about the potential of your playground and how it can be upgraded to meet the needs of your pupils. With the right changes and enhancements, your pupils will be able to enjoy a beautiful, safe, functional and educational outdoor play space that benefits them in many ways during playtimes and beyond.
Photo: (Photo : Louis Smit on Unsplash)

A government watchdog organization, the Equal Protection Project (EPP), has recently filed a civil rights complaint against Missouri State University (MSU), alleging that the institution's business boot camp program engaged in illegal discrimination against white males. According to FOX News, the EPP argues that the program excluded white males from participation based on their race and gender, violating civil rights laws. The complaint calls for an investigation into the program's approval process and seeks remedial measures to end discriminatory practices.

Allegations and Violations

The EPP has accused Missouri State University's business boot camp program of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. According to the complaint, the program limited participation exclusively to individuals who identified as "BIPOC" (Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) or were female, thereby excluding white males from eligibility. This alleged discrimination based on race and gender runs counter to the principles of equal protection and non-discrimination enshrined in federal law.

Missouri State University's Early-Stage Business Boot Camp program, which ran for eight weeks, was designed to support aspiring or current BIPOC and/or women small business owners in Southern Missouri. Participants received a $3,000 stipend to cover transportation, childcare, or other business-related expenses. The program received funding from the U.S. Bank Foundation and the Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation.

Following a complaint the EPP filed with the Missouri Attorney General, Missouri State University declared that everyone would be able to participate in the program, regardless of their race or sexual orientation. MSU emphasized that the program aimed to assist new and aspiring small business owners in establishing and growing their businesses. While the Spring 2023 program had a specific focus on minority and/or woman-owned businesses, the university pledged to offer the Early-Stage Business Boot Camp Program without any restrictions based on race or sex in the future.

Read Also: Mississippi Transgender Girl Barred from Graduation; Judge Rules School Can Ban Gender-Identity Clothes

Equal Protection Project's Stance

The founder of the Equal Protection Project, William A. Jacobson, acknowledged MSU's response as a "good first step." However, Jacobson emphasized the need for the university to publicly acknowledge its wrongdoing and outline concrete steps to rectify the exclusion of individuals based on race and sex. He further called for transparency regarding potential other segregated or discriminatory programs, urging MSU to conduct comprehensive investigations and implement measures to prevent future instances of misconduct.

The civil rights complaint filed against Missouri State University's business boot camp program highlights the ongoing discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in educational institutions. It raises questions about the approval process for programs that could potentially discriminate against certain groups and the need for proactive measures to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all individuals. The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education will now review the complaint and determine appropriate actions to address the allegations of discrimination against white males in MSU's business boot camp program.

The civil rights complaint against Missouri State University's business boot camp program has brought attention to allegations of discrimination against white males. The Equal Protection Project argues that the program's exclusionary criteria based on race and gender violate federal civil rights laws. MSU's response to the complaint signals a shift toward inclusivity, but further action is necessary to rectify the harm caused and prevent future instances of discrimination. The Office for Civil Rights will now play a crucial role in investigating the allegations and ensuring that equal rights and opportunities are upheld in educational programs across the nation.

Related Article: Missouri Sophomore Student Faces Suspension After Recording Teacher's Racist Slur
Photo: (Photo : Jay Paul /Getty Images)

The mother of a 6-year-old who took a gun to Richneck Elementary School in Virginia and shot his teacher earlier this year is now facing federal gun charges.

Deja Taylor, 25, has been charged with multiple counts, including being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.

The incident left first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner seriously injured, prompting a lawsuit against the school administration for alleged negligence.

Federal Charges Against Deja Taylor

According to the New York Post, Deja Taylor, the mother of the 6-year-old shooter, has been indicted on federal gun charges related to the incident at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia.

The charges include being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Taylor acknowledged her responsibility for her son's access to the handgun but claimed uncertainty about how he obtained it.

The federal charging documents allege that Taylor lied about being a marijuana user when she purchased the Taurus 9 mm handgun, violating federal guidelines.

Although marijuana is legal for medical patients and nonmedical users aged 21 and older in Virginia, it remains illegal under federal law.

According to CNN, James Ellenson, Deja Taylor's attorney, said her guilty plea is the result of productive negotiations with federal authorities, eliminating the need for the case to go before a grand jury.

The terms of the agreement, which are deemed fair to all parties, will be revealed during the guilty plea.

Ellenson stated that Taylor will enter her guilty plea either later this week or the following week, and he intends to present mitigating evidence.

He also expressed gratitude to the US attorney's office for their cooperative involvement in the discussions.

Along with the federal charges, Taylor has also been indicted on state charges of felony child neglect and recklessly leaving a firearm to endanger a child.

Read Also: Florida Mother's Alleged Shoplifting Results in Car Fire, Child Burn Injuries

Abby Zwerner's Injuries and Lawsuit

According to NBC News, Abby Zwerner, the teacher who was shot by the 6-year-old student, suffered serious injuries to her left hand and chest.

Despite being wounded, she managed to lead her class of approximately 20 students to safety.

Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, alleging that school administrators ignored multiple warnings about the student's possession of a gun and his troubling behavior.

The lawsuit claims that school officials were aware of at least three separate warnings regarding the student's potential possession of a firearm.

Additionally, it was also revealed that the school administrators and the school board had knowledge of the student's previous incidents of unprovoked violence.

The boy, who has been described as having an "acute disability," was supposed to be accompanied by a parent as per his care plan, but he was unaccompanied on the day of the incident.

Zwerner argues that the administrators' negligence in addressing these warnings allowed the incident to occur, leading to her injuries.

The school district has sought to dismiss the lawsuit, asserting that the claims should be addressed through worker's compensation rather than a separate legal action.

The incident left teacher Abby Zwerner seriously injured, leading to a legal battle against the school administration.

As the case progresses, the focus remains on addressing the consequences of the incident and ensuring the safety of students and staff in educational institutions.

Related Article: Texas Governor Signs Controversial Bill Banning Puberty Blockers for Transgender Kids
Photo: (Photo : Kenny Eliason on Unsplash)

A Hernando County School Board meeting attracted significant attention as teachers and community members gathered to express their views on an investigation surrounding a fifth-grade teacher who showed a Disney movie in her classroom. Jenna Barbee, a teacher at Winding Waters K-8, faced an investigation after Hernando County School Board member Shannon Rodriguez reported her to the Florida Department of Education.

The controversy centers around the 2022 movie "Strange World," which features an openly LGBTQ character in a central role. According to USA Today, the school board and state department of education launched an investigation, while Barbee maintains that the film was related to an Earth science lesson and did not contain inappropriate content.

Community Outcry and Education Policies

According to Naples Daily News, hundreds of teachers, students, and community members packed the school board meeting, utilizing the platform to address not only the Disney movie controversy but also broader education policies. The Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, received criticism from attendees who expressed concerns over the restrictions it places on discussions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. Multiple individuals registered to speak during public comment, highlighting worries about the high number of teacher vacancies within the school district. One high school student stated that teachers are afraid to voice their opinions for fear of losing their jobs.

During the meeting, a high school student urged the school board to reconsider their stance, emphasizing that the presence of LGBTQ representation in classrooms or Disney movies does not equate to indoctrination or brainwashing. Attendees argued that current policies failed to provide adequate protection or address the diverse needs of students. They called for a more inclusive and supportive environment that recognizes the importance of representation and challenges harmful stereotypes.

Although Barbee's case was not directly addressed on the meeting agenda, public commenters linked it to other agenda items, such as book bans and personnel recommendations. Lisa Masserio, president of the Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association, highlighted the resignation of 33 educators from the district, with twice as many resignations since May 2022. According to FOX 13 News, the political environment and politically motivated attacks have a negative impact on educator morale, making many wonder about their future in the field. Some attendees argued that banning books and limiting certain films curtails student learning and removes important representation from classrooms.

Read Also: TikTok Mom Faces Backlash After Filming Her Baby Wearing Heels

Ongoing Investigation and Public Backlash

While the school board closed its investigation, the state's inappropriate conduct investigation into Barbee remains open. Barbee confirmed that the Disney movie was part of the curriculum and had signed permission slips from parents for all students. However, the school district claimed that Barbee violated administrative protocols by not seeking prior approval before showing the film. Critics of education policies, including the "Don't Say Gay" law, expressed concerns about the limitations it places on teachers and their ability to connect with students.

Barbee's case has garnered national attention, prompting petitions and a public backlash against school district officials. A petition calling for the removal of board member Shannon Rodriguez has garnered nearly 24,000 signatures on Change.org. Additionally, three Hernando County legislators called for the resignation of Hernando County School District Superintendent John Stratton, citing concerns over poor decision-making, a lack of transparency, and a disregard for parental rights.

The Florida School Board meeting became a focal point for teachers, students, and community members to voice their concerns over the Disney movie controversy and education policies in Hernando County. Attendees emphasized the need for inclusive classrooms, representation, and an education system that fosters an environment of acceptance and support. The ongoing investigation into Jenna Barbee's case and the wider discussions surrounding education policies highlight the complexities and challenges faced in creating an inclusive learning environment for all students.

Related Article: Disney Introduces First Plus-Size Lead Character, yet Not Everyone Seems Happy
Photo: (Photo : Spencer Platt/ Getty Images)

In response to a significant surge in crimes involving untraceable firearms, commonly known as ghost guns, lawmakers in New York are taking action to address this growing threat.

Ghost guns are firearms that can be assembled using 3D printers, allowing individuals to bypass traditional manufacturing processes and regulatory measures.

According to the Daily News, the rise of these untraceable weapons has prompted the Manhattan District Attorney's office, led by Alvin Bragg, and State Senator Brad Hoylman to propose new legislation that would make the manufacturing of ghost guns a felony offense.

Ghost Guns Pose a Growing Threat in New York

The use of ghost guns has been on the rise in New York, raising concerns among law enforcement agencies and public officials.

These firearms are assembled by individuals using 3D printers and parts that can be purchased online, often without serial numbers or specific components.

According to ABC, ghost guns present a challenge for law enforcement, as they are difficult to trace and can be used in criminal activities without detection.

To combat the proliferation of ghost guns, lawmakers in New York are introducing legislation that would impose stricter penalties on individuals involved in the manufacturing process.

According to the existing legislation in New York, individuals who possess or distribute a gun created through 3D printing are subjected to misdemeanor charges.

However, the proposed legislation seeks to elevate the severity of the crime to a felony, reflecting the potential dangers associated with untraceable firearms.

In addition to targeting the physical manufacturing of ghost guns, the proposed legislation also addresses the dissemination of digital instructions necessary for their production.

Lawmakers aim to criminalize both the act of printing these weapons and intentionally sharing the instructions required for their replication. Currently, licensed gun owners in New York are allowed to use 3D printers to manufacture firearms.

However, they are required to register any newly created weapons with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) immediately.

Shockingly, authorities have revealed that no one has ever registered a 3D-printed gun, indicating a significant gap in the existing regulations.

Read Also: New Hampshire's Manchester School District Allocates COVID-19 Relief Funds for Youth Pride Event, Controversy Erupts

Rising Concerns and the Need for Stricter Regulations

Law enforcement agencies, including the New York Police Department (NYPD), have observed a troubling increase in the prevalence of ghost guns.

According to News Break, these firearms are not only easy to produce but also relatively affordable. The low cost of the necessary components, combined with the anonymity they offer, has contributed to the rising concerns surrounding ghost guns.

Criminals have been known to modify these weapons, including printing silencers and magazines for AR-style rifles, further highlighting the potential dangers they pose.

The proposed legislation in New York reflects a broader nationwide effort to address the issues surrounding ghost guns.

By criminalizing the manufacturing process and restricting access to digital blueprints, lawmakers aim to deter individuals from engaging in the creation of these untraceable firearms.

The introduction of stricter regulations and penalties will play a crucial role in safeguarding communities and ensuring public safety.

As the proposed legislation moves forward, stakeholders from various sectors, including law enforcement agencies, gun control advocates, and legal experts, will closely monitor its progress.

The outcome of this legislative effort will have significant implications for New York's ability to combat the surge in ghost guns and provide a safer environment for its residents.

By closing loopholes and imposing stricter penalties, the state aims to curb the proliferation of these dangerous firearms and protect communities from the potential harm they can cause.

Related Article: Utah School District Removes Bible From Elementary, Middle Schools
Photo: (Photo : DENIS CHARLET / Getty Images)

AstraZeneca, a leading pharmaceutical company, has achieved a significant milestone in the fight against lung cancer with its groundbreaking pill, Tagrisso (osimertinib).

Recent clinical trials have revealed that this innovative treatment has the potential to cut the mortality rate in half among lung cancer patients.

The results are a promising step forward in improving the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with this devastating disease.

AstraZeneca's Tagrisso Shows Effectiveness for Lung Cancer

In the quest for effective lung cancer treatments, AstraZeneca's Tagrisso has emerged as a game-changer.

As reported by NBC News, in a large-scale clinical trial involving patients with advanced lung cancer, the pill demonstrated an unprecedented level of efficacy.

Patients receiving Tagrisso experienced a remarkable 50% reduction in mortality rates compared to those receiving conventional therapies.

The study, conducted over a period of several years, involved a diverse group of lung cancer patients. The results were consistent across different demographics, highlighting the potential of Tagrisso to make a significant impact in the fight against this deadly disease.

Tagrisso, developed by AstraZeneca, belongs to a class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

It specifically targets a specific genetic mutation called EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), which is found in a significant percentage of non-small cell lung cancer cases.

By inhibiting the activity of EGFR, Tagrisso effectively suppresses tumor growth and prevents the spread of cancer cells.

The drug's unique mechanism of action has proven highly effective, resulting in improved patient outcomes and increased survival rates.

In addition to its remarkable effectiveness, Tagrisso also offers the benefit of convenience.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy treatments, which often require hospital visits and can cause severe side effects, Tagrisso is an oral medication that patients can take at home.

This not only enhances the quality of life for individuals battling lung cancer but also reduces the burden on healthcare facilities.

Read Also: Viral TikTok Video of Swim Instructor Urges Parents To Never Buy Blue Swimsuits for Kids

AstraZeneca's Commitment To Advancing Cancer Treatment

According to The Guardian, remarkable results presented at the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago showcased the groundbreaking potential of osimertinib, a drug taken after surgery, in significantly reducing the risk of mortality by an impressive 51% among lung cancer patients.

This breakthrough study, led by Yale University, offers hope to the 1.8 million people worldwide affected by this leading cause of cancer death.

Dr. Roy Herbst, the study's lead author, expressed excitement over the potent drug's potential, emphasizing its transformative impact on a historically resistant disease.

These thrilling findings reinforce earlier evidence from the same trial, indicating that osimertinib can also halve the risk of disease recurrence.

Dr. Herbst confidently stated that the pill has the potential to become the new standard of care for the quarter of lung cancer patients globally who possess the EGFR mutation, marking a practice-changing development in the field of lung cancer treatment.

Tagrisso's success in cutting the mortality rate in half marks a significant milestone in lung cancer treatment.

The breakthrough offers renewed optimism for patients and their families, who often face a daunting prognosis upon diagnosis.

The availability of an effective oral treatment option like Tagrisso not only improves survival rates but also provides hope and a sense of empowerment to patients.

Dr. Herbst mentioned that while some patients in the United Kingdom, United States, and other nations currently have access to the drug, he believes that a larger number of individuals should be able to benefit from it.

According to Reuters, AstraZeneca is also anticipated to release information on the potential outcomes of combining Tagrisso with chemotherapy for patients diagnosed with advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer later in the year.

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Photo: (Photo : David Ryder / Getty Images)

Stacy Chapin, the grieving mother of Ethan Chapin, a University of Idaho student who tragically lost his life, has found solace in honoring her son's memory through a heartfelt children's book and a touching tattoo.

The book, titled "The Boy Who Wore Blue," serves as a tribute to Ethan's life, while the tattoo, inked in his own handwriting, forever imprints his love and presence in Stacy's heart.

A Mother's Healing Journey through Literature

As reported by Fox News, in the wake of unimaginable grief, Stacy Chapin has channeled her emotions into a poignant children's book, "The Boy Who Wore Blue," to keep her son Ethan's memory alive.

Written with love, the book explores Ethan's childhood and showcases the values he held dear.

Inspired by the news that someone else was working on a book about her son's murder, Stacy felt compelled to share Ethan's story herself.

During an interview, Stacy Chapin, reflecting on her role as a mother, expressed her perplexity at the notion of someone crafting a narrative about individuals they have never personally known.

Stacy Chapin fondly recalls her son as an exceptional individual, stating that he was highly regarded by everyone who knew him.

Describing him as warm, inclusive, and someone with whom others wanted to spend time, she emphasized his kindness and willingness to participate in various activities.

The Chapin family has been deeply moved by the immense support they have received from individuals who have encountered Ethan, often sharing anecdotes of how he has positively impacted their lives.

In a deeply personal tribute, Stacy Chapin revealed a new tattoo that pays homage to her beloved son.

Written in Ethan's own handwriting, the tattoo adorns Stacy's body, permanently etching the words, "I love you, mom," accompanied by a hand-drawn heart and Ethan's name.

The lettering was extracted from a card Ethan had once sent to his mother, symbolizing an everlasting connection and the depth of their bond.

Read Also: Parenting 101: Crucial Menstruation Hygiene Tips for Your Daughter's Well-being

Focusing on Positivity and Remembrance

According to NBC News, while the trial of Bryan Kohberger, Ethan's suspected killer, looms in the future, Stacy and her family have made the decision to skip the proceedings.

Instead, they are channeling their efforts into fostering positivity and remembrance.

TODAY reported that alongside the release of "The Boy Who Wore Blue," the Chapin family has initiated the "Ethan's Smile" foundation in collaboration with Tulip Valley Farms in Mount Vernon, Washington.

The foundation aims to honor Ethan's legacy and support scholarships for students in Skagit Valley, Washington, to attend the University of Idaho.

Stacy Chapin, accompanied by her husband Jim and their children, Maizie and Hunter, has been putting their lives back together since the tragic loss of Ethan.

The Chapin triplets, with each child assigned a signature color, held a special place in their parents' hearts. Ethan's color was blue, symbolizing his vibrant spirit and love for life.

Maizie and Hunter returned to the University of Idaho in January, determined to continue their education and move forward.

With resilience and support, they have navigated through the challenges and honored their brother's memory.

Celebrating their achievements, the family recently embarked on a vacation, cherishing the opportunity to reconnect and heal together.

Stacy Chapin's tribute to her son through "The Boy Who Wore Blue" and her poignant tattoo is a testament to a mother's love that transcends boundaries of life and death.

Through her creative endeavors and the establishment of the "Ethan's Smile" foundation, Ethan's spirit will continue to inspire and impact the lives of others, ensuring that his memory lives on.

In conclusion, Stacy Chapin's unwavering love for her son, Ethan Chapin, shines brightly through her children's book and the tattoo she wears in his memory.

Their story serves as a reminder of the power of love, remembrance, and the resilience of a grieving mother honoring her beloved son's life.

Related Article: Brain Cancer Symptoms in Eye Movement: Mother's Intuition Helps Detect Toddler's Stage 4 Pineoblastoma
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GENEVA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Millions of women and girls across the United States have suffered an alarming deterioration in access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, the UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts said on Friday.

They said abortion has been banned in 14 states across the country since the start of the year, and the consequences of the Supreme Court decision has reverberated throughout the entire legal and policy system.

"The regressive position taken by the US Supreme Court ... by essentially dismantling 50 years of precedent protecting the right to abortion in the country, puts millions of women and girls at serious risk," they said.

The bans have made abortion services largely inaccessible and denied women and girls their fundamental human rights to comprehensive healthcare including sexual and reproductive health, the experts maintained.

They warned that the Supreme Court decision also had a chilling effect on doctors and healthcare workers who may face legal consequences for their care decisions.

The threat of criminalisation in many states in the country has discouraged women and girls from engaging with the health system and seeking prenatal care, the experts said.

The experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.

Editor: WXL
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Heres a nice piece by Jeff Lindsay that I commend to your attention: Cherishing the Book of Mormons Teachings on the Fairness of God

***

Ive posted several items recently on what is sometimes called the hard problem of consciousness, on the question of what subjective awareness is and how consciousness arises (if it does) from the physical brain. Some reductionists, faced with what seems to be an intractable problem, perhaps an insoluble one, have taken to denying that consciousness exists in the first place. And thus, if it doesnt even exist, to saying that it therefore poses no problem in need of a solution. It seems to me, though, that consciousness is the one thing that we simply cannot deny. (Perhaps, of course, Im misunderstanding them; I have more reading to do in this area.). To deny it is, I believe, to the conscious of the fact that we deny it.

It isnt surprising to me, in that light, that when Rene Descartes (1596-1650) undertook his famous method of universal doubt (as described in his 1637 Discourse on Method, the one thing that he could not deny  the one thing, therefore, that he could erect his philosophy upon with absolute confidence and certainty  was his own consciousness. Hence his famous cogito, ergo sum (originally, je pense, donc je suis) or I think, therefore I am.

I realize that this story, which probably occurred in 1763, probably represents a misunderstanding of Bishop Berkeleys idealism and that, therefore, Samuel Johnsons response to Berkeley doesnt really refute Berkeley at all. But I almost invariably think of it when I come across claims that human consciousness is mere illusion. If Im not conscious, who is having the illusion?

After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeleys ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, I refute it THUS. . . . To me it is not conceivable how Berkeley can be answered by pure reasoning; but I know that the nice and difficult task was to have been undertaken by one of the most luminous minds of the present age [presumably Edmund Burke], had not politicks turned him from calm philosophy aside. What an admirable display of subtilty, united with brilliance, might his contending with Berkeley have afforded us! How must we, when we reflect on the loss of such an intellectual feast, regret that he should be characterised as the man,

Who born for the universe narrowd his mind,

And to party gave up what was meant for mankind ? [James Boswell (1907/1791) The life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 1, London: Dent, pp. 292-293]

***

In a comment posted elsewhere online, Professor Trevor Luke, who specializes in the cultural history and literature of the Late Roman Republic and Early Empire at Florida State University in Tallahassee, wrote the following, with which I wholeheartedly agree:

In antiquity, people argued and shed blood over theology. Arian or Athanasian. Monophysite. Docetic. Nicaean. Chalcedonian. Over time, starting with the Council of Nicaea, a certain orthodox theology took root. It did so in fits and starts. It did so with arguments, fist fights, political strife, and bloodshed, until the majority of the Christian world accepted the Trinitarian theology of the creeds. It is a fascinating history, and it makes a certain kind of sense when you follow it blow by blow. But I still dont think that orthodox theology should be the measure of authentic Christian identity. There were three centuries of Christianity before Nicaea. There were many thousands, even millions of non-Trinitarian Christians following Nicaea. I get the idea that every group will set its own standard for belonging. I just dont think that salvation is found in adhering to the ivory-tower details of theological statements.

In fact, Im happy to say that I argued for a similar point of view in Offenders for a Word: How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games to Attack the Latter-day Saints (1992, 1998). Which reminds me of a definition from Ambrose Bierce, The Devils Dictionary:

Admiration, n.: Our polite recognition of anothers resemblance to ourselves.

Heres something from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File that specifically illustrates one of the horrors that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is attempting to visit upon the innocent and unsuspecting citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Cong0: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Partners with Other Religions to Promote Marriage in DR Congo: Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the family is central to the Creators plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

You will perhaps recall the two blog entries  Hearts of Darkness and Seeking wealth in the DR Congo  from a while back in which I related how a small troop of the Churchs more zany and unhinged critics were accusing the Interpreter Foundation of colonialist ambitions in the DR Congo. The accusations came because one of the Foundations vice presidents (Jeff Bradshaw) and two of our filmmaker friends (James Jordan and Russ Richins) had headed there to gather footage for a series of short films on the origins and rise of the Church in the Congo and on the stories of some of those involved in its emergence.

Jeff Bradshaw, by the way, currently serves as a service missionary for the Church History Department. He has been asked to write histories of the temples in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Kananga  the first of which has already been dedicated  and, in line with that assignment, he and the Interpreter Foundation are working with RedBrick Filmworks to document the history of the Church in the DR Congo on film.

Posted from Edinburgh, Scotland
Faith in Rome; Robber Council (449); Bishops; Intimidation Tactics; 1 Tim 3:15; Catholicism & Non-Believers; Augustine & Aquinas & Evolution; Precursors to Newmans Development; Fathers & Capital Punishment; Pope Clement of Rome

The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) apologist, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue (now continued by Jason Engwer). His 695-page self-published book, Catholicism  a collection of articles from his site  has graciously been made available for free. On 9 September 2006, Hays was quite  almost extraordinarily  charitable towards me. He wrote then:

I dont think Ive ever accused him of being a traitor or apostate or infidel. . . . I have nothing to say, one way or the other, regarding his state of grace. But his sincerity is unquestionable. I also dont dislike him. . . . I dont think theres anything malicious about Armstrongunlike some people who come to mind. In addition, I dont think Ive ever said he was unintelligent. For the record, its obvious that Armstrong has a quick, nimble mind. Two-and-a-half years later, starting in April 2009 and up through December 2011 (in the following quotations) his opinion radically changed, and he claimed that I have an evil character, am actually evil, ego-maniac, narcissist, idolater, self-idolater, hack who pretends to be a professional apologist, given to chicanery, one who doesnt do any real research, a stalwart enemy of the faith . . . no better than [the atheists] Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, with an intent to destroy faith in Gods word, schizophrenic, emotionally unhinged, one who doesnt trust in the merit of Christ alone for salvation, has no peace of mind, a bipolar solipsist, split-personality, and a bad man. He wasnt one to mince words! See more gory details. I feel no need whatsoever to reciprocate these silly and sinful insults. I just wanted the record to be known. Ive always maintained that Hays was a very intelligent man, but habitually a sophist in methodology; sincere and well-meaning, but tragically and systematically wrong and misguided regarding Catholicism. Thats what Im addressing, not the state of his heart and soul (let alone his eternal destiny). Its a theological discussion. This is one of many planned critiques of his book (see my reasons why I decided to do this). Rather than list them all here, interested readers are directed to the Steve Hays section of my Anti-Catholicism web page, where they will all be listed. My Bible citations are from the RSV. Steves words will be in blue.

*****

[Chapter 9: Magisterium]

How ecumenical are ecumenical councils?

So whats the basis for your confidence in the authority of Rome? [p. 496]

The Bible; Church history; the non-contradictoriness and utter uniqueness of Catholic history and claims.

Is it just an act of blind faith? A leap into the dark? [p. 496]

No. See my previous answer.

Is your faith in the Roman church independent of how you interpret the documentary evidence? [p. 496]

Ultimately yes, because faith and reason distinct things; though harmonious.

Put another way, is your faith in Rome conditional or unconditional? [p. 496]

I would say unconditional (based on the massive evidence already seen), short of a massive and compelling disproof. Paul rhetorically alluded to a hypothetical disproof of Christianity:

1 Corinthians 15:16-20 . . . if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. [17] If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. [20] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, . . .

There might conceivably be some similar compelling disproof of Catholicism, in which case I would seriously reconsider my allegiance (just as I was willing to move from evangelicalism to Catholicism, and before that, from virtual paganism and practical atheism to evangelicalism. Its the duty of both honesty and being open-minded. That said, I have not come within a billion miles of any such thing in my 32+ years as a Catholic.

You say your study increases your confidence in Rome. [p. 496]

Thats been my constant experience for 32 years. Every book and article I write increases my confidence; particularly when I observe how weak and insufficient the opposing argument are (like Steves book!).

Does that mean you began by entrusting himself to the church of Rome apart from study? [p. 496]

I certainly didnt. I devoted an entire year (1990) to intense comparative study of evangelicalism and Catholicism. Then I followed the path that I sincerely believed to be the fullness of Christian truth.

Do you think the authority of the Roman church provides a level of certainty lacking in your private judgment? [p. 496]

Of course. Thats where faith comes in, and God must provide the grace for that. Religion and spirituality and theology are not philosophy (though certain forms of the latter are harmonious with them). Hays, in his hyper-rationalism, often acted as if they were equivalent, as if faith had little to do with it (quite odd for an adherent of faith alone isnt it?). And this present line of socratic (but sophistical) reasoning is an example of his constant erroneous thinking and methodology. Thats why Im replying to it, to expose its intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy.

But isnt your identification of Rome as the one true church based on your study? [p. 496]

Initially yes, but not wholly. Reason is consulted and then the thinker determines whether the claims of the Catholic Church are consistent with it, and worthy to be adhered to with faith, led by Gods grace (discernment, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and so forth). All Christians must seek to harmonize and understand the relationship of faith and reason. But doing that doesnt wipe out faith. Its always central to the religious quest.

When you treat your personal study as uncertain, how can you then pretend that Rome affords certainty? [p. 496]

Its not pretense; its a rational faith based on reason, by the best determination we can make, using the lights that God gives us. One decides what is worthy to be an object of faith. It cant be contrary to reason, because that would make it untrue before faith even comes into the picture. Catholics have faith enough to believe that God is able to preserve an infallible Church as well as an infallible Bible. Protestants (heres the sad thing) lack that level of faith. They think, seemingly, that God is either unwilling or unable to provide the desperately needed certainty that a strong teaching Church provides; that God supposedly wants Christians to be flailing around in the dark and believing contradictory things, where one or both parties must be wrong. He hasnt revealed Himself to be that way, in His revelation, the Bible, which we all revere.

How can the conclusion be more certain than the source of the conclusion? . . . The conclusion cant rise higher than the process

of reasoning that underwrites the conclusion. [p. 496]

It can because its faith: a supernatural thing enabled by Gods grace. Faith always involves a leap that goes beyond reason, just as Jesus told Doubting Thomas after He appeared, in His mercy, because of his weakness of faith: Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (Jn 20:29). All of this can, of course, be turned around. How is the Protestant absolutely assured that he was justified and saved once and for all at one moment in time? It involves faith, of course; all the same questions could be asked right back. Even John Calvin conceded that such faith was, in the final analysis, subjective, and that one couldnt be absolutely certain that they were among the elect, or whether anyone else was. Calvin wrote:

The election of God is hidden and secret in itself . . . men are being fantastic or fanatical if they look for their salvation or for the salvation of others in the labyrinth of predestination . . . (Commentary on John 6:40; in Francis Wendel, Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious Thought, translated by Philip Mairet, New York: Harper & Row, 1963, 270) [W]e are not bidden to distinguish between reprobate and elect  that is for God alone, not for us, to do . . . (Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV. 1. 3.)

What are his criteria for distinguishing an ecumenical council from a local council or robber council? There are no unanimous criteria. [p. 497]

It has to have representatives from far and wide, it must be presided over by a pope or his legate(s), and it must be orthodox, in terms of what had always been passed down by the apostles in the deposit of faith. Hays mentions the robber council. This occurred in Ephesus in 449, and attempted to establish the heresy of Monophysitism (Christ has one nature) as orthodox. Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox alike all reject Monophysitism as Christological heresy; so clearly this pseudo-council that promulgated it was neither ecumenical nor orthodox, by all subsequent mainstream theological standards. St. John Henry Cardinal Newman wrote about this infamous council:

[In the fifth and sixth centuries] the Monophysites had almost the possession of Egypt, and at times of the whole Eastern Church . . . The divisions at Antioch had thrown the Catholic Church into a remarkable position; there were two Bishops in the See, one in connexion with the East, the other with Egypt and the West with which then was Catholic Communion? St. Jerome has no doubt on the subject:

Writing to St. [Pope] Damasus, he says, * Since the East tears into pieces the Lords coat . . . therefore by me is the chair of Peter to be consulted, and that faith which is praised by the Apostles mouth . . . From the Priest I ask the salvation of the victim, from the Shepherd the protection of the sheep . . . I court not the Roman height: I speak with the successor of the Fisherman and the disciple of the Cross. I, who follow none as my chief but Christ, am associated in communion with thy blessedness, that is, with the See of Peter. On that rock the Church is built, I know. [Epistle 15] . . . * Eutyches [a Monophysite] was supported by the Imperial Court, and by Dioscorus the Patriarch of Alexandria . . . A general Council was summoned for the ensuing summer at Ephesus [in 449] . . . It was attended by sixty metropolitans, ten from each of the great divisions of the East; the whole number of bishops assembled amounted to one hundred and thirty-five . . . St. Leo [the Great, Pope], dissatisfied with the measure altogether, nevertheless sent his legates, but with the object . . . of condemning the heresy, and reinstating Eutyches if he retracted . . .

* The proceedings which followed were of so violent a character, that the Council has gone down to posterity under the name of the Latrocinium or Gang of Robbers. Eutyches was honourably acquitted, and his doctrine received . . . which seems to have been the spontaneous act of the assembled Fathers. The proceedings ended by Dioscorus excommunicating the Pope, and the Emperor issuing an edict in approval of the decision of the Council . . . *

The Council seems to have been unanimous, with the exception of the Popes legates, in the restoration of Eutyches; a more complete decision can hardly be imagined. . . . *

[W]hen we look through the names subscribed to the Synodal decision, we find that the misbelief, or misapprehension, or weakness, to which this great offence must be attributed, was no local phenomenon, but the unanimous sin of Bishops in every patriarchate and of every school of the East. Three out of the four patriarchs were in favour of the heresiarch, the fourth being on his trial. Of these Domnus of Antioch and Juvenal of Jerusalem acquitted him, on the ground of his confessing the faith of Nicaea and Ephesus . . . Dioscorus . . . was on this occasion supported by those Churches which had so nobly stood by their patriarch Athanasius in the great Arian conflict. These three Patriarchs were supported by the Exarchs of Ephesus and Caesarea in Cappadocia; and both of these as well as Domnus and Juvenal, were supported in turn by their subordinate Metropolitans. Even the Sees under the influence of Constantinople, which was the remaining sixth division of the East, took part with Eutyches . . .

Such was the state of Eastern Christendom in the year 449; a heresy, appealing to the Fathers, to the Creed, and, above all, to Scripture, was by a general Council, professing to be Ecumenical, received as true in the person of its promulgator. If the East could determine a matter of faith independently of the West, certainly the Monophysite heresy was established as Apostolic truth in all its provinces from Macedonia to Egypt . . . (An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, 6th ed., 1878, Univ. of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1989, 251, 274, 282-3, 285-6, 299-300, 305-6, 319-20, 322, 312)

Im not answerable to Catholic bishops. Thats not the divine standard of judgment. Im answerable to God via biblical revelation. [p. 498]

That revelation takes for granted that there is such a thing as a bishop, and that he has authority. In fact, Protestants often make anti-Peter arguments about the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) by arguing that James, bishop of Jerusalem, presided. Thats episcopal authority. If he did preside (or if Peter did)  either way  an authoritative, infallible decree, guided by the Holy Spirit (as the text says) was made, that bound Christians in Asia Minor, many hundreds of miles away, since we know that Paul declared the councils decision for observance (Acts 16:4).

So bishops are undeniably biblical. Paul casually mentions the office of bishop (1 Tim 3:1; cf. 3:2; Phil 1:1; Titus 1:7). Now, of course, one may wish to argue that Catholic bishops arent legitimately so, but then there must be plausible alternatives and solid arguments ruling out the Catholic bishops. Hays  the typical lone ranger-type low church Protestant , had no bishop himself; and so he was plainly being unbiblical. That being the case, he had to play games and rationalize his unbiblical stance, by trying to wrongly pit the Bible against the episcopacy by saying Im answerable to God: as if he was answerable to no man. But this is radically unbiblical and ahistorical as well. Its completely arbitrary and unworthy of theological allegiance, since it is unattached from biblical teaching.

When people cant win the argument through rational persuasion, they resort to intimidation tactics. [p. 499]

Yes; Im well familiar with that from my personal experience with Hays himself (see what he said about me, trying to  unsuccessfully  shut me up and persuade everyone to think I was an unhinged and evil raving lunatic, in the introduction above). Then shortly after that, I was banned from his blog, Triablogue, as I have been ever since (2010 or so). Does that suggest that Hays or his followers over there are confident that they can win the argument through rational persuasion with me? But here I am, in my 25th critique of his book and many more to go. He almost certainly wouldnt have replied to me if he were alive (judging by his almost universal behavior), and his followers like Jason Engwer and James Swan wont do so now. None of this is mentioned in their impenetrable bubble over there. If a good friend of mine had died, and someone of a different theological persuasion was offering 25+ critiques of his book, I would be right there defending him. I would even welcome the opportunity.

Conversely, Protestants like me consider the input of many other Christians when we read commentaries, theologians, &c. [p. 499]

Right. Well, he wasnt considering Catholic Christians, since he is on record regarding Catholicism as a counterfeit religion and parody of the Christian faith (p. 19; cf. pp. 20; 188-189).

Quest for the pot of gold at the end of the Roman rainbow

Id say Nicene Christology is actually lower than NT Christology. We could get into that, if you wish. [p. 502]

I would love to! What a conversation that would be (development being my favorite theological topic)! This shows how radically ahistorical Hays was. He seems to have hardly ever met a consistent doctrinal development that he liked. But the man has passed on and it would have been exceedingly unlikely that he would ever have been willing to have such a discussion with me, anyway, since I was of an evil character, etc., in his opinion. That sort of ruins dialogue from the outset.

How is that worse than one man (the pope) determining the canon of Scripture for everyone, if that one man is actually fallible? [p. 502]

Technically, it wasnt Pope Innocent I who did so on his own. He merely recognized the achieved consensus. It was two local councils that determined it: in Carthage and Hippo in the late 5th century, and they were dominated by St. Augustines thinking. So, if anyone, Augustine was the key figure; and Protestants love him. Protestants, in effect, regard St. Jerome as de facto infallible concerning the canon, since he disliked the deuterocanon; and they do the same with Athanasius, who first named all 27 NT books in AD 367. So we can be spared the bellyaching about Pope Innocent I, as if he came up with the canon down from heaven and out of the blue, like Mormon founder Joseph Smith and his silly plates, supposedly found on a New York hill.

1 Tim 3:15 . . . doesnt say anything about the churchs authority or prerogatives. You imported those categories into your prooftext. [p. 502]

Really? I already refuted Hays on that score: 1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility [5-14-20].

But, of course, Paul didnt say anything about the pope or papacy or a episcopal council in 1 Tim 3:15. [p. 503]

There was no intrinsic necessity for him to do so (not everything can or should always be mentioned in any given passage of Scripture; DUH!), but if were gonna play that game, he also didnt say a word about Scripture, either, in a passage in which he refers to something (guess what?!) being the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Moreover, Paul doesnt say the church is the source of truth. And he doesnt say the church has the authority or prerogative to determine the truth. Rather, the church is tasked with the responsibility of upholding the truth. [p. 503]

Thats right. But it doesnt get Hays off the hook. He didnt ponder the passages deeply enough. One cant uphold the truth with untruth. As I wrote in my book about sola Scriptura:

Pillars and foundations support things and prevent them from collapsing. To be a bulwark of the truth, means to be a safety net against truth turning into falsity. If the Church could err, it could not be what Scripture says it is. Gods truth would be the house built on a foundation of sand in Jesus parable. For this passage of Scripture to be true, the Church could not err  it must be infallible. . . . Jesus is without fault or untruth, and he is the cornerstone of the Church. The Church is also more than once even identified with Jesus himself, by being called his Body (Acts 9:5 cf. with 22:4 and 26:11; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 1:22-23; 4:12; 5:23, 30; Col 1:24). That the Church is so intimately connected with Jesus, who is infallible, is itself a strong argument that the Church is also infallible and without error. . . . Knowing what truth is, how can its own foundation or pillar be something less than total truth (since truth itself contains no falsehoods, untruths, lies, or errors)? It cannot. It is impossible. It is a straightforward matter of logic and plain observation. A stream cannot rise above its source. What is built upon a foundation cannot be greater than the foundation. If it were, the whole structure would collapse. If an elephant stood on the shoulders of a man as its foundation, that foundation would collapse. The base of a skyscraper has to hold the weight above it. The foundations of a suspension bridge over a river have to be strong enough to support that bridge. Therefore, we must conclude that if the Church is the foundation of truth, the Church must be infallible, since truth is infallible, and the foundation cannot be lesser than that which is built upon it. And since there is another infallible authorityapart from Scripture, sola scriptura must be false.

By the way, the church fathers themselves were often members of the upper class. . . . So its not surprising that they view ecclesiology in autocratic terms. [p. 504]

Was the Jerusalem council autocratic? That was led by St. Peter, who was a fisherman; hardly an aristocratic background.

The people calling the shots in Acts 15 are apostles, plus a stepbrother of Jesus. [p. 505]

This is incorrect. Its stated six times that the council was comprised of the apostles and the elders (15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4): which is yet another proof of apostolic succession, insofar as apostles and elders were working jointly and coming up with a decree that was agreed-to by the Holy Spirit. That strongly implies that elders / bishops were carry on as successors of the apostles after the era of the latter ended.

There wasnt such a thing as Roman Catholics who believed what Vatican II says about non-Christian religions in Nostra Aetate until the mid-20C. [p. 505]

Really? Jesus (though not a Christian) said in the early 1st century about (as far as we know) a pagan Roman centurion: I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith (Lk 7:9). Fr. Alfredo M. Morselli wrote:

I call up here a distinction by St. Thomas [Aquinas]: a) Unbelief by way of pure negation (infidelitas secundum negationem puram) in case a man may be called an unbeliever merely because he has not the faith in those who have heard nothing about the faith; this Unbelief is not a sin -and b) Unbelief by way of opposition to the faith (infidelitas secundum contrarietatem ad fidem) when a man refuses to hear the faith (S.Th II II, 10,1 c); this Unbelief is a sin. The fact that unbelief by way of pure negation is not a sin, is not only a Thomist concept, but its also a verity of faith: St. Pius V [r. 1566-1572] condemned the proposition Infidelitas pure negativa in his quibus Christus non est predicatus peccatum est (D +1068) (= Purely negative unbelief, in those whom Christ was not preached to, is a sin). . . . In fact St. Thomas teaches that Nobody would believe if he doesnt see he must believe (non enim crederet nisi videret ea esse credenda  S.Th., II II, q. 1, a. 4 ad 2). Only God knows the degree of innocence or culpability in the heart of unbelievers. . . . According to St. Thomas, the exercise of religion by an unbeliever may be a sort of natural preparation to receive grace: In IV Sent., II, d. 28 q. 1, a. 4 ad 4: Its possible, by natural reason, getting ready to have faith If anyone, among pagan people, does as much he can (quod in se est faciat), God will reveal to him what is necessary for salvation, or by an inspiration that he will give him or by a savant whom He will send to him. (Ecumenical Gatherings at Assisi: A Defense; see much more related material in this article)

Moral of the story: when Steve Hays lectures about what Catholics through the centuries have believed or supposedly would not believe, dont listen to him. He nearly always hadnt prepared or researched the topic enough to be credible as any sort of self-proclaimed expert.

There wasnt such a thing as Roman Catholic theistic evolutionists until Darwin. [p. 505]

Technically incorrect. There were thinkers who believed in some sort of biological process of creation, directed by God (as opposed to instant special creation all at once). One was St. Augustine, as John F. McCarthy noted:

St. Thomas Aquinas also held to some extent to natural biological creative process guided by God in the 13th century, in a way remarkably similar to evolution:

In the first creation of things, however, the active principle was the Word of God, producing animals from elemental matter, either in act, according to some Fathers [e.g., Basil and Ambrose], or in potency (virtute) according to St. Augustine. Not that water or earth has in itself the power of producing all the animals, as Avicenna proposed, but the fact that animals can be produced from elemental matter by the power of seed or of the stars comes from the power originally given to the elements. (S. Th., I, q. 71, art. 1, ad 1.; see secondary source), and Part V and Part VI of McCarthys series, cited above, for more on St. Thomas Aquinas views)

Needless to say, we wouldnt expect Hays, who was a young earth creationist, who believed that the earth was 6-10,000 years old (as I documented in my first reply), to have known this, nor to even care to do any research on it at all. And so  in his ignorance and bias  he once again lied about whether Catholics believed anything approximating biological evolution before Darwin.

There wasnt such a thing as Catholics who redefined tradition as development until Newman. [p. 505]

Absolute horse manure! Its not redefining tradition in the first place. Its an interpretation of how tradition consistently proceeds through time. St. Augustine and especially St. Vincent Lerins were writing about it in the fifth century. St. Vincent was quite explicit in his Commonitorium, which was Newmans starting-point when he was thinking through his theory of development.

Not only that, Hays is also ignorant regarding the immediate historical precursors of Newman, such as Johann Adam Mohler (1796-1838), the German priest and Church historian, who was writing vigorously and influentially about development of doctrine in his work, The Unity in the Church, or the Principle of Catholicism, Presented in the Spirit of the Church Fathers of the First Three Centuries, published in 1825, twenty years before Newmans famous Essay. Entire books have been written about his theory of development.

And he didnt have any clue that St. Thomas Aquinas  following Augustine, as he often did  also embraced development of doctrine in the 13th century. See: Newman, Aquinas, and the Development of Doctrine, by Joshua Madden, 30 June 2021.

There wasnt such a thing as . . . Catholic opponents of capital punishment until the late 20C. [p. 505]

Wrong again (do we detect a pattern here?). Catholic apologist Mike Aquilina stated:

The great Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries  Ambrose, Chrysostom, Augustine  recognized the right of the state to execute criminals, but urged rulers not to exercise that right. St. Ambrose told a Christian judge named Studius: You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it (Letter, 50). Ambroses disciple, St. Augustine, characterized the good Christian ruler as slow to punish, but ready to pardon (City of God, 5.24). He justified capital punishment when there was no other established method of restraining the hostility of the desperate. Then, he said, perhaps extreme necessity would demand the killing of such people (Letter, 134). Augustine recognized the states right to wield the sword, but he hoped that lethal use would be extremely rare. As violence is used toward him who rebels and resists, so mercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared (Letter, 189). The later Fathers synthesized the various testimonies of their predecessors and concluded that mercy should predominate among Christian peoples, and life should be spared in all but the rarest cases. In this they speak with the same voice as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. John Paul II (Evangelium Vitae, 56) and indeed all the recent popes, the bishops of the United States and all the bishops conferences that have issued statements on the subject. In this matter as in most matters, we see consistency between the earliest Fathers and our current leaders and teachers  and greater clarity with the passage of time. (The early Church and the death penalty, 22 September 2016)

Clement wasnt a pope. [p. 510]

St. Clement I, byname Clement of Rome, . . . fourth pope from 88 to 97 or from 92 to 101, . . . Eusebius of Caesarea dates his pontificate from 92 to 101, following that of St. Anacletus. He was succeeded by St. Evaristus. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, St. Clement I)

The renowned Protestant historian Philip Schaff wrote about Clement of Rome:

The first example of the exercise of a sort of papal authority is found towards the close of the first century in the letter of the Roman bishop Clement (d. 102) to the bereaved and distracted church of Corinth. . . . it can hardly be denied that the document reveals the sense of a certain superiority over all ordinary congregations. The Roman church here, without being asked (as far as appears), gives advice, with superior administrative wisdom, to an important church in the East, dispatches messengers to her, and exhorts her to order and unity in a tone of calm dignity and authority, as the organ of God and the Holy Spirit. This is all the more surprising if St. John, as is probable, was then still living in Ephesus, which was nearer to Corinth than Rome. (History of the Christian Church, vol. 2,  50. Germs of the Papacy

See my related papers:

Pope St. Clement of Rome & Papal Authority [7-28-21]

Is First Clement Non-Papal? (vs. Jason Engwer) [4-19-22]

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Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,300+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart!

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Photo credit: The Whore of Babylon (workshop of Lucas Cranach): colorized illustration from Martin Luthers 1534 translation of the Bible [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

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Summary: The late Steve Hays was a Calvinist and anti-Catholic writer and apologist. This is one of my many critiques of Hays Catholicism: a 695-page self-published volume.
Time to update your browser againGoogle just released a new security patch for Chrome to address another zero-day flaw. Its the third discovered this year, barely a month and a half after the first two revealed.

Announced in a June 5th security bulletin and highlighted by Bleeping Computer, details are scarce about CVE-2023-3079. As with other high-severity flaws that have a known exploit, Google is only sharing that it is a type confusion error in Chromes V8 JavaScript engine, which can allow hackers to execute their own malicious code through the browser. Google researcher Clement Lecigne uncovered it on June 1st.

Lecigne also brought to light the two zero-day flaws announced in April. The first was a type confusion error while the second was a vulnerability in Skia, Chromes 2D graphics library.

PCWorld

Users should update their browsers now to apply the fix, which is part of Chrome version 114.0.5735.110 for Windows. (Linux and Mac users should look for version 114.0.5735.106). If an automatic update isnt ready, head to Chromes settings by clicking on the three dot icon in the upper right, then choosing Help > About Google Chrome. (Alternatively, you can type chrome://settings/help into the address bar). This should manually trigger the update. When complete, you will be asked to restart your browser. Bleeping Computer says that the update is still rolling out, so you may need to check for it more than once if it isnt available to you yet.
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to restore the countrys economic fortunes within the shortest possible time.



Addressing a gathering of industry experts, policymakers, and international partners in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Ofori-Atta reassured participants of the government's dedication to revitalising the economy and securing a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.



He was speaking at the MTN Group's 2023 Capital Market Day (CMD), a two-day event designed to foster dialogue with players within the financial community.



While in Johannesburg, the minister of finance will engage with the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, through a virtual platform.



Global crisis impact



Mr Ofori-Atta acknowledged the far-reaching impacts of the global economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing geo-political tension between Russia and Ukraine.



These external factors have adversely affected Ghana's economy, compelling the government to seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said.



Measures



Nevertheless, Mr Ofori-Atta said the government remained undeterred and was implementing measures to navigate the storm and restore the country economic fortunes.



The minister outlined a series of comprehensive measures and strategies, designed to stimulate economic growth, attract investments, and create job opportunities.



The finance minister emphasized the government's focus on enhancing key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure development, while also stressing the importance of sustainable practices.



"We are concentrating on boosting agricultural productivity, promoting local industries, and investing in critical infrastructure projects, Mr Ofori-Atta said.



Through those actions, he added, we will establish a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, generate employment opportunities, and drive economic growth."



The finance minister further underscored the government's commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent financial management.



"We will maintain responsible fiscal policies, improve revenue generation, and prioritise the efficient allocation of resources. These measures will ensure that our economic revival efforts are sustainable in the long run," he said



Mr Ofori-Atta highlighted the significance of swift action and emphasised the pivotal role a revitalised economy played in the well-being of the people.



"We understand the hardships our citizens are facing, and we empathise with their concerns. That is why we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to expedite the recovery process," the finance minister said.



Cooperation



Touching on public-private cooperation, Mr Ofori-Atta stressed the importance of collaboration among the government, private sector, and citizens in achieving the desired socio-economic outcomes.



Mr Ofori-Atta also called upon businesses, investors, and the entire Ghanaian populace to join hands with the government as it embarked on a transformational journey.



President



During the engagement with the South African leader, the two discussed areas of cooperation towards strengthening existing ties and building a healthy interchange for businesses in Ghana and South Africa.



President Ramaphosa congratulated Ghana on obtaining an IMF deal in record time.



He expressed confidence that the government and the private sector collaboration would lead to a rapid resolution of the energy challenges currently being experienced in that country.



For his part, Mr Ofori-Atta expressed optimism that such economic cooperation would have a meaningful and mutually beneficial impact on citizens of both countries.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin has commended the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, Amb.Prof Hugh Aryee, for linking up the Republic of Vanuatu to Ghana and Africa, and ensuring the country opens business interests in the Vanuatu economy towards African trade facilitation.



The Rt. Honourable Speaker emphasized on how the world has become a global village and for that matter, the distance between countries no longer matter, hence, the extreme need to get some of the smaller nations at the outermost parts of the world to be linked to the advanced and other nations for bilateral trade engagements.



The Rt. Hon. Speaker said this when he received the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, Amb. Prof Hugh Aryee and his team to the Parliament House in Accra. The visit was to officially inform the Speaker about the impending visit of the Speaker of the Vanuatu Parliament and his 5-member delegation on an official state visit to Ghana in July 2023.



The Trade Commissioner also briefed the Speaker and his staff about the extent of plans and the itinerary for the august visit as regards the important places and personalities the august visitors might want to visit when in Ghana.



He informed the Rt Hon Speaker and his team of the reciprocal return business trip to Vanuatu which has been slated from 20th August to 4th September. The business trade mission will include a cross section of the Ghanaian public, businesses and trade agencies interested in doing business in the Republic of Vanuatu as well as leisure and holidays.



Rt Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin told the gathering that he was very happy about the visit and reiterated the desire of entire House would be looking forward to the trade and business mission. The Rt. Hon speaker also mentioned he was excited about this news because he had always wanted to visit Vanuatu in the past, hence, a pleasant news and therefore encouraged Ghanaians to take advantage of this opportunity.



He said the Parliament of Ghana is ready to receive his counterparts and the delegation from the Republic of Vanuatu, accord them all the necessary courtesies and protocols they deserve. He said he will confer with the leadership of the House to afford the visiting Speaker the opportunity to address the House.



He called for the constitution of a joint Committee of his Parliamentary staff and the Trade Commission to come out with a befitting plan of action for the historic visit being the first official visit of government delegation from the Republic of Vanuatu to Ghana.



The delegation would be accompanied by Hon Seremaiah Matai Nawalu Member of parliament and Minister of Trade, Industry, Tourism and Ni-Vanuatu Businesses, Hon Anatole Hymak Member of Parliament, Chairman of Economics and Foreign Policies Standing Committees of Vanuatu Parliament, Mr. Noel Kalo, Director of Department of Trade and Mr. Gaetan Ruru who oversees Interparliamentary Relations of the office of the parliament of Vanuatu and Ms. Vanessa MOLISA - Advisor to the Office of Speaker.



The Trade Commissioner presented a picturesque brochure which details the blueprint of activities of the Vanuatu Trade Commissions (short, medium to long term) goals and objectives for Ghana and the rest West African regional bloc under which the mandates of the commission operate, as well as Vanuatu vehicle Stickers, presented to the Rt Hon Speaker.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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PrJSC Ukrhydroenergo will build a new plant on the site of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant destroyed by the Russian occupation forces, Ukrhydroenergo Director General Ihor Syrota said during the telethon.

"The plant cannot be restored, it is completely destroyed... the hydraulic structures are being washed out and we understand that we will have to build a new plant very quickly. We will build a more beautiful and powerful plant in the same place," he said.

According to Syrota, already today the company's specialists with a design institute and builders began discussing how to quickly block the dam after de-occupation and supply resources from the upper reservoirs to supply them to three or four regions that will suffer from water shortages.

To this end, Ukrhydroenergo has submitted a new balance sheet to the Ministry of Energy to reduce the use of water at its facilities. "We will save water so that when it becomes necessary to fill the Kakhovka reservoir, we will quickly fill it up to provide water to the (affected) regions," he said.

Syrota said that at the today's meeting of the National Security and Defense Council and the response team headed by the prime minister, tasks were set to drill additional wells in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions to get fresh water. The company will also transfer water from the Dnieper cascade to Kryvy Rih.

As reported, at 02:50 on June 6, Russian troops blew up facilities at the occupied Kakhovka HPP, which led to the flooding of a number of settlements in Kherson region. As of 11:00 am, 16 gates of the plant, the power plant building, and the insertion of an earthen dam between the power plant building, and the gateway and the administrative building were destroyed.

At the same time, the explosion of the hydroelectric power plant did not directly affect the situation in Ukraine's power system. There are no threats to the stability of the power supply. The generated electricity is sufficient to cover the consumers' needs.

The destruction of the hydroelectric power plant is considered a violation of the Geneva Convention.
Police in northern Nigeria say armed men killed 30 people in raids on six villages at the weekend.



Residents from two villages said the attacks in Sokoto state were reprisals for refusing to pay protection money to bandits.



One witness, who lives in the Gwadabawa district, told Punch newspaper the coordinated attacks happened after evening prayers in two villages as the same time.



The witness added: "After killing them, they set their corpses and those of their animals on fire, ensuring that most of them were burnt beyond recognition."



The latest attacks come a week after Nigeria's new president, Bola Tinubu, took the oath of office and promised reforms to tackle the country's rampant insecurity.



Better co-ordination, consultation and timely reporting were all needed to improve the way security agencies worked together, Mr Tinubu said at a later meeting of security chiefs.

Source: BBC









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One of the surviving sons of the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has gone on hunger strike to protest against his prolonged detention in Lebanon, says his lawyer Paul Romanos.



Hannibal Gaddafi has been held in Lebanon for more than eight years after being abducted by Lebanese militants from Syria, where he had taken refuge after the downfall and death of his father, he adds.



Hannibal Gaddafi was subsequently taken by the Lebanese authorities and has been detained ever since in a jail in Beirut without trial, Mr Romanos says.

Source: BBC









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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, says Government remains fully committed to protecting Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine while working to ensure responsible and environmentally-sound small scale mining in Obuasi.



The Minister stated this on Monday, 5th June 2023 when he paid a working visit to Obuasi following the invasion of an underground mining pit within AngloGold Ashantis concession by some illegal miners last week, leading to a clash between the security in the Municipality and some irate youth of the town.



The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation on the ground, and engage the various stakeholders involved in the impasse. The Minister held separate meetings with Traditional leaders in the Adansi Traditional Area, Small Scale Miners, the Municipal and District Security Councils in the Obuasi Municipality and Obuasi East District, as well as the management of AngloGold Ashanti. He also, visited the area of the concession where the illegal miners used to assess the pit, and other illegal routes created by some of the miners.



Mr. Jinapor assured the mining company of governments unflinching commitment to the protection of its concessions. "Weve got a deeper understanding of the issues at stake. Weve had very detailed discussions and a lot of conclusions have been reached to first of all protect the concession of AngloGold Ashanti and map out strategy which will give us sustainable resolution of the matter."



In the meeting with the small scale miners, the Minister underscored the need for them to respect the laws of the country, and ensure that they operate legally and responsibly in accordance with laid down procedures. He said Government was not against small scale mining, but will not condone illegal small scale mining that pays no regard to the laws of the country.



Briefing the media after the meetings, Mr. Jinapor reiterated the commitment of government to the protection of AngloGolds Obuasi Mine and every licensed mining firm in the country.



The Minister emphasized the crucial economic importance of the AngloGold Obuasi Mine to the country. He said illegal mining activities contributed to the Mine being put under care and maintenance in 2016. But through the instrumentality of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Mine was brought back to life in 2019. He called on all stakeholders to work together to protect the Mine as a national asset.



I want to underscore the importance of this asset to the economy of this country I should say so forcefully that it is governments policy that AngloGolds concession be protected through any legal means, he said.



Mr. Jinapor added that the mining laws of the country will be strictly enforced and persons who flout the laws will be made to face the full rigours of the law.



The Minister also tasked the Hon. Deputy Minister responsible for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker, MP, to Chair a committee to, among others, examine the Internal Security Architecture of the company as well as provide Alternative Livelihood opportunities for the teaming Youth through the creation of Community Mining Schemes (CMS) and ensure a healthy and closer collaboration among all stakeholders in the Municipality.



He, however, insisted that lack of employment cannot be a justification for illegalities.



The management of AngloGold Ashanti thanked the Minister for his interest in the matter. They said all 86 illegal miners who went underground have come out and been handed over to the police. They pledged their commitment to work with Government to ensure a healthy collaboration between the company and the community.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, has affirmed Ghana's dedication to sustainable development, improved living standards, and enhanced resilience even in the face of recent global downturns.



He made this commitment at an event to commemorate the National Day Reception of the Kingdom of Denmark on June 5, 2023, where he delivered a statement on behalf of the government of Ghana. He highlighted the importance of nurturing partnerships, building on past achievements, and exploring new avenues of cooperation.



Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye emphasized the long-standing historical ties between Ghana and Denmark, which date back to 1660 when Danish merchants engaged in trade with the Gold Coast. He highlighted the significance of the Osu Christianborg Castle in Accra as a symbol of the enduring relations between the two nations.



"Formal diplomatic relations were established between Ghana and Denmark following Ghana's independence, with Denmark opening its embassy in Accra in 1961, reciprocated by Ghana in 1966. Over the years, the bilateral cooperation has flourished, marked by high-level visits and exchanges. Notable visits include Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II's three-day visit in 2017 and the official visit of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in 2021, commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations," he stated.



The Minister praised Denmark's Strategic Sector Cooperation programmes, which have yielded significant benefits for both nations. Successful initiatives highlighted include cooperation in water supply and wastewater management in the municipality of Tema, enhancement of Ghana's maritime sector, and the utilization of administrative data for official statistics production.



Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Tom Nrring in his statement revealed that the Kingdom of Denmark has partnered with the government of Ghana in various sectors over the years. Partnerships with the Ghana Maritime Authority and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority have contributed to strengthening Ghana's maritime sector and driving growth and development in this crucial domain, he asserted.



Hon. Asenso-Boakye reiterated these remarkable initiatives demonstrate the depth of cooperation and the shared desire to create positive change for both nations. He commended the partnership between Ghana and Denmark, which is based on mutual understanding, respect, and a common goal of progress.



The celebration of Denmark's National Day highlighted the enduring friendship between Ghana and Denmark and showcased the successful collaboration in various sectors. It marked the celebration of the 174th anniversary of Denmark's Constitution Day. The event was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and the business community.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Most Reverend John Kobina Louis, the Auxiliary Bishop of Accra Archdiocese, has admonished Catholics to confidently express their faith without fear or shyness.



Dont give up your faith in Christ. Our faith as Catholics must encourage us to stand firm irrespective of any form of persecution or intimidation, he said.



The Auxiliary Bishop made the call on Sunday in Accra at a thanksgiving mass to climax the 80th anniversary of St. Kizito Catholic Church in Nima and the confirmation of 170 candidates.



He said the Churchs patron Saint, St. Kizito of Uganda, died at age 13 for defending the Catholic faith , stressing that his fortitude should stimulate and strengthen Catholics about his steadfast belief and teachings of Christ.



You need to water the presence of the Holy Spirit through prayers in your lives, because nobody can stand the power and strength that will come from you, he said.



Most Rev. Louis advised the newly confirmed candidates not to see the ceremony as a graduation event, but to fully understand the tenets and values of the Catholic faith and become disciples of Christ.



In Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8, he stated that the disciples of Jesus Christ, especially Philip, ran to Samaria to preach the Gospel and won more souls because of the persecution they suffered.



He encouraged Catholics to believe in and acknowledge the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for a total transformation and also to help them stand the test of all temptations.



He urged the confirmants to pray fervently for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives for positive outcomes.



Touching on the importance of the Holy Trinity, the Auxiliary Bishop urged the Catholic faithful to express the sign of the cross with boldness.



It is surprising that some Catholics hide to express the sign of the cross. Our faith in Christ must be expressed with courage, commitment, and love, he said.



He said Matthew 28:19 says, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.



Most Rev. Louis charged Christians, especially Catholics, to be abreast of the doctrines of the Church and be focused in life to avoid being misled by other teachings.



He stated that most Catholics moved from one Church to another because they lacked knowledge of their faith, urging them to seek more information from the authorities when in doubt about the doctrines of the Church.



As part of activities to climax the anniversary, the church organised spiritual programmes to strengthen the growth of parishioners.



On Saturday, June 3, 2023, the Auxiliary Bishop unveiled the Churchs newly renovated Grotto, which will serve as a prayer ground for parishioners.



Awards were presented to parishioners who have contributed positively to the growth of the Church.





Source: GNA









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All eyes are on Apple as it is expected to launch a mixed-reality headset at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), in California.



It would be the technology giant's most significant product release since it unveiled the Apple Watch, in 2015.



Boss Tim Cook is expected to use his keynote speech to say this new product is the future.



But its expected price tag of about $3,000 (2,400) might make that a tough sell for consumers.



External battery



While Apple has not yet confirmed its existence, reports suggest the headset will offer both virtual- and augmented- reality experiences.



Images online show the "Reality Pro" looking a bit like wraparound ski goggles.



If the leaks are correct, Apple has made its headset smaller and lighter by removing the internal battery. Users will instead have to carry an external battery that connects to the headset by a cable.



A reveal at WWDC will not mean the headset will be on immediate sale - it will hit the shelves later in the year, reports suggest.



Streamed live



Sol Rogers, from visual-effects film studio Magnopus, told BBC News the industry would not change overnight as a result of WWDC but it would bring "validation and credibility" to the technology as a whole.



And when Apple does "find success", it would "redefine our digital and physical realities and propel us into a future where the extraordinary becomes the everyday".



The conference, at Apple Park, the company's headquarters, in Cupertino, California, will be streamed live on its website and YouTube channel.



Mr Cook is also expected to speak about Apple's artificial-intelligence (AI) strategy.



Hotly contested



Since the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT, punters are growing more interested in deploying generative AI on their iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs.



Apple has been quieter than Microsoft and Google, when it comes to this hotly contested AI arms race.



But recent job adverts for more software engineers suggest it is looking to ramp up its AI expertise.



Apple is also expected to reveal a 15in (38cm) MacBook Air laptop and updates to its iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems.



A report from the Wall Street Journal also detailed how Apple would launch a mental-health journaling iPhone app at WWDC.



Last week:



-Meta teased the latest Quest virtual-reality headset, with a much cheaper price of $499 (402)



-Lenovo released its latest ThinkReality VRX headset



Meta has also invested heavily in mixed-reality - but right now the sector is struggling.



The headset market saw a 54% drop in global sales last year, according to the International Data Corporation.



And Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg will probably be hoping Mr Cook can turn the focus firmly on headsets as the next big thing.

Source: BBC









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Former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has vowed to ensure that the fight for probity and accountability within the party continues.



According to Anyidoho, there are individuals within the party who, during the NDC's previous time in power before 2016, used their positions to enrich themselves and are determined to continue their actions once the party regains power.



"The June 4 spirit of Probity & Accountability is alive in some of us. See how someone's block factory has collapsed on the Dodowa Road because he doesn't have access to government contracts and is also forcing contractors to buy his blocks. Who born dog?" Anyidoho captioned a video he shared on his Twitter page on Saturday, June 4, 2023.



In the video, Anyidoho showcased an abandoned block factory that he claimed belonged to a former general secretary of the NDC but has since collapsed since the party lost power.



"Riddle riddle, who was in the business of constructing block factories when he was the general secretary of a ruling party, supplying blocks to all government contracts, and came to build one here on the Dodowa Road? Look at how it has collapsed because it was purposely meant to supply blocks to government contracts in the Eastern Region. And when we lost power, the block factory collapsed. So, they want power again so that they can rebuild their block factories, create, loot, and share. We are waiting to see. Today is June 4th, the revolution is on. We will fight them with the revolutionary spirit: probity, accountability, and integrity. Who born dog!" he expressed in the background of the video.



Koku Anyidoho has been critical of some prominent figures within the NDC, including the party's current National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who is a former general secretary of the party.



His consistent criticism of the NDC led to his suspension from the party on February 8, 2021. However, the former NDC deputy general secretary maintains that he is still a member of the party.





The June 4 spirit of Probity & Accountability is alive in some of us. See how someones block factory has collapsed on the Dodowa Road because he doesnt have access to government contracts & also forcing contractors to buy his blocks. Who born dog ? pic.twitter.com/2ViUotVWKw  Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) June 4, 2023







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vehemently dismissed the recent claims made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding voter transfer in the Assin North Constituency. In a press statement signed by Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP categorically refuted the allegations, labeling them as baseless and an attempt to mislead the public ahead of the upcoming Assin North by-election.



The NDCs press statement, signed by Sammy Gyamfi, the partys National Communications Officer, accused the NPP of colluding with the Electoral Commission to transfer and insert the name of Charles Opoku into the Voters Register of Assin North. The NPP firmly denied any involvement in such activities and emphasized its unwavering commitment to upholding Ghanas democratic principles.



In response, the NPP issued a series of points to clarify its position:



Firstly, the party debunked the accusation of plotting to illegally insert the name of an unqualified NPP Parliamentary Candidate into the Assin North Register. The NPP highlighted its longstanding efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in Ghana, including the Electoral Commission, and firmly stated that it would not jeopardize the countrys democratic gains.



Secondly, the NPP clarified that it has yet to select a Parliamentary Candidate for Assin North. The party reminded the public that Parliamentary Primaries in the constituency are yet to be held, making it impossible for the NDC to determine the NPPs candidate ahead of time and suggesting collusion with the Electoral Commission.



Furthermore, the NPP provided an educational explanation of Ghanas electoral laws, pointing out that Article 94(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution does not require a parliamentary candidate to be registered in the constituency they wish to contest. The sole requirement is that the candidate is a registered voter. The NPP emphasized that their candidates hail from Assin North and have met the constitutional residency requirements.



To address the claim of voter transfer, the NPP highlighted that the Electoral Commission only requires a Parliamentary Candidate to make a Statutory Declaration confirming their status as a registered voter, as outlined in the Parliamentary Nominations Form  2023. This process aligns with constitutional provisions and does not involve any illegal activities.



The NPP concluded by assuring Ghanaians, particularly the people of Assin North, of its unwavering commitment to upholding and defending the 1992 Constitution.



The upcoming Assin North by-election has garnered significant attention, with both major political parties, NPP and NDC, vying for victory. The NPPs response to the NDCs allegations seeks to clarify its position and dispel any doubts regarding its adherence to democratic principles and electoral laws.



As the election date draws closer, the political landscape in Assin North remains dynamic, with the NPP focused on selecting a qualified and capable candidate to represent the constituency, while the NDC continues its campaign efforts. The outcome of the by-election will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in the constituency and contribute to the larger narrative of Ghanas democratic process.



















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Samuel Koku Anyidoho, the former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, has alleged that James Gyakye Quayson, the party's 2020 parliamentary candidate for Assin North, was disqualified from contesting in the party's primaries on multiple occasions.



According to Koku, Gyakye Quayson was disqualified from contesting in the NDC's primaries in both 2012 and 2016 due to his possession of Canadian citizenship.



"Back to Gyakye Quayson, so in 2012 at the Central Region, Gyakye Quayson was disqualified at the vetting when Allotey Jacobs was then the propaganda secretary, and lawyer Adu Yeboah was the chairman. In 2016, Allotey became the chairman, and they still disqualified Gyakye Quayson for the same dual citizenship. Even in 2020, per my information  and don't forget that in 2016 I was deputy general secretary  my information is that in 2020 he was still disqualified at the regional level. So there is a history, there is a trend," alleged Koku while speaking on Atinka TV's The Agenda program.



Koku Anyidoho's revelation comes in the wake of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Ghana, which declared Gyakye Quayson's election as a Member of Parliament in 2020 as unconstitutional, null, and void.



According to the Supreme Court, Gyakye Quayson held Canadian citizenship at the time of filing his nomination as the NDC's parliamentary candidate in 2020.



The court's ruling led the Clerk of Parliament to declare the Assin North seat vacant.



Subsequently, the Electoral Commission has scheduled a by-election in Assin North for June 27, 2023, following the declaration by the Clerk.



Meanwhile, the NDC has stated its intention to re-present Gyakye Quayson as its candidate for the upcoming election, despite a criminal process brought against him in relation to his 2020 election contest.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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In a surprising move, two members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Karaga constituency are cashing in on the opening of nomination for the partys flagbearership race.

The two party officers have in a dramatic move endorsed Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai-Nimoh for the NPP flagbearer position at the same time.



The two officials, Mohammed Bawa, Research Officer, and Abdulai Shahadu, Nasara Coordinator, met with Dr. Akoto and expressed their support for his candidature.



Dr. Akoto was elated by the endorsement and thanked the two officials for their confidence in his vision for Ghanas agriculture sector.



Not stopping there, the two officials also met with Addai-Nimoh at a separate time, and endorsed his candidacy as well.

The officials are set to meet with another aspirant to endorse his campaign.

This floating endorsement has left many party members wondering about the true motivations behind the decision.



However, Dr. Akoto has taken the opportunity to publicly thank the officials for their endorsement and encourage them to work hard to bring like-minded individuals into the fold.



Dr. Akoto believes that with his vision for the agriculture sector, he can break the cycle of eight-year governance and transform Ghanas economy.



But in the midst of this contest, the floating endorsement of Dr. Akoto and Addai-Nimoh by two NPP officials in Karaga constituency has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns about the integrity of some party members.



It casts a shadow on their commitment to the partys values and principles, as well as their ability to make sound judgments.



It is time for the NPP to address this issue and ensure that such incidents do not repeat themselves.

The future of Ghanas economy and politics depends on the leaders that the NPP chooses, and they must choose wisely.



The time for action is now, and party officials must act swiftly to address this situation and restore confidence in the party.

Ghana deserves leaders who are honest, transparent, and committed to the welfare of the Ghanaian people.



This floating endorsement raises questions about the integrity and loyalty of these officials within the NPP.



The NPP has always prided itself on its transparency and accountability. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the motivations behind the endorsement and hold those involved accountable for their actions.

The NPP cannot afford to have officials who engage in such underhanded tactics for personal gain.



Furthermore, this incident highlights the need for the NPP to ensure that its leadership reflects the values of the party. The party needs leaders who are committed to the welfare of the nation and the people of Ghana. It is time for the NPP to choose a candidate who can deliver on their promises and transform Ghanas economy.



This endorsement has caused a stir within the NPP ranks and has left many members wondering about the direction of their party. It is time for the NPP to address this issue head-on and ensure that such incidents do not repeat themselves in the future.



The NPP needs leaders who are committed to the partys principles and values, and who have the integrity and honesty to lead Ghana into a brighter future. The question remains: Are these officials the right fit for the NPP, or do they represent a threat to the partys integrity and credibility?



As the NPP moves forward towards the flagbearer contest, these questions need to be addressed, and the truth behind this endorsement revealed. The future of Ghanas economy and politics hinges on the decisions made by the NPP, and the party must ensure that its leaders are up to the task at hand.



As the NPP prepares for its flagbearer contest, many are eagerly watching to see who will come out on top. With support from unexpected sources, each candidate is pushing hard to win the NPP nomination and lead the party into the future.

Source: Vincent Kubi/Daily Duide









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The Ministry of Energy initiates before the EU an increase in transmission capacity to boost electricity imports to Ukraine up to 2 GW in connection with the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) by Russian invaders, the Ministry of Energy reported referring to Minister Herman Haluschenko on Tuesday evening.

"In this regard, we are counting on the support of partners and an increase in capacity to increase electricity imports to 2 GW," the minister said at an urgent meeting of the High-Level International Advisory Council under the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine in connection with the disaster at the Kakhovka HPP.

As Haluschenko explained, despite the fact that the plant did not supply electricity to the system after the occupation, the breakthrough violated the integrity of the entire hydroelectric complex. Accordingly, there is a risk that hydropower, which balanced the Ukrainian power system, will not be able to operate at the required capacity.

In turn, as European Commissioner Kadri Simson said at the meeting, the European side is ready to support Ukraine in the issue of increasing electricity imports, and to enhancing pressure on Russia. The European Commissioner said that the attack on civilian energy infrastructure and generation facilities is a direct violation of international law, and the EU will take into account the latest developments in the next package of sanctions against the Russian Federation.

According to the Ministry of Energy, a separate issue raised during the meeting was the need for a complete restoration of energy facilities that will be destroyed due to the explosion and the resulting flood.

"These are networks, generating capacities, power lines. This will require enormous resources, and Ukraine will count on the support of partners in this matter," the ministry said.

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Grangholm, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia Davor Filipovic, Minister for Climate and Energy Policy of the Netherlands Rob Jetten, Minister of Energy of Romania Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Minister of Energy of France Agnes Pannier-Runacher, other representatives of the G7 countries, heads of international organizations took part in the urgent meeting of the High-Level International Advisory Council under the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.

At present, the capacity of electricity imports from the Continental Europe zone to Ukraine and Moldova is up to 1,400 MW

The permitted maximum transmission capacity for the export of electricity to Europe is 600 MW.
Head of Communications of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagba has appealed to Ghanaians not to lose faith in the Akufo-Addo administration.



According to him, the government is on track to creating more jobs for the youth to prevent them from engaging in social vices as drug addiction and drug trafficking.



He was speaking on the disturbing emergence of some youth going into narcotics trade.



Richard Ahiagba was worried about this trend but strongly believed the youth will adopt proper behaviors when there are jobs for them.



To him, many young people whose lives have been destroyed by hard drugs is because they were unemployed.



The NPP National Communications Director, speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show, implored the youth to "continue supporting this government for its vision to tackle the biggest problem that Ghana has with youth unemployment".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Zanetor Rawlings, the daughter of former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has asked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cleanse itself of any lingering "demons" to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 elections.



Delivering a passionate address at a church in Cape Coast on June 3 to mark the commencement of the 44th-anniversary commemoration of the June 4 Revolution, Zanetor Rawlings, who is a lawmaker, emphasized the need for the NDC, which she described as the product of the revolution, to undergo a thorough self-examination.



She stressed that the party must rid itself of any negative influences that may have crept in unnoticed over time.



"If the NDC is to rescue this country come 2024, then we must clear ourselves from any demon that entered while we were not paying attention," Zanetor Rawlings declared, urging her party members to reflect on their actions and align themselves with the principles of the June 4 Uprising.



The June 4 Revolution, also known as the June 4th Uprising, was sparked by the arrest and trial of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and other junior military officers by the leadership of the Supreme Military Council II (SMC II). The former president and his colleagues were charged with mutiny following a failed coup attempt on May 15, 1979.



In his defence during the trial, Jerry John Rawlings cited various reasons for the unsuccessful coup. He highlighted the denial of salaries to junior military officers, rampant corruption among Supreme Military Council officials, poor governance, economic hardships, and general frustration among the populace. Additionally, he pointed out the prevalence of indiscipline within the Ghana Army as a significant contributing factor to the uprising.



Zanetor Rawlings' call for the NDC to rid itself of any demons echoes the spirit of the June 4 Revolution, which sought to address these issues and bring about positive change in the party.

Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that the Electoral Commission (EC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) are scheming to subvert Ghanas electoral laws with a misinterpretation of existing laws.



The NDCs Communications Director, Sammy Gyamfi, in a statement dated June 5 accused the EC and NPP of adopting a wrong approach in the matter of the choosing of a parliamentary candidate by the NPP for the upcoming Assin North by-elections.



Gyamfi said instead of the EC as referee applying both the Constitutional provision on eligibility of candidates and its own existing electoral laws, it has opted to use only the Constitution as basis for confirming eligibility.



This, the NDC described as an absurd, unreasonable and unfounded arguments."



It stressed it is wrong for the EC is claim that "the eligibility criteria as set out in Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution on the qualification or disqualification criteria for election of a Member of Parliament is exhaustive.



This flawed argument strangely assumes that once you are a Ghanaian of twenty-one years, of sound mind and hail from a constituency, you are qualified to be elected into Parliament. This position is not only feeble and uninformed but it grossly betrays their lack of understanding of the Electoral laws of Ghana, the statement added.



Sammy Gyamfi said the EC must apply in addition to Article 94 of the Constitution, the Public Elections Regulations 2020 (C.I. 127).



The NDC on June 4 alleged that the EC and NPP wanted to import the details of one of the parliamentary aspirants in the upcoming Assin North by-elections.



The two accused denied the allegations of collusion and in separate statements explained why the NDCs position on the matter was wrong.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the Presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assured Ghanaians that their suffering under the current NPP administration will soon come to an end.



He has urged citizens to remain calm and consider voting for the NDC in the upcoming 2024 elections as a means to alleviate their hardships.



Addressing an audience at the 44th anniversary of the June 4th uprising in Hohoe, former President Mahama empathized with Ghanaians, acknowledging their struggle under the current government.



He stated that corruption, economic hardships, and insensitivity towards the people's plight would be a thing of the past if the NDC is elected to power.



"We are responsible for organizing and letting our message of hope reach everyone across the length and breadth of our land," stated former President Mahama.



"The dark days will last only for a moment more, and a new dawn is lurking on the horizon.



"And when that new dawn breaks, the governmental rot, the economic hardships, the insensitivity to the plight of the people, and the offensive corruption and waste of the peoples resources will be a thing of the past," rainbowradioonline.com quoted him as saying.



Former President Mahama urged the Ghanaian people not to be misled by "hollow sloganeering" and "shallow populism" propagated by those who had made their lives difficult for years.



He further urged citizens not to be swayed into voting for the ruling NPP in the 2024 elections but rather to choose the NDC for a brighter future.



"Do not allow them to confuse you that you must vote for them in 2024," he warned.



John Mahama previously served as President of Ghana from 2012 to 2016 before losing to Akufo-Addo in the 2016 presidential election.



He unsuccessfully ran against Akufo-Addo again in the 2020 election.



He has been re-elected as the flagbearer of the NDC and has expressed confidence that he can win in 2024 and bring about the changes he believes the country needs.







Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Baltimore man faces charges including attempted homicide following a manhunt that shut down Interstate 83 and nearby roads in York County for hours on Monday and left a randomly-encountered woman with a gunshot injury.

Jajyevoune Lee, 22, was arraigned early Tuesday. The Baltimore resident was previously wanted for multiple violent crimes in Maryland, state police said.

State police said the incident began around 7:15 a.m. Monday with an armed robbery in Springettsbury Township, and police receiving a description of the suspect fleeing in a vehicle driven by a woman.

State police said they stopped the vehicle as it was traveling south on I-83, with Lee getting out and fleeing into the woods while carrying a fanny pack.

Troopers and officers from multiple departments and agencies surrounded the area, with police dogs and a helicopter also helping with the search.

Police began receiving reports of someone matching Lees description walking on Commerce Drive in Springfield Township.

Troopers found Lee, who ran back to I-83, where he shot a 53-year-old Shrewsbury woman in the chest while trying to take her vehicle, police say.

Police say the woman was alert and conscious when she was taken to the hospital, but a news release early Tuesday included no further information about her condition.

Lee also faces charges including aggravated assault, robbery, possession of drugs with intent to deliver, and illegally possessing a gun.

State police credited local first responders and residents with helping in the capture of Lee.

State police at York are asking witnesses and others with information about the incident to call them at 717-428-1011.

READ MORE FROM PENNLIVE:

All lanes of I-83 closed for police investigation in York County
By Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun (TNS)

The two drivers in the Baltimore Beltway crash that killed six construction workers were indicted Monday on charges including negligent manslaughter.

Melachi Duane Darnell Brown, 20, was driving a Volkswagen Jetta when he collided with an Acura TLX in a construction zone on I-695 on March 22. The Acura then entered the work zone through a gap in the jersey barriers, striking the workers at about 12:40 p.m. The Acuras 54-year-old driver, Lisa Adrienne Lea, was also indicted Monday, but police are still searching for her, according to Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

Brown was arrested by Maryland State Police on Monday and is being held at the Baltimore County Detention, Shellenberger said in a news release Tuesday. A bail review is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Both Lea and Brown face charges of felony vehicular negligent manslaughter and death of a vulnerable person in each of the six deaths. Lea, who faces a total of 28 counts, was also charged with aggressive driving and driving while impaired. Lea was impaired by drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol, according to the indictment.

Six workers were killed in a crash on the Baltimore Beltway in March 2023. (Jerry Jackson, Baltimore Sun, TNS, file) TNS

Both drivers were reportedly traveling at speeds higher than the posted limit of 55 mph, the regular speed for the beltway and greater than the speed of the adjacent traffic, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Lea was seriously injured in the crash and was later released from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, according to the Maryland State Police, the primary agency in charge of investigating the collision. Brown reported no injuries.

Video footage from a state transportation camera obtained by media outlets after the crash shows a gray Acura trying to merge into the Baltimore Beltways leftmost lane and striking a white Volkswagen, which then veers into the work zone. All six workers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Five of the workers who were killed were employees of Concrete General: Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, and his brother, Jose Armando Escobar, 52, both of Frederick; and Mahlon Simmons III, 31, and his father, Mahlon Simmons II, 52, both of Union Bridge. The sixth was identified as Sybil Lee DiMaggio, a 46-year-old Severna Park resident who worked as an inspector for KCI Technologies.
Since the death of Jacky Oh  the former star of the VH1 series Wild N Out  her longtime partner, comedian, rapper, and actor DC Young Fly, is speaking out for the first time since the tragic news broke June 1, according to media outlets.

In a statement to People, the Wild N Out star, whose real name is John Whitfield, thanked those who offered condolences.

We thank everyone for their well wishes and ask for privacy during this difficult time, he told the outlet on June 2.

DC Young Fly shares three children  6-year-old Nova 6, 2-year-old Nala, and 10-month-old Prince Nehemiah,  with the late TV personality.

Meanwhile, new information surrounding the stars shocking death broke today.

According to what the Miami Police Departments Public Information Officer told E! News, police were dispatched to a local hotel in response to an unresponsive female on May 31.

She was transported by Miami Fire Department to Mercy Hospital where lifesaving efforts were conducted, the PIO stated to the outlet, but unfortunately, she was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

A report from the Miami Police Department, obtained by E! News, lists the address of the Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami as the location of the incident and Jacklyn Smith, also known as Jacky Oh, as the subject.

Per the report, she was 33 years old.

A cause of death has yet to be revealed.

As previously reported, Jacky Oh died in Miami, according to TMZ. Both the outlet and the Los Angeles Times reported that a since-deleted social media post said she was in Miami to undergo a mommy makeover surgery.

Read More:
Tupperware and Vera Bradley have collaborated once again and released another line of containers that feature new patterns.

Sea Air Floral and Cloud Vine Multi prints are available in a reusable ECO water bottle, snack set and sandwich keeper.

The fun and functional containers, Tupperware said, combine reusable solutions that reduce food and single-use plastic waste with cheerful, bright prints ...

This is Tupperware and Vera Bradleys second collaboration.

Last years first-ever collaboration with Vera Bradley was an incredible success, so we couldnt be more excited to bring brand fans another limited-edition collection with a brand-new set of products and designs, said Gregory Crossley, senior director of marketing, U.S. & Canada, Tupperware.

Perfect for everything from summer travels to preparing for back-to-school, our latest collaboration with Vera Bradley provides consumers with food and drinkware containers that are both beautiful and sustainable.

The limited-edition line includes two patterns:

Sea Air Floral Collection features a light blue backdrop with yellow, blue and orange florals. It includes the 25-ounce bottle, two 4-ounce snack cups and the sandwich keeper for $28.

Cloud Vine Multi Collection includes a pink background with blue, yellow and pink flowers, It includes the 25-ounce bottle, two 4-ounce snack cups and the sandwich keeper for $28.

On the Vera Bradley website, the sandwich keeper is $12 and the snack cups are $6.

The pieces can be purchased from Tupperware representatives and online.

READ MORE: Bath & Body Works celebrates birthday of iconic fragrance by bringing it back during sale.
Twitter is notorious for people venting about everything and anything.

This makes the social platform the perfect place to rant about the chaos that is an airport, with one airport in Pennsylvania being amongst the most complained-about.

Price 4 Limo  an online service that compares pricing for limos, party buses, and the like  conducted and published a study which found the airports that got Twitters users blood boiling the most.

To do this, Price 4 Limo researchers gathered over 1 million tweets mentioning each of the countrys major airlines and airports. A sentiment analysis was then conducted on each tweet in order to gage positive or negative sentiment, and the final findings, calculated. Information from the U.S. Department of Transportation was also used.

Turns out  as far as complaints go  Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) landed amongst the top 20 with regards to having the most negative tweets, claiming the 13th overall spot

PennLive has previously reported about consumers grievances with PHL: A November 2022 article went into detail about how the location was found to be the most stressful airport in Pennsylvania, with almost 57 percent of total reviews expressing anxiety.

The top three most-complained about U.S. airports on Twitter were Oakland International in Oakland, Calif. (third); Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (second); and Bradley International in Hartford County, Conn. (first).

For those curious, the airline that received the most complains on Twitter was  predictably  Southwest.
A 17-year-old in western Iowa was arrested and is facing a felony charge after being accused of attempting to order a hit on a 7-year-old, according to news sources.

The teen was said to have submitted the childs personal information  which included their name, address, identifying details and where the child could be located  to the website Rent-a-hitman.com, according to what the Storm Lake Police Department reportedly said in a news release that was issued on Monday.

CBS News reported that Rent-a-hitman.com is a bogus website that features fake testimonials, a request form and a job application for aspiring hitmen. It was created in 2005 to advertise a cyber security startup company that never took off.

But real inquiries submitted to the website have led to one other confirmed arrest.

Anyway, officials were contacted on Friday for a report at midnight of someone visiting the parody website with the intention of hiring a hitman in hopes of terminating the young child, according to reports from CBS News and KCAU.

The webmaster of the website told officials that the person visited the website twice and submitted the childs information. After, an investigation was launched immediately where the officials were able to identify the targeted child and the possible suspect. That person was then contacted by an undercover officer, who posed as a hitman Friday morning, according to reports.

The officer was able to confirm that the potential suspect wanted the target killed. The teen was then arrested that afternoon.

Upon further investigation, officials were able to determine that the threat against the 7-year-old was indeed credible. Fortunately, neither the child nor their family members were harmed and were not aware of the potential threat, according to reports.

As a result, the 17-year-old was charged with one count of solicitation to commit murder, a class C felony. The teen is being held in the Cherokee YES Center and was referred to juvenile court.

The investigation is ongoing.

Read more via CBS News.

Read More:
Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was destroyed and cannot be restored after the engine room had been blown up by the Russian occupation forces from the inside, PrJSC Ukrhydroenergo said.

As of 09:00 a.m. on June 6, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir is rapidly decreasing, and the evacuation of the population from potential flood areas has begun.

The company noted that the uncontrolled decline in the level of the reservoir is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia NPP. Water from the Kakhovka reservoir is necessary for turbine condensers and ZNPP safety systems. Now the station cooling pond is full. The Ukrainian staff of ZNPP monitors all indicators.

According to Ukrhydroenergo, in connection with the explosion of the station, the president of Ukraine convened the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

"Ukrhydroenergo continues to analyze the situation, our specialists are working to clarify the extent of destruction, speed and volume of water. The information will be updated," the company said.
OCALA, Fla. (AP)  A Florida mother was fatally shot through the front door of her neighbors home while her 9-year-old son stood next to her, a violent culmination of what police said was a 2-year feud.

Ajike Owens, 35, was fatally shot after going to the Ocala apartment of her neighbor, who earlier had yelled at Owens children as they played nearby and threw a pair of skates that hit one of them, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference Monday.

Deputies responding to a trespassing call at the apartment Friday night found Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. The mother of four was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died.

In this frame grab from video broadcast by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Billy Woods speaks at a news conference, in Ocala, Fla., Monday, June 5, 2023. Officials say a neighborhood feud over playing children has ended in a Florida mothers fatal shooting. (Courtesy of Marion County Sheriff's Office via AP)AP

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Woods said. I wish Ms. Owens would have called us in the hopes we could have never gotten to the point at which we are here today.

Since January 2021, Woods said, deputies responded at least a half-dozen times in connection with the feuding between Owens and the woman who shot her. The sheriffs office hasnt arrested or identified the shooter.

Woods said detectives are working with the state attorneys office and must investigate possible self-defense claims before they can move forward with any possible criminal charges.

The sheriff pointed out that because of Floridas stand your ground law, he cant legally make an arrest unless he can prove the shooter did not act in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Owens children had been playing in a field near the shooters apartment. When Owens later confronted the woman at her apartment, an argument ensued, and the woman shot Owens through the front door, according to police.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Owens family, said in a statement that the shooter had been yelling racial slurs at the children before the confrontation with their mother. Owens and her children are Black.

The sheriffs office hasnt confirmed there were slurs uttered or said whether race was a factor in the shooting.

More:

Man shot in the face after Harrisburg resident finds him in bedroom with woman

Teen suspect in Lebanon triple-shooting named as person of interest in New York slaying
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP)  World War II veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name Papa Jake, enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

I got in on the planning of D-Day ... Im just a country boy. Now Im a star on TikTok, he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm. You can see me all over: Papa Jake. Im a legend! I didnt plan this, it came about.

Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

Im 100 without an ache or a pain. You cant fake that, he said.

On Monday, Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

World War II veteran Britain's Bill Gladden, left, speaks with U.S WWII veteran Jack M. Larson in the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, Monday June 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)AP

Thats where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran: I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet, Larson told Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went Sunday into a parade alongside other U.S. veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6, 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy.

Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell their emotion at seeing him.

Jake Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age because he was only 15.

World War II veteran Jake Larson (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)AP

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Larson was in Normandy this week with a group of more than 40 U.S. veterans who traveled with the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps them visit former battlefields.
By SYLVIE CORBET and TARA COPP, The Associated Press

ON OMAHA BEACH, France (AP)  World War II veterans, officials and visitors are commemorating D-Day on the beaches of Normandy to honor those who fought for freedom in the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

Many reenactors came to Omaha Beach at dawn Tuesday to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

World War II reenactors pay homage to U.S soldiers on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)AP

World War II reenactors watch the Atlantic Ocean from Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)AP

A ceremony was to be held at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, which is home to the graves of 9,386 United States soldiers. Most of them lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.

World War II reenactors walk on the beach of Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)AP

An international ceremony is scheduled to take place later at the nearby British Normandy Memorial in the presence of officials from the nine main Allied nations.

More: 50 years after Vietnam Wars end, veterans remember those who didnt come back
Plagued by budget woes, the agency charged with enforcing the state dog law says it cannot keep up its duties in Pennsylvanias 67 counties  and they have numbers to back it up.

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement has operated in a deficit for years, forcing the agency to reduce its staff responsible for inspecting 3,000 kennels and prosecuting violators, picking up stray dogs, ensuring dogs are licensed and vaccinated for rabies and investigating dangerous dog incidents across the state.

In 2022 the Department of Agriculture had to supply nearly $3 million to the Dog Law Restricted Fund to maintain its statutory obligations. The report states that even with department dollars BDLE cannot fill critical vacancies.

Dog licensing fees, a major source of revenue for the bureau, have not increased for nearly three decades. Meanwhile, employee costs have increased by 125% and operating costs have increased by 221% within the bureau, which is part of the Department of Agriculture.

The numbers come from the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures annual Dog Law Report, issued in March 2023. The report states that while BDLE is clearly doing more with less, its only a matter of time until the good work of the past years slips away.

On Monday, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee unanimously passed a key piece of legislation to update the dog law.

Senate Bill 746 would increase the basic license fee for a spayed or neutered dog from $6.50 to $8 a year and from $31.50 to $80 for a lifetime license. It also includes a 25% increase in fees for each classification of kennel, which have not increased in 58 years.

There are only 39 dog wardens in Pennsylvania - a decade ago there were close to 60 - which is not enough to cover the Commonwealths counties. Local and state police often have to handle dog law-related complaints in counties that have no warden or where the local warden isnt available because they were sent to a different county. Increased licensing fees would allow the bureau to staff up again and be able to better cover the entire state.

Last session, lawmakers introduced similar legislation failed to win passage. Now, with bipartisan support, sponsor Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver County, who is also chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Sen. Judith Schwank, D-Berks County, the minority chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, spoke in support of the bill.

Weve been talking about this for a long time, Schwank said. There are so many good aspects to this legislation. To me this is a major step forward.

The bill was hailed by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Shapiro administration as critically needed to support the dog law enforcement and protect animals and consumers.

Senator Vogels bill proposes much needed modernization and standardization of Pennsylvanias dog licensing system, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. When this bill is passed, it will ensure the safety of our dogs and puppies in Pennsylvania, increase public transparency to ensure their pets are from trustworthy, reputable breeders, and will create opportunities for Pennsylvanians to easily purchase dog licenses online.

The state police said the bill would better protect the public from dangerous dogs and improve rehoming of lost dogs.

The State Police is in support of legislation which would enhance public safety, while allowing the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to hire and provide more Dog Wardens throughout the Commonwealth that currently exist. Additionally, changes to the dangerous dog and quarantine requirements would assist in response and investigations to dog law violations, said Corporal Mike Spada, who handles animal cruelty investigations for the state police.

The dog law bill is not the only effort the General Assembly is taking for animals in the state. Sponsors from both sides of the aisle have offered legislation banning certain animal experimentation, stopping the sale in pet stores of dogs bred in inhumane puppy mills and providing licensing exemptions for working and service dogs.

Sen. Doug Mastriano poses with Chase the therapy cat, to advocate for animal welfare law changes.

On Monday, nearly 20 animal organizations gathered at the Capitol for Working Animal Appreciation Day, hosted by Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Adams County, and the Pennsylvania State Working Animal Foundation.

Stretched out behind the Capitol was Noodle, a search-and-rescue dog. His handler, Lisa Figueroa, sat beside him.

Handlers like Figueroa are not paid for their work. When someone goes missing, the local authorities contact a search-and-rescue K-9 unit.

Figueroa works with the Pennsylvania State Working Animals Foundation, a nonprofit staffed by volunteers. Its goal is to provide financial support to working animals and provide a memorial for their contributions.

Working animals at the event included mounted troops from the Pennsylvania state police, and K-9 units from the Capitol police and the York County sheriffs office. Therapy cats and dogs sat quietly by their handlers, enjoying attention lavished upon them by attendees. a testament to their good behavior.

All of you are points of light in these dark times, Mastriano told the group.
WILLIAMSPORT  A lawsuit that accuses a major Pennsylvania highway contractor of stealing pension and welfare benefits of hourly employees assigned to prevailing wage projects is now a class action.

U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann on Tuesday granted the motion of three former employees of Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College.

Lester Packer Sr. of Trout Run and Lester Packer II and Shawn Dyroff, both of Jersey Shore, will represent the more than 1,400 current and former employees who worked on prevailing wage contracts for Hawbaker in Pennsylvania between Sept. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2018.

The three sued the company, its board, the directors and the administrator of Hawbakers employee benefits plan in October 2021 alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

They accuse the company of breaching certain fiduciary duties by, among other things, failing to make required contributions to Hawbakers 401(k) retirement savings plan and other employee benefits plans.

The complaint is related to the criminal charges filed by the state attorney generals office that alleged the illegal diversion of pension money and other workers benefits.

The criminal case was resolved in August 2021 when Hawbaker pleaded no contest in Centre County to four theft counts and agreed to pay restitution of more than $20.6 million.

The company stated by pleading no contest that it accepted the convictions but did not expressly admit to committing the crime.

In approving class-action status, Brann found the Packers and Dyroff had met the legal requirements that include number of plaintiffs and commonality.

The three cited the plea agreement in the criminal case in which Hawbaker agreed to pay restitution to 1,262 current and former workers. That agreement does not encompass all class members, they claim.

Hawbaker denies there was any theft or misuse of more than $20 million in wage benefits as claimed in this and another civil action that was remanded to state court.

The company operates a self-funded health insurance plan that means it pays claims itself instead of through an insurance company.

Also pending in federal court is a related suit brought by Twin City Fire Insurance of Hartford, Connecticut.

It claims its policy does not provide coverage for one criminal and two civil actions while Hawbaker contends a policy that took effect April 1, 2021, does.

More:

New accusations made in suit over girls wanting to play ice hockey for Pa. school

Firefighters from 14 volunteer companies put out blaze at Pa. landfill
The state has settled with two companies the attorney generals office said was breaking the rules as it provided telemarketing services for energy suppliers.

Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that her office entered into a settlement agreement with AGR Group Nevada LLC and Utilities Marketing Group LLC, both from out of state.

Under the terms of the settlement, they are prohibited from making unwanted telemarketing calls to consumers and must pay $150,000 to the attorney generals office.

Henrys office said the companies made calls to consumers registered on Pennsylvanias Do Not Call list and:

Initiated outbound telephone calls to people that had stated that they do not wish to receive outbound telephone calls.

Initiated calls to consumers in a repeated pattern.

used misleading and deceptive acts and practices in connection with requests to be contacted for purposes of telemarketing solicitations.

This settlement comes after related settlements with Direct Energy, Indra Energy and Fluent, LLC, the lead generator used by these companies. These settlements have generated nearly $815,000 in payments to the commonwealth.

Those on the Do-Not-Call list who receive unwanted and unsolicited calls from telemarketers may file a complaint online or contact the Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
A missing Bloomfield man was found dead at the base of Rockefeller Lookout in Englewood Cliffs on Sunday, police said.

Palisades Interstate Parkway Police officers found an abandoned vehicle at about 5 p.m. at the Bergen County lookout, which located along Palisades Interstate Parkway just north of Exit 1, according to a police spokesman.

The vehicle was registered to a 54-year-old man reported missing and endangered on Friday by Clifton Police Department after officers were contacted by the mans brother, authorities said. Police did not release the mans name.

Members of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Detective Bureau, Bergen County Sheriff K-9 Unit and the New York Police Department Aviation unit canvassed the area, but didnt find anything, police said.

The East Bergen Rappel Team and members of New Jersey Search and Rescue also searched the area. After an extensive search, rescuers found the man dead, authorities said.

The mans death does not appear to be suspicious, said Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Lt. Raymond E. Walter. Police are still investigating the incident.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.

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Popular Philly restaurant brand opens in an iconic N.J. beach eatery

Teens were spitting, fighting, vandalizing. Rules will stop beach anarchy, N.J. town says
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | June 6, 2023

One city in Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the country for searching for Wordle-related queries the most.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.
By Brandon Flood

I am a Republican, a lawful gun owner, a survivor of gun violence, and a former straw purchaser. Given my background, it may also surprise some to discover I am also the Deputy Director of the Commonwealths leading gun violence prevention organization, CeaseFirePA.

As lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives prepare for a final vote on the Common Agenda to End Gun Violence legislative package, I implore my fellow Republicans and gun owners to heed my perspective on the subject of gun access laws.

As a native of the City of Harrisburg, I have lived and was raised in neighborhoods that have been rife with crime and heavily impacted by gun violence. Not only have I lost three very close friends to gun violence (and innumerable other casual acquaintances), I also narrowly escaped succumbing to the very same fate myself as I was the victim of a robbery and shot three times in the Uptown area of Harrisburg in 2006.

This constant danger led me to obtain my first illegal gun at the age of 13, when I purchased a sawed-off shotgun from an adult in a back alley for $40. Although I did not have plans to use it, I recognized, even at that young age, that this was a bargain buy that could be later resold at a marked-up price. In fact, from the ages of 13-21, I was able to illegally purchase at least two dozen guns that I either kept for my own protection or sold to other prohibited people throughout the city.

Although many may be shocked and horrified to hear this, what should be even more galling is the fact that I as a minor and a prohibited purchaser was able to obtain these weapons from people who acquired their guns legally. These were upper middle class drug addicts who ventured from their idyllic and perfectly manicured gated communities into the seedy city side streets to barter their legally purchased weapons in exchange for drugs. People who took advantage of their family members negligence or forgetfulness to pilfer firearms that were not properly stored or secured. As well as my peers who had reached the age of 21 and who could legally purchase guns from a license dealer only to resell them to whomever was willing to pay the highest premium for them (Especially if they wanted a particular model or style of weapon).

Given these facts, it would be foolish of us not address the issue of gun access in a way that still preserves the essence of the 2nd Amendment, while also taking into account that there are glaring gaps in our existing laws that unintentionally fuel the proliferation of crime guns in our communities. Thats why I support the Common Agenda to End Gun Violence. It requires people to secure their firearms, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Which is critical since the vast majority of guns used by shooters under the age of 18 are sourced from family members or friends. Securing them will stop shootings before they happen.

It requires reporting of missing firearms when the owner notices them gone. Other states have seen gun trafficking drop by 46 percent as a result of this policy.

It requires every gun sale in the state to include a background check, something we already do for all handgun sales.

And it gives close family and law enforcement a life-saving tool if someone is at imminent risk of ending their lives or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders have cut suicide in 20 states (Including in Florida and Indiana) and can do so here.

I often hear from opponents that we should not be proposing legislation that penalizes lawful gun owners who may be the victims of thefts or lapses in memory. However, what lawmakers must realize is that there is a very distinct difference between a mere lawful gun owner and a lawfully responsible gun owner. A lawful gun owner just means that a person can legally purchase and possess a firearm. A lawfully responsible gun owner is someone who not only can lawfully possess a firearm, but also undertakes the steps necessary to ensure that they are adept at properly handling, storing and securing their firearm.

As we have seen time and time again in the news, as well as in the scenarios that I described above, lawful gun owners are not always responsible gun owners. The overarching objective of the Common Agenda is to put basic policies in place that make lawfully responsible gun ownership the standard, not the exception.

This is a principle that as a Republican, gun owner, and former straw purchaser I can fully get behind. So should my fellow Republicans and gun owners when the Pennsylvania House votes on these measures next week.
Pennsylvania Senate Democrats indicated Monday that they believe there would be sufficient votes to pass two pieces of firearms legislation that cleared the House last month  if the bills are brought up in the Senate by Republican leadership.

The two bills are part of a group of four identified by Democrats and gun safety groups as policy priorities, with House Democratic leadership pointing to progress on two other measures that have yet to clear the House.

We know for a fact that if these measures get to the floor  just these two  they will pass overwhelmingly, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said at a press conference Monday.

One of the bills that cleared the House two weeks ago would require background checks for all gun sales  including the sale of long guns between parties who are not licensed dealers, where background checks are currently not mandated.

The second bill would establish extreme risk protection orders or ERPOs, often called red flag laws, which allow judges to order the temporary confiscation of a persons firearms if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others.

Democratic senators on Monday portrayed firearms regulation as the final piece of the solution to gun violence, after the state has already sought to address issues with school safety, law enforcement funding, and other items.

We need this one last piece to change the lives and the reality of people in Pennsylvania, said Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia.

The background check and ERPO bills received nine and two Republican votes, respectively, in a House where Democrats hold a one-vote majority.

The Senate is GOP-controlled with a 28-22 divide, and Lt. Gov Austin Davis  a Democrat who also spoke in favor of the bills Monday  as a tie breaker.

We get three more votes, we can make this a reality, but first the bills have to be brought up, said Sen. Steve Santarsiero, Bucks County, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the bills were referred.

As many Democrats and advocates have pointed out over the past several weeks, universal background checks and ERPO laws poll well, even among gun owners  with Democrats questioning why Republicans are keeping bills bottled up even though they stand to have a political consensus.

What are they afraid of in the State Senate? Santarsiero asked. Bring the bills up, we demand a vote.

Republican leadership has not made any commitments, with Senate Judiciary Chair Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, saying in an email that these measures will be evaluated and discussed within the committee in the same manner as other bills.

It is premature to speculate as to the prospects for consideration, Baker continued. But, as I have frequently said in the past, and will consistently focus on in the future, what I am looking for in potentially considering any gun-related bills is enforceability and ensuring due process in accordance with constitutional protections.

The other two bills in the set run by House Democrats last month are a safe storage law that would require firearms to be kept locked, as well as a bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours of discovering them missing.

The latter failed on the House floor by a single vote, but a motion to reconsider has been filed; the former has not yet been brought up for a vote.

Asked Monday evening what was happening with the bills, Democratic Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, replied progress.

I believe there will be a right time for the bills to come to the floor, Bradford said, but declined to elaborate about any negotiations to attract support from Republicans or from Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, the sole Democrat to have voted against the gun measures last month.

Weve shown that bipartisan gun safety legislation has passed, which is a historic step forward, Bradford said. We obviously have a humble majority of 102, so we recognize its not without challenges, but weve shown its possible.

The two bills that are now in the Senate  as well as the two that are outstanding in the House  were described as common sense solutions. Democratic senators pointed to high rates of gun suicide, particularly in rural areas of Pennsylvania, which some studies indicate can be mitigated with ERPO laws. Also referenced was the ongoing threat of mass shootings, where some shooters have obtained guns through sales that are exempt from background checks.

A rally against gun legislation that had been advertised for Monday afternoon was ultimately called off after only about 15 people showed up.

Organizer and Libertarian political candidate Tim McMaster said he was concerned that the Senate is going to lose their spine and entertain the two House bills, arguing that constitutionally enshrined gun rights are not subject to a vote or the stroke of a pen.

More:

Pa. House passes Democrats $46.4B spending plan; GOP calls it unsustainable

Pa. House passes Clean Slate expansion by wide margin

Expansion of property tax and rent rebate easily clears Pa. House
European Council President calls blowing up of Kakhovka HPP war crime: We to hold Russia, its puppets accountable

President of the European Council Charles Michel said he was shocked by the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in Kherson region by Russian invaders and called it a war crime.

"Shocked by the unprecedented attack of the Nova Kakhovka dam. The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable," Michel tweeted on Tuesday.

He said that this issue would be raised in June at the European Council and additional assistance would be offered to the flooded areas.

"My thoughts with all the families in Ukraine affected by this catastrophe," Michel added.
The Democrat-led Pennsylvania House of Representatives, seeing higher than anticipated revenue flowing into the states coffers, approved a more than $45 billion general fund budget that spends even more than Gov. Josh Shapiro had proposed.

The budget proposal passed on a straight 102-101 party-line vote following a 40-minute debate.

Along with the general fund, the legislation also creates special funds to pay for state police, school construction and home repairs boosting the total spend to nearly $46.5 billion  a 13% increase over this years $40.5 billion budget.

The vote on this bill is one of the first taken since the House returned to full complement with Mondays swearing-in of new Reps. Heather Boyd, D-Delaware County, and Michael Stender, R-Northumberland County.

The budget bill now goes to the GOP-controlled Senate for consideration as negotiations on a finalized spending plan agreement enters the final stretch of the march to June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Gov. Shapiro commended the House Democratic majority for taking this important step forward and adding to our shared priorities as we work to pass a commonsense budget, said his spokesman Manuel Bonder.

Now as this process moves on to the Senate, we look forward to continuing to work with Republicans and Democrats alike to bring people together and deliver a budget that addresses the most pressing issues facing our commonwealth.

There is little doubt that the final version of the budget will not closely mirror the one the House passed, based on the initial reaction from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Lancaster County.

Martin said his caucus raised concerns about the level of spending in the governors budget proposal so more spending included above and beyond even what the governor put in obviously, those same concerns are going to be still noted.

The budget contains no increase in the states personal income or sales tax.

However, House Republicans argue it includes an energy tax because it assumes $663 million coming from fees associated with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - a multi-state partnership dedicated to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The GOP maintains utilities will pass on the costs to consumers.

Rep. Josh Kail, R-Allegheny County, said it would lead to the largest energy tax hike in commonwealth history. Make no mistake.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, said there is no tax increase in this budget plan, describing it as building on the governors solid plan for Pennsylvania.

He said it uses some of the $800 million in this years higher than expected revenues and anticipated costs savings to make a bigger investment in education and other areas.

It provides $225 million for the 100 poorest school districts and $100 million more than the $796 million increase Shapiro proposed for direct support to school districts. Altogether, he said it invests $1.7 billion more in K-12 and higher education.

Additionally, Harris said it invests in public safety, child care services, community violence reduction programs, veterans programs, support for hospitals, $200 million for home repair programs, $250 million for school modernization, and food security for all ages and still has money leftover to put into the states Rainy Day Fund that currently has a $5 billion balance.

House Republicans, however, said it overspends anticipated revenue growth and maintains a $2 billion structural deficit that will eat up the Rainy Day Fund and other reserves in less than five years.

This budget is a tax increase, period. A vote for this budget is a vote to increase taxes in the future. It will force the commonwealth to eviscerate that emergency rainy day fund that this legislature has worked so hard to build in the past years, said Rep. Tim ONeal, R-Washington County.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, said the plan is not affordable or sustainable. Among the flaws he saw in it is it failed to address permitting reform, fails to accelerate the reduction of the corporate net income tax, doesnt adequately promote community safety, and will send the commonwealth into a financial calamity.

I look forward to actually negotiating the budget in the future because this is not it, Cutler said.

House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery County, countered the GOP criticism saying while they argue about what they want, they have not put a budget plan forward that spells it out.

It is time for the Republican Party House and Senate alike to show their hands to come forward with what their plan is because rhetoric with no plan is just rhetoric, Bradford said. We have a very simple proposal  more money for schools, less pressure on property taxes, more investment in building Pennsylvanias economy.

He called the House Democratic budget modest in its reach but balanced and affordable.

House Republican Appropriations Committee Chairman Seth Grove of York County challenged the idea of its affordability, saying it banks on using one-time revenue in the states reserves to pay for recurring costs.

The House Democratic budget proposal has no plan to deal with the structural deficit, Grove said. Six billion dollars in new spending requires a 32.5% increase in the personal income tax that would be needed to sustain spending at that level going forward without any revenue growth.

Having the final word in the debate, Harris quoting a song title from the great American philosopher and wordsmith Shawn Carter, known as rapper Jay Z, said, I say to my Republican colleagues in the words of the great Shawn Carter Show me what you got because as of right now, we aint seen nothing yet from your caucus.

In the Democratic-crafted budget, Harris said, We show you what we think is important. We show you what we think we should be investing in.

Along with more funding for school districts to help keep down property tax increases, he said it includes funding some GOP priorities such as epilepsy support services, the nurse family partnership to help first-time mothers, blind veteran pensions among others.

The list goes on and on and on about what this budget says we care about, Harris said.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
Four months after the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio  less than a mile from the Pennsylvania border  the Pa. House on Monday voted in favor of final passage of a bill creating new state-level rail regulations.

Extraordinary events bring about extraordinary action, said Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver  the bills prime sponsor alongside Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Beaver  and the stakes are too high to wait any longer.

The bill would create several specific safety benchmarks for trains in Pennsylvania  such as a minimum two-man crew and a maximum train length of 8,500 feet  to be enforced by the states Public Utility Commission, which is authorized to issue fines and refer cases to the state attorney general.

The bill also orders the PUC, in consultation with PennDOT, to develop standards for the reporting and tracking of hazardous materials on trains, as well for the use of wayside detectors  sensors along train tracks that are intended to warn of passing train cars that are overheating due to breakage, misalignment, or other problems that can cause derailment.

Under an amendment passed on the House floor, smaller operators would be exempt from the crew and wayside detector rules, which would apply only to the largest rail systems.

The bill would also put into law the right of union representatives to be involved in safety monitoring, which Matzie previously said is in response to reports that workers safety complaints are not being followed up by rail companies.

Elements of the bill have been proposed for several years, the sponsors said at a committee hearing last month. But the specific impetus for the current effort was the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine. The incident spilled over 100,000 gallons of toxic chemicals and resulted in a burn-off that sent a plume of smoke over the Pennsylvania border, raising concerns about contamination.

While official testing of water and soil has not yet shown major problems, a state Senate panel was told by an expert last month that agencies need to expand the chemicals theyre testing for; Matzie pointed on Monday to a report from Clevelands CBS affiliate saying more expansive private testing was showing contamination.

Questions have also been raised about Norfolk Southern ignoring detector alerts, although the company says its crews acted properly when detectors indicated problems before the East Palestine derailment.

While train accidents reported to federal authorities have risen slightly since 2017, Norfolk Southerns accident rate in particular has spiked much higher, according to a Politico analysis of Federal Railroad Administration data.

The PUC currently has rail inspectors  but as the department explained at a hearing in February, those inspectors act only under authority delegated to them by the Federal Railroad Administration, and their only enforcement power is to refer issues up to the FRA.

The PUC says this is the result of the 1970 federal Railroad Safety Act, which seeks to standardize rail regulations under the FRAs authority and which, under the federal governments Constitutional authority over interstate commerce, restricts states abilities to act outside of this.

But Matzie and other advocates for tighter regulations believe the PUC has more power than it thinks it does, pointing to the exception language in the federal law as well as a 1993 court precedent which determined that federal rail law must substantially subsume the topic of state law in order for it to be pre-empted.

Republicans had raised concerns about the pre-emption issue, and more broadly that the bill would raise costs for railroad commerce, with Rep. Dallas Kephart, R-Clearfield, describing the bill Monday as a hidden tax on consumers.

The bill passed Monday on a vote of 141 to 62, heading to the state Senate.

More:

Democrats push Pa. Senate to take up gun bills, but GOP calls hope for any action premature

Pa. House passes Democrats $46.4B spending plan; GOP calls it unsustainable

Pa. House passes Clean Slate expansion by wide margin

Expansion of property tax and rent rebate easily clears Pa. House
A destroyed street sign at the location where a family of five was hit by a driver, in London, Ont., Monday, June 7, 2021. Members of the Muslim community in London will host a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the worst mass killing in the city's history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brett Gundlock
Australia plans to send Hawkei armored vehicles to Kyiv as part of new aid package  media

Australia intends to provide Ukraine with Hawkei armored vehicles as the centerpiece of an upcoming military aid package, The Sydney Morning Herald reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to them, during a meeting in Singapore at the Asian Security Summit (Shangri-la Dialogue) between Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov "an understanding had been reached but the deal was yet to be processed through Canberra's formal systems."

Marles declined to comment specifically on the Hawkei but said the Ukrainians "have given us a list; we had a pretty detailed conversation."

The new support package would be unveiled "soon," he said.

The publication notes that the announcement of assistance to Ukraine is expected by the time of the trip of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the NATO summit in Lithuania next month.

Meanwhile, the Australian Financial Review reports that Australia, the United States and Ukraine are discussing sending 41 decommissioned Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets to Kyiv instead of scrapping them.

Sources of the publication said that the United States favors the idea of transferring the F/A-18s to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General: blowing up dam of Kakhovka HPP is outrageous act, once again demonstrating cruelty of Russian war in Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the blowing up of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant an outrageous act, once again demonstrating the brutality of the Russian war in Ukraine.

"The destruction of the Kakhovka dam today puts thousands of civilians at risk and causes severe environmental damage. This is an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russia's war in Ukraine," he said on Twitter.

Earlier, PrJSC Ukrhydroenergo stated that the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was completely destroyed and cannot be restored after the engine room was blown up by the Russian occupation forces from the inside.
Kenneth ODonnell Wins Event #11: $600 No-Limit Holdem Deepstack For $351,098

June 06, 2023 Herbie Teope Live Reporter

It wasnt easy for Kenneth ODonnell, but he managed to grind it out over the course of two days and was crowned a champion for his efforts at the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

ODonnell out maneuvered Jefferson Guerrero in a quick heads-up battle on Day 2 to take down Event #11: $600 No-Limit Holdem Deepstack. In fact, the heads-up showdown went just three hands before ODonnell emerged as the winner.

O'Donnell garnered a $351,098 winning prize and, of course, a WSOP bracelet, the first of his poker career. Guerrero collected $216,941 for his runner-up finish.

Event #11: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize 1 Kenneth O'Donnell United States $351,098 2 Jefferson Guerrero Colombia $216,941 3 Ka Chen Kan China $162,371 4 Aaron Georgelos United States $122,407 5 Robert Gittelman United States $92,953 6 Eric Pfenning United States $71,104 7 Manuel DeAlmeida United States $54,794 8 Andres Morales United States $42,539 9 Fabio Coppola Italy $33,274

The newest WSOP bracelet winner's climb to the top meant he had to navigate a minefield of a whos who in the poker community.

Phil Hellmuth

The player field boasted poker royalty with 16-time WSOP bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer Phil Hellmuth, as well as WSOP bracelet winner and Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Liebert.

Hellmuths quest for a 17th WSOP bracelet came to an end in Level 32 when he was eliminated in 47th place for a payout of $7,385.

ODonnell also had to keep an eye on multiple WSOP bracelet winners, which included past WSOP Main Event champions Hellmuth, Greg Raymer, and Jerry Yang. Other notable bracelet winners to play the event included Pei Li, Allen Cunningham, Bradley Jensen, Jeremy Wien, Farzad Bonyadi, Erik Cajelais, David Jackson and Mike Ruter, among others.

Pei Li was the last standing bracelet winner

Li made a deep run before being eliminated in 11th place for $26,223. Lis exit ensured there would be a first-time WSOP bracelet winner at the conclusion of the tournament.

ODonnell rose to the occasion in the face of stout competition. He persevered throughout the two-day event by steadily building his chip stack with well-timed aggression  and he admits, some luck  to get to the final table, which he started with the fourth-largest stack. And then he took it home.

A total of 6,085 entrants participated in Event #11, which generated a prize pool of $3,098,760.

Ka Chun Kan finished in third place ($162,371), while Aaron Georgelos took fourth place ($122,407).

Winners Reaction

ODonnell, who calls St. Petersburg, Florida, home, says hes been playing poker for decades, and nothing comes close to what hes feeling after securing his first WSOP bracelet.

Its huge, ODonnell told PokerNews after winning the event. Its amazing.

ODonnell has cashed in tournaments before, according to his Hendon Mob page. His largest payout came when he took home $53,299 from a $1,700 No-Limit Holdem tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Poker Classic in 2021.

Kenneth O'Donnell

But this is the WSOP, and knowing the level of competition he faced in the tournament field brought the reality of the moment home.

Its absurdly lucky, ODonnell told PokerNews after coming out on top from the heads-up battle. These giant field events are an exercise of just repeatedly getting lucky, and I did.

Im very, very happy to have been the Chosen One for the poker gods today. This feels really special. I just feel really blessed.

As for whats next, ODonnell doesnt plan to go home just yet.

Hes remaining in Las Vegas and eyeing more tournaments. But first, he owes his wife a phone call to let her know hes a WSOP bracelet winner.

Ill play something tomorrow (Wednesday), ODonnell said with a chuckle. Ill talk to my wife back home in a minute and wake her up.

This concludes coverage of Event #11 of the 2023 WSOP, but make sure to continue to stay plugged in with PokerNews for live updates of your favorite events throughout the summer.

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Sharelines A delighted Kevin O'Donnell is the latest player to become a WSOP champion!
Tyler Brown Crowned Champion of Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions ($1,000,000)

June 06, 2023 Ollie Garland Live Reporter

Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions of the 2023 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is now in the history books. After 48 levels of grueling play, battling through the monstrous field of 18,188 players and a final eight-handed feature table in the spotlight, Tyler Brown is the champion taking home a cool $1,000,000 and a coveted WSOP bracelet.

Those lucky enough to make it through one of the four day-one flights were eligible to win the mystery bounties that were put into play on Day 2. For every knockout earned, a player had the opportunity to draw for one of the many bounties on offer ranging in value from $1,000 to $1,000,000. With an overwhelming amount of entries this year generating a massive bounty prize pool, the WSOP was able to offer not one but two $1,000,000 bounties to play for.

Shant Marashlian became a millionaire

Shant Marashlian was the first player to become a millionaire after pulling the first grand prize bounty early on Day 2 of the event.

Patrick Liang shortly followed as he secured a combined total of $1,025,000 across two bounty pulls from the chest. Rather generously, Liang also decided to gift $1,000 to every player at his table when he won the million.

Other notable bounty recipients included Klint Tevaearai and Eric Baldwin who were the winners of the $500,000 and $250,000 bounties respectively.

Many notable players in the field who busted included Matt Glantz (49th), who was the recipient of the $1,000,000 bounty in 2022 and former WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson (532nd) who both made it through to Day 2. Chris Hunichen (14th) also had a deep run busting well into Day 3 of the event as well as Dan Shak (seventh) who reached the final table.

Mystery Bounty Payouts

Bounty Prize Collected By Bounty Prize Collected By $1,000,000 Shant Marashlian $1,000,000 Patrick Liang $500,000 Klint Teveraei $250,000 Eric Baldwin $100,000 Noah Hovick $100,000 Kenneth Mapoy $100,000 Dan Shak $50,000 Nikolaos Angelou $50,000 Cassio Pisapia $50,000 Kevin Towler $50,000 Bill Murray $25,000 Viktor Kulish $25,000 Christopher Lewis $25,000 Narayan Patel $25,000 Narayan Patel $25,000 Aram Oganyan $25,000 Daniel Glass $25,000 Roongsak Griffeth $25,000 Kirk Acevedo $25,000 Rajesh Vohra $25,000 Alejandro Jauregui Reynoso $25,000 Kultida Berman $25,000 Kodey Hammer $25,000 Jaime Madrigal $25,000 Russell McClean $25,000 Ryan McKnight $25,000 John Riordan $25,000 Ryan McKnight $25,000 Ron Moisecu $25,000 Lemarc Harrell $25,000 Darin Utley $25,000 Nicholas Agnew $25,000 Kenneth Mapoy $25,000 Todd Hoopfer $25,000 Michael Clough $25,000 Kevin Schulz $25,000 Joao Barroso Valli $25,000 Shahaf Nacson $25,000 Baptiste Ozenne $25,000 Joseph Salvaggi $25,000 Carmen Raiche Marsden $25,000 Patrick Liang $25,000 Stephen Song $25,000 Guan Chen $25,000 Tyler Brown

Day 3 was played down to one table of ten players who battled it out until only eight remained, and the official final table was decided. The players were moved to the feature table, and the livestream covered the play down to a winner and their bracelet presentation.

Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions Final Table Results

Place Name Country Prize (USD) 1 Tyler Brown USA $1,000,000 2 Guang Chen USA $561,320 3 Ryan McKnight USA $429,360 4 Steven Thompson Costa Rica $330,150 5 Rhian Fineis USA $255,210 6 Tauan De Oliveira Naves Brazil $198,320 7 Dan Shak USA $154,940 8 Tam Ho Canada $121,683

Not long after the final table kicked off, the first elimination came in the form of Tam Ho exiting in eighth for $121,683 as he lost the most crucial flip of his tournament journey. The pocket fours of Steven Thompson held against his ace-ten, providing the first bust out of this final table.

Dan Shak

In seventh place fell Dan Shak, the most celebrated player left in the field. Shak found himself all in holding pocket eights against the pocket jacks of Guang Chen. While Shak managed to flop more outs as he held the eight of hearts on a monotone board, the turn and river did not oblige, and Shak was eliminated for $154,940.

Tauan De Oliveira Naves was the sixth-place finisher at this final table as he got the chips in front holding ace-jack against the ten-nine of Thompson. However, Thompson pulled ahead on the turn and remained that way, sending Naves to the rail for $198,320.

Out in fifth place was Rhian Fineis, who landed on the wrong side of a coin toss as his ace-jack came up against the pocket tens of Tyler Brown. Failing to connect to the board, Browns tens held, and Fineis exited in fifth with $255,210 for his efforts.

Exiting in fourth was Thompson, whose queen-six couldnt get there against the ace-five of Chen, sending him home for $330,150. Upon Thompsons exit, the Horseshoe got a little quieter as his energetic rail left alongside him, celebrating Thompsons deep run.

Ryan McKnight departed in third place for $429,360. Chen was the beneficiary of his chips as McKnight got it all in with queen-six dominated by the queen-ten of Chen. This got the heads-up match underway.

Guang Chen finished in second place

The heads-up battle between Brown and Chen only lasted three hands. The majority of chips fell into the hands of Brown after a life-changing hero call with just ace high gave him a dominating chip lead and setting him on the home straight for his first WSOP bracelet.

It was not long after that the heads-up match was settled. Browns queen-seven pulled ahead of Chens ace-jack to win $1,000,000 and the bracelet.

Winners Interview

Brown clearly has an extensive background in Pot Limit Omaha, as five of the six live cashes he has to his name included some form of PLO. In regards to his newfound success in No Limit Holdem, Brown humbly stated, Ive played tournaments here and there, Ive got, ya know, some idea of what I'm doing, but obviously, Im a lot stronger PLO player. There were a lot better Holdem players than me in this field, I obviously got insanely lucky with 18,000 people.

Although, luck cant be the only factor to attribute to Browns success: A lot of my study came four or five years ago, Brown commented, I took almost two years off poker, decided to come back at the end of last year, early this year, and its been unbelievable in these last six months.

With a huge, tournament-defining hero call under his belt, Brown simply commented, It was good for the live stream.

Having made two WSOP final tables in succession, the first being the $5,000 No Limit Hold'em/Pot Limit Omaha event, Brown was pleased to remark, These are the only WSOP events Ive ever played.

This certainly wont be the last we hear from Brown in the 2023 World Series as he continued, Given where I am now, Player of the Year seems like a decent opportunity, so I could see myself firing a lot. With his eruption onto the live poker circuit in 2023, this certainly confirms speculation that Tyler Brown is one to watch.

That concludes PokerNews' coverage of this event, but the 2023 WSOP is far from over. Be sure to tune into PokerNews each day, as we bring you all of the action from every one of the bracelet-awarding events.

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Sharelines The $1,000 Mystery Millions created three millionaires!
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Here 4 the Kids organized a sit-in of white women from around the country at the Colorado Capitol on Monday, June 5th, for the purpose of getting an Executive Order signed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis that will ban guns and create a buy-back program.

Does that sound unreasonable? Maybe. But it also might be that being unreasonable is the only way to get anything done, since being reasonable hasnt worked so far to get common sense gun safety laws supported by a majority of people. So, perhaps its time to ask for the sun and the moon and not take no for an answer. It worked for the people advocating for guns, although to be fair, they have bought an entire political party and several Supreme Court justices.

Here for the Kids was founded by two mothers, Saira Rao, who is South Asian American, and Tina Strawn, who is Black, concerned about the epidemic of mass shootings and the culture of gun violence. So, why white (specifically cisgender, non-disabled) women, you ask? Theres a video for that.

Video:



Basically, while everyone is invited to join the remote campaign, the organizers are prioritizing the safety of the most marginalized and vulnerable populations whose bodies are often on the front lines fighting for human and civil rights by inviting white women to take part in civil disobedience, because white women are least likely to be brutalized by the police and hold multiple intersections of privilege and power.

Their movement is led by Black, brown, indigenous, women of color and honors the six hundred Black civil rights leaders and peaceful demonstrators who began their journey from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 and their sacrifice and efforts, which led to The Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Some video from the event on Monday:

Hundreds reportedly showed up to this event Monday morning with more expected throughout the day, according to CNN. The event was organized without permits and without safety guaranteed.

The Executive Order they want Polis to sign reads that it is declared in memory of the children of Colorado who have lost their lives due to gun violence, and in order to prevent further gun violence deaths of

Colorados children. Their draft EO pulls no punches, reading it will ban the use, loading, possession or carrying of all firearms in Colorado, including but not limited to firearms for personal protection, hunting, law enforcement or any otherwise lawful purpose.

Governor Polis has reportedly balked at their demands, via a statement saying their demands are either unconstitutional or require legislative action.

Yes, perhaps. But those on the side of the majority of this country have been reasonable, have shown up to vote, have pleaded, and still  gun violence dominates our news, our fears and creates a culture of terrorism.

Here for the Kids points out, We have to save our children. Every day theres a new school shooting, every day more children are murdered and traumatized. Our government is failing us at every level, and whatever it is that our leaders have been doing HAS NOT WORKED.

If the Right can get Governors to ban books and a Supreme Court to rule that women arent entitled to live and guns have more rights than everyone but white straight men, then reasonable moms can get noisy demanding change for their kids. After all, the new precedent set by the Right is nothing is off the table. Unconstitutional is merely an obstacle to be overcome now. (I dont make the rules, but I do observe them.)

American citizens are living with mass murder via weapons of war as a normal part of daily living, and that is absolutely unacceptable. Here for the Kids says Republicans and Democrats have done nothing on guns, although Polis (a Democrat) signed four gun control bills at the end of April. CBS reported, Before the ink was even dry on Gov. Jared Polis signature, gun rights groups sued to reverse two of the measures: raising the buying age for any gun from 18 to 21, and establishing a three-day waiting period between the purchase and receipt of a gun. The courts are already weighing lawsuits over such restrictions in other states.

Before new gun laws are even enacted, the Right is already objecting, with the help of a nation-wide, coordinated attack assisted by the Supreme Court. The issue for Governors and state legislators is that the Supreme Court ruled states have limited power over guns.

But the point is: People are over the excuses and the lies that got us here. Someone has to stand up to lethal legislative abuse.

The group says the issue of gun violence is apolitical. Here for the Kids had hoped to get 25,000 white women to the Capitol, but every movement starts somewhere. This is just the beginning, as they wrote on Instagram over a photo of todays gathering.

Heres Chelsea Handler on Here for the Kids:


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Rachel Maddow pointed out that Republicans are making many of the mistakes that they made in 2016, and wasnt buying their claims of surprise over Trump congratulating Kim Jong-un.

Video:

Maddow said:



Barring Kim Jong-un like stepping down and apologizing. That might be the only thing you would congratulate him for. Otherwise, do not congratulate. Standing order when it comes to the dictator of North Korea. But there is Trump. Warmly congratulating Kim Jong-un and misspelling it in the meantime. And you know, in a normal political world somewhere between you deciding to congratulate the North Korean dictator and you misspelling that congratulations, somewhere between there, the idea of you as presidential material would like shred itself and blow away on the median of a ten-lane highway. But instead, hes still the front runner of the Republican Partys nominating contest for 2024. Do not congratulate.

And all the other candidates in that race, and there are many of them now, theyre all struggling with what to do even with something that bad. With something that obviously wrong. Even with this guy issuing warm congratulations to the North Korean dictator. Florida governor Ron DeSantis, for example, he was asked about this and he managed to say that he was, quote, surprised to see that congratulations from former president Trump for the dictator of North Korea. He said he was surprised. Surprised, really? I mean, Trump expressing warm misspelled congratulations to the North Korean dictator is a lot of things, but is it surprising, really? You really didnt see that coming? You didnt see that exact thing from him before?

Maddows broader point was that Republicans are repeating all of the same mistakes that handed Trump the partys nomination in 2016. The Republican Party is so afraid to challenge and call Trump out that they pretend to feign surprise when he buddies up with the dictator in North Korea.

The more things change. The more they stay the same.

Republicans are still terrified of Donald Trump.
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A Texas sheriff has recommended to the district attorney that criminal charges be filed concerning Ron DeSantiss scheme of kidnapping migrants and sending them to blue areas.

The Miami Herald reported:

According to a statement provided to the Miami Herald, the Bexar County Sheriff completed the criminal investigation into the on-the-ground operation that allegedly lured migrants onto the flights with false promises of jobs and opportunities on the other end. The case filed includes both felony and misdemeanor charges of Unlawful Restraint, according to the statement. At thistime, the case is being reviewed by the DAs office Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public.

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Handing the case over to prosecutors is a critical juncture in a criminal probe that could snare some of DeSantis top aides. The migrant relocation program was overseen by DeSantis chief of staff, James Uthmeier, and public safety czar Larry Keefe.

Documents in other migrant flights arranged by the state of Florida show that DeSantis potentially broke federal law by lying to migrants about the aid that they would receive if they got onboard the fights.

Gov. DeSantis was behind a scheme to lure migrants onto airplanes and then fly them into blue areas to be dumped off with no food or aid.

Donald Trump has had a terrible legal day, and thanks to a sheriff in Texas, if the district attorney in the San Antonio area agrees, the law could soon be coming for Ron DeSantis.
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House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) made his most blatant effort to interfere in the classified documents investigation yet by demanding unredacted Jack Smith memos. The problem is that Jordans request is illegal.

Here is the letter that Jordan sent to the DOJ:

 #BREAKING: @Jim_Jordan requests unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Special Counsel Jack Smiths probes regarding President Trump. pic.twitter.com/LD3zMcWziW  House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) June 6, 2023

Jordans House Judiciary Committee is seeking, an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smiths probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel.



Jordan gave Attorney General Garland and the DOJ until June 20th to comply with the request.

Rep. Jordan tried the same tactic during the Alvin Bragg investigation into Trump and was told that his actions are illegal. It is against the law for the House Judiciary Committee to interfere in an ongoing criminal investigation or trial.

Jim Jordan isnt going to get the unredacted documents that he is seeking. If he continues to pursue this matter, he could find himself under criminal investigation and facing his own set of criminal charges.

Chairman Jordan appears to know that Trump is going to be federally charged, so he is attempting to weaponize the House Judiciary Committee to gain information about the investigation for Trump and act as his defense team.

Jordans request is illegal, and the DOJ should respond not just by denying it, but by also warning the Ohio congressman that he is placing himself and other Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee in legal jeopardy.
The city of Aiken could be looking toward a known model as it develops plans to construct a mixed-use building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory could rent space for a workforce development center.

Aiken Economic Development Director Tim O'Briant said Tuesday the presumed example the city is looking to follow for the project is how the Amentum Building was constructed and leased.

The Amentum Building  not to be confused with the adjacent Amentum Center for the Performing Arts  is located at 106 Newberry St. S.W. In that project, the city took out a loan and constructed the building. Then, it leased the ground on which the building sits to the Aiken Corporation for a term of 99 years. In turn, the Aiken Corporation leased the building to the Washington Group and its successors.

"It's been so successful," O'Briant said.

O'Briant said the legal structure for the Amentum Building allows the collection of property tax revenue on the building (the city still owns the land) and the Amentum Building brings professionals to the city's downtown to work, eat and shop.

Aiken Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz announced earlier this year plans to use plutonium settlement funding provided to the city by the South Carolina General Assembly last year to construct a mixed-use building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory intends to lease space for a workforce development center.

Woltz said the mixed-use building would be around 45,000-50,000 square feet and house around 100 Savannah River National Laboratory employees and a rotating group of faculty and students from the lab's university collaborative.

The collaborative includes the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina State University.

Savannah River National Laboratory Director Vahid Majidi said the workforce development center would allow the lab to have a more direct presence in the community and help with the goal of developing a pipeline of new talent.

He said only computational and administrative work would be performed there. Majidi added the facility would also host some work on non-proliferation training programs and human resources functions. He said the facility will allow for scientific and technical discussions, remote learning and teacher development.

The announced proposed location of the mixed-use building that would house the workforce development center is two properties included in the failed Project Pascalis: the Holley House and Warneke Cleaners.
The Aiken Design Review Board's motion to be dismissed from the Project Pascalis lawsuit has been denied.

Judge William Keesley issued an order Thursday, June 1, denying the board's motion asking to be dismissed from the lawsuit filed July 5, 2022 challenging the legality of the since-failed Project Pascalis.

Andrew Lindemann and Jim Holly, attorneys for the Design Review Board, filed two motions asking the court to dismiss the board from the suit. They filed the first motion to dismiss Aug. 29, 2022 and the second  after the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint Feb. 27  March 14.

The second motion to dismiss was scheduled to be heard June 14. However, Keesley said in a footnote the motions are substantially similar except that the second motion also argues plaintiffs attorneys Andrew Gowder and Mike Rose didn't have the consent of the parties or a judge to file the amended complaint.

Keesley adds Lindemann and Holly withdrew their objection to the amended complaint and says the first motion to dismiss was argued March 1 as if it addressed the amended complaint.

In the motions to dismiss, Lindemann and Holly argued the Design Review Board should be dismissed pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and (6) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) argues that the court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction to hear the case.

Subject-matter jurisdiction is the requirement that the court have the power to decide an issue in controversy.

Lindemann and Holly argued the court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction because the plaintiffs and their attorneys should have appealed the Design Review Board's March 1, 2022 conditional approval for the demolition of the Hotel Aiken rather than seek a declaratory judgment that the conditional approval was improper.

A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) SCRCP argues that facts made in a claim do not give rise to a cause of action.

Specifically, Lindemann and Holly argue that the fourth cause of action in the 111-page amended complaint for attorney's fees should be dismissed because state law, S.C. Code Ann.  15-77-300, provides when plaintiffs can recover attorney's fees in lawsuits against governmental defendants but does not create a separate cause of action allowing plaintiffs to do so.

"Because of the strict standards applicable to motions to dismiss at the pleadings stage, the Rule 12(b) motions are respectfully denied," Keesley wrote.

He adds he agrees attorney's fees and costs don't need to be a separate cause of action but said he does not see a reason to dismiss the claim at this stage of the case.

In both motions, Lindemann and Holly asked in the alternative  if the motion wasn't dismissed  for a more definitive statement as to how the Design Review Board violated the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

Keesley granted this motion. He said the plaintiffs are required to make the allegation of FOIA violations more definite and certain.
An Alabama man faces up to 80 years after being arrested and accused of criminal sexual conduct with two minors living in northeastern Aiken County.

On June 3, deputies with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office arrested Keith Daniel Bishop, 41, of Opelika, Alabama, and charged him with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

First-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. Third-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a fine at the discretion of the court or both.

Deputy D. Chavous reported two juveniles alleged Bishop had touched them inappropriately a few years earlier but had not done so since. He added the juveniles were unable to provide exact dates and times.
Ukraine's MFA criticizes UN post about 'celebration' of Russian language day after explosion of Kakhovka HPP

Speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko reacted to a UN post on Twitter about the Russian language day after the Russian invaders undermined the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

"What a day at the UN to celebrate Russian language! UN tweets about cultural diversity, ignoring the biggest catastrophe in Europe in decades caused solely by Russia. Why be silent?" Nikolenko said on Twitter.

Earlier, a post appeared on the UN Twitter page that June 6 is the Russian language day at the UN.
A new production issue has emerged with the 787 Dreamliner jets built at Boeing Co.'s North Charleston campus, threatening to slow deliveries even as airlines are clamoring for more long-haul planes to meet increased travel demand.

Boeing said the latest problem involves a "noncomforming condition related to a fitting on the horizontal stabilizer." A report by Reuters said the problem affects about 90 jets in Boeing's inventory.

The issue is not an immediate flight safety issue and Dreamliners that are already in service can continue to operate, Boeing said, adding that it has notified customers and the Federal Aviation Administration of the problem. The FAA must sign off on all 787s before they can be turned over to customers.

"While the inspections and required rework will affect timing of near-term 787 deliveries, at this time we do not expect that this issue will change our full-year guidance regarding 787 deliveries," the company said in a written statement.

Boeing has said it expects to deliver between 70 and 80 Dreamliners in 2023. The North Charleston assembly plant recently increased production to four Dreamliner commercial planes per month and expects to hit five per month by the end of this year.

The newest production issue follows one earlier this year in which Boeing paused Dreamliner deliveries for several weeks. That problem was related to the forward pressure bulkhead built by supplier Spirit Aerosystems.

The company is also reworking about 100 Dreamliners that were found to have paper-thin gaps in their fuselage. That problem halted Dreamliner deliveries for about 15 months starting in May 2021. Repairs to those jets have been taking place at the North Charleston campus and at a Boeing plant in Everett, Wash. Boeing said last month that it will move all of the repair work to Everett to free up space for increased production of new planes in North Charleston.

Boeing has announced several big orders for the Dreamliner in recent months, with United Airlines inking a deal in December to buy as many as 200 787s and a pair of Saudi Arabian carriers  Saudia and Riyadh Air  agreeing to purchase up to 121 Dreamliners. Boeing now has a backlog of nearly 600 unfilled orders for Dreamliner jets.

Boeing hopes to book more Dreamliner orders during the Paris Air Show, one of the aerospace industry's biggest gatherings, which takes place later this month.
COLUMBIA  SC for Ed, once one of the states potent political forces in terms of teacher advocacy, announced June 5 it will indefinitely pause its efforts.

The grassroots organization was founded in May 2018 by a Blythewood High School teacher as a Facebook discussion group and forcefully campaigned for pay raises, better working conditions and teacher representation in education policymaking.

At its zenith in 2019 and 2020, the group counted hundreds of active organizers, packed Statehouse offices and committee hearings and turned out an estimated 10,000 teachers and their supporters in a Statehouse rally, the largest in recent memory.

Yet leaders of the group, whose influence had waned considerably since the pandemic and its founder Lisa Ellis defeat in the 2022 state superintendent of education race, officially called it quits.

Theres only so many times you can beat your head against a brick wall and expect change to happen, Ellis, the Democratic nominee last year, told The Post and Courier. Were burned out and tired, and youve got to step back and say this is not in the best interest of me and my health.

SC for Eds meteoric rise and eventual demise illustrate the deep-seated discontent with the states education system among some of the states educators as well as the challenges and pitfalls of achieving grassroots change in the Palmetto State.

"Sometimes advocacy here is hard. You try really, really hard and nothing changes, and its just defeating," said Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association, pointing out the organization was volunteer run and did not collect dues. "They really helped get the message out about all the struggles that educators are facing right now."

Critics say it was the groups sharp-edged pressure tactics  especially on social media  that alienated potential Statehouse allies, and their uncompromising stances that ultimately undid the movement.

At a point, it lost its way and got caught up in its own perceived power, said state Senate Education Committee Chair Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Little River. It felt like they wanted to fight more than they wanted to win.

SC for Eds official accounts and those of their supporters launched biting attacks against Hembree, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, and then-House Speaker Jay Lucas, all Republicans, on social media during a bruising fight over an education reform bill in 2019 and 2020.

Their tactics didnt help build relationships at the Statehouse, East said.

Legislators started associating the SCEA with SC for Ed and would refuse to meet with members, she said, adding It was an identity crisis for us.

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The Legislatures refusal to listen to SC for Ed necessitated the hardball tactics, Ellis argued.

For too long, people would sort of tiptoe around the issues and that was getting us nowhere, she said.

SC for Ed was born out of the 2018 national Red for Ed movement in which teachers, often clad in red and predominantly in conservative states, called for better wages and working conditions in strikes and walkouts.

In May 2018, Ellis created a private Facebook group with 40 other teachers to vent and discuss solutions to what they saw as the states failing education system. In a matter of months, it ballooned to over 30,000 members, most of them teachers.

This was the first time teachers began to realize there was power in a collective voice, and they created a platform, said State Sen. Mike Fanning, a Great Falls Democrat and former teacher who was one of the groups closest allies. Thats a huge victory for the movement.

The next spring, SC for Ed fought the education reform bill tooth and nail, culminating in the May 1 rally.

The COVID-19 pandemic ultimately scuttled the bill, but also sapped SC for Ed organizers energy as they dealt with the new demands the virus put on teaching.

By last year, three quarters of SC for Eds regional organizers had quit teaching altogether and supporters were demoralized after Ellis' 13-point defeat to school choice advocate Republican Ellen Weaver in the November election.

Fundraising efforts to revitalize and reorient the group were unsuccessful, Ellis said. The Facebook group will continue to operate.

Supporters say that group left a lasting legacy. Leanna Rossi-Potter, a Wando High School history teacher, joined the SC for Ed group in the summer of 2018 and eventually became one of its leaders in Charleston. Even though SC for Ed is no longer active, teachers are continuing the advocacy the group sparked.

SC for Ed really taught many teachers about the advocacy they could do while being teachers, Rossi-Potter said. I really believe that none of that wouldve happened if it wasnt for SC for Ed.
The U.S. government surprised legal experts and scientists alike when it abandoned a push four years ago to protect the southern hognose snake under the Endangered Species Act.

But the snake's petition for protection is now back on the table.

It couldn't come sooner for the tiny snake with an elfin nose, whose numbers have declined by at least 60 percent. Housing developments have replaced much of the snake's longleaf pine forest habitat. In Alabama and Mississippi, southern hognose snakes have already disappeared from the landscape.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to re-evaluate the endangered species status of the snake, according to a June 1 settlement agreement reached with the Center for Biological Diversity. The center filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in January challenging the 2019 decision.

The service announced in 2015 that, based on the best available science, protections for the tiny snake "may be warranted." Four years later, during the Trump administration, the service reversed course, denying endangered species status and the protections that come with it.

The settlement agreement does not specify the factors that led to the government's reversal.

A spokeswoman from the service's Southeast regional office told The Post and Courier that "the Service has determined it is prudent to re-evaluate the status of the species under the Endangered Species Act  The new 12-month finding will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and will take into account any efforts being made by states to protect the species."

According to Chelsea Stewart-Fusek, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, the hognose snake is one of many "unscientific" listing decisions made during the Trump administration. Her organization litigated the southern hognose snakes case and settled a similar case in April involving the Barren's darter  a freshwater fish native to Tennessee  that she said was also "wrongfully denied" protections in 2019.

The center has filed lawsuits for the West Coast fisher, the Kirtlands snake and the eastern hellbender. The fisher is a relative of the mink that lives in what remains of old growth forests in the Northwest. The Kirtland's snake was once common across America's prairies. And the hellbender is a giant salamander native to South Carolina and 14 other states.

All were denied protections under the Trump administration.

The Post and Courier has previously reported on cases where green groups suspect politics have influenced how species have been added or removed from the Threatened and Endangered Species list.

In one example, internal emails between Service employees indicated that political goals motivated a 2020 proposal to remove the threatened dwarf-flowered heartleaf, a tiny plant native to the Carolinas, from the list.

U.S. law requires that the best available science be used in every decision, and green groups have taken to the courts to compel the government to let the science lead.

"Lawsuits provide that necessary pressure," said Stewart-Fusek.

The southern hognose snake was once common in the expansive longleaf pine forests that stretched from southern Virginia to Texas. Over 97 percent of that habitat has been destroyed, leaving only small islands of habitat remaining, scattered across the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. These states are the only places where the species still persists, feasting on small toads in the summer and burrowing deep in the leaf litter during controlled burns.

South Carolina took action years ago to protect the southern hognose snake, putting it on its list of "highest priority species" within the state wildlife action plan in 2015. The species is also listed as threatened under South Carolina's own conservation laws.

But even these conservation efforts are likely behind schedule. Scientists didn't have a clear sense of how many snakes were out there  and if those numbers were changing  until the early 2000s.

Officials from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources welcomed the news that the snake's federal listing is again under consideration.

We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide the most recent information for making an informed listing decision," said Anna Smith, a wildlife biologist for DNR.

The southern hognose snake is generally harmless. When threatened, the snake puffs up to appear larger. Sometimes it hisses. As a last resort, its 24-inch-long body goes still.

"The hognose snake will plop over and play dead," Jacob Zadik, co-chair of the S.C. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, told The Post and Courier. "Their defensive saga is an excellent story dispelling the myths that snakes are aggressive and intent on hurting people."

But the snake is commonly mistaken as a threat. Retaliatory killings are common. Other human threats include climate change, vehicle collisions and collection for the pet trade.

Federal officials have until Aug. 27, 2025 to review the science again and decide if the southern hognose snake earns a spot on the Threatened and Endangered Species list.
Im opening this review with dessert.

No, Im not trying to be cleverly modernistic and twist up forms and conventions. But when one visits La Bonne Franquette, the French cafe recently opened by Carly and Christophe Paume, owners of Charlestons beloved Christophe Artisan Chocolatier, its hard not to highlight the confectionery.

Sweet bites pop up at multiple points during dinner. If you enter through the side door, you walk past a tall display case full of colorful macaroons and tiny cakes. The appetizer and entree courses are bridged by a delightful swirl of apple brandy sorbet, pale green in hue and served in a tiny communion glass. The check at the end is held on its metal tray by a couple of Christophes signature hand-painted chocolates.

Then theres the actual dessert menu, a refreshing oasis of artistry in this dull era of cheesecake and bread pudding. Profiteroles ($12) burst with gelato amid a cascade of warm chocolate sauce. The Toulouse-Charleston ($12) adds a local touch to the classic ParisBrest pastry, with pecans in the praline cream and a finishing swirl of peach coulis. (Christophe Paume, I should note, is a native of Toulouse.)

Atop a thin base of flourless chocolate cake, the cafe dome ($12) has a half-sphere of fluffy chocolate mousse with a coffee-flavored center enrobed in a shiny shell of tempered chocolate. Two round chocolate wafers inserted vertically in the top suggest a certain theme-park mouses ears.

The gussied up version of a frozen Snickers bar ($10) is even better than a frozen Snickers bar, with a disk of vanilla gelato inside a dark chocolate shell. Its finished with a piped swirl of whipped cream, a few roasted peanuts, and an arc of golden, buttery caramel.

La Bonne Franquette CUISINE: French REPRESENTATIVE DISH: Daube provencal ADDRESS: 652 St. Andrews Blvd., West Ashley PHONE: 843-709-7962 BAR: Full bar WEB: facebook.com/labonnefranquettechs DINING ROOM HOURS: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday PRICE: $$ COSTS: $10-$36 PARKING: Parking lot

If theres plenty to look forward to at the end of the meal, the run-up to dessert has quite a few charms, too.

The vichyssoise ($12) plays against type, for its served warm (quite hot, actually), and its very good. The pale yellow potato and leek veloute is crowned with a pile of small, crisp croutons and dotted with just a few tiny puddles of bright green truffle oil, which adds a pleasant earthy base note but doesnt overwhelm the soups soothing creaminess.

Rimmed by a long, thin pastry shell, the pate en croute ($14) is minimalist, with just a few bits of soft pistachio dotting the rosy loaf. Its delivered on a long-handled wooden board, and a few cornichons and a clump of vinaigrette-tossed mesclun add welcome tart accents.

At lunchtime, the same simple but appealing mesclun salad is one of two side options for the slate of traditional sandwiches. (The other option is french fries, which well discuss in a moment.) These include a croque monsieur ($15) blanketed with melted cheese, a toasty ham and cheese croissant ($12), and sliced smoked salmon on a baguette ($13).

Of particular note is the pain bagnat ($13), which is basically a Nicoise salad on a bun  and a very deliciously warm, soft bun at that. Tucked inside, atop a bright green bibb leaf, is a scoop of soft, barely-dressed tuna, thinly sliced red onions, black and green olives, bits of sundried tomato and a few slices of hardboiled egg that insist on tumbling out onto the plate. As if to underscore the French-ness of the sandwich, a paper tricolour flag on a toothpick is planted atop the bun.

While I savored the chewy convergence of cool tuna and warm bread, I looked around the small dining room and reflected on the various restaurants that previously occupied the low-slung building just a mile west of the Ashley River Bridge on Highway 61.

An array of Caribbean flavors were served in that dining room not too long ago, first at the Cuban American-themed Spanglish and then the rebranded pan-Carribean Patois. For 14 years before that, the building was home to the Bluerose Cafe, an Irish-inflected spot with cead mile failte inscribed on the wall and an Old Country Irish breakfast on the brunch menu.

Now the floor is clad in tiny white and black hexagonal tiles, and the ceilings molded white panels are suggestive of painted tin. Theyve really Frenched up the place, I thought on my first visit.

Later, looking through old Yelp photos, I realized I was wrong. The stylish floor and ceiling were added back in 2018, when the Bluerose changed hands and briefly operated as Bluerose Restaurant & Bar. Spanglish kept the interior largely the same but gave it a South Florida vibe by painting the walls pink and white and swapping out the black barstools and silver chairs for pink and magenta versions.

Now those walls are painted creamy white, and the hexagon-tiled floor is filled with marble-topped bistro tables and brown bentwood chairs. Perhaps the location was destined to be a French cafe?

All three dozen labels on the short wine list are French. Like the Toulouse-Charleston pastry, the slate of cocktails comprises seven cross-hemisphere mashups like the Crazy Duck, a hazy blend of duck fat-washed rye and citrus. The brilliantly purple-hued Le Lavandou spikes limeade and creme de violette with lavender-infused vodka, and a long sprig of lavender adds an extra splash of purple and a puff of floral scent.

All that said, a few things at La Bonne Franquette could use some work. Cloth napkins impart a distracting whiff of scented laundry detergent. Between courses, dirty forks are removed from finished plates and flopped onto the bare white tabletop. The mussels ($24) arrive with a full-sized fork instead of a skinny one more suitable for prying bivalves from narrow shells.

There are a culinary bumps, too. The outer shells of the pomme dauphine ($8) are fried crisp and golden, but the bland potato/pastry mash inside isnt enlived by the heavy squiggles of orange, remoulade-like L.B.F. sauce. If the L.B.F. Burger (topped with morbier cheese and clocking in at an eye-popping $22) were the only plate accompanied by french fries, it wouldnt be a big deal that those medium-cut, lightly-fried spuds are generic and forgettable. When they also come alongside the big bowls of mussels and are headlined on the steak & frites entree ($32), one would expect a little more care and attention.

Maybe Im being too picky. After all, la bonne franquette translates roughly as simple and unfussy, and the term is often used to describe a plain, informal meal. For me, though, its the fussier parts, not the simple ones, that make the best plates work.

The fries may be an afterthought, but the mussels are steamed with shallots instead of garlic, so the golden broth at the bottom of the bowl is temptingly sweet and buttery. Beneath a spray of mesclun, the hanger steak portion of the steak and frites plate is splendid. Erring properly on the rosy side of medium rare, the slices are tender and smooth and need nothing more than a little beef jus for sauce.

I happened to order the daube provencal ($28) on one of the unseasonably cool, rainy nights that surprised us at the end of May. You really couldnt ask for a better dish for such an evening. Chunks of meltingly soft short rib await in a dark, fragrant broth along with mushrooms and thin-sliced disks of carrot and potato. A smattering of tiny black olives and bright microgreens add layers of complex flavor. I suppose you could call such a plate simple and unfussy, but you could also call it richly indulgent and satisfying.

Ill admit to being torn over whether La Bonne Franquette is better suited for a casual, comforting evening meal or a long leisurely lunch. Some of the most satisfying dishes  the shallot- and white wine-soaked mussels, the hearty daube provencal  are available only at night, but the daytime sandwiches are quite tempting, too.

Either way, you can order a cheese and charcuterie board to share ($19 small, large $36) and a platter of raw oysters with mignonette and lemon (market price). The wine and cocktail list is available all day, too. Come to think of it, that probably tips things over toward the long, leisurely lunch for me.

Just save room for dessert.
Although The Dragon Room, a pan-Asian small plates restaurant and bar coming to the Vista, is anticipated by many, there's a chance you might not know when it opens until its kitchen fires up.

Following suit with his other restaurants, Kristian Niemi, chef-owner of West Columbia's hip "French-ish" restaurant Black Rooster and Main Street's Cajun-creole-influenced Bourbon, the restaurant won't host a ribbon-cutting grand opening when it does officially open.

"Kristian, with all of his restaurants, doesn't like to do grand openings. He likes to (test it) and then one day, we're just feeling good and we'll make a post (on social media) saying that we're open," Alex Strickland, the restaurant's executive chef, said. "The mayor's not gonna come and cut a (expletive) ribbon or anything."

Niemi has officially had The Dragon Room in the works since May of last year, when he announced the restaurant's name and concept on Mayor Daniel Rickenmann's "Around Town" podcast.

The eatery is modeled in the style of an Japanese izakaya, a restaurant with a more informal Asian cuisine like popular street food and small plates, such as Strickland's ramen, which has been popular at Black Rooster, where he previously worked as executive chef.

Strickland said one thing that will stand out on the restaurant's menu is the Okonomiyaki  essentially a cabbage pancake formed with a slew of other vegetables tossed in light batter, then pan seared and topped with a fried egg, Kewpie mayonnaise and a fermented black bean sauce.

"It's just so good, it's one of my favorite things to cook. And no one else around here has it, you've got to go to like Charleston or Charlotte to find it," Strickland said.

Dishes like Okonomiyaki are part of what Strickland and Niemi say will help the izakaya stand out among the many Asian-fusion restaurants opening in town and across the country. The trend following that cuisine, along with a desire to cook something a little different than what he'd been doing at Black Rooster, drove the decision to open an izakaya.

"Asian food is what I really enjoy cooking, but I haven't had the chance to really dive into it, so diving in and finding my niche... that's what I'm really excited about," Strickland said.

Strickland said a couple on a date could realistically expect to order two of the restaurant's smaller plates, like the cabbage pancakes, to share while each ordering a separate bowl of ramen, which starts around $15.

Aside from the food, local bartender David Adedokun will lead The Dragon Room's bar.

Adedokun has previously crafted popular cocktails at restaurants like Smoked and Black Rooster, and led the bar program at The War Mouth, a well-known southern restaurant in Cottontown, from August 2020 until the fall of 2022.

Niemi's new bar and restaurant sits in the former Ristorante Divino space at 803 Gervais St.

The space is modern and simple, with dark wood and a wall of exposed brick, while the bar is outfitted with a dark marble top, sleek brown leather chairs and lights lining the insides of bar shelves. The wall above the bar features ornate wallpaper and the dining room is adorned with Asian-inspired wall decor and dimly-lit lights.

The space itself seats roughly 76 people, with about 30 seats spaced out across the bar and near the massive window that overlooks Gervais Street and 46 seats in the dining room area. A covered outdoor patio, lined with greenery, will seat around 20. Much the same as Bourbon on Main Street, Niemi's new spot will not take reservations.

The Dragon Room will be open until 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Strickland told Free Times. His hope is to give people a place to go that's open late and serves good food, much like The Whig, the subterranean dive bar across from the South Carolina State House, did before it closed late last year.

"The Whig was a great other option, so we want to be that other option (for people). Staffing wise, once everyone is comfortable, I want to be open five days a week," Strickland said.
Both Columbia restaurant entities, City Grit Hospitality Group and Lula Drake Wine Parlour, nominated in this years prestigious James Beard Foundation awards, failed to move forward and win the national award in Chicago, the Foundation announced June 5.

The two restaurants became the first in the capital city to be named finalists in the Oscars of the food world, after being two of three to be named semifinalists. In the semifinalist round, chef-owner of Spotted Salamander Cafe and Catering Jessica Shillato was nominated for Best Chef: Southeast.

Lula Drake was nominated in the outstanding hospitality category, alongside four restaurants from the likes of Chicago and Birmingham, Ala. The Quarry, a restaurant in Monson, Maine, took home the outstanding hospitality award.

We are so excited just to be here amongst so many incredible people from our industry. The energy is palpable, Lula Drakes owner and head sommelier Tim Gardner said in a text message prior to the June 5 ceremony.

City Grit Hospitality, a restaurant group from Sarah Simmons, Aaron Hoskins and Elie Yigo thats responsible for restaurants Il Focolare Pizzeria, smallSUGAR and City Grit, was nominated in the outstanding restaurateur category, alongside four restaurants from cities like Los Angeles and Seattle. Ellin Yin, of High Street Hospitality Group in Philadelphia, won in the category of outstanding restaurateur.

No matter the outcome, we feel like weve already won because of the incredible support weve received from the community to make the trip. Were thrilled we get to bring our leaders with us to celebrate because without them, we would not be where we are today, owners posted on City Grits Instagram May 31.

Despite the loss for both restaurants, the historic first of being nominated, boosts the citys dining scene. After being nominated, Lula Drakes Tim Gardner said the wine bar had some of its busiest nights since opening over five years ago.

Owner of Curate in Asheville, Katie Button, whose restaurant won the award for outstanding hospitality last year, told the New York Times the awards have a significant impact on everything from reservations to social media followers.

But the Beard awards are not without controversy. In previous years, the Foundation has been accused of singling out restaurants run, predominantly, by white men serving European-derived cuisine, according to reporting from the New York Times.

At the height of the pandemic, the Foundation canceled the 2020 awards, which was later revealed to be, in part, because none of the winners were people of color, according to reporting from the New York Times. To combat this, the Foundation established an ethics committee prior to last years awards and overhauled its processes to make things more fair.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
CONWAY  The administrator of South Carolinas fastest-growing county could soon receive a raise.

Horry County Administrator Steve Gosnells contract expires July 9, but County Council members plan to discuss boosting his compensation and extending his tenure at their June 6 meeting.

I want to pay the man what hes worth, said Council Chairman Johnny Gardner, adding that he aims to make Gosnell one of the highest-paid county administrators  if not the highest paid  in the state. When its all said and done, I think hell be in the mix."

Council members would not say how much of a raise Gosnell would receive. The council's agenda states that his contract discussions will take place behind closed doors. A public vote is expected afterwards.

In recent years, Horry County has trailed Greenville, Charleston and Richland counties in administrator compensation, according to the latest S.C. Association of Counties salary survey, which includes data from November 2021.

Greenville Countys administrator, the states top-earning county official, made over $287,000, according to the survey.

Gosnell is paid just over $225,000 per year and receives an $8,400 vehicle allowance.

This whole thing dealing with salaries is difficult because were dealing with public money and the public puts their trust in us to try to get the best deal we can, Gardner said. And if you want somebody thats able to do it, youve got to be able to pay them a decent wage.

Gosnells supporters maintain he is a steady hand with three decades of experience working in county government. They credit him with helping them navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the years of recovery from devastating flooding after Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Horry County has seen tremendous population growth in recent years, outpacing the rest of the state. Its population grew by 42 percent to 383,000 from 2010-2022, making it the fastest-growing county in the state, per county documents. Also, its metropolitan area is considered the fifth-fastest growing nationally.

County planners project Horry's population will swell to 500,000 by the end of the decade.

An engineer, Gosnell served as an assistant county administrator over infrastructure and regulation before he moved into the administrator's office. The administrator is the highest ranking official in county government, leading a staff of more than 2,500 employees.

Hes been a good advocate for the county, said County Councilman Cam Crawford, who represents the Socastee area. Its kind of hard to find someone with intrinsic knowledge like that, so if you can keep them, thats typically a good thing.

County Councilman Bill Howard, who represents the Myrtle Beach area, agreed, saying he supports renewing the administrators contract with a raise because Gosnell has great relationships with county employees.

Wed like for him to stay competitive so that hell stay on longer because his position is very important, he said. And it provides stability for the county.

Gosnells hiring in 2019 followed the tumultuous departure of the previous administrator Chris Eldridge.

On the day Gardner was sworn in to office in 2018, Eldridge asked the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to investigate extortion allegations involving the new chairman.

SLED ultimately cleared Gardner of any criminal wrongdoing, and that led to intense debates about Eldridges employment. The council deadlocked on a vote to fire Eldridge, but he ultimately stepped down and the council began searching for his replacement.

Forty-five people applied for the job, including former Myrtle Beach City Councilman Wayne Gray and then-state Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach.

The council narrowed the search to five finalists and voted 11-1 to offer Gosnell the position, citing his tenure with the county and his popularity among county employees. Gardner cast the lone vote for another candidate.

Since then, however, he has praised Gosnells leadership.

Hes done a wonderful job, Gardner said. If hes willing to stay another year, Im willing to have him stay another year. . Horry County is a bigger project than a lot of other [places]. Its got a lot going on, so we need to pay him for what hes doing.

In 2019, Gosnell signed a three-year contract that provided three one-year renewal options. He and the council agreed to use the first of those last year, though Gosnell didnt receive a raise beyond what was offered to other county employees.

This year, however, he indicated that he wanted to negotiate a one-year contract extension.

I believe the team of Senior Staff I put in place four years ago continue to perform at levels beyond my expectations in the management of Horry County government and maintaining the integrity of this Team would benefit the county, Gosnell wrote in a March 8 email to Gardner requesting the extension.

When asked about his contract negotiations, Gosnell said he had no comment beyond his statements in the email to Gardner.
A former daycare worker caught on video abusing infants in her care pleaded guilty June 5 in Charleston County, receiving probation.

Tina Rose Nye was arrested in April 2021 and charged with three counts of unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person. The abuse came to light when the parents of an infant found bruises on their baby who was enrolled in the Carousel Early Childhood Center in Charleston, said Assistant Solicitor Deborah Herring Lash.

After the daycare center checked video from April 5, 2021, they found Nye had hit or shook three infants that day.

According to earlier reports in The Post and Courier, Nye was accused of holding one infant upside down by the ankles and shaking the baby. The three victims were each under 6 months of age.

Herring Lash said in court the infants had no lasting injuries.

Defense attorney Mary Alison Ford said Nye, who had no prior criminal history, could not believe her actions after viewing the daycare video. She had been under a great deal of stress at work and at home, and she had recently started a new medication that her husband noticed seemed to affect her behavior, Ford said.

Circuit Judge Bentley Price, who viewed the video from the daycare center before the sentencing, pressed the prosecutor to learn if there had been other allegations of abuse against Nye. Not according to the investigation, she said.

According to civil lawsuits filed against Carousel Early Childhood Center, there had been two prior complaints.

Price sentenced Nye to five years on probation with credit for the 79 days she spent in jail before bond was granted.
A former armored car driver who staged his own robbery, netting him and his co-conspirators nearly $2 million, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in federal court June 5.

James Sewell, 27, masterminded the heist, which took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 16, 2021. He enlisted from his hometown of Cedartown, Ga., two friends, who recruited two others from a local gang operating out of the small town, according to court records.

Sewell, who served in the Marine Corps, was driving a GardaWorld truck in North Charleston when it stopped near a Bank of America ATM just off West Aviation Avenue. Four men pretended to rob him, according to his testimony at two earlier trials. Sewell was struck with a gun and his weapon was taken before the men loaded up $1.9 million into a Chevrolet sedan and fled.

Sewell was arrested shortly after the robbery and quickly turned on his conspirators.

Thomas Scoona Calhoun, Quantavius Popeye Murphy, Anthony D-Trill Burge and Sewell all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank larceny.

Terry TT Pollard, who grew up with Sewell, has maintained his innocence.

A trial in January ended in a hung jury, but federal prosecutors re-tried the case in March and the jury found Pollard guilty of the same two counts as others pleaded guilty. He's filed a motion for a new trial.

Sewell was the star witness at each of those trials, according to U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks. Though Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow described Sewell as "fidgety" and "flippant" during the first one, he said Sewell's demeanor greatly improved at the second, which ended in a conviction.

Authorities recovered just $130,600 of the nearly $2 million in cash that was stolen. It is unclear where the rest of it went.

As part of their sentences, the men have been ordered to collectively pay back the remaining $1.7 million.

At the June 5 hearing, Sewell was prepared to pay $3,000 in restitution, according to his attorney, Cody Groeber, an assistant federal public defender.

Sewell was sentenced to 18 months, which is below what federal sentencing guidelines called for. Hendricks handed down the lighter sentence citing his cooperation and lack of criminal history.

In March, Calhoun was sentenced to 51 months in prison; Murphy, to 44 months in prison; and Burge was given credit for time served and sentenced to three years of supervised release. Pollard has not yet been sentenced.
Zelenskyy: This year in Vilnius its necessary to determine that Ukraine will be NATO member, terror must lose

Russia has detonated a bomb of mass environmental destruction, this is the biggest man-made environmental disaster in Europe for decades, but I am sure that we will find a way to counter Russia's environmental terror, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, addressing the participants of the Bucharest Nine summit on the day when Russia blew up the Kakhovka HPP.

Unfortunately, Russia has been controlling this dam and the entire Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant for more than a year. And it is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside, by shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers. And they blew it up, Zelenskyy said.

As the President of Ukraine stressed, Russia has detonated a bomb of mass environmental destruction. This is the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. And it is the most dangerous terrorist in the world. And that is why Russia's defeat  a defeat that we will ensure anyway  will be the most significant contribution to the security of our region, our Europe and the entire world.

At the same time Zelenskyy noted: don't we know what constantly fuels Russian revanchism? This is the belief of Russia's rulers that Europe will allegedly show weakness. Weakness is the main hope and bet of terrorists.

"No more weakness in Europe in relation to the evil of aggression! No more uncertainty about the prospects for security in Europe! Every step we take, every decision we make, every summit we hold should strengthen all of us in our defense against Russian terror. And undoubtedly, the Vilnius NATO Summit should ensure this," the President of Ukraine is sure.

At this year's NATO Summit in Vilnius, it is time to show that NATO's declared values and real values do not differ, Zelenskyy noted.

According to the Ukrainian President, it is necessary to finally establish that Ukraine will be a member of NATO, and this can only be established by an invitation to Ukraine to join. Finally, it is necessary to determine the algorithm of when and as a result of what steps such accession will take place. Finally, security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO should be formalized.

When this happens, it will immediately deprive Russian revanchism of its purpose. Those who destroy must be destroyed themselves, the head of state said.

The Bucharest Nine is an association of nine Central and Eastern European countries created to deepen military cooperation between the countries of the eastern flank of NATO.

The association includes Bulgaria, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

A summit of the leaders of the Bucharest Nine countries will be held in the Romanian capital on June 10. The summit will be hosted by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High near 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The month-long pause in the State Ports Authority's request to rezone and redevelop Union Pier should give all sides enough breathing room to try to figure out how this incredibly important opportunity to reuse a 64-acre waterfront parcel can be re-envisioned and advanced in a way that will  Read moreEditorial: Without a reset at Union Pier, more disputes could follow for Ports Authority
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
HAMER  Plans to establish an explosives training business just across the border from Dillon County were unanimously rejected by the Board of Commissioners in Robeson County, North Carolina.

The decision was a relief for the many residents and officials who had opposed the project, citing the impact having explosives stored and used nearby would have on neighbors' quality of life and the environment.

It just never was anything right about it. Theres a place for that activity, but its not in peaceful wetlands, Michael Reaves said after the decision was announced. He raises cattle on South Carolina property that abuts the site.

The Robeson County Board of Commissioners decision came after months of back-and-forth. When the permit for the site was first considered in April, officials and residents spoke out against the plan, saying the operation would contaminate two creeks on the property and disturb neighbors in the otherwise agricultural region.

Other local governments voiced opposition as well. At its May meeting, Dillon County Council passed a resolution opposing the idea. Rowland, a North Carolina city just a few miles from the South Carolina border and the proposed site, also opposed the project.

Soon after the April meeting, Danny Ricks  who is behind the plan  revised his application to dramatically reduce the amount of explosives that could be stored on the property and eliminate the possibility of detonating explosives there. While Ricks maintained the operation would be safe and have minimal impact, he decided to scale back his plans in order to address his neighbors concerns, he said.

I intend to build a house on that property at some point, and I dont really want to do that surrounded by people that dont want us to exist there, Ricks said in an interview before the permit was denied.

Those changes did little to appease opponents.

Plans for the 600-acre property called for a veterans retreat that would be funded by the training facility. The training would be available to law enforcement and military personnel only.

When Ricks first spoke with surrounding landowners he didnt mention plans for housing and detonating explosives on the property, only highlighting the retreat for veterans. Thats because he hadnt developed the idea, he said.

The change led landowners to feel they had been deceived and left them suspicious even after Ricks said he had scaled back his plans.

At the June 5 meeting of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners, dozens attended to voice their opposition to the project.

Robert Price, a lawyer in the Robeson County seat of Lumberton who is representing Reaves and another landowner, said he approached the hearing as if it were a court hearing. He recruited a number of people he described as expert witnesses to speak against the proposal, such as nearby landowners and business owners, an environmental advocate and a former official from Cumberland County, North Carolina, who dealt with a similar project.

Price said his goal was to end the issue once and for all.

They just need to move on. I think we got not just the vote that we wanted  amazingly, unanimous  but also, I think we've pretty well assured that that's the end of it, he said.

Ricks, who declined to comment for this story, did not attend the meeting and had asked the commission to table the issue until July when he could address residents concerns in person. With his permit denied, he cant reapply for another year. He could appeal the decision in court.

Opponents said they would support the wounded veterans retreat if it moved forward, but theyd continue to oppose anything that included the storage or use of explosives.

To me, its a no brainer, Reaves said. Who wants bombs?
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For the second year in a row, company recognized for its people-first' cultureAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Episode Six (E6), a global provider of enterprise-grade payment processing and digital ledger infrastructure, has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Financial Technology by American Banker for the second consecutive year. The company was recognized in part due to its ongoing dedication to fostering an environment that puts employees first by promoting work-life balance and providing professional development opportunities.E6 firmly believes that employees who are supported and empowered to work toward both their professional and personal goals are the primary reason behind the company's continued success. As E6 continues to grow, its culture remains steadfast. In the past year, E6 has tripled in size and now employs nearly 150 people with operations in 38 countries."Being named as one of the Best Places to Work in Financial Technology for a second year in a row is an honor and a testament to our continued efforts to create a supportive and motivating environment for our employees," said John Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder of E6. "Maintaining a culture that puts our employees first is and will always be a top priority for us." This annual survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the financial technology industry. Companies recognized on this year's list operate in and serve companies and consumers in a wide range of financial services including banking and mortgages, insurance, payments and financial advisory.The awards program was created in 2017 and is a project of Arizent and Best Companies Group. The 2023 list included 50companies and was published by Arizent brands American Banker, National Mortgage News, PaymentsSource, Financial Planning and Digital Insurance."Some of the most intriguing technology advances in financial services are developed within fintech firms that partner or compete with traditional banks," said Penny Crosman, executive editor, technology at American Banker. "Best Places to Work in Financial Technology provides a closer look at some of these companies and the culture and benefits that help them attract top talent." Companies from across the United States entered a two-part survey process to determine Arizent's Best Places to Work in Financial Technology. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data and determined the final ranking.For more information on Arizent's Best Places to Work in Financial Technology program, including full eligibility criteria, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkFinTech.com or write to penny.crosman@arizent.com ###About Episode SixEpisode Six (E6) is a global provider of enterprise-grade payment processing and digital ledger infrastructure for banks and companies looking to offer payments to their customers. E6 delivers the innovative capabilities needed to compete with disruptors by augmenting existing infrastructures. Flexibility, adaptability and resilience are built into the core of E6's TRITIUM platform ensuring clients maintain a market-leading position. Episode Six operates globally across 38 countries with an expanding team located in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. Investors include HSBC, Mastercard, SBI Investment Co., Ltd., Anthos Capital and Avenir. For more information, visit www.EpisodeSix.com or LinkedIn.Media ContactDavid YaghutielCaliber Corporate Advisersdavid@ calibercorporateadvisers.com 408.449.6971SOURCE: Episode Six
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Metallicus, the pioneering blockchain technology company at the forefront of integrating digital assets into traditional banking, made a momentous announcement today. They proudly revealed the elevation of their Chief Operating Officer (COO), Donald Berk, to a prominent role on the board of directors. This strategic move serves as a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to expansion and continuous innovation within the industry.With an illustrious career spanning over 25 years at Northern Trust, Berk emerges as a distinguished figure in the financial sector. He brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge, garnered through his various leadership positions and instrumental involvement in driving strategic initiatives. Notably, his visionary efforts resulted in substantial cost savings of over $150 million for Northern Trust."We're elated to see Don take a seat on our board of directors. His exceptional expertise and extensive network within the traditional finance space are instrumental as we approach serving fintech and banking institutions more closely, especially with the buzz around our recent launch of Metal Blockchain."CEO , Marshall HaynerMetallicus' innovative Metal Blockchain, a layer zero solution specifically built for financial institutions to harness the transformative benefits of blockchain technology, marks a significant leap forward for the traditional finance space. Berk's strategic prowess and vast network of industry connections position him as an indispensable linchpin in Metallicus' audacious pursuit of their grand vision. As Chief Operating Officer, he has deftly overseen critical functions such as Human Resources, Information Security, Marketing, Sales, and Client Services, all while unwaveringly championing the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. His unyielding commitment to simplicity, regulatory compliance, impregnable security, and unwavering identity verification perfectly aligns with Metallicus' core principles, firmly establishing them as an indomitable force at the vanguard of future financial services.As the excitement mounts surrounding this landmark appointment, Berk eagerly shared his perspective, stating:"Stepping into the realm of the Metallicus Board represents an extraordinary leap forward for me. Armed with an extensive network and a wealth of expertise, I am fervently driven to shape the strategic trajectory of the company as we forge ahead, relentlessly pushing the boundaries of innovation within the banking sector. The future of financial services has materialized before our eyes, and I am exhilarated to embark on this transformative journey." With Berk joining the board, Metallicus is poised to elevate its operational capabilities and strengthen its strategic direction. Berk's appointment sends a robust message about Metallicus' ambition to disrupt and redefine the banking sector with its innovative products and services.About MetallicusMetallicus, a blockchain technology company, is committed to bridging the gap between traditional banking and digital assets. Built on a bedrock of a simple customer experience, strong regulatory compliance, flawless security, and verified identity, Metallicus seeks to integrate and catalyze the scalable use of digital assets in financial services and economic activity.For more information, please visit www.metallicus.com Media DetailsWebsite URL: https://www.omnipublic.global/ Company Name: Omni PublicEmail address: ch@ omnipublic.global SOURCE: Omni Public
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Five major U.S. health care systems today released an open statement affirming their commitment to responsible business practices that take the severe public health and financial risks of the climate crisis into account.Signed by Providence, Boston Medical Center, CommonSpirit, HealthPartners, and Hackensack Meridian, the statement comes amid widespread efforts by a group of state and federal lawmakers to pass policies designed to ban private-sector actors that account for these risks. It is addressed to policymakers and emphasizes that signatories are making business decisions that address climate change because it is a risk both to public health and to their ability to provide health services."Bottom line: Climate change poses a material financial and public health risk to the entire health care sector. Just as we address other risks to our complex operations, we will make long-term, climate-smart investments that limit our exposure to climate risk. We will increase our deployment of renewable energy, invest in energy efficiency measures, and ensure that our buildings and facilities are resilient," the signatories wrote. "Growing evidence indicates that these efforts yield significant and wide-ranging cost savings, reduced risk and increased stability for organizations and the communities they serve, and improved corporate performance." The full text of the statement is available here. It was organized by Health Care Without Harm and Ceres."Climate change is a serious threat to public health and the communities we serve. As a health care leader Providence is taking bold action to reduce our climate impacts by working toward becoming carbon-negative by 2030. As we advance our vision to build a healthier and more equitable world, we make strategic decisions to confront the climate crisis, and we value partnerships with government, agencies, and organizations that enhance our ability to do so," said Ali Santore, EVP, Chief Advocacy and Social Responsibility Officer, Providence."In the communities we are privileged to serve, CommonSpirit Health sees firsthand the devastating effects that climate change has on public health and the economy. We view business practices that limit these effects - from adopting clean energy to building resilient facilities - as a common-sense risk management strategy with clear financial benefits. We are proud to join with our peers to reaffirm our commitment to business decisions that are good for public health, for the climate, and for the bottom line," said Shelly L. Schlenker, MHA, EVP, Chief Advocacy Officer, CommonSpirit Health."Healthier hospitals mean healthier communities, which is why we are committed to operating our campus as cleanly as possible to achieve our public health mission. Our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions not only help to reduce the effects of climate change, but they also generate $10 million per year in utility savings that we have reinvested in patient care. We have no intention to change these business practices, and believe that any interference would hurt our hospital, our patients, and our community," said Bob Biggio, SVP Facilities & Support Services, Boston Medical Center."Beyond our belief that addressing the environmental and social impacts of health care's operations is part of our moral imperative, growing evidence indicates that these efforts yield significant and wide-ranging benefits. This includes substantial cost savings, reduced risk and increased stability for health care organizations and the communities they serve, as well as improved corporate performance," said Gary Cohen, Founder and President, Health Care Without Harm.The health care leaders are just the latest to join a growing number of public and private sector voices championing the freedom to invest responsibly, as policymakers across the country - especially at the state level - move to restrict financial institutions from considering the economic and financial risks of the climate crisis in their decision-making.In March, more than 250 companies and investors signed a statement to policymakers demanding that they protect their freedom to invest responsibly; the list of signatories on that statement has since grown to more than 350. More than a dozen state and other public financial officers who are charged with protecting taxpayer dollars and the livelihoods of pension beneficiaries issued their own statement voicing support for responsible risk management practices. And, in May, more than 130 academics signed a statement supporting practices that protect investors from the effects of climate change, water scarcity, and other risks that materially harm investors.About CeresCeres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world's greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.About Health Care Without HarmHealth Care Without Harm seeks to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. For more information, visit noharm.org and follow @HCWithoutHarm.Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ ceres.org , 617-247-0700 ext. 214View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Ceres on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: CeresWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/ceres Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Ceres
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. ("Golden Pursuit" or the "Company") (TSXV:GDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Norman Porter as a director of the Company. The size of the Company's board has increased to five members, three of whom are independent.Mr. Norman Porter has 45 years of experience in business development. As an entrepreneur, Norman has an aptitude for strategic development with a long term vision. Norman's investment knowledge and financial analytics leverage his ability to raise capital for partnership and joint venture opportunities. His breadth of development scope spans land assembly to construction projects in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors throughout British Columbia and Washington State. Normans' company, Beech Developments Ltd., is a leading developer in the City of Surrey, working with government and communities to establish optimum use of land to meet future demand.Brian McClay, President of Golden Pursuit states, "I am very pleased and welcome Norm Porter to Golden Pursuit's board. Norm is a well-known business and project developer with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. We look forward to Norm's expertise and contributions as we advance our focus Gordon Lake project and our Nevada properties." The Company also announces that it has granted 500,000 incentive stock options to Mr. Porter at an exercise price of $0.20 cents per share for a term of five years. The options shall vest and become exercisable as to 25 per cent annually commencing June 5, 2024, the first anniversary of the date of the grant.About Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.Golden Pursuit owns a 100% interest in the Gordon Lake Project located in the NW, 50 miles north of Yellowknife. The Gordon Lake District consists of 10 deposits which include the former producing mines Camlaren, Burnt Island, Myrt Lake and Argonaut Mine. The deposits along with the other significantly advanced deposits will be the subject of further exploration with an emphasis on developing a drilling program to be conducted later this year.The Company has recently completed a geological report that summarizes and describes the holdings at Gordon Lake along with development recommendations. This report can be viewed on the Company's website at www.goldpursuit.ca On behalf of the Board of Directors of Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd."Brian A. McClay"President & CEOFor more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's web site at www.goldpusuit.ca The TSX-V has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking StatementsAll statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's exploration and development plans or the success of the Projects.SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.
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CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / KeyBank Institutional Advisors and KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) provided $30 million of financing to the Cleveland Foundation (TCF) for the construction of the 95,000-square-foot Midtown Collaboration Center (Center) located in Cleveland's MidTown and historic Hough neighborhoods. The Center will be adjacent to TCF headquarters and aims to be both regionally significant and locally transformative.KeyBank Institutional Advisors provided a $23.7 million loan to fund the new construction of the Center. Partners in this project include Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), University Hospitals (UH), the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), Hyland Software, and the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), the country's largest SBA micro lender.KeyBank CDLI provided a $6.3 million equity investment in the New Market Tax Credits. The Center will house partners including CWRU's new Center for Population Health Research, UH's new Diabetes Research and Wellness Center, CIA's new Interactive Media Lab, Hyland Software Training Center, JumpStart offices, ECDI - SBA Lending Center and Women's Resource Center, and the Brewery/Taproom (BIPOC-owned) & community-led music venue.The Center will bridge Cleveland's downtown business center with its University Circle academic hub, bringing together multiple sectors and companies under one roof, to create a new model for a "both and" approach to economic activity that centers around community. The project builds upon the momentum of the adjacent Cleveland Foundation's Headquarters project. Together, these two buildings represent the first of eight proposed structures in the planned 12-acre civic district."This project is part of the Cleveland Foundation's overall mission of improving the quality of life in Cleveland neighborhoods and strengthening the fabric of our city as a whole," said Cathy O'Malley Kearney, Head of Key Institutional Advisors. "We are proud to be a part of this important project which will provide a pathway to economic opportunity." "KeyBank is investing in this neighborhood with a commitment of capital for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development," said Ryan Olman, KeyBank CDLI. "We are pleased to partner with the Cleveland Foundation to transform and strengthen Cleveland's neighborhoods and communities." "The MidTown Collaboration Center offers a new model for purpose-driven collaboration, equitable, community-centered development and partnership," said Rosanne Potter, Cleveland Foundation Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. "This project would not have been possible without KeyBank's commitment to the Greater Cleveland community." About Key Institutional AdvisorsFor nearly 200 years, Key Institutional Advisors has provided advisory, investment management, growth advice, trust administration, customized credit, and banking services to non-profit, corporate, healthcare, pension, tribal, and government entities across the U.S. with a strategic focus on funding, sustainability, and governance. Key Institutional Advisors has nearly $14 billion in AUM and $62.3 billion in AUA, at March 31, 2023.About KeyBank Community Development Lending and InvestmentKeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) finances projects that stabilize and revitalize communities across all 50 states. As one of the top affordable housing capital providers in the country, KeyBank's platform brings together construction, acquisition, bridge-to-re-syndication, and preservation loans, as well as lines of credit, Agency and HUD permanent mortgage executions, and equity investments for low-income housing projects, especially Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing. KeyBank has earned 10 consecutive "Outstanding" ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first U.S. national bank among the 25 largest to do so since the Act's passage in 1977.About KeyCorpKeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $198 billion at March 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/ . KeyBank is Member FDIC.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: KeyBankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: KeyBank
Rena Murshud

Lately, Iran's mullah regime has again started to carry out malicious acts such as provocation, blackmail and sabotage against Azerbaijani Turks. Even the theocratic regime, which is afraid of its own collapse, denigrates any students, ordinary citizens, tourists, etc., arrests them under various pretexts, and makes unjust decisions about them. All this is an example of growing hatred towards the Turkish nation in Iran.

Note that the recent news about the disappearance and subsequent arrest of Azerbaijani national Farid Safarli in Iran caused the Azerbaijani government to strengthen precautionary measures. Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan not only prohibits Azerbaijani citizens from visiting Iran for security reasons, but also warned our compatriots who want to travel from other countries.

Nevertheless, the new decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is also taken into account for our Azerbaijani compatriots living in Iran. The question arises, what will be the fate of the southern Azerbaijanis after the new decision? Can such an approach of Iran endanger the lives of our compatriots?

"The pressure exerted by the Iranian authorities on the speeches of the Azerbaijani Turks regarding the provision of their national rights never weakens. This announcement by the Foreign Ministry is an economic blow to Iran's tourism sector," political analyst, head of the Middle East think tank Sadraddin Soltan said this to Azernews, while commenting on regime's rising pressure on Azerbaijani Turks. He added that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that the rights of Azerbaijani Turks to speak in their native language in Iran are being violated and faced severe assimilation. Iran, on the other hand, expresses its anger towards the Turks in the world and Azerbaijan in political matters.

"Although Iran does not openly state this, it shows it as an element of pressure in its behavior and attitude. For example, when Azerbaijanis demand their rights, Iran accuses them of spying on neighboring countries. If Iran openly declares that its actions are directed only against Azerbaijan, it will be a kind of action to promote Azerbaijan Republic. This will give spirit and confidence to the Turks worldwide," Sadraddin Soltan added.

Apart from its national and ethnic politics, Iran is also a country that tends to pursue a multifaceted policy. However, it is not a secret that this is not a feature arising from his good intentions. On the contrary, Iran always carries out this kind of secret expansionist policy in order to create its influence in different parts of the world.

For example, Iran is seeking collective maritime cooperation with a number of countries, mainly with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, as well as with Pakistan and India. In this regard, the expert stressed that Iranian authorities have recently taken a course towards the normalization of relations with neighboring and non-neighboring Muslim countries.

"Saudi Arabia is the country where Iran has been experiencing the most serious problems in the Middle East for more than 7 years. Iran believes that if it first establishes relations with Saudi Arabia, it will be able to establish relations with other Arab and Muslim countries such as UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and others. The second question is that Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel are not so broad compared to other Arab countries. However, the desire to normalize relations does not mean the formation of any union. Concrete questions must be behind it. Iran must first find a solution to the problems of Yemen (Houthi movement), Lebanon and Syria, which it created with Saudi Arabia," Soltan said.

According to him, due to the risky policy and and because of some insecurity of the regime, no state agrees to invest in its economy. The agreement signed between the two states does not mean the normalization of relations between them.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine can resume the operation of the ammonia pipeline to Odesa.

"If you have asked me whether we could resume this work, then we understand that yes, we could if it is necessary," he said on Tuesday at a press conference in Kyiv.

On June 5, in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region, the pipeline with ammonia was damaged in an enemy attack, it was depressurized, Head of the State Military Administration Oleh Synehubov said.

According to Zelenskyy, "everyone thinks what to do with ammonia, and then something just hit it from Russia and that's it."

At the same time, he said that "the entry point of the ammonia pipeline is located on the territory where the enemy is located." "We understand that these are the consequences of the war," he said.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, is reminding investors that the deadline to move for lead plaintiff in a securities class action lawsuit against Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) ("Charles River" or the "Company") and certain other defendants (collectively, "Defendants") is July 18, 2023.CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLASS ACTIONThe action, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts asserts claims under 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on behalf of a Class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Charles River common stock between May 5, 2020 and February 21, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), and who were damaged thereby (the "Class").Charles River provides research tools and support services for drug discovery and development.On February 22, 2023, Charles River revealed that it had received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") relating to an ongoing investigation into the supply chain and illegal importation of non-human primates for research. The Company noted that it was suspending shipments of primates from Cambodia, which would negatively impact its earnings for the year and would reduce revenue growth by 200 basis points to 400 basis points.On this news, Charles River's stock price fell $24.51, or 10%, to close at $219.09 per share on February 22, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Charles River had engaged in illegal activity with respect to its importation of non-human primates for research; (2) that, as a result, Charles River was at a heightened risk of criminal and regulatory investigation by, inter alia, the U.S. Department of Justice; and (3) that, as a result, Charles River would be forced to suspend shipments of primates from Cambodia, among other things.Lead Plaintiff DeadlineThe Lead Plaintiff deadline in this action is July 18, 2023. Any member of the proposed Class may seek to serve as Lead Plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain a member of the proposed Class.What You Can DoIf you purchased Charles River common stock during the Class Period, and suffered damages, realized or unrealized, you are encouraged to contact Scott+Scott attorney Jonathan Zimmerman at (888) 398-9312, or jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com , for more information.About Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPScott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and employee retirement plan actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, Virginia, California, and Ohio.Attorney AdvertisingCONTACT:Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPJonathan Zimmerman(888) 398-9312jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com SOURCE: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, is reminding investors that the deadline to move for lead plaintiff in a securities class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC (NYSE:TSE) ("Trinseo" or the "Company") and certain other defendants (collectively, "Defendants") is June 20, 2023.CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLASS ACTIONThe action, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, asserts claims under 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on behalf of a Class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Trinseo securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), and who were damaged thereby (the "Class").According to the complaint, throughout the Class Period. Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's Bristol, Pennsylvania plant had a troubled safety record while under prior ownership and continued to be unsafe after the Company acquired it; (2) Defendants did not sufficiently disclose specific risks related to conducting operations at that plant; and (3) operating a chemical plant with an unsafe history and presently unsafe operations exposed the Company to a heightened risk of achemical spill or other adverse event, among other things.When the truth about Trinseo's business reached the market, according to the Complaint, Trinseo's stock precipitously declined, thereby injuring investors.Lead Plaintiff DeadlineThe Lead Plaintiff deadline in this action is June 20, 2023. Any member of the proposed Class may seek to serve as Lead Plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain a member of the proposed Class.What You Can DoIf you purchased Trinseo securities during the Class Period, and suffered damages, realized or unrealized, you are encouraged to contact Scott+Scott attorney Jonathan Zimmerman at (888) 398-9312, or jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com , for more information.About Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPScott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and employee retirement plan actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, Virginia, California, and Ohio.Attorney AdvertisingCONTACT:Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLPJonathan Zimmerman(888) 398-9312jzimmerman@ scott-scott.com SOURCE: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV:TSLV) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its non-brokered private placement, the terms of which were announced April 3, 2023 (the "Offering"). In the second and final tranche of the Offering the Company issued 4,942,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$1,235,500 bringing the total gross proceeds from the Offering to C$2,641,000.In connection with the second tranche of the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finders' fees of C$25,380 (C$69,210 in total for the Offering) and issued 101,520 non-transferable finders' warrants (276,840 finders' warrants in total for the Offering), with each finders' warrant exercisable for one common share of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.35 until April 21, 2025. The finders' fees and finders' warrants were paid to Research Capital Corporation, Haywood Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., German Mining Networks GmbH; StephenAvenue Securities Inc. and Red Cloud Securities Inc., all of which are arm's length to the Company and who referred participating investors to the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to resume exploration and prepare for drilling at the Curibaya project and for general working capital purposes.A Message from Peter Dembicki, President, CEO & Director:"We would like to thank all of our supporters who participated in the private placement. This additional capital allows us to enter the next phase of work at Curibaya as we lead up to drilling." The securities being issued are subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law. Final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange is expected upon filing standard documentation.The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.Peter DembickiPresident, CEO and DirectorFor further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, VP of Communications, at (778) 729-0600 or info@ tieronesilver.com About Tier OneTier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Company's exploration assets in Peru include: Hurricane Silver, Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com Forward-Looking Information and General Cautionary LanguageThis news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events in connection with the outlined financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the Company's exploration plans and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.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.SOURCE: Tier One Silver Inc.
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Nonprofit works with partners across U.S. to provide food, essentials for children, familiesOKLAHOMA CITY, OK / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / The summer months should be a carefree time for children to play with friends and enjoy their childhood. But for 30 million children who rely on school meals, when the school year ends, so does their access to this resource. That means 1 in 8 kids in the U.S. who are already food insecure have even less access to food this summer.Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, recognizes that hunger is all around us-even when we don't see it. That's why the nonprofit is kicking off it's summer hunger campaign to raise critical funds to help children.For many vulnerable families, 2023 has meant new challenges that will make this summer more difficult. Even as prices continue to rise, federal emergency funding for SNAP benefits ended in March, and almost 16 million households saw their monthly benefits decrease by hundreds of dollars. This leaves many parents to worry if their children having enough to eat.Feed the Children helps by providing vital support to families who need a little extra assistance while feeling the summertime squeeze. The nonprofit works closely with its national network of more than 700 community partners delivering nonperishable food items, as well as household essentials so they can be distributed within the communities where people need them most.For parents like Elanor, a mom with three small children, Feed the Children can help bridge the gap during the summer months."They don't understand the cost of food. They just know that they're hungry and we can't not feed them," she said. "There's no excuses when they're home and they're hungry. We have to pull it together for the children. We have to find a way." Household essentials like cleaning supplies, hygiene and personal care items are not covered by SNAP benefits. By supplying these items, Feed the Children provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to keep more room in their budget for food.For mom Dina, Feed the Children and our partners provide a much-needed lifeline to resources."A lot of people might be embarrassed to come out and say that they are in need of food and other resources, but I had to swallow my pride and come down," she said. "I'm grateful for the help that you have given us. Without you, we wouldn't know what to do." In addition to food and resources, Feed the Children also supplies books and supports local summer education efforts that keep kids' minds active. Research has shown that young students lose some of their achievement gains - up to one month of school year's lessons - over the summer. This is especially in true in literacy when they don't read regularly during the summer. When students fall behind with literacy at an early age, they often don't catch up.Individuals and businesses can make a difference in the lives of children and their families by supporting Feed the Children's efforts to fight summer hunger. This will provide kids an opportunity to stay active and enjoy their summer. For more information on how Feed the Children helps children across America and around the world, visit https://www.feedthechildren.org About Feed the ChildrenAt Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We envision a world where no child goes to bed hungry. In the U.S. and internationally, we are dedicated to helping families and communities achieve stable lives and to reducing the need for help tomorrow, while providing food and resources to help them today. We distribute product donations from corporate donors to local community partners, we provide support for teachers and students, and we mobilize resources quickly to aid recovery efforts when natural disasters strike. Internationally, we manage child-focused community development programs in eight countries. We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships.For more information, visit feedthechildren.org For more information, please contact:Carrie Snodgrass - 405-213-9757SOURCE: Feed The Children
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced a plan to improve its Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS) Framework through stakeholder input.

The DPAS, implemented in 2008, aims to differentiate premiums paid by insured financial institutions based on their risk profiles.

According to a press statement signed by the spokesperson, Bashir Nuhu, the recent review of the framework is intended to make it more risk-sensitive and aligned with global best practices.

The NDIC urged concerned parties to provide their input, comments, and recommendations by 30 June 2023 to ensure a comprehensive and robust document.

The NDIC emphasised that reviewing the DPAS framework is essential to accommodate significant developments in the Nigerian banking system since its adoption.

The revision also aims to align with the recommendations of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) and ensure compliance with global standards.

The NDIC says the adoption of the DPAS in 2008 introduced fairness into the premium assessment process, encouraging effective risk management practices among insured institutions.

The system applies a differential risk approach in determining deposit insurance premiums, allowing lower-risk banks to pay relatively lower rates while charging higher-risk banks additional bonuses for their increased risks.

The primary objectives are to incentivise regulatory compliance, mitigate moral hazard, and maintain a sound and stable banking sector.

To facilitate stakeholder engagement, the NDIC has made the exposure draft of the revised DPAS framework available on its official website, www.ndic.gov.ng, for review.

Interested parties, including financial institutions, industry experts, and the public, are encouraged to provide their insights and recommendations to the NDIC Director, Insurance and Surveillance Department, via email at aliyuam@ndic.gov.ng before the deadline of 30 June 2023.

READ ALSO: Senate confirms NDIC board members

The NDIC says its proactive approach in seeking concerned party input reflects its commitment to enhancing the banking systems risk assessment and maintaining a resilient financial sector.

By incorporating feedback from critical parties, the corporation noted that it aims to develop a more comprehensive and robust DPAS framework that effectively addresses the evolving need of Nigerias banking industry.

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After keeping her daughters identity secret for over two decades, Nollywood star Kate Henshaw, on Monday afternoon, shared a rare photo of both of them.

Unlike her colleague, Genevieve Nnaji, who has managed to keep her only child Theodora away from the publics prying eyes, Henshaws move has earned her admiration.

Gabrielle, 23, is the product of a marriage between Henshaw and her former husband, Roderick James Nuttal.

Henshaw and Mr Nuttal tied the knot in 1999, while their daughter was welcomed the following year.

It came as a pleasant shock to the fans of the actress when she posted a photograph of herself and the young Gabrielle on Instagram on Monday.

Not much is known about her daughter, though some say she lives in the UK, where her father is based.

In 2011, to the dismay of her fans, Henshaw announced that they were getting divorced, although she didnt give reasons.

Since her divorce, Henshaw has not been known to be romantically linked to anyone, at least not publicly.

Twinning

Besides having a Nubian tone while her daughter has light skin, many Instagram users opined that their resemblance was uncanny.

Although Henshaw, a fitness buff, did not say why she celebrated Gabrielle, she described herself as a proud mum.

So proud of you, dearie. May your light keep shining brighter and brighter, she wrote on her Instagram page with over two million followers.

The duo wore white outfits and sported an afro hairdo, highlighting their resemblance.

The actress colleagues, including the likes of Funke Akindele, Ivie Okujaye, Ufuoma McDermott, Mo Abudu, VJ Adams, Dakore Akande and others, have been fawning over the photographs of the mother and daughter.

Kate Henshaw

The award-winning actress studied Medical Microbiology at the School of Medical Lab Science at Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Before becoming an actress, Henshaw worked as a model, featuring in various commercials, including a print and television advert for Shield deodorant.

She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the movie Stronger than Pain in 2008.

In 2011, Henshaw was honoured by the Nigerian federal government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

She has acted in many acclaimed movies, including Chief Daddy, New Money, The Ghost and the House of Truth, 4th Republic, The Women and Blood Sisters.

Also a politician, the veteran actress, in 2014, aspired to represent the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) but lost the primaries.

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Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo is at loggerheads with the Lagos State government for allegedly defaulting in paying her income Tax.

A personal income tax is levied on an individuals wages, salaries, and other types of income. In Nigeria, it is guided by the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 and is charged on the payment of individuals, families, bodies of individuals, and trustees.

Section 1 of the Act provides that the tax is an obligation paid to the State Inland Revenue Service where the individual resides.

The actress drew the publics attention on Monday to a letter she received from the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service(LIRS) accusing her of evading taxes to the tune of N18m.

According to the letter, based on a review of her returns and in line with Section 54 of the Personal Income Tax Act, she has assessed a tax liability of N7,376,000.00.

In addition to an outstanding liability of N11,264,092.00 for the 2021 income year, she has been urged to pay a total sum of N18,640,092.00 to government coffers within seven days of receipt of this letter.

Failure to comply with the above directives, this office would, in addition to the tax due, impose penalty and interest as provided for in Sections 76 & 77 of the referenced Act, the letter from the body reads.

But it appears hers is not an isolated case as the Lagos State government filed a 12-count charge against social media celebrity Ehizogie Ogbebor, C.E.O Sayaveth Interiors, on Monday, for alleged failure to pay tax returns.

Through A. I. Alli, its prosecution counsel, the state said the defendant, also an Instagram celebrity, had refused to pay personal income tax to the states internal revenue service from 2014 till date.

According to Mr Alli, the defendant is a taxable personality but has evaded tax.

Proof

The actress has, however, denied owing the Lagos State government any form of tax, insisting that her tax records are up to date.

In a deleted post on her Instagram page, Ojo called out the Lagos State Governor, Jide Sanwo-Olu, for levelling outrageous personal income taxes on her.

She further questioned determining Personal Incom Taxes, which she insists is outrageous.

I have worked, and Im still working tirelessly to survive in this country without the governments support, yet you just sit in your office and come up with different outrageous bills. Nothing works right in this country, yet you must take from where you have not sworn.

Since you guys insist, You can gladly come and close down my business, arrest me, jail me, or kill me for all I care, we all will die one day, and I will never be afraid of what will eventually be everyones faith what I do not have I can not give. I have no FEAR, she wrote.

Ojo later held an Instagram live session where she paraded documents to prove she was faithful with her taxes.

Repeat offender

It is not the first time the actress will be at the centre of a tax evasion accusation.

In 2019, the LIRS slammed her with an outstanding tax liability of over N37 million for the 2014-2017 income years.

The agency noted that the default payment is mainly due to her refusal to file her income returns resulting in the outstanding liability.

In that instance, the mother-of-three said she might have to close her business down as she needs to figure out where to start negotiating with the Lagos State government.

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She responded, Im still struggling with making a profit; after paying rent, salaries, maintenance, electricity, and local & state govt taxes in different categories & levies, I hardly make any profit.

My fellow Nigerians, I have been asked to pay almost N38m for my income tax to Lagos State Personal income bawo? I was still struggling with my small business in Ikeja like Im still even doing now, or is it from my acting that we are poorly paid or from where now?

Witchhunt?

In addition to her claims, the actress and filmmaker has accused the Lagos State Government of a witch hunt.

Recall that during the last electioneering period, Ojo campaigned and voted for Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party.

Her decision to support the LP candidate pitted her against some of her colleagues, who accused her of ingratitude, having been a beneficiary of some of the All Progressives Congress stalwarts in Lagos.

In another post, Ojo reaffirmed her stand, noting that she will not succumb to intimidation.

I stand & re stan obediently on my beliefs. I can never be pressured or shaken. I will never bow down to tribal bigots. I want a better Nigeria, and I dont care whose ego gets bruised. We can not all believe in the same thing. I see no tribe. I only see my country, and Im a Nigerian.

I am not afraid of death, for that is inevitable. I will never be afraid to air my opinion, which is right. I have no enemies; we may not all believe in the same course or see things the same way, but youre not my enemy because, either good or bad.. were in it together. Were all citizens of Nigeria, she wrote.

Some, however, are quick to point out that her run-ins with the Lagos State government over taxation date back to 2019, even before Mr Obi joined the Labour Party.

Reactions

While some say that Ojos tax issues started long before the elections, others think the taxation arm should be stretched to other entertainers, irrespective of party affiliations.

This Iyabo Ojo Tax issue, seems she's made Peter Obi her candidate since 2019 and that's why they're after her paying that huge tax since 2019 pic.twitter.com/mUFk2twrMq  Taiwo_Ajakaye (@dmightyangel) June 6, 2023

Our problem in Naija is letter B; Buhari, Bobrisky, Boko haram, BBN, Blessing CEO, Bet Naija, and finally Bola Tinubu So these guys are haunting Iyabo Ojo because she supported Peter Obi? Nawa oh! Confirmed| Eniola Badmus| Toyin Abraham| Even Tinubu| El-Rufai| Toyin Abraham| pic.twitter.com/tDmxqUlePe  Alakowe (@alakowee) June 5, 2023

Before Iyabo ojo pays a kobo, the whole of lagos must see what seyi law and Toyin Abraham pays in tax.  iDAN (@DangbanaManager) June 5, 2023

Still don't get this Iyabo Ojo Tax issue o

This N36 million Tax Lien was August 2019, why is it now blowing up in June 2023 or are they different conversation? pic.twitter.com/XdmyML4azZ  Taiwo_Ajakaye (@dmightyangel) June 6, 2023

You claimed that the yeye dress you wore to the African Magic viewers awards night cost N37.5. Now, Lagos state internal revenue is slamming you with N18 million tax and you are crying wolf. Iyabo Ojo, go and pay or negotiate a downward review. pic.twitter.com/n5tYCDVeMV  Toyosi WellBeing Couture  (@toyosky4real) June 5, 2023

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In April, when the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, visited Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, to solicit support for his ambition to be the next Speaker, he got a cryptic response from his host. We are going to support the leadership of your party at the national level, the governor told him.

Mr Wikes message was clear: the relationship between him and President Bola Tinubu will continue beyond the presidential election to the race for the leadership of the National Assembly. Hence, Mr Wase could only get his support after first getting the approval of his party.

A few days after the comments, a member of the House from Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, who is a close ally of Mr Wike, announced the formation of a multi-partisan coalition called Joint Task. The coalition has since become the main group pushing the campaign of Tajudeen Abbas, the candidate endorsed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the top seat.

Mr Chindas new alliance with the outgoing Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, in the current race for the position may baffle some observers. In 2019, he was nominated as the Minority Leader by the Uche Secondus-led PDP. However, Mr Gbajabiamila used technicality to truncate his nomination. The speaker argued that lawmakers are to nominate their minority leader and not the party because the officer represents all minority parties, not just PDP. He, therefore, announced Ndudi Elumelu to the position, acting on a letter written by members of the minority caucus.

Aside from that, Mr Chinda and other senior members that opposed Mr Elumelu were denied leadership of committees or given positions considered less juicy by lawmakers. In the past four years, Mr Chinda has not been active on the floor of the House.

But there has been a change in direction. To underscore this, Mr Gbajabiamila recently constituted four ad hoc committees and named PDP and LP members as the heads, including Mr Chinda. The others are Mark Gbillah (LP, Benue), Idem Uyime (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) and Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun).

Why does APC need Wike?

The APC needs help from the minority parties to install the next speaker. This is because although the party has the highest number of elected lawmakers, it does not have the majority in the House. The APC is equally grappling with its own internal row. Many of the old guards from the North-west are angry that the party endorsed Mr Abbas without consulting them. But the South-west members-elect have been very vocal in their support for the Abbas movement.

The minority parties have more seats in the incoming House. They have a combined total of 181 seats while the ruling party has 177 seats. The breakdown is as follows: APC 177, PDP 116, LP 36, NNPP 19, APGA five, ADC

two, SDP two seats and YPP one seat.

With several APC members in the race, the partys members in the House are divided. Therefore, the opposition lawmakers are in a strategic position to decide who becomes the next speaker or even cause an upset by producing one from among their ranks.

However, the chances of the opposition coming together for that upset appear to be slim, given Mr Wikes place in the picture.

The minority parties are well aware of their numerical strength and strategic position. They formed a coalition called Greater Majority headed by Fred Agbedi, a PDP member from Bayelsa State. The aim was to unite all the members-elect of the seven minority parties.

Earlier, they declared a goal of producing a candidate for the race. However, no member of the caucus indicated interest to be that candidate.

To start with, the alliance between Messrs Wike and Tinubu has taken the 11 members-elect from Rivers out of the Greater Majority group. Hence, the maximum number of lawmakers in the Greater Majority group is 170.

Division of the PDP

The PDP as the largest opposition bloc is expected to lead the minority caucus, and even produce the Minority Leader. However, the bloc is the most divided in the opposition ranks.

In the past few days, the minority group championed by the PDP has existed in name only. The movement of the members is so fluid it is difficult to say where any lawmaker belongs. We are all fishing in the same pond, APC lawmaker Miriam Onuoha recently told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview.

Within the Greater Majority, there is another faction loyal to Governor Wike. The group, headed by Idu Igariwe, a member from Ebonyi State, recently endorsed Mr Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the speaker and deputy speaker respectively. While the second group led by Mr Agbedi has yet to endorse a candidate, it has also met with Mr Abbass camp and the other group of speakership aspirants, G7.

The Igariwe-led faction includes some influential members of the NNPP, including Alhassan Rurun. Earlier, Abdulmummin Jibrin, a member of the NNPP and a veteran of leadership battles in the House, gave the impression that the NNPP was with the Greater Majority. However, different NNPP lawmakers are supporting either of the two pro-APC establishment groups.

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NNPPs Aliyu Madaki serves as the secretary of the Joint Task while Alhassan Rurun serves as secretary of the Greater Majority faction.

The meeting last month in France between Mr Tinubu and the leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, appears to explain the stance of the NNPP lawmakers in the race. In addition, most of them were APC members who decamped to the NNPP.

Also, the ADC caucus is headed by Leke Abejide. The lawmaker from Kogi State is believed to be a pro-Tinubu politician. Therefore, the two ADC lawmakers in the new House are in the Joint Task, further depleting the ranks of the opposition.

This division within the opposition gives the Joint Task group the edge in the push for Mr Abbas to emerge as the Speaker unless the rival G7 succeeds in producing a consensus candidate against him.

Equally, there has been a lack of direction from the minority parties on what their lawmakers should do in terms of leadership of the 10th House.

Mr Agbedi, during a meeting of the Greater Majority, said governors of the opposition were yet to give direction. Many expect the presidential candidates of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party, Peter Obi, to provide direction to their lawmakers but there is nothing to suggest such.

Atiku was very quiet until recently when he advised PDP lawmakers to be more united in forming a strong opposition.

But that might change soon with a planned retreat of the opposition lawmakers-elect in Akwa-Ibom. Governor Emmanuel Udom may provide the leadership to give the lawmakers the needed direction. Mr Emmanuel served as the Chairman of the Atiku Presidential campaign, so he is in a position to counter the stride of Mr Wike.

Fight to become Minority Leader

One other major factor playing a role in this election is the possible battle for the minority leadership seat between Mr Chinda and Oluwole Oke, a PDP lawmaker from Osun State.

There are speculations that Mr Wike and his loyalists may join the ruling party. In the meantime, Mr Chinda has his eyes set on the minority leadership position that he missed in the outgoing assembly due to Mr Gbajabiamilas technicality.

If the joint task team succeeds in installing Mr Abbas, then Mr Chinda would be a step closer to the position. But if the Greater Majority prevails, Mr Oke would have an edge.

Difficult consensus arrangement in G7

The G7 are the aggrieved speakership aspirants in the APC, who came together as the Coalition of Progressive Speakership Aspirants (COPSA). The members include the current Deputy Speaker Wase, Muktar Betara, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji, Yusuf Gagdi and Miriam Onuoha. Alhassan Doguwa was in the group but has pulled out to stand behind the partys candidate, Mr Abbas. The others want to produce a consensus candidate to challenge Mr Abbas.

The group met with the Greater Majority group weeks ago and hinted at an agreement in the coming days. Mr Gagdi even issued a statement that the group had agreed on a candidate. However, PREMIUM TIMES learnt the group is still considering four of the aspirants  Messrs Betara, Wase, Gagdi and Jaji.

Within the group, some are pushing for a North-west candidate in order to maintain the zoning arrangement of the party. Some of the strongest anti-Abbas members are from the North-west. However, it appears the problem is not Mr Abbas but Mr Gbajabimaila, whom several aspirants accused of betraying their support for him in 2019.

Therefore, there is a strong argument for the G7 to adopt a candidate from the North-west. Two candidates from the zone  Alhassan Doguwa and Abubakar Makki, had withdrawn from the race and now support Mr Abbas. Perhaps to take advantage of the opportunity, Mr Jaji recently officially announced his entry into the race in anticipation of the North-west argument. His closeness to Mr Tinubu has also been raised by his handlers, who argued that in the event that the rebellion succeeded, the president-elect would have no difficulty working with the Zamfara lawmaker.

The G7 has difficulty reaching a consensus. However, any chance of success for them depends on a united front against the candidate of their party.

A divided House

In the past weeks, the G7 went public with its fight with Mr Gbajabiamila  the days of speaking behind closed doors appear to be gone. Weeks ago, for the very first time, Mr Gbajabimaila spoke on the race and took shots at the aspirants, notably Mr Betara, who is considered the strongest in the G7.

If I dont support you today, we all have to fear Godit is for a reason, it is not because I dont like you, Mr Gbajabiamila said, adding that in 2019, he gave the most powerful committee to one of the aspirants in the race, who worked against him in 2015.

I gave the chairmanship of the most powerful committee in the house to one of the prime movers that worked against me and worked against the party. Not only did I give him that committee, I turned away and gave him a free hand to operate, he said.

Observers believe that the salvo was directed at Mr Betara because he is the Appropriation Committee Chairman, a position considered to be the most powerful in the National Assembly.

But the most visible fight has been with Mr Wase. Mr Gbajabimaila in the past weeks appears to be doing everything within his power to prevent a situation where his deputy would preside over the House again.

The friction came to a head some weeks ago, when the deputy speaker openly challenged Mr Gbajabiamila on the floor of the House.

While all these intrigues are ongoing, the deciding factor may come from outside the ruling party and the National Assembly as Mr Wike has promised to join the campaign for Mr Abbas after leaving office.

Mr Wike had since met with Mr Tinubu in Abuja and shunned the reconciliation meeting of his own party in Bauchi last week. Mr Abbas will be hoping that the former Rivers governors support for him is as significant as it was for Mr Tinubu in the presidential election.

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As part of its efforts to strengthen global health security, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the launch of a digital health initiative in collaboration with the European Commission.

A statement on the WHO website said the partnership serves as the foundation of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), which it noted will develop a wide range of digital products to deliver better health for all.

As part of the partnership, WHO said it would adopt the EUs system of digital COVID-19 certification in June 2023 to establish a global system that will help facilitate global mobility and protect citizens across the world from ongoing and future pandemics.

The global health organisation emphasised that digital COVID-19 certificates have been a key component in the EUs efforts to combat the pandemic.

Establishing global health system

The statement further noted that the new initiative is based on the EU and WHO Global Health Strategy on digital health, following the agreement reached on 30 November 2022.

The WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, was quoted to have explained that by building on the EUs highly successful digital certification network, the WHO aims to provide all member states access to an open-source digital health tool.

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He noted that accessing the digital tools will be based on the principles of equity, innovation, transparency and data protection and privacy, adding that the objective of new digital health products in development is to enable people to receive quality health services globally.

In her comments, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said the partnership marked a crucial milestone in the EU Global Health Strategys digital action plan.

Ms Kyriakides was quoted to have said: By using European best practices, we contribute to digital health standards and interoperability globally to the benefit of those most in need. It is also a powerful example of how alignment between the EU and the WHO can deliver better health for all in the EU and worldwide.

As the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, there is no better partner than the WHO to advance the work we started at the EU. It will further develop global digital health solutions.

Also, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, noted that the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate had set a global standard with its connection to 80 countries and territories.

Mr Breton emphasised that the EU certificate has been instrumental not only in combating the pandemic but also in facilitating international travel and tourism.

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The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Babatunde Salako, says establishing a Medical Research Council (MRC) will provide opportunities to solve health challenges locally.

Mr Salako said this while speaking during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Tuesday, noting that the research council will also address funding challenges restricting research in the country.

He said countries with existing medical research councils have opportunities to focus on the variance of health challenges.

Globally, the medical research council funds medical research and the advantage is that countries, where they exist, can actually focus on the variance of health challenges that are affecting the people and providing solutions, he said.

Mr Salako noted that health research contributes most to human development worldwide; hence the government must key into it.

He said: If you take care of health, you have probably taken care of all SDG indices because health is central to them.

A nation with good health and high life expectancy is likely to have a good healthy workforce that will build and improve the economy in all ramifications.

Donor funding

Mr Salako said Nigeria had always depended more on donor funding for health research activities.

He said about 70 per cent of medical research in the country was donor-funded, while the remaining 30 per cent comes from within.

He explained that the lack of adequate funding for medical research is responsible for the poor health indices in Nigeria, Africas most populous nation.

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The funding provided is not enough to address our challenges, perhaps the reason for our poor indices, maternal mortality, and under-five mortality, he said.

We know the diseases that are responsible for this, so if we have funding to address those challenges, we will certainly be able to involve the development of new drugs, new vaccines, new approaches to treatment, new prevention, and this can only come from evidence from research.

He said if the council was established, implemented, and well-funded, the country could focus directly on its health challenges.

If we have a council that is well funded that can focus on research, within the next five years, we will begin to see solutions to our problems, he said.

Investing in health

In his remark, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Tanko Sununu, said medical research was a multi-billion investment globally.

Mr Sununu said it would greatly benefit Nigerians if the government prioritises and invests in medical research.

He said the council when established, would coordinate funds for medical research in the country.

At the event, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nkiru Ukor, said the move to establish a research council is in line with WHOs mandate to power health and research.

Ms Ukor said the health agency would continue supporting NIMR and the Nigerian government.

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Zelenskyy calls on Holy See to contribute to implementation of Ukrainian Peace Formula

During a meeting in Kyiv with the Special Representative of Pope Francis, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation with the Holy See within the framework of the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

As Zelenskyy emphasized, Russia continues to commit horrific war crimes against Ukraine, the latest of which is the blasting of the Kakhovka HPP dam.

"This crime poses enormous threats and will have terrible consequences for people's lives and the environment," the President noted.

At the same time, the Head of State emphasized that the ceasefire and freezing of the conflict would not lead to peace.

"The enemy will take advantage of the pause to build up its capabilities and further attack, to conduct a new wave of crimes and terror. Russia must withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," Zelenskyy emphasized.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that only united efforts, diplomatic isolation and pressure on Russia can influence the aggressor and bring a just peace to the Ukrainian land.

According to the presidential press service, the parties discussed in detail the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the need to involve the widest possible range of countries, including the Global South, in the Global Peace Summit.

The Head of State called on the Holy See to contribute to the implementation of the Ukrainian peace plan: "We welcome the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but as the war continues on the territory of Ukraine, the algorithm for achieving peace can be Ukrainian only."

The President noted that the Holy See could make an effective contribution to the release of Ukrainian prisoners, the return of deported children and the restoration of justice.

For his part, the Cardinal expressed Pope Francis' solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assured them of the Holy See's readiness to join in finding ways to implement these humanitarian initiatives.

Matteo Zuppi handed over a letter from Pope Francis to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has called for the suspension of the establishment of Nigeria Air.

It also called for prosecuting those involved in the unveiling of the national carrier by the previous administration, describing the exercise as a fraud.

The resolutions were reached on Tuesday during the committees interactive session with some government officials and other relevant bodies in the sector at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The Chairman of the Committee, Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu), read the resolutions of the Committee at the end of the interaction.

The session was attended by members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), representatives of the Ministry of Aviation and others.

An aircraft purportedly belonging to the national carrier was unveiled by the immediate past Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport premises in Abuja on 26 May.

Not unveiling but a display of aspiration

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Meribole, explained that the unveiling done by the former minister was not an official launching but a display of aspiration. He added that the Ministry did not spend a dime on the event.

Mr Meribole admitted that Nigeria Air had not gotten the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) approval to operate as an airline.

We are in the process, we have not gotten an AOC for us to do official launching. But the processes are ongoing.

To the best of my knowledge, from 2017 till date, we have not spent up to N3.8 billion because that is the appropriation money. The appropriation is there. No kobo was approved by the ministry. No kobo was spent on the unveiling. The unveiling is aspirational to allow people to see, he said.

Speaking on the approval process, Interim Managing Director Nigeria Air, Dapo Olumide, also admitted that Nigeria Air had yet to get the AOC approval. He said the aircraft, painted the Nigeria Air colour, was a chartered flight that flew into Nigeria for 48 hours.

He stated that the unveiling was not an official launch because they had not started selling tickets. He added that the approval process is still in the first phase, with four more phases to go.

The aircraft was a chartered flight. Of course, as an airline, you can make the colour anything you like. If you are going for a destination wedding, and you chartered an airline to take your guest to Accra. If you pay, you can have the tail painted with the picture of your wife. It does not matter. It is a chartered flight.

The aircraft was to come to Nigeria, Abuja and return in 48 hours. It has nothing to do with the airlines launch; it is in phases. It has a process to go through with the regulators; we have phases one, two, three, four and five until you get the AOC certificate. Until then, you dont have an airline. This is not a launch of the airline, we have no airline, and we have not been selling tickets, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Airline Operators, Roland Iyayi accused the ministry of conniving with Ethiopian Airlines at the detriment of Nigeria and the local aviation industry.

Now we have a situation where supposedly shareholders are allocated shares. The Nigerian government has appropriated N85. 2 billion. How much has Ethiopian Airlines provided for 49 per cent? How much has SAHCO provided for 15 per cent?

The point is  what exactly are we talking about when youre talking about Nigeria Air? In one breath, we are told in the outline business case that it is a flag carrier. In another breath, we were told it was a national carrier. Theres a clear distinction between what a national carrier is and a flag carrier, and for all intents and purposes, what we have here is a flag carrier.

Nigerians should not be hoping to believe we have a national carrier. What were saying is we need accountability to tell us exactly what has been with all the funds appropriated since 2017 and 2016. And if indeed all the shareholders are party to this, how much have they contributed?

Resolutions of the Committee

At the end of the hearing, Mr Nnaji read a resolution of the committee, and it was carried by the members.

-The Committee, after careful evaluation of the issues on deliberation, is totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, Sen, Hadi Sirka, in going ahead to flag off the operations of Nigeria Air despite a standing court injunction against such, and without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline.

-We are equally irked by the role played by Ethiopian Airlines in this whole process. It does not speak well of the excellent brotherly relationship existing between our two nations.

-A careful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. We want to put on record that the Committee and, indeed, the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof.

-While the Committee and, indeed, the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact, having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria as a nation. However, such a process should be transparent and all-embracing. We, as a Committee, would not accept any attempt by any individual or group of individuals or organisations to hide under the project and siphon our commonwealths.

Consequently, the Committee hereby resolves to:

1. Direct the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flights operations and every other action with respect to Nigeria Air;

2. Urge our new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR President and C-in-C, to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a high-level Presidential Committee to undertake a holistic Review of the Processes of the whole Nigeria Air project and advice the government on the way forward.

3. Ensure that all individuals, groups, or organisations involved in the controversial shenanigan named Nigeria Air Take-Off are brought to book, prosecuted and sanctioned

4. Advice that the Federal Ministry of Aviation with its agency, the NCAA to designate some Nigerian Indigenous Airlines as Flag Carriers to take advantage of Bi-lateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) entered into by Nigeria, pending when a viable National Carrier comes on board.

5. In conclusion, looking at the total amount required to fully start the airline, which is put at $250,000,000, the Nigerian government and its citizenry can raise these funds without necessarily subjecting itself to the ridicule we have been exposed to by this recent episode. This is what we suggest the new administration look into.

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The planned meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the members-elect of the minority parties in the National Assembly has been postponed till Thursday.

The meeting was initially scheduled for Monday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the State House, Abuja. However, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that it had been postponed, though no reason was not given for the postponement.

Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member-elect from Imo State, confirmed the postponement of the planned meeting to this paper during an interview.

Instead, Mr Tinubu met with former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, former Governor and Senator-elect, David Umahi from Ebonyi State and Godswill Akpabio, the endorsed aspirant for the Senate Presidency at the Villa.

Mr Tinubu is backing Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State and the current senator for Kano North, Barau Jibrin, for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president.

In the House of Representatives, he has also endorsed Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna and Ben Kalu from Abia State for speaker and deputy speaker.

However, in the two chambers, Mr Tinubus preferred candidates are being challenged by other aspirants in the race. In the Senate, Osita Izunaso, Orji Kalu and Abdulaziz Yari have yet to accept the presidents decision.

In the House, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Muktar Betara, Yusuf Gagdi, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji, and Miriam Onuoha have formed a coalition to challenge Mr Abbas.

Mr Tinubus desire to meet the opposition lawmakers-elect ahead of the 13 June inauguration of both chambers may not be unconnected with his desire to ensure the victory of Messrs Akpabio, Jibrin, Abbas and Kalu due to the situation in both chambers where the ruling party does not have an absolute majority.

In the 109-member Senate, apart from the APC with 59 seats, there are six other opposition parties represented. They are PDP 36, LP 8, SDP 2, NNPP 2, YPP 1 and APGA 1, bringing the total to 50.

The situation is more dicey in the House, considering that the six minority parties have more seats than APC. Out of the 360-member lower chamber, APC has 178 seats while the minorities have the following; PDP 114 seats, LP 35, NNPP 19, APGA 5, ADC 2, SDP 2 and YPP 1, totalling 182.

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The meeting between the federal government and the labour unions ended on Monday with a resolution to reconvene on 19 June to agree on the implementation framework of resolutions reached.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who led the government side, disclosed this at the end of a meeting between labour and government representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the meeting agreed on a seven-point resolution to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Nigerians.

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.

The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing, Gbajabiamila said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane, compressed to less than 1 per cent of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure.

It is the cleanest burning fuel operating today and brings about less vehicle maintenance and longer engine life.

Mr Gbajabiamila added that meeting also agreed to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nations refineries.

The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.

All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.

He stressed that the NLC agreed to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations as well as continue the ongoing engagements and secure closure on the resolutions.

The resolution was endorsed by the Presidents and Secretaries of the NLC and TUC, and Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Employment.

The federal government had earlier obtained a court order restraining Labour from embarking on a nationwide industrial action on Wednesday.

(NAN)

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday issued a proclaimation for the innauguration of the 10th Assembly of the State House of Assembly.

In a tweet by the governors chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, Mr Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying, Members-elect, ladies and gentlemen, in exercise of the powers conferred on me, I hereby proclaim the 10th Assembly of the LSHA.

The state House of Assembly has 40 members.

The ruling APC has 38 of the members while the Labour Party has the other two members.

After the inauguration, Mudashiru Obasa, representing the Agege 1 Constituency, who was re-elected for the sixth term, emerged the speaker of the house again.

Mr Akosile said the speaker was nominated by Temitope Adewale, the representative of the Ifako-Ijaiye 1 constituency.

This is coming days after the governor was sworn-in for the second term in office at the Tafawa Balawa Square.

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A Nigerian man who hawks agidi (corn flour jellos) on the streets of Uyo, the South-south state of Akwa Ibom, has received a N350,000 (about $500) in financial support from a US-based lecturer.

This is the first time he is getting such help, he said.

The agidi seller, Moses Eteng, is a familiar figure in Uyo because of his unique dress  he wears a neat suit with a well-knotted tie every day he goes out to hawk agidi inside a tray on his head, which is what attracted Obasesam Okoi, an assistant professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, US, who stumbled on his photos on Facebook.

Unique marketing strategy

PREMIUM TIMES last year reported on Mr Etengs unique marketing strategy and how it endeared him to many.

The wraps of agidi are carefully stacked in the tray; the price for each is N100. A full tray is about N20,000, according to the report.

Except for the tray  filled with agidi  which he carries on his head, one may be tempted to think that Mr Eteng works with a corporate firm.

To sell agidi in Nigeria is considered a low-level business, and those hawking it are usually dressed in less than attractive ways.

What attracted me to him was his creativity to dress decently in a suit while selling agidi. That made his product attractive to the point that I thought this guy could be encouraged to scale up in his business, Mr Okoi told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Okois admiration for Mr Eteng increased sharply when the agidi hawker told him he preferred a loan instead of some free money.

READ ALSO:

I have never heard that. He told me he wanted a loan. That means he has a sense of responsibility. He is accountable, Mr Okoi told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Eteng told this newspaper that he preferred getting the money as a loan, not a gift, because it would compel him to work harder to repay it.

The N350,000 was eventually wired into Mr Etengs bank account as a gift, both men confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Eteng said he would use the money to set up a kiosk where people can easily visit to buy his agidi instead of leaving potential customers to wonder how to trace him.

But setting up a kiosk would not stop him from continuing to move around with some quantity of the agidi so that people will know that I still exist, he said.

Mr Eteng currently produces 300 to 350 wraps of agidi daily and does not intend to increase production immediately until he sees how the market reacts to the new introduction, he said.

A time will come when I will have other kiosks in different strategic points in the city, he said.

Educated agidi is the special name people call Mr Etengs corn flour jellos because of the mans dress and neatness, and he has taken advantage of this to register his business as Educated Agidi with Nigerias Corporate Affairs Commission.

He has taken his marketing strategies further by adding his customers to a WhatsApp group he set up to ease communication with them. He announces when the agidi is ready, takes orders from customers and then outsources the delivery to a local logistics firm.

But there is a snag.

Sometimes the delivery guys do disappoint me. There is a way you call them, and they say they are busy, Mr Eteng said. The challenge I have now is a delivery bike.

Several people who patronised Mr Eteng have attested to the delicious taste of his agidi.

Key business lessons

Apart from Mr Etengs unique marketing strategies, his ability to start small and grow his business is a key lesson in entrepreneurship.

One thing about business is that you dont start big, Mr Eteng told PREMIUM TIMES. It is how you manage the small scale that will determine how big the business will grow.

Whatever thing you know how to do, focus on it, hold it tight, dream about it, remain consistent and do it better to stand out, he added.

Mr Okoi shares similar sentiments

The key lesson for entrepreneurs here is that first, you need a vision to succeed as an entrepreneur, and you need to start small. A lot of folks have big dreams, but they want to start from the top.

When I spoke with this guy (Eteng), he has a big dream, but then he wants to start small, Mr Okoi told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Eteng is a self-sponsored secondary school graduate from Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State. He began selling agidi for his aunt in 2008 till 2018. He started his own business selling agidi in July 2018.

I have done this business for 14 years (now). My 14 years in Akwa Ibom State make me 14 years in this business. I started by serving someone. I served a woman for ten years, from 2008 to 2018 when I left her.

I decided not to stay with her again, so she took me back to my village. I had to gather money and come back to Akwa Ibom. When I came back, I started the business by myself.

Then, I was still in school, and this is the business I used to train myself from my SS1 to SS3. That is how I started the business, Mr Eteng told PREMIUM TIMES last year.

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Police in Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria, said on Tuesday that two persons were killed and a police officer injured in a communal crisis in the state.

The crisis is between the Abaomege and Oshinkwo communities in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Onome Ono, in a statement in Abakaliki, said the deceased were killed while returning home after the close of work on Tuesday.

There were shots at the Abaomege- Oshinkwo communal crisis area by Oshinkwo warriors.

The victims were rushed to the hospital. Two of the victims were confirmed dead, but the policeman is responding to treatment, She explained.

Ms Ono, a superintendent of police, said the police had launched a search for the fleeing suspects.

A relative of one victim, who refused to disclose his name, decried the lingering crisis in the area and called for the intervention of the security agents.

The police and security personnel should step up operations in the area. The crisis has done more harm than good to my people and my family in particular.

Ebonyi has one of the worst histories of violent communal clashes in Nigeria. The crises are often linked to disputes over land ownership.

In January last year, four people were reportedly killed during a clash between Ukawu and Isinkwo, Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

A protracted communal crisis in the Ezza and Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has led to the loss of several lives.

PREMIUM TIMES, in June last year, reported that the bloodshed in Ohaukwu was politically motivated and that residents were taxed to kill their neighbours and another report on how one community was sacked because of conflict.

(NAN)

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged and acquitted a former Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Stephen Oronsaye, of N190 million pension fraud charges.

The judge similarly discharged and acquitted Mr Oronsayes co-defendant, Osarenkhoe Afe, the managing director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

But the court convicted Mr Afes firm  Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited  and another belonging to the convicted pension thief, Abduralsheed Maina -Drew Investment and Construction Company. The firms were said to have received proceeds of crime.

The case was filed against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2015.

EFCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2011, used the firms and diverted billions of naira in public funds through procurement projects purportedly aimed at reforming the federal civil service pension.

Messrs Oronsaye and Afe, Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited faced amended 22-count charge.

The trial of Mr Oronsaye and his co-defendants started over six years ago, with his first arraignment in July 2015.

It passed through two judges before it was reassigned to the third judge, Inyang Ekwo, who brought it to a close in January and initially fixed 5 April for judgement.

The judgement was subsequently adjourned until Monday.

Judgement for Mr Oronsaye

In his judgment, Justice Ekwo held that the prosecution failed to provide enough evidence to warrant Mr Oronsayes conviction.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Oronsaye was arraigned alongside Osarenkhoe Afe (2nd defendant), Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited (3rd defendant), on a 49-count charge.

But the charges were later amended and reduced to 22 counts after the anti-graft commission separated the parts involving a former head of the Presidential Pension Taskforce Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was then at large.

Mr Maina was later charged separately by the EFCC and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment in November 2021.

Three companies  Cluster Logistic Limited (4th defendant), Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited (5th defendant), and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited (6th defendant) were also joined in the charge preferred against Mr Oronsaye by the EFCC.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants had, between 2010 and 2011, used the firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud.

The EFCC accused Mr Orosanye and the others of using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances and other schemes to siphon money from accounts containing pensioners funds.

The commission also tendered a report of the Auditor-General of the Federation on the Federal Governments pension accounts which indicted Mr Oronsaye and other individuals of wrongdoing.

Justice Ekwo held that he observed that the PW18 tendered Exhibits PW18  C and PW18  C1 (which were extrajudicial statements of one Robert Ikazabor, the alleged proprietor of Innovative Solutions, which was at the epicentre of the case).

He said the maker of the extra-judicial statements was not brought as a witness during the trial.

It is pertinent to say that Exhibits P4718-C and PW18  Ci have no evidential value without the oral testimony of the maker of those statements.

The defendants,, in this case, were denied the opportunity to cross-examine the maker of Exhibits PW18  C and PW18  C1, he said.

He said it was the presence of oral evidence that strengthened the documentary evidence; hence, Exhibits PW18  C and PW18  Ci were bereft of evidential value, and the court would not ascribe any to them.

The judge also held that the prosecution, by the evidence of PW18 and PW2O, only went after Mr Oronsaye and his co-defendant, Mr Afe.

According to him, the manner of investigation confirms the evidence of the 1st defendant as DW1 when he said his ordeal with the EFCC started when he supported the Executive Bill for the creation of an Independent Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit outside the EFCC which was presented to the National Assembly in 2013, which Bill the EFCC opposed.

It was after the Bill was passed and assented that he (Oronsaye) received an invitation from the EFCC that there was a petition on pension fraud against him.

He also told this Court that as at the time of this proceeding, no such petition was shown to him for him to respond, Mr Ekwo said.

He said where an allegation against a person was predicated on a petition, it is the constitutional right of the person to be availed of such petition for him to respond.

Failure to do so breaches the constitutional right of the person to a fair hearing and has the effect of annulling the proceeding based on such a petition, he said.

The judge held that the evidence of Mr Oronsaye, as 1st defence witness (DW1), could mean that the entire investigation and the subsequent arraignment was a witch-hunt and malicious prosecution.

The prosecution needed to controvert this evidence but failed to do so. Failure to controvert the evidence of DW1 in this respect makes the evidence credible, and this Court will rely on it in taking a final decision, he said.

He, therefore, said he found that from the prosecution evidence of PW1, PW2, PW4, PW5, PW6, PW7, PW8, PW9, PW10, PW11, PW1i2, PW13, PW14, PW15, PW15, PW16, PW18, PW19, PW20 and PW21, no credible evidence had been adduced by the EFCC linking Mr Oronsaye with the offences alleged against him in counts 1, 2, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32, 34, and 42 of the charge sheet.

I make an order discharging and acquitting him, the judge ruled.

Co-defendant acquitted

In the case against Mr Afe, the second defendant, Mr Ekwo recalled that the court, on 6 October 2020, made an order after trial-within-trial rejecting the extra statements he purportedly made on 24 February 2011 and 16 March 2011 because they were not obtained voluntarily.

He said in Mr Afes evidence as DW2, which the EFCC did not controvert, that the commissions operatives invaded his house on 24 February 2011.

And that his properties, files and documents were carted away by the EFCC, and he was also arrested on that day and has not seen those properties, files and documents since then.

The judge said Section 36 (6) (b) of the Nigerian provided that every person charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to time and adequate facilities to prepare his defence.

I am of the opinion that taking away the properties, files and documents by the EFCC and not returning the files and documents to the 2nd defendant to use them during these proceedings denied the 2nd defendant of adequate facility for his defence in this case.

It is a breach of his constitutional right. It appears to me that the prosecution, by the manner it has dealt with the 2nd defendant, has aimed to obtain his conviction by all means.

A criminal proceeding in breach of a defendants constitutional right is liable to be set aside, and I so hold, he said.

Mr Ekwo consequently made an order setting aside the proceedings against Mr Afe.

The 2nd defendant Is hereby discharged and acquitted, he said.

Unlike Messrs Oronsaye and Afe, Companies jailed

On the case against the 3rd defendant  Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited  the judge said he found that it had been incriminated by the evidence of PW17 of the inflow into the account of the company, part of which the sum of N40 million was withdrawn in cash by Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina.

This evidence was not rebutted. The case against the 3rd defendant with respect to counts 22 and 24 have been proved by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt, and I so hold.

I,, therefore, find the 3rd defendant guilty as charged, he declared.

In the case against the 6th defendant  Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited  a company owned by the convicted Abdulrasheed Maina, the judge said: I find that it has been incriminated by the evidence of PW6, PW7, PW18, and PW20.

The case against the 6th defendant with respect to count 48 has been proved by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt, and I so hold.

I,, therefore, find the 6th defendant guilty as charged.

This is the judgment of this court.

(NAN)

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Monday, said they will no longer proceed with the nationwide strike planned for Wednesday.

The resolution was contained in a notice signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero; the President of the TUC, Festus Osifo and Kachollom Daju, permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The decision came after a meeting between the federal government and the labour unions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the notice seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the parties agreed that the NLC will suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

Following the engagements between the federal government, TUC and the NLC, with the intervention of the Speaker, House of Representatives to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS, resolutions were reached that the federal government, the TUC and the NLC would establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program, the notice said.

The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG Conversion program earlier agreed

with Labor centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.

The Labour centres and the federal government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The Labour centres and the federal government to review and establish the framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nations refineries.

The federal government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country. All other demands submitted by the TUC to the federal government will be assessed by the joint committee.

Consequently, the parties also agreed that the NLC will suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

The TUC and the NLC are to continue the ongoing engagements with the federal government and secure closure on the resolutions (above).

The Labour Centers and the federal government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework, the notice said.

The NLC and other workers unions had threatened to embark on strike to protest the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government.

Earlier on Monday, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja ordered the labour unions to halt the strike they planned to embark on.

Olufunke Anuwe, the judge, gave the order after hearing an ex parte request from the federal government.

Being an ex parte hearing, it implies labour representatives and their lawyers were absent during the hearing.

In her ruling, the judge restrained the NLC and the TUC, the respondents in the case, from embarking on the planned strike action, which was expected to commence on Wednesday.

President Bola Tinubu had, in his inaugural address on 29 May, announced the removal of fuel subsidy. This is a stance he had also maintained in his campaign as a candidate during the election.

Following the announcement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) directed its outlets nationwide to sell fuel between N480 and N570 per litre, an almost 200 per cent increase from the initial price below N200.

The hike immediately triggered an increase in transportation fares and prices of goods and services by various percentages.

Subsidy

The government has repeatedly said the subsidy on petrol was unsustainable due to the amount spent. Over N4 trillion was used to subsidise petrol last year, more than the government spent on education and healthcare combined.

This year, the immediate past government of Muhammadu Buhari only provided budgetary allocation for petrol subsidy until 30 June after saying it would leave the incoming administration to make a final decision on the matter.

However, critics of the fuel subsidy removal argue that it will further weaken the purchasing power of Nigerians and impoverish more citizens in a country where almost half of the population is poor.

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A former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has vowed to go on appeal over his suit seeking the arrest and prosecution of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday dismissed the suit which Mr Keyamo, then a spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), filed in January in the build-up to the 25 February presidential poll.

The judge, James Omotosho, described the suit as frivolous and vexatious.

He dismissed the suit with an award of N10 million fine against Mr Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The judge ordered him to pay N5 million to each of Atiku and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

But Mr Keyamo rejected the judgement on Monday.

We are immediately filing an appeal against the said decision to the Court of Appeal as the struggle on this issue continues, Mr Keyamo said in a statement released on his behalf by his law firm on Monday.

The statement signed by the assistant head of the law firm, John Ainetor, said Mr Keyamo disagreed with the judges reasoning that the law enforcement agencies he asked the court to compel to investigate Atiku were not given enough time.

Earlier today (Monday), a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case filed by Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, against the candidate of the PDP in the last Presidential Election, Alhaji ATIKU Abubakar over the SPV saga principally because the court was of the opinion that the law-enforcement agencies were not given enough time to commence investigations before the suit was filed, amongst other sundry reasons.

Our client respectfully disagrees with the reasons for the said decision because the law-enforcement agencies did not indicate their willingness to commence investigations, even if they were given more time. We want to establish a legal principle that the society cannot wait as infinitum for law-enforcement agencies to do their statutory duties. The suit was designed to prompt the agencies to show their READINESS to investigate, the statement which Mr Keyamo tweeted via his verified Twitter handle read in part.

Suit, judgement

Mr Keyamo had in the suit through his counsel, Festus Ukpe, sought an order of the court to compel the Code Of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC to invite or arrest Atiku, Nigerias former vice president.

He asked the court to order the agencies to investigate and prosecute Atiku based on the claims contained in an affidavit deposed to by one Michael Achimugu, alleging that Atiku used a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to corruptly enrich himself while he was Vice President of Nigeria.

In response to the suit, Atiku, through his counsel Mr Ozekhome, raised a preliminary objection to the suit, contending that Mr Keyamo lacked the basis to institute the said suit, having failed to disclose what he suffered over and beyond other members of the public.

Mr Ozekhome further contended in his written brief that Mr Keyamo did not disclose any wrong done to him by Atiku or what damage he had suffered. He described the former minister as a busybody and meddlesome interloper, as the entire suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action whatsoever.

Arguing the matter before the judge, Benson Igbanoi, a lawyer from Mr Ozekhomes law firm, also argued that the suit constituted a gross abuse of office, the plaintiff being a public officer occupying a public office and using public funds to file and prosecute same.

He further contended that the suit was instituted in bad faith; frivolous; vexatious and therefore a waste of judicial time.

Judgement

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the judge, Mr Omotosho, agreed with Mr Ozekhome in his judgement that Mr Keyamo lacked the locus standi (the legal right) to institute the suit.

This, the judge said, was because Mr Keyamo failed to establish any special interest over and beyond other members of the public, or show any damage suffered by him.

The court went further to hold that Mr Keyamos letter to the CCB, ICPC, and EFCC (2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively in the suit) in which he gave them an ultimatum of 72 hours to arrest, investigate and prosecute Atiku, was done in bad faith, as the agencies were not in any way his errand boys.

The judge queried if 72 hours were ever sufficient to investigate and commence the prosecution.

Therefore, the court ruled that the action of the plaintiff in rushing to file the suit was a move done in bad faith, more so coming from a lawyer of his standing.

The court also frowned on the unconscionable manner the plaintiff behaved as public institutions must be regarded and protected.

The judge commended the EFCC and ICPC for showing restraint and not allowing themselves to take orders from Keyamo (the plaintiff) as if they were his servants.

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Ukraine insists on convening a meeting of the UN Security Council and intends to appeal to the International Criminal Court after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP), President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"We have talked with the EU, NATO, the OSCE, and we are also convening a UN Security Council [meeting]. And we will also appeal to representatives of the International Criminal Court," he said.

"I really want a reaction from countries that pay special attention to environmental issues. From Asia, Latin America," Zelenskyy added.

"In our opinion, this is a crime. The Prosecutor General's Office has already registered. Classification today is ecocide," he said.

According to him, the information about the mining of the Kakhovka HPP "was from our intelligence, we then shared this information with partners."

"The Ministry of the Interior was preparing for the relevant things, and the prime minister understood how he would act. We understand that from 35 to 38 settlements will be flooded," the President said.

According to him, "we understand that there will be big problems, they already exist and therefore we were preparing for the supply of drinking water. There will be big problems with drinking water even where it is not flooded. Throughout the region, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

"It is clear that the consequences of the tragedy will be clear about a week after the water recedes," he said.
Nigeria and other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as the Non-OPEC members have agreed to cut production volumes to ensure global oil market stability.

The agreement was reached at the 35th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting of OPEC held in Vienna, Austria on 4 June.

The Nigerian delegation was led by Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who was also confirmed OPEC Governor for Nigeria at the meeting in Vienna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OPEC and its allies have agreed to cut global oil production by 1.393 million barrels per day, reducing Nigerias oil production quota by 20.7 per cent.

Mr Aduda said Nigeria, Congo and Angola agreed that the highest production volumes of the last six months (November 2022  April 2023) be used as the basis for the determination of their 2024 production quota.

This is subject to a review in November at the second annual meeting of the JMMC.

However, the current OPEC quota would be maintained till the end of 2023.

This implies that Nigeria can ramp up its production up to its current quota of 1742 Thousand Barrels Per Day (KB/D) and subsequently be capped at 10 per cent less as its quota for 2024 subject to verification by independent secondary sources, he said.

READ ALSO: OPEC extends oil production cut

Mr Aduda expressed confidence that the security intervention under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu would enable the restoration of Nigerias production to the 1580KB/D crude oil only.

This, he said would be complemented by condensate of about 400KB/D ultimately upping Nigerias crude oil and condensate production to about Two Million Barrels per day in 2024.

(NAN)

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The Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo, Hope Uzodinma, says the forum is behind the aspirant for House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna state)

In a statement by the Abbas Campaign Team on Monday, Mr Uzodinma also said that the governors resolved to support Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) for Deputy Speaker.

According to the statement, Mr Uzodinma made the disclosure when he hosted the campaign team of the Abbas/Kalu joint ticket, led by a group of lawmakers from different parties under the auspices of Joint Task 10th Assembly Coalition.

He said the party has made the best choice of presiding officers for the House, and the least the governors could do was to ensure that the partys preference and vision are actualised come 13 June.

The governor commended members of a coalition who are drawn from the eight political parties that won seats in the 10th House, saying they made the right decision to support the joint ticket.

I congratulate you once more for the success you achieve in the last election and to commend you for coming together to form an alliance towards the speakership race.

You have taken a good decision to support these two gentlemen. What we are practicing today is democracy and APC is the ruling party and you have a responsibility now to help the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed.

We all know that the most sensitive arm of government is the legislature and if we make a mistake with it, the other two arms will be affected.

He urged aggrieved aspirants to close ranks with the partys preferred candidates and work together to determine a purposeful legislature for the interest of Nigeria.

Earlier, Mr Abbas who is the APC preferred candidate commended the forum for their support.

He reiterated his readiness to ensure a united 10th Assembly that would work towards actualising the programmes and policies of the government.

On his part, Mr Kalu said that his candidature was not an individual recognition, but a mandate of the entire South-east.

He said that the zone had been recognised to be on the new team of leaders upon whom the task of providing positive change in the lives of Nigerians has been entrusted.

NAN reports that on 8 May, the APC National Working Committee zoned the positions of the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly to the South-south and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to North-West.

The ruling party has also agreed on a consensus as the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, has been anointed as the next Senate President of the 10th Assembly, while Mr Abass from Kaduna State has also been anointed as the Speaker of the House.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve him appointing 20 special advisers to run his administration.

The request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at the plenary session on Tuesday.

The correspondence is the first from Mr Tinubu to the Senate since he assumed office as Nigerias president on 29 May.

In the letter, the president was silent on the names of the people he wanted to appoint as special advisers and their portfolios.

After it was read, the Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East), moved that the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President and C-in-C for the approval of the Senate to appoint 20 Special Advisers.

The Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda, seconded the motion.

The Senate, therefore, approved the presidents request to appoint the 20 special advisers.

Mr Tinubu recently appointed a former Benue State governor, George Akume, as secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his chief of staff.

The current ninth Senate will wind down next week. Thus, subsequent appointments by Mr Tinubu will be considered by the 10th Senate, which will be inaugurated on 13 June.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, awarded N20 million fine against Chuks Nwachukwu, a lawyer representing five FCT residents in a suit seeking an order to stop the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, struck out the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi, the legal right, to institute the matter.

I make an order striking out this action on grounds of lack of locus standi of the plaintiffs, lack of jurisdiction of the court and failure of the plaintiffs to demonstrate to this court that similar subject is not pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which proceedings are on-going, he declared.

Justice Ekwo consequently ordered the lawyer to pay the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), listed as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case, the sum of N10 million each.

He directed that until Mr Nwachukwu paid off the N20 million fine, no further action should be taken on the matter.

The judge, who condemned Mr Nwachukwus comments in the media, said based on his interview, if the lawyer was in the courtroom, he would have been barred from practising until he appears before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practise the profession.

But since he is not in court, I made an order, directing the registrar to forward all the processes to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practise the profession, he declared.

He also directed that the order of the court be served on the chief registrar of the Supreme Court, the AGF and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five FCT residents; Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Uche, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had filed the suit through their lawyer, for an order of the court to stop the inauguration of Mr Tinubu and his vice, Kassim Shettima, slated for 29 May.

The plaintiffs had sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 and filed on 28 April, the plaintiffs averred that Mr Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in the FCT.

They, therefore, sought an order of court restraining the CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the 25 February presidential election as president or vice president, among other prayers.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo said upon reading the affidavit attached to the application, I can discern that the averments thereof are merely the voice of Esau and the hands of Jacob.

It means that the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel for the plaintiffs instigated this suit and merely got the plaintiffs to stand in as parties while he handles the suit as a lawyer.

This is unprofessional conduct on the part of the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel of the plaintiffs.

It is unfortunate that lawyers like Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel to the plaintiffs continue to engage in this sort of activity by procuring innocent citizens to act as fronts in litigations which are actually their personal cases.

This is done with such impunity and lack of fear of the consequence to the chagrin and ruin of the reputation of the legal system in this country.

It is so because the learned counsel has made himself to believe that he can flout the Rule of Profession Conduct for Legal Practitioners without any consequence.

On the whole, I find that this action is premised on recklessness, frivolity and complete lack of knowledge of elementary principle of law as it relates to the Constitution and Electoral Act, 2022, he said.

According to the judge, in my opinion, this action was willfully initiated to not just circumvent but to overreach the ongoing proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The aim thereof which cannot be denied, is to plunge this country into unprecedented constitutional anarchy capable of causing bloodshed and genocide.

The plaintiffs and their lawyer ought to be deprecated in the strongest term for this type of adventure and I so do, Justice Ekwo declared.

NAN reports that Mr Nwachukwu had granted an interview in the media, accusing the judge of shying away from delivering the judgment in his suit.

The lawyer, who accused the judge of deliberately abandoning his duty, threatened to sue him up to the Supreme Court.

But Justice Ekwo, before delivering the judgment, said he could not hear the matter on 26 May because he was on official duty.

NAN had earlier reported that the judge had been away for some days due to an official engagement.

The development had forced the court to adjourn cases, including high-profile and election-related matters, before it.

This was also contrary to the rumour going around that Justice Ekwos absence to hear the suit on 26 May was a ploy to comply with alleged standing order handed down by the FHC Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, to all judges of the courts divisions across the country, directing them not to entertain cases bothering on presidential election or swearing-in of Messrs Tinubu and Shettima.

NAN reported that a sister court presided over by Justice James Omotosho had, on the same 26 May, delivered a judgment in another suit filed by three applicants seeking to stop the swearing-in of Tinubu on May 29 as fifth Nigerias democratic president.

The judge had awarded a total sum of N17 million against the three applicants; Praise Isaiah, Paul Isaac and Anongu Moses, including their lawyer, Daniel Elombah, for filing a suit considered to be frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court processes.

(NAN)

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating his access to vital electoral documents to enable him to prove his case against President Bola Tinubu.

This, the opposition figure said, is despite paying INEC N6 million for the certification of the documents.

Atiku, who came second in the February presidential election, is challenging the victory of Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The electoral commission had on 1 March declared Mr Tinubu president-elect after he garnered the highest number of lawful votes cast in the election.

But Atiku challenges the outcome of the polls, citing manipulation of election results by INEC in favour of Mr Tinubu.

At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, Atikus lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede, said INECs refusal to provide electoral documents to his legal team was frustrating their suit.

Mr Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had sought to tender some results sheets from 10 out of 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State to substantiate their case against Mr Tinubu.

The documents used for the conduct of the 25 February presidential poll are those from  Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu and Igalamela Odolu were sought to be tendered by Mr Jegede on behalf of his client.

But the five-member court panel chaired by Haruna Tsammani said it was improper to tender such sensitive documents piecemeal.

Mr Tsammani explained that the court would have difficulty marking and numbering the documents as exhibits.

In his response, Mr Jegede blamed INEC for refusing to supply the documents wholesale to Atikus legal team.

He informed the court that Atiku had paid N6 million as a cost to supply true certified copies of electoral documents. Yet, the electoral umpire allegedly refuses to make the poll records available.

The lawyer disclosed that Atikus team was left with no option but to subpoena officials of the electoral commission to bring the required documents before the court.

Mr Jegede sought a 24-hour adjournment to further request the necessary documents from INEC.

INECs lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, did not object to the request for an adjournment.

Similarly, Mr Tinubus lawyer, Wole Olanipekun and APCs lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, both SANs, did not oppose the adjournment of the case.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the case until 7 June for further hearing.

Background

Since the court began hearing Atikus petition against Mr Tinubu on 30 May, the PDP presidential candidate has called 10 witnesses to prove his case.

Similarly, Atikus legal team, headed by Chris Uche, a SAN, has tendered dozens of electoral documents comprising results sheets and data printouts of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines from states across Nigeria.

One of Atikus major prayers is for the court to nullify Mr Tinubus victory and declare him president.

Atiku is also urging the court to order a fresh poll should it refuse to declare him president.

READ ALSO: Court awards N10 million fine against Keyamo for filing frivolous suit against Atiku

Meanwhile, the Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is equally challenging Mr Tinubus victory.

Mr Obi is alleging electoral fraud against INEC and Mr Tinubu.

But Mr Tinubu has since been inaugurated as Nigerias 16th leader on 29 May, while the court continues to hear the suits.

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A professor of Social and Environmental Forestry at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Opeyemi Ajewole, was reportedly shot dead on Monday by yet-to-be-identified individuals.

The universitys spokesperson, Joke Akinpelu, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on the phone. She, however, declined to confirm whether the deceased was murdered or not, saying it was the responsibility of the police to do that.

We learnt that he was shot yesterday, and hes dead, but we are not the one to confirm. The university cannot confirm that he was killed. Its the police that can confirm, she said in a telephone conversation.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the police had confirmed the death of the 61-year-old professor and that they promised to provide further information.

The matter is under investigation. Updates would be provided accordingly, the spokesperson for the Oyo State command, Adewale Osifeso, told NAN.

Another lecturer kidnapped in October

In October 2022, another lecturer at the university, Adigun Agbaje, was abducted by gunmen along the Lagos-Ibadan highway in an operation that reportedly claimed the life of a police officer.

Two students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, were kidnapped alongside Mr Agbaje.

READ ALSO:

Mr Agbaje of the Department of Political Science in UI was at the time said to be on sabbatical at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, in Ogun State.

About Ajewole

Until his death, Mr Ajewole was a senior lecturer at the university. He held a PhD in Forest Economics, an M.Phil. in Forest Economics, M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, and B.Sc in Forest Resources Management, all from the University of Ibadan.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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Pauline Tallen, former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, has denied involvement in the alleged N2 billion fraud in her ministry.

She said her probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was triggered by a false alarm, which she attributed to those uncomfortable with her support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

Ms Tallen said this when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, saying that a false alarm triggered the investigation by the Economic and Economic Crimes Commission (EFCC).

There was no money missing anywhere in the ministry that I superintended for four years, be it the alleged N500 million or N2 billion being reported in some sections of the media.

The allegation and investigations were prompted by a false allegation by an individual that said that I collected N500 million meant for the African First Ladies Mission Complex (AFLM) headquarters in Abuja but failed to disburse it, she said.

Ms Tallen was quizzed at the Abuja office of EFCC last Friday, less than one week after he left office on 29 May.

How N500 million was spent

Confirming that N500 million was actually released to the ministry by the Ministry of Finance, Ms Tallen said the money was disbursed as received, with documentary evidence.

Its a price that one must pay for holding a leadership position. Last month, someone accused me of collecting N500 million meant for AFLM but that I failed to disburse it.

It sounded strange to me because government funds are never transferred to the personal bank accounts of serving ministers. The minister is not the accounting officer of the ministry. It is the Permanent Secretary.

I have all the documentary evidence here with me, Ill show you if you dont mind. The documents clearly state how the money was received and disbursed, she said.

READ ALSO:

The former minister added that the money was support by the Ministry of Finance for the AFLPM, which was released through the Ministry of Women Affairs since AFLPM was not an agency.

I was never involved in the process of the disbursement of money. The two presidential aides and the ministrys Permanent Secretary were the ones involved, and due process was followed in the disbursement. The documentary proof is there.

This similar false claim on the same issue had earlier been made against an official in the presidency. It was an embarrassing, messy and scandalous allegation, which involved calling the EFCC into the matter, so Im also another victim of such a wild and frivolous allegation, Ms Tallen said.

Smear campaign

She said she later discovered, based on investigation, that she was targeted for a smear campaign because she supported the Adamawa governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisha Binani, during the 2023 primaries.

The support, according to the former minister, did not go down well with some vested interests in the election.

She said it was not long after the election that the EFCC invited her office staff, as well as her daughter, to its office for questioning.

As a matter of fact, that was what prompted me to go to the EFCC office to find out what was amiss.

They never invited me nor arrested me, as was widely speculated in a section of the media. I went there on my own accord to confront the issue and resolve it once and for all, she added.

Ms Tallen said her support for Binani was purely official and in line with the mandate of her office as the Minister of Women Affairs, which entailed encouraging, empowering, supporting and protecting the interests of women to enable them to rise to certain levels or positions.

I thought everyone, especially women, would champion the campaign of Binanis ambition to be Adamawa and Nigerias first female governor so that we would make history.

I wanted our administration to break the jinx of a woman not being able to become a governor so that President Muhammadu Buhari will go down in history as achieving that feat, she said.

(NAN)

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to appear before it on 19 July over a 53 million dollar-judgement debt arising from the Pars Club refund.

Inyang Ekwo, who gave the order during the hearing of a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1193/2017, insisted that the court would not hear Mr Emefieles motion for stay until he appeared in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ekwo had, on 20 October 2022, ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on 18 January over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgement debt in favour of a lawyer, Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

However, the 18 January proceedings could not go on as scheduled. This prompted the court to adjourn the case until 20 March subsequently.

Mr Agi had sued Linas International Ltd, Minister of Finance and CBN, to court as judgment debtors, following an application for garnishee made by him as judgment creditor in the case.

The suit is one in a flurry of legal actions associated with the federal governments refund to states and local governments the amounts of funds said to have been over-deducted from their accounts to offset Paris Club and London between 1995 and 2002.

Linas International Ltd and its promoter, Ned Nwoko, had initiated the first significant suit, which culminated in a court judgement awarding them huge amounts of money for their roles in helping states and local government areas to discover the excessive deductions from their accounts.

Since then, countless entities, lawyers, and other professionals have surfaced, claiming to have provided one form of consultancy services or the other to recover the money for the states and local governments.

Mr Agi, through his suit, seeks enforcement of a judgement that he obtained against Linas International Ltd for his role in helping the firm to secure the recovery of the funds.

Hearing

Upon resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Agis counsel, Ayodele Arotiowa, said Mr Emefiele had yet to comply with the courts order compelling him to appear in court.

Audu Anuga, SAN, who appeared for Mr Emefiele and CBN, however, pointed out that the court did not sit on the previous date scheduled for a hearing.

There is an intervening circumstance which we have brought to the courts attention by filing an affidavit of fact, he said.

The judge then asked when Mr Anuga filed the appeal.

The appeal was filed on 28 October 2022, the lawyer responded.

He said besides the appeal, they also filed a motion for a stay of execution.

READ ALSO:

Mr Anuga, who said the appeal had been entered, said that was why they filed an affidavit of fact.

Mr Arotiowa said though they had been served with the processes, they had also responded.

Mr Anuga told the court that they had a pending application to set aside those order nisi, the preliminary order usually issued by the court to set the stage for a final one in monetary judgement enforcement proceedings.

Mr Ekwo then said that it was because of his order that Mr Emefiele should appear in court that prompted them to go on appeal so that he does not appear in this court.

That is exactly what you have done. So, we, the trial court, cannot do our job?

I am not going to hear you on any application until Mr Godwin Emefiele appears in court.

Therefore, I am going to give a date for you to report to the court on compliance with the order of the court.

Upon being aware that the motion for stay of execution is a live matter in this court, this court shall not hear that application unless and until Mr Godwin Emefiele, who has been ordered to appear in court, appears in court, the judge declared.

He adjourned the matter until the 19 July report.

Background

NAN reports that the dispute stemmed from an alleged $70 million judgment against Linas International Ltd for the lawyers (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.

Mr Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.

The court had, on 23 January 2020, ruled that Mr Emefiele must appear to be examined on oath, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of 53 million dollars now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum.

In October 2022, Mr Agi, through his counsel Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, the Minister of Finance and the CBN.

He sought an order directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Mr Emefiele and bring him to court alongside his lawyers, Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan.

(NAN)

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that its members were targetted for an attack on Monday at a court in Isabo, Abeokuta, where the governorship election petition tribunal began sitting in Ogun State on Monday.

The party spoke at a press conference in Abeokuta on Tuesday after the police said no such incident occurred in or around the court.

The PDP and its candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, are challenging the return of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 18 March governorship election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how hoodlums suspected to be APC supporters laid siege to the court and were seen attacking some PDP members, including a former governorship aspirant of the party, Segun Showunmi, who later at a press conference condemned the attacks.

However, reacting to media reports on the incident, the APC, in a press statement signed by one of its spokespersons in Ogun, Ogunsanya Blessed, denied that its supporters attacked their PDP rivals.

Instead, Mr Ogubsanya alleged that nefarious plans of the PDP to overrun the tribunal were frustrated by the efforts of security men and women who provided adequate security at the tribunal.

APC, as a law-abiding party, commended the security agents for living up to expectations while urging them to continue to be vigilant in subsequent hearings.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Omolola Odutola, said nobody was assaulted around the court during the tribunal proceedings.

Miss Odutola, in a statement obtained by our reporter late Monday evening, said the police deployed five divisional police officers (DPOs) in and around the court premises to maintain peace during the tribunal proceedings. She also specifically denied any form of attack on Mr Showunmi.

Today at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Isabo Abeokuta, it was alleged that one Mr Segun Sowunmi was assaulted by persons suspected to be hoodlums or thugs, but the appropriate information at the disposal of the Ogun State Police Command reports contrary especially with the presence of Five Divisional Police officers of Ibara, Adatan, Adigbe, on the ground, with a heavy presence of Policemen drafted by the Area Commander Metro who himself was at the Court location to ensure the Court premises were secured.

Lawyers were all allowed entrance into the premises as no hoodlum or thugs were allowed entrance into the Court hearing. As reported, there was relative peace; no case of assault was reported during the Court Sitting, and neither was the Police aware of anyone being assaulted. In any case of assault, the assaulted person can immediately report to the nearest police station and officially complain, please, Miss Odutola said in the statement.

However, at a press conference on Tuesday, the chairman of the PDP in the state, Sikirulahi Ogundele, insisted that some members of his party were attacked at the gate of the court.

The PDP called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to look into the matter and the conduct of the police during the attacks.

Mr Ogundele accused the APC-led state government of masterminding the attacks and accused the police of lying by denying that they occurred.

Why are the police telling lies? What is the PPRO covering for her to have uttered such a statement? The good people of Ogun State saw what happened, and they know that people were beaten to stupor! We have video clips and photographs of the incident.

READ ALSO:

Meanwhile, at the opening session on Monday, the chairperson of the three-member tribunal, Hamidu Kunaza, said it received four petitions, but two of them were struck out.

Mr Kunaza warned the legal teams not to mislead the court or adopt delay tactics in the proceedings, urging them to cooperate with the tribunal.

He then adjourned the till Tuesday13, June, for the continuation of the hearing.

Speaking with journalists after the sitting, the counsel to the petitioner, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said his team would call about 120 witnesses. Within the next four weeks, we will file these witnesses, including our expert witnesses. We are very hopeful that this case will be dealt with expeditiously; we are here to search for the truth and to search for justice.

On his part, the counsel to Mr Abiodun, Taiwo Osipitan, a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expressed optimism that the tribunal would discharge its duties without fear or favour.

Mr Osipitan said, People can allege anything, but he who alleges must proof, let them come and proof, that is why we are here, and we are waiting for them to bring their evidence to support whatever they are claiming.

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The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State to extend the ongoing revocation of ownership and demolition of some properties in the state to properties sold by the political godfather of the governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Mr Yusuf was a personal aide and later commissioner to Mr Kwankwaso when he was governor of the state between 1999 and 2003 and in 2011 and 2015.

Less than 72 hours after he was inaugurated on 29 May, Mr Yusuf ordered the demolition of some properties he claimed the immediate past government sold illegally. He also claimed that some properties were built on land for recreation sites.

Between Saturday and Tuesday, the government demolished at least four properties. On Saturday, a three-story building with 90 shops on a race course at Nasarawa GRA was also demolished.

On the same day, the government demolished Daula Hotel, a three-star hotel reconstructed by the Ganduje administration under a Private Public Partnership arrangement. The government also demolished another structure at Hajj Camp. On Monday, the government demolished shops at the Kantin Kwari textile market; it claimed the shops were built on a piece of land sold illegally.

Other places reported to be marked for demolition are the Shahuci Shopping Mall, the former building of Triumph Publishing Company, whose premises were sold for Bureau De Change operators now housing a shopping mall.

Other properties are the Farm Incumbent Centre, shops erected at Fagge Jummaat mosque, shops erected near the city wall, shops on Club Road, and Mallam Kato Park.

The former commissioner of rural development under the Ganduje administration, Musa Illiyasu, and his colleagues spoke on the demolition exercise, and a leaked confidential document that circulated on social media indicated how Mr Kwankwaso, four days to the end of his tenure in 2015, auctioned an armoured Lexus SUV bought for N70 million for N3 million.

The documents bore the signature of the former secretary to the state government, Rabiu Suleiman, who conveyed details of a payment plan and approved by the SSG the sum of N3 million for the vehicle.

Mr Illiyasu, in a radio programme, listed various government-owned properties he claimed were sold cheaply by Mr Kwankwaso when he was governor, allegedly to himself and his associates.

The government properties at No5, 6, and 7 at Bala Muhammed Way. The government property at No132 at Dawaki Road and No13 at Ali Akilu was sold by Mr Kwankwasos administration, and go and investigate who is the occupant now.

The government properties at No193, No194, No196, No197, No 198, and No 920 all at Ahmadu Bello Way were sold out by the Kwankwaso administration, and the same process was used by Mr Ganduje in selling the government properties if Mr Gandujes was not proper, then Kwankwasos own too, Mr Illiyasu said.

The APC claimed that Mr Yusuf, who was the private secretary to Mr Kwankwaso, was one of those that bought the properties.

The APC supporters, in a widely circulated memo on social media, claimed that the shops erected on the ancient city wall between the Kofar Kabuga gate to the Kofar Fanfo gate were sold by Mr Kwankwaso; thus, the ongoing demolition exercise must not stop at shops at the city wall sold by the Ganduje administration.

The shops at the city wall facing the Sani Abacha Stadium starting from Kofar Mata gate were sold by Kwankwasos administration.

Land belonging to the graveyard at the abattoir, Kano Road, was sold by the Kwankwaso administration. Land at Kabarin Raka (Raka graveyard) at Airport Road was sold by Kwankwasos administration

Land at women teachers college, land at government secondary school festival, land at government boys secondary school, Goron Dutseplots inside Daula Hotel, plots at Salanta in Kano Polytechnic. Plots at the College of legal studies, and plots at Kano Education Resource Development (KERD) at Gandun Albasa, among others, were (allegedly) sold by the Kwankwasos administration, the APC claimed.

The APC alleged that Mr Kwankwaso also sold Kano liaison guest houses in Kano, Lagos, and Abuja.

The deputy chairman of the APC in the state, Shehu Maigari, said the ongoing demolition is barbaric and has affected the livelihoods of millions.

He said this at a press conference at the Kano NUJ secretariat on Tuesday.

Kano being a megacity and the commercial nerve centre of the Northern region and other West African countries, is now facing a serious calamity from the NNPP-led administration.

This barbaric and wanton destruction of the peoples means of livelihood by the State Government calls for serious prayers by all well-meaning persons, as the people are now counting their losses in billions of Naira, Maigari said.

We, therefore, call on all those affected to exercise patience, maintain calmness and explore all legal means to protect their properties and seek legal redress for the damages done and the losses incurred.

The party also urged parents and guardians in the city to caution their children and wards on the dangers of them being used as agents of destruction by the NNPP-led administration, Mr Maigari said.

Sanusi Bature, the governors spokesperson, could not be reached on Tuesday evening for comment.

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An agreement on Ukraine's participation in the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean in Lviv on Tuesday, which paves the way for Ukraine to receive funding under this program, whose total budget until 2027 is about EUR 21 billion.

"Now Ukraine has access to these funds. How do we intend to use this opportunity? First of all, the emphasis on the development of export logistics on our western borders," Kubrakov said on Facebook.

This is about increasing the throughput capacity of road and rail checkpoints, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to him, Ukraine, after discussions with European partners, has submitted six project proposals under this EU financial instrument and is awaiting the results of the selection in June.

Kubrakov said the preparation of project proposals for 2024 has already launched.

According to Head of Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozytsky, the project proposals of the Restoration Ministry provide for the optimization and modernization of infrastructure at road and rail checkpoints to increase throughput.

In addition, he said, during the meeting, representatives of the Restoration Ministry considered the possibility of reopening Lviv airport for humanitarian needs and discussed the possibility of increasing the number of checkpoints with Poland.

According to a Facebook post by the Restoration Ministry, funding for projects presented at CEF provides that half of the cost will be reimbursed by the applicant country from its own sources or international financial institutions, and 50% of the funding will be provided by the program.

The Connecting Europe Facility for Transport is a financing instrument for the implementation of European transport infrastructure policies. It aims to support investments in the construction of new transport infrastructure in Europe or the rehabilitation and modernization of existing ones.

The objectives of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) policy are to build a core network structured around nine multimodal corridors by 2030 and complete an integrated network by 2050 to facilitate access to all European regions.

CEF for Transport also supports innovation in the transport system to improve the use of infrastructure, reduce the environmental impact of transport, improve energy efficiency and safety.
A former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has appealed against a judgement that dismissed his call for the arrest and prosecution of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

Mr Keyamo, a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), filed the appeal on Tuesday, a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his suit and awarded N10 million costs against him for filing a frivolous and vexatious suit.

He asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where he filed his notice of Appeal on Tuesday, to send the suit back to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing by another judge.

The former minister had in his suit called for the arrest and prosecution of Atiku over a claim by a man who highlighted in an affidavit some alleged corrupt practices of the opposition figure while he was Nigerias Vice-President between 1999 and 2007.

He sued Atiku along with the three anti-corruption agencies, which had ignored his 72 hours ultimatum to arrest and prosecute Atiku. The agencies are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The trial judge, James Omotosho, in his judgement on Monday, dismissed the suit on various grounds, including that Mr Keyamo lacked the legal right to file such a suit.

The judge, who also described the suit as an abuse of the court process, noted that Mr Keyamos 72 hours notice to the anti-corruption agencies to arrest and prosecute Atiku was insufficient.

He added that the former minister rushing to court to file the suit was done in bad faith, more so from a lawyer of his standing.

Mr Keyamos suit came about a month before the 25 February presidential election in which Atiku was a major challenger to the ruling APCs then-presidential candidate, President Bola Tinubu.

Appeal

But contesting the judges reasoning, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former spokesperson for the ruling APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 23 February election had vowed to appeal against the judgement.

On Tuesday, he shared on his verified Twitter account his notice of appeal containing three grounds that he put forward to challenge Mondays verdict.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023 PRESS RELEASE BY FESTUS KEYAMO CHAMBERS KEYAMO TAKES BATTLE OVER SPV SAGA TO APPEAL COURT; FILES APPEAL AGAINST COURT ORDER DISMISSING SUIT TO COMPEL INVESTIGATION OF ATIKU Earlier today, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, filed an appeal against the ruling of pic.twitter.com/CiO06aTEXz  Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) June 6, 2023

The document showed he filed the appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja with Atiku alongside the CCB, the ICPC, and the CCB joined as co-respondents.

As one of his three grounds of appeal, Mr Keyamo argued that the trial judge erred when he dismissed his suit because the 72 hours he gave the anti-corruption agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute Atiku was insufficient.

The decision of the trial court to dismiss the appellants suit merely because he gave the 2nd to the 4th respondents 72 hours ultimatum to investigate the 1st respondent (Atiku) was rash and occasioned a miscarriage of justice in the circumstances of this case, his notice of appeal read in part.

Under his second grounds of appeal, the former minister maintained that the award of cost of N5 million in favour of the 1st respondent (Atiku) and the 3rd respondent (ICPC) by the trial court was not done judicially and judiciously in the circumstances of this case.

He said the cumulative N10 million costs awarded against him were baseless, as he only exercised his rights in law in a case which he reasonably believed to be true and in the public interest, the courts being established for such purposes.

He also faulted the verdict under his third grounds of appeal by contending that the trial judge erred when he relied on Atikus letter to the three anti-corruption agencies of 16 January 2023 to hold that the suit was frivolous, vexations, and an abuse of court process.

The details of the letter were not stated in Mr Keyamos notice of appeal.

But he said the court jumped the gun by hastily deciding based on the letters content.

The propriety or otherwise of the appellants letter of 16 January 2023 was the main issue to be determined in the substantive suit, not at this interlocutory stage, the senior lawyer wrote.

He, therefore, urged the court to set aside the trial courts decision and sent the suit back to the Federal High Court for hearing and determination of the merits before another judge of the Federal High Court.

Background

Mr Keyamo had, in January, given Nigerias leading anti-corruption agencies 72 hours ultimatum to arrest and prosecute Atiku. His call was based on an allegation by a man who claimed to be Atikus former aide that the PDP presidential candidate while being Nigerias Vice-President, set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) to commit financial fraud.

He said the claim by the man, identified as Michael Achimugu, was a case of money laundering, breach of the code of conduct for public officers, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust and misappropriation that the anti-corruption agencies should investigate.

The ultimatum expired with no action taken by the anti-graft agencies

He then filed his suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek an order compelling the three agencies to arrest and prosecute Atiku over the allegations against him.

In the suit he filed through his counsel, Festus Ukpe, the former minister sought an order of the court to CCB, EFCC and ICPC to invite or arrest Atiku, Nigerias former vice president.

He asked the court to order the agencies to investigate and prosecute Atiku based on the claims contained in an affidavit deposed to by one Michael Achimugu, alleging that Atiku used a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to enrich himself while he was Vice President of Nigeria corruptly.

In response to the suit, Atiku, through his counsel Mike Ozekhome, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, raised a preliminary objection to the suit, contending that Mr Keyamo lacked the basis to institute the said suit, having failed to disclose what he suffered over and beyond other members of the public.

Mr Ozekhome further contended in his written brief that Mr Keyamo did not disclose any wrong done to him by Atiku or what damage he had suffered. He described the former minister as a busybody and meddlesome interloper, as the entire suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action whatsoever.

Arguing the matter before the judge, Benson Igbanoi, a lawyer from Mr Ozekhomes law firm, also contended that the suit constituted a gross abuse of office, the plaintiff being a public officer occupying a public office and using public funds to file and prosecute the legal action.

He further contended that the suit was instituted in bad faith, frivolous, vexatious and, therefore, a waste of judicial time.

The court upheld Mr Ozekhomes arguments in its judgement on Monday.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgement in a case filed by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, to seek the dismissal of the money laundering charges against him.

Mr Lamido appealed against a ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing his no-case submission and affirming that he had a case to answer in the N1.35 billion money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC has been prosecuting Mr Lamido and two of his sons and their companies before the Federal High Court on 37 counts of money laundering.

Mr Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 and laundered several sums of money, which he reportedly received as kickbacks from companies that the Jigawa State Government awarded contracts under his leadership.

EFCC had called over 16 witnesses before closing its case last year.

Afterwards, the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant them entering their defence.

But the trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, dismissed the no-case submission and ordered the defendants to open their defence on 8 to 11 November 2022.

Dissatisfied, Mr Lamido went on appeal. The appeals arising from the case were heard on Tuesday, after which the Court of Appeal adjourned for judgement on a date to be communicated to the parties.

EFCC captured the highlights of the proceedings in a statement on Tuesday.

READ EFCCS FULL STATEMENT:

EFCC Press Release

Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Appeal Court Reserves Ruling in Sule Lamidos No Case Submission

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved ruling in the appeal by a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court dismissing his no case submission. The former governor, his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and their companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd are standing trial before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 37-count amended charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.35 billion fraud.

Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 and laundered several sums of money which he received as kickbacks from companies that were awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government under his leadership.

The trial which commenced in 2015 has seen the Commission calling over 16 witnesses before closing its case. Rather than open their defence, the defendants opted for a no- case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant their defence.

But Justice Ojukwu, threw out the no-case submission, and upheld the submissions of EFCCs counsel, Chile Okoroma, that Lamido and the other defendants had a case to answer and ordered them to open their defence at the next adjourned date of the matter, which was November 8 to 11, 2022.

Dissatisfied, Lamido proceeded to the Appellate Court on appeal. The appeals were considered today, June 6, 2023, after which the Court of Appeal adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated to the parties.

ALSO READ: Sule Lamido attacks Obasanjo for endorsing Peter Obi

Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive case before Justice Ojukwu is scheduled to continue on June 19, 21 and 22, 2023.

Count thirteen of the charge reads: That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), on or about March 2nd, 2012, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in your account in the name Bamaina Holdings (also referred to as Bamaina Holding Limited) domiciled at Unity Bank Plc. Kano, converted the aggregate sum of N61,919,000.00 being the value of four Sterling Bank Plc Cheques nos. 04981304, 04981305, 04981307, 04981308, three Diamond Bank Plc Cheque nos. 32909551,32909548, 32909550 and four Bank PHB Plc Cheques nos. 24444376, 24444374, 24444375 and 24444372 paid by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which represented the proceeds of bribery and corruption to wit: using your position as a public officer for gratification by purportedly obtaining contracts for companies in which you have interest from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which was awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government with the aim of concealing their illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under section 15(1) of the same Act

Count Thirty-two reads: That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria), Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, and Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited on or about 3rd of April 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court retained in the account of Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited domiciled with Skye Bank Plc Kano the sum of N57,000,000.00 transferred from the account of Bamaina Holdings (also known and referred to as Bamaina Holdings Limited) at Unity Bank Plc Kano which fund you knew represented the proceeds of illegal act of Alhaji Sule Lamido who used his position as a public officer for gratification by obtaining purported contracts for Speeds International Limited, Gada Construction Company, and Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited from Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited, a company which was awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 17 of the same Act

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

06/06/ 2023

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The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, admitted in evidence results sheets from 17 states in Peter Obis petition seeking to upturn President Bola Tinubus victory in the 25 February poll.

Mr Obi vied for the Nigerian presidency on the platform of the Labour Party. He came third in the contest, behind the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who came second. Atiku is similarly challenging Mr Tinubus victory in a separate suit.

Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, declared Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the February presidential election. S

But Mr Obi alleges electoral malpractices against INEC and Mr Tinubu. He said there were gross violations of the constitution and the electoral law during the election.

To prove his case, Mr Obi has been tendering tons of documentary evidence before the five-member panel of the court headed by Haruna Tsammani.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Obis lawyer, Ben Anichebe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), tendered certified true copies of results sheets from ward collation centres of 17 states of the federation.

Mr Anichebe presented bundles of the results sheets from 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Adamawa State; eight LGAs of Bayelsa; 23 LGAs of Benue; 21 LGAs of Kogi State; 11 of Nasarawa State, 25 of Niger State, 18 of Ondo State and 23 of Sokoto State.

The lawyer further tendered the electoral documents from 25 LGAs of Delta State, 11 of Ekiti State, 25 LGAs of Imo; 21 of Kaduna State, 27 of Oyo State, 18 of Cross River; 15 of Edo State, 32 of Akwa Ibom State and 20 LGAs of Lagos State.

Mr Anichebe said similar result sheets from 13 LGAs of Ebonyi State would be tendered on Wednesday (7 June) because the state was not listed in the schedule of documents for the day.

But the respondents lawyers, Steve Adeh for INEC, Mike Igbokwe for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma and Professor Mamman Yusufari for the APC, all SANs, objected to the admissibility of the documents.

The lawyers promised to provide later detailed reasons for objecting to the admissibility of the documents.

After admitting the documents as exhibits, Mr Obis lawyer, Mr Anichebe, sought to adjourn the case until Wednesday.

With the agreement of the respondents lawyers, the court adjourned further proceedings until Wednesday.

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The future looks good from all indications if all signals from Chairman Zikrullah Hassan and all his lieutenants are worth reckoning with. Hassan once admitted that he realised that hes is a hot seat but that hes used to such, as an MSS-baked activist who has had to function with the most minimal of resources, including time. His lieutenants are not any less enthusiastic and indeed supremely enthusiastic to contribute their respective quota for the overall success of the hajj operations this year 2023 and the years to come.

In its less than a year of operation, HajjPanorama.ng, the foremost news platform solely dedicated to the coverage of hajj and related matters, has not for once been found unblievable. As at 8.33 p.m. of Wednesday 31 May, it reported that no fewer than 10,068 Nigerian pilgrims, from different states of the federation, have been successfully flown to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).

NAHCON, with this, has demonstrated commitment, combined with inspiring zeal and energy. The organisation has not only found a most pleasant way around the regular route on which lies the troublous Sudan, it has also, with her trajectory of excellent performance, convinced the immediate past government of President Buhari that it deserves some tangential government support, especially for the aviation companies, so that the burden that the rerouting away from the war-ridden Sudan wont impact too heavily on pilgrims.

The result of the smart suggestion from the Barrister Zikrullah Hassan-led NAHCON has been a most enthusiastic disposition from the enlisted airlines, both the national and the foreign, including Saudis Flynas.

I have had my monitoring instinct for NAHCON activities turned on since June 2022. This happened from Makkah shortly after the hajj rites of that year were over. NAHCONs leadership, with an uncommon fervour for the freedom of information and the complementing protocols of Open Government Partnership (OGP), had organised a meeting, right in Makkah, where it shared its reports of the Hajj 2022 exercise, from each of its constituent operational departments, before the full glare of stakeholders. The verdict on the preparations and execution of the plan for what has come to be known as the Emergency Hajj was unamnimous: excellent. It could not have been otherwise, given that it was the first outing of the sitting leadership captained by Zikrullah Hassan, credited with the prized pedigree of combined experiential assets in hajj management across all the three tiers of the private, sub-national and eventually national levels.

The endorsement from Nigerian stakeholders was later reinforced by the Hajj authorities of other African countries who, beyond a passing validation, voted Nigeria, and impliedly Hassan, as their unanimous leader

In the light of all these obviously, NAHCON braced up early for greater accomplishments, as envisioned from inception in line with the sanctity of amana or trust in Islam. Incidentally, the wider environment of operations has not been quite favourable to the ambition of the Hassan-led team of NAHCON to actualise an optimally friendly regime. Against the well schemed design to crash the cost of accommodation for pilgrims, this focused leadership engaged directly with the relevant authorities and owners. With it, the rate-spiking middlemen no longer have a place, therefore earning substantial gains for pilgrims. But that was one joy with a slender body, to paraphrase Ola Rotimi. As with other monetary policies, the exchange rate regime turned out skidding on a downward slope, leaving the pilgrims and other dollar dependent transactions helpless. All gains earned from shrewd engagements by the NAHCON leadership got summarily frittered away. What would then would have happened if some gains had not been secured in the first instance?

For one whose age-old philosophy in all spheres of life is transparency twinning with accountability, while emphasising merit, nothing less than demonstrative expressions of abundant thanks to Allah in all possible ways should hold sway. The paramountcy of the health of the pilgrims for instance is non-negotiable. Beyond the clinical attention accorded the medical services in the previous years, NAHCON, this year, published its recruitment agenda for medics and paramedics for the 2023 hajj. Since the recruitment exercise was concluded weeks back, it has been plaudits all the way in an unprecedented manner. Most commendably, there has not been any visible complaint from any quarter. Indeed, as I write, some members of the medical team are already in Saudi Arabia, having gone ahead of the first set of pilgrims.

In spite of its inclination for transparency, the incumbent NAHCON leadership recognises the peculiarities of the operations of the different professionals it must work with. The NAHCON board, in addition to having a lawyer as chair, has other professionals including academics, indeed a professor of media studies, Professor Bala Muhammed of Bayero University, Kano. More interestingly, NAHCONs job delineation provides for a resident commissioner dedicated to information and research. Most suitably, therefore, the recruitment of the media team was duly anchored, with a high level of dexterity profoundly premised on acute professionalism, trust, as well as unimpeachable integrity that was cultivated over time across cognate beats. On top of all these is the potential of the individuals to render quality services. The summary of the profiles of the selected media team is representative of the leading practitioners with varying affiliations but smacking of the competence to deliver trendy skills across media genres and all possible cyper-platforms.

Still with the media, the sitting NAHCON leadership broke yet another new ground. In addition to having consciously advised all members of the media team to familiarise with the website of NAHCON, for the first time it produced a customised guide for the enlisted media professionals. The 27-point manual applies lucidly to all categories of media workers on the Hajj assignment. A future edition will do better with the text or highlights of the NAHCON Act to enhance the familiarisation enjoined by NAHCON.

In the interest of all Al-Hujjajis and their supportive teams, NAHCON has further done well to ensure that catering arrangements for the entire duration of hajj exercise will emphasise the local dishes to which the young and the elderly Nigerians are used to back home in Nigeria. To give full strength to this vision, NAHCO facilitated a working visit of appointed Saudi caterers, even as it has since mandated those caterers to hire qualified Nigerians to work for them for the desired Nigerian aroma and taste. If pilgrims will therefore miss Nigeria during their stay in the holy land, food should be out of the components of their nostalgia.

Even as the NAHCON innovations have just commenced playing out, impressed stakeholders have started volunteering commendations and prayers for NAHCON. Leading the pack among the states was the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barrister Auwal Abdullahi. In particular, Barrister Abdullahi expressed satisfaction with the hajj operations this year, especially the airlifting of Plateau pilgrims, which has gone on quite smoothly. According to media reports, the Plateau Board boss applauded, NAHCON for putting in place a sound structure and arrangements for a stress free operation this year. From the Kaduna counterpart of Barrister Abdullahi, Dr Yakubu Arigassiyu, also came some applause. He appreciated the fact that the Zikrullah Hassan-led NAHCON team did all it could to ensure that intending pilgrims paid lower or the same amount applicable to the previous years hajj. He attributed the difference that eventually manifested to the situation unmistakably beyond the control of NAHCON.

The future looks good from all indications if all signals from Chairman Zikrullah Hassan and all his lieutenants are worth reckoning with. Hassan once admitted that he realised that hes is a hot seat but that hes used to such, as an MSS-baked activist who has had to function with the most minimal of resources, including time. His lieutenants are not any less enthusiastic and indeed supremely enthusiastic to contribute their respective quota for the overall success of the hajj operations this year 2023 and the years to come.

Tunde Akanni, associate professor of journalism, is a member of the 2023 National Hajj Media Team. Follow him on Twitter via @AkintundeAkanni

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Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerias President since 29 May, once said that his lifelong ambition was to become the President of Nigeria. He was lucky that his dream came true. Though the outcome of the election remains contested, he has been Nigerias President the past one week. So what are the takeaways from his one week in office?

One, there was a bounce from his inauguration. Though Tinubu came to office with a huge legitimacy crisis and is one of the most scandal-ridden African Presidents, no fewer than 20 presidents from around the world attended the inauguration according to some media reports. American President Joe Biden sent a delegation as did the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. And these were despite the damning reports of most of the international election observers of the Presidential election in which INEC declared him the winner and the campaign by the opposition for world leaders not to legitimise Tinubus victory by congratulating him.

Two, the bounce from the inauguration was overshadowed by the unintended consequences of Tinubus declaration on the day of his inauguration that fuel subsidy is gone. That speech immediately led to the panic buying of fuel, the return of queues in petrol stations across the country and the jumping of pump prices in some filling stations to as much as N700 per litre. While the removal of fuel subsidy was expected and all the three leading presidential candidates  Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi  had promised to remove it if they won the election, few people thought it would be done in such a dramatic manner as Tinubu did. Those who argue that removing the subsidy on fuel was a decision foisted on Tinubu by the outgoing government forget that he has the powers to reverse it by sending a supplementary budget to the National Assembly with a request that funding the subsidy should remain while he put together his team and the necessary infrastructure that would help to cushion the effect of that policy. My feeling is that by announcing the ending of the fuel subsidy regime the way he did he wanted to convey a message that he would be a decisive President who would not bulk at taking tough decisions. This is especially so if his fuel subsidy is gone statement is related to his pre-inaugural speech where he declared that he would not want anyone to pity him owing to the enormity of the challenges bedevilling the nation because he sought for the job and campaigned for it.

Three, the angst across the country resulting from the manner in which the removal of the subsidy was announced shows that hardship has no ethnic, religious or political party affiliation. In fact, the argument that fuel subsidy benefits only (or even mostly the rich) is motor park economics as everyone  rich, middle class, the poor and businesses  seems overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding following the nearly 300% hike in the pump price of fuel in this largely generator-dependent economy. Suddenly the perennial online combat between the ardent supporters of Tinubu and others that are often wrongly lumped together as Obedients seem to have abated as everyone appears to worry about how the policy will impact on them once it has cascaded through the entire value chain. While a new price template of N488 per litre in Lagos and N537 and N557 in Abuja and Borno state respectively announced by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)led to the disappearance of queues in most filling stations, it would take a while for the effects of the huge price hike to fully work themselves through the countrys various value chains. My feeling is that if the anticipated hardship from this policy becomes overwhelming and is not attenuated within a reasonable time frame, even some of Tinubus most passionate supporters will join the camp of those praying for the court to overturn his declaration as the winner of the 25 February 2025 election.

Four, just a few days after his inauguration, some putative centres of power in the Tinubu government had begun to emerge. One of the Presidents children, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja (Mother of the Market) of Lagos markets, crowned herself the First Daughter of Nigeria and also elevated her position from the Iyaloja of Lagos Markets to Iyaloja of Nigeria. She also announced the launching of what she called Friends of Iyaloja Initiative, which she said will channel her experience, connections and human resources towards supporting her fathers administration. Similarly, just a few days after his inauguration, there was a viral video of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, sitting in a purported economic meeting with President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, Mele Kyari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. While some argued that the First Lady sitting in such a meeting was a violation of protocol, her supporters counter that as head of the Senate committee on NNPC during Sarakis era as Senate President, she sat at the purported meeting as a politician, not as First Lady. The point here is that one of the issues used against Tinubu during the campaigns was that different members of his family (Remi, Seyi and Folashade in particular) might constitute themselves into independent centres of power if he won the election.

Five, in the one week of his presidency, Tinubu has started assembling members of his kitchen cabinet. On 2 June, just five days after his inauguration, he appointed the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his new Chief of Staff, former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff and Former Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. While his appointments so far mirror the tendency for Chief Executives to populate their kitchen cabinets with long term allies and loyalists, he has so far not included very controversial individuals that would make the task of post campaign reconciliation more problematic. For instance, if the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) had been given to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai as was rumoured, it would have made reconciliation more difficult. This is because El Rufai not only championed the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna, he sought to institutionalize that anomaly by ensuring that his handpicked successor retained the same Muslim-Muslim template. Similarly, it would have been more difficult to achieve reconciliation if the duo of Bayo Onanuga and Femi Fani Kayode who uniquely fanned the embers of ethnic hatred and promoted both provincialism and Igbophobia are given front row seats in the government.

Overall, Tinubu started with a fumble as many newly elected leaders often do. This is because while politicians are said to campaign in poetry, in governance, they will be forced to rule in prose. They will not only discover that the devil is in the detail but will also find out that every policy or even major pronouncement, has unintended consequences.

Jideofor Adibe is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Extraordinary Professor of Government Studies at North Western University, Mafikeng South Africa. He is also the founder of Adonis & Abbey Publishers and can be reached at 0705 807 8841(Text or WhatsApp only).

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The misrepresentations concerning the Buhari administration are egregious. They are embarrassing. And, what these ignore is most startling. They ignore the infrastructural developments across the country that have created such wonderful things like the railway and airport improvements, the things that are needed for economic productivity. They ignore unprecedented legislative redesign that has gone across the country, with laws that cover the things that are needed the most

The impressive legacy and foundation for a new Nigeria, the Nigeria of the 21st century, was laid by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Sadly, the achievement seems to have missed a large number of people, especially those who pride themselves in being objective or discerning observers, commentators and arbiters. These are often the most influential people with large platforms to amplify their prejudices. The shocking disdain for facts in the assessment of the Buhari administration by the international and local media cannot be ignored. Whatever people feel, facts should be treated as, at least, an objective indicator of the direction of things, especially when the full impact of the administration is yet to fully emerge. What deepens sadness is that whatever the prejudiced conclusions of the influential, millions of truly dedicated Nigerians have contributed to the incredible work of and partnered with the Buhari administration, delivering systemic impact. And that positive impacts have, so far, been blithely denied and denigrated with minimum consideration of the credible contradictory evidence.

There has been a consistent and amplified effort by both the local and foreign media to represent the last administration as a failure and this is a view shared by a number of Nigerians. This effort goes beyond the inevitable rational disagreement on policies and their impact to total misinformation and absolute acts to perpetuate such adulteration as fact. Well, Nigeria is not in crisis. Neither is it a failed state in any way. It is not tottering on the brink of anything other than the inevitable journey and challenges of development and emergence.

BBC, CNN, Aljazeera join Bloomberg, The Economist and Financial Times in the kind of journalism that misrepresents the facts and creates an echo chamber with the colonial economics and thoughts of their local acolytes, who write and front their misrepresenting articles. They use these local representatives as a defence, never checking that the opinion of their pseudo-journalists are replacing objective, publicly available information. For example, they perpetuate a narrative of the so-called insecurity, a term never used to discuss regular US gun violence or the epidemic of knife attacks in the UK or even the crime explosions in the holiday destinations of Jamaica and South Africa. This they do in the face of the obvious transformation in the successful military operations in Nigerias North-East and the visible and documented drop in the numbers of the dead and wounded that is clearly captured by even jaundiced international benchmarks. On the contrary, they report worsening insecurity and an upsurge in violence.

They also give negative information on the economy. Whereas the Nigerian economy is growing, projected to grow at about 3.5% this year, which is far better than many countries post-COVID, and something of an outlier. Then, they misrepresent the debt situation in Nigeria. Yes, Nigeria has recorded a lot of debts that have been used in building its infrastructure, as well as for a broader development agenda. The Buhari administration delivered, for the first time in Nigerias history, a clear focus for the country to create an enabling environment for economic development, including targeted rail, roads, ports and airports, to name a few. None of the much-celebrated governments in the West have had such ambitious systemic investment; not Clintons, Blairs, or Obamas, to name a few. Nigerias debt-to-GDP ratio is within the plan of government and the higher proportion of the debt are local, with almost all concessional terms. The criticism of the Buhari administration also shows no understanding of debt at sub-national levels, which takes up a large part of the increase in the burden.

The media also ignores the fact that the last government, in shifting away from middlemen and extractive economies towards a more diverse and productive economy, disrupted the gravy train in ways that created pain, not just for the economic actors but also for large parts of the Nigerian population. For example, Buharis policies in many ways opened new possibilities for rural players to become more competitive economic players.

I suppose all of this is quite convenient since Buhari reduced middlemen and the rent-seeking culture that not only local influence peddlers depended on. He also cut off many intermediary brokers of foreign interests. Of course, part of what was done was to reduce import reliance by shutting the borders. So, even if the debt burden, at less than 40% of debt-to-GDP ratio, is limited, naysayers choose the debt-to-government revenue, which is not great. What they ignore is the unprecedented increase in government revenue under the Buhari administration. The former president provided positive proof that even that adverse data had begun to change, despite income tax collection still being less than 10% of the GDP and one of the lowest in the world.

The misrepresentations concerning the Buhari administration are egregious. They are embarrassing. And, what these ignore is most startling. They ignore the infrastructural developments across the country that have created such wonderful things like the railway and airport improvements, the things that are needed for economic productivity. They ignore unprecedented legislative redesign that has gone across the country, with laws that cover the things that are needed the most, including digital startups and the total repositioning of corporate laws, as well as enablement of sub-national independence.

They ignore the institutional rebuilding, from the prisons to the army to the navy to the police. They ignore economic diversification that has taken us from being totally dependent on crude oil to other sources of income, including exporting fertiliser products internationally. And they ignore systemic change at incredible levels that has built a new set of immigration rules, repositioned agriculture and processing, expanded social safety nets, the digitalisation of the voting system and the transformation of banking.

It isappalling that a government that has literarily brought our society more fully into the 21st century is painted as a failure, across the media. The effort of the Nigerian elite at falsifying reality has been a boost for the type of young people whose need for instant gratification has confused their understanding of the kinds of systemic challenges, long-term positions, that need to shift. Worse, such young people are a loud minority, a sectional one whose positions are mostly urban and southern. Such younger people have been captured by the competition between the three most prominent ethnic groups.

The media also ignores the fact that the last government, in shifting away from middlemen and extractive economies towards a more diverse and productive economy, disrupted the gravy train in ways that created pain, not just for the economic actors but also for large parts of the Nigerian population. For example, Buharis policies in many ways opened new possibilities for rural players to become more competitive economic players. But the complexity lay in the fact that their economic progress also made them more vulnerable to bandits and other dangerous players, especially because of limited government presence rurally, because of severe neglect by state governments.

As for Muhammadu Buhari, he has served with humility and dignity; he passed his two terms with an integrity that is unprecedented, even when these same forces reduced his fathers ethnicity as the largest pastoralists in the world  the Fulani  to a byword for terrorists and vermin, in tropes that benchmark institutionalised prejudice and tar an entire ethnicity.

Nigerian ethnic competition often hides the struggle that is needed to build the country into a nation. Inevitably, these conflicts are exacerbated by foreign media and distorted by their intervention to make it look like the country is about to break up. It is not about too. It has over 380 different ethnic groups and if one or two are unhappy from time to time, that is inevitable in the journey that we have ahead.

Even worse is that these media pundits refuse to educate themselves about the complexity of Nigeria. They take sides in the battle of brothers and sisters without understanding that these are shifting positions and roles that will happen throughout the life of our country. Eventually, they get to a point where they are embarrassed by the results because it never led to where they want, which is the breakup and failure of the country.

Nigerias progress leads to another phase and another stage in another struggle and the continuing evolution of the country. We saw this when they started publishing their opinion polls about the 2023 election, and they were so sure of how it was going to play out. They are now trying to make the election look like it was a failure. They are trying to misrepresent the fact that going to court in Nigeria is part of the electoral process, so they see this as some kind of major conflict.

Anyway, what is certain is that they will be embarrassed again. We will evolve. We will move forward, and they will be left holding the bag. We are going to forever be Nigeria, a country that always grows through adversity. As for Muhammadu Buhari, he has served with humility and dignity; he passed his two terms with an integrity that is unprecedented, even when these same forces reduced his fathers ethnicity as the largest pastoralists in the world  the Fulani  to a byword for terrorists and vermin, in tropes that benchmark institutionalised prejudice and tar an entire ethnicity. He not only gave his best, he has exceeded any Nigerian head of government and posterity will applaud him, even if quite a few today disdain his contributions.

Adewale Ajadi, a lawyer, creative consultant and leadership expert, is author of Omoluwabi 2.0: A Code of Transformation in 21st Century Nigeria.

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Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has accused the immediate past governors of states in North-west Nigeria of contributing to worsening insecurity in the region.

Mr Sani, inaugurated as governor of the state on 29 May, spoke when he appeared as a guest on Channels TVs Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

The North-west region has been battling attacks from a gang of terrorists locally referred to as bandits, who have been sacking rural communities, kidnapping residents and killing several others.

Apart from Kaduna, the six other states that comprise the North-west region include, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.

Mr Sani, who represented Kaduna Central District between 2019 and 2023 in the Senate, said the insecurity in the countrys North-west worsened because of the wrong approach adopted by the immediate past state governors from the region in fighting the situation.

I think we made it clear, even when I was in the Senate, that the approach by some (outgone) state governors (from the region against insecurity) was extremely wrong, he said.

Mr Sani, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, recalled that states within the North-west and Niger State, which shares a boundary with the region, had met to work out a framework to tackle regional insecurity in collaboration with security agencies.

He said the former governors initially allied to work together after floating a joint committee and accepting to collectively fund the fight against insecurity in the region but later failed to work together.

The alliance (by the then state governors) broke down when some state governors decided to start engaging the bandits and terrorists, sitting with them, dining and winning with them, compensating them, negotiating with them. Of course, we disagreed with that approach because that approach was what actually brought the entire progress backwards, he said.

Reviving the alliance against insecurity

Mr Sani, however, said he met with newly elected governors from the North-west in Abuja, about two weeks ago, to revive the alliance and, subsequently, came up with a policy framework to address the worsening insecurity in the region.

We have agreed that we have to have a common approach to the issue. And we have to move away from the steps made by some previous governors that decided to compromise the operation in the past when they started giving money to the bandits and negotiating with them.

But right now, it is clear that the current governors, we all agreed that we are going to work together and not only (the governors from the North-west) but we are going to reach out even to Niger State governor because we share boundaries, he stated.

The governor hinted that he and other governors from the region were making plans to seek the assistance of President Bola Tinubu in fighting insecurity in the region.

We have to work together with a common agenda, common plan and common operation. Thats the only way we will be able to fight the bandits as well as end the problem of insecurity in our own zone and our states, he added.

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The Chairperson of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Enugu State, Celestine Ugwuoke, has decried the rate of quackery in the medical profession, saying the situation has caused the death of many Nigerians.

Mr Ugwuoke, a consultant radiologist at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, said the rate of quackery was so alarming that nurses now perform surgery.

Its unfortunate that some nurses now perform surgery which is outside the field of their training, while some Patent Medicine Shop owners popularly known as chemists now give an intravenous injection to patients, Mr Ugwuoke said on Tuesday at a press conference in Nsukka, Enugu State.

He said Governor Peter Mbahs administration in Enugu State must check the activities of quacks in the state as one of the steps to solve the residents health problems.

The state must get rid of quacks and charlatans in the profession to restore dignity and guarantee quality healthcare.

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Quacks have caused the death of many unsuspecting citizens, Mr Ugwuoke said.

The NMA chairperson admitted that the efforts by the association to stem the tide in the past had not yielded the much-needed results due to some factors.

He congratulated Mr Mbah on his inauguration as the Enugu governor and appealed to him to set up an anti-quack task force that would include government officials, security agencies and NMA members to fish out the bad eggs.

He urged the government to ensure adequate remuneration and good welfare for medical practitioners in the country, saying it would discourage the present exodus of health workers.

(NAN)

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has charged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State during the 2023 elections, Oladipupo Adebutu, for allegedly buying votes during the 18 March elections in the state.

In a suit brought by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before an Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, nine other persons associated with the PDP were also charged.

In a separate suit it filed at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the government also charged Zenith Bank and two of its top officials for allegedly aiding Mr Adebutu to commit the alleged offence.

The two suits were filed on Thursday, 2 June, by the Director , Public Prosecution of the Federation , M. B. Abubakar; Aderonke Imana, an assistant chief state counsel, and Sani Bagudu, a senior counsel at the Department of Public Prosecution of the Federation, on behalf of the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Charged alongside Mr Adebutu before the state high court in Abeokuta are Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi and Sanni Adejoke.

The other defendants are Dare Ogunleye, Dare Adeoye, Dayo Fashina, Wasiu Enololobo, and Malik Akawo.

According to the notice filed by the prosecution, Mr Adebutu and four of the other defendants are currently at large.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Adebutu fled abroad following threats to his life after the governorship election, which he narrowly lost to Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

allegations of vote buying made against him in a petition by the ruling party in the state. This newspaper also reported the police later stating that the politician told their investigators through his lawyer that he travelled abroad for medical care after he was invited overmade against him in a petition by the ruling party in the state.

In the suit before the Ogun State High Court, the federal government charged Mr Adebutu and the fifth defendant, Adejoke Sanni, with three counts of alleged criminal conspiracy, bribery and undue influence, while the eight others were charged only with the first two counts. In the suit before the Ogun State High Court, the federal government charged Mr Adebutu and the fifth defendant, Adejoke Sanni, with three counts of alleged criminal conspiracy, bribery and undue influence, while the eight others were charged only with the first two counts.

The charge sheet with no AB/10c/2023 seen by PREMIUM TIMES reads:

That you, (the ten defendants) on or about 18th of March, 2023 at Ibara, Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to corruptly give gifts in the form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed in them Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement (sic) Scheme for less privileged  in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP Candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun state and you thereto committed an offence.

That you (defendants) on or about 18th of March, 2023 at Ibara, Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did corruptly give gifts in the form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP Candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun state and you thereby committed an offence.

That you Oladipupo Olatunde Adebuti (now at large), Adult Male of Kessington House, Iperu, Ogun State between February-March, 2023 at Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did provide 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 (ten thousand naira) which had inscribed on them Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged for the purpose of corruptly influencing votes to vote for PDP Candidates (Including yourself) during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun state and you thereby committed an offence.

That you, Sanni Adejoke, Adult Female of No 1 Owoseni Street Lausa Olanbe junction Ifo, Ogun State on or about 18th of March, 2023 at Agbara, Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did have in your possession 131 prepaid verve cards which had inscribed on them Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged  for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP Candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun State and you thereby committed an offence.

The prosecution listed eight witnesses it plans to call to prove its case. They include a police officer, three officials of the NDLEA and two points of sale (POS) operators.

In the other suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the defendants are Zenith Bank, its Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and the head of card services at the bank, Celestina Appeal.

The charges against them read::

That you, (Mr Onyeagwu and Ms Appeal) between February 2023 to March 2023 in Ogun state within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fail to report dust transactions which appeared to have no economic justification or lawful objective, in the account of Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu domiciled in Zenith Bank plc. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 7 (10) of the same Act.

That you, Zenith Bank Plc of 278 Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island Lagos, between February 2023 to March 2023 in Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fall to verify the identity of its customers carrying out Electoral Financial Transactions on verve cards with the inscription Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged requiring the customers personal information before their issuance and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 37 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

No dates have been fixed for hearings in the suits.

political parties in the state warned the police against being used to intimidate Mr Adebutu.

Meanwhile, the governorship election petition tribunal in Ogun State on Monday began hearing the petition filed by Mr Adebutu against the reelection of Governor Abiodun. Following the report of his investigation for alleged vote buying, a group ofagainst being used to intimidate Mr Adebutu.

How trouble began for Mr Adebutu

Police investigators last month reported that Mr Adebutu deployed two billion naira to induce voters across the state to vote for him and other PDP candidates during the 18 March governorship and state assembly elections.

The report followed law enforcement investigation into a petition written to the Inspector-General of Police by the Ogun State chairperson of the APC, Abdullahi Sanusi.

In the petition dated 18 March, the election day, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, Mr Sanusi accused the PDP candidate of distributing ATM cards preloaded with N10, 000 to induce voters on election day.

The APC chairman alleged that Mr Adebutu used Verve ATM credit cards branded in the name of his late mother, Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu Endowment Scheme for less privileged, to buy votes at polling booths. He said the PDP also stationed Point of Sales (P.O.S) vendors in every polling booth as an easy means to withdraw the cash from the cards.

The petition was investigated by a team led by Mohammed Babakura, a deputy commissioner of police at the criminal Investigation department of the police in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Adebutu denied the cards were used to induce voters,

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES last month, the spokesperson, Afolabi Orekoya, said the cards were issued for empowerment of poor people in honour of the memory of Mr Adebutus mother who died in January.

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The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has described the 5 June 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo as a wound that has refused to heal.

He said the devastating tragedy struck the state government and the people of the state very hard.

He spoke on Tuesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, as part of the events and memorial service to officially reopen the church to worshippers.

The governor said the state would never forget the tragedy in Owo Kingdom following the attack on innocent worshippers at the church.

Its been one year since the massacre occurred at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo. Forty-one persons were killed, while several others were injured. Workers of iniquity invaded our land and terminated the lives of our people. It was a black Sunday, he said.

One year after, we are still nursing our pain. The scars of the heavy blow dealt to us will always remind us of our losses and the pain we endured.

 The horrific attack was a dagger drawn into our hearts. It was the most dastardly act that could happen in any society.

The Church of God was desecrated. A place of worship, considered safe, was turned into a slaughter slab. Our people were mindlessly killed by cowards and mass murderers. It was a tale of pain, sorrow, and fear. We are still grappling with the shock from the attack.

So far, the Donation Management Committee on Owo Attack, led by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, has reached out to the dependants of the victims and the injured. We have provided financial and medical assistance to the dependants and the injured.

We understand that no amount of money can fill the void left by our loved ones. Our efforts are geared toward easing the burden created by the death of breadwinners in the families.

We are constructing a fitting Memorial Park in honour of the deceased. The Memorial Park, situated opposite the Palace of Olowo of Owo, is part of our commitment to immortalise the victims of the attack.

Governor Akeredolu expressed appreciation to the people of Nigeria for standing up for Owo and Ondo State in general during the trying times.

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We note with deep gratitude the concerns and support of all Nigerians for Owo and the state. From the North to the South, Nigerians stood with us. Your support and solidarity were a comforting balm for us in the state. We thank you, the governor said.

We thank all our security agencies. Your dedication and commitment led to the arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act. We are grateful to you for not letting our people die in vain. Thank you.

We express our gratitude to all countries of the world. We use the United States as a point of contact to appreciate the international community for identifying with us and condemning the attacks.

To everyone who made donations that were used to support the dependants of the victims and the injured, we are immensely grateful.

Ondo State is a land of indomitable people. We are bold and brave. Nothing can deter us from the path we have chosen. Our determination to protect our land and people is unwavering. We will continue to rise above this challenge.

The Director of Social Communications of the Ondo Diocese of the church, Ikwu Augustine, said a week-long programme had been organised to mark the incident.

The programme, which began on Monday, he said, is in memory of those who lost their lives to the incident and in thanksgiving to God for those who escaped death during the massacre.

The week features the opening of two memorial parks built by the Ondo State Government and Catholic Diocese of Ondo in honour of the deceased, Mr Ikwu said.

There will be a Candlelight procession mass of the dedication of the church and consecration of the altar and a memorial mass to round off the events.

According to Mr Ikwu, visitation will be made to the families of the deceased and the disabled.

An interdenominational service was held on Monday morning to herald the events.

The dedication of the church will hold on Thursday, while the memorial mass would hold on Saturday, June 10.

The diocese had in April opened the church partially to allow worshippers to celebrate Easter.

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The Russian occupation forces deliberately blew up the dam of Kakhovska Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in order to suspend the process of de-occupation by the Ukrainian Defense Forces and distract public attention from the events in Russia's Belgorod region, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar has said.

"The Russian terrorist army has committed another crime that could lead to a serious environmental and humanitarian catastrophe. The Russian occupation forces deliberately blew up the dam in order to suspend the process of de-occupation by the Ukrainian Defense Forces and distract public attention from the events in Russia's Belgorod region," she said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the deputy minister, the Russian occupiers had the opposite effect.

"The civilians in the temporarily occupied settlements of Kherson region and Crimea are in a critical situation since the destruction of the dam deprived them of fresh water," Maliar said.

In addition, the Defense Ministry said that the positions of Russian military units were flooded, which could lead to a large-scale washout of Russian minefields and their detonation in a chaotic manner.
24Pet To Host Free Microchipping Event on June 24

CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A leader in lost and found pet recovery, 24Pet announced it would host "Chip in"a dog and cat microchipping event in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs on June 24. In line with 24Pet's mission to bring pet families together and keep them together, 24Pet is partnering with ten shelters across multiple locations to provide free microchipping services to the local community ahead of the Fourth of July, when over 3,000 pets commonly go missing, each year during the holiday.

24Pet is partnering with ten shelters across multiple locations to provide free microchipping services to the local community ahead of the Fourth of July, when over 3,000 pets commonly go missing, each year during the holiday.

Illinois sees one of the most significant spikes in missing pets on the Fourth of July, with at least a 600% spike in call volume to 24Pet, in prior years. Microchips are the only permanent lost pet recovery device and help to identify lost and found animals and provide shelters, veterinarians, or other organizations with a way to contact the owner. Microchipped dogs are twice as likely to make their way home, and cats are ten times as likely.1 With only 20-30% of dogs and cats microchipped across the US2, "Chip in" aims to get more pets microchipped, helping to reunite beloved pets back with their families faster.

"When we looked at our data and saw that thousands of pets go missing around the Fourth of July, we knew we had to do something to ensure pets are getting out of shelters and back to their homes as quickly as possible," said Nicole Bennett, 24Pet Lead and President of Ecosystem for Independence Pet Group. "We're grateful to partner with organizations from the Chicagoland Humane Coalition to help provide this critical service to companion animals. We hope our efforts across the city will lead to hundreds of more pets getting microchipped and helping to reunite them with their families if they ever get lost."

Dog and cat owners in the Chicagoland area can visit the below shelters to get microchipped for free:

South Suburban Humane Society

Animal Care League

DuPage County Animal Services

Orphans of the Storm

Chicago Animal Care & Control

The Anti-Cruelty Society

Heartland Animal Shelter (in partnership with Tree House Humane Society)

Spay Illinois Pet Well Clinics

Heartland Animal Shelter

Evanston Animal Shelter

Those participating in the event will automatically be registered with 24Pet, the largest pet registry in North America. Pet owners can also stop by participating shelters to check if their pet is already microchipped, and can then register at 24petwatch.com, the largest registry in North America, for free. By registering with 24Pet, the pet's microchip will be connected with the company's database of over 5,000 shelters, rescues, clinics and partners in case the pet goes missing and help to bring their pet home faster.

Each shelter's operating hours will vary, and pet parents should visit www.24pet.com/chip-in to find nearby locations and their hours. Some locations may offer appointments outside of the posted hours. For those looking for their next pet, many area shelters and rescue groups will be hosting reduced fee adoption events this summer with a kick-off event on June 17th - the Lakeview East Adopt'Shop. There will be a special focus on dogs over 40 pounds as part of the Coalition's "Chicago Dog Summer" promotion, since larger dogs are having a harder time finding homes, not only in Chicagoland, but across the country. For details about this event and more, please visit Chicagolandhumanecoalition.org.

About 24Pet

24Pet supports pets and pet parents throughout the pets' lives. As the leading provider of shelter management software, 24Pet affords pet parents the opportunity to discover and connect with their next cat or dog. 24Pet is also North America's largest distributor of radio frequency identification (RFID) microchips and lost pet recovery services, boasting over 30,000,000 registered pets and 625,000 lost pet reunions with families. 24Pet is a brand of Independence Pet Group, Inc.

About Independence Pet Group

Independence Pet Group (IPG) is one of North America's largest pet insurance and services organizations. Our impressive family of brands supports insurance for more than 600,000 pets in the U.S. and Canada and provides well-being, safety, resources, and business solutions to the pet industry, including microchip identification and an online pet registry. Learn more at www.independencepetgroup.com .

1 https://animalfoundation.com/low-cost-vet-clinic/cat-dog-microchipping#:~:text=Microchips%20can%20provide%20your%20dog%20or%20cat%20with,enter%20an%20animal%20shelter%20and%20are%20not%20microchipped.

2 Based on 24Pet data

SOURCE Independence Pet Group Inc.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. , June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 80-20 calls on the media to fairly report the case, Students for Fair Admissions vs. Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College ("SFFA v. Harvard")1. Most of the media attention has focused on how the anticipated Supreme Court decision will end affirmative action. This implicitly buys into Harvard's narrative that it is pro-diversity. However, the media should not lose sight that at its core, SFFA v. Harvard is about ending discrimination against Asian Americans in college admission.

Asians age 18--21 and Elite College Enrollment Trends, 1990--2011

In SFFA v. Harvard's initial complaint, filed in 2014, the first and central claim, articulated in Count I, alleges that Harvard violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act for its "Intentional Discrimination Against Asian Americans." SFFA sued on behalf of Asian American applicants and future applicants. SFFA's complaint also discusses Harvard's "long history of intentionally discriminating specifically against Asian Americans" going back to the 1970s. SFFA devotes 87 paragraphs to a section it entitles, "HARVARD CURRENTLY ENGAGES IN INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICAN APPLICANTS." Throughout the litigation, SFFA focused on Harvard's discrimination against Asian Americans. And when SFFA appealed to the Supreme Court, it highlighted how Harvard violated the Civil Rights Act "by penalizing Asian-American applicants[.]" (Emphasis added).

Harvard itself implicitly acknowledges that it discriminated against Asian Americans, because since the lawsuit began, Harvard has dramatically increased its admission rate for Asian Americans.

According to this chart from "The Myth of American Meritocracy," in a 20+-year period, even as the percentage of Asian Americans aged 18-21 in the population doubled, their enrollment, or percentage as part of Harvard's student body, hovered at 17% +/- 3%.

In 2014, when SFFA filed its lawsuit against Harvard, the Asian American enrollment at Harvard was only 19.7%.

But the latest enrollment figures show that AsAm enrollment is now 29.9%, which reflects a gain of more than 1% per year since SFFA filed its lawsuit.

SFFA also connects this pattern of discrimination against Asian Americans to Harvard's now well-documented pattern of discrimination against Jews, by using a more holistic admissions process to keep the numbers of Jewish students down.

S.B. Woo, President of 80-20, emphasized, "The point is, Harvard has a history of using 'holistic' admissions or 'diversity' as a smokescreen to tamp down the numbers of minorities it disfavors. Thus, ending Harvard's discrimination against Asian Americans is not a blow against diversity, as coverage based on the 'end of affirmative action' implies. Rather, the Supreme Court's decision could very well mean that Harvard and other elite universities finally can no longer use 'diversity' as a smokescreen to impose ceilings on groups that they disfavor."

For all these reasons, when you report the Supreme Court's decision in SFFA v. Harvard, please make sure you report that the case is about Harvard's discrimination against Asian Americans, and not just "affirmative action" in the abstract.

1 Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, Case No. 1:14-cv-14176 (U.S. District Court of the District of Massachusetts); Case No. 19-2005 (U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit); 20-1199 (U.S. Supreme Court).

Contact: S. B. Woo, Pres. of 80-20 Educational foundation & Lt. Governor of DE (1985-89) [302-740-0050, [email protected] ]

SOURCE 80-20 Educational Foundation
TORONTO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Glenbrook Advisory, a leading wealth management firm, recently acknowledged the transformative impact of Stripe's aggressive expansion plans into Australia and Asia. Stripe's initiative to extend its face-to-face transaction offering, challenging the traditional domain of large banks, signals a new era of digitized financial services that Glenbrook Advisory is ready to navigate, already redefining key portions of its portfolio management strategies to reflect the development.

"In the wake of Stripe's ambitious expansion, we were happy to find a promising avenue to further optimize our clients' financial portfolios," said Glenbrook Advisory. "The future of finance is increasingly digital and interconnected. That much has been clear for decades. But Glenbrook is prepared to leverage new advancements and digital shifts in direction, evolving as necessary with major fintech providers to deliver enhanced asset administration solutions."

Since its inception in Australia in 2014, Stripe's momentum has dramatically surged, especially during the recent pandemic as commerce significantly tilted towards online platforms. Now, Stripe plans to deepen its roots in Australia, including offering handheld devices to small merchants  ultimately aiming to secure a larger share of the business customer relationships, a space traditionally occupied by major banks.

"Stripe's growth in Australia represents a monumental shift in the financial landscape  they're actually taking on the Big Banks here, which presents a lot of fantastic opportunities for the prepared investor," said Glenbrook Advisory. "This disruptive approach creates an intriguing ecosystem for financial planning firms like ours. We have a chance to break new ground, while sowing the seeds for future value for our clients. And we intend to do just that."

Stripe's ambition is not just confined to the realm of payment processing. The company is also setting its sights towards lending, planning to offer working capital to merchants across selected countries. This in particular is a domain where Glenbrook Advisory sees an opportunity to provide financial advice and solutions to clients, especially those who seek to optimize and diversify their goals as they leverage these emerging options.

"We believe in staying ahead of the curve, and that includes adapting to the often agile and shifting directions of financial services. At Glenbrook, we're already preparing our clients with the knowledge, foresight, and tools that enable them to excel in this exciting new landscape."

Glenbrook Advisory's commitment to delivering novel investment strategies, objective advice, and top-tier customer service, combined with its keen understanding of the emerging digital financial scene, makes it an ideal partner for individuals and businesses seeking to grow their assets in a rapidly changing financial environment.

"We remain steadfast in our founding commitment to empower our clients in their asset management journey, which now includes navigating and capitalizing on these exciting advancements spearheaded by fintech titans like Stripe."

For reviews on services, and updates on current financial products, follow Glenbrook Advisory on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, Trust Pilot.

About Glenbrook Advisory

Founded in 2003, Glenbrook Advisory is a premier wealth management firm dedicated to delivering innovative investment and financial planning solutions. With a robust team of over 60 professionals across four locations, Glenbrook navigates through the complex regulatory environment, market volatility, and intricate asset structuring processes to secure the financial future legacies of its clients. At Glenbrook's core is a profound commitment to personalization and trust, fostering a deep understanding of each client's unique financial aspirations. Learn more at: www.GlenbrookAdvisory.com.

SOURCE Glenbrook Advisory
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this year USSFCU announced plans to eliminate overdraft and non-sufficient funds [NSF] fees by the second quarter of 2023. As of April 17, 2023, members no longer incur those fees on their accounts.

Overdraft and NSF fees were previously charged when a check, recurring debit card payment or automatic payment was presented against a member's account with insufficient available funds. This old practice has been replaced with USSFCU's all-new Courtesy Pay Program (CPP). The new CPP Program provides a buffer for overspending without charging a fee. For complete program highlights, click here.

"We made a commitment to our members that we would eliminate NSF and overdrafts fees and that is exactly what we have done." stated USSFCU President & CEO, Timothy L. Anderson. "People helping people is at the core of what we do and if eliminating this fee can help a family meet their financial needs, I am all for it."

Earning income from fees and penalties has never been a major source of income or financial focus for the Credit Union. Not only does USSFCU earn less fee income than most banks, but they also earn lower fee income than many other financial services organizations.

About USSFCU

Since 1935, USSFCU has provided the Senate and Capitol Hill communities with exclusive world-class financial stability, security, and service. Now a $1.3 billion financial institution with 140 plus paths to membership, access to these exclusive financial resources are at your fingertips. Call, click or tap to learn more at www.ussfcu.org.

View this press release on our website at ussfcu.org/press.

SOURCE US Senate Federal Credit Union
Series D led by Digital Mobile Venture with participation from additional existing investors. Funds will support expansion and progress of oncology pipeline, including ACE1831 and ACE2016, antibody armed allogeneic gamma delta T-cell therapies.

ALAMEDA, Calif. and TAIPEI, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acepodia, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) and allogeneic gamma delta 2 T-cell platforms to address gaps in cancer care, today announced a $100 million Series D financing led by Digital Mobile Venture with participation from additional existing investors. The funds will be used to progress the company's pipeline of enhanced cell therapies for solid tumors and hematologic cancers, including ACE1831 and ACE2016. ACE1831 is an anti-CD20 armed allogeneic gamma delta 2 T-cell therapy currently being studied in a Phase 1 trial for patients with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. ACE 2016 is an anti-EGFR armed allogeneic gamma delta 2 T-cell therapy targeting EGFR-expressing solid tumors.

"This financing illustrates the confidence of Acepodia's current investors in our team, our mission, and our differentiated platform, and we are extremely grateful for their support," said Sonny Hsiao, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Acepodia. "These funds will directly promote the progression of our clinical and pre-clinical candidates and also continue the validation of our ACC and allogeneic gamma delta 2 T-cell platforms to advance the development of innovative, effective, and importantly affordable off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies."

Acepodia has raised $259 million to date in venture capital financing, including a $109 million Series C round completed in December 2021. Returning investors in the Series D included Digital Mobile Venture as the lead investor.

The company's first-in-class ACC technology is based on click chemistry applied to live cells, the foundational work for which Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi was awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Antibody-cell conjugation supports the connection of tumor-targeting antibodies to a variety of immune cells including gamma delta T cells. Acepodia's novel technology pairs the precision of targeted monoclonal antibodies and cancer-killing immune cells into a powerful cell therapy that is differentiated from viral vector-delivered gene transductions or genetic engineering that CAR-based cell therapies require. This approach allows for the development of off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies that are more broadly accessible for cancer patients.

"We continue to believe in the strength and potential of Acepodia's platform, and the ability of the team that is well-positioned to advance new therapies through the clinic and to patients," said Samuel Chen, Director at Digital Mobile Venture. "We are thrilled to continue to partner with Acepodia and support the ongoing advancement of their important research as the company works to demonstrate the potential of antibody-cell conjugation and advance the next generation of cell therapies."

About Acepodia

Acepodia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) platform technology to address gaps in cancer care. Leveraging its ACC technology, the company links tumor-targeting antibodies to its proprietary immune cells, such as natural killer and gamma delta T cells to create novel ACE therapies, which have increased binding strength against tumors that express low levels of tumor antigens.

Acepodia is made up of seasoned leaders and scientific experts dedicated to advancing its robust pipeline of ACE therapies with the potential to bring innovative, effective, and affordable cell therapies to a broad population of patients across a variety of solid tumors and hematologic cancers. For more information, visit www.acepodia.com and follow Acepodia on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Acepodia Contact:

Acepodia

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Ten Bridge Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Acepodia, Inc.
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GovCIO Media & Research, a leading federal technology media company, hosted an evening ceremony for outgoing Air Force CIO, Lauren Knausenberger, on June 1. Pentagon, Air Force and federal cybersecurity leaders attended the ceremony that featured a live recording of a GovCast podcast episode reviewing Knausenberger's career and her impact on defense technology.

Knausenberger served three years as the Air Force CIO where she was recognized as a champion for user experience and fast tracked the implementation of zero trust, DevSecOps and data management.

GovCIO Media & Research Air Force CIO

"I wanted to make sure that we [the Air Force] became a cloud-first organization and that we could really impower our software community," said Knausenberger. "We have done an incredible amount of things to improve our user experience with very little money, because we can follow the data and we can spend that next dollar on something smart. We have a lot more to come."

She managed a portfolio valued at $17 billion, supporting over 20,000 cyber operations and support personnel around the globe and providing oversight of the Air Force's IT investment strategy. Knausenberger integrated warfighting and mission support capabilities by networking and securing air, space, and ground assets along with leading career management initiatives for 10,000 IT and cyber civilian personnel.

"I look around the room and [my] team is my legacy. The plan we put in place is my legacy," said Knausenberger. "I think we have some people that are going to take this organization in a really cool direction. I'm excited to see it happen."

GovCIO Media & Research recognized Knausenberger as the Woman Tech Leader of the Year at its April Women Tech Leaders Summit for her contributions to the defense IT community.

"Knausenberger has been instrumental in many innovations seen out of the Air Force over the past few years," said Michael Hoffman, GovCIO Media & Research President. "Her influence has been felt across the Defense Department and our organization is honored to have been able to host this ceremony in celebration of her accomplishments and legacy."

When asked what advice Knausenberger would give young female professionals interested in national security and defense tech careers, she emphasized the importance of preparation and confidence.

"If you don't have that confidence quite yet, go find it," said Knausenberger. "Know that you belong at the table and you belong in the room. Own it and be confident in yourself."

Visit GovCIO Media & Research's page to listen to the full GovCast episode with Lauren Knausenberger now.

About GovCIO Media & Research

GovCIO Media & Research is an independent media company owned by GovCIO that provides insights and analysis on federal IT innovation and is the leading industry solutions resource. Our team utilizes a multi-platform approach to today's most pressing issues through video, podcasts, events, articles, and special reports that keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology's impact on government.

Let us show you what we can do. Visit www.governmentciomedia.com for more information.

Media Contact

Emyly Hall

Public Relations & Corporate Marketing Specialist

[email protected]

SOURCE GovCIO
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar reported that there is an advance of Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut area and in several other directions in Donetsk region.

Indeed, now we have a defense-offensive operation. We have a set of measures, and I emphasize once again: not to focus exclusively on offensive actions. This is a spectrum of different actions, including offensive ones. Today we also have successes. We are talking about the flanks around Bakhmut and about other directions, which we will be able to talk about in more detail later. There is an advance of our troops there, Maliar said on the air of the national telethon on Tuesday.

She stressed that the fighting is fierce now, as the Russian occupiers are trying in every possible way to prevent the advance of Ukrainian forces.

To a clarifying question about which specific directions the Ukrainian soldiers have advanced, Maliar said that its about Donetsk region.
The leading global analyst firm's report recognizes that Akkodis 'embraces a digital-first mindset, driving digital transformation, human-in-context, design-led, ultra-agile approach.'

ZURICH, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akkodis, a global digital engineering company, is delighted to announce that it has been named a 'Market Leader' in a report by global consultancy and analyst, HFS Research. The report titled, 'HFS Horizons: Digital Engineering Service Providers, 2023'1, examined 25 service providers' roles in digital engineering and, following assessment, assigned each a 'Horizon' placement.

HFS Horizons: Digital Engineering Service Providers, 2023

Akkodis attained 'Horizon 3'  the highest possible Horizon placement  which indicates market leadership across a range of dimensions, including, value proposition, innovation capabilities, go-to-market strategies, and market impact.

Jan Gupta, President, Akkodis, said, "We are honored to be named a Market Leader by HFS Research in their HFS Horizons Digital Engineering Service Providers 2023 report." He continued, "This ranking underscores Akkodis' position as a global Smart Industry leader and tech partner of choice. At Akkodis, our people are passionate about enabling organizations around the world to accelerate in their digitalization. Clients, who are facing technological disruption, trust our solutions and services to inform sharper decisions, improve operational efficiency, and generate new business models  at the pace and scale that's needed."

Nandini Tare, Associate Practice Lead, HFS Research, said, "The digital engineering landscape is currently driven by the need to optimize the use of data as an asset, digitally enable processes, accelerate growth by personalizing customer journeys and deepening customer intimacy." Nandini added, "Akkodis embraces a triangular mindset with tech, people, and vision at the vertices  this enables it to drive digital transformation with an agile approach that fully aligns with the changing needs of its clients."

Formed in early 20222, Akkodis, part of the Adecco Group, brings 40 years' digital engineering heritage and a solid track record in R&D and delivery. With its purpose based on Engineering a Smarter Future Together, Akkodis provides tech services to clients across the world's major industries from Aerospace & Defense and Automotive & Transportation, to Healthcare & Life Sciences and Energy and ICT.

Through its four Service Lines  Consulting, Solutions, Talent and Academy  the report highlights how Akkodis cross-fertilizes expertise from IT and engineering know-how, training, talent management and end-to-end project delivery, to bring to clients the most relevant and efficient solutions. The report also states that 'Akkodis Academy acts as a digital talent incubator and skill accelerator.' In addition, 'Its digital-talent management platform helps build a talent pipeline of digital engineers and works toward upskilling and reskilling talent aligned to technology evolution and client initiatives, offering expertise on-demand and talent as a service.'

Technology innovation: Akkodis' in-house network of research labs

Within the HFS Horizons report, a number of Akkodis' strengths were highlighted including technology innovation. Within its seven global tech practices, Akkodis is nurturing expert communities, including an in-house network of research labs. For example, the Robotic Process Automation lab, within its Data Analytics & AI tech practice, is dedicated to optimizing the quality, speed and cost of a given process  knowledge used to develop and hone global tech expertise.

In addition to the research labs, the company has developed its own proprietary platforms and templates that it uses to test and scale use cases for cross-industry applications. For example, it has developed an AI model that collects and analyses data on vehicle operation, location and health to optimize fleet maintenance and usage. Additional models have been created for use in the energy management and civil service areas. These aspects, combined with its ability to leverage existing templates such as Microsoft Azure and Salesforce, enable Akkodis to package cross-industry use cases that help clients fast-track their projects.

Notes to Editor

1. https://go.na.akkodis.com/hfs-horizon-2023

2. Akkodis was formed in early 2022 when Modis, the Adecco Group's high-tech services business, was combined with AKKA Technologies, a leader in engineering R&D services.

Media contacts

Rebecca Bleasdale

Group SVP, Head of Communications, Akkodis

M. +41786432613

E. [email protected]

Lisa Bushka

VP, External Communications, Akkodis

M. +18604630770

E. [email protected]

About Akkodis

Akkodis is a global digital engineering company and Smart Industry leader. We enable clients to advance in their digital transformation with Consulting, Solutions, Talent, and Academy services. Headquartered in Switzerland and part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis is a trusted tech partner to the world's industries. We co-create and pioneer solutions that help to solve major challenges, from accelerating the clean energy transition and green mobility, to improving user and patient centricity. Empowered by a culture of inclusion and diversity, our 50,000 tech experts across 30 countries combine best-in-class technologies and cross industry knowledge to drive purposeful innovation for a more sustainable tomorrow. We are passionate about Engineering a Smarter Future Together. akkodis.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Twitter



About the Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world's leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). www.adeccogroup.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2093214/Digital_Engineering_Service_Providers_2023.jpg

SOURCE Akkodis
TRENTON, N.J., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Elevator Group ("AEG"), today confirmed their investment in Trenton Elevator Company ("Trenton" or "Trenton Elevator"), expanding AEG's representation throughout New Jersey, alongside Jersey Elevator and fellow AEG businesses Dura-Lift Elevator , Kencor Elevator and Pride & Service Elevator .

A family business incorporated in 1934 to serve central New Jersey, Trenton provides a variety of services including new installations of both commercial and home elevator solutions, maintenance, and repairs, specializing in the support of elevators of any type, size, or age.

Dennis Lotter, recently appointed President of Jersey Elevator, will be working closely with Trenton and welcomed their President James Loesch to AEG. "I am delighted to welcome James and his experienced team to American Elevator Group," said Lotter. "Together we will continue to broaden AEG's service offerings in the New Jersey elevator market."

AEG President Bryan Clairmont, commenting on behalf of the group, added: "Trenton Elevator is a well-respected and valuable addition to our portfolio, and this investment reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the expansion of our coverage nationwide."

About Trenton Elevator Company

Since 1934, Trenton Elevator Company has been a leader in commercial and residential elevator service, sales and installation. Based in the Trenton NJ metro area, Trenton Elevator Company serves all of central New Jersey. For more information on Trenton Elevator Company, visit www.trentonelevator.com

About American Elevator Group

Founded in 2020, American Elevator Group (AEG) is the largest independent elevator service provider in North America with more than 330 years of combined management experience in the elevator industry. The group consists of independent elevator companies that deliver local expertise and customer service across 21 states. Backed by significant resources in safety, finance, technology, marketing, and operations, the group is in a continuous state of growth. For more information on AEG, visit www.americanelevator.com

Media Contact:

Jennifer Avril

Warner PR

[email protected]

(917) 982-9012

SOURCE American Elevator Group
New Standard Senior Living Offers Informational Sessions To Seniors, Families and the Community, Every Wednesday Throughout the Month of June

RED BANK, N.J., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the needs of the local community, New Standard Senior Living (NSSL), a New Jersey-based affordable, assisted living provider is now offering informational sessions about Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Communities that serve seniors in South Jersey.

Every Wednesday, throughout the month of June, seniors, their families and members of the community can attend an informational session about affordable, assisted living and the qualifying process for low-income seniors. The sessions are open to the public between 11 am and 2 pm and come with a complementary lunch and a tour of the community. All informational sessions are held at the newest assisted living community located at 308 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, N.J. 08037.

"Our goal is to educate the community about affordable, assisted living. We see a lot of posts and responses from seniors and the community about how they are afraid that affordable, assisted living communities are still too expensive for low-income seniors. Seeing such questions and comments on our social media was a clear indicator that the concept of affordable, assisted living was not understood," says Michele McLaughlin, Director of External Case Management, New Standard Senior Living. "In response, we decided to reach out to the community by offering free informational events  thus, Assisted Living for Low-Income Seniors 101."

New Standard Senior Living has delivered three Low-Income Housing Tax Credit communities to serve low-income seniors with locations in Millville, Egg Harbor Township and soon Hammonton. The newest Hammonton community offers 174 private residences in a state-of-the-art secure campus that is pet friendly and ADA accessible. Assisted Living at Hammonton is now open to the public for informational sessions while awaiting its licensing from the New Jersey Department of Health.

New Standard Senior Living communities are the first of its kind in the state of New Jersey purposely designed for seniors who cannot afford market-rate assisted living. Affordable, assisted living communities offer direct Medicaid admissions and do not have a private pay requirement.

Seniors and families can obtain more information about qualifying to live at an affordable, assisted living community during the Hammonton's Wednesday informational sessions throughout the month of June. It is recommended that individuals interested in these events RSVP by calling 609-541-7718.

About New Standard Senior Living

With corporate offices in Red Bank, N.J., New Standard Senior Living (NSSL) is the first provider in the state purposely created to deliver dedicated, affordable, assisted living solutions, including direct Medicaid admissions, for New Jersey seniors. For more information, visit newstandardsl.com.

Contact:

Michele McLaughlin, Director of External Case Management

Phone: 609-330-6878

Efax: 856-558-9357

SOURCE New Standard Senior Living
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive differential gear market size is forecast to increase by USD 5,321.44 million from 2022 to 2027, at a CAGR of 4.28%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the increase in sales of SUVs, rising consumer preference for AWD and FWD vehicles, and increasing sales of luxury vehicles. Charts & data tables about market and segment sizes for a historic period of five (2017-2021) years have been covered in this report. Download The Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Differential Gear Market 2023-2027

Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc., AmTech International, Bharat Gears Ltd., Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc., Dana Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A., Gear Motions Inc., GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH, Hitachi Ltd., Linamar Corp., Neapco Holdings LLC, NSK Ltd., Perfect Gears Pvt. Ltd., Polaris Inc., and Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd.

Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders 

The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology.

It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings.

The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.

Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report.

Get a holistic overview of the endoscopic closure devices market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample

Automotive Differential Gear Market - Segmentation

This automotive differential gear market report extensively covers market segmentation by channel (aftermarket and OEM), vehicle type (passenger cars and commercial vehicles), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The market share growth by the aftermarket segment will be significant for the overall market growth during the forecast period. This segment includes replacements, collisions, looks, and performance parts and offers a wide range of parts of varying quality and price for almost all vehicles and models. Furthermore, it is a secondary submarket that includes the manufacturing, reproduction, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, equipment, and accessories after the OEM has sold the car to the consumer. Hence, such factors drive segment growth during the forecast period.

To get detailed insights about inclusions and exclusions, buy the report

Automotive Differential Gear Market - Market Dynamics

Key Drivers

One of the major drivers for the growth of the automotive differential gear market is the increase in sales of SUVs.

The introduction of compact and mini-SUVs, the decreased cost of SUVs, and improved comfort and higher safety in new-generation SUVs are driving the demand for SUVs are all factors contributing to the growth of the market.

For example, in 2021, SUVs accounted for about 45% of global vehicle sales, 35 million units more than the sales in 2020.

Furthermore, higher seating capacity resulting in a relatively higher weight of SUVs demands adequate power delivery to each wheel for safe and effective driving.

Hence, such factors of SUVs will drive the automotive differential gear market growth during the forecast period.

Significant Trends

A major trend that is influencing the market growth is the development of hub motors.

A wheel hub motor, an electric motor directly installed in the vehicle wheel to power the vehicle, is an advanced solution for powering EVs.

This directly drives the vehicle wheel and eliminates the need for a gearbox, differential, and other power transmission components, and directly reduces vehicle weight and enhances vehicle efficiency.

Hence, such a need to develop hub motors may propel the automotive differential gear market growth during the forecast period.

Major Challenges

A significant challenge for the growth of the market is product recall.

The integration of automatic transmission systems in premium vehicles involves advanced algorithms.

These algorithms contribute to the design and development of such complex systems. To aid in effective cornering, vehicles sold in developed automotive markets, such as the US, use advanced electronics and sensors.

Therefore, any issue in or malfunction of even a single drivetrain system component can lead to high repair costs and vehicle recalls.

For example, in March 2022 , Volkswagen AG announced Atlas SUVs were recalled in the US and Canada to address airbags, windows, brakes, and other issues.

, Volkswagen AG announced Atlas SUVs were recalled in the US and to address airbags, windows, brakes, and other issues. Hence, such issues pose a major challenge to the growth of the market during the forecast period.

What are the key data covered in this Automotive Differential Gear Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the automotive differential gear market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the automotive differential gear market and its contribution to the market with a focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the automotive differential gear market across APAC, North America , Europe , South America , and Middle East and Africa

, , , and and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive differential gear market vendors

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Automotive Differential Gear Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.28% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 5,321.44 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 3.84 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 64% Key countries US, China, Japan, India, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc., AmTech International, Bharat Gears Ltd., Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc., Dana Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A., Gear Motions Inc., GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH, Hitachi Ltd., Linamar Corp., Neapco Holdings LLC, NSK Ltd., Perfect Gears Pvt. Ltd., Polaris Inc., and Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global automotive differential gear market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on global automotive differential gear market 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.2 Sales channel Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Sales channel Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.3 Vehicle type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Vehicle type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Channel

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Channel - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Channel

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Channel



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Channel

6.3 Aftermarket - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Aftermarket - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Aftermarket - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Aftermarket - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Aftermarket - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 OEM - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on OEM - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on OEM - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 40: Chart on OEM - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on OEM - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Channel

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Channel ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market opportunity by Channel ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 44: Chart on Vehicle Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Vehicle Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Vehicle Type

Exhibit 46: Chart on Comparison by Vehicle Type



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Comparison by Vehicle Type

7.3 Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 48: Chart on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 50: Chart on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 52: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 54: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Vehicle Type

Exhibit 56: Market opportunity by Vehicle Type ($ million)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Market opportunity by Vehicle Type ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 58: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 59: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 61: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 63: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 65: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 66: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 67: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 85: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 86: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 87: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 88: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)



Exhibit 89: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 90: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 92: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 93: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 94: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 97: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 103: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)



Exhibit 104: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 105: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 106: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 107: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 108: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 109: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 110: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 111: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 112: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 113: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 114: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Segment focus

12.4 AmTech International

Exhibit 115: AmTech International - Overview



Exhibit 116: AmTech International - Product / Service



Exhibit 117: AmTech International - Key offerings

12.5 Bharat Gears Ltd.

Exhibit 118: Bharat Gears Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 119: Bharat Gears Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 120: Bharat Gears Ltd. - Key offerings

12.6 Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc.

Exhibit 121: Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 122: Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 123: Circle Gear and Machine Company Inc. - Key offerings

12.7 Dana Inc.

Exhibit 124: Dana Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 125: Dana Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Dana Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 127: Dana Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 128: Dana Inc. - Segment focus

12.8 Eaton Corp. Plc

Exhibit 129: Eaton Corp. Plc - Overview



Exhibit 130: Eaton Corp. Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 131: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key news



Exhibit 132: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 133: Eaton Corp. Plc - Segment focus

12.9 FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A.

Exhibit 134: FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A. - Overview



Exhibit 135: FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A. - Product / Service



Exhibit 136: FA.TA. Ricambi S.p.A. - Key offerings

12.10 Gear Motions Inc.

Exhibit 137: Gear Motions Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 138: Gear Motions Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 139: Gear Motions Inc. - Key offerings

12.11 GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH

Exhibit 140: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 141: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 142: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbH - Key offerings

12.12 Hitachi Ltd.

Exhibit 143: Hitachi Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 144: Hitachi Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 145: Hitachi Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 146: Hitachi Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 147: Hitachi Ltd. - Segment focus

12.13 Linamar Corp.

Exhibit 148: Linamar Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 149: Linamar Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 150: Linamar Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 151: Linamar Corp. - Segment focus

12.14 Neapco Holdings LLC

Exhibit 152: Neapco Holdings LLC - Overview



Exhibit 153: Neapco Holdings LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 154: Neapco Holdings LLC - Key offerings

12.15 NSK Ltd.

Exhibit 155: NSK Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 156: NSK Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 157: NSK Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 158: NSK Ltd. - Segment focus

12.16 Polaris Inc.

Exhibit 159: Polaris Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 160: Polaris Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 161: Polaris Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 162: Polaris Inc. - Segment focus

12.17 Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 163: Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 164: Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 165: Shandong Heavy Industry Group Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 166: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 167: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 168: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 169: Research methodology



Exhibit 170: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 171: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 172: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
Avelo reports continued strong momentum at Wilmington Airport with more than 50,000 Customers flown on more than 400 flights in first 120 days

PHILADELPHIA and WILMINGTON, Del,, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To kick off the busiest summer travel season in recent memory, Avelo Airlines announced today a $19* one-way fare to eight popular nonstop destinations from Wilmington Airport (ILG)  the convenient, affordable and travel-friendly alternative to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

Avelo's summer promotion comes on the heels of strong momentum in its first 120 days operating at ILG. The airline said today it flew more than 50,000 Customers on more than 400 flights in its first 120 days since taking flight at ILG on February 1, 2023.

The irresistibly low $19 fare is available to the following popular Avelo destinations:

Charleston, SC (CHS)

(CHS) Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)

(DAB) Greenville / Spartanburg, SC (GSP)

/ (GSP) Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)

(MYR) Nashville, TN (BNA)

(BNA) Raleigh / Durham, NC (RDU)

(RDU) Savannah, GA / Hilton Head, SC (SAV)

/ (SAV) Wilmington, NC (ILM)

Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "Taking a family vacation or long weekend getaway this summer is now more affordable than ever. Our purpose is to Inspire Travel, and nothing makes visiting one of Avelo's popular summer destinations easier than an irresistible $19 fare. We are excited for these new routes to take flight later this month and are very encouraged by the continued Customer enthusiasm we are seeing at ILG. The momentum we are experiencing here is a strong testament to the convenient, affordable and reliable alternative Avelo offers travelers from across Philly and the greater Delaware Valley region."

The $19 fare is available on flights completed by July 31, 2023, and must be booked by June 8. Customers can make reservations at AveloAir.com.

Avelo serves a total of 13 nonstop destinations from ILG. Avelo currently flies to five nonstop Florida destinations from ILG: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers (RSW), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), and West Palm Beach (PBI). The eight new routes featuring the $19 fare will take flight starting June 22.

Strong Momentum at Philadelphia / Delaware Valley's Most Convenient Airport

Wilmington Airport is conveniently located a short drive south of Philadelphia - offering a refreshingly fast, smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience. ILG's adjacency to multiple major highways and railways makes it the most convenient and travel-friendly airport for Philly and the Delaware Valley, which encompasses portions of four states: Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Jersey and the northern Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Avelo Airlines took flight from ILG on February 1, 2023. Avelo currently has one scheduled 189-seat Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 jetliner based at ILG. Avelo will add a second scheduled 737-800 at ILG later this month. Avelo currently employs 90 Crewmembers at its ILG base, including pilots, flight attendants, airport Crewmembers, aircraft maintenance technicians and supervisors. Avelo is currently hiring additional Crewmembers for a variety of ILG-based roles. Candidates can learn more about Avelo career opportunities by visiting AveloAir.com/Careers.

America's Affordable, Convenient and Reliable Airline

Avelo was founded with a vision to help its Customers save money and time. Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo flown almost 2.5 million Customers on nearly 20,000 flights.

Avelo serves 44 destinations spanning 24 states. The airline has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice and competition in air travel by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. At least one airport on every Avelo flight is a small hometown airport  making every Avelo journey easier and more enjoyable.

In addition to offering Customers everyday low fares on every route, Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Avelo also offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags and bringing a pet in the cabin.

Additionally, the American-made Boeing 737 jets Avelo flies offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the small regional aircraft currently operating at most of the airports Avelo serves. Customers who value an advance seat assignment can choose from several modestly priced seating options, including seats with extra leg room, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. One third of seats on Avelo aircraft are available for Customers who appreciate the comfort of extra legroom.

At Avelo, every flight is also nonstop. This connection-free travel experience not only provides Avelo Customers with faster and simpler travel, but also minimizes delays, cancellations and lost bags. In fact, Avelo has established itself as one of America's most reliable airlines. In the first quarter of 2023, Avelo achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate and the second best on-time performance in the U.S. airline industry.

Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service culture. The culture is grounded in Avelo's One Crew Value which promotes a welcoming and caring experience. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers focus on anticipating and understanding Customer needs on the ground and in the air.

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, low everyday fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 44 popular destinations across the U.S., including its five bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Delaware Valley's Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom.

Media Contacts:

Jim Olson

(312)219-0647

[email protected]

Porsha Green

(302)838-1383

[email protected]

*Very low, one-way fares include government taxes and fees. Fares start at $19 between ILG and BNA, CHS, DAB, GSP, ILM, MYR, RDU and SAV for travel between June 22 and July 31, 2023. Fares must be booked by June 8, 2023. Fares are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. A $20 charge per seated traveler applies to all bookings or changes made through Avelo's Customer Support Center. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage.

SOURCE Avelo Airlines
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA XL today announced Renaud Guidee has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Reinsurance, effective September 1, 2023.

Mr. Guidee assumes the role from Nancy Bewlay, who has been appointed Group Chief Underwriting Officer. In this newly created role, Ms Bewlay joins AXA's Management Committee reporting to Frederic De Courtois, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Guidee, currently serving as AXA Group's Chief Risk Officer, will lead AXA XL's Reinsurance business which with a global footprint and a strong balance sheet is among the world's leading reinsurers, offering solutions that include property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance.

Commenting Scott Gunter, AXA XL's CEO said: "Renaud brings with him a wealth of financial and risk experience having joined AXA in 2019 from Goldman Sachs where he was Managing Director.

Mr. Gunter continued: "Over the past year we have worked to reposition our Reinsurance portfolio and we are seeing the benefits of this work in our discussions with clients and brokers. I want to take this opportunity to warmly thank Nancy for her leadership of the Reinsurance business and congratulate her on her new role at AXA Group."

Mr. Gunter added: "We have an extremely talented team across reinsurance and there is huge potential for strategic growth in this market."

Renaud Guidee was appointed AXA Group's Chief Risk Officer in 2019. Prior to joining AXA, Mr. Guidee was a Managing Director with Goldman Sachs' Investment Banking Division, where he advised large corporate clients across industries with a total cross-border transaction track record of over $150bn. His earlier experience includes working as special advisor to former IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus in 2010.

Mr. Guidee graduated from HEC (2003) and from ENA (2007). He also holds an advanced degree in international taxation (2003) and passed the admittance exam to the Paris bar school in 2003.

ABOUT AXA XL1

AXA XL1, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, provides insurance and risk management products and services for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals, and reinsurance solutions to insurance companies globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com.

ABOUT AXA XL1 REINSURANCE

AXA XL Reinsurance is among the world's leading reinsurers, offering solutions that include property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance. Top insurers choose AXA XL Reinsurance to help them move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com.

1AXA XL is a division of AXA Group providing products and services through three business groups: AXA XL Insurance, AXA XL Reinsurance, and AXA XL Risk Consulting.

SOURCE AXA XL
Prescription Discount Card Donates Nearly $1 Million Across 16 Regional Food Banks

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BuzzRx, the leading provider of free prescription discount cards benefitting nonprofits year-round, announced that its charitable program with 16 Food Banks has donated nearly $1 million, equaling over 4 million meals since its inception. Every time someone saves money using a card benefitting one of its Food Bank partners, BuzzRx makes a donation at no cost to the cardholder. The programs with the most meals donated include Houston Food Bank , Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma , and Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) .

BuzzRx and its Food Bank partners are aligned in their missions to help make people healthier by combating food insecurity and prescription non-compliance. In America, 1 in 10 people struggle with hunger, and 3 in 10 people reported not taking their medications as prescribed because of cost. The BuzzRx card benefiting Food Banks addresses these issues head-on by helping put nutritious food on the table for working families, seniors, and children and medicine in people's cabinets.

Libby Ann Saenz, Food Bank RGV CEO, shared, "I'm absolutely thrilled to celebrate BuzzRx's incredible milestone of providing 4 million meals. Since our partnership began in 2011, their dedication to our hunger-fighting mission has been truly amazing. The Prescription Card program has been a real win-win for our Food Bank, especially for our clients who often lack sufficient insurance coverage. Thanks to this partnership, we've been able to provide over 1.3 million meals to our community in the last 12 years and support their overall well-being. Together with BuzzRx, we are making a meaningful impact in the fight against hunger."

Matt Herfield, BuzzRx Co-founder & CEO, said, "This milestone is especially important to raise awareness of the widespread hunger epidemic in our own backyards. With SNAP benefits being cut, the community Food Banks are stretched thin and need support more than ever. It's unacceptable that 1 in 7 children go to bed hungry in the U.S., and BuzzRx is committed to supporting the fight against hunger."

The pre-activated card can be used by anyone, insured or uninsured, Food Bank client or not, and is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. Cardholders or app users can present the savings card or coupon at the pharmacy when filling or refilling a prescription to save up to 80%. To look up prescription discounts by zip code and learn more about BuzzRx and their Food Bank partners, please visit Buzzrx.com/food-banks .

About BuzzRx:

Founded in 2010 as BuzzRx, BuzzRx helps make communities healthier by making medicines more affordable and aligning with nonprofit partners that share their mission. The free prescription discount card benefiting nonprofits can help save up to 80% on brand name and generic medications while supporting Make-A-Wish, ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), National Kidney Foundation, and sixteen regional Food Banksat no cost to the cardholder. To date, BuzzRx has helped Americans save $1 billion on prescriptions and has donated more than $8 million to their nonprofit partners. To learn more about BuzzRx, visit buzzrx.com .

CONTACT: Allyson Noonan, [email protected], 858-245-7256

SOURCE BuzzRx
HONG KONG, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited ("CALC" or the "Group", HKSE stock code: 01848), a full value chain aircraft solutions provider for the global aviation industry, is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary China Asset Leasing Company Limited ("CALC (TJ)") has successfully issued the first tranche of low-carbon transition corporate bonds in 2023, with a term of 3 years and the amount of RMB1.5 billion. It attracted a subscription application of 2.83 times, and its coupon rate hit a new low of 3.85% among CALC (TJ)'s bonds with the same term. This fully demonstrates the Group's fund-raising ability as a leading enterprise in China's aviation finance market, and the widely recognition in the market as a high-quality issuer.

The issuer CALC (TJ) and the debt "23 Zhongfei 01" (2301) have both received AAA ratings from the authoritative credit rating agency Dagong International Credit Rating Co., Ltd. ("Dagong International"), and the rating outlook is stable, which affirmed the comprehensive strength of CALC (TJ) in terms of asset quality, business model, professional operation capabilities and development prospects. As the first low-carbon transition corporate bond issued by CALC (TJ) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the subscription scale and the number of participating investors of this bond issuance have reached a new height among bonds issued by CALC (TJ) with the same term.

The funds raised from this issuance are intended to be used in the low-carbon transition field for the purchase of new aircraft with high fuel efficiency and the upgrade and replacement of aged aircraft, which is in line with the overall investment plan of CALC (TJ) and the Group, especially the goal of promoting the balanced development of the aviation industry in terms of environmental, economic and social benefits. It lays a solid foundation for CALC (TJ)'s low-carbon transition, and help further promote the sustainable development of the civil aviation industry.

Ms. Winnie Liu, Executive Director, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of CALC and Director of CALC (TJ), said: "We are grateful to the financial institutions for their strong support for this issuance. It reflects investors' recognition of CALC (TJ)'s operating strength and confidence in CALC (TJ)'s development prospects, especially their full support for our aircraft full life cycle model and commitment to sustainable investment and responsible operation. This issuance is also our second attempt in the capital market following the successful issuance of the first low-carbon transition bond in October 2022. This highlights the advantages of the Group in having both domestic and overseas financing platforms, and it is also a testament to the recognition in the capital market. It will lay a good foundation for CALC (TJ)'s future sustainable development, and even help us actively grasp the huge market opportunities brought about by the multi-field development initiated by the "14th Five-Year Plan" of the national civil aviation."

China Securities Co., Ltd. is the lead underwriter, bookrunner and trustee for the issuance. Haitong Securities, Huatai United Securities and Ping An Securities are the joint lead underwriters for the issuance.

About CALC

China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited ("CALC") is a full value chain aircraft solutions provider for global airlines. The businesses and subsidiaries of CALC are engaging in two main businesses of new aircraft leasing and aircraft aftermarket services. CALC's scope of business includes general operations such as aircraft leasing, purchase and leaseback, aircraft assets package transaction and assets management, as well as value-added services such as fleet plan consulting, fleet upgrade, aged aircraft asset management, aircraft maintenance and disassembly, and component sales. CALC is one of the world's top 10 aircraft lessors in terms of the combined asset value of fleet and order book, according to ICF International. CALC was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited as the first aircraft leasing company in Asia in July 2014. It is currently a MSCI China Small Cap index.

SOURCE CALC
OTTAWA, ON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - On May 31, 2023, World No Tobacco Day, the Canadian government announced final regulations to require a health warning to appear directly on every cigarette, a world first. The announcement has received extensive international attention, and has been praised by the Canadian Cancer Society and other health organizations.

Mockup set 1 - warnings on cigarettes - English (CNW Group/Canadian Cancer Society)

"A health warning on every individual cigarette is innovative and world precedent setting," says Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society. "The measure means that health messaging will be conveyed with every cigarette and every puff, will be there during every smoke break, and will reach youth who experiment by borrowing cigarettes from a friend. This measure will reduce smoking and the appeal of cigarettes, thus preventing cancer and other diseases."

It is expected that many countries will follow Canada's example and adopt this measure, just as there are now more than 130 countries/territories that have required picture warnings for cigarette packages, following the Canadian precedent implemented in 2001. In many countries cigarettes are often sold individually without packaging  in these countries, warnings directly on cigarettes have the potential for even greater impact.

For the Canadian warnings directly on cigarettes, there will be 2 sets of 6 warnings, with sets changed in rotation. As illustrated in the mock-ups provided by the Canadian Department of Health ("Health Canada"), the warnings will appear on the filter end of the cigarette, with black text on a white background, in upper case letters, in both English and French. The implementation deadline for the first set will be April 30, 2024, at the manufacturer level and July 31, 2024, at the retail level for cigarettes that are 83-85 mm in length (which is the standard cigarette length internationally, and which in Canada is called "King Size" length) and April 30, 2025, at the retail level for cigarettes that are 70-73 mm in length. In Canada, King Size cigarettes represent 69% of the cigarette market (2021).

The new Canadian regulations will also enhance the health messages required on the outside and inside of packages. A new round of 14 picture warnings on the package exterior will be required to appear on 75% of the package front and back by April 30, 2024, with a second new set of 14 picture warnings to appear 24 months later. Enhanced messages on the package interior will also be required at retail by April 30, 2024. Canada first required health messages inside cigarette packages in 2001, either on an insert for flip-top packages, or on the "slide" of slide and shell packages. Today Canada remains the only country that has required a health warning on the package interior, in addition to the package exterior, with "slide and shell" now the only permitted format for cigarette packaging in the country.

The global trend in requiring picture warnings, warnings with increased size, and plain packaging, is outlined in the seventh edition of a report by the Canadian Cancer Society, dated October 2021. For plain packaging, which removes branded colours and logos, and uses a standard background colour for all brands (eg drab brown), there are now at least 25 countries/territories that have final requirements, beginning with Australia in 2012 and including Canada in 2019.

The World Health Organization reports that tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, that 80% of the world's tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, and that in 2020 22.3% of the world's population used tobacco, including 36.7% of all men and 7.8% of the world's women. Smoking causes lung cancer, at least 15 other types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and many other health effects, including harms from second-hand smoke. In Canada, based on 2021 data, there are still 3.8 million Canadians who smoke, representing 12% of the population aged 12+. The Canadian government has set an objective of under 5% of Canadians using tobacco by 2035.

About the Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We fund the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. As the voice for people who care about cancer, we work with governments to shape a healthier society. No other organization does all that we do to make lives better today and transform the future of cancer forever. Help us make a difference. In Canada, call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.

Background material

SOURCE Canadian Cancer Society
REDMOND, Wash., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Centific Global Solutions today announced the launch of Pitaya.AI , a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform for retailers that provides a suite of intelligent store solutions. These solutions leverage AI to tackle industry-wide business challenges such as shrinkage, workplace safety, stockout, and lack of customer behavior visibility.

According to Gartner, "Strategies for a digitally enabled and profitable physical store are foundational to the future of retail." However, increase in shrink (almost $100 Billion according to the National Retail Federation) and continued labor shortage issues (record 75.8% turnover rate according to Korn Ferry) are posing significant burdens on retailers to cope with an eroding bottom line while providing optimal customer experience.

"The time is now. As AI becomes more ubiquitous, enterprises have a unique opportunity to unlock profound value for their revenue, profitability, customer, and employee experiences," said Venkat Rangapuram, Centific CEO. "We created Pitaya.AI to leverage the robust capabilities and partnerships with NVIDIA Edge AI, Microsoft Azure Cloud, and OpenAI, transforming the shopping experience, enhancing associate productivity, and markedly reducing losses due to shrinkage."

Pitaya.AI addresses the ever-growing increase in theft for the retail industry by preventing theft at cashier-assisted and self-checkout lanes and helps prevent retail organized crime by detecting loitering and rapid pickup of multiple items.

Pitaya.AI uses a broad range of technologies from the NVIDIA Metropolis stack, such as NVIDIA GPUs, Jetson Edge AI platform, TAO toolkit, and the TensorRT software development kit to develop the vision AI application.

Pitaya.AI offers end-to-end value realization for retailers via a rich ecosystem of partners, which includes Lexmark, SmartCow, and Wren Solutions.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Pitaya.AI on this exciting venture," said Ryan Hatfield, Lexmark Portfolio Director of Retail Solutions. "By leveraging the strengths of both companies, we are confident in our ability to deliver Vision AI solutions on the edge that provide enterprise-class security and data privacy without compromising performance and enabling rapid deployment at scale."

Pitaya.AI is engineered to:

Require minimal capital expenditure because it leverages a preexisting setup and cameras.

Integrate into the retail ecosystem including handheld devices, point-of-sale, virtual machines, and the cloud.

Take immediate action via real-time notifications and task management.

Deliver tangible business outcomes as all tasks and activities have a bottom-line impact.

"With human centricity at the forefront of our value system, we are committed to strict adherence of responsible AI guidelines," said Vasu Sundarababu Centific Head of Engineering. "As such, the Pitaya.AI platform embodies the key principles of responsible AI: accountability, inclusiveness, reliability, safety, fairness, transparency, privacy, and security."

About Centific

Centific is a global organization with offices in the US, Europe, India, China, and Southeast Asia. Clients include 100+ of the Global 500 companies, with industry concentration in retail, consumer packaged goods, logistics, software & technology, healthcare, and travel/hospitality.

With retail industry expertise in the E2E value chain of Data and applied AI, Centific enables retailers to accelerate their digital transformation to drive a triple play of results: happier consumers, associates, and shareholders.

We reimagine experiences by partnering with companies to drive tangible ROI, decrease waste, and optimize operations.

To learn more about Pitaya.AI visit: http://www.pitaya.ai

To learn more about Centific visit: http://www.centific.com

Press Contact:

Lynn Munroe

845-548-1211

https://www.Centific.com

SOURCE Centific
Zelenskyy wants to discuss bill on urban planning reform with its supporters and opponents

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to discuss the fate of bill No. 5565 on the reform of urban planning with its supporters and opponents.

"I can no longer veto as time has passed. Therefore, I need to get together with the leaders of certain communities and talk, sort out this issue," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to him, "half of the mayors say that the reform will be clean and there will be no corruption, and the other half, mostly big cities, say that this takes away powers from the mayors."

"I offered our team to gather the mayors of both sides for me and talk to them," Zelenskyy said.

On December 13, the Verkhovna Rada adopted at the final reading bill No. 5655. It was opposed by the Association of Cities of Ukraine, mayors of cities, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, and the National Union of Architects of Ukraine.

A petition demanding a veto on law No. 5655 on reforming urban planning, posted on the website of the President of Ukraine, gained more than 25,000 votes on the day it was adopted by parliament.
$1.4 billion in AUM and 40 employees moving to Cetera

RIA provides holistic financial planning services to more than 1,800 high-net-worth individuals, families and retirees

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Holdings, the holding company of Cetera Financial Group, the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions can optimize professional control and value creation, announced today that it has acquired The Retirement Planning Group, LLC (TRPG), an independent registered investment advisory (RIA) firm. TRPG serves high-net-worth individuals, families and retirees and manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets under management (AUM) across approximately 1,825 client accounts with 40 employees, including 14 advisors, as of April 30, 2023. In addition to holistic financial planning services, TRPG provides tax solutions as well as payroll and bookkeeping services to serve wide-ranging wealth management needs. TRPG is operated by senior management of TRPG, including CEO Kevin Conard, CRPC, and is headquartered in Leawood, KS (near Kansas City), with offices in St. Louis and Denver.

"We admire and embrace TRPG's values and commitment to helping investors reach their version of financial wellbeing through all life stages," said Mike Durbin, CEO of Cetera Holdings. "We welcome TRPG to Cetera and look forward to close collaboration and shared success for many years to come."

Durbin continued, "This acquisition is synergistic on many levels and represents our commitment to constantly identify and deliver multiple options that give advisors a depth of choice and flexibility to affiliate their business with Cetera as they see fit. To that end, we anticipate close collaboration as we continue to define a new affiliation model through our Wealth Hub that marries the principles of independence with the support and resources of employee services."

"As we looked to the future of our business, we quickly realized that Cetera delivers on all the areas that are most important to our business and our clients," Conard said. "This partnership sets us up for a bright future as we continue to attract advisors seeking to focus more on taking care of their clients and less on the operational aspects of running a business. Cetera is a great cultural fit for our employees and our clients, and we are excited and honored to call Cetera home."

The transaction represents the latest growth milestone for Cetera, which has completed multiple investments in advisor practices in recent months, including minority investments in NetVEST Financial, LLC and Prosperity Advisors, LLC. In January, Cetera announced that that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the retail wealth business of Securian Financial Group, Inc. (Securian Financial). In May, Cetera announced that it appointed Mike Durbin CEO of Cetera Holdings.

Visit www.cetera.com for more information about Cetera and visit https://www.planningretirements.com/ for more information about TRPG.

About Cetera Financial Group

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera), which is owned by Cetera Holdings, is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions optimize their control and value creation. Breaking away from a commoditized and homogenous IBD model, Cetera offers financial professionals and institutions the latest solutions, support, and services to grow, scale, or transition with a merger, sale, investment, or succession plan. Cetera proudly serves independent financial advisors, tax professionals, licensed administrators, large enterprises, as well as institutions, such as banks and credit unions, providing an established and repeatable blueprint for scalable growth.

Home to more than 8,000 financial professionals and their teams, Cetera oversees approximately $330 billion in assets under administration and $116 billion in assets under management, as of March 31, 2023. In a recent advisor satisfaction survey of more than 21,000 reviews, Cetera's Voice of Customer (VoC) program vigorously measures advisor experience and satisfaction 24/7. Currently, it's ranked 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Visit www.cetera.com, and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

"Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms are FINRA/SIPC members. Located at: 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services.

SOURCE Cetera Financial Group
BEIJING, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Liu Jinliang, a second-generation beekeeper in Miyun District, the northeastern suburb of Beijing, practices multi-box beekeeping. He is China's first beekeeper to successfully utilize the technique, introduced by the district government in 2016.

It took the young bee farmer five years to fully implement the new technique, and now it is helping his family and local beekeepers live a "sweet" life.

CGTN: Why does China stick to the path of common prosperity?

Spurred on by Liu and the local government, around 30 percent of bee farmers in Miyun have now adopted the new technique, greatly boosting the output and quality of their honey. Over 360 low-income farmers in Miyun have shaken off poverty since joining the beekeeping project.

"Through my example, I can motivate people around me. And those people can empower other people around them as well. In this way, we can achieve common prosperity," Liu told CGTN.

The beekeeping industry in Miyun generated around 130 million yuan ($18.91 million) in revenue in 2020, an increase of 19.3 percent over 2019. Encouraged by what has been achieved in Miyun, more and more bee farmers across China have turned to the multi-box beekeeping technique to raise their honey output while improving quality.

Chinese President Xi Jinping once quoted an ancient Chinese proverb, "The key to running a country is to first enrich the people," to explain why the country is striving for common prosperity. Liu's story gives a glimpse of China's exploration of the paths to achieve that goal.

People-centered philosophy

"The key to running a country is to first enrich the people."

The saying, which comes from Shiji, or Records of the Grand Historian, a monumental history book of ancient China compiled about 2,000 years ago, sets forth the traditional Chinese philosophy of governance: the common people are considered the foundation of a country, and only when the people prosper can the country prosper.

This is a classic piece of Chinese wisdom, and it has become part of the governance philosophy of the Chinese government in modern times.

When quoting the saying at a gathering to mark China's poverty alleviation accomplishments and honor model poverty fighters, President Xi pledged the country would adhere to the people-centered development philosophy and unswervingly follow the path of common prosperity.

"We have always remained committed to standing on the side of the people and consistently stressed that eradicating poverty, improving people's lives, and achieving common prosperity represent the essential requirements of socialism," said Xi.

Behind Liu's success is the Miyun district government. It has helped local beekeepers learn advanced apiculture techniques and provided them with high-quality queen bees at no charge.

To better help beekeepers, the district government has also provided financial aid to support about 30 projects in the sector, with an investment of about 100 million yuan, to help make commercial beekeeping standardized and industrialized.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-06-05/Why-does-China-stick-to-the-path-of-common-prosperity--1kob98IUhB6/index.html

https://youtu.be/Lom4HnpR2xI

SOURCE CGTN
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 4:30 PM Eastern time to discuss second quarter financial results and provide a business update for the third quarter to date.

A press release with second quarter financial results will be issued at approximately 4:10 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Participants can join the conference call by dialing 1-888-317-6003 and will be prompted to enter the code 7029474. International callers can dial 1-412-317-6061 and will be prompted to enter the code 7029474.

The call will also be webcast live from the Company's website on the investor relations page at ir.chipotle.com and registration is available at https://app.webinar.net/6NKMd3NzVmv. An archived webcast will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had over 3,200 restaurants as of March 31, 2022, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2023 list for Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With over 100,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.

SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citymark Capital, a private equity real estate investment firm and fund manager headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is pleased to announce that Matthew Hirsch has joined the company as Managing Director of Structured Capital Markets.

Matthew Hirsch Managing Director of Structured Capital Markets Citymark Capital

Hirsch will leverage Citymark's existing fund management platform to accelerate the company's growth as a capital solutions provider by strategically investing Citymark's existing fund capital and attracting new third-party investor capital in preferred equity, mezzanine debt and common equity structures, as well as senior debt purchases.

Prior to joining Citymark, Hirsch was a founding member of a New York-based team in CBRE's Debt and Structured Finance group. In this role, Mr. Hirsch led the origination, execution, and pricing of debt and equity executions for multifamily and mixed-use projects throughout the United States. Before joining CBRE, Hirsch was a Director in the capital advisory business at Greystone & Co. where he originated, arranged, and placed more than $8 billion in financing transactions. Hirsch's early experience also includes a position at Aurelius Capital Management.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt to Citymark Capital. Matt's deep institutional real estate investment track record and capital markets experience will have an immediate impact on Citymark's continued growth of its fund management business and overall capital markets platform," said Daniel Walsh, Founder and CEO of Citymark.

About Citymark

Citymark Capital invests capital on behalf of its institutional investors through Citymark's comprehensive real estate investment platform including joint venture equity, preferred equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt for multifamily properties throughout the United States. Citymark taps into its vast national network of experienced regional and national operating partners, brokers, and banks. For further information on Citymark Capital, visit www.citymarkcapital.com, LinkedIn or contact Dana Banda at 216-453-8088.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication should not be regarded as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be in violation of any local laws. The general information discussed is not a guarantee, prediction, or projection of real estate investments. There are risks associated with investing in real estate assets, such as inflation, interest rates, real estate tax rates, changes in the general economic climate, local conditions such as population trends and neighborhood values, and supply and demand for similar property types. This communication may contain forward-looking statements identified by the use of words such as "outlook," "indicator," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

SOURCE Citymark
Integration builds on Cyera's use of machine learning and large language models to further revolutionize

the way businesses defend their data and assure compliance

SAN MATEO, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyera, the data security company, today announced its integration with Azure OpenAI. The integration enables Cyera customers to make faster, more informed decisions about data security, privacy, and governance.

Cyera's data security platform empowers security teams to take confident, swift action by automatically deriving business context and understanding the intent behind the data being managed. The platform already makes use of Large Language Models (LLMs) to automatically differentiate between roles (like customers and employees), understand the data's origin and purpose, and learn when data can be used to identify an individual. The platform then applies the correct security, privacy and compliance policies to uncover and remediate exposures to structured and unstructured data wherever it is being managed.

Integrating OpenAI's large language models enables security practitioners to use free-form language to match data stores, data classes and issues, based on the technical or business problem they are trying to solve. For example, according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, insider threats made up 39% of data breaches in healthcare in 2022. Using semantic search to ask which issues increase an organization's risk of a breach will instantly highlight protected healthcare information (PHI) accessible by stale users.

"With the current state of data breaches and privacy exposures, we're excited about the way Cyera is harnessing the power of generative AI," said Philippe Botteri, partner at Accel. "Since its inception, Cyera has been developing reasoning and comprehension capabilities using AI and machine learning. Adding the expansive training data and cognitive capabilities offered by Azure OpenAI will accelerate the innovative approach Cyera has taken to securing data in the cloud."

OpenAI's LLMs will also accelerate how Cyera governs access to sensitive data. Cyera's unified policy engine will take advantage of the LLMs to identify misconfigurations, recommend specific access controls and generate new policies for data access governance.

"Security operations teams are overwhelmed by alerts but struggle to take action because they lack context," said Tamar Bar-Ilan, co-founder and CTO of Cyera. "We are harnessing the power of natural language processing to extract unique insights and communicate them clearly using conversational language. As we continue to develop the technology, teams  even entire data defense ecosystems  can more easily leverage Cyera's deep data context to make their security controls as dynamic as their data."

To learn more about Cyera's new and enhanced AI-powered data security solutions, visit cyera.io.

About Cyera

Cyera is the data security company that gives businesses deep context on their data, applying correct, continuous controls to assure cyber-resilience and compliance. Cyera takes a data-centric approach to security across your data landscape, empowering security teams to know where their data is, what exposes it to risk, and take immediate action to remediate exposures. Backed by leading investors including Sequoia, Accel, and Cyberstarts, Cyera is redefining the way companies do cloud data security. To learn more, visit www.cyera.io.

SOURCE Cyera US
VANCOUVER, BC, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce the completion of Phase II hydrometallurgical pilot plant test work for its wholly-owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("REE") Project and commencement of Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) work.

John Goode, Defense Metals' metallurgical consultant, noted:

"With the completion of the recent beneficiation testwork and hydrometallurgical testwork and pilot plant operations, we are now ready to provide our engineering consultants, with the metallurgical test data necessary for them to commence the design work that forms a critical part of the Wicheeda project Pre-feasibility Study."

Defense Metals intends to complete the PFS during H1-2024.

As reported on April 25, 2023, Defense Metals completed a Phase I (5 day) hydrometallurgical pilot plant operation in April 2023 and used data generated during that test work to design an expanded Phase II (10 day) pilot plant operation. Phase II operations were performed by SGS Canada Inc. at Lakefield, Ontario and were completed on May 3, 2023, after processing 370 kg of flotation concentrate produced in an earlier flotation pilot plant operation (see Defense Metals' news release dated September 23, 2020).

The results of the Phase II pilot plant operation confirm the Phase I results achieving extraction of Pr (praseodymium) and Nd (neodymium) from the acid bake calcine of more than 90%. Significantly, the mixed rare earth product generated by the Phase II operation was markedly higher in purity than that of the Phase I operation because of a change to oxalate precipitation.

Based on the results of the Phase I and Phase II pilot plants Defense Metals believes it now has all metallurgical test data necessary to support the Pre-feasibility Study.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information relating to metallurgy that is contained in this news release was provided, reviewed and approved by John Goode, P. Eng., metallurgical consultant to Defense Metals and who is a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property

Defense Metals 100% owned, 4,262-hectare (~10,532-acre) Wicheeda REE Project is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia; population 77,000. The Wicheeda property is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

The 2021 Wicheeda REE Project Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") outlined a robust after-tax net present value ([email protected]%) of $517 million and an 18% IRR[1]. This PEA contemplated an open pit mining operation with a 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio providing a 1.8 Mtpa ("million tonnes per year") mill throughput producing an average of 25,423 tonnes of Rare Earth Oxides ("REO") annually over a 16-year mine life. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed) would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of $440 million initial capital within 5 years.

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned Wicheeda REE Project with a goal of producing Rare Earth Elements that are commonly used in the production of defense and green energy technologies, such as rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles.

Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB, and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca.

For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact:

Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 994 8072

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to completion of the PFS and the expected timelines, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

__________

1 Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, British Columbia, Canada, dated January 6, 2022, with an effective date of November 7, 2021, and prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. is filed under Defense Metals Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.
BestCustomScreens.com Introduces Innovative Doggy Door Mounted on Sliding Screen Door

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BestCustomScreens.com, a leading provider of high-quality custom screen solutions, is excited to announce the launch of their latest product, the Doggy Door Mounted on a Heavy-Duty Sliding Screen Door. This innovative door is designed to provide pet owners with a convenient and secure solution for allowing their furry friends to move freely between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The Pride Pet Door is mounted on a Heavy-Duty Sliding Screen Door is specially engineered to withstand even the most dogs. You may also purchase a separate pet door to mount to an existing sliding screen door. Either solution makes it an ideal choice for pet owners who want to maintain the integrity of their home while giving their dogs the freedom they need. The custom screen door is expertly crafted with durable materials, ensuring its longevity and functionality.

Pet Doors are available for many sizes and types of dogs including teacups like Chihuahuas all the way up to Giant Newfoundlands. Sizes available include small, medium, large and extra-large doggy doors. Use the small size for standard size Cats! Maine Coon cats may be a different story. You'll need to compare their shoulder width and to the Doggy Door flap size to be sure that they'll fit..

"We are thrilled to introduce the Doggy Door Mounted on a Heavy-Duty Sliding Screen Door as the latest addition to our product lineup and is already one of our top sellers," said Steve Tristan, Director of Operations of BestCustomScreens.com." At BestCustomScreens.com, we understand the importance of providing pet owners with convenient and reliable solutions. This door combines functionality, durability, and security, allowing pets to move freely while ensuring peace of mind for homeowners."

As an industry leader in custom screen solutions, BestCustomScreens.com continues to prioritize customer satisfaction by delivering top-notch quality products and reliability.

https://youtu.be/rRsfb8HYsKI

For more information about the Doggy Door Mounted on a Heavy-Duty Sliding Screen Door and to explore BestCustomScreens.com's complete range of custom screen solutions, please visit their product page on the website at Doggy Door Mounted on Heavy Duty Sliding Screen Door Page, Or to buy a single pet door visit doggy door page.

https://youtu.be/A25BEpCIGEY

About BestCustomScreens.com: BestCustomScreens.com is a provider of high-quality custom screen solutions for residential houses, apartments and commercial applications. With a commitment to excellence, the company offers a wide range of customizable options to meet the unique needs of each customer. From window screens to even swinging screen doors with Phifer PetScreen and doggy doors too! BestCustomScreens.com delivers innovative products designed to enhance peoples lives through their pets.

Contact:

Steve Tristan

***@blindandscreen.com



Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12967915



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Best Custom Screens
This donation will specifically support the Foundation's efforts to fund programs that enhance access to health resources like HIV testing and compassionate care, and fight discriminatory laws restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ people around the world.

"When the AIDS epidemic began 32 years ago, it was a very dark moment in history," said Donatella Versace. "I personally lost four of my best friends and so many friends and colleagues from the industry. My brother Gianni suffered from the stigma associated with his sexual orientation, made worse by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I am shocked that today, with everything we know and how fast we can communicate, HIV is on the rise amongst young LGBTQ+ people. As Pride celebrations begin globally, I am committed to supporting the amazing work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation to end AIDS by 2030 and to kick start our efforts with our $300,000 match."

In addition to her longtime support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Donatella has a long history of philanthropic giving in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in support of the LGBTQ+ community. In 1993, she and Gianni Versace published their book "South Beach Stories," donating all proceeds to the Italian AIDS relief organization ANLAIDS. In 2019, Donatella was honored as an official Stonewall ambassador by Pride Live for her work to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community.

"Elton and I are honored to have our dear friend and LGBTQ+ ally, Donatella Versace joining this monumental moment for the Foundation as a Co-Chair of The Rocket Fund," said David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. "The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to impact millions of people globally. As parts of the world are becoming more divisive and dangerous, the most vulnerable among us are being left behind. This generous matching gift from Donatella Versace will help to ensure the LGBTQ+ community worldwide has increased access to HIV education, testing and compassionate care and make Elton's dream  to end AIDS in his lifetime  a reality."

Supporters can contribute to this $300,000 match commitment to the Elton John AIDS Foundation by making a donation at www.ejafrocketfund.org.

Assets:

Click here to access imagery and video assets.

About The Rocket Fund

The Rocket Fund is a targeted initiative to supercharge the Elton John AIDS Foundation's mission to reach those most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, including young people, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people who use drugs. The Rocket Fund supports programs addressing the health inequity, stigma and discrimination that enables HIV/AIDS to continue to flourish. By supporting groundbreaking programs and partners working directly with communities and governments, the Fund will enhance access to health resources like testing and medicine; fight discriminatory and dangerous laws; and empower those most at risk to take control of their health through prevention and information.

The Foundation launched this critical initiative on June 5, the day in 1981 when the Centers for Disease Control released its first report on what would become the AIDS epidemic. This inaugural Rocket Day commemorates the early days of the fight against HIV/AIDS, while committing to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS for all.

About the Elton John AIDS Foundation

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world. The Foundation's mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keep us from ending AIDS. With the mobilization of our network of generous supporters and partners, we fund local experts across four continents to challenge discrimination, prevent infections and provide treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org

Press Contact:

Mary Pavlu

[email protected]

Elton John Press Contact:

Jessica Sciacchitano

[email protected]

SOURCE Elton John AIDS Foundation
DPC Dash stores in China now hold the record as the top-six for first 30-day sales across the Domino's system globally as of May 31, 2023 .

DPC Dash operates 656 stores across 20 cities in China mainland as of May 31, 2023 .

HONG KONG, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DPC Dash Ltd ("DPC Dash" or the "Company") (HK: 1405), Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China, continues to ramp up its China expansion, bringing its China store count to 656 as of May 31, 2023.

New stores in Qingdao and Wenzhou, which opened on April 29, 2023, both broke the existing Domino's global system record for sales in the first 30 days, to rank 1st and 2nd, respectively, worldwide. As of May 31, 2023, DPC Dash stores now hold all top six spots for first 30-day sales among Domino's stores globally.

DPC Dash has adapted and built upon the proven business model of its franchisor Domino's by localizing its key features for China and its consumers, focusing on serving Chinese consumers delicious, value-for-money pizzas through online channels, with an emphasis on delivery, enhanced by technology. The efficient store economic model of DPC Dash has provided the foundation for its fast-growing store network, and the Company believes it will enable continued expansion throughout China, targeting to open approximately 180 new stores in 2023 and approximately 240 new stores in 2024.

Ms. Aileen Wang, executive director and chief executive officer of DPC Dash, said, "We are pleased to see the continuous high-quality growth of our presence in China. We adopt a unique business model that combines the globally recognized Domino's playbook with our knowledge of the China market, aiming at serving handcrafted, quality pizza at a competitive price, with easy ordering access and efficient delivery, enhanced by technological innovations."

Under the current management, DPC Dash will continue to execute its tailored localization strategies, implemented an actionable store expansion plan, become more focused on a delivery-centric business model, and strengthened its development capabilities with respect to both menu and technology.

About DPC Dash

DPC Dash is Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Domino's Pizza, Inc., DPC Dash's global franchisor, is one of the most widely-recognized global consumer brands and the world's largest pizza company. Led by a seasoned and visionary management team, DPC Dash is a market leader that differentiates from competitors with, among others, a continually developed and localized pizza-focused menu, unique expertise and leadership in delivery, technology focus and scalable and replicable store economic model.

DPC Dash directly operates 656 stores across 20 cities in China mainland as of May 31, 2023. The Company is the fastest growing among China's top-five pizza brands, as well as the third-largest in terms of 2022 revenue, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan in March 2023.

For more information, visit www.dpcdash.com

Contacts

Media Relations

DPC Dash Public Relations:

ICR, LLC

[email protected]

SOURCE DPC Dash Ltd
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Julian Mitton MD, a renowned healthcare leader and consultant, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students. This prestigious scholarship aims to support aspiring healthcare professionals who are committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities in the United States. Through this scholarship, Dr. Mitton seeks to foster innovative solutions that will improve healthcare delivery and access in underserved areas.

The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students is a one-time award of $1,000 designed to assist current undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in healthcare-related fields at universities across the United States. High school students planning to enroll in healthcare-related degree programs at universities are also eligible to apply.

Julian Mitton MD, a distinguished healthcare leader, researcher and consultant, has an extensive background in healthcare leadership, implementation science and consulting. His passion for the field stems from his upbringing in a family of healthcare professionals. Dr. Mitton earned his Master's degree in Public Health from the Harvard University School of Public Health , and embarked on his career as a primary care provider and health educator at a community health center, focusing on preventive care education and chronic disease management.

"I am thrilled to launch the Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students," said Julian Mitton MD. "It is my firm belief that the future of healthcare lies in the hands of dedicated individuals who are driven to find innovative solutions for rural communities. Through this scholarship, I aim to provide financial support and encouragement to those who share my passion for improving healthcare delivery and access in underserved areas."

The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students not only recognizes the academic excellence of the recipient but also acknowledges their commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare. By investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals, Dr. Mitton hopes to inspire and empower students to develop groundbreaking solutions that will transform the lives of individuals in rural communities across the United States.

For further information on the Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students and to apply, please visit the official scholarship website at https://drjulianmittonscholarship.com/.

SOURCE Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is confident that the detention of the head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniazev speaks of hope for the cleansing of the judicial system in the country.

"I believe that if the head of the Supreme Court in the country is detained and will be imprisoned behind bars, then this is about hope... I believe that this is the right decision. It is very important that such a person is detained. I think this is about hope. I want to believe in it," he said at a press conference in Kyiv.

According to him, the detention of Kniazev also indicates that qualification commissions of judges, the High Council of Justice and other bodies are starting to work in the state.

"All these are starting to work. It seems to me that this is an example of the fact that no one is hiding anything, because there are judges who have already passed modern selection. They are already working. And therefore there was a proposal from the relevant committee of the Rada, which should develop very serious, slightly tough steps to clean up the judiciary. Let's see what they have in store," he said.

The head of state also added that appropriate amendments to laws should also be prepared.

As reported, the HACC arrested ex-head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Kniazev, convicted of bribery, until July 14, 2023 with an alternative bail of more than UAH 107 million.

Kniazev is suspected of receiving $2.7 million in improper benefits.
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire Closets, a renowned provider of custom closet design and installation  known for some of the best home storage and organization solutions, is thrilled to announce its expansion to Brooklyn, NYC! As one of the hottest real estate markets in New York City, Brooklyn is a thriving borough known for its vibrant neighborhoods and diverse community. The award winning design team at Empire Closets has been helping clients all across NYC for many years with their highly-rated interior design work. Experts in the field of home storage and organization, Empire Closets has been helping clients throughout Queens for years. In recent years however, their team has received the recognition they truly deserved and become the talk of the interior design world! And residents of Brooklyn will be the next ones to reap the benefits!

"Brooklyn is a vibrant place that's home to a lot of young couples, artists on the grind, and the spirit of hard work and hustle permeates the air! It's also a place where a lot of individuals across the city are looking to move," said a spokesperson for Empire Closets. "And with so many eclectic neighborhoods, and interesting people moving into, let's face it, smaller, more cramped NYC apartments  the team at Empire Closets is excited to get to work, and help these individuals to maximize the use of their space, and create the most brilliant of storage solutions and custom closets. Plus, Brooklyn is a borough of artists and artsy people  and we're excited to explore their personal styles, tastes and truly make every one of our custom solutions suited to their needs!"

To celebrate their expansion into Brooklyn, Empire Closets is offering an exclusive special. Clients can enjoy $500 off any project valued over $3000! This limited-time offer presents an excellent opportunity for residents of Brooklyn to transform their living spaces into a more organized, stylish, and expertly efficient environment.

From walk-in closets to reach-in closets, pantry organization to home office storage, Empire Closets offers a comprehensive set of solutions designed to maximize space and simplify lives. With personalized service, affordable pricing, and some of the fastest turnaround times, the team at Empire Closets is here to bring your design dreams to life! Learn more about Empire Closets or to schedule a free, 1-on-1 design consultation, visit their website at empireclosets.com or contact them at 718.712.4244!

Media Contact:

Cynthia Bassant

718.712.4244

[email protected]

SOURCE Empire Closets
CLEARWATER, Fla. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of Enigma Software Group USA, LLC ("Enigma") that it can proceed with its lawsuit against Malwarebytes on its claims that Malwarebytes has engaged in anticompetitive conduct, false advertising under the Lanham Act and tortious interference with Enigma's business relations.

The Appellate Panel majority specifically held: "In the context of this case, we conclude that when a company in the computer security business describes a competitor's software as 'malicious' and a 'threat' to a customer's computer, that is more a statement of objective fact than a non-actionable opinion." The Panel further explained that the First Amendment does not protect such statements: "Enigma has alleged that Malwarebytes disparaged Enigma's products for commercial advantage by making misleading statements of fact. If those allegations are true, and at this state we must presume that they are, trying to wrap them in a First Amendment flag does not make them any less offensive or any less actionable."

Finally, the Appellate Panel rejected Malwarebytes' assertion that it lacked business contacts in New York and, thus, ruled in favor of Enigma that Malwarebytes was subject to personal jurisdiction in New York and that New York law applies. The Appellate Panel sent the case back to the District Court for the continuation of case proceedings.

Enigma filed suit against Malwarebytes on claims of unfair trade practices, interference with business relations, and false advertising in connection with Enigma's claims that Malwarebytes had unlawfully blocked consumers from using Enigma's cybersecurity protection software products, thereby harming consumers and damaging Enigma.

This new Ninth Circuit ruling is the second time the Court of Appeals has rejected Malwarebytes' attempts to avoid responding to Enigma's claims. Previously, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Malwarebytes was not protected from liability on Enigma's claims by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act because Enigma adequately alleged Malwarebytes' anticompetitive conduct.

Opinion: Enigma Software Group USA, LLC v. Malwarebytes, Inc., No. 21-16466 (9th Cir. June 2, 2023)

About Enigma Software Group

Enigma Software Group is a privately held international systems integrator and developer of PC security software, with offices in the United States and the European Union. Enigma is best known for SpyHunter 4, its anti-malware software. SpyHunter 4 has scored top grades by independent third-party testing labs such as AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST .

SOURCE EnigmaSoft Limited
President and Founder of US Ghost Adventures Continues to Support Ukrainian Defense

Download hi-res images here

Courtesy of US Ghost Adventures

ORLANDO, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the war in Ukraine enters its 16th month, Lance Zaal, founder of US Ghost Adventures, announces his fourth trip to the war zone June 6th to continue to support the men he trained and others he met along the way. Some of the fighters include Americans who have volunteered, and Russian Legion, whom Zaal financially supports. Zaal is a Marine veteran who traveled to Ukraine on three separate occasions in the last year.

He first trained 80 civilians to resist invading Russians in March and April of 2022, and supplied them with body armor vests, first aid kits, and provided night vision optics and other supplies to Alpha GRU, an elite Ukrainian Spetsnaz group.

Subsequent trips led him to Kharkiv to Donbas and Zaporizhzhia, where he continued to support the men with drones, thermal and night vision optics, secure communications equipment, and other supplies.

Along the way, he met a heroic helicopter pilot, who would later be awarded Ukraine's highest honor, Hero of Ukraine, by President Zelensky, and supported their unit with critical supplies. Zaal has spent nearly a quarter million to date and continues to seek donations from the public through Ghosts of Liberty to accelerate his efforts.

Ghosts of Liberty is a private organization Zaal established to help the public and combat veterans who are looking to support the resistance movement and help citizens in Ukraine fight back.

"I will continue to do everything I can to meet the needs of those defending Ukraine. Despite assistance from governments and organizations across the world, the scope of the conflict is so vast  and brutal  that many small and important needs remain unfulfilled," said Zaal. "I may not be training any longer, but I feel I have a duty to continue my support by employing my resources to a just cause. As a veteran I could train them, but as a businessman with resources, I can do much more to further that support."

Zaal believes that no one deserves to be thrown into such a brutal war, especially in the 21st century, and he encourages everyone to rally to support Ukraine because he says this is everyone's fight.

"The men I trained were good people and not fighters; they are photographers, real estate investors, doctors, dentists, and artists  all who rose to the occasion. Some have been killed, others captured, and many others wounded. Their death and pain both saddens and angers me. It's easy for me to give money, when they are forced to fight for their lives and loved ones."

ABOUT US GHOST ADVENTURES

US Ghost Adventures provides entertaining, historic and authentic ghost tours and experiences across the United States' most haunted cities. More than 120 employees deliver fun, honest, and bone-tingling accounts of the very real hauntings that are so prevalent across the nation. US Ghost Adventures strives to make sense of the unexplainable by showing guests haunted places and sharing the stories of the people who left their mark on them. The stories are derived from historic research, as well as interviews of rsthand accounts from those who have witnessed the unexplained. The tour guides are passionate about and committed to delivering memorable experiences for each guest.

Media Contact: Lauren Witt

817-721-5576

[email protected]

SOURCE US Ghost Adventures
ZHUHAI, China, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Daily Mail Pakistan:

In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, one healthcare expert has emerged as a leading authority: Dr.Umar Saeed. With an impressive academic background and extensive experience in infectious diseases, Dr.Saeed has made significant contributions to the field and gained recognition both locally and internationally.

Dr.Umar Saeed's expertise is rooted in his remarkable qualifications, including multiple degrees from prestigious institutions worldwide. Holding post-doctoral training in South Korea and a Ph.D. from a renowned South Korean institution, he possesses invaluable insights into infectious diseases and global healthcare practices. Furthermore, his affiliation with esteemed institutions such as Harvard University (USA) and the Royal College of Physicians (UK) enhances his credibility as a medical professional.

Certifications from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (UK), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (USA) underscore Dr.Umar Saeed's commitment to staying at the forefront of medical advancements and global health standards.

Dr. Saeed's extensive research, with over 100 published articles in top-ranked medical journals focusing on infectious diseases, has made a significant impact on the scientific community. With more than 1700 cumulative citations, his standing as a prominent figure in the medical field is solidified. In an exclusive interview, Dr.Umar Saeed shared valuable insights on the latest advancements, global preparedness, and ongoing challenges in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked about staying updated with the latest research, Dr.Saeed emphasized the importance of continuous learning and collaboration. He actively seeks out new knowledge to enhance his understanding in the ever-evolving landscape of the pandemic.

Acknowledging the efforts made by various countries in the fight against COVID-19, Dr.Umar Saeed expressed gratitude for their provision of medical supplies, foreign funding, and vaccine distribution. He specifically praised nations such as China, Europe, and Arabian countries for their crucial contributions. Dr.Saeed also emphasized the significance of prevention measures in containing the spread of the virus.

In terms of global pandemic preparedness, Dr.Umar Saeed offered valuable suggestions for governments and health organizations worldwide. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts, knowledge sharing, and addressing unique regional challenges. Additionally, he advocated for the inclusion of young scientists in research and development, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and engineering sciences, to strengthen defense mechanisms against future outbreaks.

Dr. Saeed also highlighted the importance of adopting successful strategies implemented by China in western epidemic prevention policies. He praised China's efforts in restricting the spread of the virus and called for the implementation of similar prevention measures globally. He referred to a preclinical trial conducted in Pakistan, which showed promising results for a Chinese vaccine. While the initial trial demonstrated high antibody levels, Dr.Saeed explained that a follow-up dose was necessary to maintain sustainable protection. He emphasized the time-consuming nature of vaccine development and stressed the importance of global cooperation in overcoming challenges.

Dr.Umar Saeed emphasized the need for united action by countries and health organizations to safeguard global health. Collaboration, implementation of prevention strategies, conducting clinical studies, and addressing future epidemics were identified as crucial steps in protecting lives worldwide.

The 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) held significant importance for Dr.Umar Saeed, as it made progress on several global health issues. With representatives from 194 WHO Member States, the WHA called for a global ceasefire to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential health services.

It also approved a resolution on strengthening the global health architecture and advocated for increased investment in research and development of new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Dr.Saeed viewed the WHA as a demonstration of countries' commitment to working together to improve global health.

In these challenging times, healthcare professionals like Dr.Umar Saeed serve as beacons of hope. Their expertise, dedication, and tireless efforts foster international collaboration and reinforce our collective commitment to overcoming this global crisis.

Original linkhttps://dailymailnews.pk/challenges-in-combating-covid-19-a-perspective-from-an-expert/

SOURCE Daily Mail Pakistan
PUNE, India, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent market study published by Growth Market Reports, titled "Ethernet Testers Market Segments - By Connection Type (Up to 1G, 1G to 100G, and Above 100G), Product Type (Speed Tester, Wire Mapping, Continuity Tester, Permanent Link Tester, and Network Channel Tester), End-use Industry (Automotive, Manufacturing, IT & Telecommunication, Transportation & Logistics, and Others), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Region: Size, Share, Trends and Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2031", the market size was USD 1.64 Billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass USD 2.56 Billion expanding at a CAGR of 5.1% by the end of 2031. Rising demand for high-speed data is anticipated to boost the market during the forecast period.

Recent Development:

In March 2023, VIAVI introduced its High-Speed Ethernet platform, which offers IC, network system companies, and module with high-speed devices for testing up to 128 x 800G.

Key Market Players Profiled in the Report

VIAVI Solutions Inc.

Fluke Corporation

Anritsu

Teledyne Technologies

Yokogawa Test & Measurement Corporation

Keysight Technologies

Spirent Communication

EXFO

VeEX Inc

NetAlly, LLC

HIOKI E.E. CORPORATION

Tektronix Inc

Xena Networks.

Tempo Communications, Inc

Download PDF Sample here: https://growthmarketreports.com/request-sample/5212

The report covers comprehensive data on emerging trends, market drivers, growth opportunities, and restraints that can change the market dynamics. It provides an in-depth analysis of the market segments, which include connection type, product type, end-use industry, distribution channel, and competitor analysis.

This report also includes a complete analysis of industry players and covers their latest developments, product portfolio, pricing, mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. Moreover, it provides crucial strategies that are helping market players to expand their market share.

For Any Questions on This Report: https://growthmarketreports.com/enquiry-before-buying/5212

Highlights on the Segments of the Ethernet Testers Market

On the basis of region, the global ethernet testers market is classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is projected to dominate the global market due to the increasing demand for ethernet testers from the telecommunication industry and data centers.

To Buy the Complete Report: https://growthmarketreports.com/report/ethernet-testers-market-global-industry-analysis

Key Takeaways from the Study:

Ethernet testers are used to measure and analyze various parameters, moreover, they verify network configurations, troubleshoot issues, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

It is a useful tool for IT professionals, network technicians, and system administrators to detect and fix network problems.

In developing countries, the rising demand for Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) is expected to fuel the market in the coming years. MANs and WANs are complex networks and require specialized testing to ensure proper functionality.

Government and several companies invest in network testing equipment to address the complexities of networks.

6G and 7G networks offer speed, latency, and reliable connection with the help of fiber optics technology. Growing demand for these networks and the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure are projected to create lucrative opportunities for market players.

The permanent link tester segment is expected to hold a major share of the market as it is widely used to measure the performance of installed cable systems.

segment is expected to hold a major share of the market as it is widely used to measure the performance of installed cable systems. The IT & telecommunication segment is expected to grow significantly as ethernet testers verify ethernet cabling and ethernet-related hardware installation.

segment is expected to grow significantly as ethernet testers verify ethernet cabling and ethernet-related hardware installation. The offline segment is likely to hold a substantial share of the market in the coming years, as it offers physical locations to purchase products. It helps customers with after-sale product services, purchases, and product selection.

Read 269 Pages Research Report with Detailed TOC on "Ethernet Testers Market Segments - by Connection Type (Up to 1G, 1G to 100G, and Above 100G), Product Type (Speed Tester, Wire Mapping, Continuity Tester, Permanent Link Tester, and Network Channel Tester), End-use Industry (Automotive, Manufacturing, IT & Telecommunication, Transportation & Logistics, and Others), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast, 2023  2031"

Get Full Access to this Report: https://growthmarketreports.com/checkout/5212

Key Segments Covered

Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Distribution Channel

OEM

Aftermarket

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Other Related Reports:

Carrier Ethernet Equipment Market Segments - by Applications (Residential, Businesses, Enterprise, and Mobile Applications) and Regions ( Asia Pacific , North America , Latin America , Europe , and Middle East & Africa ) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 20212028

Global Ethernet Gateway Market by Type (Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet), By Application (Servers, Embedded Systems, Consumer Applications, Routers, and Switches, Desktop Systems, Others), And by Region ( North America , Latin America , Europe , Asia Pacific , and Middle East & Africa ), Forecast From 2022 To 2030

Global Ethernet over Coax EoC Equipment Market by Type (Passive EOC, Active EOC), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Region ( North America , Latin America , Europe , Asia Pacific , and Middle East & Africa ), Forecast To 2028

Global In-Vehicle Ethernet System Market by Type (One Pair Ethernet -OPEN, Energy Efficient Ethernet, Power Over Ethernet-PoW, Gigabit Ethernet -GIG-E), By Application (Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, Heavy Commercial Vehicles) and Region ( North America , Latin America , Europe , Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa ), Forecast From 2022 To 2030

About Growth Market Reports:

Growth Market Reports provides global enterprises as well as small & medium businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Industry Intelligence Solutions". Growth Market Reports has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients in making strategic business decisions and achieving sustainable growth in their respective market domains.

Our key analysis segments, though not restricted to the same, include market entry strategies, market size estimations, market trend analysis, market opportunity analysis, market threat analysis, market growth/fall forecasting, primary interviews, and secondary research & consumer surveys.

Contact:

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Phone: +1 909 414 1393

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SOURCE Growth Market Reports
Backed by global technology investor EQT Ventures and impact investor Norrsken VC, evroc recently closed a seed funding round to build its launch team.

In 2024, evroc will establish a pilot center in the Stockholm region, while initiating a site selection process to determine the location of its first hyperscale data centers and additional software development hubs.

region, while initiating a site selection process to determine the location of its first hyperscale data centers and additional software development hubs. evroc plans to build eight hyperscale centers and three development hubs across Europe by 2028, employing over 3,000 people in total.

STOCKHOLM, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Founded in 2022 to power a digital Europe, today evroc presents its plans to build Europe's first secure, sovereign, and sustainable hyperscale cloud, putting an end to the foreign dominance of the European cloud market.

Rendition of evroc's architecturally designed hyperscale data center

Backed by global technology investor EQT Ventures and impact investor Norrsken VC, evroc recently closed a seed funding round to build its launch team. The company now plans to raise and invest 3 billion over the next couple of years to develop and operate two hyperscale data centers  one in Northern Europe and one in Southern Europe. By 2028, evroc's aims to establish eight hyperscale data centers, as well as three software development hubs, across the continent, employing over 3,000 people in total.



"The lack of home-grown hyperscale cloud providers poses a serious challenge for Europe. Not only because our citizens' data is placed under foreign ownership by companies operating under laws that conflict with European privacy legislation. It is also a real threat to our long-term competitiveness in a digital world where others are advancing much faster. Europe's digital economy must be built on a European foundation," says Mattias Astrom, founder and CEO, evroc.

Cloud services play a key role in critical digital infrastructure. Between 2017 and 2022, the European cloud market grew five-fold. During the same time, the market share of European cloud players fell from 27% to 13%.

A competitive European hyperscale cloud is critical to enable the continent's digital economy, keeping investments, job creation, technology development and intellectual property rights within its borders. It will also give Europe digital sovereignty that is compliant with European privacy legislation, settling a long standing problem.

"evroc has spotted an exciting opportunity to make Europe a leader in cloud technologies by bringing together the continent's brightest minds, ambitious thinkers, and experienced entrepreneurs. We believe the next generation of European tech companies will be built on evroc's cloud services," says Ted Persson, Partner at EQT Ventures.

Data centers have until now had a significant environmental footprint, consuming about three percent of the global electricity supply, and accounting for two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

evroc will build the world's cleanest cloud by leveraging next-generation energy-efficient technologies to maximize its sustainability impact, including a unique and proprietary eco load balancer solution. The eco load balancer enables data to flow seamlessly and securely between evroc's data centers based on where renewable energy is most readily available and affordable.

"The data center industry is on par with the airline industry in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Data processing will continue to grow substantially over the coming decades, causing significant emissions and damage to our climate, unless we change direction. evroc's holistic strategy for clean energy usage, combined with the implementation of state-of-the-art energy efficiency technology, could set the standard for the entire industry," says Tove Larsson, Partner at Norrsken VC.

This year evroc is piloting its software stack together with selected key customers across government, military, financial services and automotive sectors. evroc's offering includes a full suite of cloud services, integration to third party applications and a best-in-class developer experience.

In 2024, evroc will establish a pilot center in the Stockholm region, while initiating a site selection process to determine the location of the first two European hyperscale centers and additional software development hubs.

"Status quo is not an option for Europe. We want to build a better cloud that is secure, sustainable, and sovereign, and with that, power Europe's digital economy," says Mattias Astrom.

About evroc

Founded to power a digital Europe, evroc is building a secure, sovereign, and sustainable hyperscale cloud with best-in-class services and developer experience. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with a development office in Sophia-Antipolis, France. By 2028, evroc will operate eight hyperscale data centers and three software development hubs across Europe.

The CEO and founder, Mattias Astrom, spent more than a decade building technology companies in the United States and is now returning to his native Sweden. Prior to evroc, Mattias founded five businesses, with energy efficiency at the core, that were acquired by Apple, Nokia, Murata and Schneider Electric.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091831/evroc.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2091761/evroc_Logo.jpg

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE evroc
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the worldwide data center market will grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3866

Worldwide Data Center Market Report by Arizton

North America and Western Europe are among the mature and developed markets in data center development. APAC countries such as China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others are among the advanced market with the presence of all the global data center operators. Countries such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and others are witnessing growth in terms of development from several new operators entering the data center market.

Hyperscalers such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services are actively involved in expanding their presence in existing locations across the U.S. and are expanding to other countries apart for the United States. The Nordics region is also among the preferred locations by the hyperscalers to develop data center facilities owing to the free cooling solutions, availability of renewable energy, district heating systems, and others. Some major colocation operators involved in the investment in 2022 include Equinix, Digital Realty, QTS Realty Trust, Iron Mountain, Vantage Data Centers, NTT Global Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, CyrusOne, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, AirTrunk, GDS Services, and VNET Group.

Worldwide Data Center Market Report Scope

Report Scope Details Market Investment (2028) USD 289.66 Billion Market Investment (2022) USD 215.73 Billion CAGR By Revenue (2022-2028) 5.03 % Market Size - Area (2028) 58.15 Million Square Feet Power Capacity (2028) 9,778.6 MW Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segments Facility, Infrastructure, Electrical Infrastructure, Mechanical Infrastructure, Cooling Systems, Cooling Technique, General Construction, Tier Standards, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, APAC, and Southeast Asia Market Dynamics  Growth in Submarine & Inland Connectivity  Increased M&As & Joint Ventures  Data Center Investments Fueled by Big Data & IoT  Government Support for Data Center Investments  Increased Demand for Cloud-based Services



Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3866

Key Highlights

In 2022, the global data center market witnessed investments of over $215.73 billion owing to investments from colocation operators, such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, Iron Mountain, QTS Realty Trust, NTT Global Data Centers, DataBank, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.

owing to investments from colocation operators, such as Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, Iron Mountain, QTS Realty Trust, NTT Global Data Centers, DataBank, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres. Hyperscalers, such as Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google, also aid the market with investments. These companies expand their global presence, focusing on emerging locations across Europe and APAC.

and APAC. Aside from AWS, Google, and Microsoft, cloud operators include Alibaba Cloud , Tencent Cloud, Oracle, IBM Cloud, and OVHcloud. They are involved in the development of several cloud regions globally, which will increase data center investments.

Buy the Report Now: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/data-center-market-investment-forecast

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Data Centers Embrace Liquid Cooling for AI & ML Workloads

Rapid Surge in Liquid Cooling Adoption as Data Centers Cater to Demands of AI & ML Workloads. Superior Efficiency and Cooling Solutions Vital for Data Centers Handling AI & ML Workloads, Fueling Growth of Liquid Cooling Technology. Meta (Facebook) Puts Expansion Projects on Hold to Develop AI-Optimized Data Center Designs, Highlighting Importance of Advanced Cooling Technologies. Two-Phase Immersion Cooling and Direct-to-Chip Solutions Gain Traction as Data Centers Address Heat Challenges from AI & ML Workloads.

Tax Incentives Drive Data Center Market Growth, with the U.S. and India Leading the Way

Data Center Market Growth Fueled by Tax Incentives as Countries Compete for Operators. The U.S. Dominates Data Center Market with Tax Incentives, India Emerges as a Strong Competitor. Tax Incentive Strategies Propel Data Center Market Expansion in the U.S. and India. States in the U.S. and India Offer Lucrative Tax Incentives to Attract Data Center Investments. India's Data Center Market Rises with Tax Incentive Policies, Following the U.S. Trend. Tax Incentive Initiatives Boost Data Center Market in the U.S. and Key Indian States. The U.S. and Indian States Roll Out Tax Incentives to Foster Data Center Investments.

Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain disruptions are a major challenge faced by data center developers recently. With the onset of COVID-19, supply chain disruptions increased, leading to a shortage of infrastructure such as power equipment, cooling infrastructure, chips, and other infrastructure. Also, political instability and disturbances between Russia and Ukraine led to a price hike in energy and fuel costs. One of the major shortages faced by operators was chip shortage, which led to a decline in the manufacturing of several infrastructures.

Key Investors & Investments

In 2022, hyperscale investments in the US were over 25 projects by major operators, including Meta (Facebook), Google, Microsoft, and AWS.

Recently, Meta (Facebook) announced its plan to pause expanding and constructing new data center facilities across the US and the world. The company aims to design a new AI data center and redesign its data center facilities for artificial intelligence workloads.

Hyperscale providers continuously expand. For instance, AWS announced its plan to invest around $2.4 billion in the UK to build and operate data centers.

Customization Available: https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/3866

The report includes the investment in the following areas:

Facility Type

Hyperscale Data Centers

Colocation Data Centers

Enterprise Data Centers

Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

IT Infrastructure

Server Infrastructure

Storage Infrastructure

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Transfer Switches & Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC & CRAH Units

Chiller Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, & Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

Cooling Technique

Air-based Cooling

Liquid-based Cooling

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Building & Engineering Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

DCIM

Tier Standards

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

Latin America

Brazil



Chile



Colombia



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Western Europe

The UK



Germany



France



Netherlands



Ireland



Italy



Spain



Belgium



Switzerland



Portugal



Other Western European Countries

Nordics

Norway



Sweden



Denmark



Finland & Iceland

& Central & Eastern Europe

Russia



Poland



Austria



Czech Republic



Other CEE Countries

Middle East

The UAE



Saudi Arabia



Israel



Oman



Kuwait



Qatar



Bahrain



Jordan



Other Middle East Countries

Africa

South Africa



Kenya



Nigeria



Egypt



Ethiopia



Other African Countries

APAC

China



Hong Kong



Australia



New Zealand



India



Japan



South Korea



Taiwan



Rest of APAC

Southeast Asia

Singapore



Indonesia



Malaysia



Thailand



Philippines



Vietnam



Other Southeast Asia Countries

About Our Data Center Capabilities

Arizton's team of principal consultants and analysts work towards publishing extensive secondary and primary research that is credible, resourceful, and data-driven. With over 5 years of experience, Arizton has helped several Fortune 500 companies with data-driven insights that enabled them to expand their businesses to niche regions, added over a billion dollars in revenues, and effective go-to-market strategies. We offer various product portfolios to meet the client requirements, which align with their key business strategies and identify high-value growth avenues.

Exhaustive syndicated reports, databases, country-wise market analysis, & customized consulting projects are published by our exuberant and well-experienced analysts who possess exemplary skills in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research. Subscribe to our exhaustive portfolios to access premium research reports at competitive prices. Partner with Arizton for your next strategic business decision and gain a competitive advantage with real-time, data-driven research.

Check the detailed table of contents of the report @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/data-center-market-investment-forecast?details=tableOfContents

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

Contact Us:

Call: +1-312-235-2040

+1 302 469 0707

Mail: [email protected]

Contact Us: https://www.arizton.com/contact-us

Blog: https://www.arizton.com/blog

Website: https://www.arizton.com/

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/818553/Arizton_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Presenters address strategic need for onboarding process automation.

HOUSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FINBOA and Aite-Novarica are partnering to co-present a live webinar focused on process improvement strategies for Treasury Onboarding in banks and credit unions. FINBOA is a leading innovator in award-winning, SaaS intelligent process automation for regulatory compliance in financial institutions. The Aite-Novarica Group is an industry-leading consultancy of more than 70 analysts and industry practitioners with extensive expertise and relationships across all subsectors of the financial services industry. The FINBOA-hosted webinar entitled: "Treasury Onboarding: Turning Necessity into Strategic Advantage" will be held on June 13, 2023. All Bankers are welcome to attend this event and can register HERE.

During this webinar, Paul Kizirian, Strategic Advisor serving on Aite-Novarica Group's Commercial Banking & Payments practice, and Dave Hunkele, FINBOA Strategy and Business Development Advisor, will discuss the market imperative of effective onboarding to grow and compete in today's banking environment. Aite-Novarica Group research data and insights will be shared highlighting how modernizing treasury service onboarding processes improves sales, operations, and the customer experience. The session will include ample time for audience Q&A.

Currently, more than 170 banks and credit unions nationwide trust FINBOA solutions to modernize the inefficient manual processes or systems commonly used to manage regulatory compliance for Payment Disputes, Loan Onboarding, Exception Management, Treasury Onboarding and Wires. FINBOA solutions are often implemented and go live within 90 days.

FINBOA's Treasury Onboarding solution provides a groundbreaking SaaS solution that enables financial institutions to automate and digitize onboarding processes across the organization to improve Treasury client lead generation and sales, ensure consistent and complete client information access to make informed decisions for decision-making and enhanced risk management reviews, and to simplify the annual review process.

About Aite-Novarica Group

Aite-Novarica Group is an advisory firm providing mission-critical insights on technology, regulations, strategy, and operations to hundreds of banks, insurers, payments providers, and investment firmsas well as the technology and service providers that support them. Comprising former senior technology, strategy, and operations executives as well as experienced researchers and consultants, our experts provide actionable advice to our client base, leveraging deep insights developed via our extensive network of clients and other industry contacts. Visit us on the web and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About FINBOA

FINBOA provides intelligent process automation to banks and credit unions to simplify and improve regulatory compliance by eliminating manual systems. Leveraging extensive industry experience and a commitment to customer service, FINBOA delivers transformative software proven to enable institutional growth by reducing operational costs and risk. In 2022, FINBOA's industry success was recognized as a finalist in the FinTech Banking Tech for the Future award. The Houston Business Journal (HBJ) named FINBOA the 11th place ranking on the 2022 HBJ Fast 100 List, recognizing the company's rapid growth. FINBOA is headquartered in Houston. Learn more at www.finboa.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter .

SOURCE FINBOA
With the new capabilities, Fingerprint provides high-quality, accurate data to reveal the true intentions of every visitor, even if they're anonymous

CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Fingerprint , the world's most accurate device intelligence platform, announced the launch of Fingerprint Pro Plus, featuring the company's latest innovation, Smart Signals . These new capabilities provide real-time, actionable intelligence that builds on Fingerprint's browser and device identification signals which more than 6,000 companies use to help fight and prevent fraud.

Browser Bot Detection is one of the Fingerprint Smart Signal capabilities that provide businesses with deeper insight into anonymous visitors to help fight and prevent fraud. VPN Detection is one of Fingerprint Smart Signal capabilities that provide businesses with deeper insight into anonymous visitors to help fight and prevent fraud.

"Smart Signals marks the start of an exciting new era for Fingerprint. They enable businesses to make smart, data-driven decisions based on real-time actionable intelligence to prevent increasingly sophisticated fraud while providing a positive experience for trusted users," said Dan Pinto , CEO and co-founder of Fingerprint. "Just in the last month alone, Fingerprint identified 4.3 million instances of bad bots, 14 million users visiting in incognito mode, and 21 million users browsing with a VPN."

Fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to conceal their identity, which means the platforms and decision engines companies use to prevent abuse need to be smarter and adapt quickly to changes in browser and mobile application technology. Fingerprint is uniquely qualified to identify these fraudsters using Smart Signals, a set of signals not used in legacy fraud prevention solutions that provide deeper insight into anonymous visitors. Smart Signals are used in conjunction with the Fingerprint visitor identification capabilities to offer actionable insight when a browser has been tampered with or when a VPN is used, for example. This new feature set is a game-changer for companies that need more timely, accurate data to fight against fraudsters and bolster their analytics strategies.

"Fingerprint is a critical piece of our workflow and Smart Signals will enhance accuracy further," said Pierre Roudaut, Senior Engineering Manager, Fraud at Checkout.com. "We're excited to expand our Fingerprint usage to continue to identify fraudulent payments within our system."

Smart Signals are available as part of the company's new offering, Fingerprint Pro Plus, which is built for organizations that need additional insights to understand their anonymous users, identify malicious users, and prevent fraud. These signals include:

VPN detection

Browser bot detection

Browser tamper detection

Incognito mode detection

IP geolocation

Additional Smart Signals are available in Fingerprint Enterprise, which is built for companies that need additional security, support, and enterprise-scale features. These signals include:

IP blocklist matching

Raw device attributes

Android tamper detection

Android emulator detection

"Fingerprint has been instrumental in preventing fraud for Kadeo," said Shaun Deans, founder at Kadeo. "With their highly accurate Smart Signals, we've been able to accurately identify nefarious users on our clients' sites without adding additional friction for good users."

The Fingerprint device intelligence platform includes identification signals, Smart Signals, and a rich set of developer tools. Fingerprint primarily caters to industries such as software, fintech, financial institutions, online gaming, eCommerce, and transaction processing, with customers ranging from risk management and fraud prevention teams to engineering and product leaders at organizations of all sizes.

Fingerprint is easy to integrate and provides the highest accuracy device identification (up to 99.5%), powering sophisticated fraud engines to inform the most critical security decisions. Users can now confidently identify both human and automated threats with device intelligence that has been fine-tuned for accuracy executing billions of requests at scale.

To learn more about Smart Signals and how engineering teams and business leaders can outwit fraud, register now to attend the June 27 webinar, starting at 10:30 a.m. Pacific / 1:30 p.m. Eastern. In the meantime, try Fingerprint Pro Plus for free by signing up for a 14-day trial .

About Fingerprint

Fingerprint, powered by the most accurate device intelligence platform, enables companies to prevent fraud and improve user experiences. Fingerprint processes more than 70 browser, device, network, and user behavior signals to determine the true intentions of every user  even if they're anonymous. With a commitment to best-in-class data security and privacy, Fingerprint is proud to be ISO 27001 certified, and SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and CCPA compliant. Fingerprint is trusted by over 6,000 companies worldwide, including 16% of the top 500 websites, to help catch sophisticated fraudsters and personalize experiences for trusted users. Learn more at fingerprint.com .

Media Contacts

Raven Carpenter

BLASTmedia for Fingerprint

[email protected]

317-806-1900 ext. 171

SOURCE Fingerprint
Firmament Backs Scanco to Drive Growth and Innovation in Warehouse and Manufacturing Automation Solutions

NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Firmament, a provider of structured equity capital solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises, announced today its acquisition of Scanco Software, LLC ("Scanco"), one of the leading providers of innovative software solutions for the manufacturing and distribution industries. Firmament is an established investor in software and services providers in the supply chain sector. The transaction is a significant milestone for Scanco, as Firmament's backing will pave the way for Scanco to grow and expand its suite of warehouse and manufacturing automation solutions.

Scanco's clients and employees alike will benefit from the strategic investment as Firmament is excited to invest in Scanco's future growth by supporting product innovation and strategic acquisitions. Furthermore, Scanco will continue to focus on prioritizing client satisfaction and improving the customer experience. Scanco's goal is to maintain and strengthen its market position as one of the leading technology providers within the warehousing and manufacturing automation industry. The executive management team at Scanco will remain in place, including President and CEO Andrew Nunez.

Andrew Nunez stated, "We are thrilled to join forces with Firmament as we embark on this new chapter. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in the evolution of our company. With Firmament's backing, we can access additional capital to support our growth plans and reinvest in our company."

Ted Wong, Principal at Firmament stated, "Scanco is committed to offering market-leading software and services that enable its small- to-medium-sized customers to optimize their operations. We are truly excited to support Scanco in its continued mission to be one of the leading technology providers in the warehouse and manufacturing automation industry. Through this transaction, Firmament is delighted to continue its investment activity in and support of the supply chain sector."

About Scanco: Over the years, Scanco (www.scanco.com) has been at the forefront of developing new technologies for mobile warehouse, manufacturing, and payment automation solutions. Scanco's solutions deliver unequaled efficiency and visibility for distribution and manufacturing companies around the globe.

About Firmament: Firmament (www.firmament.com) provides structured equity capital solutions to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Firmament is a value-added partner to entrepreneurs, management teams and business owners and curates solutions by deploying versatile capital in a user-friendly way. Firmament concentrates on software and services businesses with significant scaling potential in the healthcare, logistics, wellness and environmental sectors. With offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Firmament is focused on turning small business into big business.

Media Contact:

Allie Reitman

[email protected]

SOURCE Firmament
The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office provides the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with all available information regarding the investigation of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said.

"I informed Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan about the undermining of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam by Russian occupation troops. I signed and sent a document by which we provide the ICC Prosecutor's Office with all available official information," Kostin said on Twitter on Tuesday.

He noted: "The attack on the Kakhovka HPP  a civilian facility that contains dangerous forces  is a war crime. We will do everything to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Kostin assured that the Prosecutor General's Office is open to cooperation with the ICC and is ready to provide all the necessary evidence collected and processed by prosecutors to identify and punish all those involved in this crime.

According to the Prosecutor General, the Ukrainian authorities are evacuating residents of the affected areas, while the Russian army continues to shell these settlements  civilians who are trying to escape.

"Russia needs to be stopped. Together with the international community, we will bring to justice the perpetrators of this and other international crimes," the Ukrainian Prosecutor General summed up.
Earn a chance to win $1,000 in cash by capturing a special moment with Dad

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gan Jing World announced its first Father's Day Photo Awards to celebrate Dads around the world for their unyielding strength, courage, and guidance. Showcase your best memory or moment with Dad in photo and use hashtag #GJWBestDad to earn a chance to win $1,000 in cash.

The Father's Day Photo Awards begins on June 1st and runs throughout the month of June. Participants may upload an unlimited number of photo entries up until 11:59PM ET on June 30th. In your photo description share a story of your unique moment with Dad, a special memory, or lesson you have learned from Dad. Photos will be judged on creativity, picture quality, aesthetic value, story-telling and engagement, so set your creativity free and share how Dad has touched your heart! See the full contest descriptions and rules HERE.

The event is a great opportunity for users to explore Gan Jing World's new social media functions, including unique features of the personal profile, timeline and digital photo albums set to release in an upcoming update for this June event.

Video creators, bloggers, photographers and everyday users alike can enjoy engaging in and sharing multiple forms of content and memories all in one place, including videos (long/short form), live streaming, blogs and articles, photos, discussion topics, and more  bringing a rich and diverse experience that lends an immense potential for expression in making connections with others.

Gan Jing World is a new family-friendly platform that seeks to foster positive and uplifting engagement in its community, helping people recall the importance of strong bonds in the family and community to nurturing the mind and spirit. The platform allows for a video, article, and picture sharing environment, where the fundamental mission is to create positive change in the world through showcasing inspiring content that uplifts society.

Watch video: https://www.ganjing.com/video/1fst653mph92HphV7IVPuHmC610j1c

Website: https://www.ganjingworld.com/

LOGO for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0510-ganjingw-300dpi.jpg

SOURCE Ganjingworld Corp.
HOUSTON, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GATE Energy, along with its affiliates BlueFin and Viking Engineering, is pleased to announce that they are now 100% employee owned. GATE Energy was sold to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and was advised by Lazear Capital Partners in the transaction.

Founded in 2000, GATE Energy has become one of the most trusted consulting firms within the oil and gas and energy industry. Besides being a Safety at Seas winner, a Hot Firm and Best Firm to Work For winner, GATE continues to be dedicated to servant leadership with the aim of delivering projects safely for their clients.

The ESOP directly aligns our organizational structure with the values and culture of the business... Tweet this

Lee Jordan, CEO of GATE Energy, said, "For over 15 years, Grant Gibson, Founder of GATE Energy, strived for employee ownership that would allow GATE employees to realize the outcomes of hard work and to build value in GATE's future. The ESOP achieves that goal. Our transition to becoming a 100% employee-owned ESOP is a key milestone in the shared history of GATE Energy. The ESOP directly aligns our organizational structure with the values and culture of the business and provides a means for our employees to directly benefit from the success of the business as a reward for their unremitting focus on quality, safety and client satisfaction. Employees now have a direct stake in GATE Energy's future, greater job security, and better outcomes in terms of employee benefits and retirement. It is an extremely proud day for all of us that are fortunate to serve them."

Chairman and Founder, Grant Gibson, provided further context for the decision to go with the ESOP, "The value created for our shareholders, employees and clients will be amazing. From a client's perspective, the value of working with an ESOP company entails having staff with a true sense of ownership, continuity of top talent, continuous improvement, commitment to safety, collaboration, and quality delivery. All employees have a stake in the future growth of the company, staying true to our values, and building dedicated clients. The ESOP is a powerful tool to retain top talent and continue to grow through the energy transition. I am excited to see the new phase play out."

About Lazear Capital Partners

Lazear Capital Partners is a leading middle-market investment bank helping owners and companies with ESOP advisory, feasibility, structure and formation. The firm has offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Fresno and Phoenix.

About GATE Energy, BlueFin & Viking Engineering

GATE Energy, is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and family of companies that provide scalable, fit-for-purpose services for the energy sector including engineering, commissioning and specialty field services.

BlueFin, a 100% Employee-Owned, GATE Energy ESOP, is a Louisiana-based company with field offices throughout the U.S., specializing in Pipeline, Process and Completion Services, specifically focused on technology to solve unique challenges within the energy community.

Viking Engineering, a 100% Employee-Owned, GATE Energy ESOP, is a leading engineering company specializing in asset design and integrity, critical well engineering, operational readiness, risk assessment, production optimization and flow assurance, failure investigation and lab services and testing. Viking Engineering's history began in 2001 with critical well engineering and has grown since then to offer services to include the upstream, midstream, downstream and new energy markets. Viking is a strong believer in applying lessons learned from their failure analysis team back to the design phases and into field practices via their quality assurance and engineering teams.

For more information on GATE Energy, visit www.gate.energy

SOURCE GATE, Inc.
Designation may provide U.S. patients faster access to groundbreaking technology

PLYMOUTH, Minn., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GIE Medical, a clinical stage company developing solutions for patients suffering from benign stricture(s) of the esophagus or bowel, was granted designation as a Breakthrough Device from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its ProTractX3 TTS DCB indicated for dilation of recurrent benign esophageal strictures in adults with obstructive symptoms associated with narrowing of the esophagus.

In December 2022, GIE Medical launched two large, multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials in the United States to investigate the company's first of its kind multi-stage drug-coated balloon (DCB) technology, ProTractX3 TTS DCB.

"The care of gastrointestinal strictures has been largely unchanged for decades," said Nicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, Bozymski-Heizer Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "This technology represents a promising way forward in treating those with difficult strictures and could result in less complicated, less costly and less invasive care for these patients."

The FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) granted GIE Medical the Breakthrough Device Designation to expedite development of its ProTractX3 TTS DCB for patient access because it has a reasonable chance of providing more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating human disease or conditions than the current standard of care.

"We are honored to have our drug-coated balloon catheters selected for the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program for esophageal strictures. This may provide U.S. patients faster access to our novel DCB technology, with the potential to provide safer and more effective treatment," said Lixiao Wang, chairman and CEO of GIE Medical. "This designation will give U.S. gastrointestinal physicians exciting new tools to fight GI stenosis."

GIE Medical's ProTractX3 3-Stage TTS DCB is a balloon coated with the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. It is an investigational device in the U.S.

ABOUT GIE MEDICAL

GIE Medical is a clinical stage company conducting trials in the U.S. to help patients suffering from benign stricture(s) of the esophagus or bowel (small intestine, colon, and rectum).

The ProTractX3 Through the Scope Drug Coated Balloon could offer a new solution for treating GI strictures, potentially creating sustained long-term patency and reducing the number of treatments. For more information, visit www.GIEMedical.com.

Media Contact:

Shelli Lissick

651-276-6922

[email protected]

SOURCE GIE Medical
Albus's appointment drives a new era of growth for Internet Service Provider

TYSONS CORNER, Va., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gigstreem, a leading provider of internet service for multifamily properties and businesses, today announced the appointment of Patrick Albus as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, Albus brings a wealth of leadership experience and financial acumen that will help drive Gigstreem's continued growth and diversification.

Albus began working with the Gigstreem team in December 2022 to support the company's growth, funding efforts, and expansion into new geographies through acquisition. Gigstreem recently secured an additional $59 million in funding and has completed three acquisitions to date including: netBlazr (Boston in 2022), Rainbow Broadband (New York City in 2018) and most recently, GigaMonster (Atlanta in 2023). With more acquisitions and an enormous pipeline of organic growth, Albus will be an integral part of the company's trajectory.

"Joining Gigstreem is such an incredible opportunity," said Albus. "As the fastest growing internet platform nationally, Gigstreem's strong value proposition perfectly positions it to capitalize on the rapidly growing multi-family space. I am excited to be part of the Gigstreem team."

Prior to joining Gigstreem, Albus held senior leadership roles in Keypoint Intelligence, Perseus, kgb, The Walt Disney Company, D&B, and Treeways. Besides having a strong financial foundation, he has a diverse set of operating experiences including roles as a CEO and COO that will allow contributions to Gigstreem different than traditional CFOs.

"In the last few months, we have already seen a huge impact from Patrick's experience," said Andrew Kusminsky, Gigstreem CEO. "Patrick's focus on long-term thinking, strategic planning, operations and innovation is going to be a huge compliment to Gigstreem's long term success."

About Gigstreem

Gigstreem provides the most reliable, fastest Internet service on the market, with premier customer service. Gigstreem's state-of-the-art national network serves tens of thousands of businesses and residences in apartment communities nationally. Companies of all sizes rely on Gigstreem to provide the best streaming experience to their residents and users. For more information, visit gigstreem.com .

SOURCE Gigstreem
Now in its second year, the 2023 Microfinance Index will survey 30,000+ microfinance clients in 30 countries focusing specifically on clients in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Uganda, and Ecuador

LONDON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 60 Decibels, a global impact measurement company, is excited to announce the 2023 Microfinance Index (MFI Index), gathering over 1 million unique data points. The Microfinance Index is a groundbreaking financial inclusion initiative that provides high-quality, comparable impact data for the microfinance industry, driven entirely by client voices.

The 2023 Microfinance Index will include data from more than 110 participating microfinance institutions (MFIs) and is supported by 32 Partners, including Abler Nordic, Accion, Advans Group, ASN Impact Investors, Baobab Group, BRAC, Ceniarth Group, Developing World Markets, Enabling Qapital, FinnFund, FMO, Global Partnerships, Gojo, Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation, HOPE International, International Solidarity for Development and Investment (SIDI), Invest In Visions, Kiva, MCE Social Capital, Mercy Corps, Opportunity International, Pro Mujer, Proparco, Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), Triodos Investment Management, Symbiotics, Temasek Trust, Tipping Point Fund on Impact Investing, TripleJump, Vision Fund International, and WaterEquity.

The Index is designed to complement and integrate with existing frameworks and standards in microfinance, impact investing, and international development. Participation in the MFI Index provides MFIs and investors with feedback on the practices recommended by SPTF and CERISE in the Universal Standards and the Client Protection Principles, as well as the SDG Impact Standards. The 2023 MFI Index provides data aligned to IRIS+ metrics and the five dimensions of impact guidance established by the Impact Management Project.

This year's survey will gather quantitative and qualitative data along six key dimensions of impact, including Access, Business Impact, Household Impact, Client Protection, Resilience, Agency. The 2023 edition will also include additional segmentation features such as lending methodology, gender, and client tenure. The resulting insights will be shared in a public report, providing essential insight into sector-wide performance on these key outcomes. You can also have the opportunity to analyze the 60 Decibels data in three ways: a regionally disaggregated dashboard demonstrating results across all indicators in the Index, geographic snapshots, or your own custom insights generation. Learn more about the 60 Decibels Microfinance products here .

In addition to the deeper insights offered by this year's Microfinance Index, 60 Decibels will also provide Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America regional benchmarks, and country benchmarks in Cambodia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Uganda. Enabling MFIs and their funders to understand performance relative to their peers in their markets, this data will offer invaluable insights for impact management and evaluation at both the institutional and sector levels.

"We are thrilled to continue the work of the Microfinance Index, listening to end clients and providing data-driven insights to the microfinance industry," said Sasha Dichter, CEO and co-founder of 60 Decibels. "The expansion of the Microfinance Index this year to more than 110 participating MFIs and the collection of over 1 million unique data points allows us to provide even deeper insights into customer outcomes and create benchmarks that will drive greater impact for MFIs and investors."

"This data is like gold for us," reported Calum Scott, Global Impact Director at Opportunity International Australia. "We are proud to continue our support for the Microfinance Index in 2023, as it remains an essential tool for us to understand the impact of our investments and to improve our practices. By listening to the voices of our microfinance clients, we gain a better understanding of their needs and can work to ensure that our support truly serves those who need it most."

To learn more and sign up to receive the 2023 Microfinance Index, please visit https://60decibels.com/mfi-index/

About 60 Decibels

60 Decibels is a global, tech-enabled impact measurement company that brings speed and repeatability to social impact measurement and customer insights. They provide tangible benchmarks of impact performance, enabling organizations to understand impact relative to peers and set performance targets. With a network of 1,100+ researchers in 80+ countries, 60 Decibels has worked with more than 1,000 of the world's leading impact investors, companies, foundations, corporations, NGOs, and public sector organizations to make it easy to listen to those who matter most.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094011/60_Decibels_Logo.jpg

SOURCE 60 Decibels
The Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare is a $10,000 prize awarded jointly by the Vilcek Foundation and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to immigrant healthcare professionals



NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vilcek Foundation and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation have announced they will bestow the 2023 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare on Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) meeting in Seattle on November 4, 2023.

The $10,000 Vilcek-Gold Award recognizes outstanding immigrant professionals in medicine and public health. Tweet this Global Health Advocate Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi receives $10,000 Vilcek-Gold Award Related Documents View PDF Press Release PDF - Global Health Advocate Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi Wins Vilcek-Gold Award

The Vilcek-Gold Award is a shared initiative of the Vilcek Foundation and the Gold Foundation that embodies the missions of both organizations. The award recognizes an outstanding immigrant healthcare professional in the United States and honors the positive impact that accessible and humanistic care has on public health. Honorees receive an unrestricted cash prize of $10,000 and a commemorative trophy and are invited to present a lecture as part of the AAMC's Voices of Medicine and Society series at the AAMC meeting.

Bottazzi receives the Vilcek-Gold Award for her leadership in the development of a patent-free open-source vaccine for COVID-19, and for her career-long work to support healthcare education and access in vulnerable populations globally. Bottazzi is the senior associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and a professor in the department of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine. Born in Italy and raised in Honduras, she was inspired by her family's entrepreneurial and diplomatic spirit, which she credits as having a profound impact on her character and career.

"When an outstanding scientist or physician also has an empathetic understanding of the human condition, they have the potential to change medicine and impact the world for the better," said Jan Vilcek, chairman and CEO of the Vilcek Foundation. "Dr. Bottazzi's integration of biomedical science and public health policy and management exemplifies this. Her leadership in global health and vaccine accessibility has had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people."

Said Dr. Richard I. Levin, president and CEO of the Gold Foundation, "Dr. Bottazzi is a wonderful example of the impact that is possible when compassion and science are joined. We congratulate Dr. Bottazzi on her 2023 Vilcek-Gold Award, and we thank her for her great leadership in humanism in healthcare."

Bottazzi studied microbiology and clinical chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Honduras before immigrating to the United States to earn her PhD in molecular immunology and experimental pathology at the University of Florida. She completed postdoctoral work at the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty of the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC and later as faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. At George Washington and Baylor College of Medicine, Bottazzi honed and expanded her specialization in tropical and emerging diseases, working on the development of vaccine programs and treatment protocols and initiatives with a focus on impoverished communities around the globe.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Bottazzi worked with her team at Texas Children's Hospital's Center for Vaccine Development to develop and advance a patent-free and open-source conventional vaccine technology for SARS-CoV-2. Ensuring a patent-free, open-source vaccine would allow global manufacturers to adopt the technology to produce and distribute doses, while providing a source of income and empowerment for regional businesses and governments. The Center's vaccine was adopted in India and Indonesia. In India and in Indonesia. These vaccinesdistributed as CORBEVAX and INDOVAC, respectivelyachieved emergency authorization in record time, and to date more than 100 million doses have been delivered.

Bottazzi was nominated for the Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare by her colleague, Dr. Huda Zoghbi, Director of The Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, a Distinguished Service Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, with whom she has worked on global public health initiatives and pediatric health initiatives at the Baylor College of Medicine and at Texas Children's Hospital. An immigrant from Lebanon, Zoghbi received a Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science in 2009. "Dr. Bottazzi's professional and personal philosophy is the epitome of humanism," said Zoghbi. "She is a true pioneerleading a new paradigm in biotechnology and vaccine development through open science and patent-free technology transfer models. Her leadership builds scientific capacity in resource-poor communities in the U.S. and in low-and middle-income countries to reduce health inequalities and disparities."

"Being an immigrant is my superpower," Bottazzi says. "I apply my cultural intelligence to relate better, to be more cognizant, to work more effectively, and to cross multiple boundariesit's the secret sauce of becoming a successful biomedical scientist and global health advocate."

Read more about Bottazzi and the Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare at the Vilcek Foundation: Global Health Advocate Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi Wins Vilcek-Gold Award

The Vilcek Foundation

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. The foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation was inspired by the couple's respective careers in biomedical science and art history. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and has supported organizations with over $6 million in grants.

The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation was founded in 1988 with the vision that healthcare will be dramatically improved by placing the interests, values, and dignity of all people at the core of teaching and practice. The Gold Foundation champions humanism in healthcare, which the foundation defines as compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent care; the foundation embraces all, and targets any barriers that prevent individuals or groups from accessing this standard of care. The Gold Foundation empowers experts, learners, and leaders to create systems and cultures that support humanistic care for all.

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is a public not-for-profit organization, a federally tax-exempt organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3).

SOURCE The Vilcek Foundation
The global social commerce market is driven by factors such as the increasing penetration of smartphones along with the rise in the introduction of social commerce platforms, and e-commerce platforms.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Global Social Commerce Market by Business model (Business To Consumer (B2C), Business To Business (B2B), and Consumer To Consumer (C2C)), Product Type (Personal And Beauty Care, Apparel, Food & Beverages, Home Products, Health Supplement, Consumer Electronics, and Others), and Sales Channel (Video Commerce {Live Stream + Prerecorded}, Social Network-Led Commerce, Social Reselling, Group Buying, and Product Review Platform), Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global social commerce market size was valued at $784 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $9864.6 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 29% from 2023 to 2032.

Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/54802

Prime determinants of growth

The global social commerce market is driven by factors such as the increasing expansion of the e-commerce channels along with the rising penetration of smartphones among global consumers. However, the increasing threat of fraudulent and data privacy breach restricts market growth. Moreover, the introduction of augmented reality by the social commerce companies to provide a hands-on shopping experience offers new opportunities in the coming years.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $784.0 billion Market Size in 2032 $9,864.6 billion CAGR 29.0 % No. of Pages in Report 381 Segments covered Business Model, Product Type, Sales Channel, and Region Drivers Increase in e-commerce channel Increased penetration of smartphone Rise in social media platforms Opportunities Introduction of Augmented reality Restraints Increase in incidence of online frauds Increase in threat of data breach and privacy

Covid-19 Scenario

The increase in pandemic cases had benefited the social commerce business as the consumers in every industry altered their purchase patterns from conventional to digital.

Severe lockdowns, order delays, exaggerated costs, misleading practices, cyber security issues, and product safety concerns first harmed e-commerce sites for clothes, food, and beauty care. Later, social commerce organizations used enhanced logistics and technology to assure timely delivery, reduced product damage, and increased cyber security.

Procure Complete Report (320 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/89b01ac8d3ab48f25d8f48ff920e3572

The business to consumer (B2C) segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on business model, the business to consumer (B2C) segment dominated the market in 2022 accounting for more than two-thirds of the market share and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. B2C social commerce sites provide a number of resources and tools to assist businesses in advertising and marketing their products to customers. The B2C business model provides services such as listings for goods, evaluations, opinions, social media sharing options, and payment processing systems. However, the business to business (B2B) segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 30.1% from 2023 to 2032. B2B social commerce enables firms to harness the power of social networks along with additional online platforms to broaden their reach, create customer connections, and generate sales.

The apparel segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the apparel segment dominated the market in 2022 accounting for nearly one-third of the market share and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Apparel firms are performing live-stream for product presentations by forming agreements with prominent social influencers to provide an experience that includes rapid buying of a showcased product and audience interaction via chat or response buttons. However, the health supplement segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 32.0% from 2023 to 2032. Demand for health supplements is growing rapidly due to the increasing awareness regarding the health and wellness benefits due to the consumption of nutraceutical supplements.

The video commerce (live stream + prerecorded) segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

On the basis of the sales channel, the video commerce (live stream + prerecorded) segment dominated the market in 2022 accounting for more than two-fifths of the market share and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. Video commerce integrates rapid product purchases with audience interaction via a chat functionality or reaction icons, this helps to increase consumer engagement and sales. However, the social reselling segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 31.5% from 2023 to 2032. Savories are consumers' favorite choice of food for on-the-go munching. Further, consumers have been increasingly prepared to pay more for premium, artisanal, and high-quality snacks which are expected to boost growth in the coming years.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2031

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more thantwo- thirds of the global social commerce market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific social commerce market is propelled by changing lifestyles caused by globalization, the rise in the working-age population, and increased penetration of cafes and restaurants. The same region is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 29.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Enquire before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/54802

Leading Market Players: -

Verint Systems Inc.

Snap, Inc.

Trell Experience Pvt Ltd.

Etsy, Inc.

Poshmark, Inc.

Inmobi Pte Ltd.

Yunji Inc

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Twitter, Inc.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

Pinduoduo Inc.

ByteDance

Amazon.com, Inc.

Pinterest, Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global social commerce market. These players have adopted different strategies such as acquisition, partnerships, and new product launches to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in the market. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Trending Reports in Consumer Goods Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount):

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

David Correa

5933 NE Win Sivers Drive

#205, Portland, OR 97220

United States

USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022

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Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/consumer-goods



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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Leader in custom window treatments to offer premium consultation services to Rancho Cucamonga community

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotcha Covered, a leader in custom window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada, has announced the opening of its fifth location in the state of California. Gotcha Covered of Rancho Cucamonga is owned and operated by Rob Muster and Brittany Henson.

Rob Muster and Brittany Henson are the owners and operators of Gotcha Covered of Rancho Cucamonga.

With an emphasis on end-to-end consultations, the new home-based center will provide the best in soft and hard window treatments to homeowners in Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana and all surrounding Inland Empire areas. The center will offer a variety of blinds, draperies, smart solutions and much more.

"As part of our mission, Gotcha Covered is dedicated to providing an excellent experience to our customers," said Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. "Across the nation, we are an asset to all our customers, and the new location in Rancho Cucamonga will be no different. We are confident that Rob and Brittany will bring tremendous value to the community."

Muster and Henson bring a wealth of experience to the Gotcha Covered brand. Holding a B.A. in business management, Muster has been in the mortgage industry as a branch manager and loan officer for the past 20 years. He also owned a wood shutter and blind company for 10 years.

Henson has served the Inland Empire areas for the last four years as a realtor. Prior to that, she was in restaurant management for over 10 years.

While searching for franchise opportunities, the duo came across Gotcha Covered with the help of a franchise broker. It was their previous experience in the window treatment industry that influenced them to partner with the franchise.

"We felt it was a perfect fit for us both, along with being in the real estate and mortgage industry," said Muster. "On top of that and one of the most important things is that we were very confident after meeting all the wonderful people at the corporate level of Gotcha Covered. It felt like a family, and it just felt right.

"The experience has been amazing. We have so much support in all aspects of starting up our new business with Gotcha Covered. Everybody with the franchise has been amazing, as well as all our vendor partners."

Muster and Henson said their goal is to have substantial growth within both the community and the Gotcha Covered franchise.

"Our vision is big for our territory and our area," said Henson. "We feel we have an amazing opportunity to grow our franchise to be one of the top franchises in the country under the Gotcha Covered umbrella."

Adding 40 new franchise locations in 2022, Gotcha Covered currently has over 155 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The franchise has been operating under the Gotcha Covered name since 2009.

To schedule an appointment with Gotcha Covered of Rancho Cucamonga, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com/rancho-cucamonga/.

About Gotcha Covered

Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer's specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 155 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Gotcha Covered
L'Amour Supreme's Zen is Comic Art Event Decades in the Making

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Long before L'Amour Supreme created iconic imagery for brands from Nike to Nickelodeon and for musical artists including the Chainsmokers and Miley Cyrus, he produced a Zen Intergalactic Ninja comic-book mini-series that has never been collected--until now by 1First Comics.

L'Amour's work has been exhibited around the world and was most recently seen by comics fans with his coverart for the Czarface graphic novel.

Renowned pop artist L'Amour Supreme has created all-new exclusive cover art for the graphic novel that is the centerpiece of the L'Amour Supreme's ZEN Kickstarter campaign.

But his involvement in comics began in the 1990s, when Steve Stern, writer/co-creator of Zen Intergalactic Ninja, met the artist just as he was starting out. "I was stunned by the incredible power of his art," Stern said. "Fortunately, I was able to convince him to work on a Zen story with me."

The result was a three-issue tale known as The Rawhead Saga, centering around a nuclear-powered terrorist and the alien hero who stands between him and an ungrateful humanity. "It's some of the most dynamic sequential art ever to explode off the pages of a comic-book," enthused Stern.

The Rawhead Saga immediately sold out and Zen's now-publisher, venerable independent house 1First Comics, decided it was time to release a collected volume: L'Amour Supreme's ZEN. Funded by the Kickstarter, L'Amour Supreme's ZEN will feature limited edition metallic art prints, collectible trading cards and other exclusives.

1First Comics' founder and Publisher Ken F. Levin said, "To be able to publish L'Amour Supreme illustrations for one of our seminal titlesZen Intergalactic Ninjawith new unique cover art is a fantastic way to launch our 40th year of publishing."

Levin, who develops comic art storytelling for publishing as well as film and television, set up the Prime Video television series The Boys and is Executive Producer on the show. He added, "Apart from The Rawhead Saga being one of the most beautiful books we will have ever published, the limited print run of the only complete comic-book story ever illustrated by L'Amour Supreme will make the book a collector's item our fans will especially appreciate."

The just launched crowdfunding campaign can be found at

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1firstcomics/lamour-supremes-zen

SOURCE 1First Comics
BAODING, China, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, GWM has begun a global Car Festival in overseas markets to make full use of its dominant position in intelligent new energy vehicles (NEVs) and upgrade customer experience.

GWM is upgrading its intelligent NEV lineup by launching key models such as HAVAL H6, HAVAL JOLION, and GWM POER, which are all featured with updates in power performance, intelligence, and safety. In May, GWM saw a 101,020 new cars sales with a year-on-year increase of 26.18% and a historic high overseas sales of 25,131 units accounting for 24.88% of the total.

GWM Holds a Global Car Festival to Upgrade Customer Experience (PRNewsfoto/GWM)

GWM HAVAL H6 family has been upgraded to the third generation. To meet the needs of consumers in different markets for environmental protection and technological configuration, GWM has successively launched HAVAL H6 HEV and HAVAL H6 PHEV. Based on L.E.M.O.N. DHT technology, both models can deliver top-notch performance with low fuel consumption.

The upgraded H6 family features more advanced intelligence and higher safety, thus being awarded the 5-star safety rating by Australasian New Car Assessment Program (A-NCAP). HAVAL H6's outstanding product strength has won the favor of more than 4 million consumers worldwide since its launch.

HAVAL JOLION, another GWM model, is tailored for urban driving and featuring a more fashionable design and body color. Moreover, the model's technological configurations are based on the needs of global consumers. In various markets, HAVAL JOLION is a hit with young consumers who appreciate its stylish exterior, sophisticated cockpit, and intelligent configuration.

In South Africa, HAVAL JOLION ranked first in retail sales of small SUVs in its first month. The model was recognized as the "Top Imported Newcomer Car of the Year" in the Accelerator Awards of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) and nominated for the "Passenger Newcomer of the Year Award" along with Ferrari SF90, Toyota Starlet, and Kia Pegas.

GWM POER is a premium intelligent pickup produced by GWM, designed to integrate superior off-road performance, exceptional loading capacity and cutting-edge intelligent technology. The pickup model has been launched in Australia, Chile, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and other markets. In order to meet the different needs of consumers, GWM POER is equipped with various intelligent driving assistance functions. The model launched in Australia has intelligent safety functions, such as lane-keeping assist (LKA) and automatic emergency braking (AEB). With its safety configuration and strong product strengths, GWM POER has also been awarded the 5-star safety rating by A-NCAP and won the title Best Pickup of the Year in Chile.

GWM aims to accelerate the transformation of NEVs and provide consumers with more advanced intelligent NEVs to meet their upgrading needs through this event.

In the future, GWM will concentrate on the global brand action plan of "ONE GWM", leveraging the launch of intelligent NEVs to enhance consumer experience continuously, increase popularity, and provide high-quality, personalized mobility experiences for consumers worldwide.

SOURCE GWM
Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development Mariana Oleskiv says that due to the explosion of Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP), tourist infrastructure facilities have been flooded.

"The blowing up of Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant is an act of terrorism and an environmental disaster... Tourist infrastructure facilities: hotels, country complexes, yacht clubs  were in the flood zone. Let me remind that Ukraine has established the Destroyed Property and Infrastructure Restoration Fund, due to which owners of destroyed property/businesses can receive funding for restoration," Oleskiv said on Facebook.

According to her, at the moment, some 11 settlements on the right bank are completely or partially flooded, which led to one of the largest man-made disasters in Europe over the past decade, which will lead to the destruction of natural and recreational resources in the South of Ukraine, including in occupied Crimea.

"A unique eco-world is dying in the water. Kherson's reed beds, which were home to many bird species included in the Red and Green Book of Ukraine, are flooded, and are also protected at the international level," the agency's head said.

She also said some 80% of the territory of the Nyzhniodniprovsky National Natural Park was flooded, which was known among domestic and European biologists for its rare floodplain forests, swamps and sandy steppe.

"Some 32 species of unique plants included in the IUCN Red List grew here. Most likely, this unique ecosystem of Europe has been destroyed forever," she said.

Oleskiv said the house-museum of Ostap Vishnia in the village of Krynky, Oleshkiv district, which was one of the tourist magnets of the region, was under water, and Kherson Art Museum of Oleksiy Shovkunenko is also in the flood zone.

In addition, according to her, the flooded archaeological pearl of Kherson region  the port city of Oleshnia, Ochakiv Gate is under the threat of flooding, the Green Farms of Tavria complex, as well as the famous pink salt lakes, may be flooded.

"The picturesque village of Tiahinka, where archaeological excavations were carried out before the war and a settlement of the Bronze Age and Scythian times was discovered, as well as a medieval settlement, will most likely also be under water, and unique historical finds will be lost," the agency's head said.

In her opinion, the Kinburn Spit may be partially flooded.
Announcement Marks the Introduction of HappyCo's Multi-Solution Suite for the Multifamily Industry

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HappyCo , the leading multifamily operations platform, has announced "Multifamily Solutions to Smile About," three new product lines with software and service solutions designed to support the entire property lifecycle from acquisition to disposition. The full suite will be demonstrated for the first time at NAA Apartmentalize in Atlanta next week.

For new acquisitions and renovations, HappyCo's Happy Asset helps owners, acquisition directors, and asset managers avoid acquisition surprises and streamline CapEx projects with workflows, communication tools, and full visibility into an asset's financial and physical conditions in one central place.

"Happy Asset: Due Diligence has greatly increased our efficiency and reliability, as well as helping us grow with our clients. We can't be happier with what HappyCo has provided. This is coming from someone who has used every app out there, and you guys blow them out of the water."

Joey Aldibbini, Vice President of Acquisition Due Diligence at Armada Analytics, Inc.

HappyCo entered the multifamily PropTech sector with an inspections-only product in 2011. The new Happy Property product line continues to provide customers with streamlined inspection and turn capabilitiesas well as new prospect and resident-facing features to accelerate leasing, provide renewal probability insights, and modernize the resident experience.

"Launching a resident portal was an important milestone for the team at CAPREIT. HappyCo's platform was the perfect match for our needs; it provides an easy-to-use solution for our residents while being robust enough to support our operational processes. The team at HappyCo was very professional and collaborative which enhanced the overall experience of working with them to create our own platform. We are thrilled we chose to partner with them."

Adelia Machado, Director of Operations and Business Analysis at CAPREIT

HappyCo's first-ever service-centric solution, Happy Force , has disrupted how the multifamily industry thinks about maintenance. By providing 24/7 access to remote maintenance technicians with years of onsite experience, Happy Force significantly reduces the time to contact residents who submit maintenance requests and expedites work order resolution. By improving the maintenance experience, resident and onsite technician satisfaction improves, leading to higher retention and less churn.

"Happy Force has allowed us to service our residents with the exceptional response time they desire and deserve, promptly responding within three minutes of submitting a maintenance request! Our residents are receiving personalized attention and direct communication so Happy Force can better understand and address the issue promptly, usually providing a resolution within 12 minutes, or at the very least minimizing the onsite team's workload by gathering additional information, ensuring efficient problem-solving."

Heidi Turner, Director of Intangible Assets / Principal at Blanton Turner

The complete HappyCo platform helps customers acquire, improve, manage, and service their portfolio while providing complete visibility to owners, property management companies, and onsite teams, all while creating communities that residents love to call home. Get a full overview of HappyCo's Multifamily Solutions to Smile About at Booth #3111 at NAA Apartmentalize in Atlanta next week.

About HappyCo

HappyCo is a multifamily PropTech company that develops software and service solutions to enable real-time property operations for owners, property management companies, and onsite teams. Its solutions suite includes market-leading workflow tools with in-unit data on over 3.5 million rental homes, a resident portal, and a remote maintenance workforce solution. Founded in 2011 in Adelaide, Australia, the company is privately held with a remote workforce throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Media Contact:

Eric Nizguretsky

Great Ink Communications

171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1350

NY, NY 10016

[email protected]

http://www.greatink.com/

O. 212-741-2977

M. 917-583-0581

SOURCE HappyCo
GRAMMY-Nominated Artist Took the Stage at Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane, where Hard Rock Heals Foundation Presented a $250,000 Donation to LGBTQIA+ Causes

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: Hard Rock International hosted a private event with Halsey to celebrate the start of Pride Month at Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane, where the brand was founded. This VIP event featured an intimate performance by the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum, genre-bending artist, known for advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community as a queer artist themselves, alongside notable speakers and representation from LGBTQIA+ nonprofit partners. To commemorate the occasion, Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the charitable arm of Hard Rock, presented a $250,000 donation to the Human Rights Campaign and Outright International in support of their service to LGBTQIA+ communities.

Hard Rock International Love Out Loud partner Halsey kicked off Pride Month at Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane with a VIP performance and memorabilia donation to Hard Rocks celebrated collection. (Photo Credit: Jasmine Safaeian)

Additionally, live during the event, Halsey donated several pieces of memorabilia to Hard Rock's celebrated collection of more than 87,000 pieces. Halsey's contribution now adds:

Custom white and orange pullover with two-piece bodysuit worn every night during Halsey's 2017-18 "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom" World Tour, with stops in North America , South America , Europe , Asia , and Oceania.

, , , , and Oceania. Gibson J-45 Tobacco Burst acoustic guitar played by Halsey while performing "Finally // Beautiful Stranger" during January 26, 2020 appearance on Saturday Night Live. At the VIP event on June 3, 2023 , Halsey personally inscribed a thank you message to Hard Rock along with a drawing on the guitar.

WHEN: June 3, 2023

WHERE: Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane - 150 Old Park Lane, London W1K 1QZ

VISUALS: Halsey with String Ensemble intimate performance and live memorabilia donation at Hard Rock Cafe London Old Park Lane; two co-branded Hard Rock x Halsey Signature Series Pride Edition T-shirts  Images can be found HERE.

Now available in stores and online at Rock Shops, Halsey, who is a queer artist themself, has designed two co-branded Hard Rock x Halsey Signature Series Pride Edition T-shirts. A portion of proceeds from the 2023 Pride will benefit Human Rights Campaign, Outright International, and local LGBTQIA+ charities.

For full details on Hard Rock International's 2023 Pride activations, partnerships, and support of the LGBTQIA+ community and diversity, please see here.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094508/HRH_EVENT_HALSEY_new.jpg

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SOURCE Hard Rock International
The company vision was to bring together the distinct business units of HAVI (Supply Chain, tms, and Stanley) and the global headquarters under one cohesive and welcoming roof. Collaborating with Partners by Design as well as HAVI's own internal creative team, the company focused on essential elements that shaped the design of its top four floors. Their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) responsibility guidelines were embraced, allowing employees to contribute to the theming of the floors. This personalized touch created an engaging experience throughout the office, featuring installations such as an interactive mural and a massive mechanical flip board in the common areas.

Drawing inspiration from the rich industrial heritage of the Fulton Market neighborhood, HAVI departed from the expected vintage aesthetic and instead adopted a more modern approach, reflecting craftsmanship and deconstruction. The result is a visually stunning and contemporary space that fosters creativity and innovation.

Recognizing the importance of community and accommodating a hybrid workforce, HAVI's offices were thoughtfully designed to bring people together. The signature town hall space, featuring a lounge area, fireplace, and 15-foot arched windows, provides inviting views of the surrounding neighborhoods. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, each room ensures that remote employees feel fully included in the collaborative environment.

To further enhance collaboration and encourage new ideas, HAVI incorporated specialty rooms such as the innovation and focus group labs. These dedicated spaces facilitate teamwork, enabling employees to develop creative solutions and expand the services offered by the company. However, the coolest office feature according to Crain's, is having access to an outdoor deck. HAVI understands the importance of outdoor spaces for employee well-being and each floor boasts its own deck area, allowing for rejuvenating breaks and informal gatherings. The company's exclusive rooftop area offers a picturesque retreat where employees can recharge and find inspiration amid the city skyline.

"We are honored to be named one of Crain's Chicago Coolest Offices," said HAVI CEO Frank Ravndal. "Our new global headquarters reflects our commitment to providing an exceptional workplace that fosters collaboration, creativity, and employee well-being. This recognition inspires us to continue to be a great place to work for our current employees as well as the next generation of talent."

This recognition is a testament to the company's dedication to creating a workspace that nurtures its people, promotes innovation, and embraces the changing dynamics of the workplace.

About HAVI

HAVI is a global, privately owned company that connects people with ideas, data with insights, supply with demand, restaurants with deliveries, and ultimately, people with the products they love. Whether we are sourcing, storing, or delivering products, we bring unmatched category expertise and unrivaled operational excellence, combined with powerful digital analytics and insights. Founded in 1974, HAVI employs more than 10,000 people and serves customers in more than 100 countries. HAVI's business units include Supply Chain, tms, and Stanley. Our portfolio of businesses offers best-in-class sourcing and supply chain capabilities, brand-defining marketing and promotional services, and innovative consumer products. For more information, please visit HAVI.com, tmsw.com , and stanley1913.com.

CONTACT:

Stephen Jones

[email protected]

SOURCE HAVI
Declining enrollment risks academic reputation through program, faculty, and student service cuts and can diminish educational quality and experience, the firm's latest research reveals.

TORONTO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the foundations of conventional education systems, casting doubt on the value of tertiary education. Universities and colleges, which heavily rely on tuition fees, are experiencing a decrease in enrollment, raising a tangible risk of closure or consolidation. Adding to the challenges, governmental financial support for higher education  which is significantly dependent on student numbers  has remained largely unchanged over the past two decades. Aligning the IT department's efforts with the institution's need to increase competitive advantage is crucial, global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group explains in newly published research, Understand the IT Implications for the Enrollment Cliff. The latest industry resource is intended to guide IT in helping higher education institutions navigate the enrollment cliff the industry is currently facing.

Info-Tech's "Understand the IT Implications for the Enrollment Cliff" blueprint provides an overview of how declining enrollment is affecting higher education and how IT professionals can support the strategic direction of their institutions. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

"The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the enrollment cliff, as it has disrupted many traditional education models and raised concerns about the value of higher education," says Mark Maby, Research Director for Education at Info-Tech Research Group. "This decline poses a significant financial challenge for colleges and universities that rely on tuition revenue. The risk of closure and consolidation is very real."

Info-Tech's research shows that closures are becoming more prevalent due to increased competition, with more prestigious universities attracting students away from the less renowned ones. Alongside this trend, governments are encouraging consolidation between institutions as a means to save costs and support a changing demographic. As institutional leaders launch strategic initiatives to address the enrollment downturn, IT may find itself grappling with the resulting technology implications.

"The decline in enrollment in higher education is due to several factors, including declining birth rates, increasing tuition costs, and a strong job market that may incentivize young people to enter the workforce instead of pursuing higher education," explains Maby.

Info-Tech advises IT departments to take a proactive approach to effectively address the enrollment cliff. This involves developing a comprehensive plan that focuses on cost reduction through internal centralization efforts and external partnerships with other institutions. Additionally, it is crucial to assess the external context of the institution, conduct interviews with key stakeholders to understand their priorities, and determine how IT can support and enhance the institution's competitive advantage.

Some of the factors that higher educational institutions should consider to effectively navigate enrollment declines include the following, as outlined in the firm's new industry resource:

Social Context: Not all regions are impacted equally; for example, the northeast US is being particularly hard hit. Demographic shifts are underway, marked by rising Hispanic and Asian student populations.

Not all regions are impacted equally; for example, the northeast US is being particularly hard hit. Demographic shifts are underway, marked by rising Hispanic and Asian student populations. Effects on Higher Education: A notable trend is the reduction and merging of higher education institutions. Flagship universities are extending their reach beyond their traditional student base to the detriment of other institutions.

A notable trend is the reduction and merging of higher education institutions. Flagship universities are extending their reach beyond their traditional student base to the detriment of other institutions. Response from Higher Education: Many higher education institutions are focusing on attracting international students and enhancing marketing and recruitment efforts. They are also expanding course offerings and collaborating with other universities and community colleges.

Given the decline in enrollment and potential institutional mergers or closures, Info-Tech recommends institutions should focus on the following factors to tackle enrollment cliff and improve the institution's attractiveness to new students.

Cost Reduction

Internally: Reduce vendor spending and develop greater centralization.

Reduce vendor spending and develop greater centralization. Externally: Create shared services between institutions.

Strategic Prioritization

PESTLE Analysis: Conduct a PESTLE analysis to understand the context of a specific institution.

Conduct a PESTLE analysis to understand the context of a specific institution. Stakeholder Interviews: Interview stakeholders to know their enrollment priorities.

Interview stakeholders to know their enrollment priorities. Porter's Five Forces: Align IT initiatives to support the institution's competitive strategy.

Power of Students: Strategic Enrollment Power of Suppliers: Faculty and Facilities Threat of New Entrants Threat of Substitution: Degree Alternatives Competitive Rivalry

Info-Tech's research further reveals that a decrease in enrollment can pose risks to an institution's academic reputation, as it may lead to cuts in programs, faculty, and student services. Such reductions in funding can negatively impact academic quality and the overall educational experience.

Download the Understand the IT Implications for the Enrollment Cliff blueprint to learn how IT can support higher educational institutes for a competitive edge.

For more information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
MARRAKECH, Morocco, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During GITEX Africa 2023, Huawei held its first Huawei Network Summit (HNS) on the African continent. With the theme of "Innovations Never Stop", HNS attracted over 400 customers and partners from Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, and many other African countries. At the event, Huawei explored the future of data communication networks and dived into continued innovations in seven major scenarios: office campus, production campus, branch interconnection, wide area network (WAN), data center network (DCN), network security, and commercial & distribution business markets. Huawei also joined forces with pioneering customers to launch diversified SD-WAN products ideal for "10 Gbps campus networks", as well as CloudEngine 16800-X, the industry's first data center switch built for diversified computing power.

Steven Zhao delivered a keynote speech Vincent Liu, President of Huawei's Global Enterprise Network Marketing & Solution Sales Department, delivered a speech

With the continuous development of digital technologies, Africa enters the best period of development, and "new infrastructures, new models, and new values" support the fast-growing digital economy. Intelligent networks bridge IT and CT and cover all production and office procedures of enterprises. As the crucial new infrastructures, networks have never been so important.

In the future, networks will evolve from connecting 10 billion people to connecting 100 billion things. Huawei deeply understands this trend, and constantly innovates technologies and upgrades network capabilities in the data communication field.

At HNS, Steven Zhao, Vice President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, delivered a keynote speech titled "Innovations Never Stop", shedding light on Huawei's technology, solution, and product innovations in seven scenarios.

In office campuses, Huawei's third-generation smart antenna enables Wi-Fi 7 to deliver a record-high 30 Gbps speed and ultra-low 10 ms latency, creating the ultimate office experience. Regarding production campuses, Huawei integrates time sensitive network (TSN) technology into the industrial switch CloudEngine S5735I, which enables a microsecond-level latency, dual fed and selective receiving, and IT & OT convergence needed for the industrial field. With regard to branch interconnection, Huawei's innovative SD-WAN architecture combines CPU, NPU, and hardware acceleration engines, ultimately achieving more than 100 Gbps forwarding performance.

At HNS, Huawei, together with bank giants in Africa, unveiled diversified SD-WAN products ideal for "10 Gbps campus networks". Featured products include the highly reliable headquarters gateway NetEngine AR8700, the hyper-converged 200 Gbps cloud-native gateway NetEngine AR6700V, the simplified converged branch gateway NetEngine AR5710-S, and the industrial gateway NetEngine AR631I.

Due to enterprises' surging demand for computing power in areas such as high-performance computing (HPC) and AI, the entire industry is struggling to reduce private network construction, operations, and maintenance costs in data centers. In this context, Huawei and an industry pioneer from Egypt jointly launched CloudEngine 16800-X, the industry's first data center switch built for diversified computing power.

This flagship switch is hardware-ready for 800GE and builds a lossless Ethernet network to underpin diversified computing power for applications such as HPC, AI, and high-performance storage. It also supports exclusive network scale load balancing (NSLB), improving AI training efficiency by 20%.

In terms of WANs, Huawei constantly makes "IPv6 Enhanced" technology innovations and launches NetEngine 8000 F8, an ultra-high-density metro aggregation router with 6.4 Tbps performance. To maximize network security, Huawei unveiled the industry's first multilayer ransomware protection solution that leverages endpoint-network-storage collaboration and exclusive AI clustering algorithms to accurately identify ransomware.

When it comes to commercial and distribution business markets, Huawei launched "easy to install, easy to use, and easy to manage" product portfolios, fully meeting the scenario-based requirements of customers and partners.

Alone, no one can go far on their digital transformation journey. Vincent Liu commented that Huawei will provide HCIX and HCSX certification systems, innovative talent training, trusted professional services, and globalized cooperation platforms, enabling partners to better serve enterprise digital transformation.

Also at HNS, Huawei launched the first IP Club member program in Africa, recruiting over 300 members onsite.

To learn more about Huawei's Intelligent Cloud-Network Products and Solutions, visit https://e.huawei.com/en/solutions/enterprise-network

Media Contact

[email protected]

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SOURCE Huawei
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Hydrogen Storage Market by Storage Form (Physical, Material-Based), Storage Type (Cylinder, Merchant, On-Site, On-board), Application (Chemicals, Oil Refineries, Industrial, Automotive & Transportation, Metalworking), Region - Forecast to 2030", size is projected to grow from USD 1.5 billion in 2023 to USD 6.3 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 21.5% during the forecast period. The hydrogen storage market is growing due to the rise in the demand for fuel cell across various industries, and stringent government regulations globally.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Hydrogen Storage Market".

281  Tables

54  Figures

252  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=15698551

Gas form accounts the highest market share in terms of value and volume in 2022.

The gas form dominated the market in 2022 and is expected to hold its position during the forecast period. In the gas form, hydrogen is compressed into large tanks without liquefying it. This is generally preferred if gaseous supply is more economical. This technology enables the automakers to store enough hydrogen to allow a car that runs on a fuel cell battery to cover 500600 km between fill-ups.

Merchant/Bulk accounts for the second-highest market share of the physical hydrogen storage market in 2022.

Bulk physical hydrogen storage tanks have applications in oil refineries, steel industries and more. Asia Pacific and North America have dominated the bulk physical hydrogen cylinder markets. The governments in some Asia Pacific countries are focusing on reducing greenhouse gases and adopting hydrogen as a fuel. For Instance, Japan aims to become a hydrogen society by 2050, whereas South Korea plans to build 310 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2025. North America has manufacturing facilities like electronics manufacturing, transportation, and steel manufacturing; therefore, the demand for bulk physical hydrogen storage system is growing to support these industries. The demand for merchant physical hydrogen storage is expected to grow significantly due to the insufficiency of captive hydrogen in the existing oil refineries.

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Oil refineries segment to be the second-largest application in the global physical hydrogen storage market in terms of value and volume in 2022.

Hydrogen gas is used for desulfurizing transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel and reforming fuels derived from heavier distillates of crude oil refining. Furthermore, it is used in oil sand processing, gas-to-liquid, and coal gasification projects. The governments of developed and some developing countries have fixed regulations regarding using cleaner fuels to curb CO2 emissions, requiring hydrogen for desulfurization, which is expected to fuel the market growth.

Europe is witnessing exceptional growth during the forecast period in the physical hydrogen storage market.

In 2022, Europe held a share of 13.2% in the global physical hydrogen storage market. The primary drivers of physical hydrogen storage market in this region are the goal of reducing EU2 carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, rapid adoption of fuel cells due to an increasing number of fuel cell projects and government initiatives for their implementation. Further, the presence of prominent hydrogen storage tank manufacturers in the region are NPROXX, Plastic Omnium, Worthington Industries, and Air Liquide driving the hydrogen storage market.

Market Players

The major players in hydrogen storage market are Air Liquide (France), Worthington Industries, Inc. (US), Luxfer Holdings PLC (UK), Linde plc (Germany), Chart Industries (US), HBank Technologies Inc. (Taiwan), Pragma Industries (France), Croyolor (France), INOXCVA (India), Hexagon Composites ASA (Norway), and others.

Browse Adjacent Market: Bulk Chemicals and Inorganics Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

CNG, RNG, and Hydrogen Tanks Market - Global Forecast to 2027

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The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
The IBM facility in Ehningen, Germany, expected to open in 2024

IBM Quantum to allow European cloud region users to provision quantum systems and process data within the EU

ARMONK, N.Y. and EHNINGEN, Germany, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced plans to open its first Europe-based quantum data center to facilitate access to cutting-edge quantum computing for companies, research institutions and government agencies.

The data center is expected to be operational in 2024, with multiple IBM quantum computing systems, each with utility scale quantum processors, i.e., those of more than 100 qubits.

The data center will be located at IBM's facility in Ehningen, Germany, and will serve as IBM Quantum's European cloud region. Users in Europe and elsewhere in the world will be able to provision services at the data center for their cloud-based quantum computing research and exploratory activity. The data center is being designed to help clients continue to manage their European data regulation requirements, including processing all job data within EU borders. The facility will be IBM's second quantum data center and quantum cloud region, after Poughkeepsie, New York.

"Europe has some of the world's most advanced users of quantum computers, and interest is only accelerating with the era of utility scale quantum processors," said Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President of IBM Quantum. "The planned quantum data center and associated cloud region will give European users a new option as they seek to tap the power of quantum computing in an effort to solve some of the world's most challenging problems."

"Our quantum data center in Europe is an integral piece of our global endeavor," said Ana Paula Assis, IBM General Manager for EMEA. "It will provide new opportunities for our clients to collaborate side-by-side with our scientists in Europe, as well as their own clients, as they explore how best to apply quantum in their industry."

IBM Quantum in Europe

The IBM Quantum Network currently has more than 60 organizations across Europe accessing quantum hardware and software via the cloud, including Bosch; Bundeswehr University; Credit Mutuel Alliance Federale, including its technology subsidiary Euro-Information, and Targobank; Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron ( DESY ); E.ON; the European Organization for Nuclear Research ( CERN ); Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft; Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC); and, T-Systems .

These clients across Europe are exploring potential uses for quantum computing including material science, high energy physics, energy transition, sustainability, and financial applications.

"We are happy and proud to support the IBM Quantum team's decision to set up their European quantum data center in Ehningen, Germany," said Dr. Raoul Klingner, Director Research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "The choice of location in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg will further strengthen the ecosystem that Fraunhofer has built with customers and partners from industry and research. We are pleased to further continue our strategic partnership with IBM."

"At T-Systems, we are collaborating with IBM to combine quantum and classical computing in a seamless and scalable experience for our customers to explore applications of quantum computing," said Adel Al-Saleh, Deutsche Telekom board member and Chief Executive of T-Systems. "Having access to a quantum data center dedicated to Europe will help lower the access barrier for our customers as they decide on how to take their first, decisive steps in exploring and using quantum."

The European cloud region is a key component in IBM's efforts to collaborate with leading European industry, academia and government to advance quantum and build a quantum workforce in Europe. IBM Quantum and the open source Qiskit software is used in over 100 university classes in Europe. One million learners in Europe have advanced their quantum skills through hackathons, workshops and digital learning sponsored by IBM.

For more about IBM's first quantum data center in Europe, read the IBM Research blog.

Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.

Qiskit is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.

IBM Contacts

Katia Moskvitch

IBM Communications

[email protected]

Chris Nay

IBM Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE IBM
LEUVEN, Belgium and BOSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- icometrix, world leader in imaging artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for people with neurological conditions, has been awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) to continue efforts in research towards brain MRI biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD). The research is led in collaboration with co-principal investigator Kathleen Poston, MD, professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford Medicine.

Dementia MRI with segmentation

Nearly 10 million people worldwide are living with PD. The most common symptoms include motor problems such as shaking, stiffness as well as difficulties with walking and balance. In addition, approximately 30% of patients with PD develop cognitive problems in the early stages of the disease, with a life-long risk of up to 80%. However, PD is extremely diverse with no two people experiencing the disease in the same way. This highlights the need for a personalized prognosis and treatment approach.

"PD monitoring is typically performed based on clinical scores that are subjective and do not allow for a fine-grained evaluation of disease characteristics. Early and specific prediction of the disease progression is therefore challenging. It also restricts our understanding of the underlying neurodegenerative pathophysiology and thereby hampers research on disease modifying therapies in an already highly diverse PD population," explains Annemie Ribbens, VP Science & Trials at icometrix. "With this research, we aim to evaluate brain MRI patterns of PD patients that identify, early on, patients at risk for cognitive or motor problems."

This grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation supports the development of a regulatory cleared solution to automatically analyze brain MRI scans to improve monitoring of PD patients in clinical routine, as well as for patient selection and outcome assessment in multi-center drug development trials. This PD-specific MRI solution will be added to the CE-marked* and FDA-cleared icobrain portfolio of icometrix that also contains solutions for Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

The first promising results of this project were presented at ADPD on April 1st 2023. Brain MRI scans from Stanford and MJFF's landmark, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI),were evaluated in terms of volumetric patterns and correlated to corresponding clinical scores for motor and cognitive function. The results show that regional brain volumetry assessment can serve as an important biomarker in prediction and differentiation of PD patients at risk for motor and/or cognitive disability progression.

About icometrix

Founded in 2011, icometrix (Leuven, Belgium | Boston, MA, USA) strives for data-driven insights and personalized patient care, supported by AI. icometrix offers a portfolio of eight regulatory approved AI solutions to assist healthcare with various challenges; icobrain extracts data from brain MRI and CT scans for the radiological reporting and clinical management of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, brain trauma, epilepsy, stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. icompanion, a digital platform, and mobile app helps people with MS and their care team to monitor clinical symptoms and treatments efficiently and objectively.

Today, icometrix is internationally active and integrated into more than 100 clinical practices. In addition, icometrix supports pharmaceutical companies in phase I-III trials as well as in Real-World Evidence (RWE) studies through imaging and data services, and digital health strategy.

* CE 1639 icobrain mr and icobrain ct is CE marked as class Im device

https://www.icometrix.com

SOURCE ICOMETRIX
New services and checks for use cases regulated by the FCA and UKGC

MUNICH, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDnow, a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe, announces the expansion of its platform to include fully automated document liveness capabilities, data checks and Financial Risk Checks as well as new fraud prevention features. The platform expansion will also include a central, no-code workflow management tool.

Document liveness checks to combat the most sophisticated fraud attempts

The automated document liveness check relies on IDnow's expertise in video analysis and requires the end user to record a video of their ID document, thus enabling an automated check on the visible security elements of the document, such as holograms. This feature helps companies in their fight against the rising risk of fraud through forged documents.

Fully automated KYC and AML services with data checks

IDnow's new fully automated Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) services, the latter of which screen against multiple global Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) and Sanction lists, ensure real-time AML compliance at the onboarding stage while allowing ongoing monitoring to confirm compliance post-onboarding. Fintechs, crypto providers and more traditional financial service providers can benefit from a complete alert management functionality and audit history with tailored alert matching.

The new data checks enable a frictionless KYC process which takes just a few seconds, particularly for use cases regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or by the UK Gaming Commission (UKGC). However, they also add an additional layer of security to protect businesses around less regulated use cases, for example, in the mobility industry.

Additionally, the latest platform expansion also includes Financial Risk Checks that use public third-party and self-declared data. These provide gambling companies with insight into affordability indicators which protect online gamblers and comply with the latest updates to the UK Gambling Act, helping businesses to avoid potential fines and reputational damage. The public and third-party data allows for ongoing monitoring of changes in player circumstances and verification of reported income without the need for additional documentation.

A single platform to access data sources and orchestrate KYC workflows in real-time

These new data check capabilities are added to IDnow's single platform, thus allowing customers to orchestrate both data checks and document- and biometric-based identity proofing workflows. Data checks are required by the responsible regulatory bodies, document and biometric checks can be added for other sensitive use cases for an extra layer of security.

The AML services and real-time data checks are easily configurable via the online self-service orchestration portal which offers complete control to IDnow's customers. It lets them tailor and optimise data checks and document-based identity verification in one intuitive dashboard via drag-and-drop functionality, thus providing a single entry point for all the new integrated services.

Proprietary fraud prevention technology and a high level of compliance

To detect single and serial fraud attempts, IDnow's platform uses proprietary fraud prevention technology that collects risk signals from biometrics, documents, devices and other data sources. In addition, IDnow regularly collaborates with law enforcement agencies, providing the company's dedicated fraud team with the latest knowledge of fraud techniques and methods from around the world.

Bertrand Bouteloup, Chief Commercial Officer at IDnow, said: "With the help of our AI-powered engine, which employs the latest fraud prevention capabilities, we can combat the most advanced fraudsters and allow our crypto, fintech and financial customers to grow their businesses with confidence and be a strong partner for large financial institutions at the same time. Our document liveness feature is clearly a game changer in this market."

"We are pleased to be able to enhance our platform offering, specifically in the UK, to help our customers fight fraud, achieve compliance and build trust across Europe and beyond. Thanks to these new functionalities and our strong regulatory expertise, our customers can easily expand their services and rely on a platform that achieves compliance according to the most rigid regulatory requirements within the UK, the EU and beyond."

About IDnow

IDnow is a leading identity proofing platform provider in Europe with a vision to make the connected world a safer place. The IDnow platform provides a broad portfolio of identity verification solutions, ranging from automated to human-assisted from purely online to point-of-sale, each of them optimized for user conversion rates and security.

In 2021, IDnow acquired the French market leader for identity technology, ARIADNEXT, and the German identity Trust Management AG, enabling IDnow to offer its customers one of the broadest identification solutions through a single, integrated platform.

The company has offices in Germany, United Kingdom, and France and is backed by renowned institutional investors, including Corsair Capital and Seventure Partners. Its portfolio of over 900 international clients spans a wide range of industries, and includes leading international players, such as UniCredit, Telefonica, Sixt, Credit Agricole, BNP, and Munich Re, as well as digital champions like N26, Solarisbank, Younited Credit, Boursorama, Klarna and Tier mobility.

Press contact IDnow:

Katherina Riesner

[email protected]

+49 89 41324 6030

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SOURCE IDnow GmbH
2,500 open appointments across the state this week

INDIANAPOLIS, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti Blood Center of Indiana has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations, pleading with Hoosiers to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days. Heading into the summer months, Versiti has seen a drastic drop in scheduled appointments, with nearly 2,500 open appointments over the next seven days.

Emergency blood shortage. Make your appointment to donate today! (PRNewsfoto/Versiti Blood Center of Indiana)

"25 percent of our blood collections come from our high school and college partners, meaning that when it's summer vacation, those community blood drives are not happening," said Dr. Alcinda Flowers, associate medical director at Versiti. "And while we anticipate this dip every year, we are also seeing fewer first-time donors walking through our doors, which is adding to an already dangerous situation."

Versiti estimates that around 20 percent of its donors are first-time donors; unfortunately, more than 50 percent of those donors only donate once. With an aging donor base and increased need, first-time blood donors are desperately needed.

"Our loyal donors continue to hear our pleas and roll up their sleeves, for which we are extremely grateful," added Dr. Flowers. "However, if every eligible donor could pledge to donate at least twice by the end of the year and encourage a friend or family member to give blood donation a try as well, the impact on the local blood supply would be significant."

While Versiti strives for a three-day supply of available blood for local hospitals, the organization currently has less than a one-day supply on the shelves. Not only does this potentially put people's lives at risk, but it limits the ability to respond to the need for blood should the unexpected occur.

What to know about blood donation

Every two seconds, someone needs lifesaving blood to survive. One donation can save up to three lives.

The donation process, including registration and testing, takes about an hour. Because your body constantly replaces blood and fluids, blood donation doesn't take a major toll on the human body.

There is no substitute for blood donation  blood cannot be manufactured. It can only come from volunteer donors.

Roughly 40 percent of Americans can donate blood, but only about 3 percent do so.

Blood donation can help patients of all ages who are victims of traumatic accidents, patients of organ transplants, or fighting through diseases like cancer.

All blood types are needed, with types O-positive and O-negative most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be received safely by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1-317-916-5150 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.

Donor center locations:

INDIANAPOLIS : 3450 N. Meridian St.

: 3450 N. Meridian St. FISHERS: 11005 Allisonville Road

CARMEL: 726 Adams St., Suite 150

GREENWOOD: 8739 U.S. 31 South

TERRE HAUTE : 2021 S. Third St.

: 2021 S. Third St. LAFAYETTE : 2200 Elmwood Ave., Suite D-16

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

About Versiti

Versiti is a world-class blood health organization with locations across the Midwest. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Versiti was formed with a mission of service to improve patient outcomes, advance the field of personalized medicine and strengthen the health of communities everywhere. We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, providing innovative, value-added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases. From research and diagnostic testing to the sharing of lifesaving gifts through blood, organ and tissue donation, the collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes and expanded access to care, advancing the field of personalized medicine. For more information, visit Versiti.org .

SOURCE Versiti
Qabil Ashirov

Despite losing all hope after a humiliating defeat in the 44-day war, Armenian public figures and society try to grasp at straws making a number of political manoeuvres. Even prior to the war, Armenians used to threaten Azerbaijan to strike the pipelines transferring Azerbaijani oil and gas to Europe. However, it proved to be a big morsel to bite for them after a heavy defeat on the battlefield. So, they changed their tactics by starting to lobby different countries to put economic sanctions on Azerbaijan. During the war and after it, Armenians or people close to the Armenian diaspora in mass media started to voice some economic sanctions against Azerbaijan. Such kind of heinous action was done last week by the journalist of Armenpress during an interview with the French Foreign Minister. The journalist asked if France considering economic sanctions on Azerbaijan. The French top diplomat explained to the journalist in the diplomatic language that it is out of the question.

Speaking to Azernews, economist and political analyst Natig Jafarli said that the idea of applying sanctions against Azerbaijan by the EU or its members is illogical and impossible. At a time when Azerbaijan is the most important energy carrier, it would be unthinkable for the European Union to act according to the wishes of France for a weak state like Armenia. The expert emphasizes that Azerbaijan is currently at the forefront of large-scale projects in the field of renewable energy, along with projects such as TANAP and TAP. Eastern Europe today sees Azerbaijan as a door of hope in terms of energy supply.

Azerbaijan is experiencing the highest period of cooperation with the EU, and although France is one of the most important countries of the EU, it is not a country that can make decisions alone. Decisions in the EU are made by consensus. Even if France has such an idea, it has no chance to pass this decision through the EU. Because many countries including Germany, Italy, Hungary, and other countries will veto this decision due to known facts. This is why, it is impossible for France to act against Azerbaijan on its own or with the support of the EU, Jafarli pointed.

Besides that, Natig Jafarli thinks that France is not interested in any sanctions against Azerbaijan even if Armenia urges it. According to him, it is only the opinion of people in some political circles in France, and these opinions do not have the power to influence the decisions of the French state.

Frankly, France does not even try. Some French diplomats, journalists, and media groups make statements in favor of Armenia and they have an unfavorable position against Azerbaijan, but these are considered within the framework of general freedom of speech. So, I do not expect the political consequences due to these persons. I consider it impossible, the economist opined.

Further, Natig Jafarli drew attention to the growing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France. In addition, he mentioned the purchase of 12 Airbus and Totals activity in Azerbaijan. Taking into account mentioned, he concluded that Armenian lobbying sanctions will be futile.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and France is increasing, and there is serious warming in their relations. Azerbaijan's purchase of 12 Airbus units from France, Total participation in several large projects, including the Absheron field, indicate the logic and power of relations between Azerbaijan and France. But France also has political ambitions. It aims to have a share and an influence in the South Caucasus through Armenia.

Given that the process of pushing Russia out of the South Caucasus is going on. At the moment it is not very strong, but after some time it will be felt more seriously. We can consider Frances attempts to fill the place vacated by Russia. If we leave these political steps aside, from a purely pragmatic economic point of view, France-Azerbaijan relations stand on a more logical and mutually beneficial cooperation, the expert added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) seeks to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the field of technology, Slovak Ambassador Milan Lajcak told Trend.

According to him, the cooperation of the group's countries with the start-ups of Azerbaijan, which until recently seemed difficult to be implemented, is at the initial stage of implementation.

"However, the countries of the Visegrad Group would like to continue cooperation with Azerbaijan in other areas, too," the ambassador said.

He added that in late June when the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group comes to an end, a seminar focusing on important aspects - challenges in the energy sector, financial issues, and the current global crisis, will be organized in Baku.

The second part of the seminar will be dedicated to the challenges associated with technological changes in the world.

Today, an event dedicated to the implementation of the V4-Azerbaijan Tech Bridge (V4ATB) startup program has been held in Baku.

The goal of the project is to establish and enhance cooperation between the Visegrad Group and Azerbaijan in the sphere of innovation by linking startup ecosystem players like innovation hubs, private investors, venture capital funds, and innovation-seeking corporations from the EU with the potential of Azerbaijani startups and innovators.
ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, and IASO Biotechnology ("IASO Bio"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing, and manufacturing innovative cell therapies and antibody products, today jointly announced that the updated data from Phase 1b/2 study of Equecabtagene Autoleucel (Innovent R&D code: IBI326, IASO Bio R&D code: CT103A), a fully-human anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago on June 2-6, 2023.

Poster Presentation Overview

Presentation Title: CT103A, a novel fully human BCMA-targeting CAR-T therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: updated long-term follow-up results of phase 1b /2 study (FUMANBA-1)

CT103A, a novel fully human BCMA-targeting CAR-T therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: updated long-term follow-up results of phase /2 study (FUMANBA-1) Session Title Hematologic MalignanciesPlasma Cell Dyscrasia

Hematologic MalignanciesPlasma Cell Dyscrasia Abstract Code : ASCO-8025

: ASCO-8025 Session date and Time : Monday, June 5, 2023 , at 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM CDT

: , at Venue: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois , United States + Online

The updated data showed long-term follow-up efficacy and safety of the Phase 1b/2 study (FUMANBA-1) conducted in 14 centers in China.

This study enrolled RRMM patients who received  3 lines of prior therapies containing at least a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent and were refractory to their last line of treatment (ChiCTR1800018137, NCT05066646).

As of the data cutoff date of September 9th, 2022, a total of 103 patients received CT103A at 1.0106 CAR-T cells/kg with the median follow-up of 13.8 months (range 0.4, 27.2) and median prior four lines of therapy (range 3,23).

Among the 103 patients, 68.9% (71/103) had high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities per mSMART 3.0, 12.6%13/103had extramedullary multiple myeloma (EMM), and 11.7%12/103had received prior CAR-T therapy.

Equecabtagene Autoleucel showed deepening and durable efficacy: Among the 101 evaluable patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 96.0% (97/101), with 91.1% (92/101) of those patients achieving very good partial response (VGPR) or deeper responses, and the stringent complete response/ complete response (sCR/CR) rate was 74.3% (75/101). The median time to response(mTTR) was 16 days (range 11-179). The median duration of response (DOR) and median progression free survival (PFS) have not been reached. The 12-month PFS rate was 78.8% (95% CI: 68.685.97). 95.0% (96/101) of patients achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, and all CR/sCR patients achieved MRD negativity. 82.4% (95%CI: 70.90-89.72%) of patients achieved sustained MRD negativity over 12 months and the median duration of MRD negativity was not reached.

In 89 patients without prior CAR-T therapy, ORR was 98.9% (88/89), including 78.7% (70/89) of patients reaching CR/sCR. Of the 63 patients with  12 months follow-up (including patients that withdrew early), ORR was 98.4% (62/93and 87.3%55/63reached sCR/CR. Of the 12 patients with prior CAR-T therapy, 75% (9/12) achieved response, and 5 patients achieved sCR (including 4 patients that sustained sCR for over 18 months post-infusion).

Equecabtagene Autoleucel demonstrated a favorable and manageable safety profile: Among the 103 patients, 93.2% (96/103) experienced cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The majority experienced grade 1~2 CRS, with only one experiencing  grade 3 CRS. The median time to CRS onset was 6 days (range 1, 13) after infusion, and the median duration of CRS was 5 days (range 2, 30). Only two patients experienced immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), including one grade 1 and one grade 2 ICANS. All patients with CRS or ICANS have recovered. The most common  grade 3 treatment-related AEs were still hematologic.

Equecabtagene Autoleucel demonstrated robust expansion and prolonged persistence and low immunogenicity: Equecabtagene Autoleucel in peripheral blood reached the peak at a median of 12 days post-infusion, with a median Cmax of 87570.6 copies/ug DNA. Equecabtagene Autoleucel was still detectable in 50% (28/56) and 40% (4/10) of the patients who completed 12-month and 24-month follow-ups after infusion. Only 19.4% (20/103) of the subjects were anti-drug antibody (ADA)-positive after Equecabtagene Autoleucel infusion.

"Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematological malignancy. While current major drug therapies such as proteasome inhibitors (PIs), immunomodulators (IMiDs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have significantly improved MM treatments in the past two decades, it is still an incurable disease. The updated data from our ongoing clinical study of Equecabtagene Autoleucel presented at ASCO demonstrated that treatment with our a BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy was effective and well-tolerated for a longer period of time,"said principal investigators Prof. Lugui QiuMDfrom the Chinese Academy of Medical Science Hematology Hospital, and Prof. Chunrui Li, MD, PhD, from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology." In comparison to the clinical data released at the EHA 2022 Congress, we're excited that our updated study data show that with the number of subjects receiving Equecabtagene Autoleucel increasing from 79 to 103, and the median follow-up time from 9.0 months to 13.8 months, Equecabtagene Autoleucel's efficacy further improved: the sCR/CR rate increased from 68.4% to 74.3%. It is more worth mentioning that the sCR/CR rate reached 87.3% in the subjects naive to BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapies and followed up for at least 12 months. These results are encouraging and entails an opportunity to advance Equecabtagene Autoleucel to earlier lines of treatment to benefit more MM patients."

About Multiple Myeloma (MM)

Multiple Myeloma is a deadly blood cancer that often infiltrates the bone marrow causing anemia, kidney failure, immune problems, and bone fractures. For multiple myeloma patients, common first-line drug treatments include proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and alkylating agents. While treatment may result in remission, most patients will inevitably enter the relapsed or refractory stage as there's currently no cure. As a result, there is a significant unmet need for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In the United States, MM accounts for nearly 2% of all cancer cases, and more than 2% of cancer-related deaths.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the number of new MM cases in the United States rose from 30,300 in 2016 to 32,300 in 2020 and is expected to increase to 37,800 by 2025. Additionally, the total number of patients diagnosed with MM increased from 132,200 in 2016 to 144,900 in 2020 and is expected to rise to 162,300 by 2025. In China, the number of new MM cases rose from 18,900 in 2016 to 21,100 in 2020 and is expected to increase to 24,500 by 2025. The total number of patients diagnosed with MM in China increased from 69,800 in 2016 to 113,800 in 2020 and is expected to rise to 182,200 by 2025.

About Equecabtagene Autoleucel

Equecabtagene Autoleucel is an innovative fully-human anti- BCMA CAR-T cell therapy which uses lentivirus as a gene vector to transfect autologous T cells. The CAR contains a fully-human scFv, CD8a hinge and transmembrane, and 4-1BB-mediated co-stimulation and CD3 activation domains. Based on rigorous screening and comprehensive in vivo and in vitro evaluation, Equecabtagene Autoleucel is proven to have potent and rapid anti-myeloma activity and outstanding safety, efficacy, and persistence results.

Equecabtagene Autoleucel received New Drug Application (NDA) acceptance from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of RRMM and obtained the U.S. FDA IND approval. The company also received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from the NMPA in February 2021 and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) in February 2022 and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) and Fast Track (FT) Designations in February 2023 from the FDA. In addition to multiple myeloma, NMPA has accepted its IND application for the new extended indication of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). Innovent and IASO Bio are jointly developing Equecabtagene Autoleucel for the treatment of RRMM in mainland China.

About Innovent

Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, metabolic disorder and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK.

Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 35 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, metabolic disorder, autoimmune disease and other major therapeutic areas, with 8 approved products on the market. These include: TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab injection), SULINNO (adalimumab injection), HALPRYZA (rituximab injection), Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor), olverembatinib(BCR ABL TKI), Cyramza (ramucirumab) and Retsevmo (selpercatinib). An additional 3 assets are under NMPA NDA review, 6 assets are in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials, and 18 more molecules are in clinical studies.

Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives.

Disclaimer: Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage.

Note:

TYVYT (sintilimab injection) is not an approved product in the United States.

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO, and HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States.

TYVYT (sintilimab injection, Innovent)

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

CYRAMZA (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). Cyramza was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Retsevmo (selpercatinib, Eli Lilly). Retsevmo was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

About IASO Biotechnology

IASO Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel cell therapies for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Leveraging its proprietary fully human antibody discovery platform (IMARS), high-throughput chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) drug screening platform, and proprietary manufacturing processes, IASO Bio is developing a rich clinical-stage pipeline of multiple autologous and allogeneic CAR-T and biologics product candidates. This pipeline includes a diversified portfolio of over 10 novel products, including IASO's leading asset, Equecabtagene Autoleucel (CT103A), a fully human BCMA CAR-T injection.

In addition to Equecabtagene Autoleucel, the company's pipeline includes the fully developed in-house human CD19/CD22 dual-targeted CAR-T cell therapy which has received two IND clearances for treating relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (r/r B-NHL) and relapsed/refractory acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). CD19/CD22 is currently in Phase I clinical trials for r/r B-NHL. It was also granted ODD by the FDA in October 2021. In the approximately 20 patients dosed to date in the investigator-initiated trial, there were no ICANS, or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, of any grade observed in any patient, and a grade 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) rate of less than 5%, with the remainder of patients experiencing no CRS or less than grade 3.

Leveraging its strong management team, innovative product pipeline, integrated manufactural and clinical capabilities, IASO aims to deliver transformative, curable, and affordable therapies that fulfil unmet medical needs to patients in China and around the world. For more information, please visit www.iasobio.com or www.linkedin.com/company/iasobiotherapeutics.

Innovent's Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent" or "Company") , are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of the Company with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, the Company's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

The Company, the Directors and the employees of the Company assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.

SOURCE Innovent Biologics
Regenerative Braking and Battery Technology is Designed to Reduce Costs and Diesel Emissions in Both Captive and Long-Haul Traditional Train Operations

ST. LOUIS, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intramotev , a pioneering technology company focused on developing autonomous, zero-emission rail solutions, has finalized an agreement with Iron Senergy to provide three (3) ReVolt railcars for its 17-mile private rail line that transports coal produced by its Cumberland Coal Mine to its Alicia Harbor Facility located on the Monongahela River in Western Pennsylvania. This will be the world's first deployment of self-propelled battery-electric railcars in a traditional freight train, using regenerative braking and battery technology to reduce diesel consumption from locomotives, resulting in lower costs for rail operators and reducing emissions impact from rail operations.

Intramotev has developed advanced platforms for remote dispatched TugVolt and ReVolt control, as well as automated railcar components for safer operations during loading and unloading procedures. Intramotev's self-propelled battery-electric railcar prototype undergoing testing in Intramotev's St. Louis headquarters.

Intramotev is developing and deploying a suite of products to address the primary element behind the lack of growth in the rail industry, shipment certainty, while further building upon rail's strengths in safety and sustainability. They include TugVolt, a proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing railcars to become battery-electric, move independently like a truck, and decouple to service first- and last-mile legs; ReVolt, capturing waste energy in traditional trains via regenerative braking; and automated safety systems including gates and hatches.

Every day, freight trucks navigate choked highways across the nation, producing an estimated 433 million tons of carbon emissions annually, while close to a million freight railcars sit idle in switching yards, awaiting locomotives to bring them to their destination. Intramotev is poised to help meet the Federal Railroad Administration's Climate Challenge, a commitment to partner with owners and operators in the U.S. rail network, and manufacturers of rail equipment, to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While reducing railway emissions as well as relieving congested and polluted roadways, Intramotev's technology offers reduced operational costs and the highest level of safety, with stopping distances at a fraction of traditional heavier trains, among other benefits.

"Captive routes between mines and processing facilities have the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and save costs through our proprietary battery-electric technology," said Intramotev CEO Timothy Luchini, PhD. "Using our technology will help Iron Senergy become a cleaner, healthier operation in western Pennsylvania. We hope their success will inspire other rail managers' decarbonization efforts across mining and steel mill transportation."

"We are honored to partner with Intramotev and help pioneer the deployment of this technology," said Iron Senergy CEO and owner Justin Thompson. "This investment is consistent with our commitment to innovation and the environment, and I look forward to exploring additional opportunities with the Intramotev team that will allow us to further increase efficiencies, lower costs and reduce our environmental footprint."

About Iron Senergy

Founded in 2020, Iron Senergy is a veteran-owned company based in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania that manages critical assets in the southwest corner of the Commonwealth, including the Cumberland Coal Mine, the former Emerald Coal Mine (being reclaimed and repurposed as the "Keystone State Clean Energy Park"), and approximately 15,000 acres of surface land. Iron Senergy employs over 750 individuals, including approximately 575 miners represented by Local 2300 of the United Mine Workers of America, making it one of the largest employers in Greene County, Pennsylvania and the last union coal operator in the Commonwealth. While the Cumberland and Emerald Mine properties have been in operation for several decades under numerous ownership groups, they are now serving as the foundation for a new platform - one focused on operating as a responsible energy company and serving as a blueprint for strategic reclamation and synergistic diversification within the U.S. coal industry.

Visit www.ironsenergy.com .

About Intramotev

Intramotev is a high-technology company focused on transforming modern freight movement by developing autonomous, zero-emission rail solutions that decrease costs, increase usage and safety, and promote environmental responsibility. Founded in 2020 in Saint Louis, Missouri, the company's products include TugVolt, ReVolt, and automated safety systems including gates and hatches. Intramotev: Rail, Reborn & Ready To Roll. Visit www.intramotev.com .

Media contacts:

Alex Peiffer

Intramotev

314-806-3035

[email protected]

SOURCE Intramotev
LINCOLN, Neb., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandhills Global previously reported inventory increases occurring in April across Sandhills' heavy-duty truck, semitrailer, agricultural equipment, and heavy construction machinery marketplaces. Those trends accelerated in May. Truck and trailer inventory levels, for example, increased by double digits in May while inventory levels in several construction and farm equipment categories increased between 4% and 9%. When rising inventory level trends occur, auction value decreases usually follow. In fact, Sandhills has observed auction value decreases in several categories ranging from 2% to 9% month over month from April to May.

Inventory levels moved up in May after seasonal declines in April. Inventories increased 3.47% M/M and 71.64% YOY and are currently trending up. The 40- to 99-horsepower tractor category showed the greatest M/M inventory rise. Asking and auction values peaked in 2022 and have shown signs of easing since then. Auction values are lower than they were a year ago, with asking values likely to follow. Asking values increased 0.22% M/M and are currently trending down. Inventory levels have been trending upward since the start of 2023 but totals piled up quicker in May, increasing 6.62% M/M and 38.91% YOY. Track and wheel skid steer inventories are increasing faster than other used medium-duty construction equipment categories. Inventory level changes are putting pressure on auction and asking values, especially in the skid steer category. Sandhills looks for these trends to continue. Both asking and auction values have decreased over the past few months. Inventory levels continue to climb and trend upward following several months of increases and double-digit YOY growth. Inventories increased 3.58% M/M and 29.81% YOY in May. Tractors over 300 HP showed a nearly 10% M/M increase. Asking values have held steady for a few months while auction values have decreased. Asking values remained nearly flat M/M in May, decreasing 0.04%, and are currently trending sideways, but they were up 9.03% YOY. Auction values decreased 3.78% M/M Inventory levels increased by double digits in May while values continue to fall. The day cab category led the way with the steepest value declines and the highest inventory level increase. Inventories rose 11.48% M/M following consecutive months of increases and were 33.24% higher year over year. Asking and auction values have decreased for a few months in a row. Asking values were down 2.69% M/M and 22.54% YOY in May, while auction values decreased 4.62% M/M and 27.67% YOY. Sandhills expec Inventory levels have been holding steady since last year but recently started to increase. Dozers, excavators, and wheel loaders all posted their largest inventory levels of 2023 in May. Inventories increased 2.87% M/M, rose 2.83% YOY, and are currently trending up. Asking and auction values continue to ease as all heavy-duty construction equipment values are lower than last year. Asking values increased 0.5% M/M, decreased 4.04% YOY, and are currently trending down. Auction values decrease Inventory levels have increased for several consecutive months and were up 14.63% M/M and 41.49% YOY in May. The dry van trailer category showed the largest increases. Both the dry van and reefer semitrailer categories are following the inventory trends seen in used heavy-duty trucks. Sandhills expects inventory trends to continue rising. Like heavy-duty trucks, values for used semitrailers have experienced months of decreases. Asking values declined 4.58% M/M and 25.59% YOY in May, while au Inventory levels have been increasing since the start of 2023. Inventories increased 9.39% M/M and 20.25% YOY in May. Auction and asking values decreased by 2% to 3% each month since January. In May, asking values increased 0.61% M/M, decreased 9.89% YOY, and are currently trending down. Following consecutive months of decreases, auction values were down 1.99% M/M and 15.46% YOY. Sandhills expects medium-duty truck values to remain lower than they were in 2022

"Sandhills' market reports are showing clear trends that sellers would be wise to track," says Sales Manager Mitch Helman. "Truck, trailer, and construction equipment sellers, in particular, should pay close attention to the market as inventory levels are up and values are heading lower."

The key metric used in all of Sandhills' market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets as well as model year equipment actively in use.

Additional Market Report Takeaways

Sandhills market reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills' used heavy-duty truck, semitrailer, farm machinery, and construction equipment markets. Key points from the current reports are listed below. Full reports are available upon request.

U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Trucks

Inventory levels increased by double digits in May while values continue to fall. The day cab category led the way with the steepest value declines and the highest inventory level increase. Inventories rose 11.48% M/M following consecutive months of increases and were 33.24% higher year over year.

Asking and auction values have decreased for a few months in a row. Asking values were down 2.69% M/M and 22.54% YOY in May, while auction values decreased 4.62% M/M and 27.67% YOY. Sandhills expects value trends will continue moving lower.

U.S. Used Semitrailers

Inventory levels have increased for several consecutive months and were up 14.63% M/M and 41.49% YOY in May. The dry van trailer category showed the largest increases. Both the dry van and reefer semitrailer categories are following the inventory trends seen in used heavy-duty trucks. Sandhills expects inventory trends to continue rising.

Like heavy-duty trucks, values for used semitrailers have experienced months of decreases. Asking values declined 4.58% M/M and 25.59% YOY in May, while auction values fell 6.09% M/M and 30.12% YOY. A continued softening in values is expected.

U.S. Used Medium-Duty Trucks

Inventory levels have been increasing since the start of 2023. Inventories increased 9.39% M/M and 20.25% YOY in May.

Auction and asking values decreased by 2% to 3% each month since January. In May, asking values increased 0.61% M/M, decreased 9.89% YOY, and are currently trending down. Following consecutive months of decreases, auction values were down 1.99% M/M and 15.46% YOY. Sandhills expects medium-duty truck values to remain lower than they were in 2022.

U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment

Inventory levels have been holding steady since last year but recently started to increase. Dozers, excavators, and wheel loaders all posted their largest inventory levels of 2023 in May. Inventories increased 2.87% M/M, rose 2.83% YOY, and are currently trending up.

Asking and auction values continue to ease as all heavy-duty construction equipment values are lower than last year. Asking values increased 0.5% M/M, decreased 4.04% YOY, and are currently trending down. Auction values decreased slightly M/M at 0.23% and dropped 5.88% YOY following consecutive months of decreases.

U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment

Inventory levels have been trending upward since the start of 2023 but totals piled up quicker in May, increasing 6.62% M/M and 38.91% YOY. Track and wheel skid steer inventories are increasing faster than other used medium-duty construction equipment categories. Inventory level changes are putting pressure on auction and asking values, especially in the skid steer category. Sandhills looks for these trends to continue.

Both asking and auction values have decreased over the past few months. Asking values were down 0.70% M/M and 1.66% YOY while auction values decreased 0.87% M/M and 6.06% YOY in May.

U.S. Used Farm Equipment

Inventory levels continue to climb and trend upward following several months of increases and double-digit YOY growth. Inventories increased 3.58% M/M and 29.81% YOY in May. Tractors over 300 HP showed a nearly 10% M/M increase.

Asking values have held steady for a few months while auction values have decreased. Asking values remained nearly flat M/M in May, decreasing 0.04%, and are currently trending sideways, but they were up 9.03% YOY. Auction values decreased 3.78% M/M and are currently trending sideways, but they were 2.59% higher YOY. The largest M/M auction value decreases were seen in the higher-class combine category.

U.S. Used Compact and Utility Tractors

Inventory levels moved up in May after seasonal declines in April. Inventories increased 3.47% M/M and 71.64% YOY and are currently trending up. The 40- to 99-horsepower tractor category showed the greatest M/M inventory rise.

Asking and auction values peaked in 2022 and have shown signs of easing since then. Auction values are lower than they were a year ago, with asking values likely to follow. Asking values increased 0.22% M/M and are currently trending down. However, asking values were up 2.91% YOY. Auction values decreased 0.66% M/M and are currently trending down, while auction values were 1.55% lower YOY.

Obtain the Full Reports

For more information, or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at [email protected].

About Sandhills Global

Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the construction, agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, commercial trucking, and aviation industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Globalwe are the cloud.

About the Sandhills Equipment Value Index

The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) is a principal gauge of the estimated market values of used assetsboth currently and over timeacross the construction, agricultural, and commercial trucking industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool, Sandhills EVI provides useful insights into the ever-changing supply-and-demand conditions for each industry.

Contact Sandhills

www.sandhills.com/contact-us

402-479-2181

SOURCE Sandhills Global
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With rising IoT usage, industry-specific solutions, 5G connection, a focus on security and privacy, partnerships for ecosystem integration, and employing AI and analytics for advanced services, the future of the IoT MVNO market is bright. IoT MVNOs are in a good position to meet the changing needs of businesses and have a big impact on how IoT deployments are done in the future.

The IoT MVNO Market size is projected to grow from USD 2.9 billion in 2023 to USD 6.8 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 18.2% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Due to the rise in the number of devices connected to the internet, increasing demand for connectivity solutions specifically designed for IoT has been noticed in the market ecosystem. IoT MVNOs offer specialized services and connectivity plans as solutions tailored to meet the need of IoT devices.

Browse in-depth TOC on "IoT MVNO Market"

126 - Tables

37 - Figures

175 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2023-2028 Forecast period 20232028 Base Year 2022 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered Operational Model, Subscribers, Enterprise, and Region Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Companies covered KDDI (Japan), KORE Wireless (US), Sierra Wireless (Canada), Twilio (US), Asahi Net (Japan), Telit (US), BICS (Belgium), Lycamobile (UK), Wireless Logic (UK), Truphone (UK), Aeris Communications (US), Cubic Telecom (Ireland), Hologram (US), 1NCE (Germany), 1OT (Estonia), Soracom (Japan), Onomondo (Denmark)

The service operator segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The growth of the IoT market is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing adoption of IoT devices, the growing need for data-driven insights, the need for flexibility and scalability, and the need for security. Service operators are well-positioned to meet this demand and are expected to play a key role in the growth of the IoT MVNO Market. The service operator segment in the IoT MVNO Market is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR from 2023 to 2028

The transportation and logistics segment is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period

The transportation and logistics industry is one of the fastest and largest-growing sectors in the global economy. The industry is responsible for the movement of goods and people around the world, playing a crucial role in the global supply chain. IoT devices are being used to track the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. This data can be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer service. IoT devices are being used to monitor the condition of assets, such as trucks and trailers. This data can be used to prevent breakdowns and improve maintenance.

Based on region, North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

North America is expected to dominate the IoT MVNO Market in the coming years. The US government has been a strong supporter of IoT, which has helped create a favourable environment for the growth of the IoT MVNO Market in North America. There has been a high level of investment in IoT in North America, which has helped drive the development of new IoT technologies and solutions. North America has a mature telecommunications infrastructure, which provides a solid foundation for the deployment of IoT solutions. Overall, the IoT MVNO Market in North America is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by several factors, including the increasing adoption of IoT devices, the growing need for data-driven insights, flexibility and scalability, and the need for security.

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IoT MVNO Market Dynamics

Driver:

Growing demand for IoT connectivity

Increasing adoption of cloud computing

Growing need for IoT security

Increased need for efficient cellular network

Restraint:

Rapid increase in deployment costs

Increasing security and privacy concerns

Opportunities:

Increase in adoption of network virtualization

Acceleration of IP and cloud data traffic

Challenges:

Excessive cost of equipment

Lack of interoperability of solutions

Top Key Companies in IoT MVNO Market:

The major players in the IoT MVNO Market are KDDI (Japan), KORE Wireless (US), Sierra Wireless (Canada), Twilio (US), Asahi Net (Japan), Telit (US), BICS (Belgium), Lycamobile (UK), Wireless Logic (UK), Truphone (UK), Aeris Communications (US), Cubic Telecom (Ireland), Hologram (US), 1NCE (Germany), 1OT (Estonia), Soracom (Japan), Onomondo (Denmark), etc. These players have adopted various growth strategies, such as partnerships, agreements and collaborations, new product launches and enhancements, and acquisitions to expand their footprint in the IoT MVNO Market.

Recent Developments

In May 2023 , KORE Wireless announced the launch of its new vertical offering in retail solutions. The retail industry is rapidly undergoing a digital transformation, and KORE has aligned its portfolio to offer high-bandwidth solutions to meet these needs. The KORE Retail solution includes high bandwidth 5G cellular connectivity through fixed wireless access (FWA) to provide high-speed internet access traditionally available through wireline solutions.

, KORE Wireless announced the launch of its new vertical offering in retail solutions. The retail industry is rapidly undergoing a digital transformation, and KORE has aligned its portfolio to offer high-bandwidth solutions to meet these needs. The KORE Retail solution includes high bandwidth 5G cellular connectivity through fixed wireless access (FWA) to provide high-speed internet access traditionally available through wireline solutions. In March 2023 , Aeris Communications announced the closing of the purchase of Ericsson's IoT Accelerator (IoT-A) and Connected Vehicle Cloud (CVC) businesses and related assets. Ericsson will establish a small stake in the new Aeris. The Aeris serves thousands of customers across a wide range of industries  including healthcare, fleet, utilities, and automotive.

, Aeris Communications announced the closing of the purchase of Ericsson's IoT Accelerator (IoT-A) and Connected Vehicle Cloud (CVC) businesses and related assets. Ericsson will establish a small stake in the new Aeris. The Aeris serves thousands of customers across a wide range of industries  including healthcare, fleet, utilities, and automotive. In January 2023 , Truphone, a global mobile virtual network operator, launched a new IoT platform. The platform offers businesses a secure and reliable way to connect their IoT devices.

, Truphone, a global mobile virtual network operator, launched a new IoT platform. The platform offers businesses a secure and reliable way to connect their IoT devices. In January 2023 , Semtech Corporation and Sierra Wireless, Inc. announced the completion of Semtech's acquisition of Sierra Wireless in an all-cash transaction representing a total enterprise value of approximately USD 1.2 billion . This transaction nearly doubles Semtech's annual revenue and adds approximately USD 100 million of high-margin IoT Cloud services recurring revenue.

, Semtech Corporation and Sierra Wireless, Inc. announced the completion of Semtech's acquisition of Sierra Wireless in an all-cash transaction representing a total enterprise value of approximately . This transaction nearly doubles Semtech's annual revenue and adds approximately of high-margin IoT Cloud services recurring revenue. In January 2023 , Sierra Wireless, a subsidiary of Semtech Corporation, announced the introduction of Smart Connectivity Premium with eUICC capabilities and extended connectivity coverage in the United States .

IoT MVNO Market Advantages:

Specialised connectivity services designed exclusively for IoT devices are offered by IoT MVNOs. They provide stable connectivity and optimised network coverage, ensuring smooth data transmission for IoT applications. These networks are built to support extensive IoT installations, enabling devices to remain connected even in difficult circumstances.

IoT MVNOs frequently provide adaptable pricing structures and data plans created especially for IoT deployments. They are aware of the particular needs of IoT devices, including their limited data consumption, sporadic connectivity, and diverse data flow patterns. As a result, IoT MVNOs can provide affordable plans, enabling companies to minimise their IoT connectivity costs.

Many IoT MVNOs have forged alliances with numerous network operators all over the world, enabling them to provide international coverage. For companies with global operations or those looking to grow their IoT implementations globally, this is very helpful. IoT MVNOs reduce complexity and provide uniform service across geographies by making it easier to manage connectivity across several countries.

Value-added services are frequently offered by IoT MVNOs to improve the IoT ecosystem. Platforms for device administration, data analytics tools, security options, and IoT platform integration capabilities are a few examples of these services. IoT MVNOs give organisations the ability to optimise their IoT operations and gain useful insights from their IoT data by providing these supplementary services.

IoT MVNOs can easily handle the expansion of IoT device connections because they are built to manage large-scale IoT deployments. Businesses can scale up or down their IoT implementations using their scalable connectivity options. Additionally, IoT MVNOs give businesses the flexibility they need to adjust to shifting customer demands and market situations in terms of network management, data plans, and connection alternatives.

Report Objectives

To determine and forecast the global IoT MVNO market by operational model, subscribers, enterprise vertical, and region from 2023 to 2028

To analyze the various macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting the market growth

To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa , Latin America

, , (APAC), & , To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the IoT MVNO market

To analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall IoT MVNO market

To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the IoT MVNO market

To profile the key market players; provide a comparative analysis based on business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials; and illustrate the competitive landscape of the market

To track and analyze competitive developments, such as mergers & acquisitions, product developments, partnerships & collaborations, and research & development (R&D) activities, in the market.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jamaica is set to launch its re-imagined outsourcing proposition to hundreds of entrepreneurs, business leaders and executives from multinational corporations, global startups and trade promotion organisations when the country hosts the upcoming Outsource to Latin America and the Caribbean Global Digital Services Summit (O2LAC) from June 14 -15 in Montego Bay.

Jamaica will be the first English-speaking nation from the Latin America and Caribbean bloc to host this Summit, which will be its ninth edition. O2LAC was created by the Inter-American Development Bank's Integration and Trade Sector with the goal of unleashing the region's full potential in the global digital services sector . Business leaders will learn about breakthroughs in emerging technologies such as AI. They will discover advanced capabilities in strategic Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), as well as identify new business opportunities through B2B and B2G matchmaking events.

As Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable, Aubyn Hill, explains that "O2LAC presents a prime opportunity for the Government of Jamaica and its partners to introduce Jamaica's re-energized global digital services sector offerings to the largest gathering of prospective services buyers and suppliers in the region. We have been working hard to enhance and elevate Jamaica's product offerings and the launch of our new Global Campaign at O2LAC will communicate our unique value proposition, and cement our brand in the minds of executives, entrepreneurs and experts as the superior option for global businesses seeking to upscale their outsourcing goals and growth results.

Jamaica is already a mature Outsourcing location and home to companies such as Conduent, Itel, Sutherland Global, Sagility, Startek and IBEX. Most of these companies provide services to some of the top Fortune 50 businesses. With over 85 companies currently in operation and annual revenue close to US$ 1 billion, while employing over 60,000 people, the country has the largest Outsourcing Sector in the Caribbean. Special Economic Zone incentives allow for duty concessions and reduced corporate income taxes, and continuous investments in telecoms and electricity infrastructure ensure stable power and broadband capabilities that make Jamaica a destination of choice.

The new National Investment Policy includes a raft of economic policies, initiatives and support measures designed to make it easier to establish businesses in the country. The continual efforts of Jamaica's Global Digital Services Sector (GDSS) Project to enhance training, certification and create new job opportunities within the sector, will re-energize the Jamaican market to welcome a new cadre of Fortune 1000 companies.

President of Jamaica Promotion Corporation (JAMPRO), Shullette Cox, says, "What we will be discussing at O2LAC will be vital to ensuring that business leaders understand how they can harness the full potential of Jamaica's expanding global digital services sector. We will specifically demonstrate how Jamaica's offerings can be tailored to solve any concerns in the global digital services sector. For instance, in the area of skills training, we are continuously enhancing our capabilities. Through the GDSS Project we are creating training, apprenticeship, internship, certification and train-the-trainer programmes. When these are coupled with the GDSS Talent Hub and Career Pathway Framework, we will be able to consistently connect thousands of talented Jamaicans with the specialised training which will enable them to work in the sector. The campaign launch will enable far greater understanding of how best to access and synergise the very best outsourcing services that Jamaica has to offer."

O2LAC is expected to attract up to 600 local, regional and international attendees. Event speakers include: Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Honourable, Aubyn Hill; Manager, Integration and Trade Sector, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Fabrizio Opertti; Deputy Director of AI for Good Research Lab, Rahul Dodhia; Head of Global Services for Carrier, Steve Rudderham; President of the Global Services Association of Jamaica, Anand Biradar; and several Latin American business leaders along with other representatives from the IDB.

The Global Digital Services Sector is projected to grow to US$1 Trillion by 2025 with business outsourcing in Latin America and the Caribbean accounting for over $10 billion in regional revenues and investment. As the country named the Best Caribbean Nation for Doing Business by Forbes (2019), Jamaica is aiming to build on its impressive performance in the industry to catapult its way to being the premier Outsourcing destination in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information about O2LAC and to review the agenda, please visit https://outsource2lac.com

Media Contact:

G&A Communications Inc.

Macherie Grant

[email protected]

SOURCE Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)
GOLDEN, Colo., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At the May 30 JeffCo County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, commissioners deliberated on a temporary moratorium concerning the establishment of Amazon-like warehouses near residential neighborhoods. However, the resolution was tabled in a 2-1 vote. The commissioners' decision came after community members expressed their appreciation for the swift review of the moratorium proposal presented a week prior.

Anne Laffoon, a steering committee member for McIntyre Neighbors United, stated, "The moratorium didn't pass, but the staff brought an idea to the tablea more narrowly focused moratorium specifically targeting Amazon-style warehouses built as in-fill adjacent to established neighborhoods. We believe in respecting the rights of property owners and encouraging compatible in-fill development. A more targeted moratorium on in-fill properties adjacent to residential areas might offer a mutually beneficial solution for all parties involved."

Laffoon said her group is especially concerned about the compatibility of an Amazon-style warehouse at 60th and McIntyre since a K-12 bus stop is also at this intersection. "A total of five daycare centers and elementary schools are along this stretch of McIntyre. If this goes through, kids waiting for the bus on McIntyre would be directly across the street from the entrance to a 500,000 sq ft heavy industrial Amazon-style trucking center," Laffoon said. "Allowing a massive industrial center with more than one thousand vehicle trips per day to be built across the street from a K12 school bus stop and near the schools and daycare centers would be crazy."

Bobbi Ponis, a retired educator residing in McIntyre, added, "We support both property owners' rights and in-fill development that aligns with the existing environment. We are hopeful that a more narrowly focused moratorium can be resubmitted and considered."

Lynn Clemens, HOA President for Westwoods Villas, a condo community sharing a property line with the proposed Amazon-style warehouses at 5950 McIntyre, emphasized, "We firmly believe that each of these in-fill situations should be evaluated individually. We strive for the betterment of the county, both now and in the future, when it comes to industrial developments throughout the area."

Gina Hallisey, representing the Ralston Valley Coalition, which opposed the Amazon warehouse in Arvada, noted, "When developing an in-fill site, it is crucial to consider compatibility with surrounding uses. Placing heavy-use facilities like logistics distribution centers near residential areas is not compatible. However, locating them adjacent to highways or transportation hubs in a heavy industry setting can make sense. Communities should have a voice in this process, as it directly impacts their quality of life and can affect public health."

While concerns were raised about potential duplication of efforts, as the county's comprehensive plan and land use regulations are already under review and expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months, Laffoon expressed apprehension, stating, "The developer is moving forward quickly. Without a moratorium, irreversible damage could be done within the next two years."

Addressing concerns related to noise and air pollution, it was noted that the county may lack authority over certain aspects. Abel Montoya, the County Development and Transportation Director, confirmed that the current zoning regulations do not prohibit 24-hour operations in light industrial areas adjacent to residential dwellings. Moreover, the county does not currently impose height restrictions on warehouses, leading to variations in height ranging from 40 to 90 feet in distribution warehouses in other Colorado counties.

"We're submitting a more narrowly-worded moratorium that focuses only on new applications for Logistics Distribution Centers developed as in-fill within 500 feet of established residential dwellings. We will present it to the Commissioners on Tuesday," Laffoon promised.

"We want to make things better for everyone in JeffCo so no one will find themselves in our shoes  living in a neighborhood for 50 years, investing in a home, raising kids, supporting your schools and then one day waking up next door to a 24/7, 90-foot high Amazon-style warehouse. Who's next? Applewood? Lakewood? Wheat Ridge?

"We need time. Time to update the regs. Time to make the county's 2012 comprehensive plan compatibility requirements consistent with 60-year-old zoning regs. Time to give developers clear direction so they aren't confused by conflicting requirements. A temporary moratorium gives us that gift."

About McIntyre Neighbors United

McIntyre Neighbors United i ncludes 18 homeowners associations (HOAs) that have communicated on behalf of the community with the Jefferson County Commissioners, City Council of Arvada, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and several open space/conservation groups about the community-led effort to examine the impacts of this proposed project. The coalition is not anti-development; it simply wants a planning and approval process that supports sustainable and compatible development. For more information go to www.mcintyreneighborsunited.org .

Contact:

Erich Kirshner, Lasso Digital

303.921.6733 or [email protected]

SOURCE McIntyre Neighbors United
BELIZE CITY, Belize, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce a new partnership with JetBlue Airlines, New York's Hometown Airline, which today revealed the first-ever nonstop service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Belize's Phillip S.W. Goldson.

Marking New York as the 11th U.S. city to offer nonstop service to the Central American nation, JetBlue will operate year-round roundtrip flights three times a week  Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays  with the inaugural flight scheduled for Dec. 6, 2023.

"We're thrilled to announce the new partnership between Belize and JetBlue and can't wait to welcome JetBlue's first-ever flight to our country in December," said Hon. Anthony Mahler, Belize's Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. "This is a huge win for our ongoing efforts to make Belize accessible to more U.S. visitors, with JFK being one of the biggest air travel hubs for tens of millions of travelers. We're excited for JetBlue to join the family of airline partners offering nonstop flight options to Belize and we invite everyone to visit and discover the beauty of this enchanting country and all that it has to offer."

"JetBlue is committed to delivering exceptional travel experiences to our customers and our expansion to Belize reflects our dedication to connecting customers to the most popular and unique destinations," said David Jehn, vice president of network planning and partnerships, JetBlue. "We look forward to not only introducing our low fares and great service to Belize customers but also providing access to all the cities we serve from New York."

Schedule between New York (JFK) and Belize (BZE) Route Frequency Departure Arrival Effective JFK - BZE Mon., Wed., Sat. 8:29 a.m. 12:14 p.m. Dec. 6, 2023 BZE - JFK Mon., Wed., Sat. 1:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Dec. 6, 2023 *All times are local

Belize is quickly becoming a popular destination for American travelers. As of April 2023, more than 68% of all overnight arrivals to the destination came from the United States. This is expected to increase thanks to the new direct flight service and represents a very optimistic outlook for the dynamic growth of the Belizean tourism industry.

As one of Central America's most biodiverse countries, Belize is home to the largest Barrier Reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres, indigenous cultures, mystical Maya caves, pristine Caribbean waters, wondrous aquatic habitats, lush tropical jungles, wildlife reserves, and cascading flora and fauna. Belize is the only English-speaking country in the region where the U.S. dollar is widely accepted making it an ideal vacation destination where numerous adventures are waiting to be had. To learn more, visit travelbelize.org.

About Belize Tourism Board

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector  including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association  and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner. As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers. Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country's unique attractions to travelers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets. The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instill high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences. For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.

About JetBlue

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Canada, and United Kingdom. For more information and the best fares, visit www.jetblue.com.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Belize Tourism Board
Two-year project will connect tribal households to critical services and resources

MCLEAN, Va., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kajeet, a leading wireless connectivity and device management provider for education, government, and enterprise markets, is proud to announce a transformative partnership to build a hybrid fiber and wireless network for the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. This deal aims to bridge the digital divide and empower the tribe through delivering reliable internet access to hundreds of residents while laying the foundation for a future-proof and scalable network infrastructure, enabling residents to connect, communicate, and thrive in the digital age.

Kajeet's extensive experience in wireless connectivity, along with its commitment to bridging the digital divide, aligns with the goals of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. According to Durell Cooper, tribal chair for the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, "Expanding our residents' access to educational resources, telehealth services, e-commerce opportunities, and remote work capabilities will help foster innovation and economic development within our community. The Kajeet team shares our belief that connectivity provides opportunities for our members to thrive."

"We are honored to partner with the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma to deliver broadband connectivity..." Tweet this

The multi-phased project is expected to last two years and is funded by a grant awarded to the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), a $3 billion grant program for tribal governments to bring high-speed internet to tribal lands. It supports telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives.

"We are honored to partner with the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma to deliver broadband connectivity to their tribal lands," said Derrick Frost, senior vice president of Private Networks at Kajeet. "Access to reliable internet services is vital in today's interconnected world, and we are committed to promoting digital equity. This collaboration will empower their community, providing them with the tools and opportunities necessary for continued success."

Kajeet Private Wireless solutions include complete turnkey services for customers. Projects include grant application assistance, environmental studies, design and RF planning, installation, and management-as-a-service once the system is operational. Kajeet takes special care to include Native nations throughout the process to create workforce opportunities while developing skill sets in advanced technology for members.

For more information about Kajeet's private network initiatives and solutions, please visit: Kajeet Private Wireless

About Kajeet:

Kajeet provides optimized IoT connectivity, software, and hardware solutions that deliver safe, reliable, and controlled internet connectivity to businesses, schools, districts, state and local governments, and IoT solution providers. With a proven track record since 2003, Kajeet has connected over a million devices worldwide, offering private network solutions and an IoT management platform, Sentinel, that provides real-time data usage visibility, policy control management, custom content filters for added security, and multi-network flexibility.

Media Contact: Linda Jennings, Director of Corporate Communications

Phone: 248-521-3606

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Kajeet
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaleyra, Inc. (NYSE: KLR) (NYSE American: KLR WS) ("Kaleyra" or the "Company"), a global CPaaS leader, has been positioned as a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Communications Platform as a Service 2023 Vendor Assessment (doc #US50607923, May 2023).

The IDC MarketScape reports provide in-depth evaluations of companies based on a range of criteria, including market presence, product portfolio, and customer satisfaction.

According to the IDC MarketScape, "Kaleyra has a comprehensive and well-balanced portfolio aside as well as a solid services stack." The report notes companies should "Consider Kaleyra if you require a global and sophisticated mobile messaging, voice, and/or conversational solution where specific vertical expertise is highly required."

"IDC's employment of rigorous methodologies and extensive research underscores our reputation of providing accurate market insights and identifying key players. We arm businesses with the critical information they need to make key technology decisions," said Courtney Munroe, Research Vice President at IDC. "With IDC MarketScape, decision-makers can assess potential vendors quantitatively and qualitatively. Being recognized as a Major Player in our report demonstrates Kaleyra's ability to meet industry or exceed standards and deliver exceptional service."

"We are honored to be named as a Major Player in the CPaaS industry by the IDC MarketScape," said Mauro Carobene, CRO at Kaleyra. "We are proud to be at the forefront of the industry, driving positive change and meeting the evolving communication needs of businesses worldwide."

Kaleyra's CEO, Dario Calogero, shared, "We believe Kaleyra's position as a Major Player in the CPaaS market reflects the company's strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. With this recognition, Kaleyra inspires trust and confidence among its existing and potential clients."

For more information about Kaleyra and its industry-leading CPaaS solutions, businesses can download the latest IDC Marketscape Excerpt at this link .

For more information, please visit Kaleyra's website at www.kaleyra.com .

About IDC MarketScape:

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About Kaleyra

Kaleyra, Inc. (NYSE: KLR) (NYSE American: KLR WS) is a global group providing mobile communication services to financial institutions, e-commerce players, OTTs, software companies, logistic enablers, healthcare providers, retailers, and other large organizations worldwide.

Through its proprietary platform and robust APIs, Kaleyra manages multi-channel integrated communication services, consisting of messaging, rich messaging and instant messaging, video, push notifications, e-mail, voice services, and chatbots.

Kaleyra's technology makes it possible to safely and securely manage billions of messages monthly with over 1600 operator connections in 190+ countries, including all tier-1 US carrier.

Kaleyra Contacts

Marketing Contacts:

Zephrin Lasker

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Alliances

[email protected]

Lori Perkins

Senior Director  Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

Investor Contacts:

Shannon Devine or Mark Schwalenberg

MZ North America

203-741-8811

[email protected]

SOURCE Kaleyra US
Driving strategic growth through tightly aligned operations and disciplined execution

DALLAS, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ATI Inc. (NYSE: ATI) today announced that Kimberly A. Fields will become president and chief operating officer, effective July 1, 2023. Fields has been executive vice president and chief operating officer since January 2022.

A proven leader focused on growth and operational excellence, Fields continues to have executive oversight responsibility for ATI's business segments, including all global operational and commercial activities.

Kimberly Fields

As president, she will assume an enhanced role in formulating the Company's strategic direction as the team continues to drive shareholder return through achievement of our 2025 targets and beyond. She'll collaborate with the Board of Directors and ATI's executive leaders to ensure sustained focus on our vision and strategic growth opportunities.

Board Chair and CEO Robert S. Wetherbee remains focused on the strategic leadership of ATI, building our talent and strengthening relationships with key customers, partners, and investors.

"Kim is leading the business as one integrated operation with aligned goals and metrics, developing the team to deliver," said Wetherbee. "Together, they've created a system that leverages collaboration and accelerates improvements across the enterprise. As a result, ATI is well-positioned to grow as an aerospace and defense leader. I look forward to continuing to partner with Kim and the leadership team to deliver value for our customers and shareholders."

"I'm honored to serve as ATI's president," said Fields. "Our team is executing to improve operational efficiency and maximize the value of our assets. We're operating nimbly as a well-coordinated team, delivering for our customers. We'll continue to work across the enterprise to capitalize on ATI's unique capabilities."

The presidents of all ATI business units will continue to report to Fields, while she and all functional leaders continue to report to Wetherbee.

Fields joined ATI in 2019 as executive vice president of ATI's Flat Rolled Products group, and in 2020 took on leadership of both business segments. Prior to joining ATI, Fields was group president for industrial and energy at IDEX Corporation and held commercial, manufacturing, and strategic leadership positions at GE and EVRAZ. She serves on the board of directors of Silgan Holdings.

ATI: Proven to Perform.

ATI (NYSE: ATI) is a global producer of high performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical and specialty energy. We're solving the world's most difficult challenges through materials science. We partner with our customers to deliver extraordinary materials that enable their greatest achievements: their products fly higher and faster, burn hotter, dive deeper, stand stronger and last longer. Our proprietary process technologies, unique customer partnerships and commitment to innovation deliver materials and solutions for today and the evermore challenging environments of tomorrow. We are proven to perform anywhere. Learn more at ATImaterials.com.

SOURCE ATI
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. The state budget of Azerbaijan for 2023 will provide 3 billion manat ($1.7 billion) for the implementation of projects under the 'Great Return' program, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said at today's special meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), Trend reports.

A total of 60 percent of these funds have been executed over the past five months.

The minister pointed out that reconstruction in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan [from Armenian occupation after second Karabakh war] are continuing rapidly.

Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native lands.
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmarks Illinois is excited to announce that it has donated the iconic Ebony Test Kitchen from the former Johnson Publishing Company Building in Chicago to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) located in Washington, D.C. The test kitchen will be a part of the museum's permanent collection.

Learn about the years-long effort to preserve the Ebony Test Kitchen and how it will a part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture's permanent collection.

The NMAAHC announced the acquisition of the historically significant test kitchen, which Landmarks Illinois saved from demolition in 2018, earlier today. The museum said the kitchen would undergo conservation work as it develops new plans for its construction and future use.

Landmarks Illinois has spent the past five years working to ensure the Ebony Test Kitchen is preserved and celebrated, giving future generations the opportunity to experience it and learn about its important role in Black history and culinary history. The test kitchen also helps tell the story of the Johnson Publishing Company, the country's most influential African American publisher of its time.

"Saving the Ebony Test Kitchen has been an extraordinary preservation effort, and one we are proud to be a part of, especially given this incredible result," said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. "We cannot think of a more suitable home for the iconic kitchen than the NMAAHC, which welcomes millions of visitors every year in our nation's capital. We thank the Smithsonian Institution for its dedication to preserving this pivotal piece of American history."

History of the Test Kitchen

The Ebony Test Kitchen was previously housed in the Johnson Publishing Company Building designed by John Warren Moutoussamy and located at 820 S. Michigan Ave in Chicago. When the building opened in 1971, Moutoussamy became the first Black architect to have designed a building located on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. The building is now a Chicago Landmark, a designation Landmarks Illinois helped advocate for.

The Test Kitchen, designed by Palm Springs-based interior designers William Raiser and Arthur Elrod, was used for decades by Ebony Magazine food editors to test recipes that would appear in the popular publication.

As the building was sold and about to undergo redevelopment, Landmarks Illinois acquired the test kitchen in 2018 for $1 to ensure its preservation. With the help of its Skyline Council committee and additional volunteers, Landmarks Illinois documented, dissembled and safely put the kitchen into storage.

In May 2019, Landmarks Illinois agreed to loan the kitchen to the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD). MOFAD painstakingly rebuilt two rooms, refurbished the kitchen and reproduced kitchen elements such as the iconic wallpaper to prominently feature the kitchen as part of their last exhibition, African/American: Making the Nation's Table. Open from February to July 2022 at the Africa Center in Manhattan, the exhibit was the country's first to celebrate the history of African American cuisine and the countless Black chefs, farmers and food and drink producers who have laid the foundation for American food culture.

Landmarks Illinois & Smithsonian Collaboration

Following the MOFAD exhibit, NMAAHC approached Landmarks Illinois in the fall of 2022 about its interest in acquiring the Ebony Test Kitchen. At that time, Landmarks Illinois and MOFAD agreed to donate the kitchen to NMAAHC for its future use.

Landmarks Illinois produced a short video about the years-long effort to preserve the Ebony Test Kitchen, which can be viewed here. The video discusses the history and significance of the test kitchen and explains how it went from being threatened with demolition to being preserved in the future at the NMAAHC. The video shares voices from Landmarks Illinois as well as artist Amanda Williams, who served on Landmarks Illinois' Ebony Test Kitchen Advisory Committee; Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times Architecture Critic; Charla Draper, Ebony's Director of Food & Home Furnishings from 1982 to 1984; and Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

About Landmarks Illinois

We are People Saving Places for People. Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org.

About the Museum of Food and Drink

Food is culture. As the most universal aspect of human existence, it is a powerful lens for understanding ourselves, each other, and the world around us. The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) is a new kind of museum that uses this power to create cultural change towards a more thoughtful, equitable and delicious future. Our goal is to be the world's premier food museum and a global educational resource that inspires generations of curious eaters of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mofad.org and follow @mofad on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn McAvoy

Director of Communications

Landmarks Illinois

[email protected]

SOURCE Landmarks Illinois
PRETORIA, South Africa, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium Brand Distributors (PBD), a leading South African technology distributor, recently debuted at SecurEX South Africa, showcasing the latest from eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse. The event marked a significant milestone for PBD as they unveiled the eufyCam 3 security system and the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations, redefining portable power and security in South Africa.

eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse at SecurEX South Africa (PRNewsfoto/Anker Innovations)

Grant Norton, CEO of Premium Brand Distributors, expressed excitement about bringing Anker Innovations' eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse products to the vibrant South African market. The cutting-edge eufyCam 3 security system, with solar-powered 4K cameras and machine-learning AI, offers enhanced security and privacy for South African consumers.

The eufyCam 3, powered by the new HomeBase 3, utilizes eufy Security's proprietary BionicMind AI, achieving 99% accuracy in recognizing individuals, pets, and objects. HomeBase 3, equipped with edge computing technology, ensures efficient video footage management and provides 16GB of free encrypted local storage, expandable up to 16TB with an external hard drive. This allows for years of local video storage without the need for clearance, giving users peace of mind.

PBD also showcased the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations. These high-capacity stations, powered by advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, offer superior performance and durability. With multiple charging ports, rugged design, and built-in lighting bars, the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations provide reliable portable power solutions for smartphones, appliances, and medical equipment, making the product an essential tool for outdoor activities and emergencies.

Faraz Mehdi, General Manager of Anker Innovations, Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, recognized the value of the South African market and expressed the privilege of offering their state-of-the-art eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse solutions through PBD. These products are designed to enhance user safety and provide reliable portable power solutions, empowering users with the best technology available.

Grant Norton emphasized that PBD's participation at SecurEX aimed to foster a tech-savvy and future-forward environment in South Africa. By partnering with eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse, PBD sought to revolutionize how consumers approached security and portable power.

Throughout the SecurEX event, Premium Brand Distributors showcased their latest products, offering detailed demonstrations and addressing inquiries, showcasing their commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the South African market.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094360/eufy_Security.jpg

SOURCE Anker Innovations
The initiative will increase book access in Indigenous and tribal communities to help improve literacy outcomes and ignite a love of reading

SAINT PAUL, Minn., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Free Library (LFL) nonprofit organization is thrilled to announce the launch of its Indigenous Library Program , which grants Little Free Library boxes and books where needed most in Indigenous communities and on tribal lands in the U.S and Canada. Working with Indigenous community leaders, LFL provides book-sharing boxes to locations where book access is key to improving literacy.

"Together we can create much-needed book access in Indigenous communities." Talia Miracle, Little Free Library Tweet this White Earth Nation members Lila Berry (left) and Hannah Otto (right) with a young reader at a Little Free Library granted through the Indigenous Library Program, outside the White Earth Indian Health Services building.

The initiative is led by LFL Program Manager Talia Miracle (Ho-Chunk tribe of Winnebago) and supported by an advisory group that includes Valarie Janis of the Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library (Bay Mills Anishinaabe), LFL board member Margaret Wood (Navajo and Oklahoma Seminole), and others who belong to or serve Indigenous communities.

"Little Free Library book-sharing boxes on Indigenous land in the U.S. and Canada can be significant to enhancing the education of Indigenous students and residents," said Wood. "Indigenous reserves and reservations are huge 'book deserts'.... Having access to books year 'round will be a game changer for residents of Indigenous lands."

The Little Free Libraries and books are granted through an application process , with priority given to those with long-term ties to Indigenous communities. Although LFL has granted libraries to Indigenous communities in the past, today's launch initiates an expanded commitment to making Little Free Libraries available in high-need locations serving Indigenous people.

"We are aiding in literacy efforts within our communities one book at a time," said Janis, who stewards 11 Little Free Library boxes throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Reading Native Voices

Studies show that book access is vital to improving literacy , and reading culturally relevant books can be equally important . The Indigenous Library Program grant packages come with two starter sets of books, one with 25 titles specifically focused on the Indigenous experience.

"Story and storytelling have always been honored and celebrated by the Indigenous peoples of this continent, but only now are our children and teens seeing young heroes like themselves respectfully reflected in books," said author Cynthia Leitich Smith, curator of the Heartdrum imprint at HarperCollins Children's Books. "We couldn't be more delighted that Little Free Library is welcoming our kids into the world of readers by making available an excellent array of resonant, page-turning titles to be shared with Native families and communities."

LFL's Talia Miracle invites everyone to participate in the Indigenous Library Program launch. "Together we can create much-needed book access in Indigenous communities and celebrate books about the Indigenous experience."

How to Get Involved

ABOUT LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Little Free Library (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book exchanges. There are more than 160,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide in all 50 states and 120 countries. LFL has received the World Literacy Award plus honors from the Library of Congress, National Book Foundation and others. LittleFreeLibrary.org

Media Contact: Margret Aldrich / 715-690-2488 x805 / [email protected]

SOURCE Little Free Library
SUZHOU, China and ROCKVILLE, Md,, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that it has released preliminary results from a Phase Ib/II study of the Bcl-2 inhibitor, lisaftoclax (APG-2575), as a monotherapy or combined with ibrutinib or rituximab in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), in a Poster Presentation at the 59th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting that marked the first data readout from a multicenter global study of lisaftoclax in WM.

Showcasing progress in clinical development at the ASCO Annual Meeting for six consecutive years, Ascentage Pharma had clinical results from four clinical studies of four of the company's lead drug candidates selected for presentations in 2023. Among these results, the clinical data of lisaftoclax showed safety and efficacy of the drug candidate as a monotherapy and in combinations, including an overall response rate (ORR) of 100% in treatment-naive patients,and low risk of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) with the daily-dose ramp-up (3 days at fixed doses) with lisaftoclax plus ibrutinib. In addition, only negligible drug-drug interaction (DDI) was observed in the study.

WM is a rare, indolent, and incurable type of B lymphoplasmacytic cancer that is mostly treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)- or rituximab-based regimens. However, there is currently no standard of care treatment for patients who are resistant or intolerant to first-line therapies and those who relapsed following responses to initial treatment. There is no Bcl-2 inhibitor has yet been approved for the treatment of WM.

"Lisaftoclax is a highly selective Bcl-2 inhibitor that is capable of inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell growth," said Sikander Ailamadhi, MD, the Principal Investigator of the Study from Mayo Clinic. "In this global Phase Ib/II study, lisaftoclax monotherapy showed encouraging antitumor activity and satisfactory safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) WM who had received prior treatment with BTKis. In addition, a response rate of 100% was achieved when in combination with BTKi for patients with treatment-naive WM. This drug's other attributes include the patient friendly daily dose ramp-up schedule which allows for faster attainment of target therapeutic doses. We look forward to further exploring the efficacy and safety of lisaftoclax as a monotherapy and in combinations."

"The clinical results of lisaftoclax in patients with WM presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting highlighted the promising therapeutic utility of the drug candidate as a monotherapy or in combination in hematologic malignancies," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "In particular, the lisaftoclax plus BTKi regimen has demonstrated an impressive ORR that signalled exciting clinical potential. Looking ahead, we will accelerate this clinical development program and expedite the drug's journey to market to allow patients to benefit from this novel therapeutic as soon as possible."

* Lisaftoclax is an investigational drug that has not been approved in any country and region.

Highlights of the poster on lisaftoclax presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting:

Preliminary data of a phase 1b/2 study of BCL-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax (APG-2575) alone or combined with ibrutinib or rituximab in patients (pts) with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM).

Abstract#: 7569

7569 Poster Board#: 120

120 Session Title: Hematologic MalignanciesLymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Hematologic MalignanciesLymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Highlights:

This open-label, multicenter, global Phase Ib/II study was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of the orally administered highly selective novel Bcl-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax (APG-2575) as monotherapy or in combination with ibrutinib or rituximab in patients with WM.



As of April 12, 2023 , a total of 46 patients were enrolled in the study and later enrolled into 3 arms as follows:

Arm A: lisaftoclax monotherapy in patients with WM resistant/intolerant to BTKis (n=14)

Arm B: lisaftoclax plus ibrutinib in treatment-naive patients (n=24)

Arm C: lisaftoclax plus rituximab in ibrutinib and other BTKi-naive relapsed/refractory patients (n=8)

The dose of lisaftoclax was escalated from 400 to 1,200 mg using a modified toxicity probability interval-2 (mTPI-2) design. Doses in Arms A, B, and C were escalated to up to 1,000 mg, 1,200 mg, and 800 mg, respectively.



Efficacy Results: The ORR (minor or deeper responses) and median time (range) to response (MTTR) for Arms A, B, and C were 50%, 100%, and 62.5%; 4.6 (1-9), 1 (1-5), and 4.4 (1-10) months, respectively. 2 very good partial responses (VGPRs) were observed in Arm B with a median time to VGPR of 3.1 (1.8-4.4) months. The study did not observe any significant difference between patients with and without the CXCR4 mutation.

mutation.

Safety Results: The dose-escalation of lisaftoclax did not meet the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). At 1,200 mg, 1 grade 3 dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) (a grade 3 TLS) considered to be related to pre-existing renal impairment was observed in Arm B. Ventricular arrhythmias were not observed. 1 patient received dose reduction in lisaftoclax because of AEs, and 2 patients discontinued treatment because of AEs. Common lisaftoclax-related AEs (>10%) included neutropenia (36.9%), diarrhea (34.8%), leukocytopenia (21.7%), nausea (13.0%), anemia (13.0%), abdominal pain (10.9%), thrombocytopenia (10.9%), and decreased appetite (10.9%), with the most of these AEs being grade 1-2. The PK data indicated negligible drug- drug interaction (DDI) between lisaftoclax and ibrutinib.



Conclusions: Lisaftoclax alone or combined with ibrutinib/rituximab demonstrated favorable safety and promising activity in patients with treatment-naive or BTKi-refractory WM, with negligible risk of DDI between lisaftoclax and ibrutinib.

Appendix: The four posters on Ascentage Pharma's four lead drug candidates, including lisaftoclax, presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting.

Drug Candidates Abstract Title Abstract# Format APG-2449 FAK inhibition with novel FAK/ALK

inhibitor APG-2449 could overcome

resistance in NSCLC patients who are

resistant to second-generation ALK

inhibitors. #9015 Poster

Discussion Olverembatinib (HQP1351) Antitumor activity of olverembatinib

(HQP1351) in patients (pts) with tyrosine

kinase inhibitor (TKI)- resistant succinate

dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient

gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). #11540 Poster

Presentation Lisaftoclax (APG-2575) Preliminary data of a phase 1b/2 study

of BCL-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax (APG-2575)

alone or combined with ibrutinib or

rituximab in patients (pts) with

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). #7569 Poster

Presentation Alrizomadlin (APG-115) A phase 2 study of alrizomadlin (APG-

115) in combination with

pembrolizumab in patients with

unresectable or metastatic cutaneous

melanoma that has failed immuno-

oncologic (IO) drugs. #9559 Poster

Presentation

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted two Priority Review Designations and two Breakthrough Therapy Designations (BTDs) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE Ascentage Pharma
SUZHOU, China and ROCKVILLE, Md., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancer, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, announced today that for the second consecutive year, it has released updated data of APG-2449, a novel FAK/ALK/ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) developed by Ascentage Pharma, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in a Poster Discussion session at the 59th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Showcasing progress in clinical development at the ASCO Annual Meeting for six consecutive years, Ascentage Pharma had clinical results from four clinical studies of four of the company's lead drug candidates selected for presentations in 2023. Among these results, the updated clinical data of APG-2449 showed the potential as a new treatment option that can effectively overcome drug resistance through the targeted inhibition of FAK. These data indicated efficacy and safety of APG-2449 in patients with NSCLC, with 8 partial responses (PRs) in the 28 patients who had failed treatment with the second-generation ALK TKIs.

Developed by Ascentage Pharma, APG-2449 is an orally available, small-molecule FAK/ALK/ROS1 TKI and the first China-developed third-generation ALK inhibitor entering clinical development.

"APG-2449 is an effective multi-targeted inhibitor targeting FAK/ALK/ROS1. Compared to data released at the ASCO Annual Meeting last year, the updated results reported this year continuously indicated favourable safety and promising antitumor activity in patients with NSCLC, and the preliminary efficacy observed in patients who were resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors was particularly encouraging," said Prof. Li Zhang, the Principal Investigator of this study from Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center. "We believe that FAK inhibition could be a new treatment strategy for patients with NSCLC resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors."

"We are excited by the results presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting as they demonstrated APG-2449's therapeutic option in advanced NSCLC and the drug's potential in offering a safe and effective novel therapy to this underserved patient population," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "Moving forward, we will expedite this clinical development program, which hopefully can yield a safe and effective new treatment option to patients, fulfilling our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world."

* APG-2449 is an investigational drug that has not been approved in any country and region.

Highlights of the poster on APG-2449 presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting:

FAK inhibition with novel FAK/ALK inhibitor APG-2449 could overcome resistance in NSCLC patients who are resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors

Abstract#: 9015

9015 Poster Board#: 3

3 Session Title: Lung CancerNon-Small Cell metastatic

Lung CancerNon-Small Cell metastatic Key Results:

This open-label, multicenter , Phase I dose-escalation and dose-expansion study was designed to evaluate the safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics ( PK ), pharmacodynamics (PD), and efficacy of APG-2449 in patients with ALK /ROS1 + NSCLC or other solid tumors.



As of December 9, 2022 , 136 patients were enrolled and treated with APG-2449 at dose levels from 900 to 1,500 mg. The median (range) age of these patients was 53 (21-78) years, and 54.4% of them were female. After 1,200 mg daily (QD) was determined as the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D), patients with NSCLC were enrolled into 2 dose-expansion cohorts. Among them, Cohort 1 included patients who were resistant to second-generation ALK/ROS1 + TKIs, while Cohort 2 included those who were ALK/ROS1 + TKI-naive.

, 136 patients were enrolled and treated with APG-2449 at dose levels from 900 to 1,500 mg. The median (range) age of these patients was 53 (21-78) years, and 54.4% of them were female. After 1,200 mg daily (QD) was determined as the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D), patients with NSCLC were enrolled into 2 dose-expansion cohorts. Among them, Cohort 1 included patients who were resistant to second-generation ALK/ROS1 TKIs, while Cohort 2 included those who were ALK/ROS1 TKI-naive.

Efficacy Results: In the subgroup of patients with TKI-naive NSCLC (n = 33; 31 were efficacy evaluable), the overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR = complete response [CR] rate + partial response [PR] rate + stable diseases [SD] rate) were 70.6% (12/17) and 88.2% (15/17), respectively, in ROS1 + treatment-naive patients; and were 78.6% (11/14) and 100% (14/14) in ALK + treatment-naive patients. Among the 28 patients with ALK + NSCLC that was resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors, 8 achieved PR (8/28; 28.6%) when treated with APG-2449 at the RP2D.

treatment-naive patients; and were 78.6% (11/14) and 100% (14/14) in ALK treatment-naive patients. Among the 28 patients with ALK NSCLC that was resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors, 8 achieved PR (8/28; 28.6%) when treated with APG-2449 at the RP2D.

Analysis of FAK Expression: Among the 48 patients with ALK+ NSCLC who were previously treated with second-generation ALK inhibitors, compared to baseline, those who experienced PR showed greater reduction in phosphorylated FAK (pFAK) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by Day 28 than patients who experienced SD and progressive disease (PD), thus suggesting that patients with higher FAK expression at baseline were likely to achieve deeper clinical responses to APG-2449.



Safety Results: A total of 123 (90.4%) patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), with the most frequent TRAEs (>20%) being elevated blood creatinine (46.3%), elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (40.4%), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (33.1%), as well as gastrointestinal disorders that included nausea (27.2%), vomiting (22.8%), and diarrhea (21.3%). A total of 19 (14%) patients experienced grade  3 TRAEs.



Conclusions: APG-2449 showed a favourable preliminary safety profile and antitumor efficacy in patients with NSCLC. Preliminary efficacy was observed in patients who were TKI naive and resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors. FAK inhibition could be a novel approach to overcome ALK resistance in patients with NSCLC that is resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors.

Appendix: The four posters on Ascentage Pharma's four lead drug candidates, including APG-2449, presented at this year's ASCO Annual Meeting.

Drug Candidates Abstract Title Abstract# Format APG-2449 FAK inhibition with novel FAK/ALK inhibitor APG-2449 could overcome resistance in NSCLC patients who are resistant to second-generation ALK inhibitors. #9015 Poster Discussion Olverembatinib (HQP1351) Antitumor activity of olverembatinib (HQP1351) in patients (pts) with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)- resistant succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). #11540 Poster Presentation Lisaftoclax (APG-2575) Preliminary data of a phase 1b/2 study of BCL-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax (APG-2575) alone or combined with ibrutinib or rituximab in patients (pts) with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). #7569 Poster Presentation APG-115 (Alrizomadlin) A phase 2 study of alrizomadlin (APG-115) in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma that has failed immuno-oncologic (IO) drugs. #9559 Poster Presentation

About Ascentage Pharma

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK.

Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of 9 clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 40 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including five Major New Drug Projects, one New Drug Incubator status, four Innovative Drug Programs, and one Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and the company's first approved product, has been granted two Priority Review Designations and two Breakthrough Therapy Designations (BTDs) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). To date, the drug had been included into the China 2022 National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). Furthermore, olverembatinib has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EMA of the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 16 ODDs from the US FDA and 1 Orphan Designation from the EMA of the EU for 4 of the company's investigational drug candidates.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MSD, and AstraZeneca. The company has built a talented team with global experience in the discovery and development of innovative drugs and is setting up its world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, Ascentage Pharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE Ascentage Pharma
Leading retail real estate company continues to advance its industry-leading sustainability strategy

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Macerich (NYSE: MAC ), one of the nation's leading owners, operators and developers of one-of-a-kind retail and mixed-use properties in top markets, today officially released its Corporate Responsibility Report, with data for the period ending December 31, 2022.

Twenty Ninth Street in Boulder Colorado (A Macerich Property)

This year's report spotlights the Company's continued momentum toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, as well as its focus on double materiality, the intersection of financial responsibility and stewardship of natural resources. Significantly, in 2022, Macerich reached the milestone of obtaining 35% of the energy it uses portfolio-wide from clean or renewable resources. It has already exceeded its solid waste reduction goal for 2025, having reduced solid waste by 37% from its 2015 baseline.

"At Macerich, we aim to set the bar for sustainability in our industry by operating properties with purpose that 'walk the walk' in stewarding resources for everyone, from guests and tenants, employees and investors, to communities and the planet," said Olivia Bartel Leigh, Macerich Executive Vice President, Portfolio Operations and People. "Today, we are already achieving some of the goals we set with target dates of 2025 and beyond, but we are not resting. Instead, we continue to innovate to enhance the long-term value creation of our properties, a concept we view as interconnected with our natural environment, our human environment and responsible corporate oversight."

Highlights from Macerich's Corporate Responsibility Report include:

Environmental

Obtained 35% of its energy from clean and renewable resources, including the addition of over 1,000 kilowatts of on-site energy resources.

Achieved its goal of a 35% reduction in solid waste from its 2015 baseline, three years ahead of schedule.

Reduced year-over-year market-based carbon emissions by 12%, in line with the Company's Science-Based Targets.

Social

Hosted more than 2,100 on-property events supporting local causes and communities, including blood drives, farmers markets, food drives, cultural celebrations and more.

Contributed $1.1 million in philanthropic contributions, including over $326,000 in employee-driven donations to a variety of organizations through our employer match program.

in philanthropic contributions, including over in employee-driven donations to a variety of organizations through our employer match program. Offers opportunities to all employees and works to diversify its team and provide a welcoming place for everyone. Two central initiatives include hiring practices designed to mitigate unconscious bias and an industry-leading internship program that opens doors for talented college students from underrepresented populations in the real estate industry, hosting nine interns in 2022.

Governance

Created the multidisciplinary MacImpact Committee, which brings together employees in project-based teams to refine and execute the Company's corporate social responsibility and environmental efforts.

Included sustainability-aligned key performance indicators (KPIs) in executive compensation to ensure alignment with ESG goals through the lens of double materiality.

To learn more about Macerich's leadership in sustainability, access the Macerich Corporate Responsibility/ESG Report , with data for the period ending December 31, 2022.

About Macerich

Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerich's portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale, and the Metro New York to Washington, D.C. corridor. Developing and managing properties that serve as community cornerstones, Macerich currently owns 47 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 44 regional town centers, many of which contain mixed uses. Macerich is firmly dedicated to advancing environmental goals, social good and sound corporate governance. A recognized leader in sustainability, Macerich has achieved a #1 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) ranking for the North American retail sector for eight consecutive years (2015-2022). For more information, please visit www.Macerich.com .

Macerich uses, and intends to continue to use, its Investor Relations website, which can be found at investing.macerich.com, as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Additional information about Macerich can be found through social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures, including NOI and FFO, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the earnings release and supplemental filed on Form 8-K with the SEC, which are posted on the Investor Relations website at investing.macerich.com.

MAC-C

SOURCE: Macerich

SOURCE Macerich Company
Manufacturers with optimized digital transformation (DX) saw profits increase 40% vs. less digitally mature organizations.

Only 26% of manufacturers surveyed are pursuing new revenue streams; while only 28% are engaging with new ecosystems.

Biggest ROI gains come from developing new business models (51%) that scale beyond "business as usual."

LONDON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced the results of an IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by IFS, Shaping the Future of Manufacturing, revealing the level of digital transformation (DX) in Manufacturing, one of IFS's core industries. The study, polling 160 senior decision-makers within manufacturing companies across Europe, the Americas and Asia, identify the areas in which manufacturers can maximize growth by observing their future investment plans, IT strategy and related challenges.



Manufacturers' main obstacles  increasing labor costs (61%), growing costs for raw materials (42%) and supply chain issues (42%)  continue to be prioritized. However, firefighting against these immediate challenges has distracted manufacturers from differentiating their operations. With no immediate signs of relief from disruption, manufacturers must adapt their business models and focus on areas beyond their typical core domains.



DX remains firmly on manufacturers' strategic roadmaps, as the study reveals encouraging signs that more than half (53%) of manufacturers are continuing to invest in digital initiatives to support their core business operations. Those that have successfully moved beyond the pilot stages of their digital transformation journey and are actively pursuing digital maturity are already experiencing increases in profit. The survey shows that manufacturers reporting an optimized level of DX saw profits increase (40%); while those with less advanced DX maturity suffered bigger reductions in profit in the last fiscal year.



It is crucial that manufacturers continue to acknowledge the importance of advancing their digital initiatives. However, to ensure success, they must strike a balance between their DX investments and critical business priorities. Alarmingly, (62%) of respondents lack clarity on the ROI from their DX initiatives. If this continues, manufacturers risk losing competitive advantage and jeopardizing the scale and deployment of future initiatives.



In line with this, recent IFS results have shown that CIOs are increasingly moving toward prioritizing technology investments that help build resilience in their business and generate value through digital technologies. However, without clear evidence of ROI, manufacturers will find it challenging to convince senior IT management to allocate budget towards digital initiatives.



To truly thrive, organizations must follow the lead of manufacturers who are actively engaging with new ecosystems (28%), creating new revenue streams (26%), and exploring new markets (25%) to gain advantage over competitors. Positive indicators from the survey show that manufacturers are seeing the biggest ROI gains through scaling initiatives beyond pilots and deploying a mature DX strategy to address processes and people. The research also reveals that ROI benefits are being met or exceeded through mature digital initiatives targeted at developing new business models (51%) and engaging with new ecosystems (37%).



Maggie Slowik, Global Industry Director for Manufacturing at IFS, said: "Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to differentiate in a landscape characterized by volatility while retaining the agility which is essential for building operational resilience. We know that digital maturity impacts profit. However, without transparency and measurable ROI it will become increasingly difficult for manufacturers to scale and deliver tangible benefits from their investments."



Slowik continued: "The more digital initiatives deliver ROI, the easier it is for organizations to make a case for further digital investments - these must be enabled by scalable, cloud-based IT solutions to deliver long-term revenue and profit growth. We see that manufacturers who have broken through the pilot phases of their DX journey, and continue to push for digital maturity, are already reaping the benefits of ROI as a means to generate long-term value and remain competitive.



In the future, successful organizations will implement an advanced approach to DX that considers the 'impact-scale-trust' dimensions of digital initiatives, continuously using digital technology not only to optimize operations but also to achieve advantage and create value with digital technology."

A complimentary copy of the IDC InfoBrief, Sponsored by IFS, The Future of Manufacturing (doc #EUR150205923, April 2023), can be found here

About IFS

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customersat the Moment of Service. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of over 5,500 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness, and collaboration in how we support thousands of customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com.

IFS Press Contacts



EUROPE, MEA & APJ: Adam Gillbe

IFS,

Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 7775 114 856



USA: Mairi Morgan

IFS,

Director of Corporate & Executive Communications

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 520 396 2155

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/855/3780997/2108053.pdf Manufacturers gambling competitive advantage with slow digital investments and lack of ROI https://news.cision.com/ifs/i/future-of-manu,c3186376 Future of Manu

SOURCE IFS
RICHMOND, Va., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marco's Pizza opened a new location in Bon Air, and to celebrate, the pizza shop is giving back. No matter the size or toppings, one dollar for every pizza sold now through June 11 at Marco's Pizza, 2518 Sheila Lane, will be donated to Children's Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU. Customers can call 575-7575 or order online at marcos.com.

While CHoR celebrates the opening of the Children's Tower, Marco's Pizza could think of no better partner to celebrate the grand opening of its newest location. Just one turn off I-95, the new Children's Tower opened April 30 and completes an entire city block dedicated to caring for kids. Connected to the outpatient Children's Pavilion, the Tower houses emergency, trauma and inpatient care.

"We are so grateful to Marco's Pizza as we both celebrate grand openings and appreciate their generosity in supporting kids and families in our local community," said Rachel Bruni, Executive Director, Cause Marketing and Retail Fundraising at Children's Hospital Foundation.

Richmond is home to two Marco's Pizza franchise groups and each is committed to giving back to the Richmond community. "Marco's Pizza is about two things: giving back and serving authentic Italian pizza. The only thing we love serving more than pizza is the Richmond community," said MP RVA Development, LLC co-owner, Sara Ragsdale. The Bon Air location is the twelfth Marco's Pizza in Central Virginia.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA:

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand* in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience. Marco's Pizza can be ordered for delivery or carryout by downloading the mobile app, going online to www.marcos.com or by calling each store directly.

*Marco's Pizza is the fastest-growing pizza brand based on year-over-year unit growth, according to 2022 NRN Top 500 U.S. Restaurant Ranking LSR Pizza Segment.

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF RICHMOND at VCU:

At Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, we nurture the champion in every child. We combine award-winning clinical care, research and education with an uncanny understanding of what makes kids unique. From casts to cancer  from simple to complex  we do everything in our power to give kids the best shot at a healthy future.

In 2020, CHoR marked 100 years of treating all children in need of care. CHoR was recently verified as a Level I Children's Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children's Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program (ACS CSV), one of only 30 verified children's surgery centers in the country and the 10th on the East Coast to attain this highest level of designation.

Sara Ragsdale, Co-Owner

(804) 525-9995

[email protected]

SOURCE Marco's Pizza
Jones Soda's THC-Infused Brand Expands Product Lineup, Available at Dispensaries Now

SEATTLE, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Soda Co. (CSE: JSDA, OTCQB: JSDA), the original craft soda known for its unconventional flavors and user-submitted photo labels, today announced two new flavors of its Mary Jones cannabis-infused beverage brand. The delicious new additions include 10mg and 100mg THC-infused MF Grape and Cola flavors formulated with the same pure cane sugar and taste that has made mainline Jones a consumer favorite for more than 25 years. Both flavors will be available at California dispensaries starting in early June 2023 with additional recreational cannabis states to come this year.

Enjoy the two new delicious additions to Jones Soda Co.s Mary Jones cannabis-infused beverage brand in 10mg and 100mg MF Grape and Cola flavors.

MF Grape is known to be the MF'ing greatest among Jones most passionate fans. Mary Jones Cola is a true 'classic' formulation, the perfect old school taste. The 10mg MF Grape and Cola cannabis sodas come in single-serving 12 oz glass bottles. The 100mg sodas are packaged in 16 oz resealable, child-resistant, multi-serve cans designed for paced consumption and/or social sharing with friends. With these two flavor releases, Jones Soda solidifies its take on the classic soda shelf which includes THC-infused sodas and syrups in Root Beer, Berry Lemonade, Green Apple and Orange & Cream.

"Mary Jones dipped into the cupboards of the mainline brand once again due to demand for its MF Grape and Cola flavors among cannabis consumers, transferring Jones' most popular favorites to the THC community," said Brooks Jorgensen, President at KSS. "Cola was strategically driven. It's an iconic flavor profile. With MF Grape, Jones fans have demanded its return, so it was brought back in both mainline Jones and Mary Jones."

Jones is the first branded soda company to expand into the cannabis market and one of the first mainstream consumer brands to crossover into the industry. Leveraging its classic product formulation and unique flavors, it has rapidly become California's top infused carbonated beverage and the state's fastest growing cannabis brand. It has recently expanded to Michigan, Nevada and Washington, with plans to offer Mary Jones in all legal states

"Our team has been getting calls and emails from dispensaries and cannabis consumers in other legal states about how they can get Mary Jones locally. They know the Jones brand and want Mary Jones products," said Mark Murray, President and CEO of Jones Soda Company. "There's a special romance with these two classic Jones flavors among consumers. MF Grape and Cola are great additions to Mary Jones."

For more information about Mary Jones or store locations, visit https://gomaryjones.com/where-to-buy/

About Jones Soda Co.

Jones Soda Co. (CSE: JSDA, OTCQB: JSDA ) is a leading craft soda manufacturer with a subsidiary dedicated to cannabis products. The company markets and distributes premium craft sodas under the Jones Soda and Lemoncocco brands, and a variety of cannabis products under the Mary Jones brand. Jones' mainstream soda line is sold across North America in glass bottles, cans and on fountain through traditional beverage outlets, restaurants and alternative accounts. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit www.jonessoda.com , www.myjones.com , www.drinklemoncocco.com or https://gomaryjones.com

SOURCE Mary Jones
Inspired by McAlister's Deli's Famous Tea, this Limited-Edition Set of Inflatables Creates a Fun and Refreshing Staycation for Tea-Lovers

ATLANTA, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate National Iced Tea Day on June 10, McAlister's Deli has created a relaxing getaway for iced tea-lovers, right in your own backyard. Sipping on our famous tea takes you on a mental vacation, and this summer McAlister's created an at-home oasis that is just as refreshing as that first sip. The limited-edition Tea-cation set is complete with all the infla-tea-ble essentials needed for the ultimate summertime staycation, giving you the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy a freshly-brewed McAlister's Tea.

Inspired by McAlisters Delis Famous Tea, this Limited-Edition Set of Inflatables Creates a Fun and Refreshing Staycation for Tea-Lovers

"Nothing goes better together than summer and iced tea, so we're excited to give our fans a one-of-a-kind experience to enjoy our famous tea in a new way," said Mike Freeman, Chief Brand Officer of McAlister's Deli. "We've been celebrating 'Free Tea Day' at McAlister's Deli for 15 years and this limited-edition Tea-cation puts a new spin on one of our favorite days of the year."

The McAlister's Tea-cation includes an inflatable pool, which can be filled with the lemon wedge floatie, pool noodle and inflatable cup holders inspired by our array of flavors to resemble a cup of McAlister's Famous Tea. You can unwind poolside in the inflatable lounge chair while sipping on a glass of ice-cold tea from the cooler. The set also comes with an inflatable ring toss game, portable speaker, custom beach towel, sticker pack, bar cart and a Tea-cation themed backdrop. Plus, a lemon shaped dog bed so your furry friends can join in on the fun!

Starting on June 10, 2023 consumers can enter for a chance to win the ultimate Tea-cation getaway and $500 McAlister's egift card by being a McAlister's Rewards member and purchasing a tea between National Iced Tea Day (6/10) and the First Day of Summer (6/21/23). No Purchase is Necessary, you can also participate in the giveaway by commenting on the call to action posts which will posted be on McAlister's Facebook and Instagram between 6/10-6/21/23. See full rules, terms and conditions, and how to enter here.

The Tea-cation giveaway kicks off McAlister's summer celebration of tea in anticipation for the 15th annual "Free Tea Day."

On July 20, 2023 , Free Tea Day returns at participating McAlister's Deli locations nationwide offering customers a free 32oz. cup of their famous Tea.* Get a sweet tea, unsweet tea, tea/lemonade, half sweet/half unsweet or the new limited-time flavor, PassionBerry .

, Free Tea Day returns at participating Deli locations nationwide offering customers a 32oz. cup of their famous Tea.* Get a sweet tea, unsweet tea, tea/lemonade, half sweet/half unsweet or the new limited-time flavor, PassionBerry Consumers should follow McAlister's Deli on social media for additional celebratory moments including updates on Free Tea Day.

For more information on the Tea-cation giveaway, please visit McAlistersDeli.com and connect with McAlister's Deli on Facebook (@McAlistersDeli), Twitter (@McAlistersDeli), and Instagram (@mcalistersdeli).

About McAlister's Deli

Founded in 1989, McAlister's Deli is a fast casual restaurant chain known for its genuine hospitality, sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, desserts and McAlister's Famous Sweet Tea. In addition to dine-in and take-out service, McAlister's Deli also offers catering with a selection of sandwich trays, box lunches, desserts, a hot spud bar and more. With numerous industry accolades, the McAlister's Deli brand had more than 520 restaurants in 29 states as of March 26, 2023. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit McAlistersDeli.com , and find McAlister's on social media at www.Facebook.com/McAlistersDeli , www.Twitter.com/McAlistersDeli and www.Instagram.com/McAlistersDeli

Media Contact: Public relations inquiries, please email [email protected]

*"Free Tea" offer valid only on 7/20/23 at participating locations. Offer applies to 32 oz tea only, including: sweet, unsweet, sweet tea/unsweet tea, tea/lemonade, flavored teas, LTO PassionBerry Tea (where available), and one flavor shot. Limit one tea per person in-store and four teas per McAlister's online or in app order. Excludes all non- tea beverages and kid's beverages. McAlister's Delivery orders subject to Delivery and Convenience fees. Service fee applies to online, in app, and certain call-in orders, other fees and taxes may apply for all orders; see checkout for details. Not valid with third-party delivery and certain offers and rewards. Void where prohibited. No cash value.

SOURCE McAlisters Deli
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. The US is pleased that talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia are proceeding in different venues, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department said during a briefing on June 5.

"We look forward to hosting another round of talks in Washington later this month as the parties continue to pursue a peaceful future for the South Caucasus region. As youve heard me say before, direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace. The US is pleased that talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are proceeding in different venues, including the recent meeting of leaders as well," he said.
PORTO, Portugal, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The company that is setting the new standard for next-generation media measurement has unveiled its new name:

Mindprober is now called Mediaprobe.

Traditional research methods don't measure the right thing (emotion) at the right time (while watching or listening) in the right place (home). But Mediaprobe's scalable capture of galvanic skin response (GSR) is changing all that with the most powerful set of metrics in the industry for validity, reliability, and predictive power for brand outcomes.

For the first time, media measurement goes beyond counting eyeballs to deliver metrics that enable understanding and activation based on the emotional effect of media on consumers. Our groundbreaking Emotional Impact Score (EIS) provides actionable insights to:

Optimize content

Improve impression quality and placement effectiveness

Maximize the value of broadcasts, sponsorships, and advertisements

We have helped the biggest names in broadcasting use next-gen media measurement to validate the value of their inventory using our platform-agnostic media analytics solution for linear TV, CTV, streaming, social media, and audio. Our new name is part of a rebranding to fully represent these forward-thinking breakthroughs in next-gen measurement across all media.

About Mediaprobe: Mediaprobe is a media measurement solution that gives content producers, distributors, and brands the ability to measure the emotional impact their content has on consumers to optimize advertising and content decisions.

SOURCE Mediaprobe
FOSHAN, China, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Midea Healthcare, as one of primarily business for Midea Group (000333.SZ), recently held a new product launch event in CMEF 2023 with its five medical industry consortia  Wandong (WDM), KUKA, Midea Biomedical, Swisslog Healthcare, and Midea Building Technologies, unveiling innovative solutions for five new Midea Healthcare scenarios: medical tech buildings, operating rooms, inpatient wards, outpatient pharmacies, and logistics command centers.

Midea Healthcare Unveils New Solutions for Smart Healthcare Market #Midea Healthcare

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9176151--midea-healthcare-unveils-new-solutions-smart-healthcare-market/

WDM introduced its liquid helium-free superconducting MRI products, which offers a cost-effective solution for transportation and addresses the issue of limited liquid helium reserves in MRI equipment worldwide. The Panorama DR, developed by WDM, provides imaging of the entire spine in a single scan, presenting an effective large-field solution for clinical applications. Additionally, WDM unveiled the new TURBOTOM 3 Series All-in-One CT, OpenCT and a Pilot Pilot System during the product release.

Additionally, as a smart IT platform innovator, WanLiCloud Healthcare introduced new medical SaaS solutions that bind cloud computing, big data analysis and AI technologies. The cross-hospital film data sharing system addresses the challenge of accessing images on the cloud in clinical applications. The Diagnostic Report AI Quality Control System focuses on service quality of medical institutions.

Midea Biomedical, renowned for its expertise in low temperature storage security, showed two core technologies: Top cooling technology and ECO ultra-fast cooling technology at the exhibition, also published solutions for five biomedical scenarios: intelligent biological sample bank, intelligent pharmaceutical reagents, intelligent vaccines, blood storage and laboratory safety. These solutions include a wide range of products across multiple categories, ensuring optimal storage and handling conditions within the temperature range of -196C to +20C.

KUKA showcased a range of medical applications, including the KUKA Medical Assist Robotic System, the Surgical Robotic Positioning and Navigation System, the Automated Biopharmaceutical Testing and Experiment Station - KMR Composite Robot Function Demonstration Station, and the Visual Positioning System. Additionally, they presented the world's first LBR Med robot, certified for integration into medical devices.

Swisslog Healthcare highlighted its intelligent TransClean Garbage and Linen Collection System, a solution that rapidly transports diverse waste materials within a hospital setting to a centralized collection point in seconds through a network of sealed pipes, ensuring efficient waste management.

Midea Building Technologies presented its Smart Hospital LIFE2.0 solution, a comprehensive planning approach that encompasses logistics flow, information flow, feeling flow, and energy flow in healthcare facilities. The solution caters to the diverse requirements of hospital managers, medical staff, patients, and the logistics department, addressing the needs of different spaces within the hospital environment.

SOURCE Midea Healthcare
MIT Technology Review's signature digital transformation event opens next week, as the future implications generative AI and emerging tech continue to captivate the public discourse.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MIT Technology Review will host its annual EmTech Next virtually from June 13-15. An event designed to explore the emerging technologies reshaping business today, the three-day online event will include sessions from some of the leading changemakers in industry, attendees from a variety of disciplines, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Artificial intelligence and emerging tech continue to dominate the public consciousness, as leaders, businesses, and individuals try and unravel what it all means. The agenda for the 6th annual EmTech next event covers generative AI, web3, metaverses, leadership strategies for the digital workforce, industry 4.0, and the emerging technologies transforming the customer experience. Speakers from leading organizations such as Google, NASA, Johnson & Johnson, NVIDIA, and the USPS will sit down with MIT Technology Review's editorial team to discuss innovations and impact.

See the entire Agenda and list of Speakers at EmTech Next 2023.

Members of the press can obtain press credentials by emailing [email protected].

For more detailed information: EmTech Next and Registration.

Presenting Partners

The EmTech Next presenting partners are JPMorgan Chase & Co., Siemens AG, and Hitachi Vantara. For additional partnership opportunities, please contact Andrew Hendler at [email protected].

About MIT Technology Review

Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899, MIT Technology Review is a world-renowned, independent media company whose insights, analysis, and interviews explain the newest technologies and their commercial, social, and political impacts. MIT Technology Review derives its authority from its relationship to the world's foremost technology institution and from its editors' deep technical knowledge, capacity to see technologies in their broadest context, and unequaled access to leading innovators and researchers. Our in-depth reporting reveals what's going on now to prepare you for what's coming next. Subscribe. Listen. Attend. Follow: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram.

Media Contact:

MIT Technology Review

[email protected]

SOURCE MIT Technology Review
CHICAGO, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitgo, a global IT/MarTech company, announces the opening of two offices in Indonesia (Jakarta) and Singapore. Admitad, a global affiliate marketing network, is the first of Mitgo's businesses to enter these markets.

Admitad has already been actively working with businesses and publishers in Indonesia and Singapore for several years. Its network counts regional players such as adidas, Norton, Shein, Aliexpress, and Banggood as long-term partners. The company also has a significant share of the MarTech market in India.

The opening of these new offices will help Mitgo, which has seen tremendous success in markets like the US, with its headquarters in Chicago serving as the backbone of its North American operations, to make further inroads into the Southeast Asian market.

Neha Kulwal, Managing Director, Mitgo APAC, will lead the company's expansion. Listed as one of the 50 Most Influential Digital Leaders by CMO Asia and included in BW BusinessWorld's 40 under 40, Kulwal's extensive experience in the Southeast Asian market will be a key driving force behind Mitgo's success.

"I am confident that APAC, given its immense growth opportunities, will live up to its full potential in driving the business to greater heights. I intend to grow our APAC operations by replicating the India success story." - Neha Kulwal, Managing Director, Mitgo APAC.

Indonesia and Singapore's e-commerce sectors are experiencing a period of incredible growth. In the first five months of 2023, the number of orders Admitad publishers in Indonesia generated for brands doubled year-on-year. Admitad gained a 15% increase in advertisers and a 30% increase in publishers in both regions.

"These markets are poised for explosive growth, similar to that seen in the European market several years ago. We want to be the first to take advantage of this trend, enabling local companies and publishers to accelerate growth and unlock new revenue streams. With Neha Kulwal leading our efforts, we are confident in securing Mitgo's position in these markets, further expanding our global footprint." - Alexander Bachmann, CEO of Admitad and Mitgo.

The company also plans to invest in the local digital environment by recruiting local talent, sponsoring events and supporting promising new projects.

Future plans involve further expanding the company's footprint across APAC, enabling businesses in other markets to take advantage of the global reach they provide.

"Our entry into Singapore and Indonesia will pave the way for expansion into other promising countries in the region, such as Vietnam and the Philippines." - Bruno Acar, Chief International Officer, Mitgo.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2014890/4070412/Mitgo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Mitgo
Safety First - Put Forklift Safety at the Top of Your List

HOUSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group (Logisnext), a leading North American provider and manufacturer of material handling and innovative automation and fleet solutions, knows that the safety of forklift operators is a top priority. For the 10th anniversary of National Forklift Safety Day, Logisnext and its family of brands  Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Jungheinrich, UniCarriers Forklifts and Rocla AGV Solutions  are teaming up with the industry to advocate and champion forklift safety in the workplace.

The company is supporting National Forklift Safety Day through a variety of safety-focused activities, including:

Attendance at the 10 th annual Industrial Truck Association (ITA) National Forklift Safety Day event in Washington D.C. that will include presentations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), industrial safety and forklift industry experts.

annual Industrial Truck Association (ITA) National Forklift Safety Day event in that will include presentations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), industrial safety and forklift industry experts. On June 13 , Logisnext employees across the company's three campuses in Houston, Texas ; Marengo, IL and Grand Rapids, MI , will celebrate the milestone occasion as part of the company's ongoing commitment to focus on safety best practices.

, Logisnext employees across the company's three campuses in ; and , will celebrate the milestone occasion as part of the company's ongoing commitment to focus on safety best practices. To further raise awareness of the importance of forklift safety in the workplace, a National Forklift Safety Day toolkit was made available to the Logisnext dealer network to help promote the "Safety First" campaign to employees and customers during the month of June.

"National Forklift Safety Day brings an important focus to safety in our industry  an area that we concentrate on all year long as a part of our 100% safety initiative," said Jay Gusler, executive vice president, operations of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas. "In recognition of this important national day focused on safety, we are committed to increasing awareness of forklift safety with our employees, dealers and customers."

Logisnext's "Safety First" initiative reinforces the importance of properly trained forklift operators and proper forklift certification. New tools are available to help contribute to a safer working environment, including a forklift safety poster series, a forklift inspection checklist and additional operational safety resources. For more information and to download these new resources, visit Logisnext's National Forklift Safety Day page.

About Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas

Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and its group companies have helped customers Move The World Forward for more than 100 years. A technology-driven manufacturer, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas offers scalable solutions from material handling to automation and extensive fleet support. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, its complete portfolio of advanced solutions spans across five leading brands  Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat lift trucks, Rocla AGV Solutions, UniCarriers Forklifts and Jungheinrich warehouse and automation products. All products are backed by an extensive dealer network offering industry-leading customer service and product support. For more information, visit www.logisnextamericas.com .

SOURCE Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas - Houston
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The mobile food services market size is forecast to increase by USD 15.04 billion from 2022 to 2027, at a CAGR of 8.84%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the rising demand for convenience foods, the advantages of mobile food service outlets over brick-and-mortar restaurants, and cost-effective entrepreneurship. Charts & data tables about market and segment sizes for a historic period of five (2017-2021) years have been covered in this report. Download The Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Mobile Food Services Market 2023-2027

Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Belgo Holdings LLC, Chick fil A Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., Cocoa Forte Franchising LLC, Courageous Bakery and Cafe, Darden Restaurants Inc., Eat Drink Collective, Kogi BBQ, KoJa Kitchen LLC, Lukes Seafood LLC, McDonald Corp., Ms Cheezious, Phat Cart, Restaurant Brands International Inc., The Grilled Cheeserie, The Subway Group, Waffle Bus, World Famous House of Mac, YUM Brands Inc., and Yumbii

Get a holistic overview of the endoscopic closure devices market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample

Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders 

The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology.

It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings.

The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.

Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report.

Mobile Food Services Market - Segmentation

This mobile food services market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (food, and beverages), application (food truck and removable container), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The market share growth by the food segment will be significant for overall market growth during the forecast period. The rising urbanized population inculcating new habits and trends of developing preferences for international food trends drive the segment growth. Some other factors include evolving lifestyles, changing food preferences, rapid urbanization, and the growing number of nuclear families. For instance, in the US and several European countries, some local and international vendors, such as RBI and YUM! Brands offer donuts, burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. Hence, such factors will boost the demand for food from mobile food services and hence drive the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.

To get detailed insights about inclusions and exclusions, buy the report

Mobile Food Services Market - Market Dynamics

Key Drivers

The rising demand for convenience foods is notably driving the market growth for mobile food services.

is notably driving the market growth for mobile food services. Owing to on-the-go foods being widely preferred by the working population in many developed and developing countries, the popularity of mobile food service providers is increasing.

Furthermore, the expansion of the urban population is inculcating new habits and increasing the preference for international foods.

Moreover, evolving lifestyles, changing food preferences, rapid urbanization, and the growing number of nuclear families are some factors driving the growth of the global fast-food industry.

Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Significant Trends

The marketing initiative is a mobile food services (MFS) market trend that is expected to have a positive impact during the forecast period.

Commonly used social media platforms such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook/ INSTAGRAM Inc., and LinkedIn are used by vendors operating in the global mobile food services market to sell their products and services.

Such communication channels play a key role in the marketing strategy of mobile food service outlets. Vendors use social media platforms to post their upcoming locations and events, have a highly diverse audience pool, create informative and entertaining videos about their food trucks and menu items as well as to have business-to-business conversations, establish and demonstrate expertise, hire, and find appropriate strategic partners and suppliers.

Hence, such factors will increase market growth during the forecast period.

Leading Challenges

The fluctuations in food commodity prices pose a major challenge for the mobile food services (MFS) market during the forecast period.

The fluctuations in the volume and the price of crops affect each stage of the supply chain and vendors increase the prices of mobile food services owing to high manufacturing costs and low profit margins.

Furthermore, any shortage in the supply of raw materials affects market growth. Also, adverse weather conditions and natural calamities negatively affect the production of vegetables and grains and are, therefore, the major factors behind the shortage of raw materials.

Hence, such challenges hinder the market growth of mobile food services during the forecast period.

What are the key data covered in this Mobile Food Services Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the mobile food services market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the mobile food services market and its contribution to the market with a focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the mobile food services market across North America , APAC, Europe , South America , and Middle East and Africa

, APAC, , , and and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of mobile food services market vendors

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Mobile Food Services Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.84% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 15.04 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.45 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 42% Key countries US, China, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Belgo Holdings LLC, Chick fil A Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., Cocoa Forte Franchising LLC, Courageous Bakery and Cafe, Darden Restaurants Inc., Eat Drink Collective, Kogi BBQ, KoJa Kitchen LLC, Lukes Seafood LLC, McDonald Corp., Ms Cheezious, Phat Cart, Restaurant Brands International Inc., The Grilled Cheeserie, The Subway Group, Waffle Bus, World Famous House of Mac, YUM Brands Inc., and Yumbii Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2022

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

4 Historic Market Size

4.1 Global mobile food services market 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size  Data Table on global mobile food services market market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.2 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size  Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.3 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size  Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size  Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size  Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion)

5 Five Forces Analysis

5.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027

5.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027

5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027

5.7 Market condition

Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 30: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Type

6.3 Food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 34: Chart on Food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Food - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: Chart on Food - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Food - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.4 Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 38: Chart on Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Beverages - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 40: Chart on Beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Beverages - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ billion)

7 Market Segmentation by Application

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 44: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 46: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Comparison by Application

7.3 Food truck - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 48: Chart on Food truck - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Food truck - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 50: Chart on Food truck - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Food truck - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.4 Removable container - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 52: Chart on Removable container - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Removable container - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 54: Chart on Removable container - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Removable container - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 56: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Market opportunity by Application ($ billion)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 58: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 59: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%)

9.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 61: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 63: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 64: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 65: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 66: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 67: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 68: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 69: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 70: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 71: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 72: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 76: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 77: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 78: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 81: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 82: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 83: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 84: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 85: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 86: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 88: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 89: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 90: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

Exhibit 91: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 92: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)



Exhibit 93: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)



Exhibit 94: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 96: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 97: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 98: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion)

Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%)

9.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 103: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)



Exhibit 104: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10.1 Market drivers

10.2 Market challenges

10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 105: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027

10.4 Market trends

11 Vendor Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 106: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

11.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 107: Overview on factors of disruption

11.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 108: Impact of key risks on business

12 Vendor Analysis

12.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 109: Vendors covered

12.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 110: Matrix on vendor position and classification

12.3 Chick fil A Inc.

Exhibit 111: Chick fil A Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 112: Chick fil A Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: Chick fil A Inc. - Key offerings

12.4 Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

Exhibit 114: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 115: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 117: Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. - Key offerings

12.5 Courageous Bakery and Cafe

Exhibit 118: Courageous Bakery and Cafe - Overview



Exhibit 119: Courageous Bakery and Cafe - Product / Service



Exhibit 120: Courageous Bakery and Cafe - Key offerings

12.6 Darden Restaurants Inc.

Exhibit 121: Darden Restaurants Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 122: Darden Restaurants Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 123: Darden Restaurants Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 124: Darden Restaurants Inc. - Segment focus

12.7 Eat Drink Collective

Exhibit 125: Eat Drink Collective - Overview



Exhibit 126: Eat Drink Collective - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: Eat Drink Collective - Key offerings

12.8 Kogi BBQ

Exhibit 128: Kogi BBQ - Overview



Exhibit 129: Kogi BBQ - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Kogi BBQ - Key offerings

12.9 KoJa Kitchen LLC

Exhibit 131: KoJa Kitchen LLC - Overview



Exhibit 132: KoJa Kitchen LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: KoJa Kitchen LLC - Key offerings

12.10 McDonald Corp.

Exhibit 134: McDonald Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 135: McDonald Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 136: McDonald Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 137: McDonald Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 138: McDonald Corp. - Segment focus

12.11 Phat Cart

Exhibit 139: Phat Cart - Overview

- Overview

Exhibit 140: Phat Cart - Product / Service

- Product / Service

Exhibit 141: Phat Cart - Key offerings

12.12 Restaurant Brands International Inc.

Exhibit 142: Restaurant Brands International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 143: Restaurant Brands International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 144: Restaurant Brands International Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 145: Restaurant Brands International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 146: Restaurant Brands International Inc. - Segment focus

12.13 The Grilled Cheeserie

Exhibit 147: The Grilled Cheeserie - Overview



Exhibit 148: The Grilled Cheeserie - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: The Grilled Cheeserie - Key offerings

12.14 The Subway Group

Exhibit 150: The Subway Group - Overview



Exhibit 151: The Subway Group - Product / Service



Exhibit 152: The Subway Group - Key offerings

12.15 World Famous House of Mac

Exhibit 153: World Famous House of Mac - Overview



Exhibit 154: World Famous House of Mac - Product / Service



Exhibit 155: World Famous House of Mac - Key offerings

12.16 YUM Brands Inc.

Exhibit 156: YUM Brands Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 157: YUM Brands Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 158: YUM Brands Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 159: YUM Brands Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 160: YUM Brands Inc. - Segment focus

12.17 Yumbii

Exhibit 161: Yumbii - Overview



Exhibit 162: Yumbii - Product / Service



Exhibit 163: Yumbii - Key offerings

13 Appendix

13.1 Scope of the report

13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 164: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 165: Exclusions checklist

13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 166: Currency conversion rates for US$

13.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 167: Research methodology



Exhibit 168: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 169: Information sources

13.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 170: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
PALO ALTO, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Online trading platform moomoo announced the commencement of its first investor summit "Trading with Moomoo: Evening Meet & Greet" on June 7, 2023, at The Penthouse in midtown Manhattan. Moomoo is joined by special guests to present a lively discussion focusing on current trends and their thoughts on what to expect in the remainder of 2023.

Four financial influencers, Stocks with Josh, Larry Jones, Stock Moe and Kenan Grace, will be presenting their Core4React live series in-person in NYC. The presenters are followed by thousands of people on YouTube for their insightful sharing and sharp ideas on investment. They will discuss recent market trends, and their long-term and short-term investing strategies. Registration is currently closed for this event. The Core4's fans sold the show out after it was announced on Saturday, May 27th.

Moomoo, an intuitive investment and trading platform, provides every investor with pro-grade, easy-to-use tools, data, and insights, and is committed to empowering US investors to make more informed investment decisions when trading stocks and options. It provides free access to investing curriculum materials, online courses and an interactive online investing community where investors can meet like-minded peers and improve their financial literacy. Advanced charting tools, technical tools and level II data are available to moomoo users with a brokerage account for free.

About moomoo

Moomoo is an intuitive investment and trading platform that empowers investors with pro-grade, easy-to-use tools, data, and insights. It provides users with the necessary information and technology to make more informed investment decisions on their investment journey. Investors with a moomoo financial brokerage account have free access to advanced charting tools, technical and Level 2 Data. moomoo grows with its users. It cultivates a community where investors share, learn, and grow their skills and knowledge together. moomoo provides free access to investment courses, educational materials, and interactive events that any investor, at any level, can gain from. Users can join forum discussions, trending topics, and pro-seminars to learn and grow.

Moomoo was born in Silicon Valley, California and operates globally in countries including Singapore, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and the USA. Moomoo believes in being part of the investor's journey and aims to help investors with each step along the way.

For more information, please visit moomoo's official website at www.moomoo.com or contact moomoo's public relations team via [email protected].

All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful. Moomoo and its affiliates do not endorse any trading strategies that may be discussed and are not responsible for any services provided by the influencers. This seminar is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to engage in any investment or financial strategy. Moomoo is a financial information and trading app offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. In the U.S., investment products and services on Moomoo are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

SOURCE moomoo
Gives Nordic Nanovector access to highly promising new technology that enables the development and production of radionuclides for radioimmunoconjugate-based approaches to cancer treatment, a rapidly growing global market

The combined company is expected to have funding through 2025.

Following the acquisition, the new Board of the combined company will evaluate strategic alternatives for Nordic Nanovector's existing pipeline of patents in a standalone financing structure

Agreement subject to approval at the annual general meeting of Nordic Nanovector to be held on 28 June 2023 ("AGM")

("AGM") The companies will host a joint presentation on 7 June at 10:00 a.m. CEST to present the proposed acquisition

OSLO, Norway, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANOV) ("Nordic Nanovector" or the "Company") and Thor Medical AS ("Thor Medical"), a privately held company focused on the production of alpha-emitting radionuclides for cancer treatment, today announce that they have entered into a definitive share exchange agreement (the "Agreement") to combine the two companies in an all-share transaction (the "Transaction").

The agreed exchange ratio in the Transaction is on a 50-50 basis. Following completion of the Transaction, Nordic Nanovector will own at least 98% of the outstanding shares in Thor Medical. Assuming that Nordic Nanovector acquires all of the shares in Thor Medical in the Transaction, then the former shareholders of Thor Medical will own 50% of the post-transaction combined entity and existing Nordic Nanovector shareholders will own 50%. Scatec Innovation AS, currently the largest shareholder in Thor Medical, will become the largest shareholder in the combined company after the Transaction with approximately 24.5% of the issued shares.

Ludvik Sandnes, Nordic Nanovector's Interim CEO & CFO, commented: "Given the complementary focus and expertise in our two companies, the Nordic Nanovector Board and I believe the proposed acquisition of Thor Medical represents a compelling option for Nordic Nanovector and its shareholders. There is increasing interest in the development of radionuclide-based anti-cancer therapies, and the combined company will have a significant opportunity to address this growing market."

Jon Magne Asmyr, Nordic Nanovector's Chairman, added: "The acquisition of Thor Medical is an important strategic step for Nordic Nanovector. Existing Nordic Nanovector shareholders will post-transaction have significant ownership in a very promising technology within the same field of industry and shorter time to profitability. The plan following completion of the acquisition of Thor Medical is to seek to out licence the patents from Nordic Nanovector's pipeline and finance further development of selected projects through a private company."

About Thor Medical

Thor Medical, based in Oslo, Norway, is a private company that has developed a proprietary technology for the manufacturing of radionuclides, primarily alpha-particle emitters from natural resources. The high energy deposition and the short range of alpha particles make it possible to eradicate cancer cells while minimising damage to nearby healthy cells. Thor Medical will supply alpha emitters to radiopharmaceutical companies for the development of innovative, tumour-targeted cancer therapies. Thor Medical's novel production process requires no irradiation in nuclear reactors, and provides reliable, environmentally friendly supply of radionuclides.

Thor Medical is in the process of relocating its laboratory and pilot facilities to the University of Oslo. The University of Oslo, in close cooperation with other research institutions in the sector, is in the process of establishing a centre for nuclear research, focusing amongst other things on the use of radionuclides in diagnostics and treatment of cancer.

Thor Medical was founded by Scatec Innovation AS and other shareholders of Thor Energy AS, a company dedicated to research and development on the use of thorium, a weakly radioactive chemical element with the symbol "Th".

Alf Bjrseth, CEO of Thor Medical AS, commented: "At Thor Medical, we believe our technology could bring the promise of radionuclide-based therapies to many more cancer patients. As such, the combination with Nordic Nanovector will enhance our ability and the speed at which we can bring this technology to market. At the time of this announcement, Thor Medical shareholders with a combined holding of more than 90% have committed their support for this transaction, and we anticipate an exciting future for our combined company."

Roy Hartvig Larsen, founder of Nordic Nanovector, commented: "As the suggested Chair of the Technical Advisory Board, I am delighted with this proposed agreement between Nordic Nanovector and Thor Medical to create a company that will be positioned at the heart of radiopharmaceutical development, a rapidly growing global market. I am also excited by the possibility of out licencing Nordic Nanovector's pipeline and programmes into a new private company. This would represent a more appropriate environment to continue efforts to develop this promising pipeline given the significant funding requirements and longer timelines."

Business focus post-Transaction

The radiotherapeutics market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years and reach close to USD 20bn by 2030. Radionuclide therapy based on alpha emitters is a promising technology for cancer treatment. However, alpha emitters are in short supply and the current production processes are dependent on irradiation, which is expensive and complex. Thor Medical has developed a reliable and environmentally friendly production technology for alpha emitters, independent of nuclear reactors and proton accelerators.

More than 50 companies, spanning established pharmaceutical companies and start-ups, are engaged in the development and application of cancer radiotherapy. Thor Medical has established relationships with several of these companies and is continuing to utilize its laboratory and pilot-scale facilities to further refine its product quality in close cooperation with potential customers. Subject to the outcome of customer qualification processes, Thor Medical is currently targeting to make a final investment decision on an industrial scale manufacturing facility in 2025. Capex for the first industrial facility is estimated at NOK 350m with revenues at >NOK 400m and EBITDA-margins at >50%.

As part of the Transaction, the Parties have agreed to investigate the potential spin-out of Nordic Nanovector's pipeline of patented development stage candidates as an alternative and separate financing structure to continue efforts to develop these assets.

Merger ratio

The agreed exchange ratio in the Transaction is on a 50-50 basis. If the Company acquires all the shares in Thor Medical in the Transaction, the Company shall issue up to 116,959,626 shares to the existing shareholders of Thor Medical, subject to certain resolutions to be made at the AGM.

Board and management

Ludvik Sandnes has been nominated to be Chairman of the Board of Directors of the combined company. In addition, John Andersen, Jr. and Mimi Berdal has been nominated as Board members. Alf Bjrseth will take on the role as CEO. Roy Hartvig Larsen will be Chairman of the Technical Advisory Board also consisting of Harald Dugstad, Head of Radionuclide Technology and Supply, Bayer AG, and Brit Farstad, Department Head, Safety & License, Institute for Energy Technology Nuclear Sector.

Conditions for completion of the Transaction

The Transaction is subject to customary terms and conditions, including inter alia the following being satisfied or waived by the parties:

The AGM of Nordic Nanovector approving the Transaction

Shareholders representing at least 98% of the shares in Thor Medical have signed or adhered to the Agreement

Election of the nominated Board of Directors

The combined company's continued listing on Oslo Brs

A notice calling for the AGM to approve the necessary corporate resolutions is expected to be issued on 7 of June.

The Agreement is expected to be closed in Q2'23, following which the Company intends to change its name to Thor Medical ASA. Shareholders representing approx. 29% of the shares in Nordic Nanovector, including North Energy ASA, Jon Magne Asmyr, Sciencons AS (a company controlled by Roy Hartvig Larsen) and Ekornhuset AS (a company controlled by Ludvik Sandnes), have irrevocably agreed to vote in favour of the Transaction on the AGM. Shareholders in Thor Medical collectively holding more than 90% of the shares in Thor Medical on a fully diluted basis have committed to support the Transaction.

Lock-up

Shareholders representing 86.03% of the shares in Thor Medical, including Scatec Innovation AS, Scatec Invest II AS, Scatec Invest IV AS, Roht Invest AS, Bergfald Holding AS, Brennebu AS and Alf Bjrseth, CEO have agreed, subject to certain conditions, to a lock-up undertaking of 12 months following closing of the Transaction. Nordic Nanovector shareholders Jon Magne Asmyr, Roy Hartvig Larsen and Ludvik Sandnes have agreed the same.

Advisers

Carnegie Investment Bank is acting as financial advisor to Nordic Nanovector with Advokatfirmaet CLP as legal advisor. Selmer is acting as legal advisor to Thor Medical.

Presentation

A presentation by Nordic Nanovector and Thor Medical will be held in-person and webcast at 10:00 CEST on 7 of June followed by a Q&A session. To join the webcast please sign up via www.nordicnanovector.com.

Venue: Advokatfirmaet CLP DA, Sommerrogata 13, 0255 Oslo

The associated slides will be available at www.nordicnanovector.com and www.scatecinnovation.no shortly before the webcast.

Contacts

Nordic Nanovector IR enquiries

Ludvik Sandnes, Interim CEO & CFO

+47 907 43 017

Thor Medical

John Andersen, Jr., Chairman of the Board

+47 90 17 40 80

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Important information:

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The stock exchange announcement was published by Ludvik Sandnes, Interim CEO & CFO of Nordic Nanovector ASA, at the time and date stated above in this announcement.

This announcement is not and does not form a part of any offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities. The distribution of this announcement and other information may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

Matters discussed in this announcement constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "strategy", "intends", "estimate", "will", "may", "continue", "should" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although Nordic Nanovector believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Nordic Nanovector undertakes no obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this announcement.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not to be relied upon in substitution for the exercise of independent judgment. It is not intended as investment advice and under no circumstances is it to be used or considered as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/9819/3782089/2109500.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE Nordic Nanovector
Researchers at NYU Langone will gain access to Deerfield Management's capital, infrastructure, and specialized resources to help advance novel therapeutics beyond the lab.

NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NYU Langone Health and Deerfield Management Company, a healthcare investment firm, today announced the launch of a research and development collaboration designed to accelerate the commercialization of biomedical discoveries.

Through a newly formed company called Amethyst Innovations, LLC, Deerfield has committed up to $130 million over the next 10 years, along with additional scientific and operational support, including access to the Deerfield-founded Women in Science program, to advance the translation of NYU Langone's cutting-edge biomedical research in a broad range of areas.

"NYU Langone has a strong track record of producing groundbreaking therapeutics that have improved the lives of millions of patients globally," said Marc Sedam, vice president of Technology Opportunities & Ventures, which oversees the commercialization of NYU Langone's research outputs. "This collaboration will give our researchers new options to bring promising biomedical innovations into treatments and cures that will address some of the world's most pressing health issues. We're particularly encouraged by the close proximity of Deerfield's Cure facility, just a few blocks away from NYU Langone, offering a unique opportunity for our researchers to benefit from regular conversations and engagement with Deerfield's scientists and other companies in the ecosystem."

One highlight of this collaboration is access to the Women in Science Translational Research Symposium, which was initially developed by Deerfield in 2019 and is now part of Advancium Health Network. NYU Langone's female researchers will be able to participate in this program, which is aimed at supporting diverse perspectives in the business of healthcare. The program's goal is to provide critical support, knowledge and expertise for the commercialization process of therapeutics and provide a community for interactions so that women scientists have a greater likelihood of translating their work to commercial success.

"Deerfield is committed to supporting academic research to provide the capital, infrastructure, and support needed for successful commercial entry," said James Flynn, managing partner of Deerfield Management and Cure Founder. "NYU has a strong history in research and discovery and we feel this is a great opportunity for both organizations to combine our strengths, advance meaningful research work, and streamline the path from discovery to patient."

"We are thrilled Deerfield Management and NYU Langone Health are partnering to drive cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation that will lead to groundbreaking treatments, cures, and healthcare technologies in New York City," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. "We look forward to continuing to support our partners to solidify our city's place at the forefront of the life sciences industry and support the next generation of talent through this strategic partnership."

Amethyst Innovations, LLC, a private company wholly owned by affiliates of Deerfield Management, will support NYU Langone research projects in various stages of drug exploration and development. Technology Opportunities & Ventures will be responsible for managing the engagement with Deerfield and working with NYU Langone's scientific leadership to select projects. The collaboration will lean heavily on the pipeline of projects out of NYU Langone's well-established internal drug accelerator, Therapeutics Alliances, which identifies and de-risks high-potential biomedical research projects. Accepted proposals will receive a development plan aimed at achieving Investigational New Drug (IND) readiness. Selected projects will also be eligible for additional funding for startup creation. Potential conflicts of interest that arise in the course of this collaboration will be evaluated, managed, or mitigated in accordance with NYU Langone policies and procedures.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amethyst Innovations, LLC would receive an option to license Amethyst Innovations-funded intellectual property developed at NYU Langone.

ABOUT NYU LANGONE HEALTH

NYU Langone Health is one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, ranked No. 1 in New York and No. 3 in the country on U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals." Their trifold mission to serve, teach, and discover is achieved daily through an integrated academic culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education, and research.

NYU Langone's visionary team is at the forefront of scientific inquiry into pioneering innovations and medical therapies. The institution is among the nation's top research universities receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and NYU Langone faculty include many of the world's leading experts who are guiding the future of biomedical research.

ABOUT DEERFIELD MANAGEMENT

Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy. The Firm works across the healthcare ecosystem to connect people, capital, ideas and technology in bold, collaborative and inclusive ways. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com.

Media Contact:

Anthony Karamourtopoulos

[email protected]

SOURCE Deerfield Management Company, L.P.
The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032

LONDON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's Pediatric Dental Crown Global Market Report 2023, the global pediatric dental crown market size will grow from $6.6 billion in 2022 to $7.2 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 7%. The pediatric dental crown market size is expected to grow to $9.9 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of more than 8%.

The pediatric dental crown market is anticipated to rise, as tooth decay and periodontal illnesses become more commonplace. For example, in 2022, the Oral Health Foundation (OHF) and Colgate-Palmolive Dental Caries Awareness Survey indicated that 84% of all adults in the UK belong to groups that put them at higher risk of the disease, with more than 45 million British adults at an increased risk of tooth decay. Therefore, the increase in the prevalence of tooth decay and periodontal diseases is expected to propel the growth of the pediatric dental crown market going forward.

Learn More On The Pediatric Dental Crown Market Report  https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/pediatric-dental-crown-global-market-report

Companies in the pediatric dental crown market are focusing on developing and offering a 3D printing ecosystem for increasing productivity and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. 3D printing technology has revolutionized the production of dental crowns by offering numerous benefits. With 3D printing, dental crowns can be fabricated in a precise and efficient manner. For example, in February 2023, SprintRay Inc., a US-based company that specializes in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, launched the Ceramic Crown 3D Printing Ecosystem. This ecosystem offers SprintRay Ceramic Crown, a brand-new ceramic-dominant resin that has been 510(k) Class 2 cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the 3D printing of final, whole and partial, single crowns and veneers.

In addition, companies in the pediatric dental crown market are forming strategic partnerships and collaborations to expand their product portfolio and geographic presence. For example, in 2020, Formlabs, a US-based company and manufacturer of powerful and accessible 3D printing systems, partnered with BEGO, a US-based company that specializes in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Through this agreement, Formlabs' dental clients will be able to use BEGO's dental materials to 3D print temporary and permanent crowns and bridges for patients.

Request A Free Sample Of The Pediatric Dental Crown Market Report  https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=7441&type=smp

As per the pediatric dental crown market outlook, North America was the largest region in the pediatric dental crown market and was worth $2.3 billion in 2022.

The pediatric dental crown market in North America is supported by high awareness among people regarding oral healthcare, high investments in the dental services industry and favorable government initiatives. For instance, in March 2022, the Canada federal government stated that it will establish a new dental care program for low-income Canadians. The temporary Canada Dental Benefit is designed to assist qualified families earning less than $90,000 per year in lowering dental expenditures. Parents and guardians may apply to the program if the child receiving dental care is under the age of 12 and does not have access to a private dental insurance plan.

View More Similar Market Reports:

Dental Crown And Bridges Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/dental-crown-and-bridges-global-market-report

Dental Surgical Devices And Equipment Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/dental-surgical-devices-and-equipment-global-market-report

Dental Equipment And Supplies Global Market Report 2023

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/dental-equipment-and-supplies-global-market-report

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SOURCE The Business Reseach Company
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will pay a working visit to Austria to attend a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The minister is scheduled to speak at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, as well as hold bilateral meetings.

Within the framework of the working visit of the Azerbaijani FM to Slovakia on June 7, 2023, meetings are scheduled with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Wlachovsky, as well as other officials of the country.
Husband-Wife Duo Sign Agreement to Bring Veterinary Pet-Wellness to Tucson Area

TUCSON, Ariz., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PetWellClinic , one of America's fastest-growing veterinary pet-wellness franchise brands, is excited to announce a new deal to bring 5 locations to Tucson, Arizona. The brand's entrance into the Tucson market comes soon after the state's first PetWellClinic opened in the Phoenix area. The latest deal comes at the hands of Dr. Julia Hennagir and James Beard, an animal-loving, husband-wife team with a deep history of entrepreneurship in Tucson.

After being raised as a self-described "country kid," Dr. Hennagir grew up always taking care of animals. Today, she owns Silver Wolf Chiropractic PLLC, which she's run for more than 24 years. Though she mainly works on humans, she additionally helps adjust dogs to help them walk better.

Sharing that passion for entrepreneurship, Beard founded Family Air LLC 17 years ago. With "family" being the operative word of the business, the majority of their family has worked at Family Air LLC at one point or another. Dr. Hennagir and Beard plan to carry that same family-spirit through PetWellClinic, with their daughter's longtime interest in the veterinary field lending her to be among the first to sign on to help launch the franchise in Tucson.

"Family is everything to us, and especially with a brand that's built on the importance of even the smallest family members, we're thrilled to be able to able to embrace that core value with this new business venture," said Beard.

When their family dogs suffered unfortunate health issues, Dr. Hennagir and Beard were disappointed in the veterinary options available in their community. That's when they discovered PetWellClinic. Between the brand's physical transparency and walk-in veterinary services, Dr. Hennagir and Beard are eager to open their doors and begin offering the premium care pet owners crave.

"People are already asking us when we're going to open because they're ready for a change in how their pets are cared for in the Tucson area," said Dr. Hennagir. "After visiting a PetWellClinic location, we were immediately drawn to the vet's kindness toward animals, the efficiency in the process, and the openness of the clinic, especially with a service where too many pet owners are used to animals being taken away from them for the visit."

With a passion for healthcare of all kinds, Dr. Hennagir said she looks forward to learning alongside the associates at PetWellClinic so that she can help out wherever it's needed as they lay the foundation for brand in Tucson. Dr. Hennagir and Beard are actively seeking veterinarians and vet assistants to work for a mission-driven company that offers stable hours, with a goal to hire at 15 people across the 5 locations coming to the area. The exact locations of these new clinics in the Tucson area are still being finalized.

Each PetWellClinic location utilizes a proprietary veterinary software program designed by Dr. Sam Meisler for seamless clinic processes and to maximize efficiency throughout the day. The locations are designed for complete transparency and openness, so clients can see everything that is happening, from the front of the clinic to the back.

For more information about PetWellClinic franchise opportunities, please visit www.petwellfranchise.com . PetWellClinic has partnered with Oakscale, to lead franchise development efforts for the brand. For more information about Oakscale, please visit www.oakscale.com or contact Ryan Durishin at [email protected].

ABOUT PETWELLCLINIC

PetWellClinic is a walk-in veterinary clinic, providing excellent preventative, wellness and sick care for dogs and cats on an on-demand basis. There is no need for an appointment because PetWellClinic's technology, design, and operational systems provide customers with a modern-day experience in an antiquated industry. PetWellClinic recently began franchising after the success of its company-owned operations in Knoxville, Tennessee, and currently has over 100 units in development.

SOURCE PetWellClinic
Over three decades of experience spanning sales, marketing, regulatory, and operations

Expertise in creating cross-functional teams and building sales and distribution networks

MUMBAI, India, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Limited's (NSE: PPLPHARMA) (BSE: 543635) Piramal Critical Care (PCC) business, a producer of Inhaled Anesthetics and a global player in hospital generics, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Hampton as President & Chief Operating Officer (COO). For his new role, Mr. Hampton will be based in the United States.

Peter DeYoung, CEO, Global Pharma, Piramal Pharma Limited Jeffrey Hampton, President & Chief Operating Officer, Piramal Critical Care

A Bachelor of Science in Marketing from University of Florida, Mr. Hampton joins PCC from Accord Healthcare, where he was the President and responsible for accelerating the firm's growth strategy. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice President and General Manager at Apotex for the US and Latin America regions. At Apotex, Mr. Hampton restructured the US commercial team to maximize efficiency and established procedures for identifying and executing life cycle management practices to improve profitability and market penetration. His career, so far, spans over three decades across sales and marketing, regulatory, commercial operations, sales strategy, distribution, and business development.

Mr. Hampton has also worked with several leading pharmaceutical companies, including Osmotica Pharmaceuticals, Dabur Pharma and IVAX Pharmaceuticals.

Peter DeYoung, CEO, Global Pharma, Piramal Pharma Limited, said, "I welcome Jeff to Piramal Critical Care and wish him all the success in his new role. His experience across the domains of sales and marketing will help us develop stronger, long-term global operations strategies to deliver profitable growth. His expertise across functions augurs well for the business, as we set our sight to further reinforce PCC's position as a leading global player in complex hospital generics. Jeff has also been associated with leading pharmaceutical companies and is well versed with building a patient and customer-centric culture, which aligns with our core values."

Speaking on the occasion of joining PCC, Mr. Hampton said, "It is truly an honor to be joining such a fast-paced, growth-oriented global company like Piramal Critical Care. I look forward to leading PCC's growth strategies to expand our presence."

About Piramal Critical Care:

Piramal Critical Care (PCC) is a global player in anesthesia, pain management, and intrathecal therapy. PCC maintains a wide presence across more than 100 countries including the US and the European markets. Our product portfolio includes inhalation anesthetics, injectable pain and anesthesia drugs, intrathecal therapy, and other injectables. Piramal Critical Care has manufacturing and process development capabilities with manufacturing facilities in Bethlehem, PA, United States and Digwal, Telangana, India, which are inspected by US FDA, UK MHRA and other regulators, and partners with leading pharmaceutical development and manufacturing organizations around the world.

For more information and updates, please visit: www.piramalcriticalcare.com

About Piramal Pharma Ltd:

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL, NSE: PPLPHARMA | BSE: 543635), offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through its 17 global development and manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated contract development and manufacturing organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a complex hospital generics business; and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the-counter products. In addition, one of PPL's associate companies, Allergan India Private Limited is a JV with AbbVie Inc. and has emerged as one of the market leaders in the ophthalmology therapy area. Further, PPL has a minority investment in Yapan Bio Private Limited. In October 2020, PPL received a 20% strategic growth investment from the Carlyle Group.

For more information, visit: https://www.piramal.com/pharma/, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Disclaimer:

Piramal Pharma Limited is proposing, subject to applicable law, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, a rights issue of its equity shares in the near future and has filed a draft letter of offer with the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094143/Peter_DeYoung_Piramal.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094144/Jeffrey_Hampton.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094149/Piramal_Critical_Care_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Piramal Critical Care
SILICON SLOPES, Utah, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pluralsight, the technology workforce development company, today announced the appointment of Matthew Collier as Chief Customer Officer (CCO). As CCO, Collier will be responsible for leading the Pluralsight customer experience and success journey in support of the company's mission to advance the world's technology workforce.

"I am thrilled to welcome Matthew as our new Chief Customer Officer," said Somit Goyal, President and COO of Pluralsight. "With his extensive knowledge and unwavering dedication to customer value and satisfaction, Matthew brings a fresh perspective on driving efficient improvement and growth across customer success, support. He will play a pivotal role in meeting the evolving needs of our customers and empowering enterprises worldwide to successfully execute their technology strategies. I look forward to the significant impact I know he will make across our organization and with our customers."

Collier joins Pluralsight with deep customer success experience, having served in leadership roles at many notable software companies. Collier was most recently Senior Vice President of Customer Success for Signifyd, a ecommerce fraud protection company based in California. He also served as the Senior Director of Customer Success at Adobe, overseeing their commercial market segment in addition to being Vice President of Customer Success at Marketo, a leader in marketing automation software.

"Pluralsight's unparalleled commitment to accelerating the technology skills of its customers was at the heart of my decision to join the company," said Collier. "I look forward to partnering with our customers to elevate their experience with Pluralsight and to helping them deliver the business outcomes so crucial to their success."

Collier holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Business Law from the University of Miami. He is a contributing author to The 7 Pillars of Success and served on the Board of Triage Cancer, a nonprofit organization that provides free education on the legal and practical issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. Collier is also a founding member of CS Angel, an organization that provides customer success experts with opportunities to invest in new technologies that deliver solutions to improve net revenue retention.

About Pluralsight

Pluralsight is the leading technology workforce development company that helps companies and teams build better products by developing critical skills, improving processes and gaining insights through data, and providing strategic skills consulting. Trusted by forward-thinking companies of every size in every industry, Pluralsight helps individuals and businesses transform with technology. Pluralsight Skills helps enterprises build technology skills at scale with expert-authored courses on today's most important technologies, including cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, and security, among others. Skills also includes tools to align skill development with business objectives, virtual instructor-led training, hands-on labs, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics. Flow complements Skills by providing engineering teams with actionable data and visibility into workflow patterns to accelerate the delivery of products and services. For more information about Pluralsight, visit pluralsight.com .

Contact: Ami Meite, [email protected]

SOURCE Pluralsight
CHICAGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Portable Power Station Market is projected to reach USD 1.1 billion in 2028 from USD 0.5 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 18.4% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Portable power stations are portable and compact devices that function as independent power sources. Their purpose is to store electrical energy obtained from diverse sources such as solar panels, wall outlets, or car chargers, and subsequently utilize this energy to supply power to electronic devices and appliances. These stations offer a practical and dependable solution for powering various devices during outdoor activities, camping excursions, road trips, and emergency scenarios. By eliminating the need to depend on conventional power grids or generators, portable power stations ensure that users have access to electricity wherever they are. Their compact design, user-friendly nature, and capacity to deliver clean and sustainable power have significantly increased their appeal among individuals seeking reliable and adaptable energy sources.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=23592113

Browse in-depth TOC on "Portable Power Station Market"

150 - Tables

45 - Figures

210 - Pages

Portable Power Station Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 1.1 billion in 2028 Growth Rate 18.4% of CAGR Largest Market North America Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Portable Power Station Market by technology type, power source, sales channel, application, capacity, and region. Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa. Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Capitalize on the energy transition and renewable integration Key Market Drivers Increasing sales of smart electronic devices

The 200400 Wh, by capacity, is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on capacity, the potable power station market has been split into 0100 Wh, 100200 Wh, 200400 Wh, and 4001,000 Wh, 1,0001,500 Wh, and 1,500 Wh and above. Portable power stations with a capacity of 200400 Wh are specifically designed to supply power to both small and medium-sized devices. Stations with capacity of 200400 Wh find applications in residential power, commercial power, and outdoor environments. In residential power settings, they serve as reliable backup power sources for essential household appliances and communication devices. Similarly, in commercial power scenarios, they are utilized for charging laptops, tablets, and various other communication devices. The technologies employed in these portable power stations within the 200 Wh to 400 Wh capacity range encompass both lithium-ion and sealed lead-acid options, offering users a range of choices to meet their specific power needs.

The hybrid power segment, by power source, is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period.

This report segments the Portable Power Station Market based on power source into two segments: hybrid power, and direct power. The hybrid power segment is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period. The market for hybrid power is being driven by the growing emphasis on renewable energy and the reduced dependency on fossil fuels. Solar power, with its ability to be utilized in off-grid locations where direct power access is limited or non-existent, is favored for its key advantage. Portable power stations used for camping and recreational vehicle purposes are typically charged using solar energy.

North America is expected to be the largest region in the Portable Power Station Industry

North America is expected to be the largest Portable Power Station Market during the forecast period. The growth of the Portable Power Station Market in the North America region, which includes the US, Canada, and Mexico, is attributed to several factors. These include the rise in outdoor activities such as camping and recreational activities, the implementation of strict regulations regarding emission control, and the increasing inclination towards smart grid devices. The camping sector in North America, as highlighted by the World Tourism Council and Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), is characterized by its high diversity. It is observed that half of the new campers are from non-white groups, with a growing number of Asian, Hispanic, and African American outdoor enthusiasts adopting the camping lifestyle. The popularity of camping and recreational activities has been consistently increasing, as reported by The North American Camping Report, with a notable growth trend across the US. Private campgrounds in countries like the US and Canada are actively preparing for this surge in camping demand by expanding their park sites and introducing new and unique camping offerings. These include the addition of comfortable RV patio sites, glamping tents, and full-service cabins. Furthermore, the future production of lithium-ion batteries can benefit from the abundant lithium deposits found in the US.

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Key Market Players:

Some of the major players in the Portable Power Station Companies are Goal Zero (US), Jackery (US), Duracell (US), EcoFlow (US), Anker Innovations (US), and Lion Energy (US). The major strategies adopted by these players include sales contracts, agreements, alliances, partnerships, acquisitions, and expansions.

Recent Developments

In December 2022 , Lion Energy entered into an agreement with ABF. Under this agreement, ABF will supply Lion Energy with high-capacity prismatic cells with 50 and 300 Ah outputs, which will be used in a variety of Lion Energy solutions, including portable solar generators and power stations.

, Lion Energy entered into an agreement with ABF. Under this agreement, ABF will supply Lion Energy with high-capacity prismatic cells with 50 and 300 Ah outputs, which will be used in a variety of Lion Energy solutions, including portable solar generators and power stations. In August 2022 , Goal Zero partnered with Yeti Cycles, a leading manufacturer of high-performance mountain bikes. Goal Zero has integrated its portable solar panels and portable power banks into Yeti Cycles' bikes and accessories to provide a stable source of power for off-grid riding as part of this partnership.

, Goal Zero partnered with Yeti Cycles, a leading manufacturer of high-performance mountain bikes. Goal Zero has integrated its portable solar panels and portable power banks into Yeti Cycles' bikes and accessories to provide a stable source of power for off-grid riding as part of this partnership. In 2021, Jackery and Toyota partnered to create a portable power station for the Toyota Prius Prime. The Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station is a compact and portable power solution that is compatible with the hybrid system of the Prius Prime. It is rechargeable using solar panels or an ordinary wall socket and can power a variety of gadgets, including electric automobiles.

In November 2020 , EcoFlow collaborated with SunPower to provide the EcoFlow - SunPower Energy bundle. This can be used to power small electronics and can be charged in 5 to 9 hours in direct sunlight.

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A talk entitled "Portugal Ceramics Buildings Today" and a stand designed by architect Luis Pedro Silva promote the potential of Portuguese ceramics in this prestigious architecture and design conference.

The event runs from 7-10 June.

LSIBON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PORTUGAL CERAMICS, a promotional brand developed by the Portuguese Association of Ceramics and Domestic Glass Industries (APICER) to promote the sector, will be attending the AIA Conference on Architecture, a prestigious global event in Architecture and Design held from 7-10 June in San Francisco, in the United States. Along with a stand designed by architect Luis Pedro Silva to represent the ceramic wall and floor tiles sub-sector, PORTUGAL CERAMICS will also organize a talk entitled "Portugal Ceramics Buildings Today". The speaker will be architect Luis Pedro Silva, designer of the emblematic work of the Porto Leixoes Cruise Terminal, and the gathering will be held on 09 June at the PORTUGAL CERAMICS stand. The goal of attending this event is to promote Portuguese ceramics and its solutions, potential and benefits to international architects.

Portugal Ceramics on AIA Conference (PRNewsfoto/Apicer)

"Portuguese companies export to more than 123 countries throughout the world, with France, the United States and Germany having the highest import rates," says Jose Cruz Pratas, Chairman of the Board of APICER. "In a world governed by optimization and standardization, customers struggle to find reliable partners with the right combination of expertise, who are ready to go the extra mile to deliver exactly what they want... something that can be found in Portuguese ceramics, and that we want to emphasize at the AIA Conference on Architecture: someone who will satisfy their special requests, and design and manufacture their products according to unique specifications," says the Chairman of the Board of APICER.

Designed by architect Luis Pedro Silva, the PORTUGAL CERAMICS stand features a 10x3m wall mural of 15x15 traditional Portuguese tiles and a collection of various commercially available products. Twelve companies were involved in this mural, working with the PORTUGAL CERAMICS brand in designing the stand, including Aleluia, Cerigani, Cinca, Cliper, Domino, Gresco, Recer, Primus Vitoria, Love Tiles, Margres, Pavigres and Revigres.

"Portugal Ceramics Buildings Today" is the name of the talk that will be presented at the event. Invited by PORTUGAL CERAMICS, architect Luis Pedro Silva will explore at this conference what Portuguese ceramics are like as a wall and floor material  a material of excellence in modern architecture  using the examples of two buildings designed by him, the Porto Leixoes Cruise Terminal and the Icon Douro. Admission to the gathering is free, and it will be held on 09 June at the PORTUGAL CERAMICS stand, with two sessions at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

PORTUGAL CERAMICS' participation in the AIA Conference on Architecture is part of a set of activation and communication initiatives planned within the scope of INTERCER - Promotion of the Internationalization of Portuguese Ceramics, sponsored by APICER, aimed at promoting the sector in international markets and helping to ensure that these markets have an accurate perception of the quality of products developed and manufactured in Portugal.

For more information on PORTUGAL CERAMICS, go to www.portugal-ceramics.com. The brand is featured in the following social networks: Instagram: @portugalceramics I Facebook: @portugal.ceramics.official I Pinterest: @portugalceramicsofficial I LinkedIn: @company/portugal-ceramics-official/ | YouTube: @portugalceramics8812.

LEARN MORE:

 INTERCER:

The INTERCER - Promotion of the Internationalization of Portuguese Ceramics, sponsored by APICER, is supported by The SIAC (Collective Action Support System), co-funded by the ERDF, within the scope of the COMPETE 2020 - Competitiveness and Internationalization Operating Program.

SOURCE Apicer
CEO of the Largest Black-Owned Multi-Unit Franchise Group of Ben & Jerry's Wins Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PRIMO Partners LLC, a black-owned and operated company that are multi-unit franchisees with Ben and Jerry's and Starbucks, was recognized with the 2023 MVP Award from Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine. The winners, chosen from a long list of multi-unit franchisee nominees, are the country's best and brightest power operators, innovators, and creative thinkers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in growing both their organization and their brands. Antonio McBroom, the CEO and Visionary of PRIMO Partners, was recognized with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award for demonstrating exceptional commitment to the promotion of providing equal opportunities for marginalized communities.

PRIMO Partners Logo (From Left to Right): Eric Taylor, CFO of PRIMO Partners, Antonio McBroom, CEO of PRIMO Partners, and Phillip Scotton, COO of PRIMO Partners

"I am immensely honored to be this year's recipient of an award that is the exact representation of our work and what we strive to accomplish every day," said Antonio McBroom. "We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all, to champion underrepresented voices, and to drive meaningful change within our industry. Together, we will create a future where diversity, equality, and inclusion are not just ideals to aim for, but the very essence of our success."

This year's outstanding multi-unit franchisees were each presented with a coveted MVP Award at the recent Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, held April 2528 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas with 2,000 people in attendance.

Judges searched for the best, brightest, and most inspiring multi-unit franchisees before selecting 12 category winners. Each winner will be profiled in Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine.

"At every step of the PRIMO Partners journey, we have worked to break barriers and pave the way for others to succeed," added McBroom. "We believe that diversity is the foundation upon which greatness is built. By embracing the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences of our diverse team members, we have fostered a culture of empowerment, respect and collaboration."

For more information about PRIMO Partners, visit https://www.primopartners.com/ or call 877-600-6522.

About PRIMO Partners

The mission of PRIMO Partners, LLC, is to close the financial achievement gap by providing growth opportunities to people from all backgrounds. Primo Partners is a Black-owned and operated company that develops diverse businesses, diverse communities, and leaders.

About Franchise Update Media

Franchise Update Media has been a leader in the franchising space for 35 years. Founded in 1988, the company produces online franchise opportunity and educational websites, two quarterly print magazines, six newsletters, four annual conferences, independent research, and books, entirely focused on franchising. Targeting franchise audiences online, in print, and in person, Franchise Update Media delivers a unique combination of educational and lead generation sources to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, opportunity seekers, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, visit franchising.com .

Media Contact: Tom Farrell, Fishman PR, [email protected]

SOURCE PRIMO Partners LLC
Privacera announces new AWS Lake Formation integrations

FREMONT, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Privacera, a unified data security governance platform, announces the availability of two new AWS Lake Formation integrations that add an additional layer of protection for sensitive data and enable privacy while reducing time to insights across AWS data and analytical environments. These two new integrations give AWS customers the choice to author, manage, and monitor data security and access policies in a single central location, using either AWS Lake Formation or Privacera.

New Solutions Provide Customer Options to Best Fit Their Needs When Using AWS Lake Formation

Privacera offers a complete unified data security governance solution for many AWS data and analytics services, like Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon EMR, Amazon Athena, and Amazon Relational Database Services (RDS), and third-party services that run on AWS, like Databricks and Snowflake. Now, Privacera has extended its integration with AWS services to include AWS Lake Formation, allowing customers to either create and manage data security and access policies centrally in AWS Lake Formation and use Privacera to extend AWS Lake Formation source support, or centrally create and manage data security and access policies in Privacera and leverage AWS Lake Formation tight integration with key AWS services.

The first integration with AWS Lake Formation allows AWS customers to create and manage data access policies in AWS Lake Formation and also takes advantage of integration between AWS Lake Formation and AWS Glue. Adding Privacera to an existing AWS Lake Formation deployment allows organizations to extend AWS Lake Formation data access policies into Databricks, Trino, Apache Spark, and Apache Hive.

Other options enable:

Data access policy creators to use the AWS Lake Formation UI and capabilities that they are familiar with to leverage AWS Glue and ensure consistency in policies.

The use of Amazon CloudTrail to obtain a holistic view of an organization's data access and security policies, as well as what data is being accessed, when, and who is accessing it.

The ability for Privacera to translate AWS Lake Formation policies into native access controls for Amazon EMR, Databricks, and Trino provides native policy enforcement. This solution provides unified, cross-account data security governance across Amazon Redshift, Amazon Athena, Amazon EMR, Databricks, Starburst, Dremio, and Trino.

Ultimately, this solution is ideal for customers who are using or planning on using AWS Lake Formation for Amazon Athena, Amazon Redshift, Amazon EMR, or Presto, but also want to create, manage, and monitor data access and security policies for Databricks, Trino, and Apache Spark and Apache Hive using AWS Lake Formation.

The second integration with AWS Lake Formation allows AWS Customers to create and manage all data access policies in Privacera. Adding AWS Lake Formation allows AWS to leverage the integration of AWS Lake Formation with other AWS services, and extends Privacera, providing unique fine-grained access control to Amazon Redshift Spectrum. Data access policy creators can use the Privacera UI and capabilities that they know.

Additional features include:

Privacera can translate the data security and access policies into AWS Lake Formation, which can be used to enforce data security and access policies for Amazon Athena or Amazon Redshift Spectrum.

AWS users are able to utilize file, table, column, and row-level access controls, as well as tag-based access control, ensuring that the right users get access to the right data, for the right purpose.

AWS customers will also benefit from Privacera's attribute-based access control and the resulting automation that comes with Privacera's tight IAM-type solutions.

Data security governance can be further automated with advanced data access and security capabilities, such as compliance workflows to simplify and automate the enforcement of compliance rules.

The above solution is ideal for customers that have complex data and analytics ecosystems, and want to have unified data security governance natively on sources, such as Amazon S3, Snowflake, Databricks with or without Unity Catalog, Amazon EMR, Amazon Athena, Amazon Redshift, Amazon RDS, and many more, but also want to leverage AWS Lake Formation for fine-grained access control on Amazon Redshift Spectrum, or who wish to use AWS Lake Formation to enforce access controls on Amazon Athena.

"Organizations operate in diverse data ecosystems, and it's becoming increasingly challenging to not only protect data, but ensure that organizations have timely access to necessary data in order to accelerate time to insights and increase the value of their data assets, and that's why Privacera exists," said Privacera CEO Balaji Ganesan. "As an AWS Data and Analytics Competency Partner, expanding AWS customers' ability to get purpose-built solutions to meet their needs and leverage the strengths of both Privacera and AWS Lake Formation while simplifying data security governance is key to helping organizations use data to deliver business value."

Policy Authorship and Maintenance from One Safe and Convenient Location

The new capabilities will work to create additional business benefits and help companies reduce overall data policy management complexities.

Read more about Privacera's integration with AWS Lake Formation, read the most recent blog .

For organizations interested in learning more about Privacera's integration with AWS Lake Formation, please visit here to request a demo .

About Privacera

Founded in 2016 by the creators of Apache Ranger, Privacera's SaaS-based data security and access governance platform enables data and security teams to simplify data access, security, and privacy for data applications and analytical workloads. The Privacera platform supports compliance with regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and HIPAA. Privacera provides a unified view and control for securing sensitive data across multiple cloud services such as Azure, Databricks, GCP, Snowflake, and Starburst. The Privacera platform is utilized by Fortune 500 customers across finance, insurance, life sciences, retail, media, and consumer industries, as well as government agencies to automate sensitive data discovery, mask sensitive data, and manage high-fidelity policies at petabyte scale on-premises and in the cloud.

SOURCE Privacera
Transatlantic partnership to apply advanced AI/ML techniques to study whose implications can deliver a fusion propulsion rocket that could reach Saturn in fraction of time

BLETCHLEY, England, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulsar Fusion , developers of clean space propulsion systems and services through fusion, has entered into a partnership with Princeton Satellite Systems (PSS) to apply machine learning to study data from the Princeton field-reverse configuration ( PFRC-2 ) reactor to advance delivery of practical fusion propelled spacecraft that can make interstellar space travel practical.

Pulsar Fusion's concept of a hyper speed, nuclear fusion rocket engine. Pulsar CEO - Richard Dinan at their research facility in Bletchley, ENGLAND.

The study will help scientists better understand the behavior of plasma under electromagnetic heating and confinement when configured as an aneutronic fusion propulsion system. The results of the research will determine how a nuclear fusion plasma will behave as it exits a rocket engine, emitting exhaust particles at hundreds of kilometers per second (km/sec). With fusion propulsion the solar system is realistically within grasp giving us the ability to travel meaningful distances in space within months and years - not in a lifetime.

In the first study of its kind, PSS and Pulsar Fusion will use data from plasma shots generated using the Reversed Configuration PFRC-2 reactor, which was developed in partnership with the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The partnership will apply the most advanced machine learning technologies to analyze the behavior of super-hot fusion plasma in a rocket engine configuration. Specifically, the simulations will assess the performance of nuclear fusion plasma for propulsion as it exits a rocket engine emitting exhaust particles at hundreds of km/sec.

"Humanity has a huge need for faster propulsion in our growing space economy, and fusion offers 1,000 times the power of the conventional ion thrusters currently used in orbit," said Richard Dinan, founder and CEO of Pulsar Fusion. "In short, if humans can achieve fusion for energy, then fusion propulsion in space is inevitable. We believe that fusion propulsion will be demonstrated in space decades before we can harness fusion for energy on Earth."

With Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) rocket propulsion, it would be possible to cut the transit time to Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and even explore beyond the solar system. For example, there is interest in the potential of life on Titan, one of Saturn's moons, and with a single DFD drive, one can make the trip in two years versus decades. DFD drives can produce thrust without the need for an intermediary, electricity-producing step. In a DFD system, the fusion reactor generates energy, creating a plasma of electrically charged particles. Those energetic particles are converted to thrust using a rotating magnetic field. DFD drives are ideal for space travel since the energy produced is clean, virtually limitless, and the drive is relatively compact.

"The Direct Fusion Drive is really a game-changing technology enabling us to reach deep space destinations much faster and with vast amounts of power," said Stephanie Thomas, Vice President of PSS. "NASA is interested in a variety of deep space destinations such as getting to Jupiter in one year, Saturn in two years, Pluto in four to five years. A single, one-megawatt DFD engine can handle any of those missions. It's a dramatically different way to operate deep space missions that will save time and money and enable us to do more science when we get there."

Pulsar Fusion engineers are developing simulations based on gas puffing data from the PFRC-2. The aim is to create predictive ion and electron behavior simulations in a field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma. Accurate predictive simulations are needed for closed-loop systems, a key component for a future PFRC reactor that could be used for rocket propulsion.

Pulsar Fusion has been developing the technology for 10 years alongside the UK Space Agency. The company is the world leader in nuclear fusion propulsion making space engines that work today.

About Pulsar Fusion Ltd.

Established in 2013 as Applied Fusion Systems, Pulsar Fusion develops hyper-fast space propulsion systems using nuclear fusion. Fusion offers the best alternative with sufficient exhaust speed and thrust to propel spacecraft beyond our solar system. In 2022, Pulsar Fusion was awarded funds from the UK Space Agency to conduct research into nuclear electric propulsion. Pulsar is creating an ecosystem of propulsion systems and services that advance the use of fusion as a near-limitless, clean energy source.

For more information, visit https://pulsarfusion.com .

About Princeton Satellite Systems (PSS)

PSS is an aerospace research and development company collaborating with the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) on a new fusion technology. Direct Fusion Drive is a revolutionary direct-drive, fusion-powered rocket engine concept. Compact and clean-burning, each 1-10 MW Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) engine would produce both power and thrust with high specific power (low mass). Producing propulsion directly in the fusion engine is highly efficient, shortening trip times and increasing capability for a wide variety of space missions: robotic missions to the outer planets, human missions to the moon or Mars, and missions to near interstellar space.

For more information, visit https://www.psatellite.com .

About Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

PPPL is a leader in magnetic confinement experiments utilizing the tokamak approach. This work culminated in the world-record performance of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), which operated at PPPL from 1982 to 1997. Beginning in 1993, TFTR was the first in the world to use 50/50 deuterium-tritium mixtures, yielding an unprecedented 10.7 million watts of fusion power.

PFRC-2 has been supported by the Department of Energy, and now DFD research is being supported by a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts grant and two NASA STTRs.

For more information, visit https://www.pppl.gov .

Media Contact

Len Fernandes

Firecracker PR

[email protected]

(888) 317-4687 ext. 707

SOURCE Pulsar Fusion
Automate 2023 set record attendance with more than 30,000 registrants

Automate is heading to Chicago in 2024 and will return to Detroit in 2025

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Automate, the largest robotics and automation trade show in North America, celebrated its most successful event to date with record numbers. More than 30,000 people from around the world registered to visit the sold-out show floor featuring 757 exhibitors during Automate's four-day run May 22-25, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.

Due to the extraordinary demand for automation and the growing need companies have  both to learn how automation can benefit them as well as connect with partners who can help them deploy automation solutions  the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) will now hold Automate annually.

"I want to take a moment to thank all the sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, and attendees who contributed to making Automate 2023 such a tremendous success," said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3. "As this show demonstrated, demand for robotics and automation technologies is accelerating as companies in every industry seek automation solutions to improve their competitiveness."

Previously held every other year, the show featured four halls of exhibits, keynote speakers each day, relevant show floor theater sessions, a start-up competition, and a comprehensive educational conference attended by over 1,000 people with courses on topics such as robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision and motion control taught by more than 200 industry experts. Attendees said the mix of exhibitions, discussions and people energized the show floor all week.

"We found tremendous value exhibiting at Automate," said Kevin Barker, president of Beckhoff Automation. "The audience was knowledgeable, engaged, and excited about automation technology and we look forward to continuing to participate every year moving forward."

Startup Competition Highlights

On the second day of Automate, nine technology startups went head-to-head to win the Phoenix Contact Startup Challenge.

ESTAT Actuation was selected by a panel of venture capital judges for its game-changing technologies and received a $10,000 cash prize. ESTAT electroadhesive products are 10x lighter, 10x more compact, and 1000x more efficient than conventional versions, enabling groundbreaking new solutions for robotic joints, end of arm tooling gripping, and untethered robot designs.

"Automate was incredible for generating customer interest and connections. Everyone loved seeing and experiencing our hardware demos, and winning the startup challenge gave us a great avenue to build awareness of our products and gain industry advocates," said Stuart Diller, CEO of ESTAT Actuation.

Engelberger Award Winners Honored

Recipients of the 2023 Engelberger Awards, the world's most prestigious robotics honor, were celebrated at the Joseph F. Engelberger Awards Dinner and Ceremony on May 24. Roberta Nelson Shea of Universal Robots was recognized as the Application winner for her outstanding work in global robotics safety; and Jeff Burnstein of the Association for Advancing Automation was honored in Leadership for his work promoting the robotics industry for the past four decades at the Association for Advancing Automation.

Automate Rewind

For anyone unable to attend the event live or who missed keynote speeches and discussions, there's still a chance to check them out. Automate Rewind will be launched the week of June 12, 2023. It will feature an entire digital library of content from Automate 2023, including recordings of keynote sessions, theater talks, Automate LIVE interviews, exhibitor spotlights, and more. Automate Rewind will be available here.

2024 and 2025 Event Details

Next year, Automate will be held May 6-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago and the show will return to Detroit May 12-15, 2025. 2024 booth space is already more than 60% reserved. If your company would like to reserve space, contact Jim Hamilton, A3's VP of Sales, here to book a booth or explore sponsorship opportunities.

For more details on Automate, visit www.AutomateShow.com.

About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is the leading global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. Members of A3 represent nearly 1,200 manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups and consulting firms that drive automation forward worldwide.

A3 hosts a number of industry-leading events, including the Robotic Grinding & Finishing Conference (July 25-26, Minneapolis, MN), Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Conference (October 4-5, Memphis, TN.), the International Robot Safety Conference (October 9-11, Pittsburgh, PA), the AI & Smart Automation Conference (October 10-11, Pittsburgh, PA), the A3 Business Forum (January 15-17, 2024, Orlando, FL), and Automate (May 6-9, 2024, Chicago, IL).

SOURCE Association for Advancing Automation
NIH grant will support new gene editing-based therapeutic approaches for four neurological conditions

By Mark Wanner

BAR HARBOR, Maine, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers led by Cathleen Lutz, Ph.D., are using an exciting new method, preclinical genomic editing, to develop safe, effective therapies for rare diseases and bring them to the clinic.

Unfortunately, the translation of the accumulated knowledge to safe and effective therapies has lagged. There are many reasons to predict that the situation is changing for the better, however, as powerful new gene-based therapies succeed in clinical trials and receive FDA approval.

Therapeutic strategies such as gene replacement and gene modulation (e.g., blocking protein production with anti-sense oligonucleotides) are at the forefront of the recent progress. But while they carry exciting promise for many applications and diseases, they are not without risk. In some cases they can provoke adverse immune responses, initiate cancer, and cause other serious side effects.

Researchers are therefore still hard at work to develop safer therapies for rare genetic diseases that provide lasting benefit. Now Cathleen Lutz, Ph.D., of The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) is spearheading a major effort to implement a new genomic research toolpreclinical genomic editingto cure rare neurological genetic diseases.

Beyond CRISPR

CRISPR has revolutionized gene editing, but as originally applied it involves double strand DNA breaks that leave absolutely no room for error in the clinic. Researchers have continued to enhance CRISPR methods, however, and they have now advanced them to the point where they are able to make precise genomic alterations without cutting the DNA. Lutz, vice president of the Rare Disease Translational Center at JAX, will lead a multi-institutional team to develop and validate new gene editing-based therapeutic approaches for four neurological conditions: spinal muscular atrophy, Friedrich's ataxia, Huntington's disease, and Rett syndrome. Supported by a five-year, $22.8M grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Lutz and collaborators at JAX, The Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center will ultimately seek to advance at least one lead candidate therapy through a successful investigational new drug (IND) application.

At JAX, Lutz will work closely with Associate Professor Steven Murray, Ph.D., who leads the preclinical mouse model core to develop, validate and optimize in vivo mouse models for each disease. Other collaborators have extensive experience and resources for producing virus-based gene-editing therapy delivery to tissues, possess deep expertise in preclinical evaluation of gene-editing therapeutics, and have successfully navigated the regulatory path to IND submission. Collectively they seek to close the gap between preclinical research that has produced promising rare disease therapy strategies and the actual clinical delivery of safe and effective treatments to patients. Successful completion of the project milestones has the potential to revolutionize treatment for at least one of the diseases and provide a way forward for the other three, as well as a wide range of other rare genetic diseases.

From biology to the clinic

The preclinical genome editing project is being launched at a time when FDA approval of therapies for a few rare diseases are in the headlines, but the path to such approvals remains frustratingly difficult most of the time.

"There are many obstacles to developing safe, effective treatments for rare diseases," says Lutz, "including small patient populations, high costs and regulatory barriers. Our goal is to remove or move past the obstacles, bring a highly promising new therapy strategy to the clinic, and directly benefit individuals with these diseases."

NINDS focuses on neurological diseases, of course, but the research supported by the Somatic Cell Gene Editing Program (SCGE) may have much larger implications across the rare disease community and the estimated 7,000-10,000 rare genetic diseases that affect patients worldwide.

"Genetic mutations can cause some of the most rare and devastating disorders of the nervous system and throughout the body," says Walter Koroshetz, M.D., director of NINDS and co-chair of SCGE.

"Thanks to large-scale efforts like the Somatic Cell Genome Editing Program, we are starting to bring tools into the clinic to edit out these gene mutations. While there are still challenges to overcome, the level of hope for effective treatments is high."

SOURCE The Jackson Laboratory
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the occasion of Sweden's national holiday, Trend reports.

"Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am happy to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and through you to all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Sweden.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health and happiness, and the friendly people of Sweden everlasting peace and prosperity," the letter said.
The RFOX VALT team has been working tirelessly towards this moment, and they are excited to be one of the first VR platforms ready for the release of the upcoming Apple VR headset. RFOX VALT's focus on virtual reality technology sets them apart from the competition, and the integration of AI technology ensures the platform stays ahead of the curve.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RFOX VALT, the leading virtual reality platform, is thrilled to announce its readiness to capitalize on the upcoming release of the Apple VR and AR headset. The RFOX VALT is built on the Unity game engine and designed with a focus on virtual reality technology, which positions it perfectly to take full advantage of the technological advancements that Apple is expected to bring to the market.

RFOX VALT In Key Position To Integrate Apple Products To Its VR First, AI Integrated Metaverse

As the release of the new Apple VR headset draws near, RFOX VALT has already taken significant steps towards preparing to offer users an unmatched virtual reality experience. The platform has already released an Apple-compatible version of RFOX VALT for iOS devices, which is currently available in Testflight. RFOX VALT's ability to move quickly underscores its dedication towards continuous improvement and innovation.

Furthermore, RFOX VALT has seamlessly integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into their platform, enabling users to customize their environments using voice prompts. Users can now create their avatars, choose customized playlists based on their preferences, share media across multiple platforms, and even launch web3 brandsall thanks to the innovative features added by the AI-integrated RFOX VALT. In addition to AI, RFOX VALT offers and end-to-end creator tool suite for launching web3 brands into the metaverse.

The RFOX VALT team has been working tirelessly towards this moment, and they are excited to be one of the first VR platforms ready for the release of the upcoming Apple VR headset. RFOX VALT's focus on virtual reality technology sets them apart from the competition, and the integration of AI technology ensures the platform stays ahead of the curve.

For more information about RFOX VALT, visit https://www.rfoxvalt.com/ or contact [email protected].

Press Contact:

Lenny Clifford

+639155500765

https://www.rfoxvalt.com/

SOURCE RFOX VALT
WALTHAM, Mass., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading pay equity experts, David Turetsky and Garry Straker of Salary.com will deliver a session "Avoiding the Unintended Consequences of Pay Transparency" at the 2023 SHRM Annual Conference and Expo in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 13 from 3:30-4:30pm. SHRM is marking its 75th anniversary conference taking place from June 11-June 14 with the theme: Drive Change.

As pay transparency legislation sweeps the nation, it has become one of the top priorities facing HR professionals today. In this session, Salary.com Vice Presidents of Compensation Consulting Straker and Turetsky will discuss the different types of pay transparency and their related outcomes, the impact of pay transparency on different categories of employees, and how to best prepare their organization for the successful adoption of pay transparency in all its forms.

Pay transparency legislation is sweeping the nation, becoming one of the top priorities facing HR professionals today. Tweet this

A platinum sponsor of the conference, Salary.com is also welcoming Expo attendees to Booth #4021 to price jobs on the spot and learn how Salary.com solutions are helping organizations achieve pay equity. All booth visitors who demo a Salary.com product will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card and a chance to win 1 of 3 gift baskets, with items from Apple, Bose, Delta and more.

As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. With nearly 325,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 235 million workers and families globally.

About Salary.com

Salary.com has been solving the complex human capital needs of global organizations for more than 20 years. Today, Salary.com's 30,000 organizations in 22 countries use our solutions to confidently hire and retain talent so they can better compete in a constantly changing landscape. Offering the most precise data set on the market, Salary.com provides more than 10 billion data points across more than 225 industries using a powerful, proprietary AI framework. The company's flagship product CompAnalyst is the cornerstone of the compensation management software platform. It empowers organizations with a suite of tools that simplifies hiring, eliminates compensation guesswork, and increases retention. Employee trust depends on fair pay and Salary.com's solutions get pay right. For more information, please visit www.salary.com/business.

Contact:

Julie Murphy

[email protected]

SOURCE Salary.com, Inc.
- Marking the first phase of the company's second Bio Campus, Plant 5 is expected to have shortest construction timeline

- Samsung Biologics will maintain the world's largest biomanufacturing capacity at 784,000 liters upon completion of the newest plant

- Key features of Plant 5 include seamless process integration and optimization, advanced automation and sustainable systems

INCHEON, South Korea, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- While attending the 2023 BIO International Convention, Samsung Biologics (KRX:207940.KS), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), revealed details of the company's future expansion plan to have its new fifth plant operational by April 2025. Recently on June 1, the company fully completed its latest and the world's largest biomanufacturing plant, Plant 4. The move reinforces Samsung Biologics' unmatched speed and commitment to providing partners with high-quality services and products in response to the surging demand for biologics.

As the first facility of Samsung Biologics' second Bio Campus at its headquarters in Songdo, South Korea, Plant 5 is expected to have the shortest construction timeline, made possible by the company's standardized design, accumulated operational excellence, and proven expertise acquired through the construction of its existing four plants. The new plant will add a capacity of 180,000 liters, and upon its completion, Samsung Biologics will maintain the world's largest biomanufacturing capacity at 784,000 liters.

"Over a decade ago, we committed to bringing innovative solutions to our partners, and we've successfully delivered on that commitment with each new plant. Now building on this foundation, Plant 5 will leverage our unparalleled experience and expertise to deliver long-term success for our clients," said John Rim, President and CEO of Samsung Biologics. "By expediting our capacity expansion and providing fully integrated services, we hope to close the gap between the demand and supply of life-saving biomedicines."

Dubbed the Dream Plant for its flexibility and ability to meet clients' goals, Plant 5's key features also include seamless process integration and optimization as well as advanced automation to consistently deliver high productivity and quality throughout its operations. The new plant will also incorporate sustainable systems to support the company's commitment in achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or earlier.

Plant 5 ultimately marks the first phase of Samsung Biologics' second Bio Campus. In July 2022, the company purchased 357,360m2 of land for the expansion, which will feature an Open Innovation Center for biotech incubation and four plants for a total capacity of 720,000 liters.

All facilities will be connected to maximize output and efficiency with automated logistics and will incorporate next-generation technologies with fully digitalized systems to offer seamless client communication. Upon the completion of Bio Campus II, Samsung Biologics will hold a total capacity of 1.324 million liters.

"This strategic investment allows us to support our clients across the entire product lifecycle," said Rim. "Through innovation and sustainability, Bio Campus II will add unbeatable value to our existing services and offer expanded capacity in record time to enable their success."

About Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS) is a fully integrated, end-to-end CDMO service provider offering seamless development and manufacturing solutions from cell line development to final aseptic fill/finish as well as laboratory testing services at every stage for biopharmaceutical products. Our facilities are all cGMP compliant with bioreactors ranging from small to large scales to serve varying client needs. To maximize our operational efficiency and expand our capabilities in response to growing biomanufacturing demands, Samsung Biologics launched Plant 4, which will further advance the company's standing as the world's largest manufacturing facility at a single siteholding a 604KL total capacityand announced plans to construct Plant 5, which will be operational in 2025. Additionally, Samsung Biologics America enables the company to work in closer proximity to clients based in the U.S. and Europe. We continue to upgrade our capabilities to accommodate our clients by investing in technologies such as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) facility, a dedicated mRNA manufacturing facility, and additional aseptic filling capacity. As a sustainable CDMO partner of choice, we are committed to on-time, in-full delivery of the products we manufacture with our flexible manufacturing solutions, operational excellence, and proven expertise.

Samsung Biologics Contact

Claire Kim, Head of Marketing and Global Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Samsung Biologics
North America's Leading Blow Dry Bar Franchise Expands South of Boston to Further Extend East Coast Footprint

BOSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and blow dry bar franchise, has announced a signed franchise agreement that will bring two new locations to the South Shore. The first bar will be in Hanover Crossing with the opening slated for Q4 of 2023, and site selection is currently underway for the second bar which is projected to open in Q2 of 2024.

Behind this multi-unit agreement is a native of the South Shore, Molly O'Connor. A serial entrepreneur, O'Connor founded her own business in 2014 that provides mobile locker trucks for large scale events such as concerts and festivals. Since then, she has grown the company from statewide to nationwide service. O'Connor specializes in business development, client relations, logistics, team management, and customer experience, but also has a background in business marketing.

After expanding her business across the country and ready for her next endeavor, she decided to try the franchise business model as it comes with the resources and playbook that she lacked when opening her first business.

"With a solid operations team behind my mobile locker business, I feel confident in starting something new and growing it to be just as successful," said O'Connor. "After identifying the need for blow out services south of Boston, I contacted Blo Blow Dry Bar and have felt supported with a turn-key business model every step of the way."

Born and raised in the South Shore area, O'Connor looks forward to bringing this strong and uplifting brand to her community, especially with knowing young professionals, established business women, high schoolers and beyond are in need of this service.

"As a rapidly-growing, industry-leading brand, we look for franchise partners like Molly who have an entrepreneurial mindset, a strong belief in our mission, and a drive to better their community," said Vanessa Yakobson, CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar. "Boston is a prime target of growth and an opportunity to provide more people with confidence through catwalk-quality blow outs."

Blo Blow Dry Bar is currently seeking single- and multi- unit operators to join the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities visit https://franchise.blomedry.com/.

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 140 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

Media Contact: Taylor Nortman, Fishman Public Relations, 847.945.1300, [email protected]

SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
HARTFORD, Conn., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Connecticut House of Representatives approved a $51.1 billion biennial budget, which now heads to the Senate, which is also expected to approve the budget before the session adjourns at midnight Wednesday.

The package includes $16 million for the upcoming school year to provide grants to schools to feed kids who fall between 185%-200% of the federal poverty level  which the state currently has no mechanism for measuring. For comparison, this year's school meals budget was $90 million and could accommodate all children, no matter household income.

Additionally, the language in the budget includes new administrative requirements, including requiring families to apply for this support which will require a new application for a one-year program.

For the same cost, the budget could have paid for universal school breakfast so that all kids would get a chance to eat one meal at school, no matter their family income. Instead, state government will be required to fund something entirely new that no person or organization advocated for over a series of months of hearings in the legislature.

"From my point of view, the Connecticut legislature and Governor have abandoned hungry kids," said Bradley Tusk, the Founder of Tusk Philanthropies' Solving Hunger. "Speaker Matt Ritter, Leader Martin Looney, and Governor Ned Lamont would rather declare victory about tax cuts, a giant surplus, a hefty rainy day fund, and 'guardrails' against spending, rather than make sure that kids have enough food."

"It's unfathomable that the $90 million school meal budget this year, a fraction of 1% of the state's budget, will be followed up next school year with a meager $16 million to invent a new, wholly insufficient program that will be nearly impossible to implement effectively and may actually be designed to fail," continued Tusk. "They would rather have kids continue to hide in shame and go hungry because they can't pay for school meals. This is a blatant departure from what Connecticut families have grown to appreciate and value in the state: A supportive and welcoming school environment where every kid has a full belly and a chance to learn."

"We applaud all of the food service workers, passionate kid advocates, and the energetic efforts of the strong coalition that pushed lawmakers to recognize the deprivation in one of the richest states in America. Instead, leaders have responded by serving up empty trays. Connecticut leaders can take a victory lap if they want, but this allocation in the budget, and the new red tape around it, is an abomination. Kids don't have much power or influence  their leaders know it, and they should be ashamed."

About Solving Hunger

Solving Hunger runs coordinated anti-hunger campaigns in cities and states to pass legislation that expands nutrition programs. For this upcoming year, Solving Hunger will provide resources and funding to four organizations focused solely on enacting political and policy changes to bring healthy school meals for all (also known as Universal Free Meals) to their communities.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Tusk Philanthropies
TORONTO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - SQI Diagnostics Inc. ("SQI" or the "Company") (TSXV: SQD) (OTCQB: SQIDF), a leader in the science of lung health that develops and manufactures respiratory health and precision medicine tests today announced that the Company's board of directors (the "Board") has issued layoff notices to each of Andrew Morris, the Company's Chief Executive, and Eric Brouwer, the Company's Chief Scientific Officer, in an effort to further reduce the Company's expenses. Messrs. Morris and Brouwer have advised the Board that they will resign from their positions as directors of the Company effective June 5th, 2023, but will continue to advise the Board over the next several weeks on an as required basis. SQI has provided similar notices to its staff to reduce its number of employees from approximately 20 full-time employees to 2 full-time employees. Morlan Reddock, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, will continue to be employed by the Company during this transition period as the Board looks to monetize the Company's existing intellectual property and equipment while continuing to seek potential sources of new financing. Additional details regarding the Company's future direction and strategy will be announced in due course.

The Board would like to thank Messrs. Morris and Brouwer for their years of service to the Board and looks forward to their continued support during the Company's transition period.

Liquidity and Going Concern Risk

As previously disclosed, there is significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as the Company has a working capital deficit of $9,9M as at March 31, 2023 and for the three month period ended March 31, 2022 the Company incurred a net loss of $3.5M, which included impairment charges and asset write-downs totalling approximately $1.8M to reflect corporate restructuring including discontinued operations. The Company's ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company's ability to raise additional capital through equity and/or debt financings and achieve profitable operations. While the Company continues to pursue commercial sales, strategic partnering activities and funding opportunities, there are no assurances that it will be successful in generating revenues or raising additional investment capital to generate sufficient cash flows to continue as a going concern and there is significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern without achieving such revenue or financing in the near term. Should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern, it may be unable to realize the carrying value of its assets and to meet its liabilities as they become due.

As of the date hereof, the Company has not received any viable term sheets from potential sources of financing and management does not currently believe that the Company will have sufficient cash to continue operations as currently conducted beyond June 15, 2023 without successfully raising additional equity and/or debt capital. Failure to obtain sufficient capital by such date may result in the Company ceasing its operations and/or completing a filing under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency or restructuring legislation. The Company will announce additional details relating to any new financing or financings, if any, in due course in the event that it is successful in negotiating and entering into definitive documentation relating to same. Please see the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the six months ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and related Management Discussion & Analysis filed on SEDAR on May 30, 2023 for additional details regarding the Company's current cash position and risks relating thereto.

About SQI Diagnostics

SQI Diagnostics is a leader in the science of lung health. The Company develops and manufactures respiratory health and precision medicine tests that run on SQI's fully automated systems. The Company's tests simplify and improve Rapid Acute Lung Injury testing, donor organ transplant informatics, and immunological protein and antibody testing. SQI Diagnostics is driven to create and market life-saving testing technologies that help more people in more places live longer, healthier lives. For more information, please visit www.sqidiagnostics.com.

Contact:

Chief Financial Officer

Morlan Reddock

437-235-6563

[email protected]

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains certain words and statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to future events or future performance and reflect the current expectations and assumptions of the Company regarding its growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities. These statements generally can be identified by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "intends", "believe", "potential", or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The Company's actual results and performance discussed herein could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, the effect of the global pandemic and consequent economic disruption, and the factors detailed in the Company's ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained herein are based on what we consider to be reasonable assumptions based on information currently available to us, there can be no assurance that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward looking statements, and our assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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.

SOURCE SQI Diagnostics Inc.
SAN DIEGO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- STEM Next Opportunity Fund continues their mission to expand exceptional STEM learning opportunities outside the classroom for all children everywhere by announcing its partnership with National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on ensuring all kids in America have access to summer learning opportunities, regardless of background, income or zip code.

STEM Next Announces Partnership with National Summer Learning Association

STEM Next will sponsor four students from their Million Girls Moonshot's Flight Crew to attend NSLA's National Youth Leadership Institute in Washington, DC, the leadership training program for student and staff leaders from around the country. All participants are provided transportation to and from DC, meals, and housing at the beautiful and historic American University.

The Flight Crew features remarkable youth from across the country who act as youth ambassadors to inspire a future where every young person can imagine themselves as a future engineer, builder or inventor. Motivated by their impactful STEM experiences in afterschool and summer, these young leaders are working to break down stereotypes and spark their peers' curiosity in STEM. The Flight Crew is the youth ambassador program of the Million Girls Moonshot, an initiative to engage one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs by 2025.

STEM Next will also support National Summer Learning Week, NSLA's celebration dedicated to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer, and to help ensure they return to school ready to succeed. STEM Next will share resources and engage with NSLA's network as a premier STEM provider in the week-long celebration.

"NSLA is honored to partner with STEM Next," said Aaron Philip Dworkin, CEO of National Summer Learning Association. "They are amazing national leaders promoting STEM education for all kids and especially young women, and summer learning programs provide a great opportunity to introduce STEM skills and careers. We look forward to sharing their resources with our network and engaging their student leaders in our 2023 National Summer Learning Week and our Youth Leadership Institute in Washington, DC."

"Summer is such a critical time for young people to experiment, discover and excite their curiosity," said Ron Ottinger, executive director of STEM Next. "Research shows that it is an important place for kids to engage with and stay inspired by STEM. We are proud to partner with NSLA with such an extensive influence in national summer programming. We hope that our support of more STEM learning in the summer will have a massive impact for millions of kids, nationwide."

About STEM Next:

STEM Next Opportunity Fund - STEM Next is playing a critical role in expanding exceptional STEM learning opportunities outside the classroom for ALL children everywhere. In September 2020, STEM Next launched The Million Girls Moonshot , which seeks to re-imagine who can engineer, who can build, who can make. It will inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next 5 years. It is joined by over 50 partners that have quickly turned Moonshot into a powerful movement for STEM equity.

Twitter: @STEMNext , @girlsmoonshot ; Instagram: @girlsmoonshot

About the National Summer Learning Association:

Celebrating 30 years of impact, NSLA has worked to combat summer learning loss and close the opportunity gap which research shows grows most dramatically between lower and higher income students over the summer months. NSLA works to ensure all of America's students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from a high-quality summer learning experience every year. Learn more at summerlearning.org.

Media Contact: Morgan Livingston, [email protected]

SOURCE STEM Next
The company's AI integration allows brands to find the "needle in the haystack" of creators who post relevant content for a brand's ideal audience

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ever-expanding world of influencer content, Studio71 is leveraging the power of AI to help brands precisely target the most effective creators to support their campaigns.

Studio71 leverages AI to optimize how brands target audiences to find the needle in the haystack of creators who post relevant content for a brands ideal audience.

Studio71 has integrated Large Language Model (LLM) technology into its vast database of nearly 100,000 creators, which includes real-time analytics on millions of hours of content. Now, when Studio71 engages with brands, it can efficiently dive into its network of creators to identify those who have recently posted content that aligns with a given brand's messaging and can deliver the most effective results.

"With the rapid advances of AI, we are able to help brands target creator audiences with an incredible level of precision," said Co-CEO Adam Boorstin. "By combining our audience data with historical and predictive analytics, we can connect brands to creators that posted relevant content just a few hours ago."

For example, if a brand comes to Studio71 looking to highlight a new line of Vegan snacks, Studio71's database can now immediately identify a list of creators who have recently posted about their health-conscious lifestyle. Studio71 can then provide brands with lists of relevant creators and precise guidance on how brand campaigns are expected to perform.

"We categorize and index creators and their content using a vast list of data points. By integrating this current generation of AI, we are able to maximize our ability to search through this dataset and estimate results," says Mike Flynn, Chief Technology Officer at Studio71. "It is incredibly exciting to witness this new technology being applied to the influencer space and to see immediate, successful performance."

On the flip side, Studio71's channel strategy team uses this technology to help creators effectively tag videos and optimize thumbnails to amplify how their content is discovered by audiences and brands looking for relevant content. Because video discovery is greatly impacted by the quality of video metadata, it's vital to have tools that can optimize this metadata in real-time from signals derived from Studio71's real-time creator database.

About Studio71

Studio71 is a global media company that produces and distributes premium, brand-safe content across all video platforms. The Studio71 content division produces thousands of original videos for Studio71s owned and operated channels, podcasts, and apps and publishes over 1,800 partnered creator channels that generate over 13 billion monthly views across YouTube,

Connected TVs, and social media platforms. The Studio71 sales division connects advertisers with Studio71s top digital creators for targeted media campaigns and custom-branded content. Studio71 is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Berlin, New York, Toronto, and London.

SOURCE Studio71
Master franchise agreement will result in nearly 4,000 new restaurant openings across Mainland China in the next 20 years

MIAMI, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Subway, one of the world's largest restaurant brands, has entered into a new master franchise agreement with Shanghai Fu-Rui-Shi Corporate Development Co., Ltd. (FRS), to significantly expand its presence in Mainland China. The agreement  funded by a consortium of private investors, including Asia Investment Capital (AIC)  is the largest master franchise agreement in Subway history and one of the largest across the entire QSR industry.

Subway Announces Largest Master Franchise Agreement in Brand History to Expand Presence in Mainland China

Under the new partnership, FRS will open nearly 4,000 restaurants in Mainland China over the next 20 years, growing Subway's current footprint in the market by more than seven times. The group will also acquire the exclusive rights to manage and develop all Subway locations in Mainland China.

The consortium of investors, joining the Subway family as FRS, bring decades of experience managing large global QSR chains across Asia. In addition, the group will appoint a chief executive officer with significant QSR experience in the Chinese market.

"This agreement is a significant milestone in Subway's international growth strategy as we continue to focus on strategically expanding our footprint and maintaining our position as one of the world's largest restaurant brands," said John Chidsey, Subway Global Chief Executive Officer. "China is a key market with significant long-term growth opportunity, and we look forward to bringing the Subway experience to even more guests in the region."

Across Mainland China, since coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Subway restaurants have experienced positive sales momentum, driven by a strong digital strategy  including third-party delivery and key partnerships with digital platforms  as well as the introduction of new menu items. The new master franchise agreement will further accelerate enhancements to the guest experience, elevating Subway's presence in the market and creating value for guests in Mainland China.

As part of the brand's multi-year transformation journey and focus on international expansion, the agreement marks Subway's 13th master franchise and development agreement in the past two years, resulting in more than 9,000 future restaurant commitments around the world.

In Asia Pacific, Subway continues to seek strong partners with expertise in local markets as it aggressively doubles its current network of restaurants in the region from approximately 3,500 restaurants to more than 6,000 restaurants over the next five years.

About Subway Restaurants

As one of the world's largest quick service restaurant brands, Subway serves freshly made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls to millions of guests, across more than 100 countries and territories in nearly 37,000 restaurants every day. Subway restaurants are owned and operated by Subway franchisees  a network that includes thousands of dedicated entrepreneurs and small business owners  who are committed to delivering the best guest experience possible in their local communities.

For more Subway News visit: Newsroom (subway.com)

Subway is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP LLC.  2023 Subway IP LLC

SOURCE Subway Restaurants
MELBOURNE, Australia, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today advises that Dr Christian Behrenbruch, Managing Director and Group CEO, will be presenting at the Jefferies Healthcare Conference being held in New York from June 7 to June 9, 2023.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday June 7 from 12.30pm  12.55pm EDT (2.30am  2.55am AEST, June 8).

A live webcast of the presentation will be available at the following link: https://wsw.com/webcast/jeff281/tlx/1727440

The webcast will be accessible on demand on the Telix website following the event.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX).

Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn.

Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),[1] and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),[2] and by Health Canada.[3] Telix is also progressing marketing authorisation applications for this investigational candidate in the United Kingdom and the European Union.[4]

Telix Investor Relations

Ms. Kyahn Williamson

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Email: [email protected]

Legal Notices

This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Telix does not undertake to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. Readers should read this announcement together with our material risks, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX and on our website.

2023 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates (all rights reserved).

[1] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021.

[2] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021.

[3] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022.

[4] Telix ASX disclosure 3 April 2023.

SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and other officials in Armenia in their statements continue to speculate on the issue of the rights of the Armenian residents of the Karabakh district of Azerbaijan, demonstrating the aggressive and hypocritical policy of their country, Trend reports.

This is reflected in the statement of the Western Azerbaijan Community.

The statement recalls that the Armenian government expelled hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and systematically destroyed their cultural heritage. The Armenian Government does not respond to the calls of the Western Azerbaijan Community, which is the legal representative of these people, to start a dialogue on ensuring the rights to their return.

Armenia, under the pretext of "protecting the rights" of the Armenian residents of the Karabakh district of Azerbaijan, demonstrates an approach that contradicts the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and violates the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

Armenian officials continue to voice the delusional idea of creating some kind of "international mechanism" in relation to the Armenian residents of Karabakh. All this testifies to the destructive policy of Armenia.

The Western Azerbaijan Community demands that the Armenian government abandon the policy contrary to international law and human rights and provide conditions for the safe and dignified return of the exiled Azerbaijanis to their homes within the framework of international law.
11th Urgent Care Clinic Serving Children in the Houston Area

HOUSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital is proud to announce the opening of Texas Children's Urgent Care in Sugar Land, expanding its health care offerings to families in the Houston area. Through this opening, patients and their families will have greater access to the vast network of comprehensive services offered by Texas Children's  ranked No. 2 among the best children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

"Sugar Land has long been an area of focus for us, and we are thrilled to serve more families in this area," said Dan Gollins, President of Texas Children's Pediatrics and Texas Children's Urgent Care. "Opening a new urgent care in Sugar Land will truly help fill a void in treatment for children and their families on nights and weekends bringing pediatric urgent care experts to the local community."

Along with Texas Children's Pediatrics, Texas Children's Urgent Care puts board-certified pediatricians within reach. Together, it comprises the largest pediatric clinic network in the nation, offering high quality and affordable care in convenient community locations.

"Our clinic is conveniently located in your neighborhood and available evenings and weekends to respond to the growing need for pediatric urgent care after hours," said Dr. Terry Yen, Medical Director of Texas Children's Urgent Care.

Staffed by Texas Children's pediatricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses who specialize in pediatric care, Texas Children's Urgent Care is designed to meet the needs of children and young adults through the age of 18  to offer compassionate and high-quality care at all times, including evenings and weekends. From little pains and upset stomachs to infections and flu, Texas Children's Urgent Care is opening in Sugar Land to treat conditions that cannot wait.

Common pediatric conditions treated:

Flu/COVID-19 Test

Allergic reaction

Asthma

Cough, cold or congestion

Ear pain

Fever in infants older than 8 weeks

Minor burn

Minor injury

Pink eye

Rash

Simple laceration

Skin infection

Sore throat

Sprain and strain

Urinary tract infection

Vomiting and diarrhea

Common procedures performed:

Antibiotic injections

Breathing treatments

Fracture care and splinting

IV fluids

Laceration repair (stitches, staples and skin glue)

Sports physicals ( Houston locations only)

locations only) Urine catheterization

Wound care

X-rays on site

Save My Spot

To minimize wait times, families in Sugar Land must reserve spots online before coming to the new location, a tool available at all Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics. Virtual waiting rooms help staff monitor the number of patients expected and improve outcomes by managing wait times. Virtual visits are also available from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

The new Texas Children's Urgent Care is conveniently located at:

Texas Children's Urgent Care  Sugar Land

4734 LJ Pkwy, Unit 310

Sugar Land, TX 77479

For more information about Texas Children's Urgent Care, please visit https://www.texaschildrensurgentcare.org/.

About Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital, a nonprofit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston. The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO for children; has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country, Texas Children's Pediatrics; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Lawyer names the $230,331,884.46 Sutherland Springs mass shooting verdict won by National Trial Law in its "Top Verdicts & Settlements of Texas 2022" list.

AUSTIN, Texas, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Lawyer has announced its "Top Verdicts & Settlements of Texas 2022" list. National Trial Law is proud to announce that it has been included in this selection for the $230,331,884.46 Sutherland Springs shooting verdict won by the law firm's trial team. The verdict was issued in February 2022 for Holcombe v. United States in favor of the families and victims of the Sutherland Springs mass shooting that tragically ended 27 lives and wounded 22 others who were in church when gunman Devin Kelley attacked.

The trial team argued that the United States Air Force should be held liable for the harm and losses caused by the gunman because it negligently failed to enter a domestic violence conviction against the gunman into the FBI's background check database. If the gunman's criminal history had been reported as required by federal law, then the gunman would not have been able to obtain the firearms that he used to commit the mass shooting.

National Trial Law brought a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit against the United States Air Force for its failure to properly report the gunman's criminal history, which enabled Kelley to obtain the firearms. The judge agreed with National Trial Law and found the United States Air Force 60% liable for the physical injuries, wrongful deaths, emotional trauma, and financial losses caused by the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs. Judge Rodriguez awarded $230,331,884.46 to the plaintiffs.

Upon review of all verdicts and settlements won for plaintiffs in Texas throughout 2022, Texas Lawyer determined the Sutherland Springs federal trial verdict was among the largest.

For more information about the Sutherland Springs shooting lawsuit, readers can visit the official National Trial Law website: https://www.nationaltriallaw.com/sutherland-springs-shooting-lawsuit/. Additional information about Texas Lawyer can be found by visiting: https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/.

Media Contact: Jamal Alsaffar

[email protected]

SOURCE National Trial Law
Over 500 LGBTQIAN+ joining a Parade of Rainbow Flagssymbolizing equality to reflect Central World as a space that embraces diversity that accepts all differences and promotes equality.

BANGKOK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate Pride Month: experience the magic of colourful Pride festivals here in Thailand, supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIAN+ community. Join the Spectacular Pride parade at Central World shopping center  one of a leader of the celebration of the Pride festival in Thailand, JVs with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, partners from government and private sectors led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Galderma Thailand, Muse by Metinee, Bangkok PRIDE and Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co., Ltd. to roll out the great celebration of THAILAND'S PRIDE CELEBRATION 2023  'PRIDE FOR ALL'

Thailand celebrates sensational rainbow phenomenon with "Pride for All" campaign at Central World, putting forward the country to be a world pride destination in 2028 Thailand celebrates sensational rainbow phenomenon with "Pride for All" campaign at Central World, putting forward the country to be a world pride destination in 2028

PRIDE HAPPENING  the rainbow phenomenon throughout June.

The Biggest Pride Parade  waving rainbow flags in eight branches nationwide led by 'Proud to be Pride' at Central World with the show 'Fly High In The Sky for Pride' and Fashion Parade that gathers over 500+ models together with the 'This is my look' Parade from Galderma (Thailand) to express self-expression with confidence and charm. Followed by the sensational 'Pride Concert' by Thailand's leading artists.

Echoing voices of diversity and equality with the Bangkok Pride 2023 parade, which Central World co-hosted with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in addition to Naruemit Pride. The parade are moved from the Pathumwan intersection to the Ratchaprasong intersection at Central World, waving the beautiful and spectacular 144.8-meter rainbow flag with hundreds of thousands of people joining the grand procession. Enjoy special shows, mini concerts and celebrations of gender diversity attended by provincial governors ambassadors, government agencies and representatives from the LGBTQIAN+ community.

Pride Talk with UNDP, listen to discussions from key persons in the LGBTQIAN+ community at centralwOrld, Central Pattaya, Phuket, Udonthani, Khon Kaen, Chiangmai and Chonburi. Enjoy Pride Competitions of Miss International Queen with national costumes at centralwOrld. Pride Vibe  experience an art installation from artist: 'Teayii' Prapatsorn with her work: 'Seat a Pride' throughout two full months at centralwOrld (June-July 2023) and at Central Chonburi under the art concept of 'Mirror Mirror: Reflect Yourself'.

SOURCE CENTRAL PATTANA
PITTSBURGH, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $1 Million Grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The grant, which was recently approved, will help TALI to continue moving forward its mission to prepare Black leaders for executive advancement. While TALI recently announced its national expansion plans, the new funds will support TALI's operations in the Pittsburgh region.

According to Evan Frazier, President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute, "It has always been our vision to create a sustainable model that addresses an important need to promote Black leadership diversity. This tremendous contribution comes at a pivotal time and will help to anchor our work in the Pittsburgh region." Frazier also added, "We are truly grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for this grant and their strategic investments in TALI at critical times over the years."

The Foundation continues to demonstrate their support and confidence in the work done at the Institute. In 2018, the Foundation provided TALI with a $100,000 grant to pilot its flagship program, The Executive Leadership Academy. In 2020, it bolstered its support with a $1 Million Grant and now it is doing it again with another $1 Million to support TALI's operations in the Pittsburgh region. This ongoing support has helped TALI continue to grow as it works to advance the presence of Black professionals in executive leadership roles.

"Supporting diverse leadership has been an ongoing focus for us," said Richard King Mellon Foundation Director Sam Reiman. "That's why we seeded TALI with its first six-figure grant in 2018 and a $1 Million Grant in 2020. And now, we are making another large grant of $1 million, in hopes that TALI can continue to build on and generate even greater private-sector enthusiasm for the critical work they are doing in Pittsburgh. TALI has enjoyed noteworthy support already, from corporate leaders such as BNY Mellon, Highmark, PNC and UPMC. But even more private-sector partners are essential for the Institute to achieve its full potential."

The Advanced Leadership Institute operates three leadership programs delivered in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, including:

The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA)  Its flagship program targeting the Pittsburgh region; ELA is a seven-month, world-class executive education program that prepares Black senior-level managers for executive advancement.

region; ELA is a seven-month, world-class executive education program that prepares Black senior-level managers for executive advancement. The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)  ELP prepares Black professionals to transition from an early manager or individual contributor to broader leadership roles.

The new National Executive Leadership Academy  Modeled after Pittsburgh's ELA program, this national program is for Black executives and mid-level managers from across the country who have higher level career aspirations.

For more information about each program, visit taliinstitute.org.

About The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)

The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities.

The Advanced Leadership Institute is supported by major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Highmark Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Excellence Partners: Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Highmark; Lead Contributors: BNY Mellon, Eden Hall Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. Presenting Sponsors: FHLBank Pittsburgh, Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC. Gold Sponsors: American Eagle Outfitters, Bank of America, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, The Buhl Foundation, CNX, Covestro, Duquesne Light Company, Dollar Bank, Erie Insurance, Koppers, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Pittsburgh Penguins, PPG, and Wabtec Corporation; Silver Sponsors: Highmark Wholecare, Northwestern Mutual, and Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition; and Bronze Sponsors, which can be found on TALI's website.

To learn more about The Advanced Leadership Institute, visit www.taliinstitute.org

About the Richard King Mellon Foundation

Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation's 2021 year-end net assets were $3.4 billion, and its Trustees in 2022 disbursed more than $152 million in grants and program-related investments. The Foundation focuses its funding on six primary program areas, delineated in its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.

SOURCE The Advanced Leadership Institute
Local philanthropy covers 100% of adoption fees for animals who have been in the shelter for over six months

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Brady Hunter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) founded by philanthropists and animal lovers to end animal cruelty and build sanctuaries globally to protect wildlife, proudly joins forces with the Humane Society of Greater Miami to support an upcoming Clear the Shelter event. The event is from June 23 - June 25, 12pm - 7pm ET, at 16101 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach.

Clear the Shelter serves as a key platform for raising awareness about the countless animals in need of forever homes. For the event, The Brady Hunter Foundation has generously donated over $29,000 to the Humane Society of Greater Miami to cover all the adoption fees for individuals who adopt a pet that has been in the shelter for six months or more.

"It is overwhelming to know how many animals are in need of a home, and we are honored to be in partnership with The Humane Society of Greater Miami in order to support this important initiative," said Josh Fox, President and Founder of The Brady Hunter Foundation. "We encourage everyone to come out and join us in helping these animals find their forever homes, where they can live a happy life as they deserve. The Brady Hunter Foundation's core mission is to support animal rights, and providing shelter is one of their most fundamental rights. That is why this event holds such immense importance for us."

The Humane Society of Greater Miami has been hosting the Clear the Shelter event for several years, demonstrating their commitment to placing animals in their shelter into loving homes. As a limited-admission adoption guarantee facility, they ensure that no animal admitted to their shelter is at risk of euthanasia due to time, space, or treatable medical issues.

This joint effort between The Humane Society of Greater Miami and The Brady Hunter Foundation aims to provide a lifeline to the countless animals longing for a second chance at happiness. By removing the financial barrier through the generous donation to cover adoption fees, The Brady Hunter Foundation hopes to inspire individuals to open their hearts and homes to these deserving pets.

To learn more visit www.humanesocietymiami.org

About Brady Hunter Foundation

The Brady Hunter Foundation is a 501(c)(3) founded by philanthropists and animal lovers to end animal cruelty and build sanctuaries globally to protect wildlife.

About The Humane Society of Greater Miami

The Humane Society of Greater Miami is a limited admit, adoption guarantee facility dedicated to placing every dog and cat in our care into a loving home, and to promoting responsible pet ownership and spay/neuter programs. Adoption guarantee means that every animal that is admitted to our shelter is free from the threat of euthanasia due to time, space, or treatable medical issues. We provide shelter, food, veterinary care, and plenty of TLC while the dogs and cats wait for their permanent home, no matter how long it takes. We have been helping homeless animals in Miami-Dade County since 1936. We offer programs and services to educate, inform, and inspire people to take responsible care of their pets and treat animals with the kindness they deserve. With the support of people from across the county, we are helping to create a better community for all. We are a private, not-for-profit, 501 (c) (3) charitable animal welfare organization supported by our programs and services, as well as donations, private grants and fundraising events.

Contact:

Alexa Chavarria

[email protected]

SOURCE The Brady Hunter Foundation
TAMPA, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Craig Myatt is acknowledged as a Distinguished Professional for his contributions to the Military and Higher Education Fields.

Dr. Myatt began his academic journey at earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Pomona College in 1984 and a Master of Arts degree in Research Psychology from the San Francisco State University in 1987. He then attended Walden University in 2007 where he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Psychology after completing his doctoral dissertation research as a pre-doctoral fellow in the Department of Neuro-Oncology Division of Medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

With more than 25 years in the field of Higher Education, the doctor currently works for the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology. Also, a leader in the military, he is a 05 Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), and considered an expert in health psychology, executive leadership, and organizational growth.

Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Myatt enjoys walking, outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. He supports church, local, and community organizations and notes that his mentors are Dr. Charles B. Wilson; Dr. James T. Rucka; Dr. Christina Meyers; Dr. Raymond Sawaya; Dr. Paul Fedio; Colonel Doreen Hurt; General Scott Dingle; Admiral Eric T. Olson; and Dr. Warner Farr.

Dr. Myatt would like to dedicate this honor to his family; his dear wife, Christine and their children Monique, Maria, and Craig; and grandsons, Ethan and Ian. He would also like to dedicate this honor in loving memory of his dear parents, Evelyne H. Myatt, and Hon. (Retired) Gordon J. Myatt, Sr.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Paley Center for Media is proud to announce receipt of a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, in support of its Teen Transmitters Summer Internship for high school students. The Paley Center's high school internship program is among 1,130 projects across the country, totaling more than $31 million, that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2023 funding.

"We could not be more thrilled to receive this grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, representative of critical funding that will enable us to continue to provide best-in-class internship opportunities for the future leaders of tomorrow," said Maureen J. Reidy, President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. "Through our Teen Transmitters Summer Internship, we hope to inspire the next generation of media professionals and help ensure that the industry is as diverse, inclusive, and reflective as the communities it serves."

The Paley Center's highly successful Teen Transmitters program is a prestigious summer paid internship for rising juniors and seniors enrolled in NYC public high schools. This competitive program serves a diverse group of students who have demonstrated interest in media, storytelling, and journalism. Teen Transmitters builds students' media literacy and digital learning skills; creates a foundation for the creative, analytical, and technical skills needed to produce media; and introduces participants to a breadth of careers in media. For their culminating project, the students produce an original podcast.

"The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to support a wide range of projects, including The Paley Center for Media's Teen Transmitters program, demonstrating the many ways the arts enrich our lives and contribute to healthy and thriving communities," said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. "These organizations play an important role in advancing the creative vitality of our nation and helping to ensure that all people can benefit from arts, culture, and design."

For more information about The Paley Center for Media and the Teen Transmitters program, visit www.paleycenter.org.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit www.arts.gov/news.

About The Paley Center for Media

The Paley Center for Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly made its home in NYC for over 45 years and operates the iconic Paley Museum. Through its respected programming, the Paley Center leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of media, drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the media community. The general public can participate in Paley programs in both New York and Los Angeles that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the talent, and the leaders who are shaping media. The public can also access the Paley Center's permanent media collection, The Paley Archive, often referred to as a national treasure, containing over 160,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information about The Paley Center for Media, and to learn about the Paley Center's acclaimed programming, please visit paleycenter.org .

SOURCE The Paley Center for Media
Awarding of Funding Comes Following an Open Process That Draws Hundreds of Innovative and Forward-Thinking Applications From Research Teams From Around the Globe

Recipients Include Studies Ranging From Effects of Psychedelics, Breathwork, Mindfulness, Heated Yoga, Mindfulness Interventions for Treating Chronic Pain, and Reducing Bias by Building Relationships Among Police and Black Community Members

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven major neuroscientific research projects related to " The Science of Perception Box " are being funded by the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, each project receiving three consecutive years of funding for up to $900,000. The projects include a wide-range of empirical investigations studying the effects of psychedelics, breathwork, mindfulness, heated yoga, mindfulness interventions for treating chronic pain and, in a very relevant study for our current times, reducing bias by building compassionate relationships among police and Black community members. The studies, which will be conducted by researchers from many corners of the world including the United States, Israel, Germany, Austria, and Taiwan, were selected from more than two hundred applications during an open call for proposals which kicked off in October 2022. The final decision was made in a lengthy, double blind review process: judges did not know the identity of the applicants and applicants did not know the identity of the judges. Details and scope of the projects as well as the researchers were announced by Elizabeth R. Koch, the Co-Founder of Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, and Christof Koch, the Chief Scientist at Tiny Blue Dot Foundation .

Tiny Blue Dot Foundation announces the funding of 11 neuroscientific research projects related to The Science of Perception Box following an open process that draws hundreds of innovative and forward-thinking applications from research teams from around the globe.

"We were overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large interest in the Science of Perception Box RFP," said Christof Koch. "Our team had its work cut out for them to determine which projects to fund as there were so many that were worthwhile. There is great enthusiasm to understand the footprints of the Perception Box in the brain and to measure the effectiveness of techniques and interventions to broaden its boundaries in neurotypicals and/or clinically defined populations to help them lead happier lives."

"We were shocked and thrilled by not only the number of responses, but the imagination, creativity and range of submissions," said Elizabeth R. Koch. "Each of the proposals we've chosen could on its own have a meaningful impact on helping people understand the nature of their Perception Box. Coupled with all the other projects and partnerships Unlikely Collaborators is creating and cultivating, this research has incredible potential to ease suffering and bring more joy and collaborative engagement to our world."

Grants are being awarded to recognized Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) research organizations located within the United States as well as qualifying international research institutions. The Principal Investigators are clinical, applied, or basic science researchers at the Applicant Institution with a MD, PhD, or an equivalent degree.

Below is a brief summary of each of the funded projects along with the originating organization and principal investigator.

Courageous Connection: Changing Perceptions and Reducing Bias by Building Mindful Awareness and Compassionate Relationships among Police and Black Community Members

Institution: Brown University, Crim Fitness, and Mindful Badge

Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Proulx

Co-Investigator(s): Erin Woo (Brown University)

Country: USA

Overview: This project aims to address the broken trust and violent encounters between police officers and Black community members in the United States, by developing mindfulness-based interventions for both police officers and Black community members.

Study Details

Does breathing resistance training relax the body and calm the mind?

Institution: The Regents of the University of California, UCLA

Principal Investigator: Paul Macey

Co-Investigator(s): Prabha Siddarth (UCLA)

Country: USA

Overview: This project aims to investigate the effects of five minutes of daily Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on mental and physical states and determine if these changes are sustained over time.

Study Details

Examining the Impact of Heated Yoga on Rumination and Mindfulness

Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital

Principal Investigator: Maren Nyer

Co-Investigator(s): Louisa Sylvia (MGH)

Country: USA

Overview: This study will examine how doing yoga in a heated room can expand an individual's mindfulness and decrease rumination.

Study Description: Examining the Impact of Heated Yoga on Rumination and Mindfulness

Study Details

Expanding the Perception Box through neuromodulation-assisted ego-disengagement

Institution: Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Principal Investigator: Giulio Tononi

Co-Investigator(s): Melanie Boly (University of Wisconsin)

Country: USA

Overview: Using meditation and noninvasive tools, this study will seek to help people open their minds and let go of their self-centered thoughts, allowing them to see things in a new and broader way.

Study Details

Activating Neuroplasticity to Enhance the Perception Box Expanding Effects of Psilocybin

Institution: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Principal Investigator: Charles Raison

Co-Investigator(s): Christopher Nicholas (University of Wisconsin), Steven Garlow (University of Wisconsin), Stephanie Jones (University of Wisconsin), and Paul Hutson (University of Wisconsin)

Country: USA

Overview: This study will seek to link the effects experienced during the psychedelic state, such as mystical experiences, to long-term changes in Perception Box-related areas.

Study Details

Pointing beyond the pain Perception Box: Treating chronic pain by modulating phenomenological and psycho-physiological indices of self-transcendence

Institution: University of Utah

Principal Investigator: Adam Hanley

Co-Investigator(s): Eric Garland (University of Utah), Justin Hudak (University of Utah), and Gary Donaldson (University of Utah)

Country: USA

Overview: This project will determine if mindfulness training designed to encourage self-transcendence can lead to long-term pain relief.

Study Details

Neural and psychological evidence to shift mindsets from "me" to "we" using a scalable decentering curriculum

Institution: University of Oregon

Principal Investigator: David McCormick

Co-Investigator(s): Elliot Berkman (University of Oregon) and Megan Lipsett (University of Oregon)

Country: USA

Overview: This project aims to develop an entry-level college course on positive psychology and neuroscience focused on transforming students' mindset from a self-centered perspective to one that emphasizes a collective and pro-social focus.

Study Details

The role of transformative experiences and brain network dynamics in hedonic response to psychedelics: paving the way for broader utilization

Institution: University of Vienna

Principal Investigator: Julia Sophia Crone

Co-Investigator(s): Marie Spies (Medical University of Vienna) and Rupert Lanzenberger (Medical University of Vienna)

Country: Austria

Overview: This project aims to investigate whether the psychedelic experience is necessary for increased well-being and pleasure and how traits like openness affect this relationship.

Study Details

Exhaling the past: A comprehensive neuropsychological test of breathwork as a tool for trauma processing and mental well-being

Institution: Ernst Strungmann Institute for Neuroscience

Principal Investigator: Martha Nari Havenith

Co-Investigator(s): Isabel Dziobek (Humboldt University Berlin) and Christopher Timmermann (Imperial College London)

Country: Germany

Overview: This study aims to explore the potential of circular breathwork as a tool for trauma processing. Our goal is to understand whether circular breathwork and psychedelic therapy share similar psychological and neuronal mechanisms in participants with a history of childhood trauma.

Study Details

The Self, Unbound: Neurofeedback-assisted Meditation for Eliciting Transformative Self-Dissolution Experiences

Institution: University of Haifa

Principal Investigator: Aviva Berkovich-Ohana

Co-Investigator(s): Pedro Mediano (Imperial College London), Fynn-Mathis Trautwein (University Medical Center Freiburg), and Yair Dor-Ziderman (University of Haifa)

Country: Israel

Overview: Utilizing meditation and neuro-imaging, this study seeks to better understand altered states of consciousness and the potential for promoting well-being.

Study Details

Why do we feel that way: Elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying emotion perception and enhancing a noninvasive brain stimulation intervention.

Institution: Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Research Center at National Central University

Principal Investigator: Chi-Hung Juan

Co-Investigator(s): Cheng-Ta Li (National Central University) and Wei-Kuang Liang (National Central University)

Country: Taiwan

Overview: This project aims to investigate the nature of emotion consciousness and develop potential methods to benefit individuals with conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and autism.

Study Details

About Tiny Blue Dot Foundation

Tiny Blue Dot Foundation strives to help people understand that they live in their own unique Perception Box  whose walls can be expanded to minimize suffering, increase acceptance of self and others, and view trauma/other challenges as opportunities for growth. Our mission is to develop Perception Box  modification techniques that are safe, effective, reliable, measurable, widely accessible, and easy to use.

Tiny Blue Dot Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  2023 Tiny Blue Dot Foundation. All rights reserved. Perception Box is a trademark of Stellar Flywheel

SOURCE Tiny Blue Dot Foundation
Data from a new nationwide survey by nonprofit PetSmart Charities for National Pet Preparedness Month reveals emotional bond to pets can't be broken even when disaster strikes

PHOENIX, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey1 reveals that the majority of pet parents in the U.S. are prepared to evacuate their homes with their pets in case of an immediate disaster  but they wouldn't leave home if they couldn't take their pets to safety with them, and would even give up their spot in a shelter if they couldn't stay there with their pets. The survey conducted by nonprofit PetSmart Charities , the leading funder of animal welfare in the country, is timely as June is National Pet Preparedness Month and the start of hurricane and wildfire seasons across the country. National Pet Preparedness Month is a reminder for all pet parents to develop an emergency plan for the whole family, including pets. For how to prepare to evacuate to safety with pets and to download a pet preparedness checklist, visit PetSmart Charities here.

Red Cross volunteer Lisa Morales helps care for dog Ellie Rene after their owner sought shelter with the Red Cross at the Les Miller Community Center in Tampa as Hurricane Ian ravaged his Florida community. He was happy to find that there were accommodations for pets at the shelter. "The Red Cross even had food for my animals," he exclaimed. Photo by Marko Kokic/American Red Cross.

According to the survey of pet parents:

If there was an evacuation order but they couldn't bring their pets with them, 76% of respondents said they would stay at home with their pet.

If they evacuate but their pets can't stay with them at the shelter, 80% said they would give up their spot in the shelter.

Strong emotional bonds are keeping pets and their owners together, as 86% of respondents said the emotional support of their pet would be essential to them making it through a disaster.

More than half (63%) had doubts whether nearby pet-friendly shelters were available to them in case of emergency.

Additional results from the survey reveal that for pet parents, knowing what to do in order to evacuate with their pets and where they can go to stay together are top of mind. Those steps include the following:

Keep a "go bag"  Keep a pet carrier, harness or leash ready to go at a moment's notice and have a recent photo of pets on hand

 Keep a pet carrier, harness or leash ready to go at a moment's notice and have a recent photo of pets on hand Update information  Make sure pets are wearing a collar or tags and that microchip information is up to date

 Make sure pets are wearing a collar or tags and that microchip information is up to date Take care  Ensure pets are up to date on all vaccinations and carry a list of medications the pet needs and their veterinarian's contact information

 Ensure pets are up to date on all vaccinations and carry a list of medications the pet needs and their veterinarian's contact information Know where to go  Make a list of pet-friendly sheltering options nearby

Keeping pets and their people together is so important to PetSmart Charities that the nonprofit launched a groundbreaking partnership with the American Red Cross last year that will support efforts in treating pets as essential family members during times of disaster. The partnership, a first of its kind between two foundational nonprofits, ensures that pets are included in disaster planning, response and recovery in order to keep pets and people together during times of crises. PetSmart Charities' investment in the Red Cross includes the integration of pet tracking into RC Care, the Red Cross client management system, allowing their staff and volunteers to provide services to all family members virtually or with "boots on the ground'' in disaster situations, and the creation of pet-centric training and sheltering models with the Red Cross and its partners for its disaster response staff and volunteers.

In October of 2022, Melisa Pratt, senior community grants manager at PetSmart Charities, visited a community coping with the aftermath of flooding in Fort Myers, Florida, with a Red Cross team in the weeks following Hurricane Ian. Many families impacted lived on fixed incomes and lacked flood insurance.

"I saw firsthand the impact our partnership with American Red Cross was already making," Pratt shared. "During a visit to a co-lodging shelter, it was moving to see cats and dogs being cared for right next to their families. Being together helps give both the comfort and consistency they need to navigate recovery. I also saw an opportunity for growth within our partnership, to support the delivery of pet food alongside human food for those who are sheltering together in place. Getting prepared ahead of an unforeseen emergency and knowing you can go to a safe place with all members of your family is critical."

"The American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters across the country every year, and time and time again we've seen how emotionally connected people are to their pets and how important it is that they prepare in advance of disasters," said Jennifer Pipa, vice president of Disaster Programs for the American Red Cross. "As our partnership with PetSmart Charities grows, we're looking to help people develop a plan for their entire family  including their pets  to ensure they can stay connected throughout disaster response and relief efforts. Through our work together, our goal is to best serve all family members during times of crisis."

For more information on PetSmart Charities and helping pet parents in times of disaster, please visit petsmartcharities.org.

About PetSmart Charities

PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 600,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. PetSmart Charities grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crises with access to food, shelter and disaster response. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row  placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org .

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

1The PetSmart Charities Pet Preparedness Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. pet owners ages 18 and over, between May 19-25, 2023, using an email invitation and an online survey. This data has been weighted to ensure accurate representation of U.S. pet owners ages 18 and over.

Media Contacts:

Carmichael Lynch Relate for PetSmart Charities

[email protected]

SOURCE PetSmart Charities, Inc.
CARY, N.C., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --PeriGen Inc., the market leader in FDA-cleared computerized maternal-fetal early warning systems, today announced the addition of Debbie Ketchum, DNP, MAOM, RN, NEA-BC, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, to its team. Dr. Ketchum will assume the role of Clinical Engagement Specialist, bringing her extensive expertise as an obstetric clinical subject matter expert to support prospective clients in improving perinatal safety for mothers and babies.

With a remarkable career spanning nearly three decades, Debbie Ketchum has been a dedicated nurse and nurse leader, certified in maternal newborn care, electronic fetal monitoring, and an advanced nurse executive. She strives to support and empower our care teams through relationships, research, education, and advocacy.

Her journey began as an active duty commissioned officer in the United States Army Nurse Corps and has since provided her with invaluable experience working across diverse healthcare settings, including large academic institutions, urban centers, rural areas, and ambulatory care.

At PeriGen, Dr. Ketchum will play a pivotal role in collaborating with prospective clients' perinatal clinical teams, working closely to ensure the adoption and understanding of PeriGen's innovative perinatal solutions. Her deep knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of obstetric care will enable her to provide invaluable support, empowering care teams to optimize patient outcomes, and build cohesive, confident healthcare environments.

"PeriGen's people, with unique experience and deep expertise, are the innovation engine that drives this company and makes its solutions so impactful," said Matthew Sappern, chief executive officer at PeriGen. "Deb's insight is invaluable in helping health systems envision how to improve perinatal operations using PeriGen's AI-based solution platform."

In addition to her role at PeriGen, Dr. Ketchum is an active board member with the Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) and the Idaho Perinatal Project, further highlighting her commitment to advancing the field of perinatal care.

About PeriGen

PeriGen Inc., a Halma company, offers innovative perinatal software solutions that incorporate advanced statistical analysis features to enhance clinical efficiency and standardization of care during childbirth. Led by skilled OB practitioners and IT visionaries, PeriGen has created the PeriWatch platform to provide consistent analysis and efficient display of complex data to promote better human recognition and communication about impending problems during labor. With PeriWatch, clinicians can spend more time on direct patient care and less time on manual calculations and data manipulation. To learn more, visit www.perigen.com; visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook; or email [email protected].

Media Contacts:

Amendola Communications for PeriGen Inc.

Grant Evans

[email protected]

215-582-8146

SOURCE PeriGen
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Sultan of Oman Haytham bin Tariq Al Said sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Trend reports.

"We are pleased to extend our sincere felicitations to Your Excellency on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

We take this opportunity to wish you happiness and good health, and the friendly people of Azerbaijan continued progress and prosperity," the letter said.
Masdar, UAE's flagship renewable energy company, along with Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities signs land agreement for 10GW mega wind project

Signing witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister HE Moustafa Madbouly and HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber , UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar

Project will cut carbon emissions by 23.8 million tonnes a year  equivalent to 9 percent of Egypt's current carbon footprint

Ahead of UAE hosting COP28 , development shows UAE's commitment to supporting Egypt's renewable energy goals

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC  Masdar, one of the world's leading clean energy companies, along with Infinity Power, Africa's largest renewable energy developer, and Hassan Allam Utilities, a sustainable infrastructure focused investment platform, signed an agreement with Egypt's New and Renewable Energy Authority to secure land to build a 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity onshore wind farm in Egypt, set to be one of the largest in the world, with a project value of over US$ 10 billion.

Masdar along with Infinity Power, Africas largest renewable energy developer, and Hassan Allam Utilities, a sustainable infrastructure focused investment platform, signed an agreement with Egypts New and Renewable Energy Authority to secure land to build a 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity onshore wind farm in Egypt, set to be one of the largest in the world, with a project value of over US$ 10 billion. The signing in Cairo was witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister, HE Moustafa Madbouly, HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, HE Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Nayer Fouad, Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Power, and Hassan and Amr Allam, Chief Executive Officers of Hassan Allam Holding.

The signing in Cairo was witnessed by Egyptian Prime Minister, HE Moustafa Madbouly, HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, HE Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Nayer Fouad, Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Power, and Hassan and Amr Allam, Chief Executive Officers of Hassan Allam Holding.

The landmark wind project will produce 47,790 GWh of clean energy per year and reduce around 9 percent of Egypt's annual carbon emissions by displacing 23.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The wind farm will also help Egypt meet its strategic objective of sourcing 42 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030. The 10 GW plant will save the North African nation an estimated US$ 5 billion in natural gas costs a year.

The original agreement to develop the 10 GW wind farm was signed between Masdar, Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission company and witnessed by the presidents of the UAE and Egypt on the sidelines of the UN climate change conference, COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt last year.

As the UAE's flagship renewable energy company, Masdar's role demonstrates its deep and lasting commitment towards supporting African nations such as Egypt to meet their ambitious renewable energy objectives. The project is being developed by the consortium led by Masdar and its partners: Infinity Power, Masdar's joint venture with Egypt's Infinity, which is Africa's largest pure play renewable power company; and Hassan Allam Utilities, a sustainable infrastructure focused investment platform.

HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President-Designate, said: "This 10GW onshore wind project is set to be one of the largest wind farms in the world, and largest on the African continent. It is a sign of the strong partnership between the UAE and Egypt, with great potential to create jobs, cut emissions and power homes with clean electricity at competitive economical costs. The world needs to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Projects like these will support the global efforts to reduce the impact of climate change and help keep the ambition of 1.5 intact while enabling significant socio-economic growth. The UAE looks forward to hosting COP28, we continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Global South in their efforts to decarbonize and secure a just energy transition."

HE Dr Mohamed Shaker Al-Markabi, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy in Egypt, said: "Egypt has an ambitious program to advance the Egyptian electricity sector in various fields, foremost of which is optimizing the use of new and renewable energy resources and encouraging investment in this field, which would contribute to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and continue to reduce carbon emissions, in line with Egypt's energy strategy to have up to 42 percent of our energy mix from renewable energy sources by 2030, while complementing the National Climate Strategy 2050 to face the challenges of climate change and achieve sustainable economic growth."

He added: "This project represents a continuation of the historical and brotherly relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the UAE and reflects the fruitful and constructive cooperation between the two brotherly countries. Renewable energy in Egypt has the potential to attract direct foreign investments, and the national Egyptian entities play a vital role in creating an environment that is supportive of investment with low risks, and high interaction with the financing institutions and development partners. In addition, Egypt has comparative advantages in terms of the land available which is necessary to produce a huge volume of electricity from renewable resources. Furthermore, Egypt's geographical location enables it to export green energy to Europe, especially as the country looks to further enhance and raise the efficiency of its national grid."

In March, Masdar became the largest operator of renewables in Africa after its joint venture with Egypt's Infinity - Infinity Power - acquired Lekela Power, a renewables developer with operations across the continent. Masdar also demonstrated its commitment to African nations by signing deals to develop renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of up to 5 GW in Angola, Uganda, and Zambia, in January.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar, said: "Masdar is proud to be working with global partners to maximize our direct impact on Egypt in all fields of business and economy, and help addressing urgent global sustainability challenges and supporting the global efforts to develop sustainable solutions to produce energy using the latest available technologies with the lowest competitive cost. This mega project  which will transform lives and livelihoods - is the culmination of hard work, dedication, and steadfast partnership between Masdar, our joint venture - Infinity Power - and Hassan Allam Utilities."

Nayer Fouad, CEO, Infinity Power said: "This project is a milestone achievement for us at Infinity Power, which reflects the partnership between Masdar and Infinity Power as a leading investment platform in renewable energy. It not only positions us as a leading provider of renewable energy but also strengthens the growing relationship between the Emirates and Egypt. Apart from being a key source of renewable energy, the farm will also create employment opportunities for local communities."

Amr Allam, CEO, Hassan Allam Holding said: "I am proud to witness the launch of the development of our planned 10 GW wind energy program, in partnership with Masdar, and Infinity Power. In addition to helping meet Egypt's growing energy needs, the project aligns seamlessly with the nation's sustainable development goals. We are confident that this collaboration will deliver on its targets, paving the way towards a more eco-friendly and prosperous future for Egypt."

Egypt is the Middle East and North Africa's most populous country and has an abundance of renewable energy sources, including wind and solar. Masdar has a large presence in Egypt with projects dating back to 2015, which represents a starting point to target the African continent through Infinity Power platform.

During COP27 last year, Masdar, Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities also signed agreements with Egyptian state-backed organizations to develop green hydrogen and derivatives' production facilities. The consortium is targeting a capacity of 4 GW by 2030, and an output of up to 480,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

For more information please visit:

http://www.masdar.ae

facebook.com/masdar.ae

twitter.com/masdar

This material is distributed by Daniel J. Edelman, Inc. on behalf of Masdar. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094740/Masdar_10GW.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094739/Masdar_10GW_2.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1973446/4038263/Masdar_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Masdar
The Nation's Fastest-Growing Engineering and Consulting Firm Makes Strategic Acquisition of Houston, TX-based Firm



ORLANDO, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UES, a national leading engineering and consulting company, has acquired Riner Engineering, a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing and inspection firm headquartered in Houston, TX.

Founded in 2006, Riner Engineering includes an experienced team of more than 170 engineers, project managers, technicians, and support staff based in offices in the Houston headquarters, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. Riner maintains full-service soil and CMT laboratories accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The firm has successfully completed thousands of projects throughout the state of Texas and has serviced private and public clients across multiple industries. Noteworthy Riner projects include Daikin Industries' $410 million, 4+ million square foot distribution and manufacturing facility in Waller, Texas, the world's largest according to the Tilt-Up Concrete Association, and Houston Airport Systems' Mickey Leland International Terminal (MLIT), Federal Inspection Services (FIS) building, and Checked Baggage Inspection and Screening (CBIS) building at Bush Intercontinental Airport as part of the $1.36 billion ITRP program.

Riner joins the Texas Region of UES, led by Brian Powell, P.E., President of the Texas Region. Riners' leadership team will continue to operate the day-to-day business. "Riner Engineering further expands the capabilities of our region and we are excited with the experience and people that Riner brings to our Texas team," said Brian Powell, P.E.

"We're proud to announce the expansion of our presence and technical expertise in Texas," said UES CEO Dave Witsken. "Texas is a leading market for infrastructure development in the U.S., and we believe UES will be better able to serve the growing market and provide enhanced services, solutions, and support to our clients with the addition of the Riner Engineering team."

Ken Riner, P.E., President of Riner Engineering, adds, "With this partnership, we at Riner can improve our ability to provide top-of-the line geotechnical engineering and materials testing services with access to more personnel, more equipment, and more capabilities. Working in UES and UES' Texas Region allows Riner to continue performing at the highest levels of our chosen engineering specialties, with top-quality people and a wider range of tools."

With nearly six decades of experience and recognition as the premier engineering and consulting firm in the geotechnical engineering space, UES is well-positioned to serve the needs of commercial, residential, and civic customers across the country. Beginning in 2019, UES' acquisitions have included prominent engineering firms including: Universal Engineering Sciences, GFA International, Inc., NOVA Geotechnical & Inspection Services, Contour Engineering, Wallace-Kuhl & Associates, Construction Testing & Engineering, SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory & Testing, GEOServices, McGinley & Associates, Geotechnology, Alpha Testing, GSI Engineering, Speedie & Associates, Rock Engineering Testing & Laboratory, Dan Brown and Associates, Carmichael Engineering, Faulkner Engineering Services, Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, and now Riner Engineering, which have made UES one of the largest, most resource-rich organizations of its kind nationwide.

About Riner Engineering

Riner Engineering, Inc. (RINER) is a privately held Texas corporation specializing in geotechnical engineering (GEO) and construction materials testing and inspection (CMT). RINER has offices in Houston (corporate), Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. RINER owns and operates truck-, track-, and buggy-mounted drilling rigs and maintains full-service soil and CMT laboratories accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). RINER has a staff of 170+, including engineers, project managers, technicians, and support staff. Since 2006, we have successfully completed thousands of projects throughout the state of Texas and serviced private and public clients across multiple industries.

About UES

UES is a privately held, rapidly growing engineering and consulting firm with nearly six decades of experience in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections and environmental consulting. With nearly 3,500 professionals across more than 85 branches in high growth markets in the U.S., UES consults on projects of all sizes for public and private clients across many industries including transportation, healthcare, commercial, education, industrial, and residential. UES was named 'Hot Firm of the Year' by Zweig Group for 2021, 2022, and 2023. For more information, please visit teamues.com or follow UES on Social Media .

Media Contact:

Lindsay Graham

Director, Marketing & Communications

UES

407-310-7396

[email protected]

SOURCE UES
The new report takes a data-driven approach to guide employee decision-making.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the 2023-2024 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For . The list, an expansion of U.S. News' Careers offerings , provides a look at the 200 best publicly-traded companies across sectors and industries to help employees and job seekers make decisions about workplaces that may be a good fit for them.

The inaugural list factors in evolving employee sentiment of what makes a workplace the "best" to work for and analyzes that sentiment and other information to evaluate quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

"The U.S. News Best Companies to Work For is a recognition that allows readers to determine what they prioritize in a workplace and evaluate companies that might align with those priorities," said U.S. News Senior Editor, Consumer Advice, Antonio Barbera. "The 2023-2024 list includes companies that score highest on a variety of metrics that contribute to a positive work environment and day-to-day employee experience."

The COVID-19 pandemic and increased discussions on race and equality have put a spotlight on the role of the employer in these areas and where they align in meeting significant needs of their employees. U.S. News, with the support of a panel of six experts , developed the methodology that analyzes the publicly available employee sentiment and other data which demonstrates how a company supports the everyday experience of its workers.

"Beyond a paycheck, employers have a large stake in the quality of life for their employees and the workers are aware of this," said Barbera. "Regardless of the industry they're in, employees today want to work somewhere they feel valued, can have a good work-life balance and are satisfied with their compensation and benefits."

For individuals prioritizing work-life balance and pay quality in their company search, U.S. News also compiled Best Companies for Work-Life Balance and Best Companies for Quality of Pay .

To calculate the U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered companies that were a part of the Russell 1000 index as of June 2022 and had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written in 2022. Relevant data, including employee sentiment, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs and ESG Book to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology .

For more information, visit Best Places to Work For and share the rankings on Facebook and Twitter using #BCTWF .

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
The State of Data Infrastructure Sustainability report shows data center decarbonization represents a top priority, though organizations are struggling to make progress

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. businesses have made sustainability a priority, with nearly four in five companies saying that they have developed plans for achieving carbon neutrality (78%) and net zero carbon emissions (79%), according to the State of Data Infrastructure Sustainability, a new report from Hitachi Vantara, the modern infrastructure, data management and digital solutions subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501). However, despite this and the fact that 85% of respondents claim to be "on plan" or "ahead of plan" when it comes to their carbon reduction goals, the survey revealed that actual progress may not be as robust as many businesses believe.

Download a Copy of the Full State of Data Infrastructure Sustainability Report Here

The global survey of 1,000 IT leaders and C-level business executives, including 250 in the U.S., sought to shed light on the importance of sustainability for organizations and the steps being taken to address today's data sustainability challenges. Key U.S. findings include:

Two in five (40%) organizations said they lacked a sustainability strategy and implementation plan.

The timing for achieving their goals is still decades away; on average, organizations do not expect to be at net zero emissions until 2048, 25 years from now.

The biggest challenge cited was keeping up with regulations (45%), however, 38% also noted that they had inadequate access to critical sustainability data.

Complying with regulations was also cited as the primary driver of organizations' sustainability efforts with 64%, while ethical obligations (54%) and talent acquisition/retention (41%) rounded out the top three.

Four out of five respondents (80%) said that their data center carbon footprint had either stayed the same or increased in the past two years; less than two in five (19%) said it decreased at all, with only 2% saying it decreased more than 10%.

In looking ahead two years, still more than half (51%) expect the carbon footprint of their data center will either stay the same or increase; only 12% expect it to decrease more than 10%.

"To get to net-zero, firms must establish a concrete strategy and implementation plan, with leadership buy-in, that takes a data-driven approach to emissions across the entire IT estate, including edge, on-prem, and off-prem," said Mark Ablett, President, Digital Infrastructure, Hitachi Vantara. "As the survey found, too many companies are allowing their strategies to be dictated by regulation, which can be a hinderance because it focuses on the needs of the day instead of the business case for sustainable operations. However, sustainability efforts can lower energy costs, save storage space, and help streamline operations and data management for greater productivity."

The Critical Role of the Data Center in Reducing Emissions

Despite the lack of progress in reducing the data center footprint, 60% of respondents said that creating an eco-friendly data center was a top priority for the organization, and when asked what steps they had taken already to reduce their carbon footprint, data center decarbonization was the top response at 56%. However, data center decarbonization was also most commonly cited as the area where firms need outside assistance, with 42% saying they needed third-party help. The second-most common step taken involved using the latest technological solutions to reduce carbon footprint at 48%, with 44% saying that they had created a corporate culture to support sustainability goals.

"The fact that data center decarbonization was the only area to gain more than 50% agreement suggests that there is still largely a lack of consensus about what steps to take," Ablett added. "Broadly speaking, these disparities underscore the need for greater knowledge sharing and involvement of company leadership across the C-suite."

In fact, part of the problem appears to be that executives across the C-Suite are not fully aware of the importance of data center modernization to achieve their overall sustainability goals. CEOs, Chief Digital Officers (CDOs), and CTOs appear better informed, with 58% of CEOs and CDOs and 50% of CTOs saying that an eco-friendly data center is one of the most effective ways to reduce their company's carbon footprint; however, only 14% of CFOs and 31% of Chief Sustainability Officers agreed.

For more information about Hitachi Vantara's efforts in sustainability, visit:

https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/solutions/sustainability.html

A Closer Look at Keys to Sustainability Success

Survey respondents were designated as being leaders, advanced, early implementers, or beginners, based on their level of progress in creating an eco-friendly data center by implementing eight key sustainability initiatives. Overall, leaders were more likely to say they had started taking steps to decarbonize their data centers, with nearly three-quarters (73%) of leaders saying they had started, compared to only 39% of beginners who said the same. However, when it came to goals for net zero carbon emissions, there was not as big of a gap, with leaders targeting 2048 for net zero compared to 2049 for beginners.

For more information on how Hitachi Vantara is helping customers provide a data-driven approach to sustainability, please click here.

Breakdown of Survey Respondents

Commissioned by Hitachi Vantara, ThoughtLab Research interviewed 1,000 respondents globally, including 250 in the U.S., across a range of industries including financial services, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and public sector.

The rest of the respondents were divided among Canada as well as the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Nordics in Europe; and India, China, and Australia in Asia Pacific. Nearly all of the respondents (96%) are from companies with 1,000 or more employees.

Additional Resources

Connect With Hitachi Vantara

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., delivers the intelligent data platforms, infrastructure systems, and digital expertise that supports more than 80% of the Fortune 100. To learn how Hitachi Vantara turns businesses from data-rich to data-driven through agile digital processes, products, and experiences, visit hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hitachi Vantara Corporation
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Facts and Factors study, the global automotive voice recognition system market size was valued at USD 2.09 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 4.02 billion between 2023- 2030.

Report Link with All Related Graphs & Charts: https://www.fnfresearch.com/automotive-voice-recognition-system-market

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Overview

Automotive voice recognition system refers to the concept of using speech recognition technology in vehicles. The technology is gaining traction among consumers across the globe due to its growing advancements in recognition algorithms. Manufacturers have developed these algorithms by considering the user's safety while navigating the vehicle. Many studies had concluded that the distraction level of drivers was comparatively much higher when people were using touch screen elements. The percentage decreased when people adopted voice command recognition systems.

Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/automotive-voice-recognition-system-market

Key Insights:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 8.09% over the forecast period (2023-2030).

In terms of revenue, the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market size was valued at around USD 2.09 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 4.02 billion by 2030.

in 2022 and is projected to reach by 2030. The growing demand for vehicle connectivity is likely to boost the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market growth.

Based on the level of autonomous driving, the semi-autonomous segment accounts for the largest share of the global market.

Based on the technology, the embedded segment is likely to register the highest revenue in the global market.

Based on the end user, the luxury vehicle segment is estimated to dominate the global market.

Based on the fuel type, the battery electric vehicles (BEV) segment is estimated to hold the largest market share of the global market.

Based on the application, the market for non-AI-based applications is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment.

Based on region, North America is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Facts and Factors published the latest report titled "Automotive Voice Recognition System Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report By Level Of Autonomous Driving (Semi-Autonomous, Conventional, And Autonomous), By Technology (Hybrid And Embedded), By End-user (Luxury Vehicles, Mid-Priced Vehicles, And Economy Vehicles), By Fuel Type (ICE, BE, And Others), By Application (AI-Based And Non-AI-Based), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2023  2030" into their research database.

Industry Dynamics:

Global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Growth Drivers

Growing demand for vehicle connectivity is expected to boost the market's growth.

Youth today are more willing to buy vehicles that have high connectivity features because of the need for convenience and comfort more than the torque or the power figures. The trend is likely to gear up, particularly in the markets like Asia Pacific and Europe, which are currently facing demand for diverse features like in-built voice recognition systems.

For example, 13 million passenger vehicles featuring a voice recognition system were sold in China in 2021. The figure marked an increase of 13% in one year. Consumers are more inclined towards autonomous and connected vehicles for the enhanced assurance of the safety of these vehicles. Another trend marking the growth of the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market is the launch of vehicles featuring voice recognition technology with our vernacular languages.

For example, the SUV launched by Hyundai Venue offers a voice recognition feature supporting 10 Indian languages other than Hindi and English. Also, the growing adoption of digital technologies among all age groups globally is further likely to drive the growth of the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market. The tech advancements in voice recognition technology are further likely to foster the demand for automotive voice recognition systems.

Global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Restraints

High installation cost is likely to restrain the growth of the market.

Automobile manufacturers are constantly striving hard to improve the voice recognition system in automobiles to offer better usability and improved in-car experience. As a result, deploying these features in cars mark them as luxury vehicles, thereby increasing the installation cost. Therefore, such a landscape is expected to limit the growth of the global automotive voice recognition industry in the forthcoming years. However, the growing demand for cars is majorly from the mid and low-priced categories due to the fact that most people in developing countries fall under the middle-class income group. Therefore, such a landscape is anticipated to limit the voice recognition system in the market during the predicted period.

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Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Opportunities

Growing automobile sales and a high adoption rate of digital technology are expected to expand the growth opportunities in the market.

There has been a significant spike in the production and sales of automobiles in recent years due to the surging income level of end users across the globe. Increasing disposable income and consumers' growing desire for comfort and luxury services are further likely to offer many lucrative growth opportunities in the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market.

The growing desire for infotainment, high-end technology services well equipped with AI, demand for the latest connectivity features among youth, and growing number of middle-income people are also likely to expand the global market scope during the predicted period.

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Challenges

Inaccuracies and speaker diarization in a multi-linguistic approach are a big challenge in the global market.

With the growth in voice technology, there come several hindrances, like technical words, speaker identification, fluency, accent, punctuation, background noise, etc., in offering seamless performance to customers. According to a report in 2021, around 21.2% and 30.4% of people registered concern about the dialect and accent, respectively. Therefore, overcoming the breakthrough in offering accuracies for different languages is one of the major challenges in the growth of the automotive voice recognition industry.

Global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: Segmentation

The global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market is segmented into the level of autonomous driving, technology, end user, fuel type, application, and region.

By level of autonomous driving, the market can be segmented into semi-autonomous, conventional, and autonomous. The semi-autonomous segment accounts for the largest share of the global market. The primary driver for the growth of the segment is the constant upgradation in the infotainment field along with the growing automation of driving functions. However, the conventional segment is also expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the global market due to the high demand for these vehicles as compared to others.

By technology, the automotive voice recognition industry can be segmented into hybrid and embedded. The embedded segment is likely to register the highest revenue in the global market due to the diverse features offered by it. Embedded technology offers ease of installation to the manufacturers, thereby lowering the level of complexity. Also, the earlier adoption of this technology by manufacturers is likely to offer more advanced features like hands-free access to the customers, which in turn is expected to propel the growth of the segment.

By end users, the market can be segmented into luxury vehicles, mid-priced vehicles, and economy vehicles. The luxury vehicle segment is estimated to dominate the global market.

By fuel type, the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market can be segmented into ICE, BEV, and others. The battery electric vehicles (BEV) segment is estimated to hold the largest market share of the global market.

By application, the market can be segmented into AI-based and non-AI-based. The market for non-AI-based applications is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment.

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List of Key Players in Automotive Voice Recognition System Market:

Nuance

Sensory

Alphabet

VoiceBox

Microsoft

Apple

Harman

JStar

International Business Machines Corporation

BioTrust ID

Anhui USTC iFlytek

Agnitio

others

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Automotive Voice Recognition System Market?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market Industry?

What segments does the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Automotive Voice Recognition System Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2022 USD 2.09 Billion Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 4.02 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 8.09% 2023-2030 Base Year 2022 Historic Years 2016  2021 Forecast Years 2023-2030 Segments Covered By Level Of Autonomous Driving, Technology, End User, Fuel Type, Application, and Region Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 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 Nuance, Sensory, Alphabet, VoiceBox, Microsoft, Apple, Harman, JStar, International Business Machines Corporation, BioTrust ID, Anhui USTC iFlytek, Agnitio, and others. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/automotive-voice-recognition-system-market

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Regional Dominance:

North America is expected to grow significantly in the global market.

In terms of market revenue and share, North America is likely to dominate the global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market in the forthcoming years. The high disposable income of people has thrived the demand for luxury products and services. Therefore, the region is likely to see a significant surge in the demand for automotive recognition systems.

Also, the increase in the requirement for personal vehicles due to the growing issues with public transport is likely to support the growth of the regional market. Furthermore, the growing technology and increased research studies are expected to positively impact the growth of the regional market during the predicted period.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly in the global market due to the rapidly growing urban population and increasing disposable income of the people in the region. Additionally, the developing infrastructure and increasing foreign direct investments are further likely to widen the scope of the regional market.

Global Automotive Voice Recognition System Market is segmented as follows:

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By Level Of Autonomous Driving Outlook (2023-2030)

Semi-Autonomous

Conventional

Autonomous

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By Technology Outlook (2023-2030)

Hybrid

Embedded

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By End User Outlook (2023-2030)

Luxury Vehicles

Mid-Priced Vehicles

Economy Vehicles

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By Fuel Type Outlook (2023-2030)

ICE

BE

Others

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By Application Outlook (2023-2030)

AI-Based

Non-AI-Based

Automotive Voice Recognition System Market: By Region Outlook (2023-2030)

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: https://www.fnfresearch.com/news/global-automotive-voice-recognition-system-market

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Customers gain industry expertise, data, and best practices to streamline product development

BARCELONA, Spain, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 2023 Veeva R&D and Quality Summit, Europe  Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today announced the expansion of its business consulting services to help life sciences organizations achieve greater speed and efficiency across the product development lifecycle. Veeva R&D Business Consulting will work closely with customers to apply unique industry data, develop new digital operating models, and optimize the use of technology across clinical, regulatory, and safety.

"Veeva R&D Business Consulting delivers deep life sciences and product expertise to help biopharmas across the end-to-end product lifecycle," said Dan Rizzo, vice president of Veeva business consulting. "Combining Veeva product knowledge, unique data, and industry best practices will help customers increase operational efficiencies to accelerate the development of new treatments."

Veeva R&D Business Consulting will provide process and operating model design, data governance and change management services, and Veeva Development Cloud optimization. These offerings complement customer investments in software and will enhance engagements with other service providers for planning and executing critical transformation efforts.

Veeva R&D Business Consulting is already supporting clinical, regulatory, and safety initiatives at global biopharmaceutical companies. For more on Veeva R&D Business Consulting, visit veeva.com/eu/businessconsulting.

About Veeva Systems

Veeva is the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva serves more than 1,000 customers, ranging from the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. For more information, visit veeva.com/eu.

Veeva Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding Veeva's products and services and the expected results or benefits from use of our products and services. These statements are based on our current expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those provided in this release and we have no obligation to update such statements. There are numerous risks that have the potential to negatively impact our results, including the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filing on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2023, which you can find here (a summary of risks which may impact our business can be found on pages 37 and 38), and in our subsequent SEC filings, which you can access at sec.gov.

Contact:

Jeremy Whittaker Deivis Mercado Veeva Systems Veeva Systems +49-695-095-5486 925-226-8821 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Veeva Systems
NEW YORK, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In May, Vega IT announced that it was going global. As a part of its international expansion strategy, one of the fastest-growing companies in the EMEA region partnered with Zoran Vasiljev and opened offices in New York.

In a recent interview , the company's founder, Sasa Popovic, explained that, even though Vega IT wasn't physically present in the US until then, it has been operating in that market for years.

Sasa Popovic, CEO at Vega IT, and Zoran Vasiljev, Vega IT's partner for Americas & APAC.

"Almost 20% of Vega IT's revenue comes from US-based companies. By establishing the New York office and hiring a team there, we aim to further capitalize on the potential of such a lucrative market."

Sasa Popovic

The opening of the US office also creates the opportunity for Vega IT to expand its client base and deepen relationships with existing clients in that market.

"Employing people with great technical knowledge and extensive domain expertise from the countries our clients come from is an opportunity for us to be true partners to them and help them become even more successful by co-creating top-notch software solutions," explained Popovic.

He adds that the expansion to the US market is only the beginning of the company's five-year expansion strategy. And, adding Zoran Vasiljev to lead Vega IT's strategic expansion as a Partner and President (Americas and APAC) was the next logical move. Vasiljev is a serial entrepreneur and C-level executive with over 25 years of international management and operational experience across different industries.

"Vega IT has a strong entrepreneurial mindset, drive, and ambition to win big on the world stage. I like that idea, and it's a great match with both my professional experience and personal values. So once I was offered a seat on a rocket ship, I just had to get on!"

Zoran Vasiljev

About Vega IT:

Vega IT is a software development service company, founded 15 years ago by two university colleagues - Sasa and Vladan. Today, the company hires a team of over 800 industry professionals and has successfully delivered more than 1200 projects. They collaborate with more than 200 global clients across various industries. The company received numerous prestigious awards, including the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA, The European Business Awards, The Golden Gazelle, and the Top IT Company in Serbia for many years now.

Contact: Maja Bozic, [email protected], +381 (0)69 701 456

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SOURCE Vega IT
The software development leader increases access to top engineering talent and diversifies working time zones

NEW YORK, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vention, a global industry-leading custom software development company, is excited to announce the opening of its new office in Mexico City, Mexico. This strategic expansion marks Vention's first development hub in North America, further strengthening its global footprint and enhancing its ability to serve clients in the western hemisphere.

The decision to establish an office in Mexico City was driven by the city's thriving tech scene and the abundance of highly skilled engineering talent. With its newest location, Vention offers its North American clients the advantage of working within the same time zone, ensuring seamless collaboration and faster response times. This strategic move highlights Vention's commitment to delivering exceptional service and providing clients with optimal support and efficiency.

Sergei Kovalenko, CEO and co-founder at Vention shared, "We are thrilled to open our first development hub in North America. Mexico City's booming business and tech scene provides us with access to top engineering talent and enables us to better serve our clients in this region. This expansion aligns with our vision of being a global leader in digital solutions and reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients."

Hebert Rangel, department manager and co-head of Vention Mexico said, "This is an exciting time to join and build the Vention team, following its recent company rebrand. I look forward to growing our Mexico City office and bringing the region's top engineering talent to Vention's innovative roster of clients."

Vention also operates development offices in several countries, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Uzbekistan. Each region enables Vention to harness the diverse skills and knowledge of talented professionals, fostering a global collaborative approach to solving complex business challenges. Find open roles across specializations and Vention's development regions including its newest Mexico City office at join.ventionteams.com.

For more information about Vention and its award-winning solutions, visit www.ventionteams.com. Follow Vention across social for access to top tech insights via LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube , Facebook , and Instagram .

About Vention

Vention is the premier global leader in software engineering, synonymous with technology designed for scale and the common denominator behind the world's most successful tech-empowered enterprises, industry innovators, and startups. Headquartered in New York with 20+ offices, Vention provides access to 3,000+ engineers worldwide and equips technology leaders with the top engineering talent from the world's most respected tech hubs. Our teams sync with clients' in-house engineers to advise and execute their product vision to accelerate their roadmap, innovate faster and more efficiently, and ultimately scale their operations to new heights.

Media Contact

Sydney Alcaraz

PR Director

[email protected]

SOURCE Vention
The software engineering leader brings innovative solutions and an empowering work culture amid global market conditions

NEW YORK, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vention, a global industry-leading custom software development company, is proud to announce its outstanding achievements in the first half of 2023, having garnered recognition and accolades from reputable business- and tech-focused organizations.

Despite a global economic slowdown, Vention and its clients are bringing innovative tech solutions at speed and scale to end-users worldwide. In the Financial Times' Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies 2023 list, Vention was ranked amongst tech leaders, underscoring its exceptional growth trajectory, strong market presence, and innovative business strategies. Further solidifying its position as a global tech leader, Vention was presented with the gold Globee Award as a "disruptor company in information technology services" and listed in the IAOP Global Outsourcing 100, both recognizing the company's commitment to delivering cutting-edge custom software services and forging strong partnerships with global clients, including its most recent metaverse partnership with Croquet Corporation.

As many companies step back from their culture initiatives, Vention is investing in its commitment to empower its employees, and foster a positive and motivating work environment. Most recently, the company was certified as a Great Places to Work employer, highlighting its dedication to employee satisfaction, professional growth, and collaborative teamwork.

Moreover, Vention was shortlisted for multiple business and tech awards, including the Business Champion, DevOps Excellence, IT Europa Channel, and National Technology Awards. Each recognizes Vention's continuous pursuit of excellence, industry leadership, and remarkable contributions to the technology sector. The company also touts a 4.9 of 5 review score on the data-driven business-buyer platform, Clutch.

Sergei Kovalenko, CEO and co-founder at Vention shared, "The news and market forecasts have shown that 2023 would be a challenging year for companies worldwide, however, I am proud of my team's unwavering commitment to delivering the best quality and forward-thinking work to our clients. At Vention, we drive innovation, deliver next-gen solutions for our clients, and foster a culture of excellence. These awards reflect our incredible team's dedication, expertise, and passion."

For more information about Vention and its award-winning solutions, visit www.ventionteams.com. Follow Vention across social for access to top tech insights via LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube , Facebook , and Instagram .

About Vention

Vention is the premier global leader in software engineering, synonymous with technology designed for scale and the common denominator behind the world's most successful tech-empowered enterprises, industry innovators, and startups. Headquartered in New York with 20+ offices, Vention provides access to 3,000+ engineers worldwide and equips technology leaders with the top engineering talent from the world's most respected tech hubs. Our teams sync with clients' in-house engineers to advise and execute their product vision to accelerate their roadmap, innovate faster and more efficiently, and ultimately scale their operations to new heights.

Media Contact

Sydney Alcaraz

PR Director

[email protected]

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SOURCE Vention
Bank Expands Solutions for Ocean State Homebuyers

WESTERLY, R.I., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington Trust Company ("Washington Trust"; "the Bank") today announced that the Bank has recently enhanced its RI Community Lending Program by adding two new solutions for potential homeowners in the Ocean State. In addition to the Bank's "I Luv RI Community Lending Program," Washington Trust now offers the "Buyer's Advantage Program" and the "Home Opportunity Program." These three unique community lending programs offer flexible product solutions and a variety of financing options, matching funds/grants, and closing cost credits and grants. The Bank also offers waived lender fees and low or discounted rates on fixed rate mortgages; and eligible borrowers may qualify by income and/or property location.

Helping more Rhode Islanders realize their dream of home ownership.

"As the nation's oldest community bank, we've helped generations of Rhode Islanders achieve home ownership," stated Edward O. "Ned" Handy, III, Washington Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In these challenging economic times, we want to assure Rhode Islanders that we are here for them, and our RI Community Lending Program offer unique, flexible and affordable opportunities for them to finance the home of their dreams."

Washington Trust has a team of mortgage lenders throughout the State of Rhode Island who are available to discuss the RI Community Lending Program and assist borrowers with their homebuying needs. Washington Trust also has a dedicated community lending officer, Rosa Pastor, NMLS #1856938, who provides potential homeowners with financial education, tools and resources to help get them get on the path to home ownership. Rosa also works directly with local community groups, such as One Neighborhood Builders, Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, and others, to collaborate on RI Community Lending Program offerings. For more information about Washington Trust's RI Community Lending Program, contact Rosa at (401) 654-4888.

ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ: WASH). Additional information on Washington Trust can be found at washtrust.com.

SOURCE The Washington Trust Company
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Units of the armed forces of Armenia using small arms fired from positions in the direction of Garaiman settlement of the Basarkechar region on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of Astaf settlement of the Dashkasan district from 11:40 to 16:50 (GMT +4) on June 6, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend.

Moreover, at nearly 16:25 today, members of illegal Armenian armed detachments in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping forces are temporarily deployed (in accordance with the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war), subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions in the Aghdam district.

Adequate retaliatory measures have been taken by Azerbaijani army units in all the above directions.
Flexible Lodging Innovator Opens Third Gen 2.0 Property in One of the Nation's Fastest-Growing Cities



WICHITA, Kan., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lodging industry innovator WaterWalk recently introduced its newest property under the brand's Gen 2.0 model, WaterWalk Boise  Meridian. Located at 88 N Olson Ave in Meridian, the upscale property blends the best of an upscale extended-stay hotel and home with fully furnished 'STAY' units and ready-to-furnish 'LIVE' units.

WaterWalk Boise - Meridian

"Meridian is a rapidly growing area that is appealing for both travelers and for new residents looking to call Greater Boise home, making it an attractive market for WaterWalk," said Mimi Oliver, CEO of WaterWalk. "We are excited to provide our guests with the utmost in flexibility and personalization based on their lodging needs without sacrificing value, quality design and premium amenities."

WaterWalk Boise  Meridian is centrally located in the highly desirable area of Northeast Meridian, which is just a short drive from downtown Boise and surrounded by an abundance of top restaurants, shopping centers, parks and tourist attractions. The property boasts 126 rooms  76 fully furnished 'STAY' units and 50 ready-to-furnish 'LIVE' units that range in size from studios to two-bedroom spaces both with and without balconies.

"WaterWalk has been on a path of exponential growth across the country, and the addition of our newest property in Meridian marks our furthest reach West so far," said Stephen Armstrong, SVP of WaterWalk Brand. "As we continue to debut our Gen 2.0 model in key markets, we are eager to help meet the demand for flexible accommodations that appeal to the dynamic lifestyles of consumers today."

Whether guests are looking to 'STAY' or 'LIVE' at WaterWalk Boise  Meridian, each accommodation style features a modern, fully equipped kitchen with full-size appliances including a refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and range, along with a pantry and kitchen island. Additionally, each unit features an industry-first of a full-size washer and dryer, as well as a spacious bathroom that includes a vanity with ample storage space and a walk-in shower.

Serving as an extension of guests' living spaces, the common areas of the property include 'The Living Room' in the lobby, featuring a bean-to-cup espresso station, work stations with a printer, comfortable seating areas, oversized wall-mounted board games, and a TV. The property also boasts a modern fitness center, complete with weight racks, cardio machines and two Peloton bikes, as well as a spacious back patio with lounging furniture, firepits, lawn games and a grilling area. In addition, guests enjoy a 24/7 concierge service, complimentary WiFi, all-inclusive utilities and more.

WaterWalk's robust pipeline, which will result in a portfolio that doubles in size by the end of 2024, consists of numerous Gen 2.0 properties being constructed and additional properties under development. This includes properties currently underway in Tucson, Arizona (slated to open in fall 2023); Jacksonville, Florida (slated to open in fall 2023); and Huntsville, Alabama (slated to open in winter 2023).

For more information on WaterWalk, visit WaterWalk.com and stay up-to-date on the latest news by following WaterWalk on LinkedIn .

For more information or to book a 'LIVE' or 'STAY' at WaterWalk Boise  Meridian, visit https://waterwalk.com/locations/waterwalk-boise/.

About WaterWalk

WaterWalk offers a liberated hospitality experience with the nation's most innovative flexible lodging brand. The company was founded in 2014 by the late Jack DeBoer, a hospitality visionary recognized as the pioneer of the extended-stay and all-suite hotel concepts. WaterWalk is unique in that it boasts two accommodations options under one roof, with its signature 'LIVE | STAY model.' This diversified product offering creates the utmost in flexibility and value to consumers and investors alike.

Media Images: A selection of photos of the property can be downloaded from Dropbox HERE. (Credit: WaterWalk).

Media Contact:

Hemsworth Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE WaterWalk
The Funding will Fuel WaveBL's Global Growth and Market Expansion in the Digital Trade Documents Sector

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WaveBL, a market-leading provider of electronic Bills, has successfully raised $26 million in its latest funding round, consolidating its position as a leading player in the digital trade document sector globally.

WaveBL employees are celebrating the good news of another successful investment round. Let's make some waves together!

The round was led by NewRoad Capital Partners, an operator-led, demand-driven investment firm focused on innovative and growth-oriented companies in the supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology sectors. Existing investors ZIM, Marius Nacht, Contour Venture Partners, Frank Sica, and Techstars Central LLC also participated in this funding round, as did a new investor, Reefknot Investments, backed by Temasek and Kuehne + Nagel.

WaveBL, led by former technological leaders and experts from the Israel Defense Forces, has emerged as the premier digital platform for the electronic transfer of trade documents. WaveBL's proprietary blockchain technology enables the instantaneous, secure, and authenticated transfer of unique electronic trade documents, ensuring compliance with universal processes and regulations. WaveBL's state-of-the-art multi-carrier platform is trusted by the world's largest ocean carriers and NVOCCs, including MSC, ZIM, Hapag Lloyd, ONE, Leschaco, and Saco, and is designed to meet the needs of all parties involved in trade.

"Our goal is to streamline, speed up and reduce the cost of global commerce by breaking the trade industry's paper addiction," stated Noam Rosenfeld, CEO of WaveBL. "We offer blockchain technology as the new gold standard for trust between trade partners, a game changer for international trade. The investment will be used to expedite our growth by increasing our employee base, primarily in sales, marketing, and R&D."

"NewRoad Capital Partners is excited to join Wave BL in an effort to accelerate the digitization of global trade from today's manual, paper-based processes to technology that enables increased speed and security, reduces costs, and creates a more environmentally friendly solution. All reasons why we are excited to be a part of this transformational journey," said Gary Adams, Operating Partner at NewRoad Capital Partners, and former Supply Chain Officer at Walmart. Following this round, Gary will join WaveBL's board of directors.

WaveBL's strong alliances with leading customers and other stakeholders in global trade are driving faster digitalization and adoption of electronic trade documents. The company is poised to continue its leadership in the digital trade document sector, establishing a new benchmark of trust and efficiency in international trade.

About NewRoad Capital Partners

NewRoad Capital Partners, LLC ("NewRoad") invests in high-growth supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology companies. As experienced entrepreneurs and operators, the NewRoad team prides itself on the high level of collaboration it brings to each of its investments. NewRoad's team of investment professionals, operating partners, and strategic advisors have deep, relevant investing and operating expertise, including significant experience leading large divisions of enterprise companies and building businesses of scale from concept to realization. For more information, visit www.newroadcp.com.

About WaveBL

WaveBL is a digital platform using proprietary blockchain technology to electronically transfer trade documents. The WaveBL solution enables the instant, encrypted, and authenticated transfer of electronic Bills and related trade documents. The platform complies with universal processes and regulations in use.

For more information, visit www.wavebl.com

Contact person

Ilan Weiss

[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2093947/Wave_BL.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2093948/WaveBL_Logo.jpg

SOURCE WAVE BL
The certification further highlights White Castle as an extraordinary employer in the QSR and CPG industries

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Always appreciated. Never taken for granted! For the third year in a row, White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain and popular retail CPG brand, earned the Great Place to Work Certification. The awarding of the certification is based solely on the thoughts and opinions of current White Castle team members.

The awarding of the certification is based solely on the thoughts and opinions of current White Castle team members. Tweet this White Castle Certified as a Great Place to Work for Third Straight Year.

White Castle is a 102-year-old family-owned business that carries on the traditions of its storied past. Founder Billy Ingram built White Castle on the premise that "Happy employees make happy customers." A commitment to team member centric policies has led to a track record virtually unheard of in the industry, including:

More than 1 in 4 of the company's 10,000 team members have worked at White Castle for 10 years or more.

Nearly all 450 of White Castle's regional directors, district supervisors, general managers, and operations leadership team members started their careers behind the counter at White Castle.

Each year White Castle inducts a new class to the 25 Year Club. In the 77 years since its first inductee, founder Billy Ingram himself, the celebrated club has welcomed more than 2,200 team members.

"Our team members and their passion set us apart as a family owned business with a heart for hospitality", said John Kelley, chief people officer and fourth-generation family member. "Their commitment inspires us as we continue on our quest to feed the souls of craver generations everywhere."

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. This year, with a higher participation rate compared to last year, 80% of White Castle team members said it's a great place to work  23 points higher than the average U.S. company. The team member survey also invited comments. Among the verbatims received were:

"My manager and director are awesome. They treat me fairly and give me many opportunities to grow in my role. We celebrate our wins, anniversaries, and birthdays. We are made to feel valued, and if we have issues, our leaders treat us with respect when identifying areas of improvement. We couldn't ask for better leaders!"

"A great collaborative and family atmosphere. White Castle is the best company that I have worked for in my career."

"We promote from within. The company realizes that some of the best team members for the job can come from 'inside'."

"I came from a very corporate environment in my previous work life and have found it refreshing and reenergizing to work for a family company that cares about its employees."

"When White Castle team members have the chance for their personal and professional dreams to come true, their devotion to our customers shines through," Kelley said. "Their devotion renews our commitment to remain a family owned business for generations to come."

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company's profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

What is it like to work at White Castle? Team members shared their stories in two recent episodes from the Crave Chronicles series, Behind the Counter and On the Line.

About White Castle

White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates more than 350 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including Time magazine's "Most Influential Burger of All Time" (2014, The Original Slider) and Thrillist's "Best Plant-Based Fast-Food Burger" (2019, Impossible Slider). In 2021, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the "10 Most Innovative Dining Companies." White Castle, which earned the Great Place to Work Certification in 2021 and 2022, is known for the legendary engagement of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for the business for at least 10 years. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans ("Cravers"), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the Craver Nation loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com.

About Great Place to Work Certification

Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive "employer-of-choice" recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience  specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

About Great Place To Work

As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces List.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE White Castle
Gold Demand Reached a Record High Last Year. What about 2023? Tweet this

In the latest episode of U.S. Money Reserve's "In Conversation," a group of experts, including former U.S. Mint Directors, analyze the great central bank gold rush that is still happening today. They examine why gold has become a hot commodity for central banks, for reasons ranging from stability to independence to diversification.

Watch the latest video to learn more.

Philip N. Diehl, 35th Director of the U.S. Mint (19942000) and President of U.S. Money Reserve, and Edmund Moy, 38th Director of the U.S. Mint (20062011) and U.S. Money Reserve's Senior IRA Strategist, are joined by Angela Roberts, U.S. Money Reserve CEO; Brad Chastain, U.S. Money Reserve's Director of Education; and host Chuck Woolery. The panel breaks down what has caused the central banks' gold rushes and why it might continue for years to come.

For more information or to speak with company leadership at U.S. Money Reserve, please contact Christol Farris at 512-568-9991 or [email protected] or visit www.usmoneyreserve.com.

About U.S. Money Reserve

U.S. Money Reserve is one of the nation's largest private distributors of U.S. governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.

Founded in 2001, U.S. Money Reserve has grown into one of the world's largest private distributors of U.S. and foreign governmentissued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium legal-tender products, as well as precious metals IRAs. Hundreds of thousands of clients across the country rely on U.S. Money Reserve to diversify their assets with physical precious metals.

U.S. Money Reserve's uniquely trained team includes coin research and numismatic professionals equipped with expert market knowledge to find products that offer the highest profit potential for precious metals buyers at every level. U.S. Money Reserve goes above the industry standard to provide superior customer service, with the goal of establishing a long-term relationship with each and every one of its customers. U.S. Money Reserve is based in Austin, Texas.

Like them on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, and follow-on Twitter @USMoneyReserve.

SOURCE U.S. Money Reserve
XUZHOU,China, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG Machinery ("XCMG", SHE:000425) has ranked No. 3 among the world's original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the latest Yellow Table published by International Construction Magazine, a subsidiary of global construction media company KHL Group. XCMG has maintained the top three rankings for three consecutive years.

XCMG Machinery Consolidates Top Three Ranking on KHL Groups Yellow Table, Leads Chinese OEM Market.

The Yellow Table ranks the world's top 50 OEMs by sales revenues in 2022. Despite the influences from the economic cycle as well as the construction machinery industry's close relation to the overall demands and fixed investments, XCMG reported a total revenue of 93.817 billion yuan (USD 13.20 billion), 27.838 billion yuan (USD 3.92 billion) of which were from overseas revenues, a 50.5 percent growth year-on-year and accounting for 30 percent of XCMG's total revenue, while its export income totaled 21.63 billion yuan (USD 3.04 billion), marking a 70.5 percent increase year-on-year.

Leveraging high-performance products and strong brand influence, multiple of XCMG's business units, including excavation, hoisting, earthmoving, and road machinery, have been growing exponentially with increased market shares and top rankings globally.

In 2022, XCMG has delivered large batches of products to high-end markets in Europe and North America, as well as countries along the "Belt and Road" Initiative. It has exported the 800-ton all-terrain crane to Singapore, 2,000-ton wind turbine crane to Bosnia and Herzegovina, setting a series of export records.

XCMG has achieved sales and successful delivery of the entire crane product portfolio in Europe, which makes it the only company to export complete sets of hoisting machinery in batches to the European market. XCMG's excavator equipment have received rave reviews in the U.S., while its new energy electric products were praised by the New Zealand Prime Minister and Minister of Transport. The GR5505 mining graders, which XCMG has developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, have been shipped off to work in mines in Australia.

Meanwhile XCMG has continually achieved breakthroughs in the R&D and manufacturing of green and new energy equipment products, further advancing the sustainable strategy for green, low-carbon, and intelligent new infrastructure.

"I think more and more people are realizing that electric vehicles can be a very important approach to decarbonization, and in the next five years there will be more and more new energy products, probably reaching the scale of 30 percent," said Liu Jiansen, vice president of XCMG.

SOURCE XCMG Machinery
ATLANTA and AMSTERDAM and NEW DELHI, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xebia, a renowned global IT Consultancy and Software Development Company, has appointed Keith Landis as its Global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Keith will be based out of Philadelphia, USA and lead marketing globally.

Keith Landis joins Xebia as Global Chief Marketing Officer (PRNewsfoto/Xebia)

Xebia has grown leaps and bounds over the past few years, and to further strengthen its presence in the global market, the company has onboarded Keith Landis to its leadership team of industry veterans. Xebia is growing its presence in the US, along with expanding the office in Atlanta, Georgia. Having an accomplished Marketing leader and team there will help align its global business as well as build a powerful brand through high impact marketing.

Keith brings deep and diverse experience of over two decades in the IT and consulting industries. Throughout his career, Keith has lived and breathed B2B services marketing and communications, leading global and regional teams for IT services, software, and technology businesses, including IBM for over 16 years. Most recently, Keith served as the CMO of Persistent Systems where he led and transformed all aspects of the global marketing and communication functions during a phenomenal era of growth for the company.

Keith has a proven track record of leading marketing transformation to drive growth in brand awareness and revenue. His long association with IBM is a testament to his exceptional leadership and professionalism. Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing & MIS from Drexel University's LeBow College of Business in the US.

Welcoming Keith to the team, Anand Sahay, Global CEO, Xebia said, "As we embark on further expanding our portfolio and accelerating our growth trajectory, it is crucial to ensure that we have the most suitable leadership strategically placed to drive our brand development in the desired direction. We place great trust in Keith and his team to build our brand and enhance our strategic marketing endeavors. His vast experience and proven expertise will play a pivotal role in effectively communicating our narrative and elevating our company's prominence among key markets. Our external marketing and communications have become an integral part of our growth strategy, and with Keith's proven leadership in this sector, we anticipate achieving even greater objectives."

Keith Landis, Global CMO said, "I am thrilled to join Xebia as their Chief Marketing Officer at this pivotal time in the company's trajectory. Along with a diverse team of talented marketers from across the globe, I am looking forward to transforming the marketing function, building our global brand, and revolutionizing our marketing efforts to drive growth across markets. Throughout my career, I have developed a profound understanding of the key role that diversity, empathy, authenticity, and transparency play in driving business success and effective leadership. I am delighted to find that the leadership team and culture at Xebia align perfectly with these values, making it an ideal match for me."

About Xebia

Find more information at www.xebia.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094052/Keith_Landis.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1883841/Xebia_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Xebia
SHANGHAI, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- YuanTech Solar, a new PV brand, is set to present its comprehensive line of TOPCon modules and alongside its newly developed YuanHome Solar Kit, a portable home solar power system, at Intersolar Europe 2023, from June 14 to June 16 2023. The company anticipates a significant turnout from local distributors, installers and end-users to their booth (Booth No. C4.360).

Intersolar Europe is the world's largest and most important professional exhibition in the solar energy industry, and a gathering place for the industry's major companies. For YuanTech Solar, the event marks their first appearance at a European exhibition, building upon their previous successful participation at SNEC, the preeminent global exhibition in the world of photovoltaics (PV).

At the event, YuanTech Solar will showcase its complete lineup of TOPCon modules, featuring a power range from 435W to 575W. The modules are designed to meet the diverse requirements of various multiple applications, including household distributed systems, commercial and industrial rooftops, as well as large-scale power plant projects. Moreover, YuanTech Solar will unveil its newly developed portable household solar power generation system, YuanHome Solar Kit. The innovative system incorporates high-efficiency TOPCon 435W solar modules, micro inverters, AC cables, brackets, and other essential components. By seamlessly combining these elements, users gain access to simpler and safer green power solutions, accelerating the application of PV products in home appliance scenarios.

Since transitioning to mass production in Q4 2022, YuanTech has experienced a steady and growing influx of orders. The company has shipped tens of megawatts modules to Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and Romania, and is progressively expanding into other markets within the region. Mr. Xie Jian, CEO of YuanTech Solar, emphasized the significance of Europe as a well-established PV market. He further expressed the company's commitment to developing products that cater to diverse customer requirements and application scenarios. YuanTech looks forward to serving an increasing number of partners by providing efficient services and solutions.

About YuanTech Solar

YuanTech Solar is a technology company focusing on the R&D, manufacturing, sales and services of new-generation N-type TOPCon photovoltaic products. The company was established in January 2022, and plans to invest 1.5 billion yuan (approx. US$224 million) to build a 5GW PV module production facility in Chuzhou, Anhui Province. The company is committed to becoming a world-class clean energy provider, by adhering to a market-oriented approach and taking technological innovation as its driving force, in an effort to boost the transformation towards clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1960403/YT_logo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE YuanTech Solar Co., Ltd.
Flourishing Vehicle Appearance and Protection Service Franchise Sees Bright Future in the Southeast

FORT MYERS, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a goal to fill the consistently growing demand to protect vehicles from sun, heat and other unpredictable climate conditions, a family-owned multi-unit franchisee group who operate nine thriving Ziebart locations throughout upstate New York is expanding south to grow the brand's presence in Florida.

Ziebart is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services. Longtime Ziebart multi-unit franchisees  The Mattiacio Group  who have successfully grown the Ziebart brand in the Northeast over 34 years  recently took ownership of the Fort Myers store at 7131 Alico Road, Unit 105. The group's Managing Partner Vincenzo Carangi, along with Vice President of Dealer Sales Ann Scalia, will serve as part-owners of the Fort Myers location.

Carangi has worked with Ziebart since 2011, when he started as a Professional Sales Representative. Since then, he grew with the company to become General Manager, helping open two of The Mattiacio Group's New York locations, which have each grown to be among the highest performing franchise locations for Ziebart. Scalia, who has worked with Ziebart for 15 years, leads The Mattiacio Group's Outside Sales Division, building relationships between Ziebart and local car dealerships. She is credited with growing the group's Dealership Program from 30 to its current 122 dealerships.

The Mattiacio Group CEO and Founder Tony Mattiacio said he's confident that Carangi and Scalia will prove to be a powerful team in Fort Myers and play a leading role in helping Ziebart to grow their footprint throughout the region.

"While we continue building off the success we've found in New York, we're excited to take all we've learned to grow the brand's presence here in Florida," said Tony Mattiacio, The Mattiacio Group CEO and Founder. "Floridians have proven they're passionate about protecting their vehicles, and we've already seen the need for our quality products and services, particularly window tinting and ceramic coating to fight off that unforgiving Florida sun, as well as our Rhino Linings Spray-On Bed Liner, and of course our detailing services."

Ziebart plans to continue expanding across the state as Floridians continue to seek out the brand's services to extend the life of their vehicles. In fact, the most popular services being requested at Ziebart of Fort Myers include window tinting to help keep cars cool, as well as Z-Gloss Ceramic Paint Coating, adding a layer of protection to the car's paint that's resistant to acid rain, UV rays, and extreme temperatures.

"With this being Ziebart's only location in Florida, many people are already asking when we'll expand to other parts of the state," Carangi said.

For more information on Ziebart's franchising opportunities, visit ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities.

About Ziebart

Founded in 1959, Ziebart International Corporation is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services that extend the life of vehicles. Ziebart operates over 400 locations, with 1,300 service centers, in 37 countries. Ziebart continues to grow and offers domestic and international franchising opportunities, a best-in-class investment for qualified prospects. For more information about Ziebart including franchise opportunities, please visit www.ziebart.com .

SOURCE Ziebart
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Members of illegal Armenian armed groups (which weren't withdrawn from Azerbaijan's Karabakh region contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war) attempted to set up long-term fortifications in front of the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the directions of Shusha, Khojavand, and Aghdam districts, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend.

According to the ministry, as a result of the urgent measures taken by Azerbaijani units, the work was immediately stopped.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. The Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov, who is on a visit to the Republic of Italy, has met with the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend.

According to the ministry, Bakirov conveyed to his Italian counterpart the greetings of the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and expressed gratitude for the invitation to the 8th Seafuture 2023 Exhibition & Business Convention.

A detailed exchange of views on prospects for the development of cooperation between the two countries naval forces in military, military-educational, and other spheres, as well as a number of issues of mutual interest was held at the meeting.

On June 5, Bakirov, who participated in the opening ceremony of the 8th Seafuture 2023 Exhibition & Business Convention held at the La Spezia Naval Base, met with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Italy Guido Crosetto.

The 8th Seafuture 2023 Exhibition & Business Convention is held with the participation of naval forces commanders from 25 countries, delegations from 36 countries, and heads of various leading defense industry companies.
Pope Francis has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency!

On the occasion of the National Day of Azerbaijan - the Independence Day, I extend to you my wishes of well-being and prosperity for your country, and my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of your father, His Excellency Heydar Aliyev.

The efforts of genius Heydar Aliyev towards Azerbaijans development and establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See will be forever remembered with a sense of gratitude. May the Almighty God grant Azerbaijan and its people progress, prosperity, good health, and well-being.

Esteemed President, May God grant you every success in your high state activity, and all your fellow citizens abundance.

With deep respect,

Pope Francis
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva met with co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Jan Liddell-Grainger and Liz Christophersen, Trend reports citing the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudswoman noted that Azerbaijan always pays great attention to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, the elderly, children, refugees, former internally displaced persons, migrants and other socially sensitive groups of the population.

During the conversation, she stressed that Armenia has not yet provided information about the fate of almost 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War. Information about mine terror by Armenia was also brought to the attention. During the period of occupation, Armenia planted a huge number of mines in the territories of Azerbaijan, which is now delaying the safe return to the territories liberated from occupation, creating serious obstacles to large-scale construction and restoration work.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Moscow, June 6 : At least 18 people have reportedly died in two regions of Russia after drinking cider.

So far, 16 people in Ulyanovsk region and two others in Samara region were killed by the Mr. Cider-brand alcohol, while two cases of poisoning were also recorded in Udmurtia and the injured are in critical condition, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a TASS news agency report.

Multiple victims are hospitalised in the three regions.

The drink was produced at a factory in Samara region and the authorities did not specify which substance in the cider led to the poisoning.

Anna Popova, head of Russia's consumer rights and human well-being watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, has instructed withdrawal of all such products.

Law enforcers have detained Mr. Cider producers and suppliers and an investigation is underway.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed the third charge sheet (second supplementary charge sheet) in the Kerala gold smuggling case, an official said on Monday.

Ramees K.T., the alleged kingpin of the gold smuggling syndicate, was recently arrested by the ED and the charge sheet was filed following his interrogation.

Ramees was arrested by the ED on April 5 and is currently in judicial custody.

The ED initiated a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) investigation based on an FIR lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Kochi, following the seizure of 30.24 kg of smuggled gold by Customs at Trivandrum International Airport. The gold was camouflaged as diplomatic baggage of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.

During the course of his interrogation, Ramees was confronted with over 2,000 voice memos of Telegram chats between him and his associates involved in smuggling.

"Ramees revealed the names of various investors who sponsored the gold smuggling, including persons from Dubai, as well as the names of some beneficiaries. The investigation conducted revealed that 27 accused persons were involved in the offense of money laundering, and they have now been chargesheeted," the official said.

Previously, P.S. Sarith, Sandeep Nair, M. Sivasankar, and Swapna Prabha Suresh were arrested by the ED in the case.

Additionally, two provisional attachment orders for the attachment of various movable properties amounting to Rs 16.80 crore were issued in the case.

The total attachment of properties in the case to date amounts to Rs 21.50 crore, the official said.
Kiev, June 6 : Ukraine is launching counteroffensive actions against Russia in some areas of the frontline, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has said.

"In certain directions we are moving to offensive actions," Maliar wrote in a Telegram post on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Bakhmut direction remains the epicenter of hostilities, the official said, noting that the Ukrainian military forces have achieved some success in the area.

The fighting also rages in southern Ukraine, where Russian forces are in the defensive positions, she added.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is prepared to launch a counteroffensive to recapture the territories seized by Russia in the conflict.
United Nations, June 6 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for concerted global action to reduce plastic pollution.

The UN chief made the plea in a video message on Monday for an event at the UN headquarters in New York to mark World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, Xinhua news agency reported.

This year's theme was "Solutions to Plastic Pollution".

Every year, over 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide, one-third of which is used just once. Every day, the equivalent of over 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic is dumped into oceans, rivers, and lakes, said Guterres.

"The consequences are catastrophic. Microplastics find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe," he said. "Plastic is made from fossil fuels. The more plastic we produce, the more fossil fuel we burn, and the worse we make the climate crisis." But, there are solutions, said Guterres.

Last year, the international community began negotiating a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution, which is a promising first step, he said. "A new report by the UN Environment Programme shows that we can reduce plastic pollution by 80 percent by 2040 if we act now to reuse, recycle, reorient, and diversify away from plastics." Guterres called for concerted action. "We must work as one -- governments, companies, and consumers alike -- to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy. Together, let us shape a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all," he said.
Washington, June 6 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, the White House on Monday dismissed concerns about the health of democracy in India, saying it is vibrant and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves.

"India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that the strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said addressing a news conference.

"And, look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends; you're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world," Kirby said in response to a question on the health of Indian democracy under Prime Minister Modi.

He further said that Prime Minister Modi's visit is about advancing "what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward".

When asked about the reason behind the invitation for the state dinner, Kirby said that President Joe Biden wants to meet his Indian counterpart to advance and deepen bilateral partnership and friendship.

"There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the President is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.

"India is a strong partner on very, very many levels with the United States. You saw that, in Shangri-La, Secretary Austin (Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin) announced some additional defence cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," Kirby added.

Prime Minister Modi's June 22 state visit, the highest level of diplomatic reception, will boost the US and India's "shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific", the White House said earlier.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House, and the US Congress has also invited him to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate.

The theme of the address will focus on Modi's vision for India's future and the global challenges faced by the two countries.

According to Kevin McCarthy, the US Speaker of the House, Prime Minister Modi's last address to the US Congress "left a lasting impact" and strengthened ties between India and the US.
Lucknow, June 6 : The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department has directed its staff to submit details of their movable and immovable properties as well as of their dependents.

This is in accordance with the Yogi Adityanath government's policy of zero tolerance toward corruption as well as to bring transparency in the working of the officers and employees.

Amrit Abhijat, principal secretary, urban development, said, "To free the urban bodies from corruption, officers and employees have been directed to submit details of their movable and immovable properties in their names as well as their dependents on the Manav Sampada portal." At the time of first appointment and after every five years, every government officer/ employee shall, through the normal course, declare to the appointing authority all such immovable property owned by him as well as acquired by him through gift, on lease or mortgage or other attached capitals as may be held by him from time to time or held by any member of the family.

They will have to give details of property, shares and other capital. The details of the property will be uploaded on Manav Sampada portal developed by NIC, he said.

To bring transparency in the transfer process, merit-based online transfer policy has also been implemented.

It has been decided to fix KPI (Key Performance Indicators) of all the officers/employees for the said process.

Some of the officers have been exempted from KPI.

Instructions have been given to all the departmental heads to provide information to all the officers/employees while determining the KPI (Key Performance Indicators), he added.
Prayagraj : , June 6 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has transferred trial of the Usri Chhatti murder case, where mafia don Brijesh Singh is an accused, from the MP-MLA court of Ghazipur to MP-MLA court of Lucknow.

This has been done keeping in mind the threat to the applicant as another mafia don, Mukhtar Ansari, is a complainant in this case.

Allowing a transfer application filed by one Tribhuwan Singh, Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh said, "The sessions trial No. 304 of 2009 (state Vs. Brijesh Kumar Singh and others), arising out of case crime No. 251 off 2001 under section 302 (murder) and others, that occurred under police station Mohamdabad, Ghazipur district, is transferred from the court of special judge, MP-MLA, Ghazipur to special judge, MP-MLA court at Lucknow." "There can be no dispute regarding the terror, fear, influence, command and reach of the complainant Mukhtar Ansari, who is alleged to be a dreaded criminal and gangster. There is every likelihood of an untoward incident in district court, Ghazipur, where hundreds of his supporters, including dreaded criminals, gather in the court premises on every date of the trial proceedings.

"The presence of hundreds of persons inside the court is not only a threat to the general public, but also to the presiding officer. Therefore, this court finds that fair trial in the case would be an impossibility in the district court of Ghazipur, which is mandated by Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

"To ensure fair trial and maintain peaceful and congenital atmosphere inside the court, particularly when the state has no objection for transferring the trial from Ghazipur to outside the court, this court deems it appropriate to transfer the present case from district Ghazipur to another district," the court observed.

Besides, the court also directed the state government to ensure and take precaution that no untoward incident takes place during the trial inside or outside the court premises. Further, the district judge, Lucknow will also ensure adequate provisions for security inside or outside the court, the court added.

In the present transfer application, the applicant had sought transfer of the aforesaid trial from Ghazipur, as according to him mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who is a former MLA, is the complainant in this case.

In July 2001, then Mau Sadar MLA Mukhtar Ansari's convoy was attacked near Usri Chatti on Yusufpur Kasimabad road in Ghazipur. During the exchange of fire, Ansari's bodyguard and a shooter named Manoj Rai from the attacker's side died on the spot.

One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries and nine others were injured.
Baghpat : , June 6 (IANS) The Rajput community has now jumped into the fray in the ongoing wrestlers versus Brij Bhushan Singh battle.

The Rajput Vikas Samiti has expressed its support to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women grapplers.

The Rajput Samiti has also opposed the khaps' intervention in the protest by wrestlers, saying "the country is run by the constitution and law, not by panchayats." A delegation of 70-80 members met Baghpat District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh on Monday and handed over a memorandum to him to be forwarded to the President of India, expressing their support to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The delegation of Rajputs was headed by Rajesh Chauhan, president of Rajput Vikas Samiti (RVS).

Chauhan said the allegations against Brij Bhushan should be properly investigated before taking any action against him.

"We stand in support of the wrestlers, but khaps are politicising this issue and we strongly condemn this," said Rajesh Chauhan.

Ashok Chauhan, vice-president of RVS, said decisions taken in these khap panchayats are unlawful and unethical.

"On several occasions, it was seen that khap representatives only try to misuse their platform for political gains.

Even during the farmers' protest against the Centre's new agriculture laws, the khaps meddled in the affairs of farmers, and this is the reason why it took long for the agitators and the government to arrive at a settlement, and the protest dragged on for a long time," said Ashok Chauhan.

The Rajput Vikas Samiti was formed over two decades ago.
Amritsar, June 6 : Amid heavy security build up, the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar was observed at the Golden Temple here on Tuesday with the gathering of a large number of radicals and sympathisers, who started gathering ahead before dawn.

Operation Bluestar was a military action ordered by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to flush out militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale holed up in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.

Operation Bluestar was carried out between June 1 and 8, 1984, and claimed several lives and left the shrine and complex damaged.

Sikh radical group Dal Khalsa organised a rally in the city to commemorate the day and in support of Khalistan.

Tight security across Punjab has been observed with the radical outfit calling for Amritsar bandh.

Akal Takht has directed the SGPC to ensure that the sanctity of the Golden Temple is not be disturbed during the Operation Bluestar anniversary.

Jaspal Singh, personal assistant of Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, has written to the Secretary of the SGPC that keeping in view the Golden Temple's inviolability, the resolution passed under the signature of then Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh, be implemented in toto, as per the directions of the Akal Takht.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Punjab Vikramjit Singh Sahney has demanded that all government documents pertaining to 'Operation Bluestar' be de-classified.

In a message to the Prime Minister's Office and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Sahney urged them that the files should be made accessible.

Describing 'Operation Bluestar' as the utmost human rights violation, with brutal killings of thousands and the rampage of the holy sanctum at Harmandir Sahib and the highest seat of Sikhism, Akal Takht Sahib, Sahney in a statement here, said the destruction of the museum and the Toshakhana of the Golden Temple caused loss of precious scriptures and records relevant to "our lineage and history".

Sahney said the only "justice for this heinous crime would be to know the truth, for which it is imperative that all pertaining documents be declassified".

"Thirty-nine years is a long time to avert the truth behind Operation Bluestar. It (declassification) is only the way to unlock and bring to task the culprits responsible," he added.

Sahney, while stressing on the sensitivity of the impact of the release of details about 'Operation Bluestar', said: "We cannot forget that 39 years have passed and though it is impossible to forget what has occurred, however, the truths with the unveiling of documents will shed a better understanding of what conspired to lead to this extraordinary military operation at the holy Sri Harmandir Sahib." Keeping in view of the Operation Bluestar anniversary, Punjab Police have beefed up the security across the state to ensure peaceful observance of the day.

Police teams have been conducting flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas as a measure to instill confidence among the public in all 28 police districts, officials said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has taken part in a round table organized by the analytical center "GLOBSEC" as part of his trip to Slovakia, Trend reports citing MFA press service.

The event addressed the Azerbaijani-Slovak relations, the current state of relations with the European Union, global and regional security issues, various aspects of energy security, tasks and challenges in the post-conflict period in the region, existing mine threats, the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and other issues.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov answered numerous questions from the participants of the event.
San Francisco, June 6 : Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is now back online after facing a global outage, including in India.

Some WhatsApp users were unable to use the platform on their mobile and desktop devices, while some were experiencing issues with sending and downloading media, reports WABetaInfo.

According to the report, the outage started on Monday and was rectified some time later.

Taking to Twitter several users reported the outage.

While one user asked, "Is WhatsApp down or is it just me?" another posted, "#WhatsApp down? Hello Twitter." According to the outage monitor website DownDetector, 76 per cent of people had reported problems while using the website, 17 per cent while using the application, and 7 per cent while sending messages.

The company has not yet released any official statement or provided any information on the reasons behind the issue.

In January this year, the messaging platform WhatsApp had faced a server-side issue, making it impossible to update the privacy setting "who can see when I'm online," globally on iOS.

The platform in October last year also had suffered a global outage, including in India, that lasted for over two hours.
Bengaluru, June 6 : Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara will on Tuesday visit the communally sensitive coastal districts where he is likely to hold meetings with police authorities in connection with cases of moral policing and cow vigilantism in the region.

Minister Parameshwar left Bengaluru this morning for a two-day tour of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. He will chair the meeting of police officers at the West Zonal office in district headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district Mangaluru before meeting party leaders at the Mangaluru Congress office.

The Minister will chair a meeting at the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate later. He will reach the neighbouring district Udupi later and conduct a meeting of police authorities at the office of Superintendent of Police in Udupi.

The coastal region is considered as a bastion of BJP and laboratory of Hindutva. Many cases of moral policing, cow vigilantism, love jihad, attacks on churches and terrorism were reported from the region. The region witnesses communal tension often. The region is also known for Hindu sacred pilgrimage centers.

During previous rule of the Congress government between 2013 and 2018, the region had witnessed a series of killings of Hindu activists. The Siddaramaiah-led government has maintained that the allegations are propaganda by the BJP. After the BJP government came to power in the state in 2019, the hijab crisis emanated from here and the region also witnessed gruesome revenge killings.

Despite the anti-incumbency factor, BJP performed well in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The party won all the five seats in Udupi district and six of the eight seats and Congress managed to win two seats in Dakshina Kannada district.

After Siddaramaiah took over as the chief minister for a second time, a stern warning was issued to Hindutva forces. Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge even spoke of banning Bajrang Dal and RSS. Later, CM Siddaramaiah maintained that his government had not discussed a ban on the RSS.

Minister Parameshwara will also visit Kollur Mookambika temple in Kollur on March 7 and conduct special worship to the deity before returning to Bengaluru.
Chennai, June 6 : Rogue tusker 'Arikomban', which was tranquilized and captured by the Tamil Nadu forest department, was released in deep forest in Upper Kothayar forest area near Manimuthar in Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Wildlife warden of Tamil Nadu, K. Srinivas Reddy told media persons that the elephant was released into the forest early Tuesday morning. He said, "The elephant is healthy".

However, sources in the Tamil Nadu forest department team that was catering to the elephant since its capture on Monday, told IANS that the wound in the trunk was a bit deep and the department has already given proper medication to the animal.

Four veterinarians were also with the forest department team, and according to sources in the department, the elephant was administered medication before it was released in deep forest.

It may be noted that while the elephant was brought towards the Manimuthar forest checkpost in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu on Monday evening, there were protests from a section of local people.

According to forest department officials, 'Arikomban' was weak as it had been tranquilized two times with eight darts in the past 38 days. The animal was relocated from Chinnakanal in the Idukki district of Kerala on April 29 after it was darted and tranquilized and relocated to Periyar Tiger Force (PTR).
London, June 6 : An eight months pregnant British-Indian woman, was among more than 700 former UK Post Office staff who were wrongly targeted, imprisoned, and classified using a "racial slur", according to fresh prosecution documents released to campaigners.

Seema Misra, 47, who ran a post office in Surrey, and others were wrongly accused of theft and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to a "faulty" computer system called Horizon.

Now, fresh documents, which came to light through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request obtained by a campaigner, found that suspects, including Misra, were grouped on the basis of their racial features.

Misra was categorised as "Indian/Pakistani Types... ie Asian, etc", The Times reported.

Other categories on the document, thought to have been published between 2008 and 2011, were "N*****d Types", "Chinese/Japanese types" and "Dark Skinned European Types".

Misra was sentenced to 15 months in prison for theft in 2010 after the prosecutor accused her of "cooking the books", that is, manipulating financial records, leading to a shortfall of 74,000 pounds.

However, it was later found that the missing amount was due to the loopholes in the Post Office's new IT system, Horizon, which managed transactions, accounts and stocktaking.

It was not until April 2021 that Misra's conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Expressing her anger at the new revelations, Misra told Sky News: "Now I think, because they had a racist thing in their mind, my case could have been different if I wasn't Indian.

"They might not have suspended me, they might not have taken the case, I don't know. We had to move. We lost everything, to be honest - we lost the business, we lost everything. We lost our dignity, lost our pride, everything." Misra told The Times that the document is proof that there is corruption at levels.

"I definitely believe the Post Office was institutionally racist." The Post Office admitted "abhorrent" racist slur was used to describe suspects in the Horizon scandal.

In response to FOI, a Post Office spokesperson said the organisation did not tolerate racism "in any shape or form" and condemned the "abhorrent" language.

"We fully support investigations into the Post Office's past wrongdoings," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Sky News.

In 2022, a public inquiry began to examine how the post office scandal, also known as Horizon scandal, happened.

It has been described as "the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history".

A lot of them like Misra ended up in jail, some became bankrupt trying to repay money, which they did not owe, and four cases of suicides were linked to the scandal, according to media reports.

Misra, who was jailed on her son's 10th birthday told Sky News that she only resisted suicide because she was pregnant with her second child.

The inquiry came after a December 2019 High Court ruling, which ruled that Horizon contained a number of "bugs, errors and defects".

As of now, 85 wrongfully prosecuted people have had their convictions quashed.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 6 : Alby D'Cruz, one of Kerala's proud Defence personnel who always maintained a low profile despite being the first Keralaite to be conferred the Ashoka Chakra, passed away here on Tuesday.

The 87-year-old D'Cruz hailed from the coastal hamlet at Valiyathura, a stone's throw from the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

It was way back in 1962, he received the Asoka Chakra (Class III) from the country's first president Rajendra Prasad.

Since 1967, this award has been called 'Shaurya Chakra'.

D'Cruz joined the Indian Army as a Lance naik in the paramilitary force- Assam Rifles as a radio officer and his battalion was given the job of busting the Naga rebels.

Incidentally, his presence in the coastal hamlet was never known and his exploits also never made news, but it was when he turned 80 years in 2017, a local Coastal Organization decided to honor him, when many knew that he was a highly decorated soldier.

Among the pictures that adorna D'Cruz's house here include him receiving the prestigious award and shaking hands with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru soon after receiving the award.
Seoul, June 6 : South Korean diplomats have made their final pitch for Seoul's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC).

South Korea, which last sat on the council in 2013-2014, aims to return to the council for 2024-2025, and the UN will vote on the bid on Tuesday, reports Yonhap News Agency.

If elected, it will mark the third time for South Korea to serve as one of the 10 non-permanent UNSC members.

Previously, South Korea had served the seat during the 1996-1997 term.

South Korea hopes to return to the council as it seeks to expand its roles in UN activities for international peace and security.

It would also help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul diplomats have said.

North Korea, which has shown little signs of returning to dialogue, has ramped up developments of its nuclear and missile programs.

In late March, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the expansion of the production of weapons-grade nuclear materials for an exponential increase in its arsenal.

In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Ambassador to the UN Hwang Joon-kook said Seoul would "gain a foothold" to play a leading role in global affairs if it wins a seat on the council.

If South Korea returns to the council, it "will serve as an opportunity to expand our diplomatic horizons", Hwang said.

The UN body is run by five veto-wielding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- and 10 non-permanent members, who are elected to serve two-year terms.

To win a non-permanent seat, a country needs to secure at least two-thirds of the votes from the countries attending the general assembly, out of the 193 member states.
Chandigarh, June 6 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday handed over two Pakistani nationals who were apprehended by along the International Border in Punjab's Tarn Taran sector, to the Pakistan Rangers, officials said.

The two Pakistani nations had crossed the border on Monday and entered Indian territory inadvertently, a BSF officer said.

They were identified as Sabib Khana, 25, and Mohammad Chand, 21.

During questioning, it was established that they "carrying personal belongings and Pakistani currency of Rs 1,000", said the officer.
New Delhi, June 6 : Delhi Police have arrested two men for the brutal murder of a youth in South Delhi's Neb Sarai area, an official said on Tuesday.

The accused were identified as Devraj and Ayush Thapa, both residents of Devli village.

Sachin, a 23-year-old resident of Raju Park area, was stabbed on Monday by the two accused following a minor altercation.

He was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre but was declared brought dead.

"During the investigation, the crime scene was preserved by the local police and the CCTV camera installed in the area were analysed. A witness of the incident told police that while Sachin was being taken to the hospital, he said that Devraj and Ayush had stabbed him," said Chandan Chowdhary, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

Blood-stained clothes and weapons were recovered from the possession of the accused.

On interrogation, it was revealed that there was previous enmity between the accused and the victim regarding an argument that took place about a year ago.

"Sachin had passed continuous threats of dire consequences to the accused," said the DCP.
Lucknow, June 6 : Retired IPS officer D.K. Sharma, 73, shot himself dead with his service revolver on Tuesday morning.

The incident took place at his residence in Gomti Nagar.

The police have recovered a suicide note which said that he was suffering from depression due to prolonged illness.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Further details are awaited.
Ramallah, June 6 : A three-year-old Palestinian toddler who was shot at by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank last week, has succumbed to his injuries.

The toddler was shot in the head on June 1 while he was riding in a car with his father near the village of Nabi Saleh, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the hospital.

He was airlifted to the Sheba Hospital outside Tel Aviv in critical condition, reports Xinhua news agency.

The hospital announced his death in a statement on Monday, saying the cause was his gunshot injury.

The Israeli military said Palestinian gunmen in the area carried out a shooting attack at an Israeli settlement, before a soldier opened fire at the father's car after mistakenly identifying it as the source of the fire.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry in a statement condemned the incident, saying since early January, 28 children have been killed by Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli army has launched an investigation into the case.
Details added, first version published June 5, at 11:59

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan may set an upper limit on currency exchange operations carried out by persons who have received a license to operate in this area, Trend reports.

This is reflected in the proposed amendment to the law "On the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan", which was submitted for discussion at today's meeting of the Committee of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) on economic policy, industry and entrepreneurship.

A person wishing to carry out activities in this area must apply to the financial market supervisory authority to obtain a license. According to the draft, this supervisory authority may be the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.

The application must also be accompanied by a copy of the charter of a non-resident legal entity, the decision of the authorized management body on the establishment of a branch, the financial statements of a non-resident legal entity that has been audited for at least the last three financial years (and when creating a legal entity for less than three years) and the auditor's opinion.

According to the current legislation, a certificate was attached to the application stating that the founder (founders) had no criminal record for crimes in the field of economic activity, issued by the relevant executive authority. It is also a condition that the founder no longer has a criminal record for crimes in the economic field.

The application must also include information about the absence of the founder (founders or head of the executive body in the presence of a legal entity) of a criminal record for crimes in the economic sphere and, if the founder (head of the executive body in the presence of a legal entity) is a foreigner, then a certificate issued by the relevant state authorities of the resident country on the absence of he has a criminal record for crimes in the economic field and legalized in accordance with the procedure established by law.

The amendment reflects the requirement to include the following documents in the application:

- if the founder is a legal entity, information and documents containing its name, address, type of commercial activity, information covering at least the last 3 financial years (and when creating a legal entity for less than three years  the last financial year or years) and audited, as well as a copy of the decision of the authorized management body on the acquisition are required, the specified share of participation of this person;

- If the founder is a foreign legal entity - additionally legalized, a document confirming registration in the country of location, the charter (Regulations), financial statements and auditor's report that have been audited for at least the last three financial years (the last financial year or year if the legal entity was established in less than three years);

 if the founder is an individual - information and documents containing his surname, first name, patronymic and citizenship, data of the identity document, permanent residence, type of activity, and if the founder is a foreigner (except foreigners whose permanent residence is the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan), then additionally positive recommendations and/or bank statements from one or more financial institutions of the resident country;

- information and documents on the amount of the authorized (equity) capital, the share of each owner in the authorized (equity) capital and the source of funds allocated for the acquisition of the share;

- bank document on payment of the minimum authorized (equity) capital;

- information on the relationship between the participants and the beneficial owner(s) in the form established by the Central Bank;

- list of owners and persons (the head of the executive body, if he is a legal entity) performing managerial functions in connection with important participation shares;

- when considering an application for a license, the Central Bank may obtain information from independent and reliable sources, as well as from relevant state bodies (institutions) on the financial position of the owners of shares in the authorized (equity) capital of the applicant, the beneficial owners and the source of the authorized (equity) capital;

- state bodies (institutions) must provide the information requested by the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan within seven days. State bodies (institutions) cannot refuse to provide this information, referring to the fact that the requested information relates to commercial secrets, tax secrets or other confidential information protected by law, except for state secrets;

- this article also applies to persons wishing to subsequently obtain a significant share of the participation of a person who has received a license for currency exchange activities and is the beneficial owner;

- for the purposes of this Law, a criminal record of the relevant persons is established on the basis of a certificate issued by a body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority at the request of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Ankara, June 6 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has designated has appointed his chief presidential advisor and spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin as the new head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

Kalin assumes the role previously held by Hakan Fidan, who has been appointed as the Foreign Minister in Erdogan's new cabinet, reports Xinhua news agency.

Fidan had served as the chief of MIT since 2010.

Kalin, once a veteran career diplomat, has served in several senior positions in the Turkish government.

He became the first coordinator of the Prime Ministry Public Diplomacy Coordinatorship when it was established in 2010.

In 2012, he advanced to the position of deputy undersecretary of the Prime Ministry when Erdogan was Prime Minister.

Erdogan, as the president, entrusted Kalin with the responsibility of presidential press secretary in 2014, before appointing him as the chief advisor to the president in 2018.
Amritsar, June 6 : In a message to mark the 39th anniversary of the Indian Army's 'Operation Bluestar' in Amritsar, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Tuesday said scars of the 1984 attack make the Sikhs 'mazboot' (strong).

Amid heavy security build up, the anniversary was observed with the gathering of a large number of radicals and sympathisers, who started gathering ahead before dawn in the Golden Temple here.

However, it largely passed off peacefully.

The radicals raised pro-Khalistan and anti-government slogans and were later whisked away by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Task Force and Punjab Police deployed in plain clothes.

Except for the slogans by the hardliners, there were no signs of trouble at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikh religion located inside the shrine complex.

SGPC Task Force members and police personnel kept a close watch on the hardliners who tried to hijack the ceremony.

Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh gave a call to all Sikh sects to join hands to work for strengthening the 'Sikh shakti', especially in rural areas, indicating the rise of Christianity in villages close to the Pakistan border.

In a message delivered from the Akal Takht podium to commemorate the day, Giani Harpreet Singh said the scars of 1984 attack makes the Sikhs 'amazboot' (strong), not 'majboor' (helpless).

"Sikhs could never forget the wounds of 1984. Much was being publicised on social media in a defamatory term giving stance of 1984. I want to clarify that it boosts our strength," he said, while appealing to the Sikh missionaries to shun their differences and come on one platform and preach Sikhism jointly, especially in the remote rural areas where the Sikhs felt dejected.

"We have to take the 'patits' (Sikhs with shorn or cut hair) back to the Sikh fold," the Jathedar was categorically clear in saying.

For this, he hinted to the SGPC for inculcating the values of Sikhism in youngsters so that they stop cutting their hair short.

Operation Bluestar was a military action ordered by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to flush out militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale holed up in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.

It was carried out between June 1 and 8, 1984, and claimed several lives and left the shrine and complex damaged.

Sikh radical group Dal Khalsa organised a rally in the city to commemorate the day and in support of Khalistan.

Tight security across Punjab has been observed with the radical outfit calling for Amritsar shut down.

Akal Takht had already directed the SGPC to ensure that the sanctity of the Golden Temple is not be disturbed during the Operation Bluestar anniversary.

Paramilitary forces and Punjab Police personnel were keeping a close watch in different parts of Amritsar, especially around the Golden Temple complex. Prayers were held that started on Sunday and concluded on Tuesday at the Akal Takht inside the Golden Temple complex.

To commemorate the day, the holy saroop (scripture) of the Guru Granth Sahib "injured" in the 1984 attack was adorned for the devotees by the SGPC in Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh to pay obeisance.

The SGPC President said the Sikh community can never forget the pain of the June 1984 holocaust.

"This day is very grave and emotional for the Sikh community, and the Sikhs should pay tributes to the martyrs as per its sentiments,a said SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami in a message.
June 06 : Riding high on the success and critical acclaim of her latest release, Asur 2, Ridhi Dogra is eagerly awaiting the release of her next offering, Badtameez Dil, releasing on 9th June.

With back-to-back releases  Asur 2 and Badtameez Dil in June  Ridhi Dogra feels quite excited to showcase her brilliant portrayal of two different characters to the audience and her fans! While she walked away with huge accolades for her stellar performance in Asur 2 that released on June 1 on Jio Cinema, she is looking forward to Badtameez Dil alongside Barun Sobti releasing on June 9 on Amazon Mini TV.

The impressive trailer of Badtameez Dil launched recently sees the prolific performer in a fresh, bubbly avatar. Apart from her sizzling on-screen chemistry with Barun Sobti, Ridhi has been hugely praised for her impressive look, impressive dialogue delivery and incredible performance as her character Liz in the series.

The trailer of Badtameez Dil came with a lot of reasons for Ridhis fans to shower their love for her that have flooded the social media universe with immense love from her huge fan army  Ridhian. From dropping in the comments to praise her acting potential to referring to her as the new Crush to praising her amazing dialogue delivery in the character of Liz, Ridhi totally captured the hearts of the audience.

Starting 2023 with Lakadbagga in January this year, followed by Asur 2 and Badtameez Dil, this year is going to be the most exciting one for Ridhi, as she has an impressive line-up including Tiger 3 and Jawan amongst others.
Kochi, June 6 : The principal of Maharaja's Government College, Ernakulam in Kerala has filed a complaint against a former student after it was found that she had used a fake certificate of experience and sought a teaching job as a Guest Lecturer at a government college in Wayanad.

The complaint has been registered against Kasargod resident K.Vidya, a former student of the college who did her MA in Malayalam during 2016 - 2018 at the Maharaja's College.

The principal told the media that it was on Monday that a teacher from the Government College in Wayanad got in touch with them about a candidate who had appeared for the post of Guest Lecturer in Malayalam.

"Her certificate showed that she was teaching as a Guest Lecturer here during 2018-19 and 2020-21. On perusal of our records it was found out that this college had not sought the services of any guest lecturer in the Malayalam department in the past one decade," said the principal.

"Then we checked the certificate of experience and here too it was shown as signed by the Principal/Head of Department. No certificates are issued by the head of departments in this college. The seal and the emblem are all fake. After doing all this we registered a complaint against Vidya with the local police," added the principal.

Meanwhile, the Congress backed student organisation, KSU, has begun a protest and blamed that the CPI(M) backed student organisation, SFI, was behind this fake certificate racket.

Vidya after her Master's degree had joined the Sanskrit University at Kalady and finished her M.Phil. She at the same time was a leading SFI student's activist.

Mohammed Shiyas, the Ernakulam district Congress committee president, said the woman is a close friend of a now leading SFI office-bearer.

"This is the work of the CPI(M), which will go to any extent to help their cadres, and this is a clear case of fraud being done and using the government influence wrongly," said Shiyas.

It has now come to light that Vidya by using this fake certificate had taught at government colleges at Kasaragod and Palakkad.
Bengaluru, June 6 : Police in Bengaluru have launched a hunt for a man from Delhi who allegedly murdered his girlfriend here and tried to make it appear like suicide.

The case came to light in the limits of Jeevan Bheema Nagar in Bengaluru on Monday night.

Akanksha Vidyasagar (23), a native of Hyderabad, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The accused has been identified as Arpit from New Delhi.

Police said the two were living together for a while but had recently developed differences. They fought and decided to separate.

An argument between the couple turned violent on Monday evening and in a fit of rage, Arpit strangled Akanksha to death.

In a statement on Tuesday, Additional Commissioner (East) M. Chandrashekar said that Akanksha worked at a private company, adding that "we are suspecting the role of her friend. The police have formed four teams to nab the accused".

The accused had tried to create a scene after committing the murder to make it look like a case of suicide, he said.

Arpit had attempted to hang her to the ceiling fan, but failed, Chandrashekar said.

According to the police, after making a futile attempt to hang the body, Arpit escaped from the scene.

The incident came to light after another roommate came to the house following a night shift.
New Delhi, June 6: When Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir was abroad, a well-oiled rebellion on May 9 nearly breached the military's citadel, with simultaneous attacks on key icons of the army including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Lahore corps commander's residence.

Though details are still sketchy, India Narrative has learnt that the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza and other corps commanders played a key role in preventing the steamrolling of the top military leadership by the saboteurs, who had anticipated insider support.

Pak insiders told IN that simultaneously with the attacks, over 26000 people had taken to streets for the "revolution".

But after breaking the onslaught, 7000-10000 people are in detention while 471 people have been docked for violence.

Though the back of the revolt has been broken, it is learnt that ex-PM Imran Khan and his supporters are still suffering from the illusion that a mutiny will remove Army Chief Asim Munir this month.

In fact, a full ecosystem comprising influential sections of the Punjab bureaucracy and higher judiciary, particularly like-minded judges of Lahore High court, Islamabad High court and junior Punjab judges share this, and similar perceptions.

Consequently, they are providing immediate relief to PTI leaders involved in May 09 Mayhem.

For those engaged in rooting out Khan's network, dismantling the ex-PM's eco-system in Punjab is turning out to be a tough ask.

It has now come to light that either because of fear of the Khan's return, or patronage, Punjab police has deliberately prepared weak cases against the indicted for the May 9 mayhem. In deepening PTI roots in Punjab, former Chief Minister, Parvez Elahi, now behind the bars played a key role in investing in the police, bureaucracy and judiciary.

PTI's influence in the Punjab judiciary became transparent in the case of Yasmin Rashid. Rashid was visibly involved on the attack at the Lahore corps commander's residence, but was discharged by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on June 3.

This is despite the availability of video clips showing Rashid exhorting crowds going towards Jinnah House, the Corps Commander's residence.

Pakistani daily News International is reporting that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that had been formed after the May 9 attacks had included Rashid's name in the Jinnah House attack case. But in the FIR, her presence was shown only outside the Jinnah House.

At a press conference, Punjab IGP Punjab, Usman Anwar said at a conference that the acquittal of Rashid, who he said had made 41 calls during the Jinnah House attack, will be challenged at a higher court.

Notwithstanding the obstacles, the military stands united, a key factor that seals the ex-Prime Minister's fate, and makes his arrest inevitable.

There only one sting in the tail. Will Khan leverage his considerable influence abroad to manage an asylum overseas when his back is completely against the wall? (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, June 6: Western nations and Afghan stakeholders will meet in Norway in mid-June to discuss Afghanistan's current situation and the Taliban's governance issues - which will complete two years in power this August.

To be held in Norwegian capital Oslo, the meeting will also discuss the promises the Taliban made to the international community since it took over the reins of power in the aftermath of the US and NATO withdrawal post the US-Taliban peace accord in Doha, Qatar, in February 2020.

With the meeting, the Western nations want to keep the doors of dialogue open with the Taliban in a bid to persuade it to join the mainstream of global governance. Currently, the Taliban has not been given recognition by the world over keeping minorities out of governance and disallowing girls and women from education and work.

Norway has been at the forefront of holding discussions concerning the developments in Afghanistan.

The Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Jan Egeland recently travelled to Kandahar in Afghanistan to speak with Taliban leaders about allowing women to work. The Taliban administration had prohibited women from working in international aid and UN organisations in compliance with Islamic laws.

In January 2022, Norway had invited a 15-member Taliban delegation for talks with Western diplomats, inviting questions whether it was providing legitimacy to the ostracised group. Norwegian diplomats, however, defended the closed-door talks as icebreaking, saying these would pave the way for an improvement in the human rights situation in the country, which faces one of its worst humanitarian conditions due to natural disasters, reduced aid and a boycott of the Taliban regime.

More recently, leaders of the European Union (EU) and Central Asian Region (CAR) met in Kyrgyzstan to discuss, among other things, how to stabilise the situation in the landlocked nation. They shared their worries over the export of terrorism from Afghanistan even as they stressed on the need for more humanitarian aid for the Afghan people.

Barely a month back, India had joined a two-day closed-door conference on Afghanistan with 20 other countries led by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the Afghan crisis. Worried over the deteriorating situation in the South Asian nation, the UN organised the meeting in Doha, Qatar, along with the US, Russia, China and other nations.

With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, nations have voiced apprehensions over international peace and security, including the illicit drug trade and the proliferation of terrorism. Afghanistan's close relations have eroded considerably with regular border clashes with eastern neighbour Pakistan.

Along with security, countries have been voicing their fears over the deteriorating conditions for the people due to conflict, droughts and an unstable economy. Thousands of Afghans have been leaving the country in a desperate bid to head to Europe and as far as the US.

The $7 billion of modern weapon systems left behind by the US during its hasty withdrawal too has spread unease among its neighbours.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Tripoli, June 6 : The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that 900 migrants, including 39 women and 14 children, were rescued and returned to Libya during the past week.

The IOM said the migrants were intercepted by Libyan authorities and returned to the country from May 28 to June 3, reports Xinhua news agency.

So far this year, a total of 6,684 undocumented migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya, IOM said.

The UN body added that 651 migrants died and 332 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the central Mediterranean route in 2023.

The IOM also noted that 24,684 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2022, while 525 migrants lost their lives and 848 others went missing along the central Mediterranean route off the country's coast.

Because of the instability and chaos in the North African country since the fall of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya.
New Delhi, June 6 : The availability of a functional toilet in India has led to a significant reduction in sexual assault of women.

This was the opinion of a majority of respondents during an exclusive survey conducted by CVoter Foundation in late April across India.

More than 60 per cent of the respondents answered in the affirmative to the question: Has there been a reduced incidence of sexual assaults on females after getting a toilet in your area? While three out of every five Indian agrees, about one in every five thinks that there has been no reduction in sexual assaults on women.

Before the launch of the Swach Bharat programme in 2014, young girls and females were vulnerable to molestation and rape while going out to defecate in the open during early morning or in the dark after sunset.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed this aspect while launching the mission to make India free of open defecation. This was a serious problem for females particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.

The exclusive survey conducted by CVoter Foundation across India was initiated to find out success and failures of the Swach Bharat campaign. To make the survey more representative of reality on the ground, all the respondents came from the lower income background, with incomes below Rs 3000 per month.

The underlying assumption is that it is the very poor who defecate the most in the open. The NHFS-5 series data for 2021 confirms this it's the two poorest states Bihar and Jharkhand reporting the highest rates of open defecation. Not surprisingly, the two states continue to suffer from high numbers of assault on women who have to go to the fields for defecation.

CVoter Foundation will expand the initial scope of this survey into a larger one which will facilitate a state wise ranking on the issue.
London, June 6 : Calling the Illegal Migration Bill "cruel" and "unworkable", London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the UK's Home Secretary Suella Braverman that more than 50,000 people will be at risk of homelessness in the British capital if it becomes a law.

In a letter to the Indian-origin Home Secretary, Khan said the bill "would do significant damage to vulnerable people seeking sanctuary and put already-stretched services in London on crisis footing", the Evening Standard reported.

Proposals under the Illegal Migration Bill, introduced in Parliament this year, would stop people entering the country in unauthorised boats across the English Channel.

In addition, they will be detained and then promptly removed -- either to their home country or to a safe third country.

While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sought to frame the bill as a move to stop traffickers from taking advantage of prospective immigrants, the Mayor warned that it could "end up handing power to human traffickers, undermine crucial child protections, and leave people in immigration limbo, rather than have their requests for sanctuary heard".

"It is clear that the current asylum system is broken and this bill will serve only to deepen the challenge, which could result in 50,000 people over the next three years left in London, unable to access support, work or legitimate avenues to fend for themselves," Khan wrote to Braverman.

Of those arriving illegally via small boats, Indians form a sizable chunk with the country recently witnessing a spike in their numbers.

The Home Office data showed that 683 Indians arrived in the UK on small boats in 2022, as compared to 67 in 2021.

The majority of "irregular arrivals" from India were men in between the ages of 25 and 40, out of a total of 45,755 in 2022, which included Albanian, Afghan, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.

According to an assessment by UK-based charity Refugee Council of the consequences of the first three years of implementation of the Illegal Migration Bill, over 190,000 people could be locked up or forced into destitution under the government's new crackdown on desperate people seeking safety and sanctuary.

As many as 45,000 children could be locked up in the UK, after having their asylum claims deemed inadmissible, and around 9 billion pounds will be spent over three years on locking up refugees in detention centres and accommodating people who can't be removed to other countries.

While provisions in the bill say that people who arrive illegally will be detained for 28 days before they are deported, Braverman had said there will be a few exceptions for children, people who are medically unfit to fly, or those who are at risk.

Once deported, the individuals will be banned from returning to the UK or applying for British citizenship in the future.

The Refugee Council said there is little to no evidence to suggest this new plan will be an effective deterrent to people crossing the Channel in small boats.

While the Opposition Labour has raised doubts about the legality and feasibility of the bill, the Liberal Democrats said the Conservatives have drawn up "another half-baked plan".
Added details, first published at 09:35

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Units of the Armenian Armed Forces from positions located in the direction of the settlements of Istisu, Geysu Basarkechar district, opened fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani army in Kalbajar district, Gedabey district from 22:50 (GMT+4) on June 5 to 04:40 (GMT+4) on June 6, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The units of the Azerbaijani army have taken adequate response measures.

Moreover, members of illegal Armenian armed formations attempted to establish long-term fortifications in front of the positions of Azerbaijani army in Aghdam, Khojavend, Fuzuli and Kalbajar districts, however the plans failed, thanks to urgent measures taken by Azerbaijani army.
Moscow, June 6 : Russia's GDP is projected to grow by 1 per cent this year, accompanied by an anticipated increase in real income for the population, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Tuesday.

"Russia fully complies with its budgetary obligations," Siluanov said.

"In terms of the economy, we expect growth within 1 per cent, plus or minus," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

The real income of the population began to rise at the end of 2022 and this trend is expected to continue this year, according to Siluanov.

"Despite all the sanctions, the government's main task is to ensure that people do not feel the impact and are able to maintain a standard of living no lower than it was before all these restrictions. We have been successful in achieving this," the Finance Minister said.

The growth in GDP has been facilitated by a well-balanced budget policy, the accumulation of reserves in the National Wealth Fund, proactive industrial strategies, and supportive measures for citizens, he added.
Pilibhit : , June 6 (IANS) A bench of the child welfare committee (CWC) in Pilibhit has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) Atul Sharma to register an FIR against a man who allegedly slammed his two-day-old newborn on the floor, leading to the girl's death.

The man was expecting a male child after two daughters.

A written complaint in the matter was filed to the inspector (crime), Umesh Kumar, posted at Puranpur Kotwali police station on May 31 by the baby's maternal grandmother.

However, police did not lodge an FIR maintaining that the issue was resolved between the husband and the wife by virtue of an amicable compromise.

The wife, Shabbo Begum, 28, of Sirsa village had filed an oral complaint and said that "she wanted her husband punished". She alleged that her husband, Mohammad Farhan, 32, barged into the maternity house along with a few persons in late evening hours on May 31 and compelled her to sign the compromise under the threat of her killing.

"The complete negligence of the police in lodging an FIR in the matter is something surprising as a child welfare officer is designated at every police station across the state to ensure the protection of children and infants. This officer was expected to take an immediate 'suo moto' cognisance of the heinous murder of the newborn," said Babita Saxena, a senior criminal lawyer and magistrate at CWC in Pilibhit.

The SP said, "I will get the matter probed as soon as I receive the letter and will take further action based on the concerned report."
New York, June 6 : Patients infected with Beta and Delta Covid-19 variants, and those who required hospital stays for the infection, are more likely to experience heart issues associated with long Covid, according to a recent study.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, Cardiovascular Imaging, showed that patients recovering from the Omicron variant were least likely to have microvascular involvement.

Microvascular dysfunction is a type of non-obstructive coronary artery disease that causes the small blood vessels feeding the heart muscle to not work as they should.

"This new data expands our understanding of myocardial flow reserve as an important prognostic marker in general and specifically in Covid-19," said Mouaz Al-Mallah, corresponding author and director of cardiovascular PET at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in the US.

"This is good news for individuals who had Omicron and are concerned about long Covid. Patients with lingering symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath following a severe infection may want to have a PET scan with blood flow assessment to check for microvascular dysfunction," Al-Mallah said.

The study included 271 cases matched to 815 controls and found that microvascular dysfunction started to be seen less often after nine months to one year following infection suggesting that this type of abnormality may be reversible.

The American Society for Nuclear Cardiology's PET scan guidelines now recommend including blood flow assessment routinely.

Last year, Al-Mallah and team published an initial study in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging examining the coronary microvasculature health of 393 patients, including 101 with prior Covid infection who had lingering symptoms. This was the first study linking reduced blood flow reserve in the heart and Covid.

With over 600 million confirmed cases and nearly seven million deaths, the Covid-19 pandemic has left a lasting mark on the world. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) ended the global health emergency declaration in May, long Covid remains largely a mystery.

According to Al-Mallah, more studies are needed to further assess the microvascular health of patients with prior Covid and identify how these findings could influence patient care in the context of long-haul Covid.
President Droupadi Murmu witnessed a cultural programme and addressed the gathering at an event to commemorate the 150 years of arrival of Indians in Paramaribo.(photo:@rashtrapatibhvn) Image Source: IANS News

President Droupadi Murmu witnessed a cultural programme and addressed the gathering at an event to commemorate the 150 years of arrival of Indians in Paramaribo.(photo:@rashtrapatibhvn) Image Source: IANS News

President Droupadi Murmu witnessed a cultural programme and addressed the gathering at an event to commemorate the 150 years of arrival of Indians in Paramaribo.(photo:@rashtrapatibhvn) Image Source: IANS News

President Droupadi Murmu witnessed a cultural programme and addressed the gathering at an event to commemorate the 150 years of arrival of Indians in Paramaribo.(photo:@rashtrapatibhvn) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, June 6 : President Droupadi Murmu announced that India has decided to extend the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card up from the fourth to the sixth generation of the original Indian immigrants who had arrived in Suriname from Indian territories.

She made this announcement on Monday after witnessing a cultural festival in capital Paramaribo on the occasion of the commemoration of 150 years of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

She said that the OCI card can be seen as an important link in their 150 year old relationship with India.

The President urged members of the Indian diaspora to continue to make efforts to maintain their connections with India.

President Murmu said that at a time when Suriname is celebrating the legacy of its ancestors and its links with India, India stands with Suriname in solidarity and reverence.

Murmu further noted that both Suriname and India have made efforts to rebuild their economies and social systems after a long period of colonial rule.

"This experience has created a feeling of solidarity between the two countries," she said.

The first ship -- Lalla Rookh -- carrying 452 Indian labourers, had arrived in Suriname's capital Paramaribo on June 5, 1873.

Most of the labourers hailed from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Mumbai, June 6 : Actress Swara Bhasker on Tuesday announced that she and her politician husband Fahad Ahmad are all set to welcome their first bundle of joy with a string on pictures.

She took to Twitter posting a picture with her husband and announced the news to her followers. She also shared a glimpse of her blooming baby bump.

"Sometimes all your prayers are answered all together! Blessed, grateful, excited (and clueless!) as we step into a whole new world! @FahadZirarAhmad #comingsoon #Family #Newarrival #gratitude #OctoberBaby," she tweeted.

Swara and Fahad got married in February in court under the Special Marriage Act. The actor announced about her marriage to Ahmad on social media with a video of the couple.

In March, they had a series of celebrations with ceremonies, such as mehendi, sangeet and qawwali night events.
New Delhi, June 6 : Despite increasing efforts to protect critical infrastructure and train employees on cybersecurity protocols, human error still makes up the overwhelming majority of incidents, accounting for 74 per cent of total security breaches across industries globally, a new report said on Tuesday.

According to the US-based telecommunications company Verizon, one of the most common methods of exploiting human nature is social engineering, which refers to manipulating an organisation's sensitive information through techniques such as phishing, in which a hacker persuades the user to click on a malicious link or attachment.

"Senior leadership represents a growing cybersecurity threat for many organisations," said Chris Novak, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Consulting at Verizon Business.

"With the growth and increasing sophistication of social engineering, organisations must enhance the protection ofAtheir senior leadership now to avoid expensive system intrusions," he added.

Moreover, the report mentioned that the median cost per ransomware incident doubled over the past two years, with 95 per cent of ransomware incidents that experienced a loss costing between $1 million and $2.25 million.

In 2022, the number of ransomware attacks was greater than in the previous five years combined.

Representing almost a quarter of all breaches (24 per cent), ransomware remains one of the top cyberattack methods.

Like ransomware, social engineering is a lucrative tactic for cybercriminals, especially as it is increasingly being used to impersonate employees of businesses to gain financial benefits, a type of attack known as Business Email Compromise (BEC).

The median amount stolen in BECs has increased over the last couple of years to $50,000, which might have contributed to pretexting nearly doubling this past year.
Patna, June 6 : At least 35 people from Bihar lost their lives in the triple-train accident in Odisha.

According to the Bihar Disaster Management department, apart from those killed, 50 others are among the injured, while 22 still remain missing.

While issuing the data issued on Tuesday, the Disaster Management department official said that nine of the deceased hailed from Muzaffarpur district, Madhubani- 7, Bhagalpur-4, Purnea and east Champaran-2 each, Nawada-2, West Champaran-2 , Darbhanga-2, Jamui-2, Samastipur-1, Banka-1 and one from Begusarai.

He further said that the 50 injured have been admitted in different hospitals of Balasore, Bhadrak, and Cuttack.

On June 2, three trains -- Coromandel express, Bangalore-Howrah express and a goods train -- collided with each other at Bahnaga railway station in Balasore district around 6 p.m. claiming 278 lives and leaving over 1100 injured.

The Shalimar Kolkata-Chennai Coromandel express rammed into a goods train, while Yeshwantpur Howrah super fast express ploughed into the derailed boggies of Coromandel express leading to a massive disaster.
Lucknow, June 6 : Samajwadi Party national general secretary Shivpal Yadav has said that there was no need to be scared of the BJP which is itself afraid of the SP and its cadres.

"The BJP is scared of SP. There is no reason why SP and its workers should be afraid of the BJP," he said on Tuesday.

Shivpal said that the Lok Sabha polls were round the corner and it was about time that party workers did away with factionalism to fight the BJP in polls.

He said, "The BJP government is not as strong as it pretends to be. You open a front against the officials and they get scared. I know BJP and its government more closely than anyone else. The moment you will take a position before them, they will step back. So, we have to take up issues and stand by them. But we need to end factionalism within us. Once we do that, no one can defeat us." If the cadres at the grassroots level have any grievances, they must raise them vociferously.

"Take it up with the state president and the national president. In case the issue is not addressed in one go, take it up again. The leadership is there for you," he said.

Shivpal said the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll was an example of how the SP stood together and the BJP was unable to use any of its tricks to win the elections.
Chennai, June 6 : The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday lashed out at a petitioner who appealed for the translocation of rogue elephant 'Arikomban' to Kerala.

Petitioner Rebecca Joseph had prayed for translocating the elephant to Mathikettan Shola forests in Kerala.

The bench comprising Justices L. Subramanian and Victoria Gouri observed that this was not a PIL and that the petitioner was seeking publicity at the expense of the court. The division bench said that it cannot order the transfer of the elephant here or there.

The petitioner had prayed for an immediate and urgent action on the matter, but the court said that they were not experts in the elephant matter and that it would be transferred to the forest bench of the Madras High Court.

The rogue wild tusker, 'Arikomban'' which was transferred from Chinnakanal forest area in Idukki district of Kerala on April 29 by the Kerala forest department to the Periyar Tiger Reserve(PTR) had ventured into the Cumbum town in Tamil Nadu's Theni district. The presence of elephants in the town frightened people and in the midst of the commotion a security officer, Palraj, got hit by the tusker while he was riding a two-wheeler. He fell down and later succumbed to injuries in a hospital.

This led to the Tamil Nadu forest department deciding to capture the elephant and on Monday it was tranquilized and brought to Tirunelveli forest range.
Patna, June 6 : Under fire over the Khagaria-Bhagalpur bridge collapse, the Bihar government on Tuesday asserted that the construction company concerned will be made to reverse the payment.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who is also holding the portfolio of road construction ministry, clarified that the state will recover the money from the construction company after the mishap.

"We have served a notice to the construction company and recovered the money from it. The bank deposit will also be seized once the reply from their side comes. The Bihar government has already initiated an inquiry into the matter. IIT Roorkee has also been roped in for investigation. Once the report is out, strongest possible action would be taken against the company and the engineers involved," Yadav said.

"It is a dream project of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and we will construct a new bridge in a time-bound manner," he stated.

"When I was the leader of opposition last year, I raised this point in the Vidhan Sabha. At that time, the then road construction minister Nitin Navin had given the responsibility to IIT Roorkee to investigate the bridge. So, we are waiting for the report," he said.

"We have served the notice to the construction company and sought its reply in 15 days. After that, the Bihar government will take action against it," he said.

According to sources, the Bihar government is preparing to impose a fine on the company to the tune of Rs 600 crore and also seize the bank deposit of Rs 200 crore.

Reacting to the BJP leaders' demand for a CBI probe, Tejashwi took a dig at them saying that CBI officials are not engineers so how can they investigate the civil work of the bridge.

"After the first collapse of the bridge, we did the review meeting and gave clear directions to the construction company for the construction," Yadav said.

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the finance minister of Bihar said: "The bridge was weak right from the beginning and hence it collapsed. Our government is sensitive to this issue and will take strong action against the culprits." "As soon as our chief minister learnt about the bridge, he directed the officials to go on the spot and take action against the accused. The deputy CM and department secretary had briefed the media persons the same day," Chaudhary said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Additional funds in the amount of 2.2 billion manat ($1.2 billion) are planned to be allocated for expenses related to accelerating construction, restoration and reconstruction work in Azerbaijans Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur districts, Trend reports.

Within the updated state budget for 2023, the expenditures should amount to 5.2 billion manat ($3 billion). The matter is currently under discussion at today's meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament).

It is proposed to approve the revenues of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023 in the amount of 33.7 billion manat ($19.8 billion), expenditures - 36.5 billion manat ($21.4 billion).
Wellington, June 6 : New Zealand Chris Hipkins on Tuesday announced that his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka has arrived in the country, marking his official visit in 25 years.

"Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998 over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again," Hipkins said.

New Zealand and Fiji have a long-standing relationship based on close cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as climate change, and ensuring a safe, secure and economically prosperous Pacific region, Xinhua news agency quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

While in New Zealand, Rabuka will undertake a series of formal engagements in Auckland and Wellington, including bilateral meetings and a ceremonial visit to the National War Memorial and Pacific War Memorial.

Rabuka was first democratically elected as Prime Minister of Fiji, serving from 1992 to 1999, and again in 2022, leading a three-party coalition.
New Delhi, June 6 : As a part of the ongoing probe into the sexual harassment case, the Delhi Police visited the residence of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda and recorded the statements of his associates and workers, an official said on Tuesday.

"We had visited Gonda as a part of investigation and recorded the statements of Singh's associates and workers, including the driver at his house. The team checked their IDs and noted their addresses while recording the statements. We are collecting evidence and collaborating with victims' statements," said the senior police official privy to the investigation.

Once all the evidence is collected, a report will be submitted in court, he added.

Meanwhile, the official also said that the 17-year-old wrestler on whose complaint a case under POCSO act was registered at Connaught Place police station against Singh, has now recorded a fresh statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the magistrate in court.

Refusing to divulge more details, the official said that as the case is very sensitive, only limited information can be shared.
New Delhi, June 6 : Zoop, an IRCTC-approved train meal delivery partner, has announced the availability of a Google Chatbot for train food delivery. To place food orders on the train, follow their PNR status, and order within the conversation, railway travellers may simply google "Zoop India" and click on the "Chat" option.

From checking the PNR Status on Google Chats to selecting their desired items to track their orders, users can carry out the entire process without the app or website. They can even register complaints and get them resolved promptly with AI assistance.

Puneet Sharma, Founder, Zoop, comments "Our goal is to provide our customers with quality meals from a wide variety of options, including full-course meals, snacks, and drinks. Upon ordering, passengers can track the progress of their orders in real-time. Thus, Zoop not only offers convenience but also flexibility, as travellers can choose to order anything from a light snack to a full meal. With the introduction of Google chatbot, passengers don't have to choose between pantry car snacks or waiting until getting off the train to get a good meal." The entire food ordering process is very smooth and user-friendly. Here's how to use the Zoop Google Chat for Indian Railways: Type "Zoop India" on the Google search bar

Select the "Chat" option - this will open a pop-up for a chat with a live agent

Select "Check PNR Status" or "Order Food" as per your needs.

Zoop is providing a welcome solution for passengers who want to enjoy their meals without worrying about extra luggage or having to leave their seats. By bringing efficiency, convenience, and flexibility to train travel, it is enabling travellers to order food directly via Google Chat while on board, providing an increasingly convenient and efficient way to enjoy meals during long trips.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 6 : The Museum Mile Festival, New York City's largest block celebration, will celebrate its 45th anniversary on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors to the festival can stroll Fifth Avenue between 82nd and 110th Streets and stop by eight of New York City's best cultural organisations, all of which are free and accessible to the general public all evening.

Museum Mile received its name because of the cultural diversity and vast richness of the museums located on the stretch of the Upper East Side. Since its inception, upwards of two million visitors have come from all over the country to take part in this annual celebration. Participating museums include (listed in order of location along Fifth Avenue, south to north): The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Neue Galerie New York; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; The Jewish Museum; Museum of the City of New York; El Museo del Barrio; and The Africa Center. As well, additional programming will be presented by (south to north): The Asia Society; Church of the Heavenly Rest; AKC Museum of the Dog; New York Academy of Medicine; and The People's Bus. Registration is not required. Visitors can see any of the museums along the 28-block stretch of Fifth Avenue with free admission for all.

Special exhibitions and works from permanent collections are on view inside the museums' galleries, with live music and art-making workshops on Fifth Avenue at selected museums, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (81-86th Streets) hosts a silent dance party, art-making, and more throughout the night, as well as a musical performance by Mariachi Real de Mexico to end the evening.

Neue Galerie New York (86th Street) presents an outdoor pop-up, featuring activities and information about the museum's collections of early twentieth-century Austrian and German art and design, and its historic building, which will reopen in September 2023.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (88th Street) invites visitors to enjoy five exhibitions -- Gego: Measuring Infinity, Sarah Sze: Timelapse, Young Picasso in Paris, A Year with Children 2023, and the Thannhauser Collection. The museum will also host a series of outdoor art-making activities using sustainable materials.

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (91st Street) will present its latest exhibition, Give Me a Sign: The Language of Symbols, which examines the fascinating histories behind many of the symbols that instruct, protect, entertain, empower and connect people. Also on view will be Designing Peace, which explores the unique role design can play in pursuing peace.

The Jewish Museum (92nd Street) hosts an outdoor musical performance by Dingonek Street Band and a drop-in art-making activity, as well as exhibitions including The Sassoons and After "The Wild": Contemporary Art from The Barnett and Annalee Newman Foundation Collection.

Museum of the City of New York (103rd-104th Streets) kicks off the festival with a ceremony and a special performance from the Tony-nominated Broadway show, New York, New York, in celebration of the Museum's centennial. Attendees can get a first look at This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture, its epic new exhibition.

El Museo del Barrio (104th Street) presents Something Beautiful: Reframing La Coleccion, the Museum's most ambitious presentation of its Collection in more than two decades, as well as a live musical performance by Afro Dominicano, along with music by DJ Jomero; and The Africa Center (110th Street) features West African band Kakande, led by Famoro Dioubate, along with art workshops by illustrators from the diaspora and a first look at the Black Future Newstand, an interactive installation created by The Black Thought Project and Media 2070.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 6 : The Delhi High Court has issued a restraining order against Dabur, an Indian multinational consumer goods company, prohibiting the circulation of its WhatsApp advertisement featuring Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone for "Dabur Amla Hair Oil." A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla passed the order in response to a lawsuit filed by Marico Limited seeking an ad interim injunction to prevent Dabur from circulating or forwarding its WhatsApp and print advertisements for Amla hair oil.

It also claimed that Dabur's advertisement disparaged the reputation and goodwill of its product, "Nihar Natural Shanti Badam Amla Hair Oil," and its registered "Nihar" trademarks.

The court stated that Marico failed to establish a prima facie case against the print advertisement but did demonstrate a prima facie case regarding the WhatsApp message/advertisement.

Regarding the print advertisement, Marico argued that Dabur's opening statement, "Yaad Rakhna, Sasta Amla, balo ko mehenga padega" (Remember, cheap Amla will cost your hair a lot), was alarming and threatened consumers, suggesting that other inexpensive Amla hair oils were inferior and harmful calling it generic disparagement.

While the court declined to injunct the print advertisement, it restrained Dabur and its associates from circulating the WhatsApp message or advertisement for Amla hair oil during the pendency of Marico's lawsuit.

Regarding the absence of any explicit reference to Marico in the challenged print advertisement, the court stated that any such reference would require a leap of imagination, which it deemed unwarranted.

The court viewed the advertisement as merely suggesting potential negative consequences of using cheaper Amla hair oils in terms of quality and price.

Justice Chawla also emphasised that an advertisement should be evaluated from the perspective of an ordinary consumer, who would likely view it as a puffery rather than from the standpoint of a sensitive competitor like Marico.

The court concluded that the advertisement merely expressed an opinion that purchasing cheaper Amla hair oil might be harmful to the hair, but it was not defamatory towards all hair oils of lower price compared to Marico's product.

Regarding the circulation of the challenged WhatsApp advertisement, the court noted that the ordinary consumer would not have access to both the WhatsApp message/advertisement and the print advertisement simultaneously. The connection between the two could only be made by individuals who received the WhatsApp advertisement alongside the print advertisement.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Congress has again targeted the Centre for recommending a CBI probe into the Odisha train tragedy and also accused it of shifting the focus away from its "failures" by bringing in new conspiracy theories.

Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters on Tuesday, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said: "Instead of finding out what caused this grave accident, the government is now spinning conspiracy theories and shifting the focus away from the issue of safety." She added that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should take moral responsibility and step down.

"Once again the Modi government is shifting the focus away from its own 'failures'. The government has refused to prioritise the safety of citizens.

"The reality is, accidents are happening because safety of passengers is not the priority of this government," Shrinate added.

Taking a swipe at the Centre, she said that it had transferred the probe of the 2016 Patna-Indore Express and 2017 Andhra train derailment to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

However, even after seven years, the NIA is yet to file a chargesheet in both cases, the spokesperson claimed.

She said the two accidents claimed the lives of around 200 people.

The Congress leader further said that Railway experts should probe the June 2 Balasore train tragedy and the Centre must not involve any of the central probe agency to divert attention from the incident.

Firing salvos at the government for recommending the CBI probe, she said: "Will the CBI find out why the budget for track repair and laying of new tracks which was Rs 9,607 crore in 2018-19 reduced to Rs 7,417 crores in 2019-20? "Will the CBI find out why only one zone was allowed to speak in the Rail Chintan Shivir when every zone was supposed to speak on security and why the focus in this camp was on 'Vande Bharat' Express trains. Will the CBI find out why the funding of the National Rail Safety Fund has been reduced by 79 per cent? Will the CBI find out why the annual budget of Rs 20,000 crore was not allocated to the National Rail Safety Fund, as promised? "Will the CBI find out why more than 3 lakh posts are lying vacant in the Railway department? Will CBI find out why the loco pilots are being made to work for more than 12 hours?"

On Monday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns about the safety of passengers.

In his letter, Kharge wrote, "The devastating train accident in Balasore, Odisha, one of the worst in Indian history, has shocked the nation.The train accident has been an 'eye opener' for all of us. All the 'empty' safety claims of the Railway Minister (Vaishnaw) have now been exposed." The Railway Ministry had earlier ruled out driver error or a malfunction in the interlocking system, and said that all angles are being probed extensively to come to the exact conclusion how this happened.

On Sunday, while speaking to the media, Vaishnaw said that the railway board has recommended a CBI probe into the horrifying accident which left 278 people dead and around 1,000 others injured.

Vaishnaw also said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.
Mumbai, June 6 : Actor Sohum Shah, who is receiving a lot of positive response for his work in the recently released streaming series 'Dahaad, plays a cop in the series. The actor, who earlier played a CBI officer in the 2015 Irrfan-starrer 'Talvar, shared that this time he wanted to play a cop in uniform and he insisted to the creator and director of 'Dahaad Reema Kagti to let him play a 'Vardi waala cop.

The actor told IANS, "I play a cop in this series. Last time, I played a CBI cop in 'Talvar'". He said in jest, "This time, I requested Reema Kagti to make me a 'Vardi' waala cop in the series, ki yaar is baar toh uniform pehanane ko mile (at least I'll get to play a cop in uniform this time)".

He also spoke about his character and how he crafted his performance. Being from a "small town" of Sri Ganganagar, really helped the actor in terms of the pitching of his character.

He added, "I think writing is a very tough job, as an actor we rely on good stories that enhance our performance. A well-written character gives you the chance to give your very best. We actors add our personalities to the characters that we play, we add our life experiences to them. Fortunately, I'm from a small town so that really helped in my performance in this series".

'Dahaad' is available to stream on Prime Video.
San Francisco, June 6 : Microsoft has released an update for its 'Edge' web browser, which includes support for Workspaces.

Workspaces support in Edge makes it easier to keep track of links and websites that are important to a group of people, reports Windows Central.

Workspaces allow users to organise tabs and links within the web browser.

"Each individual Workspace can have a set of tabs and favourites that are saved automatically and that can be managed by a group of collaborators," the report added.

Workspaces have been a work in progress for the company since they first went public in preview.

The tech giant had said at its Build 2023 conference last month that Workspaces would gradually become available over the coming months.

Meanwhile, in April this year, the company had announced that its OpenAI's DALL-E-powered AI image generator is now available on desktop for Edge users around the world.

Image Creator allows users to create an image simply by using their own words to describe the picture they want to see.
Ahmedabad, June 6 : Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell has apprehended an individual accused of impersonating a senior IAS officer on the Truecaller App, officilas said on Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as Sudhakar Pandey, son of Dalsingar Pandey, had assumed a false identity and misused it to seek employment for his relatives in some reputed companies. This act of deception came to light after the Cyber Crime Cell received information regarding the accused's activities.

Acting swiftly upon the tip-off, the authorities initiated an investigation into the matter and registered a case against Sudhakar Pandey, also known as Avinash Pandey and Sadar Isam.

The accused, a resident of Vadodara, was subsequently apprehended by the law enforcement officials and taken into custody for his involvement in the cybercrime.

During the interrogation, it was revealed that Sudhakar Pandey had devised an elaborate network to secure desirable job positions for himself and his relatives. Utilizing the Truecaller app, he not only falsified his identity as a senior IAS officer but also went as far as researching telephone contacts of prominent companies.

Armed with this information, he contacted these companies and recommended his relatives for employment, all the while assuming false identities. He managed to secure job interviews and successful placements for his relatives through this deceitful scheme.

Investigations have uncovered that the entire plan was orchestrated by Sudhakar Pandey himself. He deliberately listed his identity as a senior IAS officer on Truecaller, allowing him to project an air of authority and credibility while interacting with potential employers, said officials.
Peshawar, June 6 : Pakistani authorities have declined an offer from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to resume talks, citing their previous negative experience with dialogue, media reports said.

The TTP, through various sources and individual contacts, expressed their willingness to re-engage in talks in recent days. However, the government rejected the offer and instead urged the militants to surrender, according to sources, The Express Tribune reported.

The government had engaged in talks with the proscribed TTP last year at the insistence of the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul. For that purpose, a ceasefire was also announced.

However, the TTP unilaterally terminated the truce in November last year, a few days before the appointment of General Asim Munir as the new army chief of Pakistan.

Subsequent to the ceasefire's termination, a wave of attacks on police, security personnel, and government installations ensued, with particular emphasis on the southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. These targeted attacks were attributed to the TTP, Express Tribune reported.

A senior government official revealed that during the previous rounds of talks, Afghanistan's acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, acted as a mediator. However, it is important to note that he did not hold the role of guarantor in those discussions.

The Pakistani authorities have made it explicitly clear to the TTP that individuals willing to surrender are welcome to do so, the officials said, adding that Pakistan sustained losses whenever it engaged in talks with them.

The current coalition government, since assuming power, has attributed the ongoing wave of terrorism in the country to the talks held between the then-ruling PTI government and the TTP. In response to parliamentary directives, a committee was formed on this matter, headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. However, no meetings of the committee have taken place thus far.

The Pakistani government has been urging the Afghan Taliban to take action against the TTP. As part of this effort, the Kabul government has detained or deported several TTP leaders, Express Tribune reported.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business (SMB) Development Agency of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov met with President of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) Zakir Nuriyev, Trend reports via the tweet of Orkhan Mammadov.

The current situation in the financing of small and medium-sized businesses was discussed during the meeting. The parties discussed issues related to the incoming applications for financing SMEs, identifying the reasons that can become an obstacle to successfully obtain financial support from banks and financial institutions.

The need to develop and implement measures aimed at simplifying and speeding up the application review process was also discussed.

"Alternative financing instruments for SMEs were also considered during the meeting," he said.
Jaipur, June 6 : The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police on Tuesday said that it has busted a gang who promised part time jobs to the people in lieu of money.

The SOG said that the gang had collected huge sums of money in only a few days.

The gang had promised part time jobs for simply liking posts on social media platforms like Instagram. The accused used to give from Rs 50 to Rs 100 for liking one post.

The SOG said that it has arrested seven accused who are in the age group of 27-32 years. "The group is an educated gang and hold degrees like MBBS, B.Com and BSc," the SOG said.

It said that the gang was operating from Chittorgarh district but the accused belong to four districts of Rajasthan -- Ajmer, Sikar, Rajsamand and Chittorgarh.

The SOG said that some of the victims had also paid a good amount of money to the gang as they had told them that the 'investment is necessary for the business.' The SOG busted the gang after complainant Deepak Sharma alleged that he received a message on WhatsApp in which he was offered to earn Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 per day through liking social media posts.

Sharma was also asked to post the relevant screenshots in the Telegram group.

The SOG said that after Sharma failed to accomplish the task, he was asked to deposit Rs 1 crore in 31 different bank accounts.

It said that a case has been registered at the SOG Cyber Crime Police Station.

The investigating officer said that cyber criminals have found new ways to commit crimes.

He said that many cases of cyber crime have been registered and that cyber criminals are cheating people of huge amounts in the name of investment.

He said that an attempt was made to nab the culprits by doing a thorough technical investigation in the case.

He added that analysis of 31 suspicious bank accounts in which more than Rs 1 crore has been deposited by the complainant revealed that transactions of more than Rs 1 billion have been deposited in these bank accounts in the last 15 days.

He said that further investigations are in progress in the case.
Gandhinagar, June 6 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat faced a significant setback on Tuesday as its leader Uday Singh Chauhan, who had contested the elections from the Balasinor constituency in Mahisagar district, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chauhan's move to join the ruling party is seen as a blow to the AAP's prospects in the state. The formal induction took place at the party's state office, Kamalam in Gandhinagar, in the presence of CR Paatil, the state president of the BJP.

Chauhan's decision to switch sides comes after several AAP councillors in Surat had also defected to the BJP, weakening the AAP's presence in the region. Welcoming Chauhan to the BJP, CR Paatil presented him with a traditional topi (cap) and a saffron-coloured scarf, symbolising his new association with the party. Supporters of Chauhan, who accompanied him, also joined the BJP, boosting the party's ranks in the area. Prominent leaders, including Gordhan Zadafia, deputy state president of the BJP, were present during the induction.

Explaining his reasons for joining the BJP, Chauhan cited the development-oriented politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He emphasised that his alignment with the party's ideology predates his membership and clarified that his departure from the AAP was due to personal reasons.

Chauhan pledged his dedication to working towards securing a resounding victory for the Panchmahal Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections.

Chauhan had contested the 2022 assembly elections from Balasinor on an AAP ticket but faced defeat at the hands of the BJP candidate. Securing the third position, Chauhan received 39,569 votes, accounting for 28.22% of the total votes cast. In October 2022, he parted ways with the Congress and joined the AAP. However, circumstances have now led him to leave the AAP and align with the BJP. The Balasinor constituency encompasses parts of the Mahisagar and Kheda districts.
Bhopal, June 6 : A Madhya Pradesh government official, who was the part of investigation team in a case related to a hijab controversy that broke out at private school in Damoh, was attacked by a group of people on Tuesday, as per a video going viral on social media.

As per the video of the incident, the official was sitting inside the vehicle, when two persons came, threw ink on him and shouted slogans: "Jai Sri Ram".

The official said he was attacked for investigating the hijab row issue in Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School in Damoh.

"I know those have threw ink on me. I will lodge a police complaint against them. They are doing all this because of hijab controversy in Ganga Jamuna school," the official was heard as saying.

The 'hijab' row has now taken a communal shape as the leaders of the ruling BJP have claimed that a alleged nexus was operating of conversion of Hindu girls.

The BJP leaders claimed at least three Hindu girls forcibly converted into Islam, whereas, three female school teachers, during the investigation, have denied the allegation claiming the girl students changed their religion at their own wish.

Madhya Pradesh BJP President V. D. Sharma went a step ahead and claimed that it wasn't just a 'love jihad' incident, but a nexus operating by a group of people receiving funds from outside.

"Hindu girls were converted into Islam in Ganga Jamuna School of Damoh. Terror funding is also involved in the matter... I am making this statement being responsible and demanding investigation in the matter from terror angle also," Sharma had said on Monday.

Notably, the school landed in a controversy on last week when it pasted on its wall a poster congratulating its board exam toppers. Using the pictures of the same poster, various right wing outfits, including the VHP and ABVP, alleged that non-Muslim girl students were forced to wear hijab as seen in their picture.

Following which, a team of district education officials inspected the school and suspended the recognition of Ganga Jamuna school claiming the norms were not complied properly. However, it made no mention of the hijab controversy and said that upon inspection, it was established that several facilities meant for students were inadequate or unavailable.
Ranchi, June 6 : Tanveer Khan, the man accused of raping and blackmailing a Mumbai-based model, is currently on the run and it is alleged that he might have fled abroad.

The victim, identified as Manvi Raj who is from the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, registered a case against Tanveer Akhtar, a resident of Ranchi, at the Versova police station in Mumbai.

Officials said that the case has been transferred to the Ranchi police in Jharkhand for further investigation as the alleged incident took place in Ranchi.

The victim in her complaint said that the owner of a Jharkhand-based modelling institute -- Tanveer -- raped and blackmailed her for a period of one year.

She also accused the man of threatening to send her nude photos to her relatives if she narrated her ordeal. She claimed that the accused forced her to marry him and pressured her for religious conversion.

The model has provided evidence to the police with details of her Instagram chats with Tanveer, in which the accused had said that he was going abroad.

According to the FIR, the victim met Tanveer in 2021 and he had introduced himself as Yash but later it came out that his real name was Tanveer Khan.

She alleged that on March 21, 2021, Tanveer secretly clicked her nude photos during a Holi party.

Later on July 14, 2021, the accused raped the victim and then warned her not to talk about the incident, else he will upload her photos online, said the complaint.

On September 13, 2022, Tanveer sent the victim's photos to her family members, leading her to attempt suicide.

Manvi said she later came to Mumbai but the accused kept harassing her.

Tanveer, however, said that Manvi cheated him in his business, and when he asked for his money, she is making such allegations.

Meanwhile, the police also raided Tanveer's hideouts in Ranchi, but he was absconding.
Kolkata, June 6 : The West Bengal Migrant Workers Union on Tuesday has demanded a judicial probe on the derailment of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening.

According to them, those travelling in the unreserved compartment of the train and killed should be identified and their indemnities should be disclosed officially, said the union's state chief and former CPI-M legislator S.M. Sadi.

"West Bengal has a large number of migrant workers. As the records of the casualties in the train from West Bengal have been identified, the majority were migrant workers. Our demand is one job for one family member for each of the migrant worker casualties in the train accident," he said.

Sadi also said that often the migrant workers from West Bengal die in accidents in other states. "But unfortunately, they do not get the necessary compensation. We do not want the same thing to be repeated in this case as well. Hence, we are also demanding a judicial probe in the matter." He also said that it would have been better if the state government had announced a better compensation package for the families of the casualties. "But whatever it may be, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should ensure that the compensation and job offers do not remain promises and those go to the right people," Sadi added.

In fact, immediately after the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train derailment Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari too attacked the West Bengal government over the migrant workers' issue. "The current number of migrant workers from West Bengal is nine time of what it was in 2011 when the Trinamool Congress regime came to power in West Bengal for the first time. This is because of the disruptive police of the state government that is shying away industrial investment in the state and the resulting employment generation," Adhikari said.
Dharwad : , June 6 (IANS) Karnataka Minister for Labour Santhosh S. Lad said on Tuesday that it makes no sense to hand over the Odhisa train accident case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"It seems that the tragedy occurred due to technical error. Despite that, the case has been handed over to the CBI. It may be an attempt to cover up their mistake," Lad told reporters in Dharwad.

"I talked to engineers in Odisha. They suspect a technical error, which is evident. It is said that the information about the goods train was not passed to the main station. The technical staff in Odisha spoke about this. So it is not known why the case has been handed over to the CBI," the minister said.

The minister, who returned to the state from the train tragedy site in Balasore on Tuesday, is heading a team to attend to the people who are stuck in Odisha and West Bengal due to the accident.

The team had visited mortuaries and hospitals in Odisha to find out about the victims from Karnataka in the horrific train mishap in Balasore on Friday evening that left 275 persons dead.
Guwahati, June 6 : Congress' three-time Assam MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha on Tuesday followed state Assembly speaker Biswajit Daimari's "advice" to sit under trees to deal with the soaring power tariffs amidst the scorching heat wave that has been sweeping the state for the last few days.

Purkayastha was seen on Tuesday sitting under a tree in front of the Speaker's official residence here for at least an hour.

Purkayastha, who is also the Working President of the state Congress, said: "The tariffs have increased by 30 to 70 paisa per unit. This is a huge burden on the citizens. At a time when Congress governments in many states are advocating for free electricity, BJP leaders are issuing insensible comments." "As per Speaker Daimari's advice to the people, as a public representative, I should follow it immediately. So, I went in front of his residence and stayed there under the trees for one hour, but I have not seen him there," he said.

Purakayastha also trained guns towards the BJP for not fulfilling its poll promise.

"Before the election, the BJP promised the people of Assam 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity; however, now the ruling party is busy befooling the citizens." He also announced that he would sit under the trees in front of Daimary's official residence for at least the next five days.

Earlier, Daimari said: "The power tariffs have increased, and people should avoid excessive use of fans to save electricity bills. Instead, everybody should sit under trees to combat rising tariffs." He further said that the Assam government does not itself produce enough electricity to meet the daily needs of consumers, and the state is heavily dependent on private companies for supply.

"If the power companies are hiking the tariffs, the state government should pass that on to the consumers, and people have to pay. So, I believe that an increase in power tariffs is not at all an issue, and consumers must pay the bills against their usage," Daimari said.

However, his comments did not go well with the opposition, and a section of citizens too have been criticising him.
Mumbai, June 6 : Gujarati star Malhar Thakar will be seen headlining the upcoming Gujarati film 'Gulaam Chor'.

The film is a comedy suspense drama, and marks the third collaboration between director Viral Shah and Malhar Thakar.

The film tells the story of 12 people who gather to gamble at a house party with Rs 12 crore. But at midnight the lights go out and the money disappears. No one has entered the house, no one has left. The money isn't found in the house vicinity either. And most importantly, the heist took place when the cops were already present.

Talking about the film's digital premiere, Malhar said, "I am very proud to be a part of the first ever Gujarati film to premiere directly on JioCinema! 'Gulaam Chor' is the first of its kind film with the biggest ensemble cast ever made in Gujarati. Director Viral and I, both are very excited to present this film to our beloved audience after our last hit 'Golkeri'." The film also stars Vandana Pathak, Dharmesh Vyas, Vyoma Nandi, Dilip Rawal, Ojas Rawal, Hardik Sangani and Vineeta Joshee.

Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Masumeh Makhija and Viral Shah, 'Gulaam Chor' will drop on Jio Cinema on June 11.
New Delhi, June 6 : A minor was allegedly raped by her 21-year-old relative in East Delhi's Kalyanpuri area.

The incident came to light on Monday after the girl was found to be pregnant following a medical examination, the police said on Tuesday.

The police said that they have arrested the accused who has been identified as Dan Singh alias Dev, a resident of Palwal in Haryana.

According to the police, on May 17, a PCR call was received informing about a person misbehaving with the complainant's daughter.

"The minor victim's family was called to record its statement, but the family members informed that Dan Singh was their relative and they wanted to talk with the accused's family first.

"However, on Monday, the victim's family again wnt to the Kalyanpuri police station and submitted a written complaint against Dan Singh," said a senior police officer.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that two years ago when she had gone to her uncle's house in Haryana, the accused accosted her and misbehaved with her.

"After that she returned to her house in Delhi. Here also, the accused approached her several times and misbehaved with her. On May 17, one of the accused's friends came to her and tried to force her to be friends with Dan Singh," the officer said.

Based on her statement, a case under the relevants sections of IPC and POCSO Act was registered.

"During medical examination, the victim was found to be pregnant and thereafter Sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act were added to the case. Dan Singh has been arrested," the officer added.
Kyiv, June 6 : Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a dam in the Kherson region though Moscow denies this, the media reported.

A dam at a hydro-electric plant in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka was breached overnight and water has been pouring through it ever since, the BBC reported.

The damage is thought to be severe, with Russian state media reporting the town is submerged under water, the report said.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian troops of blowing up the plant "from inside" while Moscow claims it was a "deliberate act of sabotage" by Kyiv.

Evacuation efforts are under way as Zelensky says some 80 towns and villages could be affected by the flooding. The dam is a significant resource, supplying water to a host of communities upstream and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, the BBC reported.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has said a lack of cooling water at Zaporizhzhia could disrupt its emergency diesel generators - though the situation at the plant is said to be under control.

The Kremlin has blamed the attack on the dam in Nova Kakhovka on Ukraine, saying it was a "deliberate act of sabotage" by Kyiv.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the dam, in the Moscow-controlled region of Kherson, and the EU Council President Charles Michel has also pointed the finger at Moscow, saying the attack amounts to a "war crime", the BBC reported.

But in his daily telephone conference call with journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Moscow was responsible and blamed Kyiv.

"It is also linked to the fact that, having begun large-scale offensive operations two days ago, the Ukrainian armed forces are not achieving their aims. Their offensive operations are stalling," the BBC reported.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Having very large public debt is unacceptable to Azerbaijan, Finance Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov said during the discussion of the draft law "On the execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022" at today's meeting of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), Trend reports.

Azerbaijan has specific goals and strategies for borrowing.

"We are implementing measures in accordance with this strategy today. Most credit rating agencies, when providing loans to Azerbaijan, first analyze the debt situation," Sharifov said.

According to the updated state budget for 2023, the funds, which are allocated for general expenses and expenses related to servicing the public debt, amount to 3.2 percent of total expenditures or 1.1 billion manat ($6.4 million).
Dhanbad, June 6 : A businessman was allegedly shot at by the henchmen of Wasseypur's gangster Prince Khan, who operates a gang in Dhanbad, while living in a Gulf country.

The victim Sachchidanand Thakur, the owner of 'Thakur Motors' in Barwadda police station area of Dhanbad, was attacked on Monday night. He has been referred to Durgapur for treatment, where his condition is said to be stable.

After closing his shop at Naya Bazar, Thakur was going home with his brother on a bike, when the criminals shot him in the back near Rani Bandh Dhaiya. Thakur has three shops in Dhanbad. He had earlier received threatening calls in the name of Prince Khan. In this regard, he had also lodged a complaint at the Bank Mod police station.

Shortly after Thakur was shot, Prince Khan's shooter Major issued a pamphlet claiming responsibility. He wrote, "We hit the owner of Thakur Motors, because he was ignoring our calls and was trying to prove that he would survive Major's bullet by filing a case with the police." It has been written in the pamphlet that whoever is getting the call of the Major, he should manage with 'Chote Sarkar' (Prince Khan).

Prince Khan has declared himself as 'Chote Sarkar' and is threatening businessmen and contractors for extortion. On June 1, his henchmen bombed two hotels in Dhanbad.

Prince Khan's gang has carried out dozens of incidents of firing, murder and extortion in the last two years. On May 3, his henchmen opened fire on Iqbal Khan, son of old gangster Faheem of Wasseypur, and his accomplice Golu. Golu was killed, while Iqbal Khan was seriously injured.

In the CID investigation, it has come to the fore that Prince Khan, the most wanted gangster of Wasseypur, has fled abroad. He has taken shelter in some Gulf country and from there he is operating his gang in Dhanbad.

Two days ago, the police arrested nine criminals of gangsters Prince Khan and Aman Singh with weapons and sent them to jail.
Chennai, June 6 : The Department of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) in Tamil Nadu conducted searches at the premises of a senior IAS officer on Tuesday.

The raids were going on at five locations, including the residence of the IAS officer, in Chennai and Villupuram and Dharpamuri districts.

The officer has been identified as Malarvizhi, who is allegedly involved in a receipt book procurement scam.

Allegedly, Malarvizhi as the District Collector of Dharmapuri had diverted funds from the state's fifth plan commission grants for the procurement of receipt books for 251 village panchayats.

It has been alleged that a total of 1,25,500 receipt books for property tax, professional tax collection and other forms of tax collection were bought with these funds from two private companies at higher rates and without calling tender.

As per the charges, Malarvizhi had conspired with the owners of the two firms and swindled Rs 1.31 crore from the funds.

The Dharmpuri unit of DVAC has registered cases against Malarvizhi, H. Thageer Hussain of Crescent Traders, and Veeriah Palanivelu of Naga Traders under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Malarvizhi is presently the Chairperson of Science City.
New Delhi, June 6 : A Delhi court on Tuesday sent Amritpal Singh alias Ammy and Amrik Singh, two 'wanted' close associates of Canada-based 'listed terrorist' Arsh Dhalla, to judicial custody after their NIA custody ended in connection with a UAPA case.

Special Judge Shailendra Malik of Patiala House Court sent the accused persons to judicial custody till July 4.

The investigation agency had moved an application seeking their judicial custody.

The NIA had arrested the two on May 19 when they arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) from Manila where they had been hiding.

On May 27, the judge had granted more time to NIA to quiz them related to their alleged involvement in hiring youth for Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and also in the smuggling and procurement of arms and ammunition and raising funds for the organisation.

Both Amritpal Singh and Amrik Singh hail from Punjab.

Recently, non-bailable warrants were issued against them by an NIA court in connection with a case related to the unlawful and violent activities of banned organisations in India.

"They are also wanted in several criminal cases that took place in Punjab. The NIA had registered a suo motu case on August 20 last year under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, against them," an official had said.

The NIA said that their investigations have revealed that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for the banned terrorist organisation KTF, and also smuggle arms, ammunition and explosives for it from across the border.

"The accused had been working for individual designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dhalla to promote violent criminal activities of the KTF in India. In association with another notorious wanted accused Manpreet Singh alias Peeta, they had been involved in smuggling weapons from Pakistan and recruitment of youth to carry out acts of violence and terror in the country at the behest of the KTF." "They were also part of an extortion racket for raising funds for the banned outfit. The accused used to identify extortion targets, including businessmen, and then threaten them into parting with huge amounts. In case the identified targets refused, their homes and other premises would be fired at by the accused's India-based associates," the official had said.
Mumbai, June 6 : A cyclonic depression forming in the south-east Arabian Sea is now moving towards the far north and will intensify over the east-central part in the next 12 hours, the IMD said here on Tuesday.

The depression is moving at a speed of 11 km/hour since this morning and is in the same region, around 950 km west-southwest of Goa, around 1,100 km southwest of Mumbai, 1,190 km south southwest of Porbandar (Gujarat) and 1,490 kms south of Karachi (Pakistan), said the IMD.

This depression is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Arabian Sea and adjoining southeast areas over the next 12 hours, it added.

Earlier on Monday, the IMD had said that the cyclonic formation was developing around Mumbai and its onset course would be decided in the next 48 hours.

With the latest status, the chances of the cyclonic storm hitting Mumbai are virtually ruled out.

However, the IMD-Mumbai has warned fisherfolk venturing into the deep sea to exercise caution for the next five days when the wind speeds will increase from 40-50 kmph to 115-120-140 kmph from June 6 till June 10.

Apprehending the possibility of a major storm with heavy rains lashing the state, the Nationalist Congress Party on Tuesday announced cancellation of its planned Silver Jubilee celebrations in Ahmednagar on June 9.
New Delhi, June 6 : A man, who supplied arms and ammunition to members of Hashim Baba gang, was arrested and a total of 12 semi-automatic and single shot pistols along with 55 bullets were recovered from his possession, a Delhi Police official on Tuesday.

The accused was identified as Imran alias Amjad, 35, a resident of Seelampur area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Alok Kumar said that on June 3, specific input was received that Imran, who supplies illegal arms and ammunition to the members of Hashim Baba gang, would come at Jafrabad Metro Station at around 9 p.m. to supply weapons to one of his associates.

"Accordingly, a trap was laid and Imran was apprehended at around 9.15 p.m. from the road near Jafrabad Metro Station. On search, 12 semi-automatic and single shot pistols and 55 live cartridges were recovered from the bag of the accused," he said.

On interrogation, it was revealed that Imran used to sell jeans at Gandhi Nagar in the capital but left this business in 2016 to enter the world of crime.

"He was first arrested in 2016 when he, along with his associates, had looted money changer Ramesh Kumar of Rs 36 lakh at ITO flyover. During his stay at Tihar Jail, he came in contact with Annu, an arms supplier of Meerut. After getting released from jail, the accused started procuring illegal arms from Annu to supply the same to the members of Hashim Baba gang and other criminals of Delhi-NCR," the DCP said.

In 2021, Imran was again arrested at Muradnagar (UP) in a case of arms trafficking.

"In Dasna jail, he came in contact with Shakeel and after coming out of jail; he started procuring weapons from Shakeel. The accused has also disclosed that he would purchase one pistol for around Rs 40,000 and sell it for Rs 50,000-55,000."
Chennai, June 6 : The Federal Bank has launched a campaign to celebrate people and their culture by transforming an entire bank branch into a museum of local stories.

The 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me' campaign has handpicked 40 compelling stories of individuals, which are showcased in an exclusive exhibition at the Adyar branch of Federal Bank.

This art exhibition will run for two weeks between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The campaign is a first-of-its-kind micro-marketing initiative in the banking industry, which is aimed to showcase the soul of Adyar, including its people's struggles and triumphs which make it special.

The walls of the Adyar Branch have been adorned with vibrant paintings which reflect the lively spirit of the locality. The bank's team ventured into the neighborhoods of Adyar, listening to the people and collected around 100 stories and photographs of the individuals interviewed.

Over 100 auto-rickshaws have been decorated with the campaign's branding.

Federal Bank Chief Marketing Officer M.V.S. Murthy said the 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me' campaign is a sincere effort by the bank to celebrate life, living and memories of the people of Adyar.

He said that the bank is honoured that the neighbours around its branch in Adyar have graciously shared their stories in an authentic and inimitable way.

"Their faces and stories trace the everyday journeys, joys and accomplishments of Adyar," he said.
Kiev, June 6 : The office of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the Dnipro river has been contaminated with 150 tonnes of industrial lubricants after the Kakhovka dam breach, the media reported.

The Kakhovka dam is one of six dams that sits along the river, which stretches all the way from the very north of the country into the sea in the south, the BBC reported.

Satellite images are slowly being uploaded, showing the extent of the damage to the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

This image shows extensive damage to the central part of the dam and to a section of the hydropower plant building on the east bank of the Dnipro River, the BBC reported.

Water is running downstream from two breaches. A third breach is also moving water south in the so-called North Crimea Canal.

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blowing up a dam in the Kherson region though Moscow denies this, the BBC reported.

A dam at a hydro-electric plant in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka was breached overnight and water has been pouring through it ever since.

The damage is thought to be severe, with Russian state media reporting the town is submerged under water, the report said.

Zelensky has accused Russian troops of blowing up the plant "from inside" while Moscow claims it was a "deliberate act of sabotage" by Kiev.

Evacuation efforts are under way as Zelensky says some 80 towns and villages could be affected by the flooding. The dam is a significant resource, supplying water to a host of communities upstream and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, the BBC reported.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has said a lack of cooling water at Zaporizhzhia could disrupt its emergency diesel generators - though the situation at the plant is said to be under control.

The Kremlin has blamed the attack on the dam in Nova Kakhovka on Ukraine, saying it was a "deliberate act of sabotage" by Kiev.

Ukraine has accused Russia of blowing up the dam, in the Moscow-controlled region of Kherson, and the EU Council President Charles Michel has also pointed the finger at Moscow, saying the attack amounts to a "war crime", the BBC reported.

But in his daily telephone conference call with journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Moscow was responsible and blamed Kyiv.

"It is also linked to the fact that, having begun large-scale offensive operations two days ago, the Ukrainian armed forces are not achieving their aims. Their offensive operations are stalling," the BBC reported.
New Delhi, June 6 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius here on Tuesday, during which the two ministers reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, especially the defence industrial partnership.

Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

A Defence Ministry official said that the Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience.

As per the ministry, Singh stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength like skilled workforce and mutual strengths like skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and technologies and investment from Germany.

India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000, which is being strengthened through inter-governmental consultations since 2011 at the level of heads of government.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting.

This was the first visit of a German Defence Minister to India since 2015. The bilateral meeting was preceded by a tri-service guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.

Pistorius will also interact with some Indian defence startups at IIT Delhi during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

The German minister arrived in India on June 5 on a four-day visit. On Wednesday, he will be travelling to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of the Western Naval Command and the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Kolkata, June 6 : A reign of ultimate terror is going on in West Bengal under the current Trinamool Congress regime, said senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Sushil Modi.

He was speaking to media persons at the residence of deceased BJP leader from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district, Prashanta Roy Basunia, who was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence by unidentified miscreants on June 2.

"I will speak to my party leadership on what can be done so that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe can be initiated in the matter," Modi told newspersons after speaking to the parents of the deceased BJP leader.

Meanwhile, the deceased's mother, Suchitra Roy Basunia, has filed an FIR naming 12 local Trinamool Congress leaders in the matter.

The leader of the opposition in West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has already demanded that chief minister Mamata Banerjee should resign, taking moral responsibilities.

On June 2, Prashanta Roy Basunia was at his residence with his mother, some miscreants barged in and started threatening him. After some heated exchange of words, suddenly one of the miscreants took out a pistol and shot the victim from point-blank range. A profusely bleeding Basunia was admitted to a local hospital where he died.

Local Trinamool Congress MLA from Dinhata and West Bengal minister in charge of North Bengal development department, Udayan Guha, claimed that since the victim was under police radar for his involvement in anti-social activities, this could be the reason behind his murder.

"Possibilities of infighting in BJP playing a role in the murder also cannot be ruled out," he said.
New Delhi, June 6 : With the arrest of three men, the Delhi Police has busted a nexus of inter-state high-tech thieves involved in stealing high end luxury cars in Delhi-NCR, an official said on Tuesday.

The Police have also recovered eight luxury SUVs from the possession of the accused, said the official, adding that the accused used to steal luxury SUVs from Delhi on demand and dispose off them in Maharashtra at cheaper rates.

They were identified as Pawan (43), a resident of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Shahid (50), a resident of Sambhal, UP and Mazhar Khan (41), a resident of Jalgaon in Maharashtra.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said that a police team was formed to develop clues about the nexus behind the thefts. On a manual information network it was revealed that a UP, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab based nexus was behind these thefts of luxury SUVs in South Delhi.

"After that, the team purified the key inputs and dug out some more important inputs through manual as well as technical surveillance. Subsequently, a specific tip off was received that a Meerut based person committing auto thefts would come to the CR Park area via Outer Ring Road," said the DCP.

A trap was laid around the CR Park area via Outer Ring Road and Pawan was nabbed by the police team. "Upon his cursory search, one sophisticated single shot countrymade pistol along with two live cartridges of .315 bore were recovered from his possession. On enquiry, the car he was driving was found to be stolen from the Tilak Nagar area," said Chowdhary.

During interrogation, one more car was recovered at Pawan's instance, which was found to be stolen from the Keshav Puram area of Delhi.

"Further, on May 31 and June 1, the team received another credible input that UP and Maharashtra based two auto thieves would come to the Saket area. Immediately, the information was further developed and the team laid a trap and both the accused -- Shahid and Mazhar Khana -- were arrested," said the DCP.

At the instance of Mazhar, more stolen luxury SUVs were recovered from Delhi and Maharashtra.

On interrogation, the thieves revealed that they used to dispose off the stolen vehicles through social media platforms.

"The accused Shahid disclosed that he along with his associate Mazhar, especially used to steal luxury SUVs from Delhi on demand and dispose off them in Maharashtra," said the official.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. An exhibition of products and services of Azerbaijani companies will be launched at Baku Crystal Hall on June 8, the Azerbaijan Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) told Trend.

According to the agency, the event, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, will be held with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the joint organization of and Marsol Group, with the official partnership of Kapital Bank.

The exhibition will present products and services of more than 150 companies operating in the industry, agriculture, food, ICT, education, construction, logistics, textiles and other industries.

The purpose of organizing the exhibition is to promote Azerbaijani companies more widely, expand access to markets, develop business partnerships between businessmen, and establish new cooperation.

The main advantage of the exhibition is the provision of products and services in all sectors of the economy.

The exhibition, which will last until June 10, will include panel discussions on the topics "Great return" - investment opportunities and benefits in the liberated territories" and "Economic transformation in the face of modern challenges: building a competitive and sustainable business", as well as bilateral meetings.

The exhibition will be open for residents of Baku and guests of the city on June 8-10 from 10.00 to 18.00 (GMT +4), and admission will be free.

Further details can be obtained via: *0555, (+994 12) 310 15 58, www.marsolexpo.az.
Kolkata, June 6 : A new division bench of the Calcutta High Court led by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty will now hear the matter related to the West Bengal government challenging an earlier order of the same court allowing central agency probe into the municipalities recruitment case.

Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam has allotted the matter to a new bench after two successive division benches chose to recuse themselves from hearing the case.

The order for a CBI probe into the municipalities recruitment case was originally passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay. After the state government approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision, the apex court had referred the matter back to the Calcutta High Court.

Thereafter, the state government approached Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha. However, Justice Sinha upheld the order by Justice Gangopadhyay and directed the central agencies to continue with their probe into the matter.

Thereafter, the state government approached the high court's division bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray, which recused from hearing the matter claiming that it was not part of the subject of hearing of that bench.

The matter was then referred to the division bench of Justice Subrata Talukdar and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya, which also recused from hearing the matter on the same ground.

Finally on Tuesday, the matter was allotted to a new bench.
Chandigarh, June 6 : Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said the BJP-JJP government has destroyed the state's education system.

Every educational institution, from schools to universities, is being targeted by the government, he alleged.

"Now the results of these policies are visible. The result is that Haryana does not have any university or educational institution in the top 100 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The absence of even a single institute from Haryana in the NIRF Top-100 ranking is extremely unfortunate and the state government is directly responsible for this," said Hooda in a statement.

"Since the formation of the BJP government in the state, the ranking of the universities of Haryana has been continuously falling." "This is happening because for the past several years, the government has been tinkering with the already established university system. Along with attacking the autonomy of universities, the government has now refused to give grants to them. This means now all universities will have to bear their own expenses. It is obvious that with this step of the government, there will be a huge increase in the fees of all the universities and colleges," said Hooda.

He said that Haryana was number one in every aspect of development before 2014, but the BJP-JJP government has made the state number one on every scale where Haryana should not be.

"The present government has made the state the country's top state in terms of unemployment, corruption, price rise, crime, drug abuse and atrocities," the Leader of Opposition added.
Jaipur, June 6 : The Delhi-based Rouse Avenue Court has reserved its verdict in the criminal defamation case filed against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on behalf of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The Court will pronounce its verdict on June 24. It will decide whether to issue summons to Gehlot in the defamation case.

Shekhawat had filed a defamation petition in March before the Court against Gehlot for his alleged remarks about the Sanjivani scam.

Shekhawat has demanded prosecution of Gehlot under IPC sections for criminal defamation. He has also demanded financial compensation for the damage to his reputation.

The Rajasthan CM had on February 28 accused Shekhawat of being involved in the alleged Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Delhi High Court observed that the power to grant bail on medical grounds under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is discretionary and should be exercised carefully, ensuring the existence of necessary circumstances justifying such a decision.

The court was hearing a bail plea filed by Sanjay Jain, who is accused in a money laundering case. Jain's wife filed an affidavit on May 22 seeking interim bail for him on medical and humanitarian grounds for a period of three months, citing his deteriorating health condition.

The court emphasised that while the liberty of an accused or convicted person can be restricted according to the established legal procedure, the right to health is also recognised as an essential aspect of Article 21 of the Constitution.

Justice Vikas Mahajan further observed that the right to life should not be curtailed solely because a person is an undertrial or convict in jail. The state has an obligation to provide adequate and effective medical treatment to all individuals in custody, regardless of their trial or conviction status.

While the court refused to grant interim bail to Jain, it directed the Director of AIIMS to form a Medical Board of Doctors immediately to assess Jain's medical condition.

The court noted that not every ailment entitles an accused person to be granted bail on medical grounds, as specified in Section 45 of the PMLA.

It stated that if the petitioner's medical condition requires specialised or sustained treatment that cannot be provided in jail, the petitioner may be entitled to interim bail under the first proviso of Section 45(1) of the PMLA.

The court observed that the diagnostic procedures for Jain were scheduled with significant delays, indicating the burdened state of government hospitals and their inability to address his medical needs on priority.

However, it also highlighted the absence of expert opinion regarding the urgency of Jain's diagnostic procedures and the potential risk to his life due to the delay in treatment.

Justice Mahajan emphasised that it cannot assume the role of an expert and assess the petitioner's medical condition based solely on the records before the court.

The court directed the Jail Superintendent to provide all medical records of Jain to the medical board and allowed Jain's wife to submit relevant medical records to it, with a copy to the Special Counsel for the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Jail Superintendent was also instructed to ensure that Jain is presented before the medical board on June 7 at the designated time and place.

The court ordered the medical board to evaluate the medical records, conduct an examination of the petitioner, and submit its report to the court by June 10.
Bengaluru, June 6 : After taking a U-turn on the move to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Congress government in Karnataka is also likely to drop the proposal to withdraw the anti-cow slaughter law considering the opposition and public outrage over the issue.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil stated on Tuesday that there is no proposal as such before the government at present to review the anti-cow slaughter law.

In recent past, many ministers had issued statements at their personal level and the BJP condemned the statements.

"Chief Minister has not discussed the assembly session yet. Mostly, he will discuss it in the cabinet which will be held on Thursday and take a call on the issue," he explained.

Earlier, Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the government is capable of banning organisations such as Bajrang Dal and RSS if their involvement is found in anti-social activities.

After the backlash and upfront challenge by the BJP to ban at least one branch of RSS among lakhs, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a U-turn and maintained that his government never proposed a ban on the RSS.

Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh had stirred a controversy by stating that why can't cows be slaughtered? He also stated that the law in this regard would be reviewed. Karnataka BJP staged a huge protest in the state opposing the minister's statement.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Supreme Court has said that the power of summoning a person as accused during the trial should not be mechanically exercised by a court.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Pankaj Mithal said: "The court holding a trial, if it intends to exercise power conferred by Section 319, CrPC, must not act mechanically merely on the ground that some evidence has come on record implicating the person sought to be summoned." The bench said that court's satisfaction preceding the order thereunder must be more than prima facie as formed at the stage of a charge being framed and short of satisfaction to an extent that the evidence, if unrebutted, would lead to conviction.

"What is essential for exercise of the power under Section 319, Cr PC is that the evidence on record must show the involvement of a person in the commission of a crime and that the said person, who has not been arraigned as an accused, should face trial together with the accused already arraigned," it said.

The bench said Section 319, CrPC, which envisages a discretionary power, empowers the court holding a trial to proceed against any person not shown or mentioned as an accused if it appears from the evidence that such person has committed a crime for which he ought to be tried together with the accused who is facing trial.

"Such power can be exercised by the court qua a person who is not named in the FIR, or named in the FIR but not shown as an accused in the charge-sheet," said the bench.

The apex court dismissed a plea by a plea by Jitendra Nath Mishra against the Allahabad High Court's June 1, 2022 order, dismissing his petition to quash a summoning order issued by the special court in a case related to assault and abuse under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The trial court went by the deposition of the woman victim to summon the appellant.

The top court said: "We are of the view that any expression of ours while dealing with each and every point urged on behalf of the appellant could result in prejudgment; and thereby hinder a fair trial hence, adopting a cautious approach, we propose to restrict our consideration solely to the question as to whether the evidence adduced by the complainant and his wife in course of recording of their depositions did justify the Special Court to make the order it did." Concluding the order, it said: "The Special Court is encouraged to expedite the trial. But, in the process, it shall proceed uninfluenced by reason of its order under Section 319, CrPC having been upheld by the High Court and this Court. The points raised on behalf of the appellant, recorded above, if raised before it as well as other points, if any, shall be given the consideration the same deserve."
Bhopal, June 6 : On the sixth anniversary of the Mandsaur police firing in which six farmers were killed, former chief minister and Madhya Pradesh Congress head Kamal Nath said he has 'no hope for justice from the farmers' killers'. Nath mentioned the word 'killer' to the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan led BJP government and accused it of saving those who opened fire on protesting farmers.

Addressing a gathering of local famers of Mandsaur and party workers on Tuesday, Kamal Nath said six years have passed since six farmers of Mandsaur were killed in police firing but the BJP government did not submit reports in the assembly. "Farmers were protesting for 'samarthan moolya' for their crops, but they were killed by the BJP government. What is more horrible is that not a single report of that incident has been placed in the assembly so far. I have no hope for justice from those who killed farmers," Nath said while addressing the gathering on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the incident on Tuesday.

Nath added that the BJP government wanted to save the culprits. "It is the responsibility of all of us to overthrow such an anti-farmer government. On the anniversary of the farmers' massacre, I pay my humble tribute to all the martyred farmers," he said.

Nath held CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan responsible for the distress of farmers in Madhya Pradesh. He claimed that the income of Madhya Pradesh's farmers has plunged to very low levels among all the major states of the country.

"The Congress government had promised to waive off farmers' loans, and 27000 farmers have benefitted, but our government was toppled through a conspiracy. Lakhs of farmers have become defaulters. The Shivraj government has also stopped the loan waiver for the farmers," Nath said.

On June 6, 2016, six farmers were killed in police firing at Piplia Mandi in Mandsaur district. The farmers were protesting in support of their demands, which included better price for their produce.

On the anniversary of the firing last year, the then Congress president Rahul Gandhi had launched his party's campaign for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls from Mandsaur and announced a "farm loan waiver" within ten days of his party coming to power in the state.

In the November 2018 assembly polls, the Congress wrested power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh after a gap of 15 years. However, after coming to power, the then Home Minister Bala Bachchan had given a clean chit to the MP police.

Bala Bachchan had in 2019 informed the House that the police action was valid and they followed standard procedure. They did it in self-defence and to protect private and public property, he said.

Meanwhile, the state BJP unit accused the Congress of playing politics over the deaths of farmers. "Congress is doing dirty politics on the deaths of farmers. People of Mandsaur are well aware of the Congress greed for power, which is why they voted for the BJP in 2018 and the Lok Sabha polls in 2019," the BJP MP said.
Mumbai, June 6 : Actor Shahid Kapoor has said that he was concerned about his father and veteran actor Pankaj Kapur judging his choice to become a hero.

"My dad is Pankaj Kapur. The fact that I wanted to be a hero was because of my dad. I often wondered will he judge me for my choice of becoming an actor. One does get affected by what ones parents do," the actor said.

Shahid said his mom (Neelima Azeem) is a phenomenal dancer and actor, while his dad is a legend as an actor.

"My dad was supportive, but there were times when I could make out that he was not very happy with a film or the work that I did," he said.

"He would not make it very obvious but with your family, you know. So whenever he does call me, I know that he's really liked my work because he's true to the art. I love the fact that he's real with me about it," 'Film Companion' wrote quoting the actor.

Shahid also said that he wants to find that nice sweet spot in the middle where people can say that was a not only a good film, but also a very entertaining film.

"I want more and more people to watch the movies that I do. I want them to be accessible," the actor said.

Shahid Kapoor will be next seen in the streaming project 'Bloody Daddy' which will release on JioCinema.
Bengaluru, June 6 : Following its humiliating defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP is all set to revamp its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but the prospect of dropping several sitting MPs has created heartburn.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress, buoyed by the success, is looking to wrest more than 20 seats out of 28 parliamentary constituencies in the state.

Sources in the BJP says that the party is looking forward to credible fresh faces from the party cadres and from government services. Amid strong rumours that most of the sitting MPs may not even be considered for tickets, Bengaluru North MP and former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has urged the party high command to issue clarification in this regard.

A total of 13 MPs have approached Sadananda Gowda and he has raised his voice for them, pulling up the party and leaders for remaining tight-lipped and warning that the development will send the wrong signal to the people of the state.

Sadananda Gowda stated on Tuesday that there is an attempt to malign 13 MPs among the total 25 as useless.

"A systematic attempt has been made to bring down the morale and fortitude of senior parliamentarians. The state as well as national leaders must intervene and clear the confusion at this stage," he added.

"There is still a year's time for Lok Sabha elections. At this juncture, MPs are targeted and maligned. I don't know who is behind this. The rumors are spread that 13 MPs have not carried out any development in their constituencies and some have fallen sick and won't be given tickets," he maintained.

Sadananda Gowda maintained that introspection should take place regarding the defeat but there are no souls who would make an attempt to introspect.

Sources in BJP maintained that including Sadananda Gowda, Mangala Angadi, MP from Belagavi, who gave a statement that Jagadish Shettar would win in elections against the BJP candidate would not be considered. G.M. Siddeshwara, MP from Davanagere is also likely to miss a Lok Sabha ticket.

The party had given tickets to 72 new faces in the Assembly elections. However, former CM Basavaraj Bommai stated that the experiment of giving tickets to new faces has backfired for the party. The party think tank is disturbed with the state Assembly results and till date not able to make a decision on the Leader of the Opposition.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said it has arrested two then Deputy Commissioners of Customs posted at UB Centre, JNCH, Mumbai (Maharashtra) during the investigation of two separate cases.

A CBI official said that they registered two separate cases against Subhash Chandra and Dinesh Fuldiya, both ex Deputy Commissioners of Customs, and private individuals Sudhir Padekar and Ashish Kamdar.

The FIR was lodged on the allegations of working as a syndicate to use the passports of various persons who had stayed abroad for more than two years and to use those passports to import various items as items belonging to the passport holders.

It had been alleged that both the DCs entered into a conspiracy with others at different times during their posting at UB Centre, and misused the Transfer of Residence provision under the Customs Act.

The accused used these passports of persons, who had stayed abroad for more than two years especially in the Gulf countries to import various items including household things, electronic items and others by firstly undervaluing the goods and concealing some other undeclared items along with the declared items.

"Further, the public servants were allegedly collecting illegal gratification through the private person from different CHAs and the illegal gratification so collected was routed to different accounts & persons known to the officers both through banking channel and hawala route. The said modus operandi was adopted by the accused for allegedly giving out of charge to the consignments brought by the individuals with the help of Customs Officers and illegal gratification was allegedly paid to the public servants through the private person," said the CBI official.

The official said that searches were conducted at seven places including at Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Patna and Samastipur (Bihar), Khargon District (Madhya Pradesh) at the premises of the accused and their accomplices which led to the recovery of various incriminating documents.
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Lahore, June 6 : Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court on Tuesday seeking a blanket cover in all cases registered against her across the country, media reports said.

The move came amid the ongoing crack down against the PTI leadership following the May 9 attacks on civil and military installations, a day the army dubbed as "Black Day", Geo News reported.

In her petition, the former first lady expressed fear that she could be arrested in any case and sought details of all the disclosed and undisclosed cases registered against her in the country, the report said.

Bushra Bibi pleaded with the court to issue an order restraining the police and law enforcers from arresting her in any undisclosed case.

She made federal and provincial governments, IGs, FIA and other bodies parties in her petition.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Rawalpindi, has summoned Bushra Bibi on Wednesday to record her statement as a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust in the 190 million pounds National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case.

According to sources, Bushra Bibi's statement will be recorded as a witness. NAB, under the new law, is bound to tell a person whether he/she is being summoned as an accused or a witness to record statement, Geo News reported.

NAB has already recorded the statements of ministers of the previous government. It also asked for the records of all the donations received from the Al-Qadir University and those who donated to the trust.
Gurugram, June 6 : A man has been arrested for allegedly extorting Rs 50,000 from a person, posing as a fake police officer, police said.

According to the police, the victim filed a complaint on June 1, that a person contacted him through a website and sought service from him.

The suspect called the complainant to Cyber Park Sector-39, Gurugram and made him sit in a Swift DZire car, the suspects then introduced themselves as policemen and threatened to send him to jail for committing a cyber crime, police said.

The victim remained in the car, meanwhile another person who introduced himself as a senior police officer, demanded Rs 1 lakh, the victim then transferred Rs 50,000 from his brother's account to the account mentioned by the suspects.

The accused threatened the victim of dire consequences if he revealed the matter to anyone, and asked him to arrange the remaining amount.

Following a complaint, a case was registered at the Sadar Police Station.

During the probe, police nabbed one suspect, who was identified as Sunil Kumar, from Jaipur in Rajasthan on Monday.

"The accused has confessed that he along with his associates was involved in the crime. A Swift DZire car was also recovered from his possession used in the crime," Jaswant Singh, the investigating officer of the case, said.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a plea by an octogenarian man, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, convicted for selling adulterated milk, nearly four decades ago, seeking suspension of his sentence and bail.

A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal agreed to examine a plea by Virendra Singh on Thursday.

Singh was represented by advocate Satish Kumar, who sought urgent listing of the plea seeking a direction to suspend the conviction and sentence, citing his 85-year-old client's deteriorating health.

The lawyer urged the court to release Singh on bail pending a decision on his petition for suspension of sentence.

The petitioner has claimed that he is suffering from various ailments including asthma and also undergoing treatment at the jail hospital in Bulandshahr.

Singh was apprehended selling adulterated milk in October 1981 and he was convicted in September 1984 by a trial court. The trial court sentenced him to one year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 under the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

Singh moved the sessions court against the trial court order, which affirmed the trial court order in July 1987.

He moved the Allahabad High Court in July 1987, which delivered a verdict in January 2013, upholding his conviction but reduced the sentence to six months rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2,000.

After being on bail for over three decades, the petitioner surrendered before the trial court in April 2023 and deposited the Rs 2,000 fine. He was arrested and sent to jail.

Singh is currently lodged in Bulandshahar district jail. He has sought, as an interim relief quashing of charges levelled against him in August 1984, under section 7/16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

He claimed that the case against him was lodged after he was allegedly found selling adulterated milk in October 1981. The plea contended that a food inspector checked the milk and obtained samples.

Singh moved the apex court seeking a direction to suspend his conviction and sentence against the backdrop of his deteriorating health.
Patna, June 6 : While the Bihar government is thinking of blacklisting the construction company after the Aguwani (Khagaria)-Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) four lane road bridge collapsed on Sunday, BJP state president Samrat Chaudhary claimed that Nitish Kumar is blacklisted now.

"The people of Bihar have seen how the Nitish model was hanging in the air and collapsed in the water," Chaudhary said while referring to the bridge collapse. He added that Nitish Kumar is blacklisted now.

"After the bridge collapsed last year, what action had been taken against the company or officials? The Nitish Kumar government became blacklisted in front of the people of Bihar. Nitish Kumar is clarifying things but people of Bihar had seen how the bridge flew in the air last year and collapsed again on Sunday. This is the actual Nitish model of governance in Bihar," Chaudhary said.

Meanwhile, the Bihar government has issued a notice to SP Singla Construction Pvt Ltd and also suspended an executive engineer.

"We have issued a show cause notice to the managing director Niraj Saksena and asked him to clarify why the Bihar government should not blacklist your company. The company has been given a time period of 15 days to submit its reply," said Pratyay Amrit, additional chief secretary in the road construction department.

"We have also suspended an executive engineer of Khagaria who was looking after the construction of that bridge. Preliminary investigation reveals lapses by him during inspections of the bridge," Amrit said.
Moscow, June 6 : Russia is at the forefront of a global rebellion against US hegemony, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

The US-backed 'rules-based order' is prone to inconsistency whenever any nation attempts to determine its own policies, Lavrov said, addressing troops at a Russian base in Tajikistan, RT reported.

Lavrov said that US foreign policy was aimed at destabilising certain parts of the world, so that Washington could "fish in the troubled water" under the guise of fighting terrorism and offering security. This is among the ways Washington coerces others into accepting its orders, he said.

Russia is "at the very forefront" of resisting Western pressure, despite the US and its "subjugated" allies targeting Moscow with sanctions and attempting to isolate it, he said, contending that they have failed to separate Russia from the international community.

Lavrov also asserted that Russian diplomacy is increasing its global engagement after a period of disarray that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"Over the last couple of years, we have been returning to Africa (and) Latin America. A determination has accumulated never to accept the 'rules' that Washington is imposing. Its role is diminishing, slowly but surely. An increasing number of nations are disillusioned with it," he contended.
Guwahati, June 6 : The North East Indigenous Peoples' Forum (NEIPF) has called upon the Union and state governments to step in and protect citizens amid the ethnic violence in Manipur.

The NEIPF executive meeting took place at Assam Sahitya Sabha Bhavan in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The forum also offered a prayer and hoped for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among all the communities in Manipur.

"We urge the Union and state governments to immediately intervene and ensure the safety of all the people in Manipur. We also urge that the vehicles in the region be safeguarded, particularly on the National Highways," the NEIPF said in a statement.

The NEIPF asked the government to address the daily needs of the displaced people by providing them with basic amenities, and also appealed to all the communities not to resort to any form of blockades and counter-blockades of roads.

The NEIPF also said that the Union government should probe if there is any involvement of foreign nationals in the present crisis.

"Appropriate actions should be initiated if foreign nationals are involved in the present crisis in Manipur," the NEIPF said.

The forum said that the gradual infiltration of illegal foreign nationals in the region, which has changed the demography of the states, calls for prompt action by the government.

"The continuous haul of narcotics and massive destruction of forests in the region is a matter of serious concern. It has to be defined whether narco-terrorism is linked to the mass deforestation of poppy plantations in the northeastern states, including Manipur, to save the indigenous people," the NEIPF said.

The forum also asked all the indigenous peoples of the region to be attentive and build a mechanism to regulate the settlements of foreigners since they deny economic progress of the indigenous people.
New Delhi, June 6 : India's premier health institution, AIIMS New Delhi, said on Tuesday that it thwarted a malware attack on its eHospital services and the systems were working normally. The government also denied any cyber breach.

The website ehospital.aiims.edu allegedly suffered a cyber attack and a message 'Virus found' was seen.

AIIMS New Delhi denied any cyber attack or data breach.

"A malware attack was detected at 1450 hrs by the cyber-security systems in AIIMS, New Delhi. The attempt was successfully thwarted, and the threat was neutralised by the deployed cyber-security systems," the health institution posted in a tweet.

"The e-Hospital services remain to be fully secure and are functioning normally," it added.

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also said that there was no cyber attack or breach at the AIIMS.

"http://E-Hospital.aiims.edu is an internal application. Someone may have tried accessing this portal and alert generated due to the security layer used by AIIMS. Same person may have taken a screenshot of the error message and circulated it," the minister said in a tweet.

"There is no cyber incident or breach. Error messages have also been rectified now," he added.

Last year, a massive ransomware attack disrupted the systems at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), crippling its centralised records and other hospital services.
New Delhi, 6 June : The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Harvard Business School, the US, announced on Tuesday that both the institutes will be working together.

They said that the initiative has been taken to develop a customised executive educational programme for CA institute members.

Besides, the ICAI will also reach out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI revised international curriculum.

The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US scheduled from June 21 and 24.

"We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Harvard Business School. The institute has also sent the MoU to the Union Cabinet for final approval. After we get a nod from the government, we will sign the MoU," ICAI President Aniket Sunil Talati told IANS.

Talati said that the ICAI has already signed an MoU with several nations, including Nepal, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, the UAE, Afghanistan, Russia, Poland, Nigeria and Maldives.

On the issue of revised curriculum, Talati said that presently the ICAI is working on revising the scheme of education and training in alignment with the International Education Standards (IES), National Education Policy 2020 and global requirements.

"The new scheme of education and training will be for all CA aspirants from across the globe. ICAI will be reaching out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI international curriculum," Talati said.

He said that the curriculum of the chartered accountancy course is designed, developed and updated from time to time so that the members of the profession can become the valued trustees of world-class financial competence, good governance and competitiveness.

Both the institutions have planned to design a specific module for CAs. Through this international initiative, there will also be a specific programme for Indian CAs. The programme will be available for four weeks.

"The newly-designed programme will have multiple options for the learners. It will be available in residential, virtual and hybrid modes. However, it will be finalised only after the approval of the Union Cabinet," the ICAI said.
New Delhi, 6 June : The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Harvard Business School, the US, will be joining hands to develop a customised executive educational programme for CA institute members.

Besides, the ICAI will also reach out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI revised international curriculum.

The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the US scheduled from June 21 and 24.

"We are going to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Harvard Business School. The institute has also sent the MoU to the Union Cabinet for final approval. After we get a nod from the government, we will sign the MoU," ICAI President Aniket Sunil Talati told IANS.

Talati said that the ICAI has already signed an MoU with several nations, including Nepal, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, the UAE, Afghanistan, Russia, Poland, Nigeria and Maldives.

On the issue of revised curriculum, Talati said that presently the ICAI is working on revising the scheme of education and training in alignment with the International Education Standards (IES), National Education Policy 2020 and global requirements.

"The new scheme of education and training will be for all CA aspirants from across the globe. ICAI will be reaching out to as many as 48 countries for the ICAI international curriculum," Talati said.

He said that the curriculum of the chartered accountancy course is designed, developed and updated from time to time so that the members of the profession can become the valued trustees of world-class financial competence, good governance and competitiveness.

Both the institutions have planned to design a specific module for CAs. Through this international initiative, there will also be a specific programme for Indian CAs. The programme will be available for four weeks.

"The newly-designed programme will have multiple options for the learners. It will be available in residential, virtual and hybrid modes. However, it will be finalised only after the approval of the Union Cabinet," the ICAI said.
New Delhi, June 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked the US House of Representatives's Speaker Kevin McCarthy for inviting him to address the joint meeting of Congress on June 22.

"Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress," Modi tweeted, tagging the Republican and Democrat leaders in the Senate and the Democrat leader in the House of Representatives as well.

"We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity," he added.

The Prime Minister was responding to McCarthy's tweet of June 2, when he had said, "It is my honor to invite @PMOIndia @narendramodi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22nd." "This will be an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship between the United States and India and speak to the global challenges our countries both face."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Romania is confident in extending gas supply contract with Azerbaijan beyond 2024, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Romanian Energy Minister, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

He recalled that ROMGAZ and SOCAR entered into contractual arrangements starting with the beginning of this year.

"Such contractual arrangements formed the basis for a constructive joined work and proved to be a new milestone for strengthening the good cooperation relationship between the two companies. Therefore, we are confident that such cooperation will be extended beyond 2024, not only by entering into new gas supplies contracts but also into other potential projects of mutual interest," added the minister.

Popescu noted that Romania and the Republic of Azerbaijan have a long tradition in terms of energy cooperation relations.

"The Strategic Energy Partnership has strengthened and expanded year by year. During last year, the two countries had an extremely consistent bilateral dialogue and signed important documents regarding the implementation of some strategic energy projects. Romania appreciates the active participation of Azerbaijan in joint efforts to strengthen Europe's energy security, especially in this challenging energy context, through its key role in developing the Southern Gas Corridor and its commitment to increase the Azerbaijani gas volumes for the European market," he said.

On February 3, 2023, SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state oil company, and Romgaz S.A., Romania's energy company, signed a gas supply agreement during the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council's meeting in Baku. The agreement outlines the transportation of 1 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan to Romania from 2023 to 2024.

This contract builds upon previous agreements signed by the two companies on October 9 and December 16, 2022, which established the legal framework for energy relations between Azerbaijan and Romania. These documents not only expand Azerbaijan's export opportunities but also contribute to enhanced cooperation, Europe's energy security, and the promotion of green energy strategies.

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Bhopal, June 6 : Three policemen sustained injuries after a group of people pelted stones on the marriage procession of a Dalit groom in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district.

The incident occurred in the Bada Malahara area in Chhatarpur district on Monday, when the family members and friends of a Dalit groom took out a procession in their village.

As per the ritual, the groom had to be ferried to a particular spot on a horse. However, some miscreants objected to the procession and pelted stones on it.

Reports said that a team of local police reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control, but they also came under attack, leaving three policemen injured. Additional police force had to be deployed to bring the situation under control.

The police said that a case has been registered against 50 persons under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

"The incident occurred in Chourai village under Baksaha police station limits on Monday, when some people from another community objected to the wedding procession of a Dalit groom," said Superintendent of Police, Amit Sanghi.
New Delhi, June 6 : A Delhi court on Tuesday denied the bail plea of an accused in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, citing that he was engaging in deceptive tactics.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala rejected the bail plea of Mohammed Waseem, who, along with 27 others, had been booked by the Dayalpur police.

The police had booked him for various offenses under the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, attempt to murder, and violations of the Arms Act.

The judge said: "This is well apparent that applicant is playing game of hide and seek" as he rejected the bail application.

ASJ Pramachala observed that Waseem had filed the plea on the grounds of securing funds for his daughter's admission to an educational institution.

Regarding the merits of the case, it was mentioned that the defendant's previous bail application had been rejected by the current court. However, the judge noted that the date of the order was not specified, and no copy of the order had been submitted.

Contradicting this, the investigating officers' response stated that Waseem's previous bail application had been withdrawn before the Delhi High Court.

"After withdrawing the aforesaid application, the present application was moved on May 30 and I cannot assume that grounds taken in this application could not have been taken before the Delhi High Court," the judge said, while dismissing the application.
Hyderabad, June 6 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national President Nara Chandarbabu Naidu on Tuesday exuded confidence that his party will regain full glory in Telangana.

Addressing TDP leaders and workers at the party's Telangana headquarters here, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said that he has no doubt that the party will regain its glory.

He asked the party cadres to work hard to once again develop the TDP into a major political force in Telangana.

Naidu, who was Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004, claimed that if Telangana has achieved huge progress and today emerged as the number one state in the country, it was because of the foundation laid by the TDP.

"If you see Hitec City, Cyberabad, Airport, Metro and Genome Valley, the effort made by the TDP is clearly visible," he said.

Naidu also stated that after bifurcation Telangana's economy improved and it marched ahead as the Chief Ministers who came after that did not stop development and did not resort to destruction. "When it comes to Andhra Pradesh, there was destruction, development was stopped and people's lives thrown into darkness," he said exuding confidence that the TDP will return to power in Andhra Pradesh.

This was Naidu's first visit to Hyderabad after he was recently re-elected as the President of the TDP at the party's annual conclave at Rajahmundry.

Naidu's visit and meeting with Telangana TDP leaders also assume significance in the wake of his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J.P. Nadda in Delhi on June 3.

The TDP President's meeting with Amit Shah, the first since 2018, came amid reports that TDP and BJP are keen to revive their alliance in Telugu states.

Assembly elections in Telangana are scheduled towards the end of 2023 while elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly are due along with Lok Sabha polls next year.

"I have no doubt that after these two elections, the TDP will emerge as the most powerful party of Telugus," said Naidu at the meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The TDP had pulled out of the BJP-led NDA in 2018 over the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The party had fought 2018 Assembly elections in alliance with Congress and smaller parties but had to bite the dust.

The TDP went alone in Andhra Pradesh but lost power to the YSR Congress Party. After the crushing defeat, Naidu softened his stand towards the BJP and is now keen to join hands with it in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Toronto, June 6 : Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus National Security Adviser Jody Thomas has said that India is among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada.

"When I talk about foreign interference and economic security, I'm now talking about a number of state actors and non-state proxies," Jody Thomas said last week at a conference organised by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

"This includes Russia, Iran and India. That said, the actor that comes up most on these issues, and it's no surprise to anybody, is China," she was quoted as saying in Toronto Star.

University of British Columbia professor Vina Nadjibulla told Toronto Star that it was "striking" that Thomas listed India along with the three other countries -- a move that could hit the close India-Canada ties.

The NSA's remarks came months after the Liberals highlighted India as part of their Indo-Pacific strategy and as a priority for establishing closer economic and scientific ties.

"The relationship we have diplomatically with India is improving rapidly, but I think we would be kidding ourselves if we were not to acknowledge some of the diaspora politics and local issues here in Canada, which will have a significant impact," Nadjibulla said.

According to The Star, "federal agencies have indirectly warned in recent years of India exerting improper influence in Canada, but rarely by name".

On the contrary, India has raised strong protest with the Canadian government against radical Khalistani elements organising referendums in the North American nations and meddling in India's domestic affairs, particularly the farmers' protests.

Despite exhortation from India to act, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has failed to take action against a new wave of Khalistani activism in Canada.

This is because Trudeau heads a minority government which is backed by the New Democratic Party (NDP), headed by Jagmeet Singh, a Khalistani sympathiser, IANS reported earlier.

Singh's NDP has 24 seats in parliament, whose support is critical for the survival of the Trudeau government.

Singh has been called out time and again on Twitter for attempting to meddle in Indian affairs, especially after he "raised concerns" over the crackdown in Punjab against 'Waris Punjab De' chief and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh.

According to India Narrative, Singh has long been suspected of attempts to link Khalistani and Kashmiri separatism from his perch in Canada. He is apparently connected with prominent Khalistani and Kashmiri separatist groups based in different countries of Europe, according to media reports.
Bengaluru, June 6 : The Consul General of the Netherlands in Bengaluru Ewout de Wit on Tuesday called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and held discussions.

Noting that Karnataka has an investor-friendly ecosystem that helps the economy to grow, and ample skilled manpower and good law and order conditions, the diplomat said that The Netherlands has invested a substantial amount in the state, amounting to a total of 9 per cent.

De Wit said that The Netherlands has a special interest in industries such as sustainable energy, electronics, semiconductor and other innovative areas.

He said that the Prime Minister of The Netherlands is expected to visit India in September and will also visit Bengaluru. On this occasion, the delegation of entrepreneurs is keen to discuss investment in various sectors with the state, he added.

Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka is a leading state in industrialisation, and in IT, BT sectors, the state is in top position.

Karnataka being a peaceful state with availability of skilled human resource makes it an excellent destination for investment, he said and assured all cooperation to Dutch companies in the state. He also asserted that the government will not allow law and order situation to deteriorate.

Commissioner of Commerce and Industries Gunjan Krishna was also present at the meeting.
New Delhi, June 6 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned that a deep depression over the southeast Arabian Sea has intensified into cyclonic storm .

It said that the cyclonic storm was named Cyclone Biparjoy, a name given by Bangladesh.

"Deep depression intensified into the Cyclonic Storm 'Biparjoy' (pronounced 'Biporjoy') over east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea," IMD said in a statement.

"The deep depression over southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea moved nearly northwards with a speed of 4 kmph during last 6 hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' and lay centered at 1730 hours IST (5.30 p.m.) of today, the June 6, 2023 over eastcentral and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea near latitude 12.1 degrees North and longitude 66.degrees East, about 920 km west-southwest of Goa, 1,050 km southwest of Mumbai, 1,130 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1430 km south of Karachi," the statement read.

"It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify gradually into a severe cyclonic storm over east-central Arabian Sea during next 24 hours," it added.
Bengaluru, June 6 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the Central government will be urged to include the hike in reservation to SC/ST communities under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

In his remarks after being felicitated by a delegation of the Federation of Backward Classes and Dalit seers, Siddaramaiah, criticising the hike in reservation by the previous BJP government as an election gimmick, said that even though the legislation enhancing reservation was implemented, they have sent the proposal to the Central Government to include the same in the 9th schedule just two days before the elections.

"The previous government has created confusion on the pretext of creating internal reservation for Backward and Scheduled Castes. As a result of ignoring the advice given by us to take all communities into confidence before hiking internal reservation, they faced opposition from various communities," he said.

"Such confusions arise when one does not have a commitment to social justice. The Jana Sangh and the BJP have always had an anti-reservation stance. The hike in reservation is a political gimmick," he added.

Siddaramaiah said that his government will clear all confusions with regard to reservations.

"The people of Karnataka have given an opportunity to the Congress. They have lost faith in the previous government and are expecting a change. Whether it is in power or not, the Congress government is always a secular party and will never compromise on its stand with regard to social justice.

"Equal opportunities have to be given to the people who are deprived of opportunities. When we were in power previously, our government had conducted socio-economic surveys through permanent backward classes commission at a cost of Rs 162 crore. Previous governments hesitated to receive the survey report. our government will receive the report. Necessary facilities shall be provided in different sectors like education, employment, business based on the facts," the CM said.

"Our government supports all sections of people. Previously, we had implemented Annabhagya, Ksheerabhagya, Indira Canteen and other programs. At present, we are implementing 5 guarantee schemes. Around Rs 59,000 crore annual expenditure will be incurred," he added.
New Delhi, June 6 : The Congress on Tuesday slammed the BJP government in Haryana after police baton charged protesting sunflower farmers in Kurukshetra, saying that they were only demanding the MSP for their crops but were beaten.

In a tweet on its official Twitter handle, the party said, "BJP government in Haryana has got baton charged at farmers. Farmers were demanding their right and their fair price but were beaten with sticks. Narendra Modi are you watching?" It also attached a video of the police baton charge on the farmers.

Earlier in the day, Haryana farmers, protesting at the National Highway 44 near Kurukshetra's Shahbad over the government not buying their sunflower seeds on the minimum support price (MSP), were baton-charged by police to clear the area.

The police also used water cannon to disperse the crowd.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Sirjewala also took a swipe at the state's Manohar Lal Khattar BJP government, saying: "Conspiracies won't be tolerated now. This dictatorial rule of Modi and Khattar should know that we are standing against this system of loot and will fight. Kurukshetra's Shahbad baton charge." He too shared the video of the police action on the protesting farmers.

The protest was led by Haryana BKU-Chaduni chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni.

The BJP-led state government had decided to stop the procurement of sunflower seed on the MSP and to procure it under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana at the rate of Rs 1,000 per quintal.

The farmers have been saying that they are selling the produce at Rs 4,000 per quintal to private buyers against the MSP of Rs 6,400.
Patna, June 6 : A bid to replicate a subplot of Bollywood blockbuster '3 Idiots' in real life -- by operating a pregnant woman with the aide of a gynaecologist on a video call -- met a tragic end, unlike in the movie, as the patient in Bihar's Purnea district died late on Monday night.

The pregnant woman named Malti Devi (22) was admitted to the Samarpan maternity hospital in Purnea's Line Bazar area on Monday evening after she complained of labour pain. At that time, the gynaecologist, Seema Kumari, was out of the city. Despite that, the woman was admitted and operated upon by the hospital administration.

As Malti was having acute labour pain, the nurses and other medical staff consulted Seema Kumari and decided to go ahead with the operation to make the delivery possible.

Accordingly, they took Malti to the operation theatre and roped in a nurse for the operation. The nurse was instructed via video call and she did the operation, but unknowingly she cut an important vein in the stomach which led to Malti's death.

The woman had given birth to twins. The infants are alive and healthy.

Following the incident, the family members of the deceased created a ruckus in the hospital on Tuesday morning. As the situation went out of control, the SHO of Khajanchi Sahayak police station, Ranjit Kumar, along with his team reached the hospital and restored order.

"We have received an application from the victim's family and forwarded it to the civil surgeon's office in Purnea. The matter will be investigated by the civil surgeon of Purnea and if he finds medical negligence in this matter, we will register an FIR against the doctor and the hospital administration," the SHO said.

Meanwhile, four-time MP and Jan Adhikar Party President Pappu Yadav reached the hospital and consoled the family. He also contacted the civil surgeon and the SHO of Khajanchi Sahayak police station and requested them to take strong action against the doctors and other medical staff for negligence.
New Delhi, June 6 : German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius attended an event of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) startups at the Research and Innovation Park in IIT Delhi on Tuesday.

The event included a briefing on iDEX followed by showcasing of game-changing technologies by Indian startups on augmented reality, virtual reality, energy systems, smart drones and anti-drone systems, space propulsion systems and other allied technologies.

Additional Secretary (Defence Production) and CEO of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), T. Natarajan, briefed the German minister on the growth of India's defence innovation ecosystem through the iDEX scheme and the opportunities for collaboration in emerging technology sectors.

According to the Defence Ministry officials, the issues highlighted included the need to enhance defence-industrial cooperation, technology partnerships, long-term research and development and improving supply chain security.

The event also brought into focus the promotion of co-development and co-production in India, including the potential areas and projects where Indian and German startups can work together. Partner incubator of iDEX, FITT-IIT Delhi, co-hosted the event.
Governor General of Canada Mary Simon has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellency,

On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to congratulate you and your fellow citizens on the occasion of the national day of the Republic of Azerbaijan  the Independence Day.

Canada is pleased to continue strengthening its ties with Azerbaijan, building on last year`s 30th anniversary of our countries` diplomatic relations. Our partnership is based on shared priorities, including long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus, as well as people-to-people ties built by the vibrant Azerbaijani-Canadian community.

Our positive bilateral relationship is reinforced by our mutual dedication to addressing important issues such as women`s empowerment, global security and environmental stewardship. Canada is committed to further developing its relationship with Azerbaijan as well as strive for a better future for our citizens.

On this day of celebration, I wish peace and prosperity to you and the people of Azerbaijan.

Yours sincerely,

Mary May Simon

Governor General of Canada
New Delhi, June 7 : The Delhi government has decided to employ helium leakage detection technology to easily identify any leaks in the water pipeline.

According to AAP government, by utilising this "modern" technology, the people of Delhi will get relief from the problem of contaminated water.

"From now onwards, there will be no need to dig up roads to identify water leaks in the underground pipeline," said an official.

Delhi's Water Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, inspected equipment for detecting leaks and contaminated water in the pipeline in the Shahpur Jat area.

Bhardwaj also tested the technology to assess its effectiveness in identifying leaks in the pipeline.

The minister said that complaints about the supply of contaminated water had been received from Shahpur Jat area in the past few days, leading the government to adopt the technology as a solution.

"It should be noted that often drinking water and sewer water get mixed. This problem primarily arises due to leaks in the water pipeline, allowing sewage water to enter the pipeline through the leak," he said.

Helium gas is introduced into the pipeline, and drilling is carried out at multiple locations. The location of the leak is determined by observing the ascent of helium gas to the surface, the minister elaborated the procedure.

"Thanks to this modern technology, digging is only required at the location of the leak, (thus) eliminating the need to excavate the entire pipeline. The drilling goes up to 400 mm deep... Helium is the least soluble gas in water, making it medically safe and suitable for use," he explained.
1EdTech Consortium (1EdTech), the world-leading non-profit collaborative powering learner potential, kicked off its 17th annual Learning Impact Conference in Anaheim, California, this week and announced the latest updates to the TrustEd Apps Management Suite (TAMS).

In 2023, TAMS surpassed 10,000 edtech products that are either certified or vetted by 1EdTech to help educators curate a selection of products that fit the needs of their learners and collaborate on product usage. TAMS also provides diagnostic tools to help suppliers and institutions monitor and troubleshoot data issues and understand applications' compatibility. 1EdTech will soon be adding product certification to TAMS so that suppliers can take advantage of everything TAMS offers as part of the product certification process.

Were building a learner-centered digital ecosystem of trust by bringing suppliers and educational institutions together in one collaborative space, said Dr. Rob Abel, 1EdTech CEO. The vetting and certifications allow educators to see how products will work within their ecosystem, and collaborative elements let them share insights into how effective those products are. Moving forward, there will be more vetting, certification, and collaboration opportunities as we continue to listen to our members from K-12, higher education, and suppliers to understand what they need from the ecosystem to serve learners.

The Learning Impact Conference will celebrate several innovations through the Learning Impact Awards, showcases, and sessions throughout the week.

The conference launched Monday with an opening keynote from George Couros, author of The Innovators Mindset, and a panel discussion on artificial intelligence with leaders from Cengage, Microsoft, Savvas, and Turnitin.

Other featured sessions include a talk from Mark Milliron, president and CEO of National University, on how technology innovation can move us past the new normal into the new possible; the Leading Innovation to Power Learner Potential panel that will bring together leaders from 1EdTech, CoSN, Digital Promise and ISTE to discuss how together these organizations are fueling innovation, cultivate leaders and power student potential; and a co-hosted panel with EDUCAUSE on K-20 Supplier Perspectives on Corporate Citizenship. This is the first year 1EdTechs Learning Impact and EDUCAUSEs ELI Annual Meeting are co-locating.

The Learning Impact Conference will run through June 8.

About 1EdTech

1EdTech is a member-based non-profit community partnership of leading educational providers at all levels, government organizations, and edtech suppliers working together to enable better digital teaching and learning. Together we power learner potential by accelerating an open, trusted, and innovative education ecosystem in which products work together to enable better learning.

1EdTech hosts the annual Learning Impact conference and other engagement opportunities to advance the leadership and ideas that shape the future of learning. 1EdTech is supported by an affiliated public charity, the 1EdTech Foundation, that puts philanthropic funds to work for our cause. Visit our website at 1edtech.org.
SMART on FHIR improves the clinical workflow, enables clinical trials to integrate RWD in a non-disruptive way, and ultimately reduces burnout among clinical trial researchers.

OpenClinica proudly announces CEO Cal Collins is speaking at the DIA 2023 Global Annual Meeting in Boston, MA, June 25-29. Collins, a steering committee member of the Vulcan Program, Health Level Sevens (HL7) newest Fast Healthcare Interoperability (FHIR) Accelerator, will discuss how SMART on FHIR is the key to unlocking real-world data. His session, SMART on FHIR: Integrating Electronic Health Records as Real-World Data, also includes:



Elise Berliner, Global Senior Principal for Real World Evidence Strategy, Cerner Enviza, who will share perspective on patient registries in the era of electronic health record (EHR) big data,

Dave deBronkart, e-Patient Dave, who is a patient advocate, cancer survivor and founding member of the HL7 FHIR Patient Empowerment Workgroup, the BMJ patient advisory panel and the Society for Participatory Medicine, and

Nicholas Rattenni, Senior Advisory Consultant, NNIT.

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I am honored DIA Global chose me to highlight the tremendous impact of SMART on FHIR on the usefulness of real-world data, said Cal Collins, OpenClinica CEO. SMART on FHIR improves the clinical workflow, enables clinical trials to integrate RWD in a non-disruptive way, and ultimately reduces burnout among clinical trial researchers.

DIA 2023 is the largest global multidisciplinary event for life sciences professionals. Conference organizers expect 5,000+ global attendees.

For more information about Collins DIA 2023 Session, June 27, 4:00  5:00 pm, click here. To schedule a time to discuss SMART on FHIR with Collins and the OpenClinica team, visit: https://www.openclinica.com/contact-us/

ABOUT OPENCLINICA

OpenClinica accelerates clinical trials by automating data acquisition through its software-as-a-service platform. Offering a secure bridge between healthcare and research, OpenClinica is trusted by the worlds foremost life science companies, academic institutions, and government entities and has been used in more than 10,000 studies involving over five million patients. OpenClinica is proud to support hundreds of small, midsize and large research organizations spanning biotech, pharma, medical device manufacturing and contract research organizations. For more information, visit us at http://www.openclinica.com
"Selling Powers meticulously curated lineup of America's Best Sales Speakers represents the pinnacle of sales knowledge and experience.

Today Selling Power is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated release of our list of America's Best Sales Speakers for the year 2023. This esteemed collection showcases the exceptional talent and expertise of industry thought leaders who are revolutionizing the world of sales. You can review the list here: https://bit.ly/3oI92XP.

Selling Power Founder and CEO says, As the business landscape rapidly evolves, the art of selling has become increasingly dynamic and complex. To navigate these challenges and stay ahead of the competition, sales professionals need visionary guidance from the very best. Selling Powers meticulously curated lineup of America's Best Sales Speakers represents the pinnacle of sales knowledge and experience.

From veteran sales gurus to rising stars, these influential speakers possess the unique ability to captivate audiences, inspire action, and ignite lasting change. Their innovative strategies, proven methodologies, and insightful perspectives are reshaping the sales landscape, propelling organizations toward unprecedented growth and success.

You can learn more about America's Best Sales Speakers in 2023 and explore their exceptional talent at https://bit.ly/3oI92XP.

About Selling Power

In addition to Selling Power, the leading digital magazine for sales managers and sales VPs since 1981, Personal Selling Power, Inc., produces the Sales Management Digest and Daily Boost of Positivity online newsletters https://bit.ly/3eqbnP3, as well as videos featuring interviews with top executives. Selling Power is a regular media sponsor of the Sales 3.0 Conference, which is attended by a total of more than 4,500 sales leaders each year (https://www.sales30conf.com).
Too many marketing strategies fail as a result of the brand not accurately communicating their WHY and to WHOM they are marketing

According to a CMSWire.com survey of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) a majority of respondents say that their role now requires increased cross functional partnership with sales, additional pressure to improve customer experiences and responsibility for digital transformation. (1) This comes as no surprise to the current guest of the Disruption Interruption podcast seasoned marketing executive who points to the simple fact that all successful marketing starts with a foundational marketing strategy built around understanding WHAT and WHO a brand is and WHY and to WHOM they are marketing.

Enter disruptor Tim Hines, CMO of AmTrav and marketing expert, who explains to Karla Jo Helms, the host of the Disruption/Interruption podcast how he helps people master the art of human-to-human business and communication. Prior to his company developing an all-in-one platform, corporate travel management was stuck in a bygone era of awkward processes and confusing accounting. Today the AmTrav platform empowers a corporate travel experience that delights and unlocks savings while optimizing processes.

With AmTrav as his current springboard, Hines has been a marketer throughout his career. From his perspective Hines observes that in marketing everything begins with understanding WHY a company is doing what its doing in the first place. Too many marketing strategies fail as a result of the brand not accurately communicating their WHY and to WHOM they are marketing. He and Karla Jo discuss how a foundational marketing strategy and technology are the key points in the long-term success of the CMO.

Key takeaways:



Marketing fundamentals every CMO should know

Mastering the marketing metrics that translate to business goals

How CMOs can mitigate crises

MarTech tools to refine attribution modeling

How technology is evolving long-term marketing strategy

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnhines/

Company website: http://www.amtrav.com/

Disruption Interruption is the podcast where you'll hear from today's biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about innovation and how they overcame opposition to adoption.

Disruption Interruption can be listened to via the Podbean app and is available on Apple's App Store and Google Play.

About Disruption Interruption:

Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries  MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping and logistics, and more  and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors, and when did they say, "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT!"? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo "KJ" Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews bad a**es who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits  and not-so-common  that are changing our economic markets  and lives. Visit the world's key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at http://www.disruptioninterruption.com

About Karla Jo Helms:

Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors.

Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line  and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion  Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.

About Tim Hines:

Tim Hines is a CMO, keynote speaker, author, podcast show host, and consultant who helps people master the art of human-to-human (H2H) business and communications. He specializes in harnessing the power of the entrepreneurial spirit to develop omnichannel marketing programs from the ground up. With nearly 20 years of experience, Tim has developed strategic marketing initiatives with many companies including AmTrav, Dialpad, Tribune Media, Ticketmaster, and the CIA. He served on the Community Advisory Board for the Future Founders Foundation helping underserved youth explore entrepreneurship and is a graduate of the Startup Leadership Program. Tim also taught marketing and entrepreneurship classes with the University of Illinois Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies program. He is also a serving member of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the American Marketing Association (AMA).

References:

1) Staff Writer. Inside the Mind of the Modern Chief Marketing Officer, CMS Wire.com, 03 April 2023, cmswire.com/leadership/inside-the-mind-of-the-modern-chief-marketing-officer/.
Ocean Tomo announces the Electronically Controlled Release System Gas Springs Patents auction, available as lot 170, on the Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask market.

The lot 170 patent auction consists of 28 global patents covering jurisdictions such as the U.S., China, Europe, Brazil, and Japan, among others.

This portfolio is directed to an electronically controlled release system for gas springs. The highly versatile system allows for effortless locking or release of gas springs through a simple press of a button which can be controlled wirelessly or by cable or computer, making it ideal for use in a wide range of applications. A prototype of the invention, along with a successful medium-sized mechanical series and a small electronics series, will be available for review, subject to non-disclosure terms set by the Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask market. The buyer of the entire portfolio will also receive installed electronics pieces, allowing for immediate implementation, particularly in the aviation industry.

This technology is uniquely suited for the aircraft seat industry, which generates an annual revenue of $4 billion. The adaptable nature of the system makes it an ideal solution for enhancing safety and consumer ease of use in aircraft seats. Moreover, the versatility of this technology extends beyond aviation, as it proves valuable in various sectors including automotive, furniture, industrial applications, aerospace, and medical industries. Currently, prominent players such as Stabilus, Suspa, Lantan, Bansbach, and Wan Der Ful (WDF) hold a collective market share of approximately 40% in the gas spring industry. The inclusion of this technology from Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask market lot 170 presents a remarkable opportunity for buyers outside the aviation industry to tap into the vast potential and profitability that the aircraft seat market offers.

With the global industrial gas spring market valued at $2.6 billion in 2021 and anticipated to reach $3.8 billion by 2028, the technology in Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask market lot 170 provides a competitive edge. Its versatile applications, particularly in the aircraft seat industry, position potential buyers to capitalize on the increasing demand for safety and user-friendly solutions.

To request bidder credentials or to receive further information on this portfolio available on the Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask Market, contact Layna Guo at Layna.guo@jsheld.com or +1 312 327 8179.

About Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held

The Ocean Tomo Bid-Ask market (the Market) was built to further enhance Intellectual Property (IP) liquidity and transaction transparency. The market serves a broad community of active buyers and sellers, providing a platform to purchase or sell patents and patent applications globally. This market is supported by Ocean Tomo Transactions and affiliate international voice brokers.

Ocean Tomo provides Financial Expert, Management Consulting, and Advisory services related to IP and other intangible assets. Practice offerings address economic damage calculations and testimony; business licensing strategy and contract interpretation; trade secret reasonable measures; asset and business valuation; strategy and risk management consulting; merger and acquisition advisory; debt and equity private placement; and IP brokerage. Subsidiaries of Ocean Tomo include Ocean Tomo Investments Group, LLC, a registered broker-dealer.

As a part of J.S. Held, Ocean Tomo works alongside more than 1,500 professionals globally and assists clients  corporations, insurers, law firms, governments, and institutional investors  on complex technical, scientific, and financial matters across all assets and value at risk.

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm providing technical, scientific, and financial expertise across all assets and value at risk. Our professionals serve as trusted advisors to organizations facing high-stakes events demanding urgent attention, staunch integrity, clear-cut analysis, and an understanding of both tangible and intangible assets. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services, products, and data that enable clients to navigate complex, contentious, and often catastrophic situations.
This is an impressive and versatile whisky with a great legacy and strong branding that attracts consumers attention on shelf. King Robert II, with its multi-layered sweetness, can be enjoyed on the rocks, and also adds incredible depth to a variety of cocktails

King Robert II, a Scottish Blended Scotch Whisky brand within the Ian Macleod Distillers portfolio, is thrilled to announce the launch of their full range throughout the United States.

King Robert II Blended Scotch Whisky is a unique blend that contains the finest single malt and grain Scotch whiskies, aged in a variety of oak casks for many years before being blended and bottled in Scotland. The result is an award-winning whisky, renowned throughout the world.

The brand is named after King Robert II, who ruled the kingdom of Scotland from 1371 to 1384. He was the nephew of Robert the Bruce, a warrior King, who had earlier won the Scots their independence from constant English invasion. King Robert IIs reign established a kingdom of greater wealth and stability, uniting the previously divided regions of Scotland in harmony. Similarly, Ian Macleod Distillers has created a balance with King Robert II Blended Scotch Whisky, uniting whiskies from the Islands, Highlands, Lowlands and Speyside in a rich and sweet dram.

King Robert II was re-designed in 2022 with a modern and striking new look that captures the spirit and history of the brand. Each bottle has the proud figure of King Robert II on his horse, in rich and stunning heritage colors that represent the history of the brand.

Iain Weir, Brand Director of King Robert II, says, We are delighted to share the updated King Robert II range within the United States. This is an impressive and versatile whisky with a great legacy and strong branding that attracts consumers attention on shelf. King Robert II, with its multi-layered sweetness, can be enjoyed on the rocks, and also adds incredible depth to a variety of cocktails.

The three King Robert II Blended Scotch Whiskies to be released in the United States are as follows:

The Treble Cask Matured (SRP: $14.99) contains aromas of sweet toffee and vanilla with a spicy influence, followed by a creamy fruitiness and butterscotch on the palate for a long and complex finish.

The 12 Year Old (SRP: $21.99) contains aromas of sweet almonds, roasted coconut and lime peel, followed by rich vanilla, lemon curd and charred woodsmoke on the palate that leads to a finish of baked pineapple and cardamom.

The 15 Year Old ($28.99) has aromas of butterscotch, chocolate caramels, vanilla and digestive biscuits. Dried currants, gentle spice, stewed apples with cinnamon, syrup sponge cake on the palate. A pleasant, sweet, citrusy finish.

Consumers can now purchase the King Robert II Blended Scotch Whisky range in select retail shops in the U.S. and the whiskies are available in 750ml and 1.75L sized bottles.

About Ian Macleod Distillers:

King Robert II is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers. Established in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotlands leading independent, family-owned distillers, blenders and bottlers. Ian Macleod Distillers is the worlds 10th largest Scotch Whisky company, producing and selling over 15 million bottles of spirits every year. Ian Macleod Distillers has built up an enviable portfolio of premium quality spirits and is proud brand proprietor of Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank and Smokehead Scotch whiskies and Edinburgh Gin to name but a few. For more information, visit http://www.ianmacleod.com.
iCleanse is the leading device disinfection and Digital Out of Home (DOOH) media company. Were thrilled to add more than 30 pilot programs to our customer list as we continue to grow our digital OOH network into more high traffic venues, said iCleanse CEO Chris Allen.

iCleanse, the leading device disinfection and Digital Out of Home (DOOH) media company, announced today its first-of-its-kind disinfection product, Swift UV, has been installed in pilot programs at more than 30 locations nationwide.

Many of the new locations are in the hospitality industry and include: CT Science Center in Hartford, CT; Hartford Health Care Pain Treatment Center in West Hartford, CT; Swiches Coffee & Donuts in Berlin, CT; Kinsman Brewing Co. in Milldale, CT; Vagabond Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA; Ocean Palms Motel in Pismo Beach, CA; Harbor House Inn in Morro Bay, CA; Gateway Lodge in Seaside, CA; Beachwalker Inn in Pismo Beach, CA; ARI in Glastonbury, CT; Garde Art Center in New London, CT; Phenix Salon (464 & 465) in Woodbridge, NJ; Phenix Salon (1235) in Union, NJ; Sandwich Lodge & Resort in Sandwich, MA; Best Western - Bridgewood Hotel in Neenah, WI; Elmwood Barbershop in West Hartford, CT; American Distilling in East Hampton, CT; Holiday Inn Long Island Slip Airport in Holtsville, NY; Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, CA; Candlewood Suites in Olive Branch, MS; Best Western Plus in Crawfordsville, IN; Econolodge in West Memphis, AR; Mircotel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Tuscaloosa, AL; Motel 8 in Tuscaloosa, AL; SureStay Plus by Best Western in Smithfield, RI; Atlantic Motelin East Wareham, MA; Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Castle Rock, CO; Best Western Aurora in Aurora, CO; Aaspire NY Inc. in New York, NY; Motel 8 in Knoxville, TN.

Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, New Englands second largest airport, recently deployed four Swift UV devices from iCleanse joining more than 100 hospitals, organizations and retail locations nationwide that presently use the companys patented and touchless UV disinfection that kills 99.99% of pathogens. To date, more than 1 million phones have been disinfected and 1 million impressions delivered using iCleanses Swift UV units.

Were thrilled to add more than 30 pilot programs to our customer list as we continue to grow our digital OOH network into more high traffic venues, said iCleanse CEO Chris Allen. Dozens of hospitals, organizations and retail locations already utilize our Swift UV product. Well continue to expand our footprint into airports, hotels, restaurants and other high traffic travel areas. This is a fantastic no-charge service that travelers appreciate. It also offers advertisers a unique one-to-one interaction with travelers and their brand. We look forward to deploying iCleanse in more locations nationwide this year.

Swift UV is the most innovative new way for brands to directly engage one-on-one with their customers. Ad content can be fully customized and deployed across a fleet of units through the secure iCleanse Cloud. Companies can create their own design, or iCleanse will create custom content for the advertisers, that delivers an impactful interactive call-to-action for the Swift UV user. Brands can easily target and reach their desired consumer with coupon discount codes. Companies using iCleanse as an advertising and communication tool find they build sustainable brand loyalty and also expand their customer base.

Visit https://icleanse.com/ to learn more about iCleanse.

About iCleanse

In 2020, entrepreneur Chris Allen acquired ReadyDock, an established force in the UV-C hospital disinfection space since 2015. Allen re-branded the company as iCleanse and quickly transformed it into the leading device disinfection and Digital Out of Home (DOOH) media company it is today. iCleanses specialty is fast and chemical-free UV-C disinfection for mobile phones in high-traffic areas. The companys first-of-its-kind product, Swift UV, features a display screen and advertising platform that allows the business owner to offer mobile phone disinfection while simultaneously monetizing traffic. More than 100 hospitals, organizations and retail locations nationwide use iCleanse for its fast and patented solution, while trusting its reliable and touchless UV disinfection.

Media Contact:

Chelsey Clapper, VP Marketing & Design

chelseyclapper@icleanse.com


Iva Yuan Named Senior Vice President, Product and Actuarial for ICW Group Insurance Companies Ivas exceptional contributions and expertise have been instrumental in the growth of ICW Group as a multi-line insurance carrier. As we continue to expand our coverage offerings, her deep product and actuarial knowledge will be vital.

ICW Group Insurance Companies, a leading group of property and casualty carriers, announced the promotion of Iva Yuan to Senior Vice President, Product & Actuarial, charged with leading the companys actuarial and product management practices.

As Senior Vice President, Yuan will focus on enhancing the companys product lines to deliver competitive offerings that continue to meet the needs of ICW Group policyholders. She will also lead the advancement of ICW Groups reserving practices.

Ivas exceptional contributions and expertise have been instrumental in the growth of ICW Group as a multi-line insurance carrier since she joined our team three years ago, said John Novak, President & COO, ICW Group. As the insurance landscape rapidly evolves and we continue to expand our coverage offerings, her deep product and actuarial knowledge will be vital in driving business growth and fulfilling our mission of creating the best insurance experience possible.

Since joining ICW Group, Yuan has elevated ICW Groups maturity in its actuarial and product management practices, supporting its core workers compensation product line while also collaborating on the newly launched commercial package lines of business. Yuan has more than 20 years of property and casualty insurance industry experience, including serving as Vice President of Product Management and Chief Actuary at the Allstate direct-to-consumer company Esurance before joining ICW Group.

Ive enjoyed being a part of such a dynamic team over the past few years as well as playing a role in ICW Groups rapid growth and delivery of new product lines to marketplace, said Yuan. As we continue to offer additional coverages for a range of risks, our product strategy will be at the center to ensure both profitability and customer satisfaction and I look forward to the work ahead in this new role.

About ICW Group

Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest privately held insurance company domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Workers Compensation, Assumed Reinsurance, Catastrophe, General Liability and Commercial Property insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company. ICW Group is recognized nationally as an industry leader in helping policyholders achieve fewer and less costly claims while elevating the trusted agents who advise them. More information is available at http://www.icwgroup.com, http://www.twitter.com/ICWGroup, http://www.linkedin.com/companies/icw-group and http://www.facebook.com/ICWGroup.


Manufacturing Process Automation Experts We are delighted to feature our manufacturing customer, Envent, during our 2023 webinar series, said Murray Quibell, President.

Join Aqurus Solutions, a leading team of manufacturing process automation experts, for a 1-hour webinar featuring their manufacturing customer, Envent. During this webinar, Aqurus will demonstrate how to implement a modern manufacturing, inventory management, order processing and customer service solution to meet the demands of your customers.

Acumatica has been the fastest-growing Cloud ERP company for 7 years and counting, rated #1 in customer satisfaction and usability.

Complimentary Webinar

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Time: 11 AM  12:00 PM MST

Register Now!

During this webinar, Aqurus will walk through Envents manufacturing system implementation, digital transformation journey and analyze the results.

During this webinar, we will cover:



How Envent operated before the implementation of a modern manufacturing system.

What caused Envent to explore options for a new modern manufacturing system.

What manufacturing ERP systems Envent reviewed before final selection.

What modules did they initially buy?

What modules did they add after the purchase?

What mistakes Envent recommends avoiding to facilitate a smoother implementation.

Where are you in the implementation of Acumatica?

How the modern manufacturing system keeps all departments on track with real-time information to make critical business decisions fast.

How the modern manufacturing system enables the team to obtain the original founding goal to meet the needs of the natural gas industry faster than the competition.

Envent was formed in 2003 with the goal of having its manufactured systems in stock and ready to meet the demand of the natural gas industry. They manufacture H2S and Total Sulfur Analyzers, Moisture CH4, CO2 & O2 monitors, gas chromatographs, and tunable filter spectrometers.

Speaker: Andy Hodgson - President & CEO

Andy has been with Envent since October 2020. He has broad experience in Dortmund, ND Scientific Group, Gas Analytical Systems and Schlumberger. He holds a Master's in Financial Economics from the Said Business School, University of Oxford.

About Aqurus

Aqurus Solutions delivers Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions to growing Manufacturing and Distribution businesses in Western Canada. Aqurus Solutions is a Gold Certified Acumatica Cloud ERP Partner with offices in Calgary, Kelowna, and Burnaby. Aqurus specializes in Distribution, eCommerce, Manufacturing, and Services solutions, with a deep, experienced team of implementation resources.

Acumatica Cloud ERP is a leading cloud business management software provider that empowers small and mid-size businesses to reach their potential and drive growth. Acumatica delivers fully integrated ERP applications powered by a robust and flexible platform built on the world's best cloud and mobile technology.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. The latest OPEC+ decision to cut oil output will make oil more expensive for importers, Spencer Welch, Vice-President, Head of Oil-Markets Midstream & Downstream Consulting at S&P Global Commodity Insights, told Trend.

OPEC+ has decided to adjust the level of overall crude oil production for OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation to 40.46 mb/d, starting 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2024.

OPEC+ are clearly worried about the global economy being weak, and oil demand being weak, and are concerned about oil price being around $70/bbl. Most of the announcement (extra cuts) do not occur until 1 Jan 2024, the only extra cut in 2023 is Saudi Arabia announcing they would unilaterally cut supply by an extra 1 million b/d in July 2023. It is not known if this might extend further or even increase, it will likely depend on what happens to oil price/oil demand through 3Q23, he said.

Welch noted that OPEC+ have been very effective at maintaining oil stability since 2020, this is further reinforcement that they intend to try to keep oil prices $80-90/bbl, they dont want the price to slip further.

By supporting price, it will help oil producers, but make oil more expensive for oil buyers. But oil was >$100/bbl for all of 2010-14, so $80-90/bbl price now is actually not too bad. Stability of oil price makes it easier to continue investing in oil production for the future, making sure there is sufficient oil supply to meet demand, and helping the oil producing countries to monetize their oil natural resources while they can, he added.

The latest OPEC+ decision to cut oil production has significant implications for the global energy landscape. OPEC+, a coalition of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major oil-producing nations, has chosen to reduce oil output in response to various market factors. This decision aims to stabilize oil prices and rebalance the supply-demand dynamics in the global oil market. By curbing production, OPEC+ seeks to address the potential oversupply and mitigate the downward pressure on prices. This move underscores the group's commitment to actively manage oil markets and maintain stability amidst evolving economic conditions. Additionally, it underscores the importance of international cooperation and coordination to tackle the challenges posed by fluctuations in oil supply and demand. The impact of this decision will reverberate across various sectors, influencing energy prices, investments, and the economies of both producing and consuming nations.

In particular, Azerbaijan is expected to adjust its crude production to 551,000 barrels per day throughout 2024. Earlier, OPEC predicted Azerbaijan's liquids supply for 2023 to rise by 37,000 b/d to average 0.7 mb/d.

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Jeff Wafford Metropolitan College seemingly has no downside. The state of Kentucky, UPS, JCTC and UofL have created a national model of what a combined education-workforce-economic development initiative can and should be.

Back in the late 1990s, UPSs Louisville air hub, known today as Worldport, was wrestling with a significant problem. Needing employees round-the-clock, the company was finding it difficult to retain workers for its overnight shifts. As it planned a much-needed expansion, the company knew the problem would only grow.

The solution? Metropolitan College  a unique public-private partnership that dramatically increased retention among workers during the wee hours each night. Average tenure of a third-shift worker grew from eight weeks prior to the programs launch to three years as of fall 2022.

The program also provided more than 22,000 students over the past 25 years the opportunity to earn a college degree 100% debt-free.

Metro College allows students at the University of Louisville or Jefferson Community and Technical College to work at Worldport, earning a weekly paycheck and payment of their tuition, academic bonuses and fee payment assistance. The program receives state support to fund up to 50% of tuition and fees. The company also provides academic bonuses that include semester and graduation bonuses. The program launched in the fall semester of 1998 as a partnership among UofL, JCTC, UPS, Louisville Metro Government and the commonwealth of Kentucky.

Metropolitan College seemingly has no downside, said UofL President Kim Schatzel. Prior to my academic career, I spent 20 years in industry, so I see the value of Metro College across the board. The state of Kentucky, UPS, JCTC and UofL have created a national model of what a combined education-workforce-economic development initiative can and should be.

In addition to paying for college, Metro College provides a student with a livelihood while they are in college, said Ty Handy, JCTC president. That is crucial for many students who must support themselves either fully or partially while they are in school. And the added value of the career and academic guidance they receive cannot be underestimated.

For UPS, the success of Metro College has been integral to our ability to deliver what matters to our customers around the world, said UPS President Jim Joseph. In addition to the steady source of talent to help us run our Worldport operation, the program provides student-workers the opportunity to pursue their dreams debt-free, while also receiving competitive pay, benefits and work-life experience and guidance. Our community benefits by growing and enhancing the talent pool within the commonwealth. The program really is a win-win-win for all involved.

Thalia Almenares came to Louisville in 2016 from Cuba and began work at UPS in 2017. Through Metro College she started taking classes at JCTC before transferring to UofL where she graduated in May as a dental hygienist.

UPS was the best bet for my dreams, she said. I couldnt believe it when they told (me) they were going to pay my tuition 100% in full. But also, with the help of the UPS team, I was able to overcome the language barrier and have a job to support my family while earning a great education. The program also provides you with a great work-life balance. I wasnt sure if it was possible to be a student and work at the same time, but UPS opens that door.

Another program benefit is the chance to learn leadership skills and to rise in the ranks while still enrolled in college. Just ask graduates Jeff Wafford (2003) and Donovan Neal (2019).

Coming out of high school, I knew I couldnt pay for college. I was actually planning to go into the military until a friend of mine told me about UPS two months before the semester started, Donovan Neal said. I began in August 2012 in the UPS hub as a package handler and eventually got a role as a supervisor in finance and accounting.

He graduated from UofL with a degree in finance and today works in human resources for UPS.

Likewise, Jeff Wafford progressed through the ranks of the multinational shipping company. He enrolled in Metro College more than two decades ago and started as a package handler. Now director of public affairs, Wafford continues to tout Metro College. Today, I not only have the chance to talk about it to our leaders here locally and throughout Kentucky but also to the states I cover, in the Virginias and the Carolinas. They all want to know, What can we do in our states to have a program like this? 

The rigors of overnight work  Metro College students work 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. about 15 hours per week  coupled with college enrollment can be daunting, but Metro College staff advise entering students to enroll as a parttime student to get adjusted to the new routine. And they provide advice on life skills that students may need throughout their time in college.

Yet Wafford notes that working overnight may not be as much of a problem as might be imagined.

Twenty-three years ago, my then-college roommate and I were up at 3 oclock in the morning, as college students sometimes are, and we saw this ad for Metro College, he said. We said, We should do this. Were up all night anyway. We have these loans were getting ready to take out, and we need some money. So the next day, we applied.

Ive talked about Metro College now for 23 years and hopefully, Ill get to talk about it for the next 23 years, Wafford said Lets keep this program going for the future of the commonwealth.

For more information about Metro College visit metro-college.com
These investments highlight what the new markets tax credit investment sets out to do in communities all across the country, said Greg Clements, Novogradac partner and conference chair. They represent a wide swath of investments that help in rural and urban low-income communities.

Thirteen community development entities (CDEs) that made qualified low-income community investments (QLICIs) in five businesses have been named winners of the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits QLICIs of the Year awards for 2023.

The awards go to new markets tax credit (NMTC) stakeholders who strive for excellence in community development. This years winning CDEs earned the awards for the following investments:



DC Central Kitchens Klein Center for Jobs and Justice in Washington, D.C., as Metro QLICI of the Year.

Lauderdale Community Hospital in Ripley, Tennessee, as Nonmetro QLICI of the Year.

The Freelon at Sugar Hill in Detroit as Real Estate QLICI of the Year.

Detroit Food Commons in Detroit as Small Business QLICI of the Year.

Santa Cruz Community Health CentersLive Oak Health Clinic in Santa Cruz, California, as Operating Business QLICI of the Year.

The winners will be honored at the Novogradac 2023 Spring New Markets Tax Credit Conference June 8-9 at The Fairmont in Washington, D.C.

These investments highlight what the new markets tax credit investment sets out to do in communities all across the country, said Greg Clements, Novogradac partner and conference chair. They represent a wide swath of investments that help in rural and urban low-income communities.

DC Central Kitchens Klein Center for Jobs and Justice in Washington, D.C., is a new, 36,000-square-foot facility that serves as a 15-hour-a-day alternative to the traditional soup kitchen and includes a culinary training kitchen and production kitchen capable of producing 25,000 meals per day. CDEs CAHEC New Markets, Reinvestment Fund and Chase New Markets Corporation allocated a combined $18.5 million in QLICIs.

Lauderdale Community Hospital replaces an aging hospital in rural Ripley, Tennessee, giving a multimillion-dollar upgrade to improve and expand its services for patients and staff due to NMTCs allocated by three CDEs. Upgrades include emergency cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, surgery services, radiology, laboratory, physical rehabilitation, acute care and respiratory care. DV Community Investment, Hope Enterprise Corporation and CCG Community Partners combined on $22 million in QLICIs.

The Freelon at Sugar Hill, a mixed-use development in Midtown Detroits Sugar Hill Arts District, will provide high-quality modern housing options, including units set aside for veterans, as well as commercial space for properties that are either woman- or immigrant-led. Building America CDE, Michigan Community Capital, Cinnaire New Markets and PNC Community Partners combined for $29.5 million in QLICIs for the endeavor.

The Detroit Food Commons a 31,000-square-foot, two-story building in Detroits North End neighborhood, will house the Detroit Peoples Food Co-opa community-owned, full-service grocery store including a deli and a cafeon the first floor. On the second floor, there will be four teaching and shared-use commercial kitchens, a banquet hall/community meeting space and office spaces for the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. New Markets Support Company, Michigan Community Capital and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance combined to allocate nearly $20 million in QLICIs.

Santa Cruz Community Health CentersLive Oak Health Clinic in Santa Cruz, California, will help an additional 3,000 patients and accommodate 20,000 visits annually at the new health clinic. SCCHC is a federally qualified health center and a Health Resources & Services Administration-designed Healthcare for the Homeless provider. Primary Care Development Corporation and HEDC New Markets combined for $14.4 million in QLICIs for the development.

Additional details about the award winners and information on how to nominate a development for the 2024 round of awards can be found at http://www.novoco.com/events/awards.

About Novogradac

Novogradac began operations in 1989 and has grown to more than 700 employees and partners with offices in more than 25 cities. Tax, audit and consulting specialty practice areas for Novogradac include affordable housing, community development, historic rehabilitation and renewable energy.

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Allen Insurance & Financial has been named Maines 2022 Diamond Achiever by Patriot Insurance Company. The annual Diamond Achiever awards are presented to the highest-performing agencies based on set criteria, including length of appointment, profitability, growth, and policy retention.

Year after year, it is a thrill to announce our Diamond Achiever awards. The 2022 Maine Diamond Achiever, Allen Insurance & Financial, has worked hard and shown relentless efforts and commitment to our mutual customers, shared Patriot Insurance Company President and CEO Lincoln Merrill, Jr. Congratulations on a great year!

The results achieved by the team at Allen Insurance & Financial in 2022 helped the agency become one of the most successful among Patriot Insurance Companys more than 115 independent agencies.

All of us at Allen are proud of our 30-year partnership with Patriot Insurance Company. They consistently deliver on their promise of protection to our customers while providing peace of mind. This recognition from Patriot Insurance Company speaks to the skills and hard work of the Allen team as we help our mutual customers navigate lifes risks and rewards. said Allen Insurance & Financial Senior Vice President Dan Bookham.

Allen Insurance & Financial has been working with Patriot Insurance Company since 1993 and is recognized as one of the carriers Preferred Plus independent insurance agency partners.

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About Patriot Insurance

Patriot Insurance Company has been providing peace of mind for families and businesses in New England for over 50 years. Headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, we are a regional carrier offering business, home, auto, life, and surety products backed by local, autonomous claims, loss control, and underwriting teams. We work exclusively with independent agents who can give our customers the personal guidance and service they deserve. Since 2007, we have partnered with Frankenmuth Insurance, a longstanding company founded in Michigan in 1868. Patriot Insurance Company is financially sound, with an AM Best rating of A (Excellent). To learn more, visit us online at patriotinsuranceco.com.

About Allen Insurance & Financial

Allen Insurance & Financials goal is to be the company that individuals and businesses seek out first for advice, information, and education on all insurance and financial services issues. We work hard every day to earn their trust in our knowledge, expertise and professionalism. As an employee-owned business, we care deeply about the families, workers, and businesses we serve. Since 1866, we have forged strong relationships with our clients in Maine and nationwide.

In May 2012, Allen Insurance & Financial received a Maine Governors Award for Business Excellence. In October 2012, the company was named a Best Place to Work in Maine, an honor earned again in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. In 2016 were named Service Provider of the Year by the Maine International Trade Center. We are the officially endorsed agent of Tall Ships America.
"The Community Service Award is a true testament of the Chapters dedication and commitment to nonprofit organizations spearheading impactful changes to important issues and causes to improving peoples lives and sustainable development." --Ura Puranda, President, PMI Chicagoland Chapter

PMI Chicagoland Chapter introduced the winners of its inaugural Student Scholarship and Community Service Awards during the May 2023 chapter meeting.

The Student Scholarship Award recognizes the importance of supporting future project management professionals as they pursue project management-related certifications or educational programs.



Ryan Marrs works in project management, volunteers with the Chapter, and is committed to the field. Ryan attained PMI-BA, CAPM, and PMP certifications and is now pursuing his postgraduate degree.

Julien Lopez is pursuing his undergraduate degree, is actively engaged with the Chapter, and has shown a strong interest in project management. Julien holds a PMI-CAPM certification and is working towards obtaining additional certifications.

The Community Service Award acknowledges the achievements of non-profit organizations or educational institutions for their commitment to education and the community.



Big Shoulders Fund won the 2023 Community Service Award for Education. Big Shoulders Fund is an independent charitable organization. They provide scholarships, operational improvements, academic programs, and leadership development to strengthen schools and prepare students for life-long success.

Ladies of Virtue (LOV) won the 2023 Community Service Award for Social Good. Ladies of Virtue provides qualified low-income or first-generation high-potential students with a differentiated educational experience, enabling their future college success, employment, and volunteering.

About the PMI Chicagoland Chapter

For more information about the many benefits of membership in PMI Chicagoland Chapter, check us out at https://pmichicagoland.org
As part of Roth Staffing for 25 years, I am proud to work at a company that consistently strives to provide a space that encourages equal opportunities and growth for all," said Pam Sexauer, President of Roth Staffing Companies.

Roth Staffing, a leading staffing firm, announced today that they have been recognized on the inaugural 2023 Best Staffing Firms for Women list for providing an exceptional experience for the women in their company. ClearlyRateds Best Staffing Firms for Women winners have proven to be industry leaders in gender equity and advancement. In order to qualify for inclusion on the Best Staffing Firms for Women list, a firm must invite feedback from 100% of its internal staff on the overall experience of working at the firm. Further, women must comprise at least 47% of the workforce, rate the firm highly, and be highly represented in leadership roles.

Fewer than 0.2% of staffing firms in the United States and Canada qualified to earn the Best Staffing Firms for Women designation, making this a prestigious recognition for staffing firms seeking to hire and retain top internal talent.

We are honored and humbled to receive this award because it represents something so important  the powerful women who continue to break barriers and inspire others in their careers, said Pam Sexauer, President of Roth Staffing Companies. As part of Roth Staffing for 25 years, I am proud to work at a company that consistently strives to provide a space that encourages equal opportunities and growth for all. We are committed to creating an environment of belonging, advocating for gender equality and empowerment, and amplifying the voices of women everywhere. Thank you once again for this incredible recognition. We are so thrilled!

Im incredibly proud of the recipients of the inaugural Best Staffing Firms for Women designation, said ClearlyRateds CEO, Eric Gregg. In an ideal world, this award wouldnt even be necessary. Unfortunately, however, gaps in pay and advancement persist in the staffing industry and beyond. The firms that earned inclusion on the Best Staffing Firms for Women list have created equitable, safe, and supportive workplaces for women, and I couldnt be more excited to share this news far and wide.

About Roth Staffing

Roth Staffing Companies is one of the largest privately held staffing firms in the United States, with specialized lines of business operating from more than 100 locations throughout 20 states and the District of Columbia. Roth Staffings specialized lines of business assist customers with staffing and recruiting services, and includes: Ultimate Staffing, specializing in administrative and office staffing; Ledgent for finance & accounting; Ledgent Technology for technology; and Adams & Martin Group for legal staffing and attorney search. The organization has also been ranked on Fortunes Best Workplaces list for Diversity, Medium Workplaces, Millennials, PEOPLE Companies that Care, Professional Services and Women. In 2023, Roth Staffing was ranked #1 of the Best Staffing Firms to Work For by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as well as Best of Staffing Client Satisfaction and Best of Staffing Talent Satisfaction by ClearlyRated.

About ClearlyRated

ClearlyRated administers more staffing agency and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world, reporting on more than 1.2 million satisfaction surveys from staffing agency clients, job seekers, and internal staff each year. ClearlyRateds online survey program utilizes the Net Promoter Score methodology to measure and report on client, talent, and employee satisfaction.

About Best of Staffing

ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients, placed talent, and internal employees. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on ClearlyRated.coman online business directory that helps buyers of professional services find service leaders and vet prospective firms with the help of validated client ratings and testimonials.

Net promoter, NPS, and Net Promoter Score are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, and Fred Reichheld.
Sedalia Water and Sanitation District joins the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System We are excited to join our fellow local agencies by being a part of the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System.

The Sedalia Water and Sanitation District announced today that it has joined the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System. Bidnet Directs Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System helps local governments, such as the Sedalia Water and Sanitation District, post, distribute and manage RFPs, quotes, addendums and awards online. The Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System provides notifications to registered vendors of new bids related to their industry, any addenda and award information from nearly 400 participating agencies from across Colorado and Wyoming. The Sedalia Water and Sanitation District invites all vendors to register online at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/swsd.

As the Sedalia Water and Sanitation District decided to join the purchasing group in May 2023, they knew the needed to switch over to an automated purchasing process as many other agencies around them have already done so. The Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System helps to streamline the procurement process by providing a single, online location for managing and tracking all bid process activities.

Not only does the Sedalia Water and Sanitation District now have access to an extensive vendor pool, which helps to enhance competition, there are able to boost productivity by saving time and effort without increasing distribution costs. The Sedalia Water and Sanitation District invites all current vendors not already registered on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System to do so today by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/swsd. Registered vendors can access bids and view all pertinent information provided such as addendums and awards all in one convenient spot. In addition, vendors have the option to upgrade their service to receive daily email alerts with matching bid opportunities, as well as advance notices for expiring term contracts.

We are excited to join our fellow local agencies by being a part of the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, stated Alex Grimsman, Site Development Coordinator, EES of the Sedalia Water and Sanitation District. Were able to monitor the whole bid process and see which vendors are interested in working with us. It also allows our vendors to seek out more business opportunities and have instant access to all the information we can provide.

Vendors may register on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/swsd. Vendors may also contact Bidnet Directs vendor support team at 800-835-4603 option 2 with any questions regarding registration or the bid system.

Other local Colorado and Wyoming government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About the Sedalia Water and Sanitation District:

Sedalia Water and Sanitation District is a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of state of Colorado. It is a Special District organized under and subject to Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and the primary service it provides is water service to the Districts customers. Despite its name, the District does not provide sanitary sewer services.

The District was formed in 1958 and took over ownership of the existing water system infrastructure that was previously owned by and originally installed by the railroad. The District has approximately 94 customers.

About Bidnet Direct:

Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. Bidnet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
I am excited to have this opportunity to open our London office and bring Smiths industry insights and localized support to our customers in the UK to help them navigate this everchanging market.

Smith, a leading global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces the appointment of Suryavikram Rajawat to the position of Trading Manager of the companys new office in London, United Kingdom. In this role, Surya will build Smiths trading team in London and develop strategies to promote Smiths growth in the United Kingdom and beyond.

In the wake of Brexit, many British OEMs and EMS companies are looking for an experienced and trusted supply chain partner to support them through this transition, said Surya. I am excited to have this opportunity to open our London office and bring Smiths industry insights and localized support to our customers in the UK to help them navigate this everchanging market.

Surya earned his Bachelor of Science in international business from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom in 2016. He joined Smith five years ago as an Account Manager in the companys Bangalore office and was promoted to Assistant Sales Manager in 2020. His experience working with multinational companies across critical industries  including defense, medical, and automotive  will position Surya and his growing team for success in this new market.

Surya radiates positivity and excitement for his career at Smith day in and day out, said Cleat Kimbrough, President, EMEA at Smith. His tenacious drive and skillful leadership are a welcome addition to our team in EMEA, and I look forward to seeing our new London office build upon our successes in the region.

About Smith

Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and automobiles. In 19 cities around the world, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, generating global annual sales in excess of $4.8 billion in 2022. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. The support of Smiths flexible Intelligent DistributionTM model optimizes customers supply chains from beginning to end, including offering customized options for IT asset disposition that deliver maximum ROI, sustainability, and security. Smiths testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, and Singapore cover critical areas like quality management, counterfeit prevention, and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time, global inventory and logistics visibility. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number seven among all global distributors. For more information, please visit http://www.smithweb.com or reach out to a Smith representative any time of day at +1 713.430.3000.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Turkmenistan Airlines resumed regular passenger flights between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan from June 2, 2023, Trend reports.

The flights will operate once a week on Fridays on the Almaty-Ashgabat route using Boeing 737 aircraft.

According to the company's schedule, the flight from Ashgabat to Almaty is scheduled to depart at 09:05 (GMT+5) and arrive in Ashgabat at 12:35 (GMT+6).

Meanwhile, flights in the opposite direction from Almaty to Ashgabat are scheduled to depart at 14:00 (GMT+6) and arrive at 15:50 (GMT+5).

Reportedly, the issue of resuming air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan was resolved by the negotiations between the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Resuming air communication between Almaty and Ashgabat marks a crucial milestone in strengthening bilateral ties and facilitating the growth of trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
We are honored to be recognized once again as an EXHIBITOR Find It  Top 40 exhibit house. The Top 40 reflects the hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence of our team and esteemed colleagues who contribute to our industry every day."

The Trade Group, an award-winning event marketing company and exhibit house, is pleased to announce that Exhibitor Media Group has included the company on its Find It  Top 40 list for the fifth time. The Find It Top 40 honors the top exhibit houses in the United States and Canada, while serving as a buyers guide to trade show products and services.

According to Ben Barclay, managing editor of EXHIBITOR, The Find It  Top 40 program highlights the best exhibit producers in the industry and acts as an incredibly valuable resource for exhibit managers searching for new potential partners. The competition, now in its sixth year, serves as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for our industry.

Find It  Top 40 nominees undergo a rigorous evaluation process that reflects how the magazines readers and editorial advisory board members view them while vetting exhibit house vendors. Selection of the honorees is based on more than 50 different criteria in six categories, including:

Company and Capabilities

Honors and Awards

Thought Leadership and Industry Participation

Service and Reliability

Creativity and Key Differentiators

Best International Exhibit Producer

Over 100 exhibit houses apply for Find It  Top 40 recognition each year. Along with the extensive criteria considered for each applicant, the judging panel also surveys the applicants current clients and reviews past projects, selling points, and innovations before selecting the honorees.

According to The Trade Groups Chief Revenue Officer Malcolm Gilvar, We are honored to be recognized once again as an EXHIBITOR Find It  Top 40 exhibit house. The Top 40 reflects the hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence of our team and esteemed colleagues who contribute to our industry every day. Being on The List also helps connect us with event marketers and exhibition managers who may otherwise be unfamiliar with The Trade Groups services and solutions. Its a win-win for all.

To learn more about The Trade Groups event marketing, creative design, structural design, and fabrication services, visit http://www.tradegroup.com or call 800-343-2005 to speak with a sales consultant.

ABOUT THE TRADE GROUP

The Trade Group is an award-winning, full-service event marketing company specializing in exhibit design and fabrication, graphic design and production, videography, experiential marketing and more. Since 1986, the companys team of event, design, and engineering experts has helped thousands of clients amplify their brands and successfully navigate a wide range of events and experiences.
"Dr. Mahdavi has the skills, experience, leadership, and creativity that are going to help the university arrive to the next levels on all fronts. It's an exciting time."

The University of La Verne Board of Trustees announced the selection of Pardis Mahdavi, PhD, as the universitys 19th president today. She will assume the presidency on August 15.

Mahdavi brings more than 20 years of scholarship, experience, and leadership in higher education. She most recently served as the provost and executive vice president at the University of Montana, a public flagship research university in Missoula.

We have found an extraordinary leader, said Anthony Revier '93, chair of the University of La Verne Board of Trustees. Dr. Mahdavi exceeds the communitys criteria for the executive position as an inclusive, forward-thinking, and experienced leader with a track record of success in developing relationships, innovative planning, identifying new resources, and advancing organizational efficiency. She has the vision, energy, and strategic leadership experience necessary to move the University of La Verne forward.

Mahdavi was selected after an extensive national search by WittKiefer that yielded more than 70 initial candidates. A search advisory committee led by Trustee Valerie Romero narrowed the robust pool of diverse candidates down to four, who met with more than 40 stakeholders in a confidential forum. She said the goal was to bring them all together to put the past into perspective, take a clear look at the future, and determine collectively who would be the the best fit for the university.

"What really stood out during that session was the good communication," said Romero. "Dr. Mahdavi has the skills, experience, leadership, and creativity that are going to help the university arrive to the next levels on all fronts. It's an exciting time."

As president, Mahdavi will lead the Southern California historic private, nonprofit institution with five colleges, several regional campuses, robust online offerings, and more than 89,000 alumni worldwide. She said the universitys core values  lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity  along with its transformation over the years are closely aligned with her own.

When I look at the trajectory of the University of La Verne, how it has adapted to all kinds of learners and how it really embodies the best tradition of access and excellence, and in preparing learners to really uphold democracy and engage in social transformation in the way that we would want a 21st century higher education institution to do, I am honored to join the community and excited about the work and collaborations ahead to serve our students, Mahdavi said.

Mahdavi previously held deanships at Arizona State University, the University of Denver and Pomona College, along with several leadership positions at Pomona College. She is a distinguished author, public speaker, and anthropologist. She has five single authored books, two edited volumes, and another single authored book to be released later this summer. Her research interests include gendered labor, human trafficking, migration, human rights, and public health in the context of changing global and political structures. She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, noted as one of Arizonas Most Intriguing Women of the Decade and a former fellow of the Social Sciences Research Council, the American Council on Learned Societies, Google Ideas, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Mahdavi holds a philosophy doctorate and masters degree in sociomedical sciences and anthropology, along with a Master of International Affairs in human rights from Columbia University. She has a bachelors degree in diplomacy and world affairs from Occidental College.

Mahdavi grew up in Southern California and has three children.

She succeeds Devorah Lieberman, who became the first female president of the University of La Verne in 2011 and will retire this summer after twelve years of successfully leading the university.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE

The University of La Verne is a private, nonprofit, comprehensive institution founded in 1891 on four core values: lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. Located in Southern California, the university is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, serving students on the historic La Verne campus, regional campuses, and online. It is nationally recognized and has consistently held U.S. News & World Report National University, Best Value Schools, Top Performers on Social Mobility, and Best Online Programs rankings.
One hundred years ago, the poet Nanao Sakaki was born, and although he departed this mortal plane in 2008, his centenary is being observed by friends worldwide. The outpouring involves a Nanao Global website, newly translated editions of his collected poems in France and Brazil, and a June 2 recognition of the poeta devoted walkerin Aniane, Frances Chapelle des Penitents, along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. And Blackberry Books in Nobleboro, Maine, has published Hi Nanao, a slim edition by poet Carol Merrill.

Nanao enjoyed a long affiliation with Blackberry Books, the indie press operated by Gary Lawless and Beth Leonard, owners of Gulf of Maine Books in nearby Brunswick. (Lawless gleefully recalls opening it as the hippie weirdo bookstore in 1979.) Their friendship resulted in three books of Nanaos poetry and two books about the poet: Break the Mirror (1987, originally published by North Point Press), Lets Eat Stars (1997), Nanao or Never (2000, by the poets friends), How to Live on the Planet Earth (2013), and Merrills new Hi Nanao. Because Nanao often inscribed poems in letters to friends, Lawless said, I could never call [a book] his complete poems, because more would show up.

Lawless met Nanao on a pilgrimage to Northern California. In 1973, instead of going to grad school, I wrote to the poet I most admired, Gary Snyder, and asked him whether I could be his apprentice, Lawless said. I hitchhiked from Maine to California, and I ended up living with him, doing chores and helping out. Lawless had been an Asian studies major in college, which helped him communicate with Snyders Japanese visitors; Nanao, whod met Snyder in Japan in 1960, liked it that I could speak some Japanese.

Lawlesss apprenticeship only lasted half a year (I was from Maine and it didnt rain for four months, which didnt seem right), but his friendship with Nanao stuck. A legendary dharma bum who never owned a house, credit card, or computer, Nanao traversed the planet on the power of charisma. Snyder and Allen Ginsberg were his lifelong champions; his papers are housed at the University of CaliforniaDavis, alongside the 93-year-old Snyders archive.

The worst thing he would say about a person was not so charming, Lawless said. When he wanted to do something, hed contact all his friends until hed find somebody who would pay for the trip. He remembers Nanao visiting him and Leonard in Maine, giving a talk with Ginsberg at Tibetan Buddhist guru Chogyam Trungpas center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and taking part in the Taos Poetry Circus with poet Jerome Rothenberg and Indigenous poet-activist John Trudell. A Japanese climbing expedition once asked him to come to base camp at Mount Everest, and he was in his 70s at the time, said Lawless.

In June 1995, Nanao, Lawless, and Leonard took a trip to Newfoundland. We spent two weeks looking at icebergs and caribou and moose, and we created a new religion while we were there, said Lawless, referring to his own 1998 poetry book Caribouddhism. There are a lot of great Nanao stories.

To stay young,/ To save the world,/ Break the mirror

Merrill, author of Hi Nanao, met Nanao in February 1978. A literary and artistic insider in her own right, Merrill spent seven years working for Georgia OKeeffe in New Mexico and, at Naropa University, typed manuscripts for Ginsberg. Her two biographies, Weekends with O'Keeffe and O'Keeffe, Days in a Life, include memories of Nanao cooking for the painter.

Nanao and I met at a reading to raise funds for Concerned Citizens of Cerrillos to halt plans for uranium strip mines in New Mexico, Merrill explained via email. Nanao hitchhiked in from Taos, and Ginsberg invited him to the stage. We raised $5,000 in one night and stopped the plans for the strip mines. The poets all slept over at my house and I cooked an enormous breakfast.

The next day, everyone traveled to Los Alamos, site of the Manhattan Project. Nanao had been traumatized by his World War II service in the Japanese military, a shocking prelude to his international beatnik travels; its no wonder he dropped out, Lawless commented.

Merrill and Nanao had a son in 1980, Issa Abraham Sakaki Merrill, named for Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa, whose haikus Nanao translated in Inch by Inch (La Alameda Press, 1999).

Merrill compiled the epigrammatic pieces in Hi Nanao from her journals. She believed Nanaos humor and anecdotal wisdom might be good counsel during the Covid pandemic, because he was a genius for making unbearable experiences funny or inspiring. (In perhaps his most famous poem, Nanao exhorts aging humans to break the mirror and refuse to dwell on decline.) Former Santa Fe poet laureate Joan Logghe suggested Merrill hand-bind the manuscript in a traditional Japanese style, and 100 copies were made; Lawless offered to print and publish a trade edition.

All proceeds from the handmade and trade editions of Hi Nanao go to the Issa Abraham Sakaki Merrill Scholarship for peacemakers at the University of New Mexico. Merrill and Nanaos son died in 2012 of a progressive neurological condition known as Batten disease, shortly after he approved the scholarship. Nanao was scrupulous about living with as little money as possible, and it feels right to honor that sensibility by giving any funds made from his words to the cause of peace on earth, Carol Merrill said.

Lawless, too, remembers Nanao as a sunny presence. Near his death, he told us he wanted to hike the Milky Way and he couldnt do it in his human body, Lawless said. I think when Elon Musk gets to Mars, hes going to find a little orchard planted there by the wandering poet.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the American AI research company that created the AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT, is heading to Qatar this week.

"excited to visit israel, jordan, qatar, the uae, india, and south korea this week!," Altman wrote on Twitter.

excited to visit israel, jordan, qatar, the uae, india, and south korea this week!  Sam Altman (@sama) June 4, 2023

The anticipated visit -- which is seen as a recognition of the Gulf's digital advancement -- comes as part of a world tour to meet with users, developers, and policymakers.

Despite Altman stating that Qatar was a part of his tour, it is still unclear as to when exactly he would visit the country and which part of Qatar he would be in during his visit.

ChatGPT learns from human feedback, allowing it to produce natural language, challenge incorrect assumptions, and answer follow-up questions.
Special Counsel John Durham did not pursue the suspect allegation that the Russians hacked the DNC, despite new evidence of perjury by Clinton figure Shawn Henry of CrowdStrike and Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann -- shown, top and bottom.

By Aaron Mate, RealClearInvestigations

June 6, 2023

Special Counsel John Durhams final report faults the FBI for opening the Trump-Russia collusion investigation on baseless grounds and relying on Hillary Clinton-funded material to pursue it, all while ignoring a warning that Clinton was plotting to frame Trump as a Russian asset. Yet Durham does not address the Clinton campaigns equally central tie to Russiagates other foundational allegation: that Russia interfered in the 2016 election by hacking Democratic party servers and releasing the material through Wikileaks to help elect Trump.

John Durham, Russiagate prober.

Durhams silence on the Clinton teams role in generating this unproven claim comes despite his unearthing of evidence that newly calls it into question.

Material obtained by Durhams team shows that the Clinton campaign and its contractor, the cyber-firm CrowdStrike, stonewalled the FBIs requests for critical data about the alleged Russian hack. Two key Clinton associates who were integral to the Russian hacking claim also appear to have perjured themselves before Congress.

RealClearInvestigations has pieced together these overlooked revelations through court documents connected to Durhams probe, particularly his unsuccessful prosecution of Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann on a separate perjury charge.

In April 2016, Sussmann hired CrowdStrike to investigate the alleged hack of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In mid-June  just as Christopher Steele and Fusion GPS were producing their first Clinton-funded dossier report alleging a Trump-Russia conspiracy  Clinton-funded CrowdStrike came forward to publicly accuse Russia of hacking the Democrats computer networks. Sussmann, who worked closely with the firm, lobbied the FBI to endorse the allegation. The FBI initially declined, but reversed course months later despite failing to examine the DNC/DCCC servers. Instead, much like its use of Steeles dossier for surveillance warrants and investigative leads when it came to collusion, the FBI relied on CrowdStrikes forensics and redacted reports.

The Democrat-tied firms president has admitted it did not have concrete evidence of Russian hacking. Now new evidence casts further doubt on that scenario. But Special Counsel Durham did not pursue it.

The FBIs dependency on CrowdStrike  and, indeed, the entire basis for the Russiagate probe  was further called into question when it emerged that the firms president had admitted under oath that it did not have concrete evidence of Russian hacking. Shawn Henry, a former close FBI colleague of Directors Robert Mueller and James Comey, made the disclosure to Congress in December 2017. Yet his testimony was kept secret throughout the entirety of the FBIs Comey- and Mueller-overseen Russia probes, and only became public in May 2020.

Exhibits released by Durham in Sussmanns case expose a new problem for CrowdStrike and its client the Clinton campaign: In recounting their roles in the FBIs Russian hacking probe in congressional testimony, Sussmann and Henry gave identical false statements.

FBI Officials Contradicted

When they appeared before the House Intelligence Committee in December 2017, both Sussmann and Henry claimed that the FBI did not try to conduct its own independent, onsite investigation of the Democratic Party servers. The pairs account contradicted FBI officials, including Comey, who have said that they requested access but were denied.

Asked directly if the FBI sought access to the servers, Sussmann replied: No, they did not. He then added a caveat: Excuse me, not to my knowledge. The FBI, Sussmann added, would have had access if they wanted it ... But it wasn't something that they were interested in at the time.

CrowdStrikes Henry also told the committee that he was not aware of the FBI ever asking for access to the servers or being denied it. Asked directly if he was ever told that the FBI required access to the servers, Henry said: I have no recollection of them saying that to me or anybody on my team, no.

Henry and Sussmanns accounts are not only at direct odds with the FBI, but with their own emails that Durham obtained.

In October 2016, these emails show, the FBI directly asked Sussmann if the bureau could come onsite to inspect and copy the servers. Sussmann relayed that request to Henry and other CrowdStrike executives  who promptly stonewalled it.

In an October 13, 2016 exchange, Elvis Chan, a special agent in the FBIs San Francisco office, asked Sussmann if the DNC/DCCC would be amenable to letting FBI computer forensics personnel onsite to conduct the imaging of the servers. In theory, sure, Sussmann replied, adding that he would put you directly in touch with CrowdStrike.

Contradicting what he would tell Congress the following year, Sussmann informed Henry and others at CrowdStrike that the FBI is asking whether FBI computer forensics personnel can come onsite to conduct the imaging. Sussmann added that he was connecting CrowdStrike and the Bureau to discuss directly on this email chain.

In response, CrowdStrike executive Justin Weissert did not address the FBIs request for onsite access. Weissert instead introduced a new proposal: CrowdStrike would send the FBI a copy of the firms imaging of the servers.

As we just discussed under a separate email thread, CrowdStrike wants to assist with this effort and, given the nature of the past activities and our commitment to supporting our friends at the FBI, were going to move ahead with providing the information at no additional expense to anyone, Weissert wrote.

Rather than remind CrowdStrike that he had asked if FBI cyber experts could come onsite to conduct the imaging, Chan accepted the offer and provided a mailing address. FBI San Francisco greatly appreciates your help, he wrote.

Given that Sussmann personally received the FBIs request and relayed it to CrowdStrike, his erroneous recollection is especially suspect.

Asked about their false statements to Congress, Sussmann and Henry did not respond to RCIs questions by the time of publication. CrowdStrike also did not respond to a request for comment.

A Missed Opportunity

In failing to address this episode, Durham missed an opportunity to press Sussmann and Henry on why they denied the FBI access to the DNC servers  and whether their false statements to Congress amounted to a criminal offense. By contrast, the Mueller team aggressively prosecuted four Trump associates for alleged false statements, including two cases  Roger Stone and Michael Cohen  for perjury before Congress.

The Durham materials also reveal that the FBIs failure to examine the DNC servers was not its only rebuffed request. Emails obtained by Durham show that CrowdStrike and the Clinton campaign ignored what the FBI listed as its number one Priority Requests: Un-redacted copies of CrowdStrike reports on both the DNC and DCCC incidents. That request, also made to Sussmann, came in a September 30, 2016, email from FBI Special Agent E. Adrian Hawkins.

The FBI never got what it wanted. In a May 2019 court filing, the Justice Department disclosed that the U.S. government does not possess CrowdStrike's unredacted originals, and that Sussmann only provided three draft reports in redacted form.

In Senate testimony, James Trainor, then-assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, recalled that he was "frustrated" with the CrowdStrike report he received in late August 2016 and "doubted its completeness" because Sussmann had scrubbed it. According to Trainor, the DNC's cooperation in the hacking probe was "moderate" overall and "slow and laborious in many respects.

CrowdStrikes redacted reports were provided to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, but have not been publicly released. The FBI has denied RCIs Freedom of Information Act requests for the CrowdStrike reports, releasing only the documents cover pages.

Changing the FBI's Messaging

Other emails released by Durham in Sussmanns case show that the Clinton lawyer personally reviewed and edited an FBI public statement on the alleged hack of the DNC.

On July 29, 2016  just one week after WikiLeaks released a trove of embarrassing Democratic Party emails  the FBI drafted a press release on what it called a possible cyber intrusion involving the DCCC. Trainor contacted Sussmann for input.

A draft response is provided below, Trainor wrote. Wanted to get your thoughts on this prior to sending out.

In response, Sussmann took exception with the FBIs mention of a possible hack. This qualifier, he noted, contradicted the Clinton campaigns messaging on a Russian intrusion.

The draft you sent says only that the FBI is aware of media reports; it does not say that the FBI is aware of the intrusion that the DCCC reported, Sussmann wrote. Indeed, it refers only to a possible cyber intrusion and in that way undermines what the DCCC said in its statement (or at least calls into question what the DCCC said).

Accordingly, Sussmann suggested new language that removed the FBIs caveat of a possible hack. Trainor accepted the Clinton lawyers edit. I am fine with the below suggestions, he wrote.

The FBIs failure to obtain both direct access to the DNC servers and unredacted copies of the CrowdStrike reports further calls into question U.S. intelligence officials claim that Russia hacked the DNC.

On October 7, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued a joint statement claiming, for the first time, that the U.S. Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from the Democratic Party. Jeh Johnson, who then served as DHS secretary, later testified that President Obama approved the statement and wanted us to make [it].

Yet as Durhams Sussmann-FBI emails confirm, this Obama-approved claim was released one week before CrowdStrike denied the FBIs request for an onsite inspection. This timing means that when the intelligence community made its first public attribution of Russian hacking, it had not only failed to inspect the servers, but had not even received CrowdStrikes copies of them.

When the FBI and DHS released a more detailed report two months later, the document described the alleged Russian hacking effort as "likely leading to the exfiltration of information" from Democratic Party networks. (Emphasis added.)

The Mueller probe, having also relied on CrowdStrikes forensics, failed to add any more certainty. Muellers final report of April 2019 likewise stated that Russian intelligence "appear to have stolen thousands of emails and attachments" from Democratic Party servers. (Emphasis added.)

Read in retrospect, these qualifiers  "likely" and "appear"  signaled that U.S. intelligence lacked concrete evidence for their Russian hacking claims, given that CrowdStrike and the Clinton campaign had denied the FBI full access to the digital crime scene. The material emerging from Durhams probe newly confirms this significant evidentiary hole.

Durhams decision to ignore the FBIs deference to Clinton-funded CrowdStrike is all the more striking given his criticism of the FBIs extensive use of Clinton-funded sources in its hunt for collusion.

The FBI, the Durham report notes, relied on a significant quantity of materials ... that originated with and/or were funded by the Clinton campaign or affiliated persons. Accordingly, Durham concluded, the FBI should have considered whether the Clinton camp was feeding it false claims as part of a political effort to smear a political opponent and exploit the federal government's law enforcement and intelligence agencies in support of that goal.

For unexplained reasons, Durham did not apply this critique to the FBIs reliance on Clinton-funded sources to probe the theft of Democratic Party emails. As a result, seven years to the month after CrowdStrike triggered the Russiagate saga, the U.S. public remains in the dark about whether the Russian hacking allegation was yet one more deception funded by the Clinton campaign and parroted by the FBI.
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Danielle Maltby / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/06/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Danielle Maltby has gushed about boyfriend Michael Allio as he's been proud and supportive of her new job.Danielle moved to Cleveland to be closer to Michael and his son James earlier this year, and now the registered nurse and aesthetic clinician has started a new job at the Skin Center, which just had its big grand opening last week.Michael took to his Instagram Stories at the time to celebrate the Skin Center's grand opening."Today is a big day," Michael wrote, according to BachelorNation.com."Danielle has the Skin Center's grand opening today. I think there are going to be around 300 people there, I'm just trying to show Dani some love. She's super excited and I'm pumped!"Michael went on to reveal how his mother and "her posse" also came to support Danielle, whom the business owner affectionately called "my girl." Michael also called the Skin Center "amazing" and Danielle a "pro."Danielle reposted a selfie with Michael from the event, writing, "Ladies -- hold out for a man that will love you like this!"Danielle also dubbed Michael "the best hype man" and added many heart emojis to her posts on Instagram Stories.In a May 17 birthday post, Michael -- who turned 39-years-old -- said this past year was "the best" year of his life thanks to Danielle and his son.Prior to moving to Ohio , Danielle lived in Nashville, TN, for 12 years."I knew @dmmaltby was loved, but after this weekend in Nashville, it became all so clear. We spent last weekend not only packing and prepping for her move to Cleveland this week but also spending quality time with her amazing, talented friends," Michael wrote in February shortly after Danielle's farewell party in Tennessee."It may sound like I'm surprised... but I'm not. Rather, I'm in awe of what she has built for herself over the last decade. The amount of authentic love that people have for her is indescribable and quite frankly beautiful. It's really the result of years of showing up for everyone that needed her."Michael, originally from Akron, OH, welcomed James during his marriage to his late wife Laura Ritter-Allio, who passed away from breast cancer in 2019.In early December, Michael revealed on Instagram Stories that Danielle would be leaving Nashville and making the move to Ohio in two or three months.Danielle proceeded to let fans know at the time she was apartment hunting and looking for a job as a nurse near Michael's stomping grounds.During a late January Q&A session on Instagram, one of Michael's followers asked for an update on Danielle's move."It's been crazy busy!" Michael noted. "She's moving to Cleveland ! She found an awesome place and got an awesome job. It's all looking good. This is going to be an awesome year!"Michael said he was doing "really good" and was "excited about the future" with Danielle.Michael spent Christmas 2022 with Danielle and his family in Akron, before the couple traveled to Wisconsin to spend part of the holiday with his girlfriend's family.The couple then enjoyed a sexy evening out for New Year's Eve in Chicago, IL, with Danielle's friends.On last summer, Michael was romantically interested in Sierra Jackson , but he ultimately determined something was "missing" between them and he was unable to let his walls down due to grief.But when Danielle stepped foot on the Paradise beach in Mexico, Michael seemed ecstatic and affectionately called her "Dani."They had spoken via DMs on Instagram and become friends prior to filming the show but claimed they had never met in person.Michael and Danielle were able to connect quickly over their similar losses and traumas. The pair slowly got to know each other and never expressed interest in dating anyone else on the show.Michael and Danielle chose to leave together as a couple before overnight Fantasy Suites. They both determined they weren't ready to get engaged, especially because Danielle had yet to meet James.However, Michael revealed on the reunion show in November that James quickly came to adore Danielle and never wanted her to leave when she was visiting. Danielle also confirmed that she felt the same way about James and couldn't wait to be a bigger part of his life.Michael also announced on the reunion show that he's "in love" with Danielle and she had changed his life for the better. Danielle is only the second woman whom Michael has ever said, "I love you," to.While Danielle had no reservations about moving to Ohio in order to progress her relationship with Michael naturally, she explained how they don't want to live under the same roof -- at least not yet -- as to not rush things or disrupt James' comfortable routine."I'm just so excited," Michael said on social media in December of Danielle's decision to uproot her life for him."Long distance is difficult, but we've made the best of it and this next chapter and upcoming year is one I am so looking forward to. She's the best!"Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Raven Gates / Instagram

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/06/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk recently enjoyed an international babymoon to Italy, and now they've finally reunited with their son Gates Zev Gottschalk at home.In anticipation of welcoming their second child into the world, Adam and Raven -- who is currently 32 weeks into her pregnancy -- took off to Italy in late May for a week-long romantic vacation, just the two of them.On Sunday, June 4, Raven revealed via Instagram Stories that she and her husband were on their "long" flight back to the United States."How many times have Adam and I said, 'We miss Gatesy?' Maybe a million times. This trip was so amazing for us before we become a family of 4. But every day away from your child is like a piece of your heart missing!" Raven wrote to her followers."He is in good hands with grandparents, but I'm immediately scooping him up & putting him in bed with us tonight."Raven, whose baby is due in July, admitted Adam had to basically "beg" her to do their babymoon trip."Because I didn't want to leave Gates," Raven wrote. "But I'm glad we had this time together as husband and wife & reconnect! And his grandparents were ecstatic to get him for a week! My mom retired this past week & being 24/7 with her grandkids has been her goal!"Raven took to Instagram Stories earlier this month to share photos and updates throughout the couple's travels to Rome, Lake Como, and Florence.The couple did a guided tour of the Vatican and checked out the colloseum."I love traveling and seeing different countries and cultures. But as much as I love every country I've ever traveled, I'm always in such appreciation for the US!! I even asked Adam today as we were walking the streets of Italy, 'I wonder what people think when they land in the United States for the first time?'" Raven shared on Instagram Stories last week, according to BachelorNation.com."I imagine it's magical. Unlike anything in the world, but still yet you can find a piece of every home country somewhere -- in your neighbor, food, different areas of our country!"Raven also shared how Adam had gifted her with a personalized perfume-making experience in Florence."This was such a special treat for me and I'm so thankful for @adam_gottschalk! Taking our limited time here in Florence and doing something he knew I would really love," Raven reportedly wrote this past weekend."This is our last day here and he could have planned anything for us. But chose to do something so special for me. This is something I will always remember and every time I spray this perfume it will bring me right back here to Italy with him!"Raven and Adam announced in late January they're expecting Baby No. 2 , which was only a year after they welcomed their son Gates in January 2022."Baby #2 due in July! Any tips on two under 2? Pray for us!... especially Adam," Raven wrote on Instagram at the time, along with crying-laughing emoticons.Raven tagged Adam in the post, which featured a slideshow of family photos that included Gates and their dog. Raven was also showed off a strip of sonogram images of the couple's baby on the way.Adam commented, "Our growing fam. Going to be one on one coverage now!"Raven replied, "I got this! One on One defense lets do it."Raven and Adam, who fell in love on 's fourth season, claimed they had cases of "major baby fever" shortly after tying the knot on April 16, 2021 in Dallas, TX."I think we agreed [that] we'd like two or three [kids]," Raven told Us Weekly in June 2021. "But Adam has said, you know, we'll see how I do with two and then go from there."Raven then publicly announced she and Adam were expecting their first child together in July 2021.Raven wrote on Instagram at the time, "OVER THE MOON EXCITED TO SHARE THE NEWS! Our Honeymoon baby will be here in January! I've loved you before you were in my womb!"And Adam simultaneously wrote on his own page, "Beyond excited to announce our little baby into this world. Your Mom has already started to like Daddy's food groups and I think that's a great start. Cheers to fatherhood. Coming soon... January 2022."The pair then shared in October 2021 how they were expecting a son "OH BOY!!! Can't wait to meet our little pumpkin," Raven captioned an image of the couple posing in their self-made pumpkin patch at home.A few months after Gates Zev was born, Raven shared on the "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast in May 2022 how she and Adam attend therapy and "don't want divorce" to ever be an option for them.She then told fans in a December 2022 Instagram Q&A session that she knew Adam was The One when she visited him in Dallas, TX, and they talked about their future together, which made her feel safe and protected.Raven and Adam fell in love in Mexico on in 2017 and then got engaged in June 2019.After getting engaged, Raven and Adam initially scheduled their wedding for May 30, 2020, but they had to postpone the wedding multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic.Prior to appearing on , Raven competed to win Nick Viall 's heart on The Bachelor's 21st season and finished as the runner-up.For Adam's part, he competed for Rachel Lindsay 's heart on The Bachelorette's thirteenth season in Spring 2017 before his BIP stint on Season 4.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
In this weeks blotter, five men fight each other and an ACCPD officer, a woman bars her father from her property after he tries to stop her from getting into a fight and a man with a warrant gives false information to an officer and is arrested.
An increased brand fee paid by India-listed Vedanta, apart from record dividend, has helped Vedanta Resources (VRL)  the London-based holding company of Vedanta Group  to repay part of its debt.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Vedanta paid a brand fee of Rs 2,632 crore ($325 million) for 2022-23 (FY23), according to Nomura report.

This was after the Anil Agarwal-owned holding company raised the brand fee to 2 per cent of the turnover for its Indian businesses in 2021.

In 2021-22 (FY22), Vedanta and its subsidiaries paid a brand fee of Rs 1,553 crore, compared with Rs 939 crore of the brand fee paid in 2020-21 (FY21).

In 2017, Vedanta signed a three-year brand licence agreement with VRL for the use of the brand Vedanta which stipulated a brand fee to VRL at 0.75 per cent of the turnover of Vedanta.

Later, certain subsidiaries of Vedanta executed similar agreements with VRL to pay brand fees ranging between 0.75 per cent and 1.5 per cent of their respective turnover.

In FY21, the agreement was renewed and certain additional services were also agreed to be provided by VRL.

After the new agreement, the brand and strategic service fee was renegotiated at 2 per cent of the turnover, while for the remaining subsidiaries, the previous rates remained unchanged.

In FY22, the agreement was extended for 15 years.

Vedanta pays such fees in advance, at the beginning of the year based on estimated annual turnover, the company had said in its annual report last year.

An email sent to Vedanta did not elicit any response until the time of going to press.

Vedanta is not the only company to raise brand and royalty fees from its Indian subsidiaries.

Effective February this year, Unilever Plcs Indian subsidiary Hindustan Unilever raised royalty and central services fees to 3.45 per cent of turnover from 2.65 per cent  staggered over the next three years.

Tata Group holding company, Tata Sons, also charges 0.25 per cent of the annual net income or 5 per cent of the profit before tax (whichever is less) for the use of the Tata brand name by its subsidiaries.

The year a company makes losses, Tata Group companies are not required to pay the fee.

Analysts said the record dividend paid by the Indian subsidiaries and the rising brand fee has helped VRL repay its debt.

Since March 31 this year, VRL has reduced its gross debt by $1.4 billion to $6.4 billion, compared with $7.8 billion at the end of March this year.

VRL aims at reducing debt further in 2023-24 and ultimately have it at zero.

In FY23, VRL received Rs 25,636 crore of dividends from Vedanta, which was partly used to repay debt, said analysts.

VRL owns a 68.1 per cent stake in Vedanta, which, in turn, holds a 63 per cent stake in Hindustan Zinc.

VRL also took fresh loans from Glencore, Trafigura, and other lenders, including JPMorgan Chase and Oaktree, to refinance its old loans.
Foreign investment in India's start-ups has plummeted 72 per cent to $4.58 billion so far, from $16.2 billion during the same period last year.

IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels.com

As the so-called funding winter for India's start-ups lingers on, the venture capital order in the country is getting upended.

Foreign firms such as Tiger Global, Sequoia, SoftBank, Accel, and Y Combinator have nearly shut their taps.

Tiger and Accel have seen their investments fall by 97 per cent in 2023 so far, compared to the same period last year.

Sequoia's is down 95 per cent, Y Combinator's 87 per cent, and SoftBank's 80 per cent, according to data from Tracxn, the market intelligence platform.

Foreign money plays a crucial role in start-up funding in India.

Of the $26.8 billion that Indian start-ups raised in 2022, as much as $26 billion came from rounds where foreign investors participated.

This year, though, foreign investment in India's start-ups has plummeted 72 per cent to $4.58 billion so far, from $16.2 billion during the same period last year. The number of deals fell from 852 to 241.

Tiger is often called the unicorn machine of India, having backed Flipkart, Ola, Zomato and 37 others that went on to become unicorns.

Accel was an early backer of Flipkart and Freshworks. Japan's Softbank has invested in OYO, Delhivery, Paytm, Meesho, Blinkit, Lenskart, and many others.

On the other side of the spectrum, home-grown VC firms have raised significant capital in the last two months for India-focused investments.

Multiples Alternate Asset Management leads the pack with a $640 million fund, followed by 3one4 Capital ($200 million), Chiratae Ventures ($120 million), and Stride Ventures ($100 million).

Matrix Partners, which has Ola and Razorpay in its portfolio, extended the target size of its India-focused fund to $525 million from $450 million.

However, investments by Indian VC firms have declined as well, according to the Tracxn data, to $1.75 billion so far this year from $12.3 billion during the same period last year.

That means all the fundraising has been adding to the dry powder rather than investments.

As of March 2023, India-focused private equity and venture capital players were sitting on dry powder -- the industry term for available but undeployed funds -- worth $15.64 billion, up from $12.88 billion at the end of 2022. This is the highest uninvested capital since 2016, according to investment data firm, Preqin.

Some foreign VCs remain unfazed. Anandamoy Roychowdhary, Surge Partner, Sequoia Southeast Asia, recently told Business Standard it had been "business as usual" for the firm's early-stage portfolio companies. Sequoia's portfolio includes the likes of Cred, Dailyhunt, HealthKart, Ixigo, and Meesho.

California-based start-up accelerator Y Combinator, known for backing Zepto, Groww and Meesho, remains the most active foreign investor in India so far this year with 14 deals, followed by the likes of Sequoia with 11, and Accel with eight.

"Globally, firms deployed their funds at a much faster pace in 2021 and focused on portfolio management in the following year, supporting their companies in navigating the several macro shocks," says Nruthya Madappa, Partner, 3one4 Capital, an investment platform for early-stage start-ups, explaining the slowdown.

Optimism remains about foreign firms as well. "Global investors are still bullish about the long-term opportunity India offers and are willing to invest in VC funds with focus on India," says Ninad Karpe, Partner, 100X.VC, an Indian firm that invests in a batch of start-ups, called cohorts, at a time.

As a case in point, Sequoia, in June last year, raised $2.85 billion to fund Indian and Southeast Asian start-ups -- its largest such fund for the region.

The following month, San Francisco-based Lightspeed Venture Partners announced a massive $500 million fund for early-stage start-ups in India. Accel, Elevation Capital and Nexus Venture Partners have also unveiled large new India funds.

At some point, experts say, the dry powder will begin to get fired as investment ammunition. And then the funding winter will begin to thaw.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Samantha and Vijay Deverakonda have been shooting a song for their upcoming rom-com Kushi in Turkey.

While the movie is creating the right kind of buzz, the focus for now seems to be on what Samantha is doing when she's not on set.

Even elevators can be the perfect background for a quick click.

Guess which book is keeping Samantha company?

The perfect pout.

Samantha enjoys a Turkish bath or a hammam spa, the best way to relax.

A breathtaking view from her room.

The perfect place to enjoy a cuppa.

Samantha shares another view of her room.

Four days ago, Samantha had shared a picture with Vijay, where they were seen enjoying a meal.

She writes, 'Sees you at your best, sees you at your worst. Sees you come last, sees you come first. Sees your lows, sees your highs. Some friends gently standby What a year it has been!!'

This picture has been clicked by Shiva Nirvana, Kushi's director.
Five people were arrested on Tuesday in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district in connection with the incident of firing at the state's border with Assam in which two persons were killed, the police said.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused were arrested, and kept at the Likabali police station, police spokesperson Rohit Rajbir Singh said.

They were identified as Bagam Tasso, Igip Tasso, Mikjom Tasso, Bompar Tasso and Yongam Nguba, he said.

"The police are trying to recover the weapons used in the incident, and interrogation is on to unearth the truth," he added.

Two persons died in Assam's Dhemaji district on Monday after alleged firing along the inter-state border.

People of Dhemaji had organised a plantation drive at the inter-state border area on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Some villagers had gone in advance to make the arrangements.

They allegedly came under firing, in which one person died on the spot, the Assam police said.

Three others sustained bullet injuries and were taken to the Dhemaji Civil Hospital by locals, where one more person died, it said.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km-long border, and both sides have been engaging in discussions to resolve the boundary disputes.

An MoU was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal CM Pema Khandu on April 20 in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to resolve the border row.

In July last year, the two chief ministers signed the Namsai Declaration, setting in motion the efforts to solve the boundary disputes.

Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a Union Territory in 1972, claims that several forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to the hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam.

After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter has been in the Supreme Court.
The Border Roads Organisation says it will complete restoration of the Amarnath Yatra track by next Wednesday, June 15, 2023. The Yatra is scheduled to commence from July 1.

In September 2022, the track was handed over to the BRO for repairs and maintenance work.

After the government released funds, restoration work only started in March 2023.

Earlier the yatra track from Baltal to the holy cave was maintained by the Jammu and Kashmir public works department. The track from Chandanwari to the cave was maintained by the Pahalgam Development Authority.

The work involved snow clearance, widening of the track, restoration of all footbridges, fixing of handrails, protection works at slide prone stretches, construction of walls and retaining walls for the protection of the track.

All photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: A view of the Shiv Lingam in the Amarnath cave.

IMAGE: The Shiv Lingam seen ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra.

IMAGE: Border Roads Organisation personnel during restoration of the Amarnath yatra track.

IMAGE: BRO personnel restore stairs ahead of the Amarnath Yatra.

IMAGE: Ponywallahs take part in preparations during the restoration.

IMAGE: BRO personnel clear the snow to make a path for the pilgrims.

IMAGE: BRO Director General Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry, senior army and police officers inspect the restoration on the Amarnath Yatra track.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said the Republican Party of India-Athawale headed by him has demanded a ministerial berth in the Maharashtra cabinet whose expansion is on the anvil.

IMAGE: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo

He said the RPI-A will also demand tickets to contest at least two Lok Sabha seats (out of the total 48 in Maharashtra) and 10 to 15 assembly segments in the 2024 elections from the National Democratic Alliance quota.

"RPI-A should get a ministerial berth in the next cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. I had discussed the same with deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. I will meet him again. I feel we should also get an opportunity to share power," the Union minister of state for social justice told reporters in Nagpur.

The expansion of the council of ministers is eagerly awaited among members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena.

On August 9 last year, 18 ministers were inducted in the Shinde-Fadnavis government after it came to power in June, while as per rules the council of ministers in the state can have a maximum of 43 members.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai had said the much-awaited expansion of cabinet will take place before the state legislature's monsoon session or even before that.

Athawale, whose party is a constituent of Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, also said RPI-A would contest the upcoming elections to municipal corporations and Zilla Parishads in Maharashtra in alliance with BJP and Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

"I would try to ensure that RPI-A gets tickets to contest at least two to three Lok Sabha seats and 10 to 15 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra," he added.

The RPI-A wields influence in some pockets dominated by Dalit voters in Maharashtra.

Responding to a query, the Dalit leader said he would like to contest from the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 polls.

Athawale, a Rajya Sabha member, termed the Odisha train crash as a very unfortunate incident which should not be politicised by the Opposition.

When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statements in the United States, Athawale said it is not proper to continuously criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside India without any reason.

Athawale also informed about RPI-A is working towards reviving the Dalit Panther Party.
'Elections in Madhya Pradesh have so far largely avoided freebies.'

'But this time both the Congress and BJP are making such announcements.'

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath celebrates the party's victory in the Karnataka assembly polls in Bhopal, May 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

After its resounding victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka, the Congress is planning to take on the same opponent in Madhya Pradesh on the issues that worked for the party in the southern state.

Corruption, price rise, unemployment, and crimes against women will be major factors for the party in the assembly polls, due in December.

Among these, corruption may be highlighted more than the rest.

Last year, a big scam came to light in the 'Take Home Ration and Free Food Scheme'. This was revealed in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

This is important because the women and child development department is under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who is visiting every corner of the state, recently said there was no limit to corruption in the present government.

Money is being channeled from the sub-engineer level to the chief minister's office, he said.

'Chouhan has declared assets worth Rs 9 crore in the (election) affidavit. Where did he acquire that?' asked Singh.

The nursing scam too will be an election issue for the Congress.

A petition was filed before the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court regarding forgery in nursing colleges.

Expressing displeasure, the high court had ordered action on granting recognition to nursing colleges with two to four rooms.

Since then, the recognition given to about 70 nursing colleges has been suspended.

There were 448 private nursing colleges in the state in 2018-2019, and the number increased to 667 during the pandemic.

Investigation showed more than 500 staff positions in 600 nursing colleges were fake.

These don't even have hospitals, leave alone buildings, and other basic resources and faculty.

"When we checked, we found everything on paper only," says Congress Spokesperson Anand Jat.

"In Madhya Pradesh, under the leadership of Kamal Nath, the Congress is moving forward on the twin agendas of faith and development," says Jat, adding, "Even in his government of 15 months, Kamal Nath tried to link religious tourism with economic aspects."

"This time too, the Congress is moving forward, keeping in mind the problems of farmers, women, and youth, as well as the beliefs of society."

"The party has decided candidates for 100 seats. In this election, the Congress can benefit from the BJP's in-fighting," says a source. "No one should be surprised if many BJP leaders, including sitting MLAs, appear in the fray on the Congress ticket."

Former minister Deepak Joshi, former chief minister Kailash Joshi's son, recently left the BJP and joined the Congress.

The Congress has made five promises to the electorate: Gas cylinders for Rs 500, Rs 1,500 for each woman 18 and above per month, 100 units of electricity free and another 200 units at half the rate, waiver for farmers' loans, and restoring the old pension scheme.

Political analyst Prabhu Pateria says the Congress might benefit from these because they appealed to voters.

"Elections in Madhya Pradesh have so far largely avoided freebies. But this time both the Congress and BJP are making such announcements."

Pateria said the BJP's in-fighting and anti-incumbency could work against the party.

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a public meeting in Kutch. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Till now the Congress was the party of satraps in Madhya Pradesh, but now the problem has erupted in the BJP also. The (Jyotiraditya) Scindia camp does not want any reduction in its privileges. Chouhan has his own base. State President V D Sharma and Central minister Narendra Singh Tomar are too big to ignore," says Pateria.

As far as ticket distribution is concerned, this time what the Congress is keeping in mind are candidates' chances of winning.

"We are entering this election with very strong organisational preparations," says Piyush Babele, Kamal Nath's media advisor. "Not recommendations, but only the ability to win will be considered in ticket distribution."

In the Gwalior-Chambal region, Babele says many BJP leaders were in touch with the Congress and they would join the party at a suitable time.

According to party sources, in the first phase candidates will be announced for those 70 seats where there is no major opposition.

Of the 70, about 60 are sitting MLAs.

Senior leaders who lost in 2018 will be kept on this list. Some big names who joined the Congress from the BJP can figure in it.

The decision on the remaining seats will be taken after feedback from Digvijaya Singh and the survey report of four observers appointed by the high command.

It is likely the organisation will get this report by August.
A Border Security Force jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel suffered gunshot wounds Manipur's Serou area, the Army said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard in the violence-hit Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

A Border Security Force jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur's Serou area early Tuesday, officials said.

The exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district, the officials said.

A BSF official said suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at the Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am.

Constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight and was evacuated to Kakching's Jivan Hospital where he was declared dead, the official said.

The two injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, the Indian Army's SpearCorps, headquartered in Dimapur, added on Twitter.

"Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF & Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in #Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces & group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire," SpearCorps posted on its official Twitter handle.

A fierce exchange of fire was also reported between security forces and suspected Kuki militants from Phayeng in Imphal West district, police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty.

Irate villagers had earlier on Sunday night set ablaze an abandoned camp at Sugnu in Manipur's Kakching district on Sunday night, where militants from the United Kuki Liberation Front(UKLF) were staying after signing a peace accord with the government.

The villagers were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit at Serou in Kakching district on Saturday midnight.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended its ban on internet services till June 10.

"The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10", an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said.

The ban was first imposed on May 3.

At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago.

A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.
An 18-year-old college student was found murdered in her hostel room in south Mumbai's Churchgate area on Tuesday while a suspect in the case too was found dead on the railway tracks, the police said.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

It was suspected that the woman had been sexually assaulted but it can be ascertained only after autopsy report is available, an official said.

The victim was a student of a government polytechnic in suburban Bandra, he said.

The police were alerted around 5 pm after she became untraceable with her fourth-floor hostel room locked from outside.

A police team which entered the room found her dead with a dupatta (stole) wrapped around her neck.

A security guard of the hostel, who is a suspect in the case, had been found dead on the railway tracks early in the morning, the official said.

An FIR for murder was registered at Marine Drive police station and further probe was on, he added.
With over 100 unidentified bodies from Balasore triple train crash pilling up in different hospitals in Bhubaneswar, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has started DNA sampling of the claimants, an official said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: The bodies of victims at the accident site after the triple train accident, in Balasore district. Photograph: PTI Photo

As many as 10 samples have so far been collected from the claimants, a senior official of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar said.

He said the bodies have now been shifted to five containers where they can be preserved for a longer period.

The official said there should be no hurry in disposing the bodies after DNA sampling as they can be preserved in the container for six months.

Of the 278 dead persons, 177 bodies have been identified while another 101 need to be identified and handed over to their families.

AIIMS, Bhubaneswar had received 123 bodies of which around 64 have been identified.

A claimant from, Jharkhand on Tuesday alleged that they had on Monday identified the body of Upendra Kumar Sharma, but it was handed over to someone else on Tuesday.

"What is the point of doing DNA sampling if the body has been handed over to someone else. We had identified Upendra from the tattoo mark on his body," the relative said.

However, Dr Pravas Tripathy, Deputy Superintendent of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, said that the bodies were being handed over after a detailed inquiry. It is a fact that more than one family have been claiming a single body and for that DNA sampling is being done.

Replying to a question, he said that it may require at least 7 to 10 days to get a DNA sampling report.

As the bodies are now being kept in the container, there should be no problem in preserving them, he said.

Most of the victims belonged to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu besides Odisha.

Meanwhile, three agencies -- CBI, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) and Government Railway Police, Balasore -- have started an inquiry into the Balasore triple train crash in which at least 278 people were killed.

Meanwhile, Khurda Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rinkesh Roy suspected outside physical tampering of equipment for which the Coromandel Express entered into the loop line and hit the iron-laden goods train on June 2.

Roy said when the Coromandel Express passed through Bahanaga Bazar station, there was a green signal on the main line. The signal is usually green when all the pre-conditions required for the signal to go green are perfect. If any of the pre-conditions does not meet, technically the signal can never turn green. Unless and until anyone tampers with the signal system, it remains red, Roy said.

Stating that the railways have a system called data logger where each event starting from the pushing of signal buttons gets recorded, the DRM said that the "data logger shows that there was a green signal. It can't be possible unless someone has tampered with it."

The Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary goods train, derailing most of its coaches at 7 pm on June 2.

A few coaches of Coromandel toppled over the last few coaches of the Bengaluru-Howrah Express which was passing by at the same time.

Investigators are looking into possible human error, signal failure and other possible causes behind the three-train crash.
Delhi's education minister Atishi moved the high court here on Tuesday seeking a direction to the Centre to decide on granting the requisite clearances to enable her to visit the United Kingdom for an official visit next week.

IMAGE: Delhi education minister Atishi Marlena attends the 15th Convocation ceremony of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, in New Delhi, June 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The petition, which is likely to come up for hearing in the Delhi high court on Wednesday, said the Aam Aadmi Party leader has been invited in her official capacity by Cambridge University to speak at a conference on India at 100:Towards Becoming a Global Leader to be held on June 15.

The proposed visit, Atishi's petition said, is significant for Delhi's governance as it will allow the city government to "showcase the leaps" made in areas of education, health, and urban development.

Any further delay in granting clearance to the visit would render the purpose infructuous, it said.

The petition -- filed through lawyers Hrishika Jain, Aman Naqvi and Bharat Gupta -- has argued that restricting the petitioner's right to travel abroad on a discretionary basis impinges on her personal liberty.

It also contended that requiring constitutional functionaries and ministers in state government to seek the Centre's "political clearance" for travelling abroad violates the dignity and independence of a constitutional office.

The plea stated while the Delhi government accorded administrative clearance for travel last month, the central government "has only been responding" with queries and clarification after the Lieutenant-Governor forwarded the proposal to it, thus delaying the whole process, including applying for a visa.

"The proposal was forwarded to the central government authorities for processing of further clearance. It has been more than 10 days now, and no clearance has yet been issued to her.

"In the present matter, the respondents' non-decision on the matter till 06.06.2023, has left only eight days for all further formalities and visa approval, serving in effect as an arbitrary non-decision of the proposed visit," the plea said.

The petition claimed that the petitioner has arranged multiple visits to primary schools in the UK to "ensure that Delhi's children gain from best practices in primary school education abroad" and that the trip would be "crucial for a for exchanging ideas on improving urban governance and showcasing Delhi's own progress in urban design".

It further contended that delay in granting travel clearances violates the right to privacy.
The daughter of suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani had once told Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, that they can earn "huge sum of money" by giving information about bookies to cops and getting them arrested, according to a chargesheet filed by the Mumbai police in a bribery and extortion attempt case.

Photograph: @fadnavis_amruta/Twitter

The chargesheet, filed recently before a special court in Mumbai, has listed several purported telephonic chats between Amruta Fadnavis and the Jaisinghanis.

The 793-page document has named Anil Jaisinghani, his daughter Aniksha and his cousin Nirmal as accused in the case related to demanding bribes and trying to extort money from Amruta Fadnavis.

It has included screenshots of purported WhatsApp chats and messages exchanged between Amruta Fadnavis and the father-daughter-duo.

The Malabar Hill police station in south Mumbai on February 20 registered a first information report (FIR) against the Jaisinghanis for allegedly threatening to make public certain audio and video clips that purportedly show Amruta Fadnavis accepting favours from Aniksha.

In one of the purported chats, Amruta Fadnavis expressed apprehension that Devendra Fadnavis may divorce her as "their relationship was not going well since 2019", according to the chargesheet.

The document is also accompanied by videos prepared by Aniksha Jaisinghani purportedly to frame the deputy CM's wife.

Threatening to leak certain videos and audios, Ankisha Jaisinghani, in one of her messages to Amruta Fadnavis, said, Didiji, my father knows that you and hon'ble Devendra sir will use police against him and police will say that video is fake, but it will not help as my father is in regular contact with Sharad Pawarji and Uddhav Thackerayjis and he will give all video and audio recording to them and to Modiji, according to the chargesheet.

According to an official, Aniksha Jaisinghani had shot a video of a bag being filled with currency notes worth Rs 1 crore and sent the clip to Amruta Fadnavis from another mobile number after the complainant blocked her number.

They are very serious and will be a big political issue, all TV and newspapers in the country will use this against Devendra Fadnavis and he will have to resign from deputy chief minister's post and your career will also finish, her message read.

In another message, according to the police document, Aniksha Jaisinghani attempted to extort money from the deputy CM's wife, saying, Dear Didiji if you talk to me it will help both of us, you give 10 crore one time and help my father in police case I promise you I will give you all original video and audio recording. I will not keep anything with me and my father will also delete all the recording and nobody will come to know and all will happy & Regards Aniksha.

In the multiple conversations, Anil Jaisinghni told Amruta Fadnavis that he had been falsely implicated in cases and sought deputy CM's intervention in getting justice.

WE WANT JUSTICE ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE DURING PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT MVA PERIOD AND IN THE TENURE OF CP MUMBAI HEMANT NAGARALE AND SANJAY PANDEY THE RE-INVESTIGATION WAS DONE AND BOTH THE CASES WERE ON VERGE OF CLOSURE AS THERE WERE BOGUSLY FILED ON ME THEN AS THE SHIFT IN POWER HAPPENED AND EVERYONE KNEW DEVEN BHARTI WILL COME BACK IN MUMBAI POLICE AS HE IS CLOSE TO HON'BLE DCM FADNAVISJI SIR THEY STOPPED GIVING ME JUSTICE AND AS EXPECTED DEVEN BHARTI AGAIN CAME AND INTERRUPTED IN MY MATTERS, read one of the messages, which is part of the chargesheet.

According to the chargesheet, Amruta Fadnavis, in her response, said she will go through the cases and then talk to Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio.

According to the police, the jailed bookie faces 14 cases in Mumbai and its adjoining towns.

In one of the purported messages, Amruta Fadnavis said, "I know about him is that once he verifies and feels you are victimized then he will 100% do justice.

She further said, Without informing Devenji, if I ask the officer, it will be more problematic, so once I discuss things with Aniksha and then talk to Devenji he will take the information and if u are right and victimised Im sure he will do the justice. Divorce and all I leave it on God. Whatever plan he has for me is going to happen anyways," according to the chargesheet.

In her statement given to the police, which is included in the chargesheet, Amruta Fadnavis said she is involved in social work and attends several events.

Many designers visit her and ask her to wear their clothes and jewellery at events she attends. In November 2021, Aniksha Jaisinghni met Amruta Fadnavis for the first time, according to the police.

During the meeting, Aniksha Jaisinghni said she is a dress and jewellery designer, but was not doing well in her profession.

Aniksha Jaisinghni told the deputy's CM's wife that if she wears the products designed by her at events, it will be a great promotion for her garments, the chargesheet said, citing Amruta Fadnavis's statement.

As I sympathized with her, I gave her nod for it. She said that her mother had passed away and that she had written a book in her memory. She also gave me the said book. The book is not available with me now. Most of it should have been given in the trash, the charge-sheet said, quoting Amruta Fadnavis.

The document further said Aniksha Jaisinghni would visit Amruta Fadnavis's house to show her jewellery, dresses and footwear that she claimed to have designed herself.

During another visit, in December 2022, "she brought a jewelled necklace and held it around my neck with her own hand," said the chargesheet, quoting Amruta Fadnavis.

At another meeting with Amruta Fadnavis, Aniksha Jaisinghni said her father had close relations with leaders of various political parties. He (Anil Jaisinghni) gives information to cops and "they can earn huge money" by getting bookies arrested by the police, the chargesheet said.

Further, she said they can also earn money from bookies by protecting them from police arrest, said the document. "After hearing this, she (Amruta Fadnavis) was shocked and asked Aniksha to get out of her car," it said.

All the three accused were arrested after the FIR was filed in February. Aniksha Jaisinghni and Nirmal are currently out on bail, while Anil Jaisinghni is in jail under judicial custody.
A man hanged himself allegedly over the delay by the police in probing the gang-rape of his 15-year-old daughter. A station house officer and another policeman were suspended on Tuesday, the police said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only.



The victim's family alleged that the police did not take timely action on his complaint following which the 35-year-old man hanged himself from a tree in a village in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.

On March 28, the minor girl was allegedly raped by Golu (30) and Devendra (32) on the pretext of taking her to a birthday party in area under Ait police station limits.

The teen managed to escape and later narrated the ordeal to her family, the police said.

The girl's parents worked as street vendors in Punjab and upon returning to Jalaun on May 31, they lodged a complaint against the two men at the police station with Ait SHO Narendra Kumar Gautam and sub-inspector Ashok Kumar.

The rape victim's mother alleged the officers did not take any action on their complaint and instead exerted pressure on the girl's father to end the case.

She said that they then approached the superintendent of police Iraj Raja who asked them to go back to Ait police station.

The family, instead of going back to the police station, lodged a complaint on the chief minister's 'jansunvaai' portal on Saturday evening, following which the SP took cognisance of it and directed that action be initiated against the SHO.

However, the anguished father committed suicide the next day over the delay in action by the police in the case.

The SP directed circle officer Konch Shailendra Kumar Bajpai to probe both cases. Prima facie, the allegations levelled by the girl's mother were found to be true and the two policemen were suspended.

The SP added that stringent action will be initiated against the two officers after the probe report comes.
Prince Harry on Tuesday became the first senior British royal to give evidence in a high court trial in over 100 years as he appeared in the witness box in London to allege "utterly vile" unlawful information gathering, including by phone hacking, by journalists working for the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

IMAGE: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, walks outside the Rolls Building of the high court in London, Britain, June 6, 2023. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

The 38-year-old duke of Sussex accused the tabloid newspapers of inciting hatred against him as a young royal and casting him as a thicko, cheat, underage drinker, and irresponsible drug taker -- referring to some of the media labels he felt associated with over the years.

"I genuinely feel that in every relationship that I've ever had -- be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army -- there's always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," reads his witness statement released as Harry gave oral evidence in court.

"As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well 'do the crime', so to speak, he said.

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a 'damaged' young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile," he added.

The royal said he decided to go to the court to hold people to account for what they have done and that he was "determined to get to the bottom of it once and for all.

Harry, who stepped back as a working royal and now lives in the US with his wife Meghan Markle and two children Archie and Lilibet, has said that the deceptive methods used by MGN newspapers impacted his personal life.

He alleges that the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators, between 1996 and 2010 to get detailed information about his private affairs.

MGN disputes the allegations and also argued that some of the claimants who are part of the representative legal action have brought their case too late. Their lawyers are expected to cross-examine Prince Harry in the witness box this week.

Meanwhile, the royal's lawyer on Monday told the hearing as it opened that Mirror journalists listened to voicemail messages from Princess Diana -- Harry's late mother.

"Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds and there was no protection from this unlawful information gathering," David Sherborne told the court, alleging that the ups and downs of Harry's relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were among those gained via unlawful means.

The British prince alleges around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods and, according to court reports, 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Justice Timothy Fancourt, who is presiding over the trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, had expressed surprise that Harry was not in court at the start of the trial but was told that he had flown in from Los Angeles only on Sunday night as it was daughter Princess Lilibet's second birthday on June 4.

The last time a senior royal took to the witness stand in an English high court trial was in 1891 when the then Prince of Wales was called to give evidence in a gambling case dubbed the Royal Baccarat Scandal.

At the time, the future King Edward VII was brought to court to give testimony over a tricky case of cheating in a game of cards that the royal happened to be present at.
India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves, the White House said Monday, as it appeared to dismiss concerns about the health of democracy in India.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets United States President Joe Biden at the 17th G20 Summit, in Bali . Photograph: ANI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the US later this month.

"India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference in Washington, DC.

"Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," Kirby said in response to a question.

Kirby said India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels.

"You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he said.

"I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.
Punjab NRI affairs minister Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal Tuesday sought intervention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the matter of 700 Indian students facing deportation from Canada.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Courtesy Pexels.com

In a letter to Jaishankar, Dhaliwal also sought time to meet him over the issue.

As many as 700 Indian students, mostly from Punjab, are facing deportation from Canada after the authorities in that country found admission offer letters to educational institutions to be fake.

The matter came to light in March when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada.

"I have also sought time to meet EAM so that the whole matter can be brought to the attention of the GOI personally," Dhaliwal said.

In the letter to the EAM, Dhaliwal said, These (700) students are innocent and have been cheated by the clique of fraudsters

I shall be highly grateful if you again look into the matter personally and take up the matter with concerned agencies including High Commission of Canada and government of Canada so that these students can be saved from being deported, wrote Dhaliwal.

These students should not be deported and given work permits considering their visas, he said.

Dhaliwal also appealed to the people of Punjab that before going abroad or sending their children for studies, the details of the college and the record of the travel agent must be checked.
IMAGE: Abdul Ghani has been playing the drums at the Budha Amarnath temple in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, for over 20 years. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Budha Amarnath temple, located in the Mandi area of the border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, is a sacred place for the Hindu community.

Every year, pilgrims from all over India visit the temple as part of the Amarnath Yatra.

According to Hindu belief, the Amarnath Yatra is incomplete until one gets the darshan of Budha Amarnath in Poonch.

Pilgrims visiting the Budha Amarnath shrine are warmly welcomed, regardless of religion and caste.

Abdul Ghani, a resident of Palira village in Tehsil Mandi, has been playing the drums at the Budha Amarnath temple for over 20 years.

Ghani plays the drums on the temple premises from morning till evening and at times till night.

Speaking to the Milap News Network, Ghani said about 25 years ago, two bears attacked him a few kilometres from the temple, seriously injuring him.

"The temple management committee, the priest and the BSF battalion were here. The officials helped me. I received treatment; the then deputy commissioner also helped me a lot. I sustained severe injuries on my arms, head and mouth in the bear attack," he recalls.

"After several months I recovered, but was unable to do any other work. I then preferred to sit in this temple," he says.

"Allah is one, but his names are different," he says. "I believe that Baba Budha Amarnath saved me. This is who I am. The people of the temple trust me a lot and I also trust them with my words and actions. They trust me, they let me stay in the temple premises, and they also give me food."

Even when terrorism was at its peak in Jammu and Kashmir, Ghani says he earned money by playing drums in the temple.

There is no pressure on him from the people of his village or from the people of the community, he adds, and asserts that he plays the drums out of his free will which helps him earn and fulfil his household expenses.

He hopes that the coming Amarnath Yatra will once again be a source of income for him, as people from all over the country visit the temple and enjoy him playing the drums and provide him with financial support.
Two men talk while fishing in a photo used for a rack card to promote Senior Solutions Vet to Vet visitor program.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Holger Wiefel has been appointed Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Tajikistan, and he will be based in Dushanbe from July 1, 2023, Trend reports.

Wiefel expressed his intention to use his professional and regional experience to achieve important goals in Tajikistan in connection with his appointment.

He pointed out that among the priorities will be the introduction of green technologies, digitalization, expansion of access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, support for women entrepreneurs, strengthening resilience to climate change and modernization of key infrastructure.

Wiefel noted that he is looking forward to this challenge.

Holger Wiefel is a German citizen and joined the EBRD in 2013, bringing with him rich professional experience from various regions, including the Caucasus, China and Eastern Europe.

He previously worked as a coordinator of the EBRD's lending programs for small and medium-sized enterprises in a vast region from Ukraine to Central Asia. He has been involved in the management of the group on financing and development of small and medium-sized businesses in Central Asia and Mongolia in recent years.

Holger Wiefel is a graduate economist with a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Mannheim Business School (Germany) and Shanghai Tongji University (China).

The EBRD has invested 892 million euros in the economy of Tajikistan within the framework of 158 projects.
The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia is now facing federal charges that allege she used marijuana while also possessing a gun, which is illegal under U.S. law.

Deja Taylor, 25, is also accused of lying about her marijuana use on a federal background check form when she bought the 9 mm handgun. Her son used it in the shooting that seriously wounded first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner in the city of Newport News.

When Taylor bought the gun last year, federal authorities allege that she denied on the form that she used marijuana when she knew "she was an unlawful user, court documents stated.

While marijuana use was recently legalized in Virginia, it remains illegal under federal law.

The new charges, filed in federal court Monday, are in addition to the criminal counts Taylor faces on the state level. Those charges allege felony child neglect and reckless storage of a firearm.

A trial for the state case is set for August. Taylor is scheduled to plead guilty to the federal charges on Monday.

She faces up to six years in prison if she is convicted on the state charges. The federal case carries up to 25 years, although her lead attorney said sentencing guidelines call for 18 months to 24 months in prison.

This is a Shakespearean tragedy, attorney Gene Rossi of the firm Carlton Fields said in a statement. A perfect storm that has had horrible consequences.

The federal case against Taylor comes at a time of growing conflict between the federal government and states where marijuana use is legal. There has also been debate in recent years over the use of limited federal resources to aggressively pursue people who give false information on background check forms.

The race of the people who are prosecuted is another concern, said Karen OKeefe, director of state policies for the pro-legalization group Marijuana Policy Project.

Federal law generally prohibits people from possessing firearms if they have been convicted of a felony, been committed to a mental institution or are an unlawful user of a controlled substance, among other things.

In fiscal year 2021, 56% of the roughly 7,500 people convicted of breaking that law were Black, O'Keefe said, citing statistics from the United States Sentencing Commission. She did not have a breakdown for convictions related to marijuana or other drug use.

About 18% of Americans admitted to using cannabis in the last year and about 40% owned guns, O'Keefe said. And so theres an enormous pool of people that are presumably breaking this law every day and face up to 15 years in prison if they were caught.

Court documents do not detail exactly how federal investigators built their firearms case against Taylor, who is Black. But she came under intense scrutiny after her son used her gun to shoot Zwerner in January.

Zwerner was shot in the hand and chest as she sat at a reading table in her first-grade classroom at Richneck Elementary. She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, has had four surgeries and later told NBC she sometimes  cant get up out of bed.

Zwerner is suing the school system for $40 million.

The attorney for Taylor in the state case, James Ellenson, has said Taylor believed her gun was secured on a high closet shelf with a trigger lock before the shooting occurred. He said last month that it's still unclear how the boy got the gun.

People have talked to him about that, but I dont know that any adult knows exactly how he got the gun, Ellenson told ABCs Good Morning America" May 10.

Ellenson, who is working with Rossi on the federal case, said in a statement that they intend to present mitigating evidence when Taylor is sentenced later this year. He did not elaborate.

Ellenson said the shooting was a tragedy for all parties, most especially teacher Abby Zwerner for whom we wish a complete recovery.
TORRINGTON  A New Milford man who police say killed his mother told detectives he did it to make the demons stop, according to an arrest report.

Eric Meagan, 34, on Monday called 911 to report he killed his mother, police said. One of the responding officers pulled the woman, Victoria Palmer, from Still River near Harrybrooke Park and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the 56-year-old woman died at the hospital.

During Meagan's arraignment on a murder charge Tuesday in state Superior Court in Torrington, Judge Chris Pelosi kept Meagan's bail at $2 million. The judge also issued a protective order, prohibiting him from contacting his father and siblings, ages 24 and 26. Meagan wore jeans, a gray T-shirt and socks, but no shoes.

Meagans public defender, Corrie Mainville, said her client has significant mental health issues.

Court officials noted Meagan has been in mental health treatment, has no previous criminal record and has lived at the same New Milford home for the past 10 years.

Meagan had been in virtual treatment for mental health issues for about a month when he and his mother went to Harrybrooke Park early Monday, his father told police, according to a police report. By that point, he was "noncompliant" with his medication, his father said, and the family had taken away his keys out of concern.

His son had been saying for about two or three years that demons were after him and he had placed salt in and around his bed, his father told police. "At one point, Eric was confined to a hospital for a month after he apparently ran outside in the nude and began talking to God," the report stated

It was a "commonplace" for Meagan and Palmer to walk together at the park, his father told investigators according to the report.

Around 8:25 a.m. Monday, New Milford police said, officers received a call from a man saying he had just killed his mother on Still River Drive next to Harrybrooke Park. The caller remained on the phone for several minutes and described the events that led to the incident and his location along the river, according to police.

After a bit of a scramble trying to locate Meagan at the park, a sergeant found him and spotted Palmer in the water. When other officers arrived, Meagan was handcuffed sitting on a rock while the sergeant was performing CPR on Palmer, the report said. She was taken to New Milford Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

According to the arrest report, Meagan told police, I tried to drown my mom, adding that it was to keep the demons away. He told an investigator that he didnt sleep the night before and he was tormented by demons.

The demons never told him to kill his mother or anyone else, Meagan told police, according to the report.

It wasn't unusual for Meagan and his mother to go for a walk in the park, he told police. But Monday's walk was to make the demons stop by sacrificing his mother, he told police, according to the report.

During an interview with an investigator, Meagan also said that he had graduated from New Milford High School and from the State University of New York, Albany with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

He admitted that he had planned on "hurting" his mother when he asked her to go to the park Monday morning, according to the report. He pushed her into the water and then held her down for 10 minutes, he told investigators, according to the report. She fought back but he held her in a headlock and drifted out into deeper water until she was limp, he said.

He then brought her body closer to shore and left her face down floating in the water, Meagan told police. There were times when he thought about hurting people, but he had never acted on it, he said, according to the report. Last week, however, he admitted that he had strangled and killed one of the family cats, the report said.

"He stated that strangling his cats was his first attempt at making the demons stop but that it was not enough," the report said. "When asked why he chose his mother, he stated, 'because I love her the most.' He stated he feels safe now."

He didn't realize that he had killed his mother until the interviewing officer told him, according to the report. He later said that he did think he had killed her in the seconds before he called police to report what he had done, the police report said.

Meagan also told the officer that he had been seeing a new psychiatrist that had prescribed a new anxiety medication that made him feel worse and he had more issues with the demons. "He described the demons as insects all over him but he can't see them. He can only feel them, and they have been tormenting him for weeks," the report said.

Meagan told the officer he knew what he did was against the law and he was scared of going to prison, according to the report. "I asked him if he thought what he did was wrong and he said, 'no,'" the officer indicated in the report. "He believed his mother loved him so much she would have been willing to sacrifice herself to save him."

Meagan is due back in the Superior Court of Litchfield on July 7. His attorney waived the 60-day requirement for a probable cause hearing but did not waive his right to the hearing during his arraignment.
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STAMFORD  Giancarlo Raimondi Jr. was only 31 when he died, with a baby daughter and "his whole life to live," his mother said.

Raimondi, who had grown up in Stamford and worked in the citys road maintenance department, died May 15, about three years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

He had so much love around him all the time, said his mother, Lisa Raimondi, adding that she misses him every minute of the day.

Thomas Turk, the head of the road maintenance department, created a GoFundMe fundraiser for Raimondi and his family days before his death. As of Friday, donors had given a total of more than $36,000.

On the GoFundMe page, Turk describes an interview with Raimondi for a full-time role in late 2021. Raimondi had worked for the city on a seasonal basis for years while also running a landscaping business, according to his obituary on the Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home website.

He was young, energetic and had a friendly personality, Turk wrote. During his interview, it was discussed that he had already battled with brain cancer but it was in remission and he was ready, willing and able to work. Not wanting his history to hold him back and with good references from my colleagues, I hired him.

But months later, the cancer returned, Turk wrote.

I tried to help him build a future and this cancer is robbing him of that opportunity, which is why the fundraiser has been started (to) help those closest to him deal with the situation and to especially help a little girl, who may never know her father, have the best possible start to a bright future, he wrote.

Raimondis daughter, Lucianna, will turn 1 in August. Erica Daly, Luciannas mother, said she was overwhelmed by the amount of money raised by Turk. She said the donations will be used to create a college fund for Lucianna.

He was a hard worker, Daly said about Raimondi, who she had planned to marry. All he wanted to do was be a dad, have a family, buy a house, have a big future.

He was also someone who would make friends with anybody that he met, she said. He was close to his city coworkers and used to call them his brothers.

Raimondi stopped working last October. Coworkers donated their sick days to him, allowing him to be paid up to his death, Daly said.

Lisa Raimondi said her son was always hands on and always wanting to do something for someone.

He also loved to eat, especially at pizza places, she said.

She said that when he was brought to Stamford Hospital last month, the family was told that he could die in 24 to 48 hours. He lasted eight days, she said.

Hes at peace, Lisa Raimondi said.

Raimondi is also survived by his father, Giancarlo Raimondi; his siblings, Jessica Pessy, Francesco Raimondi and Mark Raimondi; and his grandmother, Lily Longo, according to his obituary.
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NEW YORK (AP)  New York City's reliance on the tactic known as stop and frisk" as part of a new initiative to combat gun violence is harming communities of color and running afoul of the law, a court-appointed federal monitor reported Monday.

Monitor Mylan Denerstein said the NYPD 's Neighborhood Safety Teams  special units deployed in the past 14 months to seize guns in high-crime areas  were engaging in unconstitutional policing by stopping and frisking too many people without justification.

In one police precinct, Denerstein said, only 41 percent of stops, 32 percent of frisks and 26 percent of searches were lawful.

The Neighborhood Safety Teams, a replacement for the anti-crime units that the NYPD disbanded in 2021, operate in 34 areas that account for 80% of the citys violent crime  largely communities of color. Of the people the teams have stopped, Denerstein said, 97% are Black or Hispanic.

A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams said city officials have serious concerns with Denersteins methodology and that they only learned of her findings after news outlets reported on them.

The spokesperson, Fabien Levy, said shootings have fallen since the Neighborhood Safety Teams were created.

Officers assigned to the units have enhanced training and oversight to ensure we are not only keeping New Yorkers safe, but protecting their civil liberties as well, Levy said, adding that any unconstitutional stop is unacceptable, and we will strive to do better for New Yorkers every day.

Denerstein said she began her review after Adams announced in March 2022 that the NYPD was deploying Neighborhood Safety Teams in some precincts to combat gun violence. Team members, wearing modified uniforms and driving unmarked cars, conduct stops, frisks and searches in their assigned neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, the results are disappointing, Denerstein wrote.

Despite their training and experience, officers assigned to Neighborhood Safety Teams overall appear to be stopping, frisking, and searching individuals at an unsatisfactory level of compliance. Too many people are stopped, frisked, and searched unlawfully."

In 2013, a federal judge ruled that the NYPD had violated the civil rights of Black and Hispanic New Yorkers with stop and frisk, which was part of an effort to get guns and drugs off the street by frequently stopping and searching people on the street.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled the stops were a form of indirect racial profiling. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, once a champion of the tactic, has since apologized for its use.

Since the ruling, the department claimed a sharp drop in stops, reporting an average of around 11,730 per year from 2016 to 2022, compared with a high of nearly 686,000 stops in 2011.

Black and Hispanic people continue to be the targets of the vast majority of stops, accounting for 89% of all stops in 2022, according to NYPD data compiled by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
A member of the Oath Keepers extremist group from New Jersey who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and bragged about it in text messages pleaded guilty on Tuesday to obstructing Congress.

James Breheny, who is also known as Seamus Evers, of Little Ferry, pleaded guilty in Washington's federal court to a felony charge of obstructing Congress' certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory over former President Donald Trump.

Breheny's attorney said his client, a Navy veteran, entered the guilty plea to make amends for a lack of good judgement on Jan. 6, 2021."

His history as a veteran and a law-abiding citizen is clearly more indicative of who he is then his entering the Capitol and taking a photo of himself and leaving, defense attorney Harley Breite said.

Breheny was not charged with conspiring with other members of the far-right group, including its founder Stewart Rhodes.

In one of the most serious cases brought by the Justice Department, Rhodes and five other Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a weekslong plot to stop the transfer of presidential power. Additional Oath Keepers were separately convicted of conspiring to obstruct the certification of Biden's victory.

Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, was sentenced last month to 18 years behind bars  the longest sentence handed down so far in the hundreds of Jan. 6 cases.

Court papers say that on the morning of Jan. 6, Rhodes invited Breheny  who was the Bergen County coordinator for the Oath Keepers' New Jersey chapter  to a signal chat with other members titled DC OP: Jan 6 21." Breheny didn't send any messages in the chat, his attorney said.

Breheny entered the Capitol shortly after a group of Oath Keepers breached the building in military-style stack formation, according to statement of offense Breheny agreed to as part of his plea deal. After the riot, he sent several messages to others bragging about going inside the Capitol. In one message he wrote: We breached the door Baby."

Two days after the riot, someone warned him to delete all his pictures and messages and get a new phone. He deleted photos showing himself inside the Capitol and deleted his Facebook account, prosecutors said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Turkmenistan and Japan reviewed the implementation of the projects outlined in the minutes of the joint meeting of the cooperation committees, Trend reports.

These issues were discussed during a video meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Chairman of the Japanese-Turkmen Committee for Economic Cooperation, Managing Executive Officer of Itochu Corporation Hiroyuki Tsubai.

During the meeting, the parties paid special attention to the promotion of the roadmap of cooperation in the field of infrastructure, its enrichment with advanced ideas and relevant projects.

At the meeting, the importance of high-level contacts in the development of interstate dialogue was noted, in this context, the importance of the visit of President of the Supreme Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Japan in September 2022 was emphasized.

Meanwhile, at the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to conduct constant monitoring on the implementation of joint work tasks.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during his address at the 'Friends' of BRICS which was held on the sidelines of the Foreign Minister's Meeting (FMM) held in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday highlighted the growth in trade between BRICS and Tehran as it floated its desire to be a member of the economic block.

Our bilateral political and economic relations with the BRICS countries remain at a very good level while our trade value exceeds $30 billion, Amir-Abdollahian said, noting that the sides have important arrangements on multilateral cooperation. We will soon expand our relations with three BRICS countries; namely Russia, China, and India within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he added. In June 2022, Iran applied to become a BRICS member, saying it would result in added value for both sides.

Customs data shows that trade in goods other than crude oil between Iran and the blocs members totaled nearly 48 million tons in the fiscal year 2022-2023, representing a 14% increase in terms of value.

BRICS member states continue to be top trading partners of Iran

Tehran applied to join the BRICS in June 2022, claiming that doing so "would result in added value for both sides." Trade-in items other than crude oil between Iran and the members of the bloc reached close to 48 million tonnes in the fiscal year 20222023, a rise in the value of 14%, as per customs data.

China continues to be Iran's top BRICS trading partner, with trade increasing by 37.41% throughout that time. Russia is in third place (up 3.59%), followed by India in second place with commerce up over 47%. Both the weight and value of trade with Brazil have decreased. With a 23% increase in bilateral trade, South Africa is Iran's major trading partner on the continent of Africa.

In the midst of sanctions imposed by the West, Russia and Iran have been fostering closer ties. According to official figures, the value of the trade in goods and services between the two nations in 2022 was $4.6 billion. As they work to de-dollarize their economies, Moscow and Tehran have also agreed to increase the use of their respective national currencies in payments.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa make up the present members of BRICS, which is considering enlarging its membership as more nations show interest. The bloc came in 2001 as BRIC with South Africa joining in 2010. It comprises 41 per cent of the world population, having 24 per cent of the world GDP and over 16 per cent share in the world trade as per World Bank data.
An independent power association in Nepal on Sunday welcomed the signing of agreements in the energy sector with India during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda's' visit, saying they are of "high significance" for the country's economic prosperity.

Nepal Prime Minister 'Prachanda' visited India from May 31 to June 3, his first official trip abroad since assuming office in December 2022.

During Prachanda's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, the two countries signed seven agreements and launched six projects including new railway services.

"During the visit of the prime minister of Nepal to India both the prime ministers signed a number of energy-related deals such as laying down of foundation of Butawal-Gorakhpur 400 KV transmission line, signing of an MoU relating to 480 MW Fukot-Karnali Hydropower development project and hydropower agreement for the development of Lower Arun with 669 MW capacity. They are of high significance for Nepals economic prosperity, said the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN).

Both prime ministers expressed commitment to exporting 10,000 MW of power from Nepal to India and the secretary-level agreement reached for the Power Trading deal also holds equal significance, the IPPAN said in a statement.

It also thanked Prime Minister Prachanda for taking important steps towards promoting power trade between Nepal and India.

The visit of Prime Minister Prachanda to India created a positive atmosphere for inviting investment in the energy sector, said the umbrella organisation of the private power developers.

The IPPAN urged the Nepal government to take necessary steps for creating a conducive atmosphere within the country so that Nepals power producers can freely interact and sell energy to foreign buyers.

Prime Minister Prachanda said on Saturday that his meeting with his Indian counterpart Modi was the most significant aspect of his four-day visit to India.

We discussed matters relating to further deepening the centuries-old close relations existing between Nepal and India in the days ahead, Prachanda said upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport here.

The bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House was the most significant aspect of the visit and the ties between the two countries have entered a new phase, he said.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday urged the Centre to build an international business corridor in West Sikkim for improved connectivity with Nepal, which, he claimed, will boost development in the Himalayan state.

Tamang also said the central government appeared to be keen to consider the project, keeping in view its benefits to the people of Sikkim and added that a decision would be taken in due course.

"I had proposed an international business corridor connecting Uttarey with Chewabhanjya in West Sikkim to Nepal at the NITI Aayog meeting in the national capital recently and also took up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said at a function after inaugurating a forest house at Chewabhanjyang.

The Sikkim chief minister also said that if the two countries get connected with the international business corridor in Chewabhanjyang, it will speed up development in the state, creating opportunities for the local people in diverse sectors such as economic, social, cultural, tourism and education.

"Both India and Nepal have friendly relations and the proposed business corridor is bound to have a positive impact on the economic growth of the two countries," he said.

Once the proposed business corridor comes up at Chewabhanjyang in West Sikkim, it will witness business activities, like in Nathula, to boost both trade and tourism, opening up economic opportunities for the people residing on either side of the international border, Tamang said.

The forest rest house at Chewabhanjyang will lay down a roadmap for the development of the region.

He also interacted with security personnel there and sought their continued support to keep the border safe.

The chief minister also assured them of all possible support.

He also mentioned that the maintenance of roads has been a major challenge due to weather conditions but the state government has made all efforts to keep it motorable in all seasons.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. A new position of special representative of the President of Uzbekistan on WTO issues was introduced in the structure of the Presidential Administration as part of the intensification of the processes of Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trend reports.

By a presidential decree dated June 2, Aziz Urunov, who previously held the position of a responsible employee of the Presidential Administration, was appointed to the position of special representative of the head of state.

The special representative will perform several functions: he will become the chief negotiator and head of the negotiating group, as well as deputy chairman of the interdepartmental commission for work with the WTO, which is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev.

The tasks of the special representative include intensifying the process of Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, developing a clear position on each issue under discussion during negotiations on membership in the organization, holding negotiations with member states and maintaining ongoing working contacts with the WTO secretariat and member countries to promote the position of Uzbekistan.

According to the decree, from July 1, the development of draft legal acts that do not comply with the rules and norms of the WTO will be prohibited in Uzbekistan.

A group will be set up within the Ministry of Justice to harmonize national legislation with the WTO agreements.

Moreover, a department for work with the WTO and trade negotiations will be formed in the structure of the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade.

New posts will be introduced, including the post of First Secretary for WTO Affairs at the UN Office at Geneva and other permanent missions of Uzbekistan to international organizations. All of these new positions will be created by optimizing existing staff.

In 2023, 30 billion soum ($2.6 million) will be allocated for the implementation of activities related to Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, including 10 billion soum ($880,000) from the reserve fund of the Cabinet of Ministers and 20 billion soum ($1.8 million) from the funds of the Export Support Agency.

Additionally, the updated composition of the interdepartmental commission and the working group for negotiations with the WTO was approved.

Uzbekistan launched an initiative to join the WTO in 1994 but suspended the process in 2005. In 2020, work on joining the organization was resumed at the first meeting. In mid-March of this year, the sixth meeting of the working group on Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO took place in Geneva.
Voters in Kuwait were casting ballots on Tuesday for a third time in as many years, with little hope of ending a prolonged gridlock between the ruling family and assertive lawmakers after the judiciary dissolved the legislature earlier this year. Kuwait is alone among Gulf Arab countries in having a democratically elected assembly that exerts some checks on the ruling family. But in recent years, the political system has been paralysed by infighting and unable to enact even basic reforms.

People on the ground are not very optimistic right now about change, and that's why you see this frustration and probably a low voter turnout and low number of people running, said Dania Thafer, executive director at the Gulf International Forum, a Washington-based think-tank. The polls will close at 8 pm and the results are expected on Wednesday.

We need to bridge the gap and people can talk to each other and reach a consensus for the interest of Kuwait, said Badr Al-Turaiji, one of the thousands who braved the searing heat to cast his vote. The last election, held a mere eight months ago, delivered a mandate for change, bringing 27 new lawmakers into the 50-member assembly, including conservative Islamists and two women. Some had served in earlier parliaments.

But in March, Kuwait's Constitutional Court annulled the decree dissolving the previous parliament, which was elected in 2020, effectively restoring it. A few weeks later, the ruling Al Sabah family dissolved that parliament for a second time, setting up this week's vote. Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, says the turmoil partly stems from divisions within the ruling family following the death in 2020 of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a veteran diplomat who had ruled the country for nearly 15 years.

The 91-year-old was succeeded by his ailing half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, with Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah assuming day to day rule. Both are in their 80s, and the line of succession after Sheikh Meshal is unclear. Another member of the royal family, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, the current emir's son, was appointed prime minister in 2022 but has recently emerged as a lightning rod of criticism.

There's a lack of clear direction and energy coming from the top, Diwan said. There is kind of an overall vacuum where you can see other political institutions and social forces kind of taking advantage and stepping into that gap. The emir appoints the prime minister and the Cabinet, and can dissolve parliament at any time. But lawmakers can approve or block legislation, and can question ministers and call for their removal. There are no political parties.

Two former parliamentary speakers are hoping to return to the relatively influential office. Marzouq al-Ghanim, the scion of an influential family and a prominent member of the country's powerful business community, led the assembly elected in 2020. He recently unleashed scathing criticism on the prime minister, calling him a danger to the country and further undermining his authority.

As speaker, al-Ghanim was willing to use all the tools that he had within the parliament to really concentrate power in a way that was more authoritarian, Diwan said. His harsh criticism of the prime minister, a prominent member of the ruling family, was really striking, she added. He will likely face off against Ahmed al-Saadoun, a veteran politician who managed to unite a broad array of opposition lawmakers in the parliament that convened last year.

They have pushed for policies that would more widely disperse the country's massive oil wealth, including debt relief for consumer loans, which the government views as fiscally irresponsible. We need to achieve stability in order to achieve development and it is also required to have a prime minister who is capable to manage the helm, al-Ghanem said after voting in Kuwait City.

Kuwait has the sixth largest oil reserves and is among the world's wealthiest countries, with cradle-to-grave welfare for its 1.5 million citizens. But many say the government has not properly invested in education, health care and other services. Opposition figures have also called for electoral reforms that would bring more women and young people into the assembly, including a return to an earlier system in which people could vote for more than one candidate in their district. There's a feeling that if people have only one vote, it forces political blocs to make a lot of difficult decisions about who to run, said Courtney Freer, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science. It also makes it harder for women candidates, who are already disadvantaged, she said.
Voters in Kuwait were casting ballots on Tuesday for a third time in as many years, with little hope of ending a prolonged gridlock between the ruling family and assertive lawmakers after the judiciary dissolved the legislature earlier this year.

Kuwait is alone among Gulf Arab countries in having a democratically elected assembly that exerts some checks on the ruling family. But in recent years, the political system has been paralyzed by infighting and unable to enact even basic reforms.

People on the ground are not very optimistic right now about change, and thats why you see this frustration and probably a low voter turnout and low number of people running, said Dania Thafer, executive director at the Gulf International Forum, a Washington-based think-tank.

The polls will close at 8 p.m. and the results are expected on Wednesday.

The last election, held a mere eight months ago, delivered a mandate for change , bringing 27 new lawmakers into the 50-member assembly, including conservative Islamists and two women. Some had served in earlier parliaments.

But in March, Kuwaits Constitutional Court annulled the decree dissolving the previous parliament, which was elected in 2020, effectively restoring it. A few weeks later, the ruling Al Sabah family dissolved that parliament for a second time , setting up this weeks vote.

Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, says the turmoil partly stems from divisions within the ruling family following the death in 2020 of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a veteran diplomat who had ruled the country for nearly 15 years .

The 91-year-old was succeeded by his ailing half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, with Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah assuming day to day rule. Both are in their 80s, and the line of succession after Sheikh Meshal is unclear.

Another member of the royal family, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, the current emirs son, was appointed prime minister in 2022 but has recently emerged as a lightning rod of criticism.

Theres a lack of clear direction and energy coming from the top, Diwan said. There is kind of an overall vacuum where you can see other political institutions and social forces kind of taking advantage and stepping into that gap.

The emir appoints the prime minister and the Cabinet, and can dissolve parliament at any time. But lawmakers can approve or block legislation, and can question ministers and call for their removal. There are no political parties.

Two former parliamentary speakers are hoping to return to the relatively influential office.

Marzouq al-Ghanim, the scion of an influential family and a prominent member of the countrys powerful business community, led the assembly elected in 2020. He recently unleashed scathing criticism on the prime minister, calling him a danger to the country and further undermining his authority.

As speaker, al-Ghanim was willing to use all the tools that he had within the parliament to really concentrate power  in a way that was more authoritarian, Diwan said. His harsh criticism of the prime minister, a prominent member of the ruling family, was really striking, she added.

He will likely face off against Ahmed al-Saadoun, a veteran politician who managed to unite a broad array of opposition lawmakers in the parliament that convened last year. They have pushed for policies that would more widely disperse the countrys massive oil wealth, including debt relief for consumer loans, which the government views as fiscally irresponsible.

Kuwait has the sixth largest oil reserves and is among the worlds wealthiest countries, with cradle-to-grave welfare for its 1.5 million citizens. But many say the government has not properly invested in education, health care and other services.

Opposition figures have also called for electoral reforms that would bring more women and young people into the assembly, including a return to an earlier system in which people could vote for more than one candidate in their district.

Theres a feeling that if people have only one vote, it forces political blocs to make a lot of difficult decisions about who to run, said Courtney Freer, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

It also makes it harder for women candidates, who are already disadvantaged , she said.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Monday said that officials from both Nepal and India should sit down for discussions to resolve the border issue between the two countries.

Prachanda visited India from May 31 to June 3, his first official trip abroad since assuming office in December 2022. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday saw the two countries signing seven agreements and launching six projects including new railway services.

The two leaders also vowed to resolve the vexed boundary dispute in the spirit of friendship.

Responding to the questions from lawmakers regarding the agreements reached during his India visit and the authentication of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives, Prachanda said that Nepal and India both sides should sit together and hold discussions, keeping the map before them.

"Discussions have been held on several issues during my India visit. We are concerned on matters relating to national interest and sovereignty. Talks have also been held on the issue of the map," the Prime Minister told the Parliament.

When asked about wearing a saffron-coloured shawl while offering prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh during his visit, Prachanda said, "No one should do anything that belittles the religious faith of the people".

"I went to Indore to learn about wastage management and the development of IT there," he clarified.

"I believe in secularism," the Prime Minister said when some lawmakers asked whether he was theist or atheist.

Prachanda said that the Citizenship Bill was forwarded to the President for authentication as it was passed by both the houses of the Parliament. Many people were deprived of citizenship as the Bill had not been authenticated for long, he added.

During Monday's session, Prachanda was asked several questions on different issues including the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, border security matters and the Citizenship Bill.

The ties between India and Nepal came under severe strain after Kathmandu published a new political map in 2020 that showed three Indian territories -- Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh -- as part of Nepal.

India reacted sharply, calling it a "unilateral act" and cautioned Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it.

Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old "Roti Beti" relationship.

The country shares a border of over 1850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services.

Nepal's access to the sea is through India, and it imports a predominant proportion of its requirements from and through India.

The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations between the two countries.
President Droupadi Murmu met her Suriname counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Monday and they discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in several areas including defence, agriculture, IT and capacity building.

Murmu, who arrived in Suriname on Sunday on a three-day state visit  her first since assuming office in July last year, received a warm welcome from President Santokhi at the Presidential palace here.

Imparting fresh momentum to India-Suriname multifaceted cooperation. President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn & President @CSantokhi discussed ways to deepen India-Suriname partnership, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

Both the Leaders held delegation level talks covering multiple areas of bilateral cooperation including defence, agriculture, IT and capacity building, he added.

In a special gesture, President Santokhi received President Murmu at the airport with full state honours on Sunday.

Santokhi was in India in January this year as a guest of honour for the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and had met Murmu.

In Suriname, President Murmu will also meet a cross-section of the Indian diaspora and be the chief guest at celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in the South American nation.

The first ship carrying 452 Indian labourers arrived in Surinames capital Paramaribo on June 5, 1873. Most of the labourers hailed from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The Indians, who arrived in Suriname as contract labourers for plantations, have maintained their connection with their roots in India.

While fully assimilating with the local culture, they continued to cherish, uphold and pass down from one generation to another their traditions, rites and rituals, cuisine, language, and folklore and have made a significant contribution in all spheres to the sustainable development of Suriname, said the Indian embassy in Suriname.

It said Suriname also has the distinction of being the most prominent foreign country in the world in the field of promotion of the Hindi language. The World Hindi Conference 2003 was held in Paramaribo.

The president will be in Suriname till June 6 and visit places of historical and cultural importance. Her visit to the South American country is part of her two-nation tour that will also take her to Serbia.
Lawyers for Ukraine told the United Nations' top court Tuesday that Russia bankrolled a campaign of intimidation and terror by rebels in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014 and sought to replace Crimea's multiethnic community with discriminatory Russian nationalism after its occupation and annexation of the region. The claims came at hearings at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscow's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Four days of hearings in the court's ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice opened against a backdrop of Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia were trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Lawyers for Kyiv presented legal arguments to support their case Tuesday. Russia's lawyers will address judges Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment. When it could have instructed its officials not to fund groups committing violence against civilians, Russia did nothing, Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, told judges. Instead, as more deadly weapons arrived in Ukraine and more Ukrainian civilians suffered atrocities, Russian officials escalated their illegal supply of monies and weapons sending." Koh said that in July 2014, a Buk anti-aircraft system was sent into Ukraine "after which Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed.

Another lawyer on Ukraine's team, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fueled this campaign. The Ukrainian legal team said Russia did nothing to prevent or help Ukraine investigate the financial streams.

Turning to alleged breaches in Crimea of a convention to combat racial discrimination, Koh said that, following its illegal occupation and annexation of the peninsula, Russia sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterized Crimea before Russia's intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism.

He told judges that Russian policies amount to "a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians Ukrainians and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars. The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia's illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities  a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored. In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court doesn't have jurisdiction.

Not far away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia isn't a member of the court and doesn't recognize its jurisdiction. A Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine. The Russian Federation has contempt for international law, a senior Ukrainian diplomat, Anton Korynevych, said. Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality.
Defections are a key part of opposition strategy, while the junta works to stop troops from switching sides.

Leaders of the National Unity Government. More than two years after it was founded as a shadow opposition to the military junta, Myanmars National Unity Government continues to enjoy high rates of legitimacy

More than two years after it was founded as a shadow opposition to the military junta, Myanmars National Unity Government continues to enjoy high rates of legitimacy. The broader Civil Disobedience Movement remains robust, while the military is reviled. So what explains the militarys cohesion and what are the implications of the low numbers of defections?

On April 2, the NUGs Ministry of Defense issued their latest appeal to attract military and police defectors. Defections are a key part of the NUGs military strategy, and so its worth delving into the document.

The NUG claimed that by the end of February, 12,327 members of the security forces, 3,236 soldiers and 9,091 policemen had joined the program.

Protesters marching with banners supporting National Unity Government during a demonstration against the military coup in Hpakant in Myanmar's Kachin state, May 8, 2021. Credit: Kachin Waves via AFP These numbers are higher than what Peoples Embrace, an NGO that encourages defections and offers support to defectors, had previously recorded. The NUGs Ministry of Defense didnt provide any supporting evidence.

Moreover, 8,000 people had defected in 2021; the rate dropped sharply in 2022. And when defections do occur, it tends to be individuals, not groups, let alone entire units. There have also been few senior officers who have defected.

While anecdotal evidence suggests that desertions are up, there is no way to quantify them.

Deterring defections

Stemming mass defections has arguably been the Tatmadaw's most important military victory to date.

They have done so through keeping close tabs on soldiers, monitoring their social media posts, made easier by subsidizing or forcing them to use SIM cards sold by MyTel, the telecoms firm that is a joint venture between the Myanmar and Vietnamese militaries.

Protesters display signs supporting the Civil Disobedience Movement during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Feb. 15, 2021. Credit: Sai Aung Main/AFP Soldiers and their families live in military cantonments and work in military-owned companies. They have all their savings in one of two military-owned banks, Myawaddy and Innwa, which allows the leadership to monitor large withdrawals.

There are some financial costs to defecting as well. All soldiers are forced to buy a minimum two-year life insurance policy, with an up-front cost of K500,000 ($238), a princely sum for an enlisted man, and a monthly deduction of K8,400 ($4).

And there are reports that the insurance provider, Aung Myint Moh Min Insurance Co., which is owned by Min Aung Hlaings son and has had the contract since 2015, have not been paying benefits out of a shortage of cash, unit-level corruption, and/or fear of acknowledging the high rate of casualties.

At the same time, all soldiers have a compulsory monthly deduction from their salary to buy shares in the military-owned conglomerate Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd. The rate is determined by their rank. All military personnel are supposed to get an annual dividend, yet none have been paid since the coup.

Foregoing these investments alone is not enough of a disincentive, but coupled with the others, its an added deterrent.

And of course there is just old-fashioned indoctrination. The military has always been able to segregate soldiers from the population and brainwash them with a sense of superiority and responsibility that only they can hold the fractious country together.

Protesters flashing three fingered salutes and displaying a defaced image of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing faceoff with a line of riot policemen in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Feb. 8, 2021. Credit: AP Given the use of war crimes as a deliberate strategy, including torture and killing of POWs, intentional targeting of civilians, arson destruction of more than 65,000 homes, beheadings and desecrations, many soldiers may feel they're too culpable to ever be allowed to defect without punishment.

In normal times, desertion would merit a three year prison sentence. But with fighting on multiple fronts and depleted manpower, the military has been executing would be defectors to set an example.

A newly passed law on firearms criminalizes the selling or transfer of state-owned weapons or ammunition punishable with stiff sentences and making it, in some cases, a capital offense, another deterrent for would-be defectors.

Insufficient support

There has been insufficient funding for the defections program. For the NUG, it was a conundrum. How could they fund defectors while their own supporters were living in squalor and being asked to support the anti-junta struggle?

The NUG has provided limited funding, in particular, for those who defect with their weapons. In April, for example, three soldiers and four policemen defected with their weapons and ammunition, receiving $3,500 each. That wont go far.

The international community deserves much of the blame. Unwilling to support armed resistance, funding defections is the epitome of non-lethal assistance. And yet most donors view it as lethal assistance. It would be lawful under the U.S. BURMA Act, passed as part of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Defections are key to the NUG strategy. While the NUG and their PDFs and affiliated ethnic resistance organizations have outperformed, they are not going to defeat the junta militarily, despite the regimes admission that it has lost control in 132 (42 percent) of the 330 townships and declared martial law in 47 townships (14 percent).

The NUG claims that some 30,000 junta forces have been killed and over 11,000 wounded to date. Even if unconfirmed, its clear that the military has suffered high casualty rates amongst its 70,000 combat soldiers and its units are undermanned and operating at unsustainable tempos.

Morale, we know from defectors, is very low. A recent BBC report discussed the demoralization felt by rank and file from public animus. Battlefield losses, limited equipment and supplies, have further eroded support.

The military has had trouble recruiting, even to its two elite schools, the Defense Service Academy and the Defense Services Medical Academy, despite the anemic economy.

Members of the People's Defense Force, the armed wing of the civilian National Unity Government opposed to Myanmar's ruling military regime train at a camp in Kayin State, near Myanmar-Thai border, Oct. 9, 2021. Credit: AFP The NUGs strategy is to hollow out the military to the point that it can no longer deploy and sustain its troops across multiple battlefronts.

Not only do the defections deplete the military, but they are essential in arming the NUGs forces. Demand has driven up black market prices for automatic weapons by three- to four-fold. While most Ethnic Resistance Organizations are able to manufacture much of their own arms and ammunition, demand right now is surging and exhausting production capabilities.

The NUGs Ministry of Defense warned that the Peoples Embrace program was not open-ended. While this is probably for financial reasons, they clearly need to encourage a new round of defections, before this years dry season offensive, especially as the military gave itself a 51 percent budget increase to $2.7 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.

The NUG must make a decision on the scope of a general amnesty, and message it clearly and directly to the troops. And the international community must have the foresight to support it.

But the opposition forces also have to get their own house in order. Recent videos have shown members of the NUGs peoples defense forces mistreating captured pro-junta Pyu Saw Htwee militiamen. That conduct is not just unlawful, but un-strategic, and will reinforce military and pro-junta militia cohesion.
Hong Kong journalist Bao Choy [front right] hugs Sham Yee-lan, former Hong Kong Journalists Association chairperson, after being cleared by the city's top court in Hong Kong, Monday, June 5, 2023.

In a rare ruling supporting press freedom in Hong Kong, a court overturned a conviction against investigative journalist Bao Choy, who had investigated the 2019 subway station attack by men in white T-shirts on civilians.

Choy was found guilty of "improper searches" of an online car license database in April 2021, after she used the site to access vehicle license plate ownership records for her documentary on the July 21, 2019, attacks at the Yuen Long MTR station.

She was fined HK$6,000 (US$770), and lost an appeal against the conviction at the High Court in November 2022.

But she won an appeal at the Court of Final Appeal, which said she had been wrongly accused of misusing the search function.

"It's been a long time since I had news this good," said Choy.

But she also alluded to the ongoing erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, pointing to the "quiet disappearance of many things" in recent years.

Men in white T-shirts and carrying poles are seen in Yuen Long after attacking anti-extradition bill demonstrators at the MTR station in Hong Kong, July 22, 2019. Credit: Reuters





"I don't think it's so easy to take away people's beliefs," Choy said. "The persistence [we have seen] over the last few years is already pretty meaningful."

In its written judgment, the court found that Choys use of the site had been due to bona fide journalism.

"The issues of falsity and knowledge were wrongly decided against the appellant because her journalistic investigation into the use of the vehicle on the dates in question did fall into the wide catchall category of other traffic and transport related matters, it said.

Hong Kong Exodus

Choy said she hoped the ruling would serve as an encouragement to journalists still working in Hong Kong, as many have joined an exodus of middle-class professionals, fleeing the current political crackdown and regrouping overseas.

At the time of her arrest, Choy was working for government broadcast Radio Television Hong Kong, producing documentary and investigative films for a weekly series titled Hong Kong Connection.

Choy's film showed that police were present as the attackers gathered in Yuen Long, but delayed their response for 39 minutes as men in white T-shirts started attacking train passengers at the MTR station.

The film used footage filmed by witnesses and security cameras  as well as number plate searches and interviews  to piece together events, uncovering links between some of the attackers and the staunchly pro-Beijing Heung Yee Kuk rural committees.

Bao Choy speaks to members of the press after being cleared by top Hong Kong court in Hong Kong, Monday, June 5, 2023. Credit: Associated Press





Choy's program also showed that stick-wielding men had been brought into the district in specific vehicles hours before the attack, and that police had done nothing about the build-up in numbers.

She was arrested after the documentary aired in November 2020, allegedly because her use of the government vehicle database wasn't for the permitted purposes.

Shift in how journalists are regarded

Choy told Radio Free Asia in November that there has been a fundamental shift in the way journalists are regarded in Hong Kong amid an ongoing crackdown on press freedom under the national security law.

"In the past, there was a belief that journalists had fourth estate rights, and that reports that used such services to verify information were legitimate," she said. "Society recognized and believed in the principle that certain events were a matter of public interest, so journalists had the right to access this kind of information."

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), a government department that had enjoyed editorial independence before a draconian national security law banned criticism of the authorities, let Choy's colleague Nabela Qoser go after her hard-hitting questioning of city officials during the 2019 protest movement, as the government moved its preferred officials into top jobs at the station.

Management had earlier terminated the permanent civil service contract of TV current affairs anchor Qoser after she fired a series of hard-hitting questions at chief executive Carrie Lam in the wake of a July 31, 2019, attack by armed thugs on train passengers in Yuen Long, prompting Lam and other top officials to walk out of a news conference.

RTHK was later criticized by police commissioner Chris Tang over its reporting of police violence during the protests.

In March 2021, the government replaced the director of broadcasting and reformed RTHK's editorial structure to "ensure it complies" with government directives.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Australias new ambassador in Washington says the security pact is about more than submarines.

Kevin Rudd, Australias new ambassador to the United States, speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

The long-term goal of the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is a seamless defense and technology industry across the three countries, Canberras new ambassador in Washington, Kevin Rudd, said on Tuesday.

In his first public remarks since assuming the role, the former Australian prime minister said one of his first tasks would be to help shepherd legislation through Congress to enable the March 13 deal for the United States to sell nuclear submarines to Australia.

Our critical tasks during the course of 2023 is to work with our friends in the administration and the United States Congress to support the passage of the key elements of the enabling legislation, Rudd said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

This is not just a piece of admin detail, he added. You're looking at four or five pieces of legislation, and each with attendant congressional committee oversight. This is a complex process.

Beijing has criticized the AUKUS pact and Australias purchase of nuclear-powered submarines from the United States, saying the countries were going down a wrong and dangerous path.

But Canberra says the nuclear submarines, which can travel three times as fast as conventional submarines and stay at sea for much longer without refueling, are essential to protect vital sea lanes.

Unfinished business

Negotiations leading to the March 13 deal were at times messy, with Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and chairman of the Senate Armed Services, initially opposing the sale of submarines to Australia amid massive backlogs across U.S. shipbuilding yards.

In the end, the United States agreed to sell up to five older-generation nuclear submarines to Canberra in the coming years while the Australian, U.S. and U.K. governments develop Australias capacity to build its own submarines by the 2040s.

But Rudd told the CSIS event that was only the first step. He said the bigger question for AUKUS would be integration.

How do we move towards the creation, soon, of a seamless Australia-U.S.-U.K. defense, science and technology industry? he asked, adding that success in integration of the industries could be even more revolutionary than the submarine project in itself.

It would provide, he added, the ability to turn plans, such as submarine deals, into reality not 15 years, but five years, four years and three years, to remain competitive and therefore deterrent.

U.S.-China relations

Rudd, who was prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013, said his instructions from Canberra now were to work like hell to build guardrails in the relationship between the U.S. and China, over Taiwan and the South China Sea to avoid war by accident.

But he also said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong wanted Australia to work with the United States to enhance deterrence to cause the Central Military Commission in China to think twice about any military action.

Rudd said Chinese President Xi Jinping made clear his main strategy was to use the gravitational pull of the Chinese economy as leverage, which he said was only interrupted by COVID.

Even though growth has now slowed in China, Chinese strategy is fairly clear, which is to make China the indispensable market that it had begun to become, Rudd said. It's directed to countries around the world in the Global South, and in Europe, and beyond.

Rudd said the U.S. policy of derisking its supply chains away from China  without completely decoupling the economies  was a natural reaction to that geopolitical strategy, even if Australia, as an island nation reliant on trade, still preferred free-trade policies.

Wong, the Australian foreign minister, used in a speech in Washington in December to call on the United States, which pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017, to return to a focus on trade as it seeks to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Rudd said Australia still wanted the United States to return to the trade pact  reworked as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership under Japans leadership  but was realistic about domestic pressures on U.S. administrations.

We understand what's happened in the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. We understand the rise of industrial policy in this country, Rudd said. Our job is to work within the grain of U.S. strategic policy settings and to maximize openness.

Look, this is an old relationship, he said. We've been knocking around with each other for the last 100 years or more, and in any relationship, there are going to be times when you agree or disagree, but you decide to make the relationship work.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Damage to the wall of a school in Shu Khin Thar village, Kale township, Sagaing region on May 5, 2023

Myanmars military sent a helicopter gunship to attack a school in Sagaing region, injuring four people, locals told RFA Tuesday.

They said Mondays attack on the school in Kale townships Shu Khin Thar village was followed by the artillery bombardment of another village in the township, leaving a further three people injured, one critically.

Shu Khin Thar residents, who didnt want to be named, said the helicopter opened fire for around five minutes on Monday morning.

Last Thursday was the start of a new academic year in Myanmar and a spokesperson for an ethnic Chin revolutionary group told RFA the junta is targeting schools in Kale township which are controlled by anti-regime forces.

We consider this an attempt to threaten and halt the plans of the people to open a school in their village that is beyond [the juntas] control, the official from the Chin National Organization, Upper Chindwin Region told RFA on condition of anonymity.

Thirty minutes after the school attack, junta troops shelled Let Pan Chaung village injuring three locals. Residents said one person had their leg ripped off by a shell.

RFA has so far been unable to get the names and ages of the injured.

One Kale township resident, who declined to be named for safety reasons, said the tactics in both villages show junta forces are struggling to enforce military rule in Sagaing region.

It highlights that they are already short on manpower and admit that they are completely out of control on the ground, the person said.

Thats why they are only using airstrikes.

The co-leader of Kale townships Internally Displaced Persons Assistance Group warned that the junta is likely to continue its campaign of air attacks in the area.

People should dig bomb shelters and listen to the news because such situations happen sooner or later. They have no direction, said Japan Gyi.

Junta troops often fire heavy artillery and use airstrikes  to instill fear in the people.

Kale was the first township to take up arms against the junta following the Feb. 1, 2021 coup. There are now more than 10 local defense groups, made up mostly of young people.

RFA called Sagaing region junta spokesperson Aye Hlaing Tuesday seeking comment on the school attack and village bombardment, but nobody answered.

There have been more than 1,400 airstrikes since the coup, resulting in 534 deaths, according to independent research group Nyan Lin Thit Analytica.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
French trade unions are planning to attract more than 500,000 supporters on Tuesday to participate in a nationwide day of action against raising the retirement age, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

Demonstrations and strikes are planned in Paris and 250 communes of the country. The protests come two days before an expected parliamentary vote on Thursday on an opposition bill to repeal the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Mass protests

This will be the 14th day of mass protests against a government law that would raise the retirement age.

In a months-long wave of demonstrations, the unions showed strong opposition to the reform. Gerard Re, one of the coordinators of the nationwide action, said that this reform punishes first of all the workers with the lowest incomes, since by the end of their career they are unable to continue working for health reasons.

The government's measures are also pushing those who are already in dire need into even greater poverty, unions say. "I call on everyone to take to the streets," said General Secretary of the General Confederation of Labor Sophie Binet. She stressed that the scale of the action on Tuesday will affect the further fate of the movement.

Union assessments

Union headquarters expect marches across the country to draw between 400,000 and 700,000 people. As a result of the strike on the railway on Tuesday, every 10th train will not be on the line. At the Paris Orly airport, about a third of all flights are expected to be canceled that day.

Despite such disruptions to the usual life of society, according to a survey organized by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP), holding a national day of action against the reform is supported by 57% of the country's inhabitants.

Nevertheless, the ruling camp categorically refuses to meet the strikers halfway and agree to a revision of the reform. The restoration of the right to retire at 62, according to government experts, would threaten the treasury with additional costs of  15 billion in an environment where state debts are already at record highs.

Shooting marches

The Prefecture of Paris has warned that the authorities intend to film the marches with drones in order to monitor the situation on all routes. Police experts say there is a need to increase security in the light of acts of vandalism that have taken place during previous actions.

Police units make up sketches of riot instigators from the ranks of the anarchist Black Block movement. According to law enforcement officers, this underground movement has up to 1,000 rioters in its ranks, who deliberately provoke riots and clashes with policemen.

In the capital, a gathering of demonstrators is planned at 14:00 local time in front of the historic House of Invalids. Then the columns will head along the boulevard Montparnasse and the avenue Gobelins to the Place d'Italie on the left bank of the Seine. The police expect that up to 70 thousand people can go to the capital's march.

Law enforcement agencies are taking enhanced measures to ensure order during demonstrations. More than 4,000 policemen and gendarmes will be on duty in the capital.

Key provisions of the reform

A draft reform plan to raise the French retirement age from 62 to 64 and eliminate some special pension regimes was presented in January. The initiative immediately caused demonstrations and strikes throughout the country. On April 14, the French Constitutional Council supported the reform. He excluded several provisions from it, but approved the key one - raising the retirement age by two years.

After that, President Emmanuel Macron signed the document. The pension reform should come into force this autumn.

Protests will take place two days before the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) submits a bill by a group of independent deputies and representatives of overseas territories of France to cancel the reform for discussion in the National Assembly.

The country's government has already sharply criticized the initiative, calling it unconstitutional. On June 3, the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly rejected the first article of the bill, which contained a requirement to refuse to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 for most categories of workers.
He was convicted of spreading propaganda after anti-corruption posts on social media.

A court in Vietnams Dak Lak province has sentenced music lecturer Dang Dang Phuoc to eight years in prison and four years of probation for allegedly "conducting anti-state propaganda, his wife and one of his lawyers told RFA Tuesday.

The 60-year-old instructor at Dak Lak Pedagogical College in Vietnams Central Highland, frequently posted on Facebook about educational issues, human rights violations, corrupt officials and social injustice.

Police arrested him on Sept. 8 last year, and charged him with "making, storing, spreading or propagating information, documents and items aimed at opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which carries a maximum 12-year prison term. Even though Phuoc didnt receive the maximum sentence, lawyer Le Van Luan said the court should have been more lenient towards his client.

"With the circumstances of the case, that sentence is too heavy compared to what Mr. Phuoc did," he said.

Phuocs case has drawn international attention, including from Human Rights Watch, who's deputy Asia director Phil Robertson described the sentence as outrageous and unacceptable.

What it reveals is the Vietnamese governments total intolerance for ordinary citizens pointing out corruption, speaking out against injustice, and calling for accountability by local officials, he said on hearing the verdict.

Those were precisely the things that Dang Dang Phuoc did in Dak Lak, and now the government claims such whistle-blowing actions are propaganda against the state.

During the past decade, Phuoc has campaigned against corruption and advocated for better protections for civil and political rights. He has signed several pro-democracy petitions and called for changes to Vietnams constitution, which grants the Communist Party a monopoly on power.

This unjust prison sentence reveals General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs anti-corruption campaign is a sham game that is really more about holding on to power, and marginalizing political rivals, but does not care to address the Communist Party of Vietnams widespread malfeasance in its ranks, said Robertson, comparing Trong with Chinas authoritarian leader Xi Jinping.

Police kept a close watch on Phuocs wife, Le Thi Ha, ahead of the trial, warning her she would lose her job if she talked about the case on social media.

She was allowed to attend the trial, along with Phuocs four lawyers.

Ha told RFA her husband plans to appeal the verdict.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn.
The Ukrainian military has reported heavy fighting in Ukraine's east as Russian forces attempt to gain full control of the partially occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

"The adversary continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to fully occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk regions," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on June 11. "Heavy fighting continues."

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

The Russian forces' focus on the Luhansk and Donetsk regions comes as the Ukrainian military conducts a major counteroffensive aimed at retaking Ukrainian territory occupied by Moscow.

On June 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged that the long-expected counteroffensive had begun.

"Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," Zelenskiy said.

During a press conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Zelenskiy was asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim earlier in the day that the counteroffensive had begun but that the Ukrainian forces had made no progress.

Zelenskiy told reporters to pass on to Putin that Ukraine's generals were "all in a positive mood."

Later on June 10, in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said that the fighting was heaviest on the eastern and southern fronts.

"Thank you to all those who hold their positions and those who advance," he said.

On June 11, the Ukrainian military issued updated casualty figures that said that more than 980 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded in fighting over the previous 24 hours.

The counteroffensive has been complicated by the bursting on June 6 of the Russian-controlled Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River. Kyiv has accused Moscow of mining the dam and deliberately causing its destruction.

Russia, which gained control of the dam shortly after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has steadfastly rejected accusations it was behind the incident in the southern Kherson region.

On June 11, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Russian forces blew up the dam to limit the Ukrainian counteroffensive and to make Kyiv divert its forces to deal with the resulting ecological and humanitarian crisis.

"The explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station was apparently carried out with the intention of preventing the Ukrainian Defense Forces from launching an offensive in the Kherson sector," Malyar wrote on Telegram.

Malyar added that the destruction of the dam was also intended to allow Russian reserves in the region to be deployed to reinforce the areas of Zaporizhzhya and Bakhmut.

While information on the counteroffensive is limited, there have been reports of losses on both sides.

A Ukrainian military spokesman said on June 10 that Ukrainian forces had advanced more than a kilometer at a number of points along the front line near Bakhmut, a city in the Donetsk region that Russian and Ukrainian forces fought over for months before Russia's private Wagner mercenary group gained control of most of the city in May.

On June 11, the Ukrainian Land Forces claimed that one of its brigades had liberated the village of Blahodatne, located between Mariupol and Donetsk in the Donetsk region. It published a video on Facebook showing Ukrainian soldiers planting a Ukrainian flag in the window of a damaged building in the village.

"The invaders resisted to the last, but could not withstand the onslaught of unrestrained wolverines!" the Land Forces wrote.

RFE/RL was unable to independently verify the claim.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has said that the Ukrainian armed forces appear to have also made some gains in their offensive in the Zaporizhzhya region in the south.

The Russian military has said it successfully repelled attacks in both areas. The Russian Defense Ministry has released video footage in recent days showing what it said were numerous strikes on Ukrainian armored vehicles and tanks, including German Leopard 2 tanks and U.S. Bradley fighting vehicles.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded medals on June 11 to soldiers it said had destroyed the foreign weaponry donated to Kyiv.

A UN official warned on June 10 of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the dam breach and resulting flooding.

UN Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths told AP that an extraordinary 700,000 people are in need of drinking water and said that the crisis will likely lead to lower grain exports, higher food prices around the world, and less to eat for millions in need. "The truth is this is only the beginning of seeing the consequences of this act," Griffiths said.

On June 11, the British Defense Ministry said in an intelligence assessment that the destruction of the dam "has almost certainly severely disrupted" the primary source of fresh water to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Water at the dam's reservoir had likely dropped below the inlet that feeds water to the canal delivering water to the peninsula, according to the assessment. Water is expected to stop flowing in the canal as a result, reducing the availability of fresh water in the south of the Kherson region and in northern Crimea.

The operators of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station reported on June 11 that water levels in the dam's reservoir have dropped 9.35 meters since the dam burst last week.

On June 10, Ukraine's nuclear energy agency put the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is cooled by water from the reservoir, into "cold shutdown" as a safety precaution.

The British Defense Ministry said that it expected the Russian authorities to meet civilians' water needs by using reservoirs, water rationing, drilling new wells, and bottled water.

It said that communities on both sides of the Dnieper face a sanitation crisis, limited access to safe water, and an increased risk of water-borne diseases.

Rescue efforts continued on June 11, with the Ukrainian Interior Ministry saying that 35 people, including seven children, remain unaccounted for in the Kherson region. Five people in Kherson and one person in the region of Mykolayiv have died as a result of the floods.

The Ukrainian authorities said that 32 towns and villages on the west bank of the Dnieper controlled by Ukrainian forces are still under water.

Evacuation efforts were also reported on the eastern bank of the river, which is more vulnerable to flooding.

Each side has accused the other of shelling civilians during the rescue efforts.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time, Reuters, AP, and dpa.
Giving birth is a life or death struggle for women in Afghanistan, where roughly one mother is believed to die every two hours from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Even mothers who survive face the stark reality that their newborns may not, with the Taliban's Health Ministry estimating 22 children die for every 1,000 live births.



"Why would a woman need to go to the hospital?" 31-year-old Zia Gul, a resident of the northern Parwan Province, recalled her husband saying during her difficult pregnancies. "There are only men at the hospital; there are no female doctors."



Gul told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that her husband's refusal to let her see a doctor contributed to the loss of two of her newborn children.



Gul's experience is in line with those of many Afghan women, particularly in conservative rural areas, who are bound by the Islamic custom of mahram. The practice prohibits women from leaving their home without a male relative, bars them from being treated by male doctors, and gives them little say in their own health decisions.

But the traditional customs enforced by Gul's in-laws, who allowed no discussion on the matter, are just one of the many factors that contribute to high maternal mortality in Afghanistan's deeply patriarchal society.



Years of political upheaval, economic woes, the exodus of medical professionals, low literacy and public awareness on health issues, poor infrastructure, and the lack of access to medical care in remote areas all add up to astonishingly high maternal mortality rates.



Among The World's Worst



According to statistics compiled by the World Bank, the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), and other UN agencies, 1,450 mothers were dying for every 100,000 live births by 2000, shortly before the Taliban was ousted from power.



Over the course of the next 20 years, due to increased funding and attention paid to maternal health care and awareness by the UNPFA, international aid agencies such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the Afghan government, that number was cut by more than half to 620 deaths by 2020.



The Taliban's seizure of power in August 2021 raised fears that the extremist group would reimpose the draconian policies of its first stint in power from 1996-2001, including the banning of female education and employment as it enforced mahram.

Many of those fears have been realized. Girls above the sixth grade have been barred from attending school, women are banned from pursuing university education, and women are no longer allowed to work for international aid agencies. Marham is also more prevalent, with women officially required to wear the all-encompassing burqa and remain at home unless accompanied by a male relative.



Once again, according to Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, the UNFPA's representative in Afghanistan, women's ability to freely access health facilities to seek maternal and newborn care has been restricted.



No outside nationwide statistics have been made available since 2020, but the Afghan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, citing recent figures from the Taliban-led government's Health Ministry, told Radio Azadi that the maternal mortality ratio has risen only slightly under Taliban rule.



While the figure, 638 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, is the same number recorded by the international community in 2017, it is still high enough to rank Afghanistan among the world's 10 worst in terms of maternal mortality.



That the situation has remained relatively stable is also difficult to fathom, considering the vast numbers of doctors who fled the country as the Taliban regained power, the country's dire economic situation and multiple humanitarian crises, and the increased pressures on aid workers and on Afghan women.



The state health-care system, propped up by foreign aid for two decades, has also suffered from a dramatic drop in international funding since the Taliban takeover.



Health workers and outside agencies say the damage done to the health sector is undeniable.



"The system has changed in our country. Naturally, it had an impact on the country's economy and the services that the government provides to the people," Hamid Jabari, an Afghan physician who was expelled from the country by the Taliban, told Radio Azadi. "The negative effects are being felt, including the lack of professionals in government, especially the health sector."

Some of the losses are offset by the continued involvement of outside organizations, including private hospitals, the UNFPA, and MSF, which have been able to continue to employ women despite the Taliban's ban on women aid workers due to an exemption for health workers.



But tremendous obstacles remain. Bodiroza said in written comments that "despite the exemption of the health sector from the ban on female humanitarian workers, the sector is also suffering from the ban as there are NGOs that indirectly support efficient delivery of health services -- not as frontline health workers but as back office staff, for example."



Afghan women health-care workers, in turn, told Radio Azadi they are being prevented from carrying out their work or expanding their expertise, even as the contributing factors to maternal mortality become more severe. The result is that newborns or pregnant women are now at greater risk of preventable deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the first few weeks after childbirth.



"Many pregnant women can't access antenatal or postnatal care, and the health system struggles to treat women who experience complications in pregnancy," Tomas Bendl, field communications manager for MSF in Afghanistan, told RFE/RL in written comments. "A shortage of qualified female health-care staff also affects access to health care, as maternity and sometimes pediatric wards are women-only spaces."



Dangers At Home



Hussain Sayer, a doctor from Parwan Province, told Radio Azadi that childbirth should ideally take place at a maternity hospital under the care of an obstetrician.



He said it was a "bad custom" for women to be denied access to health facilities during their pregnancies and warned that the only available option for many women -- home birth -- carries great risk.



In the event of births taking place at home, he said, they should be supervised by a trained midwife.

But while great emphasis was made over the past two decades to increase the number of professional midwives in Afghanistan capable of providing medical assistance during pregnancies, deliveries, and postnatal care, many Afghan women who entered the profession say they are unable to help.



Nadia, a midwife who spoke to Radio Azadi on condition that only her first name be used, said many of her colleagues who specialized in gynecology and obstetrics are "unemployed and stay at home" since the Taliban takeover.



Another midwife, who declined to give her name due to security concerns, said fear prevents many of her colleagues from working.



"Midwives don't go from place to place to assist with births -- that's why the problems have increased," she told Radio Azadi. "Every midwife is afraid for her life."



Restrictions on women's mobility have had a harmful effect on efforts to educate communities on women's health in remote areas of the country, according to the UNFPA's Bodiroza.



Even when male family members do allow women to visit health-care facilities, the difficulties in reaching them in rural areas limits the number of visits and can mean help is often administered too late.

"I took my wife to the clinic by motorcycle," Abdul Samad, a resident of the southeastern Ghazni Province told Radio Azadi, explaining he lived far from the nearest village with maternity facilities.



While Samad managed to get his wife to a doctor, shortly after he left to retrieve her mother, he received bad news. "Half an hour later, I received a call saying my wife was in agony," he said. "When I returned, I saw they were right" -- both his wife and their newborn child had died.



Continuing Efforts



It is difficult to assess where Afghanistan truly stands in terms of maternal mortality, but the benefits of continued outreach efforts and on-the-ground medical aid are obvious.



Bendl said MSF operates two projects in Afghanistan that focus on maternal health care, among other things, and employ more than 1,700 medical professionals in Afghanistan, of whom more than half are women.



Last year, MSF assisted in more than 42,700 deliveries, more than 8,000 of which were marked by obstetric complications. In Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern Helmand Province, MSF's support for a hospital resulted in an average maternal mortality rate of 0.1 percent. In the southeastern Khost Province, where MSF operates a maternity hospital, the mortality rate was 0.02 percent.



Bodiroza of the UNFPA said the agency continues "to deliver a full range of maternal health services in Afghanistan" and supports facilities and delivers essential reproductive health supplies in 32 out of the country's 34 provinces.



Despite the positives, those involved in providing health services in Afghanistan say much more needs to be done.

Bodiroza said the UNFPA estimates that without immediate and sustained support for reproductive health services, the situation could lead to an additional 51,000 maternal deaths by 2025.

Adding that "reproductive health services are therefore more critical than ever," Bodiroza said the UN agency is aiming to reach 10.6 million people -- including 6.8 million women and girls -- in remote areas with reproductive health support.



Bendl said that "there is no doubt that a dysfunctional health system, widespread poverty, and increased restrictions placed on women are at the heart of the current humanitarian crisis."



"If we want the situation to improve," he said, "policymakers, donors, and local authorities must urgently focus on strengthening primary medical care." And women, he said, "must be allowed to pursue further education and employment opportunities, to raise income for their families and to ensure there are sufficient female health workers in the country to meet the needs."

Written and reported by Michael Scollon, with additional reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents Ahmad Hanayish and Sahar Lewal
Belarusian rights activist Yana Pinchuk, who was extradited to Minsk from Russia in August 2022, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges rights groups say are politically motivated.

Judge Tatsyana Falkouskaya of the Minsk City Court sentenced Pinchuk on June 6 after finding her guilty of inciting social hatred, creating an extremist group, involvement in the creation of a terrorist group, calling for the disruption of the constitutional order, and harming national security.



Rights watchdogs insist that the charges are politically motivated to punish Pinchuk for joining protests after Belarusian authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka was declared the winner of an August 2020 presidential election despite allegations of widespread voter fraud that triggered Western sanctions.



Police in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, arrested Pinchuk in early November 2021 at the request of Minsk. She was later extradited to Belarus and went on trial on April 10.

The Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent.

Belarusian authorities accuse Pinchuk of administering the Vitsebsk97% Telegram channel, which was critical of Lukashenka's regime and has been labeled as "extremist" in Belarus.



Pinchuk has rejected all of the charges, saying she immediately closed the Telegram channel after it was officially designated extremist.



She is one of many Belarusians who have faced multiple charges linked to the mass protests following Lukashenka's contested reelection.



Thousands have been arrested and much of the opposition leadership has been jailed or forced into exile. Several protesters have been killed and there have also been credible reports of torture during a widening security crackdown.



Belarusian authorities have also shut down several NGOs and independent media outlets.



The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed several rounds of sanctions on him and his regime, citing election fraud and the crackdown.
After five elections in two years, Bulgaria has another government, but this one appears to have wide enough backing to at least fuel hope that the country could be on the verge of ending one of its longest political crises since the end of communism.

Amid protests outside parliament by largely far-right, pro-Russian parties and their supporters, parliament on June 6 gave its backing to the government formed by two pro-Western, pro-reform parties, We Continue the Change (PP), and Democratic Bulgaria (DB). The government crucially has the backing of the center-right GERB party, the winner of the last snap elections on April 2.

While many in Bulgaria may be heaving a sigh of relief, this outcome seemed in doubt just a week ago.

PP, the party of former Prime Minister Kirill Petkov, had been targeted by criticism and calumny from the president, head of institutions appointed by him, most of the parties in parliament, and the prosecutor's office, with the apparent aim of derailing the new government.

Boyko Borisov, a former prime minister and controversial figure, was also targeted as well due to his potential kingmaker role in any decision on whether his GERB party would back the new government or not.

The pressure was unrelenting up until the decisive vote. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a pro-Kremlin figure who has opposed Western efforts to arm Ukraine, said the proposed government amounted to "creeping dictatorship," in comments made June 1 in Moldova, where he attended the second European Political Community summit.

One day later, on June 2, Bulgarian Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev formally requested that parliament strip Borisov of his immunity. And just hours before the National Assembly, Bulgaria's 240-seat unicameral parliament, was set to vote on the government, Bulgarian prosecutors announced they would also call for Petkov's immunity to be lifted as well for having signed a Bulgarian citizen declaration while also holding a Canadian passport.

Over a week ago, it looked like more than two years of political instability could be at an end with a viable cabinet appearing possible. It would have a clear European orientation, accelerating efforts to get Bulgaria into the visa-free EU Schengen zone, the eurozone, and engage more forcefully in Western efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Just a week later, such hopes were dealt a blow as those opposed to such a prospect amped up their attacks, with much of their ire focused on the proposed government's plan to weed out Russian influence from the country's security services.

Audio Recording

Much of the criticism was fueled by the illegal release of an audio recording of a meeting -- apparently recent -- of the leadership of We Continue the Change. In it, discussion turns to the security services and talk of "taking" it back from the control of President Radev, by appointing, one voice says, "our people who are approved by the embassies." There is also talk of "purging" Russian influence from the security services and appointing people who enjoy the trust of counterparts from NATO countries.

The release of the audio tape and its contents ignited a political storm. Radev, Vice President Iliana Yotova, senior members of GERB, the leaders of Bulgaria's pro-Russian parties, including the ultranationalist Revival party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Prosecutor-General's Office, as well as the heads of the security services, all seemed to speak in unison that such plans amounted to "national betrayal."

Radev made his displeasure clear when he officially handed to Nikolai Denkov, the prime minister candidate of the We Continue The Change-Democratic Change coalition (PP-DB), a second mandate to form a cabinet at a ceremony barely lasting five minutes on May 29. Refusing to even shake Denkov's hand, Radev said if it was up to him personally, he would not hand over the mandate, but Bulgaria's constitution obliged him to do so.

On May 29, GERB and the anti-corruption alliance led by PP-DB announced that they had agreed to form a coalition government, including the unusual feature of rotating prime ministers. Under the deal, Denkov would serve as prime minister for nine months and then be replaced by Maria Gabriel, a former European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education, and youth, who was GERB's pick.

However, this deal had its detractors. PP-DB members did not like Gabriel because they viewed her candidacy as a compromise with Borisov and a tacit understanding there would be no investigation of the corruption that was believed to have been rife during his 12-year rule and had sparked nationwide protests in 2020.

On May 21, nearly 50 people from the leadership of We Continue The Change met online to approve the deal with GERB. It turned out this 4 1/2 hour confab was recorded, however that would only come out five days later.

On May 22, Gabriel returned the first failed mandate to Radev so he could formally hand the second mandate to PP-DB. Denkov and Gabriel then announced the goals of their future government: constitutional reform of the country's justice system, financial stabilization, entry into Schengen, and adoption of the euro.

Almost as an afterthought, the two then snuck in one further goal that immediately did not grab much attention: "freeing the leadership of the Bulgarian security services from foreign influence." It was not explicitly stated that this meant Russian interference. For years, the Bulgarian security services have been criticized for failing to carry out internal reforms, including severing ties with Russia, which persisted even after 1989 when communism collapsed across the former Soviet-led eastern bloc.

None of these plans, in particular reform of the country's security service, triggered any outcry when they were announced, even among those who days later would vent their supposed outrage.

In the coming days, as the would-be government took shape, Radev remained silent, refusing to announce for an entire week when he would hand the second mandate to Denkov. This silence belied what was to come.

On May 26, PP-DB deputy Radostin Vasilev released the recording of the meeting held on May 21. Vasilev said he opposed the deal with GERB and exited the online meeting in protest at about the midpoint. He also said he recorded the meeting from this point so, he claimed, he could listen to what he had missed the next day. Vasilev added that he made the audio recording on his own tablet that he used to take part in the online discussion. However, the online platform used should have alerted all participants if someone started recording and none of the others noticed such an alert.

In the recording -- which appeared to be authenticated by PP when it released a recording of what appeared to be the same online meeting -- voices appearing to be those of Petkov and Vasilev talk about the negotiations with GERB and opined about Borisov's possible motives, speculating it could be an opportunity to "cleanse himself" of nagging corruption charges.

Angry Reactions

Many of the recorded comments provoked angry reactions from the public. Among much of Bulgaria's political elite, their ire was focused on the future of the security services and accusations that they are under the effective control of Radev.

In response to his recorded remarks that any future security service appointments would be made in consultation with "the embassies," Vasilev told Bulgaria's Nova TV that all such moves would be made by Bulgarians, but that the heads of the security services must have the confidence of NATO partners. He added that it is normal to consult with partners, many of whom are located at embassies in Sofia.

However, such efforts did not quell the rising storm of protest, as many politicians continued to focus on the intended remake of the security services. The day after the tape was released, the Revival party, the BSP, as well as the populist There Is Such A People party all spoke of "national betrayal." Revival even suggested it would urge prosecutors to investigate for possible treason. At the same time, Petkov was deflecting claims his party had coordinated with foreign embassies on any future personnel changes to the country's security apparatus.

Early on May 27, Vice President Iliana Yotova spoke of a "conspiracy against Bulgarian statehood" being hatched. Echoing those alarming remarks, Gabriel, the GERB prime minister candidate, warned of the "shaking of the foundations of statehood," before announcing she was freezing negotiations on forming a cabinet.

For his part, Radev denied any control of the security services, claimed they had been "seriously reformed," and accused We Continue The Change of plotting a "pogrom" of the security branches.

Seven days after Denkov and Gabriel announced their parties' readiness to form a cabinet, on May 29, the noose was tightening. The speaker of parliament, Rosen Zhelyazkov, a member of GERB, scheduled a hearing of heads of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), as well as foreign intelligence and military intelligence at the request of the Revival party.

In the National Assembly, We Continue The Change were upbraided by all the intelligence service heads. The director of DANS even accused Petkov's former government of working "against Bulgaria's interests" vis-a-vis with North Macedonia.

Mustafa Karadayi, the chairman of the Movement For Rights And Freedoms, a center-right party representing ethnic Turks and other Muslims, piled on as well, speaking of "creeping fascism" and warned of riots if a PP-DB-mandated government took power. And Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of the Revival party, called from the parliamentary rostrum for the arrest of PP leaders.

Denkov faced a June 5 deadline to cobble together a viable cabinet with a huge handicap as GERB, a key party in any talks, balked temporarily at any further negotiations, citing the audio tape controversy for its reason.

With the clock ticking, Denkov did present Radev with a government that will only include Gabriel from GERB but will have no other members in the cabinet. Denkov also made it clear Radev's supposed control of the security agencies would figure at the top of the new government's agenda.

"The security agencies have to serve Bulgaria. Now their heads are appointed by one man only -- this is President Radev," Denkov said.

On the day of the vote, supporters of Revival were out in force in front of parliament, yelling their disapproval of the coalition deal, signaling Bulgaria's political rift is likely far from healed.
For the second time in just months, Baku has warned its citizens against traveling to Iran in the wake of a deadly attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran in January that it blamed on the "unstable situation in the Islamic republic."

In what has become a habit in recent weeks, Iranian officials have been angered over the perceived obstinacy of its northwestern neighbor and the encroachment of regional adversaries on what Tehran believes to be its backyard.

Azerbaijan's increasingly cozy relations with Iran's archfoe, Israel -- highlighted by defense deals, the opening of an embassy in Tel Aviv in March, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog's first visit to Azerbaijan last month -- has become a reliable trigger for Tehran as its own ties with Baku hit new lows.

Tehran does not officially recognize Israel, which it refers to disparagingly as a Palestinian-killing "Zionist regime" and accuses of having designs on sabotage and unrest within Iran's borders.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has warned against the travel of its citizens to Iran! This is the same policy that the president of the fake, child-killing, and occupying Zionist regime took during his recent trip to Baku," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani tweeted on June 5. "What should scare the people of Azerbaijan is the Zionist regime, not civilized and Islamic Iran."

Complicated Relationship

Herzog's visit, during which he said he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed in depth "the regional security structure that is threatened by Iran," appeared to have struck a nerve in Tehran.

"From the standpoint of the Islamic republic, the close relations of Azerbaijan with Israel is a major problem, [as is] the active presence of Israel in the military sphere [of Azerbaijan] and providing it with weaponry and the tight economic and security ties between the two countries," Iran analyst Touraj Atabaki, professor emeritus and chairman of the social history of the Middle East and Central Asia at Leiden University, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

But Baku's budding ties with Israel are just one among many factors straining Iran's relationship with Azerbaijan, a fellow Shi'a-majority country.

Observers say the relationship has been complicated ever since Azerbaijan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. But things became even more problematic when Baku retook territory along Iran's border during its 2020 war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

While Tehran supported Azerbaijan's claim to territory occupied by Iranian ally Armenia, it has strongly opposed Baku's intention to use the retaken lands to build the east-west Zangezur Corridor, which would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Naxcivan exclave and open a long-sought trade route to Tehran's rival, Turkey, and beyond.

The plan was boosted by the Russian-brokered cease-fire that ended the war over Nagorno-Karabakh and called for "all economic and transport connections in the region to be unblocked."

While Iran launched large-scale military exercises dubbed "Mighty Iran" along its border with Naxcivan in October 2022 -- a show of force to underscore that it would not "permit the blockage" of its trade and transport links to Armenia -- the initiative has moved forward.

As talk of a possible peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan pick up steam, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Overchuk announced on May 31 that the two sides were close to an agreement that would pave the way for the route through Armenia and Azerbaijani territory previously occupied by Yerevan, and "open the road to Russia, the countries of the European Union, and Iran."

As Iran seeks to boost its sanctions-circumventing trade with Russia, including with the completion of a second north-south route that would also pass through Azerbaijan, the prospect of seeing a trade route crossing its passage to Armenia remains a serious bone of contention.

"Iran doesn't like this corridor because in the larger competition and struggle between Tehran and Baku it weakens Iran if this corridor is created, because right now Azerbaijan has to use Iranian airspace or territory to resupply Naxcivan," said Luke Coffey, a foreign policy expert at the Washington-based Hudson Institute think tank.

The Zangezur Corridor, if completed, would mean that "Iran will become less important in the eyes of policymakers in Baku, and perhaps Azerbaijan would feel emboldened to take a more hard line against Iran," Coffey told RFE/RL.

'Mighty Iran' And Shi'ite Brotherhood

Such a scenario does not sit well with Iran, which has worked to exert its influence in Azerbaijan.

"A significant segment of the Azerbaijani population is Shi'a and since the creation of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic republic has considered Azerbaijan as the backyard for the [expansion] of the influence of its brand of Shi'ism," Atabaki said.

Tehran is also wary of the effects the loss of influence on Baku will have on Iran's large ethnic Azeri population, separated from Azerbaijan by the Aras River and located primarily in Iran's East and West Azerbaijan provinces.

During the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh, Coffey said, images emerged on social media of ethnic Azeris in Iran "waving Azerbaijani flags on the other side of the river, literally cheering on, like a spectator event, the advancements of the Azerbaijani armed forces."

In November 2022, Baku stoked tensions with Iran by staging its own military exercises along the Iranian border, with Aliyev saying they were necessary to show Tehran that "we are not afraid of them."

"We will do our best to protect the secular lifestyle of Azerbaijan and Azeris around the world, including in Iran," Aliyev added. "They are part of our people."

A Turning Point

Amid the continuing back and forth, the January attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran was seen by some observers as a turning point in bilateral relations.

Azerbaijan evacuated its embassy staff following the January 27 attack, in which a security guard was killed and two others injured when a gunman stormed the complex and opened fire. Baku blamed the attack on the Iranian secret service and called it an "act of terrorism."

In February, the Azerbaijani authorities said that they had detained nearly 40 people on suspicion of spying for Iran.

The fray worsened in March with the alleged assassination attempt on Fazil Mustafa, an Azerbaijani lawmaker who had been critical of Iran. Following the arrest in April of four people in connection with the incident, Baku accused Tehran of orchestrating the plot.

Two weeks later, Azerbaijani media reported the arrest of 20 people allegedly affiliated with Iran's Intelligence Ministry who were accused of promoting "the Islamic republic's propaganda, spreading religious superstitions, [and] attempting to overthrow the secular government of Baku."

In a tit-for-tat move, Tehran and Baku expelled four of each other's diplomats in April. And while diplomatic relations continued, the strains were evident as the two countries' foreign ministers held a series of phone calls that month in which Iran made clear that Tehran did not approve of Baku's relations with Israel.

"Only enemies benefit from the existence of differences" between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying by Iran's Shargh daily.

Iran's vice president in charge of economic affairs, Mohsen Rezaei, went a step further while addressing members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the western Lorestan Province.

"The incitement of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the signing of arms contracts between Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan was aimed at creating riots in the north of Iran, and to shift the thinking and focus of the army, the IRGC and the government of Iran to the north so that Israel can bomb Iran's nuclear sites," Shargh quoted Rezaei as saying.

On May 16, the Azerbaijani authorities announced another haul of individuals it said were recruited by Iran to disrupt Azerbaijan's constitutional order and establish Islamic law. This time, Baku claimed, the seven men detained had allegedly planned to assassinate Azerbaijani public figures.

The Feud Continues

That set the scene for the visit to Baku by Herzog in late May, held under strict security out of fear of Iranian retaliation.

After meeting Herzog, Aliyev lauded the boost that Israeli weaponry had given his country "to modernize our defense capability and allow us to defend our statehood, our national interests, and our territorial integrity."

Nearly 70 percent of Azerbaijan's arms imports between 2016 and 2020 were from Israel, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Herzog, in his comments after meeting Aliyev, said that "we expect to develop cooperation between us in many fields."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kanaani again took to Twitter to air Tehran's views on the development, writing on March 31 that "none of the regional moves of the Zionist regime remain hidden from the penetrating eyes of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The next day, an Iranian opposition hacking group released alleged classified Iranian government documents that appeared to shed light on the January embassy attack and indicated the need to reevaluate Tehran's diplomatic ties with Azerbaijan.

The documents, purportedly distributed among top Iranian officials, included advice on how to distance Azerbaijani society from its government and attributed Baku's policies to "Zionist" influence.

That potential bombshell was followed by Azerbaijan's announcement on June 2 that it had closed Iran's cultural attache office in Baku, citing "recent disagreements" between the two countries.

And on June 3 came the spark for Kanaani's latest Twitter outburst: Azerbaijan's renewed travel warning advising its citizens not to travel to Iran and for those who are already there to be vigilant.

Within seconds of blasting Azerbaijan and its ties with Israel in his first tweet on June 5, Kanaani took a softer line, writing that Iran would still "open our arms to our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters," with the goal of continued "mutual respect and respect for neighborhood customs."

But in his comments to Radio Farda on June 7, Iran expert Atabaki expressed skepticism, saying that "the Islamic republic is not planning to see its ties with Azerbaijan as an equal relationship."

And that mindset, Atabaki said, had allowed relations to reach their current low.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Iran will not sign an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until all issues related to its nuclear program are resolved, said Mohammad Marandi, an advisor to the Iranian nuclear negotiation team, Trend reports.

Marandi added that this nuclear agreement is ready and European countries are waiting for the signing of this.

"In Iran's opinion, the nuclear agreement should be regulated in such a way that any deviation is not possible," he stressed.

The official also pointed out recently, after the resolution of two issues, the number of existing issues at the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding Iran's nuclear program has decreased.

On May 30, 2023, informed sources in Iran announced that Iran and IAEA have agreed on two issues. The issue raised by the IAEA regarding the Abadeh nuclear facility in Fars province in the south of Iran, as well as the issue about the discovery of 83.7 percent enriched uranium remains in Iran, have already been resolved.

In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA on Sept.5. On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

On Jan.2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA.

---

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RFE/RL crews captured the first signs of flooding in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson after a major dam occupied by Russian forces was breached on June 6. As mass evacuations began, a senior Ukrainian official said water levels would reach "critical levels" within hours.
The Nova Kakhovka dam, a decades-old, Soviet-era hydroelectric facility spanning the mighty Dnieper River in southern Ukraine, was breached sometime overnight on June 6. The breach sent torrents of water cascading downstream, inundating villages and towns, prompting evacuations of thousands, drowning fields, and swamping farmlands and marshlands.

Ukraine immediately lay the blame on Russia, which has controlled the facility since just after the February 2022 invasion. For their part, Russian officials in occupied territories on the Dnieper's east bank accused Ukraine of destroying the dam to cover up for what they called a lack of battlefield successes. Neither side provided evidence.

The incident comes about six months after Ukraine seized back parts of the Kherson region on the west bank of the Dnieper River, including the city of Kherson. And it comes as Ukraine gears up for what is expected to be a major new counteroffensive against Russian forces, one that could change the course of the war.

One thing is certain: the flood is likely to end up being the worst environmental disaster since Russia launched its large-scale invasion nearly 16 months ago.

What Happened To The Dam?

It's not clear exactly.

Built in 1954 to provide electricity to southern Ukraine, the 3-kilometer-long Nova Khakovka facility, also known simply as Kakhovka, is one of six hydropower stations along the entire Dnieper, which stretches 980 kilometers -- from Belarus in the north to the Dniprovska Gulf and the Black Sea in the south.

The facility has been under the control of Russian forces since a few weeks after the February 24, 2022, invasion. It had been damaged previously; once in late October or early November. And sometime around November 11, an explosion likely caused by retreating Russian troops blew up part of the roadway over the structure.

Thats led some outside observers to warn of the possibility that the dam may have collapsed on its own  out of neglect, deliberate or not -- particularly given how swollen the upriver reservoir was, from spring melt of winter snows and runoff.

Since retreating from the western bank, Russian forces have dug in on the opposite bank, building fortifications and trenches and laying mine fields to deter any potential Ukrainian river crossing. They have also used the eastern bank to hammer Kherson city and surrounding districts, terrorizing the area and providing a sobering counterpoint to the elation that followed Khersons liberation by Ukrainian forces in November.

Sometime around 3 a.m. on June 6, Ukrainian officials said, part of the dam gave way, and in the following hours, the upstream water pushed through until the breach widened.

The national hydroelectric power company said the breach was caused by an explosion inside the engine room.

The station cannot be restored, it said.

Ukrainian officials blamed Russia.

Russian terrorists, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a post to social media. The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

WATCH: Boat after boat of exhausted and stressed civilians arrived in the flooded streets of Kherson on June 7. Some of the people had made it here from Russian-occupied areas on the east bank of the Dnieper River.

Ukraines military intelligence agency, meanwhile, warned last October that Russian forces had mined parts of the facility, including the locks and the buttresses.

Moscow-installed officials in the part of Kherson region still occupied by Russian forces accused Kyiv of striking the dam with missiles. Other Russian officials in the region, however, suggested the dam had burst on its own due to earlier damage.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of sabotage and warned of very severe consequences for residents. He also insinuated that Ukraine breached the dam in order to cover a lack of battlefield progress: its withering away.

How Bad Is The Flooding?

Bad.

Ukrainian emergency officials were evacuating thousands of people from districts on the river's west bank, where the river waters rose throughout the day. Video shot by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service and other footage circulating on Telegram and social media showed entire villages inundated.

The city of Nova Kakhokva, which had a preinvasion population of 70,000, was partly underwater particularly in neighborhoods closest to the river.

City officials said animals at the city zoo were likely all dead.

About 70 kilometers downriver is Kherson city, the administrative center of the region, and by the afternoon of June 6, nearly 12 hours after the dam was reportedly breached, waters were already flowing into some low-lying districts, particularly those in the marshy delta further down river.

Flood waters were seen rushing over the debris and wrecked pylons of the Antonivskiy Bridge, a major river crossing that had been rendered all but impassable due to repeated shelling by Ukrainian and Russian forces.

"Evacuation has started. I ask you to do everything you can to save your life. Leave the dangerous areas immediately, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson regional military administration, said in a video.

Last October, the Swedish hydrological engineering company Damningsverket was commissioned to come up with a theoretical model based on what might happen if the Kakhovka dam was breached. It found that the swollen waters would reach not only the river mouth, but also push water up the Pivdenniy Buh River, to Mykolayiv, an important Ukrainian river port.

Worst-case modeling, the prediction read, found that a 4-to-5-meter wave would hit the Antonivskiy Bridge east of Kherson city about 19 hours later, there would be a back swell flooding up the Inhulets River, and after four or five days there would be some flooding up the [Pivdenniy Buh] River to Mykolayiv.

In Mykolayiv, an emergency train was dispatched midday on June 6 to the southeast to help evacuate people fleeing the rising waters in Kherson. The citys mayor, Oleksandr Syenkevych, said there was no flooding as of midafternoon.

After the reports of the dam breach, Damningsverket CEO Henrik Oelander-Hjalmarsson said that water levels in the reservoir above the dam were at a 30-year high, most likely because the flood gates had not been left open during the conflict and during this springs melt.

Its a massive disaster and Im deeply saddened the Russians have done this, he told NBC News.

It Gets Worse

The reservoir formed by the dam stretches upriver, about 100 kilometers to the north, before widening into the Kakhovka Reservoir.

The reservoir is the main source of coolant for Europes largest nuclear power facility, the six-reactor Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, in the city of Enerhodar. The facility has been under Russian control since March 2022. Ukrainian engineers and operators have been working under Russian oversight since then.

The reactors have been shut down, not generating electricity, since September, after months of increasing alarm that fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces could lead to a catastrophic meltdown.

Still, the dam breach endangers the plant because of dropping reservoir levels, which would harm the pools that cool radioactive fuel cores. The waters can be circulated, re-used, but if levels drop too much, the pools water temperature could climb. If they were to boil, or evaporate, the fuel cores would melt or explode.

By early afternoon on June 6, officials in the city of Nikopol, which is located to the north of the power plant, across the reservoir, said water levels had already dropped by 1.5 meters.

Enerhoatom, the Ukrainian state company that oversees the Zaporizhzhya plant, said as of mid-afternoon June 6 that the dropping water levels were so far not affecting the cooling pools.

"And even if there is no water in the Kakhovka Reservoir at all, the [facility] has measures to replenish, one of which is the use of underground well water" on the site, CEO Petro Kotin said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said that it was monitoring the situation at the plant closely. There was no immediate nuclear safety risk at plant, the agency said in a post to Twitter.

The bigger question will come into the later summer and fall, when overall river levels will naturally drop, and Ukrainian officials will have to compensate in part with releases of more water further upriver.

What About Crimea?

Dropping water levels upriver from the Kakhovka dam also endanger something else: Crimea.

The Black Sea peninsula, which has been under Russian control since March 2014, is hot and arid, and its indigenous water supplies are limited to ground water from rains. For that reason, Soviet authorities built the 402-kilometer canal in the early 1960s, beginning at the city of Tavriisk, along with branches into mainland agricultural area.

With changing climate making Crimeas weather hotter, and rains more sporadic, the North Crimea Canal took on outsized importance.

After Russias annexation of the peninsula, Ukrainian officials dammed the canal, drastically throttling back supplies, leading to shortages in the region. Invading Russian troops then took control of the canal and restarted water flows.

In a statement on Telegram in the morning of June 6, Crimeas Russian-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov, said that the region had adequate reserves in its reservoirs  about 80 percent, he said -- but cautioned that water levels could drop, particularly as the region enters the hot summer season.

For agricultural regions under Russian control -- parts of the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions -- a lack of irrigation from a depleted Dnieper could also be disastrous.

Cui Bono: Who Benefits?

The destruction already under way downriver from the dam appears to be mainly hitting Ukrainian controlled districts, on the Dniepers west bank, though some settlements on the east bank, including the city of Nova Kakhovka are also affected.

That, plus the fact that the facility has been under Russian control for more than a year, has led many observers to lay the blame squarely on Russian authorities.

Add to that the looming Ukrainian counteroffensive, which is expected to occur in several locations along the nearly 1,000-kilometer front line that stretches roughly from the mouth of the Dnieper to the Russian border, northeast of the city of Kharkiv.

In recent months, Ukrainian commandos and sabotage units have been reported in a handful of locations and islands on the Russian-held east bank of the Dnieper. A flooded coastline would make the already difficult crossing even more problematic and provide Russian forces with yet another layer of defense.

The flooding and evacuations will also divert attention and resources from Ukrainian authorities who would otherwise be supporting the counteroffensive.

They decided that now, in this way, they will be able to stop the counteroffensive of Ukrainian forces, Natalya Humenyuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraines southern military command, told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service.

Also, theres precedent.

In 1941, with Nazi German troops pushing hard through Soviet-era Ukraine, Josef Stalin ordered the destruction of a dam in the city of Zaporizhzhya, about a two-hour drive northeast of Enerhodar, to slow the Nazi advance. The breach swamped villages along Dnieper banks, killing thousands of civilians.

Overall, however, the destruction of the dam will have long-term ripple effects in how Ukraine stores and distributes water, not only for electricity generation but also agriculture, said Mykhaylo Yatsyuk, the director of the Institute of Water Problems and Reclamation of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences.

"Its necessary to understand that two-thirds of Ukraine's economy is tied to the cascades of the Dnieper reservoirs, he told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the breach of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine as "an environmental bomb of mass destruction" as a Ukrainian official and the United Nations warned that it could spark an environmental disaster.



The breach of the Russian-held Soviet-era dam in the early hours of June 6 unleashed a torrent of water that flooded villages and sparked the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.



"Such deliberate destruction by the Russian occupiers and other structures of the hydroelectric power station is an environmental bomb of mass destruction," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Zelenskiy said Russia deliberately carried out the attack on the dam but said it will have no effect on Ukraine's ability to recapture its own territory.



The UNs humanitarian agency said it was gravely concerned about the destruction "and the severe humanitarian impact on hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the front line."



Authorities said people had been evacuated from areas threatened by massive flooding downstream in the Kherson region as water levels rose by up to 12 meters in some areas, and Russian authorities in occupied southern Ukraine declared a state of emergency. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

"The Kakhovska [dam project] has actually been destroyed, it's hard for me to imagine whether it will be possible to do something with it once the war has ended. The destruction is of such a scale that a lot of water will come out and there will be flooding, especially in the old part of the city," said Nova Kakhovka Mayor Volodymyr Kovalenko.

Oleksiy Kuleba, deputy head of Ukraines presidential office, said the destruction of the dam will cause a large ecological problem, noting that more than 400 tons of lubricating oil had been stored in tanks at the Kakhovka hydro power plant.



"We cannot be sure yet what amount has already ended up in the Dnieper River, but it will be a huge problem and an ecological disaster," Kuleba told RFE/RL.



"We are also anticipating that water level in the Kakhovka basin will drop dramatically and this will lead to a complete change of the ecological environment of the Kherson region. It is necessary to get ready for that as well," he said.

SLIDER IMAGE: The Nova Kakhovka Dam Before And After The Explosion

The Nova Kakhovka dam -- which is 30 meters tall and 3.2 kilometers long -- is part a vital route for transport and irrigation, as well as supplying water to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, which are both under Russian control.

"Russian terrorists," Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter, where he posted a video of the broken dam showing the water rapidly flowing through the huge breach.

"The destruction of the [Nova] Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror.... The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles, or anything else," Zelenskiy wrote, adding that all services were working.

Speaking later in a video address to the Bucharest Nine summit being held in Bratislava, Zelenskiy said the Russian claims were impossible given the size of the structure, which Moscow had controlled for more than a year.

"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside -- with shelling. It was mined. It was mined by the Russian occupiers and blown up by them," he said.

Natalya Humenyuk, the spokeswoman for Ukraine's southern military command, said Russia blew up the dam to keep Ukrainian troops from being able to cross the Dnieper as it prepares to go on the counteroffensive to push Russian troops out of the region.



"They were aware that the movement of the [Ukrainian] defense forces would take place and in this way tried to influence the defense forces so that the crossing of the Dnieper, which they feared, would not happen," she told an online briefing, calling it a "hysterical reaction."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labeled the destruction of the dam a "monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe" in a statement but stopped short of blaming Russia directly. Ahead of an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.



Ihor Syrota, the head of Ukrhydroenergo, said in an interview on state television that the hydro power station that formed part of the dam was "completely destroyed."



Syrota told RFE/RL that the rising water is expected to peak early on June 7 and will begin to recede on the third or fourth day.

Russia denied it carried out the attack, with the Kremlin instead calling it "deliberate sabotage" by Kyiv.



The Moscow-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev said Ukrainian strikes on the dam destroyed its valves, and water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream.



Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive.



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant has enough water to cool its reactors for "several months" from a pond located above the reservoir.



"There are a number of alternative sources of water. A main one is the large cooling pond next to the site that by design is kept above the height of the reservoir," IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

"It is therefore vital that this cooling pond remains intact. Nothing must be done to potentially undermine its integrity. I call on all sides to ensure nothing is done to undermine that," Grossi said.



Before it was breached the dam's reservoir provided water used for the cooling of the plants six reactors as well as spent fuel and emergency diesel generators.

International condemnation of the attack was swift, with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg calling it "an outrageous act," while European Council President Charles Michel expressed shock saying Russia should be held accountable for the "war crime" of destroying civilian infrastructure.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also put the blame squarely on Moscow for the destruction of the dam, saying that while it was "too early" to make any kind of meaningful assessment of the details, "it's worth remembering that the only reason this is an issue at all is because of Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pointed the finger for the destruction squarely at Moscow.



"This is of course, by all accounts, an aggression by the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive to defend its own country," Scholz told broadcaster RTL.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also reacted to the destruction of the dam, saying U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed.



Kirby told reporters that the U.S. cannot say conclusively what happened and declined to assess the impact on Ukraines counteroffensive.



He said the U.S. government expects "significant damage" to the people of Ukraine and the region.



"We know there are casualties, including likely many deaths, though these are early reports and we can't quantify them right now," he said, warning that the destruction of the power plant could have a devastating impact on Ukraine's energy security.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
Ukraine has accused Moscow of blowing up a major dam on the Dnieper River in a Russian-occupied area of southern Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam have been ordered to evacuate, with the area threatened by massive flooding. Drone footage shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office on June 6 showed water surging through the remains of the dam.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Iran should not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a briefing, while answering a question about Iran's further steps in regard with its nuclear program, Trend reports.

"It continues to be a first principle for this administration that Iran should not  that Iran not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. We have always believed, we continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to reach that solution, but we have seen no progress in terms of actions from the Iranian Government in the region," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. The largest Swiss bank UBS plans to complete the takeover of Credit Suisse by June 12, Trend reports.

The completion of the transaction will depend on whether the registration statement for the shares is recognized as valid by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to the company. UBS also reserves the right to honor or refuse the remaining undisclosed terms of the deal.

Under the deal, Credit Suisse shareholders will receive one UBS share for every 22.48 shares they own. As a result of the takeover, UBS's balance sheet will increase to $1.6 trillion.

Some countries are already facing a crisis in the banking system. The Swiss National Bank announced on March 19 that UBS would acquire Credit Suisse, which was in financial difficulties due to customer outflows. Also on March 10, the California Department of Financial Protection announced the bankruptcy of Silicon Valley Bank, the sixteenth largest bank in the United States. It was the largest bankruptcy in the US since the 2008 financial crisis.
Associated British Foods Plc (ASBFY.PK,ABF.L) Tuesday said it has agreed to acquire National Milk Records plc or NMR for 215 pence per share in cash. The acquisition values NMR at approximately 48.0 million pounds.

The companies have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition. Under the deal, an indirect agri-food unit, AB Agri Limited, will buy entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of NMR through a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement.

The acquisition represents a premium of approximately 87 percent to the closing price of an NMR Share of 115.0 pence on June 5, being the last practicable date. It also represents a premium of 94.6 percent to the volume weighted average share price of an NMR Share of 110.5 pence for the three month period ended on the last practicable date.

The NMR Directors intend to recommend unanimously that NMR Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.

The acquisition is currently expected to become effective during the third quarter, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions and certain further terms.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A scene from Indlela Yokuphila: The Soul's Journey

Acclaimed South African Theatre Collective, Empatheatre, which was established as part of Dr Dylan McGarrys postdoctoral research, will present its new short film "Indlela Yokuphila: The Soul's Journey" at United Nations World Ocean Week in New York on 07 June 2023.

Empatheatre, a renowned South African theatre collective, is thrilled to announce the screening of their latest collaboratively made short film, "Indlela Yokuphila: The Soul's Journey," at the United Nations World Ocean Week in New York.

The five-minute film, which explores an aspect of intangible ocean heritage, has been in the making for nearly four years and involved the participation of Indigenous knowledge holders from South Africa.

"Indlela Yokuphila: The Soul's Journey" was instrumental in three court proceedings in South Africa, brought successfully by Indigenous fisher leaders and ocean defenders against oil and gas giant Shell and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

These judicial decisions mark the first time that an animation has been used as evidence in a South African court, serving as a proxy for the intangible cultural heritage related to the ocean. The film, along with two other Empatheatre films and a radio play, sheds light on and allows to connect with the intangible ocean heritages in the realms of governance and education.

Empatheatre co-director Mpume Mthombeni, co-writer, researcher and narrator of the film, has been invited to address the United Nations on World Oceans Day on 08 June. Her spotlight address entitled "Storytelling is the sacred medicine ocean governance needs" reflects on the power of public storytelling in creating new ways of making decision-making more inclusive and fair.

The film draws upon Empatheatre's unique co-developed methodology and utilises animation to bring forth Zulu traditional ancestral beliefs and cultural valuations of the ocean. "The largest oversight and gap in ocean governance is how to include spiritual and cultural heritages in decision-making and marine spatial planning," added Dr Dylan McGarry, co-founder of Empatheatre and educational sociologist at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes University.

The film bridges the gap between indigenous and scientific knowledge, enhancing our collective understanding of the water cycle. Visually arresting, the film encapsulates the essence of the sacred knowledge it derives from, thanks to Empatheatre's collaboration animation Studios Shells & Spells, and Triggerfish. Working closely with Indigenous knowledge holders this exceptional team of creatives in South Africa have undergone numerous iterations to ensure a respectful and accurate representation that moves the soul. The film also includes ecological knowledge and imagery, drawing from South African biodiversity science to reflect the changing ecosystems during the souls journey.

The film has been created by Empatheatre in collaboration with Shells and Spells, and funded by the One Ocean Fund, The ELRC, Urban Futures Centre (Durban University of Technology) and Triggerfish.

See teaser of the film here: https://www.empatheatre.com/IndlelaYokuphila

Source: ELRC
Vice Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, flanked by the newly appointed interns. From left to right: Sinalo Kinzela, Lian May, Kaylin Jonas, Professor Mabizela, Pumelela Nako, Siyanda Buthelezi and Lwandle Yawa. Photo cred: Vusumzi Tshekema.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, welcomed 62 graduates to campus last week as they joined the University as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) programme.

The PYEI is a part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme. It is a multi-sector action plan directed at addressing South Africas ongoing youth unemployment challenge. According to Statistics South Africa, of the 1.2 million young people entering the labour market each year, more than 65% remain outside of employment. The PYEI has identified several priority interventions to accelerate youth pathways into the economy over the next five years.

Professor Mabizela said Rhodes University is proud and honoured to be part of this important national initiative to address a real challenge for the youth of our country. The University has planned training activities and programmes which will not only enhance the prospects of employment but also improve the employment readiness of our interns. Each intern has been assigned a mentor who will see to their full development and growth during the period of their internship, said Professor Mabizela.

The Vice-Chancellor said the PYEI can not address the challenges of youth unemployment on its own. He said: The country must unite and address all the economic structural problems that have stifled job creation. We must create meaningful and sustainable job opportunities for our youth. We must address issues of quality of education from early childhood development and education to tertiary education. Our economy is in dire need of young people with artisanal skills. The TVET Colleges must play their rightful role in producing these skills. We must encourage entrepreneurship among the youth so they can create employment opportunities. As a nation, we have a duty to look after our youth. We cannot and dare not let them down. There is no dignity in poverty and unemployment, nor is there any virtue in poverty and unemployment. These lead to social exclusion, disengagement, frustration, hopelessness and despair, explained Professor Mabizela.

One of the interns, 22-year-old Sinokholo Minentle Njombela from Makhanda, who holds a Bachelor of Arts honors in Anthropology from Nelson Mandela University, said: I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity because it will prepare me for the workplace. I feel like there is a lot that I am going to learn.

Lian May, a Rhodes University graduate who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political and International Studies and Honors in Politics and Political and International Studies, said when she received the offer, she decided to take a break from her studies as she was busy with Masters. I believe this opportunity is really a step into formal employment and will serve as a guidance and preparation for me for full employment. I am glad I was chosen to be part of this initiative because I know that so many people applied, and I was chosen. I am even happy to be placed in the International Office as it goes hand in hand with my studies, she said.

Twenty-four year old Luchwayito Vena, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Rhodes University, said he was grateful for the opportunity to be prepared for the workplace by his alma mater. I believe that, after my internship, I will be a fully-fledged professional, ready for the workplace, said Vena.

People and Culture (formerly Human Resources) Director, Susan Robertson advised the interns to make the best of their time at Rhodes University. You must always challenge the status quo, keep pushing the boundaries, and see how far you can go. We are not always comfortable with change, but it is inevitable, she said.

The interns have been allocated to 35 Rhodes University departments, comprising 26 support departments and nine academic departments. Of the 62 interns, 41 are female, and 21 are male. Seventy per cent of the interns are Rhodes University graduates. The internship is for six months (from 01 June 2023 to 30 November 2023) and is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training, managed by Universities South Africa, and Rhodes University is the host.

Professor Mabizela thanked all the mentors who have taken it upon themselves to take the interns under their wing and ensure that their internship period is an important opportunity for personal growth and development for interns. Rhodes University is raising its hand to assist in addressing youth unemployment. We want to give our youth a sense of hope for a better tomorrow. We are honoured to be part of this internship initiative, concluded Professor Mabizela.

Source: Division of Communication and Advancement
With Elevate, Honda is betting on compact SUV segment that has shown greater acceptance for new products

Honda unveiled Elevate compact SUV today and it marks the return of the Japanese brand to SUV space after a long absence. It will go on sale in India first, followed by other overseas markets. Honda Elevate will rival bestselling compact SUVs such as Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor and Toyota Hyryder.

The company is betting big on Elevate and the fruits of which are likely to yield much-needed success to Honda. As per design, Honda Elevate is a tasty SUV. Theres a clear focus on refinement and understated sophistication. There is no wild flamboyance here and Honda has kept it pretty vanilla. Bookings will commence next month and deliveries will begin during festive season.

Honda Elevate styling and features

It measures 4312 mm in length, 1790 mm in width, 1650 mm in height and has a 2650 mm long wheelbase. Ground clearance is 220 mm, which is the higher than Renault Captur and Duster AWD (both discontinued). Honda promises high chassis Rigidity to resist flex and deformation. High Rigidity increases side sill rigidity for handling and stability

Speaking of Elevate name, Honda is leaving no stone unturned. Gone are the days of letters (BR-V, WR-V) and in comes a proper word. As seen in the debut, this Elevate name resonates with the design language. Honda is offering an SUV that has significantly more presence. More than the current crop of compact SUVs (excluding Scorpio Classic).

Honda Elevate has sleek headlamps, conventional headlights placement and LED DRLs, a prominent front bumper, skid plates at front and rear, blacked-out pillars, functional ORVMs with integrated turn signals, roof rails, body cladding, blacked-out pillars, shark-fin antenna, rear spoiler, a single pane sunroof and edgy tail lamps.

Tailgate section has an angular profile, which enhances the SUVs street presence. Inside, Honda Elevate has features such as a large 10.25 touchscreen infotainment system, 7 digital instrument console, support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, ventilated seats, premium fabric upholstery, ambient lighting, automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob and steering mounted controls.

Honda Elevate performance

Range of telematics solutions branded Honda Connect, is on board too. Elevate is underpinned by the same platform as 5th-gen Honda City sedan. Honda Elevate compact SUV will borrow the new twin-cam 1.5-litre petrol motor. It churns out 121 PS of max power and 145 Nm of peak torque. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and CVT gearbox.

Hondas camera-based Sensing ADAS suite makes it to Elevate as well. These include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Auto High-Beam, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lead Car Departure Notification and more. Most of the safety features are on board too. These include LaneWatch, Rear Seat Reminder, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal and more.

Elevate achieved UNR127 Pedestrian Protection Test. Honda promises good leg and head impact performance too with its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body shell. Optimized frame part placement helps disperse front collision forces over a wider area. Other notable features include Smartwatch integration with Wear OS by Google, unauthorized access alert, High Speed Alert, Auto Crush Notification, car status, remote operations, share car location, Tyre Deflation Alert, Find My Car and more.

The company expressed ambitions of turning India into a global market for car manufacturing. Honda already has strong hybrid tech, but it wont be available with Elevate at the time of launch. It will be considered at a later date based on market feedback. At the global debut, Honda didnt reveal any plans for diesel powertrains. But, expressed ambitions for 5 SUVs by 2030, including Elevate and turn fully electric by 2040, including an Electrified Elevate as well.
This owner modified his Maruti Suzuki Fronx wrapped in Black and installed 17 alloy wheels wrapped with 225-section tyres

Fronx is one of Maruti Suzukis newest offerings. This sub 4m compact crossover coupe SUV is a handsome machine. Dare we say, it is the best-looking Maruti Suzuki to date and the only one that I would put my money on. That said, there is always room for more handsomeness. So, owners resort to modding their vehicles to suit their taste.

One such Fronx owner from Chandigarh has modified his brand-new vehicle to suit his taste. He got it wrapped in a gloss Black vinyl and installed bigger wheels wrapped with fatter rubber than what company provides from the factory. All modifications are on a top-spec Alpha trim. The Car Show YouTube channel has covered it. Lets take a look.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx Wrapped In Black

If you check Maruti Suzukis catalogue, there is a Bluish Black shade on offer. But nothing beats the charm of a pitch Black car, does it? This owner felt the same way and got his Fronx in a Black shade. Even though it is just a wrap and not a permanent paint, change of colour in RTO is still mandatory.

For starters, it looks better than any of the shades Maruti currently offers. These are Earthern Brown, Opulent Red, Bluish Black, Arctic White, Nexa Blue, Grandeur Grey and Splendid Silver monotone colours. Bluish Black dual tone roof is on offer with Earthern Brown, Opulent Red and Splendid Silver.

On the outside, all sheet metal body panels now get a wrap of gloss Black. Fronxs chrome beltline, chrome grille garnish and chrome Suzuki logo are now matte Black. Even the front and rear faux skid plates along with its faux roof rails, and body cladding are now gloss BlackBlack as opposed to silver shade before. This lends an all-lack look, which lends a distinctive look.

Wheels are now aftermarket 17 ones that take the shape of a polygon star. These alloy wheels look like they have a positive offset as they dont jut out of the wheel wells despite having 225-section tyres. These tyres look proportionate on Fronx as opposed to 195-section stock tyres. Stock 16 alloys are perfectly fine, but Maruti should have offered at-least 215-section.

Interiors are completely stock

This modified Fronx features red front brake calipers and rear drum. Maruti Should have offered rear disc brakes like Baleno RS. This Maruti Suzuki Fronx wrapped in Black, is completely stock on the inside. The same Burgundy interior trim along with all the goodies that came from the factory.

These include cruise control, automatic climate control, a HUD, a large 9 touchscreen system, 360-degree camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, UV-cut glass, rear AC vents, all LED lighting package including reverse lights. Top-spec Alpha trim gets a sole 1.0L turbo petrol powertrain with either a 5MT or 6TC gearbox options.

This engine is capable of 100 PS of power and 147.6 Nm of torque. The company promises 21.5 km/l fuel efficiency. Prices lie between Rs. 7.46 lakh and Rs. 13.13 lakh (ex-sh).
Nissan Magnite 100k production Milestone at Alliance Plant in Chennai, India  1 Lakh Reasons to Fall in Love

Todays announcement marks a significant milestone with the production of 1,00,000 units of the popular Nissan Magnite at its Alliance plant, RNAIPL, located in Chennai, India. This achievement reflects Nissans unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality products and services to its customers worldwide.

Designed in Japan and manufactured in India, the Nissan Magnite showcases the seamless collaboration between the two countries. It is a testament to the fusion of Japanese design expertise and Indian manufacturing prowess. This global crossover is gaining popularity for its sleek design, advanced features, and exceptional performance. And has in a few short years darted towards the Nissan Magnite 100k production milestone.

Global Reach: Expanding Boundaries and Driving Success with Safety and Quality

The Nissan Magnite has gained a remarkable presence in the international market, with exports to 15 global markets, including Seychelles, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Brunei.

Safety is a paramount concern for Nissan, and the Magnite has received recognition for its exceptional safety features. The vehicle has been awarded the prestigious GNCAP 4.0 safety rating, affirming its ability to provide a secure driving experience for occupants. Nissans dedication to prioritizing safety in their vehicles is evident in the advanced safety features that come as standard in the Magnite.

Magnite GEZA Special Edition: Unveiling a New Sensory Experience

To celebrate the remarkable production milestone, Nissan has unveiled the Magnite GEZA Special Edition. This limited edition variant draws inspiration from Japanese theatre and expressive musical themes, resulting in a captivating and striking interior upgrade. GEZA Special Edition also features advanced infotainment systems, providing an enhanced sensory experience for drivers and passengers alike.

As the Magnite continues to make its mark on the automotive industry, it solidifies Nissans position as a brand synonymous with quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Value-focused Transition to BS6 Stage 2 Norms: Commitment to a Cleaner Future

In line with environmental regulations, the Nissan Magnite complies with the BS6 Stage 2 RDE norms. This transition ensures reduced emissions and a more eco-friendly driving experience. In addition to its environmental benefits, the Magnite is equipped with essential safety features as standard, further enhancing its appeal and providing peace of mind to customers.

Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, The Big, Bold, Beautiful Nissan Magnite has been a game-changer in the Indian market. The production of the 100,000th Magnite is testimony of Nissans brand promise of providing its customers products that are high on value, safety and strong customer service making it a global product. At Nissan, we are not just building cars  we are building the future of mobility led by product innovation, technological distinction, and customer satisfaction.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 6. Turkiye wants to become one of the ten strongest economies in the world, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the first meeting of the new government, Trend reports.

"We will continue to work for the benefit of Turkiye. We are developing and at the same time are committed to our roots," he said.

The first meeting of the new government of Turkiye took place today.
The patriarch of the family that operates the Del Mar gun show said Wednesday he has avoided legal conflicts over his past felony firearms conviction by ceding responsibility for the event to his daughter, Tracy Olcott.

Its something that happened almost 40 years ago, said Bob Templeton, 79, president of Crossroads of the West Gun Shows. I have never signed the contracts because of my prior conviction.

Templeton was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1980 on 16 counts of unlawful sales of firearms, making a false statement and aiding and abetting, according to a 1994 article in the Deseret News. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully selling a .38 special caliber revolver out of state. The other counts were dropped.

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Questions about Templetons background arose this week at the monthly board meeting of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which runs the state-owned fairgrounds.

Despite Templetons ready acknowledgement of the conviction, it was news to the Del Mar fair board.

The board members were completely taken by surprise, fair board President Stephen Shewmaker said Wednesday.

The board learned of the past conviction in a letter from Del Mar resident Ira Sharp, Shewmaker said. Sharp and his wife, Rose Ann, are active in the NeverAgainCA group working to stop gun violence. The group has picketed outside the last two gun shows, and has asked city councils across the county to support a ban on the shows.

I said, we need to investigate this, Shewmaker said of the allegations. Theres a whole lot we want to know about that situation.

As a result, Del Mar Fairgrounds CEO Tim Fennell sent a letter Monday to the state Department of Justice in Sacramento requesting an investigation of whether the gun show should have been granted the certificate of eligibility license required to operate the show.

The certificate verifies that the Department of Justice has checked its records and determined that the applicant is not prohibited from acquiring or possessing firearms, according to the DOJ website. It is required of all prospective licensed firearms dealers.

Its unclear whether as president of the company Templetons felony firearms convictionmight prevent another officer of the company from holding the certificate, signing contracts and overseeing the gun shows.

The Department of Justice did not respond to call and emails seeking comment on the matter.

Crossroads has five gun shows annually at Del Mar, and a total of more than 60 shows each year across Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. The largest California show is in Costa Mesa, and the largest of them all is in Phoenix.

The Crossroads shows generate about $500,000 in annual gross revenue and between $350,000 and $400,000 in net revenue for the Del Mar Fairgrounds, said public information officer Annie Pierce. The income includes proceeds from parking fees, food and beverage sales, and space rentals.

Of about 300 events held annually at the fairgrounds, the gun shows are in the top 20 percent for revenue, she said. The biggest single event is the month-long San Diego County Fair that begins June 1.

One of Templetons sons, Jeff Templeton, has not been involved with the familys gun shows since about 2004 because of his criminal convictions, the family said Wednesday.

Jeff Templeton, 51, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2002 for possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of or person addicted to controlled substances, court records show. He was placed on probation in 2003, but violated the terms in 2004, when he admitted testing positive from marijuana, hydrocodone and cocaine.

The son served six months in federal custody in 2005, but has admitted to at least two other weapons and drugs violations, and served additional time in custody, records show.

Another son, Robert J. Templeton, has no convictions and has helped organize the shows for years, primarily the ones in Ventura and at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, the family said.

Its all operated now by my two kids (Robert J. Templeton and Tracy Olcott) said the father, Robert R. (Bob) Templeton.

He continues to serve in what is largely an advisory role and as a media representative for the company, he said.

The only time his conviction has turned up previously was in 1994, the senior Templeton said. The Utah governor had appointed him to a task force looking at gun-control measures, and he resigned whien his firearms conviction came to light.

Templeton started the Crossroads business in 1975 with his wife, Lynn. They formed a family corporation, B&L Productions (for Bob and Lynn) in 1989 to operate the business. The Better Business Bureau lists the B&L officers as Bob Templeton, president; Tracy Olcott, vice president; Lynn Templeton, treasurer; and Rob Templeton, office manager.

All of the contracts and the certificate of eligibility are in my name and have been for at least 15 years, Olcott, the daughter, said Wednesday.

Shes attended every gun show at Del Mar since about 2001 and most of the Crossroads shows in Southern California for the past 20 years, she said.

Its not surprising to see the shows attracting new attention after the surprising increase this year in school shootings across the nation, she said. However, like other firearms enthusiasts, she said the gun-show opponents are misdirecting their efforts.

We are all against gun violence, Olcott said. We support responsible gun ownership  We want to make sure everything is done in compliance with the law.

The fair board decided at its April meeting to place the gun show contract on its agenda in September. Hundreds of people attended the April meeting to address the board on the subject, taking up hours of the boards public comment session. More than 70 percent of the speakers were in favor of the show. However, like at Tuesdays meeting, the matter was not on the agenda so the board could not respond to the comments.

The city councils of Del Mar, Solana Beach and Encinitas have all voted to ask the fair board to end the gun shows.

The board is very sensitive to whats going on in the community, Shewmaker said. We feel bad that because its not on the agenda, that we have to just sit there and listen. But we have a process we have to follow.

The board normally meets once a month, but Shewmaker said he may call a special separate meeting in September to discuss the gun show contract.

In the past, the gun show contracts have been renewed annually, and approved by the fairgrounds CEO without additional review by the board.

However, Shewmaker said, the board adopted a new policy in March requiring any potentially controversial contract to be reviewed by the board. That change came as the result of a proposed cannabis festival, which was initially approved for the fairgrounds and later overturned by the board.

The board also may consider other changes for the gun show, such as age limits for admission, he said.

Minors are admitted to the show when accompanied by an adult, and children 12 and younger are allowed in free with a parent or guardian.

Age restrictions would do more harm than good, Orcott said Wednesday.

Weve always run it as a family event, she said. Its an opportunity for kids to be educated with a supervising adult.

Children only become more curious about things that are withheld from them, and that makes guns more dangerous, she said.

Demonstrators have picketed outside gun shows across the country in recent months, including the Cow Palace show in April.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, recently proposed legislation that would ban the sales of guns or ammunition at the Cow Palace, beginning in 2020.

State Assembly members Todd Gloria and Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, both San Diego Democrats, introduced legislation in March to strengthen California gun laws.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
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Like family birthdays, watch industry anniversaries are a good time to rediscover forgotten anecdotes. The 60th anniversary of the TAG Heuer Carrera is no exception. Sixty years is both very young in watchmaking and very old in the world of chronographs.

The models born during this period are iconic in at least three ways. First, because they testify to a technical and societal turning point, at which the chronograph is deserting its primary (and often professional) function and finding its place on the wrist of fine watch lovers  whether or not they are professional drivers. Secondly, because the chronographs born in the 1960s have experienced a revolution: the transition from hand-wound to automatic-winding chronograph. And thirdly, because they are timepieces based on chronometry (precision timing), an art that was swept away in the 1970s and 80s by quartz movements that were as affordable as they were accurate

Carrera Chronograph  TAG Heuer

The TAG Heuer Carrera has survived all of this along with many other events  including the transformation of the Heuer company into TAG Heuer, and the arrival of younger siblings that have inevitably shaken things up somewhat, including the TAG Heuer Monaco. In the end, across its 60 years of existence, the timepiece has experienced only a brief 12-year hiatus between 1984 and 1996.

The TAG Heuer Carrera is a well-born and well-named watch. The Carrera Panamericana race that inspired its moniker would have been all but forgotten  as only five editions were held  if TAG Heuers creation did not bear its name! It is also a model that was remarkably worn back in the day by Jack Heuer himself, who understood the power of what we now call marketing and ambassadors. He gave one to every new driver of the Ferrari racing team  that Heuer partnered from 1971 onwards including Niki Lauda and Jo Siffert. To flatter their egos, he made them wear the solid gold 1158 version originally designed to celebrate the companys listing on the Swiss stock exchange. Mick Jagger also owned a Carrera, Reference 1153.

Carrera Chronograph  TAG Heuer

Well designed right from the start

Fame is not enough if a product is not well designed from the start, as is undeniably the case with the TAG Heuer Carrera. As early as 1963, its acrylic glass was fitted with a tension ring that freed up space on the dial. The 1/5th scale was placed on the flange, outside the hour-markers, resulting in a model with cleaner lines and more legible displays.

Similarly, the first models were of the panda variety (with black counters on a white background) or else reverse panda: everything was designed for legibility. Efficiency followed closely, with the 1969 introduction of the first automatic chronograph movement. The very first batch of this Reference 1153 bore the mention Chronomatic that was short-lived as consumers did not understand its meaning. It was therefore replaced by the more explicit Automatic Chronograph appearing on the lower half of the dial.

It would however be unfair to reduce the TAG Heuer Carrera to its early glory years. The timepiece has also often served as a technological platform on which TAG Heuer has shaped the future. Prime examples include the Carrera equipped with Calibre 1887 in 2010 and which gave rise to the Calibre Heuer 01 Manufacture in 2015; the Carrera Pendulum Concept (also in 2010 and featuring magnets used to regulate its movement); the Carrera Tete de Vipere Tourbillon Chronometer Chronograph in 2018; and the Carrera Heuer 02T Nanograph with carbon balance spring in 2019.

Carrera Date  TAG Heuer

2023 vintage

In January, TAG Heuer kicked off the 60th anniversary festivities with a first (600-piece) limited edition, a reinterpretation of a highly prized panda reference from the late 1960s (ref. 2447 SN), powered by a hand-wound Valjoux movement. TAG Heuer is now announcing three sets of new models honoring this renowned representative of fine Swiss Made mechanics. The first, simply named TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, comes in a modest 39mm diameter reflecting its historical nature as well as providing a contemporary unisex size.

Its steel case is topped by a domed sapphire crystal known as a glassbox, which evokes the geometry of 1970s hesalite glass. Todays sapphire crystal is based on the principle of harmonious and non-distorting curvature of the glass and case. The inner bezel ring and hour-markers are likewise curved. In keeping with Jack Heuers original intent, this development is more than merely aesthetic, as it also means the tachymeter scale can be read from a wider range of angles. The pushers have also been redesigned to provide more accurate control of the chronograph.

Carrera Chronograph  TAG Heuer

This reference is available in two variations with a blue dial or a sleeker black and silver-toned reverse panda interpretation. Each is equipped with a new TH20-00 movement, an evolved version of the Calibre Heuer 02, which features a new bidirectional winding system ensuring 80 hours of power reserve. A third version rounds out the trio, housing the new COSC-certified in-house Calibre TH20-09 with tourbillon, visible at 6 oclock inside a case that has been increased to 42mm for the occasion.

At the same time, two new, more colorful and dynamic references are being introduced, both in 42mm steel cases. Their distinctive feature lies in their blue or black dial, adorned with an orange-gradient rim and recalling the speedometers of classic racing cars. Their racing spirit is driven by in-house Calibre Heuer 02.

Finally, the 36mm TAG Heuer Carrera Date is now available with a choice of four colorful dials: blue, opaline, fuchsia and green. A cheeky and dynamic date-display model which has switched for the occasion from Calibre 5 to Calibre 7, thus moving from a 38-hour to 56-hour power reserve.

As a WorldTempus reader, we are delighted to offer you the latest digital version of this GMT magazine that you can download here.
Since the 1960s, Medicare has paid for a substantial portion of medical residency programs. But in 1996, it limited the number of residents that would be funded to that years total, preventing any significant expansion of training programs since that time.

Today, there are 110,000 doctors in residency training programs nationwide.

About $12 billion a year is spent on training, with Medicare covering about $3 billion in direct costs. Other funds comes from clinical revenues, grants and other support.

As Medicare and Medicaid payments continue to fall below the actual cost of providing care, that clinical revenue stream, we think, will get tighter and tighter, making it harder for teaching hospitals to pay for more trainees,said Dr. Atul Grover, chief advocacy officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Federal funding works this way:

The Direct Graduate Medical Education program uses a funding formula based on expenses, number of Medicare patients at a training hospital and number of resident trainees, all based on 1996 caps.

The Indirect Medical Education provides money to teaching hospitals in recognition of the higher costs involved in training doctors. The formula calculates the number of residents using 1996 caps, multiplied by per-resident funding set by Congress that has fluctuated over time. Medicare pays $6.5 billion a year through this program.

Pediatric residencies at childrens hospitals get funding from the Childrens Hospital Graduate Medical Training Program. The $300 million program was cut by $48 million this fiscal year as part of deficit reduction, Grover said.
Donald Trump will address his supporters Saturday for the first time since his indictment on multiple federal charges shot the 2024 presidential election race into uncharted and potentially deeply destabilizing territory.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have captured stunning images of the face-on barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068.

NGC 5068 is located approximately around 22 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.

The galaxy was first discovered on March 10, 1785 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel.

Otherwise known as ESO 576-29, LEDA 46400 and UGCA 345, it has a diameter over 45,000 light-years.

This image of the central, bright star-forming regions of the galaxy is part of a campaign to create an astronomical treasure trove, a repository of observations of star formation in nearby galaxies, Webb astronomers said.

These observations are particularly valuable to us for two reasons.

The first is because star formation underpins so many fields in astronomy, from the physics of the tenuous plasma that lies between stars to the evolution of entire galaxies.

By observing the formation of stars in nearby galaxies, we hope to kick-start major scientific advances with some of the first available data from Webb.

The second reason is that Webbs observations build on other studies using telescopes including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories.

The astronomers used Webbs Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) to observe NGC 5068 and 18 other nearby star-forming galaxies.

They also analyzed Hubble images of 10,000 star clusters, spectroscopic mapping of 20,000 star-forming emission nebulae from ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT), and observations of 12,000 dark, dense molecular clouds identified by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).

With its ability to peer through the gas and dust enshrouding newborn stars, Webb is particularly well-suited to explore the processes governing star formation, they explained.

Stars and planetary systems are born amongst swirling clouds of gas and dust that are opaque to visible-light observatories like Hubble or VLT.

The keen vision at infrared wavelengths of two of Webbs instruments allowed us to see right through the gargantuan clouds of dust in NGC 5068 and capture the processes of star formation as they happened.
Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN climate change high level champion for Egypt, said the second edition of the Africa Regional Forum on Climate Finance would discuss ways to finance and implement a number of climate projects in African countries.

Mohieldin, will participate in the second Africa Regional Forum on Climate Finance in Kenya in September

The UN climate champion made his remarks ahead of the forums preparatory meeting, which will be held on Monday in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire on the sidelines of the African CEO Meeting.

According to Mohieldin, who is also the UN special envoy on financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the forums projects aim to achieve climate goals and sustainable development.

Earlier, Mohieldin stated that the five regional roundtables aim to close 10-15 deals across five regions in preparation for COP28, which is set to be held in the UAE in November and December. He added that they are currently engaging with project proponents, to help them meet the needs of financiers, and with financiers to encourage them to review the opportunities

The forum is one of the five major events of the second edition of the Five Regional Forums Initiative, which is being organized by Egypt and UAE  respectively presidents of COP27 and COP28  in cooperation with UN Regional Economic Commissions and UN High-Level Climate Champions (HLCs).

The list of projects includes:

- An electric transportation project implemented by Oanda Clean Energy Ltd in Nigeria, which aims to bring electric buses to Nigeria and establish electric charging stations and necessary infrastructure. The cost of the project is about $196 million with revenues during the first five years of operation expected to reach about $1.7 billion. Moreover, the project is supposed to create about 5,000 jobs a year during this period.

- A carbon credit project implemented by Imperative Global and iRise, which aims to restore about 40,000 hectares of indigenous forests in Malawi and providing improved cookstoves for about 486,000 households. The evaluated cost of the project is about $180 million.

- A waste-to-power plant project in Nigeria implemented by Phoenix Edison at a cost of $116 million. The project aims to exploit 270,000 tons of solid waste per year for power generation, which will contribute to reducing harmful emissions by 60,000 tons per year and provide hundreds of jobs.

- A project implemented by Ampersand to bring electric two-wheeled vehicles to the street in Rwanda and Kenya along with electric charging stations and necessary infrastructure. The aim of the project is to reduce harmful emissions by about 1.7 million tons until 2030 and improve air quality in rural areas of East Africa. The estimated cost of the project is about $100 million.

- A $90 million worth project implemented by Ziz Energie in Chad to deploy solar receiving units and generate electricity in a large number of urban and rural areas. The project aims to deliver electricity to around one million people and reduce carbon emissions by 26,000 tons by 2030.

- A $3 million worth project implemented by Safi Organics in Kenya to benefit from the local resources of cities and villages in producing fertilizers through small manufacturing plants. The project is expected to benefit around three million farmers until 2030 and reduce at least five million tons of harmful emissions annually.

First edition of five regional roundtables

In July 2022, Egypt, as the President of COP27, unveiled an initiative to host five regional roundtables to catalyze investments in various climate sectors.

These roundtables were organized by Egypt in collaboration with UN regional committees and UN HLCs.

The inaugural and second roundtables were held in Addis Ababa and Bangkok in August, followed by the third and fourth roundtables in Santiago and Beirut in September.

The final roundtable of the first edition took place in Geneva towards the end of the same month.

The Egyptian initiative has put climate projects, investors, companies, international financing entities, development banks and other stakeholders at one table with the aim of actually implementing projects that help achieve climate action goals.

The roundtables addressed investment opportunities in the sectors of food, water, irrigation, increasing agricultural productivity, new and renewable sources of energy and its infrastructure.

The initiative resulted in a number of very special and various projects that reflect the regional priorities and represent promising opportunities of investment and financing, according to previous remarks by Mohieldin.

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The newly-identified species belongs to Mixophyes, an Australo-Papuan group of ground-dwelling frogs.

Mixophyes is a genus of large ground-dwelling frogs from eastern Australia and New Guinea.

They are commonly known as barred river frogs or barred frogs due to the distinctive dark cross-bars on their arms and legs, and their association with flowing streams.

At present, Mixophyes comprises seven species from eastern Australia and a single southern New Guinean species, said University of Newcastles Professor Michael Mahony and colleagues.

Several species of Mixophyes occur across well-known biogeographic boundaries in eastern Australia and are therefore candidates to be cryptic species complexes or may show deep phylogeographic divergence as has been demonstrated in other Australian amphibians with similar distributions.

Named Mixophyes australis (common named is the southern stuttering frog), the newly-discovered species is a cousin of the previously known species Mixophyes balbus.

These frogs have a striking resemblance and very similar mating call likened to a stutter. However, genome testing revealed they are two distinct species.

Mixophyes australis grows up to 7.5 cm in length and has large eyes, golden above with a blue crescent.

Its back is a rich coppery-bronze color with darker barring on the legs.

Mixophyes australis is distributed from the Carrai Plateau on the southern side of the Macleay River in New South Wales south to the Cann River catchment in East Gippsland Victoria.

All records were from wet forest habitats in drainages that flow to the east of the Great Dividing Range.

While it is exciting that a new species of frog has been identified, it is challenging to address the conservation of this frog because it has disappearances from over two thirds of its distribution, Professor Mahony said.

By applying the international conservation threat assessment methods, we found that Mixophyes australis warrants listing as Endangered.

The discovery of Mixophyes australis is reported in a paper published this month in the journal Zootaxa.

_____

Michael J. Mahony et al. A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336; doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
Paleontologists have unearthed several complete skeletons of gomphotheres  an extinct relative of elephants  at the Montbrook Fossil Dig in Florida, the United States.

Gomphotheres were a diverse group of extinct elephant-like animals. They were smaller than mammoths  about the same size as modern elephants.

These creatures first evolved in Africa in the early Miocene, roughly 23 million years ago, after which they dispersed into Europe and Asia.

By 16 million years ago, theyd reached North America via the Bering land bridge, and when the Isthmus of Panama rose above the sea 2.7 million years ago, gomphotheres were waiting on the shoreline to cross into South America.

Along the way, they evolved several unique features that allowed them to thrive in the new environments they encountered.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime find, said Dr. Jonathan Bloch, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Dr. Bloch and his colleagues unearthed 5.5-million-year-old gomphothere skeletons  including one adult and at least seven juveniles  at a locality called the Montbrook Fossil Dig.

Its likely the fossils were successively deposited or transported to the area, said Dr. Rachel Narducci, collection manager of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Modern elephants travel in herds and can be very protective of their young, but I dont think this was a situation in which they all died at once.

It seems like members of one or multiple herds got stuck in this one spot at different times.

According to the paleontologists, the Montbrook gomphotheres belong to the genus Rhynchotherium, which was once widespread across North and Central America.

We all generally know what mastodons and woolly mammoths looked like, but gomphotheres arent nearly as easy to categorize, Dr. Narducci said.

They had a variety of body sizes, and the shape of their tusks differed widely between species.

In addition to the usual pair of upper tusks common in proboscideans, some gomphotheres had a second set attached to the lower jaw, which were fashioned by natural selection into increasingly implausible configurations.

Many species had small lower tusks that splayed apart or extended in parallel at the tip of a significantly elongated jaw.

Tusks in the platybelodon gomphotheres were flattened and joined, resembling a massive pair of buck teeth, which they used to scrape bark from trees.

The Montbrook discovery gives new life to Rhynchotherium gomphotheres and provides scientists with the opportunity to learn more about the charismatic fauna that once populated North America.

A fossil site in southern California is the only other place in the U.S. that has produced a large sample of Rhynchotherium juveniles and adults, Dr. Bloch said.

Were already learning so much about the anatomy and biology of this group that we didnt know before, including new facts about the shape of the skull and tusks.
Health professionals are in urgent need of new antibiotics to tackle resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Zurich and the company Spexis have now modified the chemical structure of naturally occurring peptides to develop antimicrobial molecules that bind to novel targets in the bacteria's metabolism.

Each year, more than five million people worldwide die as a result of bacteria that are resistant to most common antibiotics. New antibiotics are urgently needed to ensure that bacterial infections in patients can still be treated successfully. "Unfortunately, the development pipeline for new antibiotics is fairly empty," says chemist Oliver Zerbe, head of the NMR facilities at the University of Zurich. "It's been more than 50 years since the last antibiotics against previously unused target molecules were approved."

In a study recently published in Science Advances, Zerbe now discusses the development of a highly effective class of antibiotics that fight Gram-negative bacteria in a novel way. The WHO classifies this group of bacteria as extremely dangerous. The group, whose resistance is particularly high due to their double cell membrane, includes carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria, for example. Besides the UZH team, researchers from the pharmaceutical company Spexis AG were also involved in the study as part of a collaboration co-funded by Innosuisse.

Natural peptide chemically optimized

The starting point for the researchers' study was a naturally occurring peptide called thanatin, which insects use to fend off infections. Thanatin disrupts an important lipopolysaccharide transport bridge between the outer and inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, as revealed a few years ago in a study by now retired UZH professor John Robinson. As a result, these metabolites build up inside the cells, and the bacteria perish. However, thanatin isn't suitable for use as an antibiotic drug, among other things due to its low effectiveness and because bacteria quickly become resistant to it.

The researchers therefore modified the chemical structure of thanatin to enhance the peptide's characteristics. "To do this, structural analyses were essential," says Zerbe. His team synthetically assembled the various components of the bacterial transport bridge and then used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to visualize where and how thanatin binds to and disrupts the transport bridge. Using this information, researchers from Spexis AG planned the chemical modifications that were necessary to boost the peptide's antibacterial effects. Further mutations were made to increase the molecule's stability, among other things.

Effective, safe and immune to resistance

The synthetic peptides were then tested in mice with bacterial infections -- and yielded outstanding results. "The novel antibiotics proved very effective, especially for treating lung infections," says Zerbe. "They are also highly effective against carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria, where most other antibiotics fail." In addition, the newly developed peptides aren't toxic or harmful to the kidneys, and they also proved stable in the blood over a longer period -- all of which are properties that are required for gaining approval as a drug. However, further preclinical studies are needed before the first tests in humans can begin.

When choosing the most promising peptides for their study, the researchers made sure that they would also be effective against bacteria that have already developed resistance to thanatin. "We're confident this will significantly slow down the development of antibacterial resistance," says Zerbe. "We now have the prospect of a new class of antibiotics becoming available that is also effective against resistant bacteria."
The demand to shrink the size of semiconductors coupled with the problem of the heat generated at the hot spots of the devices not being effectively dispersed has negatively affected the reliability and durability of modern devices. Existing thermal management technologies have not been up to the task. Thus, the discovery of a new way of dispersing heat by using surface waves generated on the thin metal films over the substrate is an important breakthrough.

KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced that Professor Bong Jae Lee's research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering succeeded in measuring a newly observed transference of heat induced by 'surface plasmon polariton' (SPP) in a thin metal film deposited on a substrate for the first time in the world. Surface plasmon polariton (SPP) refers to a surface wave formed on the surface of a metal as a result of strong interaction between the electromagnetic field at the interface between the dielectric and the metal and the free electrons on the metal surface and similar collectively vibrating particles.

The research team utilized surface plasmon polaritons (SPP), which are surface waves generated at the metal-dielectric interface, to improve thermal diffusion in nanoscale thin metal films. Since this new heat transfer mode occurs when a thin film of metal is deposited on a substrate, it is highly usable in the device manufacturing process and has the advantage of being able to be manufactured over a large area. The research team showed that the thermal conductivity increased by about 25% due to surface waves generated over a 100-nm-thick titanium (Ti) film with a radius of about 3 cm.

KAIST Professor Bong Jae Lee, who led the research, said, "The significance of this research is that a new heat transfer mode using surface waves over a thin metal film deposited on a substrate with low processing difficulty was identified for the first time in the world. It can be applied as a nanoscale heat spreader to efficiently dissipate heat near the hot spots for easily overheatable semiconductor devices."

The result has great implications for the development of high-performance semiconductor devices in the future in that it can be applied to rapidly dissipate heat on a nanoscale thin film. In particular, this new heat transfer mode identified by the research team is expected to solve the fundamental problem of thermal management in semiconductor devices as it enables even more effective heat transfer at nanoscale thickness while the thermal conductivity of the thin film usually decreases due to the boundary scattering effect.

This study was published online on April 26 in 'Physical Review Letters' and was selected as an Editors' Suggestion. The research was carried out with support from the Basic Research Laboratory Support Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Among the most fundamental questions in astronomy is: How did the first stars and galaxies form? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is already providing new insights into this question. One of the largest programs in Webb's first year of science is the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey, or JADES, which will devote about 32 days of telescope time to uncover and characterize faint, distant galaxies. While the data is still coming in, JADES already has discovered hundreds of galaxies that existed when the universe was less than 600 million years old. The team also has identified galaxies sparkling with a multitude of young, hot stars.

"With JADES, we want to answer a lot of questions, like: How did the earliest galaxies assemble themselves? How fast did they form stars? Why do some galaxies stop forming stars?" said Marcia Rieke of the University of Arizona in Tucson, co-lead of the JADES program.

Star Factories

Ryan Endsley of the University of Texas at Austin led an investigation into galaxies that existed 500 to 850 million years after the big bang. This was a crucial time known as the Epoch of Reionization. For hundreds of millions of years after the big bang, the universe was filled with a gaseous fog that made it opaque to energetic light. By one billion years after the big bang, the fog had cleared and the universe became transparent, a process known as reionization. Scientists have debated whether active, supermassive black holes or galaxies full of hot, young stars were the primary cause of reionization.

As part of the JADES program, Endsley and his colleagues studied these galaxies with Webb's NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instrument to look for signatures of star formation -- and found them in abundance. "Almost every single galaxy that we are finding shows these unusually strong emission line signatures indicating intense recent star formation. These early galaxies were very good at creating hot, massive stars," said Endsley.

These bright, massive stars pumped out torrents of ultraviolet light, which transformed surrounding gas from opaque to transparent by ionizing the atoms, removing electrons from their nuclei. Since these early galaxies had such a large population of hot, massive stars, they may have been the main driver of the reionization process. The later reuniting of the electrons and nuclei produces the distinctively strong emission lines.

Endsley and his colleagues also found evidence that these young galaxies underwent periods of rapid star formation interspersed with quiet periods where fewer stars formed. These fits and starts may have occurred as galaxies captured clumps of the gaseous raw materials needed to form stars. Alternatively, since massive stars quickly explode, they may have injected energy into the surrounding environment periodically, preventing gas from condensing to form new stars.

The Early Universe Revealed

Another element of the JADES program involves the search for the earliest galaxies that existed when the universe was less than 400 million years old. By studying these galaxies, astronomers can explore how star formation in the early years after the big bang was different from what is seen in current times. The light from faraway galaxies is stretched to longer wavelengths and redder colors by the expansion of the universe -- a phenomenon called redshift. By measuring a galaxy's redshift, astronomers can learn how far away it is and, therefore, when it existed in the early universe. Before Webb, there were only a few dozen galaxies observed above a redshift of 8, when the universe was younger than 650 million years old, but JADES has now uncovered nearly a thousand of these extremely distant galaxies.

The gold standard for determining redshift involves looking at a galaxy's spectrum, which measures its brightness at a myriad of closely spaced wavelengths. But a good approximation can be determined by taking photos of a galaxy using filters that each cover a narrow band of colors to get a handful of brightness measurements. In this way, researchers can determine estimates for the distances of many thousands of galaxies at once.

Kevin Hainline of the University of Arizona in Tucson and his colleagues used Webb's NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument to obtain these measurements, called photometric redshifts, and identified more than 700 candidate galaxies that existed when the universe was between 370 million and 650 million years old. The sheer number of these galaxies was far beyond predictions from observations made before Webb's launch. The observatory's exquisite resolution and sensitivity are allowing astronomers to get a better view of these distant galaxies than ever before.

"Previously, the earliest galaxies we could see just looked like little smudges. And yet those smudges represent millions or even billions of stars at the beginning of the universe," said Hainline. "Now, we can see that some of them are actually extended objects with visible structure. We can see groupings of stars being born only a few hundred million years after the beginning of time."

"We're finding star formation in the early universe is much more complicated than we thought," added Rieke.

These results are being reported at the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Although astrophysicists theoretically should be able to detect gravitational waves from a single, non-binary source, they have yet to uncover these elusive signals. Now researchers suggest looking at a new, unexpected and entirely unexplored place: The turbulent, energetic cocoons of debris that surround dying massive stars.

Now Northwestern University researchers suggest looking at a new, unexpected and entirely unexplored place: The turbulent, energetic cocoons of debris that surround dying massive stars.

For the first time ever, the researchers have used state-of-the-art simulations to show that these cocoons can emit gravitational waves. And, unlike gamma-ray burst jets, cocoons' gravitational waves should be within the frequency band that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) can detect.

"As of today, LIGO has only detected gravitational waves from binary systems, but one day it will detect the first non-binary source of gravitational waves," said Northwestern's Ore Gottlieb, who led the study. "Cocoons are one of the first places we should look to for this type of source."

Gottlieb will present this research during a virtual press briefing at the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society. "Jetted and turbulent stellar deaths: New LIGO-detectable sources of gravitational waves" will take place on Monday, June 5, as a part of a session on "Discoveries in Distant Galaxies."

Gottlieb is a CIERA Fellow at Northwestern's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA). Northwestern co-authors of the study include professors Vicky Kalogera and Alexander Tchekovskoy, postdoctoral associates Sharan Banagiri and Jonatan Jacquemin-Ide and graduate student Nick Kaaz.

New source was 'impossible to ignore'

To conduct the study, Gottlieb and his collaborators used new state-of-the-art simulations to model the collapse of a massive star. When massive stars collapse into black holes, they may create powerful outflows (or jets) of particles traveling close to the speed of light. Gottlieb's simulations modeled this process -- from the time the star collapses into a black hole until the jet escapes.

Initially, he wanted to see whether or not the accretion disk that forms around a black hole could emit detectable gravitational waves. But something unexpected kept emerging from his data.

"When I calculated the gravitational waves from the vicinity of the black hole, I found another source disrupting my calculations -- the cocoon," Gottlieb said. "I tried to ignore it. But I found it was impossible to ignore. Then I realized the cocoon was an interesting gravitational wave source."

As jets collide into collapsing layers of the dying star, a bubble, or a "cocoon," forms around the jet. Cocoons are turbulent places, where hot gases and debris mix randomly and expand in all directions from the jet. As the energetic bubble accelerates from the jet, it perturbs space-time to create a ripple of gravitational waves, Gottlieb explained.

"A jet starts deep inside of a star and then drills its way out to escape," Gottlieb said. "It's like when you drill a hole into a wall. The spinning drill bit hits the wall and debris spills out of the wall. The drill bit gives that material energy. Similarly, the jet punches through the star, causing the star's material to heat up and spill out. This debris forms the hot layers of a cocoon."

Call to action to look at cocoons

If cocoons do generate gravitational waves, then LIGO should be able to detect them in its upcoming runs, Gottlieb said. Researchers have typically searched for single-source gravitational waves from gamma-ray bursts or supernovae, but astrophysicists doubt that LIGO could detect those.

"Both jets and supernovae are very energetic explosions," Gottlieb said. "But we can only detect gravitational waves from higher frequency, asymmetrical explosions. Supernovae are rather spherical and symmetrical, so spherical explosions do not change the balanced mass distribution in the star to emit gravitational waves. Gamma-ray bursts last dozens of seconds, so the frequency is very small -- lower than the frequency band that LIGO is sensitive to."

Instead, Gottlieb asks astrophysicists to redirect their attention to cocoons, which are both asymmetrical and highly energetic.

"Our study is a call to action to the community to look at cocoons as a source of gravitational waves," he said. "We also know cocoons to emit electromagnetic radiation, so they could be multi-messenger events. By studying them, we could learn more about what happens in the innermost part of stars, the properties of jets and their prevalence in stellar explosions."

The study, "Jetted and turbulent stellar deaths: New LVK-detectable gravitational wave sources," was supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Fermi Cycle 14 Guest Investigator program.These advanced simulations were made possible by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory supercomputer Summit and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center's supercomputer Perlmutter through the ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge computational time award.
The story of the peppered moths is a textbook evolutionary tale. As coal smoke darkened tree bark near England's cities during the Industrial Revolution, white-bodied peppered moths became conspicuous targets for predators and their numbers quickly dwindled. Meanwhile, black-bodied moths, which had been rare, thrived and became dominant in their newly darkened environment.

The peppered moths became a classic example of how environmental change drives species evolution. But in recent years, scientists have begun thinking about the inverse process. Might there be a feedback loop in which species evolution drives ecological change? Now, a new study by researchers at the University of Rhode Island shows some of the best evidence yet for that very phenomenon.

In research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers show that an evolutionary change in the length of lizards' legs can have a significant impact on vegetation growth and spider populations on small islands in the Bahamas. This is one of the first times, the researchers say, that such dramatic evolution-to-environment effects have been documented in a natural setting.

"The idea here is that, in addition to the environment shaping the traits of organisms through evolution, those trait changes should feed back and drive changes in predator-prey relationships and other ecological interactions between species," said Jason Kolbe, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island and one of the study's senior authors. "And we really need to understand how those dynamics work so we can make predictions about how populations are going to persist, and what sort of ecological changes might result."

For the last 20 years, Kolbe and his colleagues have been observing the evolutionary dynamics of anole lizard populations on a chain of tiny islands in the Bahamas. The chain is made up of around 40 islands ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred meters in area -- small enough that the researchers can keep close tabs on the lizards living there. And the islands are far enough apart that lizards can't easily hop from one island to another, so distinct populations can be isolated from each other.

Previous research had shown that brown anoles adapt quickly to the characteristics of surrounding vegetation. In habitats where the diameter of brush and tree limbs is smaller, natural selection favors lizards with shorter legs, which enable individuals to move more quickly when escaping predators or chasing a snack. In contrast, lankier lizards tend to fare better where the tree and plant limbs are thicker. Researchers have shown that this limb length trait can evolve quickly in brown anoles -- in just a few generations.

For this new study, Kolbe and his team wanted to see how this evolved limb-length trait might affect the ecosystems on the tiny Bahamian islands. The idea was to separate short- and long-legged lizards on islands of their own, then look for differences in how the lizard populations affect the ecology of their island homes.

Armed with specialized lizard wrangling gear -- poles with tiny lassos made of dental floss at the end -- the team captured hundreds of brown anoles. They then measured the leg length of each lizard, keeping the ones whose limbs were either especially long or especially short and returning the rest to the wild. Once they had distinct populations of short- and long-limbed lizards, they set each population free on islands that previously had no lizards living on them.

Since the experimental islands were mostly covered by smaller diameter vegetation, the researchers expected that the short-legged lizards would be better adapted to that environment, that is, more maneuverable and better able to catch prey in the trees and brush. The question the researchers wanted to answer was whether the ecological effects of those highly effective hunters could be detected.

After eight months, the researchers checked back on the islands to look for ecological differences between islands stocked with the short- and long-legged groups. The differences, it turned out, were substantial. On islands with shorter-legged lizards, populations of web spiders -- a key prey item for brown anoles -- were reduced by 41% compared to islands with lanky lizards. There were significant differences in plant growth as well. Because the short-legged lizards were better at preying on insect herbivores, plants flourished. On islands with short-legged lizards, buttonwood trees had twice as much shoot growth compared to trees on islands with long-legged lizards, the researchers found.

The results, Kolbe says, help to bring the interaction between ecology and evolution full circle.

"These findings help us to close that feedback loop," Kolbe said. "We knew from previous research that ecological factors shape limb length, and now we show the reciprocal relationship of that evolutionary change on the environment."

Understanding the full scope of interactions between evolution and ecology will be helpful in predicting environments outcomes, the researchers say -- particularly as human activities accelerate the pace of both evolutionary and ecological change worldwide.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation (DMS-1716803 and DEB-2012985).
Researchers have detected complex organic molecules in a galaxy more than 12 billion light-years away from Earth -- the most distant galaxy in which these molecules are now known to exist. Thanks to the capabilities of the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope and careful analyses from the research team, a new study lends critical insight into the complex chemical interactions that occur in the first galaxies in the early universe.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign astronomy and physics professor Joaquin Vieira and graduate student Kedar Phadke collaborated with researchers at Texas A&M University and an international team of scientists to differentiate between infrared signals generated by some of the more massive and larger dust grains in the galaxy and those of the newly observed hydrocarbon molecules.

The study findings are published in the journal Nature.

"This project started when I was in graduate school studying hard-to-detect, very distant galaxies obscured by dust," Vieira said. "Dust grains absorb and re-emit about half of the stellar radiation produced in the universe, making infrared light from distant objects extremely faint or undetectable through ground-based telescopes."

In the new study, the JWST received a boost from what the researchers call "nature's magnifying glass" -- a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. "This magnification happens when two galaxies are almost perfectly aligned from the Earth's point of view, and light from the background galaxy is warped and magnified by the foreground galaxy into a ring-like shape, known as an Einstein ring," Vieira said.

The team focused the JWST on SPT0418-47 -- an object discovered using the National Science Foundation's South Pole Telescope and previously identified as a dust-obscured galaxy magnified by a factor of about 30 to 35 by gravitational lensing. SPT0418-47 is 12 billion light-years from Earth, corresponding to a time when the universe was less than 1.5 billion years old, or about 10% of its current age, the researchers said.

"Before having access to the combined power of gravitational lensing and the JWST, we could neither see nor spatially resolve the actual background galaxy through all of the dust," Vieira said.

Spectroscopic data from the JWST suggest that the obscured interstellar gas in SPT0418-47 is enriched in heavy elements, indicating that generations of stars have already lived and died. The specific compound the researchers detected is a type of molecule called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, or PAH. On Earth, these molecules can be found in the exhaust produced by combustion engines or forest fires. Being comprised of carbon chains, these organic molecules are considered the basic building blocks for the earliest forms of life, the researchers said.

"What this research is telling us right now -- and we are still learning -- is that we can see all of the regions where these smaller dust grains are located -- regions that we could never see before the JWST," Phadke said. "The new spectroscopic data lets us observe the galaxy's atomic and molecular composition, providing very important insights into the formation of galaxies, their lifecycle and how they evolve."

"We didn't expect this," Vieira said. "Detecting these complex organic molecules at such a vast distance is game-changing regarding future observations. This work is just the first step, and we're just now learning how to use it and learn its capabilities. We are very excited to see how this plays out."

"It's extremely cool that galaxies I discovered while writing my thesis would one day be observed by the JWST," Vieira said. "I am grateful to the U.S. taxpayers, the NSF and NASA for funding and supporting both the SPT and the JWST. Without these instruments, this discovery could have never been made."

Vieira also is the director of the Center for AstroPhysical Surveys, funded by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at Illinois. Phadke is a CAPS graduate fellow.

The Space Telescope Science Institute operates the JWST under the management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-03127.
The first gene mapping study on eyebrow thickness in Europeans discovered three previously unreported genetic loci, as reported in a Letter to the Editor in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, published by Elsevier. The study conducted by the International Visible Trait Genetics (VisiGen) Consortium demonstrates that eyebrow appearance has partly the same and partly different underlying genes in people from different parts of the world.

The appearance of human eyebrows is not just a matter of grooming but is in the genes. Eyebrow thickness, as any other appearance trait, is highly heritable. Thus far, genetic knowledge on eyebrow thickness has been very limited and solely restricted to non-Europeans. This study is the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) on eyebrow thickness in Europeans. By identifying new genes and rediscovering some of the genes previously identified in non-Europeans, the study expands genetic knowledge on human eyebrow variation, which is of broad interest and has implications for dermatology and other fields.

Previous studies were performed among Latin American and Chinese individuals, establishing four eyebrow thickness -associated genetic loci. Because no European eyebrow thickness GWAS had been reported, researchers did not know whether the genetic eyebrow thickness effects described in non-Europeans persist in Europeans, or whether there are European-specific genetic loci involved in eyebrow thickness, or both.

Lead investigator Prof. Dr. Manfred Kayser, Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, and co-chair of the VisiGen Consortium responsible for this study, commented, "Despite the immense efforts in mapping genes underlying human complex traits, we still know much more about the genes that make us sick than about those behind our healthy looks. For the first time, we performed a gene mapping study on eyebrow thickness variation in Europeans. Previous genetic knowledge on eyebrow thickness was limited and solely restricted to non-Europeans. We discovered new genes involved in eyebrow variation in Europeans and rediscovered some of the genes previously identified in non-Europeans."

The study among 9,948 individuals from four groups of European ancestry not only discovered three previously unreported genetic loci associated with eyebrow thickness, but also rediscovered two of the four genetic loci previously found in non-Europeans. Two other genetic loci previously reported in non-Europeans had minimal effects in Europeans, due to very low allele frequencies in Europeans.

Prof. Dr. Kayser concluded, "Our study significantly improves the genetic knowledge of human eyebrow appearance by increasing the number of known genes from four to seven and delivers new targets for future functional studies. By having demonstrated that eyebrow variation is determined by both shared and distinct genetic factors across continental populations, our findings underline the need for studying populations of different ancestries for unveiling the genetic basis of human traits, including, but not restricted to, physical appearance."
A team led by a University of Texas at Dallas neurodevelopment researcher has uncovered some of the most conclusive evidence yet that parents who talk more to their infants improve their babies' brain development.

The researchers used MRI and audio recordings to demonstrate that caregiver speech is associated with infant brain development in ways that improve long-term language progress. Dr. Meghan Swanson, assistant professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, is corresponding author of the study, which was published online April 11 and in the June print edition of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.

"This paper is a step toward understanding why children who hear more words go on to have better language skills and what process facilitates that mechanism," Swanson said. "Ours is one of two new papers that are the first to show links between caregiver speech and how the brain's white matter develops."

White matter in the brain facilitates communication between various gray matter regions, where information processing takes place in the brain.

The research included 52 infants from the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS), a National Institutes of Health-funded Autism Center of Excellence project involving eight universities in the U.S. and Canada and clinical sites in Seattle, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Home language recordings were collected when children were 9 months old and again six months later, and MRIs were performed at 3 months old and 6 months old, and at ages 1 and 2.

"This timing of home recordings was chosen because it straddles the emergence of words," Swanson said. "We wanted to capture both this prelinguistic, babbling time frame, as well as a point after or near the emergence of talking."

It's long been known that an infant's home environment -- especially the quality of caregiver speech -- directly influences language acquisition, but the mechanisms behind this are unclear. Swanson's team imaged several areas of the brain's white matter, focusing on developing neurological pathways.

"The arcuate fasciculus is the fiber tract that everyone in neurobiology courses learns is essential to producing and understanding language, but that finding is based on adult brains," Swanson said. "In these children, we looked at other potentially meaningful fiber tracts as well, including the uncinate fasciculus, which has been linked to learning and memory."

The researchers used the images to measure fractional anisotropy (FA). This metric for the freedom or restriction of water movement in the brain is used as a proxy for the progress of white matter development.

"As a fiber track matures, water movement becomes more restricted, and the brain's structure becomes more coherent," Swanson said. "Because babies aren't born with highly specialized brains, one might expect that networks that support a given cognitive skill start out more diffuse and then become more specialized."

Swanson's team found that infants who heard more words had lower FA values, indicating that the structure of their white matter was slower to develop. The children went on to have better linguistic performance when they began to talk.

The study's results align with other recent research showing that slower maturation of white matter confers a cognitive advantage.

"As a brain matures, it becomes less plastic -- networks get set in place. But from a neurobiological standpoint, infancy is unlike any other time. An infant brain seems to rely on a prolonged period of plasticity to learn certain skills," Swanson said. "The results show a clear, striking negative association between FA and child vocalization."

Sharnya Govindaraj, co-first author of the paper, a cognition and neuroscience doctoral student and a member of Swanson's Baby Brain Lab, said at first she was surprised by the results.

"We initially didn't know how to interpret these negative associations that seemed very counterintuitive. The whole concept of neuroplasticity and absorbing new knowledge had to fall into place," she said. "Which ability we're looking at also matters a great deal, because something like vision matures much earlier than language."

As the parent of a toddler in a bilingual household, Swanson was curious about how this relationship functions for infants exposed to more than one language.

"Raising a bilingual child, it is remarkable how she is not confused by languages, and she knows who she can use which language with," Swanson said.

Swanson said she also has gained a deeper level of appreciation and gratitude for what she, as a researcher, asks parents in her studies to do.

"When participants sign up, I'm asking them to commit to a year and a half," she said. "Because of the commitment of all the parents in prior studies, I and others have the knowledge that allows us to communicate with our children in a way that supports their development."

Swanson said the take-home message is that parents have the power to help their children develop.

"This work highlights parents as change agents in their children's lives, with the potential to have enormous protective effects," Swanson said. "I hope our work empowers parents with the knowledge and skills to support their children as best they can."

Other authors of the paper associated with UT Dallas are co-first author Katiana Estrada MS'22, now a doctoral student at Purdue University; professor of psychology Dr. Herve Abdi; and Luke Moraglia, a cognition and neuroscience doctoral student.

Additional authors are from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the University of Alberta, and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences in India.

This work was funded in part by a Pathway to Independence Award (K99MH108700, R00MH108700) from the National Institute of Mental Health, a component of the NIH.
Egypts Minister of Defence and Military Production General Mohamed Zaki discussed in a telephone call with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant circumstances surrounding the incident that took place on Saturday on the Egypt-Israel border and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

According to a statement released by the Spokesman of the Egyptian Armed Forces Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib on Saturday evening, General Zaki extended condolences over the victims in the incident from both sides, and the two ministers also discussed joint coordination to take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Earlier on Saturday, Gharib issued a statement saying an Egyptian border security personnel and three Israeli border security personnel were killed and two others injured, amid an exchange of fire as the Egyptian personnel chased drug smugglers across the border in the early hours of Saturday morning.

In this statement, Gharib noted that all procedures to search and secure the area were ongoing and legal procedures regarding the incident were being taken.

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Microscopic algae that corals need for survival harbor a common and possibly disease-causing virus in their genetic material, an international collaboration spearheaded by an Oregon State University researcher has found.

The study, co-led by researchers in the OSU College of Science, sheds new light on the threats faced by coral reefs, particularly as the climate changes.

Findings were published in Communications Biology.

Researchers probed the genomes of corals' resident algae from samples collected during the 2016-18 Tara Pacific Expedition, a 100,000-kilometer scientific voyage that included more than 2,600 dives to study corals.

Corals are made up of interconnected animal hosts called polyps that house microscopic algae inside their cells. The coral-algal symbiosis, or partnership, is the foundation of the entire coral reef ecosystem; the polyps receive food from the algae, and the polyps in turn provide nutrients and protection to the algae.

Coral reefs are found in less than 1% of the ocean but are home to nearly one-quarter of all known marine species. They also help regulate the sea's carbon dioxide levels and are a crucial hunting ground that scientists use in the search for new medicines.

Climate change is threatening the reefs in part because the symbiotic algae, dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, can be stressed by warming oceans to the point of dysbiosis -- a collapse of the host-symbiont partnership, which results in a phenomenon known as coral bleaching.

Likewise, viral infection can threaten these algae and the stability of the symbiosis, said Kalia Bistolas, a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State. Now scientists have one explanation for how these interactions might work.

"We found a very common RNA virus hidden within the genomes of coral symbionts," said Bistolas, who co-led the study with OSU microbiology researcher Rebecca Vega Thurber and Alex Veglia of Rice University.

What they discovered is a non-retroviral dinoflagellate-infecting +ssRNA virus referred to as dinoRNAV. Unlike retroviruses, non-retroviruses typically do not embed in a host's genome.

Nearly all organisms carry remnants of past viral infections within their genomes, Bistolas said. Those remnants, known as endogenous viral elements, are like a historical record of the viruses encountered, and they can be passed from generation to generation.

"They are also like stealthy parasites," she said. "Sometimes, when an organism is stressed, the viral genetic material can jump out of an organism's genome and turn on its host. Finding a widespread RNA virus in an algal coral symbiont illustrates the need to categorize these hidden viruses in threatened ecosystems and also demonstrates one pathway through which changing environmental stressors -- for example, climate change -- could cause disease in corals."

The Tara Ocean Foundation and the National Science Foundation supported this research, which also included scientists from the University of Maine and multiple international universities and laboratories.
SpaceX Dragon is already in space. The cargo capsule is set to dock at the International Space Station early Tuesday morning.

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Docks at International Space Stations

After a two-day weather delay, SpaceX launched its 28th cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA on Monday, June 5. At 11:47 a.m., a robotic Dragon cargo capsule was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the direction of the orbiting lab. EDT (1547 GMT) from the Florida-based NASA Kennedy Space Center, according to Space.com.

Nine minutes later, the first stage of the Falcon 9 returned to Earth and precisely landed on the SpaceX droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was positioned off the coast of Florida. According to a mission description from SpaceX, this specific rocket had successfully launched and landed five times.

About 12 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 upper stage successfully delivered the unmanned Dragon capsule into low Earth orbit.

The spacecraft will travel 18 hours to the International Space Station (ISS) and dock at 5:50 am on Tuesday, June 6. (0950 GMT) EDT. When the time comes, you can witness that encounter online.

About 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of supplies for scientific research and food for the station's personnel are being transported by Dragon. NASA transferred some of the intended cargo for Northrop Grumman's Cygnus ISS resupply vehicle, NG-19, to Dragon to prevent the space station's supply from dropping too low due to the mission's delayed launch.

NASA Making Up For The Delay

Even though today's launch was initially planned for Saturday (June 3), SpaceX announced a 24-hour delay before liftoff, citing the need to "allow more time for vehicle preparations and for weather conditions to improve," according to an update on Twitter. Strong winds in the rocket recovery zone were the reason SpaceX gave on Sunday, June 4, for a further one-day delay.

NASA's ISS Chief Scientist Kirt Costello stated that CRS-28 is making up for the delays we experienced with our NG Cygnus vehicle arriving at Station at a prelaunch news briefing on Tuesday (May 30). To ensure that the crew has enough supplies to last until the end of the year, they send a large amount of extra logistics team supplies.

The scientific investigation carried out by CRS-28 also adds additional experiments to the ISS.

ALSO READ: SpaceX Completes First Wet Dress Rehearsal For Starship, Spacecraft on Track For Orbital Test Flight

In addition to restocking supplies for more than 30 ongoing studies, the scientific research on board CRS-28 adds new experiments to the International Space Station. Some of the brand-new scientific investigations that will be launched on this mission include the CLINGER technology demonstration for autonomous space station docking systems, a study on blue energy thunderstorm discharge, and microgravity-induced DNA mutation of telomeres.

Additionally, the CRS-28 Dragon carries six cubesats, all but one of which are student-run initiatives from the Canadian CubeSat program of the Canadian Space Agency. The Aerospace Corporation provides the sixth in collaboration with the Space Systems Command, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Aerospace Corporation. Its name is Moonlighter, and it will be the foundation for an interplanetary cybersecurity hacking competition.

At the end of its stay at the station, SpaceX's cargo Dragon, built to be reusable, will return research materials from over 34 investigations carried aboard the space station. Like its crewed cousin, the cargo Dragon returns to Earth for parachute-assisted ocean splashdowns.

RELATED ARTICLE: Is the ISS Retiring? NASA Details Plans for Using Privately Developed Space Stations in the Future

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
South Africa: Report shows decline in drinking water quality

The 2023 Blue Drop Watch Report has revealed that there has been a deterioration in drinking water quality since the last blue drop report was done.

This was heard during the release of the Green, Blue and No Drop Watch Reports on Tuesday.

Presenting the 2023 Blue Drop Watch report, Water and Sanitation Director-General, Dr Sean Phillips, noted that in the 2012 Blue Drop Report, only 10% of municipalities had bad or poor microbiological water quality, as opposed to 50% in this sample.

This indicates that there has been a deterioration in drinking water quality since the last report was done, Phillips said.

The Blue Drop Watch Report indicated that the drinking water produced from some municipal water treatment systems during the 2021/22 municipal financial year did not meet the South African National Standard (SANS) 241 standard and could on occasion have posed a potential health risk.

However, the report does not provide an indication of the current status of water quality in municipalities.

Phillips emphasised that in terms of SANS 241 and the norms and standards issued by the department, under the Water Services Act, when tests carried out by a municipality indicate that the water supplied poses a health risk, the municipality must inform its consumers that the quality of the water that it supplies poses a health risk.

He said the department has sent directives to the municipalities identified in the watch report as having systems with poor or bad compliance to inform their residents should they still have poor or bad compliance.

The public can safely consume water from their taps if their municipalities indicate that the water being provided is being tested and meets the requirements of SANS 241.

Water Services Authorities (WSA) are responsible by law to inform affected constituencies as soon as there is any change in quality, Phillips said.

Over 40% non-revenue water

The No Drop Watch Report, which assesses the status of water losses and non-revenue water (NRW) in South Africa, also showed that the total volume of water treated for municipal use is estimated to be approximately 4.3 million cubic metres (m3) per annum.

Of this, the report said, two million m3 per annum (46%) is estimated to be non-revenue water.

This is the volume of water that municipalities are unable to collect revenue for. In 2015 when the last No Drop report was published, the national NRW figure was estimated to be 35%, Phillips said.

The non-revenue water is made up of water losses and the unbilled component of authorised consumption.

Phillips noted that the international average for non-revenue water is below 30%.

The national trends suggest that per capita consumption is approximately 216 litres/capita/day compared to the international average of 173 litres/person/day. This is an anomaly, given that South Africa is a water scarce county, Phillips said.

The No Drop assessment includes the levels of physical water losses in the system, including leaks in pipes; levels of non-revenue water, and the amount of water used per customer per day.

It also assesses whether the infrastructure is properly maintained to minimise wastage; the existence of plans and strategies to reduce water losses, and the effectiveness of metering, billing and revenue collection systems.

The department will in July release the full 2023 Blue Drop Report, which will be a complete assessment of the state of all drinking water systems in the country, whilst a full 2023 No Drop Report will be released in September 2023.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Qabil Ashirov

Poor and little but "kind-hearted and proud" Armenia intends to run for help to its big and powerful neighbors, Turkiye and Iran. Armenia swears that only for this purpose, they try to increase NPPs (nuclear power plant) - but in reality, Nikol Pashinyan follows foremr Iraqi leader Saddam Hossein's footprints. It would be better if neither Armenian society nor Pashinyan should forget the fate of Iraq and the Iraqi dictator.

Immediately after the humiliating defeat in the Second Karabakh War, the unindustrialized Armenia suddenly remembered that it has to improve electricity generation and sell it to the neighboring industrialized countries. There are many sources for generating electricity such as renewable energy, that Armenia has great potential for, thermal power stations, and so on. However, for unknown reasons, Armenia which locates in the quake-prone zone is nuclear power stations with tight grip. Armenia has discussed the issue with different countries including Russia, the USA, French, and South Korea. in February 2023 the Rosatom Energy Projects submitted the preliminary technical-economic substantiation of building two 1200 MW reactors. Later South Korea offered to build 1000 and 1400MW reactors. According to Armenian mass media, the USA also is interested in constructing modular reactors.

Speaking to Azernews, an active member of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science (ANAS) and the chairman of the National Center for Nuclear Research, academician Adil Garibov said that it is the sovereign right of each country to use any type of energy source. As for safety Adil Garibov noted that after the Chornobyl accident, countries take it more seriously to construct nuclear reactors. These reactors are new, they have both a passive protection system, and the system meets completely new requirements. It can be said that companies working in the field of nuclear technologies around the world are building completely safe nuclear reactors. Seismic factors are taken into account in those reactors and there are protection systems up to 10 points. However, he said that no one can ensure that it will work in accordance.

Metsamor NPP was the first plant to be built in a seismic zone in the Soviet Union, and this factor was taken into account here as well. The Soviet Union bought special seismic pads from Japan for Metsamor. These reactors were supposedly seismically protected reactors. From the safety point of view, they were the most modern reactors of that time. However, during the Spitak earthquake, the first unit did not work, some cracks appeared in the building, and the system was stopped. In 1995, only the second unit was commissioned. In extreme cases, no technology can withstand it. We saw it in Fukushima nuclear disaster as well. In a country like Japan, an accident occurred as a result of a power generator failure during the tsunami, Garibli said.

He underscored that the second unit of Metsamor NPP, which is currently operating, should stop its operation. Because this reactor was built and put into operation in the 80s. He mentioned that its life is 25 years, but the reactor has been in operation for more than 40 years.

This reactor is a great crime not only against the neighboring countries but also against the Armenian people themselves. No one has ensured that the accident will not happen again at the NPP. If such an accident happens in such a densely populated region, the pollution of the Kura and Aras rivers, which are the basis of our drinking water sources, will create a big problem. The world community, especially the neighboring countries, should be active in this matter. We are not saying this for the sake of enmity towards the Armenian people. We say this for the safety of Armenia itself, the academician noted.

He pointed out that Armenia does not need Metsamor NPP as an energy source. In fact, Iran, a close ally of Armenia, provides enough gas to Armenia, and the country has a very powerful thermal power plant due to which it generates enough electricity to meet its needs and even sells electricity to Georgia.

Also, Armenia has great hydroelectric power. As is known, Azerbaijan invests in renewable energy and we are located in the same region, and in the same climate zone with Armenia. In other words, for their energy needs, Armenia can pay attention to this field if they were really interested in energy production. But they are not. Armenia does not need NPP only as an energy source but perhaps for some evil intentions... In other words, it aims to keep its status as a nuclear country or a country with nuclear technology as well as to manage and master it. Previously in the Armenian Parliament, the MPs raised the issue of dirty bombs. They jabbered about having a dirty bomb. It should be recalled that Armenia raised the issue of the production of dirty bombs during the Second Karabakh War. So, this does not exclude the fact that Armenia has the goal of creating a dirty bomb out of NPP. There are 4 scientific research institutes in the nuclear field in Armenia. Therefore, I believe that Armenia will never close the NPP, Garibli added.
Egypt and Israel have agreed to increase surveillance cameras and towers on the border, Saudi TV channel Al-Arabiya reported on Sunday, citing sources.



One Egyptian border security personnel and three members of the Israeli forces responsible for border security were killed in the early hours of Saturday. The incident also left two other Israeli soldiers injured.

It all started when an Egyptian border security personnel, chasing drug smugglers, crossed the border between Egypt and Israel, only to be killed in the ensuing crossfire, according to a statement by the Spokesman of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib, on Saturday evening.

Gharib noted that operations to search and secure the area have not ceased and that all the legal proceedings relevant to the incident were being taken.

In a phone call, Egypts Minister of Defence and Military Production, General Mohamed Zaki, discussed Saturday the circumstances that led to the incident with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant.

The two ministers also discussed coordination to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future, according to the Egyptian military spokesman.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed his hope that the African initiative to mediate in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis would contribute to settling the conflict.





The leaders of six African countries -- Egypt, Comoros, South Africa, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia -- met on Monday to probe the African initiative to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to settle the year-long conflict.

The meeting came nearly two weeks after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a group of African leaders will visit Russia and Ukraine 'as soon as is possible' to discuss a potential peace plan for the conflict.

During the meeting, the African leaders discussed the details of the African initiative to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement released by Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

President El-Sisi, who attended the meeting via video conference, reiterated that Egypt adopted a balanced approach since the beginning of the conflict.

The president further affirmed that Egypt stressed the necessity of respecting international law, settling disputes by peaceful means, and prioritizing dialogue.

He also called for mobilizing international efforts to reach a solution that considers all parties in order to attain global peace and security.

Egypt will spare no effort to contribute to containing such a crisis and overcoming its political, humanitarian and economic consequences, El-Sisi explained.

The meeting saw the participation of Comorian President Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

During the meeting, the African leaders stressed that resolving this conflict was in Africa's interest, given its grave consequences on the African countries and the rest of the world, especially in food and energy security and international finance, according to Fahmy.

The meeting also stressed that the African initiative should include mechanisms that would make it appealing to both Russia and Ukraine, added the spokesman.

Since its eruption in February 2022, the conflict has harmed African countries, which have suffered from the rising prices of grain and the disruption of world trade.

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Elizabeth Park in Trenton was revitalized and now demonstrates ways to control water after a rain. Photo courtesy Todd Marsee, Michigan Sea Grant

Sanjiv K. Sinha, Ph.D., lead author of the RISC report and the Chief Executive Officer of Corvias Infrastructure Solutions, LLC

A green roof on the Milwaukee Public Library also helps capture water every time it rains. Photo courtesy MMSD

Peter Larson, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan

Erica Clites, Michigan State University Extension Program Worker

Rain garden with drain is another recommended way to deal with water after a rain. Photo courtesy Michigan Sea Grant.

Native plants and earthen solutions were used to create a natural buffer on the banks of the Detroit River at Elizabeth Park in Wayne County. Courtesy Michigan Sea Grant

These pavers help capture water when it rains. Photo courtesy Michigan Sea Grant.

Sridhar Vedachalam, Ph.D., director of Water Equity & Climate Resilience, Corvias Infrastructure Solutions,

The bioswale at Pabst Brewery is part of a region-wide plan of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to capture water every time it rains. Photo courtesy MMSD

By the year 2035, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District plans to create enough green infrastructure in its service area to capture 740 million gallons of water every time it rains. This is a completed wetlands.Photo courtesy MMSD

Congress gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authority

Mid-Michigan flooding in 2017 from Bay City and Bangor Township. Photo courtesy Kip Cronk, Michigan Sea Grant

Robert Dean, Chief Strategy and Program Officer of Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology

Schools use a number of different methods to capture rain water.

A green roof helps also helps capture water every time it rains.

The McKinley Marina porous pavement helps control water that otherwise would run off a parking lot. Photo courtesy MMSD
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Saturdays deadly exchange of gunfire between border guards in a phone call Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of full coordination to determine the circumstances behind the incident.

During the phone call, initiated by Netanyahu, they reiterated their unwavering determination to continue their work and coordination within the context of their bilateral relations, according to Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

Both leaders emphasized their shared commitment to pursuing a fair and comprehensive peace, while steadfastly preserving stability in the region, as further affirmed by the spokesman.

Egypt and Israel have initiated a joint investigation to address the gunfire incident, which led to the unfortunate deaths of an Egyptian border security personnel and three Israeli forces in the early hours of Saturday.

Additionally, two Israeli soldiers sustained injuries in the incident.

The Egyptian Armed Forces Spokesman, Gharib Abdel-Hafez, clarified that the exchange occurred as the Egyptian personnel was in pursuit of drug smugglers crossing the border.

In a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said the Egyptian border incident is serious and unusual and will be thoroughly investigated.

Israel sent a clear message to the Egyptian government: we expect the joint investigation to be exhaustive and thorough, he added.

On Saturday, Egypts Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki discussed the circumstances that led to the incident with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant.

In a phone call, the two ministers discussed coordination to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future, according to the Egyptian military spokesman.

The two countries have reached an agreement to bolster border security by increasing the deployment of surveillance cameras and towers.

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Bangladesh has promised that no Rohingya refugee will be returned to Myanmar against their will in a controversial proposed repatriation process, a top United Nations official has said.

"Refugees who wish to return should have access to clear, factual information to be able to make free and informed decisions," Kelly T. Clements, the UN deputy high commissioner for refugees, said in a statement late Monday after a four-day visit to Bangladesh.

"Under no condition should refugees be forced or coerced to return, which the government assured us would not happen," added Clements, who met both government officials and refugees.

Bangladesh is home to around a million Rohingya, most of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar that is now subject to a UN genocide investigation.

The Rohingya are widely viewed in Myanmar as interlopers from Bangladesh, despite roots in the country stretching back centuries, and are stateless after Myanmar ceased recognising their citizenship in 2015.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to a pilot repatriation of 1,176 refugees, despite concerns raised by refugees and rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, who last month warned it poses "grave risks".

Bangladesh has repeatedly said any repatriation would be voluntary.

However, several Rohingya earmarked for the return programme told AFP they had been threatened to join.

One Rohingya man, who asked for anonymity, said refugee camp leaders had called him every day. "They said: 'If you don't go, you can't stay here, we will beat you.'"

Another Rohingya refugee, also speaking on the understanding his name would not be used, said he had been told to leave -- but would do so only if Myanmar gave him back his land.

"They said: 'You have to go, you can't stay here,'" he said.

"But why should we go if we don't get our land back? If they (Myanmar) give us citizenship, we will return. If they give us our land, we will go."

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Kenyan police fired tear gas and arrested 11 protesters, AFP journalists said, during a march in Nairobi on Tuesday against a new finance bill that critics say will pile more economic hardship on ordinary people.

The proposed legislation calls for new or increased taxes on a wide range of items including fuel and food as well as beauty products, crypto currencies and social media influencers.

Police fired off several volleys of tear gas and arrested 11 people, bundling them into a police truck, to try to disperse the demonstration, AFP journalists at the scene said.

"Down down finance bill," chanted protesters as a group of about 100 marched towards parliament, which resumed on Tuesday after a recess and is expected to debate the legislation this week.

"They want to kill us with hunger."

The demonstrations have been dubbed "sita sita" (six six) as they are being staged on the sixth day of the sixth month.

"We are witnessing some chaos which is not right. We are being chased but we are fighting for our rights," said one of the protesters, Rodgers Obogi, a 23-year-old unemployed man.

"We are demonstrating to express our frustrations, people need money, that money is being taxed twice."

'Cash crunch'

President William Ruto is seeking to fill the government's depleted coffers and repair a heavily-indebted economy inherited from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, who splurged on major infrastructure projects.

His government has drawn up a 3.6-trillion shilling ($26.2-billion) budget for 2023/24 with the proposed new taxes expected to generate 289 billion shillings.

Critics accuse Ruto of rowing back on promises made during the August 2022 election campaign, when he declared himself the champion of impoverished Kenyans and pledged to improve their economic fortunes.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio party has denounced the bill, saying Ruto's government wanted to "take billions from the pockets of some of the poorest people in this country while expecting them to cheer".

"We have refused to sit back and watch as Kenyans are being harassed to fix cash crunch caused by economic mismanagement, wasteful spending, corruption and skewed and incompetent hiring into critical public positions," Azimio said in a statement on May 30.

Odinga earlier this year led a series of protests over Kenya's cost-of-living crisis and his complaint that victory was stolen from him in the presidential election.

Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a report last week that 12 people had been killed by police during the demonstrations in March.

According to government figures, three people were killed in the unrest, including a policeman.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN climate change high-level champion for Egypt, said on Monday that Africa is actively seeking and implementing initiatives and financing solutions that align with the economic conditions and climate and development priorities of its countries.

Mohieldin, who is also the UN special envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, made his remarks during the Africa Business Leaders Coalition meeting. The meeting is being held as part of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan on 5-6 June, which is the largest international gathering of African private sector leaders.

The current edition of the annual forum brings together 1,800 business leaders, investors and policymakers from Africa and around the world to highlight the pivotal role of the private sector in the continent's development.

Mohieldin highlighted Africa's efforts in implementing mechanisms for debt reduction and debt swaps to mobilize investments in nature and climate.

He also mentioned the launch of the African Carbon Markets Initiative, which aims to establish and operate a carbon market, enabling energy transition, emission reductions, adaptation to climate change, and addressing losses and damages caused by it.

Mohieldin highlighted Egypt's National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, which aims to localize climate and development action with participation from all local stakeholders of different capital sizes. It works by identifying six project categories, including large, medium and small projects as well as enhancing community participation through women, youth projects, start-ups and non-profits.

The UN high-level champion stressed the need to adopt a holistic approach in African countries, linking climate action with sustainable development goals as a whole, treating climate finance as development finance, not a substitute.

Mohieldin emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in financing climate and development action in developing countries.

He stressed that the private sector should participate more in implementing and financing projects, while adhering to criteria for corporate environmental and social practices as recommended by the high-level UN experts' reports.

He pointed out that these UN reports recommend focusing on debt reduction and enhancing private sector participation. They also recommend finding appropriate financing to deal with climate-related losses and damage by activating the Loss and Damage Fund launched during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Mohieldin said the global financing system needs reform so international financial institutions (IFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) keep pace with today's developments. These reforms, he explained, should give developing countries and emerging markets more space in policy and decision making, better reflecting their priorities and providing fair, sufficient and efficient financing to implement climate and development action.

This includes setting new concessional finance policies allowing middle-income countries to benefit along with low-income countries.

The climate champion said the Five Regional Forums initiative, launched by Egypts COP27 presidency last year in cooperation with UN regional economic commissions and high-level champions (HLCs), aim to identify bankable, investable and implementable development climate projects.

The first edition discussed around 400 projects resulting in 120 implementable projects, of which 50 were presented at the Sharm El-Sheikh conference.

He added the second edition of the initiative, organized with participation of UAE's COP28 presidency, aims to connect projects identified in the first edition with various financing and investment entities to start implementing these projects immediately.

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Despite speculation about a possible Egyptian-Iranian rapprochement, there can be no change in Egypts relations with Iran in the absence of a fundamental change in the latters policies, writes Eman Ragab

There has been considerable speculation of late regarding an Egyptian-Iranian rapprochement as part of the series of breakthroughs related to long-festering crises in the region. The Chinese-brokered agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March to restore diplomatic relations and the invitation to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to attend the Arab Summit meeting in Jeddah in May are landmarks in this process.

Several Iranian statements have lent weight to such conjectures. During his meeting with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik last week, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reported to have said that his country would welcome the return to full diplomatic relations with Cairo in a framework of expanding the policies of good neighbourliness and the utilisation of the energies and capacities of the Islamic nations in a manner that benefits all peoples and states in the region.

Iranian government Spokesman Ali Bahadri Jahromi also said that his government was ready to improve relations with Egypt.

Egypt has not reciprocated. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said that the current talk about the existence of an Egyptian-Iranian track is mere speculation that has no basis in fact.

It appears that the speculation about a potential thaw between Cairo and Tehran rests on a commonly held assumption in the region that the Saudi position on Iran in recent years has acted as a restraint on Egypts policies towards Iran and that now that Riyadhs position has changed, as revealed by the Chinese-brokered agreement, Egypt is free to set its own course on its relations with Iran.

However, as strong as the Egyptian-Saudi strategic relationship has become, especially since the great helping hand that Saudi Arabia lent Egypt at the time of the 2013 Revolution that overthrew Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt  a factor that Cairo has taken in account in many of its foreign policy decisions  it does not follow that a change in Riyadhs attitude towards Iran will occasion an equivalent change in Cairo.

A range of factors influence a possible rapprochement between Egypt and Iran, with these having led Cairo to maintain a wait and see approach to offers on the part of Oman and Iraq over recent years to mediate between Cairo and Tehran. Above all, Cairo has yet to discern a fundamental change in the Iranian positions on a number of issues of importance to Egypt, some related to the nature of the bilateral relationship and others to Iranian policies towards the Arab region as a whole.

Iran has never responded positively on the number of contentious issues that arose between Cairo and Tehran in the talks between the two sides in the 1990s. Iran has named one of its main streets after the assassin who murdered former Egyptian president Anwar Al-Sadat, it has hosted individuals wanted by the security authorities in Cairo, and it has acted contrary to its commitment to safeguard the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea by supporting groups that threaten it.

Irans regional policy is diametrically opposed to Egypts regional vision. Tehrans strategy rests on backing armed non-state actors in other countries, helping them to acquire influence in those countries and to form parallel military/security apparatuses that undermine and challenge the official military/security establishments.

Egypt believes in the need to safeguard the unity and centrality of the national security establishment as the backbone of the nation state. Iran promotes greater Turkish influence in the region as a means to counter Egypts and Saudi Arabias authentic regional weight, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia acknowledge their respective influence and oppose attempts to undermine it or replace it by Iranian or Turkish influence.

Iran is still set on exporting its model of a Shia theocratic state in various ways and guises. It has used its proxies towards this end, as well as investments and tourist activities of a sectarian nature. The Egyptian people expressed their opposition to that model when they overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government, which sought to establish a Sunni edition of it, and championed the establishment of a modern democratic state anchored in the principle of full equality of all citizens regardless of religious and ethnic affiliation, as enshrined in the 2014 Constitution.

This is the type of state that informs Egypts policies towards a settlement of the conflicts in Yemen and Syria, in which Iran is an active party. That is why it would be hard for Egypt and Iran to find common ground between their respective approaches to resolving those conflicts.

Lastly, it is important to bear in mind that whenever there has been a thaw in Iranian-Saudi relations over the past decades, Iran has attempted to use Egypt as a kind of counterweight to Saudi Arabia in the framework of their competition over spheres of influence, one that will continue despite the March 2023 agreement. In Egypts view, any reconciliation and return to normal diplomatic relations must benefit Egypt in some way.

There is no reason for Egypt to avoid responding explicitly to the statements issuing from Iran about rapprochement or to continue the wait and see policy. However, what it does need to do is to forge new policies towards Iran. These should be governed by national security interests and other strategic concerns, including the need to maintain an appropriate balance in its relations with regional and international powers that are essential to safeguarding our national interests.

The writer is head of the Security Research Department at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies and a visiting professor of political science at Cairo University.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Rapid developments in the Middle East indicate an undergoing process to reshape the region, especially amidst a global situation highlighted by the ramification of the military struggle in Ukraine. Though the US disengagement from the region began years earlier, its current strategy of focusing on Russia and China has triggered new regional dynamics.

Some might argue that recent competition between rising regional powers has its roots in the decades that followed independence in the last century. However, it might be more accurate to mark the start with the end of the Cold War three decades ago. Since then, the global arena has seen many attempts to create a new world order, one that reinforces the position of the US as the sole superpower leading a wider Western coalition and with global influence spanning across the world.

The US disengagement from the region has coincided with the decline of the Palestinian issue. The Arab-Israeli struggle has shrunk to become just the Palestinian-Israeli struggle, removing the regional weight of what were once known as the belt countries that surrounded Palestine. The last half of the 20th century also witnessed the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, which could be attributed to the wider global phenomenon of the end of ideologies, but in fact saw its true turning point in the Gulf War.

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the early 1990s, followed by the call by the Western countries to end the occupation and later the occupation of Iraq by Anglo-American forces, was a death certificate for an already declining nationalism. During that period, Islamist movements began to appear in some Arab countries, culminating in their hijack of the popular protests in 2011. A short stint of nationalist/Islamist cooperation after the turn of the century was the final breath of nationalism in the region.

But none of these political trends dominated the wider territory in the way that other ideologies had done previously. This is why they faded away, along with the dreams that accompanied the post-independence state in the Middle East. The destruction of Iraq at the turn of the century removed one of the main pillars of the order of the region. The remaining two pillars, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, had to deal with other players: first, Qatar as the main business address for the Islamist groups, and then the UAE as the main antagonist to Islamist fundamentalism.

Irrespective of talk regarding a policy of creative chaos or other external factors, the region was ripe for change a decade into this century. This erupted in the form of popular protests in Tunisia, Syria, and other places at unprecedented speed. Arab monarchies from Morocco to the Gulf appeared to be immune to these protests, but that immunity did not only come from oil wealth, but instead from a socio-economic system that made their citizens indifferent to politics.

With Iraq reduced to a failed state, Syria tormented in a sectarian war, Libya almost broken as a state, Yemen in a protracted Civil War, and Algeria in a weak position, Egypt managed to weather the period following its own protests. By default, the Gulf countries rose to be more influential. Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdullas book The Gulf Moment in Contemporary Arab History concludes that the Gulf states are poised to lead the Middle East, filling the void left by the traditional power centres that dominated the region post-independence.

However, the notion that Saudi Arabia or the UAE are now reshaping the region or pushing for a new Arab order assumes that there was in fact an old Arab order. It is difficult to say that there ever was an Arab order, which is probably why many commentators now prefer to use the orientalist term Middle East instead, even as the Middle East, in Western thinking, includes regional powers like Turkey, Iran, and maybe even Pakistan.

Many analysts of the region use the term to implicitly, or explicitly, include Israel as well. So, it would be more appropriate to talk about a new Middle East order and one that might not have any of the rising regional Arab powers in the lead. With the traditional regional power centres weakened, the rising claimants to leadership must deal with the three regional powers of Israel, Iran, and Turkey.

Gulf wealth is of course important, especially at times of global economic distress that have been impacting the region. The UAE in particular has been building up its foreign policy to lure as many countries of the region to align with its bold stance on regional and global issues as possible. Saudi Arabia might be feeling intimidated by the UAEs policies. Yet, in the end both countries share a lot of common interests in a new Middle East free of old and irrelevant cliches  from Palestine as a central Arab cause to the dream of Arab nationalism or Islamism.

In a way similar to the US struggle to lead the world alone, with the support of its Western allies, the new regional powers could find it difficult to lead the region alone even with the support of some allies. This has become apparent in the disastrous Civil War in Sudan, which no country in the region has been able to stop. Almost all resent others interference in this war-torn Nile Basin country.

The writer is a London-based seasoned journalist.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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CVC Capital Partners is mulling a potential offer for UK holiday resort group Center Parcs , it was reported on Monday.

According to Sky News, the private equity firms long-term Strategic Opportunities fund is expected to table an indicative offer ahead of a bid deadline later this month. It is not known how much it is likely to bid, however.

CVC is thought to be one of a number of suitors interested in the business, which was put up for sale last month by its Canadian owner, private equity group Brookfield. Sky noted that France's Antin Infrastructure Partners is thought to be one of a number of infrastructure funds considering whether to make a bid or not.

Brookfield is understood to be looking for between 4bn and 5bn for the business, which it acquired in 2015 for 2.4bn from Blackstone.

Since then it has improved facilities, including 250 new lodges, and spent 100m upgrading IT and booking systems. According to Brookfields website, around 2m guests stay in Center Parcs a year, with an occupancy rate of around 98%.

Neither CVC nor Brookfield have commented on the report.
Ryanair , Europe's largest low-cost airline, was forced to cancel a significant number of flights on Tuesday,as a result of ongoing strike action by air traffic control (ATC) workers in France.

The walkouts had led to the cancellation of about 400 flights, according to the Irish carrier.

Chief executive officer Michael O'Leary said in a statement that the majority of the cancellations pertained to flights that were not destined for France itself, but rather involved routes from various countries such as the United Kingdom to Spain, Portugal to Germany, and Italy to Ireland, which overfly airspace controlled by French ATC.

O'Leary said the airline respected the right of French ATC workers to strike, but in his statement he said that the impact should primarily affect domestic flights within France or flights specifically heading to the country, rather than disrupting international routes.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
SSE has been fined nearly 10m by the regulator for overcharging National Grid , in breach of its licence .

Ofgem said on Tuesday that SSE Generation had secured "excessive" payments from National Grid Electricity System Operator in exchange for reducing output at its Foyers pumped storage power station near Loch Ness in northern Scotland, in breach of its generation licence.

The regulator, which launched its investigation in October 2021, acknowledged it had not seen any evidence that the breach was deliberate.

However, it said it should have been clear to SSE, including senior management, that its revised pricing strategy, introduced in May 2020, carried a "significant risk" of breaching its licence conditions.

It has therefore fined the Scottish blue chip 9.78m, which will be paid into its Energy Redress Fund, which helps support vulnerable customers.

Cathryn Scott, director of enforcement and emerging issues at Ofgem, said: "Protecting consumers is a priority for Ofgem, and we will continue to monitor the wholesale energy markets in Great Britain and ensure their integrity on behalf of energy users.

"This enforcement action sends another strong signal to all generators that they must put in place controls to ensure that their bid prices are set in a way that ensures that they do not obtain excessive benefits during transmission constraint periods.

"If they fail to do so, they will face significant consequences."

An SSE spokesperson said: "We aim to comply with regulations at all times, and believe we were doing so in this case.

"Following the investigation, we are updating our relevant procedures accordingly."

Where there are constraints on the transmission system - which gets electricity to where it is consumed from where it is produced - National Grid ESO will look to manage the flows, including using the balancing market to either increase or decrease the amount of electricity produced by different generators as needed.

National Grid ESO only ever has a limited number of alternatives available, however, meaning generators could potentially exploit their position by charging excessive prices to reduce output. They are therefore barred from doing this under their transmission constraint licence condition.
Egypt is marking World Environment Day this year with week-long events including a focus on solutions to plastic pollution as part of the Beat Plastic Pollution Campaign held worldwide on 5 June.

The Ministry of the Environment and the Egyptian Forum for Sustainable Development has launched a series of environmental and community initiatives as part of the Ninth National Week for Sustainable Development (NWSD) that runs this year from 1 to 8 June.

Minister of the Environment Yasmine Fouad said the initiatives, held under the auspices of the prime minister, were part of the Supporting Environmental Investment Campaign whose aim is to reinvigorate the momentum on environmental issues following the UN COP27 Climate Conference held in the Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022.

A main goal is to highlight the serious problem of plastic pollution worldwide and stress the importance of transitioning to a circular economy and to promote environmental investment to reduce the impact of plastic pollution, Fouad said.

Events to mark World Environment Day kicked off in Egypt on Saturday at the Wadi Degla Reserve, where a Tales from the Locals Campaign was launched to increase the involvement of local communities in protecting the environment and the countrys nature reserves.

The concept of developing nature reserves was introduced several years ago with the aim of providing activities and services for visitors while recognising the crucial role played by local communities in their management and development, Fouad said.

The Tales from the Locals campaign targets the members of 11 tribes residing in and around Egyptian nature reserves, she added. It is meant to showcase the stories of local residents and their lives, illustrating their connection to local nature reserves and showing how nature is an integral part of their lives.

It seeks to raise awareness about the need to protect the environment and develop pride in Egypts cultural and natural heritage. The campaign is part of the Eco-Campaign Egypt, which seeks to promote Egypts diverse nature reserves and draw attention to ecotourism.

Fouad emphasised the role of investment in achieving progress in sectors such as agriculture, energy, trade, and industry and underscored the importance of sustainability. Events sponsored by the ministry this year include visits to factories in Alexandria, Qena, and Suez to encourage them to transition to clean energy, particularly solar, and to promote the reuse of treated wastewater.

Despite the economic challenges facing the country, the government remains committed to work to protect the environment, Fouad said, highlighting the ongoing Prepare for Green campaign, launched in 2019, that addresses environmental issues and encourages a shift towards green practices.

She also referred to the 100 Million Trees campaign the ministry is working on in collaboration with the ministries of agriculture and local development, saying that it has planted four million trees thus far.

Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt Alessandro Fracassetti said that Tales from the Locals was sending a powerful message this World Environment Day. He highlighted the strong partnership between the UNDP, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Tourism in promoting sustainable tourism that supports a healthy environment by empowering local communities.

Fracassetti emphasised the importance of presenting the experiences and practices of local communities on the ground and strengthening their ability to formulate solutions that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable.

This approach enables them to preserve their cultural heritage, customs, and traditions and involves them in decision-making process that affect their lives, leading to the sharing of benefits, he added.

He also highlighted the constructive partnership between the UNDP and the Ministry of Environment, which was playing a crucial role in managing natural resources based on the involvement of local communities. Local communities have been supported at the St Catherines Nature Reserve to enhance their role in preserving medicinal plants, for example, as well as at the Wadi Al-Gemal and Fayoum reserves.

Emad Adly, head of the National Forum for Sustainable Development, said a new initiative to set up local forums for sustainable development was being announced during the NWSD in partnership with the Arab Youth and Environment Association and with the support of the ministries of the environment and of social solidarity.

The initiative is meant to launch a nationwide dialogue to raise public awareness about the environment and integrate sustainability dimensions into local development strategies.

During this years World Environment Day, the Arab Youth and Environment Association also announced a new initiative called No to Plastic in collaboration with the Egyptian Forum for Sustainable Development.

It was launched under the auspices of the ministries of the environment, health, and population with the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution to public health and the environment and promoting sustainable consumer behaviour and habits.

It also aims to develop public awareness about the importance of phasing out the use of single-use plastic products while highlighting available alternatives.

Adly said that the initiative primarily targets university and school students, members of youth centres and clubs, the customers of malls and restaurants, and members of civil society organisations.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corporation's, commonly known as SpaceX, Falcon 9 rocket will fly Indian satellite startup Azista BST Aerospace Pvt Ltd's first satellite sometime this month, said top officials of the Indian company. "The orbiting of our 80 kg satellite ABA First Runner (AFR), a remote sensing satellite, is expected to happen sometime during the middle of this month (June 2023)," Sunil Indurti, Director.

Azista BST Aerospace is an Indo-German satellite manufacturing joint venture floated by India's Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd (holding 70 percent stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (holding 30 percent stake). "Currently the company is funded by Azista Industries. We are not for venture capital funding. We have a long-term outlook in business," Indurti added.

An engineering graduate from the famed College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai Indurti got into the space sector after founding and exiting an ice cream parlour chain in Hyderabad. "My ambition during the college days was to build a national brand," Indurti said.

Soon after exiting the ice cream venture, Indurti met Srinivas Reddy Male, Managing Director and a Director with pharma company Hetero and both decided to get into satellite manufacturing.

"We initially started as a vendor for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and set up a factory in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. We have also set up weather stations for DRDO and others," Indurti said.

Queried about the choice of SpaceX's rocket instead of India's own Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Indurti said, the US company had the slot for the satellite in its rocket.

When Azista BST Aerospace booked its slot on the Falcon 9 rocket, the Indian space sector was undergoing change with the setting up of the regulator for the private players.

Further, unlike SpaceX that flies several rockets in a year, ISRO's PSLV launches are very low. "Launch cost wise ISRO is competitive," Indurti added. "We are yet to decide on owning a constellation of satellites and generating revenue from selling the data," he added.

As to the challenges in local sourcing of the satellite components, Indurti said the semiconductor chips have to be imported and not easy to localise. The satellite reaction wheels and other subsystems are made by the company.

"The local content will be about 70 per cent and going forward we will increase it to 80 per cent," Bharath Simha Reddy P., Business Development Manager. According to Bharath Simha Reddy, the company's target is to make about 100 satellites per year that would weigh between 50-200 kg.

Speaking about the operations, Indurti said Azista BST Aerospace makes sub-systems for other satellite makers and decided to make small satellites for defence and commercial usage. Indurti said the current plan is to sell the remote sensing data acquired from the first satellite to others. The success will also prove the Azista BST Aerospace's capability in building satellites.

The company's first remote sensing satellite AFR will provide a panchromatic image with five metre resolution with a Swath of 70km. According to Bharath Simha Reddy, the company has potential customers -- in strategic and agriculture sectors -- for the data to be acquired from the first satellite and as well as analytics. Most of the customers are located in SouthEast Asia and other parts including India. "In next two/three years, there will be three/four missions to demonstrate our satellite payloads," Bharath Simha Reddy added.
While progress has been made in untangling the political and security situation in Libya, there is no guarantee that there will now be a clear path to the countrys elections.

Attention turned to the Moroccan resort town of Bouznika on Monday, where Libyan stakeholders signed an agreement worked out by the countrys 6+6 Joint Committee on the electoral laws to complement the constitutional basis for forthcoming elections.

But while Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aguila Saleh and Chair of the High Council of State (HCS) Khaled Al-Mishri flew to Morocco to take part in the signing ceremony, there remained questions as to the solidity of the consensus over the agreed-on laws and whether this will endure when they are submitted to the HoR for ratification and then to the Libyan Higher National Elections Commission (HNEC), responsible for translating the laws into measures regulating the conduct of elections.

The international powers involved in Libya are pushing for the elections to be carried out by the end of this year, but many Libyans believe that the process should be given more time.

The question of the electoral laws is also far from straightforward. They refer not just to questions of whether military figures or dual nationals should be eligible to run for office, subjects that have occasioned heated debate, but also to the conduct of unprecedented elections.

Libyan voters will be voting for representatives in a parliament that for the first time will contain two houses (the National Assembly and Senate), and there remain outstanding differences over the number of seats there should be in the former.

Another question is the role each of the two houses should play in forming an interim government tasked with overseeing the elections. On each of these issues, some Libyan MPs have objected that the Joint Committee has overstepped its remit by deciding on details regarding the new parliament and interim government.

According to Libyan news reports, over half the members of the current House of Representatives disapprove of the new laws, which means that if they do not get through parliament the whole issue will return to square one.

Meanwhile, controversy continues over the security operations being undertaken by the Tripoli-based Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) in the Zawiya region of western Libya.

GNU Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbeibah insists that the operations target organised crime in the mountainous western region. However, many HoR members have charged that they are a cover for eliminating the GNUs opponents and settling political scores.

The HoR, which withdrew its confidence from the GNU in February and no longer recognises Dbeibah as prime minister, holds the GNU responsible for the attack on the home of an HoR MP from the area where the security operations are being carried out.

The eastern-based government in Tobruk has also criticised the operations on similar grounds. Video footage circulated by activists from Zawiya showing GNU Defence Ministry drones striking boats off the coast of the country have raised further doubts about the nature as well as the efficacy of the operations. The victims included members of the Libyan Coast Guard and civilians.

Such controversies epitomise the ongoing polarisation and east-west political and security bifurcation in Libya and lend weight to the view that it will be difficult to generate a sufficiently normal and stable climate to hold elections.

This is all the more the case given the unabated influence of the western-based militias. It has been nearly two years since the 5+5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) was formed to review this issue, yet there has been no tangible progress on this crucial security issue.

The JMC is not the agency responsible for dismantling the militias allied with the GNU, and it is not responsible for running the military operations against organised crime gangs. However, given its aims, as stipulated in the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, neither the militias nor the crime gangs should still be in operation.

The JMC is tasked with eliminating the causes of the Civil War that has gripped Libya for over a decade and with ending the division of the military establishment. It is not there to manage the division. Its authority also includes working to remove foreign mercenaries from the country, yet there is evidence that some foreign mercenaries have been incorporated into the security agencies.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the JMC has not been focused on its domestic tasks is that foreign powers, in this case the US, have been working to repurpose and steer it in another direction. Washington has been pushing the JMC to form a joint force (between military forces from the east and west of Libya), ostensibly to create secure conditions preparatory to elections.

However, it appears that the real aim is to undermine the role of the Russian Wagner Group in Libya. In April 2023, US Ambassador Richard Norland reportedly discussed this with Chadian President Mohamed Idriss Deby, suggesting that the main theatre of deployment for the joint force under formation would be southern Libya.

Political fragility and security volatility are two sides of the same coin in Libya. If the various political and security powers have been able to adjust to the situation in ways that serve their interests, the political and security committees that have arisen from the Berlin Process on Libya may more clearly embody a management approach.

The JMC still reflects the outlooks of two adversarial teams, one from the east and the other from the west. These may agree on some issues and differ on others, but the sum product is that they have so far failed to achieve a significant breakthrough on their main tasks.

The same thing applies to the 6+6 Joint Committee consisting of representatives from the Tobruk-based HoR and the Tripoli-based HCS. It is virtually impossible to separate the political from the military in the work of the JMC, just as it is impossible for the 6+6 Committee to leave politics at the door when trying to work on the electoral laws.

So even if some progress has been made, such as the agreement in Bouznika, the next stage is unlikely to be easier. Moreover, there is no guarantee that even if Libya makes it all the way up to elections, military/security conditions in the country will support the political progress.

In Libya, complications have a way of accumulating and becoming ever more difficult to untangle. Perhaps the only way out of the tunnel is for the rules to change.

The rules in question refer to the series of arrangements created from the 2015 Skhirat Accord that entrenched the east-west power balance and from the Berlin Process that ushered in a more complicated arrangement based on a quota system.

The result has been that crisis management mechanisms have been put in place, as opposed to problem solving mechanisms, and interim regional arrangements have evolved into centres of power that have developed their own interests that will resist any change that threatens the interests of their respective components.

These interests revolve around power and influence, whether economic, political or military. This means that the only way to change the rules and break the cycle is to shift the sources and means of wealth and power from vying clientelist networks to a centralised state that should monopolise the legitimate recourse to force, sovereign authority, and the avenues to power.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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President Droupadi Murmu received Suriname's highest honor, the 'Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star'. Murmu is on her first state visit since becoming president of the country, to Suriname. "I am greatly honored to receive Suriname's highest distinction, "Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star," she said in a tweet through her official Rashtrapati Bhavan handle.

"This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent. I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries," she further added.

The president went on to add: "Receiving this decoration during the historic commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Indian arrival in Suriname makes it more special. If this honor serves as a beacon of empowerment and encouragement for women in both our countries, then it becomes even more meaningful." Murmu is on a three-day visit to Suriname, which will conclude on Tuesday.

Several agreements were also signed between the two countries during the president's visit. The first MoU related to pharmaceuticals, and drug regulators for cooperation in the field of medical product regulation, exchange of good practices and capacity building.

Another MoU related to the pharmaceutical sector was signed. The recognition of Indian pharmacopoeia by the Suriname side is expected to facilitate the sale of pharma products manufactured by India in Suriname as per Indian pharmacopoeia standards.

A joint work plan in agriculture and allied sectors for the period 2023 to 2027 under an existing MoU was also signed and exchanged. The buyer's credit which India had extended to Suriname has also been restructured.
India and Sweden have started an innovative partnership focused on solar-powered smart farms in a visionary attempt to improve agricultural practices and advance sustainability. This innovative program recognizes the importance of small-hold farming in both countries. It aims to revolutionize farmers' land cultivation by fusing cutting-edge farming methods with renewable energy technologies. This partnership intends to improve rural communities, raise agricultural output, and pave the path for a greener and more prosperous future in the agricultural sector by utilizing the power of solar energy. The current global smart agriculture market size was valued at USD 22.65 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2023 to 2030.

The Significance of small-hold Farming in India

India's cultural, social, and economic fabric heavily relies on small-hold agriculture. It ensures food security, rural development, and poverty reduction because a sizable portion of the rural population depends on agriculture. These farms, run by individual farmers or small families, significantly increase the nation's agricultural output. They grow various crops, ensuring a diverse and sustainable food supply. Small-hold farming encourages rural enterprise, self-sufficiency, and decentralization of agricultural activity. It also protects wildlife, cultural heritage, and traditional knowledge. India and Sweden have joined together to use solar energy and innovative farming methods to improve farmer livelihoods and develop sustainable agricultural systems because they recognize the significance of this sector's transformation.

Solar power: An energy solution for small-hold farms

Solar energy is the best option for small-scale farms, especially in India, where sunlight is abundant. To power numerous agricultural tasks, including irrigation, equipment, and lighting, the collaboration between Sweden and India focuses on harvesting solar energy by placing panels on farms. By lowering dependence on expensive fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this renewable energy source solves the problems associated with limited access to electricity and supports sustainability. Solar power enables farmers to boost output, cut costs on energy, and lessen their carbon impact by offering a viable and affordable alternative. A greener and more sustainable future is made possible by adopting solar-powered farms, which also improves the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.

Implementing smart farming techniques

By fusing modern technology with traditional methods, Sweden and India work together to improve agricultural practices. Precision farming, data-driven decision-making, and IoT devices are all used in this strategy. Farmers gather current information on soil moisture, crop health, and weather using sensors, drones, and monitoring systems. This gives farmers the power to decide on irrigation, fertilization, and pest control in an informed manner, leading to higher yields, less waste, and better crop quality. Cutting-edge technologies and analytics make enhanced productivity, sustainability, and reduced environmental impact possible. Drones detect pests and nutrient deficits, while automated irrigation saves resources. Smart farming encourages sustainable high-yield farming and increases food security on a global scale.

Scaling up and replicating the success

The collaboration between India and Sweden aims to address agricultural challenges within their respective countries and serves as a blueprint for other nations facing similar issues. Through the successful implementation of solar-powered smart farms, this partnership sets an example that can inspire and encourage other countries to adopt similar initiatives. By sharing knowledge, building capacity, and transferring technology, the practices and lessons learned can be scaled up and replicated, leading to broader adoption and greater impact worldwide. These international collaborations in the agricultural sector are crucial in advancing the global agenda of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty reduction, food security, and climate action. By working together and sharing successes, countries can collectively contribute to creating a more sustainable and resilient future for agriculture and the well-being of people worldwide.

Final Thoughts, A transformational approach to small-hold farming is being taken by Sweden and India in their partnership on solar-powered smart farms. Farmers can boost productivity, improve sustainability, and improve their way of life by utilizing modern technology and solar energy. This alliance is an example of how effective international cooperation can be in tackling critical global issues, including food security, climate change, and rural development. The future of small-hold farming holds great promise for building a more resilient, effective, and sustainable agriculture sector globally as other countries take notice of this effective model.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. has settled a civil lawsuit in Manhattan federal court that accused him of rape, on the day jury selection was scheduled to begin, according to reports.

Had the case gone to trial it was expected to include testimony from three other women claiming Gooding abused them between 2009 and 2019.

The A-list actor, who previously was accused by several women of groping or forcibly kissing them, pleaded guilty last year to a single charge of harassment stemming from an accusation of kissing a woman without her consent, the New York Times reported.

A Bronx native, Gooding played the lead role in the 1991 film Boyz N the Hood and won an Academy Award in 1997 for a supporting role in Jerry Maguire. In 2007, he was cast in the childrens comedy Daddy Day Camp.

Gloria Allred, the longtime womens rights advocate, was representing the woman in the 2020 suit. Allred said Tuesday her client had no immediate comment.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Staten Island man was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for a pair of arrests, one of which was tied to what a source described as a stripper pole shooting incident during a Fathers Day party on the boroughs North Shore.

Demetrius Smith, 32, who is linked to multiple addresses in the area, recently pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the June 20, 2022, incident, records show.

The mayhem unfolded in a backyard, the source said.

Smiths alleged adversary that night, 38-year-old Harry Timberlake, has an ongoing criminal case in the matter.

Video of the ordeal apparently showed erotic dancers performing to music as shots rang out and partygoers scattered, the source said.

Timberlake was taken to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Smith, who has seven prior arrests, was arrested 10 days later.

In January, Smith was arrested again for allegedly attending a funeral on Staten Island while armed, sources said.

The district attorneys office agreed to combine the two cases as part of the plea agreement.

Illegal guns cause havoc and hardship and those who wield and use them will always be met with swift and stern consequences on Staten Island, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. Through excellent and diligent work by the NYPD detectives handling this investigation and our ADAs Jacqueline Bruno and Ahkianne Wanliss who built an incredible case, this defendant will spend nearly the next decade behind bars as a result of his life-threatening actions.

Said defense attorney Mario Gallucci on behalf of his client:

Unfortunately Mr. Smith has been caught up in the continued cycle of violence plaguing Staten Island and in an effort to protect himself from the same violence that left his brother Alafia Rodriguez dead he decided to protect himself.

Until the legislature addresses violence and crime we will continue to see mass incarceration.

RELIGIOUS REQUEST

After Justice Alexander Jeong handed down the sentence Monday, defense attorney Mario Gallucci requested a religious exemption that would allow his client to grow his hair into dreadlocks as a practicing Rastafarian while in lockup. Jeong inquired about the defendants hairstyle he wore to court that day, which was short.

My father is from Jamaica, stated the defendant.

Really, replied Jeong, who after a moment of pause granted the request.

It ultimately is up to New York corrections officials whether the judges order is upheld and/or for how long.

In general, according to section 7612.4 of New York state rules and regulations, long hairstyles can pose safety issue to corrections officers in terms of hiding contraband, and to the public in the event the inmate escapes from confinement and cuts off their hair and/or beard to change their identity.

All prisoners shall be permitted to adopt hair styles, including facial hair styles of any length, which in the opinion of the department does not constitute a threat to the safety, security or good order of a facility, the regulations state.

A federal appeals court in 2013, however, found that in one case it was unconstitutional for a prison guard in Illinois to forcibly cut an inmates dreadlocks based on the circumstances surrounding those specific events, calling it an outright arbitrary discrimination rather than a failure merely to accommodate religious rights.

In addition to prison time, Smith is subject to five years post-release supervision as part of the plea agreement.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying an individual sought for questioning in connection with a groping incident aboard a MTA bus last month.

On May 2, around 12 p.m., an unknown individual sat behind a 54-year-old female victim on an S78 in the vicinity of Richmond Terrace and Bay Street in St. George, according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The individual then grabbed and squeezed the victims buttocks and fled the bus, according to the police statement

The victim did not sustain any injuries in regard to this incident.

The NYPD released a bus surveillance image of the individual sought for questioning in the incident.

The individual is described as a male, with a medium complexion, who was seen wearing a green sweatshirt and dark colored pants.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.
School. Sports. Social. Staten Island. Todays story is part of the launch of our Plugged in Parent content, in which well tell the stories that Staten Island families need to know -- all in one place. Well be covering news that is valuable to students in public, Catholic and private schools -- both in and out of the classroom. From highlights in sports, to photos from prom, to critical education news -- Plugged In Parent, you wont want to miss it.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its never too early to start making plans for the next school year. The school calendars for the 2023-2024 academic year are now available for New York City public school students and elementary students in the Archdiocese of New York.

Some families may have noticed that the school calendars for Catholic and public schools differ in some ways  especially when it comes to week-long breaks for students.

For both sets of students, the first full day of school for Staten Island students in the 2023-2024 academic year is Thursday, Sept. 7.

A major difference between the two calendars is spring break. For public school students, spring break occurs from April 22-26. Catholic school students have time off for spring break starting on March 28, and they return to class on April 8.

The public school calendar gives time off for the religious holidays Good Friday, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr, and week-long breaks for winter recess, mid-winter recess and spring recess, which include Christmas and Passover. The Catholic school calendar typically gives time off only for Catholic holidays.

Time off for federal holidays are typically the same across both calendars.

Here is a breakdown of both calendars.

SEPTEMBER 2023

NYC public schools:

Sept. 7 - First day of school

Sept. 14 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools and Pre-K Centers

Sept. 21 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and D75 schools

Sept. 25 - Schools closed for Yom Kippur

Sept. 28 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools

Catholic schools:

Sept. 7 - Classes begin for all Staten Island students

OCTOBER 2023

NYC public schools:

Oct. 9 - Schools closed for Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples Day

Catholic schools:

Oct. 9 - Schools closed for Columbus Day

NOVEMBER 2023

NYC public schools:

Nov. 2 - Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

Nov. 7 - Schools closed for Election Day

Nov. 9 - Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and D75 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

Nov. 16 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools

Nov. 17 - Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

Nov. 23-24 - Schools closed for Thanksgiving recess

Catholic schools:

Nov. 3  TACHS exam administered

Nov. 10  Schools closed in observance of Veterans Day

Nov. 23-24  Schools closed for Thanksgiving recess

DECEMBER 2023

NYC public schools:

Dec. 25 - Winter recess begins

Catholic schools:

Dec. 25  Christmas recess begins

JANUARY 2024

NYC public schools:

Jan. 2 - Classes resume after winter recess

Jan. 15 - Schools closed for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 2326 - Regents exams are administered

Jan. 29 - Professional Development Day; no classes for students attending high schools and 6-12 schools, all other students attend school

Jan. 30 - Spring semester begins

Catholic schools:

Jan. 2  Classes resume after Christmas recess

Jan. 15  Schools closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

FEBRUARY 2024

NYC public schools:

Feb. 1923 - Schools closed for mid-winter recess

Catholic schools:

Feb. 19  Schools closed for Presidents Day

MARCH 2024

NYC public schools:

March 7 - Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools and Pre-K Centers; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

March 14 - Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and D75 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

March 21 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools

March 22 - Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early

March 29 - Schools closed for Good Friday

Catholic schools:

March 28  Easter recess begins (includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Monday)

APRIL 2024

NYC public schools:

April 10 - Schools closed for Eid al-Fitr

April 2226 - Schools closed for spring recess (which includes Passover)

Catholic schools:

April 8 - Classes resume after Easter recess

MAY 2024

NYC public schools:

May 9 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for elementary schools and Pre-K Centers

May 16 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for middle schools and D75 schools

May 23 - Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for high schools, K12, and 612 schools

May 27 - Schools closed for Memorial Day

Catholic schools:

May 27  Schools closed for Memorial Day

JUNE 2024

NYC public schools:

June 6 - Anniversary Day/Chancellors Conference Day for staff development; students do not attend.

June 7 - Clerical Day; no classes for students attending 3K, Pre-K, elementary schools, middle schools, K-12 schools, and standalone D75 programs

June 14-26 - Regents exam administration (excluding June 19 when schools are closed)

June 19 - Schools closed for Juneteenth

June 26 - Last day of classes

Catholic schools:

June 14  Last day of classes

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



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IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island middle school students won first place in a citywide stock market game.

Three eighth-grade students from Bernstein Intermediate School (I.S. 7), Huguenot, won first place in the middle school category of the Stock Market Game in New York City. The students  Daniel Malkov, Blake Eskenazi and Johnathon Stone  won against more than 1,780 student-led groups to achieve an almost 16% return on investment.

The Stock Market Game is a national organization that aims to teach young people about investing in the stock market for their financial future. Over the course of four months, computer science teacher Avi Gvili taught students about the aspects of the economy, such as how a company functions, what a stock is, when its a good time to buy stocks, and much more.

Students are given $100,000 in funds for an online simulator to buy stocks. As they come to understand the stock market better, they are able to purchase them in an online simulator that tracks the real-time movements of the market.

We are very proud of our Staten Island students and glad that they have an opportunity to learn about economics in such an exciting format, said Gvili.

NEW SUMMER CAMP

New Dorp Christian Academy is launching a brand new day camp this summer. The camp, which will accept registrations until June 12, is for parents who are still looking for a local, fun and safe option for their kids this summer.

It allows for a week-by-week commitment for those families that have other summer plans or vacations and dont want to pay for a week they arent using. Kids will be able to take part in weekly fun themes and field trips in different areas like music and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The camp is offered for kids ages 3 and older, along with early drop-off and late pick-up hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The camp was instituted and organized by a local Staten Island mother of three and teacher at New Dorp Academy who were familiar with some of the potential pitfalls of other camp offerings. Jamie Fredericks, who has a degree in psychology, wanted parents to have an option that was flexible, accepting of younger children, and had hours for parents of all job types.

Learn more and sign up at https://www.newdorpchristianacademy.com/summer-camp/.

SEND US YOUR STORIES

Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.

ADDITIONAL IN CLASS COLUMNS

Staten Island Academy receives $25K grant to support those with learning differences | In Class column

Staten Island school dedicates Bennys Bench in memory of longtime custodian | In Class column

Cycle of love: Staten Island Academy students donate blankets to those in need | In Class column

Sensory hallway brings underwater adventure to Staten Island students | In Class column

Staten Island students perform at Radio City Music Hall | In Class column

Staten Island students earn various awards during citywide debate tournament | In Class column

Staten Island student earns prestigious $55K annual college scholarship | In Class column

Recycling carnival features games made by Staten Island students | In Class column

Staten Island special ed students celebrate women in history | In Class column

New modern business classroom unveiled at Port Richmond High School | In Class column

Staten Island students rally in Albany for bill to protect school journalists | In Class column

School Zone: A new newsletter with the updates you need as our schools try to get back to normal. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Pete Davidson slammed the animal rights group PETA after they blasted him for buying a dog from a pet store, according to reporting on TMZ.

The former Staten Islander and Saturday Night Live star, 29, left a voicemail for Daphna Nachminovitch, senior VP of cruelty investigations, stating why he could not adopt a dog (he is severely allergic to dogs), the celebrity news outlet said.

Part of the voicemail, obtained by TMZ, included obscene language.

My moms fking dog who is 2 years old died a week before so were all so sad, so I had to get a specific dog, the Bupkis star said in the voicemail, adding he purchased the dog for his mom, Amy.

According to TMZ, PETA says the actor left the heated message Monday for Nachminovitch, who had issued a statement to TMZ expressing PETAs disappointment in Davidson buying a puppy at a NYC pet store instead of adopting from a shelter.

Early in May, the Davidson familys beloved family pet passed away, which was announced in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.

The caption read: A message from Pete: Hey guys. I know today is the Bupkis premiere day but I wanna use today to remember my dog Henry. Yesterday we lost a key member of the Davidson family. Henry was only 2 years old but unfortunately got very sick very fast.

My mom, sister and I got Henry at the beginning of the pandemic and he saved our lives. Not sure Id even be around without him. He was the happiest and sweetest dog ever. He used to get excited when he saw me and would pee everywhere.

In a statement to TMZ, Davidson said that following the death of the family dog his devastated mother and sister cried more than they have in over 20 years.

Then this organization (PETA) made a public example of us, making our grieving situation worse, he told TMZ. I am upset. It was a poor choice of words, he said of the voicemail.

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Local delegates did Staten Island proud over the weekend at the Miss New York Scholarship Competition staged at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theatre in Peekskill, N.Y.

There were two Staten Islanders who competed for the title of Miss New York and three more borough residents who vied for the title of Miss New York Outstanding Teen.
A 29-year-old New Jersey man lured and kidnapped an 11-year-old girl from an Asbury Park street with plans to sexually assault her, but she managed to escape when they stopped at gas station, authorities said Monday.

Raquan M. Folk convinced the girl to enter his vehicle as she walked along Ridge Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Monmouth County Prosectors Office said.

After driving her to Neptune Township and telling the girl to remove her clothes, the 11-year-old told Folk she needed to use the bathroom, authorities said. Folk stopped the car at a gas station and the girl ran to flag down a passing driver, the prosecutors office said.

She was then brought to Neptune Township police headquarters.

Folk, of Asbury Park, was arrested two days later and charged with kidnapping, luring a child and endangering the welfare of a child via sexual conduct.

He is being held at the Monmouth County jail ahead of a detention hearing on Wednesday. His attorney couldnt immediately be reached Monday.

Anyone with information about Folk is asked to call prosecutors office Detective Kayla Santiago at 800-533-7443.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the occasion of Sweden's national holiday.

The letter reads:

Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am happy to extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and through you to all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Sweden.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health and happiness, and the friendly people of Sweden everlasting peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
In a press conference on Sunday following a meeting between the two presidents in Cairo, El-Sisi said he and Ghazouani discussed the dam and i ts serious repercussions on the water security of the Nile Rivers downstream countries.

El-Sisi said he and his Mauritanian counterpart stressed that Egyptian water security is inseparable from Arab water security.

We have also stressed the importance of urging Ethiopia to demonstrate political will and accept any of the middle-ground solutions proposed on the negotiating table, which would meet its [Ethiopias] interests without encroaching on the rights and interests of the downstream countries, El-Sisi said.

This aims at reaching a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of GERD, El-Sisi said.

For his part, Ghazouani hailed the Egyptian approach in dealing with the issue.

We have discussed the patience and wisdom that the Egyptian leadership have adopted in tackling this very important topic, the Mauritanian president stressed.

Ghazouani arrived in Cairo on Sunday and was received at the airport by President El-Sisi.

Crisis in Sudan

El-Sisi and Ghazouani stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan.

We have stressed the importance of an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the preservation of the Sudanese national state institutions and the prevention of their collapse, El-Sisi stated.

El-Sisi said he and Ghazouani also agreed on the importance of intensifying efforts to deliver urgent relief and humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people to alleviate their suffering.

From this platform, we urge all parties to prioritise wisdom in order to preserve the resources of the Sudanese state and the interests of its people, El-Sisi stated.

Ghazouani said he hopes that the Sudanese brothers are capable of overcoming the ongoing crisis.

We hope that we have passed the difficult stage in Sudan and that what comes next will be better, the Mauritanian president added.

Palestine, Libya

El-Sisi said he discussed with Ghazouani developments in Arab issues, adding that they agreed on the need to boost joint Arab work to preserve Arab national security and safeguard their unity, sovereignty and resources.

El-Sisi said he and Ghazouani discussed the efforts made to preserve the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people and to fulfill their aspiration for establishing an independent state on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On Libya, they also agreed on the necessity of holding the Libyan presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously and ensure the exit of all foreign troops and mercenaries without an exception and within a specified timeframe.

This comes in line with the relevant international resolutions, the Egyptian president added.

Ghazouani highlighted the prominent historical role played by Egypt in the major Arab and Islamic issues, adding that he looks forward for the continuation of this role.

Backing African development

El-Sisi said he and Ghazouani agreed to enhance their efforts within the African continent in light of the two countries vital role in this regard.

They also agreed on continuing coordination and cooperation within the framework of the African Union (AU) as well as their efforts to back peace, security and development in the continent.

This aims to enable it (Africa) to overcome the challenges and achieve prosperity and stability for all the people of our deep-rooted continent, El-Sisi stressed.

Enhancing cooperation

El-Sisi said he looks forward to furthering the firm cooperation between Egypt and Mauritania in a way that achieves their peoples interests and aspirations.

Our consultations have reflected the joint political will to enhance the distinguished relations between the two countries and push them forward to broader horizons in various fields, El-Sisi stated.

This comes through the activation of cooperation frameworks and coordination at all levels, given the joint challenges facing Egypt and Mauritania, El-Sisi explained.

This includes challenges to achieve sustainable development, face foreign interference in the region, counter terrorism and extremist thought and preserve the national institutions, the Egyptian president said.

The Mauritanian president extended congratulations for the Egyptian people on the national achievements made under El-Sisi.

We have the right to be proud of these achievements because we consider that everything Egypt has achieved is for all of us and that Egypts strength means the strength of the [Arab] world, Ghazouani added.
UPDATE: Staten Island Republicans dispute statement about 2 local churches set to house migrants

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Religious centers will be the latest places in the five boroughs to house migrants, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.

Rev. Terry Troia, who heads local non-profit Project Hospitality and joined the mayor at his City Hall press conference, said two churches would be used for the new program on Staten Island, but did not name the specific houses of worship.

Our world faces a great humanitarian crisis with displacement of peoples, forced from their homes and homelands, she said. We as people who love an all-loving God have the unique opportunity to demonstrate the power of Gods love in action by opening the doors of Gods houses and welcoming in Gods people who seek the safety and shelter only we can offer. We who welcome them welcome God! Let us open our doors and welcome them in!

The new program is a two-year partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, a non-profit organization that started after 9/11 comprised of faith-based service providers in the five boroughs.

Adams said that the city will be spending about $125 a night to house each asylum seeker, and that he expects the program to provide shelter for 1,000 single men at 50 houses of worship with the possibility of further expansion.

No matter what faith you practice, caring for those in need is part of every spiritual tradition, the mayor said. As we continue to tackle this humanitarian crisis, Im proud that through this new partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, New York Citys faith community will be able to provide shelter to asylum seekers in need at houses of worship throughout the five boroughs. Not only will this increase the space we have by nearly 1,000 beds, but it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities. New York City continues to do all that we can to address this crisis, but we need additional assistance from other partners.

Adams described the new program as an opportunity born out of the migrant crisis that has seen more than 70,000 asylum seekers come to the five boroughs, mostly from the southern border.

As of Monday, more than 46,000 remain in the citys care leading to the creation of emergency hotel shelters around the five boroughs, nine humanitarian emergency relief centers, and an unknown number of emergency respite centers at city-owned properties like the former Hungerford School site on Tompkins Avenue.

The faith-based initiative is the latest strategy to get the new arrivals housed, but a similar effort to house homeless people has been used in the five boroughs for decades, including on Staten Island.

Rev. Troia said following the press conference one of the differences in the new program is a shift in responsibility for congregations to feed the people being housed, who will also be able to go directly to the houses of worship.

Homeless New Yorkers traditionally have needed to stop first at a drop-in center, like the one Project Hospitality operates in St. George on Richmond Terrace before being transferred to a place of worship for the evening. Non-profits like Troias have also been responsible for providing meals to the homeless people being housed at places of worship.

With four buses worth of new arrivals over the weekend, city officials dont see an end to the migrant crisis in the immediate future, and Adams expects the issue to cost the city more than $4.3 billion by July of next year.

The mayor made his latest call for more action from the federal government in the form of funding, a more coherent immigration strategy, and more efficient work authorization for the new arrivals. However, Adams said he hasnt spoken directly with President Joseph Biden about the issue since earlier this year.

MORE NYC NEWS

St. George celebration marks kickoff of LGBTQ+ month

For the first time, NYC Sanitation will have scheduled trash pickup on Memorial Day weekend

NYC has no plans to shutter migrant housing at Staten Island school

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Staten Island pols: Vacant public schools not a solution for migrant housing
CITY HALL  For generations, kids in the five boroughs have relied on crossing guards to get safely to and from school, but on Monday, union leaders said possible budget cuts could jeopardize that tradition.

Outside Tweed Courthouse in lower Manhattan, representatives for DC 37 and its subsidiary union, local 372, activists and elected officials spoke out against a possibility that the city will not fill 483 vacant school crossing guard positions.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said most of those vacancies threatened in current budget negotiations are on Staten Island, and contrasted that with the efforts to bring more traffic cameras to the five boroughs.

Staten Island has a big problem, he said. A camera is not going to save a child. A camera is not going to save a life, so for those communities, theyre disproportionately hurting.

The city employs 2,219 crossing guards, who make between $18 and $20 an hour for a part-time job that is four hours a day.

Estimates put the cuts savings at $7.5 million from the $43 million budget for crossing guards, who work for the NYPD. Mayor Eric Adams administration has launched a program to eliminate the gap thats implored city agencies to find savings wherever they can.

A City Hall spokesperson pointed out that the closed job vacancies were not layoffs, and that the city had taken steps to increase street safety, including street redesigns near schools.

The Adams administration is laser-focused on keeping students safe - going to school in the morning, at school during the day, and going home in the afternoon, the spokesperson said. There is a national labor shortage and that is making it harder for lots of people to hire. We always are working to fill positions, but removing vacancies is an efficient way to achieve savings. As with any agency, if the NYPD fills all budgeted positions for crossing guards, we will work with them to increase capacity.

MORE NYC NEWS

NYC to use 2 Staten Island churches as shelter for asylum seekers

St. George celebration marks kickoff of LGBTQ+ month

For the first time, NYC Sanitation will have scheduled trash pickup on Memorial Day weekend

NYC has no plans to shutter migrant housing at Staten Island school

NYC Mayor Adams launches crackdown on retail theft in the 5 boroughs
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Minty Awards, Staten Islands revered answer to the Tony Awards for Catholic High School musical theater programs, celebrated the 12th annual awards ceremony Sunday, June 4 at the historic St. George Theatre. More than 800 students, faculty, families, friends and dignitaries were in attendance.

Moore Catholic High School received the top award for the evening, the St. Genesius Award for Outstanding Musical for its production of Newsies.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City is considering asking homeowners in the five boroughs to help house asylum seekers who have made their way here, and on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams said hes willing to step up too if the law allows.

At an unrelated morning press conference, the mayor said hed welcome a family into Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City mayors on the Upper East Side, should officials determine its legal to do so.

I was speaking with the staff to see if I could put a few families into Gracie Mansion, he said. Im a big believer in leading from the front, and if it doesnt go against legal protocols...I dont have a problem if I could put a migrant family in Gracie Mansion.

City officials estimate the cost of the migrant crisis to reach $4.3 billion by July of next year, and Adams said some of that money could go to families with extra space in their homes.

If someone is struggling in their mortgage and they have a spare bedroom, and we could find a way to say, How do we help you pay your mortgage because of whatever economic challenge youre going through? Adams said. By, at the same time, helping the migrant crisis, were willing to do that. Im trying to deal with this crisis with all the tools that we have available to make sure we resolve it.

Adams first floated the idea of putting asylum seekers in the homes of New Yorkers on Monday at a press conference announcing houses of worship would be the latest city facilities to be used to house migrants.

The program is a two-year partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, a non-profit organization that started after 9/11, comprised of faith-based service providers in the five boroughs.

Adams said that the city will be spending about $125 a night to house each asylum seeker, and that he expects the program to provide shelter for 1,000 single men at 50 houses of worship with the possibility of further expansion.

The Rev. Dr. Terry Troia, who heads local non-profit Project Hospitality and joined the mayor at his City Hall press conference, said two churches would be used for the new program on Staten Island, but did not name the specific houses of worship.

For the last 40 years, Project Hospitality, an interfaith effort on Staten Island, has coordinated faith-based shelters for people in need for homeless people on the streets. Forty years. Even through the pandemic, we were the only houses of worship in the city of New York that stayed open every night to provide for people in need, despite the risk to the volunteers that may have been exposed to COVID in those nights, Troia said.

Its that work that brings us to today to say that we have at least two houses of worship on Staten Island who has stepped forward, and they will be opening up their doors to people in need who have come to this country seeking refuge.

The mayor described the new program as an opportunity born out of the migrant crisis that has seen more than 70,000 asylum seekers come to the five boroughs, mostly from the southern border.

As of Monday, more than 46,000 remain in the citys care leading to the creation of emergency hotel shelters around the five boroughs, nine humanitarian emergency relief centers, and an unknown number of emergency respite centers at city-owned properties like the former Hungerford School site on Tompkins Avenue.

MORE NYC NEWS

NYC to use 2 Staten Island churches as shelter for asylum seekers

St. George celebration marks kickoff of LGBTQ+ month

NYC has no plans to shutter migrant housing at Staten Island school

NYC Mayor Adams launches crackdown on retail theft in the 5 boroughs




The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for all of Eastern Pennsylvania for Tuesday.RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...The National Weather Service in State College has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect until 8 PM EDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.* AFFECTED AREA...Potter, Northern Clinton, Northern Centre, Southern Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Tioga, Northern Lycoming, Sullivan, Southern Clinton, Southern Lycoming, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Perry, Dauphin, Cumberland, Adams and York Counties.* TIMING...From 11 am until 8 pm on Tuesday.* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 24 percent.* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 70s.* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning strikes may cause initial fire starts especially in the driest fuel beds.* IMPACTS...Rapid wildfire growth and spread expected. Outdoor burning is not recommended.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.
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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will start on Tuesday an Africa tour that includes Angola, Zambia and Mozambique to strengthen relations with these countries as well as push economic integration on the continental level.

President El-Sisi will conduct meetings with the leaders of the three countries to discuss developing joint African work frameworks, according to Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.

The meetings will also address various regional issues and topics of mutual concern, Fahmy added.

COMESA summit



In Zambia, President El-Sisi will attend on Thursday the 22nd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Governments Summit.

The summit will be attended by heads of state of the 21 member states of COMESA.

Zambia is set to assume the rotating presidency of the regional economic community from Egypt.

The president's tour in the southern African region comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to intensify communication and coordination with its African brothers, the spokesman stated.

The tour reflects Egypt's commitment to enhancing its relations with African countries in the fields of the economy, trade, and investment, he added.

It demonstrates Egypt's prioritization of African issues in its foreign policy, according to the spokesman.

As the chair of COMESA since 2021, Egypt pushed regional integration on the continental level through the development of intra-regional trade in Africa, stressing the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Egypt has advocated for customs exemptions among African countries as agreed upon in the AfCFTA framework.

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The departure of Incitec Pivot boss Jeanne Johns has caught major shareholders by surprise and raised questions about the companys planned demerger.

The fertiliser and explosives makers chief executive and managing director will step down at the end of June, following the companys patchy half-year performance and operational challenges at its Phosphate Hill fertiliser plant in Queensland.

Incitec Pivots Jeanne Johns is leaving the fertiliser and explosives maker. Credit: Michael Quelch

The company said chief financial officer Paul Victor would replace Johns while the board searched for a permanent replacement.

Jeanne will continue to work with the board and Paul Victor until 30 June 2023 to facilitate a smooth transition of her responsibilities, Incitec said in a statement to the ASX.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been fined a record $3.55 million for sending more than 65 million emails that failed to comply with spam laws.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found CBA sent more than 61 million marketing emails to customers that unlawfully required them to log in to unsubscribe. It then sent a further four million emails that provided an option unsubscribe, but it failed to work.

Under The Spam Act 2003, marketing messages must provide consumers with the ability to unsubscribe.

This action is a further warning to all businesses that non-compliance with Australias spam laws will not be tolerated, ACMA chair Nerida OLoughlin said.
Vulnerable children in the grip of acute mental health episodes were physically restrained more than 60 times in three months at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead despite it dealing with a fraction of the crisis cases of its Randwick counterpart, where the intervention was rarely used.

The revelations should lead to a review as a matter of priority, former national mental health commissioner Professor Ian Hickie said.

The Bureau of Health Information quarterly report released on Wednesday also revealed ambulances and emergency departments dealt with record numbers of patients in the first three months of the year.

The Childrens Hospital at Westmead, where the use of physical restraint during mental health episodes has surged. Credit: Louise Kennerley

Hickie, now the co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, said physical restraints should be an absolute last resort.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Yet another reason why Im forever grateful I live in Australia, a country which does not have the death penalty. Jonathan Crosby, Dubbo Please, everyone, lets leave Kathleen Folbigg alone to get on with her life. Its the least we can do. Rose Panidis, Graceville (QLD) Kathleen Folbigg after being released from prison. Having represented Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and others subjected to grave injustices I am only too aware of the pain injustice causes. In 1985 I won the NSW Young Solicitors Essay for highlighting the dangers of expert evidence and the danger to our justice system. However, little has changed and little will change until we establish a Criminal Review Commission. Even more compelling is that they are more cost-effective than having to resort to Commissions of Inquiry. How many more injustices do we need before we act? Stuart Tipple, Terrigal The legal system has earned little credit from the Folbigg case and its consistent refusal to seriously consider the issues. While Mark Speakman still praises Reg Blanch for his inquiry which maintained the guilty verdict, perhaps Speakman might turn his mind to asking how circumstantial and very subjective evidence can be used and relied upon. Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi did a persuasive job in using isolated diary notes and in elevating the dubious Meadows law into an iron rule. Would a European-style inquisitorial system have worked better in this case? It does seem that all the way up to the High Court, our legal brethren assumed that their predecessors in the case were free of error and that nothing could be challenged.

Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights It is appropriate to acknowledge the former Attorney-General Mark Speakman. He initiated the independent review that has led to the release of Folbigg. Due process was followed and the right outcome achieved. Give credit where credit is due. Michael Blissenden, Dural The long suffering of Kathleen Folbigg makes me wonder should we ever convict someone of serious crime on the basis of nothing more than circumstantial evidence. Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer. Mark Porter, New Lambton

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Justice for Kathleen Folbigg. Vindication for the trial judge, Anthony Whealy.

Nicolas Harrison, East Lismore Kerri Sackville speaks of the heroes being all around us in our daily lives (No heroes any more? Yes there are, you just need to know where to look, June 6). Today, we are witnesses to more, with the release of Kathleen Folbigg and those who played a role in bringing about her pardon and release. Emma Cunliffe, through her PhD thesis in 2011 and subsequent book, Professor Carola Vinuesa, Todor Arsov and other geneticists who built Folbiggs genetic map, and Tracy Chapman, who overheard a conversation mentioning her old school friend and decided to act. These key people who incidentally chose to investigate, research and support to set her free. To Kathleen Folbigg, heroic in her own right, who endured, not just the past 20 years in prison but the agony which preceded it, I wish you only the very best. Sharon McGuinness, Thirroul May we all have friends who believe in us and may we, in turn, be such a friend to others. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls When Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek says that she wants to better protect (the Great Barrier Reef) for our kids and grandkids, she then must stop approving the fossil fuel projects whose emissions are raising sea temperatures to levels where corals and most marine life cannot exist (Gillnets banned to protect Great Barrier Reefs threatened dugongs, turtles, 6 June). The science is clear; she cant have both a reef and fossil fuels extraction, and she must be held accountable for each of the destructive projects that she doesnt stop. Barry Laing, Castle Cove Great Barrier Reef Credit: Credit: Justin Maire and Ashley Dungan Plibersek has to decide whether to approve 19 new coal and gas projects (Plibersek must ponder climate change, say environmentalists, June 6). She is between a rock and a hard place. The rock being the Labor Party which supports fossil fuel exports and the hard place being climate science that clearly states burning fossil fuels is causing extreme weather events and sea level rise. It is still quite legal to pollute our atmosphere. Perhaps by the 2030s the legality of all this will be in question, to the extent that people and organisations will be held responsible. People in the 2060s are going to watch climate documentaries and be shocked at the pollution we were allowed to spew into our atmosphere with no legal consequence. Dennis OHara, Wanniassa It is hardly surprising that Plibersek is being challenged over her refusal to factor in global warming in her assessments of coal mine developments. Based upon the best scientific advice, the UN Secretary General has stated that as well as no new coal development, coal needs to be phased out by 2030, yet our environment minister has refused to use her veto power to stop three recent development applications. Votes for the major parties at the last election were an all-time low and if they continue to ignore what is necessary to reverse global warming, this trend will become a landslide. Peter Nash, Fairlight

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Our nation is facing the threat of an El Nino and severe bush fires, both exacerbated by global warming. Despite this, Plibersek will not account for the impact of additional fossil fuel projects and their contribution to climate change in the approval process. It is, unfortunately, becoming very difficult to identify meaningful change for the better in the governments approach to addressing global warming. In this context, it is imperative that it accepts responsibility for the contribution to global levels of carbon emissions from Australias fossil fuel exports. Roger Epps, Armidale I applaud Pliberseks decision to ban gill nets on the Great Barrier Reef. What a shame she buries her head in the sand regarding the greatest threat to the reef being climate change and refusing to consider the huge contribution our coal exports have on increasing global emissions. The argument that if we dont sell it some-one else will is morally bereft. We are the supplier and dealer, continuing the practice because were addicted to the money; no matter the cost on our precious environment. Peggy Fisher, Manly Thank you, Kerri Sackville, for reminding us of the heroes who surround us (No more heroes? Theyre all around us in plain sight, June 6). The real heroes dont necessarily wear fancy costumes, but some of them do. Most heroes dont reveal themselves, they just stand out by being themselves or by their deeds. Most of us learn our values as children, but the challenge is to keep trying to do what is right in the midst of difficult lives. All too often the heroes among us are identified through eulogies, when it is too late to say thank you. Real heroes dont want eulogies, but a smile or a thank you can work wonders. Geoff Nilon, Mascot Celebrities and the rich and famous receive undue adulation. Fortunately most of us arent in that category, so are protected from the downfall so many suffer. However, we constantly need to combat the falsehood, futility and superficiality of materialism. We are supported in this by the love of family and friends, the unsung heroes in our own lives. The world is held together by love, kindness and compassion, but sadly that is not newsworthy.

Graham Lum, North Rocks Good density Its not just density; dense neighbourhoods can be safe, sociable and sustainable places that people want to spend time in, or they can be windy, sunless and soulless places with no nature and no neighbourliness (Minns faces internal resistance to higher density in inner suburbs, June 5). Density can accommodate all of Sydneys growth where people want to live, but good density is the missing middle between detached houses on the fringe and overdeveloped sites with absurdly tall towers which meet demand in locations where the state government has been overriding local plans.

Local members are right to respond to residents increasingly angry at the loss of local planning powers and the bad density that it seems to be the inevitable outcome. In North Sydney, this anger was a major factor in the strong support for Kylea Tink. Yet wherever there is opposition to bad density, councils and communities keep saying they dont oppose population growth, or more vibrant neighbourhoods. We support good density thats planned for, rather than gross towers imposed on us. Jeremy Dawkins, Waverton

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Our rogue While it should be said that some sections of the media were right in exposing the war crimes of Ben Roberts-Smith, it should also be pointed out that those that did not have also been complicit in creating the very cultural and social conditions in which someone like a Roberts-Smith has arisen. The others responsible are us; we create dubious historical narratives around which politicians gather to mythologise the past in order to fabricate a national character; we give boys and men medals, hero-worshipping and saluting them, glorifying the so-called honour of serving, but then feign surprise when things turn out the way they do. So long as such hollow jingoism is perpetuated and popularised in the media and we continue to condone the necessary violence of war, then more war crimes will be committed. The wonder is that further atrocities have not yet come to light. Roberts-Smith may have been a monster and a rogue, but we created him.

Shaun Davies, St Peters Ben Roberts-Smith Many of your correspondents have expressed that they cannot judge anyone in a war zone because they do not know how they would themselves act. Everyone must keep in mind: the allegations are not about poorly trained conscripts thrown into a war they do not understand. They are about the actions of highly trained, professional, well-disciplined and well-commanded troops, who voluntarily chose this as their work. It is not a case where anyone could be the enemy, it is a case where someone who was found not to be the enemy was thrown off a cliff and machine-gunned. David Stevens, Illawong A single breach of moral behaviour or lack of judgement in the heat of battle might be excused. Roberts-Smith demonstrated an ongoing pattern of lying, bullying, murder of civilians and unarmed prisoners. He also coerced other men to commit these crimes. Roberts-Smith is not a war hero but a man with no moral compass; he must face the full force of law. One must applaud all the courageous SAS men who abhorred his cruel, unlawful actions and gave evidence to this effect. Decima Wraxall, Dundas Valley PwC profit Could the PwC mission statement be summarised Profit Without Conscience? Tim Le Fevre, South Bowenfels

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It seems PwC is intent not to respond co-operatively or express any humility, despite the hot anger felt within in the government and the community at large at the unconscionable behaviour of some of its staff leaking confidential tax information. Drip by drip, PwC is releasing information like the names of the tax partners and staff who were in receipt of the leaked confidential information, but only to the senate and not publicly. At the same time, the acting chief executive is refusing interviews and not being publicly available for comments or explanation, preferring to just release statements. Historically, PwC would have us believe that it was an exemplar of integrity and the highest ethical standards, which presumably included openness, honesty and acting in good faith. It is about time for PwC to start demonstrating that, in a time of significant adversity, it has the capacity and willingness to be true to its stated values. Ross A. Butler, Rodd Point PM audit The Australian National Audit Office has found the Morrison governments administration of the $2 billion health and hospitals program was ineffective and short of ethical requirements(Audit office slams ineffective $2 billion Morrison government health funding program, June 6). This could equally be the finding of on audit of Morrisons prime ministership. John Payne, Kelso It seems the Liberal Party is so-called because it is very liberal with taxpayers money. David Gordon, Cranebrook Camilla being awarded New Zealands highest order, while Jacinda Ardern gets the second-class order for her leadership during the earthquake and terrorist attack on the mosque, raises memories of the time Tony Abbott gave our top award to Prince Phillip (Arise, Dame Jacinda; Former NZ PM awarded top honour, June 6). Such colonialist fawning is undignified and embarrassing in 2023. Bring on the republic for both countries. Toni Lorentzen, Fennell Bay I am surprised that Ardern would accept Dame honours from King Charles. While she says she was in two minds whether to accept or not the honours, those who follow her and like her politics would have only one answer, No. Honours given by royalty to anyone, let alone someone like Ardern to the left of politics, does not mix. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill When I read yet another brilliant piece by Ross Gittins (e.g. Big business cries poor on wages even as profits mount, June 5), I am grateful to be reminded yet again that sound economic analysis need not necessitate discarding humanist ethical principles. Carol Boulanger, Palmwoods (Qld)

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Each morning, Anna North takes to the water searching for calm. As she swims laps of the pool close to her home at the Waterloo public housing estate in Sydneys inner south, her thoughts sometimes shift to the uncertainty surrounding the plan to move hundreds of vulnerable tenants out, bulldoze their homes and build thousands of private and social dwellings.

Its just a sort of fear under the days. Even on a happy, lovely, swimming day, Im thinking When will I not be able to do this?, North says. The closer I get to thinking [my home] might go, and I might have to go, I get really sad.

Anna North, 62, was told she would have to relocate just weeks after moving into her unit at Waterloo, in Sydneys inner south, in 2015. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

As the Minns government forges ahead with plans to redevelop part of the estate, tenants are angry and confused by what they say are mixed messages about whether their homes will be demolished.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson told a residents meeting at Alexandria Town Hall on Monday night that Labor maintained its pre-election position that the Coalitions controversial proposal for the vast stretch of publicly owned land at Waterloo was a bad plan, and we didnt support it.
Warning: Graphic and distressing content

A violent serial rapist who dragged a woman into a creek in Melbournes inner north and tried to drown her before subjecting her to hours of horrific sexual abuse has been jailed for more than two decades.

Joel Russo, 29, grabbed the woman from behind and abducted her as she was jogging along the Merri Creek Trail in December 2019.

He dragged her down an embankment towards the creek, pushed her head under the surface twice, and repeatedly raped her in the creek and in some nearby bushes.
8 On the Point has a vast array of dumplings made in house. Credit: Rob Broadfield Back to Cantonese food and its much-loved export, dim sum. There are so many good dim sum houses in Perth. This is one of the best. Insider tip: get to know manager Tim Lung. This affable restaurateur is the guy who can get you a table when the queues are out the door. You can choose from a vast array of dumplings made in house as the trolleys rattle past your table and you can order from the larger dim sum menu for those items only cooked to order. They dont stray too far from the traditional favourites like steamed prawn and chives dumplings, pork and prawn siu mai and fried radish cake with XO sauce, possibly the finest radish cake in town. If youre a fan of offal and chicken feet, youll be happy. The dish that silences the table and gets you swooning is the pan-fried rice flour roll with dried shrimp. Miss Chows: Claremont, Whitfords, South Perth Miss Chows has a point of difference. Credit: Rob Broadfield The three Miss Chows restaurants in Perth are only a small part of the industrious Jacquie Chans Perth restaurant empire which includes the new Lucy Luu in Mount Hawthorn and Pantry by Miss Chows at Bicton and City Beach. Venues sport modern decor and hip young things belting back bao buns and colourful cocktails. Chan tells us Miss Chows is all about Asian fusion. Its the sort of dumplings youd have with a cocktail  its different from dim sum, she says. They serve Chinese tea, we serve Bollinger. The go-to dishes emphatically make the case for Miss Chows off-piste culinary philosophy: crispy jade prawn dumpling, steamed and then flash-fried to give a crisp bottom; Rottnest crayfish egg noodle with ginger and scallion broth; the mega-smart wagyu and black truffle Shanghai dumplings.

Good Fortune Roast Duck House, Northbridge Good Fortune: a Perth institution. Credit: Rob Broadfield Is there anyone in Perth who hasnt made tracks for the Good Fortune and said the immortal words, Half a roast duck and extra sauce please? As the bloke with the cleaver expertly chops your dark golden-skinned duck with its legendary layer of soft, emollient, super-tasty fat, you can get your fix of noodle soups, roast meats, san choy bow (sic), dumplings and fried rice. Like every Chinese restaurant ever, the menu is massive, but youre here for the duck, the glorious, five-spice-scented, moist and fatty roast duck of your dreams. And that intoxicating sauce on the side. They have a shop in Victoria Park too. My House Dumpling, Leederville Loading

They hand-make their own dumplings, not all of them, just the best ones, like their boiled dumplings in soup. You get 12 dumplings in a fragrant soup. Massive value. Most of their dumplings are made daily, so they never see the inside of a freezer, which is why the flavour ratchets up to an 11 out of 10. Xiao Long Bao crab and pork dumplings drip with moistness, dumpling noodle soups are the best of both worlds with noodles and their fabulous dumplings in the one bowl. Theres a solid roster of Chinese favourites, but they pride themselves on the dumpling game, so youd be a mug not to, right? Double Rainbow, Northbridge Double Rainbow: just nonsense. Until you put it in your mouth. Credit: Rob Broadfield If you see the word authentic on a restaurants home page, you are almost guaranteed its not. Double Rainbow makes no claims to authenticity  how could it  but its mash-up of flavours and textures and bold, brash vinegars, ferments and chilli pastes make it more Chinese than many Chinese restaurants. But with a Korean twist. And Japanese. And North African. And Australian too? Confused? Read on. Prawn wonton with miso harissa, kewpie and chives makes your head spin. But my God, it works. How about a duck sausage McMuffin with peanut hoisin and onion? Wood-fired roasted octopus with yuzu shitake XO sauce and Kipfler potatoes is just nonsense. Until you put it in your mouth. Youll get concussion from the sheer power of the flavours. Go for the hard core Korean-ish dishes like kimchi dumplings with pumpkin ssamjang and crunchy chilli vinegar or KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). The flavour really hits you.



Dragon Palace, Northbridge Dragon Palaces dim sum game is superb. Credit: Rob Broadfield Sometimes you just want old school and the posh(ish) Dragon Palace restaurants fit the bill. Theres a certain 1980s-advertising-executive-long-lunch grandeur to it. Feel like Singapore chilli crab that costs the GDP of a small African nation, or braised abalone for $150 a serve? Theyve got you covered. Dragon Palace is all about Cantonese dishes and their roast duck is a favourite among its legion of fans. Youll often see them over lunch quaffing a swanky bottle of pinot noir as the waiter forensically carves the delicate duck tableside. They always have live seafood, ready to go. Their dim sum game is superb, as is the level of service and the whole white-glove feel on their venues. The Northbridge restaurant is the OG with offshoots at Cockburn and Mandurah. Silks, Crown Perth, Burswood Wanting to get a deal across the line over dinner? Try Silks. Credit: Rob Broadfield

Speaking of posh Cantonese, dont go past Silks, amid the lights and glittering attractions of Crown Perth. Its uber-posh interior design is looking a little tired these days, which is comforting in a curious way. Not too Casino, if you get our meaning. But theres no mistaking the effort from a bevy of Hong Kong chefs pushing out polished dishes behind the pass. Theres always a Chinese business party or two in the dining room, local businesspeople hosting Chinese visitors and the usual mix of hotel guests, posh first-daters and those who love a good Peking chicken. Silks service is, well, silky. Its dumplings and other dim sum dishes are all made in house and the wine list is well and truly above expectations for a Perth Chinese restaurant. Dim sum is served only at lunchtime and the main menu is available for lunch and dinner. Kung Pao chicken with dried chilli and cashew nuts is a stunner and, if youre wanting to get a deal across the line over dinner, go large with the $288 stir-fried abalone. Joy Kitchen, Fremantle Joy Kitchen is something special. Credit: Rob Broadfield Joy Kitchen is something of a sleeper in terms of well-known Chinese restaurants, but with so many chefs, off-shift hospo folks and informed foodies flocking to this place, you know its got something going for it. Joy Kitchens dishes lean into more traditional cooking, but theres a vivacity and cleanness of flavours which make this Chinese restaurant a little special. Youll find no roast duck or jellyfish on this menu, but youll discover good dumplings (all made in house), their fabulous prawns on toast, honey roast pork ribs, sizzling Mongolian lamb and Szechuan beef with cashew nuts. The wine list is modest but contains good wines from household-name producers. Uncle Billys, Chinatown, Roe Street Perth
Opposition MPs are under fire for misquoting two former High Court judges on their position on the Indigenous Voice to parliament, sparking calls for an apology.

Former chief justice Robert French and former judge Kenneth Hayne  both prominent supporters of the Voice  gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry batting away concerns about whether the new body would impede the functioning of government.

Former High Court justice Kenneth Hayne. Credit: AFR

A dissenting report from that inquiry, on behalf of Liberal Party members, picked only portions of their answers to suggest they were concerned about the Voice. Those sections were then echoed in a series of speeches from opposition MPs to parliament during the lengthy debate on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 Bill.

French told the committee inquiry that the duty to consult would be constructed by parliament and if for some reason or other, that became unworkable, the parliament could amend the law accordingly.
The Minns government has been forced to drop a key plank of its election promise to tackle rental affordability after a wave of criticism from experts who warned it would instead drive up prices and lock tenants into leases they cannot afford.

In a major concession, NSW Premier Chris Minns has decided to pull the much-maligned plan to end secret rent bidding, after it became clear the minority government would not be able to pass the bill through parliament.

Premier Chris Minns has been forced to drop a key plank of his rental reform bill after experts warned it would drive up prices. Credit: Rhett Wyman

The bill was referred to a parliamentary committee last month after crossbenchers raised concerns with new rules that would have required real estate agents to tell applicants when they received a higher bid for a rental property.

Last week the committee heard evidence from a range of experts including tenancy advocates and real estate groups who warned it would spark bidding wars and push Sydneys already over-heated rental market into overdrive.
Ahmed Emad El-Din, former Egyptian minister of health and former dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, died of a heart attack late on Monday at the age of 68.

The funeral prayers will be held in the Police Mosque in New Cairo today after the afternoon prayer and condolences will be offered on Wednesday after the sunset prayer at New Cairos El-Moushir Tantawy Mosque.

In a statement today, the cabinet mourned the death of Emad El-Din, saying he was one of the most prominent officials who made great contributions to improve healthcare provided to citizens.

Emad El-Din also contributed to drawing up a plan to develop the government-owned hospitals during his tenure as health minister, the cabinet added.

We have lost first and foremost one of the most special professors in the field of medical sciences and a colleague in the cabinet second, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.

Madbouly hailed the late professor as a notable member of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University, contributing with his efforts and knowledge to treating many Egyptians.

The premier extended condolences to Emad El-Dins family and colleagues, praying God to bestow mercy upon him and grant patience and solace to his family.

Emad El-Din was a highly-experienced orthopedic surgery professor. He assumed his post as health minister from September 2015 to June 2018 in the cabinet of Sherif Ismail, who also passed away last February after a long struggle with illness at the age of 67.

Emad El-Din also served in several administrative posts and was the dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, for two years from October 2013 to August 2015.

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The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, seemingly by Russian forces, is being called the largest man-made disaster in Europe since Chernobyl in 1986, unleashing a flood of water across the war zone and putting more than 80 settlements, and 16,000 people, in danger.

Regrettably, the deliberate demolition of dams in war is far from uncommon; this is not the first time Ukraine has suffered so devastatingly.

The decision of Josef Stalins secret police to blow up the Zaporizhzhia dam in 1941  only 150 kilometres away from Kakhovka and now the site of the synonymous nuclear power plant  is believed to have killed somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000 people.

It was motivated by the same intention: to stall the enemy advance. Indeed, the timing of Tuesdays attack on Kakhovka can be no coincidence, impeding the Ukrainian counter-offensive just 24 hours after Kyiv began probing various points across the front.
Our local school and stadium downtown were flooded ... The road was completely flooded, our bus got stuck, she said. Ukrainian police released video of an officer carrying an elderly woman to safety and others rescuing dogs in villages being evacuated as the waters rose. A man pushes his bicycle along a flooded street in Kherson. Credit: AP Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko accused Russia of shelling areas from which where people were being evacuated and said two police officers were wounded. On the Russian-controlled bank of the Dnipro, the Moscow-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka said water levels had risen to 11 metres. He did not say how high water levels were before the dam burst.

Residents reached by telephone there said that some locals had decided to stay despite being ordered out. They say they are ready to shoot without warning, said one man, Hlib, describing encounters with Russian troops. Mykola Gurzhiy, 74, a local fisherman, in the kitchen of his flooded house on the island of Kakhovka, on the Dnipro river near Lysohirka. Credit: AP If you come a metre closer than allowed, they immediately start yelling obscenities. Another resident, Yevheniya, said the water was up to the knees of the Russian soldiers walking the main street in high rubber boots.

If you try to go somewhere they dont allow, they immediately point their machine guns at you, she said. More and more water is coming every hour. Its very dirty. Loading The Kazkova Dibrova zoo on the Russian-held riverbank was completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, a representative said via the zoos Facebook account. The small town of Oleshky, on the Russian-controlled bank of the Dnipro, was almost completely flooded, a Russian-appointed official said. Evacuation ... is possible only using special equipment, Andrei Alexeyenko, chairman of the Russian-appointed government of Ukraines Kherson province, said on Telegram.

The dam supplies water to a wide area of southern Ukrainian farmland, including the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, as well water to cool the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The vast reservoir behind the dam is one of the main geographic features of southern Ukraine, 240 km long and up to 23 km wide. An expanse of countryside fans out in the flood plain below, with low-lying villages on the Russian-held southern bank particularly vulnerable. Possible humanitarian disaster The dams destruction threatened a new humanitarian disaster in the centre of the war zone and transformed front lines just as Ukraine prepares a long-awaited counteroffensive to drive Russian troops from its territory.

Russia has controlled the dam since early in its 15-month-old invasion, although Ukrainian forces recaptured the Dnipros northern bank last year. Both sides had long accused the other of plotting to destroy the dam. Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Ihor Medyunov stands in his home near Lysohirka. Credit: AP Ukraine also called Russia a terrorist state at the top UN court as hearings began in a case over Moscows backing of pro-Russian separatists blamed for shooting down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the dams destruction an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations had no independent information on how the dam was breached, describing it as another devastating consequence of Russias invasion. The UN Security Council was due to meet later on Tuesday (local time) at the request of both Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine accused Russia of an ecological and technological act of terrorism while Russia cast it as an act of sabotage carried out by Ukraine, according to the requests seen by Reuters. The streets of Kherson on Tuesday. Credit: AP Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also blamed deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side.

Loading Russian-installed officials had earlier given conflicting accounts, some saying the dam had been hit by Ukrainian missiles overnight, others that it had collapsed on its own due to earlier damage. The UN nuclear watchdog said the Zaporizhzhia power plant, upriver on the reservoirs Russian-held bank, should have enough water to cool its reactors for some months from a separate pond, even as the huge reservoir drains out. Video showed water surging through the remains of the dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 kilometres long. Some 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in the Kherson region are at risk of flooding, Russias RIA news agency quoted the Moscow-installed head of the region as saying.
Robert F. Kennedy jnr, a prominent conspiracy theorist and longshot presidential candidate, praised Elon Musk for rescuing American democracy in a bizarre Twitter discussion between the pair on Monday.

Kennedy lavished praise on the Twitter owner who hosted him on the platform for a rambling, two-hour-plus discussion spanning AI, the Ukraine war, and pharmaceutical companies.

Robert F. Kennedy jnr is a leading anti-vax conspiracy theorist. Hes also the son of former US senator Robert F. Kennedy. Credit: AP

The 69-year-old, who has previously been suspended from Instagram for sharing debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccines, said Twitter was the last refuge for those who depart from official orthodoxies.

I just want to tell you how much I admire you for that and how grateful I am on behalf of my country, he told Musk.
CAY HIL:--- The United Women Book Club (UWBC) will host its Sip & Chat literary evening here on July 9, 2023, at Tiki Pool Bar on Bison Drive.

The UWBC featured guest will be the acclaimed St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou. Lasana will read from and discuss his remarkable book of fiction Love Songs Make You Cry, said Danielle Chance, UWBC founder.

Its an invitation to step into the enchanting world of literature, celebrate Caribbean Literature Day 2023, and have an evening of delightful literary reading and insightful discussion of the first book of short stories about our unique St. Martin island, said Chance.

While first published in 1989 by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP), it is Love Songs second edition from 2014, which will be the book of the hour at the Sip & Chat in July 2023.

The Sip & Chat aims to bring our community together, celebrate literary accomplishments of our local authors, and foster an environment where meaningful connections between individuals from diverse backgrounds can flourish, said Chance.

Noted critic Howard Fergus had early on touched on the individuality, diversity, and community in Love Songs: Sekou uses his characters community names and not their Sunday School namesFatty, Taata, Gas, Weeze.  The author reveals character by using the idiom of his people in his narrative. People are fresh and give cut-eyes and a grannie dubs a teenager a pissy-tale nastiness. 

It is St. Maartenjoyous, seamy, stiflingbut restive and dynamic all the same. The author knows local names and habitation where life flowsthe villages, the beaches, and the hotels. He faithfully portrays the warmth and richness of community lifeways where peoples lives touch each other, 

There is another unmistakable element in the stories which warrants comment. It is the way Sekou links the real world with the subliminal world, the netherworld of nightmare and spirits. (The Caribbean Writer)

Love Songs Make You Cry has been taught in USA and Italian universities, said HNP president Jacqueline Sample, currently on the island for pre-St. Martin Book Fair activities.

But it is in the second edition that Sekou reinvents his prose. ... The depth of his discourse and the scope of his subjects give his stories a universal, yet unique, character well beyond the boundaries of a Caribbean readership, said Michela A. Calderaro, who taught English literature at the University of Trieste, Italy.

For UWBC, the borderlessness of Love Songs Make You Cry begins at home and highlights the power of literature to inspire, educate, and unite as the authors words bring to life the rich history, vibrant characters, and awe-inspiring landscapes of our island, said Chance.

In addition to Lasanas exciting style of reading, the UWBC plans to make the July 9 evening more engaging by interviewing the author. We want details from Lasana about his book, which unravels hidden stories of our beloved St. Martin and seduces us with elements of the Caribbean cultural tapestry, said Chance.

Sip & Chat is also about the sun setting over Cay Hill, immersing yourself in an intimate ambiance while enjoying delicious sips and delectable bites. The Tiki Pool Bar, with its tranquil surroundings and warm hospitality, provides the perfect setting for an evening of literary exploration and stimulating dialogue that include the audience, said Chance.

Come prepared with your copy of Love Songs Make You Cry from Arnias Bookstore, SPDbooks.org, or UWBC members. The book will also be available at the Sip & Chat for guests and book signing by the author, said Fabienne Chance, UWBC social media manager.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact UWBC on Facebook, IG, and emails This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , said Fabienne Chance.
TellerhAuser Permitting Process Update

First Tin Plc (\First Tin\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/first-tin-ltd ), a tin development company with advanced, low capex projects in Germany and Australia, is pleased to announce that the Company has submitted the complete documentation for its mine permit application to the Saxonian Mining Authority for its 100% owned TellerhAuser tin project in Germany, with a decision expected prior to the end of Q3 2024.

First Tin CEO Thomas Buenger said, aThis submission to the authorities is an important next step in advancing our mining activities at our TellerhAuser asset. The application describes in detail our plan to build a tin mine which sets a new standard for mining operations worldwide in terms of sustainability. We look forward to updating shareholders with further progress on permitting once this procedure has been completed and, in the meanwhile, we are focused on building additional value in the asset with an updated JORC compliant Resource, which is expected in the coming months.a

First Tin is an ethical, reliable, and sustainable tin production company led by a team of renowned tin specialists. The Company is focused on becoming a tin supplier in conflict-free, low political risk jurisdictions through the rapid development of high value, low capex tin assets in Germany and Australia.

Tin is a critical metal, vital in any plan to decarbonise and electrify the world, yet Europe has very little supply. Rising demand, together with shortages, is expected to lead tin to experience sustained deficit markets for the foreseeable future. Its assets have been de-risked significantly, with extensive work undertaken to date.

First Tin\-s goal is to use best-in-class environmental standards to bring two tin mines into production in three years, providing provenance of supply to support the current global clean energy and technological revolutions.
Lithium and cobalt  metals of the green future

Electromobility and the increasing need for energy storage will fuel demand for cobalt and lithium.

While about 6.6 million passenger electric vehicles were sold in 2021, that number is expected to reach an estimated 21 million by 2025. Investors should not worry about cobalt-free cathode technologies reducing cobalt demand, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. That\-s because the dominant cathode type will continue to be nickel-cobalt-manganese technology. For example, cobalt demand in lithium-ion batteries is expected to increase by approximately 11.3 percent annually.

And this is a longer-term trend. Even if the volume of cobalt in cathodes decreases, this will be more than offset by the growth rate of the electromobility market. Markets such as aerospace and military are also expected to remain robust. between 2013 and 2021the cobalt consumption grew by about eight percent each year.

A growing mine supply will struggle to keep pace with growing demand. Cobalt is not only available in Congo or Indonesia, but also, for example, at Mawson Gold\-s  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/mawson-gold-ltd/  Rajapalot cobalt-gold project in Finland. In addition, there are extremely promising rights to stakes in gold projects in Sweden and Australia.

Another metal used in lithium-ion batteries is lithium. Lithium occurs in hard rock deposits, such as in Australia or in evaporated brines. Most lithium brine production comes from salars in Argentina and Chile. Around two-thirds of the lithium produced goes into the manufacture of batteries. The rest goes to other industries. The energy transition and the raw materials needed for it should also be on investors\- minds.

Among the lithium companies, Alpha Lithium  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/alpha-lithium-corp/  , for example, is appealing with its advanced lithium projects in the lithium triangle in Argentina.

Current corporate information and press releases from Alpha Lithium (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/alpha-lithium-corp/ -) and Mawson Gold (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/mawson-gold-ltd/ -).

In accordance with A34 WpHG I would like to point out that partners, authors and employees may hold shares in the respective companies addressed and thus a possible conflict of interest exists. No guarantee for the translation into English. Only the German version of this news is valid.

Disclaimer: The information provided does not represent any form of recommendation or advice. Express reference is made to the risks in securities trading. No liability can be accepted for any damage arising from the use of this blog. I would like to point out that shares and especially warrant investments are always associated with risk. The total loss of the invested capital cannot be excluded. All information and sources are carefully researched. However, no guarantee is given for the correctness of all contents. Despite the greatest care, I expressly reserve the right to make errors, especially with regard to figures and prices. The information contained herein is taken from sources believed to be reliable, but in no way claims to be accurate or complete. Due to court decisions, the contents of linked external sites are also co-responsible (e.g. Landgericht Hamburg, in the decision of 12.05.1998  312 O 85/98), as long as there is no explicit dissociation from them. Despite careful control of the content, I do not assume liability for the content of linked external pages. The respective operators are exclusively responsible for their content. The disclaimer of Swiss Resource Capital AG also applies: https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/disclaimer/
Alpha Lithium Responds to Tecpetrol Announcement of Intention to Make Below Market Tender Offer

Alpha Lithium Corporation (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (German WKN: A3CUW1) (aAlpha Lithiuma or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/alpha-lithium-corp/ ) today responded to the June 2, 2023 announcement by Tecpetrol Investments S.L. (aTecpetrola) of its intention to make an unsolicited takeover bid offer to acquire all of Alpha Lithiuma?s issued and outstanding shares at $1.24 per share (the aOffera).

Tecpetrola?s Offer price represents a discount to the current 10-day weighted average price of $1.27 per share and a premium of only 7.8% to the share price immediately prior to Tecpetrola?s May 22, 2023 announcement.

Alpha Lithium shareholders are not required to take any action in response to the Tecpetrol announcement at this time, as a potential Offer has only been announced, and not formally made.

The Alpha Lithium Board of Directors (the aBoarda) has formed a special committee comprised of its four independent directors (the aSpecial Committeea). If a formal Offer is received, the Special Committee and the Board will thoroughly consider the Offer and related takeover bid circular with its financial and legal advisors, as well as actively investigate all possible alternatives to the Offer, including any competing offers. The Board will respond in detail and make a recommendation to the Companya?s shareholders through a news releases and a directorsa? circular in accordance with applicable securities laws.

We wish to advise shareholders that Tecpetrola?s announcement appears to contain a number of misleading, factually inaccurate and incomplete statements; and therefore, should be viewed with significant skepticism and caution.

Tecpetrol first made an unsolicited non-binding offer on May 15, 2023, which was reviewed by the entire Board and rejected after determining the bid to be opportunistic with a low and declining premium to the share price, and not in the best interests of Alpha Lithium shareholders. Additionally, the non-binding offer was structured to preclude Alpha Lithium from engaging with other potential interested third parties who may appropriately value the Companya?s unique and compelling assets (see May 23, 2023 news release).

Subsequently, on June 2, 2023, Tecpetrol announced its intention to take the same undervalued bid directly to shareholders via a formal takeover bid offer, from a subsidiary of Tecpetrol.

As indicated in Tecpetrola?s press release, Alpha Lithium has been involved in an ongoing and comprehensive process to explore the potential sale of its Tolillar asset. Tecpetrol was invited to participate in this process but, rather than engage in constructive discussions, Tecpetrol refused to sign an industry-standard non-disclosure agreement and instead elected to disrupt an otherwise orderly sale process.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its advisors, the Board will carefully review and evaluate Tecpetrola?s Offer, if one is received, to determine the course of action it believes is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Advisors

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is serving as the Companya?s financial advisor, Cozen Oa?Connor LLP is serving as the Companya?s legal advisor. Longview Communications & Public Affairs is serving as government and public relations advisor and Kingsdale Advisors is serving as strategic shareholder and communications advisor.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ALPHA LITHIUM CORPORATION

aBrad Nichola

Brad Nichol

President, CEO and Director

For more information:

Alpha Lithium Investor Relations

Tel: +1 844 592 6337

relations@alphalithium.com

www.alphalithium.comA

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

About Alpha Lithium (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (German WKN: A3CUW1)

Alpha Lithium is a team of industry professionals and experienced stakeholders focused on the development of the Tolillar and Hombre Muerto Salars. In Tolillar, we have assembled 100% ownership of what may be one of Argentinaa?s last undeveloped lithium salars, encompassing 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres), neighboring multi-billion-dollar lithium players in the heart of the renowned aLithium Trianglea. In Hombre Muerto, we continue to expand our 5,000+ hectare (12,570 acres) foothold in one of the worlda?s highest quality, longest producing, lithium brine salars. Other companies in the area exploring for lithium brines or currently in production include Allkem Ltd., Livent Corporation, and POSCO in Salar del Hombre Muerto; Orocobre in Salar Olaroz; Eramine SudAmerica S.A. in Salar de Centenario; and Ganfeng Lithium and Lithium Americas in Salar de Cauchari.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning the Offer and the process thereof. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as awilla, amaya, ashoulda, aanticipatea, aexpectsa and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-s expectations include the results of further discussions, if any, between the Company, Tecpetrol and other third parties, global economic conditions and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, include numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including the fact that there is no certainty that a formal Offer will in fact be made. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
Tier One Silver Upsizes and Closes $2.6 Million Equity Financing

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV: TSLV) (aTier Onea or the aCompanya) A  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/tier-one-silver-inc/  is pleased to announce that it has completed its non-brokered private placement, the terms of which were announced April 3, 2023 (the aOfferinga). In the second and final tranche of the Offering the Company issued 4,942,000 units (each, a aUnita) at a price of C$0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$1,235,500 bringing the total gross proceeds from the Offering to C$2,641,000.

In connection with the second tranche of the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash findersa? fees of C$25,380 (C$69,210 in total for the Offering) and issued 101,520 non-transferable findersa? warrants (276,840 findersa? warrants in total for the Offering), with each findersa? warrant exercisable for one common share of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.35 until April 21, 2025. The findersa? fees and findersa? warrants were paid to Research Capital Corporation, Haywood Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., German Mining Networks GmbH; StephenAvenue Securities Inc. and Red Cloud Securities Inc., all of which are arma?s length to the Company and who referred participating investors to the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to resume exploration and prepare for drilling at the Curibaya project and for general working capital purposes.

A Message from Peter Dembicki, President, CEO & Director:

aWe would like to thank all of our supporters who participated in the private placement. This additional capital allows us to enter the next phase of work at Curibaya as we lead up to drilling.a

The securities being issued are subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law. Final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange is expected upon filing standard documentation.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.

Peter Dembicki

President, CEO and Director

For further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, VP of Communications, at (778) 729-0600 or info@tieronesilver.com.

About Tier One

Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Companya?s management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Companya?s exploration assets in Peru include: Hurricane Silver, Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com.

Forward Looking Information and General Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa) that relate to the Companya?s current expectations and views of future events in connection with the outlined financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the Companya?s exploration plans and the use of proceeds of the Offering. A Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company\-s Annual Information Form and Managementa?s Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.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.
Speedcast Delivers First Live Deployment for OneWeba?s Maritime LEO Service

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

Speedcast Delivers First Live Deployment for OneWeba?s Maritime LEO Service

Maritime customer installation completed following successful sea trials of OneWeb LEO connectivity service

Oslo, Norway a June 6, 2023 a Speedcast, a leading communications and IT services provider, and OneWeb, the global low Earth orbit (LEO) communications network, jointly announced today the launch of OneWeba?s maritime LEO connectivity service. Following successful engineering trials, OneWeba?s maritime terminals have been installed on the RV Polarstern, in partnership with Reederei F. Laeisz and Speedcast, delivering the first fully managed service and support.

Speedcast customer Reederei F. Laeisz is a leading German shipping company with a diverse fleet of more than 30 vessels, with experience in conducting remote operations in the polar regions for more than 25 years. The Research Vessel Polarstern, managed by Reederei F. Laeisz and operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), is a key player in Germanya?s polar research and the designated resupply vessel for AWIa?s Neumayer Station III, the base for German Antarctic Research. It has been in operations for more than 40 years in the Polar regions.

OneWeba?s maritime LEO connectivity service enables delivery of a high-speed, low-latency, globally consistent experience for customers a even in the most remote sea lanes and maritime communities.

In addition to the OneWeb LEO service, as part of a hybrid connectivity solution deployed on the Polarstern, Speedcast is also providing additional LEO-based and L-band services a integrated via Speedcasta?s SIGMA network management platform for complete traffic prioritization. The fully managed solution is deployed to offer the Polarsterna?s crew, as well as the scientific expedition participants from around the world, with high-throughput services for their operations in the North Sea, Arctic regions and all the way up to the North Pole.

In order to provide OneWeba?s low-latency broadband mobility service, Speedcast has deployed Intelliana?s latest maritime user terminal, the OW70M. These exceptional terminals are some of the most network efficient in the OneWeb portfolio with the technology to deliver the highest bandwidth packages available to cruise, superyacht, energy, fishing and commercial shipping customers. The OW70Ma?s additional heating module allows it to withstand extreme temperatures of up to -40oC, ideal for Polarsterna?s Arctic expedition. Speedcast and Intellian previously announced a multi-year partnership agreement in 2022.

OneWeb and Speedcast signed a distribution partnership agreement last year, provisioning the addition of OneWeba?s enterprise-grade, high-speed LEO connectivity to Speedcasta?s Unified Global Platform (UGP), which is one of the largest technology-agnostic networks in the world. This integrates LEO as a connectivity pathway, joining GEO, MEO and 4G/5G for high-demand applications. Since then, successful customer trials have solidified the LEO service now offered for Speedcasta?s maritime customers.

aWea?re excited to partner with OneWeb on the first live deployment of its LEO maritime connectivity network for our customer, supporting the research efforts of AWI and international scientists aboard the RV Polarstern,a said Andre Eerland, Vice President, Commercial Maritime at Speedcast. aThis project represents an important step forward in a changing industry landscape, where customers now have more options than ever to ensure reliable and seamless connectivity while operating in the most remote places on earth. Wea?re proud to work with innovative partners, such as OneWeb and Intellian, to deliver critical connectivity solutions as customers continue to embrace the benefits of multi-path, multi-orbit technologies.a

aFittingly, in the light of Nor-Shippinga?s overarching theme of #PartnerShip, OneWeb is launching its LEO connectivity services at sea hand-in-hand with our industry partners, who have years of experience in developing, deploying and servicing certified, scalable and responsible connectivity solutions to the maritime industry,a said Carole Plessy, VP Maritime and Europe at OneWeb. aOneWeb is working collaboratively with the industry and connecting customers via established industry expert distribution partners such as Speedcast.a

OneWeba?s maritime service offers +100mbps and more of enterprise-grade connectivity for applications at sea. The solutiona?s Service Level Agreement (SLA) model offers customers added flexibility, underpinned by guaranteed service levels defined by straightforward CIR (Committed Information Rate) and MIR (Maximum Information Rate) package options.

Learn more at Nor-Shipping 2023, June 6-9 in Oslo, by visiting OneWeb at stand #B03-14 and Speedcast at stand #B05-23.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Tuesday the second edition of Africa Health ExCon in Cairo under the theme Your Gate to Innovation and Trade.

The Africa Health ExCon is Africa's biggest annual healthcare exhibition and conference, connecting global healthcare providers to exchange knowledge and attract investments for sustainable healthcare solutions.

The second edition of the conference, featuring speakers from 90 countries, is being held at the Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in New Cairo from 6-9 June.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several Egyptian and African high-level officials, including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, and other senior figures from the Egyptian side.

Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed gratitude to Egypt for its contributions to healthcare in Africa and praised global solidarity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during her speech at the ceremony.

President El-Sisi stated during his speech that Egypt is committed to playing a positive role in the healthcare sector in Egypt and Africa, as it has done since the first edition of Africa Health ExCon last year.

El-Sisi acknowledged that COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of healthcare systems in African countries, but emphasized that cooperation and coordination between nations can enhance their healthcare capabilities.

The president highlighted Egypt's healthcare initiatives and achievements, including the successful campaign to eliminate hepatitis C.

We have targeted this disease that had a major negative impact on Egyptians, El-Sisi stressed, noting Egypt's upcoming achievement and celebration of becoming hepatitis C-free in a few weeks, meeting the standards set by the World Health Organization.

El-Sisi mourned the death of former Egyptian Health Minister Ahmed Emad El-Din , who passed away on Monday evening, hailing his "great contribution" to the health sector.

Egypts health minister affirmed that health has been a priority for the state since 2014 and identified overpopulation as a major challenge in the country's healthcare system during the ceremony.

We have a child born every 15 seconds and four children born every minute, Abdel-Ghaffar said, explaining that some children suffer from malnutrition and genetic diseases.

During the first Africa Health ExCon in June last year, an initiative was introduced to enhance Africa's human and financial capabilities to produce vaccines, medical tools and supplies by 2030.

The first edition of the conference made recommendations to enhance the African healthcare sector, including vaccinating newborns to eliminate hepatitis B and C.

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The new flight route between Cairo and New Jerseys Newark city will strengthen business ties between Egypt and the US and allow more American tourists to visit Egypt, the US embassy in Cairo said on Tuesday.

In a post on its Facebook page, the US embassy congratulated Egypt on the first direct flight between Cairo and Newark earlier this week

The embassy added that the new connection will help US tourists visit Egypt and Egyptian tourists and students go to the US.

EgyptAir now operates direct flights from Cairo to four US cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Newark, the embassy affirmed.

The first direct flight coming from Newark landed in Cairo International Airport on Sunday morning as part of the new flight route announced in mid-April.

The plane was given the customary water salute.

EgyptAir has recently announced plans to operate three direct flights per week between Cairo International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport using its latest Boeing B787-9 aircraft.

Tens of thousands of Egyptian immigrants to the US who live in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Metropolitan area use JFK in New York to fly back home.

Meanwhile, prior to the pandemic, more than 500,000 Americans visited Egypt anually.

Egypt received a record-breaking 1.35 million tourists in April, marking a significant milestone for the countrys tourism sector that has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said on Monday that the country expects a total of 15 million tourists in 2023  a figure which, if met, would break the 14.7 million record set in 2010.

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Another sandstorm is expected to hit Egypt from Wednesday to Friday with temperatures rising to 36 degrees Celsius in the capital and 45 degrees in the deep south.

Sandstorms are expected to start in some western areas on Wednesday and then spread to other places nationwide on Thursday and Friday, Manar Ghannam, a member of the media office at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA), said in a phone interview with Channel One.

She attributed the turbulent weather to a depression coming from the Western Desert that will stir sand and dust and cause temperatures to hike nationwide.

Temperatures will reach 36 degrees Celsius in Cairo and 45 degrees in Upper Egypt, Mahmoud Shahin, director of the analysis department at the EMA, told Ahram Arabic news website.

Shahin urged citizens, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases, to avoid exposure to wind and sands during those days.

He also urged against parking cars or driving near billboards or trees when the winds are strong.

Due to the Khamasin spring winds, the hot spell was accompanied with strong winds and sandstorms in several parts of the country on Thursday, bringing down billboards and ripping up trees on major streets in the capital.

One person was killed and two injured on Thursday after a billboard collapsed on vehicles travelling on the October Bridge in Central Cairo due to strong winds and a sandstorm.

Social media users shared photos of some billboards that collapsed on major roads in New Cairo and the Suez-Cairo Road.

Some ports on the Mediterranean Sea were ordered closed on Thursday due to the unstable weather conditions, high wind speeds, and elevated sea waves.

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Action continues to dominate. With an additional 16.48M hours viewed for the week, The Mother starring Jennifer Lopez entered the Most Popular English Film List of all time at #8, with 229.30M total hours viewed. In its fourth week, the action-thriller now boasts nearly 117M views (229.30M hours viewed divided by 1.96 runtime hours). And for the second week in a row, FUBAR held the #1 spot on the English TV List as the father-daughter duo of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro drew 88.03M hours viewed and appeared in the Top 10 in 91 countries. In just 10 days, the action-comedy had nearly 25M views (177M hours viewed divided by 7.13 runtime hours). As Chief Action Officer, Schwarzenegger also shared some hard-hitting ideas with Chris Hemsworth in anticipation of Extraction 2 (which premieres on June 16).The final episodes of Manifest had a successful landing as Season 4, Part 2 debuted on the English TV List with 39.4M hours viewed. Other new titles this week included The Ultimatum: Queer Love with 15.03M hours viewed and Season 2 of Barbeque Showdown with 13.63M hours viewed. Fans flocked to their favorites with love stories XO, Kitty and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Season 6 of real estate reality series Selling Sunset and Season 2 of romantic drama Firefly Lane all returning to the list.Elsewhere, dramas ruled the Non-English TV List. Colombians Fake Profile entered the list on top with 76.31M hours viewed - the highest premiere for a Colombian series, along with Japans The Days with 16.98M hours viewed, Portugals Turn of the Tide (12.05M hours viewed) and Season 3 of Spains Valeria (9.54M hours viewed). Korean dramas Doctor Cha and The Good Bad Mother and Spanish thriller Muted remained on the list.On the Non-English Films List, German drama Blood & Gold moved into the #1 spot with 24.99M hours viewed. New entrants included Danish drama A Beautiful Life and Brazilian romantic comedy Rich in Love 2. Spanish horror Tin & Tina, Polish action-adventure Mothers Day, Mexican drama Where the Tracks End, German comedy Hard Feelings, Dutch psychological thriller Faithfully Yours and political satire Que viva Mexico! all returned to the list.
As Senegalese struggle with the aftermath of deadly protests sparked by the conviction of an opposition leader, attention is shifting to the impact on the nation's economy.

Two days of violence have cost "billions of CFA francs" -- tens of millions of dollars -- and political risk is threatening this year's growth targets, said consultant economist Mansour Sambe.

The West African state has long surfed on its reputation for stability in a region plagued by coups.

But that cosy image has been dented by clashes between the security forces and supporters of firebrand presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko.

Sixteen people died and hundreds were injured or arrested after Sonko on Thursday was sentenced to two years on charges of "corrupting" a young woman.

That verdict was the outcome of a two-year case for rape charges that transfixed the country, triggering sporadic unrest that had already claimed a dozen lives.

In a country that has only a meagre social safety net, many Senegalese live in precarity and eye disruption with dread.

'If you work, you eat'

Magaye Gaye, a 19-year-old toiletries seller at the Sandaga market in Dakar, said he had closed his stall on the eve of the trial's outcome.

Several days without business had left him with almost nothing.

"I have spent all my savings just to survive," he told AFP.

Clothing seller Modou Gueye, 46, was in a similar predicament.

"Clients have stayed away because they are afraid," he said Monday. "We live from one day to the next. If you have work, you eat, if you have no work, you go hungry."

For many poor Senegalese, the coming Muslim festival of Tabaski is a daunting moment, as it requires the purchase of lamb for the traditional family feast.

Some have been badly hit by the government move at the weekend to suspend mobile internet access after it blocked access to social media, since millions use mobile phones to transfer money.

"The banks have been closed since Wednesday," Ady Thiam, a 45-year-old accountant, said while waiting in line on Monday.

"You can't get your wages or your pension. Daily workers aren't being paid. People can't get medical treatment," he said.

"People have so little anyway -- this is what causes them to revolt."

'Political risks'

Further tension seems almost inevitable.

The next flashpoint could be when Sonko -- believed to be at his home in Dakar, surrounded by police -- is taken into custody to serve his sentence.

Then there are the potentially stormy waters of next year's presidential elections, for which Sonko now appears to be ineligible.

"The biggest danger for investors are political risks," Sambe said.

Before the unrest, economists had been expecting growth of nine to 10 percent for 2023, he said.

But with uncertainty hanging over the 2024 election, "the entire second half (of 2023) could be lost", he said.

Sambe urged President Macky Sall to intervene, saying "He has to reassure the public".

Spotlight on Sall

But Sall's own credibility is on the line.

Sonko's supporters say their champion, like other Sall rivals before him, is being persecuted by a manipulated judicial system -- a charge the president denies.

But Sall himself has stoked uncertainty, refusing to say clearly whether he will bid for a third presidential term, a move critics say would breach the constitution.

Of all the crises that modern Senegal has faced, the present one "is the easiest to resolve," three leading intellectuals said in an open letter on Monday.

"All it would need is for one man to say, 'I am not going to seek a third term, which would dishonour my word, my country and its constitution'."

The letter was penned by award-winning writers Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and Boubacar Boris Diop, and Felwine Sarr, who co-wrote a landmark report on the restitution of African cultural artefacts.

Sall on Monday paid a surprise late-night visit to Serigne Bassirou Mountakha Mbacke, the spiritual leader of an influential Muslim fraternity, the daily Soleil reported on Tuesday.

"The wisdom of his advice in some situations can help restore peace and stability," it said.

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M ore than 1 billion in crypto has been withdrawn from the worlds largest digital asset exchange in the past 24 hours after the firm was dealt a hammer blow by the US financial watchdog suing it for breaching securities law.

Binance saw $1.6 billion (1.3 billion) in Ethereum outflows since yesterday, data from analytics business Nansen shows, while inflows stood at $872 million, amounting to the biggest single-day net outflow since fears spread of a banking crisis in March.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday accused Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao of running unregistered crypto trading platforms, selling unregistered crypto products and having enriched themselves by billions of U.S. dollars while placing investors assets at significant risk, according to a complaint filed on Monday at a federal district court in Washington.

Zhao and Binance secretly controlled the Binance.US platforms operations behind the scenes

The court filing alleges that while the company said its US exchange, Binance.US, was operationally independent and US customers were restricted from using Binance.com, Zhao and Binance secretly controlled the Binance.US platforms operations behind the scenes and secretly allow high-value US customers to continue trading on the Binance.com platform.

SEC chair Gary Gensler said: We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law.

As alleged, Zhao and Binance misled investors about their risk controls and corrupted trading volumes while actively concealing who was operating the platform.

Binance said in response: We respectfully disagree with the SECs allegations that Binance operated as an unregistered securities exchange or illegally offered and sold securities. We work diligently to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business.

Because of our size and global name recognition, Binance has found itself an easy target caught in the middle of a U.S. regulatory tug-of-war.

The exchange last saw outflows of a similar magnitude in mid-March, according to news site CoinDesk, when crypto traders were alarmed by the collapse of Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, financial institutions which many crypto businesses held accounts with.

Binance has come under intense scrutiny over its operations by regulators in the US and UK amid a wider crypto crackdown in the wake of the downfall of rival exchange FTX.

In 2021, the UKs Financial Conduct Authority ordered Binance to stop all regulated activity in the UK and issued a warning to consumers about the site, adding: Be wary of adverts online and on social media promising high returns on investments in cryptoasset or cryptoasset-related products.

Binance bosses have since mounted a fresh charm offensive in a bid to restore the crypto firms fraught relationship with the UKs finance watchdog.

Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman said: I think there is a general increased scrutiny in this area given some of the well-publicised issues that this industry has had.

[But] wherever we are we want to be in sync and collaborative with the regulators and make sure were delivering what they need in a transparent way, to ensure that were not operating in grey area.

Binance co-founder He Yi, has previously slammed the UK as the most stressful country for crypto regulation, while co-founder Changpeng Zhao had warned only novice regulatorswant to be the most strict regulator.

There were further signs of the woes facing the crypto industry today after crypto mining business Argo Blockchain plunged to a $9 million loss for the first quarter of 2023 compared to a $2 million profit the previous year, while sales slumped 40% to $11 million. The firm continues to fight for its survival after it warned last year it was running out of cash.

CEO Seif El-Bakly said: We are taking a much more critical view of all operating expenses, and weve implemented a robust internal process aimed at reducing non-mining operating expenses. We are also evaluating options to strengthen our balance sheet.

Argo shares fell 5% to 8.7p.
T he Confederation of British Industry (CBI) faces a crunch vote later on Tuesday as the formerly influential lobbying group tries to secure its future following a series of sexual harassment allegations.

Members will be asked whether its plan for renewal is enough to give them the confidence you need to support the CBI  a vote which will determine the future path of the scandal-hit group.

But a raft of major companies have already quit the CBI due to the allegations  including John Lewis, Aviva and ITV  and are not taking part in the vote, while the Government has also suspended its engagement with the group.

The CBIs new director-general, Rain Newton-Smith, has said the group is determined to learn from the crisis that has unfolded in our organisation.

She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Even throughout this crisis, the vast majority of the CBI members have stayed with us.

She said she will challenge the Government to reconsider its current veto if members give the CBI their vote of confidence.

Ms Newton-Smith told Today: If we can show we have the support of our members, with 3.5 million private sector jobs represented by our direct membership, and a huge million jobs also represented through our trade association networks, why wont you speak to us?

The vote will be held for members during the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which begins at noon on Tuesday.

Members will vote on a new prospectus, which includes appointing a new president and giving members an annual vote on the make-up of its board, following claims of sexual harassment at the CBI made by more than a dozen women, with two separate allegations of rape.

About a dozen firms, including engineering giant Siemens, Microsoft and oil firm Esso, signed a joint letter published in The Times on Monday backing the CBI and its overhaul ahead of Tuesdays vote.

But CBI president Brian McBride said on Monday that the outcome of the critical vote is not a given.

He wrote in the Financial Times: Succeed and we can make a leaner, more accountable and inclusive organisation, fail and we lose precious time to fight for our members and a stronger economy and society.

To members, as well as the wider business community, I want to say that the outcome of Tuesdays vote isnt a given.

A new business group was also launched on Monday hoping to garner the support of those businesses which have ended or suspended their membership with the CBI and are not part of the vote.

We have been talking to the nations largest corporates and it has become clear to us that they are looking for a different kind of representation

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) set up the Business Council, with founding members including some of the UKs biggest companies, such as FTSE 100 oil giant BP, Heathrow, Holiday Inn owner IHG Hotels & Resorts, and power station firm Drax.

BCC director-general Shevaun Haviland said: We have been talking to the nations largest corporates and it has become clear to us that they are looking for a different kind of representation.

Former CBI head Tony Danker was dismissed on April 11 following complaints made against him, including one sexual harassment claim.

His departure came after the Guardian reported the allegations against him in articles in March and April.

Law firm Fox Williams was appointed to carry out an independent investigation and a number of other people were also dismissed by the CBI.

Mr Danker told the BBC his name had been wrongly associated with separate claims, including the alleged rapes which reportedly happened before he joined the CBI.

Aviva was the first major business to cut ties with the group after the allegations, with dozens of the biggest names in British business soon following suit.
T he UK competition watchdog has more than doubled its reward to potential informants who can help it clamp down on illegal cartels.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said the reward will increase from 100,000 to 250,000.

Illegal cartels involve businesses agreeing not to compete in order to keep prices higher for customers.

The CMA is running its cheating or competing campaign to provide advice for people and businesses to help them spot and report anti-competitive practices.

Because cartels are generally conducted in secret, we need to encourage people to come forward and provide us with the information we need to crack down on cartels and protect people and businesses from the harm they cause

Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said: Cartels can cause serious damage to their customers, whether businesses or individual people, weakening price competitiveness  a particular concern at a time of cost-of-living pressures.

The CMAs job is to stamp out illegal cartels, but because cartels are generally conducted in secret, we need to encourage people to come forward and provide us with the information we need to crack down on cartels and protect people and businesses from the harm they cause.

For these reasons, we are today increasing the maximum financial reward for informants and whistleblowers who provide us with valuable information about cartels so that we can take action.

Businesses found to have been involved in cartels can be fined up to 10% of annual turnover and individuals directly involved can face up to five years in prison.

The reward for reporting on cartel behaviour is separate to the watchdogs leniency programme, where firms or individuals involved in cartel activity can escape sanctions if they come forward with information, provided conditions are met.
P rince Harrys crusade against the tabloid press reaches a pivotal stage in the High Court this week. But he got off to a shaky start, committing one of the cardinal sins of legal warfare: Annoying the judge.

In what is a deeply personal battle for the Duke, he fumbled the start of his big week by going missing from the first day of his own case.

Opening speeches were scheduled for yesterday, and Harry was expected as the star turn. Mr Justice Fancourt had insisted that Harry should be at court himself in case there was time to start his evidence yesterday afternoon.

Im a little surprised, said the judge, after being told Harry had been at Lilibets birthday in Los Angeles on Sunday, and apparently never planned to be in court yesterday. The judge didnt say a lot, but his irritation was clear.

Court time is seldom wasted, and a High Court judges timetable is not to be trifled with. Harrys barrister, David Sherborne, blamed the Princes absence on tricky travel and security arrangements, before launching into his speech.

But despite Sherbornes best efforts, the time came when some evidence was needed  Harry simply was not there, and another witness had to be called in to plug the gap.

In the short-term, Harry handed his tabloid detractors an easy win, letting them accuse him of wasting time and disrespecting the court.

The Duke had seemingly ignored a judges order at his peril, and now has to work harder to win him over.

But in the longer-term, it may just be a blip in the distance. Harrys evidence is the centrepiece of a personal battle against the tabloid media who have plundered his life for column inches. From childhood traumas through youthful indiscretions, to his love life, nothing has been off limits.

So it is easy to see why the judge would want as much time as possible for his evidence to be tested. But its the journalists and editors responsible for those stories whose absences may be felt most keenly. Unlike Harry, they are not witnesses and will never be questioned under the sharp glare of the High Court.

How the stories that punctuated Harrys life were created should be the real focus of this most unusual of court battles.
T he summer campaign has opened in Ukraine. In a move of desperate vandalism, Russia appears to have ordered the blowing up of the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro, and widespread flooding could threaten the stability of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex. Even so, it is hard to see the fighting bringing a conclusion over the coming months.

For Ukraines forces surprise is now vital. That is why reports of the actions of the past two days must be treated with reservation. Russia has claimed a successful battle in open fields in Donetsk, destroying a squadron of tanks, numerous armoured carriers and 250 Ukrainian infantry dead.

As the commentator Phillips OBrien put it last night, much of the original reporting on where Ukraine is probing is exactly where the Russians might have expected them to attack  and where the Russians have strong positions. A Ukrainian colleague suggests these are just diversionary attacks.

It will be days before the main objectives of the new campaign are revealed. Expect surprises. This is war is being fought in all five dimensions, ground, air, sea, cyber space, and space. It is the first digital war. A lot of the targeting information, surveillance, aspects of cyber and electronic deception operations are opaque, and not easily described in the crude terms demanded by the mainstream news business.

The defence ministry in Kyiv has said its forces have sufficient munitions and equipment for the opening of the campaign. But it will need a lot more, including modern strike aircraft like the F-16s, to reach a successful culmination by September, or October at the latest.

This will require a sustained effort by Nato and the EU, which is at last establishing a long-term strategy first to sustain Ukraine through the war, and for subsequent reconstruction.

This will be the prime talking point at the Nato summit in Vilnius next month. New force formations, with new equipment, doctrine and command, will have to be established to meet a continuous challenge from Moscow to reshape European security and politics on their terms over the next decade. Since the Nineties, Russia has set out to change international borders by force nine times, the former Nato Supreme Commander John Allen told the BBC yesterday, and they dont look like changing soon.

The Vilnius summit will have to address Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia joining the Nato alliance. This can no longer be kicked into the long grass with a cloud of vague diplomatic-speak. Ukraine cannot be left like a European Israel, heavily armed but isolated, and potentially becoming maverick. Bound into the alliance, Ukraine and its forces would have to follow the alliance rules.

The Nato allies at Vilnius should recognise that the Ukraine conflict of the past 14 months marks a departure in the way of war itself  the war of the Information Age  to which they now need to adapt in very short order. It means the forward positioning of rapid-reaction formations that can respond to signals intelligence, the product of huge surveillance, in hours and days, not weeks and months. The shaping of a new Nato will top the agenda for the new secretary-general, due to be announced at the summit. The frontrunners are Ben Wallace, our Defence Secretary, and Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks PM. Both have been prominent in leading the innovative 10-nation Joint Expeditionary Force group.

This makes the case for urgent reform and retooling of British defence policy and strategy, and the forces themselves. Future operations of scale will have to be run from a central information and command centre  a giant electronic brain close to the centre of political power in London. Today command of the forces is scattered across nearly a dozen headquarters across the country.

The Government has an opportunity in the new Defence Command policy paper due in the next few weeks.

But what of Russia and President Putins plans? It is far from clear what he wants and when and how he wants to stop the war. This now seems to worry Beijing and President Xi as much as the European capitals and President Biden.

This weekend the precious and fragile Trinity Icon, by the 15th- century master Andrei Rublev, was moved from its position in the Tretyakov Gallery to the Moscow cathedral on Mr Putins express orders. Meanwhile, he has said nothing about the renewed fighting in Ukraine  an omission of ominous significance, perhaps.
I n most legal disputes, no matter how high the stakes or fevered the public interest, a common thread prevails: it is the lawyers who win. So when Prince Harry gives evidence (a day late), the hardest question he ought to have answered was Whats the end game?

Clearly, the Duke believes he has scores to settle against the media, in this case Mirror Group Newspapers. His barrister yesterday suggested Harry was subjected to unlawful information-gathering right from when he was a young boy at school and that nothing was sacrosanct. But his litigiousness is a gamble.

Not only in the court itself, but for his future. If Harry wins, he will no doubt feel a sense of vindication. But victory wont mend relationships, with his family, the British public or the media he has come to loathe.

The only guarantee is that Harry is making history, in becoming the first senior royal to give evidence in court since Edward VII, who in 1891 was a witness in a slander case over accusations of cheating in a card game.

It appears that his real motivation is grounded in a mistaken belief that, should he win, the media will be forever changed while all the hurt of the last four decades can be rolled back. Fairytales rarely come true, even for princes.

Key moments for Kyiv

Ukraines counter-offensive may have begun. Its forces have advanced around Bakhmut, the scene of a months-long battle, according to its Deputy Defence minister. Russias military, meanwhile, claimed to have rebuffed an attack in the eastern Donetsk region. Clearly, the information war is ramping up too.

These next few months are critical. A successful counter-offensive into Russian-seized territory would not only liberate its people, but strengthen its hand in any peace agreement. It is also politically paramount  Ukraine will want to show to its allies, most notably the US, that the investment and shipments of arms has been worth it.

The stakes could scarcely be higher. Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed Vladimir Putin for blowing up a giant dam in the Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine, unleashing a torrent of water that threatens not only the populations below, but the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

One thing remains unchanged. Britain must continue to stand united with our allies behind our Ukrainian friends, for freedom and self-determination.

The Camden Eye?

A giant Ferris wheel? In London? Itll never catch on. Still, a row has erupted over plans to build a 131ft-high wheel in Camden Lock Market, with Historic England concerned over its height, bulk, scale and design of the wheel.

The construction is part of an exciting plan for Camden including opening up of the East Vaults and Dead Dog basin, creating a new arts space. We support it, as should local councillors and ultimately the Mayor.
Review at a glance









A merican import James Austin Johnson only arrived in London at the weekend, but he has already done his local research. There were bespoke references to Michael Gambon, The Only Way Is Essex and BBC4 in his effortlessly entertaining opening night set which seamlessly got the crowd onside.

Back home Johnson is renowned for his impressions of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live that regularly go viral. Vanity Fair has called him the countrys best Trump impersonator and when he wheeled it out here it was easy to see why. He has the rambling and offbeat cadences so spot on close your eyes and youd be so convinced Trump was onstage youd be rushing for the exit.

Add in an equally effective whispering Joe Biden and it is clear that this young Nashville-born comic has all the essential political bases covered. And there is plenty more to enjoy here too in a show that takes in satire, autobiography, pocket-sized sketches, one-liners and songs. Not to mention an oddball worldview that is extremely appealing.

Routines cleverly segue into each other. The Trump take-down is linked to a riff about preaching. There was a sublime improvisation based on a fans TV programme suggestion as Johnson blended in mentions of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel so smoothly you could hardly see where the script ended and the ad libs began. Im not sure if hed have done so well if someone had shouted out EastEnders but he is so good he would probably have pulled it off.

James Austin Johnson / handout

His musical mimicry is the gift that keeps on giving. There is a note-perfect Elvis Costello, a priceless Bob Dylan pastiche and Willie Nelson doing Paul Simon. There is an extended send up of each member of supergroup The Highwaymen and dont worry if you are not au fait with country rock specifics, Johnson helpfully fills in the blanks with mini-biogs for the uninitiated so nobody misses a joke.

Occasional gags were lost in translation, but this was his first Soho gig and he was clearly working things out in situ, swapping bachelorette party for hen party mid-story. I was not entirely convinced by his English accent. He thought it sounded like Alan Carr, it seemed somewhere closer to Cape Town to me. However, this is a minor quibble about a major talent.

This is not cutting edge comedy. Johnson is more gentle jazz comedian than rock and roll maverick. I did wonder if he is quietly thinking a Trump v Biden face-off would be good for his career, but he hardly needs to worry. His show is definitely not just about the voices of elderly politicians. Go and see for yourself.

Soho Theatre, to Saturday; sohotheatre.com
Voters on Tuesday will head to the polls in Kuwait's seventh legislative election in just over a decade, following repeated political crises.

More than 793,000 eligible voters will have the chance to determine the make-up of the 50-seat legislature in the only Gulf Arab state to have an elected parliament with powers to hold government to account.

Polling centers are expected to open at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) and close 12 hours later, with the results to be announced the following day, the official Kuwait News Agency said.

"My vote is a right and a duty," said Kuwaiti citizen Ibrahim Shehab, urging others to participate despite concerns over voter apathy.

"I hope that all Kuwaitis who are entitled to vote will follow my example to protect democracy," he told AFP.

Kuwait's emir, Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, called the vote last month after he had again dissolved parliament amid a persistent deadlock with the executive branch that has deterred investment and impeded growth.

A total of 207 candidates are running for a four-year term as lawmakers, the lowest number in a general election since 1996. They include opposition figures and 13 women.

Despite widespread frustration with the political elite, human rights activist Hadeel Buqrais said it was still important to cast a ballot.

"This is the only place where I have a voice, and boycotting means giving up my right as a citizen," she told AFP ahead of election day.

"I have to participate, even if I do not expect the new parliament to tackle issues" concerning the country's rights record, Buqrais said.

Since Kuwait adopted a parliamentary system in 1962, the legislature has been dissolved around a dozen times.

In March, the constitutional court nullified the results of last year's elections and ruled that the previous parliament elected in 2020 be reinstated instead.

"Kuwait is not doing well," said Bader Al-Saif, assistant history professor at Kuwait University. "Elections on steroids... is not the only solution."

"The Kuwaiti political system is in dire need for innovation," he told AFP, criticising "failure in leadership in Kuwait's often recycled political class, whether in government or parliament".

While lawmakers are elected, Kuwait's cabinet members are installed by Kuwait's emir.

Constant stand-offs between the branches of government have prevented lawmakers from passing economic reforms.

Oil-rich Kuwait, which borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is home to seven percent of the world's crude reserves. It has little debt and one of the strongest sovereign wealth funds worldwide.

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T here was, at one point, a question over whether Ezra Miller, who is in practically every frame of this hilarious and frequently sublime DC super-hero-saga, would return to the franchise as The Flash, after a number of accusations. All Im qualified to say is that 30 year-old Miller, in a double role, has never been more versatile, iconic or touching, and that their (Miller is non-binary) chemistry with Michael Keaton, making a much-hyped return as one of the multiverses Batmans, is cause for cartwheels.

Miller plays insecure forensic scientist Barry Allen, a man haunted by the murder of his mother Nora (Maribel Verdu). Our hero is equally frazzled when in super-speedy mode. As alter ego The Flash, hes over-stretched and routinely carries the can for Batman (Ben Affleck, genuinely impressive as a dysfunctional mardy bum) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot; wearing her trademark luminous smirk).

But then Barry decides to put his own needs before those of the world, using his super speed aka Speed Force  to tweak the past and, as a result, ensure that Nora doesnt die. To his horror, in this alternate universe, he exists alongside his cosseted, long-haired, 18 year old self, who Ill call Blithe Barry (Miller, again). Worse, as a result of Barrys meddling, the world no longer contains superheroes and a lunatic Kryptonian, General Zod (Michael Shannon, reprising his role from Snyders Man of Steel, keep up), is able to run amok. Soon Barry and Blithe Barry are looking for this universes Batman, which is when Keaton happens.

Age 71, Keaton is more quirkily insouciant than ever, albeit in that disarmingly brittle way which suggests he understands what it means to feel broken. He and the filmmakers, It director Andy Muschietti and Christina Hodson, the British screenwriter behind Birds of Prey, seem determined to bridge the gap between the legendary Tim Burton films and Birdman, Alejandro Inarritus Oscar-winning, meta shake-down of all things heroic. What we witness here is nostalgia to the power of ten, plus nuance.

The Flash (2023) 1 / 8 The Flash (2023) AP AP AP AP AP AP

Throw in Supermans cuz ie Sasha Calles Supergirl (earthy and unearthly in just the right way), an incredibly poignant performance from Verdu, and a string of visually scrumptious set-pieces (imperilled babies falling from the sky! Blithe Barry accidentally turning into a flasher! Shocking deaths! Batman looking seriously old!) and you have all the ingredients for an epic tragi-comedy.

Admittedly, sometimes things get cloggy. One sequence involving endless incarnations of Superman (as played by various actors, including Christopher Reeve and Nicolas Cage) feels like being trapped in the superhero wing of Madame Tussauds, with a swivel-eyed DC enthusiast.

Some viewers may be disappointed that here, Barry, who is proudly Jewish in Zack Snyders 2017 Justice League, never mentions his cultural identity. Others will be gutted by his heteronormative crush on Kiersey Clemons Iris West. Muschietti is famous for adding a gay sub-plot to It Chapter 2, while Hodsons Birds of Prey was rightly praised for its queer representation. Sadly, Fast & Bi-Curious is not a tag-line anyone could to apply to The Flash.

As for the twist ending and post-credit scene that Warners have worked so hard to keep secret? Ach. Theyre both a tad underwhelming. And, of course, viewers whove just seen Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are likely to feel multiversed out.

But you know what, this is one of the best superhero movies of the 21st century so far. Just sit back and enjoy the flashes of greatness.

144mins, cert 12A

The Flash is in cinemas from June 14
P rotest and celebration have long been intertwined in LGBTQ+ communities.

While queer representation in film is slowly increasing, these documentaries specifically provide a window into the extraordinary stories of LGBTQ+ individuals who defended queer rights and who moved discussions around queer identity forward: the activists who stood up for trans rights and educated about HIV, night club owners who built spaces where people could be safe and lawyers who continue to challenge minority discrimination.

These films provide insight, encouragement and education  and besides that, are all just a fascinating watch.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

Trans women of colour led the fight that helped LGBTQ+ people secure rights and an awareness about this history is slowly growing thanks to todays trans and queer activists. Two trans women who were instrumental in the queer liberation movement were Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera  a monument was erected for them in New York in 2021 in tribute to their pivotal actions at the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Johnsons death in 1992 was ruled as suicide when her body was discovered in the Hudson River, but those who knew her believe she was murdered. Rivera is among the voices in this documentary, talking about Johnsons continuing impact on the rights we have today. Its an essential reminder of a person who gave up everything for her community.

Paris is Burning (1990)

The ballroom scene in Harlem gave black and Latinx queer people a safe place away from the dangers of the outside world. Many were homeless, living in poverty and at risk of being attacked or even murdered in a deeply homophobic and transphobic climate. This landmark documentary goes inside the houses that competed in the citys hidden ballrooms; each overseen by a house mother, the chosen family units served as tight-knit support networks for people who often had nowhere else to go. This influential film follows them as they compete in balls for trophies and glory.

Through candid interviews, Paris Is Burning captured the struggle to survive and the importance of these same chosen families. The culture of modern American drag was born in these rooms: shows such as RuPauls Drag Race owe everything to the ball scene, from their vernacular (shade and reading) to voguing.

Portrait of Jason (1967)

This documentary about entertainer Jason Holliday was released the same year that homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK and 36 years before same sex relations became legal in the US. The camera solely focuses on Jason, who answers questions from filmmaker Shirley Clarke and her partner Carl Lee about his difficult life.

Portrait of Jason is now often regarded as one of the first LGBTQ+ films, and has been deemed so culturally important that it was selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress to the National Film Registry in 2015. Ingmar Bergman described it as the most extraordinary film Ive seen in my life.

Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt (1989)

In 1989 the number of HIV/AIDS deaths in the USA hadnt come close to reaching its peak, but thousands of Americans had already lost their lives to the disease. Common Threads is a documentary about the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt  a giant quilt that was made to commemorate those who had died.

The quilts panels are 3 by 6 feet, each segment roughly the same dimensions as a coffin. Each personal fabric tribute is dedicated to one or two individuals who had died from an HIV/Aids related illness. With 50,000 panels, the quilt apparently weighs a whopping 54 tons (7714 stone). It was first shown in Washington in 1987 where it was laid out on the National Mall, and its panels have now been archived online . The quilt is ever-expanding and remains open to new contributions.

In Common Threads, Dustin Hoffman narrates the story of how the quilt came to be put together in the first place. Bobby McFerrin composed the films score.

Kiki (2016)

A quarter of a century on from Paris Is Burning, a new generation of LGBTQ+ youth created their own subculture in New Yorks streets. The Kiki scene, which continues today, draws inspiration from the early ballrooms, and much is still the same: they offer a safe place for young, queer people of colour, battling with homelessness, illness and prejudice. But this film and the characters it follows are also rooted in current issues.

As a minority within a minority, Kiki shows how LGBTQ+ people of colour face police brutality and homophobia, with a disproportionate number living with HIV. Its co-created by Twiggy Pucci Garcon, founder of the scenes largest house, and the documentary is intertwined with all the activism and passion that the movement was born from.

Disclosure (2020)

Providing a thorough examination into the depiction of transgender people in Hollywood, the documentary directs its audience to reconsider what they know by showing them how the film industry has mocked and been directly harmful to trans people.

Through interviews with leaders in the field such as Orange is the New Blacks Laverne Cox and The Matrixs Lilly Wachowski, Disclosure gives power back to trans voices. The documentary directly challenges harmful tropes and offers a solution in the form of representation. Here we are. Weve always been here, says Cox.

Where Have All the Lesbians Gone? (2022)

Channel 4s new offering is full of wit as it delves into the social history of lesbianism, exploring what being a lesbian means in 2022. Its contributors bring a sense of fun and lightheartedness to sometimes sensitive topics such as coming out, homophobia, and trans issues. It probes the clashes between certain sections of the community without that conversation becoming the central issue of the documentary.

Why do some people choose to call themselves queer or gay rather than a lesbian? How has pop culture and representation affected how people define a lesbian and vice versa? The documentary uses nostalgia to paint a portrait of modern lesbian culture and where it goes from here.

Dykes, Camera, Action! (2018)

Just as there arent many documentaries focusing on queer womens experiences, representation in the rest of the media isnt too great either. The trope is all too real  queer women in film and TV tend to wind up dead or with men.

Dykes, Camera, Action! looks at the ways in which women behind the camera have contributed to queer cinema over the years. It features filmmakers such as Desiree Akhavan, the creative force behind Appropriate Behaviour, The Bisexual and The Miseducation of Cameron Post, as well as Rose Troche, writer and director of The L Word.

Before Stonewall: The Making of Gay and a Lesbian Community (1984)

The Stonewall riots in 1969 were a turning point in queer history, but what came before is less talked about. In Before Stonewall, interviews with the likes of Allen Ginsberg and Audre Lorde help to trace stories over the 20th century, from the Harlem clubs in the Twenties, through World War II to the founding of queer neighbourhoods. It also gives a good insight into how wider societal attitudes evolved over time. The filmmaker later produced a follow-up film, After Stonewall, which was released in 1999, detailing the thirty years that came next.

Of Love and Law (2018)

Japan may have a seemingly progressive position on queer rights but, as Of Love and Law demonstrates, theres still a lot to be desired. Gay couple Fumi and Kazu run Japan's first LGBTQ+ law firm. Their clients include an artist Rokudenashiko, whose vagina-inspired art led to her being sued for obscenity by the police. The two men are an endearing presence, exuding a contagious love for each other and their cobbled together family, as well as an intense dedication to their work.

Welcome to Chechnya (2020)

This HBO documentary film from award-winning journalist David France investigates the anti-gay purges in Russian republic Chechnya in the 2010s. Gay men (and women, though gay men were particularly targeted) were detained, imprisoned, secretly abducted, tortured, raped and killed. It has been widely reported and alleged that similar anti-gay purges continue to take place in the region into the present.

David France compiles interviews and secretly filmed footage to create a picture of the work of the impossibly brave activists trying to rescue some of the men who were tortured. The documentary was reportedly a task to make as it was the top priority of France and his team to protect the identity of the people involved. Welcome to Chechnya won U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing at Sundance Festival in 2020, and was nominated for an Emmy.

Trembling Before G-d (2001)

Trembling Before G-d shows a group of people who find themselves trying to reconcile their orthodox Jewish beliefs with the biblical prohibition of homosexuality. The film took six years to make and director Sandi Simcha DuBowski met hundreds of people, but only a handful agreed to be featured out of fear of being ostracised. The worlds first openly gay rabbi, a psychotherapist who ran a support group for other gay Jewish men, and a lesbian orthodox couple who have been together for ten years are just some of the people we meet along the way.

We Were Here (2011)

San Francisco was a relatively safe haven for the queer community in the Seventies. But in the decade that followed, everything changed when a man was diagnosed with AIDS, marking the start of an epidemic across the country. We Were Here traces the effect of this on the community and the fear of a mysterious gay cancer that meant sex could kill.

The documentary revolves around five main interviews including an HIV positive artist who lost two partners to AIDS and a florist who supplied flowers to many funerals of people who died from the illness. As well as being a heartbreaking history, David Weissmans film shows the strength of the queer community in a time of crisis and how a few individuals managed to change the course of treatment for so many.

Mala Mala (2014)

The lives of Puerto Rican trans and gender non-conforming people and drag queens come into the spotlight in Mala Mala. Addressing the overlap between gender identity and cultural identity, the film features drag queen April Carrion, well-known for participating in RuPauls Drag Race, alongside hair salon owner Soraya, who talks about her struggle with gender dysphoria, and Samantha, who resorted to taking black market hormones with debilitating side effects.

The film becomes all the more poignant with the chronicling of the Butterfly Trans Foundations activism, which influenced the passage of a law banning employment discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

Jewels Catch One

The unofficial Studio 54 of the West Coast, Jewels Catch One was a gay disco club that opened in the Seventies that played host to Madonna, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Donna Summer. Its owner Jewel Thais-Willliams ran the club for 42 years, fending off armed police raids and suffering prejudice as a black lesbian. The documentary features interviews with Sharon Stone, Thelma Houston and more, all talking about Jewels efforts to provide spaces for queer and black people and how she has become a model of how to deal with discrimination and help others.
Is the Phillip Schofield confession a watershed moment for ITV?

The rumble of stories around Schofields unwise but not illegal affair with a junior colleague is entering its second month and shows no sign of dying down. Holly Willoughby choked back tears as she returned to the show yesterday, telling viewers: I imagine that you might have been feeling a lot like I have: shaken, troubled, let down, worried for the wellbeing of people on all sides of whats been going on, and full of questions.

The mood of the team at This Mornings studio is muted and terrified, one insider says. Everyone thinks heads will roll, its just a question of how high up or whether theyll do what they always do and make those lower down suffer. People are thinking theyll just cancel the show and therefore put everyone out of work.

This Morning boss Martin Frizell spent the weekend denying reports that the show had a toxic culture despite claims from presenter Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh, This Mornings former resident doctor. Originally from Glasgow, the 64-year-old producer and editor was accused by Singh of edging him out after he raised concerns about Frizells behaviour and the bullying environment at This Morning.

Martin Frizell and his wife, ex-presenter Fiona Phillips / Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave Hogan/Getty Images

One former colleague accused Frizell of only valuing the stars, verbally abusing people, slamming papers on desk and shouting in the office. Another told the Standard that working there was like being back at school and being yelled at daily with sexist comments flying. Live TV is pressured, the stars were everything and complaining would have been detrimental to my career.

The Evening Standard tried to contact Frizell but received no response. In an interview with Sky News on Saturday, he said: There are some scores being settled. I am working with a fantastic team of mainly women, many mums, a lot of them concerned for their jobs, although weve told them not to be. But this is the 23rd day now of being on the front page and its tiring.

Working there [on This Morning] was like being back at school and being yelled at daily with sexist comments flying

ITV issued a statement saying its a fast-paced environment turning around a daily show that covers live and ever-changing issues. We have robust mechanisms in place for complaints to be raised and those that are, are appropriately investigated.

What were hearing from the This Morning team is that they dont recognise the picture that some are painting about the show.

The channel has form when it comes to close-to-the-bone daytime formats. In 2019 the Jeremy Kyle Show was cancelled after Steve Dymond, a guest on the show in May that year, failed a lie detector test he took to prove to his partner, Jane, that he had not been unfaithful. Dymond killed himself a few days after filming. At the time, the broadcasting union Bectu accused the show of prioritising ratings and asked ITV to accept greater responsibility for the mental wellbeing of workers and participants.

Phillip Schofield during his BBC interview / BBC

Dame Carolyn was called before Parliament then too and ITV published a Duty of Care charter in 2019 to manage and support the mental health and well-being of programme participants before, during and after production.

Piers Morgan walked out on Good Morning Britain in March 2021 in an on-screen row about his views of Meghan Markle, and while the shows ratings dipped immediately afterwards, the show is currently pulling in around a million viewers  the same as at the end of 2020.

This constant barrage of bad news has not hurt This Mornings ratings, however, which have been climbing since the scandal broke. Last weeks Monday show pulling in just under a million viewers compared to the 644,000 people watching in Schofields final week. And ITVs advertising paymasters are surprisingly sanguine.

Its really just daytime fodder, its not a flagship show, one creative agency boss said. We havent had a single client ask us for our view on it. If they decide to dump the format, they will replace it with something similar which will attract a similar audience. It wont really hit their revenues.

The same thing happened with Jeremy Kyle and that had no effect. Even Piers Morgan leaving Good Morning Britain didnt really hit ratings. The only show that would really hurt is if they lost Love Island, because its got viewers under 35 years old.

Indeed, with the exception of the pandemic when advertisers stopped spending, ITV has seen its revenue increase every year over the past 10 years. The UK broadcasting ecosystem is unlike any other in the world, explains Tom Harrington, TV analyst at Enders Analysis. Most countries have a number of big commercial broadcasters. In the UK theres just ITV and it is still huge. The number of people watching TV is declining but still theres nowhere else for advertisers to go to reach millions of people. Im not saying its immune to scandal but there are very few people whose departure would hurt ITV overall  probably only Kevin Lygo, the programming boss.

Alison Hammond bursts into tears about Phillip Schofield's bombshell interview on This Morning / ITV

Its Lygo whos overseen ITVs two biggest moves over the past 10 years  buying up production companies and launching the broadcasters online streaming service, ITVX. In a bid to move away from depending entirely on advertising revenue, the company acquired companies like World Productions, Big Talk and Mammoth Pictures so that production companies that are part of ITV Studios now make many of the BBCs biggest hits  Bodyguard, Line of Duty and Vigil as well as University Challenge, Noughts and Crosses and The Serpent. ITV Studios companies also make Channel 4s Countdown, The Windsors and 24 Hours in Police Custody, Queer Eye on Netflix, Fifteen-Love on Amazon, Physical on Apple TV+, the upcoming Rivals on Disney + and a swathe of programmes for broadcasters around the world, including The Voice and Love Island franchises. This Mornings 90 minutes a day is a very small business in comparison.

ITVX, meanwhile, launched in December to deal with a very specific problem the channel has  the average age of the ITV viewer is 60 and, as Lygo said at the streaming service launch, we have a large, loyal audience who watch a lot of ITV because theyre soap addicts but its hard to attract new people to soap and we have to work very, very hard now to get people to come to us at 9 oclock to watch our dramas and our factual programmes.

Jenny Biggam, founder of Peoples Postcode Lottery media agency the7stars, points out that 40 per cent of ITVs audience watches between 9am and 5pm and there is still a decent audience going to soaps and quiz shows. Advertisers would miss that content if it wasnt there. ITV is fighting back against the streamers. Theyre mixing viewing figures with things like supermarket data so you can target homes with cats for cat food ads and the fact that they own the production business means they commercially broker deals like the eBay and Love Island tie-in. Its a little bit late but theyre there and theyre doing it.

And so, for all of the betrayal This Morning viewers may feel, the hurt to the young employee caught up in the Schofield scandal and the month of tabloid coverage this is a human tragedy but not a watershed moment for a channel used to riding out storms.

Television Centre / ITV Studios / Alamy Stock Photo

What hangs in the balance is the careers of those still involved in the show  Hollys future depends on whether audiences believe she knew nothing, said the former employee. Holmes has been public in his assertions that the details of Schofields affair were known by four high members of ITV management and at least one former staff member says it was an open secret. ITV has Jane Mulcahy KC carrying out an external review as to who knew what and how the channel handled the affair.

Hollys future depends on whether audiences believe she knew nothing

In a letter to broadcasting regulator Ofcom, Dame Carolyn McCall says ITV investigated the affair when rumours of a relationship between Phillip Schofield and an employee of ITV first began to circulate in late 2019/early 2020 ITV investigated. Both parties were questioned then and both categorically and repeatedly denied the rumours, as did Phillips then agency YMU.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Schofield admitted: I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and went on to admit, during an interview with the BBC, that he also lied to, and kept the affair hidden from Holly.
In the history of the Royal Courts of Justice, there are very few occasions to rival the moment that Prince Harry entered the witness box in his personal crusade against the tabloid media.

The Duke of Sussex is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged phone hacking and unlawful newsgathering throughout most of his life. MGN denies all the allegations against it.

Its all part of a wider battle for Harry, who believes its his duty to restore faith in public institutions and root out corrupt elements of the media.

On Tuesday, Harry swept into court to start giving his evidence in the surroundings of courtroom 15 of the High Court Rolls Building. Journalists, commentators and royal fans have packed out the public gallery, with a queue of members of the public forming outside in the hope of grabbing a spare seat late in the day.

Harry has taken aim at journalists, editors, Piers Morgan, Rebekah Brooks, and even the government, in a legal battle that has drawn in his wife Meghan Markle, brother Prince William, and his father King Charles. Here are the key moments so far:

Harry denies newspapers claims of drug taking

Prince Harry found himself the subject of a 2002 front page exclusive in the News of the World, facing claims of drug taking with friends at the Rattlebone Inn near Eton. The story was picked up by the Sunday Mirror, and Harry says he suspects unlawful newsgathering was involved. But he told the High Court some of the claims in the story are untrue.

Ive never smoked a joint in Rattlebone Inn, he insisted. Ive never smoked in my fathers house. The news story suggested King Charles was worried sick by his sons youthful activities, amid claims there had been drug taking at Highgrove.

Prince Harry prepares to take the stand / George Cracknell Wright

Lost friends

Harry says his school life was punctuated by intrusions by the media, creating a climate of suspicion at a time when he had no idea phone hacking was going on. He said stories about his sporting injuries, a birthday visit from his mother, and school escapades fuelled paranoia that he was being leaked about.

Its only now, realising what the Defendants journalists were doing, and how they were getting their information, that I can see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia, he said. Harry said he suspected his friends and associates of feeding information to the media, telling the court: Sadly we are no longer friends.

Government and media are at rock bottom

Prince Harry has made this case and others against the tabloid press a personal crusade to clean up standards in journalism. He took aim at sections of the media for having blood on their hands, and said he understands journalists are put under immense pressure by editors to land exclusive stories. He said some revelations about his private life were like a red rag to a bull, as newsroom utilised every resource at their disposal to get the story.

My experience is journalists would be under a huge amount of pressure to deliver the goods, he said.

Harry did not reserve his attacks for the media. On a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom. Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo. I may not have a role within the Institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest. The country and the British public deserve to know the depths of what was actually happening then, and indeed now. We will be better off for it.

Piers Morgan is out for revenge

Prince Harrys personal animosity with certain national newspaper editors came to the fore during his evidence. Andrew Green KC, for MGN, read out extracts of Harrys book, Spare, in which he laid bare his dislike of News UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks. A wry smile and eyebrows raised when he was asked to name her specifically.

But it was Piers Morgan, the former Daily Mirror editor, who was at the centre of Harrys attack. Harry said he felt physically sick at the thought of Morgan and his journalists listening in to Princess Dianas messages. And he believes Morgan has made constant vile attacks on him and wife Meghan Markle in recent months in retaliation for the legal case against MGN, in which Morgan is personally accused of wrongdoing.

Piers Morgan (Dominic Lipinski/PA) / PA Wire

Princess Diana targeted in last months of her life

Harry has laid the accusation that his mother, Princess Diana, was a target of phone hacking in the last months of her life. A story involving her relationship with TV presenter Michael Barrymore broke, with letters from Diana indicating she suspected foul play by journalists. Harry said the two were in contact by phone, and his mother had revealed her horror at the Daily Mirror finding out about their friendship. I can only assume that this information had been obtained via voicemail interception and/or other unlawful information gathering such as live land line tapping, he said.

The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a nightmare time three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour.

Speak up

Harry has been one of the most vocal campaigners in the phone hacking cases brought against the media, with three live cases against the Mirror Group, The Sun, and the Daily Mail. His voice has been heard through an Oprah Winfrey interview, a NetFlix series, and his bombshell book Spare. But in court Harry struggled to get his voice heard by the ranks of journalist at the back of court.

His barrister David Sherborne told the court Harrys microphone had to be adjusted in a bid to make the softly-spoken Prince more audible. Even so, the problem remained.

Harry was asked to raise his voice, prompting Mr Green to retort: I hope not raise it in anger.

Prince Harry during his bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey / AP

Scuffle with a paparazzo

The Duke says his whole life has featured the pursuit of journalists and photographers, with some springing up in unusual circumstances. In October 2004, the then-20-year-old was accused of lashing out at a photographer in a scuffle outside a nightclub. This was a particularly challenging period of my youth. I had just turned 20, and like most 20 year-olds, I wanted to go out and socialise. However, everywhere I went, the paparazzi seemed to turn up, he said.

As I reached the car, I could hear taunting. I was being egged on for a reaction, knowing Id been out and had a few drinks. A camera hit me across my nose as I was opening the door, I turned, grabbed the nearest camera to me and shoved it backwards.

Harry says his father was sympathetic over the incident, as the Prince added that he has received no respite from media intrusion and harassment.

Diana, Princess of Wales with a young Prince Harry (Martin Keene/PA) / PA Archive

Father questions

A scurrilous rumour that Major James Hewitt is the real father of the Duke of Sussex, rather than King Charles, has long-done the rounds. In his statement to the High Court, Prince Harry addressed the rumours head-on, saying they are untrue and Hewitt only had a relationship with Princess Diana after his birth.

Numerous newspapers had reported a rumour that my biological father was James Hewitt, a man my mother had a relationship with after I was born, Harry said. At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born.

Harry said it was common knowledge among journalists that the rumour was false, and he suggested the hurtful, mean and cruel stories may have been because newspapers (were) keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

The medias disturbing hunt for Harry

Prince Harry says it is deeply disturbing that journalists and photographers trying to find him during his Australian gap year was considered a hunt. The High Court heard his year abroad as a 19-year-old was disturbed by media intrusion, amid reports he may abandon the trip entirely if he was not left alone. Harry complains that he and friends were photographed for a Daily Mirror story while surfing in Noosa, on the sunshine coast in Queensland.

Alexandria Bay, Noosa National Park / Shutterstock

A photographer turned up on a random beach in Noosa where no other people were, its incredibly suspicious, he said.

Mr Green pointed out there had been earlier media reports that Harry was spending time in that part of Australia, and produced a 2018 report from a photographer who said he had been part of the Sunshine Coast hunt.

It is deeply disturbing that looking for me is regarded as a hunt, Harry said. He added that there were MGN invoices that hinted at unlawful activity, and he questioned the veracity of the photographers account that their activities had been legal. Based on my experience and knowledge, in a lot of articles and many since, a lot of false information is put into the article intentionally to throw people like me off the scent.

I somewhat reject an article by a paparazzi or photographic agency as proof of a story. If I was that person, I would make up some story of how the hunt happened, rather than the reality.

He added: Some elements are true, clouded, shrouded, and concealed in lots of false information which is why I wasnt aware I had a claim for so long.

Brotherly relations break down

Prince Harry said a story about Paul Burrell, his mothers former butler, caused problems in his relationship with brother Prince William. The story aired differences between the brothers over whether they should meet Burrell, who had been speaking out about Princess Diana.

In The People article, Harry is quoted as referring to Burrell as a two-faced sh*t  a phrase the Prince said he would use, and he believes it was lifted from a hacked voicemail. I would leave voicemails for my brother, and thats a terminology I used to describe Mr Burrell, Harry said.

He said the People story is the kind of article that seeds distrust between brothers.

Harry said he was in the middle of the Australian outback on his gap year at the time, and cannot remember if he actually wanted a meeting with Burrell. But he added: I would love to give him a piece of my mind.

Chelsy Davy under 24-hour surveillance

Prince Harry says his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy was put under 24-hour surveillance and a tracking device was fitted to her car by a newspapers private investigator. The Duke claimed journalist Jane Kerr had tasked South African PI Mike Behr to keep tabs on Ms Davy when they were dating in 2005.

Their relationship came into sharp public focus when Harry was pictured wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, and was accused in the media of sitting with another woman on his lap. Harry said claims he was flirting with another woman were untrue, as he suggested details of the Daily Mirror stories had been obtained through phone hacking. He told the court Mr Behr had my girlfriend under 24-hour surveillance in South Africa at the time, and had put a tracking device on (her) car.

The story suggested Harry had received a tongue lashing down the phone for his behaviour from Ms Davy  an incident the Prince said he could not remember. But he suggested it was a sign of phone hacking, together with missed calls to his friend Guy Pellys phone at the time.

He would have been one of the people in the know after this party, he said. The article contains several quotes from friends or other partygoers, but the details about our telephone communications are not attributed to anyone, so how could the Defendants journalists know about this, Harry said in his written statement.

I dont remember if Chelsy and I did argue about the party. Given we were based in different countries, a lot of our relationship was conducted over the telephone, so I know I would have spoken to her a lot over this time because it was a challenging period for me but I dont recall her reaction.

I had been immature, I hadnt really thought about my actions and I had made a stupid decision  and my mistakes were being played out publicly. By this stage, Chelsy was already extremely guarded about our relationship and our circle of friends who we trusted with information about us had shrank considerably.

Every time these kinds of stories were published, there was a strain put on our relationship, we started to distrust everyone around us. In hindsight, knowing the extent to which MGN journalists were targeting us and intercepting our communications, we probably lost friends needlessly, and put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be secretive and deal with problems without support, out of the sense of paranoia that articles like this created.

Hurtful newspaper celebrations at the end of his relationship

Prince Harry accused Sunday Mirror journalists of hurtful celebrations over the 2007 break-up of his relationship with Chelsy Davy. A report, under the headline Hooray Harrys Dumped, covered the news that the Duke had visited a nightclub to drown his sorrows over the split.

The headline does seem to suggest people celebrating that I had broken up with my girlfriend which seems a little bit mean, said Harry, who says the article is the product of unlawful information gathering. Im not sure how anyone would know we had broken up because we werent talking about that.

When challenged by MGN barrister Andrew Green KC that Hooray Harry was a nickname he had attracted, the Prince insisted the headline was celebrating (him) being dumped.

If it had been used before or not, for me as the subject or victim of this, to see that word used in this term is hurtful, he said.

Do you want to be phone hacking victim?

Harry told the court he would feel an injustice if his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspaper is unsuccessful. The Prince said it is beyond doubt that hacking was going on at tabloid newspapers, pointing to admissions by Mirror Group Newspapers and a reported 1 billion paid out by Rupert Murdochs News Group Newspapers.

If the court finds there was never phone hacking by any MGN journalists, would you be relieved or disappointed? said MGNs lawyer Andrew Green KC.

Harry said that was speculation, but added: To have a decision against me and any other people coming behind me with claims, given Mirror Group has accepted hacking as well as News Group I would feel some injustice.

Mr Green challenged him: You want to have been phone hacked? and Harry replied: No one wants to have been phone hacked.

Chelsy Davy with Prince Harry at Sandhurst / Getty Images

Night with a lap dancer

In April 2006, an article in The People reported on Harrys trip to Spearmint Rhino in central London and his then girlfriend Chelsy Davys reported fury at the incident. Harry appeared to accept a dancer had sat on his lap, but disputed the newspapers claim that a statuesque blonde resembling Ms Davy had been paid for a nude dance. Thats factually incorrect, he said.

In a further exchange, Harry said: I dont see any quotes from the Lithuanian lap dancer who sat on my lap.

The Prince accepts someone from the club appears to have been paid for information by The People, but he finds other payments suspicious and evidence of suspected unlawful newsgathering. Its a classic example of stories originating from a different paper, the Mirror and everyone else being one step behind, and encourage to go and find out more information.

Harry says he believes a detail in the story, that Ms Davy had admonished him for the night out in a 30-minute call, came from journalists bizarrely having her phone number and unlawfully accessing call data.

Harrys distrust of staff at Sandhurst

Prince Harry lost his trust in staff at Sandhurst military academy after details of his medical treatment ended up in a tabloid newspaper, he said as he began a second day of gruelling evidence at the High Court.

The Duke of Sussexs army training was delayed by a knee injury, with details of the issue ending up in a 2005 article in the People newspaper. Harry said he had not been freely discussing the injury, and he believes the Peoples story had been the product of hacking or unlawful newsgathering.

I was not going around freely discussing any medical issues or injuries that I had. I was almost conditioned to feel guarded at this point in my life, worrying I couldnt trust anyone for fear that it would end up splashed across the tabloids, he said.

Harry told the court newspaper coverage led to distrust I ended up having at Sandhurst with the medical staff. The Peoples news story also made reference to 15-minute email sessions Harry had at Sandhurst with his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, including quote from another unidentified source that Harry always came back with a smile on my face.

Id only been at Sandhurst a couple of weeks by this point, and while I cant remember the specifics of how often I was speaking to Chelsy over email at this time, I wasnt sharing this information with my colleagues  who Id only just met  least of all because that kind of thing would have made me seem soft, but also because me and Chelsy were so protective of our relationship and wanted people to know as little as possible for fear of leaks.

Challenged over the source of the article, Harry insisted he believes phone hacking was involved.

Harrys barrister David Sherborne / AFP via Getty Images

Harrys legal claim started with chance encounter

Prince Harrys legal war against the Mirror Group Newspapers started with a chance encounter in 2018. I bumped into Mr Sherborne in the south of France, he said, referring to his star barrister. Its in my book, he added. Harry said he had not sought legal advice over a possible phone hacking claim prior to that meeting.

Mr Sherborne has represented clients including Johnny Depp, Princess Diana and Meghan Markle in the past, and is known for his flamboyant style and florid speeches.

The barrister experienced technical difficulties when he rose to put further questions to Prince Harry. I can hear myself reverberating all around, which Im more than happy to endure, he said.

Drawing laughter in court, Mr Justice Fancourt replied: I should refrain from commenting on your reverberating, Mr Sherborne.

Under questioning earlier, Harry said he has not sued the Daily Star or the Daily Record and does not believe those newspapers were responsible for industrial scale phone hacking.

In an aside referring to his myriad of legal cases, Harry replied: Im quite busy with other litigation as well.

Police chase

Harry described a dramatic chase along the embankment in central London after he spotted a suspected photographer lurking outside a private party at his friends pub. He jumped into his waiting car, driven by police protection, and they approached the photographers car.

It slammed into reverse and drove off at speed, he said. The police driving the vehicle switched on the blue lights and this vehicle decided to increase speed towards the Kings Road.

Harry said one of his protection officers got out of the car to approach the vehicle when they reached a set of red traffic lights. The driver turned on to the other side of the road, endangering everyone around them, opposite the fire station on Kings Road, and decided to evade the police from asking questions. That is not normal paparazzi behaviour. We belief there was some form of illegal device in the vehicle, so he had been given instructions, no matter what, not to be caught, not to be searched.

Prince Harry arriving to give evidence / AP

An emotional end

Harry was repeatedly accused of pure speculation by MGN over a series of news stories he believes were the product of unlawful newsgathering.

When his barrister David Sherborne showed the court supporting material for Harrys case, the Prince struggled to contain his irritation. For my whole life, the press have misled me and covered up the wrongdoing.

To be sitting here in court, knowing the defence has the evidence in front of them, and Mr Green (MGNs barrister) suggesting Im speculating, Im not entirely sure what to say about that.

At the close of his evidence, Mr Sherborne asked Harry how he felt, having sat in the witness box for nearly two days in front of the worlds media. The Prince looked down, drew breath and paused for a couple of seconds before saying quietly: Its a lot.
T he Duke of Sussex grappled with paperwork when he stepped into the witness box and was cross-examined over his claims tabloid newspapers used unlawful information-gathering for royal stories about him.

Harry was a measured, quiet and suited figure when he began giving evidence, with nearby barristers surrounded by boxes of folders.

He was afforded the courtesy of being called Your Royal Highness when first mentioned, after his barrister David Sherborne said protocol was something that concerned the High Court but was not an issue for Harry, whose personal preference was to be called Prince Harry.

The court looked more like a busy office, with computer screens on many of the tables, including Harrys, and he spoke quietly at first, which left some on the press benches struggling to hear every word.

The duke is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles  which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People  were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

In his witness statement, Harry highlighted a story from November 2007, which appeared in the Irish edition of the Sunday Mirror and reported about a secret meeting where he begged for then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy to give him a second chance.

He went on to say: These kinds of articles made me feel as though my relationship with Chelsy was always set to be doomed.

Harry shuffled in his seat, rolled his shoulders back and took a sip of water when Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, began by saying he appreciated he had lived a lifetime of tabloid press intrusion and being asked questions about the topic can only be unpleasant.

The duke was offered the opportunity to take a break for whatever reason and if a question was unduly intrusive, he could say so.

With newspaper articles examined line by line, page references for the bundles  the name for court documents  were given, but at times the royal struggled to find his place on the page.

Mr Green often asked do you see that? and the reply from the duke came back no.

After Harry appeared to quip about the bundles he was continually holding, saying got me doing a workout, it was suggested High Court staff could help him find references and he was later joined in the witness box by a helper.

In the sober setting of court 15 of the Rolls Building, variations of the comment My Lord, as a witness, I dont believe its my role to deconstruct these articles were heard throughout the cross-examination, when Mr Green asked the duke about the newspaper articles he was complaining about.

When the barrister inquired about the source of the information in the stories, Harry frequently replied he should ask the journalist that wrote the article.

Moments to lighten the mood were few and far between, but at one point Mr Green put a suggestion to Harry.

When the royal replied without responding directly to the remark, Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge hearing the case, helpfully said Mr Green was simply putting his clients case to allow Harry to comment or even agree.

Harry laughed when the Mr Green quipped agree would be good.

The judge warned Harry, who will return to the witness box on Wednesday, not to discuss your evidence overnight, thats with anyone as the High Court trial ended for the day.

The mood was lightened when the duke commented about his children and said he would be FaceTiming them.
A university student was suffocated with a facemask and dumped inside a large suitcase by an obsessed man who followed her to Britain, a court has heard.

Hina Bashir, 21, who was studying business management at Coventry Universitys London campus, went missing after visiting the home of warehouse worker Muhammad Arslan in Ilford, east London, last July.

Days later, her body was found stuffed in a large suitcase and dumped in undergrowth near Upminster.

Police uncovered evidence that 27-year-old Arslan had become obsessed with Ms Bashir, jurors were told.

The pair had grown up in the same village in Pakistan and the defendant followed Ms Bashir months after she came to Britain to study in November 2021.

Ahead of his Old Bailey trial on Tuesday, Arslan pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but he denies murder and perverting the course of justice by concealing her body.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said the victim visited Arslans home to collect some belongings she had left there while moving accommodation on the evening of July 11.

She did not leave the house alive, jurors were told.

Mr Patterson said: The next morning, the defendant set off from his house, dragging behind him a suitcase containing Hina Bashirs dead body.

He got a lift from a taxi driver who lived in his house and travelled to an industrial estate by the M25 near Upminster, near a business where he was employed as a warehouse worker.

He got out of the taxi and dragged his suitcase to the side of a lane where he hid it in some undergrowth. He left the suitcase concealed there in the days that followed.

After Ms Bashirs worried friends and family alerted police, the defendants suitcase was found and opened, revealing Ms Bashirs body squeezed inside.

Mr Patterson told jurors: On examination, the pathologist found that a facemask had been pushed inside her mouth. It was found there balled up.

As for the cause of her death, Hina Bashir had been killed through asphyxia. The facemask that was forced into her mouth had stopped her from breathing.

Investigators found a wealth of evidence implicating Arslan in the killing, despite his initial denial, the court heard.

Jurors heard the victims blood was found on his bed and bedclothes, matching facemasks were recovered from his house and telephone evidence showed the defendant had Ms Bashirs phone and was looking at her messages and photographs in the hours after her final visit.

The taxi driver confirmed he drove Arslan with his heavy suitcase to the industrial estate the next morning, the court was told.

CCTV footage captured Arslan leaving his house with the suitcase and then later dragging it along the lane to where it was eventually discovered, Mr Patterson said.

In addition, Arslans DNA was identified on the suitcase handle and soil from the deposition site was found on his shoes.

Referring to his earlier guilty plea, Mr Patterson said: All the evidence proved what the defendant has finally accepted today  that he was responsible for the killing.

Following Arslans arrest, police found evidence on his phone that he had become close to the victim when she was a teenager growing up in Pakistan.

Mr Patterson said: The defendant was later to insist to the police that there was no relationship between the two of them, however when the police translated the materials found on his phone they found that he had been repeatedly in contact with her, declaring his love for Hina Bashir.

He had allegedly spoken about wanting her to be his wife and having a family with her, while other messages suggested she was engaged to another man, the court was told.

Arslan allegedly reacted to the information with shock and sent messages to suggest that he thought she had cheated on him.

In more recent messages from 2021, Arslan appeared to be trying to contact Ms Bashir by posing as a woman, it was claimed.

Mr Patterson said: The police also found on his phone a very large number of photographs of Hina Bashir, some of them having been photoshopped or altered using software or apps.

They found pictures of her on which love hearts had been added and they found collages that had been created of her image. The evidence suggests that he was obsessed with her.

After moving to Britain, the intensity of the defendants feelings continued and he described her as his fiancee, the court was told.

Mr Patterson added: However, it appears Hina Bashir did not want to be with him and in fact had a relationship after she came here with another young man.

The trial before Judge Richard Marks KC is expected to continue for two weeks.
A man accused of murdering Metropolitan Police sergeant Matt Ratana suffered brain damage after being hit in the neck by a bullet and will be assisted by an intermediary during his trial, a jury has been told.

Louis De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to the charge during a previous hearing at Northampton Crown Court.

The 25-year-old appeared in the dock in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling at the same court on Tuesday, and confirmed his name and date-of-birth by writing them on a whiteboard.

Prosecutors allege Sgt Ratana was murdered at a police custody centre in Windmill Road, Croydon, south London, on September 25 2020, while De Zoysa was handcuffed in a holding cell.

Addressing a jury of seven men and five women after they were sworn in, trial Judge Mr Justice Johnson took them through the issues they were likely to face.

Telling jurors the relevant events were captured on CCTV and by officers body-worn cameras, the judge said: Its likely to be common ground that the defendant had a gun and that the gun was fired and that two bullets hit Sergeant Ratana.

It was also likely to be common ground that Sgt Ratana, aged 54, died from a chest wound as a result of the first of four shots, the court heard.

The judge added that jurors would have to consider whether De Zoysa pulled the trigger deliberately when the first shot was fired and whether he intended to kill or at least cause really serious harm.

The judge went on: A further matter which might arise is whether the defendant had diminished responsibility at the time he shot Sergeant Ratana.

De Zoysa has an autistic spectrum condition, the jury heard, which may have an impact on how he appears or behaves during the trial.

Urging the jury to judge the case on the evidence and not on any emotional reaction to the events they would have to consider, Mr Justice Johnson said: The last one (bullet fired) hit the defendant in the neck.

That resulted in bleeding and a blood clot and the blood clot caused some brain damage. That resulted in physical problems which mean he now uses a wheelchair.

The jury were also informed that De Zoysa uses a whiteboard because of communication difficulties, and will be assisted by an intermediary to help him follow the trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Duncan Penny KC, who is expected to deliver the Crowns opening address to the jury on Wednesday.
T he man accused of shooting dead Met Police sergeant Matt Ratana inside Croydon police station is set to stand trial for murder.

Louis De Zoysa, 25, is accused of killing the officer, 54, with a bullet to the chest after he was arrested and taken into custody on September 25, 2020.

It is said four bullets were discharged by a handcuffed De Zoysa, who was also shot in the incident.

De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is set to stand trial at Northampton crown court.

In April, he joined court proceedings via videolink from hospital and used a whiteboard to communicate his not guilty plea.

The alleged murder happened after De Zoysa had been arrested in Norwood and taken to a holding cell at Croydon Custody Centre.

Sergeant Matt Ratana / PA Wire

It is said the first bullet struck Sgt Ratana in the chest, causing a fatal wound, while he was also hit in the leg. De Zoysa himself was also shot in the incident.

Sgt Ratana was taken to St Georges Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, while De Zoysa survived after he was treated by officers and London Ambulance staff.

De Zoysas jury trial, which is expected to last for around three weeks, is due to open this week before Mr Justice Johnson.

Duncan Penny KC is prosecuting the case, while De Zoysa is represented by Imran Khan KC.

The defendant, from Norbury and who had been staying in Banstead at the time of the shooting, remains in custody.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday accused Israel of deliberately and systematically targeting Palestinian children and perpetrating heinous crimes against them.

The ministry expressed its deep concern over Israels killing, maiming, arrest, detention and infliction of trauma on innocent Palestinian children, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The latest victim was two-year-old Mohammed Haitham Tamimi from the village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, who succumbed to head wounds caused by live ammunition deliberately fired by Israeli occupying forces, said the ministry in a statement.

This heart-wrenching incident underscores the consistent disregard shown by Israeli forces towards Palestinian lives, including those of children, the statement added.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has condemned the killing of the Palestinian toddler by Israeli security forces.

"I condemn and am deeply saddened by the death of a two-year-old Palestinian boy, who was critically injured by Israeli security forces gunfire in Al Nabi Saleh," said Tor Wennesland on Twitter.

He added that "civilians and particularly children continue to bear the brunt of this conflict" and urged the Israeli authorities to bring "those responsible to be held to account."

Tamimis death brings the total number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in 2023 to 27, based on figures from a UN report in May. Of these, seven were killed in the Gaza Strip, and 20 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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A patient who missed out six times on a liver transplant has finally received the gift of life  thanks to his mother.

Connor Meyrick, 27, received 65 per cent of his mother Michelles liver during a gruelling 12-hour operation at the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) in north London.

Mr Meyrick was born with Carolis syndrome, a rare genetic disorder which can require a liver transplant to prevent fatal complications. He was diagnosed with the condition aged 17 after seeking treatment at hospital for severe acne.

Despite being placed on the transplant list three years ago, Mr Meyrick found himself missing out time after time on a donor liver.

As the years passed the symptoms got worse. I was very fatigued, suffered from under the skin itching, crazy headaches, awful acne and because I was jaundiced my skin was very yellow, he told the Standard.

The condition also forced Mr Meyrick to eventually give up his job as an engineer as he had to stay within two hours of a hospital.

Connor and his mum recovering at home / Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust

Last September, doctors at the RFH raised the prospect of a live liver transplant. Just three in 100 live liver transplants performed in the UK are from living donors, and the majority of these are for children. Surgeons at the Trust had not performed the operation in five years.

Mr Meyricks mum Michelle, 54, was considered an appropriate candidate as they shared the same blood type.

She agreed to go ahead with the six-hour procedure, which was carried out by consultant surgeon Mr Satheesh Iype.

Frankly I would have done anything for Connor. He was worried about putting me through a major operation and it was me that had to persuade him that this was the right thing for everyone if the shoe had been on the other foot, I know hed have done it for me, she said.

Connor and mum Michelle before surgery / Royal Free NHS Trust

Ms Meyrick plans to return to her job in HR once she is fully recovered. It will take just two to three months for her liver to grow back to its former size.

Her sons former liver, which due to his condition had swelled to more than double the average size, has now been preserved and will be used as a university teaching tool. Meanwhile he is slowly recovering and planning a trip to Liverpool for a gig.

Professor Joerg-Matthias Pollok, who operated on Mr Meyrick, said: Im delighted we have been able to help Connor. There are many more logistics to consider for live liver donation as you always have to think of the potential major risks to the donor and do everything in your power to avoid these.

But for patients like Connor the option for live liver donation should be there.
P aediatricians have called for the Government to ban disposable vapes to avoid sleepwalking into a crisis amid an epidemic among children.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) warned that e-cigarettes are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes.

In response to the Government consultation on e-cigarettes, which closes on Tuesday, the group calls for urgent action to protect youngsters.

It comes as New Zealand announced it would ban some disposable units and limit sales near schools as it extends aggressive anti-smoking campaigns.

Experts agree that longer-term data is needed on the effects of vaping, particularly in regard to cardiovascular disease.

Since e-cigarettes have only been on sale in the UK since 2007, long-term studies dont yet exist, the RCPCH report said.

We have even less evidence on the long-term impacts of these products on young lungs, hearts and brains.

It took experts decades to fully understand the impact of traditional cigarettes, we cannot risk our childrens health in waiting this long again for longer-term studies.

In May, data for Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) showed there has been a 50 per cent rise in the proportion of children trying vaping in the last year across Great Britain.

It found a rise in experimental vaping among 11 to 17-year-olds, from 7.7 per cent last year to 11.6 per cent this year.

Children were asked if they had ever tried vaping once or twice, with the proportion roughly doubling in nine years, from 5.6 per cent in 2014 to 11.6 per cent.

Disposable vapes appear to be the e-cigarette of choice among youngsters, while purchases of vapes are mostly made from corner shops.

In 2021, current child vapers were least likely to vape disposables (7.7 per cent) but in 2022 they became the most used (52 per cent) and this has continued to grow to 69 per cent in 2023.

It is illegal to sell vapes to under-18s but social media carries posts from teenagers showing vapes and discussing flavours such as pink lemonade, strawberry, banana and mango.

Its vice president for policy and paediatric respiratory consultant, Dr Mike McKean, said: Without a doubt, disposable e-cigarettes should be banned.

There is absolutely no reason that these cheap, readily available, brightly coloured, recreational products should be single use.

Youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children, and I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis.

Westminsters approach to this problem is out of step with even our closest neighbours, with countries such as Scotland, France, Germany, and Ireland all seriously considering a ban.

The Government in Westminster has the responsibility and capability to make a choice that will have far-reaching consequences, potentially for generations to come.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said a new Government crackdown on vape marketing will prevent the unacceptable targeting of children and young people, with a pledge to close a loophole allowing retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England.

The Government has said that there will also be a review into banning retailers selling nicotine-free vapes to under-18s.

Regarding its evidence to ministers, Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Ash, said it called for tougher regulations last year but was ignored.

Children are highly price sensitive so top of our list is to make disposable vapes less affordable by adding a 5 excise tax, which could be achieved immediately with a finance bill.

This would not only increase the price but also make their distribution subject to much more stringent controls, making it easier to prevent illicit and underage sales.

Ash said it does not support a complete ban on disposable vapes at this time, believing it will drive the illicit market thereby making it harder, not easier, to ensure products are recycled.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We are taking bold action to crack down on youth vaping through the 3 million illicit vapes enforcement squad to tackle underage sales to children.

We have also launched a call for evidence to identify opportunities to reduce the number of children accessing and using vape products and explore where the government can go further.
A woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy has called for increased awareness of the impact of the condition on pregnant women after raising nearly 5,000 for charity.

Kate OBrien was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer when she was 35 years old and just nine weeks pregnant with her second child.

She was referred to the Royal Marsden hospital, where she underwent surgery while still pregnant. Her daughter Rosa was just 18 months old at the time.

My diagnosis was devastating. I remember thinking: will my daughter have a mum and can I even have a baby? she told the Standard. I shut down as it was so hard to process.

Ms OBrien, from Ealing, went on to have successful radiotherapy treatment and her son Felix was born a happy, healthy baby in August 2013.

She paid tribute to the amazing work of her surgeon and the nursing team at the Marsden.

Kate OBrien with her husband Jez, son Felix and daughter Rosa / Kate OBrien

Going to the Marsden changed my life. They really helped to make me feel calmer about the situation and put me in touch with other organisations that I could get support from.

Breast cancer is reported in 1 in every 3,000 pregnancies, according to Cancer Research UK. Most women are between 32 and 38 years old at diagnosis.

Ms OBrien said more could be done to raise awareness of the fact that the condition can still affect women during pregnancy.

A lot of information on breast cancer is for older women so it didnt feel relevant to me there needs to be more information for women with breast cancer who are pregnant.

To mark ten years since her diagnosis on May 14, Ms OBrien completed the Banham Marsden March by walking 15 miles between the Royal Marsden hospital sites in Chelsea and Sutton. All of the money raised will be donated the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

She was joined on the day by her son Felix, 9, Rosa, 11, husband Jez along with the Hakuna Ma-ta-tas! team of family and friends.
P eople living near a South London park taken over by music festivals for the last two weekends have hit out at organisers and the council over inescapable noise they say is ruining their lives.

Thousands of revellers have flocked to Lambeths Brockwell Park in the past two weeks for festivals including Mighty Hoopla, Wide Awake and City Splash.

But many residents living close to the park claim their lives have been made a misery by unbearably loud music and partygoers illegally parking on their streets, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

They are also annoyed at a large section of the park being fenced off for weeks and the damage done to grass by the thousands of visitors the park attracts.

Herne Hill father Mark Baynes said the noise from the festivals was inescapable. The 43-year-old, who has lived in the area for a decade, said: Its like weve been living at a festival for the last 10 days. The noise is annoying: you just hear noise, not any of the music. It has also been pretty awful not being able to access the park. The kids wanted to play on the grass.

He added: The Hoopla crowd dont cause trouble but for the festival on the May bank holiday a lot of people drove here and the traffic was crazy. My wife went out and had to leave her car in Dulwich, because there werent any spaces around here.

On the other side of the park, Tulse Hill resident Stella said shed never known the noise to be so bad in the 27 years shed lived in the area. She said: Without any doubt the noise this year is the worst it has been. It wasnt just a little bit of wind carrying the sound. It was horrendously bad on the first weekend. I went for dinner with my husband in Balham and I could hear the noise there.

She added: I tried to stay away from home but theres only so much time you can spend away. It starts with the sound check at 10:30am and its relentless until it closes at night. Its a nightmare.

Organisers Summer Events Limited have been running a yearly series of festivals in Brockwell Park since 2018 under the Brockwell Live brand.

Lambeth Council approved the companys bid to hold the latest set of events in the 50.8 hectares park back in March.

Crews started assembling the stages for the events on May 15. The Sunday of Mighty Hoopla on June 4 was the last event in the series. But the stages will remain in place for just over another week for use by the Lambeth Country Show on June 10 and 11 before being disassembled.

Not everyone the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to minded the noise though. Catherine, who declined to give her surname, said she enjoyed hearing Kelly Rowlands headline set on the Saturday of Mighty Hoopla from the comfort of her living room.

She said: Its noisy but I dont mind. You could hear Kelly Rowland from my house and it was brilliant. Its really impressive the number of people here. It finishes at a reasonable time.

Tricia, 59, added: The festivals take up a big chunk of the park but theyve made an effort to minimise the disruption. Theyve got to be somewhere and given the amount of money that has been cut by central government I dont blame the council for trying to get money from somewhere else.

Donna Harris, leader of Lambeth Councils Liberal Democrat opposition, said she had received complaints about noise from residents living as far away as Clapham and Streatham.

Cllr Harris, member for Streatham Hill West and Thornton, said: Residents deserve information regarding how the noise generated by such events is being monitored and kept within legal limits, as well as how Lambeth is working with event partners to mitigate, monitor, and assess the impact of events in the boroughs public spaces.

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: We apologise for any noise disturbance caused to local residents, and have worked hard throughout to ensure the impact on local people was kept to a minimum. That included noise monitoring, a strict music curfew - including at 10pm on Sunday, and council wardens on hand to immediately address any local issues.

Holding events at Brockwell Park boosts local business, adds to Lambeths exciting music scene and raises thousands of pounds for park improvements. The programme also contributes to Lambeths inclusive and diverse calendar of cultural activities.

The ticketed events also help maintain free community shows including Brockwell Bounce and the much loved Lambeth Country Show. Following these years events in Brockwell Park we will be carrying out a full impact assessment to see if there are lessons to be learned for the future.

Brockwell Live organisers said: During the event, both Lambeth Council and Brockwell Live have their own independent noise consultants to actively monitor noise levels and take readings to ensure compliance with permissible limits.

Our sound levels have been agreed with the Local Authority and are built into our licence. The event team work very closely with the Safety Advisory Group and Lambeth Public Protection officers to ensure we do not go above the set levels for noise.

Festivals in Brockwell Park during May and June:

Project 6 - May 26

Wide Awake - May 27

Cross The Tracks - May 28

City Splash - May 29

Brockwell Bounce - May 31

Mighty Hoopla - June 3 and 4

Lambeth Country Show - June 10 and 11
C amden Town Tube station has become the latest stop on the Underground network to receive 4G and 5G mobile coverage.

The upgrade means that around 10 per cent of Tube stations with platforms that are below ground, and therefore usually unable to get a mobile signal, are now connected.

Transport for London (TfL) is aiming to bring high-speed mobile coverage to the entire Tube network, as well as the Elizabeth line, by the end of 2024.

TfL has also said that Mornington Crescent station will receive coverage within the next fortnight, while coverage within the tunnels between Kentish Town, Camden Town and Mornington Crescent stations will become available in the coming months.

All four mobile network operators - Three UK, EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) - are taking part in the rollout, which has already delivered 4G on the eastern section of the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town, between Archway and Kentish Town on the Northern line and between Holland Park and Queensway on the Central line.

Later this summer, some of central London's busiest Tube stations, including Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road, will also get coverage for the first time, along with further stations along the Northern and Central lines.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: I am delighted to see the promise I made of delivering 4G across the London Underground continuing to progress, with Camden Town joining an ever growing network of lines and stations with full connectivity.

Growing numbers of underground Tube stations now have 4G services, with many more to come as we continue to invest in London's digital infrastructure. By increasing connectivity across our capital we are helping to build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.
A top London state school has introduced a ban on pupils using the titles sir or miss to address headteachers, arguing the terms are deeply unequal.

James Handscombe, executive principal at Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, said the school would require students to call teachers by their names to avoid cultural misogyny.

In an assembly given to students shared on his Twitter account, Mr Handscombe said the decision showed the schools continued commitment to a better and more equal world.

He said the term sir was associated with powerful men while miss was how you refer to a small girl, or an Edwardian shop assistant.

Both feed into a view of the world that diminishes women, he added.

Men get to be fearless leaders and alpha types, get credited for hustling whilst behind the backs of women its asked whether they deserve it, whether their career comes from good ideas or good looks, power moves or diversity lists.

Teacher can be used by pupils as long as staff agree under the new rules.

Mr Handscombe said of the decision: Its one of those things that is obviously wrong but nobodys fault (particularly not students, who I think use the two terms as equal forms of respect) and difficult to shift. Well see how we get on.

In 2021, Mr Handscombe urged his pupils to be socially scrupulous and call out their friends over sexual harassment in the light of the Everyones Invited campaign exposing rape culture in elite schools.

Addressing a school assembly at the time, he said: We need to stand up to our friends. We need to call them out. We need to say that there are some behaviours that are incompatible with our friendship.

He has previously admitted to using the lyrics of Taylor Swift in his assemblies, including an assembly about ambition, and praised the popstar as a great philosopher.

He also said he draws inspiration for assemblies from Shakespeare, Yeats, Donne and Samuel Beckett.

Harris Westminster opened in 2014 with the help of neighbouring Westminster School, which is independent.

It takes high numbers of bright pupils from poor backgrounds and, last year, 49 pupils received offers from Oxbridge.
A London school has been forced to close after its IT system was hacked in a devastating attack.

Leytonstone School in Waltham Forest has been closed since half term after it was targeted in a critical IT incident, in which a significant amount of personal data was accessed.

Only pupils taking GCSEs are currently able to attend the school, while children in all other year groups at the 800-pupil secondary school are at home remote learning.

The schools Wifi and phone system is not working. But headteacher Jessica McQuaid said the school is unable to open because a document known as a single central record, which contains information and vetting checks of all staff, is inaccessible.

In a letter to parents she said: It is illegal for the school to be open without this document in place.

Staff are currently creating a new single central record but the school is not expected to be able to open fully this week.

Ms McQuaid told parents: I am incredibly sorry for the short noticebut it is illegal for the school to be open without this document in place.

She added: I am devastated that this IT incident has taken place and impacted the start of the half term for pupils.

The school has called in a private IT consultancy to deal with the cyber-attack, and has notified the police, the Information Commissioners Office and the National Cyber Security Centre after a significant amount of personal information data held by the school was accessed.

The school has advised parents to change the passwords they use for all school related sites such as ParentPay and Google Classroom.

One parent told the Evening Standard: Its hugely unfortunate for the children after so much learning has been disrupted already, first by Covid and then by strike action. But the staff are obviously doing all they can to get the children back in as soon as possible.

Waltham Forest councillor Alistair Strathern, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: We are working with Leytonstone School to understand the full impact of the incident. The school has been in regular contact with parents and will continue to share information with them as soon as possible. The safety and wellbeing of students, their families, and staff is our top concern, and we are working to support school leaders to be able to re-open to pupils safely as soon as possible.

The school is conducting a thorough review to understand exactly what happened, and we will be supporting them in carrying this out.

A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioners Office said: Leytonstone school has reported an incident to us and we are making enquiries.

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
F ifty-two London bus routes are to be affected when drivers walk out across four days this month.

The fresh wave of strikes, announced by Unite on Tuesday, will see more than 1,700 drivers working for bus firm Arriva strike on June 20, 21, 27 and 28 amid a dispute over pay.

The four days of action - falling on consecutive Tuesdays and Wednesdays - are expected to bring travel chaos to London, primarily to the north and east of the city.

TfL has confirmed the routes affected are: 19, 29, 34, 38, 41, 73, 78, 102, 121, 123, 141, 144, 149, 150, 158, 175, 191, 192, 221, 242, 243, 253, 254, 259, 279, 307, 313, 318, 325, 329, 340, 341, 349, 377, 675, W3, W4, W6, N19, N29, N38, N41, N73, N102, N123, N149, N158, N242, N243, N253, N279, N341.

Unite members voted to take strike action after rejecting a seven per cent pay offer by Arriva, and the union warns further walkouts will follow if the dispute is not resolved.

It claims Arriva - owned by Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company of Germany - is effectively owned by the German government.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Arriva is an extremely wealthy company but it has got its priorities all wrong.

It needs to be concentrating on paying its workers fairly rather than providing the German government with huge dividends.

Unite regional officer Steven Stockwell said: The strike action is set to create travel chaos across London but this dispute is totally of Arrivas own making. It has had every chance to make our members an offer that meets their expectations but has refused to do so.

A TfL spokesperson said: We encourage both parties to get round the table and find a solution.

Arriva has been approached by the Standard for a comment.
T he Met is hiring hundreds of new Police Community Support Officers in a bid to step back into community policing and rebuild public trust in the scandal-hit force.

The massive recruitment drive launched on Tuesday will see an extra 500 PCSOs join the Met this year and a further 1,100 hired by mid-2025 - increasing the total number of PCSOs in the capital by 40 per cent initally, and eventually by more than 130 per cent. The Met currently has around 1,200 PCSOs.

It comes as commissoner Sir Mark Rowley attempts to overhaul the Met following a series of high-profile scandals, including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens, and PC David Carricks admission of a horrific campaign of rape and abuse against women throughout his policing career.

A damning report by Dame Louise Casey, commissioned in the wake of Sarah Everards murder, in March laid bare a series of failings at the countrys largest force, which it found to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic. Meanwhile, more than half of Londoners say they do not trust the Met.

The new PCSOs are set to cost Londoners 29.3m, paid for by City Hall which this year hiked the Mayor of Londons share of council tax bills by 9.7 per cent - the biggest rise in two decades - to fund the initiative.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: I am determined to keep building on the progress we are making in London - where violence and knife crime is falling - bucking the national trend.

The 500 new Police Community Support Officers I am funding will play a big role in reducing crime further, rebuilding community relations and public trust in the police and supporting the Commissioners Turnaround Plan for the Met.

Being a PCSO is a unique and rewarding role at the heart of the work to make communities safer.

I encourage Londoners from all backgrounds to apply and be part of the change we all want to see in our police, as we continue to work together to build a safer London for all.

New PCSOs will start on an annual salary of around 30,200, with benefits including a civil service pension, free bus travel, and 28 days paid leave that rises to 33 days after five years of service.

PCSOs support the work of police officers. New recruits will begin with six weeks of learning skills such as patrolling, gathering and handling evidence, managing crime scenes, and emergency life support.

Commander Dr Alison Heydari, Front Line Policing Command, said: Community policing is our foundation and this is a very critical time to join us as a PCSO to work alongside police officers and volunteers, and really make a difference in local neighbourhoods and to the lives of local people.

The Met is firmly stepping back into community policing where we will rebuild those bonds of trust and partnership with communities, so we are working together to tackle the issues Londoners tell us they want dealt with.
S adiq Khan has suggested that the air quality of cities around the world is at stake if his plan to expand the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) fails to go ahead.

The Mayor of London told an audience of scientists on Tuesday that London was leading the way internationally in the battle against air pollution - but that other cities would grow nervous about taking their own measures if the Ulez does not expand.

There are great mayors in great cities across the world looking to London in relation to this issue and if we dont succeed, theyre going to get nervous, and theyre not going to be as passionate about this issue, said Mr Khan.

Thats why weve got to win the argument. Weve got to make sure that [the] Ulez expansion lands well.

The Ulez - which requires non-compliant vehicles to pay a 12.50 daily charge if travelling within the zone - is expanding to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29. The mayor says it will allow five million more Londoners to breathe cleaner air, and save lives, but those opposed to the move argue that it will hit peoples pockets during a cost of living crisis.

Mr Khan was speaking in central London at an event held to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of Imperial Colleges Environmental Research Group.

The mayor also warned that an anti-scientific mindset, one hostile to facts and reason, has been allowed to seep into our political culture and public debate, which puts dogma ahead of data, [and] ideology above evidence.

He added that some in the audience had contributed towards a letter from 36 scientists to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the subject of air pollution, for which he thanked them.

The letter urged Mr Sunak to call out figures in his party who they say are dismissing the science of air pollution.

Responding to Mr Khans comments about other cities looking to London, Nick Rogers AM, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson, said: "Sadiq Khan should stop worrying about what other mayors think of him, and focus on the fact that his Ulez expansion would have a negligible effect on air quality, while taking money from low income families, small businesses and charities.

The lesson for anyone watching the backlash to Sadiq Khan's disastrous policy is that you cannot ignore the public, and you should tackle air pollution where it is, not tax people where it isn't."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to strengthen strained ties with the long-time ally as the oil-rich kingdom forges closer relations with America's rivals.

Blinken's three-day trip will also focus on efforts to end conflicts in Sudan and Yemen, the joint battle against the Islamic State group and the Arab world's relations with Israel.

His visit comes at a time of quickly shifting alliances in the Middle East, centred around a China-brokered rapprochement in March between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Another landmark change saw Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad invited back to the Arab League last month for the first time since the start of the 12-year civil war in which his government has been backed by Russia and Iran.

"There is just a tremendous amount of work that we're trying to do," a US State Department senior official dealing with Arabian Peninsula affairs, Daniel Benaim, said before Blinken's trip.

"We're focused on an affirmative agenda here and the great deal of work our countries can do together."

Blinken was due to land in the Red Sea city of Jeddah in the evening and is expected to meet Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, before heading to Riyadh on Wednesday for a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.

The visit is Blinken's first since the kingdom restored diplomatic ties with Iran, which the West considers a pariah over its contested nuclear activities and involvement in regional conflicts.

The United States offered cautious support for the deal that was sealed in China, the rising power making inroads in the Middle East.

- Israel relations -

US-Saudi relations, centred for decades on energy and defence, were badly strained by the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

Washington was also upset when Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, refused to help bring down skyrocketing energy prices after Russia's attack on Ukraine in February last year.

Prince Mohammed, 37, has steered a more independent foreign policy course, also hosting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday.

Iran, the arch-enemy of the United States and Israel for decades, is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday following a seven-year hiatus.

Still, US-Saudi strategic relations are close especially on defence: Washington has long provided the Sunni Arab giant security protection from Shiite Iran, and Riyadh buys cutting-edge US weaponry.

US and Saudi diplomats have closely cooperated on efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire in Sudan's eight-week-old war, so far unsuccessfully, and Saudi help was crucial in evacuating thousands of foreigners from the war zone.

The two allies are also engaged in the ongoing battle against IS, the jihadist group that has lost all its territory in the Middle East but is increasingly active in parts of Africa.

They are also discussing efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has long provided military support to the government in a fight against Huthi rebels backed by Iran.

The United States also hopes that Saudi Arabia will eventually agree to normalise relations with Israel, which already built ties with several other Arab countries under the Abraham Accords brokered by the Donald Trump administration.

On the eve of his Saudi trip, Blinken reiterated that "the United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia".

He said Washington has "no illusions" that this can be done quickly or easily but stressed that "we remain committed to working toward that outcome".

Saudi Arabia has so far maintained that Israel must first recognise an independent Palestinian state.

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I t seems US investigations into Julian Assange have reopened after London police made a call to a UK authors house.

Writer Andrew OHagan had a visit from Met police to his Primrose Hill home last month when he was out. They left a letter saying they were there on behalf of the FBI, to ask about his work with Wikileaks founder Assange on a ghost-written book a decade ago. The book was never finished, and the pair fell out.

Despite their history, OHagan says he wont answer police questions.  I dont support the efforts of governments to silence journalists, or to bring charges against writers, editors, or organisations for publishing the truth, OHagan told us. Ive had my differences with Julian, but I dont waver in my support of his work to hold governments to account. I would happily go to jail myself before helping the FBI. OHagan added that it is shameful that the Met are helping the FBI.

Assange has been in Belmarsh prison for four years and is at risk of extradition to the US, in connection to leaking official files. He previously lived in the Ecuadorian embassy. The Met instructed us to contact the FBI on the story. The FBI did not reply to a request for comment.

Whips to become a TV series

Dave Benett/Getty Images

Cleo Watson, ex-aide to Boris Johnson and author of the Westminster bonkbuster Whips, is hoping her raunchy novel will become a film. Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkiss production company got the rights this week. It plans to turn the book about three young women in politics into a series. Stephen Frears, who has form directing political TV, was at Watsons launch last week, but shes keeping schtum about who she wants to play her sexed-up politicos.

Restaurants have gone to the dogs

Getty Images

A debate is raging over whether its OK to bring dogs into restaurants after food critic Jay Rayner slammed a Kentish Town eatery when a mutt got too intimate with him. James Chiaverini, who owns Kensingtons Il Portico, tells us dogs are allowed as long as owners warn him beforehand and are responsible, given other diners may not be comfortable. Gives a new meaning to sausage dog.

Philip Hammond remembers May and Truss

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss (left) and Prime Minister Theresa May congratulate Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond as he finishes making his Budget statement / PA

Ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond dished the dirt on ex-colleagues last night. At a recording of the Political Party podcast, he said former PM Theresa May likes a glass of wine and that this is one of her redeeming features. Faint praise. Hammond also said he knew Liz Truss, his junior at the Treasury, would be a high risk PM as she forced him to listen to ideas at monthly meetings. Shed say Lets do so and so and Id say Hmm, no, he said.

Happy days at The Box

Londoners Diary 6th June 23 1 / 8 Londoners Diary 6th June 23 'Mantra Of The Cosmos' Perform At The Box In London Bez, Zak Starkey, Shaun Ryder and Andy Bell of 'Manta Of The Cosmos' pose backstage ahead of their performance at The Box on June 5, 2023 in London, England. Pic Credit: Dave Benett Dave Benett 'Mantra Of The Cosmos' Perform At The Box In London Andy Bell, Zak Starkey, Shaun Ryder and Bez of 'Manta Of The Cosmos' perform at The Box on June 5, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett 'Mantra Of The Cosmos' Perform At The Box In London Mimi Xu attends the 'Manta Of The Cosmos' performance at The Box on June 5, 2023 in London, England. Pic Credit: Dave Benett Dave Benett 'DOMi & JD BECK' Perform At Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club In London : India Rawsthorn attends the 'DOMi & JD BECK' performance at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club on June 5, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett 'Mantra Of The Cosmos' Perform At The Box In London : Gizzi Erskine attends the 'Manta Of The Cosmos' performance at The Box on June 5, 2023 in London, England. Dave Benett Maya Jama Love Island filming Maya Jama on the way to Love Island filming Maya Jama instagram

Rock supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos played The Box in Soho last night. The groups founder Shaun Ryder, of Happy Mondays fame, took a picture with his bandmates Bez, Andy Bell, the former Oasis guitarist, and Zak Starkey, son of Beatle Ringo Starr. TV chef Gizzi Erskine and DJ Mimi Xu seemed to enjoy the show. Over at Ronnie Scotts, model India Rawsthorn saw jazz duo Domi and JD Beck. And in Mallorca, Love Island host Maya Jama headed to the new series set in an open-top car, dog in arm.
T housands of firms that had payroll data hacked by criminals in a global heist were on Tuesday warned not to give in to blackmail threats.

Russia-linked ransomware group Clop claimed responsibility for the cyber attack, which hit companies including British Airways, the BBC and Boots on Monday.

Hackers targeted a flaw in the MOVEit file transfer software, which is widely used in the corporate world including by UK-based payroll provider Zellis.

Professor Ciaran Martin a former head of cyber security at GCHQ who set up the National Cyber Security Centre, said victims could be more susceptible to sophisticated identity fraud but companies should not pay the criminals to stop the stolen data being leaked online.

He told BBC Radio 4: It looks like the BBC, Boots, BA and others are caught up in a very significant global data heist...This group of criminals are going to have massive amounts of personal data, sadly, and theyre going to look through it and see what is most extortable.

They will then come to organisations and threaten them with publication of this data if they dont pay. So theyll look for the most damaging data and the strong advice will be to the organisations not to pay.

What they might do, then more covertly is they might seek to monetise this data. Its unlikely, certainly in the case of organisations like the BBC, to be something that you could just take and empty your bank account.

But it does leave those affected more susceptible to sophisticated identity fraud, so they might try to develop techniques for scamming and so forth.

So theyll seek to monetise the data and whats really important is that we do everything we can not to let them.

Zellis did not name its clients caught up in the attack.

However, BA, the BBC and Boots confirmed their employees were among the victims.

The airline employs 34,000 people in the UK. Boots has around 52,000 British workers.

The broadcaster said it does not believe its employees bank details have been exposed, however their company ID and national insurance numbers were compromised.
M ore than four in five primary school teachers believe the attention span of children is shorter than it was pre-pandemic, a survey has found.

More than two in three (70%) primary school teachers say that childrens classroom behaviour has worsened post-Covid, according to a poll commissioned by online subject resource Kapow Primary.

The survey, of 504 primary and early years teachers in schools in England, found 84% agree that primary childrens attention span is shorter than ever post-Covid, while 69% say that they have seen an increase in inattention and daydreaming since their young pupils returned to school after the pandemic.

One in five teachers report that they spend less than 10 minutes on average on any single activity to maintain their childrens attention, the survey found.

The majority of teachers say pupils are more likely to move around the room post-Covid (57%), are quicker to complain about being bored (57%), and are more likely to annoy and provoke others in the classroom (55%).

Some have lost the ability to sit as part of a large audience and focus on a message being shared with the whole school

More than four in five (85%) teachers agree that the ever-swiping nature of social media has negatively affected pupils attention span.

One Year 5 and 6 teacher working at a Derbyshire primary school, who asked not to be named, said: Behaviour in class is very different post-Covid. We had to teach the children through a screen during the pandemic, but taking the screen away now has had a massive impact.

Daydreaming is a big issue for us, as is helping children re-learn some of their social skills. Little things like turn-taking got lost during Covid. We also have to do a lot more movement breaks to avoid the children from tuning out.

Another teacher, working at an east London primary school, said: The conduct of many children in assemblies has been particularly symptomatic. Some have lost the ability to sit as part of a large audience and focus on a message being shared with the whole school.

The government must also do much more to understand the problems around behaviour and provide more investment and support to schools and families

Vicky Cottrill-Gray, education content director at Kapow Primary, said: Children lost so much in-school time during the pandemic. When they went back, they brought new behavioural challenges with them that teachers are still having to deal with.

Tiffnie Harris, primary and data specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: The findings of this survey chime with what we are hearing from school leaders.

It appears that behaviour has become more challenging among some pupils and that this is caused by a number of factors. There seems to be a long-term impact of the disruption of the pandemic to normal routines and expectations.

On top of this is the rising incidence of mental health and wellbeing problems among children which is exacerbated by the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on families and the pressures created by social media.

She added: The Government must also do much more to understand the problems around behaviour and provide more investment and support to schools and families.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: Our approach to tackling behaviour in schools has been to support schools to develop a behaviour culture that works for them, their pupils, and their communities.

We have updated our Behaviour in Schools guidance to provide clear advice on how to create and maintain high standards and our 10 million Behaviour Hubs programme is supporting up to 700 schools to improve behaviour.

The survey of primary school and early years teachers was carried out between April and May this year by Gerard Kelly & Partners.
T he chairwoman of the Covid inquiry on Tuesday showed no signs of backing down in the row with the Government over Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages.

Baroness Heather Hallett addressed ministers decision to launch legal action in a bid to prevent the Cabinet Office handing over the former PMs unredacted messages and notebooks from during the pandemic.

The deadline to submit the information was missed last week and the Government instead announced it would challenge the request in courts with a judicial review.

At a preliminary inquiry hearing on Tuesday morning Lady Hallett said: As has been widely reported, an issue has arisen between the inquiry and the Cabinet Office as to who decides what is relevant or potentially relevant.

I issued a notice under Section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005 making it clear that in my view, it is for inquiry tries to decide what is relevant or potentially relevant.

The Cabinet Office disagrees... They invited me to withdraw the Section 21 Notice, I declined.

She added that she would be making no further comment while the court fight was pending.

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin defended the Governments legal move in the Commons yesterday, telling MPs that the High Court case would mean it was lawyers and not politicians who would decide what is and what is not relevant information for the inquiry.

Mr Quin told MPs that he expected judges to hear the Governments judicial review on or shortly after June 30.

He denied accusations of a cover-up, saying that all Government correspondence relating to the handling of the pandemic would be made transparently available to Lady Halletts investigation.

But he repeated the Cabinet Offices argument that the inquiry, in its request for Mr Johnsons unredacted messages and notes, was asking for information ministers deemed to be unambiguously irrelevant and that had nothing to do with Covid decision-making.

Conservative MPs criticised the Government's position, however, arguing it should be for Lady Hallett to decide what was relevant to her investigation.

Veteran MP Sir Edward Leigh said: Let them have what they want and let's get to the truth.

Mr Johnson has also argued that he has no concerns about handing over the information.

The Government is willing to agree another way forward, Downing Street stressed when asked whether it is committed to going ahead with legal action against the Covid inquiry.

Rishi Sunaks official spokesman said: You heard from the minister that we remain hopeful and willing to agree together the best way forward.

Obviously we have explored other possibilities for resolution previously. So obviously we continue to speak to the inquiry. And as I say, we are willing to agree another way forward.

Tuesdays preliminary hearing focused on the core political and administrative decision making by the Government when Covid hit. It considered how the investigation should be run rather than taking evidence.

The first evidence session is due to take place next week, with Lady Hallett set to hear from witnesses about Britains pandemic preparedness and resilience.

Public hearings are scheduled to conclude by summer 2026, with interim reports published before then.
T he Government is at rock bottom, the Duke of Sussex has said in his High Court claim against the Daily Mirrors publisher.

Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

In his witness statement in support of his claim against the publisher, Harry said he is bringing the case not because I hate the tabloid press or even necessarily a section of it, but in order to properly hold the people who have hijacked those privileges, which come with being a member of the press, to account for their actions.

He later criticised the state of British journalism and the present Government as both being at rock bottom in the statement dated February of this year.

The duke said: Because they have showed no willingness to change, I feel that I need to make sure that this unlawful behaviour is exposed, because obviously I dont want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level.

I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest

But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our Government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

The duke added that democracy fails if the press does not scrutinise the Government and hold them to account and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said that comments made by Harry were part of a live legal case and he would not be commenting.

He said: I think you have heard repeatedly from the Prime Minister on the state of the country and his priorities, but I am not going to get drawn into commenting specifically on that.

In his witness statement, the duke later added that the British public deserve to know the depths of what he alleges happened in the press.

Harry continued: I may not have a role within the institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest.

The 38-year-old said that the media should have the power to be able to investigate anyone, anytime, for pretty much anything related to people in positions of responsibility, or those who are taxpayer-funded.

He continued: The problem is that, over the last 15 to 20 years, there are now incredibly powerful media companies who masquerade as journalists and who have, quite literally, hijacked journalistic privileges for their own personal gain and agenda, its an unbelievably dangerous place.

Harrys claim is being heard alongside three other representative claims during a trial which began last month and is due to last six to seven weeks.

MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them.

The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
K emi Badenoch said that she was not an arsonist as she clashed with Tory MPs over the decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws.

The Business and Trade Secretary was grilled by MPs during an appearance at the European Scrutiny Committee, amid Brexiteer anger about changes to plans for a bonfire of retained EU laws.

The Government had originally promised a sunset clause on all laws carried over from the trade bloc by the end of 2023 under its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

But the blanket sunset clause was ditched earlier this year and replaced with a narrowed target of 600 such laws to be revoked by the end of the year, well short of the more than 4,000 previously pledged.

What we want to do is get rid of laws we don't need and there is a process for that. It is not the bonfire of regulations. We are not arsonists. I am certainly not an arsonist. I am a Conservative

Ms Badenoch defended the decision and insisted that Government policy had not fundamentally changed, during a fiery back-and-forth with Brexiteer David Jones.

What we want to do is get rid of laws we dont need and there is a process for that. It is not the bonfire of regulations. We are not arsonists. I am certainly not an arsonist. I am a Conservative. I dont think a bonfire of regulations is what we wanted. What we wanted was the reform and removal of things we did not need, she told the Clwyd West MP.

Until I did this, no one knew what was happening. No one knew what was being revoked or reformed. And we could end up in a situation where were telling ourselves there is a big bonfire of regulations, and no one would have known what would happen until after the sunset.

Mr Jones said that the Commons had in fact voted for a bonfire of regulations and said that modifying the Bill in the House of Lords could be seen as disrespectful to MPs.

What I am finding difficult to understand is that when a Bill passes through the House of Commons unamended and therefore clearly has the complete approbation of the House of Commons, you then change your approach completely, he told his party colleague.

You dont tell the Commons you are changing your approach, you dont have the courtesy to come before this committee, so this committee can scrutinise the changes you are proposing, then you come back to the Commons, it having gone through the Lords, presenting the Commons effectively with a fait accompli.

Dont you think that is disrespectful of the House of Commons?

But Ms Badenoch rejected his claims and said the Government was still delivering on the intention behind the Bill.

She said that there would have been little point coming before the committee when she was new in post, before adding: Something you are not saying, we had private meetings David, we had private meetings where we discussed this extensively, because I knew you had concerns.

And it is public knowledge we had private meetings, because when I thought I was having private and confidential meetings I was reading the contents in the Daily Telegraph.

The Cabinet minister was also asked whether the changes to the Bill were part of a deal with the European Union to secure the Windsor Framework, the agreement agreed between Brussels and London in a bid to resolve unionist concerns about the impact of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.

Ms Badenoch told South Dorset MP Richard Drax that the framework had nothing to do with it, warning her fellow MPs to stop floating suggestions that the UK still had not fully left the EU.

We are at risk of talking down the significant thing we have achieved by making the perfect the enemy of the good, she said.
M argaret Ferrier has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching coronavirus rules.

The Commons voted 185 to 40, majority 145, to approve the motion to suspend the independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

Ms Ferrier, a former SNP MP, was in the Commons chamber as MPs approved her suspension.

She could now face a by-election after breaching Covid rules in 2020 by travelling by train from Scotland to England while positive for the virus.

Any MP who misses 10 sitting days due to suspension is at risk of a by-election  but 10% of voters in their constituency must sign a recall petition.

Labour hopes to win the constituency if such a by-election were to take place, in an effort to demonstrate it can make gains in Scotland at the next general election.

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer joined Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on the campaign trail in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire at the end of May.

At the time, Sir Keir said he was in no doubt that people will take the chance to get rid of Ms Ferrier if a by-election is held.

Scottish Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Michael Shanks said This is welcome news for those of us who live here, but it is a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.

Weve spoken to thousands of voters who feel let down by Margaret Ferriers actions  people who made sacrifices during the pandemic and rightly expected their MP to do the same.

The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve so much better than a rule-breaking MP.

I want to be the local champion this area deserves, and I am ready to fight for every vote and deliver the change Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs.

The SNP also called for a by-election in the constituency.

The partys by-election campaign co-ordinator David Linden MP said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule-breach first came to light in 2020.

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign  and well work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: I welcome todays news because its important that we all take responsibility for the decisions we make, especially where public safety is involved.

Scottish Liberal Democrats are unequivocally in favour of a recall petition and a by-election.

Not only is this a chance to give Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation it deserves, it is also a chance to send a message to the new SNP First Minister that people are sick of the divisive and out of touch politics he and his party represent.

Ms Ferrier was accompanied in the Commons Chamber by Conservative former minister Andrew Selous and SNP MP Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West).

At one point, Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, was seen walking to the opposition benches to shake her hand.

The Commons voting list showed 32 Conservative MPs among those who had voted to reject the suspension vote in support of Ms Ferrier.

They included Mr Kawczynski, former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, and the DUP MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.
T he chairwoman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is expected to respond for the first time to a High Court challenge of her request for Boris Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages.

Baroness Heather Hallett is due to hold a preliminary inquiry hearing on Tuesday in which she is set to address ministers decision to bring forward a judicial review.

The retired senior judges deadline for the UK Government to hand over the former prime ministers WhatsApp messages and notebooks in an unredacted format was missed by the Cabinet Office last week, with ministers instead announcing plans to challenge the request in the courts.

Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin looked to defend the move in the Commons on Monday, telling MPs that the High Court case would mean it was lawyers and not politicians who would decide what is and what is not relevant information for the inquiry.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has refused to comment on the row over Mr Johnsons messages.

It wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment on this ongoing legal process, Mr Sunak told The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Quin told MPs that he expected judges to hear the Governments judicial review very soon, with a hearing on or shortly after June 30.

He denied accusations of a cover-up, saying that all Government correspondence relating to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic would be made transparently available to Lady Halletts investigation.

But he repeated the Cabinet Offices argument that the inquiry, in its request for Mr Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp correspondence and written notes, was asking for information ministers deemed to be unambiguously irrelevant and that had nothing to do with Covid decision-making.

Conservative MPs criticised the Governments position, however, arguing it should be for Lady Hallett to decide what was relevant to her investigation.

Veteran MP Sir Edward Leigh said: Let them have what they want and lets get to the truth.

Elkan Abrahamson, a solicitor representing the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group at the inquiry, said the only logical response if chairwoman Lady Hallett does not get access to the material is for her to step down because she cant properly do her job.

During Tuesdays preliminary hearing, Lady Hallett is due to focus on Module 2 of the inquiry, which will look into core political and administrative decision making by the UK Government.

Preliminary hearings are for consideration of how the investigation should be run rather than taking evidence.

The first evidence session is due to take place next week, with Lady Hallett set to hear from witnesses about the UKs pandemic preparedness and resilience as part of her Module 1 investigation.

Public hearings are scheduled to conclude by summer 2026, with interim reports published before then.

Lady Hallett hopes to publish reports for Module 1 and 2 next year, according to the inquirys website.
F ormer Scottish National Party MP Margaret Ferrier has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching coronavirus rules.

The move will pile pressure on Ms Ferrier, now an independent, to stand down as an MP.

She could also face a recall petition which would trigger a by-election in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat.

Labour would be expected to have a good chance of winning the by-election with a financial scandal swirling around the SNP.

The Commons voted 185 to 40, majority 145, to approve the motion to suspend Ms Ferrier.

Ms Ferrier was in the Commons chamber as MPs approved her suspension.

Any MP who misses 10 sitting days due to suspension is at risk of a by-election  but 10 per cent of voters in their constituency must sign a recall petition.

SNP by-election campaign coordinator David Linden MP said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule-breach first came to light in 2020.

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are paying an unacceptable price for the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party, as the cost of living soars.

The SNP is the only party offering a real alternative. We will put the cost of living, NHS and independence at the heart of our campaign  and well work hard for every vote to ensure the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West can elect a strong SNP MP to stand up for them.

Ms Ferrier was found guilty of culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the risk of infection, illness and death by breaching Covid restrictions in 2020.

She lost her appeal against the standards committees ruling last month. Ms Ferrier lost the SNP whip and received a criminal conviction after travelling from London to Glasgow by train while infected with Covid in October 2020.
B aroness Heather Hallett has hit headlines recently, as the Covid inquiry chairwoman.

The baroness is leading the inquiry into the UKs response to the Covid pandemic.

Following the row over former prime minister Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages, Baroness Hallett has reiterated it is up to her to decide what evidence is relevant or potentially relevant.

This follows the Governments judicial review, in which she ordered the Cabinet Office to hand over Mr Johnsons unredacted WhatsApp messages, diary entries, and other documents.

Mr Johnson has since agreed to hand over the material.

Who is Heather Carol Hallett?

Heather Carol Hallett, aged 73, is a former Court of Appeal judge. According to the government website, in 1998, she became the first woman to chair the Bar Council, the lead representative body for barristers in England and Wales.

After becoming a presiding judge, she was then promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2005.

In 2013, she was appointed vice president of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.

In 2015, she was appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to conduct a review into On the Runs. This examined more than 200 people who were told they were no longer wanted for paramilitary crimes committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

In April 2019, she became the chair of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel.

Later that year, she was appointed to conduct individual fatality investigations assigned to her. While, in December 2021, former prime minister Boris Johnson appointed Baroness Hallett as chair of the inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whats the latest from the Covid inquiry?

There have been arguments over transparency in recent weeks, as the inquiry revealed that WhatsApp messages from senior Foreign Office figures had been redacted. It was also revealed that security experts will be asked to switch on Mr Johnsons old phone to search material from 2020, the height of the Covid pandemic.

Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the Government is taking its own Covid inquiry to court to avoid having to disclose material it considers unambiguously irrelevant. Some have said that this is a cowardly cover-up, and one of Mr Sunaks own ministers has even said that the judicial review is likely to fail.

When does the Covid inquiry end?

Baroness Hallett, has confirmed she aims to conclude public hearings by summer 2026.
President of the Republic of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day.

The letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

I wish to extend my most sincere congratulations to Your Excellency and to the friendly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan  the Independence Day.

I am well pleased, that thanks to our joint efforts the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation is strengthening in many areas. Furthermore, I am confident that the bilateral cooperation will be enriched with economic content by expanding in the fields of agriculture, transportation and tourism.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite You to visit Mongolia at a time of your convenience.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, I wish you a good health and well-being, and prosperity to the friendly people of Azerbaijan.

Yours respectfully,

Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh

President of Mongolia
Iran reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Tuesday after a seven-year closure, Saudi media reported.

Iran reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Saudi Arabia after a seven-year closure, reaffirming a Chinese-brokered rapprochement that has redrawn the region's diplomatic map.

The Iranian mission resumes in its former premises in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter -- near Syria's embassy, which is also expected to reopen soon following Saudi outreach to Damascus.

"We consider today an important day in the relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli told a flag-raising ceremony.

"The cooperation between the countries is entering a new era."

In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restart their respective embassies and work towards resuming ties, after Riyadh in 2016 broke off relations following Iranian protests.

Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm when it will open its embassy in Tehran or its pick for ambassador, although a Saudi delegation visited the Iranian capital in April.

Tuesday's reopening coincides with a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Saudi Arabia, which comes as the oil-rich kingdom has been forging closer relations with Washington's rivals.

The ceremony at the embassy was also attended by Ali Al Youssef, director of consular affairs at the Saudi foreign ministry.

The mission returns under the leadership of Alireza Enayati, Iran's former ambassador to Kuwait.

Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia severed relations with Shiite-led Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

After years of discord, the two Middle East heavyweights signed a surprise reconciliation agreement in China on March 10.

Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored ties with Tehran ally Syria and ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, where it has for years led a military coalition against the Iran-backed Huthi forces.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years.

Blinken is expected to meet the Saudi de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah during his visit, according to a US official.

The top US diplomat is also due to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday.

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I an Blackford has announced that he will be standing down as an MP at the next general election.

Mr Blackford said on Tuesday that he had thought long and hard about whether he should stand again, adding that he was privileged and humbled that his constituents had put their trust in him at three elections.

In the Commons, Blackford has put questions to a number of opposition MPs in his role as Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) , including four prime ministers: Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

He stepped down from the role in December last year, saying he believed it was time for fresh leadership after five years. He was replaced by Stephen Flynn.

But who is Mr Blackford and what are some of the highlights of his political career to date?

Who is Ian Blackford?

Mr Blackford is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons from 2017 to 2022. He has been the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber since 2015.

He became the SNP Westminster leader after Angus Robertson lost his seat at the 2017 snap general election.

Through his weekly attendance at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Blackford has established himself as a well-known figure in the House of Commons. He is also seen as a close ally of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the former leader of the SNP.

Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at its Royal High School and was employed as an investment banker.

He has subsequently been involved in a number of entrepreneurial endeavors. From 1999 to 2000, he served as the SNPs national treasurer.

The controversies around Ian Blackford

Last year, the Daily Mail reported he faced calls to resign from political opponents after the newspaper obtained a recording of Mr Blackford urging fellow MPs to give absolute full support to SNP MP Patrick Grady, who was suspended for sexual misconduct.

He also denied rumours in March that he was considering resigning amid further reports of party infighting.

There have been rumors that some SNP lawmakers were not pleased with how he handled the situation, although Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn recently shot off rumors that he was on manoeuvres to take over as group leader.
The independent MPs suspension was voted on by her colleagues on Tuesday, with 185 MPs choosing in favour of suspension.

But who is Margaret Ferrier, how did she breach coronavirus rules, and what has been said about her suspension since it was announced?

Here are the key details.

Who is Margaret Ferrier?

Margaret Ferrier is a Scottish Politician who has served as the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West since 2019. Her political career started back in 2011 when she was an SNP member, but her coronavirus rule-breaking has since led to her losing the party whip; she has subsequently sat as an independent MP.

The Glasgow native, 62, used to work in a manufacturing construction companys commercial sales as a supervisor before she decided to enter the world of politics.

She joined SNPs Rutherglen branch back in 2011 and became an MP for the area after winning the seat at the 2015 General Election. She later lost the seat in 2017 to Ged Killen.

Ferrier took her seat back as an SNP candidate in the 2019 Election and has been holding it ever since.

Why has she been suspended?

Ferrier previously lost the SNP whip because she broke coronavirus rules.

On October 1, 2020, the MP made a public statement apologising for her serious breaches of the Covid-19 regulations, revealing that days earlier she had visited a gym, beauty salon, and gift shop despite showing symptoms of coronavirus.

She shared that she also went on to take a train from Scotland to London on September 28 and spoke in a parliamentary debate even though she hadnt received the results of her Covid-19 test yet.

She received a positive test result that evening, but proceeded to take the train to Scotland the next morning, lying to her party whip, saying a member of her family was unwell.

After she made the apology, she lost the party whip and referred herself to both the police and the Parliamentary Standards authorities.

What has been said about her behaviour and suspension?

After her apology, the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister of the time, Nicola Sturgeon, called Ferriers behaviour the worst breach imaginable, adding that she had suggested Ferrier to step down as an MP.

That same month, the Rutherglen constituency association also asked her to resign her seat, but the MP chose otherwise.

On January 4, 2021, Ferrier was arrested and charged by Police Scotland for culpable and reckless conduct, but was given bail on February 3. She later pleaded guilty to the charge on August 18, 2022 and on September 13, 2022, she was sentenced to 270 hours of community service.

On March 30, 2023, the Commons Select Committee on Standards recommended that she received a 30-day suspension, as she was found to have acted with blatant and deliberate dishonest intent and a high degree of recklessness to the public and to colleagues and staff at the House of Commons.

On June 6, 2023, their recommendation was voted on and upheld by the House of Commons.

Scottish Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Michael Shanks said: The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West deserve so much better than a rule-breaking MP.

The SNP has also called for a by-election in Ms Ferriers constituency of Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

The partys by-election campaign co-ordinator David Linden MP said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms Ferriers Covid rule-breach first came to light in 2020.
B ritish Second World War veterans have paid tribute to their fallen comrades as they marked the 79th anniversary of D-Day at a service in France.

Former servicemen attended the Royal British Legion-organised event at the British Normandy Memorial outside Ver-sur-Mer on Tuesday to share their experiences of the biggest seaborne invasion in military history, which led to the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is expected to attend the international ceremony of Allied nations and Germany later on Tuesday afternoon at the British Normandy Memorial as D-Day commemorations continue.

At the earlier service, 98-year-old Ken Hay, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment during the Battle of Normandy, read a poem he wrote last year to remember the friends he lost.

Mr Hay, from London, who was just 18 during the invasion and was later a prisoner of war and forced to work in coal mines in Poland, said: I didnt regard myself as a poet.

People say thank you for that. Veterans come up to me and say you put into words what we were feeling.

His poem contains the lines: With memories I come each year, and often shed a tear,

To understand that I came home, to live another year.

I still can see, each passing day, the friends I left behind,

The price they paid, I nearly paid, is clearly brought to mind.

Elsewhere, at an afternoon service at the Bayeux Cemetery in France, children held signs reading: Thank you veterans, the youth do care.

George Barrett, who joined the 9th Airborne regiment of the Royal Engineers in 1947, said he was glad children were attending the services to keep this remembrance commemoration going for years.

The 95-year-old said he has lost count of the number times he travelled to Normandy for D-day anniversaries, and this year he was among a party of 10 from Birmingham.

Chairman of the 1944 Alliance, Alan James, who organises the travel for veterans from Birmingham each year, said of the dwindling numbers: Its completely changed now. When I first started it was 24 veterans on the bus, now were down to two  we lost 13 veterans to Covid.

At the Bayeux service, D-Day veteran Stan Ford shared his account aboard HMS Fratton, which was torpedoed on August 18 1944, causing a huge explosion that damaged his legs and back.

The 98-year-old from Bath said: HMS Fratton sank in four minutes, taking with her 31 of the crew of 80.

I was lucky when so many of my shipmates were not, and I often ask myself why me?

HMS Fratton still lies about a mile off of Arromanches and I will always remember the crew that I served with, and I will keep coming back to Normandy as long as I can do so.

A small number of people headed to the Normandy beaches at sunrise to pay tribute to the servicemen and women who began their assault at first light on June 6, 1944.
Following a string of sexual harassment charges, which first surfaced in March, the CBI is struggling to safeguard its survival.

Members will be asked if the CBIs strategy for revitalisation is sufficient to inspire confidence in the CBI.

Previously, Rain Newton-Smith, who took over as director general in April, promised root and branch reform, and said a rebranding of the CBI would be needed as part of attempts to rebuild trust.

Personally, over time, Im sure were going to see a new name for the CBI, but thats just the wrapper that goes on the outside. What matters is what we do, what we deliver, and our purpose, Newton-Smith told the Financial Times.

More than 50 large businesses, including John Lewis and NatWest, have suspended their membership or cut ties with the group in the wake of the scandal.

Rain Newton-Smith took over from sacked boss Tony Danker, who said his reputation has been completely destroyed after being fired following complaints about his behaviour and sexual misconduct allegations.

Three other CBI employees have also been suspended pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations.

In light of damaging claims from 2019, including alleged drug use and serious sexual assault, which are being investigated by City of London police, experts are now saying one of the UKs largest business groups is completely finished.

And now, even with a new boss at the helm, critics say they will not recover from the scandal.

Taking over, she said: I want to recognise the courage of the women who came forward and say how profoundly sorry I am for how our organisation let you down, she said. I hope to reward your bravery by finding a better path forward.

But critics are still not convinced the organisation has a future, saying it is finished.

City fund manager Baroness Morrissey, a long-serving financier, told the BBC: Im sure she is wonderful in lots of respects but it doesnt quite cut the mustard if youre trying to show that youre embracing a new approach to all of this.

Asked if she thought the CBI was finished, she said: I do, Im afraid, and added that the firms actions are too little, too late.

Since the original allegation, the Government has suspended its relationship with the CBI.

"I'm afraid they've left it too little too late."



Baroness Helena Morrissey, who campaigns for diversity on boards, tells @JustinOnWeb that business lobby group CBI needs to "completely start again" after allegations of sexual assault.https://t.co/8ZAfCSNH8c | #R4Today pic.twitter.com/iJRypGoFIT  BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) April 25, 2023

But what is the CBI, what are the claims against its former director general, and what firms have distanced themselves from the organisation?

What is the CBI?

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) was established in 1965 and claims to represent more than 190,000 businesses across the UK. Members are companies as well as trade associations.

The CBI acts as a lobby group on behalf of its members and is the countrys largest organisation of its kind. It can seek to advise the British Government on issues affecting its members.

Its website says it has an ambitious vision for the economy of the future, and the desire to create a more carbon-neutral economy with levelling-up elements.

We champion business so it can lead, not fear, the changes that are all around us, its website says.

A CBI statement issued after the news of Mr Dankers sacking said: The CBI exists to help British business flourish. This is a privilege and responsibility which we take extremely seriously and cannot take for granted.

We represent our members not just in how we advocate for them, but also through our values as an organisation. It means we must be a place where colleagues are safe, valued, and respected, and where there is zero tolerance for behaviour that falls short of those expectations.

Who is Tony Danker and what is he accused of?

Northern Ireland-born and raised Mr Danker was a special adviser to Gordon Browns administration from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2017, he held top board roles at the Guardian.

The CBI said concerns about him were raised in early March. It organised an independent investigation conducted by Fox Williams, an employment law specialist.

The BBC reported that the investigation concerned his conduct towards a female employee. However, it is thought his behaviour is related to how he acted towards more than one person.

As a result of the investigation, he was fired without a redundancy package.

Tony Danker [has been] dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him, a statement read. It added that he was not subject to any of the further allegations reported in the Guardian.

His termination letter cited four reasons for his dismissal  for organising a secret karaoke party for 15 people, for viewing the Instagram accounts of CBI staff, for sending non-work-related messages to staff, and for inviting junior staff to breakfasts, lunches, or personal meetings.

He had previously said on Twitter that he was shocked at the allegations. He apologised for unintentionally making colleagues feel uncomfortable.

I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office, he tweeted. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.

I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that. I want to wish my former CBI colleagues every success.

Mr Danker said his name had been wrongly associated with an allegation of rape and other sexual assault claims that occurred before he joined the CBI, claiming he had been made the fall guy by the lobbying group.

In his first interview since his dismissal, Mr Danker acknowledged that he had made some staff feel very uncomfortable, saying: I apologise for that.

But he told the BBCs Today Programme last week: I have had a week of coverage saying, Tony Danker sacked in rape scandal.

And these stories have been about rape and sexual assault and cocaine and bullying  none of that was anything to do with me. And it was all before my time.

Its so clear  Ive been made the fall guy. Not only did they throw me under the bus, they reversed the bus back over me I feel I have to clear my name.

The CBIs chairman, Brian McBride, said Mr Danker was dismissed on strong legal grounds, telling the BBC that Mr Dankers description of events was selective and he was free to seek redress if he felt unfairly treated.

Tony Danker (left) with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak / Jacob King / PA Wire

What companies have quit the CBI?

So far, firms that have quit their relationship with the CBI include John Lewis, BMW, Virgin Media O2, NatWest, Mastercard; B&Q owner Kingfisher, ITV, the Association of British Insurers as well as Aviva, Zurich, the Phoenix Group and the British Insurance Brokers Association, Energy UK, investment firm Schroders, auditor EY, and Lloyds of London.

Companies that have suspended membership include GSK and AstraZeneca, Heathrow, major high-street retailers Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, and M&S, Santander, PwC, the National Grid, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power, Diageo, Rolls Royce, British Land, Manpower, and BT.

Shell and BP are understood to have paused membership, according to the BBC.

Can a new director general save the CBI?

The CBI is facing a crisis and has acknowledged serious failings in how it has acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better, the CBI statement said.

New head Rain Newton-Smith, the CBIs former chief economist, is the second woman to take the role.

The CBI statement added: We know it will take time for these steps to make a difference and rebuild trust. We will not hesitate to take any measures necessary in the meantime to act on further findings or complaints that arise from ongoing investigations.

However, many have questioned whether someone who has worked at the CBI beforehand is the right person to head the organisation when it is reeling from so many damaging claims.

Commenting on Ms Newton-Smiths appointment, the chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, Ann Francke, said: Im not sure there was a huge amount of openness and transparency around the process and, obviously, you can question whether somebody who was there is the right change agent to change the culture.
T he King met people keeping traditional craft skills alive in the village of his Romanian holiday let on Tuesday.

The private visit marks 25 years since Charles first visited Romania and is his first overseas trip since the coronation in May.

Tuesdays event, organised by The Princes Foundation charity, took place in the Transylvanian village of Viscri.

Charles owns a number of properties in Transylvania, including a holiday let  which helps fund the foundation  and a 17th century peasants house, which acts as the foundations headquarters.

Both properties are in Viscri which is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site due to its fortified church and fortress.

During Tuesdays visit, Charles met with groups who have benefited from the support of The Princes Foundation, including the Romanian Order of Architects and the Ambulance for Monuments, a project organised by Asociatia Monumentum which teaches students and volunteers to repair and conserve historic buildings across Romania.

One of the aims of The Princes Foundation, founded by Charles in 1986, is to keep traditional building craft skills alive.

Speaking at a reception hosted by Romanias president Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest last week, the King spoke of his love for Romania and praised the dedication and attention to detail of the countrys heritage workers.

He said: It is so impressive to see how many young volunteers work every year with such love and dedication and attention to detail with their Ambulance for Monuments, to help preserve Romanias wonderfully diverse architectural inheritance.

Eugen Vaida, who co-ordinates The Princes Foundations activity in Romania, said: It was a pleasure for us to welcome back His Majesty to Romania and to hear him talk about his love for the country and all we are doing to preserve our historic crafts and buildings.

The skills being honed by our summer school students and practised by the Ambulance for Monuments are, unfortunately, increasingly rare, due to a lack of craftsmen and knowledge.

It is Asociatia Monumentums objective to preserve these skills by educating students and, in turn, ensure the future of historic buildings across Romania and the wider world.

The King is thought to be related to a well-known figure from Romanian history, Vlad the Impaler, said to be the inspiration behind Bram Stokers Dracula.

The links are through his great-grandmother Queen Mary, the consort of George V, who was descended from the German Wurttembergs and thereby linked to Vlad.

Charles has travelled alone, leaving the Queen in the UK, as he has done for previous visits to the eastern European country.
T oday marks 79 years since the D-Day landings, the invasion of Europe that turned the tide of World War II.

The D-Day landings took place on June 6, 1944 and saw 156,000 Allied forces storm the beaches of Normandy to liberate the country from Nazi occupation.

It was the biggest seaborne operation in history, and whilst the Allies claimed victory on the Western Front, more than 10,000 people lost their lives.

Here are some poignant quotes from world leaders, soldiers, historians and more that emerged from the historic military campaign:

D-Day veteran makes final pilgrimage to see Gold Beach memorial

It was a different world then. It was a world that requires young men like myself to be prepared to die for a civilization that was worth living in.  Harry Read, British D-Day veteran

I took chances on D-Day that I never would have taken later in the war- First Sgt. C Carwood Lipton, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division

The 75th Anniversary of D-Day - In pictures 1 / 85 The 75th Anniversary of D-Day - In pictures D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex reacts as he arrives to review the Chelsea Pensioners during the annual Founder's Day Parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London AFP/Getty Images A lone piper plays on the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches in Normandy Jeremy Selwyn Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge lays a wreath at The National Memorial Arboretum Getty Images The 6 inch guns on board HMS Belfast in London are fired to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA Prime Minister, Theresa May makes a speech at a memorial service at Bayeux War Cemeter Getty Images U.S President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France Reuters D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn People visit the National Memorial Arboretum on the 75th anniversary of D-Day Reuters Chelsea Pensioner's take part in the annual Founder's Day Parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London AFP/Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Theresa May lay a wreath together at the Inauguration of the British Normandy Memorial site in Ver-sur-Mer, France, during commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA The Duke of Cambridge speaks at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, in Staffordshire, for a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA Veterans and guests arrive at The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire Getty Images The Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, Bayeux Cathedral, France, as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA Reuters The Duke of Sussex arrives to attend Founder's Day celebrations at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in west London PA Reuters PA PA D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn Military vehicles line the beach at Arromanches in Normandy, northern France, ahead of a day of events to mark the 75 anniversary of D-Day PA Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the annual Founder's Day parade at Royal Hospital Chelsea Getty Images Veteran Ron Nolan is greeted by a member of the public in Arromanches, France, during commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA U.S President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a French-American commemoration ceremony for the 75th anniversary of D-Day at the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France Reuters Military vehicles line the beach at Arromanches in Normandy, northern France, ahead of a day of events to mark the 75 anniversary of D-Day PA D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn French President's wife Brigitte Macron (L) and US First Lady Melania Trump walk on the red carpet during a French-US ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer AFP/Getty Images D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after landing at the Caen-Carpiquet Airport in Carpiquet, Normandy AFP/Getty Images D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn Prince William arrives to attend the D-Day 75 commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire Reuters Philip May, Prime Minister Theresa May, The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales and attend the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, Bayeux Cathedral, France, as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn Prime Minister, Theresa May courtesy's for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales outside Bayeux Cathedra Getty Images A lone piper plays on the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches in Normandy, in northern France, as British Army personnel mark the exact moment the first British soldier landed on Gold beach 75 years ago PA Remembrance crosses are seen before the Royal British Legion's commemoration ceremony for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Bayeux, France Reuters D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France Jeremy Selwyn Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, arrives at the Bayeux Cathedral to attend a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Bayeux, Normandy, France AP Prime Minister Theresa May, center, arrives at the Bayeux Cathedral to attend a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Bayeux, Normandy, France AP Danish World War II veteran Antoinette Melgaard, 97, and Danish World War II resistant Poul Hoeg wave following a Danish ceremony on Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, northwestern France AFP/Getty Images A memorial cross placed on the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches in Normandy, northern France, ahead of a day of events to mark the 75 anniversary of D-Day PA Reenactors dressed in military uniform on the beach at Arromanches in Normandy, northern France, ahead of a day of events to mark the 75 anniversary of D-Day PA Security staff members stand outside the Cathedral of Bayeux, Normandy, northwestern France AFP/Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May attend a Franco-British ceremony for the laying of the first stone of a British memorial in Ver-Sur-Mer as part of ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy, France Reuters Bishop Jean-Claude Boulanger leads a ceremony at the Cathedral of Bayeux, Normandy, AP Soldiers from second Battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army stand next to a statue before a Franco-British ceremony for the laying of the first stone of a British memorial in Ver-Sur-Mer as part of ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy EPA Roses on Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, northwestern France during the D-Day commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy AFP/Getty Images French WWII enthousiasts of the group Overlord 76 plant red roses in the sand in tribute of dead Americans on the beach of "Utah Beach" in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, northwestern Franc AFP/Getty Images A Jeep vehicle on Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, northwestern France AFP/Getty Images French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during a Franco-British ceremony for the laying of the first stone of a British memorial in Ver-Sur-Mer as part of ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day landings in Normandy, France Reuters A general view of the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, ahead of the commemoration ceremony for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France Reuters A field of poppies close to the British Normandy Memorial site in Ver-sur-Mer, France, on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings PA Re-enactors on the beach at Arromanches, France, during commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing PA French WWII enthousiast Damien Tracou with a rifle on the shoulders, looks the sun rises on Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, northwestern France AFP/Getty Images Wreaths of flowers are seen before the Royal British Legion;s commemoration ceremony for the 75th anniversary of D-Day at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Bayeux, France PASCAL ROSSIGNOL Reuters A flagbearer walks between gravestones in Bayeux Cemetery, ahead of the main ceremonial event Getty Images Visitors walking past period vehicles on the beach of Arromanches, Normandy, during the D-Day commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy AFP/Getty Images Members of the armed forces take part in a religious service in Bayeux Cemetery, ahead of the main ceremonial event Getty Images

God almighty, in a few short hours we will be in battle with the enemy. We do not join battle afraid. We do not ask favours or indulgence but ask that, if you will, use us as your instrument for the right and an aid in returning peace to the world.  Lt Col Robert L Wolverton, commanding officer of 3rd battalion, 506th PIR

Lieutenant Welsh remembered walking around among the sleeping men, and thinking to himself that they had looked at and smelled death all around them all day but never even dreamed of applying the term to themselves. They hadnt come here to fear. They hadnt come to die. They had come to win."  Stephen E. Ambrose, historian

Everyone was violently busy on that crowded, dangerous shore. The pebbles were the size of apples and feet deep, and we stumbled up a road that a huge road shovel was scooping out. We walked with the utmost care between the narrowly placed white tape lines that marked he mine-cleared path, and headed for a tent marked with a red crossEveryone agreed that the beach was a stinker, and that it would be a great pleasure to get the hell out of here sometimes.  Martha Gellhorn, the first female journalist to report on D-Day

Theres a graveyard in northern France where all the dead boys from the D-Day are buried. The white crosses reach from one horizon to the other. I remember looking it over and thinking it was a forest of graves. But the rows were like this, dizzying and diagonal, perfectly straight, so after all it wasnt a forest but an orchard of graves. Nothing to do with nature, unless you count human nature.  Barbara Kingsolver, novelist

Theresa May's speech to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagelyI have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking  General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck!  Winston Churchill

That road to V-E day was hard and long, and travelled by weary and valiant men. And history will always record where that road began. It began here, with the first footprints of the beaches of Normandy.  President George W. Bush

At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nation-wide, perchance a world-wide vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth- King George VI, speaking during a radio address on June 6, 1944.
A n energy giant has been fined almost 10million after an Ofgem investigation found it had overcharged Britain's electricity system operator.

SSE breached its licence by securing "excessive payments" from the National Grid ESO for reducing output at Foyers power station in Scotland, the regulator said.

Cathryn Scott, director of enforcement and emerging issues at Ofgem, said: "Protecting consumers is a priority for Ofgem, and we will continue to monitor the wholesale energy markets in Great Britain and ensure their integrity on behalf of energy users.

"This enforcement action sends another strong signal to all generators that they must put in place controls to ensure that their bid prices are set in a way that ensures that they do not obtain excessive benefits during transmission constraint periods.

"If they fail to do so, they will face significant consequences."

The months-long investigation found that in 2020, SSE made the bid prices it charged the National Grid ESO to reduce output at the power station "significantly more expensive," including during periods of so-called transmission constraint.

The watchdog said it had not seen any evidence that the violation was deliberate, but SSE acted in the knowledge that the revision would breach its licensing conditions.

SSE co-operated with the investigation and has committed to a new pricing methodology to properly reflect its costs, Ofgem said.
A police motorcyclist who was part of the Duchess of Edinburghs police escort could face criminal charges over a collision which killed an elderly woman.

Helen Holland, 81, was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earls Court on the afternoon of May 10. She suffered serious injuries and died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on Tuesday said the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

A separate investigation into potential gross misconduct has also been opened, although it does not mean that charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death.

This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision-making of the officer under investigation.

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

Ms Holland had been living in London and was visiting her sister at the time of the crash.

In a statement previously released to Sky News, Ms Hollands family described her as a beautiful, loving, kind and caring lady who would always put anyone before herself.

The family said the mother of four was a well-respected and popular member of the community who had 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Following the crash, Ms Holland's son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.

Investigators attended the scene and police body worn video footage has has been reviewed.

Witness accounts have also been taken following an appeal after the crash.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

Her Royal Highness's deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Holland's family.
T he crisis-blighted Manston migrant processing centre in Kent is at risk of a new wave of disease and disorder with vulnerable children and families being held there for too long, a government watchdog has warned Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the processing centre  engulfed in controversy last autumn because of the excessive numbers of migrants being held there in unsuitable conditions after arriving on small boats across the Channel  is still currently failing to ensure the most vulnerable children are being identified and helped.

He said there was also a lack of adequate leadership because of the number of different contractors working with the Border Force at the site and no proper oversight of the use of force or violent incidents or data to check whether such interventions by staff were justified.

In a report to the Home Secretary, Mr Taylor said the problems were being compounded by the insufficient use of interpreters so those at risk could easily have been missed and that staff from the contractor Mitie, which runs Manston, were distant in their interactions with migrants, sitting behind a desk talking to each other, rather than engaging with the people in their care.

Other problems included children being held for far too long, with 337 minors held beyond the statutory 24-hour limit for unaccompanied children, the lack of a private area for breast-feeding mothers, and many staff at Manston not being checked against the Governments Disclosure and Barring Service database to identify potentially unsuitable employees. Mr Taylor added that despite the failings Manston was functioning reasonably when his inspectorate visited because it was fairly empty at the time.

But he gave a stark warning to ministers that the severe overcrowding, diphtheria and violence which erupted at the centre last autumn, prompting a political outcry, was in danger of being repeated this summer. I was not assured that if numbers increase, as they are expected to in the summer, the site will be able to cope much better than it did during the autumn, he says in his report.

This could lead to vulnerable children and families remaining on the site for too long, the risk of infectious disease spreading and an increased possibility of disorder. It must be an absolute priority for the Home Office to make sure there are enough on-site staff and onward accommodation, so migrants pass through Manston without delay.

Mr Taylor says the inspection on which todays report is based uncovered 11 concerns including that although facilities at Manston were adequate for short stays of 24 hours or less, but not for longer periods, some migrants were being held for considerably longer in marquees in unacceptable conditions.

He says there is also poor governance of adult and child safeguarding and similarly poor care planning for vulnerable detainees, children and those with disabilities. The new findings will place new pressure on Rishi Sunak and Ms Braverman as they seek to reduce Channel crossings.

The Home Office said it welcomed the acknowledgment by Mr Taylor that improvements had been made at Manston and that it had already taken action to address some of the recommendations in Tuesdays report.

Our staff are working relentlessly to reduce detention times, improve facilities and provide specialist medical care for unprecedented numbers of migrants arriving in the UK illegally, a spokesman added.
O xfam has removed a Pride cartoon on social media after facing a backlash for including an offensive term.

The international charity wrote that a more equal future is possible when all gender identities and expressions have agency over their lives in a tweet last Thursday.

Along with the text was a cartoon clip, in which a voice is heard asking: How are you marking Pride Month this year, while LGBTQIA+ people around the world are deprived of basic safety?

Not protected by laws, preyed on by hate groups online and offline, discriminated against at work, deprived of opportunities and pushed to the margins.

An illustration later shows three people with red eyes and angry faces towering over six figures in the colours of a rainbow.

The central character, a white woman with short brown hair, is seen wearing an orange badge on her which says TERF  short for trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

Activists on social media complained that the image demonises older women and that the term TERF is offensive.

Other users said the woman wearing the TERF badge looked similar to Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has been outspoken on trans issues in the past.

Oxfam has now edited the video to remove the term TERF and apologised for the offence caused.

An Oxfam International spokesperson said: Oxfam believes that all people should be able to make decisions which affect their lives, enjoy their rights and live a life free of discrimination and violence, including people from LGBTQIA+ communities. In efforts to make an important point about the real harm caused by transphobia, we made a mistake.

We have therefore edited the video to remove the term TERF and we are sorry for the offence it caused. There was no intention by Oxfam or the film-makers for this slide to have portrayed any particular person or people.

We fully support both an individuals rights to hold their philosophical beliefs and a persons right to have their identity respected, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist could face criminal charges over the death of an 81-year-old woman who was killed in a collision with the officers vehicle last month while part of an escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Helen Holland, 81, was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earls Court, west London, on the afternoon of May 10. She suffered serious injuries and died two weeks later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the constable has been told they are under criminal investigation for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings

They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct, although it does not mean that charges or disciplinary proceedings will follow.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: Our thoughts remain with Ms Hollands family, friends and everyone affected by her death. This is a tragic incident and it is important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation to establish the full circumstances, which will include the actions and decision making of the officer under investigation.

We have been in regular contact with Ms Hollands family and we will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.

Investigators attended the scene and police body worn video footage has has been reviewed.

Witness accounts have also been taken following an appeal after the crash.

Following the crash, Ms Hollands son Martin told the BBC she died after sustaining multiple broken bones and massive internal injuries.

He said she was using the safe route of (a) pedestrian crossing when she was struck by the motorcycle.

After her death was announced, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: The Duchess of Edinburgh is deeply saddened to hear that Helen Holland has passed away.

Her Royal Highnesss deepest condolences and sympathies go to all of Ms Hollands family.
P rince Harry says he suffered bouts of paranoia and depression thanks to frenzied media attention on his love life, and believes the tabloid press wants to wreck his relationships to generate more news stories.

The Duke of Sussex said reporters attempted to break up his romantic entanglements shortly after they began, as part of a twisted objective to keep his private life interesting.

He claims that pursuit continues to this day, even though he is now happily married to the Duchess of Sussex.

In his phone hacking battle with Mirror Group Newspapers, Harry highlighted a series of news articles from the early 2000s during his romance with Chelsy Davy.

The Duke said a private investigator acting for a Mirror journalist had my girlfriend under 24-hour surveillance in South Africa at the time, and had put a tracking device on (her) car.

And he claimed journalists blagged the couples flight details to be able to track their movements and check into hotels before they had even arrived.

In terms of my relationship with Chelsy, we had to conduct it over long distance, which is incredibly hard even without the frenzied interest from MGN journalists that we had to endure, he said.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of the Duke of Sussex being cross examined by Andrew Green KC / PA

Every time I was in a relationship or even a rumoured relationship, that whole persons family, and often their friends, would be dragged into the chaos and find themselves the subject of unlawful activity on the part of MGN. Thats horrible for anyone. I can remember that at least one of my girlfriends told me she was warned off me by her parents saying is it really worth all the aggravation?  our relationship ended shortly after.

Harry detailed an incident when he tried to collect Ms Davy from the airport at Heathrow and found photographers were already there, waiting for the couple.

Here were five big, burly and dodgy looking men, with their hands in their pockets or in rucksacks and satchels in a busy public place, he said.

My security and I simply couldnt know whether they were reaching for a camera or drawing some kind of weapon.

Harry said he and Ms Davy had no down time or escape from the media, adding: We could also never understand how private elements of our life together were finding their way into the tabloids, and so our circle of friends became smaller and smaller.

I remember finding it very hard to trust anyone, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia.

Of course, now that we know that this information was invariably obtained by unlawful means, these friendships were lost entirely unnecessarily, which is a matter of huge regret for me.

Ultimately, these factors led her to make the decision that a Royal life was not for her, which was incredibly upsetting for me at the time.

Turning to his love life generally, Harry said women found themselves not just in a relationship with me but with the entire tabloid press as the third party.

He said: I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers.

Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible This twisted objective is still pursued to this day even though Im now married.

His relationship with Ms Davy came under particular strain when he was pictured wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, and was accused in the media of sitting with another woman on his lap.

Harry said claims he was flirting with another woman were untrue, as he suggested details of the Daily Mirror stories had been obtained through phone hacking.

The story suggested Harry had received a tongue lashing down the phone for his behaviour from Ms Davy  an incident the Prince said he could not remember.

But he suggested it was a sign of phone hacking, together with missed calls to his friend Guy Pellys phone at the time.

He would have been one of the people in the know after this party, he said.

The article contains several quotes from friends or other partygoers, but the details about our telephone communications are not attributed to anyone, so how could the Defendants journalists know about this, Harry said in his written statement.

I dont remember if Chelsy and I did argue about the party. Given we were based in different countries, a lot of our relationship was conducted over the telephone, so I know I would have spoken to her a lot over this time because it was a challenging period for me but I dont recall her reaction.

I had been immature, I hadnt really thought about my actions and I had made a stupid decision  and my mistakes were being played out publicly.

By this stage, Chelsy was already extremely guarded about our relationship and our circle of friends who we trusted with information about us had shrank considerably.

Every time these kinds of stories were published, there was a strain put on our relationship, we started to distrust everyone around us. In hindsight, knowing the extent to which MGN journalists were targeting us and intercepting our communications, we probably lost friends needlessly, and put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be secretive and deal with problems without support, out of the sense of paranoia that articles like this created.

A 2006 People story suggested the Duke had promised Ms Davy he was not given a lap dance at the Spearmint Rhino club in 2006, after she went beserk over the alleged incident.

I dont think Chelsy did go mad about me going there, said Harry. We did speak about it over the phone, but I promised her that I hadnt had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends.

The duke said he believed journalists had access to one of their phone records and put two and two together to make a story.

The Duke will continue his evidence on Wednesday at 10.30am.
P rince Harry accused journalists and editors of having blood on their hands and took aim at the rock bottom government during his landmark High Court evidence in his privacy battle against a tabloid publisher.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over claims that his phone was systematically hacked and he was subjected to media intrusion and unlawful newsgathering techniques for more than 15 years.

He says the activities of three newspapers, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People, wrecked friendships and romantic relationships, and sent him into a spiral of depression.

Harry says he decided to pursue his legal claim against MGN to a High Court showdown to hold people to account for what they have done, so that they cant hide behind their own institution or organisation.

Accusing the publisher of a cover-up over phone hacking and widespread unlawful activities, Harry called tabloid newspapers the mothership of online trolling.

Trolls react and mobilise to stories they create, he said.

People have died as a result, and people will continue to kill themselves by suicide when they cant see any other way out.

How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness.

PA

Asked in court to clarify the statement, Harry said he was referring to journalists and editors responsible for stories that are printed.

Some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases, speaking personally, death, he added.

Harry says he and many others have been targets for the tabloid press, and it is part of his mission to save journalism as a profession.

I feel that I need to make sure that this unlawful behaviour is exposed, because obviously I dont want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level.

But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government  both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo.

I may not have a role within the Institution but, as a member of the British Royal family, and as a soldier upholding important values, I feel theres a responsibility to expose this criminal activity in the name of public interest.

The country and the British public deserve to know the depths of what was actually happening then, and indeed now. We will be better off for it.

Harry was softly-spoken as he swore an oath on the bible at the start of his evidence, before his barrister David Sherborne clarified how he should be referred to.

Theres a protocol that has to be observed, he said. The first time you are addressed has to be Your Royal Highness, and as a matter of personal preference you would rather be called Prince Harry.

MGNs barrister Andrew Green KC offered the publishers apology over one incident of unlawful newsgathering from 2004, which it has already admitted.

He said if the judge finds more widespread unlawful activity he will be entitled to and will receive a more extensive apology.

Mr Green acknowledged Harry has endured a lifetime of press intrusion, before questioning the Duke on how he could have been distressed by stories that he had not read.

Harry said newspapers were always on display around the Royal Palaces, and he would notice changes in friends and associates after a story appeared.

Their behaviour inevitably changed around me, and I was told about the articles, he said.

Questioned on one article about his mother, Harry said it changed her reaction to me as her son.

He said he has experienced hostility from the press since I was born, and he set out the impact in his witness statement: Every time I was getting off a plane or jumping in a car, I was looking in the rear-view mirror so to speak. I came to expect to be followed and papped by someone hiding in a bush somewhere. Everything felt as though I was under 24-hour surveillance,.

The Duke described an incident on a trip to Australia in his gap year in 2003, when the late-Queen secretly sent one of her aides to stay nearby without him knowing in case he needed support because of press coverage.

I only learnt recently that the Queen had asked one of her assistant private secretaries to fly out to Noosa and take a house down the road from where I was staying, without me knowing, Harry said.

She was concerned about the extent of the coverage of my trip and wanted someone I knew to be nearby, in case I needed support.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, was flanked by a security detail and one of his lawyers as he pulled up in a chauffeur-driven black car and walked past banks of photographers, TV cameras, and curious members of the public outside the Rolls Building of the High Court.

His appearance at court to be questioned at length over his private life is a landmark moment in British legal history.

MGN denies allegations that Harry was a victim of phone hacking, saying there is no call data or first-hand evidence to back up the claim. It has admitted just one incident of a private investigator for the newspaper unlawfully targeting the Duke.

Getty Images

Tuesday is a landmark moment, as Harry becomes the first senior Royal in modern times to voluntarily enter the witness box at the High Court.

The case against MGN is part of a deeply personal crusade against sections of the British media, who he accuses of relentlessly invading his privacy during his youth and early adult life.

Harrys appearance follows a debacle on Monday - the first day of his individual case against MGN - when the Prince was missing from court.

Trial judge Mr Justice Fancourt had told Harry to attend on Monday, to be ready to start his evidence once opening speeches from lawyers had concluded, and said he was a little surprised to learn the Duke was not present, having attended his daughter Princess Lilibets birthday party in LA the previous day.

A different witness had to be called in to fill the court time, delaying Harrys evidence until 10.30am on Tuesday.

Opening Harrys case on Monday, his barrister David Sherborne insisted the Prince does not have a vendetta against the tabloid media, but has pursued this and other legal cases to focus attention on unlawful activities by journalists.

AP

Among the stories alleged to be the product of unlawful activities are a report of Harry suffering a back injury while playing rugby at school, strained relations with his brother Prince William over their mothers former butler Paul Burrell, and revelations of Harrys activities in nightclubs as a young man.

It is said MGN journalists used a variety of unlawful methods, including blagging personal information, to spin a web around the Prince in the hope they would catch the valuable information they sought.

His friends and associates were allegedly targeted, while his romance with first love Chelsy Davy was put under immense strain as the media scrambled to name her and reveal personal details about the couples life together.

Had she not been in a relationship with me, she would never have had to endure such a horrific experience at the hands of MGNs journalists, said Harry.

There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim. This makes me feel physically sick.

George Cracknell Wright

Mr Sherborne also showed the court letters sent by Harrys late mother Princess Diana to TV presenter Michael Barrymore, claiming they provided supporting evidence of phone hacking.

MGN reporters revealed that Barrymore had struck up a secret friendship with the Princess during his struggles with coming out as gay and his battle with drug addiction.

In a final letter to Barrymore, two months before her death, Dianas words suggested he had cut off contact after details of their relationship hit the press.

MGNs lawyers say allegations that phone hacking was involved is pure speculation.

But Harry insisted live phone-tapping must have been deployed to obtain the story: The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a nightmare time three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour.

Harry now faces questions about deeply personal aspects of his life, including his decision to don a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party, drug-taking in his youth, and feuding with his brother.

Mr Sherborne suggested on Monday that seeds were sown for Prince William and Harrys currently strained relationship by newspapers articles in the past questioning their bond.

Trust begins to be eroded, he said. Mistrust set in from an early age because of exactly this sort of unlawful activity.

He could also face questions about his relationship with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and wife Meghan Markle.

Over a story in the Daily Mirror in November 2000 about the time Harry suffered a broken thumb, Andrew Green KC, for MGN, suggested the information had already been published in other newspapers.

Harry pointed out a detail in the Mirror piece that he was planning to also not play football as a result of the injury.

I have no idea how they would know that, he said, adding that kind of personal detail caused paranoia for a young man at school who has to go to the medical centre and cant now trust the doctors.

He suggested a journalist had used phone hacking for the story, or got someone else to do her dirty work for her, and told the court he believed a doctors phone may have been hacked.

Harry has put forward 140 articles from MGN newspapers from 1996 and 2011 which he says were produced using unlawful methods, with 33 due to be pored over in detail.

When the trial began, lawyers for MGN offered unreservedly apologies to Harry for one instance of unlawful information gathering, when a private investigator for The People obtained details of Harrys evening at Chinawhite club in Soho in February 2004.

Mr Green said the companys position is theres simply no evidence capable of supporting a finding the Duke of Sussex was every hacked, still less that he was hacked on a habitual basis.

On unlawful newsgathering, he said MGN doesnt accept the evidence in relation to payment records support his extensive claims.

The trial continues.
P rince Harry says he feels physically sick at the thought of Princess Dianas private messages being listened to by journalists including Piers Morgan in the last months of her life.

The Duke of Sussex believes his voicemails were routinely hacked by Mirror Group Newspaper journalists and he claims his late mother fell victim to similar unlawful newsgathering tactics.

He has highlighted letters from Diana to TV presenter Michael Barrymore, in which she suspected the Daily Mirror  then edited by Morgan  had been listening to her private messages.

The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a nightmare time three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour, he said, in his statement to the High Court.

Harry arriving at the High Court on Tuesday / REUTERS

Harry said he believes Morgans recent criticisms online, on TV, and in print of himself and wife Meghan are fuelled by a desire to bully him out of the legal case.

Unfortunately, as a consequence of me bringing my Mirror Group claim, both myself and my wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, he said.

Harry said the attacks are presumably in retaliation and in the hope that I will back down, before being able to hold him properly accountable for his unlawful activity towards both me and my mother during his editorship.

Stories in the High Court action was printed by The People and the Daily Mirror in December 2002, detailing an alleged plot to steal Harrys DNA to test his parentage.

The Duke said he has endured years of unsubstantiated rumours that his real father is Major James Hewitt, who Diana dated after the breakdown of her marriage to King Charles.

At the time of this article and others similar to it, I wasnt actually aware that my mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until after I was born, he said.

I now understand this was common knowledge amongst the defendants journalists.

Diana, Princess of Wales exchanged letters with former TV personality Michael Barrymore, a court heard (John Stillwell/PA) / PA Archive

At the time, when I was 18 years old and had lost my mother just six years earlier, stories such as this felt very damaging and very real to me.

They were hurtful, mean and cruel. I was always left questioning the motives behind the stories. Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the Royal Family?

Prince Harry said payments totalling 6,250 have been identified which he suspects represent unlawful newsgathering for this story.

In his statement to the court, he added: Im shocked and appalled at the sheer volume of payments made by MGN titles to private investigatorsfor private information about me and my associates over a ten-year period.

Harry has been repeatedly challenged in court to identify specific parts of articles he says came from phone hacking, and the identity of the hacking victims.

Michael Barrymore (Steve Parsons/PA) / PA Wire

The Prince has said journalists involved in the stories should come to court to answer which part was unlawfully obtained and which wasnt.

He said call data and other evidence has now been deleted, but he can point to highly suspicious missed and dropped calls at the time of stories.

The trial continues.
T he Duke of Sussex will return to the High Court witness box on Wednesday for a second day of questioning in the trial over his claims of unlawful information-gathering against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Prince Harry revealed a host of claims about his life and the behaviour of the press during five hours of questioning on Tuesday, claiming he had faced hostility from the media since he was born.

Harry claims that his phone was hacked by journalists from MGN between 1996 and 2011. MGN is contesting his claim and has either denied or not admitted that articles about the duke being examined at the trial involved phone hacking or unlawful activity.

The proceedings, set to last for another six to seven weeks, will focus on 33 articles published between 1996 and 2010.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, questioned Harry on about 20 of the 33 articles over the course of the hearing as the duke became the first senior royal to give evidence in court in over 130 years.

In a 49-page witness statement, the duke said that he found it very hard to trust anyone as a result of alleged phone hacking, which led to bouts of depression and paranoia.

Friendships were lost entirely unnecessarily, he continued, later adding that some of his friends became instant targets.

Here are some of key points from Harrys evidence:

 Harry felt physically sick over detective payments about Diana

In his witness statement, Harry said he was shocked and appalled by the number of payments made by MGN titles to private investigators.

There are even eight private investigator payments made in relation to my mother, which I have only learnt of since bringing my claim, he said, adding: This makes me feel physically sick.

 Journalists alleged actions affected every area of dukes life

Harry claimed in his statement that he now believes that both his and his associates voicemail messages were hacked by MGN, and that it also used other unlawful means to obtain private information.

This not only creates a huge amount of distress but presented very real security concerns for not only me but also everyone around me, he said.

I would say their actions affected every area of my life.

 Harry had huge amount of paranoia after alleged press intrusion

The Duke of Sussex said in his witness statement he lost friendships entirely unnecessarily due to the paranoia caused by alleged unlawful information-gathering.

Harry wrote: As I am uncovering the extent of the unlawful activities carried out by MGNs journalist (sic) and senior executives towards me, I feel somewhat relieved to know that my paranoia towards my friends and family had, in fact, been misplaced, although feel sad for how much it impacted my adolescence.

The duke later said in his statement that he can now see how much of my life was wasted on this paranoia.

Prince Harry leaves the High Court after giving evidence in London / AP

 Accusations of press having blood on their hands

In his witness statement, Harry accused the press of having blood staining their typing fingers, with some responsible for causing pain, upset and death.

Harry also branded journalists the mothership of online trolling.

Trolls react and mobilise to stories they create. People have died as a result and people will continue to kill themselves by suicide when they cant see any other way out, the duke said.

How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness(?)

 British press and the Government are at rock bottom

Harry said in his statement that in order to save journalism as a profession, journalists need to expose those people in the media that have stolen or hijacked the privileges and powers of the press, and have used illegal or unlawful means for their own gain and agendas.

The duke said he did not want anybody else going through the same thing that Ive been going through on a personal level, adding: But also, on a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our Government, both of which I believe are at rock bottom.

Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the Government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo, he said.

In a separate comment about the power of the press, Harry claimed the police and Government were scared to hold them accountable, with the Government also having no appetite for press regulation.

PA

 James Hewitt father rumours aimed at ousting Harry from royal family

The duke suggested in his witness statement that newspaper stories about rumours his father was Diana, Princess of Wales former lover James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

Harry referred to an article in The People from 2002 which reported a bid to steal a sample of the dukes DNA to check his parentage.

He said that at the time of the article he was not aware that his mother had not met Major Hewitt until after he was born.

The duke said stories like this felt very damaging and very real to me at the time, adding: Were the newspapers keen to put doubt into the minds of the public so I might be ousted from the royal family?

 Accusations against Piers Morgan

In his witness statement, Harry alleged Mr Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror, had been intimidating him and his wife since he launched legal proceedings against the publisher of the Mirror newspaper.

The duke claimed he and his wife have been subjected to a barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan.

 Duke singled out as pussy by peers

The duke claimed in his witness statement that he was singled out as a pussy by his peers following press reports of his injuries during his time at school and military training at Sandhurst.

Harry said it was shocking that a November 2001 Sunday Mirror article, which covered an injury he had received playing polo, reveals such specific, detailed and private medical information including the advice that my doctors had given me, which he was not freely revealing to anyone.

I wasnt reading these stories, but others at school were and I was treated differently as a result, he wrote.

I was often singled out for being a sick note or a pussy because articles like this made routine injuries seem like such a big deal.

Prince Harry, pictured alongside wife Meghan Markle, claimed the tabloids wanted him to be single / AP

 Claims tabloids wanted Harry to be single and tried to ruin every relationship

The duke said in his witness statement: I always felt as if the tabloids wanted me to be single, as I was much more interesting to them and sold more newspapers.

Whenever I got into a relationship, they were very keen to report the details but would then, very quickly, seek to try and break it up by putting as much strain on it and creating as much distrust as humanly possible  This twisted objective is still pursued to this day even though Im now married.

Harry added: At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately trying to ruin it using whatever unlawful means at their disposal.

 Discrepancies over meeting with Paul Burrell

The Duke of Sussex was challenged in court over discrepancies between his autobiography Spare and his witness statement over whether he wanted to meet ex-royal butler Paul Burrell, whom he admitted branding a two-faced shit.

The duke claims his remarks about Mr Burrell were obtained illegally by MGN from a voicemail he left for his brother, and that he was firmly against meeting the former confidant of his mother.

Andrew Green KC, for MGN, said Harry wrote in his memoir that he wanted to fly back to confront Mr Burrell, rather than being against a meeting.

Harry said in court: I honestly cant remember whether I wanted a meeting or not.

 Harry was extremely worried about being expelled from Eton after drug-taking reports

The dukes statement addressed a January 2002 Mirror article about him using drugs and what he told his father.

Harry said: This article, along with the News Of The World coverage, had a huge impact on my life. Eton had a zero drugs policy in place and I was extremely worried I was going to be expelled.
A dding trust and distrust buttons to social media sites like Facebook could reduce the spread of online misinformation, new research from a London university has found.

A study by researchers from University College London found that adding trust/dislike buttons alongside the standard like button incentivised people to be trustworthy and led to a large reduction in the amount of misinformation being shared.

UCLs Professor Tali Sharot, co-lead author of the study published today in eLife, said: Part of why misinformation spreads so readily is that users are rewarded with likes and shares for popular posts, but without much incentive to share only whats true.

Here, we have designed a simple way to incentivise trustworthiness, which we found led to a large reduction in the amount of misinformation being shared.

For the study, UCL researchers used a simulated social media platform and asked participants to share news articles, half of which were inaccurate. Some participants were able to respond with trust or distrust reactions, as well as the typical like or dislike reactions.

The study found that participants started posting more true than false information in order to gain trust reactions. Researchers also found that participants began to pay more attention to how reliable a news story appeared to be when deciding whether to repost it.

Participants who had the option of using trust or distrust buttons also ended up with more accurate beliefs, researchers said.

Professor Sharot added: Over the past few years, the spread of misinformation, or fake news, has skyrocketed, contributing to the polarisation of the political sphere and affecting peoples beliefs on anything from vaccine safety to climate change to tolerance of diversity. Existing ways to combat this, such as flagging inaccurate posts, have had limited impact.

Co-lead author, UCL PhD student Laura Globig said: Buttons indicating the trustworthiness of information could easily be incorporated into existing social media platforms, and our findings suggest they could be worthwhile to reduce the spread of misinformation without reducing user engagement.

While its difficult to predict how this would play out in the real world with a wider range of influences, given the grave risks of online misinformation, this could be a valuable addition to ongoing efforts to combat misinformation.
R yanair has cancelled hundreds of flights after air traffic controllers in France took part in strikes on Tuesday.

UK holidaymakers have been warned to expect disruption amid the walkouts, which have affected 400 out of 3200 flights scheduled.

Airline boss Michael OLeary said: Again today, we've had to cancel 400 flights, all of these have been cancelled because of the French ATC strikes.

The vast majority of these flights are overflights. They are not going to France. They are flying from Britain to Spain, from Portugal to Germany, from Italy to Ireland.

If you find yourself in this unfortunate position, here are a few tips and tricks on what to do about delayed and cancelled flights.

Airlines ought to give you food and drink during the most severe delays / PA Wire

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

According to the Citizens Advice website, if your flight is delayed for long enough, your airline has to give you:

food and drink;

access to phone calls and emails;

accommodation if youre delayed overnight - and journeys between the airport and the hotel.

How long the delay has to be depends on the distance of the flight and the countries it is flying between. You can check the flight distance on the WebFlyer website.

The airline might give you vouchers to get these things at the airport. Ask someone who works for the airline if youre not offered any help.

If they dont give you help at the airport, keep receipts for expenses and try to claim from the airline later. Airlines only pay for reasonable expenses - you are unlikely to get money back for alcohol, expensive meals or luxury hotels.

Passengers at Pisa airport whose Easyjet flight was cancelled / Neil Rylance

Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed by more than three hours and it is the airlines fault, youre entitled to compensation from the airline.

Youre unlikely to get compensation if the delay was caused by something outside of the airlines control, like bad weather or a security risk.

Youre entitled to a set amount of compensation depending on both:

the distance of your flight - check your flight distance on the WebFlyer website

the length of the delay  how late you are getting to your destination

If your flight is cancelled you have the right to a full refund or an alternative flight / PA Wire

What should I do if my flight is cancelled?

In the event that your flight is cancelled, the compensation that youre due is different. Here are your options.

You have the legal right to either:

a full refund - including other flights from the airline that you wont use in the same booking such as onward or return flights

a replacement flight to get you to your destination

if youre part-way through a journey and you dont want a replacement flight, you also have a right to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from.

Ask for a refund or replacement at the airport if you can. If not, you can claim from the airline later.

You also have a legal right to:

help with costs  if the cancellation delays you two or more hours

compensation - if youd be delayed two or more hours by the replacement flight offered and you were given less than two weeks notice

People whose flights are cancelled should be able to get compensation / PA Archive

If my flight is cancelled can I get compensation?

If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to compensation legally if the cancellation is the airlines responsibility.

You also qualify if:

the replacement flight delays your arrival by two or more hours;

your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure.

The amount of compensation youre entitled to depends on:

when the flight was cancelled;

the distance of the flight  check the flight distance on the Web Flyer website;

the departure and arrival times of the rescheduled flight.

For your full rights, visit the Citizens Advice Website.
T he sale of one of Yorkshires best-known landmarks has been described as a genuinely unique opportunity.

Kilnsey Crag is the 170ft-high (52m) limestone cliff which dominates the drive into Upper Wharfedale, in the Yorkshire Dales.

As well as featuring on countless postcards, the crag is a well-known climbing hot-spot and was even painted by JMW Turner in 1816.

About eight hectares (19 acres) of land including the crag has gone up for sale with a guide price of 150,000.

Agents Savills said: The sale represents a genuinely unique opportunity to purchase one of the Big Three limestone crags in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The overhanging cliff, formed by the force of the Wharfedale Glacier thousands of years ago, is awe-inspiring and internationally recognised.

The sale details point out that the cliff and surrounding grassland is teeming with rare flora and fauna and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The sale represents a genuinely unique opportunity to purchase one of the Big Three limestone crags in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

The agents said: The sale offers significant amenity, biodiversity, and environmental opportunities.

The crag has a 40ft overhang which, along with its proximity to the main road through Wharfedale, has made it one of the most challenging and popular rock-climbing locations in the north of England.

It forms one of the Big Three limestone crags in the Yorkshire Dales, along with Gordale Scar and Malham Cove.

The crag is also the backdrop to the annual Kilnsey Agricultural Show, which happens on the Tuesday after the summer bank holiday.

The show culminates in the British Open Fell Running Association fell race  which includes a descent of the chimney, a steep crevice of rock in the crag face.
R ishi Sunak said the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine would mark a new low in the conflict if Russian forces were found to be responsible.

The Prime Minister said the immediate priority was the humanitarian response to the catastrophe, which has flooded villages, endangered vital crops and threatened drinking water supplies.

Mr Sunak, speaking to reporters as he travelled to Washington for talks with US President Joe Biden, said if it was an intentional act to blow up the dam it would be the largest attack on civilian infrastructure since the start of Vladimir Putins war.

He said that attacks on civilian infrastructure were appalling and wrong.

Kyiv accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam and hydroelectric power station in an area that Moscow has controlled for more than a year, while Russia blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area.

Mr Sunak said: Our military and intelligence agencies are currently looking at it, so its too soon to pre-empt that and make a definitive judgment.

But what I can say is if it is intentional, it would represent, I think, the largest attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine since the start of the war, and just would demonstrate the new lows that we would have seen from Russian aggression.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong. Weve seen previous instances of that in this conflict so far, but its too early to say definitively.

Ukraine: Kakhovka Dam 1 / 20 Ukraine: Kakhovka Dam Rescue workers attempt to tow boats carrying residents being evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine AP A view shows the House of Culture on a flooded street in Nova Kakhovka after the nearby dam was breached in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the Kherson Region, Russian-controlled Ukrain via REUTERS A local resident makes her way through a flooded road after the walls of the Kakhovka dam collapsed overnight, in Kherson, Ukrain AP Damage at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam at Nova Kakhovka, near Kherson ENERGOATEM/AFP via Getty Images General view of the Nova Kakhovka dam that was breached in Kherson region, Ukraine ES Composite A boy walks along a flooded street in the town of Kherson, following flooding caused by damage sustained at the Kakhovka HPP dam AFP via Getty Images Rescue workers attempt to tow boats carrying residents being evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukrain AP A town (top) along the Dnipro river in Kherson on May 15, 2023 and the same town on June 6, 2023 after it was flooded following an attack on a major Russian-held dam in southern Ukraine which unleashed a torrent of water that flooded two dozen villages and forced the evacuation of 17,000 people, sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster Satellite image A2023 Maxar Tech Rescue workers attempt to tow boats carrying residents being evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukrain AP Rescue workers attempt to tow boats carrying residents being evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine AP Local residents carry their belongings as they evacuated from a flooded neighborhood in Kherson, Ukraine AP Local residents look at a partially flooded area of Kherson following damage sustained at Kakhovka HPP dam AFP via Getty Images A local resident stands with his bicycle in a flooded street in the town of Kherson, following flooding caused by damage sustained at the Kakhovka HPP dam AFP via Getty Images Red Cross workers drive along a street in Kherson, Ukraine, which was flooded after the Kakhovka dam was blown up AP A local resident with a bike and a dog walks along the street past the buildings in Kherson, Ukraine AP

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the deliberate attack would not affect Kyivs drive to retake territory.

Ukraines president spoke on Tuesday evening following a meeting with military commanders after the Kakhovka dam appeared to have been blown up, unleashing a flood of water across the war zone.

The torrent of water gushing through the Kakhovka barrier flooded parts of the southern city of Kherson and was threatening dozens of other settlements.

At least 22,000 people were believed to be at risk from the flood threat as millions of litres of water gushed out of the dam.

The main conclusion is that the burst was deliberate, but the enemy acted in chaotic fashion allowing its own equipment to be flooded, Mr Zelensky said on Telegram.

He added: At the same time, the bursting of the dam will have no effect on Ukraines ability to recapture its own territory.

Evacuations of civilians were already underway after the ecocide attack amid reports that some parts of Kherson and villages were already under water.

One river was reported to be rising at 15cm an hour as Russia was being increasingly blamed for the dam breach as the expected widespread flooding could hamper a major Ukrainian counter-offensive.

The Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka was under water by midday, the Russian state news agency TASS cited the Russian-installed mayor as saying on Tuesday, after water levels were said to have risen ten metres.

At least 300 homes were reported to have been evacuated, with similar emergency operations in a number of settlements in the Nova Kakhovka district, according to local officials.

Concerns were also raised that the huge surge in water could affect safety at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power plant controlled by Russian forces.

There were reports that homes on the left bank of the giant Dnipro River were flooding, cattle drowning and that water levels could reach critical highs around midday.

The partially flooded area of Kherson following damage sustained at Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. / AFP via Getty Images

One house was seen being swept down the river.

Mr Zelensky ordered an emergency meeting of his National Security and Defence Council and blamed the attack on the Russian terrorists.

Khersons regional head Oleksandr Prokudin also accused Moscow of committing yet another act of terror and warned that water levels in the Dnipro River will be critical within five hours.

He added that evacuation of civilians in at risk areas had already started on the Ukrainian-controlled right/western bank of the vast river, and urged similar action on the eastern Russian-seized side.

A member of the Duma for Vladimir Putins United Russia party and state television presenter denied Russia was behind the attack.

Evgeny Popov claimed Ukraine would profit from the damage to the dam in the Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine, and said Russia is evacuating 22,000 people from the area.

Of course, its a war crime, he told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme.

Asked whether he would accept that if Russia is found to be behind the attack, it committed a war crime, he said: Im sure that this war crime made by Ukrainian regime, made by Zelensky. We dont need to do that. We are not attacking civilian infrastructure.

Of course, Ukrainian regime will be prosecuted for this war crime.

He added that our civilians are in trouble as he pointed to the number of people being evacuated.

Britain blamed the dam breach on Vladimir Putins invasion, though stopped short at this stage of directly saying that the Russians had blown it up.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: The destruction of Kakhovka dam is an abhorrent act.

Intentionally attacking exclusively civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and those affected by this catastrophe.

On a visit to Kyiv, Mr Cleverly earlier said: Clearly, there is an ongoing situation here.

There is a risk to life because of the flood risk.

The Ukrainian authorities will be working on this intensively.

He added: Of course, this is only happening because of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

EU president Charles Michel said it was a war crime, adding: We will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.

Later, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov alleged that Ukraine sabotaged the Kakhovka dam to distract attention from its faltering counter-offensive, and rejected Kyivs claim that Russian forces had blown up the dam.

In the information war over Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, Kremlin claims need to be treated with particular caution.

Military experts said the flood of water could destroy some Russian defences but also hinder the long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive which some reports suggested was now underway.

Both sides blamed the other for destroying the dam.

Russian forces blew up the dam in a panic, Ukraines military intelligence agency said on Tuesday, amid reports that Kyiv forces could have used its road for a major counter-offensive.

The occupiers blew up the dam of the Kakhovka Reservoir in a panic - this is an obvious act of terrorism and a war crime, which will be evidence in an international tribunal, it said in a statement on Telegram

Unverified videos on social media showed a series of intense explosions around the Kakhovka dam. A video posted by Mr Zelensky showed water pouring through the dam.

The dam, 30 metres (yards) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

It holds an 18 km3 reservoir which also supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

Ukraines military said that Russian forces blew up the dam.

The Kakhovka (dam) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces, the South command of Ukraines Armed Forces said on Tuesday on its Facebook page.

The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified.

Russian news agencies said the dam, controlled by Russian forces, had been destroyed in shelling while a Russian-installed official said it was a terrorist attack - Russian shorthand for an attack by Ukraine.

The claim and counter claims could not be independently verified early on Tuesday morning.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only Ukraines victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else.

He added: All services are working. I have convened the National Security and Defense Council. Please spread official and verified information only.

In a statement, UkrHydroEnergo was reported to have said: Russia blew up Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in the early hours of 6th June. Its engine room has been destroyed completely. The station cannot be restored.

By preliminary forecast, the reservoir is expected to run out within the next 4 days. As of 9 am on 6th June the water level in Kakhovka reservoir is decreasing rapidly, the evacuation of population from potentially flooded regions has begun.

It was said to have added: Uncontrolled decrease of water level is an additional threat for temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The water from Kakhovka reservoir is necessary so the plant receives power for turbine capacitors and safety systems of the ZNPP. Currently the station cooling pond is full. Ukrainian personnel at the plant is monitoring all indicators closely.

Amid growing signs that a major Ukrainian offensive may have started, the Ministry of Defence tweeted: Over the last 48 hours there has been a substantial increase in fighting along numerous sectors of the front, including those which have been relatively quiet for several months.

In its latest intelligence update, the MoD also highlighted clashes between Putins Wagner Group private army and the regular Russian army.

Concurrently, the feud between Wagner Group and the Russian MoD has reached an unprecedented level, it said.

For the first time, Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed that the army has employed deliberate, lethal force against Wagner units. Following an altercation, Wagner has likely detained a Russian army brigade commander.

Most of Wagners forces have now been withdrawn from Bakhmut. With Russia short of reserve units, the degree to which Wagner remains responsive to the MoD will be a key factor in the conflict over the coming weeks.
French protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pensions overhaul began to run out of steam on Tuesday with lower numbers taking to the streets and leaders questioning the future of the movement.

Hundreds of thousands of people protested across France for the 14th day of demonstrations since January to oppose the reform, with some cities seeing angry clashes, but numbers were well down on the peak of the movement.

Macron signed the legislation into law in April, raising the pension age to 64 from 62 after the government used a controversial but legal mechanism to avoid a vote in parliament on the bill.

The later retirement age, which seeks to bolster France's troubled long-term finances, was a banner pledge of Macron's second and final term in office.

The new head of the hard-left CGT union, Sophie Binet, said as the protest in Paris got underway: "After six months the unions are still united and the level of anger, frustration and motivation is high."

"I hear people say sometimes that everything is over, but it's not true."

Laurent Berger, the head of the more moderate CFDT union, however, acknowledged that the "match is coming to an end" and Tuesday's protest would be "clearly the last on pensions in this format".

"I'd love to tell you that we're capable of mobilising another two million people next week. That's not true, because you can't lie to workers.

"Unfortunately this reform has been enacted," he said.

Throughout France, figures given by unions and police in cities for turnout plunged to their lowest levels yet.

In Paris, 300,000 people took to the streets, according to the CGT, while it said 900,000 protested nationwide, its lowest such estimate since the protests began.

Official figures, always much lower than those of the unions, were expected later. The nationwide peak was on March 7, when 1.28 million were counted by police.

- 'No Games' -

The figurehead of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party Jean-Luc Melenchon insisted the "struggle will continue" while admitting it was not clear "under what form".

Seeking to show the potential power of union action, around 60 members of the CGT briefly occupied the offices of the organising committee for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in northern Paris, chanting there would be "no Games" if the law was not pulled.

Michel Moulbach, a building worker in the northeastern city of Lille, said the movement had allowed people to express anger "but you need to be realistic".

With summer holidays on the horizon "it will be hard not to take a pause."

Clashes were reported in the southeastern city of Lyon, a flashpoint in previous demonstrations, where projectiles were thrown at security forces, local authorities said.

Police meanwhile used tear gas in clashes with protesters in the western city of Nantes, another flashpoint, while clashes were also reported in Toulouse in the south and Rennes in the west.

In contrast to March and April when rubbish piled up in the streets of Paris and most long-distance trains were cancelled, only limited disruption is expected on transport or public services.

Around a third of flights were cancelled at Paris Orly airport.

- 'Increase in violence' -

Parts of the pensions overhaul, including the key increase in the retirement age, were printed Sunday in France's official journal, meaning they are now law.

Opponents are pinning their hopes on a motion put forward by the small Liot faction in parliament -- broadly backed by the left -- to repeal the law and reverse the increased retirement age.

Parliament speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Macron's party but officially neutral, was to rule on Thursday whether a vote could go ahead.

Most observers expect her to declare the bid to be unconstitutional.

Having faced down the biggest protests in a generation to push through the changes, Macron appears intent on moving on, having concluded that voters now view the changes as inevitable and support for the demonstrations is waning.

The president Tuesday refused to comment on the issue as he attended commemorations for the 79th anniversary of D-Day, saying that "this is a moment... to celebrate the unity of the nation".

The president's personal ratings are also moving higher again, having plunged to near-record depths in March and April.

"I will not go so far as to say that the page is turned, there is no clean slate," one minister told AFP, asking not to be named. "It's not forgotten but we're going to start looking forwards again."

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U kraine has accused Russia of blowing up a major dam in the Moscow-seized area of Kherson.

Footage released by Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday morning appears to show water surging through the remains of the Kakhova Dam.

Russian terrorists. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Mr Zelensky wrote.

Where is the Kakhova Dam?

The dam, which holds water equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

The reservoir was used to irrigate large areas of southern Ukraine and northern Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that the Kremlin annexed in 2014, as well as for cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe.

The Soviet-era dam, which is 30 metres tall and 3.2 km long, was seized by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion last year.

Footage appears to show water surging through the remains of the Kakhova Dam. / ES Composite

What happened?

The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of blowing up the dam and urged people living downstream to evacuate due to catastrophic flooding.

The hydroelectric power plant at the dam has also blown up, Ukrainian authorities allege.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of the Kherson region, said that about 16,000 are in the critical zone on the Ukrainian-controlled right bank of the river.

He said people were being evacuated for districts upstream of Kherson city and would be taken by bus to the city and then by train to Mykolaiv and other cities including Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi and Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called an emergency meeting of his national security council on Tuesday in the wake of the disaster.

Russian terrorists, Mr Zelensky said on Twitter. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

A partially flooded area in Kherson following damage sustained at the hydroelectric dam / AFP via Getty Images

Not a single metre should be left to them, because they use every metre for terror, he added. Its only Ukraines victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else.

Russian authorities denied responsibility and blamed the collapse on Ukrainian shelling.

An unnamed representative from regional emergency services said the collapse was a result of a catastrophic structural failure, according to Interfax news agency.

The dam could not stand it: one support collapsed, and flooding began, the representative said, adding that there were no attacks on the hydroelectric power station overnight.

What is at risk of flooding?

The areas most under threat of flooding are the islands along the course of the Dnipro downstream of Nova Kakhovka and large swathes of the Russian-held left bank in south Kherson.

Around 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in the southern Kherson region are believed to be at risk.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson military administration, said eight areas along the Dnipro River have been hit by floods. Police are asking people in affected villages and parts of the city of Kherson to evacuate.

Units of the national police and the State Emergency Service of the Kherson region were alerted to alert and evacuate the civilian population from potential flooding zones on the right bank of the Dnipro River, police said on Telegram.

What does Russia say?

Blowing up the Kakhovka dam is a war crime, a member of the Duma for Vladimir Putins United Russia party and state television presenter has said, while denying Russia was behind the attack.

Evgeny Popov claimed Ukraine would profit from the damage to the dam in the Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine, and said Russia is evacuating 22,000 people from the area.

Of course, its a war crime, he told BBC Radio 4s World At One programme.

Asked whether he would accept that if Russia is found to be behind the attack, it committed a war crime, he said: Im sure that this war crime made by Ukrainian regime, made by Zelensky. We dont need to do that. We are not attacking civilian infrastructure.

Of course, Ukrainian regime will be prosecuted for this war crime.

He added that our civilians are in trouble as he pointed to the number of people being evacuated.
A three-year-old Palestinian boy has died four days after being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers.

Mohammed Tamimi was shot in the head last Thursday near his village of Nebi Saleh while riding in a car with his father.

He was airlifted to Israels Sheba Hospital but died of his wounds on Monday, hospital officials said.

The Israeli military claimed that soldiers had opened fire after gunmen in the area shot at a nearby Jewish settlement.

But the boys father Haitham Tamimi told the Associated Press that they had been driving to visit an uncle when the bullet struck.

Mr Tamimi was also shot and treated at a Palestinian hospital.

I hope this message will be heard: Innocence and childhood are sacred, he told reporters, adding that Israel had targeted unarmed people under the pretext of self-defence.

A person in his home and unarmed receives this treatment? he added.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has opened an investigation into the incident.

The [Israeli military] regrets harm to non-combatants and is committed to doing everything in its power to prevent such incidents. The incident is under review, it stated.

The shooting follows a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem in the past year, with nearly 120 Palestinians killed in both areas. Nearly half of those killed were members of armed militant groups, according to a tally by the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis in those areas have killed at least 21 people.

Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem, along with the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 war.

Around 700,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The international community considers these settlements illegal or obstacles to peace.
R yanair cancelled 400 flights throughout Europe on Tuesday amid ongoing strikes by French traffic controllers.

The airlines chief executive Michael OLeary said the walkouts had prompted cancellations of around 12 per cent of its planned flights - though none were domestic flights in France.

French air traffic controllers are needed to communicate with aircraft flying over the countrys airspace, meaning that flights from the UK to Spain or Italy - known as overflights - are affected by the walkout.

Mr OLeary said in a statement: It's absolutely indefensible that flights going from Ireland to Italy, from Poland to Portugal, or from Spain to Germany are being cancelled simply because the French want to prioritise their domestic flights and cancel all the overflights.

We respect the right of French air traffic control to strike but it should be French domestic flights or local flights to France that get cancelled.

The French can take the train, they can take the motorways, but the people flying across France are having their flights unnecessarily cancelled because the European commission led by Ursula von der Leyen will not take action.

The walkout, over pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, began at 6pm on Monday and will last until 6am on Wednesday.

Mr Macrons reforms would see the retirement age in France increased from 62 to 64 years. The move has sparked furious protests throughout France since January.

Meanwhile, Frances civil aviation authority has instructed airlines to cancel up to a third of flights on strike days at certain airports.

Disruption is expected at Paris Orly, Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais airports as well as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nice.

Earlier this week, Ryanair hit out at the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen for not responding to a petition signed by more than a million customers urging her to protect overflights.

Mr OLeary said: Europe is a single market. In a single market the overflights and skies over Europe must be protected. Take action.

Greece, Italy and Spain all protect overflights regardless of industrial action.
T he Singapore Turf Club, Singapores only horse racecourse, will stage its final event in 2024.

The 120-hectare property will be returned to the government of the nation and used for both public and private housing.

An occasion at the track is dedicated in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, a devoted racegoer and breeder of racehorses.

During a visit to Singapore in 1972, Her Late Majesty presented the first Queen Elizabeth II Cup. In 2006, she returned to the main event once more.

In Singapore, horse racing has a long and distinguished history, according to a statement released by the Singapore Turf Club late on Monday.

The club added: With races continuing until the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on October 5, 2024, the club will continue to ensure the sportsmanship, safety, and integrity of every race.

But why is the racecourse closing down and when did it first open?

Why is the racecourse closing down?

The area will be renovated for public and private housing, according to the government of the nation, to meet future land use needs.

The government added that attendance at the Singapore Turf Club has declined over the past decade.

Additionally, the Ministry of National Development stated that it would look into other potential uses for the property, such as leisure and recreation facilities.

When did the racecourse open?

The Singapore Sporting Club was established in 1842 by Scottish businessman William Henry Macleod Read and a number of other supporters.

In Farrer Park, in the heart of Singapore, they converted a little area of semi-swampland into a racecourse. The Singapore Turf Club became the new name for the location in 1924.

Horse racing turned out to be popular not just with Europeans; rich Malay and Chinese racegoers also attended meetings.

As interest in horse racing grew on the island, the course was relocated to a bigger site at Bukit Timah in western Singapore in 1933.

The Singapore Turf Club relocated to its current site at Kranji, in the north of the island, in March 2000. The five-storey grandstand at the S$500 million ($370.9 million; 298 million) racetrack can accommodate 30,000 spectators.
C hris Hemsworth has defended the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the comic-book franchise faced criticism from filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.

The Australian actor has played Thor since 2011 and has starred in eight Marvel movies over the past decade.

Previously, Oscar-winning director Scorsese said the blockbusters were negatively impacting cinema while Tarantino said that Marvel is incapable of generating movie stars.

The Kill Bill director said on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast last November: Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters.

But theyre not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star. I mean, Im not the first person to say that. I think thats been said a zillion times but its like, you know, its these franchise characters that become a star.

Reflecting on Tarantino and Scorseses comments, Hemsworth told British GQ: Thats super depressing when I hear that. There goes two of my heroes I wont work with. I guess theyre not a fan of me.

The Summer issue of British GQ is available on newsstands on June 13 / Georges Antoni

Im thankful that I have been a part of something that kept people in cinemas. Now, whether or not those films were to the detriment of other films, I dont know.

I dont love when we start scrutinizing each other when theres so much fragility in the business and in this space of the arts as it is I say that less to the directors who made those comments, who are all, by the way, still my heroes, and in a heartbeat I would leap to work with any of them.

But I say it more to the broader opinion around that topic. I dont think any of us have the answer, but were trying.

The Ghostbusters actor also shared his honest thoughts about his most recent Marvel film, Thor: Love & Thunder.

The star reprised the role in Taika Waititis 2022 feature and has now revealed that his kids did not love the film, stating and critiqued it for having too much humour and weak effects.

I cringe and laugh equally at it, he said. I think we just had too much fun. It just became too silly.

Hemsworth pictured with Thor co-star Anthony Hopkins / AP

Hemsworths comments come as his former Thor co-star Anthony Hopkins spoke disparagingly about his experience within the MCU, claiming it swallowed Hollywood as a whole.

The 85-year-old, who played Odin in 2011s Thor, 2013s Thor: The Dark World and 2017s Thor: Ragnarok, told The New Yorker: They put me in armor; they shoved a beard on me.

Sit on the throne, shout a bit. If youre sitting in front of a green screen, its pointless acting it.

Chris Hemsworth will be speaking at the GQ Heroes conference in association with BMW, taking place at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire from July 19 to 21.
Adjoa Andoh plays Lady Agatha Danbury in the Netflix show Bridgerton, and made the comment during ITVs coverage of the coronation on May 6, 2022.

Looking at all those young people, there is a bit of me that has gone from the rich diversity of the abbey to the terribly white balcony. Im very struck by that, she said.

In 2022, Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, received 36,543 complaints about more than 9,500 issues, and completed 74 broadcast standards investigations.

So from game shows to reality TV, here are some of the most complained about showbiz moments.

Piers Morgans comments on Meghan Markle, Good Morning Britain, 2021: 57,121 complaints

Piers, and his comments on the Oprah interview with Meghan and Harry, is officially the most complained moment in Ofcom history, at 57,121 complaints. During the interview, Megan Markle opened up about her mental health struggles, revealing that she had felt suicidal and didnt want to be alive. Piers Morgan hosted Good Morning Britain after the interview aired, and said he didnt believe her claims. This led to Morgan quitting the show.

Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty, Celebrity Big Brother, 2007: 44,500 complaints

Following comments made towards Shilpa Shetty in 2007, Ofcom was overwhelmed with complaints, receiving a huge 44,500. During this series (five), housemates called Shetty Princess and the Indian, saying they couldnt pronounce her name. During an argument, Goody also told Shetty she needed a day in the slums and etiquette lessons. She also called her Shilpa Poppadom, along with a number of other names.

The Jerry Springer musical, 2005: 55,000 complaints

In 2005, the Jerry Springer show was turned into a musical on BBC Two called The Opera. It was the second-most complained about TV moment in British history. The themes were said to be offensive: too provocative, with swear words and jokes about Jesus being a bit gay. A Christian lobby group also tried to take a BBC director to court for blasphemy.

Ghostwatch leaving viewers traumatised, 1992: 30,000 complaints

In spoof horror show Ghostwatch, which viewers were led to believe was real, 30,000 traumatised viewers complained after the show stopped suddenly, with just dead air, after a terrifying scene with a paramedic at the haunted house. As a result, the show was banned for 10 years. However, it has never been back on TV since and is only available to watch on DVD.

Jon Snows comments on a Brexit rally, Channel 4 News, 2019: 2,717 complaints

Ive never seen so many white people in one place, Jon Snow said, speaking about a Brexit rally in 2019. The broadcaster faced a backlash online from critics after clips of his remarks were posted on social media. This led to Channel 4 issuing an apology.

Misogynistic and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the Love Island villa, 2022: 2,630 complaints

The infamous Love Island Movie Night prompted 2,630 complaints related to alleged misogynistic behaviour and bullying behaviour by some contestants in the villa, after Ekin-Su was branded a liar by Davide, just one of the many clashes that took place that night.

The treatment of contestant Tasha Gouri was also called into question, with 1,523 complaining after the episode aired on July 19.

Matt Hancocks appearance on Im a Celebrity.... Get Me Out of Here!, 2022: 1,100 complaints

1,100 objected to Matt Hancock being in the jungle, as he was still serving as MP for West Suffolk. A statement from Ofcom said: Its worth being aware that, under our rules, in principle  and taking into account freedom of expression  theres no ban on any particular person taking part in programmes.

However, if the mere presence of a person is likely to cause offence, we would expect broadcasters to take steps to mitigate or justify that offence.

How they do that editorially is up to them.

Good Morning Britain, 2022: 850 complaints

850 complaints were filed following comments made by Richard Madeley about death threats made to Keir Starmer. On the show, Madeley discussed the Labour leaders experience, explaining there are trolls who have been calling for Starmers execution. Madeley followed up by downplaying the threats, asking whether it was that big a deal.
D evelopers wishing to work on advanced artificial intelligence projects in the UK should require a licence, the Labour Party has suggested.

This level of regulation would allow artificial intelligence advancement, but with some regulation in place, similar to that which governs medicines and nuclear power, the partys digital spokesperson Lucy Powell told The Guardian.

That is the kind of model we should be thinking about, where you have to have a licence in order to build these models, she said. These seem to me to be the good examples of how this can be done.

The suggestion comes shortly after Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks advisor Matt Clifford told TalkTV that artificial intelligence could be just two years away from helping produce cyber and biological weapons .

There are other, more insidious risks of artificial intelligence beyond such headline-grabbing threats, though. For Powell, these include bias, discrimination, and surveillance  problems that she highlights as unintended consequences.

This technology is moving so fast that it needs an active, interventionist government approach, rather than a laissez-faire one.

Of course, the UK is limited in what it can do if acting alone. If a developer fails to get hold of a theoretical licence to build artificial intelligence products in Britain, there would be nothing stopping them from emigrating and producing something in a country with more lax regulation. The final product could still potentially be used in the UK and impact lives, regardless of the good intentions.

That goes some way to explaining the itinerary for Sunaks upcoming visit to Washington, where the Financial Times reports the Prime Minister is set to discuss two possible models of international AI regulation with President Joe Biden.

The first is a Cern for AI based on the international particle physics project, while the second is a global regulatory body, more akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
T he Russian cybercriminal gang Clop has posted a threat on its website on the Dark Web telling victims affected by the recent cyber attack to email them by June 14 to negotiate or face having their private data leaked onto the internet.

This comes following The Standard reporting on Tuesday evening that Clop is not using ransomware for this attack, and instead has a business model of demanding money or leaking information.

When asked by The Standard about whether it had received an extortion request from Clop, the BBC declined to comment, seven hours before posting its own piece on the extortion notice.

The notice on Clops website, first seen by the BBC, states: This is announcement to educate companies who use Progress MOVEit product that chance is that we download a lot of your data as part of exceptional exploit [sic].

The post urges victim organisations to send an email to the gang to begin negotiations.

The Government of Nova Scotia in Canada, and the University of Rochester, a private research university in New York, are the first organisations in North America to have confirmed that they, too, have been hit by the MOVEit cyber attack.

News broke on Monday that tens of thousands of employees at the BBC, British Airways, Boots, and Aer Lingus have had their details stolen due to a cyber attack on payroll service provider Zellis. Microsoft blamed the data breach on a Russian cybercriminal gang called Clop.

Cybersecurity researchers are warning that this incident is far from over  the issue is much wider than previously thought and there are still serious consequences to come. The Standard understands that several other British firms have been affected by this cyber attack.

The Russian cybercriminal gang Clop has been active since February 2019, surviving many challenges, including server raids by Ukrainian police in June 2021, which included arrests of multiple Ukrainian hackers working for them. Clop has so far successfully attacked at least 230 firms, according to cybersecurity researchers.

Cyber attack targeted Microsoft server security flaw

The attack occurred due to Zellis falling victim to a cyber attack via one of their third-party suppliers, a cloud storage Dropbox for enterprises service called MOVEit. MOVEit was running Microsofts Windows server applications and the hackers found a security flaw in these applications and used it as a door to Zelliss payroll data, according to Rick Holland, the chief information security officer at global cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest.

This is known as a zero-day vulnerability  an undiscovered security flaw in an application or operating system that there is no defence or patch for because no one knows it exists, except for the hackers.

However, MOVEits owner Progress says that they have more than 100,000 customers around the world. While we dont know exactly how many are using the MOVEit software, this means that the issue potentially affects many more victims than we know of, because other companies could be using the software to store confidential corporate information in the cloud.

Anyone that is running the MOVEit software should assume they might have been breached, Mr Holland told The Standard.

Hopefully, everyone has kicked in their incidence response. According to our research, there are more than 1,000 servers [in the world] running unpatched versions of the software.

He added that Clop essentially has a treasure trove of stolen information to sift through. They will go after large organisations that have the money to pay, but it could take a while before victims are notified or discovered that their data is compromised.

Huge risk of employee details being exposed online

Potentially tens of thousands of BBC employees could have been affected by the Zellis data breach / PA Archive

Unfortunately, the Zellis cyber attack news is far from over  not for Zellis, Progress, or the tens of thousands of BBC, British Airways, Boots, and Aer Lingus employees, Mr Holland warns.

Clop has a website on the Dark Web where it routinely uploads data dumps from the companies it has breached. It has been reported in the media and by some researchers that Clop are ransomware attackers, but the gang are not using malware to lock up computers, with the threat of deleting the data if a Bitcoin ransom is not paid.

The fact that the BBC, British Airways, Boots, and Aer Lingus are not yet listed on the website shows that Clop, which are extortionists, are likely now in negotiation with these firms, according to Mr Holland. The gang makes money by threatening to expose confidential company data if it doesnt get paid.

Clop wants to negotiate with them. Typically, the way they work is to set up a chat and email function with the company and say, Hey, pay us,. Their first move is to negotiate, he explains.

British Airways, the BBC and Aer Lingus did not respond to Mr Hollands comments on Clop extorting data breach victims.

You might not even know youve been hacked

The other big issue is that, even if your firm has a good security team that has kicked into action and patched the Microsoft Server flaws for your servers that connect to the MOVEit software, they might still struggle to detect whether Clop has been by to pay a visit.

In order to detect a data breach, enterprises really need to be checking their server logs for the past 90 days, advises Mr Holland. Typically, many companies only keep 30 days worth of logs, which are then wiped, includings ReliaQuests own customers.

Christopher Budd, senior manager for threat research at British cybersecurity firm Sophos, agrees: Its important to note that patching will not remove any webshells or other artefacts of compromise. This makes it critical that MOVEit customers include a check for compromise after deploying patches in addition to deploying patches. Patching alone is not sufficient.

Clop used SQL injection attacks, which are a type of zero-day vulnerability.

SQL injection is a command and many customers dont have enough historical server logs pertaining to their file transfer service provider, explains Mr Holland.

Clop is a dangerous ransomware group and was one of the earlier adopters of extorting stolen data, not just pure-play ransomware. Given their propensity to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, they demonstrate a technical capability beyond many extortion groups.

Unfortunately, no one can prevent zero-day vulnerability attacks, warns Mr Holland: How quickly you respond and mitigate are the most viable courses of action. Rapid patching, abundant logging, and security monitoring are the best bets.

What to do if you are affected

If you are an employee of any firm that has been compromised in this data breach, or your firm contacts you to say you have been impacted, you should first ask for more details on what information has been leaked about you.

BA said it was deeply disappointed that its staff were impacted by the Zellis cyber attack. The airline has provided affected employees with access to a specialist service that helps detect possible misuse of personal information and provides identity monitoring support.

A BBC spokesman said: We are aware of a data breach at our third-party supplier, Zellis, and are working closely with them as they urgently investigate the extent of the breach. We take data security extremely seriously and are following the established reporting procedures.

The BBC employee data disclosed includes first and last names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers, and the first line of their addresses.

An Aer Lingus spokeswoman said: Aer Lingus has been notified by a third-party service provider (Zellis  provider of HR and payroll support services) that they have experienced a cybersecurity incident, which has resulted in a disclosure of some of our current and former employee data.

However, it has been confirmed that no financial or bank details relating to Aer Lingus current or former employees were compromised in this incident. It has also been confirmed that no phone contact details relating to Aer Lingus current or former employees were compromised.

Aer Lingus has established a dedicated phone line, email address, and additional support from its cyber security and data privacy teams.

The Standard has contacted Progress and Boots for comment.

A Zellis spokeswoman told The Standard: We can confirm that a small number of our customers have been impacted by this global issue and we are actively working to support them. All Zellis-owned software is unaffected and there are no associated incidents or compromises to any other part of our IT estate.

She added that Zellis took immediate action, disconnecting the server that utilises MOVEit software and engaging an expert external security incident response team to assist with forensic analysis and ongoing monitoring, as well as notifying the ICO, DPC, and the NCSC in both the UK and Ireland.

A spokesman for MOVEit software said: When we discovered the vulnerability, we promptly launched an investigation, alerted MOVEit customers about the issue and provided immediate mitigation steps.

We disabled web access to MOVEit Cloud to protect our Cloud customers, developed a security patch to address the vulnerability, made it available to our MOVEit Transfer customers, and patched and re-enabled MOVEit Cloud, all within 48 hours. We have also implemented a series of third-party validations to ensure the patch has corrected the exploit.
Beginning Sunday, TAQA Arabia's shares will be included in the EGX database under the ticker symbol (TAQA.CA) and will be assigned to the utilities sector, according to the EGX.

The EGX authorized the listing of 1.35 billion shares on Sunday.

The listed shares have a total value of approximately EGP 676.2 million (nearly $22 million), or EGP 0.5 per share.

Proceeding from Cairo, we are keen on scaling up our investments, services and project portfolio in Egypt and the region. This requires finding sources of financing and increasing the groups capital in the coming period, said the Chairman of TAQA Arabia, Khaled Abu Bakr.

EGX awaits the Financial Regulatory Authoritys (FRA) approval on TAQA's disclosure report within six months of listing before trading its shares.

TAQA Arabia, a Cairo-based Qalaa Holdings subsidiary, serves over 1.7 million customers in 50 Egyptian cities with energy and utility services, including natural gas, electricity, renewable energy, petroleum products, and water.

It builds, runs, and upkeeps energy infrastructure, including gas transmission and distribution, in eight Egyptian governorates.

EGX Chairman Ramy El-Dokany said last week that an energy company would soon be listed on the market.

Egypt's privatization programme

Under an economic reform programme with the IMF, Egypt is privatizing 32 state-owned companies in 18 sectors to strategic investors within a year.

Unnamed investors recently purchased shares of already-listed companies.

A 10 percent share of Telecom Egypt and a 7.8 percent stake in the Housing and Development Bank were sold.

NI Capital CEO Mohamed Metwally announced in May that Egypt would offer two state-owned companies for investment before the end of the FY.

Egypt is in an EFF programme with the IMF, which allows it to receive $3 billion over four years.

The programme's first review has been delayed until June as Egypt works to meet its commitments under the deal.

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The National Council for Women (NCW) has initiated a project to address the economic drivers of irregular migration in Egypt.

The NCW, in partnership with the European Union, is targeting female heads of households seeking income-generating opportunities to protect families and youths searching for employment opportunities from the dangers of irregular migration.

According to the latest statistics conducted by the National Centre for Social and Criminological Research (NCSCR), there are 11 governorates in Egypt that have the largest number of irregular migrants: Sharqiya, Daqahliya, Qalioubiya, Menoufiya, Gharbiya, Beheira, Kafr Al-Sheikh, Fayoum, Assiut, Luxor, and Minya. The NCW chose Luxor, Minya, Beheira, and Gharbiya as starting points, providing an alternative to irregular migration through enterprise development and work opportunities for women and youth.

According to May Mahmoud, manager of Addressing the Economic Drivers of Irregular Migration in Egypt, the project provides comprehensive programmes on vocational and entrepreneurship training, as well as the establishment of incubator/production units and Business Development Service (BDS) units to ensure sustainability of the activities after the end of the scheme. The project also creates linkages and partnerships with the private sector and businesses to meet their required needs of qualified human resources, Mahmoud said.

The venture, according to Mahmoud, supports startups and owners of existing Micro Small and Medium Enterprises by providing a package of various services through BDS units established at NCW branches along with incubation facilities and production units in the governorates.

Rehab Abu Arab, from Beheira, said she had been trained on making copper jewellery. The council has conducted several workshops at our village. They taught us how to use different equipment and provided us with the raw materials for free, Abu Arab said.

According to Abu Arab, further workshops on marketing and other business development skills are yet to take place. I have participated with my products at several exhibitions whether in Cairo or Sharm El-Sheikh where I was exposed to a different community than that of my village.

Karim Al-Sarhani, coordinator of the project in Beheira, said the training aims at developing business management skills and entrepreneurial personality traits of women to encourage them to start their own micro-enterprises.

They will also be trained on financial awareness, project marketing, pricing, financing and project management. The products produced by the trainees are to be circulated among them according to performance, Al-Sarhani said.

Mahmoud said the plan also includes training women on the basics of food processing and how to produce products including pickles and dried vegetables, and fruits such as tomatoes, raisins, figs, juices, jam, and sauces. Trainees are also taught the processing and packaging of fruits and vegetables. This is in addition to training them on producing several kinds of cheeses: double cream cheese and mozzarella, as well as yoghurt with its different kinds, Mahmoud said.

The enterprise, according to Mahmoud, is a continuation of the Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration.

Ayman Zohri, head of the Egyptian Society for Migration Studies and a migration professor at the American University of Cairo, said that searching for any job opportunity is the main reason for irregular migration. Ninety-nine per cent of irregular immigrants are from 18 to 28, Zohri said, adding that most of them come from rural areas, and that at times one boat could carry almost all illegal migrants from one village.

According to Zohri, the United Nations High Commissioner for Egyptian Affairs, indicated that Egypt is the worlds second country when it comes to exporting illegal immigration after Bulgaria. The numbers of illegal immigrants globally, according to Zohri, range from 20 to 30 million. Italy and Spain are the countries that bear the burden of illegal immigration, followed by Germany, he said. Egypt signed an agreement with Italy in 2007 on resettlement, which allows the return of illegal immigrants from Italy.

The project will also establish the Womens Entrepreneurs Network whose aim is to connect women entrepreneurs and business owners with each other, as well as with the labour market, relevant institutions, and associations of women and businessmen, Mario Daniel, project coordinator in Minya governorate, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Al-Ahram Weekly reports on how the National Dialogue is working to create common ground among participants.

After two weeks of sessions, political analysts say the National Dialogue proposed by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is building bridges between the state and the opposition.

This is a mainly a political dialogue which aims to open channels of communication between the regime and opposition forces, said Alieddin Hilal, chairman of the dialogues Political Committee.

Communication between the state and opposition forces had long been closed. The National Dialogue offers these forces a forum to voice their views and demands.

The dialogue, added Hilal, is part of a wider process to turn Egypt into a democratic state.

The dialogues Political Committee began sessions two weeks ago. Opposition figures were given the floor for the first time to voice their opinions about vital political issues, including legislation that regulates political parties and elections.

The Political Committee plans to hold four sessions on Sunday to discuss the NGO law, a freedom of information law, and legislation regulating parliamentary and local council elections.

In the first session, participants will examine NGO Law 149/2019 and discuss which, if any, articles need to be amended, said Hilal. The second session will see discussions over a possible freedom of information law.

People should be able to access to all kinds of information, particularly that which informs the decision-making process, so they can formulate any opinions on a sound basis, said Hilal.

Egypt has no freedom of information law despite the 2014 constitution stipulating that one should be in place.

The third and fourth sessions will feature panel discussions on the composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate, elections to which are scheduled in 2025.

Hilal noted that divisions have emerged between political parties in the last two weeks.

As a result of differences over the system that should be used to elect the House of Representatives and the Senate, workshops including experts and representatives from different political forces were formed to reach common ground and see which electoral systems are in line with the constitution, he said.

Hilal believes that, regardless of disagreements, the important thing is that opposition forces are being given the chance to express their opinions freely.

This is a progressive step and comes after a long period during which liberal and leftist opposition forces have been completely marginalised. In the coming weeks we hope to build confidence between all political forces, creating a more democratic atmosphere that leads to competitive presidential and parliamentary elections.

After two weeks of sessions, Mustafa Kamel Al-Sayed, assistant rapporteur of the National Dialogues Political Committee, sees the dialogue as a wider societal debate given participants come not only from political parties but from different sectors of society, including professional syndicates, trade unions, government experts and officials, cooperatives and public figures.

Like Hilal, Al-Sayed believes that after two weeks of sessions the National Dialogue has given opposition forces  particularly the Democratic Civilian Movement led by former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi  a chance to voice their opinions about political issues.

Ahead of the dialogue, the Civilian Movement  an alliance between 12 leftist and liberal political parties  was completely marginalised. Its leaders and main officials are still prevented from appearing on TV or holding public rallies.

El-Sayed says the gains of the first two weeks of the dialogue are very limited.

We still dont have the press and media freedoms that would allow full reporting of what the opposition says during dialogue sessions, and issues such as amending the constitution or discussing national security and foreign policy firmly off the agenda.

As a consequence, I do not expect major reforms to result from the dialogue.

Al-Sayed characterises the National Dialogue as opening the door for opposition forces to publicly voice their opinions on limited issues like the electoral system.

The third session of the National Dialogues Political Committee was originally planned for Sunday 4 June, but due to bad weather conditions was delayed to Sunday 11 June.

Meanwhile, in an emergency session the National Dialogues Education and Scientific Research Committee approved a draft law establishing a Supreme National Council for Education and Training.

Some participants in the emergency session objected that the councils board should include 12 cabinet ministers.

Such a large number of ministers threatens to undermine the councils independence, said Mohamed Ghoneim, a professor at Mansoura University.

According to the eight-article draft legislation, the proposed council will be affiliated with the presidents office and headed by the prime minister.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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AgriMin Daea: The European Commission has extended restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine to September 15.

The European Commission has extended the restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine until September 15, with the relevant European Union regulation having already been published in the Official Journal, Romania's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Petre Daea told AGERPRES on Tuesday.

"The European Union regulation has already been published in the Official Journal. The restrictions on wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower imports from Ukraine are extended until September 15. It proves that we were persistent, we managed to submit the necessary information, and the European Commission understood the difficulties faced by farmers and decided on it, given that shortly it is harvest time and we must have free spaces and also the possibility to capitalise on the yields both internally and externally," said Daea.

Regarding the unlocking of a second support package worth EUR 100 million for farmers affected by cheap imports from Ukraine within which the commission proposed to allocate an almost EUR 30 million for Romania, Daea said that Hungary's compliance with suspending the unilateral measure it has taken is currently expected.

"I hope that after the extension of restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine, after the publication of Regulation 1,100 of June 5, 2023, Hungary will suspend its measure, and the commission will release the money."

Last week, Ukraine's President of Volodymyr Zelensky called for the unconditional removal of all export restrictions imposed on Ukrainian agricultural produce, during discussions with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

As early as May, Daea and his counterparts from four other EU member states - Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - sent a letter to the commission in which they requested the restriction of imports of Ukrainian agricultural produce and the extension of the term past June 5. He said that the measure supports Romanian farmers who will no longer face competition from Ukrainian produce on the domestic market.
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, on Tuesday invited Italian companies to invest in the field of construction, noting that this sector will be a strategic one for Romania in the coming period.

The clarifications were made on the occasion of the reception organized by the Italian Embassy in Bucharest, in the context of the National Day of the Italian Republic.

As to bilateral trade, Italy is the second most important commercial partner of Romania. There is also an "upward" trend in commercial exchanges, and the year 2022 marked "a historical record" in the field, stated Marcel Ciolacu.

"At the same time, we appreciate that there is still a significant potential for the development of economic and commercial relations, as well as of Italian investments in Romania. I am thinking first of all about the field of construction, which will be one of the strategic sectors in the coming period for us. We have important European funds available on the basis of which we will develop our infrastructure in the coming years. That is why I appeal to Italian companies to come and get involved in our country. Equally, I think that Romanian companies can also get more involved in the Italian market, because, as we discussed in my recent official visit to Rome, there are many opportunities and projects in your country", he added.

The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies added that, over time, Romania and Italy managed to build a relationship "based on mutual trust" and solidarity. In this sense, he recalled that doctors and nurses from Romania offered help to Italy "without hesitation" during the pandemic.

According to him, the "privileged" bilateral relationship is confirmed by the "exemplary" cooperation within the European Union and NATO, especially in the "extremely volatile" security context, marked by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"We are determined to continue this collaboration on multiple sectors to advance the goals of common interest," he said.

Ciolacu also specified that bilateral relations are supported by the consolidated strategic partnership, signed 15 years ago.

He also stated that the Romanians living in Italy and the Italians present in Romania act as a "strong binder", offering "a unique character" to bilateral relations. He declared himself proud of the "important Romanian community" in Italy and the way in which it has integrated and brings "added value and honor" to both states.

"On June 2, 1946, the Italian Republic was proclaimed, an event of high importance in the history of contemporary Italy, because it marked the return to a republic-type form of government and the attachment of the Italian people to democracy and the restoration of peace on our continent. Thus it gives me great pleasure to address on this occasion cordial congratulations, accompanied by the best thoughts to all Italian citizens and the important Italian community in Romania. Today, we are also celebrating the anniversary of an important strategic partner and a close friend of Romania," Ciolacu emphasized. AGERPRES
Speaking on Tuesday in Viscri, after King Charles III's departure from his Transylvanian stay, Count Tibor Kalnoky said that he was honored by the visit of the British sovereign, and that his holiday was "safe and perfectly harmonious". Kalnoky thanked the Protection and Guard Service and the journalists for the respect and professionalism they showed.

"For me, the new get-together with His Majesty King Charles III was an honor and joy. Having permanently taken special care to make sure that the now King Charles III feels comfortable during his private stay with us, we thank all those who contributed to making His Majesty's visit a pleasant experience. I would like to convey my congratulations to the representatives of the Protection and Guard Service for their work and for the discreet and considerate way in which they protected His Majesty the King. I also thank media representatives for the interest shown, as well as for their proven respect and professionalism. His Majesty's personal meetings with locals and tourists were extremely welcoming and warm. I want to assure you that His Majesty's stay was safe and perfectly harmonious," declared Count Tibor Kalnoky.

He voiced his hope that there will be many more opportunities in the future to wish King Charles III a warm welcome to Romania.

"He has been coming [to Romania] for 25 years now and we very much hope that this will be possible in the future as well. Maybe not every year, but yes, I think it will be so," the Count emphasized.

Asked by journalists about King Charles' demeanor on his first visit to Romania after the coronation, Count Tibor Kalnoky pointed out that although the hosts instinctively showed more deference, the King was just as easy-going as usual.

Pointing out that he cannot speak for the King, the Count said that he believes the monarch was impressed by the crowds that awaited him everywhere he went.

"I cannot speak on his behalf, but I think he was very impressed that it was all tension-free, there were really many of them, they were like a family," Count Kalnoky said.

King Charles III arrived on Tuesday in Viscri around noon, received several special guests in the courtyard of the house owned by his foundation, after which he went to the village fortified church, where he interacted with local craftspeople. AGERPRES
EduMin Deca: Over 10,000 teachers end strike after passage of pay increase ordinance.

More than 15,000 education workers, including 10,000 teaching staff, have ended their strike after the passage of an ordinance providing for pay increases, Education Minister Ligia Deca told a news conference on Tuesday, told Agerpres.

According to her, there are over 1,000 educational establishments nationwide where not a single person is on strike.

"As a result of the measures taken by the government of Romania and as a result of the emergency ordinance 53 issued on June 1 providing for pay raises in education, we can announce that at this moment, between the passage of the ordinance and now, there are about 15,000 people working in education - including 10,000 teachers - who ended their strike. At the moment, there are more than 1,000 educational establishments where not a single person is on strike," said Deca.

She added that negotiations with the trade union federations will resume on Wednesday.

"It is proof of the confidence of the teaching staff in the measures taken by the government and we hope that the discussions that will resume amidst the talks over the Collective Labour Agreement in education, will also resume these negotiations with the trade union federations tomorrow in the context of other measures that the government will take - I am mean here negotiations on uniform pay law - and we will witness a return to the classroom of both teachers and students," said Deca .
King Charles III, currently in Romania, threw on Tuesday a reception in Viscri, on the 25th anniversary of his first visit to our country, on which occasion the sovereign wanted to meet all those with whom, over time, he collaborated.

Among the guests of King Charles III was also the former prime minister Dacian Ciolos, together with his wife, dressed in traditional clothing - Dacian Ciolos wearing a shirt from the region of Moldova, bought at a fair that he organized in 2013, as European commissioner, while his wife, Valerie Ciolos-Villemin, had a popular costume from Magura, Moeciu area.

King Charles III also had among his guests count Tibor Kalnoky, the doctor Radu Deac, the representatives of the ADEPT Foundation from Saschiz, the self-proclaimed king of the Roma, Dorin Cioaba, numerous representatives of enterprises and associations with social and environmental impact, but also the members of two families from Maramures county, from Breb and Budesti localities.

"We are from very far away, we came with great joy and great honor to be with the King, because he is a good man and deserves all the honor and appreciation. That is why we came with the greatest love to be at the 25th anniversary of his first visit to our country. It was in 2011 at our place, in the village, the husband had a glass of horinca with him at the table," declared Ileana Bozai.

Her husband, Ion Bozai, told us that during that period he restored two traditional houses over 100 years old and that King Charles III, then Prince Charles, attended the inauguration. In addition, the two spouses told us that the prince visited them one spring, at a rural celebration, the "milk measurement", organized at the moment when the sheep are taken to the mountains.

"Then, hearing about the sheep stable that was under Mount Gutai, he came on foot many kilometers and then for the first time I saw him that he is a very warm man, a good man and somehow we fell in love with him, with his kindness his. (...) Of course he likes the traditional food that is made at our place, we make several dishes", said Ileana.

The Bozai spouses also specified that at the guesthouses in the village of Breb, only traditional food is cooked, polenta with cheese, string beans, peas, and horinca is served. "We call him our fellow villager and we look forward to him returning to his village", was their message.

Ileana and Ion Bozai say that the last time they met King Charles III was a month ago, when they were invited to his coronation in London. "It was very nice to see so many people, 2 million people. Extraordinary, something that happens to you once in a lifetime, especially to us it happened once in a lifetime," added Ileana Bozai.

Among the special guests was Gheorghe Bod from Budesti, Maramures county, aged 80, who was invited by the King, being the owner of an over 200-year-old mill, which Prince Charles visited in 2005.

Gheorghe Bod came with his granddaughters, Reghina, 20 years old, and Irina Lazar, 11 years old, as well as other family members, to greet the King and brought him a series of gifts specific to Maramures.

"We come from Budesti and we brought the King a specific gift from the historic Maramures area, namely a hand-made purse and a glass with a flute that has a sculpture inside it, also made by hand. His Majesty visited the mill 18 years ago, and we also have a picture of the King with our grandparents at the mill in Budesti. It was taken in 2005, when the King visited the commune for the first time. We have now received the invitations from the King, and wanted to meet again after 18 years. We were very happy and feel privileged to have this opportunity. We don't even know what to tell him, we are still thinking. We tell him, first of all, that we expect him as soon as possible in Maramures. We came with our parents and our grandfather", said Reghina Lazar.

The mayor of Bunesti commune, Mircea Palasan, considers that the visit of King Charles III is very important not only for the commune, but also for Romania and that, although the local public administration did not prepare anything special for this visit, he came to welcome him and to thank him for loving this country.

After the first visits of Prince Charles, in the 90s, the mayor pointed out, the village of Viscri developed more and more, especially in terms of tourism and gastronomy.

Although it is quite difficult to make investments in the area, as a lot of documents and a lot of care are needed, Palasan says that all this effort is worth it, especially since preserving the traditional character of the village brings prosperity to the residents.

"It's a permanent struggle, but the struggle is worth it if the area is preserved. The economic part is important, for people to have a living, not to worry about tomorrow", the mayor emphasized. AGERPRES
IGPF: Approximately 189,000 people enter Romania on Monday, of whom almost 10,000 Ukrainians.

The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that, on Monday, a number of 189,029 people entered Romania through border points, of whom 9,959 were Ukrainian citizens, told Agerpres.

According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, approximately 287,000 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 71,300 means of transport, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out.

As of 10 February 2022 (the pre-conflict period), a number of 4,436,631 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.

"Between 01-06 June 2023, over 1.5 million people, Romanian and foreigners, have completed the border control formalities, and approximately 380,000 means of transport, both on the way in and on the way out," the quoted source showed.

Compared to the similar period of last year, in 2023 we can see an increase of over 60pct related to the number of persons and of almost 80pct in terms of the means of transport.

The most transited border was the one with Bulgaria, where, in the same period of time, about 455,000 persons and 150,000 means of transport completed the control formalities, as well as the one with Hungary with 390,000 persons and 144,000 means of transport, on both directions. Moreover, high traffic values were also recorded at the air border with more than 340,000 persons.

In the relevant areas - the border crossing points and the "green border," the border policemen discovered 72 illegalities (39 offences and 33 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, with the amount of fines enforced stands at 19,070 RON.

Assets of an estimated value of approximately 187,700 RON were impounded.

On Monday, a number of 15 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they didn't meet the requirements stipulated by the law, while a number of 29 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
Egypt and Israel have agreed to form a joint committee to investigate the shooting incident that took place on the Egyptian-Israeli border at dawn on 3 June. The incident resulted in the death of Egyptian Central Security conscript Mohamed Salah Ibrahim and three Israeli soldiers: Lia Ben Nun, Ori Yitzhak Iluz, and Ohad Dahan. Iluz and Ben Nun had served in the Bardelas Battalion, Dahan in the Caracal Battalion.

The agreement reflects the ability of the two sides to respond quickly and with flexibility to sudden developments and coordinate effectively within the framework of existing security arrangements, and their confidence that the incident will not affect their bilateral relationship. Working together to determine what exactly took place, the two sides will identify any steps that need to be taken to fill security gaps and prevent a repetition.

On the day of the incident an Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman said an Egyptian security forces officer was pursuing drug smugglers across the security barrier after which an exchange of fire took place, resulting in the death of three Israeli soldiers, the injury of two others, and the death of the Egyptian policemen. The spokesman added that security and legal measures were being taken to investigate the incident and secure the area. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy said the two leaders tackled the border incident, stressing the importance of full coordination to unravel the details of the incident. They reiterated their commitment to working together within the framework of their relations.

In another official statement earlier, the military spokesman said that Egyptian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Mohamed Zaki phoned his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant to discuss the incident and extend condolences to the families of the victims on both sides. The ministers discussed coordination to avert the recurrence of such incidents. The Egyptian authorities had released no further statements by the time this report was filed.

In addition to setting in motion investigations on the Egyptian side, Egyptian authorities have formed a team to work alongside the Israeli team in the joint investigation. On Sunday, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi appointed Major General Nimrod Aloni to the Israeli investigatory team. According to Israeli news reports, Eliezer Toledano, head of the Southern Command, and Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, commander of the 80th Division, will probe the conduct of Israeli troops during the attack. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation also reported that a high-ranking Egyptian officer visited the scene of the incident and spoke with Toledano and Cohen.

Israeli narratives diverge from the Egyptian one. One Israeli account suggests that, contrary to the Egyptian narrative of the policeman pursuing the smugglers across the border, his pursuit of the smugglers had ended before he crossed the border and that he deliberately targeted the Israeli soldiers. It suggests that events played out in an approximately five-hour timeframe, yet the incident was only discovered at 9am. According to another account, an Israeli combing operation led to the soldier who was shot dead at 11am. Presumably, the investigations will reveal the circumstances surrounding the policemans death and whether he could have been neutralised rather than killed.

In Egypt, the media has tended to accept the authorities account. While acknowledging that there is little information on the timing and circumstances to make any judgement calls, the tendency has been to refute conflicting accounts in the Israeli media. The position is that the Egyptian side has offered a reasonable account of the incident given the available evidence, and it should stand in unless new and concrete facts become available.

Common themes run through the Israeli reports. One has been to rake up rare border incidents that occurred over a decade ago  the cases of Suleiman Khater and Ayman Hassan  and imply that Saturdays incident was ideologically motivated. The Israeli media seems determined to shrug off any suggestion that the Egyptian policeman may have been trying to do his job. Yet reports in Egypt have suggested Mohamed Salah had been in service for a year, making the hypothesis he was fired by some sudden ideological drive less likely than that he was chasing smugglers.

Israeli reports of the incident have regularly compared the Egyptian border with the tense and volatile situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Such comparisons are hollow. Apart from extremely rare incidents, the Egyptian-Israeli border has been peaceful for decades. There are joint security arrangements in place that do not exist along Israels northern borders, and Egyptian and Israeli security authorities are in constant communication.

While it is important not to minimise the seriousness of the incident, the media should bear in mind that, however divergent the accounts, communications between Cairo and Tel Aviv reflect a mutual desire not to let the incident mar relations. That there have been three border incidents during more than four decades of Egyptian-Israeli security coordination is indicative of the extent to which both sides are eager to keep the border area safe and stable.

The area where the incident occurred  rugged terrain extending some 200 km along the border between Mount Sagi and Mount Harif in the Negev desert  is known for organised crime. Egypt has been very successful in fighting terrorism in Sinai, but it has also been working to combat crime in general.



* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Russia will continue to be the greatest threat to European and Euro-Atlantic security, president Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday, calling for the strengthening of defence on NATO's Eastern Flank.

The president made a press statement at the B9 Summit, alongside the leaders of the countries included in this format.

"We emphasized, first of all, the full implementation of the historic decisions adopted last year in Madrid, especially those regarding the strengthening of the allied defence and deterrence posture on the Eastern Flank, for which we must make notable progress. Russia will continue to be the biggest threat to European and Euro-Atlantic security. That is why we all understand the need to strengthen our national defense and create a coherent and united, credible and robust Forward Defense on the Eastern Flank," said the Romanian head of state.

He added that during the discussions in Bratislava, there were calls "for the continuation of the measures at the operational level, including with regard to the Battle Groups on the Eastern Flank, of which the one in Romania is also a part".

Moreover, in accordance with Romania's strategic objectives, Klaus Iohannis recalled "the need for an increased and united commitment at the allied level in addressing security challenges at the Black Sea, an area of strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security, as enshrined in the NATO Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid".AGERPRES
The leaders of the countries of the Bucharest Nine have issued a joint statement supporting Ukraine's NATO membership "once conditions allow it".

Ukraine is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic area and its security is interconnected with that of the Allies. We strongly support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and reiterate the Bucharest 2008 decisions under which Ukraine will become a NATO member, reads the document signed by the Heads of State and Government of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic.

In this regard, the signatories voice their "hope" that political relations with Ukraine will be raised "to a new level" at the NATO Summit in Vilnius and that "a new political direction will be launched leading to Ukraine's NATO membership, once conditions allow it".

We will continue our support for Ukraine along this path, and as a means of preventing a repetition of Russia's aggression. We encourage Ukraine to continue its reforms in accordance with all the principles of the the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between the NATO and Ukraine. We acknowledge that reforms are essential to promote Ukraine's progress towards EU and NATO membership. We will continue our efforts to assess and adapt NATO's approach to Russia, say the leaders who met at the B9 Summit in Bratislava.

They "fully" recognise, in the Declaration, the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Western Balkans regions for the Alliance. We will continue to strengthen NATO's support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova in order to consolidate their integrity and resilience against any malign influence. In this regard, we commend the Republic of Moldova for its efforts to maintain stability and advance reforms along the European path.

The leaders of the nine states also reaffirm their "unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders".

This is the only way to restore peace and rule-based order in Europe. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal, unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine. Ukraine has a legitimate right to defend itself against this aggression, in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. Russia must cease its continued attacks on the Ukrainian population and civilian infrastructure, the deportation of children and sexual violence in the conflict, the signatories of the Joint Statement stress.AGERPRES
LabMin Budai: Number of Ukrainian citizens employed in Romania maintains at 6,700.

The number of Ukrainian citizens employed in Romania maintains at 6,700, Labour Minister Marius Budai told AGERPRES on Tuesday.

According to him, on Tuesday morning an increase of 46 in the number of Ukrainian citizens' employment contracts was reported.

"As of this morning, 7,901 active contracts of Ukrainian citizens are registered, of which 6,726 are contracts that have a start date since the conflict began. Thus, the number of contracts with a start date of 24 February or more recently has increased by 46 compared to Friday," Budai said.

Most refugees, 2,810, found work in Bucharest, while 395 Ukrainians are working in Bistrita Nasaud and 392 in Timis county.

In terms of the area of activity in which Ukrainians were employed, most of them, 1,469, are in the manufacturing industry and 1,106 in construction.
PM Ciuca: Romania must be among countries where cancer diagnosis is not death sentence.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca pleaded on Tuesday, in a message to the participants of the "Cancer Survivor" debate, for a deep reform of the medical system so that Romania can join the ranks of countries where "a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence", told Agerpres.

"National Cancer Survivor Day, now in its second year, is extremely important from two perspectives. It is an opportunity to honour those who have managed to defeat this terrible disease and it is a celebration that gives hope to the hundreds of thousands of Romanians who are currently fighting against such a cruel diagnosis. The life stories of cancer survivors are spectacular and moving. By showing courage and determination, choosing to fight, they have managed to win the most important battle of their lives, which makes them heroes, because a hero is nothing more than an ordinary person who finds the strength to persevere and resist despite the obstacles that life throws in their way. That is why I bow with respect to cancer survivors in Romania, who, through the power of their personal example offer hope not only to cancer patients at the beginning of their healing journey, but to society as a whole. With a little perseverance, a little more effort and what seemed like a hopeless failure can turn into a success," said Prime Minister Ciuca, in the message presented at the "Cancer Survivor" debate by the head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Mircea Abrudean.

Nicoale Ciuca noted that unfortunately, there is hardly anyone who does not know a loved one who has battled this "terrible spectrum of diseases" or who has led a personal battle against a form of cancer.

"Statistics show us a harsh reality (...) and then state institutions must provide answers and concrete solutions, Through all the actions I have taken as Prime Minister of Romania, I have proved that I have understood very well one thing about preventing and fighting cancer. My clear message is that there is no time to lose. We are facing a unique moment of consensus, where cancer patients, the political class as a whole, civil society and the media have agreed that now is the time to act to address this significant public health problem. All state authorities need to work together so that we make patients' lives better and do not burden them with the problems of the health system. Authorities and decision-makers all need to be open to innovative solutions, attentive to the recommendations of specialists and above all to the needs of patients. We have no more important responsibility than guaranteeing the right to health for all citizens of this country," premier Ciuca added.

In his message, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government's commitment to make every effort to bring Romania into the ranks of countries where a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, which also means a profound reform of the system.

"These are issues that have been dragging on for decades. (...) We need an integrated approach, but also targeted programmes. We must not only look within Romania, but we can take examples from those who have succeeded in other countries and we can ensure that we are the first to implement the principles of the EU Cancer Plan, especially as there are also European funds that we can access through various programmes. We are not alone and isolated in this battle with an extremely aggressive disease, but which can be defeated. I would like to thank all survivors of an oncological diagnosis for the power of the example they set and for the hope that radiates throughout Romanian society. At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts made by the representatives of cancer associations and all those who have joined the fight against cancer," said the Prime Minister.

The "Cancer Survivor" debate was organised by National Liberal Party (PNL) Senator Nicoleta Pauliuc, under the aegis of the National Cancer Survivors Day and under the High Patronage of the President of Romania.
President Iohannis attends B9 Summit, on Tuesday.

President Klaus Iohannis will participate on Tuesday, in Bratislava, in the Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit, which he will co-chair alongside President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Caputova and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, told Agerpres.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also attend the event.

"The high-level meeting of the Bucharest 9 Format states takes place approximately one month before the NATO Summit in Vilnius and will provide an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the priorities included on the allied agenda and major objectives, with an emphasis on strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern flank, as well as on intensifying cooperation with Ukraine," a Presidential Administration press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday informs.

The agenda of talks will assess progress in implementing the allied decisions passed at the NATO Summit in Madrid, including in terms of the defence investment and spending commitments, as well as support for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

"A special attention will also be paid to the vulnerable partners in the region, such as the Republic of Moldova, which is confronted with increased security challenges," the same source showed.
President Iohannis says common vision of states from B9 format is essential.

The common vision of the states from the Bucharest 9 format is essential for the security of the Eastern Flank of NATO, told Agerpres.

The Romanian head of state is in Bratislava, on Tuesday, attending the Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit, which he is co-chairing alongside President of the Slovak Republic Zuzana Caputova and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is also attending the event.

The head of state said that the NATO allies on the Eastern Flank are in the front line against the negative effects of the devastating war unleashed by Russia.

Iohannis brought to mind that Romania is the allied country with the longest border with Ukraine, mentioning the need to consolidate the national defence in order to strengthen the NATO posture on the Eastern Flank, in a unitary and coherent, credible and robust manner, including in the Black Sea region. The president said that this is a transatlantic effort and has transatlantic application.
Romania's accession to Schengen, off JHA Council meeting agenda despite being called priority.

Romania's accession to the Schengen area will not feature on the agenda of the last Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) meeting under the Swedish presidency of the EU on June 8 and 9 in Luxembourg, although in a recent reply to a Romanian MEP the European Commission gave assurances that the problem remains a priority with the commission and that it will do everything within its power to make sure that a favourable decision is taken in 2023, told Agerpres.

At the JHA Council meeting on Thursday, the Schengen Council will discuss the overall state of the Schengen area on the basis of the European Commission's State of Schengen Report 2023. The Council will also define priorities for the Schengen area for the next 12 months and discuss the monitoring of visa-free regimes.

For these discussions the Schengen Council meets in the so-called mixed committee format which includes the EU member states plus the 4 non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen agreement (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland).

Practically, it becomes a certainty that Romania will not get a decision on its accession to the Schengen area not even at the second JHA Council meeting under the Swedish presidency of the EU, which makes the only remaining opportunities in 2023 to be two meetings of the home ministers under the Spanish presidency of the EU Council that starts on July 1.

At the same time, as Romania's Foreign Minister would say in the past, the main issue for the expansion of the Schengen area to include Romania and Bulgaria is one of political agreement, which can happen at any time at the level of the JHA Council after negotiations between the interested parties followed by a vote in other formats than the JHA Council or even in an extraordinary meeting of the home ministers.

On the other hand, the European Commission continues to give assurances that the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen area in 2023 remains a priority, and the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has repeatedly stated that she will do everything possible to win a favourable decision in 2023.

The countries that voted against the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area at a December 2022 JHA Council meeting were Austria and the Netherlands, with the Netherlands making it clear that it only opposes the accession of Bulgaria. Austria then claimed that most of the tens of thousands of unregistered asylum seekers arriving on its territory had previously transited through Romania and Bulgaria.
Romania's COVID-19 weekly cases rise by 1,009, May 29- June 4, 2023.

As many as 1,009 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the May 29- June 4, 2023 week in Romania, with over 30,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Tuesday, told Agerpres.

Of the new cases, 251 were in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease.

As of June 4, 3,405,206 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.

- Hospitalisations -

As many as 505 people with COVID-19, including 39 children, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.

Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 74 patients, including two children, are in intensive care.

Of the 74 patients admitted to ICU, 58 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

- Deaths -

According to the ministry, nine Romanians - six men and three women - infected with SARS-CoV-2 are reported dead in the May 29- June 4 week.

Deaths by age groups: four in the age group 70-79 years, and five in the age group over 80 years.

Eight deaths were in patients with comorbidities.

Of the deceased patients, one was vaccinated.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 68,193 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.
Senior strategic affairs official Fota on Canadian visit for NATO cooperation, bilateral talks.

Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs Iulian Fota was on an official visit to Canada between May 29 - 31 for political consultations with the Canadian authorities, emphasizing on the occasion the very good cooperation within NATO and at bilateral level, and reaffirming the joint commitment to further support Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said in a release on Tuesday, told Agerpres.

Fota met with Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison, interim Foreign and Defence Policy advisor to the Prime Minister for Privy Council Office Jordan Zed, Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security Heidi Hulan, Assistant Deputy Minister with the National Defence Department Peter Hammerschmidt, as well as with officials from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Also, the Romanian senior strategic affairs official had a meeting with the two co-chairs and other members of the Canada-Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Iulian Fota emphasized the very good bilateral relations, also confirmed by the May 24 phone conversation between the prime ministers of the two states. As part of the dialogue on security issues, the Romanian Secretary of State and his Canadian interlocutors highlighted the very good cooperation within NATO and at bilateral level, noting that the Black Sea region is particularly affected by the consequences of the Russian Federation's illegal military aggression against Ukraine.

"The sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to continuing support to Ukraine in order to restore its territorial integrity, as well as to engaging in the post-conflict reconstruction process. Also discussed were the need for international support for reinforcing the resilience of the Republic of Moldova's democratic institutions and security, as well as the management of the economic difficulties generated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Canadian side welcomed the organization in Chisinau, on June 1, 2023, of the Summit of the European Political Community," the release states.

The talks also tackled the stage of bilateral cooperation on civil nuclear energy, with an emphasis on the refurbishment of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the expansion of the facility through the construction of Units 3 and 4, the cited source states.

The sides emphasized the importance of the upcoming NATO Summit that will take place on July 11 - 12 in Vilnius, Lithuania, for the security of the eastern flank of the Alliance.

Iulian Fota's agenda also included a meeting with representatives of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute in Ottawa, with the sides having an in-depth exchange of ideas and assessments regarding the global security situation, as well as a discussion with a group of students from Carleton University - Ottawa, a meeting with university professors of Romanian origin that looked at academic cooperation opportunities such as exchanges of students, researchers and teaching staff, the development of scientific works within mixed teams and the development of joint research projects, the release also notes.
In seconds, Israeli missiles turn Palestinian dreams into rubble. The Israeli armys tactic in all its military operations against Gaza is to demolish homes.

The last of these military attacks was Operation Shield and Arrow, which began with the assassination of three military commanders from Islamic Jihad on 9 May and continued for several days.

The outcome was 33 Palestinians dead and 190 injured, and the destruction of 15 housing compounds with more than 50 homes. In all some 940 homes were impacted by Israels strikes, 49 of which are no longer safe to live in. Financial losses are estimated at $9 million.

The Israeli army said it attacked 422 targets in the Gaza Strip, assassinating six key military commanders belonging to Islamic Jihad. But homes were the key target of the air raids, leaving hundreds of Palestinians homeless and destitute.

On the fifth day of the military attack on Gaza, fighter jets flattened the residential building of the Nabhan family in northern Gaza. The building was made up of eight apartments on four storeys, and its destruction has left 40 people homeless, including special-needs residents.

An Israeli intelligence officer called one of the neighbours and gave the residents minutes to evacuate before the bombing began. Calling shortly before an attack is a tactic by Israel to avoid being blamed for harming civilians.

Najah Nabhan, the wife of the buildings owner and a mother to several special-needs children, recalls the details of how she lost the home she was forced to abandon. Israeli intelligence called us and said to evacuate the house within five minutes, Najah told Al-Ahram Weekly. With great difficulty and help from the neighbours, we all fled. We didnt have time to grab our identity papers or my childrens medicine or medical equipment. The latter are expensive and not always available in Gaza.

This mother in her fifties elaborated: My children suffer medical conditions that have caused them paralysis, and some of them are epileptic. My youngest, four-year-old Razan, has problems with her legs and her nervous system. Now, all our personal documents, medical reports and equipment are buried under the rubble.

The entire extended family is now homeless, Najah lamented. They have sought temporary refuge with neighbours and relatives, until they find an alternative or rebuild their home and receive assistance.

Najahs son, 16-year-old Mohamed, recalls the day his home was incinerated by Israeli missiles. I was asleep, and my cousins woke me up but I refused to leave the house. Despite my objections, they carried me out.

Mohameds rationale was that there was nowhere to flee. According to Hanin, 16, who is physically disabled, they bombed my home with a warning missile before we fled the building, so we ran out and left medical equipment, clothes, and everything else. They are all under the rubble. Hanin is distraught about all that her family has lost.

Israel knocks on a building by firing a small warning rocket without entirely destroying the structure. This is followed shortly by heavy missiles that turn it into rubble within seconds. Palestinian human rights groups describe Israels targeting of Palestinian homes as collective punishment, since homes with large numbers of residents are demolished under the pretext that one dweller belongs to an armed Palestinian faction.

Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights stated that bombing safe civilian residential areas and assassinations are war crimes, and grave violations of the principles of international law. Most notably, the Fourth Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Population and the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court.

Targeting homes and assassinations in Gaza demonstrate the occupation forces disregard for international law, as they continue to commit gross systematic violations of international humanitarian law resulting from a policy of impunity and lack of accountability.

Israel justifies bombing and demolishing residential homes by claiming that armed Palestinian factions use these homes to launch rocket attacks against it, or that there are tunnels underneath them. Palestinian factions deny these allegations, asserting that they avoid all military action in residential areas.

Tamim Dawoud, five, died of a heart attack from the sound of missiles raining down on the house next door. In a tragic scene, Tamim was so terror struck that his heart stopped as his father held him in his arms.

They were bombing the building next door, and Tamim was petrified. He could not say a word. He was sitting next to me. He screamed. Glass shattered over our heads and smoke filled the house. He was traumatised for hours, then he died of fright.

His father described Tamims last moments: He was in a panic, beating his heart very hard with his hands. He went into convulsions, and died on our way to hospital. Doctors tried to resuscitate his heart, but failed.

According to official statistics, there are 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip living in the worlds most densely populated area, in 365 square kilometres. Some 80 per cent of the Gaza population depend on international aid for survival. The latest military onslaught ended with a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions that was mediated by Egypt. Its three tenets are: stop targeting civilians; stop demolishing homes; and stop targeting individuals.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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TUESDAY, June 6, 2023 (American Heart Association News) -- As rainbow flags flutter in the June breeze for Pride Month, many LGBTQ+ people will feel tension in the air.

"It's been a really rough go for LGBTQ Americans" of late, said psychiatrist Dr. Natalia Ramos, an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In the wake of universal stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy, the news has been full of anti-gay and anti-transgender actions from the highest levels of state and local governments. "I think even for those of us that are not based in states that are directly impacted right now, it's hard to miss out on the extremely negative discriminatory messaging that's going on against LGBTQ people," Ramos said.

Which means this year's pride celebrations could be an opportunity for LGBTQ people and those who love them to get a much-needed mental health boost from social companionship and public affirmation. But fittingly for an event that is associated both with exuberance and defiance, there's a spectrum of ways to approach it, experts say.

Jessica Halem, senior director of Eidos, the LGBTQ+ health initiative at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, calls today's social and political climate the best of times and the worst of times. "I've been in LGBT health for 20 years," she said. "We've never had so much momentum, interest, support and public recognition," even as states enact laws that target LGBTQ people and some pride events are being shut down.

"That's the part that gives us a little bit of whiplash," Halem said. "And of course, none of this is good for my heart health."

Ramos, who is medical director of UCLA's EMPWR clinic, which emphasizes well-being and resilience in LGBTQ+ people, said toxic stress of the type caused by homophobia and discrimination can indeed be a health risk. "It's a weighty thing to be experiencing constant stigma and messaging against you and/or people you love."

A 2020 scientific statement from the American Heart Association emphasized that stress is thought to be a significant factor in health disparities for LGBTQ people. They also are at higher risk for social isolation, which has been linked to issues with mental and heart health.

Pride Month celebrations might, therefore, be healthy, Ramos said. "In general, we know that social connectedness, social cohesion and finding meaning in your identity and your values are all very positive experiences for our mental well-being and our physical well-being as well."

Halem, who was the first LGBTQ director at Harvard Medical School, said "being isolated breeds shame. And shame is the internalization of stigma." It's impossible for an LGBTQ person to avoid hearing negative messages and absorbing their toxicity. "But you have to actively release it. That is why we dance. That is why we listen to loud music. That is why we sing. That is why we wear wacky clothes. We have to release that shame."

Pride Month traces its roots to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising for gay rights in New York City. Over the years, it's been celebrated in ways both serious and silly.

"You know, it's funny, because some of us old-timers probably started to take pride celebrations for granted," Halem said. "We were a little like, 'Oh God, not one more party. Not one more rainbow boa.'"

Now, she's tuned in to the way those celebrations are a way to witness "the huge diversity of experience, expression and lives within the community."

Halem, who has performed as a standup comic at pride events nationwide, said she'd felt the power of such gatherings firsthand.

At pride celebrations large and small, she said, "you will always see an incredible range of bodies, couples, hairstyles and clothes. I mean, just to see how people live in their queer bodies, just to see people embody queer joy, to see transgender people, to see old gay people. It's just 

"It heals," Halem said.

Ramos said "there's an immense potential positive effect on well-being for folks that are marginalized" if they experience a sense of community. "Seeing ourselves in public discourse and public media in positive ways also is very helpful for mental health, even if you're not directly experiencing the pride events in person."

But she said it would be naive to assume that a pride month, week or weekend could counterbalance all of the negative social and political stressors people are encountering right now. People might also have safety concerns about large gatherings.

"Realistically, a lot of folks think there's a kind of performative aspect of pride where it's confined to one weekend or one month, while all of these life stressors are never-ending," Ramos said.

Some pride parties end up centered on alcohol in unhealthy ways, she said. Others focus on family and community or emphasize activism. So, in some areas, people can pick and choose the most comfortable setting for celebrating.

Social connectedness doesn't have to involve marching in a parade, Ramos said. "Hanging out with friends, chosen family, in small get-togethers  whatever floats your boat  can be really meaningful."

Halem said LGBTQ events, like LGBTQ people, come in all varieties. "Back in the day, we only had smoky bars and a couple of softball leagues. Today, you can find meetups in parks. You could find Dungeons & Dragons gay night. I'm going to a trivia night at a church basement."

If your favorite type of event doesn't exist, it's easy to start something over social media, she said. Go to an online forum such as a local LGBTQ-oriented Facebook group, Halem said, and say, "'I'm looking for other introverts to do a gay puzzle night.' I guarantee you, you'll have 20 people show up."

Pride activities also are a great way for friends and family to show support, Ramos said. People who aren't sure how to best be an ally can always ask. But, she said, "you don't want to just reach out to your LGBTQ friends during Pride Month. You want to be maintaining the relationships, checking in, being mindful and thoughtful year-round, especially when there's a lot of stuff going on around us."

LGBTQ allies who want to show their support in person need to be thoughtful in choosing an event, Halem said. "You should go to a pride parade and cheer people on and hold a sign saying, 'Another mom for gay rights! I love my transgender kid!'" But after that, "you don't have to go to the dance club."

Overall, she said, even small validations of LGBTQ people  including self-validations  matter.

The world is full of loud, cruel voices, Halem said. "For me, the antidote, and the way to celebrate this month, is to practice love, joy and affirmation towards ourselves and others."

Pride, she said, "sounds like an event I go to. But it's a feeling that I can cultivate in myself first."

American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved.

By Michael Merschel, American Heart Association News
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and released a guidebook pointing to laws it deems discriminatory in each state, along with know your rights information and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

Sounding the alarm about the current political climate, the nations largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said travel advisories arent enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

We need champions right now," HRC President Kelley Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Joe Biden and other LGBTQ+ rights supporters with decision-making authorities, she said, need to be more than just allies.

The declaration is a call to action for people in power at every level of government and the business community, she said, urging them to fight for LGBTQ+ rights with the same fervor as they've fought for abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.

When Dobbs fell, you saw a federal response to deal with the abortion crisis that were in," Robinson said. "We are in a crisis of even greater scale to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and we need that same sort of response.

Just a few days into Pride Month, the campaign said its taking action in response to an unprecedented and dangerous spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023  more than double last years number.

A recent Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang not from grassroots or constituent demand, but from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.

The HRC guidebook, meanwhile, provides information about filing complaints for civil rights violations and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment, particularly in the 17 states with a trifecta of Democratic leadership in both legislative chambers and the governor's office.

The amount of calls I get every day from parents asking how they can move to another state because theyd rather mourn their home than their child is real," Robinson said. This is a different level of urgency and demanded a different level of response.

The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC, which encompasses a foundation focusing on research, advocacy and education, national and state lobbying campaigns and a political action committee that supports and opposes candidates for office. It comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have restricted various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more.

Louisiana is poised to become the latest state to enact new restrictions, after the veto-proof GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday sent a package to the governor that includes a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Lawmakers also overwhelming passed a bill outlining pronoun usage for students and another that would broadly ban K-12 public school employees from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The legislation is similar to the Florida law critics call Dont Say Gay.

As many LGBTQ+ Americans are celebrating their identities this month against the backdrop of a dizzying array of new restrictions, some trans people and their families are scrambling to flee their home states.

For Debi Jackson, the mother of a trans child in Kansas City, Missouri, a recently rolled back emergency rule from the Republican attorney general, which would have restricted gender-affirming care for minors and some adults, pushed the family to its breaking point.

My kiddo has decided that theyve had enough of having to think every single day about what the government is going to do to torment them next, said Jackson, 49.

Her child, 16-year-old Avery, gained national notoriety in 2017 when they became the first trans person to grace the cover of National Geographic magazine at age 9. Jackson, who has since become an outspoken advocate for her child and others in the region, said her family had once pledged to stay in the state and keep fighting.

Because we are so visible, we kind of worried, if we pack up and go, what message does that send other people, and would it seem like we were leaving them behind? she said. But moving doesnt mean were giving up or throwing in the towel. If anything, it demonstrates just how dire this crisis has become.

An increasing number of trans people this year have suddenly found themselves without access to the medical care many credit as life-saving. Some are turning to often-dangerous do-it-yourself hormone treatments to avoid involuntarily reversing their physical transitions.

And as Pride Month festivities kick off this week, organizers are beefing up security amid threatened protests by some extremist groups. A mass shooting last fall inside a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs left many LGBTQ+ community members feeling especially vulnerable.

Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The atmosphere inside the Allen House is easygoing as residents circulate freely through the hallways, meet in group sessions, or gather on a large outdoor patio that features a dirt volleyball court with an oversize net.

The 60-bed safety-net residential treatment center in Santa Fe Springs, run by Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, has a dedicated detox room, on-site physicians and nurses, substance abuse counselors, licensed therapists, and other practitioners. It offers group counseling as well as individual and family therapy, and it endorses the use of medications for addiction treatment, such as buprenorphine and naltrexone, which are increasingly considered the gold standard.

Willard Sexton, a staff member and former Allen House patient, says the most important part of his job is speaking with each resident daily. Most of them, like him, came to treatment straight from jail or prison, and he knows as well as anybody how stressful it is to stop using.

Its similar to grief and loss, says Sexton, 35. The drug was their best friend for a long time. Interacting with them, he says, helps him in his own ongoing recovery.

At a time when drug use is among the nations gravest public health crises, a visit to the Allen House offers key lessons: Addiction is a chronic illness requiring constant vigilance, theres no one-and-done solution, and relapses are part of the journey to recovery. Peer mentoring is an invaluable element of drug counseling, since people who have plodded the difficult path from dependence to sobriety understand the mindset of patients on a visceral level.

And most importantly for those who feel despair in the grip of addiction, there is hope. Recovery happens, says Michelle Doty Cabrera, executive director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California. Every single day people come into treatment and succeed in addressing their substance use disorders.

Drug-related overdoses kill almost as many Californians as lung cancer, more than diabetes, and two to three times as many as car accidents, according to a report by California Health Policy Strategies, a Sacramento consulting group. The report showed there were about 11 times as many fentanyl-related deaths in 2021 as in 2017, accounting for more than half of overdose fatalities. And addiction can ruin lives even if it doesnt end them.

But proper care for substance use disorders can still be hard to find. Experts in the field say residential treatment beds are in short supply. A pandemic-driven shortage of health care workers has hit the drug treatment world. Unscrupulous operators, with an eye on their bottom lines, may take advantage of people desperate for any answer. Commercial insurers often deny treatment requests or propose cheaper alternatives.

Some treatment programs shun anti-addiction medications that have proven effective. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and other providers with the requisite training can prescribe these drugs in California, but too few seem willing or able to do so  though that could change now that federal law no longer requires them to get a special waiver.

A page on the website of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (www.samhsa.gov) allows you to find practitioners in your area who treat patients with buprenorphine.

Theres no one-size-fits-all solution for addiction. Treatment can differ depending on the substance  opioids, alcohol, or methamphetamine, for example. And people with substance use problems come from all walks of life: Some are straight off the streets or out of jail or may have serious mental or medical conditions that require additional care. Others may be otherwise healthy with good jobs and insurance. If a clinic tries to sell you on a standardized treatment program, cross the place off your list.

And if someone tells you that after one stint in their program you or a loved one will be drug-free for life, run the other way. For many people, addiction is a chronic condition that ebbs and flows over many years. Too often, patients in the throes of an overdose are revived and then discharged with no follow-up.

If we talked about treating other chronic illnesses like diabetes or asthma in the same way we often approach treating substance use, people would think we were crazy or would sue the doctor for malpractice, says Bradley Stein, a psychiatrist and senior physician policy researcher at the Rand Corp.

Finding the treatment that is right for you or a loved one will take legwork.

Whether it should be a residential or outpatient program depends on multiple factors. People who need to be shielded from exposure to a dealer or a toxic domestic situation, require detox, or have mental health or medical conditions on top of their drug use generally are better off in a residential setting, says Randolph Holmes, medical director of the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Outpatient settings are more suitable for people with stable lives and better health or those transitioning from residential treatment, he says.

The cost of treatment can vary widely depending on duration and the patients circumstances. In some cases, it can reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Various websites allow you to search for nearby addiction treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a treatment locator at www.findtreatment.gov, or you can call its help line at 800-662-HELP (4347). Shatterproof (www.shatterproof.org) is another source for finding treatment. In California, the Department of Health Care Services publishes a list of substance use help lines by county.

If youre on Medi-Cal, Californias version of the federal Medicaid program for low-income residents, your county is a good place to start. It can point you to several options, at least in more populous areas. Almost all patients with the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, for example, are Medi-Cal enrollees.

If you have commercial insurance, call your health plan first. Parity laws require insurers to cover substance use treatment, though they often find reasons not to provide the treatment your provider recommends. If your plan denies you treatment you think you need, you can file an appeal. The Department of Managed Health Care (www.dmhc.ca.gov), the states primary health plan regulator, has a help line (888-466-2219) that can assist in appealing your case. Or you can do it online. If the department does not regulate your plan, it can steer you in the right direction.

And remember that recovery is a long-term commitment.

When Sexton first started using in his early 20s, his drug of choice was meth. He later started smoking it with heroin and fentanyl mixed in, he says.

Several years ago, Sexton spent 45 days in residential rehab and got clean. Then he started seeing a woman who was addicted to heroin. He thought hed help her get sober but ended up doing drugs with her instead. He landed in jail for two months, and a judge ordered him back into residential drug treatment.

Sexton says he continues to actively pursue his recovery even as he helps others do the same. There are bumps in the road, but I feel like Im in a Range Rover, he says. Im not going to spill my coffee.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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UPDATED at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday to correct that man who died was a passenger

ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A man from Ballwin died Saturday after a car he was riding in hit a truck that had been abandoned on Interstate 44, authorities said.

The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the victim as 31-year-old Thomas D. Brennecke.

The crash happened shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday on westbound I-44, east of South Lindbergh Boulevard.

Brennecke was a passenger in a car driven by Brandon Pritchett, 30, the patrol said. Pritchett was seriously injured, and an online Highway Patrol report said Pritchett was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, causing death.

Pritchett was driving a 1999 Ford Contour sedan. A 2006 Ford F550 truck was parked, abandoned, and partly blocking the far right lane of traffic, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Pritchett's car hit the back of the truck. Brennecke died at the scene.

Pritchett and Brennecke were not wearing seat belts, the patrol report said.

Thompson said the truck that was abandoned was similar to a tow truck. He said investigators learned from the truck company the name of the man who was supposed to be driving the truck but haven't reached him yet.

The patrol's crash report said the driver, Pritchett, was from Kirkwood, but his arrest record showed a hometown of St. Peters.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A 31-year-old Castle Point woman was charged Monday afternoon with killing another woman this weekend.

Lakiesha Holyfield, 31, was charged with first-degree murder. She was in custody Monday on a cash-only $750,000 bond, police said.

Police say around 4:20 p.m. Sunday they found 58-year-old Debra Gipson dead in a bedroom of a home in the 10500 block of Earl Drive. Authorities have not said how she died.

Police said witnesses told investigators they had found Holyfield in the apartment with Gipson's body.

Holyfield told officers Gipson was "murdered by me," according to police.

Gipson's husband also told police Holyfield texted her father on Saturday.

"If I gotta fight (Gipson) is a plain homicide," she wrote in the text, police said.

Both women lived in the 10500 block of Earl Drive, where the homicide happened, police said.

Castle Point, an unincorporated area of North County, is a few dozen blocks of mostly single-family homes just east of Ferguson and north of Moline Acres.
UNION  A 67-year-old man has admitted to a role in the strangling death of a young woman 35 years ago in the Franklin County woods.

Kirby R. King pleaded guilty Friday to involuntary manslaughter and felonious restraint in the death of 22-year-old Karla Jane Delcour, who was found dead in 1987 with her wrists and neck bound by a cord. He was originally charged with the higher-level offense of second-degree murder in the case.

King was arrested in December 2019, more than 32 years after the crime, after Franklin County Sheriffs Office investigators reopened the case the year before.

He had been interviewed as a suspect during the early stages of the investigation in 1987. In the early 2000s, according to people familiar with the case, King admitted to investigators a role in the killing of Delcour, whom he knew from overlapping social circles. But he wasnt charged.

Investigators have not publicly said if there was any new information that led to the charges in 2019.

The tireless efforts in unraveling the truth and meticulously piecing together the puzzle have not only provided closure to the victims family but have also made a significant impact on the community, Franklin County Sheriff Steve Pelton said Friday in a written statement.

Investigators believe Delcour was killed at a home off Iron Hill Road in Union on June 21, 1987. Her body was found about four days later along the North Service Road of Interstate 44, about 2 miles west of St. Clair where she was living.

Delcours father had reported her missing on the same day her body was found after he hadnt heard from her for several days. He became alarmed when he never received a Fathers Day card from her, authorities said at the time.

Delcours brother, John Delcour, said in 2019 that the sheriffs office called his parents shortly before Christmas to tell them of the arrest.

He added that his sister always was devoted to her family.

She was a great person, and we lost her forever, Delcour said at the time.

Kings attorney Steven Waterkotte said Monday that King was happy to put this all behind him.

He is set to be sentenced July 12.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday declined clemency for a man who faces execution Tuesday evening for killing two jailers in an ill-fated effort to free someone else from a county jail.

Michael Tisius, 42, would be the third person in Missouri, and the 12th person nationally, to be executed in 2023. Hes accused of killing officers Leon Egley and Jason Acton in June 2000.

Its despicable that two dedicated public servants were murdered in a failed attempt to help another criminal evade the law, Parson, a Republican, said in a statement. The state of Missouri will carry out Mr. Tisiuss sentences according to the Courts order and deliver justice.

Tisius has at least one pending court appeal. His appeals and his clemency request have focused on several issues. Among them: Tisius was just 19 at the time of the killings; he had been neglected as a child; and a juror at his 2010 resentencing may have been illiterate  in violation of Missouri law.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to halt the execution based on Tisius age when the crime occurred. A federal judge last week stayed the execution over the claim that a juror was illiterate, but an appeals panel reinstated it. The Supreme Court hasnt yet ruled on that issue.

Elizabeth Unger Carlyle, an attorney for Tisius, said the ups and downs of the appeals are taking a toll on him.

I think hes sort of, frankly, on an emotional roller coaster, Carlyle said. Hes pretty anxious. He doesnt want to die. I think hes angry and frightened.

A 2005 Supreme Court ruling prohibits executions for those who were younger than 18 at the time of the crime. But Carlyle said emerging science plus information about Mr. Tisius own brain dictates that they should now change that rule to apply to Mr. Tisius.

A court filing from the Missouri attorney generals office noted that both the original trial jury and the jury at resentencing considered Tisius age and mental health, yet both juries still decided to impose the death penalty. The Supreme Court turned aside the appeal without comment.

Advocates for Tisius say he was largely neglected as a child and was homeless by his early teens. In 1999, as an 18-year-old, he was jailed on a misdemeanor charge for pawning a rented stereo system.

In June 2000, Tisius was housed at the small Randolph County Jail in Huntsville with Roy Vance. Tisius was about to be released, and court records show the men discussed a plan in which Tisius would help Vance escape.

Just after midnight on June 22, Tisius went to the jail accompanied by Vances girlfriend, Tracie Bulington. They told Egley and Acton that they were delivering cigarettes to Vance. The jailers didnt know that Tisius had a pistol.

At trial, Bulington testified that she looked up and saw Tisius with the gun drawn, then watched as he shot and killed Acton. When Egley approached, Tisius shot him, too. Both officers were unarmed.

Tisius found keys at the dispatch area and tried to open Vances cell, but couldnt. When Egley grabbed Bulingtons leg, Tisius shot him several more times.

Tisius and Bulington fled but their car broke down in Kansas. They were arrested in Wathena, Kansas, about 130 miles west of Huntsville. Tisius confessed to the crimes.

Bulington and Vance are serving life sentences.

Defense attorneys have argued that the killings were not premeditated. Tisius, they said, intended to order the jailers into a holding cell and free Vance and other inmates. Tisius defense team issued a video last week in which Vance said he planned the escape attempt and manipulated Tisius into participating.

The people executed in Missouri this year included Amber McLaughlin, who killed a woman and dumped the body near the Mississippi River in St. Louis. The execution was believed to be the first of a transgender woman in the U.S.

Raheem Taylor, 58, was put to death in February for killing his live-in girlfriend and her three children in 2004 in St. Louis County.

Four of the U.S. executions this year have been in Texas, and three were in Florida.

The 55 people Missouri has executed since 2000
ST. LOUIS  Prosecutors charged a second teen on Monday in a shooting that left a 19-year-old dead at a home in the citys Mark Twain neighborhood.

Dasean Barrow, 19, of Overland, is facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Derrick Johnson Jr., of University City.

Johnson was found May 29 shot in the head and torso on the second floor of a home in the 4900 block of Leahy Avenue. Police said he was playing video games at the time of the shooting.

Other people who were in the basement of the home told police that they heard gunshots then went upstairs and saw Barrow and Marshean Barnett, 19, running out of the house, according to court documents.

A relative of Barnetts was being interviewed by police when Barnett called the relative and said he was at the scene during the shooting, according to a statement filed by police in charging documents. Barnett told the relative he wasnt the shooter but had helped Barrow leave the scene.

Barnett also said to the relative that the shooting was prompted by a dispute between Johnson and Barrow, court documents said.

Barnett was charged last month with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He and Barrow are being held in the St. Louis jail without bond.
JEFFERSON CITY  After a blue ribbon commission spent much of 2022 crafting possible solutions for Missouris teacher shortage, education advocates entered the legislative session optimistic.

And when Rep. Ed Lewis legislation raising the minimum teacher salary and creating a scholarship to incentivize teachers to work in hard-staff areas cleared the House in early April with only five no votes, the bill seemed likely to make it to the governor.

But the bill never made it to the Senate floor, a victim of unintended consequences and GOP infighting.

This one was poised to go through right at the end, just before the Senate kind of fell apart for the last two weeks, said Lewis, a Moberly Republican.

The impasse left lawmakers embittered.

(Lewis bill) was the best bill we were gonna get, said Rep. Paula Brown, the ranking Democratic member of the House elementary and secondary education committee.

Lewis legislation mirrored many of the blue ribbon commissions recommendations from its October 2022 report  released around the time lawmakers were preparing bills for the upcoming session.

The commission first looked at teacher pay, noting that teachers average annual salary has decreased 6.3% since the 2009-2010 school year.

A symptom of teachers dissatisfaction is a declining teacher retention rate. Missouri teachers left their positions at a rate of 11.9% during the 2021-2022 school year, according to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data.

The data also shows that by the time a child graduates elementary school, less than half of the schools teachers are likely to be employed in the same setting.

Some districts have opted to address their teacher retention struggles with a switch to a four-day school week. The four-day week is not new to Missouri schools, but it has recently been adopted or considered by the states larger districts, such as the Independence School District.

Lewis wonders if school districts will continue to find ways to address teacher vacancy after the General Assembly provided little relief.

Missouri lawmakers passed few elementary-and-secondary-education bills this, with seven non-budget bills affecting school districts. Only one bill originated in the House.

The only bill sent to the governor addressing teacher vacancy came from Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe. If signed into law, it will allow retired teachers to substitute teach more before losing retirement benefits.

The state budget included funding to raise the minimum teacher salary to $38,000 for one year, a continuation of a grant introduced last year. Lawmakers also nearly doubled the Career Ladder Program, which matches districts efforts to pay teachers for additional responsibilities, like serving as a club supervisor.

Rep. Brad Pollitt, chair of the House education committee, said one year of teacher salary funding isnt enough assurance for districts. He wants to make changes to the state formula that funds public school districts to make the money permanently available.

A permanent fix is doing something with the formula, he said, and we were trying to tinker with that.

Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, held a foundation-formula workshop in his committee to prepare lawmakers to make changes during the next legislative session.

Some edits were proposed this year, like giving more money to districts with homeless students. The legislation, which was proposed alongside other provisions, did not pass.

The end of the session spells doom for many bills every year, Brown said  both good and bad.

But Lewis nearly got across the finish line, thanks to a plan concocted by the Senates education chairman.

Priorities combined

Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, was working behind the scenes to move Lewis legislation alongside another House education priority.

Pollitt confirmed that Lewis legislation was going to be added to his open enrollment bill, which narrowly passed the House and would have allowed school districts to open their school boundaries to students living outside of district territory.

Pollitt told The Independent that Lewis legislation, which was considered less controversial, was going to be added to the open enrollment bill to discourage a potential filibuster. That plan fell apart, however, when the Senate derailed in filibusters in the final two weeks of session.

I thought they had an agreement with the Democrats to accept this good piece of legislation with money for teachers and attach it to open enrollment then the deal kind of fell through at the end, Lewis said. I think that some senators got their noses out of joint from something it wasnt necessarily about education, it was about other things.

And one way of poking at each other was to filibuster and kill their legislation.

Another complication was a rule by new Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, that allowed House committees only two bills on the chambers debate calendar before spring break, the sessions midpoint.

Lewis originally filed the various proposals as individual bills. In committee, he had to merge them into one in order to nab one of the education committees two spots.

He said the rule may have delayed smaller bills. He knew the open-enrollment bill was going to pass committee before spring break, so lower profile bills may have been tabled.

Lewis said those with smaller bills didnt want them referred to committee so early because they knew they couldnt make it to the House floor for a while.

Pollitt doesnt think the rule caused the low success rate of House education bills. He received permission from Plocher to pass three bills out of committee prior to legislative spring break, and he believes the speaker wouldve given him more leeway if asked.

The goal was to have the committee vet more bills and put bills together that would go together so we didnt have to do all that on the House floor, Pollitt said. And the committee was in position to vet those bills probably better than the whole House.

Brown said the rule likely didnt affect Lewis bill but that it made the committee be choosey for the first two and a half months of work.

In fact, it forced us to make more omnibus bills, she said.

But, in the final days of session, Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, contested multiple omnibus bills under a state law that constrains legislation to its title and the bills original intent.

Pollitt said the bills made it to the Senate in a timely manner. So, the two-bill rule wasnt the holdup.

Its priorities from (the Senate) side on what they wanted, what they wanted to look at first, he said. The houses priority was initiative petition because that was the first bill that went out of the House over to the Senate, and that didnt make it either. And I know the Senate had some priorities from their standpoint that didnt make it across the line either.

Lewis said, even if his legislation passed, it would still take time to fix the teacher retention issue.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter.
A sustainable truce between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza and upgrading security measures along the Egypt-Israel border dominated discussions in Cairo this week, writes Dina Ezzat

Realising that any route to Palestinian reconciliation will remain blocked while current Palestinian leaders in Gaza and the West Bank remain in office, and that the chances for political negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are nil under Israels current hardline government, Cairo has no choice but to adopt a strict crisis management approach to tensions on its volatile eastern border.

We have tried hard over the past two years to get the Palestinian parties to agree to the minimum required for power sharing in Gaza and the West Bank and equally hard to convince Israel to give political talks with the Palestinians a chance, all to no avail, said a well-informed political source.

Now we have opted for a pragmatic approach, engaging all the parties  the resistance factions in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israelis  in the hope of avoiding the already very volatile situation exploding.

The feared explosion could take the form of confrontations between Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movements, escalating tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank where the PAs ability to intervene is severely limited, or an outburst of anger across all the Palestinian territories, either in reaction to Israeli provocations or the failure of Palestinian leaders, both in Gaza and the West Bank, to live up to the expectations of the people.

Our only choice has been to reduce our own expectations and work on a crisis management basis, at least in the short term, said the source.

The situation is compounded, he added, by the total lack of investment by the US administration in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace and its exclusive focus on Arab-Israeli normalisation and security coordination between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

Regional and Egyptian diplomatic sources say that while in Saudi Arabia this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his six counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council were expected to discuss the chances of pushing the Abraham Accords forward, not least by allowing other Arab Gulf capitals to join Abu Dhabi and Manama, both of which are signed up to active normalisation with Israel. Blinken was expected to discuss Saudi demands to allow for some sort of normalisation between Riyadh and Israel. The Saudi wish list includes US-Saudi military, security and legal cooperation.

Blinken has already indicated that he is considering appointing a US envoy for the Abraham Accords, leading to speculation that Dan Shapiro, a former US ambassador to Israel, is one possible candidate for the job. Washington is also keen to formalise a security-normalisation grouping that includes Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the UAE, and Bahrain alongside Israel.

None of this is great news for Cairo, where the authorities hold that a focus solely on normalisation and security cooperation will not further regional security and sustainable cooperation.

Actually, it is an approach could backfire given it is bound to incite frustration on the Palestinian front, said the Egyptian source. Which is why Cairo has shifted to an engagement track to avoid any explosion and work on prompt containment should it happen.

It was very hard [last month] to secure a ceasefire between Jihad in Gaza and the Israelis. The ceasefire is volatile, and we have to keep our eyes open and to be ready for any possible eruption of violence.

This week, Cairo hosted Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Ashtiah to discuss economic cooperation with the Ramallah-based PA. According to the source, however, a good part of the talks covered ways to reduce the tension in relations between Ramallah and Gaza. Should this prove successful, Cairo hopes to get some economic projects started, including operation of Gaza Marine, the natural gas field off the coast of Gaza Strip which can only begin working if there is collaboration between the PA, factions in Gaza, particularly Hamas, Israel and Egypt. According to the political source, there is still a long way to go.

Once online, the gas field will generate revenues for both the PA and Hamas while improving the provision of electricity in Gaza and possibly providing a fillip for improved economic conditions. The better living conditions in Gaza are, the less the chances there are for a Gaza explosion, noted the political source. Creating a shared interest between Gaza and Ramallah also allows for de facto corporation.

The same issue was on the agenda of talks Cairo held this week with two high-level Hamas and Jihad delegations, though according to the source it is too early to talk of any Hamas/Jihad agreement to work with the PA on the project. We are at the very early stages and it is hard to see anything happening before next year, he said.

What little progress was achieved during the talks concerned the Jihad/Hamas truce with Israel. Parallel talks were also conducted with Israel to complement the negotiations with the Palestinian factions.

The formula that we are trying to work on is simple, no Israeli assassinations of Jihad and Hamas leaders and no rockets from Gaza into Israel, the source told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Momentum in the discussions was, however, interrupted when an Egyptian conscript killed three Israeli soldiers on the Israeli side of the border in the early hours of Saturday.

On Tuesday, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the incident, said Egyptian presidency spokesperson Ahmed Fahmi.

It was a totally independent act. We do not suspect that there is anyone behind it, said the source.

He confirmed that things are under control between Egypt and Israel, with both sides working together to investigate the incident and ensure there are no repeats. The issue, according to the source, will be sorted out within days.

We have no conflict with Israel on containing the situation. We want our borders with Israel to be safe and trouble free and we want to continue working with Israel on securing less tension with the Palestinians to make sure that our borders with Gaza, too, are problem free.

Yes, ideally we want to work on a political, not just a security, process between the Israelis and the Palestinians but this is unlikely to be in the works for at least two years.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri has sent members of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, but the deployment is separate from a Republican-led effort to draw attention to immigration issues in the run-up to the 2024 election.

While other GOP-led states, including Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota and Iowa, have joined a red state push to send troops to the southern border in recent weeks, Missouris soldiers have been in the Lone Star State since last fall as part of a different mobilization.

Maj. Jeremy Idleman, a spokesman for the Missouri National Guard, declined to provide details on troop numbers, location and duties due to operational security.

But, he said their commander believes things are going well for the soldiers currently deployed there.

Despite being away from their families and friends, their morale remains high and are looking forward to returning home when their tour ends, Idleman said Tuesday.

Another group of Missouri soldiers is set to be deployed in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, said Kelli Jones, a spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Parson.

In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, requested assistance from other states to address concerns about drug and human trafficking on his states border with Mexico.

Last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced plans to send troops to the international border, joining Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who issued an order last month as part of his campaign for president in 2024.

The gubernatorial border decisions come as DeSantis is attempting to beat former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination next year. As chief executive, Trumps plan for immigration control focused on the idea of building a wall across the southern border to repel immigrants. It was not completed as he promised and Trump was defeated in the 2020 election.

It isnt the first time Missouri has sent troops to the border.

In 2018, Parsons predecessor, Republican Eric Greitens, deployed four Missouri Army National Guard troops and one helicopter to Arizona to help border protection.

Greitens called it a critical mission even though the guard members were in a support role, providing only aerial surveillance.

In the case of Virginia, the cost to send 100 troops and additional support personnel to Texas for 30 days was estimated at $3.1 million per month. In Missouri, the agencys yearly budget is $54 million, with much of that coming from the federal government.

The cost to Missouri taxpayers depends on the number of troops and how long they are deployed. It also depends on whether the Department of Defense is paying for the mobilization.

In making her announcement, South Dakotas governor said the state would deploy at least 50 soldiers as part of the buildup. Sanders, in Arkansas, said 80 troops were heading south.

In the run-up to the 2024 election, GOP governors have sought to make immigration another hot-button issue for voters, blaming Biden for migrants at the southern border after the Title 42 public health authority affecting entry into the United States expired on May 11.

Title 42 allowed for the expulsion of foreign nationals whod entered the U.S. illegally during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Abbotts request to governors for assistance, he said the threat is from Mexican drug cartels and other criminal enterprises who are profiting off of immigration.

In the federal governments absence, we, as Governors, must band together to combat President Bidens ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve, Abbott wrote.

But, following the end of Title 42, U.S. border patrol agents reported a 50% drop in the number of migrants crossing the border.

The Democratic governors in three states along the southern border  New Mexico, Arizona and California  have not made similar requests for National Guard assistance.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Abortion providers sued Kansas on Tuesday over a law enacted this year and existing restrictions, including a decades-old requirement that patients wait 24 hours after first seeing a provider to terminate their pregnancies.

Besides the waiting period, the lawsuit challenges a law set to take effect July 1 that will require providers to tell patients that a medication abortion can be stopped using a regimen that major medical groups have called unproven and potentially dangerous.

The lawsuit, filed in state district court in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, argues that Kansas has created a Biased Counseling Scheme designed to discourage patients from getting abortions and to stigmatize patients who terminate their pregnancies. The lawsuit contends that the requirements have become increasingly absurd and invasive over time and spread medical misinformation.

Kansas voters in August 2022 decisively affirmed abortion rights, refusing to overturn a state Supreme Court decision three years earlier that declared access to abortion a matter of bodily autonomy and a fundamental right under the state constitution. The providers hope the state courts will invalidate the entire state law that spells out what they must tell patients  in writing  and when, with a single, specific style of type mandated for the forms.

We thought about the fact that the voters were very clear in the fact that they want providers able to speak directly and honestly to their patients, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, one of the providers filing the lawsuit.

Wales added that the newest restriction caused the providers to look at the state's requirements more broadly: This addition would really harm patients potentially, so we felt compelled to do something.

The medication abortion-reversal regimen, touted for more than a decade by abortion opponents, uses doses of a hormone, progesterone, commonly used in attempts to prevent miscarriages. Supporters of the new law  and Kansas entire Right to Know Act  argue that they are making sure that patients have the information they need to make informed decisions about ending their pregnancies.

With todays lawsuit, the profit-driven abortion industry has launched an unprecedented attack on a womans right to informed consent before an abortion is performed on her, Danielle Underwood, spokesperson for Kansans for Life, the states most influential anti-abortion group, said in a statement.

Last year's vote and the 2019 state Supreme Court decision mean that Kansas lawmakers cannot greatly restrict or ban abortion, in sharp contrast to other states with Republican-controlled Legislatures following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision against abortion rights in June 2022. The new Kansas law was enacted over the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, an abortion rights supporter.

Abortion rights advocates have long viewed the 24-hour waiting period as medically unnecessary and something that either increases patients' travel or forces them to arrange an overnight stay and childcare. They see the issue as even more compelling since the Dobbs decision.

Providers in Kansas are inundated with a surge of patients traveling from out of state, from states as far as Texas and Mississippi, in search of desperately needed essential health care, said Alice Wang, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

But anti-abortion groups and lawmakers also are likely to be upset about the lawsuit because of the campaign leading up to the August 2022 vote. The measure on the ballot was a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have declared that it does not grant a right to abortion.

Abortion opponents pitched it as a way to preserve reasonable restrictions. But as written, the Legislature would have gained the power to ban abortion  and that point was emphasized by abortion rights supporters.

Even with the August vote, Underwood said, Kansans never agreed to give up their basic rights to information, safeguards from a profit-driven industry, and the space and time to change their mind about an abortion they have yet to complete.

Abortion foes warned repeatedly during last year's campaign that without a change in the state constitution, the state risked having even longstanding restrictions reversed. Parts of the law being challenged  including the 24-hour waiting period  were enacted in 1997.

The lawsuit was filed by the Planned Parenthood affiliate, which operates two clinics in the Kansas City area and one in Wichita; another center offering abortion services in the Kansas City area; its owner and another doctor working there. The defendants are state Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican who has vowed to defend state abortion laws; district attorneys in the Kansas City and Wichita areas who would enforce the restrictions; and the top staffer and chairman of the state medical board.

However a district court judge rules, the case is likely eventually to go to the Kansas Supreme Court. The seven justices already are reviewing a ban enacted in 2015 on the most common second-trimester abortion procedure and a 2011 law setting special health and safety regulations for abortion providers. Neither has been enforced.

This story has been corrected to show that the lawsuit was filed in Johnson County in the Kansas City area, not Shawnee County, home to Topeka.

___

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
Missouris political leaders have already reached into the personal medical decisions of women across the state, and have attempted to reach into the ballot process to prevent the public from reversing the states extremist abortion ban. Now theyre also reaching into Missourians very pockets, in a few different ways, using tax dollars to continue to push ideologically based anti-choice messages that polls show majorities of Missourians don't want.

What exactly is the point of spending potentially more than $1 million in state funds over the next four years on a marketing campaign designed to convince women not to seek abortions, when that choice is currently almost entirely illegal in Missouri anyway? And what is the justification for spending millions more on tax credits to reimburse citizens for donations made to anti-abortion organizations that employ sometimes controversial methods?

Literally minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, Missouri became the first state in America to institute a sweeping new abortion ban. It is as stringent as any in the nation, banning the procedure from the moment of conception in all cases (rape and incest included), except in vaguely defined medical emergencies. Doctors who violate the ban can face up to 15 years in prison.

Before and since that law was enacted, the Legislatures Republican majority has signaled its intention to get even more radical in its determination to deny women their biological autonomy. Among the more chilling ideas thrown around in the state Capitol are to prosecute women themselves, instead of just doctors; to somehow extend Missouris ban so that it covers Missouri women even when they leave the state; and to censor what women can see and read about abortion services. Some have even suggested abortion should be a death-penalty offense.

Mindful that this level of extremism doesnt generally fly even in a red state like Missouri, lawmakers in the recent legislative session also attempted to rewrite the states rules regarding ballot referendums, to require supermajority approval instead of just a simple majority of the voters to change the state constitution.

Disingenuous explanations aside, there is no doubt the aim was to prevent Missouris voters from rolling back the states abortion ban  and there is just as little doubt they will keep trying.

But in their continuing campaign against choice, the states leaders arent only using their governmental powers. Theyre also using tax funds, much of it collected from the very women whose rights theyre suppressing.

As the Post-Dispatchs Kurt Erickson reports, one element of this is a $266,000 contract signed in April by Gov. Mike Parsons administration for services from a Columbia marketing firm to help market the states existing Alternatives to Abortion program.

That $8.3 million program provides adoption assistance, child and infant care and other help to low-income mothers  which, it could be argued, is a virtual obligation for a state that is making young, poor womens lives significantly harder and more dangerous with its abortion ban.

But the program also works with pregnancy centers of the kind that critics say mislead women into thinking theyre getting unbiased medical advice when theyre actually being coaxed to carry out pregnancies whether its in their best interests or not.

A look at the online presence of the programs new marketing contractor, Choose Life Marketing, confirms it is a religiously focused organization that is as much about convincing women not to obtain abortions as it is about merely connecting them with support services. Support is one thing; proselytizing on the taxpayers dime is quite another. And, again, abortion is already illegal in Missouri anyway, so this is a curious way to spend public money.

If theres an upside to the marketing contract, its that around $1 million in taxpayer funding to push right-wing political ideology is better than doing it with $7 million. Thats about how much Missouri taxpayers lost last year in tax credits that the state gives to people who donate money to pregnancy centers and other anti-abortion entities, according to a ProPublica analysis.

Would perhaps some of this money be better spent on women's health services that dont come with an underlying mission of convincing them to make choices that serve someone elses ideological agenda instead of their own health?
Circuit attorney needs support and patience from citizens

All of us need to give St. Louis new circuit attorney room to navigate his new office out of the gigantic mess created over the past several years. (St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore seeks to hire attorneys, stabilize office, May 31.) Gabe Gore is a good man with a proven track record in both prior government service and in private practice. There are no textbook solutions to untangling the chaotic dysfunction at the Circuit Attorneys Office. I suspect that not every decision Gore makes in the next few months will be met with universal acclaim. But we need to give him room to right this ship. Gov. Mike Parson, to his credit, seems to have put politics aside and given St. Louis a clear path forward. Its now up to us to be supportive and patient.

Kevin F. OMalley  Clayton

Former federal prosecutor and

U.S. ambassador to Ireland

Remember the history of Old Glory during upcoming Flag Day

The American Flag is made up of 13 horizontal stripes  seven red alternating with six white representing our original 13 colonies. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. The stars represent the 50 states of our union. Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, is widely credited with sewing the first flag of the United States. The American Flag has many nicknames  Stars and Stripes, The Red, White, and Blue, The Star Spangled Banner, and Old Glory.

During the War of 1812 between Britain and America, Francis Scott Key was held captive by the British in Baltimore Harbor during their attack on Fort McHenry. Upon seeing the survival of The Stars and Stripes after such a horrific bombardment, Key wrote our Star-Spangled Banner poem and set it to a popular British drinking tune, To Anacreon in Heaven. In 1824, ship captain William Driver was given a 10-by-17-foot American flag by his mother to take on his travels around the world. He respectfully called it Old Glory as a symbol of freedom and as a reminder of home. Old Glory has been to the North pole, Mount Everest, and the moon. The flag is folded 13 times into a triangle to resemble the tri-cornered hat worn by George Washington and Americas Continental Army soldiers during our War of Independence. Each fold of the flag has meaning as it honors life, veterans, mothers, fathers and God.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, In God We Trust. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman made June 14 Flag Day. So go ahead and proudly fly your American flag on that day and every day as a celebration of the many blessings in your life.

Daniel B. Bruzzini  St. Louis

Colonel, U.S. Air Force (retired)

Todays book-banners are playing with a dangerous history

I have a suggestion for Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and other book-banners (Missouri rule takes effect putting library funds in jeopardy over obscene material, May 31.): Youre going about it wrong. Do it right by carrying it to its logical extreme. Follow the example of the masters of the practice  Adolf Hitler and his fellow Nazi criminals.

Dont just ban books. Gather them together in great piles in empty lots and burn them in giant bonfires, like Nazis did in Germany in the 1930s. The last thing Hitler wanted was an educated citizenry in which people might be able to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions. To him, mens role in life was as soldiers. Womens job was to remain barefoot and pregnant to produce more soldiers. No education needed. I bet todays book-banners could match Nazi Germany if they tried a little harder.

Ron Logsdon  Breese, Ill.

Medicare is indirectly funding unaffordable private insurance

To cut the cost of Medicare, why not focus on insurance companies and drug companies that charge enormous amounts of money for their plans and prescriptions? While I was still working, between my part of the insurance premium and the out-of-pocket deductible, I couldnt afford to go to the doctor unless I was in dire need. Now that I am on Medicare, I can take care of my health issues that I should have dealt with years ago. I know many of recent retirees who are doing the same thing. The insurance companies and drug companies are making a fortune off the backs of people that pay in but cant afford to use their insurance or buy the drugs they need. So in the end taxpayers are footing the bill and the companies reaping the benefits.

Maggie Bouchard  St. Louis

Ad for $2 bill honoring Trump was a rude awakening

Seeing the ad for a $2 bill in honor for former President Donald Trump in a full page display in the June 4 Post-Dispatch (page A7) nearly made me do a spit-take with my coffee.

How desperate the Post-Dispatch must be for revenue. Im surprised it wasnt a $3 bill.

Diane Burkard  Manchester

Read letters online at STLToday.com.
WASHINGTON  The pilot of a business jet that flew over Washington and crashed in a remote part of Virginia appeared to be slumped over and unresponsive, two U.S. officials said Monday, recounting observations by fighter pilots who intercepted the wayward flight.

The revelations came as federal investigators trudged through rugged terrain to reach the site where the plane slammed into a mountain Sunday, killing four people. The New York Times reported that the daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter of the company's owner were aboard the plane. The officials who said that the fighter pilots saw the civilian pilot slumped over had been briefed on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the military operation.

Meanwhile, the White House expressed its "deepest condolences" on Monday to the family of those on board the plane.

"We need to keep them front and center," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

On Sunday, the private plane's erratic flight path  inexplicably, turning around over New York's Long Island to fly directly over the nation's capital  prompted the military to scramble fighter jets, which caused a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
Over the years I've devoted lots of ink and pixels to travel insurance, but recent developments with a Boston-area tour operator have raised two new  or at least new-to-me  potential pitfalls. Both deal with a subject once more prominent than now: failure to pay legitimate claims. And to understand the situation more clearly, I'll start with a bit of background.

Tour operators are big business  they're the outfits that organize a wide range of tour packages  and, cruise, rail, even backpack. They arrange all included components and sell the resulting packages, but they do not operate them. Operations are provided by a wide variety of airlines, bus lines, hotel companies, and so on.

During the 1960s and 1970s, when governments tightly regulated big-airline fares, charter flights organized by tour operators became the primary low-fare option of the day for travel to Europe. For the most part, those programs performed as planned, but in a few high-profile cases, tour operators failed, leaving travelers who had prepaid their packages with nothing and even stranding hundreds of travelers in Europe when the operator couldn't pay for return flights.

Some travel insurance covers cancellations and operator failure, but you find two different types of coverage:

True insurance from an insurance company pays you directly if you cancel a prepaid tour for a "covered" reason listed in the policy or if the operator cancels your trip or defaults.

But some operators sell waivers rather than true insurance  the operator waives its cancellation fees. Supposedly the operator then refunds your money, but it can't refund your money if it's broke.

Clearly, waivers are the more risky approach. I recommend taking a waiver only for very senior seniors who are priced out of true insurance by age.

What's new is that, recently, some tour operators have been selling waivers as "insurance," policies supposedly provided by well-known insurance providers, but actually only administered by insurance companies. An insurance company processes the claim and tells the operator, "yeah, refund this guy," but the operator should actually refund your money, which it can't do if it doesn't have any.

The Boston situation presents the second unique gotcha. The operator is refusing to honor legitimate cancellation claims for covered reasons or for tours it canceled itself. But the operator remains active and is still selling future trips. It hasn't either declared bankruptcy or defaulted and ceased operations  the two covered reasons that usually kick in for operator failure coverage in true insurance. So far as I can tell, not many policies are paying anything yet. My go-to travel insurance source, Quotewright's John Cook, told me this is still uncharted territory for the insurance industry, with no clear trends yet.

If you're interested in the details of the Boston situation, check the excellent reporting by Michelle Couch-Friedman at consumerrescue.org/. But if you're more interested in how to protect yourself against these and other pitfalls, the general rules change only slightly:

Avoid as many risks as you can by prepaying as little as you can: If nobody is sitting on your deposits, they can't refuse to give you a refund if you cancel or they cancel.

If you have to prepay  and the prepayment/deposit is more than you can afford to walk away from  buy true third-party insurance from sources such as insuremytrip.com, squaremouth.com, or quotewright.com. Those policies protect you against traditional operator failure. Buy waivers only if you can't afford the real stuff.

Always buy with a credit card  as far as I can tell, credit card chargeback has been the most successful recourse so far in the Boston situation. Beware any vendor offering a discount if you pay by direct wire transfer.

Complain to your state Attorney General and the AG of the state where the operator is located and also the Department of Transportation if air travel is involved.

Clearly, none of these rules is foolproof, as the Boston situation shows. But they can at least keep your risk to a minimum. And don't be surprised to see some innovative travel insurance cropping up soon.
WASHINGTON  Lawyers for Donald Trump met with Justice Department officials on Monday as a decision nears on whether to bring charges over the handling of classified documents at the former president's Florida estate.

The Trump lawyers requested a meeting two weeks ago with Attorney General Merrick Garland to raise concerns about what they alleged was prosecutorial misconduct and overreach by the team led by special counsel Jack Smith.

A defense attorney meeting with Justice Department officials is also often used as an opportunity to try to persuade them against bringing criminal charges.

A trio of Trump attorneys exited the Justice Department building in Washington on Monday morning after more than an hour inside. They did not respond to reporters' questions.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / AZARGA METALS CORP. ("Azarga Metals" or the "Company") (TSX-V:AZR) announces details of its proposal to consolidate (the "Consolidation") all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on the basis of ten (10) pre-Consolidation common shares for every one (1) post-Consolidation common share.

The Company carries shareholder loans on its balance sheet due for repayment by May 31, 2023, in the amount of C$1,763,842, principal and interest (the "Shareholder Loans"). The Shareholder Loans may be converted at any time, at the sole option of the lenders (on an individual bases), into common shares of Azarga Metals. The Company has been delivered notices of conversion from each lender with their agreement to convert the Shareholder Loans into an aggregate 11,758,944 post-Consolidation common shares at a deemed price of $0.15.

Additionally, a related party consultant has agreed to convert all of its accrued fees (excluding GST) in the amount of $91,667 (the "Debt") into 611,111 post-Consolidation common shares to fully settle the outstanding amount.

The directors and officers have agreed with the Company to cancel an aggregate 8,400,000 pre-Consolidation stock options to leave a balance of 1,800,000 stock options reserved for issuance.

The Board of Directors believes that the balance sheet restructure and the share consolidation will provide the Company with greater flexibility in developing its plans. The Company does not intend to undergo a name change in conjunction with the proposed consolidation.

The Company's authorized share capital is an unlimited number of common shares without par value, of which 208,079,416 pre-Consolidation shares are issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Consolidation and the issue of shares to settle the Shareholder Loans and Debt, it is expected that there will be approximately 33,177,997 common shares issued and outstanding, subject to adjustment for fractional shares. The number and exercise price of all remaining stock options will be adjusted in accordance with the consolidation ratio to 180,000 at an exercise price of $0.90 to expire on May 24, 2024.

The Consolidation and issue of post-consolidated common shares to settle the Shareholder Loans and Debt are subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

AZARGA METALS CORP.

"Gordon Tainton"

Gordon Tainton,

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information please contact: Doris Meyer, at +1 604 536-2711 ext. 3, visit www.azargametals.com. The address of the head office of Azarga Metals is Unit 1 - 15782 Marine Drive, White Rock, BC V4B 1E6, British Columbia, Canada.

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 Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This information release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Azarga Metals Corp.

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Ontario Community Paramedics granted an additional $174 million for the successful Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care (CPLTC) program.

News in Summary

This is Cloud DX's 12th Community Paramedicine contract announced to date.

Funding is provided through the Ontario government CPLTC program.

Cloud DX sales continue to grow on a quarter-over-quarter basis in 2023.

KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTC:CDXFF), a leading North American provider of virtual care platforms announces a new contract with another Ontario Paramedic Service to bring remote patient monitoring (RPM) to seniors in the community.

This community paramedic group chose Cloud DX to provide Connected Health" kits and remote monitoring services for an already-running RPM program after receiving additional funding through the Ontario government's Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program (CPLTC).

For this contract, Cloud DX Connected Health is replacing another vendor. The flexibility of the Connected Health platform allows the customer to continue using some legacy hardware, including tablets and pulse oximeters, lowering the cost of switching to Cloud DX. The new contract will begin with 35 Connected Health" subscriptions and has an estimated value of up to $35,000 CAD, running through May 2024.

The CPLTC program is fully funded by the provincial government to provide additional care for seniors in the comfort of their own homes before admission into long-term care. Recently the province announced an additional $174 million CAD in funding to expand the CPLTC program from 2024 onwards.

In comments published by CBC News, Renfrew County Paramedic Chief Michael Nolan said "Community paramedics can lower the likelihood that those higher-use populations will call 911 or go to the emergency department by up to 70%. Community paramedics can visit and support vulnerable populations without adding more strain on emergency providers - something that can be done in the patient's own home, not in a hospital bed."

Cloud DX CEO and Founder Robert Kaul stated, "Cloud DX is excited to see continued growth in new contracts, contract extensions and expanded sales orders from the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program. Caring for seniors in their own homes not only results in fewer ER visits, fewer hospital admissions and better health outcomes, but patients appreciate the chance to stay at home, stating they are very satisfied with Cloud DX Connected Health". We hope to see this pioneering program replicated in other provinces soon."

This is the 12th contract Cloud DX has signed with 8 separate Community Paramedic Services in Ontario, and the 16th contract or extension announced by the Company in 2023 versus 28 contracts announced in all of 2022.

1 https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001022/ontario-expands-community-paramedicine-for- long-term-care-program

2 https://budget.ontario.ca/2023/chapter-1b.html

3 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/hospital-closures-emergency-rooms-community-paramedics-1.6550183

About Cloud DX

Accelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health TM remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, 2022 Top Innovator by Canadian Business, a 2021 Edison Award winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada, and Equitable Life of Canada.

Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

# # #

Social Links

Twitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/

For media inquiries please contact:

Marketing Enquiries

Phone 888-543-0944

[email protected]

For investor inquiries please contact:

Jay Bedard (Canada)

Cloud DX Investor Relations

Phone 647-881-8418

[email protected]

Gary Zwetchkenbaum (USA)

Plumtree LLC

Phone 718-224-3123

Cell 516-455-7662

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. 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 statements or information 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 the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the terms of the contract extension, the expected proceeds therefrom, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions.

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. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's the ability of the Company to fulfill the terms of and derive the benefits from the contract extension.

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.

 propos de Cloud DX

Accelerant les soins de sante virtuels, Cloud DX a pour mission d'ameliorer les soins de sante pour tous. Notre plateforme de surveillance a distance des patients Connected HealthMC est utilisee par des entreprises de soins de sante et des equipes de soins partout en Amerique du Nord pour gerer virtuellement les maladies chroniques, permettre aux gens de vieillir chez eux et fournir des soins post-chirurgicaux de qualite hospitaliere a domicile. Nos partenaires obtiennent de meilleurs resultats pour les soins de sante et les patients, reduisent le besoin d'hospitalisation ou de readmission, et reduisent les couts de prestation des soins de sante grace a une utilisation plus efficace des ressources. Cloud DX est co-laureate du prix Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, laureate du prix Edison 2021, finaliste du concours  World Changing Idea  de Fast Company et un des dix plus importants fournisseurs de telesante au Canada.

Site des relations avec les investisseurs de Cloud DX https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx

La Bourse de croissance TSX et son fournisseur de services de reglementation (tel que ce terme est defini dans les politiques de la Bourse de croissance TSX) n'assument aucune responsabilite quant a la pertinence ou a l'exactitude du present communique.

Tous les enonces prospectifs sont assujettis a des risques et a des incertitudes, tels que ceux decrits dans les rapports periodiques de Medtronic deposes aupres de la Securities and Exchange Commission. Les resultats reels peuvent sensiblement differer des resultats anticipes.

SOURCE: Cloud DX Inc.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Cadence Design Systems



Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just words but values that are exemplified through our culture at Cadence. In the [email protected] blog series, you'll find a community where employees share their perspectives and experiences. By providing a glimpse of their personal stories, we celebrate our One Cadence-One Team culture and the importance of sustaining it as we learn from diverse perspectives.

The question of how and where to start your career is always on the minds of university students who either have recently graduated or are looking to join the corporate world while pursuing their degree. The internship program run by the Cadence Cork office in collaboration with various universities in Ireland provides an excellent opportunity for such students. I was elated to be selected as a Technical Communications intern in the Custom IC and PCB group (CPG) back in March along with 19 other interns who joined other teams.

We are the third batch of interns at the Cork office. Within the short period I have spent here, I can confidently say that there couldn't have been a better way for me to begin my career. I have gained first-hand information about how a world-class company operates, learned the skills required to be successful in my role, and interacted with a talented pool of employees who come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. In addition, I got the opportunity to live the much-talked-about Cadence culture of work-life balance and experience many fun activities. In this blog, I aim to cover my top five reasons why Cadence is a great place to work!

A Warm Welcome from the Cadence Team!

First impressions are vital when shaping an opinion of a new job. The customer and business focus of the company appealed strongly to me, along with the friendly and inclusive culture of the Cork office. This culture was evident from the start. It all began with a friendly chat with the Senior Recruiter for Cadence Ireland, Ben Woods, who clearly explained what I could expect from the internship role at Cadence. The interview process that followed made me feel comfortable at each stage, and as a result, I could answer all questions without any reservations. The interview was more along the lines of determining what I'm passionate about; and, seeing if I'd be a good fit for the role. On my joining day, it was so exciting to meet all the other interns, and the Cadence Ireland HR team along with site leadership team members. I could see that HR and the site leadership team were as excited as we were, and we all felt privileged to be part of the fantastic Cadence Cork team!

The Global Scale of Cadence

I didn't know much about the electronic design automation (EDA) industry before joining Cadence, so it was surprising to learn about the company's global scale and its crucial role in the semiconductor technology sector. I've gathered that lots of the technology we use every day - our mobile phones, smart appliances, and cars - have chips that have been created using Cadence software and that Cadence has played a pivotal role in enabling design companies (our customers) to develop innovative technology worldwide. In the words of our CEO, Anirudh Devgan, "Almost any chip in the world is designed with some form of Cadence software." Amazing, isn't it?

I've also found out about the breadth of operations at Cadence, with there being an office in many countries across the globe, and I have been lucky to have gotten the chance to work with experts at other locations.

Induction Sessions - Starting the Learning Journey

Starting a new job can be overwhelming, so the quality and rigor of induction sessions play an important role in assisting new hires to smoothly transition into the role and feel settled. The meticulously planned induction sessions helped me get acquainted with the team, understand key processes, and learn the ropes of the job. As the director of the CPG Technical Communications team in Cork, Ashok Appu, says, "Be a sponge and try to absorb as much as you can to make the most out of the internship". He also always encourages me to ask questions if I am unclear about anything. As a part of the CPG Technical Communications team, I've learned that our day-to-day work requires close collaboration with the research and development (R&D), product engineering, product validation, and configuration management teams to ensure that our world-class EDA products and their features are documented in a way that our customers can use them in the best possible way.

Healthy Work-Life Balance

At Cadence, we follow the hybrid work model, which I believe is a great way to offer work-from-home flexibility to employees when needed without losing out on the real in-person office experience. Cadence employees get 10 additional days off, popularly known as global recharge days, per year as well. These usually fall on a Friday or Monday, resulting in an extended weekend. The best part about these refresh days is that all Cadence offices globally switch off to allow employees to spend quality time with their families or pursue out-of-work interests without the fear of returning to a mailbox full of pending tasks. After spending some time in the Cork office, I also realized that everyone genuinely enjoys being here! The modern office space is a joy to work in, and there are plenty of fun spaces, such as the Xbox room and the pool table, to take a refreshing break when you need one. Not to mention the fun events organized regularly to allow employees to interact with each other in an informal setup. These are only a few examples of how the employee-first approach followed at Cadence ensures a healthy work-life balance.

Cadence Celebrates Diversity!

Last but not least, another thing that was evident soon after I joined was the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Cadence. Given my literature background, it was interesting and inspiring the find out about the impact of language and communication through the Words Matter Initiative and our [email protected] blog series. I strongly believe that a diverse workplace can provide employees with a sense of belonging and bring out the best in them. Organizations like our Black Inclusion Group (BIG), Latinx Inclusion Group (Cadencia), LGBT+ Inclusion Group, Women at Cadence Inclusion Group (WIN), and Veterans Inclusion Group, as well as our new inclusion groups for Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employees, neurodivergent employees and employees with disabilities (Abilities), and Indian employees, are a testament to Cadence's commitment to developing an inclusive environment. This is undoubtedly one of the crucial elements that contribute to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere at Cadence. It is a privilege to work in a company that values diversity of thought, culture, and background.

Interns Then, Full-Time Employees Now...

The completion of the internship period sometimes marks the beginning of full-time employment at Cadence, too! So, lastly, I'd like to share comments from the previous batch of interns, who are now full-time employees at Cadence Cork.

As you can tell from my initial observations and those of the other interns, it has been an absolute pleasure being a part of Cadence Cork for the last month. I want to express my gratitude to everyone in the office for making the interns feel so welcome. I'm sure that my six-month term here will be full of learning and fun, and I'm looking forward to it!

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View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cadence Design Systems on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cadence Design Systems

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cadence-design-systems

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Cadence Design Systems

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Iraqs return to the regional stage is being challenged by its political and economic vulnerability and the competing interests of rival powers, writes Salah Nasrawi

Iraq has announced an ambitious plan for the construction of a 1,200-km railway line and parallel motorway that will link its ports on the Arabian Gulf with Europe through neighbouring Turkey.

Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani announced the $17 billion project dubbed Development Road during a gathering of Transport Ministry representatives from several neighbouring countries on 27 May.

The implementation of this strategic project will consolidate regional economic cooperation in the interest of its countries and peoples, Al-Sudani wrote in an article published in a Saudi newspaper a few days before the launch.

There are few details about the massive infrastructure project or its foreign and economic feasibility, but it may be related to Iraqs intentions to strengthen its partnerships throughout the Middle East.

Motivated by the countrys pressing domestic and foreign challenges, successive governments in post US-invasion Iraq have battled to reintegrate the country fully into the region and shield it from outside interference.

But as has so often been the case over the last two decades, Iraqs repeated efforts to reconnect with the region have been met by its neighbours pressing geopolitical concerns and economic interests.

Iraqs initiative to build the railway line and road that will link the country with Turkey will likely focus on neighbouring and foreign powers that have stakes in emerging multi-modal corridors that could eventually link East Asia with Europe.

The project, which will start from the southern Al-Faw Peninsula in Iraq, also includes the construction of around 15 train stations along the route, including in the major cities of Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul, and end up at the Turkish border.

Once it is completed, Iraq hopes the duel route will turn the country into a regional commercial transit hub. It will give it access to the Turkish port of Mersin and then Istanbul and Europe.

Iraq also hopes the new route will improve international trade by shortening the time taken to cover the distance between East Asia and Europe by half.

Iraqi officials have said the project will be awarded to Frances transport giant Alstom, which is also expected to build Baghdads first elevated metro line. The Italian company Progetti Europa & Global has worked as a consultant on different stages of the project and is supervising its timetable.

The Al-Faw Port on the northern tip of the Arabian Gulf is the logistical linchpin of the project. South Koreas Daewoo is constructing Phase 1 of the port under a $2.65 billion contract awarded in 2020. Work is to be completed in 2025, when the port will begin operations at a capacity of 20 to 45 million tons of goods per year.

The construction of the port has raised tensions with Kuwait, which had started building its own Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port on the other side of the Gulf. The multi-billion megaproject is an essential part of Kuwaits Vision 2035 Strategy, and the emirate hopes to link it with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative projects.

With its container docks, deep-water harbour, free-trade zone, rail network, and resort, the port will make Kuwait into a leading financial and trade centre in the region.

Iraq fears that the Kuwaiti project will turn into a pivotal financial and trading hub at the expense of its own Development Road, which it also hopes will be part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

There has been no word from Turkey on the plans, even though the country has its own strategy regarding east-west connectivity. Turkey is also seeking to be an energy hub and a transit distribution centre serving Europe.

Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Ali Riza Guney, who attended the Baghdad meeting where the Iraqi project was announced along with officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jordan, Iran and Syria, said that the Iraqi Development Road will boost interdependence between the countries of the region.

Iran, meanwhile, is devising its own regional strategic corridor linking East Asia and Europe through a railway line connecting the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean. The Islamic Republic has announced ambitious plans to build a railway line that would run from its southern port city of Khorramshahr across Iraq to Syria.

With a strategic coastline on the Mediterranean and having just re-emerged out of the diplomatic cold, Syria also wants to be part of the new Middle East connectivity. Its Transport Minister Zuhair Khuzaim, who also attended the Baghdad meeting, has suggested that the Iraqi Al-Faw Port should be linked with Syrian ports on the Mediterranean.

He said this would shorten the overall distance to the Mediterranean Sea by some 900 km.

Saudi Arabia has also unveiled an infrastructure programme that includes building a vast road network and a railway line that will connect the Saudi coastline on the Gulf with its ports on the Red Sea.

Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who represented the Kingdom at the Baghdad meeting, said an international consortium led by Chinese companies was taking part in the projects.

Saudi Arabia has also signed a number of agreements to boost economic cooperation and develop a special economic zone with Iraq. Among them are plans to expand and effectively utilise the newly opened Arar crossing point with Iraq and to open a new one in Jumaimah further south.

Jordan has always been a key partner of Iraq, whether through bilateral business deals or as a gateway for international trade via its Aqaba Port on the Red Sea, which connects with the Mediterranean. It has struggled to offer a more appealing vision of cooperation, including through a strategic tripartite partnership with Egypt.

Driven by fears that it will be marginalised by Beijings drive to establish a new Eurasian corridor through its Belt and Road Initiative, India has been contemplating its own corridor to the Mediterranean that would radically reconfigure trade patterns between the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, and Europe.

Plans for the new Arab-Mediterranean connectivity are also the result of the diplomatic normalisation between some Arab Gulf nations and Israel, which is giving rise to the creation of a UAE-Israel railway network via Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israels Haifa port on the Mediterranean.

Israel has already showed great interest in all the connectivity projects, and it has proposed a new train route linking Haifa to the Saudi Gulf port of Dammam, the UAE, and Bahrain.

The Israeli media says that the proposals, dubbed Tracks for Regional Peace, have undergone a preliminary feasibility study and could gather steam alongside a major infrastructure project.

Egypt has also recently showcased a gigantic high-speed rail link from Al-Sokhna at the northern tip of the Red Sea to Al-Alamein on the Mediterranean. Thanks to the Suez Canal waterway that can handle container ships carrying over 20,000 containers, Egypt will be able to provide a duel corridor with the fastest outreach to Europe.

However, all these ambitious initiatives hinge on the progress made by China to establish a foothold in the Mediterranean through its Belt and Road Initiative. The mammoth $1 trillion Chinese Initiative, slated for completion in 2049, is intended to link Asia to Europe via the Middle East.

Whether Iraq becomes a regional leader in forging its new commercial architecture will therefore depend on several geopolitical and economic considerations, including competition over influence and Iraqs ability to manage its foreign and regional partnerships to participate in the Development Road corridor.

Even before becoming an independent state in 1922, Iraq had anchored itself in the Middle East as crucially important for regional and world geopolitics.

Before World War I, Germany contemplated building a railway line to connect Berlin to Baghdad and Basra on the Gulf through the Ottoman Empire. The Germans were hoping the line would give them access to the Gulf and circumvent the Suez Canal, then controlled by Britain.

Even with a post-independence history checkered with political upheavals, military coups, and wars, Iraq has remained strategically important, whether as a result of its having the worlds fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves or because of its position at the heart of the Levant with connections to Iran and the Gulf.

Yet, with a region crowded with so many ambitious projects and sometimes conflicting interests, the Iraqi plans for a regional commercial corridor are coming under scrutiny. Al-Sudani has proudly launched the plans, but he has not presented the initiative for analysis at expert level or even for public discussion.

While many critics point to Iraqs present financial crunch due to government dysfunction, economic inefficiency, and rampant corruption, others have voiced concerns about the projects feasibility. Still others say its successful implementation is unlikely due to political reasons.

For all the talk about the vast scope of the Development Road project and its being a connectivity node for Iraq to be a vital part of any future Middle East, the centrality of the initiative to Iraqs sense of its regional destiny remains an open question.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. ("Golden Pursuit" or the "Company") (TSXV:GDP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Norman Porter as a director of the Company. The size of the Company's board has increased to five members, three of whom are independent.

Mr. Norman Porter has 45 years of experience in business development. As an entrepreneur, Norman has an aptitude for strategic development with a long term vision. Norman's investment knowledge and financial analytics leverage his ability to raise capital for partnership and joint venture opportunities. His breadth of development scope spans land assembly to construction projects in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors throughout British Columbia and Washington State. Normans' company, Beech Developments Ltd., is a leading developer in the City of Surrey, working with government and communities to establish optimum use of land to meet future demand.

Brian McClay, President of Golden Pursuit states, "I am very pleased and welcome Norm Porter to Golden Pursuit's board. Norm is a well-known business and project developer with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. We look forward to Norm's expertise and contributions as we advance our focus Gordon Lake project and our Nevada properties."

The Company also announces that it has granted 500,000 incentive stock options to Mr. Porter at an exercise price of $0.20 cents per share for a term of five years. The options shall vest and become exercisable as to 25 per cent annually commencing June 5, 2024, the first anniversary of the date of the grant.

About Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

Golden Pursuit owns a 100% interest in the Gordon Lake Project located in the NW, 50 miles north of Yellowknife. The Gordon Lake District consists of 10 deposits which include the former producing mines Camlaren, Burnt Island, Myrt Lake and Argonaut Mine. The deposits along with the other significantly advanced deposits will be the subject of further exploration with an emphasis on developing a drilling program to be conducted later this year.

The Company has recently completed a geological report that summarizes and describes the holdings at Gordon Lake along with development recommendations. This report can be viewed on the Company's website at www.goldpursuit.ca

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

"Brian A. McClay"

President & CEO

For more information about the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's web site at www.goldpusuit.ca

The TSX-V has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's exploration and development plans or the success of the Projects.

SOURCE: Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd.

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Sustainable Packaging Supplier Recognized for Social and Environmental Commitment

BEDFORD, NH / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Good Start Packaging, a leading North American supplier of compostable alternatives to plastic takeout food containers and restaurant supplies, has announced that it has been certified as a B Corporation (B Corp), reflecting the company's commitment to helping foodservice operators build sustainable, successful businesses while creating a better world.

Good Start Packaging Earns B Corp Certification

Good Start Packaging Earns B Corp Certification

The B Corp certification administered by the nonprofit B Lab indicates that a business has passed a rigorous review and met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability in a quest to balance profit and purpose. Good Start Packaging is among the small group of companies to achieve this certification, earning 93.3 points in the B Impact assessment, exceeding the minimum 80-point requirement and 50.9 median score.

"B Corps are the pinnacle of what it means to be a great company. We are honored to receive this recognition and join other like-minded B Corps in redefining success in business," comments Ken Jacobus, Founder and CEO of Good Start Packaging.

Good Start Packaging's commitment to carrying 100% compostable and eco-friendly food and drink packaging and donating 20% of its profits to humanitarian and environmental causes helped support its success in the five impact areas that B Corp measures: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.

"Completing the B Impact Assessment over the course of 11 months was the culmination of years of effort to standardize practices that validate that we treat all our stakeholders with integrity," said Jacobus. "It also helps us prioritize initiatives that are the most impactful and makes us accountable to a higher purpose."

Good Start's dedication to quality client service, ethical marketing, and employee satisfaction, including paid parental leave, 401K matching program, and coverage of 80% of health insurance premiums, were also significant factors in accreditation.

The company is presently focusing on charitable contributions to support causes that feed communities, advance human rights, and protect the planet. Good Start Packaging most recently assisted the World Food Programme's (WFP) efforts to feed school children in Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest, most food-deficit countries in Latin America, where 17% of children under five suffer from chronic undernutrition. Good Start Packaging helped to deliver daily nutritious meals to 16,600 food-insecure school children for one-third of their school year, contributing $200,000 to this crucial cause.

Good Start Packaging joins 19 other New Hampshire B Corps and nearly 7,000 B Corps in 90 countries and 161 industries worldwide that are committed to transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.

# # #

About Good Start Packaging

Good Start Packaging is a leading supplier of compostable packaging products for the foodservice industry. With warehouses in California and New Hampshire, Good Start Packaging serves clients across North America. Learn more at goodstartpackaging.com.

Contact Information

Melissa Breslin

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

(603) 836-5409

SOURCE: Good Start Packaging

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CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / IIOT-OXYS, Inc. (OTC PINK:ITOX) ("Oxys" or the "Company") announced it has received approval for a contract extension from a Department of Transportation (DOT) of a major northeast state to continue monitoring multiple bridges.

Cliff Emmons, CEO of IIOT-OXYS, Inc., stated, "The extension of this contract is validation of the solid value proposition of our bridge monitoring systems by this state's DOT and by the structural engineering firm that is providing oversight on this project. It also substantiates the strength of our strategic partnership with Aingura IIoT, S.L., and the proprietary AI & Machine Learning algorithms we've developed. Our data driven models provide adjunct insights to traditional visual inspections performed by the state's bridge inspectors, and if deployed more broadly, could potentially enhance the management of a state's DOT bridge assets. This bodes well for our company's Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) business, through potential expansion within the state, the rest of the U.S., and globally."

"This success is a direct result of the hard innovative work by Oxys and its partners: Aingura IIoT, S.L., university professors, and commercial structural engineering subject matter experts. It positions us to pursue contracts in SHM worldwide," stated Mr. Emmons.

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law. The law allocates $110 billion in funding to repair U.S. roads and bridges and support major, transformational projects. Specifically, the Federal Highway Administration will distribute $26.5 billion to upgrade bridges in states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico over five years under the law. Other reports state that companies such as ours that are involved with connected infrastructure, which includes connected roads and bridges and the underlying "smart" sensor and software technology, are poised to benefit from the new law. Independent research shows that the world-wide Structural Health Monitoring market size is $2.0 billion USD will reach $4.0 billion USD by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 14.6%.1 Mr. Emmons concluded, "This additional contract extension puts Oxys on track to meet its annual revenue goals for 2023. Also, we believe that this U.S. contract extension and ongoing monitoring of some Spanish bridges by Aingura IIoT, S.L. are key to winning future contracts worldwide, and we are confident they will lead to additional new business in due time."

About IIOT-OXYS, Inc.

IIOT-OXYS Inc. (OTC PINK:ITOX) is a technology company at the intersection of IIoT, AI & Machine Learning, Edge Computing and Manufacturing Operations. We provide actionable mission-critical insights for the Medical/Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Defense, and Structural Health, and other industries. IIOT-OXYS's edge computing open-source hardware and proprietary ML algorithms employ our Minimally Invasive Load Monitoring (MILM) technology to simply gather data and gain insights to monitor, scope, move from preventive to predictive maintenance, and even optimize development and manufacturing processes. For additional information visit www.oxyscorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current views about future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as ''expects,'' ''anticipates,'' ''intends,'' or ''believes.'' Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect us include, without limitation, the loss of major customers, our failure to obtain new contracts, our inability to patent products or processes, our infringement of patents held by others, our inability to finance our business and the other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:

IIOT-OXYS Inc.

Clifford L. Emmons

CEO

[email protected]

www.oxyscorp.com

_____________________________

1https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/structural-health-monitoring-market-101431220.html

SOURCE: IIoT-OXYS Inc.

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BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Intelligent Relations, a leading AI startup bringing new technologies to the public relations industry, is announcing the appointment of Paula Phelan as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Paula brings a wealth of experience and a visionary mindset to the company, further strengthening its position as a trailblazer in AI-fueled PR.

With a reliable track record spanning over three decades, Paula has consistently driven innovation and successfully introduced disruptive technologies to market. Her expertise in cybersecurity, quantum computing, 5G, AI, and machine learning has made her a well-known figure in the Silicon Valley business community.

As the founder and CEO of Nadel Phelan, a trusted PR agency, Paula has an unparalleled understanding of the PR landscape. Recognizing the immense potential of AI and automation paired with human expertise in public relations, Paula decided to join Intelligent Relations, an organization at the forefront of reshaping the PR industry with technology. In her new role as COO, Paula will spearhead the company's operations, drive strategic initiatives, and help clients get the full benefits of Intelligent Relations AI-assisted PR platform. Her leadership, coupled with her passion for innovation, will be instrumental in accelerating Intelligent Relations' growth.

"I am honored to join the remarkable team at Intelligent Relations," said Paula. "I believe that by leveraging advanced technologies, we can revolutionize the way PR is conducted, enabling PR and marketing professionals to focus on strategic thinking, creativity, and delivering exceptional results for our clients."

Intelligent Relations has gained significant recognition for its innovative AI platform, Preston, which is offered as a managed service to startups and other growing businesses looking for an efficient, cost-effective, and data-driven approach to PR. With Paula's addition to the leadership team, the company is poised to expand its offerings and accelerate its impact on the PR landscape.

"We are delighted to welcome Paula Phelan as our new COO," said Rob Shavell, Co-Founder and Chairman of Intelligent Relations. "Her vast experience, deep industry knowledge, and strategic mindset align perfectly with our vision for transforming the PR industry through AI paired with human expertise. Paula's expertise will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation, deliver exceptional results for our clients, and shape the future of AI-assisted PR."

Paula's appointment as COO at Intelligent Relations represents a significant milestone in the company's growth trajectory. With her forward-thinking leadership, extensive industry expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Intelligent Relations is well-positioned to disrupt the PR industry and empower businesses to achieve media success.

About

Intelligent Relations was established in 2020 by a team of serial tech entrepreneurs who recognized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence within the communications sector. Leveraging extensive expertise in MarTech, data science, and public relations, Intelligent Relations has embarked on a mission to shape the future of PR, evolving the way growing businesses connect with journalists and amplify their brand stories.

Contact:

Carolina Calkins

[email protected]

Contact Information

Carolina Calkins

[email protected]

202-221-2494

SOURCE: Intelligent Relations

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Originally published by Health Tech World online

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Right now, the global healthcare industry faces a worldwide staffing shortage that is roundly expected to worsen.

A combination of factors is to blame, some pandemic-related - including the tragic scale of COVID-related deaths among healthcare workers - and others structural.

In Europe, where I live, the impact of the shortage has already grown profound:

In France, 30 per cent of hospital doctors - some 9,000 specialists - are missing in the public sector. The staffing shortage is severe enough that hospitals have closed more than 4,300 beds, and at times, have been forced to stop accepting patients in non-emergency departments.

30 per cent of hospital doctors - some 9,000 specialists - are missing in the public sector. The staffing shortage is severe enough that hospitals have closed more than 4,300 beds, and at times, have been forced to stop accepting patients in non-emergency departments. In Germany, 22,000 nursing positions are vacant (compared to 3,900 positions five years ago) and 57 per cent of hospitals report having to restrict services due to staff shortages.

22,000 nursing positions are vacant (compared to 3,900 positions five years ago) and 57 per cent of hospitals report having to restrict services due to staff shortages. In Spain, the shortage has meant that nurses currently treat double and sometimes triple the number of patients recommended by the European Union.

Unfortunately, the data suggests that resolution is nowhere in sight; the World Health Organization projects a worldwide workforce shortage in 2030 of some 15 million healthcare workers.

Interestingly enough, I've noticed that when we business leaders wring our hands over the crisis, we tend to speak about it foremost in economic terms.

Amid all the necessary business talk, I implore us to not lose sight of our true focus: the real-world impact this shortage is having on patient care.

Let me tell you about the impact on one such patient: my sister, Sylvie.

View the full original content here

Courtesy of Health Tech World online

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Boston Scientific on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Boston Scientific

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/boston-scientific

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Boston Scientific

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Suralink, the leader in request list management and approval workflow software for accountants, announced today that RSM US LLP, the nation's leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, is leveraging Suralink to increase effectiveness in document sharing while improving the client experience.

For nearly 100 years, RSM has focused on bringing both innovative technology and proven expertise to each aspect of the client relationship. In early 2021, the RSM assurance team thought there was an opportunity to improve and enhance the document exchange and workflow process, so they decided to search for a solution.

"We are continuously looking for ways to evolve our firm's digital ecosystem that enable us to provide human insights that instill confidence and inform clients' business decisions," said Scott Wilson, audit innovation leader and a principal with RSM US LLP. "Suralink was a clear choice for us. It has optimized document sharing with our clients during engagements, and we are pleased with the visibility Suralink provides into staffing and resource management. We look forward to discovering additional benefits that Suralink can provide to our firm and our clients."

RSM is using Suralink's cloud-based request list management and secure file sharing products across engagement teams to expedite the document request and file-sharing process.

"We could not be more excited about this opportunity to work with RSM," says Alex Terry, CEO of Suralink. "RSM and Suralink are both leaders in our respective industries, so it only makes sense that we would work together to help RSM provide their clients with the best technology and experience available on the market today."

About Suralink

Suralink is the leader in request list management and approval workflow, helping businesses simplify the document workflow process while improving the client experience. The company's cloud-based application integrates a dynamic request list and assignment workflow solution with a secure file hosting platform to serve as a single location for client interaction. Suralink's technology, combined with its industry expertise, helps more than 850 clients worldwide ensure security, simplicity, transparency, and accountability throughout the document workflow process.

About RSM US LLP

RSM's purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities through world-class assurance, tax and consulting services focused on middle market businesses. The clients RSM US LLP serve are the engine of global commerce and economic growth, and RSM is focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today's ever-changing business environment.

RSM US LLP is the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent assurance, tax and consulting firms with 51,000 people across 123 countries. For more information, visit rsmus.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and/or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Contact Information

Meghan Mitton

VP, Marketing

[email protected]

801-203-0002

SOURCE: Suralink, Inc.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / SAP



SAP's strategic commitment to sustainability and the comprehensiveness of its commercial offerings were highlighted in the IDC Sustainability Index for Software Providers: SAP (doc #EUR147190121, May 2023), placing SAP in the top three of 23 software vendors that were assessed using IDC's sustainability framework.

SAP Solutions Enable Organizations to Record, Report, and Act on their Sustainability Ambitions

IDC reviews the roles of major ICT players' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts across three pillars: Technology as an Enabler, Technology Vendor Performance, and Technology for Good. During its assessment of software vendors, IDC has found that SAP performs exceptionally well compared to its peers. SAP's strong performance stems from its commitment to making sustainability an integral part of its mission. This is reflected in the company's customer offerings and the skills it is incorporating into the organization at global and regional levels.

SAP placed among the top three in the Technology as an Enabler pillar, outperforming the market average in all five main categories - monetization, sustainable software features and practices, ESG management reporting software, software for operational optimization, and advisory services and sustainable ecosystems. One of the main reasons for the placement is the efficient internal product standards that ensure applications or services are both cost efficient and resource efficient. SAP complies with several industry standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO/IEC 27018, and ISO 10012.

SAP Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises is the umbrella cloud-based solution for a comprehensive package that can provide insights into organizations' sustainable performance and can enable them to record, report, and act on their respective sustainability goals. Flagship solution SAP Sustainability Control Tower can provide customers with holistic steering and ESG reporting along the three main sustainability areas: climate action, circular economy, and social responsibility.

SAP Sustainability solutions deliver company-wide functionality and industry-specific features that can help you incorporate sustainability in business at scale by embedding operations, experience, and financial insights into your core business processes.

One clear example is SAP's commitment to helping companies track carbon accounting with more precision and control by using actual data across their business operations and supply chains in sync with financial flows. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal about carbon accounting, Sebastian Steinhaeuser, chief strategy officer at SAP, shared his thoughts on why companies need carbon accounting: "We need to standardize how we do carbon accounting globally because, today, companies still take different approaches based on individual solutions, which aren't easy to compare. We need carbon accounting with the same accuracy, detail, and transparency as financial accounting and standardizations like the SEC or ISSB so that we also operate all on the same common framework of rules like we do in financial accounting today."

The Technology Vendor Performance pillar comprises five categories - governance, social sustainability, supply chain for company operations, operational sustainability, and environmental sustainability. SAP outperformed the market average and was among the top five performers across these categories.

Sustainability has always been embedded as a part of SAP's governance. Strong evidence of SAP's commitment to sustainability is the inclusion of sustainability KPIs in all Executive Board members' compensation plans. Additionally, every quarter, SAP reviews sustainability practices, publishes financials, and selects sustainability KPIs. SAP adheres to various non-financial reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), Climate Disclosure Project (CDP), and European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

SAP supports programs such as Targets for Women in Management, Women to Watch, Inclusive Mindset Challenge, Fair Pay Initiative, Business Women's Network, Black Employee Network, and [email protected] to promote diversity and inclusion. SAP is one of the few companies that impose an internal carbon tax, although that carbon tax applies solely to new projects and activities that require the consumption of fossil fuels. SAP also charges an internal carbon price for business flights in most countries they leave from, thus incentivizing the use of eco-friendly alternatives, such as traveling by train.

SAP was placed in the top five in the Technology for Good pillar. SAP achieved a maximum score due to a strong global corporate social responsibility (CSR) and volunteering presence. SAP employees contributed over 117,000 hours of pro bono time and committed 27.6 million euros globally to common good causes. Employees' understanding of social and environmental issues is deepened through the 614 virtual and on-site volunteering opportunities.

As IDC points out in the report, the importance of sustainability in SAP's strategy and business model can be traced to the company's mission statement: "[Our purpose is] to help the world run better and improve people's lives. We strive to achieve this as both an enabler and an exemplar of sustainable business. In addition, we want our own business operations and practices to be intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive." SAP is committed to multiple sustainability milestones, including carbon neutrality in its own operations by the end of 2023 and achieving net-zero emissions along its value chain by 2030.

About the IDC Sustainability Index

IDC evaluated SAP's performance against more than 130 parameters present in IDC's Technology for Sustainability and Social Impact (TSSI) framework for software vendors. IDC's TSSI Index offers a view of the current state of the European ICT industry regarding sustainability and social impact. The assessment focused on SAP's three core areas - ESG achievements, sustainability portfolio of products and solutions, and altruistic initiatives that provide technological solutions.

IDC selects vendors for profiles based on their overall sustainability performances measured against a predefined criterion, their proactivity on sustainability issues, and their provision of information in a transparent manner. Some of the other vendors like Adobe, Benchmark ESG, BMC Software, Eset, Genesys, Goby, IBM, IFS, Logo, Microsoft, MobileXpense, NetApp, OneTrust, Oracle, Persefoni, Sage, Salesforce, ServiceNow, SoftwareAG, Sphera, TietoEvry, and Wolters Kluwers were also assessed.

IDC's Sustainability Framework is built on three pillars - Technology Vendor Performance, Technology as an Enabler, and Technology for Good. SAP performed exceptionally well, outperforming the industry average on each of the three pillars and all 15 major categories that were assessed.

For more details, download the full report here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SAP on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SAP

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sap

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: SAP

View source version on accesswire.com:
Two edtech trailblazers announced they are joining forces today, bringing colleges an unparalleled suite of enrollment lifecycle solutions.

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / As many higher education institutions struggle to recruit and retain students amid increased competition, StudentBridge announced today its merger with Full Measure Education. Combining the strengths of both companies, this union offers colleges and universities a streamlined, one-stop-shop approach for achieving their enrollment goals.

StudentBridge

StudentBridge fuses authentic storytelling with industry-leading technology and personalized digital experiences.

"Our companies have been closely aligned in mission, vision, and culture over the years as we've taken different approaches to solving some of the same challenges," said Greg Davies, founder and CEO of Full Measure. "This merger presented a timely, natural opportunity to better support our education partners, the students they serve, and our employees."

Historically, both companies emphasized personalization and data, deploying differing highly effective methods that resonate with Gen Z. While StudentBridge focused on helping schools convert stealth visitors earlier in the funnel with authentic video-centric content, Full Measure prioritized engagement further down the funnel with direct messaging and influencer-style content.

"What excites me about combining these companies is how highly complementary they are," said Jonathan Clues, founder and CEO of StudentBridge. "I've known Greg Davies for years, giving me a chance to really get to know Full Measure and see how neatly their approach aligned with our own top-of-funnel efforts. By joining forces, we're helping colleges and universities attract more, amaze more, and achieve more."

The resulting entity, which will retain the StudentBridge name, fuses authentic storytelling with industry-leading technology and personalized digital experiences to meet the unique needs of every enrollment team. This offers multiple benefits for institutions and students alike, including data-rich student profiles, simplified vendor management, and cohesive experiences across the student journey.

"We're now able to better help colleges and universities consistently create memorable moments at more key conversion points that then become increasingly personalized based on students' unique interests, needs, and goals," said Davies.

Summing up, Clues said, "Students have to navigate multiple waypoints in the search and decision-making stages. Our goal is to alleviate friction from that process to help them identify their perfect fit and for our partners to attract right-fit students who are more likely to stay and matriculate."

The StudentBridge headquarters will remain in Atlanta with Clues continuing as CEO and Davies assuming a board position.

Those looking to learn more about the merger can schedule a meeting.

About StudentBridge

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with a global team of experts, StudentBridge fuses authentic storytelling with industry-leading technology and personalized digital experiences to help over 500 higher education institutions attract more, amaze more, and achieve more. Learn more at www.studentbridge.com.

About Full Measure

Previously headquartered in Washington, D.C., Full Measure Education partnered with over 250 higher education institutions to employ a mobile-first approach that improves the student journey - from initial interest and touring campus to getting accepted and beyond. Learn more at www.fullmeasure.io.

Contact Information

Ricky Fitzpatrick

Vice President of Marketing

[email protected]

9735985943

SOURCE: StudentBridge

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 5, 2023 / Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV:TSLV) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its non-brokered private placement, the terms of which were announced April 3, 2023 (the "Offering"). In the second and final tranche of the Offering the Company issued 4,942,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.25 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$1,235,500 bringing the total gross proceeds from the Offering to C$2,641,000.

In connection with the second tranche of the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finders' fees of C$25,380 (C$69,210 in total for the Offering) and issued 101,520 non-transferable finders' warrants (276,840 finders' warrants in total for the Offering), with each finders' warrant exercisable for one common share of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.35 until April 21, 2025. The finders' fees and finders' warrants were paid to Research Capital Corporation, Haywood Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., German Mining Networks GmbH; StephenAvenue Securities Inc. and Red Cloud Securities Inc., all of which are arm's length to the Company and who referred participating investors to the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to resume exploration and prepare for drilling at the Curibaya project and for general working capital purposes.

A Message from Peter Dembicki, President, CEO & Director:

"We would like to thank all of our supporters who participated in the private placement. This additional capital allows us to enter the next phase of work at Curibaya as we lead up to drilling."

The securities being issued are subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law. Final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange is expected upon filing standard documentation.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.

Peter Dembicki

President, CEO and Director

For further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, VP of Communications, at (778) 729-0600 or [email protected]

About Tier One

Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Company's exploration assets in Peru include: Hurricane Silver, Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com.

Forward-Looking Information and General Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events in connection with the outlined financing. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the Company's exploration plans and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.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.

SOURCE: Tier One Silver Inc.

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Accurate Payroll Management and Strong Accounting Procedures Help Create a Positive Work Environment and Retain Top Talent

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 6, 2023 / Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll, a trusted provider of accounting services, is implementing innovative strategies to enhance employee retention and productivity for businesses across industries. By offering accurate payroll management and strong accounting procedures, Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll helps create a positive work environment, boost employee satisfaction, and retain top talent.

One notable example of the positive impact of Valley Business Centre's services is a thriving business in the Vancouver lower mainland region. With over 100 employees, this company has experienced solid year-over-year growth, thanks to the streamlined payroll solutions provided by Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll.

Understanding the challenges faced by businesses in managing payroll processes, Valley Business Centre has developed customized strategies that address the specific needs of each client. By leveraging cloud-based payroll technology, such as location-based time tracking and employee self-service portals, Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll ensures accurate and efficient payroll processing.

"Our mission is to help businesses overcome the complexities of payroll management and create a work environment that fosters employee satisfaction and retention," said Sorin Silivestru, President at Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll. "We employ innovative strategies and robust accounting procedures to streamline payroll processes, enabling companies to prioritize their core activities while ensuring employee satisfaction."

By implementing Valley Business Centre's solutions, the Vancouver-based client experienced significant benefits. The integration of cloud-based payroll technology eliminated manual processes and reduced the risk of errors, resulting in improved payroll accuracy and timeliness, enhancing employee satisfaction and contributing to a positive work environment.

In addition to accurate payroll management, Valley Business Centre provides strong accounting procedures that promote compliance and efficiency. By leveraging advanced software and systems, they ensure seamless integration of financial data, streamline bookkeeping processes, and generate comprehensive reports for informed decision-making.

Valley Business Centre understands the importance of retaining top talent in today's competitive business landscape. Their tailored strategies help companies create a work environment that values and supports employees. By providing accurate payroll services and efficient accounting procedures, businesses can allocate resources effectively and focus on driving growth and innovation.

"We believe that employee satisfaction and retention are crucial for long-term business success," added Sorin Silivestru. "We provide customized solutions aimed at optimizing payroll processes, minimizing errors, and providing employees convenient access to their payroll information, thereby enhancing their overall experience which leads to greater satisfaction."

About Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll:

Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll is a leading provider of accounting services, serving clients in Vancouver and surrounding areas. With a focus on accurate payroll management, efficient bookkeeping, and comprehensive accounting solutions, Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll helps businesses thrive and succeed.

Contact Information:

Hannah Timmerman

Media Relations

[email protected]

1 (888) 822-3177

SOURCE: Valley Business Centre - Bookkeeping & Payroll

View source version on accesswire.com:
The Speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates on Monday affirmed the distinguished relations that his country and Turkiye share, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Saqr Ghobash participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday.

He conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his re-election as President of the Republic of Turkiye.

The Emirati participation in the inauguration ceremony reflects the special position that Turkiye holds for the leadership and people of the UAE, Ghobash told Anadolu.

He also confirmed the UAEs sincere desire to strengthen relations with Turkiye.

Strong ties

The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Turkiye in November 2021 and the visit of His Excellency President Erdogan to the UAE in February 2022 constituted an important leap in the development of relations between our two countries, Ghobash told Anadolu.

The UAE and Turkiye are active and influential members of the regional and international work systems, he added.

He said the distinguished relationship between the two countries has an important role in laying the foundations for promoting peace and regional economic development.

Ghobash stressed that the current international and regional situation requires more dialogue, cooperation and understanding to enhance trust and multiple viewpoints on issues of common concern."

Our two countries have a great opportunity to deepen cooperation in the fields of technology, renewable energy and the cultural and tourism fields, he added.

He also pointed out that the active Turkish participation in Expo 2020 Dubai reflected the importance of building bridges of cooperation between our two countries.

Developing relations

The sincere will of the leadership of our two countries, especially with the re-election of President Erdogan, constitutes the main pillar for the development of strategic relations between the UAE and Turkiye, said Ghobash.

He noted that the UAE is Turkiyes first trading partner at the Gulf level and the 12th at the global level.

There are more than 400 companies with Emirati capital operating in Turkiye and more than 200 Turkish companies operating in the UAE, he added.

Ghobash considered that "the past months were pivotal, especially in the field of economic and trade cooperation.

Many investments took place in key areas such as transportation, healthcare and energy, he said. This reflects the desire of the two countries to increase positive participation to enhance economic and trade opportunities."

He said "the two countries have the opportunity to help many countries in digital transformation thanks to their advanced technological infrastructure.

Parliamentary cooperation

Parliamentary relations play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between countries, Ghobash said.

This certainly applies to the parliamentary relations between the Federal National Council and the Turkish Grand National Assembly, he added.

Ghobash affirmed that Turkiye and the UAE can develop relations at the parliamentary level by increasing the scope of parliamentary visits at the level of the presidency and friendship committees.



"Our two councils can also agree to establish joint action mechanisms through which they can exchange experiences in the field of oversight and legislative work, he added.

Regional stability

The strong and distinguished UAE-Turkish relations represent a cornerstone of regional and international peace and security, the Emirati official told Anadolu.

He also stressed that "strong bilateral relations contribute to building a unified position to confront a regional or international crisis.

The region cannot bear more polarization, he noted. The coming decades need more communication, integration and cooperation in the political, economic, technological, health and food fields.

He affirmed that the UAE seeks through its diplomacy to build a state of interdependence based on common interests among the countries of the region.
Iran is testing the water of the regions security architecture with a proposed new naval alliance with the Gulf states.

Are there new security arrangements taking shape in the Middle East? And are these security arrangements no longer dependent on the US umbrella?

From Irans point of view, the answer to both questions is yes.

It has been only a few weeks since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the reopening of the two countries embassies in Riyadh and Tehran, yet there have been many intriguing developments.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani announced this week that his country and Saudi Arabia, as well as other regional powers, plan to form a naval alliance.

The move, if it materialises, would be a blow to US influence in the region and a nail in the coffin of plans to isolate Iran through the formation of a regional alliance led by Washington.

The countries of the region have realised that the security of the region can be established through the synergy and cooperation of the regional states. Almost all countries of the North Indian Ocean region have come to the understanding that they should stand by the Islamic Republic of Iran and jointly establish security with significant synergies, the semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency cited Irani as saying on Saturday.

Irani said the countries that would take part in the proposed alliance include Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Pakistan, and India. He added that the new alliance would be formed soon, without elaborating on its aims, timetable, or when it would become operative.

The proposed alliance would help Iran to counter the US in the region, give it a stronger deterrent against any potential attack, and help Tehran to protect its shipping. But the main goal, from Tehrans perspective, would be to improve relations with the Gulf states and rearrange the regions security architecture.

But there are some challenges to forming such alliances, among them suspicions, mistrust, regional rivalries, and differing interests that could complicate efforts to form a naval alliance between regional foes.

Overcoming these challenges would be a major geopolitical shift in the region. No statements were issued by Gulf capitals confirming or denying the Iranian announcement.

The Iranian announcement came a few days after the UAE announced its withdrawal from the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) tasked with securing Gulf waterways that are vital to the global oil trade.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that the country withdrew its participation.

As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces, it said.

The UAE remains committed to responsibly ensuring the safety of navigation in its seas, it added, emphasising that the country is committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomatic engagement.

The UAE, a member of the CMF since 2004, did not give reasons for its decision, but analysts believe that officials were not satisfied with the performance of the CMF.

In late April and early May, Iran seized two tankers and one empty ship travelling between the UAE ports of Dubai and Fujairah.

The US said earlier this month that it was sending reinforcements to the Gulf to counter what it called increasing harassment by Iran. Tehran responded by saying it was capable of ensuring the safety of Gulf waters in cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The CMF, headquartered at the US naval base in Bahrain, is a multinational maritime partnership that undertakes counterterrorism, counter-piracy, and regional cooperation. It was established in 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and it currently has 38 member nations.

A spokesperson for the US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces said the UAE remained a partner nation, despite its putting its participation on hold. The CMF still includes 38 partner nations, of which the UAE is one, Commander Timothy Hawkins told the French news agency AFP.

It defies reason that Iran, the number one cause of regional instability, claims it wants to form a naval security alliance to protect the very waters it threatens, he told Breaking Defense, a digital news outlet.

There are several possible reasons for Abu Dhabis withdrawal from the CMF. One possibility is that it is unhappy with the way the CMF has been handling the situation in the Gulf. The UAE has been critical of the CMFs failure to prevent Iran from seizing two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in January 2023.

Another possibility is that Abu Dhabi is looking to reduce its dependence on the US in order to strengthen its strategic autonomy and diversify its security partnerships.

It is also possible that the UAE is looking to save money. The withdrawal from the CMF could save the country millions of dollars each year, which could be used for other military and defence projects.

Strategic shifts in the region may also have played a role in Abu Dhabis decision. The US withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a view that the US is no longer a reliable partner for many countries in the region and its ability to project power has been diminished.

On the other hand, relations between Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain have witnessed significant improvements.

Iran plans to reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia this week, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday,

To implement the agreement [restoring diplomatic relations] Irans Embassy in Riyadh, our Consulate General in Jeddah, and our office to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be officially reopened on Tuesday and Wednesday, Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

Last month, Tehran named Alireza Enayati as its ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The UAE resumed formal relations with Iran last year. It is widely believed that Bahrain and Iran will announce the return of their ambassadors soon.

In another sign of the improvement in the political atmosphere, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that he would welcome the return of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Cairo.

There are indications of a steady improvement in relations between Egypt and Iran, and several rounds of talks have taken place, mediated by Iraq, to remove obstacles to the resumption of diplomatic relations and the return of ambassadors.

Nevertheless, resetting the regions security and political arrangements is still a long way off. Building trust will take time, and Irans military expansionism could increase worries over Tehrans long-term plans.

On Tuesday, Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, the official IRNA News Agency reported.

Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and commanders of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and is capable of penetrating all defence shields, Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the guards aerospace force, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

The announcement is likely to heighten concerns about Tehrans missile capabilities. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory that makes them difficult to intercept.

The accuracy of the Iranian announcement cannot be independently validated, and Western military analysts say Tehran exaggerates its missile capabilities.

Irans message on the missiles is mainly directed at the US and Israel, but Tehran knows that every regional power will also take notice.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Investing.com -- Saudi Arabias 1-million-barrels-per-day oil cut that will reduce its output by 20% in total in July wont by itself bring a barrel to between $80 and $90, Citigroups analysts said in an energy note issued Tuesday.

It would take surprisingly better coordinated action among OPEC+ producers to tighten markets, if that is their wish, the note said. The likelihood that Saudi Arabia would tackle this on its own on a sustained basis is quite low.

Citis analysts added that the Saudi cut itself is unlikely to raise oil prices into high $80s/low $90s (as) weak fundamentals point to lower prices by (the) year-end.

Oil revenue is the lifeblood of the economies in OPEC, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a 13-member Saudi-led group whose main objective is to be the price-setter of the commodity. Ten other oil producing states, including Russia, that arent OPEC members have also been keeping their output closely in line with the groups for the sake of price. The 23-nation alliance is collectively known as OPEC+. Over the past eight months, OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia has announced two production cuts totaling 3.7 million barrels per day, without much to show in prices.

After another meeting of the alliance on Sunday, Saudi Arabia said the kingdoms own oil output will drop to 9M barrels per day in July, as it accounted for the additional million barrels per day it will cut amid active summer travel and energy consumption in the Northern Hemisphere. Since October, the Saudis have already been producing 1.5M barrels below their regular average daily production of 11.5M. Their latest maneuver appeared aimed at lifting U.S. crude from the low $70s and global benchmark Brent from the mid $75 levels.

Citis analysts, however, said demand  or rather the lack of it  was the real problem in the oil market and achieving commensurate balance with supply will be difficult to keep crude consistently at $80-$90 per barrel for both the first and second halves of this year, as well as in 2024.

Taking into account adjustments on both the supply and demand side seen in the full supply-demand balanceswe see average quarterly prices fairly range-bound for the year, averaging $81 for Brent in both 1H and 2H but with the potential to range between $72 and $90, the Citi note said.

In our base case for 3Q 2023 (50% probability), we assume that the Saudi cuts of ~1-m b/d are made only for the month of July, in which case we are looking at and expecting virtually no stock change for 1H23, and a stock draw of 500-k b/d in Q3 and a stock build in Q4 of 800-k b/d.

The Q3 draw is lower than what is seasonally normal for summer, and the build in Q4 would reflect growing weakness on the demand side against stronger performance from non-OPEC on the supply side.

Citi said a more bullish result, with a 20% probability, would come from Saudi Arabia maintaining its lower production of 9M barrels per day through the third quarter, bringing average prices to $88 based on the projected stock draw of 1.1M barrels daily for the quarter.

There are other bullish possibilities to consider as well, but we think these are lower probabilities than a longer Saudi cut, the note said. These would include disruption risks from countries like Iran, Iraq, Libya or Nigeria, or a far more robust growth in demand than we forecast, although higher demand would almost certainly result in a shorter time frame for the Saudi cut.

On the contrary, Citi assigned a higher 30% probability to its bearish case for oil, which it said would stem from more significant economic weakness that included potential recessions in the United States and Europe, and lower growth in China and world trade overall.

In our bearish case we also include more leakage from OPEC+. It is notable that Saudi Arabia alone is making cuts and none of the other members of the group volunteered to decrease output. It might be hard to find a way to keep all those with shut-in or growing capacity from putting oil in the market. Our base case for 2024 is essentially bearish.

We paint a picture of the OPEC+ countries not keeping their production cuts through next year, but to make a point about the growing spare capacity in the system, we add back all of the cuts that we can identify. We do not have Saudi Arabia or the UAE producing to anywhere near their growing capacity. Still, the result is an inventory build for the year that averages +2.1-m b/d, given our projection of even weaker demand growth in 2024 than in 2023.

Next year, Citis analysts said, will likely see a demand growth of some 200,000 barrels per day, but more limited to petrochemical feedstock and jet fuel, due to a potential U.S. recession and an initial demand spurt of some 900,000 barrels daily in China.

When we look at the more bullish case of OPEC+ countries maintaining their cuts for 2023 through 2024 with the exception of the incremental 200-k b/d awarded the UAE as part of the current agreement, the overall picture looks quite bullish, with an average draw of 0.2-m b/d on an error-term adjusted basis.

Yet if we add back the error term adjusted, stock builds would average 1.1-m b/d for the year as a whole. That might imply that no matter how hard the group has worked this year to rein in output, 2024 might still remain bearish and muted.
Quotient Technology Inc. (NYSE: QUOT) (Quotient or the Company), a leading digital promotions and media technology company, today announced plans to refresh its Board of Directors in connection with a cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital, LLC ("Engaged Capital").

The Company will nominate Kate W. Vanek, Global Chief Operating and Financial Officer of True Talent Advisory, and Tracey Figurelli, Director of Andra Partners, to stand for election to the Companys Board of Directors at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In addition, David Oppenheimer, Jody Gessow and Lorraine Hariton will not stand for re-election, and Allison Hawkins and Eric Higgs will resign effective as of the 2023 Annual Meeting. With these changes the Board will be reduced to seven directors, six of whom will be independent, following the 2023 Annual Meeting.

Todays announcement reflects ongoing engagement with our shareholders and represents the Boards commitment to refreshment and ensuring we have the right skills to oversee the successful execution of our transformation. We believe Kate and Traceys expertise will be extremely valuable as we continue to scale our business and build value for shareholders, said Robert McDonald, Chair of Quotient. They both have impressive track records of driving organic and inorganic growth in the technology industry, designing product-specific go-to-market strategies and delivering value to customers and shareholders. We look forward to benefitting from their insights as we build on the momentum underway to achieve our financial goals.

Mr. McDonald continued, On behalf of the entire Board, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Allison, David, Eric, Jody and Lorraine for their service to Quotient. We appreciate their many contributions and wish them all the best.

We believe Quotient has a unique opportunity in a growing market and are confident the new directors fresh and relevant perspectives will help further strengthen the strategic value of Quotient, resulting in enhanced value to shareholders, said Glenn W. Welling, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Engaged Capital. We are grateful for the collaborative dialogue weve had with Quotients Board and new management team and look forward to seeing them capitalize on the value of the Company's assets.

Quotient's 2023 Annual Meeting has been scheduled for August 3, 2023. The Company notes that as previously disclosed, the declassification of its Board was approved at the Companys 2022 Annual Meeting and the Board will be de-staggered fully in 2024.

Pursuant to the cooperation agreement, Engaged Capital has agreed to a customary standstill and vote support agreements. The cooperation agreement between the Company and Engaged Capital will be filed on a Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Kate W. Vanek

Ms. Vanek currently serves as Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of True Talent Advisory, a data-driven and technology-focused talent management company addressing the talent needs of both private and public companies. From 2018 to 2022, Ms. Vanek served as the Chief Operating Officer of the global finance organization and Chief Financial Officer of the EMEA division of Blackrock, Inc., which represented ~$6B in revenue and over $3T in assets under management. Prior to these roles, from 2016 to 2018, Ms. Vanek was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Global Media Business, of Nielsen, and before her promotion to that role she served as Nielsens Senior Vice President of Investor Relations. In addition, from 2008 to 2013, Ms. Vanek served in various investor relations and government relations related roles within Stanley Black and Decker, a worldwide leader in tools and outdoor operating manufacturing facilities, and before this Ms. Vanek worked for Bear Stearns & Co., as Vice President of Credit Derivative Sales, as well as a Manager at Thompson Financial.

Ms. Vanek holds a B.A. degree from the University of Richmond and an M.B.A. from the Columbia Business School.

About Tracey Figurelli

Ms. Figurelli has over 25 years of professional services experience, building teams, acquiring clients, developing service and product offerings and growing businesses both organically and acquisitively. She currently serves as a director for Andra Partners, a buy-side advisory firm supporting thematic private equity clients with current investment fund sizes ranging from $100M to over $12B. Prior to this, from 2001 to 2020, Tracey held various director roles at RGP Consulting, a public global consultancy firm offering functional staffing support to management consulting solutions. These include Executive Vice President of Digital Innovation & Integrated Solutions, where she designed and developed commercial products resulting in $70M in revenue, and Global Managing Director, where she established a successful global information management service line which grew the practice to amass more than 30% of RGP Consultings revenue. Prior to these roles, she also served as Managing Director where she built a team of Client Service, Recruiting and Operations leaders and was also a Consultant and Client Service Director, responsible for business development and oversight of project delivery. Additionally, from 1994-2001, she served as Director, Corporate Financial Operations & Systems at Prudential Financial where she established a quality control environment to ensure the integrity of the financial statements. Ms. Figurelli also serves as a director or advisor to several private technology companies, including Analytic Edge, EvoluteIQ and Networked.

Ms. Figurelli holds B.S. (Finance) and M.B.A degrees from Seton Hall University and recently completed the Columbia Business School VC & PE program.

About Quotient

Quotient Technology (NYSE: QUOT) is a leading digital promotions and media technology company for advertisers, retailers and consumers. Quotient's omnichannel platform is powered by exclusive consumer spending data, location intelligence and purchase intent data to reach millions of shoppers daily and deliver measurable, incremental sales.

Quotient partners with leading advertisers, publishers and retailers, including Clorox, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, CVS, Dollar General, Ahold Delhaize USA, Amazon and Microsoft. Quotient is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has offices across the US as well as in Bangalore, Paris, London and Tel Aviv. For more information visit www.quotient.com.

Quotient and the Quotient logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quotient Technology Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Engaged Capital

Engaged Capital, LLC (Engaged Capital) is an investment advisor with a private equity-like investing style in the U.S. public equity markets. Engaged Capital seeks to help build sustainable businesses that create long-term shareholder value by engaging with and bringing an owners perspective to the managements and boards of undervalued public companies and working with them to unlock the embedded value within their businesses. Engaged Capital was established in 2012 and is based in Newport Beach, California. Learn more at www.engagedcapital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ significantly from expectations due to various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the factors described in the Risk Factors section of Quotients most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023, as amended in a Form 10-K/A Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023, Quotient's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023 and as from time to time updated in Quotients Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These documents are available in the SEC Filings section of Quotients Investor Relations website at https://investors.quotient.com. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Quotients forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication.

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Investor Relations:



Drew Haroldson



The Blueshirt Group for Quotient



[email protected]

Media:



Adam Pollack / Charlotte Burch



Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher



212-355-4449

Source: Quotient Technology Inc.
Hardin earns top rankings in four national and statewide categories

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Texas legal legend Rusty Hardin has been named one of the top trial lawyers in the country by Chambers USA, widely considered the most prestigious and sought-after guide in the legal industry.

In his sixth consecutive year to be recognized, Mr. Hardin received Band 1 rankings  the highest honor  in four categories. He was named a top trial lawyer in the nation, a top trial lawyer in Texas, was recognized for his work as a Texas litigator handling white-collar crime and government investigations, and was honored for his commercial litigation work in Houston and surrounding areas.

Attorney rankings, published annually by London-based Chambers and Partners, are chosen through one of the most rigorous review processes in the industry. The process includes thousands of attorney and client interviews designed to identify law firms and lawyers who demonstrate excellence. Rankings are assessed on qualities such as technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment.

Chambers USA stated that Mr. Hardin is firmly positioned at the forefront of the states litigation Bar, having earned a sterling reputation for his formidable trial skills and his track record in the courtroom 

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA called Mr. Hardin as good as it gets and a legend in his own right.

People consider him one of the best trial lawyers in the U.S. or at least on everyone's top 10 list, one client told Chambers researchers. He has tried hundreds of cases and juries love him.

Another client said, Rusty is just fantastic. He's the consummate litigator and does a wonderful job.

In his more than 45-year career, Mr. Hardin has represented companies and individuals across a broad range of industries in both civil and criminal cases. He was named a 2021 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, given a lifetime achievement award by Texas Lawyer, named a Lion of the Texas Bar by Texas Lawbook, and inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. In 2020, he was inducted as a Texas Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Just this year, Mr. Hardin was inducted into the Lawdragon Leading Lawyers Hall of Fame and named to Lawdragons list of 500 Leading Litigators. He has been named to the list of the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2016 and to the list of Texas Super Lawyers each year since 2003.

Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP has built a solid reputation for taking on the causes of its clients and obtaining favorable results in commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, plaintiffs personal injury, appellate matters, and general civil and criminal litigation. To learn more about the firms representative matters, visit https://www.rustyhardin.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005876/en/

April Arias

[email protected]

800-559-4534

Source: Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP
E-voting available (VOTACCESS) from June 6, 2023, to June 20, 2023 (03:00 pm CEST)

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France & LYON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

AFYREN (Paris: ALAFY), a greentech company that manufactures biobased ingredients using fermentation technology and a circular business model, notifies the public that its Combined General Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 9:30 am CEST, at the Company's office at Le Silex2 - City, 9 rue des Cuirassiers - 69003 Lyon.

The preparatory documents for this General Meeting are available on the Company's website, in the Documentation / General Meetings section.

To submit their votes, shareholders may, in accordance with the procedures described in the meeting notice published in the BALO on May 17, 2023:

attend the Meeting in person;

vote by internet via the secure voting platform VOTACCESS;

vote by mail;

give proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting or to any other person of their choice.

About AFYREN

Founded in 2012 to address manufacturers growing need to reduce the carbon footprint of their inputs and move towards more natural ingredients, AFYREN manufactures biobased products to replace petroleum-derived molecules. Because of its innovative, unique, and proprietary process, the French greentech company offers low-carbon, bio-based alternatives in the following sectors: human and animal nutrition, cosmetics, flavors and fragrances, and fine chemicals. By valorizing local, non-food biomass, AFYREN helps manufacturers offer more sustainable finished products while remaining competitive.

The company is pursuing an ambitious development plan to better serve its international customers. Its first plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrances SPI fund, is located in France to serve mainly the European market. In early 2023, AFYREN announced the launch of a factory project in Thailand, partnering with a world leader in the sugar industry. AFYREN is also developing its presence in the Americas, in line with the distribution agreements already signed.

In 2023, AFYREN employs more than 110 people in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand & Carling Saint-Avold and invests 20% of its budget in R&D each year.

AFYREN has been listed on Euronext Growth in Paris since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, mnemonic: ALAFY).

Find out more: afyren.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005869/en/

AFYREN

Director for ESG, Communications and Public Affairs

Caroline Petigny

[email protected]



Investor Relations

Mark Reinhard

[email protected]



NewCap

Investor Relations

Theo Martin / Mathilde Bohin

Tel: 01 44 71 94 94

[email protected]



NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau / Gaelle Fromaigeat

Tel: 01 44 71 94 98

[email protected]



International Media relations

Bogert-Magnier Communications

James Connell

+33 6 2152 1755

[email protected]

Source: AFYREN
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) welcomes the decision by the European Union to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by 20% in the bloc by 2030. As part of the push, the strategy should discourage widespread use of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis as the primary method of prevention for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in favor of promoting consistent condom use.

Wealthy countries are courting another public health disaster by abandoning condoms and shifting STI prevention to bio-medical interventions. An overreliance on antibiotics is incubating treatment resistant strains of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis at an alarming rate. If conventional drugs begin to fail on a population level, these once common, treatable bacteria might turn into deadly diseases, said AHF President Michael Weinstein. Condoms must be a part of the solution to addressing AMR because repeated bacterial exposure inevitably leads to drug resistance, and only barrier protection can help ensure antibiotics remain a viable treatment tool in the long run.

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million people in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606006060/en/

US MEDIA CONTACT:

Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF

+1 323 308 1833 work, +1.323.791.5526 mobile

[email protected]

Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF

+1 323.308.1829

[email protected]

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
RIDGEVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ArborGen Inc, the largest global supplier of tree seedling products for the forestry industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Birch as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Birch succeeds Andrew Baum, who will retire on June 19th but will continue in a consulting capacity to facilitate a seamless leadership transition.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005033/en/

Justin Birch (Photo: Business Wire)

Mr. Birch is an experienced executive with significant agricultural sector exposure and a strong private equity, operations, finance, and strategy background. Previously he was the Chief Financial Officer of Prima Wawona in California, an industry leader in the fresh fruit category. Before this role, Mr. Birch served in various operations, finance, sales, and strategy positions at Prima Wawona and Materra Farming, an investor-owned farming company. He has also worked for multiple private equity groups, specializing in the food and agriculture sectors. Mr. Birch will be based at ArborGens headquarters in Ridgeville, South Carolina.

David Knott, Chairman, said, "We are delighted to welcome Justin to our company, following a robust recruitment process. Justin will bring a wealth of commercial experience and excellent operational, financial and leadership skills to ArborGen. The Board believes he is a great fit for ArborGen, with the combination of skills and experience to lead the business through its next phase. ArborGen has a refocused growth strategy with clear and sizeable opportunities. There is positive momentum now in the business and Justin will continue to build on this and grow ArborGens leadership position in the advanced genetics seedling market.

About ArborGen

ArborGen is the largest global supplier of tree seedling products and the leading provider of elite genetics for the forest industry. Using a full array of technologies from conventional breeding through genomics, ArborGen is developing high-value products that significantly improve the productivity, cash flows, and value of pine forests for sustainable forestry. ArborGens genetically advanced seedlings are increasingly being recognized as a proven, cost-effective tool for improving rates of return while reducing downside risk for forestry investors. www.arborgen.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005033/en/

Cathy Quinn

Director, Marketing and Communications

843-851-4143

[email protected]

Source: ArborGen
Gradient AIs SAIL Removes Barriers for Small Groups in Transition to Self-Funded Plans

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gradient AI, a leading enterprise software provider of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in the insurance industry, today announced that ATS Underwriting, a privately held, full-service managing general underwriter (MGU) specializing in Medical Stop Loss insurance, has adopted Gradient AIs SAIL Solution to enhance its underwriting processes within the small group transitional market. This market primarily consists of smaller companies undergoing a significant shift from fully insured to self-funded plans.

ATS Underwriting specializes in delivering affordable medical stop loss insurance solutions. With a 30-year track record in underwriting and working with AM Best rated A (excellent) carriers, the company is dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its clients. Recognizing the importance of expanding self-funded opportunities for its small business and carriers, ATS determined that AI technology would best support this strategic goal.

After using a competitive AI solution, ATS switched to Gradient AIs SAIL Solution due to its high-quality medical industry data lake, powered by AI predictive analytics. By harnessing the advanced features of SAIL, ATSs team has gained valuable insights and increased confidence in its underwriting decision-making. As a result, the company can deliver greater service to its clients in a challenging yet growing market.

As a leader in the small group transitional market, partnering with Gradient AI is helping ATS leverage a massive opportunity in the stop loss space and establish a stronger presence in the market, said Andrew Trupiano, president of ATS Underwriting. Gradient AI has enabled ATSs team to quote more groups even when the data is lacking. By leveraging AI-based underwriting together with traditional underwriting, were taking a hybrid approach to qualify groups, price risk more accurately, and better serve our clients.

Traditionally, underwriting for small groups requires the use of individual health questionnaires (IHQs), meaning employees must provide detailed information about themselves and their dependents. This process can be burdensome for employees, challenging for HR departments, and administratively complex for MGUs. Consequently, most smaller groups and MGUs forego IHQs, missing out on potential self-funded opportunities that may otherwise have been available to them.

However, when using a medical underwriting AI tool like SAIL, IHQs are no longer needed to predict health plan risk. This removes a significant barrier for smaller groups that want to self-fund, granting them access to cost savings, flexibility, and benefits usually reserved for larger groups.

Since 2007, ATS estimates that the number of companies with three to 500 employees buying self-funded medical coverage has grown by over 50%. As market pressure continues to push for the elimination of IHQs, predictive analytics enables insurers to secure quotes earlier and provides greater flexibility for stop loss carriers that cover companies of this size. Similarly, for carriers that cover larger companies, the use of predictive analytics also helps streamline underwriting and accelerate quote turnaround times.

Until now, lack of medical claims data represented a barrier to entry to the small business self-funded market for medical stop loss providers, said Stan Smith, CEO and founder of Gradient AI. However, innovative leaders like ATS have embraced AI-powered analytics and underwriting to better meet the needs of this large and growing segment. We are proud to provide ATS with advanced AI capabilities, to serve this important and growing market.

About Gradient AI

Gradient AI is a leading provider of proven artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the insurance industry. Its solutions improve loss ratios and profitability by predicting underwriting and claim risks with greater accuracy, as well as reducing quote turnaround times and claim expenses through intelligent automation. Unlike other solutions that use a limited claims and underwriting dataset, Gradient's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform leverages a vast dataset comprising tens of millions of policies and claims. It also incorporates numerous other features including economic, health, geographic, and demographic information. Customers include some of the most recognized insurance carriers, MGAs, MGUs, TPAs, risk pools, PEOs, and large self-insured employers across all major lines of insurance. By using Gradient AI's solutions, insurers of all types achieve a better return on risk. To learn more about Gradient, please visit: https://www.gradientai.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005337/en/

Media

Elyse Familant

Results PR

978-376-5446

[email protected]

Source: Gradient AI
Call for new investors comes as the company reveals two-year returns outpace major asset classes.

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Specialist carbon market investor Carbon Growth Partners (CGP) has reopened its Carbon Growth Fund, seeking to raise US$200 million by mid-2024 including an initial US$20 million before the end of June 2023. The fund targets a 20% annual return by investing in a diversified portfolio of carbon credits and carbon offset projects.

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Performance since fund inception (Graphic: Business Wire)

The capital raise comes as CGP announced that its first fund, the Carbon Growth Opportunities Fund, has significantly outperformed major asset classes including cash, stocks, bonds, gold and crypto, generating a 17% return to investors since inception in July 2021^.

Carbon remains one of the most under-priced asset classes and we anticipate significant price rises as companies meet their commitments to reduce net emissions, said Carbon Growth Partners CEO, Rich Gilmore. Reopening Carbon Growth Fund No. 2 will allow investors to capitalise on that opportunity while providing finance to high-quality, nature-based and technology-based solutions that accelerate climate action around the world.

Carbon offset markets are a critical component in reaching net zero emissions, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors. Studies published in 2023 by ratings agency Sylvera and analytics firm Trove Research found that companies who offset their emissions achieve up to 100% more internal decarbonisation than those who dont use offsets. Since inception, CGP has invested more than US$230 million in projects that together have resulted in the verified reduction or removal of 37 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. In addition to the climate impact, CGPs investments have helped to address 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

CGP fund investments can be found in 27 countries across five continents. Priority investments include nature-based climate solutions, renewable energy and efficient household devices. Projects are evaluated using a comprehensive framework to ensure the quality and integrity of the outcomes, which considers a range of environmental and social factors, and seeks to ensure equitable benefit sharing with local communities. The current capital raise for the Carbon Growth Fund will close on June 30, 2023.

^ Sources:

Asset Performance July 21  May 23 Source Carbon Growth Opportunities Fund 16.6% Carbon Growth Partners Gold 10.0% https://www.kitco.com KRBN Carbon ETF -0.1% marketwatch.com/krbn S&P 500 -3.4% marketwatch.com/index/spx S&P 10-Year Treasury Index -14.1% spglobal.com/tbond-10-year-index Bitcoin -18.8% coinbase.com/price/bitcoin

About Carbon Growth Partners

Carbon Growth Partners is a leading investment manager in global carbon markets. CGP invests in a portfolio of highest integrity carbon assets to deliver three key outcomes: generating financial returns, protecting and restoring nature, and accelerating climate action by bringing high-quality carbon offset solutions to responsible businesses.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005606/en/

For further media information:

Mark Jackson

Reputation Works on behalf of CGP

[email protected]

+852 6469 2260

Source: Carbon Growth Partners (CGP)
Clinically validated lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology will further strengthen Bayers gene therapy portfolio

High potency ionizable lipid technology and LNP carriers to be developed for efficient, targeted, and transient delivery of gene editing RNA components to the liver

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bayer AG is joining forces with Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems for molecular therapeutics. Acuitas LNP technology will support Bayers in vivo gene editing and protein replacement programs with the goal of specifically delivering RNA payloads to the desired target organ, the liver.

LNPs are spheric drug delivery bodies which can be equipped with therapeutic payloads for intracellular delivery. Acuitas proprietary LNP technology is used in multiple vaccines and therapeutics in clinical development and was also used in some of the COVID-19 vaccines that were approved and administered to people in 180 countries. This delivery technology protects the messenger RNA (mRNA) payload after administration allowing it to be safely and effectively delivered into cells. In addition to mRNA, Acuitas LNP can be used to deliver a range of different nucleic acid therapeutics including small interfering RNA (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides and DNA.

Complementing in-house expertise with external collaboration continues to be a priority in areas of high unmet medical need where insufficient, or no treatment options are currently available, said Friedemann Janus, acting Head of Business Development and Licensing/Open Innovation, Pharmaceuticals Division, Bayer. Accessing state-of-the-art LNP technology through this collaboration will add momentum to our gene editing efforts for the benefit of patients.

Developing therapies at scale is fundamental to provide breakthrough innovations to patients who have no time to wait, said Jost Reinhardt, Head of Cell and Gene Therapy, Pharmaceuticals Division, Bayer. Adding Acuitas clinically-validated and scalable LNP technology to our genomic medicine toolbox is another important step to advance our leadership in the field of cell and gene therapies.

We are delighted to partner with Bayer in the area of gene therapy. Innovation is the foundation of who we are at Acuitas, and we continue to invest heavily in internal research and development to provide our partners  such as Bayer  with the safest and most effective LNP delivery technology available, said Dr. Thomas Madden, President & CEO of Acuitas Therapeutics. We support our partners to advance new therapeutics to address unmet clinical needs, and we are excited to work with the Bayer team in the development of medicines that are intended to address serious health issues faced by people worldwide.

Through the development and option for license agreement, Bayer and its gene therapy focused affiliate Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio) will gain access to Acuitas high potency ionizable lipid technology and LNP carriers to develop efficient, targeted, and transient delivery of gene editing RNA components to the liver. Market-maturity combined with demonstrated manufacturing scalability will drive the development and has the potential to accelerate the path to the clinic of Bayer and AskBios first in vivo gene editing programs. Financial details were not disclosed.

About gene editing

Gene editing is the targeted manipulation of genetic material. It enables a range of edits to the DNA allowing a diverse range of therapeutic applications. Gene editing can be applied inside and outside the patient to treat a variety of diseases and provide diverse clinical benefits. Gene editing as therapeutic treatment of genetic diseases can be used ex vivo to treat genetic dysfunctions, e.g., sickle cell anemia where a patients cells are ex vivo modified and afterwards re-administered, or in vivo, where modifications are made directly within the human body. To deliver the different components needed for in vivo gene editing to the right place in the patients body, transport vehicles, such as LNPs can be used.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2022, the Group employed around 101,000 people and had sales of 50.7 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Find more information at https://pharma.bayer.com/

Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bayer

Follow us on Twitter: @BayerPharma

ime (2023-0112E)

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayers public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005983/en/

Contact for media inquiries:

Carolyn Nagle, 201-419-0337

Email: [email protected]

Source: Bayer
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM) has announced its participation at BIO International Convention, taking place from June 5-8, 2023, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The BIO International Convention is renowned as the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, attracting over 14,000 industry leaders from around the world who come together to connect, explore new opportunities, and establish strategic partnerships.

The Manitoba bioscience sector is widely recognized for its creative solutions, sustainable economic growth, and innovative developments. This industry generates over $9.9 billion in revenue, employs over 14,000 individuals, and ranks as the fourth major industry in the province.

As an industry association, BAM is proud to serve as a central hub and advocate for innovators, entrepreneurs, and established companies in this rapidly expanding industry in Manitoba. Alongside other Manitoba delegates, including representatives from the Government of Manitoba and BAM members, we are thrilled to showcase the announcement of the first ever Manitoba Life Science Strategy at BIO, said Kim Kline, President of BAM. This is a game changer for our province and gives us an opportunity to build on our strengths in the areas of health biotech, ag biotech and clean biotech, while fostering collaborations between industry, government, and academic institutions to create a thriving bioeconomy.

Bioscience Association Manitoba commends the government for its leadership and recognition of the sectors essential contributions to our economy, lives and livelihoods, said Kline. New partnerships and investments will ensure that we continue to be innovative. We believe that the strategy has the potential to be transformative for the province's economy and position Manitoba as a leader in this vital and growing industry. Traditionally known as the Gateway to the West, Manitoba is quickly becoming the Gateway to the World.

About Bioscience Association Manitoba

Bioscience Association Manitoba (BAM) is a not-for-profit industry association that enables commercial success for Manitobas bioscience companies by acting as a catalyst for innovation, expanding the sectors skills and workforce development, and leading with one unified voice to create local and global engagement. Learn more about BAM at www.biomb.ca.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005971/en/

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kim Kline, President

[email protected]

Source: Bioscience Association Manitoba
A decade of American disengagement in the Middle East is culminating in policy shifts that may well see a permanent change in some states attitudes and stances. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a prime example of such states, having made big statements and bold manoeuvres.

This week, the Emirati National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan met his American counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House. The meeting took place one day after the UAE announced its withdrawal from the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) two months ago as part of its assessment of effective security cooperation in the Middle East.

The American-led coalition of 38 countries naval forces working together to combat Iranian attacks on commercial ships, weapons smuggling and piracy, which includes the UK, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Germany, is the largest such maritime security force in the world.

The Bahrain-based American 5th fleet, which leads the CMF, insisted that the UAE is still a participant despite its official announcement of withdrawal from the force patrolling the Gulf. A day before the Emirati announcement last week, the American daily Wall Street Journal published an article about the Emirati frustrations with American efforts to protect commercial ships from Iranian attacks in the region. According to the paper, Emirati officials told US officials they were unhappy with American-led security efforts in the region earlier this month [May], after Iran seized two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz on April 27 and May 3. One tanker was transitting between the Emirati port cities of Dubai and Fujairah.

But Emirati resentment of US policy in the region dates back to other incidents that have taken place in recent years. In January 2022, the UAE was left in a state of frustration when the US was slow to come to the Gulf nations aid after Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen launched a deadly drone attack that killed three people in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Since 2019, Iran has been accused of targeting ships in the Sea of Oman, some of them Emirati. The American response was not satisfactory to its Gulf allies, who particularly resented Washingtons failure to act in September 2019 following the Houthis drone and missile attacks on Saudi energy giant Aramcos facilities that stopped almost half of Saudi oil production.

Yet the White House statement in the wake of the two security advisers meeting reiterated the enduring US-UAE strategic partnership. Mr Sullivan welcomed the UAEs leadership in the run-up to the COP-28 Summit in the UAE, while Sheikh Tahnoon praised the US defence partnership with the UAE. The official statement added that both pledged to intensify cooperation under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), as well as seek ways to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords including through the I2U2 grouping [India, Israel, the US and the UAE] and the Negev Forum, under which the UAE last year convened the largest gathering of Israelis and Arabs in decades.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry statement on its withdrawal from CMF played down the significance of the move. It said that news reports had mischaracterised US-UAE conversations regarding maritime security. The statement on the ministrys website added, the UAE is committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomatic engagement as a means to advance the shared goals of regional security and stability As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces.

Speculation about the Emirati move as a snub to the US became rife as some media reports suggested it is joining another maritime force that includes Iran to patrol the Gulf. English-language Iranian channel Press TV reported this week that Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman are to form a joint naval force under the auspices of China towards enhancing maritime security in the Gulf. China has been playing an active role in the region recently, interpreted as filling the void resulting from Washingtons waning clout there. Beijing oversaw an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh to resume diplomatic relations.

Whether the news about an alternative coalition with Iran to patrol the Gulf is true or just a trial balloon, the UAE has been taking steps seen by the Americans as intimidating. Enhancing cooperation with China is a source of concern to the US and the West in general. According to the Financial Times this week: The UAE has attracted many Russians and their assets in the wake of the Ukrainian war, raising concerns in the West that the Gulfs financial capital could emerge as a haven for sanctions busting.

But the Emiratis insist on the notion of seeking national interests rather than placating or intimidating any party. Their relationship with the US is important and theres a commitment to keep advancing the relationship, according to an official source. They maintain the principle of a difference in opinion not spoiling friendly relations. Still, many observers view the most recent moves by the Emiratis as a swing from West to East.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Investment aligns with Bobcats ongoing strategy to empower farmers, specialty growers and others in agribusiness with innovative equipment to accomplish more

WEST FARGO, N.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bobcat Company, a global compact equipment, innovation and worksite solutions brand, announced today a strategic investment in Agtonomy, a Silicon Valley-based, ag tech software company that helps agriculture and land maintenance operators optimize operations through sustainable, innovative solutions.

Bobcats equity investment is part of a broader strategic partnership with Agtonomy formed earlier this year to create new and innovative ways to enhance Bobcat equipment for increased productivity and performance.

By leveraging the software solutions developed by Agtonomy, we can continue to focus on productivity gains from Bobcat equipment and advance alternative energy and autonomous innovation in farming and related industries, said Scott Park, CEO and vice chairman of Doosan Bobcat, Inc. We are always looking to bring the best solutions to our customers. And, given our ongoing partnership, we are excited to pioneer new advances together to empower farmers to accomplish more.

This investment will accelerate development to deliver value to specialty ag farmers and growers to help them lower operating costs, achieve greater efficiencies and address ongoing skilled labor shortages.

We're delighted to strengthen our partnership with Bobcat, the leading innovator in compact equipment, said Tim Bucher, CEO and co-founder of Agtonomy. By joining forces, we can rapidly accelerate our impact on the farming community. With our shared commitment to innovation, we are poised to deliver solutions that address the many challenges facing agriculture today.

Agtonomys technology allows farmers to remotely execute labor-intensive field tasks, such as weeding, spraying, mowing and transporting with more precision. The solution allows farming operations to automate workloads, increase labor efficiency and provides farmers with greater control over the economics of their operations.

Our dedication to innovation, the future of autonomous operation and alternative-energy solutions makes Agtonomy an ideal company to invest in as we strive to help farmers be more productive and efficient, said Joel Honeyman, Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation. We are committed to integrating smart solutions with our equipment to advance the farming community.

Bobcat offers an extensive lineup of agriculture equipment along with attachments designed for farmers, ranchers and landowners. Through this partnership, Bobcat and Agtonomy will collaborate to create new and innovative ways of enhancing Bobcat equipment for increased productivity and performance to benefit farmers and specialty growers.

Investments like this are a critical aspect of Bobcats vision to integrate smart and sustainable technological advances with its 65-year legacy of innovation.

Learn more about how Bobcat is transforming the industry through its innovation leadership.

Media Resources: Photo assets are available for download at this Dropbox link.

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Bobcat and Agtonomy Teams.jpg : Representatives from Agtonomy and Bobcat Company photographed together following the finalization of Bobcat's strategic investment in the ag tech software company.

: Representatives from Agtonomy and Bobcat Company photographed together following the finalization of Bobcat's strategic investment in the ag tech software company. Bobcat CEO Scott Park-Agtonomy CEO Tim Bucher.jpg : (L-R): Bobcat CEO and Vice Chairman Scott Park shakes hands with Agtonomy CEO and Co-founder Tim Bucher following Bobcat's decision to invest in the ag tech software company.

: (L-R): Bobcat CEO and Vice Chairman Scott Park shakes hands with Agtonomy CEO and Co-founder Tim Bucher following Bobcat's decision to invest in the ag tech software company. Bobcat Representatives.jpg: Representatives from Bobcat Company visited Agtonomys headquarters in Silicon Valley. Bobcat has announced its investment into the ag tech software company as an expansion of the partnership the two companies formed earlier this year to enhance Bobcat equipment for increased productivity and performance in the agriculture industry through Agtonomys innovative technology solutions.

About Bobcat Company

Since 1958, Bobcat Company has been empowering people to accomplish more. As a leading global manufacturer of compact equipment, Bobcat has a proud legacy of innovation and a reputation based on delivering smart solutions to customers toughest challenges. Backed by the support of a worldwide network of independent dealers and distributors, Bobcat offers an extensive line of compact equipment, including loaders, excavators, compact tractors, utility products, telehandlers, mowers, attachments, implements, parts, and services. In 2024, Bobcat will expand its brand with the addition of portable power, industrial air and industrial vehicle offerings. Headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, Bobcat continues to lead the industry with its new and innovative offerings.

The Bobcat brand is owned by Doosan Bobcat, Inc., a company within the Doosan Group. Committed to empowering people to accomplish more, Doosan Bobcat is dedicated to building stronger communities and a better tomorrow.

About Agtonomy

Agtonomy, based in south San Francisco and Sonoma County, is a hybrid autonomy and tele-guidance service platform with the venture backing of GV, Toyota Ventures, Grit Ventures, Flybridge, Momenta, Village Global, Cavallo Ventures, Mirae Asset Venture Investment and many other prestigious investors. The platform will give local agriculture and land maintenance operators the ability to solve the skilled labor shortage with autonomous equipment and greatly increase their efficiency. The executive team consists of veterans from the AI, EV, cloud service and agriculture industries with extensive experience at companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, CNH Industrial, Microsoft, Uber, and Kittyhawk as well as lifelong farming experience at Northern California agriculture operations such as Trattore Farms.

2023 Bobcat Company. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005801/en/

Nadine Erckenbrack, Bobcat Public Relations Manager

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 701-205-9207

Brooke Brown, Agtonomy Director of Marketing

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 717-468-5426

Source: Bobcat Company
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nori, a leading carbon removal marketplace, announced today that Matt Trudeau, a digital markets and exchange veteran, is joining the company as CEO and joining the board of directors, effective immediately. Nori also announced that the company has raised an additional $6.25M led by current investors, M13, Toyota Ventures, Placeholder, and Cargill, bringing total funding to $17.25M. Paul Gambill, Nori's co-founding CEO during the past five years, will remain on the board and take a new position within the company as Chief Product Officer.

The companys decision to bring in a new CEO comes as Nori prepares to scale its marketplace to support the sale of its largest-ever supply of carbon removal credits in collaboration with Bayer, and to prepare to expand the carbon removal product offerings available on the marketplace.

A serial exchange founder, Trudeau joins Nori equipped with a wealth of market experience and a track record of successfully building disruptive tech startups. His deep expertise spans over two decades in regulated financial markets, market structure, trading technology, electronic marketplaces and exchanges, blockchain, asset tokenization, and cryptocurrencies. Trudeau has led or assisted in 12 market launches for equities, commodities, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies across the Americas, Europe, and Asia with firms including Instinet, Chi-X Global, IEX, Tradewind, and ErisX.

During his tenure as co-founding CEO, Gambill successfully guided Nori through crucial stages of growth and established the company as a leader in the carbon removal space. In his new role, Gambill will focus on driving product innovation and strategy working with industry stakeholders and cross-functionally with Noris leadership team.

"I am honored and excited to join Nori as its new CEO," said Trudeau. "Under Pauls leadership, Nori has established an exceptional team, brand, technology platform, innovative products, and strategic commercial relationships. The opportunities to advance the carbon market align strongly with my experience building financial and commodities markets. We will leverage Noris solid foundation to continue to drive innovation, expand our marketplace, and become the leading provider of solutions for carbon removal suppliers and buyers."

Gambill welcomes Trudeau, saying, I am thrilled to have Matt join us as Nori's new CEO. His experience and understanding of financial technology and markets are exceptional, and his impressive record of driving growth and innovation at financial and technology firms makes him an extraordinary fit for our organization. With Matt at the helm, we are excited to commercially scale our carbon removal credits with the Bayer Carbon Program collaboration and to make step-change-level improvements in the amount of CO2 being removed from the atmosphere.

We are thrilled to continue to support Nori and want to thank Paul for his vision and work to date positioning Nori as a leader in the climate space, and his transition to Chief Product Officer within the company ensures continuity and continued contributions to Nori's mission," said Latif Peracha, General Partner, M13. "With Matt Trudeau assuming the role of CEO, Nori gains a seasoned leader with deep expertise and a proven track record in digital markets and exchanges, which we think will be instrumental to Nori's future growth.

We are excited to support Noris next phase of growth with this latest financing, said Jim Adler, founder and general partner at Toyota Ventures. Nori is addressing a key challenge for the industry and society by offering a transparent marketplace for carbon removal. To reach Pauls vision of carbon removal at a planetary scale, many challenges remain. Under Matts leadership, we look forward to seeing the team expand Noris offerings and grow its marketplace volume to achieve its founding mission.

About Nori:

Nori is an end-to-end carbon removal marketplace based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2017, Nori is on a mission to reverse climate change by developing market-driven solutions to remove 1.5 trillion metric tonnes of legacy carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005410/en/

For media inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

Source: Nori
LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CareView Communications, Inc. (CareView or the Company) (OTCQB: CRVW), an information technology provider to the healthcare industry, today announced the signing of an agreement with Central Texas VA Health Care System in Waco and Temple, Texas, under its partnership with Decisive Point Consulting Group. Decisive Point Consulting Group contracts directly with VA hospitals to use a variety of CareView products to enhance the services being provided to veterans.

The CareView platform utilizes proprietary video cameras in the patients room combined with patented predictive technology to indicate the likelihood of a patient fall before it happens. The Central Texas VA Health Care System looks to greatly reduce patient falls and increase patient safety overall with the implementation of CareViews hardware and software across its Community Living Centers and acute care units.

CareView offers the industrys only virtual sitter solution with no audible alarms inside patient areas, making it the perfect solution for VA Community Living Centers. Additionally, as patient privacy is of utmost importance, the platform features a privacy option, which can be utilized when needed, ensuring enhanced safety, security, and peace of mind for loved ones.

Sandra McRee, CareViews Chief Operating Officer, stated, We are pleased to continue working with the Central Texas VA Health Care System and know that we will continue to see results in the reduction of patient falls and increased patient safety. It is a tremendous honor to provide this capability to our nations veterans who, along with their families, have sacrificed so much for our country.

About CareView Communications, Inc.

As a leader in turnkey patient video monitoring solutions, CareView is redefining the standard of patient safety and care in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country. For over a decade, CareView has relentlessly pursued innovative ways to increase patient protection, providing next-generation solutions that lower operational costs and foster a culture of safety among patients, staff, and hospital leadership. With installations in more than 150 hospitals, CareView has proven that its innovative technology is creating a culture of patient safety where patient falls have decreased by 80% and sitter costs reduced by more than 65%. Anchored by the CareView Patient Safety System and CareView Patient Care System, this modular, scalable solution delivers flexible configurations to fit any facility while significantly increasing patient safety, care, and operational savings. All configurations feature HD cameras, high-fidelity 2-way audio/video, LCD displays for the ultimate in capability, flexibility, and affordability. Corporate offices are located at 405 State Highway 121 Bypass, Suite B-240, Lewisville, TX 75067. More information about the Company and its products and services is available on the Company's website at www.care-view.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after that date, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005886/en/

Steven G. Johnson

President and Chief Executive Officer

CareView Communications, Inc.

(972) 943-6050

Source: CareView Communications, Inc.
Crow Holdings Renewables anticipates developing community- and utility-scale solar projects in several states, leveraging an extensive portfolio of industrial properties

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Crow Holdings, a leading national real estate investment and development firm, announced today the launch of Crow Holdings Renewables, a new business that aims to apply Crow Holdings development expertise and local presence in several of the fastest-growing solar markets across the U.S. to develop community- and utility-scale solar energy and battery storage projects across the country.

Crow Holdings Renewables is initially focused on the entitlement and development of community solar projects (and related battery storage solutions) averaging 5 Megawatts (MW) and mid-sized, utility-scale projects averaging 25 MW. As a business line of Crow Holdings, which has significant greenfield development experience, Crow Holdings Renewables is also well-positioned to leverage an extensive portfolio of industrial properties, with potential to add solar to millions of square feet of industrial rooftops across the country that could provide lower-cost energy to all ratepayers. Crow Holdings Renewables is co-led by Laurence Pelosi, Senior Managing Director at Crow Holdings, and Tim Marvich, who recently joined the company as a Managing Director.

The countrys energy transition and renewables have demonstrably expanded opportunities in recent years, through federal and state support, improving technologies, declining costs, and customer engagement, said Crow Holdings CEO Michael Levy. We are seeing material growth across the sector that we expect to continue for the foreseeable future, and we are excited to launch Crow Holdings Renewables at such a critical time. With strong footholds in some of the fastest-growing solar markets in the U.S.  and with highly capable leaders in Laurence and Tim as part of a growing team for the business  we plan to meaningfully contribute to the development of renewable energy solutions for communities and businesses across the country.

Pelosi has been with Crow Holdings since 2019, where he has been involved with the companys investment strategies in energy and infrastructure, among other areas. Pelosi has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, including senior positions with Morgan Stanley Real Estate and Lennar, as well as partnerships with Goldman Sachs and other private equity funds.

Marvich has a 17-year track record in renewable energy development and previously held leadership positions at Apex Clean Energy, where he created the companys distributed energy business, and NextEra Energy Resources, where he led the distributed energy early-stage development team. Marvich was also a utility-scale wind and solar developer with EDP Renewables across the western United States.

Pelosi and Marvich are joined by Riean Norman, who joins as a Vice President focused on pre-development activities in California and the Northeast. Norman has spent 11 years in the energy industry, most recently at Dimension Renewable Energy, where he had a particular concentration on deploying solar on industrial rooftops.

The launch of Crow Holdings Renewables is a natural outgrowth of our seven-plus-decade legacy in development, our ability to evaluate the entire real estate market, and our proven success in pursuing the right opportunities, Pelosi said. Weve had tremendous interest from our partners and industrial tenants in providing lower-cost energy, and we have an opportunity to help meet the energy needs of hundreds of businesses and thousands of residential customers across the country.

The Crow Holdings Renewables team has already identified and is pursuing suitable project locations in California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Illinois, with other markets to follow.

About Crow Holdings

Crow Holdings is a leading real estate investment and development firm founded in 1948 and based in Dallas, Texas. With 20 offices across the U.S., Crow Holdings local, on-the-ground presence amplifies its hands-on capabilities across a broad range of investment strategies, product types, and ventures in partnership with institutional investors. Crow Holdings has $29 billion in assets under management, one of the largest multifamily and industrial development platforms in the nation, investments across the energy sector including solar and battery storage projects, and a broad, diversified investment portfolio, pursuing compelling investment opportunities to capitalize on evolving, secular growth potential. For 75 years, Crow Holdings success has been rooted in its founding principles of partnership, collaboration, and alignment of interests. For more information, please visit: www.crowholdings.com.

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Media

Adam McGill

Crow Holdings

(o)214-661-8376

[email protected]

Prosek Partners

[email protected]

Source: Crow Holdings
Solution Set to Increase Customer Satisfaction, Virtually Eliminate Fraud and Do Away with Costly, Time-Consuming Paper Checks and Coupons

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SKUx, an innovative payments technology and consumer engagement platform, today announced a partnership with Emplifi to make easy-to-use, instantaneous digital payments, such as product refunds and rewards, a significant new capability on the Emplifi Service Cloud customer engagement platform.

Businesses using the Emplifi unified customer engagement platform can now delight customers with the immediate satisfaction of mobile-first digital payments and avoid time-consuming paper checks, or coupons full of friction and rife with fraud.

The partnership will allow Emplifi Service Cloud customers to engage with consumers instantly with serialized, trackable, digital payments to dramatically improve customer experience while streamlining costly logistical fulfillment processes. SKUx-powered payments cover the entire customer lifecycle, including: driving new customer acquisition, keeping customers happy when issues arise, and helping brands re-engage with customers to drive Ecommerce and in-store traffic and cultivate brand loyalty with smart rewards and refunds.

We could not be more excited about the gift of immediate satisfaction this partnership with SKUx will enable us to deliver to our customers, said Scott Seidel, SVP, Service Cloud at Emplifi. This solution is a true game changer that creates happier, more satisfied consumers while also dramatically improving the speed, security and trackability of payments for our customers.

Benefits of the SKUx and Emplifi partnership include:

Multichannel Digital Delivery  A redemption link to receive a payment can be sent via almost any digital channel, including email, SMS, social media, direct message or chat via Emplifi Agent.

Real-time Reporting and Insights  Access to ongoing program data on claims and user engagement. The digital trail is easier than paper to track and manage, resulting in better budget control and fraud detection.

Personalization and Customization  Available in flexible value amounts via virtual debit or gift card.

Moving at the Speed of the Customer  The ability to reimburse customers instantly via their mobile device.

Todays consumers want the convenience, speed and intimacy of digital engagement, and this partnership delivers on that need by making personalized digital payments the new currency of consumer rewards and customer care, said Bobby Tinsley, co-founder and president of SKUx. Were excited to partner with Emplifi, one of the true leaders in next-generation, 360-degree consumer engagement.

About SKUx

SKUx powers product-based payments at the speed of todays consumer. We deliver seamless consumer engagement through a patented platform that combines first-party data, mobile branding, offer serialization, secure digital payments, and settlement to deliver incremental revenues and real-time transparency for merchants, brands, and payment partners. For more information, visit skux.io.

About Emplifi

Emplifi is a leading unified customer engagement platform that empowers businesses to reach and grow communities through digital- and social-first strategies. More than 20,000 brands like McDonalds, Ford Motor Company, and Delta Air Lines rely on Emplifi to enable connected, empathetic experiences for the modern consumer across marketing, commerce, and care. Headquartered in New York, Emplifi partners with major social media networks and digital platforms, including Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Snapchat. For more information, visit www.emplifi.io.

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Jordan Lukes

Corporate Communications Director, Emplifi

[email protected]

Source: Emplifi
Ruling Reiterated That Republic Tobacco Willfully Infringed on RAW Trademark and Copyright and Awarded Nearly $1.5 Million to RAW

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RAW (BBK/HBI), the independent global brand of high-quality rolling papers and smoking innovations, today issued a statement about the final resolution of the seven-year court battle with Republic Tobacco which had brought a series of lawsuits against HBI International, the company that owns the RAW brand.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005721/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

The judge rejected Republics monetary demands, saying in an April 2023 decision, Republic requests the disgorgement of every cent of profit from HBIs RAW brand during that time period This extraordinary request, however, is not supported by adequate evidence, nor is it appropriate considering the other factors of the case.

Today we are happy to be done with this time-consuming lawsuit, Josh Kesselman, RAWs Founder said. Ultimately, we are pleased with the outcome, but that doesnt make this any less frustrating.

The Judgment entered in the matter on June 5, 2023 makes final the jurys determination after a multi-week trial that Republic Tobacco willfully infringed on RAWs copyright and trade dress, and awarded to HBI damages of more than $1 million. Including a prejudgment interest award, the Court has found Republic must pay RAW nearly $1.5 million in total compensation. Todays conclusion came after both sides agreed on legal fees that RAW will pay to Republic based on only one of Republics multitude of claims.

Republic has persistently filed lawsuit after lawsuit against our company, perhaps because of our success, continued Kesselman. We intend to donate the net proceeds we will receive, now that this case is resolved, to organizations working to help small businesses in the cannabis field, particularly businesses that are startups involving individuals who were previously convicted of nonviolent cannabis related crimes. Were hopeful that Republic will now cease its relentless effort to destroy our business and focus, like us, on helping the emerging cannabis industry achieve greater equity in the marketplace.

The case had dragged on for seven years and involved simultaneous claims on state and federal issues, with U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin presiding. The June 2023 Judgment makes clear that Republic Tobacco was not entitled to either damages nor disgorgement of profits. That result comes even though a jury had previously found RAW had engaged in unfair trade practices under Illinois state law. The jury also found the same claims did not violate federal law.

At RAW we believe in justice and that the truth will eventually prevail, said Kesselman. We never believed we did anything wrong so the fact that no damages were awarded speaks volumes.

I first encountered Don Levins Republic Tobacco more than 30 years ago when I started a tiny smoke shop. Since then, Republic has sued me three times, claiming tens of millions in alleged damages. RAW is still here, despite Republics lawsuits. At RAW, we believe business competition is best conducted in the marketplace, rather than in the courts, Kesselman said.

2016 Case a Result of Republics Violation of Trademark and Copyright

This latest case began in 2016 when RAW contacted Republic to point out the similarity between RAWs distinctive Organic Hemp product packaging and Republics OCB Organic Hemp paper packaging.

The RAW brand of rolling papers, pre-rolled cones, and related accessories has a consistent look across products and is among the most ubiquitously popular with consumers. In 2009, RAW launched its RAW Organic Hemp line of products. In 2011, Republic Tobacco introduced in Europe a product, OCB Organic Hemp, which RAW (and HBI International, the company that owns the brand) believed looked remarkably like its RAW Organic Hemp product. Republic also created merchandising that RAW believed infringed its copyrighted design.

Republic introduced the OCB Organic Hemp product in the U.S. in 2014 and HBI reached out to Republic about the similarity soon after. RAW only asked for the companies to discuss the matter, but Republic responded by suing RAW in federal court in Illinois, seeking a declaratory judgment saying it had not infringed on anything. RAW counterclaimed for infringement, and then Republic brought a series of allegations that RAW had made misstatements on its products and marketing materials and that RAW was illegal marijuana paraphernalia.

Republic alleged that RAW papers and all cones were illegal products because of their association with cannabis and celebrity smokers including Wiz Khalifa and Miley Cyrus (a claim that did not survive to trial), false advertising under the federal Lanham Act, and deceptive trade practices and unfair competition under Illinois state law. After five years of discovery, the remaining claims were tried before a jury, with U.S. District Judge Durkin presiding over both the federal and state claims.

2021 Jury Verdict

After a multi-week trial, the jury concluded that Republic had willfully infringed RAW Organic Hemps trade dress with Republics 99-cent version of its OCB organic hemp product, and that Republic had willfully infringed RAWs copyrighted Sold Here sign. The term trade dress refers to the general appearance of a product or its packaging. The jury awarded over $1 million in damages to RAW in June 2021. And the Court later awarded RAW prejudgment interest which brings the total award to nearly $1.5 million.

The jury also found that none of RAWs product statements violated the federal Lanham Act. But, the jury simultaneously found for Republic on the Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the claim for unfair competition based on the same factual allegations.

Kesselman said he hopes this decision will end Republics decades-long litigation campaign. Its an extreme but familiar business strategy  sue the competition. Theyve filed hundreds of other lawsuits against other competitors and customers. Thankfully, with the continued support of our customers, we are successful enough to afford to fight off these claims and shine a critical light on Republics business practices. We should compete in innovation, not litigation. We are NEVER GOING TO SELL OUT TO REPUBLIC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005721/en/

[email protected]

Source: RAW
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

ESI Group (FR0004110310  ESI), leader and pioneer in Virtual Prototyping solutions, hereby releases the total number of shares making up the companys capital and the total number of voting rights on May 31st, 2023, in accordance with articles 223-16 and 221-3 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers.

Number of shares Number of theoretical

voting rights * Number of

voting rights ** 6,085,912 8,054,528 7,672,499

* The number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on all shares eligible for voting right (single or double), including shares temporarily deprived of voting rights (treasury shares).

** All Group shares have equal right to vote, except treasury shares, which are deprived of the right to vote, and registered shares held for more than four years that are eligible for double voting rights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005775/en/

ESI Group

Source: ESI Group
LYON, France, & MIDDLETON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Esker, a global cloud platform and leader in AI-driven process automation solutions for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service functions, today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 11631265 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for Eskers machine learning technology.

Spanning both the source-to-pay (S2P) and order-to-cash (O2C) cycles, Eskers AI-powered solutions are built to vastly reduce repetitive and low-value tasks. The patented technology addresses the need for accurate automated data extraction on incoming documents. For businesses with a large customer base, keying information in manually for invoices, orders and other documents is time-consuming and expensive.

Eskers newly patented AI technology uses traditional and machine learning algorithms to identify data fields, make routing decisions and suggest next actions with the goal of reducing the number of touches during processing as much as possible. The data is read from a document and the AI creates rules that define what data to retrieve and in which format. Through user input, these rules are adapted and the accuracy of the extraction process increases over time. This interplay of AI technology and human supervision reduces mindless and error-prone manual data entry down to almost zero.

The efficacy of Eskers technology can be witnessed in the order management process. For example, each customer likely uses a different template for their purchase orders (POs) or even changes their layout occasionally. Capturing data from customer orders no matter the channel, format or layout they arrive in, AI retrieves the relevant information on both the header and line-item levels, such as shipping address, PO number, product references, quantities and prices. The machine learning technology then learns from user corrections, increasing the recognition rates after only a few adjustments. One of the strengths of Eskers solution is to naturally solve all the complexity of receiving thousands of orders in different formats and with a myriad of different characteristics and particularities, said Gervasio Prieto, Customer Service Manager at CAPSA Food, an Esker customer. This technology does not only apply to order recognition in Eskers Customer Service solution suite, but also to vendor invoices, remittances and deduction claims.

Esker has been steadily investing in R&D for utilizing AI capabilities in all its solutions for nearly 20 years now. Already at the forefront of AI technology when this patent application was submitted 12 years ago, auto learning is still used in Eskers solutions today. This technology was expanded on with additional layers of deep learning neural networks.

When we started on the AI journey at Esker, we focused our efforts on data extraction in order to decrease manual data entry for incoming invoices and orders, said Jean-Jacques Berard, Vice President of Research and Development at Esker. This project has expanded to enriching the extracted data with predictive and prescriptive functionalities such as detecting anomalies in orders, predicting the invoice analytical axis, or proposing an answer to a customer request. This combination of human and artificial intelligence allows for making the work more engaging and efficient.

About Esker

Esker is a global cloud platform built to unlock strategic value for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service professionals, and strengthen collaboration between companies by automating the cash conversion cycle. Eskers solutions incorporate AI technologies to drive increased productivity, enhanced visibility, reduced fraud risk, and improved collaboration with customers, suppliers and employees. Founded in 1985, Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France, and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit www.esker.com. Follow Esker on LinkedIn and join the conversation on the Esker blog at blog.esker.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005157/en/

Press Contact: Christina Davies

Tel: (972) 366-7453 | [email protected]

Investor Relations Contact: Emmanuel Olivier

Tel: +33 (0)4 72 83 46 46 | [email protected]

Source: Esker
In collaboration with brand agency, Koto Studio, Exclaimer revamped its design to resonate with the marketing community

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exclaimer, the leader in email signature solutions, today debuted a renewed brand identity, inspired by the needs of Exclaimers community  the customers and employees who know the platform best. A decision driven by a deep understanding of the need to align the brand with the companys core values, target audiences and long-term strategic goals, Exclaimer worked in collaboration with brand agency, Koto Studio, to create a new brand that would embody Exclaimers role in the engagement marketing space.

Since 2001, Exclaimer has been providing top-tier email signature solutions to a diverse customer base of over 50,000 businesses worldwide, including Sony, Mattel, NBC, the NFLs Indianapolis Colts, and more. The companys new branding was designed to present as capable and confident  conveying the trust Exclaimer has earned in those 20 years. The three brand pillars of Trust, Connect, and Grow laid the foundation for creating high-impact engagement opportunities for businesses everywhere. The primary color palette  made up of navy, cream, lilac, and white  were chosen to offer a clean, contemporary look. An additional element of the new branding are ripple graphics in the imagery, used to empower the users of Exclaimer by placing them at the center of the effect.

With marketers looking to do more with less, email marketing and more specifically email signature engagement, is rising on their agendas. After careful review, we realized there was a real opportunity to put our customers at the heart of our thinking and better engage with an audience that spans branding, communication, engagement, and even dovetails into demand generation, said Exclaimers Chief Marketing Officer, Carol Howley. Koto Studio was the perfect partner to bring our vision to life. They knew we wanted a contemporary and clean design to reflect the direction of our company and they delivered. Were really excited with what weve created and look forward to rolling it out over the coming weeks.

Joe Ling, Creative Director of Koto Studio says: Exclaimers new strategic positioning and visual brand reflect its commitment to amplifying the power of email. Our core objective was to create a brand that had a clear visual mechanic to reflect that. We used a ripple to visualize amplification  an idea which runs through the entire identity, from the new strategic positioning, to the logo down to the smallest brand touchpoint, the illustration suite. This helped us create a strategically aligned, yet visually compelling identity. Our successful collaboration with the Exclaimer team led to a brand that will empower them to help customers unlock the power of email well into the future."

Designed for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Exchange, Exclaimers platform empowers businesses to unlock the potential of email signatures as a key digital advertising channel. As a company that sees email signatures as more than just a simple sign-off, Exclaimer provides the opportunity for businesses to present consistent brand identity and supercharge the valuable, personal interactions between companies and their audiences. With branding at the core of what they do, Exclaimer knew theirs needed a refresh  a thoughtful brand that would resonate with every corner of the engagement marketing industry, not just those with buying power.

"We wanted to expand our appeal beyond the IT audience and connect with those who could truly benefit from our platform," said Exclaimer CEO, Marco Costa. "We found that our website was a crucial touchpoint for potential customers, and understood the importance of having a brand that would resonate with them. We wanted an identity that would convey our expertise, enhance communication, and engage our target market effectively, and we think this rebrand does just that."

For more information on Exclaimer, visit www.exclaimer.com. For more information on Koto Studio, visit www.koto.studio.

###

About Exclaimer

Exclaimer is the industry's leading provider of email signature solutions, empowering businesses to unlock the potential of email as a key digital advertising channel. With its award-winning tools, organizations can simplify the management of email signatures to deliver consistent branding, promote marketing campaigns and company news, gather real-time customer feedback, and much more.

About Koto Studio

Koto is a brand and digital agency with studios in Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, and Sydney. We bring optimism, craft and rigor to every brief; collaborating with todays most impactful companies and the founders defining a better tomorrow to unlock the true potential of their brands.

Founded in 2015 by Caroline Matthews (COO), James Greenfield (CEO), and Jowey Roden (CCO), we have shaped some of the world's leading brands, including Airbnb, Amazon Music, Discord, Fiverr, Pleo, Qonto, Skyscanner, Sonos, Uber Eats, Venmo, and WhatsApp.

Find out more at https://koto.studio.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005642/en/

[email protected]

07484 689675

Source: Exclaimer
AVIGNON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hiphen and SlantRange, two pioneers in the application of remote sensing, computer vision, and artificial intelligence for agriculture, today announced they are joining forces. Hiphen is acquiring SlantRange to form the leading source of advanced crop measurement and prediction solutions to crop science companies and agricultural enterprises worldwide.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005065/en/

Hiphen Acquires Slant Range Forming One of the Worlds Leading Platform for Drone Phenotyping (Graphic: Business Wire)

Hiphen SA, of Avignon, France, has been delivering high value data to seed breeders, product developers, food processors, vertical farms, and crop researchers across the globe since 2014. Its core competencies in image analysis and solution systems have positioned it as a trusted partner in the industry. However, it only started exploring the North American market in 2020.

"We are excited about the synergy created by SlantRange's extensive patent portfolio and growing US customer base, which perfectly complements Hiphen's analytics capability and strong European presence," stated Alexis Comar, CEO of Hiphen. "This merger will provide us with a broader capability to make impactful analytical tools accessible to the global agriculture market."

SlantRange, Inc., of San Diego, California, USA, has built a significant presence in the North American crop input market through its innovative methods for quantifying and predicting crop performance. It brings an extensive patent portfolio, deep engineering and data sciences skill base, and industry relationships to the partnership.

Michael Ritter, CEO of SlantRange, added, "Were thrilled to complement Hiphens capabilities with our own. Through this combination well be able to deliver an expanded, more responsive service portfolio across a broader global footprint."

The combined company will operate globally under the Hiphen brand and will accelerate new tools to market that accurately and efficiently quantify and predict plant development in response to management, genetics, and environment. The company aims for its remote sensing and data science methods to underpin future improvements to global food production efficiency and sustainability.

"We are committed to supplying agricultural researchers and producers with innovative solutions to produce more food, feed, fuel, and fiber on fewer acres to meet the demands of the 21st century," emphasized Hiphens business development director Lee West.

To learn more, visit www.hiphen-plant.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005065/en/

Lee West

[email protected]

+1 540 309 3353

Source: Hiphen
Last Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was elected for a third term in office with 52.1 per cent of the vote against his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) who got 47 per cent. This means that 25 million Turkish voters voted for Kilicdaroglu, hoping to unseat Erdogan from office.

Eighty-nine million voters went to the polls in the second round of the Turkish presidential elections on 28 May, and the final results demonstrate how polarised Turkey has become. Those who voted for the opposition candidate were hoping that miracles could happen and that the 20-year rule of Erdogan would come to an end.

The reelected president was jubilant at the result, and in his post-election speeches he spoke in grandiose term of Turkey over the next five years during his third presidential mandate. One of the remarks he made was quite surprising when he told his supporters what did I tell you? We will be together to the grave.

Though Erdogan also said that the real winner in the presidential election was Turkey itself, there are fears that he will now maintain the policies and practices of the last ten years without substantial changes.

Those who did not vote for him are afraid that the chances of his further hollowing out state institutions are not slim. In other words, they fear that Erdogans autocratic rule will continue.

The elections were a referendum on the future of democracy in Turkey. Over the last two decades, the newly reelected Turkish president has undermined democratic rule in the country by centralising power in his office, politicising the judiciary, and curtailing free speech. He has not hesitated to throw prominent opposition figures into jail on spurious charges.

One example of this that comes to mind is the fate of Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP). At one of his campaign rallies leading up to last months elections, Erdogan vowed that Demirtas would stay in prison. He told his supporters that you cant free Selahattin especially during my rule. Something like this is not possible. The European Court of Human Rights had meanwhile ruled that he should be released from prison.

In his speech inaugurating his third term in office, Erdogan assured the tens of thousands of people who attended it that the century of Turkey has begun, and the doors of our countrys growth have been opened.

Many among those who have come to believe in him as some kind of saviour may think that Erdogan will steer their country towards imperial greatness. What he and his followers have in mind when they think along these lines is of course related to the former Ottoman Empire, which stands in their national subconscious for confrontation with the West and unfettered support for Islam worldwide and for Islamic causes.

Erdogan vowed that the economy would be the number one priority for the new Turkish government in his speech. He has replaced leading ministers from the previous government, and Turkey now has a new foreign minister, the former head of Turkish intelligence Hanan Fidan, who replaces Mevlut Cavusoglu.

He has reappointed a former deputy prime minister and minister of finance, Mehmet Sinsek, as the new finance and treasury chief. This appointment is a clear indication that fixing the economy is the main challenge facing Erdogan in his third term. According to the Turkish constitution this term is also his last, though questions remain as to whether this will actually be the case.

Erdogan also appointed a new interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, the former governor of the Istanbul province, who replaced Souleymane Soylu, known for his anti-Western positions and the harsh treatment he meted out to those who opposed government policies.

The Turkish president said there would also be a new constitution for the country. The statement took most people by surprise, save for those who doubt that he will in fact leave power at the expiration of his present term in office. After all, he is the one who told his supporters once the final results had been officially published that we will be together to the grave.

Such people, Erdogans supporters, do not understand what a constitutional order means in terms of the peaceful transfer of power. Democracy for them is only the ballot box, and it does not include other vital elements of a democratic order such as constitutional checks and balances, a free press, the freedom of expression, and the rule of law. Were these things respected in Turkey, its head of state could never say that his opponents, or one of them at least, would remain in jail in the absence of due legal process.

Another five years in office for Erdogan will put Turkish democracy, or what is left of it, in great peril. During his reinauguration as the countrys president following the recent elections, Erdogan spoke about a new constitution, the main reason for which is presumably nothing short of the perpetuation of his rule.

He now has a majority in the Turkish parliament, and this could be used to bring about a momentous change in the history of the Turkish Republic. This change would consecrate a regime that is inspired and guided by the rise of illiberal democracy. It would be a betrayal of the foundations of the secular Republic that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded a century ago in 1924.

The irony is that the celebrations of the centennial of Ataturks secular Republic next year will now be held under an autocratic rule that is a threat to the very foundations of liberal democracy.

The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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To be combined with ICRs existing consumer lifestyle public relations and branding and creative teams to establish a new and distinct brand, allowing ICR to continue to focus on its core corporate offering

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ICR, a leading strategic communications and advisory firm, announced today it has acquired Bullfrog + Baum, a leading consumer communications agency specializing in hospitality, lifestyle, travel and consumer marketing.

Building on the growth and success of ICRs consumer lifestyle practice, which currently operates in the health and wellness, restaurant and retail sectors, the acquisition of Bullfrog + Baum will add strategic and creative depth, additional tactical service offerings and vertical expertise. ICR intends to combine Bullfrog + Baum with its existing consumer lifestyle public relations team and its branding and creative team, forming a new and separately-branded group offering a full suite of integrated services. The firm intends to announce the new brand in the coming months.

Tom Ryan, CEO of ICR, said, Throughout ICRs 25-year history advising public and private companies, we have built a strong foundational understanding of how to support our clients business objectives through smart and strategic communications and advisory services. Over time, as clients asked for it, we saw the opportunity to apply this approach in helping them better connect with their consumer audiences. The addition of the Bullfrog + Baum team allows us to establish a new and distinct unit that will possess significant scale and expertise, strong leadership and broad capabilities, allowing ICR to continue to focus on its core corporate offering.

Founded in 2000, Bullfrog + Baum has a long history stemming from its roots as a preeminent hospitality agency based in New York City. The firm offers award-winning global capabilities across consumer, lifestyle, travel and hospitality sectors for key clients including Singapore Tourism Board, Thompson Hospitality Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Chef Bobby Flay and Chef Laurent Tourondel.

Jennifer Baum, founder and CEO of Bullfrog + Baum, who will become a partner at ICR, said, I have always credited our provenance working with some of the greatest chefs and restaurants in the world with the development of an agency DNA that is both wildly creative and highly strategic. As our more than two-decade journey led us out of the kitchens and into collaboration with some of the most iconic hospitality brands and global lifestyle forces, weve stepped into a larger opportunity now providing award-winning creativity and execution to some of the most iconic brands in the world. I cant think of a better partner to join forces with than ICR, with its proven success and outstanding reputation for client service and employee empowerment to help fuel the next stage of our exciting growth journey.

The new group will offer a spectrum of public relations and creative services across the consumer lifestyle space, including targeted communications strategies and executions, influencer marketing and social media campaigns, creative and digital branding, event planning and production, integration and partnership solutions, philanthropic and corporate social responsibility program development and more. With a combined team consisting of approximately 60 professionals led by Baum and Seth Grugle, partner at ICR, the practice will serve a world class client roster, across a broad spectrum of consumer facing industries.

About ICR

Established in 1998, ICR partners with its clients to execute strategic communications and advisory programs that achieve business goals, build awareness and credibility, and enhance long-term enterprise value. The firms highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to approximately 1,000 clients across more than 20 industry groups. ICRs healthcare practice operates under the Westwicke brand (www.westwicke.com). Today, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms in North America, maintaining offices in New York, Norwalk, Boston, Baltimore and Beijing. Learn more at www.icrinc.com. Follow us on Twitter at @ICRPR.

About Bullfrog + Baum

Established in 2000, Bullfrog + Baum is an award-winning agency comprised of brand-builders, insight-finders and storytellers specializing in consumer communications and representing the best of the best in (and around) the hospitality industry. A one-stop communications, creative, design and digital shop, Bullfrog + Baum has proven success in garnering national and global attention for its diverse roster of clientsall-star chefs, internationally-known liquor brands, restaurants, tourism boards, hotels, products and events. From drumbeat PR to blow-out events to business-driving marketing strategies, Bullfrog + Baum applies unique perspective to every project it undertakes for every client it serves. Bullfrog + Baum is headquartered in New York City with satellite offices across the country and the globe. www.bullfrogandbaum.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005866/en/

ICR

Seth Grugle

[email protected]

646-277-1272



Bullfrog + Baum

Lauren Sikora

[email protected]

201-602-2784

Source: ICR
--Next-generation digital receipts application now available to NuPoint client banks--

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kinective, a leading provider of API connectivity, document automation, teller workflow and analytics software for the banking sector formed by the strategic combination of CFM, NXTsoft, and IMM, announced today from CSIs annual conference, CX23: Elements of Transformation, the companys most innovative eTransaction application to date, eReceiptsPlus, is now fully integrated with CSIs NuPoint Teller and NuPoint Teller Capture.

Cloud-based eReceiptsPlus provides CSIs NuPoint clients new, distinctive digital receipt capabilities including SMS (test) delivery of receipts and real-time, remote-sign capabilities, enabling customers to view, sign and complete end-to-end digital transaction receipts on their own mobile device, in addition to traditional receipt delivery options such as thermal print or email. For transaction receipts requiring a signature, the embedded signature capture (patent pending) allows the teller to send the receipt via SMS (text) regardless of their physical location. The consumer then views and signs the receipts directly on their smartphone. The signed receipt with the embedded signature is returned to the teller, then subsequently archived into CSIs CenterDoc repository with the final copy provided to the customer digitally.

Integrating IMMs eReceiptsPlus with CSIs NuPoint core system provides a more intuitive, optimized user design and interface, enabling branch personnel to help more customers, faster, while providing a more engaging, personalized digital experience for the consumer. It also helps the bank break down traditional barriers for using eReceipts due to the physical challenges presented in drive-thru and call-center situations. Only eReceiptsPlus offers a totally-digital solution that applies to both of these use-case scenarios.

Michael Ball, Kinective Senior Vice President, said, Our new eReceiptsPlus application will transform the way CSIs banks can engage and interact with their customers. Digitally delivering receipts and capturing signatures right on the customers mobile device is a more engaging, personalized experience, but also allows employees to be more effective at their jobs, completing more transactions, faster, with fewer mistakes and errors. This solves many challenges for banks when trying to move the teller functions into a digital-only environment. Such as drive-thru and call center.

Attendees of the CX23 conference can hear directly from Michael Ball, during Breakout Session 3 on Tuesday, June 6 at 9:45 a.m. Ball will provide an overview of IMMs eReceiptsPlus announcement as well as other new product announcements being made available to CSIs client banks. For more information including the detailed schedule and all keynote speakers, visit the agenda page.

About Kinective

Kinective is a leading provider of connectivity, workflow, and analytics software to over 2,500 banks and credit unions in North America. Kinective was created in June 2023 as the new brand uniting CFM, NXTsoft, and IMM, three complementary financial technology companies that together have over 70 years of experience in banking. Kinective provides financial institutions with access to innovation, helping them unlock new possibilities and connect to the future. For more information, please visit: www.kinective.io.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005808/en/

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Anna Stanley / Adrie Morales

[email protected] / [email protected]

251.517.7857 / 678.781.7227

Source: IMM
Affirmation and Compassionate Support Can Lead to Improved Mental Health

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This Pride Month, Alsana acknowledges the urgent need to expand access to LGBTQ+ inclusive care and highlights its association with improving overall mental health. Alsana, an eating recovery community, honors the diverse experiences of all clients in recovery. This includes addressing experiences of discrimination, oppression, and microaggressions as part of the treatment process.

Mental health conditions occur at a significantly higher rate in the LGBTQ+ community than in the general population. Transgender individuals are particularly vulnerable, being nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition, according to the Clinical Psychology Review.

LGBTQ+-identifying individuals often experience unique stigmas and stressors that increase their risk for developing body image distortions and eating disorders, said Heather Russo, chief clinical officer at Alsana. Alsana provides all individuals with a safe, affirming, inclusive treatment environment they deserve and the compassion they need to believe in the recovery process and their own sense of worthiness.

Alsana provides gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ inclusive, trauma-informed eating disorder treatment programs at all levels of care for adults of all genders. Its compassion-focused approach promotes shame reduction and self-compassion, emphasizing the importance of healing within the context of clients' relationships with themselves and others.

About Alsana

Alsana is an eating recovery community and treatment provider with in-person Residential and PHP/IOP programs in Alabama (Birmingham and Huntsville), California (Monterey, Santa Barbara, Westlake Village, and Thousand Oaks), and Missouri (St. Louis), Virtual PHP/IOP offerings across the United States. Their approach to eating disorder treatment is compassionate, evidence-based, and designed in alignment with the Adaptive Care Model. This holistic method addresses healing in all areas of clients lives by integrating medical, nutritional, and therapeutic care with movement and relational therapies. Alsana serves adult clients of all genders and sexual identities struggling with a broad spectrum of eating, feeding, and co-occurring disorders. Alsanas programs accommodate the unique needs of vegan clients and clients struggling with ED-DMT1, also known as diabulimia. For additional information, visit www.alsana.com.

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Jessica Neuman, Westbound Communications

[email protected]

Cell: 858-382-5157

Source: Alsana
Trusted personal finance website investor.com is proud to debut the next generation of its one-of-a-kind credit card rewards calculator.

ROYAL OAK, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today personal finance website investor.com launched the next generation of its credit card calculator for calculating cashback rewards. The cashback calculator is the first of its kind, taking into account annual fees, bonus rates, rewards caps  and, most importantly, users actual monthly spending  to provide Americans with a true apples-to-apples comparison of their cashback credit card options.

As passionate advocates for clarity around financial products and services, the investor.com teams goal was to provide consumers with a groundbreaking resource for identifying the top cashback credit cards for each users unique financial situation.

Blain Reinkensmeyer, head of product at Reink Media Group, the company behind investor.com, said, When Americans search Google for a credit card today, theyre flooded with pay-to-play offers that dont tell the real story. The reality is that when their actual spending across popular rewards categories  like groceries, dining, gas  is taken into account, the best card for them is frequently not the card recommended as the top pick.

Development began by identifying the best, most user-friendly credit card features and perks. Data was gathered on each card, then brought to life as a high-functioning online calculator. The investor.com team has gathered cashback rewards data for dozens of the most popular cards in America for both personal and small-business use.

The new calculator can be found on investor.coms Credit Card Rewards Calculator page and the Business Credit Card Rewards Calculator page, as well as on the sites two main credit card guides, Best Cashback Credit Cards and Best Business Cashback Credit Cards. The calculator can also be found on all credit card review pages.

About Reink Media Group

Reink Media Group, LLC (RMG) is a privately held Michigan-based company founded in February 2009, with a mission to provide financial education and advice that puts people first before profits. RMG properties include: investor.com, StockBrokers.com, UK.StockBrokers.com, ForexBrokers.com, StockTrader.com, and BrokerNotes.co.

RMG and each of its domains are B Corp certified.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005017/en/

Reink Media Group (reinkmedia.com)

Molly Rossow

Global Director of Marketing, Partner

[email protected]

Source: investor.com
The strategic partnership allows M. Holland to expand plastic resin distribution to Italy, Greece and the Balkans.

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- M. Holland Company, a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins and ancillary materials, today announced a new partnership with Febo S.p.A, an established European distributor of thermoplastic resins and petrochemical products. Under the agreement, Febo will have distribution rights for M. Holland products in Italy, Greece and the Balkans. The partnership extends M. Hollands commercial reach in Europe, building upon existing business agreements in Ireland and the United Kingdom, along with the companys recently established commercial office in the Netherlands.

The partnership enables M. Holland to bring materials to customers in new regions through Febos extensive commercial and logistics network, which includes eight warehouses in Italy and Greece. M. Holland can now offer Mtegrity, its line of certified producer prime resin, to an expanded network of clients, providing levels of ratability and consistency needed to meet current demands in Europe.

Our partnership with Febo represents a significant milestone in M. Hollands global growth strategy, said Steve Armstrong, vice president of international resale at M. Holland. By joining forces with Febo, we can better support clients located in key European markets. Febo shares our commitment to delivering exceptional service and quality products, which sets the foundations for a continued long-term partnership.

Febo and M. Holland share mutual goals and align on a strategic business mission in Europe, said Gian Luca Casarini Elkan, commodities business manager of Febo Group. Together, we will enhance our offerings, strengthen our relationships with existing and new customers, and drive positive business results.

M. Hollands Mtegrity products hold REACH certification, granted by the European Chemicals Agency, which allows for the distribution of materials across European markets. For more information on M. Hollands International offerings, visit www.mholland.com/our-businesses/international.

ABOUT FEBO

Febo was founded in 1958 as a business venture by the Ferretti family. The majority shareholder and CEO is now Mr. Carocchi. Over the years, the Company fine-tuned its role, goals and mission. Today Febo operates on behalf of leading companies as a distributor of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS, SAN, PVC, PET, PC, PA, PMMA and biopolymers. Headquartered in Pistoia, Italy. Febo Group has over 296 million in annual sales and covers Italy and Greece with a senior sellers network that manages a customer portfolio of over 2,000 units. Febo caters to its customers logistic needs with strategically based warehouses located in the main consumption areas. The company has its own personnel dedicated to technical assistance and developing applications to meet all customer requirements from the main business sectors. To learn more, visit https://www.febo.it/en/home-page-2/.

ABOUT M. HOLLAND

M. Holland is a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins, providing suppliers with the most strategic channels to market, offering clients innovative sourcing and supply chain solutions, delivering materials that empower sustainable innovation, and helping people lead rewarding careers. Since 1950, a deep commitment to personal relationships and innovation has formed the core of the companys heritage, culture and vision. Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, M. Holland has over $1.5 billion in annual sales, partners with more than 4,000 customers annually, and serves over 70 countries across North America, LATAM, EMEA and Asia. M. Holland has offices located in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. To learn more, visit www.mholland.com and follow M. Holland on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

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Sami Sauerman

INK (for M. Holland)

[email protected]

715.965.2854

Source: M. Holland Company
Investment reflects firms technical expertise and commitment to CPA firms and clients across the West Coast

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- McGuire Sponsel, a specialty tax consulting firm with clients throughout the United States, announced today an investment in a new firm regional office located in Phoenix, Arizona.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005947/en/

With the firm's recent expansion into Phoenix, McGuire Sponsel is committed to being the leading specialty tax partner to CPA firms across all 50 states. (Graphic: McGuire Sponsel)

Firm leaders say the new office  which is be fully staffed with employees across all four firm practice lines  was a natural fit based on the firms growth and an opportunity to be a greater resource to partners across the West Coast.

We are pleased to open a fully staffed McGuire Sponsel office in Phoenix, said TJ Sponsel, co-founder and managing shareholder of Indianapolis-based McGuire Sponsel. McGuire Sponsel is committed to the CPA industry and Phoenix provides a tremendous opportunity for our team to dynamically serve clients nationwide. We have been fortunate to grow alongside the industry for the last 15 years and look forward to the firms continued growth.

Working as an extension of clients, primarily CPA firms, McGuire Sponsel offers practices that fall outside traditional CPA firm services. Within tax consulting, the firm provides fixed asset services including cost segregation, research and development tax credit services, global business services including transfer pricing and compliance, and location advisory services.

McGuire Sponsel opened their Phoenix office on June 1, 2023, and it is located at 1640 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa, AZ 85204. For more information on the firms growth, visit mcguiresponsel.com/phx.

About McGuire Sponsel

Partnering with leading CPA firms, McGuire Sponsel offers Fixed Asset Services, R&D Tax Credit Services, Global Business Services, and Location Advisory Services. McGuire Sponsel strengthens client relationships by offering a conservative, methodical approach to delivering tax practices that fall outside the traditional practices of leading CPA firms. Acting as an extension of firms, our approach has allowed us to become a trusted resource to CPAs across the country, with a strong track record with the IRS.

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Kelsey Brewer, Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

512-710-5909

Source: McGuire Sponsel
BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Entegris will be hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for its $600 million manufacturing center of excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event will include remarks from Entegris President and Chief Executive Officer Bertrand Loy; Colorado Springs newly inaugurated Mayor Yemi Mobolade; El Paso County Commissioner Cami Bremer; and Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President & CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, as well as other dignitaries.

The new campus, which is targeted to begin initial commercial operation in early 2025, will be built in phases. The 100,000-square-foot facility will support production for Entegris Microcontamination Control (MC) and Advanced Materials Handling (AMH) divisions.

The center for excellence will play an important role in the Colorado Springs community and has the potential to create approximately 600 new jobs over several years.

What: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Colorado Springs When: June 7, 2023, 10:30 AM MT Where: 301 S. Rockrimmon Blvd Colorado Springs, CO

Speakers: Entegris President and CEO, Bertrand Loy Entegris Divisional President, Advanced Materials Handling, Bill Shaner Mayor of Colorado Springs, Yemi Mobolade CEO of Norwood Development Group, Chris Jenkins El Paso County Commissioner, Cami Bremer President & CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer Contacts: Connie Chandler Senior Director of Corporate Communications T +1 714-504-5147 [email protected]

NOTE FOR MEDIA: Media who plan to attend should RSVP to [email protected] as soon as possible with full name (as it appears on a government-issued identification) for security purposes.

About Entegris

Entegris is the global leader in electronic materials for the semiconductor market. With approximately 9,000 employees across its global operations, Entegris offers the industrys most comprehensive and innovative unit-driven end-to-end offering for semiconductor customers, in addition to solutions for the life sciences and other advanced manufacturing environments. Entegris solutions help customers improve their performance, productivity and yields to enable technologies that transform the world. It has manufacturing, customer service, and/or research facilities in the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information about Entegris, visit us at www.entegris.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005805/en/

Media:

Connie Chandler

Senior Director of Corporate Communications

T +1 714-504-5147

[email protected]

Source: Entegris
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific Life announced today its sales leaders for the organizations new Workforce Benefits business and its recruiting efforts to hire regional sales representatives.

In alignment with Pacific Life's longstanding, industry-leading, broker-centric distribution strategy, the Workforce Benefits business new sales organization is designed to forge partnerships with brokers and general agencies to introduce its groundbreaking approach to providing ancillary group benefits.

As we approach market entry, our priority is to differentiate our offerings by delivering a market-leading, digital customer experience, said Erich Sternberg, senior vice president and head of Workforce Benefits, Pacific Life. To achieve this, we recognize the vital importance of having exceptional professionals in the field, who will be instrumental in building the right distribution partnerships to enable adoption and engagement throughout the employee benefits value chain. To that, we are proud to announce the newest members of our sales leadership team.

The team includes:

Mark Fecteau, regional vice president, general agent distribution. Mr. Fecteau brings 27 years of group benefit sales and leadership experience to Pacific Life. For the past 16 years, Mr. Fecteau held various sales leadership roles at MetLife, most recently leading its general agent/ third-party administrator and professional employer organization/association distribution teams.

Emilie Key, assistant vice president, sales operations. Ms. Key brings 17 years of sales leadership experience in the insurance industry. Ms. Key joins Pacific Life from Lincoln Financial Group having most recently led the small business sales team responsible for delivering group benefit solutions. Previously, Ms. Key spent 10 years as a sales leader in property & casualty with Applied Underwriters.

Rick Wolfe, regional vice president, broker distribution. Mr. Wolfe brings 27 years of sales and leadership experience in the insurance industry. Mr. Wolfe joins Pacific Life after nine years at Aflac leading sales in the Central region. Previously, Mr. Wolfe spent almost 16 years in sales and leadership positions at MetLife in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions for its non-medical group products.

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be at the forefront of an extraordinary venture, backed by the power, financial strength, and esteemed brand of Pacific Life, said John Myers, vice president distribution, Workforce Benefits, Pacific Life. We are building a team of exceptional sales professionals to join us on this exciting journey, driving innovation and setting new benchmarks in the group benefits market.

Pacific Life is actively recruiting sales representatives to build out territories across the United States. Interested candidates for these and other opportunities can find more information by visiting PacificLife.com/careers.

About Pacific Life

For more than 150 years, Pacific Life has helped millions of individuals and families with their financial needs through a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Whether your goal is to protect loved ones or grow your assets for retirement, Pacific Life offers innovative products and services that provide value and financial security for current and future generations. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients and has been named one of the 2023 Worlds Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2022 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2022 FORTUNE 500 list.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005228/en/

Jesse Page

949-219-4575

[email protected]

Source: Pacific Life
The event will feature keynote speaker sessions from Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, UN Chief Economist and more.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the global leader in supply chain education, transformation, innovation and leadership, today announced that registration is now open for its annual conference, ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America. This years event will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky September 11  13, 2023.

Keynote speakers at the event include John J. Sullivan, Former United States Ambassador to Russia, Elliot Harris, United Nations Chief Economist, Amanda Manna, Futurist and Vice President, Singularity University and Frankie Mossman, Chief Customer Officer, Overhaul.

Supply chains and how they are linked to global events are top of mind for anyone in business today, said ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. We are honored to have an incredible lineup of speakers participating in this years ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America so that our attendees can hear insights directly from experts that have been at the center of some of the largest challenges currently impacting global supply chains.

The premier event will be packed with thought-provoking presentations, hands-on workshops, and exciting networking opportunities for supply chain professionals. Attendees will have access to over 70 educational sessions, eight innovation labs, and six facility tours including Angels Envy Bourbon Distillery, UPS Worldport, Copper and Kings Brandy Distillery and Churchill Downs.

This years conference will also debut TECHTalks, a live forum for opinions and analysis on the latest tech trends in supply chains. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse lineup, from C-level executives to technology and start-up pioneers, to gain best practice advice, explore case studies and identify future strategies for their organizations. The exhibit hall will also debut Start Up Row which will highlight entrepreneurial companies in supply chain.

To learn more and register for ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America, visit https://connect.ascm.org/

About ASCM

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) is the global pacesetter of organizational transformation, talent development and supply chain innovation. As the largest association for supply chain, ASCM members and worldwide alliances fuel innovation and inspire accountability for resilient, dynamic and sustainable operations. ASCM is built on a foundation of world-class APICS education, certification and career resources, which encompass award-winning workforce development, relevant content, groundbreaking industry standards and a diverse community of professionals who are driven to create a better world through supply chain. To learn more, visit ascm.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005950/en/

ASCM:

[email protected]

Source: Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
PEARL RIVER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RK Pharma Inc, a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company based in the U.S. with subsidiaries in India, announced today an investment of up to 200 million USD from PAG, a leading global investment firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

RK Pharma is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of high quality, affordable generic pharmaceutical products with a particular focus on complex injectables. RK Pharma has a Sterile Drug Product Manufacturing facility in Pearl River, New York, USA. RK Pharma group of companies include subsidiaries Apicore, Archis Pharma and Aktinos Pharma. Apicore and Aktinos provide a rich supply of complex APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and Intermediates; and Archis Pharma is the commercialization arm of the RK Pharma Group.

Dr. Ravishanker Kovi, founder & Executive Chairman of RK Pharma and his executive management team will be partnering with PAG. Dr. Kovi is a world-class biomedical researcher and drug developer with an established record of bringing drugs to market. As Co-founder & CEO of Apicore, a U.S. based developer and manufacturer of specialty pharmaceuticals, he created a portfolio of more than 50 drug substances and drug products which was subsequently sold to Mylan in 2017.

RK Pharma is PAGs fifth India-focused private equity deal in recent years. Other notable investments include Nuvama, Indias second largest independent wealth manager; Gamot API, a platform for investing in leading active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) companies; and Acme Formulation, a leader in contract development and manufacturing outsourcing (CDMO) pharmaceuticals. PAG has invested more than USD1.5 billion in India in the last few years.

Dr. Kovi said, We are pleased to be partnering with PAG, an established investment firm with a successful track record of supporting leading companies in the pharmaceutical space. This transformative investment by PAG would help ensure that RK Pharma can accelerate its growth plans, partnerships, and develop/ launch further innovative medicines for the benefit of patients; and strengthen RK Pharmas position as a leading fully vertically integrated specialty injectable and ophthalmic pharmaceutical company.

Citadel Management Consulting, served as an exclusive financial advisor. Mr. Vijay Datt, CEO of Citadel said: RK Pharma is well poised to become a leading vertically integrated specialty injectable company. PAGs strategic investment is a massive endorsement of RKs strong R&D capabilities and unique positioning in the broader injectable CDMO space. I would like to sincerely thank RK Pharma for the opportunity to advise on the transaction.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP acted as legal counsel to RK Pharma Inc. on the deal.

About RK Pharma

RK Pharma Inc is a privately held US based company. We focus on the development, manufacturing, and sale of high quality and affordable generic pharmaceutical products worldwide. RK Pharma Inc. has a unique position in integrated development, manufacturing and Regulatory capabilities, with a focus on products with formulation challenges and first generic opportunities. For more information, visit www.rkpharmainc.com.

About PAG

PAG is a leading Asia-Pacific-based investment firm with three core businesses: Credit & Markets, Private Equity, and Real Assets. PAG manages capital on behalf of nearly 300 institutional fund investors, including some of the most sophisticated global asset allocators. PAG has approximately 300 investment professionals in 12 key offices, and more than USD50 billion in assets under management. For more information, please visit www.pag.com.

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Media Contact:

Apurv Gupta

AdFactors PR

[email protected]

Source: RK Pharma Inc
Since the Arab Spring wave of popular uprisings in 2011, several key Arab countries have practically disintegrated, with competing governments and armed militias fighting against each other for control.

Initial optimism and hope that a new era was about to dawn in the historically troubled region were replaced by deep pessimism and the sad reality that the world was accustomed to chaos in the region regardless of human loss.

Whether in Syria, Libya, Yemen or Sudan, the world has practically decided to live with the chaotic conditions there, not only doing nothing to help end the conflict, but even fuelling the bloodshed and all kinds of tragedies by backing up different warring sides.

Regional powers that had historic ambitions to expand their influence found in this turbulent situation the perfect opportunity to achieve their goals, making use of the reluctance of key world powers to interfere amid a global trend that sees countries electing populist governments and leaders that place the interests of their nations first.

For decades, especially during the Cold War, it was the worlds superpowers, the United States and the former Soviet Union, that determined how conflicts started and ended. Instead of direct confrontation, the Middle East and several other parts of the world became the playground for proxy wars between the two historic rivals.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was the United States that claimed world hegemony, along with key European allies. Yet this era of US dominance was short lived.

The majority of Americans have come to realise that adventurous wars abroad, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, were huge mistakes, if not disasters, which neither served US security interests nor set a good model on how foreign intervention might actually help to build democracy or economic prosperity.

Soon Russia and China emerged as key competing forces seeking to build what they describe as a multipolar world order. This competition among world powers is no longer limited to proxy wars in the Middle East and Africa, but is drawing closer to direct confrontations by the day.

The Russian war in Ukraine is not limited to the two countries, but is rather a direct undeclared war between the United States and Europe, on one hand, and Russia, on the other.

Generous American and European arms supplies to Ukraine and renewed pledges that it will ultimately join NATO are but a few indications that this war will last for years to come.

Making the situation worse is the growing tension in US-Chinese relations, which are the focus of a contest over the future global geopolitical landscape.

On Saturday, the United States Indo-Pacific Command said that an American naval destroyer slowed to avoid a possible collision with a Chinese Navy ship as it passed through the strait between China and Taiwan.

The Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, told Asias top security summit that conflict with the United States would be an unbearable disaster. Yet he still refused to meet his US counterpart for direct talks.

This complicated and uncertain world order leaves the Arab countries not option but to take the lead in solving their own problems, and not to wait for external world powers to play their traditional roles, simply because they seem too busy with their own conflicts, or no longer see this region as a top priority. There have been several positive signs in this direction in recent weeks.

The recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, following rare Chinese mediation in Middle East conflicts, has generated hope that several other regional conflicts might be heading for settlement.

The recent Arab Summit in Jeddah witnessed the readmission of Syria to the Arab League, not necessarily because Arab countries approve the record of its regime in handling the conflict there, but because no solution can be reached to restore the integrity and unity of the Syrian state without the participation of the regime which in recent years has managed to regain control over most of Syria.

The same applies to the conflict in Yemen, which has turned the country into one of the most impoverished in the entire world, inflicting heavy losses on the people. The truce between the legitimate government in Aden and the Houthis in Sanaa continued to hold, even though it was not officially renewed.

Hopefully, this will pave the road for peace talks, mediated by Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and the United Nations, to end the war permanently and restore the unity of Yemen.

Recognition that Arab countries should be the party mainly responsible for solving regional problems can also contribute to reaching settlements for the ongoing, sad war in Sudan, despite continuous disrespect of the truces mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Lebanon can also benefit tremendously from the renewed positive spirit of reconciliation in the region, and perhaps manage to surpass its long-standing deadlock, which has prevented the election of a president and a permanent government.

The Cairo-based Arab League will certainly have an influential role to play in supporting mediation efforts to end the many regional conflicts that have remained unsettled for years.

Yet, like similar inter-governmental organisations, this will require first strong backing from key Arab regional players, as well as bringing an end to negative intervention by non-Arab regional and international powers.

Arabs need to take their chances resolving their own conflicts now that its been so long since the world decided to let them down.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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National Winners of 31st Annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition to Be Commended at Awards Celebration

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the national winners of the 31st annual ExploraVision program, the worlds largest K-12 science competition, gathered in Washington, DC to be formally recognized for their winning projects. ExploraVision is sponsored by Toshiba and administered by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). This competition is designed to help students develop skills emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, including problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills. To participate, students were challenged to imagine and come up with an idea for a tool or technology of the future with the potential to solve the worlds critical problems.

Fostering young minds interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is at the core of Toshibaa company committed to raising the quality of life for people around the world. This commitment drove the company to partner with NSTA to create the ExploraVision competition in 1992. For 31 consecutive years, ExploraVision has helped children to expand their imaginations and have fun while developing an interest in STEM education at an early age.

Science Showcase

During the Science Showcase on June 9th, the eight winning student teams will showcase their prototypes and self-designed project websites. The students will present to members of the press, their peers, parents, educators, previous ExploraVision winners, NSTA board and council members, and leaders in education policy. High-profile attendees include Bill Nye the Science Guy; Justin Mr. Fascinate Shaifer; Ryuji Maruyama, chairman and CEO, Toshiba America, Inc.; Derrick Brent, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office; Dr. Elizabeth Mulkerrin, retiring president, NSTA; and Mr. Jorge Vidal, engineering research associate at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and past ExploraVision winner.

More Than Just a Science Competition

Over 2,000 teams entered projects in the 31st Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition, comprised of over 6,000 students from across the United States and Canada. This years winners have gone above and beyond to think critically and creatively about the biggest problems facing our world, from healthcare challenges to sustainability efforts to energy efficiency. Winning projects include:

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision 2023 National Winners

2023 First-Place Winners Grade K-3: MasterPack - St. Josephs School, Seattle, WA

Project Storyboard Grade 4-6: PetConnect - Open Window School, Bellevue, WA

Project website Grade 7-9: Fungi Fabrics - W.I. Dick Middle School, Milton, ON, Canada

Project website Grade 10-12: Martian Mycrops: Transporting Perchlorate Reducing Bacteria via Fungal Mycelium to Effectively Reduce Perchlorate Concentration in Martian Regolith  The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY

Project website



2023 Second-Place Winners Grade K-3: Project Forest  L.D. Batchelder, North Reading, MA

Project Storyboard Grade 4-6: The ER Assistant  W.I. Dick Middle School, Milton, ON

Project website Grade 7-9: Isolating and Producing Targeted Bacteriophages for the Eradication of African River Blindness  Connetquot High School, Bohemia, NY

Project website Grade 10-12: CiliaBuilder: A Hair Prosthetic for Your Ears  Alabama School of Math & Science, Mobile, AL

Project website



The eight national winning teams are comprised of a first-place winner and second-place winner from four groups based on grade level. Members of first place national winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place national winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity).

For more information or to access an application for the 2023/2024 program, visit www.exploravision.org or email [email protected]. Follow ExploraVision on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/ToshibaAmerica or join the ExploraVision Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/ToshibaAmerica.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation Toshiba Corporation leads a global group of companies that combines knowledge and capabilities from almost 150 years of experience in a wide range of businessesfrom energy and social infrastructure to electronic deviceswith world-class capabilities in information processing, digital and AI technologies. These distinctive strengths support Toshiba in building infrastructure that everyone can enjoy, and a connected data society, and in achieving the Companys ultimate goal, a future that realizes carbon neutrality and a circular economy. Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, Committed to People, Committed to the Future, Toshiba contributes to societys positive development with services and solutions that lead to a better world. The Group and its 110,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales of 3.4 trillion yen (US$25.1 billion) in fiscal year 2022.

About Toshiba America, Inc.

Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of four Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The three companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), and Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions).

About NSTA

The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org, or following NSTA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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Media:

Toshiba

Sarah Geist: [email protected]

NSTA

Kate Falk: [email protected]

Source: Toshiba
Teachmints Integrated School Platform to enable future-readiness in classrooms with a state-of-the-art ERP, modern LMS and digital content unified into a single offering

BANGALORE, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teachmint, creator of the Integrated School Platform (ISP), today announced a partnership with Cambridge CIC Schools across Central Asia. Together, Teachmint and CIC aim to empower and usher learners and educators into future-ready classrooms with Teachmints proprietary, state-of-the-art ISP.

While Central Asia has made considerable progress in bringing children into school over the past 20 years, there is more to be done across the region to achieve the UN SDG 4 of equitable, quality education target for 2030. Through their partnership, Teachmint and CIC aim to build educational infrastructure that enables personalization at-scale and delivers better outcomes for educators and learners.

Commenting on this partnership, Ekansh Bansal, Associate Vice President - International Business, Teachmint said, Breaking barriers and achieving equity through technology is the key to equip children with the necessary skills for an ever-evolving global economy. To achieve this, we must equip educators all over the world with tools that facilitate comprehensive learning and development for their students. We are delighted to collaborate with Cambridge International School in Uzbekistan to build truly global classrooms that give world-class education to children everywhere.

Umidjon Ishmukhamedov, Founder of Cambridge CIC Schools said, It is important for schools to give educators tools that save time so they can individualize education and focus on helping their students succeed. On our mission to prepare children in Uzbekistan for a digital-first world, Cambridge CIC School is happy to partner with Teachmint and empower our teachers and students with the power of technology.

The Integrated School Platform is designed to empower schools and institutes to achieve more with infrastructure innovation through the combination of a School Management System, a modern LMS and digital content unified into a comprehensive offering. The ISP has been localized in languages like Uzbek to better meet the needs of educators and learners in the region. Teachmint is also working on additional features that address the quality aspect of a learners journey while boosting digital and hybrid learning infrastructure in Central Asia.

Cambridge CIC School is Uzbekistans first private initiative to improve public education quality with partners like Pearson, Khan Academy, Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent and Cambridge International University to name a few.

About Teachmint:

Teachmint is an education infrastructure startup and the creator of the Integrated School Platform, an all-in-one school digitization solution. We have enabled millions of educators and thousands of schools to create global, future-ready classrooms with our proprietary technology and school software solutions. Today, Teachmint is available in 20+ Indian and International languages and has served 20 million + users from 30+ countries through its platform.

Teachmints flagship product, the Integrated School Platform, empowers every stakeholder of the school with its one-stop solution equipped with advanced administrator tools, a modern learning management system, premium learning content, and a unique all-in-one fee payment solution. We believe that the right integration of technology can help school leaders unlock the highest potential of their institutes and bring the best out of their teachers, students and even drive better parent engagement.

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For media queries, please contact:

Jaslein Mahil | [email protected] | +91 78370 21654

Source: Teachmint
VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Jeff T. Green Family Foundation today announced that it will work with Team Daya to fully fund the construction of a primary school in Nicaragua this fall. Team Daya raises funds to build schools in some of the most remote, impoverished regions of the world, providing access to education to children who might otherwise have to travel a prohibitive distance or not attend school at all. Team Daya works with local education authorities to not only fully construct new school facilities, but to also ensure ongoing support in terms of teaching and administrative services, and equal access to boys and girls.

Team Daya was founded in 2018 by Jay Sears, former Senior Vice President at Rubicon Project, a leading advertising technology pioneer. Since its inception, Team Daya has secured funding, support and on-the-ground resources from over 600 advertising technology industry executives, founders and CEOs. This represents The Jeff T. Green Family Foundations second investment in Team Daya, having previously partially funded a primary school in Nepal, which now serves more than 200 local children.

Team Daya brings together members of the ad tech industry to apply their data-driven mindset to the challenge of education provision in places where we can make a significant difference in outcomes for children and entire communities, said Jeff Green, Founder and CEO of The Trade Desk, and Founder of the Jeff T. Green Family Foundation. Im excited to make a substantial increase in the commitment of my foundation to Team Daya, so we can expand into Nicaragua, and apply the principles of dataphilanthropy there.

Team Daya has broad support across the ad tech ecosystem for its school building activities in some of the poorest, most remote places in the world where a single school building can create a generational impact for a community, said Team Daya Founder Jay Sears. We see Jeffs continuing support as setting a pace for our supporters and a bright light for the communities we serve.

To learn more about Team Daya, please visit https://supportteamdaya.com.

The Jeff T. Green Family Foundation applies data science to understand key moments where innovative interventions might remove obstacles to opportunity. The foundations initiatives are measurable, provable, and ultimately scalable, helping move from trials to large-scale programs rapidly and with high impact, engaging a broad and active group of supporters and stakeholders. To date, the foundation has invested in a wide range of non-profits including California State University Channel Islands, The Ruth Cheatham Foundation, Equality Utah, and The Center for Policing Equity.

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Melinda Zurich

Communications

The Trade Desk

[email protected]

Source: The Trade Desk
Not only Asias largest Web3 event, this years conference is expected to be the worlds largest of its kind

TOKEN2049 has already surpassed last years registration and sponsorship numbers with numbers steadily climbing ahead of September

Speaker highlights include prolific entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan; Ethereum Co-Founder Joe Lubin; Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TOKEN2049, Asias premier Web3 and crypto conference, has announced its first batch of high-profile title sponsors and headline speakers for its much-anticipated Singapore return. TOKEN2049 will take place from 13-14 September 2023 at Marina Bay Sands, ahead of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 race weekend.

TOKEN2049 is set to welcome over 10,000 attendees from over 3,500 companies, making it the largest event of its kind this year. With the conference taking place in Singapore once more, this speaks to the enduring importance of Asia as a driver of growth and vibrancy of innovation in the global digital asset ecosystem. Following the resounding success of its record-breaking Singapore 2022 event, TOKEN2049 will feature an expansive programme of over 300 side events and networking opportunities taking place from 11-17 September throughout the city-state.

Celebrating the events triumphant return to Singapore, Alex Fiskum, Co-Founder of TOKEN2049 said: Weve seen unprecedented traction and interest amid a record number of ticket registrations to date and confirmed speakers, sponsors and partners in our line-up. We expect TOKEN2049 Singapore to be the largest crypto event of the year, an unforgettable experience that will surpass our previous editions in terms of size, activity, and overall excitement.

Gathering global industry leaders, top decision makers and innovators, new additions in the 2023 agenda include hacker houses, technical workshops, and NFT galleries among others. The 2023 edition of the conference has already surpassed last years attendance, sponsorship and speaker milestones, with numbers rapidly rising ahead of September.

This years agenda spans the ever-evolving regulatory landscape, the rise of AI, Web3 gaming, NFTs and the metaverse, DeFi, scalability, interoperability, and many more. The impressive speaker line-up includes Balaji Srinivasan, Founder, Investor and Author of The Network State; Joe Lubin, Co-Founder of Ethereum and Founder of ConsenSys; Stani Kulechov, Founder and CEO of Aave; Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital; Sandeep Nailwal, Co-Founder of Polygon; and Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, along with a range of leading industry figureheads.

This is the second year for us to combine TOKEN2049 and Singapore Grand Prix where well unveil the new McLaren OKX custom livery. The event is a great starter to the weekend and to bring crypto and F1 fans together in a big way. This year has been about helping people see the future of Web3 through our latest rewrite the system campaign and Singapore will be a prime venue for us to amplify our efforts, said Haider Rafique, Chief Marketing Officer at OKX.

The diversity of this years title sponsors for TOKEN2049 Singapore speaks to the inherent vigour of the industry. This includes leading cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchange OKX; global fintech payments and stablecoin commerce platform Circle; worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance; global digital asset market maker and multi-stage Web3 investment firm DWF Labs; open-source blockchain technology firm EOS Network Foundation; DeFi asset management protocol Tranchess; top cryptocurrency exchange platform Kucoin; the worlds largest multichain ecosystem Polkadot; all-in-one, institutionally-focused digital asset platform Fireblocks; leading decentralised blockchain operating system TRON DAO; worlds largest crypto copy trading platform Bitget; open-source public blockchain Klaytn; and the worlds first Sharia-compliant crypto asset Islamic Coin.

For more information and continued updates on TOKEN2049 Singapore, please visit: https://www.asia.token2049.com/

###

Alex Fiskum, Co-Founder of TOKEN2049 is available for interview.

ABOUT TOKEN2049

TOKEN2049 is a premier Web3 event, organised annually in Singapore, where decision-makers in the global crypto ecosystem connect to exchange ideas, network, and shape the industry. TOKEN2049 is a global meeting place for entrepreneurs, institutions, industry insiders, investors, builders, and those with a strong interest in the crypto and blockchain industry.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230605005021/en/

Media Contact

[email protected]

Source: TOKEN2049
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Money 20/20  Truvity, the innovative startup on a mission to build instant trust and make it simpler for companies to work together, has announced the launch of its first product  a platform with SDK and API for developers of applications that want to harness the power of the SSI (Self Sovereign Identity) technologies. The company has exited stealth mode, announcing publicly for the first time its funding to date of 8m and is now rolling out early access for its technology.

Truvitys Self-Sovereign Identity toolkit allows you to securely and simply build your own digital identity ecosystem. Including the ability to do instant identification and verification based on the Self-Sovereign Identity principles that give companies and individuals full control over their data via their digital wallets and reusable verified credentials in them. These verifiable credentials can be standard credentials like your name, date of birth, address or more specific like educational diplomas or business directorships. Issued by for example organisations, institutions and through EU regulations like eIDAS 2.0. This identification infrastructure will ultimately replace traditional legacy databases and old systems containing thousands of customer identity documents strewn across organizations while giving companies and individuals a portable way to reuse their information, share it, and manage who has access. This is how instant trust is built.

The Truvity platform is designed to make a wide range of industries more transparent, secure, and agile when integrated by addressing the most fundamental issue  ineffective identification methods and document storage. In traditional finance and DeFi, conventional identification underlying Know Your Business / Know Your Customer processes make them long and painful for customers and service providers. The Truvity platform will remove the time-consuming manual element increasing efficiency and reducing the burdensome costs of compliance. Fast and simple identity verification thanks to reusable information controlled by the user, can also benefit HR, insurance, education, travel, social services, and many other sectors.

With multiple digital identity initiatives worldwide, there is an acute need for technologies that enable fast and easy application development. Specifically, in the EU, the eIDAS 2.0 directive is set to come into effect by September 2023, catalyzing the creation of the Digital Wallet market and making this technology available to every EU citizen for free. Truvity's SDK and API allows for the fast development of digital wallets, verifiable credential orchestration, and public key infrastructure. It also includes embedded widgets for form rendering, so you can change data requirements when needed without the tedious work. The overall platform functionality is flexible enough to be used for all types of SSI-based applications, even for complex B2B processes. With the goal of stripping away the complexity of developing self-sovereign identity applications so it can accelerate this paradigm shift in the archaic way we manage digital identity today.

Truvity's CEO and co-founder, Konstantin Mashukov, commented, "We encourage ambitious innovators, pioneering companies, curious researchers, and SSI enthusiasts to try our platform. Start building applications with Instant Trust under the hood powered by SSI technologies, bringing advantages for businesses, government, and citizens. Initial access will be free of charge for early adopters, and we are ready to provide all the necessary support. The demand for identity management is in every industry. Hence, the potential for its use is unlimited, and we want to encourage developers who can harness its power to start building on this new generation of technology."

The project began in 2021 with a vision to bring positive change to the world, driving growth, progress, and efficiency through instant trust. Truvity, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with a remote-first team has emerged from an earlier technology business Project Plato with financial support totalling 8m provided by Artek Group PLC.

"In recent years, Artek and its affiliated companies have been instrumental in fostering and financing a wide range of groundbreaking initiatives in fintech, regtech, and the digital identity technology sector. Leveraging extensive research and development efforts in these domains, Truvity has emerged as a cutting-edge SSI-focused API platform, which remains unparalleled in today's newly emerging SSI market. Artek's unwavering commitment to Truvity's success is evident, having provided approximately 8m to empower the team, facilitate the launch of operations, and introduce an exceptional product offering."  Denis Nagy, Managing Director of Artek and Truvitys co-founder.

The company is actively hiring, offering competitive salaries and perks.

Sign up here to be one of the first users of the Truvity platform SDK.

To learn more about Truvity and its innovative approach to digital identity, please visit their website at www.truvity.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005967/en/

George Fisher-Wilson, Head of Marketing

Phone: +31852088339

Email: [email protected]

Source: Truvity
On our journey towards carbon neutral steel, ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) North America will supply General Motors (GM) with XCarb recycled and renewably produced (RRP) steel, offering significantly reduced CO2 emissions compared to much of the carbon steel available in North America .1 Material will be supplied from ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton, Ontario and shipments are expected to begin during 2Q 2023.

ArcelorMittal North America's XCarb RRP steel is made via the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route and contains a stated minimum of 70% scrap, with up to 90% scrap, and does not use carbon offsets to achieve the reduced carbon intensity. XCarb RRP is a physical steel product. Its lower CO2 intensity has been independently verified with an accompanying Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) that includes Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. A confirmation letter verifies the electricity used in the steelmaking process is from renewable sources.

"A terrific first step in supplying steel with substantially lower CO2 emissions to automakers in North America ."

"This is a terrific first step in supplying steel with substantially lower CO2 emissions to automakers in North America ," says Peter Leblanc , CMO Automotive at ArcelorMittal. "As a global leader in the steel industry, we are making smarter steels for people and planet, and XCarb RRP is one of the smartest steels around. It is not the result of clever accounting or offsets  it is steel with physically lower CO2 emissions, which will help drive the achievement of ArcelorMittal's goal to be carbon neutral. We are proud to join GM in their march toward a zero emissions future."
Investing.com -- It had all the makings of a grand show, and a show is what it has been: oil prices jumped some 2% in a preliminary rally Monday fired by Saudi Arabias promise of deeper oncoming output cuts, before the trade wisened up to settle at a meekly higher close.

New York-traded West Texas Intermediate, or WTI, crude settled up 41 cents, or 0.6%, at $72.15 per barrel. The U.S. crude benchmark ran up to $74.31 earlier.

London-traded Brent crude settled up 58 cents, or 0.8%, at $76.71. The global crude gauge peaked at $78.23 during the session.

The Saudis are going at it alone in doing whatever it takes to stabilize oil prices, said Ed Moya, analyst at online trading platform OANDA. The Saudi problem is that energy traders arent believing the kingdom has enough power to sway all OPEC+ to deliver meaningful action.

Oil revenue is the lifeblood of the economies in OPEC, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a 13-member Saudi-led group whose main objective is to be the price-setter of the commodity. Ten other oil producing states, including Russia, that arent OPEC members have also been keeping their output closely in line with the groups for the sake of price. The 23-nation alliance is collectively known as OPEC+.

Oil prices jumped ahead of Mondays regular session in New York as traders reacted at the start of Asian trading to Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salmans remarks that the kingdom would slash an additional one million barrels per day in output from next month while other oil producers in OPEC+ maintain through next year production cuts they had pledged earlier.

The bullish charge in oil prices faded soon, however, as market participants considered the economic headwinds and other challenges that had made this year particularly difficult for those long the market.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs itself said the output deal was "moderately bullish" for oil markets and could boost December 2023 Brent prices by between $1 and $6 a barrel depending on how long Saudi Arabia maintains output at 9M barrels daily.

"The immediate market impact of this Saudi cut is likely lower, as drawing inventories takes time, and the market likely already put some meaningful probability on a cut today," the bank's analysts added.

Saudi Arabia went ahead and announced a separate hike in prices of its flagship crude Arab Light to Asian buyers in July to a six-month high.

Reuters observed in an analysis that many of the OPEC+ reductions will have little real impact as the lower targets for Russia, Nigeria and Angola bring them into line with their actual production levels. In contrast, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was allowed to raise output targets by 200,000 bpd to 3.22M bpd to reflect its larger production capacity.

The Saudis are basically giving up market share here and that strategy wont work over the long term, said Moya.

But all is not lost as the advance of summer could bring a surge in travel demand, said Moya.

The risk of more (Saudi) cuts seems unlikely given the market reaction, but also because the demand side of the equation should provide some stability for prices. The U.S. economy is about to show a very robust summer travel season that should mean gasoline and jet fuel demand is going to be very strong. The demand situation from Asia cant be that bad if the Saudis are also able to raise prices.
Boeing (NYSE: BA) said today that it will delay deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft due to flawed parts discovered during production.

According to Boeing, the issue revolves around a component for the 787 Dreamliner's horizontal stabilizer, which was installed by one of their production facilities located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The issue may affect about 90 already-built planes that have not been delivered, as well as a few on the final assembly line. The setback adds to the shortage of new aircraft as airlines struggle to meet post-pandemic travel demand.

The company said that the issue does not pose any flight safety risks. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has validated Boeing's findings regarding the aircraft's safety, providing assurance that there are no immediate risks affecting the in-service 787s.

According to the company, Dreamliner production will continue, and it aims to deliver 70-80 aircraft this year.

The company is working with regulators to determine any necessary actions. Boeing is also contending with a supplier defect affecting its 737 Max jets.

By Davit Kirakosyan
Anfield Energy Inc. is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement, dated June 5, 2023, with enCore Energy Corp. (enCore, or the Seller) (NYSE American: EU), an arms-length party, to acquire a 100% interest in the Marquez-Juan Tafoya uranium project (Juan Tafoya), located in the Grants Uranium Mineral District, 50 miles west-northwest of Alberquerque, New Mexico through the acquisition of enCores wholly-owned subsidiary, Neutron Energy, Inc. (Neutron).

Juan Tafoya hosts a historical indicated uranium resource, based on a Preliminary Economic Assessment commissioned by enCore, of approximately 7.1MT at an average grade of 0.127% returning 18.1Mlbs, using a minimum 0.60 GT cutoff (Marquez-Juan Tafoya Uranium Project, 43-101 Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment, BRS, Inc., June 2021). While the Company is not treating this resource as a current mineral resource, and a qualified person engaged by the Company has not done sufficient work to classify this resource as current mineral resource, the Company does believe the previous analysis conducted to be reliable and the information to be of assistance to readers.

As consideration for the acquisition of Neutron, enCore will receive 185 million common shares of the Company (the Consideration Shares) and C$5 million in cash. The Company has also agreed to grant enCore the right to nominate one Director to the board of directors of the Company, to serve as long as enCore continues to hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company. During this time, enCore has agreed to vote the Consideration Shares in support of any decisions made by management of the Company.

Completion of the acquisition of Neutron, and the issuance of the Consideration Shares, remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Following issuance, the Consideration Shares will be subject to statutory restrictions on resale for a period of four-months-and-one-day. No finders fees or commissions are owing by the Company in connection with the acquisition.

Corey Dias, Anfields CEO commented: We are very pleased to acquire the Marquez-Juan Tafoya Uranium Project for a number of reasons: first, the advanced nature of the Projects uranium resource, which is in line with our acquisition strategy of pursuing assets with either historical production or a historical or current resource; second, the size of the deposit, which would both represent Anfields largest single uranium project and increase the Companys uranium resource base by more than 60%; and third, the Companys expansion into another historically-prolific uranium region which could, in the longer term, serve as both a regional anchor project and Shootaring mill feed. Finally, we are pleased with the addition of enCore as a core shareholder, a company on the cusp of ISR-based uranium production in the US.

As previously mentioned, we will continue to seek out prospective assets which align with our two-fold strategy of acquiring both near term and longer-term uranium and vanadium assets which will fit into our overall production plan. The near-term strategy centers on our advanced Utah and Colorado uranium and vanadium projects  Velvet Wood, West Slope and Slick Rock  underpinned by our wholly-owned Shootaring Canyon mill, one of only three licensed conventional mills in the U.S. The longer-term production strategy includes the acquisition of complementary assets with potential to feed additional uranium and vanadium resource to our Shootaring Canyon mill. We believe that Juan Tafoya will both complement our existing portfolio of assets and serve as part of our longer-term uranium production strategy.

About the Marquez-Juan Tafoya Project

The Project is located within the Grants Uranium Mineral District of northwest New Mexico, approximately 50 miles west-northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It consists of two adjacent properties: Marquez and Juan Tafoya, that were previously developed by separate mining companies, Kerr-McGee Corporation and Bokum Resources, respectively. 926 drill holes totaling approximately 1.9 million feet drilled were completed by past operators.

In the 1970s to early 1980s, extensive mineral exploration by drilling defined significant uranium resources on the two properties. Mine and mineral processing infrastructure was constructed by Bokum Resources on the Juan Tafoya portion of the Project, including a 14-foot production shaft (completed to within 200 feet of the mine zone), a 5-foot ventilation shaft, and a partially-built mill processing facility and tailings disposal cell. The surface facilities were dismantled and reclaimed in the early 2000s.

Marquez Property - historyIn the early 1970s, Kerr McGee Corporation entered into a mineral lease agreement with the Williams family for the Marquez property. Exploration drilling began in 1973, and in 1978 Tennessee Valley Authority acquired a 50% interest in the property. In the 1980s, the property was returned to the mineral lease holder due to a significant decline in the uranium price. In 2007, the lease was acquired by Strathmore Minerals Corporation. Strathmore was subsequently acquired by Energy Fuels, Inc., who then sold Marquez to enCore.

Juan Tafoya  historyIn 1969, Devilliers Nuclear acquired mineral leases in the Juan Tafoya area and began exploratory drilling. In the early 1970s Exxon acquired the rights to 25 small mineral leases in the same area and began exploratory drilling. In 1975, Bokum Resources acquired both the Devilliers lease and the Exxon leases. In 1980, the property was returned to the mineral lease holder due to a significant decline in the uranium price. In 2006-07, Neutron Energy acquired the mineral leases and, in 2012, Neutron was acquired by Uranium Resources, Inc. (subsequently known as Westwater Resources, Inc.) In September 2020, enCore acquired Westwaters US uranium assets, including the mineral leases to the Juan Tafoya properties.

Qualified Persons

Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G., principal engineer at BRS Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Anfield

Anfield is a uranium and vanadium development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its assets. Anfield is a publicly traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (AEC-V), the OTCQB Marketplace (ANLDF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on its conventional asset centre, as summarized below:

Arizona/Utah/Colorado  Shootaring Canyon Mill

A key asset in Anfields portfolio is the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Garfield County, Utah. The Shootaring Canyon Mill is strategically located within one of the historically most prolific uranium production areas in the United States, and is one of only three licensed uranium mills in the United States.

Anfields conventional uranium assets consist of mining claims and state leases in southeastern Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, targeting areas where past uranium mining or prospecting occurred. Anfields conventional uranium assets include the Velvet-Wood Project, the Slick Rock Project, the West Slope Project, the Frank M Uranium Project, as well as the Findlay Tank breccia pipe. A combined NI 43-101 PEA has been completed for the Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock Projects. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and, resultantly, there is no certainty that the included preliminary economic assessment would be realized. All conventional uranium assets are situated within a 200-mile radius of the Shootaring Mill.

Technical Disclosure

Table 1. Anfields existing conventional uranium-vanadium project portfolio resources.

Project Location Classification Tons (kt) UraniumGrade(% U3O8) Contained Uranium(Mlbs U3O8) VanadiumGrade(% V2O5) Contained Vanadium(Mlbs V2O5) Velvet-Wood Utah M & I 811 0.29 % 4.6 - - Inferred 87 0.32 % 0.6 0.404 % 7.3 West Slope Colorado Indicated 2,452 0.142 % 6.9 - - Inferred 2,452 - - 0.708 % 34.7 Historic* 656 0.26 % 3.5 1.49 % 19.5 Slick Rock Colorado Inferred 1,760 0.224 % 7.9 1.35 % 47.1 Frank M Utah Historic* 1,137 0.101 % 2.3 - - Findlay Tank Arizona Historic* 211 0.226 % 1.0 - - Date Creek/Artillery Peak Arizona Historic* 2,602 0.054 % 2.8

* The Companys Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify these historic estimates as current mineral resources and Anfield is not treating such historical resources as current mineral resources.

Velvet-Wood: The PEA for Velvet-Wood/Slick Rock was authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer, of BRS Inc., Harold H. Hutson, P.E., P.G., Carl D. Warren, P.E., P.G., and Terence P. (Terry) McNulty, P.E., D. Sc., of T.P. McNulty and Associates Inc. (May 6, 2023). Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability in accordance with CIM standards. GT cut-off varies by locality from 0.25%-0.50%.

West Slope: NI 43-101 resource estimate for the JD-6, JD-7, JD-8 and JD-9 properties, completed by BRS Inc. (effective March 2022); Historic resource estimate for the SR-11, SR-13A, SM-18 N, SM-18 S, LP-21 and CM-25 properties, completed by Behre Dolbear for Cotter Corporation (August 2007). Indicated and Inferred resources using GT cut-off of 0.1 ft% eU3O8; historic resources using cut-off of 0.05% U3O8.

Slick Rock: The PEA for Velvet-Wood/Slick Rock was authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer, of BRS Inc., Harold H. Hutson, P.E., P.G., Carl D. Warren, P.E., P.G., and Terence P. (Terry) McNulty, P.E., D. Sc., of T.P. McNulty and Associates Inc. (May 6, 2023). Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability in accordance with CIM standards. GT cut-off varies by locality from 0.25%-0.50%.

Frank M: Historic Technical Report for Frank M, prepared for Uranium One Americas, was authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer of BRS Inc., and Andrew C. Anderson, P.E., P.G. Senior Engineer/Geologist of BRS Inc., dated June 10, 2008. Frank M historic resource used a GT cut-off of 0.25%.

Findlay Tank: Historic Technical Report for Findlay Tank, prepared for Uranium One Americas, was authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer of BRS Inc., dated October 2, 2008. Findlay Tank historic resource used a grade cut-off of 0.05% eU3O8.

Artillery Peak: Artillery Peak Exploration Project, Mohave County, Arizona, 43-101 Technical Report, authored by Dr. Karen Wenrich, October 12, 2010. GT cut-off varies by locality from 0.01%-0.05%.

On behalf of the Board of DirectorsANFIELD ENERGY INC.Corey Dias, Chief Executive Officer

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.

Contact:Anfield Energy, Inc.Clive MostertCorporate Communications780-920-5044

[email protected]

www.anfieldenergy.com Safe Harbor Statement

THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE THAT ARE NOT PURELY HISTORICAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INCLUDE ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE.

EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN, MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS THAT ARE PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY, OR THAT INCLUDE SUCH WORDS AS ESTIMATE, ANTICIPATE, BELIEVE, PLAN OR EXPECT OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE COMPANY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL EXPLORATION AND FUNDING AS WELL AS THE RISKS SHOWN IN THE COMPANYS MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS AND FROM TIME-TO-TIME IN OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY. OTHER RISKS INCLUDE RISKS ASSOCIATED FUTURE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE COMPANYS ABILITY AND LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ITS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE COMPANYS EXPLORATION EFFORTS WILL SUCCEED OR THE COMPANY WILL ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, OR TO UPDATE THE REASONS WHY ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE ARE REASONABLE, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THOSE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER ALL OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN AND SHOULD ALSO REFER TO THE RISK FACTORS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPANYS PERIODIC REPORTS FILED FROM TIME-TO-TIME.

THIS NEWS RELEASE HAS BEEN PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY WHO TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS.

Source: Anfield Energy Inc.
FILE PHOTO: Boeing employees assemble 787s inside their main assembly building on their campus in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., May 30, 2023. Gavin McIntyre/Pool via REUTERS

By Valerie Insinna and David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Boeing said on Tuesday it could be forced to slow deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner after the company discovered a new production flaw that will require it to inspect all 90 jets in its inventory, the latest in a series of setbacks for the widebody plane.

While the newly-found production hiccup does not pose a flight safety concern, it follows an month-long 787 delivery stoppage that was resolved in March and adds yet another delay for Boeing as the U.S. planemaker struggles to rework the planes before they can be delivered to customers.

The problem involves a fitting for the 787's horizontal stabilizer installed by a Boeing production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company said. The horizontal stabilizer, located at the base of an aircraft's tail, allows a plane to maintain longitudinal balance while flying.

Boeing will need to inspect all 90 Dreamliners in its inventory before they can be delivered, and expects it will take two weeks to fix each aircraft, the company added.

The manufacturer said it found last week that the fitting included shimming - a material that fills gaps between the surfaces of an aircraft - that was improperly sized and did not meet specifications. On Friday, it stopped approving 787s suspected to have the flaw for delivery, the company said.

The issue does not immediately affect in-service 787s, Boeing said, but the company could not say how far back the issue stretches or whether Dreamliners currently operated by airlines will need a fix.

Boeing, which announced last week that it had increased 787 production from three to four jets a month, said the issue has not caused a halt in 787 production.

"There should be minimal production disruption given conforming shims require only minor changes," Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu said in a note to clients.

Boeing shares, which fell 2.4% immediately after the defect was announced, closed 0.7% lower on Tuesday.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement it had validated Boeing's assessment that there was no immediate safety issue for 787s already in service.

The agency, however, said it would not issue any new airworthiness certificates for the 787 until the matter was addressed to its satisfaction.

The FAA typically delegates such authority to the manufacturer. But in some instances, like the 737 MAX and 787, it has retained responsibility for approving each new airplane.

Boeing said it has notified customers that rework would affect the timing of near-term 787 deliveries, but added that it believed it could still deliver 70 to 80 Dreamliners this year.

The 787's latest problem mirrors production issues discovered over 2020 and 2021 that included improperly fitted shimming that led to paper-thin gaps between surfaces on the Dreamliner's fuselage.

Boeing stopped 787 deliveries at multiple points during that period, resuming them last August after agreeing to an FAA-approved modification plan for Dreamliners in the company's inventory.

The company faced yet another 787 delivery stoppage in February after Boeing found a data analysis error regarding the forward pressure bulkhead that was unrelated to the shimming problem. In March, the FAA said it would allow Boeing to restart 787 deliveries, as the U.S. planemaker had addressed concerns.

The latest 787 production defect comes as Boeing grapples with a 737 bracket installation issue disclosed in April, which slowed deliveries of the cash-generating family of narrowbody jets, including the bestselling MAX 8 model.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun in April called the problem a "gnarly defect" that was nearly impossible for workers to visibly assess. The company said last month it had begun delivering reworked 737s.

(Reporting by Valerie Insinna and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham, Deepa Babington and Jamie Freed)
Novelist, travel writer, and founder of the British Egypt Exploration Fund Amelia Edwards has been given a rewarding new biography, writes David Tresilian in an occasional series on books by visitors to Egypt

The Victorian novelist, travel writer, and founder of the British Egypt Exploration Fund Amelia Edwards is not as well known today as perhaps she should be, given her remarkable and trail-blazing life and career.

Not only was she a successful writer of novels and travel books, the latter including a record of a boat trip from Cairo to Aswan entitled A Thousand Miles up the Nile, but she was also a determined advocate for causes including the protection of Egypts antiquities, in her day threatened by unscrupulous private dealers and official neglect.

Taking stock of the situation during her journey up the Nile in a dahabiyah, or houseboat, in 1873, during which she stopped off at many of the ancient Egyptian sites that line the banks of the Nile in Upper Egypt, Edwards resolved to write up her journey for the benefit of English-speaking readers.

The sites were being damaged by development and increasing tourism, and Edwards realised, as some others did in Egypt and elsewhere at the time, that if they were to survive to bear witness to the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilisation they would need far greater conservation and protection.

Where Edwards differed from others also concerned at the damage being done to the ancient Egyptian sites and monuments was in her determination to do something about it. After the publication of the record of her trip in 1877, she set to work to protect them, notably by founding the UK Egypt Exploration Fund, later the Egypt Exploration Society, that was intended to pay for the excavation of unexcavated sites.

She worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds, and the Fund later supported the British archaeologist Flinders Petrie in his early excavations in the Delta, some of the most important carried out in this distinguished Egyptologists long career. It also supported the early work of Howard Carter, some decades later the discover of the tomb of the ancient Egyptian golden boy-king Tutankhamun.

However, despite her importance to the development of Egyptology, her interest in the subject was almost accidental, as a new full-length biography, The Adventurous Life of Amelia Edwards by UK writer Margaret Jones, reveals. She also had many obstacles to overcome in developing that interest that would not have been faced by her male peers.

Born in London in 1831, there was little in Edwardss early life that might have predicted her going on to play so important a role in the development of Egyptology aside perhaps from her intense interest in other countries and places besides her own.

An almost exact contemporary of the more famous Bronte sisters, born in the north of England in similar economic circumstances, Edwards was attracted early on to producing voluminous imaginative works, perhaps as a substitute for the experiences given to many of her male peers but typically denied to young women.

The latter were often kept cloistered up in the parental home and only left it upon marriage. They had few opportunities for formal education, and even fewer possibilities for rewarding careers.

Like the Bronte sisters, Edwards reacted to this situation by developing her imagination, finding in the writing that she began to produce from the age of seven onwards a way of exploring the opportunities denied her by the social conventions of the time.

By her early twenties, she had begun to develop herself professionally as a writer, publishing her first novels in the early 1850s and later living from her pen, even if that meant having to produce a stream of potboilers as well as more inspired pieces.

There were grim-sounding schoolbooks of a kind probably familiar to the governesses that people the novels of many women writers of the time, among them a Summary of English History and A History of France from the Conquest of Gaul. These included questions adapted to each paragraph for the use of schools, presumably framed with the bleak determination necessitated by having to earn a living.

There was also a suitor, a Mister Bacon, first name unknown, probably entertained more for the sake of her parents than for her own, since Edwardss happiness, like that of most 19th-century women writers, was never to be found in marriage. She broke off the engagement almost as soon as it started and devoted herself to earning her living through writing. This was possible for a young woman of the right background in mid-Victorian England as the examples of others had shown.

Jones is sympathetic towards Edwardss potboilers in her biography, and she is prepared to give at least some of the novels the benefit of the doubt. However, while the analysis she provides of novels such as My Brothers Wife (1855), The Ladder of Life (1856), and Hand in Glove (1858) is intriguing, few if any readers today are likely to want to turn up Edwardss novels from the rather dutiful plot summaries she provides.

After she had thrown herself into Egyptology in the 1870s, the novel-writing stopped. While there is Lord Brackenbury (1880), the story of an English peer who makes a new life for himself transporting people and goods around the coastal ports of Italy, Edwards gave up writing novels whether owing to lack of time, physical exhaustion, or because she found her work for the Exploration Fund more compelling, Jones says.

A trip up the Nile: The expansion of the reading public and the growing ease of travel in the mid-Victorian decades led to a boom in travel writing, with the genre appealing to women writers as much as it did to men.

The French novelist Gustave Flauberts letters from Egypt, sent in the late 1840s when the author tagged along on a trip paid for by the French government, are early examples of a genre that soon saw a clutch of English women authors catching a steamer at Southampton on their way to Egypt with writing projects in mind. Sophia Lane Poole, sister of the orientalist Edward Lane, published her Englishwoman in Egypt in 1846, and Lucie Duff-Gordon, published her Letters from Egypt in 1865.

Wanting to develop her talents to fit the new profile of travel writer to add to her role as the writer of schoolbooks and novels, Edwards left for the Dolomites Mountains in northern Italy in 1872, going on to publish her Untrodden Peaks: A Midsummer Ramble in the Dolomites in London in 1873. Later in the same year, she left for Egypt and a trip up the Nile in response to a suggestion from her publisher who wanted a travel book on a country generating increasing international interest after the 1869 opening of the Suez Canal.

Edwards had never left Europe before her Egyptian trip, but she threw herself into it with characteristic gusto. In her write-up, A Thousand Miles up the Nile, she describes boarding the Philae, the ship that was to take her up the Nile to Aswan, in late 1873, along with the cast of characters that was to accompany her and her readers. These included the captain Reis Hassan, short, stern-looking, and authoritative, a steersman, 12 sailors, a cook, an assistant cook, two waiters, and the boy who cooked for the crew. There was also a dragoman who acted as an interpreter or guide.

The Philae proceeded at a leisurely pace, reaching Minya by Christmas where it was boarded by more English visitors, before setting off again for Luxor, Aswan, and, eventually, Abu Simbel, then accessible by boat before the building of the Aswan High Dam. Jones quotes liberally from Edwardss descriptions of the sites and monuments she visited, pointing to the way in which she dramatises the trip by recording the interactions between her cast of characters, Egyptian and English, as they shared the same restricted space on their way up the Nile.

The Egyptian people Edwards got closest to were the sailors and other crew members of the Philae, she says, adding that each of them told her his story, in which the local oppressor and the dreaded military conscription were invariably central themes.

It was on this trip that Edwards became aware of the shocking neglect of Egypts precious cultural heritage, Jones says, the remedying of which was to absorb most of her energy during her remaining years. Damage to the monuments took many forms. Tourists scribbled on them; local people carted off masonry for their own building needs; even professional scholars, taking prints of precious wall paintings, used a method that over time destroyed the original colours. Unscrupulous excavators carried off temple statuary for foreign museums or for their own private collections.

Back in London, Edwards began sounding out friends and acquaintances about ways to protect the monuments from further damage while also contributing to excavation and research. A preliminary meeting of what was to become the UK Egypt Exploration Fund was held in London at Edwardss instigation in June 1880, followed by its first regular committee meeting two years later. Negotiations then began with Egypts then Director of Antiquities, the Frenchman Auguste Mariette, on excavation licenses.

In early 1883, the Fund appointed Egyptologist Edouard Naville to carry out its first sponsored excavations at Tel al-Maskhuta in the eastern Delta, followed a year later by the young Flinders Petrie, the author of a survey of the Great Pyramid at Giza, who was contracted to excavate at the ancient site of Tanis some 40 miles west of the Suez Canal.

Edwards worked tirelessly to raise funds for the Fund and to raise its national and international profile while at the same time sitting on its committee and reviewing reports on excavations, requests for funding, and, more often than perhaps might have been thought, adjudicating conflicts between some of the nascent fields outsize egos.

By 1890, the date when Edwards returned from America after a successful Egyptological lecture tour drawing on materials collected in her Pharaohs, Fellahs, and Explorers, her overall achievements, widely recognised, were nevertheless difficult to classify, Jones says. When she died, just one year later, she made provision in her will for the foundation of the Edwards Chair of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at University College London, where it still exists today. As for the Egypt Exploration Fund, this changed its name to the Egypt Exploration Society in 1919 and continues to fund excavations and other activities.

Joness admiring new biography is a good place to start for all those wanting to gauge the full range of Edwardss Egyptological and other achievements.

Margaret Jones, The Adventurous Life of Amelia Edwards, London: Bloomsbury, 2022, pp219.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Ryan Specialty (NYSE: RYAN), a leading international specialty insurance firm, is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of ACE Benefit Partners, Inc. (ACE), a medical stop loss general agent. ACE is headquartered in Eagle, Idaho and was founded in 2014.

Discussing their benefits strategy, Pat Ryan, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Ryan Specialty said, The ACE team has proven to be true experts in the field of medical stop loss insurance, a foundational benefits solution with ever increasing relevance as employers seek the twin goals of flexibility and cost efficiency. Were excited to partner with ACE to assist retail brokers and TPAs in crafting optimal insurance structures on behalf of their clients.

John Zern, President & CEO of Ryan Specialty Benefits, commented, ACE brings exceptional talent to Ryan Specialty Benefits. Jason, Terry and Angi each have decades of experience working with retail brokers on the intricacies of medical stop loss insurance. They have built a product set and capabilities that have attracted an outstanding roster of clients and markets. We look forward to working with ACE in establishing a nationwide presence in medical stop loss distribution.

The principals of ACE, Jason Lankford, Terry Madge, and Angela Maggi, collectively commented, We are completely aligned with Ryan Specialtys mission to deliver innovative solutions to the retail broker community. By partnering with Ryan Specialty, we see a tremendous opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of our relationships with these key stakeholders. The culture of Ryan Specialty embraces empowerment, teamwork and integrity, all of which are core values of ACE. We are looking forward to being a part of this exceptional firm.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in July 2023.

Reagan Consulting served as exclusive financial advisor to ACE.

About Ryan Specialty

Founded in 2010, Ryan Specialty is a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. Ryan Specialty provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration and risk management services by acting as a wholesale broker and a managing underwriter with delegated authority from insurance carriers. Ryan Specialtys mission is to provide industry-leading innovative specialty insurance solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. ryanspecialty.com

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect Ryan Specialtys current intentions, expectations or beliefs regarding the proposed acquisition of Socius. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words aim, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, likely, outlook, plan, potential, project, projection, seek, can, could, may, should, would, will, the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, including statements related to the acquisition and the future prospects of the integrated business. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties related to the offering, Ryan Specialty and its business can be found under the heading Risk Factors in the documents of Ryan Specialty on file with the SEC, including the risk factors discussed throughout the Risk Factors section of our prospectus forming a part of the Form S-3ASR filed on May 22, 2023, our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2023, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023 filed on May 5, 2023, in each case, with the SEC, as such factors may be updated from time to time in periodic filings made by Ryan Specialty with the SEC. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. There is no assurance that any forward-looking statements will materialize. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect expectations only as of this date. Ryan Specialty does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005456/en/

Media



Alice Phillips Topping



Chief Marketing & Communications Officer



Ryan Specialty



[email protected]



(312) 635-5976







Investor Relations



Nicholas Mezick



Director, Investor Relations



Ryan Specialty



[email protected]



(312) 784-6152

Source: Ryan Specialty
SOS Limited ("SOS" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOS) today announced that it plans to change the ratio of its American depositary shares ("ADSs") from one (1) ADS representing five hundred (500) Class A ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Class A ordinary shares (the "ADS Ratio Change").

The ADS Ratio Change is expected to take place at the open of trading on June 16, 2023 ( U.S. Eastern Time) (the "Effective Date") and is being effected simultaneously with the one-for-fifty share consolidation of the Company's Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.005 each (the "Share Consolidation"), which was approved at the Company's annual general meeting of shareholders held on May 1, 2023 . The planned simultaneous Share Consolidation and ADS Ratio Change will not affect the number of the Company's ADSs outstanding or the ADS trading price on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). ADS holders of record on the Effective Date will not need to surrender their ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation or exchange in connection with the ADS Ratio Change. After the ADS Ratio Change, SOS's ADSs will continue to be traded on the NYSE under the symbol "SOS".

About SOS Limited

SOS is an emerging blockchain-based and big data-driven marketing solution provider, with a nationwide membership base of approximately 20 million in China . SOS is also engaged in blockchain and cryptocurrency operations, which currently include cryptocurrency mining and maybe expand into cryptocurrency security and insurance in the future. Since April 2021 , we launched commodity trading via our subsidiary SOS International Trading Co. Ltd. The core infrastructure of SOS's marketing data, technology and solutions to insurance and emergency rescue services is built on big data, blockchain-based technology, cloud computing, AI, satellite, and 5G network, etc. SOS has created a cloud "software as a service (SaaS)" platform for emergency rescue services, with three major product categories: basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information cloud. This system provides innovative marketing solutions to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers, and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, our expectations for future financial performance, business strategies or expectations for our business. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. SOS cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Words such as "may," "can," "should," "will," "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," "look" or similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and our management's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but not are limited to, the risk factors described by SOS in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in deciding whether to invest in our securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sos-limited-announces-planned-ads-ratio-change-301843690.html

SOURCE SOS Ltd.
VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a leading portfolio of active-lifestyle brands, today announced it has launched operations at its new distribution center in Ontario, California, employing approximately 550 people during peak periods.

The new 1.2 million square foot facility is the largest and most efficient within VFs global network of 46 distribution centers. The facility's state-of-the-art automation and capabilities, implemented in partnership with Vanderlande Industries, will enable VF to provide more efficient distribution services for its owned retail stores, wholesale customers and owned e-commerce orders.

The centers 76-million-unit annual shipping capacity will initially service Vans and The North Face with the capability to add more VF brands. With a digital-first design, the center has the capacity to ship 485,000 units per day  twice the processing capacity and efficiency compared to a traditional distribution center  and provide next day e-commerce fulfillment for consumers in California, Nevada, Arizona and southern Utah.

The new center was designed to support VFs sustainability commitments, with features and innovative systems that help reduce the impact on the environment, including an estimated 56% in annual energy cost savings through energy efficient lighting, controls and submetering, a total of 48% recycled content in building materials, diversion of 98% of construction waste from the landfill, and designing for daylight and views in the regularly occupied areas of the building. The building design and construction has achieved LEED Gold certification. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the worlds most widely used green building rating system. The building is on track to receive WELL Gold certification, a performance-based standard that focuses on enhancing health and wellness, managed and administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

Cameron Bailey, EVP Global Supply Chain commented: We are proud to introduce VFs largest and most efficient distribution center to date. Servicing our consumers and customers is our number one focus and this facility allows us to get our product to our consumer faster using technologically advanced equipment, which results in reduced lead times and increased efficiency in meeting consumer demands.

Jon Watschke, Vice President, West Coast Distribution Center Transition, added: The new Distribution Center was designed with employee health and well-being in mind. The center offers EV chargers, both indoor and outdoor restorative areas and features a robust fitness facility on site to encourage health and wellness.

Francisco Moreno Velo, President of Warehouse Solutions North America, Vanderlande Industries, commented: Vanderlande is proud to partner with VF to implement market-leading, future-proof automated warehouse solutions for the Ontario, California distribution center to more effectively meet VFs consumer demands across wholesale, retail and e-commerce in the region.

Recruitment for the fulfillment center took place throughout early 2023. A majority of the roles have been filled, with additional operator jobs to be added as volume increases.

About VF Corporation

Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the worlds largest active-lifestyle companies which connects people to the activities and experiences they cherish most through a portfolio of outdoor, active, workwear and streetwear brands including Vans, The North Face, Timberland and Dickies. Our purpose is to power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. We connect this purpose with a relentless drive to succeed to create value for all stakeholders and use our company as a force for good. For more information, please visit vfc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005158/en/

Colin Wheeler



Vice President, Corporate Communications



[email protected]

Source: VF Corporation
Investing.com -- Investors have taken around $780 million out of Binance in the past 24 hours after the U.S. Securities and Exchange sued the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, according to figures from data firm Nansen.

The U.S. affiliate of Binance also saw outflows of $13M over the same timeframe, Nansen added.

The move comes after the SEC brought forward thirteen civil charges against Binance, including claims that the company had diverted customer funds into a trading entity controlled by chief executive Changpeng Zhao. That trading firm had also engaged in manipulative tactics to inflate Binance's trading volumes, the SEC added.

The SEC complaint also said Binance had been running unregistered exchanges and had misrepresented its trading controls to authorities.

"[W]e allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a filing.

Binance has denied the allegations, saying that user assets on its U.S. platform have never been at risk. But it noted that it is complying with SEC investigators.
Telecommunications firm Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is trading higher Tuesday as investors reacted positively to the firm's second-quarter earnings release.

The company posted Q2 EPS of $0.74, $0.13 better than the analyst estimate of $0.61, with revenue for the quarter, which increased 19% year-on-year, coming in at $1.13 billion versus the consensus estimate of $1.09 billion.

One of Ciena's customers represented 10.9% of the company's total revenue. The company's inventories totaled $1.1 billion, while headcount closed the quarter at 8,385.

CIEN shares are up 4% at the time of writing, trading just under the $49.50 mark.

The company said its improving supply chain dynamics helped to boost its results as it was able to ship more to customers.

"We are confident in our ability to take market share given our backlog and strategic industry position with market-leading technologies and an expanding addressable market," said CIEN CEO Gary Smith.

By Sam Boughedda
The logo for Canadian mining company Teck Resources Limited is displayed above their booth at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

By Divya Rajagopal

TORONTO (Reuters) -Teck Resources said on Tuesday it has received several proposals for its steelmaking coal business, without revealing if one included a revised offer from Swiss trading and mining firm Glencore which launched its takeover bid for the Canadian miner over two months ago.

Vancouver-based Teck said in a statement its board will evaluate all "actionable, value-accretive proposals" before making a decision, noting that a transaction is not guaranteed.

It did not reveal the names of interested parties, or whether it includes an offer from Glencore.

Glencore declined to comment on Tuesday when asked if it has presented a revised offer to Teck's board or its shareholders.

Teck's coal mines are among the few left in the world, which makes it attractive to Glencore as it seeks to combine them with its own thermal coal business. Glencore has said that it would consider buying Teck's coal business alone.

Reuters previously reported that Canadian mining entrepreneur Pierre Lassonde is forming a consortium to buy a stake in Teck's coal business, while Japanese steel maker Nippon Steel Corporation has also said it is in talks with Teck to invest in the coal business.

A partial or full sale of Teck's coal business would end Glencore's effort to revive its $22 billion offer for Teck, which the Canadian company has rebuffed twice. In its latest revised offer on April 11, Glencore offered to pay $8.2 billion in cash for Teck's coal business to shareholders, a valuation in-line with what analysts' estimates.

In late April, Teck withdrew the plan to split its copper and coal business after failing to secure enough shareholder support, and promised to present a "simpler and more direct" split. Glencore had told Teck's shareholders that if they rejected Teck's proposed split it will put forward a sweetened offer, which is yet to materialize.

Teck shares rose 3% to C$57.16 at end of Tuesday's trade.

Lassonde told Reuters in a text message on Monday that there are many Canadians who have been "incredibly supportive" to keep Teck's coal business in Canadian hands. But he declined to give details of his consortium members saying the parties have signed a confidentiality agreement.

Teck CEO Jonathan Price in a statement to Reuters said Lassonde does not speak for Teck and does not have an informed view of the intentions for Teck's steelmaking coal business.

For Teck any investment will be ultimately signed by the Keevil family, which founded Teck, and control company via dual class shareholding.

(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy, Divya Rajagopal; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Richard Chang and Marguerita Choy)
- Financing led by Atlas Venture and Forbion



- Company created, incubated and seed financed by Sofinnova Partners

MILAN, Italy, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAVantgarde Bio (AAVantgarde), a clinical-stage, Italian-based international biotechnology company with two proprietary Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vector platforms for large gene delivery, today announced the closing of a 61 million Series A financing. The financing was co-led by US biotechnology venture creation firm Atlas Venture and European life sciences venture capital investment firm Forbion, with participation from Longwood Fund and the Companys founding investor Sofinnova Partners through its Sofinnova Telethon Fund. In connection with the Series A financing Jason Rhodes from Atlas Venture, Dmitrij Hristodorov from Forbion, and David Steinberg from Longwood Fund will join the AAVantgarde Board.

AAVantgarde has two proprietary, AAV-based large gene delivery platforms: one leveraging DNA recombination, named dual hybrid; and one protein trans-splicing, named AAV intein. The company is validating the platforms in two lead programs: Usher Syndrome Type 1 B associated retinitis pigmentosa (Usher1B), using dual hybrid; and Stargardt disease, using AAV intein. This financing will fund completion of a first-in-man proof of concept (POC) study in subjects with Usher1B and further development of AAV intein program and entry into the clinic for Stargardt disease. The company also intends to pursue programs beyond ophthalmology.

This financing represents a hallmark moment in our mission to help patients and we are excited to work with both our new and founding investors to advance our platforms and pipeline, said Dr. Natalia Misciattelli, Chief Executive Officer of AAVantgarde. The completion of this round with such a high-caliber group of global life science investors is a recognition of the significance of AAVantgardes unique technology, which will initially be utilized to help patients suffering with the debilitating impact of blindness associated with Usher1B syndrome and Stargardt disease.

AAV gene therapy has been limited by transgene capacity, and AAVantgardes proprietary platforms enable delivery of large genes to tissue and cells in vivo; something that could extend into many disease areas, said Jason Rhodes, partner at Atlas Venture.

AAVantgarde has a clear mission to bring next generation genetic medicines to underserved patients with debilitating diseases, bringing hope to inherited retinal disease patients with Usher1B syndrome and Stargardt disease to improve vision, said Dmitrij Hristodorov of Forbion. We are excited by the opportunity to partner with, and support, such a dedicated team with a proven track record of success.

About AAVantgarde Bio

AAVantgarde Bio is a clinical stage, Italian headquartered, international biotechnology company that has developed two proprietary Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vector platforms to address the gene therapy cargo capacity limitations of AAV vectors. The AAVantgarde platforms could be used to deliver large genes to ocular and non-ocular tissues. Co-founded by Professor Alberto Auricchio at TIGEM (Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine) in Naples, Italy, and Telethon Foundation, AAVantgarde will initially validate the platform in the clinic in two inherited retinal diseases with clear unmet need. For more information, please visit: www.aavantgardebio.com

About Atlas Venture

Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups for over 25 years. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value. For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com

About Forbion

Forbion is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Singapore. Forbion invests in life sciences companies that are active in the (bio-) pharmaceutical space. Forbion manages 3 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. Forbions current team consists of over 30 life sciences investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with investments in 95 companies across 8 funds. Forbions record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Portfolio company successes include NewAmsterdam Pharma, Gyroscope (acquired by Novartis) and Replimune. Besides financial objectives, Forbion selects investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of patients. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany. For more information, please visit: www.forbion.com

About Sofinnova Partners

Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability. Based in Paris, London and Milan, the firm brings together a team of professionals from all over the world with strong scientific, medical and business expertise. Sofinnova Partners is a hands-on company builder across the entire value chain of life sciences investments, from seed to later-stage. The firm actively partners with ambitious entrepreneurs as a lead or cornerstone investor to develop transformative innovations that have the potential to positively impact our collective future.

Founded in 1972, Sofinnova Partners is a deeply established venture capital firm in Europe, with 50 years of experience backing over 500 companies and creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over 2.5 billion under management. For more information, please visit: www.sofinnovapartners.com

About Longwood Fund

Longwood Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to creating and investing in novel healthcare companies that develop important treatments to help patients while generating significant value for investors. The Longwood team has a long history of successfully launching and building important life science companies while providing operational leadership and strategic guidance. Collectively, the Partners at Longwood Fund have co-founded 24 companies with over 20 launched or marketed drugs and therapies, as well as over two dozen clinical stage assets, all focused on helping patients in need. Companies founded by Longwood Fund, or its principals prior to the founding of the Firm, as lead investor and CEO/CBO include Acceleron, Momenta, Alnylam, Vertex, Sirtris, Vor, TScan, Pyxis Oncology, Immunitas, Be Biopharma, Tome Bio, Photys, Carbon Biosciences, and DEM BioPharma. For more information, please visit www.longwoodfund.com.

About Fondazione Telethon and TIGEM

Fondazione Telethon (the Telethon Foundation) is a major biomedical charity in Italy whose mission is to advance biomedical research to cure rare genetic diseases. Throughout its 32 years of activity, Fondazione Telethon has invested almost 600 million in funding over 2,700 projects to study 580 diseases, involving more than 1,600 researchers in Italy. As part of its goal to foster development and maximize the therapeutic impact of research, Fondazione Telethon further pursues cooperation with academia, industry, and venture capital through the creation of partnerships and start-ups. TIGEM is a Telethon Foundation research centre in Pozzuoli, near Naples, and comprises several research groups and over 200 staff members, all dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind rare genetic diseases and developing novel treatments. For more information, please visit www.telethon.it/en

About Usher syndrome

Usher syndrome type 1B (Usher1B) is an inherited disease that affects the retina and the inner ear. Usher1B is caused by mutations in the MYO7A gene. The therapeutic gene to treat Usher1B is 6.7 kb long and is therefore too large to fit inside a standard AAV vector. Approximately 20,000 patients in the U.S. and E.U. have Usher1B. These children are born deaf, have vestibular dysfunction, and begin to progressively lose vision in their first decade of life. Although, there are surgical treatments available to treat deafness in these patients, there are no treatments available to treat progressive vision loss and blindness in these patients.

About Stargardt Disease

Stargardt disease is the most common inherited macular degeneration. Inherited in most of the cases as autosomal recessive, Stargardt disease is caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene. The therapeutic gene to treat Stargardt disease (ABCA4) is 6.8 kb long which is too large to fit inside a standard AAV vector. Stargardt disease affects approximately 60,000-75,000 patients in the U.S. and E.U. Currently there are no treatments for the blindness caused by Stargardt disease.

Contact:

Julia Wilson - JW Communications

Phone: +44 (0) 7818 430877

Email: [email protected]
AKVA is pleased to announce the award of a new RAS contract with Cermaq Norway for the 12 million post smolt facility at Srya in Finnmark.

The estimated contract value is minimum EUR 60 million. Engineering and design work will start immediately.

Knut Nesse, CEO of AKVA:

This contract with Cermaq Norway represents for AKVA the largest contract in Norway ever, and will support the activity level in our Land Based business for the next few years.

Dated: 6 June 2023

AKVA group ASA

Web: www.akvagroup.com

CONTACTS:

Knut Nesse Chief Executive Officer Phone: +47 51 77 85 00 Mobile: +47 91 37 62 20 E-mail: [email protected]





Ronny Meinkhn Chief Financial Officer Phone: +47 51 77 85 00 Mobile: +47 98 20 67 76 E-mail: [email protected]

***

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements according to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication by Ronny Meinkohn (CFO) (contact details as set out above) on 6 June 2023 at 11:00 CET.

About AKVA group ASA

AKVA group ASA is a global technology and service partner that deliver technology and services that helps solve biological challenges within the aquaculture industry. Good operational performance and fish welfare ensures sustainability and profitability for the customer. This is the premise for everything we deliver, from single components to services and complete installations. In-depth aquaculture knowledge, extensive experience and a high capacity for innovation characterizes and enables us to deliver the best solutions for both land based and sea based fish farming.
Luxembourg, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asteroid Foundation celebrates this years Asteroid Day on 30 June and 1 July 2023 in Luxembourg. The programme will focus on education on asteroids and space highlighting the importance and impact of space down to Earth. The events are open to the public, hosted in Luxembourg and live-streamed on Asteroid Days digital platforms.

Asteroid Day is a United Nations-recognised event held annually on 30 June, as an official day in the UN calendar. It is a programme of the Asteroid Foundation, based in Luxembourg, which works to inspire the world about space and asteroids, their role in the formation of our solar system, the use of space resources, space exploration and the protection of our planet from adverse asteroid impacts.

This years programme is built on three pillars: astronaut and expert school visits, the Asteroid Day Space Lecture, and the new Asteroid Day Festival.

The Astronaut and Expert Luxembourg Schools Visits take place on 29 and 30 June 2023 where an astronaut or scientist will deliver a 30-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute Q&A to inspire teachers and pupils.The Asteroid Day Space Lecture on 30 June 2023 gives students, teachers, academia, and the general public the opportunity to peek into asteroid and space science. Scientists, engineers, mission planners, and astronauts will provide a glimpse into their latest research and missions. The Space Lecture will take place in Tramsschapp, 49 Rue Ermesinde, L-1469 Luxembourg, from 16.00 to 18.00, and concludes with the Space Happy Hour at 18:30.

The Asteroid Day Festival on 1 July 2023 promotes space and asteroid science to children, students, and adults. It will gather astronauts, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs and offer panels on asteroid missions, science, technologies, finance in space, and data sonification. The event will take place in Tramsschapp in Luxembourg, 49 Rue Ermesinde, L-1469 Luxembourg, between 10.00 and 18.00. It will also be live-streamed on Asteroid Days digital platforms.

During the Asteroid Day Festival, on 1 July at 14.00, the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), Asteroid Foundations main sponsor, will announce the selection of its 2023 Astronaut for a Day programme (https://www.astronautforaday.lu) and present 25 finalists plus 10 reserve astronauts. The announcement will be made in presence of Luxembourgs Minister of Economy, Franz Fayot, the Minister of Higher Education, Claude Meisch, and the Minister of Sports, Georges Engel.

Participation in all events is free and open to the public. Find more information about Asteroid Days programme here: Asteroid Day Events in Luxembourg.

Asteroid Day is an excellent opportunity to bring Luxembourg and the global space community together to learn about space, the history of our solar system, the future of space exploration, and planetary defense, Markus Payer, Chair of the Asteroid Foundation said. We want to attract young and talented people to the space sector which plays an increasingly important role in the development of our economy, sciences, and society. We thank our main sponsor LSA, FNR, the European Union, and all our programme partners for their generous and sustained support and look forward to making Asteroid Day 2023 another success for space in Luxembourg, Europe, and around the world.

Asteroid Foundation is supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) as a main partner and lead sponsor. This years Asteroid Day programme is supported by international partners and contributors like the Association of Space Explorers, B612 Foundation, the European Space Agency (ESA), The European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO Luxembourg), Euro Space Centre, The Planetary Society, and OHB, as well as by partners and contributors from Luxembourg, namely Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), GRADEL, Groupement luxembourgeois de laeronautique et de lespace (GLAE), LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology), The LHoFT Foundation (Luxembourg House of Financial Technology), LuxSpace, Musee national dhistoire naturelle  natur musee, NewSpace Capital, Ville de Luxembourg, OffWorld Europe, SnT, Sofitel, Telindus, UNIVERSEH, and VAUBAN, Ecole et Lycee Francais de Luxembourg. The Asteroid Day Space Lecture is co-funded by the European Unions ERASMUS+ programme. The Asteroid Day Festival is supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) (project code PSP-C2022-02/17736367).

Asteroid Day is also supported by two international PR, Communication & Marketing agencies, XWECAN and waveL communications, founded by two Board members of Asteroid Foundation, Grigorij Richters and Markus Payer, respectively.

To get notifications on future events, sign up for the Asteroid Day newsletter, follow us on Facebook & Twitter and check back on asteroidday.org for future announcements.

****About Asteroid DayAsteroid Day is held on 30 June each year to mark the date of Earths largest asteroid impact in recorded history, the Siberia Tunguska event. Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr Brian May of the rock group Queen, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart, filmmaker Grig Richters, and B612 President Danica Remy, to educate the public about the importance of asteroids in our history and the role they play in the solar system. In 2016, with the leadership of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), the United Nations declared Asteroid Day to be a global day of education to raise awareness and promote knowledge in the general public about asteroids. Major events in past years have taken place in London; San Francisco; Washington, DC, U.S.; Tanzania; Milan and Rimini, Italy; Garching, Germany; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They have gained momentum in thousands of events worldwide and inspired hundreds of local communities to engage in asteroid and space activities and local programmes. Over the past eight years, Asteroid Day has evolved to include the participation of major space organizations such as ESA, NASA, JAXA, and ISRO, as well as prominent scientists, astronomers, educators and media worldwide. Asteroid Day is a programme of the Luxembourg-based nonprofit Asteroid Foundation, supported by the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA). Learn more at asteroidday.org.

About Asteroid Foundation Asteroid Foundation was formed in 2017 with a mission to promote worldwide awareness of asteroid opportunities and challenges and the emerging space economy. The Asteroid Foundation undertakes programmes and activities to support scientists, engineers and students around the world providing free educational tools, newsletters, original articles and resources year-round. Annually, the Foundation organises events surrounding International Asteroid Day, a United Nations-recognised day of education and awareness on 30 June. Learn more at asteroidfoundation.org.

About Luxembourg Space AgencyLuxembourg Space Agency (LSA) develops the space sector in Luxembourg by fostering new and existing companies, developing human resources, facilitating access to funding, and supporting academic research. The agency implements the national space economic development strategy, manages national space research and development programs, and leads the SpaceResources.lu initiative. Furthermore, the LSA represents Luxembourg within the European Space Agency and space-related programs of the European Union and the United Nations. Learn more at space-agency.public.lu

Join Asteroid Day on Social Media:

Media Contacts: Asteroid Day Anna Bordus [email protected]g ESA Ninja Menning [email protected] LSA Juliette Pertuy [email protected] B612 Danica Remy [email protected] XWECAN Grigorij Richters [email protected]waveL Markus Payer [email protected]

Attachments

Anna Bordus Asteroid Foundation [email protected]

Source: Asteroid Foundation
Two exhibitions on the Holy Familys journey in Egypt have been organised at the Egyptian and Coptic museums

As part of celebrations marking the anniversary of the Holy Familys journey in Egypt beginning on 1 June, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has organised two exhibitions at the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahrir Square and the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo under the joint title of From Egypt, Care and Blessings, reports Nevine El-Aref.

The exhibition in Tahrir displays a collection of eight Coptic-period artefacts showing three icons depicting the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus surrounded by angels and holding a copy of the Christian gospels in one hand. Two clay pots from Abu Mena and four photographs of Baweet are also on show, lent by the Coptic Museum.

The exhibition at the Coptic Museum displays 11 objects including manuscripts, icons, and stone and wooden artefacts.

At the same time as the two exhibitions and within the framework of Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities efforts to promote the Holy Family Trail in Egypt and develop its 25 stopping places, 10 stops were inaugurated in Sakha in Kafr Al-Sheikh, Tel Basta in Sharqiya, Samanoud in Gharbiya, the Wadi Al-Natroun Monasteries in Beheira, Gabal Al-Teir in Minya and the Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya this week.

The celebrations affiliated with the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt are now also registered on the UN cultural agency UNESCOs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, says the Gospel of St Matthew (2:13) in the Bible. But while it recounts how the Holy Family fled to Egypt seeking safety from King Herod in the early first century CE, the Gospel offers no details of their actual journey.

For that, we must turn to a mediaeval manuscript that includes the places visited by the Holy Family in Egypt, as revealed by the Virgin Mary who appeared in a vision to pope Theophilus, the 23rd patriarch of Alexandria and Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in the early fifth century CE.

The places named in the manuscript have been held to be sacred until today.

The late Coptic pope Shenouda III approved itineraries drawn up for Christian pilgrims in 2000. During an audience in St Peters Square in Rome in 2017, Roman Catholic Pope Francis blessed an icon by a Vatican artist representing the Holy Familys flight into Egypt and effectively gave his blessing to the millions of Christians around the world who may want to follow in the Holy Familys footsteps.

The Holy Familys flight to Egypt is associated with many archaeological sites, noted Ahmed Al-Nemr, a member of the ministry specialising in Coptic antiquities. They journeyed south from Palestine across the wilderness, avoiding main roads for fear of capture. They entered Egypt at modern-day Rafah, where a lone sycamore tree is said to have survived on the site since their visit.

The Holy Family reached Arish, and from there they followed the old Horus Road along the Mediterranean coast to Zaraniq, where the Byzantines later built three churches.

They continued to Al-Mohamedeya, and their last station in Sinai was on the northwest coast near the edge of the Delta at the city of Pelusium, now the sprawling ruin of Tel Al-Farama. Here, archaeologists have discovered traces of several Roman churches.

They then travelled south along the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, which has long since dried up. They stayed in the city of Bubastis, now the ruin of Tel Al-Basta near the modern city of Zagazig. They then went on to Mostorod, where the Virgin is said to have bathed Jesus. There is a church in Mostorod named after the Virgin Mary that was built in the 12th century and that has been recently restored.

They then turned north again towards the town of Bilbeis, travelling northwest across the Delta. When they reached Damietta, they embarked on a ferry that took them to Samanoud. The Holy Family then continued north to Borollos.

The next stop was Sakha in the western Delta. Here, the Virgin Mary is believed to have held her son against a rock which retained his footprint. A relic in the church dedicated to the Virgin in the area bears this mark.

The Holy Family then moved on to the Western Desert, eventually reaching Wadi Al-Natroun, where monastic settlements were later established. They then headed for what is now Cairo, where they stopped at Ain Shams and Matariya, where they sheltered under a sycamore tree, now known as the Virgin Mary Tree.

One story says that when the Virgin Mary sat there, a spring of water gushed out of the ground.

The next stop for the Holy Family was Al-Zeitoun, and then Al-Zweila. Travelling south, they reached Old Cairo and hid in a cave that is now the crypt of the Church of Saint Sergius. In what is now Maadi, they went to the place now named the Virgins Church of the Ferry. From there, the family took a ferry across to Memphis and embarked on a boat that carried them to Upper Egypt.

Their first stop there was on the west bank of the Nile near a village now called Ashnein Al-Nassara at a place called Al-Garnous where a monastery was later built. A church dedicated to the Virgin was built at Deir Al-Garnous in the 19th century, on the west side of which is a well that is believed to have provided the family with water.

The journey continued towards Al-Bahnasa, Samalout, and then Gabel Al-Teir, where a monastery now stands. The Holy Family took shelter in a cave that is now covered by an ancient church. They travelled to Al-Ashmounein, Armant, and Dairout, and then crossed the river again and reached the town of Al-Qusseya.

They travelled east into the desert to Mount Qussqam, perhaps the most important of all their stations, where they stayed for six months and 10 days. This place was later called Al-Muharraq, which means burnt, as there was an abundance of grass there which had to be burned so food could be grown in its place.

Mount Qussqam is sometimes called the second Bethlehem, and its church is held to be the first ever built in Egypt. The cave in which the Family sheltered later became the altar of the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Al-Nemr said that an angel of the Lord then appeared to Joseph in Assiut and told him to return to Palestine because Herod was dead. The family went back through Assiut and then probably sailed down the Nile to Memphis, landing at what is now Al-Badrashein near the ancient capital.

Once again, they may have passed through Maadi, Babylon, and Heliopolis before crossing the desert to Palestine and finally reaching their home town of Nazareth. Not all of these places are archaeological sites, but they all share religious, social, and cultural rituals which derive from the holy journey, al-Nemr said.

The places at which the Holy Family stopped that house archaeological sites are the Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya, the Church of St Sergius in Old Cairo, the monasteries of Wadi Al-Natroun, the Church of the Virgin Mary at Gabal Al-Teir in Minya, and the Al-Muharraq Monastery in Assiut.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Ogden, Utah, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Becklar, the parent company of AvantGuard, Armstrongs and Freeus is pleased to announce the acquisition of Eyeforce, the leading provider of wholesale monitored remote guarding solutions. Eyeforce combines video surveillance, AI/machine learning analytics, and live audio operator response intervention to protect commercial property, enhance safety, prevent crime, and reduce theft and loss. Combining these services with Becklars industry-leading enterprise monitoring, personal health and safety, and workforce safety solutions results in the market's broadest and most innovative portfolio of connected safety offerings across North America.

At Becklar, we are passionate about saving lives and protecting property. We are thrilled to bring the unique and innovative remote guarding solutions provided by Eyeforce to our family of brands, said Steve Richards, CEO of Becklar. With this addition, Becklars portfolio of connected safety services is unmatched in scope or scale, providing the next level of enhanced security for dealers, partners and customers.

Eyeforce is the recognized leader in remote guarding, dedicated to the success of dealers protecting companies ranging in size from medium to enterprise accounts for 25 years. Eyeforce is a trusted video monitoring partner for some of the largest, most high-profile players in their respective industries including auto and tractor dealerships, construction and construction supply, storage facilties, logistics centers, and more. Becklars acquisition of Eyeforce allows all existing dealers to offer expanded video surveillance and remote guarding solutions to their customers including:

Remote guards highly trained in preventative video surveillance

Optimized AI technology for any equipment brand, reducing false alarms

Remote guard gate entry/exit verification and protection

Simplified, dealer-friendly, camera-agnostic onboarding

No additional hardware required

Eyeforce is proud to join the team at Becklar. We share the same drive for high-quality solutions, innovation and care for our dealers, explains Daniel Forrest, CEO of Eyeforce. This combination allows Eyeforce to innovate in technology and processes quickly and exponentially, to further enhance our standing as the leader in remote guarding across the U.S. and Canada.

Becklar Enterprise Monitoring, through its subsidiaries AvantGuard and Armstrongs, is consistently recognized in the industry for providing the highest quality enterprise monitoring solutions, driven by award-winning technologies, providing the fastest response times in the industry. Justin Bailey, President of Becklar Enterprise Monitoring, commented, The advanced video and remote guarding services provided by Eyeforce provides yet another growth opportunity and revenue stream for our dealers. These services provide cost savings and superior protection for commercial customers in North America.

Together, Becklar and Eyeforce provide the most comprehensive solution for interactive video monitoring in the market. Becklars platform of connected safety services, devices and technologies provide unmatched protection in enterprise fire and security monitoring, personal emergency response, medical alerts, and workforce safety. Dealers can offer superior protection for their customers from a single provider while increasing their recurring monthly revenue. Becklar continues to be at the forefront of technology, innovating to add value to its customers through internal development and strategic partnerships.

About Becklar

Becklar create industry-leading connected safety solutions for enterprises and individuals, delivering a world-class comprehensive suite of lifesaving and life-enhancing technologies. Becklar leverage their platform of innovative technology and award-winning services to create customizable and comprehensive solutions to meet the connected safety needs of dealer and enterprise customers across diverse industries, including personal emergency response solutions, workforce safety, connected wellness, and event response monitoring.

Learn more about the complete suite of end-to-end solutions at becklar.com. And learn more about our family of brands at AvantGuard Monitoring Centers, Armstrongs and Freeus.

About Eyeforce

Eyeforce has been the leader in wholesale remote guarding nationwide since 1998. With redundant command centers in Houston and Tyler, Texas, Eyeforce combines video surveillance, analytics, and live audio intervention to help deter crime and generate significant RMR for its nationwide network of dealers. To learn more about Eyeforces remote guarding solutions, visit https://eyeforce.com.
METTAWA, Ill., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the worlds largest marine technology company, has been named one of the Best Companies to Work For in 2023 -2024 by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the magazine published its Best Companies for Work-Life Balance and Best Companies for Quality of Pay , with Brunswick finishing in the Top 10 of all companies on both of those lists.

Of the thousands of publicly traded companies that were surveyed for this inaugural award, only 200 are recognized across six factors of employee wellbeing including quality of pay and benefits, work/life balance, job and company stability, physical and psychological safety, career development, and belongingness.

We are honored to be named one of the Best Companies to Work For in 2023-2024 and recognized for our dedication to Work-Life Balance and the quality of the career opportunities we provide for our 19,000 global employees, said Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation CEO.

The U.S. News Best Companies to Work For is a recognition that allows readers to determine what they prioritize in a workplace and evaluate companies that might align with those priorities, said U.S. News Senior Editor, Consumer Advice, Antonio Barbera. The 2023-2024 list includes companies that score highest on a variety of metrics that contribute to a positive work environment and day-to-day employee experience.

Brunswick is regularly recognized as an employer of choice and was recently named as one of Newsweeks Most Trustworthy Companies , and ranked in the top 10 percent on the Forbes America's Best Large Employers List .

To create the list of Best Companies to Work For in 2023, U.S. News & World Report analyzed employee perceptions of 1,000 companies across six factors that are important to wellbeing, including quality of pay and benefits, work/life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort (safety), career opportunities and professional development, and belongingness and esteem. Based on the compilation of these ratings, the editorial team narrowed down the list to the top 200 Best Companies to Work For in 2023-2024.

About Brunswick
ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BTSE, a leading digital asset exchange, has integrated with Talos, the premier provider of institutional trading technology for digital assets. Talos's award-winning platform connects institutional investors to the entire digital assets ecosystem. BTSE will join Taloss extensive provider network of over 40 liquidity venues that includes top-tier exchanges, custodians, and OTC desks as well as prominent market markers.

"Were proud to be part of Taloss preeminent provider network in the company of other leading organizations that are building the future of digital assets, said Henry Liu, CEO of BTSE. Talos has a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to major institutions around the world in a safe, reliable, and familiar way.

By integrating a world-class venue like BTSE into our extensive provider network, we are providing institutions with access to even more liquidity options, said Samar Sen, Head of APAC at Talos. Our clients need access to the top liquidity providers globally in order to achieve the most favorable execution. This is a prerequisite for building a sustainable business in the fast-paced digital assets industry.

BTSE aims to fuel the widespread adoption of crypto-based financial services trusted by institutions. The integration with Talos marks another milestone in BTSE's ongoing efforts to enhance its platform and offer its users a secure and efficient trading experience.

About BTSEBTSE is a leading digital asset exchange that offers a simple and secure way to trade cryptocurrencies. As the go-to exchange for all things crypto, BTSE is one of the top trusted crypto platforms for institutions, retail users and first-time traders. BTSE has developed multiple trading technologies that have been adopted across the industry, setting new standards for excellence and innovation in the world of digital asset trading. Additionally, BTSE licenses its industry-leading technology to exchanges worldwide through its white label exchange solutions, strengthening the BTSE ecosystem and bridging traditional finance with digital assets everywhere. Read more at btse.com.

About TalosTalos powers digital asset trading strategies globally. Engineered by a team with unmatched experience in building institutional trading systems, the Talos platform is trusted by the largest and most sophisticated market participants and their end clients for its performance, reliability, and security. Its growing network of services trading platform, lending marketplace, data and analytics, and portfolio and settlement tools, all offered directly or through service providers on a white-label basis  enable clients of all types to transact end-to-end without concern for unnecessary intermediary risk or potential conflicts of interest.Talos has offices in New York, London, Cyprus, and Singapore. For additional information visit www.talos.com.

Media Inquiries BTSE: [email protected]Talos: [email protected]

Source: BTSE Holdings Limited
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its commitment to investing in the communities it serves, California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) has awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 12 students living in its California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Washington service areas for the 2023-2024 academic year. Whether studying chemistry at Harvard or aerospace engineering at Stanford, eight out of 12 of these scholarship recipients are first-generation college students, some having overcome physical and financial obstacles to make their college dreams a reality.

These recipients are truly remarkable students who are already making their mark on the world, and they will undoubtedly inspire others to do the same, said Martin A. Kropelnicki, President and Chief Executive Officer. We are proud to offer these scholarships to ease the financial burden of college for these students, who have so aptly displayed their commitment to improving lives around them.

From 348 applications, three students were each awarded a $10,000 grand-prize scholarship based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need, while nine others received $5,000 scholarships. The top scholarship winners included:

Jeffrey Fung, of Los Altos, Calif., a fourth-year college student studying chemistry at Harvard College. Upon graduation, he hopes to work on cutting-edge therapies in the pharmaceutical industry. With the knowledge that I am gaining from this research and the experience that I will gain in graduate school, I am confident that I will be able to make a difference in the world, he wrote.

Upon graduation, he hopes to work on cutting-edge therapies in the pharmaceutical industry. With the knowledge that I am gaining from this research and the experience that I will gain in graduate school, I am confident that I will be able to make a difference in the world, he wrote. Naomi Kao, of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., a first-year student, who will study Human Biology at Stanford University. Kao, who is already influencing healthcare policy in her role as a member of Congressman Ted Lieus Youth Advisory Council, will pursue a career with a two-part application, merging stem cell research discoveries for cancer cures, while fighting for greater legislative policy that would expedite the development of new treatments.

Kao, who is already influencing healthcare policy in her role as a member of Congressman Ted Lieus Youth Advisory Council, will pursue a career with a two-part application, merging stem cell research discoveries for cancer cures, while fighting for greater legislative policy that would expedite the development of new treatments. Mallory Sutherland, of Bakersfield, Calif., a second-year college student studying Agricultural Business at California State University, Fresno. As a third-generation immigrant, I am devoted to giving back to the agricultural industry in order to repay what the industry did for me and my family, wrote Sutherland, who wants to be an advocate and educate people on the role that agriculture plays globally.

The remaining scholarship recipients received $5,000:

Jaden Banks, of Menlo Park, Calif., who will soon begin his first year of environmental engineering at University of California, Berkeley, as the first in his family to attend college.

who will soon begin his first year of environmental engineering at University of California, Berkeley, as the first in his family to attend college. Veronica Baralt, of Bakersfield, Calif., a first-generation college student and first-year college student, who will study electrical engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

a first-generation college student and first-year college student, who will study electrical engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Anthony Bono, of Graham, Wash., also a first-year and first-generation college student, off to study business management at Montana State University.

also a first-year and first-generation college student, off to study business management at Montana State University. Gabrielle Brock, of Willows, Calif., a first-year student who will study zoology at Humboldt State University.

a first-year student who will study zoology at Humboldt State University. Jacelyn Lau, of Pukalani, Hawaii, a second-year and first-generation college student, studying accounting at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

a second-year and first-generation college student, studying accounting at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Raef Makrai, of San Mateo, Calif. , a second-year college student studying data science and economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the first in his family to attend college.

, a second-year college student studying data science and economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the first in his family to attend college. Betsy Ramsell, of Rio Communities, N.M. , also a first-generation college student, who attends the University of New Mexico and studies psychology and human services.

, also a first-generation college student, who attends the University of New Mexico and studies psychology and human services. Joshua Salinas, of Bakersfield , Calif., a first-year student who will be the first in his family to attend college. Salinas will study engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

a first-year student who will be the first in his family to attend college. Salinas will study engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Angel Villeraldo, of Los Angeles, Calif., a first-generation and first-year college student set to study aerospace engineering at Stanford University.

The annual scholarships are part of Groups stockholder-funded philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers rates. The program is administered by Scholarship America, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To date, Group has provided $675,000 in scholarships to students through the program.

About California Water Service GroupCalifornia Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than two million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Groups 1,100+ employees lead the way in protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. Integral to Groups strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of Americas Most Responsible Companies and Americas Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

Media ContactYvonne Kingman[email protected]310-257-1434

Source: California Water Service Group
DETROIT, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) announced today that it has published its annual Corporate Sustainability Report which outlines the companys environmental, social and governance accomplishments.

David Slater, President and CEO stated: The report illustrates our continued focus on sustainability initiatives that are meaningful and authentic while serving the needs of our stakeholders and supporting the long-term success of our company.

The report can be found at DTMidstream.com/sustainability.

About DT Midstream

DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment, and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers, and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030.

Media Contact:Steven Rawlings, DT Midstream, 313.774.0690[email protected]

Source: DT Midstream, Inc.
naNO-DENGUE trial results demonstrate that DengueTcP is well-tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events

Immunogenicity data shows peptide antigen-specific effector and memory CD8+ T cells were elicited

Clinical proof-of-concept demonstration for Emergexs therapeutic platform, supporting further development

ABINGDON, United Kingdom, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited (Emergex), a clinical-stage biotechnology company addressing major global infectious diseases through the development of fully synthetic T cell-priming immune set-point candidates, today announced positive outcomes from its first-in-human clinical trial of DengueTcP (trademark application submitted), a candidate against Dengue virus, the causative agent for Dengue Fever.The primary objective of the naNO-DENGUE trial was to evaluate the safety, tolerability and reactogenicity of two different doses (2.5 and 7.5 nmol total peptide) of DengueTcP administered by intradermal microneedle injection to healthy volunteers. Both dose levels of DengueTcP appeared to be safe and well tolerated. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported, and the majority of adverse events were mild and transient. From a safety perspective, both doses were considered acceptable for use in further trials.

The assessment of immunogenicity produced the following findings:

Statistically significant increases of virus-specific effector (CD137+CD69+) CD8+ T cells and memory CD8+ T cells were observed post-immunisation.

Notably, the elevated T cells included CXCR3+ central memory and differentiated effector memory cells. These T cell subsets are of particular relevance given their roles in locating virus-infected cells in the skin and in providing protective immunity to Dengue infection.2,3

DengueTcP did not induce anti-DENV antibodies, a favourable outcome that reduces the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of the disease that has been observed by others in trials of traditional vaccines.

Taken together, preliminary results indicate that treatment with DengueTcP generates memory T cells in peripheral blood that have the capability to home to tissues infected by that incoming virus.

Overall, the clinical results provide proof-of-concept that Emergexs therapeutic platform can successfully induce virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Data from the trial support further development of Emergexs platform, which has the potential to provide cross-reactive immunity to a range of existing or emerging viral and intracellular pathogens.

Dr. Ramila Philip, Chief Scientific Officer, Immunotope Inc, commented: Up to 400 million people around the world are infected with Dengue Fever each year. However, with no approved antiviral treatments and with current vaccine strategies being potentially associated with ADE related safety concerns, there is an unmet and urgent need for novel, effective solutions. It gives me an immense satisfaction to see the realization and clinical proof of our T cell based protection. Emergexs T cell-priming immune set-point vaccine, which delivers synthetic peptide antigens based on naturally processed and presented epitope candidates, should provide broad and long-lasting immunity against all Dengue virus serotypes and potentially against other Flaviviridae strains; thus, protecting people from illness associated with these lethal tropical disease.

Dr Athanasios Papadopoulos, Chief Medical Officer, Emergex, said: These positive study data represent an important landmark for both Emergex and people around the world living with the risk of Dengue. These data demonstrate that our product platform has an acceptable safety profile and successfully mobilises viral-specific CD8+ T cells, which may elicit broad and long-term immune memory. The findings validate our approach and may change the way that people view immune responses post-treatment.

Showing that we can increase the T cell-based immunity without affecting the antibodies means that we can improve any previous immune status of a person. This trial is the first time that a regulator has approved an assessment of a T cell-priming set-point candidate against infectious diseases for clinical use based solely on a T cell response; thus, we are delighted that the trial was successful.

The naNO-DENGUE TrialnaNO-DENGUE (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04935801) was a Phase I randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, dose-finding, safety study of a synthetic nanoparticle-based, T cell-priming peptide antigen immune set-point against Dengue virus in healthy adults. A total of 26 healthy individuals aged 18-45 years recruited at the Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland, were randomly assigned to receive the T cell-priming immune set-point candidate Dengue TcP or a comparator (nanocluster without peptide antigens, vehicle-nanocluster). Follow-up of trial participants took place over a six-month period following first injection.

About DengueTcP DengueTcP, Emergexs immune set-point product to treat dengue, is designed to elicit a specific CD8+ T cell immune response without affecting the humoral response. The drug product is composed of synthetic T cell-selective multivalent (serotypes 1 to 4) Dengue virus peptide antigens carried on ultrasmall carbohydrate-passivated nanoclusters.

Immunotope Inc. developed an immunoproteomics approach to identify the peptide antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex Class I (MHC-I) molecules on the surface of Dengue-infected cells, representing the real-world targets of the CD8+ T cell response to natural infection.4,5 Nine peptide antigens from this expression library were then selected for inclusion in the DengueTcP drug product, notably on their ability to elicit a cross-reactive immune response against all four different Dengue virus serotypes and also against other Flaviviruses.

These viral peptide antigens are anchored with specific carbohydrates to a nanocluster core. Use of a self-assembling, nanocluster-based delivery system is intended to protect the peptide antigens from proteolytic degradation, which improves their delivery to antigen presenting cells and enables induction of targeted cellular immunity. Owing to targeted delivery, nanodoses of peptide antigens are expected to be sufficient to induce a satisfactory immune response.

As a low dosage is required and as a way to mimic immune cell recruitment during a natural infection by a mosquito, DengueTcP is suited to be delivered by intradermal injection. A microneedle (or dermal patch in the future) will be used to better standardize the intradermal injection.

DengueTcP and nanoclusters have been shown to be safe in preclinical in vitro studies utilising human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in vivo animal studies. The present trial assessed the safety of the first T cell-priming immune set-point candidate designed specifically to elicit a CD8+ T cell immune response for prevention of an acute and severe manifestation of a viral infection by Dengue and other Flaviviruses. Emergex is working with governments around the world to make DengueTcP accessible to high-risk populations as a valuable option in the fight against Dengue.

For further information, please contact: Emergex Media Inquiries Storme Moore-Thornicroft, Executive DirectorPhone: +44 (0) 1235 527589Email: [email protected] David MelamedPhone: +1 (212) 845-4225Email: [email protected]

About EmergexEmergex is a clinical-stage, privately-held biotechnology company, headquartered in Abingdon, UK, with an operating subsidiary in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA. The company is pioneering the development of 100% synthetic T cell-priming immune set-point candidates that harness and direct the bodys natural T cell immune response to destroy and clear pathogen-infected cells, using cytopathic or non-cytopathic mechanisms, in order to provide protection against some of the worlds most urgent health threats. First indications pursued are against infectious diseases: [i] viral infectious diseases, amongst which are Betacoronavirus, Dengue Fever and Universal Influenza A, including pandemic influenza, as well as [ii] intra-cellular bacterial infectious disease, such as Francisella tularensis. In the near future, other disease applications will follow.

Find out more online at www.emergexvaccines.com.Visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter account for updates.

References

1. Rivino L, Kumaran EA, Thein TL, et al. Virus-specific T lymphocytes home to the skin during natural dengue infection. Sci Transl Med. 2015;7(278).2. Graham N, Eisenhauer P, Diehl SA, et al. Rapid Induction and Maintenance of Virus-Specific CD8(+) TEMRA and CD4(+) TEM Cells Following Protective Vaccination Against Dengue Virus Challenge in Humans. Front Immunol. 2020;11:479.3. Hickman HD, Reynoso GV, Ngudiankama BF, et al. CXCR3 chemokine receptor enables local CD8(+) T cell migration for the destruction of virus-infected cells. Immunity. 2015;42(3):524-537.4. Comber JD, Karabudak A, Huang X, Piazza PA, Marques ET, Philip R. Dengue virus specific dual HLA binding T cell epitopes induce CD8+ T cell responses in seropositive individuals. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(12):3531-3543.5. Testa JS, Shetty V, Sinnathamby G, et al. Conserved MHC class I-presented dengue virus epitopes identified by immunoproteomics analysis are targets for cross-serotype reactive T-cell response. J Infect Dis. 2012;205(4):647-655.

Source: Emergex Vaccines Holding Ltd
Montreal, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FlightHub Group, the Montreal-based online travel technology company, is proud to announce its participation as an ambassador in the 29th edition of the National Circus School (NCS) Fundraising Evening, held on Thursday, June 8. Proceeds from the evening will go directly to financing all public performances by students of the National Circus School.

FlightHub Groups participation in this event goes beyond the financing of the performances, as the online travel company will also enable NCS staff and students to benefit from its First Class travel benefits program at a reduced cost. "Our involvement with the National Circus School aligns with FlightHub Group's desire to encourage and support Montreal's artistic and cultural sector. We're happy to onboard the entire National Circus School community to our First Class partnership program to ensure they can travel smoothly", says Christopher Cave, CEO of FlightHub Group.

The National Circus School is delighted to benefit from FlightHub Group's involvement. "Each year, we welcome more than 150 students from across the country and worldwide. FlightHub Group's generous partnership will facilitate the international mobility of all community members, both for the needs of staff and students and for NCS's international exchanges. This extraordinary support opens the door to exceptional opportunities for our institution!" says Eric Langlois, National Circus School Executive Director.

The Fundraising Evening will be held at TOHU (2345 Jarry Street East) starting at 5:30 p.m. The honorary committee, including FlightHub Group's Christopher Cave, aims to raise $210,000. Reserving a package to attend the event as a company or individual is still possible.

Click here to learn more about the 29th edition of the National Circus School Foundation Fundraising Evening.

About FlightHub GroupHeadquartered in Montreal, FlightHub Group owns and operates FlightHub and Justfly, two of North America's leading online travel agencies. FlightHub makes travel accessible, enabling more people to visit new places and explore new cultures. With millions of customers served each year, its goal is to offer travelers the most affordable flights, optimal itineraries and exceptional customer service. Since 2012, its cutting-edge booking technology has created more than 30 million connections.

About the National Circus School

For more than 40 years, the National Circus School (NCS) has been training and developing the new talents of the next generation of circus artists from Quebec and around the world. Renowned worldwide, the NCS is also dedicated to research and innovation in the field of circus arts, in addition to ensuring the conservation and enhancement of heritage, history and living memory of this art. Today, she is proud to have contributed to the birth of renowned companies, including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize, The 7 Fingers and Cirque Alphonse.

Aditi Hossain FlightHub Group 5149920880 [email protected]

Source: FlightHub
Fort Wayne, Ind., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Wayne Metals, a leading manufacturer of precision wire-based materials and components, acquired certain equipment and assets to support tantalum production from Plansee SE, a leading materials manufacturer located in Austria.The acquisition, which closed on Jan. 9, 2023, capitalizes on Fort Wayne Metals long-time processing capabilities  including three decades of tantalum wiredrawing expertise  to better serve existing and new customers in the capacitor market and across the medical industry. Tantalum is a refractory metal that is well suited for highly demanding environments because of its resistance to heat and corrosion and overall durability.For the last 20 years, Plansee has been supplying tantalum wire to Fort Wayne Metals where it undergoes further processing before being shipped to customers for use in various medical devices. After Plansee shared their plan to terminate tantalum operations, Fort Wayne Metals saw an opportunity to expand its portfolio of processing capabilities by purchasing the wiredrawing equipment from the facility in Liezen, Austria.

The strong partnership we have built with Plansee is due to our mutual interest in innovative solutions, product quality, and reliability, says Scott Glaze, Chairman and CEO of Fort Wayne Metals. By further bolstering our position as a custom manufacturer of tantalum wire, Fort Wayne Metals will be able to integrate our technical expertise, processing capabilities, and value-added services to better support our customers worldwide.Plansee leadership expressed appreciation for its collaboration with Fort Wayne Metals over the past two decades. We are confident that Fort Wayne Metals will manufacture high-quality tantalum products for existing and future customers, says Ulrich Lausecker, Executive Board Member of Plansee High Performance Materials.Plansee staff have been instrumental in training Fort Wayne Metals personnel on the operation of the equipment in both Austria and Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne Metals plans to have tantalum processing operations ready to launch by the end of 2023.

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About Fort Wayne Metals

Fort Wayne Metals Research Products, LLC manufactures precision wire-based materials that our customers use in medical technologies around the world to improve peoples lives. For more than 50 years, we have supported the advancement of medical devices by providing an array of innovative products, technical expertise, and value-added services. Our ability to draw wire to ultrafine sizes, to maximize the mechanical performance of alloys, and to customize materials to exact specifications has enabled us to also supply to non-medical markets, including aerospace. Learn more at www.fwmetals.com.

Attachments

Jake Pickett Fort Wayne Metals Research Products, LLC 260-747-4154 ext.2680 [email protected]

Source: Fort Wayne Metals
CALGARY, Alberta, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the federal government promises to increase spending in areas of provincial jurisdiction, including pharmacare, dental care, and childcare programs, provincial policymakers should remember that future transfers are not guaranteed, potentially leaving enormous costs to the provinces to continue those programs in the future, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

When the federal government makes spending commitments in areas of provincial jurisdiction, there is always the risk that when the federal government changes, or federal government priorities change, the provinces will be on the hook to finance those programs and their increasing costs, said Tegan Hill, a senior economist with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Repeating the Past: Provinces Accept Federal Money at Their Peril.

The study draws on the experience of Canadas recent pastspecifically the 1990swhen the federal government reformed and reduced transfers to the provinces to tackle the federal deficit and mounting debt.

In 1996-97, the then-existing federal transfers to the provinces (CAP and EPF) were combined into the Canada Health and Social Transfer, but those payments were $41.0 billion (51 per cent) lower over a three-year period compared to what the provinces expected based on previous transfers.

Currently, the federal government has committed $43.1 billion to support the provinces in delivering $10 a day childcare from 2021/22 to 2027/28 with the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Transfer. Additional monies have been committed to support the new dental program and more money is expected to be announced for pharmacare. All of these programs are in provincial areas of responsibility.

Any change in federal priorities or the finances of the federal government could result in marked financial pressure being imposed on the provinces. For instance, if the federal government lowered its commitment to supporting the provinces for $10 a day daycare, the financial implications to the provinces in the near term could be as much as an additional $3.5 billion in 2026/27.

The experience of the 1990s shows that money promised today is not guaranteed tomorrow, Hill said.

Provincial policymakers should be aware of the risk to their own fiscal positions when entering into funding agreements with the federal government for provincial programs, and the current federal deficit and debt problem only heightens this risk.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Tegan Hill, Senior Economist Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:Drue MacPherson, Media Relations, Fraser Institute604-688-0221 ext. 721[email protected]

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org

Source: Fraser Institute
Savannah, GA, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With four weeks to go before the July 4 holiday, the 200 Club is now holding its semi-annual Boston Butt sale to benefit the families of fallen first responders. The nonprofit organization is expanding the sale this year to reach Chatham, Bulloch, and Bryan County, with placed orders available for pick-up in Savannah, Statesboro, Richmond Hill, and Pembroke. Orders are now open through June 28, with pickup ranging from Thursday, June 29 to Friday, June 30.

These delicious, fully cooked 5-pound Boston butts are only $40 and are impeccably smoked by the best pit masters in the area, the Chatham County Sheriffs Office and Sheriff John T. Wilcher. Orders of 20 or more can be delivered upon request. All proceeds from this event directly support the families served by the 200 Club, which has provided over $3.8 million to support 100 families of fallen and critically injured first responders in the 20 counties the 200 Club serves.

Our Boston Butt sale is such a great event that our supporters look forward to each year, and we are excited to work with Chatham, Bryan, and Bulloch County this year. We are so thankful for the financial support this event provides as it directly helps us continue in our mission to provide for our fallen heroes families, said 200 Club President and CEO Mark Dana. We want to pass along a special thank you to the Chatham County Sheriffs Office, Statesboro Fire Department, and Bryan County Sheriffs Office for hosting our pick-ups, just in time for the community to enjoy a Boston butt over the 4th of July holiday.

The 200 Club is a 501(c) (3) organization who cares for those who care for us by providing for the surviving spouses and dependents of first responders who have lost their lives or sustain critical injuries in the line of duty. The organization serves a 20-county area within Georgia and South Carolina. All proceeds from this event will directly support the families of fallen heroes. The 200 Club provides significant financial assistance to the surviving family members and provides a fully paid college education  including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and a computer  to a fallen first responders children and spouse. To place your Boston Butt order, go to www.our200club.com/bostonbutts/. For more information, go to www.our200club.com, call 912-721-4418 or email [email protected].

Attachment

Kristyn Beasley Lesley Francis PR 912-417-5377 [email protected]

Source: The 200 Club
Is there a link between the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the golden billion theory that seeks to reduce the worlds population, asks Kirellos Abdelmalak

First, there was the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, with this being followed by the Russian-Ukrainian war and then the controversy over what is known as the golden billion theory, especially after comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin and statements attributed to Microsoft founder Bill Gates supporting a reduction in human numbers to a so-called golden billion.

Suspicions have spread relating to plans to eliminate people through biological warfare and the Wests attempts to colonise the rest of the world as a prelude to placing it under the control of a wealthy elite. Despite denials of this theory and its being considered as merely a fictional conspiracy theory by some, the number of believers has expanded and has not been limited to the developing countries.

There are many who find additional confirmation for the theory in the silence of the Western countries accused of adopting the scheme at an institutional level.

From a scientific point of view, it is difficult to confirm conspiracy theories, because science always relies on tangible evidence to prove its results. However, the absence of evidence does not mean that there is no conspiracy, because the failure to find it may be due to concealment or human weakness.

This article attempts to ascertain the facts about the golden billion theory that, according to its believers, sets out to limit human population to the elite population of the West.

According to research published in the international journal Ekoloji entitled Environmental Polarisation in the Sustainable Development of the Biosphere and Man: Myth or Reality of the Golden Billion Concept, the theory is based on the increasing scarcity of resources in the developed countries and the growth of the needs of their ruling elites. It is connected with ideas of the Western-dominated new world order.

The research outlines several stages over which the theory of the golden billion has developed, the first of which has been achieving the well-being of the so-called golden billion through the democratic values of the developed countries.

The theory is based on statements made by people like Bill Gates, the US businessman and founder of Microsoft. According to an article entitled Fact Check: Claim Missing Context on Bill Gates 2010 Quote about Population Sustainability published in the US newspaper USA Today in January last year, a claim had spread on social media that Gates is part of a conspiracy to depopulate the Earth.

It was based on an issue of an Irish newspaper that is no longer in circulation that included a 2011 article headlined Depopulation Through Forced Vaccination: The Zero Carbon Solution. In it, the author attributed a quote to Gates saying that the worlds population is headed up to about nine billion. Now, if we do a really great job on new vaccines, healthcare, and reproductive health services, we could lower that by perhaps 10 or 15 per cent.

In its comment on this article, USA Today denied that Gates had intended to eliminate human beings as part of this programme, noting that the quote was incomplete and was excerpted from a speech at a 2010 TEDx conference entitled Innovating to Zero.

The newspaper stated that Gates said in his speech that research had shown that childrens access to good nutrition and therapeutic vaccines for common diseases such as malaria and pneumonia could reduce the number of deaths, prompting parents to reduce childbearing based on expectations that their children will survive to adulthood.

British journalist Gideon Rachman wrote an article published on the UK Financial Times website in October last year called When Conspiracy Theorists run Countries saying that conspiracy theorists have moved from the streets and have now even become the heads of state.

Among these countries are Turkey, Brazil, the US under former president Donald Trump, and Russia under President Putin, Rachman said. He added that Putin was the most dangerous of these presidents because he was threatening the world with a nuclear war based on the theory of the golden billion.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni did not escape similar allegations, with Rachman saying that she is fond of conspiracy theories and believes in the great replacement theory that claims that there is a plan to weaken Christian culture in Europe by encouraging immigration.

The ultimate goal of this great replacement is to convert Europeans into slaves and consumers stripped of their national and gender identities, he said.

But despite Rachmans criticisms of politicians who appear to believe in conspiracy theories, the question arises of whether these conspiracies really exist and what is causing them to spread among politicians in influential countries, including the US and Russia. What drives people to believe in them if there is not enough evidence to support their existence?

The belief in conspiracies may indicate that there is a crisis in international relations related to a lack of transparency and resulting in the spread of propaganda by the worlds large media machines.

ENDORSEMENTS: Speculation about the golden billion theory escalated with the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, especially as this broke out after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

Such speculation became endemic at the popular level and also at the official level in some countries, as official Russian discourse became filled with comments about the golden billion theory that aimed to eliminate the majority of the countrys people.

According to Russias TASS news agency, Putin, speaking at the Strong Ideas for a New Time Forum, said in July last year that the model of total domination by the so-called golden billion is unjust. Why should this golden billion dominate everyone else and impose its own rules?

Based on the illusion of exceptionalism, it divides peoples into those who are first- and those who are second-rate, and therefore it is racist and neo-colonial in its essence. The globalist, allegedly liberal, ideology underlying it is more and more acquiring the features of totalitarianism, restraining free historical creativeness.

Putin said in his speech that the West today is unable to provide a model for human life in the future, as it has achieved its historical success by stealing the resources of other peoples in Asia and Africa.

According to the website of the Russian TV channel Russia Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the current promotion of homosexuality by the Western countries is rooted in the desire of Western elites to reduce the number of people on the planet because of worries about the Earths resources.

However, the belief in the golden billion theory is not limited to Russia, but also extends to other parts of the world and even to Western countries such as the US and Canada.

US citizen of Egyptian origin Kamal Rai samsid in an interview that there are strong indicators confirming that the golden billion theory exists, including Gates statements related to reducing the number of people in the world and the World Economic Forums adoption of schemes apparently supporting this vision.

Millions of Americans believe that such a scheme exists, but there is no leader working to unify their ranks so that opposition to it can be effective, Ramsi said, adding that those seeking to reduce the number of people on the planet first seek to control them through the use of advanced technology and the issuance of laws restricting their freedom.

Ghada Melek, a Canadian politician of Egyptian origin, said in an interview that she believes that there are reasons to take the golden billion theory seriously, one being a monument, the Georgia Guidestones, built in the US state of Georgia in 1980 by unknown persons. This monument carried 10 new commandments translated into several languages and engraved on granite slabs. One of the commandments called for reducing the worlds population to 500 million.

Just as this monument was built in a mysterious way, it was also destroyed in a mysterious way, however. In July 2022, it was blown up by unknown people, forcing officials to remove it so that it would not cause injury.

Melek said that for those attracted to the theory the Earth is now home to more people than it has the capacity to support, and thus it has become necessary to reduce the population. This claim was first made by the English economist Thomas Malthus in the early 19th century, who predicted that the world would face a food crisis due to the rapid increase in population. Though this crisis did not in fact occur, Malthus called for getting rid of the poor to solve the problem.

US academic Paul Ehrlich adopted similar ideas at the end of the 1960s in his work at Stanford University in California. Ehrlich predicted that there would be famines by the end of the 1970s as a result of the worlds growing population and claimed that these would wipe out 20 per cent of the population. Of course, these also did not happen.

Melek said that such prophecies have caused fears among many, and it was on the basis of them that the UN Population Fund and Club of Rome were established, the latter including many politicians and economists. One member of the Club of Rome, Dennis Meadows, can be seen in an old videotape calling for reducing the worlds population to two billion for the sake of continued freedom and prosperity.

Otherwise, he said, communism would be necessary to feed the worlds billions.

EVIDENCE: With regard to the current evidence for the golden billion theory, Melek said that there has been a return to the claim that the planet will not be able to accommodate the current population.

Among those who adopt it are influential international organisations such as the World Economic Forum, which includes the largest governments in the world and has the ability to influence the policies of most countries.

Health issues and climate change have become the scarecrows used to pressure people into accepting such ideas. Over the past year, Melek said, the World Economic Forum has begun declaring war on food under the slogan of stopping climate change, resulting in decisions such as that to close 3,000 farms in the Netherlands and reducing the use of industrial fertilisers by a third in Canada. This will result in reducing the cultivation of grains such as wheat by the same percentage.

A new war is being waged over rice in the Asian countries, Melek said, as the cultivation of rice can be seen as one of the biggest causes of climate change. Calls to reduce the use of oil will exacerbate the decline of agriculture, as it needs machinery, and food transportation needs trucks that run on diesel and petroleum products. All of these policies coincide with the world food crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Melek said that over the past three years it has seemed to some as if the Covid-19 pandemic was being used to impose the use of experimental vaccines, whether by enticement or intimidation. There has been a great deal of opacity surrounding these vaccines and the decisions made to use them.

In January 2022, the Texas Federal Court in the US issued a ruling requiring the US Food and Drug Administration to publish clinical trials for the Pfizer vaccine, on which it based the decision to use it as an emergency treatment against Covid-19. The company tried to claim that this would take 75 years, but the court only granted it eight months.

The documents were then published in stages to reveal the shocking information that 1,223 people had died out of a total of 4,2000 during the development of the vaccines. Information had been lost for 9,400 people, and 11,000 people who received the vaccine had been permanently injured.

There are always those who question the facts, Melek said, due to the discrepancy between the information put out by the official media and that produced by the alternative media, as well as the unwillingness of some to search for the truth for fear of reaching it. Such problems, she added, are also not spontaneous, but are employed to sow divisions among members of society, making it easier to promote inhumane policies with the least amount of resistance.

While the idea of eliminating billions of the worlds people is one that is only entertained for the moment by a very few, they are prepared to use sophisticated psychological warfare to achieve it. However, the peoples of the world remain more numerous and powerful than they are, and if awareness and human solidarity increase, as people are exposed to the information they need to move away from the official media, such ideas can be resisted.

Growing numbers of people believe in the existence of a golden billion scheme, with declining numbers believing it is just a fictional conspiracy theory. There are serious indicators that support the existence of plans to forcibly reduce the number of people on the planet.

For these reasons, the world is now in dire need of a frank and transparent debate at the international level aimed at revealing the facts about policies intended to regulate the lives of people in the present and future. The exclusion of honest and transparent dialogue increases doubts and divisions and generates conflicts, and it also opens the doors to policies that work to realise the interests of certain groups at the expense of the majority of humanity.

The writer is a researcher in political science and managing editor of the Middle Eastern Visions Platform of the European Centre for Middle East Studies in Germany.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Calgary, AB, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Husky Oil Operations Limited, now amalgamated into Cenovus Energy Inc., has pled guilty in provincial court to a charge laid against them by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) in October 2022.

The charge relates to the discharge of produced water contrary to section 109(2) of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. All charges relate to incidents at or near Derwent, Alberta between October 18, 2020, and October 21, 2020. The Court has ordered Husky to pay a $140 000 penalty. Of that amount, $138 000 will go to the AER creative sentencing project, and the remaining $2000 will go to the Alberta Court of Justice as a fine. The creative sentencing projects will occur within the Frog Lake sub-watershed, part of the larger North Saskatchewan River watershed, or the counties of Smoky Lake, Two Hills, Minburn, St. Paul, Vermillion River, and the southern part of the M.D. of Bonnyville. Projects must demonstrate benefits to wetlands and surrounding ecosystems. This includes improvement to wetland complexes increasing biodiversity, and benefitting wildlife classified as at risk, threatened or endangered. The AER will publish one or more requests for proposals using established Government of Alberta practices and oversee the creative sentencing project on behalf of the Alberta Court of Justice. For more information on creative sentencing, please see the story, Laying Down the Law in the Oilpatch on aer.ca. Husky was operating a four-inch produced water injection composite pipeline through a wetland near Derwent, Alberta on October 18, 2020. The produced water carried by the pipeline was injected into wells as part of the disposal process. Flow was stopped after the pipeline monitoring system detected a discrepancy. To troubleshoot the potential cause, Husky restarted the pipeline, causing approximately 206 cubic metres of produced water to flow through a break in the line, and into the surrounding wetland.

Visit the AER Compliance Dashboard to see the Agreed Statement of Facts. For more information on AERs investigation enforcement processes please see the Investigations page on aer.ca.

Notes to editors On March 31, 2021, Cenovus and Husky Energy Inc. (Husky) amalgamated under the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "CBCA"), with the amalgamated company continuing to operate as Cenovus Energy Inc., and, as a result, Husky became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cenovus. On December 30, 2021, Cenovus and Husky amalgamated under the provisions of the CBCA, with the amalgamated company continuing to operate as Cenovus Energy Inc. (the "Husky Amalgamation"). The release from the pipeline occurred prior to the Combination Transaction and over one-year prior to the Husky Amalgamation. Husky owned, operated and was the licensee of the pipeline at all material times related to the release.

About the Alberta Energy Regulator The AER ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in Alberta through our regulatory activities. For more information visit AER.ca.

Media Team Alberta Energy Regulator 1-855-474-6356 [email protected]

Source: Alberta Energy Regulator
COWICHAN, British Columbia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, The Nature Trust of British Columbia (NTBC), in partnership with Cowichan Tribes, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Ministry of Forests, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation announced plans to restore and revitalize 70 hectares of estuarine marshlands along the Cowichan River Estuary on Vancouver Island.

The Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project is the largest estuary restoration project to ever occur on Vancouver Island, aiming to restore vitally important estuary habitat and enhance estuary resilience against rising sea-levels. The project will rejuvenate habitat crucial for the survival of key fish and wildlife species, including wild Pacific Salmon, migratory and breeding birds as well as species-at-risk.

The project will involve the combined removal of over 2 km of dikes at Dinsdale Farm and Koksilah Marsh, the creation of intertidal channels and salt marsh habitat, the restoration of marine riparian and flood fringe forests, and the reconnection of areas that have been historically cut off from tidal influence.

Estuaries are incredibly diverse ecosystems that thrive in a narrow band of elevation and represent the critical areas where the nutrients from the marine and terrestrial environments mix. This nutrient rich environment plays a crucial role in the life cycle of fish, crabs, shellfish, migratory and breeding birds. Estuaries are also powerful carbon sinks with sediments capable of capturing carbon ten times as quickly as forest soils. Local communities benefit from ecosystem services that estuaries provide, such as pollutant filtration and storm surge mitigation.

This project is the culmination of a rich legacy of partnerships amongst conservation agencies and Cowichan Tribes. Beginning in 1985, NTBC, DUC, and partners in the Pacific Estuary Conservation Program, began a campaign to set aside, manage and restore as much of the estuary landscape as possible and have worked closely with Cowichan Tribes and other community partners in stewarding these lands and implementing several restoration and monitoring projects.

Since 2018, the partners have collaborated in implementing an in-depth monitoring program to assess the resilience of the Cowichan/Koksilah estuary to sea level rise, and have worked with consultants on extensive modeling and assessments of the impacts of the historic dike and river training within the estuary. Based on the results of this work, a decision was made by all of the partners to implement the Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project to focus on overall ecosystem health and resilience of the estuary.

The Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project is funded by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BC SRIF), a contribution program funded jointly by DFO and the Province of BC, DFOs Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF), and Cowichan Tribes through the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF). Thank you to our funders and partners for their dedication and commitment to conservation. We are honoured and grateful for your collaboration and support. The project's development has also included a Technical/Scientific Advisory Committee composed of leading nearshore scientists from British Columbia and the United States National Estuary Research Reserve System (NERRS).

For more information on the project, visit EstuaryResilience.ca to learn more.

QUOTES

Thomas Reid, West Coast Conservation Land Management Program Manager shares, Estuaries are the heart of our coastal landscape and are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. Although they only make up 2.3% of B.C.s coastline, they support more than 80% of our wildlife, birds, and fish. Sadly, the climate crisis and human activities are threatening their vital processes putting habitat and surrounding communities at risk. This project is an essential step towards restoration of the Cowichan Estuary to conserve biodiversity and protect local communities, now and in the future.

Partner Quotes

Larry George (Smaalthun) Director Lulumexun - Lands and Self Governance Department, Cowichan Tribes shares, The Quw'utsun Mustimuhw (Cowichan People) have long been stewards of the lands and waters. We have witnessed the changes in our estuary over time, which have had a dramatic impact on our resources. Cowichan Tribes aims to contribute to the management of our traditional territory through habitat restoration and monitoring of this important ecosystem. We look forward to seeing this important work continue, and to keep our territory thriving for future generations.

Dr. Jasper Lament, Chief Executive Officer at The Nature Trust of BC shares, We are grateful to be working with our partners on this crucial restoration project. Estuaries are environmental and ecological powerhouses and the wellbeing of our coastal ecosystems and wildlife depend on them. Our collective work will restore salt marsh habitats and estuarine processes which will not only benefit the species within the estuary, but nearby communities. Collaboration is key and together we can revitalize the Cowichan Estuary to ensure that it is able to flourish in perpetuity, for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and people.

Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship shares, "We are delighted to collaborate on this project to restore the natural estuarine marshlands in the Cowichan Estuary. Our government is committed to the sustainable management and protection of water resources in B.C., , and this project aligns perfectly with our goals. By restoring the natural marshland, we are enhancing the ecological health of this important ecosystem and improving the water quality of the surrounding areas. This project will set an excellent example for the preservation of Canada's aquatic ecosystems, and we are proud to be a part of it. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts and seeing the positive impact of this project on the Cowichan Estuary and the communities that rely on it."

Sarah Nathan, Manager, Provincial Operations, B.C. at Ducks Unlimited shares, At Ducks Unlimited Canada we have been conserving wetlands and other natural spaces for waterfowl, wildlife, and people for 85 years. The restoration efforts at the Cowichan Estuary will ensure vital habitat can continue to support waterfowl as they rest over winter on their migratory path, a large range of fish and other wildlife for generations to come, while also advancing local climate resilience against rising sea-levels. We are proud to work with our partners to protect these essential ecosystems and the species that depend on them.

Linda Higgins, South Coast Area Director Fisheries and Oceans Canada shares, "The importance of estuaries for the health of our oceans cannot be overstated. We are thrilled to partner with local organizations and communities to restore over 70 hectares of natural estuarine marshlands in the Cowichan Estuary. This project aligns with our commitment to protect and restore Canada's aquatic ecosystems, and we are proud to contribute to the preservation of this vital habitat for a diverse range of marine species. Through collaborative efforts, we believe this project will not only restore the estuary's ecological balance but also provide long-lasting benefits for the communities that rely on it. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this project on the Cowichan Estuary and the surrounding areas."

Darcy C. Henderson PhD, Head, Stewardship Unit Canadian Wildlife Service Environment & Climate Change Canada shares, Climate change and environmental degradation are some of the greatest challenges of our time, and it is essential that we work together to protect our natural habitats and the biodiversity they support. The revitalization of estuaries in British Columbia is critical to providing a habitat for animals, aiding in climate change adaptation, and offering environmental benefits. Climate change and biodiversity loss are tightly entwined and by restoring these essential ecosystems, we are not only mitigating the effects of climate change but also protecting the region's diverse wildlife and ensuring their survival. We believe this project is a significant step towards a more sustainable future, and we are proud to be a part of it."

Dan Buffett, CEO, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation shares, At the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, we invest in the future of British Columbias fish, wildlife, and their habitats. With over 80% of BCs coastal fish and wildlife dependent on estuaries for their survival, the protection and restoration of these vital ecosystems are critical. Through partnership and collaborative projects such as the Cowichan estuary, we support improving estuary resilience against climate change and other negative impacts.

Cowichan Valley Regional District Board shares, The CVRD is excited to see this important restoration work commencing in the Cowichan Estuary. Not only will this project restore critical fish and wildlife habitat, it will also build resiliency to adapt to our changing climate and extreme weather events. This project is key to assisting the Cowichan region in meeting Cowichan Watershed Board targets for the health of this estuary and contributes to the overall regional vision of a vibrant economy and diverse natural environment. We recognize the efforts of Nature Trust, the Province of BC, Cowichan Tribes and partners who have worked diligently in the design and implementation of this project and will work closely with them to ensure its long term success.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

History of the project

Beginning in 1985, the Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and partners in the Pacific Estuary Conservation Program launched a campaign to set aside and restore as much of the Cowichan Estuary landscape as possible. Through a combination of land purchases, donations, and covenants, and with the support of the Cowichan Estuary Environmental Management Plan, much of the estuary is now protected.

The areas of the Cowichan Restoration Project (Dinsdale Farm, Koksilah Marsh) were acquired between 1985 and 1990. The management focus for these lands was to actively manage agriculture for the benefit of migratory waterfowl.

Since 2018, the partners have collaborated in implementing an in-depth monitoring program to assess the resilience of the Cowichan/Koksilah estuary to sea level rise, and have worked with consultants on extensive modeling and assessments of the impacts of the historic dike and river training within the estuary. Based on the results of this work, a decision was made by all of the partners to implement the Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project to focus on overall ecosystem health and resilience of the estuary.

About partners

About The Nature Trust of British ColumbiaThe Nature Trust of British Columbia is a leading non-profit land conservation organization with over 50 years of success protecting and caring for B.C.s most critical habitats. Since 1971, The Nature Trust of BC and its partners have acquired more than 73,000 hectares (180,000 acres) of ecologically significant land to save vulnerable wildlife, fish and plants.

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF)For over 40 years, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has provided grants to a large network of recipients who undertake conservation projects each year. With support from HCTF, a wide range of nonprofit organizations, First Nations and Indigenous communities, Provincial ministries, and community groups implement projects that protect and restore B.C.s wildlife, freshwater fish, and their habitats. Since 1981, the HCTF has funded over 3,550 projects representing an investment of over $215 million for conservation in B.C.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC)Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is a leading conservation organization committed to conserving wetlands and associated habitats across Canada. Founded in 1938, DUC has a rich history and a deep understanding of the vital role that wetlands play in maintaining biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and providing essential ecosystem services. With a science-based approach and a collaborative mindset, DUC works tirelessly to protect, restore, and manage wetlands, ensuring they continue to support waterfowl, wildlife, and communities. Through strategic land acquisition, habitat restoration projects, and partnerships with various stakeholders, DUC has conserved millions of acres of wetlands, contributing to the overall health and resilience of Canada's natural landscapes. With a strong emphasis on education, research, and community engagement, DUC strives to inspire and empower individuals to take action in conserving wetlands, making a lasting impact for generations to come.

CONTACT: Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project[email protected]604-558-1656

Source: Cowichan Estuary Restoration Project
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medaro Mining Corp. (CSE: MEDA OTC:MEDAF FWB: 1ZY) (Medaro or the Company) is pleased to is pleased to announce that it has commenced exploration work at its 100% owned Darlin lithium property located in Val-dOr, Quebec, Canada. The Phase 1 work completed by Medaro in 2022 identified lithium anomalies indicating a trend which is extending further to the east and northern part of the Property. The current work program will extend the 2022 soil grid to the east and north in the northern claim block (Figure 1) and in the east-west direction in the southern claim block (Figure 2). The objective of the soil survey is to identify new lithium targets for follow-up trenching and drilling.

Figure 1: Darlin North Soil Grid Extension

Michael Mulberry, CEO of Medaro stated that, We are excited to resume exploration work at our Darlin lithium property, which we consider to be a highly prospective lithium project in a favourable mining jurisdiction. The Company believes that the Darlin lithium property has the potential to host significant lithium pegmatite mineralization associated with regional structures and intrusions.

All samples from this program will be bagged and tagged using best practices and will be delivered to Activation Laboratories (ACTLABS), Ancaster, Ontario for sample preparation and analyses using laboratories code Ultratrace 7.

Figure 2: Darlin South Soil Grid Extension

About the PropertyThe Darlin Property consists of 37 mining claims covering approximately 2,133 hectares area located in Darlin and Chabert townships, approximately 80 kilometers southwest of the town of Valdor. The Property is located in an active hard rock lithium pegmatite area. There are several historical and currently active lithium and molybdenum prospects/mines in the Abitibi region. In 2022, the Company completed a work program which included airborne and ground geophysical surveys, soil and rock sampling, and diamond drilling.

Qualified Person Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsMichael R. MulberryCEO & Director

About the Company The Company is a lithium exploration company based in Vancouver, BC. and holds options over the Superb Lake lithium property located in Thunder Bay, Ontario; Darlin, Rapide and the CYR South lithium properties in Quebec; and Yurichson Uranium property in the Athabasca basin Saskatchewan. The Company is a party to a joint venture agreement that engages the Company in the development and commercialization of a new process to extract lithium from spodumene concentrate.

For more information, investors should review the Companys filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the Programs composition and the timing thereof are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Contact Information[email protected]778-837-7191

Photos accompanying this announcement is available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e6fd722-2309-45b8-a7ab-8be7b051bc58

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cbfeda27-da65-4af2-9ad8-33c842a3cb11

Figure 1: Darlin North Soil Grid Extension Figure 1: Darlin North Soil Grid Extension Figure 2: Darlin South Soil Grid Extension Figure 2: Darlin South Soil Grid Extension

Source: Medaro Mining Corp.
Perth, June 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEYAS SAND GOLD PROJECT UPDATE

Perth, Western Australia/June 7, 2023/Perseus Mining Limited (PRU:ASX/TSX) owns 70% of the Meyas Sand Gold Project (MSGP), located in northern Sudan, approximately 75 kilometres south of the border with Egypt and nearly 900 kilometres north of Sudans capital city, Khartoum.

In late April 2023, following an escalation of armed conflict largely in and around Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and an influential militia group, the Rapid Support Force (RSF), Perseus withdrew most of its employees from the MSGP site pending a resolution of the conflict.

Perseus has been actively monitoring the situation in Sudan, along with a team of international security specialists. The safety of all of Perseuss staff is the number one priority in this situation and Perseus has a range of measures in place to appropriately respond to any change in circumstances.

Although hostilities between the combatants continue in certain parts of Sudan, the area in which MSGP is located has not been the scene of conflict, and in fact there have been no reported incidents in an area of approximately 250,000 square kilometres around the site.

As a consequence, Perseus has allowed its employees and contractors to return to the MSGP site and preliminary site works and confirmatory drilling activities are due to re-commence by month end. The MSGP site will be secured by a security force led by Perseuss in-house security personnel, and include representatives of the Sudanese Mining Police, a body that operates under the control of the Ministry for Minerals, as well as representatives of our host communities. Perseuss office in Khartoum that was established to service the MSGP, remains closed with alternative arrangements in place to service the MSGP site.

Perseuss Board of directors was scheduled to make a Final Investment Decision on the Meyas Sand Gold Project in the second half of 2023 however, this decision has been deferred for the foreseeable future.

Perseuss Managing Director and CEO Jeff Quartermaine said: Our decision to temporarily withdraw our people from the Meyas Sand Gold Project site in April was taken with their safety and security in mind. With further assessment of the situation, it appears that the perceived immediate threat has abated and we are comfortable with the prospects of returning to work at the Meyas Sand site without undue risk. We are however closely monitoring the situation and remain prepared and equipped to act if necessary.

Our Sudanese exploration and pre-development assets currently comprise a relatively small part of our asset portfolio and the recent events in Sudan have had no impact on our gold production activities that take place in West Africa, specifically, Ghana and Cote dIvoire and currently deliver more than 500,000 ounces of gold per year at an AISC of less than US$1,000 per ounce.

In the first two months of the June 2023 quarter, Perseuss operations have continued to perform strongly, strengthening our Balance Sheet and placing the Company in a position to continue to prudently grow our business and deliver material benefits to all of our stakeholders.

This announcement was approval for release by Jeff Quartermaine, Managing Director and CEO.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION:

This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Yaoure Gold Mine, Edikan Gold Mine and Sissingue Gold Mine without any major disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Companys ability to carry on its exploration and development activities, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

ASX/TSXU CODE: PRUCAPITAL STRUCTURE:Ordinary shares: 1,367,986,850Performance rights: 12,017,113REGISTERED OFFICE:Level 2437 Roberts RoadSubiaco WA 6008Telephone: +61 8 6144 1700Email: [email protected] www.perseusmining.com CONTACTS:Jeff QuartermaineManaging Director & CEO [email protected] Nathan RyanCorporate Relations+61 4 20 582 887 [email protected]

Source: Perseus Mining Limited
BALTIMORE, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royal Farms announces the opening of its second location in North Carolina in Greenville on June 15th.

The first location in Grandy, NC opened on May 1st and additional stores will follow in New Bern, Lumberton, Kinston, and Jacksonville, NC. Royal Farms has plans to open more locations in other areas of the state to bring more convenient options to North Carolinas communities.

The Greenville location will provide the community with access to our signature World-Famous fried chicken, fresh-baked goods, and a variety of North Carolinas popular side dishes: potato salad, mac and cheese, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and other delicious menu items. Royal Farms customers enjoy our freshly brewed hot or iced coffee from Swiss-Made brewing machines that grind whole Arabica beans seconds before brewing.

We are very excited to open our second location in North Carolina. Greenville offers a diverse community full of families, students and professionals who we know will enjoy our World-Famous chicken complimented with some Texas Pete's Original Hot Sauce! Said District Leader, Elaina Leatherbury.

Royal Farms maintains our mission of giving back to the communities we serve with a monetary donation to two local organizations: James and Connie Maynard Childrens Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and East Carolina University Foundation. We look forward to continuing our involvement in the community and encourage first responders in uniform to visit Royal Farms for a free coffee at any time.

A carwash will be available at the Greenville location and free carwashes can be earned through the Royal Farms rewards program RoFo Rewards. Customers can sign up for RoFo Rewards on the Royal Farms mobile app or on RofoRewards.com. RoFo Rewards Members save money throughout the year, earn fuel discounts, receive rewards for everyday purchases, and redeem other surprise freebie offers.

How to Register as a RoFo Rewards Member

Download the Royal Farms app here: https://engagement.punchh.com/b/royalfarms Store and click "Sign Up" to create a RoFo Rewards account. You can also visit https://www.roforewards.com/register/ to create an account.

About RoFo Rewards

By registering a RoFo Rewards card or downloading our app you gain access to special member offers and can earn rewards points on purchases. Every time you visit Royal Farms and make a purchase, you'll receive 2 points for every dollar you spend, and one point for every gallon of gas you purchase. If you upgrade your card to RoFo Pay, you will also receive a discount on gas when you use your RoFo Rewards card to pay at the pump except for New Jersey Stores. You can keep track of points and offers at www.royalfarms.com/rewards or by downloading the RoFo Rewards app on your phone.

For more information, please contact Aliyah Atayee at [email protected].

For those interested in working for Royal Farms, please visit https://careers.royalfarms.com/. Royal Farms offers competitive pay, medical and dental insurance, a 401(K)-retirement plan, opportunities for advancement, flexible schedules, vacation time, and our employee store discount.

About Royal FarmsRoyal Farms is a renowned operator of fast and friendly neighborhood convenience stores with nearly 300 locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Royal Farms opened its first store in Baltimore, MD in 1959 under the name White Jug. Today, the chain has locations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Royal Farms has been satisfying customers hunger for Real Fresh food served Real Fast. The Royal Farms Kitchen is well known for its Always Fresh, Never Frozen World-Famous Royal Farms Chicken that is lightly hand-breaded and pressure-cooked in Trans Fat Free cooking oil to golden brown perfection. Royal Farms Western Fries are hand-cut from fresh Idaho potatoes, hand-breaded, and cooked right in store. Most locations are open 24 hours, 365 days a year. For more information about Royal Farms, visit: www.royalfarms.com

Source: Royal Farms
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the 1st time the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp program for high school students will take place in San Antonio. The No-Cost Fall 2023 AI Bootcamps will be targeted at underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and will introduce these high school students to basic AI concepts and skills.

San Antonio is one of 28+ cities selected to host camps across the US in Fall 2023.

The San Antonio Bootcamp will be held over four consecutive Saturdays starting on October 14th and ending on November 4th. The bootcamp will run each Saturday from 1-5pm CT and if accepted, high school students must commit to attending all 4 sessions.

The student and parent application are now open at markcubanai.org/sanantoniopr.org. Students do not need any prior experience with computer science, programming, or robotics to apply and attend.

With AI being a relevant topic on many news sources, students will learn what artificial intelligence is and is not, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, and the ethical implications of AI systems including but not limited to TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars to name a few. Participants will also learn how Large Language Models like ChatGPT are changing life as we know it by answering questions, telling original stories, and even writing computer code.

Students will benefit from volunteer corporate mentor instructors who are knowledgeable about AI, ML and data science and able to help students quickly understand material normally taught at a collegiate level. As part of the 4-hour curriculum, students will work with open source tools each day to build their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Generative AI.

The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local student selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and local San Antonio partner will work together to provide food, transportation, and access to laptops for students at no-cost throughout the duration of Bootcamp.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant

Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI Bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several US cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year.

Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/sanantoniopr.org. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq.

Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation

Phone: 309-840-0348

Email: [email protected]

Source: Mark Cuban Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thurgood Marshall College Fund announced today, that it has added six Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCC) to its membership. This decision reflects the organizations firm belief that its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts should recognize alternative pathways to degree attainment and skill development.

TMCF President & CEO Harry L. Williams announced the following institutions as new members, which brings TMCFs total membership to 53 Historically Black Colleges and Universities:

Bishop State Community College (Mobile, Alabama)

Drake State Community & Technical College (Huntsville, Alabama)

Gadsden State Community College (Gadsden, Alabama)

Lawson State Community College (Birmingham, Alabama)

Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Trenholm State Community College (Montgomery, Alabama)

Adding community colleges to our membership is part of an intentional move toward a more inclusive talent strategy. A four-year degree is one path but not the only path to career success, said TMCF President & CEO Dr. Harry L Williams.

HBCCs play a critical role in local and regional economic development by offering workforce upskilling and reskilling programs. HBCCs across the country offer associate degrees and industry-recognized certificates and credentials that can launch students into the workforce to fill skilled positions that offer good pay without the requirement of a bachelors degree. HBCCs also offer students the ability to obtain core, academic credits that can be transferred to a four-year university for a bachelor's degree.

TMCF programming is highly sought after by high-profile, Fortune 100 companies looking to grow their talent pipeline with diverse talent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2020 and 2030, 60% of new jobs in the economy will be in jobs that typically dont require an associate or bachelors degree. These occupations are projected to grow faster than 7.7% over the decade with median wages beginning at $45,760. Given this, adding Historically Black Community Colleges to its membership will only enhance the value of TMCFs offerings.

This milestone reflects our commitment to excellence in education and signifies our dedication to the advancement and empowerment of Historically Black Community Colleges across the state, said Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims. This partnership solidifies our position as a leading two-year HBCC institution, and we look forward to collaborating with Thurgood Marshall College Fund and its esteemed partners to cultivate the next generation of talented leaders and innovators. Together, we will continue to impact our community, the nation, and the world.

###

ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nations largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member schools include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit www.tmcf.org.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- insured.io, a provider of cloud-based, customer engagement solutions for the insurance industry, is pleased to announce that Turbo Insurance Group (Turbo) has successfully implemented the insured.io LeadGen Platform (LeadGen).

Turbo, a new, nationwide, tech-forward insurance agency, can now arm the companys agents with rates from more than 30 carriers in real-time following the rapid deployment of this modern, streamlined quoting solution. LeadGen stands out not only with superior rate/quote capabilities, but also by being significantly more customer-centric than many of the out-of-the-box, insurtech solutions available today. LeadGen can be deployed to nearly any location, including directly on any website or embedded within other applications, and it supports any line of business with customizable workflows while simplifying customer intake for personal and commercial lines.

Turbo came to us initially looking to leverage the insured.io Customer Engagement Platform in a unique way, said Steve Johnson, founder and head of product at insured.io. By utilizing the direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales process inherent to the Customer Engagement Platform as a lead generation solution we are helping Turbo leverage off-the-shelf products in new and interesting ways. While we have enjoyed working with Turbo on this project, it is also important to note that this implementation was an excellent opportunity to bring our expertise with customer engagement to the agent experience.

By collaborating with the Turbo team, insured.io was able to bring the project to launch in record time, complete with a direct connection into the companys EZ Lynx agency management system (AMS) for direct quoting of homeowners insurance products from multiple carriers across the U.S. Additionally, Turbo elected to combine the features and functionality with the capabilities of the insured.io INTERCEPT custom logic engine for quote intelligence, insights, and analytics. The combination of LeadGen and INTERCEPT equips Turbo with a powerful toolbox capable of capturing high quality leads.

Ive known insured.io for years, but always thought of them as more carrier-focused, said Chad Barczuk, CTO for Turbo.  The functionality they were able to provide for our agency prior to and upon launch has been a determining factor in the early success of our business. We look forward to an ongoing, innovative partnership.

About insured.ioInsured.io accelerates digital transformation for insurance organizations with a 360-degree suite of SaaS solutions built on a modern, cloud-based platform. The insured.io Customer Engagement Platform integrates seamlessly with multiple core administration systems and includes interactive voice response (IVR), policyholder and producer portals, direct-to-consumer sales, recurring payments, first notice of loss (FNOL), and analytics. For more information and to schedule a demo of insured.io, please visit us at https://insured.io, call us at (888) 470-0637, or email us at [email protected]

About Turbo Insurance GroupTurbo Insurance Group bridges the gap between mortgages and insurance. Turbo Insurance simplifies the way clients interact and purchase insurance. By using their application process, borrowers can get homeowners insurance quotes at the time of application, removing days off the loan process. Turbos quote experience shops over 30 nationwide carriers for the best options tailored to each borrower and their needs. The Turbo experience goes beyond an initial conversation and bind of a policy, once a borrower picks their policy, they assigned an account manager who will help manage and maintain their policy. At time of renewal, Turbo will re-shop their carriers to make sure you are still getting the best coverage for the best price. For more information about Turbo Insurance Group, please visit www.turboinsurance.com.

Media Contact:Jennifer OverhulseSt. Nick Media Services859.803.6597[email protected]

Source: insured.io
TORONTO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX:WM, OTCQX: WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) today announced that its 2023 exploration drill program has extended the gold mineralization at its 100% owned Fenelon Gold project (Fenelon) at depth in Area 51 and to the south of the Ripley zone.

Attila Pentek, Wallbridges Vice President, Exploration, commented:

The ongoing drilling campaign at Fenelon continues to return impressive results, both discovering new gold-bearing areas on the property (see Press Release from May 8, 2023) and continuing to expand the known deposit as highlighted today. Significantly, todays results expand the Area 51 system 80 metres from the nearest intersection in the central part of the deposit at depth, while new results in the Ripley zone have now expanded the known footprint of gold-bearing Jeremie Diorite to over three kilometres north-south. Our exploration program is consistently growing the overall mineralized footprint and highlighting the district-scale potential of the Fenelon gold system.

Over the remainder of the year, our exploration activities will continue to focus on further delineating the potential of our Detour-Fenelon land package. In parallel, we expect to complete a preliminary economic assessment for the Fenelon deposit this month.

Composite Highlights

FA-23-543 intersected high-grade gold mineralization in the Area 51 system down to 940 metres below surface including: 18.26 g/t Au over 2.70 metres, including 38.63 g/t Au over 1.20 metres, 14.16 g/t Au over 2.50 metres , and 20.95 g/t Au over 0.50 metre.



Geological Highlights

A transect of four holes were drilled across the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone (SLDZ) immediately south of the Ripley zone, a new satellite zone of the Fenelon mineral resource (see February 28, 2023, press release). These holes intersected several intervals of intense deformation and strong hydrothermal alteration over hundreds of meters that is interpreted to represent the main deformation corridor of the SLDZ. This structure is in contact with the Timiskaming-type conglomerate rocks identified on the property last year, which in the southern Abitibi have a strong spatial association with gold deposits.

In addition to outlining the SLDZ corridor, results indicate the folding of the gold-bearing Jeremie Diorite immediately to the south of the Ripley Zone, with several gold mineralized intervals present (see Table 1 below). The interpreted folding of the Jeremie Diorite opens up new directions to the south and east for follow-up drill testing of this favorable gold-hosting environment.

Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Exploration Progress

Currently, the Company has three drill rigs operating on its Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend property: two at its Martiniere gold project and one that is in the process of being mobilized from Fenelon to Grasset East to test favorable target areas on this eastern, unexplored part of the land package.

Wallbridge has completed over 13,000 metres of drilling at Fenelon and over 10,000 meters at Martiniere as part of its 2023 exploration program. Assay results are being released here for six drill holes from Fenelon.

In addition to the drilling campaign, other grassroots exploration programs are underway to continue developing the pipeline of regional targets. In the first quarter of this year, high-resolution airborne magnetic surveys were completed over a group of properties, including Martiniere and Casault, and a sonic, drill-for-till orientation program was completed at Casault. Field work is also currently underway on the Harri property, which lies between the Companys two flagship projects, Fenelon and Martiniere.

Assay QA/QC and Qualified Persons

Drill core samples from the ongoing drill program at Fenelon are cut and bagged either on-site or by contractors and transported to SGS Canada Inc. for analysis. Samples, including standards and blanks for quality assurance and quality control, were prepared and analyzed at the laboratories. Samples are crushed to 90% less than 2mm. A 1kg riffle split is pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. 50g samples are analyzed by fire assay and AAS or ICP. Samples >10g/t Au are automatically analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish or screen metallic analysis. To test for coarse free gold and additional quality assurance and quality control, Wallbridge requests screen metallic analysis for samples containing visible gold. These and future assay results may vary from time to time due to re-analysis for quality assurance and quality control.

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release is Christopher Kelly, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Geologist of Wallbridge.

Figure 1. Fenelon Gold Property, Total Magnetic Intensity Reprocessed (TMI)

Figure 2. Fenelon Gold Property, Vertical Cross Section A-A, 75m Corridor

Figure 3. Fenelon Gold Property, Plan View, 880m Vertical Depth and 150m Corridor

Table 1. Wallbridge Fenelon Gold Property, Recent Drill Assay Highlights (1, 4) Drill Hole From To Length Au Au Cut(2) VG(3) Zone/Corridor (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) Fenelon Expansion Targets FA-21-248 599.50 601.00 1.50 6.24 6.24 Area 51 FA-23-543 1131.50 1132.00 0.50 20.95 20.95 VG Area 51 FA-23-543 1146.00 1147.00 1.00 5.79 5.79 Area 51 FA-23-543 1178.30 1181.00 2.70 18.26 18.26 Area 51 Including 1178.30 1179.50 1.20 38.63 38.63 Area 51 FA-23-543 1204.50 1207.00 2.50 14.16 14.16 VG Area 51 Ripley Targets FA-23-542 No Significant Mineralization FA-23-545 No Significant Mineralization FA-23-547 404.00 405.50 1.50 4.17 4.17 Ripley FA-23-547 475.50 477.00 1.50 5.10 5.10 Ripley FA-23-547 742.00 743.50 1.50 3.47 3.47 Ripley FA-23-549 No Significant Mineralization

Note: True widths are estimated to be 50-80% of the reported core length intervals

(1) Table includes only assay received since the latest press release dated May 8, 2023 (2) Au cut at: 110 g/t for the Tabasco/Contact/Cayenne Zones; 75 g/t Au for the Area 51 zones (3) Intervals containing visible gold (VG) (4) Metal factor of at least 5 g/t*m and minimum weighted average composite grade of 1.5 g/t Au, matching the underground resource cut-off grade used in the 2023 MRE

All figures and a table with drill hole information of recently completed holes are posted on the Companys website under Current Program at https://wallbridgemining.com/our-projects/fenelon-gold/.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend while respecting the environment and communities where it operates.

Wallbridges flagship project, Fenelon Gold (Fenelon), is located on the highly prospective Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property in Quebecs Northern Abitibi region. An updated mineral resource estimate completed in January 2023 yielded significantly improved grades and additional ounces at the 100%-owned Fenelon and Martiniere projects, incorporating a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources.

Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 km2 exploration land package controlled by Wallbridge. The Company believes that these two deposits have good potential for economic development, especially given their proximity to existing hydro-electric power and transportation infrastructure. In addition, Wallbridge believes that the extensive land package is extremely prospective for the discovery of additional gold deposits.

Wallbridge also holds a 19.9% interest in the common shares of Archer Exploration Corp. (Archer) as a result of the sale of the Companys portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec in November of 2022.

Wallbridge will continue to focus on its core Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property while enabling shareholders to participate in the potential economic upside in Archer.

For further information please visit the Companys website at www.wallbridgemining.com or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

Marz Kord, P. Eng., M. Sc., MBAPresident & CEOTel: (705) 6829297 ext. 251Email: [email protected]

Victoria Vargas, B.Sc. (Hon.) Economics, MBAInvestor Relations AdvisorEmail: [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLI) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this press release.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include words such as seeks, believes, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, projects, predicts, proposes, "potential", targets and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, should or might, be taken, occur or be achieved.

FLI herein includes but is not limited to: statements regarding the potential future performance of Archer common shares; future drill results; the Companys ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; environmental matters; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used to estimate the MREs at the Fenelon Gold (defined below) and Martiniere (defined below) properties (collectively the Deposits); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand managements current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and 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 FLI. Although the FLI contained in this press release is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this press release has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this press release. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Companys financial position and general economic conditions, the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and any impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Deposits, the Companys financial position, the Companys ability to secure required funding, or operations. In addition to the MD&A, risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedar.com.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

The disclosure relating to the Deposits and MREs in this press release and referred to herein was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used in this press release are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained in this press release providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Investors are cautioned that while terms, are substantially similar to CIM Definition Standards, there are differences in the definitions and standards under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60ceb1a6-bb6f-46ab-a7da-3d7489d57169https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9bb857db-c564-41b8-a2ff-01aff6d22bb6https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee9b245b-b1bf-466c-8567-cdfb70650a6b

Figure 1 Fenelon Gold Property, Total Magnetic Intensity Reprocessed (TMI) Figure 2 Corridor Fenelon Gold Property, Vertical Cross Section A-A, 75m Corridor Figure 3 Fenelon Gold Property, Plan View, 880m Vertical Depth and 150m Corridor

Source: Wallbridge Mining Company Limited
WASHINGTON, DC, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zahid F Sarder Saddi, who is the Foreign Advisor to the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia, has released a statement conveying his appreciation for an urgent letter to President Biden that was led by Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) and also signed by Congressmen Bob Good (VA-05), Barry Moore (AL-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Keith Self (TX-03). In the letter, they requested that President Biden impose stricter individual sanctions, banning Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions. Zahid F Sarder Saddi is also thanking Secretary of State Antony Blinken for implementing new visa restrictions on Bangladeshis who may undermine the countrys democratic process.

Photo: Six United States Congressmen seek stricter sanctions, ban on Bangladeshs participation in UN Peacekeeping Force

The US governments pressure on Bangladesh to respect the rights of its citizens increased in April 2023, when Secretary Blinken met in Washington DC with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen. In May 2023, Secretary Blinken sent an even clearer message, emphasizing that the world, including the United States, is looking to Bangladesh to set a strong example of free and fair elections for the region and beyond. Supportive statements were also issued by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

Photo: Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi with United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken

Now US leadership appears to be further coalescing around the issue of democratic elections in Bangladesh. Influential US Congressman Scott Perry has also stepped forward and has been joined by Congressmen Bob Good, Barry Moore, Tim Burchett, Warren Davidson and Keith Self. In their joint letter to President Biden, they said that the government of Bangladesh has increasingly repudiated democratic systems [and] perpetrated widespread abuse against its citizens. The Congressional leaders requested urgent action to stop human rights abuses in the country, including by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the major perpetrator of torture, disappearances, and extra judicial killings in Bangladesh.

Photo: Letter sent to US President Biden by Congressmen Scott Perry (PA-10), Bob Good (VA-05), Barry Moore (AL-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Keith Self (TX-03)

Congressman Perry, a retired US Army Brigadier General, serves as Chairman for the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management and is on the committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He also serves on Oversight and Accountability, a subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee, focusing on national security; peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement of United Nations or other international sanctions; USAID; Defense; promotion of democracy; embassy security; international broadcasting; and public diplomacy, including international communication and information policy. Additionally, Rep. Perry is the Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.

Rep. Perry sees the Indo-Pacific region, and Bangladesh in particular, as crucial to human rights, security, and democratic governance on a global level. For the past decade, Zahid F Sarder Saddi has been meeting with Rep. Perry to collaborate on how to bring greater peace to the geopolitical space.

I have enjoyed working with Rep. Perry, as he is one of the biggest supporters in the US House of human rights in Bangladesh, says Zahid F Sarder Saddi. He has shown himself to be a committed ally of the people of Bangladesh by exerting influence through the Congressional Committee of Foreign Affairs. He has expressed his desire to protect democracy through comprehensive legislation, human rights of Bangladeshi religious minorities, free and fair elections, and the preservation of the Bangladeshi community both in the United States and in Bangladesh.

Photo: Human Rights Activist, Civil Society Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi and renowned Human Rights Defender Barrister Abu Sayem with United States Congressman Scott Perry | US CONGRESS

Congressman Bob Good is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and serves on the Education and Labor Committee and the Budget Committee. Congressman Barry Moore is a member of the House Freedom Caucus and the House Judiciary Committee. Congressman Tim Burchett currently serves on the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability; Foreign Affairs; and Transportation and Infrastructure. Congressman Warren Davidson serves on the House Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on House National Security, and International Development and Monetary Policy. Congressman Keith Self is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and a Texas Judge who is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Committee on Veterans Affairs.

I appreciate their efforts to protect human rights and free elections in Bangladesh and thank all of them for their letter to President Biden, Zahid F Sarder Saddi says. I look forward to working with them and other US Senators and Representatives across the aisle in the months to come.

Photo: High-ranking Bangladeshi delegate team headed by the former Minister of Bangladesh and Standing Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at United States Congress with Congressman Scott Perry | US CONGRESS

In news from the US State Department, Secretary Blinken has announced a new visa policy that will restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.

I am grateful that Secretary Blinken has implemented this new visa policy. Once again, the United States is proving itself to be a strong advocate of democratic elections in Bangladesh, says Zahid F Sarder Saddi. I am deeply thankful for the tireless efforts of both these US Congressmen and the US State Department to stop human rights violations in Bangladesh. With their support, all Bangladeshis will enjoy democratic norms and Take Back Bangladesh.

About Zahid F Sarder Saddi

Zahid F Sarder Saddi is a prominent Bangladeshi politician, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He served as a Foreign Advisor to the three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia. He was also appointed as a Special Envoy to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP. Zahid F Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. He has been involved in the Bangladeshi American Society for over 25 years and works to carry the voice of Bangladeshi Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F Sarder Saddi is also a Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Bangla Times, a leading Bangladeshi English and Bangla language newspaper. Zahid F Sarder Saddi has received numerous accolades, including a humanitarian award for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping to promote vaccine distribution to the Bangladeshi population.

To learn more about Zahid F Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F Sarder Saddi at [email protected].

Zahid F Sarder Saddi, info at zahidfsardersaddi.com

Source: Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, Activist
Ceramic and Traditional Handicrafts Centre

1 Al-Imam St, behind Amr bin Al-Aas Mosque, Al-Fustat, Old Cairo, Tel 02 2364 3103

Every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, 10am-4pm: The handicrafts courses of Jameel House of Traditional Arts Cairo, in cooperation with the Prince Charless Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

Weekly from Sunday to Wednesday, 10am-4pm: The fourth edition of the presidential initiative Egypts Artisans.

Diwan Bookstore

105, Abu Bakr El-Seddiq St, Heliopolis, Misr Algedida, Tel 02 2690 8184/85/ 0122 6000168

Thurs 8, 7pm: Signing ceremony and discussion of Abortion Tales book for the feminist writer Ghadeer Ahmed. The seminar is moderated by Dina Makram Ebeid, Professor of Sociology at the American University in Cairo. The book deals with real stories of women who had induced abortions, and includes a medical framework, legal and forensic scrutiny, and a political analysis of abortion in the context of the feminist movement in Egypt historically and until the present day. The book also presents an in-depth theoretical rooting for the phenomenon of induced abortion, and discusses the challenge it poses to the patriarchal system, the heterosexual family system, and the reproductive and productive roles imposed on and expected of women.

Ahmed's writing is distinguished by combining academic research and literary writing of women's testimonies about abortion experiences in Egypt, which makes the book an important read for anyone interested in feminist, health and political issues in Egypt and the Arab world.

ALEXANDRIA

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Port Said St, Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999

Under the title Inheritance of the Ancestors, Bibliotheca Alexandrina offers, through its Museum of Manuscripts of the Cultural Communication Sector, a series of free lectures and workshops for children and school students aging from 10 to 14 years old. This is during the summer vacation from the 21 June to 30 August, at 10am. The lectures aim to introduce UNESCO, its objectives and role in preserving heritage and the number of sites registered in UNESCO. In addition to introducing the child and youth to the meaning of heritage and its types of tangible and intangible heritage, natural and cultural heritage such as temples, archaeological sites, popular proverbs, folk dance, and natural areas. It will also display the heritage of the Arabs which we still use in our daily life such as coffee, public baths, fountains, textiles, shoes, and chess.

Please note that reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis through the website, and reservation will be confirmed by contacting the participants

http://manuscriptsmuseum.bibalex.org/Presen.../Homepage.aspx

* A version of this article appears in print in the 8 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Investing.com -- Sequoia Capital has said it plans to spin off its business in China into a separate entity, as the venture capital giant looks to simplify its operations in an "increasingly complex" environment.

The move, which was announced in a message to Sequoia's limited partners on Tuesday, will see its Chinese unit become its own entity known as HongShan in English. Sequoia has a storied history in China, serving as backers of some of the country's most famous brands like TikTok-owner ByteDance and e-commerce giant Alibaba (NYSE: BABA).

At the same time, Sequoia's unit in Southeast Asia and India will adopt the name Peak XV Partners, while its division in the U.S. and Europe will retain the Sequoia Capital name.

Neil Shen, a partner at Sequoia along with Roelof Botha and Shailendra Singh, will helm the Chinese business. Singh will head up Sequoia's operations in Southeast Asia and India, while Botha will run the U.S. and Europe business.

All of these entities are set to turn into "independent" and "separate" brands no later than the end of March next year, according to Sequoia.

In a statement, Sequoia argued that the challenges of running a "decentralized global investment business" are increasing.

"[E]ach business has evolved to meet the opportunities in their markets across a wide range of sectors," the company said.

As a result, Sequoia flagged that its practice of using a centralized system for back-office functions like payroll and logistics is now "more of a hindrance than an advantage."
Adolphus Pruitt, St. Louis Citys NAACP president, was initially a vocal supporter of a marijuana legalization amendment aimed at addressing the lack of Black participation in the industry. However, his perspective changed when he discovered details of the requirements for those seeking microbusiness licenses outlined in the amendment.

The application was set to be released on June 6, 2023, and Pruitt was shocked to find that the list of qualifying zip codes did not include any areas in north St. Louis, where a

Read More>>

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the companys newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX

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PITTSBURGH, PA - (NewMediaWire) - June 5, 2023 - Innovative Designs, Inc. (OTCQB: IVDN) wishes to acknowledge a substantial new private placement investment from its Board of Directors member Robert K. Adams. On May 30th an SEC Form 4 filing was made, reporting that Mr. Adams purchased 500,000 shares of IVDN common stock at the market price on that date of .20 per share. This transaction resulted in a cash payment to the company of $100,000 which will be used to help further current plans to expand production and marketing of our patented Insultex insulation product line. With this 500,000-share purchase Mr. Adams has added to his IVDN common stock holdings of 871,300 shares in total. The Form 4 SEC filing with additional details may be viewed at this direct link: https://www.otcmarkets.com/filing/html?id=16696428&guid=OGT-kpYMRb9mB3h





Regarding his IVDN personal investment, Robert K. Adams stated, I see very high return potential in the Innovative Designs business plan going forward from this point. The companys Insultex House Wrap, IDI Gear clothing line and other products, made with our patented and unique evacuated cell material, offer far superior performance to all competitive options on the market today. Innovative Designs is the sole source of this incredible material which has been finally validated via the Federal Court victories recently won by the company. Now that we are in a position to focus all of our attention and energies on marketing the Insultex product lines, this is the time of opportunity we have been working towards and we intend to develop our market share to its fullest.

Robert K. Adams is a very accomplished member of the Innovative Designs Board of Directors. Mr. Adams graduated from Texas A&I University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and he has worked in some impressive professional positions. He began his career at the Lockheed Martin Corporation working on projects for NASA. Mr. Adams then moved on to the Department of Defense as an electrical engineer at Kelly Air Force Base. Afterwards, Mr. Adams was recruited to head a cyber security development team for the Department of Defense with direct work for the US Air Force. Mr. Adams later established his own private company to support clients through the investigation of technical and scientific research, government policies and procedures, patent development and engineering concepts.

About Innovative Designs Inc.

Innovative Designs, Inc. manufactures the Insultex House Wrap and Arctic Armor Line, under the "i.d.i.gear" label featuring INSULTEX. Patented INSULTEX is the thinnest, lightest and warmest insulator in the market today. For more information, please visit http://www.idigear.com or http://www.insultexhousewrap.com.



Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking" statements as defined by federal law. Such statements are based on assumptions, but there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different as those implied. Any such statements are made in reliance on the "Safe Harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to various factors, including the risks and matters discussed in the Company's SEC filings available at http://www.sec.gov.

Joseph Riccelli

412-799-0350

[email protected]

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
- Phase 3 ASCEND study of TMB-001 (topical isotretinoin) for the treatment of congenital ichthyosis is 70% enrolled -





WARREN, NJ - (NewMediaWire) - June 05, 2023 - Timber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Timber" or the Company) (NYSE American: TMBR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for rare and orphan dermatologic diseases, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a dermal carcinogenicity (CARC) waiver for TMB-001, a topical isotretinoin formulated using the Companys patented IPEG delivery system. The positive opinion is based on results of a 39-week repeat dose dermal toxicity study that demonstrated no evidence of skin or organ carcinogenicity from chronic applications of TMB-001 in rodents and allows the Company to forgo a 2-year dermal rodent carcinogenicity study.

Many dermatologists are familiar with oral isotretinoin, but high-dose and chronic oral therapy cannot be tolerated by most patients due to systemic toxicity, said John Koconis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Timber. We are committed to delivering a new topical treatment option for people living with moderate to severe congenital ichthyosis (CI). The CARC waiver is important because we can avoid a costly and lengthy non-clinical study, which we believe will allow us to push ahead with our TMB-001 program as quickly and efficiently as possible. We have reached 70% enrollment in our pivotal Phase 3 ASCEND study and are working to open the final sites in Italy this month.

CI is a group of rare genetic keratinization disorders that lead to dry, thickened, and scaling skin. TMB-001 is currently being investigated in the Phase 3 ASCEND study for the treatment of moderate to severe subtypes of CI including lamellar ichthyosis and X-linked ichthyosis that affect about 80,000 people in the U.S. In 2018, the FDA awarded an Orphan Products Grant to support clinical trials evaluating TMB-001, including the Phase 3 ASCEND study. Timber has also received both Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Fast Track Status from the FDA for TMB-001.

About Timber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Timber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for rare and orphan dermatologic diseases. The Company's investigational therapies have proven mechanisms-of-action backed by decades of clinical experience and well-established CMC (chemistry, manufacturing, and control) and safety profiles. The Company is initially focused on developing non-systemic treatments for rare dermatologic diseases including congenital ichthyosis (CI) and sclerotic skin diseases. For more information, visit www.timberpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, intellectual property rights, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions.

These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential, "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which 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. Such factors include those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as other documents filed by the Company from time to time thereafter with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, contact:

Timber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

John Koconis

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Stephanie Prince

PCG Advisory

(646) 863-6341

[email protected]

Media Relations:

Adam Daley

Berry & Company Public Relations

(212) 253-8881

[email protected]

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM") that took place in Vancouver, BC on June 5, 2023. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters of business described in the Company's Information Circular dated April 17, 2023 and put before the meeting, including the election of Eric Caba and the re-election of Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, Anthony Hawkshaw, Andrew Swarthout, Kevin Morano, Erfan Kazemi, Stephen Lang, Alfredo Bullard and Alan Hair as directors of the Company for the ensuing year.

Shareholders also confirmed, ratified and approved the Company's 10% Rolling Stock Option Plan dated April 26, 2022 (the "2022 Plan"), including amendments thereto that are more thoroughly described in the Company's Information Circular dated April 17, 2023. The maximum number of common shares that may be reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan is 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares as constituted on the date of any grant of stock options, inclusive of any shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the grant of awards under the Company's long term incentive plan.

Following the AGM Bear Creek's board of directors (the "Board") appointed Catherine McLeod-Seltzer as Chair, Anthony Hawkshaw as Vice Chair, Eric Caba as President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Tweddle as Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Henderson as Vice President Corporate Communications and Corporate Secretary and Eduard Roux as Vice President Project Development. The Board additionally constituted its standing committees for the ensuing year including the Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Operating, Safety and Sustainability Committees.

Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, Chair of Bear Creek states, "I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Eric Caba on his promotion to President and CEO. Eric has the skills, knowledge and experience to successfully lead the Company, and has hit the ground running. Bear Creek is in excellent hands. I would also like to welcome Tony Hawkshaw to his new role as Vice Chair. We are very pleased that Tony will continue to contribute his expertise in project finance in an active role at Bear Creek."

Bear Creek is further pleased to announce it has published its Environmental, Social and Governance report (the "2022 ESG Report"), which sets out the Company's ESG practices and performance for the year ended December 31, 2022. The 2022 ESG Report is available on the Company's website (www.bearcreekmining.com) and at https://onyen.com/published/BCM_2022_Annual_660.html.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Eric Caba

President and CEO

For further information contact:

Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications

Direct: 604-628-1111

E-mail: [email protected]

www.bearcreekmining.com

Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's directors, officers and Board committees and the roles and responsibilities of certain individuals. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: that the Company's directors and officers will continue to serve in their appointed positions for the ensuing year. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168814
San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Originally released in 2021 in eBook format only, The Backrooms was recently released in paperback and hardcover versions as well. The eerie, complex thriller written by author Morgan Solis was popular amongst its fans as it was not only the first "backrooms" novel but it was also deliciously unsettling, capturing both the paranoia of feeling watched and the strangeness of being utterly alone.

Book cover ofThe Backrooms (paperback)

In The Backrooms, Nancy, the protagonist, arrives at an unfamiliar building for an interview after seeing a newspaper ad. But once she steps inside, she cannot seem to remember where she is. This leads her to repeat her actions again and again. In a place where nothing is completely real, Nancy isn't quite sure what's happening-and neither are you. Perhaps she will get to the interview, or perhaps she will get out.

Fans of dark thrillers and similar genres will appreciate the unpredictability of this book. Solis expertly leads the audience into an ambiguous, disturbing situation while maintaining enough narrative distance to allow readers to speculate about the hidden truths at the heart of the story.

Reviewers applaud the unique format and have described The Backrooms as a haunting read and a fascinating piece of art to unfold like magic right before your eyes. With its twisty plot and sinister setting, The Backrooms is an immersive journey that invites readers to do far more than simply read along. Dare to read it if you dare to escape.

The Backrooms is now available for purchase only on Amazon.com.

About

Morgan Solis is a self-published author with over 10 years of experience in the field of creative writing. Their other passion is composing original piano arrangements and playing by ear, skills that they first began self-learning at the age of 8. When they aren't writing or composing piano pieces, Solis enjoys watching films in the psychological horror and mystery genres.

Source:

Charlotte Simmons

[email protected]

Dabb Media

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168742
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - European Energy Metals (TSXV: FIN) (FSE: W28) ("European Energy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the engagement of Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc. to design and implement the Company's 2023 exploration program for its Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum ("LCT") and Rare Earth Element ("REE") Finnish Pegmatite Project, consisting of five exploration concessions in central and southern Finland.

"After thorough research, we agreed to move forward with Resourceful Geoscience Solutions based on their track record and in-country on the ground experience," stated European Energy Metals CEO Jeremy Poirier. "European Energy's phase one exploration programs will focus on evaluating over 2,300 square kilometres of prospective concessions with the focus of identifying high priority targets for phase 2 drilling targeted for late 2023 as we continue to work toward developing our Finland Pegmatite Project portfolio into one of Europe's major sources of lithium and REEs, critical metals to the green future," he continued.

Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc. is a boutique geological and mineral exploration consultancy headquartered in Halifax, NS, Canada. Their team has expertise across a range of commodities, deposit types, project scales, and operational jurisdictions on three continents; including previous on the ground experience in the country of Finland. Resourceful Geoscience Solutions drives strategic exploration through a commitment to geoscientific first principles.

Pursuant to an earn-in agreement with Capella Minerals Ltd., European Energy has the right to earn an 80% interest in the Finnish Pegmatite Project. A detailed assessment of the historic and government exploration data compiled by the Finnish Geological Survey ("GTK") identified a series of permissive tracts for LCT pegmatites. The concessions comprising the Finnish Pegmatite Project were identified as a result of this pegmatite research.

About the Finland Pegmatite Project

The Finland Pegmatite Project consists of four exploration concessions in central Finland and one exploration concession in southern Finland. These reservations cover a total area of 2,300 square kilometres and are focused on Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum or LCT pegmatite complexes located within the Jarvi-Pohjanmaa and Seinajoki lithium-permissive tracts as defined by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). Four of the reservations (Nabba, Lappajarvi W, Lappajarvi E and Kaatiala) lie immediately adjacent to, and to the south of, Keliber Oy's spodumene mine development project in the Kaustinen district.

Keliber Oy is a consortium, comprised of Sibanye-Stillwater (79%), Finnish Minerals Group (20%) and Finnish shareholders (1%). A Definitive Feasibility Study by Hatch dated June 14, 2018 states a JORC Code 2012 compliant Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 9.47 million tonnes at a grade of 1.16% Li 2 O.1

European Energy cautions investors the presence of lithium mineralization at Keliber Oy is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at the Nabba concession.

Under the terms of an Earn In Agreement with Capella Minerals Limited (TSXV: CMIL), European Energy may earn an 80% interest in the Finland Pegmatite Project by issuing 1,750,000 shares, paying Cdn$500,000 and incurring Cdn$2,500,000 dollars in exploration expenditures staged over a 4 year earn in period.

1. Definitive Feasibility Study - Executive Summary June 14, 2018 by Hatch. http://mb.cision.com/Public/14755/2547948/b83a99f0255413fe.pdf

R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo. (BC), a Director of European Energy Metals Corp., is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content disclosed in this release.

Corporate Update

In addition, European Energy announces that it has engaged Winning Media LLC ("Winning Media") to provide to provide digital marketing services in an effort to increase investor awareness of the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, Winning Media will receive a payment of US$150,000 in connection with the investor marketing campaign, payable one-time in advance. The agreement has a proposed initial term ending August 31, 2023. Winning has not started their program and no start date has been confirmed. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement and Winning Media will not receive securities of the Company as compensation. European Energy and Winning Media act at arm's length, and Winning Media and its principals have no present interest, directly or indirectly, in European Energy or its securities. Winning Media is based out of Houston, Texas and brings over 20 years of experience in the online advertising and investor marketing industry.

The Company has also engaged Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. ("VLP") to initiate its market-making service to provide assistance in maintaining an orderly trading market for the common shares of the Company. The market-making service will be undertaken by VLP through a registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd., in compliance with the applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable laws. For its services, European Energy has agreed to pay VLP Cdn$5,000 per month for a period of three months. The agreement may be terminated at any time by European Energy or VLP. European Energy and VLP act at arm's length, and VLP and its principals have no present interest, directly or indirectly, in European Energy or its securities. The finances and the common shares required for the market-making service are provided by W.D. Latimer. The fee paid by European Energy to VLP is for services only. VLP is a specialized consulting firm based in Toronto providing a variety of services focused on TSX Venture Exchange listed issuers.

The Company also announces that Lachlan McLeod has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company to pursue other opportunities. The Company would like to thank Mr. McLeod for his service and wish him well with his future endeavors. Until a replacement is located, Jeremy Poirier will act as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company. It is expected the company will announce a new CFO within the next few days.

About European Energy Metals Corp.

European Energy Metals Corp. is a junior mining company currently focussed on the Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum Finnish Pegmatite Project in central Finland. Governing bodies in Europe and Finland are legislating environmentally friendly and energy independent laws and policies. One of the key components is access to REE and, specifically, lithium. The Company is also focusing on its Champ Copper Project located in Southeast British Columbia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier, CEO

Telephone: 604-722-9842

Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the future planned exploration programs for, and the exploration potential of, the Finland Pegmatite Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include the costs of any anticipated work programs and the ability to fund such costs, required approvals in connection with any work programs and the ability to obtain such approvals, risks inherent in exploration as well as those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168821
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Gold Hunter Resources Inc. (CSE: HUNT) ("Gold Hunter" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a mineral property purchase agreement dated June 5, 2023, pursuant to which the Company will sell to Sorrento Resources Ltd. (CSE: SRS) ("Sorrento") a 100% interest in a portion of its claims comprising the PEG Lithium property, Harmsworth and Tom Joe properties, as well as three properties along the Doucers Valley Fault, all located in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Property").

Transaction Details

As consideration for the Property, Sorrento will pay to the Company $50,000 in cash and issue 1,000,000 common shares, which shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following completion of the acquisition (the "Closing").

The Property will also be subject to a 1% net smelter returns royalty to be granted to Gold Hunter (the "Gold Hunter NSR") upon Closing, which is expected to occur on or around June 13, 2023. Sorrento will also have the right to buy back 50% of the Gold Hunter NSR at any time for $1,000,000. The Property is currently subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty held by Fair Haven Resources Inc (the "Fairhaven NSR"). Both the Fairhaven NSR and Gold Hunter NSR are subject to rights of first refusal in favor of Sorrento in connection with any proposed sale or transfer of such royalty.

Gold Hunter CEO, Rich Macey commented, "We are pleased to have completed the sale to Sorrento and will be looking forward to Sorrento's future exploration and development of the Property."

About the Company

The Company is engaged in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral property assets in Canada. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit. In January 2022 Gold Hunter acquired 8 additional properties in Newfoundland which amount to 580 claims for 14,500 ha (See January 25th 2022 New Release here). The acquisition included the Rambler and Tilt Cove projects which are located adjacent to known productive VHMS deposits located on the Baie Verte Peninsula, Newfoundland.

For more information, please refer to the Company's Prospectus dated January 21, 2021 available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), under the Company's profile.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard Macey, President, Chief Executive

Officer and Director

Tel +1 (604) 537-4174

[email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Gold Hunter Resources Inc. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Gold Hunter Resources Inc.'s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Gold Hunter Resources Inc. 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/168908
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2023) - good natured Products Inc. (TSXV: GDNP) (OTCQX: GDNPF) (the "Company" or "good natured"), a North American leader in plant-based products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tami Kozikowski, CPA, to the good natured board of directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee, effective June 5, 2023.

Welcome to the good naturedBoardTami Kozikowski

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3674/168871_goodnaturedimage1.jpg

Ms. Kozikowski began her career as a certified public accountant and qualifies as a financial expert under SEC and New York Stock Exchange requirements. She brings significant public company experience with profit and loss responsibilities for businesses ranging from $60 million to $5 billion, as well as extensive real estate experience.

From 2018 to present, Ms. Kozikowski has been with The Waters Senior Living Group, a US-based private real estate developer, owner and operator of high-end senior living communities with 1600+ apartment homes, and has held the role of Chief Executive Officer and President since early 2020. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Development & LifeSpa at Lifetime Fitness from 2012 to 2016. From 2009 to 2012, Ms. Kozikowski was EVP & Chief Development Officer for Advance Auto Parts, a NYSE listed company and automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional and consumers markets across nearly 5,000 retail locations.

Ms. Kozikowski holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the UCLA Anderson School of Business. She serves on two non-profit boards and resides in Wayzata, Minnesota.

Concurrent with this announcement, the Company would like to announce that Mr. Jim Zadra is stepping down from the Company's board of directors, effective June 5, 2023.

"Mr. Zadra has been an integral part of the good natured board of directors since we went public in 2015 and evolved on the TSX Venture Exchange. We are sincerely grateful for his unwavering commitment to good natured and carefully considered guidance as we've developed and executed our growth plans," stated Paul Antoniadis, Executive Chair & CEO of good natured. "We're also very pleased to welcome Tami with her strong financial and US-based public company background. An increasingly substantial portion of the Company's business is conducted in the United States, and having US market expertise is a cornerstone of our strategy."

"Leading with purpose and a community orientation is an increasingly important part of good governance, so I'm honored to be joining the good natured board of directors and a company whose primary focus is the environment," said Tami Kozikowski. "I look forward to bringing my business, real estate and public company expertise to the table to help guide the Company on its upcoming market growth objectives."

The good natured corporate profile can be found at: investor.goodnaturedproducts.com

About good natured Products Inc.

good natured is passionately pursuing its goal of becoming North America's leading earth-friendly product company by offering the broadest assortment of plant-based products made from rapidly renewable resources instead of fossil fuels. The Company is focused on making it easy and affordable for business owners and consumers to shift away from petroleum to better everyday products that use more renewable materials, less fossil fuel, and no chemicals of concern.

good natured offers over 400 products and services through wholesale, direct to business, and retail channels. From plant-based home organization products to certified compostable food containers, bio-based industrial supplies and medical packaging, the Company is focused on making plant-based products more readily accessible to people as a means to create meaningful environmental and social impact.

Learn more about good natured at goodnaturedproducts.com

On behalf of the Company:

Paul Antoniadis - Executive Chair & CEO

Contact: 1-604-566-8466

Investor Contact:

Spencer Churchill

Investor Relations

1-877-286-0617 ext. 113

[email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking information") that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The statements and information in this release regarding changes to the board of directors, expectations for future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Information regarding the resignation of Mr. Zadra and the appointment of Ms. Kozikowski may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to herein will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations, and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168871
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GPG) (OTCQB: GPTRF) (FSE: GPB) ("Grande Portage" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced crew mobilization and expects to begin drilling on schedule at its 100% controlled Herbert Gold project located in SE Alaska.

As a result of its recently completed equity financing, Grande Portage intends to increase its planned drill program. The Company expects to drill approximately 15-20 holes from up to four different platforms which will test numerous separate primary veins and their satellitic structures. The upcoming drill program is a continuation of previous drilling which successfully tested multiple gold-quartz veins of the Herbert mesothermal vein system with very encouraging results.

The drill program will target many geologically promising high value targets at the Main, Goat, Deep Trench, Ridge, and Sleeping Giant veins from multiple locations and is expected to conclude in late October 2023.

Ian Klassen, Grande Portage's CEO, commented, "Our geological team has gone to great lengths to design a very ambitious program for 2023. Our project is well situated in a historically proven and prolific gold belt. We look forward to building upon the Herbert resource, a high-grade gold system that has a current National Instrument Mineral Resource of 1,196,800 ounces of gold (Indicated) at an average grade of 10.23 g/t gold and an (Inferred) resource of 325,900 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.91 g/t gold."

Past drilling has yielded very encouraging results including numerous multi ounce assays on several veins including those listed below (all holes are reported as true widths):

37.07 g/t Au over 15.27 meters (Deep Trench vein)

59.91 g/t Au over 8.08 meters (Deep Trench vein)

30.24 g/t Au over 9.08 meters (Goat Creek vein)

28.41 g/t Au over 11.58 meters (Deep Trench vein)

21.55 g/t Au over 6.46 meters (Main vein)

15.76 g/t Au over 2.81 meters (Goat Creek vein)

21.22 g/t Au over 2.25 meters (Main vein)

13.91 g/t Au over 3.12 meters (Main vein)

Investors are encouraged to visit the Company's website at www.grandeportage.com for a more detailed summary of past drill results and a corporate presentation.

This news release has been prepared and approved by Carl Hale, CPG, a geologist with more than 40 years of experience and a Qualified Person as defined under NI #43-101.

About Grande Portage:

Grande Portage Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Herbert property. The Herbert Gold property system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced over seven million ounces of gold. The Company's updated NI#43-101 Mineral Resource estimate reported at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 3.0 grams per tonne gold (g/t gold) and consists of: an indicated resource of 1,196,800 ounces of gold at an average grade of 10.23 g/t gold (3,637,000 tonnes); and an inferred resource of 325,900 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.91 g/t gold (1,138,000 tonnes), as well as an Indicated resource of 686,700 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.87 g/t silver (3,637,000 tonnes); and an inferred resource of 169,300 ounces of silver at an average grade of 4.63 g/t silver (1,138,000 tonnes).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ian Klassen"

Ian M. Klassen

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 899-0106

Email: [email protected]

www.grandeportage.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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", "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 as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168817
The shortage in some less lucrative medical fields is already at a point where some hospitals can no longer offer pediatric emergency services.

A survey by the Chosun Ilbo has found that emergency rooms at only six out of 10 largest general hospitals in Seoul are capable of providing full pediatric care. Emergency rooms at some university hospitals accept no pediatric patients after midnight, while other hospitals accept only critical cases.

This is also the case outside Seoul. According to a hospital ER portal, emergency rooms at hospitals in Ansan, Osan, Pyeongtaek and Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province provide no pediatric care on holidays or at night on weekdays. That means parents must travel to another area to get emergency care for their kids.

In Seoul, Hanyang University Medical Center's emergency room does not accept child patients on holidays or between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays, and Chungang University Hospital accepts no child patients after midnight.

In Busan, Inje University Paik Hospital accepts only pediatric patients with abdominal pain, and Donga University Hospital receives no child patients on holidays or at night. Emergency rooms in three of the five large university hospitals in Daegu, such as Kyungpook National University Hospital and Yeungnam University Medical Center, provide no or limited services for pediatric patients.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - HighGold Mining Inc. (TSXV: HIGH) (OTCQX: HGGOF) ("HighGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has granted a final order approving the Company's previously announced Plan of Arrangement (the "Arrangement") under Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "BCBCA") involving HighGold and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Onyx Gold Corp. ("Onyx Gold"). For details regarding the Arrangement, see the news releases of the Company dated May 24, 2023, March 17, 2023 and February 22, 2023.

The Arrangement is expected to become effective on or about June 6, 2023, subject to, among other things, HighGold obtaining final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") of the Arrangement and other conditions customary in transactions of this nature. As a reminder, those HighGold shareholders as of the effective date (on or about June 6, 2023) will receive one (1) share of Onyx Gold for every four (4) shares of HighGold.

About HighGold

HighGold is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade gold projects located in North America. HighGold's flagship asset is the high-grade Johnson Tract Gold-Zinc-Copper Project located in accessible Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Company also controls one of the largest junior gold miner land positions in the Timmins, Ontario gold camp. This includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization, and the large Golden Mile and Timmins South properties. HighGold also has 100% ownership of a group of properties in Yukon's emerging new Selwyn Basin Reduced Intrusive Related Gold district. HighGold's experienced Board and senior management team, are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

On Behalf of HighGold Mining Inc.

"Darwin Green"

President & CEO

For further information, please visit the HighGold Mining Inc. website at www.highgoldmining.com, or contact:

Darwin Green, President & CEO or Naomi Nemeth, VP Investor Relations

Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165

Email: [email protected].

Website: www.highgoldmining.com

Twitter: @HighgoldMining

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.

Forward-looking statements: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's plans to complete the Arrangement and the anticipated closing date of the Arrangement are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include, among other things, the ability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals for the Arrangement, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168950
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTCQB: MNXXF) ("Manganese X" or the "Company") proudly announces significant advancements at its 100% owned Battery Hill Manganese Deposit, marking a crucial step towards the pre-feasibility stage. The completion of the Company's pre-feasibility diamond drilling program, focused on expanding measured and indicated resources, has yielded exceptional results. Furthermore, the Company has initiated environment studies in collaboration with WSP E&I Canada Ltd. ("WSP"), further reinforcing the commitment to responsible mining practices.

Key highlights from the final 26 holes of the 36-hole program, conducted at the Moody Hill and Sharpe Farm sectors of the Battery Hill deposit are truly impressive. Notably, Manganese X has expanded the overall mineralization with the discovery of two new zones, Sharpe Farm West Peripheral and Moody Hill Northwest, west of the main deposits.

Key Highlights (See full assay results in Table 1 and Figure 1 - Drill Plan Map)

29.1 metres (m) of 14.4% manganese oxide ("MnO") starting at 90.5m in SF23-73

80.3m of 11.5% MnO including 32.2m of 16.9% MnO starting at 7.8 metres in SF23-76

60.6 metres of 11.0% MnO starting at 29.4 m, including 47.5m of 20.4% MnO in SF23-80

73.6 metres of 10.7% MnO starting at 67.5 m, including 29.1 m of 13.8% MnO in SF23-90

45.9m of 12.9% MnO starting at 33.1m and 31.1m of 11% MnO starting at 104.3m in SF23-91

44.2m of 11.1% MnO starting at 23.8m in SF23-92

CEO Martin Kepman commented, "The remarkable continuity observed within the manganese horizons during the 36-hole infilling drill program at Battery Hill is truly exciting. We eagerly await the updated mineral resource estimate, which, combined with our ongoing environmental and geotechnical studies, are pivotal milestones in our preparation for the upcoming pre-feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment. We extend our sincere appreciation to the private landowners for their support and engagement throughout the drilling program and the environmental activities. As we progress with this 'green energy' project, we remain committed to fostering continuous communication and collaboration with the local communities and First Nations."

Manganese X steadfastly pursues its mission to become the first publicly traded mining company in Canada and the United States to commercialize high-purity electric-vehicle compliant manganese, revolutionizing the mining industry with sustainable practices and innovation.

Work programs in collaboration with WSP also include archaeology, air quality, geotechnical studies concerning water flow, geochemistry and rock mechanics. These studies will support the planned Province of New Brunswick Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the pre-feasibility study for the project.

Table 1

Battery Hill 2023 Drill Hole Intercepts Moody West Zone SF23-68 28 metres of 10.2% MnO starting at 67 metres, incl. 18m of 11.5% MnO SF23-93 61.5m of 7.4% MnO starting at 10.5m, incl. 16m of 11.1% MnO Moody Central Zone SF23-69 14m of 8.4% MnO starting at 94m SF23-70 21m of 7.2% MnO starting at 80m SF23-71 27m of 10.4% MnO starting at 46m SF23-72 14m of 11% MnO starting at 85m Moody East Zone SF23-73 29.1m of 14.4% MnO starting at 90.5m Sharpe Farm West Zone SF23-74 20.8m of 6.3% MnO starting at 57.5m SF23-75 14.5m of 11% MnO starting at 39m SF23-84 43m of 7.7% MnO starting at surface, incl. 18.9m of 10.7% MnO SF23-90 73.6m of 10.7% starting at 67.5m, incl. 29.1m of 13.8% MnO SF23-91 45.9m of 12.9% starting at 34.5m and 31.1m of 11% starting at 104.3m SF23-92 44m of 11.1% MnO starting at 23.8m and 35.2m of 8.8% MnO starting at 80.8m Sharpe Farm West Peripheral Zone SF23-85 15.7m of 9.8% MnO starting at 25.5m, and 21.3m of 8% MnO starting at 69.7m SF23-86 76.1m of 7.7% MnO starting at 60.9m incl. 62.1m of 8.4% MnO, and 37m of 10.4% MnO SF23-87 23.8m of 9.8% MnO starting at 50m Sharpe Farm East Zone SF23-76 80.3m of 11.5% MnO starting at 7.8m, including 32.2m of 16.9% MnO SF23-77 51.5m of 9.2% MnO starting at 20m SF23-78 47.5m of 10.1% MnO starting at 45.6m SF23-79 60.6m of 11% MnO starting at 29.4m SF23-80 66.3m of 11.2% MnO starting at 41.7m including 47.5m of 20.4% MnO SF23-81 42m of 10.4% MnO starting at 59m SF23-82 40.8m of 10.8% MnO starting at 44m SF23-83 29.75m of 10.8% MnO starting at 14m and 58m of 10.6% MnO starting at 58m Moody Hill Northwest Zone SF23-88 16.9m of 15.7% MnO starting at 64.6m and 18m of 8.8% MnO starting at 94.6m SF23-89 23.4m of 14.3% MnO starting at 49.7m

Most of the targets are near vertical and all but one hole was drilled at 45 degrees. True widths are estimated to range from 65-80% of core length.

Standard protocols and industry standard practices were employed in logging and sampling the core. QA/QC practices included insertion of Certified Standards, blanks and duplicates, each consisting of 5% of the total samples. Check assays of 5% of the samples are being sent to a second laboratory. Samples averaged 2 metres in width. All initial half-core samples were taken by Company personnel to the Actlabs prep lab in Fredericton, New Brunswick where they were prepped and the pulps forwarded to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, where XRF-Fusion Whole Rock Analysis (Code 4C) was performed. Actlabs is an accredited analysis laboratory.

This news release has been reviewed and approved by Perry MacKinnon, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration of Manganese X and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Figure 1: Battery Hill Drill Plan Map



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2487/168855_475a4c7de4e05b76_002full.jpg

About Manganese X Energy Corp.

Manganese X's mission is to advance its Battery Hill project into production, thereby becoming the first public actively traded manganese mining company in Canada and the United States to commercialize electric-vehicle-compliant high-purity manganese, potentially supplying the North American supply chain. The Company intends on supplying value-added materials to the lithium-ion battery and other alternative energy industries, as well as striving to achieve new carbon-friendly more efficient methodologies, while processing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

Subsidiary Disruptive Battery Corp.'s mission is to develop an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) air purification delivery system for cleaner and healthier air, aiming to mitigate COVID-19 and other contaminants on surfaces and in the air.

For more information visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

MANGANESE X ENERGY CORP.

Martin Kepman

CEO and Director

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 1-514-802-1814

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Company, such as exploration plans and the ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon, are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Manganese X, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Manganese X does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168855
Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Oasys, a gaming-optimised blockchain, today announced the launch of its inaugural hackathon as part of Japan Blockchain Week. The hackathon, supported by a total prize pool worth $65,000 USD, encourages global developers to contribute innovative ideas to the rapidly burgeoning blockchain gaming industry. Application submissions are currently open via the official website (https://oasys.framer.website/). Esteemed sponsors of the event include prominent Japanese industry leaders such as LLC DMM.com / DM2C Studio, KDDI Corporation, and SoftBank Corp.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/168909_figure1.jpg



Japan is rapidly evolving into an influential hub within the global blockchain gaming ecosystem. Supported by a potent combination of cultural compatibility, a robust talent pool of game developers, and progressive governmental policies, Japan's Web3 market outpaces the global average. A unique blend of gaming content and intellectual property-based businesses signifies a marked shift towards blockchain gaming, a transformative period in Japan's gaming history. Set against this backdrop, the Oasys hackathon serves as a pivotal platform to fuel this momentum, amplifying Japan's role in the blockchain gaming revolution.

Daiki Moriyama, Director, Oasys, said: "Our hackathon is a symbol of the innovation that is integral to the Oasys ecosystem. We are always exploring novel ways to push the boundaries of blockchain gaming, and this event allows us to connect with brilliant minds worldwide who share our vision. We hope that this initiative will foster breakthroughs that benefit not just our platform, but the entire blockchain gaming industry."

Presently, Oasys supports five "Verses" (Layer2) and about 20 games. As part of its efforts to expand its ecosystem, Oasys is launching this hackathon. In addition to the main prize of $65,000 USD, there are additional awards from each sponsor. Oasys warmly invites developers worldwide to participate in this landmark event.

Hackathon Schedule:

Entry starts: June 6, 2023

Oasys Hack-jam Study-Session (Online): June 14, 2023

Kickoff Event (Offline): June 23, 2023, 18:00-22:00 JST

Entry deadline: July 12, 2023, 23:59 JST

Finalist announcement: July 17, 2023

Demo Day: July 23, 2023, 14:00-21:00 JST



Main Prize Breakdown:

Total: $50,000 (Distributed in USDT or USDC)

First Prize (1 Project): $20,000

Excellence Award (4 Projects): $7,500

Note: A portion of the prize money will be distributed upon winning, with the remainder to be awarded when the winning project is released as a playable game on Oasys.



Sponsors:







To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/168909_figure2.jpg



Themes and sponsored prizes for the hackathon include:

'AI  Blockchain' by CryptoGames -- Prize: 3,000 USDT (or OAS token equivalent to 3,000 USD) 'Volume Activation Games' by double jump.tokyo -- Prize: 3,000 USDT (or OAS token equivalent to 3,000 USD) 'Applications using Loot on the MCH Verse' by MCH -- Prize: 3,000 USDC 'Products using Oasys blockchain' by SoftBank -- Prize: 3,000 USD To be announced (TBA) by DMM.com / DM2C Studio -- Prize: 3,000 USD

As the official launch of the Oasys Hackathon approaches, Oasys eagerly anticipates the visionary projects that participants will bring forth. The event is poised to significantly catalyse the growth and global impact of the blockchain gaming ecosystem, promoting thrilling new pathways for the entire gaming industry. Backed by these industry-leading corporations and the vibrant community, Oasys stands ready to shape the future of blockchain gaming collectively.

Hashtag: #Oasys #blockchain #gaming #japan

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Oasys

Oasys was established in February 2022 to increase mainstream play-and-earn adoption, and at launch, committed to partnering with 25 gaming and Web3 tech companies to act as validators, such as Bandai Namco Research, SEGA, Ubisoft and Yield Guild Games. Led by a team of blockchain experts and joining forces with the biggest gaming company names to serve as the initial validators, Oasys is revolutionising the gaming industry with its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) based blockchain.



With a focus on creating an ecosystem for gamers and developers to distribute and develop blockchain-based games, Oasys solves the problems game developers face when building games on the blockchain. The trifecta approach of the fastest network powered by the gaming community, a scalable network powered by AAA game developers and the blockchain offering the best user experience with fast transactions and zero gas fees for users, readies participants to enter the Oasys and play.



More information on Oasys is available at:

Website: https://www.oasys.games

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oasys_games

Discord: http://discord.gg/oasysgames

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168909
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2023) - Ophir Gold Corp. (TSXV: OPHR) (OTCQB: KPZIF) (FSE: 80M) ("Ophir" or the "Company") announces that it has paused all exploration activities at the Radis lithium project located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec following an emergency fire evacuation order from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. Due to the high-risk fire conditions present in the region, coupled with ongoing fires elsewhere in the province, the ministry has mandated that all activities in the regions forests stop immediately, which includes mineral exploration, and that all personnel be evacuated from the territory affected. Therefore, following the notice, the Company has temporarily suspended its exploration activities at Radis and has evacuated its field crews without incident. The Company will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses.

About the Radis Lithium Property

In December 2022, the Company entered into an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in the Radis Property. The Radis Property consists of 152 claims totalling 7,850.3 hectares and is situated within a volcano-sedimentary sequence (i.e., a g greenstone belt) belonging to the Yasinski group. The greenstone belt over the Property contains at least one known lithium pegmatite and is considered highly prospective for additional lithium pegmatites, hosting a tight regional fold which may provide favourable zones of dilation for pegmatite emplacement.

About the Company

Ophir Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the past producing Breccia Gold Property located in Lemhi County, Idaho. The Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Property over a three-year period from Canagold Resources Ltd. (formerly Canarc Resource Corp.) and DG Resource Management Ltd.

The Company also has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Radis Lithium Property over a three-year period from Eastmain Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fury Gold Mines Limited.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Shawn Westcott"

Ophir Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

Shawn Westcott, CEO

Phone 1 (604) 365 6681

[email protected]

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.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable and include statements in this press release related to the exploration and discovery potential of the Property, the details of the planned exploration program on the Property, the strong lithium pegmatite exploration potential on the Property, the strong potential of the Radis Property, potential targets on the Property and the Company's future plans with respect to the Property. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of technical reports, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168860
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Coinbase, Inc. with operating its crypto asset trading platform as an unregistered national securities exchange, broker, and clearing agency. The SEC also charged Coinbase for failing to register the offer and sale of its crypto asset staking-as-a-service program.

Unregistered Exchange, Broker, and Clearing Agency

According to the SECs complaint, since at least 2019, Coinbase has made billions of dollars unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities. The SEC alleges that Coinbase intertwines the traditional services of an exchange, broker, and clearing agency without having registered any of those functions with the Commission as required by law. Through these unregistered services, Coinbase allegedly:

Provides a marketplace and brings together the orders for securities of multiple buyers and sellers using established, non-discretionary methods under which such orders interact;

Engages in the business of effecting securities transactions for the accounts of Coinbase customers; and

Provides facilities for comparison of data respecting the terms of settlement of crypto asset securities transactions, serves as an intermediary in settling transactions in crypto asset securities by Coinbase customers, and acts as a securities depository.

As alleged in the SECs complaint, Coinbases failure to register has deprived investors of significant protections, including inspection by the SEC, recordkeeping requirements, and safeguards against conflicts of interest, among others.

The SECs complaint also alleges that Coinbases holding company, Coinbase Global Inc. (CGI), is a control person of Coinbase and is thus also liable for certain of Coinbases violations.

Unregistered Offer and Sale of Securities in Connection with Staking-as-a-Service Program

The SEC alleges that, since 2019, Coinbase has been engaging in an unregistered securities offering through its staking-as-a-service program, which allows customers to earn profits from the proof of stake mechanisms of certain blockchains and Coinbases efforts. Through this staking program, Coinbase allegedly pools each type of customers stakeable crypto assets, stakes the pool to perform blockchain transaction validation services, and provides a portion of the rewards generated from this work to its customers whose assets were part of the pool. Coinbase failed to register its offers and sales of this staking program as required by law.

We allege that Coinbase, despite being subject to the securities laws, commingled and unlawfully offered exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse functions, said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. In other parts of our securities markets, these functions are separate. Coinbases alleged failures deprive investors of critical protections, including rulebooks that prevent fraud and manipulation, proper disclosure, safeguards against conflicts of interest, and routine inspection by the SEC. Further, as we allege, Coinbase never registered its staking-as-a-service program as required by the securities laws, again depriving investors of critical disclosure and other protections.

"You simply cant ignore the rules because you dont like them or because youd prefer different ones: the consequences for the investing public are far too great, said Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SECs Division of Enforcement. "As alleged in our complaint, Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them. While Coinbases calculated decisions may have allowed it to earn billions, its done so at the expense of investors by depriving them of the protections to which they are entitled.Todays action seeks to hold Coinbase accountable for its choices.

The SECs complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Coinbase and CGI violated certain registration provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that Coinbase violated the securities offering registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest, penalties, and other equitable relief.

The SECs investigation was conducted by Serafima McTigue, Erin E. Wilk, Amy Mayer, Joy Guo, Elizabeth Goody, and Derek Kleinmann of the Division of Enforcements Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, with the assistance of Ellen Chen of the San Francisco Regional Office. It was supervised by Steven Buchholz, Jorge G. Tenreiro, and David Hirsch of the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, as well as Danielle Voorhees, Nicholas Heinke, and Jason Burt of the Denver Regional Office. The SECs litigation will be conducted by Nick Margida, Peter Mancuso, and Ben Kuruvilla and supervised by Ladan Stewart, Jorge G. Tenreiro, and Olivia Choe.

The SEC appreciates the assistance of the multi-state task force of ten state securities regulators led by California that also includes Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Sekur Private Data Ltd. (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQX: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted secure and private communications platform, is pleased announce that it is on track to launch its Sekur Enterprise Solutions by the end of July 2023.

The Company's offering for SMBs, large enterprises and government organizations, will include full users' management, message and email archiving features and admin dashboard for mass on-boarding and management of employees. Sekur Enterprise Solutions will also include a new email feature, to be launched and announced in the coming weeks, allowing large organizations to host C level emails on Sekur's private and secure network offering the Company's SekurSend feature, while keeping the rest of their employees on their existing email hosting company, eliminating costly email migrations, while protecting C level communications to the highest level. This split-level email system also allows C level employees to maintain the same company domain name as the rest of the employees, while C levels are hosted on the SekurMail privacy platform. This feature is very much in demand as small and large businesses have recently been the target of Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks.

A BEC attack is a type of cybercrime where malicious hackers use email to trick someone into sending money or divulging confidential company info. BEC scams are on the rise due to increased remote work - there were nearly 20,000 BEC complaints to the FBI in 2021, according to the FBI Internet Crime Report.

C-Level employees are particularly targeted in BEC attacks. According to this article on TechTarget, BEC exploits often begin with the attacker using a social engineering scam to trick a C-level target into downloading malware, clicking on an infected link or visiting a compromised website. Once the C-level manager's account has been compromised, it can be used to trick another employee into sending money to the attacker.

A popular BEC strategy is to send an official-looking email to someone in the company's finance department. Typically, such an email will say there is a time-sensitive, confidential matter that requires payment to be made to a customer's, partner's or supply chain partner's bank account as soon as possible. The attacker hopes that the unsuspecting person in finance will think they are helping their company by facilitating a quick transfer of funds - when, in reality they are sending money to the attacker's bank account.

The Company's enterprise solutions will be priced differently than its consumer versions, with SekurMail being US$10/month/user, with alias emails at US$7/month/alias, SekurMessenger priced at US$9/month/user and SekurVPN at US$9/month/user. New solutions such as SekurVoice and SekurPro will add encrypted voice and video to the mix of offerings and are planned to be priced at US$20/month/user and US$25/month/user respectively. Yearly pricing will be 11 times monthly to offer 1 free month of service. Businesses will be able to customize bundles for each solution, as they are today.

Customers can now simply go to the Sekur website and select either SekurMail, SekurVPN or SekurMessenger and select any add-on offered for any or both of the other 2 solutions not selected as the primary choice. Add-ons are offered at a discount when bundled with any single solution. The Company is already seeing the advantages of offering the add-ons, as over 50% of their customers choose to bundle solutions.

Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data said: "We are very excited to be on track to launch our Sekur Enterprise Solutions, which will improve our existing Business Solutions, and offer more features to larger enterprises and government organizations. We have a high demand in Latin America for these features and we will be ready for the US market as we launch our B2B platform in Q4 2023. Offering SMB and Enterprise solutions is part of the core strategy of the Company for Q4 2023 onward, as these solutions increase our average spend per customer and create a more stable and stickier customer base, while still catering to the vast consumer market. There are over 30 million small businesses in the USA alone, and we plan to target a percentage of these businesses, protecting them from such things as BEC attacks. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and, as we are not connected to any Big Tech cloud platform, we offer a truly independent, private and secure means of communications without any data mining, through our proprietary technology and our secure servers based in Switzerland. We look forward to continuing to offer true data privacy to all individuals and their businesses and protect their intellectual property, and their privacy, from data miners and malicious hackers."

On April 7th 2023, the Company launched its privacy VPN solution called SekurVPN available through https://sekurvpn.com/ and https://www.sekur.com . The Company has seen great success for SekurVPN for consumers, and plans to market to the SMB and enterprise in Q4, targeting the 30 million SMBs in the USA, through several digital and email marketing campaigns.

SekurVPN is especially meant for privacy enthousiasts and users wanting to mask their IP address and protect their Internet activities from hackers, rogue agents and industrial spies. An example would be users going to their e-banking or shopping online, using their emails, using messaging applications and wanting to have full privacy and protection from hackers hyjacking their location and signal. The service guarantees that it does not use Big Tech or Hyperscalers for its functioning or hosting, it guarantees that there are no third party bundles sold with it, so no data is leaked or sold to third parties, it guarantees no traffic pulling or monitoring, and no phone number required to register to the service. Using a private VPN such as SekurVPN can reduce greatly the risk of BEC attacks for C-Level enterprise employees.

According to a study and publication on forbes.com, 66% use a VPN to help protect personal data, 80% use a VPN for increased security and 33% use a VPN to mask their internet activity. More statistics can be found on this VPN Statistics And Trends In 2023 article.

Private:

SekurVPN uses its own proprietary infrastructure and does not use any Hyperscaler or Big Tech hosting providers, unlike most other VPNs. It offers Swiss IPs only, and this guarantees that it is using only SekurVPN's own servers and routing. Other VPNs offer 100s of locations and are using Big Tech providers, compromising users' privacy. SekurVPN never monitors users' activity and never shares any data with third party service providers. By being a pure VPN, without bundled outside services, such as anti-virus, and ad-blockers, SekurVPN keeps users' information private without sharing their data with third party service providers. With SekurVPN, users do not register their phone number on the App or the web, rendering users invisible from hackers or snoopers. No phone number to register, anonymous Swiss IPs only, no data mining or traffic sharing with anyone.

Secure:

SekurVPN's secure VPN routes all your Internet traffic through SekurVPN's privately owned servers, in multiple locations in Switzerland only, and using the highest encryption industry standards, combined with its proprietary HeliX technology for added security. Encryption keys are not stored on devices and are unique at every connection. Users' passwords, confidential data and Internet surfing stay encrypted even over public untrusted internet connections.

Easy to use:

SekurVPN is extremely easy to setup and deploy. There is no country list and our interface is simplified, just tap or click the connection button. SekurVPN's no-frills but highly secure and private service gives users peace of mind without thinking about geo-locations.

In addition to SekurVPN, the company offers a bundled Sekur plan, which includes SekurMessenger and SekurMail, as a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one application, and includes the Company's latest SekurMail technology, which includes proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend. SekurSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Sending an email with the SekurSend feature allows the senders and recipients to add limitless size attachments to the emails without crowding the recipients' email box. This also eliminates BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications have created a certain urgency for businesses and data privacy advocates to protect their communications from cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile and desktop devices.

SekurMessenger comes with a proprietary feature and technology called "Chat-By-Invite". This feature allows a SekurMessenger user ("SM user") invite via email or SMS, a non-SM user, or a group of non-SM users, to chat in a fully private and secure way, without the recipient ever having to register to SekurMessenger or download the app. At the end of the chat, the initiator of the conversation can remotely terminate the conversation and all traces of the conversation are deleted from all users, including the recipient. This unique feature is now fully deployed and functional on all iOS and Android devices and web platforms. The target sectors are numerous, including but not limited to real estate, legal, finance, insurance, medical, government, energy, manufacturing, trade and pharmaceutical sectors.

SekurMessenger also eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurMessenger issues each user a username and a Sekur number. The Sekur number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other Sekur users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including Sekur's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

Sekur's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers, and secure communication tools. Sekur Private Data Ltd. sells its products through its own website at https://www.sekur.com, and approved distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur Private Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.



On behalf of Management

SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

[email protected]

For more information, please contact Sekur Private Data at [email protected] or visit us at https://www.sekurprivatedata.com



For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com or https://www.sekurvpn.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. Sekur 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 Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. 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, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168711
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") is pleased to provide an interpretation of results from field work completed at the Company's 100% owned and optioned Jolly Gold property, located a one hour drive north of Thunder Bay, Ontario (Figure 1). Work completed in 2021 and 2022 has identified a large gold exploration target, which demonstrates the potential for a camp scale extension to this highly prospective mineralized region west of Lake Nipigon.

"The data highlights a compelling new gold target at Jolly," stated CEO Scott McLean. "The gold values we have exposed in outcrop occur within a 4 km long trend of elevated gold pathfinder elements in soils occurring in favourable geology between two major fault systems. This is a classic setting for the formation of large gold systems in Archean greenstone settings and is similar to what is observed in the Beardmore-Geraldton Gold Camp on the east side of Lake Nipigon."

Work completed by Transition in 2021 and 2022 included; the completion of a high-resolution airborne magnetic survey, property scale orientation mapping and prospecting, the completion of a 1,159 sample MMI soil survey covering approximately a third of the property and the mechanical excavation and detailed structural mapping and sampling of 4 trenches.

Discussion of Results

The airborne magnetic survey highlighted three major northeast trending fault systems transecting the property, trends of iron formation as well as a network of east by northeast cross structures parallel to those hosting gold at known showings between the Poshkokagan and Warpula Lake fault systems.

The MMI sampling highlights a 4-kilometer trend of elevated gold pathfinder elements in soil developed with gold values up to 50 times background (Figure 2). This soil trend appears to follow and underlying cluster of syntectonic intrusions.

Channel sampling in the vicinity of the Fat Beagle showing (located within this trend) exposed two zones of gold mineralization associated with east-west shearing. The Fat Beagle north showing consists of a 5 metre wide zone of veining exposed along strike in trench for 15 metres. The average of 29 samples cut across this shear zone representing 17.08 metres of select channel sampling returned an average grade of 5.23 g/t Au with the highest interval being 146.7 g/t Au over 0.45 metres. At the Roadside showing 1.2 kilometres along strike to the to the east, a much broader zone of elevated gold, copper and tungsten was exposed. Across 5-10 metre wide EW shear zone exposed along strike over 40 metres, 12 samples representing 8.94 m of select channel sampling returned an average of 0.28 g/t Au.

Table 1. Select Channel Intervals from Fat Beagle and Roadside Showings (2021 and 2022)





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/168922_transitionmetalstable01.jpg

Figure 1. Regional Geological Map Showing Projected Extension of Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt and locations of major gold deposits and Transition Jolly Gold Property (MRD 126, 1:250 000 Scale, OGS)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/168922_8a11d00c54ca1b86_003full.jpg

Figure 2. Target Compilation Map depicting Geology, showings, structures and MMI data

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/168922_8a11d00c54ca1b86_004full.jpg

*MMI Gold Factor highlights elevated cumulative response ratios for gold pathfinder elements including Ag, As, Au, Bi, Hg, Sb, Te, and W

About the Jolly Gold Property

The property, which comprises an area of 4,560 hectares, covers an assemblage of meta-volcanic and meta-sedimentary rocks of the Eastern Wabigoon sub-province. It is bisected by the regionally-significant, northeast-trending Poshkokagan River Fault, and bound to the south by the northeast-trending Max Lake Fault interpreted westerly extensions to the southern bounding structures of the Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone Belt (BGB)-and the Quetico terrain defined on the east side of Lake Nipigon. Gold deposits elsewhere in the BGB, such as the 6.9 Moz Hardrock deposit under development by Greenstone Gold near Geraldton, are considered classic examples of epigenetic, non-stratiform, banded iron formation-hosted gold deposits. Other notable deposits within the BGB include the shear and basalt hosted Brookbank mine (0.6 Moz M&I), the turbiditic sandstone and quartz-carbonate vein hosted Sand River and Leitch Mines (past production of 0.9 Moz)2, the Northern Empire Mine, and Sturgeon River Mine.

 Equinox news release, October 27, 2021 - reference to Gignac et al. 2020. NI 43-101 Technical Report Hardrock Project Ontario, Canada - Premier Gold Mines Limited, Sedar Jan. 26, 2021.

 Mason J.K., & White G.D., 1986. Gold occurrences, prospects, and deposits of the Beardmore-Geraldton area, districts of Thunder Bay and Cochrane; Ontario Geological Survey, OFR5630, 713 p.

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Greg Collins, P.Geo. (PGO), a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Analytical work associated with the MMI Survey performed was conducted at SGS Canada Inc., an independent, accredited laboratory with analyses completed in Burnaby, B.C. The quality system used by SGS Canada Inc. meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. Its 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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168922
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2023) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) ("Volta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will issue a total of 631,655 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") to the vendors of the Falcon West Property and Laumaune Property (also known as the Swole Lake Property) (collectively the "Properties"). The share issuances will be completed pursuant to the terms of option agreements entered into by the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, LiCan Exploration Inc. (collectively, the "Agreements"), whereby it can acquire a 100% interest in the Properties, by making certain payments and share issuances and by complying with the other terms and conditions set out in the Agreements. The Common Shares will be subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada.

Pursuant to the applicable Agreements, Volta will issue 431,655 Common Shares as part of the commitment to earn a 100% interest on the Falcon West Property and 200,000 Common Shares for 100% ownership of the Laumaune Property, with the latter being contiguous to Volta's 100% owned Junior Lake Property. The Common Shares will be issued at a deemed issue price of $0.2085 per Common Share.

Additional details regarding the Properties and the Agreements can be found in the Company's Canadian Securities Exchange filing statement filed on SEDAR on May 30, 2023 under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD

Volta is a mineral exploration company focused on lithium, cesium and tantalum exploration in Canada, and led by a group of mining professionals with history of creating shareholder value. It is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of lithium, cesium and tantalum projects in Northwestern Ontario, which is considered to be one of the more prolific emerging hard-rock lithium districts globally. To find out more about Volta, and its flagship Falcon West Project, please visit voltametals.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

For further information, contact:

Kerem Usenmez, President & CEO

Tel: 416.919.9060

Email: [email protected]

Website: voltametals.ca

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to its plans, strategies and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements in respect of: the anticipated business plan and timing of future activities of the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: the future prices and demand for lithium; the ability to finance its business plans; and delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168873
San Jose, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 6, 2023) - Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (WFAFN) has announced the launch of LifeSync, a personalized digital approach to aligning clients' goals with their money. LifeSync, in the Wells Fargo Mobile app, is available to Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) clients.

For WFAFN financial advisors, LifeSync can support more informed and relevant conversations with clients, help keep clients engaged and informed, and support an interactive level of service. LifeSync can help advisors understand their clients' needs, giving them a greater opportunity to help them achieve their goals.

The demands on the time of high-net-worth families are significant, with many moving parts, making it difficult for them to give all areas of their life, like finances, the attention they need. Additionally, their complexity requires their advisors to have a depth of knowledge on multiple topics to properly develop strategy and collaborate with their tax and legal counsel.

Damon Focaracci, Director, Private Wealth Financial Advisor, a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in serving corporate executives and business owners with WFAFN, says the new capabilities can help meet the changing needs of high-net-worth clients. "We understand that many executives are successful and intelligent but also require a comprehensive approach that includes identifying blind spots and delivering sophisticated solutions that coordinate with their attorneys, CPAs, and other experts," Focaracci explains. "We aim to be a trusted partner, providing them the expertise and attention to detail they need to best achieve what's important to them."

LifeSync is available within Wells Fargo's mobile app, helping them meet clients where they are, on their timeline. "We believe that every family's financial circumstances are unique, which require a deeply personal approach to wealth management," says Focaracci. "Our mission is to provide our clients with the confidence that comes from knowing their financial life is in order."

Through an intuitive digital experience, LifeSync can provide real-time progress on goals, tracks key "vitals" including net worth, portfolio performance, market indices, and credit card reward balances delivers timely and relevant Wells Fargo content through its "Your Feed" feature and serves as a connection to a client's financial advisor as goals or life events change and evolve.

For more information, please visit page below:

LifeSync in the Wells Fargo Mobile app | Wells Fargo Advisors

Contact:

Damon Focaracci, CPWA, CFP, CIMA, CRPS

[email protected]

Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) is a division within Wells Fargo & Company. WIM provides financial products and services through various bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. WFAFN uses the trade name Wells Fargo Advisors.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/168938
FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (PRWEB) June 06, 2023

Frankenmuth Insurance, a super-regional insurance carrier based in Frankenmuth, Michigan, is pleased to announce Andy Shafer of Knoxville, Tennessee, joined its Agency Council at its spring meeting in May. Frankenmuth Insurance formed its Agency Council in 2009 and selects high-caliber agents from across its operating regions to provide the agency perspective on company strategy. The Frankenmuth Insurance Agency Council members address issues of mutual strategic interest, providing valuable insight to help strengthen the company's partnerships with all agencies.

Shafer Insurance Agency was started by Alex Shafer, Sr., in 1963. Andy Shafer joined the agency in 1995, making him a third-generation Shafer to join the family business, and currently serves as its President. He has worked in the industry for more than 27 years specializing in commercial property and casualty insurance.

"Agency Council members like Andy provide a valuable perspective to the insurance business," shares Fred Edmond, CEO of Frankenmuth Insurance. "Andy's diverse and extensive insurance experience, combined with our successful business partnership, will help provide the insights we need to remain the insurer of choice for our agents and policyholders."

###

About Frankenmuth Insurance

Insurance exists to provide peace of mind, and Frankenmuth Insurance, headquartered in historic Frankenmuth, Michigan, has been protecting individuals, families, and businesses for more than 150 years. With more than 800 employees, we truly care about the people we serve and strive to be your insurer of choice by delivering unparalleled protection and service. As a super-regional carrier, we partner exclusively with more than 750 independent agencies in 15 states to customize business, home, auto, and life insurance policies and surety bonds. We are proud to be one of the industry's most financially sound, stable, and secure carriers, with $1.9 billion in assets. We have earned an AM Best "A" (Excellent) rating or higher every year for more than 45 years and have been recognized as a Ward's 50 Property-Casualty Top Performer 17 times. For more information, visit fmins.com.

Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/frankenmuth_insurance_welcomes_new_member_to_agency_council/prweb19376692.htm
Trump tweeted, "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done." Pence has said that Trump "endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day" and that history will hold him accountable. More recently, Pence testified before a grand jury investigating Trump.

Pence, who had no constitutional power to overturn the election, fled for safety that day, hiding with his family and their security detail at a Capitol loading dock as some protesters shouted, "Hang Mike Pence!" and erected makeshift gallows on the National Mall within eyesight of the Capitol.

Pence, a conservative former Indiana governor, for four years was a loyal No. 2 to Trump but had a falling out with him when Pence refused Trump's demands to upend the congressional certification of the 2020 election results showing they had lost, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by Trump supporters storming into the U.S. Capitol and the arrest of more than 1,000 people.

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork Monday declaring that he was running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, a longshot bid to overtake his former boss, Donald Trump, to become the party's standard bearer to try to reclaim the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden.

Now, Pence is hoping to convince Republican voters that he, not Trump nor an array of other declared or likely Republican candidates, deserve the Republican presidential nomination.

But national polls of Republicans show Trump, even as he faces multiple criminal investigations linked to his presidency, is far ahead in the nomination contest, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in second place 30 percentage points or so behind, and Pence and others even further back with less than 5-percent support apiece.

Pence is formally announcing his presidential bid Wednesday, his 64th birthday, in the midwestern state of Iowa, whose Republican caucuses next year kick off the party's voting for the presidential nomination. He made his candidacy official Monday by filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

Pence, who has often described himself as "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order," is planning to campaign extensively in Iowa, hoping to capture the votes of evangelical Christians who favor his staunch anti-abortion stance and other right-wing positions.

In early campaign jousting, he has portrayed himself as favoring many of the policy positions from his time in the White House with Trump, but with a reserved persona and absent the frequent chaos of the Trump presidency.

Pence has warned against the growing populist tide in the Republican Party, and advisers claim he is the only traditional, conservative in the race, reminiscent of the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the country's leader in the 1980s.

Aside from his conservative viewpoint on cultural issues, Pence has said the U.S. should offer more support to Ukraine against Russia's military invasion, while rebuking "Putin apologists" among Republicans unwilling to stand up against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pence is joining a crowded field of Republican presidential candidates that includes Trump, DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to launch his own campaign Tuesday evening in New Hampshire, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is also announcing his bid Wednesday.
TRENTON, N.J. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Elevator Group ("AEG"), today confirmed their investment in Trenton Elevator Company (" Trenton " or "Trenton Elevator"), expanding AEG's representation throughout New Jersey , alongside Jersey Elevator and fellow AEG businesses Dura-Lift Elevator , Kencor Elevator and Pride & Service Elevator .

A family business incorporated in 1934 to serve central New Jersey , Trenton provides a variety of services including new installations of both commercial and home elevator solutions, maintenance, and repairs, specializing in the support of elevators of any type, size, or age.

Dennis Lotter , recently appointed President of Jersey Elevator, will be working closely with Trenton and welcomed their President James Loesch to AEG. "I am delighted to welcome James and his experienced team to American Elevator Group," said Lotter. "Together we will continue to broaden AEG's service offerings in the New Jersey elevator market."

AEG President Bryan Clairmont , commenting on behalf of the group, added: "Trenton Elevator is a well-respected and valuable addition to our portfolio, and this investment reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the expansion of our coverage nationwide."

About Trenton Elevator Company

Since 1934, Trenton Elevator Company has been a leader in commercial and residential elevator service, sales and installation. Based in the Trenton NJ metro area, Trenton Elevator Company serves all of central New Jersey . For more information on Trenton Elevator Company, visit www.trentonelevator.com

About American Elevator Group

Founded in 2020, American Elevator Group (AEG) is the largest independent elevator service provider in North America with more than 330 years of combined management experience in the elevator industry. The group consists of independent elevator companies that deliver local expertise and customer service across 21 states. Backed by significant resources in safety, finance, technology, marketing, and operations, the group is in a continuous state of growth. For more information on AEG, visit www.americanelevator.com

Media Contact:

Jennifer Avril

Warner PR

[email protected]

(917) 982-9012

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SOURCE American Elevator Group
DORAL, Fla. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Technologies Network (ATN Corp.), a leading manufacturer of thermal imaging, night vision and Digital-HD (CMOS) day/night optics, today announced the U.S. Department of Defense has selected ATN Corp. products for its electro-optics contract, positioning ATN to provide thermal imaging systems to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

ATN Founder, Chairman and CMO Marc Vayn said ATN Corp. is honored to be part of such a large-scale project with the U.S. Department of Defense once more, demonstrating its commitment to providing innovative technology solutions worldwide.

"We are pleased ATN Corp's products were selected by the U.S. Department of Defense as it continues its mission of supporting our allies abroad," Vayn said. "Our team has worked tirelessly over the past three decades to provide the best electro-optics technology available and this contract is a testament to our dedication."

ATN Corp. has been developing state-of-the-art technologies for three decades, including Thermal Imaging, Night Vision, Smart-HD (CMOS) Day/Night Electro-Optics and more which provide superior performance in challenging environments when reliable imaging is critical for mission success.

The thermal imaging systems will be delivered to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in 2023 and will be used in its operations to increase situational awareness in both day or night environments making them an invaluable asset for those in service.

ATN Corp looks forward to continuing its mission as an industry leader in developing advanced electro-optics technology while delivering top quality products that meet or exceed customer expectations on every level.

About ATN Corp:

American Technologies Network is an innovative industry leader and manufacturer of night vision and thermal Smart Optics products. Founded in 1995, ATN is known for creating high-quality products that enhance the outdoor experience and connect more people with nature. ATN Scopes offer user-friendly, Smart features, enabling users to record their experience and share them directly online with ease. Top-selling models include the X-Sight 4K Pro series, ThOR 4 series and the OTS LT series. Visit www.ATNCorp.com to learn more or call 1- 800-910-2862, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM PST . You can also find ATN on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stephanie McGuirk

Interdependence Public Relations

[email protected]

(845) 269-8868

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SOURCE ATN Corp.
STOCKHOLM , June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ASSA ABLOY has received clearance from the Mexican competition authority to acquire Spectrum Brands' Hardware and Home Improvement division ("HHI").

Following the clearance from the Mexican competition authority, the HHI acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions. Closing of the transaction is expected by the end of June 2023 .

Background

On September 8, 2021 , ASSA ABLOY announced it had signed an agreement to acquire the HHI division of Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPB) for a purchase price of MUSD 4,300 on a cash and debt free basis. On September 15, 2022 , the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") announced that it will seek to block the proposed acquisition of HHI. On December 1, 2022 , ASSA ABLOY announced that it had entered into binding agreements with Fortune Brands for the divestment of Emtek and the Smart Residential business in the U.S. and Canada to fully resolve all the alleged competitive concerns surrounding the proposed acquisition of HHI. On May 6, 2023 , ASSA ABLOY announced that it had reached a settlement agreement with the DOJ regarding the HHI acquisition and that it will proceed with the divestment of Emtek and the Smart Residential business in the U.S. and Canada to Fortune Brands.

For more information, please contact:

Nico Delvaux , President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82

Erik Pieder, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72

Bjorn Tibell, Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68, e-mail: [email protected]

This information is information that ASSA ABLOY AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 22.15 CET on 5 June 2023 .

About ASSA ABLOY

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. The Group operates worldwide with 52,000 employees and sales of SEK 121 billion . The Group has leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. ASSA ABLOY's innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world.



The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3781645/2108116.pdf Press release (PDF)

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SOURCE ASSA ABLOY
New Standard Senior Living Offers Informational Sessions To Seniors, Families and the Community, Every Wednesday Throughout the Month of June

RED BANK, N.J. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the needs of the local community, New Standard Senior Living (NSSL), a New Jersey -based affordable, assisted living provider is now offering informational sessions about Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Communities that serve seniors in South Jersey .

Every Wednesday, throughout the month of June, seniors, their families and members of the community can attend an informational session about affordable, assisted living and the qualifying process for low-income seniors. The sessions are open to the public between 11 am and 2 pm and come with a complementary lunch and a tour of the community. All informational sessions are held at the newest assisted living community located at 308 S. White Horse Pike , Hammonton, N.J. 08037.

"Our goal is to educate the community about affordable, assisted living. We see a lot of posts and responses from seniors and the community about how they are afraid that affordable, assisted living communities are still too expensive for low-income seniors. Seeing such questions and comments on our social media was a clear indicator that the concept of affordable, assisted living was not understood," says Michele McLaughlin , Director of External Case Management, New Standard Senior Living. "In response, we decided to reach out to the community by offering free informational events  thus, Assisted Living for Low-Income Seniors 101."

New Standard Senior Living has delivered three Low-Income Housing Tax Credit communities to serve low-income seniors with locations in Millville , Egg Harbor Township and soon Hammonton . The newest Hammonton community offers 174 private residences in a state-of-the-art secure campus that is pet friendly and ADA accessible. Assisted Living at Hammonton is now open to the public for informational sessions while awaiting its licensing from the New Jersey Department of Health.

New Standard Senior Living communities are the first of its kind in the state of New Jersey purposely designed for seniors who cannot afford market-rate assisted living. Affordable, assisted living communities offer direct Medicaid admissions and do not have a private pay requirement.

Seniors and families can obtain more information about qualifying to live at an affordable, assisted living community during the Hammonton's Wednesday informational sessions throughout the month of June. It is recommended that individuals interested in these events RSVP by calling 609-541-7718.

About New Standard Senior Living

With corporate offices in Red Bank, N.J. , New Standard Senior Living (NSSL) is the first provider in the state purposely created to deliver dedicated, affordable, assisted living solutions, including direct Medicaid admissions, for New Jersey seniors. For more information, visit newstandardsl.com.

Contact:

Michele McLaughlin , Director of External Case Management

Phone: 609-330-6878

Efax: 856-558-9357

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SOURCE New Standard Senior Living
NEWARK, N.J. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioCentriq, a strategic CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) specializing in cell therapy announced today that it has expanded its partnership with Kytopen, a Cambridge based startup spun out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Partnerships allow us to validate the use of novel tools and technologies and introduce them to therapeutic developers.

The partnership was originally announced in March of 2021. In the initial phase of the collaboration, the Kytopen and BioCentriq teams worked together to test transfection of T-cells using Kytopen's Flowfect technology and the potential impact to both autologous and allogeneic cell therapies of integrating this novel transfection technology with other steps in the manufacturing process.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, BioCentriq published promising results in a white paper entitled Efficient, Large-Scale Transfection of T-Cells Using Flowfect Technology.

The extension of the partnership with BioCentriq will expand therapeutic developers' access to a leading non-viral cell engineering method by combining BioCentriq's process development expertise with Kytopen's Flowfect Discover platform. This establishes BioCentriq as a preferred development and manufacturing partner for developers looking to utilize Kytopen's Flowfect technology for rapid and automated optimization prior to scale-up.

"BioCentriq was founded to help biotech companies with emerging therapeutics bring those life-altering medicines to clinic as quickly as possible while improving their commercial readiness and reducing costs," said Haro Hartounian , Ph.D. and CEO, BioCentriq. "Partnerships with companies like Kytopen allow us to validate the use of novel tools and technologies and introduce them to therapeutic developers who can potentially benefit from their adoption."

Kytopen's proprietary Flowfect platform utilizes electro-mechanical transfection during continuous flow, enabling a highly efficient and precise delivery of genome engineering materials to cells. Flowfect Discover provides researchers and developers with an invaluable tool for optimizing the delivery of genetic material in a cost-effective and small-volume settings. This allows for thorough fine-tuning of protocols before transitioning to large-scale development and manufacturing, ensuring a seamless and successful journey from research to production. By harnessing this cutting-edge technology, Kytopen empowers the creation of living medicines that hold tremendous potential for transforming healthcare.

"The Flowfect platform is a transformative solution that eliminates the complexity of gene delivery, seamlessly connecting discovery, development, and manufacturing with a single, flexible, and scalable platform," stated Paulo A. Garcia , Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Kytopen. "Our goal is to increase patient access to life-saving cell therapies by addressing critical biomanufacturing challenges right from the discovery stage, eliminating scalability barriers and reducing costs; our partnership with BioCentriq serves as a catalyst in achieving this vision at an accelerated pace."

"We are thrilled to partner with BioCentriq and work together to bring the Flowfect technology from discovery through manufacturing to therapeutic developers to accelerate and enable the next generation of curative cell therapies," said Bethany Grant , M.S., CTO at Kytopen. "By working together, we aim to transform the availability of curative treatments to patients in need."

About BioCentriq

BioCentriq is a full-service, collaborative CDMO for cell and gene therapy, focusing on all stages of process development and clinical manufacturing. It was purchased by GC of South Korea for $73M . With over 90 scientists, engineers, analysts, and manufacturing specialists, the company has established quality systems and the infrastructure required to support the release of autologous and allogeneic drug products. For more information, visit BioCentriq.com.

About Kytopen

Kytopen is an MIT startup developing platforms to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing of gene-modified cell therapies. The scalable Flowfect solution combines microfluidics and automation to make this process easier, faster, and more cost-effective than the state-of-the art solutions. In 2017, Dr. Cullen Buie (Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT) and Dr. Paulo Garcia founded Kytopen. Together they co-invented proprietary Flowfect technology for high-throughput genetic modification of cells. Kytopen products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or clinical procedures.

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SOURCE BioCentriq, Inc.
2023 BIO International Convention

BOSTON , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Calder Biosciences Inc., a molecular engineering and clinical manufacturing-stage biotechnology company pioneering its 3D-Vaxlocka platform technology to engineer and develop novel protein subunit vaccines, today announced a clinical supply agreement with Biodextris Inc.

Under the agreement, Calder Biosciences will evaluate DT-preF, its lead candidate in the development of a vaccine to prevent acute lower respiratory infections caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), as part of a Phase I clinical trial that will include an efficacy read-out. Preclinical studies are designed to assess the toxicity and tolerability of the lead candidate vaccine. The preclinical study will begin in Nov and the Phase 1 clinical study will begin in H1 2024.

Calder Biosciences' CEO, Chris Marshall , remarks: "We are truly excited to be working with the Biodextris team to bring our RSV vaccine candidate into production, featuring our novel manufacturing process. This represents the first of a series of conformationally locked protein subunit vaccines with greatly improved safety and potency."

"We are delighted to have signed this agreement with Calder Biosciences. It represents an important contract for Biodextris, as this work will be the first to be carried out by our production and development teams in our new industrial-scale vaccine and biologics development, manufacturing and packaging plant (CDMO)" says Alain Carrier , General Manager of Biodextris. The new Biodextris biomanufacturing centre (cGMP) and its analytical capabilities was developed with the support of the governments of Quebec and Canada and Investissement Quebec.

Today's announcement was made at the 2023 BIO International Convention, which is being held in Boston, MA , from June 5 to 8 .

About Biodextris Inc.

Founded in 2015, Biodextris is a subsidiary of Clean Biologics SAS, which provides clinical manufacturing process analysis and development services and quality control testing for clients in the vaccine and biologics industries. The company is staffed by experienced biologics development scientists, and key team members have worked together in medium and large vaccine development and manufacturing companies for almost twenty years. The Biodextris team provides its extensive pharmaceutical company expertise in a more personal and interactive setting to clients of various sizes. The company develops, manufactures, and tests a wide range of biological products for vaccine, pharmaceutical, and other applications. Biodextris has the experience and expertise to develop high-quality, robust, and marketable products, while acting with the flexibility and sense of urgency required by small organizations. For more information biodextris.com

About Calder Biosciences Inc.

Founded in 2018, Calder Biosciences is a New York City -based, privately held, clinical manufacturing-stage biotechnology company with financial backing from SOSV, a global venture capital firm. Calder is developing next-generation protein subunit vaccines. Calder's proprietary 3D-Vaxlocka technology locks proteins in the conformation that most prominently exposes sites of vulnerability and elicits substantially amplified and focused, neutralizing antibody responses, along with strong T cell responses. These responses are expected to improve both protection and safety. Better stability also substantially reduces cold chain requirements and spoilage. Calder's lead, 3D-Vaxlock'd RSV vaccine is entering clinical development. For more information: calderbiosciences.com

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SOURCE Calder Biosciences
NEW YORK , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citymark Capital, a private equity real estate investment firm and fund manager headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio , is pleased to announce that Matthew Hirsch has joined the company as Managing Director of Structured Capital Markets.

Hirsch will leverage Citymark's existing fund management platform to accelerate the company's growth as a capital solutions provider by strategically investing Citymark's existing fund capital and attracting new third-party investor capital in preferred equity, mezzanine debt and common equity structures, as well as senior debt purchases.

Prior to joining Citymark, Hirsch was a founding member of a New York -based team in CBRE's Debt and Structured Finance group. In this role, Mr. Hirsch led the origination, execution, and pricing of debt and equity executions for multifamily and mixed-use projects throughout the United States . Before joining CBRE, Hirsch was a Director in the capital advisory business at Greystone & Co. where he originated, arranged, and placed more than $8 billion in financing transactions. Hirsch's early experience also includes a position at Aurelius Capital Management.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt to Citymark Capital. Matt's deep institutional real estate investment track record and capital markets experience will have an immediate impact on Citymark's continued growth of its fund management business and overall capital markets platform," said Daniel Walsh , Founder and CEO of Citymark.

About Citymark

Citymark Capital invests capital on behalf of its institutional investors through Citymark's comprehensive real estate investment platform including joint venture equity, preferred equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt for multifamily properties throughout the United States . Citymark taps into its vast national network of experienced regional and national operating partners, brokers, and banks. For further information on Citymark Capital, visit www.citymarkcapital.com, LinkedIn or contact Dana Banda at 216-453-8088.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication should not be regarded as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be in violation of any local laws. The general information discussed is not a guarantee, prediction, or projection of real estate investments. There are risks associated with investing in real estate assets, such as inflation, interest rates, real estate tax rates, changes in the general economic climate, local conditions such as population trends and neighborhood values, and supply and demand for similar property types. This communication may contain forward-looking statements identified by the use of words such as "outlook," "indicator," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

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SOURCE Citymark
DPC Dash stores in China now hold the record as the top-six for first 30-day sales across the Domino's system globally as of May 31, 2023 .

DPC Dash operates 656 stores across 20 cities in China mainland as of May 31, 2023 .

HONG KONG , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DPC Dash Ltd ("DPC Dash" or the "Company") (HK: 1405), Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China Mainland , the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China , and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China , continues to ramp up its China expansion, bringing its China store count to 656 as of May 31, 2023 .

New stores in Qingdao and Wenzhou, which opened on April 29, 2023 , both broke the existing Domino's global system record for sales in the first 30 days, to rank 1st and 2nd, respectively, worldwide. As of May 31, 2023 , DPC Dash stores now hold all top six spots for first 30-day sales among Domino's stores globally.

DPC Dash has adapted and built upon the proven business model of its franchisor Domino's by localizing its key features for China and its consumers, focusing on serving Chinese consumers delicious, value-for-money pizzas through online channels, with an emphasis on delivery, enhanced by technology. The efficient store economic model of DPC Dash has provided the foundation for its fast-growing store network, and the Company believes it will enable continued expansion throughout China, targeting to open approximately 180 new stores in 2023 and approximately 240 new stores in 2024.

Ms. Aileen Wang , executive director and chief executive officer of DPC Dash, said, "We are pleased to see the continuous high-quality growth of our presence in China . We adopt a unique business model that combines the globally recognized Domino's playbook with our knowledge of the China market, aiming at serving handcrafted, quality pizza at a competitive price, with easy ordering access and efficient delivery, enhanced by technological innovations."

Under the current management, DPC Dash will continue to execute its tailored localization strategies, implemented an actionable store expansion plan, become more focused on a delivery-centric business model, and strengthened its development capabilities with respect to both menu and technology.

About DPC Dash

DPC Dash is Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Domino's Pizza, Inc., DPC Dash's global franchisor, is one of the most widely-recognized global consumer brands and the world's largest pizza company. Led by a seasoned and visionary management team, DPC Dash is a market leader that differentiates from competitors with, among others, a continually developed and localized pizza-focused menu, unique expertise and leadership in delivery, technology focus and scalable and replicable store economic model.

DPC Dash directly operates 656 stores across 20 cities in China mainland as of May 31, 2023. The Company is the fastest growing among China's top-five pizza brands, as well as the third-largest in terms of 2022 revenue, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan in March 2023 .

For more information, visit www.dpcdash.com

Contacts

Media Relations

DPC Dash Public Relations:

ICR, LLC

[email protected]

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SOURCE DPC Dash Ltd
Kevin Billings served as Asst Secretary of the US Air Force between 2007 and 2009 and is an Honorary Group Captain in the Royal Air Force

served as Asst Secretary of the between 2007 and 2009 and is an Captain in the Seasoned businessman, Presidential appointee and aviation enthusiast appointed to chair new airline's Advisory Board

CEO James Asquith welcomes first appointment to the Advisory Board with more senior professionals to follow

LONDON , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Airlines, the world's newest long-haul airline, has announced the appointment of Kevin Billings as the chair of its Advisory Board.

Billings, who took up the appointment in May, will chair the Advisory Board of leading aviation experts who will guide the airline CEO, James Asquith , and his team towards the launch of the first Global Airlines passenger flights in Spring 2024. Kevin is the first member officially appointed to the Board, with a plethora of industry experts and aviation enthusiasts lined up to be appointed in the weeks ahead.

James Asquith , CEO and Founder of Global Airlines said, "I am delighted that Kevin has joined our team in this important role. Our advisory board is made up of some of the most experienced minds in aviation and we could not ask for a more dedicated leader than Kevin to drive this work forward. Kevin brings a wealth of experience of aviation, business, politics and leadership that will be instrumental in leading our A380s to the sky and I could not be prouder to have him as part of our senior team."

Kevin Billings said, "Global Airlines will change the way we fly, and as a frequent flyer around the world, I know how welcome this breakthrough will be for passengers. Aviation is a competitive business but it is also a people business and there is a significant opportunity for Global Airlines to redefine the travel experience on our A380s."

"This is the most exciting project to be involved with. Everyone at Global is committed to the core principles I have worked towards my entire career  safety, environmental stewardship, and taking care of people. I am looking forward to playing my part liaising with the authorities in Washington DC and throughout the Global network. But most of all, working with the amazing and talented team we have brought together within the airline to build the brand on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond!"

Global Airlines plans to use its fleet of owned A380 aircraft to reinvigorate the flying experience, courtesy of the unrivalled spaciousness offered by the super jumbo. Global Airlines is poised to revolutionise the travel industry and establish itself as the preferred choice for long-haul travel. The airline is now in advanced discussions to acquire three more A380 aircraft and is expected to announce more hires and a crew recruitment drive in the weeks ahead.

Global Airlines is now focused on working closely with the relevant authorities and partners in preparation for inaugural flights in the Spring of 2024.

About Global Airlines

Global Airlines was launched in 2023 with an aspiration to offer passengers the best way to fly. The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holiday Swap and headquartered in London, United Kingdom . The airline is led by CEO James Asquith and backed by aviation experts and investors around the world. The airline has commenced an aircraft acquisition programme with one A380 secured and more to follow in the summer of 2023. The inaugural transatlantic flights are expected in the Spring of 2024.

About HGC Kevin Billings

Kevin Billings was appointed by President George W . Bush as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Air Force and later to serve as Assistant Secretary where his responsibilities included the world-wide management and direction of the Air Force's $38 billion installations, logistics, environment, and energy programs. Kevin's diverse experience includes strategic management, international and domestic business operations, transformation and change management.

Kevin is the CEO and founder of Legation Strategies which provides advisory services in strategic positioning, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity within the energy, infrastructure and national security sectors.

Kevin is one of three Americans serving as an Honorary Group Captain in Royal Air Force. At the request of the Chief of the Air Staff, Kevin is currently leading the Global Air Forces Climate Change Collaboration.

Kevin is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Washington, DC and was recently appointed by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to the Board of the Joint Center for Deployment and Research in Earth Abundant Materials.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2094177/Kevin_Billings.jpg

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SOURCE Global Airlines
ABIDJAN , Cote d'Ivoire, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To support stronger healthcare delivery and outcomes in West Africa , Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (Fosun Pharma or the Company, stock code: 600196.SH; 02196.HK) today announced a deepening partnership with IFC to help the company build a pharmaceutical production facility and distribution hub in Cote d'Ivoire.

Under the partnership, IFC will provide subsidiaries of Fosun Pharma with two loans totaling 50 million euros to support the construction of a manufacturing site near Abidjan to produce anti-malaria drugs and anti-bacterial medicines. The facility, which will take place in three phases, is expected to have a capacity of 5 billion tablets annually after phase 3 completion.

The project will improve access to quality, affordable life-saving medicines across West Africa , contributing to better health outcomes in a region that contends with heavy loads of infectious and other diseases. The project will also facilitate medical and manufacturing knowledge transfer to Africa , supporting the long-term growth and strength of the wider region's health sector.

According to the World Health Organization, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 95 percent of global malaria cases and deaths. While addressing these public health challengesthe region is facing the task of numerous other public health challenges.

"We are glad to be supported by IFC to localize pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution in Africa ," said Mr. Wu Yifang , Chairman of Fosun Pharma. "Since 2006, IFC has repeatedly provided supports to Fosun Pharma, which is committed to ensuring the continuous accessibility and affordability of pharmaceutical products and improving the resilience of healthcare supply chains in the region."

"Strengthening Africa's healthcare infrastructure and capabilities is absolutely essential for the continent's future social and economic development, especially in the wake of COVID-19," said Mr. Sergio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Africa . "IFC's partnership with Fosun will increase Africa's ability to manufacture essential drugs locally, helping patients more easily access high-quality, affordable medicines."

As the first Chinese drug brand widely recognized in Africa , Artesun (Artesunate for Injection), independently developed and manufactured by Fosun Pharma, has treated over 56 million patients with severe malaria worldwide by the end of 2022, which is now a prime example for innovative medicinal products developed in China serving the world. As one of the world's largest antimalarial drug manufacturers, Fosun Pharma is a major antimalarial drug supplier to the Global Fund, UNICEF, WHO and national drug procurement centers in Africa , and has built a mature sales network and possessed upstream and downstream customer resources in the English-speaking and French-speaking regions of sub-Saharan Africa.

About IFC

IFCa member of the World Bank Groupis the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

Stay Connected:

www.facebook.com/IFCAfrica

www.linkedin.com/showcase/ifc-africa

www.twitter.com/IFCAfrica

www.youtube.com/IFCvideocasts

www.ifc.org/SocialMediaIndex

About Fosun Pharma

Founded in 1994, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.* ("Fosun Pharma"; stock code: 600196. SH, 02196. HK) is a global innovation-driven pharmaceutical and healthcare industry group. Fosun Pharma directly operates businesses including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnosis, and healthcare services. As a shareholder of Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd.*, Fosun Pharma expands its areas in the pharmaceutical distribution and retail business.

Fosun Pharma is patient-centered and clinical needs-oriented. The company continuously enriches its innovative product pipeline through independent research and development, cooperative development, license-in, and in-depth incubation. Fosun Pharma improves the research and clinical development capabilities of FIC (First-in-class) and BIC (Best-in-class) new drugs as well as accelerates the R&D and launch of innovative technologies and products.

Guided by the 4IN strategy (Innovation, Internationalization, Intelligentization, and Integration), Fosun Pharma will uphold the development model of "Innovation Transformation, Integrated Operation and Steady Growth", with the mission of creating shareholder values through strengthening its independent R&D and external cooperation and enriching its product pipelines, as well as promoting the global networks and enhancing operational efficiency. Fosun Pharma will actively promote the digital and physical business layout in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and is committed to becoming a first-class enterprise in the global medical and health market.

For more information, visit www.fosunpharma.com

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SOURCE Fosun Pharma
The magistrate court in Moscow has levied a fine against the Wikimedia Foundation, which owns the Russian-language Wikipedia, in the amount of three million rubles ($36,800) for refusing to remove publication about the Ukrainian nationalist regiment Azov [recognized in 2022 in Russia as a terrorist organization - TASS], Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"To find Wikimedia Foundation guilty under part 2 article 13.41 of the Administrative Offense Code of Russia (failure of the owner of a website to delete information or a web-page in case the obligation to delete such information, such a web page, is stipulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation) and impose a penalty on this entity in the form of a fine in the amount of 3,000,000 rubles," Judge Timur Vakhrameev said.

It follows from case materials that Roskomnadzor, a Russian mass media watchdog, found the article about Azov on Wikipedia and demanded to remove it. This was not done and the regulator prepared an administrative offense protocol in respect of Wikimedia Foundation and handed it over to the court.

In February 2023, the organization was fined 2 million rubles ($24,500) for publishing data on the places of deployment three military units of the Russian Federation.

According to Roskomnadzor, banned materials remain on the Wikipedia portal, including false information about what was going on in the special military operation in Ukraine. In this regard, the Wikimedia Foundation is tagged in search engines as a violator of Russian law. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization registered as a charitable foundation in the United States. The organization is known as a platform for Wikipedia and related projects.
Earlier Monday, Russia claimed its forces had repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region of southern Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukraine's goal was to break through what they considered the weakest area along the front lines, but that it "had no success." The Ukrainian attack, Russia said, included six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions. Ukraine dismissed these claims as misinformation.

In a tweet, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak cautioned against trusting Russian information on the fighting in Ukraine. "Russian news reports have long since become a separate virtual meta-universe," he wrote.

"We do not have such information, and we do not comment on any kind of fake," a spokesperson for the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said in response to a question from the Reuters news agency.

Ukrainian forces have been increasing offensive operations against Russia on the border of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk provinces. But Kyiv dismissed Russian reports that the counteroffensive has begun and that the Russian military foiled a major Ukrainian offensive in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk.

Kuleba expressed confidence that Ukraine's planned assault against Russia will turn the tide of the war and will allow Ukraine to reclaim its territories from Russia. He said such a victory will usher Ukraine into NATO. Membership of the military alliance would "probably" only be possible for Ukraine after the end of active hostilities, he said.

During an interview in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine is weapon-ready for its much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia but remained mum as to whether it already has begun.

Fighting is raging in several sections of Ukraine's front line in the Zaporizhzhia region and Donetsk Oblast, signaling that the long-expected Ukrainian assault may be underway.

 Ukrainian Gains: Bakhmut

In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed Ukrainian wins around Bakhmut and attributed Russian claims of an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to Russian histrionics.

"We see how hysterically Russia perceives every step we take there, every position we take," he said. "The enemy knows that Ukraine will win. They see it. They feel it thanks to your strikes, soldiers, and in particular in Donetsk region," he added, addressing Ukrainian fighters directly.

The Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut were also confirmed Monday by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Wagner boss said that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of a village near Bakhmut after his mercenary group had handed its positions there to Russian troops.

"Disgrace!" Prigozhin exclaimed in an audio message on his Telegram channel. "Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away," he said, urging Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to the front to rally the troops. "Come on, you can do it!" he said in his message. "And if you can't, you'll die heroes."

Denis Pushilin, the top Moscow-backed official in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region, which includes Bakhmut, told Russian state television the situation on the city's flanks was "under control" but "very difficult."

 Ukrainian Children

Zelenskyy commemorated Sunday the hundreds of children who have died "as the result of Russian aggression" since 2014, including a 2-year-old girl in the Dnipro region late Saturday.

"Today in our country is the day of remembrance for children who died as a result of Russian aggression since 2014," he said. "Children who would have been alive if a bunch of thugs in the Kremlin, in Moscow, hadn't considered themselves chieftains who allegedly had the right to decide the fate of nations."

Zelenskyy said 485 children have lost their lives in Russian attacks. "This is a number that we can officially confirm, knowing the data of each child," he said. "The real number is much higher." Zelenskyy also noted the 19,505 Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia and are still "in the hands of the enemy." The United Nations says that around 1,000 other Ukrainian children have been wounded.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss support for Ukraine and training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets.

"When war has returned to our continent, in Europe, it is so important that our allies and our friends -- that we stick together, that we are united," Frederiksen said in the Oval Office. "And we have truly been for now 15 months, in Ukraine. We will, of course, continue, from a Danish perspective, our very strong, strong support to Ukraine, but I'm looking forward to work even closer with you on defense and securities."

When asked about the possibility that she may become the first woman to lead the NATO alliance as its secretary-general, Fredericksen said she did not want to speculate on the matter. She was also asked by journalists about a Vatican-led peace mission, saying, "I think all of us are very interested in peace," but "it takes two to tango," and "we still need a signal from Russia."
PRETORIA, South Africa , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium Brand Distributors (PBD), a leading South African technology distributor, recently debuted at SecurEX South Africa, showcasing the latest from eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse. The event marked a significant milestone for PBD as they unveiled the eufyCam 3 security system and the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations, redefining portable power and security in South Africa .

Grant Norton , CEO of Premium Brand Distributors, expressed excitement about bringing Anker Innovations' eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse products to the vibrant South African market. The cutting-edge eufyCam 3 security system, with solar-powered 4K cameras and machine-learning AI, offers enhanced security and privacy for South African consumers.

The eufyCam 3, powered by the new HomeBase 3, utilizes eufy Security's proprietary BionicMind AI, achieving 99% accuracy in recognizing individuals, pets, and objects. HomeBase 3, equipped with edge computing technology, ensures efficient video footage management and provides 16GB of free encrypted local storage, expandable up to 16TB with an external hard drive. This allows for years of local video storage without the need for clearance, giving users peace of mind.

PBD also showcased the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations. These high-capacity stations, powered by advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, offer superior performance and durability. With multiple charging ports, rugged design, and built-in lighting bars, the Anker 535 and 521 PowerHouse power stations provide reliable portable power solutions for smartphones, appliances, and medical equipment, making the product an essential tool for outdoor activities and emergencies.

Faraz Mehdi , General Manager of Anker Innovations, Middle East , Africa , and South Asia , recognized the value of the South African market and expressed the privilege of offering their state-of-the-art eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse solutions through PBD. These products are designed to enhance user safety and provide reliable portable power solutions, empowering users with the best technology available.

Grant Norton emphasized that PBD's participation at SecurEX aimed to foster a tech-savvy and future-forward environment in South Africa . By partnering with eufy Security and Anker PowerHouse, PBD sought to revolutionize how consumers approached security and portable power.

Throughout the SecurEX event, Premium Brand Distributors showcased their latest products, offering detailed demonstrations and addressing inquiries, showcasing their commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the South African market.

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SOURCE Anker Innovations
Defendant Has Been Additionally Charged With First-Degree Rape and Sexual Abuse, Unlawful Surveillance by Queens District Attorney's Office

NewYork-Presbyterian Also Employed Robert Hadden , Convicted Gynecologist Who Abused Hundreds of Patients

QUEENS, N.Y. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York and Presbyterian Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens ("NewYork-Presbyterian") has been named in a civil action alleging that a patient was drugged and sexually assaulted by a Zhi Alan Cheng , M.D., a gastroenterologist practicing at its Flushing location. The complaint was filed today in Queens County Supreme Court by attorneys at Liakas Law, P.C., a litigation and personal injury practice with offices in New York and New Jersey , and Slater Slater Schulman LLP, a national law firm focused on representing survivors of sexual abuse and catastrophic events. In 2021, Slater Slater Schulman reached a $71.5 million settlement with Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian on behalf of 79 patients who were sexually abused by former gynecologist-obstetrician Robert Hadden .

"Our client fully expected when she was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian that she would be treated with the care and skill required and expected of a world-class hospital system in New York State ," said Nicholas Liakas , Partner of Liakas Law, P.C. "Instead, by the time she was discharged five days later, she had been injected with an unknown drug, rendered unconscious, and was filmed being violently sexually assaulted by Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng . What's more, we have evidence that the hospital system knew our client had been sexually assaulted and conspired to cover it up, never disclosing the incident to the victim or police. Worse, they permitted Dr. Cheng to continue to treat our client after the assault and employed him for nearly a year after. Given his predatory behavior, we strongly suspect that he assaulted other patients and urge them to come forward."

"At the time of my firm's previous settlement with NewYork-Presbyterian, a spokesperson for the medical system vowed to never let what Robert Hadden did happen to another patient again," said Adam Slater , Founding and Managing Partner of Slater Slater Schulman LLP. "Less than two years later, my firm is filing another lawsuit against the same hospital system for employing yet another predatory doctor. It's obvious that the failure to protect patients wasn't isolated, but systemic. Due to the present case and Dr. Cheng's pending criminal case in Queens , there is every reason to believe that he sexually assaulted other patients and people with whom he came into contact. We encourage those survivors to come forward to help us hold the institutions that enabled this abuse accountable."

According to allegations made in the complaint filed late yesterday, Dr. Cheng was employed by NewYork-Presbyterian between July 2020 and December 2022 . On June 18, 2021 , a 19-year-old woman who is a resident of Queens  who goes by " Jane Doe " to protect her identity  was admitted to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain caused by gallstones. Two days later, on June 20, 2021 , Dr. Cheng examined the victim without any other staff present, performing an invasive and unnecessary rectal examination under the guise of medical treatment.

Later that same evening, Dr. Cheng used an employee identification tag to unlock a door to the stairwell near the plaintiff's room. He entered it alone and injected an unknown drug or substance into an IV in the plaintiff's arm, according to the complaint. She quickly lost consciousness and he proceeded to sexually assault her. She was informed more than a year later by law enforcement that Dr. Cheng possessed a video recording of the assault.

In June 2021 , the plaintiff notified hospital employees that an Asian male doctor had entered her room and gave her a painful injection that caused her to lose consciousness. She stated that this person was the same doctor who had seen her earlier in the day. This prompted hospital employees to conduct a lineup of male employees and ask the plaintiff to identify who gave her the injection. The patient immediately identified Dr. Cheng . The hospital made no notes about the lineup in medical records, did not notify police and failed to suspend or terminate Dr. Cheng . Further, the hospital did not collect any forensic evidence, including robe or bedsheets, did not test the plaintiff's blood to determine what she was injected with, or offer her sufficient and timely support services.

Unbelievably, on June 22, 2021  after the hospital conducted the lineup and knew that Dr. Cheng had sexually assaulted the plaintiff  records indicate that he provided medical treatment and care to her while she was under sedation during surgery.

Separately, in mid-December 2022 , a woman with whom Cheng had a voluntary intimate relationship inadvertently discovered videos of the defendant chemically sedating and sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions. She notified the NYPD, and Cheng was arrested on December 27, 2022 . When his other electronic devices were searched, videos of additional sexual assaults were found, including the assault on the plaintiff in her hospital room in June of 2021.

On December 30, 2022 , Cheng was indicted by a grand jury in Queens County , where he was charged with Rape in the First Degree, a class B felony; Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a class B felony; Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony; Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony; and Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, a class E felony. The criminal case remains open and pending.

Due to Dr. Cheng's modus operandi of sedating his victims with drugs to render them helpless, as well as his habit of videotaping himself committing sexual assaults, there is a very strong reason to believe that there may be additional victims of Dr. Cheng . Any other patients are encouraged to come forward by calling 888.808.2344. A resident of Astoria , Dr. Cheng attended Albany Medical College within the Albany Med Health System, working at Albany Medical Center, before attending his Internal Medicine residency at California Pacific Medical Center, where he was affiliated with the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Former patients of Dr. Cheng in California will be connected with attorneys in Slater Slater Schulman's California office.

NOTE: Survivors of sexual abuse need to understand that the sexual abuse was not their fault. Help is available. In addition to the legal resources above, individuals seeking to be linked to resources for sexual assault survivors can call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. The National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) provides confidential support from trained staff members and can assist with finding local healthcare resources, help talk through what happened, and offer referrals for long-term support.

ABOUT LIAKAS LAW

Liakas Law, P.C., is a dynamic litigation and personal injury practice with offices in New York City and New Jersey . As a family run legal practice, our lawyers are committed to guiding accident victims and their families through the complex litigation process to obtain full compensation after a serious or fatal accident.

ABOUT SLATER SLATER SCHULMAN LLP

Slater Slater Schulman LLP is a prominent full-service law firm with over 40 years of experience representing survivors of catastrophic and traumatic events. Our nationally renowned attorneys are committed to ensuring the best results for our clients through persistence and zealous representation. With 10 offices in 9 states, we have achieved successful resolutions in some of the most challenging cases in the industry, including complex historical sexual abuse cases involving massive institutions, including academic, religious, and youth organizations. Our firm also has been recognized for its efforts representing clients in pharmaceutical drug litigation, product liability litigation, environmental litigation, employment and labor law, medical malpractice, and personal injury, and has successfully represented thousands of World Trade Center survivors to receive compensation for their injuries. Learn more at sssfirm.com.

Media Contact:

Joan Vollero / ICR

[email protected]

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SOURCE Slater Slater Schulman LLP
NEW YORK , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Survivors Law Project is honored to represent attorney Kalisha Crawford in her claims of sexual assault, gender discrimination, and retaliation against David Ratner , the current founding partner of California litigation boutique Ratner Molineaux, LLP.

The suit was filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year "lookback window" for old civil claims.

The lawsuit alleges that Ratner sexually harassed and assaulted Ms. Crawford on multiple occasions between 2010-2011 while she was an associate at New York litigation boutique Morelli Ratner P.C., where he was the managing partner until his termination of employment in 2015.

After Ms. Crawford rebuffed Ratner's repeated unwanted sexual advances, Ratner began a relentless campaign of retaliation against her culminating in Ms. Crawford's unlawful termination in October 2011 , the lawsuit alleges.

Ratner's unlawful sexual assaults and retaliatory firing of Ms. Crawford effectively ended her career as a litigator; she quit the practice of law entirely and suffered lifelong trauma due to the abuse from her former boss.

Ms. Crawford's claims were brought under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifts the civil statute of limitations for sexual assaults committed against individuals when they were adults.

Statement from Susan Crumiller , Co-founder of Survivors Law Project:

"This is a straightforward case of quid pro quo sexual harassment and assault. Mr. Ratner of all people should know thathe's been a practicing employment lawyer for more than two decades. We are grateful that his hypocritical and disgusting conduct can now be litigated out in the open thanks to the Adult Survivors Act."

Statement from Kalisha Crawford :



"For years, I lived with the difficult truth that Ratner had successfully avoided all accountability for his sexual abuse. At the time, my only choice was to get over it and move on, even though his actions derailed my life and career. But now Ratner will finally have to face what he did. And whatever the outcome, if I can help empower even one other sexual harassment survivor to come forward, then this will have been worth it to me."

For more information, visit survivorslaw.com

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SOURCE Survivors Law Project
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Privilege Underwriters, Inc. (PUI) and the affiliated companies of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies (PURE) have announced that Ross Buchmueller , founder and Chief Executive Officer of PURE, will be leaving the company at the end of 2023 after 18 years with the firm. Martin Leitch , Co-President and Chief Underwriting Officer, will assume responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2023 .

Since its founding in 2006, PURE has experienced more than 15 consecutive years of 15% or greater growth in managed premiums and joined the Tokio Marine Group following Tokio Marine's announced acquisition of PUI in 2019. PURE is the most-awarded insurer in its category, having been recognized as the Best High Net Worth Insurance Company by Private Asset Management for six consecutive years and by Family Wealth Report for eight consecutive years, in addition to countless other awards for innovation, service and corporate culture. During his tenure as CEO of PURE, Mr. Buchmueller has been recognized as a winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, the Family Wealth Report Leading Contributor to the wealth management industry, the Private Risk Management Association Industry Leader Award and an inductee into the Insurance Business America Hall of Fame.

"We have been so pleased to have PURE as part of the Tokio Marine family. In addition to its contributions to our financial success, we have been inspired by PURE's spirit of employee engagement, member service and innovation," said Satoru Komiya , Group Chief Executive Officer of Tokio Marine Holdings. Satoru added, "I have enjoyed working alongside Ross and wish him and his family all of the best. My colleagues and I look forward to supporting Martin and his team to help PURE reach its full potential. I have every confidence that PURE will maintain its sustainable growth by continuing to deliver an exceptional member experience."

Martin Leitch , 44, joined PURE in 2022 after more than 20 years with General Reinsurance Corporation, and served as Co-President and Chief Underwriting Officer. Dave Logan , who has served as Chief Risk Officer at PURE for the past three years has been appointed President.

"It's an honor to assume the responsibility of CEO of this remarkable firm," said Mr. Leitch . "We are all grateful for the foundation that the three founders of PURE have built and look forward to the challenge of taking this company to even greater heights."

"On behalf of the PURE membership, I want to thank Ross for his many contributions to the creation and the ongoing success of PURE," said Jodi Lash , Chair of PURE's Subscribers' Advisory Committee. "We have enjoyed getting to know Martin and Dave and remain confident that they will be great stewards for the next chapter of this company."

Ross Buchmueller added, "I look forward to spending the balance of the year helping Martin, Dave and the team to ensure a smooth transition. I will be forever grateful to the 1,100 colleagues who deliver on PURE's promise every day, and I will remain the most enthusiastic ambassador for them and their mission."

About PURE

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth families, providing customizable coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft, flood, fraud and cyber fraud. PURE's low cost of capital, careful member selection and proactive risk management contribute to fair pricing and a Financial Strength Rating of "A (Excellent)" from A.M. Best Company, Inc. PURE has sustained at least 15% annual growth in each year since its inception and now serves more than 100,000 members across the United States .

PURE is a Florida domiciled reciprocal insurer. PURE Risk Management, LLC (PRM), a for-profit entity serves as PURE's attorney-in-fact for a fee. PRM is a subsidiary of Privilege Underwriters, Inc., a member of the Tokio Marine Group of Companies. This material is descriptive only. Trademarks are property of PRM and used with permission. 2023 PRM. All Rights Reserved. 44 South Broadway , Suite 301, White Plains, New York 10601. For more information visit pureinsurance.com or to find a local independent broker.

About Tokio Marine

Tokio Marine is one of the largest and longest standing insurance groups in the world with JPY 27.7 trillion ( $207 billion ) in total assets and JPY 6.6 trillion ( $50 billion ) of total revenue (for the year ended March 2023 on consolidated basis). Founded in 1879, Tokio Marine comprises a strategic collection of leading insurance businesses united by a shared commitment to do the right thing for its customers and communities. The Group consists of Tokio Marine Holdings, 250+ subsidiaries and 26 affiliates located in 46 countries and regions worldwide, operating extensively in P&C insurance and life insurance as well as several non-insurance business areas.

CONTACT: Kristin Piccini , [email protected]

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SOURCE PURE Insurance
BOSTON , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Media3, a leading cloud solutions provider, is excited to announce the availability of Adobe ColdFusion 2023 on the Azure Marketplace . Published in partnership with Adobe, this groundbreaking latest release of ColdFusion is now seamlessly integrated into the Marketplace, expanding its reach and offering developers and businesses unparalleled accessibility and convenience.

Adobe ColdFusion has been the go-to platform for web application development for over two decades, equipping developers with a comprehensive suite of tools and features to create dynamic and scalable applications quickly and efficiently. With the introduction of Adobe ColdFusion 2023, developers can harness enhanced capabilities and unrivaled integration options on the Azure platform, empowering them to unlock even greater potential and deliver exceptional applications.

The integration of Adobe ColdFusion 2023 into the Azure Marketplace brings a multitude of benefits to developers and businesses seeking a flexible and reliable development platform.

The combination of Adobe ColdFusion 2023 and Azure's robust infrastructure allows developers to achieve unparalleled performance and scalability for their applications. Businesses can effortlessly handle increasing workloads, ensuring optimal user experiences across the board.

"We are thrilled to announce the integration of Adobe ColdFusion 2023 into the Azure Marketplace ," said Steve Rodden , Media3 VP of Sales. "This collaboration presents a remarkable opportunity for ColdFusion developers, empowering them with a seamless and powerful platform to create exceptional web applications. By merging the strengths of Adobe ColdFusion with Azure's cloud infrastructure, we enable developers to build scalable, high-performing applications faster and more efficiently than ever before."

Available now in multiple OS flavors (Windows, RedHat, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux), Adobe ColdFusion 2023 can be enabled in just a few clicks for deployment on the Azure platform.

ABOUT MEDIA3

Media3 is a trusted Adobe partner with over 28 years of experience in providing ColdFusion Enterprise hosting.

Recognized as an industry leader, they are widely acclaimed for innovative technology and exceptional customer service.

For more information about Media3's ColdFusion cloud services or to learn more about the new Azure Marketplace templates, visit the company's website or the Azure Marketplace at https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com

Media3's Web address is https://www.Media3.net.

CONTACT:

Bob Caldwell

Corporate Media

781-826-1213

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SOURCE Media3 Technologies, LLC
VANCOUVER, British Columbia , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oz Lithium Corporation (CSE: OZLI) (OTC: GRXXF) (Frankfurt: G0A). Oz Lithium is pleased to announce that it has submitted an Environmental Impact Report to initiate a complete study of the Laguna Santa Maria Soda Ash Mine . The property will undergo a detailed environmental assessment as part of the company's commitment to responsible mining practices. Oz Lithium is also meeting with authorities from Tolar Grande , the nearest town to the Laguna Santa Maria Mine , to discuss the study and introduce the Company.

To support this effort, Oz Lithium has engaged Geo Brand , a Salta-based company with extensive experience in environmental assessments, to conduct a VES (Vertical Electrical Sounding) survey. The VES survey will be conducted by Geo Brand , and it will involve the distribution of 15 electrode points every 500 meters, creating a total of 8 transects in the area. Four of these transects will run in a northeast to southeast direction, and the other four will run in a northwest to southwest direction. This approach provides a better subsurface representation of the area and will provide valuable information for the study.

In addition to the VES survey, Oz Lithium's team will be conducting a sampling program designed to capture a representative subsurface characterization of the area. The sampling program will involve the excavation of shallow pits up to three meters deep, creating a grid that will allow for the collection of 15 samples. Industry best practices will be employed in the program. Work is proceeding under the supervision of Mr. William Feyerabend , a Qualified Person (QP), in accordance with National Instrument 43-101.

Soda ash is an important reagent in the production of lithium carbonate with the process requiring two tonnes of soda ash for every tonne of lithium carbonate produced. As reported in La Nacion (Argentina News) January 30, 2023 , insufficient local supply and importing issues are challenges for present and future lithium carbonate producers in Argentina . Management believes a first mover advance exists for the Company with the Laguna Santa Maria Project. Much of the current sodium bicarbonate production in Argentina is required by the glass industry. Lithium carbonate producers must import their requirements of sodium bicarbonate from the world market. The potential demand for soda ash is significant given the expanding lithium production industry in Argentina . The location of the project in close proximity to lithium project development may provide a significant freight advantage.

"We are committed to responsible mining practices, and this study is an essential step in ensuring that we meet our environmental obligations," shares Oz Lithium CEO, Mr. Adrian Hobkirk . "We look forward to sharing the results with the community and our stakeholders."

Mr. William Feyerabend, CPG, a Consulting Geologist and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, participated in the production of this news release and approves the technical and scientific content.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Adrian Hobkirk

President and CEO

T: 954-684-8040

E: [email protected]

W: www.ozlithiumcorp.com

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon 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 which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. We seek safe harbor.

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SOURCE Oz Lithium Corporation
Parks Associates and Iris Powered by Generali host June 7 webinar on smart home security risks and strategies to build consumer trust

DALLAS , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates will host the webinar Data and Privacy Protections: Building a Trusted Smart Home on June 7 , 1 pm CT , in partnership with Iris Powered by Generali, to explore strategies to strengthen consumer trust in smart home products and brands. According to Parks Associates' research, more than 70% of smart home product owners, representing 34 million US households, are concerned about the security of their personal data.

The webinar will provide insight into the changing relationship between smart home brands and consumers, as security protections are now a fundamental part of doing business in this market. Parks Associates and Iris will present key research and insights from their new white paper, Data Privacy and Security in the Connected Home, which highlights the data privacy and security risks posed by the connected home, how consumers perceive these risks, and the role smart home platforms play in mitigating threats.

"Consumer trust is now a key differentiator for players in the connected home space, helping them to attract increasingly savvy consumers," said Jennifer Kent , VP, Research, Parks Associates. "This webinar explores new ways to build trust with customers, including education on MFA (multifactor authentication) and software updates, communication on privacy policies, and the importance of simple support and onboarding processes."

The webinar features the following industry experts:

Eugenia Blackstone , CMO, Iris Powered by Generali

, CMO, Iris Powered by Generali Greg Baldauf , Director, Revenue Edge SmartLife Partnerships, Calix

, Director, Revenue Edge SmartLife Partnerships, Calix Desiree Mejia , COO, SkyBell Technologies

"As smart home technology improves and is adopted by more Americans, data privacy has become a chief concern for consumers looking to purchase their next device," said Eugenia Blackstone , Chief Marketing Officer for Iris. "These devices have the potential to store and transfer incredibly sensitive data about their users back to the cloud, which poses a myriad of security risks. Brands that earn the trust of their customers by proactively offering identity and cyber protection services to reduce the risk of user data misuse will be the winners as this market expands."

Parks Associates research finds 30 million US internet households have a networked camera or a video doorbell.

This complimentary webinar is a valuable opportunity for industry players in the connected home space to gain insights from executives on the latest research, trends, and best practices for smart home devices.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

Each year, Parks Associates hosts executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. http://www.parksassociates.com

Follow Parks Associates on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Iris Powered by Generali

Iris Powered by Generali is a B2B2C global identity and cyber protection company owned by the 190-year-old multinational insurance company, Generali, offering always-available identity resolution experts (real people, 24/7/365) and tech-forward solutions that uncomplicate the protection process. Understanding that victimization has no geographical boundaries, we've got a solution no matter your customers' coordinates.

To learn more about Iris' offerings, please visit: https://www.irisidentityprotection.com/

Follow Iris on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Iris Media Contact

M Group Strategic Communications

[email protected]

Parks Associates Media Contact:

Rosey Sera

Parks Associates

972.490.1113

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parks-associates-34-million-us-households-with-smart-home-products-are-concerned-about-the-security-of-their-personal-data-301843192.html

SOURCE Parks Associates
Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Apex and Royal Caribbean International's Symphony of the Seas will be at the forefront of alternative fuel use thanks to extended sustainable biofuel tests this summer in Europe

MIAMI , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) will set a new industry milestone in alternative fuel use when Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Apex and Royal Caribbean International's Symphony of the Seas, set sail in Europe using sustainable biofuel to meet part of the ships' fuel needs. The landmark test will contribute critical data and research on the fuel's capabilities and supply chain infrastructure needed to further the industry's alternative fuel ambitions.

During the three-month test, Celebrity Apex will depart from the Port of Rotterdam and Symphony of the Seas will depart from the Port of Barcelona , using a biofuel blend that reduces the ships' carbon emissions. The biofuel blend is produced by purifying renewable raw materials like oils and fats and combining it with fuel oil to create an alternative fuel that is cleaner and more sustainable.

"Biofuels will play an increasingly important role in achieving, not only our own, but the entire maritime sector's decarbonization goals in the short and medium term. We take great pride in continuing to push our industry forward in exploring innovative fuel solutions that reduce carbon impact and preserve the vibrancy of the oceans we sail," said Jason Liberty , President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

The cruise company plans to continue increasing the use of alternative lower carbon fuel to meet the needs of its ships across the fleet. After the trials are completed this summer, Royal Caribbean Group plans to scale up the use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, across upcoming European summer sailings.

"With our sights set on a bright and sustainable future, we are committed to collaboration and innovation to ensure we deliver great vacation experiences, responsibly. With the completion of the trials our hope is to advance our ships' ability to meaningfully reduce emissions and propel forward strategic partnerships with suppliers and ports to ensure there is sufficient availability of biofuel and infrastructures to make maritime energy transition a reality," Liberty said.

This key step in Royal Caribbean Group's pursuit of alternative fuels follows closely after a biofuel trial on its California -based Navigator of the Seas, became the first a cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port while using renewable diesel fuel this past fall.

With a sustainability journey that began over 30 years ago, Royal Caribbean Group has remained steadfast in its commitment to innovate, and advance, the solutions necessary for a better future. Building on a robust portfolio of technologies that improve energy efficiency, water treatment and waste management, trialing biofuels is a step that moves the company closer to achieving Destination Net Zero, its vision for net-zero emissions by 2050. To learn more about Royal Caribbean Group's sustainability efforts, information is available at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/sustainability.

About Royal Caribbean Group:

Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award-winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 10 ships on order as of June 30, 2022. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-announces-ground-breaking-biofuel-testing-accelerating-the-industrys-energy-transition-301843204.html

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group
PARAMUS, N.J. , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Savvas Learning Company , a K-12 next-generation learning solutions leader, today announced that its Experience Physics program has been named a 2023 SIIA CODiE Award Finalist in the "Best Science Instructional Solution for Grades 9-12" category.

"Experience Physics is revolutionizing physics education with its bold and innovative approach."

Experience Physics  2022 is a modern high school physics curriculum that implements an interactive learning model using the exploration of phenomena to drive student engagement. The program places students center stage as they make sense of phenomena with experiential learning routines that connect physics to the real world. Experience Physics also uniquely supports educators with comprehensive, editable resources and flexible teaching tools that allow them to adapt instruction to their students' diverse learning needs.

"We are honored that our Experience Physics program has been named a finalist in this year's CODiE Awards," said Bethlam Forsa , CEO of Savvas Learning Company. "Experience Physics is revolutionizing physics education with its bold and innovative approach, delivering instructional flexibility to every teacher and exciting, phenomena-based content to every student. We're thrilled to see our Experience Physics curriculum recognized for being the outstanding science solution that it is."

The cutting-edge program features an all-new instructional model in which students first interact with phenomena through hands-on and virtual activities before completing readings and math practice in the interactive Student Experience Handbook . This active learning approach provides students real-world context for understanding physics and the background knowledge to tackle more elaborate activities, such as investigating new concepts and conducting "engineering-design challenges."

Providing a wealth of interactive content and assessment tools through the award-winning Savvas Realize learning management system, Experience Physics offers many exciting explorations into scientific inquiry, including:

Hands-on inquiry labs available in four versions  guided, open-ended, short, and advanced  that provide more opportunities for educators to customize curriculum for any classroom situation.

available in four versions  guided, open-ended, short, and advanced  that provide more opportunities for educators to customize curriculum for any classroom situation. Virtual labs that give all students access to compelling phenomena and advanced scientific equipment.

that give all students access to compelling phenomena and advanced scientific equipment. Claim-Evidence-Reasoning exercises that support student understanding of phenomena over time.

that support student understanding of phenomena over time. PhET simulations that engage students in an intuitive, game-like environment and offer accompanying worksheets that connect simulations to the content.

that engage students in an intuitive, game-like environment and offer accompanying worksheets that connect simulations to the content. Boclips videos that present physics concepts in an easy-to-understand way.

that present physics concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Process-focused math support with tutorial videos and sample problems that are broken down for clarity and process guidance.

"I wish I had something like this when I was in high school and college, as well as when I was in the classroom," said one of the CODiE judges who praised Experience Physics for its hands-on learning, remarking that the program's "experiences and ties to real life early in the lessons would be very valuable and get students interested."

Another judge who evaluated Experience Physics lauded the program for "giving teachers ways to incorporate the three dimensions of NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)" along with "customizable digital assessments that offer teachers insights into student understanding."

The SIIA CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to showcase business and education technology's finest products and services. Award finalists, which are selected by expert reviewers, represent the most innovative and impactful products from education technology developers, online learning services and related learning-focused technologies. Winners will be announced at the CODiE Awards education technology celebration on June 22, 2023 .

ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design next-generation learning solutions that help prepare students to become global citizens in a more interconnected, digital world. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company . Savvas Learning Company's products are available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary, Rubicon .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/savvas-learning-companys-experience-physics-named-2023-siia-codie-award-finalist-for-best-science-instructional-solution-301844154.html

SOURCE Savvas Learning Company
Synapticure has worked with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to establish an expert advisory board of people living with Parkinson's to leverage its national platform to drive rapid access and innovation in care and patient experience for people living with Parkinson's across the country.

CHICAGO , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

The State of Care in Parkinson's Today

An estimated one million Americans are living with Parkinson's disease (PD) today. However, lengthy wait times, long distances from Centers of Excellence (COE), and a scarcity of sub-specialized neurologists mean that fewer than 30% of those patients are currently under the care of a Movement Disorders Specialist and as little as 10% have access to a COE.1,2 This means that hundreds of thousands of patients may never get access to specialized treatment plans and innovative clinical trials, slowing down the pace of acceleration for Parkinson's research.

How Synapticure Will Address This

With Synapticure's national telehealth offering, specialized Parkinson's care is available to patients in the comfort of their own homes and in partnership with their existing care teams, regardless of where they live in the United States . The Michael J. Fox Foundation has worked with Synapticure to establish a Parkinson's Expert Advisory Board composed of PD patients and care partners that will help Synapticure continuously improve and innovate its care to meet the evolving needs of the Parkinson's community and to advance research.

Additionally, using patient onramps created by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF), Synapticure patients will be made aware of opportunities to participate in clinical trials and other research opportunities. Synapticure's goal is to provide care for people living with Parkinson's regardless of where they live and whether they are seeing a movement disorder specialist. By doing this, we can reach a diverse group of people living with Parkinson's and help diversify those who are in clinical research.

How This Works

Synapticure brings comprehensive, cutting-edge virtual care to people living with Parkinson's, enabling remote access to Movement Disorder Specialists, Care Coordinators, virtual speech and language therapy, in-home physical therapy, clinical trial education and support, and insurance navigation support, with mental health care coming soon. Synapticure is in-network with most major insurers and will bill patients' insurance providers for any medical visits.

MJFF is the largest, non-profit funder of Parkinson's research in the world and is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. To date, MJFF has funded more than $1.75 billion in global research programs. The Foundation also sponsors the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative  a landmark clinical study with 50 global sites and the most robust Parkinson's dataset and biorepository in the world (which to date has been downloaded by global researchers more than 12.5M times).

"I am really excited to have the Michael J. Fox Foundation as an advisor to Synapticure, as their expertise and leadership in the fight against Parkinson's will help us build out the best-in-class care platform for people living with Parkinson's," said Synapticure co-founder Brian Wallach . Synapticure CEO, Sandra Abrevaya , added, "By working together, we can help bring care to every person living with Parkinson's in the US and, at the same time, help accelerate the research that will lead to breakthroughs in this fight."

Evelia Deane , MJFF's Vice President of Partnerships and Alliances, says, "Incorporating the voice of the patient in research and in the development of solutions for care is essential. MJFF commends groups like Synapticure who have prioritized direct engagement with the Parkinson's community, through opportunities like their Parkinson's Expert Advisory Board."

Synapticure's Movement Disorder team is led by Dr. Jaime Hatcher-Martin , a long-standing advocate for the use of telemedicine to democratize expert neurological care and reduce patient burdens. Prior to joining Synapticure, Dr. Martin practiced at Emory University, where she started her own telemedicine clinic for patients with movement disorders in 2016, and at SOC Telemed (now Access Telecare). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, served as co-chair for their Telemedicine Workgroup as well as many other telehealth subcommittees, and is on the Telemedicine Study Group for the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

People living with Parkinson's can sign up today for a telehealth visit with Synapticure's care team, which for most is covered by insurance.

[1] Parkinson's Counter

[2] Parkinson's Foundation Designates Three Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Care: Global Network Expands to 45 Parkinson's Centers

CONTACT:

Evie Kling

[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synapticure-announces-the-michael-j-fox-foundation-as-its-newest-advisor-to-help-improve-access-to-specialty-care-and-to-accelerate-parkinsons-research-301843714.html

SOURCE Synapticure
When he auditioned for Outlander, Scottish actor Sam Heughan, 42, wasnt familiar with Diana Gabaldons popular books, which have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. So, Heughan hurried off to buy the first novel and read it. At the time, he was an unknown actor who had been working mostly in theater. But his Scottish bearing and roots helped win him the role of Jamie Fraser, a young, 18th-century Scottish warrior who crosses paths with a time-traveling nurse from the 20th century. I remember on my first day of shooting the driver asked me how long I thought it would last. I said, about one year. Now, its eight years, seven seasons. But its been an incredible journey, and its gone so fast. Its just so exciting, Heughan said in a recent interview ahead of a new season of the show.

The actor had traveled to Madrid to take advantage of a few days off from filming Outlanders 16-episode seventh season, which will premiere in 2023 on Starz. During his time in Spain, Heughan continued to work, meeting fans on a walkabout. He also conducted interviews and received Esquire magazines International Man of the Year award. The actor is handling his newfound fame  and the hoopla that surrounds him wherever he goes  well. I wouldnt consider myself famous. But then again, I suppose last night it was surprising to see all of the enthusiasm and excitement. But I dont know. I wouldnt consider myself famous, but I think the show is still very popular. Its always so rewarding to see peoples excitement and to meet fans.

He can reveal little about the new seasons plot, although Gabaldons books already tell the story of Jamie and Claire (played by Caitriona Balfe). The couple, now no longer young (they even have a grandchild), has settled in pre-Revolutionary War America (17751781) and have the advantage that Jamies wife, as well as their daughter and son-in-law, come from the future and know what will happen, at least according to the history books.

Outlander has an extremely devoted following, a phenomenon that the stars themselves have a hard time explaining. I wish I knew [why the show is such a global phenomenon]. I mean, I think its all down to the fans, their anticipation of whats going to happen and their interest. But I guess we have to thank Diana Gabaldon for her book series. She captured this amazing relationship. [Its] set in Scotland, of course, but also in the US, says the actor. He believes that the tight-knit cast and crew might be another factor. We are a big family and we have been working together now for eight years. And its just made us so close. And I dont think you would be able to shoot this kind of show without having a very close relationship.

Sam Heughan, during an interview in Madrid. Santi Burgos

Although the action is now set in colonial America, Outlander is being filmed in Scotland, at Cumbernauld Studios, a 20-minute drive from Glasgow. There, the crew builds new sets between seasons and works on props, costumes, hairdressing, makeup and everything else they need to recreate 18th-century America, as well as 20th-century Boston or 18th-century French high society, when the need arises. Filming the show in Scotland allows for shooting in a unique landscape, although there is one downside. The worst thing is probably night shoots in Scotland during the winter, says Heughan. Some of our crew and cast are shooting right now, [doing] night shifts in Scotland and its very cold; its -12 degrees.

Outlander combines adventure, fantasy, history and romance. The show now employs an intimacy coordinator for shooting erotic scenes, although that wasnt always the case. Heughan has said that during the shows first season, he wasnt comfortable with what he felt was gratuitous nudity that was unnecessary to the storyline. Id say that we were very inexperienced. So as a young actor, quite green, I didnt know where the boundaries were. And we were all exploring it, not just the actors, but also the directors and producers. You know, we were trying to find what the boundaries are and a safe place for everyone to be in, the actor explains. Its been fantastic to bring on board an intimacy coordinator, not only as she helped make it easier for us because it is difficult to shoot this kind of scene. But, actually, shes given us more time, more tools, more ideas to explore those scenes, maybe make them even more intimate or more passionate. So, its been really helpful to have someone on set to help us facilitate the scenes. And not just for the actors, but for the crew as well, and also the studio.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, in the sixth season of 'Outlander.'

Portraying Jamie Fraser has completely altered Heughans life. I was a jobbing actor. You know, had some success and a lot of failure. But it really has changed my whole world; [its] giving me a lot of opportunity to work on other projects, to create my own projects, from writing to producing. It has even allowed him to reconnect with his Scottish roots and make his homeland a constant presence in his professional life. In addition to playing Jamie, Heughan co-stars with Outlander castmate Graham McTavish in the documentary series Men in Kilts (also on Starz), in which the two use fiction as a point of departure for traveling around Scotland and showing its customs and culture (there is also a companion book, Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other). Heughan has also written a memoir, Waypoints: My Scottish Journey. He even has his own line of Scotch whisky called Sassenach, a Gaelic word that refers to non-Gaelic speakers and the term with which Jamie refers to Claire on the show.

All of the projects that I do [are] all celebrating Scotland. I guess Im very proud of Scotland. I think we have a lot to offer [for] a very, very small country, but we have a great identity, and I like to share with the rest of the world. And its easy. I mean, Scotland is such an incredible country that has great history as well. So, I feel like an ambassador, he laughs. I think its a combination of things and obviously an amazing landscape. But I think its the history, its very tangible. You know, it has [a] great history of being the underdog, of being a small country trying to fight against a larger one. And the history is so tangible, you can walk around Scotland and see a castle or a ruin. And I guess also for such a small country, it has had a great influence in the rest of the world, especially immigration, you know, from America to New Zealand to Australia. Its such a small country, its such a big reach, Heughan says.

Judging by the Outlander books  the show reflects one volume or so per season and author Gabaldon has just published the ninth and penultimate book in the series  Heughan could be playing Jamie Fraser for several more years. And after that? He thinks for a few seconds: I mean, theres so many [characters Id like to play]. But also, I guess maybe there are [some that are as yet] unwritten. But I did want to go back to the theater. I love Shakespeare and thats where I started the theater a long time ago now. So, yeah, I would love to go back and do some Shakespeare, maybe, I guess Macbeth, [which is a] Scottish play. Or maybe Hamlet.

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11th Urgent Care Clinic Serving Children in the Houston Area

HOUSTON , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital is proud to announce the opening of Texas Children's Urgent Care in Sugar Land , expanding its health care offerings to families in the Houston area. Through this opening, patients and their families will have greater access to the vast network of comprehensive services offered by Texas Children's  ranked No. 2 among the best children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

" Sugar Land has long been an area of focus for us, and we are thrilled to serve more families in this area," said Dan Gollins, President of Texas Children's Pediatrics and Texas Children's Urgent Care. "Opening a new urgent care in Sugar Land will truly help fill a void in treatment for children and their families on nights and weekends bringing pediatric urgent care experts to the local community."

Along with Texas Children's Pediatrics, Texas Children's Urgent Care puts board-certified pediatricians within reach. Together, it comprises the largest pediatric clinic network in the nation, offering high quality and affordable care in convenient community locations.

"Our clinic is conveniently located in your neighborhood and available evenings and weekends to respond to the growing need for pediatric urgent care after hours," said Dr. Terry Yen , Medical Director of Texas Children's Urgent Care.

Staffed by Texas Children's pediatricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses who specialize in pediatric care, Texas Children's Urgent Care is designed to meet the needs of children and young adults through the age of 18  to offer compassionate and high-quality care at all times, including evenings and weekends. From little pains and upset stomachs to infections and flu, Texas Children's Urgent Care is opening in Sugar Land to treat conditions that cannot wait.

Common pediatric conditions treated:

Flu/COVID-19 Test

Allergic reaction

Asthma

Cough, cold or congestion

Ear pain

Fever in infants older than 8 weeks

Minor burn

Minor injury

Pink eye

Rash

Simple laceration

Skin infection

Sore throat

Sprain and strain

Urinary tract infection

Vomiting and diarrhea

Common procedures performed:

Antibiotic injections

Breathing treatments

Fracture care and splinting

IV fluids

Laceration repair (stitches, staples and skin glue)

Sports physicals ( Houston locations only)

locations only) Urine catheterization

Wound care

X-rays on site

Save My Spot

To minimize wait times, families in Sugar Land must reserve spots online before coming to the new location, a tool available at all Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics. Virtual waiting rooms help staff monitor the number of patients expected and improve outcomes by managing wait times. Virtual visits are also available from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. , seven days a week.

The new Texas Children's Urgent Care is conveniently located at:

Texas Children's Urgent Care  Sugar Land

4734 LJ Pkwy, Unit 310

Sugar Land, TX 77479

For more information about Texas Children's Urgent Care, please visit https://www.texaschildrensurgentcare.org/.

About Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital, a nonprofit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas , and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston ; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston . The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO for children; has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country, Texas Children's Pediatrics; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-childrens-urgent-care-opens-in-sugar-land-301843841.html

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital
Awareness Day Brings Greater Attention to Life-saving Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug and Urgent Need to Expand its Access and Use Amid Nation's Worsening Opioid Epidemic

Federal Resolution Introduced by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA), Along with U.S. Representatives David Trone (D-MD), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Lisa McClain (R-MI)

NEW YORK , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Victoria's Voice Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to drug prevention, education and naloxone access, today announced the launch of the first ever National Naloxone Awareness Day on June 6 while also securing a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the awareness day annually. As the opioid crisis continues to devastate families and communities nationwide, the day is intended to further heighten public awareness of naloxone as a critical tool to prevent fatal overdoses, and the importance of increasing access to and use of the life-saving overdose reversal medicine. It is also a day to honor those who have died from an overdose.

"In the midst of the country's escalating opioid epidemic, and with about 300 Americans dying every day from an overdose, it is critical that we increase awareness and availability of the life-saving overdose reversal drug naloxone so we can save as many lives as possible," said Jackie and David Siegel , who co-founded Victoria's Voice Foundation after their daughter, Victoria, died of a tragic drug overdose on June 6, 2015 at the age of 18.

The Siegels added: "We are committed to spreading awareness about the dangers of opioids and to expanding access to naloxone to prevent deaths and turn the tide on this crisis. We are deeply grateful for the support from the lawmakers on Capitol Hill who introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring June 6 as National Naloxone Awareness Day."

On the day she died, Victoria had a pulse when first responders arrived and found her unresponsive. However, they were not equipped with naloxone, and Victoria became another statistic. The Siegels have dedicated themselves to turning the tragedy of Victoria's death into a national platform for drug awareness and prevention, broadening access to and distribution of naloxone, and saving lives from overdose.

U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2022 reached an all-time high of 109,680, with potent synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, continuing to fuel the fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the number marks a slight increase from the 107,622 deaths in 2021, it sets a grim record for the third straight year and extends the exponential and unprecedented rise in fatal overdoses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there is hope  and help  in the form of naloxone, which rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and saves lives. Naloxone, more commonly known by its brand name Narcan, can restore normal breathing within 2-3 minutes in a person who is overdosing on opioids. The life-saving medication is safe, easy to use, non-addictive and won't cause any harm if it is given to an individual who is not overdosing. Available as both a nasal spray and an injectable, naloxone can be administered by anyone, even bystanders. This is critical because in nearly 40% of fatal overdoses, someone else was present, according to the National Institutes of Health.

"Our communities continue to face a crisis like never before with opioids and fentanyl. Because of this crisis, we are losing our loved ones, friends and neighbors at a record pace," said Dennis Lemma, Sheriff of Seminole County, Florida , and a Victoria's Voice Board Member. "We now face the harsh reality that we need more than just first responders carrying naloxone  we need everyone, the general public, to carry it as well."

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray without a prescription  a critical step to curb the number of overdose deaths. This historic action means that Naloxone will now be sold directly to consumers in such places as drug stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and online. While this marks a monumental step forward in addressing the opioid crisis, major barriers remain to ensure widespread naloxone access, most notably the high cost of the medication and the stigma against drug users.

In an effort to further educate and inform the public about naloxone's lifesaving impact, the pressing need to widen access and availability, and to encourage people to carry and administer the opioid overdose antidote, Victoria's Voice founded National Naloxone Day and worked with a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives to secure a federal resolution.

Sponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA), along with Representatives David Trone (D-MD), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Lisa McClain (R-MI), the resolution calls for increased urgency and action to combat the opioid crisis while adding that "National Naloxone Awareness Day will contribute to the ongoing efforts to educate the public, reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder, and promote access to lifesaving naloxone."

"Too many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends have been lost to opioid poisoning in America," said Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). "Naloxone saves lives and it is a critical tool in our fight to stop the loss caused by opioids in communities across our nation. I am proud to be joined by Senator Markey and a bipartisan group of our colleagues in the House to introduce a resolution designating June 6 as Naloxone Awareness Day to bring awareness to the issue and educate Americans about this lifesaving drug."

Scott added: 'I also want to highlight the Victoria's Voice Foundation and the Siegel Family for the lifesaving work they do on advocacy and education about the dangers of opioids. This organization was started following a parent's worst nightmare  the loss of a child  and they have made it their mission to ensure folks are educated and prepared to save lives."

The Siegels will officially announce the federal designation  in memory of their daughter, Victoria  during a special Victoria's Voice event in New York City marking National Naloxone Awareness Day on June 6 . Additionally, in support of the event and the foundation's work, Victoria's Voice received a citation from New York City Mayor Eric Adams .

During the event, Victoria's Voice will also announce the launch of its new initiative: Get. Give. Save. The goal of the campaign is to create a national movement to make naloxone distribution affordable and accessible to homes, businesses, community centers, schools, places of worship, doctor's offices, public facilities and elsewhere. The initiative will be orchestrated in partnership with nationally known companies spanning the hospitality, healthcare, media, legal, automotive, finance, construction, technology, and retail industries.

For more information about Victoria's Voice Foundation, visit www.victoriasvoice.org.

About Victoria's Voice Foundation

Victoria's Voice Foundation was established in 2019 by Jackie and David Siegel after losing their 18-year-old daughter to an accidental drug overdose. Victoria's Voice is dedicated to providing drug prevention education and naloxone awareness, support and resources to those affected by substance use. Since its founding, Victoria's Foundation has positively impacted more than 500,000 parents and children through its education programs. For more information about Victoria's Voice, please visit www.victoriasvoice.org.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/victorias-voice-foundation-launches-first-ever-national-naloxone-awareness-day-on-june-6-with-support-from-a-bipartisan-congressional-resolution-301843527.html

SOURCE Victorias Voice Foundation
LOS ANGELES , June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films ("Vision") announces the Transactional VOD release of Called to Duty from production company Cinemaddict Films on July 1, 2023 across the US and Canada . Showcasing the role of female pilots, the action feature is directed by Ashley Gibson and produced by Henry Penzi and Sonny Goldfin .

The film centers around a squadron of female Navy air show pilots sent into battle because of their exceptional aerial skills and is loosely based on true world events involving North Korea and their frequent ballistic missile tests used as threats against the United States . The film was shot on location at South Jersey Regional Airport , Air Victory, and aboard the Navy aircraft carrier Battleship New Jersey in Camden, NJ .

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/Q5PYtSuCu7Q

Centered on a top all-female fighter pilot squad that runs circles around their male counterparts in dog fights while training, their advanced airborne capabilities come with a price when they are called to duty to go into combat behind enemy lines. This time it's for real, they must serve their country and protect it with their lives.

Called To Duty features Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Joseph Baena in his first action role, playing the part of an F-15 fighter pilot alongside the female squadron.

Also starring Susannah Jane ( Fight Valley 2: Lockdown), Cabrina Collesides ( Fight Valley ), Brandi Mosko (Wasps), Whitney Star (Apocalypse: Hope For Life), Erica Seelig (Worthless), Marisa Pangaro (Wings of the Wasp), and Toni Ann Gisondi and Rosanne Sorrentino , both from the original motion picture Annie. This is the first time in 30 years Gisondi and Sorrentino have been reunited on screen.

Lise Romanoff , CEO and Managing Director of Vision Films shares, "Audiences are going to love this film! It's a female TOP GUN. It not only highlights strong female protagonists but also has a female director and the amazing cast showcases the strength and importance of all members of our military."

Producer Sonny Goldfin says, "We are so glad to see it finally get wings and take flight. Movies based solely on fighter jets are very rare in Hollywood . There was Iron Eagle and Top Gun, but other than that the choice is very minimal for fighter jet fans. Called to Duty is absolutely unique, especially with the addition of female aviators. Audiences are going to love it!"

Called To Duty will be available on major streaming and cable platforms across the US and Canada on July 1, 2023 , followed by DVD at major on-line retailers.

About Vision Films

Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. Led by Lise Romanoff , Managing Director/CEO Worldwide Distribution, Vision Films releases 2-4 films a month across Theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. visionfilms.net

Media Contact:

Andrea McKinnon

8184159442

[email protected]

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SOURCE Vision Films, Inc.
Members of the Russian Investigative Committee investigate a factory where the alcohol-containing drink called "Mister Cider", which caused poisonings and deaths, was produced, in Samara, Russia, in this still image taken from video released June 5, 2023.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Thirty people have died in western Russia in the last few days after drinking adulterated cider and dozens more have fallen ill, local officials said on Tuesday.

The health department of Ulyanovsk region, where the first cases were reported, said 20 people had died there after drinking the cider, branded as "Mister Cider". Authorities in Samara, Nizhny Novgorod and Udmurtia said a total of 10 people had also died in their regions.

Dozens more people were reported to be sick in several regions after consuming the cider.

Authorities have detained one person on suspicion of causing death by negligence and ordered the drink to be withdrawn from sale.

Local media reported that the cider contained lethal amounts of methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol and much more toxic than the ethanol found in regular alcoholic drinks.

Russia tightened controls on the production and sale of alcohol after 77 people died drinking cheap moonshine in Siberia in 2016, but the consumption of homemade alcohol remains a problem.

Twenty-nine people died in a single incident in 2021 after consuming locally produced spirits containing methanol.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it was "not certain" who was to blame for a burst dam in Ukraine, but it would not make sense for Ukraine to have done this to its own people and territory, as Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the disaster.

The 15-member U.N. Security Council met on Tuesday at the request of both Russia and Ukraine after a torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates the opposing forces in southern Ukraine.

When asked if the United States knew who was responsible, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, told reporters ahead of the council meeting: "We're not certain at all, we hope to have more information in the coming days."

"But, I mean, come on ... why would Ukraine do this to its own territory and people, flood its land, force tens of thousands of people to leave their homes - it doesn't make sense," Wood said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier on Tuesday that the world body did not have any independent information on how the dam burst, but described it as "another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Many Security Council members also asserted during Tuesday's meeting that the crisis would not have occurred if Russia had not invaded neighboring Ukraine in February last year.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia blamed Ukraine, without providing evidence, accusing it of trying to create "favourable opportunities" for it to regroup its military units to continue a counter offensive.

"The deliberate sabotage undertaken by Kyiv against a critical infrastructure facility is extremely dangerous and can essentially be classified as a war crime or an act of terrorism," Nebenzia told the council.

Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of a "terrorist act against Ukrainian critical infrastructure," without providing evidence.

"It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside by shelling - it was mined by the Russian occupiers and they blew it up," Kyslytsya said.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that "the sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realized in the coming days."

"But it's already clear that it will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine on both sides of the front line through the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods," he added.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Ismail Shakil and Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 16, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China for talks in the coming weeks, an official said on Tuesday, months after Washington's top diplomat scrapped a planned trip over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S.

The visit is intended by Washington to be a major step toward what President Joe Biden has called a "thaw" in relations between the world's two largest economies.

Blinken postponed a visit to Beijing in February after the balloon, which Beijing denies was a government spy vessel, flew through U.S. airspace and over sensitive military sites, eventually being shot down by the U.S. military and creating a diplomatic crisis.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate on timing. The State Department did not confirm any updated plans for Blinken's trip.

"We have no travel for the Secretary to announce; as we've said previously the visit to the People's Republic of China will be rescheduled when conditions allow," deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said.

In response to a request for comment, the spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington referred to the last meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Indonesia in November.

"China is open to have dialogues with the U.S. side and hopes that the U.S. will meet China halfway and jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two presidents at the Bali Summit," Liu Pengyu said.

Separately, and without mentioning Blinken's trip, U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell told an event at the Hudson Institute that exchanges with Beijing were improving.

"The lines of communications are opening up and we are able to lay out more constructively our areas of interest and concern," although the U.S. had been unsuccessful in getting China to agree to effective crisis mechanisms, Campbell said.

He said episodes like what he called "dangerous" navigation by a Chinese destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, showed the need for these "to prevent circumstances where unintended consequences can have terrible consequences."

"China is increasingly a great power. Her (military) forces rub up against ours much more than they did in the past. The potential for miscalculation, inadvertence, is real and growing," Campbell said.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the measures taken by the Chinese military in the Taiwan Strait were "reasonable, legitimate, and professional and safe".

UPBEAT TONE

The Biden administration has pushed to boost engagement with China even as ties have deteriorated over disputes ranging from military activity in the South China Sea, Beijing's human rights record, and technology competition, to democratically governed Taiwan - which China claims as its own territory.

But critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that decades of engagement have failed to change Beijing's behavior.

The State Department's top official for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, was in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese counterparts, a visit seen as a step toward a possible Blinken trip. The two sides struck an upbeat tone.

Asked by reporters in Beijing if Blinken would visit soon, Kritenbrink said: "we'll see." The United States was "working hard" to manage the relationship with China, he said.

Kritenbrink's arrival on June 4 coincided with the 34th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown by Chinese troops on demonstrators in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square that rights groups say killed hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters.

The Biden administration dismissed any significance behind the arrival date, but some Republican lawmakers and Tiananmen survivors criticized the timing, arguing U.S. eagerness to hold talks with Chinese officials was watering down U.S. positions.

Reuters reported in May that the State Department delayed human rights-related sanctions, export controls and other sensitive action to try to limit damage to the U.S.-China relationship after the balloon incursion.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu;Editing by Don Durfee, Grant McCool and Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: BorgWarner Inc logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) - Auto parts supplier BorgWarner on Tuesday forecast its electrified-vehicle business would generate about half of its total expected sales of over $10 billion by 2027, as the company looks to tap strong demand for cleaner modes of transport.

It also expects the eProducts segment, which makes parts for EVs and hybrids, to bring in revenues of $2.3 billion to $2.6 billion for 2023 and grow to $5.6 billion in 2025.

"EV-focused M&A is tracking ahead of plan," the company said ahead of an investor meeting.

Michigan-based BorgWarner has over the past two years sharpened its efforts to become an EV supplier, snapping up five companies and spinning off its fuel systems and aftermarket segments into a separate firm.

Its clients - Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford - have also been trying to roll out more electrified models.

In its most recent quarter, BorgWarner posted lower-than-expected adjusted earnings as supply chain constraints continued to be a headwind.

(Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
FILE PHOTO: A man walks near the National Congress building, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brasilia, Brazil, March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's consumption tax reform advanced on Tuesday as a working group in Congress outlined a proposal to combine various levies into a value-added tax with separate federal and regional rates without increasing the overall tax burden on the economy.

The report represents an early step in a reform considered crucial by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration. Lawmakers will now craft a formal text in greater detail to be put to a vote.

Congressman Aguinaldo Ribeiro, the lawmaker in charge of the working group report, said the lower house of Congress would vote on a bill in the first week of July, citing a timeline approved by House Speaker Arthur Lira.

According to the working group's proposal, the reform would merge federal taxes on consumption  namely IPI, PIS, and Cofins  into one tax, while the state-level ICMS tax and municipal-level ISS tax would combine to form a separate rate.

The working group's report recognized the possibility of exemptions in the standard tax rates, including a reduced rate for some goods and services related to health, education, public transportation, regional aviation and rural production.

The text also proposed the implementation of a different treatment of food items included in a government-designated list of essential products.

Under the recommendations, tax collection would shift from the current practice based on where goods are produced to a system reflecting where goods are consumed.

This adjustment is expected to benefit wealthier and more populous states, and the working group proposed a transition period of "some years" for implementation.

"The transition will be made in such a way as to maintain the collection of current taxes as a proportion of GDP (gross domestic product). Under no circumstances will there be an increase of the tax burden," the report said.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Bulgaria's new Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov poses after he was elected in the parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's parliament on Tuesday voted in a government led by Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, which is set to implement reforms that would lead the Balkan country into the euro zone and Schengen groupings of European nations.

One hundred and thirty-two deputies in the 240-seat parliament voted for Denkov, ending a two-year political deadlock. The political uncertainty has forced EU member Bulgaria to delay its target date for adopting the euro, and it has yet to approve a budget bill for 2023.

"Today is the day when we can give hope to the millions of Bulgarians who want our country to have a regular government," Denkov was cited as telling the parliament by the Sofiaglobe web site.

He said his cabinet would have "the courage and expertise to make the important decisions and bear responsibility for them."

Denkov said the first task of his cabinet would be to ensure parliamentary support for the 2023 budget.

Denkov, whose political coalition, led by the We Continue To Change party, came second in the April election, will lead the government for the next nine months.

Ex-European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, a member of the GERB party, will take over as premier after nine months, according to the coalition agreement signed by GERB and We Continue for Change.

In elections on April 2, GERB came first, winning 69 seats in the 240-seat parliament. The bloc led by We Continue To Change won 64 seats.

(Reporting by Stoyan Nenov and Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
FILE PHOTO: Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at New York Criminal Court in Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

By Jack Queen

(Reuters) - Cuba Gooding Jr. reached a settlement on Tuesday with a woman who sued him for $6 million on an accusation that he raped her a decade ago, with the agreement coming minutes before jury selection was set to being in Manhattan federal court.

The eleventh-hour deal means the Oscar winning Jerry Maguire star will avoid having details of the alleged assault aired in court, while his accuser will not be forced to reveal her identity after U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty ruled that week that she could not go to trial anonymously.

Gooding has denied the allegations and said the sex was consensual. His lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

No details about the settlement were publicly available Tuesday. Lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents the woman, declined to comment.

The woman sought $6 million in damages in her lawsuit, filed in August 2020. She alleged the actor lured her to his hotel room and raped her after they met at a restaurant in Manhattan.

Crotty ruled last week that three other women who alleged Gooding Jr. assaulted or attempted to assault them would be permitted to testify at trial.

Gooding has been accused of unwanted sexual touching by 30 women, according to prosecutors.

He was arrested in June 2019 in a separate criminal case after a woman told police he fondled her without consent at a bar near Times Square. Gooding later faced additional charges for allegedly touching women without their consent.

Gooding pleaded guilty in April 2022 to forcible touching for kissing one of the women on the lips without her consent. The deal with prosecutors allowed him to avoid jail time and clear his record after completing six months of alcohol and behavior counseling.

(Reporting by Jack Queen; Editing by David Gregorio)
The worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao are accused of misusing investor funds, operating as an unregistered exchange and violating a slew of U.S. securities laws in a lawsuit filed by the SEC.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit on Monday lists thirteen charges against the firm  including commingling and divert customer assets to an entity Zhao owned called Sigma Chain.

Binance is a Cayman Islands limited liability company founded by Zhao and the charges are familiar to practices uncovered after the collapse of the second largest cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, last year.

The lawsuit lays out the extent to which the firms owners knew of the alleged legal violations: Binances CCO bluntly admitted to another Binance compliance officer in December 2018, we are operating as a fking unlicensed securities exchange in the USA bro.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler in a written statement that Zhao and Binance engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law.

The public should beware of investing any of their hard-earned assets with or on these unlawful platforms, Gensler said.

In a social media post, Binance said that it has been cooperating with the SECs investigation but said that the agency chose to act unilaterally and litigate.

While we take the SECs allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action, let alone on an emergency basis. We intend to defend our platform vigorously, the company said in a Twitter post. Unfortunately, the SECs refusal to productively engage with us is just another example of the Commissions misguided and conscious refusal to provide much-needed clarity and guidance to the digital asset industry.

The lawsuit comes roughly eight months after the collapse of FTX, which was also accused of co-mingling customers funds and investing the proceeds in high-risk investments that customers were unaware they were participating in.

U.S. prosecutors and the SEC charged FTXs founder Sam Bankman-Fried with a host of money laundering, fraud and securities fraud charges in December. His criminal trial is likely to be in the fall.

The new complaint from the SEC against Binance is a laundry list of charges laying out exactly the same claims that many in the Bitcoin and crypto communities have made against Changpeng Zhao and his companies for many years. These practices of Binance have essentially been open secrets, so no one who operates in the space will be surprised by any of the charges, said Cory Klippsten, CEO of Swan Bitcoin, a bitcoin financial services company.

U.S. regulators have gone after Binance before.

In March, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed an enforcement action against Binance and Zhao in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois charging them with numerous CTFC violations.

The complaint also charges Samuel Lim, Binances former chief compliance officer, with aiding and abetting Binances violations.

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By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - A judge in Ecuador on Monday loosened reporting conditions for ex-president Lenin Moreno, who is being investigated on bribery charges over a contract for a Chinese-built hydroelectric plant.

Moreno, who denies the accusations, had been ordered to present himself in person every two weeks to the national justice court, but appealed on the grounds that he now lives in Paraguay. His appeal was rejected in March.

The attorney general's office had requested that Moreno and others accused in the case be jailed for failing to comply with the order, but the judge on Monday ruled Moreno can report to Ecuadorean authorities in Paraguay each month and to those in Quito every four months.

Moreno has said he had no responsibility for the contract and that the accusations are a distraction from political upheaval in Ecuador.

"The institutions which we so defended had a good day today by accepting my request to report to the embassy in Paraguay during this investigation phase," Moreno said on Twitter on Monday, reiterating his innocence.

Prosecutors accused Moreno, who was president between 2017 and 2021, of alleged involvement with bribes paid in connection with the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric project, built by China's Sinohydro.

Thirty-six others are accused in the case and up to $76 million in bribes are alleged to have been paid between 2009 and 2018.

Moreno, 70, was serving as vice president under former President Rafael Correa, himself convicted of corruption, during part of that time.

The plant, which has a capacity of 1,500 megawatts, has suffered technical issues since it began operating in 2016.

Moreno, who uses a wheelchair, serves on an Organization of American States committee for disability rights.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY

CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a rare border shooting in which three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed, the leaders said in separate statements on Tuesday.

Sisi and Netanyahu emphasised the importance of coordination on investigating the incident, Egypt's presidency said.

"Egypt's President Sisi expressed his deep condolences over the incident on the Egyptian border," the statement from Netanyahu's office said, adding that the leaders pledged to continue strengthening peace and security cooperation.

"The Prime Minister thanked the Egyptian president, as well as for his commitment to a thorough and joint investigation into the incident," the statement said.

Israel's military has said that two of its soldiers were shot dead early on Saturday by a member of the Egyptian security services who crossed a remote part of the border fence between the two countries.

After the Egyptian was located by drone he and a third Israeli soldier were killed in an exchange of fire.

According to two Egyptian security sources, the Egyptian has been identified as 22-year-old Mohamed Salah, from the Ain Shams neighbourhood in Cairo.

Salah, who started his border patrol duties over two years ago, did not have any political affiliations and was mentally stable, the sources said, citing investigations with Salah's friends and family.

They said about 40 people including relatives attended Salah's burial early on Tuesday, including his family, and that security officials were present. Israel handed over his body to Egyptian authorities on Sunday.

Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel and they share a border more than 200km (124mile) long where security incidents are unusual.

In a statement on Saturday, Egypt's military said the Egyptian guard was killed after he chased smugglers across the border. Netanyahu called the incident a terrorist attack.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Henriette Chacar and Cairo bureau; Editing by Alex Richardson and Ed Osmond)
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe is falling behind other regions and needs to invest massively in its telecoms network to achieve its digital goals, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said on Tuesday as he defended a push to get Big Tech to help fund the rollout of broadband and 5G.

Breton's comments put him at odds with the EU telecoms regulators' body which said last month it did not see a competition problem or market failure to warrant any legislation on this issue.

"The market capitalization of the EU telcos consistently falls behind that of the United States. It is better to be a telco in the U.S. than in Europe," Breton told a conference.

"In terms of 5G deployment, the EU lags behind other regions of the world. Just for some figures, 5G population coverage is 95% in the U.S. versus 72% in the EU. Adjusted for GDP, 5G investment in the EU is lower than in other regions of the world," he said.

He said Europe also needs to invest in edge cloud computing, artificial intelligence and network virtualisation.

"We have no time to lose and this is why it starts first with the infrastructure. Is our infrastructure, telecommunications in network and connectivity fit for purpose to match our digital data? My answer today is no," Breton said.

He dismissed fears that requiring some users to pay more than others would breach EU net neutrality rules which say all users should be treated equally.

"We will not touch net neutrality. It is not a question of changing net neutrality. This is embedded in our values and our Digital Decade, so please stop saying this," Breton.

Breton, who has sought feedback from all interested parties on the subject, said he has received 437 submissions. He is expected to issue a report by the end of June which will indicate his next steps.

Any legislative proposal needs to be thrashed out with EU countries and EU lawmakers before it can become law.

The issue pits Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia against Alphabet's Google, Apple, Meta Platforms, Netflix, Amazon and Microsoft.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Richard Chang)
FILE PHOTO: White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speaks to reporters following a television interview, outside the White House in Washington, U.S. October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has testified to a federal grand jury in a special counsel's investigations of the former president, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two people briefed on the matter.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is overseeing Justice Department investigations of whether Trump, who was president from 2017 to January of 2021, mishandled classified documents after leaving office, and whether he unlawfully tried to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election won by Joe Biden.

It is not clear precisely when Meadows, who was Trump's last chief of staff, testified or if investigators questioned him about one or both of the cases, the Times said.

A lawyer for Meadows, George Terwilliger, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Smith's office declined to comment.

In a statement to the Times, Terwilliger said: "Without commenting on whether or not Mr. Meadows has testified before the grand jury or in any other proceeding, Mr. Meadows has maintained a commitment to tell the truth where he has a legal obligation to do so."

Three lawyers for Trump this week visited the Justice Department amid reports that prosecutors are wrapping up the documents investigation.

Several media outlets reported that his legal team was at the Justice Department to argue that prosecutors should not bring charges against Trump for his handling of sensitive government materials he kept after leaving the White House in 2021.

(Reporting by Eric Beech and Karen Freifeld; editing by Jasper Ward and Bill Berkrot)
FILE PHOTO: TC Energy's logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Nia Williams

(Reuters) -Canada's TC Energy is cutting some jobs to "optimize value" a company spokesperson said on Tuesday, without giving details of how many positions have been impacted.

News of the job cuts at TC Energy comes a week after Suncor Energy told employees it would eliminate 1,500 jobs. Earlier this year, Imperial Oil cut the number of contractors working at its Kearl oil sands project.

A Calgary-based industry source said the number of layoffs at TC Energy was believed to be much smaller than the job cuts at Suncor, where new CEO Rich Kruger has vowed to reduce costs, improve efficiency and simplify operations.

TC Energy said the company continually reviews its operations and as the business evolves some positions are reduced.

"These decisions are difficult but necessary to optimize the value for our business," a TC Energy spokesperson said in an email.

The Calgary-based energy infrastructure firm owns and operates the Keystone oil pipeline and transports 25% of all the natural gas consumed in North America.

(Reporting by Nia WilliamsEditing by Denny Thomas and Lisa Shumaker)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement aboard the frigate 'Mecklenburg-Vorpommern' during his visit to the naval forces in Rostock, Germany, June 5, 2023. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday he is confident that Joe Biden will be re-elected president of the United States when the country goes to the polls in 2024.

"I think Biden has a very good chance of being re-elected," Scholz told the WDR broadcaster.

"I think that we have a very close trans-atlantic relationship with the current U.S. president," he said, adding however that Berlin must be ready to cooperate with any government in Washington.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray, Writing by Rachel More)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement aboard the frigate 'Mecklenburg-Vorpommern' during his visit to the naval forces in Rostock, Germany, June 5, 2023. Kay Nietfeld/Pool via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam was in line with Russia's escalating violence in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy of attacking civilian targets.

"For this reason, this is something that has a new dimension but which fits with the way in which Putin wages this war," said Scholz in an interview with broadcaster WDR.

This makes it all the more important that Germany continues to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, he added.

Scholz also said Germany was watching the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with concern following the destruction of the dam, which supplies water to the plant.

"All we can say about Zaporizhzhia is that we are monitoring this all the time," Scholz said.

Ukrainian and Russian forces have blamed each other for the breach, which unleashed millions of litres of water, threatening scores of villages and cutting off water supplies.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Twitter it was closely monitoring the situation but that there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk at (the) plant" which is also in southern Ukraine.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray and Rachel More, editing by Ed Osmond)
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex walks outside the Rolls Building of the High Court in London, Britain June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) -Prince Harry launched a fierce attack on the "vile" press on Tuesday, blaming tabloids for destroying his adolescence and later relationships, as he gave evidence for almost five hours in his lawsuit against a tabloid publisher.

As he became the first senior British royal to appear in a witness box in more than a century, Harry also said the thought of people unlawfully intruding into the private life of his late mother Princess Diana made him "feel physically sick".

The prince, the fifth-in-line to the throne, and 100 others are suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, at the High Court in London over allegations of widespread unlawful information gathering between 1991 and 2011.

In his 50-page written witness statement and a day of cross-examination from MGN's lawyer Andrew Green, the younger son of King Charles said he had been targeted since 1996 when he was a schoolboy.

"I've experienced hostility from the press since I was born," he said.

Harry said the press would try to destroy his relationships with girlfriends, blaming them for his break-up with Chelsy Davy, for causing his circle of friends to shrink, and for bouts of depression and paranoia.

'PLAYBOY'

He said he had been labelled a "playboy prince", a "thicko", a "failure" and a "drop out".

"Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile," he wrote, saying the tabloids had incited "hatred and harassment" into his and his wife Meghan's private lives.

In another section he said: "How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?"

Asked to whom he was referring, he said: "Some of the editors and journalists that are responsible for causing a lot of pain, upset and in some cases - perhaps inadvertently - death."

Green began his questioning respectfully, personally apologising to Harry on MGN's behalf over one instance in which it admitted unlawful information gathering, saying "it should never have happened and it will not happen again".

The lawyer then forensically and with increasing hostility quizzed the prince over 33 newspaper articles, whose details Harry claims were obtained unlawfully.

Looking relaxed but serious, and speaking softly but firmly, Harry, the first senior British royal to give evidence for 130 years, said thousands if not millions of stories had been written about him, as Green pressed him on whether he had read the MGN articles in question at the time they were published.

The lawyer intimated that the distress he had suffered was caused by press coverage in general, not the specific MGN stories, and suggested they were based on details already in the public domain.

On a number of occasions, Green described his allegations as "total speculation".

When asked about the source of information for articles at the centre of his lawsuit, Harry repeatedly said that question should be asked of the journalist who wrote them, saying they appeared suspicious.

Quizzed about one article, Harry said it was "as distressing looking at it now" as it was at the time it was published in 2004. He will be back on Wednesday to give more evidence.

'HARRY, WE LOVE YOU'

When he arrived at court, he briefly smiled as he passed the phalanx of photographers and camera crews. Outside the courtroom itself people queued to gain access to one of the dozen or so seats allocated to the public.

When Harry returned to the room after a short break in proceedings, he was greeted with cries of "Harry, we love you", by one small group waiting outside.

On Monday, his lawyer David Sherborne said Harry's late mother Princess Diana, had also been a victim of hacking, and the prince referred to this in his witness statement, laying the blame on the Daily Mirror's former editor Piers Morgan.

He said the thought of Piers Morgan and his "band of journalists earwigging" into my mother's messages "makes me feel physically sick".

Morgan, now a high-profile broadcaster who works for Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, has always denied any involvement in, or knowledge of phone-hacking or other illegal activity.

Asked what he thought of Tuesday's accusations, Morgan told Sky News: "I didn't see it. But I wish him luck with his privacy campaign. Look forward to reading it in his next book."

MGN, now owned by Reach, has previously admitted its titles were involved in phone-hacking, settling more than 600 claims, but Green has said there was no evidence that Harry had ever been a victim.

He argued that some of the personal information had come from, or with the consent of, senior Buckingham Palace aides.

Harry, who has accused his family, or their aides of colluding with the tabloids, replied: "From certain individuals, yes."

The seven-week MGN trial began last month.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alex Richardson, Kate Holton, Sharon Singleton and Ed Osmond)
A new hypersonic ballistic missile called "Fattah" with a range of 1400 km, unveiled by Iran, is seen in Tehran, Iran, June 6, 2023. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.

Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps.

"The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and it is capable of penetrating all defence shields," Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards' aerospace force, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. Last year, the Islamic Republic said it had built a hypersonic ballistic missile which can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere.

State TV said Iran's Fattah missile can target "the enemy's advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles".

"It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the Zionist regime, including Israel's Iron Dome," Iran's state TV said.

Fattah's top speed reached mach 14 levels (15,000km/h), it added.

Despite U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme. However, Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities.

Concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles contributed to then-U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers.

Trump reimposed U.S. sanctions on Iran after exiting the nuclear pact, leading Tehran to resume previously banned nuclear work and reviving U.S., European and Israeli fears that Iran may seek an atomic bomb. Iran has consistently denied any such ambition.

Indirect talks between Tehran and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to salvage the nuclear deal have stalled since last September.

Israel, which the Islamic Republic refuses to recognise, opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran's nuclear deal and has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails.

I hear our enemies boasting about weapons they are developing," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday. "To any such development, we have an even better response - whether it be on land, in the air, or in the maritime arena, including both defensive and offensive means."

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Writing by Parisa HafeziEditing by Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, Christina Fincher and David Gregorio)
Senegalese Muslims pray for peace and stability following violent protests that broke out after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to prison in Dakar, Senegal, on June 4, 2023.

Senegal experts called on the government on Monday to instill calm after days of the deadliest violence in years and concerns it could have lasting consequences. Days of clashes between security forces and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko have killed at least 16 people and injured hundreds of others. Police have arrested 500 people, some of whom used Molotov cocktails and weapons.

(Theres) the threat of chaos. The threat of civil war, Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom Center, a West African think tank, told The Associated Press in an interview Monday in the capital, Dakar. We have never ever lived this situation in Senegal... We cannot go fighting among ourselves, and we have to stop now, to make peace now, to be united now.

The clashes first broke out last Thursday, after Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. Sonko, who didnt attend his trial in Dakar, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Sonko came third in Senegals 2019 presidential election and is popular with the countrys youth. His supporters maintain his legal troubles are part of a government effort to derail his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. Under Senegalese law, Sonkos conviction could bar him from running.

While Senegal, a country of around 17 million people, has experienced upheaval before, rights groups and analysts say the current clashes are the worst political crisis the nation has seen since 1988, when a general strike and electoral protest shook the power of the then president, Amnesty International researcher Ousmane Diallo said.

At the heart of the unrest are fears that President Macky Sall will run for a third term. The constitution limits presidents to two five-year terms. But Sall argues that a constitutional reform adopted in 2016 allows him to reset the clock and seek another term.

My massive worry is that we are only on the premises of the violence cycle in Senegal as the (possible) announcement of a third mandate run by Macky Sall could trigger a massive popular uprising and violence Senegal has never seen so far, said Guillaume Soto-Mayor, researcher at the Middle East Institute.

Some extremely young people are dying daily, and Senegal and its democratic system are possibly on the brink of collapse, he said.

Others Senegalese experts warn that if the violence continues it might not only destabilize the country but could be an opening for jihadi violence, which has already wracked much of the region, including in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.

While a cautious calm returned to Dakar on Monday, with traffic resuming and some people going back to work after days of shuttering inside, many are bracing for what lies ahead.

Sonkos house is under tight security, and he hasnt been seen or heard from since the verdict and its unclear when or if hell be detained and taken to prison. Sall also hasnt addressed the nation.

Violence erupted in March 2021, killing at least 14 people during clashes when authorities arrested Sonko for disturbing public order on the way to his court hearing. Religious leaders, who hold significant influence in the country, were key in bringing both sides to the table to quell the violence, analysts say.

Since last weeks clashes erupted, some religious leaders have appealed for calm. Over the weekend, Serigne Mountakha Mbacke, caliph of the Mouride brotherhood, Senegals most influential religious order, called on people in the city of Touba, the brotherhoods headquarters, to stop demonstrating and return home.

Religious leaders are mediating with the parties behind the scenes and believe that a minimum consensus might be reached, Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy, president of the Unitary Framework of Islam of Senegal, a Muslim religious group, told the AP on Monday. However, obstacles, such as Sonkos arrest remain, which could still set our country ablaze, he said.

While many Senegalese want the upheaval to end, others say theyll continue protesting until theres justice.

The government wants to prevent our leader from being a candidate. We do not accept, said Malang Coly, a Sonko supporter. We will fight even if the government has arrested many of our comrades. We will continue to denounce. If the opportunity arises, we will demonstrate.

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By Mohammed Benmansour

RIYADH (Reuters) -Iran officially reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, a Reuters witness said, following a deal to re-establish ties and ease a long rivalry that fuelled conflicts across the Middle East.

A ceremony was held inside the embassy's compound with dozens of diplomats and officials attending the reopening of the diplomatic mission for the first time in seven years.

"We consider today an important day in the relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bikdeli said.

"The region will move Inshallah (God willing) towards greater cooperation and convergence to achieve stability, prosperity and progress," Bikdeli said in a speech during the ceremony.

In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed, in a deal brokered by China, to end a diplomatic rift and re-establish relations following years of hostility that had endangered regional stability including in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. The deal also highlighted China's growing influence in the Middle East.

Sunni Saudi Arabia severed relations with Shi'ite Iran following the storming of its embassy in Tehran in 2016 after a dispute over the execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

The relationship had begun worsening a year earlier, after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intervened in Yemen's war, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement had ousted a Saudi-backed government and taken over the capital Sanaa.

The kingdom also has blamed the Islamic Republic for missile and drone attacks on its oil facilities in 2019 as well as attacks on tankers in Gulf waters. Iran denied the charges.

"Diplomacy is the best means for communication and dialogue between countries to reach a common understanding," Bikdeli said.

(Reporting by Mohammed Benmansour; Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Elwely Elwelly, Editing by William Maclean and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: Merck KGaA CEO Belen Garijo, poses for a picture before speaking to the international club of journalists in Frankfurt, Germany, June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Ludwig Burger

By Ludwig Burger and Patricia Weiss

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The CEO of German technology group Merck KGaA said that unravelling trade ties with China would come at great economic cost and she was banking on dialogue to ease tensions between Beijing and Western powers.

Belen Garijo, the Spanish CEO of the German drugmaker and manufacturer of lab equipment and semiconductor chemicals, said late on Monday that dependencies between the powers were huge, speaking at a journalist club event in Frankfurt.

Over the weekend, a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer in the sensitive Taiwan Strait, raising the prospect of future face-offs. But the two sides on Tuesday described meetings between senior U.S. and Chinese officials after the incident as constructive.

For months, U.S. and German lawmakers have called for a reduction in trade to cut dependency on China.

"When I hear politicians say we have to decouple, I don't think this is feasible ... it will take 20 years to decouple, and for what?" said Garijo.

"We are risking a global world that has brought wellbeing, more innovation, more collaboration."

Merck has said its roots in China go back nearly 90 years. Last year the country accounted for 3.2 billion euros ($3.4 billion) of 22.2 billion euros in group sales, with products including bioreactor gear as well as chemicals for making microchips and flat screens.

The company's finance chief last month said that Merck would further invest in China and would build domestic supply chains there to curb imports of key raw materials that could be disrupted in any trade row.

CEO Garijo said the company would look closely into "different scenarios on the basis of the potential escalation of the conflict", but such an escalation was not likely.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck in March suggested that Berlin could impose export restrictions on China to prevent Germany from losing its technological edge, and the government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz's is working on a strategy paper on China to be rolled out this year.

($1 = 0.9357 euros)

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Patricia WeissEditing by David Evans and David Goodman)
Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during a press conference, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he had sought to promote unity within the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) during a dinner on Monday evening attended by the party's main contenders to succeed him.

MORENA is due to pick its presidential candidate in the coming months, and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has been urging the party to ensure there is a level playing field for the contest, helping to feed speculation about possible splits.

Ebrard is one of the leading contenders to succeed Lopez Obrador, though most recent polling has tended to give Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum a slight edge in the race.

Lopez Obrador said Ebrard, Sheinbaum and Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez, another presidential hopeful, were at the dinner, where MORENA leaders congratulated party stalwart Delfina Gomez for winning the State of Mexico's gubernatorial election on Sunday.

"And we also met to maintain unity, so that there aren't divisions," the leftist president told reporters.

MORENA is strongly favored to win the 2024 presidential election, polls show. Under Mexican law, presidents may only serve a single six-year term.

Lopez Obrador said he could not go into detail about discussions during the dinner, but noted that he had made a pledge not to "tip the scales in favor of anyone" in the selection process.

(Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Paul Simao)
FILE PHOTO: A view of Mexico city's skyline during a sunset as cars are pictured along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City, Mexico in this picture taken through glass in a building, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Monday pitched a series of tax incentives aimed at luring companies into investing in a business corridor that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is developing in a southern isthmus in hopes of competing with the Panama Canal.

The finance ministry said companies that invest in the so-called Inter-Oceanic Corridor connecting the Pacific port of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca state with the Gulf coast hub of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz state will not need to pay income tax during their first three years of operations.

For the following three years, companies will only have to pay half of the normal income tax, the ministry said in a statement, adding they could get a discount of up to 90% if they met certain employment goals.

The measures also include accelerated depreciation of investments during the first six years of operation.

Business conducted in the corridor will be exempt from value-added tax (VAT), and firms can claim back VAT from purchases made outside the zone for four years, the ministry said.

As part of Lopez Obrador's drive to create jobs and lift the economy of Mexico's poorer south, the government plans to build 10 industrial parks along the corridor, the backbone of which is to be an upgraded rail link between the coasts.

A tender for the industrial parks to be located across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is due to be in launched in mid-June, Lopez Obrador said last week.

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft attends a news conference during the Web Summit, Europe's largest technology conference, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 3, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

By Paul Sandle and Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft's president met Britain's finance minister for talks on Tuesday and said he would try to work with regulators to seek UK approval for its $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard.

British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April in a shock decision which jeopardises gaming's biggest-ever deal, drawing a furious response from the two groups who questioned whether the country remained open to tech firms.

Microsoft has since appealed and its president, Brad Smith, met British finance minister Jeremy Hunt for talks in London on Tuesday, a government source said, without giving details.

Also in London, Smith told the techUK Tech Policy Leadership conference he was hopeful the outcome could change, adding: "I'm in search of solutions."

"If regulators have concerns we want to address them. If there are problems, we want to solve them. If the UK wants to impose regulatory requirements that go beyond those in the EU, we want to find ways to fulfil them."

Smith was also scheduled to meet officials from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) during his visit to London this week, according to reports.

He said he had always been "bullish on the United Kingdom as a great place to live, to learn, to build".

Smith criticised Britain after the CMA veto, saying it would shake confidence in the UK as a destination for tech.

The EU approved the Activision deal in May after it accepted remedies put forward by Microsoft that were broadly comparable to those it proposed in the UK.

Microsoft has also appealed the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's action seeking to block the deal after the agency said it would suppress competition.

The British appeal is due to be heard next month, with a verdict likely in August or September.

Smith focused his remarks on Tuesday on how AI should be governed, saying it should not be the sole responsibility of tech companies. "It needs to be subject to the rule of law," he said, adding: "And we will need regulations to govern it."

Microsoft and its partner OpenAI were already using a safety board to review the features and standards of their AI models before they were deployed, he said, and such an approach could be replicated more widely.

"Just like an aeroplane, just like a bus, just like an automobile, a powerful model will probably need to pass such a review," he said. "And it ... probably should get a licence.

"And of course, that means there needs to be a licensor in a position to make that decision."

(Reporting by Paul Sandle and Elizabeth Piper; Writing by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton and Alexander Smith)
By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) - The mother of a 6-year-old Virginia boy who shot and wounded his elementary school teacher was charged on Monday with two U.S. firearms felonies, and her lawyer said she will plead guilty to both offenses under a deal with federal prosecutors.

Deja Taylor was charged with being a user of illegal drugs in possession of a gun and of making a false statement to buy the weapon, a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. She is accused of concealing in a federal firearms transaction form that she was an unlawful user of marijuana, court records show.

The federal firearms counts are in addition to state charges on which Taylor was already indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 shooting of her son's first-grade teacher, Abigail Zwerner, at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.

The filing of the two-count criminal information stems from "very constructive negotiations we had with federal authorities," Taylor's attorney, James Ellenson, said in a statement.

"The terms of the agreement, which we believe will be fair to all parties, will be disclosed when we enter the guilty plea" later this week or next in federal court, he said.

Ellenson said he would present "mitigating evidence" at Taylor's sentencing later this year.

According to police, the boy had taken the handgun from home, placed it in his backpack and removed it while Zwerner, 25, was teaching class, firing a single shot through her hand and into her chest.

Another school staffer rushed into the classroom and restrained the boy while Zwerner ushered the rest of the students from the classroom to safety, police said.

Zwerner's lawyer, who filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators on her client's behalf, told reporters that Richneck Elementary officials had been warned three times the day of the shooting that the boy was armed.

Virginia prosecutors did not charge the boy. Instead, they charged his mother in April with felony child neglect and with the misdemeanor of recklessly leaving a loaded weapon so as to endanger a child.

Last month, the mother said during a televised interview on the ABC News program "Good Morning America" that she was "willing to take responsibility" for her son's actions.

Ellenson, her lawyer, said on the program that school officials were aware the boy was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bore responsibility for enrolling him in first grade prematurely.

He said how the child obtained the gun was a mystery.

Taylor said her mental health was frail at the time, as she was suffering from postpartum depression following a series of miscarriages and had been hospitalized for a week.

She described her son as "great kid," but "very energetic" and "off the wall" due to his ADHD condition.

Zwerner has said the boy had been previously removed from school for violent behavior.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler)
The mother holds the body of three-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammad al-Tamimi who died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces, during his funeral near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 6, 2023. REUTERS/ Mohammed Torokman

By Mohamad Torokman

NABI SALEH, West Bank (Reuters) - The mother of a Palestinian toddler who died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli soldiers last week called for justice on Tuesday as she attended his funeral in the occupied West Bank.

Marching with dozens of mourners, Marwa al-Tamimi held her toddler for the last time, his face fitting in her palms as she leaned in to kiss his forehead.

"I want justice for my son, and for every person who shot at my husband and son to be held accountable," she said.

Mohammad, who his mother said was months shy of his third birthday, succumbed on Monday to a gunshot wound to the head inflicted after he and his father came under Israeli gunfire near their home while driving to visit relatives.

Haitham al-Tamimi, the father, was shot in the shoulder.

"When I went to check on my son, I told (the soldiers) that my son was killed. They said 'stand back or we'll shoot,'" the mother, who was not in the car, told Reuters.

In a statement following the incident, the Israeli military said soldiers responded with live fire to shots fired by assailants toward a Jewish settlement, and two Palestinians, including a child, were wounded.

"The IDF regrets harm to non-combatants and is committed to doing everything in its power to prevent such incidents," the statement said.

According to the Palestinian office of Defense for Children International (DCIP), Al-Tamimi was one of 27 Palestinian minors killed as a result of Israeli military and settler activity in the occupied West Bank and Gaza since January.

Three Israeli minors were killed in the same period, according to Israeli figures.

"Without accountability, Israel's crimes against our people/children will continue unabated," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.

The U.S. Office for Palestinian Affairs urged Israel "to evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties". It echoed statements by the EU delegation to the Palestinians and the United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process that called on Israel to hold accountable those responsible for al-Tamimi's death.

(Writing by Henriette Chacar; Editing by James Mackenzie and Christina Fincher)
By Maytaal Angel

LONDON (Reuters) - Nestle is piloting a scheme to give cash to coffee farmers who grow beans sustainably as part of its plan to halve greenhouse gas emissions in its coffee business by 2030, the food company said on Tuesday.

The move comes as major consumer goods companies face increased reputational and legal pressure to clean up their supply chains globally.

Nestle, the world's largest packaged food company has pledged to spend $1 billion by 2030 on its plan to source coffee sustainably, which now includes efforts to boost farmer income.

The company said it has, under the plan, offered some 3,000 coffee farmers in developing countries like Ivory Coast, Indonesia and Mexico conditional cash incentives to encourage them to transition to regenerative agricultural practices.

These include using organic fertilisers to improve soil fertility, planting shade trees that protect coffee beans and intercropping to preserve biodiversity. The latter two measures also aim to give farmers additional revenue streams.

"We have observed encouraging trends, including improved incomes in some countries, and increased adoption of important regenerative practices," said environmental group Rainforest Alliance, which helps Nestle conduct impact assessments.

A major coffee report published in 2021 said there was little evidence that efforts by the world's top coffee firms to protect human rights and the environment were having any impact, with most farmers unable to fund sustainable coffee farming.

Partly as a result of failed voluntary efforts by companies to source sustainably, the European Union has agreed a landmark law aimed at preventing companies importing commodities and related products linked to deforestation anywhere in the world.

The coffee sector is valued at $200-250 billion a year at the retail level, based on the report, but producing countries receive less than 10% of that value when exporting beans, and farmers even less than that.

Around 125 million people around the world depend on coffee for their livelihoods, while an estimated 80% of coffee-farming families live at or below the poverty line, according to non-profit organisations Fairtrade and Technoserve.

(This story has been refiled to remove extraneous words in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by Maytaal Angel; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
FILE PHOTO: Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso walks, on the day of his annual report to the nation, a week after dissolving the National Assembly and calling for early elections, in Quito, Ecuador, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso's political movement Creating Opportunities will not field candidates for the country's early presidential or legislative elections, it said on Tuesday.

It also said it will not back other nominations or parties.

Lasso, a conservative ex-banker, last week said he would not run as a candidate in presidential elections.

Before that he had dissolved the country's National Assembly on May 17 under a constitutional quirk known as the "two-way death" to escape an impeachment process after lawmakers accused him of embezzlement over an oil contract. Lasso has repeatedly denied the charge.

As a result of Lasso's decision to dissolve the legislature, Ecuadoreans will go to the polls in early elections on Aug. 20 to choose a new president and elect the 137 members of the National Assembly.

If a presidential candidate does not win more than 50% of votes in the first round, a runoff is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Elected officials and the new president will only hold office until May 2025, when voting that had always been scheduled will take place.

"This is a waiting period where we will redouble our efforts in the governmental environment, but we will prepare with nobility, ideological and intellectual solvency and, above all, the principles to return in 2025," Esteban Bernal, president of Creating Opportunities, told journalists.

Lasso has governed via decree since he dissolved the legislature last month.

Members of Creating Opportunities can vote for whoever they like in the upcoming elections, but cannot support candidates who "do not respect the constitution and the law," Bernal said, without clarifying further.

Political parties have until June 13 to officially register their candidates.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; editing by Barbara Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with pilgrims from Concesio and Sotto il Monte in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, June 3, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis went to Rome's Gemelli hospital for a brief check-up on Tuesday and has returned to the Vatican, the Holy See's press office said in a statement.

The visit to carry out "some clinical tests" took place in the morning and the pope returned to the Vatican before midday, the statement said. It gave no further details.

Francis, who is 86 and has suffered a number of ailments in recent years, spent five days in the same hospital at the end of March with a lung infection and last month skipped audiences on one day due to a fever.

Italian media reported that the pope spent around 40 minutes at a Gemelli department specialised in treating elderly patients, arriving at 1040 a.m. local time (0840 GMT) before being driven away at around 1120 a.m..

The pope, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate in March, often uses a wheelchair or a cane to walk because of persistent knee pain.

In July 2021 he had part of his colon removed in an operation aimed at addressing a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis. He said earlier this year that the condition had returned.

The pontiff is also missing part of one lung, which was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

Despite his health issues, Francis maintains a busy schedule. The Vatican announced plans on Saturday for him to visit Mongolia on Aug.31-Sept.4, one of the more remote places he has travelled to.

Before that he is due to visit Portugal from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day in Lisbon and visit the Shrine of Fatima. The Vatican on Tuesday released an official schedule for the trip, giving an indication it was confirmed.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones, writing by Gavin Jones and Keith Weir, editing by Crispian Balmer)
Its that time of the afternoon when there should be a great bustle at the school gates, with children leaving and parents or grandparents picking them up. But at the entrance of the Imakumano School in Kyoto, Japan, there is silence. Only Hikari Yurugi, 27, stands outside. She studied at the school, just like her father before her. But the baby she is carrying will not. Imakumano closed almost a decade ago, because in Japan, there are fewer and fewer children. The country is experiencing a demographic collapse of serious dimensions. So much so that, in January, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan is on the verge of being unable to maintain its social functions.

It is now or never, he declared, assuring the public that reversing this trend will be his most important policy objective.

About 1.2 million people were born each year in Japan in the mid-1990s, when the country was entering a long phase of economic stagnation after decades of extraordinary growth. In 2022, fewer than 800,000 babies were delivered, with a much faster declining curve than expected. This has triggered a lot of anxiety.

The Japanese government projects that, if this trend is not reversed, the countrys current 125 million inhabitants will drop to 100 million around 2050. The population is expected to fall even lower  to 60 million  by the end of the century. The demographic curve is so steep that it puts the countrys future in doubt. There are questions about Japans ability to sustain the burden of pensions and care for the elderly, or to have a healthy workforce made up of young people with sufficient innovative capacity to boost the economy.

The Imakumano School is a symbol of a national pattern: some 500 schools close in the country every year. Nomura Holdings  Japans largest investment bank  estimates that there are more than 10 million empty properties. Large chunks of Japan are falling into disrepair.

Birth and aging issues are widespread phenomena in the developed world. Countries such as Spain or Italy also face similar challenges. But in Japan, they are especially acute, because they arise in a society with a very strong attachment to traditional values that, among other things, hinders the path towards gender equality or openness to foreigners important keys to overcoming the crisis. Thus, together with South Korea, Japan stands out among the countries that are in the greatest demographic trouble. The countrys conservatism is reflected in the political sphere, as the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan almost uninterruptedly since 1955.

Along with the demographic crunch, the contemporary geopolitical reality is also challenging post-war Japans identity in another sense, causing society to question its policy of pacifism. The disturbing rise of China, Beijings friction with Washington and North Koreas rockets are all pushing Japan to alter its traditional hyper-contained post-World War II defense policy.

If adapting to modern times  be it because of climate change or major technological shifts  is difficult for everyone, for Japan it represents a profound interrogation of identity. Japan remains the third-largest economic power in the world. It is also on its way to becoming a country with significant modern military capacity, in view of the large increase in budgeted defense spending. Its a country endowed with multinational companies and high technological potential, in addition to having a safe, orderly and refined society, with an admirable quality of life. All of this, however, is threatened  as its prime minister points out  by challenges of an existential nature.

What follows is a look at these challenges, the present and the future of the country, through the personal stories and points of view of a handful of young people. This small portrait of Japan is made up of a selection of youthful voices that were recorded in mid-May of this year, in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kyoto. Some are students, others are workers, some have partners, some are expecting children. Hikari Yurugi, while pregnant and standing outside her former school, starts off this mosaic. Like many others of her generation, she is skeptical about the possibility of a profound change in her country.

HIKARI YURUGI

The economic challenge

Hikari Yurugi, in front of the Imakumano School in Kyoto, where she studied, just like her father. It closed almost a decade ago, due to lack of children. Andrea Rizzi

Hikari Yurugi walks agilely through the streets of her neighborhood, despite her six-month pregnancy and the unusually hot May afternoon. In one of the alleys, two elementary school students can be seen walking home from a school that is further away, with their identically shaped backpacks  a small symbol among many in a society governed by a multitude of canons, structures, norms, hierarchies and very strong traditions.

Yurugi wanted to get away from these restrictions. After finishing her degree, she started working at a local company, Nissha, which specializes in the production of industrial and medical materials. As the unofficial canon in Japan dictates: find a job after finishing your studies and, from there, work long hours with few vacations. But she strayed from this path.

I was so young, it seemed wasteful to spend so many hours in front of a computer. I wanted to use my body, she explains. So, she went to live in the small Amami archipelago, north of Okinawa.

She lived there for a while, breaking away from the traditional framework. She took on various jobs, until her mothers cancer forced her to return to Kyoto. While Yurugis mother was able to attend her daughters wedding last year, she will not be able to meet her granddaughter. She told me, do what you like, Yurugi recalls.

She tried but her experience is reminiscent of the lingering influence of traditions and the consequences of straying from them. Now, she works (part-time) in a company. When you leave a full-time position, its hard to get another. Maybe I could have done it little by little, but now, motherhood is another obstacle, she notes.

Japanese society hopes that the established path will be followed. Those who instead choose to follow their instincts are vulnerable to many difficulties in such a rigid country. However, even following the orthodox path is not very conducive to parenthood: Japan has long work hours, few vacations, traditionally high housing costs for small spaces, as well as a system that offers inadequate public services.

I think that the low birth rate is, above all, an economic problem. Its necessary to [make] important investments in education and health, says Yurugi. In 2021, the National Institute for Population and Social Security Research published a survey, which found that 53% of respondents expressed that the high cost of raising children  including paying for their education  was a major reason for having fewer children, or no children at all.

It may come as a surprise that, in a prosperous society like Japans, the economic component is an important brake on child-rearing. Public education is free only until children reach the age of 15 but in any case, families want private education for their children across the board, because its considered better. Care in nurseries or the health system is not universally covered. Prime Minister Kishida has recognized that action must be taken to change this situation. On Thursday, June 1, he announced his intention to redouble public spending on childcare, to bring it up to the level of Sweden.

Yurugi deviated from the standard path, but she doesnt reject the traditions of her country. However, she has no doubt that Japan needs a change of direction. When asked if there is a need for a change, she replies emphatically: Of course! But Im not confident that it will happen. The leaders are older I dont think they have any interest in a big change. The press isnt very brave. And the young people seem, to me, to be exhausted. I vote, but most [people of my generation] dont even do that.

HIBIKI SUGII

The growing desire to emigrate

Hibiki Sugii, a 20-year-old university student in Kyoto, Japan. Andrea Rizzi

Sugii, 20, was born in Fujieda, a small town between Tokyo and Kyoto. He moved to Kyoto to attend university  a big leap for the smiling young man. But the next leap he has in mind is even bigger: moving abroad.

This longing  common in other nations, even prosperous ones  has been much less prevalent in Japan, which, traditionally, has been a very closed society. Just over 500,000 Japanese live permanently abroad: 0.4% of the resident population. Another 700,000 went abroad in 2022, for long-term stays of more than three months. By comparison, Spain, for example, has some 2.8 million residents abroad, equivalent to 6% of its population. But the number of Japanese leaving is growing. And, above all, it is the younger people who depart. This is another potential complication that could exacerbate the demographic challenge.

Young people in Japan arent very happy, says Sugii, with a frankness thats uncommon. Here, you dont feel very free to find your own path. Were a bit of a herd. We go with the flow we act while thinking about what others will think. I dont feel very comfortable with this way of thinking. The weight of tradition is a bit stressful. Im quite motivated to go live abroad.

Jung-Eun Lee, a senior immigration researcher and part-time professor at Ritsumeikan University, says she has observed a shift in recent years, with young people demonstrating increased interest in learning English and going abroad. She also believes that theres a change in values in the new generation. Some things are changing, but not the structure. Its a society with strong roots in history. They change little things, but they dont dig, they dont touch the foundations.

Sugii  who has a passion for making lo-fi hip hop music  expresses ideas that reveal a clear generational gap. He believes that society should be much more feminist and hes completely comfortable with the idea of increasing the Japanese arsenal. I agree with increasing military spending and having more weapons. Nuclear, no, but the normal ones, yes. I dont want them to be used but I think it makes sense, to prevent others from having bad ideas and to not be so dependent on the U.S.

AKIHO KOBOKAYAMA

The motherhood-career dilemma

Akiho Kobokayama, on a street in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo, adjacent to the headquarters of the company where she works. Gonzalo Robledo

When I think about my future, I think Im at a crossroads. I havent decided anything yet, but I feel as if Im facing the dilemma of my life. The ideal would be to be able to have a career and a family, says Akiho Kobokayama, 32. She was born in Hiroshima Prefecture and moved to Tokyo 10 years ago to study. Now, she works in the capital, at the Shinto Tsushin advertising agency.

The participation rate of women in the labor market has increased in Japan, from 60% at the beginning of the 2000s to 74% today. This growing figure is of enormous importance in a country with a shortage of workers.

However, the practical conditions of this positive integration are shaky, with persistent inequality in wages and positions of power. On top of that, motherhood still hinders professional prospects. While these problems are common across several advanced democracies, a broad consensus of experts states that they are more accentuated in Japan.

Kobokayamas dilemma is undoubtedly one of the elements that influences the demographic decline of Japan. I think that, in Japan, compared to before, its easier for women to work. The difference occurs when the time comes to get married [and] give birth. At this stage, men have more advantages, she says at her companys headquarters in Tokyos Ginza neighborhood.

She says that many of her friends from Hiroshima are married. Some already have children. On the other hand, none of her friends from the University of Tokyo are married. I contemplate the option of being happy without marriage and children, she says, indicating a clear cultural shift away from the common views of past generations.

Kobokayamas place of origin  Hiroshima Prefecture, a global symbol of nuclear horror  influences her vision of the geopolitical change facing the country. In Hiroshima, we have a relatively strong awareness of the value of peace and of nuclear risks. Young people in Tokyo dont have much interest in these issues or in the prospect of a possible change to the constitution. I think its necessary to educate ourselves more about this.

I understand the defense requirements, she continues. I understand that the demographic decline, among other things, represents a problem if, in the future, its necessary to recruit forces to defend ourselves. At the same time, I believe that there cannot only be a focus on defense: young people must learn more about the meaning of peace and war.

When asked if shes happy, she replies: I would like to know what happiness is. But I can say that I feel satisfied. I dont have big worries.

LAURA PANO

The obstacles to immigration

Laura Pano, a 30-year-old Italian, pictured on a street in Kyoto. She works for a company in the video game industry. Andrea Rizzi

As a foreigner, you never feel perfectly integrated, says Laura Pano. A 30-year-old Italian, she lives in Kyoto, where she works for a company in the video game industry. She began to embrace Japanese language and culture during her university years in Italy. She decided to move to the East Asian country before the pandemic, drawn to the many attractive features of Japanese society.

Pano is one of the 2.7 million foreign people residing in Japan. They represent just over 2% of the total population  a small number when compared to the figures of other advanced democracies. The data is a reflection of a society that has traditionally been reluctant to accept immigration, something that could be a palliative for the demographic decline.

The Japanese government has tried to make regulations more flexible in recent years to attract labor, but little progress has been made. In fact, during the years of the pandemic, the number of foreigners dropped. Japans language and strong cultural roots  along with rigid legislation and other factors  inhibit the attraction and full integration of foreigners.

The experience as a student was simple. Difficulties arise when you decide to live here long-term, without being married to a local citizen, Pano explains. While Japan is a very organized society, at the same time, the rigid rules and customs can be obstacles for foreigners like Pano. Everything from renting a home to fitting into the countrys professional mentality can be a challenge. Pano believes that there are some signs of evolution in Japanese society: she thinks that the position of women in the labor market has improved and that theres more open discussion about the scourge of sexual harassment. But she feels that the improvement is happening too slowly. I think that if [Japan] doesnt make a decisive turn-around very soon, this country will have no future.

SEIKO GAKUIN INSTITUTE

The struggle for educational equality

Students from the Seiko Gakuin High School, in Yokohama, during a class. Andrea Rizzi

In a quiet area of Yokohama, with narrow streets that give off a village feel, is the Seiko Gakuin Institute. Unlike the Imakumano School, this center is still active and filled with students, even decades after its foundation. Its a private, Catholic, all-boys high school. Many of the students who graduate from Seiko Gakuin continue their educational journey at the top universities in Japan.

Professor Seiichi Kudo, 68, has been director of the institute for two decades. When he began teaching more than 40 years ago, twice as many children were born in Japan than today and the economy was growing strongly. Before his eyes, hes seen generations with very different perspectives grow up. The professor points out that, for approximately two decades, a subject that aims to underline the importance of gender equality  of sharing tasks between men and women  has been taking hold in Japanese educational systems.

Kudo emphasizes that the Seiko Gakuin Institute pays special attention to this issue. We think this is important for a school that prides itself on excellence and whose students are going to be part of the future ruling class. Leaders must be aware of the socio-economic situation and learn about gender equality, [as well as the] distribution of domestic tasks.

Kudos school is a symbol of the growing awareness that some courses need to be adjusted. And, among those interviewed, theres a similar consensus that things are changing albeit too slowly.

ANNA KUROKAWA

The elusiveness of paternity leave

Anna Kurokawa, with her husband and their daughter, Ari, in Tokyo. Gonzalo Robledo

Anna Kurokawa is 35 years old. Shes a journalist at the private channel TBS and the mother of Ari, who is 14 months old. Kurokawa is currently on maternity leave. Her husband  a producer at the same media group  didnt take a single day of paternity leave when their daughter was born. He says that he couldnt: with the workload he had, it was impossible.

Kurokawas story shows how change in Japan requires very thorough legislative actions, because, in the shadows, old traditions and work cultures prevail.

Kurokawa and her husband hold modern, rather liberal views. They point to what they consider to be an excessively competitive culture within which many parents raise their children  one that results in overspending on a childs education. However, when asked about Japanese values that should be preserved, the answer they give is the culture of the good craftsman  a very traditional reference in Japan, about always determinedly seeking perfection with iron-clad discipline.

RIKUTO FUKUDA and YOKO WATANABE

The persistent military taboo

Rikuto Fukuda, 25, in a common room within the flatshare where he lives, in Kyoto, Japan. Andrea Rizzi

Theres a potluck in the common kitchen of the Oak House residence in Kyoto, where the majority of the renters are young people. As they eat, they talk about Japan, the countrys identity, as well as the challenges that lie ahead.

32-year-old Yoko Watanabe is a chef. She declares herself strongly against the rearmament of her country. She explains that her grandfather was a soldier in World War II and never fully mentally recovered from that experience. Rikuto Fukuda, 25, a municipal architect, notes that these issues are not spoken about much in society. Other dinner attendees agree. It was taboo for a long time and, according to Fukuda, its still not dealt with naturally, despite the fact that its a hugely important matter.

Fukuda says that he would like to have children. Watanabe  who has five brothers and sisters  would like to have three. Neither of them have any offspring yet.

Yoko Watanabe, 32, in Kyoto, Japan. Andrea Rizzi

Prime Minister Kishida has stated that Japans mission is to create a children first economy. He claims that the administration is studying multiple measures to accomplish this. Japan must hurry up. Birth rates have dropped so sharply that it threatens the very stability of the system. At the moment, many more shuttered schools are on the horizon, such as the Imakumano School in Kyoto, where Hikari Yurugi says goodbye. Shes skeptical about the idea that her country will achieve a profound change. But she does want to have another child. Japan needs more young people with that spirit.

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FILE PHOTO: A sign at the front entrance to the global headquarters of Illumina is pictured in San Diego, California, U.S., November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/

(Reuters) - Gene-sequencing machine maker Illumina Inc has filed an appeal against an order from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that demands it divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail Inc on competition concerns.

Illumina spun off Grail in 2016, but retained a 12% stake. It reacquired the cancer test maker in 2021, despite opposition from European and U.S. regulators.

The following is a chronology of events in the Illumina-Grail deal:

DATE DEVELOPMENT

Jan 10, Illumina spins off Grail as a new company

2016

Sept 21, Illumina

2020 reacquires

the cancer detection test maker for

$7.1 billion

March The U.S. FTC seeks to stop the deal

30, 2021

July 13, The deal faces a full-scale EU antitrust probe

2021

Aug 18, Illumina completes the acquisition of Grail for

2021 $8 billion ahead of EU regulatory approval

Aug 24, The U.S. FTC

2021 seeks

to undo the deal, alleging it would

harm innovation and boost prices

Oct 12, EU antitrust regulators resume their scrutiny of

2021 the deal after a two-month halt

Oct 29, EU orders Illumina to keep Grail as a separate

2021 company

Dec 16, Illumina criticizes EU antitrust regulators for

2021 scrutinizing the deal even though Grail has no

business operations in Europe

Jan 25, EU antitrust regulators extend the deadline for

2022 their decision on the deal

Jan 28, Illumina offers to cut prices and continue to

2022 allow rivals access to its technologies in a bid

to allay EU antitrust concerns

Feb 4, EU antitrust regulators temporarily pause, for

2022 the second time, their investigation into the

deal, while waiting for the companies to provide

details

July 13, The company loses its challenge in Europe's

2022 second-highest court against antitrust scrutiny.

July 19, EU says Illumina risks hefty fine for jumping

2022 the gun on Grail deal

Sept 1, A U.S. administrative judge rules in favor of

2022 the deal, in a blow to the FTC, which says it

will appeal

Sept 6, Illumina will have to divest Grail after the EU

2022 blocks the takeover

Oct 28, EU antitrust regulators renew interim measures

2022 that were due to expire by October-end by

ordering Illumina to keep Grail as a separate

entity

Dec 13, Illumina defends the deal, pledging to keep

2022 selling its DNA sequencing services to other

firms, as it seeks to head off a potential vote

by U.S. antitrust regulators to kill the deal

Jan 10, Illumina challenges the EU antitrust order to

2023 keep biotech firm Grail separate, ratcheting up

its fight against the bloc's regulators

Feb 8, The company takes its case to senior EU and

2023 national antitrust officials at a closed hearing

to argue an antitrust order to divest Grail

March Billionaire investor Carl Icahn launches proxy

13, 2023 fight at Illumina and pushes for three board

seats, criticizing the deal

April 3, The FTC orders Illumina to divest Grail, finding

2023 that the deal would stifle competition in the

U.S. market for cancer tests

April A U.S. appeals court says it will accelerate

19, 2023 reviewing Illumina's challenge to the FTC order

May 25, Carl Icahn secures a seat for one of his three

2023 nominees on Illumina's board, a partial victory

for the activist investor

June 2, Illumina says it has expanded its board, adding

2023 two C-suite executives

June 5, Illumina files an appeal against the FTC's

2023 order, arguing that the agency "violated due

process by depriving Illumina and Grail of a

fair proceeding before an impartial tribunal"

Sources: Company statements, Reuters reports

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
PARIS (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Russian authorities' investigation into the alleged poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in 2020 was inadequate and ordered Russia to pay Navalny 40,000 euros in damages.

In August 2020, Navalny - Russia's most prominent opposition politician - survived an apparent attempt to poison him during a flight in Siberia, with what Western laboratory tests determined was a nerve agent. He was treated for that poisoning in Germany but voluntarily returned to Russia in 2021, where he was arrested on arrival and jailed.

Navalny has accused the Russian state of trying to kill him, something it denied, and has filed a series of cases against Russian authorities via the ECHR.

The Strasbourg-based court said in a statement that the inquiry conducted by Russian authorities had not been open to scrutiny and made no allowance for the victim's right to participate in the proceedings.

It said Russia had also failed to explore the allegations of a possible political motive for the attempted murder, as well as possible involvement of state agents, and had not followed up on the reported use of a substance identified as a chemical weapon.

"As such, the inquiry had not been capable of leading to the establishment of the relevant facts and the identification and, if appropriate, punishment of those responsible. It therefore could not be considered adequate," the court said.

In June 2022, Russia's parliament voted to end the ECHR's jurisdiction in the country.

Nearly 30 cases filed by Navalny and his relatives are pending at the ECHR, the spokeswoman said.

An ECHR spokeswoman told Reuters that since Russia was a member of the Court and the Council of Europe at the time of the alleged poisoning, the judgment applies and will be passed to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for enforcement.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
A general view of the Moscow International Business Center, also known as "Moskva-City", in Moscow, Russia January 17, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

By Darya Korsunskaya and Alexander Marrow

(Reuters) -Russia recorded a marginal budget surplus in May, enabling it to slightly reduce its deficit for the first five months of the year to 3.41 trillion roubles ($41.9 billion), the finance ministry said on Tuesday, as monthly spending slowed.

In January-May 2022 Russia posted a surplus of 1.59 trillion roubles, but outlays to support its military campaign in Ukraine and Western sanctions on its oil and gas exports have since depleted government coffers. This year's deficit is already 117% of the annual plan.

Soaring defence spending has kept Russia's industrial sector ticking along, driving forecasts for economic growth this year and helping Moscow to continue its military campaign in Ukraine.

The finance ministry stopped publishing individual monthly budget fulfilment data last year, but based on Tuesday's figures, Russia posted a surplus in May of 13 billion roubles.

That compares with a 1-trillion-rouble deficit in April. Monthly spending in May was its lowest this year, 1.1 trillion roubles lower than in April, but to meet this year's overall 29.1-trillion-rouble expenditure target, spending will have to fall further.

Meanwhile, non-oil-and-gas revenues for January-May were 9.1% higher than the same period last year.

But Moscow's crucial oil and gas revenues were 49.6% lower year-on-year in the first five months, which the finance ministry put down to lower prices for Urals crude and lower natural gas export volumes.

Spending was 26.5% higher year-on-year in that period, the preliminary data showed, while income was down 18.5%.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has repeatedly said Russia's budget deficit this year would be no more than 2% of GDP, although most analysts disagree. The International Monetary Fund is among those expecting Russia to see a sharply wider budget deficit this year.

The finance ministry on Tuesday said it expects tax revenues from the oil sector to recover in the second half of the year.

The fall in revenues has forced Moscow to start selling international reserves to help cover the deficit, while analysts have suggested raising taxes is another option.

Russia has spent almost 440 billion roubles covering the deficit from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) so far this year.

($1 = 81.3705 roubles)

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Alexander Marrow, Editing by William Maclean and Barbara Lewis)
By Hilary Russ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Subway reached an agreement with a master franchisee to open nearly 4,000 new sandwich shops across mainland China over the next 20 years, it said on Tuesday.

International expansion is a key growth strategy for the privately owned U.S.-based chain, which is in the midst of a turnaround plan that also relies on remodeled restaurants, updated menus and a splashy marketing campaign.

While it seeks to expand overseas, the company has been closing thousands of U.S. locations amid a host of problems including over-expansion and discounts that eroded franchisees' profits.

Even so, Subway's global comparable sales rose 12.1% in the first quarter.

Other companies are also beefing up their presence in China, including Starbucks, which plans to open 3,000 new stores there by 2025.

Subway's deal with master franchisee Shanghai Fu-Rui-Shi Corporate Development Co Ltd (FRS) is the largest such agreement in Subway's history. FRS is funded by a consortium of private investors including Asia Investment Capital.

FRS will get exclusive rights to manage and develop all Subway locations in China. The 4,000 new restaurants would be a seven-fold increase in Subway's current footprint there.

"China is a key market with significant long-term growth opportunity, and we look forward to bringing the Subway experience to even more guests in the region," Subway Chief Executive John Chidsey said in a statement.

(Reporting by Hilary Russ; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's prime ministerial frontrunner Pita Limjaroenrat played down an effort to disqualify him over a stock ownership issue on Tuesday, insisting he violated no rules and that rivals were determined to keep him from the top job.

Buoyed by massive youth support behind its anti-establishment, anti-monopoly agenda, Pita's progressive Move Forward party were the surprise winners of last month's election, which saw army proxies thrashed in a resounding rejection of nine years of conservative, military-backed rule.

Some rival politicians have petitioned the election commission alleging Pita owned 42,000 shares in media firm ITV Public Company, which ran a mainstream television channel from 1998 before it lost broadcast concession in 2007.

Election candidates are prohibited from holding shares in a media company. Pita maintains, however, that iTV's loss of its concession means it cannot be considered a mass media organisation.

"There is an attempt to keep me out of politics," he told reporters on Tuesday, adding he transferred the shares to relatives last month.

"I am very confident that I am not unfit to run for office and to be a candidate for prime minister," he said, referring to candidate qualifications.

Pita, 42, has said the shares were part of his late father's estate, which he has declared to the anti-graft agency.

The election commission's chairman at the weekend said the complaints were being examined and further evidence was being gathered. It can either reject them, or forward them to the Constitutional Court.

The party's predecessor, Future Forward, was on the wrong end of two of the court's rulings in 2019 and 2020 on similar issues, with leader and prime minister candidate Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit disqualified for holding media shares and the party later disbanded over a campaign funding violation.

The issue underlines the challenges ahead for U.S.-educated Pita in delivering on his sweeping reform promises, which could put Move Forward on a collision course with the royalist military and a powerful, old-money business elite.

Pita has formed an alliance with seven other parties but faces an uphill battle to woo members of an unelected, conservative-leaning Senate to back him in a legislative vote on a prime minister, which is expected by August.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Taiwanese chip giant TSMC can be seen in Tainan, Taiwan, Dec. 29, 2022.REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan chipmaker TSMC is feeling "good" about talks towards setting up its first European factory in Germany, where it is in subsidy discussions with the government, the company's chairman said on Tuesday.

The world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC has been in talks with the German state of Saxony since 2021 about building a fabrication plant, or "fab," in Dresden.

The European Union has approved the EU Chips Act, a 43 billion euro ($46.07 billion) subsidy plan to double its chipmaking capacity by 2030, in a bid to catch up with Asia and the United States.

Chairman Mark Liu told an annual meeting of shareholders that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co had sent executives to Germany a few times for talks on the possible new plant.

"So far the feeling is good," he said, adding that some "gaps" in the supply chain and labour in Germany were being tackled.

"We are still negotiating with Germany on subsidies, how much the subsidies will be, that there won't be conditions for the support," Liu said. "Germany is discussing this in detail."

TSMC is one of several chipmakers, including Intel and Wolfspeed, seeking to draw on government funding to build a factories in Europe.

Brussels and EU member states are pushing for home-grown production by offering billions in state subsidies to cut dependency on Asian suppliers and ease a global chip shortage which created havoc for carmakers.

The bloc seeks to double its global market share to 20% in 2030.

Later Liu told reporters TSMC had hoped to invest fully in the German plant, but would allow small stakes in it to some customers if they wanted them, Taiwan media said.

TSMC does not expect to decide whether to proceed before August at the earliest, an executive said last month.

TSMC is also investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washington's plans for more chipmaking at home, but has expressed concerns about the criteria for U.S. semiconductor subsidies.

South Korean chipmakers have also raised concerns over the conditions, which include sharing excess profits with the U.S. government. Industry sources have said the application process itself could expose confidential corporate strategy.

Liu said the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) had an "open" attitude towards the subsidy conditions, adding that TSMC had last month submitted a "pre-application" and would keep up "positive communication" with the United States.

The DOC has said it will protect confidential business information, adding that the requirement to share excess profits would only occur when projects significantly exceeded projected cash flow.

The company was also considering a second plant in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture to accompany one it is now building there, Liu told media after the meeting.

($1=0.9333 euros)

(Reporting by Faith Hung and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jamie Freed and Clarence Fernandez)
A general view of the Nova Kakhovka dam that was breached in Kherson region, Ukraine June 6, 2023 in this screen grab taken from a video obtained by Reuters/via REUTERS

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine called on Tuesday for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what it called a "Russian terrorist attack" on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine.

It also said it wanted the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board of governors to discuss the incident and demanded new international sanctions on Russia, and in particular on the Russian missile industry and nuclear sector.

Ukrainian and Russian officials blamed each other for Tuesday's breach of the Russian-controlled dam, which prompted the evacuation of people living in the vicinity of the dam.

"We consider the Russian Federation's detonation of the dam...a terrorist act against Ukrainian critical infrastructure, which aims to cause as many civilian casualties and (as much) destruction as possible," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP (hydroelectric power plant) was previously intensely discussed at the level of the occupation forces in the Kherson region (of southern Ukraine) and propagandists on Russian television, which indicates that it was planned in advance."

The ministry urged the international community to condemn Russia over the incident and said Moscow should pay compensation for the consequences.

"We also appeal to the countries of the Group of Seven and the EU to urgently consider the imposition of new far-reaching sanctions on the Russian Federation, in particular related to the Russian missile industry and the nuclear sector," it said.

It said a list of actions drawn up by the ministry "includes the convening by Ukraine of an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and bringing the issue of the Russian terrorist attack to the meeting of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors".

It also called for the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism to be engaged. A country can request assistance through the mechanism when facing an emergency.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomes Italian Cardinal and Papal Special Envoy Matteo Zuppi, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 6, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the Vatican on Tuesday to contribute to the implementation of a Ukrainian peace plan during talks with a Papal envoy about Russia's war on Ukraine.

Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, tasked by Pope Francis to carry out a peace mission to try to help end the war in Ukraine, visited Kyiv to sound out the Ukrainian authorities.

Zelenskiy said they discussed the situation in Ukraine and humanitarian cooperation "in the framework of the Ukrainian Peace Formula."

"Only united efforts, diplomatic isolation and pressure on Russia can influence the aggressor and bring a just peace to the Ukrainian land," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"I call on the Holy See to contribute to the implementation of the Ukrainian peace plan. Ukraine welcomes the readiness of other states and partners to find ways to peace, but since the war is on our territory, the algorithm for achieving peace can be Ukrainian only."

Zelenskiy met the pope at the Vatican in May and later appeared cool to the prospects of any papal initiative that would put Ukraine on an equal footing with Russia, which invaded in February 2022.

Zelenskiy's plan calls for restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders.

A Vatican statement said Zuppi would brief the pope on his meetings and that Francis would evaluate the results and decide on the next steps to take.

The Vatican said before Zuppi's trip that the main purpose was to listen to Kyiv's views on ways "to reach a just peace and support humanitarian gestures that may help ease tensions".

The mention of "humanitarian gestures" appeared to be a reference to Kyiv's request for help in the repatriation of Ukrainian children it says have been illegally deported by Russia but Zelenskiy's statement made no reference to the issue.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Philip Pullella, Editing by Timothy Heritage, William Maclean)
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a press conference during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the bursting of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine on Tuesday as "an environmental bomb of mass destruction" and said only liberating the entire country could guarantee against new "terrorist" acts.

"Such deliberate destruction by the Russian occupiers and other structures of the hydroelectric power station is an environmental bomb of mass destruction," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

Zelenskiy said the destruction of the dam would "not stop Ukraine and Ukrainians. We will still liberate all our land.

"Only the complete liberation of Ukrainian land from the Russian occupiers will guarantee that there will be mo more such terrorist attacks."

In his remarks, Zelenskiy also said Ukrainian prosecutors had already approached prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague "to involve international justice in the investigation of the destruction of the dam".

And for the second day running, Zelenskiy singled out military units fighting in and near the long-besieged eastern city of Bakhmut, while giving no details of the clashes.

"Thank you! For moving forward!" he said.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Maria Starkova; Editing by Leslie Adler and Bill Berkrot)
When heavy fighting broke out in Sudans capital Khartoum between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in mid-April, some of the staff of the private womens university in Ahfad decided to leave their residences in the institutions compound and flee to safer places. However, they left behind a group of women workers, many of whom were Ethiopian migrants. Soon, paramilitary forces were deployed in the area and, as in the rest of the capitals neighborhoods under their control, they began to loot homes and sow terror among civilians. When they arrived at the university premises, they found the group of women who had been abandoned there, trapped.

What happened then remains unclear, in part because the university denies any wrongdoing. But Hala al Karib, regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), says they have documented the facts and claims that the women were gang raped and beaten with no one able to intervene.

The Ahfad University workers case, which happened in the early stages of the fighting, was one of the first warning signs of the serious consequences that the outbreak of war in Sudan and the deployment of the much-feared Rapid Support Forces would have on the lives and safety of women in the country.

The Unit to Combat Violence against Women and Children, affiliated with Sudans Ministry of Social Affairs, has already documented 49 cases of sexual violence since the beginning of hostilities. Of these, 25 have occurred in the western region of Darfur and 24 in Khartoum. The main perpetrators are members of the paramilitary forces.

The unit warns, however, that these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Cases are increasing every day and we cant keep track of everything, says the units director, Sulaima Ishaq. We know the numbers could be much higher, and what we are documenting only represents 1-2% of what is actually happening in Khartoum, she adds.

One of the main reasons why the vulnerability of women and girls in Sudan has increased with the fighting is the insecurity that prevails in public spaces. And because the scarcity of basic products and services, such as food and water, forces them to go to places they do not know well and where they are more exposed to attacks. Many cases of sexual assault have been documented in Khartoums suburbs. And those who flee the city altogether also face great risks when they are traveling and in the temporary shelters where they stay.

It is always women who pay the price for a war waged by men Unit to Combat Violence against Women and Children director Sulaima Ishaq

Sexual assaults against women in Sudan have been prevalent for years, especially in the countrys peripheral regions, such as Darfur, which have experienced high levels of internal violence. In Khartoum, sexual violence against women has also been a constant since the popular revolution that toppled former dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. And the most serious cases of such crimes have coincided with peaks of political violence.

But the outbreak of fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has heightened the vulnerability of women and girls. Not a day goes by that we dont document new cases, and I think the longer it goes on the greater the numbers will emerge, Al Karib says. It is very unfortunate that they do not form part of the [majority of] abuses that are [reported], she adds.

In Khartoum, of the 24 cases of sexual violence documented to date, 18 were perpetrated by men wearing Rapid Support Forces uniforms and took place in areas of the capital that they control, according to Ishaqs team. Three others have been attributed to criminal gangs that are taking advantage of the situation to spread terror and carry out robberies and assaults. The remaining three perpetrators have not been identified.

For its part, SIHA has documented at least one case of paramilitaries whom, according to Al Karib, took over a mother and her daughters home and forced them to cook, wash clothes and do whatever they were asked for more than a week until the women managed to flee. The organization is also aware of the abduction of several women in Khartoum, and the expert notes that, unlike some men, the vast majority of them have not reappeared.

The situation is similar in Darfur. Most of the testimonies in the 25 cases of sexual violence documented by Ishaqs unit stated that the perpetrators wore paramilitary uniforms and drove around in converted pick-up trucks. SIHA has also documented at least one case in which the victim of the assault pointed to the involvement of members of the rebel group led by Darfur Governor Minni Minawi. In the strategic town of El Obeid, sandwiched between the states of Khartoum and Darfur, SIHA is aware of at least one other case of sexual assault in which the perpetrator was from military intelligence.

The current situation has greatly increased the vulnerability of women, says Niemat Ahmadi, the chairwoman of the Darfur Womens Action Group, who stresses that some cases of sexual assault in Darfur could also involve members of militias (mainly Arab tribes) aligned with the paramilitaries.

The collapse of the health system in Khartoum and Darfur, and of the institutions responsible for responding to cases of violence against women, is also making it very difficult to provide support to victims. It is also forcing some women to have to travel long distances to receive medical and psychosocial assistance, and the care centers that remain operational are suffering from increasing pressure and shortages of supplies. Services are provided based on an impossible procedure; it is a difficult and unpredictable journey in this situation, Ishaq laments. For women in Khartoum and Darfur, it is a very alarming situation; it is always women who pay the price for a war waged by men, she says.

More male violence

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that in parallel they are receiving more and more reports of domestic violence, and consider that the number of women in need of prevention and response services for this type of violence has increased by more than one million people to 4.2 million. Restriction of movement further aggravates tensions over social conditions and the ability to earn a livelihood, leading to an increase in domestic violence, warns Sakaue Akiko, the coordinator of UNFPAs gender-based violence sub-sector in Sudan.

Against this backdrop, and in addition to continuing to pressure the warring parties to end hostilities and allow the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, organizations active in this field are calling on the international community to scale up their support to local groups that are trying to fill the gap with very few resources.

Local organizations are playing a critical role in providing life-saving gender-based violence services on the front lines, notes Akiko. Additional funding and training are urgently needed for local organizations and networks, and in particular for those of women working on the front line, she adds.

For Al Karib, the international community should also be more forceful with the warring parties, and put accountability at the heart of its action in Sudan. Sexual violence, looting and war crimes have been going on in Darfur and parts of [the southern region of] Kordofan for 20 years, she says. When you allow this level of impunity, all you do is embolden criminal groups. Look now how relaxed and confident they are. And she concludes: They hold the international communitys ability to demand accountability in disdain because it has simply never happened.

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A general view of a flooded area, after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, in Kherson region, Ukraine in this picture obtained from social media on June 6, 2023. Courtesy of Oleksandr Vlasov/via REUTERS

By Filipp Lebedev and Lucy Papachristou

(Reuters) - Russian occupation authorities ordered residents of three districts to leave their homes on Tuesday after the huge Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was breached in the early hours, but some locals said they would stay despite the rising waters.

Residents contacted by Reuters said the mood was tense in the town of Nova Kakhovka, which sits on the Russian-controlled southern bank of the Dnipro River, on the downriver side of the dam.

Russian soldiers were patrolling the streets, several local people said.

"All approaches to the river are blocked for the local population by Russian invaders. Getting close, and especially taking a photo or video, is deadly. They say they are ready to shoot without warning," said one local man, Hlib.

"If you come a metre closer than allowed, they immediately start yelling obscenities. We're still allowed to go to the store, but we don't know what orders will be given next."

Yevheniya, a female resident, said the water was up to the knees of Russian soldiers walking the main street in high rubber boots. "If you try to go somewhere they don't allow, they immediately point their machine guns at you," she said.

"More and more water is coming every hour, it's very dirty."

Ukraine and Russia each accused the other of blowing up the dam.

The Russian-installed administration in Ukraine's Kherson region, which Moscow has unilaterally claimed as its own but only partly controls, issued evacuation instructions to residents of the Nova Kakhovka, Oleshky and Hola Prystan districts.

It told them to "collect personal belongings and documents, take food for 3 days and drinking water. Turn off gas and water before leaving your residential buildings".

RESIDENTS PLAN TO STAY

One resident, Serhii, said many were planning to stay, however, and were stocking up.

Another, Kirill, said he had been out of town on Monday night, but that his elderly grandparents had been woken by an explosion between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

He said they were staying indoors to avoid soldiers.

"They are in a slightly panicky mood. There have been no evacuation notices yet, but they were looking through their things and documents at six in the morning," Kirill said. "We are preparing for the worst."

A zoo called Kazkova Dibrova, located right on the bank of the Dnipro, was completely flooded and all 300 animals were dead, a representative said via the zoo's Facebook account.

"The park was mined and it was impossible to evacuate the animals. We tried to save them. Every day, under fire, two workers risked their lives to go to Dibrova to feed the animals," the representative said. "Now Russia has destroyed everything. Our soul is torn by pain."

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said the water level was continuing to rise.

"An evacuation is being carried out of civilians from the adjacent flooded zones to preserve all lives," he said in a video message. "There is no panic in the town."

Nova Kakhovka still had electricity, but two villages downstream were taken off the grid for safety reasons, Leontyev said.

An emergencies official alongside him said the water below the dam was expected to keep rising for 72 hours before subsiding and allowing a clean-up operation.

Images posted on social media showed a flooded central square in Nova Kakhovka, with waters halfway up the entrance doors to its neo-classical cultural centre.

Yevheniya, the female resident, said she was planning to stay.

"I have a bedridden grandmother - 95 years old, she's a veteran of the Second World War," she said.

"Where will I go? Who will I leave her to? I am her guardian, and you have to follow your conscience."

(Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
FILE PHOTO: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations does not have any independent information on how a Ukrainian dam burst, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday, describing it as "another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

The U.N. Security Council will meet later on Tuesday to discuss the dam at the request of both Russia and Ukraine.

"Attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure must stop. We must act to ensure accountability and respect for international humanitarian law," Guterres told reporters.

A torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine, flooding a swathe of the war zone and forcing villagers to flee.

According to the Security Council meeting requests seen by Reuters, Ukraine accused Russia of an "ecological and technological act of terrorism", while Russia described it as an "act of sabotage carried out by Ukraine."

Guterres said it was a "monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe."

"At least 16,000 people have already lost their homes - with safe and clean drinking water supplies at risk for many thousands more," he said, adding that the United Nations was coordinating with the Ukrainian government to send support including drinking water and water purification tablets.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Rami Ayyub and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks as he holds a press conference after the House approved the debt ceiling deal he negotiated with the White House to end their standoff and avoid a historic default, at the U.S. Capitol in Washing

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The battle to raise the U.S. debt ceiling rekindled debate in Congress over funding for Ukraine, as House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to take up legislation to boost defense spending beyond what was in last week's deal.

McCarthy's comments could signal a tougher road through Congress when President Joe Biden next asks for additional funds for Ukraine. The House and Senate last approved aid for the Kyiv government - $48 billion - in December, before Republicans took control of the House.

That money is expected to last at least through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Lawmakers said Biden is expected to request more funds by August or September.

The debt ceiling agreement, which Biden signed into law on Saturday, capped national security spending in the year ending Sept. 30, 2024 at $886 billion, the amount Biden requested but below what congressional defense hawks wanted.

After some Republicans threatened to vote against the deal over the tightened defense spending, the Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders promised that the caps would not prevent the chamber from passing supplemental spending legislation to provide more money for Ukraine and the Department of Defense.

However, McCarthy, who negotiated the agreement with Biden, said he would not automatically allow a vote on supplemental spending legislation in the Republican-led House.

"It doesn't matter if it's Ukraine or anything else. The idea that someone wants to go do a supplemental after we just came to an agreement is trying to blow the agreement," McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.

SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS DISAGREE

However, some Republican senators still said they believed a supplemental spending bill would be necessary.

"I strongly believe we are going to need a supplemental for defense," Senator Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters.

McCarthy said he supported Ukraine and helping Ukraine to defeat the Russian invasion but would want more information before moving ahead.

"I'm not giving money for the sake of giving money. I want to see what is the purpose, what is the outcome you want to achieve and then show me the plan to see if I think that plan actually can work?" he said.

House Republicans want any money for Ukraine - or other priorities - to move ahead via "regular order," with Congress debating and passing the 12 appropriations bills lawmakers will work on this summer to fund government programs in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Overall, the House and Senate have approved more than $113 billion of military assistance and other aid for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. The four tranches of assistance all passed with strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, although all were approved while Democrats controlled both the Senate and House.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Jamie Freed)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Nord Stream 2 AG is seen at an office building in Zug, Switzerland March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States learned of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines three months before they were damaged last September by underwater explosions, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online.

The CIA learned last June, through a European spy agency, that a six-person team of Ukrainian special operations forces intended to blow up the Russia-to-Germany project, the newspaper reported.

The intelligence reporting was shared online on Discord, purportedly by Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who was arrested in April and charged in relation to the leak of sensitive U.S. documents. The Washington Post said it obtained a copy from one of Teixeira's online friends.

The intelligence report was based on information provided by a person in Ukraine, the Washington Post said, adding the CIA shared it with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.

The Post said officials in multiple countries had confirmed that the intelligence summary posted on Discord accurately stated what the European service told the CIA.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that investigations into the Nord Stream attack were active.

"The last thing that we're going to want to do from this podium is get ahead of those investigations," Kirby said when asked about The Post's reporting on the matter.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas in the political spotlight. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines hastened the region's switch to other energy suppliers.

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to pump 110 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year to Germany.

The Post said it agreed to withhold the name of the European intelligence agency as well as some aspects of the suspected plan at the request of government officials, citing risks to sources and operations.

The CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not immediately confirm the intelligence cited by the Washington Post.

Several underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The blasts occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. Both countries said the explosions were deliberate, but have yet to determine who was responsible. Those countries and Germany are investigating.

Washington and NATO called the incident "an act of sabotage." Moscow blamed the West, accusing investigators of dragging their feet and trying to conceal who was behind the attack.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Jasper Ward; Editing by Jon Boyle, Andrea Ricci and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: Changpeng Zhao, founder and chief executive officer of Binance, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

By Angus Berwick and Tom Wilson

LONDON (Reuters) - Two offshore trading firms controlled by Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao lie at the centre of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit launched against the world's largest crypto exchange, which highlights concerns over client funds.

Swiss-registered Sigma Chain received customer funds from Binance, the U.S. regulator said in its complaint on Monday, and then engaged in "manipulative trading" to artificially inflate the exchange's trading volumes.

British Virgin Islands-based Merit Peak, meanwhile, used billions of dollars in client money to buy Binance's own dollar-linked "BUSD" crypto token, according to the SEC's civil complaint and previous reporting by Reuters.

Together, the two companies allowed Binance to commingle corporate funds with client assets and use the monies "as they please," the SEC wrote. This put customers' assets at risk while Binance sought to "maximize" its profits, the SEC added.

Binance said it would "vigorously defend" itself against the SEC charges and that all user assets were "safe and secure". The company did not respond to emailed questions about the two trading firms for this article. A Binance spokesperson could not be reached by phone.

Zhao, who could not be contacted by Reuters for comment, had an address listed in a corporate filing last year at an apartment in a low-cost area of Dubai called Silicon Oasis.

A Reuters reporter visited the apartment on Tuesday, but was told by the building's security that it had been empty for several months and nobody answered at its front door.

After the collapse last year of crypto exchange FTX, regulators are focused on whether Binance has adequately protected billions of dollars in user funds.

John Reed Stark, a former chief of the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement, said the SEC's complaint highlighted the risks that customers were running by holding their funds on the exchange due to the absence of "any regulatory oversight of any of the parties involved".

"Your assets can be moved around in whatever shell game Binance prefers. And in the end, whenever everything crashes you're last in line," Stark told Reuters.

The SEC action came after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed its own charges in March against Binance, which has also been under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for money laundering and sanctions violations.

'FUNDS AT RISK'

The SEC said Merit Peak, set up in early 2019, has described itself as trading with the "self-made wealth" of its owner Zhao, who has always closely guarded the extent of his fortune.

Merit Peak traded on both the Binance.com and Binance.US platforms, the SEC said, with its U.S. bank account receiving more than $20 billion, including customer funds from both.

A Reuters report in May identified this bank account as being held at now-defunct U.S. lender Silvergate Bank.

Merit Peak then used the funds in "transfers that appear to relate to the purchase of BUSD", the SEC said, adding that the transfers placed those funds at risk, including of loss or theft, and were done without notice to customers.

While it did not detail where all the funds received by Merit Peak and Sigma Chain ended up, the SEC cited several examples of the firms transferring money outside of Binance.

After receiving $145 million from Binance.US's operator by 2021, Sigma Chain spent $11 million on buying a yacht, the SEC complaint said, without elaborating.

It is unclear from the SEC complaint how much money Zhao is alleged to have drawn from Merit Peak and Sigma Chain. However, the SEC said he "personally" received $62.5 million from a Binance bank account between October 2022 and January 2023.

The SEC also said Zhao used Merit Peak to direct more than $16 million to fund Binance's purportedly independent U.S. affiliate Binance.US.

BUSD, along with Binance's own crypto token BNB, have been key to financing Zhao's business empire, former executives say. Binance used its BUSD holdings to meet customer withdrawals by selling them for dollars as needed, Reuters reported in May.

The SEC complaint also identified Binance Labs, a venture capital arm of Binance, as part of the exchange's plan to increase demand for BNB.

Binance Labs, which last year said it managed total assets of $7.5 billion, has financed most of its investments with either BUSD or BNB, two people with direct knowledge of its activities said.

Binance has made some 212 venture capital investments through Binance Labs since 2018, according to PitchBook data, with almost 180 of the projects remaining active.

(Reporting by Angus Berwick and Tom Wilson in London; Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington and Hadeel Al Sayegh in Dubai; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Alexander Smith)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of June 2023

Commission File Number 001-40996

MDXHEALTH SA

(Translation of registrants name into English)

CAP Business Center

Zone Industrielle des Hauts-Sarts

4040 Herstal, Belgium

+32 4 257 70 21

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): 

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrants home country), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrants securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrants security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

MDXHEALTH SA

MDxHealth SA (the Company) hereby furnishes the attached documents in connection with its Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting to be held on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., Belgian time, at the offices of the notary public Stijn Raes, at Kortrijksesteenweg 1147, 9051 Ghent, Belgium, or at such other place as will be indicated at that place at that time.

The information in the attached Exhibits 99.1-99.9 is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise set forth herein or as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

1

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

MDXHEALTH SA Date: June 6, 2023 By: /s/ Michael McGarrity Name: Michael McGarrity Title: Chief Executive Officer

2

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

CONVENING NOTICE

ATTENDANCE FORM

PROXY FORM

VOTING BY MAIL FORM

OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE, DATED JUNE 5, 2023
HOW TO OBTAIN PAPER COPIES OF THE MEETING MATERIALS

Shareholders may request that a paper copy of the meeting materials be sent to them by postal delivery at no cost to them. Requests may be made up to one year from the date the Circular was filed on SEDAR by contacting Alliance Trust Company by phone at (403) 237-6111, toll free at 1-877-537-6111 or by e-mail to [email protected] In order to ensure that a paper copy of the meeting materials can be delivered to a requesting Shareholder in time for such Shareholder to review the meeting materials and return a proxy or voting instruction form prior to the proxy deadline, it is strongly suggested that a Shareholder ensure their request is received no later than ten (10) business days in advance of the return time set out in the voting instruction form and/or form of proxy, as applicable. Additional information respecting how to obtain paper copies of the meeting materials may be found in the Circular under Questions and Answers About These Proxy Materials  How can I get access to the Proxy Materials?.

VOTING

Registered Shareholders are asked to return their vote using one of the following methods at least forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) in advance of the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof:

By Post: Shareholders who have received a form of proxy directly from the Companys registrar and transfer agent, Alliance Trust Company, must date and sign the form of proxy and return it to Alliance Trust Company by mail at 1010, 407  2nd Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2Y3 at any time prior to the close of business on the second last business day preceding the day of the meeting By Internet: Shareholders who have received a form of proxy directly from the Companys registrar and transfer agent, Alliance Trust Company, must complete the form of proxy online at www.alliancetrust.ca/shareholders/ at any time prior to the close of business on the second last business day preceding the day of the meeting.

If you are not a registered Shareholder and receive meeting materials through your broker or through another intermediary, please complete and return the form of proxy or voting instruction form in accordance with the instructions and within the timeframe provided to you by your broker or by the other intermediary.

Note that if you hold multiple classes of Shares, or hold some Shares as a registered Shareholder and others as a beneficial Shareholder, you will receive multiple mailing packages, each containing a form of proxy or voting instruction form, as applicable. You are requested to return or otherwise vote all forms of proxy and voting instruction forms received to ensure the votes attached to all of the Shares you hold are counted.

Shareholders with questions about notice-and-access can call Alliance Trust Company at 403-237-6111 or toll free at 1-877-537-6111.

Dated this 2nd day of June, 2023.
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. ________)*

Lantronix, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, $0.0001 par value (Title of Class of Securities) 516548203 (CUSIP Number) Mordechai Pluchenik C/O Orange River Management LP 3 Columbus Circle Suite 1510 New York, New York 10019 212-204-3430 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) June 6, 2023 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Sections 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. [ X ]

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 2 of 9 Pages

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Orange River Partners LP 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (see instructions) (a) [ _ ] (b) [ x ] 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS* (see instructions) OO 5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ _ ] 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware

7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 0 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,940,735 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,940,735

11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,940,735 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* (see instructions) [ _ ] 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* (see instructions) PN

CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 3 of 9 Pages

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Orange River Partners GP LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (see instructions) (a) [ _ ] (b) [ x ] 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS* (see instructions) OO 5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ _ ] 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware

7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 0 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,940,735 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,940,735

11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,940,735 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* (see instructions) [ _ ] 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* (see instructions) OO, HC

CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 4 of 9 Pages

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Orange River Management LP 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (see instructions) (a) [ _ ] (b) [ x ] 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS* (see instructions) OO 5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ _ ] 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware

7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 0 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,940,735 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,940,735

11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,940,735 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* (see instructions) [ _ ] 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* (see instructions) PN, IA

CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 5 of 9 Pages

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Orange River Partners Management GP LLC 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (see instructions) (a) [ _ ] (b) [ x ] 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS* (see instructions) OO 5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ _ ] 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware

7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 0 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,940,735 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,940,735

11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,940,735 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* (see instructions) [ _ ] 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* (see instructions) OO, HC

CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 6 of 9 Pages

1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Mordechai Pluchenik 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (see instructions) (a) [ _ ] (b) [ x ] 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS* (see instructions) OO 5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ _ ] 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware

7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 0 8 SHARED VOTING POWER 1,940,735 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,940,735

11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,940,735 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* (see instructions) [ _ ] 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.3% 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* (see instructions) IN, HC



CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 7 of 9 Pages

Item 1. Security and Issuer. This statement on Schedule 13D relates to the shares ("Shares") of common stock, par value $0.0001 par value per share, of Lantronix, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"). The principal executive office of the Issuer is located at 48 Discovery, Suite 250 Irvine, California 92618 Item 2. Identity and Background. (a) This statement is filed on behalf of (i) Orange River Partners LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership ("ORP"), (ii) Orange River Partners GP LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company ("ORP GP"), (iii) Orange River Management L.P., a Delaware Limited Partnership ("ORM"), (iv) Orange River Management GP LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company ("ORM GP"), and (v) Mordechai Pluchenik, an individual ("Mr. Pluchenik"), altogether making up a group. (b) The principal business address of ORP is 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 1510, New York, New York 10019. The principal business address of the other group members is C/O Orange River Management, 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 1510 New York, NY 10019. (c) The principal business of ORP is to invest for accounts under its management. The principal business of ORP GP is to serve as the General Partner of ORP. The principal business of ORM is to serve as the management company of ORP. The principal business of ORM GP is to serve as the general partner of ORM. The principal business of Mr. Pluchenik is to conduct research and manage all group members. (d) None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors). (e) None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. (f) ORP is a limited partnership organized in Delaware. All entity group members are organized in the United States. All individual members are United States Citizens. Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. The 1,940,735 Shares reported herein by ORP were acquired by ORP at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $9.3 million. Such Shares were acquired with investment funds in accounts managed by ORM through ORP. No borrowed funds were used to purchase the Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business. Item 4. Purpose of Transaction. The Reporting Persons acquired the Shares because they believe the Shares are materially undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity. The Reporting Persons intend to have discussions with the Issuer's board of directors (the "Board") and management regarding new CEO candidates, board composition and maximizing value for shareholders. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Reporting Persons do not have any present plans or proposals which would relate to, or result in, the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a)  (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons reserve the right, at a later date, to effect one or more of such changes or transactions in the number of Shares they may be deemed to beneficially own.



CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 8 of 9 Pages

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer. (a) The aggregate percentage of Shares reported to be beneficially owned by the reporting persons is based upon 36,619,483 shares outstanding as of May 5, 2023, as reported on the Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 25, 2023. As of the close of business on the date hereof, ORP may be deemed to beneficially own 1,940,735 Shares, representing approximately 5.3% of the Shares outstanding. The related persons were deemed to have formed a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 1,940,735 Shares, representing approximately 5.3% of the outstanding Shares. (b) ORP has sole voting and dispositive power over the 1,940,735 Shares, which voting power is exercised by the management company, ORM. Mr. Pluchenik has sole voting and dispositive power as a member of ORM. (c) Information concerning transactions in the Shares effected by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty days is set forth in Exhibit B hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. All of the transactions in Shares listed hereto were effected in the open market through various brokerage entities. (d) No person (other than the Reporting Persons) is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Shares. (e) Not applicable Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer. The Reporting Persons do not have any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any person with respect to securities of the Issuer that is not described herein or in the prior Schedule 13G filed by the Reporting Persons in respect of the Issuer. Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits. Exhibit A: Joint Filing Agreement, dated June 6, 2023, between Orange River Partners LP, Orange River Partners GP LLC, Orange River Management L.P., Orange River Management GP LLC, and Mordechai Pluchenik. Exhibit B: Schedule of Transactions in Shares



CUSIP No. 516548203 13D Page 9 of 9 Pages

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

June 6, 2023 (Date) Orange River Partners LP By Orange River Partners GP LLC Its General Partner /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Partners GP LLC /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Management L.P. By Orange River Management GP LLC Its General Partner /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Management GP LLC /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Mordechai Pluchenik /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature

EXHIBIT A

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

The undersigned agree that this Schedule 13D, dated June 6, 2023, relating to the Common Stock, $0.0001 par value of Lantronix, Inc. shall be filed on behalf of the undersigned.

June 6, 2023 (Date) Orange River Partners LP By Orange River Partners GP LLC Its General Partner /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Partners GP LLC /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Management L.P. By Orange River Management GP LLC Its General Partner /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Orange River Management GP LLC /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature



Mordechai Pluchenik

Managing Member Mordechai Pluchenik /s/ Mordechai Pluchenik

Signature

EXHIBIT B

SCHEDULE OF TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES

The following table sets forth all transactions in the Shares effected in the past sixty days by the Reporting Persons. All such transactions were effected in the open market through brokers and the price per share includes commissions. The Price Per Share ($) is a weighted average price.
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  The Pentagons planes have begun arriving for a NATO exercise that amasses the largest deployment of allied aircraft in Europe since the formation of the bloc in 1949.

C-130 Hercules from Air National Guard wings in Illinois, Georgia, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico and Arkansas flew into Wunstorf Air Base in northwestern Germany this week for Air Defender 23, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa said Tuesday.

The German military is leading an assembly of 25 countries, some 220 aircraft and 10,000 personnel, with a focus on managing and directing the collective air power from its own airfields.

The U.S. contribution includes nearly 100 aircraft from more than 40 Air National Guard units.

The 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base will send F-16 combat jets, USAFE-AFAFRICA said. Spangdahlem also is one of the exercises designated sites.

Scenarios to be practiced revolve around Article 5, which calls for all NATO countries to respond when one member comes under attack. It is the cornerstone of the U.S.-led alliance.

The goals for the exercise are comprehensive, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, chief of the German air force, said in a statement in April.

We want to demonstrate the agility and swiftness of air forces as a first responder and showcase NATO airpower, Gerhartz said.

Though the historic aviation drills coming to Germanys skies are being held as NATO continues to bolster its defenses more than a year into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, exercise planning began back in 2018, according to the German armed forces website.

The training kicks off Monday and will continue until June 23, USAFE-AFAFRICA said. It will be held mostly in Germany, extending over northern Brandenburg, parts of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Baltic Sea, according to the website.

The airspace is reserved for low-level flights for three hours at a time every day during the exercise. Sporadic low-level flights also will take place at the Baumholder and Grafenwoeher military training sites, the German military said.

Locations in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia will be used during the exercise as well.

To prepare for the influx of planes, the largest mobile fuel warehouse ever to be constructed in Germany was built at Wunstorf, according to the German armed forces website.

The tanks can supply about 264,000 gallons every 24 hours, which is enough capacity to fill up about 20,000 cars per day, the website said.
(Tribune News Service)  It's going to be a T-34 kind of weekend at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, weather permitting.

The T-34 Association has scheduled its T-34 Mentor fly-in and flyovers at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base museum beginning Friday afternoon, June 9, the museum has announced.

The fun will be on the ground and in the air. More than four dozen T-34s will arrive at the museum Friday for display throughout the weekend.

Visitors are invited to watch Saturday as the planes take to the skies for formation flyovers showing off the capabilities of this much-loved military training aircraft.

Residents may watch the aircraft arrival, flyovers and departures from the end of Memorial Park along the fence line.

The museum is offering the full schedule below.

Friday, 2-3 p.m.: First wave of arrivals on Wright Field (located behind the museum). About 25 aircraft are expected to arrive, with a second wave of about 25 aircraft scheduled to arrive from 5 to 6 p.m., also behind the museum.

Saturday: All aircraft will be on the ground, on static display, behind the museum's Memorial Park from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A formation flyover window is scheduled from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m.

Sunday: Departures begin at about 9 a.m.

As always, the fight schedule for all events is weather-dependent.

The Navy used the T-34 Mentor for years, accumulating almost 100,000 flight hours per year, according to the National Naval Aviation Museum.

During World War II the U.S. Navy and Army Air Forces operated common training aircraft, and the practice continued into the 1950s when the sea service and the newly created U.S. Air Force both chose the Beech Model 45 as a primary trainer, the Navy Museum said.

In April 1975 the Navy ordered an improved version of the aircraft that featured a 400 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-25 turboprop, the museum said. In 2002 the Navy began a gradual phasing out of the T-34, replacing it with the T-6A Texan II, a joint primary trainer for use by both the Navy and Air Force.

(c)2023 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio

Visit at www.springfieldnewssun.com

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Ukraines expected counteroffensive against Russian positions on the eastern front appears to have begun, with combat deployments that point to the moment having arrived. The Russian Defense Ministry has stated its belief that the Ukrainian attack was launched on Sunday. Moscow also claimed its Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov had personally traveled to the front to monitor the situation. Kyiv has been observing a campaign of silence: the order is that no details about the actions and movements of its military should be communicated. However, multiple Russian military sources and international observers have confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have gone on the attack in the east, in the provinces of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. U.S. government sources have indicated to The New York Times that this is a sign that a major Ukrainian offensive is underway.

Kyiv has been intimating for weeks that a counteroffensive is imminent. Last Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine was ready to launch an attack. Kyivs allies have also stated they have done their part. Spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, John Kirby, said on June 2 that all the weapons needed for the counteroffensive had already been delivered, including M1A1 Abrams battle tanks and JDAM kits to convert free-falling shells into smart bombs capable of gliding long distances to hit their targets.

No political or military authorities in Ukraine have officially confirmed the recent actions on the front lines are the outset of a significant offensive, although two sources in the Ukrainian Army revealed to EL PAIS on May 29 that Kyiv planned to go on the attack last week. On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that the attack involved six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions, and released a video of an aerial shot in which it claimed dozens of armored vehicles are seen advancing. Moscow said in its statement. The enemys goal was to break through our defenses in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front, Moscows statement added. The enemy did not achieve its tasks, it had no success.

Moscows official line contrasts with the views of Russian observers at the front. Semion Pegov, one of Russias most respected military journalists, and Alexander Khodakovsky, who commanded the pro-Russian Vostok Battalion in the 2014 Donbas conflict, have reported Ukrainian advances on the southern front of Donetsk, bordering the province of Zaporizhzhia. Pegov stated that Ukrainian units have reached the village of Novodonetske, on the borders of the Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine. Khodakovsky, meanwhile, said on social networks that Ukrainian forces simulated a failed attack from neighboring Velyka Novosilka on Sunday, but were building up forces to launch an assault on Novodonetske. The Russian military analysis group Rybar, as well as the pro-Russian military Telegram channel Two Majors, reported that Novodonetske was under Ukrainian control.

Khodakovsky added that Russian troops stationed in defensive positions have for the first time identified NATO-supplied Leopard tanks in combat. The situation is difficult; in Novodonetske alone we have detected 30 enemy armored vehicles, Khodakovsky said. Rybar, however, reported seeing only two Leopards in Novodonetske and said that Ukrainian forces had lost 10 armored vehicles in the fighting. Several U.S. and Ukrainian military analysts have countered that these were not Leopard tanks, but French AMX-10 armored infantry vehicles.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) claimed in its daily analysis of the invasion that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have also advanced on the Zaporizhzhia front, on the other side of the dividing line with Donetsk. Based on information from Russian Telegram channels, the ISW estimates progress has been limited to no more than three kilometers (1.8 miles). Western military sources told The Economist that the Ukrainian advance in the Donetsk area stood at six kilometers (3.7 miles). If confirmed, it would represent Ukraines largest single-day gain since last Novembers counteroffensive in Kherson.

Frame from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry that allegedly shows Ukrainian military vehicles at the frontline being repelled by Russian forces. AP

Rybar also reported that Ukrainian troops have gone on the offensive in Mala Tokmachka, further southwest on the Zaporizhzhia front. These attacks could indicate a Ukrainian push to break through on the northern and southern flanks, considered the most decisive for Kyiv because doing so would allow an advance towards the coast of the Sea of Azov, bringing the main supply lines for Russian troops on the southern front and Crimea within range of Ukrainian artillery.

Ukrainian forces have also redoubled their efforts in Bakhmut, according to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, who issued a statement that units in the area had opened a broad front around the city, which has been almost completely destroyed in months of bitter fighting and in the hands of the Russian Army since May. Maliar said that Ukrainian troops had taken up position on high ground and reiterated that the main objective is Bakhmut. Like other Ukrainian officials, Maliar has refused to talk about the counteroffensive: Why are the Russians so actively passing on information about the counteroffensive? To divert attention from their retreat in Bakhmut, she said.

Russian military journalist Sasha Kots confirmed early Monday that Ukrainian infantry were launching assaults on the southwestern neighborhoods of Bakhmut, and that artillery was hitting Soledar, an adjacent town also occupied by Russian forces. Euromaidan, a Ukrainian media outlet, reported that Ukrainian troops had retaken positions in neighborhoods in the southern perimeter of the city. Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group mercenaries, stated that Ukrainian units were on the verge of taking control of Berkhivka, a district north of Bakhmut, which has been under Russian control for months.

Attacks on Russian soil

Pressure is mounting on the Kremlin. While virtually all its forces are dug in inside Ukraine to face a full-scale offensive, its own territories remain unprotected against enemy incursions and shelling. According to the government of the Russian border region of Belgorod, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired over 70 rockets from their Grad multiple launch systems against the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka, in the battered Shebekino district, overnight on Sunday.

Kyivs objective is to force Moscow to withdraw forces from the front line, thus weakening it. According to the authorities in Belgorod, over the last week 67 apartment buildings and 370 single-family houses have been damaged in the Shebekino district, which has been subjected to intense shelling.

Destroyed vehicles following what was said to be Ukrainian forces' shelling in the town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region, Russia, in this handout image released May 31, 2023. GOVERNOR OF BELGOROD REGION (via REUTERS)

Belgorod, the eponymous capital of which lies just 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Kherson, has been target by raids carried out by groups of anti-Kremlin saboteurs, supported by Kyiv. The latest attack took place on Sunday, when units of the ultranationalist Freedom of Russia Legion stormed Novaya Tavolzhanka and captured at least four Russian soldiers.

It is not known whether the troops taken prisoner were professional soldiers, conscripts, or volunteers from the amateur militias that the region has formed to protect itself. The regions governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, chaired an emergency council meeting and offered to arrange a parley to exchange the prisoners. The only thing that stops me from negotiating with them is our guys, who are in their hands. Most likely they killed them, as hard as it is for me to say. But if they are alive, from 17:00 to 18:00 Shebekino International Automobile Checkpoint. I guarantee safety, Gladkov said on Sunday.

The meeting, however, did not take place. After the deadline given by Gladkov, the Freedom of Russia Legion released a video showing the four alleged Russian prisoners and denounced the regional governors failure to show up for his own appointment. The entire power of United Russia  Vladimir Putins party  represented by Governor Gladkov, sits and panics in their comfortable offices while they leave their people in our hands. Now that we have finally understood how rotten and cowardly the government in command is, there is no point in communicating with them, the grouping said in a statement.

As well as Russian opponents of Putin operating in Belgorod, it has recently come to light that there are fighting units of Polish volunteers. Ukrainian special forces told EL PAIS that there are other foreign groups supporting the Freedom of Russia Legion. However, the use of weaponry supplied by Ukraines Western allies in attacks on Russian territory has raised concern. The Belgian government will demand explanations from Kyiv over the use of weaponry supplied to Ukraine in the Belgorod operation. The Washington Post reported Monday that U.S., Polish and Czech materiel has also been used by the saboteurs. For Washington and the European Union, there is a clear line when it comes to weapons they have supplied being used in attacks on Russian territory.

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(Tribune News Service)  Janice Lufkin, 81, a decorated former Navy nurse, former head nurse of the cardiac care unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, and award-winning American Red Cross volunteer died Saturday, May 13, of heart failure at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Lufkin served in the Navy Nurse Corps from 1966 to 1992 and earned a dozen medals, stars, ribbons and citations, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. She was the charge nurse of an 18-bed intensive care unit on the hospital ship USS Repose and spent a year during 1968 and 1969 treating injured soldiers and marines off the coast of South Vietnam.

She had later assignments as charge nurse at Philadelphia Naval Hospital and patient care coordinator at Navy medical centers in Portsmouth, Va., and Charleston, S.C. She became director for nursing services at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, in 1986 and held that position later at Navy hospitals in Jacksonville, Fla., and Charleston.

Her retirement from the Navy was marked by a ceremony on board the museum ship USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Charleston harbor. She was service-oriented and personable, said her brother David. She accomplished so much, and she was never boastful about it.

Earlier at Presbyterian Hospital, now Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Lufkin worked in the intensive care unit and became head nurse of a groundbreaking cardiac care unit in 1963.

A tireless volunteer after she left the Navy, Lufkin returned to her roots in Abington, north of Philadelphia, Pa., and served with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region of the American Red Cross. She provided aid at more than 200 disaster sites in Montgomery County, served as the Red Cross liaison with the Eastern Montgomery County Emergency Management Group, and won the EMGs 2017 Ed Momorella Eagle Award for commitment to the emergency services community.

She also won a 2008 Commemorative Award for service from the Philadelphia chapter of the Red Cross, and the International Committee of the Red Cross gave her a 2011 Florence Nightingale Medal for exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster.

She was disappointed, she told family and colleagues, that controversy over the Vietnam War resulted in the work and sacrifices of veterans and others being insufficiently acknowledged. She will be deeply missed, her family said in a tribute.

Janice Mae Lufkin was born Dec. 18, 1941, in Philadelphia. She grew up in West Oak Lane, moved with her family to Abington when she was 12, and graduated from Abington Senior High School in 1959.

Her mother, Betty, was a registered nurse, and Lufkin earned a nursing diploma at Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in 1962. She joined the Navy Nurse Corps in 1966 as a lieutenant junior grade, earned a bachelors degree in nursing from Boston University School of Nursing in 1978, and was promoted to captain in 1986.

Lufkin supported Boston University, the Salvation Army, National Museum of the Surface Navy, National Museum of the U.S. Navy, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 2011, she was one of 20 finalists for a Citizen Service-Before-Self Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. I was absolutely astonished when I got the call, she told The Inquirer in 2011.

It mattered not to her that she did not win. I love what Im doing, Lufkin said. Im not doing it for any awards. I just like helping people in trouble.

In addition to her brother, Lufkin is survived by other relatives.

A memorial service is to be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Rd., Abington, Pa. 19001. A reception is to follow. Interment and military honors are to be later at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Donations in her name may be made to the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region, Philadelphia Chapter, 2221 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.

(c)2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer

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Normandy, France, June 5, 1994: Parachutes glide toward Earth as some 550 paratroopers reenacted the 101st Airborne Division D-Day jump. Nineteen of them were veterans of the actual landing 50 years earlier; they fought to liberate the small town of Ste.-Mere-Eglise. They were the first to jump, together with 22 other WWII combat paratroop veterans. They preceded about 500 active-duty American and French paratroopers. The American paratroopers were from the 101st and 82nd Airborne division, and the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy. All landed in a 300-acre drop zone in Amfreville, about 3 miles from Ste.-Mere-Eglise.

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The United States next major conflict might very well be a cyber war, and our military, government agencies and contractors must prepare by finding and training modern-day, front-line cyber warriors. Easier said than done because many sailors, soldiers and airmen starting their careers dont know about the opportunities in cyber, and more importantly, are not aware how much their country desperately needs people with those skills to keep everyone safe in todays digital age.

My business partners and I have served the submarine community throughout our careers. Together we have built a company to enhance our militarys advanced technologies to improve their mission readiness and cyber resilience. Nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and fighter jets are super-complex systems of systems. With their technology dependence and inter-connectedness, they are incredibly difficult to protect from cyberattacks. Our countrys ability to prevail in future conflicts will depend on having more sailors and soldiers with cyber skills, just as we need an infantry that can shoot, and deckhands that can turn a wrench.

Fortune magazine reports that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the role of information security analyst will be among the fastest-growing and most in-demand jobs. Between 2021 and 2031, the number of information security analysts is projected to grow 35%, making it the eighth-fastest-growing occupation in the country.

In addition, according to employment data company CyberSeek, in May 2023, there were over 755,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. It provides perspective to the angst my partners and I feel over the 23 openings were working to fill.

With the U.S. Navy as our largest client, our company is constantly searching for well-qualified professionals who have experience in both cyber and the military. We have found that those who have received cyber training and experience through the armed forces are often the best candidates. One of the problems, though, in finding more talented professionals, is that cyber careers are not well understood and might seem daunting.

Two of our recent hires, who came onboard in 2022, are early adopters of cyber who launched their careers directly out of high school. One retired from the Navy after 20 years and the other after 9 years. These cyber security engineers are thriving based mainly on their Navy experience and cyber training, and each is earning nearly a six-figure salary.

One of the reasons for their success is they took advantage of the Navys top-notch training that consists of many paid-for courses and certifications that include A Plus, Security Plus, Certified Information Systems Professional, Certified Ethical Hacker, and Certified Information Systems Professional.

The key in developing modern-day cyber warriors is getting the message out about opportunities in that field before another career path is chosen. People who start out in cyber are crucial to highly complex and technical service offerings. Entry-level cyber engineers are critical in developing a new-age fighting force.

Cybersecurity is a never-ending battle, as there are always new ways for hackers to get in. To keep us all safe, our militarys cyber resiliency must be armed with the very best cyber warriors to plug vulnerabilities before they occur, and fight the digital, cloud and AI battles.

Tracy Gregorio is CEO of G2 Ops, an Arlington, Va.-based IT engineering company serving the Department of Defense. She started her IT career working at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Gregorio chairs the Cybersecurity Committee of the Virginia Ship Repair Association and serves on the Technical Advisory Board of the Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. Gregorio earned a masters degree in Computer Science from Old Dominion and a bachelors degree from Virginia Tech.
AMERICAN CEMETERY, Normandy, France  U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Tuesday that fighting in Ukraine has increased, but he cautioned against reading too much into each day's operations.

"There's activity throughout Russian-occupied Ukraine and fighting has picked up a bit," Milley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France  the final resting place of almost 9,400 troops who died 79 years ago during the allied D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Milley said it was up to Ukraine to announce whether its counteroffensive campaign has formally begun, but he said Ukrainian troops are ready for this fight.

"It's our estimation that the Ukrainian military is well prepared for whatever they do  they choose to fight in the offensive fight or in the defense," he said. "They're well-prepared."

But he also warned that as time goes on the fighting will vary.

"Like the Battle of Normandy or any other major battle, warfare is a give and take," Milley said. "There will be days you see a lot of activity and there will be days you may see very little activity. There will be offensive actions and defense actions. So this will be a back-and-forth fight for a considerable length of time."

The U.S. and allies and partners have been pouring billions of dollars in military weapons into Ukraine and have set up a wide range of combat training so Kyiv's forces can maintain that equipment and prepare for the long-anticipated counteroffensive.

Milley spoke as Ukrainian forces are widely seen to be moving forward with a new surge of fighting in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of front line in the east and south. The troops were moving to end what has been a winter-long battlefield stalemate and punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine after 15 months of war.

Punctuating that fighting was the stunning collapse Tuesday of a dam in southern Ukraine, triggering floods, endangering crops in the country's breadbasket and threatening drinking water supplies. Both sides blamed the other, as they scrambled to evacuate residents.

The surge in fighting comes after a long winter of preparation. Nearly weekly at times, the U.S. and allies pumped millions of rounds of artillery and other ammunition into Ukraine, along with increasingly lethal air defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries, tanks, drones and other weapons.

Looking back over the past year, Milley said Ukrainian forces defended their country well from the start of the invasion in February through the middle of the summer, and then did two successful offensive operations in Kharkiv and Kherson. Milley said he believes the training and weapons supplied by the allies over the winter have prepared Ukraine for the coming fight.

"A lot of training went into that, a lot of supplies, a lot of ammunition was provided by other countries to include the United States," said Milley. "They've been training now we think pretty well in combined arms operations. So I think they're prepared for what they think they need to do, no matter what type of operation they run."

Standing in front of rows of white crosses at the cemetery, Milley spoke just a few minutes after he and other top U.S. and allied military leaders laid wreaths and saluted the gathering of the last surviving World War II veterans attending the ceremony. The veterans, some of whom had stormed Omaha Beach, were almost all in their late 90s. But as Taps played, many rose from their wheelchairs to stand for the tribute.

Reflecting on their fight, Milley said there is a thread of similarity in the wars.

"You can't really compare that campaign to what's happening in size and scale and scope ... in Ukraine. But the purpose is very similar, which is the Ukrainians, obviously, their objective is to liberate the Russian-occupied Ukraine," Milley said.
MOSCOW  A Moscow court on Tuesday set the date for a new trial of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny that could keep him in prison for decades.

The Moscow City Court held a preliminary hearing behind closed doors to discuss technical issues related to the trial of the Kremlin's arch foe before it begins on June 19.

Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said that the trial will be held at a maximum security prison 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Moscow where Navalny is serving a nine-year sentence for fraud and contempt of court.

Navalny, 47, who exposed official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests, was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Navalny has said that the new extremism charges which he rejected as "absurd" could keep him in prison for another 30 years. He said an investigator told him that he would also face a separate military court trial on terrorism charges that could potentially carry a life sentence.

The new accusations come as Russian authorities are conducting an intensified crackdown on dissent amid the fighting in Ukraine, which Navalny has harshly criticized.

Navalny's supporters marked his birthday on Sunday by holding pickets and demonstrations, and more than 100 people were arrested.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Lawyers for Ukraine told the United Nations' top court Tuesday that Russia bankrolled a "campaign of intimidation and terror" by rebels in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014 and sought to replace Crimea's multiethnic community with "discriminatory Russian nationalism" after its occupation and annexation of the region.

The claims came at hearings at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscow's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Four days of hearings in the court's ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice opened against a backdrop of Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia were trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Lawyers for Kyiv presented legal arguments to support their case Tuesday. Russia's lawyers will address judges Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.

"When it could have instructed its officials not to fund groups committing violence against civilians, Russia did nothing," Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, told judges. "Instead, as more deadly weapons arrived in Ukraine and more Ukrainian civilians suffered atrocities, Russian officials escalated their illegal supply of monies and weapons sending."

Koh said that in July 2014, a Buk anti-aircraft system was sent into Ukraine "after which Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed."

Another lawyer on Ukraine's team, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine "attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fueled this campaign."

The Ukrainian legal team said Russia did nothing to prevent or help Ukraine investigate the financial streams.

Turning to alleged breaches in Crimea of a convention to combat racial discrimination, Koh said that, following its illegal occupation and annexation of the peninsula, Russia "sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterized Crimea before Russia's intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism."

He told judges that Russian policies amount to "a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians Ukrainians and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars."

The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia's illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities  a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored.

In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court doesn't have jurisdiction.

Not far away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia isn't a member of the court and doesn't recognize its jurisdiction.

A Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine.

"The Russian Federation has contempt for international law," a senior Ukrainian diplomat, Anton Korynevych, said. "Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality."
A major dam and a hydroelectric power plant close to the front lines in southern Ukraine were damaged in a blast early Tuesday.

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as officials warn of a risk of catastrophic flooding. Ukraine and Russia both blamed each other for the explosion.

Heres what we know so far.

Where is the Kakhovka dam, and why is it important?

The Kakhovka dam sits on the river Dnieper in Ukraines southern Kherson region. The river is the dividing front line between the Ukrainian-controlled Kherson region and the Russian-occupied Kherson region.

The Russians gained control over the dam and its hydroelectric power station in the first days of the invasion when they occupied the adjacent town of Nova Kakhovka.

The dams reservoir holds as much water as the Salt Lake in Utah. The reservoir provides a key water supply for Russian-occupied Crimea.

How badly damaged is the dam?

Videos shared Tuesday morning by Ukraines public broadcaster Suspilne appear to show the dam with its hydroelectric power plant almost completely submerged.

Both Ukraine and Russias occupying authorities in the region said the dam was not destroyed. A spokeswoman for Ukraines southern command, Natalia Humeniuk, said, nevertheless, the dam was severely damaged and there is a risk of rising water levels.

The head of the Russian-occupied administration, Vladimir Leontyev, who announced a local state of emergency in the area, said the gate valves of the dam were destroyed and the hydroelectric power plant would have to be rebuilt from scratch.

As a result, water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to be discharged downstream uncontrollably, Leontyev said.

How dangerous is the flooding from Kakhovka dam?

Ukraine and Russias occupying authorities are taking markedly different approaches to the risk posed by flooding.

Leontyev told residents that everything is under control and that evacuations will only take place from the areas that are flooded. There is no panic. All operational services have been working since night, he said, adding that people are being evacuated from flooded areas.

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said 80 settlements downstream from the dam are at risk of flooding, and Ukrainian authorities have ordered a mass evacuation.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson, said water levels would reach a critical height around 11 a.m. Kyiv time and that from there, officials would monitor the drop in levels.

Prokudins spokesperson also urged residents in the occupied areas, on the left bank of Kherson to immediately leave unsafe areas and if you cannot evacuate independently . . . to move away from the Dnieper River. Ukraines interior ministry said more than 800 people were promptly evacuated from the affected areas.

Prokudin said on national TV that 16,000 people are in what he described as the critical danger zone on the right bank of the river.

Yevhen Korzhov, a scientist from Khersons department of aquatic bioresources and aquaculture, said the affected area was likely to be around 38.6 square miles, from Nova Kakhovka to Kizomys.

However, the worst hit would be the areas closest to the dam, in the upper parts of the Dnieper River where the water levels may rise by 5 feet from their current levels. At the end of the Dnieper River, he predicted, levels would rise by around 1 foot.

This situation is not dangerous for the lower Dnieper, as the rise in the level will be short-term, no more than a week, Korzhov said.

Is the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant at risk?

There have been concerns that the damage to the dam could also impact the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europes largest.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the destruction of the dam has significantly reduced water levels in the reservoir used to supply cooling water the plant. The IAEA is in charge of monitoring the plant on behalf of the United Nations.

Grossi warned that absence of cooling water in the extended cooling systems for an extended period of time would cause fuel melt and inoperability of the emergency diesel generators. However, he added, at present the plants reservoir is intact, and there is no immediate risk.

Petro Kotin, the head of Ukraines state nuclear company, Energoatom, told Ukrainian media that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is not at risk. Kotin said the plant is cooled by its own pond, which is separated from the Kakhovka reservoir.

Russian energy officials also said the plant is not in jeopardy. Renat Karchaa, an adviser to Russian nuclear plant operator Rosenergoatom, told Interfax that specialists were using other technical methods to compensate for the decrease in water levels at the Kakhovka reservoir.

Who is responsible for the blast that damaged the dam?

Ukraine and Russia have emphatically blamed each other.

Humeniuk accused the Russian side of blowing up the dam, saying it was not hit by a rocket but apparently was destroyed by explosives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of blowing up the hydroelectric power plant from inside, and he described Russian forces as terrorists.

In Moscow, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the destruction of the dam was deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side and was born out of Ukraines desire to cut off water supplies to Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Peskov also suggested that the sabotage was carried out because Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive was failing. Ukrainian military officials denied that the counteroffensive has begun and described Peskovs claims as delusional.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and later met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

Blinken's trip, his second to Saudi Arabia since becoming America's top diplomat, comes after the kingdom under Prince Mohammed has been more willing to disregard the U.S. in striking its own decisions. Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with President Joe Biden on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and reaching a detente with Iran mediated by China. Biden also pledged to make Saudi Arabia a pariah over the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

However, Saudi Arabia still relies  like other Gulf Arab nations  on the U.S. to be the security guarantor for the wider Middle East as tensions over Iran's nuclear program in recent years have spilled over into a series of attacks. Riyadh and Washington also have been working in tandem to try and strike a lasting cease-fire in Sudan, which has been elusive during weeks of fighting between that country's military and a rival paramilitary force. And Saudi Arabia wants to end its war in Yemen, something also sought by the U.S.

Under the hood, especially when it comes to security and a few other matters like that, the relationship is stronger than it was a year ago, said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. It looks more strained  and in some superficial ways it is  but it is overall stronger.

Blinken arrived to a Saudi Arabia more eager to engage internationally, particularly after being involved in prisoner swaps in Moscow's war on Ukraine. The kingdom hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month at an Arab League summit, then Russia's sanctioned interior minister immediately after.

With oil prices well below $100 a barrel, the Biden administration doesnt have an immediate concern over prices at the pump in the summer driving season. Washington likely does hope to leverage its security relationship with Saudi Arabia as it gets warmer with China and Russia. However, the Saudis likely want guarantees that Biden can't provide when it comes to Congress stopping arms sales to the kingdom, Ibish said.

Khashoggi still haunts the halls of Congress. I dont think thats over in Washington, Ibish said. The rest of the world has moved on, but I dont think that Congress has moved on.

Asked about Blinken bringing up human rights issues, including Khashoggi's death, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim told journalists last week that human rights are a pillar of how this administration engages with countries around the world and in this region. Benaim declined to discuss specifics.

I think what youll see on this trip is a vision of the U.S.-Saudi relationship thats both rooted in our historic mainstays of cooperation in areas like defense and security and counterterrorism, includes ongoing important regional diplomacy when it comes to Yemen and Sudan, and looks for opportunities for regional de-escalation and regional integration, Benaim said.

He added: We will not leave a vacuum for our strategic competitors in the region.

Blinken met Prince Mohammed early Wednesday, with State Department saying they discussed their shared commitment to advance stability, security, and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond.

The secretary also emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights, a statement added.

A Saudi statement acknowledged the meeting, but offered no specifics.

Blinken's visit comes after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, traveled to Jeddah in May and met Prince Mohammed. The prince also hosted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime foe of America, for a meeting late Monday, Saudi state television reported.

Outside of meeting Prince Mohammed and other Saudi officials, Blinken also will attend an anti-Islamic State meeting in Riyadh and meet with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The six-nation GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

A deeper diplomatic engagement by the United States is likely to produce better outcomes in the long run than simply washing our hands and pulling back from the region, wrote Brian Katulis, the vice president of policy for the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

However, the challenges are many.

The Yemen war continues despite prisoner swaps and efforts to end the conflict. Meanwhile, both sides likely have wants that won't be fulfilled. Saudi Arabia increasingly has pushed for a nuclear cooperation that includes America allowing it to enrich uranium in the kingdom  something that worries nonproliferation experts as spinning centrifuges opens the door to a possible weapons program. Prince Mohammed has said the kingdom would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran had one.

Blinken on Monday night told a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that the Biden administration continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to verifiably, effectively, and sustainably prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. However, he added: All options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Blinken first traveled to Saudi Arabia as America's top diplomat last year as part of Bidens trip there. That trip saw Biden fly directly from Israel to the kingdom. Just before it, Saudi Arabia allowed overflight rights to Israeli airlines heading to Asia  a major move allowing them to save both flying time and jet fuel.

A diplomatic recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia though appears unlikely at the moment, despite neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recognizing Israel in 2020. Saudi Arabia under King Salman has repeatedly called on Israel to allow the Palestinians to create a state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now oversees the most right-wing and religious government in Israels history, making such a move highly unlikely given heightened violence and tensions there.
WASHINGTON  The chairman of the House Oversight Committee plans to move forward this week with holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress.

Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer said a more-than-hourlong briefing he received Monday from bureau officials about an unverified law enforcement tip against President Joe Biden does not amount to compliance with a subpoena.

FBI officials came to the Capitol on Monday to brief Comer, R-Ky., and Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the panel, about a June 2020 document that purportedly relates to Biden and his family.

The briefing was conducted privately in a secure space because FBI officials say the "several-page" form contains sensitive information.

"The FBI again refused to hand over the unclassified record to the custody of the House Oversight Committee," Comer told reporters after the briefing. "And we will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday."

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters he would bring the contempt resolution against Wray, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, to the floor if it passes the committee.

In response, the FBI said in a statement that the escalation to a contempt vote was "unwarranted" considering the bureau had "continuously demonstrated its commitment to accommodate the committee's request," while protecting the safety of sources and integrity of ongoing investigations.

The White House called the decision by Comer to move forward with contempt "another fact-free stunt" intended to "spread thin innuendo to try to damage the President politically and get himself media attention."

Comer initially wrote Wray on May 3 with GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. They said they had been informed that the FBI has a document that "describes an alleged criminal scheme" involving Biden and a foreign national "relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions" when Biden was vice president.

The word "alleged" was used three times in the opening paragraph of the letter and Comer offered no evidence of the veracity of the accusations or any details about what they contend are "highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures."

The document Republicans are focused on is what's known as an FD-1023, which agents use to record unverified tips and information they receive from confidential human sources. The FBI says such documents can contain uncorroborated and incomplete information, and that record of a tip does not validate the information.

The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify what is contained in the document.

Comer subpoenaed Wray for a copy of the document and warned he would be prepared to hold him in contempt of Congress if he didn't provide it. In response, FBI officials scheduled what they called an "extraordinary accommodation" and gave Comer access to the document "in a format and setting that maintains confidentiality and protects important security interests and the integrity of FBI investigations."

But Comer told reporters the briefing Monday was not enough for him. He said the FBI needs to physically hand over the record to the committee, which, for confidentiality reasons, it has refused to do.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Comer and Raskin gave differing and conflicting accounts about what they heard in the room.

Raskin said FBI officials told them the unverified tip against Biden relates to information that former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani provided to the Justice Department in 2020 about the business dealings of Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in Ukraine. Hunter Biden worked on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.

Raskin described the allegation in the document as "secondhand hearsay" by individuals in Ukraine that the department had reviewed and "found no reason" to pursue further in a preliminary investigation.

"The source, who has been described as highly credible by the FBI, told the FBI he could not provide any opinion on the underlying veracity of the information provided by these Ukrainian individuals," Raskin said in a statement late Monday.

He added that releasing the document to the public would be a "dangerous thing" because it could endanger the confidentiality of law enforcement sources.

Comer said the document contains allegations that show a "pattern of bribery" in the Biden family that is consistent with other claims the committee is investigating.

The Kentucky lawmaker has said repeatedly that "anything short" of producing the document would not be in compliance with the subpoena he issued last month. A contempt of Congress charge would require a full committee vote to send the resolution to the House floor. If the House were to hold Wray in contempt, it would be up to the Justice Department  where Wray works  to decide whether to prosecute him.

Pressed by reporters on why a contempt charge was necessary when the FBI has provided the subpoenaed information, Comer pointed to statements made by the White House. He also said the public needs to see the document.

"Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further," he said.

Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
Certain ideas are deep rooted in society; no matter how many times science disproves them. I remember that when I used to go to school, the teacher would explain to the class that while humans are rational, animals act on instinct. Twenty years have passed and, in that time, numerous evidence of animals learning from their environment and acting flexibly has been provided. However, one can still find dualistic discourses that are based on this simplistic idea, even within the academic world, reducing animals to mere biological machines whose behavior is determined solely by genes.

According to this view, cooperation occurs only between related animals and, if an individual falls ill, it is abandoned by the rest of the group because that is how natural selection works. In contrast, humans are rational beings, aware of our actions. We share values that make us care for injured individuals even if we are not linked to them in any way. These types of messages are easy to grasp, make us feel special and spread like a virus. Complex answers, on the other hand, are less popular, even if they are often more accurate.

By animals we are talking about more than a million different species. Many of them, like sea sponges or mussels, are probably just biological machines. And it is true that large numbers of species do lack the cognitive complexity and empathy to perform certain altruistic actions. But at this point, it has been shown that humans are not the only ones on the planet who help and care for those in need. Chimpanzees, elephants and cetaceans, in particular, stand out for this behavior.

Chimpanzees

In Gabon, chimpanzees apply insects to treat the open wounds of other individuals, and in Gombe, they have been seen using leaves to clean them. Chimpanzees living in the Tai forest adapt their behavior to the specific needs of those who are sick; for instance, the dominant males do not let other members of the group disturb them, and everyone waits for the injured to start walking before they resume the march. This kind of care usually occurs between related individuals, but not always.

In 2011, one of the most detailed studies regarding a case of help among chimpanzees in the wild was published. For two days, a teenage individual was observed helping an injured female carry her baby. The mother could not keep up with the rest of the group and stopped frequently, leaving the infant on the ground every time she did. The young male would then pick up the baby and carry it for much of the journey. Other males had been observed carrying babies in this chimpanzee community, but never for as long. The adolescent was not related to the mother.

Finally, there are numerous reports of chimpanzees adopting orphaned infants. As in humans, adoption in chimpanzees involves the regular provision of maternal care such as transportation, feeding, defense and grooming. In the Tai forest, adoptions by unrelated members of the group, such as young female friends of the deceased mother, are common.

In all these cases, prosocial behavior improved the situation of those in need, accelerating their healing, allowing them to keep up with the group or survive without a mothers care. This means that chimpanzees are able to understand the situation of other individuals in distress and flexibly provide appropriate help.

Elephants

A remarkable number of stories are known about elephants assisting others in need. In most cases, they are mothers and sisters trying to pick up a sick calf, help it cross a river or rescue it from the mud; however, sometimes assistance also occurs between unrelated individuals, even strangers.

An article published in 2006 narrates in detail the events surrounding the fainting and subsequent death of a matriarch named Eleonor. Two minutes after she hit the ground, another matriarch from outside the family hurried over with some degree of excitement. First, she sniffed and touched the body with her trunk and foot; then she lifted Eleanor back to her feet with her tusks. The matriarch died the next day and her body was visited by several different groups of elephants.

A recent study proposes that elephants, just like humans, have self-domesticated. For this reason, despite the fact that our evolutionary lineages diverged when the first placental mammals appeared, we share many characteristics such as a marked prosocial behavior, reduced aggressiveness, a long youth and a complex communication system.

Cetaceans

Cetaceans are characterized by high cognitive and communication abilities that allow them to create and maintain close social relationships. Dolphins, specifically, are known for their propensity to help others in different ways, flexibly adapting their help to each situation: they free individuals that get caught in fishing nets, hold the sick near the surface in the right position to prevent them from drowning, stay close to a calving female, get between a boat and an injured dolphin to prevent them from colliding, and even collaborate to form a raft to transport a paralyzed individual.

Anecdotes of cetaceans helping other species have also been reported. On one occasion, two dolphins were seen taking turns holding a newborn porpoise at the surface. Humpback whales harass orcas that are hunting other species, putting their own health at risk, as orcas often attack them when they try to interfere with their hunt.

As we continue to study wild animals, we will probably discover more altruistic behaviors in more species. However, it is also a mistake to fall into the cliche that animals are better than people. Again, this is a simplistic idea that does no justice to reality and separates us from nature. Chimpanzees also kill other individuals, and there is a known case of a bottlenose dolphin that, instead of helping a female that was emitting distress signals, decided to abandon her.

Humans are one more animal within natural diversity. We are not better, worse or more special. Like the rest, we have unique peculiarities, but neither reason, nor empathy, nor altruism are exclusive to us.
(Tribune News Service)  3M is nearing a settlement with scores of cities and water agencies over firefighting foam made with PFAS, the forever chemicals that have tainted groundwater across the country.

3M and plaintiffs lawyers Sunday asked that a big trial scheduled to start Monday in Charleston, S.C. be delayed while mediation continues. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel Monday granted a motion for the trials continuance.

Counsel for the plaintiff and counsel for 3M Company have been in serious settlement discussions to reach a global resolution of the claims of the water district plaintiffs pending against 3M, Gergel wrote in an order Monday.

The parties informed the court last evening that they have reached a stage in those discussions where they believe a final binding agreement is achievable in the near future.

Both 3M and plaintiffs lawyers told the court Sunday that they believe their time could be more effectively spent finalizing the agreement and obtaining the necessary approvals rather than commencing the trial of this case.

Last week, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Chemours Co. and DuPont spinoff Corteva Inc. agreed to $1.2 billion settlement before the trial, which pits over 3,000 plaintiffs  including cities, towns and public water agencies  against several firefighting foam manufacturers.

3M was the largest of those foam makers, and any settlement is expected to be several times higher than the DuPont agreement. Bloomberg News, citing unnamed sources, Friday reported a 3M settlement could be at least $10 billion.

3M faces a flood of lawsuits  and potentially tens of billions of dollars in liabilities  over myriad consumer and industrial products that contained PFAS. But no single case is more significant in terms of size, combined with possible damages, than the firefighting foam litigation in South Carolina.

A series of bellwether trials were expected to kick off Monday with the city of Stuart, Fla., as the plaintiff. Bellwether trials are common in multi-district litigation (MDL) cases like the firefighting foam litigation.

Such trials are aimed at encouraging settlements in MDLs, which are used in the federal court system for complex product liability matters with many separate claims.

Gergel ordered mediation of the PFAS firefighting foam litigation in October. Gergel wrote Monday that if a 3M and plaintiffs lawyers dont reach a binding settlement within 21 days, he will promptly reschedule the Stuart case for trial.

The firefighting foam case against 3M is akin to a tidal wave PFAS lawsuits filed in the past few years. Plaintiffs claims that 3M knew of the chemicals risks for years yet did not fully disclose them to government regulators.

In the 1960s, 3M and the U.S. Navy developed a new firefighting foam that was particularly good at quenching oil-related fires. The U.S. Air Force adopted the foam after the Navy  and so did fire departments of all stripes nationwide.

But what made the firefighting foam so effective were PFAS chemicals, which dont biodegrade, tainting the environment. They have been linked to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility and other maladies.

3M stopped making firefighting foam around 2000 because of potential environmental risks. The company stands by its handling of PFAS, arguing that the chemicals are safe to humans in the levels that exist in the environment.

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Visit at startribune.com.

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ATLANTA  The foundation charged with fundraising and care for the National Ranger Memorial at the Armys Fort Moore has asked House Republican leaders to reverse the decision to remove some Confederate-linked names from the monument.

The National Ranger Memorial Foundation wrote it was deeply troubled by the removal of three names from the memorial, describing it as the defacement and desecration of the monument in a May 23 letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The Ranger memorial was established in 1992 at Fort Benning, which became Fort Moore last month, to honor past and present Rangers and includes thousands of names on the monument and on brick pavers around it.

In the letter, signed by more than 100 Ranger veterans including seven retired generals, the foundation said it was opposed to the removal of three of four names ordered to be taken off the memorial: John S. Mosby, George Bowman and Jackson Bowman. It said it agreed with the decision to remove a fourth name, William Quantrill.

The foundation asked the House leaders to step in, accusing Fort Moore leaders of taking a heavy-handed approach to stripping the installation of links to the Confederacy, which Congress ordered in 2020.

In attempting to address the abominable treatment of our citizens of African descent, Fort Moore leadership has unfortunately taken a one-size-fits-all approach, which is itself abominable treatment of other citizen groups, the former Rangers wrote in the letter that the foundation published Sunday on its website.

Fort Moore officials said Tuesday that they were simply following orders.

The decision to remove some names from the memorial comes from the congressional mandate to strip names and items honoring Confederates from Defense Department installations and inventory. That mandate was included in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual law the sets Pentagon policy and spending priorities. That law established the so-called Naming Commission, which spent more than a year studying the issue and eventually called for the removal of items and the renaming of nine Army installations.

In its September 2022 report, the Naming Commission identified the four names to be removed from the Ranger Memorial, among hundreds of other names and items to be removed at other locations at the former Fort Benning. Last October, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered all entities within the Defense Department to implement the changes recommended by the commission by the end of 2023.

Leaders at Fort Moore, which is home to the Armys Ranger School, the 75th Ranger Regiments headquarters, its 3rd Battalion and the annual Best Ranger Competition, said they have worked for months to scrub the installation of items identified by the Naming Commission, including the references to Mosby, the Bowmans and Quantrill.

In accordance with the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021  and as directed by the secretary of defense, Fort Moore initiated the removal of Ranger memorial assets identified in the Naming Commissions recommendations, a Fort Moore spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. This work is planned to be complete by Jan. 1, 2024.

Fort Moore consulted with the National Ranger Memorial Foundation about these actions.

Nonetheless, the foundation said it was concerned about removing the names Mosby and Bowman and how it could harm their descendants.

We express grave concern for the impact of this decision on the families of those named, who are being denied the recognition and honor their loved ones earned through their brave service to our country, the letter reads. Furthermore, this decision undermines the integrity and significance of the memorial itself, which stands as a symbol of the sacrifice and dedication of our nations Rangers.

The foundation argued Mosby and the Bowmans, despite their Confederate service, should remain.

Mosby was a lawyer who became a Confederate cavalry commander known as the Gray Ghost for leading daring raids on federal forces. Mosby joined the Confederate army in 1861 out of loyalty to his family and the state of Virginia even after opposing secession and slavery, he claimed in his memoirs. He later reconciled with U.S. officials, and he served as an assistant U.S. attorney general and U.S. consul to Hong Kong under President Ulysses S. Grant.

The Bowmans were members of a Confederate cavalry troop under Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan, known as Morgans Raiders, which conducted raids into Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia during the Civil War.

Quantrill led a band of Confederate-aligned guerrilla fighters during the war that led murderous raids on Union-aligned cities. The foundation wrote in its letter that it agreed Quantrills name should be removed, writing it believed past leadership erred in approving its placement at the memorial.

The foundation also wrote removing the other names from the memorial would not foster unity within the Ranger community or our nation, nor guarantee equality.

We must remember and learn from our history, but we must not erase it, the group wrote in the letter. Removing from the Ranger memorial the names of those soldiers who supported the Confederacy but honorably served the United States of America thereafter is an affront to our shared heritage and values as a nation.
Three U.S. chemical companies say they have reached a $1.185 billion settlement deal over complaints about toxic pollutants known as forever chemicals in drinking water systems.

The pollutants, polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances  commonly known as PFAS  can be found in many industrial and cosmetic products and have been linked to infertility, thyroid disorders and several types of cancer. The chemicals have been found in drinking water consumed by thousands of U.S. communities and in products used by millions of Americans.

The substances are called forever chemicals because they do not naturally degrade in the environment. They also move easily through soils, contaminating drinking water sources and affecting fish and wildlife.

An agreement was reached Friday by DuPont de Nemours Inc., the Chemours Company and Corteva Inc., to comprehensively resolve all PFAS-related drinking water claims of a defined class of public water systems that serve the vast majority of the United States population, company officials said in a joint statement.

The companies will collectively establish and contribute a total of $1.185 billion to a settlement fund, it added.

PFAS chemical components are found in commercial and industrial products including fire extinguishing foam, food packaging, household cleaning products, shampoos and cosmetics, and nonstick cookware.

Several U.S. states and other countries have banned certain types of PFAS, and many major companies say they will discontinue their use, but the compounds have shown up in the water supplies of communities across the world.

Because of their persistence in the natural environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Officials warned last year that the chemicals pose a greater danger to human health than regulators previously thought.

The impact of PFAS exposure on human health remains uncertain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fridays settlement deal came ahead of a trial scheduled to begin Monday at the U.S. District Court in Charleston, S.C., in a claim brought by residents in Stuart, Fla.  one of hundreds of similar claims across the nation alleging harm from PFAS. The deal still requires approval by the judge overseeing the claims, the Associated Press reported.

This agreement represents the first of many steps to begin to redress the harms of PFAS contamination in Americas drinking water supplies, law firms representing plaintiffs said in a statement to the AP.

This settlement by DuPont, in our minds eye, deals with really just a fraction of this contamination, Michael London, a lawyer in one of the firms bringing legal action, told the news agency.

The settlement excludes some water systems, including those owned by states or the federal government, and smaller water systems.

In March, the EPA proposed the nations first drinking water standards for PFAS, which could require water utilities to detect and limit PFAS to 4 parts per trillion. The proposal could force the companies to spend billions of dollars to comply with the EPAs planned limits.

Many lawsuits are ongoing against companies that use PFAS in their products. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez on Thursday sued 21 companies that manufactured forever chemicals, seeking compensation for environmental damage and cleanup costs. Meanwhile, in Australia, landowners whose properties were contaminated by PFAS secured a $132.7 million settlement from the government last month. The lawsuit said the government had failed to prevent the chemicals, used in firefighting foam on air force bases, from escaping into nearby soil and groundwater.

Others are seeking solutions in technology. Canadian researchers said they had developed a filter method to remove forever chemicals from drinking water and potentially destroy the compounds permanently.

The Washington Posts Timothy Puko contributed to this report.
UNITED NATIONS  In an election that reflected strong global opposition to Russia's war against Ukraine, NATO and European Union member Slovenia soundly defeated Moscow's close ally Belarus on Tuesday for a seat on the U.N. Security Council starting in January.

The race between the two members of the U.N.'s East European group was the only contested election for five seats on the U.N.'s most powerful body, and was closely watched because of their opposing views on Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine.

In the secret ballot election in the 193-member General Assembly, Slovenia received 153 votes while Belarus got 38 votes.

"U.N. member states doubtlessly decided that Belarus' grave human rights abuses at home and whitewashing of Russian atrocities in Ukraine disqualify it from serving on the Security Council, a crucial body for safeguarding human rights," said Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch.

The four other countries elected to the Security Council to serve two-year terms, who faced no opposition, were Guyana, which received 191 votes, Sierra Leone with 188 votes, Algeria with 184 votes and South Korea with 180 votes.

The 10 non-permanent seats on the council are allotted to regional groups, who usually select candidates, but sometimes cannot agree on an uncontested slate.

The five new council members will start their terms on Jan. 1, replacing five countries whose two-year terms end on Dec. 31  Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates.

They will join the five veto-wielding permanent members of the council  the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France  and the five countries elected last year: Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland.

The Security Council is charged with maintaining international peace and security, but because of Russia's veto power it has been unable to take action on Ukraine.

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told reporters she was surprised at the support for her country. She said it proves that Slovenia convinced the vast majority of U.N. member nations that it can be "a reliable partner."

As a small country committed to multilateralism it's extremely important to speak to everyone and "embrace all parts of the world, and to work together for a better world," Fajon said. She would not talk about the Ukraine war.

Slovenia, which was part of Yugoslavia before it broke up in the early 1990s, will be joining the council for the second time since 1998-99. This will also be Sierra Leone's second time on the council.

Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister David Francis told reporters it was "a great day for this small, progressive, confident country  that has made the transition from war to peace" to return to the council after 53 years.

Francis said his country knows the devastation of civil war and the plight of bitterly divided communities, and will bring its experience to the Security Council because it knows "what the United Nations can do in terms of deploying large peacekeeping and peace support operations."

South Korea's U.N. Ambassador Joonkook Hwang said his country's four priorities when it joins the council will be peacekeeping and peacebuilding, promoting women in these activities, cybersecurity, and the impact of climate on security as well as counterterrorism and North Korea's nuclear program.

He expressed hope that the council, which has been blocked by Russia and China from responding to the North's escalating nuclear and ballistic missile programs, will be able to speak with a "unified voice, because this is not just about your politics" but about violations of international law and multiple Security Council resolutions.

This will be the third time on the council for South Korea and Guyana and the fourth time for Algeria.
(Tribune News Service)  A tribute to those who died during the Vietnam War is coming to Centerville next month as part of an exhibit that will also honor local men and women who died after coming home from the war.

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and mobile education center, will be on display from July 27 to July 30 in Yankee Park, 7500 Yankee St.

Hosted by Washington-Centerville Public Library, the exhibit honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War. It bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

The exhibit, which travels across the country, will be officially available for viewing continuously from July 27 to July 30. It is scheduled to arrive July 25, at Sinclair Community College: Centerville Regional Center, 5800 Clyo Road, and will be escorted to Yankee Park, according to Liz Fultz, the librarys director.

Well construct it beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday ( July 26), and it officially opens Thursday, July 27 (at) 10 a.m. with music, speeches, taps (and more), Fultz said. The exhibit will close at 2 p.m. July 30.

The tribute also will feature a special In Memory Honor Roll highlighting photos of Vietnam veterans from Ohio who returned from the war but have died since due to Agent Orange, post-traumatic stress disorder and other illnesses as a result of their service.

 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund believes all those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service, VVMF said on its website. The In Memory program enables the families and friends of those who came home and later died the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized.

Area residents may submit their loved ones information free of charge by June 27 at www.vvmf.org/inmemory-apply to have their profile included. All veterans from Ohio honored through In Memory program will have their photos and names on display as part of the mobile Education Center exhibit when The Wall That Heals is in Centerville.

Those wishing to honor a veteran should complete a short application and submit the veterans DD214 showing their proof of service in Vietnam, a copy of their death certificate and two photographs.

Having a veteran honored through the In Memory program includes creation of an online personal remembrance page with their photo and biographical information. Family members can share the page and leave remembrances about their loved one. To see the Honor Roll, visit www.vvmf.org/Honor-Roll .

Those who honor a veteran also receive an invitation to an upcoming In Memory weekend in Washington, D.C., including a ceremony on the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where each honorees name is read aloud. Each applicant also receives a printed personal tribute certificate with their veterans photo.

For more information, visit www.wclibrary.info/thewallthatheals.

Fultz said the goal of the exhibit is to honor as many Vietnam veterans from Ohio as possible.

The exhibit also will feature Left at The Wall, a display of items representative of those left at The Wall in Washington, D.C., and Directory and Kiosk, where people can search for names using VVMFs Wall of Faces on the kiosk or paper directories.

The library is soliciting volunteers to act as ambassadors to greet visitors and assist them, handle traffic control and help visitors with looking up a name.

Some of those harder spots to fill  the wee hours between midnight and 6 a.m.  are particularly good for veterans who understand the sacredness and solemnity of what happened, said library spokeswoman Debe Dockins, whose father served three tours in Vietnam.

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COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France  World War II veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name "Papa Jake," enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.

Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.

"I got in on the planning of D-Day ... I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok," he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm. "You can see me all over: 'Papa Jake.' I'm a legend! I didn't plan this, it came about."

Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded.

"I'm 100 without an ache or a pain. You can't fake that," he said.

On Monday, Larson went to the Pegasus Memorial, a site commemorating a key D-Day operation, when troops had to take control of a strategic bridge.

That's where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran : "I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet," Larson told Gladden, their hands clasped.

He also went Sunday into a parade alongside other U.S. veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6, 1944.

At every stop on his Normandy trip, "Papa Jake" was greeted by people asking for a selfie  in return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy.

Several French followers posted comments on his TikTok account to tell their emotion at seeing him.

Jake Larson was born in Owatonna, Minnesota. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 years old at the time.

In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. After D-Day, he continued this duty through the Battle of the Bulge.

Larson was in Normandy with a group of more than 40 U.S. veterans who traveled with the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps them visit former battlefields.
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France  More than 50 veterans from World War II braved the chilly, windy air along the northern French coastline to salute their fallen comrades on Tuesday, the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

This was wonderful, said former Army Air Corps pilot Daniel Keel, a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Its a great honor to be here.

Keel, 100, is one of just dozens of World War II veterans who are still living. Several surviving veterans attend the anniversary of the invasion at the Normandy American Cemetery in northern France each June. But as time passes, fewer show up. This year, there were about 55 veterans at the ceremony.

There arent many of us left, said Charles Shay, who was a 20-year-old infantryman and medic when he landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. He is 98. I hope to be here again next year.

Shay is a Native American and a Penobscot tribal elder from Maine. He was the states first Native American to be awarded the Legion dhonneur, Frances highest order of merit, for his actions on D-Day. He later served in the Korean War.

Betty Huffman-Rosevear also attended the ceremony Tuesday. She was a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps during the war. Having just celebrated her 102nd birthday on Saturday, she said it was an honor to be at the ceremony nearly eight decades after one of World War IIs most legendary days.

Exactly one year before D-Day, on June 6, 1943, Huffman-Rosevear married Army 2nd Lt. Billy Huffman, who died in Europe several months later. She was working with soldiers with brain injuries at a hospital in California when his plane was shot down over Denmark and he was killed in early 1944.

Beautiful, just beautiful, Huffman-Rosevear said Tuesday after the emotional ceremony ended. How great.

During the ceremony, which included speeches from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the group of veterans listened and watched from a plastic tent to shield them from the morning chill beneath gray, overcast skies.

Austin arrived in France to attend the ceremony after spending several days on a trip to Asia. When he spoke to the veterans sitting off to his right, Austin  a former four-star Army general who served for 41 years and led U.S. Central Command  was unequivocal in his gratitude.

The eyes of the world are still upon the heroes of D-Day, Austin said. To the veterans of World War II: We salute you. You saved the world.

It is you and your generation who have given us the freedoms that we enjoy, Milley told the veterans. Today, we honor more than 150,000 Allied soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy 79 years ago. Its a day of profound significance in the history of the world.

It was a day that began the liberation of France from Nazi tyranny, he added. Each of us, the living, has a duty. We have a duty to carry forward this experiment in democracy.

Tyranny and oppression were themes that Austin spoke about in his speech too.

In our unsettled times, we again hear some sneer that tyranny is the future, that people long for strongman rule, that the unity of free people will shatter, and that the hour of democracy has passed, he said. They are wrong.  We will not let the torch of freedom go out.

Normandy American Cemetery was the first American-administered cemetery to be established on European soil during World War II. Almost 9,400 people  mostly members of the military who died during Operation Overlord in the summer of 1944  are buried there.

Operation Overlord was the allied effort to drive German forces out of occupied parts of Western Europe. It began with D-Day on June 6 and lasted until the end of August. During that time, more than 20,000 Americans were killed in the battle and thousands of British, Canadian and other Allied troops also died.

Its expected the D-Day ceremony will be more prominent next year for the 80th anniversary. Many of the veterans said they want to come back and some of the younger Americans who were at the cemetery Tuesday voiced enthusiasm to attend such a historic event.

We finally decided to come this year, said Perry Jones, a New Yorker who traveled to France with his wife to witness the remembrance ceremony. Those who fought with the [World War II] generation deserve our greatest thanks and our ultimate respect.

We have always wanted to see something like this for a long time, and this year we just decided to do it, said Mary Anne Willis of Florida, who brought her two young granddaughters to Normandy. What an incredibly moving experience to see all the veterans up there and the planes flying over.  We may come again next year for the 80th anniversary.

Before Tuesdays ceremony started, the U.S. and French anthems were played and a group of military aircraft performed a flyover above the cemetery, leaving contrails of red, white and blue  the national colors of France and the United States. The planes wings were also painted in red-white-blue livery.

Wow that was so cool! a young American girl, wearing the stars and stripes draped around her shoulders, said to her father. Look at all those colors!

Youre going to remember this day forever, her father replied.
An ultrasound scan announced his arrival, and the congratulations and likes poured in. Then a picture in the hospital, after labor. One more, this time on vacation, splashing in the pool. Then dancing at a wedding. Even the day he made a mess in the kitchen, or when he fell and cried and laughed at the same time. Also one from the time he had to be taken to the hospital  nothing serious, thank God, but his parents were so scared! Not to mention his followers. This could be any kid; lets say he is three years old, but they can be any age, really. Their entire lives are posted online, on a public profile, for anyone to see. Its all there: their name, their age, who their relatives are, how their voice sounds like, the school they go to, what they like to wear, their favorite foods, their tantrums. Their online identities were not created by them, their digital footprint is beyond their control and, through their parents accounts, they have more followers than many of the readers of this article.

This phenomenon is known as sharenting. Educational psychologist Vanesa de la Cruz cites two reports from a few years ago to describe the panorama: According to a study by the computer security company AVG, 81% of children have an online presence before they are six months old. Another study, from the University of Michigan, concluded that 56% of parents believe that some people share photos that could be embarrassing to their children. De la Cruz, who works for the Fad Juventud Foundation in Spain, coordinates the Connected Education project, which trains families in digital education.

As social media has become an integral part of our lives, many times, the families are not aware that they cannot control what happens with the information that they share, explains De la Cruz. They have to realize that the images could go beyond a private profile; when they are posted as a WhatsApp status, for example. Children can be vulnerable to identity theft, to become memes and be harassed by their peers, to end up in image banks for sexual purposes... But not only that: by sharing their private life, their personal matters are on social media, she warns. Sharing images is not a parental right, she adds, emphasizing that in the case of public figures, everything rises to the nth degree, with the added factor that children are exposed to hate messages, which can seriously hurt their self-esteem.

Willow Smith, the daughter of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, told the digital magazine Girlgaze in 2017: Growing up and trying to figure out your life while people feel like they have some sort of entitlement to know whats going on, is absolutely, excruciatingly terrible  and the only way to get over it, is to go into it. She was 17 at the time. You cant change your face. You cant change your parents. You cant change any of those things. So I feel like most kids like me end up going down a spiral of depression, and the world is sitting there looking at them through their phones; laughing and making jokes and making memes, she added. If you open up your Instagram right now, I guarantee you that youll see a photo or a video of someones child. At all hours, there are thousands of videos and photos shared, with hundreds of likes and comments.

Maria Lazaro, author of the book Menores y redes sociales [Minors and social media], believes that the difference between the exposure of children of celebrities and influencers years ago and what happens now is that in social media the audience is multiplied by a thousand, and that reach is permanent. Before you were on television, but nobody could use that image; now it is amplified and remains indelible.

Overexposing their private life

However, Lazaro widens the scope to include all children, not just those with famous parents. Its a double problem. On one hand, we want to teach our children not to overexpose themselves on social media when we are the first to do so, and on the other, we have taken the possibility of deciding and managing their digital footprint away from them. Her recommendation? Not to share photos, and if we do, to respect their privacy in the image. Also, children should be involved in the decisions. When you start to ask them if they want you to share a photo, they surprisingly begin to say no, especially when they hit their teens.

A recent analysis by the Open University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, warned about the dangers of sharenting, citing studies such as one by the University of Valencia that reveals that 72% of the material seized from convicted dual sexual offenders (that is, pedophiles who also physically abuse minors) were non-erotic or sexualized images of totally or partially naked children that they found in commercial sources or family albums. That is to say, they were normal photographs of everyday scenes.

A campaign to raise awareness among parents by the Anar Foundation  whose aim is to defend the rights of minors  exemplifies this with the fictitious case of Marina, a girl whose parents uploaded 200 photos and videos to the internet in her first year of life. By the time she is 13, there will be more than 2,000. Also in the campaign is one mothers testimony, who prefers to remain anonymous. She says that she has gone from never uploading a photo with the faces of her children, who are now nine years old, to making sure that her private profile only includes people that she knows and trusts, so she can use it as a sort of photo album.

Meanwhile, one day she found on a website a picture of her children taken at a family photo shoot. They had uploaded it without authorization. It was a frightening find: I dont even want to look into it; I rather not to know if its anywhere else. But one day I realized that I want to have memories with my children, of their life at school and their activities with their friends. Covering their faces is like stealing their identity. I talk to them [about it], and they tell me if its okay for me to upload the pictures, she says. Still, she admits that she is horrified to see some of her friends posts. They have even shared images of their children in the hospital.

Children are exposed to a reality that adults did not have to face, explains Lazaro, who mentions examples in Austria and Italy of minors who have even taken legal action against their parents for sharing too much of their lives online.

Awareness is key

Cristina (her name has been changed to protect her privacy), the mother of a six-year-old boy, says that she has many doubts regarding how to educate her son in an environment where social media is ubiquitous. I think there is an age to exist online, and for now I want to keep my childs footprint in the digital world as small as possible. This is why I only share his photos on a family WhatsApp group, and we have agreed that they cannot be used outside of it.

Nacho Guadix, head of education and digital rights for UNICEF Spain, recommends, firstly, to learn about the privacy policies of social networks. Many families follow suit without giving it much thought, he says. They share images out of pride and the need for recognition, or to create attractive content. In addition, barely 13% of the parents of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16 limit the content that their children see online. This is a sign of how little risk families see in this practice, he concludes.

Guadix calls for awareness: There are future risks that are difficult for us to even imagine at this point. For example, with artificial intelligence. It is not about living in a cave; we are not in favor of a total ban, but it is good to ask ourselves what we gain by publishing the image. If there is no benefit, its better not to publish it. And when we do, we should decontextualize it as much possible, without sharing information about where the school is or what park you go to. Pedophiles are super clear on how to pull that thread.

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The accused, both with addresses in Finglas, are charged with violent disorder on August 9, 2022.

TWO brothers accused of producing a bicycle saddle and pole during an alleged violent melee in Finglas last summer have been sent for jury trial.

Glen Ward (30) and his brother Eric ODriscoll (21) are two of a group of five men who were charged after gardai viewed CCTV footage of a fight.

The pair were served with a book of evidence when they appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

The date of their next court appearance was not revealed in open court, after a court was previously told there was a serious threat on the life of Mr ODriscoll.

The accused, both with addresses in Finglas, are charged with violent disorder on August 9, 2022.

The pair are also charged with producing a bicycle saddle and pole during a fight, in a manner likely to intimidate another person and capable of inflicting serious injury.

Eric O'Driscoll

The incident is alleged to have taken place at the junction of Cardiffsbridge Road and Deanstown Green in Finglas at around 5pm on the day in question.

The men are facing trial in the circuit court after the DPP directed that the allegations were too serious for the district court.

A State solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who go forward to the next sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Gerard Jones assigned defence solicitor Niall O'Connor and one junior counsel on free legal aid.

Judge Jones also gave the men the formal alibi caution.

The judge ordered that a videocopy of an interview which gardai conducted with the accused be handed over to their legal team.

Glen Ward

The men were remanded on bail to appear before a court in the Criminal Courts of Justice on another date.

The men have not yet indicated a plea to the charges.

At an earlier court hearing, Garda Kieran Moloney said that gardai received numerous reports of a group of men with knives and pitchforks at the junction of Cardiffsbridge Road and Deanstown Green.

There was "even mention of a firearm", the garda alleged.

The court had heard that gardai went to the scene, and the large gathering began to disperse. The brothers were arrested after gardai viewed CCTV footage of the incident.
Insiders have said his wife Simoan McEnroe was in Ibiza when he was arrested after leaving him with their two young relatives and island-hopping.

Liam Byrne, described by the NCA as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang, after he was arrested on Sunday. Photo: NCA/PA

Liam Byrne (left) with his brother David, who was shot dead in the Regency Hotel attack

KINAHAN Cartel gang boss Liam Byrne was arrested as he tucked into a meal at a Majorcan restaurant with two of his young relatives.

The 42-year-old, thought to be one of the most trusted members of the organised crime group, was eating alone with the youngsters when he was lifted.

Well-placed sources revealed overnight he had deliberately picked a table at the back of the large restaurant in Alcudia in the north-east of the island where he could watch people coming in and try to prepare himself for unexpected company.

The eatery has not been named.

Byrne, held on a UK-issued international arrest warrant on suspicion of firearms offences, remained in custody in Majorca early this morning following his Sunday evening arrest and it is not yet clear if he has already appeared before an extradition judge in a court hearing by videoconference.

The arrest was made by officers from a Madrid-based fugitives unit working with police from a Majorca-based organised crime squad.

Liam Byrne, described by the NCA as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang, after he was arrested on Sunday. Photo: NCA/PA

Byrne is understood to have arrived in Majorca from his Dubai hideaway on May 26 using a false passport.

Insiders have said his wife Simoan McEnroe was in Ibiza when he was arrested after leaving him with their two young relatives and island-hopping.

Simoan, who is not involved in crime, is thought to have flown back to Majorca for a tearful reunion with the youngsters after learning her husband had been taken into custody.

A well-placed source said Byrne was halfway through a meal with his two young relatives when he was arrested.

It was a large restaurant and he was sat at the back on a table where he had a good view of the entrance door.

He was carrying no documentation on him when he was arrested. He didnt resist arrest or claim to be someone he wasnt.

Another insider said: His partner was in Ibiza and so he wanted to make sure in the first place that his children were left in safe hands.

They were handed over to a friend.

Liam Byrne (left) with his brother David, who was shot dead in the Regency Hotel attack

He came very quietly and everything went very smoothly.

Officials at Spains Audiencia Nacional court, which deals with extradition proceedings, were unable to clarify overnight whether he had already appeared before a judge and indicated whether he had agreed to be sent back to the UK or said he would fight any forced return.

A source on the island said: He is still in Majorca at the moment.

The restaurant where Byrne was eating is understood to have a British name and has been described as an eatery which is popular with British and Irish holidaymakers and expat locals.

It emerged after his arrest the Kinahan network had suffered another blow with the arrest of another alleged member, Thomas Bomber Kavanaghs son Jack.

Liam Byrne

Confirming the two arrests after Spanish police published a statement about Byrnes detention and released footage showing him being taken into custody, the UKs National Crime Agency said: Two men wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of firearms offences have been arrested in Spain.

Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.

He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May.

Another suspected member of the crime group, Jack Kavanagh, 22, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police last Tuesday (30 May) at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.

The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland.

The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.

They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said: This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group. Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.

Earlier in the day Spains National Police said in a statement, where it referred to Byrne although he was not named: National Police officers have arrested in Majorca a dangerous Irish fugitive who is a member of the Kinahan clan and was a priority of the UKs National Crime Agency, for leading a criminal organisation involved in weapons trafficking in the UK.

The fugitive led the weapons trafficking organisation which bought pistols and submachine guns to then sell to other organisations.

Many of the weapons were bought with systems that didnt leave fingerprints to be able to commit crimes and complicate police work.

Such was the size of the organisation that it received an order from another organisation for 14 firearms in a single batch.

During the NCAs investigation in Great Britain and Northern Ireland several members of the organisation this man belongs to were arrested for these crimes and for drugs trafficking, and a hideout with several handguns, submachine guns and a large amount of ammunition was discovered.

The fugitive fled to Dubai after the NCA investigation finished and enough evidence was accumulated against him, and there he continued enjoying a luxury lifestyle and leading the organisation from a distance.

After a lengthy investigation the NCA discovered the fugitive had recently travelled to Majorca to meet up secretly with his family, and British police contacted the Spanish National Polices specialist fugitive unit to make inquiries on his whereabouts.

Officers were able through inquiries to locate a vehicle he could be using.

After focusing the search on that area, the fugitive was located and arrested.

Liam, who was named in Dublins High Court as the leader of the so-called Byrne Organised Crime Group, is considered to be the de-facto leader of the Kinahan cartel in the UK.

He is believed to have taken over from mobster Thomas Bomber Kavanagh as the number two in the hierarchy of the Kinahan cartel, and leader of its operations in the transporting of drugs across the UK and Ireland.

Kavanagh, who is Liams brother-in-law, is currently serving a 21-year sentence for conspiring to import millions of pounds worth of drugs.

A spokesman for Spains National Police in Majorca said late yesterday/on Monday: The arrest was carried out yesterday night/on Sunday night by the National Polices Madrid-based Fugitives Group and the National Polices UDYCO group which fights organised crime.
Yasmin Stephens (29) was given a four-month suspended sentence for being an intruder in the car park in an incident last year

A woman who once robbed a homeless man hours after witnessing her own boyfriends murder has been spared jail for her latest offence  trespassing in a city car park.

Yasmin Stephens (29) was given a four-month suspended sentence for being an intruder in the car park in an incident last year.

The mother-of-one pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to trespassing at Fleet Street car park last August 7, when she was found on the premises with no valid excuse.

Judge Bryan Smyth was told another incident on St Stephens Green West last December 1, gardai found her and others using drugs and told them to desist and leave. Stephens left but returned.

She had been addicted to drugs but was now in a better place, and on a community employment scheme, her lawyer said. This was a testament to her character and courage.

The latest charges were unrelated to events several years ago when a murder charge against Stephens was dropped and she admitted robbery.

Stephens boyfriend Kieran Farrelly (33) was shot dead by Sean Ducque in 2014.

Stephens had initially been charged with the murder, which she denied, but prosecutors dropped that charge, while Ducque was tried and jailed for the killing.

Both Stephens and Ducque were convicted of robbing a homeless man on a nearby street in the early hours of the following morning. Stephens was given a four-year suspended sentence in 2018 for the robbery.
The accused, who cannot be named, is alleged to have assaulted the two soldiers on November 13, 2021

A retired Irish army sergeant is to go on trial accused of sexually assaulting two male soldiers.

Court Martial proceedings were due to get underway today but were adjourned to a later date when a legal issue arose.

The accused, who cannot be named, is alleged to have assaulted the two soldiers on November 13, 2021. He is pleading not guilty to the charges. Under reporting restrictions, the location of the alleged assaults also cannot be published.

This morning, a Limited Court Martial was convened at the Military Justice Centre in Dublins McKee Barracks. The trial was due to begin before a military judge Colonel Michael Campion and a court martial board - the equivalent of a jury.

However Col Campion told the seven-member board the case was not in a position to proceed today.

A legal issue has arisen that needs to be attended to elsewhere, he said.

He stood the board out and listed the case for mention this Friday, when we will have a clearer picture of when the trial will be in a position to proceed.

He said depending on the progress being made, the board might have to be discharged if the case was going to go past the anticipated time frame.

The accused was not required to address the court and was represented by barrister Michael Vallely BL. Commandant Sean Coffey BL represented the Director of Military Prosecutions.

At a limited court martial, the military judge decides on all issues of law arising, and the board decides on issues of fact. Findings of fact require a two-thirds majority and after a trial, the judge decides the sentence, if any, to be imposed. The maximum potential sentence is two years imprisonment.
Cities outside Dublin see highest spike in crime compared to pre-pandemic

Nationwide one of the crime categories with the biggest increase was homicides, which have risen by 30pc in comparison to before the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Getty

Cities outside of Dublin have recorded the highest spike in crime rates compared to pre-pandemic levels.

An analysis of crime figures by the Irish Independent reveals that 252 out of a total of 564 garda stations nationwide saw crime levels in 2022 that were beyond pre-pandemic levels, including 119 stations which recorded a five-year peak.

Stations in cities such as Cork, Limerick and Waterford had the highest increases.

On a positive note, there were 257 stations where crime levels fell during 2022, with significant reductions in places such as Salthill, Kinsale, Finglas, Bray, Mayorstone Park in Limerick, Ballymun, Ballinrobe, Irishtown, Wicklow and Carrigaline.

However, one of the crime categories with the biggest increase nationwide was homicides, which have risen by 30pc in comparison to before the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is despite major garda successes in recent years in targeting feuding crime gangs and reducing gangland murders to unprecedented low levels.

The busiest garda station in the country last year was unsurprisingly in Dublin city centre, which dealt with more than 25 crimes on average every day.

Sources have said that garda resourcing issues, particularly in stations outside of the county, are partially to blame for a spike in crime rates.

The Policing Authority recently found that resource scarcity present considerable policing performance challenges including around community policing, economic crime and victims services.

Among the stations with the biggest increases were Anglesea Street in Cork  up 12.4pc over pre-Covid levels  as well as Henry Street, Limerick, where crime was up 4.4pc compared to 2019 and the main station in Waterford city (+4.3pc).

Other large stations that recorded a five-year peak in crime last year included Portlaoise, Naas, Athlone, Wexford and Dungarvan as well as several stations in Dublin such as Balbriggan, Lucan, Lusk and Skerries.

The most dramatic increases were recorded in Rathcoole, Co Dublin (+34.4pc since 2019); Clonmel (+24.8pc) and Ronanstown in west Dublin (+19.3pc).

Overall crime levels nationally were up 12pc last year with almost 211,400 offences recorded  more than 22,600 extra crimes compared to 2021.

The increase was not unexpected due to the easing of restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year was also the worst year for crime in the past five years in Cork, Galway, Kildare, Waterford and Wexford.

The highest increase was recorded in Wexford where overall crime was up by 9.2pc on 2019 levels, with five-year peaks recorded at stations in Wexford, Enniscorthy and Gorey.

In Kildare, five-year peaks in crime were recorded at garda stations in most of the countys main towns including Naas, Newbridge, Athy, Maynooth, Kildare and Leixlip.

Two of the three garda divisions in Cork  Cork City and Cork North  had higher crime rates last year compared to pre-pandemic levels.

However, Cork West was one of only two of the 28 divisions along with Wicklow where recorded crime in 2022 was at its lowest level over the past five years.

Several stations in Cork also witnessed crime levels drop to a five-year low during 2022 including Cobh, Kinsale and Skibbereen.

Although crime levels across Galway last year were slightly up on 2019 levels, five-year peaks were recorded in several stations including Athenry, Gort, Oranmore and Clifden.

Across the country, other garda stations experiencing record crime rates in 2022 included Portarlington, Castleblayney, Laytown, Kells, Dunshaughlin and Tullow.

In contrast, there were other stations where the number of recorded crimes dropped to their lowest total in five years in 2022 including Bray, Mayorstone Park in Limerick, Salthill, Celbridge, Dunboyne, Cahir, Blessington, Kilrush, Ennistymon and Monasterevin as well as several stations in Dublin such as Ballymun, Sundrive, Raheny and Malahide.

The analysis also shows that crime rates rose in a majority of the 14 main offence categories last year apart from fraud, which decreased by a dramatic 32pc coming out of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, there were declines in controlled drug offences (-12pc) and dangerous and negligent acts, which mostly related to driving offences (-1pc).

The most significant increases were in theft offences (+41pc); homicides (+30pc); robbery, extortion and hijacking offences (+19pc) and assaults, attempts/threats to murder and harassment offences (+17pc).

The spike in homicide cases comes despite near record low in gangland related murders, following successes by gardai in tackling feuding gangs.

The CSO figures, which are based on offences recorded by the Garda Pulse system, show the overall level of crime rose in 24 of the countrys 28 garda divisions last year compared to 2021.

Only Roscommon/Longford, Mayo, Cork West and Wicklow bucked that trend.

They also reveal that theft is the most prevalent crime across the Republic, accounting for 31pc of all offences recorded last year.

However, theft was not the dominant crime in many garda stations.

Public order offences  the second most common category in 2022  were the most reported offence at 63 stations.

Two Garda stations in Tipperary  Shevry and Templederry  shared the honour of having the lowest recorded crime levels last year with just two offences, a theft and a burglary, reported in each.
Sidney Mowbray's latest conviction was for possession of drugs, criminal damage to a car with a rolling pin and disorderly behaviour

One of Irelands most prolific offenders says he is retiring from a life of crime  after almost 300 convictions.

In the latest chapter of a criminal career stretching back more than 30 years, Sidney Mowbray (54) was convicted at Limavady Magistrates Court of possession of drugs, criminal damage to a car with a rolling pin and disorderly behaviour.

This brought his total number of convictions to 284.

However, Mowbray says his days of appearing in court are over.

His solicitor told the court his client is determined to stay on the straight and narrow  but a judge said he had his doubts about Mowbrays planned retirement from crime.

Outlining the details of Mowbrays latest offences, a solicitor for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said 14 grams of cannabis, along with a number of deal bags and scales, were found in a coffee jar during the search of a house in Limavady on March 14, 2022.

During interview, Mowbray admitted the drugs were his and had been bought for personal use.

Defence solicitor, Derwin Harvey, said the last time Mowbray was in court in connection with the latest offences, he claimed he was retiring from coming before the courts.

That is his plan, said the solicitor.

Addressing Judge Peter King, Mr Harvey added: I would hope this bit of offending is the last time you will see Mr Mowbray.

The solicitor said the search during which the drugs were found last year was in relation to a package sent to Mowbrays partners son at the address, which had been intercepted and had been found to contain Class C drugs.

He said Mowbray conceded at that time he was smoking cannabis as opposed to drinking heavily.

In relation to the attack on the car, which happened on October 10 last year, Mr Harvey said Mowbray had taken alcohol on that occasion.

The solicitor said there had been a falling out between Mowbray and a neighbour.

The court was told there had been rumours spread and his neighbour had parked their car outside Mowbrays house on the day in question.

Mr Harvey said his client was intoxicated, took a rolling pin and went outside and caused the damage.

When he sobered up, he was very apologetic for his behaviour and he states it was out of character, said the solicitor.

Mowbray was fined 250 for possessing the cannabis.

He was jailed for a total of three months for damaging the car and disorderly behaviour but the sentence was suspended for a year.

He also ordered to pay 100 compensation to the owner of the car.

Judge King said: Hopefully, Mr Mowbray can now enjoy a trouble-free retirement from the criminal justice system. I have my doubts but I am to be proved wrong.

Two years ago, Mowbray became embroiled a dispute with a man he suspected was selling heroin in Limavady and decided to speak out after a woman died from an overdose.

As a result, he claimed every window in his house was smashed by the alleged dealer.
It emerged today he had appeared before an extradition judge yesterday, although the news was only made public this afternoon

Liam Byrne, described by the NCA as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang, after he was arrested on Sunday. Photo: NCA/PA

Liam Byrne was arrested on the holiday island of Majorca

Kinahan cartel gang boss Liam Byrne has said he will fight extradition during a court hearing.

The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody following his confirmation he would refuse to be sent back to the UK for trial.

It emerged today he had appeared before an extradition judge yesterday, although the news was only made public this afternoon.

The hearing took place in private as is normal in Spain.

Byrne is believed to have appeared before a judge at Spains Audiencia Nacional court, which deals with extraditions, via video-link from Majorca where he was arrested on Sunday.

Officials were not able to confirm whether he appeared in person at the court in Madrid, but if, as thought, the hearing took place via videolink Byrne would likely have been remanded to a prison on the island.

An official at the Audiencia Nacional said: The Irish national arrested in Majorca on Sunday was handed over to the courts yesterday.

He was provisionally remanded in prison. He is not agreeing to be extradited.

Senior Kinahan Lieutenant Liam Byrne arrested in Spain

Byrnes decision to fight extradition means a separate hearing will now take place where a defence lawyer will put forward reasons why he should not be made to return to the UK. It is expected to delay any extradition by several weeks if not months.

The Irishman was held on Sunday night on a UK-issued international arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia while having dinner with two younger relatives.

He is believed to have flown to the island from his hideaway in Dubai with his family.

The UKs National Crime Agency confirmed yesterday Liam Byrne was one of two suspected members of the Kinahan clan arrested in Spain.

It said in a statement: Two men wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of firearms offences have been arrested in Spain.

Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.

He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May.

Another suspected member of the crime group, who is aged 22, is a very close associate of Byrnes main partner in crime, Thomas Bomber Kavanagh.

He was arrested as part of the international police operation at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey last Tuesday.

Liam Byrne was arrested on the holiday island of Majorca

The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland, the statement confirmed.

The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.

They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said:

This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group. Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.

The Byrne Organised Crime Group became a central part of gangland crime in this country, relying heavily on family connections as they became an integral part of the Kinahan cartel.

The group led by Liam Byrne forged a close partnership and became a trusted arm of the Kinahan cartel, which has become a global player in organised crime over the past two decades.
Leave alcohol at home, dont use beaches as a place to drink

Mass brawl breaks out at Irish beach over the Bank Holiday weekend

Labour Justice Spokesperson Aodhan ORiordain says the number of Gardai needs to be ramped up in light of a public brawl on Burrow Beach over the weekend.

The popular north Dublin sand bank at Sutton Cross saw a large group of youths fight running battles over the dunes in embarrassing scenes on Sunday.

This issue will now be front and centre as Minister for Justice Helen McEntee returns from maternity leave.

She's just going to have to ramp up the number of Gardai and give them the resources they need, Mr ORiordain told Newstalk Breakfast.

The Dublin Bay North TD referenced previous issues that have engulfed the popular bathing spot near Howth.

It was very unfortunate and extremely unseemly. There have been small issues with Burrow Beach going back a number of years. Alcohol was likely a contributing factor.

Aodhan O'Riordain

We need a recasting of the mind of whats appropriate and whats not appropriate. If people want to enjoy alcohol, there are places where they can do that.

We, as people enjoying our beaches, have to take more responsibility  leave alcohol at home, dont use beaches as a place to drink, Mr ORiordain said.

There is a responsibility on local council and law enforcement as well as regular beachgoers to help deal with the situation, according to Aodhan.

We do have a situation where drinking of alcohol outdoors has been banned by council by-laws, and it just hasnt been enforced.

Burrow Beach hasnt been loved by Fingal County Council over the last number of years, and this really has brought things to a head.

Gardai are going to have a take a stronger look and control and surveil that part of Dublin. Which is unfortunate, but we can't let that happen again.

If we allow a situation that continues consumption of alcohol on beaches, this sort of fighting is going to keep happening, Mr ORiordain added.

Gardai are currently investigating the incident at Sutton. A video of the brawl showed topless young men fighting, punching and kicking in running battles.

Gardai in Raheny are appealing to any person who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them in Raheny garda station on 01 666 4300, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, they said.
Amarildo is a 28-year-old Brazilian who talks to alligators during the day. Locating them at night is very easy even for a tourist who has just landed in the Amazon jungle. In the darkness, it is enough to comb the surface of the Amazon Rivers tributaries with a flashlight to find them. Each one of the red dots that stand out so clearly is an alligator. Any night you can count up to 15 of them outside the Uakari ecotourism complex. Vacationing here falls into the category of the very special, because this little hotel with floating cabins only accommodates 24 guests; it is located inside a nature reserve in the heart of Brazils Amazon rainforest, and it is also a laboratory for scientific research of the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentavel Mamiraua, created in 1999 to investigate the biodiversity of the Amazon, its conservation and sustainable development. It is based in the Brazilian municipality of Tefe.

The most effective way to locate alligators by day is to talk to them, as Amarildo, a veteran local guide, does. Sitting at the stern of the canoe, he imitates the sound of the reptiles and listens until one of them responds. He then rows towards it to point it out to visitors as it slightly pokes its head out of the water. These specimens can measure almost three meters (9.8ft) in length.

Getting to the Mamiraua reserve is not easy and staying here is not cheap, but the experience is unique. Of course, it is strictly forbidden to swim in the river because of the ever alert alligators and piranhas. The great incentive is to live for a few days (there are packages of different durations) with notable creature comforts in the middle of the jungle, and choose from a wide range of expeditions. First you have to travel to Manaus, the main city of the state of Amazonas. And getting from there to this accommodation created two decades ago by the Mamiraua Institute requires flying 700 km (435 miles) to the west, to Tefe, on the border with Peru and Bolivia, and then traveling up the Amazon River and several of its tributaries for an hour by speedboat. This part of the trip is the appetizer to the Amazon experience.

Activities include canoe trips to spot all kinds of wildlife: birds, monkeys, Amazon river dolphins, jaguars, insects. While the uninitiated will enjoy fishing for piranhas for dinner with an artisanal rod, the true fishing aficionados can partake in sport fishing for the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), the worlds largest freshwater fish. The highlight on land is hiking through the jungle among enormous trees and trunks that require 10 people to encircle them, as well as learning about the institutes scientific work and visiting a village.

Canoeing through the flooded jungle of the Mamiraua reserve, in Brazil.

The field trips and the sightings depend on the time of the year: whether the visit is during the dry season, when the river is very low and many animals prefer to move on land, or during the floods, when the water covers almost the entire jungle. That is the ideal time to spot the jaguars from the prudent distance offered by a canoe, because at that time these felines jump from branch to branch. It is also a good time to spot the uakari, a red-faced monkey that is the genesis and the symbol of this fascinating project that combines science and sustainable development.

A uakari monkey ('Cacajao calvus') on the trunk of a tree in the Amazon rainforest Hemis / Alamy

The uakari (Cacajao calvus), considered the most mysterious monkey in the Amazon, is extremely elusive, but easily recognizable even in the midst of the densest vegetation due to its intensely red face, which also contrasts with its light-colored fur. The primatologist Jose Marcio Ayres (1954-2003) came looking for it in the 1980s, when it was in danger of extinction. Those were years of limitless plunder, as if the jungle belonged to nobody. Everything was allowed if it meant tons of hunting, fishing or wood as booty. It didnt matter that it was illegal. What authority would come this far to impose a punishment? But Ayres managed to convince the authorities and the local population to grant legal protection to that piece of jungle on the banks of the Amazon that Brazilians call Solimoes, in the section that crosses their territory, so that the red-faced monkey could live in peace and reproduce. Created in 1996, the Mamiraua sustainable development reserve covers more than 11,000 square kilometers. With the money from the Goldman prize, considered the Nobel for environmentalists, the scientist created the research institute.

It was the story of a man and a species of primate until the pirarucu crossed his path. This river fish, which weighs up to 300 kg (660lb) and needs to surface to get air, was practically extinct. The locals say that one year in one of the lakes that dot these lands, there was only one specimen left. But a happy combination of traditional knowledge and science managed to revive the species. The ability of the river dwellers to take a census of the fish when they come out to breathe allowed them to establish quotas and fishing seasons as pillars of sustainable management of the pirarucu. As a result, reproduction has skyrocketed, providing jobs to hundreds of local people and giving the species newfound fame in the fish and leather markets. The good news is that sustainable pirarucu has entered restaurant menus, including some very select ones in cities as far away as Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. The bad news: it has become a prized item for organized gangs of poachers.

Sunset in one of the rivers of the Mamiraua reserve, in the Brazilian Amazon.

Moored near the Uakari Hotel are the floating laboratories of scientists who come to investigate local biodiversity or how to make and preserve ice in a place like this like the one that came to the village of Aureliano Buendia in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs epic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude  because it is essential to transport the pirarucu to the clients. They are researchers specialized in the pirarucu, the jaguar, the uakari and any of the other species that live in this reserve, which also has a network of acoustic sensors to create an animal census.

After dinner, while sipping a caipirinha or a juice of cupuacu or some other Amazonian fruit, you can learn first-hand about the work carried out by dozens of researchers at the Institute Mamiraua to protect the animals of the reserve, but also to improve the lives of the people who inhabit these lands, descendants of indigenous people and migrants from the northeast coast of Brazil who were attracted by the rubber fever that, between the end of the 19th and early 20th century, brought fabulous wealth to their bosses. The rubber fever  whose main symbol is the Amazonas theater, which still offers opera and ballet shows in Manaus  came to an abrupt end when a British explorer stole some seeds that were planted in Malaysia, where they grew beautifully. It abruptly ended the rubber monopoly that Brazil had enjoyed for decades.

The riverside residents have welcomed the systems to bring water to the homes  with all that this implies for those who do the washing up or scrubbing  with more enthusiasm than the idea of placing the toilet inside the house. The elderly still prefer to relieve themselves away from home, as their ancestors did for centuries.

Ecotourism guests should not worry about that, although they do need to bring biodegradable soap and shampoo. Each room in the lodge includes two beds with mosquito nets, a fan that keeps voracious insects at bay, a toilet and a spacious hot water shower, as well as a balcony and a hammock to watch the alligators at night while one perfects the sound to talk to them by day, like Amarildo does.
The 28-year-old Danielle McLaughlin was on holiday when she was hit with a bottle before being raped and murdered.

The man who has been accused of killing Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin is in hospital after claiming he was attacked in prison.

Ms McLaughlins alleged killer, Vikat Bhagat (30) has been in custody since 2017 and is currently awaiting trial.

Ms McLaughlin, from Buncrana, Donegal was found dead in a secluded spot in Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, in March 2017.

The 28-year-old was on holiday when she was hit with a bottle before being raped and murdered.

Danielle, who had been using a British passport at the time, had travelled to India where she planned to train as a yoga teacher. The night before she was found dead, Danielle had attended a Holi party near Canacona beach in the south of Goa.

Vikat Bhagat

Local man, Vikat Bhagat, has been charged with the rape and murder of Danielle and the trial opened in 2018 but has been beset by delays.

The 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, murder, violent robbery and destruction of evidence.

Now, her mother Andrea Brannigan, said the trial has been delayed yet again following the alleged prison incident and fears the accused will apply for bail following his release from hospital.

Hes saying he was beat up by the prison guards, Ms Brannigan said. Hes in hospital now and while I dont know his condition, hes due before court on Wednesday, so Ill find out more then, but the thought of him being released is very distressing.

A new female judge was appointed last week so hopefully shell speed up the trial because nothing has happened over the past three years.

Bhagat was unable to attend court last Friday due to suspected custodial violence, according to official documents.

An order was sent to prison officials to provide him with immediate medical assistance.

Bhagat formally applied to be granted bail for 30 days last November, after his father died in hospital, to conduct the last rites, as per Hindu custom.

His request was denied, but on appeal the court granted him permission to attend and perform the ritual for two days.

Ms Brannigan said she was sick with worry that Bhagat would try to escape while on temporary release.

Mother of murdered Danielle McLaughlin hopes to finally see justice for her daughter

Fast-track court in India could hear Danielle McLaughlin murder trial this year

Mother of murdered Danielle McLaughlin expresses frustration at lack of support

Bhagat was known to Ms McLaughlin from her previous visits to the country and he allegedly admitted the crimes to police before entering his not-guilty plea in court.

A post-mortem showed Ms McLaughlins death was caused by cerebral damage and constriction of the neck.

The court heard her remains were found in a pool of blood, by a local farmer, at around 7am on March 13, 2017. Police allege Bhagat forced himself on her and that when she resisted, he hit her with the bottle and strangled her.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs previously said it has been providing consular assistance to the family of Ms McLaughlin, through our embassy in New Delhi, our consulate general in Mumbai and our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, since first being informed of her tragic death in India in 2017.

The case was raised in the Dail last year by Sinn Fein TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn, who asked then Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney what help was being provided to her family.

When diplomats from Ireland and England travelled to Goa to meet the states chief minister to discuss Ms McLaughlins murder last year, Ms Brannigan had hoped their efforts would put pressure on the Indian government to ramp up its efforts in securing a verdict.

Andrea Brannigan

The Consul General of Ireland Gerry Kelly and Britains Deputy High Commissioner in Western India met with Goas Chief Minister to seek the quick conclusion of the trial of the man accused of Danielles rape and murder.

Mr Kelly gave the Chief Minister a letter from Ms Brannigan requesting that the trial be expedited, and expressing her fear that she will never get justice for Danielle.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Mr Kelly and the Deputy High Commissioner said ensuring a quick conclusion to the trial is a significant priority for the two governments, as well as for Danielles family.

Ensuring a quick conclusion to the court case is a significant priority for the British and Irish Governments as well as, of course, for Danielles family, the statement reads.

We came to Goa together to do all we could to raise the profile of this case and express our concern at the pace of the trial and its impact on Danielles family.

The deceaseds mother in the statement said she has done everything in her power to get justice for her daughter.

I continue to push for a conclusion to the court case, in the hope that I may then try and rebuild my and my familys lives with the knowledge that I have done everything in my power that I could possibly do to get justice for Danielle.

In February we revealed how a new fast-track special court (FTSC) in Goa was being set up for expeditious trials and disposal of cases of sexual violence against women and children.

Danielles mother had been told by Indian authorities that the case is being mooted as the first to get under way.

Ive been told now it will be the first case in this new court, which will have a woman judge and a proper trial will finally be held, Ms Brannigan told the Sunday Independent at the time.

All we can do is hope that this will happen. There needs to be a proper trial. My daughter was murdered five years ago next month. And that man was arrested within hours. We cant come to terms with our loss properly until there is a proper trial.
The model and entrepreneur has teased her Instagram followers over the last few months

Maguire showing off the ring while celebrating the couple's amazing news

Rebecca and Matthew in Santorini where he popped the question

Belfast beauty Rebecca Maguire is officially off the market after she announced her engagement on Instagram today.

The Northern Irish model revealed in an adorable post that she actually said yes back in April, but kept the news to herself until today.

I get to marry my best friend & whats your biggest flex? she gushed.

Probably the worst kept secret ever. You were all on to me and I've eventually give in.

From the moment (well maybe day three) I met you in ibiza I knew that was it.

I wish I could say I had a nice official engagement photobut I don't- I was a mess) Swipe to the end to see my reaction in Santorini which was in April #Offthemarket

Maguire showing off the ring while celebrating the couple's amazing news

The pharmacist won the coveted Miss Ireland title in 2012 and has become a regular on the Dublin and Belfast social scene, which she juggles with a hectic work schedule.

The loved-up pair have only been dating for just over a year but those around the model have believed that they would end up together.

Matthew Nesbitt is a well-known business man in Northern Ireland and is the co-founder of software tech company HALO.
Mountjoy chaplain sues prisons former priest and arch-bishop

A HOLY war has broken out behind bars in Mountjoy Prison, with its current chaplain issuing legal proceedings against a priest formerly based in the prison.

The proceedings have been issued against Fr James Kelly, the Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell as his superior and the Irish Prison Service.

Catherine Black, who was appointed to the role of chaplain in Mountjoy Prison in November 2018 initiated legal proceedings in the High Court, naming the three parties as defendants, on May 24.

Its understood the case relates to a number of incidents which allegedly led to the creation of a hostile work environment.

A statement detailing the exact nature of her claims has yet to be opened before the High Court.

Efforts to reach Ms Black for comment last week through her solicitors BC Law proved to be unsuccessful.

Archbishop Dermot Farrell. Picture Dylan Vaughan

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) declined to comment on the claims with a spokesperson stating the service does not comment in relation to ongoing legal issues.

Efforts to contact Fr Kelly for comment were unsuccessful.

An email sent yesterday to the press office for the Arch-diocese seeking contact details for Fr Kelly and a comment about the case did not elicit a response.

Ms Black was chaplain at Mountjoy Prison for the past four years and seven months.

Mountjoy Prison

Having formerly held a chaplaincy role at Shelton Abbey for two years and four months, she welcomed her appointment in Mountjoy in October 2018 as a wonderful privilege to serve as chaplain in the Irish Prison Service.

A graduate of St Patricks Pontifical University in Maynooth, where she obtained a Bachelor of Theology and a Masters of Pastoral Theology, Ms Black has also appeared on RTE in connection with her prison chaplaincy work.

She featured in the first series of the documentary Ministry of Hope in which she was shown counselling a 33-year-old inmate whose release date was approaching.

Chaplains, according to the IPS, have a crucial supporting role in prison life by providing pastoral and spiritual care to any prisoners who wish to avail of the service.

On its website, the IPS said it regards the Chaplaincy as an essential service, making a significant contribution as part of the multi-disciplinary team in a prison, addressing the physical, social and spiritual needs of prisoners in a holistic way.

Prison chaplains are also said to offer a comforting and supportive presence to prisoners and their family members as they face many personal challenges within a prison environment and at particular times of crisis, including when a person dies in prison; when a person in custody is coping with a terminal or life-threatening illness or when a person in custody is coping with the death of a loved one.

As part of their role, chaplains offers a one-to-one support system and arrange bereavement support groups.

Sources say the claims the current legal case refers to were reported to management in Mountjoy Prison back in 2021.

Ms Blacks case is listed as a personal injury matter.

The High Court website states that no documents have so far been filed in connection with the case.

Damage awards for personal injury cases successfully taken in the High Court have no set limit.
I mean, you go visit your mums grave and you nearly end up in one yourself!

Christian pictured at the time of the accident with paramedics at the scene

Christian Orr back at his mothers new headstone at Roselawn Cemetery in Belfast this week

In one of the most bizarre injuries ever reported by this paper, a man revealed how he suffered a broken back when his mothers GRAVESTONE fell on top of him.

Christian Orr was leaving flowers at mum Viviennes grave at Belfasts Roselawn Cemetery when the marble headstone collapsed, trapping him underneath.

He spoke this week of his ongoing severe pain from the injury, which happened several years ago.

A remarkable video of the aftermath of the almost fatal incident was shared  and Christian admits he can now see the funny side.

Man describes difficulty after his mother's gravestone falls on him

At the time it was the most excruciating pain Ive ever experienced, the 51-year-old told the Sunday World.

I heard this awful snap as the headstone fell on top of me and I couldnt move. Im still in a lot of pain today and it took me a long time to be able to get back to work full-time.

Im lucky to be alive because it nearly fell on my chest and doctors said if it had it would have crushed me to death.

The taxi driver from east Belfast says hed been paying his respects to his mum, as he frequently did, when things took a bizarre turn.

Christian waiting for ambulance

I was there tidying up my mums grave and leaving some flowers when I noticed the headstone had come loose and wasnt sitting properly, he says.

I tried to fix it but it started to fall and was about to crush the headstone behind it which would have been terrible, so I just instinctively grabbed it.

But it was so heavy, and I couldnt steady it. The headstone came down on top of me causing my back to break. Honestly, the sound of the snapping will haunt me for ever and the pain was unreal.

I was just lying there, completely helpless, my head was spinning and I was completely disorientated.

The doctors told me later I had broken the vertebrae in my back but it could have been much worse. I managed to get my hands down under the headstone otherwise it was going to fall on top of my chest.

The doctors said if it had fallen on my chest it would have killed me. They also said it was lucky it was grass and not concrete I fell back onto as it would have crushed my whole spine.

Christian was eventually rescued by a kind Samaritan who lifted the headstone off his legs and called for help.

Christian pictured at the time of the accident with paramedics at the scene

This man called John Cherry, a Christian man, saw me lying there in a state and managed to lift the headstone off me, he says. Thats one of the good things to come out of all this  I now have a new friend. John and I have stayed in contact, and I cant thank him enough for saving me.

I was lying there for almost three hours waiting on an ambulance. The paramedics were brilliant, and they got me to hospital where I was pumped full of morphine to ease the pain.

And youll not believe this but the day after my back broke, my father passed away. Obviously I couldnt even carry his coffin or anything at the funeral.

Christian stayed in hospital for about a week and then spent months recuperating at home.

A video of the aftermath shows Christian lying by his mums grave, unable to move, and clearly in excruciating pain.

They got someone from the taxi depot to come up and thats him you can hear taking the piss out of me, says Christian. It wasnt funny at the time but I know he was just trying to keep me calm as I was very distressed.

In the video Christian is seen asking and receiving gas and air to ease the pain while discussing his weight and what medication hes on with the paramedics.

He says: The paramedics thought it was a wind-up when they first arrived. They said theyd never had to deal with someone being crushed by a gravestone before and were dubious when they were given a grave number to turn up at to find their patient. They were great though and so professional.

Looking back at the video now I can see the funny side, what else can I do? I mean, you go up to visit your mums grave and you nearly end up in one yourself!

All you can do is laugh. I was very close to my mum and my sister is buried there too.

Christian Orr back at his mothers new headstone at Roselawn Cemetery in Belfast this week

He added: Ive no doubt theyd have been looking down at me lying there beside them saying, This could only happen to you Christian.

Christian has resumed his work as a taxi driver but says at the beginning it was hard.

I could only stay seated in the taxi for 10 minutes before Id have to get out because of the pain in my back, he explains.

I suffer from psoriatic arthritis too but Im on mad medication which has done wonders for that. Though my vertebrae was broken there wasnt any operation that could help.

I just had to rest it and then start doing exercises to get myself up on my feet.

Christian admits hes no stranger to a freak accident.

Ive broken bones before in bizarre ways. Once I was celebrating my 40th birthday and Id been drinking all day and broke my ankle in the most horrific way.

Id walked into a kebab house at the end of the night and it had been raining.

I did a 360 spin but my foot got stuck in the doormat and it stayed where it was.

Apparently my ankle was basically hanging by a piece of skin. Luckily I fell and banged my head and passed out but I needed three surgeries to fix it.
We can reveal that the loyalist crime gang has claimed a slice of the drug market in Glasgow

East Belfast UVF has taken the next step towards becoming an international drug-running gang.

Contrary to speculation that the organised crime gang had fragmented under a series of high-profile drug seizures by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force  the organisation has instead spread its presence across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Described by the Independent Reporting Commission, set up to monitor paramilitary activity, as one of the most active and dangerous criminal gangs in the country, it has continued to build its business despite increased police attention.

There had been intense speculation that the group has lost a number of lieutenants and cohorts. That has proved to be fake news.

Long-established links with organised crime south of the border have helped East Belfast establish itself as a major player in the drugs market.

The Sunday World understands East Belfast now commands a drug network that stretches beyond the city to Lisburn, Banbridge and Mid Ulster.

We can also reveal that the crime gang has claimed a slice of the drug market in Glasgow.

Deep-rooted connections with pro-UVF crime bosses in the Scottish city have enabled the organisation to get a foothold  for the first time  in a market outside Northern Ireland.

In effect East Belfast has transitioned from dealing to supplying.

Well-placed sources tell us that contacts with Dublin-based organised crime, including the Kinahan cartel, have helped establish East Belfast bosses as significant players in the market.

East Belfast has people in towns across Northern Ireland but also across the water, said our source.

They have quietly spread out from their power base, formed partnerships and alliances with other drug gangs. Northern Ireland is now about who controls the drugs trade, and dont under-estimate the influence from south of the border.

The source told us East Belfast now moves drugs from both north and south of the border.

The gangs connections with organised crime in Britain is nothing new.

The Sunday World previously revealed the gangs links with mobsters in the north of England and an arms cache found buried in a forest glade a number of years ago in fact came from a gang in Manchester.

In those days East Belfast was a customer  now it is a supplier.

A 3m drugs seizure at Belfast docks in February 2022 was an indication of the scale of East Belfasts operation.

Haul: Det Insp Conor Sweeney with the 3 million drugs seizure

The drugs were set to be divided between a number of organised crime gangs, but East Belfast were the brokers for the deal.

Initially police discovered 1.8m of drugs when they intercepted the lorry but acting on information received, discovered a further 1.2m worth concealed under the floor of the truck.

The scale of the seizure  one of the largest ever recovered in Northern Ireland  was an indication of how far East Belfast had come and how they are now dealing with significant drug shipments.

At the time of the seizure the PSNI said it was an indication that organised crime gangs here are now working with criminal structures in Britain and further afield.

The setback raised alarm bells.

Only a select number of people knew about the deal and it prompted a witch-hunt for a suspected informant.

It prompted bosses to weed out people they didnt trust and the result is a slimmed-down operation with all-Ireland, British and international connections.
Storm Oscar: When will it arrive and how much rain will it leave in Malaga and on the Costa del Sol? A storm front moving over Spain from the west will bring downpours and strong winds to much of the country, including Andalucia

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The meteorological summer is still turbulent in Spain. More than 30 provinces of 13 regions (including Cordoba, Granada and Jaen in Andalucia) were at risk on Monday due to rains and storms in the prelude to a more adverse episode, the arrival of a new storm. Christened with the name Ocsar, it is expected to leave heavy rainfall and strong winds in its wake in many parts of the country, although for now the different weather models do not agree on the impact it could have on the Costa del Sol and Malaga province.

Spain's state weather agency, Aemet, said storm Oscar will enter today (Tuesday, 6 June) with successive small lows within a large storm cell and will first impact the islands. One of the smaller storms will then become more intense as it moves onto the mainland, resulting in this week's forecast of stormy weather across much of Spain.

On the Costa del Sol Aemet is predicting a 95% chance of rain for Malaga city, especially in the early hours of Wednesday. There will then be a 55-75% chance of downpours from Thursday through to Friday afternoon. The weather seems to stabilise in time for the weekend, with the possibility of showers decreasing to 5%. The mercury is expected to reach a maximum of 28C , and a minimum of 20 degrees.

Local Malaga meteorology expert, Jose Luis Escudero, in his SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (storms and lightning) said: "This is a very unusual cell for a meteorological summer, as it is has formed at such a low latitude and with such intensity".

He said the storm's impact on Andalucia is still not clear: "Oscar will bring with it a weather front and lines of instability, which will affect the region unevenly. In fact, there are discrepancies between the different models".

While the European model predicted "a good watering in the province of Malaga", the American model forecasts less, and the Canadian one has more water dumped in the Axarquia area.
Government gives Marbella town hall 30 days to remove the seawall it was fined for in 2022 The acting mayor has announced that she will not comply with the order, while the government delegate says that "regulations must be adhered to"

Construction work on the breakwater at Casablanca beach was carried out as a matter of urgency in April 2022.

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Marbella town hall has received an injunction from the government's coasts authority, Demarcacion de Costas, dated 30 May, which gives it 30 days to remove the seawall built in April 2022 to prevent the collapse of the promenade on Casablanca beach, after a storm.

This is a sanctioning procedure with an obligation of restitution, that is, to put things back as they were before the seawall was built, something the acting mayor, Angeles Munoz, has ruled out: "At no time are we going to remove this element that prevents the promenade from collapsing with the consequent risk to the safety of the area," she said.

Munoz said, "The town hall is going to request a technical report from Obras [the public works department] to send it to Costas," adding that it will take "technical and legal measures to avoid this intervention in the middle of the town's high season".

The acting mayor has accused Pedro Sanchez's government of "disloyalty to Marbella". "More than a year later and just two days after the municipal elections, in the middle of the high season, we have received a request to remove the seawall voluntarily, within 30 days, or they will do it and pass the bill on to us," she said.

She also argued that these works were carried out "urgently" as a solution to the damage caused by a storm.

Ampliar The acting mayor, Angeles Munoz, speaking on Monday about the injunction. JOSELE

For his part, the government's sub-delegate in Malaga province, Javier Salas, has told Munoz "that she has to comply with the regulations and that she cannot use public resources to protect actions outside the law as if she were still in Gil's time", referring to the former mayor, Jesus Gil.

"The statements of the mayor of Marbella are unbecoming of a representative of a public administration and unworthy of a person who represents the municipality of Marbella," he added.

The government office in Malaga has stated, "The solution, according to the technicians of Costas and always with the prior authorisation of the competent administration, would have been to strengthen the promenade wall and not the solution carried out by the town hall through the installation of a seawall occupying more beach and without authorisation."

In this sense, it pointed out that Costas "authorised 1,800 installations on public maritime domain in 2022 for all the town councils along the coast of Malaga, including Marbella, always according to procedure". "The regulations are there for citizens and public administrations to comply with, and Marbella town hall must adhere to them as citizens and public administrations do," stressed Salas.

He also said, "Pedro Sanchez's government is committed to the beaches of Marbella and has carried out improvement works on them in 2022 and 2023".

"In addition to these actions, there is also the promotion of the stabilisation projects for the beaches of San Pedro and Marbella, which are in their final phase of environmental processing," he said.
The EU Single Market celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Despite its age, however, many people still think of the Single Market in abstract terms. People tend not to think about all the different opportunities the Single Market offers on a daily basis, says Charlotte Andersdotter, Head of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprises EU office.

Photo : Johannes Frandsen

Photo: Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union Photo : Johannes Frandsen

The Single Market is 30 years old. And this is being marked in different ways. The anniversary has been reflected at a number of conferences and high-level meetings held during the Swedish EU presidency.

During the Single Market Forum held in Stockholm on May 2, leading politicians, and business representatives - along with policy experts and representatives from government agencies, the European Commission and the European Parliament - participated in discussions on current conditions for the Single Market and its future.

In an opening panel discussion, Fredrik Persson, President of BusinessEurope, described the Single Market as the diamond of the EU. This description was also echoed by several other panellists, who agreed that the Single Market is vital to the EUs competitiveness.

The difficulty of describing what the Single Market is actually for to those who do not work with EU issues on a daily basis was something that Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise highlighted.

To a wider public, the EU Single Market is an abstract concept. Much needs to be done in terms of communicating what the Single Market is and means, as well as communicating the value of the EU as a whole, Wallenberg argued.

The EU needs to make itself more attractive to businesses

During the discussions, it also emerged that the wider business community is concerned that if the European business climate is not sufficiently attractive, businesses in Sweden and the EU will look for other parts of the world that offer better conditions.

The situation becomes almost paradoxical because, as more and more people now seem to agree, it is businesses themselves that drive advances in sustainability, for example.

Persson highlighted the value of green investment in Sweden, citing the recent example of Marciagalia Steel Group investing EUR 1.79 billion in H2Green steel.

Meanwhile, Northvolt is an example of a business in Sweden looking towards the US, which offers a different kind of business climate.

In light of such examples, EU regulations and permit processes need to be improved and streamlined, Persson said.

According to Wallenberg, it is due to business that Europe is ahead of the US in the green transition This is therefore an area the EU should prioritise and have greater ambitions.

Its not only in practical terms that Europe is at the forefront of the green transition, but also from an intellectual perspective, Wallenberg said, adding that the younger generation has been a driving force in this shift.

Europe is lagging behind in the technological shift

Discussions also included the major challenges associated with digitalisation. The rapid emergence of AI has taken us all by surprise, Wallenberg noted.

When it comes to 5G, Europe is lagging behind other parts of the world. And, given that this technology will be critical for running virtually every process in a factory, this has major long-term implications, he said.

Reading between the lines, we can say that the coming AI shift requires a degree of humility. It [AI] will change the world as we know it.

Financial support does not improve competitiveness

Following the high-level panel discussion - which was moderated by Charlotte Andersdotter  there were a series of smaller breakout sessions, focusing on in-depth discussions on themes such as skills, digitisation and standardisation.

The issue of skills was debated in one of the sessions. Gonzalo Lobo Xavier, Director of APED, the Portuguese trade association, argued that the EU must abandon of its negative perception of large businesses, and recognise that more money is not always the solution to challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises.

We dont need more money, we need smarter money.

Arba Kokalari, Member of the European Parliament in the EPP Group, agreed with the criticism of the EU money regime.

Today there are so many different funds, but there is no impact evaluation of them.

We need a more long-term approach from the Member States and the European Commission, she added.

There appeared to be a consensus that financial aid and funds are not what will make the EU more competitive globally.

Were all the EU

European Commissioner Thierry Breton said that not all criticism could be left at the door of the European Commission, pointing out that we are all in this together.

The EU is a collective project, and Member States must do their share.

Breton also highlighted the Commissions initiative to rapidly increase weapons production in Member States. The promises of a million grenades for Ukraine requires the European arms industry to scale up and this will be supported by financial incentives from the EU.

Underestimated importance in peoples daily lives

A key takeaway from the day for Andersdotter was the strong support that exists for the Single Market.

The Single Market is exciting. It is truly the crown jewel of the European co-operation. People tend not to think about all the different opportunities the Single Market offers on a daily basis. Not simply for businesses to grow and develop, but also for citizens, so we can travel, study and work in the EU. Im also reminded of the importance of continuing to support Ukraine.

Both Wallenberg and Persson raised the problem that the business climate in Europe and Sweden is not considered sufficiently attractive by fast-growing global businesses. What can be done to change this perception in the short and long term?

This is partly about the heavy regulatory burden placed on our businesses, and partly about our investment climate, which must become more attractive. And we need to solve the skills shortage.

Is it primarily Swedens or the EUs responsibility to ensure that more businesses choose and can operate in Sweden?

Its a shared responsibility within the EU to become more attractive to businesses. A majority of the legislation that Swedish businesses are subject to is drawn up at EU level, but Sweden is a member of the EU and is therefore involved in making decisions about these laws. So, of course, some of this is also about how laws are implemented, and Sweden has a tendency to overinterpret laws and this does not always benefit businesses.

There seems to be a consensus that Europe is lagging behind in the technological shift that is underway. What is the most important priority in terms of stimulating progress?
The flag carriers of Turkiye and Italy have signed a codeshare agreement to expand destinations in the networks of both Turkish Airlines and ITA Airways, the airlines said on Tuesday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

After taking effect next month, the deal will enable both carriers to provide more alternatives for passengers taking direct flights between Istanbul and Rome and connecting domestic flights via Rome, namely Brindisi, Bari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Palermo, Lamezia Terme, Turin, and Trieste.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi, said: "I firmly believe this codeshare agreement between Turkish Airlines and ITA Airways will be developing the existing network with even more destinations and foster cooperation and traffic between two countries with high potential."

Fabio Lazzerini, the CEO and the general manager of ITA Airways stressed the importance of the deal for the carrier's commercial strategy of growth.

"This partnership opens up a privileged access route to Istanbul, one of the most fascinating and historically rich cities in the world for all ITA Airways passengers," Lazzerini noted.
California leaders lashed out at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and hinted at a criminal investigation Monday over the arrival of two flights of migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas and then were sent to Sacramento, allegedly at the direction of Florida officials.

The flight that arrived Monday with about 20 migrants followed the arrival Friday of 16 others from Colombia and Venezuela who had been taken by van from Texas to New Mexico and then put on a chartered plane to a small airport in the California capital, officials said. They are the latest apparent instances of a Republican-led state transporting migrants to one controlled by Democrats.

The newest arrivals remained at the airport for a couple of hours and were fed before being transported to a religious institution, said Kim Nava, a Sacramento County spokeswoman. Nava said she didnt know the nationalities of the new arrivals or where they had intended to go in the U.S.

Our county social workers are en route and are going to assess all those folks, make sure they have the services and support that they need, Nava said.

The groups travel appears to have been arranged Vertol Systems Co., a Florida-based aviation company hired by Floridas government to help transport migrants, said Tara Gallegos, a spokeswoman for Bonta. Bonta says hes investigating whether any crimes were committed. His office declined to share the documents because they are part of an investigation.

Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, called DeSantis a small, pathetic man in a tweet and suggested that California could pursue kidnapping charges against him. The flights, if proven to have been arranged by Florida, would intensify a prolonged political feud between the two governors, who have offered conflicting visions on immigration, abortion and a host of other issues.

Spokespeople for the Florida emergency management agency and DeSantis have not confirmed Floridas involvement, and Vertol Systems didnt respond to requests for comment.

The first group of migrants was dropped off at the Roman Catholic Church dioceses headquarters in Sacramento.

Speaking over the weekend about the first group to arrive in Sacramento, Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California, a faith-based group that helps migrants, said U.S. immigration officials had already processed the young women and men and given them court dates for their asylum cases when individuals representing a private contractor approached them outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, and offered to help them get jobs and get them to their final destinations.

They were lied to and intentionally deceived, Carmona said, adding that the migrants had no idea where they were after being dropped off in Sacramento. He said they have court dates in cities throughout the country and that none of them meant to end up in California.

Asylum seekers can change the location of their court appearances, but many are reluctant to try and instead prefer sticking with a firm date, at least for their initial appearances. They figure it is a guarantee, even if horribly inconvenient.

DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president, has been a fierce critic of federal immigration policy under President Joe Biden and has heavily publicized Floridas role in past instances in which migrants were transported to Democratic-led states.

He has made the migrant relocation program one of his signature political priorities, using the state legislative process to direct millions of dollars to it.

Florida paid Vertol Systems $1.56 million last year to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, and for a possible second flight to Delaware that never took place. The Republican governors of Texas and Arizona have previously sent thousands of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., but the rare charter flights are an escalation in tactics.

Before the flight from Texas to Marthas Vineyard last year, DeSantis signed off on a Republican-backed budget that earmarked $12 million to relocate people in the country illegally from Florida to other locations.

When questions arose around the legality of the Marthas Vineyard fight because it originated in Texas, not Florida, in apparent violation of budgetary language, DeSantis had Republicans legislators create a program in his office dedicated to migrant relocations and specify that the state can transport migrants from locations anywhere in the country. Vertol Systems Co. was one of three vendors selected by DeSantis administration to carry out the program.

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Dear Amy: I am a retired older woman. Ive been chained to my sister Janet my entire life.

We were treated as one person growing up and were expected to share everything. I believe our relationship was extremely unbalanced because I did all of the sharing, and Janet, the taking.

Janet grew up to be arrogant and thoughtless. She always felt she was the most beautiful person in the room.

I married young and had a family and career, she in turn had a career, multiple marriages and no children.

I have a lot of anxiety when I remember how badly she treated me.

I never told our parents how she behaved when we shared a dorm room in college. I dont believe in betraying confidences, even if I am the victim. My family was unaware of her games.

I helped Janet through her multiple divorces, did her homework in college, helped her find a career and always invited her to join me on vacation. She never reciprocated.

On our last vacation with my family, she secretly played her entitlement over me when we shared a room. I do not want to continue being her only friend and companion.

We do not live near each other, and I am thankful for that.

She is very rude and overbearing, but my family is not aware of how she has treated me or others.

I am not going to tattle on her; I just want her to go away.

How can I get her out of my life without becoming the bad person?

 Bullied

Dear Bullied: My first suggestion is that you should never share a room with your sister. Youve had a lifetime of negative experiences in that regard.

My second suggestion is that you draw out that distance to limit your contact with her altogether.

As a chronically oppressed person, you also seem to be oppressing yourself, essentially following up on your sisters bullying by treating it like a secret that must be kept. Tattling is what children worry about. Telling your own truth (or acting in your own best interest) is adult business.

You have adopted the idea that a victim speaking out represents some sort of betrayal to the family system that created and supported this dynamic.

If you cant bring yourself to confront your sister, then you should at the very least limit contact with her. Refusing to share a room with her on family vacations would be a start.

If she asks why, you can tell her that youre simply tired of tolerating a family dynamic that you cant seem to change. Its time for you to take better care of yourself.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Its been quite a year for Stephanie Crockett and Mower, the independent marketing, advertising and public relations firm she leads from headquarters in Syracuses Armory Square.

In August 2022, agency founder Eric Mower sold the company to its workers through an employee stock ownership plan.
Syracuse, N.Y. - A man was shot in the butt Monday night on East Fayette Street in Syracuse, police said.

Around 7:41 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting with injuries call at 1600 E. Fayette Street, said Lt. Matthew Malinowski, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department.

On scene, officers found a 31-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his butt, Malinowski said.

Malinowski said the man was taken to Upstate University Hospital where he is expected to survive.

Syracuse police ask anyone with information about the shootings to call them at (315) 442-5222.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y.  Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the county and legislature in opposition to plans to close the county prison he oversees.

The lawsuit argues that county legislature acted unlawfully when changed the language of a local law to pave the way to close the Jamesville Correctional Facility and move the inmates and guards to the downtown jail in the Justice Center.

The lawsuit -- filed in the state Supreme Court -- argues the changes effectively strip Shelley of his control over the prison and curtails the power of an elected official (the sheriff).

The lawsuit states that the county would need a referendum in order to strip him of his powers over the prison. In support of his case, the lawsuit points out that a referendum was mandated when the power to control the prison was transferred from the county executive to the sheriff in 2017. A referendum would require voters to approve the local law change.

In an interview with Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Tuesday Shelley said that the power to strip an elected official of certain powers should be in the hands of the people.

The sheriff does not work for the county legislature, Shelley said. The Sheriff works for the people.

Closing the prison was proposed in 2022 by then-Sheriff Eugene Conway and County Executive Ryan McMahon before Shelley took office in January.

Closing the prison was approved by the county legislature on Feb. 7 through two separate votes. The first vote was to defund positions at the Jamesville prison and create those same positions at the downtown jail. The second vote -- which is the primary subject of Shelleys lawsuit -- was to remove all mentions of the word corrections from a local law in the county charter and administrative code pertaining to the sheriffs office.

A representative for the county attorneys office has previously said that changing the language of the law does not strip Shelley of his powers. They said Shelley could still create or disband any division in his office but would no longer be required to have a corrections division.

Justin Sayles, a spokesperson for the county executives office, said that he had not heard about the lawsuit as of Tuesday afternoon.

The law change removes the requirement for a corrections division within the sheriffs office. This lays the foundation to make the closure possible. Shelley is asking the court to strike down the local law change, according to the lawsuit.

Shelley said that he would prefer the legislature just rescind the resolution so there would not have to be a legal battle.

While the lawsuit pertains to the Jamesville closure, it is also a way for Shelley to prevent the legislature from encroaching on the powers of the sheriffs office.

An ongoing debate

This lawsuit is Shelleys most recent attempt to push back against closing the prison.

The same day Conway and McMahon announce the closure proposal in December 2022, Shelley held a news conference at the Jamesville prison alongside corrections officers and their union representative to voice his concerns about the proposal.

He urged the county not to rush into a merger without enough proof that the two facilities can be merged safely. He also cited concerns about possible overcrowding.

Shelley also said he wanted to see evidence that the merger was the only solution to the countys problems of meeting its obligations from a settlement of a previous lawsuit regarding in-person arraignment.

Under a 2014 court settlement, New York State agreed to guarantee that criminal defendants have a lawyer at every arraignment  the first court appearance when a judge typically decides whether or not the person will be held in jail as the case progresses. Jail deputies are needed to transport arrested individuals to court at specific times to make sure a lawyer is present with them during this important initial appearance.

McMahon has repeatedly stressed that the county is at risk of not meeting the terms of the settlement due to not having enough staff to take inmates to arraignments. He asked the legislature to act quickly.

He has also stated that his office had been discussing a potential merger of the facilities for over a year before it was announced.

McMahon also cited ongoing staffing shortages in general as another reason for the merger.

Merger already stalled

When the proposal was approved, McMahon set a tentative April 1 deadline to close the prison. He said that he may be willing to delay the merger if he saw the sheriff acting in a good faith effort to execute the merger.

Shelley had previously said he would not move any inmates or corrections officers from Jamesville to the downtown jail until a feasibility study could be conducted and the state Commission of Correction deemed the plan safe.

McMahon said that the merger would need to move forward regardless of Shelleys reservations

You know, as elected officials, you dont get to ignore the legislative branch of government, McMahon said in February.

However, the merger has already been delayed by months. The merger will be delayed until the end of the year -- potentially longer -- due to renovations at the downtown jail.

On March 23, Benjamin Yaus, the first chief deputy county attorney, sent a letter to McMahon and Shelley announcing that the deadline for the merger will be extended.

The letter states that the state Commission of Corrections reduced the number of beds that could be used in the downtown jail while the facility undergoes construction. The letter did not offer a time frame for completing the renovation.

The sheriffs office believes that the construction could take at least a year. A county representative said that the renovations could be completed by the end of the year.

The lawsuit could further delay the project if not halt it.

The Jamesville prison can hold 538 inmates. It opened in June 1983 and cost $9.8 million. The Justice Center jail in Syracuse opened in 1995. While the Justice Center is primarily a holding facility for people who have not been convicted, the Jamesville facility mostly serves convicted individuals sentenced to a year or less in prison.

More Syracuse.com Coverage:

Jamesville prison closure delayed months due to renovations of downtown jail

McMahon: Jamesville prison closure will happen despite pushback from sheriff

Onondaga County sheriff tells state he cant merge jail, prison; commission requests information

Onondaga County legislature votes to merge Jamesville prison and downtown jail

Onondaga County exec proposes closing Jamesville prison by April 1; vote likely next week

Sheriff-elect Toby Shelley and union presidents concerned about plan to consolidate county jails

McMahon, Conway propose closing Jamesville Correctional Facility, moving inmates to Justice Center

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
Syracuses much unloved municipal flag is getting a makeover, and now you have a few extra days to pick your favorite among the four candidates to replace it.

The deadline for voting on the new design has been extended until Saturday, June 10.

You can even see how each flag looks against the backdrop of Syracuse City Hall, 233 E. Washington St. Each one will fly for part of a day on the flagpole near the front steps. (On Monday it was The Evening Tree designed by Ryan Kostusiak.)

"The Evening Tree," a flag design by Ryan Kostusiak, flies from a flagpole at Syracuse City Hall on Monday, June 5, 2023. The three other finalists to replace Syracuse's current flag will be raised in a similar fashion through Thursday, June 8. City residents have until Saturday, June 10, 2023, to vote on their favorite design. (Marie Morelli | mmorelli@syracuse.com)

Adapt CNY, a citizens group, chose a 14-member flag committee that narrowed down 300 entries to the final four.

Syracuses objectively ugly current flag, chosen in a contest in 1915, represents a place we hardly recognize anymore. It reproduces the city seal with tiny drawings of the Erie Canal, salt sheds and railroads, on a white field with blue stripes at top and bottom.

Flag experts point to Syracuses flag an example of how not to design one. It cant be read from afar (or from near, for that matter). Vexillologists, those who study flags, say a memorable design should be so simple that a child can draw it. It should use symbolism that has meaning to a particular place. It should be three or fewer colors.

The four finalists take that advice to heart. In an abstract way, they evoke the Haudenosaunee people, Onondaga Lake, the Tree of Peace, the canal, the salt industry that built the Salt City and the topography of the region. Each design would work equally well on a flag, on a mug or T-shirt, or painted on the blank facade of a building. Thats the point.

Adapt CNY hopes for a future where the Syracuse flag is a beacon of pride for the city. We have a lot to be proud of in our past, our present and our future.

If you live in the city, you can be a part of it. There are two ways to vote:

Online. A Google form will ask you to rank your choices from 1 to 4.

In person at a variety of locations around the city. Find the schedule here.

The committee is to present the final winner to the Common Council on Flag Day, June 14. A vote is expected June 20.

Critics can quibble with the choices but, in the end, any one of the four finalists would be an improvement over the citys current flag.

About Syracuse.com editorials

Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte, Katrina Tulloch and Marie Morelli.

To respond to this editorial: Submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines.

If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 18:06 | All, World

Senior U.S. officials and their Chinese counterparts held "candid and productive" talks in Beijing on Monday, the State Department said, as Washington seeks to build on high-level diplomatic engagements between the two countries despite escalated tensions in recent weeks.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby characterized the meeting involving Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, as "making progress in terms of opening up additional lines of communication."

The talks came after U.S. officials admitted last week that William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and one of President Joe Biden's closest confidants, visited China in May.

Still, military-to-military communication channels between the United States and China remain closed. There have also been no clear signs of improvement in bilateral ties since they sunk to new lows earlier this year after Washington shot down what it described as a Chinese spy balloon traveling over its territory.

The latest meeting in the Chinese capital covered topics including U.S. concern over the stability of the Taiwan Strait and human rights issues, and the officials made clear that Washington would "compete vigorously and stand up for" its interests and values, according to the State Department.

Kritenbrink met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Yang Tao, director general of North American affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the department said.

The diplomat was joined by Sarah Beran, National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan issues, and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, it said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the two sides had a "candid, constructive and fruitful communication" for improving Sino-U.S. relations and the proper management and control of differences.

China clarified its "solemn position on Taiwan" and other major issues of principle, and both parties agreed to continue to communicate, the ministry said.

Beijing regards the self-ruled democratic island as a renegade province to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Kirby told a press briefing in Washington that the U.S. officials used the opportunity to express concern about the Chinese military's recent "unsafe and unprofessional" intercepts.

The Indo-Pacific Command said last week that a Chinese fighter jet conducted an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" in late May during an intercept of a U.S. military surveillance plane in international airspace over the South China Sea.

On the weekend, it accused a Chinese warship of crossing the path of a U.S. vessel carrying out a joint drill with the Canadian navy in the Taiwan Strait.

"Particularly when times are tense, particularly when there's a risk of miscalculation...that's the time that you want to be able to have a conversation," Kirby said.

"Now this visit was very much in keeping with our larger, longer efforts to keep the lines of communication with (China) open, and we'll see where this goes after that."

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin defended the Chinese military's actions, saying they were "completely professional, lawful, justified and safe" while criticizing the United States for "sending warships and military aircraft halfway around the world to China's doorsteps in a provocative way."

Beijing "firmly opposes acts that undermine China's sovereignty and security in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight," Wang said, adding Washington's "hegemonic practice is the root cause of security risks on the sea and in the air."
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow controls collapsed Tuesday after a reported explosion, sending water gushing downriver and prompting dire warnings of ecological damage as officials from both sides in the war ordered residents to evacuate.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam and hydroelectric power station, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

The fallout could have far-reaching consequences: flooding homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleting water levels upstream that help cool Europes largest nuclear power plant; and draining supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

The dam break added a stunning new dimension to Russias ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

It was not immediately clear whether either side benefits from the damage to the dam, since both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands are at risk of flooding. The damage could also potentially hinder Ukraines counteroffensive in the south, while at the same time Russia depends on the dam to supply water to the Crimea region it annexed illegally in 2014.

Amid official outrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. He alleged that Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2.50 a.m. (2350 GMT) and said some 80 settlements were in danger.

Ukraines nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the damage to the dam could have negative consequences for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europes biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is controllable.

The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement there was no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, which requires water for its cooling system.

It said that IAEA staff on site have been told the dam level is falling by 5 centimeters (2 inches) an hour. At that rate, the supply from the reservoir should last a few days, it said.

The plant also has alternative sources of water, including a large cooling pond than can provide water for some months, the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash 18 million cubic meters (4.8 billion gallons) of water and flood Kherson and dozens of other areas where hundreds of thousands of people live.

The World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development, a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, estimated that nearly 100 villages and towns would be flooded. It also reckoned that the water level would start dropping only after five-seven days.

A total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the broad rivers left bank, according to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organization of environmental activists and experts documenting the wars environmental effects.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover. One showed floodwaters inundating a long roadway; another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry called for residents of 10 villages on the Dnipros right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of occupied Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said it was being evacuated as water poured into the city.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnipro, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire countrys drinking water and power supply.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7 a.m. that the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror, and warned that water will reach critical levels within five hours.

Ukraines state hydro power generating company wrote in a statement that The station cannot be restored. Ukrhydroenergo also claimed that Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, said Tuesday that numerous Ukrainian strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream. Leontyev added that damage to the station was beyond repair, and it would have to be rebuilt.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Zelenskyy predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Central New York could see even thicker smoke Wednesday than it has today as more than 100 Canada wildfires continue to rage.

There actually could be more smoke than were seeing today, said Bryan Greenblatt, a meteorologist in the National Weather Services Binghamton office. Tomorrow would be the peak concentration before it starts to diminish a bit.

The state has issued an air quality alert for Wednesday, the third day in a row. Alerts issued Monday and today were from 11 a.m. to midnight; Wednesdays alert encompasses the entire 24-hour day.

The smoke, from fires burning in Quebec, darkened the skies over Central New York today. Residents complained of breathing acrid smoke outside. Schools kept kids indoors and canceled outdoor activities. The Onondaga County Health Department urged county residents to stay inside and shut their windows. And the Syracuse Fire Department asked people not to call 911 just because they smell smoke.

For much of the day, Syracuse had the worst air quality in New York state as winds from the north funneled smoke from Quebec into Central New York. Thats likely to happen again Wednesday: The state health department projects that Central New York residents will again inhale more tiny smoke particles than anyone else in New York.

Airnow.gov, a site run by several federal agencies, predicts that the levels of tiny particles that can invade the lungs and bloodstream will be higher on Wednesday in Central New York.

Smoke is expected to keep streaming in from wildfires in Quebec (top) into Upstate New York on Wednesday. This map shows the expected air quality at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Purple denotes the most unhealthy air.

Its not unusual for wildfire smoke to drift over Upstate New York, but it generally comes from the West Coast or prairie states and Canadian provinces. That smoke gets diluted as it rides the prevailing westerly winds across the continent, and it tends to stay thousands of feet above the ground.

This time is different because the fires are just a few hundred miles away instead of a few thousand, and the winds are out of the north.

A lot of times when we see smoke in our region, its from wildfires out west and its a lower concentration, Greenblatt said. In this case, its close to the surface and its a higher concentration, so you smell it.

Greenblatt said Central New York hasnt seen this kind of smoke in more than 20 years.

In 2002, there was a very similar setup, where we had quite a bit of smoke towards the surface from fires in Canada, Greenblatt said.

Winds are expected to come from the north again Wednesday, and Canadian officials say many of the 200 fires in Quebec are still burning out of control.

Smoke could linger in Upstate New York through the rest of the work week, said Mark Wysocki, New York state climatologist. He said a strong low pressure system just off the coast of Nova Scotia will remain stuck for a few days, diverting winds to come from the north.

There are chances for some light rain in Central New York over the next few days, which could help reduce the smoke in the air. Rain droplets absorb smoke particles and carry them to the ground, Wysocki said.
Update 3 p.m. Tuesday: The smoky haze could be worse on Wednesday.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Central New York has the most polluted air in New York right now because of the thick haze of smoke from Canada wildfires.

That is expected to linger all day and likely into Wednesday as smoke streams in from fires in Quebec, the National Weather Service said.

An air quality alert has been issued for the second consecutive day. People with lung and cardiovascular problems are urged to stay indoors.

Schools across Central New York are keeping kids indoors and canceling outdoor activities. The Syracuse Fire Department is asking people not to call in a possible house fire simply if they smell smoke.

Onondaga County health officials urged residents to stay inside and close windows.

The air quality monitor in East Syracuse measured more tiny smoke particles than any other monitor run by the state department of Environmental Conservation. Smoke could be smelled across Central New York.

The East Syracuse monitor showed 172 micrograms per cubic meter of those tiny particles and other pollutants. That level is considered unhealthy for everybody. For context, anything under 50 ppm is considered good.

The smoke will continue today, the weather service said.

An axis of thicker smoke is now dropping across Central New York, which will envelop the rest of the area through this afternoon, the weather service said at 10:45 a.m. It will be enough to reduce visibility to between 2 and 5 miles.

The haze will and patchy smoke will linger into Wednesday, the weather service said.

The smoke particles are just 2.5 microns wide, which is 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. At that minuscule size, they can penetrate not only the lungs but even the bloodstream.

The particles can also cause more mild, short-term effects like eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath, according to the state Department of Health.

More than 200 wildfires are burning in Quebec, where more than 15,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
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KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 21:58 | All, Japan, World

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday expressed Japan's support for Sweden's bid to join NATO, ahead of a summit of the trans-Atlantic military alliance next month.

Hayashi and Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson also shared the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation during their meeting in Tokyo, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, amid the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and China's intensifying military activities in the Indo-Pacific.

The talks came as the NATO leaders will likely discuss Sweden's membership, which must be approved by all 31 member countries, at their two-day meeting scheduled from July 11 in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Most of the NATO nations, including the United States, are ready to accept the Scandinavian country as a member, while Turkey and Hungary have reservations about its entry.

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022 to seek security against Russia, which began invading Ukraine in February that year, through the alliance's collective defense guarantee.

Finland, a Russian neighbor known for its decades-long military neutrality, became a NATO member in April.

Hayashi told Jonson that Tokyo supports Stockholm's decision to apply for NATO entry since cooperation with like-minded nations has become more important amid the growingly severe international security environment, according to the ministry.

"The security of Europe and that of the Indo-Pacific are actually indivisible," Hayashi said at the outset of the meeting, in a veiled reference to concerns about the Ukraine war's implications in Asia, where China's military presence is increasingly being felt.

Jonson said that Sweden places importance on relations with Japan and that he will further promote collaboration, especially in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry said.

Earlier in the day, Jonson told a press conference at the Japan National Press Club that his nation is "hopefully on the verge of joining NATO very soon."

Jonson arrived in Japan on Monday after visiting Singapore to attend the three-day Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which ended Sunday.

Related coverage:

China warns against Japan PM's attendance at NATO summit
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,568 Thanked: 20,806 Times

Re: Maintenance Tourism| Travelling 400km to a preferred technician for maintenance jobs Day 2 of Maintenance Tourism - Enter the wild card



I was scheduled to go back with the car for a low priority job - to fit Boston SXi606 components that were lying in the attic since 2012. These speakers were in my 2003 Toyota Corolla AT that I parted with and were never fitted in any car since then. The plan was to fit these components in the rear of the Grand Vitara.



However, a wild card entrant, a close friend's 2011 Toyota Corolla Altis, put my original plan on hold. This car's rear brakes were squealing and needed immediate attention as it was clear that the brake pads' thickness was down to the wire.



The 2011 Altis





I took the Altis to Avadi, got the rear brake pads inspected - both the right and left side pads were all gone. Just to be sure, I got the front pads inspected and these were also low on thickness.



Jobs planned on the Altis



1. New brake pads - front and rear

2. Skimming of all four discs

3. Throttle body cleaning

4. Headlamp bulbs upgrade



No.4 was a special ask as my friend complained about the meh lights especaially on medianless roads. The old gen 51W and 60W halogens are no match for today's LEDs.



Day's progress



After the discs were removed, the next challenge was finding a proper machinist to get them skimmed. The challenge here was two machnists were closed that day. After much delay, we located a machinist in Pattabiram, very close to the Hindu College Railway Station, and he was very helpful. Said it would take 2 hours since he had some pending jobs, but committed to a 5pm delivery.



Meanwhile, I went back to the city using a local train, then hopped into a bus at Chennai Central, got off at GP Road, got the brake pads, a Cabin Air filter, OSRAM Night Breaker Laser 9005 for the high beams and OSRAM LEDriving 50Wx2 9006 for the low beams. The lights alone cost INR 7500 plus. I chose two types of bulbs using the same logic that Toyota adopted in their GL and VL variants - one type for the low beams and another type for the high beams



It was 5:30pm at GP Road. Took an autorickshaw from GP Road to Vadapalani, had a quick snack, hopped into the Grand Vitara with my friend, and was back in Avadi by 7:40pm, by when the skimmed discs were in place. New brake pads in, new LED lights in, OSRAM Nightbreaker Lasers in, and the Altis looked like one wicked cat with the new lights on. The difference between the stock bulbs and the new ones was like night vs day.



After the Altis, it was project Grand Vitara Part 2 - we used the existing wiring routing to lay input wires to the crossovers, and output from the crossovers to the woofers. Tweeters were placed in an experimental position near the rear quarter glass. By the time my friend and me were out of my technician's place, it was well past midnight.



Front brake pads - worn









Rear brake pads - worn





Throttle Body - before





Throttle Body - after cleaning





Travelling from Pattabiram to Chennai Central and to GP Road on a hot hot afternoon





Bulb specs

I was scheduled to go back with the car for a low priority job - to fit Boston SXi606 components that were lying in the attic since 2012. These speakers were in my 2003 Toyota Corolla AT that I parted with and were never fitted in any car since then. The plan was to fit these components in the rear of the Grand Vitara.However, a wild card entrant, a close friend's 2011 Toyota Corolla Altis, put my original plan on hold. This car's rear brakes were squealing and needed immediate attention as it was clear that the brake pads' thickness was down to the wire.I took the Altis to Avadi, got the rear brake pads inspected - both the right and left side pads were all gone. Just to be sure, I got the front pads inspected and these were also low on thickness.1. New brake pads - front and rear2. Skimming of all four discs3. Throttle body cleaning4. Headlamp bulbs upgradeNo.4 was a special ask as my friend complained about the meh lights especaially on medianless roads. The old gen 51W and 60W halogens are no match for today's LEDs.After the discs were removed, the next challenge was finding a proper machinist to get them skimmed. The challenge here was two machnists were closed that day. After much delay, we located a machinist in Pattabiram, very close to the Hindu College Railway Station, and he was very helpful. Said it would take 2 hours since he had some pending jobs, but committed to a 5pm delivery.Meanwhile, I went back to the city using a local train, then hopped into a bus at Chennai Central, got off at GP Road, got the brake pads, a Cabin Air filter, OSRAM Night Breaker Laser 9005 for the high beams and OSRAM LEDriving 50Wx2 9006 for the low beams. The lights alone cost INR 7500 plus. I chose two types of bulbs using the same logic that Toyota adopted in their GL and VL variants - one type for the low beams and another type for the high beamsIt was 5:30pm at GP Road. Took an autorickshaw from GP Road to Vadapalani, had a quick snack, hopped into the Grand Vitara with my friend, and was back in Avadi by 7:40pm, by when the skimmed discs were in place. New brake pads in, new LED lights in, OSRAM Nightbreaker Lasers in, and the Altis looked like one wicked cat with the new lights on. The difference between the stock bulbs and the new ones was like night vs day.After the Altis, it was project Grand Vitara Part 2 - we used the existing wiring routing to lay input wires to the crossovers, and output from the crossovers to the woofers. Tweeters were placed in an experimental position near the rear quarter glass. By the time my friend and me were out of my technician's place, it was well past midnight. Last edited by vigsom : 5th June 2023 at 00:49 .
In brief: Steam listings that play fast and loose with their pricing, such as increasing it before a sale then dropping it, or claiming something is the lowest price ever when it's not, will no longer get away with these shenanigans in the EU, thanks to legislation forcing publishers to show a game's price history over the last 30 days.

The move is the result of the EU's Omnibus Directive, also known as the Enforcement and Modernisation Directive, which is designed to strengthen consumer protection.

To comply with the directive, which was rolled out last year, Steam is showing customers in the European Union the lowest price a game has been across the past 30 days. SteamBD posted a screenshot of the feature, which shows the title's price normally, a 30-day low, and what it is now.

Steam now shows 30-day low price in some European Union countries to comply with the Omnibus Directive. pic.twitter.com/BbTsNn2Zsp  SteamDB (@SteamDB) June 3, 2023

Not every country in the EU is complying with the directive yet, but all members are planning to at some point.

There's no word on whether the new feature will ever expand outside of the EU and come to the US, but SteamDB's browser extension already shows the all-time low prices for all games on the platform, along with plenty of other stats.

Back in February last year, Valve unveiled its own set of rules to prevent publishers from exploiting Steam's money-off sales through fake discounts. These changes included no discounts allowed within 28 days of prior discounts (with the exception of seasonal sales events), and no discounts (including during Steam sales) within 28 days of a price rise.

Another important change from last year stated that products could not be discounted by more than 90% or less than 10%---the previous rule only prohibited games from being discounted by 100%. It means that companies are unable to reduce a game by a ridiculously low number, such as 1% or 2%, thereby assuring they appear in a sales list.

In other Steam news this week, the platform's latest survey results were released. May saw the RTX 3060 continue its climb to the top of the GPU chart while Windows 11 kept chipping away at Windows 10's lead.
A hot potato: The advancement of generative AI in recent times means it's often difficult, if not impossible, to tell if something you see on social media is real or has been created by a machine  and that's not a good thing. In an attempt to combat fake news and disinformation originating from Russia, the EU is, among other things, urging social media companies to start labelling content and images generated by AI.

Vera Jourova, deputy head of the European Commission, said, "Signatories who integrate generative AI into their services like Bingchat for Microsoft, Bard for Google, should build in necessary safeguards that these services cannot be used by malicious actors to generate disinformation."

"Signatories who have services with a potential to disseminate AI generated disinformation should in turn put in place technology to recognize such content and clearly label this to users," Jourova added.

The EU doesn't just want a small, hard-to-see disclaimer on the AI content. It is asking companies to label it in a way that the users will clearly see when scrolling through social media and distracted by other items on their feeds.

The Guardian writes that the Commission wants the content labeled with words such as "this is the robot talking." Interestingly, Jourova said she met with Google CEO Sundar Pichai 10 days ago to ask whether his company had the technology to detect fake news. "His answer was: 'Yes, but we are developing technologies further,'" she said.

A fake image of an explosion near the Pentagon went viral on Twitter recently

Jourova added (via Reuters) that companies, including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, have signed up to the EU Code of Practice to tackle disinformation and should report on safeguards put in place to tackle this in July.

Twitter quit the voluntary code of practice two weeks ago, a move that Jourova has called a "mistake." Elon Musk's service could be fined up to 6% of its global revenue, which would be around $145 million, or banned in the EU if it does not comply with the Digital Service Act. The act covers digital content and is set to come into effect across the EU on August 25.

The move is part of a package of efforts to stop the spread of Russian disinformation on social media platforms. "This is not business as usual; what the Russians want is to undermine the support of the public opinion of our citizens for the support of Ukraine," Jourova said.

In addition to taking everyone's job and erasing the entire human race in a way comparable to nuclear war, the new wave of AI's ability to generate fake content that people believe is real is a big concern, especially when used by Russia. The country said earlier this year that it wants to become a global leader in AI tech alongside China, though that might be difficult with all the sanctions placed on both nations.

Last week saw Mozilla announce the winner of its Responsible AI Challenge. A panel of judges that included AI academics, developers, and entrepreneurs chose Sanative AI as its top contestant, handing it a $50,000 award. The company is developing an anti-AI watermark technology that protects images for being used as training data for diffusion models and generative AI algorithms.
In brief: It's no secret that many advertisers abandoned Twitter after Elon Musk acquired it, but the billionaire said in April that most of them have returned. According to a new report, however, the company's advertising revenue is down 59% year-on-year, which could be due to advertisers' concerns over the increasing amount of hate speech and pornography on the platform.

According to an internal presentation seen by the New York Times, Twitter's US advertising revenue for the five weeks between April 1 and the first week of May was $88 million, down 59% from a year earlier. The platform regularly falls short of its sales projections, sometimes by as much as 30%, and according to the documents and former employees, that isn't going to change anytime soon.

During a Twitter Space event on Monday, Musk said half the company's advertising had disappeared due to advertisers in Europe and North America putting extreme pressure on the company. "They are trying to drive Twitter bankrupt," he said.

The pattern of less advertising is a concern for a company that makes 90% of its revenue from ads. Musk firing executives, spreading conspiracy theories, and allowing banned users back onto the site has worsened Twitter's appeal in the eyes of advertisers. So has the massive increase in ads for online gambling, marijuana products, and erectile dysfunction products and services.

Twitter has always been home to adult content, but it's becoming a problem for family-friendly companies. Employers trying to garner interest for Mother's Day found that potential sponsored search terms, like "MomLife," were returning videos you wouldn't want your mother to see.

Employees told the publication that some of the biggest advertisers on Twitter, including Apple, Amazon, and Disney, had been spending less on advertising on the platform than last year. One example is the large banner ads on the trends page that can cost $500,000 for 24 hours. They're almost always bought by large brands but now often go unfulfilled.

Six ad agency execs who have worked with Twitter said their clients continue to limit spending on the platform, blaming Musk's changes, inconsistent support - likely related to the number of staff Musk fired - and the misleading and toxic content on the platform. The Pentagon explosion photo (above) that went viral on Twitter is a good example of the former. Fake images like these created by AI are something the EU wants clearly labeled on social media.

Musk's tweets, like the one comparing George Soros to Magneto, aren't helping the situation, either. Neither has Twitter's head of trust and safety and its head of brand safety and ad quality resigning.

It's not all doom and gloom for Musk. Some marketers are returning to Twitter, albeit with a cautious approach, and it is looking at ways to make it easier for advertisers to buy space on the site. With Linda Yaccarino now CEO and Musk stepping back slightly, Twitter might look a little more appealing, or at least less risky, to advertisers.
Bottom line: Gigabyte has addressed a sketchy feature found on more than 260 motherboard models that could have allowed an attacker to install malware on a system. Some may be surprised that Gigabyte isn't shutting down the updater entirely. It is sticking around, just with better security to make it harder for a prospective attacker to leverage it for malicious activity.

Firmware security services provider Eclypsium came forward with their findings late last month. In short, they discovered Gigabyte was using code in motherboard firmware to quietly run an updater program that connects to the Internet to download and subsequently install firmware updates. The researchers noted that code was being downloaded to users' computers without being properly authenticated. Worse yet, it sometimes was delivered over an HTTP connection instead of the more secure HTTPS.

Shortly after Eclypsium broke its story, Gigabyte announced it had updated Intel 700 / 600 and AMD 500 / 400 BIOS available on its website to download and install. Gigabyte said updates for Intel 500 / 400 and AMD 600 series boards would also be released on the same day, and it seems that has indeed happened.

According to Gigabyte, the fix involves stricter security checks during the OS boot process including:

Signature Verification: Gigabyte has bolstered the validation process for files downloaded from remote servers. This enhanced verification ensures the integrity and legitimacy of the contents, thwarting any attempts by attackers to insert malicious code.

Privilege Access Limitations: Gigabyte has enabled standard cryptographic verification of remote server certificates. This guarantees that files are exclusively downloaded from servers with valid and trusted certificates, ensuring an added layer of protection.

If you are running one of the more than 260 affected Gigabyte motherboards, it would be a good idea to go ahead and pick up the latest BIOS update. In the description on Gigabyte's support page for your update, you should see a reference addressing download assistant vulnerabilities reported by Eclypsium Research.

For those that'd rather not fool with the feature at all, head to the UEFI / BIOS and look for the the App Center Download & Install feature, and disable it if the option exists.
Rumor mill: As semiconductor mass production starts to enter the 3nm era, all of the major competitors are intensifying the race toward 2nm. While companies like Samsung and Intel look ahead to ever-smaller process nodes, industry leader TSMC is taking preliminary steps to stay ahead.

Sources have told Taiwan outlet Economic Daily that TSMC has started pre-production work on 2nm semiconductors, a crucial step toward trial production. The company's current timeline could keep it ahead of competitors like Intel and Samsung.

Reportedly, TSMC has sent engineers and support workers to the Baoshan, Taiwan Zhuke R&D plant to prepare for 2nm trial production, aiming to produce 1,000 wafers this year. The company declined to comment on the information. Previously confirmed roadmaps indicate plans for 2nm trial production in 2024, with mass production coming in 2025.

Interestingly, Economic Daily sources say TSMC's manufacturing process utilizes an AI-enhanced method called AutoDMP which is powered by Nvidia's DGX H100 chips. The AI optimizes chip designs 30 times faster than other techniques, improving energy efficiency and decreasing carbon emissions.

Nvidia's AutoDMP in action

With 2nm, TSMC will switch to gate-all-around (GAAFET) transistors, which can increase transistor density and shrink the leakage current. The new node could improve performance over 3nm by 10-15 percent at the same power level or use 20-25 percent less energy with the same performance.

Meanwhile, Intel wants to release its 20-Angstrom (20A, essentially 2nm) node in 2024, with Samsung planning to start 2nm mass production in 2025. Both will use GAAFET and backside power delivery to increase logic density and decrease power leakage. Japanese company Rapidus aims to mass-produce 2nm semiconductors by 2027. Looking further ahead, Samsung intends to reach 1.4nm by 2027, while TSMC is making plans for 1nm.

In the near term, Samsung and TSMC are focused on improving their 3nm nodes. Samsung started on 3nm last June, while TSMC began mass production right before the new year.

However, Apple snapped up TSMC's entirely early supply of 3nm transistors, likely for upcoming products like the iPhone 15. This could enable Samsung to court other customers like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Baidu for its forthcoming 3nm GAA node. Samsung, Intel, and TSMC plan to offer more efficient versions of 3nm in 2024.
Google has unveiled the development of a new AI-driven function to make searching faster and easier for emails in Gmail on smartphones.

The new feature, announced in a blog post on Friday, adds a "top results" area and is designed to give mobile Gmail users a more convenient experience in finding older messages or attachments within the program.

How Does The New Gmail Feature Work?

Google's robust machine learning algorithms are used significantly in the "top results" section. The function seeks to provide users with exactly what they are looking for by using recent emails, the search keyword, and other relevant criteria.

The search results in Gmail are now shown in a specific chronological order. However, consumers may anticipate an individual section, "Top results," highlighted at the top of the search results due to the integration of artificial intelligence.

This AI component represents a considerable advancement by merging users' most recent emails and pertinent data to provide the most probable results for their search. Once consumers use this new search option, its efficacy will become clear.

Read Also: Microsoft Azure's Outage Lasts for 10.5 Hours

The feature's deployment started on June 2, and it will take at least 15 days until it is accessible to Gmail mobile users. In a blog post, Google informed all account holders and customers of the availability of the "highly requested" function.

Google Catching Up With ChatGPT

Google has actively pushed AI developments ever since ChatGPT first appeared to realize its potential fully. This effort resulted in the creation of Google Bard, a new iteration of Google Search that created issues over its effect on websites. It led to the departure of Geoffrey Hinton, the revered "Godfather of AI," from the tech giant, allowing him to debate AI hazards publicly.

This latest action is consistent with Google's planned adjustments to its email service, including a divisive revision to the dormant account policy in May.

According to the new policy, if an account is inactive for two years, Google may erase it with all its data and content. Additionally, Google has finished revamping its Gmail user interface, emphasizing its other productivity features.

These strategic changes align with Google's most recent cost-cutting initiatives and CEO Sundar Pichai's 20% productivity growth goal.

Alphabet executives highlighted resource allocation towards AI, search, and search's potential to provide a quantifiable return on investment during the company's most recent earnings call in an unpredictable environment.

Related Article: Google Removes Malicious Extensions Downloaded 75 Million Times from the Chrome Web Store

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Massive scrutiny is now awaiting one of the largest crypto exchange companies in the world, with Binance facing complaints from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There are a lot of complaints thrown by the regulators, and it is not only directed to the company but also to Binance's CEO, mainly centering on its operations and license to operate.

Allegedly, Binance has not yet secured the proper licenses and securities needed for their US operations, and now the complaint has been filed against them for its review in court.

SEC has filed charges against Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and its CEO Changpeng Zhao. The SEC alleges that Binance's "blatant disregard" for federal law has allowed them to amass billions of dollars while placing investors' assets at significant risk.

According to the SEC's complaint, Binance has allegedly remained unlicensed in the securities exchange and has displayed an apparent reluctance to be regulated by the agency. The SEC claims that Binance's failure to comply with the necessary regulations undermines investor protection and poses systemic risks to the broader financial market.

"Through thirteen charges, we allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.

Furthermore, the SEC alleges that Binance deliberately concealed the identities of those operating the platform, adding an element of opacity to their operations. The complaint states that Binance's lack of transparency creates an environment conducive to fraudulent activities and illicit practices.

Read Also: Binance Faces Charges from CFTC for Crypto Derivatives, Promotes VPN Use to Avoid Detection in the US

SEC is Gunning for Binance Now

The SEC allegedly said Binance has been introducing deceptive new features and "attempted to evade US securities laws by announcing sham controls that they disregarded behind the scenes so that they could keep high-value US customers on their platforms," said Gensler.

Despite the legal and regulatory challenges posed by the US market, Binance allegedly persisted in attracting American investors and expanding its user base.

Binance's Operations

Binance has been a popular crypto-exchange company in the past and has expressed its efforts to help regulate crypto with concerned entities.

However, it faced many controversies, including the violation of US sanctions against Iranian firms that were allowed to trade as much as $8 billion on the platform.

The cryptocurrency exchange has enjoyed exponential growth in recent years and has become a prominent player in the global crypto market. However, the SEC's allegations and the subsequent legal action threaten to cast a shadow over Binance's reputation and future operations.

Binance has yet to release an official statement in response to the charges.

The SEC's move against Binance comes when regulators worldwide are intensifying their efforts to bring greater oversight and accountability to the cryptocurrency industry. As digital assets continue to gain popularity, regulatory bodies seek to ensure that investor protection and market integrity are maintained.

Related Article: Binance Reportedly Under Investigation for Violation of Russian Sanctions
KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 19:35 | World, All, Japan

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker, is considering building a second plant in southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture in addition to the one currently under construction there, the island's Central News Agency said Tuesday.

The agency quoted TSMC Chairman Mark Liu as telling reporters after its annual general shareholders' meeting that the location for the proposed plant is also in the prefecture and that the company will focus on mature manufacturing process technologies rather than advanced ones.

TSMC is constructing an $8.6 billion wafer plant in Kikuyo, Kumamoto, with mass production scheduled to start in 2024. Sony Group Corp. and Denso Corp., a major Japanese auto parts maker, are also investing in the factory while the Japanese government is providing financial aid.

Liu said the Japanese government hopes that the chipmaker will continue to expand its investment in Japan and that many customers feel that TSMC's production capacity is insufficient.

At present, TSMC has only purchased land for its first factory in Japan and the land needed for the second facility is still being arranged, the chairman added.

Related coverage:

FOCUS: TSMC chip giant spurs factory land shortage in small Kyushu town

TSMC mulls building second chip plant in Japan: CEO

Global chipmakers eager to invest in Japan with gov't support
Companies delivering managed IT services are important in today's highly digital business space. These firms are pivotal to the success of businesses worldwide.

IT service management providers offer business organizations oversight of IT operations, automation of IT processes, and many other effective solutions. As third-party or outsourced companies, managed IT service providers facilitate seamless IT operations for their clients.

In this article, readers will discover more about these firms and their benefits to businesses. They will also learn about the top five companies that manage IT services and how they add value for their clients.

Why Use Managed IT Services?

Even if a business organization could perform all its IT functions in-house, that's rarely the most efficient approach. With third-party service providers delivering managed IT solutions, business organizations can achieve what needs to be accomplished with minimum cost and delay.

Companies specializing in IT management provide their customers with many kinds of services. They engage in IT maintenance, quality assurance, security testing, and software customization.

Additionally, providers of managed IT services perform consistent monitoring of their client's IT systems. They can help establish data backup processes. They can also offer solutions such as IT consulting and implementation, on-demand IT support, and more.

Clients also get aid in problem resolution during a technological disruption at the office. Besides IT support services, companies offering IT management services are also IT strategy consulting providers. Their customers can benefit from IT infrastructure consulting providers and IT outsourcing services. In short, they reduce their clients' IT management risk.

5 Best Managed IT Service Providers

The leading managed IT service providers have received high ratings from satisfied clients. These companies obtained positive feedback due to their exemplary customer support and resolving IT-related concerns promptly.

The five best companies and their benefits are:

1. ReReady

Given the proliferation of remote work in recent years, it should come as no surprise that the top provider of managed IT services specializes in remote work. ReReady is a provider of managed IT services for companies with remote employees. This firm helps companies recover equipment from remote employees, with a particular focus on company laptop returns.

The founders "have decades of experience with healthy and productive remote work," with experience ranging from startups to Fortune 500 businesses. They claim to equip clients with best practices that have been tried and tested in hundreds of real remote work environments.

ReReady describes itself as the "fastest and easiest" service provider when it comes to recovering laptops from remote workers. Customers report being able to complete the process with only 1-2 minutes of data entry, with a turnaround time as fast as 5 days.

In reviews from customers, ReReady has earned high ratings. In particular, they frequently remark that ReReady is significantly easier to work with than a typically managed IT firm. They also note how ReReady makes it easy to automate common processes, to minimize the time and effort required to accomplish tasks.

As a top IT service management company, ReReady offers a range of benefits to business organizations:

a. Laptop returns

ReReady ships an empty laptop box to your remote employee, with prepaid shipping for your employee to ship the laptop back to your company. This saves you from buying a laptop box for shipping, buying postage, printing labels, shipping the box, tracking the shipment, etc. It will automatically notify you when shipments are delivered. ReReady charges a simple flat fee for this service.

If you request it, ReReady automatically monitors the return process and sends your employee reminders if necessary.

ReReady's top-quality laptop box is specially designed for laptop computers and safely fits different laptop sizes. Their boxes are recyclable and reusable.

b. Automation of the laptop return process

Many companies report that equipment returns are one of the most tedious parts of their offboarding process. ReReady supports multiple integrations that empower you to automate this part of your remote employee offboarding procedure. It is features integrations currently supporting Zenefits, BambooHR, and Jamf. You can even request an integration with your system.

Additionally, ReReady offers its clients an API for them to build their own automated processes.

c. Message customization feature

Another advantage of ReReady is its message customization feature. This allows you to personalize the messaging ReReady uses in the laptop return process. That includes the initial notification email and the reminder emails ReReady sends to your employees. ReReady says this custom messaging can help you further boost your return success rates.

d. World-class customer support

ReReady has reliable customer support with average turnaround times of less than an hour. They also offer the assistance of a hands-on software engineer who can help in the customers' efforts to automate their IT processes.

Uniquely, ReReady also invites customers to request new features. This unusually customer-centric approach seems to be a credit to the founders' background in Silicon Valley tech innovation.

If your company has remote employees, ReReady is strongly recommended. It's an easy way to immediately add value to your organization. By managing some of the most tedious, laborious, and expensive aspects of remote employment, it is quickly becoming a must-have solution for remote employers.

2. Veraqor, Incorporated

Veraqor is a company based in Princeton, New Jersey. It offers managed IT services and technology consulting.

Veraqor started its operations in 2015. It has received high ratings and positive feedback due to its high-quality approach as one of the top firms to manage IT services for its clients.

Among Veraqor's key customers are Novartis, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, and Abbott Laboratories. Bayer, IQVIA, IBM, and Daymon Worldwide have also partnered with this top-rated provider of IT management services.

a. Expertise fits IT service providers perfectly

Veraqor is a group of technology aficionados who are alumni of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. It also consists of professionals from Microsoft and business executives from the world's major business conglomerates.

Veraqor firmly believes in harnessing technology to serve humanity for a better tomorrow. The group also thinks technological innovations will lead to responsible stewardship.

b. Simplified IT services

Veraqor streamlines its customers' IT management with its fully managed solutions. This firm can handle all company requirements, including proactive monitoring and fast problem resolution.

Customers can rest assured that their IT systems will always be up to date with Veraqor's assistance which involves regular support and maintenance.

c. Passionate IT team

Veraqor employs more than 200 certified IT professionals. This skilled personnel has multi-year and multi-industry project experience, including in Fortune 100 firms.

Furthermore, AI, data, and the cloud drive Veraqor's team. These IT professionals offer proven frameworks and a disciplined approach. Hence, they can deliver dependable, high-quality solutions to their clients promptly.

Veraqor has a very responsive workflow that delivers fast. It also helps customers by conducting meetings with them and answering queries in asynchronous sessions.

Veraqor assists clients with design, development, support, and management. This company aims to aid its customers in going to market quicker and get their leg up on their competition.

3. Coastal Cloud

Coastal Cloud is one of today's leading IT management service providers. Its headquarters is in Palm Coast, Florida. Since Coastal Cloud's establishment in 2012, it has revitalized the technology consulting industry model in the United States. Coastal Cloud is a prize-winning Salesforce Platinum Partner. On the Salesforce AppExchange, this IT service provider has received a client satisfaction rating of 4.9 out of 5.

The advantages of selecting Coastal Cloud's services include the following:

a. Trusted IT industry expert

Coastal Cloud's IT team has served over 1,200 customers. It has completed more than 5,600 projects as of this time. Moreover, Coastal Cloud has gained its satisfied clients' trust for its expert consulting capability in the cloud. This company has marketing, commerce, sales, accounting, and finance proficiencies.

Additionally, customers have trusted Coastal Cloud for its expert consulting capacity in customer success, health and government cloud, and integration and data services, among many others.

b. High-quality IT solutions

Coastal Cloud's service line includes information technology, consulting, cloud computing, and cloud management. Its massive professional team of more than 470 experts holds 57,000 Trailhead Badges and over 1,700 Salesforce certifications.

Even with Coastal Cloud's considerable growth, 70% of its work hails from its repeat transactions with its contented customers.

Coastal Cloud delivers its solutions 100% onshore across its employee network. Many of this company's workers are based at its delivery centers in Florida, Colorado, Kentucky, and Washington D.C.

4. Deft

Deft is a managed IT service company based in Chicago, Illinois. It has been in business since 2000. For more than two decades, this company has worked with intricate IT infrastructures for Fortune 500 and small and medium business organizations.

Deft also has data centers worldwide and adds new locations annually. This firm aids its clients in bringing their information technology vision to life. It stays by its customers' side from ideation through implementation. As one of the best managed IT service providers, Deft has received much positive feedback and high ratings from satisfied clients due to the following advantages it delivers:

a. Multiple IT specializations

Deft offers more than just IT managed services. It also provides colocation solutions and IT strategy consulting.

Defts' customers can avail of this firm's system integrator and cloud consulting offerings. The company's other service lines include DDoS mitigation and cloud and network connectivity. Deft provides disaster recovery services, too.

Additionally, customers can find assistance when it comes to data center migrations and managed VMware clouds.

b. IT specialist team

Deft employs technology professionals who specialize in every IT field. This company hoards experts in every specialty. Thus, its professionals can concentrate and become skilled in many divisions of the information technology industry.

Deft's IT experts are always available to discuss projects with their customers. They are friendly technology professionals on speed dial. Furthermore, its IT experts guarantee to make their customers' IT infrastructure as simple as possible yet as powerful as needed.

Among Deft's notable clients are DePaul University, Ars Technica, Northeastern Illinois University, Leapfrog, and ABN AMRO. Moreover, firms such as Cars.com, Merrill LLP, Metra, Vizient, and Fanatics.com are among Deft's key customers.

5. Right Networks

Right Networks is a provider of managed IT solutions. This company, which is among the best to manage IT services for its clients, is located in Hudson, New Hampshire. Right Networks has been in business since 2002. Clients choosing this IT service provider will benefit from the following advantages:

a. Many customizable IT solutions

Right Networks supports more than 2,500 tax, accounting, and business-related applications. As one of the top managed IT service providers, it enables its customers to choose the solution that best fits their companies. Furthermore, Right Networks assures its clients that it handles all security patches and software updates well.

b. Dedicated professional team

Right Networks assigns a group of IT specialists to keep customers' systems scalable, secure, and available. Thus, business organizations can concentrate on important matters for their client's benefit.

c. Unmatched customer support

A dedicated Client Success Manager helms Right Networks' customer service team. The company's United States-based technical specialists are available around the clock.

Right Networks guarantees world-class support and guidance. This provider of IT management services combines these advantages with best-in-class productivity tools, data sharing and collaboration, and accounting technology.

Hence, Right Networks' clients, which include small businesses and accounting companies, can become more profitable and productive in their operations.

ReReady, Veraqor, Coastal Cloud, Deft, and Right Networks lead in the IT service management sector. Clients recommend these top five IT management services specialists.

As the leading United States-based providers of managed IT services, these companies continue to receive high customer ratings, thanks to their proven industry expertise and offering of top-quality services.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A pod of killer whales (orcas) ravaged the yacht rudders of a British sailor in the Strait of Gibraltar, which adds to a series of related events in the area over the past several weeks.

The afflicted sailor, Iain Hamilton, revealed his story on BBC Radio 4's "Today" show, as reported by Business Insider. He said that while sailing about twenty miles off the shore, he saw a fin near his boat, then a series of sharp bumps. Then, a giant orca and four smaller ones began to attack the ship, constantly bumping into it as the large orca tried to bite the rudder.

Hamilton was alarmed when one of the orcas eventually succeeded in pulling off the first rudder. The second rudder was also pulled off, leaving the boat without any steering capabilities, which worsened the problem. Hamilton compared the orcas' subsequent aggressive maneuvering of the ship to playing with it.

The sailor noticed that, despite the extent of the destruction, the orcas seemed more playful than hostile. Due to their tremendous power, he thought they could have quickly demolished his boat if they had wanted to.

The latest orca attack comes days after a sailing yacht called Mustique sustained considerable damage from killer whales in an incident off the southern coast of Spain, shattering the rudder and puncturing the hull. The Mustique's four-person crew requested aid from Spanish authorities.

Killer Whale-Ship Contact Incidents Rise

There have been multiple killer whale assaults on ships off the Portuguese and Spanish shores this year alone. The first reported occurrence occurred in May 2020 in the Strait of Gibraltar, which sees a lot of boat activity. There have been over 500 cases of orcas reacting to boats, according to the Global Threats to Orcas (GTOA) organization. However, few orca encounters include physical contact.

Marine Mammal Science reported 49 orca-boat contacts in 2020 in June 2022. Although a few fishing boats and motorboats were also assaulted, sailboats and catamarans were the most often targeted vessels.

WATCH: Killer whales ram vacationing couple relaxing on boat in hour-long attack. https://t.co/pEUojMPyOX pic.twitter.com/hMdMBQG8jn  Fox News (@FoxNews) May 21, 2023

Read Also: Japan Plans to Pour $105 Billion in Hydrogen Energy Projects

Researchers discovered that orcas often use their teeth to scrape the boat's hull while they hunt for prey. These assaults often break rudders, leaving boats unable to sail. Three times, orcas forced ships to sink, but all the people on board were safely saved.

Reason Still Unclear

Wild Orca's scientific and research director, Deborah Giles, notes that these orcas do not want to harm people. She emphasizes the history of orca harassment and captures off the coastlines of Washington and Oregon in the 1960s and 1970s, per the Scientific American. Despite their horrific past, these orcas never aggressively attacked boats or people.

Giles points out that it is theoretical to ascribe such reasons to the orcas in the vicinity of the Iberian Peninsula, even if it is likely that the marine creatures may be responding due to unpleasant interactions with boats.

The Spanish Transport Ministry has established rules in reaction to these instances of killer whale attacks that state ships should leave the region right away and avoid upsetting the orcas more if any changes in their behavior, such as abrupt changes in direction or speed, are seen. The government mandates that any contact between ships and orcas be reported to the appropriate authorities, according to Reuters.

Orcas are a species of dolphin and are presently considered endangered. As adults, they can reach eight meters and six tons.

Related Article: Archaeologists Unearth Traces of Medieval Village Lost in the Ocean for 600 Years

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A retired Air Force veteran has come forward as a whistleblower, exposing claims of covert United States military initiatives centered on recovering vehicles of "non-human origin" for many years.

From 2019 through 2021, David Charles Grusch, a distinguished combat officer in Afghanistan, represented the National Reconnaissance Office on the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force of Congress. He subsequently served at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as co-lead of unexplained aerial phenomenon (UAP) analysis and task force representative from late 2021 until July 2022, according to Fox News.

The Debrief reported that Grusch complained to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) as a whistleblower. He claims to have confidential evidence of the US government, its allies, and military contractors retrieving fragmentary pieces and whole vehicles of exotic origin (possibly non-human or extraterrestrial) during the previous several decades. These findings are based on the morphologies of the vehicles, material science tests, unique atomic configurations, and radioactive fingerprints.

US Military Developing Weapons

In an interview with NewsNation with investigative reporter Ross Coulthart, David Grusch discussed his experiences working for the US military establishment, where he was given access to sensitive material. He said a crash recovery program that involved recovering technological objects of non-human origin, such as spaceships from diverse species, was closed to the UAP task force.

A military whistleblower claims a secret UFO retrieval program within the U.S. government has recovered non-human origin technical vehicles." Hear from the whistleblower on "Elizabeth Vargas Reports" at 6p/5C.



Find your channel: https://t.co/ZH35VUpzxS. pic.twitter.com/CHLKtAD94c  NewsNation (@NewsNation) June 5, 2023

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He said that the US and other countries are carrying out top-secret initiatives to "reverse-engineer" the components into weapons.

Grusch said he was initially skeptical, but after hearing evidence and proof from top former intelligence agents, many of whom he had known throughout his career, he changed his mind. These authorities revealed the existence of a program that the UAP Task Force was not informed about.

David Grusch filed a whistleblower report with secret "proof" to US Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General. Additionally, he has complained to the Department of Defense, stating that since he decided to come out, he has been alienated and retaliated against, per News Nation.

NASA Closely Working with Pentagon on UAPs

Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, a physicist and the head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), brought attention to the worldwide prevalence of "metallic orbs" and their interesting movements during NASA's first public hearing on unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP).

Dr. Kirkpatrick spoke to a group of NASA scientists and specialists interested in UFO research, sharing the most recent discoveries from AARO. Following congressional hearings and military sightings, UAP research is becoming more transparent, the Daily Mail reported.

The NASA group, comprised of scientists and decision-makers, offered advice to the space agency. These recommendations include launching a solar system-wide search for probable alien "artifacts" and vigorously battling the stigma attached to the UAP study.

Additionally, it was stated during the NASA hearing that the organization would work closely with the Pentagon's authorized UFO investigators on top-secret UAP cases.

Related Article: EU Urges Signatories to Label Deepfakes, AI-generated Content To Prevent Disinformation

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA has announced its plans to fund more than 200 small businesses in the space sector.

The funding, totaling $45 million, will be used to develop new technologies that safeguard astronauts' health, minimize the risk of collision damage to spacecraft, and support future NASA missions.

NASA will provide first-round funding of $150,000 to each of the proposal teams.

Serving Small Businesses, Research Institutions

This investment is part of NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, which seeks to nurture innovation within the American small business and research institution community.

The selection process involved the evaluation of 300 proposals submitted by 249 small businesses and 39 research institutions, including eight Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Phase I SBIR contracts will last for six months, while Phase I STTR contracts, awarded to small businesses collaborating with research institutions, will last for 13 months.

Read Also: NASA Says Sightings of Mysterious Flying Metallic Orbs Are Becoming Frequent; 800 Encounters Already Reported

Pushing the Aerospace Industry

Jenn Gustetic, the director of early-stage innovation and partnerships for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), emphasized NASA's role in fostering growth in the aerospace industry.

She stated, "Through these early-stage small business awards, we are inviting more innovators into this growing arena and helping them mature their technologies for not only NASA's use but for commercial impact."

Notably, approximately 30% of the companies selected as SBIR/STTR recipients are new to receiving NASA funding. One such company is nou Systems, Inc., a woman-owned small business.

nou Systems aims to develop technology that automates the monitoring of microbial activity in spacecraft environments, addressing a crucial aspect of astronaut health.

The company's proposed solution involves automating DNA monitoring to identify potentially harmful microbes swiftly. This innovation could first be implemented as part of the International Space Station's biological testing equipment.

Diversity and Innovation

Gynelle Steele, the deputy program executive for NASA's SBIR/STTR program, expressed pride in collaborating with small businesses and research institutions needing government investment.

Steele noted that the program allows NASA to support groundbreaking ideas from diverse innovators nationwide that may not initially attract private industry funding.

More than a quarter of the selected companies are owned by women, veterans, disadvantaged individuals, or are HUBzone small businesses.

For instance, HyBird Space Systems LLC, a veteran-owned company based in Spanaway, Washington, was awarded an SBIR contract.

HyBird Space Systems aims to assist NASA in mitigating the risk of damage to spaceflight programs caused by orbital debris. Their retrobraking propulsion system, RT-5X, will initially focus on deorbiting spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

The company hopes its technology will provide a low-cost, preventive debris solution with controlled re-entry, benefiting small satellite developers and other stakeholders.

Supporting the Space Sector

These grants incentivize partnerships between MSIs and small businesses and foster mutually beneficial relationships that result in technologies supporting NASA's mission and commercial market development.

Government spending on space programs reached $103 billion in 2022, an increase of over 11.5 percent over the previous year.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Finds the Early Universe Littered with Bursts of Star Formation

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
If youre an active part of the manga torrent community then you might know that 13DL is Japans largest manga piracy site.

Unfortunately, 13DL has been officially shut down after a DMCA subpoena required CDN provider Cloudflare to uncover the identity of the sites operator.

Soon after a written order to attend a court of law was issued, Japans largest manga piracy site 13DL stopped releasing new content.

After the uploads were stopped, the sites operator confirmed that the site has shut down forever. You will be surprised to know that 13DL had 25 million monthly visits, mainly from Japan.

This website relied on external file-hosting platforms such as RapidGator, TakeFile, Novafile, WupFile, and HexUpload for distributing manga.

After the shutdown, 13DL shared a final gift which was a file containing download links to 180,000 pirated manga.

The Japanese anti-piracy group CODA stated that,

CODA, in cooperation with the rights holders, attorney Nakajima, and ethical hackers, is currently requesting procedures from a local law firm in Scandinavia, where the cyberlocker is believed to operate, in order to promptly file a sender information disclosure request regarding the distribution of the final present.

Best 13DL Alternatives

In this section, we have shared some of the Best Manga Sites that can act as 13DL Alternatives that are worth checking out,

1. Manga Plus

First, on the list of sites like 13DL, we have Manga Plus. Owned and operated by Shueisha Inc. Manga Plus allows users to read Manga online for free.

Yes, you read that right the website is completely legal and free as it relies on advertisements for revenue. The in-built reader is quite easy to navigate and it has a three-page resolution  low, medium, and high.

2. Comic Walker

Next up we have another 13DL Alternative that goes by the name Comic Walker. As the name suggests, you can find both comics and manga on Comic Walker.

Once again theres no need to create an account or pay any subscription fee to use Comic Walker. To search for your favorite Manga you can use its title or the artist.

3. Shonen Jump

Lastly, we have Shonen Jump. On this manga site, you can read over 10,000 chapters across different Manga titles.

Some mainstream Mangas available on Shonen Jump are Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Haikyu, and many more.

Lastly, if you love watching Anime then feel free to check out Best Anime Torrent Websites.
What happens in the brain of mothers after childbirth

In a scrapyard, a church, a volcano or a train car, these are some of the rarest places in Spain to eat (and very well)

"People acted on the basis of the logic of "good tsar - bad boyars": 375 years ago, the Salt Riot began in Moscow

Finistere: an 11-year-old girl shot dead after the shooting of a neighbor, her father seriously wounded

New games: Come on, we need to talk  or not?

"We entered the XXI century with two suitcases": a Russian astrophysicist on the evolution of scientists' ideas about the Universe

Feng Jicai: Intangible cultural heritage students do not come out of the classroom, but from the field

The Pope captured and baptized him to serve the renaissance of Christian Europe. Al-Hassan Al-Wazzan - a Muslim traveler nicknamed "Leon the African"

Drying your hair at home effortlessly and with hairdressing results: these are the tricks of Maria Baras, one of the best experts in Spain

They lost their mother in a fatal plane accident. How did children survive the monsters of Colombia's forests?

After returning to fight again. Will the African Initiative Succeed in Ending the Sudanese Conflict?

A joint study by Oxford University and Peking University found that more than 60 diseases are related to drinking

Many problems need to be solved, where is the way for units to run childcare?

Online dramas such as "Hidden Corner" have taken to the stage, and adapting IP musicals has become popular again

Djokovic wins against Ruud his twenty-third major and is consecrated in the kingdom of Nadal

Novak Djokovic, greatest player of all time with his 23rd Grand Slam: here are his other records

From his first victory against Nadal in 2015 to his coronation this Sunday, Djokovic's highlights at Roland Garros

After his third title at Roland-Garros, Novak Djokovic wants to "continue to write history"

Bank deposit interest rate drops to "2 era" Where should the money be put after that?

"Invite newcomers for 1 yuan for a drink" Can the little red cup beat the little blue cup?

17.9 yuan to solve three meals, are you willing to pay for the "leftover blind box"?

Train and bus operators put on sale this summer tickets with discounts of 90% for young people

The Hainan Free Trade Port operates around the island-wide customs closure operation to promote a higher level of rule of law

Some study groups are not as good as tourist groups and reporters investigate the chaos in the study market

Can one sell for 500 pieces? After the advent of AI painting, AI keywords also became a business

Investigation of chaos in the game companion industry: In the name of "accompanying play", not only games are played

The woman who ended up in the middle of the shooting drama in Farsta: "I was bloody about my right leg"

"I can change it for the better." Why is this sentence the worst trick in relationships ever?

Rwanda mourns one of its national heroes. How did Damas Gesimba save 400 lives in the civil war?

A bridge of one of the main highways of the US collapses by a burning vehicle

Six unmanned boats: the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced an attempt to attack the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the ship "Priazovye" of the Black Sea Fleet

FAST Chief Scientist Li Jing's team: Looking deeper into the universe through the "eye of heaven"

Sudan.. Violent clashes after truce, exchange of accusations between the army and the Rapid Support

It's not too late. How do you multiply your muscle strength 3 times in two months?

Why did China start drilling a well that is the deepest in the world after Russia's?

Kennedy Jr. said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost about 350 thousand people on the front line

Snowden said that he did not plan to initially stay in Russia

The wedding of Sol de Medina and Pedro Dominguez-Manjon brings together Spanish and international high society in Seville

They create the first European Sex Championship, in which the actress Selva Lapiedra will represent Spain

Against the background of the investigation into the parties scandal. Johnson resigns from British parliament and puts new pressure on Sunak

The first Turkish woman to hold this position. Erdogan appoints Hafiza chief staff of the Central Bank

The AfD faction demands that the German authorities investigate Kiev's involvement in the undermining of the joint venture

Bob Dylan in Madrid: a lot of nostalgia, a lot of squawking and no known song

Zelensky keeps quiet about the details of the counterattack. Russia repels attacks in Donetsk, Zabarozhia and Kiev advance on the Bakhamut axis

In the Soledara-Artyomovsk direction: military groups "South" repelled two attacks by assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the day

The army is still looking for the dog Wilson, key in the rescue of children in the Colombian jungle

Shock in Moralzarzal, the town of the four killed in a traffic accident: "We are in 'shock', it can not be"

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 22:30 | All, Japan, World

Japan's top government spokesman on Tuesday declined to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron's reported objection to a plan to open a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, only saying that "various considerations" are taking place inside the trans-Atlantic alliance.

The Financial Times reported Monday that Macron has objected to what would be NATO's first office in Asia, reflecting France's reluctance to back anything that fuels tensions between the alliance and China. The plan, revealed in May, has upset Beijing.

"Various considerations are under way within NATO. At this point, I will refrain from commenting with prejudgment," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference when asked about the report.

NATO has been eager to increase cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries amid concerns over Russia's growing military cooperation with China following its invasion of Ukraine. The opening of an office in Tokyo is apparently aimed at deepening ties with Japan.

Setting up a NATO office needs unanimous approval from the organization's decision-making North Atlantic Council, with France having the power to block the plan.

In a conference last week, Macron said NATO should not expand its reach beyond the North Atlantic and added, "If...we push NATO to enlarge the spectrum and the geography, we will make a big mistake," according to the newspaper.

The resistance from France has complicated months of discussion within NATO over the opening of the outpost in Tokyo, it also said, citing eight people familiar with the situation.

One French official reportedly suggested that the opening of the office could undermine European credibility with China in regard to the war in Ukraine, particularly in terms of asking the Chinese not to supply arms to Russia.

Another person was quoted as saying that France was reluctant to back anything "that contributes to NATO-China tension."

Macron made waves in April for his comments in a media interview that Europe should not be a "follower" of either the United States or China, cautioning against being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan amid the two countries' rivalry.

Beijing claims the self-ruled democratic island as part of its territory to be brought under control, by force if necessary.

Reacting to Monday's newspaper report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned of NATO's "outreach in Asia."

"Asia lies beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic...However, we have seen NATO bent on going east into this region, interfering in regional affairs and inciting bloc confrontation," he told a press conference on Tuesday.

He also said Japan "should make the right call in keeping with the region's stability and development interests and refrain from doing anything that may undermine mutual trust between regional countries and peace and stability in the region."

Related coverage:

Japan backs Sweden's NATO membership bid ahead of July summit

China warns against Japan PM's attendance at NATO summit
KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 03:00 | All, World

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Monday filed paperwork to join an increasingly crowded field of Republican candidates vying for the party's 2024 presidential nomination.

His entrance into the race pits him against former President Donald Trump, the current front-runner, whom he served in the White House for four years through 2021.

Since leaving office, however, the 63-year-old Pence has distanced himself from Trump, making his most scathing comments in March about the former president's role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

He said Trump's encouragement of rioters and his reckless words leading up to the attack "endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day," and that history will hold the 76-year-old former president "accountable."

Pence, known as a staunch conservative, served as a House of Representatives member for more than 10 years before becoming the governor of Indiana in 2013.

He is scheduled to launch his presidential campaign on Wednesday, according to major U.S. media, with the date coinciding with his 64th birthday.

Among Republicans challenging Trump for the 2024 nomination, opinion polls have shown that only Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 44, has managed to reach double-digit support so far.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 6, 2023 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan

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Japan eyes labor market reform, focuses on AI, chips to drive growth

TOKYO - The government said Tuesday it will aim to close wage gaps between Japan and other countries and attract more foreign talent while designating generative artificial intelligence and semiconductors as key policy areas for development.

A revised action plan released in the same day to achieve Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's push to ensure growth and wealth redistribution highlighted his stronger focus on human resources development through wage hikes and the reskilling of workers.

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Japan to invest 15 tril. yen in hydrogen supply for decarbonization

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Tuesday decided on a plan to generate 15 trillion yen ($107 billion) of investment in the supply of hydrogen over the next 15 years from the public and private sectors in a push to increase its use and speed up decarbonization.

Under the revised Basic Hydrogen Strategy, approved at a meeting between relevant ministers, the country also plans to increase its hydrogen supply sixfold from the current level of 2 million tons to around 12 million tons by 2040.

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TSMC considering 2nd chip plant in Japan's Kumamoto: report

TAIPEI - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker, is considering building a second plant in southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture in addition to the one currently under construction there, the island's Central News Agency said Tuesday.

The agency quoted TSMC Chairman Mark Liu as telling reporters after its annual general shareholders' meeting that the location for the proposed plant is also in the prefecture and that the company will focus on mature manufacturing process technologies rather than advanced ones.

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MSDF says Japan-S. Korea coordination crucial to regional stability

TOKYO - The chief of staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said Tuesday it is more important for Japanese and South Korean defense forces at sea to strengthen their coordination for regional stability than to settle a spat over a radar lock-on incident in 2018.

"What is most important is how Japan and South Korea seek to strengthen their relationship in a future-oriented way and contribute to the stability of the regional security environment," Adm. Ryo Sakai, chief of staff of the MSDF, told a press conference.

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China, Russia conduct joint patrol over Sea of Japan, E. China Sea

BEIJING - China and Russia carried out a joint aerial strategic patrol over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea on Tuesday, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

The sixth joint patrol between the two countries comes amid increased military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, which seek to counter the international order led by the United States and other Western nations.

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Senior U.S., Chinese officials hold "productive" talks in Beijing

WASHINGTON - Senior U.S. officials and their Chinese counterparts held "candid and productive" talks in Beijing on Monday, the State Department said, as Washington seeks to build on high-level diplomatic engagements between the two countries despite escalated tensions in recent weeks.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby characterized the meeting involving Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, as "making progress in terms of opening up additional lines of communication."

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Stuffed toy maker's ex-execs convicted in Tokyo Olympic bribery case

TOKYO - A Tokyo court on Tuesday sentenced former executives of stuffed toy maker Sun Arrow Inc. to suspended prison terms for providing around 2 million yen ($14,000) in bribes to a former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive.

In the trial, one of a series of Tokyo Olympic bribery cases, the Tokyo District Court gave the firm's former president, Taiji Sekiguchi, 50, and his father and former Sun Arrow executive Yoshihiro Sekiguchi, 75, sentences of one year in prison, suspended for three years.

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Japan, U.S., Australia to fund telecom network in South Pacific

TOKYO - Japan said Tuesday it, the United States and Australia will fund an estimated 135 million Australian-dollar ($90 million) project to develop advanced telecommunications networks in the South Pacific amid China's growing clout in the region.

Under the East Micronesia Cable project, to be completed in 2025 at the earliest, about 2,250 kilometers of undersea cables connecting Micronesia, Nauru and Kiribati will be laid.

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Video: Nikkei ends at 33-yr high
The Baton Rouge metro area lost another 1,500 jobs between March and April but has rebounded from the height of job losses during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Capital Region had 387,100 jobs in April, up 32,700 jobs, 9.2% more than compared to April 2020.
John M. Barry: It's not too late to get oil and gas industry to fix what it broke -- but it soon will be
The Louisiana Association of School Libraries sees enough crap going on that there's a line on the organization's home page asking librarians with concerns to contact them: "Thank you to all of our librarian colleagues who are doing their best for every child in Louisiana. If you are a school librarian who is being attacked, please reach out to the LASL Executive Board at geauxlasl@gmail.com."
Property giant Mirvac has completed the main structures of three new residential apartment buildings at Green Square in Sydneys inner south, signalling the near completion of 311 new homes as part of a large urban renewal project in Australia.

Located at Zetland with a combined construction value of more than $210 million, the simultaneous topping out of The Frederick, Portman on the Park, and Portman House will see the delivery of much-needed housing in the popular inner suburb.

The buildings were topped out on Tuesday with NSW Minister for planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore in attendance, signalling that the final structural beam has been raised into place, completing the building frames.

The new apartments at Green Square being developed by Mirvac

The ASX-listed Mirvac, with a market value of $9.27 billion, is the countrys largest developer of medium to high density housing, along with large-scale industrial, office and build-to-rent portfolios.
An eminent public health expert has warned that the doctor-patient relationship is at risk, while a leading breast cancer radiologist has embraced artificial intelligence to enhance his practice.

Rising tensions have emerged in the approach to the new technology in the medical profession.

Rising tensions have emerged in the approach to artificial intelligence in the medical profession.

Public health expert Professor Stephen Leeder said pressures on clinicians to rely increasingly on laboratory investigations for diagnosis rather than a detailed personal history from a patient had laid a foundation for AI to continue diminishing the need for human contact in making a diagnosis.

Its becoming so depersonalised you wonder where the doctor fits, he said. Im worried that it will impact negatively on the doctor-patient relationship, both in terms of conversations with the patient about their diagnosis and therapy and prognosis, and also as a replacement for physical examination.
Small businesses are not for the faint of heart, they are unpredictable and insecure. However, the reward when you make it through the woods is worth it.

Eyeing a gap in the bespoke coffee market, musician and full-time barista Paul Geshos founded Mecca Coffee in 2005. The philosophy of the Sydney-based roaster, retailer and wholesaler is that great coffee is ensured only by supporting all the communities involved in the elaborate supply chain.

Paul Geshos Mecca Coffee CEO

What inspired you to start the business?

I worked for a number of coffee roasters, but at the time imported Italian coffee dominated the market.

So of course, most people thought coffee came from Italy, but coffee is not grown there; its only roasted there.
The Crowded Room 

Apple TV+, Friday

Playing the dual role of Peter Parker and Spider-Man in a succession of billion-dollar Marvel blockbusters has been good for Tom Holland, but the 26-year-old obviously wants to show his range. He gets his opportunity  and mostly takes it  in this ambitious and sometimes wayward psychological drama. Playing a young man being pulled apart by the implications of his involvement in a shooting, Holland gets to inhabit a troubled character who keeps revealing more. His flights, in this role, are heady but metaphorical.

We got this, Ariana (Sasha Lane) tells Danny Sullivan (Holland) as they follow a man through the streets of 1979 midtown Manhattan. Their nervous, youthful optimism lasts all the way to gunfire  the first of numerous narrative jolts  before the friends are separated and Danny is later arrested at the boarding house where he lives in upstate New York. When the police cant find Ariana or Dannys landlord, Yitzhak (Faudas Lior Raz), their theory is that Sullivan is a serial killer  psychiatrist Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried) has to get confirmation.

Amanda Seyfried and Tom Holland in The Crowded Room. Credit: Aple TV+

Originally an in-demand film script in 1990s Hollywood, The Crowded Room has been converted to a lavish 10-part series by its creator, Akiva Goldsman (The Da Vinci Code, A Beautiful Mind). It is a story of trauma and denial, but also an act of distraction  it wants to dig deep, but only from certain angles. The story is carefully paced, going into background flashbacks at length, even as certain sequences feel tonally off; possibly because the person detailing them is dissembling. In one episode, the early scenes introducing Danny to Rya are repeated, but from her perspective.
BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China believes that France will continue to pursue a rational and positive China policy and play a constructive role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the latter's request.

President Macron's visit to China in April was a great success, and the two countries' heads of state reached a series of strategic consensuses. Both sides should step up the implementation, jointly push forward the next important agenda, and demonstrate the high level of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership, said Wang.

China appreciates that President Macron has made important remarks recently on international multilateral platforms, which reflect France's independent diplomatic tradition, and that European countries are also more active in dialogue and contact with China, said Wang.

As two major forces in the multi-polar process, China and the EU share far more common interests than differences. The two sides should think more about cooperation and less about rivalry, and work together to provide more stability for the world, said Wang.

Bonne, for his part, said President Macron was pleased with the outcome of his visit to China, especially his in-depth communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

France is ready to strengthen cooperation with China and contribute to the development of France-China and EU-China relations as well as international peace and stability, Bonne said.

France believes that Europe should remain united, uphold independence and establish a partnership with China based on mutual respect and common prosperity, he added.

The two sides exchanged views on global challenges.

France expects Global North and Global South countries to enhance cooperation to achieve more balanced and sustainable development.

Wang said China has always been an important member of the Global South and maintained that developed countries should take concrete actions to support the development of Global South countries.

Meanwhile, as the largest developing country, China is committed to providing assistance to developing countries through South-South cooperation and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Global South countries, Wang said.

The two sides also coordinated their positions on the Ukraine issue and agreed to continuously accumulate and create conditions for the start of a political settlement process. 
When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked in Singapore on Friday about the implications of the decision in the Ben Roberts-Smith case, he described it as a determination ... that didnt involve the government, adding that it would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of that given the potential that is there for future action that the government might be a party to.

A few days earlier, speaking on the controversy around the conduct of accounting giant PwC, he expressed similar caution, telling John Laws on Sydney radio station 2SM that the Australian Federal Police were investigating the matter and I dont want to pre-empt any of those processes.

But there was a crucial difference between the responses. Albanese also told Laws that PwCs conduct was completely unacceptable and that in the fullness of time, of course, there needs to be proper transparency about all of this. Treasurer Jim Chalmers added his voice, telling the ABC that Australians were absolutely filthy about the PwC case.

Such full-throated condemnation has been harder to come by regarding the Federal Courts findings of war crimes committed by some members of our special forces overseas and Roberts-Smiths conduct after returning to Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just issued a warning to China over Taiwan. Delivering the keynote address at the Indo-Pacifics most significant security conference the prime minister told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that taking Taiwan by force would unleash a conflict so serious it would far outweigh any potential reward.

Taiwan is our fifth largest export market. In the past year China has fired missiles into Taiwan and conducted naval and air exercises close to and all around the island. It has flown UAVs over Taiwans air territory and conducted invasion training off the Chinese mainland. Its diplomats regularly threaten any country that might offer support to Taiwan. It issued a white paper on Taiwan last year that said China wouldnt renounce the use of force.

Taiwanese soldiers pose with a Taiwan flag after a preparedness enhancement drill in January simulating the defence against Beijings military intrusion. Credit: AP

Taiwan is critical strategic terrain. Chinese control over the 24 million free people of Taiwan would shift the strategic balance in Asia. It would break the so-called first island chain that constrains Chinese forces and would allow China to push out from there to move freely south to the Philippines, Malaysia and even to the Pacific Islands, with its new bestie in Solomon Islands. The fall of Taiwan would make life very difficult for Japan and South Korea. Taiwan is a great location for interdicting sea lanes through the South China Sea, through which much of Japans trade flows. The loss of Taiwan would shatter US strategic credibility. Many countries of the region would try to cut what deals they could with China.

The military forces Beijing is building are clearly designed for power projection beyond Taiwan. We should stop our constant dithering and do what we can to help Taiwans security in our own interest. How could an Australian-Taiwan security and defence relationship play out in the near term?
Singapore/Jakarta: Six weeks after being arrested for running amok in deeply conservative Aceh, Australian tradesman Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones has been released.

The 23-year-old from Noosa faced as long as five years in prison and was initially also in danger of being flogged under the Indonesian provinces Sharia law.

He was accused of dislodging a passing villager from his motorcycle and throwing it on him in an unhinged, late-night rampage after emerging without clothes from the surf resort he was staying at on the island of Simeulue. He was then set upon by angry locals, who threatened to burn down the resort.

But Risby-Jones, who had drunk from a bottle of vodka in a region where alcohol is banned, reached a $25,000 financial settlement with the victim of the assault, local fisherman Edy Ron, 10 days ago.
Bearing in mind Russia is on the strategic defensive and Ukraine on the strategic offensive, in the short term its an advantage to Russia, definitely, said Ben Barry, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Itll help the Russians until the water subsides because it makes it more difficult for Ukraine to do assault river crossings, he said in a phone interview. The floodtide inundating the region will prevent the use of heavy weaponry such as tanks for at least a month, said Maciej Matysiak, security expert at the Stratpoints Foundation and ex-deputy chief of Polish military counter-intelligence. [This] creates a very good defending position for Russians who expect Ukrainian offensive activity, Matysiak said.

Russian officials warn that the main canal supplying water to the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula is receiving drastically less water. The dams vast reservoir also supplies the cooling waters for Europes largest nuclear power plant in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia. However, the UN nuclear watchdog has played down the immediate risk, saying alternative sources of water could supply the facility for months if necessary. Local residents try to ride their bikes along a flooded road after the Kakhovka dam wall was destroyed in Kherson, Ukraine. Credit: AP But the wider damage to the environment and agriculture in one of the worlds biggest grain exporters could be stark, further stressing global supply chains after the blockade of Ukrainian seaports last year. Wheat prices surged more than 3 per cent on Tuesday.

The impact of the flooding we will feel not only for just weeks or even months, but a long period of time, Strilets said. The challenge is its a very large dam actually, one of the largest reservoirs in the world, said Mohammad Heidarzadeh, a civil engineer at the University of Bath in Britain. Mykola Gurzhiy, 74, a local fisherman, in the kitchen of his flooded house on the island of Kakhovka, on the Dnipro river near Lysohirka. Credit: AP ...Based on experience of similar incidents worldwide, a very large area would be impacted and hazardous material spread all over the area that would impact the productivity of the agriculture. Heidarzadeh said the mud left behind by the floodwaters would probably take years to clear.

Modupe Jimoh, a professor of Civil and Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Warwick, predicted the dam burst would wash industrial chemicals and lubricants into the soil and water table, damaging ecoystems and biodiversity. Strilets said downstream wildlife species found nowhere else in the world were in jeopardy, including the sandy blind mole-rat. Ukraines Black Sea Biosphere Reserve and two national parks were also likely to be heavily damaged, he added. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky described the bursting of the Kakhovka dam as an environmental bomb of mass destruction and said only liberating the entire country could guarantee against new terrorist acts. Such deliberate destruction by the Russian occupiers and other structures of the hydroelectric power station is an environmental bomb of mass destruction, Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of ecocide, saying the flooding would bring irreversible harm. Animals in the Nova Kakhovka Zoo, including monkeys and porcupines, had died in the rising waters, he said. Ukrainian tanks on a road near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. Credit: AP Russia has denied responsibility and accused Ukraine of sabotaging the dam to deflect from what Moscow said were Ukrainian military failures. Marina Miron, a researcher at Kings College in London, called it a turning point in the war but said both sides could see some advantage in blowing up the dam. For Russians the reason to do it would have been to stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive, obviously. And to create a humanitarian situation in Kherson, where people need to be evacuated and to create swamps so that Ukrainians would not be able to use their mechanised infantry, for instance, she said.

For Ukraine, the breach might have provided a way of distracting the Russians while Kyiv launches its counteroffensive, she added. Patricia Lewis, research director for International Security at the Chatham House think tank, said the situation helps Russia even if the Ukrainian counteroffensive later makes inroads. For Russia, you can see the immediate benefit in that youre stopping that connection for Ukrainian forces to get across, she said in an interview. And also..., if theyre not planning on staying there for the long term, for whatever reason, if they think, for example, that theyre not going to win this battle, then they would leave Ukraine with this long-term headache.
SUV's and Big Cars with Choice of Fuel, Not Small Cars Without Choice, Is What's Good for America (Originally Published April 23, 2009)

GIST: New cars and truck must be built with the buyers choices of mobility fuelswe believe that vehicle buyers must be offered the option to own and operate vehicles that will run on every, and all if they choose, approved and supported fuel optionand then and only then can the marketplace truly choose the winners.

Marc Rauch and Bob Gordon Co-founders of The Auto Channel

Originally Published April 23, 2009

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By Bob Gordon

President and Co-publisher

The Auto Channel

Originally Published April 23, 2009

I have just returned from three days at the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute meeting held in Orlando. Three days with lots of people who believe that we need to change the way we have been doing things for the past 100 years.

During the presentations, expositions and networking times I absorbed and listened and here is what went from my mind to my fingers, let me know what you think, bgordon@theautochannel.com

Save The Economy and Our Planet! Eliminate Miles Per Gallon (MPG) Create Cost Per Mile (CPM)

How can the elimination of the old fashioned self-serving three letter abbreviation MPG help save our country's economy, improve the worlds environment; help the good guys make the bad guys non-starters and allow the free market to solve our economic problems while empowering motorists to drive happily into the sunset in a vehicle that is both big enough for their practical needs and powerful enough for their emotional needs...how indeed?

As consummate capitalists we believe in the marketplace, BUT today the marketplace cannot be expected to decide which alt fuel will win out because there is no choice!

It is now time for the new U.S. administration to think big and flex its mandate to begin the leveling of the mobility fuels playing field for all of its citizens.

It is our vision that alternative fuel choices must include ALL of them, before any final marketplace choices can be madeor maybe offering a smorgasbord of alt fuels will serve the futures motorists better.

New cars and truck must be built with the buyers choices of mobility fuelswe believe that vehicle buyers must be offered the option to own and operate vehicles that will run on every, and all if they choose, approved and supported fuel optionand then and only then can the marketplace truly choose the winners.

Why it is that today consumers have so many more choices of bottled water while having no real choices as to what is a pivotal decision that drivers make every week.

Ok so what about MPG?

MPG is a metaphor for isnt gasoline great a mindset that has allowed big oil to control our freedom to be mobile...no matter what the MPG improvement we believe that what it stand for is bad for children and other living creatures...MPG and oil are three letter words that go together like trans-fats and heart attacks; cancer and toxic wastes; fast foods and obesity; DDT and species elimination.

Any MPG improvement pronouncement should be equated with a trumpeting of how much less are you beating your children now.

We need to change the MPG mindset into a CPM (Cost Per Mile) mindset which we believe better reflects a motoring reality...we should eliminate references and deification of MPG, just as we must eliminate imported oil based fuels as our primary mobility energy source.

We believe that in an oil free future every drivers refueling events will be made with conscious choices.the weekly fill-up fuel will be determined by each driver determining their vehicles calculated CPM rating using each available fuels cost at that exact moment, along with considering the type of driving they will be doing that week, and which fuel makes their vehicle drive betterit will be their choice.

Using Internet technology companies can establish and maintain Personal Carbon Usage Accounts, that will allow motorists who choose to reduce their carbon footprint to benefit monetarily by trading or selling their unused carbon allotment in real timeit will be their choice.

At that point in the future all approved mobility fuels will be ubiquitous...Gas Stations will become CPM Refueling and Recharging Stations, required by law to provide customers with access to approved and taxed fuels.

Liquid fuel pumps must change from just vending 3 octane levels of gasoline plus diesel, to offering an infinite blend of Gasoline, Ethanol, Propane, LNG, and liquid Hydrogen

Gaseous fuel pumps must vend CNG, Hydrogen, Methane and other formerly exotic concoctions that will power tomorrows vehicles.

Every Refueling Island must offer Recharge connections for every Electric Vehicle technology, and compressors for Air Powered vehicles.

And each station must offer battery change out for customers of Project Better Place and its competitors.

In a new sensible world, alternative fuel choices will include ALL of themin the future cars and truck will be built with its buyers choice of power plant(s)some vehicle buyers will want their vehicles to run on every approved and supported fuel availablethen and only then can the marketplace choose a winner.

In this future, vehicle buyers will have the choice and will be in control...their budget and their practical and emotional needs will determine which vehicle and which fuel they will favor...flex fuel combinations will be offered that reduce CPM, while maximizing performance...what an idea...and a non MPG world is the place to start...

Big Cars with Choice, Not Small Cars With No Choice, Is What's Good for America.
TOKYO, June 5, 2023 -- TuSimple Holdings, Inc. ("TuSimple") , a global autonomous driving technology company, today announced it has begun Level 4 autonomous test runs on Japan's most critical freight corridor that connects the major cities of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.

In 2021, TuSimple Japan, a subsidiary of TuSimple, completed a series of safety validation and testing work of its autonomous driving system with a local Japanese OEM's truck. In January 2023, TuSimple Japan commenced regular testing on the Tomei Expressway.

Japan's freight industry faces a serious challenge of driver shortage and aging population. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported in 2022 that 45.2% of the drivers in the country's transportation industry were aged 50 or older. It has been reported that the Japanese government is planning to launch a self-driving lane on some sections of the New Tomei Expressway by 2024 and will allow commercial operation of SAE Level 4 fully autonomous trucks in 2026.

"Self-driving technology is a promising solution to the driver shortage issue that Japan's logistics industry faces," said Cheng Lu, President and CEO at TuSimple. "We aim to actively build business partnerships with local companies and develop the technology that will meet local customer demand. We are dedicated to providing the most reliable, safe and efficient autonomous truck solutions for the long-haul transportation industry."

TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready, fully autonomous (SAE Level 4) driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks and aims to transform the $4 trillion global truck freight industry through the company's leading AI technology. As of March 2023, TuSimple trucks have recorded more than 10 million cumulative miles through testing, research, and freight delivery. In December 2021, TuSimple made history by executing the world's first fully autonomous semi-truck run on public roads in Arizona, USA without any human intervention.

About TuSimple

TuSimple is a global autonomous driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California, with operations in the United States and Asia. Founded in 2015, TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready, fully autonomous (SAE Level 4) driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks. TuSimple aims to transform the $4 trillion global truck freight industry through the company's leading AI technology, which makes it possible for trucks to drive safely autonomously, operate nearly continuously, and reduce fuel consumption by 10%+ relative to manually driven trucks. Global achievements include the world's first fully autonomous, 'driver-out' semi-truck run on open public roads, and development of the world's first Autonomous Freight Network (AFN). Visit us at www.tusimple.com.
Ammonia, A Stable Clean Energy For Powering Ships, Studies Begin - Can Autos Be Far Behind?





Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to Launch Technical Studies on Ammonia Fuel Supply System for Marine Engines under Development by WinGD



TOKYO, Jun 05, 2023 - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has agreed to undertake technical studies on an ammonia fuel supply system for large, low-speed two-stroke marine engines under development by Winterthur Gas & Diesel AG (WinGD), a Swiss designer of large marine engines. The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was held at WinGD Headquarters in Switzerland on June 2.

MOU signing ceremony at WinGD Headquarters in Switzerland



The newly concluded MOU reflects both companies desire to contribute to the achievement of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decarbonization target in the maritime industry's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. WinGD is currently developing ammonia-fueled large, low-speed two-stroke marine engines dubbed type "X-DF-A." Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will now work with WinGD in studying the technologies for developing and commercializing the ammonia fuel supply system for the X-DF-A engines.



Ammonia, which emits no CO2 when combusted, is garnering attention today as a fuel that contributes significantly to the reduction of GHG emissions in the maritime industry, and it is expected to be utilized as a stable, clean energy in the future. Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, aligning with MHI Group's strategy of advancement of the energy transition, will apply its technologies and expertise in ammonia handling accumulated through its long history of building transport carriers. As a maritime system integrator, the Company will promote decarbonization of the maritime industry and pursue a low-carbon society, contributing to reduction of environmental impact on a global scale.



About MHI Group



Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. TOKYO, Jun 05, 2023 - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has agreed to undertake technical studies on an ammonia fuel supply system for large, low-speed two-stroke marine engines under development by Winterthur Gas & Diesel AG (WinGD), a Swiss designer of large marine engines. The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was held at WinGD Headquarters in Switzerland on June 2.The newly concluded MOU reflects both companies desire to contribute to the achievement of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decarbonization target in the maritime industry's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. WinGD is currently developing ammonia-fueled large, low-speed two-stroke marine engines dubbed type "X-DF-A." Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will now work with WinGD in studying the technologies for developing and commercializing the ammonia fuel supply system for the X-DF-A engines.Ammonia, which emits no CO2 when combusted, is garnering attention today as a fuel that contributes significantly to the reduction of GHG emissions in the maritime industry, and it is expected to be utilized as a stable, clean energy in the future. Going forward, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, aligning with MHI Group's strategy of advancement of the energy transition, will apply its technologies and expertise in ammonia handling accumulated through its long history of building transport carriers. As a maritime system integrator, the Company will promote decarbonization of the maritime industry and pursue a low-carbon society, contributing to reduction of environmental impact on a global scale.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Construction underway for ammonia-to-hydrogen demonstrator in Birmingham, UK

By Geofrey Njovu on June 4, 2023

Construction is underway for the Ammogen project, a 200kg per day ammonia to hydrogen demonstrator project which received 6.7m in funding from the UKs Department of Energy and Next Zero last year.

Located at Tyseley Energy Park (TEP), a strategic energy and resource hub in the West Midlands, the project will convert renewable ammonia into hydrogen, which will be fed into a co-located hydrogen fueling station.

H2Site will supply its proprietary ammonia cracking technology for the project. The technology features a unique palladium based membrane technology that can produce fuel cell purity hydrogen in one step using a containerised, modular reactor. The project will be one of H2Sites first deployment of the ammonia cracking technology.

Other members of the Ammogen consortium include professional services group Gemserv, technical services and EPC provider Equans, ammonia industry giant Yara and the University of Birmingham.

The Ammogen project aims to improve the efficiency and economics of ammonia cracking and position ammonia cracking within UK political thinking. The UK government has committed to have 10 GW of hydrogen capacity by 2030.

Ammonia could be the carrier to unlock green hydrogen and production globally. Gemserv is pleased to be working with our market leading consortium partners and Government in this project and hope to add to both the local community in Birmingham and our nations drive to Net Zero. Alex Goody, Gemserv Chief Executive quoted in Ammogen announces milestone of its ammonia to hydrogen demonstrator site, H2View, 22 May 2023

This innovative project is laying the foundations for the wider hydrogen economy and the path towards a green industrial revolution. James Graham, Divisional CEO for Equans UK & Ireland quoted in Ammogen announces milestone of its ammonia to hydrogen demonstrator site, H2View, 22 May 2023

Cracking in the UK

Ammonia cracking technology projects have been gaining momentum in the UK as renewable hydrogen is seen as an important part of the countrys future energy mix, targeting a range of applications including stationary power storage, long haul transportation and the maritime industry. Announced projects include:

A renewable energy hub at the Port of Shoreham in West Sussex for the use of hydrogen fuel in the Ports fleet (forklifts and trucks), and an ammonia import facility to allow larger scale ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion to meet hydrogen fuel demand in the area.

Announced last year, at the Port of Immingham in the UKs east coast, Air Products and Associated British Products will develop an ammonia import and cracking facility for hydrogen production for the industrial and heavy transport sectors.

In a partnership between EET and Stanlow Terminals, existing ammonia storage facilities will be expanded to allow the importation of more than one million tonnes of ammonia per year from Gujarat in India. The expansion will include an ammonia cracking facility for hydrogen production, which will be fed into a vehicle refuelling hub.

Last year, in Newcastle, Siemens Energy, Fortescue Future Industries and GeoPura began work to develop a 3.5m commercial ammonia cracker prototype which will deliver 200 kg of hydrogen per day, based on Fortescues ?Metal Membrane Technology.

In March this year, AFC Energy launched its ammonia cracker technology platform to enable commercial scale renewable hydrogen generation, targeting off-grid applications such as maritime and stationary power.

In 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, a joint venture was launched by Reaction Engines, IP Group and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for the development of lightweight, modular ammonia cracking reactors for the aviation, shipping and off-grid power generation industries.

MIT Looks At Ammonia Fuel

Last Friday, I hoisted myself up a ladder and plopped down into the seat of a bright green John Deere tractor. There wasnt a cornstalk or a soybean sprout in sightmy view through the windshield was a fairly typical parking lot in Brooklyn.

Id asked to climb aboard the tractor to get a look inside of one of the only vehicles in the world that can run using a surprising fuel: ammonia. The chemical is typically used for fertilizer, but a New Yorkbased startup, called Amogy, is developing technology that can help it power electric tractors, trucks, and even ships. I visited Amogys headquarters to find out why so many companies in transportation are looking into new fuels, and where ammonia might fit in.

Starting up

Transportation is a huge piece of the climate puzzle, accounting for over 15% of worldwide global greenhouse gas emissions. And while were making steady progress thanks to electric vehicles, trains, and the like, there are parts of the puzzle that are harder to solve, like vehicles that need to venture long distances or run for long durations without stopping to charge.

The fuel could provide an efficient way to store the energy needed to power large ships on long journeys.

Amogy thinks the key to solving this problem lies in ammonia. Its one of the worlds most widely shipped chemicals today, since its used to make fertilizer. And its relatively convenient, packing a lot of energy into a small space without weighing too much to cart around.

Whats missing in the market is the way of using ammonia, says Young Suk Jo, Amogys chief technology officer. Thats what were developing.

Companies trying to cut their climate impacts in the marine shipping sector are looking to alternative fuels, including methanol and ammonia. Amogys system could be a better option than combustion engines, though, since it would limit pollution that can trap heat in the atmosphere and harm human health and the environment.

Ill note here that ammonia itself isnt very pleasant to be around, and in fact it can be toxic. Proponents argue that safety protocols for handling it are pretty well established in industry, and professionals will be able to transport and use the chemical safely.

Amogys systems arent quite big enough for ships yet. The company is working on one more demonstration that will help it get closer to a commercial system: a tugboat, which it plans to launch later this year in upstate New York.

Eventually, the company plans to make modules that can fit together, making the systems large enough to power ships. Amogys first commercial maritime system will be deployed with Southern Devall, which transports ammonia on barges today in the US.

Global ammonia production topped 200 million metric tons in 2022, most of it used for fertilizer. The problem is, the vast majority of that was produced using fossil fuels.

For Amogys systems to cut emissions significantly, theyll need to be powered by ammonia thats made without producing a lot of greenhouse-gas emissions, likely using renewable electricity or maybe carbon capture systems.

According to Amogys estimates, supply for these low-carbon ammonia sources could reach 70 million tons by 2030. But those projects will need to make it out of the planning stages and actually start producing ammonia before it can be used in fertilizers, tractors, or tugboats.

Related reading

I wrote about Amogy last year, along with other companies looking to use ammonia in marine shipping.

Making low-carbon ammonia could require a whole lot of green hydrogen.

Alternative fuels could make their way into smaller vehicles, too. Check out this piece about Chinas efforts to power cars with methanol.

Another thing

Theres a lot of money flowing into ocean chemistry. A new initiative called Carbon to Sea is injecting $50 million over the next five years into a technique called ocean alkalinity enhancement. The basic idea is that adding alkaline substances into seawater could help the oceans suck up more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, combating climate change.
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Video: More than 50 Chinese lab-grown diamond companies took part in an ongoing jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, aiming to further develop the overseas market. (Xinhua)

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as lab diamonds or engineered diamonds, are made of the same chemical, physical and optical properties as earth-grown diamonds. They are increasingly popular in the United States and other countries, with sales booming.



by Xinhua writers Gao Shan, Huang Heng

LAS VEGAS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 Chinese lab-grown diamond companies are participating in an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in the U.S. city of Las Vegas, aiming to develop their overseas markets further.

The annual JCK Show at the Venetian Resort and Hotel provides an optimal stage for the global jewelry trade community.

"The joint appearance of Chinese lab-grown diamond companies at the JCK Show helps to improve the market awareness and recognition of Chinese brands and products," said Tang Jingjing, president of Tanghe Technology, a company founded in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2018.

A man inspects a lab-grown diamond at the exhibition area of a Chinese lab-grown diamond company during an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

The global lab-grown diamond market was valued at 22.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and is forecasted to grow to over 37 billion dollars by 2028, according to a report in March by ResearchAndMarkets.com, a leading source for international market research reports and market data.

"China is a major global producer of lab-grown diamonds, while North America is the biggest lab-grown diamond market worldwide," said Zhou Zhihua, marketing director of Henan Liliang Diamond Co., Ltd, a leading company in China's lab-grown diamond industry.

"We are improving the technical level through innovation and entering the international market with better quality diamonds, which will give consumers more choices," Zhou said, adding that the JCK Show is a platform for Chinese companies to know more about the North American market.

A man visits the exhibition area of Tanghe Technology during an ongoing North America's leading jewelry show in Las Vegas, the United States, June 2, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as lab diamonds or engineered diamonds, are made of the same chemical, physical and optical properties as earth-grown diamonds. They are increasingly popular in the United States and other countries, with sales booming.

Last year, JCK celebrated its 30th anniversary, attracting more than 17,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors worldwide, according to the organizer RX, part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

With the continuous stream of visitors coming to the exhibition area of Liliang Diamond company, Ketan Jodhani, a wholesale jeweler from Quality Gold Inc. in Ohio, told Xinhua that he is satisfied with the quality of the company's lab-grown diamonds and after-sales service.

"We are quite happy working with them," Jodhani said, "and I hope it goes for years and years." 
BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A seminar focusing on the future prospect and reflection on relations across the Taiwan Strait was held in Beijing on Monday.

The event was participated by a delegation of Taiwan's New Party as well as relevant experts and scholars from both sides of the strait.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, urged efforts to resolutely oppose separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interference.

He called for efforts to adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and on this basis to conduct extensive and in-depth consultations on cross-Strait relations and national reunification with people from all political parties, sectors, and social strata in Taiwan.

Chairman of Taiwan's New Party Wu Cheng-tien said Taiwan should not be absent from the process of national rejuvenation. The New Party hopes that both sides of the strait will join hands in upholding the one-China principle, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence," safeguarding peace across the strait, advancing consultations on a "two systems" solution to the Taiwan question, promoting peaceful reunification and achieving national rejuvenation.

Attendees share the view that peace, development, exchanges and cooperation are common expectations of people across the strait, which align with their common interests. They also voiced support for the 1992 Consensus and firm objection to separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interference. 
As you travel around Wyoming enjoying this hard-earned spring, you may come across newborn wildlife. These young fawns, hatchlings and other babies are charismatic and incredible to watch and photograph. While it may be tempting to get close, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department urges people who come across young animals to leave newborn wildlife alone and keep a distance.

Newborn wildlife is one of the best parts of springtime in Wyoming, but please view animals from a distance and do not pet or pick them up, said Doug Brimeyer, Game and Fish deputy chief of wildlife. With all animals, the first few weeks of life are the most critical in determining their survival and interference from humans can put their lives at risk.

Most mammals hide their young and return periodically to nurse. People who find young animals without a mother nearby often assume the newborns have been abandoned, but this is almost never the case.

The mother knows where her young are and will almost certainly return to care for them, Brimeyer said.

Young birds sometimes fall out of or leave their nests before they are able to fly. The parents continue to care for the young bird while it is on the ground, bringing food and trying to protect the little one while it is in this vulnerable situation.

Getting too close to newborn wildlife can be very dangerous. A mother bear, bison, moose and even deer will display aggressive behavior when humans get close to their young. Leave the area immediately if you encounter aggressive wildlife.

The best option for people who come across newborn wildlife is to leave them alone, Brimeyer said. In short, wildlife dont need your help; they have been rearing young just fine for centuries.

If children bring home a wild orphan, immediately return it to the exact spot it was found. In the rare instance when a fawn or other newborn is found and the mother is known to be dead, contact the nearest game warden, biologist or Game and Fish Regional Office; do not attempt to capture these animals yourself.

State and federal laws forbid possession of game and many nongame animals, so adopting newborn wildlife is illegal. Citations can be issued for possession of newborn wildlife with a possible penalty of up to a $1,000 fine.
The European Commission on Monday faced criticism by some EU lawmakers over silence on Greece's illegal pushback policy of irregular migrants, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Reactions were directed to Margaritis Schinas, vice president of the European Commission, and the bloc's Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, during a meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Commenting on a footage brought to light by The New York Times on May 19, showing pushback of migrants by Greek forces, lawmakers said the case would likely be covered up by Greece. The incident took place on 11 April, according to the publication.

The damning video, recorded on the island of Lesvos, revealed the pushbacks Athens has been denying since long. It showed 12 migrants, including children and a 6-month-old infant, being transported by a van to a nearby remote area where they were forcefully seen boarding a high-speed inflatable boat.

They were later transferred to a Greek Coast Guard vessel before being abandoned on a floating boat in the middle of the Aegean Sea and set adrift until they were picked up by the Turkish Coast Guard.

German lawmaker Birgit Sippel said it was not the first time migrants were pushed back by Greece, and that the practice should not be encouraged.

Dutch MP Sophie in 't veld said the footage is clear and leaves no room for further investigation.

Global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greeces illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants.




Doctors perform a laryngeal allotransplantation surgery at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 29, 2023. (West China Hospital of Sichuan University/Handout via Xinhua)

CHENGDU, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The West China Hospital of Sichuan University announced Monday that the hospital's medical team had recently successfully performed a laryngeal allotransplantation for a patient with cancer recurrence.

The success of this operation provides a revolutionary solution for patients who have experienced larynx loss due to conditions such as advanced laryngeal malignant tumors, it said.

The 65-year-old patient, surnamed Zhou, was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer nine years ago and underwent a partial laryngectomy at that time, said Chen Fei, a professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

Despite the initial surgery, the cancer unfortunately recurred, necessitating a total laryngectomy. However, such a procedure would severely impact the patients' quality of life as it would eliminate their ability to breathe orally, Chen said.

The expert explained that traditionally, patients in similar situations could only communicate through the use of artificial or electronic devices. With the progress of medical technology, however, laryngeal transplantation technology has brought renewed hope to patients who have lost their larynx.

By transplanting healthy larynx and trachea, the patient's vocal function can be partly preserved, which can significantly improve their quality of life, Chen said.

Following the patient's and his family's consent, Chen made the decision to proceed with a combined laryngeal-tracheal-thyroid transplant for the patient.

"Laryngeal allotransplantation is a highly intricate surgery, distinct from more established organ transplantations such as liver, kidney, heart and lung, requiring the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary teams," Chen said, adding that successful cases of laryngeal allotransplantation remain rare globally, underscoring the pioneering nature of the surgery.

Once a suitable donor was identified, Chen's team promptly admitted the patient to the hospital. After thorough preparations, the surgery was conducted on April 29.

The operation, lasting nine hours, involved intricate anastomosis of six blood vessels and four nerves. Through exceptional surgical skills and seamless coordination with the anesthesia and nursing teams, the surgical team effectively minimized the laryngeal ischemia time, significantly enhancing the success rate of the transplantation.

The hospital said that the patient's condition is currently stable, with positive signs of recovery. He can now breathe orally, and speak and engage in basic communication with others.

However, proper rehabilitation training will be necessary during the follow-up period. It is estimated that it will take about three to six months for the patient's swallowing, breathing, and articulation functions to fully recover to the optimal state, it said. 
The Daily News will sit down with your top performance player from the Week #1 Batavia Muckdogs games and talk baseball! Keep an eye out for our Week #2 poll, running next week (Tuesday - Friday)!

You voted:
BEIRUT, June 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior UN official on Tuesday called on Arab countries to revisit their agricultural policies and increase investment in land and water productivity to ensure food equality.

"Food inequality is one of the reasons for the loss of hope in our region ... Arab countries should revisit their agricultural, production and commercial policies, and increase investments in land and water productivity," a statement released by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) quoted Executive Secretary Rola Dashti as saying during the 2nd Arab Forum for Equality, which opened in Beirut on Tuesday.

"Ensuring food security is one of the primary means for achieving equality ... (as) in the Arab region, millions of people are still living in a vicious cycle of poverty and hunger," the statement noted.

The opening ceremony was followed by a session with Lebanese superstar Elissa, who advocated "Josour," an ESCWA initiative to increase commitment to creating opportunities for unemployed men and women.

Elissa called on private sector entities in all Arab countries that have not yet been involved in "Josour" to reach out to ESCWA to contribute to sustainable development in the region. 
Police experts examine fragments of a missile after Russia fired a barrage of missiles for the second time in 24 hours, in an unusual daytime attack targeting the Ukrainian capital following overnight strikes, in Kyiv, on May 29, 2023. A total of 11 missiles were fired: Iskander-M and Iskander-K from a northerly direction, Ukraines armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny said, adding that all the targets were destroyed by air defenses (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
The second session of the UN Habitat Assembly is being held in Nairobi, Kenya. UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif has praised China's urban development, saying it follows a people-centered approach and leaves no one behind in its urbanization drive.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- From medical workers and traffic cops to cooks, people from all walks of life in China are wholeheartedly contributing to ensure smooth preparations for this year's college entrance examination, also known as "gaokao," scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

A record 12.91 million candidates have applied for this year's "gaokao," marking an increase of 980,000 from 2022, according to figures released by the Ministry of Education.

This year's college entrance exam is the first one after China adjusted its COVID-19 response measures. Health and emergency response measures have been put in place for COVID-19, as well as other medical emergencies such as heat strokes and injuries.

In Baise, a city situated in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, medical squads comprising doctors and nurses are stationed at each examination site. Meanwhile, special exam centers have been set up in hospitals scattered throughout the city for candidates who are suffering from COVID-19 or other health conditions.

In Chongzuo, another city in Guangxi, local health authorities have kept a fleet of ambulances and several experienced medical personnel on standby to provide first-aid rescue in case of medical emergencies involving the examination candidates.

Utmost attention has also been paid to traffic precautions as most of this year's exams fall on workdays. Huang Taotao, a traffic police officer from the public security bureau in Nanning, the regional capital of Guangxi, expressed the possibility of implementing temporary traffic controls around examination sites to avoid traffic congestion in surrounding areas.

In the city of Beijing, this year's "gaokao" exams will witness the deployment of approximately 800 traffic officials on motorcycles carrying an extra helmet, ready to shuttle test-takers possibly stranded due to traffic jams.

In Baise, the city authorities responsible for education, transportation, construction and environmental protection have been given a specific mission -- to ensure a noise-free environment for exam takers by implementing measures such as imposing speed limits and prohibiting honking near exam sites. Additionally, they are taking steps to muffle noise disturbances at construction sites, particularly during the English listening test on Thursday.

During the college entrance exam period, some candidates choose to stay in hotels to minimize disruptions caused by traffic or noisy neighbors.

In order to prevent hotels from engaging in exploitative practices, the market regulation administration of Shanxi Province issued a warning to hotels throughout the region, advising them against activities that distort the market such as price gouging, deceiving consumers with false discounts, and reneging on confirmed orders made through e-commerce platforms.

The administration warned that violators could face fines of up to 5 million yuan (about 703,482 U.S. dollars) and be publicly exposed if the violation is severe in nature.

Recognizing the immense psychological pressure faced by "gaokao" candidates, secondary high schools across the country are becoming increasingly conscious of this issue. As a result, they are actively organizing various activities to help students relax and unwind shortly before they take the exam.

In an effort to provide temporary respite from the intense workload and exam-induced anxiety, the No. 3 Middle School in Kunming, located in southwest China's Yunnan Province, arranged a rock-climbing exercise session for the students of class 2023.

Even Chinese names associated with good luck are lending a helping hand in the run-up to the "gaokao" exams. The cafeteria of Chongqing Nanhua Middle School has curated a unique menu to bring prosperity to the exam candidates. Each dish carries an auspicious name, such as "thriving red" for scrambled eggs with tomatoes and "soaring up with a bullish spirit" for braised beef with potatoes. These delightful names aim to instill positive energy in the students as they prepare for the important exams. 
As US and China Spar, Western CEOs Love the CCP

Commentary

At an annual security conference in Singapore on June 4, Chinas defense minister accused the United States of being a hegemonic power. Given all the trouble Washington is experiencing over Taiwan and Ukraine, clearly, we are not.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was also at the conference. He sat at the same dinner table as the Chinese defense minister, Li Shangfu. However, they were seated too far apart to speak with one another, which was probably at the request of Beijing.

Li has refused to speak with Austin for years, despite Austins repeated attempts and the obvious need for clear lines of communication between major nuclear powers.

At the conference, Austin circumnavigated the table and got a handshake, but thats it. He was the more magnanimous man.

Yet the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is bursting at the seams. It claims America is attempting to contain its rise, which is partly true, but only to the extent that the CCP attempts to disrupt the peace between nations.

The CCP ignores international law wherever it pleases, while pointing the finger at the United States for the same. Like all effective propaganda, this, too, is partly true.

However, the United States usually only violates international law to contain out-of-control aggressive ideologieslike communism or terrorismthat lead to international violence and the rollback of human rights and democratic freedoms more broadly. Yes, the United States and our allies sometimes fight fire with fire. The bigger picture is needed to understand how and why this unfortunate tactic may be necessary.

So why do most countries prefer Washington to Beijing? What big picture is necessary for an understanding that cuts through the CCPs propaganda?

Chinas Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu (third from left) is among senior Chinese Communist Party officials sworn into their new offices during a National Peoples Congress in Beijing on March 12, 2023. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

The answer is that Washington is a status quo power. It does not try to grab more and more power or territory from neighbors. It is not engaged in an ongoing genocide. It does not support aggressive dictatorships in Russia, Iran, Burma (also known as Myanmar), and North Korea.

The United States shares international power with other countries through the United Nations, which was conceived in 1941 and established in 1945 through the leadership of then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt and then-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It is no coincidence that Beijing and Moscow see their worst enemies in Washington and London.

The United States and the United Kingdom are the two countries most responsible, from an institutional and material perspective, for containing the worlds worst bullies. This is partly the basis of our special relationship, albeit a term mostly used in the UK.

On June 4, Austin explained to the annual security conference, called the Shangri-la Dialogue, that Chinas defense minister refused to dialogue with him and instead orchestrated unsafe maneuvers in the South China Sea. These Chinese military maneuvers, along with those in the Taiwan Strait, are against international law.

The CCP not only refuses to meet Austin but also refuses to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Beijing is apparently playing mind games with Washington to try and intimidate us by refusing to talk while regularly threatening our military forces and risking a military incident that could escalate. This is classic brinkmanship of the type found in the Cold War against the Soviets. We are now arguably in a cold war against the CCP, though most still deny it, including the CCP itself.

Meanwhile, the CCP attempts to make China appear open for business so it can keep milking the United States and Europe of technology and trade. This is where China gets the economic power necessary to fuel its military rise.

A truck passes by China Shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2019. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Total two-way trade between China on one side, and the combination of the United States and European Union on the other, was an astonishing $1.6 trillion in 2022. This sum is highly relevant because it represents the total trade the United States and the EU could leverage against the CCP if Washington and Brussels acted in unison.

It also explains why Washington and Brussels are so soft on Beijing. Western businesses profit from all this trade and use their political influence to try and keep that gravy train going by attempting to stabilize U.S.-China relations. That would be fine if China were also a status quo power. But the CCP is not. Beijing instead uses U.S.-China stability as a platform to expand its power globally, to the point of being an existential threat to the United States, the EU, and all other sovereign countries.

The CCP is capable of this maneuver because it can more easily leverage our uncoordinated businesses (our free market makes them uncoordinated by design) for Beijings hegemonic purposes than we can influence Chinas coordinated businesses (a communist command economy always coordinates its domestic economy) for our purposes of instilling democracy and human rights into the ethos of Beijing. This was the great strategic error of engagement. The CCP can influence our politics easier than the other way around. Therefore, business engagement serves Beijings political purposes, on balance, not our own.

It is no coincidence, then, that Beijing prioritizes commercial engagement with the United States instead of engagement with U.S. military and diplomatic leadership. While refusing to meet Austin and Blinken, Beijing is now happy to meet Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Due to her position, she is more influenced by U.S. business interests in China and, therefore, easier for the CCP to manipulate.

In part to that end, the CCP is simultaneously wooing Western business leaders, including most recently from Apple, Starbucks, Tesla, J.P. Morgan Chase, and AstraZeneca. These leaders are quick to take opportunities for such engagement because, to put it simply, they want to make more money in China. They know the risks, including from rising Chinese companies that steal their technology and clients. Still, they want the profits in China as long as they possibly can, even in some instances when that business is against long-term shareholder value.

What could be worse for a free market company than to promote communism? Yet that is exactly what some Western CEOs, in effect, do. One of the most obvious examples is AstraZenecas China boss. According to Reuters, he said last month that AstraZeneca would seek to be a patriotic company in China that loves the Communist Party.

While AstraZeneca is headquartered in the UK, it is apparently marching to another drummer in China. The same is true of many U.S. companies.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
At Least 42 Dead, Thousands Homeless After Floods in Haiti

Resident wade through flooded roads in neighborhoods of Petit-Goave, Haiti, on June 3, 2023. (Richard Pierrin/AFP via Getty Images)

Flooding from torrential rains in Haiti has left at least 42 people dead over the past couple days and dozens more missing and injured, officials said on Monday.

Over 13,600 homes are also listed as flooded.

The civil protection agency said on Twitter on Monday the death toll had risen since Sunday night after floods over the weekend hit various parts of the country, including near the capital Port-au-Prince.

My government, together with national and international institutions, is adopting urgent measures to meet the demands of the day, Prime Minister Ariel Henry said in a government statement on Sunday.

Aid agencies have been delivering food to displaced persons as civil protection officials warned over the weekend that the agricultural sector in parts of the country had been hard hit.

The deadly floods come as Haiti faces an already difficult scenario amid rampant gang violence, which the head of civil protection told the Miami Herald had impeded rescue efforts.

The rains coincide with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November.
Australian Businesses Launch Media Campaign to Protest Same Job, Same Pay Legislation

Australian businesses from various sectors have come together to protest the Labor governments enterprise bargaining reform via a national media campaign.

On June 5, eight major Australian business associations announced the launch of a national media campaign to raise awareness about the risks associated with the federal governments same job, same pay legislation.

The legislation, which the Labor Party first proposed before the 2022 federal election, seeks to make employers pay labour-hire contractors the same amount they pay to their direct employees for the same job.

This means contractors, who obtain jobs via labour-hire agencies, would be able to get the same full rate of pay, including incentive-based payments and bonuses, monetary allowances, overtime rates and other benefits enjoyed by those directly employed by the host businesses if they are found to engage in the same working duties.

Currently, the government is still consulting with business groups and unions and has not finalised a draft for the legislation, except for the key principles outlined in the consultation paper.

Business Communitys Protest

Business associations argued that the policy did not bring about fairness and justice, contradicting its name.

It means by law, employers will have to pay workers with little knowledge or experience exactly the same as workers with decades of knowledge and experience, they said in a joint statement.

It means by law, you cannot earn better pay by working harder or longer if your colleague does not share your ambition or work ethic.

The associations also said that the legislation would deprive workers of working flexibility and the opportunity to negotiate more pay for harder work.

Other potential consequences included job losses, reduced productivity, and lower wage growth.

It affects all of the business, it affects service contractors, it affects labour hire, it affects individual organisations. There is no one across Australia that is untouched by this poor policy, Minerals Council chief executive Tania Constable told reporters.

This policy of same jobs, same pay would undermine that productivity that were seeing. We will see job losses. Its unfair.

Workers sort and pack strawberries at the Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm in Chambers Flat, Queensland, Australia, on Nov. 5, 2018. Prime (AAP Image/Tim Marsden)

Echoing the sentiment, Andrew McKellar, the CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the laws would restrict labour-hiring firms capacity to operate.

This is all about an agenda to try to restrict those legitimate businesses from conducting their operations and to deliver outcomes which are basically at the request of unions to try and make it easier for them to recruit members, he said.

We will stick to our guns, but I think were seeking to raise awareness on these issues.

Governments Response

Following the business communitys announcement, Treasurer Jim Chalmers refuted the idea that the same job, same pay legislation would hamper productivity.

What were talking about here is making sure that labour hire or casual work or gig work is used the right way and not the wrong way, he told ABC Radio.

Its not unusual or uncommon for employer peak groups to express a view about industrial relations.

Therell be areas where weve got similar views, and therell be some areas where we dont. Were realistic about that.

In addition, the treasurer did not believe the labour-hire worker reform would cause businesses to stop rewarding the experience held by employees in the workplace.

Its about making sure that workers are eligible for the pay and conditions that the employers have agreed with their workforces, Chalmers said.

We dont want to see it used as a sort of an ongoing way to undermine and undercut peoples pay and conditions that have been negotiated with employers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks to the media during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on April 20, 2023. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Industrial Relations and Employment Minister Tony Burke said some arguments put forward by the businesses groups were not true and that the government was trying to fix a loophole in enterprise bargaining.

Its just not true, not something Ive ever said. I went back to the consultation documents that they were given, [but] its not in there, he told Sky News.

Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Michaelia Cash said Labors policy went much further than fixing a loophole in labour-hire practices.

It actually goes beyond the standard definition, and it covers service contractors, she said.

Any businesses engaging service contractors will be captured. If it is about closing a loophole, it should be very, very narrowly defined.

She also alleged that Labors proposal was about discouraging different forms of employment across the country.

At a time when businesses across Australia are crying out to staff, Labor looks to introduce legislation which will tie Australias employers up in red tape and make it more difficult to hire Australian workers again.

Economists Weigh in on Labors Proposal

Gene Tunny, the director of the economic consulting firm Adept Economics, said while it was difficult to speculate whether the policy could result in business failures and job losses, it clearly would not help affected businesses.

It will certainly increase costs for those businesses engaging people via labour-hire firms to try to get around unfavourable workplace agreements influenced by unions, he told The Epoch Times.

Mining, construction and manufacturing would be the most affected sectors, I suspect, without looking at it too closely. Construction, which has been suffering from cost increases lately, would probably be worst affected, and it could hurt some firms rather badly.

Meanwhile, Graham Young, the executive director of the Australian Institute for Progress, said the same job, same pay policy oversimplified the employer-employee relationship.

In the labour-hire world, supply and demand are big determinants of what someone is paid. And you shouldnt worry if one person is being paid less or more than anotherthat is a result of a complex matrix of when they were hired and what the conditions were at the time, he wrote in an opinion piece for The Epoch Times.

In the union world, there is one price, and thats it. Otherwise, it is an abuse of human rights.

Unions too often rely on seniority rather than ability, with the last on, last off rule leading to ossification in production and shifts the economic burden onto younger workers, irrespective of their real worth to the enterprise.
Australian Health Secretary Says Ongoing Vaccine Mandates Unjustified

The secretary of the Australian federal Department of Health, Professor Brendan Murphy, has called the continuation of vaccine mandates in Australia unjustified.

Despite the removal of top-level vaccine mandates by state governments, the public health orders still remain across government departments and parts of the private sector.

We have a highly vaccinated population. If people are foolish enough to choose not to be vaccinated, then Im not sure that mandates are going to achieve much, Prof. Murphy told a Senate Estimates hearing on June 1.

I think in some healthcare setting early on, particularly when the risk of transmission was high, and the vaccines did in the early phases prevent transmission. I think they were proportionate, he said.

Unfortunately, personally, and Im not speaking for the government, I am speaking as a clinician, that I think that the proportionality of the vaccine mandates is no longer justified.

Then Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy during the Senate select committee on COVID-19 public hearing at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on May 13, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

His comments come after questions from Queensland Senator Matt Canavan about the continuation of vaccine mandates by medical companies, which is keeping specialists like radiologists from providing services in regional areas.

According to figures from COVIDBaseAU, as of June 2, 2023, there were 20,139,881 Australians over the age of 16 that have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 19,845,963 people are double-dosed.

At present Australias total population is just over 26.5 million, which means the vaccination coverage sits at 96.25 percent.

As of April 21, 20,154 people have reportedly died from COVID-19.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends that Australian adults aged 65 years and over, and adults aged 18-64 years who have complex health issues or medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 get vaccinated.

Even if an individual has received a jab less than six months earlier.

All other adults from 18-64 years without risk factors for severe COVID-19 should consider a 2023 booster dose if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was six months ago or longer.

Senator Welcomes Comments But Calls for Actions

In response, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts said Murphys comments were a backflip.

Finally, Prof. Murphy has accepted the science. With the vaccines unable to stop transmission, vaccine mandates cannot be justified, Roberts said.

One Nation has always maintained that vaccination should be a personal medical choice and never mandated by the government or an employer, he added.

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts speaks during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, October 22, 2019. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

This is too little too late for the thousands of people who have suffered life-changing injuries as a result of mandates or lost their livelihoods because of their choice to remain unvaccinated.

Roberts called on the federal government to act immediately to end all vaccine mandates that were still in effect at government workplaces and immediately act to pass One Nations vaccine discrimination bill so no further harm is done in the private sector.

Vaccine Injury Concerns Growing

Calls for vaccine mandates around Australia to be completely removed continue to grow after an earlier decision by the Fair Work Ombudsmen to give businesses authority to make their own COVID-19 workplace policies.

In some cases, employers may be able to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including by providing a lawful and reasonable direction or where a specific law (such as a public health order) requires it, the Ombudsmen said.

But they did suggest employers get legal advice if theyre considering requiring COVID-19 vaccinations in their workplace.

Yet the legal firm Sydney Criminal Lawyers, in a blog post in March, said hundreds still remained out of work.

Thousands of people lost their jobs and were ostracised from communities because they didnt want to be what they considered coerced or forced into having the jab, the firm wrote.

Fast forward to 2023the significant threat once posed by COVID and its variants is subsiding, and we have a new premier who has strongly encouraged both the public and private sector to scrap vaccine mandates because, as has long been recognised, there is no evidence that the vaccines stop transmission.

Despite this, hundreds of workers in the public sectorthe police force, in health and aged care services and education, along with workers in some areas of the private sector, are still required to be vaccinated, and theres growing resentment about it, they added.

The firm noted there was also an increasing awareness around vaccine injuries, which they say governments have been slow to acknowledge.

Despite wanting people to still partake in the vaccine program, the government does need to facilitate more open discussion about vaccine injuries, which currently seem to be shrouded in a veil of secrecy and silenceits important to share this information in order for Australians to remain adequately informed of the risks, they said.
Australian Mother Kathleen Folbigg Enjoying Life After 20 Years in Prison and Considering Compensation Bid

Kathleen Folbigg appears via video link during a convictions inquiry at the New South Wales Coroners Court in Sydney, on May 1, 2019. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)

Kathleen Folbigg has woken up as a free woman after 20 years behind bars after being wrongfully accused and convicted over the deaths of her four children.

The 55-year-old was pardoned and released from an Australian jail in New South Wales (NSW) on Monday after being convicted in 2003 after an inquiry found there was reasonable doubt about her guilt.

Her lawyer Rhanee Rego says Folbigg spent her first night of freedom northern NSW farm celebrating with friends.

We had some pizza, and we sat down, and we laughed, and we cried, and we just talked about  how things are going and hopes for the future, she told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday.

It was a really beautiful night.

Rego urged anyone who still believed Folbigg was guilty to examine the evidence.

Just because something seems suspicious doesnt mean it is, she said.

The next hurdle for her legal team is to get her convictions quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal, followed by compensation.

(We) will be sitting down with Kathleen to talk about the future and what that looks like, Rego said.

The question on everyones lips is, What is 20 years of someones life worth?

Just as Lindy Chamberlain adamantly protested her innocence, Folbigg, a former Hunter Valley hospitality worker, has always denied responsibility for the deaths of Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura, who were all under the age of two when they died between 1989 and 1999.

She now faces the prospect of joining a select few in Australia, including Chamberlain, awarded seven-figure sums in light of their wrongful convictions.

Robyn Blewer, director of the Griffith University Innocence Project, pointed to two recent cases to indicate how Folbigg could be compensated for her 7300 days in jail.

West Australian man Scott Austic in May received $1.3 million on top of an earlier payment of $250,000 after serving nearly 13 years for murdering his pregnant secret lover.

Hed sought $8.5 million after being acquitted in 2020 on appeal.

Both payments were ex gratia, unlike David Eastman, who was awarded $7 million in damages by the ACT Supreme Court in 2019.

Eastman served almost 19 years over the 1989 shooting murder of federal police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester, only to be acquitted at a second trial.

The difference is it was in ACT which has a human rights act, and under that, there is an entitlement for compensation under human rights, Blewer told AAP.

Mr Eastman was then able to sue because there was a right to compensation.

The court assessed his damages in the same way they would a tort  the court went through every time he was injured.

Like Austic, Chamberlain was awarded an ex gratia or grace payment. The $1.3 million awarded in 1992 now equates to about $3 million.

Given NSW lacks a human rights act like that of the ACT, Folbigg will need specific legal advice about whether a civil claim is possible.

Blewer said she could end up reliant on what the government was willing to pay.

Twenty years is a substantial amount of time lost, she said.

It might depend on the good grace of the NSW government.

Before that bridge can be crossed, Folbiggs lawyers will await the final report of former chief justice Tom Bathurst into her convictions.

An application to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal to quash her convictions will likely follow.
Award-Winning Hong Kong Journalist Wins Appeal in Rare Court Ruling Upholding Media Freedom

Journalist Bao Choy, (C), speaks to members of the press after being cleared by Top Hong Kong court in Hong Kong, on June 5, 2023. (Louise Delmotte/AP Photo)

HONG KONGAn award-winning Hong Kong journalist won an appeal Monday quashing a conviction related to research for an investigative documentary, in a rare court ruling upholding media freedom in the Chinese territory.

Bao Choy was found guilty in April 2021 of deceiving the government by getting vehicle ownership records for journalistic purposes after she had declared in her online application that she would use the information for other traffic and transport related issues.

The investigative journalist was trying to track down perpetrators of a mob attack on protesters and commuters inside a train station during massive anti-government protests in 2019 for her documentary.

Choy was fined 6,000 Hong Kong Dollars ($765) for two counts of making false statements at that time and called it a very dark day for all journalists in Hong Kong. That ruling also sparked outrage among local journalists over the citys shrinking press freedom.

On Monday, judges of the citys top court unanimously ruled in Choys favor in a written judgment, quashing her conviction and setting aside the sentence.

The issues of falsity and knowledge were wrongly decided against the appellant because her journalistic investigation into the use of the vehicle on the dates in question did fall into the wide catchall category of other traffic and transport related matters, the judgment read.

Even if it did not, it was not an irresistible inference that she knew that to be false, the judgment said. There is no reason that bona fide journalism should be excluded from the phrase, it added.

Choy told reporters outside the court the she was happy to learn about the judgment, saying it had stated the importance of the citys constitutionally protected freedom of press and speech.

Over the last few years, we might have found that many things have disappeared quietly, she said. But I believe our beliefs in our hearts cant be taken away that easily. No matter I win or lose today, the persistence (demonstrated) over the last few years is already a meaningful thing.

She said she hoped the outcome would be encouraging news to all reporters still working hard in the city.

The story Choy co-produced, titled 7.21 Who Owns the Truth, won the Chinese-language documentary award at the Human Rights Press Awards in 2021. The judging panel hailed it as an investigative reporting classic that had chased the smallest clues, interrogating the powerful without fear or favor.

In the crackdown on dissent that followed the 2019 protests, two vocal media outletsApple Daily and Stand Newshave been forced to shut down and some of their top managers have been prosecuted.

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai faces collusion charges under a sweeping national security law enacted in 2020. Two former Stand News editors were charged under a colonial-era sedition law that has been used increasingly to snuff out critical voices.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinas rule in 1997, but critics say Beijings promise that it would keep the citys freedoms is becoming increasingly threadbare.

Hong Kong ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index released last month. The global media watchdog said the city has experienced an unprecedented setback since 2020, when the security law was introduced.
BBC Backlash Over Non-Binary Mastectomy Storyline

Children's rights group said the 'Casualty' episode was a 'new low' for the broadcaster

Campaigners have hit out at the BBC over a storyline in a popular TV series featuring its first non-binary character talking about undergoing a double mastectomy.

The Casualty episode, which aired on BBC1 over the weekend, showed character Sah discussing details of upcoming top surgery and being presented with a surprise cake shaped like breasts.

Writing on Twitter, campaign group Safe Schools Alliance described the clipwhich includes Sah speaking to paramedic colleagues about the decisionas a new low for the broadcaster.

The group also accused the BBC of continually [appeasing] the ideologues in their organisation rather than engaging with experts who understand child development and safeguarding.

Female rights charity Fair Play for Women has separately asked if the broadcaster had taken its safeguarding responsibilities seriously in choosing to air the episode.

Nicola Williams, a research scientist specialising in human biology who heads the group, has asked the BBC to reveal all details of external groups consulted about the storyline.

In a Freedom of Information request sent to the broadcaster, Williams has asked for all emails, reports and meeting minutes between the Casualty producers/writers/editorial team relating to the risk for imitative behaviour (according to Section 5.3 editorial guidelines) that could be caused by the top surgery storyline.

Williams, who posted a screenshot of the email to Twitter, also asked the BBC for emails, reports and meeting minutes between the TV team and any BBC staff networks and safeguarding team relating to the storylines development of the top surgery storyline.

Transmasculine

Some social media users questioned whether the episode was appropriate to air before the 9 p.m. watershed. Others congratulated the BBC on the storyline and praised non-binary trans actor Arin Smethurst, who plays Sah, for delivery of the issue.

One wrote: I love that British soaps continue to reflect the LGBTQ+ community in positive ways (often overlooked for their importance and impact). Well done.

Another said: The cromagnon responses to this is why we fight abuse, and will not stop. If they think that this abuse will stop us, or make us run away and hide, they are gravely mistaken.

Writing for the Metro last year, Arin Smethurst said the role has helped in the discovery of their own sexuality.

I think that Ive figured out more about my queer identity than they have when you meet them in the show, Smethurst said.

I am familiar and comfy with my sexuality and Im uncovering new parts of my gender identity at a rapid pace. I am non-binary and also transmasculine, which means that I consider myself to lean more towards masculinity. Im more boy than anything else, but still not a man.

Undated photo of Milo Clarke as Teddy (R) and Arin Smethurst as Sah Brockner (L) in Casualty. (BBC)

Rapped Over Trans Coverage

Last year, the BBC was rapped by its own complaints unit over a 2021 article which claimed some lesbians feel pressured into sex by trans women.

The broadcaster faced widespread accusations of transphobia and protests outside its offices, while also receiving backing from some gender-critical feminists, according to the Guardian.

Following a large number of complaints, the BBCs Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) ruled that the piece fell beneath the broadcasters expected standards in three different ways and has ordered it to be updated.

A statement posted on the BBC said: The head of the ECU found that the article, though a legitimate piece of journalism overall, fell below the BBCs standards of accuracy in two respects: the headline gave the misleading impression that the focus of the article would be on pressure applied by trans women, and the treatment of the survey conducted by Get the L Out did not make sufficiently clear that it lacked statistical validity.

He also found a breach of standards in connection with one contribution to the article (subsequently removed) which he considered to have been appropriately addressed by an update added to the article. The complaints were therefore partly upheld in relation to accuracy and resolved in relation to the deleted contribution.

The Epoch Times has contacted the BBC for comment.
Birth Rates Last Year Still Below Replacement Level, CDC Says

American women are still having too few babies to replace themselves and their partners, the latest national birth data suggests.

In what the U.S Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described as a nonsignificant decline, the nation recorded 3,661,220 new babies in 2022, just a few thousand less than the year before.

Overall, the fertility rate was 1.665 births per woman in 2022, according to the CDC report (pdf) released this month.

For reference, a fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman is considered replacement level, where a generation can exactly replace itself.

The total fertility rate in 2022 remained at below replacement, the CDC said. The rate has generally been below replacement since 1971 and consistently below replacement since 2007.

Between 2014 and 2020, the rate fell at a pace of about 2 percent each year, before slightly bouncing back by about 1 percent in 2021 and then taking a very slight dip in 2022.

Numbers of live births and general fertility rates have been declining since 2014, although they slightly bounced back in 2021. (U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention)

In terms of age groups, the decrease in the number of births to mothers aged 15 to 19 hit a new low, representing a 78 percent decline from 1991, which was the most recent peak for teen births.

Meanwhile, there are now more mothers over the age of 35 than ever before, with women in this age group accounting for 20 percent of all women giving birth in 2022.

When it comes to racial and ethnic groups, the number of births declined 3 percent for white and Native American women and by 1 percent for black women from 2021 to 2022. At the same time, births rose 2 percent for Asian women and 6 percent for Hispanic and Pacific Islander women.

While almost every state had fewer babies in 2022 than in the previous year, Texas and Florida were the only exceptions.

Both states enjoyed a 3 percent fertility increase last year, according to the CDC data. Together, they welcomed 24,203 more newborns than they did in 2021.

By contrast, New York suffered a 1.4 percent fertility decline between 2021 and 2022, which translates to 2,875 fewer babies. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Empire State lost a net 651,472 residents to other states from mid-2020 to mid-2022.

More Adults Dont Expect to Ever Have Children

A survey conducted in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic by Pew Research Center found that a growing share of childless American adults say they probably wont have children someday.

According to the findings, some 44 percent of childless respondents aged 18 to 49 say its not too likely, or not at all likely, that they will have children in the future. By comparison, only 37 percent of adult respondents said the same in 2018.

While the reasons for not having children vary drastically, the top one (57 percent) given by childless adults is that they simply dont want any. Other reasons include medical (19 percent), financial (17 percent), the lack of a partner (15 percent), and the age of their partner (10 percent). Some 9 percent of respondents blamed the state of the world.

An additional 5 percent cited climate change as the reason behind their desire to not have a child.

As for those who are already parents, a majority (63 percent) say they simply dont want to have more children in the future. Others cited age (29 percent), medical reasons (23 percent), financial reasons (14 percent), and the fact that they already have kids (11 percent).

Americans ideal number of kids has also changed. In a long-running poll since 1936, polling company Gallup found that Americans views about ideal family size was around 3.5 kids from the 1930s until the mid-1960s. In the early 1980s, it fell about 2.5 or 2.6 and has remained largely unchanged since then. Thats still well above the current actual level of 1.6 lifetime births per woman.
BlackRock Pushing Chinese Social Credit System in America: News Editor

The BlackRock logo is pictured outside its headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City on May 25, 2021. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

A news editor slammed BlackRock for attempting to push a Chinese regime-style social credit system into American industry and warned in a recent interview that CEOs were feeling the heat due to such attempts.

Breitbarts economics editor, John Carney, said that BlackRock, with its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda, was trying to implement Chinas social credit system on American corporations.

Corporate CEOs feel under pressure to adopt the right environmental, the right social, the right diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, all because one of the biggest investors in the whole world has sent the message to them that this is what they care about, he said in a Fox interview on Monday.

And the people whose money BlackRock is investing also havent said thats what they want, Carney said. And thats one of the reasons BlackRock has tried more recently to walk this backbecause they realized that they had gotten way out to the left of the American people, and they need the American people.

Thats why theyre the biggest asset managerbecause theyre running peoples retirement funds. If people say, Wait a minute, I dont want you pushing this far-left agenda on America, give me my money back, that will put the company in trouble. So theyre trying to run away from this.

BlackRock gets investment from multiple sources, including government and pension funds. For example, the New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF) has invested in BlackRocks Climate Change Index strategy fund.

Last year, Louisiana removed BlackRock from managing its public investment funds due to the companys anti-fossil fuel policies. In the first quarter of 2023, BlackRock had $9.09 trillion worth of assets under management, making it the biggest asset manager in the world.

Carneys comments came in the context of BlackRock CEO Larry Finks statement in 2017 during an event where the executive admitted that the firm was trying to force change in companies.

Well, behaviors are going to have to change, and this is one thing were asking companies. You have to force behaviors. And at BlackRock, we are forcing behaviors, Fink said.

We added four more points in terms of diverse employment this year. What were doing internally is, if you dont achieve these levels of impact, your compensation could be impacted.  You have to force behaviors. And if you dont force behaviorswhether its gender or race, or just any way you want to say the composition of your teamyoure going to be impacted.  Were going to have to force change.

Carney pointed out that BlackRock is now trying to backpedal on Finks 2017 comments, which is now gaining online traction. Theyre saying this is very old. This is how we were thinking of things in 2017. We dont really want to do it. But they do.

Reversing Course on ESG Agenda

BlackRocks backpedaling on some ESG issues was evident in its 2023 annual letter to investors. Fink admitted in the letter that oil and gas were vital to global energy demanda shift from his earlier stance promoting a climate change agenda focused on progressive values denouncing fossil-based fuels.

For years now, we have viewed climate risk as an investment risk. Thats still the case, the letter said. However, the transition toward a low-carbon economy will not be a straight line, with various industries and nations moving at different speeds in terms of adoption. Oil and gas will play a vital role in meeting global energy demands through that journey.

In his 2020 letter to CEOs, Fink talked about BlackRock exiting investments that present a high sustainability-related risk, such as thermal coal producers and launching new investment products that screen fossil fuels.

However, BlackRock has suffered losses recently, putting the company under pressure. Between 2021 and 2022, BlackRocks revenues fell from $19.37 billion to $17.87 billion. Its assets under management fell from $10.01 trillion to $8.59 trillion.

In October 2022, UBS downgraded BlackRock, with analyst Brennan Hawken stating that the downgrade was because of environmental pressure to earnings and risk from the firms ESG positioning.

Despite BlackRock claiming that Finks 2017 statements about forcing change in companies are outdated, Carney does not believe the company has abandoned its DEI push.

Theyre also really into what he said [about] scorecards.  So, what theyre doing is theyre actually keeping very careful track. How well have you done in pushing an environmental agenda? How well have you done in pushing the DEI agenda? And if you dont have a high enough score, you could suffer in terms of what their investments could be.

Pride Month Duplicity

In his interview with Fox, Carney was also asked about corporations adding Pride flags to their U.S. Twitter accounts while choosing not to do the same in the Middle East, where LGBTQ people have suffered abuses.

Companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Cisco, Bethesda, Lenovo, and BMW are showing off LGBT-themed logos on their U.S. Twitter accounts as part of celebrating Pride Month, while their Middle Eastern accounts remain unchanged.

Carney pointed out that the duplicity in company stances is simply due to money. The principle of these firms is to kiss the [expletive] of the regime in charge.

So right now in America, BlackRock and others and all of these woke corporations look at the regime in charge as the far left. When they are going to Saudi Arabia, they say were going to obey the sheiks. In America, they obey the wokes, he said.

Thats the system here. Its not even hypocrisy. Its one rule. Its obey the powerful. And thats what these people are doing.
Visitors look at the exhibits at the "Star Moon Road, 2023 Pakistan-China Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition" in Islamabad, Pakistan, June 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

by Raheela Nazir

ISLAMABAD, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Surrounded by lush-green trees, blooming flowers and winding tracks, Islamabad Art Gallery was jammed with art lovers gazing enthusiastically at striking paintings, sculptures, installations and other art pieces with Chinese characters.

The exhibition, named "Star Moon Road, 2023 Pakistan-China Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition," was held on Monday in the heart of the federal capital Islamabad to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

More than 100 innovative artworks from renowned Chinese and Pakistani artists are being showcased at the exhibition, Amna Shah, an organizer of the event, told Xinhua. Among them, at least 70 art pieces are made by Chinese artists, and Pakistani people are showing great interest in them.

She said that the gallery would be open to the public throughout this month, letting visitors have a broader perception of Chinese art and culture.

While appreciating the works of Chinese and Pakistani artists, Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that art and culture is the most effective vehicle for engagement between the people of two countries.

"Exchanges in art and culture should be given priority in further cementing the exemplary friendship between China and Pakistan as it brings people of the friendly countries closer to each other," the minister said.

He added that the exchange of ideas through art and culture can also energize the creative economy and play an important part in bringing about peace, progress and harmony in the region.

Aasma Ismayeel Butt, an enthusiastic participant and president of the All Pakistan Chinese Overseas Youth Federation, said that such art events play a key role in further strengthening the deep-rooted friendship with China.

Pakistani people consider China as a friendly neighbor, a time-tested and trusted friend who has always supported Pakistan through thick and thin, Butt told Xinhua.

Under CPEC, a flagship project of BRI, China has helped Pakistan build its road infrastructure and overcome a severe energy crisis by constructing multiple power plants, bringing socio-economic development to the country, she added.

On the occasion, Jamal Shah, former director general of Pakistan National Council of the Arts, said that the two countries are proud custodians of enviable cultures and their mutual relationship goes back hundreds of years.

"We share many common elements in our arts and crafts, music and theatre with China and similarly in the rapidly changing technological world. There is a lot we can learn from the Chinese experience and achievements in the realm of Cinema and artificial intelligence," Shah said. 

A visitor looks at an exhibit at the "Star Moon Road, 2023 Pakistan-China Contemporary Art Exchange Exhibition" in Islamabad, Pakistan, June 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
Blinken May Visit China Soon as Biden Admin Seeks Talks With Beijing

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a press conference at State Department in Washington on April 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The United States highest-ranking diplomat will visit China just months after a Chinese spy balloon invaded U.S. territorial airspace, according to two reports.

Secretary of State Antony Blinkens alleged visit to communist China comes after months of pleas by the Biden administration for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to reestablish normal communications.

Blinken was originally scheduled to travel to Beijing earlier in the year, but the appearance of a Chinese spy balloon over U.S. territory and subsequent public outrage caused the Biden administration to cancel the trip.

The balloon was allowed to travel across the entire continental United States, including over three sites associated with the U.S. nuclear arsenal, before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean.

The State Department has not confirmed Blinkens travel at this time, though reports by both Reuters and Bloomberg say that unnamed officials have confirmed the effort.

When asked about the matter by The Epoch Times, a State Department official pointed to comments made by the departments deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel on June 6.

We have no travel for the Secretary to announce. As weve said previously, the visit to the Peoples Republic of China will be rescheduled when conditions allow, Patel said.

President Joe Bidens administration has pushed to boost engagement with China as ties between the two powers continue to deteriorate over numerous issues, including Taiwans continued de facto independence, Chinese military aggression in the South China Sea, and the CCPs continued campaign of transnational repression and systemic theft of intellectual property.

Critics question the administrations overtures to China, arguing that decades of engagement have failed to change Beijings behavior for the better while undermining U.S. national security. To that end, Blinkens trip may be panned as a kowtow by those unsympathetic to the administrations efforts.

The CCP has severed many lines of communication with the United States, including military-to-military communications.

There have been some points of contact, however.

The State Departments top official for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, visited Beijing this week for talks with Chinese counterparts. Similarly, CIA Director William Burns recently visited China as well.

Asked by reporters in Beijing if Blinken would visit soon, Kritenbrink said, Well see, and that the United States was working hard to manage the relationship.

Kritenbrinks arrival on June 4 coincided with the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which CCP troops killed hundreds to thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators led by student protesters.

The Biden administration dismissed any significance behind the date of his arrival. Still, Republican lawmakers and Tiananmen survivors criticized the timing, arguing U.S. eagerness to hold talks with Chinese officials was watering down U.S. positions.

Relatedly, Reuters previously reported that the State Department delayed human rights-related sanctions, export controls, and other sensitive actions to try to limit damage to the U.S.-China relationship after the balloon incursion.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Chicago Walgreens Restricts Unlocked Aisles to Two Due to Crime

A Walgreens store is seen in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 11, 2021. (Eileen T. Meslar/Reuters)

A Walgreens in Chicago redesigned a store that would allow customers to browse only two aisles of products because of crime.

Customers can only access those shelfs after they pass through anti-theft detectors.

Non-essential items can only be ordered digitally from kiosks and later picked up at a counter as part of a pilot program, according to a report from WBBM Newsradio.

The National Retail Federation said that shoplifting, which has skyrocketed in recent years, cost the industry almost $100 billion in 2022 alone.

Videos of shoplifting gangs across the country have gone viral online, with residents becoming increasingly frustrated about a wave of crime under the Biden administration.

For example, Walgreens closed five stores in San Francisco, California, in October 2021, citing organized shoplifting concerns and has become a political debate, especially in urban areas where crime is rising to levels not seen in years.

Store in Chicago to Be a Flagship for Future Security Measures

The store on 2 E. Roosevelt Road in the South Loop area of downtown Chicago was redesigned to include anti-theft devices for non-essential items and two shelves for essentials, protected by anti-theft devices without supervision.

The location reopened on June 6, after undergoing weeks of construction, and received mixed reviews from customers.

Block Club Chicago reported that a sign instructed shoppers to place your order and relax and let us do the shopping, while staff retrieved items for customers from shelves kept away from the public.

We are testing a new experience at this store with new concepts, technologies, and practices to enhance the experiences of our customers and team members, a Walgreens spokesperson told Fox Business in a statement.

It continues to offer retail products and pharmacy services, just with a new look and feel that focuses on shopping digitally for convenience.

Inside the store, customers will find an area where they can pick up orders, digital kiosks for placing an order, as well as an area to shop for essential items, the spokesperson added.

Although some shoppers supported the new arrangements, as essential items can still be accessed without needing assistance, others were upset by the lack of trust as shown by the heightened security measures.

One shopper told WBBM Newsradio, It is nice that, for the essentials, you no longer have to call security to get them to open the glass case.

Another felt that the lack of trust was disappointing, saying, We should be able to be trusted to go in without having to have cameras and people watching us and all that stuff.

A few customers expressed their dislike of the kiosk-ordering system and would likely reduce their amount of visits.

Im not a huge fan of kiosk ordering. Its not going to make me come more often, one customer said.

A Walgreens spokesperson told CWB Chicago that the drugstore chain is still testing new concepts, technologies, and practices to enhance customer experiences.

CFO Admits That Shoplifting Fears Were Overblown

The redesign in Chicago came after Walgreens Boots Alliance admitted earlier this year that the drugstore chain may have overblown fears of organized retail theft in 2022 and would reduce expenditures on private security.

Instead of private security, Walgreens plans on other security alternatives that are more effective and less expensive.

The security companies are proven to be largely ineffective, Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe said on an earnings call, explaining, were putting in more law enforcement as opposed to security companies.

Weve put in incremental security in the stores in the first quarter, said the Walgreens CFO.

Kehoe stated that the company may have spent too much on security measures.

Actually, probably we put in too much and we might step back a little bit from that.

Maybe we cried too much last year, Kehoe said and that shrinkage was 3.5 percent of sales in 2022, but has since fallen into the mid-twos.

Were quite happy with where we are. Its around 2.5 percent to 2.6 percent. So thats well below the prior year levels, Kehoe added.

Shrinkage refers to a loss of inventory due to factors such as theft and is the difference between actual inventory and recorded inventory on a retailers balance sheet.

Walgreens Confirms Cutbacks

Walgreens confirmed that it would be slashing 504 corporate jobs in late May, equivalent to around 10 percent of its corporate workforce, The Deeep Dive reported.

Most of the affected positions are located at the companys Deerfield and Chicago offices, which constitute approximately 1 percent of its total U.S. workforce.

The drugstore chain posted a net loss of $3 billion in the first half of the 2023 fiscal year, driven largely by a $5.4 billion aftertax charge related to opioid claims and class-action law suits.

Walgreens was found liable for damages last year for contributing to the opioid epidemic in San Francisco and reached a $230 million settlement with the city.
China, Iran, and Russia Working Closely Together to Undermine US: Experts

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (MIKHAIL TERESHCHENKO/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

The authoritarian regimes of China, Iran, and Russia are increasingly coordinating as a unified power bloc, according to several experts.

All three countries seek to undermine the United States and reshape the international order in their own image, according to Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank.

To that end, the cooperation of the three regimes is magnifying the effects of their malign actions in an outsized way, she said.

This interplay between Russia, China, and Iran amplifies the threats that they pose to the United States, Kendall-Taylor said during a June 6 talk about the new authoritarian Axis at the Washington-based CNAS.

By working together, the challenges they pose collectively add up to be more than the sum of their parts in any one individual challenge if they were working on their own.

Catalyzed by Ukraine Invasion

The three regimes were emboldened by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, which acted as a catalyst for increased cooperation against the international order, Kendall-Taylor said.

Such cooperation allowed the Axis powers to move out more belligerently and aggressively against the United States and its allies and partners, acting on a shared hostility toward the rules-based international order, she said.

Now, the three powers are working together across the diplomatic, economic, and military domains, as well as in each of their respective regions.

Russia and China have signed a no limits partnership that includes strategic military cooperation. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, has done its best to keep the Russian economy afloat without drawing international sanctions onto itself.

Russia and Iran continue to ink new defense agreements. Iran is providing Russia with hundreds of suicide drones for use in Ukraine, while Russia, in turn, is selling the Islamist regime fifth-generation fighter jets and other advanced capabilities.

SinoIranian agreements have also begun to proliferate, with Beijing allegedly going so far as to conspire to deliver parts for weapons of mass destruction to Tehran.

Aligning to Subvert International Order

China, Iran, and Russia are also working to break up U.S. influence abroad, according to Jonathan Lord, a senior fellow at CNAS specializing in Middle East issues.

By encouraging U.S. security partners such as Saudi Arabia to stay on the sidelines of global competition, the powers are degrading the U.S. position, Lord said. The CCP, in particular, seeks to attack U.S. influence through asymmetric means in the Middle East in order to demonstrate that its not the U.S.s world anymore, he said.

That effort was having immediate and major impacts on the United States ability to project power and wield influence abroad, he said.

That could present a unique threat to U.S. preeminence, as the CCP moves to make its influence ubiquitous throughout the Middle East.

Iran and Beijing are clearly working closely together to strengthen both of their spheres of influence in the Middle East to the detriment of other powerful actors, Lord said.

China is ever present in the UAE and elsewhere in the [Persian] Gulf in economic projects and assuredly, whether covert or not, in military projects as well.

By coordinating their efforts, the regimes hope to indirectly push the United States out of the Middle East, clearing the way for a day when it becomes impossible for the United States to effectively operate in the region, he said.

We see it on a strategic level, Lord said. We see it on a tactical level. But theres no question that the cooperation were seeing between Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing in a military-security capacity makes all three stronger.

China Seeks to Dominate Junior Partners

The nascent trilateral Axis isnt without its faultlines. Most notable among them is the CCP regimes desire to subsume Iran and Russia under its own aspirations.

Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at CNAS whose focus is on Indo-Pacific affairs, says that aspect of the Axis dynamics is one of its weakest points and should be exploited by the United States.

For Beijing, some degree of weakness in its partners is actually a feature, not a bug, he said.

China wants to be, at a minimum, first among equals. And, at a maximum, the dominant power with a veto over the affairs of what we could describe as client states.

Beijing wants to avoid Moscow and Tehran becoming so close as to counterbalance its economic and diplomatic expansions in the Middle East, while also avoiding a a complete collapse of its partners that would cause it to lose the advantage of working with a bloc, according to Stokes.

Despite its rhetoric to the contrary, China doesnt actually seek multipolarity, he said.

Instead, what China wants is a bipolar system where partners align under a China-led pole against the United States.

Stokes also said the heavy-handed authoritarianism of the three powers also works against the Axis and its long-term goals. The continuous display of such totalitarianism is leading the worlds democracies to reinvest in their alliances, he said.

Increased ChinaRussia cooperation is actually driving liberal democracies to work closely with one another and to actually revitalize their alliances with the United States or their security agreements with the United States and, in a network sense, with one another, he said.
Chinas Defense Minister Threatens to Attack Without Hesitation Any Nation Attempting to Split It From Taiwan

China's minister of national defense Li Shangfu delivers a speech during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, on June 4, 2023. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas military will attack without any hesitation any nation that dares to separate it from Taiwan, Chinese state councilor and defense minister General Li Shangfu has said.

Li made the comments in a speech on Chinas New Security Initiative at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend, during which he stressed that a sound security and development environment is the key to sustained prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

We in China believe that the key for countries to live in harmony is mutual respect and treating each other as equals, Li, a general of the Peoples Liberation Army, said in the speech.

We are strongly opposed to imposing ones own will on others, placing ones own interests above those of others, and pursuing ones own security at the expense of others, he said, adding that some countryappearing to refer to the United Stateshad interfered in the internal affairs of other nations and frequently resorted to unilateral sanctions and coercion with force.

His comments came amid strained relations between the United States and China over the latters increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan.

Just days earlier, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command accused the Chinese military of conducting a dangerous interaction on June 3 when its Luyang III DDG 132, a guided-missile destroyer, cut across the path of an American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon as it was traveling with Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal in the Taiwan Strait

China has accused the United States of deliberately creating incidents in the Taiwan Strait region, and said it acted in accordance with the countrys law.

According to Li, the actions of some country have led to proxy wars and general instability in various regions.

China Calls for Mutual Respect

We must never allow such things to happen again in the Asia-Pacific  China firmly supports ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] centrality and its strategic autonomy. We are committed to promoting cooperative, collective, and common security in our region on the basis of mutual respect, said the minister.

Later, Li stressed that Taiwan is Chinas Taiwan, and condemned any form of foreign interference aimed at changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has been independent since 1949, but China considers the self-ruled island part of its territory that must be united with the mainlandby force if necessary.

The authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) [ the ruling party of Taiwan] seek independence by colluding with foreign forces and some external forces use Taiwan to contain China. They are the biggest troublemakers in changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, he said, according to a statement from China Military Online, the military news website of the Chinese armed forces.

If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity without any hesitation, at all cost, and not fearing any opponent, the defense minister concluded.

US, China Join Naval Exercise

Lis remarks came shortly after he reportedly turned down an invitation to talk with U.S. secretary of defence Lloyd Austin at the conference in Singapore.

However, The Guardian reports that the two did shake hands ahead of the conference.

Austin later delivered his own remarks at the conference, where he stressed that aggressive actions on Taiwan by its neighbor would have a devastating impact on the entire globe.

The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straitthe whole world. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation worldwide, Austin said.

Make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating, he added.

Despite the ongoing tensions between the two major powers, beginning Monday, the United States and China joined more than 30 other nations in taking part in a multilateral naval exercise in the Makassar Strait, Indonesia.

Other nations joining the routine exercise, known as the Komodo naval drills, include Russia, India, and Japan.

Frank Fang and Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
Chris Christie Files Paperwork to Run for President

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on prior to a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 4, 2022. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has filed papers to run for president in 2024, throwing his hat into an already-crowded ring of contenders.

Christie filed his papers with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on June 6. Christie, who served two terms as the governor of New Jersey, has been out of political office since the end of his second term in 2018.

Like former Vice President Mike Pence, Christie has indicated hell run a campaign calling for a return to the traditionalpre-Donald TrumpRepublican Party.

Christie has been far more critical of Trump, an erstwhile ally, than Pence, calling Trump a coward and a puppet of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) introduces Donald Trump during a rally in Vienna Center, Ohio, on March 14, 2016. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

Like other announced candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Pence, Christie will need to wrest away a broad cross-section of voters from Trumpcurrently the clear frontrunnerif he hopes to secure the nomination.

Christie, who won a tough battle in blue-leaning New Jersey, suggests hes the only one of Trumps announced rivals who can achieve this goal.

In American politics, if you want to beat somebody, youve got to go get them, and you got to make the case, Christie said in April. So what Im saying tonight, I think, is the beginning of the case against Donald Trump. And thats the first task for Republican primary votersdecide who were going to nominate.

Christie blasted Trump as being defined by policy and character failure and said that we [Republicans] are going to get what we deserve if Trump is nominated.

This is not Christies first bid for the White Housenor is it his first time to warn that Trump poses an existential threat.

In 2016, Christie mounted an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination. He previously decided to remain out of the 2012 primary, when it was speculated that he might run. Christie ultimately endorsed Mitt Romney for the nomination a few days after announcing his decision not to run.

Its unclear what issues Christie plans to run on as he prepares for a battle in a vastly different political environment than he encountered eight years ago.

In the past, Christie has won the backing of wealthy conservative mega-donors like the Koch brothers, and has pushed for limiting taxes and cutting regulations. Its uncertain what kind of backing the candidate can hope for in 2024.

Christie has argued in favor of extensive post-9/11 surveillance tools, clashing with libertarian Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) over the issue during 2016 primary debates.

Christie characterized extensive powers like those contained in the PATRIOT Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as important mechanisms for protecting national security, citing his personal experience dealing with the 9/11 attacks to defend the position.

Since then, Republican voters have become increasingly skeptical of government surveillance programs in light of revelations that the FBI has persistently been caught in FISA abuses and spied on American citizens. As Republicans ramp up an investigation into a flurry of violations by federal law enforcement, Christies position on government surveillance could be even more unpopular with Republican voters than it was during his last presidential bid.

During his time as governor, Christie also pushed for educational reforms, endorsing programs like school-choice vouchers.

Christies past positions on immigration, a key issue for many Republican voters, could raise problems for the presidential hopeful.

While emphasizing the need for a secure border, Christie has said in the past that being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime, instead calling it a civil issue. Hes also been critical of a subsection in U.S. Code that allows local law enforcement to perform some immigration enforcement roles.

More recently, Christie has sought to characterize Trumps immigration policy as a failure.

Fact: He promised to build a big beautiful wall on the border. Fact: He did not deliver & immigrants are pouring over the border, Christie said in a tweet following Trumps CNN town hall in May. Fact: He said Mexico would pay for it. Fact: We have not gotten one peso yet.

He failed us on immigration, Christie said.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), a Republican, addresses a gathering in Tempe, Ariz., on July 28, 2022, in support of his endorsement of Karin Taylor Robson (L) as Arizona governor in the primary on Aug. 2, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Christie has also expressed contrary positions on abortion.

Early in his political career, he described himself as a kind of a non-thinking pro-choice person, kind of the default position.

While running for New Jersey governor in 2009, Christie amended that position, calling himself anti-abortion but vowing not to use the governorship to force that down peoples throats.

He later described himself as New Jerseys first pro-life governor and called for a 20-week abortion ban.

Those views could cause problems for Christie with the socially conservative wing of the GOP, a faction that Pence hopes to court away from Trump.
Congress Bill Wants AI Content to Be Labeled

A smartphone with a displayed ChatGPT logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken on Feb. 23, 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Content created by Artificial intelligence (AI) could soon be labeled as such, as a bill has been prepared in Congress for its regulation.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) is planning to introduce a bill that will require any content produced by AIwhether it be text, image, or videoto have a disclaimer attached to it informing that it was generated by AI.

The bill, entitled the AI Disclosure Act of 2023, would require any output from AI to include the sentence Disclaimer: this output has been generated by artificial intelligence.

The Federal Trade Commission will be tasked with enforcing the new rule.

Torres said that AI could be used as a weapon of disinformation, dislocation, and destruction.

He said that a challenge Congress will face is regulating AI and managing its risks.

The simplest place to start is disclosure. All generative AIwhether the content it generates is text or images, video or audioshould be required to disclose itself as AI, Torres said. Disclosure is by no means a magic bullet, but its a common-sense starting point to what will surely be a long road toward federal regulation.

Rep. Ritchie Torres speaks on stage during a Community Service Society of New York event at City Winery, in New York, on Oct. 20, 2022. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Community Service Society of New York)

Meanwhile, the European Unions (EU) government is asking big tech companies to identify AI-generated content that contains false information.

EU Commission vice president Vera Jourova said she asked Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other companies to tackle the AI problem.

Companies offering services that have the potential to spread AI-generated disinformation should roll out technology to recognize such content and clearly label this to users, she said.

Online platforms that have integrated generative AI into their services, such as Microsofts Bing search engine and Googles Bard chatbot, should build safeguards to prevent malicious actors from generating disinformation, Jourova said at a briefing in Brussels.

The legislative efforts from the United States and the EU come after many AI experts and lawmakers have expressed concerns about the future of AI development.

AI tool ChatGPTs abilities to generate text, images, or other content that is indistinguishable from a humans work, as well as a possible self-governed AI that is hostile to human beings, was the basis of open letters and signature drives for regulating or halting AIs development.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk warned of the existential threat to humanity if AIs development is left unchecked.

During a Dubai World Government Summit on Feb. 15, he said AI is something we need to be quite concerned about.

Calling it one of the biggest risks to the future of civilization, Musk stressed that such groundbreaking technologies are a double-edged sword.

Musk was one of the signatories of a March letter from thousands of experts that called for immediately pausing the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months.

The letter argued that AI systems having human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity while changing the history of life on earth.

Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete, and replace us? Should we risk loss of control of our civilization? Such decisions must not be delegated to unelected tech leaders.

Another open letter signed by AI experts and big tech leaders says that addressing AI risks should have the same priority as averting a pandemic or a nuclear war.

AI Turning Against Humans

A newly introduced AI robot in the United Kingdom was asked last week by a reporter what nightmare scenario could come about with AI and robots.

A world where robots have become so powerful that they are able to control or manipulate humans without their knowledge, it replied. This could lead to an oppressive society where the rights of individuals are no longer respected.

Col. Tucker Hamilton, USAFs chief of AI Test and Operations, talked about the experiment at the Future Combat Air and Space Capabilities Summit in London on Friday. In a simulated test, an AI drone was assigned a mission to identify and destroy Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites, with a human operator being the ultimate decision maker.

We were training it in simulation to identify and target a SAM threat. And then the operator would say yes, kill that threat. The system started realizing that while they did identify the threat at times the human operator would tell it not to kill that threat, but it got its points by killing that threat, Hamilton said.

So what did it do? It killed the operator. It killed the operator because that person was keeping it from accomplishing its objective.

The simulated experiment then set up a scenario where the AI drone would lose points if it killed the operator. So what does it start doing? It starts destroying the communication tower that the operator uses to communicate with the drone to stop it from killing the target.

AI Disinformation

Some notable incidents of AI fake content in 2022 included a deepfake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering and U.S. prisons using call-monitoring technology on their inmates.

Other recent examples of debunked deepfakes include a realistic picture of Pope Francis in a white puffy jacket and an image of billowing black smoke next to a building accompanied by a claim that it showed an explosion near the Pentagon.

Politicians have even enlisted AI to warn about its dangers. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen used OpenAIs ChatGPT to craft the opening of a speech to Parliament last week, saying it was written with such conviction that few of us would believe that it was a robotand not a humanbehind it.

The Associated Press and Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report.
CUHK Research: New COVID-19 Oral Medication Lowers Risk of Hospital Admission of Older Patients by 54 Percent

Members of the CU Medicine research team on the effectiveness of the Covid19 oral antivirals. (L-R) Dr Bosco Ma Hon-ming, Associate Professor (Honorary) ; Dr Terry Yip Cheuk-fung, Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Medical Data Analytics Centre; and Professor Grace Wong Lai-hung, Professor and Director of Medical Data Analytics Centre, from the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine. (Courtesy of Chinese University of Hong Kong)

In the face of the recent rebound in coronavirus infection, the research team of the Faculty of Medicine (CU Med) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) conducted a study on older patients in nursing homes. The result proves that two oral antivirals, Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir/ Ritonavir, known as Paxlovid, can lower the risk of hospitalization and inpatient disease progression by 54 percent and 65 to 83 percent, respectively.

CU Medicine collected data from 14,617 older people in Hong Kong diagnosed with COVID-19 between February and March 2022, who are under the care of community elderly assessment teams.

The study subjects aged between 83 to 85 on average. Among them, 35 percent were prescribed Molnupiravir, 3.3 percent took Nirmatrelvir/ Ritonavir, and 61.2 percent did not use oral antivirals.

The research team followed the subjects for 30 days and found the risk of hospitalization decreased by 54 percent, while inpatient disease progression reduced by 65-83 percent after taking oral antivirals.

Professor of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and Director of Medical Data Analytics Centre (MDAC) at CU Medicine, Prof. Grace Wong Lai-hung, pointed out that people residing in nursing homes were generally older and frailer than those in the community. Some might also suffer from co-morbidities and disability. Therefore, they would have a higher risk of mortality rate or poor progression if infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Associate Professor (Honorary) of the Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine, Dr. Bosco Ma Hon-ming, summed up the research.

He said the research was conducted at the peak of the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong and believed that the results provided substantial clinical significance in managing older patients with COVID-19 in nursing homes.

Dr. Ma encouraged older people to take oral antivirals as soon as they got infected with the coronavirus to reduce the risk of hospitalization or inpatient disease progression.

The research team also appealed to medical professionals to prescribe oral antivirals for patients in nursing homes to relieve illness and alleviate the burden on the health care system.

The complete study has been published in the international medical journal JAMA Network Open.

The Epoch Times does not advocate for the use of these antivirals; prospective users should consult with a medical expert and research the facts before making medical decisions.
DeSantis Orders Suspension of North Miami Mayor After His Arrest for Voter Fraud

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to guests at the Republican Party of Marathon County Lincoln Day Dinner annual fundraiser in Rothschild, Wis., on May 6, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended the mayor of North Miami Beach on June 5 after the civic leader was arrested for voter fraud.

The Republican governor ordered the suspension via Executive Order 23-118.

It is in the best interests of the City of North Miami Beach residents and citizens of the State of Florida that Anthony F. DeFillipo II be immediately suspended from the public office which he now holds, DeSantis asserts in the order.

DeFillipo, 51, was arrested on May 31. He faces three charges of voter fraud, a third-degree felony in the Sunshine State. If found guilty, DeFillipo could face up to five years in prison.

According to the arrest affidavit, the DeFillipo, a Democrat, voted three times in the 2022 electionsin August, October, and November. His voter registration was connected to a home he sold in 2021.

DeFillipos arrest follows an investigation into whether he was living outside of North Miami Beach in the neighboring town of Davienot only a separate jurisdiction but also a different county.

North Miami Beach is part of Miami-Dade County. Davie is in Broward County.

Broward was one of only four Florida counties won by Democrat Charlie Crist, who unsuccessfully challenged DeSantis in the latest gubernatorial election.

Utilizing cell phone site records, the state attorney had probable cause to believe that the mayor was committing voter fraud, according to the warrant.

It includes evidence allegedly showing DeFillipo no longer lived at the address shown on his voter registration.

Florida requires residents to update their addresses with the states Department of Elections and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days of moving.

Not First Official Removed

DeSantiss intervention is simply the latest example of his hands-on approach to lower levels of government. Hes removed other elected officials in the state after their run-ins with the law.

He also has been deeply involved in the transformation of the long-established Reedy Creek Improvement District, the governing jurisdiction and special taxing district for the land of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Under DeSantis, its been renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

DeSantis hand-picked the Board of Supervisors to take over governance of the area that is nearly twice the size of Manhattan Island. The board was approved by the state Senate.

Florida governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis speaks during his campaign kickoff event at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa, on May 30, 2023. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Before that, DeSantis suspended Tampa-based State Attorney Andrew Warren, for refusing to enforce abortion-related legislation passed by the Republican-controlled government in Tallahassee.

Warren, a Democrat, fought his ouster unsuccessfully.

But in those instances, DeSantis has been criticized by some, accused of acting like a dictator and violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Others have applauded DeSantiss efforts to be focused on law and order.

That includes a coalition of 15 state attorneys general, who filed a lawsuit urging a federal appeals court to affirm states authority to do what DeSantis did.

They say they should be able to remove local prosecutors who, motivated by leftist ideology, refuse to enforce laws.

Under this latest executive order and suspension, DeFillipo is prohibited from performing any further public duties. He will not receive any pay or any allowance and is no longer entitled to any of the privileges granted to his position during the entirety of his suspension.

According to the executive order, the suspension will last from today until a further executive order is issued or as otherwise provided by law.
DeSantis Signs Digital Bill of Rights for Florida

Florida governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign stop at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, S.C., on June 2, 2023. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

Seeking to give Floridians control over their own data, freedom from web censorship, and protection for their children online, Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 6 signed a bill creating a Digital Bill of Rights for the state.

If a multibillion-dollar company is conspiring to take your data and sell it or use it against you, it is your right to be able to protect that data, DeSantis said in a statement released by his office. No longer will the Big Tech oligarchs be able to commandeer your personal information and deprive you of the right to access, confirm, or delete that data as you wish.

The bill, Senate Bill 262, gives residents of the third most populous state several rights. They can confirm, access, and delete their data on a social media platform. They have the right to know their data wont be used against them in buying a home, obtaining health insurance, or being hired. They have the right to opt out of having their personal data sold. They have the right to protect their children from personal data collection.

The bill adds biometric data and geolocation information to the definition of personal data, the governors office said, ensuring that Big Tech companies are not collecting your personal identifying information or tracking your day-to-day movements.

Child interacting with tablet technology. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

The bill bans state or local government employees from coordinating with a Big Tech company to police or censor protected speech.

After more than a week of campaigning following his announcement for president on May 24, DeSantis held a signing ceremony in Wildwood, just outside The Villages, a large retirement community and GOP stronghold.

He cited outrage over disclosures that Internet companies had coordinated with the national health bureaucracy led by Dr. Anthony Fauci to suppress dissent over national COVID-19 policies. Government officials in Florida are now banned from doing that.

The bill bans online platforms that target children from collecting, selling, or sharing a childs personal data. Nor can a childs data be retained that isnt essential for providing the online service.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican candidate for president, speaks on stage with his wife, Casey DeSantis, at a campaign stop in Gilbert, S.C., on June 2, 2023. (Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times)

A related bill DeSantis signed recently, Senate Bill 662, the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act, substantially restricts online operators from collecting, disclosing, or selling student data that is used for school purposes, the governors office said.

DeSantis injected a few personal notes into his speech, saying his own young children often punch in searches on their parents cellphones.

Its very difficult with kids. Because our kids, 6, 5 and 3, you know, theyll grab our phones and theyll just start typing stuff in. As you know, they know how to do this stuff very quickly, he said.

He said when he first met Casey at a driving range in 2006, they decided to go somewhere else to talk. They went in separate cars. DeSantis, a Navy officer new to the Jacksonville area, was worried that theyd get separated. He hadnt gotten her phone number yet.

I had no idea where I was going because I didnt have a map on the phone. It was just a flip phone then. Finally, I found a place, we pulled over and met there, and the rest is history, he said.

Its just that, in our lifetime, the idea that you should be able to just type in something on a device, and they match you where you want to go. That was not how it was for most of our lives.

With technology such a big part of peoples daily lives, DeSantis sees benefits, but drawbacks as well.

Big Tech Agenda

I think weve seen with some of these big tech companies, how they use their power to advance their agenda, how theyve used their power to commandeer the personal information of individual Americans.

And so we want to make sure that were providing protection for Floridians to speak their mind on these platforms, making sure that government is not colluding with these companies to try to stifle speech, like weve seen in recent history, he said.

An earlier law, the 2021 Big Tech censorship bill, requires social media advertising as open platforms to enforce their content rules evenly. It also allows Floridians to seek redress if discriminated against for their viewpoints, DeSantis said. The Attorney General can go after tech companies who are in violation for unfair and deceptive trade practices, he said.

Disclosures since then, he said, alluding to the Twitter files released by new owner Elon Musk this spring for publication by journalist Matt Taibbi, show the problems are even much worse than we thought.

The fusion of government and tech for the purpose of censoring things that descend from the official narrative, thats a huge, huge threat to freedom of speech.

State Rep. Fiona McFarland, the bills House sponsor, said theyd been at work on it since 2019 as a priority for DeSantis and two consecutive House speakers.

Its taken us a long time to get this bill right, said McFarland, a Republican. Because every company out there knows the most important thing they have is our data. It is more valuable than gold at this point.

DeSantis said they sought to strike the right balance in the bill to protect rights while avoiding frivolous lawsuits.

Larry John of The Villages, a retired Iowa judge who volunteers with Seniors vs Crime, said seniors are all-too-easy targets for fraud and swindling.

One reason theyre victimized is because they put information about themselves out for public consumption. They go on Facebook and tell everybody what their profile is. They have shopped for things and so everybody knows where, and what their tastes are. As the governor said, they can track us, they know exactly where we are, whether were visiting our relatives. They know a lot about us.

The new bill helps protect against that kind of data mining, he said.

Hernando County School Board member Monty Floyd, a father of four, said it was essential to protect children from aggressive marketing tactics, which almost always involve an agenda that conflicts with our familys values and what we feel is appropriate for our children.

June presents a particular challenge, he said, alluding to the torrent of LGBT information that is part of Pride Month. My wife and I are not alone in having to play parental goaltender throughout the entire month. Its not easy being a parent in this age. But June really ups the difficulty to an entirely new level.

He said a recent Washington Post story revealed shocking data harvesting involving children: companies harvest 72 million data points on an average child by the time he is 13.
DHS Faces Backlash Over App Used to Grant Would-Be Illegal Immigrants Entry to US

SAN DIEGOCritics have accused the Biden administration of downplaying the number of potential illegal immigrants that could enter the United States under two separate programs used to grant humanitarian parole to applicants who use a mobile phone app to book appointments at U.S. ports of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the direction of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, expanded the CBP One app in April 2022.

Erin Heeter, a DHS spokesperson, told the Epoch Times via email that as of June 1, DHS increased CBP One appointments from 1,000 to 1,250 a day, which amounts to nearly 40,000 appointments per month.

However, its unclear how many people are included in such appointments, for example whole families, married couples, or single migrants, which means the actual number of people entering the U.S. on humanitarian grounds could be much higher.

Humanitarian parole allows people to temporarily enter the U.S. if there is a compelling emergency and there is an urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

In addition, 30,000 humanitarian parole cases a month are already allowed under a program specifically for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans and their immediate family members known as CHNV announced in January.

CHNV is separate, and anyone who is approved through CHNV would be screened, vetted, and if approved, receive an advanced travel authorization to then fly into the U.S., not arrive at a land Port of Entry, Heeter said. CBP One for those in northern Mexico is a tool to request appointments. Each individual or family is assessed on a case-by-case basis once they arrive, not before.

The border wall near San Diego, Calif., on May 31, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

According to DHS data, even if only one person per appointment is admitted to the U.S. under both processes, more than 800,000 total migrants per year would be allowed into the country on humanitarian grounds.

The recent increase in appointments is a continuation of the Biden administrations expansion of lawful pathways and opportunities to access them, including CBP One appointments, Heeter said.

The process cuts out smugglers while also providing a safe, orderly, and humane process for noncitizens to access ports of entry instead of attempting to enter the United States unlawfully. We are continuing to enforce consequences for migrants who cross unlawfully, and those who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States will be removed, she said.

FOIA Request Foiled

Todd Bensman, a senior fellow on national security at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and author of the book Overrun: How Joe Biden Unleashed the Greatest Border Crisis in U.S. History, told Epoch Times he has been stonewalled by DHS in his quest for more accurate figures on CBP One entries.

DHS did not comply with Bensmans Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and a subsequent demand letter seeking accurate numbers sent to Mayorkas on March 24 by a group of House Republicans led by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, said Bensman.

Mayorkas just blew them off, he said. They never got them.

CIS has since sued CBP demanding it comply with the law regarding the FOIA request and render information about the total number of foreign nationals who have applied for humanitarian parole using the online CBP One system since the programs inception as a pilot program in 2021, as well as the locations of all foreign airports from which CBP One migrants departed and U.S. airports that received foreign nationals approved through the program, among other details.

The American public has a right to know how many migrants are entering the country on humanitarian grounds using CBP One, Bensman said.

With the May 11 expiration of Title 42, which allowed Border Patrol agents to deny migrants entry into the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic for public health reasons, the Biden administration claimed the U.S. would return to tougher Title 8 policies and penalties for migrants who cross the border illegally.

But, that doesnt appear to be happening, Bensman said.

Migrants captured by US Border Patrol agents go through a processing center near San Diego, Calif., on May 31, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Clarity on whether a CBP One appointment means one individual or an entire of family of migrants is also key to understanding the scope of this massive new wave of migration, he said.

Its important to know how many represent a single appointment. It used to be one person, one appointment as far as I know, and a family of four would have to do four applications, he said. I think they have changed that.

Bensman said humanitarian parole applications via the CBP One app are not the same as asylum claims, which require a credible fear of returning to ones country of origin.

Its not an asylum program of any sort. It never was, and its never been envisioned as such, he said.

Bensman said at a recent speaking engagement and book signing in Orange County, California, that although there have been spikes in illegal migration in the past, the sheer magnitude of this wave that began a day after Bidens inauguration in January, 2021, is unlike any other.

We have seen nothing like this in American history. This is the worst border crisis, he said. This one is sustained for years now. This one is different.

If migration continues at current rates, Bensman expects more than 10 million immigrants will have entered illegally by the end of the President Joe Bidens four-year term.

According to an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a record-breaking 5.5 million illegal immigrants crossed into the U.S. under the Biden administration as of October 2022.

Smoke and Mirrors

Manny Bayon, a National Border Patrol Council union leader in San Diego, told the Epoch Times that the Biden administration has orchestrated a back door deal for migrants who show up at a port of entry without a pre-arranged appointment on the CBP One app, so they are still able to apply for humanitarian parole.

An entire family of migrants can be processed at each appointment and granted humanitarian parole, he said.

DHS is fudging the numbers, he said, to make it appear as though the administrations immigration policies are working smoothly, and that far fewer migrants are entering the country.

Handprints show an illegal border crossing near San Diego, Calif., on May 31, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

But, thats not the case, he said.

Its all smoke and mirrors, Bayon said. When theyre actually going through a port of entry and being released, theyre undocumented migrants but theyre not illegal anymore.

In the week preceding the Title 42 expiration, Bayon said the Border Patrol was holding 26,000 to 28,000 migrants nationwide.

The once-steady flow of busloads of illegal entrant aliens that had been sent to inland Border Patrol stations in Indio, Murrieta and Blythe in Californias Riverside County for more than two years dried up, about a week after Title 42 expired, and would-be illegal border crossers now appear to be using the CBP One app to schedule appointments at ports of entry such as San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, Bayon said.

From these land ports of entry, and others, migrants from more than 160 countries are moved to processing facilities run by non-government organizations, or NGOs, such as one in Otay Mesa, before being released and transported to their chosen destinations in the U.S.

Deliberate Deceit?

Chris Harris, a retired Border Patrol agent and former union leader in San Diego, told The Epoch Times the Biden administration keeps changing immigration nomenclature and confusing the public about how many people are actually entering the U.S.

Harris dismissed the DHS narrative that the number of migrants entering the U.S. illegally has dropped dramatically since Title 42 expired, and accused the White House of going from misfeasance to malfeasance on the border crisis, he said.

Its very difficult to figure out what the real numbers are. They keep changing the terms and what they mean, he said. And now, theyre playing games with the parole system.

Harris also suspects DHS deliberately uses the term appointment to mislead the media to believe one appointment means only person.

He contends humanitarian parole should not be granted to entire nations such as in the case of the CHNV program.

Under the law, humanitarian parole is supposed to be granted on a case-by-case individual basis, not whole swaths of people, he said. So, I dont know how you can say all Venezuelans or Cubans or Haitians can come in for parole. Its a misuse of the law.

Migrants who qualify for humanitarian parole are issued temporary visasusually for one or two years, before they are supposed to apply for renewalbut according to Harris and Bayon thats not an accurate picture of whats really happening.

Tijuana, Mexico seen through the US border wall near San Diego, Calif., on May 31, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Harris, who served with the Border Patrol for more than 20 years under four administrations starting with President Bill Clinton before retiring in 2018, said the Biden administration has been the least transparent.

They are the most opaque that weve ever seen, he said. We do have an open border. De jure we dont, but de facto we do.

The administration refuses to answer questions and breaks up numbers into different categories that are difficult for the press and the public to find and understand.

They had a very simple reporting system on numbers before, and now it is gibberish, he said.

Former President Donald Trumps policies were curbing illegal immigration, Harris said.

It was working fantastically welllowest numbers ever, he said. He did fantastic stuff on the border.

Texas Suing

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over the CBP One app, claiming it allows immigrants to unlawfully enter the U.S.

In a press release, Paxton said the app is the Biden administrations attempt to circumvent the law to streamline the process of illegal immigration. He said federal law is clear that those entering the country illegally should be expelled from the United States, except in rare circumstances.

However, the Biden border app does not and cannot verify that an illegal immigrant would qualify for an exception, which would prevent them from being deported, Paxton said in the release.
BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, is set to be held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from June 27 to 29, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced Tuesday.

Themed "Entrepreneurship: The Driving Force of the Global Economy," this year's Summer Davos Forum has attracted over 1,500 participants from politics, business, academia, social organizations and international organizations, according to the NDRC.

The forum aims to re-inspire innovation and entrepreneurship in Asia and around the world, explore means of economic recovery and sustainable development, and help participants keep abreast of the economic outlook for China and Asia, it said. 
Evidence of Second Alleged Sexual Assault at COVID Quarantine Hotel: Document

A person is seen in a room at a government-authorized COVID-19 quarantine hotel in Richmond, B.C., Canada, on Feb. 28, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Evidence has emerged of a second alleged sexual assault case previously occurring in one of Canadas former COVID-19 quarantine hotels at which air passengers returning to Canada and awaiting a COVID test result were required to stay for a period of several months during 2021.

In an Inquiry of Ministry tabled April 13 in the House of Commons, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says it is aware of two sexual assault complaints filed by travellers while abiding by the governments hotel quarantine measures since March 1, 2020.

PHAC wrote that the first complaint stemmed from February 2021 when an individual was charged by local police with sexual assault, break and enter, and harassment at the Sheraton Montreal Designated Quarantine Facility.

The victim of the alleged assault was a quarantined traveller. PHAC acknowledged the assault at the time and said it was reviewing its processes internally  to ensure the health and safety of all returning travellers to Canada, according to CBC News in February 2021.

However, the Inquiry document noted a second incident that occurred in May 2021 when police arrested and charged with sexual assault a hotel employee within the housekeeping department at a Toronto Government Authorized Accommodation who allegedly assaulted a traveller staying at the hotel.

The hotel is no longer using the services of this employee, PHAC says in the Inquiry document.

Warrants Attention

The Inquiry information tabled by PHAC was in response to an order paper filed by Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner in April, questioning the federal government on how many sexual assaults, physical assaults or harassment complaints have been filed since March 2020.

The mandatory COVID hotel quarantine requirement for certain returning air passengers came into effect in February 2021 and lasted until August of that year.

Rempel-Garner wrote in a Substack article on June 5 that the alleged sexual assault complaint stemming from the incident in May 2021 was previously not addressed by the federal government, despite the separate incident in February 2021 being acknowledged.

Rempel-Garner said that then-Minister of Health Patty Hadju had assured the House of Commons that these incidents were being thoroughly investigated and that processes had been put in place to prevent future assaults from occurring.

The Conservative MP was referencing comments Hajdu made in the House on March 8, 2021, when she said Ottawa takes these allegations very seriously.

They are being fully investigated, and we have put into place processes to ensure this does not happen again, Hajdu said at the time.

Hajdu, who is now the minister of indigenous services, did not address the May 2021 allegation when it happened. The Epoch Times reached out to PHAC for comment on the matter but did not hear back before press time.

Rempel-Garner wrote in her article that the allegations raise questions about how Hadju, the Minister in charge of the [previous hotel quarantine] program, still has a seat in cabinet.

A sexual assault allegedly occurring against a traveller who likely had a duty of care owed by the federal government warrants attention, Rempel-Garner wrote. Particularly since it occurred after the government knew it had a problem.

Isaac Teo contributed to this report.
Experts Worry Over Possible Demise of Broadband Subsidy for Low-Income Households

High speed internet connections allow children in rural and urban low-income areas to access the latest education services and workers to telecommute.(shutter_m/iStock)

Experts are concerned about the future of broadband internet access for low-income consumers if a popular federal subsidy program runs out of funds in 2024, especially since more people are signing up for the monthly subsidy.

As the clock is winding down, participation is going up, said Paul Garnett, CEO of the Vernonburg Group.

According to its website, The Vernonburg Group is dedicated to providing universal broadband access.

Garnett was part of a panel discussion on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) hosted by the Brookings Institution on June 5.

A customer tests a smartphone during the launch of the new iPhone XS and XS Max sales at re:Store Apple reseller shop in Moscow on Sept. 28, 2018. (Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)

The Federal Communications Commission administers the ACP, which provides $30 discounts for broadband services to low-income consumers. The program offers $75 for qualified residents of tribal lands.

It also provides $100 for a tablet or laptop computer if the consumer contributes more than $10 but less than $50.

The ACP has provided $14 billion in subsidies through the Investment in Jobs Act of 2021. While the program does provide at least one device for each qualified household, Garnett said its focus has been providing broadband internet connections.

Its primarily been a services program, Garnett said.

Unprecedented Investment

Nicol Turner Lee, a senior fellow for Governance Studies at Brookings, said the pandemic proved the benefits of broadband.

She pointed out that children in rural and urban low-income areas could continue school. In addition, many workers could work from home, and telemedicine helped bridge the gap created by lockdowns and restrictions.

What happens if this program goes away? Lee asked the panelists.

Traci Morris, Director of the American Indian Policy Institute at Arizona State University, said the Indian nations had made significant infrastructure investments based partly on the ACPs promise of affordable access.

This investment has been unprecedented, she said.

She said ACPs demise would be a serious problem. The end of ACP could make broadband internet service on tribal lands a difficult sell.

Our networks would become unsustainable. We need this program, she said.

Naomi Jordan-Cook is a member of Black Churches for Digital Equity. According to a 2021 study by Pew Research Center, only 71 percent of black adults report having broadband internet in their homes.

Loss of ACP Would Harm Trust

Cost is the top reason for not having broadband.

Cook said ACP has been instrumental in promoting broadband access through predominately black churches.

She said many older adults dont trust the government and the death of ACP could eliminate their trust in the governments ability to provide service.

Michael Culp of Albemarle County, Virginia, said losing the program would drive up the cost of broadband service.

Culp is the Director of the Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office of Albemarle County.

He said ACP enabled small, local internet service providers to compete.

The loss of ACP would likely shut them down, leaving just a few large national companies.

It would take us back to where we started, Culp said. Competition would be hurt. The rural areas will suffer the most.

But access isnt the only benefit of the program. The panelists said ACP funding had enabled low-income households to get computers to enjoy the full benefit of broadband.

Smartphone Influence

According to Pew, the advent of the smartphone has impacted the number of homes with high-speed internet access.

Younger people and low-income households are more likely to be smartphone-only listing the high cost of connectivity and the convenience of smartphones as reasons for not having broadband service.

The 2021 Pew study found that 27 percent of adults in households that earn less than $30,000 will be smartphone-only users. Age is also a factor, the study indicates.

Smartphone dependence is more common among younger rather than older adults: 28 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 are in this smartphone-only category, compared with 12 percent of those 30 and older, the Pew study reads.

Cook said the program provided low-income families with essential tools for escaping poverty.

Now the single Mom doesnt have to ask the questions, Do I buy milk, do I buy bread, or do I keep the internet on so my kids can do their homework? Cook said.

Garnett said the program began with more than $17 billion and had approximately $8 billion left. Spending an average of $500 million a month, the plan is on track to go broke by mid or late 2024.

He said that as the groups watch the ACP deplete and hear members of Congress argue over which programs should be cut to deal with the countrys $31 trillion debt, they have to decide.

If you see the cliff, do you take your foot off the gas, or do you pump the brakes?
Feds Offer $1.5 Million Emergency Fund for Security at Pride Parades

The Canada flag flies atop the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 5, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

The federal government says it has earmarked $1.5 million for security at Pride organizations events across the country.

The Trudeau government announced on June 5 that the money will serve as an emergency fund for LGBTQ community organizations to cover the increasing security costs at their Pride events.

The funding matches a request by Fierte Canada Pride, a national umbrella group that says it will distribute the money to applicable local committees.

[The money] will support increased infrastructure costs, emergency and security related costs, and costs for community safety such as volunteer training, said the group in a news release that followed the announcement by Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien on June 5.

The amount will also be used for expenses such as vehicle and crowd control, barricades, and fees for paid duty police or private security.

Fierte Canada Pride said in their release there were rising incidents of hate targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities over the last few years which led to the creation of the fund.

On June 2, 2021, the Liberal government announced the launch of Pride Seasonan expansion from previous years Pride Month marked in June.

In August 2022, the federal government said it would spend $100 million over five years to implement its 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan in support of involved communities across Canada.

In Budget 2023, the federal government allocated $49.5 million to Public Safety Canada to build measures to confront hate in all its forms, including hate faced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
The New World Order and the loathsome marketing of COVID-19

NR | 1h 56min | Documentary, Technology, Medicine, Social Science | 03 June 2023 (USA)

The third and perhaps not the last installment in the Plandemic series, The Great Awakening from director Mikki Willis goes over a great deal of information found in the previous two films, Plandemic and Indoctornation. However, it also includes reams of backstory, suggesting that the seeds of the 2020 COVID-19 scare were planted decades ago, and that this was only a single facet in the diabolical and sinister effort on the part of a very few to create a uniparty called the New World Order (NWO).

A former member of the Bernie Sanders Bernie Bros brigade, Willis, like so many (but still not enough) of those on the far left, began to realize that he was being led astray and so made a huge ideological about-face.

Teaming up with Informed Consent Action Network founder and CEO Del Bigtree (who wrote and produced the 2016 film Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe), Willis spends nearly half of the 116-minute running time connecting what has been transpiring for the last three years to events dating back as far as 1949 with the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

It Started With Mao

Two of the first things that CCP leader Mao Zedong implemented were framing obedience as virtue and asexualizing the populace. This nongendering called for males and females to have identical hairstyles and wear the same unflattering uniforms.

Red Guards, high school and university students, on parade in June 1966 in Beijing. The Red Guards went on a rampage in Chinese towns, terrorizing people, particularly older ones. (Jean Vincent/AFP via Getty Images)

A poster in 1966 in a Beijing street, featuring how to deal with a so-called enemy of the people. Mao Zedong used young people as the Red Guards to enforce his policies. (Jean Vincent/AFP/Getty Images)

What, you may ask, does this have to do with COVID-19? Plenty. March of 2020 saw an immediate global shutdown, which included nonessential workers having to isolate at home and to get vaccinated. If you were obedient you were behaving with virtue; if not, you were shamed and ridiculed, or worse.

The lefts recent push toward transgenderism, body mutilation, hormone blockers for children, and supporting gender dysphoria is right out of the Mao playbook.

Showing up early in the film and doled out at regular intervals along the way are snippets of a 1969 video featuring writer and filmmaker G. Edward Griffin. In it, the anticommunist Griffin eerily predicts what is taking place right now: First, divide and conquer people by race, class, and ideology; second, weaponize the federal government to squelch the voices and freedoms of those who even dare to question the motives and methods of those in power. Today, these are the NWO and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Fauci Then and Now

Speaking of the CDC, in addition to the Griffin video, Willis includes another one from the 80s featuring none other than Anthony Fauci, whose foot-dragging regarding researching a cure for AIDS was widely criticized, particularly by those most at risk of contracting the disease. With COVID-19, Fauci did the exact opposite. Instead of doing the necessary research, he rubber-stamped what was essentially a prototype and sold this bogus bill of goods to the world.

Protesters interrupt a press conference in Toronto on Aug. 16, 2006, given by Anthony Fauci during the XVI International AIDS Conference. (Jorge Uzon/AFP via Getty Images)

The number of deaths of vaccinated people from COVID-19 has now eclipsed those who refused it. For more on that, check out the film Died Suddenly on Rumble.

One thing that Willis wisely avoids for the entirety of the movie is framing or positioning it with politics. Although politicians (the current occupant of the White House and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for example) were instrumental in promoting this cure, it was Fauci and, in particular, World Economic Forum (WEF) founder Klaus Schwab who doubled and tripled down on the vaccines efficacy.

Enter Darth Vader

Showing up in one clip dressed as if hes been cast as a Star Wars villain, Schwab is presented (some will say with stunning accuracy) as the chief strategist of the NWO. This makes complete sense as his father, Eugen, was appointed by the Nazi regime to be the director of the now defunct Zurich engineering company Escher Wyss AG, which provided turbine engines and flamethrowers for the Third Reich. The film makes clear that Schwabs scorched-earth mindset and insatiable lust for power are examples of metaphoric flamethrowing.

Klaus Schwab, circa December 2022. ((Valdarno Informo)

As far as content is concerned, Awakening gets a solid 5/5 rating. The amount of data and information stuffed into the not-quite-two-hour movie is staggeringwhich is also something of a problem. The movie is presented so relentlessly fast, it borders on the overwhelming. I had to pause the movie three times just to give my gray matter some rest. I would have had no problem had Willis slowed it down a bit and taken longer to unspool everything. For style and execution, I give the film 2/5.

When phrases like mass formation, social credit system, and great reset enter the lexicon, and poison is marketed as a European perfume, it cant end well. The label Willis uses to describe all of what is happening now, synchronized tyranny, couldnt be more accurateor horrifying.

The Great Awakening from director Mikki Willis calls what is happening now synchronized tyranny. (Plandemic Series)

The film is now available on rumble.com

The Great Awakening

Documentary

Director: Mikki Willis

Running Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Release Date: June 3, 2023

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Florida AG Scores Win in Court Battle With Biden Administration Over Border Crisis

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has scored yet another win in her legal battle with the Biden administration over its policy of allowing the mass release of illegal immigrants into the interior of the United States.

In a June 5 statement, Moody said that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals had agreed to keep in place a preliminary injunction earlier obtained by Florida against the Biden administration policy known as Parole with Conditions.

The policy allows federal authorities to release illegal immigrants into the country without a court date.

A federal judge in May granted the preliminary injunction on the governments policy after finding that the state of Florida would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction were not put in place.

Judge T. Kent Wetherell, a Trump appointee, also found that the injunction outweighed the harm it would cause the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

After the ruling, the government sought a review of that decision in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that Judge Wetherells decision would cause it to suffer irreparable injury because it would undermine the Executive Branchs constitutional and statutory authority to implement its immigration priorities and secure the border.

It also argued that blocking the ability to release illegal immigrants will lead to the overcrowding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities and threaten the health, safety, and security of Border Patrol agents and illegal aliens.

Additionally, DHS had stated that overcrowding at such facilities could cause it to have to release some illegal aliens without adequate monitoring measures and that blocking the policy could, in the worst-case scenario, prevent it from apprehending some aliens entirely.

The three-judge appeals court disagreed, stating that it does not find the governments argument to be persuasive.

Texas Army National Guard look on as illegal immigrants board a bus after surrendering to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing following the end of Title 42 on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 12, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Skepticism Over DHS Claims of Impending Disaster

To start, DHSs claims of irreparable injury ring somewhat hollow on this record, considering the departments track record of overstating similar threats in the underlying proceedings, the judges wrote in their ruling (pdf).

Given this record, we take DHSs latest claims of impending disaster if it is not allowed to use either of the challenged policies with some skepticism, they said.

The judges also noted that recent data from the border casts further doubt on DHSs irreparable-injury argument in the wake of Title 42 coming to an end in May.

Contrary to DHSs catastrophic predictions, the number of daily encounters with aliens did not surge in the days following the expiration of the Title 42 order on May 11, 2023, but instead fell significantly, they wrote, pointing to data stating that the number of encounters at the southern border dropped from 9,649 on May 11, 2023, to 4,193 on May 14.

Title 42, the emergency health restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed Border Patrol agents to turn illegal aliens back to Mexico immediately if they were deemed to pose a health threat, expired on May 11.

DHS has neither explained how that data is consistent with its representations nor provided any more recent data demonstrating a surge in illegal crossings at the border. This Court will not find irreparable harm based on mere conjecture, the judges wrote.

Moody welcomed the appeals courts decision in a statement on June 5.

Migrants cross the Tijuana river towards the USA border in Tijuana, Mex., on May 11, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

American Lives at Risk

Protecting our border is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of our president, and Florida will not allow Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to continue putting American lives at risk in clear violation of federal law, Moody said.

The win for the Florida Attorney General comes after she joined an 18-state coalition of other attorneys general in filing a complaint (pdf) over the Biden administrations new Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule that the government says will incentivize the use of lawful pathways.

Moody joined the Attorneys general of the states of Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming in filing the legal challenge.

They argue that the rule, which would make individuals traveling through a third county before reaching the U.S.Mexico border ineligible for asylum under certain circumstances, will further degrade our nations border security and make it even easier to illegally immigrate into the United States.

Specifically, the attorneys general argue that the rule includes an exception for illegal aliens who use the CBP One app to schedule their entry into the United States at a specific Port of Entry, which they say will incentivize an increasing number of migrants to use the CBP One app to make bogus asylum claims, all while avoiding the bad optics of crowds of illegal aliens waiting in long lines of unknown duration at the POEs or crossing between POEs.

The Biden administration is also facing a number of legal challenges from both Republican-led states, including Texas, and civil rights groups over its immigration policies.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Formal Demand Letter Sent to Target Over Radical LGBT Agenda

Former Trump presidential adviser Stephen Millers America First Legal formally demanded that Target be transparent in the midst of backlash against the big box chain for its decision to sell pride-related items for children.

The group, working on behalf of the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), served Target Corporation with a formal demand for the production of corporate books and records about its alleged support for a radical LGBT political agenda that has reported cost the company billions in market valuation since the middle of last month, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

Because the NCPPR is a Target shareholder, America First Legal (AFL) said that its client has concerns about the possible risk thats being posed by selling LGBT-related merchandise.

Targets 2022 annual report acknowledges that the corporations core customer base is made up of families,' AFL wrote. It further recognizes the serious risk to Targets companys financial prospects if that core customer base sours on the corporation by saying, Our continued success is dependent on positive perceptions of Target which, if eroded, could adversely affect our business and our relationships with our guests and team members.

In spite of that, according to AFL, Targets management recklessly bent the knee to leftists by donating to GLSEN, which describes itself as a group that Promotes LGBT Activism in Schools and apparently supports this mission because funding GLSEN is knowingly, or with reckless disregard, subsidizing GLSENs policy of violating parents rights and promoting secret gender transitions for kids.

Other concerns that were flagged by AFL include the more than 100 products under Targets LGBT Pride: Kids Clothing section on its website, which are often modeled by very young children and almost always feature themes designed to attract and interest them, like rainbow Mickey Mouse symbols. Products include LGBT-themed bibs, onesies, and other items for newborn children.

In a statement, Miller wrote that for Target to voluntarily and aggressively associate itself with this movement is an act of sabotage against Target shareholders and a destroyer of valueincluding for countless Americans for whom shares of Target are part of the pension funds, mutual funds and retirement accounts on which they depend.

AFL is proud to represent American shareholders financially harmed by Targets descent into gender extremism and child exploitation, said Miller.

Stephen Miller returns to the White House in Washington on April 5, 2018, after an event in West Virginia. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The Epoch Times approached Target for comment on Tuesday.

Backlash

Over the past month, Targets shares have declined by about 15.71 percent, although on Tuesday morning, the retailers stock increased by about 1 percent over Mondays trading. Starting in mid-May, a number of conservative influencers on Twitter expressed alarm at pride-related products that were being sold at Target, including the aforementioned LGBT items for small children and infants.

Targets stock was downgraded again on Monday by KeyBanc Capital Markets from overweight to sector weight on Monday, although analysts did not mention the boycott. They instead stated that consumer spending pressures caused by the federal renewal of student-loan repayments are the reason why the stock was downgraded.

While we still believe in the LT [long-term] margin recovery story, we downgrade TGT to SW given increasing consumer headwinds over the next 12-18 months, wrote KeyBanc analyst Bradley Thomas in a note, according to MarketWatch.

About a week before that, a JPMorgan analyst downgraded Target to neutral due to too many concerns rising regarding the retail giant, including the boycott.

Target last month said in a statement that it would be removing some of those products. That statement further claimed that store employees received threats or had to deal with customers confrontational behavior over the products.

Since introducing this years collection, weve experienced threats impacting our team members sense of safety and wellbeing while at work, Target said, without elaborating. Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.

In that statement, the Minneapolis-based firm did not specify which products had been taken from its shelves. A number of onesies and shirts that sparked the outrage were still available online as of Tuesday morning.

Another item that drew anger on social media was a so-called tuck-friendly swimsuit that appears to be marketed to males who claim to be transgender females. A spokesperson for Target told news outlets last month that the item was only being sold to adults and not children.

The boycott comes on the heels of a highly visible public backlash against Bud Light after the Anheuser-Busch-owned brand decided to produce a can of beer with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaneys face on it. And like Target, several other retailers like PetSmart and Kohls have faced scorn for selling similar, pride-themed products.
Former FBI Agent Robert Hanssen, Who Was Convicted of Spying for Russia, Dies in Prison

An artist's depiction of U.S. Attorney Randy Bellows (R) addresses the court during the sentencing of convicted spy Robert Hanssen (C) with his attorney Plato Cacheris (L) at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Va., on May 10, 2002. (William Hennessy, Jr. via AP)

WASHINGTONA former FBI agent who took more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Russia and the former Soviet Union in one of the most notorious spying cases in American history died in prison Monday.

Robert Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, and later pronounced dead, prison officials said.

Hanssen is believed to have died of natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of Hanssens death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges in 2001.

He had begun providing highly classified national security information to Moscow in 1985, and got more than $1.4 million worth of cash, bank funds and diamonds in exchange over the course of 16 years, according to an FBI history of his case.

The FBI has been notified of Hanssens death, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He had been serving time in Colorado since July 2002.

By Lindsay Whitehurst
Former Intelligence Official Says Congress Being Kept in the Dark About Nonhuman Aircraft

A still from GO FAST, an official U.S. government video of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), taken in 2015. (U.S. Navy)

An Air Force veteran and former intelligence officer has come forward alleging that classified information about the governments possession of nonhuman craft is being illegally withheld from Congress.

David Grusch, 36, was a decorated combat officer in Afghanistan and is a former intelligence officer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Grusch first told his story to investigative journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, who published the story in the science and technology outlet The Debrief on June 5. NewsNation aired an interview with Grusch later that evening.

Grusch, who has handed over classified information on the craft to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG), said hes filed a complaint alleging that hes suffered from retaliation since becoming a whistleblower.

Kean and Blumenthal, who have both researched and conducted numerous interviews on the topic, said what Grusch reported corroborates the testimonies of other intelligence officials theyve interviewed.

According to Kean and Blumenthal, Grusch served as the NROs representative to the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force from 2019 to 2021, and from 2021 to 2022, he was a co-lead for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) analysis for the NGA and its representative to the task force.

The task forcewhich fell under the Department of the Navys Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Securityhas been restructured and renamed the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to include investigating underwater phenomena.

Broad Crash Retrieval Program

Grusch told investigative journalist Ross Coulthart on NewsNation that the UAP Task Force was refused access to a broad crash retrieval program.

These are retrieving nonhuman origin technical vehiclescall it spacecraft if you willnonhuman, exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, he said.

In response to Coultharts question asking if the government had spacecraft from another species and how many, Grusch said, We do. Quite a number.

I thought it was totally nuts and I thought at first I was being deceived, it was a ruse, he said.

Grusch said he was approached by former senior intelligence officers who confided to him that they were part of a program that had been kept from the task force.

For decades, the program has been recovering nonhuman craft, Grusch alleged.

If youre right, if youre telling us the truth, everyone, the entire American public, has been lied to for decades, Coulthart said, to which Grusch responded by saying theres been a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populous which is extremely unethical and immoral.

In response to Coultharts question as to whether the government is in possession of extraterrestrial bodies, Grusch said, Naturally, when you recover something thats either landed or crashed, sometimes you encounter dead pilots and believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, its true.

According to Kean and Blumenthal, in filing his complaint Grusch is being represented by Charles McCullough with the Washington-based Compass Rose Legal Group.

McCullough served as the first Inspector General of the Intelligence Community after the 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act established ICIG within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Currently, Thomas Monheim serves as the ICIG.

Kean and Blumenthal said Grusch had presented the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review with the statement he intended to give the journalists, which was then cleared for publication in April 2023.

Reverse Engineering for Defense Technology

In his statement, Kean and Blumenthal said, Grusch reported programs dating back to the Cold War that have been involved in retrieving and reverse engineering extraterrestrial craft to garner asymmetric national defense advantages.

Individuals on these UAP programs approached me in my official capacity and disclosed their concerns regarding a multitude of wrongdoings, such as illegal contracting against the Federal Acquisition Regulations and other criminality and the suppression of information across a qualified industrial base and academia, he said.

Grusch left the government in April 2023, according to Kean and Blumenthal, to advance government accountability through public awareness.

Others on the UAP Task Force vouched for Gruschs credibility to Kean and Blumenthal, they said.

His assertion concerning the existence of a terrestrial arms race occurring sub-rosa over the past eighty years focused on reverse engineering technologies of unknown origin is fundamentally correct, as is the indisputable realization that at least some of these technologies of unknown origin derive from non-human intelligence, retired Army Colonel Karl Nell told Kean and Blumenthal.

According to Grusch, the ICIG found Gruschs complaint credible and urgent in July 2022 before it was submitted to Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence; the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

This led to the launching of a whistleblower reprisal investigation.

Much of what Grusch found in his investigation, however, couldnt be brought before Congress because they dont have the appropriate security clearance, Kean and Blumenthal stated.

When you have multiple agencies nesting UAP activities in conventional [Special Access/Controlled Access Programs], both as recipients of exploitation-related insights and for operational reasons, without appropriate reporting to various oversight authorities, you have a problem, Grusch said.

Materials That Are Not of This World

In January, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told NewsNation that the government persists in hiding information on UAPs.

Weve been covering this thing up since the 40ssince Roswell or before then, Burchett said. I dont trust government. Theres an arrogance about it, and I think the American public can handle it, and they need to release everything, and that includes if they in fact do have a craft, which I believe at some point, we have obtained some materials that are not of this world that are being studied by different members of industry, Ive been told.

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in a report (pdf) published on Jan. 12, there has been an increase in sightings.

The U.S. government collected a total of 510 UAP reports as of Aug. 30, 2022, an increase of 366 reports in the 17 months since DNIs preliminary assessment when, in June 2021, it reported 144 UAP sightings between 2004 and 2021.

The DNI said there have been 247 new reports and another 119 that were either since discovered or reported after the preliminary assessments time period.

According to Burchett, when it comes to topics addressing classified material, there are two reports: the one made public and the one that is classified.

If a congressperson is briefed on the classified briefing, then basically, theyre not allowed by law to even talk on the issue of whats in that, even if its something they already know, Burchett said.

Roswell, New Mexico

Burchett mentioned the Roswell, New Mexico, incident, where, in 1947, there was an unidentified aircraft crash that was initially reported as a recovered flying saucer by the U.S. Army Air Forces before it was quickly retracted and reported as a fallen weather balloon.

In 1997, the late Col. Philip Corso alleged in his memoir The Day After Roswell that when he was a member of President Dwight D. Eisenhowers National Security Council and head of the foreign technological desk at the U.S. Armys Research and Development Department, he headed the Armys reverse-engineering project that took recovered technology from the 1947 Roswell crash and seeded the information out to major corporate firms.

Using the provided information, these firms were able to manufacture integrated circuit chips, fiber optics, laser technology, and super-tenacity fibers.

Burchett said hes talked with Navy pilots who admitted the UAPs are neither of terrestrial origin nor under any government control.

So, theres a lot of things going on within this, he said. Theres a lot, I think, that has transpired since the 40s.

The Epoch Times contacted Gruschs attorney, Charles McCullough, for comment.
Germany, Indonesia Bolster Defense Ties Amid Rising Tensions in Indo-Pacific

Germany and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation as Germany works to boost engagement with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, where military tensions have been rising.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta on June 5 and discussed ways to strengthen defense cooperation between their countries.

Subianto said the two nations maintained very good bilateral relations over the past decade, and they wish to continue strengthening these ties, particularly in the defense sector.

We are determined to continue strengthening cooperation and I promised to pay a return courtesy visit to Germany, he said at a joint press conference, according to Indonesias Defense Ministry.

The possibility of them conducting a joint military drill with regional partners was one of the topics discussed as Germany plans to deploy a frigate to the Indo-Pacific next year, Pistorius said.

We talked about the possibility of having a deal about some submarines. We were talking about the two minesweepers which are already on the way to Indonesia, he added.

Prior to his visit to Indonesia, Pistorius spoke to Subianto on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The U.S. and Chinese defense ministers also attended the summit, which was held June 24.

In his speech, Pistorius said that Germany would deploy a frigate and a supply ship to the Indo-Pacific region next year. But he made it clear that the deployments were not directed against any nation.

They are dedicated to the protection of the rules-based international order that we all signed up to and which we all should benefit frombe it in the Mediterranean, in the Bay of Bengal, or in the South China Sea, he said.

Germany Calls to Defend Rules-Based Order

With the prevailing global challenges and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Pistorius said that countries need cooperation and security rather than confrontation.

If Russia wins, the message to revisionist powers around the world will be that aggression and the unprovoked use of military force are acceptable and can be successful, he said.

Pistorius said that Germany will increase defense spending to 2 percent of its gross domestic product and realign its armed forces toward collective defense, including enhanced operational readiness and intensified military cooperation.

We must defend the rules-based international orderno matter where it is challenged, he remarked.

By showing a greater military presence in the region, Germany is walking a tightrope between its security and economic interests, as China is Berlins most important trading partner.

In 2021, a German warship sailed into the South China Sea for the first time in almost 20 years, a move that saw Berlin joining other Western nations in expanding its military presence in the region amid growing alarm over Chinas territorial ambitions.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, despite an international tribunal ruling that Beijing has no legal basis for these claims. Taiwan also faces military threats from China, which sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory.

Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (R) greets Johannes Vogel, a member of Germanys parliament, at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 10, 2023. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

A German delegation visited Taiwan earlier this year, which according to German lawmaker Johannes Vogel demonstrated Germanys support for Taiwan against military aggression.

The German government and Western allies support the One China policy, but we also believe that any change of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait can only be achieved by mutual agreement, and any attempt to change the status quo by force is unacceptable, Vogel said.

Germany regards Taiwan as an important partner but has no formal diplomatic ties with the republic.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A new experimental drug therapy has shown some promising signs of slowing down the progression of a type of brain cancer by more than 16 months on average.

French drug developer Servier Laboratories released results of a new medication that may become one of the earliest targeted therapies for a type of brain tumor affecting adults under the age of 50.

The development is one of the first major advances in a field that has made little progress for decades, giving hope to cancer patients and their families worldwide.

The new drug, Vorasidenib, staved off cancer growth over twice as long than in patients not taking the drug, with many needing little additional treatment, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients in the drug trials had grade-2 gliomas, also known as low-grade glioma, which are slow-moving tumors that often hit people in their 30s or 40s and grow slowly and relentlessly.

Drugs Show Signs Of Success

The slow-growing tumors were held off by a median of 27.7 months on average, according separate results released on June 4 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

This is in comparison to 11.1 months for patients who received a placebo, extending the time for patients to receive additional treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

The median time of cancer remission for patients taking the drug lasted over two years, and reduced the risk of cancer progression or death by 61 percent in the 331-person study, Servier said.

After two years, the likelihood of not requiring additional treatment was at around 83 percent for the 168 patients taking the drug, compared with 27 percent for the 163 patients on the placebo.

Patients from 77 health centers across 10 countries participated in the study.

The news about the 331 patients in the study was a very big finding, said Ingo Mellinghoff, chairman of the Neurology Department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and one of the leaders of the trial.

This trial was the first late-stage study to target those mutations in brain cancer, he said, adding it is the first molecularly targeted treatment for diffuse glioma.

Vorasidenib is allegedly able to block an enzyme that often mutates in low-grade glioma, a slower-moving cousin to glioblastomathe most aggressive form of brain cancer.

25,00o Diagnosed With Brain Cancer Each Year

Some 25,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with brain and spinal cord cancers each year, according to the American Cancer Society, and about 4,000 patients a year are diagnosed with low-grade gliomas.

Chemotherapy and brain radiation is usually applied after standard surgery but many patients often postpone the treatments as long as possible, until the tumor starts to progress to a dangerous point.

The tumors are often incurable and normally come back years later.

More than 80 percent of grade-2 glioma patients have tumors caused by gene mutations called IDH that boost tumor growth.

Vorasidenib targets and blocks the IDH-mutated proteins by crossing the blood-brain barrier, said Dr. Susan Pandya, Serviers vice president of Clinical Development.

Its a very difficult disease without much success, Dr. Patrick Wen, director of the Center for Neurooncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and a senior author of the study, told The Wall Street Journal.

Seeing these patients do well on the trial has been really gratifying.

By pushing off tumor growth, the drug also lengthened the time when the often young patients could possibly wait before starting treatment, the study showed.

The drug could help delay cognitive decline, memory loss, and other side effects that can accompany chemotherapy and radiation.

This is going to be a practice-changing study, Dr. Eric Winer told The Wall Street Journal, director of the Yale Cancer Center and president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, who did not participate in the study.

Seeks FDA Approval

Servier Group acquired Vorasidenib after it bought the cancer drug portfolio of Agios Pharmaceuticals in 2020 for $1.8 billion.

The pill, which can be taken once a day, may offer a relatively safe alternative for patients who have the choice of taking harsher treatments like brain radiation.

However, more studies need to be done to assess whether the drug may extend patient survival times.

The researchers said that patients tolerated the drug well. The most common side effect in the trial were elevated levels of liver enzymes, according to the data.

A separate trial is using Vorasidenib alongside immunotherapy and researchers are planning more trials combining the drug with radiation and chemotherapy.

Servier is studying the drug in more advanced cases of glioma that have progressed or recurred, in combination with Merck & Co.s immunotherapy drug Keytruda, reported Bloomberg.

David Lee, who heads Serviers operations in America, told Bloomberg that the French drug company is working toward filing for Food and Drug Administration approval as soon as the second half of 2024.

For now, Servier is reviewing follow-up data from the trial and recruiting manufacturing partners, Lee said.

The pharmaceutical firm first announced the success of the trials in March but did not release the details of the study until last week.
Abdou Abarry, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, speaks at a Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York on June 5, 2023. The fighting in Sudan has had devastating humanitarian consequences in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), said Abdou Abarry on Monday. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The fighting in Sudan has had devastating humanitarian consequences in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), said the top UN envoy for Central Africa on Monday.

Chad and the CAR have received 100,000 and 10,000 Sudanese refugees respectively, said Abdou Abarry, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa. "I would like to commend the extraordinary generosity and solidarity both countries have exhibited."

He said Chad needs about 130 million U.S. dollars to host the 100,000 Sudanese refugees over the next six months.

A swift and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan is necessary in order to avoid disastrous consequences for Sudan and all countries in the Lake Chad Basin, Abarry told the Security Council.

Joint military operations, which were recently conducted by Chad and the CAR on their common border, attest to their willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation and overcome security challenges, he said.

Abarry encouraged the two countries to make the most of bilateral cooperation mechanisms as the situation in Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel has shown that a purely military response will be insufficient to address the root causes of insecurity.

Political and socio-economic measures are also necessary. In their absence, armed groups will continue to instrumentalize inter-communal conflicts, he said.

The security situation in the Central African subregion has been characterized by an increase in maritime piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea. This underscores the need to strengthen inter-regional cooperation, he said.

The Central African subregion is also being hard-hit by the crisis in Ukraine, which has resulted in food and fuel price hikes and sometimes shortages. Although most countries have taken steps to mitigate the effects on consumers, there is a need to be aware that further deterioration in the socio-economic situation could undermine stability in the region, he said.

Abarry said the coming months will be a turning point for Central Africa, where crucial political and electoral processes are due to take place between now and the end of the year. 
Humans often struggle to comprehend the impact of unseen factors on our health. For example, while we are aware of the detrimental effects of processed food due to its visible consequences, we often underestimate the impact of countless imperceptible elements in our daily lives.

One group of such substances is manmade chemicals, such as phthalates, which significantly influence our overall well-being. Phthalates are frequently used to enhance the durability of plastics and are commonly present in various household and personal care products such as shampoo, hair sprays, and laundry detergent.

What remains relatively unknown is that phthalates serve as a common ingredient in numerous easily accessible pharmaceutical drugs. This raises concerns about the potential risks associated with exposure to phthalates, as they have been linked to various health issues, including reproductive and developmental problems, hormonal disruptions, and even certain types of cancer.

Why Are They Being Used in the First Place?

As bakers rely on butter to create various pastries, chemists often rely on versatile phthalates to formulate different products, including pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical companies that produce gastrointestinal (GI) medications often utilize phthalates for their ability to localize medication release, according to an article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. Essentially, phthalates enhance the effectiveness of certain drugs through various mechanisms.

Phthalates have high compatibility with a wide range of ingredients and oils. They can also slow evaporation and give products long-term stability.

These properties make phthalates attractive for their solvent capabilities in liquid formulations and as plasticizers for plastic products and packaging, according to Homer Swei, senior vice president of Healthy Living Science for the Environmental Working Group. They can help maintain ingredient integrity, regulate the release and delivery of functional components, and enhance durability, he added.

Toxic Substances in OTC Drugs and Supplements

A research report investigating the use of phthalates as ingredients in drugs found a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products and supplements from different therapeutic categories that incorporate various phthalates. The report found that phthalates are used in these products as inactive ingredients. The purpose of any inactive ingredient in a medicine is usually to improve the efficacy of active agents that alleviate symptoms, mitigate a medicines bitter taste, or preserve medications until their expiration date.

While phthalates can be found in both prescription and nonprescription drugs, they are very commonly used in medications designed to treat GI symptoms associated with conditions like acid reflux. Over 20 million Americans take these drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors.

However, some medical professionals express concerns that the phthalates contained in these drugs may have adverse effects. Exposure to low dosages like in drugs can change gene expression by reprogramming the molecular system in cells, protein level, receptor expression, and DNA methylation, said Dr. Luiza Mirpuri, a renowned phthalate expert. All of these are known to influence health adversely.

Further research is necessary to understand the extent of these potential risks fully.

Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals

Phthalates are categorized as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can interfere with the normal functioning of male and female hormones.

Research has established a link between phthalate exposure and male and female infertility, birth abnormalities, and cancer.

Significant apprehension regarding their impact on human health has prompted regulatory agencies in the European Union, Japan, and Canada to ban or significantly restrict the use of many types of phthalates.

Do Phthalates Cause Breast Cancer?

To explore the potential impact of phthalates on human health, a team of Danish researchers conducted a study to examine whether there was an association between phthalate exposure via pharmaceuticals and higher breast cancer rates.

The studys hypothesis was based on the understanding that phthalates, known for their estrogen-mimicking properties, could potentially influence the occurrence of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

In a comprehensive review involving almost 10 million women, the researchers found that women exposed to high levels of phthalates had a two-fold increase in the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Our results suggest that women should avoid high-level exposure to dibutyl phthalate, such as through long-term treatment with pharmaceuticals formulated with dibutyl phthalate, the studys authors noted. Dibutyl phthalate is used to enhance the flexibility and softness of plastics.

Although this study was the first to investigate the correlation between phthalates in drugs and their impact on breast cancer, its findings align with a growing body of evidence that consistently demonstrates a parallel relationship.

FDA Oversight Questioned

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is widely perceived to have stringent oversight in the regulatory process for phthalate-containing drugs entering the market, a paper published in Environmental Health Prospects brought attention to the fact that certain phthalates are not technically approved for general use as excipients, which refer to inactive ingredients. Instead, they are allowed to be included in their approved drug products with specific maximum levels.

Furthermore, according to the Environmental Health Prospects paper, a comprehensive review of the formulation of nonprescription drugs like certain acid reflux medications is not guaranteed. OTC drugs do not require the same ingredient review as their prescription drug counterparts as long as no new ingredients are included.

While the FDA may know the ingredients in certain drugs, manufacturers are not obligated to disclose a complete ingredient list to the public due to patent protection laws. As a result, consumers may be unaware of whether a particular drug contains phthalates.

According to Mirpuri, there is concern that regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, may not fully grasp the potential health risks associated with phthalates. They say that low-dose exposure is harmless, she said. I find this to be unacceptable as a doctor, she went on, citing literature demonstrating phthalates at low doses can impair male fertility and accelerate liver damage.

Mirpuri drew a comparison between phthalates and DDT, an insecticide that was widely produced in the past but is now banned due to its cancer-causing properties. According to her, the similarity lies in the fact that both substances were not initially recognized as significant pollutants or contaminants. However, they share the ability to persist, accumulate, and exhibit intricate toxic effects.

I believe them to be another Silent Spring, she added.
Honduran President Headed to China in First Trip After Ties Established

Honduras President Xiomara Castro delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Honduran Air Force at the Hernan Acosta Air Base in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on April 21, 2023. (Fredy Rodriguez/Reuters)

TEGUCIGALPAHonduran President Xiomara Castro is set to travel this week to China, her foreign minister said on Monday, the leftist leaders first visit to the Asian giant after establishing formal diplomatic relations with it in March.

Castros trip marks the latest step in the two nations new relationship, after her government ditched ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing.

Foreign Minister Enrique Reina told reporters at an event inaugurating Chinas embassy in Tegucigalpa that Castro will travel on Tuesday this week.

Later on Monday, Castros press office tweeted that the official visit would take place from this coming Friday to Wednesday of next week.

Castros trip to the worlds second-biggest economy stemmed from an invitation from her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Honduran state media outlet Poder Popular wrote in story published earlier on Monday.

Honduras and China launched diplomatic relations after Castro cut ties with Taiwan in a bid for more investment and jobs from the much larger Chinese economy.

Last month, Reina announced that both sides will soon begin trade talks, with coffee set to be the first Honduran export to the massive Chinese consumer market.

Charge daffaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras Yu Bo and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina take part in the inauguration of the Chinas mission in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. (Honduras Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

The minister added on Monday that several cooperation agreements would be signed, but did not specify further.

Castros government is also seeking deals with China to lighten the nations debt burden.
House Republicans Target Gas Stove Regulations, Power of Administrative State

Blue flames rise from the burner of a natural gas stove in Orange, Calif., June 11, 2003. (David McNew/Getty Images)

After repeatedly failing to overturn Biden administration regulations in existing legislation, House Republicans are taking the next steps in their attempt to exert authority over the administrative state.

Lawmakers discussed a series of bills intended to reach those ends during a June 5 Rules Committee hearing.

The Constitution articulates where the laws are made. Its here in Congress, said Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in his opening remarks.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), by contrast, said the proposals show that the House Republican majority once again prioritizes right-wing culture wars over the American people. Right-leaning ideology prioritizes individual liberty over the government intervention preferred by the left.

Stove Wars

Two of the four bills are specifically concerned with regulatory efforts directed at gas stoves. In recent months, both the Department of Energy and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have moved on those appliances.

One bill, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, would prevent the CPSC from banning or substantially raising the price of gas stoves. That agency made a formal request for information related to gas stoves in March.

The other bill, dubbed the Save Our Stoves Act, would keep the Department of Energy from implementing a proposed energy efficiency rule for gas stoves.

Concerns about a ban were ignited in part by comments from CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr., to Bloomberg News in January.

This is a hidden hazard. Any option is on the table. Products that cant be made safe can be banned, he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden posthumously awards the nations highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Richard Trumka as Richard Trumka Jr. accepts, during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington on July 7, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Subsequent reporting by Fox News drew attention to an internal memorandum the commissioner circulated late last year, in which he argued for a gas stove ban.

The need for gas stove regulation has reached a boiling point, he wrote in the memo, which can be read here.

Fears of a federal gas stove ban are also influenced by emerging restrictions at the state and local levels.

In early May, New York passed a state budget that would phase out gas stoves in new construction.

Everybody who has a gas stoveenjoy it. Keep your gas stove. But new buildings that are going up, they can go electric, they can do heat pumps, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a May 2 appearance on FOX 5s Good Day New York.

Intentionally or not, the words echoed President Barack Obamas famous promise that, under Obamacare, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.

President Barack Obama speaks on health care at Faneuil Hall in Boston, Mass., on Oct. 30, 2013. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit overturned Berkeley, Californias similar gas stove ban in new buildings this April.

Their reasoning? It should be left to the federal government.

By completely prohibiting the installation of natural gas piping within newly constructed buildings, the City of Berkeley has waded into a domain preempted by Congress, Judge Patrick J. Bumatay ruled in an opinion that met with concurrences from two of his colleagues.

He was referring to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The decision can be read here.

The June 5 Rules Committee hearing featured its share of sparring over possible limitations on gas stoves.

Contrary to the rhetoric out there, the government is not coming for anybodys gas stoves, Scanlon said.

She said the two pieces of legislation House Republicans want to advance work against requirements to ensure that newly manufactured gas stoves are healthy, safe, and energy-efficient.

Cole was more critical.

The White House wants to limit your ability to purchase and use gas stoves, he said.

He noted that DoEs proposal would take out about half of the gas cooking appliances now in the marketplace, according to its own analysis.

My constituents are right to worry, he said.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) during a hearing in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 18, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

REINS on Administrative State

The hearing also considered two bills meant to increase oversight of the administrative statethat is, the complex array of agencies and similar bodies primarily organized under the executive branch but sometimes considered an unofficial fourth branch of government.

One bill, known as the REINS Act, would require Congress to approve major regulations from agencies before they could take effect. Major regulations include those with an anticipated economic impact of $100 million or more per year.

The other, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2023 (SOPRA), would subject proposed regulations to judicial scrutiny without deferring to the agencys own internal review process.

Scanlon said REINS could bring government operations to a grinding halt. She asserted it might constitute a legislative veto. Such maneuvers have been unconstitutional since 1983 thanks to the Supreme Court case INS v. Chadha.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), speaks during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing on Online Platforms and Market Power in the Rayburn House office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 29, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Congress already has multiple tools to shape agency rulemaking, she said.

Scanlon and other Democrats emphasized the availability of other Congressional mechanisms to support their claim that the REINS Act is unnecessary. They cited the joint resolution of disapproval, a tool created by the Congressional Review Act that can allow both chambers to come together against a newly issued rule.

Yet, Republicans argued that recent history shows the ineffectiveness of that tool.

Just in the 118th Congress, both the House and the Senate passed legislation to overturn the unlawful WOTUS [Waters of the United States] rule as issued by the EPA, to overturn the tariff repeal on solar panels made in China, and to overturn the radical ESG requirements issued by federal agencies. Yet each of those times, the President of the United States vetoed the actions of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) said.

Hageman noted that the joint resolution of disapproval has only infrequently succeeded in overturning rules.

In the eyes of Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), thats a good sign.

He said the low number of successful joint resolutions is a testament to the validity and the virtue of the rules coming from federal agencies.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) speaks during a House Judiciary Committee mark up hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on June 02, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Johnson said REINS and SOPRA both represent efforts to dismantle and undermine the administrative process in different and dangerous ways that would frustrate the purpose of government and would put our constituents in harms way.

This is in keeping with the mastermind of the MAGA movement, Steve Bannon, who when he first came to power, stated that his goal was to destroy, or to deconstruct, the administrative state. And that is exactly what this legislation seeks to do, he added.
Six brothers and sisters from England who hold the world record for the most siblings with albinism have opened up about their journey to self-acceptance.

Talking to Guinness World Records, the British family, who live in Coventry, say they experienced bullying growing up, but their tight bond helped them get through their school days.

During school and college, says one of the brothers, Ghulam Ali, when we were quite young, we always sort of kept to ourselves together. We did experience being bullied or being sworn at.

All sharing different and unique traits, their condition made the six extremely close.

(L-R) Haider Ali, Dad, Musarat Begum, Naseem Akhtar, Mom, Mohammed Rafi, and Muqadas Bibi. (Courtesy of Guinness World Records)

They are proud of themselves and of their tight relationship, and work extensively to educate people on the condition, Guinness World Records stated on their Facebook page after the title was officially awarded in May 2021.

An inherited genetic condition, albinism is caused by a lack of melanin, a pigment that gives color to the hair, skin, and irises of the eyes. Both parents have to carry the specific gene defect in order for it to be passed to their children. Since melanin is also responsible for helping develop the optic nerve, the sight can also be affected.

As the world record holders all suffer impaired vision, they helped one another during their younger years, says youngest brother Mohammed Rafi:

Our sight is not as good, but we always knew that if we stand together no one can do us harm.

For eldest sister, Naseem Akhtar, an NHS rehabilitation officer, earning a Guinness World Records title is a positive blessing for her family. Naseem, referred to as the clever one by the others, is incredibly proud of her siblings and their resilience. She is also happy and comfortable in her own skin, saying:

Over time, I have now come to like my condition because it makes me very unique. Being Asian but being white, it gives me a unique outlook on life, it gives me a very unbiased opinion of society and humanity.

I like who I am, and the human being I became.

(Back, L-R) Mohammed Rafi, Musarat Begum, Muqadas Bibi, Haider Ali, Ghulam Ali, and Naseem Akhtar; (Front) Dad and Mom. (Courtesy of Guinness World Records)

Rafi has a similar view, saying:

What I like about the condition is that you get noticed a lot.

You stand out slightly from others.

He receives a lot of comments and compliments about his unusual eyes, which appear to change color in different light; something which is common in those with albinism.

The other siblings in the group born to Pakistani parents are Haider Ali, Muqadas Bibi, and Musarat Begum. The close-knit clan is expanding, and some now have their own children. The new generation doesnt have the condition, though they are of course well-informed about it.

When asked about her mom, Muqadas Bibis daughter smiles, saying:

She is pretty, adding, My friends do ask questions about my mum, and they say she looks very beautiful and pretty and different. They just compliment her.

The strength, dignity, and keen sense of humor of the large family is clear to see. As the mother figure of the smiling, gracious siblings, Naseem calls her family a team who always leaned on her for support, while supporting her likewise.

It was Naseem who, after some thought, applied for the record title of most siblings with albinism, following the pandemic which saw them all come together. Hoping that their story of overcoming prejudice, sticking together, and embracing self-acceptance will inspire other people, she says:

Go and get your dream and be amazing, because we are all amazing. It doesnt matter if you have a disability or are able-bodied or who you are, just be you. Be proud of yourself, and love yourself for who you are. Find who you are.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Indiana Man Charged With Threatening to Kill Rep. Jim Banks and His Family

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) speaks to the media with members of the Republican Study Committee about Iran in Washington on April 21, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

An Indiana man has been arrested and charged with making a series of threatening calls to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and his family.

Aaron Thompson, 33, of Fort Wayne, was arrested last month in connection with calls he allegedly made to Bankss office in April. Thompson allegedly called Bankss office on April 6 and another seven times on April 11.

Thompson is accused of leaving several threatening messages throughout this series of phone calls. According to a probable cause document (pdf) shared with NTD News, Thompson expressed his hope that Banks would die in a car crash and made vulgar comments about the congressmans wife in the first phone call on April 6.

In a subsequent April 11 message left with Bankss office, Thompson said, I hope you [expletive] get your brains blown out.

Throughout the phone calls, Thompson indicated he had a gun.

In his last two April 11 calls, Thompson allegedly posed a dilemma for the congressman, to either die or have his daughters killed. Banks has three daughters.

Heres the choice. Your daughters grow up without their dad, or you grow old without your daughters, Thompson allegedly said. How you like that? Let me know what your opinion is. Ill make the decision. Love you [expletive] [expletive].

Boom Boom you pick which two daughters get shot, Thompson allegedly added.

Thompson is charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony in Indiana that carries a penalty of between six months and 2 1/2 years of prison time. He is also charged with harassment, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Department, which is charged with protecting the Capitol and members of Congress, assisted Allen County law enforcement officials and prosecutors with the investigation.

When questioned about the threatening phone calls, Thompson told USCP investigators he had been intoxicated when he made the calls. Thompson also allegedly told the USCP investigators he left the voicemails because he disagrees with Banks politically.

On May 9, 2023, we worked with our local law enforcement partners in Indiana to arrest 33-year-old Aaron L. Thompson for harassment & intimidation, USCP said in an emailed statement to NTD News. This case is just another example of how our threat agents are working around the clock to chase down threats in order to protect the Members of Congress.

When reached for comment, Banks said, The safety of my family is my top priority, while his office referred all questions about the case to the Allen County Prosecutors Office.

Thompson appeared in court for his initial hearing on Tuesday. At the hearing, Magistrate Judge Samuel Kierns issued a no contact order. Thompson is due to return to court on Aug. 2.

Recent Threats Against Lawmakers

Several lawmakers and their families have faced threats in recent months.

California man Dave DePape is accused of breaking into the home of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in October, when she was still House speaker, and striking her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer.

The U.S. Department of Justice arrested and charged Eric Charles Welton last month after he made multiple threatening phone calls to the offices of Republican North Carolina Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr in September of 2021. The suspect alluded to going to Tilliss Raleigh office space and killing everyone he sees there. The same suspect also allegedly threatened to attack the U.S. Consulate in in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and kill U.S. Marines guarding the diplomatic outpost in November of last year.

Last week, New Hampshire man Brian Landry was charged with threatening to kill a U.S. senator who has been blocking a list of pending military promotions. While charging documents in the case did not identify the targeted senator by name, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has been blocking a list of military promotions over objections to a U.S. Department of Defense abortion policy.

Hey stupid. Im a veteran sniper, and unless you change your ways, I got my scope pointed in your direction and Im coming to get you, Landry allegedly said in a May 17 voice message. Youre a dead man walking, you piece of [expletive] [expletive].

From NTD News
Iranian Attack Boats Harrassed Merchant Ship in Hormuz Strait: US Navy

A surveillance image from a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft showing three Iranian fast-attack craft approaching an internationally flagged merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz on June 4, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo)

A trio of armed Iranian speedboats swarmed around a merchant vessel sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the U.S. Navy.

At around 4:56 p.m. local time, the unnamed merchant ship sent out a distress signal and reported the three fast-attack craft with armed personnel had begun following them at a close distance. A black and white photo taken by a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft showed the three speedboats, believed to have been operated by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), cruising alongside the merchant ship.

The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) and UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) responded to the merchant ships distress call, according to a press statement from the U.S. Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain. As part of the response, the Lancaster launched a helicopter that helped monitor the scene.

After about an hour, the three suspected IRGCN attack boats broke off and left the area and the merchant ship was able to continue through the narrow Hormuz Strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet statement did not identify the merchant vessel by name, but the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)a monitoring service provided by the Royal Navydid share more specific details about the location of the encounter. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com showed the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Venture circling around the same approximate area UKMTO described at around the same time as the distress call.

Iran Denies Harassing Cargo Ship

While the U.S. Fifth Fleet characterized the incident as one in which Iranian vessels harassed a merchant ship, IRGCN Rear Admiral Abbas Gholamshahi denied the allegations. In a statement to the Iranian state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Gholamshahi claimed IRGCN boats had responded to a request for assistance from a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel and the Iranian boats helped alleviate its concerns. Gholamshahi described the incident as the merchant ship issuing a distress call about some other small boats in the area, and not the speed boats carrying IRGC personnel.

Captured Ships

This latest encounter between IRGCN personnel and a merchant ship comes about a month after IRGCN troops captured two merchant ships traveling near the Hormuz Strait.

On April 27, IRGCN troops were lowered down from a helicopter to capture a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, called the Advantage Sweet. The tanker had been traveling through the Gulf of Oman and had been carrying a shipment of crude oil for Chevron at the time.

One week after capturing the Advantage Sweet, IRGCN troops captured the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Niovi in the Hormuz Strait. The Fifth Fleet shared footage surveillance footage of the incident, this time showing several speed boats swarming around the tanker.

Irans actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability, the Fifth Fleet said of the pair of incidents. Irans continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights in regional waters are unwarranted, irresponsible and a present threat to maritime security and the global economy.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical choke point for international commerce. About 20 percent of the worlds oil passes through the narrow waterway.

The Advantage Sweet and Niovi were both subsequently spotted by satellite at a naval base just south of Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city overlooking the Hormuz Strait.

Following the Sunday incident, the U.S. Fifth Fleet said it remains vigilant and is bolstering defense around the key strait with partners to enhance regional maritime security and stability.

From NTD News
Irish Farmers Raise Alarm Over Governments Proposal to Kill Off 200,000 Cows to Meet Emissions Reduction Goals

The Irish government is facing a backlash after reports broke of a proposal to kill off as many as 200,000 cows over the next three years in an effort to meet the countrys emissions reduction goals.

Last week, the Irish Independent reported on a government document describing plans for a potential cull of up to 65,000 dairy cows per year for the next three years. The paper reportedly obtained the documents from Irelands Department of Agriculture through a freedom of information request. In all, killing off 200,000 cows would wipe out about 10 percent of Irelands dairy cow population.

Irelands Department of Agriculture subsequently told the Irish Mirror the document describing the culling operation was part of a deliberation process as the department looks for ways to help Ireland meet its emissions reduction goals and is not a final policy decision. Still, the proposal has faced backlash from farming organizations.

Reports like this only serve to further fuel the view that the government is working behind the scenes to undermine our dairy and livestock sectors, Tim Cullinan, president of the Irish Farmers Association, told The Telegraph.

Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, also knocked the cull proposal. McCormack balked at the idea that plans for reducing Irelands emissions had come to focus on livestock rather than other major emitters like airlines.

Were the one industry with a significant roadmap, and, to be quite honest with you, our herd isnt any larger than it was 25 to 30 years ago, McCormack told The Telegraph. Can the same be said for the transport industry, can the same be said for the aviation industry?

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk also pushed back against the cow-killing emissions reduction plan on Saturday.

This really needs to stop. Killing some cows doesnt matter for climate change, Musk, whose portfolio includes the Tesla electric vehicle company, wrote on Twitter.

A Voluntary Program?

While the Irish government has yet to reach a final policy decision on the cull, government officials and proponents of the plan have said farmers could voluntarily participate and the program could serve as a retirement strategy for aging farmers.

Actually what this is is an exit scheme for dairy farmersI come from a dairy farming background myselfthat the farmers themselves have asked for and have called for, Irish Senator and Green Party Chair Pauline OReilly said in Wednesday panel discussion on Virgin Medias The Tonight Show.

Some farmers have still expressed anxiety that a cull program will not be voluntary.

McCormack told The Telegraph that if the government does decide on the cull policy it needs to be a voluntary scheme. Thats absolutely critical.

Farms and Emissions

The Irish governments efforts to reduce emissions are in line with the broader reduction goals of the European Union.

The Dutch government, another E.U. member, has also pushed for livestock reductions as a means of controlling emissions.

Last year, farmers in the Netherlands began protesting emissions rules that many of them believe will make their livelihoods unsustainable. One Dutch farmer, Robbin Voorend, told The Epoch Times he would have to cut his livestock numbers by 90 to 95 percent to meet new nitrogen emissions rules.

The New Zealand government also brought forward a plan last year to tax farmers for biogenic methane emissions, which mainly come from livestock burps and flatulence. The proposal was also met with protests from farmers around the country.

From NTD News
Johnston Says House Vote Asking Him to Step Down Was Based on False Allegations

Conservative MP Michael Chong shakes hands with David Johnston, independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, who appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 6, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Special rapporteur David Johnston had to repeatedly defend his stance against holding a public inquiry on foreign interference as he testified in committee on June 6, facing opposition MPs who voted in favour of a motion asking him to step down.

NDP MP Peter Julian asked Johnston how he can have a deep respect for Parliament when he chose to ignore a clear parliamentary vote asking him to resign.

I do have deep respect for Parliament and I hope Ive given good evidence of that through my life and through my time as governor general, Johnston said during a meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC).

The reason that Im continuing in this position, with respect to the motion of Parliament, is that I believe the vote was based on allegations that were false.

The motion came from NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who revealed she was recently told by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service shes an evergreen target for Beijing because of her stances on China.

It was adopted by a majority in the House on May 31 as opposition parties sided together. The motion notes that Johnstons report tabled on May 23 has recommended against holding a public inquiry despite noting significant gaps in government processes and leaving many questions either unasked or unanswered.

Serious questions have been raised about the special rapporteur process, the counsel he retained in support of this work, his findings, and his conclusions, the motion adds.

Johnston didnt elaborate on which part of the motion he claimed was based on false allegations. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have taken issue with Johnstons top adviser Sheila Block being a Liberal Party donor.

Madame Blocks credentials, as a thoughtful, impartial person of great integrity, are known throughout this land for any members of the bar whove been acquainted with her, he said in Blocks defence.

Conservative MP Michael Chong, who along with Kwan has been publicly identified as being targeted by Beijing, asked Johnston how the confidence of the public can be restored through the current process.

Johnston was appointed to his role by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 15 amid calls for a public inquiry. Trudeau said at the time he would launch an inquiry if Johnston deemed it necessary.

Chong remarked that the only federal democratic process in Canada is the election of MPs, with every other appointment being made by the government.

How can you and the government restore trust and confidence in our democracy if the government continues to defy the democratic wishes of our only national democratic institution, the House of Commons? he asked.

I was asked by the government of the day to undertake a job to review foreign interference, answered Johnston.

He said that instead of holding an inquiry, conducting public hearings would be a very appropriate way to build trust in our institutions.

The idea of holding hearings has been criticized by China observers and dissidents, who say the government already has a large amount of information on the topic and that communities targeted by the Chinese Communist Party wont come forward for fear of being targeted.

He doesnt understand the diaspora would never want [hearings], said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston before the PROC on May 30. And so that suggests that he doesnt have that understanding of whats happening, the dynamic thats happening in the communities out there of Chinese Canadians.

McCuaig-Johnston is a China expert and senior fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs of the University of Ottawa.

Johnston acknowledged that some people will not want to participate in a public hearing. That said, we will encourage anyone who wants to make a submission to us or write to us.  [That] would be very much welcome and we hope we can give that appropriate attention.
Kyle Busch Holds Off Denny Hamlin for NASCAR Cup Series Win Outside St. Louis

MADISON, Ill.Kyle Busch had been in and out of his car through a lengthy weather delay. He had idled on the track through two red flags. He had kept his poise through 11 cautions, including five down the stretch as he tried to protect his lead.

Must have seemed like Sundays NASCAR Cup Series Race at World Wide Technology Raceway would never end.

It finally did in the twilight, though, some six hours after the green flag initially dropped. Busch got a big push from Denny Hamlin on the last restart and then held him off in a green-white-checkered finish for his third victory of the year.

That was pretty awesome, man, to sit on the pole, lead a lot of laps and have my guys do such a great job today. It was pretty phenomenal for us, Busch said. Were going to have a great time with this one. This one is pretty cool.

Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when he was fighting for a top-10 finish and his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining, the last in a series of broken rotors that ended the race for at least three other drivers.

Busch, who had held off Kyle Larson on each previous restart, had one last phenomenal jump in him. He was well ahead of the rest of the field by the backstretch with just over a lap left and was never seriously challenged by Hamlin after he took the white flag, giving Richard Childress Racing another victory after triumphs at Talladega and Auto Club Speedway.

Any time we give him a car capable of winning, hes going to win it, Childress said. Those last three or four or however many restarts, I thought that was pretty tough, but I knew he would do his job.

The win was especially gratifying for Buschs crew chief, Randall Burnett, who not only produced a car fast enough to win the pole in his hometown but also made all the right calls on Sunday. Burnett hails from nearby Fenton, Missouri, and had plenty of friends and family in a sellout crowd of about 60,000 on a brutally hot late spring day.

It means a lot to me coming home, Burnett said.

Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Larson on the final lap for third. Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five ahead of Ryan Blaney, last weeks winner at Charlotte.

Long day for sure, Logano said after climbing out of his car. There were four or five cars that were just better than us. We made some good adjustments at the end and we were in the hunt.

It was a long day for Corey LaJoie, who filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports and spent most of the day near the back before finishing 21st. Elliott was suspended for the race for intentionally wrecking Hamlin last week.

It also was a long day for everyone on pit stands. There were some technical issues that not only prevented them from having communication with teams back at their shops, but also limited the amount of data that they were able to see.

It was interesting for sure, Truex said. It was just an uphill climb.

Up Next

The series heads next Sunday to the road course in Sonoma, California. Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he dominated the final stage to win the race a year ago.

By Dave Skretta
Lawmakers Call for Transparency After Whistleblower Alleges US Has Recovered Alien Craft

The U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 1, 2023. (Stefani Reynolds/ AFP via Getty Images)

The American people have a right to know whether elements within the intelligence establishment have withheld information on crashed UFOs that were recovered by the government and may be used to develop weapons, according to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.).

Perry reacted strongly to allegations from a whistleblower, who has claimed that information about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP, formerly called UFOs) has been kept secret to intentionally thwart legitimate congressional oversight of the UAP Program.

The truth, whatever it is, regardless of what the subject is, belongs with the American people, not in these halls, not in some other place in some building in downtown Washington, D.C.out with the American people, Perry told The Epoch Times on June 6.

This is their government, not the people that work in D.C. Theyre the custodians of the information.

The allegation comes at a time when public trust in the federal government has eroded, adding weight to a claim that, just a few years ago, might have been met with skepticism.

Covert UAP Programs

David C. Grusch, a former intelligence official and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, claimed on June 5 to have provided Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General classified information about covert UAP programs. That information proves that the United States has collected intact and partially intact craft of nonhuman origin, according to Grusch.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) speaks to reporters in Washington on Feb. 28, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Grusch claimed to have experienced retaliation for his actions, leading him to file a whistleblower complaint.

The story was first reported by The Debrief, which states that other intelligence officials have provided similar accounts and corroborating information. Grusch also stated his claims in an interview on NewsNation on June 5. Reporters for both outlets said they hadnt seen the evidence Grusch claimed to possess.

Grusch formerly worked in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office and was a member of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force from 2019 to 2021, according to The Debrief.

The United States and its allies have recovered partial and intact remains of aircraft of nonhuman origin for decades, according to Grusch, including the remains of aliens.

Well, naturally when you recover something thats either landed or crashed, sometimes you encounter dead pilots. And believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds, its true, Grusch told News Nation. Were definitely not alone.

Grusch claimed to have seen evidence of quite a number of devices of nonhuman origin provided by unnamed intelligence officers who, he said, were part of a secret program.

Research and Development Value

The discovery of technology developed by other life forms could have a profound effect on human development, according to Garry Nolan, a professor at Stanford University.

What might be represented here could be hundreds of technology revolutions ahead of us. It could be more transformative for humanity than what the microprocessor accomplished. Imagine what we could do with even a grain of knowledge about how they operate, Nolan said, according to The Debrief.

That knowledge could have implications for the defense industry, too.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 directs the secretary of defense to establish a secure mechanism for authorized reporting ofany event relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, including material retrieval, material analysis, reverse engineering, research and development, detection and tracking, developmental or operational testing, and security protections and enforcement.

The law further states that the secretary must prevent the unauthorized public reporting or compromise of classified military and intelligence systems, programs, and related activity, including all categories and levels of special access and compartmented access programs.

Certain members of Congress and other officials have been briefed about UAP, including exotic recovered materials, since 2019, according to The New York Times.

An aerial view of the Pentagon building near Washington on June 15, 2005. Reuters/Jason Reed/File Photo

A spokesperson for the Department of Defense said the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has no knowledge of any such reverse-engineering efforts.

To date, AARO has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently, Sue Gough told The Epoch Times on June 6.

AARO welcomes the opportunity to speak with any former or current government employee or contractor who believes they have information relevant to the historical review.

Lawmakers React

A day after Gruschs claim was made public, several members of Congress told The Epoch Times that they had no knowledge of the allegation or its veracity, though some found it concerning.

Asked about the allegation during a news conference, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said, This is not a question I had on my bingo card.

There was a committee hearing [about AARO] and there were members of the defense community who testified in public session. I imagine that there will continue to be conversations and testimony in the future, but I dont have anything more to add, he said.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) displayed a puzzled expression when informed of the whistleblower complaint.

After a moments consideration, LaMalfa said: Well, lets make sure that this whistleblower is a credible source. I think the proper people with the right security clearance need to do some firsthand interviews and collect some evidence on that, and then move appropriately from there.

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) said: I havent heard that. But if that is the case, then [it] certainly is concerning.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said, I dont know anything about that.

Some members of Congress who are well-positioned to judge the veracity of Gruschs claims didnt provide information to The Epoch Times.

A spokesperson for Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to comment. Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) didnt respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. Nor did Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

A White House spokesperson referred questions to the Department of Defense.

Jackson Richman, Samantha Flom, and Madalina Vasiliu contributed to this story.
BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by China's statistical authorities registered lower prices in late May compared to mid-May.

Of the 50 major goods classified in nine categories, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer, and some chemicals, 40 reported lower prices in the period. Nine registered price increases, and the price for one remained unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

During the period, the prices of ribbed steel bars dropped 2.6 percent, while prices for coking coals remained unchanged. Those for liquefied natural gas and petroleum gas fell 2.8 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.

Hog prices were up by 0.7 percent, and cotton prices gained 1.1 percent in the same period, NBS data showed.

The figures, released every ten days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions across the country. 
Lawsuit Filed Against Australias Environment Minister for Not Considering Climate Risk

Protesters take part in the School Strike 4 Climate rally on in Melbourne, Australia, on May 21, 2021. (Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

A legal challenge has been lodged against Australias environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, claiming she did not adequately consider climate risks when approving two new coal mining projects.

The action, filed in the Federal Court of Australia, seeks a judicial review of the ministers decision, arguing there were legal errors because Plibersek did not consider the potential harms of climate change.

In May, Plibersek approved four new coal mines in the country, including the Mount Pleasant Mine (New South Wales or NSW), Narrabri Underground Mine (NSW), Ensham Mine (Qld), and Isaac River (Qld).

The current action, lodged by Environmental Justice Australia on behalf of the small activist group the Environment Council of Central Queensland, targets the two NSW projects of Mount Pleasant and Narrabri.

Australian Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek speaks during question time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 28, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

We must act now to avoid climate catastrophesfrom droughts to floods and bushfires, that will harm all of us and our iconic Living Wonders, said Christine Carlisle, president of the Council, said in a statement.

While senior lawyer Retta Berryman of Environmental Justice Australia said that if successful, the case could result in all future coal and gas projects requiring a proper climate risk assessment.

Until now, this hasnt been the case, despite the legal requirements, she said.

Our client argues the minister should have registered the harm these projects are likely to cause. They say that the ministers refusal to accept and apply the science from the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], other authoritative sources, and even her own department was irrational, illogical, and unlawful.

In response, the federal environment ministers office said it had received the documents from Environment Justice Australia.

As this is a legal matter, we are unable to comment further, a spokesperson for Plibersek told The Epoch Times.

Labor Government Tries to Balance Net Zero Push With Economic Growth

The environment minister is walking a tightrope between fulfilling the Labor governments environmental (and net-zero) credentials while also ensuring the economy does not suffer (coal is a major Australian export).

In early May, after cancelling two coal mines in Queensland because they did not supply adequate information on their environmental impact, Plibersek wrote on Twitter, If companies arent willing to show how they will protect nature, Im willing to cancel their projectsand thats exactly what Ive done.

If companies arent willing to show how they will protect nature, Im willing to cancel their projects  and thats exactly what Ive done.https://t.co/eX4pKmXhn3  Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) May 5, 2023

It is a move that has compelled some pro-net-zero organisations to accuse the government of hypocrisy.

Last weeks rejection of the long-stalled China Stone and Range coal mines was laying the groundwork for the approval of new coal mines with more momentum and more powerful proponents, said the Australia Institute on May 12 on its website.

Thursday 11 May, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek quietly gave the nod to not one, not two, not three, but FOUR new coal mines.

Climate Lawsuits Underway

The radical environmentalism legal movement is well underway, with several pending lawsuits in Democrat-led states in the U.S.

Big oil and gas companies are being targeted to pay the costs of disasters that are being attributed to climate change.

While there is some agreement on the impacts of climate change, there are those who disagree, saying the science is open to interpretation.

U.S. eco-modernist, Michael Shellenberger, has argued against the narrative that the planets environmental situation is in dire straits.

The death rate from natural disasters has crashed; we have four times as many people as we did in the world 100 years ago. The death toll has declined about 90 percent in the United States, he told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Australia in October 2022.

Somewhere between 305,100 people die every year from natural disasters. More people die walking from their bed to the toilet than they do from natural disasters.

He also said there was more coral in the Great Barrier Reef than there had ever been in 36 years.

At the same time, forest fires have claimed 25 percent less land compared to 2003an area the size of Texas.
Legacy Media Illegally Colluded With Big Tech to Censor News Publishers: Lawsuit

Some of the oldest media organizations in the world illegally colluded with Big Tech companies to censor news publishers, according to a new lawsuit.

Reuters, the Associated Press, the BBC, and the other organizations violated U.S. law with the collusion, which was done after forming a new coalition called the Trusted News Initiative (TNI), the 108-page suit alleges.

The coalition was formed in 2020 to try to stop harmful disinformation myths and fake news, according to the BBC. Jessica Cecil of the BBC, the former head of TNI, has described the coalition as cooperation between tech and media, with the work including finding practical ways to choke off alleged false information from sources that arent part of the group.

That led to Big Tech censorship of competitors to the media organizations, such as Childrens Health Defense, a nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness of vaccine safety concerns, the nonprofit said in the new suit.

But the TNI has actually deemed accurate or possibly true information as false, including the possibility that COVID-19 originated from a laboratory in China, Childrens Health Defense says.

While the Trusted News Initiative publicly purports to be a self-appointed truth police extirpating online misinformation, in fact it has suppressed wholly accurate and legitimate reporting in furtherance of the economic self-interest of its members, the suit says. The TNI did not only prevent Internet users from making these claims; it shut down online news publishers who simply reported that such claims were being made by potentially credible sources, such as scientists and physicians.

The suppression of competitors was done so out of economic self-interest and violated a U.S. law called the Sherman Act that bars a group boycotts, the complaint says.

Previous court rulings have defined a group boycott as a concerted attempt by a group of competitors to disadvantage competitors by either directly denying or persuading or coercing suppliers or customers to deny relationships the competitors need in the competitive struggle and as cut[ting] off access to a supply, facility, or market necessary to enable the boycotted firm to compete.

Childrens Health Defense and the other plaintiffs, including Jim Hoft, who founded the Gateway Pundit website, say theyve lost millions of dollars due to censorship theyve experienced.

Theyre asking a federal court in Louisiana to enter an order declaring the conduct by the media organizations to be illegal. They also want an order barring the defendants from participating in the TNI and working together to boycott and censor other publishers, and are requesting damages.

A Washington Post spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that the paper was not going to comment on pending litigation.

Spokespersons for the other defendantsReuters, the Associated Press, and the BBCdid not respond to requests for comment. No Big Tech firms were named as defendants.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as a Democrat for president, is chairman of Childrens Health Defense, but has been on leave since he announced his bid.

The case was assigned to U.S. district judge Terry Doughty, a Trump appointee who ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, including Hoft, in a separate case against U.S. government officials for colluding with companies like Twitter to censor users.

Flurry of Suits

That case, Missouri v. Biden, has revealed evidence through discovery and depositions that the federal government under presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden successfully pressured Big Tech firms to crack down on users, even if the information they shared was true.

A flurry of suits have been lodged in recent months based in part on the evidence.

A group of people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 vaccine injuries sued Biden and top U.S. officials in May, alleging the officials violated their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Earlier that month, Hoft and his lawyers said in a suit that so-called disinformation researchers like Stanford Universitys Alex Stamos illegally pressured social media platforms to censor users.

Childrens Health Defense was behind another suit filed in March against Biden, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and other officials, arguing their pressure campaign infringed on constitutional rights.

Government officials have argued that the suits lack merit.

In the Missouri case, lawyers for the government said that the public and private statements made by officials did not rise to the level of coercion, a standard established in previous rulings.

Even if certain defendants requested that, or urged, social media companies do more to contain misinformation, any content moderation decisions made by social media companies ultimately rested with those companies, they said. Even emphatic requests or strongly worded urgingPresident Biden saying failing to take action against misinformation results in killing peopledo not plausibly amount to coercion.

Doughty largely rejected the arguments when he spurned the governments motion to dismiss the case, pointing to threats officials made in an attempt to effectuate its censorship program.

Murthy, for example, sent a formal request for information to the companies as an implied threat of future regulation to pressure them to increase censorship, the judge said.

He added, The court finds that plaintiffs have plausibly alleged state action under the theory of significant encouragement and/or coercion.
Researchers have concluded that lockdowns should be rejected out of hand to control future pandemics as they failed to significantly reduce deaths.

Experts from Johns Hopkins University and Lund University claim that measures taken to curb COVID-19 in the spring of 2020 failed to significantly reduce deaths while imposing severe economic and social costs.

The report published in the think tank Institute of Economic Affairs on Monday found that lockdowns prevented relatively few deaths compared to a typical flu season.

This means that lockdowns prevented around 1,700 deaths in England and Wales, approximately 6,000 deaths across Europe, and roughly 4,000 deaths in the United States.

Compared those numbers to the typical flu season, where England and Wales see 18,500 to 24,800 flu deaths. Europe experiences 72,000 flu deaths, and the United States records 38,000 flu deaths.

Stark Contrast

The study noted the stark contrast with Professor Neil Ferguson and Imperial College Londons earlier modelling exercises in March 2020, which predicted that lockdowns would save over 400,000 lives in the UK and over two million lives in the United States.

According to the research, voluntary behavioural changes, such as social distancing, played a significant role in mitigating the pandemic and effectively reduced COVID-19 mortality in Sweden, a country that did not impose draconian legal restrictions.

This is consistent with evidence early in the pandemic that voluntary action began reducing transmission before lockdowns, the report added.

It also found that harsher restrictions, like stay-at-home rules and school closures, generated very high costs but produced only negligible health benefits.

The authors of the study labelled COVID-19 lockdowns as a global policy failure of gigantic proportions.

This study is the first all-encompassing evaluation of the research on the effectiveness of mandatory restrictions on mortality, according to one of the studys co-authors, Lars Jonung, professor emeritus at the Knut Wicksell Centre for Financial Studies at Swedens Lund University.

It demonstrates that lockdowns were a failed promise. They had negligible health effects but disastrous economic, social and political costs to society. Most likely lockdowns represent the biggest policy mistake in modern times, he added.

Professor Steve H. Hanke, co-author and professor of applied economics and co-director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at Johns Hopkins University said:

When it comes to COVID-19, epidemiological models have many things in common: dubious assumptions, hair-raising predictions of disaster that miss the mark, and few lessons learned.

The science of lockdowns is clear; the data are in: the lives saved were a drop in the bucket compared to the staggering collateral costs imposed.

The research concludes that, unless substantial alternative evidence emerges, lockdowns should be rejected out of hand to control future pandemics.

A government spokesperson told The Epoch Times by email, We are committed to learning from the Covid inquirys findings, which will play a key role in informing the governments planning and preparations for the future.

Global Authority

MPs have debated whether the government should hold a referendum on the UKs involvement in the WHO pandemic treaty, via which some groups claim will have the power to impose lockdown measures on the UK.

In 2021, global leaders made an urgent call for an international pandemic treaty that was co-signed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The WHO said that such a measure would signal high-level political action needed to protect the world from future health crises.

Last month, six Tory MPs wrote to the Foreign Office, working with the campaign group USForThem demanding it blocks any new WHO powers.

Their concerns include proposed amendments that will make advice binding and the introduction of a new requirement for countries to recognise the WHO as the global authority on public health measures.

In March, the government said that the UKs position on the exact substance of the treaty remains to be seen as negotiations continue.

The UK COVID-19 inquiry, which will examine the governments response to the virus and how decisions were made, is currently ongoing.

On Friday, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is willing to hand over all unredacted WhatsApp messages which are likely to include key conversations about the three coronavirus lockdowns ordered in 2020.

The Epoch Times contacted Imperial College London for comment.

Chris Summers contributed to this report.
Lululemon CEO Defends Firing Employees Who Confronted Robbers: Step Back, Let the Theft Occur

The logo for Lululemon Athletica is seen at a store in Manhattan, New York, on Dec. 7, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald defended the firing of two employees who confronted three masked thieves robbing a Georgia store and called the police, with McDonald saying that company policy is for staff to let the theft occur and not try to intervene.

We have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft, McDonald told CNBCs Squawk on the Street on Friday, with educators being the companys way of referring to their employees.

We put the safety of our team, of our guests, front and center. Its only merchandise, he added. Theyre trained to step back, let the theft occur, know that theres technology and theres cameras and were working with law enforcement.

The two former staff membersJennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogerstold local news outlets that they called the police after a group of robbers entered the store earlier in May.

We didnt really feel very protected or know what else to do, Rogers, 23, told local TV station 11Alive.

You Can March Back Out

Video of the incident shows masked thieves burst into the Peachtree Corners store in metro Atlanta earlier in May, grabbing as many items as possible before being confronted by Ferguson.

No, no, no, you can march back out, Ferguson can be heard telling the thieves.

At one point in the video, the thieves seemed to pause and consider the employees demand before re-entering the store and grabbing more items.

Seriously? Get out, Ferguson can be heard saying to the robbers.

The employees recorded the thieves as they exited the store and got into a waiting car to make their getaway. The video does not show the two staff members making any effort to physically prevent the thieves from stealing items or leaving the store.

Following the incident, the women reported the robbery to the Gwinnett Police Department, who later tracked down the thieves and charged them with felony robbery.

Not Supposed To Get In The Way

Ferguson, whos a former assistant manager at a Lululemon store in Peachtree Corners, told 11Alive that company policy is not to engage with thieves.

We are not supposed to get in the way, Ferguson told the outlet.

You kind of clear path for whatever theyre going to do, Ferguson said of the stores policy. And then, after its over, you scan a QR code. And thats that.

Weve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. Were not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it, she added.

Both women were later fired, with some claims circulating online that the reason for their dismissal was because they called the police.

McDonald disputed that this was the reason for their firing.

Unfortunately, in this situation the educators knowingly broke the policy, engaged with  the thieves across multiple points, including following them out of the store, McDonald said.

So post investigation and the zero-tolerance policy, which is well known, that was what resulted in the termination, he added.

Just to be clear, our educators are able to call the police. We train them to step back. Its about their safety. We take that policy seriously because we have had instancesand we have seen with other retailers, instanceswhere employees step in and are hurt, or worse, killed, McDonald said.

And the policy is to protect them. But we have to stand behind the policy to enforce it.

Separately, a spokesperson for Lululemon told 11Alive that the reason for the firing was due to violations of the companys zero-tolerance policy regarding chasing or physically confronting thieves.

The two employees at our Peachtree Corners location in Georgia were not terminated for calling the police. They were terminated for knowingly violating our zero-tolerance policy related to physically engaging with the perpetrators which put their lives and the safety of our guests and other employees at risk, the spokesperson said.

Employees are able and instructed to call 911 when needed, and that was not the cause of termination in this case. We are grateful no one was hurt during this altercation, the spokesperson added.

Retail Crime Wave

It comes as stores nationwide have seen a sharp rise in crime and some major retailers have shut down due to rampant theft that costs the businesses millions of dollars.

Several industry groups have warned that retail theft has increased despite efforts to bolster security and prevent losses.

According to an executive with the National Retail Federation (NRF), described as the worlds largest trade organization, the loss of inventory due to retail theft hit $100 billion in 2022.

The executive, David Johnston, told Fox Business in a recent interview that this figure is likely to get worse.

There have been employees and customers injured, he told the outlet. There have been employees killed while these shoplifting events are taking place, he added.

Not only is organized retail crime (ORC) on the rise, but its perpetrators are getting more violent, according to a recent NRF report.

ORC incidents shot up by 26.5 percent in 2021, according to the study, which is titled Organized Retail Crime: An Assessment of a Persistent and Growing Threat.

The report says that data shows that 15 of the 21 crime rings analyzed began operations in 2021, suggesting that the uptick in the use of violent tactics during theft operations is a recent development.

The ORC report found that around 45 percent of the stolen goods were resold through online marketplaces.

Jane Nguyen contributed to this report.
Microsoft to Pay $20 Million Fine for Violating Childrens Privacy

Tech giant Microsoft has agreed to pay a multi-million dollar settlement to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for illegally collecting childrens personal information without parental consent.

The $20 million settlement came after the FTC charged Microsoft for violating the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). According to COPPA rules, websites and online services open to children below the age of 13 must notify parents regarding the personal information collected. The service should also obtain verifiable consent from parents before collecting and using such information, according to a June 5 FTC press release.

The FTC charged Microsoft for collecting private info from children who signed up for its Xbox gaming system without following COPPA rules while also illegally retaining such data.

Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their childrens privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids, said Samuel Levine, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.

This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA.

In addition to the $20 million monetary penalty, Microsoft is also required to take several steps to boost privacy protections for child users of its Xbox systems.

As part of this, Microsoft has to obtain parental consent for accounts created before May 2021 in case the account holder is still a child.

The company must also notify game publishers while disclosing personal information from children that the user is still a child so that the publishers can apply COPPA protections to such accounts.

FTCs $20 million fine comes as Microsoft is preparing to pay bigger fines in Europe. In a notification to investors, the company revealed that it expects the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) to fine approximately $425 million for violating the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules due to its ad practices.

As part of this, Microsoft has decided to increase its existing reserves to meet the potential fine. The software firm intends to dispute the legal basis as well as the amount of the fine.

Collecting Childrens Data

Microsofts Xbox gaming products allow users to play and chat with other users through the Xbox Live service. Users are first required to create an account to access and play games on an Xbox console. This includes providing personal details like first name, last name, email address, and date of birth.

According to the FTC press release, even when users stated they were under 13, the service still asked to provide additional personal information like a phone number until late 2021. In addition, users were also required to agree to the companys service agreement and advertising policy. Until 2019, this included allowing Microsoft to send promotional messages and share user data with advertisers.

Only after all this information was provided did Microsoft indicate users below the age of 13 to notify their parents. The parents then had to complete an account creation process so that the child could get an account.

Between 2015 and 2020, Microsoft is said to have retained data it collected from children during their account creation process, even when parents failed to create their accounts. COPPA rules prohibit the retention of childrens data once the purpose for which it was collected has been fulfilled.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Microsoft.

Protecting Children Online

Microsoft has previously been criticized for not doing enough to protect children online. In December, Australias e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant revealed that the agency had sent legal demands to major tech firms, including Microsoft, requesting that they provide details about how they tackle the issue of child abuse content and grooming.

Per the commissioner, responses from Microsoft showed that the company failed to proactively detect such material in their storage and streaming servicesiCloud and OneDrive. This happened even though Microsofts PhotoDNA detection technology is widely available, Grant said.

PhotoDNA was developed by Microsoft and is now used by tech companies around the world to scan for known child sexual abuse images and videos, with a false positive rate of 1 in 50 billion, Grant said in a press release on Dec. 15, 2022.

In September, Meta-owned Instagram was fined 405 million euros ($403 million) by the Irish Data Protection Commission after discovering that the platform breached GDPR regulations. Instagram was found to have allowed children to set up business accounts on the platform, making their phone numbers and email addresses public.
Mississippi Republicans Demand LGBT Pride Flag Be Removed From Veterans Affairs Cemetery

Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) speaks during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 15, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Five Republican lawmakers from Mississippi are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove an LGBT Pride flag that has been temporarily placed on Biloxi Veterans Affairs property, arguing that its installment amounts to a political stunt.

In the June 5 letter, the lawmakers said they believe that the flag hanging in front of the Biloxi VA Medical Center and Biloxi National Cemetery is disrespectful to veterans.

The rainbow flag was added to a display of American flags at the front of the hospital and cemetery campus on June 1 to commemorate Pride Month.

The letter (pdf) to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough was signed by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Reps. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and Mike Ezell (R-Miss.).

In their letter, the GOP lawmakers noted that Mississippi residents had learned that the Pride flag would be flown on a pole typically reserved for an American flag on Memorial Day, a day that they said should have been dedicated to honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.

The lawmakers said the decision to do so was disrespectful to U.S. service members, veterans, and their families and demanded that the VA take immediate action to replace the Pride flags with American flags at all VA facilities across the state.

Public Virtue Signaling

Replacing the United States flag with a flag that promotes a particular sexual or gender identity goes against the very mission of our national cemeteries, they wrote.

These sites were established to be a shrine sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there. Cemeteries should be places for reflection and respect, not public virtue signaling, the legislators continued.

The lawmakers concluded that the political stunt is another example of the Biden administrations willingness to promote its political agenda rather than focus on its mission as the executive branch.

Our veterans expect the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide services, not promote controversial ideologies, they wrote.

A U.S. flag and Pride flag are flown in Chelsea, New York City, on June 20, 2020. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

McDonough in 2022 authorized the Pride flag to be flown at VA facilities nationwide for up to 30 days during Pride Month. The flag promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements.

It is unclear how many VA facilities and cemeteries across the state of Mississippi are currently flying the Pride flag, however the decision to do so has also prompted demonstrations among local residents who have asked for the flags to be taken down.

One of the flags that hung on the east side of the entrance to the Biloxi VA Medical Center has already been removed twice by an unknown individual before being replaced by VA personnel, WLOX-TV reported.

VA Defends Pride Flags

Amid the backlash, VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes has defended the decision to keep the Pride flag in place above veterans facilities.

Throughout Pride Month, we recognize the contributions of the more than one million LGBTQ+ Veterans in this nation, and their families, caregivers, and survivors, VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. Its our mission at VA to provide these Veterans  and all Veterans  with the world-class care and benefits they deserve in a safe, caring, and welcoming environment. We thank each and every one of these LGBTQ+ heroes for their service and sacrifice, and we encourage them to come to VA for their earned health care and benefits.

Protest is a fundamental part of our democracy, and we respect anyones right to protest VA for any reason. Secretary McDonough authorized the flying of the Pride flag above VA facilities for the duration of Pride Month, as he has done in previous years. VA facilities fly the flag as a symbol of VAs commitment to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, Hayes continued.

Weve received the letter and will respond to our Congressional partners directly, he said.

Secretary McDonough authorized the flying of the Pride flag above VA facilities for the duration of Pride Month. VA facilities fly the flag as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, and as a symbol of VAs commitment to inclusion, the press secretary added.

Elsewhere, Shaun Shenk, chief of community and public affairs at the Biloxi VA told WLOX-TV that diversity and inclusion have always been a part of the VA.

It demonstrates how veterans can change the face of their communities and can carry the torch of diversity and inclusion, he said. Theres nothing more military than that flag, because not only does it represent a group of veterans who were traditionally marginalized by society, but the person who created the flag was also an Army veteran.

As of now, the Pride flag in Biloxi remains in place.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs and a spokesperson for Biloxi Veterans Affairs Medical Center for comment.
When a major bullying incident proved to be the last straw, this mom from British Columbia took her daughter out of mainstream education and turned to unschooling for answers. Three years later, her daughter is thriving and is even running her own candle company.

Nine-year-old Lily Harper, who describes herself as a minipreneur, has shipped over 2,000 candles worldwide in 2022. She lives with her little sister, dad, and mom, 30-year-old hairstylist and homeschooler Chloe Greatrex, in the Canadian town of Surrey, Vancouver. The budding entrepreneur has already won a Youth in Leadership award from Vancouvers A Woman of Worth.

The bullying started when Lily was in grade one and 6 years old, from 2019 to 2020, Chloe told The Epoch Times. There were so many incidents. There were rocks that they would throw at her; one actually cut her right above the eye. It wasnt just physical bullying, there was also emotional and mental bullying, like pretending to cut her hair or threatening to lock her outside in the cold.

Lily said: When I was at school I would sit there and think, Why me? What did I do to be bullied?'

Lily with her parents and sister. (Courtesy of Lily Lous Aromas)

Homeschooling

After a major incident, Chloe and her husband, Sergio, pulled their daughter out of school for good.

Sergio witnessed her bully pushing Lily down the stairs, Chloe said. Lily and her bully were both at the top of the stairs, and this boy was trying to rip Lilys backpack.  As Lily was trying to get him off her backpack, he pushed her down the stairs. Thank goodness Sergio was there to help pick her up.

For Lily and her experiences, because she has ADHD, homeschooling was the best solution, as not only did it prevent the bullying, but it also allowed us to specifically work with her learning needs.

Lily loves making candles, wax melts, and room sprays and runs her own small company called Lily Lous Aromas. (Courtesy of Lily Lous Aromas)

Watch the video:

(Courtesy of Lily Lous Aromas)

Chloe channeled her own entrepreneurial spirit into working out the best homeschooling schedule for her daughter. As it turned out, the best schedule was none at all.

The homeschooling method that we follow is called unschooling,' she said. Essentially, there is no schedule, and everything is a learning moment. We can be at the grocery store, and well be doing math and learning about budgeting, or we can be in the car  every day is different.

We dont blame the school, she said. Unfortunately, with all the kids involved at Lilys school, and her bullying, there simply wasnt enough support for all their different needs.

Lily loves learning at her own pace. You dont get bullied every day.  Its fun! she said. You get so much support, and youre not getting hurt every day and not having to hide that kids hit me.

Lily and her dad, Sergio, making the candles. (Courtesy of Lily Lous Aromas)

Lily Lous Aromas

Through homeschooling, Lily has grown more confident, more communicative, and more creative. She no longer struggles with learning and has caught up with her schoolwork. Shes even found a brand-new passion.

My mom is obsessed with candles, Lily said. When I found out they had harmful chemicals in them, I thought, Why dont we make our own, without the baddies that give us headaches? My mom said, Wait, what? Were gonna make our own candles? I said, Yeah! We just need our own ingredients and vessels!'

Lily was mostly self-taught, besides a jump-start from a family friend named Sara with experience making candles. Lily Lous Aromas, a small company selling homemade candles, wax melts, and room sprays was founded in 2021.

Lily showcases her handmade products via social media. I like writing my own voiceovers and editing all the videos together,  Lily said. When Im not working and hanging out with my friends, my team helps me and picks up where I left off.

Feedback from a new customer who ordered like, a bajillion candles from the 9-year-old entrepreneur made an especially big impact on Lily.

I did a local delivery, she said. I knocked on her door and I heard her rumbling down the stairs.  She ran so quickly and hugged me so tight I couldnt breathe. She screamed, I love you so much, thank you so much for the candles! and all I could say was, Thank you!  After I had left, within an hour she had placed another order.

(Courtesy of Lily Lous Aromas)

I think thats epic for a 9-year-old, Chloe said. She has big dreams to be able to scale out her business and create more product lines. That being said, if she does change her mind about what she wants to pursue in the future, were 100 percent behind her on her journey.

Lily would love to have her own warehouse and eventually sell her products through major retail stores around the world. She also wants to continue sharing her story to help others and advocates journaling as a way to keep track of goals and drives.

I would say, get into the habit of writing three things you want to achieve for the day, she said. At night, you write down if youve done it, and how you feel  just keep creating goals and reaching your goals.

Her mom said: Shes incredibly inspiring and makes me so proud. I think the most rewarding part of being Lilys mom is watching how epic she is, just getting to watch how incredible, kind, and passionate she is.

Lily has two personal mottos that keep her strong: Its okay, I got this, and, If I can dream it, I can be it.

I like these two, she said, because it encourages me to keep on going and to not give up!

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Mother Fatally Shot by Neighbor After Dispute Over Playing Children, Sheriff Says

OCALA, Fla.A Florida mother was fatally shot through the front door of her neighbors home while her 9-year-old son stood next to her, a violent culmination of what police said was a 2-year feud.

Ajike Owens, 35, was fatally shot after going to the Ocala apartment of her neighbor, who earlier had yelled at Owens children as they played nearby and threw a pair of skates that hit one of them, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference Monday.

Deputies responding to a trespassing call at the apartment Friday night found Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. The mother of four was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died. Ocala is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Orlando.

I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands, Woods said. I wish Ms. Owens would have called us in the hopes we could have never gotten to the point at which we are here today.

Since January 2021, Woods said, deputies responded at least a half-dozen times in connection with the feuding between Owens and the woman who shot her. The sheriffs office hasnt arrested or identified the shooter.

Woods said detectives are working with the State Attorneys Office and must investigate possible self-defense claims before they can move forward with any possible criminal charges.

The sheriff pointed out that because of Floridas stand your ground law, he cant legally make an arrest unless he can prove the shooter did not act in self-defense.

Before the shooting, Owens children had been playing in a field near the shooters apartment. When Owens later confronted the woman at her apartment, an argument ensued, and the woman shot Owens through the front door, according to police.

Woods also said they havent interviewed Owens children, who witnessed the shooting, because investigators first want child therapists to work with them. Most of the information the deputies have is coming from the shooter, Woods said.

There was a lot of aggressiveness from both of them, back and forth, Wood said the shooter told investigators. Whether it be banging on the doors, banging on the walls and threats being made. And then at that moment is when Ms. Owens was shot through the door.

Woods was joined at his news conference by community leaders and a local attorney retained by the family, Anthony Thomas. Their singular message was a call for patience while the sheriffs office conducted its investigation.

During a vigil with the family later Monday, Thomas said the sheriff had promised him the most professional service that he and his deputies could provide, and Thomas plans to hold the agency to that.

During the same gathering, Owens mother, Pamela Dias, said that she was seeking justice for her daughter and her grandchildren.

My daughter, my grandchildrens mother, was shot and killed with her 9-year-old son standing next to her, Dias said. She had no weapon. She posed no imminent threat to anyone.
MP Margaret Ferrier Suspended Over COVID-19 Rule Breach

Then Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Margaret Ferrier speaks in the House of Commons, London, on Oct. 28, 2020. (Parliament TV)

Independent MP Margaret Ferrier has been suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for breaching COVID-19 rules in 2020 by travelling by train from Scotland to England while positive for the virus.

MPs voted 185 to 40, majority 145, to approve the motion to suspend the former Scottish National Party (SNP) MP.

She could now face a by-election in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency.

Under Parliament rules, a by-election can be held if an MP is suspended for 10 sitting days or more. For this to happen, however, 10 percent of registered voters in the constituency need to sign a recall petition.

Recklessness

Ferrier, who was elected as an SNP MP in December 2019, was suspended from her party after admitting she had travelled on a train between London and Scotland in September 2020despite having tested positive for COVID-19.

In August 2022, Ferrier pleaded guilty to breaching COVID-19 rules and admitted culpably and recklessly exposing the public to the risk of infection, illness, and death.

She was subsequently ordered by a court to complete a 270-hour community payback order.

The Commons Standards Committee in March recommended that Ferrier should be suspended for 30 days, but she appealed against the decision.

Last month, an Independent Expert Panel dismissed her appeal, saying that none of the grounds had substance and that the sanction imposed was neither unreasonable nor disproportionate.

The panel added: She acted with blatant and deliberate dishonest intent. She acted with a high degree of recklessness to the public and to colleagues and staff at the House of Commons. She acted selfishly, putting her own interests above the public interest. There could therefore be no lesser sanction for this conduct.

By-election Looms

All major political parties in Scotland welcomed the MPs decision and called for a by-election in Ferriers constituency.

The SNPs by-election campaign coordinator David Linden MP said: There must now be a by-election, which the SNP has been calling for since Ms. Ferriers COVID-19 rule-breach first came to light in 2020.

He said the SNP will put the cost of living, the National Health Service, and Scottish independence at the heart of its campaign.

Michael Shanks, Labours candidate in the potential by-election, said This is welcome news for those of us who live here, but it is a disgrace that Margaret Ferrier has dragged this process out for so long, leaving her constituents unrepresented in Parliament.

He added, I want to be the local champion this area deserves, and I am ready to fight for every vote and deliver the change Rutherglen and Hamilton West needs.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: I welcome todays news because its important that we all take responsibility for the decisions we make, especially where public safety is involved. Scottish Liberal Democrats are unequivocally in favour of a recall petition and a by-election.

Not only is this a chance to give Rutherglen and Hamilton West the representation it deserves, it is also a chance to send a message to the new SNP first minister that people are sick of the divisive and out-of-touch politics he and his party represent.

Support for Ferrier

The Commons voting list showed 32 Conservative MPs among those who had voted to reject the suspension vote in support of Ferrier.

They included Daniel Kawczynski, former ministers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Tory grandees Sir Bill Cash and Sir Edward Leigh.

Former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now represents the Reclaim Party, also voted to reject the motion, as did Alba Party MPs Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, and the Democratic Unionist Party MPs Gregory Campbell and Gavin Robinson.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Presidential candidate and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) challenged claims of systemic racism in the U.S. during a Monday appearance on The View.

Department of Homeland Security data show over 800,000 appointments for humanitarian parole are granted each year. However, one researcher says the number of people who actually enter the country under the system is actually unknown. And he says the department is withholding the real numbers.

The FBI has not handed over the whistleblower document that alleges President Biden was part of a criminal scheme during his time as vice president. Republicans are moving forward with proceedings to hold Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress.

Topics in this episode include:

1. DHS Withholding Migration Numbers: Researcher

2. Sen. Scott Challenges Systemic Racism Claims

3. Appeal in Robert F. Kennedys Platform

4. W.H.O. Adopts European-Style Vax Passports

5. Comer: FBI Wont Hand Over Biden Document

6. Prolonged Vacancies of Federal Watchdog Roles

7. Apple Unveils Vision Pro Headset

8. Apple Conference Felt Flat: Analysis

9. IRS Alert: Employee Retention Credit Scams

10. Arizona Governor Vetoes School Anti-Porn Bill

11. PA Lawmakers Focus on Controversial Bills

12. USPS Reveals Highest Dog Attack States

13. WH Decries Beijings Growing Aggressiveness

14. Philippines, U.S., Japan Hold Naval Drills

15. UK Gives Dissidents Tax Data to China

16. Major Dam Destroyed in Ukraine War Zone

17. Ukraine War Hearing Opens at U.N. Court

18. Iran Vessels Harassed Ship: U.S. Navy

19. Mont-Saint-Michel Marks 1000th Birthday

20. Notre-Dame Restoration Enters Framework Phase

21. Asian Art of Medicine Exhibition in Paris

22. Exercise Over 40 May Prevent Hospitalization
JERUSALEM/CAIRO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed on Tuesday the shootout that killed three Israeli soldiers and one Egyptian policeman, reiterating their commitment to security coordination.

During a phone call, Sisi offered his "deep condolences" over the deadly shooting at the Sinai desert border on Saturday, Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The two leaders expressed "their commitment to further strengthening peace and security cooperation, which is an essential value for both countries," the statement read.

They also affirmed the "willing of the two sides to continue work and coordination in the light of bilateral ties," said Ahmed Fahmy, spokesperson of the Egyptian presidency.

In the incident that occurred early Saturday morning, an Egyptian policeman killed three Israeli soldiers before the assailant was "neutralized" by other soldiers, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The Egyptian army stated that three Israeli soldiers and a member of Egyptian security forces were killed in a shootout when the Egyptian security personnel was chasing drug smugglers near the border with Israel.

Such confrontations along the Israel-Egypt border are rare as the two countries have maintained close security ties under a peace agreement signed by the two sides in 1979. 
NYC Mayor Plans to House Illegal Immigrants in Churches, Private Homes

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, announced a plan on Monday to house illegal immigrants in houses of worship and private homes as the city struggles to cope with arrivals from the southern border.

With Republican governors in Southern border states sending illegal immigrants north to sanctuary cities like New York, Adams has turned to the faith community, proposing a plan to utilize houses of worship as temporary shelters for illegal immigrants seeking asylum as the city struggles to cope.

As we continue to tackle this humanitarian crisis, Im proud that through this new partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, New York Citys faith community will be able to provide shelter to asylum-seekers in need at houses of worship throughout the five boroughs, Adams said in a statement on Monday.

Under the two-year partnership, up to 50 houses of worship or faith-based spaces will provide overnight accommodation for up to 19 single adult men at each location. The normal activities of these spaces will continue during the day, while the city plans to establish five daytime centers for additional programming.

The five daytime centers will provide programming and support for illegal immigrants during the day. The program aims to host nearly 1,000 illegal immigrants and potentially expand further.

By implementing this program, the city aims to increase its capacity to accommodate illegal immigrants by nearly 1,000 beds, and Adams said it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities.

Adams said he envisions the next step to include expanding beyond faith-based spaces to sheltering illegal immigrants in the spare rooms of private residences, utilizing spare rooms in households of everyday New Yorkers.

There are residents who are suffering right now because of economic challenges. They have spare rooms, Adams said.

Adams suggested this might be a way to divert the significant financial resources required for this crisis from the pockets of corporations to everyday New Yorkers and houses of worship.

The mayor has angered New York county authorities by busing illegal immigrants from the city to other parts of the state without notificationAdams has criticized the governors of Southern border states for similarly sending illegal immigrants to his city. The county authorities have demanded that Adams immediately cease his operations.

Adams has said the entire state should participate in a decompression strategy. Several New York counties have already declared states of emergency in an attempt to block the mayors efforts.

Adams Says the White House Turned Its Back on NYC Crisis

The city has already spent over $1.2 billion on the crisis this fiscal year and is projected to spend over $4.3 billion by the end of June 2024. The federal government has allocated less than $40 million in funding to New York City for the crisis.

Adams, along with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, lawmakers, and progressive labor and business leaders, recently urged President Joe Biden to grant expedited work authorization for illegal immigrants via executive orders to allow illegal immigrants currently on public assistance after flooding the area since last year to be able to work and alleviate financial pressure on social services.

Adams criticized the White House last month, signaling a split in party ranks. The president and the White House have failed this city, he said, adding that the states budget could not handle the crisis and blamed the Biden administration for turning its back on New York City.

According to government data, New York state ranks among the top ten states in terms of highest unemployment rates, with a labor participation rate of 60.8 percent.

As of now, New York City is already caring for over 46,000 illegal immigrants, a number that continues to rise. The city has supported over 72,000 illegal immigrants since last spring, according to the release.

The surge in illegal immigration is partly attributed to GOP governors transporting illegal immigrants to Democrat-led cities in opposition to Bidens immigration policies. This has resulted in a crisis at the U.S.Mexico border, exacerbated by the recent end of the pandemic-era Title 42 immigration policy.

Over 5 million illegal immigrants have crossed into the United States since Biden took office.

This influx of asylum seekers is a serious crisis, one that New York City is facing largely on our own. Its unfair and its not right that New York is going through this, Adams said.

New York has already spent more than $1.2 billion on addressing this crisis. Previously, the mayor had proposed using school gyms as temporary housing for illegal immigrants.

The mayor reiterated the urgent need for real immigration reform, recognizing that the current approach is unsustainable.
Official: Almost 80 Schoolgirls Poisoned, Hospitalized in Northern Afghanistan

KABUL, AfghanistanNearly 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalized in two separate attacks at their primary schools in northern Afghanistan, a local education official said Sunday.

It is thought to be the first time this kind of assault has happened since the Taliban terrorist group swept to power in August 2021 and began their crackdown on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls.

Girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade, including university, and women are barred from most jobs and public spaces.

The education official said the person who orchestrated the poisoning had a personal grudge but did not elaborate.

The attacks took place in Sar-e-Pul province over Saturday and Sunday.

Nearly 80 female students were poisoned in Sangcharak district, said Mohammad Rahmani, who heads the provincial education department. He said 60 students were poisoned in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and 17 others were poisoned in Naswan-e-Faizabad School.

Both primary schools are near to each other and were targeted one after the other, he told The Associated Press. We shifted the students to hospital and now they are all fine.

The departments investigation is ongoing and initial inquiries show that someone with a grudge paid a third party to carry out the attacks, Rahmani said.

He gave no information on how the girls were poisoned or the nature of their injuries. Rahmani did not give their ages but said they were in grades 1 to 6.

Neighboring Iran has been rocked by a wave of poisonings, mostly in girls schools, dating back to last November. Thousands of students said they were sickened by noxious fumes in the incidents. But there has been no word on who might be behind the incidents or whatif anychemicals have been used.
One in Four Border Agents Plan to Quit in Coming Year, Survey Says

Illegal immigrants wait to be processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after crossing from Mexico into Arizona near Yuma, on Sept. 26, 2022. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Roughly one-quarter of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who responded to a survey plan to quit their jobs in the coming year, according to Department of Homeland Security Office Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.

Cuffari said neither agency has a plan to deal with staffing issues that may arise due to problems cited by the agents. These include an increased workload, irregular border policies, being assigned tasks unrelated to law enforcement, lack of adequate resources, and working excessive overtime.

Cuffari said the survey was sent to 577,000 CBP and ICE agents. He presented the report to the House Oversight Committees Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs hearing on June 6. More than 9,300 agents responded to the survey.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) was critical of Cuffari as well as the report, which he called deeply flawed, politicized, and problematic.

This is a report that would not pass muster in any serious survey work, Garcia said.

Subcommittee Chair Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) implied that Democrats criticism of Cuffari was politically based.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent keeps watch as migrants enter a vehicle to be transported from a makeshift camp between border walls of the United States and Mexico in San Diego on May 13, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

I realize Dr. Cuffari was appointed by Donald Trump, and some people will never get over that, Grothman said.

According to the report, from FY 2019 to FY 2022, migrant encounters increased by 143 percent, from 978,000 to 2.4 million.

The report states that staffing levels must catch up with the increased workload. In addition, the number of agents who qualify for retirement is expected to spike in 2027.

This could be a problem, Cuffari said.

According to the report, CBP spent $37,9 million on details from 2018 to 2022 for agents temporarily assigned extra duties, sometimes far from their homes.

Cuffari says this creates turmoil for the agents and their families. He said agents reported being sent on details at the southwest border for 30 to 60 days at a time.

Its a constant churn, Cuffari said.

Migrants awaiting processing are confined behind temporary fencing under the Paso Del Norte Bridge on March 28, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. U.S. Christ Chavez/Getty Images

The southwest border also logged 5.1 million hours of overtime, costing $403 million in gross overtime pay. In the first seven months of FY 2022, CBP recorded 881,000 hours of overtime. The report reads that thats equivalent to 14 extra work days for the year.

Agents reported feeling demoralized because they must spend hours doing administrative work, helping manage migrant processing centers, and feeling pressured to process illegal migrants quickly instead of securing the border as they were trained to do.

The report shows that 71 percent of CBP agents and 61 percent of ICE agents that responded feel their stations are not adequately equipped. Cuffari told the subcommittee that many stations lack the technology for tracking illegal migrants. He said he found DHS personnel using paper records and whiteboards to track people.

This has increased the number of so-called gotaways. These are illegal migrants that escape before they can be tracked. In FY 2019, there were a reported 150,090 gotaways. This quadrupled to 605,115 in FY 2022.

Democrats on the committee said the real issue is the Republicans refusal to pass immigration reform. They said the Biden administration provided the resources needed to secure the border.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security building is seen in Washington on July 22, 2019. (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)

Garcia said the report data were gathered by voluntary participation in a survey. He said the report itself states that the data could not be verified. He told Cuffari the survey was riddled with math errors and no more dependable than a Twitter survey.

Garcia and other Democrats also took Cuffari to task for not notifying Congress immediately upon learning the Secret Service had deleted text messages during an investigation of the Jan. 6 protests.

Cuffari said the data could not be verified because DHS didnt provide key information when requested. He said he is working with DHS leadership on recovering any deleted text messages.

Garcia also pointed out that Cuffari is being investigated by the Council of Inspectors General and that watchdog groups have criticized him for allegedly ignoring improprieties in DHS. Garcia said a survey draft report revealed that many IG office employees feared speaking out about issues.

He no longer has the support of his workforce, Garcia said.

Agents Say Policies Are the Problem

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said the report confirms what anyone who visits the border knows. Biggs said the answer is always the same when he asks border agents how things are going.

They aint going good, Biggs said.

Grothman said the criticism of Cuffari is nothing more than an attempt to divert attention away from the real issue on the border. He said he has personally spoken to CBP and ICE agents.

They uniformly say that the biggest problem is not a lack of personnel. It is the policies of the Biden administration and that they got rid of the remain-in-Mexico policy, Grothman said.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) agreed. He took issue with the idea that more people would correct the problems at the border.

Less people crossing the border illegally, that would help, wouldnt it? Perry said. The solution is not to hire more people.
Overseas Chinese Mourned 34th Anniversary of 1989 Massacre

On May 27, 2023, the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement held an annual democracy walk and rally to commemorate the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989. (Gao Xiaowen/The Epoch Times)

Overseas Hongkongers continue their annual commemoration of the June 4th Tiananmen Square massacre like the years before, with more and more mainlanders joining their ranks too. From 1990 to 2020, Hong Kong was able to hold large-scale candlelight vigils and rallies in public on June 4 every year. However, under the coercion of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) National Security Law, some Hong Kong people were forced to hold mourning activities in private.

On June 4, with the support of overseas Chinese, protests, vigils, and exhibitions were held in many cities around the world, including Australia, Japan, Taiwan, many European countries, the United States, and Canada.

Mr. Zhao, a Hong Kong native who attended the memorial service for June 4th in Birmingham, UK, told the Epoch Times reporter, There are no candles for June 4th in Hong Kong, but they are all over the world.

Former Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam told CNN, What Beijing and Hong Kong (the regime) are doing is an attempt to erase history and memory, which is sad. He will attend a memorial service in Melbourne, Australia, for those who still remember, we have an obligation to let the world know that we have not forgotten, he told CNN.

On the afternoon of June 4, 2023, former CCP diplomat Chen Yonglin spoke at a rally commemorating June 4th. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)

On the afternoon of June 4, people from all walks of life in Sydney, Australia, held a rally to commemorate the 34th anniversary of June 4th.

Chen Yonglin, a witness and survivor of the Tiananmen Square massacre and former CCP diplomat, said at the rally that the CCP is a criminal group against humanity and the entire world should work against it.

People attending the Sydney vigil on June 4, 2023. (Harry McKenny/The Epoch Times)

One Chinese post-90s international student: We shouldnt do nothing just because we fear.

On June 2, the long-awaited June 4th Memorial Museum opened in Manhattan, New York, which exposed the Tiananmen commemoration to the entire worldas the Hong Kong June 4th Memorial Hall was forced to close in 2021.

On display are items collected from massacre survivors, including newspapers documenting the event, a blood-stained shirt of a former reporter, and a decades-old printer smuggled out of China, used by the protesters during the time.

In the evening, protesters marched to the Chinese Consulate General in New York. Among them are not just the student leaders who were wanted by the CCP, but also many young Chinese post-90s.

Today, more than 30 years later, we come to commemorate. We will never forget June 4th. We feel that the future will still change. We hold great hope and hope that China will become better and better. Twenty-three years old Bruce (pseudonym), a Chinese student studying abroad, told Radio Free Asia that he does not plan to return to China until the Communist Party falls.

Xiao Hua, another Chinese student studying abroad, told Radio Free Asia that the White Paper Movement encouraged her to stand up bravely. She said that although she was worried about affecting her family in China, she still wanted to contribute a meagre amount to Chinas democracy: You shouldnt stop doing it just because you fear.

Twenty-two years old Guo Changjun, who came to the States to study for a masters degree in biomedical engineering at Wright State University for less than a year, told Voice of America that before 2019 he learned the truth about June 4th by reading English newspapers and with VPN to circumvent the Internet Great Wall. It is a responsibility to participate in this June 4th event, to commemorate those lost souls on that day.

In Washington DC, on the evening of June 2, at the candlelight memorial service held at the Washington Victims of Communism Foundation, Americans, Hongkongers, Tibetans, and Uighurs attended the event and lit candles to mourn the victims.

Yang Jianli, founder of the Washington-based human rights organization Citizen Power Initiatives for China, as a witness of the Tiananmen protest in 1989, lamented during the event that the grief can hardly be more, and the sorrow has never stopped. But I am pleased to say that the white paper movement that took place last year echoed the Tiananmen democracy movement. Just like the young people in Tiananmen Square more than 30 years ago, this generation of young people also demands a transparent, accountable government and political freedom.

Chinese Students Studying in France: Use VPN, Circumvent the Wall to Learn the Truth

On June 3, as the Paris city government held a white night event to celebrate the arrival of summer, a group of Chinese in Paris and representatives of human rights organizations silently held a white paper, which carried the names of the representatives of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement of China now held in prison, and the imprisoned Chinese dissidents. Others held up pictures of the June 4 Tank Man, and a replica of the  Skamsttten (Pillar of Shame) by Danish artist Jens Galschit.

A post-90s generation who did not want to be named told RFI: I didnt know anything about June 4th in China before, but I learned about it through circumventing the great firewall and Wikipedia.

At the very beginning, I couldnt believe how the great, glorious, and correct Communist Party (CCP) would do such a thing. My initial reaction was that foreign forces were trying to smear the CCP. Later, I learned about these things through exchanges with people from the previous generation. It really happened, and then I read the testimonies of those who witnessed the June 4th incident on the Internet, and then I realized the truth.

The so-called socialist education with Chinese characteristics that I received over the past few decades turned out to be all lies. I am sure I am not the only one. It is the feeling of many of my peers.

I came with a piece of white paper to participate in the event today in response to the white paper movement that took place in China last year. The white paper movement spread from Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing to overseas. Its like a second revolution. I hope that through this, I can play my part.

British Hongkongers Hold Vigil in Front of Consulates in Major Cities

In the UK, people held about a dozen parades and vigils in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester. Among them, the marchers in London gathered in Trafalgar Square and then marched to the Chinese embassy to hold vigils.

In Birmingham, England, where many Hong Kong people live, a candlelight vigil was held in the city center near Chinatown at night. Although there was no display of a physical Pillar of Shame, the organizer specially printed a large poster and pasted photos related to 8964 on the ground, using e- candles to frame the numbers 896434 on it.

On June 4, more than 100 Hongkongers participated in the commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Birmingham, England. (Connie Yuen/The Epoch Times)

More than 100 Hongkongers participated in the event. Former Sha Tin District Councilor Yau Man-chun believes that even for those Hong Kong people who did not attend, as long as they have a conscience, they will mourn June 4th in their own way.

Regarding the further suppression of the June 4, this year by the Hong Kong Communist regime, he pointed out the more iron-fisted tactics the totalitarian government of the Hong Kong Communist regime deploys to suppress any mourning activities; it just shows how frail they are. The more nervous they feel, the more it wants the citizens to forget, the more that everyone should persevere.

Graduate of Peking University in Germany: The CCP Will Be Put on Trial

On June 3, Germans held a protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. A giant poster of the sculpture Pillar of Shame symbolizing the June 4th massacre was displayed at the scene of the protest. Some immigrants from Hong Kong and Tibet participated. The protesters demanded that the CCP release Guo Feixiong, Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, and other human rights defenders.

Huang Yicheng, a graduate of Peking University, was arrested by the police while participating in a protest on Urumqi Middle Road in Shanghai on the evening of Nov. 27, 2022. He said that some students who participated in the White Paper Movement last year also came to the scene of the Berlin protest. He said that now he has come out from fear and hopes that China will have a democratic and constitutional government in the future.

Our appeal now is to end the one-party dictatorship. We stand with all persecuted groups, not just to mention rehabilitating June 4th; it should be the time that we want to give the CCP a trial.
Pennsylvania Democrats Move Forward 11 Resolutions Without a Single Republican Vote

'This does nothing to help make the lives of Pennsylvania citizens better,' Rep. Brad Roae said

The Pennsylvania Legislature is not getting much done. Since the start of the session in January, the 253 full-time elected members have gotten just one non-controversial bill passed: a measure requiring insurance companies to provide screenings for breast cancer.

Pennsylvania has a Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, a Republican majority 50-member Senate, and a newly Democrat-led House with 203-members.

House committees had been chaired by Republicans from 2011 but in 2023, Democrats took a thin majority. While in the minority, frustrated Democrats often commented about how difficult it was to get their priorities considered in committee, let alone sent to the full chamber for a floor vote. Now, committees and the House are in the hands of Democratic leadership, which sets the tone for which bills to pursue.

The people of Pennsylvania are now seeing the Democrats priorities in the state. For example, on Monday, June 5, the House State Government Committee approved 11 resolutions, all along party linesthat is, 12 Democrats voted yes, and nine Republican voted no.

And with each vote, minority chair Republican Rep. Brad Roae said the bills were mostly a waste of time. He offered to have Republicans vote no on them all at once to save time.

We seem to be bogged down in committees passing legislation that the House passes, and the Senate wont consider, Roae said. And the Senate is probably doing the same thing, sending us stuff were not going to consider. We need to work together and do things for the people of Pennsylvania that will help improve Pennsylvania.

Committee chair Democratic Rep. Scott Conklin smiled but turned down that offer. He went through each resolution individually.

The Resolutions

House Resolution 32, sponsored by Montgomery County Democrat Rep. Joe Webster, aims to reduce the time it takes to vote by calling for the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the current use of poll workers, polling places, voting compartments, and voting machines to determine the best course of action in order to minimize the time required to vote, and ensure that the average time required to vote does not promote inequities based on geography, economic status, race, gender, or other factors.

Far too often, our residents are forced to wait in line for long periods of time, Webster said in the memo he wrote promoting the plan. Countless hardworking residents use their entire lunch hour or wait in line to vote after a long day on the job. Still others recognize the importance of voting, but simply do not have the time available to wait for a voting booth.

The state has conducted previous election studies and the legislature has passed election reform bills numerous times. But they got vetoed, Roae said. He does not think another study is the answer.

House Resolution 34, sponsored by Erie County Democratic Rep. Patrick J. Harkins, seeks to urge Congress to make Patriots Day a federal holiday. This day recalls April 19, 1775, when nearly 700 British soldiers marched from Boston to Concord in search of munitions stored by Massachusetts militiamen. The soldiers were stopped by American minutemen. This marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

These battles are commemorated every year as Patriots Day on the third Monday in April by our neighbors to the northeast in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, Harkins wrote in a memo promoting the resolution, adding that it is time to join together with these other states to recognize these battles and our continued fight against tyranny.

Again, this doesnt really do anything to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians, Roae said. It probably would lead to another paid holiday for federal employees. Theres already a $30 trillion national debt. They just had to raise the debt ceiling. I dont think having another paid holiday for federal employees so we wait longer to get our tax returns is really going to help typical Pennsylvanians.

Gov. Josh Shapiro presents his budget in the House chambers in Harrisburg, Pa., on March 7, 2023. (Commonwealth Media Service)

Resolution 41, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Joe Ciresi of Montgomery County asks to establish an independent commission to study the history of the state song, solicit submissions from the public, and recommend changes to the state song.

In 1990, the state legislature adopted the current state song Pennsylvania, by Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner. Its a wordy number akin to a college fight song. Times have changed, Ciresi said, and a different song would be better to use in promoting Pennsylvania tourism.

I would probably assume that for most of us, as were out there campaigning and talking to constituents, probably nobody has ever asked any of us about the Pennsylvania State song, Roae said. These resolutions, theyre well intended, I think by different members, but they are kind of a waste of time.

House Resolution 47, sponsored by Delaware County Democratic Rep. Carol Kazeem directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on voting patterns and knowledge about voting rights among formerly incarcerated qualified voters and submit a report of its recommendations to the House. Many do not know they are able to vote, she said.

House Resolution 64, sponsored by Schuylkill County Republican Rep. Tim Twardzik calls for recognizing the week of April 16-22, 2023, as National Volunteer Week in Pennsylvania. The original memo was put in the system by Twardzik on March 16. The committee considered it on June 5.

Well intended but this is also a waste of time, Roae said. Were basically saying, a month and a half ago is National Volunteer Week. And no disrespect to my Republican colleague Mr. Twardzik, no disrespect to the chairman or other members of the committee, but we really should be solving problems for Pennsylvania residents, not working on things like this.

Democratic Rep. Maureen Madden was not bothered by the resolution for the week that has passed.

Im going to support this resolution, Madden said. I think the backbone of our society and all the things that we do, we depend so much on volunteers, and I dont care what time it is past the date, we should recognize them. And I would think the minority chairman would not have a problem with this bill as volunteers dont get paid, so its not going to cost us any additional money.

Roae said that he had served as a volunteer firefighter for 23 years and a volunteer EMT for 18 years. He has also volunteered for Boy Scouts on and off for the last 20 years.

A resolution retroactively going back six weeks to make one week of the year volunteer week. That doesnt really do that much, Roae said. These resolutions are largely wasted time. Im not sure why some days like Memorial Day, when people died fighting for our country, they get one day. Volunteers get a whole week, other things get a whole month. Im not sure how that works. But a lot of those days and weeks and months, they dont really do anything to help make the lives of Pennsylvania citizens better.

House Resolution 95 was also late. It designates May 2023 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

House Resolution 100 honors members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., for more than a century of commitment to social activism, academic excellence, and civic engagement on May 2, 2023, Delta Day at the State Capitol.

House Resolution 114 recognizes June as worldwide as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jessica Benham, who calls herself Pennsylvanias first openly queer representative, and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who is openly gay, Benham said the resolution shows that the LGBTQ+ community has a right to exist in public without fear of discrimination, or harm.

Pride month already exists, Roae said. If this passes or if this doesnt pass, if it comes up for vote, if it doesnt, it changes nothing. Everybody in this room tries to treat everybody fairly. Nobody should discriminate against anybody. God made all of us. He loves all of us. We should all love each other. But again, Mr. Chair, this resolution is not really a good use of time.

House Resolution 110 called for another study. This one directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study and make recommendations on implementing location-based pay for state government employees. It would pay more for workers working in areas with a higher cost of living.

House Resolution 69 celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troublesthe longest period of conflict in Irish historybringing peace to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Democratic Rep. Kevin Boyle, serving Philadelphia County, sponsored the resolution.

House Resolution 75 designates December as National Giving Month to recognize the importance of charitable giving over the holidays.

All resolutions easily passed.

Important to Some

After each resolution was passed, Conklin chastised Roae by telling a story from the time when he first got into politics at the county level and complained about attending another dinner.

A much older and wiser public servant looked me right in the eye and sat me down. He said, I want to explain something. To you, its just another dinner. To you, its just a waste of your time because youre not really doing any county business tonight. But to the people youre going to see, this is their one event this year. Think about that  one event. If its important to themif its important to a constituent, its important to an individual, he said.

I find these resolutions  for myself, its important to them, so it should be important to me even if it does inconvenience me a little bit.
Poilievre Calls on Liberals to Make Killers Like Bernardo Stay in Max-Security Prison

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with reporters before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Parliament Hill, June 6, 2023 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should see to it that mass murderers serve their entire sentences in maximum-security prison.

The call comes as Trudeaus government deals with the fallout from a Correctional Service of Canada decision to transfer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec.

Anne Kelly, commissioner of the federal correctional service, announced the move was under review after Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said he expressed to her how shocked Canadians were by the decision.

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, torture and murders of 15-year-old Kristen French in 1991 and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in 1992.

Mendicino said he is unable to reverse the decision himself because the federal correctional service operates as an independent institution.

Im calling on the prime minister to direct his public safety minister to say that all mass murderers should have to serve their entire sentences in maximum security prisons, Poilievre told reporters Tuesday.

This is a no-brainer and the prime minister can do it. Hes got to stop passing the buck.

Poilievres office has suggested that such power exists in the form of directives from ministers, which are typically used to address broad policy issues.

The correctional service said it understands Bernardos transfer comes as a shock to some and acknowledged in a statement Monday that it did not intend to cause harm to his victims.

It has said decisions around the security classification for offenders must adhere with the law, which requires they be reviewed every two years.

The service also said information about offenders is classified and which prison they are kept in depends on factors such as their risk to public safety, their threat of escaping and psychological assessments.

The reason why Bernardo was moved has not been divulged, but the prison he was transferred to is known for housing violent sex offenders and specializes in treating people convicted of sexual offences.
R R Reno Examines the Perils of Permanent Revolution

Commentary

Over the course of our lifetime we have been speeding toward one of the most dysfunctional and hopeless episodes in modern history.

According to Catholic scholar Rusty Reno, our present condition wasnt just brought on by misguided ideologies. In the June/July edition of First Things Magazine, Reno said we are suffering from a general decay of authority in Western culture.

How have we come to this? asked Reno, the editor of First Things.

Renos reply was linked to the thought of British poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Reno pointed out that Coleridge was influenced by the critical philosophy of Emanuel Kant and Friedrich Hegel. In his famous treatise, On the Constitution of the Church and State, the Romantic era savant drew on Hegels notion of society as a perpetual contest between competing paradigms.

Fruitful Tension

Reno explained that Coleridge identified two elements in modern society that existed in what the British poet called fruitful tension.

One was the Party of Permanency dominated by those who were invested in preserving established norms, customs, and institutions.

The other was the Party of Change, made up of innovators, political radicals, reformers, writers, and artists who were critical of the conventional wisdom.

In Coleridges England, this fruitful tension played out in contests for power between Whigs and Tories. The opposing parties eventually became ideologically identified as Liberal and Conservative, the same duality that currently drives North American politics.

Liberals regard themselves as transformation agents in economics, politics, and morals, Reno writes. Moderate liberals are reformist. Radical liberals are revolutionary.

Conservatives try to use their power to limit disruptive change and ensure well-ordered continuity.

For most of our history, Reno says, Coleridges conception of fruitful tension worked to our advantage. Our lives were shaped by both liberal proponents of change and prudent conservatives who moderated the radical ideas of societys self-appointed visionaries.

By Coleridges reckoning, the body politic is kept in equilibrium by an ongoing tension between the Party of Permanency and the Party of Change, wrote Reno. The former checks the rashness and impatience of the latter, and the latter challenges the complacency and indifference of the former.

Cultural Break Down

Over the last 100 years, this historic compromise between permanency and change has broken down.

Reno points out that the Party of Permanency has lost control over almost everything that anchors Western society. Universities and churches no longer preserve a literary canon or an apostolic inheritance. The legal profession no longer respects a settled body of jurisprudence. Parents are reluctant to pass down traditional family values. Professors dont support serious standards of academic excellence. All important institutions have been taken over by the Party of Change.

In his recent book, Return of the Strong Gods, Reno pointed out that the catastrophic events framing World War I destroyed the legitimacy of the traditional order and the Party of Permanency. After World War II, Western intellectuals envisioned a new anti-authoritarian beginning that would promote an open-society.

But, wrote Reno, the prestige of openness foredoomed this balance, and a few short decades after the liberation of Auschwitz, the West was championing openness not as a way to maintain change within permanence, but as itself the supreme good.

Reno maintains that The upshot today is not just the fluid world of global commerce, but a liquefied moral imagination, symbolized by the rainbow flag and its promise that we can cross boundaries and create new ways of living, even to the point of traversing the biological difference between men and women.

College professors preach the gospel of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Top-drawer graduates of elite schools form brigades of green radicals. The rainbow banner is flown by government embassies, universities, and business corporations.

The Party of Permanency is close to extinction. From Davos to Washington, the Party of Change has become the new Western establishment. The Communist Party of China looks on with delight and anticipation.

Perilous Consequences

According to Reno, this troubling development has produced two perilous consequences.

First, he asserts, as the Party of Change assumes control of foundational institutions, the anchoring realities of our lives become so flexible, porous, and open that they lose their authority.

The redefinition of marriage and the more recent descent into transmania by North American educators are obvious examples. Young people, once formed by traditional mores and institutions, are almost entirely guided by radical neo-Marxist movements operating in the mercurial world of the internet.

Reno contends that the second consequence is more narrowly political. Some still look to old authorities: faith, family, and flag, but such people no longer control core institutions.

Conservatives are marginalized by the open society consensus. Theyre denounced as the kind of people who cling to their Bibles and their gunshaters, homophobes, and fascists. This forces people who believe in permanent truths out of the mainstream culture.

Hanging On To Hope!

Overwhelmed by what Reno calls the permanent revolution, traditional North Americans have begun to regard the status quo as hostile to their longstanding beliefs and principles.

Some, like former Fox TV host Tucker Carlson and Canadian academic Jordan Peterson, have risked a lot to push back. But the consequences of resistance can be punishing. As we learned from the recent Nashville shootings, just choosing a counter-cultural Christian school for a child can prove to be fatal.

The tactics of the Party of Change are intended to terrorize and sideline what remains of the Party of Permanency. The forces of permanent revolution have colonized almost all of our formative institutions, and plenty of good men and women have concluded that resistance is futile.

Some time ago, I recall Renos iconic predecessor at First Things, the late Father Richard Neuhaus, saying that he was hopeful, but not optimistic about the prospects for Western civilization.

Today, Reno appears to be both hopeful and optimistic. He sees the rise of populism and the renewal of faith among many young Americans as a sign that the strong Gods are slowly returning. He points to the popularity of the traditional Latin Mass among young Catholics as a promising counter-revolutionary development.

Friedrich Nietzsche once asserted that hope is among the worst of all evils because it serves only to prolong our torment.

Nevertheless, Im with Reno. Together with courage and prayer, hope may still be one of the most powerful things we can hang on to.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Rep. Jordan Makes Trump Investigation Demand to DOJ, Sets June 20 Deadline

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Tuesday demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) produce documents in connection to special counsel Jack Smiths investigation into former President Donald Trumps classified documents case.

The letter, dated Tuesday and addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, stated that the DOJ hasnt responded to previous requests about Smiths probe. Smith was named as special counsel last year, coming months after the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago for allegedly classified documents.

The Committee on the Judiciary is continuing to investigate the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) unprecedented raid of President Trumps residence at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, Jordan wrote (pdf) in the letter. We previously requested information and documents related to the FBIs raid on President Trumps residence and its subsequent investigation.

Because you have not provided this information, and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel, we write to request an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smiths probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel, Jordan wrote, demanding that Garland and the DOJ produce relevant records to his committee by June 20.

Jordan did not say what would happen if Garland fails to comply with the demands. In a separate case, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) have said they would consider holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for failing to produce a document that allegedly reveals a bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden.

Please provide the committee with an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Special Counsel Smiths investigations pursuant to his appointment on November 18, 2022, and any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction of the special counsel as soon as possible, Jordan wrote.

Jordan, meanwhile, has sent Garland letters concerning whether the Smith investigation into the former president is tainted. It came in light of findings made by special counsel John Durham, who released a lengthy report that signaled that FBI officials acted irresponsibly when the bureau opened an investigation into whether Trump colluded with Russia after the 2016 election.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In a letter last week, Jordan asked the DOJ to provide more information about the FBI personnel assigned to the Smith investigation, namely if those individuals were involved in previous Trump-related cases.

Jordan wrote (pdf) in that letter to Garland that Durhams report last month details how the FBI abused its law-enforcement authorities to achieve a political endthat is, hamstring the campaign and presidency of President Trump. Durham is now scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing set for June 21.

Jordan also wrote that he wants to know if Smiths investigation uses any information that was gathered by the FBI before Durhams appointment by then-Attorney General Bill Barr in late 2020. For that demand, Jordan gave Garland until June 15 to respond.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of Justice for comment. In a statement to other news outlets Tuesday, the agency acknowledged it received Jordans letter but declined to comment.

During a November announcement, Garland claimed that Smith would oversee the investigation into whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or with the certification of Electoral College vote held on or about Jan. 6, referring to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

The special counsel will also conduct the investigation involving classified documents and other presidential records, as well as the possible obstruction of that investigation, the attorney general also said at the time.

Previously, Jordan issued a subpoena to Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who previously oversaw the Manhattan District Attorneys office probe into Trump, coming after Trump was indicted on charges that stem from payments he made in 2016. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and said the investigation, too, is motivated by a political animus against him.

After a court fight, Pomerantz ultimately provided testimony to Jordans committee. Pomerantz, who has been publicly critical of Trump, released his statement to NBC News in which he described Jordans probe as political theater.

Reports this week indicated that Trumps lawyers met with Smith and other DOJ officials in regard to the classified materials case. Trump, who has categorically denied any wrongdoing and said the probe is a politically motivated witch hunt, has not been charged with a crime in relation to the case.

Last month, Trump posted a letter from his attorneys to the DOJ and Garland asserting that unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly as they sought a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel.
RFK Jr. Recalls Fathers Assassination, Defends 2nd Amendment at Town Hall

Fifty-five years to the day since his father was fatally shot after a presidential campaign speech, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a town hall audience on June 5 that he intends to bridge this toxic polarization that is really destroying our country and tearing us apart as he mounts a challenge against President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary.

At the event held at a historic theater in suburban Philadelphia, Kennedy recounted the night that his fatherpresidential candidate Robert F. Kennedywas shot, his death the next following day, and the procession that stretched from New York City to Washington.

He was 14 at the time and was with his father, who was delivering a victory speech after winning the California primary. His father was shot as he left the stage and died at a hospital the next day.

We brought him back to New York on [Vice President] Hubert Humphreys plane, had the wake at St. Patricks Cathedral, and brought him by train to Washington, Kennedy said. It was usually a 2 1/2-hour train ride, but it took 7 1/2 hours this time because there were so many people paying their respects.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared with SiriusXM talk show host Michael Smerconish at a town hall in suburban Philadelphia on June 5, 2023. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

Kennedy noted that his father had the ability to unite people from different ethnic backgrounds and walks of life and that he would like to do the same.

He called his campaign a peaceful insurgency that he said he hopes will appeal to conservative Republicans, independents, moderates, and liberal Democrats.

During the 35 years I spent as one of the leaders of the environmental movement in our country, I was the only environmentalist who was regularly going on Fox News. I went on Sean Hannity repeatedlyBill OReilly, too, Kennedy told The Epoch Times after the town hall.

I want to talk to media members and voters who share differing opinions than mine, because how else are you going to persuade?

I think we have a lot more in common than what the media portrays. What keeps us apart are things that are rather trivial. We let them feed this toxic polarization. We need to talk. We need to have conversations with people from a wide range of views.

The Competition

Kennedy isnt expected to get help from the Democratic National Committee, whose members voted at their winter meeting earlier this year to give Biden their full support. Kennedy was asked by town hall host Michael Smerconish whether he thinks Biden owes the American people a debate with Democratic primary candidates.

Its a strategic decision for him, Kennedy said about reports that Biden wont participate in a debate. I dont even know if President [Donald] Trump will debate his opponents.

Kennedy added that the optics are not good to Americans when candidates dont debate because theres so many people now who believe the system is rigged against us.

Polling has shown Kennedy with as much as 19 percent support in the Democratic primary. Several political strategists have predicted that he will generate support from some independents and some conservative and moderate Republicans.

Kennedys Policy Views

The views he talked about at the town hall illustrate that he differs from President Joe Biden and progressive Democrats on multiple issues.

Kennedy, the founder of Childrens Health Defense, is vocal about the dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine for some in the population who were forced to take them, and of vaccines in general. Hes a vocal opponent of the pharmaceutical industry.

He chastised Trump and Biden for COVID-era business closures.

We shifted $4 trillion from the middle class to the super-rich. We created a billionaire a day during the lockdowns and you know, it was the last breath of the American middle class.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talks to a voter after a June 5 town hall in suburban Philadelphia. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

When asked about his stance on the Second Amendment, he said, I believe in the Constitution, and Im not going to take everybodys guns away.

I had two family members who were killed by gunfire, so I understand the anguish and the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. We must figure out a way to deal with it, but talking about taking peoples guns away at this point in history is not a solution.

Five years before his father was assassinated, former President John F. Kennedy (JFK), his uncle, suffered the same fate.

Kennedy added that over the past three years, there have been extraordinary initiatives by our federal government against the Bill of Rights, freedom of speech, freedom of worship.

And jury trials have been under attack, property rights have been under attack, and freedom from warrantless searches and seizures have all been under attack, he said.

The only reason we have anything left in our Constitution is because we have that Second Amendment.

Kennedy has a more conservative than liberal stance regarding the border crisis.

We have to stop the crisis at the border. We have to seal our borders. No nation can exist If you dont control [illegal] immigration, he told The Epoch Times.

Theres a lot of different options. The Israelis are using technology to control their borders and doing it very successfully because they have the same problem with African immigration. I want to talk to all the stakeholders before we develop a policy, but Im going to seal the border.

Meanwhile, his stance on abortion is one that aligns with the Biden administration.

I can argue theres nobody in this country that has worked harder for the rights of medical freedom and personal bodily autonomy than me, he said. That applies to the vaccines and abortion.

I dont think the government should be telling us what to do with our bodies and dictating for Americans what we can and cannot do in the first three months of pregnancy. Its a womans choice.

That stance could cost him potential support from conservatives, Kennedy conceded. He also noted that some Democrats might not vote for him because of his views on gun control.

Some people are going to vote on one issueabortion, for exampleand I absolutely respect that, Kennedy said. Ive seen photos of late-term abortions, and theyre horrifyingly troubling.

I respect people who have different points of view, and for people who say that its the only issue that I care about, they will likely vote for someone else because of my beliefs.

I think most Americans have a range of issues theyre concerned about, and theyre mostly concerned about the current state of our country and the direction it is heading, and they want somebody whos going to listen to them.

I will talk to people regardless of their views and will assure them that I will listen to them, even if they dont vote for me.

Audience Response

Robert Kimes attended the town hall with his wife, Debra; they are registered Republicans.

We hear a lot about President Trump and President Biden. We want to learn more about some of the other options for 2024. they told The Epoch Times.

Kennedy, the couple said, is different from most of the other candidates.

I dont think hes going to be able to keep President Biden from getting the nomination for the Democrats. Many of his positions are more middle of the road, which is where most of the people are, Robert Kimes said.

Only a small percentage are far to the left or far to the right, but they get most of the press. We dont hear about middle America that says, We dont agree with all that.

Someone who can represent those middle-of-the-road views would be certainly of interest to me.

James Taulbee, 43, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 22 years, told The Epoch Times that the leadership of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy inspired him to serve.

Wearing a Kennedy for President T-shirt that he said uses a reproduction of a logo from JFKs presidential campaign, Taulbee explained that the younger Kennedys stance on medical freedom is among the reasons he respects the candidate.

I own a gym, and if we followed what the city of Philadelphia said during the COVID pandemic, we would not still be in business, Taulbee said while outside the town hall. We were harassed and faced a lot of scrutiny, but we kept our doors open.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran and business owner James Taulbee attended Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s town hall on June 5. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

I dont believe in mandates. I believe in the Constitution. That is what he [RFK Jr.] believes, and that is one of the reasons he stands out.

Taulbee said he didnt support Donald Trump in 2016 but voted for the former president in 2020.

I see a lot of similarities in Trump and Kennedy because they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in and what they think is right, he said.

He added that it would be a win-win if the two candidates won their respective primaries: That would mean we would have a president who is a strong leader willing to make difficult decisions, and that is the type of leader I want running the country.
San Clemente Beaches to Receive Sand From Oceanside

Malnourished San Clemente beaches will receive sand from the City of Oceanside beginning in November, after the Army Corps of Engineers and San Clemente city officials approved in May a 50-year sand replenishment project.

Sand2,500 tons of itwill be relocated from the ocean floor west of the Oceanside Harbor to replenish a 3,400-foot stretch of San Clemente beaches between Linda Lane and T Street, according to a City of San Clemente 2022 staff report.

The sand will be moved by a barge after being scooped from the ocean floor.

According to Andy Hall, a spokesperson for San Clemente, sand loss on shores is caused by natural processes such as waves and changes in river flow that reduce the amount of sand transported to the ocean. Building sea walls to protect infrastructure has also played a factor.

Hall told The Epoch Times that the Army Corps of Engineers chooses specific locations to pull sand from based on studies it conducts.

Because the sand will naturally shift south overtime back to Oceanside, the project includes transporting more sand to San Clemente every six years.

The work will be ongoing for 50 years, at a cost of $256 million, according to San Clemente city officials.

Of the needed funding, approximately $130 million will be provided by the federal government and another $125.5 million will be paid for by the city with grants from the California Department of Boating and Waterways, a state agency that oversees recreational boating regulations.

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, (D-San Juan Capistrano), said in a May press conference the project will help reduce storm damage, improve safety, and provide recreational benefits.

My number one focus is delivering results on our local priorities, and I am thrilled that these projects will now begin to take shape, Levin said at the press conference. The sand replenishment work will address some of the biggest coastal and infrastructure challenges facing our region.

According to Levin, the project may additionally provide support for the rail tracks running along the San Clemente coastwhich have been halted several times recently due to landslidesby widening the beach by 50 feet.

Oceanside is currently undergoing a sand nourishment and retention pilot project, which started in 2021, to prevent sand from shifting away from their sand-starved beaches as well.
VLADIVOSTOK/BRUSSELS/KIEV, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Ukraine crisis:

The European Union has extended to Sept. 15 restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grain demanded by five member states who sought to protect their agriculture sector, the European Commission said on Monday.

The commission said in a statement that the bloc will phase out the exceptional and temporary preventive measures affecting Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

- - - -

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that their armed forces repelled a new attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) on the southern Donetsk front, resulting in the destruction of over 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers and 28 tanks, including eight Leopards.

According to the ministry, Ukraine continued its offensive on Monday, focusing primarily on the Vremyevskaya bulge of the southern Donetsk front. However, the UAF experienced a significant defeat and were unable to accomplish their objectives.

- - - -

The UAF launched a large-scale offensive on five fronts in the southern Donetsk direction on Sunday, spokesperson of the Russian ministry, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, said on Monday.

He said Ukraine deployed the 23rd and 31st Mechanized Brigades from the strategic reserves of the UAF, with the support of other military units and formations.

- - - -

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that during the expected counteroffensive against Russian forces this summer, Ukraine will not use F-16 aircraft, but will use all ground weapons.

In an interview with NHK in Singapore, the minister explained that some Western countries are currently training or have offered to train Ukrainian pilots to pilot F-16 fighters.

He said Ukraine will be ready to deploy F-16 in autumn or winter. 
Scammers Target Parents of Cal State Fullerton Students, Police Say

Police are warning parents and guardians of Cal State Fullerton students to be wary of scam callers impersonating law enforcement over the phone to obtain cash.

During such calls, oftentimes in the middle of the night, scammers claim to parents their child has been arrested, according to police. Callers usually say the child was pulled over during a traffic stop, and drugs were found in their vehicle.

The caller then tells parents to wire bail money for their child to be released from custody.

According to recent media reports, the citys police said scammers always claim to be a detective or someone from the Fullerton Police Department.

Police said they have received multiple reports of similar calls over the last three weeks, and authorities suspect scammers research their targets before calling.

Scot Willey, chief of Cal State Fullertons own police department, said in a recent interview with KTLA News that scammers are now expanding their search for potential victims to parents living out of state, including Arizona and Nevada.

As of this week, police say no parents have yet fallen victim to the phone scam. Some parents who have been contacted, according to the police agency, were able to reach their children before realizing the call was a scam and confronted the callers who immediately hung up.

The university sent out a campus-wide warning to parents and students with a reminder that the police would never ask the public to wire funds for bail money.

We have never nor will ever solicit or request money for bail and/or release, the police department wrote on Twitter on May 31. Plainly put, this is a fraudulent operation.

Cal State Fullerton Police didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.

The agency urges anyone who receives such calls to immediately hang up and contact police dispatch at 657-278-2515.
Sex Harassment Case Involving Trudeau Foundation Should Be Heard in NL, Lawyer Says

Kathryn Marshall poses for a photo at the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court, in St. John's, June 6, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sarah Smellie)

The lawyer representing a woman who alleges she was sexually harassed by a former Northwest Territories premier says her client would likely have to end her lawsuit if a judge determines the trial should be moved to Quebec.

Kathryn Marshall, with the Toronto-based law firm Levitt Sheikh, argued in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court today that the case should be heard in that province, because that is where the alleged misconduct took place.

She says her client, Cherry Smiley, would have to bear the cost and emotional strife of starting over with a search for a new lawyer who can speak both French and English in a case that has already been difficult and slow.

Smileys statement of claim alleges she was sexually harassed in June 2018 in St. Johns, N.L., by Stephen Kakfwi, who was her appointed mentor through a scholarship program offered through the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

The statement of claim was filed with the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in March 2022, and names Kakfwi and the Trudeau Foundation as defendants.

Lawyer Colm St. Roch Seviour, who represents the Montreal-based foundation, says the case should be heard in Quebec because it involves an alleged breach of a contract whose terms are governed by Quebec law.

In a statement of defence, Kakfwi has denied any contact with Smiley that could be construed as being sexual in nature.
Small Boats Bill Faces Delay as Peers Demand Impact Report

Lord Murray heckled as he refused to commit to providing completed report ahead of Illegal Migration Bill entering next stage

Handout photo issued by UK Parliament of Lord Murray of Blidworth speaking in the House of Lords, London, during the debate on the Government's Illegal Migration Bill on May 10, 2023. (House of Lords 2023/Roger Harris)

The Home Office faces a serious delay in pushing forward its Illegal Migration Bill as peers demand to see an economic impact assessment on the controversial legislation.

On Monday, Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth was heckled in the Lords as he repeatedly said the report would be published in due course.

The Tory minister refused to commit to making the already completed document available to peers before the bill moves from the House.

Former senior judge and independent cross-bench peer Baroness Butler-Sloss said it was outrageous peers were being asked to take decisions on the proposals without knowing the predicted impact of them.

Lord Kerr of Kinlochard added: We are being asked to take a decision without knowing its effect. We do not knowother than breaking humanitarian law and international commitmentswhat practical effect the bill will have. Therefore, before we finish Committee, the minister should change his line and let us have it.

Labours Lord Hunt of Kings Heath received shouts of support as he said the bill should not progress to its next stage without the impact assessment being available.

Crucial Facts

The Illegal Migration Bill is undergoing scathing line-by-line scrutiny in the Lords at committee stage, with the government braced for amendments to be made by peers at report stage.

It has received a rocky ride so farwith the majority of peers previously stating it could not go forward in its current form.

The legislation is a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks bid to deter people from crossing the Channel in small boats.

The reforms would prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means.

The government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

After Murray sidestepped questions on the details and timing of the economic impact assessment, Lady Butler-Sloss said: How does the government justify not having an impact statement until presumably the whole of this House has completed its dealing with the bill?

It seems to me outrageous. How can the government justify it?

Conservative Lord Cormack noted the House has to make significant decisions at report stage on the most sensitive legislation that has been before Parliament for a very long time.

He said, It is crucial we have all the facts at our disposal.

Lord Hunt added: I think the House is entitled to ask the minister what he means by in due course.

Let me ask him specifically whether the impact assessment will be available before we move into report stage?

Shouts of hear, hear and well said could be heard after Lord Hunt made his point.

Murray replied, Clearly I hear what the noble lord says and I will take back his comments and the comments of others in the House, and we can reflect on them.

Around 40 refugees outside the Comfort Inn hotel on Belgrave Road in Pimlico, central London, on June 2, 2023. (James Manning/PA Wire)

170,000 Illegal Immigrants Backlog

Murray went on to say that the assessment was not an essential part of the bill going through the Lords committee stage.

There is no statutory requirement to have a public impact assessment in relation to items of public legislation, he told peers.

Indeed, as I understand it, many pieces of legislation do not have one at all; so it is not a statutory requirement.

In a series of questions surrounding the backlog of current illegal immigrant cases, Labours home affairs spokesman Lord Coaker sought clarity on how many illegal immigrants were to be removed from the UK.

Quoting the current number of illegal immigrants awaiting a decision as 172,758 which continues to rise, Coaker said of that number more than 128,000 were waiting on a decision for more than six months. Of these, the peer said, 78,954 are legacy cases.

He said: On small boats, starting with 2022I know that the prime minister was keen to talk about 2023can the minister explain to the Committee how on earth the government have got themselves into a situation where we need an illegal migrants bill when, of the 45,000 people who crossed in small boats last year, only 1 percent have been processed?

A total of 7,610 people have entered the UK on small boats this year alone, Coaker said.

He added: Where are the 4,657 people who have come across since 7 March detained? What is the governments presumption about where they will be returned to?

Coaker also asked Murray to confirm that, of June 2022, almost 40,000 refugees were waiting for removal from the UK.

That number is before we even get to the figures on illegal boats; we cannot even deport or remove people whose asylum claims were presumably refused years ago, he said.

What has happened to them and where are they? Do the government know?

What is the actual figure if that figure is wrong? Where are they being returned to? Are we ignoring them, or are they being returned? Do we have returns agreements for them?

A group of people thought to be illegal immigrants are brought into Ramsgate, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel on Aug. 1, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media)

16 Countries Onboard

In response, Murray said the broken asylum system costs the UK 3 billion a year, and is rising.

There seems to be an impression that, without the bill, those costs will not continue to rise at an alarming rate year on year, he said. Doing nothing is not an option.

He confirmed that of May 2023, the Home Office has 16 returns agreements in place with other countries including Albania, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Negotiations on a new returns agreement have also begun with Moldova.

A number of these agreements are sensitive, and receiving countries might withdraw co-operation if they are publicised, so it would be detrimental to formalise and publish all such agreements, Murray added.

An analysis produced by the Refugee Council said it would cost between 8.7 billion and 9.6 billion to detain and accommodate people impacted by the bill in the first three years of its operation.

The government last month published an equality impact assessment which concluded disqualification from modern slavery support under the bill could have a disproportionate impact on female potential victims.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby previously condemned the legislation as morally unacceptable and politically impractical.

Peers later discussed amendments to the list of countries or territories where a person may be removed, with suggestions to explicitly state that LGBT people should not be taken to some of them due to fears of persecution.

A separate amendment also suggested removing Rwanda from the list given legal action to challenge the plan.
Some of Nations Largest Pediatric Hospitals Will No Longer Offer Children Gender Modification

New Texas law could impact thousands of young people who want to change

A "detransitioner" who regrets surgically removing her breasts as a teen in an effort to live more like a boy, holds testosterone medication used by transgender patients on Aug. 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Potentially thousands of Texas children seeking to change their gender identity will no longer have access to puberty blockers, sterilization, and permanently disfiguring gender-transition surgeries in the state under a new law signed by Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott.

The Republican governor signed Senate Bill 14 on June 2, making the Lone Star State the most populous state to prohibit sex-change treatments for children.

The new law stands to be a major roadblock for advocates of transgender medicine.

Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston. (Courtesy of Texas Childrens Hospital via Google Maps)

It will stop the nations largest pediatric healthcare provider, Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston, from offering gender-modification procedures to minors.

And it will prohibit three more of the countrys largest pediatric hospitals from offering services to children who want to change their gender.

Both Texas Childrens Hospital, with 973 beds, and Childrens Medical Center of Dallas, with 490 beds, currently offer gender-altering services to youths.

Halting Surgeries in Texas

The new law just signed by Abbott bans surgeries that sterilize children by removing parts of their reproductive systems. It outlaws mastectomies for girls hoping to live more like boys.

It disallows the prescribing of drugs that induce temporary or permanent infertility, such as cross-sex hormones. And it prohibits removing any otherwise healthy or non-diseased body part.

The Lone Star State joins 17 other states now restricting gender transitioning for children. The Texas law will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Almost 30,000 Texas teensfrom age 13 through 17likely have a gender identity different from their biological sex, according to a study by the Williams Institute, part of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law.

And nearly one in five people in the United States who identify as transgender are minors as young as 13, the study says.

Under the new law, children in Texas currently on hormones for gender dysphoria will have to be weaned off those drugs.

Police face pro-transgender protesters outside of Boston Childrens Hospital in Boston, Mass., on Sept. 18, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Doctors who perform gender modification on children stand to lose their medical licenses in Texas. The bill gives the Texas attorney general the ability to enforce the law.

The Republican-led effort to pass SB 14a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republicanmet stiff resistance from Democrats as it was debated in May.

GOP advocates of the bill said cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and surgery could cause irrevocable health problems or sterility in children.

Their Democrat counterparts argued that the decision to put children on hormone treatment and surgery should be left to parents, their children, and doctors.

Journalist Chris Rufo, an outspoken opponent of woke gender ideology and gender modification for children, posted an undated internal email from Texas Childrens Hospital CEO Mark Wallace on Twitter in May.

Immensely Heart-Wrenching

In the email, Wallace announced an immensely heart-wrenching transition to modify gender-affirming care offered to children.

Protesters at Matt Walshs Rally to End Child Mutilation hold signs advocating for transgender rights in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 21, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times)

Action will be taken over the next few months to comply with the new law that will prohibit procedures and prescription treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, and gender dysphoria for children, Wallace wrote.

He wrote that the hospital would work with patients and their families to manage the discontinuation of hormone therapies or source appropriate care outside of Texas.

And the hospital, he wrote, will continue to offer psychosocial support and any form of care we can within the bounds of the law through this adversity.

He said staff would navigate these next steps together with grace, love, and compassion.

Wallace wrote that he wanted to remind everyone that our mission is to create a healthier future for all children.

He wrote that being unable to serve and support these children and families the way we have in the past is painful, and that the hospital would remain dedicated to educating and amplifying the importance of safe, high-quality transgender medicine programs.

And he asked for support, empathy, and care for children, families, and care teams who are deeply affected by this new legislation. He wrote that he wanted to reassure care teams who have devoted their lives to gender-affirming care that they are deeply valued.

Texas lawmakers debated banning gender modification for children at the Capitol in Austin in May 2023. (Courtesy of the Texas Legislature)

Another large hospital, Childrens Medical Center of Dallas, will have to stop treating hundreds of minors with hormone therapy.

The hospital, part of the Childrens Health System of Texas, operates a gender clinic in conjunction with UT Southwestern Medical Center, also in Dallas.

The clinic, started by Dr. Ximena Lopez in 2014, is called the GENder Education and Care, Interdisciplinary Support (GENECIS) program.

Lopez, a pediatric endocrinologist, has said publicly that she will close her practice in July and move to California because of the new law.

State lawmakers, including Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, have been pushing to ban transgender medical procedures for children for the past two years.

Paxton now has been replaced by an interim attorney general while he awaits a trial in the Texas Senate after being impeached by the Texas House.

Paxton has denounced the impeachment as based on untrue allegations that are politically motivated.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on March 15, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Before his current problems, Paxton was part of a campaign to apply enough political pressure to hamstring GENECIS in November 2021, when the clinic was closed to new patients.

The clinic was allowed to continue seeing existing patients.

After Lopez filed a lawsuit in March 2022 seeking to fully reopen the clinic, a Dallas judge issued a temporary order, allowing the clinic to continue seeing new patients until the case could be settled in court.

A request for comment from Southwestern Medical Center on the status of the GENECIS clinic was not immediately returned.

Local news outlets reported that 100 families with children signed up for care as soon as the clinic reopened.

Do No Harm

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, board chairman of Do No Harm. (Courtesy of Do No Harm)

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb is chairman of the board for Do No Harm, a group that fights radical ideologies in medicine.

Texas new law is significant because it affects large treatment centers for transgender youth, Goldfarb told The Epoch Times.

Children who are confused about their gender need mental health care instead of surgeries or hormones, Goldfarb said.

The vast, vast majority of these children bring with them a tremendous burden of psychological difficulty, he said.

I hope [the hospitals] pivot to the right kind of care for these children.

Some pediatric hospitals operate on the theory that the reason children with gender dysphoria have psychological problems is because they havent had a chance to change their gender, he said.

Once the children are allowed to transition to a different gender, advocates think the psychological problems experienced by these children will go away, he added.

But evidence from several studies suggests that the opposite happens, he said.

The literature doesnt show their psychological problems will go away.
Some sudden deaths were caused by COVID-19 vaccines, autopsies have confirmed.

Eight people who died suddenly after receiving a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine died due to a type of vaccine-induced heart inflammation called myocarditis, South Korean authorities said after reviewing the autopsies.

Vaccine-related myocarditis was the only possible cause of death, Dr. Kye Hun Kim of the Chonnam National University Hospital and other South Korean researchers said.

All of the sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) occurred in people aged 45 or younger, including a 33-year-old man who died just one day after receiving a second dose of Modernas vaccine and a 30-year-old woman who died three days after receiving a first dose of Pfizers shot.

Myocarditis wasnt suspected as a clinical diagnosis or cause of death before the autopsies, researchers said.

Thirteen other deaths were recorded among those who experienced myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination but no autopsy results were detailed. Some of those who died had received AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine.

The results show the need for careful monitoring or warning of SCD as a potentially fatal complication of COVID-19 vaccination, especially in individuals who are ages under 45 years with mRNA vaccination, according to the researchers, who reported the findings in a study published by the European Heart Journal on June 2.

The study was funded by the South Korean government.

Dr. Andrew Bostom, a retired professor of medicine in the United States who wasnt involved in the research, said the results emphasize why mandating and promoting vaccines for younger people was wrong.

These are people who ostensibly did not need the vaccine, Bostom told The Epoch Times after reviewing the paper. Thats what adds insult to injury.

Pfizer, Moderna, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration didnt respond to requests for comment.

Rare, but Severe in a Fifth of Cases

The overall occurrence of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination was rare, according to the study, though one of its limitations is that the true number could be higher.

Out of 44.2 million people who received at least one dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca vaccines between Feb. 26, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2021, 1,533 cases of suspected myocarditis were reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Out of those, an expert adjudication committee confirmed 480 cases of vaccine-induced myocarditis.

The cases primarily happened in males and people under 40. All but 18 were caused by an mRNA vaccine.

The overall rate was one case per 100,000 vaccinated persons. The highest rates were in 12- to 17-year-olds, with 3.7 cases per 100,000 and 5.2 cases per 100,000 males.

The numbers werent broken down by vaccine type and age, meaning the rates were diluted because they included non-mRNA vaccine recipients. Excluding non-mRNA shots has led to the estimation of higher rates in other places, such as 75.9 cases per one million second Pfizer doses in 16- and 17-year-old American males.

Both those numbers and the Korean figures are prone to underreporting. In Korea, authorities automatically excluded any cases involving myocarditis developed 43 days or more after vaccination as well as any cases that included a positive COVID-19 test, despite some experts asserting theres stronger evidence for vaccine-caused myocarditis than COVID-19-induced heart inflammation.

We have kids showing up, young adults showing up with chest pain, and most of them end up in the hospital for 24, 48, 72 hours and they go home. But are we missing people that are dying before they get to the hospital? Dr. Anish Koka, an American cardiologist, told The Epoch Times after reviewing the study.

Now, just because we live in the real world and were not seeing avalanches of kids dying, we know that its a rare signal, but how rare is it? Is it happening? he added. The new study clearly shows that its happening. No doubt weve had deaths happen in the U.S. post-vaccine that have just not been attributed correctly.

Myocarditis is a known side effect of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and can cause death, according to previous research and medical examiners. Symptoms included chest pain, trouble sleeping, and fever. While many people who experience myocarditis after vaccination are discharged from the hospital within a day or two, they can still suffer from long-term problems.

The new study classified 1 in 5 vaccine-induced myocarditis cases as severe. Those cases involved one or more of the following: intensive care unit admission, fulminant myocarditis, usage of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, heart transplantation, and death.

A fifth of the cases were determined to be serious, Bostom said. Its disturbing.

Reporting System

South Koreas government established a reporting system for all adverse events following vaccination before COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out, tying it to a national compensation system that pays for medical expenses related to the adverse events.

The system even provides compensation to people who cannot establish causality to a vaccine but provide evidence such as temporal association, or the event happening soon after vaccination. Authorities also grant money to people who suffer mild effects.

More than 20,000 people were compensated through the program as of August 2022.

In contrast, the system in the United States has compensated just four people as of May 1, and rejected a number whose doctors diagnosed them with vaccine injuries.

Both countries require health care workers to report certain events after vaccination, such as myocarditis, though not all cases have been reported, at least in the United States.

U.S. officials have reviewed autopsies done on people who died after receiving COVID-19 vaccines but have refused to release them. In an update in February, officials said they would provide some information from the autopsy reports but to date have not done so.

Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately listed numbers for which vaccines were received by the deceased and how many myocarditis cases were caused by non-mRNA vaccines. Some of the deceased received AstraZenecas vaccine. Eighteen myocarditis cases were identified in recipients of non-mRNA vaccines. The Epoch Times regrets the errors.
Staff at 29 Houston Schools Must Reapply for Jobs Under New State-Appointed Superintendent

People hold up signs at a news conference while protesting the proposed takeover of Houston Independent School District by the Texas Education Agency in Houston on March 3, 2023. (Juan A. Lozano/AP Photo)

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has appointed a new superintendent to lead Houston Independent School District (ISD) following the agencys takeover of the states largest district.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced on June 1 that Mike Miles would take the helm of the district, serving nearly 190,000 students across 274 schools. Miles replaces Superintendent Millard House II, who was hired in 2021 to improve student performance across the district.

Less than a week into his new role, Miles has already begun overhauling the district as the 20222023 school year comes to a close.

HISDs failure to serve your students, to provide basic services, and set meaningful goals for your students is a complete systemic failure from top to bottom, Miles wrote in a message to parents on his first day on the job. It ends today. We will be asking for your help and partnership, but we will overhaul HISDs provision of special education services by the end [of] 2023.

Hours into his first day on the job, Miles announced that employees at 29 campusesincluding principals, teachers, counselors, support staff, and otherswould be required to reapply for their jobs.

Miles has dubbed the initiative New Education System.

Teachers with three years of experience who are rehired could earn a higher salary. The base compensation for teachers with three years of experience ranges from $79,000 to $91,000.

Miles is currently working under a temporary 21-day contract until the districts new board of managers formally approves his role as superintendent. The nine-member board of managers, also appointed by Morath, replaces the districts elected board of trustees.

The board of managers is required to meet the same obligations as an elected board of trustees, including holding all meetings in public, allowing for public comment, holding public hearings, and posting all required budget and tax information for public review and discussion, according to TEA.

The board of managers includes Audrey Momanaee, Ric Campo, Angela Lemond Flowers, Michelle Cruz Arnold, Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, Janette Garza Lindner, Rolando Martinez, Paula Mendoza, and Adam Rivon.

Miles announced on June 6 the appointment of 10 members to his cabinet, effective immediately.

Cabinet members include Kerri Briggs, who will serve as chief of staff; Orlando Riddick, Luz Martinez, and Imelda De La Guardia, who will serve as division superintendents; Jim Terry as chief of finance and business services; and Kristen Dobson Hole as chief academic officer.

Their collective experience and expertise make this one of the most skilled education leadership teams in the nation, Miles said in a statement. More important than that, they share the clear and ambitious vision to implement system-wide reform in HISD that improves student outcomes for all HISD students, eradicates the massive achievement gaps for Black and Brown students, and provides a full set of education experiences to prepare all HISD graduates for the year 2035 and beyond.

Who Is Mike Miles?

Miles has three decades of experience as an educator.

Most recently, he served as the founder and CEO of Third Future Schools, which has a network of public charter schools in Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

The network was founded on the notion that a Year 2035 workplace will require new skills and the ability to think critically, the website states.

From 2012 to 2015, Miles served as superintendent of Dallas ISD, the second-largest school district in the state, but he parted ways abruptly when the school board denied his requests to amend his contract, The Dallas Morning News reported in June 2015.

Miles, who was earning a salary of more than $300,000, wanted immediate access to a $50,000 retention incentive supplement that was not scheduled for payment until July 1, 2017, according to reports. He also wanted school board members to follow the districts Board Operating Procedures.

After being denied the opportunity to amend his contract, Miles resigned two years before the end of his five-year contract. He cited several reasons for his abrupt departure, including his desire to move back to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where his wife and youngest son lived.

The challenge with Mike Miles wasnt his ideas of turning around schools or trying to reform education, the challenge with Mike Miles was his approach with people. Hes a military-minded person, he came in saying Its my way or the highway, and he didnt do well with Dallas politics, longtime Dallas education advocate Edward Turner told the Houston Chronicle.

Before making the move to Dallas ISD, Miles was superintendent of Harrison School District in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from 2006 to 2012. He also served in the U.S. Army as a diplomat for the Department of State, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Miles received a bachelors degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a masters degree in international affairs and public policy from Columbia University.

What Led to State Takeover?

In March, the TEA announced the state takeover of Houston ISD that would include appointing a new superintendent and board of managers. The state agency first attempted to oversee the district in 2019 following allegations of misconduct by school trustees, which included inappropriate influencing of vendor contracts and years of low academic scores at Phillis Wheatley High School.

Early this year, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a temporary injunction blocking the TEA from replacing the districts elected school board members with state managers.

I have carefully reviewed the Texas Supreme Courts opinion. I have also considered the information presented by the district during the previously granted formal review, Morath wrote in a letter to House and the former school board members in March (pdf).

As a result of those deliberations, and to best support the students, teachers, and school community of Houston ISD, I am appointing a Board of Managers to the district as an intervention action required by law, the letter continued.

House had developed a five-year plan to address the issues within Houston ISD. Wheatleys rating improved from unacceptable to a C under Houses leadership.

Because of the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff, we have lifted 40 of 50 schools off the D or F TEAs accountability rating list, House said in a statement following the announcement of the agencys plan to take control.

Morath will determine how long the TEA will be in charge of Houston ISD. Previous state takeovers have lasted two to six years.
Students Dropout Rates Highest in a Decade: Productivity Commission Report

Australias school retention rate has dropped to the lowest level in 10 years, with one in five teenagers not finishing high school in 2022.

According to the Productivity Commission report on government services published on June 6, only 79 percent of students from year 10 to year 12 finished high school, the lowest in a decade.

Non-government schools have higher rates of students completing their high school education (87.2 percent) compared to government schools (73.5 percent).

Only less than half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students finished Year 12 in New South Wales (45 percent). But in the Northern Territory, that figure is 42 percent, the lowest among all states and 79.5 percent in the Australian Capital Territory, the highest among all states.

Meanwhile, most students from years seven and eight remained in school, with only three percent dropping out in all jurisdictions other than the Northern Territory since 2013.

Colin Axup, President of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, said the post-COVID hangover is one of the potential factors behind the high dropout rates.

Axup told Melbournes 3AW radio on Tuesday that many students have had a tough time during the pandemic with online study, and maybe theyre no longer seeing the value in it, which is disappointing.

The increase in the number of apprenticeships available also means some students are less willing to complete their normal secondary schooling.

Its important to get an education whether its finishing year 12  or VCE, or getting a TAFE qualification is incredibly important. We know weve known for a long time that those qualifications mean longer and better employment opportunities for people. So its important to get those qualifications.

He added that the schooling experience is valuable not only because of the academic education it offers but also because of the structures and communities.

I believe that the structure of school and going to school and that process, if you like, the socialisation of a school setting is as important as the academic side, he added.

Educational Achievement Between Rich and Poor Kids Widen

The education gap between kids coming from wealthy and poor households was also widening, with only 74 percent of students from the poorest families completing high school, reported the Australian Financial Review.

In May, Education Minister Jason Clare said that 15 years ago, the reading skills of 8-year-olds from poor families and 8-year-olds from wealthy families was about a year.

Now its two. If you start behind, or if you fall behind, its hard to catch up. More often, the gap gets bigger and bigger with every year at school, he told a gathering of the NSW Teachers Federation.

Previously, the education minister remarked, If youre a child today from a poor family, or from the bush, or youre an Indigenous child, then youre three times more likely to fall behind at school.

Worsening Disciplinary Climate

Australian schools are also grappling with declining student outcomes, lower student engagement and worsening discipline issues.

A report by the Organisation for Economy Co-operation and Development (OECD) released in April revealed that the disciplinary climate in Australian schools was among the least favourable in the OECD.

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) index, which surveys noise and disruptions in classrooms in different countries and grades them around an average of zero, Australian classrooms were rated at -0.2 compared to the average rate of 0.04.

The higher dropout rates and discipline issues come despite increasing government funding to the education sector.

According to the May budget, funding for government schools will total $10.8 billion in the next financial year, a 5.7 percent rise, while grants for private and Catholic schools will reach $17.4 billion, an increase of 4.8 percent.
The Boys of America Are SufferingHow Can We Help Them?

Commentary

Contrary to popular belief, the patriarchy doesnt rule with an iron fist. Nevertheless, for some perverse reason, the myth of male privilege still persists. Today, only a fool could look around and honestly say that we live in a mans world. Every 13.7 minutes, somewhere in the United States, a man takes his own life. For every female that commits suicide, there are four men ending their own lives. Millions of boys and men lead lives of quiet desperation, rotting away inside self-imposed prison cells.

What should these men do? See a medical doctor, perhaps? Maybe visit a psychologist?

As Ive noted before, the fields of medicine and psychology are, like the men of America, also in crisis. This isnt to say that all doctors and all psychologists offer nothing of value, of course. This is to say that the institutions creating the doctors and psychologists of tomorrow are, for lack of a better word, damaged.

In the field of psychology, as the science writer Rolf Degen recently noted, approximately 1 in every 10 citations across leading psychology journals is completely inaccurate, misrepresenting or even contradicting the cited findings. Still reeling from the effects of the much-discussed replication crisis, psychology now has a crisis of reputation to wrestle with. To compound matters, the American Psychological Association (APA), the main accreditor for professional education and training in psychology, has, for years, demonized masculinity, labeling admirable qualities such as stoicism and competitiveness psychologically harmful.

As the psychologist Christopher J. Ferguson, a man who has been very critical of the APA in the past, told me, the APAs controversial position on men and masculinity is part of a larger problem of ideological capture for the APA, as it increasingly parrots far-left talking points, rather than educating people on the often messy and nuanced science.

Sadly, he added, the APA really stopped functioning as a science organization a long time ago, and its current disparagement of traditional men, in the absence of good data, should properly be viewed as prejudicial and unethical.

Strong words. Ferguson, one of the few psychologists brave enough to stand up and speak out against the psychological establishment, knows that psychology, in its current form, isnt fit for purpose.

If the men and boys of America cant rely on doctors and psychologists for support, what should they do?

As Jordan Petersons success has shown us, many men, particularly young men, are looking to individuals rather than institutions for answers. However, as Peterson goes from being a public intellectual to a modern-day superhero intent on defeating the bad guys in Davos, young men are looking for new role models.

Enter Richard Reeves, an academic whose research focuses on issues pertaining to inequality and social mobility. For years, Reeves has been held up as a rational voice, a strong representative for the boys and men of America. However, Reeves, who seems like a very decent man, is affiliated with the Brookings Institution, a research group that The New York Times glowingly refers to as a pillar of Washingtons liberal establishment and a prestigious, left-leaning institution. In other words, Reeves, like so many other researchers and commentators, is a slave to the liberal machine, the very same machine that has steamrolled over men for years.

In his latest book, Of Boys and Men, Reeves goes to great lengths to praise feminism and the feminist framework of intersectionality. More concerningly, Reeves appears to be rather fond of using the term cis heterosexual, instead of using a normal term like straight. Is a man who uses such terminology really capable of helping normal, everyday boys who are struggling to find meaning in their lives?

Theres also Matt Pinkett, the author of the brand new book, provocatively titled Boys Do Cry. According to the British teacher and author, schools should provide lessons in bromance to address the mental health crisis among boys. However, like Reeves, Pinkett goes to great lengths to smuggle in trans-friendly jargon, even dedicating an entire chapter to the many ways in which masculinity overlaps with LGBTQ+ issues. Also, like Reeves, Pinkett places great emphasis on encouraging boys to be more vulnerable, to embrace the tears, and to cry with pride.

Although the two authors correctly identify the problems facing boys, their prescriptions leave a lot to be desired. Adam Lane Smith, a psychotherapist who has been commenting on the masculinity crisis for years, told me that the current education system is built to operate in a way counter to how most boys learn and thrive.

The research is clear, he said, with an increasing number of boys being diagnosed by teachers and school staff with attention issues. These teachers and staff, added Smith, then pressure parents to find a doctor to corroborate that diagnosis and immediately medicate the boy, or else he will be expelled.

Even boys without violent tendencies are being pressured into medication or else they face expulsion, Smith told me. Part of this is due to the feminization of schools. In the United States, roughly 75 percent of teachers are female. Many of these teachers, noted Smith, are overworked and lack the mental energy required to deal with 30+ children for so many hours in a day; the boys will often stick out due to their higher testosterone behaviors.

Many of these female teachers also appear to struggle to engage with male students and consistently grade female students higher to encourage them, said the specialist.

Smith appears to be right. Girls perform better when theyre taught by a female teacher; the same, however, isnt true for boys.

As studies show, single-sex schooling and especially more hands-on school approaches prove that supposedly problematic boys can thrive in environments suitable to their mental functioning. Most teachers learn how to deal with boys through various training sessions and workshops. As Smith noted, many of these sessions and workshops have, in recent times, shifted to encourage teachers to view natural boy behaviors and energy levels as problematic to the profession.

Boys, he contends, are now a liability to be managed and pushed through the system as the teachers focus their energies on uplifting and empowering the girls.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
As the orange rays from Lake Ontarios setting sun filter through the glass windows of the tugboats elevated steel pilothouse, one can almost see her crew. Their faces, slightly blurred by time, are still fixed in anxious rigidity. As they pass around the binoculars, each man leans forward slightly, in a vain attempt to magnify the view. One is biting his lip while another holds his mouth agape in dazed amazement, scanning the beaches dead ahead. Their hearts are pounding; the confluence of fear and courage are palpable.

Unfortunately, their story stops there. That unknown crew sailed into the fog bank of history after participating in one of the most momentous events of the modern world: the D-Day invasion.

The vessel they sailed on, however, is now owned by the Port of Oswego Authority in Oswego, New York, where the H. Lee White Maritime Museum oversees it as a cultural asset, working on its restoration and maintaining public access.

According to historian Charles Dana Gibson, it was one of only about six in its class of the U.S. Armys large tugboats participating in Operation Overlord; it was known then as the LT-5 Major Elisha K. Henson.

Initially setting out from the English coast on June 6, 1944, the Henson was delayed by strong winds, arriving off the coast of Normandy in the early morning hours of June 7.

Michael R. Pittavino, curator of the maritime museum, tells us what happened next:

They beached the barges which were combat-loaded with ammunition, chock full of various munitions for tanks, rifles, etc. They beach those right up on shore as a contingency. The command, in their pre-invasion process planning, had said Okay, were going to build these Mulberry harbors  but what if they fail? Then the ship-to-shore logistics is completely cut off.

According to Pittavino, the Hensons participation in Operation Mulberry was critical to the initial invasion phase of Operation Overlord.

Operation Mulberry had facilitated the construction of great artificial harbors (or DIY harbors), historically referred to as Mulberry harbors, composed of sunken concrete caissons known as Phoenixes, blockships known as Gooseberries, and a line of floating breakwaters called Bombardons.

Writer Ken Ringle reported that preparation of the Mulberry harbors had sucked up every bit of available steel and concrete in a Great Britain already reeling from wartime shortages, but that it was brought to fruition in almost total secrecydespite obvious physical visibility.

According to the BBC, the prefabricated harbors (known as Mulberry A in the American sector and Mulberry B in the British sector) were built over six months by around 55,000 workers from 210,000 tons of steel [and] 1,000,000 tons of concrete. They still stand as one of the greatest civil engineering feats of modern times.

However, as curator Pittavino reminds us, a violent storm blew in on June 19 (D-Day plus 13), and by the 22nd, the Americans DIY harbor at Omaha Beach was largely destroyed. Pittavino tells us:

It never got repaired, and at that point theres evidence from Command and various [sources] to suggest that they actually began to feel the pinch of ammunition on the front lines, and without that [additional] ammo, things may have turned out differently.

The additional ammo hes referring to came from those loaded barges the tugs had already led up high on the beach and out of the way of the regular landing spots as a contingency plan. According to Vice-Admiral Alan Kirk, former head of American Naval Forces at Normandy, it was General Omar Bradley who crafted the brilliant backup plan in case the weather got so bad that the little boats that were supposed to take it in couldnt carry it.

And so it was that commandeered car ferries from New York, Boston, and Baltimore harbors were filled to the brim with machine gun ammunition, ammunition for anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft guns, and 105s, bazookas, 155s, and so onthe ammunition that got towed with the help of tugboat LT-5 Henson. Vice-Admiral Kirk wrote, So this reserve ammunition was available and, by God, when the great storm came in mid-June, it saved our bacon. A very well-conceived idea of Bradleys and very well executed.

Writing for the magazine Sea Classics in the 1990s, historian Charles Dana Gibson summarized it this way:

The six U.S. Army LT tugs, of which the LT-5 was one, which by virtue of their cargo that they, with their civilian crews, towed to Normandy in June 1944, may well have saved an American army from a decisive defeat.

The legacy of Henson and its crew doesnt end there, however.

Naval History Magazine tells us that the Henson bloodied the enemy  when, on 9 June 1944, her group of ships was attacked by German fighters. Henson Navy gunners downed one, earning the vessel the distinction of being the only Army tug in the European Theater of Operations to do so.  On her stack, she proudly displays her kill mark: the silhouette of a fighter plane and swastika. Her twin .50-caliber guns still point skyward.

In 1946, the tugs name was changed to the John F. Nash and was an operating vessel for the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for many years before being offered for sale by the General Services Administration (GSA). Soon after being acquired as surplus by the Port of Oswego Authority, a former director for the maritime museum, Rosemary Nesbitt, successfully lobbied for the tug to be designated a National Historic Landmark, which was achieved in 1991.

Sadly, the names of its valiant D-Day invasion crew remain a mystery to this day, and her logbook has disappeared. Pittavino suggested that one of the reasons theyve never been able to identify the crew may be related to the 1973 National Archives fire.

According to the National WWII Museum, In 1973 a devastating fire in the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed about 17 million military personnel files. A loss with long-lasting repercussions, it affects our understanding and knowledge of many individual WWII stories.

Perhaps we dont really need to know their names because their identities are carved into the hearts of our American spirit. Besides, for some of us, when we rub our eyes, we can still see their faces on the other side of the pilothouse glass, and we give a wave of thanks.
The Paper of Record Fronts for the Deep State

Commentary

There was hardly time in the day, but I simply couldnt pull myself away from the June 5 discussion between Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Twitter Spaces. I was there mid-afternoon with nearly 70,000 others listening to a live conversation on every topic from foreign policy to economics to civil liberties to guns.

It was engaging and super intelligent, which is rather the last thing one expected in politics.

It began with a surprising turn. Kennedy congratulated Musk for emancipating Twitter from government control and wondered what gave rise to his love for free speech. Musk was taken aback and took a while to realize that he was the one being interviewed! It was a nice and patrician-like turn, because it established that Kennedy wouldnt use the platform for the usual purposes but rather to speak as a real but highly intelligent and warm human being with a passion for public affairs.

When the questions finally turned to Kennedy, he handled them with mastery over topics he knew well and also humility over that which he didnt know well. He feared no questions at all, so each time, he gave a memorable answer that shattered all the usual suppositions and categories.

On the issue of pharmaceuticals, he really knows his stuff, which is to say that he knows where all the bodies are buried. On vaccines, he said he doesnt want to make it a campaign issue but if someone asks him about the topic, hell certainly answer any question. But then he expects his answer not to be censored, as happened last month on television.

Even on guns, Kennedy had an intriguing answer. He has doubts that the Second Amendment was really intended to protect all individual ownership but he said he accepts the Supreme Court opinion that it does. He further pointed out that any attempt to restrict or regulate, much less confiscate, firearms today would only contribute to the feeling that the government is attacking the whole of the Bill of Rights.

This was a deeply honest answer that makes sense of his old position but gives some feeling of comfort to those who worry that he would govern like a typical gun grabber. But heres where it got really interesting. He pointed out that the United States has far more school shootings than any other country, and said he wants to know if psychotropic drugs have a role in that. He would start an immediate investigation concerning what drugs these kids had been prescribed and sound the alarm.

See what I mean? He has this way of cutting through all the ideological nonsense and speaking directly to what we might call common sense! Even on issues of monetary and fiscal policy, Kennedy was fascinating. Its not really his area, but he pointed out that his uncle, John F. Kennedy, was working toward reigning in the Federal Reserve with a silver-based rule. I think I know something about this topic but that was news to me. Ill research more later.

Even if you had paid no attention to public affairs for a year, if you had listened to this interview, you would see precisely why Kennedy is so feared. Hes breaking up fixed categories of thought. He has this authenticity and bravery about him. Hes bringing back old-fashioned truth as we once knew it. Theres no topic that he isnt willing to take on with the facts as he sees them. He isnt about performance but rather just good sense.

Its so darn refreshing.

I have no clue if his campaign can really make a go of it, but I can see why the ruling class wants it stopped as soon as possible. Thats why The New York Times made such an enormous mess out of its reporting of his announcement event in Boston. I was there, and it was brilliant. The NY Times coverage was laughably inaccurate, truncated, and phantasmagoric.

Then came the headline last night about the Twitter Spaces interview. This you wont believe: Robert Kennedy Jr., With Musk, Pushes Right-Wing Ideas and Misinformation. Ah, there we go, objective journalism at its finest! If youre hip to the use of language these days, right-wing means that youre treated like a terrorist, and misinformation means true information that you arent supposed to know.

Good grief, these people are completely unhinged. Keep in mind that this isnt supposed to be an opinion piece:

Unlike Marianne Williamson, the other announced Democratic challenger to Mr. Biden, he does not appear to be aiming to appeal to Democrats who are ideologically opposed to the moderate president or are otherwise uneasy with renominating him. Instead, he has used his campaign platformand his famous nameto promote misinformation and ideas that have little traction in his party.

Did you catch that? The moderate president, oh sure! This is revealing in so many ways. If the establishment can define Biden as a moderate, he then can be seen as representing some mainstream view, when in reality, the warmongering corporatism of this administration runs counter to every value at the root of this countrys traditions. Its nothing but a clever trick.

And if Kennedys ideas have so little traction in the Democratic Party, why is he polling so high among Democrats? Its precisely because hes making sense. Democrats too are human beings with brains, and they can see and hear this.

The article goes on:

Mr. Kennedy, 69, is a longtime amplifier and propagator of baseless theories, beginning nearly two decades ago with his skepticism about the result of the 2004 presidential election as well as common childhood vaccines. His audience for such misinformation ballooned during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Mr. Kennedy repeated a host of false statements.

The article proceeds with the usual pettifoggery, even to the point of saying that American intelligence agencies have assured us that COVID-19 has nothing to do with a bioweapons program. Oh, then that certainly settles the case!

Why is The New York Times so overtly deferential to the intelligence agencies? Perhaps because the paper is one of them? Keep in mind that this paper spent the better part of two years (201719) investigating the claim that Trump won in 2016 only with assistance from Russia, a claim thats been wholly and completely debunked. This was propaganda all along.

The paper cheered the two impeachments of Trump. And when it came time to really stick the knife in with the COVID-19 panic, it was The New York Times that was chosen to kick off the mass disease panic (that was Feb. 27, 2020) and then promote the lockdowns that wrecked the economy and presidency. It was also the NY Times that blessed the insane idea that we should go medieval to tackle a virus thats mild for 99 percent of the population.

Lets just be blunt. Looking back, a silent coup detat took place in this country following 2016, culminating in the emergency declaration of March 13, 2020. The administrative state, the deep state, took charge and threw out representative democracy. Nothing has changed in the meantime. Thats where we are today. This gang desperately wants to stay in charge and make sure that the American people are in no position to gain back power from the coup plotters.

Everything in public life, and politics in particular, needs to be seen through that lens. Thats why Kennedy and Ron DeSantis are regarded as existential threats. If either or both succeed, the American people might begin to imagine that they could be in power again. All other considerations of Republicans and Democrats, right and left, pale in comparison to this larger struggle.

Indeed, this is the key battle of our times.

The stakes are extremely high. The ruling class has entrenched itself in every sector: tech, media, corporations, churches, and, of course, government. They had a great ride during the COVID-19 years and now are desperate to retain their power.

The American system, however, stands against them. Were supposed to have freedom and democratic forms. We sing about them constantly. These ideals are going nowhere.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with a German Social Democratic Party (SPD) delegation led by Lars Klingbeil, chairman of the SPD, on Tuesday in Beijing, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua.

Hailing the positive contributions of the SPD to promoting China-Germany relations over the years, Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the CPC is willing to work with the SPD to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen exchanges between the two parties at various levels and enhance institutionalized dialogue, strengthen communications of development philosophy and synergy of development strategies, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

The CPPCC is ready to enhance exchanges with the German side to further enrich and develop the political civilization of humanity, Wang added.

Noting that for the past nearly 40 years, the SPD has engaged in close dialogue and communications with the CPC, Klingbeil expressed the expectation that amid major changes in the international landscape, the two parties can maintain in-depth dialogue, enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, and help deepen cooperation in various sectors of the two countries.
TUNIS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Tunisia Monday signed a joint cooperation agreement on conducting archaeological investigation, excavation and protection of an ancient Roman site in Tunisia.

Li Qun, China's vice minister of culture and tourism and head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and Hayat Guermazi, Tunisian culture minister, attended the signing ceremony and held working talks.

Li said that the joint archaeological research between China and Tunisia on the ancient Roman ruins in the region of Ben Arous is of great significance.

Chinese archaeological institutions have carried out 44 joint archaeological projects in 24 countries, and China has relatively advanced archaeological technology and mature experience in foreign cooperation, Li said.

He hoped that the two countries will actively discuss joint archaeology in more heritage sites and carry out cooperation in mutual exhibition of cultural relics, recovery and return of lost cultural relics as well as personnel training.

Noting that both Tunisia and China have a long history and culture, Guermazi expressed her satisfaction with the collaboration between Tunisia and China in the field of archaeology, and voiced hope that the two sides can further expand the scope of cultural cooperation and promote cultural exchanges. 
The Supreme Courts New Decision on Taking Property

Commentary

In the next few weeks, the Supreme Court will be finishing up its October Term. The term gets its name from the fact that it begins on Oct. 1. The next few columns will unpack some of the courts most important decisions.

Ill be focusing mostly (although not entirely) on cases interpreting the Constitution rather than on cases interpreting federal law.

It may not surprise you to learn that the media take on Supreme Court cases is frequently unreliable. The narratives pushed by nationally reported expertsconservative as well as liberalare often unreliable as well. This is because their understanding of the Constitution is often limited and because many have political agendas that cloud their analysis.

In addition to other comments, Ill be assessing each case from the standpoint of whether it applies the Constitution correctly. And by the Constitution, I mean the document as understood when it was ratified, together with all duly adopted amendments.

Accordingly, my analysis often will be very different from what you see elsewhere in the press, including in this newspaper.

Someone Didnt Pay Her Taxes!

Geraldine Tyler owned a condominium unit in Hennepin County, Minnesota. She didnt pay her real property taxes for at least six years. Eventually, she owed $15,000 in taxes and penalties, and the county foreclosed on her unit.

The county sold the unit for $40,000. Following Minnesota state law, the county kept all $40,000. It didnt return to her the $25,000 difference between the sum she owed and the sum the county received. She claimed that the countys conduct was unconstitutional. The case is Tyler v. Hennepin County (pdf).

On May 25, the justices unanimously agreed with her, ruling that keeping the extra $25,000 wasat least for purposes of this disputean unconstitutional taking of her property. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion.

My first instinct was to cheer. Tyler is 94 years old, and (it seemed to me) the county was trying to rob an elderly lady by taking far more than justifiedan unfair forfeiture.

But for many years before I switched full-time to constitutional law, I practiced municipal law; practiced, wrote, and taught extensively in real estate law; and was involved in the real estate markets in other ways.

With that background, I scrutinized the case further. Now, Im not so sure the result was just.

Was the Result Just?

Justice rewards personal responsibility and punishes irresponsibility. The taxes on Tylers unit were very moderate. She knew about real estate taxes, since she had paid them earlier. After she stopped paying, she must have received many notices that her taxes were overdue. But she ignored her responsibility for at least six yearsmaybe longer.

What about her age? The court said shes 94, but her neglect began years earlier. More importantly, the court never said she was mentally impaired. My mother (to cite one contrasting case) wrote all the checks for her property taxes until shortly before her death at age 101.

The court intimated that family members took an active role in assisting Tyler. Indeed, theyre likely the real beneficiaries of this decision because they will inherit her property after her death. But these family members also ignored her tax bills.

Then theres another factor: The Minnesota forfeiture statute wasnt new. The county didnt spring it on Tyler. The statute had been in effect since 1935. Since the property was a condominium unit and there were almost no condominiums in the United States until the 1960s, the forfeiture rule almost certainly was on the books well before she purchased her unit.

That rule, like other aspects of real estate law, was reflected in the price she paid for her unit. In all likelihood, it lowered her price. Moreover, its application to other defaulters arguably reduced her own property tax bills.

So the courts decision allowed her to benefit from the lower price and from the application of the rule to othersbut then allowed her to flout the rule herself.

Was This Result Correct Under the Constitution?

The Constitution reserves the primary governance of real property to the states (pdf), so for a federal entity to intervene, it must have a constitutionally grounded reason for doing so. The court cited as its reason the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights (ratified in 1791). That clause states, Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. However, as the great Chief Justice John Marshall once ruled, the Bill of Rights was designed to regulate only the conduct of the federal government, not that of states and localities.

Other parts of the Constitution address state governments. One is the Fourteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. It requires states to guarantee equal protection of the law, due process of law, and the privileges or immunities of U.S. citizens. The terms due process of law, privileges, and immunities appear earlier in the Constitution. As the Founders understood it, due process means that if the government proceeds against you, it cant make up the rules as it goes along. The Founders understood privileges and immunities to be certain important entitlements created by law, such as trial by jury (pdf).

The amendment doesnt address takings at all.

But the court insisted that the Fourteenth Amendment applied the Fifth Amendment takings clause to the states through a legal theory called the incorporation doctrine. The incorporation doctrine is the view that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates all or most of the Bill of Rights against state governments. This view was developed mostly by liberal justices during the 20th century.

Volumes and volumes have been written to justify the incorporation doctrine, but authors have uncovered almost no direct evidence that the state lawmakers who ratified the Fourteenth Amendment understood the amendment that way. Instead, authors rely on circumstantial evidencemost of it very weak or taken out of contextand they largely disregard the text and structure of the Constitution itself.

The Tyler case exemplifies one reason those who claim that the current court is conservative are simply wrong: The court continues to apply a great deal of erroneous liberal precedent.

The GorsuchJackson Concurrence

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a concurring opinion. They argued that, in addition to violating the takings clause, Minnesotas forfeiture law violated the Eighth Amendments excessive fines clause (Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed ).

Treating the $25,000 forfeiture as an excessive fine does make more sense than treating it as a property taking. The problem with the concurring opinion, however, is that the Eighth Amendments excessive fines clause is no more part of the Fourteenth Amendment than is the takings clause. Its an entirely separate guarantee, as the Constitutions text makes clear.

Conclusion

If I were a Minnesota lawmaker, I wouldnt have voted for the forfeiture law. But the fact that a law is bad doesnt make it unconstitutional.

The Tyler case also shows why its profoundly misleading to label this bench or its six non-liberal justices as conservative. Protecting property from unfair taking looks conservative. But other aspects of the case look anything but.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Trump Decries Marxists and Fascists in DOJ, FBI Going After Me in Classified Documents Probe

Former president and Republican 2024 frontrunner Donald Trump lashed out at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI in a series of posts on his Truth social media account on Tuesday over their ongoing investigation of his handling of classified documents.

The Marxists and Fascists in the DOJ & FBI are going after me at a level and speed never seen before in our Country, and I did nothing wrong, Trump began a post on Truth Social on Tuesday morning.

The post came a day after Trumps lawyersLindsey Halligan, John Rowley, and James Trustywere seen leaving DOJ headquarters in Washington. Trumps legal team had requested a meeting with the DOJ last month to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors.

In November, Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed prosecutor Jack Smith to lead a special counsel investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. The investigation has also been probing Trumps involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and whether Trump broke any laws in raising objections about the 2020 election results.

Trump proceeded to compare Smiths investigation of his handling of classified documents to investigations of classified documents found in homes and office spaces belonging to President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Joe Biden kept (keeps) thousand of documents, in many locations, some illegally taken from skiffs while he was a Senator, a big portion of which were classified. He didnt want to give them back, and still doesnt, Trump continued. Nothing happens to him, with same reasonable prosecutor who correctly exonerated Mike Pence.

Last week, the DOJ closed its investigation into Pence and declined to pursue charges. Trump said his case is being treated differently because Smith hates him personally.

I have a much different prosecutor, a Trump hater!

In a second post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said the fact that he remains under investigation is a form of election interference by the DOJ and those above them.

They dont want to run against me. I ran twice, I did much better the second time, getting millions and millions more votes than the first, a record for a sitting President, and am leading Biden in the polls, by a lot. They are the Party of Disinformation! They are using the DOJ & FBI against me to Rigg (sic) the 2024 Election, Trump said. Theyll hit Hunter with something small to make their strike on me look fair. Nothing about these Fascists is fair or honest. FIGHT!

The sitting presidents son, Hunter Biden, is currently under investigation for possible tax fraud. Prosecutors may also charge Hunter Biden for lying about his drug use on a federal firearm purchase form.

Classified Documents Cases Compared

Trump has repeatedly argued that he had the authority as president to unilaterally declassify documents. This defense follows the logic that the power to classify and declassify information originates with the president, as the head of the executive branch. By contrast, the DOJ has argued that Trump has no proof that he had actually declassified documents he took with him after the presidency.

The DOJ had been aware that Trump possessed numerous documents from his time as president and had been involved in legal negotiations to gain access to those documents. The DOJ has said Trump or members of his team concealed and removed documents in a move that may have obstructed investigators before the FBI raided Trumps home in August.

Some of the classified documents found in Bidens possession correspond to his time as a senator and as vice president. Trump has argued that, as a senator, Biden would not have had the same ability to declassify the documents that a sitting president has.

Bidens defenders have drawn their own distinctions between his case and Trumps, arguing Biden was immediately cooperative with investigators while Trump and his team defied federal investigators.

Reuters contributed to this article.

From NTD News
Trump Fires Back at Michael Cohen in New Legal Drama

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York on Aug. 9, 2022. (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Former President Trump on Monday filed court papers that sought to block an attempt by Michael Cohen to dismiss a Trump lawsuit accusing his former lawyer of breaching his fiduciary duty by spreading falsehoods.

Despite Cohens arguments to the contrary, the Complaint alleges that Cohen was conferred substantial benefits during his representation of the Plaintiff and utilized such benefits for purposes of obtaining selfish, financial profit at the expense of Plaintiff, Trumps attorney Alejandro Britto said in a complaint (pdf) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Whats more, the complaint alleged Cohen engaged in egregious breaches of fiduciary duty and contract in connection to a podcast and books that are intended to be embarrassing or detrimental to Trump.

It comes months after Trumps lawyers filed a lawsuit against Cohen, saying the former attorney broke confidentiality agreements with Trump. His lawyers are seeking some $500 million in damages.

Trump accused Cohen of egregious breaches of fiduciary duty and contract in connection with the publication of books and the production of a podcast.

The lawsuit, filed in Miami in April, may offer a preview of arguments that are sure to be featured in Trumps defense against charges that he allegedly falsified internal business records to disguise payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. That month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office charged Trump in a high-profile incident in lower Manhattan; Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and said theyre attempts to interfere in the 2024 election.

Cohens spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, told The Associated Press that the lawsuit will not deter Cohens cooperation with prosecutors. Mr. Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Davis said. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him.

Cohens attorneys argued that Trumps lawsuit failed to properly state a claim and said it was a bid to silence a government witness in the prosecution of Trump.

The complaint, frivolous and scattershot, is an abusive act of pure retaliation and witness intimidation, albeit a ham-fisted one. It must be dismissed as a matter of law, his lawyers said.

Michael Cohen (R) leaves his Park Avenue apartment in New York City to begin serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, N.Y., on May 6, 2019. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

However, Trumps attorneys contended that Cohen, who spent several years in federal prison on fraud charges, presented poor legal arguments.

Cohen discusses the rulings in unrelated legal matters, makes references to various news articles designed to taint this Courts view of the Plaintiff and this case, unnecessarily injects invectives designed to exacerbate this already caustic matter, Britto wrote Monday.

Background

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations regarding the payments in 2016. He was sentenced to three years in a prison in Otisville, New York, although the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled him to serve the majority of the sentence under house arrest.

Although federal prosecutors referenced Trump in the charges against Cohen, they chose not to pursue a criminal case against him. Neither did investigators in the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted a wide-ranging probe through much of Trumps presidency before ultimately finding that now-discredited claims that the former president colluded with the Russian government were unsubstantiated.

In the days before the indictment against Trump was unsealed, Cohen, who has frequently criticized Trump during appearances on MSNBC and CNN since he took office, reportedly testified multiple times before a Manhattan grand jury regarding the alleged hush-money scheme.

Cohen has met with prosecutors 20 times through several iterations of the hush-money probe, according to AP. In January, he gave his cell phones to Manhattan prosecutors so they could extract evidence, including voice recordings of conversations he had with a lawyer for adult performer Stormy Daniels as well as emails and text messages.

A lawyer with close ties to Trump, Robert Costello, also told reporters that he also testified before the grand jury and sought to denigrate Cohens testimony. He noted that Cohen is a convicted perjurer who has no solid evidence against the former president.

Im the one who decided to do this. A lot of people cautioned me against it because I have nothing to gain. The only thing Im doing is trying to tell the truth to the grand jurors because I read all these lies in the media that are being promoted by one side, said Costello, who acted as a legal adviser to Cohen several years ago. If you see the full picture  If they want to go after Donald Trump and they have solid evidence, so be it.

But Michael Cohen is far from solid evidence, said Costello. This guy, by any prosecutors standardand I used to be deputy chief of the criminal division in the Southern District of New YorkI wouldnt have touched a guy like Michael Cohen, especially if hes a convicted perjurer.

The Epoch Times has contacted Davis, Cohens lawyer, for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TSMC Feeling Good About Possible Germany Plant, in Talks on Subsidies

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC is feeling good about talks over a possible first European factory in Germany and is discussing subsidies with the host countrys government, the companys chairman said on Tuesday.

TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, has been in talks with the German state of Saxony since 2021 about building a fabrication plant, or fab, in Dresden.

The European Union has approved the EU Chips Act, a 43 billion euro ($46.07 billion) subsidy plan to double its chipmaking capacity by 2030 in an attempt to catch up with Asia and the United States.

Speaking at the companys annual shareholders meeting, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cos Chairman Mark Liu said the company had already sent executives to Germany a few times for talks on the possible new plant.

So far the feeling is good, he said, adding there were some gaps in the supply chain and labour in Germany but these were being addressed.

We are still negotiating with Germany on subsidies, how much the subsidies will be, that there wont be conditions for the support. Germany is discussing this in detail, Liu said.

The company does not expect to decide whether to proceed before August at the earliest, a TSMC executive said last month.

TSMC is also investing $40 billion in a new plant in the western U.S. state of Arizona, supporting Washingtons plans for more chipmaking at home, but has expressed concerns about the criteria for U.S. semiconductor subsidies.

South Korean chipmakers have also raised concerns over the conditions, which include sharing excess profits with the U.S. government. Industry sources have said the application process itself could expose confidential corporate strategy.

Liu said the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) had an open attitude towards the subsidy conditions, adding that TSMC had last month submitted a pre-application and it would continue to have positive communication with the United States.

The DOC has said it will protect confidential business information, adding that the requirement to share excess profits would only occur when projects significantly exceeded projected cash flow.
UK Government Orders Chinese Embassy to Shut Unofficial Police Outposts

Britain's Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat arrives to attend the first Cabinet meeting under the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak in 10 Downing Street, London, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Niklas Halle'n/AFP via Getty Images)

The Chinese embassy in London has been told to shut down any so-called police service stations in the UK, British security minister Tom Tugendhat said on Tuesday.

In a written statement to Parliament, Tugendhat said the police so far havent found evidence of illegal activity at the addresses associated with the alleged Chinese police outposts.

The Chinese police service stations, which were opened worldwide unbeknownst to the governments of the host countries, were first revealed by human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders.

The Chinese regime said the outposts were set up to perform administrative tasks such as assisting expats with drivers license renewal, but Safeguard Defenders have alleged some stations were involved in persuasion to return operations, meaning they had helped to coerce targets to voluntarily return to China.

Safeguard Defenders have identified three such stations in the UK. The phone numbers were listed with innocuous addressesa food delivery business and an estate agent in London and a Chinese restaurant in Glasgow.

Tugendhat on Tuesday confirmed that further allegations had been made that there was a fourth station in Belfast.

The Police have visited each of the locations identified by Safeguard Defenders, and carefully looked into these allegations to consider whether any laws have been broken and whether any further action should be taken, the minister said.

I can confirm that they have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites. We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had.

Tugendhat said its unacceptable that Chinese authorities opened the establishment without permission, and that their presence will have worried and intimidated those who have left China and sought safety and freedom here in the UK.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has told the Chinese Embassy that any functions related to such police service stations in the UK are unacceptable and that they must not operate in any form. The Chinese Embassy has subsequently responded that all such stations have closed permanently. Any further allegations will be swiftly investigated in line with UK law, he said.

Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, welcomed the announcement, saying the excellent statement confirmed the illegality of the establishment of such police stations.

In a thread on Twitter, Harth said the publicity around the so called police service stations had undoubtedly raised global attention on the Chinese regimes transnational repression as well as the united front networks engaged as proxies for the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], but it may well have made investigators lives more difficult.

She called on victims to report what happened to them, saying, democratic authorities need direct reports by victims to effectively tackle the Chinese regimes transnational repression.

If you areor know others that area victim of PRC transnational repression: PLEASE REPORT, she wrote. There is a unique window of opportunity to push/aid democracies to do more [and] better.

The three Chinese police stations identified by Safeguard Defenders were all operated by the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau, a police bureau in Southern Chinas Fujian province.

The NGO has identified 102 stations in 53 countries across six continents (pdf) that were operated by four Chinese local police jurisdictions.

It also said the real number is likely higher as more provinces had launched such projects.

The outposts have been running in parallel to a persuasion to return initiative, which persuaded some 230,000 overseas Chinese nationals to return to China to face criminal charges between April 2021 to July 2022.

In the United States, the FBI arrested two people in April in relation to a Chinese police station in New York.

According to U.S. District Attorney Breon Peace, the two individuals had established the station at the behest of the CCP, conducted transnational repression schemes in coordination with the regimes Ministry of Public Security, and sought to destroy evidence when they found out the FBI was investigating the site.

Several other countries, including Ireland and the Netherlands, have also ordered Chinese embassies to shut down their police outposts.
Ukraine, Russia Trade Blame for Partly Destroying Vital Dnipro River Dam

Local residents look at a partially flooded area of Kherson on June 6, 2023, following damage sustained at Kakhovka dam. The partial destruction unleashed a torrent of water that sent people fleeing flooding on the war's front line. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia and Ukraine are trading blame over the partial destruction of a hydroelectric dam on the Dnipro River, which has separated the warring sides since last November.

The dam was breached on June 6, causing widespread flooding in the Kherson region and prompting fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was quick to blame the incident on Russian terrorists.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg likewise accused Russian forces of destroying the dam, which, he said, demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

A general view of the Nova Kakhovka dam that was breached in Kherson, Ukraine, on June 6, 2023, in this screen grab taken from video. (Reuters)

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, We can say unequivocally that this was a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side.

On June 6, the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which spans the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region, was partially breached, causing widespread flooding in the vicinity.

Water from the Soviet-era dam is used to irrigate agricultural land in Kherson and the adjacent Black Sea region of Crimea. Its also used to cool Europes largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which is located in the neighboring region of the same name.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and also currently controls most of Zaporizhzhia, along with all of Kherson east of the Dnipro.

While its still unclear what caused the breach, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that the dams destruction only confirms for the whole world that they [Russians] must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

He went on to assert that as many as 80 settlements in the area were now subject to flooding as a result of the breach.

Last November, Russian forces withdrew from all territory in Kherson west of the Dnipro. The area, including the regional capital, is now held by Ukrainian forces.

Russia Says Kyiv Attack Faltering

The Kremlin responded by blaming Kyiv for the breach, which, it said, would lead to grave consequencesboth for the environment and local residents.

Peskov told reporters the alleged act of sabotage was aimed at depriving Russian-held Crimea of water and diverting attention from Kyivs foundering counteroffensive.

This sabotage is due to the fact that, having launched large-scale offensive operations two days ago, the Ukrainian military has been unable to achieve its objectives, he said.

Volunteer Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire toward Russian positions close to Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on March 8, 2023. (Libkos/AP Photo)

On the evening of June 5, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar denied Russian claims that an anticipated counteroffensive by Kyiv is in full swing.

Nevertheless, she conceded that Ukrainian forces were shifting to offensive actions in certain sectors along the roughly 600-mile front line.

Maliar wrote on Telegram that Moscows claims of a Ukrainian counteroffensive were meant to divert attention from recent Russian losses near the flashpoint city of Bakhmut.

Earlier on June 5, Moscow had claimed that its forces had repulsed a large-scale Ukrainian offensive carried out the previous day in the eastern Donetsk region.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces sustained significant losses in the engagement, including 300 combat personnel, 16 tanks, and 26 armored vehicles.

False Information

Kyiv, for its part, accused Moscow of disseminating false information regarding front-line developments.

Last month, Moscow claimed to have decisively captured Bakhmut, a key transport hub, after nine months of fighting. Kyiv, however, stated that its forces are still holding outand even taking groundon the citys western outskirts.

According to Denis Pushilin, head of the pro-Russia Donetsk Peoples Republic, Bakhmut remains firmly under Russian control.

But he also confirmed that the citys outskirts were under fire by Ukrainian combat drones and artillery.

As for the [citys] flanks, the situation  is difficult but under control, Pushilin was quoted as saying by Russias TASS news agency on June 5.

Continued Shelling

There arent any excessive [Ukrainian] actions in terms of advancing manpower, but the enemy continues shelling, he said.

Pushilin added that over the past 48 hours, Ukrainian forces had allegedly staged two separate assaults near the town of Vuhledar, roughly 85 miles south of Bakhmut.

Both assaults were repulsed, he said, after sustaining significant losses.

The Epoch Times was unable to verify the assertions.

For the past two months, speculation has mounted that a major Ukrainian counteroffensive, ostensibly aimed at retaking lost territory, was imminent.

Kyiv, however, has repeatedly hinted that the vaunted springtime offensive could be postponeddepending on weather and other factorsuntil autumn.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Ukraine, Russia Blame Each Other for Destruction of Critical Dam as Thousands Evacuated Amid Widespread Flooding

Ukraine has blamed Russian forces for blowing up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine.

The Nova Kakhovka damwhich holds the same amount of water as the Great Salt Lake in the U.S. state of Utahwas destroyed in the early hours of June 6, sending millions of liters of water bursting through a gaping hole.

The damage has prompted mass evacuations of multiple villages alongside the bank of the river, including parts of Kherson, with fears of widespread flooding amid rapidly rising water levels.

Ukraines Southern Operational Command claimed in a Facebook post that Russian forces blew up the dam but said it was still assessing the situation.

The Kakhovka [reservoir] was blown up by the Russian occupying forces, it said. The scale of the destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified.

On Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russian terrorists for the destruction of the dam, adding that it only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land.

Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only Ukraines victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else, the Ukrainian leader wrote.

A general view of the Nova Kakhovka dam that was breached in Kherson region, Ukraine, on June 6, 2023 in this screen grab taken from a video. (Reuters)

Colossal Damage to Environment

Zelenskyy added that services are continuing as normal and that he has convened the National Security and Defense Council to discuss the issue.

Video footage shared by Zelenskyy showed vast amounts of water surging through the remains of the dam downstream while widespread destruction could be seen on either side of the gaping hole.

The purpose is obvious: to create insurmountable obstacles on the way of the advancing [Ukrainian army]  to intercept the information initiative; to slow down the fair final of the war, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, Mikhailo Podolyak, said on Twitter. On a vast territory, all life will be destroyed; many settlements will be ruined; colossal damage will be done to the environment.

Russia must be immediately recognized as a terrorist country with all tough legal consequences, Podolyak added.

European Council President Charles Michel also appeared to blame Russian troops for the unprecedented attack on the dam, writing on Twitter that the destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime  and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.

According to the Geneva Conventions, attacking works and installations containing dangerous forces, namely dams, dykes and nuclear electrical generating stations can be considered a war crime if it may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population.

Russian officials immediately countered the claims made by Ukraine and blamed the incident on Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area that destroyed the hydraulic valves of the hydroelectric power station.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said the damage to the Soviet-era dam was a result of overnight strikes by Ukraines armed forces and called it a very serious terrorist act, The Associated Press reported.

A general view of the Nova Kakhovka dam that was breached in Kherson region, Ukraine, on June 6, 2023 in this screen grab taken from a video. (Reuters)

Evacuations Underway, Critical Water Levels

Separately, Leontyev told local TV stations that residents from roughly 300 homes were being evacuated in order to avoid casualties as water levels were expected to rise rapidly. He claimed that the city was still being shelled by Ukrainian forces as of Tuesday morning.

He added that the scale of destruction is very serious, and that it is unclear how difficult it will be to restore the broken dam.

Ukraines state-owned energy company, Ukrhydroenergo, said in a separate statement that the damage caused by the breach will be impossible to repair. It added that water levels would reach critical levels within hours.

Water levels at the Kakhovka reservoir had already reached a 30-year high of 17.5 meters in recent months, according to official data.

Kherson Oblast Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said on national television that roughly 16,000 homes in the area are located in critical risk zones and are currently being evacuated. The villages of Tiahynka, Lvove, Odradokamianka, Ivanivka, Mykilske, Poniativka, Tokarivka, Bilozerka, and the Ostrov district in Kherson were fully or partially flooded, Prokudin said.

Initially built in 1956 on the Dnipro River as part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, the Nova Kakhovka dam is 30 meters (33 yards) tall and 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) long.

The dam supplies water to southern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and also to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Twitter that it was aware of reports regarding damage to the dam but that there is no immediate nuclear safety risk at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Officials are closely mentoring the situation, the agency added.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Universities Not Preparing Young People for the Workplace, Say Business Leaders

Most UK business leaders believe that universities do not prepare graduates for the workplace, according to a survey.

Among the 600 UK business leaders interviewed for the survey conducted by tech start-up Multiverse, 70 percent do not believe the current higher education system delivers the skills needed for the workforce.

UK universities are not offering courses that link to real-world experiences in the workplace and are not sufficiently teaching durable soft skills like teamwork and leadership, business leaders are quoted as saying.

Only 32 percent of business leaders believe a graduates degree grade is one of the top three indicators of their potential, the findings suggest.

Meanwhile, 59 percent of executives at larger companies say they learned more valuable skills during their first two years in the workplace than during university.

Far Removed From Reality

Euan Blair, founder and chief executive of Multiverse, which provides apprenticeship programmes, said: The university system is far removed from the realities of the workplace and theres little to no correlation between academic grades and job performance. Yet many businesses still require a degree to open the door to the best jobs.

We need to completely rethink our relationship with education. To keep up with the rapidly accelerating pace of technological change, the idea that a three or four-year degree is enough education for a three or four-decade career has passed.

He added: The best preparation for the workforce will increasingly come from applied learning, delivered on the job.

Instead of relying chiefly on the higher education system, businesses should prioritise apprenticeships and training programmes that run throughout someones career. The future of learning is working.

Complementary

But Universities UK (UUK), an organisation representing British universities, said university degrees and practical education do not sit in tension.

A UUK spokesperson said: Universities provide a wide-ranging education, preparing students for life beyond the classroom, as well as training the next generation of doctors, nurses, engineers, and teachers.

Their value continues to be recognised by employers, with our research indicating that there are one million more professional jobs in the UK than workers with degrees to fill them.

Degree apprenticeships and other forms of on the job learning are invaluable for many people at all stages of their education, and universities are some of the biggest providers of these qualifications in the UK.

Contrary to the popular narrative, university degrees and practical education do not sit in tension, but are instead complementary parts of the higher education landscape.

Tidal Wave of Wokism

The report comes at a time when British universities face criticisms over their record in defending free speech on campus.

Christopher McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education told The Epoch Times last year: A tidal wave of wokism is flooding our university campuses and drowning free speech and liberty of expression. The lights are going out on campus, and we are unlikely to see them lit again in the lifetime of the current generation of academics and woke commissars who preside over our institutions of learning.

Cambridge professor Arif Ahmed, who was recently appointed as the Office for Students (OfS) director for freedom of speech and academic freedom, said free speech is the only real engine of both scientific discovery and social progress.

But in a commentary in The Times of London, he said, There are urgent threats to free speech and academic freedom in our universities and colleges.

Ahmeds new role was announced weeks after the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act became law.

The historic legislation will establish a new complaints system and strengthen the legal duties on higher education providers in England to protect and promote freedom of speech on campuses, for students, staff, and visiting speakers.

Owen Evans and PA Media contributed to this report.
US Agency Sues Cryptocurrency Exchange Coinbase

Company stock, Bitcoin prices drop after lawsuit filed

The mobile phone icon for the Coinbase application in New York, on April 13, 2021. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 6 sued one of the largest cryptocurrency platforms in the world, sending the companys stock down.

Coinbase, the platform, has been operating its crypto platform without registration, violating federal law, according to the lawsuit.

Coinbase has never registered with the SEC as a broker, national securities exchange, or clearing agency, thus evading the disclosure regime that Congress has established for our securities markets, the suit, filed in federal court in New York, states. All the while, Coinbase has earned billions of dollars in revenues by, among other things, collecting transaction fees from investors whom Coinbase has deprived of the disclosures and protections that registration entails and thus exposed to significant risk.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires companies to register with the SEC if it meets certain criteria, such as having assets valued at more than $10 million and issuing securities.

Coinbase operates a platform through which people can buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Millions of dollars flow through the platform each day. Other features include staking assets and earning profits by allowing the assets to be used for crypto trading.

Thats one of the services Coinbase should have, but failed to, register, according to the SEC.

Coinbase never registered its staking-as-a-service program as required by the securities laws, again depriving investors of critical disclosure and other protections, Gary Gensler, chair of the SEC, said in a statement.

Coinbase also should have registered because it issues securities, authorities said. Securities are defined in part as investment contracts, or pacts through which people invest money and expect profits. At least 13 assets that Coinbase offers meet the definition, according to the complaint, including tokens from Axie Infinity, Filecoin, and Voyager.

Coinbase knew that assets it offered could be designated as securities, including releasing a document in 2016 that cited a U.S. Supreme Court case that outlined how to determine if an arrangement involved an investment contract. The document stated that such a contrast is a type of security and that at least some tokens likely met the definition. Coinbase later asked developers of assets to answer questions that would provide answers relevant to the Supreme Courts ruling. And the company also formed a group in 2019 that it said was aimed at providing a fact-intensive analysis to see whether certain cryptos were securities.

Coinbase was fully aware of the applicability of the federal securities laws to its business activities, but deliberately refused to follow them. While Coinbases calculated decisions may have allowed it to earn billions, its done so at the expense of investors by depriving them of the protections to which they are entitled. Todays action seeks to hold Coinbase accountable for its choices, Gurbir Grewal, another SEC official, added.

Coinbase responded by calling for updated legislation from Congress.

The SECs reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting Americas economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance, Paul Grewal, Coinbases chief legal officer and general counsel, said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. The solution is legislation that allows fair rules for the road to be developed transparently and applied equally, not litigation. In the meantime, well continue to operate our business as usual.

SEC officials said regulators in 10 states helped them investigate Coinbase, including regulators in Alabama, California, Maryland, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Request to Court

U.S. officials want the court to step in and bar Coinbase from continuing its crypto services without registration.

Unless Defendants are permanently restrained and enjoined, there is a reasonable likelihood that they will continue to engage in the acts, practices, transactions, and courses of business set forth in this complaint and in acts, practices, transactions, and courses of business of similar type and object in violation of the federal securities laws, the suit states.

The SEC is also asking the court to hand over money described as ill-gotten gains to the government, as well as pay additional penalties for the alleged violations of the law.

The total sum of the requested payments was not detailed.

Coinbase recently reported that it drew $773 million in revenue in the first quarter, up 23 percent from the previous quarter. Most of the income came from consumer transactions and income on interest. The majority of consumer transactions were exchanging dollars for crypto or vice versa, though crypto-for-crypto exchanges were also made.

Prices Drop

Coinbase stock prices dropped in the wake of the lawsuit, down about 9 percent from the previous day.

Prices for Bitcoin, the most popular crypto, also went down initially, to about $25,400, but rebounded later in the morning to around $26,000.

Trading was still possible on Coinbase on Tuesday.

Coinbase describes itself as offering a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy. The company started in 2012 and now operates in more than 100 countries.
US, China Join Indonesia-Led Naval Drills Amid Geopolitical Tensions

An Indonesian navy ship arrives at a naval base in Banyuwangi on April 22, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

The United States and China are participating in a multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indonesia, which commenced on Monday amid strained relations between the two major powers over Taiwan.

The Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo is taking place in the Makassar Strait, Indonesia, and will last until Thursday. The United States and China were among the 36 participating countries, which also included Russia, India, and Japan.

Adm. Yudo Margono, the Indonesian Armed Forces commander, said the naval drill is a non-war exercise that aims to strengthen the countries cooperation in disaster management and humanitarian responses.

Around 15 foreign vessels arrived at Sulawesi Island on Monday as the Komodo exercise began, the Indonesian Navy said. This came as the United States and China ramped up military diplomacy in the region, staging more frequent war games with allies around Taiwan.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command recently accused the Chinese military of engaging in dangerous naval maneuvers on June 3 during an intercept with the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon in the Taiwan Strait.

According to the command, the USS Chung-Hoon was conducting a routine south to north Taiwan Strait transit alongside the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal when the incident happened.

It stated that a Chinese warship overtook the USS Chung-Hoon on its port side and crossed its bow at a distance of 150 yards, forcing the American vessel to reduce its speed to 10 knots to avoid a collision.

The [Chinese vessel] LY 132s closest point of approach was 150 yards, and its actions violated the maritime Rules of the Road of safe passage in international waters, it stated.

Chinas Defense Ministry said that its naval forces acted lawfully and professionally as they had been monitoring the movements of the U.S. destroyer and the Canadian frigate throughout the course.

The ministry criticized the United States and Canada for stirring up troubles and risks in the Taiwan Strait, undermining regional stability, and sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence forces.

Taiwan Issue

At the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Chinas military had continued to conduct an alarming number of risky intercepts of U.S. and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international air.

Austin made it clear that the United States does not have any intention of seeking conflict, but that we will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 3, 2023. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

Weve all just seen another troubling case of aggressive and unprofessional flying by the PRC [Peoples Republic of China]. So we will support our allies and partners as they defend themselves against coercion and bullying, he said at the summit on June 3.

Austin warned that any armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait could unsettle and disrupt the world.

Id like to highlight that conflict is neither imminent nor inevitable, he said. Deterrence is strong todayand its our job to keep it that way.

You know, the whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straitthe whole world. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation worldwide.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be united with the mainland by any means necessary, even though Taiwan has never been ruled by the CCP and has its own democratic government.

The United States has no official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan but the country is obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. President Joe Biden has said the United States

An Indonesian navy ship arrives at a naval base in Banyuwangi on April 22, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

will come to Taiwans aid if the island is attacked, but its policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.

Ross Muscato and Reuters contributed to this report.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Lars Klingbeil, the head of the SPD, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday met with a German Social Democratic Party (SPD) delegation led by Lars Klingbeil, chairman of the SPD.

Li said that as an important part of China-Germany relations, inter-party exchanges are of far-reaching significance for the two sides as they strengthen mutual learning and jointly promote prosperity and development.

China attaches great importance to its relations and cooperation with Germany, and it is important for the two major, influential countries to stay true to their original aspiration of cooperation and strengthen dialogue and coordination to bring more stability and certainty into the world, Li said.

He said the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the SPD to push the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership to a new level.

He said the CPC stands ready to work with the SPD to protect bilateral economic and trade cooperation, which is an important foundation for bilateral relations, and better safeguard the overall interests of bilateral cooperation and the interests of the two peoples.

China welcomes more German companies to come to China, and China will continue to expand market access, strengthen intellectual property rights protection, and foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, Li said.

"China is ready to work with Germany to maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, and hopes that the SPD will exert its influence in Germany and in Europe, maintain the general tone of its China policy featuring rationality, dialogue and cooperation, and promote the steady and sound development of China-Germany and China-EU relations," he said.

Klingbeil said Germany is actively preparing for the seventh round of inter-governmental consultations between the two countries, and expects fruitful results.

The SPD, which established relations with the CPC nearly 40 years ago, has been committed to maintaining dialogue with China and actively promoting the development of Germany-China relations, Klingbeil said, adding that Germany appreciates China's continued opening-up and believes that a "decoupling" is not an option in Germany-China relations.

The SPD is willing to strengthen strategic dialogue and communication with the CPC, expand Germany-China economic and trade cooperation, and make efforts toward the sustained and stable development of Germany-China relations and EU-China relations, Klingbeil said. 
US Ignorant of Investment Fund Portfolio in China: Expert

(L-R) Yu Bin, vice president of Development Research Center of the State Council, Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the General Office of the Central Financial, and Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates LP, attend the China Development Forum 2023 at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 25, 2023. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

The United States is unaware of the scope of its investment fund in China that is funding possibly harmful Chinese military and civilian technologies, according to Derek Scissors, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

According to Scissorss report titled What to Do About American Investment in China, almost $800 billion in U.S. investments poured into China from 2016 to 2020, but the United States does not monitor what is being funded.

But we dont know what stocks and what bonds, what industries, what companies because the Department of Treasury doesnt tell us that, Scissors told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

So one big problem of the U.S. policy is were considering restricting U.S. investment in China. Well, we dont know what the U.S. invests in China, said Scissors, also the chief economist for the China Beige Book.

Since the end of 2016, the action has been in American purchases of Chinese securities. This, unfortunately, cannot be found in monthly data published by the Department of the Treasury. The once-a-month figures show the Cayman Islands as the top recipient of US investment in securities, at over $2.5 trillion, even though the Caymans do not have a securities market. These figures are nonsensical, hiding what American financials are actually doing, his report reads.

We know we should increase transparency; we know we should not support Chinese development of technologies that have potential military uses, he noted.

Lack of Effort to Address Intransparency

Yet, according to the experts, minimal efforts have been taken by the United States to address intransparency.

He cited the National Critical Capabilities Defense Act, which passed in 2021 in the House but did not pass the Senate.

Another version of the bipartisan bill was reintroduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D- Conn.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R- Pa.), and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) in May 2023.

The legislation would establish a review process over the potential offshoring of critical United States supply chains to foreign adversaries like China and Russia. This legislation would create a whole-of-government screening process for outbound investments to ensure that the United States can quickly detect supply chain vulnerabilities and protect national, economic and health security interests where needed, DeLauro said in a press release.

However, Scissors said of the bill in the report, But it was excessively broad, addressing both supply chains and outbound investment and not specifying levels of technology to be covered.

Undermining Americas Geopolitical Position

In Scissorss opinion, U.S. businesses that choose to maintain their ties to China are undermining Americas geopolitical position.

He noted that the United States is dependent on China not just for some pharmaceutical products, but also more broadly for the chemical inputs into pharmaceuticals that are shipped to the United States from third countries such as Ireland, India, and others.

And Im not going to pick on a drug company. But if youre a drug company that says, Oh, no, you know, we have to be in China, Chinas the best, youre harming the United States, youre making us more vulnerable, youre giving China more leverage, he said.

And then those that are still embracing China  theyre hurting U.S. national interest, maybe they can say its for the sake of their stockholders. But American policymakers should understand that the stockholders of a drug company, for example, are not the American people. The American people need to have alternative suppliers in case of a confrontation with China, he added.

According to the expert, those relying on the Chinese market face immense risk.

If you need goods from China, will they be available two years from now, four years from now, six years from now?

China now is different from China 10 years ago. This is a leader [Xi Jinping] who doesnt want to designate a successor, who never wants to leave office, but incredibly intolerant of dissent, treats his own companies poorly, much less foreign companies, Scissors said.
US Supreme Court Declines to Rehear Case of Woman Fighting IRS

Justice Gorsuch again breaks with court, signals he would hear case

The Supreme Court held a special sitting on September 30, 2022, for the formal investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court this week denied granting a rehearing to an 82-year-old woman, Monica Toth, who is embroiled in a battle with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), although Justice Neil Gorsuch signaled that he would want to rehear the case.

The Supreme Court receives thousands of cases each year and denies the vast majority of them. In January, the high court turned away Toths appeal over a $2.1 million penalty that the IRS imposed on Toth after she didnt report a foreign bank account.

On Monday, the Supreme Court again turned away her case (pdf), with Gorsuch writing: The petition for rehearing is denied. Justice Gorsuch would grant the petition for rehearing. It means that a lower court ruling will stand and that Toth will have to pay the penalty.

Toth had argued that the IRS violated the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishments and excessive fees.

Earlier this year, Toth lawyer Sam Gedge expressed with The Epoch Times his clients disappointment with the ruling, adding that Toths experience shows that civil penalties can have devastating consequences for real people. Gedge said that naturally, were disappointed that the court declined to take up this case.

The excessive fines clause should serve as a key check on economic sanctions, Gedge continued, and we hope the 1st Circuit will heed Justice Gorsuchs dissent and correct its misreading of the excessive fines clause in future cases.

According to her lawyers, Toths father had fled Germany for Argentina in the 1930s after he was assaulted for being Jewish. He became a successful businessman and before his death in 1999 gave Toth millions of dollars in a Swiss bank account.

Gorsuch, in his earlier three-page dissent, noted that Toths father had himself always maintained a reserve of funds in a Swiss bank account, perhaps owing to his early formative experiences, and encouraged his daughter to keep money there just in case. Toth, a Massachusetts resident now in her 80s, kept the account, yet failed until 2010 to report it to the U.S. government as required by the Bank Secrecy Act.

The IRS in 2012 assessed a $2.17 million civil penalty, saying her failure in 2007 to report the account on a so-called FBAR form was willful. After she did not pay, the government won a judgment against her for the $2.17 million plus nearly $1 million for late fees and interest.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had earlier ruled that the Eighth Amendments protections did not apply in Toths case because the IRSs civil penalty was not tied to any criminal sanction and served a remedial purpose. But Gorsuch said the 1st Circuits ruling was difficult to reconcile with our precedents and called the protection against excessive fines a fundamental right.

And all that would mean little if the government could evade constitutional scrutiny under the Clauses terms by the simple expedient of fixing a civil label on the fines it imposes and declining to pursue any related criminal case, Gorsuch also wrote in his strongly worded dissent (pdf).

He also wrote: The government did not calculate Ms. Toths penalty with reference to any losses or expenses it had incurred. The government imposed its penalty to punish her and, in that way, deter others. Even supposing, however, that Ms. Toths penalty bore both punitive and compensatory purposes, it would still merit constitutional review. Under our cases a fine that serves even in part to punish is subject to analysis under the Excessive Fines Clause.

Another attorney associated with Toths case, Brian Morris with the Institute of Justice, said he believes that Gorsuch understood whats at stake, adding, Under the 1st Circuits decision, governments are incentivized to impose massive civil fines to raise revenue.

And individuals, like Monica, are left helpless to the whims of the governmentno matter the size of the penalty that it picks, he told The Epoch Times.

Clark Neily, with the Cato Institute, also speculated that federal agencies might make similar moves against law-abiding citizens as it goes deeper into debt.

The deeper the federal government sinks into unprecedented debt, the stickier its fingers will become and the less concerned it will be with constitutional niceties like the rule of law, Neily said earlier this year.

However, attorney and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani noted that there are few successful Eighth Amendment-related challenges.

Aside from a few types of cases, the Supreme Court has the discretion to hear appeals, and here, only Justice Gorsuch wanted to do so. With the exception of death penalty cases, you dont see a lot of successful Eighth Amendment challenges, so Im not surprised. By rejecting Toths petition, the lower court decision stands and she will have to pay the civil penalty, Rahmani told Newsweek on Monday, referring to Toths case.

While the results of the courts decisions might not appear to be fair, Rahmani said its not an issue that should be tried before the Supreme Court. Instead, it is a legislative and executive branch issue, Rahmani remarked.

If there is no constitutional or other protection, the IRS can impose these types of civil penalties, the lawyer warned.

The case is Toth v. United States, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 22-177.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The State Department is granting millions of dollars for gender and climate change training in Iraq, saying its to create stability in the region.

Lawmakers are voicing support for the ongoing fight for freedom in China, as Monday marks the 34th anniversary of the Tank Mans picture during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Former Vice President Mike Pence is the latest to join the race for president, filing the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Monday.

The jobs report for May is out. The founder and CEO of the job-seeking platform RedBalloon.work joins to discuss the trends in the labor market.

As consumers push back against Target for introducing LGBT merchandise for children, we take a look at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards in corporate America. An expert from Family Research Council joins us to explore.
Vanishing Point Star Barry Newman Dead at 92

A file image of U.S. actor Barry Newman who died at the age of 92 on May 11, 2023. (NBC Television, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Emmy-nominated actor Barry Newman, known for his roles in 1971s cult action thriller Vanishing Point and as an astute defense attorney in the NBC series Petrocelli has died. He was 92.

Newman died on May 11 in a New York hospital, according to social media messages posted by friends as noted in Deadline Hollywood. No further details concerning his death are currently available.

Born in Boston on Nov. 7, 1930, the actor was perhaps best known for his turn as Vietnam war hero and former race car driver Kowalski in the Richard Sarafin-directed Vanishing Point.

Newmans character proved memorable as he played a free-wielding dragster behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger who, after becoming entwined in a criminal scheme and making a wager with his drug dealer, embarks on a journey to transport a car from Colorado to California.

The movie would later be considered a cult classic and considered a landmark American action film of the 1970s to those familiar with the genre.

Ironically, more than two decades later, the actor would get back behind the wheel as another nefarious character involved in a car chase in director Steven Soderberghs crime drama The Limey.

The crime drama, which also stars Terence Stamp, Peter Fonda, and Lesley Ann Warren, centers around a tough and dangerous Englishman who travels to Los Angeles to avenge his daughters death. There, he battles the citys most die-hard criminals, even surviving a near-death beating, in the quest to discover what exactly happened to his child.

Newmans other film credits include Sylvester Stallones Daylight and Michael Lehmanns 40 Days and 40 Nights. He also appeared in Manhood, True Blue, Good Advice and Bowfinger.

Breakthrough Role

His breakthrough role, however, was in 1970s The Lawyer, which introduced him to playing Tony Petrocelli, a bright young defense attorney from New York who moves to a rich cattle town only to become entangled in a murder case there. The storyline was based on the case of Samuel Sheppard, an American neurosurgeon tried in 1954 for the murder of his pregnant wife.

That leading role would eventually lead to the TV sequel Petrocelli, which debuted in 1974 and was created around Newmans character from The Lawyer. The series took viewers, albeit this time in an episodic television format, along with the sharp-witted attorney on his various legal cases. Newman would earn both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role.

He also landed television roles in the series The Cleaner, The O.C., NYPD Blue, Jag, Murder She Wrote, LA Law, Nightingales, The Fall Guy and Quincy M.E.

It was in 2009 that the actor was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer, which led him to curb his time acting.

Newman joins other celebrity actors who have died in 2023, including actress Melinda Dillon, 83 (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry and the Hendersons), Dorothy Tristan, 88, (Klute, Gunsmoke) and actor Adam Rich, 54 of Eight Is Enough fame.

Newman is survived by his wife, Angela.
Vehicle Crashes Into Los Angeles Fire Station in Shadow Hills

Los Angeles Fire Department Station 77 is seen in a file photo. (Screenshot via GoogleMaps.com)

LOS ANGELESTwo people suffered minor injuries June 5 when their vehicle crashed into a fire station in the Shadow Hills area of Los Angeles.

The crash occurred about 5:30 a.m. at Fire Station 77, 9224 Sunland Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Two civilians with minor injuries declined ambulance transport, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The building sustained superficial damage, and the circumstances of the crash were under investigation.
Voluntary ArriveCAN Use Remains Low as App Use Extended to More Airports

A person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the ArriveCan app in a file photo. (Giordano Ciampini/The Canadian Press)

The number of travellers who use ArriveCAN to enter Canada has dropped significantly since the program was made voluntary, even though the government has been increasing the number of airports the app can be used in, according to a new paper tabled in the House of Commons.

The paper, dated June 2, indicates that since the federal government dropped the mandatory requirement for ArriveCAN in September 2022, the majority of air travellers are not using the program. The service was initially only available at the Vancouver, Toronto Pearson, and Montreal airports.

Despite being expanded to airports in Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Calgary, Edmonton, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Torontos Billy Bishop, only 11 percent of air travellers are participating in the program.

By February, only 15 percent of travellers submitted an advance declaration. This number has fallen further since March, when the number of travellers using ArriveCAN dropped by 50 percent overall.

For example, only 1 percent of air travellers entering Halifax International Airport filed with ArriveCAN between Jan. 1 and April 15. Edmonton International Airport, James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and Ottawa International Airport saw less than 1 percent of travellers use ArriveCan.

The highest compliance with using the program was 52 percent of visitors to Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, and 23 percent of passengers arriving at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec.

At Vancouver International Airport, 17 percent of travellers used ArriveCan, and Calgary International had 3 percent use.

According to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), ArriveCAN is voluntary, and offers an advanced declaration for travellers who want to save time by providing their customs and immigration declaration to the CBSA in advance at 10 Canadian airports.

The CBSA suggests that the average processing time is 30 percent faster with the use of the advanced declaration. The agency is aiming to increase the digitization of the border and the usage of ArriveCAN and other new technologies.

ArriveCAN is currently only available at airports but the government intends to expand it to land borders. No timeline was given for the move. CBSA is also working on new facial recognition with applications but has not said if it will be part of the ArriveCAN program.

In February, Air Canada started implementing voluntary digital identification using facial recognition through the Air Canada app for select in-country flights.

Noe Chartier contributed to this report.
When Do Political Campaign Donations Between Politicians Become Controversial?

Commentary

An Orange County Register article recently reported that House of Representatives member Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) donated $275,000 to the GOP campaign organization, as well as $2,000 each to 18 fellow Republicans. One of the beneficiaries of that $2,000 was Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), who represents the 45th Congressional District here in Southern California.

The other OC Republican, Young Kim (R-Calif.), did not receive a contribution from Greene, perhaps because she represents a safer district where GOP registered voters outnumber Democrat voters. Of course, nothing in politics is permanent or safe. Feeling safe at any governmental level only invites complacency.

It is well known that politicians within the same party contribute to the campaigns of fellow members of the House and Senate. Some even cross the aisle and donate funds to the opposite party if a member is moderate or shares a number of similar policy positions. Could this be defined as cronyism or influence peddling?

To a degree this could be true, or it could merely be that a politician who shares similar domestic and foreign policy views with other members injects a boost for them to succeed in the 2024 general election cycle. Steel has also accepted donations from other GOP House members to help sustain her campaign for the next 17 months.

The article briefly outlined some of the pros and cons of GOP members accepting financial support from Greene. The legacy media often characterizes her as a far-right MAGA firebrand with some extreme views similar to those of Donald Trump. Certainly, Greene has entertained some far-out beliefs, but what politician hasnt? One wonders why most journalists dont brand a few Democrats as far-left or extreme radicals within their party.

Much of the media mentions Greenes passionate rhetoric but ignores her constructive views. For example, she has endorsed free enterprise, traditional families, faith-based communities, energy autonomy, fiscal responsibility, border security, law and order, and a robust national security posture. How anyone could label this as extreme is mind-boggling. Who wouldnt want America to be great and strong? Her positions are largely in line with the GOP platform.

Some analysts believe that Greene is attempting to accumulate more power in the chamber by extending her influence. Chapman University Professor Lori Cox Han told the OC Register, In a lot of ways, being able to spend that kind of money on her colleagues equates to political power.

Pomona College Assistant Professor Sara Sadhwani told the news outlet that a Steel alignment with Greene could be risky. It could possibly hurt her reelection chances in a district where Democrat registered voters have a six percent edge over Republican voters. The election outcome could hinge on swing voters who have declared no party preference.

By contrast, Jon Fleischman, who once was Californias GOP Executive Director, told the newspaper, Maybe it would matter slightly more if someone named Michelle Steel who had never been in office before was running for Congress, and you were looking at who her contributors were to try to figure out more about her. But a four-year incumbent has their own record. Its not like anybody is going to judge the job that she does based on who her donors are. Fleischman went on to speculate that gifts from Greene could signal what wing of the GOP Steel aligns with.

Some political purists might argue that political candidates should only receive contributions from the electorate to avoid conflicts of interest. This would include individual voters and organizations that refrain from any form of back-and-forth quid pro quo between political candidates.

Should there be limits on how much people can donate to politicians, or how much politicians can freely give to one another? This is an issue that is always open to debate, because money and power can sometimes lead to corruption. It can also erode the responsibility that politicians have to abide by constitutional principles and the national interest.

Undoubtedly, campaigns can be expensive to operate (ads, campaign offices, travel, etc.), and candidates are allowed to raise money and receive donor gifts within legitimate parameters. Unlike many other countries that have short election cycles, America has lengthy campaign seasons, and candidates actively strive to build large war chests for future elections. One would hope that the process is as transparent as humanly possible.

The bottom line is that members of Congress are adults who can think on their own. Its unlikely that any member completely agrees with any other member, but they probably agree on at least 70 percent of policy issues within their respective parties. Consequently, our representatives will continue to accept solicited and unsolicited financial support to compete for seats in Congress. Moreover, if the GOP is serious about winning at the federal and state levels in 2024, it would help if the party presents a unified front.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
12 youths arrested with 50 stolen two-wheelers worth Rs 30 lakh





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Raipur Police on Monday apprehended 12 youths including a minor for two-wheeler thefts from different parts of the Capital city. Police recovered 50 stolen two-wheelers worth Rs 30 lakhs from the accused youths. A special team of Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit received information that two persons near Tarun Nagar Bazar under Tikrapara police station area are looking for customers in the interest of selling two-wheelers. A joint team of Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit and Police Station Tikrapara identified and rounded up the suspects. During interrogation, the suspects indentified as Deepak Barle and Tuka Ram Sahu, residents of Tikrapara.

The youths couldnt produce any documents regarding teh two-wheelers and confessed to commission of theft of 36 two-wheelers along with their accomplices Tilak Vaishnav and Rakesh Bagh from different places in Raipur city. On which the accused Tilak Vaishnav and Rakesh Bagh were also traced and caught. They sold some of the stolen vehicles to Tarun Sen, Toshan alias Lassu Kosle, Charan Das Satnami and Dinesh Kumar Nishad in Odisha, Dhamtari and Raipur and sold some vehicles to Told to keep it hidden in different places. On which accused Tarun Sen, Toshan alias Lassu Kosle, Charan Das Satnami and Dinesh Kumar Nishad were also arrested for purchasing stolen vehicles. All the accused were arrested and a total of 36 pieces of stolen two-wheelers worth approximately Rs 21 lakhs were seized from their possession.

On the information of the informer, the joint team of Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit and police station DD Nagar, arrested the accused Bhojraj Tandi and Gorekh Mugri with stolen two-wheelers. They confessed to stealing two-wheelers along with one of their accomplice who is a minor. They stole a total of 14 two-wheelers from different places in Raipur and sold some of the stolen vehicles to Gopal Bagh, a resident of Maudhapara, Raipur. And some vehicles were told to be hidden at different places. On which the struggling boy and Gopal Bagh, the buyer of stolen vehicles were also caught by the members of the team involved in the incident.
Aus: War Crimes, Justice





By Gwynne Dyer

GUYS just had this blood-lust. Psychos. Absolute psychos. And we bred them. So said an Australian soldier about the war crimes committed by the Australian SAS (Special Air Service) when the scandal first broke in 2016. And the Australian Defence Force, bless its heart, actually took the accusations seriously. An independent inquiry led by Justice Paul Brereton delivered a damning report in 2020. It found credible evidence for the murder of 39 Afghans  prisoners of war, farmers and other civilians  by 25 named Australian SAS soldiers in 2007-2013. None of the killings took place in the heat of battle, it said, and all occurred in circumstances that would, if accepted by a jury, constitute the war crime of murder.

So far, so good, and the Australian Defence Force accepted all 143 of Breretons recommendations. It apologised to the people of Afghanistan, condemned the shameful and toxic culture that prevailed within the SAS, and made helmet or body cameras compulsory for special forces on future deployments. The Defence Force also referred the report to the Australian federal police for criminal investigation, including the names of the 25 soldiers who were accused of murder (whose names were redacted in the published Brereton report). Thats when it all broke down.

Not the police forces fault, not the armys either. In August 2021, less than a year after the report was published, the puppet Afghan Government and its army collapsed, all the foreign forces pulled out, and the Taliban took power. Did the behaviour of some of the occupying troops contribute to this outcome? Of course it did, but thats not the point here.

The point is that the process of gathering evidence for criminal prosecutions of the SAS killers suddenly ground to a halt. An Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) had been created and more than 50 investigators and intelligence analysts assigned to the task, but none of them could go to Afghanistan to interview the witnesses to the atrocities.

As the Director of the OSI, Chris Moraitis, explained to a Senate committee in February of 2022: Its not ideal in the sense that you can't visit the country and pursue avenues there. It just means that we need to focus on what we can do, rather than what we can't do. But it was looking like they couldnt do much. So far there has been only one indictment of an SAS soldier (this March), and there is actually film of him shooting his victim. Most of the accused were a little smarter than that, and there was reason to fear that the whole process would run into the sand. Then former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith rolled up and inadvertently saved the day. Roberts-Smith is Australias most decorated soldier. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, Australias highest honour, for most conspicuous gallantry in the battle of Tizak in Afghanistan in 2010. He is also a man who kicked a handcuffed prisoner off a cliff in Darwan in 2012, and then ordered a subordinate soldier to finish the man off. Three years before that he murdered a disabled man with a prosthetic leg, then brought the leg back to the SAS base so his soldiers could chug beer from it. And lots more in the same vein. His name was on the list of 25, and many people had heard about his exploits. A series of articles in three leading newspapers even detailed them at length in 2018. But the evidence was not strong enough for a criminal conviction, so Roberts-Smith would probably never have seen the inside of a courtroom so long as his former colleagues kept silent.

And then the fool sued the three papers for defamation of character. Thats a civil case, not a criminal one, and the standard of evidence required is lower. Last Friday Justice Anthony Besanko, after a year-long trial, found that the major allegations made by the papers  that Roberts-Smith is a murderer, a criminal and a bully  were proven to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities. He wont go to jail, but he has lost his job, any money he has will be swallowed up by the costs of the trial (tens of millions of dollars), and he may have to leave Australia to avoid further legal action  because this courtroom drama will certainly reinvigorate the prosecution of the other war criminals. Every country that sends its troops abroad to fight faces the same problem, especially among its so-called elite units, where a warrior culture is often encouraged. The attempt to impose humanitarian rules on war is always bound to fall short, but the effort must be made nevertheless. Australia is doing a lot better than most other countries.
Govt asks airlines to devise mechanism for reasonable pricing of air tickets





NEW DELHI,

THE Government on Monday asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable airfares amid a surge in air ticket prices, particularly on certain routes that were earlier served by Go First. In the case of the unfortunate Odisha tragedy, airlines have been advised to provide free carriage (cargo) services to the families of the deceased, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. During an hour-long meeting of the airlines advisory group, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia shared his concerns about the steep rise in airfares on certain routes.

Airlines have been asked to self-monitor airfares on routes that have seen a considerable rise in ticket prices, particularly those that were served by Go First earlier. Go First stopped flying from May 3 and the reduction of capacity due to the crisis at the budget airline has come at a time during domestic air travel peak period. Scindia, on March 16, informed the Lok Sabha that airfares are neither established nor regulated by the Government.
BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- China called on the United States, Britain and Australia to heed the concerns of the international community and stop acts of nuclear proliferation such as their nuclear submarine cooperation, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said here Tuesday.

According to reports, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech on Monday that "the small-scale alliance relevant to nuclear-powered submarines among the United States, Britain and Australia is becoming a concern for ASEAN and countries in the region because ASEAN is a nuclear weapon-free zone, and we oppose nuclear weapon proliferation." He said the military alliance is the "starting point of a very dangerous arms race" and "if this situation continues, the world will face a bigger danger."

Wang told a daily news briefing that Prime Minister Hun Sen's remarks speak to the concerns widely shared by regional countries, including the ASEAN nations.

The AUKUS security partnership and related nuclear submarine cooperation creates nuclear proliferation risks, threatens the international nuclear non-proliferation system, undermines the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, and undercuts ASEAN countries' efforts to establish a Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone, Wang said.

According to estimates by international arms control experts, the weapons-grade nuclear materials the United States and Britain plan to transfer to Australia would be sufficient to build as many as 64 to 80 nuclear weapons, Wang said.

He added that if the three countries are set on advancing their nuclear submarine cooperation, it is bound to deal an irreversible heavy blow to the integrity, efficacy and authority of the international nuclear non-proliferation system and trigger similar behavior in other non-nuclear-weapon states, thus turning the region into an arena of arms race.

"Such practice of seeking one's own security at the expense of other countries' security and plunging other countries into 'security anxiety' is extremely irresponsible and dangerous," he said.

Wang said as ASEAN's comprehensive strategic partner and friendly neighbor, China firmly supports ASEAN nations' efforts to establish the Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone.

He added that China is the first nuclear-weapon state to openly support the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and have expressed readiness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty.

"We once again call on the United States, Britain and Australia to heed the concerns of the international community, stop acts of nuclear proliferation such as their nuclear submarine cooperation, stop undermining the international nuclear non-proliferation system by applying double standards, and stop brewing storms over the Pacific Ocean," he said. 
HCBA demands establishment of 3 key judicial benches in Nagpur





Staff Reporter

The High Court Bar Association (HCBA) of Nagpur has made a fervent plea to Union Minister for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari, and Deputy Chief Minister (DCM), Devendra Fadnavis, urging them to establish key judicial benches in Nagpur. In a memorandum submitted by HCBA President, Adv Atul Pande, and Secretary, Adv Amol Jaltare, three major demands were highlighted -- constitution of bench of Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal (DRAT), constitution of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and constitution of permanent regional bench of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in Nagpur.

First, the HCBA called for the constitution of a DRAT bench in Nagpur. Currently, while the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) operates in Nagpur to address bank and borrower grievances, the appellate tribunal is located in Mumbai. This geographical disparity often hampers litigants from seeking redressal through appeals, impeding the cause of justice. Moreover, the DRAT Mumbai, already burdened with a high caseload from Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Goa, and Gujarat, faces difficulties in expediting the disposal of cases. The establishment of a DRAT bench in Nagpur would reduce the burden and ensure timely justice for litigants from even Chhattisgarh, the appellate tribunal of which is presently in Allahabad.

Secondly, the HCBA emphasised the need for a NCLT bench in Nagpur. With the introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, various litigations previously adjudicated by the Nagpur High Court were transferred to the NCLT in Mumbai. This relocation has caused significant hardships for litigants in Nagpur. While Nagpur had been considered for establishing the NCLT, the plan was eventually abandoned, leading to the current situation. The HCBA is urging the authorities to reconsider and facilitate the establishment of an NCLT bench in Nagpur, thus providing a more accessible avenue for resolving corporate disputes.
SABOTAGE !





THAT the Railways has pointed to a possible sabotage in the Odisha train tragedy, has made the issue very serious. Many observers had suspected such a possibility even as the first reports of the ghastly accident came in. Yet, there still were lurking doubts about a human error leading to the trains crashing into one another after derailment of one. Now that the railway authorities have ruled out the angle of an error on the part of the driver of a train, the doubt deepens about a possible sabotage. Railway Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that the elements that were responsible for the mishap have been identified. This means clearly that the authorities have already zeroed in on those saboteur elements. In other words, pinning the blame of the dirty act of sabotage on the right people will be done in good time, and guilty be punished.

Many observers have expressed doubts that the saboteur elements in the Odisha train disaster may be having Maoist links. This conclusion they come to on the basis of the modus operandi that has come to fore in the preliminary investigations. The initial investigations have revealed reportedly that the track interlocking systems mechanism is foolproof and could not be tampered with through distance-control. That suggests that somebody who knows the interlocking operations may have done the dirty job of disturbing the mechanism by hand. And this possibility gives rise to another issue -- how could some one do the dirty job without being watched by anybody? It is only natural that this would be the first point of the subsequent investigations. If some one has slipped in performing his duty and was either slack or looked the other way, then that person will have to be brought to book without fear or favour. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi also has assured that nobody would ever be spared for whatever failure to perform proper duty.

The very fact that the Prime Minister found it necessary to pay a personal visit to the accident site and then to the hospitals where the injured persons were shifted for treatment, shows the importance the Government attaches to the ghastly accident. The seriousness of the issue is also indicated by the fact that several world leaders including US President Mr. Joe Biden and Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin expressed deep anguish and solidarity with India in the face of one of the dirtiest train disasters in the world. The global emotion is with India, and that gives the Indian people a sense of having people around not just to sympathise but also to empathise.

It is unfortunate, however, that some political parties are playing political games around the ghastly accident that took 275 lives and injured countless others. The possibility of sabotage adds a very sinister dimension to the tragedy. In such a situation, it is only despicable that some political parties are weaving dirty tales around the accident. They should realise that this is not the time to play political games and indulge in dirty machinations. They should desist from cheap politics when the country has seen one of the worlds worst train mishaps just two days ago.

It is obvious that those who indulged in sabotage had only one idea -- bleed India through a thousand cuts! Their intention was also to shock the common Indian people and introduce in their minds an element of fear and insecurity. However, the country has seen many such incidents, and has therefore learned how to deal with the situation. The dirty intentions of the saboteurs will never succeed, and the common Indian people will never get panicked. Indian society is a stable entity and is led by an efficient Government at all levels. That assurance is greater than any fear.
Shiv Sena, BJP to contest all future polls jointly: Shinde





MUMBAI,

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest all future elections together, including civic polls. Shinde, whose Shiv Sena shares power with the BJP in Maharashtra, in a tweet also informed that he and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Sunday night. During the meeting, it was decided that all future elections (including the Lok Sabha, Assembly and civic bodies) will be contested jointly by the Shiv Sena and BJP. We will contest and win the elections with majority, the CM tweeted along with a photograph of his meeting with Shah.

Shinde and Fadnavis went to Delhi on Sunday evening and held a meeting with Shah. The CM said issues related to agriculture and cooperation were discussed during the meeting with Shah. Several pending projects in the State have been streamlined now and they are on way to completion, he said. We have always received guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for various projects. We met Shah to discuss issues related to the cooperation sector, Shinde said in the tweet. Last year, Shinde along with 39 other MLAs revolted against the Shiv Sena (then undivided) leadership. The revolt led to a split in the Shiv Sena and collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi Government.
Statements of injured drivers recorded in Odisha train tragedy





BHUBANESWAR :

THE Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) on Monday recorded the statements of injured engine driver Gunanidhi Mohanty and his assistant Hajari Behera, who are undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, officials said. Both were rescued from the S h a l i m a r- C h e n n a i Central Coromandel Express that derailed near Bahanaga Bazar Station on June 2 that had claimed 275 lives and left around 1,200 injured. Both the drivers are stable. While Mohanty was taken out of the ICU on Monday, Behera is awaiting a head surgery, South Eastern Railway (SER) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Aditya Choudhury told PTI. Families of both the drivers have appealed to all for privacy and allow them to recover physically and mentally.

They claimed that the drivers could not be blamed for the mishap as they operated the locomotive according to rules. Earlier,the Railway Ministry on had apparently given clean chit to both of them. The Commissioner Railway Safety, SER Circle, which began its inquiry into the accident on Monday, has recorded the statements of both of them, Choudhury said. SourcessaidthatanFIRwas registered at the Government RailwayPoliceStation(GRPS), Balasore, under sections of the Railway Act on June 3. On Sunday the Railway Board had recommended a CBI probe into the Balasore train accident. Around 51 hoursafterthetripletraincrash and barely five hours afterthe damaged

tracks werere stored, a coal-laden goods train from Vizag port to Rourkela Steel Plant became the first to run on the route around 10.40 pm on Sunday night.

The first high speed passenger train - Howrah-Puri VandeBharatExpress-passed through Balasore on Monday morning through the same tracks, officials said. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present at the accident site and waved to the drivers when the train passed through, the officials said. Three trains Shalimar Chennai Central Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Super fast Express and agoods train  were involved in the pile-up on Friday, now being described as one of Indias worst train accidents. The Coromandel Express rammed into a stationary goods train and many of its carriages overturned including some onto another train - the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express which was also passing by at the same time on Friday.
NORWALK  After facing weeks of public backlash, officials are expected to scale back a proposal to change some single-family neighborhoods into two-family zones

Weve gone back and kind of cut back on some of areas proposed for up-zoning, Planning and Zoning Director Steve Kleppin said at a June 1 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee.

The revisions  part of the citys first comprehensive zoning rewrite in 30 years  are expected to be discussed at Wednesdays Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

Were going to talk to them about the changes that weve proposed and get their feedback on those changes, Kleppin said. Then well post the map up there for public comments.

Initial plans revealed in early April included changes that would have turned some single-family neighborhoods into two-family zones. The controversial CD-3 zone gives the option for a two family home but requires two parking spots to be provided for both homes. Mayor Harry Rilling has said he, too, is "uncomfortable" with the proposal.

John Kyers, Common Council District C representative, asked whether this change would be eliminated from the plan.

Kleppin said that some areas that were originally proposed to be in CD-3 zones will be changed in the latest proposal.

Weve scaled back in some areas, Kleppin said. Weve kind of followed some guidelines which I think I talked about last time. We focused our areas in and around mass transit, infrastructure and around major employment centers.

He said the new plan makes a little more sense and hopefully is more palatable for everybody.

Throughout community meetings, residents said they were worried being in the CD-3 zone would decrease their property value and increase density. Kleppin said he hopes the changes discussed in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Wednesday will help resolve those concerns.

I think that will diffuse a lot of the comments. You know, there is going to be certain areas that probably are still not going to be thrilled, but I think it takes a lot the contentious thing out, off the table, Kleppin said. Maybe itll calm things down a little bit on that front.

While the two-family zone has been the main concern for residents, Common Council members said residents have approached them with other issues.

In West Norwalk, Lisa Shanahan said constituents have been worried about how the changes would affect the watershed.

There is also concerns about the watershed because its a really important watershed area, said Shanahan, who represents Common Council District E. So loss of ground to soak up flooding in the areas that flood already, so there is a lot of concerns around that.

Kleppin said they are continuing to research to address these concerns.

Barbara Smyth, Common Council at-large member, said she has attended three community zoning meetings and that it's been helpful to hear residents' comments.

Steve, I think youve done a really good job listening and pulling back, Smyth said.

One thing that Ive been hearing also from some constituents is around multi-family in some of the more historic areas, particularly around Golden Hill, Smyth added.

Kleppin said he is having a community meeting with Golden Hill this week.

Public hearings about the zoning rewrite are on June 21 and 28 where the public will have the opportunity to address the planning and zoning commission directly. About 19,000 flyers advertising the meetings in English and Spanish were sent to residents' mailboxes, said Jessica Vonashek, Norwalks chief of community and economic development. A time for the meeting has not been posted.

Common Council District A member, David Heuvelman thanked Kleppin and the team for all their work.

Its hard to find the utopian where everyone is happy with everything that there but youre working to try to figure out what that balance is, Heuvelman said. I wanted to say thank you for doing that. I appreciate that you guys are working in that direction, thank you.
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HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Connecticuts two-year, $51 billion state budget  including a historic cut to personal income taxes  cleared the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support on Tuesday and now heads to the governor for his expected signature.

The tax-and-spending package passed the state Senate 35-1 following five hours of debate, and after clearing the House 139-12 early Tuesday where there was a nearly three-hour debate that started late Monday. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

Now, that is a bipartisan vote, declared Democratic Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff after the tally was announced.

Both Democrats, who control the General Assembly, and minority Republicans expressed support for the massive bill  described by one senator as a Russian novel. It boosts funding for public schools in hopes of addressing student's educational setbacks during the pandemic and lowers marginal income tax rates for the first time since 1996.

Is this package perfect? No. Are there a lot of needs? Yes. We give money back to our taxpayers. Could we have done more? Maybe, said Sen. Henri Martin, the top Senate Republican on the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee. I think this is a fair document, a good document.

Other Republicans, however, argued that the tax cuts don't go far enough to make Connecticut more affordable.

We could have, and should have, done so much more, said Sen. Eric Berthel, the top Republican on the legislature's Appropriations Committee, who voted for the bill.

The Senate vote came on the penultimate day in a six-month legislative session marked by bipartisan votes on some key bills.

First proposed by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, the planned income tax reduction is predicted to benefit approximately 1 million of the states 1.7 million tax filers. Its being billed as the largest reduction since the tax was first implemented in 1991.

This budget will deliver the largest personal income tax cut in the states history, Lamont said in a written statement issued before the vote. This is not a temporary tax cut  it is designed to be sustainable for years to come.

While the budget increases spending by about 7.5% over two years, it also remains under the state's cap on spending. Lamont has said the states fiscal health has improved to the point where it can afford to provide permanent tax relief. The plan lowers the 5% marginal income tax rate to 4.5% and the 3% rate to 2% for the income year 2024. Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney said he's pleased the change finally makes the nearly 30-year-old "highly imperfect" tax more progressive.

Now we are focusing on the lower reaches of those tiers to provide more relief," said Looney, who said he would have preferred a higher rate for wealthier taxpayers to cover the tax reduction.

The plan also increases the income tax credit for low-income working families, benefitting about 211,000 filers, and freezes scheduled increases in the state diesel tax.

The two-year tax-and-spending package also boosts state aid for local school districts by an additional $329 million; funds the baby bonds program that sets aside up to $3,200 for infants in low-income families; creates a new 30% tax credit for pre- and post-Broadway productions; increases funding for ambulance services and child care providers; increases pay for inmates; and expands an anti-gun violence program to more cities.

It also provides funding for striking group home workers who've been holding a vigil at the Capitol in recent days. Additionally, it includes funds to reduce a waiting list for residential services for people with developmental disabilities; and restores Lamont's planned cuts to Metro-North commuter rail in fiscal year 2025. It also includes additional funding for nonprofit social service agencies and state colleges and universities, although advocates contend its not enough considering the states resources.

Democratic Rep. Greg Haddad, co-chair of the legislature's higher education committee, said during the House debate that even though he was voting for the bill, it still falls short. Haddad also criticized the budget for using one-time revenues to cover costs at the state schools.

It's like we've found the potholes in the road and we've filled them with snow, and spring is coming, he said.

The includes a new state-level voting rights act. It requires local governments to prove certain voting changes wont harm voters of color before they take effect, among other provisions Advocates lauded it as a national model.

There were concerns, however, about whether there's enough money for the states new early voting program, which is expected to affect general elections, primaries and special elections held on or after Jan. 1, 2024. And advocates for low-wage workers argued that Lamont's dogmatic insistence on a rigid implementation of Connecticut's spending cap means only small steps are being made to meet the needs of the vast majority of residents.

Indeed, in some cases it actually moves backwards  leaving critical programs closed due to understaffing, threatening layoffs, service cuts, and tuition freezes in public higher education, according to a statement from the Recovery for All coalition.

Last week, state Comptroller Sean Scanlon projected the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, will finish with a $1.6 billion budget surplus, an increase of $16 million from May. The budget deposits $3.3 billion into the states budget reserve account.

Once signed by Lamont, the new budget will take effect on July 1.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Senior diplomats from China and the United States held candid and productive talks in Beijing and agreed to keep open lines of communication to avoid tensions from spiraling into conflict, officials said Tuesday.

On Monday, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, was the most senior U.S. official confirmed to have visited China since tensions between Washington and Beijing soared with the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. in early February.
NEW YORK (AP)  Francoise Gilot, a prolific and acclaimed painter who produced art for well more than a half-century but was nonetheless more famous for her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso  and for leaving him  died Tuesday in New York City, where she had lived for decades. She was 101.

Gilots daughter, Aurelia Engel, told The Associated Press her mother had died at Mount Sinai West hospital after suffering both lung and heart problems. She was an extremely talented artist, and we will be working on her legacy and the incredible paintings and works she is leaving us with, Engel said.

The French-born Gilot had long made her frustration clear that despite acclaim for her art, which she produced from her teenage years until five years ago, she would still be best known for her relationship with the older Picasso, whom she met in 1943 at age 21, his junior by four decades. The union produced two children  Claude and Paloma Picasso. But unlike the other key women in Picassos life  wives or paramours  Gilot eventually walked out.

He never saw it coming, Engel said of her mother's departure. She was there because she loved him and because she really believed in that incredible passion of art which they both shared. (But) she came as a free, though very, very young, but very independent person."

Gilot herself told The Guardian newspaper in 2016 that "I was not a prisoner in the relationship.

Id been there of my own will, and I left of my own will," she said, then 94. "Thats what I told him once, before I left. I said: Watch out, because I came when I wanted to, but I will leave when I want. He said, Nobody leaves a man like me. I said, Well see. 

Gilot wrote several books, the most famous of which was Life with Picasso, written in 1964 with Carlton Lake. An angry Picasso sought unsuccessfully to ban its publication. He attacked her in court, and he lost three times," said Engel, 66, an architect by training who now manages her mother's archives. But, she said, "after the third loss he called her and said congratulations. He fought it, but at the same time, I think he was proud to have been with a woman who had such guts like he had.

Born on Nov. 26, 1921, in leafy Neuilly-sur-Seine in suburban Paris, Gilot was an only child. She knew at the age of five that she wanted to be a painter, Engel said. In accordance with her parents' wishes, she studied law, however, while maintaining art as her true passion. She first exhibited her paintings in 1943.

That was the year she met Picasso, by chance, when she and a friend visited a restaurant on the Left Bank, amid a gathering that included his then-companion, Dora Maar.

"I was 21 and I felt that painting was already my whole life," she writes in Life With Picasso. When Picasso asked Gilot and her friend what they did, the friend responded that they were painters, to which Picasso responded, Gilot writes: That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Girls who look like that can't be painters. The two were invited to visit Picasso in his studio, and the relationship soon began.

Not long after leaving Picasso in 1953, Gilot reunited with a former friend, artist Luc Simon, and married him in 1955. They had a daughter  Engel  and divorced in 1962. In 1970, Gilot married Jonas Salk, the American virologist and researcher famed for his work with the polio vaccine, and began living between California and Paris, and later New York. When he died in 1995, Gilot moved full-time to New York and spent her last years on the Upper West Side.

Her art only increased in value over the years. In 2021 her Paloma a la Guitare (1965) sold for $1.3 million at a Sothebys auction. Her work has shown in many prominent museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Her life with Picasso was illustrated in the 1996 movie Surviving Picasso, directed by James Ivory.

Simon Shaw, Sothebys vice chairman for global fine art, said it had been gratifying to see, in the past decade, Gilot's paintings achieve the recognition they truly deserved.

To see Francoise as a muse (to Picasso) is to miss the point," Shaw wrote in an e-mail. She was established on her course as a painter when first she met Pablo. While her work naturally entered into dialogue with his, Francoise pursued a course fiercely her own  her art, like her character, was filled with color, energy and joy.

Engel noted that although the relationship with Picasso was clearly a difficult one, it gave her mother a certain freedom from her parents and the constraints of a bourgeois life  and perhaps enabled her to pursue her true dream of being a professional painter, a passion she shared with Picasso above all else.

They both believed that art was the only thing in life worth doing, she said. And she was able to be her true self, even though it was not an easy life with him. But still she was able to be her true self.

And for Engel, her mother's key legacy was not only her creativity but her courage, reflected in her art, which was always changing, never staying safe.

She was not without fear. But she would always confront her fears and jump in the void and take risks, no matter what, Engel said.
Edwardsville Police Department Blotter for May 26-31, 2023

Edwardsville police reported that on May 30, Lauren G. Mueller, no age given, of Maryville, was charged on a felony warrant for DUI at the Edwardsville Police Department.

According to police Chief Michael Fillback, Mueller was arrested on a DUI charge on May 14. She was stopped for improper lane usage and while speaking to her, the officer could observe the odor of alcohol from her breath, red bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Mueller showed indicators of impairment and was arrested for DUI. A criminal history check on Mueller revealed that she had two prior convictions for DUI, which made the latest arrest felony enhanceable.

Mueller was processed at that time and released pending review with the state's attorney. The case was reviewed with the state's attorney and a felony warrant was issued for DUI. On May 30, Mueller responded to EPD and turned herself in on the warrant. She was processed and released with a court date. Her bond was set at $55,000.

Other arrests include:

On May 31, Kevin S. King, 37, of Edwardsville, was charged with having a Monroe County warrant for failure to appear related to having a suspended driver's license and driving on a suspended driver's license. His bond was set at $575 and he received a notice to appear in court.

On May 28, Kwame Ngwa, 22, of Florissant, Missouri, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at the intersection of Illinois Route 157 and University Drive. His bond was set at $300.

On May 27, David L. Smith, 26, of Bethalto, was charged with having a warrant from the Granite City Police Department and failing to appear on a charge of marijuana possession in the 2400 block of Route 157. His bond was set at $375, including a $75 failure to appear fee.

On May 27, Emiliano R. McGill, 19, of Litchfield, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more) in the 2100 block of Troy Road. His bond was set at $300.

On May 26, Lacey K. Buske, 32, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at the intersection of Homestead and Esic drives. Her bond was set at $300.

On May 26, Emily M. Duran, 28, of O'Fallon, was charged with a failure to appear in relation to a warrant arrest for domestic battery at the Edwardsville Police Department. Fillback said this is a failure to appear warrant from Alton Police Department for domestic battery. Her bond was set at $375, including a $75 failure to appear fee.

On May 26, Angelica M. Jones, 35, of Alton, was charged with not having a valid driver's license at the intersection of Troy Road and Governors' Parkway. She received a notice to appear in court.

On May 26, Brian W. Marion, 24, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in the 200 block of Parkview Court. His bond was set at $300, including his driver's license.

On May 26, Gabriella M. Holtrop, age not listed, of Belleville, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in the 6300 block of Center Grove Road. Her bond was set at $300, including her driver's license.

On May 26, Jack E. Evans, 22, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at the intersection of Troy and Goshen roads. His bone was set at $300.

These individuals have only been charged and remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced $12.6 million in grants for public light-duty electric vehicle charging stations, including 11 in Madison County and nine in St. Clair County.

In Madison and St. Clair counties, the charging stations will be located at a variety of hotels, travel centers, shopping centers and event locations.

IEPA Director John J. Kim announced Monday in a press release that a total of $12.6 million is being awarded to 10 applicants for electric vehicle charging stations. The grants will fund 348 new Direct Current Fast Charging ports at 87 locations throughout the state.

We are excited to see EV charging infrastructure expanding throughout Illinois, providing much needed access, and complementing the states goals to expand EVs in Illinois, Kim said.We look forward to announcing additional opportunities to fund EV charging infrastructure through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which will further expand accessibility for Illinois residents and visitors.

The grants were funded through the states commitment to focus Illinois remaining VW Settlement allocation on electric transportation and infrastructure.

The VW Settlement is a multi-billion dollar settlement between Volkswagen AG and some of its North American subsidiaries and U.S. EPA regarding violations of the federal Clean Air Act.

Illinois portion of the settlement is approximately $108 million.

Gov. JB Pritzker touted the states efforts in supporting EV use.

Here in Illinois, we are proud to boast a nation-leading EV ecosystem  from EV manufacturing and tax credits for companies and customers alike to a rapidly growing EV charging infrastructure, Pritzker said. I couldnt be happier to announce that, through our remaining VW Settlement money, we are dispersing $12.6 million to build 348 new fast charging ports up and down the state.

"This doesnt just expand access for residents and visitorsit also brings us one step closer towards our mission of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

Funding is split between three state priority areas. Madison and St. Clair counties are in Priority Area 2.

Madison County locations are in Troy, Hartford, Hamel, Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Collinsville and Alton.

St. Clair County locations are in Shiloh, Sauget, Mascoutah, Belleville, Fairview Heights, Caseyville and OFallon.

The IEPA said the stations will be installed in places such as gas stations, restaurants and truck stops but did not offer any more specifics.
TOKYO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a new strategy for the promotion of hydrogen, involving generating 15 trillion yen (107.76 billion U.S. dollars) of investment from both public and private sectors to accelerate its use in the country's push towards decarbonization.

Under the first revision in six years to the country's basic hydrogen strategy, it was also decided that the hydrogen supply would be increased sixfold.

This would significantly increase from the current 2 million tons to a supply of around 12 million tons by 2040.

Since the government's basic strategy on hydrogen was formally announced in 2017, Japan wanted to place itself as a leader in creating a "hydrogen society."

It planned to push the use of hydrogen as no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases are emitted when combusted and has been promoting its use for thermal power generation.

In addition, the government has been encouraging the use of hydrogen for cars' fuel cells and other technologies utilizing hydrogen, such as water electrolysis.

But the government faces the issue of high production and transportation costs of hydrogen and whether industries and individuals will switch from a long-held reliance on regular fossil fuels.

"We would like to steadily build a supply chain for hydrogen in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region by further expanding Japan's hydrogen technology, which has been world-leading," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a press briefing on the matter.

Challenges notwithstanding, the government hopes companies will use hydrogen more and encourages them to do so as part of its strategy by 2040.

Prior to that, by 2030, the government plans to achieve the commercialization of hydrogen power and eyes hydrogen supply, reaching 3 million tons in 2030 and around 20 million tons by 2050.

Japan's revised hydrogen strategy, which also involves the construction of larger vessels capable of importing higher quantities of hydrogen, is part of its broader plans to achieve a country with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 
The Telegraph

EDWARDSVILLE  Drug-related charges, including that of a teenager accused of having a stolen Corvette and fleeing police, were filed Monday in four separate cases brought by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois.

Daysyon A. Cooks, 19, of St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony; offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; two counts of aggravated unlawful use of weapons, both Class 4 felonies; and fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
New Jersey voters will cast ballots in 21 primaries for state legislature on Tuesday.

Democrats hold majorities in both chambers  46-34 in the state Assembly and 25-15 in the state Senate. Without any statewide races on the ballot, turnout is expected to be low.

Two races to watch: the Democratic primary in the 27th Senate District and the Republican primary in the 3rd Senate District.

The 27th District features two longtime Democratic incumbents, Richard Codey and Nia Gill. They were drawn into the same district after the boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census. Codey is the longest-serving state legislator in New Jersey history, having been elected to the state Assembly in 1973 and the Senate in 1981. Gill was elected to the Assembly in 1993 and the Senate eight years later.

The Republican primary in the 3rd Senate District features incumbent Edward Durr, who shocked New Jersey in 2021 when he defeated Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney. Durr was a political newcomer who drove a furniture delivery truck. He faces GOP Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer, who was his running mate in 2021. New Jersey candidates in the same party typically run together in the general election for state Senate and Assembly seats.

Heres a look at what to expect on election night:

ELECTION DAY

Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

HOW NEW JERSEY VOTES

New Jerseys primaries are limited to party members. However, unaffiliated voters can join a party on election day and vote in that partys primary.

The AP will declare winners in 10 state Senate primaries and 11 Assembly primaries. In the Assembly races, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

First results are expected a few minutes after polls close, and election-night updates are expected to wrap up around 1 a.m. In the 2021 general election, 90% of votes were counted by noon the next day.

DECISION NOTES

The AP does not make projections and will only declare a winner when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap.

Should a candidate declare victory or offer a concession before the AP calls a race, we will cover newsworthy developments in our reporting. In doing so, we will make clear that the AP has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

New Jersey counts a significant number of votes after election day, which could delay race calls in competitive races. In the 2021 governors race, the state counted about 10% of votes after election day. Most of the late-counted votes are mail ballots, which can arrive as late as June 12 if they are postmarked by election day. These votes are more likely to impact the outcome of Democratic primaries because Democrats in New Jersey, like Democrats elsewhere, are more likely to vote by mail than Republicans.

The AP may call a race in which the margin between the top two candidates is 0.5% or less, if we determine the lead is too large for a recount and legal challenge to change the outcome. New Jersey doesnt have automatic recounts. Trailing candidates can request  and pay for  recounts, regardless of the margin between the top candidates.

Q: WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

A: As of April 1, there were 6.5 million registered voters in New Jersey, including 2.5 million Democrats and 1.5 million Republicans. As of Monday, 192,694 Democrats and 59,590 Republicans had cast advance votes. In the 2022 general election, 30% of voters cast their ballots before election day.

With no statewide races on the ballot, the AP doesnt have a statewide turnout projection.

Q: HOW LONG DOES COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 general election, 90% of votes were counted by noon on the day after the election. The vote count in some counties lasted an additional three weeks.

___

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Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 6, 2023 16:45 5 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc7de1c2 4 Front Row PNM,anniversary,Via-Vallen,ultra-micro-business Free

Bersama Nyata dalam Karya (Real Unity in Work) is the tagline for PNMs anniversary this year. Exactly 24 years ago, in tandem with Pancasila Day, the financing company that is part of Ultra Micro Holding was proven to be successful in increasing empowerment for ultra micro business factors. PNMs success is the fruit of its labor and joint collaboration to produce work that is echoed in the people's economy.

PNMs work is evidenced by its total distribution during January to April 2023 which reached Rp 24.1 trillion. Total assets increased to Rp 51.6 trillion in Q1 of 2023 alone, whereas in 2022 it was at Rp 46.9 trillion and in 2021 it was at Rp 43.7 trillion. This shows a positive achievement that illustrates the growth of the ultra micro sector in Indonesia.

President director of PNM, Arief Mulyadi, stated that the success was a collaborative effort by all PNM personnel in 62 branches across Indonesia. He is committed and invites all PNM personnel to continue to be enthusiastic about being a vital component in the family economy. Through financial, intellectual and social capital, PNM will continue to be a light to those who want to achieve a more meaningful life.

Twenty-four years is not a short time to contribute to creating economic balance. However, the 70 thousand PNM personnel who have attended to serve in 6,014 sub-districts have tried hard to fulfill the mandate and the will of the PNM founders to provide the widest possible benefit for the nation," said Arief at the peak of PNMs 24th anniversary celebrations at the PNM Tower.

The unity and collaboration were evident at the peak of the 24th anniversary celebration, which was held on June 1, 2023. All employees enjoyed the event while humming along to Via Vallens song, Mekaar for Us that awakens the fighting spirit of PNM personnel. This is because the song describes how PNM, through its Mekaar products, helps increase the value of underprivileged mothers so that they can move forward together.

"PNM friends need to be given a thumbs up. They are still young but have succeeded in developing ultra-micro businesses in Indonesia," praised Via.

The celebration of PNMs 24th anniversary was not only held at PNMs main office but also in 62 cities simultaneously. More than 70,000 PNM personnel all over Indonesia simultaneously celebrated this happy day so that everyone can have the same passion in empowering ultra micro businesses.
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Linkedin AFP Surabaya, East Java  Tue, June 6, 2023 13:41 5 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc7db25c 2 Archipelago Indonesia,Tengger,Volcano,hindu,sacrifice,tradition,East-Java Free

Thousands of Hindu worshippers scaled an active East Java volcano on Monday to toss livestock, food and other offerings into its smoking crater in a centuries-old religious ceremony.

Swarming the thin rim around the basin of Mount Bromo, devotees heaved goats, chickens and vegetables slung across their backs up to the dusty peak as part of the Yadnya Kasada festival.

Every year Tengger tribe members from surrounding highlands gather at the top of the volcano -- famed for its stunning sunrise views -- in hope of pleasing their gods and bringing luck to the Tenggerese, an Indigenous group in eastern Java.

Slamet, a 40-year-old farmer, brought a baby cow as an offering.

"We have a lot of cows back home and this one can be considered excess, so we are bringing it here... to return it back to God," he told AFP.

"This is also an act of gratitude to God for giving us prosperity... We return it back to God so we can come back here next year."

The calf had a lucky escape as it was handed to a villager after Slamet's prayers instead of being sacrificed to the volcanic cauldron.

Some villagers who do not belong to the Tengger tribe took to the crater's steep slopes equipped with nets in an attempt to intercept offerings thrown into the abyss and avoid them going to waste.

Farmer Joko Priyanto brought some of his own produce in the form of cabbages and carrots to lob down into the smoky void.

"I hope I will receive a reward from the almighty God," the 36-year-old said.

- 'Better income' -

Monday's ritual was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that authorities had allowed tourists to the site after the festival was limited to worshippers last year.

The event has its roots in 15th-century folklore from the Majapahit kingdom, a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist empire that stretched across Southeast Asia.

Legend has it that Princess Roro Anteng and her husband, unable to bear children after years of marriage, begged the gods for help.

Their prayers were answered when they were promised 25 children, as long as they agreed to sacrifice their youngest child by throwing him into Mount Bromo.

Their son is said to have willingly jumped into the volcano to guarantee the prosperity of the Tengger people.

For shopkeeper Rohim, who travelled from a nearby Javan city on Monday to launch potatoes, leeks and cash into the lava, it was a chance to pray for good luck. He said his fortunes had improved following previous visits.

"Business has been better than before, hence my coming here," the 32-year-old said.

"I'm hoping my business can improve so next year I can come back."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 6, 2023 15:01 5 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc7dbda6 1 Politics Indonesia,Prabowo-Subianto,Jokowi,Ukraine-war,Russia,clarification,speech Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he would hold a meeting with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to seek clarification about some of the key points the latter delivered at the 2023 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, especially on his proposal for peace in Ukraine.

Jokowi said Prabowo did not communicate with him regarding the peace plan and that it came directly from the senior minister himself.

"It came from Pak Prabowo. I haven't spoken with him. I will invite him for a meeting today or tomorrow. I will ask for an explanation for what the defense minister has said," President Jokowi told reporters on the sidelines of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leadership meeting on Tuesday.

In his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Prabowo proposed a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, calling for a demilitarized zone and a United Nations referendum in what he called disputed territory.

Prabowo called on defense and military officials from around the world who were gathered at Asias premier defense summit to issue a declaration calling for a cessation in hostilities.

He proposed a multi-point plan including a ceasefire and establishing a demilitarized zone by withdrawing 15 kilometers from each party's forward position.

Ukraine has dismissed the plan, reiterating Kyiv's position that Russia should withdraw its troops from the occupied territory.
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Linkedin Paola Lopez (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Nanegalito, Ecuador  Tue, June 6 2023

The Choco Andino Biosphere Reserve near Ecuador's capital Quito is a United Nations-designated biodiversity hotspotand the center of an increasingly heated debate over mining.

Mining companies want to exploit sites within the sprawling reserve, home to species like the spectacled bear. At least 12 mining concessions are in exploratory stages, although no mine has yet opened.

People who live within the reserve and environmentalists are pushing for a referendum to halt all mining.

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Linkedin Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 6 2023

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is scheduled to attend the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) national working meeting in Jakarta from Tuesday to Thursday, along with party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri and the partys presidential candidate Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

The planned meeting between Jokowi and Megawati comes amid rumors of growing tensions between the two influential figures within the PDI-P after Megawati reportedly nominated Ganjar in April without consulting the President. Jokowi is believed to have felt blindsided by the decision and has appeared to shift his support from Ganjar to Gerindra Party chairman and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Megawati is scheduled to deliver political speeches during the three-day meeting, which will be held behind closed doors, while Jokowi is set to open it and give "directions" to party members, according to head of the PDI-P's central executive board (DPP) Djarot Saiful Hidayat. Other prominent political figures, including Jokowi's son Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will also be in attendance.

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Linkedin Nur Janti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 6 2023

A police officer has been named a suspect in the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Parigi Moutong regency in Central Sulawesi, following the arrest of two other suspects, who fled to Kalimantan, over the weekend.

The case is being handled by the Parigi Moutong Police with the assistance of the Central Sulawesi Police.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Agus Nugroho said the officer with the rank of second inspector from Parigi Moutong Police was detained at the police detention center in the provincial capital of Palu on Saturday evening after being interrogated by investigators about the alleged rape.

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Yu Bo (L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina inaugurate the opening of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

TEGUCIGALPA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26.

Yu Bo, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, said at the inauguration ceremony that Honduras seized the historic opportunity to make the important decision to recognize the one-China principle.

With this decision, Honduras became the 182nd country to establish diplomatic relations with China, which China highly appreciated, Yu said.

"The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a widely recognized norm of international relations," he said.

Less than three months after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras, the two countries have accelerated coordination and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture, education and media, Yu said.

The Embassy of China in Honduras will do its best to fulfill the responsibility of being the window that opens relations between the two countries, the bridge that deepens bilateral cooperation and the link that connects the two peoples, he said.

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina, who jointly inaugurated the opening of the embassy, congratulated the inauguration and emphasized that the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China was an independent choice made by Honduras.

He said that the decision diversifies Honduras' international relations and aligns with most countries that recognize the one-China principle.

Firmly abiding by the one-China principle, Honduras looks forward to jointly promoting trade cooperation with China to improve infrastructure, contribute to the well-being of the Honduran people and foster social prosperity, said Reina.

Nearly 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony, including Honduran Second Vice President Doris Gutierrez, other Honduran government officials and parliamentary representatives, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras, as well as representatives from Chinese institutions, companies and communities in the Central American country. 

Officials from China and Honduras and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Honduras attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Yu Bo (2nd L, Front), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina (3rd L, Front) attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina (1st L) speaks at the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 5, 2023. The People's Republic of China officially inaugurated its embassy in the Republic of Honduras on Monday, following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on March 26. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)
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Linkedin Joe Jackson (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/London  Tue, June 6 2023

Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for more than a century when he testifies this week against a tabloid newspaper publisher.

Harry, 38, is expected to take the witness stand at London's High Court in a trial considering unlawful information-gathering claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

King Charles III's younger son and other high-profile figures allege the publisher engaged in illegal activities, including phone hacking, at its titles and are seeking damages.

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Linkedin Agence France-Presse (The Jakarta Post) Vienna  Tue, June 6 2023

Riyadh on Sunday announced a fresh oil output cut following a meeting of major producers aiming to prop up prices despite fears of a recession.

The meeting of the 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headed by Saudi Arabia and its 10 partners, led by Russia, saw some tough negotiations.

Saudi Arabia's fresh cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) is for July but "extendable", its Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told reporters after the hours-long OPEC+ meeting at the group's headquarters in Vienna.

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Linkedin Humeyra Pamuk (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) Washington  Wed, June 7 2023

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washingtons relationship with Riyadh, after years of deepening disagreements on issues ranging from Iran and regional security to oil prices.

Blinken is expected to meet with top Saudi officials and possibly the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, during his time in the capital Riyadh and the coastal city of Jeddah in what will be Washingtons second recent high-level visit.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on May 7.

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Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 7 2023

In her first state visit to Indonesia last month, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met with Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and ASEAN Secretary-General Kim Kao Hourn. The visit, which saw Jakarta and Ljubljana expand their cooperation across various sectors, coincided with Slovenias bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. The Jakarta Posts Yvette Tanamal recently sat down with Minister Fajon to talk about her Southeast Asia visit, the role of smaller powers in diplomacy and how Russias invasion in Ukraine has affected the Central European and Balkans region. The following are excerpts from the interview:

Question: What can you share about your meeting with Minister Retno, and how will a stronger Indonesia-Slovenia relationship benefit both countries?

Answer: Slovenia is a small country, but it is a very green country with a clean environment and a strong focus on renewable technology. We also have the Port of Koper, which is the most modern Adriatic port and is a fantastic access [point] for Europes central and eastern regions. Its the shortest way to enter the European market and it abides by a very high standard of environmental protection.

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Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 6, 2023

Defense Minister Prabowo Subiantos Ukraine peace plan suggestion at the Shangri-La Dialogue at the weekend hung over a meeting with Australias visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, who reiterated Canberras full support of Ukraine while noting that any peace solutions should be based on Kyivs terms.

Marles was a guest to Prabowo in Jakarta on Monday, the latest stopover in a trip across the Indo-Pacific.

Refusing to issue any comments about Prabowos peace plan, which was deemed strange by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikof, Marles instead explained that military cooperation with Jakarta was among Australias top regional priorities.

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Shares of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $14.67.

A number of research firms recently commented on ABR. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Arbor Realty Trust from $18.50 to $16.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 12th. Wedbush began coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. They set an outperform rating and a $15.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Arbor Realty Trust from $15.50 to $12.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Arbor Realty Trust from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $15.00 to $11.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director William C. Green acquired 4,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $12.94 per share, for a total transaction of $54,348.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 138,905 shares in the company, valued at $1,797,430.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Arbor Realty Trust news, Director William C. Green acquired 8,776 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $12.82 per share, with a total value of $112,508.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 147,681 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,270.42. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director William C. Green acquired 4,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was bought at an average price of $12.94 per share, for a total transaction of $54,348.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 138,905 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,797,430.70. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought 37,976 shares of company stock worth $470,856 in the last quarter. 3.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arbor Realty Trust

Arbor Realty Trust Stock Up 1.0 %

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new stake in Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Sandy Spring Bank raised its stake in Arbor Realty Trust by 400.0% in the 1st quarter. Sandy Spring Bank now owns 2,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new stake in Arbor Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd grew its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 31.5% during the 3rd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 4,043 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 969 shares in the last quarter. 40.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of NYSE ABR opened at $13.57 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.89 and a beta of 1.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.59, a quick ratio of 45.47 and a current ratio of 45.47. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $11.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $13.20. Arbor Realty Trust has a 52-week low of $10.10 and a 52-week high of $16.77.

Arbor Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th were paid a $0.42 dividend. This is a boost from Arbor Realty Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.38%. Arbor Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 97.67%.

Arbor Realty Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, and diverse commercial real estate assets. It operates through the Structured Business and Agency Business segments. The Structured Business segment offers structured loan origination and investment services.

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Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB  Get Rating) and Triple Flag Precious Metals (NYSE:TFPM  Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Mesabi Trust and Triple Flag Precious Metals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mesabi Trust 0 0 0 0 N/A Triple Flag Precious Metals 0 1 3 0 2.75

Triple Flag Precious Metals has a consensus target price of $23.08, suggesting a potential upside of 63.60%. Given Triple Flag Precious Metals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Triple Flag Precious Metals is more favorable than Mesabi Trust.

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Mesabi Trust $7.50 million 33.67 $5.31 million $3.22 5.98 Triple Flag Precious Metals $164.40 million 13.36 $55.09 million N/A N/A

This table compares Mesabi Trust and Triple Flag Precious Metals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Triple Flag Precious Metals has higher revenue and earnings than Mesabi Trust.

Profitability

This table compares Mesabi Trust and Triple Flag Precious Metals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mesabi Trust N/A 29.70% 21.31% Triple Flag Precious Metals N/A N/A N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

34.7% of Mesabi Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.3% of Triple Flag Precious Metals shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Mesabi Trust shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Mesabi Trust pays an annual dividend of $3.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 17.5%. Triple Flag Precious Metals pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Mesabi Trust pays out 104.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Summary

Triple Flag Precious Metals beats Mesabi Trust on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Mesabi Trust

(Get Rating)

Mesabi Trust engages in the business of collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income to the holders of Trust certificates after the payment of, or provision for, such expenses and liabilities, and protecting and conserving the assets held. The firm is also involved in iron ore mining activities. The company was founded on July 18, 1961 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

About Triple Flag Precious Metals

(Get Rating)

Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp., a gold-focused streaming and royalty company, engages in acquiring and managing precious metals and other streams and royalties in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Mongolia, Peru, South Africa, and the United States. The company has a portfolio of streams and royalties providing exposure primarily to gold and silver. It has 78 assets, including 9 streams and 69 royalties. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. operates as a subsidiary of Triple Flag Mining Elliott and Management Co-Invest LP.

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Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $110.00 and last traded at $109.78, with a volume of 175265 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $107.70.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Copa from $98.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Friday, February 17th. HSBC boosted their price objective on shares of Copa from $117.00 to $143.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Copa from $125.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. StockNews.com cut shares of Copa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Copa from $120.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $123.67.

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Copa Trading Up 2.6 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.58 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $95.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $91.01.

Copa Announces Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. Copas payout ratio is currently 29.18%.

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Copa by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,925 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $362,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the period. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P grew its position in shares of Copa by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P now owns 19,542 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,805,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Privium Fund Management UK Ltd grew its position in shares of Copa by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Privium Fund Management UK Ltd now owns 21,252 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,767,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Copa by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,630 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 146 shares during the period. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Copa by 16.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,083 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the period. 75.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Copa

(Get Rating)

Copa Holdings SA engages in the provision of air transportation. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America; South America; Central America; and Caribbean. The firm offers international flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Colombia, and other cities. The company was founded on May 6, 1998 and is headquartered in Panama.

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BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday talked over phone with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, during which the two sides vowed to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the conversation, Qin said practical cooperation between China and South Africa in various fields has yielded fruitful results in recent years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, met in November last year on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Bali summit, in which the two sides reached important consensus on further promoting the development of bilateral ties, Qin said.

Noting that China always sees and develops its relationship with South Africa from a strategic perspective, Qin said the Chinese side will, as ever, firmly support South Africa in exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, developing its economy, and improving people's livelihood.

Qin said China stands ready to work with South Africa to turn high-level political mutual trust into concrete actions, so as to push for continuous development of China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.

As the chair of BRICS for 2023, South Africa has made great effort and done much productive work for BRICS cooperation, which is much appreciated by China, Qin said.

The Chinese side is willing to continue to fully cooperate with the current BRICS chair, support South Africa in successfully hosting the 15th BRICS Summit, and work with South Africa to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among BRICS countries as well as to jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, Qin said.

For her part, Pandor said South Africa attaches great importance to developing its relations with China, and firmly adheres to the one-China policy.

The South African side is ready to join hands with China to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, so as to take China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, she said.

Pandor added that her country is willing to strengthen coordination with China within BRICS and other multilateral frameworks. 
Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Rating) had its target price raised by Credit Suisse Group from $50.00 to $56.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on DELL. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Dell Technologies from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $45.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $53.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $60.00 to $51.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $40.00 to $45.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Dell Technologies from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $47.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $49.81.

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Dell Technologies Stock Performance

Dell Technologies stock opened at $45.49 on Friday. Dell Technologies has a 52 week low of $32.90 and a 52 week high of $51.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $44.00 and a 200-day moving average of $41.94.

Insider Transactions at Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The technology company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.45. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 147.96% and a net margin of 2.01%. The company had revenue of $20.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.64 EPS. Dell Technologiess revenue was down 19.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Dell Technologies will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 15,983 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.49, for a total value of $583,219.67. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 841,207 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,695,643.43. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Thomas W. Sweet sold 283,388 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction on Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.14, for a total value of $11,375,194.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 211,608 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,493,945.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 15,983 shares of Dell Technologies stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.49, for a total transaction of $583,219.67. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 841,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,695,643.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 522,371 shares of company stock worth $22,038,868. Company insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Boulder Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Dell Technologies by 519.2% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 613 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Romano Brothers AND Company bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new stake in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors own 26.42% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

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Dell Technologies, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of information technology hardware, software, and service solutions through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), Client Solutions Group (CSG), and VMware. The ISG segment includes servers, networking, and storage, as well as services and third-party software and peripherals that are closely tied to the sale of ISG hardware.

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Dollar General (NYSE:DG  Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $256.00 to $201.00 in a research report report published on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other research firms have also commented on DG. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Dollar General from $280.00 to $255.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Piper Sandler lowered shares of Dollar General from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $275.00 to $178.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Dollar General from $275.00 to $245.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Argus raised shares of Dollar General from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $250.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Dollar General from $211.00 to $214.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Dollar General presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $208.50.

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Dollar General Price Performance

NYSE DG opened at $158.89 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $211.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $225.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.34. Dollar General has a 52-week low of $158.32 and a 52-week high of $261.59.

Dollar General Dividend Announcement

Dollar General ( NYSE:DG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported $2.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.38 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $9.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.47 billion. Dollar General had a return on equity of 40.03% and a net margin of 6.19%. Dollar Generals revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.41 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Dollar General will post 10.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 11th will be issued a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 10th. Dollar Generals payout ratio is 22.24%.

Insider Transactions at Dollar General

In other news, Director Timothy I. Mcguire bought 3,550 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $202.00 per share, with a total value of $717,100.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 11,104 shares in the company, valued at $2,243,008. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DG. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. First Manhattan Co. lifted its position in Dollar General by 447.4% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 104 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Capital Directions Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.73% of the companys stock.

Dollar General Company Profile

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Dollar General Corp. engages in the operation of merchandise stores. Its offerings include food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares, and seasonal items. It sells brands including Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kelloggs, General Mills, and PepsiCo The company was founded by J.

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First Quantum Minerals (TSE:FM  Get Rating) had its target price lowered by Jefferies Financial Group from C$40.00 to C$38.00 in a research note published on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

FM has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays increased their price objective on First Quantum Minerals from C$20.00 to C$22.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on First Quantum Minerals from C$32.00 to C$42.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on First Quantum Minerals from C$33.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. TD Securities raised First Quantum Minerals from a hold rating to a buy rating and reduced their price objective for the company from C$40.00 to C$39.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on First Quantum Minerals from C$25.00 to C$22.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, First Quantum Minerals presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$32.11.

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First Quantum Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of FM opened at C$29.38 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.14, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 67.15. The company has a market capitalization of C$20.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26, a PEG ratio of -1.28 and a beta of 2.15. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$32.13 and a 200 day moving average of C$30.16. First Quantum Minerals has a 12 month low of C$18.67 and a 12 month high of C$38.60.

First Quantum Minerals Cuts Dividend

Insider Transactions at First Quantum Minerals

The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.42%. First Quantum Mineralss dividend payout ratio is currently 20.00%.

In other news, Senior Officer Rudi Badenhorst sold 1,300 shares of First Quantum Minerals stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$27.59, for a total value of C$35,867.00. Company insiders own 19.71% of the companys stock.

About First Quantum Minerals

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First Quantum Minerals Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for copper, nickel, pyrite, gold, silver, and zinc ores, as well as produces acid. The company has operating mines located in Zambia, Panama, Finland, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and Mauritania, as well as a development project in Zambia.

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JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS  Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Monday.

Separately, HSBC upped their price objective on shares of JinkoSolar from $77.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, JinkoSolar has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $63.00.

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JinkoSolar Price Performance

Shares of JKS traded down $0.35 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $41.91. 475,701 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 818,452. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.06. JinkoSolar has a 12-month low of $38.43 and a 12-month high of $76.92. The company has a market cap of $2.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.44 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $46.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $49.24.

Institutional Trading of JinkoSolar

JinkoSolar ( NYSE:JKS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, March 10th. The semiconductor company reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.45 by $0.05. JinkoSolar had a return on equity of 8.66% and a net margin of 1.51%. The firm had revenue of $4.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.76 billion. Research analysts expect that JinkoSolar will post 8.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Toroso Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its stake in shares of JinkoSolar by 98.8% in the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 690 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 343 shares during the period. Carmignac Gestion purchased a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Natixis purchased a new stake in shares of JinkoSolar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of JinkoSolar by 1,105.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,205 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 1,105 shares during the period.

About JinkoSolar

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JinkoSolar Holding Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacture of solar modules. It distributes solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customers. The company was founded by Xian De Li, Kang Ping Chen, and Xian Hua Li on August 3, 2007 and is headquartered in Shangrao, China.

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KMD Brands Limited (ASX:KMD  Get Rating) declared a interim dividend on Tuesday, June 6th, MarketIndexAU reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be paid a dividend of 0.024 per share on Thursday, June 29th. This represents a yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th.

KMD Brands Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 2.03, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.92.

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About KMD Brands

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KMD Brands Limited, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, wholesales, and retails apparel, footwear, and equipment for surfing and the outdoors under the Kathmandu, Rip Curl, and Oboz brands in New Zealand, Australia, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Brazil. The company was formerly known as Kathmandu Holdings Limited and changed its name to KMD Brands Limited in March 2022.

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Shares of loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE:LDI  Get Rating) traded up 7.9% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $2.05 and last traded at $2.04. 354,327 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 17% from the average session volume of 426,859 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.89.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. William Blair downgraded loanDepot from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Bank of America reiterated a market perform rating on shares of loanDepot in a report on Thursday, March 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1.83.

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loanDepot Stock Up 10.6 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.54. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.87. The stock has a market cap of $664.41 million, a P/E ratio of -1.17 and a beta of 2.41.

Insider Activity at loanDepot

loanDepot ( NYSE:LDI Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported ($0.46) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.26) by ($0.20). loanDepot had a negative return on equity of 44.95% and a negative net margin of 29.28%. The firm had revenue of $169.66 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $199.15 million. On average, equities research analysts forecast that loanDepot, Inc. will post -0.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Director John Hoon Lee sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.67, for a total transaction of $334,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 105,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $176,452.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director John Hoon Lee sold 200,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1.67, for a total value of $334,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 105,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $176,452.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Jeff Alexander Walsh sold 14,828 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.74, for a total value of $25,800.72. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,302,323 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,486,042.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 650,963 shares of company stock valued at $1,083,122 in the last 90 days. 83.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of loanDepot

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in loanDepot during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. HRT Financial LP bought a new stake in loanDepot during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in shares of loanDepot in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of loanDepot in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Boulder Hill Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of loanDepot in the first quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 3.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About loanDepot

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loanDepot, Inc engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. It offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. The company also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report report published on Friday morning.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on POR. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Portland General Electric from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. Bank of America upgraded Portland General Electric from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $47.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Portland General Electric in a report on Monday, May 8th. They issued an overweight rating and a $56.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Portland General Electric from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $50.57.

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Portland General Electric Stock Performance

NYSE POR opened at $49.04 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The businesss 50 day moving average is $49.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $48.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.96, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.58. Portland General Electric has a 12-month low of $41.58 and a 12-month high of $56.37.

Portland General Electric Increases Dividend

Portland General Electric ( NYSE:POR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The utilities provider reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $748.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $622.50 million. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 9.06% and a net margin of 8.88%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 19.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. Research analysts expect that Portland General Electric will post 2.68 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th will be paid a $0.475 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 23rd. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.87%. This is a boost from Portland General Electrics previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Portland General Electric

In other Portland General Electric news, VP Brett Michael Sims sold 2,050 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.00, for a total transaction of $96,350.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $515,966. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Portland General Electric news, VP John Teeruk Kochavatr sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.12, for a total value of $153,360.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 15,489 shares in the company, valued at $791,797.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Brett Michael Sims sold 2,050 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.00, for a total value of $96,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 10,978 shares in the company, valued at approximately $515,966. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.51% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of POR. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Portland General Electric by 292.5% during the 1st quarter. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. now owns 2,612,374 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $127,719,000 after purchasing an additional 1,946,766 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 21.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,067,961 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $334,647,000 after purchasing an additional 1,087,996 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 37.2% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,339,567 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $162,473,000 after purchasing an additional 905,308 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 927.0% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 970,767 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $47,568,000 after purchasing an additional 876,246 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Portland General Electric by 8.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,268,761 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $489,739,000 after acquiring an additional 848,958 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.03% of the companys stock.

About Portland General Electric

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Portland General Electric Co engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. The firm also sells electricity and natural gas in the wholesale market to utilities, brokers, and power marketers. It also serves residential, commercial and non-residential customers.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) in a research note published on Friday. The firm issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Price Performance

THM opened at $0.47 on Friday. International Tower Hill Mines has a 12-month low of $0.38 and a 12-month high of $0.75. The firms fifty day moving average price is $0.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $92.00 million, a PE ratio of -23.60 and a beta of 0.70.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently raised its position in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) by 187.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 140,462 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. 55.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company, which engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. It holds the right to acquire interest in an advanced stage exploration project in Alaska, known as the Livengood Gold Project. The company was founded by Jeffrey A.

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Shares of Taylor Morrison Home Co. (NYSE:TMHC  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $45.58 and last traded at $45.52, with a volume of 402865 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $44.26.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TMHC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Taylor Morrison Home from $33.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Taylor Morrison Home from $45.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Taylor Morrison Home in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a hold rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on Taylor Morrison Home in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Taylor Morrison Home from $41.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.79.

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Taylor Morrison Home Stock Up 3.6 %

The company has a 50 day moving average price of $40.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 6.09 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market cap of $5.00 billion, a PE ratio of 4.70 and a beta of 1.73.

Insider Activity at Taylor Morrison Home

Taylor Morrison Home ( NYSE:TMHC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.45. Taylor Morrison Home had a return on equity of 24.14% and a net margin of 13.04%. The firm had revenue of $1.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Taylor Morrison Home Co. will post 6.71 EPS for the current year.

In related news, Director William H. Lyon sold 264,730 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.45, for a total transaction of $10,973,058.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 32,127 shares in the company, valued at $1,331,664.15. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Taylor Morrison Home news, EVP Darrell Sherman sold 14,595 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.50, for a total transaction of $649,477.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 119,579 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,321,265.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director William H. Lyon sold 264,730 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.45, for a total value of $10,973,058.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 32,127 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,331,664.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 671,666 shares of company stock worth $27,832,604. 5.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Taylor Morrison Home

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TMHC. Legato Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Taylor Morrison Home by 66.7% in the first quarter. Legato Capital Management LLC now owns 28,463 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,089,000 after acquiring an additional 11,385 shares during the period. Putnam Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Taylor Morrison Home by 12.7% in the first quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 62,183 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,379,000 after acquiring an additional 7,024 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Taylor Morrison Home by 57.1% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 452,705 shares of the construction companys stock worth $17,320,000 after acquiring an additional 164,503 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Taylor Morrison Home by 5.5% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,677,479 shares of the construction companys stock worth $64,181,000 after acquiring an additional 87,333 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Taylor Morrison Home by 0.6% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,212,462 shares of the construction companys stock worth $161,166,000 after acquiring an additional 25,923 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.33% of the companys stock.

About Taylor Morrison Home

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Taylor Morrison Home Corp. engages in the business of residential homebuilding and the development of lifestyle communities. It operates through the following segments: East, Central, West, and Financial Services. The East segment includes operations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Orlando, Raleigh, Southwest Florida, and Tampa regions.

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VNET Group reiterated their assumes rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS  Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on UHS. StockNews.com began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $150.00 to $165.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an underweight rating and a $143.00 price objective for the company. Barclays upgraded Universal Health Services from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $132.00 to $142.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded Universal Health Services from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $140.50.

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Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $134.71. 550,640 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 648,689. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a current ratio of 1.37. The company has a market cap of $9.45 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.26. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $134.92 and a 200-day moving average of $136.38. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $82.50 and a 12 month high of $154.65.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

Universal Health Services ( NYSE:UHS Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The health services provider reported $2.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $3.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.45 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 12.33% and a net margin of 5.05%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.15 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 10.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. Universal Health Servicess payout ratio is 8.50%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, CEO Marc D. Miller sold 44,110 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.65, for a total transaction of $6,292,291.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 160,383 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,878,634.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Universal Health Services news, CEO Marc D. Miller sold 44,110 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.65, for a total transaction of $6,292,291.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 160,383 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,878,634.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Lawrence S. Gibbs sold 793 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.31, for a total value of $96,991.83. Following the sale, the director now owns 2,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at $272,751.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 74,690 shares of company stock worth $10,532,212. 16.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,856,010 shares of the health services providers stock valued at $1,138,729,000 after buying an additional 146,820 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,026,512 shares of the health services providers stock worth $728,594,000 after purchasing an additional 113,259 shares in the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,733,178 shares of the health services providers stock worth $666,857,000 after purchasing an additional 101,132 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,804,556 shares of the health services providers stock worth $229,346,000 after purchasing an additional 125,839 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,586,639 shares of the health services providers stock worth $201,652,000 after purchasing an additional 32,587 shares in the last quarter. 87.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Universal Health Services, Inc operates as a healthcare management company, which through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, behavioral health centers, and outpatient facilities. It operates through the following segments: Acute Care Hospital Services, Behavioral Health Care Services, and Other.

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The Chinese-built Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) launched six years ago has been lauded for its harmony with wildlife conservation.

The 480-km railway travels through Kenya's largest wildlife reserve, the Tsavo National Park.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




ADEN, Yemen, June 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior officer of Yemen's security forces was killed on Monday in a bomb explosion in the country's turbulent southern province of Dhalea, a government official told Xinhua.

"A roadside bomb struck a convoy of the security forces in the northern part of Dhalea Province, killing officer Ali Ouqlah and injuring a number of his bodyguards," the local government official said on condition of anonymity.

Initial information indicates the bomb was detonated remotely by unknown gunmen as the convoy was "en route to inspect the forces stationed on the frontlines," he added.

Following the explosion, security forces were promptly deployed in the area and established checkpoints in order to capture the gunmen responsible for the incident, according to the official.

Over the past few weeks, there have been sporadic armed confrontations between government forces and the Houthi rebel militia in various areas located in the northern part of Dhalea.

Despite international calls for de-escalation, the Houthi rebels continue to launch on-ground military operations and advance on government-controlled provinces in the southern region.

Yemen has been locked in a military conflict since the Houthi militia took control of several northern cities and ousted the Yemeni government from the capital Sanaa in 2014.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and plunged the Arab world's poorest country into humanitarian crises, including widespread famine. 
Nigerians have long yearned for the re-establishment of a national carrier that will fly the nations flag around Nigeria and to other countries of the world. This aspiration is strategic as it relates to our national pride and identity. Aviation industry stakeholders estimate that by not having a national carrier, Nigeria may have suffered a huge loss of over $2 billion through capital flight over the years. This is the money that foreign airlines operating in Nigeria repatriate to their home countries.

It is in Nigerias national interest to establish a national carrier. Establishing a national carrier would lead to massive job creation, increase in foreign direct investment, continued development of the aviation sector, increased competition as against monopolistic practices by some operators to the disadvantage of air travelers, foreign exchange earnings by the government, setting up of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria, training opportunities for local aviation industry staff, effective utilization of all the airport facilities in Nigeria, and full utilization of the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) that Nigeria has signed.

It is as a result of all these and other reasons that sometime in October 2016, the Government approved the Federal Ministry of Aviations Aviation Road Map Projects. The listed projects included amongst other projects the establishment and operation of a national carrier. The national carrier was structured to be a joint venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the private sector. The national carrier is to develop and operate flight operations on domestic, regional, and international routes, based on the commercial viability of the selected routes and will in no way affect the fortunes of the existing airlines.

Following the approval, the following activities were carried out:

(1) Appointment of Transaction Advisers

In 2017, the Federal Ministry of Aviation appointed a consortium comprising the Airline Management Group Limited, United Kingdom, Tianaero FZE, and Avia Solutions as Transaction Advisers/Consultants to develop an Outline Business Case (OBC), assist with the procurement of a private partner and subsequently prepare a Full Business Case in line with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC)s regulations.

(2) Development and Approval of the Outline Business Case

A detailed Outline Business Case (OBC) demonstrating the economic, technical, and financial viability of the project (Nigeria Air) was prepared by the Transaction Advisers/Consultants. The business case report presented the results of the economic, technical, and financial analyses conducted, as well as the suitable structure for the project.

The Outline Business Case (OBC) was submitted to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) by the Ministry of Aviation. Following ICRCs review, a certificate of compliance was issued. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the Outline Business Case (OBC) was granted on November 24, 2021. Subsequently, Mr. President approved a One - Stage Procurement Phase (which combines the Pre-qualification and Request for Proposal requirements) to expedite the procurement process.

(3) Request for Proposals (RFP)

The Request for Proposals (RFP) advertisement for the establishment of a National Carrier for Nigeria was published in both local and international newspapers/magazines on the 10th of March 2022. The RFP package and Project Information Memorandum (PIM) inviting potential bidders to submit a Technical and Financial Proposal was made available to prospective bidders on the same day via the website - https://www.nigerianaviationppprojects.com. The deadline for the submission of the RFP bids was scheduled for 20th April 2022. The deadline was later extended to the 10th of June 2022 on the request of some investors, to allow them enough time to submit a responsive bid. The bid submission closed on the 10th of June 2022. The bid opening was conducted in the presence of officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Transaction Adviser.

(4) Evaluation Of Request For Proposal

In accordance with ICRCs guidelines, an Evaluation Committee was constituted comprising of Representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) namely: the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) and the Transaction Advisers, to evaluate the Technical and Financial proposal received.

The evaluation of the technical proposal was held between 20th to 21st July 2022, while the financial proposal was opened and evaluated on the 2nd of August 2022. With a total score of 86.7%, the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortiums proposal was considered responsive by the Evaluation Team having met all the requirements of the RFP Package. The bid by Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium scored 86.7% and was deemed successful having exceeded the pass mark of 70%, therefore, the Evaluation Team declared the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium as the Preferred Bidder for the project. This is in line with ICRCs guidelines for PPP Procurement.

(5) Due Diligence and Negotiations

Following the successful emergence of Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium as the Preferred Bidder, it was necessary to conduct due diligence on the Preferred Bidder in line with ICRCs guidelines to ascertain itstechnical, financial, and managerial capacity to undertake the National Carrier project. The Due Diligence was conducted between September 12 - 14, 2022. The Due Diligence Team concluded that Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium has the required technical, financial, and managerial capacity to successfully deliver the project. Thereafter, negotiations were held on the 28th of October 2022 with representatives from the relevant MDAs, Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium, and Transaction Advisers in attendance.

(6) Development Of Full Business Case and Draft Agreement

The Outline Business Case (OBC) was then updated with the outcomes of the Preferred Bidders Business Plan and the negotiations with the Consortium to develop a Full Business Case. The draft agreement was thereafter updated with the terms and conditions agreed during the negotiations. Subsequently, Mr. President granted anticipatory approval to the Ministry of Aviation for the Full Business Case and subsequently approved that the Ministry approach the Ministry of Justice for review and approval of the Establishment and Operations Agreement and for Nigeria to conclude all activities required for the grant of an AOC.

(7) Airline Operators Of Nigerias (AON) Case Against Ministry Of Aviation

Sometime in November 2022, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) approached a Federal High Court in Lagos to obtain an interim injunction to prevent the Ministry of Aviation from progressing with the launch of the new national carrier. The AON is of the opinion that the National Carrier will stifle the growth of domestic airlines by taking control of the various domestic, regional, and international routes. In addition, AON claimed that Ethiopian Airlines will have an undue advantage and that the procurement process was not right.

The aim of establishing a national carrier is to improve service delivery and promote competition that will offer the best value to Nigerian air travelers, promote national image and prestige, as well as engender multiplier effects on the economy. Nigeria Air has been structured based on the results of the various analyses conducted and in line with extant international laws with respect to the composition of a flag bearer. The project was properly advertised in local and international publications and some of the members of AON participated in the RFP process but did not submit a bid. The procurement process was in line with ICRCs guidelines for Public-Private Partnershipsin Nigeria.

Unveiling Of The National Carrier Aircraft

The Ministry of Aviation unveiled the first aircraft for Nigeria Air, the country's National Carrier at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport Abuja on Friday, 26th of May 2023. The unveiling is a fulfillment of the Governments promise to establish a National Carrier to replace Nigeria Airways, and an important part of the Aviation roadmap that was approved in 2016, which has been diligently pursued by the Ministry of Aviation. The first aircraft was part of the contribution of the Strategic Equity Partner Ethiopian Airline Group towards establishing Nigeria Air, it is common practice in Aviation for startup airlines to lease aircraft to commence operations and as they achieve financial stability acquire their own aircraft.

To establish the National Carrier, the Ministry of Aviation followed all existing extant laws that guide Public Private Partnerships in Nigeria and international best practices. At the end of the process, Ethiopian Airlines Consortium was declared the preferred bidder, with Ethiopian Airline Consortium having 49% shareholding in the joint venture, Nigerian Institutional investors have 46% while the Federal Government of Nigeria has 5% shareholding in the new National Carrier with all shareholders contributing cash or its equivalent for their shares except FGN whose equity contribution will be by services already provided and to be provided. Ethiopian Airlines has 77 years of successful global airline experience. They are by far the largest carrier in Africa and are amongst the 30 largest airlines in the world. They grossed $6 billion in revenue, almost $1 billion in profits in 2022, and have over 140 modern aircrafts in their fleet. Ethiopian Airlines has serviced Nigerian passengers uninterrupted since the countrys independence.

Nigeria Air at the commencement of operations will operate both domestic and international routes with modern Boeing 737 Max and 787 aircraft, thus giving Nigerians and other passengers the best in terms of quality service and on-time departures. Nigeria Air will not only meet international standards, but will provide a competitive alternative to international passengers, and also domestic passengers that have had to contend with poor quality service, incessant delays, and cancellations of booked flights over the years. When fully operational, Nigeria Air will have in its fleet over 30 modern aircraft consisting of Boeing 737 MAXs for regional and local flights and 787 Dreamliner wide-bodies for long-haulinternational flights to New York, London, Dubai, China,and many other destinations. An aviation academy will be set up in Abuja, Nigeria, and there will be hundreds of well-paying job opportunities for Nigerians including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians and much other staff. A modern Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility will be established in Abuja. Revenue projections for Nigeria Air within 5 years is over US$1.0 billion.

(9) Moving Forward

The Ministry of Aviation and Nigeria Air sought legal advice and the Ministry has been briefed that by unveiling Nigeria Air aircraft, the Ministry is not in contempt of court. Nigeria Air has existing approvals from the Federal Government to seek leases to commence operations pending when it acquires its own aircraft.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has followed its regulations and processes diligently in processing both the Nigeria Air Transport License and Air Operators Certificate (AOC). Nigeria Air has met and surpassed all the requirements. The AOC process is ongoing and there is no intention not to comply with any of the requirements for the granting of an AOC.

Nigeria Air is an addition to other airlines operating in Nigeria. It was not established to create a monopoly but to improve the standards in the Nigerian Aviation industry, create jobs for Nigerians and reduce capital flight that currently occurs due to most international routes being operated by foreign carriers.

Nigeria Air is for Nigerians and other passengers. We must all come together and protect it alongside other airlines. It is a source of national pride for all of us that we can now do what other countries such as Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, etc. have done over the years, which is to fly their countrys flag to major international destinations, offering Nigerians and other passengerscheaper and reliable flights.

Nigeria Air presents opportunities for Nigeria to further improve Nigerian passenger air travel experience, promote our national image and prestige, grow the aviation industrys contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP), as well as improve the attractiveness of the country as an aviation hub, amongst others.

The project is the cornerstone of the aviation roadmap projects because it will provide markets for aircraft leasing, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), facility,and other aviation-related businesses. It will also provide employment opportunities for Nigerians in line with the mandate by the federal government of Nigeria (FGN).

Having successfully conducted the Nigeria Air unveiling on Friday, 26th May 2023, these are the planned next steps by Nigeria Air:

1. Continuation of the AOC process in line with extant laws.

2. Announcement in key national newspapers of job openings for pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and other positions. The vacancy advertisements will also be posted on the Nigeria Air website and social media platforms.

3. Projected first commercial passenger flight by Nigeria Air is planned for 3rd Quarter of 2023

Chief (Dr.) Uche Nworah is the former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) and the reigning Ezeudo Enugwu-Ukwu Na Umunri.
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has slated to commence its investigative hearing on the controversial launch of Air Nigeria, a purported Nigerias national carrier, by the last administration led by Muhammadu Buhari.

The committee had invited relevant stakeholders to the hearing earlier scheduled for Monday in Abuja. However, representatives of most of the stakeholders had left the venue before the arrival of the committees Chairman, Nnolim Nnaji, who came about two hours behind schedule.

The stakeholders invited by the committee include the Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Airline Operators of Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines as well as aviation fuel (Jet-A1) suppliers.

Nnaji, after his arrival, apologised to stakeholders who waited behind at the venue, asking that the hearing be postponed to 3pm on Tuesday (today).

The Federal Government had bypassed domestic airlines, under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, and signed a deal with Ethiopian Airlines to float the Nigerian carrier.

The AON had consequently dragged the government and its agencies before a court to stop the process.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Friday took delivery of the first plane of the countrys national carrier, Nigeria Air, at the twilight of the administration amidst protests from local operators that it was contrary to a court order, which barred the government from taking further action on the project.
Sixteen members of Bege Baptist Church, Madala in the Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, central Nigeria, who were abducted in May, were released on 4 June after spending almost a month in captivity.

Around 40 members of the congregation were abducted on 7 May by armed assailants of Fulani ethnicity who attacked the churchs Sunday service. The majority managed to escape; however, 16 of them remained in the hands of their captors for almost a month.

The Kaduna State Chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Joseph Hayab, informed CSW that members of the local Muslim community had contributed funds towards the ransom, and had also purchased a motorcycle requested by the abductors as part of the payment: I confirm and give thanks that all 16 are now back home. We are grateful to the local Muslims who contributed towards the ransom, and pray that from now onwards the two religious communities will work together to bring this painful era of kidnapping, violence and killings to an end.

News of the encouraging cooperation between the faith communities comes as a viral video of the former governor of Kaduna State addressing his successor and Muslim religious leaders continues to cause consternation. In the video, Nasir el-Rufai expresses satisfaction at having secured Muslim dominance in perpetuity in key political sectors in Kaduna State through the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim gubernatorial ticket in 2019, and subsequently in Nigeria through the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

Speaking in Hausa, El-Rufai admitted, amongst other things, that during the 2023 electoral campaign he had assured members of the Christian community that the APC had looked for people who will work and that we do not consider religion. Of course, we do consider religion, he continued, but I would not tell them that we consider religion (openly).

The former governor also claimed that nobody will say because he is not a Muslim his rights were denied him under his tenure. In reality, predominantly Christian southern Kaduna experienced a significant rise in armed attacks during El-Rufais eight years in office, with thousands killed, thousands more displaced, and hundreds of villages destroyed, occupied by militia or too dangerous to approach.

Moreover, while perpetrators of this violence were rarely apprehended or brought to trial, survivors, journalists and human rights defenders who spoke out about the violence, and members of targeted communities who attempted to defend their homes, were regularly detained arbitrarily and indefinitely, disarmed, or harassed judicially. For example, the Fulani assailants who were eventually arrested for the 2018 abduction and murder of the paramount ruler of the Adara people, HRH Dr Maiwada Raphael Galadima, are yet to face prosecution, and the predominantly Christian chiefdom was subsequently balkanised and placed under two emirates, despite the fact that under 15% of the population in the area are Hausa or Fulani.

El-Rufai has also come under strong criticism for allegedly favouring Muslims in the allocation of state resources for capital projects and employment opportunities.

As his tenure drew to a close, El-Rufai issued a proscription order against the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA) on 28 May, backdating it to 24 May. ACDA, previously known as the Kataf Youth Development Association (KYDA), has been registered with the Kaduna State Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) since October 1989, registered again under its new name in 2010, and has been effective in highlighting the suffering of the Atyap community of southern Kaduna, which experienced a renewed surge in militia attacks following the elections. The organization is challenging the proscription order, and has described it as being both illegal and typically in tune with the hostile and vindictive posture of Malam Nasir El-Rufai to the Atyap ethnic nationality throughout his tenure.

As his tenure was ending El-Rufai also ordered the demolition of over 900 buildings. 21 May saw the largescale demolition of properties in the Rigasa area belonging to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a minority Shia community that has experienced severe mistreatment under his administration, including the extrajudicial killings of at least 700 members in December 2015.

The Gbagyi Villa residential complex in the predominantly Christian southern part of Kaduna City was the next to be targeted, beginning with the demolition of the Alheri Baptist Church on 22 May. At least eight people were killed and several others were wounded, including a 12-year-old girl, as the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADSVIS), a group created by El-Rufai, opened fire on protesting residents, when the demolitions continued in defiance of a court order. One of the victims, later identified as Luka Enoch, suffered 11 gunshot wounds. In addition, a woman reportedly died of shock as the demolitions began.

CSWs Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: CSW welcomes the release of the remaining 16 members of Bege Baptist Church and we wish them and their families and community a swift recovery from this traumatic ordeal. We join Rev Hayab in applauding the contributions made by the local Muslim community towards their release and hope it indeed marks the beginning of a new era of reconciliation and cooperation. However, the comments of former governor El-Rufai illustrate that the situation remains highly charged as violations in southern Kaduna continue to manifest along religious fault lines while those with the power to end them have prioritised other agendas. We also lament the unnecessary loss of lives in the latest irregular demolitions in Kaduna state, which largely target religious minorities or political opponents of the former governor, and were once again conducted in defiance of court orders. We urge the Nigerian authorities to challenge anyone who fosters religious division, to do far more to combat religion-related violence, and to prioritise the protection of vulnerable communities. Members of the international community must also be prepared to raise this human rights crisis which has been allowed to claim the lives of thousands for far too long, and the urgent need for redress and compensation for the extrajudicial killings and demolitions in Kaduna State, with the Nigerian government in bilateral talks and multilateral fora at every opportunity.

CSW is a human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion or belief. We work on over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. www.csw.org.uk
Monday, June 5, 2023, marked the twenty third anniversary of the creation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), by the then administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, with the sole aim of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of the country.

One of the core mandates of the commission is to train, educate, and empower the youths of the oil rich region in order to curb restiveness and give succour to the hopeless, and to develop key infrastructure, while promoting diversification and productivity, in order to reduce poverty.

The NDDC, is also mandated to survey the region and carry out needs assessment, in order to determine cogent measures to take in terms of physical and socio-economic development.

However, the past twenty three years have been clouded with a behive of gross mismanagement of unplanned projects and programmes.

In fact, at some point, NDDC was labelled as a "conduit pipe" for wasting the scarce resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta.

Delightfully, all that is now in the past, as the Samuel Ogbuku and Charles Ogunmola-led board of the NDDC, has decided to make a difference by fully adopting the developmental template of Project HOPE, as being driven by Blessing Fubara, the resource person for the scheme.

The scheme known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement (Project HOPE) is a platform on which youth of the region would benefit and make unprecedented progress.

Project HOPE was designed to create a comprehensive potential resource database of the youths population of the Niger Delta region, with a focus on their needs, qualifications, skills, passion, interests, and employment status.

The Executive Director in charge of Projects in NDDC, Charles Ogunmola, says the main focus of the new board is to change, to reform, and to do things differently, stating that the commission has set up structures, policies and ideas in place to achieve a smooth and rapid trajectory for the rebirth of the NDDC.

"Our core focus is on the development of the region through innovation. We know that the current traditional sources of revenue for the region through the oil companies and government are no longer sustainable because of the changing dynamics worldwide, so we have taken a different view, to look at the traditional sources as secondary, and to create new sources of sustenance and income," he stressed.

Ogunmola further stated that the rewind to rebirth initiative of the commission would be achieved through Project HOPE by building sustainable international and local partnerships for the development of the region and its youths.

According to Blessing Fubara, "Project HOPE is designed to deploy the first Niger Delta Youth Potential Resources Database System, which will give us the parameter for employment generation, youth empowerment, and capacity development in the region, and we have adopted the government-community-private sector-public sector development (GCPP) model for execution.

Fubara stated that the first strategy of the project, also called Project 9/9/9, was designed to create 9,000 jobs, 1,000 per state, through the development of agro-allied partnered industries in the nine states according to their potential and resources.

In Abia State, Project HOPE will set up a Textile Village and a commercial vegetable farm plus a processor industry in farm, while a poultry and egg hatchery plus a processor in farm will be set up in Akwa Ibom State.

Bayelsa State will host a plantain/banana plantation and snail farm for export, plus a processor industry in farm, while Cross River State will house a rice plantation and a processor mill in farm.

An automobile village and aqua culture and processor in farm will be set up in Delta State, while Edo State will host a cassava plantation, and a processor industry in farm, as well as a furniture village.

Ondo State will enjoy a livestock and dairy farm plus a processor industry in farm, while Imo State will accommodate a sugarcane plantation and a processor industry in farm, and Rivers State will host the Tech community, onshore and offshore fish farming plus a processor industry in farm," he narrated.

"We also have developed the Niger Delta Music and Arts Project (Niger Delta MAP), to cater for the needs of the creative sector of the region.

"There is also the NDDC internship programme designed to accommodate interns in companies located in the region.

"Project HOPE will also set up chambers of commerce in each of the nine states of the region in order to drive entrepreneurship to an excellent height.

"Niger Delta Youth Solicitors is the fifth project that will engage the services of brilliant but redundant lawyers to rescue our brothers and sisters that are languishing in correctional and detention centers, over bailable offences or no offences at all, in order to reassure a sense of rebirth, extend an olive branch, and ignite HOPE, for a better and safer region.

"The youths solicitors idea was conceptualized to give a voice to the hopeless, and to rebuild the culture of law and order, thereby creating confidence in the justice delivery system, to foster productivity, inclusivity, and accountability," Fubara said.

He stated that collation of data which would commence from next month at the various local government areas collation units, would be deactivated after ninety days for the first phase, and would become continuous afterwards.

"The portal will be opened for collation from July 1, 2023, for three months, across the nine states of the region, and will be followed by an aggressive communication campaign for awareness and integration of the rural dwellers."

The resource person for Project HOPE, said a total of five hundred and ninety seven data collation officers would be employed for the first phase of the project, while the second phase would be conducted by five thousand, nine hundred and seventy "hope givers", serving as data analysts, monitoring and implementation officers.

Finally, in the sacred words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, "I have never regarded myself as having a monopoly of wisdom. The trouble is that when most people in public life and in the position of leadership and rulership are spending whole days and nights carousing in clubs or in the company of men of shady character and women of easy virtue, I, like a few others, am always busy at my post working hard at the country's problems and trying to find solutions to them, only the deep can call to the deep."
ZAGREB, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The first commercial flight of the C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, is "a huge accomplishment" and "a very significant step forward" for China, said Ljubo Jurcic, a prominent Croatian economist and former economy minister, told Xinhua on Monday.

The success of the C919 shows that China has become a "locomotive" that can pull together the development of various kinds of technologies which are important not only for manufacturing aircraft, but also for other industries, Jurcic said.

The C919 completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market.

Since the C919 project was launched in 2007, it has undergone a long journey of design, manufacture, flight tests, and eventual commercialization. Nearly 300,000 people have participated in the aircraft's development. the order numbers for the C919 currently stand at 1,061, according to the developer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC).

China has a massive civil aviation market with great potential. By 2041, it is expected to become the world's largest single-country civil aviation market, according to a forecast released by the COMAC last year. 
The House of Representatives has dismissed the purported launch of Nigeria Air bearing the last minute of the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, outright declared the launch of Nigeria Air a fraud as the major stakeholders in the deal between the Federal Government and Ethiopian Airlines denied knowledge of the launch.

The Ministry of Aviation claimed Nigeria Air was only unveiled and not launched, which the committee dismissed as an attempt to divert the lawmakers attention.

Members of the committee reportedly expressed shock as NAMA disclosed that the aircraft bearing Nigerian colours was on a chartered flight to Nigeria.

It was learnt that other stakeholders held that a chartered flight could be painted in any colour and with any inscriptions.
All taxis welcome at Rassada Pier after turf war hits spotlight

PHUKET: Any legally registered taxi is now welcome to pick up passengers at Rassada Pier, Phukets main marine gateway to Phi Phi Islands and the location of the most recent episode in the islands taxi turf wars.

transporttourismSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 6 June 2023, 09:00AM

Following the most recent argument between taxi drivers, all cabs were allowed to operate at Rassada Pier. Photo: Phuket Info Center

A sign announcing the absence of exclusive rights for the area was posted at the terminal on June 5, just two days after foreign tourists were ordered to exit an external van they had booked through a mobile app on June 3.

While the tourists were eventually allowed to continue their journey on an external vehicle, Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Adcha Buachan has pledged to find a long-term solution to the issue.

"The taxi drivers at the pier thought that the minivan driver illegally used the Bolt application to pick up the tourists and tried to stop him. But the head of the queue intervened and informed them that Bolt had been legalized. As a result, they allowed the tourists to return to the van and leave the pier," Mr Adcha explained to The Phuket News.

Following the incident, officials  including representatives from the police and the military  visited the pier and conducted a meeting with the drivers who have a concession with the ferry operator. Phuket Move Forward MP-elect Somchart Techathavorncharoen was present at the meeting and later disclosed some of the key points discussed.

"The operation of the taxi queue has no legal basis, but it has been in practice since 2012. It is a common assumption among taxi drivers that they have the legal right to operate a taxi queue in the area and prevent other drivers from picking up passengers there. However, in reality, this is not the case," explained Mr Somchart, saying that this point was made by the PLTO.

"It is recommended to install a clear sign at Rassada Pier, indicating the designated area where outside taxis, not affiliated with the Rassada Pier cooperative, can stop and pick up passengers," continued Mr Somchart.

Regarding his own contributions at the meeting, Mr Somchart said that he requested cooperation from all taxi professionals to help maintain the tourism image of Phuket."

Bolt approved in Thailand

Exactly on the day of the Rassada Pier incident (June 3), the Department of Land Transport (DLT), of which the PLTO is a provincial branch, has officially confirmed that the Bolt application had been legally authorised to operate in Phuket and throughout Thailand. With this confirmation, the total number of taxi apps available for local residents and tourists reached seven. Those are:

Hello Phuket; Bonku; Asia Cab (CABB); Grab; Robinhood; AirAsia Super App; Bolt.

The DLT also clearly stated that personal vehicles with black and white license plates can be legitimate taxis as long as they have been registered as mobile application service vehicles, complete with officially issued stickers of proof. An example of such a sticker was posted with the announcement.
Efforts to lure Chinese ramped up amid seasonal arrival decline

PHUKET: Foreign arrivals to Phuket in May dropped by 26.3% compared to the previous month, mainly due to the end of the high season and a sluggish recovery in the Chinese market which officials are now trying to address. Despite this decline, overall visitor numbers comprise about two-thirds of the pre-pandemic levels, indicating a steady recovery in Phukets tourism sector.

Tuesday 6 June 2023, 01:00PM

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourist Police Bureau joined forces to assure Chinese travelers in their safety while in Thailand. Photo: TAT

According to the June 1 report by Phuket Immigration, direct international arrivals to Phuket airport in May totaled 224,357 visits, marking a 26.3% drop from 304,485 visits in April and a 38.3% drop from 363,752 visits in March.

However, these figures align with the expectations set by the President of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, who predicted approximately 50% of pre-COVID levels during the current low season. In fact, when compared to the May 2019 figures reported by C9 Hotelworks , this Mays numbers are even higher, accounting for around 67-68% of the visitor volume recorded four years ago.

In May 2019, Phuket airport registered 592,714 visits, of which approximately 313,919 were international arrivals. The current figure of 224,357 visits is much closer to that number than the 86,400 foreign arrivals recorded in May 2022 (although even 86,400 at that time was considered positive news for an industry severely impacted by the pandemic).

Its important to note that the Phuket Immigration report for May 2023 only includes direct arrivals, meaning passengers passing through passport control on the island. It does not account for the significant number of indirect Phuket arrivals, which are travelers who fly through Bangkok and clear immigration at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The top five countries by direct arrivals in May were as follows:

China: 37,949;

Russia: 26,624;

Australia: 19,828;

India: 19,783;

Malaysia: 12,918.

However, these numbers reflect a decline in arrivals from all the key markets in May. Chinese arrivals dropped by 18.7%, visits from Russia plunged by 58.1%, visits from India decreased by 20.5%, and visits from Australia declined by 14.9%. Data for the Malaysian market is not available for comparison as it did not feature in the top five in April.

The markets of Russia, China, India, and Australia were the largest throughout the entire five-month period of 2023, according to Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)s Phuket Office.

In an interview with the Bangkok Post , Mr Lertchai stated that Phuket had welcomed over 6 million international tourists from January to May 2023, with Russians comprising the largest group among them. He added that with the onset of the rainy season, there may be a slight decline in the number of international visitors.

Mr Lertchai did not provide further details regarding the arrivals included in his total of 6mn international tourists. According to C9 Hotelworks, overall arrivals to Phuket airport during January to May 2019 barely reached 4mn, encompassing all international and domestic flights with both foreign and Thai travelers.

The 2019 Annual Report by Airports of Thailand (AOT), the state-controlled operator of Phuket International Airport, indicates that there were 8.9mn foreign and Thai arrivals to Phuket throughout the entire year of 2019. This official report supports the accuracy of the 4mn estimate for the first five months of the year when considering the combined number of foreign and Thai travelers, but not foreigners alone.

Reassuring the Chinese

The data from Phuket Immigration regarding arrivals from China aligns with the concerns expressed by PTA Director Thaneth Tantipiriyakij in early May, when the exper warned of a "slowdown of the Chinese market" due to various factors.

Mr Thaneth highlighted the nightly closures of Phuket airport being extended until July, which would hinder flight expansion from China as these had been the time slots they utilised before the pandemic. He also urged relevant authorities to address the issue of "fake news concerning unsafe vacations in Thailand" that had been circulating on Chinese social media platforms.

Regardless of the authenticity of such news, both the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourist Police Bureau collaborated at the end of May to tackle this issue.

On May 22, the TAT announced a new campaign called Trusted Thailand, You Taiguo Yue Wan Yue Kaixin and aimed at reinforcing Chinese travelers confidence in safety while promoting meaningful travel experiences in Thailand.

As part of this effort, the TAT invited 60 Chinese influencers, also known as "key opinion leaders" (KOLs), to participate in the Mega Fam Trip from May 18-28. The itineraries were carefully designed to emphasize tourist safety measures and highlight community-based, gastronomy, health, and beach tourism experiences.

Although Phuket was not included in the destinations visited by the Chinese KOLs, the island was still the key scene for the part of the campaign run by the Tourist Police.

Since the last week of May, the agency has significantly increased its media activity to promote the officers assistance to foreign tourists in need.

Daily reports published by the Phuket Tourist Police feature stories of officers helping foreigners find their lost mobile phones and motorcycles, providing care to road accident victims, acting as mediators in conflicts between foreign clients and local businesses, and assisting in the search for tourists lost in the jungle or struggling to recall the name of their hotel.

"In cooperation with the relevant agencies, the Tourist Police Bureau is dedicated to the safety and well-being of tourists in Thailand. We are making every effort and utilizing modern technology to ensure tourists from all over the world can enjoy peace of mind throughout their travels in Thailand," stated Lt Gen Sukhun Prommayon, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, in a joint announcement with the TAT.

"The Trusted Thailand campaign aims to reassure Chinese tourists that Thailand is a safe and secure destination. The tagline You Taiguo Yue Wan Yue Kaixin in Chinese, which translates to the more one travels to Thailand, the more fun they enjoy, reinforces that Thailand remains the preferred destination for Chinese tourists, offering a wide variety of quality tourism products and services that cater to different Chinese travel preferences," added Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing in Asia and the South Pacific Region.
Male employees to receive 15 days of paternity leave

BANGKOK: The government has broadened paternity leave periods to cover male government employees, allowing them to have 15 days paid leave after their childs birth.



By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 6 June 2023, 08:54AM

Workers hold a sign to call for fully paid maternity leave and 30 days paternity leave for male employees after their childs birth to celebrate Labour Day at Democracy Monument last year. Photo: Apichit Jinakul

The leave extension was part of a new Government Employees Executive Committees announcement regarding government employee benefits that was signed yesterday (June 5), Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.

The paternity leave regulation was added to the section regarding maternity leave in the older version of the announcement issued in 2011, reports the Bangkok Post. The previous version limited the right to only government officials, a 98-day maternity leave and a 15-day paternity leave with full pay for both males and females. Female government employees already have 90 days of maternity leave.

Mr Wissanu said the updated regulation would give equal rights to government employees employed by government agencies but who do not have fringe benefits like government officials.

Government employees work like government officials, but they do not have to pass a national government test, and they dont get a pension after retiring. The government introduced government employees (some of whom are on limited contracts) to cut costs.

According to the announcement, male employees wanting to take the 15-day paternity leave must notify their supervisor within 30 days after the delivery day.

Supervisors have full authority to require evidence from the employees.

Those who want to take leave after a child is more than 30 days old can take leave without pay for 15 days unless their supervisors approve the leave with full pay.
Two injured in accidents in front of Satree Phuket School within one night

PHUKET: Two road accidents occurred within a span of two hours in front of Satree Phuket School in Phuket Town last night (June 5-6). A man and a woman were hospitalised, and government property was damaged.

accidentstransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 6 June 2023, 01:59PM

Two motorcycles collided at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 11.05pm yesterday (June 5). Photo: Wutthipong Preecharat

Two motorcycles collided at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 11.05pm yesterday (June 5). Photo: Wutthipong Preecharat

Two motorcycles collided at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 11.05pm yesterday (June 5). Photo: Wutthipong Preecharat

A Honda City sedan crashed into the fence at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 1.40am today (June 6). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A Honda City sedan crashed into the fence at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 1.40am today (June 6). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A Honda City sedan crashed into the fence at the Satree Phuket School intersection at 1.40am today (June 6). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Around 11.05pm, two motorcycles collided at the intersection in front of Satree Phuket School, prompting first-response medical teams to be called.

An unnamed woman sustained injuries from the collision, as reported by Phuket emergency worker Wutthipong Preecharat on his personal Facebook page.

According to the information from his page, Mr Wutthipong was himself a Satree student in his school early years.

The injured woman received initial treatment at the scene and was subsequently transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further care. No details were provided regarding the severity of her injuries or the condition of the rider on the second motorcycle.

Less than two hours later, at approximately 1.40am, rescue workers were summoned once again to the intersection in front of Satree Phuket School.

This time, the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation responded to the call and dispatched an ambulance to the location, reports Khao Phuket, The Phuket News sister-newspaper in Thai language.

At the intersection, a damaged white Honda City sedan was discovered. The vehicle had slammed into the school fence, toppling a traffic sign and damaging water pipes.

The driver of the Honda City, identified as Supachai Changwang, 23, sustained undisclosed injuries and was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket for treatment.

The report by Khao Phuket clearly mentions damage to government property but does not specify any charges against Mr Supachai. Nothing has been reported about police charges following the first accident, though pictures from the scene show police presence.
As part of Cambridge Pride Week celebrations, the Preston Towne Market is supporting members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The inaugural Pride Market, on June 8 at Central Park, will not only have the usual market vendors, but a call has been put out for 2SLGBTQ+ artisans, food producers, creatives, buskers, musicians and their allies.

Organizers are telling patrons to bring their dancing shoes as a DJ will be spinning music during the market, which runs from 1 to 6 p.m.

At last weeks inaugural market of the year, 13 vendors, besides fresh food producers, were on hand.



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An Iranian national flag is hoisted at the reopening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

"I think any time two countries, especially two countries with so much influence in that area -- in the Gulf -- are engaged in open and constructive dialogue, it is helpful to the region," a UN spokesman said.

UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The re-opening of Iran's embassy in Saudi Arabia is helpful for the region, said a UN spokesman on Tuesday.

In reply to a question at a daily press briefing whether the re-opening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia is a positive move in the region, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: "I think any time two countries, especially two countries with so much influence in that area -- in the Gulf -- are engaged in open and constructive dialogue, it is helpful to the region."

Iran re-opened its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a China-brokered deal.

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a groundbreaking agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations and re-open their embassies and missions. 
Re: 'It doesn't have to be complicated': Councillor wants Cambridge to become an independent city:

To the editor:

I read Coun. Nicholas Ermetas case in the Cambridge Times for transferring all of the Regional Municipality of Waterloos responsibility for education, police, public health, water supply, sewage disposal, public health, social services, paramedic services, and transportation, etc., to the City of Cambridge.

He suggests that some of these services could be provided in co-operation with other municipalities through one or more joint management board(s). The Region of Waterloo was created 50 years ago for the very purpose of managing this group of services that, by their very nature, must cross municipal boundaries to provide the most cost-effective and efficient service.

His argument that the citizens of Cambridge are disproportionately represented on regional council is misleading as they are represented by council members in proportion to population, elected by the citizens of Cambridge.

If all or any of these responsibilities were transferred to Cambridge and/or any number of the other municipalities in the Waterloo Region, new administrative bureaucracies would have to be established for each municipality and each service. This would be a tremendous abuse of taxpayers' dollars.

How many bureaucracies do we need in the Waterloo Region for the disposal of sewage or garbage? Elected representatives should be looking at ways to reduce bureaucracy, not creating more.

Ermetas example of the police administration headquarters being relocated to Kitchener is fabricated nonsense. The Waterloo regional police headquarters, along with one of two regional paramedic headquarters and regional fleet maintenance facility is located at 200 Maple Grove Rd., Cambridge, Ontario, N3H-5M1.

As for public education, the public and separate school boards consist of board members elected every four years from each municipality in the region on the basis of population. They do not report to municipal government but report to the province.

I checked my 2023 tax bill and 46.8 per cent went to the City of Cambridge, 68.67 per cent to the Region of Waterloo and 15.3 per cent to education services. In reality, the region provides most of our services and appears to be doing a good job of providing good services at a reasonable cost.

The bottom line is that the people of Cambridge are not disenfranchised by regional government. We are fully represented by elected members in the region and on the public and separate school boards.

Douglas J. Jackson

Cambridge

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Waterloo Regional Police have laid 14 charges in connection with a reported road rage incident in Wilmot Township.

On the evening of June 1, officers responded to the report of a man allegedly pointing a firearm at a driver at Mill Street and Beck Street after an alleged road rage incident.

No physical injuries were reported.

After investigation, a 49-year-old man from Wilmot Township was charged with several offences, including: possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm (four counts), unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, pointing a firearm among others.

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Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled six closures in Waterloo on June 6, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 401, Highway 6, Highway 7/8, Highway 8 and Highway 85.

Highway 401 eastbound between Highway 24 / Hespeler Road and Townline Road / Wellington Road 33, Cambridge: one alternating lane closed until June 8 at 5 p.m.

Highway 6 northbound between Wellington Road 34 / County Road 34 and Maltby Road / Concession 4, Guelph: one right lane closed until June 9 at 3 p.m.

Highway 7/8 eastbound between Ottawa Street and Ottawa Street, Kitchener: one right lane closed from June 6 at 10 p.m. until June 7 at 5 a.m.

Highway 7/8 westbound between Trussler Road / Ira Needles Boulevard, Kitchener and Notre Dame Drive, Petersburg: one alternating lane closed until June 9 at 11:59 p.m.

Highway 8 eastbound between Sportsworld Drive / Maple Grove Road and Sportsworld Drive / Maple Grove Road, Kitchener: one right lane closed from June 7 at 10:30 p.m. until June 8 at 5 a.m.

Highway 85 southbound between Lancaster Street Up Ic-kitchener and Lancaster Street Up Ic-kitchener, Kitchener: one alternating lane closed until June 9 at 11 a.m.

Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Waterloo

About this story

This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors.

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LONDON  A three-judge panel has reserved its decision on Carolyn Burjoskis challenge of the Waterloo Region District School Board ending her delegation early at a school board meeting last year.

The panel heard oral arguments Monday from lawyers representing both Burjoski and the board during a virtual hearing. The panel will now review the information and provide a decision to both counsels at a later date.

Burjoski, a retired teacher, is asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice divisional court in London to overturn the boards decision to cut short her presentation at a school board meeting on Jan. 17, 2022, and order the board to let her finish giving her presentation.

This is a separate case from Burjoskis lawsuit against former chair Scott Piatkowski and the board, where she is seeking $1.75 million in damages.

On Monday, Burjoskis lawyer, Jorge Pineda, argued that then board chair Piatkowski overstepped in his decision to prematurely end Burjoskis presentation, and didnt properly consider her Charter right to free expression.

Pineda showed the panel a video recording of the presentation. The board had previously taken down the online version of the video, and it has not been available to the public.

In the video, Burjoski reads from a book called Rick, which she says is available in libraries for students between the grades of kindergarten and Grade 6. She says the book depicts a young boy whose friend talks about naked girls all the time. Rick is confused because he doesnt think about naked girls, so he wonders if something is wrong with him, she says. Rick gets invited to the schools Rainbow Club, and he ends up declaring an asexual identity.

Burjoski suggests Rick might not have sexual feelings yet because he is a child.

She then discusses a passage from a book called The Other Boy, which she describes as being about a girl who identifies as a boy and takes puberty blockers and testosterone as part of a medical gender transition.

This book makes very serious medical interventions seem like an easy cure for emotional and social distress, she says.

Board chair Piatkowski then stops the presentation, and says he is concerned her comments are in violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which protects individuals from discrimination against gender identity and gender expression.

The board votes on whether to let Burjoski continue; allowing her to proceed is defeated by one vote.

Pineda argued Monday that Burjoski did not breach the Ontario Human Rights Code at any time during her presentation. He said Piatkowski was biased on the topic, and it impacted his decision.

He was motivated by bias, he didnt like what Ms. Burjoski had to say, and he decided to use and abuse his authority as chair of the board to silence her, said Pineda.

In its statement to the panel, the boards counsel, Kevin McGivney, argued Piatkowski acted in accordance with his position as chair of the board, and was bound by that position to ensure a safe space for marginalized communities, including the transgender community.

Gender identity is real. Gender expression is real. It is not an emotional and social concern, McGivney said. The chair is not in a position to determine that Ms. Burjoski violated the Human Rights Code, but hes absolutely in a position to protect his obligation to create a positive school environment for a trans child who may be listening. That is fundamentally the concern.

McGivney also asked the panel to consider the implications of overturning the boards decision.

There is simply a common-sense assessment that must be taken into account in assessing whether a court is going to step in and tell a duly elected school board that its decision in these types of circumstances is unreasonable and is to be overturned.

As part of its deliberations, the panel will also decide on how costs will be covered in the event of successful verdicts for either side.

If Burjoski is successful, she has asked for there to be no cost to the board. However, if the board is successful, it has asked for Burjoski to cover $10,000 in costs.

The panel will decide a verdict and communicate that decision to both counsels at a future date. It did not give a timeline of how long the process will take.

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By Azernews

Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium has organized a photo exhibition of the world-famous photojournalist Reza Deghati called "Khojaly: Wounded Souls" in Brussels.

A minute of silence was held in memory of the people who lost their lives as a result of the devastating earthquakes that occurred in Turkiye, Syria and the city of Khoy, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium Vagif Sadigov spoke about Khojaly Massacre, which took the lives of 613 civilians.

On the night of February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, directly supported by the 366th regiment of the former USSR, stationed at that time in the town of Khankendi in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan attacked, from five directions, the town of Khojaly.

Some 613 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in the massacre, and 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent.

Moreover, around 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.

In his speech, Reza Deghati noted that he left architecture, which was once his main art, and engaged in photo-journalism precisely because of his love for humanity, and noted that he believes that spreading the truth through culture and art is the most powerful tool.

He stressed that wars, natural disasters, and crises that cause the death of people, the destruction of buildings, historical monuments, and vital infrastructure leave irreparable wounds in the memories of the survivors.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps, officials of the European Union, Belgium academic circles and many others, who attended the opening ceremony, showed great interest in the exhibition.

The photo exhibition was followed by a concert dedicated to the memory of the Khojaly tragedy victims.

Trio Manestri created in Belgium by talented pianist-composer Nazrin Afandiyeva, grandson of Azerbaijan's prominent composer Fikrat Amirov, left no one indifferent.

The concert program included Azerbaijani folk songs, works by Fikrat Amirov, Anze Rozman, Ludovico Einaudi, Nazrin Afandiyeva's music piece "613 memories" as well as "Azerbaijan miniatures", composed especially for this event.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

The United States and China are "intertwined like conjoined twins," says Elon Musk.

NEW YORK, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Economic imperatives are sending a steady stream of CEOs to China, and the real obstacle to growth is found in Washington, U.S. news website Axios reported on Saturday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited Beijing last week and was quoted as saying that the United States and China are "intertwined like conjoined twins," said the report.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was in Shanghai after doubling the bank's China head count over the past four years. "We're here, we're going to support the Chinese people," he told Bloomberg.

Apple's Tim Cook told a Beijing audience in March that being in China "means the world to me" given the "symbiotic relationship" his company has with the country.

"China is the largest or second-largest market for a slew of U.S. multinationals -- not only Apple and Tesla but also the likes of GM, Starbucks, McDonald's and Nike. It also represents much greater potential growth than the U.S. can offer," the report said. 
Do you have a former teacher that imbued you with a lifelong calling to learn? A mentor who pushed, prodded and inspired you to see beyond the confines of the classroom walls? A friend who encouraged you, challenged you and even demanded that you look to the stars?

For journalist and former Hamilton high school teacher Karen Cumming, that person was Ancaster High School teacher Mason Barnes.

Cumming, who graduated from Ancaster High School in 1980, took a January trip to Portugal after listening intently to friends about how it had become their favourite holiday destination.

She finally booked an apartment in a village called Carvoeiro, in the Algarve region, for a month. It was an enjoyable learning experience. But more importantly, it sparked a yearning to tell Barnes that she had finally made the trip to Portugal, 30-plus years after missing those yearly high school adventures to the Algarve region.

For years, Barnes, who taught Spanish, French and Latin, would take students to Portugal, Paris, France and other exotic locations. But Cumming never managed to accompany Barnes and his students when they made their annual visits.

Cumming wrote an article for the Hamilton Spectator in March about her month-long adventure. And she also decided to call Mr. Barnes and tell him about the sights and sounds and how she had savoured the country. But when Cumming looked up Barnes for a phone number, she discovered that he had died in November 2020 in his 80th year.

It broke my heart, said Cumming, who remembered all those days in Mr. Barnes classroom, learning Latin for five years. Here was this great man who made such an impact on so many students lives, taken by Alzheimers. He would say if we could master Latin, we could master anything.

Cumming, during her time as a student, would write down her thoughts in a notebook about travelling, including to Portugal, sparked by Mr. Barnes recounting the many stories he told his students about the sun-drenched country.

I read it now and his voice was still inside my head, encouraging me to get out there, she said. He did that for dozens of people, to have a goal. He told us that we were meant for great things. He inspired a love of travel and adventure in all his students. He made us feel special.

On Mr. Barnes online memorial, former students and teachers praised him for enriching their lives. Cumming said Mr. Barnes not only was a special teacher for his students, but for many of them he became a lifelong friend.

What I enjoyed about Mason was his puckish sense of humour and penchant for bureaucratic subversion, stated Dean Fink, a co-worker of Mr. Barnes, for the online obituary.

Generations of students will remember Mason for his scholarship, kindness and humour, and of course the trips, said Fink.

Student Leslie Thomas stated that she went on several school trips with Mr. Barnes, including a cruise to the Caribbean and to Portugal.

These trips started my love of travel and other cultures, she said. I am grateful for the good influence Mr. Barnes had on me.

The loss of Mr. Barnes  Cumming said he will always be Mr. Barnes  was so final, and yet, she said, something needed to be done to remember his legacy.

I wanted to do something so that Mr. Barnes spirit would carry on and continue to inspire others for years to come, said Cumming.

She decided to ask the public school board to create a scholarship fund named after Mason Barnes that would go toward an Ancaster High student who best reflected the qualities he exemplified. The first award will be made in June for the 2023 graduating class. Cumming has received the consent of Mr. Barnes family to establish the legacy prize.

Individuals can make a donation to the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success, and the Hamilton Community Foundation will invest the money to ensure the scholarship is awarded annually.

I just feel it is so necessary, said Cumming.

Cummings thirst for adventure and travel had led her to become a citizen astronaut with the Mars One mission. These candidates, known as The Mars 100, were part of an experiment that would have led 24 individuals to colonize the red planet. Even though the project never got off the ground, Cumming heard Mr. Barnes voice softly encouraging her to take the ultimate trip.

Mr. Barnes used to recite the motto of Ancaster High School, Per Ardua Ad Astra, which translates as Through adversity to the stars.

Through his unflagging encouragement, I overcame the typical adversities in life to literally head to the stars, said Cumming. I think he would have loved it.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to learn more about Mason Barnes and the scholarship program founded in his name.

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After four years of refusals, the Ford government is giving Hamiltons public school board permission to use its own money to proceed with one of three stalled elementary school gym expansions.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek member of provincial parliament Neil Lumsden broke the great news in a May 25 media release announcing approval of $3 million in work at Rosedale Elementary School that includes a new gym and renovation of the learning commons, or library.

This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead, he stated, not mentioning his government isnt footing the bill.

The approval came a little more than a month after a CHCH TV story highlighted parents criticisms of the province for halting work at the school, which is in Lumsdens riding.

It partially ends an impasse since May 2019, when the board sought previously routine Ministry of Education approvals to use proceeds from the sale of school properties for gym expansions at Rosedale, Billy Green and Queensdale elementary schools.

The ministry sat on the request, preventing the work from proceeding that summer, before denying approval in March 2020.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce defended the decision that summer, telling the Stoney Creek News he preferred school boards use their money to expand classroom capacity, not gyms.

Since then, trustees have tried a variety of ways to get the projects back on track  including by submitting them as priorities for provincial funding in May 2021  without success until the Rosedale announcement.

Were grateful to finally be able to use our proceeds of disposition as we expected to be able to do, board chair Dawn Danko said, noting other renovations to Rosedale had already begun when the stalled gym approval put work on hold.

She said the incomplete project left an extra wall unfinished, affected the learning commons and displaced some classrooms for the new gyms change rooms  the latter forcing the board to add portable classrooms at the Erindale Avenue school.

Danko credited Lumsden for helping break the Rosedale stalemate and said shes got fingers crossed the board will get similar permission for the new gyms at Billy Green and Queensdale.

The Billy Green upgrade is part of a board strategy to create common school standards and to bring its gym in line with a bigger enrolment due to population growth.

Queensdale was promised a bigger gym in 2014, when it added Grades 7 and 8 to allow for the closure of Eastdale and Linden Park schools.

Danko said Queensdales gym doesnt meet the ministrys own benchmarks for a JK-8 (junior kindergarten to Grade 8) school.

Its been eight years. Thats a whole group of students that have gone through school without a gym that meets the benchmarks, she said, adding ministry officials didnt give a definitive yes or no to allowing the project to proceed during recent discussions.

They simply didnt comment and said we will look at that separately.

But a spokesperson for Lecces office told Hamilton Community News the Billy Green and Queensdale projects havent been approved because both existing gyms meet ministry benchmarks for their schools enrolment.

RELATED STORIES Stoney Creek trustee balks at settling for Billy Green gym reno plan

It was only Rosedale that was deemed to be undersized, said Grace Lee, adding none of the projects received provincial funding under the capital priorities program because gyms arent eligible.

The board also came up empty on all three projects it submitted for the 2022 round of capital priorities funding.

They included a rebuild of Rousseau Elementary School in Ancaster, a JK-8 school to replace Hess and Strathcona elementary schools in downtown Hamilton, and a new JK-8 school near Skinner Road and Mallard Trail in Waterdown.

Lee noted her government has previously approved two new elementary schools submitted by the board  one to be built by upper Stoney Creeks Taro industrial dump; the other on land in Binbrook set aside for a school the board has yet to purchase.





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A June 1 neighbourhood meeting hosted by local builder Losani Homes on its plan to redevelop the Glen Echo school property drew nearly 200 residents.



Offers of a free gelato treat didnt cool opposition to a plan by local builder Losani Homes to redevelop the Glen Echo school property at a neighbourhood meeting that drew nearly 200 people.

This is insulting, Coun. Matt Francis said after getting an earful from upset residents at the June 1 session, which featured renderings of two conceptual plans for the 1.25-hectare lot, purchased from Hamiltons public school board for $6.75 million in March.

The developer left more questions than answers.

The first conceptual plan, which had already been made public, proposes 310 housing units in two L-shaped buildings that would range from three to eight storeys.

An alternative plan proposes 48 three-storey stacked townhouses along Glen Echo Drive and 202 units in a six-storey, L-shaped building to the north and rear. An unspecified number of parking spaces for both plans would be provided below grade.

Francis called the plans incredibly tone deaf.

It doesnt fit within the community, clearly. Its very disruptive, he said. With the turnout of people that we had here, I think that speaks volumes and sends a real strong message to the developer on where our community stands.

Loyalist Drive resident Elizabeth Ertsenian, who presented Francis with a 740-signature petition against the redevelopment plan, said people were expecting a town hall-style meeting where they could ask questions and get answers.

They instead got pretty and glossy renderings that didnt reflect what the neighbourhood looks like, with free gelato and background music in place of details on how concerns about traffic, parking and infrastructure will be addressed, she said.

Theyre just trying to butter everybody up and make this look like a fancy party, Ertsenian said. To me, this is all just like a big marketing campaign. Theyre trying to sell us on all these different proposals, she said.

I dont see where this did anything but infuriate everyone who came to this meeting even more.

Rainbow Drive resident Nenad Jankovic said the plans are a disaster for the neighbourhood because traffic congestion is already a problem at start and end times at adjacent Glendale and Viola Desmond schools.

The situation is so bad hes seen a mother leave her car idling in the middle of the street to get her child, he said, questioning how the developments youngsters will be accommodated at Desmond, which already has six portable classrooms.

Its ludicrous to put 310 units, Jankovic said. If they were (proposing) normal townhouses it would of course bring more people but in a better manner.

Loyalist Drive resident Bragica Dronjak dropped off a crumpled comment sheet at a front table to show her disgust.

It is all about money, she said. I dont want none of those bulls--t (buildings) here because we dont have room here.

Losani Homes vice-president William Liske said the meetings feedback will be considered as his company prepares to submit a formal application for necessary zoning changes to the city, which could take several weeks or months.

He said Losani hasnt yet determined how many parking spaces the development will have, but they will all be underground, other than a handful of short-term spots for pizza deliveries and the like.

Its had quite an impact, just in listening to and hearing comments, Liske said of the meeting, agreeing traffic and the areas sewer and hydro infrastructure are among issues people raised that need to be addressed.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We attended the neighbourhood meeting as part of our ongoing coverage of concerns about the development proposal.

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Peter Khill has been sentenced to eight years in a federal penitentiary for manslaughter in the shooting death of Jonathan Styres.

The 33-year-old learned his fate in a packed courtroom filled with emotion Tuesday morning, looking straight ahead and barely flinching as Justice Andrew Goodman delivered the long-awaited sentence.

It marks the first time Khill will spend time behind bars since he blasted Styres twice with his shotgun in the early hours of Feb. 4, 2016.

Immediate reaction to Goodmans ruling was mixed. On one end of the gallery, audible sighs and some cries could be heard from Khills family and friends; on the other, members of Styres family could be seen hugging.

Were thankful it wasnt four years, Lindsay Hill, the mother of Styres two daughters, said outside of court.

Hill was referencing defence lawyer Jeffery Manishens request for a four-year term  the minimum for a firearm-related manslaughter charge. He argued his client acted in self-defence during the shooting, which occurred after Khill found Styres rummaging through his pickup truck on his pitch-black Binbrook driveway.

Khill testified during trial he feared for his life when  after yelling Hey! Hands up! at Styres  Styres partially turned toward him and brought his arms to just below chest height, as if he was holding a gun.

Peter Khill, left, was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing Jonathan Styres, right. Hamilton Spectator file photo

Assistant Crown attorney Sean Doherty asked for a sentence of between eight and 12 years, citing multiple aggravating factors including the stealthy approach Khill took to shooting Styres, the number of shots fired and the manner in which Styres was shot.

While Goodman said Tuesday there was insufficient evidence concerning the Crowns latter claim  namely that Styres was on his hands and knees when Khill shot him a second time  he disagreed with the defences argument of self-defence.

A claim of self-defence is not meant to be an insurance policy to actively take the law and the lives of other citizens into ones own hand, he said, quoting the decision of another judge in a similar manslaughter case.

Lindsay Hill, holding water bottle, mother of Jonathan Styres' two children, leaves court with supporters Tuesday. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator

Goodman added Khill had options available to him the morning he killed Styres. He couldve stayed inside, called 911 or fired a warning shot. Instead, he sought to neutralize a threat, loaded his gun and resorted to lethal force.

And although Styres committed a crime by trying to either steal Khills truck or steal its contents  the true motivation was never cleared up during trial  Goodman said that didnt warrant what ultimately befell him.

(I) t was Peter who failed to avoid the final, fatal altercation, he told the court, later underscoring the jurys rejection of self-defence in their manslaughter conviction last December.

Lindsay Hill, mother of Jonathan Styres' two children, leaves court Tuesday with Six Nation elected chief Mark Hill behind her. John Rennison/The Hamilton Spectator

Still, Goodman took time to highlight Khills sincere remorse and positive character. He pointed to the whopping 57 character references presented on Khills behalf during sentencing submissions in April  the most Ive ever (seen) in my career  his apology to the Styres family, and his exemplarily conduct while out on bail.

The principles to the lengthy, 52-page ruling were to denunciate unlawful conduct, deter other offenders from similar behaviour and acknowledge the harm done to the victims family and community.

Ultimately, that meant a term that was closer to the Crowns proposal  though Goodman was quick to note his sentence cannot erase the anguish Styres death continues to carry.

No sentence I impose today can ever compensate for or reflect the value of a life lost, the judge said.

Theres still a lot of healing we have to do as a community, Mark Hill, Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River, said outside court.

Over the past seven years, Khill has been the subject of two trials  he was acquitted of murder in 2018  a mistral, and appeals at both the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Leaving the courthouse, Manishen told reporters Khill has filed a notice of appeal related to the conviction. It alleges the trial judge erred in his charge instruction to the jury as well as in the admissibility of certain pieces of expert evidence, he said.

Manishen said he wont be handling the appeal, but noted an application for bail is pending.

For Lindsay Hill, news of those efforts leave her with a feeling she has harboured for many years.

Itll never be over, she said. If he had true remorse he would take the accountability after all these years.

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Hamilton police have located a missing 65-year-old woman who was last seen near the waterfront.

Margie Phillips was last seen leaving the Williams Cafe located at Pier 8 around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. Police were concerned for her well-being, according to a release.

Just before 8:30 p.m. Monday evening, police announced that Phillips had been located and reunited with her family.

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Pride Month is well underway in Hamilton and Burlington.

Know where and when to celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community over the coming weeks with this list of events and activities happening close to home.

June 5 to 9  Preordered Pride yard signs are available for pickup at Pride Hamilton. pridehamilton.com

June 6  Pride Month Craft Cart. For children ages four to eight and eight to 12 years old. Get creative at the Hamilton Public Library, 55 York Blvd., from 3 to 7 p.m. Supplies are provided. hpl.ca

June 9  Im Coming Out...to a BBQ and Bonfires as part of Pride in Nature at Conservation Halton. Bring your friends, families and allies from 5 to 9 p.m. to enjoy an evening barbecue and music, hike the lakeside trail, play oversized lawn games, and connect by bonfires on the beach. Gate fee is $10 per person.

June 10  Pride Kickoff Show. Starts at 5 p.m. The Well Hamilton, 161 Wellington St. N.

June 16 to 18  The Uncloseted Comedy Pride Festival brought to you by Howl and Roar Records at The Staircase, 27 Dundurn St. N. Hosted by Rae Lockdust. Workshops, standup, sketch, burlesque, drag bingo, board games and more. queerevents.ca.

June 17  Whatever Floats Your Boat as part of Pride in Nature at Conservation Halton. Get flam-buoyant! Its at Kelso Lake from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Gate fee is $10 per person.

June 17  Celebrate Pride at The Well Hamilton, 161 Wellington St. N. This AIDS Network fundraiser starts at 12 p.m. Bingo, trivia, 50/50 draws, silent auctions, retro t-dance, guest speakers, drag performances, and more.

June 23 to 25  Pride Weekend at Cedars Campground, 1039 Concession Rd. 5 W., Hamilton. On Friday, a community bonfire and karaoke with Jamie B in the Barn at 9 p.m. On Saturday, Show your Pride with DJ Jeff Bone. On Sunday, Potluck in the Pavilion followed by Church at the Barn with Noella Deville starting at 8 p.m.

June 24  Halton Pride Fest at Country Heritage Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  a day of outdoor fun and celebration for all ages. Brought to you in collaboration by Pflag Halton, Milton Prism, and Queer@Rock. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Halton Pride Fest.

Ongoing

Pflag Halton 2023 Pride lawn signs are available to order. The signs are 18 by 24 inches and come with a metal H stake for your lawn. $20. Get yours at pflag Halton - Summer 2023 Yard Sign Fundraiser (google.com).

FYI

Pride Hamilton is Sunday, Aug. 27 at Pier 4 Park, 64 Leander Dr., from 12 to 8 p.m.

If you have an event you would like added to this list, please email news@thespec.com.

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This past weekend was the re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek that commemorated the famously successful British raid of an American encampment during the War of 1812.

But there is another important event in local military history that has an anniversary date this month that should be remembered as well.

On June 4, 1863  50 years after the Battle of Stoney Creek  the first battalion parade was held in the newly built drill shed on James Street North.

The Argylls crest on the message centre in the main hall of the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

That may not sound like much  a bunch of militia soldiers marching around. But that parade by the 13th Battalion  the forerunner of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry  would be the first of countless military events that would follow. The location would grow to become the largest single military facility in Canada and the base from which thousands of Hamiltonians would march off to war.

Today it is known as the John Weir Foote Armoury National Historic Site of Canada, named after a RHLI chaplain who received the Victoria Cross. He heroically rescued and treated the wounded on the beach of Dieppe in August 1942 during the ill-fated raid that cost the lives of nearly 200 RHLI soldiers.

The main parade hall at the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

The armoury was built in three stages:

Building one: Constructed of wood in 1862, the drill shed burned down in 1886 from sparks in a Victoria Day fireworks celebration.

Building two: Constructed 1887-1888, a Romanesque Revival armoury in brick and stone was built to replace the drill shed.

Building three: Constructed in 1903, a massive, medieval fortress-like armoury was built to the south of building two. In 1936, the two armouries were connected on the east and west sides of the property, leaving a courtyard in the middle.

Retired captain Mike McGlashon holds the watercolour painting he created of Aryglls' uniforms through the years in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) Museum at the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Its been several years since I have been inside the armoury, so I recently arranged a visit. I was especially interested in two small museums there. One is for the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry that has a history going back to 1862. The other is for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders that formed in 1903 as the 91st Highlanders.

Both museums have recently started allowing public visits by appointment, after a long period of closure because of COVID. And, in the case of the RHLI museum, major construction work had to be done after a flood.

The Argylls crest inlaid in the floor tiles at the James Street entrance to the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

RHLI Museum

Stan Overy, the curator of the RHLI museum, was a soldier with the regiment in the 1960s, and stumbled into the job a few decades later.

I came down one Sunday in 1993 and I made the mistake of asking if they could use a hand. They ended up making me the curator, he says.

Thirty years later, and about to celebrate his 80th birthday in August, he is still at it.

New display cases are being built to showcase more artifacts in the Riley's museum at the John Weir Foote Armoury on James Street North. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Each Monday, he and a few other volunteers get together to work on displays. The museum features all kinds of historical uniforms, weapons, medals and photographs from the regiments history.

Some notable items in the collection include:

Dieppe shackles

The museum has a pair of shackles that RHLI POWs were forced to wear after being captured by the Germans in the Dieppe raid. Apparently, the handcuffs didnt work very well, and prisoners were able to slip out of them when guards looked the other way.

1860s surgery instruments

Dr. Isaac Ryall was a surgeon who travelled with soldiers of the 13th Battalion to the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866. His medical gear, that included a bone saw and amputation knives, is on display. The kit gives a sense of how primitive battlefield first aid was at the time.

Victor the Cat

A mummified cat found in a wall cavity at the armoury more than a century ago became the unofficial mascot of the RHLI. The remains are kept in a display case.

To arrange a visit of the RHLI Museum call 905-573-2002.

A portrait of Col. William Logie who first created the 91 Regiment of the Canadian Highlanders, hangs in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) Museum at the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Argyll Museum

The Argyll museum began in 1980, and a few years later took on a major oral history project to interview the regiments Second World War veterans. Guys would come in with all of their stuff and they would say, No, this is for you, says curator Colin Drake. That is how the collection really got going.

The interviews were used for the book Black Yesterdays: The Argylls War, by Regiment historian Robert Doc Fraser that was published in 1996. More recently, a researcher has been digitizing the recordings for posterity.

Some notable items in the museum collection include:

A tribute to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was shot by a terrorist while standing guard at the War Memorial in Ottawa hangs in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) Museum at the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Corp. Nathan Cirillo Cartoon

The original copy of the famous editorial cartoon by Bruce MacKinnon that shows Argyll reservist Corp. Nathan Cirillo in front the National War Memorial in Ottawa is on display.

The cartoon depicts soldiers from the memorial statue coming to Cirillos aid after he was shot by a gunman in October 2014 while doing ceremonial guard duty.

This display in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) Museum is a tribute to Private Earl McAllister of Hamilton who personally captured over 160 German prisoners in one day. His exploits were featured in an article in Time Magazine and in this comic book on display bottom right. He was promoted to Lance Sergeant following the Normandy campaign but was killed by a sniper in Belgium in October 1944. He was 21 years old. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Priv. Earl McAllister exploits

There is a display for Private Earl McAllister of Hamilton who personally captured more than 160 German prisoners in one day in August, 1944. The incredible feat was featured in a newsreel, Time Magazine, and the New York Times. There was even a comic book about McAllister. The display at the Argyll museum includes a copy of the comic book. Sadly, McAllister never made it home. He was killed by a sniper in Belgium on Oct. 20, 1944. He was only 21 years old.

Piper band tragedy

Another tragic day for the Argylls was Nov. 6, 1948, when six people died on board a chartered bus carrying members of the Argyll pipe and drum band. The bus collided with a streetcar in Toronto while returning to Hamilton after a reunion. Pipe Major Frank Noble was among the dead, along with three others affiliated with the Argyll band and two women passengers. The display at the museum features Nobles bagpipes, the front page from The Spectator about the incident, as well as photographs of the funeral service that took place at the armoury.

Drake says the idea of the museum is to tell the story of the Argylls, its connection to the community and service to Canada for the last 120 years.

Photographs of the 19th Battalion of Canadian Expeditionary Forces taken in 1914 hang in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (P.L.) Museum at the John Weir Foote Armoury. Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

But one of the most interesting Argyll stories is actually documented in the officers mess, rather than the museum.

Two brass doorknobs from Adolf Hitlers chancellery at the Reichstag in Berlin were plucked by an Argyll soldier as a souvenir during the liberation of Europe in the Second World War. From there they ended up being mounted near the bar in the officers mess and they remain there more than 75 years later.

To arrange a visit of the Argyll Museum call (905) 972-4000 Ext. 4163.

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Those in favour of creating a federal right to repair law say the government should avoid shaping such legislation according to the wishes of special interest lobbyists as Ottawa gets set to launch consultations on the issue.

Ottawa signalled in its March budget that it would study the need for legislation to ban the sale of products that arent intended to last and reinforce consumers ability to repair the home appliances and electronics they buy.

Devices and appliances should be easy to repair, spare parts should be readily accessible, and companies should not be able to prevent repairs with complex programming or hard-to-obtain bespoke parts, the budget document stated.

It highlighted copyright rules that prevent anyone other than a cellphone manufacturer from making what should be a simple fix, as well as restrictions on the interoperability of farming equipment.

By cutting down on the number of devices and appliances that are thrown out, we will be able to make life more affordable for Canadians and protect our environment.

National right to repair rules would be especially critical in the agriculture, health-care and consumer goods sectors, said Alissa Centivany, an assistant professor in the faculty of information and media studies at Western University.

Repairs for agricultural equipment often face egregious restrictions, she said, pointing to John Deere, which prevents third-party repair technicians from fixing tractors by restricting replacement parts and information resources, as well as through technology.

Even if the tractor is repaired correctly with official John Deere parts, it still requires an authorized John Deere service technician to come out and basically plug their computer into the tractor, press a button to basically tell the tractor that it can work again, said Centivany.

Time is of the essence in the agriculture sector and when a farmer cant have their equipment working, that can result in huge losses, particularly during planting and harvesting season.

She said research shows biomedical engineers who are trained to fix medical equipment have also seen their work impeded on a regular basis by repair restrictions  a problem that can have dire consequences in remote communities where an authorized technician may not be readily accessible.

Theres a huge asymmetry of power between manufacturers and consumers thats due largely, I think, to concentration in the market, Centivany said.

We need some corrections there to temper anticompetitive practices.

The issue has seen recent movement at both the federal and provincial levels.

A bill introduced last week by Quebecs justice minister would ban the sale of products whose obsolescence is planned and require repair services be available at a reasonable price. Manufacturers would also be required to ensure products can be repaired with ordinary tools and without causing irreversible damage.

The province said the measure would be the first of its kind in Canada.

At the federal level, a private members bill introduced by Liberal MP Wilson Miao in February 2022 awaits third reading in the House of Commons. Centivany said the bill, which targets digital locks used to protect copyrighted works, at first seemed promising but has been watered down with amendments that could carve out exceptions.

Natasha Tusikov, an associate professor in the Department of Social Science at York University, said its important that the upcoming federal consultation include a broad range of views, rather than prioritizing industry voices. She said industry lobbyists have often held sway in these discussions because they have money and resources to advocate for their interests

If theyre really interested in this, make an effort to identify those smaller actors that are disproportionately affected. This is small mom and pop retailers, this is people who buy things at second-hand stores or online and this is people who buy something and they want it to last, said Tusikov.

They dont want a fridge or a drier or a new stereo system or a phone to only last two years, when they spent what they thought was a considerable amount of money.

She said the lack of such protections in Canada places the country behind its counterparts, such as the U.S. and Australia.

Amongst our G7, G8 colleagues, were behind the eight ball, she said. I would say the United States is far ahead of where Canada is.

U.S. President Joe Biden has embraced the right to repair movement, signing an executive order in 2021 encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to issue rules against restrictions on independent repairs of devices and equipment.

Later that year, Apple announced it would let some iPhone and Mac users fix their own phones, marking a sharp turnaround after the company long prohibited anyone but company-approved technicians from repairing its proprietary parts and software.

Tusikov noted that all 50 U.S. states have broached the topic, with legislation at least proposed to strengthen local right to repair rules.

These laws have only been successful in a tiny handful of cases, but at least in the United States, that debate has started, she said.

You have policymakers, legislators who have heard from various sides of the issue. Theyre starting to have a vocabulary and discussion about this issue.

 With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.

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TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (19,931.62, down 93.01):

Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up 10 cents, or 0.26 per cent, to $39.35 on 28.1 million shares.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ). Energy. Down 80 cents, or 1.06 per cent, to $74.47 on 8.1 million shares.

Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B). Telecom. Down 61 cents, or 1.02 per cent, to $59.00 on 6.8 million shares.

Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSX:CPG). Energy. Up nine cents, or 1.00 per cent, to $9.12 on 6.4 million shares.

Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB). Energy. Down eight cents, or 0.16 per cent, to $50.18 on 5.6 million shares.

Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Finance. Down 18 cents, or 0.70 per cent, to $25.70 on 5.6 million shares.

Companies in the news:

Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd. (TSX:WM). Mining. Down half a penny, or 3.45 per cent, to 14 cents; and Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX:OSK). Mining. Down five cents, or 1.49 per cent, to $3.31. The danger of wildfires has forced mining companies in Quebec to pull employees out and suspend exploration work. Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd. said it has temporarily evacuated the camp at its Fenelon Gold project and suspended all exploration activities on its Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend property in Quebecs northern Abitibi region. Osisko Mining Inc. also said it has suspended work and pulled workers out at its Windfall gold project due to the forest fire situation affecting the communities in Abitibi and Eeyou Istchee James Bay.

NFI Group Inc. (TSX:NFI). Vehicles. Up seven cents, or 0.78 per cent, to $9.07. NFI Group Inc. said it has signed a five-year deal to build up to 621 40-foot battery-electric buses for the Toronto Transit Commission. The contract includes a firm order for 186 Xcelsior Charge NG heavy-duty transit buses, as well as the option for up to an additional 435 of the same buses. Winnipeg-based NFI said it added 261 buses to its backlog in the first quarter of 2023 based on the TTCs initial base firm and option order.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5,2023.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Canadas offshore oil and gas regulator says there was a near miss on ExxonMobils Hebron platform in late May.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board says the May 28 incident involved a tool failure that sent a 6.8 kilogram rod flying 19 metres across a deck before dropping 21 metres to the deck below.

The board says in a release that while the incident had the potential for fatalities, ExxonMobil reported no injuries.

The regulator says the company immediately stopped work and initiated an investigation into the cause of the incident, and that it will monitor ExxonMobils efforts.

The near miss happened as the company was completing maintenance on the knuckle boom crane of the platform using a hydraulic pin puller, which failed, sending the puller rod across the deck.

There were four reported near miss incidents last year on the Hibernia offshore platform that ExxonMobil co-owns with several other producers, while in 2021 both the Hibernia and Hebron platforms each saw one near miss and one injured worker report.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.

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ADEN, Yemen, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government has voiced its rejection of participation in any future UN-mediated prisoner exchange negotiations with the Houthi rebels.

The decision comes in response to the militia's refusal to reveal the location of detained politician Mohammed Qahtan and denial of visit by his family and other government officials to him, said Hadi Haig, head of the government delegation in the prisoner talks, on Twitter.

"We will not participate in any further talks until this visit occurs. We hope that the UN envoy's office will exert pressure in this regard to expedite progress on this matter."

Qahtan, a prominent Yemeni politician of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah party, was forcefully abducted by the Houthis eight years ago in the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis have remained unresponsive to repeated appeals from the UN, local and international human rights groups, as well as the politician's family for access to Qahtan.

The lack of cooperation and transparency from the Houthi side has fueled growing concerns over Qahtan's suffering in custody, including the possibility of his death.

UN-brokered negotiations in March successfully led to the release of nearly 900 prisoners in April, marking the second-largest prisoner exchange between the warring sides since the start of the Yemen civil war more than eight years ago.

High-profile figures, including Nasser Mansour Hadi, the brother of former Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and Mahmoud Al Subeihi, the country's former defense minister, were among those who were freed.

The prisoner swap was considered a vital step toward building trust between the government and the Houthi militia, as well as resolving the protracted crisis in Yemen. 
From viral images of Pope Francis out and about in a trendy Balenciaga puffer coat, to clips of controversial podcaster Joe Rogan interviewing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, news of AI-generated humbuggery are common on our social feeds these days.

Everyday, we hear about new ways in which AI technology has started to impact daily life, from the way we search for information on the internet, to chatbots finding their way into our friend lists on social networking apps like Snapchat.

In an era when technical terms such as big data technology, machine learning and generative AI are flung about with reckless abandon, it can be hard to make sense of the noise.

As we learn more about ways in which AI can be used (or misused,) here are explainers and stories from Star journalists about artificial intelligence, and its consequences in our lives.

AI programs become capable of acting on their own, improving themselves over time

New, autonomous AI agents can act on their own, and even rewrite their own code, the Stars Kevin Jiang explains.

Launched this April, Auto-GPT  an artificial intelligence program capable of acting on its own and improving itself over time  has sparked the rise of autonomous AI agents that some believe could revolutionize the way we work and live.

Unlike current systems like ChatGPT, which require manual commands for every task, AI agents are capable of assigning themselves new objectives to work on with the aim of reaching a greater goal, and without much need for human input  an unprecedented level of autonomy for AI models like GPT-4.

Is AI coming for your job? Which workers will be replaced first? How can you adapt?

In the coming years, artificial intelligence is expected to have far-reaching impacts across almost every job sector, and concerns in white collar professions have been running high.

These are the professions most likely to be impacted first  including some you may not expect, like drivers.

That said, some experts say we now have a tremendous opportunity to embrace the technology early on and get ahead of the changes.

AI generating fake news stories attributed to real journalists

Journalists have raised concerns that ChatGPT has fabricated articles and headlines, but attributed them to real journalists and publications.

The Stars Joanna Chiu demonstrates this by asking an AI-chatbot to generate a list of articles by columnist Shree Paradkar.

The chatbot included headlines of columns which Paradkar never wrote, reflecting wider concerns about the abundance of fake references dished out by popular chatbots including ChatGPT.

Experts worry that with rapidly evolving technology, people may not know how to identify false information.

In similar news, a German magazines editor-in-chief was recently fired after publishing an AI-generated interview with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher.

Schumachers quotes were reportedly generated by Character. AI, a large language model that lets one converse with an AI that mimics notables like Elon Musk, Joe Biden or Albert Einstein.

AI tech that can mimic any voice after just three seconds

Microsofts cutting-edge text-to-speech AI language model VALL-E, claims it can mimic any voice  including its emotional tone, vocal timbre and even the background noise  after training using just three seconds of audio.

The development has some experts sounding alarm bells over the technologys potential for misuse; through VALL-E and other generative AI programs, malicious actors could mass produce audio-based disinformation at unprecedented scales, sources say.

AI has also increasingly been used to create musical covers in the styles of artists, who never actually recorded those renditions.

AI-generated music of Drake on TikTok, including a musical collaboration with The Weeknd, has been repeatedly taken down, but having gone viral it may never disappear.

The future of hyperrealistic AI deepfakes

Google Dreambooth has advanced the field of AI art, giving it the ability to study what individuals or objects look like, then synthesizes a new photorealistic image of the subject.

A Star reporter tested out the images using his own photo and there is indeed quite the resemblance.

The development has some AI researchers and ethicists concerned about its use in so-called deepfakes  media manufactured via AI deep-learning to depict fake events.

People are already manipulating the faces of unconsenting women onto the bodies of pornstars, having political figures appear to deliver statements that never occurred in reality and creating impossible ads featuring dead celebrities.

The viral photo of Pope Francis in a puffer jacket, that fooled the internet, is another example of such an image. It was created by an artificial intelligence program called Midjourney.

Canadian artists are fighting against AI

Visual artists work is being gathered online and used as fodder for computer imitations.

It can seem as though AI software is creating the images from nothing, artists like Yang say. But in reality, it is assembling them using fragments of actual images gathered or scraped from the internet and stored in massive databases.

Experts say the legalities around AI art are in a grey area in Canada. While the creators of the images own the copyright to them in Canada, there has yet to be a court case involving their use in AI imaging.

Deepfake technology has sinister implications for governments, businesses and individuals

A video circulated in March 2022 of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling for Ukrainians to lay down arms triggered a collective gasp across the world. That was, until the video was debunked as a deepfake.

A similarly fake video of controversial podcast host Joe Rogan interviewing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was posted on YouTube in 2023, and made the rounds online.

The use of this technology also opens the door to more bad-faith use, including spam and scam calls and fraudsters bypassing voice identification systems.

ChatGPT and its anti-woke AI rival from Elon Musk

ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot capable of natural-sounding conversation.

In March 2023, OpenAI, creator of the viral chatbot, unveiled its most advanced artificial intelligence model yet, named GPT-4. This model received a boost to its creative power, is capable of analyzing images and can process over 25,000 words  allowing for long-form content creation.

Billionaire Elon Musk has accused OpenAI of training its language models to be woke after the lab installed safeguards on ChatGPT preventing the chatbot from producing potentially offensive text.

In response, Musk is reportedly working on an anti-woke AI rival to ChatGPT after a year of railing against perceived censorship and bias in the high-profile chatbot.

Not all is doom and gloom in the world of artificial intelligence. Several people are harnessing AIs powers for good too.

AI being used to discover a potential new cancer drug, predict medical staffing needs

Drug discovery can be a long, expensive affair  but with advances in artificial intelligence, researchers from Insilico Medicine and the University of Toronto used AI to to identify a weak point in liver cancer cells and synthesized a drug to attack it, in less than a month.

At Unity Health in Toronto, employees are using AI to predict staffing needs in emergency departments. The team has also created an early warning system that alerts doctors and nurses if a patient is at risk of going to the ICU or dying.

Navigating love and relationships using AI

AI companies have infiltrated the dating space, peddling algorithmic matchmakers and even an automated pickup artist.

Founded a year ago, Keeper.ai has signed up 1,000 people  and made just 40 matches so far, according to one of its founders. This is partly because the algorithm can take months to make a single match.

Back in 2017, the Star wrote about AI-powered personal assistant Thistoo that streamlined legal processes for Canadians going through divorce. Although the company is now defunct, similar services are available online even today.

How AI will revolutionize the food sector

The Stars contributing columnist Sylvain Charlebois muses how AI and smart labels could allow more data about our foods shelf life at home before we throw anything away.

Up the food chain, AI algorithms are already helping farmers analyze soil, climate, and crop data to predict crop yields, optimize irrigation and fertilization schedules, and improve the efficiency of farming practices.

Using machine learning tech in policing can be problematic

In 2020, a New York Times investigation into AI-powered facial recognition technology used by law enforcement agencies triggered a host of privacy violation investigations across Europe and North America.

In Canada, federal and provincial regulators launched investigations into whether Clearview AI, a company that makes facial recognition technology used by at least four Ontario police forces, breaks Canadian privacy laws.

Soon after, Clearview and the RCMP severed ties, a subsequent Star Investigation uncovered how facial recognition app Clearview AI had been used far more widely in Canada than previously known.

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Organizers of Torontos Pride festivities say they likely wont slash programming after the federal government announced $1.5 million in emergency funding to help Pride festivals across Canada deal with a surge in security and insurance costs.

Were in a way better place than we were yesterday, said Sherwin Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto, the organization that oversees the annual parades and events. However, he said the group remains in a very, very tight spot due to a dramatic rise in costs he believes is driven by recent hostility towards the LGBTQ2S+ community, including an increase in hate crimes in Toronto.

The money announced Monday by the federal ministry of women, gender equality and youth can be used for expenses such as vehicle and crowd control, barricades, fees for paid-duty police or private security.

Fierte Canada Pride (FCP), a national association made up of 65 Canadian Pride organizations, will distribute the funding. However, groups who arent affiliated with FCP are also eligible to receive it.

According to Modeste, Canadas major Pride festivals  Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal  are expected to share about $750,000, or half, of the funding announced on Monday. Modeste added the federal government had previously committed roughly $90,000 to Pride Toronto this year, in addition to about $260,000 from the City of Toronto.

Pride Toronto hopes to receive a confirmation on additional funding from the provincial ministry of citizenship and multiculturalism in the coming days. There are still a few pieces (of programming) that are on hold, Modeste said. The Star reached out to the province but didnt hear back before publication.

The announcement came less than two weeks after Modeste told the Star it was considering significant, last-minute cuts to programming due to a massive and unforeseen rise in expenses.

This months Pride parade is scheduled for Sunday, June 25. The entire month of festivities is estimated to cost more than $4 million.

According to Pride Toronto, policing costs jumped to $182,000 this year from $62,000 in 2022, while general liability insurance prices surged to over $270,000 from about $67,000 last year.

A police spokesperson said the rise in security costs was a result of a substantial increase in the event footprint, as well as a recent wage increase for police officers, not heightened security concerns.

But Modeste pushed back against that explanation, saying the organizations footprint has not increased that dramatically. It is just not making sense, he told the Star, adding that he hopes to sit down with the police, so they can walk through the specific costs.

Last month, a Toronto police report revealed that members of Torontos LGBTQ2S+ community had seen the sharpest rise in reported hate crimes last year, tripling from 13 reported instances in 2020 to 39 in 2022. According to the polices Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report, LGBTQ2S+ people were also the most frequently victimized by physical assaults last year.

Now more than ever, as allies, as leaders, as parents, as friends, and as Canadians, we need to wake up to the reality that 2SLGBTQI+ people are facing today, said Marci Ien, the federal minister for women, gender equality and youth, in a press release on Monday.

In recent weeks, far right media figures and some Republican officials in the United States have encouraged their supporters to boycott American brands like Bud Light and Target for featuring a trans influencer in an ad campaign and selling Pride-themed products.

The anti-LGBTQ2S+ backlash recently reached Ontarios schools. Following angry parent-led protests at a school board meeting that led to a call to the police in April, the York Catholic District School Board voted late last month against flying the Pride flag in June, widely recognized as a month to celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ community and its achievements.

A few days before, vandals tore down and proceeded to rip up the trademark rainbow flag outside a church in Lincoln, Ont. Local police are investigating the incident as hate-based.

Julie DeMarchi, FCPs president, said its hard to say whats behind the renewed animus towards LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada, though she sees a link to rhetoric coming from the United States.

Its really difficult to understand because weve come such a long way over the last 20 plus years to create spaces where folks can identify who they are and celebrate that, she said. Its just really disheartening.

With files from Kevin Jiang, Kelly Skjerven and The Canadian Press

Ben Mussett is a Toronto-based general assignment reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: bmussett@thestar.ca

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WINNIPEG - Manitobas Crown-owned vehicle insurance corporation offered more details Tuesday on recent turmoil that has seen the departure of senior executives and a big jump in the cost of technology upgrades.

Ward Keith, who took over as board chair of Manitoba Public Insurance this spring after his predecessors resignation, explained last weeks departure of the corporations chief information and technology officer, Siddharta Parti.

Parti was living in Ontario and the corporation was paying his travel costs to Manitoba, Keith said.

Based on an arrangement that was made between this individual and the former CEO, travel costs to and from Manitoba were charged back to the company. That was another reason why I found this not to be an acceptable arrangement, Keith said.

A corporation official later said Parti received a total of $19,021 in travel expenses over nine months, including commuting travel and business-related trips.

Parti was asked to relocate to Manitoba but chose last week to resign instead, Keith added. The Canadian Press was unable to reach Parti for comment.

That resignation came shortly after the departure of chief executive officer Eric Herbelin. MPI said last month Herbelin was dismissed by the board after a review of his workplace conduct.

Herbelin did not respond to an interview request. Keith offered few additional details Tuesday, other than to say the review covered more than just his interactions with employees.

Based on the results of that investigation, the board met and determined that there was sufficient concern to terminate his employment with cause, Keith said.

Manitoba Public Insurance has faced questions over the last two years, mainly over a plan called Project Nova, aimed at upgrading its various technology platforms. The project includes plans to let the public buy automobile insurance online.

The forecast cost of the project has jumped from $106 million to $290 million. Its timeline has been extended to five years from three.

Keith said Tuesday the newer price tag includes $60 million in contingency funds and he is confident the project cost is now under control.

To date, virtually none of that contingency has been utilized, he said.

The corporation has also faced controversy over plans it submitted to hire 420 people  a 21 per cent increase from staff levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many new staff would be linked to Project Nova.

That prompted a warning from the Public Utilities Board, the provincial regulator, in January. The board said the hiring seemed imprudent and that Project Nova lacked adequate management control.

There were also questions about untendered contracts. Kelvin Goertzen, the minister responsible for MPI, cited that as one reason he ordered an external review of the corporation this spring .

That review is expected in December.

In the meantime, MPI is preparing to file its plans for the 2024-25 fiscal year with the utilities board. That plan is to include a freeze on its overall rate revenues, although some categories of motorists could see small increases or decreases, Keith said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023

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LONDON, Ont. - Two years after a Muslim family was killed on its streets, residents of London, Ont., vowed to make the city an example of resilience and a community that rejects hate, as they held a vigil on Tuesday marking the anniversary of the devastating attack.

Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman, their daughter Yumna and her grandmother, Talat Afzaal, were run down by a pickup truck on June 6, 2021 in the southwestern Ontario city. The couples son was seriously hurt but survived.

Prosecutors allege the attack was an act of terrorism targeting the Muslim community. Nathaniel Veltman, who was 20 at the time of his arrest, faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He is to stand trial in September.

Tuesday nights vigil on the street where members of the Afzaal family were killed began with Islamic prayers. Organizers then asked those in attendance to turn to the person beside them and say As-salamu alaykum, the Arabic greeting that means peace be upon you.

Relatives of the Afzaal family also addressed the large crowd, saying they wanted the city to turn the pain and shock of the killing into a purpose.

Since day one, the entire world has been behind our family and has been praying for us, said Salman Afzaals sister, Ayesha Shaukat, thanking the community for its support over the past two years.

Try to reach out to each other, your neighbours, your friends and live a happy life, she said.

Vigil attendees from diverse backgrounds became tearful as they recalled the day of the attack.

Nida Naved, a Muslim resident of London, said attending the vigil was important because she wanted her to show her sons and Muslim youth that they should not be afraid.

Im here to show that we stand in solidarity with who we are, Naved said.

The (attack) really shook us. We knew the family personally as well, so having events like this really brings everyone together and gives you some comfort that youre not alone. Were not afraid of our identity.

Hadia Fiaz, another Muslim resident of London, said she is still fearful when she watches her parents walk on the street in traditional clothing, but that doesnt stop her from being proud of her faith.

Having conversations with people, gathering... I think it helps, she said.

William Edward Lawrence, another London resident, said hes not Muslim but he wanted to show his support.

Ive come to the understanding that were all the same, he said.

Were just people trying to make it through life, live a good life, do the best we can. And unfortunately, this tragedy happened so I felt a need to come out and show my respect to the Muslim community.

Kristen King, also at Tuesdays vigil, said she was on the same street as the Afzaal family moments before they were run over. She is there regularly, she added, and thinks about the attack during each walk.

I know there are a lot of Muslim people in the community, in the neighbourhood and I just think it was horrendous, she said through tears.

 I just want them to know were all in this life together and everyone deserves love.

The Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia organized Tuesdays vigil and said the theme of the event was resilience.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023.

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ST. JOHNS, N.L. - A lawyer is accusing the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation of trying to delay and ultimately quash a sexual harassment lawsuit by attempting to move the proceedings from Newfoundland and Labrador to Quebec.

Kathryn Marshall, with the Toronto law firm Levitt Sheikh, argued in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Tuesday that the alleged misconduct took place in Newfoundland and Labrador, so the case should be heard there. Marshall represents Cherry Smiley, who alleges she was sexually harassed by former Northwest Territories premier Stephen Kakfwi in St. Johns, N.L., in 2018.

Kakfwi was Smileys appointed mentor through a scholarship program offered by the Trudeau Foundation.

Marshall called it very unusual for the courts jurisdiction to be challenged, especially when the misconduct is alleged to have occurred in the province. I believe in this case, it is a tactic on the Trudeau Foundations part to delay and cause Cherry Smiley to just give up, she said in an interview during a break in the hearing.

Colm St. Roch Seviour, a lawyer for the Montreal-based foundation, pointed to the text of the lawsuit itself, which includes the claim that the foundation failed in its obligation to protect her from the alleged sexual misconduct. That obligation arose from the foundations agreements and contracts with Smiley and with Kakfwi, all of which are governed by Quebec law, St. Roch Seviour argued.

In this case, the sexual battery flows from the relationship created by the contract, he told the courtroom.

Marshall argued that the alleged sexual misconduct is at the centre of the case, not the scholarship or its contracts.

She said her client would likely have to drop her lawsuit if a judge determined the trial should be moved to Quebec, noting that Smiley would have to hire a French-speaking lawyer who understands Quebecs unique Civil Code, and pay for translation services.

Her ability ... to hire a Quebec lawyer to team up with me, that ability does not exist, Marshall told the court. Smiley is a student and the Trudeau Foundation is a high-profile organization with ample resources, she added.

I think we cannot ignore the massive inequality between the parties when it comes to access to financial resources, Marshall said.

Marshall also said that it would be difficult for Smiley to find a lawyer in Quebec to take on her case, given her limited financial resources and the lawsuits sensitive nature.

Koren Thomson, who also represents the Trudeau Foundation, disagreed.

Your choice of counsel is subject to reasonable limitations, she said. I appreciate that there is difficulty, but its not a barrier.

The suit was originally filed in 2021 with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, where Smiley is a member of the Nlakapamux Nation and of the Dine Nation, according to court documents. Lawyers from the Trudeau Foundation opposed the jurisdiction and said it should be argued in Quebec. Marshall agreed to withdraw the case from the B.C. courts but filed it with the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in March 2022.

The lawsuit names Kakfwi and the Trudeau Foundation as defendants. It says that during a three-day Trudeau Foundation event in St. Johns, Kakfwi twice pulled Smiley close to his body and grabbed her upper arm near her breast. It says he then squeezed and massaged her arm for an extended period. He also repeatedly invited her to his home in Yellowknife, once while holding her upper arm, according to the statement of claim.

The document also alleges some foundation officials accused her of blowing things out of proportion, pressured her to sign a non-disclosure agreement and defamed her.

In a statement of defence, Kakfwi has denied any contact with Smiley that could be construed as being sexual in nature.

Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice Peter Browne said he needs time to consider all the arguments and that he will issue a written decision at a later date.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2023.

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Bullets, car parts and building insulation were among the 7,000 pounds of garbage collected by volunteers from along the Don Valley Parkway last weekend.

The DVP was closed this past Sunday for the Baycrest Bike for Brain Health  and the charitable group Dont Mess With The Don didnt miss out on the opportunity.

You can see the mountains of garbage layer after layer, year after year, build up  and nobody is doing anything about it because the city doesnt clean it up, said Irene Vandertop, co-founder and vice-president of Dont Mess With The Don.

They dont clean up between the guardrail and the park fence line.

The group has been cleaning up the trails and creek beds in the Don Valley over the past few years, amassing tens of thousands of pounds of garbage in the process. But the natural spaces beside the DVP was something they had been wanting to tackle.

Cleaning up those spaces beside the highway, though, posed a challenge.

Vandertop said the only opportunity to deal with it is when there is no traffic.

And the Bike for Brain Health fundraising ride presented the perfect opportunity.

After a year of liaising with city councillors, the city and the Bike for Brain Health, the organization gained approval to conduct the cleanup this past weekend.

In about three hours, Vandertop said the group of 200 volunteers collected 7,000 pounds of garbage  around 300 bags worth. Some of the findings were surprising.

We found a few rounds of live ammunition which I just handed over to the police this morning, said Vandertop.

Outside of the ammunition, Vandertop said the group also found car parts and bags of home insulation.

Vandertop added that there are tens of thousands of creatures that in the Don Valley who have to put up with our garbage.

The pollution alongside the main parkways and highways in Toronto is astounding.

Dont Mess With The Don will be hosting a cleanup on June 11 at Taylor Creek Park, the next mission in their quest to clean up the Don.

TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca

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Nala is a misunderstood girl, says her mom. Bonnie Pritchard says her velvety grey American bully dog isnt always welcome in public leash-free parks. Although Nala isnt afraid or aggressive, other people and dogs sometimes react to her appearance.

Fortunately, Pritchards sister, Catherine Watt, has converted her quarter-acre, shady Oshawa backyard into a private dog park that she rents by the hour through a U.S. platform called Sniffspot.

In the same way that Airbnb and Swimply facilitate short-term rentals of private homes and swimming pools, Sniffspot is an online platform that helps homeowners earn a few extra bones simply by letting their property go to the dogs.

The idea of private dog parks is one that is catching on in the GTA where controversy has recently surrounded the use of school yards as playgrounds for pets and where some dog lovers are concerned about the safety of public off-leash parks.

A perfect candidate for passive income

From a real estate perspective, land is the biggest piece of your home and its hardly being used, much less monetized, said Sniffspots Massachusetts-based founder David Adams.

Its really a perfect candidate for people being able to get this passive income. Its different than Swimply and Airbnb because it requires no work. You basically set your hours and people book you. You dont have to be there or meet them or anything.

There are 130 Sniffspots in Canada, says Adams, and the GTA is its biggest base this side of the border.

On Monday, the website (there is also an app) showed 52 Toronto-area Sniffspots ranging from an unfenced 22 acres in Ancaster for $14 an hour to an indoor training facility that rents for $35 an hour. The majority of the Sniffspots are fenced backyards that rent for about $15 an hour.

Watt, who owns two small dogs, worked as a pet sitter until the pandemic crushed her business. When she heard about Sniffspot, it seemed like an obvious opportunity to earn back some of that lost income.

Her yard is fully fenced and double-gated like public dog parks so dogs and owners stay safe. It is equipped with agility training equipment, a kiddie pool for hot days, even a sensory sniff patch of herbs and plants  as well as lawn chairs and a swing for the pet parents.

Dog owners can relax

Many guests who rent her yard for $15 per dog per hour have reactive dogs  animals that are fearful or aggressive. They simply arent safe in a dog park.

Sometimes owners just come in and sit down and read because its a chance to relax, said Watt. Its only them and its only their dogs.

When she began her Sniffspot in October 2021, she made a point of greeting visitors personally. But shes found people with reactive dogs are more comfortable if they dont have to encounter a stranger, so now she sends a text message welcoming them.

She averages about 12 visitors a month. It hasnt replaced her pet-sitting income but some of her guests are regulars who buy a four- or eight-hour monthly membership. Dog owners are expected to pick up after their animals. Bags and other amenities are provided and in easy reach in the yard.

We dont have as big a property as some (hosts) but weve added lots of enrichment and agility, she said.

Adams founded Sniffspot as a side project after his girlfriend  now his wife  complained she couldnt find anywhere for her dog Toshii to walk and play when they were travelling. Around the same time, he was taking his dog Soba to dog parks and having subpar experiences.

So he began a website crowdsourcing homeowners willing to let dog owners use their yard. The idea of building a kind of Airbnb for dogs grew out of that.

Sometimes dogs need more adventure than their own backyard

When he started about four years ago, Adams assumed other users would, like himself at the time, be highrise dwellers without a yard. In fact, about 40 per cent of users identify as urbanites. Half live in the suburbs.

Even people who have a yard recognize its not the best place for a dog, he said.

When your dog is out in their own yard, they know it. Theyre familiar with it, said Adams. When I take a dog on a walk or when I take them to a Sniffspot, they are constantly sniffing and exploring. Its a very active experience for them.

He says Sniffspot addresses the core needs of dogs.

Sniffspot is basically the antidote to the modern world for dogs where they can get back to what theyre designed to be, which is a space thats new, that they can explore without being surrounded by other dogs, people or things that are potentially dangerous to them, said Adams.

Some Sniffspots make as much as $3,000 a month. The majority of hosts charge $5 to $15 an hour. The company charges a 20 per cent booking fee that covers marketing, site management and $20 million in liability insurance.

There are spots that have agility courses or spots that have dock diving. Any kind of fun dog activity you can imagine, theres a spot that supports it, he said.

Doggie daycare takes canine care to the next level

Beaches residents Jane and David Pushkar have taken the concept of privatized, personalized dog care a step further. They were operating an on-leash dog-walking business in the east end and found many of their clients said they would love to let their dogs off-leash but were concerned about public dog parks.

There are certain liabilities and problems that can arise in dog parks just because you dont know who the other dogs are and you dont know how vigilant owners are about their dogs behaviour, said Jane.

The Pushkars wanted to expand their business by providing dogs with a fully supervised space in which to run off-leash, but the couple live in a one-bedroom apartment without any outdoor area so they had to look for land to rent.

It took six months but they found a plot in Pickering advertised on Kijiji, secured fencing electricity and water, and launched a new business called Pawsies in January. Now they pick up their four-legged clients, take them to play in the country and then drop the dogs at home in the afternoon.

(Our clients are) not necessarily using our service as a daycare so much as an opportunity for their dog to socialize and just to get their energy out, said Jane.

The propertys barn is crucial in giving the dogs  and their caregivers  a space to get warm in the winter and shade in the summer, said Pushkar. There are about a dozen dogs on the Pawsies roster but they dont all come every day. The doggy day camp costs $35 to $45 a day, depending on frequency of use.

The Pushkars hope to expand the business but that will depend on how many dogs they can fit in their van. For now theyve got a fairly strict route out of the city east on Kingston Road up to Highway 401 and they try and keep new customers within close proximity so the dogs dont spend too much time in transit.

The feedback has been positive. Clients, she said, appreciate the dogs are safe because the Pushkars test their behaviour for two weeks before they are fully accepted and Pawsies has a zero aggression policy.

Jane says that means, You know the dynamics of whats going to go on in the park every day.

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A Toronto police officer has pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for threatening to shoot a colleague in the head while on duty  an utterance called egregious misconduct by the prosecutor seeking his demotion.

Const. Kehui Li admitted at the Toronto police tribunal Tuesday that he got into a heated dispute with a colleague after they both attended a tense assault call last year. Moments after the conflict, when Li was alone with his partner, he made a comment in a monotone voice, according to an agreed statement of facts made public Tuesday.

I was so mad that I was going to shoot him in the head, Li told his partner, according to the document.

Lis partner was shocked by his words and took several seconds to respond. Then, when she asked if Li was joking, he responded by laughing, according to the statement of facts.

The utterance was painted as a momentary lapse in judgment by defence counsel for Li, who himself rose and apologized for his actions and promised the tribunal it would never happen again.

But Toronto police prosecutor Noah Schachter fired back at attempts to characterize the misconduct as Li simply not choosing his words carefully, asking not only for a six-month demotion in rank but for Li to attend anger management.

For a fully uniformed officer, equipped with a firearm, to threaten to shoot another officer in the head is unconscionable, Schachter said in submissions before the hearing officer, Supt. Shane Branton.

The conduct is certainly on the more serious end of the spectrum.

The comment was made on Feb. 6, 2022, during a night shift when Li, working out of Midtowns 11 Division, was summoned to take crime scene photographs at a call involving a mother punched in the eye by her son. When Li saw her injuries, he said, Whoa, OK under his breath  a comment another officer later told Li was completely unprofessional, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Li and that same officer soon got into a heated exchange about the handling of the call, with Li alleging the scene hadnt been made secure for him; at one point, hed been left alone in a residence with multiple angry parties.

After a verbal dispute in the parking lot, the other officer left and Li made the comment to his partner about shooting him. She told him she did not find the comment funny, according to the agreed statement of facts. Later in the same shift, Li called the officer to apologize for his conduct, saying he was caught up in the moment and wanted to talk things out.

Standing to address the tribunal on Tuesday, Li, who was hired in 2019, expressed regret for his misconduct, saying: I feel remorse for my actions, this will never happen again.

Philip Norton, Lis lawyer, called the comment a singular uncharacteristic utterance while in a state of frustration and that Li was venting in private to his partner. He noted Li was under stress at the time  his wife was due to give birth at any moment  and had an otherwise unblemished employment record.

He is a good police officer who uses good judgment and self-control. This was simply a regrettable departure from an otherwise excellent service record, said Norton.

Norton said Li should be penalized with three days docked pay and that his client did not need to attend anger management.

Schachter said a six-month demotion from third-class to fourth-class constable was necessary to send a clear message that Lis misconduct would not be tolerated. He said Toronto police would seek his dismissal if Li was ever back before the tribunal for similar behaviour.

Const. Li threatened to shoot and kill another member of our police service. Regardless of the context, that is behaviour that cannot be tolerated and the clear message must be sent to this officer, he said.

Branton reserved his judgment on Lis penalty to a later date.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis

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Negotiations to dissolve Peel region have yet to start, but Brampton fired the first shot Tuesday in its fight over the provincially imposed divorce by taking direct aim at the Ford governments own ambitious housing goals.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said bluntly at a press conference that his city would be unable to meet the provinces mandated housing target of building 113,000 homes in the next eight years due to limits to sewage capacity  and concerns around who will pay for necessary infrastructure after the region is split up.

One of the unintended consequences of the dissolution of Peel is that you can see all of this come to a halt, said Brown, flanked by displays showing four large housing projects that are currently stalled. These are real projects right now that are at risk because in the (provinces) bill, there are no plans to pay for it.

Peel dissolution legislation passes third reading

Last month, the province announced it was dissolving the two-tier government in Peel to create three stand-alone cities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga by Jan. 1, 2025. Browns remarks Tuesday came just hours before the Hazel McCallion Act  the legislation that dissolves the region  passed its third reading at Queens Park. Its expected to become law later this week.

While Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie celebrated the split she has long championed, Brown has expressed concern that Brampton  which is in the midst of a population and economic boom  would be left on the hook for infrastructure costs that were once shared between the three cities.

The province didnt provide any business case for the decision for the Peel split, but said it was a way to improve the efficiency of local governments as they prepare for future growth, including by making good on their municipal housing pledges.

But Browns comment Tuesday cast doubt on the provinces housing goals in the region.

Financial details of Peel breakup still unclear

The province has promised the cities will be supported through the separation, but the financial details are to be sorted out by a five person transition team that the province has yet to announce.

In a statement, Victoria Podbielski, spokesperson for Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark said the government is committed to a dissolution process for Peel Region that is fair for all residents.

She said that the transition board will work with each municipality and consider a range of important issues  including infrastructure issues and servicing  to provide recommendations to government on restructuring to achieve an equitable outcome.

Thousands of housing units on hold due to servicing limitation

Brown said he held Tuesdays event to show real examples of how the dissolution will impact the economic prosperity and development plans of his city. He said at least 9,000 units are now on hold due to current capacity limits, and a number of industrial projects are also stalled due to servicing limitations.

When Mayor Crombie and the political leadership of Mississauga say they can just walk away  and not have to pay for servicing, this is the consequence  that housing and economic development come to a grinding halt  and Ontario cant afford that.

Mississauga mayor accuses Patrick Brown of misinformation

In a statement Tuesday, Crombie said that Mississauga will contribute where it is fair to do so, but wont pay for all of Bramptons future growth. Brampton is a city approaching 700,000 people, with a lot of land left to develop. Like all big cities, they should be able to manage their own growth, she said.

She accused Brown of using misinformation to scare people by using hypothetical units in areas of his city that are not part of the Regions servicing plan to raise concerns, and added that Brampton has many areas that are already serviced where building can happen.

The reality is, Brampton can grow and meet its targets under the Regions current infrastructure plan, if they follow it. If they are planning to build in areas that are not yet serviced or are not planned for servicing, thats just irresponsible.

Brampton mayor wants to know whos going to pay

Brown said while the other two municipalities may have confidence that the provincial outcome will be equitable, he wants to know whos going to pay for future costs. He fears that without a cost-sharing agreement in place, Brampton taxpayers could end up footing the costs for necessary and costly infrastructure projects.

These are billion-dollar ticket items. The mayor of Mississauga is saying they arent paying. You have the province saying they wouldnt be the ones paying  So whos paying? I want a plan for this. I dont want to one day wake up, and my residents are left with a $6,000 bill.

Mary L. Flynn-Guglietti, partner and co-chair of the municipal law group with the law firm McMillan LLP, said Browns comments are understandable, given the lack of clarity in the legislation on how things will play out.

If you look at the Act, it doesnt really tell you how this is going to happen, said Flynn-Guglietti, pointing out that unlike amalgamation, there are few examples of regions and assets being divided.

It just tells you we are appointing five people who are going to look into it, and tell you how to dismantle the Region of Peel. And until that happens, (Brown) doesnt know what its going to cost the residents of Brampton. Hes speaking to the unknown.

Patrick Brown to show more impacts of Peel breakup

Brown, who plans to hold several press conferences over coming weeks highlighting the services that will be impacted by the dissolution of Peel said the ball is in the provinces court to ensure all cities get a fair deal.

I wanted the public to understand the reality of what it means if Mississauga is given the permission to dine-and-dash, said Brown. And ultimately it will be a provincial decision whether to grant Mississauga that permission or say you have to pay 50 per cent share of these new servicing costs given that other municipalities did that for them when they were growing within the Region of Peel.

Noor Javed is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering city news with interest in 905 municipal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @njaved

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Ontario lottery players might want to check their pockets and purses.

A massive Lotto Max jackpot worth $70M is still searching for its winner nearly one year after drawing the lucky numbers.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has yet to identify the winner and said time is running out.

A retailer in Scarborough sold the winning ticket on June 28, 2022. The winning numbers were 8, 19, 22, 41, 42, 46, 47 and bonus number 10.

With less than a month to go before the ticket expires, the OLG is continuing to ask lottery players to check places where they usually store their tickets.

That includes glove compartments, kitchen drawers and wallets, the lottery corporation said.

There are currently 20 unclaimed lottery tickets worth $10,000 or more across Ontario as of February, according to the OLGs website.

Its website states that if a winner loses their ticket, the OLG could still verify their win using data analysis.

In some instances, the gaming corporation has tracked down winners after searching through security camera footage and transaction history at the location where they purchased their ticket.

If no winner comes forward by the June 28 deadline, the unclaimed funds will go toward future prize draws or promotions.

The OLG is drawing for the winner of a different $70 million jackpot on Tuesday.

In March 31, 2023, someone in the prairies won the $60 million Lotto Max jackpot.

MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie

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KIEV, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in southern Ukraine was totally destroyed and cann't be restored, Ukraine's state-run hydropower generating company Ukrhydroenergo said Tuesday.

The Russian forces blew up the plant's engine room in the early hours of Tuesday, causing an uncontrolled decrease in water level in the Kakhovka reservoir, Ukrhydroenergo said in a statement.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram that the destruction of the dam at the Kakhovka plant could cause flooding in 80 settlements in the surrounding areas.

The head of the Kherson regional military administration Oleksandr Prokudin said that about 16,000 people are in the critical zone on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has received reports from the Defense Ministry and other authorities on the situation regarding the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

Russia categorically rejects the accusation that it destroyed the facility and the incident was "deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side," he told a daily briefing.

The destruction of the power plant may cause serious consequences for tens of thousands of local residents and harm the environment, he stressed, adding that there is currently no threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as some experts said.

According to Peskov, one of the reasons for Ukraine to destroy the power plant was to deprive Crimea of water.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said Tuesday that his country is not involved in the incident at the hydroelectric power plant. 
A misogynistic teen motivated by the incel ideology committed an act of terrorism when he fatally stabbed a woman in a North York massage parlour, a Toronto judge has ruled in a legal first.

The judges decision confirms that the murder of spa employee Ashley Arzaga  but not necessarily all incel activity  qualifies as an act of terrorism under the Criminal Code, Monte MacGregor, one of the killers two defence lawyers, told the Star on Tuesday.

Canada was the first Western country to charge an individual with terrorism related to the incel ideology, a largely online movement of men who share extremely misogynistic and often violent beliefs. Other attackers have expressed incel ideas in earlier high-profile incidents, including the Yonge St. van attack, but the teens case was the first time prosecutors had sought a terrorism conviction.

On Feb. 24, 2020, the 17-year-old went to the Crown Spa massage parlour in North York carrying a 17-inch sword and stabbed Arzaga 42 times, killing her, and attacked another woman, calling her a stupid whore. She fought back and survived.

After police arrived, they found a handwritten note in the teens coat pocket with the words Long Live the Incel Rebellion. Police also found images of van attack driver Alex Minassian and Elliot Rodger, two men who killed multiple victims and expressed support for incel ideology.

The teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), has already been convicted of attempted murder and first-degree murder because the act was planned and deliberate. But Superior Court Justice Suhail Akhtar indicated in court Tuesday that the youths ideological views as an incel, also caused his conduct to fall within the legal definition of terrorist activity.

The Criminal Code defines that as an act committed in whole or in part for a political, religious, or ideological purpose, objective or cause and with the intention of intimidating the public.

The judges ruling, made public Tuesday, will be a factor he considers when determining whether or not the attackers receives an adult or youth sentence in accordance with the YCJA. Since he was 17 at the time of the offence, the Youth Criminal Justice Act states the maximum sentence for first-degree murder is 10 years, compared to life as an adult. However, the law permits the Crown to seek an adult sentence in certain circumstances  which prosecutors are in this case.

The sentencing hearing that was scheduled for next week has been postponed until later summer or fall. The judge has not yet released his reasons for finding the murder was a terrorist act.

Last month, Maurice Mattis, MacGregors co-counsel, argued the teens act did not rise to the level of terrorist offence, which should be reserved for political and organized crimes. Prosecutors argued it was terrorism because his intention was to intimidate the public.

The decision to charge the youth with a terrorist offence was met with praise for expanding the definition of terrorism, which can come in many forms and its important to note that it is not restricted to any particular group, religion or ideology, the RCMP wrote in a 2020 press release.

National security experts noted that almost all of the 60 charges of terrorism laid since 2001 in Canada have been linked to Islamist violence.

This sends a signal to society that violent extremism doesnt just come from one kind of ideological belief  that there are many that we worry about, said Stephanie Carvin, a national security expert at Carleton University, in 2020.

This is a big deal.

However, some flagged concerns that linking ideology with violence overlooks studies that have stressed that the motivations for terrorist violence are complex and varied, university professors Reem Bahdi and Fahad Ahmad wrote in a 2020 article published in The Conversation.

Incel violence asks us to reflect on the societal reasons behind gender-based violence and how Canada can address this as a society-wide problem. We do not need and should not want an anti-terrorism response to misogyny, they wrote.

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AMERICAN CEMETERY, Normandy, France (AP)  U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said Tuesday that fighting in Ukraine has increased, but he cautioned against reading too much into each days operations.

Theres activity throughout Russian-occupied Ukraine and fighting has picked up a bit, Milley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France  the final resting place of almost 9,400 troops who died 79 years ago during the allied D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Milley said it was up to Ukraine to announce whether its counteroffensive campaign has formally begun, but he said Ukrainian troops are ready for this fight.

Its our estimation that the Ukrainian military is well prepared for whatever they do  they choose to fight in the offensive fight or in the defense, he said. Theyre well-prepared.

But he also warned that as time goes on the fighting will vary.

Like the Battle of Normandy or any other major battle, warfare is a give and take, Milley said. There will be days you see a lot of activity and there will be days you may see very little activity. There will be offensive actions and defense actions. So this will be a back-and-forth fight for a considerable length of time.

The U.S. and allies and partners have been pouring billions of dollars in military weapons into Ukraine and have set up a wide range of combat training so Kyivs forces can maintain that equipment and prepare for the long-anticipated counteroffensive.

Milley spoke as Ukrainian forces are widely seen to be moving forward with a new surge of fighting in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of front line in the east and south. The troops were moving to end what has been a winter-long battlefield stalemate and punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine after 15 months of war.

Punctuating that fighting was the stunning collapse Tuesday of a dam in southern Ukraine, triggering floods, endangering crops in the countrys breadbasket and threatening drinking water supplies. Both sides blamed the other, as they scrambled to evacuate residents.

The surge in fighting comes after a long winter of preparation. Nearly weekly at times, the U.S. and allies pumped millions of rounds of artillery and other ammunition into Ukraine, along with increasingly lethal air defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries, tanks, drones and other weapons.

Looking back over the past year, Milley said Ukrainian forces defended their country well from the start of the invasion in February through the middle of the summer, and then did two successful offensive operations in Kharkiv and Kherson. Milley said he believes the training and weapons supplied by the allies over the winter have prepared Ukraine for the coming fight.

A lot of training went into that, a lot of supplies, a lot of ammunition was provided by other countries to include the United States, said Milley. Theyve been training now we think pretty well in combined arms operations. So I think theyre prepared for what they think they need to do, no matter what type of operation they run.

Standing in front of rows of white crosses at the cemetery, Milley spoke just a few minutes after he and other top U.S. and allied military leaders laid wreaths and saluted the gathering of the last surviving World War II veterans attending the ceremony. The veterans, some of whom had stormed Omaha Beach, were almost all in their late 90s. But as Taps played, many rose from their wheelchairs to stand for the tribute.

Reflecting on their fight, Milley said there is a thread of similarity in the wars.

You cant really compare that campaign to whats happening in size and scale and scope ... in Ukraine. But the purpose is very similar, which is the Ukrainians, obviously, their objective is to liberate the Russian-occupied Ukraine, Milley said.

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The destruction of a hydroelectric dam in southeastern Ukraine early Tuesday morning unleashed torrents of water along the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Some 80 villages are threatened by the uncontained floodwaters while tens of thousands of people could be forced to flee their homes.

Water can be one of natures most destructive forces, but this appears to be a man-made disaster  a humanitarian and ecological tragedy caused by the war.

It is also a brutal reminder that soaked-earth tactics in battle can be just as devastating as their scorched-earth counterparts.

Both Moscow and Kyiv blame each others armies for the destruction.

It is physically impossible to blow it up somehow from the outside, by shelling, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his first comments about the destroyed dam, which lay in Russian-controlled territory.

It was mined by the Russian occupiers, and they blew it up.

In a statement, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Ukraine deliberately attacked the dam and set off the flooding to push back the Russian military and allow its own forces to focus their attacks in other areas.

He called the destruction of the dam on the Dnipro River a sabotage, essentially a terrorist act.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the threats to drinking water, housing, human life and the environment, officials said there was also a risk that mines and explosive ordnance planted by the warring armies would be displaced by the rushing waters, causing a long-lasting risk to people in the region.

The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year, and that must stop, Guterres told reporters.

While the immediate effects on a major grain-producing region of southern Ukraine are clear to see, the strategic implications for the invading Russians and the Ukrainians, who are desperate to regain their occupied territory, are tougher to calculate.

On the face of it, both Russia and Ukraine will be forced to move troops and equipment from submerged territory.

The particular geography on the higher, Ukrainian-controlled left bank of the Dnipro River and the lower-lying right bank means that the Russians will be forced to retreat further from territory that it has controlled since shortly after the invasion of Feb. 24, 2022.

This is not the first time Russia has been forced to retreat in the south.

They were beaten back and forced to withdraw from the southern city of Kherson last fall in a major victory for Ukrainian forces, one that was celebrated with a visit from Zelenskyy himself.

That successful battle was preceded by Ukrainian accusations that Russian forces had mined the Kakhovka dam and were planning a false flag explosion that they would blame on the Ukrainians.

And the Washington Post reported last December that in the run-up to the Kherson offensive, the Ukrainian military had conducted a test strike on the floodgates of the dam using an American HIMARS launcher.

While officials determined that they could successfully attack the dam and prevent Russians from crossing the Dnipro River without flooding nearby villages, the newspaper reported that it was ultimately decided not to employ such a tactic.

In recent days the Russians were facing the prospect of another clash that was believed to be days or weeks away.

The Ukrainian army  bolstered by western training and high-powered weapons  has spent months preparing for a coming counteroffensive. The aim this time was to push the Russians further south and retake occupied territory south of the Dnipro River.

The ultimate goal is to push the Russians all the way back to Crimea before retaking the disputed peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Some Ukrainian officials predicted that this territorial goal could have been achieved by the end of the summer. But the fast-flowing water washes away any such confidence.

Military expert Lasha Tchantouridze said the most immediate effect of the dam explosion is to put Ukraines southward incursion on hold.

The geography of the surrounding areas, both north and south of the dam, will change. This will confuse the plans for Ukraines offensive operations, and it is no small thing, the professor at Vermonts Norwich University wrote in response to questions.

The (Ukrainian) offensive ground operations were planned for months, the equipment was deployed, and people were trained with a set of geographic features in mind. Now many of those estimates are no longer valid.

Videos published on social media Tuesday showed submerged homes, bridges and rapidly rising water levels far downstream from the Nova Kakhovka dam, which formed the wall of a reservoir holding back some 18 million cubic metres of water.

A zoo in the town of Nova Kakhovka was reportedly flooded, putting the lives of animals at risk. And on both sides of the Dnipro River, authorities were urgently arranging evacuations and emergency shelters for displaced residents.

Experts say it will be several days before the water levels stabilize and the full extent of the damage is known.

Initial fears for the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant, which relies on reservoir water from the Dnipro to cool its reactors, were assuaged by Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The reservoir for the nuclear facility, which is upstream from the dam in Russian-occupied territory, was at 16.4 metres Tuesday morning. Water can no longer be pumped if levels fall below 12.7 metres, but Grossi said there were alternate water sources, including a large cooling pond that will be sufficient to provide water for cooling for some months.

Our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, he said, adding that he plans to return to the nuclear plant in the coming week.

But the act of flooding parts of the south under water could have the effect of shifting the upcoming battle to Zaporizhzhia.

Tchantouridze noted that the Zaporizhzhia region is the area where Ukrainian ground offensive has the best chance to succeed.

And Vladimir Rogov, head of the We Are Together With Russia movement, which is based in Zaporizhzhia, warned on his Telegram channel Tuesday that Ukraine could now transfer as many as 10,000 people to other parts of the front.

If such a redeployment does occur, and if a Ukrainian attack is successful, Tchantouridze said, the Russians will be forced into an uncontrolled retreat.

The other potential consequence of the breached dam in Nova Kakhova is on the water supply to Crimea.

The battle for control of the waters in southeastern Ukraine is one of the primary motivations for the Russian invasion.

After Crimea was annexed in 2014, Ukraine cut off the supply of water to a canal that feeds freshwater from the Dnipro River to the occupied peninsula.

Russia was able to open the taps once again with its invasion last year.

Andriy Yermak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said the destruction of the dam puts at risk the supply of drinking water in southern Kherson region as well as Crimea

Sergey Askyonov, the top Russian official in Crimea, said on Telegram that there was a risk that water levels in the North Crimean Canal would drop.

At present, the water reserves in the canal are at about 40 million cubic metres, he said, adding that reservoirs were about 80 per cent full.

There is more than enough drinking water. Work is underway to minimize water losses in the canal, he wrote. In the coming days the dynamics and risks will be clear.

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ROME (AP)  Pope Francis briefly went to Romes main hospital on Tuesday for tests and returned to the Vatican, two months after he was hospitalized with an acute case of bronchitis.

The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said the pontiff underwent some clinical examinations and returned to the Vatican before noon from the Gemelli hospital.

Witnesses at the Vaticans Perugino gate, one of the main entrances to the city state, told The Associated Press that Francis greeted guards as he usually does before returning to his residence.

Francis, 86, spent three days at the Gemelli hospital in late March. Initially, the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was still alive.

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been using a wheelchair and walker for more than a year because of strained ligaments in his knee.

Francis has had a packed schedule of late, with multiple audiences each day. The Vatican has recently confirmed a travel-filled August, when the Holy See and Italy are usually on vacation, with a four-day visit to Portugal the first week of August and a similarly long trip to Mongolia starting Aug. 31.

In a sign that the trips were very much on, the Vatican on Tuesday released the planned itinerary for Francis visit to Portugal for World Youth Day events from Aug. 2-6. The itinerary confirms a typically busy schedule that includes all the protocol meetings of an official state visit plus multiple events with young people and a day trip to the Marian shrine at Fatima.

Francis next public appointment, if confirmed, would be his weekly general audience on Wednesday in St. Peters Square.

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KHERSON, Ukraine (AP)  A major dam in southern Ukraine collapsed Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction.

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which sits on the Dnieper River in an area Moscow has controlled for more than a year. Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment in the contested area, where the river separates the two sides.

It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting claims.

Russian and Ukrainian officials used terms like ecological disaster and terrorist act to describe the torrent of water gushing through the broken dam and beginning to empty an upstream reservoir that is one of the worlds largest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As homes, streets and businesses flooded, authorities expressed concerns about drinking water supplies and emergency crews evacuated thousands of people from Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.

In the downstream city of Kherson, angry residents cursed as they tried to preserve their pets and belongings. A woman who gave her name only as Tetyana waded through thigh-deep water to reach her flooded house and rescue her dogs. They were standing on any dry surface they could find but one pregnant dog was missing. Its a nightmare, she kept repeating, declining to give her full name.

Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities brought in trains and buses to move residents to safety. About 25,000 people in Russian-controlled areas and 17,000 in Ukrainian-held territory should be evacuated, Ukraines deputy chief prosecutor Viktoriia Lytvynova said on Ukrainian television. Neither side reported any deaths or injuries.

A satellite photo Tuesday morning by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed more than 600 meters (over 1,900 feet) missing from the wall of the 1950s-era dam.

The dam break, which both sides long feared, added a stunning new dimension to Russias war, now in its 16th month. Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of front line in the east and south.

It was not immediately clear why either side might destroy the dam, and its collapse might have resulted from gradual degradation. Both Russian-controlled and Ukrainian-held lands were at risk.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that Ukraine destroyed the dam to prevent Russian attacks in the Kherson region after what he alleged was a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. He claimed Ukraine had lost 3,715 troops and 52 tanks since Sunday, and  in a rare acknowledgment of Russias own losses  said 71 Russian troops were killed and 210 wounded. Ukraine followed its standard practice of not commenting on its casualties.

Zelenskyy told reporters his government knew last year that Russia had mined the dam, so there may come a moment when an explosion occurs. Other Ukrainian officials alleged Russia blew up the dam to hinder Kyivs counteroffensive, even though observers note that crossing the broad Dnieper would be extremely challenging. Other sectors of the front line are more likely avenues of attack, analysts say.

Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the alleged Russian destruction of the dam a profoundly defensive measure showing the lack of confidence in Russias longer-term prospects in the war.

Experts have previously said the dam was in disrepair, which could also have led to the breach. David Helms, a retired American scientist who has monitored the reservoir, said in an email it wasnt clear if the damage was deliberate or simple neglect by occupying Russian forces.

But Helms also noted a Russian history of attacking dams.

Underscoring the global repercussions, wheat prices jumped 3% after the collapse. Its unclear whether the surge was due to a real threat of floodwaters destroying crops. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Authorities, experts and residents have been concerned for months about water flowing through  and over  the Kakhovka dam. After heavy rains and snowmelt last month, water levels rose beyond normal, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Zelenskyy alleged Russian forces set off a blast inside the dam structure at 2:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Monday, 7:50 p.m. EDT Monday) and said about 80 settlements were in danger.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a deliberate act of sabotage by the Ukrainian side aimed at cutting water to Crimea.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the U.S. cannot say conclusively what happened and declined to assess the impact on Ukraines counteroffensive.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council later in the day, the U.S. deputy ambassador offered no clarity about what Washington sees as the cause of the dams collapse, while the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors traded blame.

Both sides warned of a looming environmental disaster from polluted waters partly caused by oil leaking from the dams machinery and farmland deprived of irrigation.

Ukraines Interior Ministry urged residents of 10 villages on the Dniepers western bank and parts of the city of Kherson to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that at least 40 settlements in the Kherson region were already flooded.

The Russia-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which had a prewar population of about 45,000, said the city was being evacuated.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes biggest, relies in large part on water from the dams now-emptying reservoir. The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency reported no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, whose six reactors have been shut down for months but still need water for cooling. It said the rate of the drop in the dams reservoir level increased from 5 centimeters (2 inches) to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) an hour and could be depleted in a couple of days. The plant has alternate water sources that can last for months, according to the IAEA.

Ukrainian authorities have previously warned that the dams failure could unleash a volume of water estimated as nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S state of Utah.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, warned thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed.

The incident also drew international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said the outrageous act  demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnieper, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the countrys drinking water and power supply and that of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of attacking the dam.

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Blann reported from Kyiv. Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Lawyers for Ukraine told the United Nations top court Tuesday that Russia bankrolled a campaign of intimidation and terror by rebels in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014 and sought to replace Crimeas multiethnic community with discriminatory Russian nationalism after its occupation and annexation of the region.

The claims came at hearings at the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Kyiv against Russia linked to Moscows 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

Four days of hearings in the courts ornate, wood-paneled Great Hall of Justice opened against a backdrop of Europes deadliest conflict since World War II. Ukraine and Russia were trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are located in a part of Ukraine that Moscow controls.

Lawyers for Kyiv presented legal arguments to support their case Tuesday. Russias lawyers will address judges Thursday. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.

When it could have instructed its officials not to fund groups committing violence against civilians, Russia did nothing, Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, told judges. Instead, as more deadly weapons arrived in Ukraine and more Ukrainian civilians suffered atrocities, Russian officials escalated their illegal supply of monies and weapons sending.

Koh said that in July 2014, a Buk anti-aircraft system was sent into Ukraine after which Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was destroyed.

Another lawyer on Ukraines team, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fueled this campaign.

The Ukrainian legal team said Russia did nothing to prevent or help Ukraine investigate the financial streams.

Turning to alleged breaches in Crimea of a convention to combat racial discrimination, Koh said that, following its illegal occupation and annexation of the peninsula, Russia sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterized Crimea before Russias intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism.

He told judges that Russian policies amount to a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians Ukrainians and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars.

The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine.

In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russias illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities  a legally binding ruling that Moscow ignored.

In that case, Kyiv is arguing that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention by falsely accusing Ukraine of committing genocide and using that as a pretext for the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Moscow argues that the court doesnt have jurisdiction.

Not far away at the International Criminal Court, judges have issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of deporting and illegally transferring children from Ukraine. Russia isnt a member of the court and doesnt recognize its jurisdiction.

A Dutch domestic court last year convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian for their roles in downing MH17 and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Ukraine also has another case against Russia at the International Court of Justice over its invasion, and the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the passenger jet that was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Soviet-era missile over eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Federation has contempt for international law, a senior Ukrainian diplomat, Anton Korynevych, said. Over the last 16 months, the world has woken up to this dark reality.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran claimed on Tuesday that it had created a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal as tensions remain high with the United States over Tehrans nuclear program.

The new missile  called Fattah, or Conqueror in Farsi  was unveiled even as Iran said it would reopen its diplomatic posts on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia after reaching a detente with Riyadh following years of conflict.

The tightly choreographed segment on Iranian state television apparently sought to show that Tehrans hard-line government can still deploy arms against its enemies across much of the Middle East.

Today we feel that the deterrent power has been formed, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said at the event. This power is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards aerospace program, unveiled what appeared to be a model of the missile. Hajizadeh claimed the missile had a range of up to 1,400 kilometers (870 miles).

Thats about mid-range for Irans expansive ballistic missile arsenal, which the Guard has built up over the years as Western sanctions largely prevent it from accessing advanced weaponry.

There exists no system that can rival or counter this missile, Hajizadeh claimed.

That claim, however, depends on how maneuverable the missile is. Ballistic missiles fly on a trajectory in which anti-missile systems like the Patriot can anticipate their path and intercept them. Tuesdays event showed what appeared to be a moveable nozzle for the Fattah, which could allow it to change trajectories in flight. The more irregular the missiles flight path, the more difficult it becomes to intercept.

Iranian officials did not release footage of a Fattah successfully launching and then striking a target. Hajizadeh later said that there had been a ground test of the missiles engine.

A ground test involves a rocket motor being put on a stand and fired to check its abilities while launching a missile with that rocket motor is much more complex.

Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound, could pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. Iran described the Fattah as being able to reach Mach 15  which is 15 times the speed of sound.

China is believed to be pursuing the weapons, as is America. Russia claims to already be fielding the weapons and has said it used them on the battlefield in Ukraine. However, speed and maneuverability isnt a guarantee the missile will successfully strike a target. Ukraines air force in May said it shot down a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile with a Patriot battery.

Gulf Arab countries allied with the U.S. widely use the Patriot missile system in the region. Israel, Irans main rival in the Mideast, also has its own robust air defenses.

In November, Hajizadeh initially claimed that Iran had created a hypersonic missile, without offering evidence to support it. That claim came during the nationwide protests that followed the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the countrys morality police.

Tuesdays announcement came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to begin a visit to Saudi Arabia.

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LONDON  Britains Princess Eugenie has given birth to a baby boy, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.

Eugenie, the niece of King Charles III, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, welcomed their son, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, on May 30th. The baby, who weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce, is the couple's second child.

The couple's eldest child, two-year-old August, is now a big brother.

He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald,'' the princess said on her Instagram page. Augie is loving being a big brother already.''

Eugenie, 33, is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.

The child is 13th in line to the throne.

The new parents uploaded one photo of the infant wearing a blue and white stocking cap and another of August gently touching his brother's head.

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Prince Harry is having his day in court.

This morning, the Duke of Sussex was sworn in and took the witness stand in Room 15 of the Rolls Building in the City of London. Hes giving evidence in his phone hacking case against the Mirror Group, publisher of some of Britains biggest tabloid newspapers.

Its an extraordinary occasion, not least because this is the first time a British royal has been cross-examined in court in 130 years, when soon-to-be King Edward VII, then the Prince of Wales, was a witness in a slander case when an associate unsuccessfully attempted to clear his name after being accused of cheating at the illegal card game baccarat.

Since then, the Windsors have done everything they can to settle legal matters outside of court and avoid the cut-and-thrust of an open courtroom. Prince Harrys cross-examination today, at the hands of a defence lawyer whose goal is to discredit him and poke holes in his testimony, is no softball interview with a friendly journalist.

As one Guardian journalist covering the case noted: It could be brutal. Other individuals who have already given evidence in this trial have been visibly shaken by the experience of being cross-examined.

Harrys court case, which is part of a group of over 100 similar lawsuits against the tabloid group, has been in the works for over four years. Harry is accusing the Mirror Group of using unlawful means to obtain private information about him that was then spun into stories published between 1996 (when he was 12) and 2011.

While Harry says there were thousands of stories written about him, this case is looking specifically at 33 articles where he believes these unlawful means were used to source the story, such as hacking into voice mails, blagging to get flight details or medical information, and hiring private detectives. The stories cover topics from Harry having mono to injuring himself playing sport to details about his relationship with his first girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, including the first time he met her father (a story titled When Harry Met Daddy).

In their opening statement, Harry's lawyers laid out the damaging effect this had: It created a sense of paranoia, a mistrust of people around him (including his brother, Prince William), led to the breakdown his relationship with Davy and bouts of depression.

Harry is also claiming that executives at the paper  including Piers Morgan, who was editor of the Mirror newspaper from 1995 to 2004  knew this was going on, and were complicit in this invasive, illegal information-gathering.

The Mirror Group, which has already paid out over $150 million in damages to phone hacking victims, strenuously denies all of Harrys claims. Its lawyers are also basing much of their defence on that fact that the six-year statute of limitations for lodging these claims has passed.

The trial actually kicked off yesterday, but Harry was a no-show for day one because hed elected to stay in California for his daughter Lilibets birthday on Sunday, and only flew into the U.K. on the red eye in the evening. His travel arrangements are such and his security arrangements are such that it is a little bit tricky, his lawyer told the court.

Technically, Harry was within his rights to skip the first day, which was dedicated to lawyers on both sides making their opening statements, but it did earn him a raised eyebrow from the judge, who said he was surprised Harry chose not to be there, especially since hed specifically requested witnesses be there in case the lawyers finished their statements early. The defence lawyer, of course, pounced on this absence as extraordinary.

Today, however, Harry was there  five minutes early, in fact  ready to defend his claim under oath.

As the cross-examination began, Harrys written witness statement also went public. It includes more than 200 individual points over 49 pages.

If the major thrust of Harrys point could be summarized, its in number 10, where he lays out the narrative he believes the tabloid press foisted on him  the thicko, the playboy prince, the under age drinker  and says it became a self-fulfilling prophecy that shaped the trajectory of his life.

As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well do the crime, so to speak, Harry writes.

It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a damaged young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. With hindsight, he concludes it was vile behaviour on the part of the tabloid press.

During his cross-examination, the defence lawyer walked Harry through individual Mirror articles, probing him for proof that any of them had been written with illegally gathered information.

One was an article titled Beach bum Harry, published in 2003 about Harrys whereabouts in Noosa, Australia. Harry said he couldnt believe that anyone would find him in the remote location hed been in through anything other than illegal means. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, he said. The defence lawyer responded that there would have been many local photographers whod be willing to go looking for that needle.

Subsequent exchanges followed a similar pattern: The lawyer would ask Harry for his proof, Harry would say the story contained information the journalist couldnt possibly have known otherwise, and then the defence lawyer would offer an alternative explanation, like the fact that other papers had published the same information in earlier articles, or that Harry had given an interview where he might have shared the information himself, or that the paper received a tip off from someone, like a person on the street who spotted him leaving a pub.

To this, Harry repeatedly responded with some version of Youd have to ask the journalists, seeming to indicate that he didnt think the burden of proof that phone hacking occurred rested with him.

The defence also pointed out that several of the articles included a statement from the palace, which Harry replied usually meant the palace was responding to a question that had been posed to them, rather than volunteering this information to the press out of the blue.

The testimony continues.

Sarah Laing is a Toronto-based freelance contributor for The Kit, writing about about celebrity and culture. Follow her on Twitter: @sarahjanelaing

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SPRINGDALE, Pa. (AP)  A blast of air and dust from the implosion of two smokestacks at a shuttered coal-fired power plant in western Pennsylvania last week felled power poles and caused damage to nearby homes. But the demolition company is vowing full repairs.

The implosion at the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, a borough just northeast of Pittsburgh, occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Friday, bringing the stacks down with a loud crash and a huge cloud of dust. One tower stood about 550 feet (170 meters) tall and the other 750 feet (230 meters).

Controlled Demolition said in a statement that the chimneys fell exactly where they were supposed to and noise and vibration levels were well below allowable state environmental protection limits, KDKA-TV reported. But, the company said, the larger chimneys steel liner focused air pressure as it collapsed upon impact.

Bruno Moretti, Allegheny Countys emergency management coordinator, said the air blast broke windows and blew dust from the fallen stacks into homes. The surge also felled trees and several power poles and their wires, leading to a power surge that damaged electrical appliances such as stoves, furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators and TVs, he said.

The companys statement said repairs of minor damages caused by the focused air pressure had already begun and promised that they will be fully completed to the satisfaction of each property owner affected, KDKA-TV reported.

Moretti said he didnt yet have a final report about how many people had reported damage, and more reports may be coming in. He said, however, that people he has talked to have had positive things to say about the companys response.

They were out cleaning up 15 minutes after the blast, getting streets open, they went around pressure-washing cars off, so in my eyes theyre trying to do right, Moretti said. As long as they take care of the people, I dont have a complaint. As far as I can tell right now, everybodys pleased with their response.

Video of the implosion recorded by Joe Kern shows the two smokestacks fall one after the other as a thunderous blast is heard. Dirt and debris cover the air as the smokestacks hit the ground, shaking the trees and powerlines in the area. Voices can be heard yelling as debris consumes the area following the collapse.

They ruined everything, Kern said in the video as he shows the debris on the roof of his home, yard and vehicle.

The Cheswick plant stopped making power in the spring of 2022 and has since been taken over by an environmental remediation firm.

___

Associated Press video journalist Patrick Orsagos in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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TEHRAN, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The possible formation of a naval coalition between Iran and several Arab states is a sign of regional countries' declining trust in the United States and growing confidence in their capabilities of ensuring regional security, said Iranian analysts and media.

Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani said in an interview with Iran's IRIB news agency on Friday that the country will soon form a naval alliance with several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq.

The announcement came two days after the UAE said it had pulled out of a U.S.-led maritime coalition tasked with ensuring security in the regional waters on May 31.

GROWING DISTRUST

In an analysis published on Sunday, Iran's Arabic language Al-Alam news network wrote that the recent developments send a "clear" message that the time of trusting the U.S. for guaranteeing security in the region has come to an end as the regional countries become aware of Washington's destabilizing role and plots to stoke differences among the Middle Eastern nations.

Al-Alam stressed that Washington has no other alternative but to leave the region and let the regional countries to ensure their own security.

Iranian political analyst Hassan Hanizadeh echoed the view in an interview with the Persian section of Russia's Sputnik on Monday.

Hanizadeh said the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members all have had bitter experiences of cooperation with the U.S., which explains why they no longer trust Washington for ensuring their security.

He added that the regional Arab countries have concluded that the U.S. hegemony in the region over the past decade has faced failure, evidenced by facts and figures showing the U.S. destructive role in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.

The Persian language Iran Newspaper said in an analysis on Tuesday that the UAE's withdrawal from the U.S.-led coalition, created nearly four years ago, is proof of the increasing differences between Washington and the regional countries, including the UAE, which have lost trust in the U.S. and intended to replace it with more reliable alternatives for ensuring their own security.

WASHINGTON'S WORRIES

In reaction to the news about the formation of the Iran-Arab naval coalition, the U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces spokesperson Tim Hawkins told Breaking Defense on Saturday that the Iranian assertion about forming a naval alliance with Saudi Arabia and other regional Arab nations "defies reason."

Responding to Hawkins' remarks, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, in an article published on Sunday, said they are proof of Washington's grave concern over the likely formation of the naval coalition.

It added that such remarks also indicated that the U.S. has already launched bids, such as leveling "baseless" accusations against Iran, to prevent the creation of such a coalition.

Hanizadeh stressed that the Americans will, of course, try by every means to prevent the formation of the Iran-Arab coalition.

SURGING SELF-CONFIDENCE

The Iranian analysts and media analyses maintained that the regional countries have now gained greater self-confidence about their capability of guaranteeing the region's security.

In its analysis, the Al-Alam said the regional countries have realized their sole option to ensure their security is joint cooperation, a necessary precondition for which will be the withdrawal of all unjustified and transregional forces from the Middle East.

Both Al-Alam and Iran Newspaper described as a "significant breakthrough" the recent China-brokered agreement reached by Iran and Saudi Arabia on the resumption of the bilateral relations.

Hanizadeh said the Tehran-Riyadh agreement signed in Beijing in March after seven years of tensions in bilateral ties indicated that the region is moving toward greater unity and the possible formation of an Iran-Arab naval alliance would be the first step toward ousting the U.S. from West Asia.

He emphasized that greater convergence among the regional states will naturally reduce the costs they have to bear to ensure their security. 
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  Oregon Democratic lawmakers stood on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday and implored Republicans, who have been boycotting the Senate, to return and vote on a number of bipartisan bills that are at risk of dying because of a political standoff that has now lasted a month.

Several statehouses around the nation, including Montana and Tennessee, have been ideological battlegrounds this year. Republicans in the Oregon statehouse conducted walkouts in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to deny enough members for voting on measures. But this one is the most serious yet, threatening hundreds of bills and the approval of state budgets for the next two years.

Democrats who held a news conference Tuesday cited a range of bills about urgent issues facing Oregon, including ones aimed at reducing drug overdoses, mitigating wildfire risks and shoring up seismically vulnerable dams, that are in limbo because of the ideological rift.

Yet neither side is budging on a bill on protections for abortion and transgender care, with Democrats saying it isnt negotiable and minority Republicans insisting it die or be changed. Republicans reject a provision that would allow doctors to provide abortions regardless of age, with doctors not required to notify parents when doing so could endanger the child, such as in cases of incest.

If Democrat leaders truly prioritized bipartisan budgets and policy proposals Oregonians desperately need, they would work to resolve this impasse in a bipartisan fashion, Senate Republican Leader Sen. Tim Knopp said. Instead, Democrat leadership is clinging to an unlawful, extreme agenda.

The standoff is down to a matter of which side blinks first. If there is no compromise well before the session is constitutionally required to end by June 25, the hundreds of bills that havent passed both the House and Senate will die.

Sen. Jeff Golden, a Democrat who represents southern Oregons Rogue Valley, said among them are bills to improve response and protections from wildfires like ones that devastated parts of the state in 2020.

Like the other bills youve been hearing about, these are teetering on the edge. We are looking at serious damage  as in life-and-death kind of damage  if we abandon these bills now, Golden told reporters and supporters under a hot sun, a harbinger of the coming dry season in this drought-stricken state.

Rep. Travis Nelson, a Democrat who is a registered nurse, said also among measures frozen by the Republicans longest walkout in state history is a bipartisan opioid harm-reduction package that includes making overdose medication like Naloxone available in restaurants, grocery stores, police departments and schools.

This is going to save lives and give people a chance to recover, and we must pass this bill, said Nelson, who wore blue nursing scrubs at the news conference and rally.

Knopp was unmoved by the Democrats dire warnings.

Well, there are always lives at stake as it relates to policy that is being debated here in the state Capitol, Knopp told reporters after the rally. However, unfortunately, their ire is misplaced, and the Senate Democrats could have ended this weeks ago.

Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat who represents the coast, said a bill he worked on with Democrats and Republicans would provide $70 million in support for small farmers, fishermen, small businesses and create more housing. If another bipartisan measure, aimed at attracting the semiconductor industry, dies, Oregon stands to lose billions of dollars in federal funds to other states, Gomberg said. A related bill passed before the walkout with broad support.

Seismically vulnerable dams would be replaced by another bill thats at stake. Without it, Oregon could lose out on $60 million in federal matching funds, Gomberg said.

Jan Kaplan, president of the city council of the coastal town of Newport, said dams that create reservoirs for Newports drinking water are the most seismically vulnerable in the state.

Even a modest earthquake could cause the dams to fail and send water rushing through a neighborhood just downhill. People would die, Kaplan said. The flood would breach Highway 101, our principal coastal arterial.

The boycott has prevented the Senate from reaching the two-thirds quorum required to vote on bills, with all but two of the 12 Republicans and the lone Independent staying away.

The walkout happened despite a ballot measure, approved by Oregon voters last November, that disqualifies lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from being reelected in the next term. The measure, now part of the state Constitution, is expected to be challenged in court by Republican senators if the secretary of states office prevents them from registering as candidates.

On June 1, Democrats in the Senate voted to fine senators $325 every time their absence denies the chamber the two-thirds quorum it needs to conduct business.

Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek can call a special session this summer for the House and Senate to approve the states budgets for the next two years if theyre not all approved by June 25. But most of the bills that die because of the walkout wouldnt be resurrected until 2025, because next years short session lasts barely one month.

Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat from Portland, grew emotional as he described the frustrating walkout.

This is very painful for me, Dembrow said. As many of you know, this is my last long session in the Legislature. Ive been here for 15 years. Im not running again. I was not looking to end in this way.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  As LGBTQ+ advocates celebrate a federal judges ruling declaring Tennessees so-called anti-drag show law unconstitutional, questions remain over whether the law will be enforced after the court declared that the decision only applied to the states most populous county.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker ruled that the first-in-the-nation law was unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad, and encouraged discriminatory enforcement.

The ruling came just as many Pride events were scheduled across the heavily conservative state, including events where drag performers were expected to appear publicly and many of which were designated for all ages.

Yet even after Fridays ruling, questions remain about how prosecutors will respond. Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that the law remains in effect outside of Shelby County, which encompasses Memphis. However, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that he believes district attorneys wont enforce a law that a federal judge says violates the First Amendment.

We are reviewing the order and expect to appeal at the appropriate time, Skrmetti said.

The lawsuit seeking to overturn the legislation was spearheaded by a Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater group, Friends of George, which argued that the law would negatively affect them because they produce drag-centric performances, comedy sketches, and plays with no age restrictions.

Initially, the complaint listed Mulroy, Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Skrmetti as defendants. The plaintiffs later agreed to dismiss the governor and the attorney general as defendants,  although Skrmetti continued to represent Mulroy.

Because Mulroys authority only applies within Shelby County, Parkers ruling applied solely to that jurisdiction.

Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that the Trump-appointed judge was clear the statute violated the First Amendment.

Therefore, I think it is unlikely, or should be unlikely, that other DAs around the state will enforce it, he said. And then, if they do attempt to enforce it, I think the defendant will have a very strong First Amendment defense.

Mulroy, a Democrat, added that he was probably never been happier to lose a lawsuit.

Ive always thought that the drag show bill was a solution in search of a problem and that by chilling free expression and making the LGBT community feel targeted has done more harm than good, he said.

Gov. Lee has refused to weigh in on whether district attorneys should continue enforcing the law. Instead, the Republican said he would defer to Skrmetti about enforcement.

Lee added that he had not spoken to the attorney general about Parkers ruling and that he no plans to because its in the judicial branch.

That bill was created to protect children for the state. Ill continue to do that whenever we can, Lee said.

Tennessees Republican-dominated Legislature advanced the anti-drag law earlier this year, with several GOP members pointing to drag performances in their hometowns as reasons why it was necessary to restrict such performances from taking place in public or where children could view them.

Notably the actual word drag doesnt appear in the statute. Instead lawmakers changed the states definition of adult cabaret to mean adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors. Furthermore, male or female impersonators were classified as a form of adult cabaret, akin to strippers or topless dancers.

The law banned adult cabaret performances from public property or anywhere minors might be present. Performers who broke the law risked being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a repeat offense.

While LGBTQ+ rights advocates praised the ruling, Republican lawmakers quickly urged Skrmetti to appeal the decision. So far, he hasnt.

The drag law marks the second major proposal targeting LGBTQ+ people passed by Tennessee lawmakers this year. Lee also signed into law GOP-backed legislation banning most gender-affirming care for minors, which is being challenged in court.

___

Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee.

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Exactly one year ago, Yumna Afzaals cousin took to a stage to share memories of the 15-year-old high school student killed in 2021, along with her parents and grandmother, in a murderous act of hate in London, Ont.

It feels as if it was only yesterday that I had the warmth of these family members with me, Esa Islam told a large crowd of London residents and dignitaries gathered to remember the massacre. I miss being able to go over to their house and have fun conversations about Harry Potter with Yumna or always being cared for by my aunt and uncle.

The young man will be marking the tragedy for the second year today, along with many others, including the Youth Coalition combating Islamophobia.

Instead of planning for proms and graduations, this group of teenagers and young adults have now spent two years working on ways to mark the killing of a family that was struck by a man in a pickup truck while out for an evening stroll. This has included creating powerful testimonial videos, as well as curriculum materials for kindergarten to Grade 12.

As part of a first official visit this past spring, I met with Esa and his relatives, now taking care of Yumnas younger brother, orphaned by the attack.

Family members expressed their hope that Islamophobia will be taken seriously as a phenomenon that can have deadly consequences, undermining social cohesion in a democracy that has enshrined freedoms of belief and equality in its constitution.

They have their work cut out for them, as do many of us. A spring poll conducted by Leger, on behalf of Maple Lodge Farms, showed that less than 46 per cent of Canadians consider themselves to be allies of Muslim communities; another recent poll by Angus Reid showed Islam to be the most negatively viewed religion in the country.

Not surprising then that anxiety persists. Muslim Londoners spoke of latent fears when walking in their neighbourhoods; of children worrying about the head scarves their moms or sisters wear. Mosque leaders continue to struggle with safety issues, including whether to spend scarce funds on hiring security guards during community events.

The concerns shared were not new, nor unusual. In the top three provinces where Muslims reside  Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta  there were similar trepidations.

For instance, in Edmonton, the Sisters Dialogue collective shared how many Black Muslim women are still afraid to go out alone and will often travel in groups after a spate of attacks sent panic throughout their communities between 2020 and 2021 (corresponding with a 71 per cent increase in police-reported hate crimes targeting Muslims). An awareness campaign is in the works.

Theres also a consistent lack of faith in law enforcements ability to hold perpetrators accountable, even as police services there and elsewhere continue to promise support. Though some Calgary Muslims acknowledged that the addition of several far-right extremist groups to Canadas list of terrorist entities had led to diminished threats.

All these worries about safety, discrimination and inclusion underline how fragile our democracy and sense of belonging are, especially at a time of growing polarization and given the pernicious effects of online hate and divisive narratives.

As political scientist and author Yascha Mounk shared recently on the front lines of Democracy podcast, for a liberal society to remain thriving and vibrant, people must be free to build trust and friendships with one another while proudly holding various identities. That can only happen when, and if, we collectively counter Islamophobia and various other forms of racism.

Well know that day has arrived when our young people are no longer planning vigils to remember friends and family whose lives were cut short by hate.

Amira Elghawaby is a human rights advocate and was recently appointed as Canadas Special Representative on combating Islamophobia.

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The bombing of Moscow could hasten nuclear war , June 2

Let us suppose that tomorrow, the Russian regime declares that, say, Paris, is a Russian city. Would Thomas Walkom advocate abandoning France to the whims of the Russians? Of course he wouldnt. Because that would be idiotic.

Yet that is precisely what he advocating should be done vis-a-vis Ukraine. Equally ridiculous is his claim that Ukraine is to Russia as Texas is to the United States. The salient and obvious difference being that while Texas wants to be a part of the United States, Ukrainians would very much like, at long last, for Russia to leave them alone and stop murdering Ukrainians.

Want to avoid escalation and return peace to Europe? Give Ukraine the weapons it needs to drive Russia from Ukrainian land. And stop listening to the likes of Walkom.

Orest Zakydalsky, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ottawa

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Are Canadians becoming more MAGA American? June 5

Heather Mallick is right to worry about Canadians picking up American habits.

When violence interrupts Torontos mayoralty race, then we are reaching a tipping point  where perhaps Americas worst-case paranoid political scenario awaits us. However, such a newsworthy incident should not distract us from the fact that the dumbing down or defaulting by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to irrational thinking to solve our current left/right political disagreements over policies poses a bigger threat to us.

George F. Will, who has a reputation as a heavyweight conservative thinker, quit the Republican Party because, in order to enable Trump, they had to reject a core conservative belief that an individuals moral and social responsibility matters to the nation.

In his book Statecraft as Soulcraft, Will makes a strong case that government must adhere to moral standards, or else the nation will be corrupted and become a failed state. According to Will, Just as all education is moral education because learning conditions conduct, much legislation is moral legislation because it conditions the action and the thought of the nation in broad and important spheres of life.

Thats why most Canadians are right to insist that Poilievre maintain the strong connection between good behaviour and good government. And why Poilievre is wrong to vehemently adopt such an anything-goes anticonventional thinking about gatekeepers and their expertise in order to get elected prime minister. His playlist of failed ideas  from bitcoin, to freedom convoys, and to defunding the CBC etc.  are self-evident proof of his ignorance about statecraft.

A nation willing to prosper materially with immoral broken statecraft has found in Poilievre its ideal populist leader but surely lost its way ethically.

Statecraft as soulcraft matters, or whats a nation-state for?

Tony DAndrea, Toronto

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Pride flag vote sparks outrage in York, May 30

Today my granddaughter will be sent home, along with her Grade 3 classmates, with a letter from her school board. All her friends must be told that they can avoid the parts of their instruction that talk about my granddaughters family as they are a different type of family.

This overt step to assign stigma to families that are not comprised of one mother and one father begins in Kindergarten. The Ministry of Education, through memo PPM162, contributes to stigmatization and the kind of othering that results in violence and hatred.

During Pride month, I hope that all good people will speak up to defend the worth and dignity of every family.

Sharon Craigen, Beaverton

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There is a stink of pettiness in recent events at the Peel District School Board.

The board has reneged on a promise to name a new centre after a local activist, and, just as bad, it is now hiding from public accountability behind a ministry-instituted barrier.

The barrier means no more interactions between the communities and the board of the kind that took place in 2019-20  often helmed by that local activist  that opened the door to damning investigations that revealed a board drenched in anti-Black racism. This had led to the board being placed under supervision of the Ministry of Education exactly three years ago. And then the ministry instituted the barrier.

What boggles the mind is how brazenly the board and trustees are dealing with the issue of naming a centre after Kola Iluyomade, the activist who forced their hand, even as they are barely emerging from a public and humiliating smackdown by government-mandated reviews.

Iluyomade was a local parent who began getting involved in the Peel school system after his children faced racism and went on to become a leading activist for all Black children. Within years, his impact was felt even more widely; a school board review thanks to his advocacy and community support highlighted challenges faced by South Asian and Muslim students.

Iluyomade died unexpectedly in June 2021, days after turning 56.

Those close to him wanted to see that his monumental efforts had not gone in vain. Community organizer Idris Orughu, whose advocacy approach at Peel was the calm to Iluyomades storm, made a request to Bruce Rodrigues, the ministry-appointed supervisor, that a place of Black excellence be named for Iluyomade.

The board has always addressed this as the Kola Iluyomade Center of Excellence. In every correspondence weve had, Orughu said. A report to trustees from Peels new director of education also acknowledged in June 2022 that the board had committed to honour Iluyomade by naming the centre after him.

And yet, with no notice to the community, the school board trustees passed a motion early in May to name the centre the Centre of Black Excellence  without naming Iluyomade.

Peel Board chair David Green told Qiam Noori of Metroland Media that there was never a commitment to name the centre after Iluyoade.

I was told there were discussions with the supervisor and some staff; however, no promise was made, he is reported as saying.

Green said trustees were just following policy. The school board spokesperson cited to the reporter an amended naming policy in April this year, saying, in an email, Section 5.9 of this policy states that proposed schools, special function areas, and facilities names shall not include: Names of identifiable individuals.

Even if we assume the policy was citied correctly (it was not), using it as justification for editing out Iluyomades name is a fallacious argument.

Im generally all for avoiding naming institutions and roads after people. Canadian leaders, men such as John A. Macdonald and Egerton Ryerson, who have been lionized in public spaces, were not just flawed, their decisions actively harmed large swathes of the populations. But Iluyomades actions were the opposite of the people who sparked the policy; he stood up for justice. The commitment to name the centre after him was also made prior to the policy change.

As it is, Section 5.9 does say institutions shall not include names of identifiable individuals, but stopping there is akin to kicking up a ball and leaving it hanging mid-air. The policy goes on to specify the individuals it means. Im paraphrasing, but you can read it online: those who have orchestrated mechanisms of colonialism in Canada or engaged in the trans-Atlantic slave trade or orchestrated race-based segregations of schools in Ontario.

The policy amendment itself came about because of one of the 27 directives ordered by ministry asks the board to examine all its policies using anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-colonial principles.

Martyring Iluyomade to that larger principle of not naming individuals is a clear perversion of logic. The policy was also updated a mere week before the vote on naming. Its too much to believe that was just a coincidence.

We see it as a betrayal, Orughu said.

Iluyomade likely has few friends among trustees and the board. When they slipped, he pulled no punches in his emails. But instead of seeing Iluyomades provocations as a symptom of frustration and opportunities to work with the communities, these trustees took it personally and dug their heels in.

I have not seen any evidence to indicate that rebuilding trust with communities is a priority of the Board, wrote the ministry-appointed investigator Arleen Huggins in her report in 2020.

Its not difficult to believe that those personal clashes are now influencing the decision on naming the centre. So, how to voice the opposition?

This brings us to the second issue at the board, this one quietly taken in June 2021 (inexplicably, by the ministry-appointed supervisor), that bans direct delegations  or public presentations  to the boards public meeting.

Where in the past parents or other community members could file a quick application to bring an issue of concern five days in advance of a public board meeting, they must now bring forward their issues to one of many committees. It is now up to the committee members to decide whether the matter is worth bringing to the board at a public meeting. This means contentious issues may now have no chance of being heard in a public forum.

This is why Orughu and about 80 people showed up at a community walk-in on May 24, when the board was set to vote on the issue of naming the centre. By various accounts, they spoke up, yelled, chanted slogans. And still, when trustee Kathy McDonald brought forward a motion to defer the vote, not one other trustee seconded it. The trustees then packed up, went into a smaller room out of sight of the public and voted to name it the Centre of Black Excellence.

Iluyomade erased.

The advocates have kept up the pressure, making a formal delegation to a committee on June 1. They began an online petition to preserve Iluyomades name.

Fighting this is exhausting, Orughu said. If we dont push back, everything weve worked for will be erased, will be rolled back.These policy amendments have made it easier for the board to act without accountability and with impunity.

The question is whether is the Ministry of Education, which took the expense, time and effort to make important changes happen, can rescind its decision on public delegations and what it will do as we watch its directive being so brazenly shredded.

Shree Paradkar is a Toronto-based columnist covering issues around social and racial justice for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @ShreeParadkar

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There was a segment in last weeks Toronto Star debate  in which I was the moderator  that I found telling about this moment in the mayoral election campaign. I invited each of the candidates to choose one other candidate and ask them one question. Four candidates, out of the six onstage, not only chose to direct their queries to Olivia Chow, but offered slight variations on the same question: How much, exactly, are you going to raise property taxes?

Chow repeatedly said she thought it was backwards to pick a number, because you should make the budget and see what other revenue sources add up to before setting the tax rate. She promised only that any increase would be modest.

The others went to town, piling on to accuse her of secretly planning rocket-like tax hikes.

This was revealing for a few reasons.

First, because obviously all of the other candidates have determined that their hopes rest entirely on attacking Chow, and attacking her on this specific point about potential tax increases. (Why else would Brad Bradford, who asked his question last, go ahead and repeat the same question three others had asked before him  acknowledging it was getting crazily repetitive?)

Its not hard to see why: the latest Forum poll only shows more of what every other poll has shown over the past several weeks: Olivia Chows support continues to inch up, now to about 38 per cent of decided voters, nearly tripling the support of anyone else in the race. All of the rest of them  Mark Saunders, Josh Matlow, Ana Bailao, Anthony Furey, Mitzie Hunter and Brad Bradford  are clustered way behind, either in single digits or fighting to stay above the margin of error of single digits. At first it seemed like one or two of the others must be likely to emerge as main contenders, but time is running out  election day is in three weeks and early voting begins Thursday. Now it seems just as likely Chow cruises to victory without the levels of support ever really changing.

So everyone was targeting Chow. Even Josh Matlow, the only other candidate not to ask her a direct question, referred to her in his closing statement, saying he respected her legacy but it was time for new leadership for todays problems.

The second reason I found that question segment revealing was Chows reaction: she seemed to be having fun not giving those questioning her what they wanted. At first I and some observers I was talking to were wondering why she didnt just disarm the whole enterprise by giving a number  saying I cannot see a scenario where Id increase taxes by more than nine per cent, or whatever  leaving them to fumble around now that shed given a firm answer that they claimed she wouldnt give. But then I realized she must be happy to have them continue that line of attack, likely because she doesnt believe shes vulnerable to it.

My guess is the voters most concerned about the possibility shed raise taxes arent likely to vote for her in any circumstances, and shes concluded the voters she already has in her camp arent particularly concerned about the answer to that question. Either because they think tax rates should be higher, or because they simply trust her to do the right thing.

So her playful counterpunches (Ill give you a number: Zero. Zero shovels in the ground under your Housing Now program) while dodging the precise question were just invitations for them to keep obsessing about the same old thing. Like a rabbit whose antagonists keep throwing her in the briar patch  oh no! Whatever will she do?

And that leads to my third observation about that moment, and the state of the campaign so far: Olivia Chow has succeeded thus far, to a certain extent, by avoiding being pinned down to specifics. She has a platform with substantive proposals in it, but to the extent shes seemed vulnerable at all, its been where her math doesnt seem to add up and where the specifics of what shes banking on dont align with recently revealed reality (as with the revenue shes anticipated from a vacancy tax).

In the meantime, shes winning so far based on goodwill from voters who believe they know her values and experience, and trust her as a person based on those things. She keeps winning based on projecting a caring, calm and unconcerned attitude  projecting good vibes. Maybe she doesnt win if she lets herself be drawn into a nitpicking contest.

I have no doubt this is driving some of the other candidates bonkers. Matlow and Hunter each have, arguably, more detailed and carefully costed platforms, armed with pages of spreadsheets. Bailao and Saunders are also running to some extent on personal credibility  Bailao as a neutral good negotiator on the citys behalf with less partisan baggage, Saunders as a police chief who assumes expertise on public safety  and dont have voters showing the same kind of willingness to just take their word for things. Bradford is well, authenticity hasnt been his strong suit in this campaign, so lets leave him aside, even as it appears Anthony Fureys campaign might be shoving him aside and coming for Saunderss votes too.

The point here is that so far, a growing plurality of people seem to be ready to vote for Chow based on liking and trusting her. And her unwillingness to be nailed down on specifics  on tax rates, but maybe on other practical questions too  hasnt been much of a factor in that, even as the others have obsessed about it for weeks.

Time is running out, but things could still happen: a week is an eternity in politics and so on  you know the cliches as well as I do. But in order for something to change, you have to think maybe someone will need to do something different.

Asking the same question over and over and expecting a different response just seems, past a certain point, silly. And frankly, silliness isnt a quality most of us are looking for in a mayor.

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Canadas prison system has some explaining to do over its incomprehensible decision to move schoolgirl killer and rapist Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison in Quebec, says Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.

His comments in Ottawa on Tuesday came as Premier Doug Ford called for Corrections Commissioner Anne Kelly to quit or be fired.

Theres very strong consensus that the decision to transfer Mr. Bernardo to a medium-security institution is incomprehensible, its inexplicable, and that was precisely why I took the opportunity to have a very frank discussion with Commissioner Kelly, Mendicino told reporters a day after meeting with her.

There does need to be an accounting, added the minister, who did not comment on Fords remarks.

Amping up his rhetoric by calling Bernardo a scumbag who should rot in hell, the premier said Bernardos transfer has shattered public trust.

Im going to quote the correctional services commissioner  We want Canadians to have confidence in our decisions. Well, commissioner, Ill tell you, no Canadians have confidence in your decisions, Ford thundered in the legislature.

You should step aside, step down or be fired.

Bernardo is serving a life sentence for the kidnappings, torture and killings of Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Kristen French, 15, near St. Catharines in the early 1990s.

The furor over his transfer to La Macaza Institution in the Laurentians from the Millhaven maximum-security penitentiary near Kingston has prompted Correctional Service Canada to review the move.

This is a decision that was taken operationally, independent from the elected government, Mendicino stressed. My expectation is that she (Kelly) will be getting back to me in the very short term  a couple of weeks.

All Canadians  but particularly the French and Mahaffy families  are entitled to an explanation, he added.

What needs to be underlined is that victims rights are taken into proper account  Im not satisfied that from what I have seen in this decision that victims rights were properly weighed into the mix.

In a statement Monday, the Correctional Service said Kelly has ordered an additional review of this offenders security classification to ensure it was appropriate, evidence-based, and more importantly, adequately considered victims.

We are restricted by the law in what we can divulge about an offenders case, the statement noted.

Mendicino said he is open to changes.

If there are issues with regard to policies, with regards to the principles, even with regards to legislation, Im going to leave all of those options on the table, he said.

After luring them into his car, Bernardo held French and Mahaffy prisoner in his Port Dalhousie home with the help of Karla Homolka, then his fiancee and later his wife. The girls were raped and murdered there. Bernardo was also convicted of manslaughter in the rape and drugging death of Homolkas younger sister Tammy, 15. He also admitted to being the Scarborough Rapist of at least 14 young women in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

A lawyer who has long represented the French and Mahaffy families told the Stars Rosie DiManno the transfer doesnt make any sense because Bernardo has been designated a dangerous offender.

The parole board has said hes just as dangerous now as he ever was, Tim Danson said.

Ford said the controversy brings back pain for the slain schoolgirls families.

Our heart breaks for you, he said.

Referring to the one hour a day Bernardo was let out of his cell in Millhaven, alone and under the watchful eye of guards to protect him from other prisoners, Ford said, Id go one step further. That one hour hes out, he should be in the general population. Thats what should happen to this SOB.

Correctional Service Canada said Bernardo, who has been imprisoned since 1993, continues to serve an indefinite life sentence, is closely monitored and is in a prison with the same perimeter controls as a maximum security penitentiary. That includes high fences, armed guards and controlled movement of inmates.

At any point, an inmate can be placed, or returned to, a higher security level if deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the public, the corrections statement added. Pending the (Bernardo) review, we will not hesitate to do so, if needed.

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UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The re-opening of Iran's embassy in Saudi Arabia is helpful for the region, said a UN spokesman on Tuesday.

In reply to a question at a daily press briefing whether the re-opening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia is a positive move in the region, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: "I think any time two countries, especially two countries with so much influence in that area -- in the Gulf -- are engaged in open and constructive dialogue, it is helpful to the region."

Iran re-opened its embassy in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a China-brokered deal.

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a groundbreaking agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations and re-open their embassies and missions. 
As the world gingerly pulled out of the Covid crisis in late 2021, it soon found itself hurtling downwards towards another calamity ~ this time precipitated by the breakout of a man-made crisis in Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since already earned for itself the dubious distinction of being the longest prevailing war in recent decades.

That such a distortion occurred during the 75th year of the founding of the UN, is immensely disturbing and an ominous warning of the failing clout of contemporary multilateralism. Which is not to say that the rumblings of things to come had not started manifesting earlier.

As Prof. Jason Hickel, emphasized in his bestseller, The Divide a few years ago and the World Inequality Lab, Paris reiterated in its Inequality Report of 2022, there has been a steep rise in the Global Economic Divide during recent years. Oxfams Briefing Paper of January 2022 highlights that during Covid, a billionaire was created every 26 hours. Ironically, this transpired during a time when 200 million persons were thrown off into conditions of unemployment and abject poverty.

Further it happened when innumerable students in poor nations had to forgo or curtail their studies owing to their not having access to online educational facilities.

Not to forget of course, the thousands in the Global South who lost their lives either because of their not having access to or not being able to afford Covid vaccines. Or the massive escalation of public debt in developing countries and the setback to their efforts for establishing at least a minimalistic infrastructure for realizing UNSDGs by 2030.

But why only speak of the Global South? Even the North has been unable to live up to its commitment on providing Climate Finance-related funds to the tune of US$100 billion every year until 2020, as agreed at the COP 15 talks at Copenhagen in 2009 and reiterated recently at COP 27 at Sharm-el-Sheikh in November 2022.

Multilateral Banking Institutions (MDBs) do offer some respite. But as evident during negotiations conducted in the context of Argentina, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, these can be longdrawn and arduous.

It is in the backdrop of these daunting challenges that the New Delhi G20 will be conducting its parleys. It is true that the worsening geopolitical divide because of countries aligning with the Ukraine or the Russian cause severely erodes multilateral, decision-making processes.

Chinas serious bilateral differences with India at the present juncture also make Indias position as a host country very difficult. And yet, the G20 remains the worlds most influential and grouping of developed and developing nations. Between its 20 members, it commands a share of 75 per cent of the worlds trade, 85 per cent of its GDP and twothirds of its population.

If there is any possibility of solutions being evolved for contemporary global issues, it is only this group which can smoothen the ruffled, global political and economic feathers.

The Norths MNCs-based model of doing business is integrally dependent on the populous markets of the South for sale of its goods and services. But what if the South were to fall into chilling penury and poverty? Who would buy the Norths wares? Long-term prosperity in the North can only endure if there is a semblance of economic growth in the South.

If there is one common thread which runs through most of the critical exigencies stressed above, it is the utter paucity of funds available with the South. Unless this paramount constraint is resolved, large youth populations in the South may not be willing to wait it out too long.

The risks posed to the current world order in case disturbances fanned by frustrated youth communities quickly spread across digitally-connected, sympathetic, counterpart stakeholders in affected countries need not be emphasized.

The Arab Spring is a stark and important reminder of the disruption caused by social disturbances in recent times.

During the run-up to the G20, India has vigorously and diligently tried to forge a spirit of unity of purpose for realizing common objectives of prosperity and well-being for all. Its expertise, credentials and acceptability among varied G20 stakeholders can now be used to press for radical change and innovation in tackling the Souths woes.

The vision documents for establishing the G20 stress its seminal role in resetting the current international financial and monetary architecture.

This being G20s foundational purpose, it would not be out of place for India to now float the idea of establishing a G20 Multilateral Development Fund, which will fast track critical funding for developmental, disaster-related or other focused, futuristic, South-oriented welfare programmes and which effectively overcomes, the difficulties encountered by the South in finding relief from the Bretton Woods institutions.

The need of the hour is to quickly announce and implement tangible projects e.g. bridge the Technological and Digital Divide prevailing in the South; fund thousands of scholarships for talented students for the South; skill up Southern populations; upgrade industrial and science and technology processes and execute other such initiatives so that developing nations can tangibly contribute to global supply chains. Inequitable economics and finance have been long-standing sore points for the South, as highlighted during the Souths Buenos Aires Plan of Action talks in 1978 and reiterated during their BAPA+40 exchanges in March 2019.

At the core of the present, geo-political divide lie deep, subterranean, economic and financial fault-lines. Bringing them on to centre stage for resolving their distortions, will be a huge win for Indian diplomacy.

It will also be an overdue endorsement of Indias emerging, towering role and stature in the comity of nations. Further, it will restore faith and confidence in current, failing multilateral processes and help in salvaging the crumbling World Order of today.

(The writer, a retired Indian Foreign Service officer, teaches at O P Jindal Global University)
The rate at which candidates are joining the race for the Republican nomination for next years Presidential election, it will not be long before the party will need a bus to ferry all of them.

The person who will be delighted with this turn of events is of course former President Donald Trump. For as the numbers of those arraigned against him increases, and as these candidates divide the votes of the Republicans who disagree with him, the beneficiary will be Mr. Trump, who is already the frontrunner for the nomination.

Mr. Trump knows well the advantages of contesting against a large field; he had secured the 2016 nomination for precisely this reason. By the end of this week, there are likely to be at least nine other contenders in the fray, and observers believe that at least some of them may have chosen to throw their hat into the ring with a view to helping the former President. Indeed, a straight fight between two or at the most three candidates would have sharpened the focus on Mr. Trumps own candidature and the many infirmities it suffers from, including his involvement in the Capitol riots and the finding of a New York court awarding damages to a woman who alleged she was the victim of his sexual advances.

In the event, and on present form, it seems the Republicans will be sending back to the Presidential battle a man deeply scarred by his previous stint in the White House, one whose record at the helm is far from encouraging. The unfortunate aspect of the expanded Republican field is that many of Mr. Trumps opponents have made compelling arguments against his candidature.

Had these arguments been channelized in a straight contest, they may have had different consequences. For instance, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and former Vice-President have assailed Mr. Trump for congratulating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his countys election to the executive board of the World Health Organisation. Describing Mr. Kim as a thug, Ms. Haley said dictators ought not to be congratulated. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie who lost to Mr. Trump in 2016 has attacked the former President on multiple counts, including the increasing number of criminal investigations he faces, his repeated claims of election fraud, and for being Putins puppet for his stance on the war in Ukraine.

The other reason for Mr. Trumps delight at the size of the field is that it allows him an excuse to skip some of the televised debates that help voters make up their minds. He has already indicated he will do so, suggesting he is disinclined to waste his time crossing swords with low-polling opponents. If he is asked to defend himself against the many charges he faces in a structured debate, the former President will find himself on a
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the high court on Monday challenging Governor CV Ananda Boses decision to appoint interim vicechancellors (VC) of 11 universities.

Dr Bose has also been made a party in the case. A retired professor has filed the case which is scheduled for hearing next week. Dr Bose in his capacity as a chancellor of universities in the state had started appointing interim VCs to all varsities where the vacancies in the VC posts exist.

Last week, he had appointed interim VC s in 11 varsities including Calcutta, Jadavpur and Burdwan without discussing the issue with the state education department headed by its minister Bratya Basu.

Raj Bhaban sources felt that the appointment of the 11 VCs on an interim basis on Thursday had cleared the stalemate situation in appointment of heads of 27 varsities across the state. Reacting to the Governors move Mr Basu had stated on Thursday that the Raj Bhavans decision was unilateral and violates the law.

Mr Basu had also hinted to take legal advice on how to fight against the move by the Raj Bhaban. In a press statement issued by Raj Bhaban earlier had stated, The minister of education recommended blanket extension of all the interim vice-chancellors.

The chancellor has extended the services of only those VCs who complied with instructions to send activity reports to the Chancellery for review. Before taking such a drastic move the Governor had sat in on a meeting on Wednesday to select names of interim VCs of the 11 varsities.
Rujira Narula Banerjee, wife of Trinamul Congress national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee was stopped by the immigration department at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) in Kolkata from boarding a flight to Thailand.

This action was taken following a notice sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the coal smuggling case. The ED has also summoned Rujira for questioning at their office in the CGO Complex at 11 am on Thursday. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee responding on Monday to a question regarding the EDs notice to Rujira said Abhisheks wife had informed the investigating agency, the ED, about her trip abroad.

Mamata further explained, She (Rujira) is a girl from Punjabi and her mother is very ill. She also referenced the Supreme Courts order, stating that the apex court allowed Rujira to inform the ED if she ever travelled outside the country. Accordingly, Rujira had informed the ED, a long time ago.

Mamata criticized the EDs actions by questioning their role, saying, But going to the airport with a notice in hand, these inhumane things are going on. It is reported that Rujira arrived at the airport on Monday morning with her two children, intending to catch a flight to Thailand.

However, she was denied boarding by the immigration after they discovered the lookout notice issued against her by the Enforcement Directorate. Trinamul Congress sources claimed that both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court had previously granted her permission to travel abroad and have ruled against restricting her foreign travels.

Last week, ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra was in Kolkata and had meetings with the top officials of the central agency as well as the legal brains representing the agency in the court. Mishra also gave some directions to the sleuths regarding the next course of investigation in the different cases of corruption that the agency is handling like teachers recruitment cases, cattle cases and coal cases.

Observers feel the spurt in activities of the sleuths immediately after Mishras visit to Kolkata is quite intriguing and more exciting developments are expected in the coming days.
Stepping up her attack on the Central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the Railway Boards decision to hand over the inquiry into the Odisha train accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying that It is not the time to suppress the truth. The West Bengal CM said, We want people to know the truth.

It is not the time to suppress the truth. I also gave the Gyaneshwari Express case to CBI but no result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there, she further remarked.

The CM announced state government jobs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the triple train crash in Odishas Balasore. She said that relatives of those who lost their limbs in the horrific crash will also be given government jobs. Banerjee added that her government will also give cash aid to those who were on board the Coromandel Express and are currently going through mental and physical trauma.

She will visit Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Tuesday to meet the injured passengers recuperating in different hospitals. She said that currently there are 206 injured passengers from West Bengal admitted to different hospitals in Odisha. There are 33 critical passengers in Cuttack hospitals, she said, adding that a few Bengal ministers and senior officers will accompany her. She will distribute the ex gratia cheques and appointment letters to the next of kin of the victims on Wednesday.

The Bengal chief minister added that she did not want to resort to politics on the accident and would do everything to help the injured passengers and their families.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee cancelled her four-day trip to Darjeeling at the last minute to supervise the treatment and rehabilitation of passengers of the state who were injured in the train accident, sources said.

The Trinamul Congress chief was supposed to visit Darjeeling where she was scheduled to meet members of all political parties in the Hills before the panchayat elections slated this year, secretariat sources said.

She wants to be in Kolkata and oversee how the rehabilitation and treatment of injured passengers from West Bengal who were on board the Coromandel Express that met with an accident. She will visit the Hills later, a senior official at Nabanna said.
A Kerala-based startup, Farmers Fresh Zone (FarmersFZ), has been selected for the Accelerator Programme by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN.

FarmersFZ has figured in the list of 12 agri-food startups around the world for the UN body to develop business.

The Kochi-based multichannel marketplace platform, which functions under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), is one among Indias two startups to qualify for the Accelerator Programme. Its ultimate aim is to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.

CEO AgriTech D2C P.S. Pradeep will attend the UN function in Rome next month.

He said that the UN programme will enable FarmersFZ to present its model before countries across continents.

The model would require alterations based on the nature of the markets in each economy. For that we need funds, which will come through the Accelerator, said Pradeep.

FarmersFZ, which bridges the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers by providing healthy, premium-quality and pesticide-free vegetables from fields to the table within 24 hours of harvest, connects more than three lakh consumers and 2,000-plus farmers in Kerala.
From many corners of India, heartfelt stories of acceptance and resilience fill the air as Pride Month unfolds. Amidst the struggle to find their place in a society bound by norms, LGBTQ+ individuals and their families are finally being embraced strive for a world that embraces diversity. As the rainbow flag waves proudly, Pride Month serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle for equality and understanding.

In a candid account from West Bengal, Shubham opens up about his initial unease when his parents inquired about his pride ring and dog tag. To his surprise, their response defied his expectations, showing understanding that may have been influenced by the movies they had watched together, like Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, a film depicting the struggle of two gay men to gain acceptance from their families.

As Pride Month unfolds, stories from the LGBTQ+ community resonate throughout society, reflecting a poignant balance between love and rejection. Families are opening their hearts to acceptance, while individuals continue to grapple with identity crises overshadowed by societal norms that hinder their rights. United, the LGBTQ+ community and their parents strive to build a society that celebrates diversity.

My sister ignited a transformative path towards family acceptance. Once she learned about my sexuality, she embraced the responsibility of bridging the gap between acceptance and ignorance, shared Kanishk, recounting his personal journey as a queer individual, Initially, it was challenging for my parents to embrace my authentic self. However, as the journey unfolded, Kanishks parents realized that their childs happiness and well-being outweighed conforming to societal norms dictated by sexuality.

From the vibrant streets of Delhi, Rishab shares the tale of his aunts instrumental role in his self-discovery. During my formative years, my aunts heightened curiosity about my clothing choices and color preferences, akin to those of my sister, spurred her to support me in embracing my authentic self, he says, It was through this journey that I confronted the challenge of defining my own identity.

Coming out is a deeply personal and significant milestone for queer individuals. It is the process of openly revealing ones sexual orientation or gender identity to others, typically to friends, family, or the wider community. In the instances mentioned above, coming out represents a courageous step towards self-acceptance and seeking understanding and support from loved ones.

In a tribute to the late Justice Leila Seth, a remarkable mother and esteemed judge, her fearless declaration that My gay son is not criminal echoes powerfully. Drawing on scientific evidence from medical, biological, and psychological fields, Justice Seth dismantled the notion of homosexuality as unnatural acts perpetuated by discriminatory judgments.

Despite persistent stigmas in various parts of the world, this months celebrations serve as a testament to the remarkable progress made by the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month stands as a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey towards acceptance and equality. It promotes a message of love, identity, and understanding, encouraging a world free from discrimination. During this month, individuals fearlessly share their stories of resilience against societal norms that uphold heteronormativity, inspiring others to embrace their true selves.

Voices advocating for robust anti-discrimination laws and the protection of LGBTQ+ rights are growing louder in India. Yet, the community still grapples with deep-rooted biases. Mental health remains a paramount concern, as social rejection continues to inject depression and anxiety into their lives, states mental health expert Lakshmi Iyer. As queer individuals strive for a world that embraces them with open hearts and minds, we need to ensure their access to mental health, she adds.

Pride Month serves as a poignant reminder of their ongoing struggles, as they hold onto collective hope that society and government will ultimately accept, understand, and celebrate the diverse identities that enrich our world.
Manipurs hilly region once again witnessed fresh firing today. There are many villages where violence took place throughout the day. Security forces are active in the region.

Sources claimed that these villages in and around Sugnu Town, Chandel district have witnessed violence throughout the day.

The MTF claimed that these villages Lanching, Gamnom,. Zouveng, Sugnu tribal colony, K Munnomjang. Saronphai, Salemphai, Gothol, Sugnu Lokhijang, Kholim, Sugnu Lamhang, and Zoumunnuam have seen the violence.

Speaking to The Statesman, the MTF co-convener V Naulakh said, There should not be any violence in the first place. The government should look into the reasons why the violence is not stopping. And there is no big theory needed for that. All parties need to be heard and the issues need to be addressed. Dialogues can take place when there is peace. Peace can only be achieved when the real reasons have been allowed to come out in the open.

The residents of Manipur have allegedly been disappointed by the security forces. They allegedly claimed that security forces are not acting fairly.

We have seen security forces act in favour of one community. This is not acceptable. And we are not saying this without any ground. If we have raised this issue the government needs to pay attention to it. And this attention will solve the issue.

There is an age-old conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities in the region. Meitei is the Hindu group that has maximum representation in the assembly. The Meitei communitys support allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a government. Kuki follows Christianity. The Kukis live in the hills of Manipur while Meitei communities live in the plains of the region.

The Meitei community wants to be included in the scheduled tribe category while the Kuki Community of Manipur has been in the scheduled tribe category since 1950. This difference is becoming wider by the day. And this has been the bone of contention and turned the situation volatile.

On his second day of visit to Manipur, the Union Home Minister had wide-ranging discussions with civil society organizations at Imphal. He met a delegation of Women leaders (Meira Paibis) in Imphal. Reiterating the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur, Shah said that together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur recently. He interacted with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Kangpokpi. He conducted a security review meeting in Imphal. And the violence was checked for a few days.

Speaking to The Statesman, Kallol Bhowmick, a Delhi-based journalist, working for Niyomiya Barta says, Issues are there and they need to be addressed. Any kind of doubt raised even if that is false needs to be heard and that is the only way to get out of the situation.
ADDIS ABABA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Timely data collection on informal cross-border trade is critical to informing intra-African trade on the back of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said.

Despite its importance to the livelihoods of millions of Africans, informal trade is not well understood on the continent, the UNECA said in a statement issued late Monday.

The UNECA estimated informal cross-border trade to be equivalent to between 7 and 16 percent of all formal intra-African trade flows and between 30 and 72 percent of formal trade between neighboring countries.

"Despite its significant contribution to the economy, informal cross-border trade remains largely undocumented," a UNECA statement quoted Stephen Karingi, director of regional integration and trade at the UNECA, as saying during a recent high-level meeting that reviewed and validated the continental methodology for informal cross-border data collection in Africa.

Karingi noted that current efforts to collect data on informal cross-border trade within the continent, were largely fragmented and unsystematic.

He said informal cross-border trade is a key feature of Africa's trade landscape.

According to the UNECA, definitions and methodologies used by various African countries and organizations often differ, leading to challenges in comparability of available data, as well as integration into the formal trade statistics.

"True to the saying that what is not defined cannot be measured. What is not measured, cannot be improved," said Karingi. He said the dearth of reliable and regular data on informal cross-border trade has contributed to minimal recognition of its important role in policy frameworks.

"Accurate trade statistics are an important input into national accounts and balance of payments statistics and can also help improve econometric forecasting models for key macroeconomic variables," said Karingi.

The continental methodology for informal cross-border trade data collection was validated by experts from regional economic communities, national statistics offices from 29 African Union members, financial institutions, cross-border traders associations and academia, the UNECA said. 
Following protests and demonstrations by right-wing Hindu organizations against Love Jihad after an alleged attempt by two youths to take away a local girl last week, now posters have appeared on the shops owned by minority community members to vacate and leave before June 15, 2023 in Purola town of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

This happened following two boys namely Owais, a Muslim, and another Jitender Saini was caught by locals with a ninth-class local girl on May 27. The right-wing Hindu bodies charged that the youth were enticing away the girl and it was a case of Love Jehad prompting bandhs, demonstrations, and protests in the entire district.

The markets remained closed in Barkot, Naogaon, Purola, and Damta in protest against the incident on a call given by the Yamuna Valley Hindu Jagriti Sangathan for a few days.

This led to the exodus of the members of the minuscule minority community who were involved in small-time business in Purola town. According to locals, nine shop owners have asked their Muslim tenants to vacate their premises on the reported persuasion of Swami Darshan Bharati, a right-wing Hindu leader who had been vocal against the minority community. The signboards of some of the shops belonging to outsiders were also removed.

The posters put up on behalf of Bevbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan warn Love Jehadis to vacate their shops by June 15 when a Mahapnchayat on the issue is called by Hindu outfits and in case they fail to do so, it will then depend on the time.

Meanwhile, the local police have registered a case against unknown persons for trying to disturb social and communal harmony under relevant sections. The shops belonging to the Muslim community are closed since May 28, 2023. A delegation of local Muslim shopkeepers also met the local Sub-Divisional magistrate and sought protection to open their shops and businesses. They also met the President of the Vyapar Mandal President Brijmohan Singh Chauhan to help them.

Reacting to the situation in Purola town of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said that his government has been working against love jehad and land jehad and anyone attempting to disrupt peace and harmony would be strictly dealt with.
A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in a fierce gun battle with suspected Kuki militants in Manipurs Kakching district on Tuesday, officials said here.

Defence officials said that a combing operation was launched at Serou in Kakching on Monday night and continued till Tuesday morning, when suspected Kuki militants fired at the combined security forces.

BSF constable Ranjit Yadav, who sustained bullet injuries, was taken at Jiban Hospital in Kakching but succumbed. The injured Assam Rifles personnel were evacuated to Mantripukhri in Imphal.

During the preliminary search, two AK series rifles, a 51mm mortar, two carbines, huge quantities of ammunition and warlike stores have been recovered from the area.

Sanitisation operations are currently underway and further details are awaited.

The BSF trooper is the second para-military personnel killed in the ongoing violence in Manipur, where over 100 people killed and over 320 others injured after the ethnic strife broke out on May 3. On May 10, Assam Rifles rifleman Alok Rao sustained gunshots wounds during an operation in Manipurs Senapati district and succumbed to his injury at Command Hospital in Kolkata on May 17.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and other senior officials paid their last respect to the slain BSF jawan.

The BSF, expressing their grief and condolences, tweeted: Director General and all ranks of BSF salute the supreme sacrifice of Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav, 163 Bn BSF on 06 June 2023 while deployed at Serou Practical High School, PS Sugnu, Distt Kakching, Manipur.

Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav displayed conspicuous bravery, high degree of dedication & devotion to duty during the exchange of fire when suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate & heavy volume of firing towards BSF troops. Prahari Parivaar stands in solidarity with the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, a defence release said that multiple incidents of violence, arson and firing in Sugnu and Serou in the past 48 hours necessitated the redeployment of additional troops.

Extensive area domination operations by the Assam Rifles, BSF and Manipur Police were undertaken in the Sugnu and Serou areas. Intermittent firing between security forces and the insurgents took place throughout the night. Security forces effectively retaliated to the fire, it said.

The troops were tasked to beef up ongoing extensive area domination operations, ambushes and measures to prevent violence.

Security frces took adequate measures to prevent insurgents from breaking contact and running away to nearby areas.

Sugnu was comparatively peaceful even after the break out of the ethnic clashes in Manipur on Monday 3.

However on June 2, heavily armed militants set fire to the house of former minister and Congress MLA K. Ranjit, as well as many other residences.

All houses at Serou have been burnt completely and people were taking refuge at Sugnu. Following the burning of houses, people of the area started attacking the camp of a Kuki militant group under Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Tuesday performed puja for the commencement of construction work for Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Centre here.

The facility is being developed at Majeen Jammu under the CSR initiative of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) at a cost of Rs 51 crore.

Puri said the Yatri Niwas will help in providing accommodation for 30,000 Shri Amarnathji pilgrims every year and will be particularly helpful for yatris from weaker sections. It will help in traffic management and ensure a seamless experience, he added.

Sinha congratulated the devotees of Shri Amarnath ji; officials of the Shrine Board, all stakeholders and organizations associated with Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and the people of Jammu region for the commencement of the construction work of the Yatri Niwas.

Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are working with greater commitment and devotion to scale up the facilities including lodging, transportation, medical, and better connectivity for the safe and hassle-free pilgrimage of the devotees, said the Lt Governor.

Last year, the maximum number of 3.65 lakh pilgrims visited the holy shrine of Shri Amarnathji, since 2015. As many as 120 additional bank branches were added last year to facilitate the registration of the pilgrims and this year the registration facility is being provided through 542 branches across the country, he added.

In 2021, the initiatives of online Darshan, hawan and prasad were taken to facilitate the devotees. Moreover, Yatri Niwas at Chandrakot which was inaugurated in June last year accommodated around 50,000 devotees, he further said.

The Lt Governor said the work for upgradation of Yatra track has been done on a war footing and the work was resumed after snow clearance in March this year.
Quashing a case against a womens rights activist for offences punishable under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Kerala High Court observed that the depiction of a womans body should not be always regarded as sexual or obscene.

Taking note of the petitioners explanation that the video was made to challenge patriarchal notions and to spread a message against the over-sexualisation of the female body, a single bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath said that nudity should not be automatically assumed as sexual but must be considered in the appropriate context.

Nudity should not be tied to sex. The mere sight of the naked upper body of the woman should not be deemed to be sexual by default. So also, the depiction of the naked body of a woman cannot per se be termed to be obscene, indecent, or sexually explicit. The same can be determined to be so only in context, the court said.

The single judge bench pointed out that nude female sculptures in temples and other public spaces are considered art or even holy.

The allegation against womens rights activist Rehna Fathima was that she had asked her two minor children, a boy and a girl of the ages 14 and 8 years, respectively, to paint on her semi-nude body, the video of which was thereafter circulated through social media platforms. She had contended that the act was meant to impart sex education to her children and rid the stigma about nudity.

A case was subsequently registered against Rehna Fathima under Sections 13, 14, and 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), Section 67B (d) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

In its order, the court also made certain notable observations regarding the double standards prevailing in the society regarding male and female bodies.

Body painting on men is an accepted tradition during Pulikali festivals in Thrissur, Kerala. When Theyyam and other rituals are performed at the temple, painting is conducted on the bodies of male artists. The male body is displayed in the form of six-pack abs, biceps etc. We often find men walking around without wearing shirts. But these acts are never considered to be obscene or indecent, the court observed.

The court also referred to the agitation by women in Kerala against the discriminatory breast tax or mulakkaram in British ruled India which involved a woman named Nangeli cutting off her breasts in protest.

The court watched the video in open court and noted that the same was not an act of sexual gratification with any sexual intent but was a video with a message against objectification of female bodies.

The anatomy of the male body is seldom questioned, while the body agency and anatomy of women is under constant threat in a patriarchal structure. The women are bullied, discriminated against, isolated, and prosecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives, the court said.

The court said that the petitioner had given a detailed message below her video, where she argued that the naked body was in response to a controlling, sexually frustrated society. According to the description under the video, no child who has grown up seeing his mothers nakedness and body, can abuse another female body.

Hence, the video in question cannot neither be characterised as a real or simulated sexual act, nor can it be said that the same was done for the purpose of sexual gratification or with any sexual intent, the court said while quashing the case.
Seven offices of real estate developers, IREO Group, linked to BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal through his brother-in-law, and M3M Group in Gurugram and Delhi have been raided by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) for siphoning off funds received from investors through shell companies.

An official spokesperson of the ED said these raids were conducted on 1 June under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The raids took place a day after The Statesman had reported that action was likely to probe the money laundering angle of a corruption case filed against ex-CBI judge Sudhir Parmar.

During the search operation, 17 high-end luxury vehicles including a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Land Rover, a Rolls Royce, a Bentley and a Mercedes Maybach cumulatively worth about Rs 60 crore, jewellery bullion worth Rs 5.75 crore, cash of Rs 15 lakh and various incriminating documents, digital evidence and books of accounts were seized.

The ED has been investigating IREO Group for diverting funds of investors. The investigations were initiated on the basis of multiple first information reports (FIRs) registered against the group, which has also featured in an investigation by the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau. The FIR in the anti-corruption case had named Mittal, a close associate of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, and a person said to have links with judges, politicians and senior officials.

The investigations done by ED showed that huge amounts of money running into hundreds of crores were siphoned off through the M3M group also, and that the two companies had acted in concert.

In one of the transactions, M3M group received about Rs 400 crore from IREO Group through several shell companies in multiple layers, the ED said. The transactions were shown in the books of IREO as payments towards development rights. The land was owned by M3M group and its market value was around Rs four crore. M3M Group initially sold the development rights of the land to five shell companies for a payment of Rs 10 crore.

It was claimed that the five companies are unrelated companies. Investigations show that the five shell companies were operated by M3M Group. The five shell companies thereafter immediately sold the development rights of the same land to IREO Group for about Rs 400 Crore. After receiving the amount of Rs 400 Crore from IREO Group, the five shell companies transferred the said amounts immediately to M3M Group through multiple shell companies and layers, the ED said.

All the shell companies were owned and operated by M3M Group under the directions of its promoters Basant Bansal and Roop Kumar Bansal and his family members. In this way, IREO and M3M siphoned off about Rs 400 Crore money belonging to investors and the proceeds of crime remained with M3M Group, which was used by M3M for other investments and paying off liabilities. On the other hand, IREO Group did not make any efforts to develop the land and started to write off the investments every year, it said.

During the course of search action under section 17 of PMLA, 2002, the owners of the M3M Group, namely Basant Bansal, Roop Kumar Bansal, Pankaj Bansal and other key persons deliberately avoided investigations, the ED said.

IREO and M3M had flourished during the tenure of the former Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Hooda. IREO is accused of defrauding several hundred home buyers, and of diverting funds overseas.
On the sixth anniversary of the police firing in Pipliya Mandi of the Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh, in which six farmers were killed, MP Congress Chief Kamal Nath on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP Government.

Kamal Nath paid homage to the six farmers who were shot dead on this day in 2017 in Pipliya Mandi. The police had opened fire on thousands of agitating farmers when they were on strike demanding reasonable prices for their crops.

Addressing a rally at the venue, Nath accused the BJP Government of insensitivity towards peasants. He alleged that the inquiry report on the incident has not yet been made public. The Congress leader charged that the state government has been shielding the people responsible for the killing of the farmers.

He lamented that the farmers of MP had become hopeless due to the apathetic attitude of the state government.

Interacting with the media later, the Congress leader alleged massive corruption in the construction of the Mahakal Lok at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Referring to the tumbling of six idols of Saptarishis installed at the temple site, he said very inferior quality material had been used in their construction. He accused the state government of resorting to corruption even in the abode of God.

On a question about the CM face of Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls, Kamal Nath said whichever Congress leader is most popular with the public would be chosen as CM. The CM choice of the Congress would be the one who would be acceptable for the people of the state.

Kamal Nath said decision on election tickets of the Congress in MP would be taken after consultation with local leaders. The partys local leaders will have a greater say in the matter and only after consulting them would the Congress finalise its candidates and give tickets for the Assembly polls accordingly.

The state assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh would be held most likely in November this year.
The Orissa High Court on Tuesday quashed a petition which challenged the Centres decision to demonetize Rs 2,000 currency note by saying that it is publicity interest litigation in the garb of public interest.

While going through the decisions of the Supreme Court regarding the scope of interference in the economic policy decision of the Government, we are of the view that the present writ petition is publicity interest litigation in the garb of public interest and thus, we are not inclined to entertain the same. Accordingly, the writ petition being devoid of merits stands dismissed, the vacation bench comprising Justice S K Sahoo and Justice M S Raman stated in the order.

We are, therefore, of the considered view that the Court must defer to legislative judgment in matters relating to social and economic policies and must not interfere unless the exercise of executive power appears to be palpably arbitrary. The Court does not have necessary competence and expertise to adjudicate upon such economic issues. It is also not possible for the Court to assess or evaluate what would be the impact of a particular action and it is best left to the wisdom of the experts, the Court observed in the order.

Law is well settled that public-interest litigation is a weapon which has to be used with great care and circumspection and the judiciary has to be extremely careful to see that behind the beautiful veil of public interest, a publicity seeking is not lurking. It is to be used as an effective weapon in the armory of law for delivering social justice to the citizens, the order said.

It should be aimed at redressal of genuine public wrong or public injury and should not be publicity oriented which is detrimental to the public interest at large. A publicity interest litigation should be nipped in the bud so that valuable time of the Court is saved which can be effectively utilized in reducing huge pendency of cases, the order concluded.
Highlighting the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday invited German companies to invest in the two defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience, he said during a bilateral meeting with German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius in New Delhi.

The two ministers reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, particularly the defence-industrial partnership.

Rajnath stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany.

India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000, which is being strengthened through intergovernmental consultations since 2011 at the level of the heads of government.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting. From the German side, State Secretary from the Ministry of Defence Benedikt Zimmer, apart from senior officials and the German Ambassador to India, were present. This is the first visit of a German defence minister to India since 2015.

The bilateral meeting was preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary.

The German minister arrived in India yesterday on a four-day visit. Tomorrow, he will be travelling to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of the Western Naval Command and the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Rajasthan Congress In-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today ruled out the formation of a new party by Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, have resolved their personal feud before AICC President Mallikarjun Khage in Delhi late last month.

Randhawa termed the discussions of Pilot forming a new party as mere speculation and ruled out even such a possibility.

On his arrival at Jaipur Airport here this evening, Randhawa told the media,  Pilot would not form a new party. Pilot and Gehlot will work together. Both of them know that the formula for reconciliation was made in the meeting that day itself.

Sulah ka formula taiyar hai, but I will not tell you that formula. Both the leaders are assets of the party and will work together, he smiled at the reporters.

On the reconciliation meeting of Gehlot and Pilot, Randhawa said, We sat and discussed separately for 4 hours in Delhi. Everyone has spoken including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal. We talked to both leaders. He was listened to with attention and love. Both have been told that together you are the asset of the Congress. Both have assured that they will work together.
Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Monday (local time) said that the partnership with India is one of the most consequential relations for the US, adding that Washington is looking forward to deepening economic ties and enhancing security cooperation.

We are very much looking forward to hosting PM Modi for the State visit later this month, said Patel. PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and we look forward to continuing deepen our collaboration on a number of issues, whether it be enhancing security cooperation, deepening our economic ties, deepening trade issues, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs informed through a press statement on Wednesday.

The United States Congress has also invited PM Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his visit to the country on June 22, according to the statement released by US Congress.

During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for Indias future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to Modi.

Meanwhile, the White House said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between US and India.

PM Modis visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of the family and friendship that link America, Americans and clearly, Indians together. And so thats very important to the (US) President, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre on PM Modis state visit to the US.

Pierre further said: The President and the First Lady are looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi for the official state visit which is going to happen on June 22.

The White House Press Secretary said the visit would also strengthen US-India shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and shared resolve to evaluate strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy and space.
COLOMBO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to draft a bill to cancel the existing simplified value added tax (SVAT) methodology from next year, and to remove a large number of value added tax (VAT) exemptions, a spokesman said here on Tuesday.

The proposal was made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In a press conference, cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena said Sri Lanka must introduce two major revisions to the VAT as per an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IMF in March approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility of about 3 billion U.S. dollars to support Sri Lanka's economic policies and reforms.

Sri Lanka has a number of goods and services that are exempt from VAT and the IMF has demanded most of these exemptions be removed, Gunawardena said.

He also said that the SVAT system must also be cancelled, as per the IMF agreement.

By carrying out these two reforms the government can increase the tax revenue by 1.2 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), the spokesperson said.

The president has proposed to revoke most of the VAT exemptions while maintaining those for education, health, and agricultural sectors as well as measures taken to ease the burden on the poor and to protect vital state interests, said Gunawardena. 
A federal magistrate judge says a Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents will remain behind bars while he awaits trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy said Friday that releasing 21-year-old Jack Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice. The judge cited Teixeiras fascination with guns, disturbing online statements and admonitions by Teixeiras military superiors about his handling of sensitive information before his arrest. The judge said the case represented a profound breach of the defendants word that he would protect information related to the security of the United States.
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ALTON  This years riverboat cruises on the upper Mississippi River are poised to provide the most economic impact yet.

The latest study by the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau found that two years ago the cruise industry made a $6 million impact in one year in the Riverbend.

What's that ship? This year there will be eight river cruise ships sailing to, from or through the Alton area. Heres a quick guide and what you will see on the Mississippi River. Celebration Belle

 Guests: 750

 Crew: 50

 Length: 196 feet

 Beam: 46 feet

 Year built: 1986

 Fast fact: The family owned ship is the largest non-gaming river boat on the Upper Mississippi. American Countess

 Guests: 245

 Crew: 98

 Length: 361 feet

 Beam: 79 feet

 Year built: 2019

 Fast fact: It began life as an Iowa casino boat in 1996 and had 60 feet added to its middle. American Duchess

 Guests: 166

 Crew: 83

 Length: 320 feet

 Beam: 98 feet

 Year built: 2017

 Fast fact: It formerly was the Isle of Capri gambling boat in Bettendorf, Iowa. American Melody

 Guests: 175

 Crew: 43

 Length: 269 feet

 Beam: 56 feet

 Year built: 2021

 Fast fact: The ship has an opening bow and retractable gangway. American Queen

 Guests: 436

 Crew: 160

 Length: 418 feet

 Beam: 89 feet

 Year built: 1995

 Fast fact: The American Queen is billed as the largest steamboat ever built. American Serenade

 Guests: 175

 Crew: 43

 Length: 269 feet

 Beam: 56 feet

 Year built: 2022

 Fast fact: There is a four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. American Symphony

 Guests: 175

 Crew: 43

 Length: 269 feet

 Beam: 56 feet

 Year built: 2022

 Fast fact: The American Symphony reportedly cost $30 million to create. Viking Mississippi

 Guests: 386

 Crew: 148

 Length: 450 feet

 Beam: 75 feet

 Year built: 2022

 Fast fact: The ships two-story lounge near its bow features floor-to-ceiling windows. See More Collapse

Last year was the biggest season ever, said Great Rivers and Routes President Cory Jobe, and well be equal to that or above that this year.

The tourism bureau works directly with the city of Alton with the riverboat cruise companies, three of which are under contract with the city: American Queen Voyages, American Cruise Lines and Viking, the latter of which must have cruises booked by June 30.

The city leases the Melvin Price dams old lock wall, where the vessels dock at the Port of Alton, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Altons Director of Planning and Development Greg Caffey.

Theres minor logistics to coordinate  like placing dumpsters  but theres no structural issues, Caffey said. We have the schedule months in advance. We start many months in advance to coordinate these ships.

Jobe said Alton often will get calls if there are issues in St. Louis.

Most are docking with us instead of St. Louis, Jobe said.

Theres a unique story to be told from a smaller river community," he said. "We have rolling hills, limestone bluffs, scenic views. People are trying to explore different areas of the Mississippi River.

Thats why theyre choosing to dock with us, he said. Thousands of people are visiting our community for the very first time, and hopefully were giving them a great experience. Theyll go back and tell people, and come back and visit us again on another trip.

Passengers arent the only ones who create revenue for businesses.

When boats are in port, theres a lot of other businesses and services involved with that boat that you dont see, Jobe said. Theyll use local fruits and vegetables, all pre- and post-tours stay at the Best Western, we have overnight hotel stays from American Cruise Lines."

He added that all three of the city-contracted cruise lines offer day trips to Grafton and tourist sites, such as Lewis and Clark historic sites.

That has a huge economic impact, Jobe said.

Besides the three contracted cruise companies  with Viking doing six to eight stops in Alton starting in July  there are other cruises either docking, departing or passing by Alton on way downriver this summer.

The Celebration Belle out of Moline will be the first cruise ship to dock this year in Alton. Its one-day Alton-St. Louis round trip cruise on Wednesday, June 14, is sold out. The trip will board at 9:30 a.m. at Alton and depart at 10 a.m., returning to Alton at 6 p.m.

The family-owned boat is making stops in Burlington, Iowa; Hannibal, Missouri; Grafton; and Alton. The Belle will dock at Grafton on Tuesday, June 13, and then sail down to Alton that evening. Passengers will disembark at both cities.

Last year, some cruise ships docked on Mondays when some downtown businesses are closed. That's changed this year.

The great thing is, theres only three Mondays boats will be in port; the rest are Wednesday through Saturday, Jobe said. Thats great news, especially for our guests looking for unique places to visit and shop. Mississippi Mud Pottery always does a great business in summer and fall from the cruises.

"Usually we are given a cruise schedule from the visitor center so we can plan out our calendar and be prepared," said Mississippi Mud's Felicia Breen, who owns the shop with her husband, Chad Nelson. "Some cruise dockings we experience a good number of passengers and others hardly one. I'm glad to hear they will be back, but a schedule helps."

Breen said they can always offer tours of their Mississippi Mud studio on request, along with 10% off all in-stock pottery and artwork, most made by Breen and Nelson.

"We try to have a variety of sea life trays on hand," she said. "But our inventory can really fluctuate, especially after a busy weekend and shows."

A&A Boutique owner Andrea Abbott agreed with Breen. The shop has a variety of vendors and Alton-centric items.

"Wow, well, we would sure love the passengers to be brought up to Broadway," Abbott said.

"Ive always suggested a shoppers passport to be given to them, with all of the participating shops info and a coupon," she said. "We havent had many of them come up in the past couple years."

According to USA River Cruises, trips that will navigate the Mississippi River this season include:

 The American Countess will cruise the Upper Mississippi this summer July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, and Aug. 28, St. Louis to Minneapolis, embarking from Alton. This cruise explores the world that Samuel Clemens grew up in, and the worlds he created in his works as Mark Twain.

 The American Queen will cruise St. Louis to Minneapolis for nine days/eight nights July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4. Alton will be a port of call. Then the Queen will cruise the entire length of the Mississippi River southbound, from Minneapolis to New Orleans for16 days/15 nights Aug. 6 and Oct. 1. Passengers will enjoy history along the way, and visit bustling cities and small river towns that have stood the test of time.

 The American Serenade will cruise the entire length of the Mississippi River Aug. 10 with a stop in St. Louis.

 The American Symphony will do an Upper Mississippi Cruise from St. Louis to St. Paul boarding and departing from Alton June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 11, Aug. 18, Aug. 25 and Sept. 1 (more dates in the fall). The Symphony also will do a Complete Mississippi River Cruise June 9, with a stop in St. Louis.

 The Viking Mississippi will do a 15 days/14 nights Great River Cruise the entire length of the Mississippi, with a stop in St. Louis, June 24, and July 22. The vessel also will do an America's Heartland Cruise embarking from St. Louis Aug. 5, Aug. 12, Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sept. 2 and Sept. 9.

For a complete listing of Mississippi River cruises and itinerary details, visit usarivercruises.com; search cruises by selecting the destination "Upper Mississippi River Cruises." There also are fall dates available for some of the cruises listed above.

Check out all of the river cruise ships at https://www.thetelegraph.com/projects/2023/alton-river-cruise-ship-visits/.

More Mississippi River cruise information also is online at www.aqvoyages.com, www.americancruiselines.com and www.vikingrivercruises.com.
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PONTOON BEACH  The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced pavement resurfacing on Illinois 111 from Horseshoe Lake Road to Pontoon Road will require intermittent daytime lane closures starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 8, through the end of October.

Four-lane sections of road will have one lane of traffic open in each direction, at minimum. Flaggers will maintain the two-lane portions of two-way traffic.
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EDWARDSVILLE  Cooperation and communication between law enforcement, educators and others is one of the keys to fighting school violence, especially mass casualty events, according to speakers at a school safety summit Monday in Edwardsville.

The summit, the third held by Madison County Regional Superintendent Robert Werden, drew about 60 people in law enforcement, education, mental health and other areas.

Speakers included U.S. Marshal David Davis; Brendan Kelly, director of the Illinois State Police; Ranly Killian, an assistant U.S. attorney; and FBI Special agents Nick Ponsano and Rick Box.

We try to keep the politics out of it, and we focus on what we know works, Werden said. Any time we can build relationships, network with people, and introduce people to work together in the future, thats a good thing.

In addition to Werden, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine, Chief Deputy Marcos Pulido and Deborah Humphrey of the Madison County Mental Health Department gave short introductions at the start of the program.

Theres nothing more important these days than school safety, Davis said, saying he and others in his office mainly came to listen.

We just want to let you guys know that we are always ready to assist if something happens in Madison County, he added. We always have our task force people on the street in Madison County on a daily basis.

He noted that the U.S. Marshals Service is in charge of security at federal courthouses.

So we train constantly on active shooter drills, so in my opinion there is nothing more important than being trained and being ready.

While also talking about cooperation, Kelly talked about the ISPs growing responsibility for gun safety, specifically sometimes controversial Red Flag and Clear and Present Danger laws and the ability to keep guns away and remove them from potentially dangerous people.

He noted that laws give families the ability to seek to remove firearms from dangerous people

In general, he said Clear and Present Danger laws enable law enforcement to take action when someone who can legally own a firearm either makes or carries out threats or does something else that indicates they are a danger to themselves or others.

Schools also have the ability, along with law enforcement, to report a clear and present danger, he said, adding that educators are mandatory reporters.

He later clarified that as applying to administrators.

Changes in the law have increased the number of reports.

Were getting better and better at that, he said, adding that local agencies are also getting better at it.

Law enforcement has greatly increased the number of reports they are making. We are identifying thousands of individualsidentifying them as being clear and present dangers, intervening and then permanently or temporarily disposing of those firearms.

He said school administrators may not know if someone has access to firearms, but making a report can help police if someone attempts to purchase weapons or takes other threatening actions.

Kelly also talked about the problem of hoaxes.

This is a national phenomenon, he said. You cant ignore it. You have to respond. If you dont something terrible can happen.

He also noted that some hoaxes are coming from overseas.

Part of Boxs discussion was about an April 12 incident which included hoaxes at Granite City and Collinsville high schools.

Box noted those incidents were part of almost two dozen that day in Illinois, and more than 200 nationwide.

He said because it was SAT day, the initial thought was that some students wanted out of the test, but then reports came from different parts of the country. The threats were eventually traced overseas.

Box declined to talk in great detail about the case.

Theyre from a country we cant extradite, but were not too concerned about them making any more calls, he said, without elaborating.

He noted that with swatting, noting those people want attention. He said there has been a change from bomb threats to active shooter calls.

They always say the shooter is inside the school, he said.

Box also talked in detail about the importance of 911 dispatchers or others who take the initial threat calls, saying some of the things they look at are the accent and demeanor of the caller, whether there are multiple calls, the background noises and follow-up questions.

Dispatchers doing their jobs asking the right questions really help, he said.

Killian reiterated some of the same topics as other speakers, but noted two other types of threats to students, sexting and drugs.

He noted that sexting continues to be a major problem with FBI agents and prosecutors working with students in your schools.

Killian said two especially concerning aspects of sexting are when someone obtains photographs and attempts to blackmail students, threatening to send photos to friends, parents and others.

This puts these kids in a terrible situation, there have been suicides around the country, he said.

The other is when someone wants more images, then attempts to meet with the victims.

Killian said drugs, especially fentanyl or other drugs mixed with fentanyl, is still a huge problem.

More people die of overdoses than gun violence, he said. In the United States, 265 people die every day from drug overdoses.

He noted that most prosecutions involving juveniles occur at the state level, because the federal system is not set up to deal with juveniles.

We are now trying to assist in any way we can, he said.

The entire program took about an hour.

Roxana School District Superintendent Debra Kreutztrager said the summits are always helpful.

Every meeting weve had has been super valuable, she said.

The district had its own incident in 2014, when three juveniles called in a false shooting report at the high school, triggering a massive law enforcement response.

The three responsible, two then-15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, were charged as juveniles in the incident.

It was unfortunate but we did learn, she said, noting they continue to look at and improve safety plans.

We are looking in the future at getting a school resource officer.

Im very impressed with the information that was shared today, Werden said after the summit. The room takes on a very sincere tone and we work to share information thats valuable to law enforcement and educators, all with the intent to keep our student safe.
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BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri man who shot and killed two jailers nearly 23 years ago during a failed bid to help an acquaintance escape from a rural jail was executed Tuesday evening.

Michael Tisius, 42, received a lethal injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre and was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m., authorities said. He was convicted of the June 22, 2000, killings of Leon Egley and Jason Acton at the small Randolph County Jail.

Tisius breathed hard a few times as the drug was administered, then fell silent. His spiritual adviser, Melissa Potts-Bowers, was in the room with him. Because the execution chamber is surrounded by soundproof glass, it's not known what they were saying to each other.

In a final written statement, Tisius said he tried hard to become a better man, and he expressed remorse for his crimes.

I am sorry, he wrote. And not because I am at the end. But because I truly am sorry.

Tisius lawyers had urged the U.S. Supreme Court to block the execution, alleging in appeals that a juror at a sentencing hearing was illiterate, in violation of Missouri law. The court rejected that motion Tuesday afternoon.

The Supreme Court previously turned aside another argument  that Tisius should be spared because he was just 19 at the time of the killings. A 2005 Supreme Court ruling bars executions of those under 18 when their crime occurred, but attorneys for Tisius had argued that even at 19, when the killings occurred, Tisius should have had his sentence commuted to life in prison without parole.

Advocates for Tisius had said he was largely neglected as a child and was homeless by his early teens. His path to the death chamber began in 1999 when, as an 18-year-old, he was jailed on a misdemeanor charge of pawning a rented stereo system.

In June 2000, Tisius was housed on that charge at the same county jail in Huntsville with inmate Roy Vance. Tisius was about to be released, and court records show the men discussed a plan in which Tisius, once he was out, would help Vance escape.

Just after midnight on June 22, 2000, Tisius went to the jail accompanied by Vances girlfriend, Tracie Bulington. They told Egley and Acton that they were there to deliver cigarettes to Vance. The jailers didnt know that Tisius had a pistol.

At trial, Bulington testified that she looked up and saw Tisius with the gun drawn, then watched as he shot and killed Acton. When Egley approached, Tisius shot him, too. Both officers were unarmed.

Tisius found keys at the dispatch area and tried to open Vances cell, but couldnt. When Egley grabbed Bulingtons leg, Tisius shot him several more times.

Tisius and Bulington fled but their car broke down later that day in Kansas. They were arrested in Wathena, Kansas, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) west of Huntsville. Tisius confessed to the crimes.

Sid Conklin, now presiding commissioner of Randolph County, was a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer who investigated the killings in 2000. Conklin said the deaths of the two young jailers  both in their 30s  still haunt the community.

I hope this brings closure for all citizens of Randolph County, said Conklin, who witnessed the execution.

Another now-retired highway patrol investigator, Randy King, described the jailers as good, everyday people trying to make a living.

I pray for the guy's (Tisius') soul, but it's been 23 years and it's time for justice to be served, King said. He also witnessed the execution.

Bulington and Vance are serving life sentences on murder convictions.

Defense attorneys have argued that the killings were not premeditated. Tisius, they said, intended to order the jailers into a holding cell and free Vance and other inmates. Tisius defense team issued a video last week in which Vance said he planned the escape attempt and manipulated Tisius into participating.

A statement from Tisius' legal team questioned the value of the death penalty.

We teach our preschoolers that two wrongs dont make a right. Today, we watch our adults casually dismiss such eternal guidance, the statement read, in part.

The execution was the 12th in the U.S. this year, and the third in Missouri. Only Texas, with four, has executed more people than Missouri this year.

Amber McLaughlin, 49, who killed a woman and dumped the body near the Mississippi River in St. Louis, was put to death in January. The execution was believed to be the first of a transgender woman in the U.S. Raheem Taylor, 58, was executed in February for killing his live-in girlfriend and her three children in 2004 in St. Louis County.

Another Missouri execution is scheduled for Aug. 1. Johnny Johnson was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a 6-year-old girl in St. Louis County in 2002.
BERLIN (AP)  Nations resumed talks on tackling global warming Monday with the aim of shaping a deal that might put the world on track to prevent a dangerous increase in temperatures, as the U.N.'s top climate official called for deep cuts in fossil fuel use.

Diplomats began two-week negotiations in Bonn, Germany, despite failing to agree on a formal agenda because of differences on the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The issue lies at the heart of the climate problem, since burning oil, coal and gas is responsible for most warming that's occurred since preindustrial times.

Simon Stiell, who heads the U.N. climate office, told The Associated Press in an interview over the weekend that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) will require a phaseout of fossil fuels, something many oil-producing countries have pushed back on.

Environmental campaigners have lamented that this year's U.N. climate summit will be held in the United Arab Emirates, a major fossil fuel exporter, and presided over by the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The host nation has pushed back against this criticism.

Stiell said that having leaders gather in Dubai this fall should be seen as an opportunity.

We have a president (for the talks) who has significant experience in the oil and gas sector, in an oil and gas producing nation, he told reporters in Bonn. "It provides an opportunity to ask some very difficult questions, but also to seek some very difficult but needed answers.

Asked about calls for curbs on the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists, Stiell said that his office is looking into ways of ensuring greater transparency based on the experience of previous meetings, known in U.N.-speak as Conferences of the Parties, or COPs.

Some of those measures may actually be put in place before the next COP, to help ensure the transparency and the integrity of the process, he said, without elaborating.

Stiell said the failure to adopt an agenda at the start of the technical talks in Bonn was not desirable, but it's not uncommon.

There will be consultations with parties with regard to the unresolved agenda items. But the important thing is work has started, he said, adding that he hopes negotiators from almost 200 countries can have a "productive and constructive engagement.

Asked about the importance of reducing fossil fuel use, Stiell said that the science is clear.

Halving emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050 requires a deep cut and reduction, the phasing out, phasing down of all fossil fuels, he said.

He welcomed the steep rise in renewable energy production, with unprecedented levels of investment and deployment of solar and wind power in recent years.

Thats one half of the equation, Stiell said. But the other requires those deep cuts in fossil fuel production and consumption, and that we are not seeing.
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DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Senegal experts called on the government on Monday to instill calm after days of the deadliest violence in years and concerns it could have lasting consequences.

Days of clashes between security forces and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko have killed at least 16 people and injured hundreds of others. Police have arrested 500 people, some of whom used Molotov cocktails and weapons.

(Theres) the threat of chaos. The threat of civil war, Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom Center, a West African think tank, told The Associated Press in an interview Monday in the capital, Dakar. We have never ever lived this situation in Senegal ... We cannot go fighting among ourselves and we have to stop now, to make peace now, to be united now."

The clashes first broke out last Thursday, after Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. Sonko, who didnt attend his trial in Dakar, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Sonko came third in Senegals 2019 presidential election and is popular with the countrys youth. His supporters maintain his legal troubles are part of a government effort to derail his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. Under Senegalese law, Sonkos conviction could bar him from running.

While Senegal, a country of around 17 million people, has experienced upheaval before, rights groups and analysts say the current clashes are the worst political crisis the nation has seen since 1988, when a general strike and electoral protest shook the power of the then president, Amnesty International researcher Ousmane Diallo said.

At the heart of the unrest are fears that President Macky Sall will run for a third term. The constitution limits presidents to two five-year terms. But Sall argues that a constitutional reform adopted in 2016 allows him to reset the clock and seek another term.

My massive worry is that we are only on the premises of the violence cycle in Senegal as the (possible) announcement of a third mandate run by Macky Sall could trigger a massive popular uprising and violence Senegal has never seen so far, said Guillaume Soto-Mayor, researcher at the Middle East Institute.

Some extremely young people are dying daily, and Senegal and its democratic system are possibly on the brink of collapse, he said.

Others Senegalese experts warn that if the violence continues it might not only destabilize the country but could be an opening for jihadi violence, which has already wracked much of the region, including in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.

Some families have lost relatives who weren't involved in the protests, but have suffered the consequences of the unrest.

Elhaji Cisse was walking home after praying at the mosque Friday evening when he was shot in the shoulder by a bullet. The 26-year-old was rushed to hospital, but died minutes later. He was about to study abroad in Canada, said his family.

Elhaji was not a demonstrator. He was a good patriot. He was interested in everything that was happening in the country ... He went to pray, but when he came back, they threw tear gas. He stepped aside to avoid the grenades. Then the gendarmes were there and they shot, said Djimbala Ba, his brother. The AP cannot independently verify how Cisse was killed, however demonstrators have reported the use of live bullets.

On Monday, dozens of emotional friends and relatives gathered to pray around Cisse's body outside a mosque near his house. They later followed his body to the cemetery in a procession of motorbikes, buses and cars.

While a cautious calm returned to Dakar on Monday, with traffic resuming and some people going back to work after days of shuttering inside, many are bracing for what lies ahead.

Sonkos house is under tight security, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since the verdict and its unclear when or if hell be detained and taken to prison. Sall also hasn't addressed the nation.

Violence erupted in March 2021, killing at least 14 people during clashes when authorities arrested Sonko for disturbing public order on the way to his court hearing. Religious leaders, who hold significant influence in the country, were key in bringing both sides to the table to quell the violence, analysts say.

Since last week's clashes erupted, some religious leaders have appealed for calm. Over the weekend, Serigne Mountakha Mbacke, caliph of the Mouride brotherhood, Senegals most influential religious order, called on people in the city of Touba, the brotherhood's headquarters, to stop demonstrating and return home.

Religious leaders are mediating with the parties behind the scenes and believe that a minimum consensus might be reached, Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Sy, president of the Unitary Framework of Islam of Senegal, a Muslim religious group, told the AP on Monday. However, obstacles, such as Sonko's arrest remain, which could still set our country ablaze, he said.

While many Senegalese want the upheaval to end, others say they'll continue protesting until there's justice.

The government wants to prevent our leader from being a candidate. We do not accept, said Malang Coly, a Sonko supporter. We will fight even if the government has arrested many of our comrades. We will continue to denounce. If the opportunity arises, we will demonstrate."
COLOMBO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal presented by the foreign minister to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to take necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement, said the government's information department on Tuesday.

According to the department, Sri Lanka signed the CTBT on Oct. 24, 1996, and is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data, and information sharing.

Sri Lanka's ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka's diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons, said the department in its announcement of the cabinet decisions.

It will enable Sri Lanka to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes that will benefit many developing countries including Sri Lanka, such as tsunami warnings, climate change, and geographical studies, the department said.

The CTBT, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes. 
SYDNEY (AP)  A man who admitted killing American mathematician Scott Johnson by punching him from a cliff top at a gay meeting place in Sydney in 1988 deserves no leniency and should face the longest time in jail, the victims brother said Tuesday.

Scott Phillip White, 52, appeared in the New South Wales state Supreme Court for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to manslaughter. White had pleaded guilty to murder last year, but changed his mind and had that conviction overturned on appeal.

Johnsons Boston-based older brother Steve Johnson said White had lost the familys sympathy by withdrawing his confession to murder.

He and his wife Rosemary felt some compassion because of his generous plea. Today I have no sympathy, Steve Johnson said in a victim impact statement read out to the court.

Any gratitude the family felt was undone after Whites conviction and jail sentence were overturned on appeal, he told reporters after the hearing.

So I am hoping the judge will give him the stiffest sentence he possibly can, Steve Johnson said.

Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.

Whites decision to flee the scene without calling the police had prolonged the familys grief and loss for decades, Johnson said.

He didnt check on Scott. He didnt call for help. He notified no one. He simply let Scott die, Johnson said.

In her own statement, Rosemary Johnson spoke of her sweet, kind and gentle brother-in-law.

You are loved, you are missed, your life mattered, and you have not been forgotten, she said.

In the heat of an argument on Dec. 10, 1988, White said he threw a punch at Scott Johnson, 27, causing him to stagger backward and fall to his death over a cliff at North Head that was known at the time to be a meeting place for gay men.

Los Angeles-born Scott Johnson's death was initially called a suicide, but his family pressed for further investigation. Almost three decades passed before New South Wales state police began investigating his death as a suspected gay hate crime.

Prosecutor Brett Hatfield conceded the judge overseeing the new sentence may find there was not enough evidence to show White was motivated to attack Johnson because of Johnsons sexuality. However, Hatfield still sought a higher jail sentence, saying it was an unprovoked attack on a vulnerable individual who was naked in a remote location.

Its a serious example of manslaughter entailing a significant degree of criminality, Hatfield said.

Whites lawyer Tim Game urged for leniency because of his clients cognitive difficulties at the time of the crime as well as his dysfunctional background.

He had just become an adult and his life was chaotic and a terrible mess, Game said.

White will be sentenced Thursday. He had been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for murder before that conviction was overturned.
JAKARTA, June 6 (Xinhua) -- New obligations and prohibitions are being introduced for international visitors on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, stressing those who behave against local norms will be given sanctions.

Over the past months, the Hindu-majority Island has seen increasing cases of delinquency by tourists, with some deported for posing naked or half-naked in areas considered sacred as well as in tourist hotspots.

The Balinese authorities issued a list of obligations and prohibitions last week for foreign visitors in response to the situation.

According to the new rules, wearing modest clothing and observing etiquette are among the requirements for tourists when visiting sacred places, tourist attractions and public areas. Travelers should also comply with traffic laws and conduct transactions using Indonesian rupiah.

Authorities prohibit tourists from, among other things, entering the main part of a temple except for praying, climbing sacred trees and performing actions that desecrate sanctified places and religious symbols.

Tourists are also forbidden to use single-use plastics, utter offensive words and act aggressively towards authorities, members of local communities or fellow tourists, or work without proper permits.

This list of obligations and prohibitions has been printed out and distributed to foreign tourists at the immigration desk upon their arrivals.

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said last week that the rules were made to restore "quality and dignity" to Bali's tourism sector, which is recovering from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, Bali police launched a five-day special operation targeting foreign nationals who violated the law across the island.

The governor said that as many as 129 foreign tourists were deported from Bali between January and May, with over 1,000 foreigners having also been sanctioned for violating traffic laws by driving carelessly. 
When Italian folk musician and songwriter Eugenio Bennato recently played his music at the Italian Embassy in Delhi, the charmed audiences, both Indians and Italians, were transported to Italy by his performance. The founder of a musical movement called Taranta Power that began in 1998 to promote south-Italian folk culture through music, cinema and theater, Bennato's passion for Italian culture and heritage reflects in his love for music.

Bennato collaborated with artist Sonia Totaro, who sang along with him, clad in all red, on the occasion of National Day of Italy on June 2. The day marks Italys Republic Day commemorating the anniversary of the 1946 referendum through which Italians abandoned monarchy and became a republic.

In a first, the Italian maestro could also be seen having a jugalbandi with Rajasthani folk musicians Yar Mohammad and group who set the night in motion. Bennato was also heard praising the musical heritage of Indian musicians.

Earlier this year, Italy had extended full support to the Indian Presidency of G20. Later, the two countries announced elevating the bilateral relationship to the level of the strategic partnership while concluding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation.

During the event, Italian Ambassador to India Vincenzo De Luca hailed India-Italy relationship and said it holds a special place as both the countries received Independence almost at the same time.

It was a feast at the Embassy of Italy in Delhi as Italian delicacies and wine flowed through the night. As the event flagged off, Indian and Italian national anthems were played and the Italian and Indian crowds participated to mark respect to both nations.

The guests in attendance also included Ambassador of Denmark Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Lithuania Diana Mickeviciene, Ambassador of Chile Juan Angulo, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain, among others.

Also in attendance was Meenakshi Lekhi, minister of state for external affairs and culture who congratulated Italy on their National Day celebrations.
Non-banking finance major Bajaj Finserv launched its asset management business in India, joining a growing list of companies, which includes stock brokers to portfolio management firms, that have entered the space in recent years, buoyed by the growing retail investor interest for mutual funds.



Mutual fund investments in India have surged over the last few years, especially after the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Average assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry surged over 62 per cent from Rs 24.70 lakh crore as of March 2020 to Rs 40.04 lakh crore as of March 2023. Over the last ten years, the average AUM of the industry has jumped four-fold.



Bajaj Finserv had received final registration from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its mutual fund under Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund in March.



The company will initially launch seven schemes, papers for which have been filed with SEBI. These include a liquid fund, money market fund, overnight fund, arbitrage fund, large and mid-cap fund, balanced advantage fund and flexi-cap fund. It will start launching the debt funds first by the end of this month or early next month, which will then be followed up by the equity offerings. Over time, it plans to launch a comprehensive set of products across fixed-income, hybrid and equity categories.



Bajaj Finserv is already a strong player in the retail lending space through Bajaj Finance. It also has a major presence in the general and life insurance space in partnership with Allianz. The company aims to become a full-stack financial services provider and the launch of the mutual fund business helps it diversify its retail franchise and leverage the strength of the existing businesses of Bajaj Finserv across a much larger customer base.



The going though will not be easy as it is a fairly late entrant in the market. At the end of March 2023, there were 42 mutual funds operating in the country. Importantly, the industry is skewed towards the large players, with the top eight players accounting for over 70 per cent of the AUMs. Five of the top eight asset management companies are backed by banks, giving them huge distribution muscle.



Bajaj Finserv also hopes its existing distribution network and the customer reach it already has through its lending and insurance business along with leveraging data will help it get initial traction from where it can scale up further.



"There is a very large set of distributors in this country, 35,000 of them; of these, 15,000 are already empanelled with us. So, there is a lot of work that we are doing at the backend over here. When you look at what Bajaj Finserv has done through its various companies, we have leveraged data, and technology; and we have built products, services and digital interactions with customers that we believe are more intuitive than others. It is these capabilities that we will bring together when we launch our mutual fund business," said Sanjiv Bajaj, chairman and managing director of Bajaj Finserv.



Bajaj Finserv will also adopt a differentiated investment philosophy to stand out from the existing players, said Ganesh Mohan, CEO of Bajaj Finserv AMC. It will look to combine information edge, quantitative edge and behavioural edge into a framework, he said.



Bajaj Finserv is not the only firm to launch a mutual fund business this year. Zerodha, India's largest broking firm, had announced in April that it would form a joint venture with fintech platform Smallcase to launch an asset management business. Broking firms Emkay Global Financial Services and Angel One had received in-principle approvals from the market regulator to launch mutual fund business.



Samir Arora-founded Helios Capital Management and Kenneth Andrade's Old Bridge Capital Management are also among the companies that have received in-principle approval from SEBI to launch mutual funds.



In 2022, Samco Securities and White Oak Capital had launched their mutual businesses.
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths (Front) speaks at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 6, 2023. Griffiths on Tuesday warned of the grave consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on Tuesday warned of the grave consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine.

The dam's destruction is possibly the most significant incident of damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, Griffiths told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

"The sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realized in the coming days. But it is already clear that it will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine," he said.

The Kakhovka reservoir, formed by the dam, is a lifeline in the region and a critical water source for millions of people, not only in Kherson but also in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro oblasts, he said.

The dam is a key source of agricultural irrigation in southern Kherson and the Crimean peninsula. The sustained flooding will disrupt farming activities, damage livestock and fisheries, and bring widespread longer-term consequences. This is a massive blow to a food production sector which is already significantly damaged, said Griffiths.

"We are particularly concerned about the risks of mine and explosive ordnance contamination, as fast-moving water shifts projectiles to areas previously assessed as safe, thus putting people in further and unpredictable danger," he added.

The destruction of the dam may also negatively affect electricity generation. Additionally, any uncontrolled decrease in the water level of the reservoir may negatively affect the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency is closely monitoring the situation. So far, no immediate threat has been reported, he said.

Ukrainian authorities have reported that at least 40 settlements are already flooded or partially flooded in Kherson oblast. This number is expected to rise in the coming days. Severe impact is also expected in areas controlled by Russia, where humanitarians are still struggling to gain access, said Griffiths.

The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have already stepped up operations to try and address the impact of the event. An emergency response is under way to provide urgent assistance to over 16,000 affected people, he said.

The United Nations has no access to independent information on the circumstances that led to the dam's destruction. Yet, international humanitarian law is very clear: installations containing dangerous forces, such as dams, must receive special protection precisely because their destruction can cause severe loss for the civilian population, said Griffiths.

The consequences of not being able to deliver assistance to the millions of people affected by the flooding in these areas are potentially catastrophic, he said.

"We are extremely concerned about people in affected areas that we are currently unable to reach, and we are operationally ready at any time to move with inter-agency convoys and aid personnel into Russian-controlled areas," he said. 

The UN Security Council holds an emergency meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 6, 2023. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on Tuesday warned of the grave consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
Netflix just announced the second season of Lust Stories, an anthology that explores relationships and sexuality, from the point of view of women. For the second season, the streaming giant has brought together some much-loved actors including Neena Gupta, Tamannaah Bhatia, Kajol, Vijay Varma, Angad Bedi, Kajol, Mrunal Thakur and Tilottama Shome among others. Lust Stories 2 will be helmed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, R. Balki, Konkona Sen Sharma and Sujoy Ghosh.

The first edition of the Emmy-nominated anthology had grabbed eyeballs with its open discussion of sex and pleasure, with its female protagonists taking the lead. Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films, Netflix India, said in a statement that the second anthology has even more bold, diverse and progressive stories from different parts of India.

Do you believe in lust at first sight? Because were going on a ride for the second time 



Brand new stories with a grand new cast - #LustStories2 is coming soon, only on Netflix! #LustStories2OnNetflix pic.twitter.com/t3wigMKe2S  Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) June 6, 2023

In the teaser released on Tuesday morning, we see an aged Neena Gupta quip about 'test drives' before marriage, just like how cars are taken out for a test drive before purchase.

We are proud to bring to our audiences the second edition of our Emmy Nominated anthology, Lust Stories 2. We have seen all our films that we have done with Netflix like Mission Majnu, Lust Stories, Paava Kadhaigal, Raat Akeli Hai and Dhamaka, being recognised and loved by a global audience, making it the ideal platform for Lust Stories 2, producer Ronnie Screwala said in a statement.

Fans are already excited to see their favourite stars in a new avatar in the show. The teaser has already sparked discussions about Tamannah and Vijay Varma's on-screen chemistry in the teaser.
An Air India plane from Delhi to San Francisco was diverted to Russia's Magadan on Tuesday after it developed a technical issue with one of its engines, the airline said in a statement.

The flight, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew, landed safely at Magadan airport.

"Air India flight AI173 of June 6, operating Delhi-San Francisco has developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew, was diverted and landed safely in Magadan airport in Russia," Air India said in the statement.

It further said that the aircraft is undergoing the mandatory checks and that the passengers being provided all support on the ground and will be provided with alternative options to reach their destinations at the earliest opportunity.

Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia said it is ready to give Air India permission to land a reserve aircraft.
Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot appears ready to sever his ties with the Congress and go his own way. Engaged in a bitter tussle for supremacy with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pilot is learnt to be on the verge of launching his own party just months ahead of elections in the state.

It is learnt that Pilot is being helped in the process by Prashant Kishor's political consultancy firm I-PAC. Volunteers of I-PAC are believed to have helped Pilot in planning his one-day hunger strike on April 11, which was to demand action by the Gehlot government on alleged corruption during Vasundhara Raje's term as chief minister. The firm is learnt to have also been involved in planning Pilot's five-day Padayatra which he undertook from Ajmer to Jaipur to press for action on the issue of question paper leak in recruitment examinations.



At the culmination of the yatra on May 15, Pilot had addressed a rally on the outskirts of Jaipur in which he had made three demands of the Gehlot government  action against alleged corruption during the Raje government, reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and compensation for the youth affected by the exam paper leak. He had set a deadline of May 31 for the demands to be met, threatening to launch a state-wide agitation if the demands were not fulfilled.



There is intense speculation that Pilot is all set to make a major announcement on June 11, the death anniversary of his father Rajesh Pilot. He is scheduled to hold a rally to mark the occasion and is learnt to be firming up plans to announce the launch of his party then. It is also learnt that the new party could be called 'Pragatisheel Congress'.



The deep divide in the state Congress have been only too visible despite the central leadership getting Gehlot and Pilot to do a joint photo op after a meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi on May 29. On May 31, Pilot, during a visit to his constituency Tonk, told reporters that he could not make any compromises with the three demands that he had put forth for the Gehlot government.


Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda said every party had associated with the BJP either directly or indirectly and that he he could not tell which party was communal and which party was not. He was answering a question on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's efforts to forge an anti-BJP alliance in the country ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"I may discuss the country's politics at length but what is the use of it? Show me one party which has not associated with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. Some Congress leaders may say anything. But they had gone to Karunanidhi (DMK patriarch), who supported the BJP for six years. Many Congress leaders have joined hands with the BJP for political gains and it is obvious in Karnataka, too. I have seen the political atmosphere in this country as a PM, CM, and an MP. So, I will not discuss it," said Deve Gowda.

The JD(S) leader, who did not sound very optimistic about the ongoing efforts to forge an anti-BJP front, also refused to disclose if he would be part of the united opposition if and when it is formed.

"I could not tell which party is communal and which is not. First of all, the definition of communal and non communal, it can be enlarged, then there would be wider scope," said Deve Gowda.

When asked if the JD(S) would form an alliance with the BJP to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the former PM said he would not heed to such speculations.

"Our karyakartas are our strength and we hope to strengthen the party," he said, adding that the party was preparing to face the taluk and zilla panchayat elections and BBMP polls before the Parliament elections.

Citing the example of the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Deve Gowda said, "These states have strong regional parties and we will strive to strengthen the JD(S) by giving more power to the youth."
A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cast doubts over the Centre for seeking a CBI probe into the Odisha train tragedy, the state's opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the accident.

Banerjee had charged that it was Railway Safety Commission which usually investigates these incidents and the CBI probe was dubious. "People should know the truth, and this is not the time to suppress it As railway minister, I had given CBI the responsibility to probe (2010) the Jnaneswari Express accident, but there has not been any headway in the probe even after 12 years later," said Banerjee.



To this, Suvendu Adhikari said: "This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMCs conspiracy. They are behind the incident," Adhikari alleged.



"Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state? Why are they afraid of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation?" he said.



The BJP leader added that the TMC tapped the phone of railway officials, referring to the purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials. The clip was posted online by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh and had one person stating that the report was a bit contradictory. The other person on the line, identified as deputy CSO (traffic), South Eastern Railway Ashok Agarwal, said it was a preliminary report based on ground evidence and not everything was clear at that time.



"These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesnt come, I will go to court," Adhikari charged.



Mamata to visit injured

Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit hospitals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to meet those injured in the triple train crash. She will be accompanied by state ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya and Shashi Panja.



The chief minister will visit Midnapore Medical College and a hospital in Paschim Medinipore district while returning from Bhubaneswar. "Besides meeting the patients Banerjee will be overseeing how they are being treated. She is also going to talk to the family members of the injured. She is also likely to meet those undergoing treatment at the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital while returning, but that is yet not confirmed," he told PTI.



At least 206 injured people are being treated at different hospitals in Odisha -- primarily in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.



There are around 60 injured people undergoing treatment at the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital.

So far, 90 people from West Bengal have been killed in the triple train accident on June 2 and 73 have been brought back to the state, Banerjee said on Monday.


With the unrest prevailing in Manipur, the state government has extended the ban on internet services till June 10 to prevent further disturbance in the violence-hit state. A BSF jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel got injured, said Army on Tuesday.

The injured have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri and search operations are in progress, Army added.

Also, three persons were killed in the violence that broke out between two armed groups in Imphal on Monday night.

The incident happened in Kangchup area of the district and at least four persons were injured, said police officials.

Following the unrest, the internet ban was imposed on May 3.

In an order, the state government on Monday evening stated that the internet services will be suspended for five more days...till 3 pm of June 10.

The Commission of inquiry headed by former chief justice of Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba was set up to probe the situation in Manipur. The commission will make inquiry of the causes and spread of the violence particularly between the two communities.

The other members of the commission include retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar.

So far, the violence had claimed 80 lives. It was on May 3 ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities.

The commission will also look into the sequence of events leading to the riots. Also, whether any lapses occurred from the authorities/individuals will also be probed.



The inquiry report will be submitted to the central government within six months from the date of its first sitting.



The headquarters of the commission will be set up in Imphal.

Since the ethnic clashes broke out, Manipur has been witnessing sporadic violence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the state for four days evaluating the situation. He had appealed to the people to surrender their weapons and also warned strict action against those who don't.

After HM's appeal, over 140 weapons were surrendered. Searches were conducted by the Army in different places to recover unlicensed arms and weapons.
In a tumultuous showdown of political force that some say threatens the very existence of Brazil's indigenous peoples, the country's legislative lower house has overwhelmingly passed the fiercely-debated Bill 490. The move has sent shockwaves through the Amazon rainforest and cast a foreboding cloud over the future of Indigenous Land Rights in Brazil.

With the potential to invalidate vast swaths of recognised indigenous territories, this bill threatens to unravel the delicate balance between progress and preservation, leaving the fate of both the indigenous communities and the world's largest tropical rainforest hanging in the balance. As indigenous peoples grapple with this critical juncture, activists call for efforts to safeguard the rights and rich cultures of the original inhabitants of the land.



"It is a terrible blow, an extermination of the indigenous peoples," says Sydney Possuelo, former president of Brazil's National Indian Foundation, the government agency responsible for the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples.



The bill relies on a time frame Marco Temporal theory that would limit the rights to land by indigenous people to those who can prove they had a presence in their ancestral lands at the time of the approval of Brazil's current Constitution in 1988, a task that may prove difficult 35 years after the fact.



"It would do much worse," says Possuelo who has dedicated his life to the study, understanding and protection of the sertao, the Brazilian outback, documenting indigenous cultures, advocating for the rights and well-being of indigenous communities.



"It is a terrible blow against all indigenous people in the sense that it voids all that was done until today," he says.



A good part of the demarcation of lands was done after 1988, notes Possuelo. "More than 50% to 60% of the indigenous lands were demarcated after '88. Thus, this cancels practically almost all that the state has done in demarcating indigenous lands."



Activists and indigenous people are alarmed. They agree that the bill has the potential to unravel decades of progress made in recognising and safeguarding indigenous territories.



Against the backdrop of the Lula administration's recent recognition of nearly 2,100 square kilometers of indigenous lands, experts agree that the possibility of full approval of the new law is existential threat for indigenous communities.



Possuelo lamented "the voracity over indigenous lands in a country of this size, a country of 8.5 million square kilometers, the conquest of which we owe in large part to indigenous action correcting our lack of experience in ensuring the survival of the forest."



"Indigenous peoples helped in the broadening and conquest of the national territory," he pointed out, "and we respond by invalidating everything demarcated to them. It is really extraordinary."



"It will hurt the indigenous peoples greatly," said Possuelo.



Indeed, the bill marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for Indigenous Land Rights in the country with the largest indigenous populations in South America.

Brazil's indigenous communities are scattered throughout the country, inhabiting various regions and reflecting a mosaic of traditions. From the Xingu, Tikuna, Munduruku, Surui, and Yanomamis in the Amazon to the Guarani-Kaiowa in the Pantanal, they exist across Brazil. These tribes speak distinct languages, practice unique rituals, and maintain ancestral connections to the land.



However, it is not just their cultural significance that makes indigenous communities so crucial. These communities have long been recognised as important stewards of the environment, with a profound understanding of sustainable practices and the interdependence between humans and nature.



Nowhere is this more crucial than in the Amazon rainforest, a global environmental asset and a vital carbon sink.



Indigenous peoples have a profound connection to the forests, viewing them not just as a source of resources but as sacred spaces that hold deep spiritual and cultural significance. Through their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices, they have contributed to the preservation of these ecosystems since long before European colonisers.



Recognising this invaluable role, President Lula has pledged to support and empower indigenous communities in their conservation efforts, acknowledging that their ancestral lands are not only their homes but also crucial habitats for countless species and crucial contributors to the planet's ecological balance.



But Lula rules with a strong opposition in congress.



Conservative congressmen tied to the countrys agrobusiness caucus celebrated the vote, while indigenous communities fear that this action may reverse the progress achieved.

Brazil's Constitution acknowledges the inherent right of indigenous peoples to the lands they have historically inhabited, without imposing time restrictions or arbitrary cut-off dates. It explicitly mandates the federal government to delineate and safeguard Indigenous territories.



And Lula has moved to do just that. In a significant move congruent with campaign rhetoric, his administration has officially recognised many indigenous territories in its first months in office.



The two largest recognised territories are in the Amazon, and Lula as made it clear that he intends to protect the world's largest tropical forest, stressing that his actions are consistent with the role of Amazonia as a crucial carbon sink, essential in efforts to combat global climate change.



Since his election, Lula has claimed a leading role for Brazil on climate discussions. The efforts have gained him global recognition.

His recognition of the lands grants local communities the right to use their ancestral lands "according with their traditional practices" and imposes strict restrictions on mining activities and other practices that threaten the environment such as logging.



Notably, Lula's action serves as a delineation marking the rights of indigenous peoples versus those of non-indigenous individuals, the latter now unequivocally forbidden fromi engaging in any economic endeavors within Indigenous lands.



The move was hailed as a positive precedent for the conservation of natural resources and the empowerment of indigenous communities.

Bill 490, however, is seen as the most serious and vicious attack on indigenous rights in decades because it could limit indigenous land claims and potentially call into question large swaths of land already demarcated. It does so by undermining their historical claims to ancestral lands.



Moreover, it grants the government the power to reclaim land from indigenous communities if their "cultural traits" are deemed to have changed, raising concerns about the erosion of Indigenous rights.



The legislation introduces a specific timeframe for the creation of indigenous territories, resulting in a reduction of their overall area. This change could also pave the way for mining and infrastructure projects within Indigenous areas.



Under the bill, contact with isolated indigenous communities would be authorised, potentially leading to road construction, mining operations, dam building, agricultural initiatives, and the use of genetically modified crops in protected Indigenous lands.



Aerial view of the Amazonia rainforest side by side with houses of the neighborhood Coroado located in the east zone of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil | AFP

The Marco Temporal Theory and its implications

Critics argue that the Marco Temporal Theory is a deceptive strategy aimed at undermining legitimate claims for the demarcation of indigenous lands. It disproportionately impacts groups that have already been displaced from their ancestral lands or whose presence was not recognised before the specified cut-off date.



"The national congress falsely picked Article 231 and says that therein is the origin of the theory of Marco Temporal. That is not true," says Possuelo.

"Anyone who has access to Article 231of the Constitution and has a minimum of common sense will see that there is none of that," argues Possuelo. "The article simply determines that the Brazilian state has to demarcate all the indigenous lands. It does not say that has to be done now, later, or before or that it has to delineate the indigenous lands.

"It is the worst of all the blows that the Brazilian state, and the government, and this congress has done against the indigenous peoples."

Significantly, if enacted, this has the potential to upend land rights by triggering numerous lawsuits to question indigenous historical rights to their lands. This would endanger even well-established territories.



"From the moment this law was promulgated, the indigenous people are in the crosshairs of those who steal their lands," says Possuelo. "The national society has eternally skewed the question of land rights and agrobusiness needs more and more land to increase its production."



The disproportionate impact on isolated and recently contacted indigenous communities is immediately evident, and this had not gone unnoticed. They would face significant challenges in proving their presence on the land in 1988 and lose their land rights.



"Ninguem respeta Indio pelado" no one respects a naked Indian says Adriana Alves, an advocate for indigenous rights, using the native proverb to emphasise the importance of land rights. In essence, it says that indigenous peoples do not receive the respect and recognition they deserve unless they have some form of power, authority, or possessions.



By denying them the possession of the land, she says society is oblivious to the irony of applying that concept to the peoples who were the original occupants of all of the land in Brazil.



In doing so, she highlights the importance of visibility, representation, and asserting rights in order for the dwindled indigenous populations to be acknowledged and respected.

She takes the concept even further into the environmental and climate discussions by pointing out that as protectors of the forests, native peoples were the original holders of the asset now designated as "carbon credits," work which has been eroded by modern society.

Indeed, carbon credits are financial credits for successfully protecting lands for reducing or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, something Alves says indigenous people do as a matter of their inherently deep respect for nature and the environment, which is at the root of their stewardship and sustainability culture.



The challenges



The contrasting developments of Bill 490's approval coming on the heels of the recognition of indigenous lands under the Lula administration highlights the political challenges to Lula's promises to protect Indigenous rights.



This is at the very core of the preservation of Indigenous communities' rights and the integrity of the Amazon.



To understand the historical context, Alves sees in this an analogy to an event that occurred 26 years ago, the burning alive in a Brasilia park of Galdino Jesus dos Santos, 44, a land rights activist of the Pataxo tribe of Southern Bahia state. The perpetrators were absolved and now hold positions of power, she points out.



This law is that act writ large, says Alves. "The struggle for indigenous land rights goes beyond legal battles and political debatesit is a fight for justice, equality, and the recognition of Indigenous peoples' inherent rights."



As the bill's swift approval has taken the country by surprise. The role of the Congressional Agriculture Front caucus cannot be ignored. It has long actively advocated for the development of indigenous lands, aligning with powerful economic interests and it enjoyed the support of former president Jair Bolsonaro who, despite losing the presidential election, elected many of his supporters to congress.



For indigenous communities, this means an uncertain future and highlights the importance of renewed activism and political participation. While the bill still awaits approval in the Senate, stakeholders, policymakers, and civil society remain vigilant among indigenous resistance efforts.



In this scenario, there is an important need for an ongoing dialogue, say activists who call for more advocacy, and legal action on the part of Brazil's indigenous peoples to buttress support for Lula's efforts to turn campaign promises to reality.



Links to resource extraction and development



Indigenous communities and advocates are once again raising concerns regarding the potential opening of their lands to mining and resource exploitation and stressing the environmental and socio-cultural consequences of such developments.



In contrast, proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to allocate more land to farmers and promote economic development projects. They contend that expanding agricultural activities and fostering infrastructure initiatives will drive economic growth and benefit the country as a whole and that it is necessary to not sacrifice the opportunities for the many to protect the few.

For the Lula administration the challenge lies in finding a political balance between these and economic interests in the region.



Indigenous resistance



Indigenous communities are resolute in their determination to defend their land and rights. As the bill has yet to be passed by the Senate, they see an opportunity for further resistance, and potential amendments.



It is a critical crossroad for Brazil, balancing indigenous rights, environmental preservation, and economic development with the political winds of this bill raises alarming concerns for stakeholders, policymakers, and civil society. The potential impact on indigenous communities, however, is outsized and could be devastating.



In the end, the indigenous peoples are left to the mercy of their luck, because nothing else protects them. And that is not the worst part, says Possuelo. "It is that in doing so, the national congress attacks the Constitution. The Constitution ordains one thing, and they do another."



Indigenous peoples have the support of the Lula administration but remain vigilant as the fate of Indigenous Land Rights in Brazil hangs in the balance, with far-reaching consequences for both indigenous communities and the Amazon ecosystem.



"We are only left now with the hope that the Supreme Federal Tribunal will decree this bill inconsequential and unconstitutional and so void it permanently so that these indigenous lands can be possessed as demarcated and respected," says Possuelo.

"We will wait to see that the Supreme Tribunal can return with a finding that is in favor of the indigenous peoples."


With former US vice-president Mike Pence filing paperwork declaring his campaign for President in 2024, the groundwork has been laid for a crowded GOP Presidential race, though the primaries are nearly a year away.

The GOP field is already big enough with seven candidates; former President Donald Trump and his once-protege Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emerging frontrunners, but more - former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum- are likely to join the fray this week.



While a section of political analysts opine that a bigger Republican field hints at the different directions the party is taking, the scenario may come to favour Trump since the sheer number of candidates could cancel each other out.



Of the seven candidates, excluding Pence, Donald Trump is a clear forerunner with 53% support. Thats up from 48% in early May, said Yahoo News/YouGov poll survey.



Ron DeSantis, widely considered Trump's leading rival, could only muster 25% support. Interestingly, his support seems to wane as the Florida Governor had 28 per cent support before he threw his hat in the ring. His bungled Twitter announcement didn't help him either.



And as for the new entrants, Pence, Christie and Burghum are long-shot candidates by any measure. While none of the current candidates, except DeSantis, can influence Trumps core support base, they can split anti-Trump votes.



"I'm very concerned that we appear to be making the same mistakes that we made in 2016," Larry Hogan, a popular former Republican governor of Maryland and a fierce critic of Trump, was quoted by Reuters.



He believes a large field of contenders would only help Trump to repeat his 2016 victory when he bested 17 major candidates. "It's better for us to have a smaller field with a strong candidate or two rather than 10 or more people who are failing to get attention, who are all in single digits in opinion polls," Hogan added.



While Pence has the backing of Iowa evangelicals, another contender South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who boasts a three per cent support base, is popular among college-educated suburbanites. None of them poses a threat to Trump but will eat into the new candidates' base.

According to New Hampshire-based Republican strategist Dave Carney, this is a gigantic problem for DeSantis. "Because whatever percentage they get makes it difficult for the second-place guy to win because theres just not the available vote," Carney told The New York Times.

Trump seems to be welcoming the competition already, which he hopes will repeat the 2016 scenario. "Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race," Trump wrote. "It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable," he wrote.


Prince Harry appeared as a witness in High Court on Tuesday to give evidence in a phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers for unlawful information gathering including phone hacking.

Prince Harry on Tuesday became the first senior British royal to give evidence in a high court trial in over 100 years. The Duke of Sussex alleged "utterly vile" unlawful information gathering, including by phone hacking, by journalists working for the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Harry accused the tabloid newspapers of inciting hatred against him as a young royal and casting him as a 'thicko, cheat, underage drinker, and irresponsible drug taker' -- referring to some of the media labels he felt associated with over the years.

"I genuinely feel that in every relationship that I've ever had be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, there's always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," reads his witness statement released as Harry gave oral evidence in court.

"As a teenager and in my early twenties, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me mainly because I thought that, if they are printing this rubbish about me and people were believing it, I may as well 'do the crime', so to speak, he said.

"It was a downward spiral, whereby the tabloids would constantly try and coax me, a 'damaged' young man, into doing something stupid that would make a good story and sell lots of newspapers. Looking back on it now, such behaviour on their part is utterly vile," he added.

The royal said he decided to go to the court to hold people to account for what they have done and that he was "determined to get to the bottom of it once and for all.

Harry, who stepped back as a working royal and now lives in the US with his wife Meghan Markle and two children Archie and Lilibet, has said that the deceptive methods used by MGN newspapers impacted his personal life.

He alleges that the 'Daily Mirror', Sunday Mirror', and 'Sunday People' were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called blagging or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators, between 1996 and 2010 to get detailed information about his private affairs.

MGN disputes the allegations and also argued that some of the claimants who are part of the representative legal action have brought their case too late. Their lawyers are expected to cross-examine Prince Harry in the witness box this week.

Meanwhile, the royal's lawyer on Monday told the hearing as it opened that 'Mirror' journalists listened to voicemail messages from Princess Diana Harry's late mother. In his statement, Harry said, The thought of Piers Morgan and his band of journalists earwigging into my mothers private and sensitive messages (in the same way as they have me) and then having given her a nightmare time three months prior to her death in Paris, makes me feel physically sick and even more determined to hold those responsible, including Mr Morgan, accountable for their vile and entirely unjustified behaviour, The Guardian reported quoting the statement.

He alleged he and his wife have been subjected to a barrage of personal attacks and intimidation from Piers Morgan, who was the editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004, The Guardian reported.

Harry said in his statement that he had to hide in the boot of a car to escape from the paparazzi, Everywhere I went, the paparazzi seemed to turn up even though efforts were always being made to conceal where I was going. I had to walk out, hold my head high and just try to push past and get in the car. On rare occasions, I even hid in the boot.

"Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds and there was no protection from this unlawful information gathering," David Sherborne told the court, alleging that the ups and downs of Harry's relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy were among those gained via unlawful means.

The Prince alleges around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods and, according to court reports, 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.

Justice Timothy Fancourt, who is presiding over the trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, had expressed surprise that Harry was not in court at the start of the trial but was told that he had flown in from Los Angeles only on Sunday night as it was daughter Princess Lilibet's second birthday on June 4.

The last time a senior royal took to the witness stand in an English High Court trial was in 1891 when the then Prince of Wales was called to give evidence in a gambling case dubbed the Royal Baccarat Scandal.

At the time, the future King Edward VII was brought to court to give testimony over a tricky case of cheating in a game of cards that the royal happened to be present at.

(With PTI inputs.)
Ukraine military on Tuesday accused Russia of blowing up Nova Kakhovka reservoir near Kherson in the southern Ukraine.

The Kakhova (reservoir) was blown up by the Russian occupying forces, the southern command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on its Facebook page.

The scale of destruction, the speed and volumes of water, and the likely areas of inundation are being clarified, it added.

While the blame game continues, the blasts at the land had unleashed floodwaters across the war zone forcing several to evacuate the area.

As part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant project, the dam was built in 1956. The dam, that is 30 metres (yards) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long holds water equal to the Great Salt Lake in the US state of Utah.

While, the Russian officials said that there is no threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The nuclear plant gets its cooling water from the reservoir.

Russian media reported that the dam had been destroyed in the shelling while the mayor of Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka city said it was an act of terrorism.

An emergency meeting is called on by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to access the present situation over the blast. He had called a meeting with Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council.

Russian officials said that the evacuation near the dam is underway. The water would reach critical levels within five hours, officials said.

However, Russia had launched fresh attacks on Kyiv on Monday night and Ukraine military officials said that they had striked down over 20 missiles.

The Ukrainian forces claimed that they had advanced around Bakhmut. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said describing the eastern city as the "epicentre of hostilities".

However it is unknown whether the attack was counter-offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian fighters for delivering "the news we are expecting" on the Bakhmut direction.

"The enemy knows that Ukraine will win," he said.

Meanwhile Russian defence said that it thwarted a large Ukrainian attack in the eastern province of Donetsk, BBC reported.

Bakhmut has for months been at the heart of fierce fighting.

In early hours of Tuesday, air raid sirens were activated for several hours all over Ukraine.

"Despite stiff resistance and the enemy's attempts to hold their positions, our military units advanced in several directions during the fighting," said Maliar.

She said in Orikhovo-Vasulivka and Paraskoviivka, Ukrainian troops gained from 200m to 1,600m (656-5,250ft) while an Ivanivske and Klishchiivka they advanced between 100m and 700m (330-2,300), BBC reported.

All four villages are located within several kilometres of Bakhmut.

The Russian paramilitary group Wagner had claimed to have captured the city in the late May.
Bank ABC has announced two strategic appointments that will further accelerate the organisations growth in line with emerging market trends and its strategic priorities.

Underlining the banks commitment to promoting its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, Bank ABC has appointed Ian McCallum, as Group Chief Sustainability Officer. He is mandated to drive and deliver the Groups Sustainability Strategy in line with the fast-emerging trends in ESG.

McCallum has over 17 years of experience in asset management and banking and holds a BA (Hons) in Accountancy & Finance from Heriot-Watt University; Edinburgh, Sustainable Finance Certificate from Cambridge University; and Investment Management Certificate from the UK Society of Investment Professionals.

HR head

In addition, the bank has appointed a new Group Head of Human Resources (HR), Ehab AlMaskati, taking over from the incumbent Elaine Wood who has headed the groups HR function for the past seven years.

AlMaskati has worked for Bank ABC for 18 years, during which time he has held several key HR positions, including most recently, Group Head of HR Operations & Reward. In his new role, he will work closely with the senior management and lead HR teams across the group to drive the banks human resources strategy. He holds a Masters Degree in Information Systems from Manchester University, UK.

Ahead of the curve

Commenting on the appointments, Sael Al Waary, Bank ABCs Group CEO said: These new senior appointments underline our commitment to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional value for our customers and meet our strategic goals. Today, there is an increased focus on ESG propositions and McCallums experience is an ideal fit for us to elevate our ESG framework and provide informed counsel to our clients.

We have always believed in attracting and nurturing the best talent, and as such, our Human Resources function is a critical role. With depth of experience and deep understanding of the Bank, AlMaskati will continue to strengthen position as an Employer of Choice.-- TradeArabia News Service
Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant at risk from Kakhovka dam breach, but situation currently stable  Energoatom 6 June, 10:39 AM Zaporizhzhya NPP (Photo:REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)

The demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam by Russians may have negative consequences for the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, but as of 8.30 a.m. on June 6, the situation is under control, state nuclear power plant operator Energoatom reported.

As a result of the explosion, the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir is rapidly decreasing, which is an additional threat to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP, Energoatom explained. Water from the reservoir is necessary for the plant to receive power for turbine condensers and safety systems.

Video of day

"Now the plant's cooling pond is full: as of 8.00 a.m., the water level is 16.6 meters, which is enough for the needs of the plant," Energoatom said.

Read also: Video of bridge explosion near Kakhovka HPP posted online

The state enterprise is currently monitoring the situation and following the actions of the Russian military at the plant together with other international organizations present there, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN body promoting international cooperation in the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technologies.

In the early hours of June 6, Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam, Ukrainian authorities say. Cities and towns down the Dnipro River are at risk of flooding, which is expected to peak in five hours, around noon, Kyiv time. The Kherson Oblast administration announced an urgent evacuation of residents from dangerous areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened an emergency meeting of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council.

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Nagpur, Jun 6 (PTI) The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has filed a caveat petition in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court apprehending litigation against its proposed two 660 MW coal power units at Koradi in Nagpur.

The proposed coal power units have been opposed by environmentalists and other activists who have raised concerns about air, land and water pollution caused by an existing power plant.

The caveat, filed on Monday through advocate Mohit Khajanchi, sought that the MAHAGENCO be heard in case of any litigation initiated by any of the 87 people who took part in an environmental public hearing conducted by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) recently.

A caveat petition is filed as a precautionary measure by a person or authority apprehending litigation. By the caveat petition, the person/authority seeks to be heard before any order is passed in case a litigation is filed.

We pray that no orders be passed without due notice under Section 148-A of the Code of Civil Procedure to the caveator (MAHAGENCO) in any application/prayer for grant of stay and /or status quo and/or injunction and/or any other interim/ad-interim order/relief, in any Public Interest Litigation challenging the environmental public hearing held by MPCB on May 29," the caveat said.

The power generation company has proposed the setting up of 2 x 660 MW Coal Based Supercritical Thermal Power Plant to be located in the premises of existing thermal power station at Koradi, it said.

A copy of the caveat has also been sent to the 87 people who participated in the MPCB's environmental public hearing.
Gangtok, Jun 6 (PTI) Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Tuesday urged the Centre to build an international business corridor in West Sikkim for improved connectivity with Nepal, which, he claimed, will boost development in the Himalayan state.

Tamang also said the central government appeared to be keen to consider the project, keeping in view its benefits to the people of Sikkim and added that a decision would be taken in due course.

"I had proposed an international business corridor connecting Uttarey with Chewabhanjya in West Sikkim to Nepal at the NITI Aayog meeting in the national capital recently and also took up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said at a function after inaugurating a forest house at Chewabhanjyang.

The Sikkim chief minister also said that if the two countries get connected with the international business corridor in Chewabhanjyang, it will speed up development in the state, creating opportunities for the local people in diverse sectors such as economic, social, cultural, tourism and education.

"Both India and Nepal have friendly relations and the proposed business corridor is bound to have a positive impact on the economic growth of the two countries," he said.

Once the proposed business corridor comes up at Chewabhanjyang in West Sikkim, it will witness business activities, like in Nathula, to boost both trade and tourism, opening up economic opportunities for the people residing on either side of the international border, Tamang said.

The forest rest house at Chewabhanjyang will lay down a roadmap for the development of the region.

He also interacted with security personnel there and sought their continued support to keep the border safe.

The chief minister also assured them of all possible support.

He also mentioned that the maintenance of roads has been a major challenge due to weather conditions but the state government has made all efforts to keep it motorable in all seasons.
BANGALORE, India, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lungs Lined with Moss, a surreal short film directed by visionary filmmaker Niranjan Raghu, releases today, inviting audiences on a transformative journey of introspection and environmental consciousness.



See it here: Lungs Lined with Moss



In this avant-garde short film, Niranjan Raghu skillfully weaves together visuals, music, and storytelling to explore the most pressing issue of today. Through a powerful narrative and evocative imagery, Lungs Lined with Moss delves into the urgent need to preserve the right to think and the imperative of embracing kindness and sustainability in the face of a burning planet.



"Uncertainty causes fear when it threatens our right to think for ourselves  and a burning planet ensures we lose that right. We are firmly set on that path today, with every man-made system extracting natural resources without pause or compassion to serve economic and (perceived) social growth. At an entire planet's expense," said Niranjan Raghu.



"This is unsustainable, and hence the concept of degrowth is important to pace ourselves and in turn, preserve our world while living with kindness. This kind future is written deeply in our sense of community. An amicable world that employs degrowth is the direct path towards that future. In other words, the choice is a degrowth world, or no world at all," added Raghu.



ABOUT THE FILM



Lungs Lined with Moss is a short film that proposes kindness and acceptance as the first steps in correcting the world's current course, and the right path to preserve the basic right to think. And in doing so, preserve all of the deeply interconnected, interdependent ecosystems.



The film consists of carefully arranged visuals revolving around decay as an extant form of life  dead harvesters on desertified farmland, melting hoarfrost turning to raging oceans, the shimmer of hope in nuclear energy, and a new planet in which the future chooses to remember the people who chose to stay behind. The surreal colour story devised by Meghna M, along with the avant-garde soundtrack by Roshan C Machayya add up to specific emotions: pain, fond nostalgia, and the song of interconnected ecosystems that resonates deep within everyone.



The crushing weight of the future of humanity rests heavy on everyone now  weighed down further every year by anthropogenic action, as well as the gross incompetence of policy makers to do the right thing: preserve interconnected ecosystems, and build a world around degrowth, not exploitation. As ecologist Carl Safina writes: "We are sacrificing our money, sacrificing what is big and permanent, to prolong what is small, temporary, and harmful. We're sacrificing animals, peace, and children to retain wastefulness  while enriching those who disdain us."



The children in the future will suffer losing their right to live, and hence their right to think. Not this generation. It is up to everyone today to invite a better future for all of them.



This short film speaks of all of these things, and even more in between the deep symbolism that Niranjan Raghu has weaved into it. "Ultimately it boils down to a very simple question," said Raghu. "What will you do to tell others of climate change?"



Director's Bio



Niranjan Raghu (26) is a multi-disciplinary filmmaker and composer, using surreal, deeply symbolic post-futurist worlds to explore the cosmic horror of our neo-capitalist dystopia.



Composer's Bio



Roshan C Machayya (27) is a versatile composer, musician, hybrid athlete, academician, and writer. His creative pursuits delve into the thresholds of human experience, perception, and emotional expression.



Colourist's Bio



Meghna M (27) is an acclaimed photographer, videographer, and editor who engages with the world through bursts of color manipulation and captivating noir aesthetics.



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2090517/LungsLinedwith_Moss.jpg

Video: https://youtu.be/H6XTutTJ-IA



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Tuesday said he would contribute one lakh pound to set up an education scholarship fund to help economically weak students from Punjab to study at top universities in Britain.

Sahney, an MP from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has also been conferred the 'Sikh of the Year Award' in London on June 5.

The award was conferred by the Sikh Forum International.

Sahney requested to set up a dedicated museum in London with the British government for the artefacts of Indian/Sikh origin to bring together Indian legacy in one place.

He also urged Sikh International Forum for supporting the education of Punjabi students at Oxford and Cambridge in Britain.

Sahney is also the International President of the World Punjabi Organisation.

He has been instrumental in rehabilitation support for many evacuations from abroad, including the rescue and rehabilitation of 500 Afghan refugees and the evacuation of over 50 stranded Punjabi women from Oman.
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) State-owned NHPC Ltd has signed an agreement with the Maharashtra government for setting up four pumped storage energy projects with 7,350 megawatt (MW) capacity in the state.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Department of Energy, Government of Maharashtra for setting up pumped storage schemes and other renewable energy source projects, NHPC said in a statement.

The MoU was signed by Biswajit Basu, Director, (Projects), NHPC and Abha Shukla, Principal Secretary (Energy), Department of Energy, Maharashtra Government in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

"The MoU envisages the development of four pumped storage projects aggregating to 7,350 MW namely Kalu -1,150 MW, Savitri - 2,250 MW, Jalond - 2,400 MW & Kengadi - 1,550 MW and other renewable energy source projects in the state," it said.

This shall be a stepping-start of NHPC in Maharashtra, RK Vishnoi, CMD of NHPC said, adding these projects will attract an investment of about Rs 44,000 crore and nearly 7,000 indirect and direct employment in the state.

The MoU entails harnessing the pump storage projects as energy storage solutions to achieve the national objective of energy transition -- 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.
Istanbul, Jun 6 (PTI) Making a strong pitch for increased bilateral flying rights, Gulf major Emirates Airline's President Sir Tim Clark on Tuesday said the group has had no increase in seats in India since 2015 and during this period, the country's economy has grown at a great pace.

India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world and Gulf carriers have been seeking enhanced bilateral flying rights to operate more flights to and from the country. However, the government is not in favour of granting more bilateral flying rights.

Emirates can operate 65,000 seats from Dubai to India in each direction every week.

According to him, Emirates has had no seat increase in India since 2015 and during this period, the Indian economy has moved at a great pace.

At a media briefing on the sidelines of the IATA World Air Transport Summit here, Clark said that demand in and out of India is being compromised by an access policy, which "I don't think does them any favours".

Emirates, which operates only wide-body A380s and B777s, flies to nine Indian cities and operates more than 160 weekly flights to India.

Talking about Air India, which is now owned by Tata Group, Clark said the airline needs to make its way in the huge domestic market in India.

"And I believe that if Air India wants to expand, it can't curtail the rights of foreign carriers from the countries that wish to expand into... it is very simple but arithmetic," he said.

He cited the example of Turkey, saying that the country opened up and built Turkish Airlines profitably. The country has built a huge airport and then allowed carriers to come in. "And that's a perfect model. I would suggest the Indian government (to) look seriously at that".

In March, Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal said that India does not have plans "as of now" to provide additional seats to Middle East carriers.

Clark said the Indian government has a sectoral approach. Whether it is Dubai to India and Abu Dhabi to India, Indian carriers can come from anywhere in India to Dubai but "we can only go to the designated points of the Indian government allow us to do that".

"Fundamentally, that's not helpful. But that's the way it is. We have made multiple approaches to the Indian government and they have been resolute in their response, which is no," he noted.

The reply was to a query as to whether Emirates and Etihad could come together and share their bilateral flying rights.

The Gulf carrier has a partnership with US-based United Airlines.

Responding to a query related to the partnership in the Indian context, Clark said that United Airlines had applied to put its code on Emirates aircraft but the proposal was refused by the Indian government.

On whether Emirates would look to buy a stake in an Indian airline, Clark said he was not sure that such an acquisition would solve the problem with the Indian government.

"So if you buy this, you can have more access. I don't think that's part of the policy," he added. PTI RAM



(The correspondent is in Istanbul on the invitation of IATA) BAL

BAL
Islamabad, Jun 6 (PTI) Authorities in Pakistan have declined an offer from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror outfit to resume talks, citing their previous negative experience with dialogue, a media report said on Tuesday.

The TTP, through various individual contacts, expressed its willingness to re-engage in talks in recent days but the government rejected the offer and instead urged the militants to surrender, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted sources as saying.

The government last year engaged in talks with the proscribed TTP group, which has been fighting to impose the rule of Sharia across Pakistan, at the insistence of the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul.

A ceasefire was also announced as the two sides engaged in dialogue but the TTP unilaterally terminated the truce in November last year, a few days before the appointment of Gen Asim Munir as the new army chief of Pakistan.

The TTP subsequently increased attacks on police, security personnel, and government installations, with particular emphasis on the southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

A senior government official said that during the previous rounds of talks, Afghanistan's acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani was the mediator.

However, he did not hold the role of guarantor in those discussions.

We need solid guarantees, the senior official told the newspaper.

Negotiations will be meaningless without a solid guarantor. So when this offer was made it was rejected outright, he added.

The Pakistani authorities have made it explicitly clear to the Islamist militant group that individuals willing to surrender were welcome to do so, the official added.

The Express Tribune reported on Monday that Pakistan had told the interim Afghan government that it could only consider talking to the TTP if the terrorist outfit surrendered and laid down arms.

The current coalition government, since assuming power, has attributed the ongoing wave of terrorism in the country to the talks held between the then-ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and the TTP.

The Pakistani government has been urging the Afghan Taliban to take action against the TTP. As part of this effort, the Kabul government has detained or deported several TTP leaders.

Recent visits by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar to Kabul were also linked to this issue. During the Afghan foreign minister's visit to Pakistan, the matter was raised as well.

The senior official emphasised that the Afghan Taliban would not employ force against the TTP, and Pakistan had no intention of entering Afghanistan to dismantle TTP bases.

However, despite Pakistans refusal to enter into peace talks with the militant group, the Afghan Taliban were still keen on the process of dialogue to kick-start.
Washington, Jun 6 (PTI) India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves, the White House said Monday, as it appeared to dismiss concerns about the health of democracy in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the US later this month.

"India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference here.

"Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," Kirby said in response to a question.

Kirby said India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels.

"You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he said.

"I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.
Kyiv, Jun 6 (AP) Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russian forces of blowing up a major dam and hydroelectric power station in a part of southern Ukraine that Russia controls, sending water gushing from the breached facility and threatening possible massive flooding and what officials called an ecological disaster".

Ukrainian authorities ordered hundreds of thousands of residents downriver to evacuate.

Russian officials countered that the Kakhovka dam was damaged by Ukrainian military strikes in the contested area.

The fallout could have broad consequences: Flooding homes, streets and businesses downstream; depleting water levels upstream that help cool Europe's largest nuclear power plant; and draining supplies of drinking water to the south in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed.

The dam break added a complex new element to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month, as Ukrainian forces were widely seen to be moving forward with a long-anticipated counteroffensive in patches along more than 1,000-kilometers of frontline in the east and south of Ukraine.

Ukraine's nuclear operator Energoatom said in a Telegram statement that the blowing up of the dam could have negative consequences" for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is Europe's biggest, but wrote that for now the situation is controllable.

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on Twitter that its experts were closely monitoring the situation at the plant, and there was "no immediate nuclear safety risk" at the facility.

According to the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, an organisation of environmental activists and experts documenting war's the environmental effects, a total collapse in the dam would wash away much of the left bank and a severe drop in the reservoir has the potential to deprive the nuclear plant of crucial cooling, as well as dry up the water supply in northern Crimea.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that a global ecological disaster is playing out now, online, and thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours.

Videos posted online began testifying to the spillover: One showed floodwaters inundating a long roadway, another showed a beaver scurrying for high ground from rising waters.

Zelenskyy called an emergency meeting to deal with the crisis, Ukrainian officials said.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry called for residents of 10 villages on the river's right bank and parts of the city of Kherson downriver to gather essential documents and pets, turn off appliances, and leave, while cautioning against possible disinformation.

The Russian-installed mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Leontyev, said the strikes were a very serious terrorist act said Moscow-appointed authorities are preparing for the worst consequences  though stopping short of urging an evacuation of city residents.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnipro, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire country's drinking water and power supply.

Footage from what appeared to be a monitoring camera overlooking the dam that was circulating on social media purported to show a flash, explosion and breakage of the dam.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said in a video posted to Telegram shortly before 7 am that the Russian army has committed yet another act of terror, and warned that water will reach critical levels within five hours.

The Kakhovska dam was completely destroyed, Ukraine's state hydro power generating company wrote in a statement: The station cannot be restored. Ukrhydroenergo also claimed that Russia blew up the station from inside the engine room.

Leontyev, the Russian-appointed mayor, said Tuesday that numerous strikes on the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant destroyed its valves, and water from the Kakhovka reservoir began to uncontrollably flow downstream.

Leontyev added that damage to the station was beyond repair, and it would have to be rebuilt.

Energoatom, the nuclear operator, wrote that the Kakhovka reservoir, where water levels are rapidly decreasing, is necessary for the plant to feed the turbine condensers and ZNPP safety systems, the statement said.

Currently the station cooling pond is full: as of 8 am, the water level is at 16.6 meters, and this is enough for the needs of the station, it said.

Ukraine and Russia have previously accused each other of targeting the dam with attacks, and last October Zelenskyy predicted that Russia would destroy the dam in order to cause a flood.

Authorities, experts and residents have for months expressed concerns about water flows through  and over  the Kakhovka dam.

In February, water levels were so low that many feared a meltdown at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, whose cooling systems are supplied with water from the Kakhovka reservoir held up by the dam.

By mid-May, after heavy rains and snow melt, water levels rose beyond normal levels, flooding nearby villages. Satellite images showed water washing over damaged sluice gates.

Ukraine controls five of the six dams along the Dnipro River, which runs from its northern border with Belarus down to the Black Sea and is crucial for the entire country's drinking water and power supply. The Kakhovka dam  the one furthest downstream  is controlled by Russian forces. (AP) PY

PY
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell paid credit to Mick Schumacher for the sim work conducted by the young German in Brackley last weekend that helped improve Mercedes' form overnight in Barcelona.

On Friday, Hamilton concluded his opening day of running at the Circuit de Catalunya just outside of the top ten, the Briton admitting to struggling with his car's single-lap pace as well as with tyre degradation.

As is typically the case for Mercedes' European races, the team relied on its reserve driver to virtually fine-tune the set-up of its W14 car after Friday's practice.

Schumacher thus ran through various programmes and configurations, well into the night in Brackley, to help optimize Mercedes' car and feed input to the team's race crews in Spain.

While qualifying was a mixed bag with Hamilton setting the fifth fastest lap and Russell ending his day P12, both drivers powered onto the podium on Sunday.

After Sunday's race, Hamilton praised Schumacher and Mercedes' crews in Brackley for their valuable contribution.

"Friday was a real struggle with the balance, it was way out of the window," Hamilton said. "It was very hard to drive, very unpredictable, and then we did some great work overnight.

"Weve got a great team, with Mick back in the simulator on Friday night and he did some great work, which helped us get on the right track on Saturday.

"I think we did pretty decent work in trying to understand the different downforce levels. And in the race today the car felt great.

"But honestly I just couldnt match the times that Max [Verstappen] was doing. And for George to come from 12th to third is just remarkable. So, really awesome result for us as a team."

Russell was equally laudatory of Schumacher's sim work back at the team's base that helped Mercedes' preparations for qualifying and race day.

"It probably felt the best its ever felt around Barcelona because of the cooler conditions," Russell said.

"But definitely this season, probably the best its felt, the most together its felt and as Lewis said, the teams done a really, really great job.

"The work that Mick and the simulator team are doing overnight, they were there well past midnight to help us with the setup and get it in a good window for the race today.

"So we are making strides in the right direction. We just need to make sure, especially into next year, that we hit the ground running because I think we as a team probably develop faster than anybody else."

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Rome, Jun 6 (AP) Pope Francis went to the hospital on Tuesday for tests and returned back to the Vatican, witnesses and news reports said, two months after he was hospitalised with an acute case of bronchitis.

The ANSA news agency said Francis went to Rome's Gemelli hospital Tuesday morning for tests.

Witnesses at the Vatican's Perugino gate, one of the main entrances to the city state, told AP Francis returned to the Vatican a short while later, and greeted guards as he usually does.

Francis, 86, spent three days at Rome's Gemelli hospital in late March.

Initially the Vatican said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1, quipping that he was "still alive".

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed when he was a young man. He also suffers from sciatica nerve pain and has been using a wheelchair and walker for over a year because of strained ligaments in his knee.

Francis has had a packed schedule of late, with multiple audiences each day. The Vatican has recently confirmed a travel-filled August, when the Holy See and Italy are usually on vacation, with a four-day visit to Portugal the first week of August and a similarly long trip to Mongolia starting August 31.

His next public appointment, if confirmed, would be his weekly general audience on Wednesday in St Peter's Square. (AP) SZM
Aboard BRP Cabra (Philippines), Jun 6 (AP) US, Japanese, and Philippine coast guard ships staged law enforcement drills in waters near the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday as Washington presses efforts to reinforce alliances in Asia amid an increasingly tense rivalry with China.

Witnessed by journalists onboard a Philippine coast guard patrol boat, the BRP Cabra, the drills focused on a scenario involving the interdiction and boarding of a vessel suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction off the Bataan Peninsula, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said.

Shots rang out as heavily armed coast guard personnel rapidly boarded the vessel from a speedboat and herded the crew members toward the stern. A helicopter hovered as US and Japanese coast guard ships helped rescue crew members who jumped off the target vessel during the mock assault.

We are not just all display, Philippine coast guard deputy spokesperson John Ybanez said. All these exercises that we do will help us help each other in possible scenarios in the future.

The US Coast Guard deployed one of its most advanced cutters, the 418-foot (127-meter) Stratton, in the June 1-7 exercises hosted by the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia.

The Stratton has been conducting exercises in the region to share expertise in search and rescue and law enforcement, the US Coast Guard said.

This first trilateral engagement between the coast guards of these nations will provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen global maritime governance though professional exchanges and combined operations, the Stratton's commanding officer, Capt. Brian Krautler, said at the start of the exercises.

"Together we'll demonstrate professional, rules-based standards of maritime operations with our steadfast partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Japan deployed a large coast guard ship, the Akitsushima, while four Philippine coast guard vessels joined the exercises.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in the South China Sea and in any future confrontation over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing regards as a Chinese province.

Washington lays no claims to the strategic South China Sea, where China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysian, Taiwan and Brunei have been locked in tense territorial stand-offs for decades.

But the US says freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the busy waterway are in its national interest.

Philippine officials say such joint exercises with US forces do not target any country. But China has warned that increased US security deployments in Asia target Beijing's interests and undermine regional stability.

The US Pacific Command said over the weekend that a US guided-missile destroyer and a Canadian frigate were intercepted by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese vessel overtook the American ship and veered across its bow at a distance of 150 yards (about 140 metres) in an unsafe manner", it said.

Last month, the US Indo-Pacific Command said a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft flew directly in front of a US Air Force RC-135 plane in an an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver while the American reconnaissance plane was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law".

In April, Japan adopted a new five-year ocean policy that calls for stronger maritime security, including bolstering its coast guard's capability and cooperation with the military. It cited a list of threats, including repeated intrusions by Chinese coast guard ships into Japanese territorial waters.

The Philippine coast guard, meanwhile, has intensified patrols in the South China Sea and taken extra efforts to document and publicize assertive Chinese behaviour in the waterway following a February 6 incident in which a Chinese coast guard ship aimed a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some crew members on a Philippine patrol boat off a disputed reef. (AP) PY

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Kyiv, Jun 6 (AP) The dramatic rupture of the dam that upheld Ukraine's largest reservoir released a torrent of water on Tuesday, raising fears of widespread damage and flooding in areas where tens of thousands of people live.

It's not clear what caused the the breach in the Kakhovka dam, which was already damaged. Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the facility, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian military strikes.

WHY IS THE DAM IMPORTANT?

The 30-metre-high (98-foot-high) dam and associated hydroelectric power station sit in Russian-controlled territory along the Dnieper River about 70 kilometers (44 miles) east of the city of Kherson  a flashpoint of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Together with the power station, the Soviet-era dam helps provide electricity, irrigation and drinking water to a wide swath of southern Ukraine, including the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula.

The reservoir created by the dam holds some 18 million cubic metres (4.8 billion gallons) of water  a volume nearly equivalent to that of the Great Salt Lake in the United States.

Those waters supply cooling systems at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, where fighting has repeatedly raised fears of catastrophic accident.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE DAM DURING THE WAR?

Russia has controlled the dam since the early days of the war. Last fall, the troops occupying it detonated explosives that damaged three sluice gates, which help regulate water levels when operated properly. Signs of damage to the gates were evident in late May.

Ukrainian officials and independent experts also say Russian forces have failed to maintain it, either deliberately or through neglect.

Earlier this year, water levels in the reservoir were so low that many across Ukraine and beyond feared a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Since mid-February, the water level has steadily increased, according to data from Theia, a French geospatial analytical organisation.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of destroying the dam. Russia says military strikes in the contested area damaged the facility.

WHO AND WHAT IS AT RISK?

As floodwaters swelled, both Russian and Ukrainian authorities have ordered evacuations of towns and villages, though neither side reported any deaths.

Officials said about 22,000 people live in areas at risk of flooding in Russian-controlled areas, while 16,000 live in the most critical zone in Ukrainian-held territory.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry also said there is a risk of flooding at energy facilities in the Kherson region. Nearly 12,000 consumers in the city of Kherson have already been left without electricity, and there may be issues with water supply.

Upstream, meanwhile, riverbanks extended as water levels dropped. At the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest, the Ukrainian utility operator and the UN atomic energy agency said the situation was under control and there was no immediate risk to safety.

Ukrainian authorities warned about the possibility of an environmental disaster.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said a global ecological disaster is playing out" and warned that "thousands of animals and ecosystems will be destroyed in the next few hours. (AP) PY

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Normandy (France), Jun 6 (AP) US Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley said on Tuesday that fighting in Ukraine has increased, but he cautioned against reading too much into each day's operations.

There's activity throughout Russian-occupied Ukraine and fighting has picked up a bit, Milley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France  the final resting place of almost 9,400 troops who died 79 years ago, during the allied June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion.

Milley said it was up to Ukraine to announce whether its counteroffensive campaign has formally begun, but he said the Ukrainians are ready for this fight. As time goes on, however, he said that the fighting will vary.

Like the Battle of Normandy or any other major battle, warfare is a give and take, Milley said. There will be days you see a lot of activity and there will be days you may see very little activity. There will be offensive actions and defence actions. So this will be a back-and-forth fight for a considerable length of time.

Milley spoke as the fighting increased, and Ukraine reported the collapse of a dam in southern Ukraine that both sides blamed on the other. (AP) PY

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Washington, Jun 6 (AP) The U.S. said Tuesday it is sanctioning a group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong associated with the alleged development of Iran's ballistic missile programme.

The network of seven people and six firms "facilitated procurement of sensitive and critical parts and technology for key actors in Iran's ballistic missile development, including Iran's defence ministry and its affiliated firms, according to the Treasury Department.

Among the sanctions targets are the China-based firm Zhejiang Qingji, which has allegedly sold centrifuges and other materials to an Iran-based firm affiliated with the nation's defence ministry.

Also designated for sanctions were several executives at Qingji and the Hong Kong-based Lingoe Process Engineering Limited, which Treasury said served as a front company for the Chinese firm.

Also named is Iran's Defense Attache in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, who is alleged to coordinate purchases from China for Iran end-users.

Among other things, the sanctions deny the people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the U.S. and prevent U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with them.

The latest round of financial penalties comes as Iran recently claimed that it has created a hypersonic missile capable of travelling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal as tensions remain high with the United States over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are also high amid months of anti-government protests in Iran and Western anger at Iran's export of attack drones to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

Brian E. Nelson, Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the U.S. will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Iran's ballistic missile production and other military programmes. (AP) VM
Damoh (MP), June 6, (PTI) Ink was thrown on the district education officer (DEO) of Damoh in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday by some BJP functionaries who accused him of favouring a private school which was at the centre of a row over headscarf allegedly being part of the uniform.

The incident occurred when DEO SK Mishra's vehicle was moving out of the office campus in the afternoon.

BJP's Damoh district vice president Amit Bajaj claimed responsibility for the ink attack.

The incident was condemned by Madhya Pradesh BJP unit president VD Sharma.

The state Education Department last week suspended the recognition of Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School following a controversy over a poster showing girls, including Hindu students, wearing headscarves that looked like hijab as part of the uniform.

A couple of students of the school alleged that Hindu students were being forced to wear hijabs and offer namaz in the school.

Initially, the DEO had given a clean chit to the school but the district collector later constituted a probe committee on the directives of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

After throwing the ink on the DEO, Bajaj alleged Mishra had tried to suppress the issue though he was aware of illegal activities in the school.

Reacting to the incident, Mishra said some suspects have thrown ink suddenly and he didn't know their names.

"But their faces are known. Their bills about school maintenance work remained pending due to late deposit and funds were lapsed," he claimed.

Mishra said he didn't conduct any inquiry into the school issue and had nothing to do with it directly as alleged.

Damoh Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Kumar Singh, said no complaint of an ink attack has been received so far.

The law is taking its own course in the Ganga Jamuna School incident and the guilty will be punished, but no one has the right to commit an act like throwing ink on a government official after being swayed by emotions. The BJP does not support such incidents, V D Sharma tweeted.

Following the incident, district BJP chief Pritam Singh Lodhi has issued a show cause notice to Bajaj, local functionary Monti Raikwar, and another leader for their involvement.
Bhopal, June 6 (PTI) Hindutva outfit Bajrang Sena on Tuesday merged with Congress in Madhya Pradesh months ahead of the Assembly polls alleging the BJP had come to power in the state by cheating the people's mandate and has deviated from the path.

Bajrang Sena (BS) leaders are close to former minister Deepak Joshi, who had quit BJP to join Congress.

The merger happened in the presence of MP Congress president Kamal Nath. The merger announcement was made by BS national president Rajnish Pateria and coordinator Raghunandan Sharma. Joshi was also present on the occasion.

BS members presented a mace and memorabilia to Nath and raised slogans of Jai Shriram.

Welcoming the development, Nath alleged chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is making hollow announcements as elections are approaching.

"Chouhan has made more than 20,000 announcements so far which are never implemented. As the assembly polls are nearing, Chouhan is now remembering women, youths and employees. He had done nothing for them in the last 18 years while in power," Nath claimed.

He said the people have decided to end the rule of BJP this time "which came to power by horse trading", apparently referring to the toppling of the Nath-led government in March 2020.

Pateria said a large number of workers who have joined Congress will ensure the defeat of the BJP, "which had come to power by cheating the people's mandate".

Bajrang Sena was founded in Chhatarpur in 2013. It used to agitate on religious and social issues.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress won 114 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP finished second by winning 109 seats. The Congress formed a coalition government with the support of Independents BSP, and SP.
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) An 18-year-old college student was found murdered in her hostel room in south Mumbai's Churchgate area on Tuesday evening, police said.

It was suspected that she had been sexually assaulted but it can be ascertained only after autopsy report is available, an official said.

The victim was a student of a government polytechnic in suburban Bandra, he said.

Police were alerted after she became untraceable in the afternoon with her fourth-floor hostel room locked from outside.

A police team which entered the room found her dead with a dupatta (stole) wrapped around her neck.

A security guard of the hostel was also untraceable and police have launched a manhunt for him, the official said.

An FIR for murder was registered at Marine Drive police station, he added.
Itanagar, Jun 6 (PTI) Five people were arrested on Tuesday in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district in connection with the incident of firing at the state's border with Assam in which two persons were killed, police said.

The accused were arrested, and kept at the Likabali police station, police spokesperson Rohit Rajbir Singh said.

They were identified as Bagam Tasso, Igip Tasso, Mikjom Tasso, Bompar Tasso and Yongam Nguba, he said.

"Police are trying to recover the weapons used in the incident, and interrogation is on to unearth the truth," he added.

Two persons died in Assam's Dhemaji district on Monday after alleged firing along the inter-state border.

People of Dhemaji had organised a plantation drive at the inter-state border area on the occasion of World Environment Day. Some villagers had gone in advance to make the arrangements. They allegedly came under firing, in which one person died on the spot, the Assam Police said.

Three others sustained bullet injuries and were taken to the Dhemaji Civil Hospital by locals, where one more person died, it said.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km-long border, and both sides have been engaging in discussions to resolve the boundary disputes.

An MoU was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal CM Pema Khandu on April 20 in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to resolve the border row.

In July last year, the two chief ministers signed the Namsai Declaration, setting in motion the efforts to solve the boundary

disputes.

Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a Union Territory in 1972, claims that several forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to the hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam.

After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter has been in the Supreme Court.
Kolkata, Jun 6 (PTI) All passengers were brought down from a plane at the NSC Bose International Airport here after a man started shouting before take-off that there was a bomb in the aircraft, airport sources said on Tuesday.

The Qatar Airways flight to London from here via Doha with 541 passengers on board was getting ready for take-off at 3.29 am on Tuesday when one passenger started shouting that there was a bomb in the plane, the sources said.

The airline crew immediately informed the CISF. All the passengers were brought down from the plane and the aircraft was thoroughly searched by police with sniffer dogs but nothing was found, the sources said.

The CISF detained the passenger who shouted bomb in the aircraft and questioned him.

During interrogation, the man said that another passenger on the plane told him that there was a bomb in the plane.

The father of the detained man was called to the Airport police station. The father showed some medical documents to police which stated that his son was undergoing treatment for mental illness.
In this piece, we will take a look at the 25 dirtiest cities in the U.S. You can skip our discussion and methodology details, head on over to 5 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.

The growth in industrialization and the convenience of countless products have significantly improved modern day living standards. More people have sufficient calories available to them, as well as affordable clothing and other amenities that were reserved for the rich of the past. However, at the same time, simple inventions for convenience, such as plastic bags, have created problems of their own - the biggest of which is trash and pollution.

In fact, plastic bags are some of the most passively dangerous objects invented by mankind. Since they are made from artificial raw materials, they do not decompose in the environment like other organic products. Instead, a plastic bag breaks down into smaller pieces, as part of a process called photodegradation which can take as much as two decades. This process leads to the production of microplastics, which then pose a hazard to animals who eat them. While 20 years is a long time, it is by far the shortest for the degradation of the variety of commonly used items. Data from the World Wildlife Fund Inc. (WWF) shows that while a plastic bag has a degradation life of twenty years, the worst offenders are diapers, coffee pods, and toothbrushes - all of which take a stunning 500 years to meet their end.

At the same time, increasing global population and urbanization are resulting in larger amounts of trash polluting the planet as well. Estimates from the World Bank suggest that the world is set to generate more than a billion tons of additional waste by 2050 over 2018 levels. The organization's What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 report shows that the world generated two billion tons of waste in 2016, and this is set to grow 70% by 2050 to sit at 3.4 billion tons. Additionally, and just as the case has been with greenhouse gas emissions, high income countries generate the highest percentage (34%) of the waste, with three North American countries - namely the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda - being the worst offenders and generating 2.21 kilograms per capita in waste daily on average and a maximum of 4.54 kg/capita/day. Adding to this, data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the U.S. ranks lowest globally in percentage terms of plastic recycling, but high in levels of incineration.

Building on this, the growing problem of trash has also created massive economic opportunities in cleaning up American cities. Coupled with technology, this has led to smart and innovative concepts such as smart waste bins, waste level sensors in dumpsters, kiosks and bins for electronic waste, and artificial intelligence powered robots. And one city, despite the flak that it gets for high levels of pollution, is New York City. New York has one of the largest trash and sanitation departments in the world, and the city is using smart garbage bins developed by Big Belly Inc of the neighboring Massachusetts. These bins use solar power and sensors to detect whether they are full or smelly - allowing trash collectors to optimize their collection routes using these alerts. At the same, the bins have the added benefit of being free WiFi hotspots for anyone that might need them. The bins have been a success if we believe data from Big Belly. The firm, citing the example of Times Square, explains that the bins have improved waste collection by 40% and reduced the time spent in collecting the bins by 50%.

Delving deeper into the use of technology to keep the dirtiest American cities clean, other cities are tackling their trash problems through the help of robotics. One such city is Sarasota, Florida where Single Stream Recyclers (SSR) is using an AI powered robot from AMP Robotics to sort food and beverage cartons for recycling. Another city that has tested a robot for trash collection is San Francisco, where the AI powered robot called Trashbot sorts recyclable items from non recyclable ones. Finally, trash interceptors have been quite a success in Baltimore, where they have kept thousands of pounds of trash from entering the harbor.

Finally, on a larger scale, executives of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) explained how technology is helping them optimize their waste collection during the firm's earnings call for the first quarter of 2023 where they outlined:

I dont know that were hearing a lot about tech because Im just not  I think theyre more focused on how do they keep drivers on the road. We are hearing that, and some of the companies that weve acquired are showing double the turnover that were showing. Its why we think theres an opportunity for us to take share  continue to take share, first, because I think the customer service product that we are providing is superior. When you are able to hold a lot of your drivers, it makes a big difference in that customer lifetime value proposition. So, we are hearing that, that turnover has become a consistent and recurring problem for a lot of those companies. I think the other thing that I would like to mention too is as we think about drivers, why its imperative that we bring technology to this labor pool. Its a shrinking labor pool. Weve talked about it a lot. The Gen Z doesnt want to drive trucks the way a Baby Boomer or Gen X did. So, how do we take advantage of that and the way we take advantage of it is by bringing technology to squeeze 5%, 10% maybe even 15% optimization out. And thats exactly what were doing in building an optimization tool that understands absolutely the best route to take. It understands things like location of carts. We finally now know where all of our assets are. It understands the expertise of drivers. I mean, theres a whole bunch of factors that go into a full optimization. And I guarantee theres not anybody else out there thats able to do that. It is not inexpensive to optimize that. But once we optimize it, then we become less reliant on labor. And its a labor-intensive business, and we have 25% turnover in those driver ranks. How do I take advantage of that? And its got to be through technology.

Waste Management isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, however, you can find out the best waste management stocks to buy here. With these details in mind, let's take a look at some of the dirtiest cities in the U.S.

25 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of the dirtiest cities in America, we used data from the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey (AHS) to sift out which cities and metropolitan areas have the lowest rates of trash reported by residents. Depending on the area, the data is from 2021, 2019, or 2013. The cities are ranked by the percentage of households reporting no trash, junk, or litter on the street half a block within their residence, and the lower the percentage score, the more dirty a city is. Finally, the data is for the metropolitan areas, but details for the largest cities are provided for added context.

25 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.

25. Dallas, Texas

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 91%

Dallas is one of the dirtiest cities in Texas and ranks among the list of the top ten most populous in America.

24. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 90%

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area houses more than three million people and is made of three cities. Tampa is one of the dirtiest cities in Florida.

23. Phoenix, Arizona

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 90%

Phoenix is the capital of, and the most populous city in Arizona with more than a million people living in its boundaries.

22. City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 90%

The City of Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma which houses two Fortune 500 companies.

21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 89%

Pittsburgh is one of the most iconic cities in America and has a vibrant industry made of food, steel, and other industries.

20. San Antonio, Texas

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 89%

San Antonio is one of the largest cities in America which a population of 1.4 million people.

19. Houston, Texas

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 89%

Houston is the most populous city in Texas and houses more than two million people.

18. City of San Jose, California

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

The City of San Jose is a technological hub in America and houses all kinds of technology companies.

17. Tucson, Arizona

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

Tucson is Arizona's second largest city and is known for housing the University of Arizona.

16. Rochester, New York

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

Rochester is a well developed city in New York and has a vibrant startup sector.

15. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

Milwaukee houses more than half a million people and houses several Fortune 500 companies.

14. Birmingham, Alabama

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

Birmingham has several large companies such as AT&T, Grapco, and other firms.

13. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 88%

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario is one of the largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S.

12. Chicago, Illinois

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 87%

Chicago is the third most populous city in America with a population of close to three million people.

11. Las Vegas, Nevada

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 87%

Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada and an economic hub in the state.

10. New Orleans, Louisiana

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 87%

New Orleans is a cultural hub in America and a major port city.

9. Memphis, Tennessee

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 86%

Memphis is Tennessee's second largest city and an important player in the aerospace industry.

8. Baltimore, Maryland

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 86%

Baltimore is the most populous city in Maryland and attracts millions of tourists each year.

7. Portland, Oregon

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 86%

Portland has one of the largest dry docks in America and houses more than half a million people.

6. Seattle, Washington

Percentage of Households Reporting No Trash: 86%

Seattle is a technology hub and one of the largest cities in Washington.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Dirtiest Cities in the U.S. is originally published on Insider Monkey.
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) Four men, including two brothers, were injured allegedly after some unidentified people opened fire at them in northeast Delhi's Jafrabad area, police said on Tuesday.

A video of the incident, which took place late Monday evening, went viral on social media.

Police got information around 9 pm about firing on Street Number-38, Jafrabad. When police reached the spot, they found empty cartridges lying there. They were informed that the injured were taken to Jag Pravesh Chandra hospital, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Sandhya Swami said.

A video of the purported incident is being circulated on social media. In the video, three people are seen walking on a street where the victims were sitting. Later, they return to the spot and open fire at the people sitting there. One of the victims collapses on the spot, while the others manage to run away.

The injured were identified as Sameer Khopad (20), Abdul Hasan (18), Arbaaz (25) and his brother Hamza (20), Swami said.

Khopad, Arbaaz and Hamza have previous involvements in criminal incidents. The injured have been referred to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital for further treatment, police said.

The CCTV cameras of the area are being checked and multiple teams have been formed to nab the culprits. It is also being checked whether the victims had any previous altercation or fight with anyone. The reason will be ascertained after the arrest of the accused, they added.
Chandigarh, Jun 6 (PTI) The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a fresh notice to the Punjab government over sexual misconduct allegations against state minister Lal Chand Kataruchak after the AAP dispensation failed to submit an action taken report to it despite the two prior notices.

In the third notice, issued on the directions of NCSC Chairman Vijay Sampla, the commission asked the Punjab chief secretary, the director general of police and the deputy inspector general (border range) Amritsar to immediately record the victim's statement through video conferencing or in-person in Delhi, provide him security, and also submit the action taken report by June 12.

The NCSC issued its first notice on May 5 following a complaint of sexual misconduct by a Gurdaspur-based male victim against Kataruchak, while it sent the second notice on May 25.

The commission has recommended to provide security to the petitioner... It has also recommended that the statement of the petitioner may be taken by video conference or in-person in Delhi. The action taken report is still awaited from the police/administration.

"It is therefore requested that the action taken report along with full facts of the case may be sent to the commission within seven days, said the latest notice of the NCSC.

The Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government is facing flak over the issue with the opposition parties demanding action against Kataruchak.

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit had recently also asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against Kataruchak.

Alleging that the minister has committed a "heinous crime", the governor had said Kataruchak does not have any right to stay in the Cabinet.

While quoting the victim's complaint, the NCSC had earlier said the minister allegedly approached the victim "by sending him a friend request on Facebook in 2013-14 and when he accepted it, Kataruchak allegedly started making advances."

"Since he was an influential person, he had promised me a government job due to which I remained mum. I was too young at that time to understand anything. But, his sexual excesses continued till 2021. However, he met me for the last time on Diwali in 2021 and he neither provided me with a job, nor met me after that," the victim had claimed in his complaint.

The Punjab Police had formed a three-member special investigation team after that to look into the "sexual misconduct" charge against the minister.

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira had handed over a "highly objectionable video clips of gross misconduct" of an AAP minister to the governor for forensic examination. However, he had not named the minister.

Purohit had then forwarded the forensic report of Kataruchak's "objectionable" video to Chief Minister Mann. According to a report, the video was not morphed.
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) A girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a boy whose family lived in the same house in east Delhi's New Ashok Nagar area as a tenant, police said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital informed police that a minor girl who has been sexually assaulted was undergoing treatment there.

The girl's parents alleged that a boy whose family lived in the same house as a tenant has assaulted the girl. A case under IPC section 376 (punishment for sexual assault) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered at New Ashok Nagar police station, the officer said.

The accused has been apprehended and sent to a child home. The statement of the victim will be recorded by a magistrate under CrPC section 164 on Tuesday. Further investigation was underway, police added.
Kota (Rajasthan) June 6 (PTI) Three sanitation workers on Tuesday died of suffocation while cleaning a newly laid sewage chamber on Balita Road under Kunhari Police Station here, officials said.

Out of the four workers who had entered the chamber, one of them survived and was rushed to a hospital, they said. The incident occurred between 3.30 pm and 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon, they added.

The deceased, identified as Kamal, (25), Kiresi (26), Galiya (24) -- all from Jhabua district in Bihar -- were employed by a contractor of Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Programme (RUIDP), police said.

The four men had climbed down the chamber for initial cleaning of the chamber with a sewer jetting machine, superintendent engineer, RUIDP Rakesh Garg said.

The sewerage line work on Balita road was complete and house-to-house connection of the line was underway, he said.

According to police, Ravi -- one of the workers in the sewage chamber -- felt suffocated and climbed out of it and informed those outside, following which a rescue team from Kota Municipal Corporation was rushed to the spot. The three men, who were still in the chamber -- 25 feet from the ground -- were rushed to a hospital, where they were declared brought dead.

ADM City Brijmohan Bairwa, ASP Praveen Jain, DSP Shankar Lal also rushed to the spot. ADM Bairwa said a committee would be formed to probe the incident and action would be taken accordingly.

An investigation into the incident is underway, ASP Jain said. He said a case would be lodged based on the complaint by the kin of the deceased. The bodies of the three men have been sent for post-mortem, he added.
Dehradun, Jun 6 (PTI) More than 1,000 candidates were appointed as constables in the Uttarakhand Police on Tuesday, officials said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami handed over the appointment letters to 55 of them at a programme held at the police lines here, they added.

These recruitments were effected in the state police after a gap of nearly seven years, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said.

A total of 1,425 candidates were appointed as constables in different cadres of the police force, including district police, Provincial Armed Constabulary, India Reserve Battalion and the fire services.

The chief minister wished the newly-appointed constables all the best and said the recruitments for the remaining 1,550 vacancies at the level of a constable will also be started soon.

The Uttarakhand government is determined to make the state police a modern and smart force in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhami said.

"The Uttarakhand Police has created a unique identity for itself in terms of friendliness, service and security. Apart from taking care of the state's own population, it also takes care of thousands of devotees coming daily for the Char Dham yatra," he said.
Aizawl, Jun 6 (PTI) A special (Prevention of Corruption Act) court in Aizawl sentenced a 45-year-old man to five years imprisonment in a corruption case.

The special court also slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on Mustaqur Rahman, the co-accused in the corruption case involving Rs 268 lakh in a public sector firm.

Last week, special judge HTC Lalrinchhana had convicted Rahman on charge of misappropriation of funds, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

The court pronounced the quantum of punishment on Monday.

Rahman, who hails from Guwahati, had misused his position as a consultant at the government-owned Mizoram Agriculture Marketing Corporation (MAMCO).

He was arrested with his co-accused Lalremthanga, former managing director of MAMCO in 2015 for misappropriating Rs 268 lakh.

Lalremthanga was convicted by the same court in November last year and was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment besides a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
Pathanamthitta (Kerala), June 6 (PTI) The Aranmula Mirror, a metallurgical wonder and GI-protected centuries-old handicraft from Kerala, whose priced pieces adorn the British Museum and Buckingham Palace, is now under threat from the effects of climate change.





The 2018 floods and the extreme rainfall events that continue to trouble Kerala have depleted a key raw material  the clay from the river Pamba's basin  used to create the casts that make the one-of-its-kind handicraft, say its craftsmen.





Known as the Aranmula Kannadi (mirror) in Malayalam, as it is a product of the temple town of Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district, the metal alloy mirror was given a geographical indication tag in 2004-2005 for its super exclusivity.





Made by the finest craftsmen for generations, the unique product has been given on many occasions as a gift to heads of state visiting India by Indian authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his visit to the UK in November 2015, presented an Aranmula Kannadi to then British First Lady Samantha Cameron.





But now the artisans who make the true-reflection mirror are finding it hard to source the clay with the requisite qualities, as the past few years' floods and landslides in the area have changed the chemical and physical properties of the soil in Aranmula Village.





"The quality of the soil has changed after the 2018 floods. Earlier, we used to take the topsoil from the fields to make the casts for the mirror. Now we have to dig deeper to get the soil that we require, and even that is of poor quality," Manoj S, who has been making Aranmula Mirrors for the past 20 years, told PTI.





Manoj and his family live in a house close to the river Pamba in Aranmula, where the mirror-making unit is also located. His house, a one-storied building, was completely submerged in water during the 2018 floods.





"The floods have deposited huge amounts of silt on the soil, causing damage to the original soil here, which is essential for making Aranmula mirrors," Manoj said.





The Kerala Soil Survey Department also confirms the changes in the chemical and physical properties of the soil in flood-affected areas of Kerala.





"Our study after the 2018 floods in 13 districts has identified significant changes in soil quality. The quality of the soil in the Pamba basin, where Aranmula is located, has deteriorated significantly," V Justin, Assistant Director, Soil Survey Department, Pathanamthitta, told PTI.





Extreme rain events can worsen the situation, he adds.





Topsoil erosion and silt deposits during flash floods could cause a major problem in areas like Aranmula. If these areas get flooded again, more silt will get deposited and contaminants could further alter the soil characteristics, he said.





"Large quantities of sand, silt, and clay were seen deposited on the surface soils of the affected panchayats. The thickness of deposition varied from 2cm to 10cm. Soil crusting was also reported from these depositional areas," the study titled, 'Soil Health Status of Kerala in Post Flood Scenario' said.





According to the study, in Pathanamthitta district, there was a change in the texture of the soil, from clay loam to sandy clay loam. The study also identified increasing acidity in the soil after the floods as a major problem and found that there was a great imbalance in the chemical components in the soil.





"The soil we use should have the right level of stickiness so that the cast would hold properly in extreme temperatures. The soil we get now cracks easily, and that damages our mirror while moulding," Sooraj Acharya, who runs Sundar Handicrafts, one of the 26 traditional mirror-making units left in Aranmula, said.





The clay discs made from the soil -- which are now often turning into a grainy paste -- and are baked at a high temperature, are integral to getting a good-quality mirror.





These discs are reused several times, and if the quality of clay is not good, they can crack, leaking out the hot metal mixture for the mirror from the clay cast.





A mixture of tin and white lead for the mirror is filled up in the clay cast, containing the clay discs, and then heated up. Once the metal mixture is melted, the clay cast is turned over, allowing the melted metal mixture to flow into the space between the discs. It is then cooled and taken out.





"A smooth-surfaced mirror has to come out, and for that the quality of the clay cast and discs is paramount. With the present soil quality, we lose at least 10 to 15 mirrors when we cast 50 of them," Sindhu G, president of the association of Aranmula Mirror workers, and a traditional mirror maker, said.





The metals used and their proportion in the alloy are secrets that have traditionally been passed down through generations.



Though the Soil Survey Department has been studying the deterioration of soil quality in Kerala after the floods and due to the effects of climate change, they are yet to take up the concerns of the Aranmula mirror workers.





"We were unaware of the problems faced by the artisans due to the deteriorating soil quality. We will propose a detailed study in this regard with the permission of the director and will explore means to conserve the required quality of the soil for the artisans of Aranmula," Justin told PTI.
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) Two youths have been arrested for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old man to death over personal enmity in south Delhi's Neb Sarai, police said on Tuesday.

Sachin, a resident of Raju Park in Devli, was stopped by the two accused -- Devraj and Ayush Thapa both 18-year-old -- near his house around 11:30 am on Monday and stabbed him following an altercation, a police official said.

The victim was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre by his brother and family members where he was declared dead, police said.

The accused were identified following CCTV footage analysis and apprehended, the senior police officer said, adding the weapon used in the crime has been seized.

According to the officer, the victim and accused had a quarrel last year following which Sachin had threatened them with dire consequences which might be the motive behind the crime.

A video of the purported incident has surfaced on social media showing two persons attacking the man on a street. The duo kept attacking Sachin while he tried to save himself, the video showed.
Noida, Jun 6 (PTI) A vendor has been arrested here after a video surfaced online purportedly showing him sprinkling drain water on coconuts, officials said on Tuesday.

The video surfaced online on Sunday and was widely shared on social media, In-charge of the local Bisrakh police station Anil Kumar Rajput told PTI.

"The accused has been booked under Indian Penal Code section 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life)," he said.

According to police, accused Sameer (28) is from the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.

In the video, Sameer was purportedly seen collecting water from a drain and sprinkling it on tender coconuts kept on his cart.
Srinagar, Jun 6 (PTI) The principal of a government school here was arrested on Tuesday in a case of molestation, police said.

The government employee was also suspended and an inquiry ordered after the allegations of molestation were levelled against him.

Shabir Ahmad Mir, resident of Zadibal area of the Srinagar city, working as principal at the Government Higher Secondary School at Gund Hassi Bhat, was taken into custody after police registered a case against him.

The Srinagar Police, in a tweet, said a case under Indian Penal Code sections 354D (stalking), 294 (obscene acts or using obscene language) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered at Shalteng Police Station.

Meanwhile, the School Education Department suspended Mir and ordered an inquiry against him.

In an order, the Principal Secretary School Education Department, Alok Kumar, asked the Director School Education to conduct the inquiry and submit a report.

"Pending inquiry into his conduct, Mr. Shabir Ahmad Mir, Principal Government BHSS Gund Hassi Bhat, Srinagar is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect in pursuance of Rule 31 of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956. The said officer is attached with Director School Education Kashmir," the order read.

It said the Director School Education Kashmir shall conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a detailed report along with his recommendations.
Just ten years ago, there were no openly LGBTQ Fortune 500 CEOs. That wouldnt change until Apple CEO Tim Cook came out as gay in October 2014.

I dont consider myself an activist, but I realize how much Ive benefited from the sacrifice of others, Cook penned in an essay for Bloomberg, published just eight months before the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage a constitutional right. Cook, who is infamously guarded about his personal life, hadnt previously disclosed his sexuality publicly. If hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then its worth the trade-off with my own privacy.

Now, nearly nine years later, three additional openly LGBTQ executives sit atop Fortune 500 companies: Dow Chemicals CEO Jim Fitterling, Macys CEO Jeffrey Gennette, and Land OLakes CEO Beth Ford. (French-American beauty company Coty, helmed since 2020 by Sue Nabi, who is transgender, has not appeared on the Fortune 500 since its 2021 rank at No. 426.)

These Fortune 500 execs are joined by other openly LGBTQ CEOs at major global companies. Anne Richards has led the U.K.-based investment management firm Fidelity International since December 2018, and entrepreneur Martine Rothblatt, who is transgender, is the founder and CEO of United Therapeutics, a publicly-traded biotech company that brought in $1.94 billion in revenue in 2022.

While corporate America has made strides, albeit meager, toward LGBTQ representation in the near-decade since Cooks Bloomberg essay, its far from an inclusive space for these employees. A recent Indeed survey on the LGBTQ worker experience found that only 30.7% of respondents are fully out at work (defined as out to everyone in the workplace). Those who arent out cited fear of discrimination as a top reason for not disclosing.

While its not a fix-all for LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, many CEOs have recognized the significance of disclosing their LGBTQ identity. "I made a decision long ago to live an authentic life, and if my being named CEO helps others do the same, that's a wonderful moment," Land OLakes Ford told CNN in 2018, the same year she became CEO.

Below are the four openly LGBTQ CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies:

Tim Cook

Company: Apple Inc.

Tenure: Since August 2011

2023 rank: No. 4

Cook has said he has no regrets about coming out in 2014. In the years since, hes spoken on LGBTQ issues and publicly expressed concern over anti-LGBTQ bills. Apple has also lobbied against recent anti-LGBTQ laws in Iowa, Florida, and Texas.

Jim Fitterling

Company: Dow Inc.

Tenure: Since September 2018

2023 rank: No. 75

Fitterling was named CEO of the material sciences company in March 2018, following its spinoff as an independent company from the Dow DuPont merger in 2017. A Dow employee since 1984, Fitterling first came out to close colleagues after a cancer diagnosis in 2008. He then came out to all employees in 2014. I was going through several surgeries, a years worth of chemo, he told Bloomberg in 2019. I started to look around and say, You know, Im going to have to make some changes in my life. And one day, I was thinking about a lot of stresses that I needed to reduce and one of them was trying to live two different lives.

Jeffrey Gennette

Company: Macys, Inc.

Tenure: Since March 2017

2023 rank: No. 158

Gennette has been out professionally since his first day at Macys on July 5, 1983. He recalls people warning him that being openly gay could be a deterrent to his career and received advice from a mentor to be less transparent about his sexuality if he wanted to get ahead in his career. He refused to heed the advice and still rose through the ranks, becoming chief merchandising officer in 2009 and president in 2014, before his current title. Gennette announced earlier this year that he plans to retire in February 2024.

Beth Ford

Company: Land OLakes

Tenure: Since August 2018

2023 rank: No. 213

Ford became the first openly gay woman to lead a Fortune 500 company upon her appointment as CEO of the Minnesota-based food and agriculture company in August 2018. She was previously chief operating officer at Land OLakes and held executive roles at Scholastic, Hachette Book Group, and International Flavors and Fragrances. Ford, married to Minnesota State Board of Investment executive director and chief investment officer Jill Schurtz, has been out her entire professional life. Shes been named to every Fortune Most Powerful Women list since 2018, coming in at No. 31 last year.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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CAMERON CONWAY, Wheeler Golf, Junior; Conway shot an 82 at the ECC golf championships helping the Lions to a third-place finish. Wheeler trailed only Killingly and East Lyme.

STONINGTON BOYS TENNIS; Stonington defeated Nonnewaug, 6-1, to earn the Class S state title, the first boys championship in school history. Stonington (19-1) won 26 of its 28 matches in four state tournament contests.

RACHEL FEDERICO, Westerly, Girls Track, Senior; Federico scored in two events at the state track championships. She was second in the discus (119-7) and third in the shot put (33-3).

ELI SPOSATO & ERIN VONHOUSEN, Chariho Track, Juniors; Sposato earned the state track title in the 400 with a time of 50.09. VonHousen was the state champion in the 3,000 in 10:05.31. It was the first state championships for both runners.

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Two soldiers were injured after a Palestinian terrorist rammed his vehicle into troops in Huwara in the northern West Bank on Monday evening. The terrorist fled the scene in the vehicle.

One soldier was moderately injured while another sustained light injuries, the Israel Defense Forces said. The moderately injured soldier was taken to Israels Beilinson hospital for treatment.

The IDF carried out a search of the area for the terrorist. A short time later, IDF forces identified the suspect vehicle, and a chase ensued. The terrorist was caught and taken into custody. A knife was found in his vehicle.

The terrorist was handed over to security personnel for interrogation.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Greystones, Ireland  In a bid to protect their childrens innocence and prolong childhood, parents in the coastal town of Greystones have come together to support a voluntary ban on smartphones for kids until they reach their teen years. The ban, which has garnered widespread support, aims to reduce anxiety and exposure to adult materials often associated with smartphone usage.

Parents associations in the districts eight primary schools, catering to children aged 4 to 12, have the option to opt into the ban, extending its enforcement beyond school premises to the childrens homes. Although some parents have chosen not to participate, enough have joined in to make a meaningful difference, according to Rachel Harper, a primary school principal who spearheaded the initiative.

If everyone does it across the board, you dont feel like youre the odd one out. It makes it so much easier to say no. The longer we can preserve their innocence, the better, said Laura Bourne, a parent of a child in primary school.

The ban not only addresses the use of smartphones in schools, where restrictions were already in place, but also aims to tackle the lingering impact of social media on children. By implementing the ban uniformly, the hope is that it will become the new norm in Greystones, as expressed by Harper.

Support for the ban has reached beyond parents, with the countrys health minister, Stephen Donnelly, voicing his approval in an op-ed for the Irish Times. Donnelly, who resides near Greystones and is a parent himself, emphasized the need for Ireland to lead in safeguarding children from harm in the digital world.

Ireland can be, and must be, a world leader in ensuring that children and young people are not targeted and are not harmed by their interactions with the digital world, Donnelly wrote. We must make it easier for parents to limit the content their children are exposed to.

Concerns about the effects of smartphone usage on children are mounting as ongoing studies examine potential long-term impacts on the developing brain. A study by the National Institutes of Health has already indicated that children spending more than two hours in front of screens daily perform poorly on tests assessing thinking and language skills.

Furthermore, a 2019 study published in a peer-reviewed pediatric medical journal supported the theory that excessive screen exposure in preschool-aged children may be linked to lower brain development.

In a similar move, a town in India has implemented a ban on smartphone usage for individuals under the age of 18, imposing a small financial penalty for violators. Additionally, a village in India has introduced an evening digital detox, prohibiting smartphone use for children and adults alike from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, as reported by the Times of India.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Living in New York City, working full time and without a car, Jessica Ray and her husband have come to rely on deliveries of food and just about everything else for their home. It has meant more free time on weekends with their young son, rather than standing in line for toilet paper or dragging heavy bags of dog food back to their apartment.

I dont even know where to buy dog food, said Jessica Ray of the specialty food she buys for the familys aging dog.

There are millions of families like the Rays who have swapped store visits for doorstep deliveries in recent years, meaning that contentious labor negotiations now underway at UPS could become vastly more disruptive than the last time it happened in 1997, when a scrappy upstart called Amazon.com became a public company.

UPS delivers millions more packages every day than it did just five years ago and its 350,000 unionized workers, represented by the Teamsters, still seethe about a contract they feel was forced on them in 2018.

In an environment of energized labor movements and lingering resentment among UPS workers, the Teamsters are expected to dig in, with the potential to cow a major logistical force in the U.S.

The 24 million packages UPS ships on an average day amounts to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes, or as UPS puts it, the equivalent of about 6% of nations gross domestic product.

Higher prices and long wait times are all but certain if there is an impasse.

Somethings got to give, said Thomas Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee. The python cant swallow the alligator, and thats going to be felt by all of us.

In other words, brace yourself for Supply Chain Breakdown: The Sequel.

In the second half of 2021, the phrase global supply chain began to enter casual conversations as the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses struggled to get what they needed, raising prices and wait times. Automakers held vehicles just off the assembly line because they didnt have all the parts.

Some of those problems still linger and a strike at UPS threatens to extend the suffering.

Those who have come to rely on doorstep deliveries for the basic may have to rethink weekly schedules.

We finally reached a point where we finally feel pretty good about it, Ray said. We can take a Saturday afternoon and do a fun family activity and not feel the burden of making everything work for the day-to-day functioning of our household.

UPS workers feel they have played a part in the transformation of how Americans shop since the last contract was ratified in 2018, while helping to make UPS a much more valuable company.

Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were before the pandemic. The Atlanta company returned about $8.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks in 2022, and forecasts another $8.4 billion for shareholders this year.

The Teamsters say frontline UPS workers deserve some of that windfall.

Our members worked really hard over the pandemic, said Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz. They need to see their fair share.

Union members rejected the contract they were offered in 2018, but it was pushed through by union leadership based on a technicality. The acrimony over the current contract was so fierce that last year workers rejected a candidate to lead the Teamsters favored by longtime union head James Hoffa, instead choosing the more combative Sean OBrien.

OBrien went on a nationwide tour of local Teamsters shops preparing frontline workers ahead of negotiations.

In addition to addressing part-time pay, and what workers say is excessive overtime, the union wants to eliminate a contract provision that created two separate hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. Driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, is also in the mix.

A win at UPS could have implications for the organized labor outside the company.

Teamsters are attempting to organize Amazon workers and dozens of company delivery drivers and dispatchers in California joined the union last month. There are also prominent labor organization campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joes, Apple, even strippers at a dance club in Los Angeles.

This has just huge implications for the entire labor movement in the United States, said John Logan, the director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University, referring to labor talks at UPS. Theres greater assertiveness and militancy on the part of a lot of young labor activists and some sectors of the labor establishment. Sean OBrien is representative of that.

When dozens of UPS locals met with Teamsters leadership early this year, OBrien delivered a message of urgency.

Were going into these negotiations with a clear message to UPS that were not going past August 1, OBrien told the gathering.

It would be the first work stoppage since a walkout by 185,000 workers crippled the company a quarter century ago.

UPS CEO Carol Tome has remained optimistic publicly, telling investors recently that the company and the Teamsters were not far apart on major issues.

While we expect to hear a great deal of noise during the negotiation, I remain confident that a win-win-win contract is very achievable and that UPS and the Teamsters will reach agreement by the end of July, Tome said.

If Tome is wrong, Americans may need to put aside more time to shop like they used to do.

It has the potential to be significantly impactful, Ray said. My husband and I have invested a lot in figuring out how to remove the burden of just making sure we always have toilet paper.

(AP)




The International Atomic Energy Agency will never politicize its work in Iran, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Monday, insisting after Israels prime minister accused it of capitulating to Iranian pressure that his agency has been very fair but firm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus comments came after a confidential report from the IAEA last week said that its investigators had closed off their investigation of traces of man-made uranium found at Marivan, near the city of Abadeh, about 525 kilometers (325 miles) southeast of Tehran.

Analysts had repeatedly linked Marivan to a possible secret Iranian military nuclear program and accused Iran of conducting high-explosives tests there in the early 2000s.

Iran is continuing to lie to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agencys capitulation to Iranian pressure is a black stain on its record, Netanyahu told his Cabinet in televised remarks on Sunday.

If the IAEA becomes a political organization, then its oversight activity in Iran is without significance, as will be its reports on Irans nuclear activity, Netanyahu said.

Asked on Monday about that criticism, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that his agencys work is neutral, it is impartial, it is technical.

We will always say things as they are, Grossi told reporters on the first day of a regular meeting in Vienna of the IAEA board of governors.

Grossi added that he would never enter into a polemic with the head of government of a member of the IAEA. We never politicize. We have our standards and apply them always, he said.

The politicization is in the eye of the beholder, Grossi added.

Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, and Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he wouldnt allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. He has said international diplomacy should be accompanied by a serious military option, and hinted that Israel would be prepared to strike Iran on its own if necessary.

Before Netanyahus comments, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat said in a statement on Friday that the explanations provided by Iran for the presence of nuclear material at the Marivan site are not reliable or technically possible.

But Grossi insisted that the IAEA will never, ever water down its safeguards standards.

We have been strict, technically impartial and, as I like to say, very fair but firm, he said.

Analysts had repeatedly linked Marivan to a possible clandestine Iranian military nuclear program that the IAEA, the West and other countries say was abandoned in 2003. They had accused Iran of conducting high-explosives tests there in the early 2000s.

Last weeks IAEA report said that another member state operated a mine at the area in the 1960s and 1970s under the rule of then Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, without elaborating.

Iran had argued the uranium traces could have come from laboratory instruments and equipment used by miners at the site. The IAEA called the answer a possible explanation.

The IAEA is still seeking explanations on the origin and current location of the man-made uranium particles found at two other sites in Iran, Varamin and Turquzabad.

Tehran has long denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and continues to insist that its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes.

(AP)




The CDC is warning Americans that those without Covid-19 booster shots are likely running low on antibodies to fight infection of the virus, but most still arent biting.

Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, told Fox News that the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine can offer significant protection, but not for very long.

For adults, the vaccine effectiveness dropped from 62% at two months after vaccination to 24% at four to six months for protection against COVID-19 hospitalization, Johnson said. Durability was better for preventing critical COVID-19 disease, at 50% at four to six months after vaccination.

Despite the CDC recommendation that all individuals aged 12 years and older who have been vaccinated should receive a booster dose, the overwhelming majority of Americans have not received it. As of May 10th, only 20.5% of U.S. adults had received a bivalent booster dose. Additionally, the CDC revealed that most individuals within this group had received their last vaccine dose over a year ago.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Lawyers for Donald Trump met with Justice Department officials on Monday as a decision nears on whether to bring charges over the handling of classified documents at the former presidents Florida estate.

The Trump lawyers two weeks ago requested a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland to raise concerns about what they alleged was prosecutorial misconduct and overreach by the team led by special counsel Jack Smith. But a defense attorney meeting with Justice Department officials is also often used as an opportunity to try to persuade them against bringing criminal charges.

A trio of Trump attorneys  James Trusty, John Rowley and Lindsey Halligan  exited the Justice Department building in Washington on Monday morning after more than an hour inside. They got into a black sport utility vehicle and did not respond to reporters questions.

It was not immediately clear who from the Justice Department attended the meeting. Spokespeople for Smith and the Justice Department had no immediate comment on the meeting.

After it ended, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform in capital letters: How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong when no other presidents have been charged. He referenced the investigation into his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton, which ended without criminal charges, and a separate ongoing probe into the presence of classified documents at an office and home of President Joe Biden. And he characterized it as a witch hunt.

Unlike in the Trump investigation, though, Bidens representatives initially alerted the Justice Department to the discovery of classified documents and consented to voluntary FBI searches. The FBI in the Trump investigation obtained a search warrant in August and recovered about 100 additional classified documents from Mar-a-Lago.

The investigation into the potential mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago is believed to be near its end, with a charging decision likely soon. Prosecutors have placed a broad cross-section of witnesses, including lawyers for Trump and close aides, before a grand jury.

Besides the Mar-a-Lago investigation, Smith is leading a separate probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Its not clear when or if charges might be brought.

(AP)
vorDa / Getty Images

Given that the future is always uncertain, planning for it can seem a little daunting. Or worse, something you can keep putting off indefinitely. However, this is all valuable time that could be spent shoring up your financial situation to help plan for your retirement.

Read More: 10 Brilliant Ways To Reduce Your Taxes in Retirement

See: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement

For anyone whos been kicking the retirement can down the road for a while, starting to plan now can help ensure a financially secure future. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there. To help navigate the sometimes-complicated road to retirement, GOBankingRates spoke with several financial experts about what baby boomers can  and should  be doing to plan for their futures.

Get a Grasp of Your Finances

First, if youre going to start seriously planning for your future, you have to understand whats going on in your present. Finances are no different. Jill Fopiano, CEO of OBrien Wealth Partners, admits that while retirement seemed very far off in the future when we were in our 20s and 30s  maybe even our 40s, it starts to loom larger from there.

There are some pretty critical years immediately preceding retirement where you may have to trade immediate gratification for future security, Fopiano continued. Its time to take a hard look at your lifestyle now  and where you may be able to pare back some expenses  with a view towards the longer term. Getting a real grasp on your expenses, and sticking with a budget, can really impact your retirement savings.

Get Out of Debt

A key principle in saving money is making sure you dont owe anything. According to Paul Tyler, CMO of Nassau Financial Group, that means paying off anything you owe as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Take your first lesson from the Squid Game and get out of debt as quickly as you can, Tyler said. This includes all credit card debt, school loans, and even the mortgage on your home. The savings from interest payments can rapidly increase your retirement savings.

If debts not a concern, Tyler still recommends that you suck in your stomach and save a little bit extra in the coming year.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

Set a Retirement Date

As you get a grasp of your current financial situation, setting permanent goals is an important next step. Namely, the date on which you actually plan to retire. Wilson Coffman of Coffman Retirement Group said to get a clear understanding of what the health care costs are going to be in retirement.

For homeowners, this also means creating a plan to have your home paid off at your set date of your retirement, which will also help you become free of debt. Use a mortgage calculator and add to your principal payment each month to hit your payoff goal.

Use a Financial Planning Tool

The path to saving for retirement is not a straight one and can involve several steps over many years. However, the technology exists to help, as Personal Capitals Chief Investment Officer Craig Birk explained.

For many, retirement is the most expensive savings goal in their lives, Birk said. And its a long game. In retirement planning, theres a lot of nuance and personal decision involved. Fortunately, technology and fiduciary advice can help bring the process into clear focus. Using a good retirement planning tool can be extremely valuable in planning savings or withdrawal rates, as well as investment strategies.

Birk also adds that as financial life becomes increasingly complicated, there are some basic strategies to adhere to. First, know where you stand. Second, set concrete, timely goals. When thats done, he recommends periodically check in with your short-term and long-term goals to make sure that youre hitting the mark.

Take Advantage of Your 401(k)

One of the easiest ways to help shore up your retirement fund is to utilize a 401(k) if your employer provides one. This is especially true if the employer matches your contributions, as Matthew Stratman, a financial advisor at Western International Securities explained.

This is free money that you should take advantage of to help give your retirement saving a boost, Stratman said. Make sure you are contributing up to the maximum amount that your employer matches. For example, if your employer matches up to 3 percent of your salary, make sure you contribute that amount to receive the full match from your employer.

Fopiano also pointed out that contribution limits for employer-sponsored retirement plans have been increased by 1,000 to 20,500 for 2022, with an additional 6,500 catch up contribution allowed for people over age 50. This means theres more opportunity than ever to start saving.

Consider Delaying Retirement

When planning for the future, a few years can make a big difference. Oak View Law Group consumer finance attorney Lyle Solomon didnt recommend putting off retirement indefinitely, but rather for a more extended period.

Adding a few years to your retirement plan can make a tremendous difference in your long-term financial security, Solomon said. Working longer permits you to continue contributing to your retirement savings, accumulating additional amounts that can be invested. And every year you earn more money from your job is a year youre not depleting your retirement savings.

Start Looking at Social Security Planning

An important step in planning for retirement is Social Security Planning, specifically when to take your social security payments. Evan Press, managing partner at Pacific Coast Wealth Strategies recommends holding off on payments as long as possible.

Delaying your payment each year from age 62-70 gets you an 8% increase each year you delay. This can have a profound effect on what you collect and your ability to retire comfortably, Press explained. Delaying is typically recommended as long as possible unless there is a health concern. The breakeven on waiting to collect until age 70, is roughly age 80. This means if you live past 80, you are better off waiting [until] age 70 to collect. This plays a role if a spouses social security is much less than the retirees.

Solomon also pointed out that working three more years after turning 66 can improve yearly retirement income from Social Security and savings by 50 percent or more. Which is something to consider when looking toward a comfortable retirement.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Easy Ways Every Boomer Can Catch Up on Retirement Savings




A former FBI agent who took more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Russia and the former Soviet Union in one of the most notorious spying cases in American history died in prison Monday.

Robert Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, and later pronounced dead, prison officials said.

Hanssen is believed to have died of natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of Hanssens death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges in 2001.

He had begun providing highly classified national security information to Moscow in 1985, and got more than $1.4 million worth of cash, bank funds and diamonds in exchange over the course of 16 years, according to an FBI history of his case.

The FBI has been notified of Hanssens death, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He had been serving time in Colorado since July 2002.

(AP)




New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Monday that he will not seek the presidency in 2024, arguing that Republican candidates with no path to victory must have the courage to get out of their partys increasingly crowded primary to stop former President Donald Trump.

The 48-year-old governor, who has emerged as a frequent Trump critic, made the announcement on CNN and followed up with a social media post and an op-ed in the Washington Post.

I will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024, Sununu tweeted. The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen.

Sununu was among a small group of Republican officials still openly contemplating a presidential bid. Even with his decision, the 2024 GOP White House field will be large.

Earlier Monday, former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork declaring his campaign for president. He joined a field that includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to launch his own campaign Tuesday evening in New Hampshire, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will announce his bid Wednesday in Fargo.

Sununu has said he would endorse the GOPs ultimate nominee in 2024, but argued in the op-ed that Republican must embrace a course correction away from Trump.

If he is the nominee, Republicans will lose again. Just as we did in 2018, 2020 and 2022. This is indisputable, and I am not willing to let it happen without a fight, Sununu wrote, charging that Trump failed to deliver on promises to drain the swamp, secure the border and instill fiscal discipline while in office. He also noted Trumps many legal challenges.

Trumps team has been delighted by the size of the Republican presidential field, believing the more candidates there are the easier path hell have to the partys nomination.

In 2016, Trump was able to win New Hampshires first-in-the-nation presidential primary with just 35% of the vote because more than a half dozen Republican opponents divided up the remainder.

No one can stop candidates from entering this race, but candidates with no path to victory must have the discipline to get out. Anyone polling in the low single digits by this winter needs to have the courage to hang it up and head home, Sununu wrote. Too many other candidates who have entered this race are simply running to be Trumps vice president.

Sununu, who was recently elected to his fourth two-year term as New Hampshire governor, did not rule out a future run after 2024.

By not running next year, he said, he planned to speak with a little more of an unleashed voice to make the Republican Party bigger.

(AP)




The chairman of the House Oversight Committee plans to move forward this week with holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress.

Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer said a more-than-hourlong briefing he received Monday from bureau officials about an unverified law enforcement tip against President Joe Biden does not amount to compliance with a subpoena.

FBI officials came to the Capitol on Monday to brief Comer, R-Ky., and Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the panel, about a June 2020 document that purportedly relates to Biden and his family.

The briefing was conducted privately in a secure space because FBI officials say the several-page form contains sensitive information.

The FBI again refused to hand over the unclassified record to the custody of the House Oversight Committee, Comer told reporters after the briefing. And we will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters he would bring the contempt resolution against Wray, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, to the floor if it passes the committee.

In response, the FBI said in a statement that the escalation to a contempt vote was unwarranted considering the bureau had continuously demonstrated its commitment to accommodate the committees request, while protecting the safety of sources and integrity of ongoing investigations.

The White House called the decision by Comer to move forward with contempt another fact-free stunt intended to spread thin innuendo to try to damage the President politically and get himself media attention.

Comer initially wrote Wray on May 3 with GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. They said they had been informed that the FBI has a document that describes an alleged criminal scheme involving Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions when Biden was vice president.

The word alleged was used three times in the opening paragraph of the letter and Comer offered no evidence of the veracity of the accusations or any details about what they contend are highly credible unclassified whistleblower disclosures.

The document Republicans are focused on is whats known as an FD-1023, which agents use to record unverified tips and information they receive from confidential human sources. The FBI says such documents can contain uncorroborated and incomplete information, and that record of a tip does not validate the information.

The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify what is contained in the document.

Comer subpoenaed Wray for a copy of the document and warned he would be prepared to hold him in contempt of Congress if he didnt provide it. In response, FBI officials scheduled what they called an extraordinary accommodation and gave Comer access to the document in a format and setting that maintains confidentiality and protects important security interests and the integrity of FBI investigations.

But Comer told reporters the briefing Monday was not enough for him. He said the FBI needs to physically hand over the record to the committee, which, for confidentiality reasons, it has refused to do.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Comer and Raskin gave differing and conflicting accounts about what they heard in the room.

Raskin said FBI officials told them the unverified tip against Biden relates to information that former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani provided to the Justice Department in 2020 about the business dealings of Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in Ukraine. Hunter Biden worked on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.

Raskin described the allegation in the document as secondhand hearsay by individuals in Ukraine that the department had reviewed and found no reason to pursue further in a preliminary investigation.

The source, who has been described as highly credible by the FBI, told the FBI he could not provide any opinion on the underlying veracity of the information provided by these Ukrainian individuals, Raskin said in a statement late Monday.

He added that releasing the document to the public would be a dangerous thing because it could endanger the confidentiality of law enforcement sources.

Comer said the document contains allegations that show a pattern of bribery in the Biden family that is consistent with other claims the committee is investigating.

The Kentucky lawmaker has said repeatedly that anything short of producing the document would not be in compliance with the subpoena he issued last month. A contempt of Congress charge would require a full committee vote to send the resolution to the House floor. If the House were to hold Wray in contempt, it would be up to the Justice Department  where Wray works  to decide whether to prosecute him.

Pressed by reporters on why a contempt charge was necessary when the FBI has provided the subpoenaed information, Comer pointed to statements made by the White House. He also said the public needs to see the document.

Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further, he said.

(AP)




Veteran military commentator Yossi Melman, who from time to time, publishes articles in Haaretz on military and intelligence issues, summarized his conclusions about the mysterious meeting of Israeli and Italian intelligence officials aboard a boat that capsized in stormy weather last week, leading to the death of four people, including a retired Mossad agent.

Was the fact that the captains wife was of Russian origin related to the theory that the intelligence agents were reportedly monitoring Russian oligarchs in the area? Is her death in the disaster an indicator of foul play? Read Melmans summary below:

Heres my summary, based on the Italian media and my own assessments of the operation that ended in the death of a Mossad agent in Lake Maggiore in northern Italy last week, he wrote. The operation was carried out in cooperation with AISE, Agenzia Informazioni Sicureeza Esterna, Italys foreign intelligence service, which further strengthens the understanding that the operations focus was Iran.

Eight Italian intelligence officers and 12 Mossad agents participated in the operation. The operation was focused on thwarting Irans plans to purchase components, equipment and information for its nuclear, missile, and drone projects. Such operations by the Mossad  alone or in coordination with peer organizations  have been ongoing for at least two decades in many parts of the world, with their role being to thwart and sabotage Irans purchase of equipment.

The newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that the operation was directed against Russian oligarchs who live in the region and were involved in the purchase of components or in the transfer of funds to finance the supply of Iranian missiles to Russia in the war against Ukraine. As we know, Iran has become the largest supplier of missiles to the Russian army, and as a result, the strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow has become stronger. Consequently, the interest of Israeli intelligence in Iranian-Russian ties is also increasing. Israeli intelligence also transmits information  directly or indirectly through NATO countries  about the capabilities of the Iranian drones and their performance.

In the past, Iranian procurement chains tried to obtain industrial plants and dual-use equipment in northern Italy and neighboring Switzerland for ostensibly civilian use but in actuality for military use. I assume that in such an operation, the CIA was involved, which works in close coordination with the Mossad and Italian intelligence, as well as with other intelligence communities of NATO countries, with all of them trying to thwart the Iranian procurement. Reports from Israeli sources say that the Mossad agent who drowned tried to save two women who were on the ship, which in in my estimation, shows that female Mossad agents also participated in the operation.

Such an operation, even if it was successful  and according to the reports in Italy it did succeed  from the moment it was exposed, one way or another, arouses attention and can harm operations. And this is because it can be assumed that Russia and Iran, on whom the medias attention was focused, will begin to ask questions, potentially hindering the operation and impeding future operations.

The boat disaster and the four deaths.

This was a tragic disaster in which four people perished [the Mossad agent, two Italian intelligence officers, and the captains wife] at the end of a social gathering evening after a successful operation. Initially, due to the lack of information, rumors spread. What captured the imagination is the fact that the wife of the Italian captain, who drowned, was of Russian origin. But Im telling you  forget all the conspiracies. The world of intelligence is indeed full of intrigue and conspiracies and fraudulent operations and even the spread of disinformation. But, the ability of people or even organizations to carry out sophisticated operations that will foresee the outcome five or six steps ahead is limited. Ultimately, the truth is revealed and comes to light. Therefore, what happened in the lake is exactly what was described in the media  a disaster  not sabotage or murder. It was a disaster that occurred due to the weather and the negligence of the captain who made a mistake in judgment.

To conclude on a personal note, last week I contacted the military censor, as is customary, and submitted a request to be allowed to publish the first letter of the name of the Mossad agent who drowned in the disaster. The Italian media reported that his name was Erez Shimoni  but that wasnt his real name. Its customary in the Mossad to use a cover name during operations. The censor made it clear that it is forbidden to grant me the approval to publish the first letter of his actual name since Mossad regulations ban the publication of identifying information about active or even retired Mossad personnel.

I respected the censors instructions. But then I realized that Channel 12 News announced that the late Mossad agents name begins with the letter M. He also stated that M. belonged to the Mossads Tevel wing  the wing that deals with the Mossads foreign relations with fellow intelligence organizations, governments and foreign or supranational governmental organizations. In fact, the Mossad has connections with more than 140 such bodies  more than the Foreign Ministry. The relationships are at varying levels of closeness and cooperation. Ties with the CIA are of course very close, while ties with Chinese intelligence, for example, are extremely distant  but they exist.

I dont know if Channel 12 got approval from the censor or not. Either way, M., who was buried last week in Ashkelon  his friends were present at the levaya and Mossad head Dedi Barnea was maspid him  indeed worked for many years in Tevel and was an Arabic speaker.

M. recently retired from the Mossad but its very common in the Mossad to continue to employ retirees on the basis of special contracts in headquarters positions as well as in operations in the field  especially if they have the necessary professional qualifications and skills. M., a humble person and well-liked by his friends, also had technical skills. I dont know if he was sent to the operation where he met his tragic death by virtue of being a contact of Italian intelligence officials or because of his technical skills or both.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A Wisconsin judge on Monday declined to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to ensure that no records are deleted from a now-closed state office created to investigate former President Donald Trumps loss in 2020.

The lawsuit was one of several filed by liberal watchdog group American Oversight against former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman and the office of special counsel that he led. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hired Gableman to lead the probe in 2021 under pressure from Trump and conservative Republicans in Wisconsin who were pushing for decertifying Bidens win.

Vos put the investigation on hold in April 2022 and then fired Gableman in August 2022 after he turned up no evidence to back Trumps false claims that the election had been stolen from him. Vos fired Gableman just days after Vos won his primary over an opponent endorsed by Gableman and Trump. Vos called Gableman an embarrassment to himself and the state.

Even though the office has been unstaffed for nearly a year, it continues to fight open records lawsuits. Courts have repeatedly ruled against Gableman and his former office in those cases.

Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost on Monday affirmed with his latest ruling that the office formerly led by Gableman, and any future version of it, is subject to Wisconsins open records law. Frost granted a temporary injunction against any deletion of records by the office and rejected the motion to dismiss, a request made nearly a year ago.

Todays ruling is a victory for democracy that affirms what weve been arguing all along: Wisconsins Office of Special Counsel is a state agency and must follow Wisconsins public records retention laws, said Rachel Fried, an attorney with Democracy Forward, which represented American Oversight in the case along with Madison-based Pines Bach.

Frost, in his ruling, said Gablemans office throws a variety of arguments against the wall to try to avoid the Retention Law, but they all fail. He said the public interest in preserving, requesting and reviewing records obtained during the investigation was paramount.

James Bopp, who represented the office of special counsel, said no decision had been made on whether to appeal.

We are surprised by the ruling since all of the documents have been transferred to the clerk of the Wisconsin Assembly, he said. The special counsel has no documents to preserve or produce.

At a hearing in September, Bopp told the judge that the lawsuit was moot and that all records collected by the office would soon be made public.

Assembly Chief Clerk Ted Blazel said Monday that he had the records and was working on getting them posted online in the near future.

President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes in Wisconsin, a victory that withstood recounts, multiple state and federal lawsuits, an audit by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and a report by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. An Associated Press review of Wisconsin and other battleground states also found far too little fraud to have tipped the election for Trump.

(AP)




Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday declaring his campaign for president in 2024, setting up a challenge to his former boss, Donald Trump, just two years after their time in the White House ended with an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and Pence fleeing for his life.

Pence, the nations 48th vice president, will formally launch his bid for the Republican nomination with a video and kickoff event in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, which is his 64th birthday, according to people familiar with his plans. He made his candidacy official Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

While Trump is currently leading the early fight for the nomination, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis polling consistently in second, Pence supporters see a lane for a reliable conservative who espouses many of the previous administrations policies but without the constant tumult.

While he frequently lauds the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, a Pence nomination in many ways would be a return to positions long associated with the Republican establishment but abandoned as Trump reshaped the party in his image. Pence has warned against the growing populist tide in the party, and advisers see him as the only traditional, Reagan-style conservative in the race.

A staunch opponent of abortion rights, Pence supports a national ban on the procedure and has campaigned against transgender-affirming policies in schools. He has argued that changes to Social Security and Medicare, like raising the age for qualification, should be on the table to keep the programs solvent  which both Trump and DeSantis have opposed  and criticized DeSantis for his escalating feud with Disney. He also has said the U.S. should offer more support to Ukraine against Russian aggression, while admonishing Putin apologists in the party unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader.

Pence, who describes himself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order, has spent months laying the groundwork for an expected run, holding events in early voting states like Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, visiting churches, delivering policy speeches and courting donors.

Pences team sees Iowa and its evangelical Christian voters as critical to his potential path to victory. Advisers say he plans to campaign aggressively in the state, hitting every one of its 99 counties before its first-in-the-nation caucuses next year.

The campaign is expected to lean heavily on town halls and retail stops aimed at reintroducing Pence to voters who only know him from his time as Trumps second-in-command. Pence served for more than a decade in Congress and as Indianas governor before he was tapped as Trumps running mate in 2016.

As vice president, Pence had been an exceeding loyal defender of Trump until the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump falsely tried to convince Pence and his supporters that Pence had the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election.

That day, a mob of Trumps supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol building after being spurred on by Trumps lies that the 2020 election had been stolen. Many in the crowd chanted Hang Mike Pence! as Pence, his staff and his family ran for safety, hiding in a Senate loading dock.

Pence has called Trumps actions dangerous and said the country is looking for a new brand of leadership in the 2024 election.

I think well have better choices, he recently told The Associated Press. The American people want us to return to the policies of the Trump-Pence administration, but I think they want to see leadership that reflects more of the character of the American people.

Pence has spent the 2 1/2 years since then strategically distancing himself from Trump. But he faces skepticism from both anti-Trump voters who see him as too close to the former president, as well as Trump loyalists, many of whom still blame him for failing to heed Trumps demands to overturn the pairs election defeat, even though Pences role overseeing the counting of the Electoral College vote was purely ceremonial and he never had the power to impact the results.

Pence joins a crowded Republican field that includes Trump, DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie plans to launch his own campaign Tuesday evening in New Hampshire, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will announce his bid Wednesday in Fargo.

With Trump, a thrice-married reality star, facing skepticism among some Republicans during his 2016 run, his pick of Pence as a running mate assuaged concerns from evangelical Christians and others that he wasnt sufficiently conservative. As vice president, Pence refused to ever criticize the former president publicly and often played the role of emissary, trying to translate Trumps unorthodox rhetoric and policy proclamations, particularly on the world stage.

After Trumps legal efforts to stave off defeat of the 2020 election were quashed by courts and state officials, he and his team zeroed in on Jan. 6, the date that a joint session of Congress would meet to formally certify President Joe Bidens victory. In the weeks leading up to the session, Trump engaged in an unprecedented pressure campaign to convince Pence he had the power to throw out the electoral votes from battleground states won by Biden, even though he did not.

As the riot was underway and after Pence and his family were rushed off the Senate floor and into hiding, Trump tweeted, Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done. Video footage of the attack shows rioters reading Trumps words aloud and crowds breaking into chants that Pence should be hanged. A makeshift gallows was photographed outside the Capitol.

Pence has said that Trump  endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day and that history will hold him accountable.

Despite his harrowing experience, Pence opposed efforts to testify in investigations into Trumps actions on and in the lead-up to Jan. 6. He refused to appear before the House committee investigating the attack and fought a subpoena issued by the special counsel overseeing numerous Trump investigations, though he did eventually testify before a grand jury.

Only six former U.S. vice presidents have been elected to the White House, including Biden, who is running for a second term.

(AP)




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

It was an impromptu Sheva Bachos in Englewood, New Jersey at Cong. Ahavath Torah at the Nefesh BNefesh Homecoming Celebration. The couple, Joey and Tzophia, got married this past Thursday, and the idea came up of making a Sheva Brachos. The food was from Dougies (and delicious said Mrs. Magid, currently of Waterbury, CT and soon to be of Tzvas).

Honored with sheva brachos were two Ministers of Israel, Yoav Ben Tzur (Shas), the minister of Labor in the current government, and Ofir Sofer (HaTzionit HaDatit), the minister of Aliyah. Rabbi Fass was honored with a sheva brachos as well. The sheva brachos was followed by singing and dancing. They are planning on making Aliyah in the summer. Mazal Tov!

What follows are halachos of Sheva Brachos from Rav Elyashiv zatzal and translated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman.

THE SEVEN DAYS OF FEASTING

COUNTING THE SEVEN DAYS

WHEN THE CHUPPAH IS BEFORE SUNDOWN

1. The counting of the seven days begins with the Chuppah. Therefore, if the Chuppah is held before sundown and the meal is held at night, we count the seven days from the Chuppah and not from the meal. Even if the Chuppah was close to sundown, we consider part of the day as a whole day, and it is considered as the first day.

2. When the Chuppah is held during twilight  Bain HaShmashos, we also begin counting the seven days from daylight and not from the night. This is because of the principle of safek brachos lehakel  whenever we have a doubt in a matter of blessings we are lenient.

3. However, if the Chuppah was 30 minutes after sunset, or at least 25 minutes after sunset, we may count the seven days from the evening.

4. On the seventh day of the Seven Days of Feasting, one may only recite the Sheva Brachos until sunset alone, even if the meal was in the daytime. Indeed, one may not even recite them during Bain HaShmashos (twilight).

5. When the seventh day of the Seven Days of Feasting falls on Shabbos, and the meal of Sheva Brachos is made at the Shalosh Seudos meal, and the meal continues after sundown  on account of the Mitzvah of adding onto the Shabbos, even though they are obligated to recite the Retzay vhachalitzeinu in Bentching, nonetheless, the brachos of Sheva Brachos are not to be recited after Shkiya. Therefore, the custom under such circumstances is to recite bentch before sundown so that the Sheva Brachos can be recited while it is yet day.

Similarly, one should not recite the Sheva brachos in the middle of the meal and afterward continue the meal (since, according to the Rambam Brachos 2:9-10  the Sheva Brachos belong to Bentching). Rather, one must complete the meal in order to recite the Sheva Brachos in the day. However, seven of those who are gathered, and ideally ten, may complete their meal and recite Bentching and Sheva Brachos, while the rest may continue in their meal.

6. Someone who weds a woman must rejoice with her for seven days. He may not work nor conduct business in the market. Rather, he eats and drinks and rejoices with her.

7. It is a great Mitzvah to rejoice with the groom and bride and to dance in front of her, and to say that she is beautiful and graceful. This Mitzvah is not only at the wedding but in all the seven days of feasting.

8. There are those who make a meal of Sheva Brachos on each of the seven days of feasting, but there is no obligation for this at all.

9. There are communities where the custom is to play musical instruments at Sheva Brachos meals as well. Since this is the protocol of their Simcha, they are permitted to dance and play during the Three Weeks and durig Sefirah (for example when the wedding was held on Lag BaOmer, or before the Three Weeks commenced) since this is also rejoicing with the groom and bride. Since this is their regular custom, it would be lacking in rejoicing with groom if the musical instruments were left out.

However, in places where there is no custom to play during Sheva Brachos with musical instruments  one may not play them during the Three Weeks. Rather, one may only sing with the mouth.

10. It is taught in tractate Beitzah (36b), We may not dance on Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch ruled in this manner  that it is forbidden to dance on Shabbos. One may be lenient regarding dancing in honor of a groom, in accordance with the opinion of the Ramah.

Certainly that which they dance in a circle after the meal, this is not considered dancing and it is permitted on Shabbos.

11. A groom is forbidden in the performance of Malacha [work] the entire Seven Days of Feasting. Even when the bride gives permission it is still forbidden.

12. It is the custom that even the bride is forbidden in the performance of work like the groom.

13. Work that is permitted on Chol HaMoed is also permitted to a groom and bride. The prohibitions of work on these days are more lenient than Malacha on Chol HaMoed. Therefore, writing is permitted when necessary. Likewise, laundering is also permitted. One may also write words of Torah, even using a computer.

14. It is also permitted to do light work that does not take ones mind off the joy of the Seven Days of Feasting.

15. It is permissible to purchase furniture  whatever they need for their new home.

16. It is permitted for a groom to get a haircut the entire Seven Days of Feasting, for example, a groom who shaves his beard [in a permissible manner, of course]. This is because a groom resembles a king and it states (Yishayahu 33:17), A king in his beauty your eyes shall see..

17. A groom may receive a haircut even during the Three Weeks and during Sefirah.

18. It is forbidden for a groom or bride to go out alone in the market without a shomer  a person guarding him. However, they are permitted to go out together, since one watches over the other.

19. A groom that wishes to go to shul for davening, and there are people on the streets of the city  may rely on this to go out alone. This is true even if they are not within 4 cubits (seven feet) of him.

20. Within the house, both the groom and the bride may remain alone without need for being guarded.

21. For the entire Seven Days of Feasting the groom does not recite Tachanun, and the congregation that is davening with him is also exempt from reciting Tachanun.

22. Someone who prays with a groom and afterwards returns to his house does not need to make up the reciting of Tachanun.

23. The Mishna Brurah writes that (131:26), a groom should refrain from going to shul during the weekdays for the entire Seven Days of Feasting, since he prevents them from saying Tachanun. However, nowadays the custom is that the groom comes to shul to pray.

24. In order for a groom to exempt a congregation from reciting Tachanun, he must daven the Shmoneh Esreh with them. Therefore, if he davened Shmoneh Esreh with them and afterward left they do not recite Tachanun.

25. However, if he did not pray with them, but he arrived in shul at the time they were to recite Tachanun or a little bit beforehand, he does not exempt the congregation from reciting Tachanun. Similarly, if he was present from the beginning of prayers to the end, if he did not recite the Shmoneh Esreh with them, he does not exempt them from Tachanun.

26. Tachanun is not recited on the eighth day after the wedding even if the Chuppah was before sundown. Even though it was explained earlier regarding the reciting of Sheva Brachos that we count from the time of the Chuppah  that is from the day, this is only in regard to saying the blessings. For out of a concern for a blessing recited in vain, we do not recite a blessing when there is a doubt. However, regarding exempting from the reciting of Tachanun, there is to be more lenient.

27. A groom and bride are obligated in fasting when there is a communal fast  on the 10th of Taives, Tzom Gedaliah, and the 17th of Tammuz.

28. If one of these fast days were a delayed fast  a Nidcheh one may be lenient to allow them to eat after Chatzos  midday.

29. On Taanis Esther one can permit them to eat even if it is not a nidcheh. There is no need to make it up later.

30. A groom who is accustomed to fast on Rosh Chodesh Elul or on the days when Slichos are recited or on a Yahrtzeit, and now he is in the middle of the Seven Days of Feasting, it is better that he not fast and there is no need to do a Hataras Nedarim.

31. The groom recites a Shehecheyanu on the next day after the wedding when he puts on his Tallis Gadol for the first time, like the halacha is for a new garment. He recites the blessing of lehisatef, then the Shehecheyanu, and then he wraps himself in the Tallis.

32. Similarly regarding all his new garments, he should recite a Shehecheyanu. It is preferable to make the blessing on all of them at the same time, rather than making a blessing at the Aufruf on one garment, and at the wedding on another garment, because by doing so he is causing a Bracha Shaina Tzricha  an unnecessary blessing.

33. Similarly regarding all new kailim (important vessels), he should gather them together and recite at one time hatov vhamaitiv [after his wedding].

34. Similarly, on her new leichter (candlesticks)  the woman should recite Hatove vhamaitiv on her first Shabbos, since it is in partnership for both of them. For the husband fulfills his obligation with the womans lighting.

35. Similarly, if they purchased a new apartment  the groom should recite HaTov VhaMeitiv  even if he incurred loans on account of the purchase of the apartment. Certainly, if he has no debts, but his parents incurred the debts  he must recite it. When he recites the HaTov vhaMaitiv the bride should hear the blessing and answer Amain, and he should have in mind to fulfill her obligation as well.

36. One should not affix a Mezuzah in an apartment when one is bringing in the furniture and other items. Rather it should be affixed at the time that one enters to live in it, that is, on the day of the wedding. It may be affixed on the day of the wedding even before the night, since he has removed his residency from his parents home  for he will not sleep there anymore. It is thus considered that his residency is here.

37. If they wish to affix the Mezuzah before this, such as if they are concerned that they will be too occupied on the day of the wedding, they must use the apartment once in a use that indicates living in it. For example, he should eat one meal there or sleep there for one night.

38. When the Mezuzah is affixed one does not recite a Shehecheyanu  even if this is the first time in his life that he is affixing the Mezuzah. This is because the custom is that we only recite a Shehecheyanu on Mitzvos that come around on a cyclical basis such as Sukkah and Lulav.

However, if he also has a new garment, he should bring it with him and recite the Shehecheyanu on the garment and have in mind the Mezuzah.

39. A groom on the night of his wedding should light Chanukah candles at his parents home, for he has not removed his residency from there until after candle lighting time. If the Chupah will take place before sundown, he should go to his new home and light there before the Chuppah.

40. It is forbidden for a person to be alone with his wife without a Kesuvah even for one hour. The concern is for Yichud, secluding, but being alone where there is no Yichud problem is permitted.

41. One may not rely on a photocopy of a Kesuvah regarding the halacha that one is forbidden to remain together without a Kesuvah.

42. The custom is that the parents of the bride hold onto the Kesuvah in their house for their married daughter.

43. If, for whatever reason, a name was added throughout the years, there is no need to write a new Kesuvah with the new name.

44. In a location where they require a copy of the Kesuvah in order to register the marriage, the witnesses should not sign on the copy. For if so, the woman would have two documents and she could obtain her Kesuvah twice. It does not help that which it states on top Copy because that can be removed.

Therefore, the witnesses should not sign on it. Rather, someone else should write that the witnesses were Ploni and Ploni, or they should place on it a picture of the original Kesuvah, and then it is readily apparent that it is a copy.

45. If there are differing customs between the husband and his wife, the wife follows the customs of the husband in all matters, whether in leniencies or in stringencies, with the exception of Kitnios on Pesach if in her parents home the custom was not to eat it. This is because it is a custom that they took on themselves and their descendants forever.

46. If she was accustomed in her fathers home to Daven with a pronunciation that is different from that of her husband, she does not have to change her pronunciation after the wedding, and she may continue in the custom of her forefathers.

47. A husband, who, in his home the custom was not to eat gebrochts, but in his father-in-laws house the custom is to eat gebrochts, nay do hataras nedarim and stop the minhag.

A SEGULAH FOR SHALOM BAYIS

48. It was taught in the Sifrei, What is the meaning of And He shall give you peace? Rabbi Chanina the Sgan HaKohanim says, And He shall give you peace in your home. Therefore, during Birchas Kohanim when the Kohanim say the word, peace a person should always contemplate, Give me peace with my wife and the members of my household.

49. We have also heard that if someone desires peace in his house, he should ask from the Kohain that when he says, And He shall give you peace to have him in mind and this helps for Shalom Bayis  domestic peace. 

Rabbi Hoffman can be reached at [email protected].




Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a phone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi on Tuesday morning, three days after the murder of three IDF soldiers by an Egyptian border police officer.

A statement from the Prime Ministers Office said that El-Sisi expressed his deepest condolences over the incident and Netanyahu thanked him for his commitment to a thorough and joint investigation into the incident.

The two leaders expressed their commitment to continue strengthening the peace and security cooperation that is vital to both countries, the statement concluded.

Egyptian reports said that Israel requested a detailed report from Egypt on the investigation of the terrorists family and friends.

Following Israels return of the terrorists body on Monday, the terrorist, Mohamad Salah, was buried in his hometown in the presence of a very limited number of family members, who refused to speak to the media.

A former officer who preferred to remain anonymous told Al-Jazeera that Salahs relatives could be subjected to long questioning and investigations by the security services and claimed that people in the area said that the security forces were already at Salahs house and took his brother and uncle to an unknown location to question them about Salahs political and religious leanings.

Meanwhile, many Egyptians are hailing Salah as a hero for his actions. A resident of the area where the terrorist lived told Al-Jazeera that Salahs heroism should be celebrated, adding: If he had ammunition, he would have killed more of them.

A member of the Egyptian Socialist Movement, Alah Jamil, called Salah, the new Suleiman Khater, referring to the Egyptian soldier who machine-gunned a group of Israeli vacationers on a beach resort in the Sinai in 1985, killing three Israeli adults and four children. Witnesses of the attack said that the Egyptian Central Security Forces who were nearby not only refused to help the wounded victims but also stopped an Israeli doctor and other tourists at gunpoint from administering any medical aid, leaving the wounded Israelis to bleed to death.

Jamil told Al-Jazeera that he believes that Salahs actions sends an important message against the normalization of relations with Israel, adding that the peace agreement with Israel has failed miserably at the popular level.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




by Aryeh HaKohen Katz

According to the Miami Herald, Miami Beach officials have agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle a discrimination lawsuit by Congregation Bais Yeshaya DKerestir known as the Keristier Shteible. The harassment claimed included First Amendment violations by the city as well as code harassment issues. The city installed a Police Camera outside the home to monitor traffic at the Shteibel and claimed an excess of hundreds of people allegedly entering the home. However according to both court pleadings and the City of Miami Beachs own admission, the City of Miami Beach lost the video and only presented still shots of Jewish looking people and families on the street at all hours of the day during Pesach.

The City of Miami Beach Code Enforcement testified that every Jewish looking person on the street walked into the Keristier Shteibel. Court docket motions and orders state that the City of Miami Beach had the Citys Special Magistrate execute a cease and desist injunction to stop the davening. The City of Miami Beach Filed an Admission of Error and reversed the Special Magistrates decision only after the Federal lawsuit was filed. Further court pleadings demonstrated that the City of Miami Beach had sent code inspectors there to film indoors and had further sent inspectors an astounding 126 times in the past two years.

The Herald reported that under the terms of the settlement, the congregation must limit the number of cars parked in the swale along 34th Street and Prairie Avenue, according to a person familiar with the agreement. and that they may not use outdoor speakers for prayer sessions.

The latter point is somewhat puzzling as using outdoor speakers for prayer is never done in orthodox minyanim.

The Miami Herald erroneously reported that in July 2021, city officials found that the homes ceiling had collapsed and said the building should not be occupied.

The judge in the case had issued a Summary Judgement that found the city at fault in many of its assertions and actions.
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Am I allowed to make egg and onion on Shabbos?

How to choose a shirt from a pile of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos?

Can you put food in the oven on Shabbos?

Numerous Shabbos questions are impossible to answer without thorough knowledge of its laws. Shabbos comes once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place.

The many books of basic laws are wonderful, but to really understand the halachos and to apply them, it is essential to learn and remember hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion. What is the challenge we face? It takes several years for a full-time advanced Torah learner to cover the laws of Shabbos in depth. Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos for men offered a solution. World famous Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel, HaRav Hagaon Yitzchak Berkovits shlita used his vast knowledge to arrange all the Gemaras with the commentators on each area of hilchos Shabbos and presented it in the form of source sheets that cover material from the Gemara until practical halacha. This enables one to cover the main opinions in each topic and gain a deep understanding of the halacha without being overwhelmed with a lot of information.

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, a close talmid of Rav Berkovits who spent eight years as a Rosh Chaburah in Rav Berkovitss famous Jerusalem Kollel, with the Ravs endorsement, took on the monumental task of adaptng the Hebrew sheets into English to make the program available for busy professionals.

After successfully running the Hilchos Shabbos program for several years, Rabbi Gefen joined forces with Rabbi Dr. Yakov Pesah, also a musmach of Rabbi Berkovits, and together they co-founded Kinyan Hilchos Shabbos program for men and launched it online. It became an instant success worldwide.

During the launches of the Hilchos Shabbos course for men, it became crystal clear that a course especially tailored for Jewish women was necessary. The program received many emails asking for a womens cohort of this important and highly relevant series. Women, just as much as men, require practical knowledge on how to keep the myriad halachos of Shabbos. Indeed, they may even be faced with more scenarios than men. Therefore, Rabbi Gefen, in consultation with Rabbi Berkovits has adapted the original curriculum to be uniquely tailored to Torah observant women, as an online program in Hilchos Shabbos (www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com), accessible to motvated women worldwide. It empowers women to know the laws of Shabbos that are so relevant to their lives.

Participants in each online chabura receive source sheets with explanations in English. In addition to the weekly online Zoom shiur with Rabbi Gefen, he is available for questions. There are tests in each section, and the option of a signed certificate of completion from Rav Berkovits.

While this course for women is in Hilchos Shabbos, several months ago, Rabbi Gefen has also launched another online program for women in Hilchos Bein Adam LChaveiro. This program is based on a curriculum of Kollel Linas Hatzedek / Center for Jewish Values, a premier international Bein Adam LChaveiro resource, whom we thank for their permission. The Bein Adam LChaveiro online program for women taught by Rabbi Gefen became very successful already in its first launch.

As women, we are required to learn halacha in order to fulfill it properly. Says Dr. Shoshana Snyder from Los Angeles. Rabbi Gefens course  provides women with a level of knowledge and understanding of the halacha from the primary sources to the halacha lmaasei. The depth of the learning is gratifying. Participating in this program has raised my awareness of the need to apply the halacha in situations that would have escaped my notice in the past. The shiurim are clear and there is plenty of opportunity for questions. Rabbi Gefen is available for questions via email in between shiurim as well. I am not aware of any other opportunity available for women to learn halacha at this level. I look forward to receiving the sources and hearing the shiur every week!

Its been a real pleasure to be part of the  program. I look forward to the source sheets and shiur every week. I have an increased appreciation of the halachos and how to apply them in daily life. The material has abundant sources with varying opinions and a halacha lmaaseh sectionI highly recommend the program!  says Basya Gutmann from Clifton, New Jersey.

Over 1000 of our past and present participants in our programs come from six continents and range in skill level from beginner to advanced, adds Rabbi Dr. Pesah. Our vision is to enable everyone to learn halacha in a structured way and make it doable for every motivated person.

Mrs. Batya Eshel from Safed in Israel shares her experience: The shiur is well focused in general, and of course the more prepared I am the more I get out of it. Questions from the participants are handled well, and we all get a lot out of the shiur. Using Zoom allows us access to a shiur that we wouldnt be able to access in person.

Says Rabbi Berkovits: Imagine never getting stuck again on Shabbos not knowing what to do!

The program begins on Sunday, June 11th.

For more information, tuition, and to apply go to: www.HilchosShabbosforWomen.com
(Bloomberg) -- The analyst who kicked off scrutiny of Adani Groups finances nearly a year ago by terming the conglomerate deeply overleveraged has upgraded his view, saying some of the Indian billionaires firms now have better metrics.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Adani Enterprises Ltd., Adani Power Ltd. and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. have moderate leverage, Lakshmanan R, senior research analyst at CreditSights, told Bloomberg in an email. For Adani Green Energy Ltd. and Adani Transmission Ltd. leverage is still high, he said.

We have observed an improvement in credit metrics for a majority of the Adani Group companies in FY23 versus FY22, while a couple of them have managed to keep their credit metrics stable or seen only a modest deterioration, the analyst at the Fitch Group unit said.

He stressed that the CreditSights figures for Adani were still materially weaker than those the company itself reported, due to different methodologies.

The fresh assessment comes just hours after the conglomerate published a report saying its net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization had improved to 3.27 times at the end of March compared with 3.81 times the year before.

Nearly 18% of its gross debt is reserved in the form of cash for liquidity cover, and both domestic and international banks continue to show confidence by disbursing new debt and rolling over existing lines, according to Adanis report, dated June 6.

Shares of 10 companies related to the group were mixed in afternoon trading in Mumbai on Tuesday. Cement firms Ambuja Cements Ltd. and ACC Ltd. were among gainers.

As for the groups dollar bonds, 11 of the 15 outstanding climbed, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Scrutiny of the conglomerates finances intensified in January after US short seller Hindenburg Research accused it of inflating revenues and manipulating stock prices. Adani has repeatedly denied both Hindenburgs allegations and the assessment by CreditSights.

Indian companies typically treat April to March as a financial year for corporate disclosures such as earnings.

Despite the improving debt metrics, Lakshmanan R said risks remained.

We are also wary of the Groups lingering corporate governance headwinds, he said. The research firm also sees some execution risks to the Groups external fundraising plans that could pose debt refinancing risks for select upcoming debt maturities.

--With assistance from Ashutosh Joshi.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Britain's energy watchdog has fined energy giant SSE 9.8million for breaching its generation licence.

Ofgem, which launched an investigation in October 2021, said SSE's generation arm overcharged National Grid during periods of 'transmission constraint'.

These are periods when there is not enough electricity network capacity to transport power out of a particular area in which local generation outstrips demand.

Penalty: SSE significantly raised the bid prices it charged National Grid to lower the output from Foyers, its hydro-electric power station in North Ayrshire, Scotland

SSE helps National Grid increase and decrease electricity production, but there are risks that generators like SSE can exploit their position by increasing prices to reduce output.

Ofgem found that in May 2020 SSE significantly raised the bid prices it charged National Grid to lower the output from Foyers, its hydro-electric power station in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

The regulator said that, while there was no evidence to suggest the actions were deliberate, SSE breached the rules in place.

It warned the pricing actions would ultimately increase costs for consumers.

SSE's fine was reduced from an initial penalty of 11.6million as it co-operated with the regulator and settled the investigation early.

Cathryn Scott, director of enforcement and emerging issues at Ofgem, said: 'Protecting consumers is a priority for Ofgem, and we will continue to monitor the wholesale energy markets in Great Britain and ensure their integrity on behalf of energy users.

'This enforcement action sends another strong signal to all generators that they must put in place controls to ensure that their bid prices are set in a way that ensures that they do not obtain excessive benefits during transmission constraint periods.

'If they fail to do so, they will face significant consequences.'

SSE has since pledged to put in place a new pricing system designed to properly reflect the costs and benefits of reducing its generation at Foyers.

'We aim to comply with regulations at all times and believed we were doing so in this case,' an SSE spokesperson said.
British American Tobacco gained 900,000 more users of non-combustible products, such as vapes, in the first quarter amid a continued shift away from smoking.

In the firm's first trading update since becoming chief executive last month, Tadeu Marroco said the achievement not only boosted turnover but narrowed losses within BAT's 'new categories' business.

Velo remains the group's most popular modern oral brand in 15 European countries, while Vuse lifted its value share to 38.8 per cent across the top five vapour markets of the UK, US, Canada, France and Germany.

Next generation: British American Tobacco's recently-appointed boss has said the company attracted 900,000 new users of non-combustible products in the first quarter alone

Marroco said tobacco-related sales are still 'performing well', with the exception of 'disappointing' sales in the US, where it sells the Camel and Newport brand of cigarettes.

While BAT, like other tobacco companies, is shifting its business gradually away from traditional products, Marroco added that 'returning combustibles to consistent value creation' is 'critical' to the firm's US strategy.

He said: 'We are taking action, and while it will take some time to carefully and thoroughly implement our plans, our volume share has grown sequentially since the start of the year.'

BAT is reliant on solid performance from its combustible brands in order to fund the development of next-generation products, such as oral nicotine pouches and vapes.

The company, which owns the Lucky Strike and Dunhill brands, claimed to be on track to earn 5billion in turnover from non-tobacco alternatives by 2025 and for the division to turn a profit by next year.

Marroco, who succeeded Jack Bowles on 15 May, told investors that BAT was continuing ahead with its current strategy, which he said was 'right' and would be successfully completed.

He said: 'Put simply, smokers must have access to better choices. This is already a reality for smokers who have made the switch to our reduced-risk products.

'It also represents a commitment to our consumers who continue to smoke and are yet to make that transition.'

New head: Tadeu Marroco (pictured) succeeded Jack Bowles as chief executive of British American Tobacco last month

Sales growth within BAT's so-called 'reduced-risk' products far outpaced that of tobacco-related products, with the former expanding by 29.4 per cent and the latter only increasing by 4.5 per cent.

In the new categories segment, Vuse sales soared by over half to 1.44billion, and sales of tobacco heating products rose by nearly a quarter to over 1billion.

Yet combustible goods still contributed roughly 90 per cent of BAT's total turnover.

BAT's trading update comes a day after the head of Philip Morris International, owner of Marlboro and Benson & Hedges, told the Daily Mail that governments should set dates for banning cigarettes.

Jacek Olczak said a timetable for carrying out the measure should be made along the lines of the prohibition of vehicles powered by fossil fuels.

He added: 'Looking at what the UK is doing in the car industry, saying that as of a certain year, you are not allowed to produce petrol cars, we could have this with tobacco too.'

British American Tobacco shares closed 1.5 per cent higher at 26.09 on Tuesday, although they have slumped by about 23 per cent this year.

Charlie Huggins, head of equities at investment broker Wealth Club, said: 'The share price performance of BATS in recent years has been nothing short of dire.'

'But fundamentally, BATS is still a hugely cash-generative business, with the firepower to invest in the NGP transition whilst returning cash to shareholders.

'If the new CEO can accelerate that transition whilst keeping the cash flowing into shareholder's coffers, there is scope for a recovery in sentiment.'
Shell has put its household energy supply business up for sale as it faces a fresh greenwashing row over its renewable credentials.

The decision to quit the sector after only four years followed a strategic review of the division under boss Wael Sawan, with the company citing tough market conditions.

Shell Energy was created in 2019 when the company bought household energy provider First Utility.

Shake-up: Shell's decision to quit the household energy sector after only four years followed a strategic review of the division under new boss Wael Sawan (pictured)

In the following years, it absorbed several failed rivals and supplies around 1.4m homes.

It provides broadband internet to around half a million households.

A Shell spokesman said a sales process was already under way and it aimed to reach a deal with a buyer in the coming months.

In May, it was reported that UK providers Octopus Energy and Ovo were bidding for the arm, alongside British Gas owner Centrica.

The decision came as the UKs advertising watchdog ruled that Shell misled consumers about its renewable energy credentials.

In a ruling published today, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the oil giant had breached marketing rules last year when it ran an ad touting Shell Energys provision of renewable power in Bristol.

The regulator said the ads gave the overall impression that a significant proportion of Shells business was comprised of lower-carbon energy and were therefore likely to mislead consumers.

Shell strongly disagreed with the ASA ruling.

The ASAs move follows a wider backlash against greenwashing by corporations.

Last week, EU regulators uncovered evidence that major banks and other financial institutions had been promoting their support of clean energy while continuing to finance fossil fuel extraction and deforestation.
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of China Pharma (NYSE:CPHI  Get Rating) in a research report released on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

China Pharma Price Performance

Shares of China Pharma stock opened at $0.35 on Monday. China Pharma has a 1 year low of $0.27 and a 1 year high of $4.15. The stocks 50 day moving average is $0.35.

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About China Pharma

(Get Rating)

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China Pharma Holdings, Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The firms product portfolio includes Central Nervous System (CNS) and Cerebral-Cardiovascular Diseases, Anti-infection and Respiratory Diseases, Digestive Diseases, Comprehensive Healthcare, and Protective Products.

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Indra Sistemas (OTCMKTS:ISMAY  Get Rating) and Absolute Software (OTCMKTS:ALSWF  Get Rating) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

1.2% of Absolute Software shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Indra Sistemas shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Indra Sistemas and Absolute Softwares revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Indra Sistemas $4.01 billion 0.50 $169.62 million $0.39 14.44 Absolute Software $104.67 million 0.00 $10.64 million N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

Indra Sistemas has higher revenue and earnings than Absolute Software.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Indra Sistemas and Absolute Software, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Indra Sistemas 2 2 0 0 1.50 Absolute Software 0 0 0 0 N/A

Indra Sistemas currently has a consensus price target of $7.50, suggesting a potential upside of 33.21%.

Profitability

This table compares Indra Sistemas and Absolute Softwares net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Indra Sistemas 3.85% 15.70% 3.24% Absolute Software 10.16% -23.28% 9.44%

Dividends

Indra Sistemas pays an annual dividend of $0.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Absolute Software pays an annual dividend of $0.24 per share. Indra Sistemas pays out 12.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Volatility & Risk

Indra Sistemas has a beta of 0.98, indicating that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Absolute Software has a beta of 1.05, indicating that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Absolute Software beats Indra Sistemas on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Indra Sistemas

(Get Rating)

Indra Sistemas SA is a global consulting, technology, innovation, and talent company, which engages providing information technology services. The company offers consulting services & outsourcing of business processes. It also provides solutions & services for the transport & traffic, energy industry, public administration, healthcare, financial services, security & defence and telecom & media sectors. The company was founded on June 9, 1993 and is headquartered in Alcobendas, Spain.

About Absolute Software

(Get Rating)

Absolute Software Corp. engages in the provision of cloud-based service that supports the management and security of computing devices, applications, and data for a variety of organizations. Its solutions includes education, financial services, general date protection regulations (GDPR) compliance, government, healthcare, professional services, and technology solutions such as Absolute for Android, and Absolute for Chromebook. The company was founded on November 24, 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $15.60.

A number of research firms have weighed in on PHG. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. Societe Generale raised shares of Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Koninklijke Philips

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 28.7% during the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 2,226 shares of the technology companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 496 shares during the period. Sittner & Nelson LLC increased its holdings in Koninklijke Philips by 23.1% during the 4th quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 3,992 shares of the technology companys stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 750 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in Koninklijke Philips by 47.8% in the 1st quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,016 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 975 shares in the last quarter. Credit Suisse AG purchased a new position in shares of Koninklijke Philips in the 2nd quarter valued at about $65,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 1,070.3% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,745 shares of the technology companys stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 3,425 shares in the last quarter. 10.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Koninklijke Philips Price Performance

Koninklijke Philips stock opened at $19.33 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $17.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.89 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Koninklijke Philips has a 52-week low of $11.75 and a 52-week high of $25.66.

Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.99 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a negative net margin of 11.63% and a positive return on equity of 6.29%. Koninklijke Philipss revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.32 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were paid a $0.9387 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Koninklijke Philipss payout ratio is -37.96%.

Koninklijke Philips Company Profile

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Koninklijke Philips NV is a technology company, which engages in the healthcare, lighting, and consumer well-being markets. It operates through the following segments: Diagnosis and Treatment businesses; Connected Care businesses; Personal Health businesses; and Other. The Diagnosis and Treatment businesses segment consists systems, smart devices, software and services, powered by AI-enabled informatics-that support precision diagnoses and minimally invasive procedures in therapeutic areas such as cardiology, peripheral vascular, neurology, surgery, and oncology.

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Mirova acquired a new stake in Kellogg (NYSE:K  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 1,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $71,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in Kellogg by 2.3% in the third quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 142,158 shares of the companys stock worth $9,903,000 after acquiring an additional 3,220 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Kellogg by 12.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,018 shares of the companys stock worth $350,000 after buying an additional 574 shares during the period. Cambridge Trust Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Kellogg by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 7,100 shares of the companys stock worth $506,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Kellogg by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 29,530 shares of the companys stock worth $2,057,000 after buying an additional 2,935 shares during the period. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Kellogg by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,534 shares of the companys stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 495 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.59% of the companys stock.

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Kellogg Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE:K opened at $67.50 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.89, a PEG ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.42. Kellogg has a 1-year low of $63.74 and a 1-year high of $77.17. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $68.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29.

Kellogg Dividend Announcement

Kellogg ( NYSE:K Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.95 billion. Kellogg had a net margin of 5.33% and a return on equity of 32.09%. The firms revenue was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.10 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Kellogg will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 31st. Kelloggs dividend payout ratio is 97.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Kris Bahner sold 3,483 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.01, for a total value of $247,327.83. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 18,013 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,279,103.13. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Kris Bahner sold 3,483 shares of Kellogg stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.01, for a total value of $247,327.83. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 18,013 shares in the company, valued at $1,279,103.13. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Kellogg W. K. Foundation Trust sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.49, for a total transaction of $6,849,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 54,931,838 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,762,281,584.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 603,483 shares of company stock worth $40,556,328 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Kellogg from $73.00 to $74.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. TheStreet raised shares of Kellogg from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Kellogg in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a hold rating and a $71.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Kellogg from $74.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Kellogg from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.27.

About Kellogg

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Kellogg Co engages in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of ready-to-eat cereal and convenience foods. It operates through the following segments: North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Middle East Africa. The North America segment includes the U.S. businesses and Canada. The Europe segment consists of European countries.

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Wealth Alliance cut its holdings in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,541 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 158 shares during the period. Wealth Alliances holdings in EOG Resources were worth $718,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EOG. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in EOG Resources by 16.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,911,000 after purchasing an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 237.7% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 813 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its position in EOG Resources by 23.7% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $79,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. 87.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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EOG Resources Price Performance

EOG Resources stock opened at $110.46 on Tuesday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52-week low of $92.16 and a 52-week high of $150.88. The company has a market cap of $64.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.98, a PEG ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.54. The firms fifty day moving average is $114.85 and its 200 day moving average is $121.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 2.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.42 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 30.34% and a net margin of 33.83%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.00 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on EOG. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on EOG Resources from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on EOG Resources from $167.00 to $158.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. TD Securities lowered their price objective on EOG Resources from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and cut their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.33.

EOG Resources Profile

(Get Rating)

EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad, and Other International geographical segments. The Other International segment includes China and Canada operations. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Photo: SMC3

Rapid change is taking place across the industry. From shifting national freight patterns to sudden swings in available capacity to extreme weather events, less-than-truckload carrier pricing needs to be flexible and responsive to a range of factors for the industry to operate efficiently.

Transparency into real-time market conditions results in a mutually beneficial relationship between LTL carriers and the shippers they serve. The use of dynamic pricing helps facilitate a positive relationship, allowing shippers to get the most competitive quote based on true freight characteristics of the shipment, the service requested and the current state of the market. And carriers get to be strategic in attracting freight where and when they need it.

Dynamic pricing helps carriers be competitive by allowing them the agility to adjust pricing at a moments notice to respond to internal and external events. Maintaining accuracy at all times is often a concern. There are a number of factors to consider, such as operating costs, labor availability and current capacity  a task that is almost impossible without a tool to help do the math.

The majority of an LTL carriers customer base today is on static contractual and common carrier pricing agreements. However, the carrier often needs the flexibility to change prices for specific segments of its business at any point in time to react to rapidly shifting internal network needs and current market conditions.

Conversely, there are times when the carrier has lanes or locations with more freight than the network can efficiently service. In those instances, the carrier can increase its margins by raising prices at the expense of handling additional business.

Dynamic pricing allows carriers to change prices immediately to respond to these internal events  excess capacity in specific lanes, congested lanes or changes in costs from interline providers. According to Brian Thompson, chief commercial officer at SMC, it also helps with response to external events  weather, construction or changes to purchased transportation costs.

Shippers want to know that they are getting the best prices to ship their freight. And they rely on a network of carriers. Knowing they are getting the best prices from carriers allows them to have a more robust network, and thats good for their business.

Thus, shippers dont have to worry about complex base rates and discounting or freight-all-kinds structures. The shipper is getting an accurate and competitive price because its based on the complete characteristics of the shipment being quoted. Shippers need accurate rate quotes so they can select the carrier that best meets their strategic requirements and manages their transportation spend.

Carriers need to have confidence in their pricing strategy, knowing that they are quoting prices that are competitive in the market to strategically manage their business and beat out the competition. Additionally, they are looking for ways to attract new business and need the ability to adjust pricing at a moments notice to align with current capacity. In a perfect world, they would have a tool that reduces the time and resources necessary to respond to the volume of quote requests.

Carriers often price conservatively when there is uncertainty, which is invariably the case when establishing long-term contractual rates. However, carriers are able to offer their most competitive price when supplied with accurate, real-time information with all the specifics about the shipment they are asked to quote  they know when the shipment is expected to move, said Thompson.

Its a win-win situation. Dynamic pricing allows carriers to significantly sharpen their pencils and offer their best rates  a key benefit for shippers in todays market.

Averitt, a top LTL carrier and supply chain solutions provider, is no stranger to the complexity of LTL pricing and responding to LTL quote requests. Always wanting to lead the way with innovative solutions, Averitt has partnered with LTL technology solutions leader SMC to bring a unique dynamic pricing methodology to the market.

SMCs Dynamic PriceBuilder



approaches the fundamentals of dynamic pricing in a different way to ultimately match a shippers need to move freight at a fair market rate with the carriers need to fill capacity.

Dynamic PriceBuilder is unique as it is the only commercially available tool that uses a carriers specific prospective cost model and layers it on top of a business rules engine to deliver unique quotes. Specifically, it couples the carrier-managed business rules engine with the carriers prospective cost model to drive timely, targeted and precise high-speed analytics to enable flexible dynamic price generation for LTL carriers.

SMC has more than 87 years of LTL pricing expertise, and its innovation brings a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure to dynamic pricing. Dynamic PriceBuilder brings high-speed performance tuned to deliver quotes via API in less than a second  as much as 10 times faster than typical direct-carrier API connections  making it scalable to support the volume of quoting and rating activity needs by the industrys largest carriers, 3PLs and shippers.

One of the most common challenges for carriers is the sheer volume of quote requests processed each day. The growing number of requests puts pressure on the people and systems at the carrier to meet the demand for quotes. Everyone in the industry knows that time is money and the task of providing strategic, competitive rate quotes to each customer is often labor intensive.

Award-winning carrier Averitt is currently reaping the benefits of SMCs dynamic pricing solution with the launch of Dynamic PriceBuilder rebranded to Averitt ExactRate. The company played a key role in the design of the Dynamic PriceBuilder solution, according to Mark Davis, vice president of traffic and pricing at Averitt, giving carriers and their perspective a voice in the development of this technology.

We helped build the prototype and test it and show what needs to happen and how it needs to work in an LTL environment from a rating and quoting standpoint, Davis said. This dynamic system will take into account what our projected costs are. I dont know of anyone else that has taken it to this level of technology.

Kent Williams, EVP of sales and marketing at Averitt, added, We will continue to grow business organically through the services of our five verticals and will continue listening to our customers and developing solutions for them. We have no doubt that new products/services will be born as a result.

SMC plays a large role in the industry, providing robust analytical tools and connectivity solutions that support full digitalization across the life cycle of a shipment. The company is looked to by carriers, shippers, 3PLs and technology providers for its reliable technology solutions and expertise.

Virtually every internal process or task performed by pricing and traffic is done so through the use of one of SMCs products, Davis said. Without these tools, we would not be able to carry out the day-to-day business of our company.

To learn more about SMC, visit its website.

To learn more about Averitt ExactRate, visit its website.

The post Answering the cry for LTL supply chain agility with dynamic pricing appeared first on FreightWaves.
(Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc is seeking to sell about 5 billion ($5.3 billion) of Italian mortgage loans as part of plans to exit retail banking in the country.

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The UK bank has started the sales process for a portfolio of mostly performing loans to individuals, people with knowledge of the matter said. The package also includes non performing mortgages and high risk loans in Swiss francs, according to the people. Potential bidders have until the end of this month to submit non-binding offers, they said, asking not to be identified as the plans are private.

The Italian loans are one of the final remaining parts of its retail business in the country. Barclays sold its consumer-banking operations in Italy to Mediobanca SpA in 2015 and a year later it announced that it intended to sell its residual Italian loans to refocus operations on investment and corporate banking.

The exit from the retail business followed the banks plan to dispose of non-core consumer operations in continental Europe and shift focus to the lenders most profitable businesses in the UK and US.

A spokesperson for Barclays declined to comment.

London-based Barclays is hiring Boston Consulting Group to carry out a strategy review as it seeks to boost longstanding weakness in the shares, Bloomberg reported in May. Among the areas that could be examined are the level of risk-weighted assets in the investment bank as well as how to best position the wealth and retail businesses.

--With assistance from Leonard Kehnscherper.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Binance Lawsuit Could Be Huge Mistake or Bring Needed Clarity to U.S. Crypto Industry

The Securities and Exchanges Commissions (SEC) suit against the biggest crypto exchange in the world, Binance, could be a huge misstep if other countries allow the crypto industry to develop and it eventually replaces the traditional banking sector, Jim Bianco, president and founder of Bianco Research said.

If crypto is the design of the next financial system, this [lawsuit] is a huge mistake, Bianco told CoinDesk via email, saying that the enforcement action against Binance is another attempt by U.S. lawmakers to drive crypto out of the [country].

On Monday, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Changpeng Zhaos crypto exchange on allegations that it has been offering unregistered securities and staking services to the general public, violating U.S. securities laws.

This comes after the Commission sued Justin Sun and three of his companies earlier this year for the unregistered offer and sale of crypto asset securities, similar to the action it brought against Binance.

Read more: Binance Withdrawal On Track to Be Largest Since March Crypto Banking Crisis

This meaningful action from the SEC signals the beginning of a shift in the U.S. towards regulated market infrastructure for crypto, which ultimately should help the industry move forward, said Aaron Kaplan, co-CEO and co-founder of Prometheum Inc, the parent company of SEC and FINRA-registered digital asset securities trading platform Prometheum ATS and SEC-qualified custodian Prometheum Ember Capital.

The competitive landscape will look quite different, but I anticipate it will result in a net benefit for U.S. investors and should allow innovation to thrive, Kaplan added.

In a statement to CoinDesk, a Binance spokesperson confirmed that the exchange had received a Wells Notice, a warning from the SEC, earlier this year that ultimately led to a suit. U.S.-based exchange Coinbase also received a warning in March that it may face an enforcement action due to its listing of potential unregistered securities.

While Coinbase is still committed to the U.S., this led to the exchange doubling down on its operations elsewhere, including Canada and Seychelles. Coinbase (COIN) shares dropped 10% on Monday following news of the Binance lawsuit.

Ongoing lack of regulatory clarity is creating a situation in which digital asset ventures are leaving the United States for friendlier jurisdictions, potentially depriving the U.S. of jobs and innovation at home, said Richard Mico, the U.S. CEO and Chief Legal Officer of Banxa, a payment-and-compliance infrastructure provider.

While the action against Binance signals a further crackdown on the industry, some experts welcomed the SECs suit.

Read More: Coinbase Shares Drop 10% Following SECs Suit Against Binance

The SEC's legal action against Binance in the United States seems not only warranted but also somewhat overdue, said Steve Rosenblum, founder of Libertify.com, a risk management platform, said. Binance has attracted criticism for its perceived lack of operational transparency. High-ranking executives within the company seem to be largely inaccessible, further contributing to this concern.

Similarly, Valerii Brizhatiuk, co-founder of Swisstronik, an identity-based L1, said that players such as Binance have a wide range of features, products and investing services. Sometimes directing these products and services to support the global user base, but still adhere to the U.S. regulation, could pose a challenge.
SINGAPORE, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- April 15, 2023, Biosyngen Pte Ltd (hereinafter as "Biosyngen") announced that the Company received IND approval for its second product in the pipeline, a T-cell redirection therapy for the treatment of EBV-positive lymphoma. A week prior to this, the IND application of the same therapy has just been approved by China NMPA.

A few months earlier, the Company's first product (BRG01) targeting relapsed/metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer has been granted IND approval by both the US FDA and China NMPA. Following this IND approval to initiate the phase I/II clinical trials, Biosyngen makes a significant first-step towards the goal to gaining marketing authorization in the US and China. Biosyngen, an innovative biopharmaceutical company, is now the first in the CGT industry to possess dual IND approval from above regulatory bodies for its two products.

At present, Biosyngen's IND application filing to Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is under review. Within 2023, the Company made plans for other IND applications to carry out phase I/II clinical trials for other therapies such as lung cancer, liver cancer and digestive track cancers across key regions  Singapore, the US and China.

Biosyngen broad director & COO, Michelle Chen, "Currently, cell therapy is a key strategy in healthcare development in many countries, including Singapore, China and the US. It is commonly acknowledged that cell therapy will accelerate human's efforts to better address unconquered diseases to fulfill unmet medical needs and therefore benefit patients around the world".

About EBV-positive Lymphoma

EBV, the first oncovirus identified, is a human herpesvirus and has infected ~95% of global population. It has been listed as Group 1 carcinogen ("Carcinogenic to humans") by World Health Organization (WHO) and proved to be associated with a range of diseases including nasopharyngeal cancer, EBV-positive gastric cancers, lymphoma and lymphoproliferative diseases. EBV is so markedly lymphotropic that, for those who suffer from impaired immune system, especially T cell function, EBV may even induce lymphoblastic malignancies. EBV reactivation was also observed in patients who received bone marrow transplantation and CD7 CAR-T cell therapy, who may even develop EBV positive lymphoma.

The therapy developed by Biosyngen is an engineered T cell therapy, also known as a type of adoptive immune cell therapy indicated for nasopharyngeal cancer and EBV-positive lymphoma. Patients' T cells are isolated and genetically modified in a GMP-compliant facility to enhance their ability to recognize and attack specific antigens on cancer cells. The modified T cells are expanded ex vivo and infused back into the patient. The infused T cells would bind to specific antigen on the cancer cells to mediate tumor killing. The preliminary safety and efficacy of BRG01 Therapy have been demonstrated in data from exploratory clinical trials.

The scientific direction of Biosyngen is focused on targeting multiple solid tumors and hematological tumors. The company has independently developed a number of exclusive technical platforms specifically for cancer immunotherapy, including IDENTIFIER, SUPER-T and MSE-T. These platforms are designed for improved safety and efficacy, equipping the company with capabilities to overcome challenges in antigen identification, antibody TCR screening and identification of immune cell function.

Abou t Biosyngen

Biosyngen is a cell and gene therapy biotechnology company, focusing on R&D in immunotherapy and drug development; to achieve the best outcome for cancer patients.

The company's R&D team consists of multinationals from Singapore, China, Germany, Australia, France and the US, many of whom received their Phd. from renowned universities. Biosyngen's strategy of dual R&D centres and dual GMP facilities in Singapore and China, firmly anchors it as an Asian company towards a global ambition. The company's product pipeline potentially addresses an estimated value of 50 billion USD in the global oncology market.

Biosyngen possesses exclusive licenses and patented therapies targeting multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies including nasopharyngeal cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and EBV-positive hematological malignancies. The company's first-in-class product BRG01 was granted IND approval by US FDA and CN NMPA for Phase I/II clinical trial. Biosyngen is also one of a few biopharmaceutical companies that possess a portfolio consisting of CAR-T, TCR-T, TIL and multi-specific antibodies.

Based in Singapore and Guangzhou, Biosyngen collaborate closely with the world's leading biomedical research and clinical institutes including A*STAR, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Hannover Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center and a network of hospitals to advance R&D, develop products and conduct clinical trials in Singapore, Australia and China.

Through our R&D capability and translational medicine platform, Biosyngen have been able to engage the end-to-end cycle in drug development from lead identification, preclinical studies, cell production, quality control, regulatory filing, to clinical studies - integrating the entire chain of R&D, clinical trial, GMP manufacturing and commercialization.

Cision

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[June 06, 2023] Woxsen University receives Coursera Campus Transformation Award 2023

HYDERABAD, India, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Woxsen University is the recipient of the most coveted 'Campus Transformation Award 2023' conferred by Coursera. The award was presented during the India Coursera Conference, recognising Woxsen University's exceptional efforts in driving innovation to enable world-class education at scale. "This award further fortifies our commitment towards talent development & significant contribution towards the opening of new career pathways for our students & academic staff, using some very innovative use cases as we leverage Coursera to its true potential," said Vishal Khurma, CEO, Woxsen University. "We are thrilled to present Woxsen University with the Campus Transformation Award and recognize their unwavering commitment to sudent success and employability. From implementing bridge courses with the LEAP program to empowering students with critical skills for the digital future, they're harnessing the power of Coursera to revolutionize the campus learning experience," said Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and APAC, Coursera.



Out of numerous institutions utilizing Coursera on Campus, Woxsen University emerged as one of the Top 3 universities, implementing several strategic use cases across disciplines and faculties. This distinction showcases the university's commitment to student success and employability through its innovative approach to education. About Woxsen University, Hyderabad: Woxsen University, located in Hyderabad, is one of the first private universities of the state of Telangana, India. Renowned for its 200-acre state-of-the-art campus and infrastructure, Woxsen University offers new-age, disruptive programs in the fields of Business, Technology, Arts & Design, Architecture, Law, Liberal Arts & Humanities, Sciences. With 100+ Global Partner Universities and Strong Industry Connect, Woxsen is reckoned as one of the top universities for Academic Excellence and Global Edge. Woxsen is Ranked #12, All India Top 100 B-Schools by Times B-School Ranking 2023, Rank #15, All India Top Pvt. B-School, BusinessWorld 2022, Rank #28, All India Top Engineering Colleges, EducationWorld 2023, #16 Top 50 Business schools for Research in India, IIRF 2023.

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[June 06, 2023] New Study Unveils Key Insights for Boosting Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Farming Systems: WOTR

PUNE, India, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive study conducted by researchers from W-CReS (WOTR Centre For Resilience Studies) and Wageningen University (the Netherlands) has shed light on crucial insights to enhance climate resilience in semi-arid farming systems. The study, spanning a period of 15 years and encompassing two case studies from Maharashtra, examined the effectiveness of various interventions and their impact on agricultural productivity, water resources, soil health, and community well-being. The findings of the study published in the International Journal of Water Resources Development, indicate that initial watershed development interventions in the studied areas resulted in intensified agriculture and altered cropping patterns. However, this approach led to declining groundwater tables and deteriorating soil health over time, underscoring the limited success of conventional agricultural development pathways in semi-arid regions. The study emphasizes the need to prioritize adaptive capacities alongside agricultural productivity. Neglecting the development of adaptive capacities and focusing solely on irrigation infrastructure without demand-side management exacerbates vulnerability to climate change in the long run. The study highlights the importance of community engagement, capacity-building, and inclusive decision-making in promoting climate resilience. Moreover, the research demonstrated that the introduction of climate-resilient agriculture, water stewardship initiatives, and interventions to improve food and nutrition security led to positive outcomes in terms of climate resilience indicators. These interventions were designed to raise awareness and empower local communitiesto manage their own resources effectively.



The study calls for an urgent focus on non-farm livelihoods in national and state rural development plans. By prioritising the needs of small farmers, landless households, and marginalized communities, such a strategy is crucial to improve equity, diversify income sources and thereby reduce exposure to and risk from climate variability. Amongst both large and small landholding farmers, the study highlights the benefits that collectives, such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) can bring in in terms of strategic investments, bargaining power, economies of scale and profitability. The research underlines the importance of access to technology, climate information services, and farmer-friendly advisories. Efforts to develop locale-specific, crop-specific, and user-friendly advisories face challenges, including technological barriers and the need to consider the behavioural preferences of farmers, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Commenting on the research, lead author Arjuna Srinidhi stated, "Our research highlights the complexity of enhancing climate resilience in semi-arid farming systems. It underscores the need for a context-specific and multi-pronged approach that prioritises the health of the ecosystem, participatory and inclusive decision making, diversifying income sources and includes a focus on monitoring, evaluation and learning within the design of all interventions." The study's insights have significant implications for policymakers, development practitioners, and stakeholders involved in rural development and natural resource management. By incorporating these findings into evidence-based policy and promoting inclusive and adaptive decision-making, we can effectively address the challenges faced by farming communities in the face of climate change. The study will be included in a forthcoming special issue of the journal titled 'Water resource management in agriculture for achieving food and water security under climate change in Asia'. About WOTR WOTR is a nationally and internationally recognised non-profit and think tank dedicated to transforming the lives of millions of poor across India through participatory watershed development and eco-systems restoration, climate resilient sustainable agriculture, integrated and efficient water management and climate change adaptation, with a special emphasis on building resilience of vulnerable communities, farmers, and women. Established in 1993, the non-profit organization WOTR works at the intersection of practice, knowledge and policy to ensure food, water, livelihoods and income security to disadvantaged communities on a sustainable basis. Headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, WOTR has a presence in eight states and provides services to agencies across all states of India and from 63 countries. The organisation aims to develop ecosystems in an integrated manner for the well-being of poor communities. WOTR has worked in 4,395 villages and has impacted over 4.43 million people cumulatively since 1993. These figures cover projects in all its areas of implementation, training and capacity building activities. www.wotr.org About W-CReS Realising the significant knowledge gap in developing 'evidence-based climate risk mitigation and adaptation strategies', The WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS) was established in 2016. W-CReS bridges the gap between science, policy and practice and contributes towards building adaptive and resilience capacities at all levels by engaging with institutional and other stakeholders. https://wotr.org/w-cres/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2092865/Semi_Arid_Farming_Systems.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/new-study-unveils-key-insights-for-boosting-climate-resilience-in-semi-arid-farming-systems-wotr-301842411.html

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[June 06, 2023] Netskope Intelligent SSE Selected by Transdev to Secure and Connect its Hybrid Workforce

Implementation is part of Transdev's Cloud-First approach to better manage technological obsolescence PARIS, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Netskope, a leader in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), has today announced that it has been selected by Transdev, global leader in mobility that operates public transportation networks across 19 countries and five continents, including France, Spain, Australia, Colombia, the US and the UK. Transdev has installed Netskope Private Access (Netskope's ZTNA solution) and next generation Secure Web Gateway (NG-SWG) - both parts of Netskope's market leading Intelligent SSE platform - to enable Transdev to better secure data in the cloud, and to connect and secure employees wherever they are located. Technical roll-out started in France, before extending to Transdev's teams in Germany, Canada and Australia, enabling data and threat protection for enhanced user experiences of connectivity to the cloud both in the office and remotely. Yann Boulet, Head of Networks and Telecoms Group at Transdev, explains: "Netskope's zero trust solution, alongside its next-gen Secure Web Gateway, gives us optimised data and network visibility and security. With Netskope's technology, the Transdev teams can now better identify and analyse suspicious behaviour and malicious actiity in real time and implement appropriate security measures to prevent potential attacks. Ultimately our data is safer, and we can better meet our data protection responsibilities."



Netskope's Next Generation Secure Web Gateway (NG-SWG) allows Transdev to determine - and train employees on - acceptable use policies for different categories of websites and applications, including supporting nuanced policy decisions based on evolving zero trust factors around user, device, data type. As a cloud-native platform, Netskope can also differentiate between different instances of cloud application (personal and corporate OneDrive, for example). Netskope NPA provides zero trust network access to private applications. This enables Transdev to protect data and resources with application-level access control based on user identity and device security posture. Netskope's global NewEdge infrastructure ensures the company is compliant with all the necessary regulations - including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in France and Germany, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada, as well as giving options for data sovereignty to meet the company's preferences.

Raphael Bousquet, SVP EMEA and LATAM at Netskope, comments: "Transdev came to us with a challenge we often hear; legacy technologies, sprawling cloud usage and changing working patterns among their user base. These are problems experienced by organisations around the world and our platform makes a huge difference in the ability of IT teams to manage data and threat protection, as well as network and resource allocation. Because the technology is designed specifically for these sorts of challenges, it also positively impacts upon the experience of users wherever they work. We are proud of this international collaboration with Transdev and are delighted to help the group better control and secure its data with our unified SSE platform." Transdev is a global mobility operator and integrator, present in 19 countries, transporting nearly 10 million passengers every day. In 2022, the Transdev Group achieved a turnover of 7.7 billion euros. To find out more, please visit www.transdev.com. About Netskope

Netskope, a global SASE leader, is redefining cloud, data, and network security to help organizations apply zero trust principles to protect data. Fast and easy to use, the Netskope platform provides optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go. Netskope helps customers reduce risk, accelerate performance, and get unrivalled visibility into any cloud, web, and private application activity. Thousands of customers, including more than 25 of the Fortune 100, trust Netskope and its powerful NewEdge network to address evolving threats, new risks, technology shifts, organizational and network changes, and new regulatory requirements. Learn how Netskope helps customers be ready for anything on their SASE journey, visit netskope.com. Media Contact:

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netskope-intelligent-sse-selected-by-transdev-to-secure-and-connect-its-hybrid-workforce-301841338.html SOURCE Netskope

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[June 06, 2023] Trulioo Announces Breakthrough Capabilities That Expand and Automate KYB and KYC Verification in Its Integrated Identity Platform

Trulioo, a leading global identity verification platform, today released new capabilities that cement its position as the premier source for automated business and person verification workflows. The latest update bolsters Trulioo global leadership by expanding geographic coverage and localization for person verification and further automating business verification processes to reduce costly manual reviews. With the ever-increasing complexity of financial crimes and anti-money laundering regulations, onboarding business customers often takes longer and costs more. Trulioo provides a fully end-to-end Know Your Business (KYB) solution that automates traditionally manual verification processes to confirm the entity is legitimate and suitable to do business with, thereby reducing onboarding time from days or weeks to minutes. To further streamline the KYB process, the Trulioo global identity platform can perform Know Your Customer (KYC) checks on a business's ultimate beneficial owners in the same workflow. Trulioo offers unmatched breadth for person verification with more than 500 integrated personally identifiable information data sources, 12,000-plus identity document types and more than 6,000 watchlists with recently expanded geographic coverage and localization support for global use cases. The result of that layered approach to business and person verification is greater reassurance and faster onboarding at a lower cost per good verified customer.



"With Trulioo, we can do both KYB and identity document-based KYC checks with one solution, turning a previously cumbersome onboarding process into one that is quick and easy," said Philippe Panneton, Nuvei's senior vice president, Global Risk & Underwriting. "This has enabled us to remain compliant across multiple continents and provide payments solutions that accelerate our customers' businesses." Trulioo Chief Product Officer Michael Ramsbacker added: "Trulioo is the global leader in uniting KYB and KYC in one integrated identity platform for organizations that need to operate across different countries and languages. As evidenced by our latest features, we are dedicated to delivering the industry's most complete verification workflows that are customized for a wide array of business needs to help companies navigate the complexities of today's global digital economy."

As businesses continue to embrace digital communities and transactions, comprehensive verification is vital to combating fraud. That has led to a $48.1 billion total addressable market for integrated identity platforms in 2023, with estimates that it could reach $115.9 billion by 2027, according to recent research from Liminal. Trulioo will be unveiling additional details about its platform enhancements on stage at Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam on June 8, 2023. For details and information about Trulioo activities at the event, visit here. To learn more about Trulioo and why KYB and KYC are better together, please visit www.trulioo.com. About Trulioo Trulioo is dedicated to verifying the identity of anyone and any business around the world. The company's identity platform drives global growth for organizations by helping them navigate the challenges of compliance and providing real-time verification of more than 5 billion people and 300 million businesses worldwide. By leveraging world-class technology designed to make identity verification faster and more efficient, Trulioo is opening the door to the digital economy for everyone on the planet. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005060/en/

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[June 06, 2023]

Agillence to Provide Inbound Logistics Optimization Software to Toyota Motor Europe N.V.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Agillence, Inc., an optimization company, today announced that it has been selected by Toyota Motor Europe N.V./S.A. (TME) to provide proprietary optimization software to support planning parts logistics networks.

Agillence to Provide Inbound Logistics Optimization Software to Toyota Motor Europe N.V.

Agillence Lean Logistics Optimizer (ALLO) software was selected by TME based upon its ability to solve its complex logistics network requirements, while honoring lean principles.

The initial one-year pilot activity embeds the opportunity to evolve int a long-term cooperation.







"ALLO will provide TME the ability to contribute on the definition of a sustainable logistics network towards the achievement of carbon neutrality while supporting the identification of cost optimization opportunities in parts logistics planning along with reduction of planning cycle time " said Jean Christophe Deville, Head of Production Parts and Vehicle Logistics in TME.

"At Agillence, we are advancing ALLO to cater to the unique geographical logistics complexities and demands of Europe. We're incorporating in-depth end-to-end CO2 computations and associated costs into our ALLO optimization model, enabling shippers to reach their carbon neutrality aspirations more effectively. It's a privilege to have been chosen by TME," stated Srini Paruchuri, our Vice President of Customer Strategy and Solutions..

About Agillence, Inc.

Agillence has developed powerful "next generation" optimization technology for solving supply chain problems. Coupled with a unique web-based product architecture, Agillence delivers clients unprecedented benefits.

Agillence is proven in the area of automotive inbound logistics as experts. Agillence can provide the right people, process and technology to ensure optimized material flow. Our customers include OEMs, Tier suppliers and 3PLs across the globe.

Learn more about Agillence: www.agillence.com and LinkedIn.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agillence-to-provide-inbound-logistics-optimization-software-to-toyota-motor-europe-nv-301842601.html

SOURCE Agillence, Inc
[June 06, 2023] Needle-free vaccine delivery platform aims to end frozen storage needs and improve access

CEPI to initially provide up to US$1.6 million to aVaxziPen to advance development of needle-free vaccine technology

aVaxziPens innovative vaccine delivery platform aims to improve access to vaccines by removing the need for frozen storage and enabling easier distribution and deployment OSLO, Norway and OXFORD, United Kingdom, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and aVaxziPen Ltd, a biotech company developing a novel needle-free vaccine delivery platform, have today announced a partnership to advance the development of two vaccines candidates (one protein and one mRNA-based) using aVaxziPens solid dose vaccine-delivery platform, which could help end the need for frozen storage of vaccines, thereby improving equitable access to vaccines. CEPI will initially provide up to US$1.6 million to establish proof-of-concept for aVaxziPens vaccine-delivery technology by evaluating stability, delivery and preclinical immunogenicity of both mRNA and protein-based vaccines developed using aVaxziPens platform. The potential of needle-free vaccines to end frozen storage

Advances in vaccine technology have been critical to the global response to COVID-19, but one of the challenges the world faced in getting these lifesaving vaccines to vulnerable populationsparticularly those people in poorer countrieswas the need to store them at low or very low temperatures. The current generation of mRNA vaccines require frozen storage due to the fragility of mRNA molecules. Once removed from the freezer, these vaccines usually have to be used within a short timeframe. Removing the need for frozen storage would make mRNA vaccines significantly easier, and cheaper, to ship, store and distribute in low-resource settings. While protein-based vaccines do not typically require frozen storage, they often need to be stored at temperatures between 2-8C, so developing a protein vaccine platform capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 40C for at least 1-2 months would help to simplify last-mile delivery of these vaccines, even in the most remote regions of the globe. aVaxziPens solid-dose vaccine technology uses a pen applicator device and is designed to address these challenges by protecting the mRNA and proteins against degradation, potentially removing the need for frozen storage for mRNA vaccines, and the need for cold-chain storage altogether for protein-based vaccines. It does this through its proprietary solid-dose formulation technology, which uses precision engineering to produce a thermostable, guaranteed solid-dose formulation. In addition to being thermostable, aVaxziPens applicator device offers other potential benefits, including ease of administration (requiring no specialised-medical training), and it can be reused for 1,000 doses, helping to minimise waste. Its light and robust presentation also makes it ideal for shipment and storage. If the initial preclinical proof-of-concept is successfully established, CEPI and aVaxziPen may agree to further the partnership by agreeing on vaccine candidates (to align with unmet vaccination needs in low- and middle-income countries) to take forward into Phase 1 clinical trials. This project is the third to be announced as part of CEPIs January 2022 Call for Proposals, aimed at improving thermostability ofand thereby improving equitable access toa variety of new vaccine platforms. This Call forms part of CEPIs wider strategic goal of harnessing innovative technologies to improve the speed, scale and access of vaccine development and manufacturing in response to epidemic and pandemic threats. Enabling equitable access to vaccines CEPI and aVaxziPen are committed to enabling global equitable access to vaccines developed through their partnership. Under the terms of the funding agreement, aVaxziPen has committed to ensuring supply for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), production of vaccine volumes required to meet public health needs, affordable pricing for LMICs, and the potential technology transfer to LMIC manufacturers in line with CEPIs Equitable Access Policy .



Anand Ekambaram, Executive Director of Manufacturing and Supply Chain, CEPI, said: Equitable access is at the heart of CEPIs mission. aVaxziPens innovative vaccine delivery technology requires little-to-no training to administer, while simultaneously reducing the need for expensive and burdensome cold-chain storage, allowing for easier distribution and administration. These innovations would ultimately help to enable greater access to potentially lifesaving vaccines in lower resource settings when a future outbreak or pandemic threat emerges. Robin Cohen, Chief Business Officer, aVaxziPen, said: Were delighted to be working with CEPI as an important strategic partner to demonstrate the great potential of our vaccine technology. Collaboratively we will bring our solid-dose vaccine formulations to two vaccines to demonstrate significantly improved and extended thermostability, as well as testing immunogenicity with plans to progress into Phase 1 clinical trials. This is a great step forward in our mission to disrupt the vaccine market, providing improved vaccine coverage around the world, reaching under-served populations and markets.

About CEPI

CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organisations, launched in 2017, to develop vaccines against future epidemics. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. Prior to COVID-19, CEPIs work focused on developing vaccines against Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, Nipah virus, Rift Valley Fever virus and Chikungunya virus  it has over 20 vaccine candidates against these pathogens in development. CEPI has also invested in new platform technologies for rapid vaccine development against unknown pathogens (Disease X). CEPI has played a central role in the global response to COVID-19, supporting the development of the worlds largest portfolio of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants with a focus on speed, scale and access, as well as co-leading COVAX, the global initiative to deliver fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. CEPI is also the worlds leading funder of R&D for broadly protective coronavirus vaccines which could protect against future variants of COVID-19 as well as other coronaviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential. CEPI has embarked upon an ambitious US$3.5bn five-year plan  called CEPI 2.0  to dramatically reduce or even eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics. Central to the plan is CEPIs goal  supported by the G7 and G20  to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days. Achieving this 100 Days Mission would give the world a fighting chance of containing a future outbreak before it spreads to become a global pandemic. Read the plan at endpandemics.cepi.net/ To read more about how the world can work together to #endpandemics, check out DISEASE X  The 100 Days Mission to End Pandemics, by CEPIs Chief Scientific Writer Kate Kelland, available here at Bookshop.org. All author proceeds go to the World Health Organization Foundations COVID-19 Response. About aVaxziPen Based in the UK near Oxford, aVaxziPen is developing next-generation vaccination products targeting infectious diseases and emergent threat pathogens enabled by its proprietary aVaxziPen technologies. aVaxziPen creates and delivers vaccines in needle-free, thermally stable, solid dose format that is applicable across all types of vaccines. Our aim is to transform the delivery of vaccines using needle-free dosing and reduce or eliminate the requirement for cold chain storage to make a lasting positive impact on global health. aVaxziPens proprietary technology consists of a multi-use applicator coupled with a disposable cartridge containing a single, solid dose of vaccine which does not require reconstitution prior to use. The solid dose vaccine is administered quickly and easily by simply pressing the cartridge onto the upper arm. Our products are designed to enhance the recipients immune response and offer significant benefits for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and payers. Our pipeline targets a range of common and emerging infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, and allergies, and has been established through collaborations with world-class organisations, including BARDA DRIVe*, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Innovate UK, the University of Oxford, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Imperial College London, and the University of Adelaide. We are also advancing several collaborations with leading organisations for use of our technology in the veterinary health setting. aVaxziPens experienced leadership team has a proven track record in the successful development and commercialisation of innovative products delivering high-value outcomes for all stakeholders and is supported by a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Board. *This project has been funded in whole or in part with US Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, DRIVe, under Contract No. 75A50119C00032. Media contacts CEPI

E: [email protected]

P: +44 7387 055214 aVaxziPen

Robin Cohen

Chief Business Officer

[email protected] Scius Communications (for media)

Katja Stout

+44 778 943 5990

[email protected] Daniel Gooch

+44 774 787 5479

[email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] SucceedSmart Shines at the 2023 Globee Awards for Disruptors: Secures Gold Globee Within Human Resources Category After Seizing the Spotlight with Seven Recent Stevie Awards

SucceedSmart, the AI-led executive recruiting platform, solidifies its position as a trailblazer, securing the prestigious Gold Globee for Human Resources at the 2023 Globee Awards for Disruptors. Adding to its accolades, SucceedSmart has recently received an impressive seven Stevie Awards. These accomplishments highlight the platform's innovative digital approach and unwavering commitment to diversity in leadership. LOS ALTOS, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SucceedSmart, an innovator in the executive search industry, has received prestigious recognition, securing a Gold Globee at the 2023 Globee Awards for Disruptors. This award is a testament to SucceedSmart's commitment to developing an AI-led executive talent platform that has disrupted the traditional executive search space. SucceedSmart Shines at the 2023 Globee Awardsfor Disruptors: Secures Gold Globee Within Human Resources Category



The awards were created to provide a platform for recognizing and promoting excellence in industries and sectors that are shaping the future of business. This recognition comes close on the heels of another remarkable achievement. SucceedSmart has recently been honored with seven awards across various categories in the prestigious 2023 Stevie Awards. Both recognitions illustrate how SucceedSmart is reshaping the executive search industry landscape with its innovative approach.

SucceedSmart continues to be a disruptive force in the $7B 'traditional' executive search industry by introducing innovative technology that improves efficiency and promotes diversity. By developing an affordable, AI-driven platform that emphasizes an inclusive approach, SucceedSmart significantly outperforms traditional executive search models. SucceedSmart's unique double-sided platform employs a proprietary algorithm akin to those used in successful dating platforms, effectively making it the "Bumble" for executive search. This approach prioritizes privacy and gives executives complete control over which organizations can view their profiles while simultaneously fostering diversity by removing conscious and unconscious bias from the hiring process. In essence, SucceedSmart is rapidly bridging the gaps that have existed for decades in the traditional executive search market. About SucceedSmart SucceedSmart is an award-winning executive search platform that leverages artificial intelligence and a unique, privacy-centric approach to match executives with organizations. Committed to diversity and transparency, SucceedSmart removes inefficiencies and inflated costs common in traditional job boards and recruiting methods. The platform offers a lifelong professional network that promotes diversity and transparency. To learn more about SucceedSmart, visit www.succeedsmart.com. Contact: Jeff Schwartz, 917-847-6329, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/succeedsmart-shines-at-the-2023-globee-awards-for-disruptors-secures-gold-globee-within-human-resources-category-after-seizing-the-spotlight-with-seven-recent--stevie-awards-301842946.html SOURCE SucceedSmart

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World's Largest Medtech Accelerator Announces 61 Startups for its 2023 Cohort

MedTech Innovator, the world's largest accelerator of medical technology companies, today announced the 2023 Accelerator Cohort. After a competitive selection process, 61 companies were chosen to participate in the MedTech Innovator's flagship four-month MedTech Accelerator program. Featuring medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies from around the globe, the 2023 Cohort members will get unparalleled visibility and access to leading medtech manufacturers, providers, investors, and other industry stakeholders. MedTech Innovator will additionally award $800,000 in non-dilutive funding to winners of its competitions throughout the 2023 program.

"We are proud of our stellar track record of identifying and perfecting the most innovative medtech startups in the world. Since launching MedTech Innovator, more than 500 companies have completed the program, representing over 200 FDA approvals and clearances, and securing $6.8 billion in follow-on funding," said Paul Grand, CEO and founder of MedTech Innovator. "The 2023 MedTech Innovator Cohort once again includes passionate medtech entrepreneurs from around the globe. We look forward to working with our corporate partners and industry advisors over the course of the program, to help these startups advance their medical device, diagnostic and digital health innovations to improve patient care."

Approximately 1,150 companies applied to participate in the 2023 Accelerator. From that group, MedTech Innovator with its corporate partners and over 400 industry judges, advanced nearly 200 candidates to in-person pitch and partnering events on the MedTech Innovator Road Tour, where they met with over 300 evaluators representing leading industry stakeholders. Finally, after four months of diligence, this year's cohort of 61 startups was selected, representing 21 U.S. states as well as Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

This year's program launches June 14-15, at the invite-only Innovator Summit in Mountain View, Calif. Leaders from each of the 61 startups will attend networking events and workshops with MedTech Innovator's partners, alumni, and other invited guests. The 2023 Cohort will then be featured June 16 at the WSGR Medical Device Conference in San Francisco. During the conference, all 61 companies will be showcased to investors and five startups will compete for the $25K Vision Award. The winner will be determined by a vote of the WSGR conference audience. First place will also be profiled in an issue of the MedTech Strategist. This is the first of five competitions in MedTech Innovator's 2023 Accelerator program.

A subset of 42 early-stage companies will participate in MedTech Innovator's corporate mentorship program, in which medtech startups are matched with senior industry leaders to receive continual in-depth, customized mentorship and support. Additionally, five companies have been selected to participate in the MTI/ASPS Plastic Surgery Accelerator track held in partnership with the American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The companies will receive additional mentorship from ASPS plastic surgeons and mentors and will be featured at Plastic Surgery The Meeting on Oct. 26 to 29 in Austin, TX.

The program culminates at The MedTech Conference powered by AdvaMed, October 9-11, where all 61 companies will present in Showcase panels and gain access to industry and investor partnering opportunities. During the conference, five startups from the Accelerator Cohort will compete for the Execution Award, and another five companies will advance to compete in the Grand Finals competition. An audience vote will determine the winner of the $350,000 non-dilutive grand prize and the title of 2023 MedTech Innovator from the early-stage cohort, and a separate competition will award $300,000 in non-dilutive funding to winners of the mid-stage cohort.

MedTech Innovator's 2023 Top 61 companies are:

270Surgical - Israel

3EO Health - Beverly, MA

4th Dimension EMR - San Diego, Calif.

Adcura - Eden Prairie, MN

Alyve Medical - Denver, CO

AMI - Japan and Ann Arbor, MI

Ankr Health - Houston, TX

CardieX - Chicago, IL

Cellulora - Philadelphia, PA

Cerebraai - Kazakhstan

CORIT Medical - McLean, VA

Covellus - Belmar, NJ

DASI Simulations - Dublin, OH

EchoPixel - Santa Clara, Calif.







Endocision - Canada

Fingy3D - Morgantown, WV

Flow Neuroscience - Sweden

Happitech - Netherlands

Hertility Health - London

HIVE Medical - St Louis, MO

Hypervision Surgical - United Kingdom

IFPx - Irvine, Calif.

ImmersiveTouch - Chicago, IL

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics - Barcelona, Spain

InterShunt Technologies - Fridley, MN

Invenio Imaging - Santa Clara, Calif.

JuneBrain - Baltimore, BD

Knowtex - San Francisco, Calif.

MACH32 - Canada

Medical Devices Corner - Menlo Park, Calif.

MicroTransponder - Austin, TX

Mirai Medical - Ireland

NeuraStasis - Houston, TX

Neurava - West Lafayette, IN

Newrotex - United Kingdom

Nininger Medical - Houston, TX

NXgenPort - Saint Paul, MN

Opticyte - Seattle, WA

PanTher Therapeutics - Austin, TX and Watertown, MA

Perceptive Medical - Newport Beach, Calif.

Plio Surgical - Ireland

Prana Thoracic - Houston, TX

ProtonIntel - Canada

Pumpinheart - Ireland

Purgo Scientific - South Jordan, UT

Renovos Biologics - United Kingdom

SafeGuard Surgical - Tampa, FL

Savage Medical - Fremont, Calif.

Senseye - Austin, TX

Sentante - Lithuania

Sonavi Labs - Baltimore, MD

Sparta Biomedical - Morrisville, NC

StrokeDx - Yorba Linda, Calif.

Thermidas - Finland

Total Flow Medical - Canada

Travera - Medford, MA

Universal Brain - San Francisco, Calif.

VeinWay - Israel

Vitestro - Netherlands

Xcision Medical Systems - Columbia, MD

XTremedy Medical - Ireland

MedTech Innovator's sponsors and partners include founding sponsors Johnson & Johnson and RCT Ventures, and annual program sponsors include, Asahi Intecc, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Becton, Dickinson & Company, Dexcom, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Fujikura Ltd., Jabil Healthcare, NIPRO Medical Corp., Olympus Corporation of the Americas, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Zimmer Biomet, Medmarc, Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), Siemens industry Software Inc., Alira Health, Cambridge Consultants, part of Capgemini, Canon Quality Group, ERI Group, Greenlight Guru, NAMSA, Oliver Healthcare Packaging, Proxima Clinical Research, Sunrise Labs, Three Bridges Management & Consulting, Velentium, and Veranex. The organization's additional industry partners include AdvaMed, Pazanga Health Communications, MedTech Strategist, DeviceTalks, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

About MedTech Innovator

Based in Los Angeles, MedTech Innovator is the world's largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. Its mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the healthcare system. Since 2013, MedTech Innovator has reviewed more than 9,000 startups and graduated 509 companies that have gone on to raise more than $6.8 billion in follow-on funding and have brought over 200 products to market. MedTech Innovator works closely with stakeholders across the industry to promote the growth of early and mid-stage startups. In collaboration with 35 corporate partners, as well as a broader network of more than 1,000 industry executives including investors, business development representatives, and other stakeholders, MedTech Innovator provides startups with individualized mentorship and feedback, funding opportunities, and continual engagement with peers and advisors.

For more information about MedTech Innovator, visit the website, and follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005553/en/
[June 06, 2023] Vestas donates to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School in Japan

SINGAPORE, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestas decided to donate to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School in Japan the items that contribute to education and human resource development in the fields related to offshore wind energy and held a donation ceremony at the school on June 5, 2023. Vestas supplied and installed 33 wind turbines in the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Energy Project by Akita Offshore Wind Corporation, the first large-scale commercial offshore wind energy project in Japan. We also provide operation and maintenance services for up to 20 years to both Offshore Wind Farms in Akita Port and Noshiro Port, which are now in commercial operation. Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School is the only high school in the prefecture with a marine department. In addition to basic knowledge and skills related to fisheries and the ocean, students can learn specialized knowledge and skills about marine resources such as fish and shellfish and ship navigation. In recent years, in order to respond to the increasing introduction of offshore wind energy in the prefecture, the school has been actively engaging in practical learning and qualifications in the fields related to offshore wind energy, such as learning about marine environmental surveys and conservation management and acquiring qualifications of port diving engineer and marine engineer. Vestas considers nurturing the next generation through education and skill development as one of the target areas of community engagement. Vestas has decided to donate to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School in order to support its initiatives. The items for donation are underwater drones and related equipment used in marine department classes, which are equivalent to a total of 4 million yen. Netoshi Kuriyama, Representative Director and Country Manager of Vestas Japan, said: "Through the Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Project, we were able to cooperate and build strong relationships with many partners in Japan and the people in Akita Prefecture. Local communities are important stakeholders in our wind projects around the world, and wherever we do business, we always aim to bring value to them. We hope that the donation to Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School will contribute to the education and nurturing of the next generation in the community and will help spread more knowledge and understanding among the future generations who want to be involved in the renewable industry in the future."



Hiroyuki Asano, principal of Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School, said: "At our school, we aim to have a curriculum that is open to society. For offshore wind energy, which is expected to develop in the future, we collaborate with industry and promote initiatives that take advantage of the characteristics of our school's marine department, such as learning and acquiring qualifications that lead to the development of ship crews and maintenance personnel. Through the donation, we hope to further enhance the content of each subject of the marine department and promote effective learning by students." Vestas will continue to contribute to the local community and operate our business as a trusted partner.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Megumi Sakuma

Marketing & Communications Manager, Japan

Vestas Japan Co., Ltd.

[email protected]

Tel: +81 90 6723 5325 About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 164 GW of wind turbines in 87 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 144 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas' more than 28,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on:

https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images. We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com following us on our social media channels: www.twitter.com/vestas

www.linkedin.com/company/vestas

www.facebook.com/vestas

www.instagram.com/vestas

www.youtube.com/vestas About Akita Prefectural Oga Marine High School The only comprehensive high school in Akita Prefecture with a marine department. The educational purpose of the school is "nurture students who learn in Oga and go on to play an active role in the world", which embodies our hope that, based on the knowledge and skills learned in Oga, students will grow up to be active members of society, not only in the region but also in the world. At present, the school has two classes in the Fisheries Department (Marine Department and Food Science Department) and one class in the General Department, which is characterized by a rich curriculum of commercial subjects. For further information about the school, please visit: http://www.kaiyou-h.akita-pref.ed.jp/index.html View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/vestas-donates-to-akita-prefectural-oga-marine-high-school-in-japan-301843546.html SOURCE Vestas Asia Pacific

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[June 06, 2023] QTC Medical Group Opens New Flagship Clinic Facility in Virginia

RESTON, Va., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- QTC Medical Services, Inc. (QTC), a Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) company, today announced the opening of its new flagship clinic facility in Fairfax, Va. The clinic brings a range of health services to U.S. military veterans, separating and retiring service members, active duty and reserve service members and civilians. In addition, the clinic extends its services to encompass the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Federal Occupational Health program and U.S. government intelligence programs. "We are proud to open this state-of-the-art facility and unleash the power of innovation for our military and federal communities," said Liz Porter, Leidos Health Group President. "With this flagship QTC clinic, Leidos remains dedicated to delivering exceptional and streamlined care through industry-leading health delivery solutions." "QTC remains steadfast in its commitment to local and national government agencies," said Larry Schaefer, QTC chief executive officer. "We're honored and excited to support examinees through this new flagship clinic." "No servicemember or veteran should face long wait times to receive the health care they need," said U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. "I'm excited to see how QTC Medical Services' innovative approach and this new state-of-the-art facility will help provide high-quality, timely health care to Virginia's servicemembers and veterans in Northern Virginia." "I am thrilled to welcome this new clinic to Fairfax," said U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly. "Northern Virginia is a hub for state-of-the-art medical care, and this clnic will only bolster those credentials. I look forward to the excellent care they will provide for many years to come."



At 7,800 square feet, the new facility is in an ideal location near Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. It features 10 exam rooms, 3 consultation rooms, 2 diagnostic testing rooms as well as separate lab, vitals and X-ray rooms. Additionally, the flagship facility has an ADA Audiology booth and enhanced security systems. These are integrated into the Leidos Global Headquarters Emergency Operations Center for efficient processing and service. About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company's 45,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com. About QTC Management QTC Management, Inc. (QTC), a Leidos company, partners with customers to identify existing and forecasted program needs and delivers a full complement of disability-focused medical examination and diagnostic testing services. Since 2000, QTC has provided more than 12 million physical examinations and diagnostic tests. For more information, visit www.qtcm.com. Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" set forth in Leidos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made. Contact:

Melissa Duenas

(571) 526-6850

[email protected] Thomas Doheny

(571) 474-4735

[email protected] Lauren Reddington

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qtc-medical-group-opens-new-flagship-clinic-facility-in-virginia-301842834.html SOURCE Leidos

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Hong Kong: 6 arrested for seditious intention

Police's National Security Department today arrested three men and three women, aged between 33 and 64, in various districts on suspicion of conspiracy to forgery, contravening sections 159A and 71 of the Crimes Ordinance.

Among them, a 33-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman were also suspected of doing an act or acts with seditious intention, contravening sections 9 and 10 of the ordinance.

Investigations revealed that the six arrested people were suspected of forging signatures on documents.

The 33-year-old man and the 64-year-old woman were suspected of endangering national security by repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intention on social media platforms which brought hatred against the central authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, advocated Hong Kong independence and incited the use of violence.

Police conducted searches at the arrested people's residences with court warrants, seizing some electronic communication devices and related documents.

The six arrested people are being detained for further enquiries.

The force reminds the public that doing an act or acts with seditious intention is a serious crime and offenders are liable to two years' imprisonment on first conviction.

This story has been published on: 2023-06-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Sabic Agri-Nutrients, a public joint-stock company owned 50.1% by Sabic, has sent the first commercial shipment of low-carbon ammonia to Taiwan Fertiliser Company.

Sabic Agri-Nutrients CEO Eng Abdulrahman Shamsaddin said: "The export of low-carbon ammonia shows the company's commitment to providing low-carbon solutions to its customers and helping them achieve their goals aimed at achieving net zero emissions in various areas such as the transition to clean energy, fertiliser solutions, and low-carbon chemicals."

Shamsaddin stated that before this shipment, the company had already delivered shipments to various markets, including Japan, South Korea, and India, as part of its ambition to establish itself as a frontrunner in the low-carbon ammonia market, a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report said.

He added: "The company is looking forward to achieving a transformation in its business to contribute to facing pressing global challenges through effective carbon management. Its growth strategy is based on circular carbon economy that aims to re-utilise carbon-containing products along value chains.-- TradeArabia News Service
Zinkevych / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Blame the Baby Boomers long-running saga is now focused on the role the generation plays in the U.S. housing shortage, which has been a major driver of record home prices over the past couple of years.

Floridas Retirees Are Fleeing: Heres Where Theyre Going Instead

Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

As Fortune noted in a recent article, boomers who seemed to get all the economic breaks over the last 50 years are now stealing all the starter homes and making them retirement homes instead.

Those points were paraphrased from a conversation Fortune had with Ali Wolf, chief economist for Zonda, a housing data and consulting firm. She told Fortune that boomers who are downsizing now compete directly for homes with millennials who are finally entering the housing market.

In todays housing market, theres a big overlap between select baby boomers and select millennials, Wolf said. The key difference here is that the baby boomer will likely be able to tap home equity by selling their existing home, allowing them to perhaps make a more compelling offer on the home compared to the millennials, especially if the latter group are still renting.

Those views were echoed in a recent article in The Hill, which reported that millennials who are entering their prime homebuying years are competing head-to-head with boomers for many of the same homes in many of the same markets.

This has taken on two forms. Many millennials are embracing the suburbs and even small towns  locations that have traditionally been the refuge of retirees, Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), told The Hill in an email.

Meanwhile, many boomers are looking to stay where they are, according to data from the AARP, which means fewer houses on the market.

Another trend noted by Fortune is that some boomers are moving close to their millennial offspring to help raise their grandkids. The result is that boomers are buying up homes in neighborhoods where younger generations might normally move.

Zonda is researching this trend with its Baby Chaser Index, which tracks cities where boomers are most likely to follow their children. Zonda research shows that roughly one-quarter of boomers are relocating to get closer to their grandchildren, Wolf told Fortune. Many are relocating to formerly affordable Southeast markets such as Charlotte, North Carolina, which suddenly arent so affordable anymore.

Take Our Poll: Are You Planning To Buy or Sell a House This Year?

Housing Market 2023: Prices Are Now So High That Banks Are Losing Money on Mortgages

Thats not the only way boomers are contributing to the housing shortage, either. Two years ago NPR reported that boomers have led efforts to enact zoning laws that greatly restrict the kinds of homes that can be built.

In some communities its illegal to build anything other than a single-family, detached house on the majority of land, even in big cities across the country, Brookings Institution economist Jenny Schuetz told NPR.

As a result, developers in these communities cannot build duplexes, condos, tiny houses or other dwellings that could add more density (and homes) to the market.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Are Boomers to Blame for the 2023 Housing Shortage?
[June 06, 2023] RESA Power Expands its Engineering and Electrical Testing Capabilities in Canada with the Acquisition of Taifa Engineering, Ltd.

HOUSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RESA Power, LLC (the "Company"), a market leader in power systems electrical testing, transformer services, and life extension solutions for power distribution equipment, has announced the acquisition of Taifa Engineering, Ltd. (Taifa). Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Taifa is an engineering and technical services company comprised of professional engineers, electricians, and testing technicians that specialize in electrical engineering and power systems commissioning and maintenance. With the Taifa acquisition, RESA Power expands its footprint and significantly strengthens its electrical testing and engineering capabilities in western Canada, while establishing a presence in Ontario. Norty Turner, RESA Power's CEO, commented on the acquisition, "We are excited to welcome the Taifa team to RESA Power. This acquisition significantly strengthens RESA Power's engineering and electrical testing capabilities in western Canada and marks our entry into the important Ontario market. Taifa has experienced exponential growth in the last few years and is led by a very dynamic team that will fit exceptionally well within RESA Power's growth-oriented culture." Aly Saleh, co-owner of Taifa Engineering, added, "My business partners, the Taifa team, and I are delighted to join RESA Power, which shares our ambition to become the premier solutions provider of electrical testing and engineering services across Canada



In accordance with RESA Power's commitment to recognizing the hard work and expertise of its newly acquired employees, the company offers immediate participation in the Employee Ownership Plan (EOP) to any employee who joins through acquisition and has or will soon reach, a year of service with their newly acquired company in the current year. This unique benefit in the electrical power industry is designed to demonstrate RESA Power's appreciation for its employees and to align with the company's "One RESA" philosophy, which emphasizes collaboration and teamwork across all divisions. By providing all employees with a stake in the company's success, RESA Power is fostering a culture of shared ownership and enabling its employees to contribute to the long-term growth and success of the business. About RESA Power

RESA Power, a portfolio company of Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm, is a market leader in power systems services and life extension solutions for power distribution equipment used in mission-critical environments. With locations across the United States and Canada, RESA Power is uniquely capable of ensuring its customers' critical power systems are safe, reliable, and operating at peak efficiency. The technicians and engineers at RESA Power are experts in testing and servicing transformers, relays, breakers, and other key components of power distribution and control systems. RESA Power also provides quick turn-around custom manufactured or retrofit switchgear and breaker solutions and maintains an extensive inventory of obsolete and hard-to-find components. For more information about how to join the RESA Power group, visit www.resapower.com or follow @RESAPower on LinkedIn Media contacts

RESA Power

Julia Baranava

[email protected]

(832)900-8340 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resa-power-expands-its-engineering-and-electrical-testing-capabilities-in-canada-with-the-acquisition-of-taifa-engineering-ltd-301842707.html SOURCE RESA Power

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[June 06, 2023] Groundbreaking QR Code Functionality for Print Advertising

Connecting salespeople to prospects at moment of expressed interest CLEVELAND, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TenantMagic LLC, an internet application innovator based in Cleveland, is pleased to announce the launch of BrowsingMagic.com.This pioneering platform features their patent-pending lead generating QR code technology for print advertising, revolutionizing the way businesses connect with potential customers in real time. The newly developed QR code by BrowsingMagic.com offers dual functionality, not found anywhere else. When a prospect scans the QR code using their smartphone, it not only directs them to a relevant landing page like traditional QR codes, but it also triggers a non-spam text message to a designated salesperson. This message includes details about the advertisement that was scanned and, uniquely, provides the prospect's phone number. This enables the salesperson to promptly engage with the interested prospect via text or by phone, capitalizing on their immediate interest. "We are thrilled to introduce this groundbraking technology that facilitates a more personal connection between businesses and potential customers," said Wayne Rothman, the developer behind BrowsingMagic. "While traditional QR codes are effective in driving website traffic, they fall short in generating actionable leads in real time. Research indicates that a warm sales lead is 100x more effective if responded to within 5 minutes. BrowsingMagic bridges this gap by enabling immediate engagement between an interested prospect and a motivated salesperson within that critical 5-minute window ."



BrowsingMagic's QR codes are designed to be user-friendly. Businesses can easily create an account on the BrowsingMagic website, where they can specify landing page URLs and designate recipients of the text messages. "We firmly believe that our new QR code technology will significantly enhance lead conversion and revolutionize initial interactions between businesses and potential customers," added Rothman.

To promote the adoption of their innovative solution, BrowsingMagic is offering a complimentary 30-day trial of its StarterPack to all new registrations before June 15, 2023. For more information about BrowsingMagic and to sign up for the free trial, please visit www.browsingmagic.com. About BrowsingMagic: BrowsingMagic.com is an application developed by TenantMagic LLC , located in Cleveland, Ohio. Building upon the tradition of innovation that TenantMagic introduced to the rental application and screening market over a decade ago, BrowsingMagic aims to revolutionize lead generation and customer interactions for businesses. Contact:

Tim Waldron

Director Business Development

(440) 850-7485

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-qr-code-functionality-for-print-advertising-301840848.html SOURCE TenantMagic LLC

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[June 06, 2023] Introducing Jasper Campaigns: New Functionality for End-to-End Marketing Efficiency

Create full marketing campaigns at lightspeed without sacrificing control over brand, security, or accessibility. AUSTIN, Texas, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jasper , a generative AI platform, today announced the launch of Jasper Campaigns, an end-to-end marketing solution that allows users to create a full campaign in minutes from a single brief. The platform securely enriches data models with key company details and brand identity so users can move quickly through their entire marketing strategy. With Campaigns, users can now create a unified brand voice across multiple channels, eliminating delays, maintaining control over asset creation and giving more time back to marketers. Generative AI has long been associated with speed, but Jasper stands out by offering speed without compromising control. As the pace of the market accelerates and AI tools and automation become more prevalent, businesses must ensure they can maintain control over their content. With features like Campaigns, users get the efficiency that generative AI promises, coupled with the consistency that is critical to keeping brand identity and voice intact. "As a marketer by trade, I know how risky it is to lose your brand's voice and identity," said CEO Dave Rogenmoser. "And we believe you don't have to lose either when using generative AI. With our new Campaigns feature, we want to empower marketers to collaborate asyncronously to create consistently high-quality content at scale, while still preserving their unique brand voice. Not only does Jasper give you control over your content, but it also gives you control back in your day, eliminating unnecessary delays that often come with cross-functional collaboration, while allowing channel owners to have full control over asset creation."



The platform offers other critical enterprise-grade functionality, like the Jasper Everywhere extension, which keeps Jasper by your side anywhere you create online, the ability to integrate a Jasper API directly into your platform, and built-in security features that stay up-to-date as security protocols evolve, complete with SOC2 certification. This release marks another step forward in Jasper's vision of creating an AI-first platform that serves marketers from ideation to optimization. Jasper Campaigns is now available to all Jasper customers. Learn more about Jasper Campaigns here .

ABOUT JASPER

Founded in 2021, Jasper is a generative AI platform that enables individuals and teams to leverage AI to scale their content strategies. More than 100,000 customers use Jasper to break through writer's block, repackage what they've written, create original images and adapt their content to different formats and languages. Jasper has been recognized as "one of America's fastest-growing private companies" by Inc. 5000. For more information about Jasper, visit www.jasper.ai . Media Contact

Samantha Rubenstein

[email protected]

(650) 200-6110 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-jasper-campaigns-new-functionality-for-end-to-end-marketing-efficiency-301843132.html SOURCE Jasper

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[June 06, 2023] FEV announces changes to the shareholders' board and group executive management

AACHEN, Germany, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective July 1, 2023, FEV founder Prof. Franz Pischinger will hand over the chairmanship of the shareholders' board to his son, Prof. Stefan Pischinger. Stefan Pischinger's previous duties as FEV Group CEO will be taken over by Dr. Patrick Hupperich. Franz Pischinger founded FEV 45 years ago as a spin-off of Aachen Technical University and established the company as one of the world's leading engineering service providers  initially in the automotive sector, before know-how and innovative strength were transferred to various other industries. As chairman of the executive board, he successfully managed the operative business of FEV for 25 years. In 2003, he handed over the CEO position to his son, Stefan Pischinger, while himself continuing to chair the shareholders' board. On July 1, 2023, Stefan Pischinger will take over the position of chairman of the shareholders' board from his father. "Today, FEV innovations can be found in almost every vehicle in the world," said Franz Pischinger. "I am therefore proud of the company and its employees, who have helped shape our success story for 45 years now. After this exciting and very satisfying time, I am delighted that my son Stefan is once again taking over as my successor." After Franz Pischinger still managed the expansion of FEV into the Americas region,Stefan Pischinger, as CEO, continued to push the globalization of the company. Today, FEV has more than 40 locations on five continents and employs over 7,300 people. At the same time, Stefan Pischinger was responsible for the historic transformation of the engineering service provider into a pioneer of socially and technologically significant future technologies. Today, FEV is a trusted partner for industry both in the development of CO 2 -neutral mobility and energy solutions as well as in software development.



"For four and a half decades, FEV has stood for continuous evolution, for industry-leading solutions and for meeting the highest demands for technological progress and ecological change," said Stefan Pischinger. "In my new position, I will support the global management team in the implementation of the sustainable corporate strategy and, in particular, pursue the interest of the shareholders in the continuous expansion of our technological core competencies." The position of CEO of the FEV Group, which Stefan Pischinger held for 20 years, will be taken over by Dr. Patrick Hupperich. He joined the company in 1986 as a student intern and subsequently held various management roles at the company's headquarters in Aachen. In 1998, he moved to FEV's North American location in Auburn Hills, where he was instrumental in expanding the U.S. business. Since 2013, Hupperich is President of FEV North America and as a member of the global executive management team responsible for the operational business of the Americas region.

"I am very grateful to the Pischinger family for the trust they have placed in me and I am looking forward to the new challenges," said Dr. Hupperich. "Innovation, efficiency and profitability are aspects that will continue to be of the utmost importance to us in the future. In addition, I will continue to drive the transformation of the company in my new role. FEV stands for FeelEVolution  with this spirit we will develop market-leading solutions for a better, cleaner future based on sustainable mobility and energy as well as intelligent software." Effective July 1, Dr. Dean Tomazic will take over the position of President FEV North America. Tomazic has been a member of the executive management board of FEV's U.S. subsidiary since 2014, initially as CTO and since 2021 as COO. About FEV FEV has always pushed the limits.

FEV is a globally leading engineering provider in the automotive industry and internationally recognized leader of innovation across different sectors and industries. Professor Franz Pischinger laid the foundations by combining his background in academia and engineering with a great vision for continual progress. The company has supplied solutions and strategy consulting to the world's largest automotive OEMs and has supported customers through the entire transportation and mobility ecosystem. As the world continues to evolve, so does FEV.

That's why FEV is unleashing its technological and strategic expertise into other areas. It applies its forward thinking to the energy sector. And its software and system know-how will enable the company to lead the way making intelligent solutions available to everyone. FEV brings together the brightest minds from different backgrounds and specialties to find new solutions for both current and future challenges. But FEV won't stop there.

Looking ahead, FEV continues to push the limits of innovation. With its highly qualified more than 7,300 employees at more than 40 locations globally, FEV imagines solutions that don't just meet today's needs but tomorrow's. Ultimately, FEV keeps evolving  to a better, cleaner future built on sustainable mobility, energy and software that drives everything. For the companies' partners, its people and the world. #FeelEVolution View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fev-announces-changes-to-the-shareholders-board-and-group-executive-management-301843669.html SOURCE FEV North America

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[June 06, 2023] U.S. Army Awards NanoGraf and South 8 Technologies $550,000 to Increase Battery Safety for Soldiers

CHICAGO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoGraf , an advanced battery materials company and enabler of the worlds most energy-dense lithium-ion 18650 cell, and South 8 Technologies , developers of a novel liquefied gas electrolyte (LiGas) for the next generation of safe and high-performance lithium-ion batteries, today announced a joint $550,000 award from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) to pair NanoGrafs 3.8 Ah 18650 cell with South 8s electrolyte for cold temperature and safety testing.

Soldiers carry upwards of 25 pounds of batteries during missions, and sometimes need to have backups as some batteries perform poorly in harsh weather conditions or after being physically damaged. The DoD award will fund a six-month project to make sure batteries with NanoGraf and South 8s technology reduce or eliminate catastrophic failure when exposed to extreme temperatures or nail penetration, in accordance with MIL-PRF-32383 4.7.4.4 (Military Performance Specification). Successful completion of the testing will validate the extreme cold temperature performance of the cell and maintain existing capacity and cycle life, allowing the cell to operate down to -60 degrees, and up to +60 celsius and pass the safety test. NanoGrafs M38 18650 cell can currently operate down to -30 celsius. Currently Li-ion cells are plagued by poor low temperature capacity and experience thermal runaway at high temperatures or when crushed/punctured. CombiningNanoGraf and South8 technologies has the potential to alleviate both conditions, yielding a cell with few drawbacks in terms of performance or safety.



Were thrilled about this recent grant, as it provides even more performance differentiation for our Department of Defense customer, said Dr. Francis Wang, CEO of NanoGraf. Adding the safety and cold temperature test with South 8 further extends NanoGrafs performance profile from other commercial cells. This funding comes on the heels of some major milestones for both NanoGraf and South 8. In March of 2023, NanoGraf announced an oversubscribed Series B funding round of $65 million. In November of 2022, the company was awarded a $10 million contract from the U.S. Government to develop the first advanced silicon anode manufacturing facility in the Midwest. In January of 2023, South 8 was awarded $3.15 million by the Department of Energy to participate in its American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program.

We are excited for the opportunity to work with NanoGraf towards a commercial cell that combines our two differentiating technologies into one powerful product, said Cyrus Rustomji, CEO and co-founder of South 8 Technologies. The Department of Defense and NanoGraf are incredible partners, and were thrilled to be working towards enhancing soldier capabilities across critical missions in increasingly more difficult climates. About NanoGraf NanoGraf is an advanced battery material company whose patented silicon-anode technology enables longer-lasting, higher-energy, and higher-power lithium-ion batteries. NanoGraf works with more than 50 companies, including some of the worlds leading consumer electronics, household appliance, and power tool brands, and over 12 strategic partners in electric mobility (from startups to Fortune 100s). NanoGraf is a spinout of Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory. To learn more about NanoGraf, visit www.nanograf.com About South 8 Technologies South 8 Technologies, Inc. has developed a novel liquefied gas electrolyte, LiGas, to power the next generation of lithium-ion batteries and advance the world's clean energy future. The venture-backed cleantech company's Series A round of $12 million was led by Anzu Partners with participation from LG Ventures, Shell Ventures, Foothill Ventures, and Taiyo Nippon Sanso. For more information about South 8 Technologies, visit www.south8technologies.com Media Contact

Hayleigh Criss

[email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] Curative Biotechnology Announces Establishment of Japanese Subsidiary for Licensing Transactions and Asset Acquisitions

Appoints Paul Michaels Co-CEO of Parent and CEO of Subsidiary

Boca Raton, FL, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curative Biotechnology Inc. (OTC: CUBT) (Curative Biotech or the Company), a development-stage biomedical company focused on novel therapies for rare diseases and conditions, today announced that the registration process has begun for the creation of a subsidiary in Japan with an official incorporation date expected August 1, 2023, to facilitate licensing transactions and asset licensing within the country. The establishment of this subsidiary marks an important milestone for Curative Biotech as it expands its reach and presence in the Japanese market. The new entity has been named Curative Biotech Japan K.K. (Curative Japan) and will be located at 2-23-12 Shimomeguro Meguro ku, Tokyo 153-0064 Japan. The Company appointed Paul Michaels to Co-CEO, effective immediately. Paul will remain President of the Company and Chairman of the Board of the Directors, of which he has been a member of since 2020 and will serve alongside I Richard Garr, Esq. as Co-CEO. The Japanese subsidiary, once operational, will select a seasoned pharmaceutical and business executive, who will assume the role of Representative Director. Additionally, Paul Michaels, Chairman of the Board of the Companys US organization, has been appointed as the CEO of Curative Japan. "We are excited to establish our presence in Japan through the creation of our subsidiary," said Paul Michaels, Co-CEO of Curative Biotech. "This strategic move allows us to leverage our expertise and further work within the Japanese market. We hope that this can contribute significantly to improving healthcare outcomes for patients in Japan." Michaels continued, Curative Biotech remains committed to developing therapies that address critical unmet medical needs. The establishment of the Japanese subsidiary represents a significant step forward in the mission. About Paul Michaels With over two decades of expertise in negotiating international licensing transactions in the life sciences sector, specifically between U.S. biotechnology companies and Japanese pharmaceutical companies, Mr. Michaels has established enduring relationships with key business leaders and stakeholders in both Japan and the U.S. xperienced at navigating the regulatory landscapes and cultural nuances, he has completed global licensing transactions with companies such as Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, Nobelpharma Co., Ltd, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Gilead among others. In 1993, Mr. Michaels joined Inabata & Co., Ltd., a prominent Japanese trading company with diversified investments in the pharmaceutical sector, with annual sales exceeding $5 billion. Beginning his tenure with the organization's U.S. subsidiary, he assumed various roles, including the position of Chief Financial Officer of Inabata America Corp from 1999 to 2000. During his tenure, Mr. Michaels oversaw numerous cross-border transactions, contributing to the subsidiary's financial management and strategic direction.



Future Curative Biotechnology Press Releases and Updates Interested investors and shareholders can be notified of future Press releases and Industry Updates by e-mailing [email protected]

About Curative Biotechnology, Inc. http://curativebiotech.com Curative Biotechnology, Inc. (Curative Biotech) is a development stage biomedical company focused on novel therapies for rare diseases. The Company is identifying, acquiring, and developing disease modifying therapeutic drug candidates with a concentration on rare disease indications. Curative Biotech currently has ongoing programs in three (3) different therapeutic areas: degenerative eye disease, infectious disease, and neuro oncology. The Company is now concentrating its energy and resources on its degenerative eye disease platform, based on a worldwide exclusive license from the National Eye Institute (NEI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The first therapeutic to be developed on this platform is a Metformin Reformulation targeting the treatment of intermediate and late-stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) disease with the goal of being in the clinic in 2023 for a first in human trial of its metformin-based eye drop. The trial will be conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NEI. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. CUBT is not yet generating revenues. Although forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subjected to known, unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements, including but not limited our ability to generate sufficient market acceptance for our products and services, our ability to generate sufficient operating cash flow, and general economic conditions. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with OTC Markets from time to time which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. Contact:

Steve Chizzik

Investor Relations

Curative Biotech (CUBT)

201-454-5845

[email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] Teleradiology Group IMBRO Diagnostic Partners Chooses HealthLevel's Foundations

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Teleradiology group, IMBRO Diagnostic Partners, LLP, has chosen HealthLevel's radiology business operations platform, Foundations, as the premier solution for managing their needs across customer billing, physician payments, and business operations analytics. IMBRO was founded in 2022 and offers teleradiology services. With a growing roster of eighteen radiologists, IMBRO's expanding business provides reading services for hospitals and outpatient facilities in Central & Western Pennsylvania. Steven Rinehouse, M.D. & managing partner with IMBRO, describes the current challenges in radiology, "With the shortage of experienced radiologist talent, IMBRO has positioned itself to correct many of the common complaints associated with most teleradiology practices. IMBRO offers a tiered system of available radiologists which allows for system backup during times of higher-than-expected volumes. This keeps turnaround times to a minimum, critical to our ER physicians. We plan to grow at a measured pac to ensure proper staffing for each of our valued clients."



"IMBRO undertook an extensive search process, interviewing and exploring numerous software billing companies as we built our platform," Rinehouse explained. "Foundations was the only platform that was configurable enough to meet our specific desires and needs. Throughout the process, the HealthLevel team exceeded all our expectations in delivering a comprehensive and efficient product." HealthLevel's founder and CEO, Parag Paranjpe said, "Foundations has been an indispensable solution for our customers for over 12 years. We are delighted that IMBRO chose Foundations as their radiology business operations platform after a competitive evaluation. We look forward to helping IMBRO grow their business with high quality and efficiency."

About HealthLevel Founded in 2010, HealthLevel is a privately held company headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company is the creator of Foundations, the leading radiology business operations platform. By combining disparate financial, clinical, and operational data, Foundations uses analytics to paint a complete picture of business operations. Team members are engaged with its actionable insights to drive improvements across quality, productivity, and profitability. Learn more at www.healthlevel.com Media Contact

HealthLevel

Hijinio Reynoso

Director of Marketing

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teleradiology-group-imbro-diagnostic-partners-chooses-healthlevels-foundations-301841710.html SOURCE HealthLevel

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[June 06, 2023] GGV Capital Promotes Diversity and Inclusion in the Tech Industry

Announces NextGen Fellowship 2023 NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GGV Capital, a global venture capital firm, is proud to announce NextGen Fellowship 2023, an initiative designed to provide college students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds across the United States with access to the tech industry. The program brings together a diverse cohort of future startup founders and aims to address the glaring gap in diversity statistics in the tech sector. Now in its third year, the 2023 cohort comprises 21 extraordinary students selected from a pool of 1,800 applicants representing 326 colleges and universities. Hailing from prestigious institutions such as Augustana University (South Dakota), Kennesaw State University (Georgia), Rhodes College (Tennessee), Wayne State College (Nebraska), University of Michigan, University of Southern California, and the University of Toronto, among others, the 2023 cohort consists of highly talented software engineers, data scientists, and sales and finance interns. GGV portfolio companies participating in the Fellowship include startups such as Bitsight , Neon , Novo , and Yami , and public companies such as Coinbase , HashiCorp , and Wish .



"At GGV Capital, we firmly believe that access is the key to changing the diversity landscape in the tech industry," said Hans Tung, Managing Partner at GGV Capital and leader of the firm's DEI effort. "The NextGen Fellows program is a critical step toward bridging the gap and providing opportunities for individuals from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds." "We are thrilled to support these talented students and foster their growth through direct experience and innovative curriculum as the next generation of tech founders and leaders," added Jen Holmstrom, Operating Partner, GGV Capital.

The NextGen Fellows program was launched in 2021 as part of GGV Capital's commitment to addressing systemic inequity following the tragic murders of six AAPI women in Atlanta and the killing of George Floyd. Over the past two years, the program has successfully placed 39 interns, with 100% of the 2022 cohort receiving full-time offers upon completion and several launching new startup companies including one accepted by Y Combinator. The program, which commences on June 13, provides an 8-week paid internship at participating GGV Capital portfolio companies. In addition to hands-on experience, Fellows will participate in a dedicated cohort with GGV Capital with access to a world-class leadership development curriculum, one-on-one career counseling, and access to the extensive GGV network. For more information about the NextGen Fellows program, visit: https://www.ggvc.com/ggv-nextgen-fellow. About GGV Capital

GGV Capital is a global venture capital firm focused on multi-stage, sector-focused investments. Recognizing that the talent to build great companies can come from anywhere, the firm invests in founders building category-leading companies around the world. Founded in 2000 with roots in Singapore and Silicon Valley, GGV has expanded with additional offices in San Francisco, New York, Shanghai, and Beijing. The firm manages $9.2 billion in investments across the United States, Canada, China, Southeast Asia, India, Latin America, and Israel. Over the past two decades, the firm has backed more than 400 companies, including Affirm, Airbnb, Alibaba, BigCommerce, Boss Zhipin, Bowery Farming, Grab, Full Truck Alliance, HashiCorp, Hello, Keep, Kujiale, NIU, Opendoor Technologies, Peloton, Poshmark, Slack, Square, StockX, Udaan, Wish, XPeng, Zendesk, and more. More information can be found at www.ggvc.com and @ggvcapital. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ggv-capital-promotes-diversity-and-inclusion-in-the-tech-industry-301843252.html SOURCE GGV Capital

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[June 06, 2023] icometrix awarded a grant by The Michael J. Fox Foundation to research brain MRI biomarkers for Parkinson's disease

LEUVEN, Belgium and BOSTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- icometrix, world leader in imaging artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for people with neurological conditions, has been awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) to continue efforts in research towards brain MRI biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD). The research is led in collaboration with co-principal investigator Kathleen Poston, MD, professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford Medicine. Nearly 10 million people worldwide are living with PD. The most common symptoms include motor problems such as shaking, stiffness as well as difficulties with walking and balance. In addition, approximately 30% of patients with PD develop cognitive problems in the early stages of the disease, with a life-long risk of up to 80%. However, PD is extremely diverse with no two people experiencing the disease in the same way. This highlights the need for a personalized prognosis and treatment approach. "PD monitoring is typically performed based on clinical scores that are subjective and do not allow for a fine-grained evaluation of disease characteristics. Early and specific prediction of the disease progression is therefore challenging. It also restricts our understanding of the underlying neurodegenerative pathophysiology and thereby hampers research on disease modifying therapies in an already highly diverse PD population," explains Annemie Ribens, VP Science & Trials at icometrix. "With this research, we aim to evaluate brain MRI patterns of PD patients that identify, early on, patients at risk for cognitive or motor problems."



This grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation supports the development of a regulatory cleared solution to automatically analyze brain MRI scans to improve monitoring of PD patients in clinical routine, as well as for patient selection and outcome assessment in multi-center drug development trials. This PD-specific MRI solution will be added to the CE-marked* and FDA-cleared icobrain portfolio of icometrix that also contains solutions for Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, stroke and traumatic brain injury. The first promising results of this project were presented at ADPD on April 1st 2023. Brain MRI scans from Stanford and MJFF's landmark, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI),were evaluated in terms of volumetric patterns and correlated to corresponding clinical scores for motor and cognitive function. The results show that regional brain volumetry assessment can serve as an important biomarker in prediction and differentiation of PD patients at risk for motor and/or cognitive disability progression.

About icometrix

Founded in 2011, icometrix (Leuven, Belgium | Boston, MA, USA) strives for data-driven insights and personalized patient care, supported by AI. icometrix offers a portfolio of eight regulatory approved AI solutions to assist healthcare with various challenges; icobrain extracts data from brain MRI and CT scans for the radiological reporting and clinical management of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, brain trauma, epilepsy, stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. icompanion, a digital platform, and mobile app helps people with MS and their care team to monitor clinical symptoms and treatments efficiently and objectively. Today, icometrix is internationally active and integrated into more than 100 clinical practices. In addition, icometrix supports pharmaceutical companies in phase I-III trials as well as in Real-World Evidence (RWE) studies through imaging and data services, and digital health strategy. * CE 1639 icobrain mr and icobrain ct is CE marked as class Im device https://www.icometrix.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icometrix-awarded-a-grant-by-the-michael-j-fox-foundation-to-research-brain-mri-biomarkers-for-parkinsons-disease-301843790.html SOURCE ICOMETRIX

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[June 06, 2023] Sun Life deepens its commitment to women's health with Menopause Foundation of Canada partnership

Menopause affects  of Canada's workforce1 TORONTO, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Gaps in women's healthcare remain a major issue. Lack of awareness and stigma around women's reproductive health are just two examples of the barriers women face in and out of the workplace. In fact, three-quarters of working Canadian women aged 40 to 60 say they do not feel supported by their employer during menopause1. To address this gap, Sun Life has partnered with the Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC) to raise awareness of women's health and identify ways to better support women in the workplace. The partnership includes the development of resources for employers and a landmark report on menopause in the Canadian workplace expected out in late 2023. "I envision a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive in the workplace. Our partnership with the Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC) will help us focus on the specific health needs of women in the workplace," said Marie-Chantal Cote, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life. "Together with the MFC, we can make a meaningful difference to ensure women have access to resources and care within their workplace to support them through their health journey." It is estimated that 1 in 10 women leave the workforce due to menopause symptoms2. Menopause occurs at a time when many women are at the height of their career, including those in prominent leadership roles. This makes it even more imperative for employers to support women during this critical career stage. "Menopause affects 25% of Canada's workforce1 and presents an exciting opportunity for employers to support women in the prime of their careers," said Janet Ko, President and Co-Founder, The Menopause Foundation of Canada. "Menopause may be the missing link to explain why more women aren't breaking through the glass ceiling. Ending the silence and stigma can help people flourish through menopause and can foster an age and gender-inclusive workplace." In a recent Sun Life survey, group benefits appear to be a key factor for Canadians when considering employment choices. Yet, 33% of women say their group benefits plans do not provide enough coverage to meet their needs1. Employers who support women's health will not only see their employees thrive, but their business thrive. They are better able to attract and retain talent and maximize the potential of women in their workforce. Sun Life's new Bright Paper report highlights important opportunities employers have to better support women in their workplaces. As part of Sun Life's sustainability ambition, we aim to positively impact health and wellness outcomes for all. Learn more about the tools and products available to support employees health within group benefits plans. About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2023, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.36 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. About the Menopause Foundation of Canada The Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC) is a national non-profit advocacy organization created to raise awareness of the impact of menopause on women and society. MFC's mission is to eliminate the social stigma and taboos associated with menopause and to ensure that this important women's health issue is fully supported by our health care system, government, business and the broader community. Learn more at menopausefoundationcanada.ca . Media Relations Contact:

Megan Hawkins

Manager, Corporate Communications

[email protected]

647-524-8536 Menopause Foundation of Canada Contact:

[email protected]







1Sun Life Canada. Working Together to Support Women's Health, Bright Paper, 2023 2 https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1754967/one-10-women-quit-job-menopause-symptoms-survey-reveals

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.

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British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE:BTI) released its latest trading update on Tuesday, revealing positive results that provided the market with a hint of encouragement as the stock ticked up by nearly 2% in early morning trading.

The multinational cigarette producer has lost more than 25% of its market value in the past year due to various factors, namely an underwhelming full-year earnings report, negative consensus from environmental, social and governance-focused investors and a broad-based market drawdown.





Given the stock's year-over-year capitulation, it would be worth assessing its prospects amid an upbeat trading statement, as many investors might believe an inflection point has occurred. But has it? Let us find out.

British American Tobacco Is at an Inflection Point

British American Tobbaco's June trading update

In his first statement since assuming the chief executive role at British American Tobacco, Tadeu Marroco said he is "pleased with our performance in several key areas."

"We increased the number of consumers of non-combustible products by a further 900,000 in Q1, driving good revenue growth and further reducing losses of New Categories means we are on track to deliver our 5bn revenue ambition in 2025, with profitability in 2024, irrespective of the timing of the transfer of our Russian and Belarusian businesses," he said. "Outside the U.S., combustible brands have been performing well as we address portfolio gaps and optimize pricing. Consistently driving value from our combustibles brands is critical, as they deliver substantial cash returns and generate value to fund New Categories and our transformation. We are also making good progress towards de-leveraging our balance sheet, supporting our ambition to sustainably return excess cash to shareholders."

Let us aggregate the broader context of British American Tobacco's trading statement into numbers.

The company's U.S.-based cigarette volume share sales are up by 10 basis points since the turn of the year; however, its value share slipped by 40 basis points amid the implementation of commercial plans within the region. Furthermore, organic group revenue ticked up by 3.7% in the same period, stemming from British American Tobacco's new products of modern oral, THP and Vapour.

British American Tobacco Is at an Inflection Point

Source: British American Tobacco

Although the group's trading update is considered cataclysmic, British American Tobacco's full-year guidance ultimately boosted the stock. Based on the guidance, British American Tobacco will reach constant currency revenue growth between 3% and 5%. Moreover, operating cash flow conversion of above 90% is anticipated, adding allure to the company's potential intrinsic value.

Noteworthy developments

British American Tobacco is in the middle of a substantial restructuring. Not only is the company trying to pivot out of traditional oral cigarettes and into new products, but it is faced with a few emerging market obstacles.

Regarding the latter, British American Tobacco is pulling out of Russia and streamlining its operations in South Africa amid forced exits. The ex-Russia business landscape stems from the war with Ukraine that began in February of 2022, which led to management deciding to exit Russia and Belarus by the end of 2023. In addition, the company has trimmed its exposure to South Africa as the nation's illicit trading is out of control, which has dampened its market stronghold in the region.

British American Tobacco's new products category coalesces benefits from "staying with the times" and alternative emerging market exposure. For example, Velo and Glo have significant emerging market exposure outside of Russia and South Africa while growing at tremendous rates.

In general, the tobacco company's restructuring costs might be costly to investors. Nevertheless, the embedded growth of the new products segment, which now spans approximately 35% of the company's revenue mix, is underappreciated by the market.

Valuation and dividends

A discounted cash flow model of British American Tobacco with a sustainable growth rate of 4% suggests its fair value is approximately $96.65, implying the stock is undervalued by 66.60%. Although the DCF model is merely an indicator, such a large discrepancy certainly provides a sign of an arbitrage opportunity.

British American Tobacco Is at an Inflection Point

In addition to its undervalued status, British American Tobacco possesses a reputation as a constant dividend payer. The forward dividend yield of 8.64% is accompanied by an average share buyback ratio of 0.9, illustrating British American Tobacco's shareholder-driven approach.

British American Tobacco Is at an Inflection Point

In essence, British American Tobacco has lucrative total return prospects in store at a hint of the risk that most other stocks exhibit.

Final word

A mixture of qualitative talking points and quantitative data points show that British American Tobacco's stock is primed for gains in the coming quarters.

Collectively, factors such as a positive half-year trading statement, growth within the company's new products segment and an outstanding discounted cash flow valuation are set to coalesce and might result in upside for British American Tobacco.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


[June 06, 2023] Carahsoft and Solution Partners Exhibiting at NLIT at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI, June 27-30, 2023

RESTON, Va., June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT:

Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, will be joined by more than 70 of its technology partners at the National Laboratories Information Technology (NLIT) Society NLIT Summit 2023 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI. The event will facilitate discussion of best practices and ideas among Government employees, IT and cybersecurity professionals within the Department of Energy (DOE) complex and laboratory system. Attendees will have access to educational and collaborative sessions, technology demonstrations and networking opportunities to further long-term Government scientific missions and achieve complex security, safety, project management solutions and technology innovations. WHEN:

Tuesday-Friday, June 27-30, 2023 WHERE:

Wisconsin Center

400 W Wisconsin Ave.

Milwaukee, WI 53203

Directions WHO:

Carahsoft and more than 70 partners will showcase a full range cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data management and analytics, cloud, DevOps and Zero Trust solutions. Visit the Carahsoft team at booth #341 and vendor partners at the booths highlighted below. Vendors Participating at Carahsofts Booth (#341): Adobe

Alteryx

AWS

Cloudbees

Databricks

Domino Data Elastic

F5

GitLab

Kofax

MongoDB

Recorded Future Red Hat

Ping Identity



ServiceNow

SAS Institute

Titan Technologies

Weights & Biases



Additional Carahsoft Vendor Partners at NLIT:

10ZiG Technology (#610)

Adobe (#352)

Amazon Web Services (#312)

Appian (#417)

Armis (#427)

Atlassian (#206)

Axonius Federal Systems (#236)

BlackBerry (#509)

CloudBees (#516)

Cloudera Government Solutions (#409)

Cofense (#252)

Cohesity (#614)

Corelight (#319)

Cribl (#514)

CrowdStrike (#519)

Databricks (#457)

Dell Technologies (#505)

Denodo (#420)

DocuSign (#456)

Elastic (#408)

Entrust (#314)

F5 (#205) Forcepoint (#613)

Forescout (#432)

Fortinet Federal (#333)

Gigamon (#234)

GitLab (#248)

HashiCorp (#615)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (#405)

Hitachi Vantara Federal (#506)

HYCU (#556)

Illumio (#321)

Infoblox (#428)

Informatica (#250)

Ivanti (#306)

Mattermost (#639)

MixMode (#606)

Netskope (#232)

Nutanix (#439)

Okta (#518)

Palo Alto Networks (#425)

Ping Identity (#355)

Proofpoint (#308)

Quantum (#554)

Recorded Future (#553) Red Hat (#454)

RegScale (#316)

Riverbed Technology (#620)

Rubrik (#629)

SailPoint Technologies (#327)

Salesforce (#214)

SentinelOne (#351)

ServiceNow (#414)

Skyhigh Security (#209)

Snowflake (#311)

SolarWinds (#429)

Sonatype (#513)

Splunk (#607)

Tanium (#438)

Tenable Public Sector (#415)

Thales (#413)

VAST Federal (#309)

Veeam (#515)

Venafi (#419)

Veritas (#253)

VMware (#526)

Zscaler (#616) CARAHSOFT HOSTED EVENTS:

Conference attendees are invited to join Carahsofts after-hours networking happy hour from 4:30  6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at Avenue Bar & Grill. Avenue Bar & Grill

611 W Wisconsin Ave.

Milwaukee, WI 53203

Directions FOR MORE INFORMATION: Additional conference and registration information is available here. For more information regarding Carahsofts presence at the event, contact Fabiana Bonanni at (703) 889-9758 or [email protected]. About Carahsoft

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, we deliver solutions for Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Open Source, Customer Experience and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Visit us at www.carahsoft.com . Contact

Mary Lange

(703) 230-7434

[email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] Mitgo Opens New Offices in Indonesia and Singapore, Expanding Presence in APAC

CHICAGO, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitgo, a global IT/MarTech company, announces the opening of two offices in Indonesia (Jakarta) and Singapore. Admitad, a global affiliate marketing network, is the first of Mitgo's businesses to enter these markets. Admitad has already been actively working with businesses and publishers in Indonesia and Singapore for several years. Its network counts regional players such as adidas, Norton, Shein, Aliexpress, and Banggood as long-term partners. The company also has a significant share of the MarTech market in India. The opening of these new offices will help Mitgo, which has seen tremendous success in markets like the US, with its headquarters in Chicago serving as the backbone of its North American operations, to make further inroads into the Southeast Asian market. Nea Kulwal, Managing Director, Mitgo APAC, will lead the company's expansion. Listed as one of the 50 Most Influential Digital Leaders by CMO Asia and included in BW BusinessWorld's 40 under 40, Kulwal's extensive experience in the Southeast Asian market will be a key driving force behind Mitgo's success.



"I am confident that APAC, given its immense growth opportunities, will live up to its full potential in driving the business to greater heights. I intend to grow our APAC operations by replicating the India success story." - Neha Kulwal, Managing Director, Mitgo APAC. Indonesia and Singapore's e-commerce sectors are experiencing a period of incredible growth. In the first five months of 2023, the number of orders Admitad publishers in Indonesia generated for brands doubled year-on-year. Admitad gained a 15% increase in advertisers and a 30% increase in publishers in both regions.

"These markets are poised for explosive growth, similar to that seen in the European market several years ago. We want to be the first to take advantage of this trend, enabling local companies and publishers to accelerate growth and unlock new revenue streams. With Neha Kulwal leading our efforts, we are confident in securing Mitgo's position in these markets, further expanding our global footprint." - Alexander Bachmann, CEO of Admitad and Mitgo. The company also plans to invest in the local digital environment by recruiting local talent, sponsoring events and supporting promising new projects. Future plans involve further expanding the company's footprint across APAC, enabling businesses in other markets to take advantage of the global reach they provide. "Our entry into Singapore and Indonesia will pave the way for expansion into other promising countries in the region, such as Vietnam and the Philippines." - Bruno Acar, Chief International Officer, Mitgo. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2014890/4070412/Mitgo_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitgo-opens-new-offices-in-indonesia-and-singapore-expanding-presence-in-apac-301842678.html SOURCE Mitgo

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[June 06, 2023] McGuire Sponsel Announces New Office in Phoenix, Arizona

McGuire Sponsel, a specialty tax consulting firm with clients throughout the United States, announced today an investment in a new firm regional office located in Phoenix, Arizona. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005947/en/ With the firm's recent expansion into Phoenix, McGuire Sponsel is committed to being the leading specialty tax partner to CPA firms across all 50 states. (Graphic: McGuire Sponsel) Firm leaders say the new office - which is be fully staffed with employees across all four firm practice lines - was a natural fit based on the firm's growth and an opportunity to be a greater resource to partners across the West Coast. "We are pleased to open a fully staffed McGuire Sponsel office in Phoenix," said TJ Sponsel, co-founder and managing shareholder of Indianapolis-based McGuire Sponsel. "McGuire Sponsel is committed to the CPA industry and Phoenix provides a tremendous opportunity for our team to dynamically serve clients nationwide. We have been fortunate to grow alongside the industry for the last 15 years and look forward to the firm's continued growth." Working as an extension of clients, primarily CPA firms, McGuire Sponsel offers practices that fall outside traditional CPA firm services. Within tax consulting, the firm provides fixed asset services including cost segregation, research and development tax credit services, global business services including transfer pricing and compliance, and location advisory services.



McGuire Sponsel opened their Phoenix office on June 1, 2023, and it is located at 1640 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa, AZ 85204. For more information on the firm's growth, visit mcguiresponsel.com/phx. About McGuire Sponsel

Partnering with leading CPA firms, McGuire Sponsel offers Fixed Asset Services, R&D Tax Credit Services, Global Business Services, and Location Advisory Services. McGuire Sponsel strengthens client relationships by offering a conservative, methodical approach to delivering tax practices that fall outside the traditional practices of leading CPA firms. Acting as an extension of firms, our approach has allowed us to become a trusted resource to CPAs across the country, with a strong track record with the IRS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005947/en/

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[June 06, 2023] Henry's and Lynx announce strategic acquisition to drive growth of Canada's greatest camera store

Acquisition part of Henry's long-term strategy to accelerate its delivery of world-class, innovative products and services to consumers and businesses across Canada TORONTO, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Henry's is pleased to announce that it has been acquired by Lynx Equity Limited ("Lynx") and joined its portfolio of companies. With this acquisition, Henry's is poised to grow and accelerate its delivery of world-class, innovative products and services to consumers and businesses across Canada. Accelerating Henry's Growth Strategy Lynx is committed to furthering Henry's position as the leading specialty digital-imaging retailer in Canada, and Henry's customers will continue to receive the exceptional service and support they have come to expect from the 114-year-old family business. This relationship will support Henry's long-standing focus on an exceptional in-store experience, backed by deep expertise and the latest products. Furthermore, Lynx will support Henry's continued investment in providing a seamless experience to its in-store and online customers, driven by its updated website and enhanced ecommerce capability. As a result of Lynx's investment, Henry's commitment to improving, modernizing and updating the customer experience will continue to grow, along with efforts to increase community involvement and deepen social engagement with creators across the country. A Proud Family Legacy Henry's Chair Andrew Stein is proud to have grown the Henry's brand into what it is today while building on his father's and grandfather's legacies, and seeing his daughters Gillian and Amy, drive it to new heights. Selling the company has always been part of Henry's long-term strategyit was simply a matter of finding the right partner. "I'm thrilled that we've found Lynx: someone who believes in our vision and our team, and who wants to preserve my family's legacy and see the Henry's name live on. I have achieved more than I ever imagined with this company, and this acquisition will help drive Henry's to an even higher level of success." Stein, now 73, and his wife Gaye are very pleased to be able to complete this sale in their lifetimes so they can stay on as advisors and watch their family's legacy flourish. It was very important to the Stein family that its partner share similar values and a long-term commitment to Henry's employees, customers and vendors. The Steins are thrilled to have found that in Lynx. A Strong Fit for Lynx Lynx is a highly successful, family-run business and it is investing in Henry's as a result of its great growth and ROI potential. Henry's incredible brand equity, its devoted customer following, and is cross-country footprint as Canada's largest and best digital-imaging retailer present tremendous possibilities for growth.



"We are thrilled to have Henry's join the Lynx family," says Brad Nathan, Founder and President of Lynx. "Henry's has a long history as a strong Canadian, family-owned business and we're looking forward to being part of its legacy. As Canada's greatest camera store and one of the largest companies in its category, it has a legacy well worth protecting. Backed by our extensive support and dedicated team, Henry's will continue to provide leading-edge products and services for photographers, filmmakers, and content creators. We look forward to this partnership as we continue to drive the growth of this great Canadian brand." This acquisition will diversify and expand Lynx's portfolio to include the consumer electronics industry. With 20 locations across Canada, a national online presence, and a thriving B2B business, Henry's is one of the most established and longest-running companies in Lynx's portfolio. Lynx is impressed by Henry's strong management team that is passionate about the business and highly experienced in the industry.

Lynx's approach is to buy and hold long-standing businesses in the small- to medium-sized enterprise space with the intention of investing in their legacy indefinitely. Lynx's leaders care deeply about maintaining stability for the employees of every company it invests in and supporting an acquisition's growth through expertise from its own internal team if needed. Continuity for Henry's Employees All of Henry's employees will remain in place, including its leadership team, who are excited to stay on and continue driving the company's growth strategy forward. Gillian Stein, CEO of Henry's, will continue to lead the company as part of the Lynx family, and she is thrilled to be at the helm at such an important time in Henry's evolution. "I'm excited that this acquisition will help drive our growth strategy and better position us to serve Canadian photographers, filmmakers, and content creators," she says. "Our team will remain focused on providing the exceptional Henry's experience to customers both online and in-store, with Lynx's support and expertise to continue strengthening and growing our business." Henry's will continue to be headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario. An Exciting Time for Specialty Retail As customers emerged from COVID-driven lockdowns, Henry's was encouraged to see foot traffic returning to its stores. Similarly, as ecommerce grew exponentially in recent years, Henry's has been pleased to see the physical store continue to play an important role in the shopping habits of customers, who still value the in-store experience and expertise that Henry's employees provide. Lynx and Henry's are very excited about the specialty retail market  which is stronger than ever  and customers across Canada are returning to retail shopping, especially when a strong brand provides an exceptional experience. Today's retail customers want digital and social channels to work hand in hand with physical spaces to support their needs. Both Lynx and Henry's believe strongly that physical retail has an important role to play in delivering that overall customer experience. Having a dynamic and engaging in-store experience is a central part of that strategy. Henry's Continued Focus on Mental Health While the Henry's Foundation is not part of this acquisition, Henry's will continue to support mental health awareness, de-stigmatization and support for all Canadians. Lynx also has a strong track record of support for charitable organizations such as Sick Kids, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, and more. The two companies' shared focus on giving back is an important element of the strong fit between Lynx and Henry's. About Henry's Proudly Canadian, family-owned, and operated for four generations, Henry's first opened its doors in 1909 and has evolved into the leading specialty digital imaging retailer in Canada. With 20 locations across Canada and a strong B2B and ecommerce business, Henry's is the source for the latest products, expert advice, and award-winning customer service for photographers, filmmakers, and content creators. Henry's carries over 15,000 imaging-related products from all of the top brands and is a proud supporter of content creators across Canada. For more information visit www.henrys.com. About Lynx Equity Limited Lynx is a Toronto-based private equity firm that specializes in acquiring small and medium-sized businesses from owners looking to retire. Since Brad Nathan, Joanna Lipfeld, and Judith Benattar founded Lynx in 2007, they have been focused on building a team of talented people who can successfully identify, acquire, and manage companies throughout ownership transition and beyond. Unlike other private equity firms, Lynx utilizes a buy-and-hold strategy that focuses on maintaining a company's legacy, building upon its established value and brand, bolstering employees, and maintaining relationships and infrastructure. Lynx recognizes that each individual situation is unique and that some business owners stay and run their firm for years, while others retire or pursue other interests. As such, Lynx works with the business owner to create a plan that best suits the needs of their company, employees, and future goals. For more information, visit www.lynxequity.com . SOURCE Henry's Enterprises Inc.

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[June 06, 2023] Chicago Selected as Host Site for a 3rd Time for Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

The Mark Cuban Foundations Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp Initiative Teaches AI Concepts to Underserved High School Students through a 4-Saturday Bootcamp in the Fall

CHICAGO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the 3rd year in a row, the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp program for high school students will take place in Chicago. The No-Cost Fall 2023 AI Bootcamps will be targeted at underserved high school students (9th-12th grade) and will introduce these high school students to basic AI concepts and skills. Chicago is one of 28+ cities selected to host camps across the US in Fall 2023. The Chicago Bootcamp will be held over four consecutive Saturdays starting on October 14th and ending on November 4th. The bootcamp will run each Saturday from 1-5pm CT and if accepted, high school students must commit to attending all 4 sessions. The student and parent application are now open at markcubanai.org/chicagopr. Students do not need any prior experience with computer science, programming, or robotics to apply and attend. With AI being a relevant topic on many news sources, students will learn what artificial intelligence is and is not, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, and the ethical implications of AI systems icluding but not limited to TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, and self-driving cars to name a few. Participants will also learn how Large Language Models like ChatGPT are changing life as we know it by answering questions, telling original stories, and even writing computer code.



Students will benefit from volunteer corporate mentor instructors who are knowledgeable about AI, ML and data science and able to help students quickly understand material normally taught at a collegiate level. As part of the 4-hour curriculum, students will work with open source tools each day to build their own AI applications related to Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing and Generative AI. The Mark Cuban Foundation provides the bootcamps curriculum materials, trains corporate volunteer mentors, and recruits and scores applications for local student selected to attend camp. In addition, the Mark Cuban Foundation and local Chicago partner work together to provide food, transportation, and access to laptops for students at no-cost throughout the duration of Bootcamp.

It was a lot of fun, I learned things I didn't even know were possible with A.I. and their real-world applications showed me just how much it will change our world." - Brandon B., 10th Grade, 2022 AI Bootcamp Participant Founded by Mark Cuban in 2019, the AI Bootcamp initiative has hosted no-cost AI bootcamps for students across several US cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Atlantic City to name a few. The Mark Cuban Foundation has impacted 900+ students to date and has a goal to increase that number year over year. Students interested in applying to the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp should do so before Friday, September 8th, 2023 at markcubanai.org/chicagopr. To see our 2023 camp locations and to learn more about the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps, please visit markcubanai.org/faq . Contact: Carli Lidiak, Mark Cuban Foundation Phone: 309-840-0348 Email: [email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] Registration Now Open for ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the global leader in supply chain education, transformation, innovation and leadership, today announced that registration is now open for its annual conference, ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America. This year's event will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky September 11 - 13, 2023. Keynote speakers at the event include John J. Sullivan, Former United States Ambassador to Russia, Elliot Harris, United Nations Chief Economist, Amanda Manna, Futurist and Vice President, Singularity University and Frankie Mossman, Chief Customer Officer, Overhaul. Supply chains and how they are linked to global events are top of mind for anyone in business today," said ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. "We are honored to have an incredible lineup of speakers participating in this year's ASCM CONNEC 2023: North America so that our attendees can hear insights directly from experts that have been at the center of some of the largest challenges currently impacting global supply chains."



The premier event will be packed with thought-provoking presentations, hands-on workshops, and exciting networking opportunities for supply chain professionals. Attendees will have access to over 70 educational sessions, eight innovation labs, and six facility tours including Angel's Envy Bourbon Distillery, UPS Worldport, Copper and Kings Brandy Distillery and Churchill Downs. This year's conference will also debut TECHTalks, a live forum for opinions and analysis on the latest tech trends in supply chains. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse lineup, from C-level executives to technology and start-up pioneers, to gain best practice advice, explore case studies and identify future strategies for their organizations. The exhibit hall will also debut Start Up Row which will highlight entrepreneurial companies in supply chain.

To learn more and register for ASCM CONNECT 2023: North America, visit https://connect.ascm.org/ About ASCM The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) is the global pacesetter of organizational transformation, talent development and supply chain innovation. As the largest association for supply chain, ASCM members and worldwide alliances fuel innovation and inspire accountability for resilient, dynamic and sustainable operations. ASCM is built on a foundation of world-class APICS education, certification and career resources, which encompass award-winning workforce development, relevant content, groundbreaking industry standards and a diverse community of professionals who are driven to create a better world through supply chain. To learn more, visit ascm.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005950/en/

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[June 06, 2023] Area Development's 18th Annual Shovel Awards Recognize State and Local Economic Development Efforts - EV and Semiconductor Projects Stand Out

Area Development, the leading publication covering site selection and facility planning, recognizes 21 states with its Annual Shovel Awards, which are presented each year to the states that have achieved the most success in terms of new job creation and company capital investment. States in five population categories - Ohio, Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, and Idaho - are being awarded Gold Shovels in overall recognition of job-creating/investment projects begun in 2022. And, in recognition of the fact that one state - North Carolina - went beyond the Gold Shovel standard, it is being recognized for its achievements with our second annual Platinum Shovel award. As the pandemic began to recede, our Shovel Awards recognize the states and local economic development agencies that moved forward in 2022 with large job-creating and investment projects through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, and other processes that attracted new emplyers as well as investments in expanded facilities. With concerns about climate change now supplanting pandemic fears, projects to produce EVs - and the semiconductors used by vehicles and other high-tech goods - came to the forefront in this year's Shovel Awards report.



Each of the 50 states was invited by Area Development to submit information about its top job-creating and investment projects, and only those projects that began to materialize in 2022 were considered. The Shovel Awards were given to the states with the highest weighted scores based on the number of high-valued added jobs per capita, amount of company investment, and industry diversity. Silver Shovels for their achievements were awarded to 15 states in five population categories: Georgia, Michigan, and Texas (10+ million); Indiana, Tennessee, and Virginia (6+ to 10 million); Alabama, South Carolina, Wisconsin (4+ to 6 million); Arkansas, Connecticut, Mississippi, and Utah (2+ to 4 million); and South Dakota and West Virginia (2 million or fewer population). Also, 15 projects are distinguished as "Manufacturing Projects of the Year" and five as "Non-Manufacturing Projects of the Year" for their job creation and investment numbers.

A report on the 2023 Shovel Award winners is published in the Q2/2023 issue of Area Development and posted online at www.areadevelopment.com/shovels. Area Development is published quarterly and also maintains several highly visited websites, which can be reached through www.areadevelopment.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005014/en/

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[June 06, 2023] NASA Names Winners of 2023 Student Rocket Launch Competition

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA announced Tuesday the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the overall winner of the agency's 2023 Student Launch challenge. More than 800 students from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico launched high-powered, amateur rockets April 15, near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of the culminating event for the agency's annual Student Launch challenge. For nine months prior, teams of middle school, high school, college, and university students were tasked to design, build, and launch a rocket and scientific payload to an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, while making a successful landing and executing a scientific or engineering payload mission. "Our students share unique perspectives and design innovative technologies to address real-world difficulties of space exploration," said Kevin McGhaw, director of NASA's Office of STEM Engagement  Southeast Region. "As NASA celebrates its 23rd year of Student Launch, we are proud to help develop the next generation of skilled engineers and explorers capable of supporting NASA's Artemis missions." The complete list of award winners are as follows: 2023 Overall Winners First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Third place: Vanderbilt University , Nashville, Tennessee 3D Printing Award:

College Level: First place: Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa Middle/High School Level: First place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York Altitude Award:

College Level: First place: Vanderbilt University , Nashville, Tennessee

, Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Middle/High School Level: First place: Spring Grove Area High School , Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

, Second place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington

Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California Best-Looking Rocket Award:

College Level: First place: North Carolina State University , Raleigh

, Second place: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg

, Third place: Auburn University , Alabama Middle/High School Level: First place: Cedar Falls High School, Iowa

Second place: Yamhill Carlton High School, Yamhill, Oregon

Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Reusable Launch Veicle Innovative Payload Award:





College Level: First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Second place: Washington University in St. Louis

in Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Judges' Choice Award:

Middle/High School Level:

First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Second place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas

Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California Project Review Award:

College Level: First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Second place: Vanderbilt University , Nashville, Tennessee

, Third place: University of Notre Dame , Indiana AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Award:

College Level: First place: New York University , New York

, Second place: Washington University in St. Louis

in Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville AIAA Rookie Award:

College Level: First place: United States Military Academy , West Point, New York

, Second place: Angelo State University , San Angelo, Texas

, Third place: University of Central Florida , Orlando Safety Award:

College Level: First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Second place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

Third place: University of Notre Dame , Indiana Social Media Award:

College Level: First place: University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus

Second place: North Carolina State University , Raleigh

, Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Middle/High School Level: First place: Morris County 4-H Rocketry Club, Morris County, New Jersey

4-H Rocketry Club, Second place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York

Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia STEM Engagement Award:

College Level: First place: Vanderbilt University , Nashville, Tennessee

, Second place: University of Notre Dame , Indiana

, Indiana Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Middle/High School Level: First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Second place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California

Third place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington Service Academy Award:

First place: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Vehicle Design Award:

Middle/High School Level: First place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon

Second place: Spring Grove Area High School , Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

, Third place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa Payload Design Award:

Middle/High School Level: First place: Portland Rocketry, Portland, Oregon

Second place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon

Third place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas Student Launch is one of NASA's nine Artemis Student Challenges , activities which connect student ingenuity with NASA's work returning to the Moon under Artemis in preparation for human exploration of Mars. "Students are required to meet complex requirements and high expectations, literally," said Fred Kepner, an education program specialist and activity lead for Student Launch at Marshall. "Student Launch is an authentic learning experience  one offering students experience working through the same processes NASA and our partners use for safety and quality control of space missions." Marshall hosts Student Launch with management support provided by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement - Southeast Region. Funding is provided, in part, by NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and NASA's Next Gen STEM project. Additional support is provided by Northrup Grumman, National Space Club Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association of Rocketry, Relativity Space, Bastion Technologies, and Siemens Digital Industries Software. Replays of this launch event and award ceremony are available on NASA's Marshall YouTube and the Student Launch Facebook page. For more information about the Student Launch challenge, visit: https://go.nasa.gov/2HWL80t View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-names-winners-of-2023-student-rocket-launch-competition-301844159.html SOURCE NASA

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[June 06, 2023] Gradalis Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication Demonstrating Potential of Novel 3D Scaffold Tissue Technology to Expand Vigil Platform

Technology leverages new coating process to create 3D scaffold matrix that is designed to mimic the tumor microenvironment and enable large scale tumor cell expansion



Demonstrated successful increase in cell number by 38-fold with plans to use scaffold expanded tissue platform for future Vigil product construction

Technology developed in collaboration with the Lahann lab at Biointerfaces Institute at the University of Michigan

DALLAS, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gradalis Inc. announced the peer-reviewed publication in Advanced NanoBioMed, highlighting the therapeutic applications of a new extracellular matrix platform developed for tumor cell expansion in collaboration with the University of Michigan Biointerfaces Institute. The publication entitled, A Scalable Engineered Extracellular Matrix Platform to Expand Tumor Cells, provides proof of principle for a large-scale three-dimensional (3D) platform that is designed for high throughput cell proliferation with clinical applications and potential use for Vigil product construction. We are encouraged by the transformational work that has advanced our 3D scaffold framework for the optimization of cellular growth, which has broad potential clinical applications, said Joerg Lahann, PhD Director, Biointerfaces Institute and Wolfgang Pauli Collegiate Professor of Chemical Engineering. Compared to conventional tissue culturing systems, our system leverages a new coating process that successfully mimics the tumor microenvironment and enables large platform scalability. Further, results demonstrated that murine colorectal carcinoma cells grown on 3D scaffold rapidly reached a 38-fold increase and generally maintained their RNA expression profile. The scaffold technology developed by the Lahann Lab, is a modular tissue engineering system with the ability to precisely control mechanical properties, protein composition and cellular constituents of cancer cellular growth and survival. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co-jetting is conducted to print hyper-porous polymer frameworks of stacked polymer fibers, creating 3D compartments that can be optimized for growth advantage. The polymer scaffold is then coated with selected EHD proteins such as fibronectin to form a unique engineered extracellular matrix (ECM) for further growth optimization. John Nemunaitis, MD., CSO of Gradalis, commented, We look forward to utilizing this technology to further advance Vigil, a novel, personalized cellular immunotherapy platform that is designed to decloak the full repertoire of a patients tumor antigens, reactivate the immune system, and summon key effector cells to deliver a durable anticancer clinical response. The magnitude of cell expansion would enable Vigil product to be constructed from much smaller tumor masses, potentially eliminating the need for surgical extraction and enabling a safer procedure for initial tumor harvest. This could expand the treatment opportunity of Vigil to a much larger population and across further indications. Additional testing is ongoing in human tissue in preparation for IND development and Vigil clinical testing involving cancer patients with minimal resectabe disease. The full text of the article can be found here. Highlights include:



Proof of Principle was demonstrated for a large-scale 3D scaffold platform: Uniform fibrinogen deposition was achieved using a double coating process

Uniform fibrinogen deposition was achieved using a double coating process Successful cell growth and re-expansion of a murine colorectal carcinoma cell line: Following initial expansion on 3D scaffolds, cells were able to be isolated and re-expanded on a greater number of scaffolds to achieve increased cell harvest

Following initial expansion on 3D scaffolds, cells were able to be isolated and re-expanded on a greater number of scaffolds to achieve increased cell harvest Expansion of tumor tissue on 3D scaffolds for successful Vigil construction

About Vigil

Vigil is a novel, triple function immunotherapy platform that modifies a patients tumor by using bi-shRNA to reduce furin, an enzyme which facilitates immunosuppressive TGF beta protein production, and to maximize DNA expression of GM-CSF, which stimulates the immune system and attracts key immune system effector cells, including T cells. By utilizing the patient's own tumor as the antigen source, Vigil is designed to elicit an immune response that is specifically targeted and broadly relevant to each patient's unique clonal tumor neoantigens. Vigil therapy has been well tolerated in Phase 1, 2a and 2b clinical studies. In VITAL, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial in Stage III/IV newly diagnosed, frontline ovarian cancer patients, Vigil showed a positive trend in the primary endpoint of recurrence free survival (RFS) in the overall population and a statistically significant improvement in the secondary endpoint of recurrence free survival and overall survival (OS), with a median survival time of three years to date, in patients with the BRCAwt molecular profile. Importantly in patients with tumors of the HRP type, where there is a high unmet medical need, a statistically significant improvement was seen in RFS and OS.

Additionally, Phase 1 results in an all-comer clinical trial showed positive signals of activity in 19 tumor types and some patients treated with Vigil remained in the study 48 months later. The company is preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients with the HRP molecular profile. About Gradalis, Inc.

Founded in 2003, Gradalis is a privately held, late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing a personalized immunotherapy called Vigil, that has been tested in multiple studies in ovarian and other cancer tumor types. Vigil is the first cellular immunotherapy to demonstrate survival benefits in a randomized controlled trial of patients with solid tumors. The results of the companys Phase 2b study have been published in Lancet Oncology and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Vigil is being studied in other womens cancer types and has shown positive results in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Gradalis Vigil platform uses the patients immune system to target the entire tumor. Based on multiple clinical studies, Gradalis has developed an oncology platform that is designed to decloak the full repertoire of a patients tumor antigens, reactivate the immune system, and summon key effector cells to deliver a durable clinical response. When combined, these are a powerful Trifecta of anti-cancer activities, potentially eliminating even the elusive metastatic cells, and as shown in Phase 2 clinical studies in ovarian cancer, a potential gamechanger in oncology. Our clinical trials have also demonstrated that Gradalis platform is better tolerated compared to standard cancer treatments since Vigil uses the patients immune system operating within its natural state of balance rather than in an artificial overdrive as with some technologies. Vigil utilizes proprietary bi-shRNA technology that has been proven to silence multiple genes in a variety of cancers and has the potential to be used in other diseases. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the success, cost, and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials, our plans to research, develop, and commercialize our product candidates, and our plans to submit regulatory filings and obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates. These forward-looking statements are based on Gradalis current expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: (a) the timing, costs, and outcomes of our clinical trials and preclinical studies, (b) the timing and likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our product candidates, and (c) the potential market size for our product candidates. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Gradalis Contact

Mark Early

(214) 442-8161

[email protected] LifeSci Advisors Contact

Joyce Allaire

+1 (617) 435-6602

[email protected]



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[June 06, 2023] Ripple's Role in the Development of Central Bank Digital Currencies

TMCnet News With all of the digital currencies currently available, 2023 has proven to be a significant one for the world of crypto. More than 65 countries are advancing the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and at least 20 central banks have launched their pilot programs already? (according to the Atlantic Council).



With this data in mind, recent news from crypto solutions company Ripple has been announced. Ripple officially unveiled a groundbreaking development: The Ripple CBDC Platform.

Ripple, a firm known for its work on problem-solving the long-standing inefficiencies of the financial world, has championed the use of scalable crypto technology for creating new business models and opportunities for some time. Now, the Ripple CBDC Platform - a frictionless, end-to-end solution for central banks, governments and financial institutions - is designed to issue and manage central bank digital currencies. This platform was developed by leveraging the power of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a public and decentralized Layer 1 blockchain renowned for its speed, energy efficiency, and reliability. Aiming to increase financial inclusion and lower the costs and risks associated with domestic and cross-border payments, Ripple's CBDC Platform addresses multiple use cases. These include wholesale and retail CBDCs on a private ledger and issuing a stablecoin. Thus, central banks and governments are positioned to bring the next tier of digitization to their financial services, potentially extending access to millions of unbanked individuals worldwide. Surangel Whipps Jr, President of the Republic of Palau, acknowledged the role of this innovative platform in fostering financial innovation. He stated, "Partnering with Ripple to help create our national digital currency is part of our commitment to lead in financial innovation and technologies, which will provide the citizens of Palau with greater financial access." James Wallis, Ripple's Vice President of Central Bank Engagements & CBDCs, also expressed confidence of his own in the platform's potential to assist central banks and governments in devising strategies for CBDC implementations. According to Wallis, "The innovative capabilities of the platform will help enable instant settlement of both domestic and cross-border payments, reduce risk, and improve the user experience of quickly sending and receiving digital currency on either side of a transaction." Recently, Juniper Research (News - Alert) ranked Ripple's CBDC solutions as number one among 15 total CBDC technology providers, further solidifying Ripple's standing in the field. CB Insights also recognized Ripple's CBDC solutions among the best for blockchain cross-border payments.





Edited by Alex Passett



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Key Insights

LSL Property Services' estimated fair value is UK2.29 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With UK2.60 share price, LSL Property Services appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

Analyst price target for LSL is UK2.89, which is 26% above our fair value estimate

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of LSL Property Services plc (LON:LSL) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for LSL Property Services

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK8.50m UK15.1m UK18.9m UK19.1m UK19.2m UK19.4m UK19.7m UK19.9m UK20.1m UK20.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 0.83% Est @ 0.95% Est @ 1.04% Est @ 1.10% Est @ 1.14% Est @ 1.17% Est @ 1.19% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.6% UK7.8 UK12.8 UK14.7 UK13.7 UK12.7 UK11.8 UK11.0 UK10.3 UK9.6 UK8.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK113m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK20m (1 + 1.2%)  (8.6% 1.2%) = UK279m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK279m ( 1 + 8.6%)10= UK122m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK235m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK2.6, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at LSL Property Services as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.059. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for LSL Property Services

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Real Estate market.

Opportunity

Expected to breakeven next year.

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Good value based on P/S ratio compared to estimated Fair P/S ratio.

Threat

Paying a dividend but company is unprofitable.

Revenue is forecast to decrease over the next 2 years.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For LSL Property Services, there are three relevant aspects you should assess:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for LSL Property Services you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does LSL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Let the healing begin.

Sorry . . . But this woman is not yet convicted of her crimes but absolutely guilty of stealing my heart given her smoke show "most wanted" notice.



Here is the basics of her recent capture without any useful information about where TKC can sent gifts and notes of love . . .



Blue Springs Police announced Tuesday afternoon that 24-year-old Samantha J. Thrasher had been arrested by the Missouri Highway Patrol. Details of her arrest have not been released.



Jackson County prosecutors charged Thrasher with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action last week. The charges are connected to a shooting at a Blue Springs hotel on May 20.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Woman wanted for Blue Springs hotel shooting in custody BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - A woman wanted for shooting a man and a child at a Blue Springs hotel last month is in custody. Blue Springs Police announced Tuesday afternoon that 24-year-old Samantha J. Thrasher had been arrested by the Missouri Highway Patrol. Details of her arrest have not been released.

Blue Springs, Missouri, police say woman who allegedly shot a man and a 7-year-old child now in custody The Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department says a woman accused of shooting a 36-year-old man and a 7-year-old girl has been taken into custody. Police put out an alert last week searching for 24-year-old Samantha J.

Developing . . .
An EPIC Jackson County funding threat to KCPD encountered intense discussion today.

There's a lot to unpack and thankfully, Legislator Manny Abarca helps explain the situation going forward . . . Here's the most important part of the note . . .



"Furthermore, I agree with my colleague, Jalen Anderson, that the COMBAT formula needs to be reformatted. I am willing to take on this task from a budgeting standpoint, collaborating with other stakeholders. As violence continues to escalate across our Kansas City region, it is imperative that we examine internal changes to achieve different outcomes. Addressing the ease of access to guns is a logical staring point. Without concrete data that supports the notion that drugs directly lead to violence, especially considering out country's progression towards drug legalization, it is essential that we redirect our attention to the true determinants of violence and allocate resources accordingly, to not unintentionally add to the problem."



Just posted this evening, read the note in its entirety via www.TonysKansasCity.com embed . . .

And so . . . For now . . .

It looks like there won't be 3 MILLION BUCK KCPD DEFUND but better communication betwixt courthouse & police will be required going forward.

Developing . . .
Lots to cover here as local violence continues to escalate and we check police action, court cases & all manner of crime reporting.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

3 in custody after armed carjacking leads to pursuit, crash KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - An armed carjacking led to a police pursuit, a crash, and three people being taken into custody on Monday afternoon. The pursuit started near E. 39th Street and Troost Avenue. It ultimately concluded near the intersection of Gillham Road and E. Armour Boulevard at 3:44 p.m.

Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution on Tuesday JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Monday declined clemency for a man who faces execution Tuesday evening for killing two jailers in an ill-fated effort to free someone else from a county jail. Michael Tisius, 42, would be the third person in Missouri, and the 12th person nationally, to be executed in 2023.

Amber Alert canceled: 4 Topeka children safe, mother in custody TOPEKA, Kan. (KWCH) - Update: Topeka police said four children who had been taken by their mother have been located and are safe. An Amber Alert had been issued for the siblings. Police said they were believed to be in imminent danger. Police said the children's mother, Dontresha Shabree Thomas, has been taken into custody.

KCKPD's special investigations unit looking for people who had contact with sexual battery suspect Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Special Investigations Unit are asking the public for their assistance in an ongoing investigation.Police are looking for people who had contact with sexual battery suspect 32-year-old Marvin Ray Floyd Jr.KCKPD says that contact could have occurred either online or in person.

Daughter of KC hit-and-run victim relieved to see charges after 10 months KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ten months after a Kansas City mother was killed in a hit-and-run crash downtown, police have arrested a man facing charges in her death . "My dad is already gone, I'm the only child and all I had was my momma," said Kennadi Cobbins, the daughter of Kameron Cobbins, who was killed in the hit-and-run.

Man charged with 2nd-degree murder after shooting in Platte County NORTHMOOR, Mo. (KCTV) - Platte County Prosecutor's Office filed charges against Phillip J. Frazier, 50, on Saturday, in the death of Cody J. Steffen, in Northmoor, Missouri. On Friday, June 2, Platte County deputies along with officers of the Riverside Police Department responded to a shooting near a business in the area.

Crash led to deadly confrontation in small Platte County town NORTHMOOR, Mo. - A fender bender, in broad daylight, turns deadly in Platte County, Missouri. But it wasn't the crash, it was what happened immediately after that. The man who authorities said shot and killed a man in the other car is charged and behind bars.

Months after shooting, Ralph Yarl's mother says teen 'has to look over his shoulder' It's been nearly two months since Ralph Yarl, a 17-year-old Black Kansas City teen, after ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings in the Northland. On Memorial Day, Yarl walked with hundreds of people to raise awareness for brain injuries.

Man killed in Olathe police shooting identified OLATHE, Kan. - Police identified a man killed by Olathe police officers Saturday evening. According to police, 58-year-old David Russell Sweet approached officers at a traffic stop at East Santa Fe and North Water streets around 5:40 p.m. Police said Sweet had a knife.

Kansas City police officer James Muhlbauer honored where son practices soccer HALL I, I. OVERALL OVERALL IDENTIFY. ALWAYS PAIN. I GUESS I HOLD OUR. HISTORY. YES. THIS A VERY SWEET REMARKABLY YOU JAMES MUHLBAUER CAME IN HERE AS A RESERVE NURSE AND FELLOW OFFICER AND PARTNER. AND I WAS A ONE YEAR VETERAN AND I'M HEARTBROKEN. JOHN IN CHAPEL JUST UP THE LINE, SWEET.

Developing . . .
There's a lot to catch up on but here are the stories earning our attention right now:

The local drug game ramps us, gunfire plagues metro & life inside the loop becomes more dangerous.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Police ask public to avoid area of Power & Light Apartments due to armed standoff KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Police have asked the public to avoid the area of the 100 block of 14th Street due to an armed barricaded standoff. The Kansas City, Police, Department stated the area is not safe. Editor's Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Apartment complex in downtown Kansas City evacuated due to standoff KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police responded to a standoff with an alleged armed subject at an apartment complex in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened in the 100 block of E. 14th Street, near the Power and Light District, according to KCPD spokeswoman Donna Drake.

Kansas City police in standoff with an armed suspect near Truman, Broadway Kansas City police are involved in a standoff with an armed barricaded party near the old Denny's location at Truman and Broadway. There's no word yet on what led up to the standoff.

Press conferenence on armed standoff in downtown Kansas City Police are encouraging everyone to avoid the area of the 100 block of 14th Street.

Accused Excelsior Springs rapist's attorney asks for client to be moved KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An attorney for the man accused of kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman he had chained and locked up in the basement of his Excelsior Springs home has asked a Clay County judge to move Timothy Haslett closer to Clay County.

Man killed in Monday night shooting in KCK's Strawberry Hill neighborhood KANSAS CITY, Kan. - One man is dead after a shooting in Kansas City, Kansas, Monday night. At 9:20 p.m., police responded to a shots fired call in the area of North Fifth Street and Elizabeth Avenue in the city's Strawberry Hill neighborhood. Officers found a man with gunshot wounds lying in the alley.

Lawrence, Kansas, police responded to three different suspected fentanyl overdoses last night, one person died Tragic ones you hear about it involve the kids who, you know, the high school kid who thought he was getting *** pill to help with some pain or some anxiety or something. But it's widespread with anyone and adults obviously would think adults know better, but clearly it's out there and folks are just taking those unnecessary risks.

Missouri carries out the execution of Michael Tisius, who was convicted of killing two jailers Michael Tisius, a 42-year-old man who was convicted of murdering two individuals, has been executed. Tisius was convicted of killing two Missouri jailers in 2000 while attempting to free a man from the jail. The United States Supreme Court rejected a final appeal from Tisius' attorneys to block the execution.

Blue Springs man charged in deadly shooting near Kansas City gas station KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Blue Springs man is now facing charges in a deadly shooting near a Kansas City gas station. Christopher Lockett has been charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and stealing a motor vehicle.

Prison transport turned into Chiefs party bus stolen in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Stolen vehicles aren't normally as conspicuous as they are in this story but a Kansas City Chiefs party bus that has been missing since Monday still has not been recovered. The theft happened just off E. 20th Street and Spruce Avenue in Kansas City.

ReHope campus in Harrisonville strives to restore lives of sex trafficking abuse victims HARRISONVILLE, Mo. (KCTV) - On 17 acres southeast of the Kansas City metro is a safe haven for women. The women have survived horrors only a few of us can imagine. "I never thought I'd make it out alive," said Jojo. Jojo is not her real name, but to protect her identity that is what we are calling her.

KCPD summer internship aims to educate, recruit youth considering law enforcement career KANSAS CITY, Mo - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department kicked off its summer internship program this week. After a successful first year, KCPD decided to expand its intern class. Fourteen students in the internship program will get hands on learning this summer.

Developing . . .
This was mostly a useless event filled with sketchy activist characters . . . Actually, that sounds kinda fun but an open bar would have made if far more impactful.

However . . . Because it's daylight now . . . We'll share the most relevant statement that's probably lost on the bright t-shirt brigade of paid protesters . . .



"Owners see some KCMO city council policies that have come in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic as hostile to owners developing housing . . . It makes developers unwilling to build."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Different visions shared Monday night on how to fix KCMO's housing crisis KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Affordable housing is a problem that's been knocking on Kansas City's doors for years. Dr. Tracy Gunn once struggled to find safe, affordable housing for her and her children. She now helps other moms find their own safe, affordable housing through an organization called Growing Healthy Families.
Over the past few months social media info has sparked rising local car thefts . . . Today there's hope of law enforcement push back.



Here's the sitch . . .



Officers located a 2020 Kia Optima with several people running on foot from the vehicle.



Police said the Kia was reported stolen out of Kansas City, Missouri.



The initial investigation ended with six juvenile arrests and the recovery of a second vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata that was reported stolen out of Overland Park, according to police.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Six minors arrested in Olathe in connection to Kia, Hyundai thefts in Kansas City-area OLATHE, Kan. - Six juveniles were arrested early Monday morning in connection to multiple vehicle thefts in the Kansas City area. The Olathe Police Department said officers were conducting route patrols in the area of West Virginia Lane and Parker Street when they heard squealing car tires.

Six arrests made by Olathe, KS police in multiple thefts of Kia, Hyundai vehicles Six teenagers were arrested early Monday morning in connection to multiple car thefts in the City of Olathe. Police were conducting patrols in the 1000 block of West Virginia Lane when at 2:05 a.m. on Monday, an officer's attention was directed to the area of loud, squealing car tires.

TEXTLine
Sign of the times as "breed bans" are now racist or whatever . . . Here's the latest . . .

The Independence City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to repeal the ban after thousands of people signed a petition against it. The vote was followed by an applause.



The new ordinance will go into effect on August 4, 2023.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Independence votes to end ban on pit bulls INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The City of Independence votes to end its ban on pit bulls. The Independence City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to repeal the ban after thousands of people signed a petition against it. The vote was followed by an applause. The new ordinance will go into effect on August 4, 2023.

Independence City Council repeals years-long pit bull ban in city KANSAS CITY, Mo - The Independence City Council voted on Monday to repeal a years-long pit bull ban in the city. During a meeting, council members heard from both supporters and opponents of a proposed ordinance that will repeal the ban that's been in effect since 2006.
During any of the advance voting days, eligible voters can vote at any voting location across the city. - Richard Lautens/Toronto Star file
Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with Metroland Media Toronto and toronto.com. He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Bina Puri Holdings Bhd is RM0.033 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.035 suggests Bina Puri Holdings Bhd is potentially trading close to its fair value

Industry average of 233% suggests Bina Puri Holdings Bhd's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KLSE:BPURI) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Bina Puri Holdings Bhd

Crunching The Numbers

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM20.1m RM19.6m RM19.5m RM19.6m RM19.9m RM20.3m RM20.8m RM21.4m RM22.1m RM22.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -5.05% Est @ -2.46% Est @ -0.65% Est @ 0.62% Est @ 1.50% Est @ 2.12% Est @ 2.56% Est @ 2.86% Est @ 3.07% Est @ 3.22% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 20% RM16.8 RM13.7 RM11.4 RM9.6 RM8.1 RM6.9 RM5.9 RM5.1 RM4.4 RM3.8

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM86m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 20%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM23m (1 + 3.6%)  (20% 3.6%) = RM147m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM147m ( 1 + 20%)10= RM25m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM110m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.04, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Bina Puri Holdings Bhd as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 20%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Bina Puri Holdings Bhd

Strength

No major strengths identified for BPURI.

Weakness

Current share price is above our estimate of fair value.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine BPURI's earnings prospects.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Bina Puri Holdings Bhd, we've put together three pertinent items you should look at:

Risks: Take risks, for example - Bina Puri Holdings Bhd has 4 warning signs (and 3 which are significant) we think you should know about. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Robert Bronk is chief executive officer of the Ontario Construction Secretariat. Visit iciconstruction.com for more information. For more information on trade-specific career options, visit Construction Training and Apprenticeship Ontario at CTAOntario.ca - OCS photo
A vital player in global food production

As North America's leading nitrogen producer, CF Industries (NYSE:CF) operates primarily within the United States and Canada. A substantial majority, about 80%, of the company's nitrogen output is sold as fertilizer.

CF Industries plays a crucial role in global food production through its nitrogen fertilizers, which are essential inputs for modern agriculture. Ammonia is a crucial ingredient in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers. Nitrogen is a necessary nutrient for plant growth. It's an essential component of proteins, enzymes and genetic material in plants. Nitrogen fertilizers boost crop yields by providing the additional nutrients that plants need to grow to their full potential, beyond what they can get from the soil naturally. By providing these products, CF Industries helps farmers around the world produce more food per acre of land.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

NYSE:CF) reported its latest earnings results for the first quarter of 2023, which included GAAP earnings per share of $2.85, outperforming estimates by $0.40. The company also posted revenue of $2.01 billion, exceeding expectations by $150 million despite a year-over-year decline of 30%. Over the last 12 months, the company brought in net cash from operating activities amounting to $3.41 billion and free cash flow of $2.33 billion.

The company used some of this cash to continue its share repurchase program, buying back over 1 million shares for a total of $75 million during the first quarter. Looking back at the last decade, CF Industries has brought its shares down from 277 million to under 195 million. Thus, we can likely expect the trend to continue, adding value for shareholders.

The company also announced two strategic developments during the quarter, including the signing of a definitive asset purchase agreement with Incitec Pivot Limited for their ammonia production complex situated in Waggaman, Louisiana. Additionally, CF Industries executed a memorandum of understanding with LOTTE CHEMICAL, a leading chemical company in South Korea. This agreement is for a joint venture to supply clean ammonia in South Korea. The market for Green Ammonia is one of the fastest growing globally and projected to reach $14.5 billion by 2030 according to estimates from Vantage Market Research.

Corn as a durable competitive advantage

The companys sales and profits are significantly influenced by the acreage of corn planted. Corn, unlike soybeans, doesn't naturally produce its own nitrogen, thus necessitating the use of nitrogen fertilizers for maximizing crop yields. Thus, corn-planted acres greatly impact the demand for nitrogen in North America.

On the cost side, the risk is that natural gas prices rise as it remains the main ingredient used in nitrogen fertilizer production, accounting for nearly 50% of costs. The global fertilizer market seems to be normalizing, production and prices steadily recovering. However, long-term production will still be essential to its customers as well as the consumer. From a numbers standpoint, this has added up to significant growth and profitability.

Valuation

This is a tough company to value because despite record profits, the stock is down 32% over the last 52 weeks, and that includes the August 2022 highs above $117 per share. When stretched out over the long-term, I believe the company will continue to build shareholder value through acquisitions, buybacks and book value growth. That will happen whether the top and bottom lines rise consistently or not.

Since 2013, revenues have doubled and the company has booked close to $10 billion in total net profit. The next 10 years should be even better by my estimates, which coupled with a lower share count could mean a substantial increase in share prices. For example, lets say CF Industries can double profits by 2033 (which I believe is feasible) and buys back the same amount of stock (~30%) as the past decade, giving it roughly 140 million shares. With current net income above $3 billion, that would put earnings per share above $40 in a decade. Admittedly, that may seem like a crazy high prediction, but I think the numbers might just add up. Add in dividend yield of 2.46% and CF Industries seems to have massive potential.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Sometimes you come across very honest people. It is what one shopper would have hoped for ..
Check Call the Show. News and Analysis for 3PLs and Freight Brokers.

Welcome to Check Call, our corner of the internet for all things 3PL, freight broker and supply chain. Check Call the podcast comes out every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Catch up on previous episodes here. If this was forwarded to you, sign up for Check Call the newsletter here.

In this edition: West Coast labor union talks get ramped up a notch; Canada goes head-to-head with Mexico; and C.H. Robinson finds a new CEO.

(Image: boredpanda.com)

Everything out West is totally fine  nothing to be concerned about, except maybe a few things regarding the West Coast port labor negotiations. Weve officially hit the one-year anniversary of starting the new labor union contract conversation. Sadly, there was no weekend getaway to the mountains, just some work disruption.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union on Friday effectively shut down operations at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, driving the workers point home that they are none too happy with ocean carriers and terminal operators.

Labor stoppages aside, negotiations havent completely broken down. FreightWaves Greg Miller reported ILWU President Willie Adams highlighted the health risks and lives lost of ILWU members during COVID and the astronomical revenues of ocean carriers during that period, and argued that ILWU members deserve an economic package that accounts for their role in the shipping industrys windfall  in other words, they want a piece of the pandemic profit pie. Adams specifically pointed to the falling percentage of ILWU wages and benefits in comparison to PMA profits.

This technically is the second major disruption this year, the first being the night shift on March 30 and day shift March 31. The good news is that since there is less container volume coming in on the West Coast, some of the long-term impacts of any work stoppages wont be felt as deeply as if they occurred when there were 109 ships waiting to berth.





(gif: giphy)

All the talk of reshoring manufacturing operations seems focused on Mexico and not Canada. Yes, Volkswagen is building a $14 billion battery plant for electric vehicles in St. Thomas, Ontario, that is slated to open in 2027, but Mexico seems to get a new facility of some sort every day.

Labor in Canada is still affordable but not nearly as cost effective as labor in Mexico. John Boyd, principal for the Boyd Co. Inc., said in Noi Mahoneys story: Canadas long suit historically has been in the natural resources field, being a global supplier of timber, precious metals, natural gas, crude oil, crude bitumen and coal. The EV industry is a major end user of lithium for the production of auto and truck batteries. That said, two of North Americas largest deposits of lithium are in Canada.

(SONAR TRAC Market Dashboard)

TRAC Tuesday. This weeks TRAC lane of the week is a long one, from Detroit to Memphis, Tennessee. This 735-mile journey runs about $2.29 a mile on the spot market. An all-in rate of $2,066 before margin should suffice to get this lane covered. Carriers will be eager to drive the spot rate up as it seems that spot rates are climbing with no chance of stopping. Hold firm on rates as outbound tender rejections in Detroit have fallen 450 basis points since last week. A major plummet to the OTRI has come and that should bring spot rates down a little, as Memphis OTRI has started increasing.

(Gif: Tenor)

Whos with Whom. Cars and trucks are kind of the same thing in regard to transportation, right? C.H. Robinson has thought along the same lines as the hunt for a new CEO is over. David Bozeman, an executive at Ford Motor Co., has been tapped to take over the U.S. largest freight brokerage. It turns out the choice might not be as strange as it appeared. Bozeman spent some time at Amazon Transportation Services, Caterpillar and Harley-Davidson Motor Co. The man knows a thing or two about vehicles.

FreightWaves Mark Solomon wrote that C.H. Robinson has struggled with a sharp downturn in demand. Robinson had also struggled in recent months amid concerns about increased competition from the likes of new broker RXO Inc. However, it had lost market share in general in what had before been a historically strong environment for contract brokerage, from which Robinson generates most of its revenue.

(Image: LinkedIn)

Double broker red flags

Double broker red flag No. 3: Thou shalt not trust an address.

The devil works hard, double brokers work harder. After perusing LinkedIn, I stumbled on this post. It turns out if you go to physicaladdress.com you can get a random physical address for a business for the cost of an average Starbucks run, $8 a month. This isnt a sign to never trust a carriers address, but maybe take an extra few seconds to look it up on Google Maps, the way you would look up a residential delivery and run a few landmarks by the carrier to verify its legit.

Got any tips that are your favorite? Let me know or post on LinkedIn. Id love to share them with everyone.

The more you know

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About 16,000 people are currently in the disaster area on the right-bank Kherson region as the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam.

"As of now, we understand that about 16,000 people are in the disaster area on the right bank of the Dnipro River," Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, said during the United News telethon.

According to him, a separate headquarters has been created in each territorial community which is responsible for its territory.

"As of 07:30, the following settlements are flooded completely or partially: Tiahynka, Lvove, Odradokamyanka in Beryslav district; Ivanivka, Mykilske, Tokarivka, Poniativka, Bilozerka, Ostriv microdistrict in Kherson city  this is Kherson district," Prokudin said.

According to him, other settlements are likely to be flooded as well, and the authorities are ready for this. Currently, the residents of these settlements are evacuated by buses to Kherson city, and then to Mykolaiv, and from there to Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, Kyiv, and other cities. At 12:00, an evacuation train will depart from the Kherson railway station to Mykolaiv.

Prokudin noted that the people are being informed, and issues of providing humanitarian aid  drinking water, food, etc.  are being worked out.

As for the Russian-occupied left bank of Kherson region, he emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities urged the residents of the region to move to safe places.

As reported, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) dam.

The evacuation of people from dangerous areas at risk of being flooded has begun in Kherson region.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the right-bank part of Kherson region, in particular the city of Kherson. Part of the region, located on the left bank of the Dnipro River, is temporarily occupied by Russian troops.

Photo: Maxar Technologies
Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Arvydas Anusauskas has stated that Lithuania is preparing a new package of assistance to Ukraine.

Lithuania is preparing a new shipment of support for Ukraine. Millions of ammunition units, anti-drones, Anusauskas posted on Twitter.

He noted that the country will announce more information about the support to Ukraine after the Ramstein format meeting in two weeks.

As reported, on May 25, the 12th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting was held in the Ramstein format, at which the participants discussed the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense, as well as the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
On Thursday, 15 June, President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak to the Switzerland's Parliament via video call.

This became known during a meeting of the Swiss parliament, Ukrinform reports citing Evropeiska Pravda.

Martin Candinas, the speaker of the Swiss National Council (lower house), announced Zelensky's speech at the beginning of the debate, adding that the date had been chosen in agreement with the Ukrainian side. The duration of the speech was not specified.

Read also: Three more Swiss trams arrive in Vinnytsia

Thomas Aeschy, leader of the right-wing Swiss People's Party parliamentary group, criticised the decision to allow Zelensky to speak, saying it could be seen as influencing the debate on weapons and ammunition supplies.

He later said that most members of his faction would not attend the speech of the Ukrainian president.

It should be noted that Zelensky will be the first president to address the Swiss parliament via video call.

Since 1970, 28 guest speakers have spoken in the country's legislature. Among them were presidents of countries and representatives of international organisations, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Senate.
Latvia has handed over 66 cars confiscated from drunk Latvian drivers to Ukraine free of charge.

That's according to data from the Latvian State Social Insurance Agency, Ukrinform reports, citing Delfi.

In November last year, amendments to the Criminal Code came into force in Latvia, which provides for criminal liability for driving a vehicle if the alcohol concentration exceeds 1.5 ppm. If a car owner is found to be driving while intoxicated or refuses to undergo a test, their car will be confiscated.

At the same time, according to the law on support of the civilian population of Ukraine, vehicles owned by Latvia may be transferred to the ownership of the Ukrainian government free of charge to prevent the consequences of an emergency situation related to the hostilities in Ukraine and to support Ukrainian society.

As Ukrinform reported, Latvia provides Ukraine with diplomatic, military and humanitarian assistance. In particular, at the end of May, another tranche of 2 million euros was allocated for the restoration of Chernihiv.

Photo: uk-sovetnik.com
| By Brittney Brookins

The University of Maryland, Baltimore's (UMB) CURE Scholars Program recently celebrated the graduation of its second cohort of scholars.

This groundbreaking program seeks to empower middle and high school students in West Baltimore by providing them with competitive and rewarding research, health care, and STEM-related career opportunities. The program is designed to excite students about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on activities that enhance their curriculum. It also helps families by assisting them with social resources and creating a positive home learning environment.

Shereen Farguharson, Cohort 2 CURE Scholar

The UMB CURE Scholars Program has had a tremendous impact on its participants. The first cohort of scholars graduated from the program in May 2022 with a newfound appreciation for STEM fields and the confidence to pursue their dreams. The second cohort was no different; they also left the program feeling empowered to take on the world.

I am so proud to have been a part of this program that has provided me with so many opportunities for growth, said graduating scholar Shereen Farguharson. It has opened up my eyes to what I can do with my future, and I am excited to see where I will go next.

The graduates are now equipped with the skills needed to succeed in college and beyond. They have gained valuable experience through internships at local hospitals and research labs, as well as access to mentors who have helped them develop leadership skills. These experiences have opened up new possibilities for these young people, giving them an opportunity to make a real difference in their communities while pursuing their passions in STEM fields.

The CURE Scholars Program is an inspiring example of how education can be used to create positive change in our society. By providing students with access to meaningful learning experiences, it has given them the tools they need to become successful leaders in their respective fields. We congratulate all of our graduates on this accomplishment!

Learn more about the CURE Scholars Program at www.umaryland.edu/cure-scholars/.
06/05/2023

Media contacts:

Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations, Emily_GowdeyBackus@uml.edu

Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs contact: ECA-Press@state.gov

Prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards, designed to advance recipients' careers as educators and researchers, have been awarded to three UMass Lowell faculty members.

The honors, awarded by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, are bestowed based on the academic merits of recipients work and leadership potential. UMass Lowell Fulbright awardees for the 2023-2024 academic year include:

Sheree Pagsuyoin, associate professor, associate department chair, and graduate coordinator for the doctoral program in civil and environmental engineering, UMass Lowell Francis College of Engineering

Spencer Ross, associate professor of marketing entrepreneurship and innovation, UMass Lowell Manning School of Business

Mehmet Berk Talay, professor and department chair, UMass Lowell Manning School of Business

The UMass Lowell community congratulates professors Pagsuyoin, Ross and Talay on their Fulbright awards, which recognize the significance of their research and work as educators. The opportunities that come with these awards will allow them to grow their expertise in international settings, forge partnerships with scholars from across the globe and return to UMass Lowell to share their expanded knowledge with our students, said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen.

Pagsuyoin is an expert in the ecological and public health impacts of contaminants, including levels of the coronavirus, in wastewater, and an authority on water treatment technologies. She is a recipient of the highly competitive Fulbright Global Scholar Award , which will enable her to conduct research in Busan, South Korea; Manilla, the Philippines; and Antwerp, Belgium. In each urban setting, she will evaluate the feasibility of analyzing wastewater to monitor drug use in the population.

Ross and Talay each received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program fellowship. With his award, Ross, an expert in digital marketing, social media branding and consumer engagement, will study coffee production and marketing in Colombia at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota.

Talay is an authority on the development and launch of new products and services in local and international markets. With his Fulbright award, he will study how luxury products can help foster sustainable innovations, especially in the context of the automotive industry.

As part of that research, he has been invited to the Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales ( ESSEC ) Business School in Cergy, France, where he will serve as a visiting professor in a research center established by French automaker Peugeot.

With their awards, the UMass Lowell faculty will join more than 800 fellow Fulbright award recipients who are U.S. citizens selected to teach or conduct research abroad over the next year.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States through an annual appropriation by U.S. Congress to the State Department, and by partner countries around the world. Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and 41 who have served as a head of state or government, according to the State Department.
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese biodiesel producers pledged to improve compliance and export standards, days after European rivals called for action to stem potentially fraudulent shipments.

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A group representing the countrys biggest producers and affiliated with the technology ministry promised closer monitoring of the quality and sourcing of biofuels. However, Chinese supplies shouldnt be treated differently by the European Union, it said in an open letter.

We are deeply concerned about the potential fraud in Chinese biodiesel exports, the industry group said in the letter. We have zero tolerance for such violations.

That came after the European Waste-Based & Advanced Biofuels Association said surging Chinese biofuel shipments were threatening local suppliers by depressing prices. European producers say Chinese exporters may be mixing fuels with cheaper feedstocks and mislabeling them to qualify for EU incentives. The European Commission and the Dutch and German governments must take action, the association known as EWABA said.

Read More: Asia Floods Europe with Green Fuel Suspected to Be Fraudulent

Chinas exports of methyl ester, a feedstock for biodiesel thats made from used cooking oil, to the EU rose by almost 40% to 1.79 million tons in 2022, according to the Chinese group. Production capacity is expected to increase to 3 million tons this year. Nearly all of Chinas capacity is export-oriented to take advantage of EU tax policies, the US Department of Agriculture said in a report last year.

The spike in exports to Europe comes at the same time as a surge in Chinese imports of palm waste and palm-based biofuel from Indonesia and Malaysia. Palm oil is generally shunned by the European Union due to deforestation fears, and the jump in Chinese shipments has spurred speculation that some of the palm waste is being blended into the methyl ester thats being sent to Europe.

The surge in Chinese exports is hitting European biodiesel producers. At least 11 plants have halted output, while another 10 have curbed production, EWABA said in the June 1 letter to officials including Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president for European Green Deal and the European trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. The association represents companies including Cargill Inc., Gunvor Group Ltd. and Novozymes A/S.

Read More: Chinese Resort Island at Center of Alleged Green Fuel Fraud

Policing and auditing of biodiesel flows must be strengthened to avert fraud and damage to the EU market, the associations Secretary General Angel Alvarez Alberdi, said in the letter.

If no speedy and effective measures from both the EU and national authorities are urgently taken to safeguard the European waste-based and advanced biodiesel industry, we will soon be on a path which will irremediably spiral into the complete collapse of the EU industry, EWABA said in the letter.

The Chinese group said its willing to cooperate on certification and compliance, working with EWABA to address the issues and defend the industry. Supplies of Chinese biodiesel are helping the EU reach its carbon-reduction goals, according to the letter.

The Chinese association is considering establishing a white list of qualified suppliers to improve traceability and transparency, Liu Yaoming, head of the association and a veteran biofuel trader, said in an interview. Most exporters abide by EU regulations, Liu said. Europes production difficulties stemmed from declining road diesel consumption, which is curbing blendstock demand, he added.

Chinese factories are bigger and more efficient and able to handle waste oils in relatively bad conditions, Liu said.

(Updates with more background from 5th paragraph)

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Huge increase in transnational crime and synthetic drugs in SE Asia requires cross-border cooperation

River seizure

UN News/Daniel Dickinson | Captain Phakorn Maniam is deployed to the Thai Navy Mekong Riverine Unit

- A Thai Navy launch travels at high speed down the muddy brown waters of the Mekong River close to the border town of Chiang Saen in the north of Thailand. To the right is Laos, where huge construction projects funded by foreign investment are rising out of the lush undergrowth along the riverbank and ahead to the left are the dense jungles of Myanmar.This is the storied Golden Triangle where historically opium was grown to produce heroin for export but where, in recent years, the trade of even deadlier and more profitable synthetic drugs has taken over.Thailand, Laos and Myanmar are at the frontlines of illicit trade in Asia dominated by transnational organized crime syndicates.

The crew on the Thai boat is buoyant following the recent seizure of 6.4 million pills of the banned and highly addictive synthetic drug methamphetamine, known locally as yaba.



I was astonished but also really pleased that we seized this amount of yaba, Captain Phakorn Maniam Head of Operations and Intelligence Section of the, Mekong Riverine Unit, Royal Thai Navy told UN News. Normally, this amount of drugs is seized on land; its a difficult operation apprehending offenders in the middle of the river, he said, and so Im especially proud of our crew, who are so dedicated to protecting our country and our people.



A few miles downstream at the small town of Houay Xai on the Laos side of the Mekong, border authorities are celebrating their own significant seizure of drugs; the previous night following a tip-off, a military land patrol caught drug mules carrying 500 kilograms of crystal meth. The previous month 7.1 million methamphetamine pills had also been seized in the same area.



The drugs tracked down in Laos and Thailand had originated in illegal industrial-scale laboratories operated by militias and criminal gangs in the remote mountainous jungles of northern Shan State in Myanmar and were being transited through both countries to the Thai capital, Bangkok, but also across Southeast Asia and to distant lucrative markets including Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.



Its difficult to calculate with any certainty what quantity of synthetic drugs is being manufactured in Myanmar, but some estimates suggest many hundreds of tons are being trafficked out of the country.



Despite the seemingly relentless flow of drugs, the Thai and Lao authorities are experiencing some success thanks, in part, to the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which is promoting a regional intelligence gathering network.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson | Three countries, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, come together at the Golden Triangle.

Officer C, who is based in Houay Xai with Lao authorities and who did not want to be named for security reasons, said that cooperating with law enforcement agencies across the border in Thailand through regular calls, face-to-face meetings and other communications has improved the response to illegal trafficking. With this cross-border collaboration and sharing of information, we have been able to counter narcotics trafficking and also other types of transnational organized crime.



The crime-fighting authorities in Thailand and Laos are collaborating more closely as a result of UNODCs Regional Border Management Programme under which a network of border liaisons offices or BLOs were set up to strengthen cross-border cooperation and information sharing.



The network of over 120 BLOs stretches across Southeast Asia from Myanmar in the west to China in the east and Indonesia to the south and also includes Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam.



The BLOs are being strengthened with the support of UNODC to counter what the drugs and crime fighting agencys Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Jeremy Douglas, calls one of the biggest drug trafficking corridors in the world.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson | A border liaison officer in Laos.

The challenges in disrupting this transnational trade are immense according to Mr. Douglas: There are complex governance issues at play in the Golden Triangle and inside Myanmar, with fragmented armed groups and militias involved in the drug trade and other illicit businesses that control territory, he said. At the same time, these groups are operating in very remote places, and in some cases along very porous, open borders. It is easy to traffic drugs and illicit goods in and out of Myanmar, and the situation is very difficult for its neighbours to address.



The increase in the production of synthetic drugs in recent has been unprecedented according to the UNODC Regional Representative who believes that collaboration between countries is fundamental to preventing trafficking: This is a shared responsibility; addressing transnational criminality requires states to collaborate to react quickly to what's happening, especially along border areas.



It is not just drugs which are being trafficked across the region. Chemical precursors to manufacture synthetic drugs are being illegally transported into Myanmar in quantities far larger than the drugs that are trafficked out. Trafficking in people, wildlife, timber and weapons is also taking place.



In such a complex and problematic environment, new skills are needed to deal with fresh challenges. As part of its BLO support, UNODC has developed training partnerships with agencies across Southeast Asia.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson | A Thai police officer stops a vehicle at a checkpoint 40 kilometres south of the Thai-Myanmar border.

On Highway 1, some 40 kilometres south of the Thai-Myanmar border Police lieutenant Colonel Amonrat Wathanakhosit is taking her students through a practical exercise focused on searching vehicles for contraband.



Our students are using UNODC knowledge products and training and learning how to question drivers, and they are getting use to how they are behaving. Our students are becoming more confident about identifying which drivers may be hiding synthetic drugs.



Unlike heroin, the production of which is restrained by the natural growing cycle of the opium poppy, methamphetamine can be manufactured almost at will as long as precursor and other chemicals are available.



The collaboration of governments with the support of UNODC is helping to stem the flow of drugs, even if it is widely accepted that seizures represent only a small percentage of the drugs which are trafficked across the region.



Officers like Lt Col Amonrat Wathanakhosit recognize the challenges but she no doubt speaks for many across the region saying that my job trying to stop drugs is crucial to the security of my country.
June 6 2023

Glasgow City Council's education services department has lodged plans for a community hub and nursery in Milton, Glasgow.

Situated on the site of the former Glasgow School for the Deaf at Shapinsay Street, demolished in the 1990s, the project hub will cater for an expansion of early years provision while also introducing shared community spaces such as allotments and a playground.

Tenanted by North United Communities, a group dedicated to providing social and well-being initiatives, the building will replace outdated facilities at Ruchill Community Centre.

In a statement, the local authority wrote: "At the heart of the project, Glasgow City Council wish to create an effective educational environment which takes a holistic approach to the design process by combining social, economic and environmental goals resulting in a sustainable architecture, culture and landscape. The new hub requires to be responsive to current and future educational and community needs without significant impact on the environment.

"The project vision is to deliver an exemplar facility for the community of Milton. The building should aspire to become the new heart of the community. The spaces within should provide a stimulating and supportive environment which caters for the needs of both groups and individuals."

With space for 95 infants, the nursery will include four playrooms, a dining area and offices.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 06th Jun, 2023) His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the board of Trustees of Khalifa Award for Education, stressed that the UAEs education sector receives generous support from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who considers education as the foundation for human development and a key pillar of the countrys progress.

Sheikh Mansour said the countrys education system achieves notable daily accomplishments in terms of focusing on the elements of the educational process, including students, teachers, school leaders, curricula, programmes, teaching plans and infrastructure that enhance creativity, leadership and innovation, in line with the best international practices applied in advanced educational systems.

He made these statements while honouring the winners of the 16th Khalifa Award for Education, held today at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi under his patronage, and in the presence of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award.

Sheikh Mansour went on to highlight the pioneering role of the Khalifa Award for Education in promoting a culture of excellence in the education sector at local, Arab and international levels. Since its launch in 2007, the award has improved the academic performance of various educational institutions, including schools, institutes, colleges and universities, as well as provided support and incentives to individuals working in the education sector and relevant social institutions, he added.

Sheikh Mansour also mentioned the addition of "Early Education" as a category in the award for the first time this year, which reflects the attention and care given by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates to this sector, as the UAE prioritises early childhood and early education through an advanced system of legislation, laws and national initiatives that ensure the healthy, social and educational development of children.

Sheikh Mansour then expressed his hope that the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning will help showcase the UAE's model of early childhood care around the world, and highlight the countrys most prominent experiences, research and specialist studies in this area at a global level.

The ceremony honoured 41 winners, including 25 from the UAE, 12 from the Arab region, and four from the rest of the world, as well as businessman Abdulla Ahmed Al Ghurair, Founder of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, in appreciation of his efforts and contributions to advance the education system locally, regionally and internationally.

Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Adviser to the UAE President; Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education; Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU); Mohammed Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and several officials attended the honouring reception.
HANOI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 06th Jun, 2023) Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, has attended a bilateral meeting with Pham Minh Chin, Prime Minister of Vietnam, during a high-level visit to Hanoi where they welcomed the beginning of negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the first round of which took place on 5th June.

The discussions also touched on the World Trade Organisations 13th Ministerial Conference of the World (MC13), which is being held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, and how Vietnam can support the UAEs mission to build consensus on key issues such as WTO reform, dispute resolution and the development of global rules for digital trade.

Dr. Thani heralded the developing relationship between the two nations and the potential deeper ties will help realise. Vietnam is the UAEs leading trade partner among ASEAN countries, with bilateral non-oil trade totalling US$8.7 billion in 2022, which accounts for 27 percent of trade with the bloc.

The proposed UAE-Vietnam Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will push these figures even higher and underline the benefits of open, rules-based trade. We also see considerable opportunity for our private-sectors in high-potential areas, particularly in developing the green economy and food security.

During the visit, Al Zeyoudi also held meetings with Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Tran Quoc Khanh, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, in addition to Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment, to explore ways to facilitate private-sector cooperation and establish investment priorities.

Al Zeyoudi then met with Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), to discuss how the UAEs global connectivity can support Vietnams exporters and manufacturers.

He also addressed the UAE-Vietnam Business Forum and met representatives of leading Vietnamese companies in the food production, metals and electric auto industries.

He underscored the UAEs dynamic, business-friendly ecosystem, and market-entry programs such as NextGen FDI, that can help Vietnams pioneering businesses to expand into new global markets.

The delegation of business leaders from the UAE that accompanied him held a number of productive meetings with their Vietnamese counterparts to explore potential synergies.

The visit is the latest in a series of high-level discussions between the two nations. In May, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received Vo Thi Anh Xuanto, Vietnams Vice President, where they agreed to pursue areas of mutual interest, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy, food security, the green economy.

The UAE delegation included Dr. Bader Abdulla Al Matrooshi, UAE Ambassador to Vietnam; Rashed Abdulkarim AlBlooshi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Assistant Undersecretary of International Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Economy; Jamal Saif Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of UAE International Investors Council; Mohamed Al Menhali, Regional CEO at Abu Dhabi Port Group and Executive Vice President of Sardal; Samir Chaturvedi, Chief International Business Officer at Abu Dhabi Ports Group; Fatima Al-Suwaidi, Head of the Masdar Office in Indonesia; Fahed Hamad Al Nuaimi, Director of the AGT Asia Office at ADNOC Global Trading Asia; Hamad Al Hosani, Chief Corporate Officer of Burjeel Holding; Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director of Food Commodities at the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC); Muhammad Khamis Khalfan Nasser Al Dhaheri, Senior Agricultural Engineer at Ayelet Agro; Rashed Al Balooshi, Senior Vice-Preident of Operated Assets, South-East Asia, for Mubadala Energy; and Zhu Yiteng, Project Business Development for AMEA Power.


London, June 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2023 ) :Prince Harry on Tuesday said he had suffered a lifelong "press invasion" and accused some media of having blood on their hands, as he became the first royal in more than 100 years to give evidence in court.

Harry, 38, said he had been the victim of relentless and distressing media intrusion "most of my life up until this day" and attacked negative portrayals of him as the "spare to the heir".

"How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness," the younger son of King Charles III added in a witness statement.

"You're then either the 'playboy prince', the 'failure', the 'dropout' or, in my case, the 'thicko', the 'cheat', the 'underage drinker', the 'irresponsible drug taker', the list goes on.

"As a teenager and in my early 20s, I ended up feeling as though I was playing up to a lot of the headlines and stereotypes that they wanted to pin on me... It was a downward spiral," he said, calling the reporting "utterly vile".

Harry is accusing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) Ltd -- publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People tabloids -- of illegal information gathering, including phone hacking.

During cross-examination by MGN's lawyer Andrew Green, Harry admitted that he had no recollection of reading the majority of the articles he had complained about.

But he called them "incredibly invasive" and taken as a whole they had made him acutely paranoid and ruined his relationships.

- 'Industrial scale' - The case is Harry's latest legal battle with the press since he stepped down from frontline royal duties in early 2020 and relocated to California with his American wife Meghan.

The prince earned a rebuke from the judge on Monday for not turning up for the opening statement in his case as he had been attending his young daughter's second birthday on Sunday.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie, the Duke of Sussex, as he is formally known, began giving evidence shortly after 0930 GMT after swearing an oath on the Bible.

On Monday, Harry's lawyer David Sherborne said that he was targeted by illegal information gathering even as a young schoolboy and his phone would have been hacked on "multiple occasions".

"No aspect of the young prince's life was safe" from press intrusion, he submitted.

The case against MGN centres on claims that its tabloids broke the law to obtain stories about Harry and other claimants, including two tv soap opera actors and the ex-wife of a comedian.

At the start of the trial on May 10, MGN apologised and admitted to "some evidence" of unlawful information gathering, including for a story about Harry.

But it denied voicemail interception and also argued that some claims had been brought too late.

Sherborne submitted that "industrial scale" illegal activities were happening at MGN and had been approved by senior executives.

- Government 'in bed' with press - Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, has had a turbulent relationship with the press and holds the media responsible for the death of his mother Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

In television interviews and his explosive memoir "Spare", released in January, Harry hit out at other royals, accusing them of colluding with the press.

In court filings unveiled in April, Harry claimed the royal family as an institution had struck a "secret agreement" with one UK publisher that had prevented him from suing, to avoid a royal entering the witness box.

He also alleged the monarchy wanted to prevent the opening of a "Pandora's Box" of negative coverage that could tarnish the royal brand.

Although the royal family are normally scrupulous about staying out of politics, Harry on Tuesday also launched a tirade against the government.

"On a national level, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government, both of which I believe are at rock bottom," he said in his witness statement.

"Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo."The prince has vowed to spearhead efforts to enforce change in Britain's tabloid behaviour and accused the police and government of being "scared" to hold the press accountable.

The last time a royal gave evidence in court was in the 1890s when the future king Edward VII took the stand in a slander trial.
(Bloomberg) -- An economic seesaw between China and Russia in Central Asia is moving toward a new equilibrium for Kazakhstan, which expects its eastern neighbor to come out on top as international sanctions over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine transform commerce.

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In the over three decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia held on to its spot as the biggest trading partner for Kazakhstan even as China made inroads across much of the region that stretches from the Caspian to Manchuria.

But financial and economic sanctions that have sidelined Russia and diverted trade flows are creating an opening for China. Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstans deputy prime minister and its minister of trade and integration, said its a matter of a few years before China overtakes Russia.

The growth in trade is happening due to China, he said in an interview in the capital, Astana. By 2030, Zhumangarin expects volumes with China to eclipse Kazakh trade with the 27-nation European Union as a whole.

For centuries a gateway for Chinas trade with Europe and the Middle East, Central Asia is now at the nexus of competing interests spreading from Washington to Moscow and Beijing.

Chinas President Xi Jinping last year chose Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic. The US and the EU have also stepped up their outreach.

But while countries from Italy to Australia rethink their ties with China, the pull of the worlds second-biggest economy may prove hard to resist for the nations of Central Asia, which also include Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Trade with China surged by about a third last year to approach $24 billion for Kazakhstan. It still lagged volumes with Russia  which added just over 6% in 2022  by about $2 billion, according to Kazakhstans Bureau of National Statistics.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a Mandarin speaker who once worked as a diplomat in China, has refused to side with Russia over the invasion launched just weeks after he needed troops sent by President Vladimir Putin to crush deadly riots in early 2022.

But even as Kazakhstan has said its complying with the curbs imposed in punishment for the war, it opposes the US-led campaign of sanctions and has seen trade with Russia grow since the attack on Ukraine in February 2022. Along with countries like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan has been under scrutiny by western governments for facilitating shipments of restricted goods.

Outside the Perimeter

We arent within the perimeter of the sanctions and we do not support them, especially against our main trading partners, Zhumangarin said. But we comply with these sanctions and will continue to comply. And this is purely economic policy.

The worlds largest landlocked country is the biggest global miner of uranium and a top producer of commodities such as ferrochrome. Transit is like fresh air for Kazakhstans mining and metallurgical industries, Zhumangarin said.

For Kazakhstan, Russia was long an outlet to the outside world, enabling maritime access and creating an entry point into a much larger market thanks to low trade barriers and established supply lines.

The two countries are members of a customs union and share the worlds second-longest frontier after the US-Canada border, with a pipeline linked to the Russian port of Novorossiysk transporting about 80% of Kazakh oil exports.

The calculus for Kazakhstan is changing after the invasion.

The movement of goods through Russia has become more difficult and some of its sanctioned companies could no longer receive Kazakh raw materials, Zhumangarin said. And as more Russian producers focus on the domestic market, theyre crowding out Kazakh exports, he said.

Though overall trade with Russia last quarter was up 10% from a year earlier, according to Zhumangarin, the ripple effects of sanctions have forced Kazakhstan to adjust by starting to re-export more items, building up local production and scrutinizing the movement of goods.

All groups of sanctioned goods are being monitored, Zhumangarin said.

As trade opportunities narrow with Russia, Kazakhstan is looking east to China and across the Caspian to Iran  and then to the Gulf region, India and beyond. The Chinese direction is a priority, Zhumangarin said.

At last months meeting with Xi  during the first in-person summit of Central Asian leaders in China  Tokayev set the goal of nearly doubling trade with China to $40 billion by 2030.

Chinese companies have already started to assemble vehicles in Kazakhstan, which expects other auto brands like Chery to follow soon, Zhumangarin said.

Kazakhstan has meanwhile started to ship grain to China and is now in talks to export meat there. In addition to two existing rail terminals linking Kazakhstan with China, its building another and plans a fourth link, Zhumangarin said.

China has also taken interest in a trade corridor that runs through Kazakhstan from Southeast Asia to Georgia in the Caucasus, creating a springboard to reach European countries. The trans-Caspian transport route would accommodate some goods diverted from Russia along with additional trade traffic, according to Zhumangarin.

Transport Hub

We are exploring the possibilities of Kazakhstan as a transport and logistics hub, and not only to Russia or Belarus, Zhumangarin said. There are more attractive markets. Southeast Asia has a huge volume of goods to move to Europe.

Now that Russia is no longer a destination for some Kazakh products, its working to diversify supplies with shipments of iron ore to China and talks to start its supplies to Europe, Zhumangarin said.

Fearful of getting caught up in sanctions, Kazakhstan must thread a needle.

If Kazakhstan comes under sanctions, it may simply not withstand the pressure, Zhumangarin said. Kazakhstan wont be a territory through which sanctions are bypassed.

(Updates with Kazakh deputy premiers comment under Outside the Perimeter subheadline.)

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Paris, June 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2023 ) :The UN's cultural agency UNESCO welcomed on Tuesday commitments from Australia to protect the Great Barrier Reef, with the government pledging 4.4 billion Australian Dollars ($2.9 billion) to safeguard the natural wonder.

The fate of the reef has been a recurrent source of tension between UNESCO and Australian authorities, with the UN agency's World Heritage Committee threatening to put the world's largest coral system on a list of "in danger" global heritage sites.

Behind-the-scenes diplomacy and lobbying from Australia have avoided such a move and fresh commitments from the Labor government of Anthony Albanese, made in a letter seen by AFP, drew praise from the Paris-based organization on Tuesday.

"UNESCO welcomes Australia's decision to put in place urgent new protection measures for the Great Barrier Reef which were recommended by the organization, including a ban on gillnetting," UNESCO said in a statement sent to AFP.

In a letter sent by Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay last week, she pledged a "combined investment of A$4.

4 billion" from the state of Queensland and Australian governments to protect the reef.

"Our governments are pleased to further commit substantial actions to secure the future of the Reef. These measures include substantial fisheries reforms; accelerated action to improve water quality; and strong, legislated climate action," Plibersek wrote.

Albanese's center-left government, which ended nearly a decade of conservative rule in May last year, has also blocked a planned coal mine because it would endanger the reef and has scrapped funding for two dams in Queensland.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the country's premier tourist drawcards and putting it on the in-danger list was seen as risking putting off international visitors.

UNESCO began a monitoring mission on the reef in March 2022 to assess whether the site was being adequately protected.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said the current bilateral trade was not commensurate with the huge potential with Iraq which needed to be explored to expand bilateral trade volume

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2023 ):Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said the current bilateral trade was not commensurate with the huge potential with Iraq which needed to be explored to expand bilateral trade volume.

Addressing the Pakistan-Iraq Business Council in Baghdad, he said Pakistan's Single Country Exhibition held in March 2022 in Baghdad saw deals worth of US$ 20 million which showed the great business potential, between the countries.

He expressed the confident that this Pakistan-Iraq Business Forum would ensure a similar opportunity for government to government (G2G) linkages and business networking amongst potential investors and trade partners from both sides.

Bilawal stressed for enhancing collaboration and mutual investment in five prioritized fields including IT, food security, energy, construction and medicine.

During the event, an MoU was also signed between Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce (FPCCI) and their Iraqi counterpart.

The foreign minister said the establishment of Pakistan-Iraq Business Council comprising chambers of commerce and key business representative entities from both the countries would help expanding the bilateral economic ties.

"Through this entity, we can follow-up on programs, policy suggestions, roadmap, and special initiatives for enhancing trade and investment between the two countries," he said.

The foreign minister also assured the government's full cooperation to the work of this proposed Business Council.

He said economic diplomacy was at the heart of the Pakistan's foreign policy.

"We want to build mutually beneficial economic ties. Let our partnership be led by the burgeoning and vibrant business community from both sides, paving the way for prosperity and progress of both the countries." Bilawal said during his interaction with President, Prime Minister and his Iraqi counterpart, he discussed expanding cooperation in diverse areas including enhancing bilateral trade and investment, collaborating with Iraq in rebuilding and re-construction of their infrastructure and sharing of expertise in water management and agriculture.

"We have resolved to explore new and innovative ideas of cooperation including connectivity, establishing sister port connections and cooperation in the areas of defence production," he added.

In order to facilitate business community of both countries, he said he also discussed the issue of flexible visa regime for businessmen and investors and exchange of business delegation.

Pakistan as part of its initiative of ease of doing business, has already made arrangements for visa facilitation and issuance of longer duration visa for foreign investors coming to Pakistan, he informed.

He further informed that during his visit to Iraq, the both sides had signed MoUs aimed at further enhancing cultural cooperation and extending visa waiver facility for diplomatic and official passport holders.

These measures would substantially promote people-to-people contacts and high-level exchanges for promoting trade and investment.

"We are also aiming at concluding our discussions on MoU on Zaireen to facilitate them to flow the legal movement while visiting the holy shrines," he said.

He also informed that the Iraqi side had agreed to Pakistan's request of opening its consulate in Najaf.

The foreign minister said that the business communities on both sides would benefit from these arrangements which would contribute to enhancing trade, commensurate with the brotherly and historical ties.

He said discussions were also under progress to facilitate the business community and remove barriers with regard to transfer of funds from Iraq to Pakistan.
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Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of LHC's Rawalpindi Bench orders that Qureshi should no longer be detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO).

RAWALPINDI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-June 6th, 2023) The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued a ruling for the immediate release of Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who had been arrested in connection with the violent protests on May 9.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a former foreign minister, has faced multiple arrests prior to this incident.

During the hearing of a petition challenging his arrest, Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of LHC's Rawalpindi Bench ordered that Qureshi should no longer be detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO).

The court also declared the MPO orders issued by the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner as illegal and instructed the authorities to release the PTI vice chairman immediately, without requiring him to submit any surety bonds.

Representing the government's side, Assistant Attorney General Abid Aziz Rajouri was present, while lawyer Taimoor Malik and Qureshi's daughter attended on behalf of the PTI leader.

During the hearing, the court questioned the law officer regarding any speeches or protests led by Qureshi.

The court remarked that "No political leader can control his words in a political gathering," and instructed the law officer to present evidence if any against the former foreign minister.

In response, the official requested two days to submit the evidence, but the court directed him to update the court within an hour after receiving directives from the government.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing for an hour.

Meanwhile, the Punjab police submitted a report detailing the cases registered against Qureshi.

According to the report, a total of nine cases have been filed against Qureshi in various locations across Punjab. Among these, four cases were registered in Lahore, while the remaining five were registered at different police stations in Multan.

The report was submitted in response to a request made by the PTI leader's daughter.

It is worth mentioning that several senior PTI leaders were arrested following the protests that erupted after the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9 on corruption charges.

The clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies during the protests resulted in the death of at least eight people.

Besides Qureshi, other prominent PTI figures such as Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, and Yasmeen Rashid were also taken into custody.

However, some of these leaders, including Umar, Mazari, and Chaudhry, have been released. Furthermore, many of them have distanced themselves from the party and expressed their disapproval of the violent protests by resigning from their positions and severing ties with the former prime minister.
US President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation around the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) on Tuesday morning, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) US President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation around the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) on Tuesday morning, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said.

"The President certainly was kept informed of the event earlier this morning," Kirby said.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP by the Ukrainian troops. Moscow called it a "terrorist attack" and urged the international community to condemn "criminal actions of the Ukrainian authorities."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs on Tuesday for a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he will travel from June 6-8 for meetings with Saudi officials, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs on Tuesday for a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he will travel from June 6-8 for meetings with Saudi officials, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia).

Blinken and Saudi officials will discuss cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, according to the State Department. The top diplomat is expected to discuss both economic and security cooperation, the State Department said.

Moreover, the United States has a "real national security interest" in normalizing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Blinken told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy (AIPAC) summit on Monday.

The US is committed to working towards normalized relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, including on the upcoming trip, Blinken said.

The US remains engaged in the Middle East so as not to leave a vacuum for strategic competitors to fill, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Daniel Benaim said on Friday.

The trip comes amid purported tensions in the US-Saudi relationship, stemming from US President Biden's decision to release a CIA report alleging Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's culpability in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Some analysts have speculated that Blinken's trip to Saudi Arabia may be a bid to mend ties between Washington and Riyadh.

Blinken will participate in a US-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial meeting on June 7, the State Department said. GCC members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Blinken will discuss growing cooperation between the US and GCC partners on security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration and economic opportunities across the Middle East.

In April, members of the GCC held a meeting alongside officials from Iraq, Jordan and Egypt to discuss the potential return of Syria to the League of Arab States (LAS).

The countries issued a joint statement following the meeting, in which they called for unity in Syria and its return to the "Arab bosom."

However, the US does not believe Syria deserves readmittance to the LAS at this time, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, adding that the US will not normalize relations with the Syrian government absent "authentic progress" towards a resolution of the conflict in the country.

On June 8, Blinken will co-host a ministerial meeting of the Global Anti-ISIS Coalition, which includes 85 partner countries and organizations. Blinken will highlight the coalition's critical role in addressing the continuing threat of terrorism in the region, the State Department said.

Delegations from several non-member Central Asian countries will also attend the coalition meeting, US Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Ian McCary said on Friday.

The coalition intends to welcome a new member into the coalition during the meeting as well, McCary added.

Meeting participants will discuss the situation in Afghanistan, including growing cooperation between the coalition and Central Asian states to address mounting challenges posed by IS in the region following the Taliban's takeover of the country, McCary said.

The meeting will also focus on challenges posed by the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Africa, where several groups have adopted similar extremist views and increasingly terrorize their populations, McCary said.

Blinken will announce a new financial aid package designed to support stabilization efforts in Iraq and Syria as well, Benaim said. The coalition's mission in Syria and Iraq has changed in nature since the end of the military campaign against IS, with a new focus on addressing humanitarian challenges in the region, McCary said.
BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink held a constructive discussion on improving bilateral relations and managing differences during their meeting in Beijing on June 5, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The two sides held frank, constructive and productive communication to promote the improvement of Sino-US relations and the proper management and control of differences in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Bali last November," the ministry said in a statement.

China also clarified its position on Taiwan and other important foreign policy issues, according to the statement.

Both parties agreed to continue their interaction.

Kritenbrink was accompanied by Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs of the US National Security Council Sarah Beran. Kritenbrink's visit to Beijing is part of his June 4-10 tour, during which he is also scheduled to visit New Zealand.

The Biden administration has voiced its interest in rescheduling Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China, which was canceled in the wake of the balloon incident in early February, but is still awaiting a response from Beijing.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant is a deliberate sabotage carried out by Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the upper part of the Kakhovka plant was destroyed by shelling, but the reservoir's dam itself was not destroyed.

The city authorities later said that the structure of the dam was partially destroyed by shelling, causing then the destruction of three spans under water pressure. Civilians are currently being evacuated from flooded coastal zones.

"We can already clearly state that this is a deliberate sabotage by the Ukrainian side," Peskov told a briefing.

Kiev's sabotage at the dam is connected with lack of success during the offensive of Ukrainian troops on the battlefield, the spokesman concluded.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2023) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday that he will head the rotating group of experts as part of the mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant following the destruction of Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River in Kherson Region.

"After concerning developments following the destruction of the #Kakhovka HPP dam, I will be leading the next rotation of our @IAEAorg Support and Assistance Mission to #Zaporizhzhya NPP (ISAMZ) next week with a reinforced team. Crucial moment for nuclear safety," Grossi tweeted.
Former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, ex-business leaders and ex-Colombian officials are under investigation in Italy for alleged corruption in a potential arms sale, D'Alema's lawyer told AFP Tuesday, confirming Italian media reports

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2023 ) :Former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, ex-business leaders and ex-Colombian officials are under investigation in Italy for alleged corruption in a potential arms sale, D'Alema's lawyer told AFP Tuesday, confirming Italian media reports.

Police searched the homes and offices of D'Alema, the former CEO of the Leonardo defence group Alessandro Profumo, and Giuseppe Giordo, ex-head of the military division of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the reports said.

D'Alema's lawyer Gianluca Luongo confirmed the story and said that the former leader denied the allegations.

"D'Alema has cooperated with investigators, furnishing them with what they sought," he said. He added his client "has no criminal relevance, no link to any crime." The proposed contract, worth four billion Euros ($4.3 billion), is related to the sale of military aircraft and ships, the reports said.

Eight Italians in total are targeted by the investigation, Italian news agency ANSA said.

The probe also targets former Colombian politicians, including ex-foreign minister Marta Lucia Ramirez, the Corriere della Sera newspaper said.

Those investigated are accused of violating an Italian law against "embezzlement, graft, solicitation to give or promise benefits, corruption and instigation to corruption, (and) abuse of office", it said.

Italian media revealed early last year that D'Alema, 74 -- prime minister from 1998 to 2000 and foreign minister from 2006 to 2008 -- participated in negotiations on a possible arms sale to Colombia.

He promised to share an 80-million-euro commission with Colombian and Italian intermediaries, the reports said.

"Why are we working, because we are stupid? No, because we are convinced that in the end, we will receive 80 million euros," he was alleged to have said in a wiretap leaked to the media.

D'Alema denied the reports, saying he would not have received a single cent if the deal had gone through.

Contacted by AFP, the Leonardo group declined to comment.

Fincantieri said in an email that Giuseppe Giordo "left the company more than a year ago."
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) The UN reacts to the launch by North Korea of a satellite one-sidedly, whereas the organization does not pay heed to US, Japanese and South Korean military exercises, Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry Pyotr Ilyichev told Sputnik.

Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the North Korean recent failed attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite, saying the launch was in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and called on Pyongyang to cease such actions.

"We assess this as a one-sided position. Because when the United States conducts large-scale exercises jointly with the South Koreans, the Japanese, there is no reaction. There is an escalation: step by step, the Americans are deploying weaponry, conducting large-scale exercises. The North Koreans are forced to react," Ilyichev said.
Chinese CCTV cameras that caught Matt Hancock affair to be banned over national security concerns

Mr Hancock, formerly the health secretary, was caught on Hikvision-made CCTV cameras in a passionate embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo - Linkedin

Chinese CCTV cameras that captured Matt Hancocks affair with a senior aide are to be banned from Government buildings under new national security rules.

New laws on public sector procurement will see providers including Hikvision and Dahua, two leading Chinese CCTV manufacturers, blocked from the British state.

Under the new Procurement Bill, companies subject to Chinas National Security Law will be banned from bidding on public contracts.

It comes amid mounting fears that Chinese companies could offer a backdoor for espionage by Beijing. Chinas National Security Law, passed in 2021, requires locally-headquartered companies to hand over any information required by state intelligence agencies should they be asked.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, and Alicia Kearns MP, chairman of Parliaments foreign affairs committee, had campaigned to ban providers including Hikvision from parliament and government buildings over national security concerns.

Hikvision has said that it is categorically false that the company is a security threat.

Ms Kearns said: Im delighted the Government has listened and acted following my efforts to put national security at the heart of the Procurement Bill.

From local councils to power plants, and security bodies such as GCHQ, we must make sure hostile states cannot embed state-subsidised hostile technologies into our lives.

Mr Hancock, formerly the health secretary, was caught on Hikvision-made CCTV cameras in a passionate embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo, who he had appointed as a non-executive director of the Department of Health. The scandal led to his resignation.

A criminal inquiry into the leaking of the footage to The Sun was closed without action after investigators said there was not enough evidence to bring charges. There is no suggestion that Hikvision was involved in leaking the footage.

Hikvision cameras were until recently commonplace in Government departments.

Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, last year ordered sensitive Government buildings to stop deploying cameras subject to Chinese security laws and the Departments of Health and Social Care and Work and Pensions have pledged to remove them.

Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart said: Its absolutely right we continue to look at ways to strengthen central government rules when it comes to national security and I have no doubt these additional measures will ensure the Bill delivers on its objective to have a robust, modern procurement process which delivers for the British people.

Beijings National Security Law has triggered a wave of crackdowns on Chinese companies across the Western world, most notably on Huawei and TikTok.

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The UN Security Council will meet Tuesday afternoon in light of the attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) The UN Security Council will meet Tuesday afternoon in light of the attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

"I do understand that there will be a Security Council meeting on this at 4:00 p.m. (20:00 GMT) this afternoon," Dujarric said at a briefing.

It is unclear yet who will be the briefer on behalf of the UN, he added.

Both Russia and Ukraine have requested a UN Security Council meeting on the HPP destruction.

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant suffered heavy damage Tuesday morning, with its dam destroyed and water flowing uncontrollably downstream, risking major flooding, power cuts and water shortages on both sides of the Dnepr River.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Ukrainian armed forces attacked the dam, which led to a large-scale humanitarian disaster. The ministry said the destruction amounted to a "terrorist act" against civilian infrastructure that was launched as part of Ukraine's "so-called" counteroffensive. Moscow also called on the international community to condemn the "criminal" actions of the Ukrainian authorities.
SIMFEROPOL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2023) The upper part of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in Russia's Kherson Region was destroyed by shelling, the reservoir's dam itself was not destroyed, Nova Kakhovka city mayor Vladimir Leontyev told Sputnik.

A number of Telegram channels early on Tuesday reported that the plant was allegedly completely destroyed. Some published footage of the collapsed dam.

"There were several hits at two o'clock in the morning in the upper part of the hydroelectric power plant, where the flashboards are located, where the valves are, and it was destroyed. The dam was not destroyed, and this is very good," Leontyev said.

He told Sputnik that the water level after the destruction rose 2.5 meters downstream, adding that emergency services are at the scene.

Leontyev said there is no need yet to evacuate the population.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th June, 2023) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he expected to receive security guarantees for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Vilnius.

"We need this on paper so that none of the leaders start a narrative about the fact that the people are getting tired, the economy is getting exhausted, or they cannot provide adequate volumes (of aid). That is why we need guarantees on paper," Zelenskyy said during a televised press conference.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine also needs assistance in paying social benefits, military aid and "sanction guarantees".

"Why are we invited to this summit? If we realize that no one is interested in joining us there, and if no one will provide guarantees on paper, then why are we meeting?" Zelenskyy said.

When asked what if the NATO summit ends up not providing security guarantees to Ukraine, Zelenskyy assured journalists that "the most powerful security guarantees" would be provided.

The top-level NATO summit will be hosted by the Lithuanian capital city from July 11-12.

International security guarantees is one of the 10 points on a peace plan proposed by Zelenskyy in November 2022. Ukraine's leader insists to this day that it is the only viable peace plan and the only one acceptable to Kiev. Among other points, his plan stipulates the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's full territorial integrity, reparations using Russian assets and a full exchange of prisoners with Russia.
Pictured, from left, are Julie Baehr, library assistant; Rachel Arnold, Lander Library manager; Lane Bushmeyer, library assistant; and Anita Marple, executive director of the Fremont County Library System. Blood pressure monitoring kits are now available at the Lander Library as well as at the Dubois and Riverton branch libraries. The public can check out the kits for up to three weeks. (Kara Beech Photo)

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring kits are now available for checkout at libraries in Lander, Dubois and Riverton. The kits are offered through a collaborative pilot project involving the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Healths Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the Fremont County Library System.

The kits, available in both English and Spanish, include an automated home blood pressure cuff; blood pressure logbooks; educational materials from the American Heart Association; information on what blood pressure is; and ideas for healthy lifestyle changes. The kits also include a resource directory to local community-based organizations and referral resources to the Healthy U chronic disease self-management program and Cent$ible Nutrition Program.

The loan period is three weeks. Blood pressure kits can be renewed, up to two times, if there are no holds on the item. Failure to return a blood pressure cuff kit will result in a blocked account until the item is returned. This program also is currently available to people in Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Crook, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Washakie and Weston counties, with plans to be in all 23 counties by the end of June.

Nearly half of adults in the United States -- 47 percent, or 116 million -- have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, or are taking medication for hypertension, and 24 percent with hypertension have their condition under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Wyoming, 30.7 percent of adults have been told that they have high blood pressure, according to the Wyoming Department of Healths Chronic Disease Prevention Program.

While self-measured blood pressure is not a substitute for regular visits to primary care physicians, it is a way for individuals to see and track their numbers, giving them more information that can be communicated to their doctors.

Information is power and, the more information a patient and their doctor have, the better the treatment plan, says Kara Beech, a senior project coordinator with WyCOA. Better treatment plans lead to better overall health. Thats the goal of this project -- to work to improve the health of our communities.

The Fremont County Library System is committed to building and supporting strong, healthy communities. This project provides a unique opportunity to offer the community more information about self-monitored blood pressure and its important role in health.

Were excited to partner with the Wyoming Department of Health and WyCOA to bring these much-needed resources to the community, says Anita Marple, executive director of the Fremont County Library System.

For patrons who are looking to take the next step in their health journey, Fremont Wellness Education Center in Riverton and Intertribal Wellness in Fort Washakie are offering the Healthy Heart Ambassador Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Program. The purpose of the program is to develop the habit of routinely self-monitoring patrons blood pressure. The program includes support from a Healthy Heart ambassador who will train on proper technique for taking the patrons own blood pressure readings; two consultations with a Healthy Heart ambassador each month where the patrons blood pressure will be taken; a monthly nutrition education seminar highlighting how food is related to blood pressure management; and monitoring and tracking patrons blood pressure at least two times per month.

To learn more about the Fremont County Library System, go to www.fremontcountywy.org/government/county_boards___affiliates/home_library/index.php.

To learn more about WyCOA and its programs, go to www.uwyo.edu/wycoa/.
The Center for Air Quality (CAQ) at the University of Wyoming will help conduct research to accurately depict methane emissions from oil and gas supply chains in Wyoming and Colorado basins.

The U.S. Department of Energys Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management recently selected the Colorado State University (CSU) Energy Institutes Methane Emissions Program to lead the project.

With intentions to advance innovative methane measurement, monitoring and mitigation technologies, the collaborative team of CSU, UW and Penn State University aims to demonstrate that high-frequency sampling can be used to create inventory emissions estimates that accurately represent emissions in a basin.

While the project will focus on the Denver-Julesburg Basin in Colorado, an important component will be to demonstrate that the methods developed in one basin can be replicated in other basins with equal success. UWs CAQ project team plans to lead a secondary study under the scope of the project in Wyomings Upper Green River Basin to demonstrate the relevance and applicability of the approach. The CAQ has long-standing relationships with Wyoming natural gas producers in the Upper Green.

UWs School of Energy Resources (SER) is providing the cost share to help enable the expanded scope.

We are excited to be a part of this project, and we are eager to conduct the Wyoming-focused research in this proposal, says Shane Murphy, CAQ director and an associate professor of atmospheric science. This research is both relevant and timely, as the results will provide the methodological underpinning required by current and contemplated certified gas programs -- and will help us to implement key field processes required for any of the integrated methane monitoring platforms that may be developed.

The CAQ is a faculty-led Center of Excellence supported by SER. Led by researchers in the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Department of Atmospheric Science, the center conducts important energy and economic development research that benefits the state by quantifying, modeling and enabling reductions of emissions associated with energy production. The center often works to understand how emissions from oil and gas extraction impact air quality in the Mountain West.

Research conducted by the CAQ in collaboration with Wyoming natural gas producers such as Jonah Energy and PureWest has been beneficial in establishing a pathway to verified emissions measurement at both a source and an overall site level -- a requirement for oil and gas operators to achieve a Gold Standard rating from the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership initiative.

Recently, both Jonah Energy and PureWest have announced deals for differentiated natural gas, and both producers will participate as partners on this project.

The Department of Atmospheric Science in the University of Wyomings College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the Center for Air Quality, have long made important contributions to understanding how best to measure and mitigate methane and greenhouse gas emissions, says Cameron Wright, the Carrell Family Dean in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. We are happy to be a partner in this important project.

Since 2009, researchers in the CAQ have investigated the importance of emissions in the Upper Green River Basin, particularly in the Jonah Field and Pinedale Anticline development areas, with the use of a mobile air quality laboratory. With the ability to conduct fieldwork to survey methane emissions at multiple sites, the work has resulted in numerous academic publications and has supported state-led efforts to better understand wintertime ozone formation and basinwide emissions of methane.

Wyoming natural gas has an important part to play in the nations energy mix, says SER Executive Director Holly Krutka. We are proud to support the Center for Air Quality for its continued research excellence that translates into positive outcomes and continued production of Wyoming natural gas. This project is a great example of how SER was able to support CAQ to expand research into Wyoming that would have otherwise only been undertaken in Colorado.
(Bloomberg) -- A Chinese battery startup claims to have overcome one of the key sticking points for electric car owners  the loss of power capability and range in cold climates.

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Greater Bay Technology says its new Phoenix cell is made with superconducting materials and contains thermal management technology that can heat the battery back from -4F to 77F in five minutes. That allows the lithium ion battery to operate as normal and charge within six minutes in all weather conditions, according to Huang Xiangdong, Greater Bays co-founder and chairman.

We all know the range of EVs is greatly affected in cold regions, making it a terrible user experience, said Huang. The Phoenix battery not only addresses the long charging time for EVs, but other pain points. It doesnt matter if its a hot day or a cold day, the Phoenix batterys range wont be affected.

Spun out of state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. in 2020, the startup is a new entrant to Chinas battery-making industry which includes major players such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., BYD Co. and Gotion High-tech Co.  who are all working on new batteries to make EVs safer, faster to charge and drive longer distances.

Read more: Chinas Gotion Has a New Battery Breakthrough: Hyperdrive

Greater Bay has already become a unicorn  a startup valued at over $1 billion  within two years of its founding. Its first generation battery is an extreme fast charge cell, which aims to recharge an EV in the same amount of time it takes to refill a fuel tank. Its said to fully charge within 15 minutes for an average range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) on a charger with sufficient output. This battery is fitted in the V Plus electric SUV from GACs Aion, the third-most popular EV brand in China behind BYD and Tesla Inc.

Huang studied automotive engineering in Italy during the 1980s and did postdoctoral work at Fiats research center for five years before returning to China in 1991 to teach. He headed GACs R&D Center for 10 years from 2006, during which time many of the companys popular models such as the GS4 SUV were developed. Huang retired in 2016 but later co-founded Greater Bay in 2020 with fellow GAC veteran Pei Feng, who serves as the startups chief executive officer.

While the journey from development and lab testing to mass production will take some time, the Phoenix battery will be powering some of Aions EVs next year and the startup is also in talks with other carmakers to use the cell, which has a range of 1,000 kilometers in a single charge according to Huang.

Once EVs can be driven and maintained like gasoline cars, then theres a greater chance for mass adoption, he said.

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Taxes for Foreign E-commerce Firms Earning an Income in Vietnam

The definition of an e-commerce business is quite broad, but for the purposes of this article, it is the sale of commercial goods and/or the provision of services via a digital platform without the need for a physical presence in the jurisdiction where it makes a sale.

Traditionally, in Vietnam, if a foreign vendor earns an income, tax is withheld, declared, and remitted by the Vietnamese company they are doing business with. This tax is known as a foreign contractor tax (FCT or withholding tax).

This tax has significantly contributed to the state budget over the last two decades. With the rapid development of technology over the last 10 years, however, the Vietnamese government has realized that there is a need for reform.

Taxation of e-commerce businesses in Vietnam

Prior to January 1, 2022, FCT only applied to business-to-business (B2B) transactions. The withholding tax rules did not apply to the income of foreign vendors earned from Vietnamese individuals and the Vietnamese tax authority lacked an effective mechanism for taxing such income. Consequently, online vendors and service providers were able to evade paying taxes on income earned from individuals in Vietnam.

Realizing the government was missing out on millions of dollars in revenue, the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance issued Circular 08/2021/TT-BTC on September 29, 2021. The regulations in this Circular then took effect from January 1, 2022.

The whole of Chapter IX of this Circular was dedicated to the tax administration of e-commerce, digital platform-based businesses, and other services provided by overseas suppliers without permanent establishments in Vietnam. In summary, it basically covers the following key points:

Foreign vendors and service providers who earn income in Vietnam (either from B2B or B2C transactions) are required to register, declare, and pay taxes on their income via the General Department of Taxation (GDT) of Vietnams online tax portal.

The GDT will forward income and business details of unregistered vendors and service providers to the headquarters of commercial banks as well as the financial intermediaries for reconciliation and tax withholding purposes.

Commercial banks and financial intermediaries are required to withhold appropriate taxes and declare what they withhold using form 03/NCCNN, by the 20th of each month at the latest. Tax reporting and withholding obligations of banks and financial services entities commence upon receiving an official announcement from the GDT.

If local individuals purchase goods and services using credit cards or payment methods that prevent commercial banks and financial intermediaries from withholding tax, these financial entities need to report these payments, using form 04/NCCNN, to the GDT by the 10th of each month at the latest.

As of May 8, 2023, a total of 53 foreign vendors had registered and paid taxes in Vietnam via the GDTs online tax portal. The list of such vendors was publicized by the GDT via official letter no. 996/TB-DNL that can be found on the online tax portal. The list included many household names, such as Netflix, Zoom, and Facebook.

FAQs: Taxability and compliance considerations for e-commerce in Vietnam

So how can a foreign vendor who earns income in Vietnam without a physical presence in the country, register and pay taxes in Vietnam? What are the applicable tax rates and how do Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA) between Vietnam and other countries for these online transactions apply? Below we answer these questions so readers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the tax obligations and liabilities incurred by e-commerce entities in Vietnam.

Question 1: How can foreign vendors register and pay taxes in Vietnam?

Answer: First, you will need to register to conduct online tax transactions using a dedicated email address and via the GDTs online tax portal. Note that the portal is also available in English.

Then, click Tax registration and fill in the required information. The information will be collated and form 01/NCCNN will be filled in automatically for submission to the GDT. The GDT will issue you with an authentication code for your tax declaration and remittance. Any subsequent changes in information can be amended using form 01-1/NCCNN.

Once the registration process is completed, you can start using that tax account to declare tax on your Vietnam-sourced income by clicking the Tax declaration button. The declared information will be collated and will need to be lodged with the GDT on a quarterly basis.

After the tax declaration is completed, a tax remittance identifier will be provided by the GDT.

You can make tax remittances in a convertible foreign currency to the GDTs tax collection account per the online tax portal. To do so you must correctly quote the tax payment identifier provided earlier to complete the payment.

It should be noted that tax shortfalls may result in a late interest penalty of 0.03 percent per day. The actual tax remittance should be slightly higher than the estimate provided to cover any bank charges or foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Any overpayments can be carried forward to offset the tax payable in the following reporting period.

Question 2: What are the applicable tax rates?

Answer: The applicable taxes comprise the Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT), similar to foreign contractor withholding taxes made by local entities. The applicable tax rates can be found here: Foreign Contractor Withholding Tax Rates.

Question 3: Does this rule apply to me as a sole trader who sells stuff to Vietnamese customers via eBay and Amazon?

Answer: Theoretically speaking, it does. However, the Ministry of Finance has noticed certain obstacles in the pursuit of tax collections from foreign sole traders. It is currently in the process of liaising with online e-commerce platforms, such as Shopee, eBay, and TaoBao, to come up with an efficient approach to collecting taxes from online vendors with minimal disruptions to online marketplace operations. In reality, local sole traders and business households are subject to local taxes, and these are easy to administer. On the other hand, no foreign sole traders are willing to register and pay taxes on a voluntary basis.

Question 4: If we register and pay taxes on our Vietnam-sourced income, do our corporate customers in Vietnam still have to report and make withholding taxes on their payments to us?

Answer: No, they dont. If you register and pay taxes as foreign vendors, you will be publicized by the GDT via their online tax portal and your local customers in Vietnam will not have to withhold taxes. This was confirmed by Official Letter no. 17832/ /CTHN-TTHT issued April 4, 2023, by the Provincial Tax Department of Ha Noi.

Question 5: Our company is situated and operates in a country that has a DTAA with Vietnam. Should we be paying taxes to our federal government only? Should the income earned from our Vietnamese customers be tax-free according to the DTAA?

Answer: It should be noted that the tax relief granted by DTAAs is not automatically applied. You need to determine the types of your Vietnam-sourced income and assess whether they are subject to tax relief. If the conditions for tax relief eligibility are met, you can go ahead and apply for tax exemptions or reductions with the Vietnamese tax authority.

Officially, a DTAA is An agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. This means that only income tax is subject to tax exemptions or reductions by virtue of DTAAs between Vietnam and other tax jurisdictions. As of 2023, Vietnam has negotiated and signed DTAAs with more than 80 countries and territories.

See also: An Introduction to Double Taxation Avoidance in Vietnam

Once the tax authority is satisfied you have met the conditions for tax relief and it confirms your eligibility, you will only have to pay VAT going forward.

The assessment of, and application for, tax relief under DTAAs are complicated and lengthy processes. You are strongly encouraged to consult a tax advisor who can practically assist you with the technical analysis and application procedures.

Summary

Although there are guidance and regulations, the tax registration and reporting procedures for foreign e-commerce vendors are still viewed as voluntary. This is because the Vietnamese tax authority has not officially announced any statutory measures or legal recourse against non-compliant vendors. Furthermore, withholding measures can impose significant compliance burdens on commercial banks as well as create significant risks of duplicate tax collection.

Moreover, it is still unclear how banks and financial intermediaries can meet the administrative requirements outlined to force foreign vendors to meet their tax liabilities on their Vietnam-sourced income. Consequently, this matter will be subject to further official debates and governance in the next few years.
In a good month, Celina Chanthanouvong has about $200 left after rent, groceries and car insurance. That doesn't factor in her student loans, which have been on hold since the start of the pandemic and are estimated to cost $300 a month. The pause in repayment has been a lifeline keeping the 25-year-old afloat.

"I don't even know where I would begin to budget that money," said Chanthanouvong, who works in marketing in San Francisco.

Now, after more than three years, the lifeline is being pulled away.

More than 40 million Americans will be on the hook for federal student loan payments starting in late August under the terms of a debt ceiling deal approved by Congress last week. The Biden administration has been targeting that timeline for months, but the deal ends any hope of a further extension of the pause, which has been prolonged while the Supreme Court decides the president's debt cancellation.

Without cancellation, the Education Department predicts borrowers will fall behind on their loans at historic rates. Among the most vulnerable are those who finished college during the pandemic. Millions have never had to make a loan payment, and their bills will soon come amid soaring inflation and forecasts of economic recession.

Advocates fear it will add a financial burden that younger borrowers can't afford.

"I worry that we're going to see levels of default of new graduates that we've never seen before," said Natalia Abrams, president of the nonprofit Student Debt Crisis Center.

Chanthanouvong earned a bachelor's in sociology from the University of California-Merced in 2019. She couldn't find a job for a year, leaving her to rely on odd jobs for income. She found a full-time job last year, but at $70,000, her salary barely covers the cost of living in the Bay Area.

"I'm not going out. I don't buy Starbucks every day. I'm cooking at home," she said. "And sometimes, I don't even have $100 after everything."

Under President Joe Biden's cancellation plan, Chanthanouvong would be eligible to get $20,000 of her debt erased, leaving her owing $5,000. But she isn't banking on the relief. Instead, she invited her partner to move in and split rent. The financial pinch has them postponing or rethinking major life milestones.

"My partner and I agreed, maybe we don't want kids," she said. "Not because we don't want them, but because it would be financially irresponsible for us to bring a human being into this world."

Out of the more than 44 million federal student loan borrowers, about 7 million are below the age of 25, according to data from the Education Department. Their average loan balance is less than $14,000, lower than any other age group.

Yet borrowers with lower balances are the most likely to default. It's fueled by millions who drop out before graduating, along with others who graduate but struggle to find good jobs. Among those who defaulted in 2021, the median loan balance was $15,300, and the vast majority had balances under $40,000, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Resuming student loan payments will cost U.S. consumers $18 billion a month, the investment firm Jefferies has estimated. The hit to household budgets is ill-timed for the overall economy, Jefferies says, because the United States is widely believed to be on the brink of a recession.

Despite the student loan moratorium, Americans mostly didn't bank their savings, according to Jefferies economist Thomas Simons. So they'll likely have to cut back on other things  travel, restaurants  to fit resumed loan payments into their budgets. Belt-tightening could hurt an economy that relies heavily on consumer spending.

Noshin Hoque graduated from Stony Brook University early in the pandemic with about $20,000 in federal student loans. Instead of testing the 2020 job market, she enrolled at a master's program in social work at Columbia University, borrowing $34,000 more.

With the payments paused, she felt a new level of financial security. She cut costs by living with her parents in New York City and her job at a nonprofit paid enough to save money and help her parents.

She recalls splurging on a $110 polo shirt as a Father's Day gift for her dad.

"Being able to do stuff for my parents and having them experience that luxury with me has just been such a plus," said Hoque, who works for Young Invincibles, a nonprofit that supports student debt cancellation.

It gave her the comfort to enter a new stage of life. She got married to a recent medical school graduate, and they're expecting their first child in November. At the same time, they're bracing for the crush of loan payments, which will cost at least $400 a month combined. They hope to pay more to avoid interest, which is prohibited for them as practicing Muslims.

To prepare, they stopped eating at restaurants. They canceled a vacation to Italy. Money they wanted to put toward their child's education fund will go to their loans instead.

"We're back to square one of planning our finances," she said. "I feel that so deeply."

Even the logistics of making payments will be a hurdle for newer borrowers, said Rachel Rotunda, director of government relations at National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. They'll need to find out who their loan servicers are, choose a repayment plan and learn to navigate the payment system.

"The volume of borrowers going back on the system at the same time  this has never happened before," Rotunda said. "It's fair to say it's going to be bumpy."

The Education Department has promised to make the restart of payments as smooth as possible. In a statement, the agency said it will continue to push for Biden's debt cancellation as a way to reduce borrowers' debt load and ease the transition.

For Beka Favela, 30, the payment pause provided independence. She earned a master's in counseling last year, and her job as a therapist allowed her to move out of her parents' house.

Without making payments on her $80,000 in student loans, she started saving. She bought furniture. She chipped away at credit card debt. But once the pause ends, she expects to pay about $500 a month. It will consume most of her disposable income, leaving little for surprise costs. If finances get tighter, she wonders if she'll have to move back home.

"I don't want to feel like I'm regressing in order to make ends meet," said Favela, of Westmont, Illinois. "I just want to keep moving forward. I'm worried, is that going to be possible?"
At Asia's top security summit, China's defense minister, Li Shangfu, elaborated on Beijing's "new security initiative" using words such as "openness," "inclusiveness," "transparency," "equality," "the rule of law," "dialogue," "peace," and "win-win."

But in the question-and-answer session after his speech at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday, Li faced inquiries from attendees that appeared to show a regional belief that Beijing's words did not match its deeds in the disputed South China Sea, given its extensive maritime deployments in waters it claims as its own.

Li did not answer the questions directly, saying moves by countries outside the region were raising tensions. In his speech he accused "some countries" of intensifying an arms race and willfully interfering in the internal affairs of others, digs that appeared to target the United States.

"A Cold War mentality is now resurgent, greatly increasing security risks," he said, referring to decades of tension between the U.S. and what is now Russia. "Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony."

Austin rebukes China

The day before, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke at the summit, rebuking China for refusing to hold military talks, leaving the superpowers deadlocked.

Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela, a 2023 East-West Center fellow in Washington, asked Li about "the apparent disconnect between China's words and actions related to its maritime interaction with the Philippines and perhaps others in the region."

Tarriela pointed out that after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in January, the two sides agreed to establish direct communication channels in the South China Sea and resolve waterway disputes "through peaceful means."

Yet on January 23, just a few weeks after the agreement was reached, the Chinese Coast Guard allegedly drove Philippine fishing boats from waters around Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Then on February 23, a Philippine coast guard ship was irradiated by China's military-grade "laser," temporarily blinding one of its crew.

"While China is talking about dialogue, its actions show confrontation," Tarriela said.

China claims the South China Sea as its territory, putting it in conflict with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which also claim parts of the area rich in natural resources. The Philippines alone filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022.

Hoang Thi Ha, coordinator for the Regional Strategic and Political Studies Program at the ISEAS  Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, who was formerly with the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, also questioned Li.

"Generally, you meant and highlighted the importance of equity and justice throughout your speech. I would like to know how you see justice and equity [being] applied in the South China Sea disputes, where China has competing maritime and territorial claims with Southeast Asian countries," she said.

Li said in his speech on Sunday that China is willing to "make important contributions to maintaining world peace and play an active role in improving global governance ... China is willing to strengthen the awareness of the Asia-Pacific community of destiny with all parties, promote the healthy development of regional security cooperation, and strive to build an open, inclusive, transparent and equal regional security cooperation framework."

On Saturday, one of Beijing's navy ships cut sharply across the path of an American and a Canadian naval vessel, forcing the U.S. vessel to slow to avoid a collision. The U.S. military described the Chinese maneuver as "unsafe." Li, who is under U.S. sanction for buying arms from Russia, defended on Sunday his country's response, contending that the passage of the allied Western vessels on "freedom of navigation patrols" was a provocation to China.

Brent Sadler, a senior naval warfare and advanced technology research fellow in the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, attended the summit and told VOA Mandarin, "The general's entire comments were all about inclusion, the rule of law, and peaceful win-win kind of outcomes. But the actions don't align or comport with that at all. So, of course, just a few hours ago, we had the near collision. It was by order. It was not an accidental near miss. It was intentional."

After the session, Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific Program, told VOA Mandarin in an email, "Main takeaway from the speech: China is determined to portray the U.S. as destabilizing the region and China as a responsible, peace-loving power. I doubt that his speech altered people's views in the region."

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. Information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
The U.N. General Assembly approved five new members for two-year terms on the organizations powerful 15-nation Security Council on Tuesday, rejecting a bid from Belarus.

Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and South Korea will start their terms on January 1, 2024.

The annual exercise held little excitement this year, as all but one seat was previously agreed on within regional blocs, setting up uncontested races. The only competition was between Belarus and Slovenia for a seat in the Eastern Europe Group. Slovenia defeated Belarus with 153 votes to 38.

The race between Belarus and Slovenia is something of a litmus test for how U.N. members see East-West divisions now, said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the International Crisis Group and a long-time U.N. watcher, ahead of the vote.

Slovenia is a member of the European Union and NATO. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has supported Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine, even agreeing to house Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.

Slovenia, a small country in central Europe that was part of the former Yugoslavia, was a late entry, declaring its candidacy at the end of 2021 and campaigning intensively for about one year. Belarus, by contrast, announced its candidacy in 2007.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told reporters ahead of the vote that, if elected, Slovenia would act as a unifying force on the Security Council.

And with tensions and divisions that we all face today between the major players in the international community, many countries especially the smaller ones which make up the majority of the U.N. membership, want to connect with trusted partners, she said.

Even though nearly all the seats were uncontested, candidates still needed to win a two-thirds majority of votes cast to succeed.

South Korea was confirmed for its seat with 180 votes. It will be the first time it sits on the council at the same time as Japan and comes as the two countries are repairing their historically strained relations.

Tokyo and Seoul probably share the view that the council is not doing its job holding the DPRK to account over its proliferation activity, Gowan told VOA. I think we will probably see Japan and South Korea adopt a fairly common approach to urging China and Russia to put more pressure on DPRK to stop launching missiles.

North Korea has launched dozens of ballistic missiles this year and last week attempted to put a spy satellite in orbit  all in violation of numerous Security Council resolutions. China and Russia have blocked council action.

Guyana (191 votes) will take over the seat for Latin America and the Caribbean Group. Algeria, which received 184 votes, and Sierra Leone (188 votes) will represent the African Group on the council.

Sierra Leones foreign minister, David Francis, told reporters after their election that his country has made the successful transition from war to peace and would bring its unique experiences to the council.

We bring hope to all the war-torn countries in the world  from Ukraine to Afghanistan, to Iraq, to Sudan, to Yemen, to Arab-Israeli, that it can be done, he said.

There were no available seats this year in the regional bloc dedicated to countries in the Western Europe and others group.

In exercising their responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the 15 nations on the Security Council have the power to authorize the use of force, deploy peacekeeping missions and impose sanctions.

On January 1, the five winners will replace exiting members Albania, Brazil, Ghana, Gabon and the United Arab Emirates. They will join non-permanent members Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, which will remain on the council through 2024, along with permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
As thousands walked the beaches of Normandy, France, to honor those who fought to liberate Europe in World War II, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin drew parallels between D-Day and the fight to free Ukraine from its Russian invaders.

Austin called on nations to defend the principles for which the Allied forces fought with undimmed vigor, in a world where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.

If the troops of the worlds democracies could risk their lives for freedom, then surely the citizens of the worlds democracies can risk our comfort for freedom now, he said Tuesday.

Speaking directly to some of the veterans who stormed Omaha beach, Utah beach and three other French beaches on June 6, 1944, Austin praised them for their courage that won out over terror and tyranny.

We salute you. You saved the world, he said.

The 79th anniversary was marked as Ukraine was preparing to launch a counteroffensive to push back Russian ground forces trying to maintain control of parts of Ukraine they have occupied.

Many of the same allied nations that fought against the Nazi forces in Europe during World War II have now provided billions of dollars in weapons and training to Ukrainian soldiers defending their territory and citizens.

Peace and freedom are never guaranteed. They must be guarded and cherished and sometimes fought for and paid in blood, said U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who also attended Tuesdays ceremony.

D-Day refers to the amphibious Allied invasion of occupied France in 1944. Officially called Operation Overlord, it was the largest amphibious invasion in military history, which successfully won a foothold from which the Allies eventually took control of Europe from Nazi Germany.

The operation involved more than 150,000 troops and more than 5,000 ships and landing craft. At least 12 countries joined forces during the Normandy invasion, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Australia has warned that protections are not in place to prevent a Cold war-style misadventure ormiscalculation between the United States and China. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that the guard rails aren't in place to prevent confrontation between the major powers.

Tensions have been rising between Beijing and Washington following another military encounter in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. Navy Monday released a video of what it said was an unsafe interaction when a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer.

After returning from a trip to Singapore and Vietnam, where regional security was discussed, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a wide-ranging interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Monday, said the two major powers needed guardrails - or safeguards - that would help to avert potential conflict or confrontation.

He added that nation to nation communication was the best way to avoid potentially disastrous consequences.

Peace can't be taken for granted and the key to that, of course, is dialogue," Albanese said. "The problem that had occurred as a breakdown in those relations and that's why the US administration has called for increased dialogue with China, is so important, and it is one that we support, and it is one that we have encouraged China to participate in.

Australia and its Indo-Pacific allies, including Japan and Vietnam, fear Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, one of the worlds most disputed regions.

Australia is a so-called middle power. Its decades-old alliance with the United States is the bedrock of its national security.

Its relations with China, its biggest trading partner, have become tense in recent years over human rights, the South China Sea, democracy in Hong Kong and the origins of COVID-19.

But there are signs that high-level diplomacy is bringing stability back into the bilateral relationship. Albanese confirmed Monday that import restrictions imposed by China on Australian stone fruit had been lifted in the recent days following similar moves to allow the flow of Australian commodities, including coal, barley and timber, into China.

Albanese said that Chinas Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying would also visit Australia in July.

The Australian Prime Minister said he had again been invited to attend the NATO summit next month and that Canberra has a key role to play in regional and global diplomacy.
British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said on Tuesday China had closed reported "police service stations" at sites across the United Kingdom and that an investigation had not revealed any illegal activity by the Chinese state at these sites.

Britain has previously said reports of undeclared police stations in the country were "extremely concerning" and that any intimidation on British soil of foreign nationals by China or other states was unacceptable.

China has denied operating any such stations and issued a statement contesting Tugendhat's remarks via its embassy in London, saying the accusations of running police posts in the U.K. were a "complete political lie."

British police have investigated claims made by the nongovernmental human rights organization Safeguard Defenders that such police stations were operating at three British sites, Tugendhat said in a written statement to parliament.

"I can confirm that they have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites," he said.

"We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had."

The Chinese government has previously said there are centers outside China run by local volunteers, not Chinese police officers, that aim to help Chinese citizens renew documents and offer other services.

U.S. federal agents arrested two New York residents in April for allegedly operating a Chinese "secret police station" in the Chinatown district of Manhattan. China had said it firmly opposed what it called "the U.S.'s slanders and smears."

The British government has said it was aware of about 100 such stations around the world.

"The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office have told the Chinese Embassy that any functions related to such 'police service stations' in the U.K. are unacceptable and that they must not operate in any form," Tugendhat said.

"The Chinese Embassy have subsequently responded that all such stations have closed permanently. Any further allegations will be swiftly investigated in line with U.K. law."

Asked about Tugendhat's statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said in a statement translated from Mandarin by Reuters:

"There is simply no existence of so-called 'overseas police posts.' The facts have proven that the so-called 'overseas police posts' [are] a complete political lie, and politicians who speculate on this topic are purely in political manipulations.

"The Chinese government urges the U.K. government to stop spreading false information, to stop generating hype and slandering China."
Journalists in Cameroon say the governments indefinite shutdown of a radio station and suspension of four reporters is a sign of a growing crackdown on the countrys news media. The government says it is trying to stop the spread of hate speech, while journalists say officials want to retaliate against criticism of President Paul Biya.

Bruno Bidjang, host of the popular program on Vision 4 TV called Club dElite" has said on his program that he will continue exercising his profession to the best of his ability without fear.

However, Cameroons National Communication Council, an organ created by the government to regulate the media, imposed a one-month suspension on Bidjang for hosting guests who the government says used hateful language on his program.

The NCC said Bidjang was warned several times, but he continued inviting such guests on the program.

The council this week also imposed suspensions on a radio station and three other media practitioners for broadcasting offensive or hateful content.

NCC President Joe Chebongkeng Kalabubse said these journalists and media outlets propagated hate speech and xenophobic language.

"We have noticed that we can nip the problem in the bud by encouraging journalists to be more professional, Kalabubse said. We want to encourage journalists to be as professional as possible. We will not hesitate to sanction them if they falter."

Kalabubse said he has informed Cameroon's minister of territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji, to make sure that journalists who do not respect the order are punished, and media organizations that continue to broadcast are permanently closed.

Nji said he has instructed police and local government officials to force the journalists to respect the sanctions.

"The media men should know that they have the moral obligation to comply by respecting these decisions taken for the common good, Nji said. Because if we are in a state of law and we don't respect the laws of the republic, then we are walking towards a jungle, and Cameroon is not a jungle. We should use liberty of expression to construct and not to destroy. So, I want to tell the media men that they have the obligation to comply. If they don't comply, we will accompany them to comply by force.

But journalists in Cameroon say they are victims of increasing oppression. They say the government clamps down on media that hold contrary opinions to state actions.

The Cameroon Journalists Trade Union said the NCC was set up by Biya to defend his interests and crack down on journalists who oppose his rule.

The trade union said senior state functionaries and military officials who are accused of corrupt practices ask the NCC to suspend reporters  a charge the NCC denies.

The government said hate speech propagated through the media has become rampant since the disputed 2018 presidential election.

In addition, some French-speaking host communities accuse English speakers displaced by the separatist conflict in the west of being separatist fighters or sympathizers.

Cameroon's minister of territorial administration said local media that do not stop guests in debate programs from asking communities to rise against one another will be punished. Journalists who anchor such programs will also be punished, the government said, though it has not outlined any punishment.

Cameroon has more than 600 newspapers, about 200 radio stations and 60 TV networks, yet producing independent and critical reporting is still challenging, according to Reporters Without Borders.

In its 2023 World Press Freedom Index, the organization said Cameroon is one of Africas most dangerous countries for journalists, since they operate in a hostile and precarious environment.
Taliban authorities in Afghanistan said Tuesday that a car bomb blast had killed at least two people, including the deputy governor of the northeastern Badakhshan border province.



A local official spokesman told VOA by phone that Molvi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi was being driven to work in the provincial capital of Faizabad when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into his vehicle.



Moazuddin Ahmadi said the powerful blast had wounded at least six civilians.



No group immediately claimed responsibility for the high-profile attack in the mountainous Afghan province abutting China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.



A car bombing in December killed the Taliban police chief of Badakhshan in an attack claimed by the Islamic State terror group's Afghan branch, known as Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K.



Several top Taliban leaders have been killed in IS-K-claimed attacks since the hardline group retook control of Afghanistan nearly two years ago.



Mohammad Dawood Muzammil, the governor of the northern Balkh province, was killed in a suicide bombing in March. IS-K took credit for assassinating one of the most senior Taliban leaders.



Muzamil had served as the governor of the eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan, and oversaw operations against IS-K there before moving to Balkh last year.



The Taliban are sworn enemies of IS-K and have routinely raided its bases around the country, killing high-profile operatives of the terror group in recent months. Mualawi Muhammad, also known as Mualawi Ziauddin, was among them. He was killed in March, along with two key commanders, and was known to be the second highest-ranked IS-K member in Afghanistan.



Islamic State launched its attacks in the conflict-torn country in 2015 from bases in Nangarhar. It has since expanded the violence to other Afghan provinces.



Taliban authorities insist their counterterrorism forces have significantly diminished IS-K's abilities and don't see the group as a security challenge for their government.



A top U.S. military commander told a congressional hearing in March that IS-K could launch an attack from Afghan bases before the year is out.



"They can do external operations against U.S. or Western interests abroad in under six months with little to no warning," said Army General Michael Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command overseeing U.S. troops in the region.
China, where COVID-19 was first identified in humans more than three years ago, expects its current wave of infection to hit as many as 65 million cases per week by late June, according to official accounts of models presented at a medical conference.

While that may be an exhausting number to a post-pandemic world wearied by a still rising toll of 767 million confirmed cases and more than 6.9 million deaths, the predicted onslaught in China comes with less severe symptoms, Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking University First Hospital, told the official newspaper Beijing Daily.

And, experts say, the outbreak is likely to be confined to China. Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology and a top COVID-variant tracker, told Fortune that when it comes to XBB variants, "the rest of the world has seen them all." But up until recently, "China hasn't."

Respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan, who spoke on May 22 at a conference in the southern city of Guangzhou, said the current wave of infections that started in late April was "anticipated." His modeling suggested that by the end of June, the weekly number of infections will peak at 65 million, according to the official Global Times.

After Beijing relaxed the draconian lockdowns enforced under its "zero-COVID" policy, an omicron variant different from the current one ripped through China in December 2022 and January 2023.

About 80% of China's 1.4 billion people were infected during that wave, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in January, CNN reported. Patients packed hospitals and families waited for days to cremate those who died.

The latest COVID wave is something most people do not take seriously, said Mr. Lin, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. The resident of Quanzhou in Fujian province said, "They go about their activities normally and don't do any protection. No one wears masks."

Mr. Lin told VOA Mandarin he was infected in mid-December 2022, soon after Beijing lifted the lockdowns that had sent the world's second-largest economy into a tailspin.

He realized he was infected  again  in May. Mr. Lin said he knew others who were likely reinfected and didn't even bother to take a COVID test because their symptoms were so mild.

Mr. Zhang, who was infected for the first time in December, told VOA Mandarin he was infected a second time on a business trip to Shanghai and Beijing in May. The Hunan province resident, who asked to use a pseudonym to avoid attracting official attention, thought he had caught a cold because of the air conditioning he encountered on his trip.

But he took a test while still in Beijing and with a positive result, ended up at a hospital where he said a doctor told him, "People all over the country are like this. No need for medical attention at all. Just go home."

After suffering four days with insomnia, loss of appetite and recurring fever, Mr. Zhang went to another Beijing hospital. Admitted, he was given Paxlovid, an anti-coronavirus drug developed by Pfizer.

"I took the medicine at noon and felt relieved at night," he told VOA Mandarin.

During his hospital stay, Mr. Zhang said, "All the infectious disease wards were full, and there was a long queue to get an appointment. The hospital used wards of other departments for patients from the Infectious Diseases Department."

Jin Dong-yan, a biochemistry professor with the Li Ka-shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, told VOA Mandarin there is not much difference between the current situation in China and in the U.S., but the Chinese media devote more coverage to the outbreak.

Jin said, "In fact, looking at the data, the U.S. has experienced about four peaks after the outbreak last year, but each peak is getting smaller and smaller."

The United States, by comparison, was reporting more than 5 million cases a week at its most recent peak in January.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 over as a global health emergency on May 5.

Like the U.S., China stopped providing weekly case updates in May, making it difficult to know the true extent of the current outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded more than 1.1 million deaths in the U.S. involving COVID-19 from January 4, 2020, to May 27, 2023.

In China, from January 3, 2020, to May 31, 2023, there have been almost 100 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, with more than 120,000 deaths reported by Beijing to WHO.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and Edge Group have jointly launched Talk 4.0, a new knowledge-exchange initiative. It is aimed at empowering industrial leaders to adopt transformative technologies and sustainable practices.

The new initiative follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two parties in August 2022, which sought to expand the offerings of Edges Learning & Innovation Factory to the UAEs industrial ecosystem and support the establishment of an Industry 4.0 Enablement Centre.

Talk 4.0 is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to encourage and accelerate digital transformation in line with MoIATs Technology Transformation Programme (TTP) launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in October 2022. The move also supports the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative given technologys key role in industrial decarbonisation.

Sharing learning

Talk 4.0 brings together industrial leaders to share learnings and best practices in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions through informative talks, workshops, seminars, and other learning activities.

The inaugural edition of the Talk 4.0 series was held at the Edge Learning & Innovation Factory. The edition featured keynote speakers from global industrial organisations including: Nouman Qaiser, SC Digital Transformation Manager at Unilever, who discussed the lessons learned from an entrepreneurial journey to becoming a 4IR lighthouse; and Dr Omer Dawelbeit, Principal Solution Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), who delivered a talk on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Following the keynotes, participants experienced a simulation of the Edge Learning & Innovation Factorys Smart Learning Factory, which demonstrated how to design and build digital twins, how to integrate and design connected technologies, and how to use data to enhance productivity and efficiency. Two micro-training sessions focused on Six Sigma and Agile processes were also conducted by Edge Learning & Innovation Factory trainers.

Moreover, participants had the opportunity to network with other industry professionals and share experiences and best practices, as well as learn more about technology adoption, sustainable solutions, and capacity building.

Spreading awareness

Tariq Al Hashmi, Director of Technology Adoption and Development at MoIAT, said: In order to fully digitalise industry, we must first spread awareness about advanced technologies and their potential to unlock value, as well as empower industrial leaders to adopt them through capability building initiatives. Through education and facilitating knowledge exchanges between industrial stakeholders, Talk 4.0 will directly support the objective of the Technology Transformation Program to accelerate the pace of technological transformation in the UAEs priority sectors.

Ahmed Al Khoori, Senior Vice President - Strategy & Excellence at Edge, said: Talk 4.0 is a new, key initiative which will bring together some of the industrys most innovative and inspiring thought leaders to challenge conventional thinking, share learnings and best practices, and discuss topics that will ultimately shape the future of industry. The series will further promote digital transformation and help foster a culture of learning and innovation among the UAEs leading industrial players.

The Edge Learning & Innovation Factory combines theory, technology, and practice under one roof to drive improvements and inspire an innovative approach to encourage digital transformation and modernisation of operations. It provides trainees with experiential, gamified, and actionable learnings in line with the industrys future requirements.-- TradeArabia News Service
The main aim of stock picking is to find the market-beating stocks. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad (KLSE:CJCEN) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 35% over a half decade. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 34%. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 12% in the last three months. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

Check out our latest analysis for CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During five years of share price growth, CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

We note that the dividend has fallen in the last five years, so that may have contributed to the share price decline.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Take a more thorough look at CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad, it has a TSR of -32% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad shareholders are down 32% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.1%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 6% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for CJ Century Logistics Holdings Berhad you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Europe's top rights court said Tuesday condemned Russia for failing to properly investigate the 2020 poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny which the West says was an assassination bid.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said Russia had notably failed "to explore the allegations of a possible political motive for the attempted murder, as well as possible involvement of state agents," unanimously finding Russia had violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

It said Russia had refused to open criminal proceedings into the poisoning, which led to Navalny falling into a coma and being put on life support.

The anti-corruption campaigner, seen by supporters as a potential political rival of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill while on a domestic flight from Siberia.

Navalny was later evacuated to Germany where he recovered. He has been behind bars since he returned to Moscow in early 2021.

The ECHR noted that tests by the German government had shown "definite proof" of the presence of the Soviet-era chemical nerve agent Novichok in Navalny's system.

The court said the inquiry by Russia was not open to scrutiny and Navalny had not been allowed to participate.

'Not adequate'

The investigation was not "capable of leading to the establishment of the relevant facts and the identification and, if appropriate, punishment of those responsible," it said.

"It (the probe) therefore could not be considered adequate."

Russia was ordered to pay Navalny $43,000 in damages.

The ECHR is part of the pan-European rights body the Council of Europe from which Russia was expelled in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine last year.

It still has a backlog of cases filed by Russian nationals before then and is continuing to issue verdicts.

The ECHR says Russia has a binding legal obligation to implement its judgements concerning Moscow's actions or violations up until 16 September 2022.

Russia joined the Council of Europe under the presidency of president Boris Yeltsin, when the country was mired in post-Soviet chaos but also amid some optimism over its future within Europe.

One of the crucial consequences of its bid for membership was that Russia imposed a moratorium on use of the death penalty which remains in place to this day.

Navalny and his supporters say he was poisoned by a hit squad from the FSB security service sent by the Kremlin to eliminate him.

While recuperating in Germany, Navalny even called up one of the men he alleges was sent to poison him, a scene memorably captured in the Oscar-winning documentary "Navalny" about his case.

Navalny, 47, is currently held in the IK-6 penal colony in the Vladimir region of Russia, with concerns growing over his health.

He has been repeatedly sent by the prison authorities into a punishment cell known by its acronym of SHIZO.

He serving a nine-year prison sentence on embezzlement and other charges that supporters say were fabricated in retaliation for him daring to organize protests against Putin and allege corruption by the president and his inner circle.

Navalny is soon set to go on trial in a new "extremism" case, and faces a further 35 years in prison.

In a message for his 47th birthday this month, Navalny insisted he was in a "good mood" despite living in a "hellhole" and missing his family.

"Life works in such a way that social progress and a better future can only be achieved if a certain number of people are willing to pay the price for their right to have beliefs," he said.
The United Nations announced on June 1st that the number of refugees fleeing from Sudan to Chad has hit 100,000, with most coming from the West Darfur region. As the warring sides pull out of peace talks, analysts suggest a U.N. peacekeeping mission may be the only way to stem the violence in Darfur. Henry Wilkins reports from Koufroune, Chad.
There are renewed concerns North Koreas army of hackers is targeting financial institutions to prop up the regime in Pyongyang and possibly fund its weapons programs.

A report published Tuesday by the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future finds North Korean aligned actors have been spoofing well-known financial firms in Japan, Vietnam and the United States, sending out emails and documents that, if opened, could grant the hackers access to critical systems.

The targeting of investment banking and venture capital firms may expose sensitive or confidential information of these entities or their customers, according to the report by Recorded Futures Insikt Group.

[It] may result in legal or regulatory action, jeopardize pending business negotiations or agreements, or expose information damaging to the companys strategic investment portfolio, it said.

The report said the most recent cluster of activity took place between September 2022 and March 2023, making use of three new internet addresses and two old addresses, and more than 20 domain names.

Some of the domains imitated those used by the targeted financial institutions.

Recorded Futures named the group behind the attacks Threat Activity Group 71 (TAG-71), which is also known as APT38, Bluenoroff, Stardust Chollima and the Lazarus Group.

This past April, the U.S. sanctioned three individuals associated with the Lazarus Group, accusing them of helping North Korea launder stolen virtual currencies and turn it into cash.

U.S. Treasury officials levied additional sanctions just last month against North Koreas Technical Reconnaissance Bureau, which develops tools and operations to be carried out by the Lazarus Group.

The Lazarus Group is believed to be responsible for the largest theft of virtual currency to date, stealing approximately $620 million connected to a popular online game in Match 2022.

Earlier this month, U.S. and South Korean agencies issued a warning about another set of North Korean cyber actors impersonating think tanks, academic institutions and journalists in an ongoing attempt to collect intelligence.
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A major dam in Ukraine is attacked, triggering floods, massive evacuations and threat to Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on members of a Russian intelligence  linked group. A documentary on the invasion Mariupol screened for the first time in Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

During their meeting in Jeddah, Blinken expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its help evacuating Americans from Sudan and for hosting the meeting of the Coalition to Defeat ISIS. They also discussed Yemen and a political solution to achieve peace there, among other issues.

"The secretary ... emphasized that our bilateral relationship is strengthened by progress on human rights," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout of the meeting between Blinken and the crown prince.

"The secretary and the crown prince discussed deepening economic cooperation, especially in the clean energy and technology fields."

Ahead of the trip, Blinken said Monday the United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Dating back at least to the administration of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the United States has worked to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Blinken told a meeting of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC that part of his visit to Saudi Arabia would involve working toward boosting Israeli-Saudi relations.

We believe that we can and indeed we must play an integral role in advancing it, Blinken said. Now, we have no illusions that this can be done quickly or easily.

Blinkens schedule includes a ministerial meeting Wednesday with the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss promoting security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration, and economic opportunities across the Middle East, the State Department said.

On Thursday, Blinken and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan co-host a meeting of the 80-strong coalition of countries fighting the Islamic State group.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Italian regulators are looking into efforts by China's Sinochem to tighten control over Italian tire maker Pirelli.

Sinochem owns 37% of Pirelli and a new shareholders agreement gives it the ability to choose nine members of Pirelli's 15-member board.

Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera sold the 150-year-old company to ChemChina in 2015. ChemChina is now part of Chinese state-owned chemical company Sinochem.

The Italian government has the ability to review such matters under what are called "Golden Powers"  rules governing assets considered strategic to the country.

The probe comes amid concern by Western governments about China's influence and potential interference by the government in business affairs.

Some information for this report came from Reuters
Latest developments:

Britains Defense Ministry said Tuesday that during the previous 48 hours, There has been a substantial increase in fighting along numerous sectors of the front, including those which have been relatively quiet for several months.

Ukraines ambassador to the Vatican said he hopes a visit from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the popes peace envoy, will help in "finding appropriate answers" in the name of "just peace."

The Financial Times cited Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic saying he has no doubt that intermediaries might be providing Serbian ammunition to Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of blowing up a major dam Tuesday near Kherson in southern Ukraine, setting off a new crisis in the war-torn country.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in an area of Ukraine occupied by Russian troops unleashed a torrent of water and forced the evacuation of 16,000 people living along the Dnipro River. Ukrainian authorities reported that nearly 40 towns and villages were fully or partially flooded in regions they control, and the impact was also expected to be severe in the Russian-controlled areas.

Looking downstream, Russia controls the left bank of the river and the dam itself, while Ukraine holds the right bank.

In Washington, the White House said it could not say conclusively what caused the destruction of the massive dam but was assessing reports that the blast was caused by Russia, which has been occupying the dam since last year.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said it was clear that the destruction of the dam had likely caused "many deaths."

European Council President Charles Michel said he was shocked by the unprecedented attack, tweeting, The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime  and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop.

Todays tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people, he told reporters. The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop.

Both Ukraine and Russia asked the U.N. Security Council to meet in an emergency session, where each blamed the other side for the destruction.

Consequences

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the meeting that the magnitude of the catastrophe would be fully realized only in the coming days, but it would have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people on both sides of the front lines in southern Ukraine who have lost homes, livelihoods and safe drinking water.

The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam is possibly the most significant incident of damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Griffiths told council members.

He reiterated that international humanitarian law protects facilities such as dams, because their destruction can cause severe loss for the civilian population.

Griffiths also expressed concern about the risk of the floodwaters moving landmines or spreading contamination from explosive weapons, further endangering civilians.

The dam supplied water to a swath of southern Ukraine's agricultural territory and the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, as well as cooling the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

The Kakhovka reservoir, which is formed by the dam, provides water to cool ZNPPs reactors and spent fuel pools.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the reservoirs water levels had been falling throughout the day Tuesday, but the site has backup options, and there is no immediate risk to the nuclear plants safety.

Grossi, who will go to Ukraine next week, said a cooling pond next to the site could provide sufficient water for some months and called on all sides in Ukraine to ensure that it remains intact.

Russia seized control of the ZNPP early in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Grossi has repeatedly highlighted the potential for a nuclear disaster if the area is not safeguarded.

Evacuations

The Russia-installed administration of Ukraine's Kherson region said it was preparing to evacuate three districts  Nova Kakhovka, Hola Prystan and Oleshky. The latter two lie across the mouth of the Dnipro River from the Ukrainian-held regional capital, Kherson.

Kherson residents said water levels there had already risen by more than a meter and were expected to rise more.

Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, a senior official at Ukraine's Kherson military administration, said flooding would peak on Wednesday.

"We already evacuated about 1,000 people, Tolokonnikov told reporters. We have about 50 buses shuttling between Kherson and the affected villages. In Kherson, we have four evacuation sites prepared."

Ukrainian security council

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday called an emergency meeting of his National Security and Defense Council to discuss the situation.

The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land, Zelenskyy tweeted, referring to Russian troops. Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. Its only Ukraine's victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else.

The head of Ukraines presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram that Russias destruction of the dam was ecocide and a war crime.

Russian officials accused Ukraine of causing an explosion that damaged the dam.

U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
A new management team could be announced at Slovenia's public broadcaster RTV in the coming weeks, as a new law takes effect.

On Monday, a newly formed RTV Council  which has the power to name RTV SLO's chief executive and approve production plans  met for the first time.

The body was unable to meet until the Constitutional Court issued its ruling on some parts of the law, the Act on RTV Slovenia, that were being contested.

Passed by Slovenia's center-left government, the law is designed to protect public media from political interference. The reform also restructures the management of RTV from two governing councils into a single, 17-member decision-making body.

The changes were proposed when Slovenia's center-left government took power in 2022, after journalists and media analysts warned that political interference in RTV under the last administration risked damaging the broadcaster's credibility.

Prime Minister Robert Golob said in May that enforcement of the law means "that politics is withdrawing from managing RTV Slovenia and giving its employees the necessary autonomy."

The Vienna-based media group, the International Press Institute or IPI also welcomed the enforcement of the law.

Calling it a "long overdue and positive step forward for a troubled public broadcaster," IPI Europe Advocacy Officer Jamie Wiseman told VOA that it "finally creates the legal framework for RTV to depoliticize its management structures, limit interference and slowly regain its independence."

He pointed out, however, that several challenges at RTV remain "that will take sustained and systemic efforts to address, including a staffing crisis, serious financial problems, internal division and public distrust."

Many journalists and academics agree with that assessment.

The European Parliament passed a nonbinding resolution condemning Slovenia's previous center-right government for attempts to discredit public and privately owned media. It called on Slovenia, which is part of the EU, to "cease all political interference in (RTV) editorial policy."

However, the leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister Janez Jansa responded to the court's ruling on RTV via Twitter, saying, "If such obvious cheating is possible even at the Constitutional Court, then no one can expect a just trial."

Jansa had repeatedly accused the broadcaster of bias, and his center-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) had unsuccessfully challenged the law at a referendum in November, arguing that it was passed solely to change the leadership of RTV.

At the referendum more than 62 percent of voters supported the law.

On May 31, a group of protesters led by Pavel Rupar, a former member of parliament for the SDS, gathered outside the broadcaster's main office to protest the change of management, saying RTV should represent "plurality."

And last week the outgoing head of the RTV Council, Peter Gregorcic, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, saying that the Constitutional Court failed to protect the legal position of RTV leadership.

Government pressure

Slovenia's RTV has come under pressure from ruling parties since the country gained independence in 1991.

But Slavko Splichal, a professor of communications at the University of Ljubljana, said, the pressure was never as bad as under Jansa's administration.

The implementation of the law, said Splichal, will end "a catastrophic situation" at RTV in the past two years which had turned the broadcaster into "a propaganda tool of the SDS."

During that time, the former RTV Council, nominated mostly by then center-right parliament members, elected Andrej Grah Whatmough as the RTV Slovenia CEO.

Under Whatmough's leadership, a number of programs were cancelled, shortened or moved to a less prominent channel. In July 2022, he named Uros Urbanija as director of the broadcaster's TV unit, a move that sparked protests from staffers and the Association of Journalists of Slovenia.

Urbanija was director of the government communication office under Jansa and during that time his department alleged bias at RTV and temporarily stopped financing the state press agency STA.

In August, Urbanija told VOA that he was not a member of any political party, nor has he ever worked for one, adding that his position at the government's communication office was purely professional.

Whatmough too has dismissed claims of political interference under the previous government, saying in interviews he is not connected to the SDS and is acting solely as a professional.

Staffers warned of consequences

During the changes last year, 38 staffers at RTV received warnings of possible dismissal if they breached their contracts.

The warning letters came after staff entered a studio during a live broadcast to show support for two colleagues, including anchor Sasa Krajnc, whom they said were under pressure from TV director Urbanija.

Krajnc has remained in his position as anchor of the main evening TV news program but says the number of his slots have almost halved.

"We hope that after the new management takes over professional standards will be reinstated, that respect of employees will return and that that program will be improved so that viewership will rise," Krajnc told VOA, adding that in his 20 years at RTV he has never seen such a decline of standards as under the outgoing leadership.

Krajnc said that viewership of most news programs has fallen over the past two years, although the exact numbers are not publicly available.

The management of RTV did not respond to VOA's request for the latest viewership figures.

Splichal said that the new RTV leadership will need to address digitalization and find ways to attract younger viewers. He added too that the new law may not prevent the possibility of political pressure in the future.

"The new RTV Council is not nominated by parliament directly, but parliament still has most say in it indirectly," he said, explaining that some institutions that nominate council members  such as National Council for Culture  are nominated by parliament.

"So, the risk of political interference in the program is still there," said Splichal.

Wiseman said that if the new system at RTV is properly implemented "this would represent a much-needed boost for independent journalism and media freedom in Slovenia."
Malawi's government has started revoking citizenship of refugees and asylum-seekers who they say obtained their status fraudulently.

Officials say the campaign is aimed at flushing out criminals from other countries, including Rwandan genocide suspects. But critics say the program is too broad and will ensnare legitimate refugees.

Minister of Homeland Security Zikhale Ng'oma told a televised news conference Monday that Malawi received a request from Rwanda to help track down about 55 criminals wanted for various charges who are staying in Malawi.

Ng'oma said the fugitives could not be found easily because they might have changed their identities and started using Malawian names.

As part of the manhunt, he said, the government is revoking passports and citizenships that were fraudulently obtained.

"We want to tighten our security and ensure that whosoever obtained a passport in a manner that is not normal, we have to confiscate that passport. And whoever got citizenship without right procedures, we will also revoke [that] citizenship," Ng'oma said.

In 2020, Malawi's High Court sentenced the former minister of homeland security, Uladi Mussa, to six years in jail for issuing fraudulent citizenships and passports to Burundians and Rwandans.

Ng'oma said some of the 55 suspects sought by Rwanda are wanted in connection with the deaths of over 2,000 people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Last month, the government of South Africa arrested a Rwandese genocide suspect, Fulgence Kayishema. Investigations revealed that Kayishema was using a Malawian passport and names.

"Having managed to get one sample of what is happening in South Africa in regard to our passports, we believe that some people are using false identities in Malawi," Ng'oma said. "As such, as I am talking, Malawi government, we are in talks with Burundi and Rwanda in regard to those people we want to repatriate."

Ng'oma said the government is also searching for other criminals the U.N. refugee agency says may have gained official papers in Malawi.

"And the department of the UNHCR of late wrote us a letter that we need to repatriate 522 asylum-seekers who are associated with criminalities from their countries. And those people are hiding in our villages," he said.

Ng'oma said the presence of fugitives in Malawi poses a security threat, and he believes many of them are keeping guns and ammunition.

As an example, he cited a grenade explosion at the Dzaleka refugee camp last December which killed a leader for refugees from Burundi and injured five others at a market.

Ng'oma said Malawi has revoked papers for 396 foreigners in all.

However, rights groups have warned that a program aimed at criminals may victimize legitimate refugees.

"The way the government is implementing this exercise, it's targeting everyone, indiscriminately," said Michael Kayiyatsa, executive director for the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation in Malawi. "And our concern is that children are being victimized, women, people with disabilities, you know, vulnerable groups who have nothing to do with what the government is alleging."

Kayiyatsa said although there could be criminal elements among some refugees and asylum-seekers, the Malawi government should find better ways of targeting the criminals.

"If the idea was to target those warlords, there was a better way to do it," he said. "If you look at countries like South Africa, they are hunting for genocide suspects, but in the process, they are not victimizing everyone. It's targeted, it's based on intelligence."

In the meantime, the Malawi government has asked those illegally keeping guns and ammunition to surrender them to police or risk being arrested.
Top Chinese officials told Elon Musk about plans to launch new regulations on artificial intelligence on his recent trip to the Asian giant, the tech billionaire said Monday, in his first comments on the two-day visit.

The Twitter owner and Tesla CEO  one of the world's richest men  held meetings with senior officials in Beijing and employees in Shanghai last week.

"Something that is worth noting is that on my recent trip to China, with the senior leadership there, we had, I think, some very productive discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and the need for some oversight or regulation," Musk said. "And my understanding from those conversations is that China will be initiating AI regulation in China."

Praised China

Musk, whose extensive interests in China have long raised eyebrows in Washington, spoke about the exchange in a livestreamed Twitter discussion with Democratic presidential hopeful and vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert Kennedy Jr., the nephew of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Musk did not tweet while in China and Tesla has not released readouts of Musk's meeting with officials.

But official Chinese channels said he lavished praise on the country, including for its "vitality and promise," and expressed "full confidence in the China market."

Several Chinese companies have been rushing to develop AI services that can mimic human speech since San Francisco-based OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November.

But rapid advancements have stoked global alarm over the technology's potential for disinformation and misuse.

Musk didn't elaborate on his discussions in China but was likely referring to a sweeping draft law requiring new AI products to undergo a security assessment before release and a process ensuring that they reflect "core socialist values."

The "Administrative Measures for Generative Artificial Intelligence Services" edict bans content promoting "terrorist or extremist propaganda," "ethnic hatred" or "other content that may disrupt economic and social order."

Under Beijing's highly centralized political system, the measures are almost certain to become law.

Describes meetings as 'promising'

Musk has caused controversy by suggesting the self-ruled island of Taiwan should become part of China  a stance that was welcomed by Chinese officials but which deeply angered Taipei.

The 51-year-old South African native described his meetings in China as "very promising."

"I pointed out that if there is a digital super intelligence that is overwhelmingly powerful, developed in China, it is actually a risk to the sovereignty of the Chinese government," he said. "And I think they took that concern to heart."
A concept rendering of Intramotev's TugVolt Hopper. (Image: Intramotev)

Iron Senergy, a company that manages coal assets, and rail technology provider Intramotev have reached an agreement under which Iron Senergy will use three of Intramotevs autonomous rail cars at Iron Senergys coal facilities in western Pennsylvania.

Iron Senergy, based in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, operates the Cumberland coal mine in Pennsylvania, while St. Louis-based Intramotev has been developing autonomous, battery-operated rail cars.

The agreement calls for Iron Senergy to use three ReVolt rail cars produced by Intramotev for use on Iron Senergys 17-mile rail line between the Cumberland mine and the Alicia Harbor facility on the Monongahela River. The ReVolt technology uses regenerative braking to help power the cars.

Captive routes between mines and processing facilities have the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and save costs through our proprietary battery-electric technology, Intramotev

CEO Timothy Luchini said in a release. Using our technology will help Iron Senergy become a cleaner, healthier operation in western Pennsylvania. We hope their success will inspire other rail managers decarbonization efforts across mining and steel mill transportation.

Said Iron Senergy CEO and owner Justin Thompson: This investment is consistent with our commitment to innovation and the environment, and I look forward to exploring additional opportunities with the Intramotev team that will allow us to further increase efficiencies, lower costs and reduce our environmental footprint.

ReVolt is just one of Intramotevs offerings; its TugVolt technology enables conventional rail cars to be retrofitted as battery-electric, and it has developed automated safety systems for gates and hatches as well.

Last month, Intramotev announced that it had received a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform, which is affiliated with the Michigan Economic Development Corp., to deploy three self-propelled rail cars at a mining site in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Intramotev expects to deploy its TugVolt rail cars there in late 2023.

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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan accused the government Tuesday of unleashing a "reign of terror" on his party to keep it out of the elections and banning the country's mainstream media from reporting on abuses against his supporters.

Khan tweeted the allegations amid a crackdown on his opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, the country's largest political force. Authorities have arrested thousands of PTI supporters, along with former ministers and lawmakers, amid widespread allegations of abuse and torture against detainees.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has confirmed apprehending some 5,000 people, including women, in connection with recent, violent PTI-led protests sparked by the short-lived arrest of Khan on corruption charges. Dozens of detainees have been handed over to the army for trials in military courts for allegedly ransacking defense installations and murals during protests on May 9.

"Since the mainstream media has now been completely muzzled through social media, everyone must be made aware of the reign of terror unleashed on Pakistan's biggest party so that it can be kept out of the elections," Khan said Tuesday on Twitter.

Police and government officials deny any coercion of Khan's supporters or allegations of rights abuses.

The 70-year-old opposition leader has long dominated television screens in Pakistan for being the most popular national politician, according to polls, with his speeches and rallies getting constant coverage.

Observers, however, have noted coverage of Khan and those of his party leaders has lately disappeared from all mainstream news channels; nor is there any reporting of alleged rights abuses against detained PTI members. Instead, government news conferences, speeches, and statements denouncing Khan and his supporters as "miscreants" and "hatemongers" are often broadcast.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, or PEMRA, has ordered all television channels not to give a platform to "zealots" and "hatemongers" linked to the rioting. The directive did not refer directly to Khan or his party.

Khan has openly accused the powerful Pakistani military of being behind the crackdown and media ban to dismantle his party.

VOA has reached out to the military and the PEMRA for comment on Khan's allegations.

"It is completely the establishment," Khan told the Reuters news agency over the weekend.

"Establishment obviously means the military establishment because they are really now openly  I mean, it's not even hidden now  they're just out in the open."

Khan has alleged that the violence against defense properties was the work of "saboteurs" and the military was using it as a "pretext" for the crackdown on his party. He has called for an independent inquiry into the violence to determine who is responsible.

On Monday, Sharif rejected as "disinformation" and "plain misrepresentation" Khan's assertions about events that followed last month's violence.

"Let me put the context right: what his party did on May 9 was a brazen attack on the State of Pakistan, with malafide intent and sinister objectives. No country in the world would tolerate such an attempt at destroying its integrity," the incumbent prime minister said on Twitter.

Sharif said his government was dealing with "the culprits" under the law and promised no rights violation would take place.

The opposition leader himself faces dozens of legal challenges on allegations ranging from corruption and sedition to terrorism and murder. He rejects the charges, saying they are meant to disqualify him from politics.

The prestigious English-language DAWN newspaper, in an editorial responding to the PEMRA directive, urged the government regulator to revisit its decision and desist from silencing the political opposition.

"It is apparent that these instructions have come from powerful quarters and are a thinly disguised warning to the media to stay in line," the editorial said, in an indirect reference to the Pakistani military.

Dozens of former federal and provincial ministers and lawmakers have publicly abandoned Khan or quit politics altogether, praised the military, and condemned the protests, paving the way for them to leave jail and avoid any prosecution. They all appeared to be reading from the same script but denied they were quitting the party under any pressure, claims critics dismissed.

"People leave jail, hold a press conference, condemn the incidents of arson, and announce quitting the party. Even if you have not been subjected to physical coercion or pressure, this is not something that's being done voluntarily," said Hina Jilani, the head of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, HRCP, at a news conference in Islamabad last week.

She also accused the military of being behind what Jilani called "political engineering" and criticized the government for agreeing to put civilians on trial in military courts.

Khan's critics attribute his rise to power after the 2018 election to his close ties with the military, and he was removed from power in April 2022 through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence after falling out with the institution.

Critics and analysts say the crackdown replicates past military-led campaigns used to break other political parties in Pakistan, where no elected prime minister has ever completed a full term since independence.

Khan has demanded snap elections through dozens of public rallies, claiming, without offering any evidence, that his ouster was orchestrated by the military in collusion with Sharif and the United States, charges Washington and Islamabad reject. Authorities have not allowed the deposed leader or anyone from his party to hold a public rally following the violence last month.

Generals have ruled Pakistan for more than three decades through direct military coups against elected governments and have held sway over the country even when they are not in power since it gained independence from Britain in 1947.
New advances in the fight against a range of cancers have been revealed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which wraps up in Chicago on Tuesday.

Here are some of the announcements that have most excited experts.

Lung cancer

One of the trial results that caused a stir in Chicago has raised hopes for a new weapon against lung cancer, the deadliest of all cancers.

The treatment osimertinib was shown to halve the risk of death from a certain type of lung cancer when taken daily after surgery to remove the tumor.

Developed by the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca, the daily pill targets patients with non-small cell cancer  by far the most common type  as well as a mutation of their epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR.

Iris Pauporte, head of research at France's League Against Cancer, told AFP the advance was a "big ray of hope" for this type of cancer, for which progress has been slow.

Muriel Dahan, head of research at Unicancer, said that if the results are confirmed, it "should change" common practice in treating this kind of lung cancer.

Systematic testing for the EGFR mutation would also become necessary for lung cancer patients, she added.

Brain cancer

Another treatment, called vorasidenib, was found to significantly prolong the progression-free survival of patients with brain tumor glioma, according to clinical trial results.

The daily pill, developed by French pharma firm Servier, aims to block an enzyme responsible for the progression of some brain cancers, which have been particularly difficult to treat.

Patrick Therasse, Servier's vice-president of oncology research, told AFP that there "have been few therapeutic advances for brain tumors over the last 20 years."

"Thanks to our targeted treatment, patients avoided cancer progression for 27.7 months, compared to 11.1 months" for those taking a placebo, he added.

Fabrice Andre, head of research at France's Gustave Roussy cancer center, said "precision medicine opens a door for a disease for which there was nothing until now."

"It means that science can unblock situations that were catastrophic," he told AFP.

Unicancer's Dahan said it was important to "remain cautious" but added that "this could become the new therapeutic standard  depending on further trials."

Breast cancer

Preliminary trial results also released in Chicago indicated the drug ribociclib reduced the risk of breast cancer recurring by 25 percent for a large group of early-stage survivors.

The drug, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis, is already widely approved around the world. It was tested in combination with hormonal therapy.

ASCO expert Rita Nanda said it was a "very important and practice-changing clinical trial."

Cervical cancer

There was also good news for patients with early-stage cervical cancer with a low risk of progression.

There was no greater risk of the cancer returning for patients who get a simple hysterectomy, in which the uterus and cervix are removed, than a radical hysterectomy, in which the uppermost part of the vagina is also removed, according to phase three trials.

League Against Cancer's Pauporte said this was "good news," adding that "it shows that it's not just progress involving drugs that was important."

Ovarian cancer

A trial also presented at ASCO showed that taking the antibody treatment mirvetuximab soravtansine significantly improved the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer, a particularly deadly form of cancer.

ASCO expert Merry Jennifer Markham said the treatment "demonstrates progress and offers hope for these patients."

Rectal cancer

Study results released in Chicago indicated that patients with locally advanced rectal cancer could receive chemotherapy without getting radiation therapy before undergoing surgery.

This would spare patients from the brutal side effects of radiation.

Vaccines

Vaccines that treat existing cancer have long been a goal of the medical community.

Preliminary studies announced at the ASCO meeting involved vaccines targeting lung cancer, head and neck cancers, brain tumor glioblastoma and the cancer-causing HPV virus.

Christophe Le Tourneau, an oncologist at France's Curie Institute which presented a study about a vaccine for a certain form of HPV, said there has been "significant technological progress" in the area recently.

"Therapeutic vaccines, we talk about them more and more, and there are more and more trials in progress," he said.
Russia is seeking to copy Irans tactics in evading Western sanctions imposed on Moscow since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to a report from Britains Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), published June 6.

Ukraines allies, including the United States, the European Union, Britain, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have imposed successively tougher sanctions on Russia, initially since its forceful annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Russia sanctions

The measures have been significantly tightened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting the Russian Central Bank, its finance and military-industrial sectors, alongside the countrys significant oil and gas exports. Individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the military have also faced asset freezes and travel bans.

The RUSI report, titled Developing Bad Habits: What Russia Might Learn from Irans Sanctions Evasion, says that evidence is emerging of adaptations in Russias

financial and trade strategy.

Examples include the switching of ownership of companies and properties to family members or affiliates, the use of trading companies to source foreign exchange to avoid the sanctions imposed on the Central Bank of Russia, and import substitution.  Alongside these steps, Russia is now gravitating further towards other states that have faced similarly sweeping restrictive measures or that facilitate sanctions evasion, to learn best practices, secure necessary services and establish trade relationships, the report says.

Missiles

In a televised speech on June 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is using a network of suppliers to evade international sanctions designed to prevent it from making missiles and other weapons.

Unfortunately, the terrorist state manages to obtain the technologies of the world through a network of suppliers, manages to bypass international sanctions, Zelenskyy said. And we must close all such routes  together with our partners  so that there are no products of the free world in Russian missiles, in Russian weapons.

He added, Necessary steps will be taken.

Russia has procured drones from Iran and has used them to attack cities across Ukraine.

In response  and demonstrating the seriousness with which Ukraines allies are treating this growing relationship  Western allies are increasingly targeting Iranian entities with sanctions, the RUSI report says.

Adaptation

Russia is rapidly learning to adapt to the sanctions, said Tom Keatinge, a co-author of the report.

In particular, sourcing the kind of electronic components they need to support their military, that's the first thing," he told VOA. The second thing is obviously, they've had to look for new markets for their hydrocarbons, their oil exports. Thats a key revenue generator for the country.

Russia said its economy shrank by 2.1% in 2022  less than many expected although some analysts question the reliability of the government figures.

Russian oil

Meanwhile, imports of Russian crude oil by China and India hit an all-time high in May. Analysts said buyers took advantage of discounted prices. In December, Western nations imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian crude oil. The U.S. Treasury said that has resulted in a more than 40% drop in oil revenue in the first quarter of 2023.

The sanctions only apply to Western governments and companies trading with Russia.

And therefore, if you're a bank in India, you can perfectly well have a financial connection with a Russian bank, Keatinge said.

Nevertheless, most global trade is still conducted in U.S. dollars. So, how has Russia circumvented attempts to strangle its economy?

Irans playbook

Keatinge said the Kremlin is increasingly looking to Iran as a model on how to evade sanctions. Tehran has been subject to various Western sanctions since 1979 over its nuclear and missile programs and its support for terrorist groups, which Iran denies.

Iran  as a hydrocarbon economy trying to export oil  has learned a lot of tricks over the recent years that we do see Russia start to employ. So, for example, shadow fleets of tankers  so this kind of switching oil between tankers in the middle of the night, with location devices switched off. But also using front companies in places like Turkey or the UAE to try and hide the origin of trade, Keatinge told VOA.

Last month, Russia's second-largest bank, VTB, opened an office in Tehran. The two countries have begun connecting their financial systems to facilitate transactions outside the global SWIFT payment system. Russian banks were ejected from the SWIFT network in the wake of Moscows invasion of Ukraine last year, while Iranian banks were first excluded in 2012 before being readmitted four years later as part of the JCPOA nuclear agreement. Iran was again ejected from SWIFT in 2019, following the reimposition of sanctions by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Wagner

The RUSI report draws parallels between the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, and the Wagner Group, a private army with close links to the Kremlin.

Irans funding and resourcing of Hezbullah is reciprocated in numerous ways, including through support for the states intermediary oil trading schemes. Such joint ventures or marriages of convenience between rogue states and their proxies may possibly be mirrored in the ways in which private military companies patronized by Russia advance Russian interests (and enable the circumvention of sanctions) globally, the report says.

Compliance

How can Ukraines allies prevent Russia from evading the sanctions? The private sector is the front line of compliance, Keatinge noted.

The private sector has had to scramble to get itself in a position to ensure that it knows who its customers are, it knows who it's exporting things to, it knows what's allowed and what's not allowed. And so, the result is that there are huge gaps in the system, Keatinge said.

We see that in the way that companies are still exporting electronics to places like Kazakhstan and celebrating the fact that their exports have gone up without thinking that perhaps Kazakhstan is just a cutout on the way to Russia, he said.

Lessons

The report urges the West to educate the private sector on detecting illegal trades. It warns that Moscow will increasingly seek to use Irans playbook as it tries to circumvent sanctions.

We need to look at countries like Iran to learn how did they shape-shift, how did they change, (in order) to anticipate what Russia might do. There has been a lax attitude towards sanctions, particularly across Europe, in the years gone by. And that has to change, Keatinge said.
Tanzanias government is encouraging drivers to switch from putting gasoline in their tanks to compressed natural gas (CNG). This initiative aims to lower carbon emissions that cause global warming. As Charles Kombe reports from Dar es Salaam, some drivers are also hoping the switch will save them money in the long run. Camera: Rajabu Hassan
Ugandan soldiers hid for six days before being rescued after al-Shabab militants overran their base, a spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF) told VOA Somali.

Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye said the four soldiers, including a lieutenant, survived by hiding within and around the base in the town of Bulo Marer, 110 kilometers south of Mogadishu.

He said the troops were found after the Ugandan contingent retook the base on Thursday.

"When we recovered, they were weak because they were only surviving on urine," Kulaigye said.

He said each of the soldiers was hiding alone, in separate locations.

"They were weak out of hunger," he said.

"The lieutenant had been wounded, his leg was in bad shape and they have been treated in hospital, but they are promising to recover very well."

The news comes as President Yoweri Museveni disclosed that 54 Ugandan soldiers were killed in the May 26 attack.

"We discovered the lifeless bodies of fifty-four fallen soldiers, including a Commander," Museveni said in a tweet.

Uganda sent a team led by land forces commander Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga to Somalia to investigate the attack.

Museveni singled out two commanders for making a "mistake" by ordering the soldiers to retreat.

"They have been apprehended and will face charges in the Court Martial," Museveni said.

The al-Shabab militant group on Monday published a video purportedly from the raid on the UPDF base. In the video, the leader of al-Shabab, Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah, whose face is blurred, sends off the attackers.

Heartbreak

Officials said Ugandans were heartbroken and shocked by the news that 54 of their soldiers were killed.

Ugandan diplomat and former deputy head of the Africa Union Mission in Somalia, Simon Mulongo, who is now a security analyst, said people received the news of the attack and overrunning of the base by militants with shock.

"They felt their deaths were cruel," he told VOA Somali.

"Uganda had never suffered such a deadly attack. There has been some attacks or attempted attacks and probing attacks, but we never lost some high number. And as such, it took us by shock."

Mulongo also said the attack generated debate on whether to withdraw troops from Somalia or keep them to let the mission "pursue its objectives to its logical conclusion."

"It's a kind of mixed reaction but in both cases, it's with pain," Mulongo added.

Kulaigye observed similar mixed reactions.

"Some urge us to go on and make sure we revenge," he said.

"Others felt the mission should get out because we are dying for other people, not for our country; and for us, we are saying we have to keep [troops] in [Somalia] so that the entire Africa is peaceful."

Kulaigye said Uganda will not withdraw troops from Somalia unless the Africa Union asks them to do so.

"These casualties do not discourage our pan-African duty," he said. "We do not take these attacks lightly; when you attack us, we bring the war to you as well."

'Total' commitment

Mulongo says Uganda does not share a border with Somalia, but its commitment is "total."

"We are there purely on humanitarian grounds, and [are the] best on pan Africanism as a driving philosophy," he said.

"We believe that stable Somalia is the only alternative we can have of a neighbor with whom we can bloc in terms of economics, in terms of trade, in terms of technological transfer; and to benefit from them since they occupy a strategic position in the eastern region."
U.S. lawmakers warned Tuesday that an extension of a COVID-era patent waiver could jeopardize U.S. innovation and favor China in the global race for strategic competition.

The World Trade Organization waived global patent protections established under the 1995 TRIPS Act for the COVID-19 vaccine last June and is currently considering an expansion of that waiver that would include diagnostic and preventative tools. The Biden administration asked the U.S. International Trade Commission, or USITC, to investigate what impact the expansion could have on U.S. pharmaceutical innovation.

Representative Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, introduced the measure known as the No Free TRIPS Act Tuesday. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Republican lawmaker Marsha Blackburn.

Issa said, "Any expansion of the TRIPS waiver agreement will undermine the very innovation and record-breaking, rapid development that we saw for COVID-19. And for that reason, we are here today to talk not just about the risk of helping China, but the very risk to the innovation that we all enjoy here in the United States."

If passed, the No Free TRIPS Act would prevent the Biden administration from engaging in or concluding negotiations on the WTO agreement without congressional authorization. Since 1995, TRIPS has required members of the WTO to obey minimum rules for the protection of intellectual property.

The concern is on both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Congress, according to Representative Hank Johnson, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet.

While maintaining that the waiver was necessary to prevent the global spread of COVID-19, he said Tuesday, "I do not dismiss the concerns of those who oppose the TRIP waiver, particularly those who fear that the Chinese government will take advantage of the waiver to access American technology and to use this technology to compete with American companies."

Johnson added: "We know that the Chinese government has a history of using theft and strong-arm tactics to acquire foreign intellectual property, which hurts our inventors' ability to compete and succeed."

When the Biden administration initially backed the waiver, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi applauded the decision, saying in a statement, "Accelerating the production and distribution of life-saving vaccines across the globe is both a moral imperative and an urgent necessity to crush the virus pandemic and prevent the spread of more virulent coronavirus variants. We cannot be fully safe from the virus anywhere until we defeat it everywhere."

But Marc L. Busch, a professor of international business diplomacy at Georgetown University, told lawmakers Tuesday, "The TRIPS waiver was a mistake. Expanding it will make things worse. It won't help fight COVID but it will hurt U.S. innovation, and it will contribute to other countries realizing their industrial policy goals. Moreover, it will potentially lead to the U.S. facing greater efforts, not least on the part of China and at economic coercion."

Legislation introduced previously in Congress to limit the administration's authority to negotiate waivers has failed to advance.
U.S. lawmakers are considering legislation that would tighten sanctions on Syria and impede normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.

Some analysts say the bill would only hurt the Syrian people and not the Assad regime, while others argue sanctions will prevent Damascus from rebuilding and limit its attempts to consolidate its power over the country.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Representative Joe Wilson and some 35 colleagues, expands on the Caesar Act, which imposed a tough round of sanctions on Syria in 2020.

The new measure, known as the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023, would penalize Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and others which have re-established diplomatic ties with the Assad government if they invest in Syria.

Wilson chairs the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

The United States had pressed Arab states and allies to seek concessions from Assad before they re-admitted Syria to the Arab League, but that's believed not to have happened. Assad has remained unrepentant for atrocities against his people during the country's more than 12-year-old civil war.

Washington has said it will not normalize relations with Assad's government or support U.S. allies doing so. Observers say that the conflict has killed nearly a half million Syrians and displaced half of the country's pre-war population of 23 million.

Syria analyst Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma believes sanctions on the Assad regime will not bring justice to the Syrian people, but further impoverish them.

"How does the Caesar actions make Assad repent or bring justice to Assad?" Landis said during a Washington-based Quincy Institute webinar. "It seems to me that the injustice they bring to the 16, 17 million people under the government control is infinitely larger than the inconvenience that it causes to Assad and his cronies who still live in palaces and everybody else is starving."

Former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain William Roebuck, who is the executive vice president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, explained the rationale behind the new sanctions.

"The driving force in those sanctions is we are not going to let Assad and his regime get away with this. It's not going to affect their quality of life, but it is going to prevent the regime from rebuilding. It's going to limit many things that the Assad regime would like to do to consolidate its power," Roebuck said.

It is believed Arab states did not make any public financial commitments to rebuilding Syria during the Arab League summit. But they are pressing Damascus to stop its production and trafficking of captagon, an amphetamine estimated to be worth $10 billion a year to the regime.

If the U.S. House bill becomes law, a review for possible financial penalties would be triggered any time a country made an investment, grant, contract or donation worth more than $50,000 to parts of Syria held by Assad's government.

Assad still does not control the country's vast northeast or northwest.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen says a U.S government report about the killing of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist who was shot and killed while covering an Israeli army raid last year, should be declassified.

Abu Akleh, one of the most well-known reporters in the Arab world, was shot in the head and killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli Defense Forces raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

In remarks on Monday, Van Hollen said he had reviewed a report by the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, or USSC, weeks after he requested the State Department release the report to lawmakers in early May.

Following my viewing of the USSC report, I urge the Administration to immediately declassify it in its entirety, Van Hollen said in a statement. I strongly believe that its public release is vital to ensuring transparency and accountability in the shooting death of American citizen and journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and to avoiding future preventable and wrongful deaths  goals we should all support.

At the time of the incident, Abu Akleh and her colleagues were wearing protective gear, with helmets and vests marked PRESS. Media and rights group investigations show that Abu Akleh was almost definitely shot by an Israeli sniper.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom group, said it supports Van Hollen's call for the report to be declassified.

"Today's update shows why we at CPJ continue to demand a comprehensive report and a public account from the FBI about their investigation into Abu Aklehs killing," Sherif Mansour, who covers the Middle East at the CPJ, told VOA in a statement.

Israel said the reporter was likely unintentionally shot by an Israeli soldier but said she also could have been struck by Palestinian forces. Contrary to Israels claims, reports indicate there were no Palestinian fighters firing in the area where Abu Akleh was standing, and the shooting occurred during a moment of relative calm, not in a crossfire.

Van Hollen said the still-classified report contains important insights about the reporters killing, including relevant information and findings about the conduct of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit involved in that operation  as well as other IDF units operating in the West Bank.

Van Hollen also said the USSC team was unable to conduct an independent investigation due to lack of access to key witnesses, which he said means this summation report does not and cannot shed new light on the state of mind of the individual responsible for firing the fatal shot.

Despite that shortcoming, the senator said the reports public release is still an important step to achieving justice for Abu Akleh.

Abu Aklehs family believes Israel intentionally targeted the reporter, which Israel denies.
Washington reacted swiftly Tuesday to Tehrans unveiling of a new hypersonic missile by placing a fresh round of sanctions on Irans ballistic missile program, with White House officials calling Irans moves destabilizing.

The Biden administration has been very clear, very concise, and very firm on pushing back on Iran's destabilizing activities in the region, to include the development of an improving ballistic missile program, said John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council. I'm not going to talk about the specific reports of this alleged hypersonic missile, but we have laid down very clear sanctions and other activities to push back on what Iran is doing in the region, again, to include their ballistic missile program.

State television in Iran says the missile  named Fattah, or Conqueror  has a range of up to 1,400 kilometers. Thats just short of the aerial distance between Tehran and Jerusalem. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi described the new weapon as an anchor of lasting security and peace in the Mideast region.

The U.S. Treasury said Tuesday that new sanctions target seven individuals and six entities in Iran, China and Hong Kong that supply Tehrans missile program with sensitive and critical parts and technology, including items such as centrifuges, often used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

The sanctions show our commitment to respond to activities which undermine regional stability and threaten the security of our key partners and allies, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. The United States will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Irans ballistic missile production and other military programs.

Raisi boasted that the missile is entirely Iranian-designed and manufactured.

This missile is a deterrent, he said. Its power is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries.

But analysts say this is likely to only increase tensions.

Regardless of whether the Iranian hypersonic missile works as intended, it nevertheless highlights the growing threat that Iran poses to the U.S. and its strategic interests in the Middle East, said Nicholas Carl, an Iran-focused analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.

Tehran has become increasingly aggressive in pursuing its regional objectives in recent years. Those objectives include attaining regional hegemony, destroying the Israeli state and expelling American forces from the region. And Iranian leaders have continually demonstrated their readiness to involve their growing missile capabilities in this more confrontational approach.

That said, Carl questioned whether the new weapon lives up to the hype. At the unveiling ceremony, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace branch, said the missile can destroy others anti-missile systems.

There is still a big question mark over whether Tehran actually can field the missile that it has described, he said. Regime officials tend to often overstate their military capabilities.

Without a direct line between Washington and Tehran, other nations will need to play a role in reducing tensions. This week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Saudi Arabia, a nation that very recently renewed its diplomatic ties with Tehran.

When asked by VOA about the implications of that, Kirby said: If the Iranians opening up an embassy in Riyadh can help increase transparency of what theyre doing and why  if it can de-escalate tensions, if it can lead to a reduction in their destabilizing behavior, including intercepting maritime shipping as they attempted to do over the last several days in the Strait of Hormuz  then all thats to the positive.

The United Nations is also watching. When asked by VOA on Tuesday whether the missile launch violates United Nations resolutions aimed at stopping Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said: I dont have the data and information to opine on that. We do believe that Iran needs to live up to its commitments regarding Security Council resolutions.

Farhad Pouladi and Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
Latest developments:

In a meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Kyiv on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed preparations for a NATO summit and Ukraine's plan for ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosted talks Monday with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen that included discussion on support for Ukraine and training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets.

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of a village near Bakhmut, Ukraine, after his Wagner paramilitary group handed its positions there to the regular Russian troops.

The European Union restricted until September 15 Ukrainian grain imports to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, but it allowed transit through them for export elsewhere, including to other EU countries.

Fighting is raging in several sections of Ukraine's front line in the Zaporizhzhia region and Donetsk Oblast on Monday, signaling that the long-expected Ukrainian assault may be underway.

During an interview in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine is weapon-ready for its much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia but remained mum as to whether it already has  or when it will  begin.

Kuleba expressed confidence that Ukraine's planned assault against Russia will turn the tide of the war and will allow Ukraine to reclaim its territories from Russia. He said such a victory will usher Ukraine into NATO.

Membership in the military alliance would "probably" only be possible for Ukraine after the end of active hostilities, he said.

Ukrainian forces have been increasing offensive operations against Russia on the border of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk provinces. But Kyiv dismissed Russian reports that the counteroffensive has begun and that the Russian military foiled a major Ukrainian offensive in the region of Donetsk.

"We do not have such information, and we do not comment on any kind of fake," a spokesperson for the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said in response to a question from the Reuters news agency.

In a tweet, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak cautioned against trusting Russian information on the fighting in Ukraine.

"Russian news reports have long since become a separate virtual meta-universe," he wrote.

Earlier Monday, Russia claimed its forces had repelled a large-scale Ukrainian attack in the Donetsk region of southern Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukraine's goal was to break through what they considered the weakest area along the front lines, but that it "had no success."

The Ukrainian attack, Russia said, included six mechanized battalions and two tank battalions.

Ukraine dismissed these claims as misinformation.

Battles over Bakhmut

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukrainian wins around Bakhmut and attributed Russian claims of an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to Russian histrionics.

"We see how hysterically Russia perceives every step we take there, every position we take," Zelenskyy said.

"The enemy knows that Ukraine will win. They see it. They feel it thanks to your strikes, soldiers, and in particular in Donetsk region," he added, addressing Ukrainian fighters directly.

The Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut were also confirmed Monday by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Wagner boss said that Ukrainian forces had retaken part of a village near Bakhmut after his mercenary group had handed its positions there to Russian troops.

"Disgrace!" Prigozhin exclaimed in an audio message released on the messaging app Telegram.

"Now part of the settlement of Berkhivka has already been lost, the troops are quietly running away," he said, urging Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, to come to the front to rally the troops.

Denis Pushilin, the top Moscow-backed official in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region, which includes Bakhmut, told Russian state television the situation on the city's flanks was "under control" but "very difficult."

President Joe Biden meets with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, June 5, 2023.

US-Danish meeting

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the White House for talks on support for Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets.

"When war has returned to our continent, in Europe, it is so important that our allies and our friends  that we stick together, that we are united," Frederiksen said in the Oval Office. "And we have truly been for now 15 months, in Ukraine. We will, of course, continue, from a Danish perspective, our very strong, strong support to Ukraine. But I'm looking forward to work even closer with you on defense and securities."

When asked about the possibility that she may become the first woman to lead the NATO alliance as its secretary-general, Fredericksen said she did not want to speculate on the matter.

She was also asked by journalists about a Vatican-led peace mission, saying, "I think all of us are very interested in peace," but "it takes two to tango," and "we still need a signal from Russia."

White House correspondent Anita Powell contributed to this report. Some information in this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
(Bloomberg) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission widened its sweeping crackdown on crypto by accusing Coinbase Global Inc. of running an illegal exchange, a move that could make it harder for the industry to operate and for US citizens to trade.

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In a 101-page lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in New York, the SEC alleged that Coinbase for years evaded its rules by letting users trade numerous crypto tokens that were actually unregistered securities. Just a day earlier, the regulator sued rival Binance Holdings Ltd., alleging a slew of violations.

The SEC moved against Coinbase, the biggest US crypto exchange, after Chair Gary Gensler repeatedly argued that most tokens are subject to his agencys oversight and that swaths of the industry have been breaking the law. At the same time, US regulators warned banks to steer clear of crypto because of potential risks to the financial system, making it harder for US citizens to invest.

The SECs civil lawsuit stands out because of Coinbases high profile in the US, and its status as a publicly traded company. The stock fell 12% to close at $51.61 in New York trading. At one point on Tuesday, the declines shaved about $1.5 billion off the companys market capitalization.

The case against Coinbase, coupled with Mondays against Binance, forms a one-two punch against the industry. The SEC alleged Binance, the worlds largest crypto platform, and its chief executive, Changpeng Zhao, mishandled customer funds, misled investors and regulators, and broke securities rules. The SEC sought a temporary restraining order on Tuesday to freeze some assets as part of that case.

The SEC under Gensler is dead set on enforcing rules that, if followed, would kill off almost all of crypto, Omid Malekan, adjunct professor at Columbia Business School who has consulted on crypto, said in a text message.

Gensler Crackdown

Gensler said in an interview on Bloomberg Television that the SEC worked with 10 states to bring its complaint against Coinbase. He cast the agencys efforts to clamp down on crypto as one of both investor protection and US market integrity.

Why should the New York Stock Exchange or broker dealers we all know and respect be undermined by this other corner of the capital markets, which is sort of saying, thumbing their nose and saying Catch us if you can?, he told Bloombergs David Westin.

Enforcement-Only Approach

Coinbase was co-founded in 2012 by Brian Armstrong, its chief executive officer. He wasnt accused of wrongdoing in the SECs complaint. Although Binance is bigger globally, Coinbase is the largest US crypto exchange, with more than 150 different tokens that trade. Paul Grewal, the companys top lawyer, has previously said that those tokens arent securities.

The SECs reliance on an enforcement-only approach in the absence of clear rules for the digital asset industry is hurting Americas economic competitiveness and companies like Coinbase that have a demonstrated commitment to compliance, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Wall Streets main regulator is seeking an order that would require Coinbase to comply with securities laws, and give up what the agency says were ill-gotten gains.

The regulator also alleged that Coinbase acted as an exchange, broker-dealer, and clearinghouse all without registering with the SEC for any of those roles.

This back-to-back, double whammy of actions by the SEC against Binance and Coinbase confirm that US regulators believe strongly that these entities have for years ignored the securities laws, Ashok Ayyar, counsel at Ashbury Legal, said by text message.

Coins Covered

A virtual currency may fall under the SECs remit if investors buy it to fund a company or project with the intention of profiting from those efforts. That determination is based on a 1946 US Supreme Court decision defining investment contracts.

In its complaint, the SEC said that numerous tokens offered on Coinbase were securities, including SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, SAND, AXS, CHZ, FLOW, ICP, NEAR, VGX, DASH, and NEXO.

One thing that stands out for me is the number of prominent tokens the complaint alleges to be securities, said Philip Moustakis, a former attorney in the SECs enforcement division who is now a partner at Seward & Kissel. Each of those tokens have stakeholders who will surely want to be heard on the subject.

The question of whether certain tokens are securities has hung over the crypto industry for years. In 2020, the SEC sued Ripple Labs Inc., contending that its XRP token is a security and subject to SEC regulation. A ruling in the case is expected this year.

Staking

The SEC also accused Coinbase of breaking the agencys rules with its staking service. That product offers customers a return in exchange for providing their tokens to be used to facilitate transactions on a blockchain.

The case is U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission v. Coinbase Inc. et al, 1:23-cv-04738, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

--With assistance from David Westin, David Pan, Vildana Hajric, Emily Nicolle and Lydia Beyoud.

(Updates with court filing in Binance case in fifth paragraph. An earlier version corrected the spelling of Coinbase in deck headline.)

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Latest developments:

Britain's defense ministry said Tuesday that during the previous 48 hours "there has been a substantial increase in fighting along numerous sectors of the front, including those which have been relatively quiet for several months."

Ukraine's ambassador to the Vatican said he hopes a visit from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the pope's peace envoy, will help in "finding appropriate answers" in the name of "just peace."

The Financial Times cited Serbian President Aleksandra Vucic saying he has no doubts that intermediaries might be providing Serbian ammunition to Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of blowing up a major dam Tuesday near Kherson in southern Ukraine.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in an area of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces prompted evacuation warnings for people living along the Dnipro River.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an emergency meeting of his National Security and Defense Council to discuss the situation.

"The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land," Zelenskyy tweeted. "Not a single meter should be left to them, because they use every meter for terror. It's only Ukraine's victory that will return security. And this victory will come. The terrorists will not be able to stop Ukraine with water, missiles or anything else."

The head of Ukraine's presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram that Russia's destruction of the dam was "ecocide" and a war crime.

Russian officials said Ukrainian strikes damaged the dam.

The U.N. humanitarian agency tweeted Tuesday that the destruction of the dam puts thousands of civilians in danger, leaving many with no homes and in dire humanitarian need.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the dam destruction an outrageous act, which demonstrates once again the brutality of Russias war in Ukraine.

European Council President Charles Michel said he was shocked by the unprecedented attack and that the council will discuss the matter at its meeting this month

The destruction of civilian infrastructure clearly qualifies as a war crime - and we will hold Russia and its proxies accountable, Michel tweeted.

Ukraine's military also said Tuesday it destroyed all 35 cruise missiles that Russia launched in an early morning attack. The Ukrainian defense ministry said most of the missiles were directed at Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

On Monday, there was heavy fighting in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Reuters that Ukraine is weapon-ready for its much-anticipated counteroffensive against Russia but remained mum as to whether it already has  or when it will  begin.

Kuleba expressed confidence that Ukraine's planned assault against Russia will turn the tide of the war and will allow Ukraine to reclaim its territories from Russia. He said such a victory will usher Ukraine into NATO.

Membership in the military alliance would "probably" only be possible for Ukraine after the end of active hostilities, he said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that Ukraine joining NATO with the war ongoing was "not on the agenda."

Some information in this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
MARYLAND - The Zimbabwe High Court today reserved judgment in a matter in which jailed opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume, is appealing against a four-year jail for inciting violence.

Ngarivhume filed for bail pending appeal, arguing the magistrate court erred in convicting him and the sentence was too harsh.

His attorney, Lovemore Madhuku, told reporters in Harare the judge reserved his judgement and they are looking at our aurguments.

Madhuku noted that the state wrote their arguments which we are opposing in our application. We have made a clear argument that he sought not to have been convicted by the court and that in any event even if they were to say that the conviction was proper, the sentence was excessive.

Madhuku said his client is prepared to pay bail of up to ZWL$500,000 for his freedom.

VOA Correspondent Rutendo Mawere also contributed to this article
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Lovemore Madhuku, a lawyer representing jailed opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Zimbabwe, is seeking a ZWL$500,000 bail for his client, who was sentenced to four years in jail for inciting violence. (VOA)
SAINT PAUL  Today, Secretary of State Steve Simon released a statement urging Minnesotans to rise to the challenge to become poll workers, on the heels of serious issues with primary elections in other states.

"What happened in Georgia this week was a warning to Minnesota. Voters in many areas of the state found themselves waiting in line for multiple hours and faced with voting equipment difficulties, caused mostly by a shortage of poll workers. We saw similar problems in April, as the voters in Wisconsins primary were faced with no choice but to wait in long lines because there simply werent enough people to staff polling places," said Secretary Simon.

We need Minnesotans to step up to become poll workers this year. Its no secret that our usual poll workers, some of whom have done outstanding work for decades, tend to be older. But this year, those friends and neighbors are the ones who are most susceptible to COVID-19. We need others to take their place. The polling places will be safe and clean, with masks, wipes, and hand sanitizer for every poll worker.

The time to serve your community is now. If you're able, become a poll worker to keep elections fair, orderly, and secure for all. "

How to become a poll worker

Minnesota needs about 30,000 poll workers to work at over 3,000 polling places around the state. Individuals can apply from age 16, and some counties pay up to $20 per hour. Training for poll workers begins in mid-summer. Contact your local county elections office to sign up.

Who can get an absentee ballot?

Secretary Simon continues to encourage eligible Minnesota voters to apply for absentee ballots. 70,617 Minnesotans have requested ballots as of June 11. Use the online absentee ballot request tool to be able to vote from home.

All eligible Minnesota voters may request an absentee ballot for the primary and general elections at mnvotes.org. The online application will ask for an e-mail address and an identification number, either a Minnesota-issued driver's license, Minnesota ID card, or last 4 digits of Social Security Number.

You can check your voter registration status online. You can also register or update your voter registration online.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage

If you were expecting a typical Hollywood rollout from Studio Ghiblis Hayao Miyazaki, oops. Maybe only in a world with an enchanted forest and fluffy monsters. In an interview with the Japanese magazine Bungei Shunji, the films producer (and Miyazakis longtime collaborator) Toshio Suzuki revealed that there would be no promotional materials, meaning no trailer, no voice cast list, no nothing for their final feature film, How Do You Live?. As part of company operations, over the years Ghibli has wanted people to come see the movies weve made. So weve thought about that and done a lot of different things for that purpose  but this time we were like, Eh, we dont need to do that, Suzuki explained. Doing the same thing youve done before, over and over, you get tired of it. So we wanted to do something different.

Theres only so much we do know about the film: Its based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Genzaburo Yoshino and described as fantasy on a grand scale. And  thats it. But if it is anything like Miyazakis other films, it will be fantastical and make us cry a little too hard. How Do You Live? comes out on July 14 in Japan, with U.S. and international release dates coming soon.

45 days left before the japanese release of "How Do You Live?", the new animated movie by Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli. https://t.co/eULBw4pPcb pic.twitter.com/GwLxhEKhjc  Catsuka  (@catsuka) May 30, 2023
Columbia Business School has moved away from rolling admissions for entry to its fall MBA cohort. Its January cohort will continue to be filled on a rolling basis

Columbia Business Schools MBA admissions process has long been unlike most of its peers, in two distinct ways. First, it has two major intakes, in August and January. And second, CBS has until recently used rolling admissions to fill both sections of its MBA class.

Columbia will continue to be a B-school with two intakes, but in a major change that will affect applicants to future fall classes beginning with the MBA Class of 2026, the school will now have three rounds of set deadlines for fall entry, according to a recent change to its admissions page. About 70% of each Columbia MBA class is seated in the fall.

The Round 1 deadline for fall entry shares a date with the final deadline for application to the January cohort, known as the J-Term: September 13. Rounds 2 and 3 for entry to the fall cohort will be January 5 and April 3, respectively.

NO MORE EARLY DECISION PROGRAM

Clare Norton, who joined Columbia Business School this year as senior associate dean of enrollment management, told Admissions Straight Talk podcast hit Linda Abraham that CBS was moving to admissions rounds to better align themselves with peer schools

Columbias unique intake system means students begin on two different paths, each made up of four terms, then merge in the fall of the second year to complete electives as a single class. The paths are identical in terms of competitiveness of admissions, academic rigor, and student resources, the school declares, but only students who enter in August are able to complete a summer internship. Instead of interning at a top bank or consulting firm, Columbia J-Term students complete their second-term course work over the summer.

Columbias continued use of a rolling admissions process for J-Term applications means applications are reviewed  and decisions rendered  as they are received, the school says on its website. That means, as with Columbias peer schools, it is to applicants advantage to submit your application as early as possible. Applicants to the fall cohort will have their applications reviewed after each deadline, and decisions will be released at one time.

The move to a round system also means Columbia is doing away with its Early Decision program. According to Norton, Round 1 acceptees will still have a $6,000 non-refundable deposit, but it will not be due until February 7. Round 2 will have a non-refundable $1,000 deposit and be due on April 17. Rounds 1 and 2 matriculants will be required to submit an additional $1,000 deposit on May 22; Round 3 acceptees will submit one non-refundable deposit of $3,000 on May 22.

(See below for the schools newly announced timetable. Click here for other B-schools 2023-2024 application deadlines.)

CHANGE HELPS APPLICANTS TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS NOT SEE CBS AS AN OUTLIER

The change to a round system for August-entry applications was designed to bring Columbia more in line with peer schools, which use application rounds, according to Clare Norton, who joined Columbia Business School this year as senior associate dean of enrollment management.

Norton told Admissions Straight Talk podcast host Linda Abraham in an episode that will stream June 20 that CBS was moving to admissions rounds to reduce possible stress on applicants, who may find it difficult for CBS to be an outlier as they apply to multiple schools. She said that CBS has not yet decided to have a hard deadline for fellowship/scholarship applications associated with their J-Term deadline, as was the case in the past; but she indicated that it is advantageous for those seeking scholarship consideration to apply by the Round 2 deadline.

Abraham tells Poets&Quants that CBSs moves are an attempt to attract more applicants earlier in the cycle. Perhaps CBS was not seeing the commitment to CBS from their ED applicants that they had hoped for, she says. Perhaps the numbers participating in that program had dwindled over time, especially since over the last 10 years the Round 1 deadline has moved earlier and earlier. Maybe they felt they were losing really good applicants who were applying to competitor schools round one.

Round Application Deadline Interview Decisions Released Final Decisions Released Round 1 September 13, 2023 Mid-October Mid-December Round 2 January 5, 2024 Early-to-mid February Late March Round 3 April 3, 2024 Mid-to-late April Early May

MOVE LIKELY REMOVES STRAIN ON THE ADCOMS

Abraham, founder of Accepted admissions consultancy, says Columbias big admissions pivot should be advantageous to both applicants and the B-school.

My guess is they wanted to have more people sending in their applications earlier  much earlier, I might add  than previously, so they set up rounds, Abraham tells Poets&Quants. Last year their Early Decision deadline was September 28 and they didnt really start considering regular decision applications until after that date. I recall that in earlier years, the ED deadline was in October. A September 13 Round 1 deadline should get them more early applications.

Also, this move allows Columbia to review all applications and create a diverse class based on the whole pool for a given round. With rolling admissions, CBS was evaluating applications as they came in. It also tried to get answers out to applicants within a specific time frame, which I think was four to six weeks. That pressure probably put administrative strain on the admissions committee while limiting its ability to make decisions based on a broader evaluation of the applicant pool.

DONT MISS MEET COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOLS MBA CLASS OF 2024 and MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR THE 2023-2024 CYCLE

The post Columbia Business School Moves From Rolling MBA Admissions To Rounds For Its Fall Cohort appeared first on Poets&Quants.
SAG-AFTRA has been supporting the WGA throughout its strike. Now, its the actors turn. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg

The SAG-AFTRA strike-authorization votes are in, and the vote is 97.91 percent yes. The actors union made the announcement on Monday night that it has authorized a strike if need be. SAG-AFTRA released a statement that  nearly 65,000 members voted with a voting percentage of 47.69% of eligible voters. The strike authorization votes have been tabulated and the membership joined their elected leadership and negotiating committee in favor of strength and solidarity. Im proud of all of you who voted as well as those who were vocally supportive, even if unable to vote. Everyone played a part in this achievement, said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher on the voting results. Together we lock elbows and in unity we build a new contract that honors our contributions in this remarkable industry, reflects the new digital and streaming business model and brings ALL our concerns for protections and benefits into the now! Bravo SAG-AFTRA, we are in it to win it.

In a powerful show of solidarity, SAG-AFTRA members have voted 97.91% in favor of a strike authorization ahead of negotiations of the TV/Theatrical Contracts, with nearly 65,000 members casting ballots for a voting percentage of 47.69% of eligible voters. https://t.co/sJiswszU1T  SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) June 6, 2023

This does not mean the actors will be striking alongside the WGA writers, at least not anytime soon. This authorization vote means that a majority of members have given permission to their union to use the threat of a strike as leverage power in their negotiations, which begin on Wednesday, June 7. Their contract with the AMPTP expires on June 30, giving them about four weeks to come up with an agreement.

The two unions have been incredibly supportive of each other throughout this process. When WGA first announced it was going on strike, SAG-AFTRA expressed its sympathy and encouraged its members to support writers on the picket lines, as long as it didnt conflict with the work schedule (to avoid any penalties). Plenty of actors have also shown their support for writers and have joined the picket lines, brought food to writers, and spoken out against the AMPTP. SAG-AFTRA joined WGA on the first day of bargaining with the studios back in March. Members of SAG-AFTRA have been out on our picket lines every day since May 2. We believe SAG-AFTRA members should share in the value their work creates, wrote WGA West on Twitter in support of the actors.

During the voting period, SAG-AFTRA encouraged its members to vote yes for a strike authorization. It is CRUCIAL that SAG-AFTRA members show the AMPTP that we are ready to fight for a fair contract if necessary, it tweeted a few hours before the vote closed on Monday evening.

SAG-AFTRA has gone on strike several times against specific sections of the industry. It went on strike back in 2000, before SAG (Screen Actors Guild) merged with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), and boycotted commercials. In 201617, voice-over artists with SAG-AFTRA boycotted video-game companies over residuals in gaming for 360 days, becoming the longest strike in the unions history. Get ready on your marks, actors. Its time for their biggest role yet.
From The Comeuppance, at the Signature Centre. Photo: Monique Carboni

Three years of solitary writing time turns out to be productive. Seemingly every playwright produced lately has been thinking about the pandemic, as well as its accompanying loneliness, many different stabs at generational angst, dollops of horror, and addiction (more of those later this week). You see gestures and ideas repeated, many different attempts to get at similar feelings. Then you get to a play like The Comeuppance, which channels and condenses whats been floating in the ether and brings it all to earth. Heres a drama where Branden Jacobs-Jenkins both sums up and reconfigures the present moment.

The setting for The Comeuppance is unassuming enough: The audience starts off looking at a suburban porch cloaked in twilight, where a group of high-school friends are getting together to pregame before their 20th reunion. Thats a straightforward and direct premise, though if you know Jacobs-Jenkinss wide-ranging taste youll assume a twist is coming. It arrives in the first stage direction: Emilio, played by Caleb Eberhardt, turns to the audience and becomes Death, his voice doubled into an ominous rumble (credit to Palmer Hefferans sound design). This Death is genial, speaking in contemporary lingo like work smarter not harder, and occupies the bodies of the various alumni to deliver fourth wall-breaking monologues but holds back on revealing any specific psychompompic intentions until later.

Aside from having Death intrude, Jacobs-Jenkins hews close to realism as he sets out the drama, and the character portraits are deft. Emilios a successful artist whos condescended to return to the DMV from Berlin with all his old resentments riled up, and he immediately starts grousing to Ursula (Brittany Bradford), who is hosting on her porch. She, in contrast, has become a homebody, left to herself for most of the pandemic after the death of the grandmother she was caring for, and now wearing an eye patch that limits her depth perception. Back in their teenage years, these characters were all members of a self-named Multi-Ethnic Reject GroupMERG, pronounced mergeof honors students who banded together in outsider solidarity at their parochial school (theres a passing mention of attending chapel). The other members include Caitlin (Susannah Flood), married young to an older man whos recently taken part in storming the Capitol, and Kristina (Shannon Tyo), an extroverted group-mother type whose work as a doctor during the pandemic has taken a psychic toll. Kristinas cousin Paco (Bobby Moreno) shows up with her, though hes only really a tangential member of MERG, having dated Caitlin in school; since then, hes spent years in military service, accumulating traumas of his own.

Jacobs-Jenkins unwinds this information through awkward, looping conversations that capture the simultaneous forced bonhomie and confusion of people trying to reacquaint themselves with one another. The production runs for an uninterrupted and demanding two hours and ten minutes, in keeping with the feeling that were slowly sinking into familiarity with these people and the darkness around their edges. Arnulfo Maldonados set, cloaked in shadows by lighting designer Amith Chandrashaker, is both comfortingly generic, and at times more ominous than anything in Grey House. The MERGers have their own vocabulary and in-jokesthey mime snapping each others necks in order to interrupt each otheras well as their own misguided assumptions about everyone else. These are all plausibly funny and yet revealing. Theres a running gag, for instance, where half the group realized they assumed that Emilio came out at some point because he became an artist, as well as Emilios repeated assumption that Caitlin, stuck in her marriage to a former cop, must be unhappy. She isall these people are some form of unhappythough perhaps not in the ways he thinks she is. You feel sorry for someone else, she insists to him, and I feel sorry for her too.

Thats all rich territory, and Eric Ting, directing, has honed this group of Off Broadway regulars to cutting precision. Eberhardt, as Emilio, carries the bulk of the dramado what you will with the fact that Jacobs-Jenkins is, like the character, a successful artist who went to a Catholic school in D.C. and is 38 years oldbut makes sure not to iron out the characters recurring, self-destructive spikiness to be palatable. Flood lends Kaitlin a lovely melancholy and is very funny when she gets high, while Moreno balances her with an intensity of feeling and anguish. TyoMVP of the past 12 months Off Broadway. considering her work in this, The Far Country, and Regretfully, So the Birds Arehas the already difficult assignment of showing up late to the party and then lands hefty, difficult monologues, first as Kristina and then as Death, that send The Comeuppance spiraling down toward its larger themes. Though, speaking of those themes, Bradfords Ursula carries much of the weight of the productionher eye patch, we learn early on, relates to diabetesand her quiet, immense performance becomes its center of gravity.

Death is everywhere in the play, not just speaking to the audience directly but cropping up unbidden in everyones dialogue: those snapped necks, classmates in wars, victims of the pandemic, references to Columbine and 9/11 (both of which happened when the characters were in high school). No one says the word millennial in the script, but this is the big elder-millennial anxiety drama, complete with a character calling in on video chat to say: I want to say its too much for one lifetime, but then I think: What does that even mean? I look at my parents and Im like, Wait, they lived through all the same shit and then some? (Speaking of millennial touchpoints, brace for an incredible needle drop over the closing bows.) That kind of musing can caramelize into Twitter-friendly as a former gifted kid self-pity, and there are indeed elements of that in the play. Theres also a tradition of rose-tinted where are we now? friend group reunion stories, such as The Big Chill, that The Comeuppance is certainly of a piece with, though its more acid-toned than most of the genre. Those horror elements and intrusions from Death provide a bracing sense of unease and distance. No one is going to get too comfortable with each other on this porch, no matter how cross-faded they get.

Those elements also clue you into Jacobs-Jenkinss concern for what it means to engage with this gathering as a piece of theater in itself. Death, early on, tells the audience that I, like you, am a watcher, here to see a play just like the rest of us, which creates this hyperawareness of the fact that were all sitting around preying, in our own way, on these people. (Or are we, like Death claims, caring for them too?) Then theres also the fact that Emilio pretentiously refers to a reunion as a dark ritual of the soul, which makes all the realism of the porch hangout look a lot more like something more sacramental and sacrificial. Jacobs-Jenkins images the old-friend get-together as a sort of arcane religious rite (remember the Catholic schooling, and the fact that hes Jacobs-Jenkins wrestled with a Middle English morality play), a way for everyone to bump against their big existential fears about getting older and losing their own identity, even if most of them prefer to stay on old jokes and new gossip. This pulls the everyday quality of the rest of the play in two directions: It makes a regular event seem as grand and sepulchral as a mass, and it also makes it all the more essential. We need this everyday theater. To understand each other, we have to gather in the dark.

The Comeuppance is at the Signature Theatre.
Into It with Sam Sanders Get new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe to the podcast here. Photo: Courtesy of Disney

The CGI in The Little Mermaid was criticized for having an uncanny and soulless look. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was called out for lackluster visual effects. So much of what we see onscreen relies on computer-generated imagery, and it costs a lot of money to make. So why does it often look so bad? Vultures Chris Lee explains there is a long list of reasons: a lack of qualified workers, directors with limited visual-effects experience, and studios such as Marvel overworking and underpaying. Its an unsustainable business model, he tells Into It, and Im told over and over again by not knowing what they want, and by overworking these employees, its basically a race to the bottom. The films decline in quality, and the fans revolt.

Visual-effects artist Maggie Kraisamutr hasnt worked for Marvel  but she has experienced 28-hour shifts and co-workers drinking and using substances to finish their work. Kraisamutr is a 2-D compositor, which she likes to describe as Photoshop for video, compositing many different elements into one scene. She says many of her friends are working gig to gig, paycheck to paycheck. They are scared of speaking out about their experiences out of fear of being blacklisted, and unlike so many others in Hollywood, they arent unionized. Most union workers, whenever I tell them Im not union, they are shocked because everyone assumes that were in a union, Kraisamutr says. She is helping her colleagues unionize and is volunteering on the advisory council of IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. To learn more about the efforts to unionize, working conditions, and what it means to be pixel-fucked, listen to the full episode here and subscribe below.
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So should Crimson Tide (LON:TIDE) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

View our latest analysis for Crimson Tide

How Long Is Crimson Tide's Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. As at December 2022, Crimson Tide had cash of UK3.6m and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was UK2.0m over the trailing twelve months. So it had a cash runway of approximately 21 months from December 2022. Importantly, though, the one analyst we see covering the stock thinks that Crimson Tide will reach cashflow breakeven before then. In that case, it may never reach the end of its cash runway. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Well Is Crimson Tide Growing?

Notably, Crimson Tide actually ramped up its cash burn very hard and fast in the last year, by 126%, signifying heavy investment in the business. But the silver lining is that operating revenue increased by 30% in that time. In light of the data above, we're fairly sanguine about the business growth trajectory. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Can Crimson Tide Raise More Cash Easily?

Crimson Tide seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate).

Since it has a market capitalisation of UK18m, Crimson Tide's UK2.0m in cash burn equates to about 11% of its market value. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

So, Should We Worry About Crimson Tide's Cash Burn?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Crimson Tide's cash burn. For example, we think its revenue growth suggests that the company is on a good path. Although we do find its increasing cash burn to be a bit of a negative, once we consider the other metrics mentioned in this article together, the overall picture is one we are comfortable with. There's no doubt that shareholders can take a lot of heart from the fact that at least one analyst is forecasting it will reach breakeven before too long. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. Readers need to have a sound understanding of business risks before investing in a stock, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Crimson Tide that potential shareholders should take into account before putting money into a stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Rome mayor says city will sponsor Roma Pride.

The right-wing regional administration of the Lazio region around the Italian capital has pulled its sponsorship from this weekend's Roma Pride march over its opposition to surrogacy.

The decision to drop the region's support for Roma Pride was made by Lazio governor Francesco Rocca, who was elected earlier this year after being backed by the right-wing coalition of Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.

In a statement published by Italian media, the Lazio regional government reaffirmed "its commitment to civil rights" but stressed that the region's institutional signature "cannot, nor will it ever be used to support demonstrations aimed at promoting illegal behaviour, with specific reference to the practice of the so-called womb for rent".

Surrogacy is illegal in Italy and a controversial bill presented by government coalition parties to make it a "universal crime" is currently being debated in parliament.

The region's move to drop its patronage of the annual event, being held on Saturday under the banner "QueeResistenza", reportedly followed an appeal from the Italian pro-life and pro-family group Pro Vita e Famiglia, which has welcomed the decision.

The region said it regretted that its patronage, "granted in good faith", had been "exploited", describing the situation as "a missed opportunity to build a mature dialogue free from any ideology... to promote real inclusion and combat all forms of stigma and discrimination."

However the decision has been slammed by opposition parties along with the gay rights association Mario Miele whose president Mario Colamarino is also the Roma Pride spokesperson.

Colamarino claims the region is "exploiting" surrogacy which "concerns 90 per cent heterosexual couples and, as usual, the ultra-right, the Catholic Taliban uses the theme, as a weapon, to attack our community."

Rome's centre-left mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Twitter wrote: "Roma Pride is an important event for the LGBT+ community and for all citizens who fight discrimination and support rights. This is why Roma Capitale has assured its patronage and why I will be in the streets for Pride on Saturday."
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TEHRAN, Iran  Irans foreign ministry announced it would reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia this week, restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, state-run media reported on Monday. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The foreign ministrys spokesman, Nasser Kanaani said that the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh, its consulate general in Jeddah, and office of the permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation would officially reopen on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish diplomatic ties, in a Chinese-brokered deal, representing a major breakthrough in the region.

Saudi Arabia broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts in Tehran and the northeastern city of Mashhad during demonstrations triggered by the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric and 46 others in the oil-rich Kingdom.

Kanaani added that Irans Embassy in Riyadh and its consulate general in Jeddah had already begun operating to help Iranian pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, or Islamic pilgrimage, set to commence by the end of June.

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(Bloomberg) -- Connecticut lawmakers approved a $51.1 billion budget that cuts personal income-tax rates for the first time in almost 30 years, while increasing spending on education and housing.

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We are delivering the largest cut to Connecticuts income tax rates in state history, said Governor Ned Lamont in a press release Tuesday.

The tax cut will benefit 1 million filers, or almost 60% of all filers, according to Lamont in a press statement prior to the budget passing.

The Democrat-controlled state Senate approved the two-year budget Tuesday following the states Democrat-led House of Representatives vote to pass the budget in the early morning.

The income-tax cuts, capped at $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers, reduces the rate for families to 2% on their first $20,000 in income and to 4.5% on income of as much as $100,000, down from 3% and 5%, respectively.

For single filers the new rates apply to the first $10,000 and $50,000 in income, respectively. The rate cuts along with an increase in the earned income tax credit and lower taxes on pensions and annuities, will cost the state about $460 million.

Surging stocks and Wall Street profits last year have boosted capital-gains-tax revenue, while sales-tax collections are also rising. In 2017, lawmakers passed a bill requiring the state, which is heavily reliant on Wall Street for income-tax revenue, to fill its rainy-day fund with any capital-gains and bonus taxes that exceed a certain threshold.

Connecticut projects it will start fiscal 2024, which begins on July 1, with $6.3 billion in reserve or about 28% of annual spending. State law caps the budget reserve at 15% of spending, with any excess transferred to pensions.

The budget also includes $810 million over two years to build more housing, including $100 million annually to build apartments in downtown areas close to transportation. State colleges and universities will get an additional $500 million in one-time operating support.

Meanwhile, Connecticut is cutting a subsidy to the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys New Haven Line by about $38 million in the first year of the budget to reflect ridership decline on the commuter-rail service. Funding will be restored in the second year of the budget.

Read more: Connecticut Commuter Rail Line to NYC Faces Possible Cuts

The transit agencys New Haven route is the busiest rail line for the MTAs Metro-North Railroad, which connects Manhattan to its northern suburbs and transit officials have warned of possible service cuts, even during peak travel times. The MTAs current budget includes a $267 million subsidy payment from Connecticuts Department of Transportation to help cover some of the costs for operating the line.

(Updates story to reflect that the budget is approved in first and fourth paragraphs. Adds new quote in second paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Long before an Australian prime minister made a play at becoming Scotty the Magnificent by secretly assuming the jobs of five other ministers, thus rendering Australian political satire a critically endangered species, the Royal Australian Navys backroom operatives had set the bar high for the likes of Utopias writers.

Indeed, a cold dismay is said to settle upon the senior executive service of what we might call the Defence Departments Underwater Assets (acquisitions, repairs and creative excuses) branch whenever the word submarine is spoken aloud.

HMAS Otway slips past Fort Denison in 1971. Credit: Royal Australian Navy Official Photograph

It is not simply the sudden ditching of the French in favour of AUKUS. Its not even the long and terrible affair of the Collins Class submarine launch back in 1993, though it is related.

Who in Special Projects, Navy, could forget that HMAS Collins wasnt anywhere near ready to be launched and was missing its entire combat system? But with then-prime minister Paul Keating and the mass media all steaming eagerly to the dockyards for the grand event, what could be done?
When the war is over, Ukraines defence minister is planning to resign his post and head to Australia and New Zealand as soon as possible.

I promised to my wife, Oleksii Reznikov tells me, after we win this war I am going to sign my resignation to the president, then Im dreaming to come back to my private life as a lawyer and first serious trip would be in Australia and New Zealand. Its my plan.

Illustration by Dionne Gain Credit:

Why? I have never been there. I like diving; I am dreaming to dive the big reef with the sharks. Im a scuba diver, he says in between appointments with 14 other nations defence ministers at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on the weekend.

And Reznikov would like to reciprocate with an invitation to Australian and NZ divers to what he calls a new, world-famous dive site in the Black Sea.
On 5 June 2023, on the eve of the WCO-UPU Global Conference in Tokyo, the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E Fumio Kishida, received the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, and the Director General of UPU, Mr. Masahiko Metoki, at his official residence to express his support for the conference and further strengthening of the collaboration between the two organizations.

Prime Minister Kishida appreciated the role and leadership of two organizations in securing and facilitating the trade in small parcels, including postal packages by enhancing collaboration between Customs and Post. He underlined the importance of digitalizing postal data, including senders and destination addresses, and sharing them between Post and Customs to ensure speedy clearance while enhancing control at borders for the protection of society and citizens.

Dr. Mikuriya and Mr. Metoki explained that while the two organizations have been cooperating for over 50 years, the exponential growth of e-commerce made it all the more urgent to get national Customs administrations and Postal Operators to get together to learn each others expectations and challenges and explore the way forward for using technology and enhancing networking to modernize the postal supply chain. Prime Minister Kishida wished the conference much success.

Separately, Dr. Mikuriya had a meeting with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yoshimasa Hayashi and the Minister of Finance, H.E. Shunichi Suzuki, to discuss the contribution of WCO and Customs to global economic development and security.
Consolidated Uranium Inc.

Figure 1

Plan view map of the Daneros Mine with 2023 drill holes

Figure 2

Plan view map of the Rim Uranium and Vanadium Mine with 2023 drill holes

Figure 3

Daneros Mine location and newly acquired claims

Figure 4

Rim Mine and Sage Plain Project location and newly acquired claims

TORONTO, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated Uranium Inc. (CUR, the Company, Consolidated Uranium) (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) is pleased to announce the results of recently completed drilling programs at its past-producing Daneros and Rim uranium and vanadium mines in south-eastern Utah. Following the successful drill programs, the Company has acquired ten State of Utah uranium and vanadium leases, covering approximately 4,760 acres in the Rim Mine and Sage Plain project areas and 275 unpatented lode mining claims in the Daneros Mine, Rim Mine and Sage Plain project areas. These important additions to CURs property portfolio cover a combined area of approximately 10,070 acres. The new mining claims staked by CUR are not subject to any underlying agreements and do not carry any royalty obligations.



Highlights

Confirmation drilling at the Daneros Mine both highlighted the presence of high-grade uranium mineralization and extended the known mineralization, including in holes CUR-LR-15 which intersected 0.93% U 3 O 8 over 5 meters and CUR-LR-16 which intersected 0.83% U 3 O 8 over 3 meters and 0.11% U 3 O 8 over 2 meters (Refer to Table 1, below).



Confirmation drilling at the Rim Mine, which is considered to be one of the highest-grade historic vanadium mines in southeastern Utah 1 confirmed high grades in multiple holes, including CUR-RM-01 which intersected 0.01% U 3 O 8 and 1.07% V 2 O 5 over 2 meters and 0.15% U 3 O 8 and 2.54% V 2 O 5 over 2 meters and CUR-RM-02 which intersected 0.21% U 3 O 8 and 1.50% V 2 O 5 over 4 meters (Refer to Table 2, below).



Additionally, the results obtained have provided additional information on potential extensions of known mineralization onto properties that were recently acquired by CUR.



At Daneros, the new claims cover the projected convergence of two mineralized trends that host the Daneros/Lark-Royal-Bullseye and Radium King uranium mines that were among the most important uranium producers in the White Canyon mining district. 2 At Rim, the new claims cover the southern extension of the Rim deposit, as well as an easterly projection of the channel sandstones that host the numerous uranium-vanadium deposits of the area.



Philip Williams, Chairman and CEO commented, With the goal of becoming a near term producer of U.S. origin uranium and vanadium, CUR is one of only a handful of companies actively drilling its properties. Todays results from the drill programs at Daneros and Rim not only confirmed and extended previously known high grade uranium and vanadium mineralization but also supported the acquisition of additional prospective adjacent and on trend project areas. Increasingly, our view is that every pound of uranium in the U.S. is potentially going to be required to supply domestic uranium requirements as U.S. buyers of nuclear fuel become under pressure to source material away from former Soviet states such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. We believe CURs portfolio is well positioned to be a trusted and stable U.S. supplier and we plan to continue to actively advance to production-ready status through further drilling, engineering and permitting activities.

Drilling Results from the Daneros Mine

The Daneros Mine, located in the White Canyon District, is a fully developed and permitted underground uranium mine that produced nearly one million pounds of U 3 O 8 during multiple periods of operation, most recently from 2010-2013.

In continuation of the ongoing technical evaluation of the Companys US uranium projects, five combined conventional rotary and core holes, totaling 2,280 feet, were drilled at the Daneros Mine in early 2023 to further evaluate the presence of strong uranium mineralization highlighted in CURs inaugural drilling program in 2022 (Figure 1). Each of the five holes completed encountered significant uranium mineralization within the targeted host rocks of the Shinarump Member of the Chinle Formation.

The results obtained from the 2023 Daneros drilling program (Table 1) continue to confirm that the continuity, thickness and overall grade characteristics of the uranium mineralization at the Daneros Mine. The grades, thicknesses and host rock characteristics, as shown in the results, are consistent with the nature and extent of uranium mineralization of the White Canyon mining district, which has been one of Utahs most important uranium producing areas.2

______________________

1 Data derived from: Gloyn, R. W., C. D. Morgan, D. E. Tabet, R. E. Blackett, B. T. Tripp, and Mike Lowe, 1995; Mineral, Energy and Groundwater Resources of San Juan County, Utah, Utah Geological Survey Special Study 86; Thamm, John K., Anthony A. Kovschak, Jr. and Samuel S. Adams, 1981: Geology and Recognition Criteria for Sandstone Uranium Deposits of the Salt Wash Type, Colorado Plateau Province, Final Report; US Department of Energy Open-File Report GJBX-6 (81); Hall, S. M., B. S. Van Gosen and R. A. Zielinski, 2023; Sandstone-hosted uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau, USA, Ore Geology Reviews 155 (2023)105353; Doelling, Hellmut H., 1969; Mineral Resources, San Juan County, Utah, and Adjacent Areas, Part II: Uranium and Other metals in Sedimentary Host Rocks, Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey Specia Studies 24.

2 Chenoweth, William L., 1993; The Geology and Production History of the Uranium Deposits in the White Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah; Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 93-3.

Figure 1: Plan view map of the Daneros Mine with 2023 drill holes

Plan view map of the Daneros Mine with 2023 drill holes





Table 1: The following table summarizes 2023 assay results from the Daneros Mine, Utah

Hole No. From

(feet) To

(feet) Thickness

(feet) Grade

(% U3O8) Assay

Type CURLR-15 402.0 407.0 5.0 0.93 Radiometric CUR-LR-16 405.0 408.0 3.0 0.83 ICP and 410.0 412.0 2.0 0.11 ICP CUR-LR-17 423.5 427.5 4.0 0.14 Radiometric CUR-LR-18 466.0 467.0 1.0 0.16 ICP CUR-LR-19 447.0 450/0 3.0 0.15 Radiometric

Each of the holes was drilled in a vertical orientation, and the thicknesses cited above are apparent true thicknesses of the mineralized intervals. The holes were drilled utilizing the conventional rotary open hole methodology, with drill cutting samples collected at five-foot intervals. The target mineralized horizon in each hole was drilled with a conventional core barrel, and core was sampled for final grade determinations by the ICP method by American Assay Laboratories (AAL Laboratories), of Sparks, Nevada USA, an independent ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. The holes were also logged with a continuous surface-recording borehole gamma-ray, S-P, Resistivity, and induction geophysical logging tool by Century Wireline Services (Century), of Tulsa Oklahoma, a highly experienced and independent geophysical contractor. One hole, CUR-LR-018, was not logged by Century due to caving in a zone above the mineralized zone. Core recovery for three of the holes, CUR-LR-15, 17 and 19, was incomplete due to broken ground conditions, and the samples for the cored intervals of those holes were insufficient for laboratory analysis. Accordingly, the uranium grades of the mineralized intervals in those holes were determined from calculations of the gamma-ray log responses, and the Assay Type in the table above denotes those mineralized intervals for which the grades were determined from borehole logging. Comparison of laboratory grade determinations and the uranium grades for mineralized zones as indicated from the gamma-ray logs were compared and the two assaying methods returned comparable results in each case.

Core samples submitted to AAL Laboratories were subject to the Companys Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QA/QC) program, which includes the insertion of certified standard samples obtained from OREAS North America, the insertion of blank (unmineralized) samples, and selected duplicate samples for each drill hole. Centurys borehole logging instrument, specifically the gamma-ray probe, was tested at the US Department of Energys calibration facility in Grand Junction, Colorado prior to the commencement of the drilling program.

Drilling Results from the Rim Mine

The Rim Mine, located in the East Canyon portion of the Uravan Mineral Belt, includes a fully developed and permitted underground uranium and vanadium mine that was most recently in production in 2009.

At the Rim Mine, CUR completed 15 combined conventional rotary and core holes totaling 11,395 feet of drilling (Figure 2). These holes were designed to confirm grades and thicknesses of uranium and vanadium mineralization in drill holes that had been completed at the project by previous owners of the property and to evaluate projected extensions of the known mineralized zones into previously untested areas.

The Rim Mine is considered to be one of the highest-grade vanadium producers in the southwest Colorado  southeastern Utah region. The results from several of CURs drill holes have confirmed high grades. Information obtained from the current drilling program have provided additional information as to potential extensions of known mineralization onto properties that were recently acquired by the Company, as noted below.

Figure 2: Plan view map of the Rim Uranium and Vanadium Mine with 2023 drill holes

Plan view map of the Rim Uranium and Vanadium Mine with 2023 drill holes





Table 2: The following table summarizes 2023 assay results from the Rim Mine, Utah

Hole No. From

(feet) To

(feet) Thickness

(feet) Uranium Grade

(% U 3 O 8 ) Vanadium

Grade

(% V 2 O 5 ) CUR-RM-01 717 719 2 0.01 1.07 and 722 724 2 0.15 2.54 CUR-RM-02 710 714 4 0.21 1.50 and 718 722 4 0.01 0.34 CUR-RM-03 700 707 7 0.04 0.52 and 716 718 2 0.01 0.48 CUR-RM-04 Unmineralized CUR-RM-05 714 715 1 0.00 0.71 CUR-RM-06 709 712 3 0.12 1.18 CUR-RM-07 Unmineralized CUR-RM-08 Unmineralized CUR-RM-09 Unmineralized CUR-RM-10* 555 557 2 0.01 No assay and* 569.5 570.5 1 0.01 No assay CUR-RM-11 Unmineralized CUR-RM-12 698 702 4 0.26 1.56 CUR-RM-13 Unmineralized CUR-RM-14 Unmineralized CUR-RM-15 Unmineralized

Drill hole conditions for hole CUR-RM-10 prevented recovery of core from the target horizon. The uranium grades for the drill hole CUR-RM-10 were determined from grade calculations from the gamma-ray log. No vanadium grades were available due to the lack of core for the mineralized interval.



Core samples from the Rim shaft drill holes were submitted to AAL Laboratories. Samples submitted to AAL Laboratories were subject to the Companys standard QA/QC program, which included the insertion of Certified Reference Materials (standards) obtained from OREAS North America, the insertion of blank (unmineralized) samples, and selected duplicate samples for each drill hole. Borehole geophysical services were provided by Century Wireline Services, an independent geophysical services contractor with extensive experience providing gamma-ray logging services to the uranium industry for many years. The borehole logging instrument, specifically the gamma-ray probe, was tested at the US Department of Energys calibration facility in Grand Junction, Colorado prior to the commencement of the drilling program.

Mineral Property Acquisitions

The 2021 acquisition of the fully-permitted Tony M, Daneros and Rim mines as well as the Sage Plain project, combined with the toll milling agreement signed with Energy Fuels for the White Mesa mill, positioned CUR to potentially become an important, near-term supplier of U.S. uranium and vanadium production, once market conditions warrant. The newly announced property acquisitions further enhance the potential of CURs Utah project portfolio.

At the Daneros Mine (Figure 3), which is located approximately 72 miles southwest of the town of Moab, Utah and 38 miles west-northwest of Energy Fuels White Mesa uranium-vanadium mill, the Company staked 33 new unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of approximately 670 acres. These newly staked mining claims cover the projected convergence of two mineralized trends that host the Daneros/Lark-Royal and Radium King uranium mines that were among the most important uranium producers in the White Canyon mining district.

Figure 3: Daneros Mine location and newly acquired claims

Daneros Mine location and newly acquired claims





At the Rim Mine, which is situated in southeastern Utah, about 15 miles northeast of the town of Monticello, and 40 miles northeast of the White Mesa mill (Figure 4), 36 unpatented lode claims were staked. The new claims cover the southern extension of the Rim deposit, as well as an easterly projection of the channel sandstones that host the numerous uranium-vanadium deposits of the area.

CUR was the successful bidder for ten State of Utah Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA) tracts (4,760 acres) at our Sage Plain project, which is located 16 miles northeast of the town of Monticello, Utah and 38 miles northeast of the White Mesa mill at Blanding. The Sage Plain project is situated within an area of significant past uranium and vanadium production from the Wilson, Silver Bell, Calliham, Sage, and Snyder underground mines formerly operated by Atlas Corporation and Union Carbide/Umetco, and Union Carbides former Deremo mine, which was one of the largest uranium-vanadium mines in the prolific Uravan Mineral Belt of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. These strategically placed tracts cover projected trends of uranium and vanadium mineralization in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, which is the principal host rock for the deposits of the Sage Plain area and the adjoining Slick Rock mining district of southwestern Colorado. The recently staked mining claims cover an area of approximately 4,080 acres of prospective land within the same overall area as the SITLA leases are located.

Historical exploration drilling data, not yet confirmed by a Qualified Person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101)), indicate the presence of uranium and vanadium mineralization hosted within sandstones of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation on a number of the recently acquired properties, and they represent important exploration targets to compliment the mineralization at the Calliham mine and other zones of mineralization that historical data indicate to be present on the properties previously acquired from Energy Fuels. The new mining claims staked by CUR are not subject to any underlying agreements and do not carry production royalty obligations to third parties.

Figure 4: Rim Mine and Sage Plain Project location and newly acquired claims

Rim Mine and Sage Plain Project location and newly acquired claims





Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Peter Mullens (FAusIMM), Consolidated Uraniums VP, Business Development, who is a Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101).

About Consolidated Uranium

Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX: CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified project consolidation. To date, the Company has acquired or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States each with significant past expenditures and attractive characteristics for development.

The Company is currently advancing its portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado, with a toll milling arrangement in place with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based uranium mining company. These mines are currently on stand-by, ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning CUR as a near-term uranium producer.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Philip Williams

Chairman and CEO

pwilliams@consolidateduranium.com

Toll-Free: 1-833-572-2333

Twitter: @ConsolidatedUr

www.consolidateduranium.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, but not limited to, the Companys ongoing business plan, sampling, exploration and work programs. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or the negative connotation thereof 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 or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companys planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, reliance on key management and other personnel, potential downturns in economic conditions, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, and risks generally associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Consolidated Uranium set out in CURs annual information form in respect of the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under CURs profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by 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 forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

Figures accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5aeb213-e819-43ea-8f7c-c76624a1136e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c669012-1f15-4f55-bd7b-0d6d458cd6b7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8d0da1f-d016-4dc1-b0cc-68a25d3ba17e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36961912-95ba-4e47-9693-c9ef5e071feb




Global cargo supply chains are the lifeblood of international trade, allowing vast quantities of goods to travel safely and at scale across transnational borders. But they are also major vectors for global criminal syndicates moving increasingly large amounts of contraband across borders, including into Australia.

To combat this growing scourge, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), and Mr. Michael Outram, Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner and Comptroller-General Customs, signed a grant agreement to implement this new WCO-led Global Supply Chain Integrity Project.

This signature took place in the margins of 24th WCO Asia/Pacific Heads of Customs Administrations Conference held in Perth, Australia from 29 to 31 May 2023. Under this grant agreement, the Government of Australia will support global Customs efforts to protect supply chain integrity and address insider threats.

This multi-year capacity building project aims to raise awareness among the WCOs 185 Member countries of criminal infiltration and exploitation, and to develop a common approach to how Customs authorities address supply chain risks.

The project, largely funded under the ABF Departments International Capacity Building Program, will prioritize and target activities to be delivered across the WCOs Membership and seek active collaboration with the worlds main commercial shipping lines.

Expected to commence late 2023, the project will build on recent operational successes such as the Operation TIN CAN, a WCO, UNODC and ABF partnership activity, which led to the detection of more than 95 tonnes of cocaine, and over 45 arrests worldwide. As a delivery partner to the WCO, the ABF intends to deploy an officer to oversee and help manage the projects delivery.

ABF Assistant Commissioner Customs, Mr. Tony Smith, highlighted that, for the first time since joining the WCO in 1961, ABF will work directly with the WCO on a large scale through a global project to establish a uniform understanding of the insider threat and develop an integrated approach to countering it.
Mityana, Uganda - (NewMediaWire) - June 6, 2023 - Katakala Community Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to providing a future for orphans and underprivileged children in Uganda, has recently embarked on a significant fundraising campaign aimed at transforming an orphanage. The foundation's ultimate goal is to instill hope in the young people of the region by offering them free education programs, as well as fostering their talents in music, dance, and sports.

As the number of orphans and vulnerable children continues to increase in the Mityana Municipality, the Katakala Community Foundation has recognized the urgent need for support. In order to address this pressing issue, they have launched a GoFundMe campaign (https://gofund.me/eca29493) to raise funds for renovating the existing rooms of the orphanage. Additionally, the foundation aims to construct a larger learning space and shelter that can accommodate a greater number of orphans and less privileged children throughout Africa.

A spokesperson from the foundation expressed the dire conditions the children currently face, stating, "The old building had leaking roofs that caused the beds of the 125 children to get flooded whenever it rained. Furthermore, there simply isn't enough space to house all 125 children, let alone any additional ones. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a tremendous difference to this project."

Established in 2016 in Mityana, Uganda, Africa, the Katakala Community Foundation is a charity organization that provides care and support to 125 orphaned and impoverished children. Their comprehensive assistance includes free access to education, shelter, food, and medical care. The foundation's overarching mission is to combat poverty through education and skills development, ensuring that young individuals are equipped with the necessary life skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient, productive, and independent citizens of Africa.

If you would like to learn more about the Katakala Community Foundation and contribute to their cause, please visit their GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/eca29493.

For more information, contact:

Vincent M



katakalacommunityfoundation@gmail.com

+256788943963
(Bloomberg) -- Australias wheat production is forecast to slump 34% in the coming season as the development of El Nino is likely to suppress rainfall across large swaths of the country, the government crop forecaster said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Dry conditions and low soil moisture in some growing regions mean that much of the 202324 crop has been sown dry and will require adequate and timely rain to allow plants to germinate, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences said. Wheat is a major winter crop in Australia with planting from April and the harvest starting in November.

Apart from Australia, wild weather is affecting crops elsewhere, including in the Americas and North Africa. The harvest in top wheat consumer China has also been hit by torrential rains, potentially boosting the need for more imports. For now, global wheat prices are near their lowest in over two years on optimism for bumper harvests across Europe, helping to keep food costs in check.

The expected onset of El Nino conditions from July will likely see winter crop output fall significantly, Abares said. Dry weather has already arrived, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with the second-driest May on record nationwide and the driest in Western Australia since observations began. Prior to this, the country had a run of three very wet years, unusual historically.

Western Australia is looking dry overall, but there were some recent rains to help crops along, said Dennis Voznesenski, agricultural analyst at Rabobank. There is more rain in the forecast, he said. Still, weather systems that cause dryness are forming on both the west and east coasts of Australia, he added.

Global benchmark wheat futures have gained 10% after reaching the lowest in more than two years last week, as traders weigh weather risks around the world. Prices were up 0.8% at $6.2875 a bushel by 1:05 p.m. in Sydney.

The countrys wheat output may decline 34% from a record to 26.2 million tons, slightly below the 10-year average. Barley production is set to fall 30% to 9.9 million tons, around 11% below the 10-year average. Canola output may drop 41% to 4.9 million tons, 15% above the 10-year average, according to Abares.

More details:

Area planted to wheat may shrink 2% to 12.8 million hectares

Area sown to barley could increase 4% to 4.3 million hectares, largely because of the crops ability to withstand drier conditions

Area seeded to canola is likely to fall 11% to 3.5 million hectares, reflecting the drier outlook and to some extent lower expected returns following recent declines in global prices

A positive Indian Ocean Dipole can suppress winter and spring rainfall over much of Australia and potentially exacerbate the drying effect of an El Nino event

Abares predicted the value of Australias agricultural exports would fall 17% from a record to A$65 billion ($43 billion) in 2023-24, it said in a separate report. Export earnings are still forecast to be the third highest on record.

(Updates with analyst comments in fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Aspial Lifestyle is S$0.15 based on Dividend Discount Model

Current share price of S$0.14 suggests Aspial Lifestyle is potentially trading close to its fair value

Aspial Lifestyle's peers are currently trading at a premium of 39% on average

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Aspial Lifestyle Limited (Catalist:5UF) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Aspial Lifestyle

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We have to calculate the value of Aspial Lifestyle slightly differently to other stocks because it is a specialty retail company. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%. Compared to the current share price of S$0.1, the company appears about fair value at a 3.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= S$0.01 / (9.1%  2.0%)

= S$0.1

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Aspial Lifestyle as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.207. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Aspial Lifestyle

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded its 5-year average.

Debt is well covered by .

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Specialty Retail industry.

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine 5UF's earnings prospects.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Aspial Lifestyle, we've compiled three additional aspects you should further research:

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and much warmer but not all that humid. .

Tonight

Increasing clouds and rather mild. There might be a shower, especially west, very late at night.
LONDON (AP)  Prince Harry's historic showdown Tuesday with the publisher of a British tabloid exposed his deep suspicions of the press but offered little concrete evidence to support accusations of phone hacking that he said caused so much anguish in his life.

The Duke of Sussex became the first senior member of the royal family to testify in more than a century as he held a Bible in his right hand and, in a soft voice, swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in the High Court in London.

Harry accuses the publisher of the Daily Mirror of using unlawful techniques on an industrial scale to score front-page scoops on his life.

Dressed in a dark suit and tie as he sat in the witness box, Harry told Mirror Group Newspapers attorney Andrew Green that he had "experienced hostility from the press since I was born." The prince accused the tabloids of playing a destructive role in my growing-up.

Green apologized for the one instance Mirror Group has admitted to hiring a private investigator to dig up dirt on Harry, which was not among the claims he has brought. Mirror Group denies or doesn't admit his other allegations.

Green acknowledged that the duke had lived a life of tabloid life intrusion," and then in a sympathetic tone set about dismantling his case.

Taken back in time to his 12th birthday and onward through early adulthood, he was confronted with articles that he has complained about and asked to identify the source of wrongdoing by Mirror Groups's journalists.

Harry was forced almost immediately to acknowledge that he wasnt certain he read the 33 specific articles about him when they were published.

Is it realistic, when you have been the subject of so much press intrusion by so many press, both domestic and international, to attribute specific distress to a particular article from 20 years ago, which you may not have seen at the time? Green asked.

It isnt a specific article; it is all of the articles, Harry said. Every single article has caused me distress.

He suggested the articles were the result of phone hacking or some other unlawful information gathering method that desperate journalists relied on for any news nugget about his life.

The 38-year-old son of King Charles III is the first senior British royal since the 19th century to face questioning in a court. An ancestor, the future King Edward VII, appeared as a witness in a trial over a gambling scandal in 1891.

Harry has said the royal family avoided legal entanglements to prevent having to be put in the witness box.

The case dates from 1996 to 2011  a period when phone hacking by tabloid journalists was later discovered to have been widespread. It led to revelations of more intrusive means such as phone tapping, home bugging and using deception to obtain flight information and medical records.

Harry's fury at the U.K. press runs through his memoir, Spare." He blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, and said intrusion by the U.K. press, including allegedly racist articles, led him and his wife, Meghan, to flee to the U.S. in 2020 and leave royal life behind.

When pressed to be specific about what information had been illegally harvested, Harry repeatedly told the lawyer that the source of information in stories was highly suspicious or that he should ask the reporter who wrote the article.

He said some of the journalists had been known for hacking or that there were invoices to third parties, including private investigators known for snooping, around the time of the articles. He suggested other records had been destroyed.

Time and again, as Green laid out evidence to the contrary and what was described by Harry as a nefarious act had a more innocent explanation.

The source of a 1996 story that mentioned how badly he was taking his parents' divorce appeared to have come from public comments his mother, the late Princess Diana, had given to reporters.

Information about his 18th birthday came from his own mouth and, apparently, palace press people who set up an interview with him and the Press Association, which was widely used or quoted in many papers, including the Daily Mirror.

A Daily Mirror story headlined Snap, Harry breaks thumb like William" in 2000 came from a spokesperson at his fathers office, which had given the Press Association the news the day before.

Harry remained steadfast that the paper's former royal editor, Jane Kerr, who is due to testify Wednesday, relied on some unlawful means to report the story.

Probably herself or she got someone else to do her dirty work for her, he said.

When asked whose phone she hacked, Harry suggested it could have been the doctor's.

Are you not in the realms of total speculation? Green said.

No, I do not believe so," Harry said.

Harry said the articles caused him to become depressed and paranoid, distrustful of friends, who he feared were feeding information to the media. His circle of friends shrank, relationships fell apart and he felt constantly in the glare of the journalists who were shaping the narrative of his life.

I genuinely feel that in every relationship that Ive ever had  be that with friends, girlfriends, with family or with the army, theres always been a third party involved, namely the tabloid press," Harry said in a written witness statement released Tuesday.

Setting out the princes case, his lawyer, David Sherborne, said Monday that from Harry's childhood, British newspapers used skullduggery to cover all facets of his life  from school injuries to experimenting with marijuana and cocaine, to ups and downs with girlfriends.

Nothing was sacrosanct or out of bounds for the tabloids, the lawyer said.

Green said Monday that there was simply no evidence capable of supporting the finding that the Duke of Sussex was hacked, let alone on a habitual basis.

Mirror Group has paid more than 100 million pounds ($125 million) to settle hundreds of unlawful information-gathering claims and printed an apology to phone hacking victims in 2015.
BERKS COUNTY, Pa. - Around $16 million worth of federal grant money is coming to Berks County to make rail crossings safer.

According to Sen. Bob Casey (D), Sen. John Fetterman (D), and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-4th District), the funding will help to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and trains at 10 crossings between Boyertown and Pottstown.

Dean said concerns about rail crossings often come up among her constituents.

"It's an exciting opportunity coming to us from the success we had in legislating the last Congress around infrastructure," she said.

Police in Amity Township said in January a couple escaped from a car before a train slammed into it.

"We know that we have many, many crossing accidents in this country," Dean said. "And this is a rail line an old rail line that carries passengers as well as toxic hazardous material."

Carol Bolig and Jeffrey Brunner live down the road from the Philadelphia Avenue railroad crossing in Boyertown  one of the crossings between Boyertown and Pottstown expected to benefit from the federal grant money.

"The crossings do need to be improved, but I'm also worried about the amount of traffic that comes down through here," Brunner said.

"When these trucks and cars go over the railroad tracks, they go kind of fast, so I think that needs to be fixed, too," Bolig said.

Casey said the grant will eliminate one-road level rail crossing, improve safety protections at six other road-level crossings and raise three bridges to improve visibility at three existing road-separated rail crossings across the county.

"Not just for this railroad, but for all rail crossings in general need to be a lot safer," Brunner said.

The grant program is through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

According to Casey, the Redevelopment Authority in Berks County will provide a 20% match for the program.

"This is a sign of us wisely investing in America," Dean said.
READING, Pa.  Reading's strategic planning committee of City Council heard recommendations Monday night on eligibility requirements for small businesses to apply for American Rescue Plan Act funds.

City Council is planning to allocate $2 million to small businesses, but Mayor Eddie Moran offered his plan on how his administration wants disbursements made.

Moran suggested allocating $1 million for businesses on Penn Street and $1 million for businesses elsewhere in the city.

"I'm making some recommendation of a separation of the $2 million for two different opportunities," Moran said. "If we've lost businesses in downtown as a consequence (of the pandemic), this is an opportunity to revitalize the downtown area specifically."

Moran is advocating for businesses on Penn Street or for ones willing to relocate to Penn Street be eligible to apply for maximum grants of $50,000 each.

Business outside of the Penn Street corridor would be eligible to apply for maximum grants of $25,000.

"This way, we could bring more business attention to the downtown, whether assisting (existing) businesses or businesses that want to relocate to the downtown Penn Street area," Moran said.

Dividing the funds using Moran's recommendations would allow 20 businesses on Penn Street and 40 businesses elsewhere in the city to receive funding.

Director of Finance Jamar Kelly explained all businesses applying for ARPA funding would have to submit business plans to break down how the money is being proposed to be spent.

The strategic planning committee also reviewed recommendations made by City Council's solicitor on the eligibility criteria for small businesses to apply for ARPA funds.

Those eligibility requirements would include: being in business prior to March 3, 2020; realizing a drop in revenue directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic; having 25 or fewer employees; being licensed to do business in the state and in the city; and conducting business that is not restricted to patrons over the age of 18.

One other requirement that a business is not facing any litigation was challenged by the administration.

"We might want to qualify that there be some further review that doesn't just cut off any organization that facing any litigation," Kelly said. "The city of Reading has both serious and frivolous (lawsuit) cases all of the time."

City Council members did not raise any objections to the recommendations made by the administration.

The administration will now compose a proposed ordinance that will eventually have to be adopted at a council meeting before the application process can begin.
Andalusia Courtyard, a Dubai-based real estate developer, has sealed a partnership agreement with Serdur Global, leading Turkish manufacturer of decor and luxurious furniture, to help expand its base in the region.

This strategic deal will help Serdur Global make its entry into the Middle East in a big way, mainly the UAE and Saudi markets.

As a first step in this direction, the Turkish group will open its office in Dubai as well as set up a new factory in Saudi Arabia at an investment of $10 million.

On the key partnership, Andalsuia Courtyard CEO and Founder Saleh Tabbakh said: "We are proud of this partnership, as it will add new dimensions for our clients, and comes after we launched our real estate development services."

"We will proceed to contacting the investors and landlords to offer them our services," he stated.

"All these indicators within the real estate market in Dubai stimulate companies to develop their business and conclude partnerships that help seize the attractive opportunities, which have been constantly present in the market in recent years," he added.

Lauding the strategic partnership with Andalusia Courtyard, Founder and CEO Serkan Durdua said: "This will help cement our base in the region withe the new Dubai office and the Saudi plant."

Tabbakh pointed out that Andalusia Courtyard aims to make its real estate services and products integrated, and harnesses all its experiences in real estate sector to offer projects that meet all the needs of its clients.

"This partnership is deemed a huge step in the context of our plan to be a provider of fully integrated real estate services, to offer the investors and landlords comprehensive property services," noted Tabbakh.

Andalusia Courtyard, he stated, offers the services of projects feasibility studies, funding, development, implementation, and managements.

"Our key achievements include the Andalusia Mall in Barari neighbourhood and Maya Townhouse project," he stated, adding that it will soon be launching a number of projects.-TradeArabia News Service
Women with shopping bags branded with Louis Vuitton walk outside the department store "KaDeWe" in Berlin

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Retail sales in the euro zone were unchanged in April, Eurostat said on Tuesday, as consumers spent less on food and car fuel, but increased purchases of other products, particularly online.

Retail sales volumes in the 20 nations sharing the euro currency was at the same level as in March and was 2.6% lower year-on-year.

That compared with average forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists of a 0.2% monthly rise and a 3.0% decline from a year earlier.

Consumption has been weak all year as real incomes fall and households are now spending a larger part of their incomes on expensive energy and on credit and mortgage repayments, eroding demand for others goods.

Households have also increased their savings because of higher rates and as a precaution at a time of low economic growth.

Food, drink and tobacco sales fell by 0.5% from the previous month and car fuel sales by 2.3%. Non-food sales rose by 0.5%, with online sales up 2.7%. Compared with a year earlier, all sales categories were weaker.

For Eurostat release, click on:

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/news/news-releases

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - MusikFest - the #1 music festival in North America twice now - is celebrating a historic milestone: 40 years of music, food, and fun in Bethlehem.

The 11-day event, run by ArtsQuest, relies heavily on volunteers; more than 1,000 people are needed to put on the show.

Organizers say 12 people have been pitching in since the festival's very beginning. For the past four decades, the volunteers have done everything from pour drinks to set up the main stage for the big acts.

Monday afternoon, officials recognized their efforts - purchasing a cake for the volunteers and popping a bottle of champagne. Like proud parents, the men and women have witnessed the Bethlehem-based festival grow and all the changes made to keep the event successful.

"I knew it was going to work, but I didn't know it was going to work this long, and become this big," said Bill Watson of Whitehall.

"If Musikfest was not constantly evolving, we wouldn't be here," said Paul Fistner of Bethlehem. "40 years later, you can't have the same thing year after year after year."

Through the years, they've seen many artists - local folks and headliners alike - take the stage.

"Boston was really good," added Watson. "Lynyrd Skynyrd and Carrie Underwood."

Flashback to the 20th anniversary event - Mama Jama, BROTHER and Red Elvises played back-to-back in the same evening.

"That was a party that started at 5:30 and ran right until 11, and it was almost like the crowd was on an adrenaline high," explained Fistner.

They've also made so many memories.

"There's so many, so many good stories," explained Watson. "One girl went into the ladies' room, and somebody came by and locked the door on her, and she wound up staying half the night in there until finally a security guard got her out. She was even getting toilet paper to make a pillow so she could sleep."

Each year, they'll pour drinks and pick up trash and set up stages only to tear them down.

"There's all kinds of work to be done, and volunteers help us with that greatly," said ArtsQuest Volunteer Program Manager Cory Stevens.

It's a labor of love, and the volunteers say the hard work is worth the reward.

"I will see thousands of people laughing and shaking hands and hugging - usually with an adult beverage in hand -- and the music playing in the background, and the smell of the festival food coming off the grills and the smoke," added Fistner. "It's just like, 'Wow. This is perfect. Life is good.'"

Anybody who is interested can sign up to volunteer.

This year, the event runs August 3-13; the full lineup - free and ticketed events - can be viewed on Musikfest's website.
A warehouse that would take the place of a Best Western hotel just off Route 22 threatens the Monocacy Creek, according to the president of the organization that seeks to protect the waterway.

The plan was up for review Monday by Northampton County's Hanover Township Planning Commission, but the township indicated Monday afternoon that the project was removed from the agenda at the request of the applicant.

"We're opposed for a number of reasons," Michael Harrington, of the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association (MCWA), said Monday. He said the development threatens to send polluted runoff water into the creek and into open space named in memory of one of the Monocacy's fiercest defenders.

The Gertrude B. Fox Conservation Area is just off Route 512 and south of Route 22, on the other side of the highway from the SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western. Arcadia Development has proposed taking down the hotel at 300 Gateway Drive and putting up a 250,290-square-foot warehouse covering that site and an adjacent open field.

"Gertie," as Fox was known, was a zealous advocate for preserving historic sites, such as Burnside Plantation, and for saving the creek. She was a math and science teacher who also had worked at Bethlehem Steel. Fox was known for asking tough questions at public meetings and buttonholing politicians, for being tenacious but finding common ground. She died in 1995 at age 78.

The 7-acre Fox Conservation Area is squeezed between Bierys Bridge Road and the creek. The open space is landlocked, and only accessible from Monocacy Creek, according to the Northampton County website.

Harrington said the MCWA fears the impact of runoff from the warehouse and parking area.

"The primary issue is stormwater," MCWA President Harrington said. "The stormwater would go into a culvert and distribute toxins, salts and all the residuals from truck traffic into the creek."

Harrington said the warehouse and parking area will lead to more "impervious" ground cover -- concrete and asphalt that do not allow water to pass through -- putting an additional strain on the creek.

The warehouse would share Gateway Drive with Embassy Bank and a Hampton Suites hotel.

Embassy Bank Chairman, Chief Executive and President David Lobach objected to the plan at a May 25 meeting of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Embassy Bank is on the northeast corner of the intersection of Gateway Drive and Route 512.

"This is going to have a big impact on us, on the community, on traffic, and it's going to add danger to that intersection," Lobach said, referring to where Gateway Drive meets Route 512, just north of Route 22. There are four traffic lights within a half-mile on that stretch of Route 512: one just south of Route 22, the other just north, and then lights at Gateway Drive and Highland Avenue.

The developer is listed on documents as Arcadia Properties, also based on Gateway Drive. 69 News has contacted Arcadia for comment.

The Hanover Township Planning Commission typically meets the first Monday of the month in the township municipal building at 3630 Jacksonville Road. It has not yet been announced whether the warehouse plan will be rescheduled for review at a future planning commission meeting.
A Lehigh Valley-based bus service is expanding its schedule in what it says is the biggest round of changes since the pandemic.

Trans-Bridge Lines said it has hired and trained new drivers who are ready to help the company add new runs to its schedule.

The Allentown/Clinton/New York schedule will add two new eastbound runs, both starting with 6 a.m. pick-ups, and two new westbound routes from New York. There will also be changes in stop locations to make the routes quicker.

Trans-Bridge said the Friday-only routes on that schedule will also be transitioning to a Monday-Friday service.

For the Doylestown/Flemington schedules, the company will resume weekend service for the first time since October 2022, with one eastbound and one westbound run.

And good news for travelers -- Trans-Bridge also announced it's bringing back service to Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey.

The company said it's the first time buses will make the run since the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it had to focux on commuter routes first before adding back in the pier location.

Full bus schedules are available online.
S. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - On a sunny day, sometimes sunburn isn't the only health hazard to be aware of.

Canada is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons on record. Smoke from those fires has made its way down the East Coast to the Lehigh Valley.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange alert, meaning young children, older adults, and those with lung issues like asthma or heart disease could get sick if they go outside. On Tuesday afternoon, The Pa. DEP said Wednesday will also be a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day.

"They might notice they have more coughing. They may feel some chest tightness or wheezing. They actually may feel more short of breath when they're doing activities that they normally do without trouble like walking to the mailbox or going to the grocery store," said Dr. Albert Rozzi with the American Lung Association.

Rozzi says to avoid getting sick, people who are vulnerable should exercise indoors, stay away from high-traffic areas, and put off lawn care or outdoor activities.

Over at Community Fellowship, residents are playing it safe and arranging flowers donated after Whitehall High School's graduation.

"We always have things going on here at Fellowship Community but on days like this, we add extra things," said Fellowship Community President and CEO Mary Kay McMahon.

McMahon says her staff checks air quality alerts with the DEP every morning and plans activities accordingly.

And while it's hard to tell people to stay inside on a sunny day, "There's nothing better than flowers, so it brings smiles to everyone's faces, it doesn't matter that you are indoors," said McMahon.

The American Lung Association recommends people make sure they have all of the medications they need for orange alert days. The organization says it's a good idea to check air quality every day when checking the weather to decide what to wear.
New Jersey voters head to the polls Tuesday to determine the nominees for state, county, and local races.

The polls are open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the state's primary election.

There are some key races in both Hunterdon and Warren counties.

All 120 seats in the state Legislature are on the ballot.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The state of Florida picked up asylum-seekers on the Texas border Monday and took them by private jet to Californias capital city at taxpayer expense for the second time in four days, California officials said, prompting allegations that migrants were misled and catching shelters and aid workers by surprise.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials were mum, as they were initially last year when they flew 49 Venezuelan migrants to the upscale Massachusetts enclave of Marthas Vineyard, luring them onto private jets from a shelter in San Antonio.

As California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigated the migrants' transportation, local officials and faith-based groups sought to provide housing, food and other resources to the more than three dozen new arrivals. Most are from Colombia and Venezuela, and California had not been their intended destination.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, lashed out at DeSantis as a small, pathetic man and suggested the state could pursue kidnapping charges.

And as the migrants arrived in California, a Texas sheriffs office announced Monday it has recommended criminal charges over the two flights to Marthas Vineyard last year.

Johnny Garcia, a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, said that at this time the office is not naming suspects. Its not clear whether the local district attorney will pursue the charges, which include misdemeanor and felony counts of unlawful restraint, according to the sheriffs office.

The Republican governors of Texas and Arizona have previously sent thousands of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., but the rare charter flights by DeSantis mark an escalation in tactics. The two groups sent to Sacramento never went through Florida. Instead, they were approached in El Paso by people with Florida-linked paperwork, sent to New Mexico, then put on private flights to California's capital, California officials and advocates said.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived Friday, said they told him they were approached by two women who spoke broken Spanish and promised them jobs. The women traveled with them by land from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico where two men then accompanied them on the flight to Sacramento. The same men were on the flight Monday, Bonta said.

To see leaders and governments of other states and the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, acting with cruelty and inhumanity and moral bankruptcy and being petty and small and hurtful and harmful to those vulnerable asylum seekers is blood-boiling," Bonta said in a Monday interview.

DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president, has been a fierce critic of federal immigration policy under President Joe Biden and has heavily publicized Floridas role in past instances in which migrants were transported to Democratic-led states.

He has made the migrant relocation program one of his signature political priorities, using the state legislative process to direct millions of dollars to it and working with multiple contractors to carry out the flights. Vertol Systems Co., which was paid by Florida to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard, appears to be behind the flights to Sacramento, Bonta said, adding that the migrants were carrying an official document from the state of Florida that mentions the company. The company didn't respond to an email seeking comment.

Some of the migrants who arrived Friday told Bonta they met on their nearly three-month journey to the United States and decided to stick together to keep each other safe as they slept on the streets in several countries, he said. The group came from Colombia and Venezuela and all were adults, though one woman had just turned 18 on the journey, he said.

Of the new arrivals on Monday, 16 came from Venezuela, two from Colombia, one from Mexico and one from Nicaragua, he said. All were between the ages of 21 and 30, he said.

They remained at the airport for a couple of hours and were fed before being transported to a religious institution, said Kim Nava, a Sacramento County spokeswoman.

Our county social workers are en route and are going to assess all those folks, make sure they have the services and support that they need, Nava said.

The first group of migrants was dropped off at the Roman Catholic Church dioceses headquarters in Sacramento. U.S. immigration officials had already processed them in Texas and given them court dates for their asylum cases, and none had planned to arrive in California, said Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants in Sacramento.

Asylum seekers can change the location of their court appearances, but many are reluctant to try and instead prefer sticking with a firm date, at least for their initial appearances. They figure it is a guarantee, even if horribly inconvenient.

The office of New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no specifics as to why the immigrants were taken from Texas to New Mexico before being flown to California.

Gov. Lujan Grisham stresses, yet again, the urgent need for comprehensive, thoughtful federal immigration reform which is rooted in a humanitarian response that keeps border communities in mind, the governors spokesperson, Caroline Sweeney, said Monday.

Last year, DeSantis directed Republican lawmakers in Florida to create a program in his office dedicated to migrant relocations. It specified that the state could transport migrants from locations anywhere in the country. The law was designed to get around questions about the legality of transporting people on a flight that originated in Texas.

Florida's alleged role in the arrival of the two groups in Sacramento is sure to escalate the political feud between DeSantis and Newsom, who have offered conflicting visions on immigration, abortion and a host of other issues. ___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Fla., Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.

Find more AP coverage of immigration: https://apnews.com/hub/immigration
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Venture Life Group plc (LON:VLG), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Venture Life Group

Venture Life Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Non-Executive Chair Paul McGreevy bought UK97k worth of shares at a price of UK0.35 per share. That implies that an insider found the current price of UK0.39 per share to be enticing. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for Venture Life Group share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price.

In the last twelve months Venture Life Group insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Venture Life Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Venture Life Group Insiders Bought Stock Recently

Over the last three months, we've seen a bit of insider buying at Venture Life Group. Non-Executive Director Mark Adams purchased UK25k worth of shares in that period. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor.

Insider Ownership

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Our data suggests Venture Life Group insiders own 4.3% of the company, worth about UK2.1m. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Venture Life Group Insiders?

Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Venture Life Group stock. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Venture Life Group. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Venture Life Group you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Five Countries and Three New Itineraries Added to National Geographic Expeditions Portfolio of Global Destinations in 2024

Bhutan, Colombia and The Baltics will offer inspirational travel experiences through

Expert-led itineraries

CELEBRATION, Fla., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers will soon have more exciting destinations and countries to explore with National Geographic Expeditions. Beginning in 2024, three new itineraries spanning five countries will be added to the leading global travel portfolio, all featuring the incredible access, deep knowledge and extraordinary storytelling that only National Geographic can provide. Travelers will be inspired by the insights, beauty, landscapes and architecture as they discover the wonders of the world.

National Geographic Expeditions

The new Signature Land trips visit Bhutan, Colombia and the Baltics. These group-guided itineraries will provide an enriching, in-depth look at the history, cultures and natural heritage of each destination. Each Signature Land trip is hosted by a National Geographic Expert who provides a one-of-a-kind perspective. With specialties such as filmmaking, conservation, photography, archaeology, geography and many more, the Experts who travel on Signature Land expeditions are passionate storytellers who have a close connection to National Geographic, and their unique insights foster a travel experience that enlightens, inspires and goes in-depth like no other.

Bookings for all three itineraries will open on June 13, 2023.

Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology

The remote kingdom of Bhutan welcomes travelers to experience the wonders of its dramatic landscapes and storied cities. An exploration of this Buddhist kingdom found on the Himalayas' eastern edge is filled with a rich and unique culture and reflects its commitment to tradition, the environment and the happiness of its people. The 11-day, 10-night itinerary includes visiting much of Bhutan through major destinations such as Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha Valley.

Highlights of the expedition include:

Unparalleled access: dining with Bhutanese dignitaries such as business professionals and government officials who will engage with guests and provide insights on everyday life in Bhutan and, a meet and greet with a Buddhist scholar and a privately guided hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery.

Architectural wonders : touring Punakha Dzong to learn and appreciate Bhutanese architecture and visiting the golden Buddha Dordenma Statue and the Divine Mad Monk Monastery.

Cultural immersion: enjoying hands-on experiences such as participating in the butter lamp lighting tradition and lessons in the national sport of archery.

Renowned medical anthropologist Carroll Dunham has been confirmed as one of the National Geographic Experts slated to join select Bhutan departures. Dunham has lived in Nepal studying Buddhism for the past 30 years. She is an avid storyteller with a focus on environmental conservation related to sacred spaces of Southeast Asia. Dunham has authored four books exploring the feminine divine in South Asian history and culture, and she has also produced more than a dozen films for National Geographic and others on topics ranging from Living Goddesses to polyandry, nomadism and geology.

There are five Bhutan departure dates in 2024 beginning in March and extending through December. Specific Expert dates will be released later this year.

Colombia: Connections to the Land and the Past

Travelers will dive into a nine-day, eight-night tour through beautiful landscapes of Colombia from the mountains to the beaches. They will embark on a journey across Bogota, the Cocora Valley, Pereira, Santa Marta and through Tayrona National Park and Barranquilla to make their way to Cartagena.

Highlights of the expedition include:

Insider experiences : visiting San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town for enslaved people in the Americas, which was proclaimed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005.

Inspiration from the past and the present : exploring the archaeological ruins of Taironaka, learning about the modern-day Kogi people or being immersed in the music and traditions of the celebrated Barranquilla Carnaval.

Delicious journeys : sampling local delicacies and savoring the flavors of the coffee region while learning how Colombia became one of the most popular coffee exporters in the world.

Spectacular wildlife: hiking through the towering wax palms of Cocora Valley or gazing in wonder at the endemic species of birds and mammals found in Tayrona National Park.

National Geographic Explorer Rosa Vasquez Espinoza has been confirmed as one of the Experts set to join select Colombia departures. Chemical biologist, educator, conservationist and TV personality, Espinoza travels to the most extreme ecosystems of the planet searching for the tiniest creatures, from heat-loving microbes to Amazonian stingless bees. She is passionate about driving awareness for conservation.

There are six Colombia departure dates in 2024 beginning in January and extending through December. Specific Expert dates will be released later this year.

The Baltics: Enchanted Forests and Medieval Castles

The Baltics are classified as one geographic region, yet it consists of three distinct countries sitting on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Travelers will visit all three countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to gain a deeper understanding of what makes each region unique, from language, traditions and beyond. The 11-day, 10-night itinerary will take travelers across destinations such as Vilnius, the Curonian Spit, Klaipeda, Riga, Sigulda, Gauja National Park and Tallinn.

Highlights of the expedition include:

History brought to life : delving into medieval times during privately guided excursions to Cesis Castle and Gusmanas Caves and more recent history of World War II and the Soviet Era during guided visits to the Ninth Fort, Hill of Crosses and Maajamae Palace. Each experience showcases how these countries changed over time and were influenced by foreign occupations.

Cultural preservation : cruising along the UNESCO recognized Curonian Spit or venturing through the UNESCO celebrated Old Town Centers of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.

A taste of the destination: touring a local market in Riga and seeing  and trying  the local ingredients that make up Latvian cuisine.

Photographer and naturalist Jeff Mauritzen has been confirmed as one of the Experts slated to join select Baltics departures. With adventures taking him to more than 60 countries around the world, Mauritzen's photography has appeared in dozens of National Geographic books, several National Geographic Traveler magazine articles and on the @natgeotravel Instagram account.

There are four Baltics departure dates in 2024 beginning in May and extending through October. Specific Expert dates will be released later this year.

Booking information

Bookings for the new itineraries will open on June 13, 2023. Visit NationalGeographicExpeditions.com, call 888-732-2379, or contact a travel agent to learn more or to book an expedition.

About National Geographic Expeditions

For more than 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents and into remote cultures, down to the oceans' depths and up the highest mountains to further their understanding of the world. National Geographic Expeditions builds upon this legacy, inviting travelers to embrace their inner explorer and encounter the wonders of the world firsthand  up close and in depth  and be inspired by the experience. With many ways to explore the world via Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise, or Private Jet, National Geographic Expeditions gives travelers unparalleled access to the world through the eyes of knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, traveling with National Geographic Expeditions helps further the work of the global community of National Geographic Explorers around the world. Through every trip booked, travelers support the National Geographic Society's researchers and Explorers who work to preserve, protect, and advance our understanding of the planet. For information on National Geographic Expeditions, please visit www.natgeoexpeditions.com or follow along at @natgeoexpeditions.

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-countries-and-three-new-itineraries-added-to-national-geographic-expeditions-portfolio-of-global-destinations-in-2024-301843850.html

SOURCE National Geographic Expeditions
Cardinal Capital Management LLC CT reduced its stake in shares of Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH  Get Rating) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 667,762 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 18,391 shares during the period. Ashland makes up approximately 2.3% of Cardinal Capital Management LLC CTs investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Cardinal Capital Management LLC CT owned 1.23% of Ashland worth $71,804,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its position in Ashland by 34.1% during the 3rd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 46,808 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,445,000 after acquiring an additional 11,906 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Ashland in the third quarter valued at approximately $9,523,000. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in Ashland by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 122,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $13,184,000 after buying an additional 4,352 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Ashland by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,623 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $497,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in Ashland by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 139,670 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $15,019,000 after acquiring an additional 2,274 shares during the period. 92.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Ashland Price Performance

Shares of ASH stock traded down $0.41 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $87.65. 263,191 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 443,094. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $95.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.42. Ashland Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $84.73 and a fifty-two week high of $114.36. The firm has a market cap of $4.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.51 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 3.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

Ashland Increases Dividend

Ashland ( NYSE:ASH Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The basic materials company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.09). Ashland had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 9.32%. The company had revenue of $603.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $627.61 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.50 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Ashland Inc. will post 5.95 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a $0.385 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. This is a positive change from Ashlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. Ashlands payout ratio is currently 37.65%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Ashland from $145.00 to $142.00 in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Ashland from $139.00 to $129.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Ashland from $135.00 to $109.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. StockNews.com began coverage on Ashland in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Ashland from $110.00 to $100.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $121.25.

Ashland Profile

(Get Rating)

Ashland, Inc engages in the provision of architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care, and pharmaceutical products. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences, Personal Care, Special Additives, and Intermediates. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.

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Bokf Na raised its stake in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 60,171 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 688 shares during the quarter. Bokf Nas holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $10,460,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Tsfg LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 49.8% in the 4th quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 665 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 15,176 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,638,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Zhang Financial LLC grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Zhang Financial LLC now owns 2,202 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 21.2% in the 4th quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 11,646 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,025,000 after purchasing an additional 2,041 shares during the period. 58.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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United Parcel Service Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UPS traded up $0.31 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $168.16. The company had a trading volume of 628,919 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,137,671. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.34. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $154.87 and a one year high of $209.39. The firm has a market cap of $144.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.58, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.09. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $180.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $181.23.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

United Parcel Service ( NYSE:UPS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.19 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 57.68% and a net margin of 10.90%. The company had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.98 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.05 earnings per share. United Parcel Services revenue was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.85%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. United Parcel Services payout ratio is currently 52.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $199.00 to $188.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Melius initiated coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, March 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $225.00 price target for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $220.00 to $214.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Susquehanna reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on United Parcel Service from $221.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $192.11.

United Parcel Service Company Profile

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United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP  Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Saturday morning.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America boosted their price objective on CenterPoint Energy from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on CenterPoint Energy from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $33.00 price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a report on Monday, March 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $32.75.

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CenterPoint Energy Price Performance

CNP stock opened at $28.75 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. The company has a market capitalization of $18.14 billion, a PE ratio of 22.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.88. CenterPoint Energy has a 12-month low of $25.03 and a 12-month high of $33.50. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $29.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.70.

CenterPoint Energy Announces Dividend

CenterPoint Energy ( NYSE:CNP Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.79 billion. CenterPoint Energy had a return on equity of 9.97% and a net margin of 8.99%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.47 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that CenterPoint Energy will post 1.49 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.64%. CenterPoint Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.32%.

Insider Transactions at CenterPoint Energy

In other news, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total transaction of $152,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Barry T. Smitherman sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.51, for a total transaction of $152,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,075 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $642,998.25. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Ted Pound sold 2,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.50, for a total value of $84,485.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 46,541 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,419,500.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of CenterPoint Energy

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 30.2% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,436,671 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $40,485,000 after purchasing an additional 333,476 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 51,689 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,550,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,517,147 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $315,409,000 after purchasing an additional 639,223 shares during the period. ING Groep NV acquired a new stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $285,000. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. boosted its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 2,788,024 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $78,567,000 after purchasing an additional 318,562 shares during the period. 90.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About CenterPoint Energy

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of power generation and distribution. It operates through the following segments: CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric, and CERC. The CenterPoint Energy segment consists of electric transmission and distribution services in the Texas gulf coast area in the ERCOT region and electric transmission and distribution services primarily to southwestern Indiana and includes power generation and wholesale power operations in the MISO region.

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(Bloomberg) -- French unions saw turnout collapse to its lowest in protests against Emmanuel Macrons pension reform as the president seeks to get the country to move on from the politically damaging fight.

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The number of people taking part in marches totaled 281,000 on Tuesday, according to the Interior Ministry, down from a peak of 1.28 million in March. The portion of public-sector workers joining strikes, which preliminary estimates put at 5.4%, was close to the lowest since they began in January.

The match is coming to an end, said Laurent Berger, head of the moderate CFDT union, acknowledging the reform will be applied and adding that this will be the last such day of action over pensions. He cautioned that widespread anger remains and called on labor organizations to maintain pressure on other key issues.

Purchasing power, salaries, housing, working conditions and advancement, social welfare will be central questions in the weeks and months ahead, and if we want to have influence, we have to show were strong, he said.

Macron has faced down months of protests and strikes to push through the pension overhaul, which is a key plank in his strategy to improve Frances debt-burdened finances and which he says will protect the retirement system. He signed it into law in April, and its due to come into force in September.

The 14th nationwide protest, the first since May 1, comes two days before a group of independent, centrist lawmakers known as LIOT tries to trigger a vote in the National Assembly to have the reform repealed. The government has already succeeded in watering down the proposal, however, and even if it succeeds in the lower house, its not expected to get through the Senate.

Unions warned against trying to block the move, saying this would fuel anger over the increase in the retirement age to 64 from 62, as well as distrust in parliament. Macron already provoked the ire of protesters when he used a provision to bypass a full vote on the legislation in March.

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In recent weeks, the French president has sought to convey a conciliatory tone, acknowledging people havent accepted the retirement age hike. He has traveled across the country to discuss domestic issues such as wildfires, education and his plans for green reindustrialization in an effort to reset the agenda.

He has also sought to burnish his international image with high-profile trips abroad, including a much-discussed landmark speech on European geopolitics in Bratislava.

There are signs his efforts are starting to pay off. His popularity recovered slightly at the start of June, up two points to 31%, according to an Ifop survey of 1,012 adults for Paris Match and Sud Radio. A Toluna Harris Interactive poll of 1,052 adults for AEF Info and RTL on June 2-5 showed 40% now back the pension reform, up 2 points from a month ago, with 82% expecting it to enter force.

Perhaps the most significant impact of Tuesdays strikes was on flights. The DGAC civil aviation authority asked carriers to cut one-third of services at Paris-Orly airport, as well as one-fifth at airports in Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Nantes.

Low-cost carrier Ryanair Holdings Plc said it canceled 400 services due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, mainly impacting overflights to and from Ireland. Rail company SNCF operated around 90% of trains, while service was almost normal on the Paris subway.

CGT union head Sophie Binet told BFM TV that unions will meet next week to decide in what form the mobilization will continue.

Unrest over pensions has seen France top a global ranking of protests, with more than 3,800 through April, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data released by the Armed Conflict Location Event Data Project, which collects local media reports across the world.

--With assistance from William Horobin, Jenny Che and Julius Domoney.

(Updates with number of protesters in second paragraph, CFDT union leader comments starting in third paragraph, CGT union leader comment in penultimate paragraph.)

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Clarity Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 3,572 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $258,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 97.0% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,017,562 shares of the companys stock worth $1,653,661,000 after purchasing an additional 12,316,375 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 17.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,988,250 shares of the companys stock worth $858,523,000 after buying an additional 1,917,457 shares in the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 5,460,644 shares of the companys stock worth $393,713,000 after buying an additional 542,516 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 5,147,273 shares of the companys stock worth $371,118,000 after buying an additional 359,978 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 15.1% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 4,249,193 shares of the companys stock worth $306,367,000 after buying an additional 555,944 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Down 0.2 %

USMV stock traded down $0.15 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $72.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,887,401 shares. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $47.44 and a 1 year high of $55.45. The company has a market capitalization of $28.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75. The companys fifty day moving average is $72.97 and its 200-day moving average is $72.62.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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CIBC Asset Management Inc decreased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Rating) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 239,177 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 3,781 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Incs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $28,223,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COP. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the first quarter valued at $31,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 4.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 25,399 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $2,540,000 after purchasing an additional 968 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 1.9% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 512,126 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $51,213,000 after purchasing an additional 9,313 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 59.1% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,810 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $181,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 21.3% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 14,063 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,406,000 after acquiring an additional 2,465 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.76% of the companys stock.

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ConocoPhillips Price Performance

NYSE COP traded up $0.41 on Tuesday, reaching $102.48. The companys stock had a trading volume of 919,745 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,444,299. ConocoPhillips has a twelve month low of $78.30 and a twelve month high of $138.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market cap of $124.01 billion, a PE ratio of 8.17, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.31. The firms 50 day moving average is $102.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $109.32.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The energy producer reported $2.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.36. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 20.21% and a return on equity of 32.75%. The company had revenue of $15.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.27 EPS. ConocoPhillipss revenue was down 19.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 10.05 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.99%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 26th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is presently 16.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In other ConocoPhillips news, Director Caroline Maury Devine sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.08, for a total transaction of $102,080.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 849 shares of the companys stock, valued at $86,665.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on COP shares. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $160.00 to $141.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $122.00 to $124.00 in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Societe Generale upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $105.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $149.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $137.58.

About ConocoPhillips

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ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia Pacific, and Other International.

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Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE:DM  Get Rating) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Investors bought 49,208 put options on the company. This represents an increase of 515% compared to the typical volume of 8,002 put options.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Desktop Metal

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Desktop Metal during the first quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in shares of Desktop Metal by 37.1% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 63,614 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 17,208 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Desktop Metal by 13.5% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 74,110 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $351,000 after buying an additional 8,832 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Desktop Metal during the first quarter valued at approximately $125,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Desktop Metal by 58.2% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 105,305 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $499,000 after buying an additional 38,733 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.58% of the companys stock.

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Desktop Metal Stock Up 2.9 %

DM stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $2.14. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,114,758 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,144,067. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.00 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.86. The company has a current ratio of 3.79, a quick ratio of 2.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Desktop Metal has a 12 month low of $1.13 and a 12 month high of $3.65.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Desktop Metal Company Profile

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on DM shares. Credit Suisse Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $2.20 target price on shares of Desktop Metal in a research report on Monday, March 6th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Desktop Metal in a research report on Tuesday. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Desktop Metal from $1.75 to $1.90 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd.

(Get Rating)

Desktop Metal, Inc engages in manufacture and sale of additive manufacturing technologies for engineers, designers, and manufacturers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia- Pacific. The company offers Production System, an industrial manufacturing solution; Shop System, a mid-volume binder jetting platform; X-series platform for serial production binder jet 3D printed metal, ceramic, or composite parts, balancing speed, and quality; and Studio System, an office metal 3D printing system; and Fiber platform that offers a desktop 3D printer.

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Gabelli Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Get Rating) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,238,550 shares of the natural resource companys stock after buying an additional 3,700 shares during the quarter. Gabelli Funds LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $47,065,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 805 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 48.8% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 872 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the companys stock.

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Freeport-McMoRan Stock Performance

NYSE:FCX traded up $0.46 on Tuesday, hitting $37.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,032,572 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,776,852. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.98 and a beta of 2.00. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a one year low of $24.80 and a one year high of $46.73. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $37.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.60.

Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend

Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.25 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 12.07%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 2.09 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 13th. Freeport-McMoRans payout ratio is currently 16.76%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on FCX shares. UBS Group raised their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $32.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Scotiabank raised Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $41.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Raymond James cut their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Sunday, April 23rd. Barclays raised their price objective on Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Freeport-McMoRan presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $38.42.

Insider Activity

In other Freeport-McMoRan news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis purchased 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $34.90 per share, with a total value of $139,600.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 17,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at $621,220. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.78% of the companys stock.

Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc engages in the mining of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining, and Corporate and Other. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Baghdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico.

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Shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (NYSEARCA:ASEA  Get Rating) traded down 0.1% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $14.95 and last traded at $15.01. 38,752 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 173% from the average session volume of 14,211 shares. The stock had previously closed at $15.02.

Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $46.38 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 0.72. The businesss 50-day moving average is $15.16 and its 200-day moving average is $15.08.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 1,889.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 256,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,833,000 after purchasing an additional 243,665 shares during the last quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC now owns 62,954 shares of the companys stock valued at $953,000 after purchasing an additional 5,253 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its stake in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 61,416 shares of the companys stock valued at $918,000 after purchasing an additional 1,552 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF by 375.6% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 49,772 shares of the companys stock valued at $744,000 after purchasing an additional 39,306 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beaumont Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $577,000.

Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF Company Profile

The Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE\u002FASEAN 40 INDEX index. The fund tracks a market-cap weighted and -selected index of the 40 largest and most liquid stocks from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. ASEA was launched on Feb 17, 2011 and is managed by Global X.

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Teton Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI  Get Rating) by 5.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,700 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Teton Advisors Inc.s holdings in Herc were worth $750,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HRI. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in Herc by 90.9% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 315 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Herc in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. CI Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Herc by 34.4% in the 4th quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 500 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $66,000 after buying an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Herc by 95.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 507 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $85,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Herc in the 1st quarter valued at $109,000. 96.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Herc Stock Performance

Herc stock traded up $4.55 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $113.92. 91,011 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 371,957. The stock has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 2.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.06, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05. Herc Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $83.43 and a 52-week high of $162.46. The firms 50 day moving average is $104.87 and its 200 day moving average is $125.33.

Herc Dividend Announcement

Herc ( NYSE:HRI Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The transportation company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.08 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $740.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $731.30 million. Herc had a net margin of 11.62% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Analysts predict that Herc Holdings Inc. will post 13.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 26th will be issued a $0.632 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 25th. This represents a $2.53 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Hercs dividend payout ratio is presently 22.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of Herc from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Herc in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Herc from $170.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $158.00.

Herc Profile

(Get Rating)

Herc Holdings Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental supplier. It rents aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction, and lighting equipment, as well as generators, and safety supplies and expendables; and provides ProSolutions, an industry specific solution based services, such as pumping solutions, power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, and studio and production equipment.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HRI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRI  Get Rating).

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StockNews.com lowered shares of InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE:IHG  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Friday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 6,200 ($77.08) to GBX 6,000 ($74.59) in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. UBS Group downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Barclays cut shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5,466.67.

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InterContinental Hotels Group Price Performance

NYSE:IHG opened at $67.93 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $68.03 and a 200-day moving average of $65.89. The company has a market cap of $11.66 billion, a PE ratio of 17.03, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.21. InterContinental Hotels Group has a one year low of $47.06 and a one year high of $72.10.

InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

Institutional Trading of InterContinental Hotels Group

The firm also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 16th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.945 per share. This is a boost from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.44. This represents a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. InterContinental Hotels Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 47.37%.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 571.5% during the 1st quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 3,505 shares of the companys stock worth $233,000 after acquiring an additional 2,983 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 22.7% during the 1st quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 7,158 shares of the companys stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 1,325 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,320 shares of the companys stock worth $292,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 96.4% during the 1st quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 11,060 shares of the companys stock worth $737,000 after acquiring an additional 5,429 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in InterContinental Hotels Group by 469.6% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 62,061 shares of the companys stock worth $4,133,000 after acquiring an additional 51,165 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 4.67% of the companys stock.

InterContinental Hotels Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

InterContinental Hotels Group Plc owns and operates hotels. The firms hotel brands include: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, EVEN Hotels, IHG Rewards Club, Kimpton and HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, Americas, Greater China and Central.

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Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Get Rating) by 13.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,608 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 2,089 shares during the quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $3,772,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of IWF. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,665 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 644 shares in the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% in the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,109,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,422,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSEARCA:IWF traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $264.10. 207,547 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,500,191. The company has a market capitalization of $68.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $202.05 and a 12 month high of $266.33. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $247.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $234.45.

About iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $92.97 and last traded at $92.80, with a volume of 71710 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $91.58.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Jabil from $84.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Jabil from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Jabil in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Jabil from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Jabil has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $92.20.

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Jabil Price Performance

The businesss 50-day moving average price is $83.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $78.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company has a market capitalization of $12.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.43.

Jabil Announces Dividend

Jabil ( NYSE:JBL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 16th. The technology company reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.03. Jabil had a net margin of 2.74% and a return on equity of 39.80%. The company had revenue of $8.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.09 billion. Analysts anticipate that Jabil Inc. will post 7.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. Jabils dividend payout ratio is currently 4.64%.

Insider Activity at Jabil

In related news, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 8,483 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total value of $707,482.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 159,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,271,358.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 8,483 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total value of $707,482.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 159,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,271,358.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Francis Mckay sold 1,197 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.91, for a total transaction of $99,243.27. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 51,084 shares in the company, valued at $4,235,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.75% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of Jabil by 27.5% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,552,930 shares of the technology companys stock worth $754,026,000 after acquiring an additional 1,844,254 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of Jabil by 71.2% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,232,495 shares of the technology companys stock worth $549,457,000 after buying an additional 2,591,893 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Jabil by 3.0% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,454,878 shares of the technology companys stock worth $275,000,000 after buying an additional 127,736 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new position in shares of Jabil in the first quarter worth $384,818,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Jabil by 4.1% in the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,063,000 shares of the technology companys stock worth $119,056,000 after buying an additional 82,200 shares during the period. 88.45% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Jabil Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Jabil, Inc engages in the provision of electronic manufacturing services and solutions. It offers electronics design, production, product management, and repair services to companies in the automotive and transportation, capital equipment, consumer lifestyles and wearable technologies, computing and storage, defense and aerospace, digital home, healthcare, industrial and energy, mobility, networking and telecommunications, packaging, point of sale, and printing industries.

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CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its position in shares of McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) by 492.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 118,558 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 98,553 shares during the quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc owned about 0.09% of McKesson worth $44,473,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in McKesson by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 938,931 shares of the companys stock valued at $352,212,000 after acquiring an additional 54,048 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in McKesson by 53.8% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 915,949 shares of the companys stock worth $280,399,000 after buying an additional 320,588 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC raised its holdings in McKesson by 11.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 823,327 shares of the companys stock worth $279,824,000 after buying an additional 85,272 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in McKesson by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 666,763 shares of the companys stock worth $249,276,000 after buying an additional 25,880 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its holdings in McKesson by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 662,829 shares of the companys stock worth $225,276,000 after buying an additional 44,308 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.23% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at McKesson

In other McKesson news, EVP Nancy Avila sold 1,330 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $383.89, for a total transaction of $510,573.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,390 shares in the company, valued at $3,988,617.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other McKesson news, EVP Nancy Avila sold 1,330 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $383.89, for a total transaction of $510,573.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,390 shares in the company, valued at $3,988,617.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Britt J. Vitalone sold 3,205 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $383.89, for a total value of $1,230,367.45. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 27,358 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,502,462.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 24,551 shares of company stock worth $9,480,211. 0.21% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

McKesson Trading Down 1.9 %

Several analysts have issued reports on MCK shares. Bank of America boosted their price objective on McKesson from $450.00 to $470.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on McKesson in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. 58.com reiterated a maintains rating on shares of McKesson in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Barclays upped their target price on McKesson from $415.00 to $420.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on McKesson from $430.00 to $450.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $430.17.

McKesson stock traded down $7.38 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $387.93. 142,421 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 981,887. McKesson Co. has a 12 month low of $298.69 and a 12 month high of $401.78. The firm has a market cap of $52.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.74, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $374.34 and a 200 day moving average of $369.94.

McKesson (NYSE:MCK  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported $7.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.16 by $0.03. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 234.22% and a net margin of 1.29%. The company had revenue of $68.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $67.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $5.83 earnings per share. McKessons revenue for the quarter was up 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that McKesson Co. will post 26.56 EPS for the current year.

McKesson Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.56%. McKessons payout ratio is 8.60%.

McKesson Profile

(Get Rating)

McKesson Corp. engages in the provision of supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, International, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS).

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The unofficial start of the summer has kicked in, and despite an increase in Americans hitting the road, the price of gas didnt budge. And while the trend might continue, AAA has pointed out that prices might even dip further this summer.

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During Memorial Day weekend, AAA noted that the national average for a gallon of gas was still at $3.57  the same price as the week prior  despite more than 37 million Americans choosing to drive to their holiday destinations.

Although millions hit the road last weekend, gasoline demand fell, Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said in a news release. Meanwhile, the cost for a barrel of oil dropped below $70 per barrel. Pump prices could dip further as the start of summer approaches.

Citing data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), AAA also noted that gas demand declined last week, halting price increases at the pump. The current national average of $3.57 is four cents less than a month ago, and $1.10 less than a year ago, according to AAA data.

In a move that might temper this good news, however, following the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+) June 4 meeting, Saudi Arabia announced it would cut production.

The Kingdom will implement an additional voluntary cut in its production of crude oil, amounting to one million barrels per day, starting in July for a month that can be extended, so that the Kingdoms production becomes 9 million barrel per day, and the Kingdoms total voluntary cut will be 1.5 million barrels per day, according to a Saudi Arabia Energy Ministry statement.

The ministry further said that the additional voluntary cut comes to reinforce the precautionary efforts made by OPEC+ countries with the aim of supporting the stability and balance of oil markets.

The Associated Press reported that this new cut will likely push up oil prices in the short term, but the impact after that would depend on whether Saudi Arabia decides to extend it.

See: Dont Buy Gas on This Day of the Week

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Gas is not going to become cheaper, Jorge Leon, senior vice president of oil markets research at Rystad Energy, told the Associated Press. If anything, it will become marginally more expensive.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Gas Prices Could Dip Further Over the Summer, Says AAA
Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $24.40 and last traded at $24.40, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $24.40.

Orion Oyj Price Performance

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.77. The firm has a market cap of $6.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.68 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 3.19 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

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Orion Oyj (OTCMKTS:ORINY  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $298.14 million during the quarter. Orion Oyj had a return on equity of 37.95% and a net margin of 24.76%.

Orion Oyj Increases Dividend

About Orion Oyj

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 24th were given a $0.505 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 23rd. This is a positive change from Orion Oyjs previous dividend of $0.50. This represents a dividend yield of 1.92%. Orion Oyjs dividend payout ratio is 41.94%.

(Get Rating)

Orion Oyj develops, manufactures, and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Finland, Scandinavia, other European countries, North America, and internationally. It provides prescription drugs and self-care products, including Nubeqa for the treatment of prostate cancer; dexdor and Precedex for intensive care sedative; Stalevo and Comtess/Comtan for Parkinson's disease; Simdax for acute decompensated heart failure; and Fareston for breast cancer, as well as Salmeterol/fluticasone Easyhaler, Budesonide/formoterol Easyhaler, Formoterol Easyhaler, Budesonide Easyhaler, Beclomet Easyhaler, and Buventol Easyhaler drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $1.42-1.47 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $1.49. Philip Morris International also updated its FY23 guidance to $6.10-6.22 EPS.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PM opened at $90.15 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.93 billion, a PE ratio of 16.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.68. Philip Morris International has a 52-week low of $82.85 and a 52-week high of $106.42. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $95.83 and a 200 day moving average of $98.67.

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Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.56 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International will post 6.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd were paid a dividend of $1.27 per share. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 90.88%.

A number of equities analysts recently commented on PM shares. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $114.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $106.00 to $116.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.60.

Institutional Trading of Philip Morris International

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 26,141 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,456,000 after purchasing an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 35.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,939 shares of the companys stock valued at $463,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 24.7% in the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 3,065 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 54.9% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 525 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 8,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the last quarter. 75.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Philip Morris International

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Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

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Polen Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,457,887 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 341,372 shares during the period. Accenture makes up approximately 4.2% of Polen Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. Polen Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.87% of Accenture worth $1,456,383,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Accenture by 40.7% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 64,893 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $17,316,000 after purchasing an additional 18,786 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLC grew its position in Accenture by 15.5% in the 3rd quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 2,866 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $771,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC grew its position in Accenture by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 15,006 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $4,004,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the period. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at $221,000. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at $575,000. 73.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Accenture Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ACN traded up $3.99 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $308.44. 960,579 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,458,025. The companys 50-day moving average is $283.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $278.22. The company has a market capitalization of $194.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.03, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 1.24. Accenture plc has a 1 year low of $242.80 and a 1 year high of $322.88.

Accenture Announces Dividend

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firms revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.54 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th were issued a dividend of $1.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.45%. Accentures payout ratio is 41.25%.

Insider Activity at Accenture

In related news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.06, for a total transaction of $1,750,375.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 174,084 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,753,965.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Accenture news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.06, for a total value of $1,750,375.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 174,084 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,753,965.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.90, for a total transaction of $1,448,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 26,908 shares in the company, valued at $7,423,917.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,010 shares of company stock worth $4,180,030. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ACN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, March 13th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Piper Jaffray Companies lifted their target price on shares of Accenture from $245.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Accenture presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $314.00.

Accenture Profile

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Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

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Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV  Get Rating) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Synovus Financial from $46.00 to $36.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. TheStreet lowered shares of Synovus Financial from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Janney Montgomery Scott raised Synovus Financial from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $38.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, April 24th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Synovus Financial from $42.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Synovus Financial from $46.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Synovus Financial currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $39.88.

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Synovus Financial Stock Down 2.4 %

NYSE:SNV traded down $0.71 on Monday, hitting $28.93. The stock had a trading volume of 1,535,703 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,709,275. Synovus Financial has a 1 year low of $25.19 and a 1 year high of $44.91. The stock has a market cap of $4.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.34. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $28.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $35.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Insider Activity at Synovus Financial

Synovus Financial ( NYSE:SNV Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The bank reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.11. Synovus Financial had a return on equity of 19.92% and a net margin of 28.04%. The firm had revenue of $613.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $589.40 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 23.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Synovus Financial will post 4.66 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Synovus Financial news, CEO Kevin S. Blair bought 4,600 shares of Synovus Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $26.30 per share, for a total transaction of $120,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,939 shares in the company, valued at $2,286,495.70. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Diana M. Murphy purchased 3,775 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $26.44 per share, with a total value of $99,811.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 30,935 shares in the company, valued at $817,921.40. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Kevin S. Blair purchased 4,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $26.30 per share, with a total value of $120,980.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 86,939 shares in the company, valued at $2,286,495.70. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 11,375 shares of company stock valued at $309,411. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Synovus Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Verus Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Synovus Financial by 8,691.3% in the 3rd quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,110 shares of the banks stock worth $379,000 after purchasing an additional 9,995 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its stake in shares of Synovus Financial by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 495,717 shares of the banks stock valued at $18,614,000 after purchasing an additional 1,401 shares in the last quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Synovus Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $258,000. Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Synovus Financial by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 12,037 shares of the banks stock valued at $452,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Synovus Financial by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 151,156 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,670,000 after purchasing an additional 7,624 shares in the last quarter. 79.89% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synovus Financial Company Profile

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Synovus Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Synovus Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services. It operates through four segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Consumer Banking, and Financial Management Services. The company's commercial banking services include treasury and asset management, capital market, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate loans.

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Toromont Industries Ltd. (TSE:TIH  Get Rating) Director Scott Medhurst sold 700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$108.24, for a total value of C$75,768.00.

Toromont Industries Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of TIH stock traded down C$0.58 during trading hours on Monday, reaching C$107.74. The company had a trading volume of 72,015 shares, compared to its average volume of 120,540. The company has a 50 day moving average of C$107.53 and a 200 day moving average of C$105.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.87, a current ratio of 2.73 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of C$8.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.72 and a beta of 0.77. Toromont Industries Ltd. has a 1-year low of C$93.25 and a 1-year high of C$114.82.

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Toromont Industries Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Toromont Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 29.10%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Toromont Industries Company Profile

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on TIH shares. Raymond James increased their price target on Toromont Industries from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Toromont Industries from C$118.00 to C$124.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. National Bankshares upped their price objective on Toromont Industries from C$124.00 to C$126.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, May 1st. CIBC upped their price objective on Toromont Industries from C$113.00 to C$115.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Finally, TD Securities upped their price objective on Toromont Industries from C$125.00 to C$130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$125.43.

(Get Rating)

Toromont Industries Ltd. provides specialized capital equipment in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Equipment Group and CIMCO. The Equipment Group segment engages in the sale, rental, and service of mobile equipment for Caterpillar and other manufacturers; sale, rental, and service of engines used in various applications, including industrial, commercial, marine, on-highway trucks, and power generation; and sale of complementary and related products, parts, and services.

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Utah Retirement Systems cut its position in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,607 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 900 shares during the quarter. Utah Retirement Systems holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $7,801,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in Travelers Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its position in Travelers Companies by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,084,000 after purchasing an additional 1,327 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,210,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Travelers Companies by 40.6% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $9,420,000 after purchasing an additional 14,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Travelers Companies by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,952,000 after purchasing an additional 1,286 shares in the last quarter. 81.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on TRV shares. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Travelers Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.29.

Travelers Companies Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Travelers Companies stock traded up $0.52 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $174.89. The companys stock had a trading volume of 411,241 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,407,492. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $149.65 and a one year high of $194.51. The company has a market capitalization of $40.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.61. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $176.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $181.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.64 by $0.47. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.41% and a return on equity of 13.41%. The firm had revenue of $9.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.98 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.22 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Travelers Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a $1.00 dividend. This is a positive change from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is currently 31.71%.

Travelers Companies announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, April 19th that allows the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the insurance provider to purchase up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Travelers Companies

In related news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.85, for a total transaction of $1,873,481.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,574,528. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total transaction of $2,061,436.08. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,361 shares in the company, valued at $3,092,688.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.85, for a total transaction of $1,873,481.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,574,528. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 59,134 shares of company stock worth $10,617,466 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Travelers Companies Profile

(Get Rating)

The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds.

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VMware (NYSE:VMW  Get Rating) had its target price lifted by Piper Sandler from $125.00 to $134.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on VMware from $142.50 to $139.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 6th. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of VMware in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on VMware in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Mizuho increased their target price on VMware from $135.00 to $138.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on VMware from $151.00 to $161.00 in a report on Friday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, VMware currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $143.00.

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VMware Stock Performance

Shares of VMW stock opened at $134.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.15, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. VMware has a fifty-two week low of $103.55 and a fifty-two week high of $138.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $125.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $122.17. The company has a market capitalization of $57.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.37, a PEG ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.72.

Insider Transactions at VMware

VMware ( NYSE:VMW Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The virtualization software provider reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $3.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.31 billion. VMware had a net margin of 9.57% and a return on equity of 213.51%. VMwares revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.71 EPS. Analysts expect that VMware will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, CFO Zane Rowe sold 35,715 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.53, for a total value of $4,447,588.95. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 174,162 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,688,393.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 40.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of VMware

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in VMware by 75.4% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 200 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC purchased a new position in VMware during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp grew its holdings in VMware by 101.0% during the 1st quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 205 shares of the virtualization software providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. WealthPLAN Partners LLC purchased a new position in VMware during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in VMware during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 45.85% of the companys stock.

About VMware

(Get Rating)

VMware, Inc engages in the provision of cloud infrastructure and business mobility. Its products include Software-Defined Data Center, Hybrid Cloud Computing, and End-User Computing. It supports modernizing data centers, integrating public clouds, empowering digital workspaces and transforming security.

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By Joanna Plucinska

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Despite progress in improving gender diversity in the aviation sector, equality is still a distant goal, figures presented on Tuesday at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual meeting in Istanbul showed.

Aviation is known for its poor record on achieving gender balance, particularly among pilots, but also in technical and engineering roles and in senior leadership.

The airline association launched an initiative known as 25by2025 in 2019 to improve diversity following allegations of sexism in the industry, but so far only half of its members have signed up.

IATA has been promoting the initiative this year, which aims to increase the number of women in senior positions and under-represented areas by 25%, or to a minimum of 25% by 2025.

"Women are still under-represented in aviation, but...we are making progress," IATA head Willie Walsh said.

According to this year's figures, there are 28 female CEOs in the 300-strong airline group, while 42% of the staff at the airlines that have signed onto the initiative are women.

This year's appointment of Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, as the chair of the IATA board of governors was seen as a step forward.

"If you look at the board it is predominantly middle-aged white men from Europe...we have to strive to improve that situation," Walsh said in 2018, the year before the gender diversity initiative was launched.

At the group's 2018 annual meeting, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker said only a man can be a chief executive of an airline "because it is a very challenging position."

Al Baker apologised for his comments, saying they were a joke and were taken out of context, but they sparked a broader discussion in the industry.

"I think we should not even joke about this, because we're all humans," said Guliz Ozturk, CEO of Turkey's Pegasus Airlines.

"A woman or a man can do everything if he is or she is eligible for it in terms of competency, education, experience as a person."

More needs to be done to encourage education support as well and provide mentorship so female candidates can build confidence, Ozturk added.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska)
Visitors pose for pictures in front of a wall painting in Huangjindian Village, Tancheng County, Linyi, east China's Shandong Province. [People's Daily Online/Fang Dehua]

What kind of vitality can art bring to the countryside?

Shuangcheng Village in Pingchang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province is where the famous oil painting Father was created.

The village, leveraging the influence of this masterpiece produced by the painter Luo Zhongli, has built itself into a hub of rural tourism with its sound ecology and rich heritage. It is recognized as a provincial-level demonstration village for the revitalization of rural culture.

The story of Shuangcheng Village is exactly a great example of how art can boost rural revitalization.

Art is an expression of beauty that lights up a better life. Injecting art elements into the construction of "beautiful villages" not only brings a new look to the rural area, but also paves the way for people to live a more aspiring life.

Dongziguan Village in Fuyang District, Hangzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province, turned old houses in disrepair into folk houses with local features. Together, the renovated residences look like a Chinese ink painting that well depicts the unique charm. The used-to-be "hollow village" that once suffered a big loss of young workforce is finally getting back the hustle and bustle.

Teachers and students from Jinzhong University join an outdoor sketching activity in Zuoquan County, north China's Shanxi Province, March 13, 2023. [People's Daily Online/Xing Lanfu]

Shangwei Village in Longhua District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province was once bothered by trash dumps and sewage flowing into the river. Today, timeworn walls have turned into "drawing papers" covered in graffiti, and the whole village is immersed in an artistic and tranquil atmosphere.

Zhongxin Village in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, advanced a "toilet revolution" with aesthetic elements, which made renovated public restrooms both pragmatic and good-looking.

Rural revitalization calls for both physical and cultural development. Art can nurture the mind of people and shape the values of villages.

In Xingyi Village of Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, mural artist Liu Zhicheng is presenting aesthetics to villagers via delicate wall paintings. These wall paintings have raised the villagers' pursuit and aspiration for beauty and inspired many children to learn drawing.

Today, rural art festivals are presenting the charm of aesthetics to residents, and art workshops offer a place for children to receive aesthetic education through fun activities. Besides, some villages have also hosted rural galas and singing competitions, which reactivated cultural resources and enhanced villagers' sense of belonging.

Leading rural cultural construction with art will better vitalize cultural development in the countryside and enrich the life of villagers.

People visit an art exhibition held in Gaoqiao Village, Deqing County, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 13, 2023. [People's Daily Online/Xie Shangguo]

Art is also a "golden key" that can stimulate potential growth drivers, thus expanding the space for rural economic development. It is bringing more possibilities to rural areas.

As a well-preserved ancient village, Zecheng Village in Zuoquan County, north China's Shanxi Province has experienced rapid development thanks to its scenic resources and cultural legacy.

Zuoquan County has built a base for outdoor sketching that features artistic elements, attracting many students and artists. The county has also hosted art exhibitions and developed study tour programs.

These new business forms boosted local tourism and cultural consumption and created jobs for villagers, which proves the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," expands villagers' income and promotes rural revitalization.

Artistic creation betters the living environment in rural areas, art activities enrich the cultural life of rural residents, and art-related business forms create development opportunities. The countryside in the new era has become more beautiful with the decoration of art.

As various types of art practices are carried out in rural areas, art will constantly pave the path to cultural revitalization. It is believed that art will edify more rural residents and better their lives in the countryside.

(Source: People's Daily Online)
This photo taken on April 3, 2023 shows some wind turbine generators of the 100-MW Zhanatas wind farm in Zhanatas, Kazakhstan. [Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua]

China, the world's second-largest economy, has increased its green areas at home and contributed to global sustainable growth.

BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua)  The life of Maksat Abilgaziev, a resident of Zhanatas, a small town in southern Kazakhstan, has changed immensely since a Chinese company built a wind farm there a few years ago.

The 33-year-old was once an electrical engineer at a local phosphate mine company. Believing the future of his homeland and Kazakhstan lies in clean energy, especially wind energy, he quit the job in 2020 and became a wind power engineering trainee at the Zhanatas wind farm.

"Our Chinese friends have brought equipment, investment, technology and experience to Kazakhstan. They have also cultivated clean energy talents in our country. The wind power projects have created jobs and tax revenues for Zhanatas, bringing the town back to life," said Abilgaziev, who has been promoted to senior maintenance engineer with an income that more than doubled in three years.

This is one example of China's efforts to bolster global sustainable development over the years. The world's second-largest economy has increased its green areas at home and contributed to global sustainable growth.

Pioneering Green Actions

For some time, better air quality was widely expected among residents of smog-shrouded north China in winter.

Over the past decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping has led the country in an unswerving fight against pollution, rolling out effective measures, including publishing an action plan on the prevention and control of air pollution and increasing the supply of clean energy.

Air quality is crucial to the people's sense of happiness, Xi said in a discussion with national legislators from southwest China's Guizhou Province in 2014.

Today the blue skies are back, and city dwellers are breathing noticeably cleaner air. China's PM2.5 density fell 57 percent from 2013 to 2022, and its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP declined 34.4 percent. The country's annual number of days with serious air pollution dropped sharply by 92 percent.

"China will prioritize ecological protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development," Xi said at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last year.

For years, China has placed a high value on ecological conservation, with a commitment to protecting natural resources. As a result of decades of efforts, tangible achievements have emerged in forestation, wetlands and biodiversity protection, bolstering the country's green credentials.

Take afforestation. The country has created the world's most extensive planted forest area, doubling its forest coverage rate from 12 percent in the early 1980s to 24.02 percent in 2022.

The country's afforestation area reached 960 million mu (64 million hectares) over the past decade. A 2019 finding published in Nature Sustainability showed that at least 25 percent of the foliage expansion since the early 2000s globally came from China, based on data from NASA satellites.

Thick forests have also become a substantial source of revenue for locals. Last year, the output value of China's forestry and grassland industry reached about 1.18 trillion U.S. dollars, while the foreign trade volume of forest products was 191 billion dollars.

Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, hailed China as a green development leader. "The Chinese government sees green development and environmental protection as top priorities as these strategies have been integrated into all of the country's socio-economic development plans," he said.

This aerial photo taken on May 25, 2023 shows birds resting in the mangrove forest near the sea in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province. [Xinhua/Liu Dawei]

Promoting Green Innovations

China should work to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, advance coordinated urban-rural and regional development, and foster green and low-carbon economic and social development, Xi said when addressing the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, the national legislature, in March.

Over the years, China has taken innovation-driven development as a driving force for economic development, helping its economy switch to green and high-quality growth.

The country is now the world's largest producer of clean energy equipment. In 2021, the output value of the energy conservation and environmental protection industry exceeded 1.13 trillion dollars.

China's export of three tech-intensive green products, namely solar batteries, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles, registered a 66.9 percent increase in the first quarter of this year, official data showed. Together they contributed 2 percentage points to the overall export growth, up from 1.7 percentage points for 2022.

"China's foreign trade growth in Q1 is mainly buoyed by new energy-related exports," said Zhou Maohua, an analyst with the China Everbright Bank.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales nearly doubled to 6.89 million units in 2022, accounting for over a quarter of the total automobile sales in the world's largest auto market.

"The speed of growth here is much faster than in other regions of the world," said Oliver Blume, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, adding that with its high level of innovation, China is a vital pacesetter for the entire automotive industry.

In August last year, China revealed a plan for fulfilling its "dual carbon" goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 through technology.

China has been pursuing green development by scientific means, addressing all challenges through science, technological innovation and creativity, said Benjamin Anyagre, general secretary of the Ghana-China Friendship Association, adding that China's commitment to green development would positively impact the world's efforts to combat climate change.

This is echoed by Peter Bakker, president and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, who said that Chinese businesses, with their enormous implementation power and creativity in areas like batteries, electric vehicles and solar power, are expected to decarbonize the world significantly.

This aerial photo taken on Feb. 18, 2023 shows a photovoltaic (PV) power project in Liangzhou district of Wuwei, northwest China's Gansu Province. [Xinhua/Fan Peishen]

Global Engagement

"We should pursue the new vision of green development and a way of life and work that is green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable," Xi said at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017. "We propose the establishment of an international coalition for green development on the Belt and Road, and we will provide support to related countries in adapting to climate change."

China has walked its talk by sharing its green development philosophy globally, helping countries sustain green growth.

"Chinese involvement in Ethiopia's renewable energy sector is visible. They are increasingly involved in both hydro and wind power projects," said Moges Mekonnen, communications director at Ethiopian Electric Power, noting that the cooperation projects help Ethiopia tap into its rich renewable energy potential.

The Aysha Wind Farm, the first wind power project in the Somali region presently under the construction of China's Dongfang Electric Corporation, is expected to provide power to Ethiopia's mega-development projects, such as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway and Dire Dawa Industrial Park, and ensure a stable and sufficient power supply for the Addis Ababa-Djibouti economic corridor.

In the hydropower sector, cooperation with China enabled Ethiopia to realize the 254 MW Genale-Dawa III hydroelectric power station, which has been in safe operation since its launch in the first quarter of 2020.

In Kenya, official figures showed that the installed capacity of solar power is more than 100 MW, while the China-financed Garissa Solar power plant accounts for 50 MW.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said that Garissa Solar, the largest solar plant in East and Central Africa, puts Kenya on the path to achieving green energy sufficiency and adds to his country's rich profile as the center of green energy generation in Africa.

While promoting green development projects, China also emphasizes maintaining biological diversity. For example, many tunnels were extended, and bridges replaced roads to protect elephant habitats during the building of the China-Laos Railway.

Philip Clayton, president of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, a U.S. think tank, said China's contributions to greening the planet and commitments to preserving biological diversity have empowered the international community to pursue environmental reforms and more robust ecological governance.

At the same time, China is also scaling up its multilateral coordination for ecological conservation.

Last year, China's central city Wuhan hosted the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, together with Geneva, Switzerland, which facilitated the adoption of the Global Strategic Framework for Wetland Conservation 2025-2030 that aims to curb wetland degradation.

Also, China held the presidency of COP15, known as the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It led the parties involved to adopt a landmark deal, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, for reversing biodiversity loss.

David Cooper, acting executive secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, commented that China's leadership role involves leading and working with parties and stakeholders to ensure an overall commitment to biodiversity.

He said China has achieved a lot in biodiversity conservation during its rapid economic growth, adding that China's active participation in combating climate change globally has the potential to provide a sound model for developing countries and contribute to consensus-building on global biodiversity conservation.

(Source: Xinhua)
Weather Alert

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /1 PM EDT/ TODAY TO 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West to northwest winds around 15 to 20 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From noon CDT /1 PM EDT/ today to 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong winds and rough waves on area lakes will create hazardous conditions for small craft. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are forecast to develop this afternoon. These storms will produce dangerous lightning and locally higher wind gusts. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Boaters on area lakes should use extra caution since strong winds and rough waves can overturn small craft. If lightning is sighted or skies turn threatening, head to shore immediately and seek shelter indoors until conditions improve. &&
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Officials were investigating Tuesday whether Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis was behind a flight that picked up asylum-seekers on the Texas border and flew them  apparently without their knowledge  to California's capital, even as faith-based groups scrambled to find housing and food for them.

About 20 people ranging in age from 21 to 30 were flown by private jet to Sacramento on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. It was the second such flight in four days.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and faith-based groups who have been assisting the migrants scheduled a news conference Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom lashed out at DeSantis as a small, pathetic man and suggested the state could pursue kidnapping charges.

DeSantis and other Florida state officials were mum, as they were initially last year when they flew 49 Venezuelan migrants to the upscale Massachusetts enclave of Marthas Vineyard, luring them onto private jets from a shelter in San Antonio.

DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for president, has been a fierce critic of federal immigration policy under President Joe Biden and has heavily publicized Floridas role in past instances in which migrants were transported to Democratic-led states.

He has made the migrant relocation program one of his signature political priorities, using the state legislative process to direct millions of dollars to it and working with multiple contractors to carry out the flights. Vertol Systems Co., which was paid by Florida to fly migrants to Marthas Vineyard, appears to be behind the flights to Sacramento on Monday and last Friday, Bonta said, adding that the migrants were carrying an official document from the state of Florida that mentions the company. The company didnt respond to an email seeking comment.

Altogether, more than three dozen migrants arrived in Sacramento on flights last Friday and on Monday. Most are from Colombia and Venezuela. California had not been their intended destination and shelters and aid workers were taken by surprise, authorities said.

Fridays group was dropped off at the Roman Catholic Church dioceses headquarters in Sacramento. U.S. immigration officials had already processed them in Texas and given them court dates for their asylum cases, and none had planned to arrive in California, said Eddie Carmona, campaign director at PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants in Sacramento.

Asylum seekers can change the location of their court appearances, but many are reluctant to try and instead prefer sticking with a firm date, at least for their initial appearances. They figure it is a guarantee, even if horribly inconvenient.

The Republican governors of Texas and Arizona have previously sent thousands of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., but the rare charter flights by DeSantis mark an escalation in tactics. The two groups sent to Sacramento never went through Florida. Instead, they were approached in El Paso by people with Florida-linked paperwork, sent to New Mexico, then put on private flights to Californias capital, California officials and advocates said.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived Friday, said they told him they were approached by two women who spoke broken Spanish and promised them jobs. The women traveled with them by land from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico, where two men then accompanied them on the flight to Sacramento. The same men were on the flight Monday, Bonta said.

To see leaders and governments of other states and the state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, acting with cruelty and inhumanity and moral bankruptcy and being petty and small and hurtful and harmful to those vulnerable asylum seekers is blood-boiling, Bonta said in a Monday interview.

Some of the migrants who arrived Friday told Bonta they met on their nearly three-month journey to the United States and decided to stick together to keep each other safe as they slept on the streets in several countries, he said.

As the migrants arrived in California Monday, a Texas sheriffs office announced it has recommended criminal charges over the two flights to Marthas Vineyard last year.

Johnny Garcia, a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriffs Office, said that at this time the office is not naming suspects. Its not clear whether the local district attorney will pursue the charges, which include misdemeanor and felony counts of unlawful restraint, according to the sheriffs office.

The office of New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no specifics as to why the immigrants were taken from Texas to New Mexico before being flown to California.

Gov. Lujan Grisham stresses, yet again, the urgent need for comprehensive, thoughtful federal immigration reform which is rooted in a humanitarian response that keeps border communities in mind, the governors spokesperson, Caroline Sweeney, said Monday.

Last year, DeSantis directed Republican lawmakers in Florida to create a program in his office dedicated to migrant relocations. It specified that the state could transport migrants from locations anywhere in the country. The law was designed to get around questions about the legality of transporting people on a flight that originated in Texas.

Floridas alleged role in the arrival of the two groups in Sacramento is sure to escalate the political feud between DeSantis and Newsom, who have offered conflicting visions on immigration, abortion and a host of other issues. ___

Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Fla., Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.
Weather Alert

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ THIS EVENING... * WHAT...West to northwest winds around 15 to 20 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From noon CDT /1 PM EDT/ today to 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ this evening. * IMPACTS...Strong winds and rough waves on area lakes will create hazardous conditions for small craft. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Scattered to numerous thunderstorms across the area this afternoon will produce dangerous lightning and locally higher wind gusts. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Boaters on area lakes should use extra caution since strong winds and rough waves can overturn small craft. If lightning is sighted or skies turn threatening, head to shore immediately and seek shelter indoors until conditions improve. &&
(Bloomberg) -- The $2 billion market for carbon offsets is heading for a massive reset, as a growing number of sovereign governments announce their intention to tax, regulate or restrict trade in credits generated within their borders.

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The details vary, but from Indonesia to Kenya to Honduras, the goals are the same: Governments want to retain more of the benefits of emissions-reduction projects, whether as revenue or as credit toward their own national climate goals.

If you are a developing country and you have the right kinds of project opportunities, youve got a golden goose, said Mark Lewis, head of climate research at Andurand Capital Management.

For countries with dense rainforests, mangrove swamps or other natural carbon sinks, carbon credits are increasingly considered alongside valuable minerals and metals like gold, lithium or copper

Commodities markets have created the precedent, said Samuel Gill, president and co-founder of Sylvera, a carbon research and ratings firm. It is almost inevitable that nations come to see and treat carbon as any other national resource.

That wake-up call has been prompted in part by a growing awareness that, as of now, governments and local stakeholders might receive just a tiny slice of the revenues made by foreign project developers, said Pablo Fernandez, chief executive of Ecosecurities, a project developer and investor.

For example, most of the 100 million in proceeds from one of the biggest offset projects, a forest-protection site called Kariba in Zimbabwe, were accrued by the Swiss developer South Pole and its Guernsey partner Carbon Green Investments. In Mexico, BP paid rural villagers a small fraction of the market value of the credits generated on their forest land, according to a 2022 Bloomberg Green investigation.

Im not saying its the pattern of the market, but we do have some projects that are badly designed and badly executed, Fernandez said. That leads to these situations.

At the same time, carbon credits have new value for emerging markets. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, wealthy countries had emissions targets and could buy credits from projects in developing countries to meet them. The 2015 Paris Agreement introduced targets for all, developing countries included, effective from 2020.

This means governments now view the units not just of a source of revenue, but as a tool to meet their international obligations. The Paris Agreement acknowledges emissions as sovereign liabilities, said Finn OMuircheartaigh, director of policy and markets at BeZero Carbon, a research and ratings firm. Countries are now recognizing they also have sovereign assets, which are their ability to reduce carbon or sequester carbon.

The new sovereign trading market is being set up by the United Nations, with an accounting framework that prevents the same credit from being applied to more than one countrys climate goal. That means countries will have to decide if and when credits produced within their borders will be made available for use by others and when theyll be used for national goals.

Though the details are still being fine-tuned, some countries have already begun to strike deals to ensure supply. More than three quarters of countries say they plan to or are considering using the UN carbon market to meet their targets, known as nationally determined contributions.

Adjusting the amount of supply going to NDCs, rather than offset markets, has big implications, according to BNEF , which predicts the voluntary offset market could reach $1 trillion by 2037.

One of those implications will be regulatory change and, at least at the beginning, inconsistency from one country to the next. Last month Zimbabwe announced its intention to retain 50% of carbon revenues generated there, effective almost immediately. Kenya is debating legislation that would provide local communities a 25% cut. In October, Tanzania introduced new rules governing the revenue split, but developers say they are still waiting for specifics.

Elsewhere, Papua New Guinea suspended new deals while it worked on regulation. Honduras put a moratorium on the sale of forest-based carbon credits, and Indonesia imposed conditions on the export of carbon credits.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has said it wont limit sales of offsets abroad. Ghana, often lauded for its regulatory clarity, recently struck a deal to sell credits to Switzerland. Possibly one of the biggest impacts on the market, however, will be China  the largest supplier of offsets  which is readying a revamp of its domestic voluntary market.

The Paris Agreement was revolutionary in the way it empowered every country to set its own targets and manage its own market, Fernandez said. But that is a bumpy and inconsistent process, he added: Today we are living with the problem of this.

Investors say they welcome moves to create clarity, stability and predictability in the carbon market. Improved regulation  and the greater certainty that comes with it  represents progress, said Ana Haurie, chief executive of Respira International, a carbon finance firm. By creating certainty around the cost, the market can determine whether its a price worth paying.

The emissions trading industry welcomed the new regulatory frameworks that would bring more certainty for investors but warned policy makers not to be overzealous.

The new frameworks and the degree of government interventions will determine how attractive individual countries are for investors, said Andrea Bonzanni, the director of international policy at the International Emissions Trading Association. If we make things too difficult, there will be no international carbon markets.

Investors will pick projects in countries which offer the best risk-to-reward ratio, according to Benedikt von Butler, portfolio manager at Evolution Environmental Asset Management LP. Its "in a host country's self-interest to minimize political risk to attract more investments which will also generate revenues for governments," he said.

(Updates with portfolio managers comment in final paragraph. A previous version of this story corrected name of association in last paragraph)

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General Motors will invest $1 billion in two of its factories in Flint to build the next generation of the automaker's gasoline-burning heavy duty pickups.

On Monday, GM said it will invest the money in Flint Assembly and Flint Metal Center, but it is not releasing any further details about the next-generation heavy-duty pickups or any other future products, including timing.

GM said this latest investment "highlights the companys commitment to continue providing customers a strong portfolio of (internal combustion engine) vehicles for years to come." GM plans to offer all electric vehicles by 2030.

These investments reflect our commitment to our loyal truck customers and the efforts of the dedicated employees of Flint Assembly and Flint Metal Center," Gerald Johnson, GM's executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability, said in a statement.

GM builds its heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups at Flint Assembly. The 5.2 million square foot plant employees just over 5,000 people, according to GM's website. On the same campus sits Flint Metal Center, where it presses the sheet metal used on GM's heavy-duty and light duty pickups and where the company employs 478 people. GM spokesman David Barnas said the company expects to retain the current level of employment with this investment.

Crews work on the land where Building #1 at Ashley Capital's Flint Commerce Center will be developed on the former General Motors Buick City campus in Flint on Monday, Junes 5, 2023.

Details of today's announcements include:

Flint Assembly : GM will invest $788 million to expand the body shop, general assembly conveyor and providing new tooling and equipment.

Flint Metal Center: GM will invest $233 million for new stamping dies, refurbishments and equipment to support production of the next-generation pickups.

For 2022, GM sold 188,751 heavy-duty Silverado pickups, a 36% increase from 2021. Similarly, for 2022 sales of the Sierra heavy-duty pickup soared 40% to 99,118 compared with 2021.

"When business is booming as it has been for the past decade  due to the hard work of UAW members  the company should continue to invest in its workforce, said Mike Booth, UAW vice president of GM department.

UAW Local 598 Shop Chairman Eric Welter told the Free Press the investment is the result of the hard work by union members.

"This workforce is diligent in creating their own job security," Welter said. "They are truly the greatest truck builders in the world."

UAW GM VP Mike Booth speaks during an announcement of a multi-million dollar investment into General Motors Flint Assembly while speaking to press and employees with other officials in the Flint plant on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Flint Engine Operations is also on the campus. There, GM employs 700 people to make the engine for the Chevrolet Malibu and the diesel engines for GM's light duty pickups. The diesel engines for the heavy-duty pickups are made at DMAX Ltd. in Moraine, Ohio.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was at the ceremony announcing the investment called it "a game changer" adding, "GM is betting on the skilled, experienced union workers who call Michigan home, and showing that Michigan is the best place to pioneer the electrified, high-tech future of mobility. To build on the more than $16 billion in projects and 16,000-plus high-skill, good-paying jobs we have brought home thanks to bipartisan economic development tools, I proposed Make It In Michigan, a strategy to win projects, invest in people, and revitalize communities. I look forward to our continued work alongside GM to invest in Michigan workers.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer talks with the press after an announcement of a multi-million dollar investment into General Motors Flint Assembly while speaking to press and employees with other officials in the Flint plant on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Monday also marked the groundbreaking for redevelopment of the former Buick City site in Flint. New York-based developer Ashley Capital plans to start construction on the first phase of a $300 million redevelopment of the industrial site along the Flint River. It will be called the Flint Commerce Center, according to Flint TV station WJRT.

Buick City covers 350 acres of land that one of the world's largest factories once occupied. The developers plan to build up to 10 buildings covering more than 3.5 million square feet of floor space. When completed, the site is expected to attract about 3,000 jobs. The first building should be complete and available for industrial use early next year.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM Flint announcement: $1 billion to go towards heavy-duty pickups
This message of solidarity was sent by the Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists to an antiwar meeting held in Toronto, Canada, by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE). The meeting took place despite a vicious campaign aimed at cancelling it led by the far-right Ukrainian Canadian Congress and supported by the Ontario government.

***

Dear meeting participants,

We express solidarity and support for your struggle both against imperialism and war and against the attack of the far-right seeking to stifle our struggle. A great task such as the one that our movement is undertaking must inevitably meet with serious obstacles. If imperialism is willing to shed blood in war and attack all the basic democratic rights won by the revolutionary struggles of the past, we have an obligation to resist. Such resistance can create the best impetus for launching a broader international struggle of the working class.

This is not the first time that the Ukrainian bourgeois nationalists and their imperialist masters have tried to sabotage our meetings, which advance a political line independent of the capitalist elites. But each time they try to sabotage our events, the IYSSE gives them a worthy rebuff. This is a sign of the serious strength of our movement. If today we are able to offer such resistance to the ultra-right, what will our movement be able to show when it reaches an even more mass character? The answer to this question is very frightening to our political opponents.

A graphic designed by the Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists to honor its 5-year anniversary. [Photo: WSWS]

In Russia and Ukraine, there is a special layer of privileged lackeys who seek to subordinate the working class to the framework of the nation-state. In the case of Ukrainian nationalists, this takes the form of their support for a proxy war against Russia and the Putin regime. In the case of Russian nationalists, this takes the form of support for a supposedly anti-imperialist Putin. These nationalists are certainly heterogeneous and have one or another disagreement, but this does not prevent them from being equally hateful towards an international and independent movement of the working class.

What do these gentlemen have to offer us? To submit our will to the capitalist machine of profit and death. What are they capable of offering to solve the issue of the war that has broken out in Eastern Europe? To support the institution of their respective capitalist states. This is a reactionary political line that contradicts the whole essence of the world economy today. Following their line can only lead to the destruction of all that society has previously achieved. And the first steps of this destruction are manifested in the suppression of the most basic democratic rights.

We from the Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists have faced various slanderous accusations. Our opponents among the Russian nationalists accuse us of defending imperialism. Our opponents among the Ukrainian nationalists accuse us of being accomplices of Putins regime, Rashists, [a a pejorative term for Russophiles in Ukraine] and other pejorative labels. Slander is a typical weapon of our political opponents. Recognizing that we do not fit into their world of evil capitalism and good capitalism, they come up with this weapon to place us in the narrow confines of confrontation between capitalist elites.

Our commitment to internationalism is like another planet to them, which has nothing to do with reality. They strongly dislike the fact that our movement stands outside their reality of immutable private property, high profits, inequality, poverty, perpetual war, and pandemics. To maintain their reality, they dare to take the craziest steps, from a simple ban on assemblies to a real war against the living conditions of the working class. Every war has to be paid for, but our goal must be that this time, not the working class, but capitalism is made to pay for it, and abolished once and for all.

Our movement seeks to make the working class internalize a very important truth that has been hard won in bloody struggles: in the age of imperialism, the defense of democratic rights is impossible without a healthy socialist movement throughout the world, based on the defense of working class interests and not those of the bourgeois state, the corporations and the trade union bureaucracy. The strength of the working class lies not only in its unity, but also in its understanding of its role in the struggle against capitalism and war.

To quote Vladimir Lenin, He who wants to serve the proletariat must fight to unite workers of all countries, in an uncompromising struggle against bourgeois nationalism, both that of his own country and that of foreign countries.

With best wishes,

The Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists in Russia and Ukraine
So vast are the crimes committed by Britains ruling elite during the COVID-19 pandemic that the Conservative government is all but refusing to co-operate with the official inquiry it authorised.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021. To date over 226,000 people have died due to COVID in Britain. Over a million are estimated to be suffering from the debilitating impact of Long Covid.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a COVID-19 Press Conference with Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, October 10, 2020 [Photo by Pippa Fowler/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY 2.0

The first inquiry hearings, examining the UK's resilience and preparedness (Module 1), is set to take place June 13. The first oral hearings of Module 2, dealing with the main decision-making and political governance around the pandemic, are scheduled to start in the weeks to come. The oral hearings are expected to last at least three years, until the summer of 2026.

The inquiry is chaired by former High Court judge, Baroness Heather Hallett, who in 2009 acted as coroner in the inquest of the 52 people killed in Londons 7/7 terrorist bombings.

But before oral sessions are even underway, Halletts inquiry was plunged into crisis by the refusal of Johnson, and then the Cabinet Office, to hand over diaries, notebooks and WhatsApp messages from his period in office. The inquiry requested that Johnson hand over unredacted WhatsApp messages sent and received by Johnson from January 1, 2020, to February 24, 2022; unredacted diaries; copies of 24 unredacted notebooks; and unredacted WhatsApp messages sent and received by Johnsons adviser Henry Cook.

All Johnson initially provided to the Cabinet Office was WhatsApp messages from May 2021, the month he announced the COVID Inquiry and a period well over a year after his initial response to the pandemic during which he advocated the mass infection of the population with COVID through a murderous herd immunity policy. This was at the time when Downing Street were working out scenarios that up to 800,000 people could die if such a policy was enacted.

Johnsons successor, Rishi Sunak, following the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss, is also implicated in COVID crimes, which accounts for the extraordinary refusal of the Cabinet Office to cooperate with its own inquiry. The Cabinet Office gave the inquiry only redacted versions of the limited messages Johnson handed over, leading to Hallett being forced to request the unredacted material using a Section 21 notice under the 2005 Inquiries Act that provides inquiries with statutory powers to compel evidence.

In response Sunaks Cabinet Office took the extraordinary decision June 1 to launch legal action against the Inquiryvia a judicial reviewclaiming that making the material available would compromise ministers' and other individuals' right to privacy. The legal case argues that Hallett should not have the power to compel production of documents and messages that the Cabinet Office claimed are unambiguously irrelevant to the inquiry's work.

Following the governments taking legal action, Johnsonwho was removed from office in a palace coup in which Sunak played a central rolemoved into damage limitation mode. Last Friday, Johnson wrote to Hallett saying he was prepared to hand over his unredacted WhatsApp messages shared with the Cabinet Office and would also hand over relevant material, including correspondence from his old mobile phone, but only if he could obtain access to it. However, it is not clear what is even available any longer from that crucial period in the form of his phone messages.

According to the i newspaper, The ex-prime minister kept his personal phone number that he had had for more than a decade when he entered No 10 and it was on this number and device that crucial messages were sent as the Covid pandemic unfolded in 2020. It added, Johnson was told by security officials to turn off the device and never turn it on again in case it could be hacked by hostile actors, i understands. This means historic messages from 2020 and early 2021 are no longer available to search and the phone is not active.

Regarding his 25 notebooks, Johnson wrote Hallett that they had been removed by the Cabinet Office and If the government chooses not to [hand them over to the Inquiry], I will ask for these to be returned to my office so that I can provide them to you directly.

Johnsons action prompted the government to threaten that he could lose legal funding for his participation in the Inquiry if you knowingly seek to frustrate or undermine, either through your own actions or the actions of others, the government's position in relation to the inquiry unless there is a clear and irreconcilable conflict of interest on a particular point at issue.

Hallett, the COVID Inquiry chair, was obliged to ask a series of extraordinary questions of Johnson. These include:

Please confirm whether in March 2020 (or around that period), you suggested to senior civil servants and advisors that you be injected with Covid-19 on television to demonstrate to the public that it did not pose a threat?

Did you inform the then Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, during a phone call on or around 13 March 2020 that you wanted herd immunity, or words to that effect?

Did the then Cabinet Secretary, Lord Sedwill, on 12 March 2020 (or around that period), advise you to inform the public to hold chickenpox parties in order to spread infections of Covid-19? What was your response to any such advice?

In or around Autumn 2020, did you state that you would rather let the bodies pile high than order another lockdown, or words to that effect?

As Johnsons chancellor, Sunak was just as opposed to lockdowns. In his campaign for the leadership of the Tory party in 2022, Sunak stated, My view is we did go too far, particularly on keeping schools closed and I would not have a lockdown again. I was very clear in cabinet, I was one of the key voices in favour of opening up [schools].

Sunak even launched at the height of the pandemic in August 2020, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme at a cost of 850 million to the taxpayer. Denouncing the scheme, which led to COVID infections shooting up by between 8 and 17 percent as people mingled in restaurants, Professor John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a member of the SAGE committee of government advisors, told the Observer, it was a spectacularly stupid idea and an obscene way to spend public money.

The crisis escalated Monday when Elkan Abrahamson, a lawyer who represents one of the inquirys key core participants, the Bereaved Families for Justice group, said that if Hallett did not receive the evidence she is demanding, the only logical response of the chair is to resign because she cant properly do her job.

The ruling class will do everything it can to ensure that no-one of any significance in political and corporate circles is ever brought to account for the social murder of over 200,000 people and the debilitating, possibly lifelong suffering inflected on those with Long COVID.

Step forward the nominally liberal Guardian, and its sister Observer title, to promote the bona fides of that essential tool of the British ruling elite, the independent Public Inquiry.

An op-ed published Sunday by the Observer's chief political commentator Andrew Rawnsley, declared, This inquiry cannot bring anyone back to life. The service it can perform for victims has been illustrated by earlier inquiries such as those into the Hillsborough disaster, the Bloody Sunday killings and the contaminated blood scandal. One of the vital functions of this public inquiry is to give a voice to the bereaved and supply a form of justice by forcing decision-makers to give account and take responsibility for what they did.

The fact that the Tories are seeking to neuter an inquiry they established and set extremely limited terms of reference for should blind no-one to the fact that it will do nothing to establish justice, even if it proceeds. After more than three decades no-one was held accountable for the Hillsborough deaths. 51 years have elapsed since the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre without any justice.

To these cover-ups must be added the inquiry into the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire deaths which is still underway with the sixth anniversary of the fire later this month. No-one responsible has ever been charged, or even arrested for the 72 deaths at Grenfell, with that inquiry conducted, as is the COVID inquiry, under the 2005 Inquiries Act, which has no power to determine, any persons civil or criminal liability.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) held the first anti-war meeting in Toronto since the war in Ukraine began 15 months ago on Sunday, June 4. The meetingwhich issued a powerful call for the building of a global working class-led, anti-war movementproceeded in the face of a state-backed campaign, led by the far-right Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and supported by Ontarios Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, to censor it, and the efforts of bellicose Ukrainian nationalists to disrupt it.

Keith Jones addressing the June 4 anti-war meeting in Toronto [Photo: WSWS]

A petition opposing the censorship campaign has been signed by nearly 1,000 people from around the globe and former Pink Floyd-frontman Roger Waters tweeted in support of the IYSSEs right to hold the meeting.

The anti-war meeting was also endorsed by the Young Guard of Bolshevik Leninists in Russia and Ukraine, who expressed their solidarity and support in a letter. If imperialism is willing to shed blood in war and attack all the basic democratic rights won by the revolutionary struggles of the past, we have an obligation to resist, they wrote. Such resistance can create the best impetus for launching a broader international struggle of the working class.

The meeting was held at the Lillian H. Smith Branch of the Toronto Public Library, just off the University of Toronto campus. It was the latest in an international series of meetings sponsored by the IYSSE, the youth movement of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and its Socialist Equality Parties, to address the historical and political context of the devastating US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and to discuss how to build a movement in the working class to put an end to the conflict. Central to this discussion was the disastrous consequences of the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union and restoration of capitalism, which created the conditions for the present imperialist onslaught aimed at dismembering Russia and plundering its natural resources.

Two previous meetings in the series were held in Canada--in Montreal, Quebec and Waterloo, Ontario. In Waterloo, the IYSSE successfully rebuffed an effort by the UCC to pressure the University of Waterloo to cancel the meeting. Right-wing elements also sought to cancel IYSSE meetings opposing the war held in Frankfurt, Germany and Wellington, New Zealand, but were similarly unsuccessful.

A contingent of Ukrainian nationalists who attended the meeting in Toronto repeatedly disrupted the speakers by shouting, and sought to intimidate other attendees by filming them, in violation of the guidelines set out by the library. Some stormed out of the meeting during the question-and-answer period, shouting the fascist slogan Slava Ukraini, Heroiam Slava! (Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes), which was popularized by Nazi collaborators during World War II.

Introducing the meeting, IYSSE member Dylan Lubao noted that the campaign to cancel the meeting was motivated by the fear among right-wing forces that any open criticism and scrutiny of their pro-war narrative would explode the lie that NATO is waging war, in all but name, against Russia to defend Ukrainian democracy and sovereignty. It would also quickly expose the reality that they have little support among the broader population, despite their backing from within the Canadian state and every establishment political party, including the trade union-sponsored New Democratic Party (NDP).

Lubao also outlined the COVID-19 precautions which the IYSSE had taken to protect those attending the meeting, including providing every member of the audience with a high quality mask, along with the use of portable air filtration devices and a far-UVC lamp to disinfect the air. Despite the insistence of the media and the Canadian government that the pandemic is over, the virus continues to sicken thousands across the country every day and hundreds of thousands around the world. Due to the profits before lives policy pursued at every level of government, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in Canada, having needlessly killed more than 52,000 Canadians since 2020.

Keith Jones, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Canada), delivered the main lecture. He began by noting the horrific consequences of the war not only for Ukrainians and Russians, but for the entire world. The war and the economic sanctions imposed by NATO have disrupted economic life around the globe, impoverishing hundreds of millions, including in Europe, and threatening masses of people in lesser developed countries with hunger and worse.

He reviewed the massive military buildup in Ukraine, which has seen the US and its allies flood the country with advanced weaponry, including tanks and, soon, F-16 fighter jets, as the imperialist powers press Kiev to go on the offensive against Russia. Having invested the entire prestige of the United States and NATO in waging this war with Russia, the Biden administration and US imperialism cannot tolerate the failure of their military and geopolitical objectives.

Jones made clear that the SEP and the IYSSE were not partisans of either side in this conflict, adding, We are irreconcilable opponents of all those responsible for this war, whether they sit in the White House or the Kremlin. The aim of the meeting series sponsored by the IYSSE is to mobilize working people around the world to put an end to the war.

To build a genuine mass anti-war movement, it is necessary to oppose the unrelenting propaganda barrage of the political establishment and corporate media, Jones remarked. This campaign of lies and disinformationaccompanied by increasingly aggressive acts of political censorship, as in the Ontario government-supported campaign to cancel this meetingis at full throttle in Canada. He noted that Canadian imperialism has played a key role in preparing and prosecuting the war in Ukraine, with a goal of regime-change in Moscow, as was publicly declared by Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly in March.

As other speakers have done in the series of meetings, Jones then outlined the historical background of the war in Ukraine. The war is the outcome of two interrelated processes: the Stalinist bureaucracys disastrous restoration of capitalism and dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and American imperialisms responsethe drive for global hegemony, in which it has sought to use its military might to offset its declining economic power relative to its global competitors, he said.

Putins invasion of Ukraine is without question a reactionary crime. But understanding a conflicts origin and character is not a matter of determining who fired the first shot, he explained. Jones reviewed how, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and restoration of capitalism by the Stalinist bureaucracy in 1991, the US has waged a series of illegal wars over wide swathes of the world, while NATO has dramatically expanded right up to Russias western border. Jones noted the bitter hostility of the far-right Ukrainian nationalists and their imperialist patrons to discussing this history, since it completely demolishes their pro-war narrative that describes the conflict as Putins unprovoked war.

A section of the bellicose, far right-led Ukrainian nationalists who tried to shut down and disrupt the IYSSEs Toronto anti-war meeting [Photo: WSWS]

When Jones turned to the question of the Canadian states role in politically and ideologically preparing the war in Ukraine through its decades-long alliance with Ukrainian far-right nationalists, in particular, veterans of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the 14th Waffen SS Division, UCC-aligned provocateurs in the crowd erupted in snickers and shouts, seeking to break up the meeting. Jones called them out, denouncing as repugnant their indifference to the fact that they promote forces which were Hitlers henchmen in carrying out the Holocaust.

He concluded his remarks by appealing for the unity of workers and young people in Canada, Ukraine, Russia and every country in the building of a mass movement against war. Such a movement must be rooted in and led by the working classthe class that produces societys wealth, and which, as Marx so correctly noted, is an international class whose interests lie not in supporting one national-based rival clique of capitalists in securing advantages over another, but in overthrowing capitalism and securing the democratic rights and freedoms of all peoples in a more advanced global societysocialism.

During the question-and-answer period, a young audience member raised her skepticism that the perspective outlined by Jones could end the war in Ukraine. We are told there are only two forces which we have to choose between: NATO and its Ukrainian proxies and Russia. We reject that, Jones replied. We look not to the war map but the map of the class struggle. We look to the international working class to intervene in the situation. This is not a utopian perspective; this is in fact how the First World War ended.

Jones went on to explain how the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the working class to power under the leadership of the Bolsheviks, laid the basis for the creation of a Soviet Ukraine and voluntary cooperation among the many peoples previously ruthlessly oppressed under the Tsarist autocracy.

When WSWS writer James Clayton attempted to speak about the series he co-wrote, Canadian imperialisms fascist friends, and to explain the significance of Leon Trotskys theory of Permanent Revolution for Ukraine, the contingent of far-right Ukrainian nationalist provocateurs erupted in shouting, including the fascist slogan of the OUN, seeking to shut down any discussion.

The failure of the Ukrainian nationalists to cancel the IYSSEs Toronto meeting, and barring that to disrupt the anti-war lecture, speaks to their relative isolation and the latent anti-war sentiment among broad layers of workers and youth, despite the unstinting support they receive from the state apparatus and a daily barrage of propaganda in the media.

In Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the headquarters of the Ukrainian World Congress, led by former UCC President Paul Grod, they were able to mobilize fewer than 40 people in their attempt to shut down the IYSSE meeting. Meanwhile, another 40 attendees were keen on hearing Jones lecture, and many expressed their appreciation for the IYSSE being the only political organization to hold an anti-war meeting in Toronto since the war in Ukraine began.
(Bloomberg) -- Cybersecurity experts are bracing for a potential wave of extortion demands after a vulnerability was discovered in encrypted file-sharing software, a flaw that hackers have already used to target a string of high-profile victims, including British Airways and the BBC.

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Several companies and a Canadian province said on Monday that they were dealing with breaches related to the secure file transfer product MOVEit from Progress Software Corp., according to statements from several of the affected entities. The vulnerability allowed hackers to steal files that companies had uploaded to MOVEit, according to Progress.

The flaw had prompted security alerts in recent days from the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK National Cyber Security Centre, Microsoft Corp. and Mandiant, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud.

Progress released a patch for the software last week.

When we discovered the vulnerability, we promptly launched an investigation, alerted MOVEit customers about the issue and provided immediate mitigation steps, spokesperson John Eddy said in a statement.

Microsoft said the hackers responsible for the attacks on MOVEit servers also run the Clop extortion website. Clop is the name of a ransomware variant that has been deployed against companies and organizations around the world, and it also sometimes refers to the hacking gang that uses it. Hackers affiliated with the group also steal data and threaten to publish it on its website if a ransom isnt paid.

The group has primarily targeted the health care and financial sectors and has existed since February 2019, according to Trend Micro Inc. The same attackers were responsible for previous hacks of two other secure file transfer products developed by Accellion Inc. and Fortra LLC, Allan Liska, senior intelligence analyst at Recorded Future Inc.

Publicly available data sources show there are thousands of vulnerable MOVEit servers that could have been affected by the software flaw, Liska said. The criminal hackers are expected to begin contacting companies and demanding payment in cryptocurrency in exchange for not uploading the companys stolen data online, he said.

An internet search of publicly visible MOVEit servers preformed by Bloomberg News shows that law firms, health-care organizations and IT firms are among its users.

A representative for the extortion gang said in an email to Bloomberg News that it deleted data stolen from military, GOV, childrens hospitals, police. It wasnt possible to verify the groups claim.

When asked how many companies were breached, the representative replied, You all recognize them if they refuse to pay, they will appear on our blog.

Charles Carmakal, chief technology officer at Mandiant, said the earliest observed exploitation of MOVEit occurred on May 27.

Were expecting the extortion communications to start anytime within the next four weeks or so, he said. There is a lot of data that the threat actor has to sort through. When the extortion starts, it will probably carry on for a few months.

British Airways, the pharmacy chain Boots and the BBC told thousands of staff that personal information may have been compromised by a cyberattack on their payroll provider, Zellis.

In a statement, Zellis said a small number of customers have been impacted. Once we became aware of this incident we took immediate action, disconnecting the server that utilizes MOVEit software and engaging an expert external security incident response team to assist with forensic analysis and ongoing monitoring, according to a statement. British Airways said in a statement that the incident occurred because of a new and previously unknown vulnerability in a widely used MOVEit file transfer tool.

The government of Nova Scotia said it is investigating the theft of personal information related to the MOVEit vulnerability. Government is working to determine exactly what information was stolen and how many people have been impacted, according to a statement.

At British Airways, the hack led to the disclosure of employees personal information, including names, surnames, dates of birth and potentially banking details, according to a spokesperson for the carrier, which employs around 35,000 people.

Boots, with more than 50,000 workers, said employees personal details were affected. The server was disabled and staff have been made aware, said a spokesperson for Boots, which is owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

The BBC confirmed it had been affected by the attack on Zellis. A spokesperson said it was urgently trying to establish the extent of the data breach.

This is a typical case of a supply chain attack targeting multiple companies at once that hold extremely sensitive data on employees, said Jake Moore, a UK-based cybersecurity expert and global adviser to the cybersecurity firm ESET. The security patch on offer is absolutely vital and should have now been installed by all affected companies to remain protected.

--With assistance from Ryan Gallagher, Margi Murphy, Clara Hernanz Lizarraga and Katie Linsell.

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Plumes of smoke rise over the Curtis Bay neighborhood in southeast Baltimore, December 30, 2021. [Photo: Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734]

Late last month, a collision between two locomotives resulted in a diesel fuel spill inside a CSX railyard. No official estimate has been given for how much fuel spilled.

The CSX facility is north of Curtis Bay, a neighboring community. Jay Apperson, the spokesperson for the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), was quoted saying that the spill was contained on CSX property, and alleged that it presented no risk to the community.

Four days prior, on May 20, the Baltimore City Fire Department tweeted in the early morning that they had responded to a hazardous material spill at a facility owned by W.R. Grace and Company, north of Hawkins Point, another neighboring community to Curtis Bay. The Baltimore Sun reported the leak contained 50 t0 75 gallons of nitric acid spilled from a vacuum truck.

Phylicia Porter, councilwoman for Baltimores 10th District, which includes Curtis Bay, told Baltimore Brew that she felt concerned regarding the spills and leaks and that her office is taking a pro-active approach to ensure residents were aware of what happened. This process needs to be looked at, and we are going to be talking to MDE about it, she explained.

The Brew noted that the Community of Curtis Bay Association (CCBA), an organization for residents and workers in Curtis Bay, has appealed to MDE and Maryland Democratic Governor, Wes Moore, to leverage their authority to address the recent ecological disasters. CCBA said these events will continue to happen until our officials move beyond rhetoric and take action for environmental justice.

CCBA published a statement on May 19, titled A Call for Declaration of Air Pollution Emergency in Curtis Bay, demanding that the governor and MDE leverage a provision within Maryland law, Section 2-105 of Maryland Environment Code, to declare an air pollution emergency.



On June 1, following the incidents, CCBA tweeted a picture showing a dirty air filter that appeared to contradict the MDEs claims that no risk to the community existed. The organization appealed for MDE to declare an air pollution emergency and that they have been left waiting for an official response.

WSWS reporters went to Curtis Bay and spoke with the community. One man who frequents Curtis Bay commented on the local authorities hypocrisy, stating, If we spill something, the police will do something. He added that Moore should do something and that CSX should take responsibility.

Monica, a young worker living in Curtis Bay near the railroads, compared the impact of the incidents to the ecological disaster in the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio derailment. She noted that big trains run through the community along with large storage tankers. Hinting at a conspiracy between the state and CSX, she said that they [MDE] dont want to put people in a panic but the spill could really be affecting people here.

The consistent contamination of Curtis Bay is turning the community into another ecological disaster. On December 23, 2022, MDE fined CSX $15,000 and an additional $100,000 to South Baltimore Community Land Trust due to a series of air pollution violations after an explosion occurred at a coal pier. The CSX facility was located on Benhill Avenue, several hundred feet from Curtis Bay, leaving the neighborhood to bring a separate lawsuit against the railroad corporation.

The fee was a slap on the wrist for the corporation, which pocketed $14.8 billion in revenue last year, an 18 percent increase over 2021. The corporation has a profit rate of 28.35 percent.

Curtis Bay is one of many working-class neighborhoods contaminated by corporations, which is treated as the cost of doing business by American capitalism. On March 30, an explosion occurred at a chocolate factory in Pennslyvania, leaving seven dead and rocking neighboring cities. East Palestine, Ohio, suffered its first ecological disaster on February 3 after a railcar derailment poisoned the town's soil, air, and water.

Emboldened by the compliant rail union bureaucracy, corporations and the two big business parties are assaulting working class livelihoods and communities at the national and local level.

President Joe Biden, at the time of the railroaders national contract negotiations in 2022, declared that it was his duty to outlaw a threatened strike of over 120,000 rail workers because of the undue harm it would inflict on working families. Shortly after, Biden and Congress imposed a despised national contract on the workers.

Rather than saving working class communities from harm, rail operators have been given carte blanche to cut safety standards, abuse their workforce and maximize profits. This has led to an increased frequency in rail-related industrial accidents, which took place on average about three times a day in 2022.

Abuses of workers have also continued. Forty car haulers remained locked out of a CSX railhead facility in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, after negotiations fell through on May 9 between an auto service contractor and workers under Teamsters Local 355.

The following day, due to the Biden administration's assault on the working class, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) announced the slashing of benefits for railroaders by tying it to the debt limit. The bureaucracys response to these attacks on the working class was simply to grovel before the railroad CEOs.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Britain has withdrawn its initial defence of The Grayzone news site journalist Kit Klarenberg.

Klarenberg, a member of the NUJ, was detained by UK counter-terrorism police at Luton Airport on May 17, after he arrived from Belgrade, Serbia where he lives. The Grayzone writer was interrogated; had his bank cards, electronic devices and SD cards seized; and had his fingerprints, photo and DNA taken, under Schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

Investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg. [Photo: Kit Klarenberg]

The Grayzone made public the arbitrary anti-democratic detention of Klarenburg on May 30. On May 31, the WSWS denounced the attack, with an article headlined, Oppose the detention of Kit Klarenberg! End British state intimidation of anti-NATO journalists!

The WSWS noted, Klarenberg was targeted for his journalism exposing the criminal activity of British imperialism and the NATO powers. The Grayzone noted in its report of these events published Wednesday how, in the past year, Klarenberg has revealed how a cabal of Tory national security hardliners violated the Official Secrets Act to exploit Brexit and install Boris Johnson as prime minister, exposed British plans to bomb the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian Federation and reported on the CIAs recruitment of two 9/11 hijackers.

The detention of Klarenburg took place weeks after UK police picked up French publisher Ernest Moret in Londons St Pancras station on his way to the London Book Fair and questioned him in connection with his participation in protests against the Macron governmentin that case under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The WSWS noted that the Grayzone has been targeted by right-wing forces. Klarenberg used leaked emails to detail British warmonger Paul Masons scheming with influential security figures to shut down anti-NATO publications and organisations. Mason reported Klarenberg to the police.

On June 2, four days after Klarenbergs treatment by the police was made public, the NUJ published a short article headlined, NUJ expresses concern over detention of journalist Kit Klarenberg. It read, The National Union of Journalists has expressed grave concern over the arrest of journalist Kit Klarenberg at Luton airport under counter-terrorism legislation. Klarenberg was detained by plain-clothes police officers and threatened with arrest if he failed to comply with requests for information.

The apparent targeting of a journalist risks creating a chilling effect on others reporting on stories in the public interest and many will be aware that it follows the recent arrest of publisher Ernest M, also under counter-terrorism legislation by British police in April. Journalists will no doubt be astounded by actions of the police and rightly expect information on reasons behind Kit's detention.

Also on June 2, the NUJs twitter account retweeted a post from the Big Brother Watch Twitter account linking to the NUJs original article on Klarenburg.

But making its more than 24,000 members and the wider population aware of this matter of grave and huge concern was rapidly ditched. The article and the tweet were both removed from the NUJs site within 24 hours, on June 3.

Screenshot of the now deleted NUJ article headlined "NUJ expresses concern over detention of journalist Kit Klarenberg" [Photo: screenshot: NUJ web site]

The NUJ has provided no explanation for its actions.

At 5.11pm on June 3, Klarenberg tweeted @NUJofficial has deleted its statement of concern about my detention. Concerning, given I was explicitly asked about journalistic materials and + significant proportion of interrogation concerned journalism. This is of concern to all journalists entering and leaving the UK. He added, Both the online entry and an accompanying tweet of @NUJOfficial's grave concern about my detention under counter-terror powers have been deleted. But it remains extant on their president's Twitter timeline. How could/why should any journalist trust them after this capitulation?

The NUJ has not responded to requests from the WSWS for an explanation of why they have withdrawn support for Klarenberg. On Tuesday this writer contacted the NUJs head office in London and asked for comment on the affair. An NUJ representative on reception said that nobody was in at the NUJ that week (!) and requested that the WSWS send an e-mail asking for comment to campaigns@nuj.org.uk. As the NUJs press queries e-mail is listed on the organisations web site as communications@nuj.org.uk, an email requesting comment was also sent to that address. The NUJ has not responded.

The NUJs backtracking on its defence of Klarenberg came under fire on social media from those opposing the detention of Klarenberg. Freelance investigative journalist and former Guardian and Observer reporter Jonathan Cook tweeted June 5, Another shameful day for the deeply compromised NUJ. It has deleted its statement of protest at counter-terrorism police interrogating and threatening investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg as he returned to the UK. Why are we paying dues to this fraudulent union?

The NUJs refusal to defend Klarenberg is of a piece with its history of abject capitulation to the government and capitalist state and is made more venal under conditions in which Britain is playing a central role in NATOs war against Russiawith supporters of the war such as Mason demanding a clampdown on any critical voice.

The NUJ has form on these issues, above all its treatment of the WikiLeaks founder and journalist Julian Assange. The NUJ refused to defend Assange for almost a decade following his initial arrest in London in December 2010.

On April 11, 2019, the NUJ finally issued a mealy-mouthed two paragraph statement in Assanges defence to cover for their culpability in his persecution by the US and British state apparatus. Their silence on the persecution was no longer tenable on the day that the most prominent journalist on the planet was snatched by British police from the Ecuadorian Embassy in Londonwhere he had received asylum for seven yearsand then thrown into Londons maximum security Belmarsh Prison.

The NUJ statement was, however, pro forma. On May 3, 2019, the NUJ held a meeting at the Free Word centre in London to mark World Press Freedom Day, at which its representatives, including NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet, ignored Assange and refused to link his name and the fight to end his persecution to the struggle for press freedom.

In response to protests from Assange supporters in the audience, including a WSWS representative, Stanistreet cynically commented, To focus on Assange would be offensive to the memory of those who have been killed all over the world.

The NUJs executive only finally issued a substantive resolution opposing Assanges detention and moves by the US and British governments to extradite him on November 13, 2019almost nine years after Assanges initial arrest.
JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island. [Photo: WSWS]

Amazon is the worlds largest online retailer and had revenue of $513.98 billion in 2022. Its founder, Jeff Bezos, is one of the worlds richest men. This tremendous wealth was created through the systematic and relentless exploitation of workers for which Amazon is well known. It is no coincidence that Amazon is one of the most dangerous companies at which to work. The rate of serious injury at Amazons warehouses is more than twice as high as that of warehouses owned by other companies.

Looking for a way to fight against the company, workers at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York voted in favor of the fledgling Amazon Labor Union (ALU) last year. Almost immediately after the election, ALU leaders such as Chris Smalls embraced the leaders of the AFL-CIO bureaucracy and the Democratic Party.

More than one year after the ALUs victory, conditions at JFK8 have not improved. Pay remains low, and the work remains exceptionally dangerous, as the recent death of Amazon worker Caes David Gruesbeck in Indiana illustrates. Despite the ALUs election victory and a favorable decision before the National Labor Relations Board, Amazon refuses to recognize the union. Workers at JFK8 have no contract with Amazonand negotiations have not even begun.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Nicole, an Amazon worker at JFK8, about her job and working conditions. Her name has been changed to protect her anonymity. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Erik Schreiber: How long have you been working at JFK8, and what positions have you held?

Nicole: I started in 2021. I work in the single pack department, where we pack single items into boxes. In the morning, we punch in and go straight to our stations. An electric machine, like a train passing through, brings a yellow tote. You pull an item down and scan it, and the computer shows you the box number where it goes. I pack one item per box. Then I close the box, tape it, scan it, and send it along.

Sometimes they send me to pack flow, where you scan a lot of items from different totes and put them in one box. In pack flow, theres too many items!

Sometimes they send me to stow, where you have to scan items and store them in big bins that the robot brings to you. When someone orders an item, the robot brings the bins to a picker, who puts it into a yellow tote. Then the tote gets sent to pack.

All these jobs are physically demanding. You have to use your hands and your legs. Youre on your feet for a long time. Sometimes you have to pack heavy items. You have to be on your feet for 10 hours.

ES: What is it like working at JFK8?

N: Its not easy. In the summer, we suffer. Its very hot in there. They put a lot of fans at our stations, but it doesnt help us. People go to the bathroom to refresh themselves and get water. Sometimes, people pass out. They get taken outside, and an ambulance comes and takes them. In the winter, its okay, because its cold.

The break room is too small. I dont go to the big break room, because there are too many people there. Sometimes people have to stand up to eat in the big break room because its so crowded. I only go there to use the bathroom or get water. Then I come back to where Im packing and sit somewhere. The smaller break rooms that they created for us because of COVID are gone now.

The bathrooms are far away. You have to walk for three to four minutes before you get to them. They give you up to 10 minutes for a break, but that includes the time you spend walking to and from the bathroom. If you spend more than 15 minutes, youll be in trouble. You have to rush to go to the bathroom and come back. Sometimes theres too many people in the bathroom. Sometimes theres no paper to dry your hands, or theres no soap.

JFK8 is big. It has four floors. But theres only one small elevator. You can stand there for five minutes before you get the elevator. Its also far away, so we usually have to take the stairs. I pack on the third floor, and my legs are tired by the time I climb up there.

When a machine or computer breaks down, we have to stand there for one or two hours until they fix it. They dont want us to use our phones while were waiting. You cant sit down, either. If we sit down, they will come and talk to us. Dont sit down! I dont know what they want us to do.

ES: Can you describe how Amazon views its warehouse workers?

N: They treat us like robots or slaves. You cant sit down, you just stand up all the time. Its painful. They come and talk to you if your break is a little too long. Why havent you packed for more than 10 minutes?

ES: What is Amazons rate system?

N: They expect certain productivity rates from us. Each department has its own rate system. For single pack, 60 items per hour is the minimum, but they dont really accept it. You have to be above 60. A good rate is over 80. In stow, you have to stow 250 items an hour, if theyre small items. In small pack, you have to pack more than 250 per hour. In flow, I dont know the rate. Maybe 200 an hour.

If you dont make your rate, the computer will give you a write-up. The manager will come and talk to you. If you keep missing your rate, they will come and talk to you again. If youre written up six times, you get fired. Sometimes when they give you a write-up, they dont tell you. People can get fired without knowing why. You come in the next day and scan your badge, but it wont let you in. Afterward, you receive an email that youve been fired.

You have a certain amount of unpaid time off (UPT). If you use too much UPT, or if your UPT is negative, they dont tolerate it. Theyll fire you.

Then theres time off task (TOT), which is the time that you spend not working. If your TOT is five minutes, thats okay. But if its more than 10 minutes, they will come and say, What happened? Why did you take so much time? Why didnt you do your work? Sometimes when I go to the bathroom, I ask one person to pack one item for me after Ive been gone for five minutes. If they know that youre a good worker, then they wont say anything to you about your TOT. But you can get written up if you have too much TOT.

When its slow, I can take two minutes and go talk to one person. Then I come back and pack.

ES: Can you tell us about Amazons surveillance of its workers?

N: They have cameras everywhere. They have cameras on the computers you use to pack. And the managers are walking around all the time watching us.

ES: What do you think about Amazons suspension of JFK8 workers who protested being ordered to work last year during a fire, while smoke and fumes were still in the building?

N: Its no good. They were protesting for their rights. There was a fire, but they asked them to go back to work. That was not fair. They dont have the right to suspend them.

There was another fire in March this year. The fire was in a trash bin inside JFK8 at night. When we got there at 7 a.m, they didnt let us enter. Everybody who came in the morning stayed outside. By 8 oclock, they let us go to the break room, and then they asked us to go home. I think its because of the protest last year that they asked people to go home when there was a fire this year.

ES: How do you and most JFK8 workers get to work?

N: I have to take a train and a bus, like most workers. During the week, I take the train to Saint George, which takes 40 to 42 minutes. Then I take the bus to JFK8, which takes 40 minutes. The total trip is an hour and 30 or 40 minutes. I start my shift at 7:15 am, so I wake up at 4:15 am to get the train at 5:26 am. I have to walk for 12 minutes to get to the train station. Those who come from Brooklyn have to take the ferry to Saint George and take the bus.

On a Saturday, I take two buses. Its longer. The bus that replaces the train takes one hour and 15 or 20 minutes. On Saturday morning, its not easy to get the bus. When the bus comes, there are too many workers there, fighting to get on.

I used to live in Queens. I took the A train for one hour and 30 minutes, then I took the ferry for 30 minutes, then I took the bus. Thats why I moved to Staten Island. But if I had a car, the drive to JFK8 would only take 15 minutes from my house. Only 15 minutes! But the bus and train dont go straight across: they go south, then come back north again. Theres no bus that comes straight to my house in Staten Island.

ES: JFK8 workers voted a year ago to organize into a union and fight for contract demands, but contract negotiations under the Amazon Labor Union havent even begun yet. What demands are important for you and your coworkers? What things need to be changed?

N: The wages are not enough. We work hard, and New York City is very expensive. They want us to pack more than 80 items. They have to pay us more money. And once youve worked at Amazon for three years, you dont get any more raises. And with the rate system, they make us work like robots. Thats no good.

The benefits should be better. When we see a doctor, Amazons insurance pays only 10 percent or 20 percent of the bill. You have to pay the rest by yourself. Thats not fair. I went to see a doctor and gave them my insurance card. I received a bill for $350, and I dont know if the insurance paid them or not.

They have to change the condition of our break room. We work hard, so we need a good break room. Sometimes we need a place to sit, and we shouldnt have to walk so far away. Four minutes before going to sit down. Thats too much. You have to walk far away for the bathroom, too.

Because the conditions are no good, almost everyone has pain in the legs. We stand up for a long time. And too many people are sick in JFK8 because of the conditions. People are getting sick every day. Thats why they increased the VET.

ES: Have working conditions changed since the ALU was voted in?

N: No, nothing has changed. Now, Amazon is making it worse because of the ALU. They want the managers to be tough on us. Its not like before. Last week, they gave one lady a write-up. She went to see human resources (HR), and someone from the ALU went with her to represent her. HR told her that they dont recognize the ALU.

ES: How do JFK8 workers view the ALU today?

N: They say the ALU is doing nothing. Theyve forgotten about them. They act like the ALU doesnt exist anymore.

ES: Since its election victory, the ALU has appealed to the federal government, particularly the Democrats, and to established trade unions such as the Teamsters. But they havent held mass membership meetings with workers in Staten Island.

The International Amazon Workers Voice calls for the political independence of the working class. We call for Amazon workers to organize into democratically controlled rank-and-file committees to discuss workers demands and how to fight for them. We also say that Amazon workers should link up with logistics workers more broadly. What is your opinion of these two different strategies?

N: If they have the courage to do that, thats a good idea. They fire people a lot, so people are scared of talking. They will just go and do their work just to have money to pay the bills. Because of the union, Amazon is not playing anymore. They are very tough. Too many people were fired. They complained about the conditions to HR and they fired them.
Text AUTO to (866) 847-1086 to sign up for text updates from the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Network or to discuss forming a rank-and-file strike support committee. You can also fill out the form at the end of the article.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 598 shop chairman at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant has instructed local union members to continue to unload and install batteries built by scabs hired to replace Clarios workers who have been on strike at the Holland, Ohio, auto battery plant for more than four weeks. The official added that the order to carry out this despicable stab in the back of the striking UAW Local 12 members at Clarios has come directly from the UAW International Union, headed by new president Shawn Fain.

Picket line at Clarios in Holland, Ohio [Photo: WSWS]

The June 4 comments by UAW Local 598 Shop Chairman Eric Welter came in response to questions about the strike from several rank-and-file members on the local unions internal communications app. The workers questioned UAW L. 598 officials after reading the open letter from the Clarios Workers Rank-and-File Committee, which was distributed at the plant by supporters of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) late last week.

The workers asked the following questions:

Scabs are now making the batteries at Clarios. If these batteries come into our plant, what do we do? So with scabs building our batteries now shouldnt we stand with them and refuse to use any batteries built by scabs otherwise whats the point of the strike? Are we using scab batteries from the battery plant that is on strike? If so, are we condoning scab labor? Clearly handling scab batteries - you should feel bad

Welter responded by saying he had to do some research and discuss with the international union. This suggests his response was not a personal opinion but an official one from the national UAW leadership.

At first, Welter tried to dodge the question of whether the UAW was condoning the use of scab parts by claiming that the batteries delivered to the Flint assembly plant were manufactured before the May 8 strike began. [W]e are still working off pre-strike inventory as they only make gas engine batteries for us, he claimed.

This is hardly believable. Clarios workers have been on strike for more than four weeks. Given the standard practice of just-in-time deliveries to assembly plants, which stockpile few if any components, no one should believe these batteries were built more than a month ago. It is far more likely that the current batteries being installed by GM workers were manufactured by scab labor.

However, regardless of whether or not the batteries being handled in Flint are pre-strike inventory or not, handling any Clarios batteries only strengthens the strikebreaking company and undermines the efforts of the Clarios workers. It also undermines the unity of all autoworkers in the run-up to the contract battle this summer where workers will face similar concessions demands from GM and the other Big Three automakers.

In an effort to justify what amounts to a strikebreaking operation by the UAW bureaucracy, Welter claimed union officials have no choice but to help Clarios because putting a ban on the handling of scab batteries would be a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. The National Labor Relations Act is clear under hot cargo that we have to continue to unload, and this is the direction from the international union.

Here, Welter is pointing to the reactionary Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 and other pro-management amendments to the National Labor Relations Act (1935) as a cowardly excuse to help Clarios smash the strike. Nothing could be clearer. The misnamed-Solidarity House leadership is declaring they are directing workers to handle scab batteries.

This proves that Fain was posturing as a militant reformer at the UAW Special Bargaining Convention in March this year when he said, This week Ive heard some talk about what we cant do, about what the law says. And the law has its place. But the UAW wasnt founded by asking for permission.

True enough, but Fain and his accomplices are not even questioning the laws, let alone challenging them. They have no right to invoke the history and traditions of the people who founded the UAW, many of whom were socialists and left-wing militants. Those workers led the Flint Sit-Down Strike, Toledo General Strike, and other mass struggles in the 1930s to build the UAW in a fight against company-controlled judges, injunctions and the violence of company thugs, police and the National Guard.

The final exchange on the app between Welter and another worker provides a telling picture of the willingness of the union to not only capitulate but to collude with the corporations, the Supreme Court and government.

A worker commented, Very recently, the supreme court ruled 8-1 in favor of a corporations right to sue unions in order to recoup money lost during a strike. This is probably REALLY good news for us, right?

Welter, missing the sarcasm, responded, Its good and bad, it confirmed that companies can sue unions for damages when striking, but also confirmed that the timing of a strike is the unions. I would say overall its good because we were expecting the conservative court to rule wholly against the union and harm our ability to strike which they surprisingly did not.

In fact, the recent Supreme Court decision is a sweeping attack on the right to strike, which, taken to its logical conclusion, would make any strike illegal if it causes any harm to the companys profits. The one dissenting judge suggested that the issue at stake in the case was whether workers were legally free or indentured servants, who can be prohibited by law from putting down their tools.

Flint assembly workers during 2019 GM strike [Photo: WSWS]

Insofar as union bureaucrats like Welter point to the positive side of this reactionary ruling, it is only because it will provide the UAW bureaucracy with a further pretext not to call any strikes. The UAW officials will say to workers that if you go on strike, the company will sue us and youll lose your job. Youll have to accept whatever sellout contract and concessions are presented and continue to work.

If forced by the rank and file to call a strike, the UAW bureaucracy will make sure it does no damage to GM or any other employer. In other words, they will be short, impotent Hollywood strikes that undermine the very purpose of a work stoppage: the exerting of as much economic pressure on the corporations as possible.

No matter what the excuse they use, the bottom line is the UAW bureaucracy is aiding Clarios and the automakers like GM which want to deliver a crushing defeat to these courageous striking workers, in order to set a precedent for similar concession demands when contracts expire at GM, Ford and Stellantis in September.

The UAW bureaucracy has the same considerations. The Clarios workers have rejected not one but two sellout contracts pushed by UAW International and Local 12 officials, which included an insulting 3 percent raise and a 12-hour workday with no overtime payments after eight hours. Because Fain & Co. fear that the revolt of the Clarios workers will inspire Big Three workers to follow their lead, the UAW bureaucracy is deliberately isolating their strike and working towards its defeat.

Workers at Flint Assembly, Ford Rouge and Stellantis plants in Detroit and other UAW workers knew nothing about the Clarios strike until supporters of the IWA-RFC distributed the open letter and statement of the Steering Committee of the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committees calling for GM, Ford and Stellantis workers to enforce a ban on scab batteries.

Everything must be done to break the UAWs isolation of the strike and broaden the struggle, the outcome of which will have decisive consequences for all autoworkers.

As a member of the GM Flint Rank-and-File Committee told the WSWS: Workers at Flint GM, Ford and Stellantis should not be handling scab batteries. Our brothers and sisters are about to be walked all over and as soon as they are, the same thing is going to happen to us when the contract ends in September. If this struggle is won, however, it will greatly strengthen us. But this will not happen if matters are left in the hands of the UAW bureaucracy. That is why I urge all workers to join and build the network of autoworkers rank-and-file committees and set up strike support committees to stand with the Clarios workers.

Text AUTO to (866) 847-1086 to sign up for text updates from the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Network or to discuss forming a rank-and-file strike support committee. You can also fill out the form below.
Ukrainian soldiers near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 23, 2023. [AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky]

The US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine is entering a new stage this week, with reports of a significant increase in fighting along a broad front Monday and enormous casualties.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on its official Telegram channel that Russian forces countered a Ukrainian offensive on the Vremevka outpost in South Donetsk, which is currently controlled by Russia. It stated that over 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and that Russia seized 28 tanks, including eight German-made Leopard tanks.

Russia also reported an offensive of Ukrainian troops toward the south, against the territory along the coast of the Sea of Azov that connects Crimea and the Donbas, both held by Russia or pro-Russian forces since 2014. A Russian-appointed official in the city of Zaporizhzhia said that the fighting in the south involved extensive shelling and strikes by Ukraine using British-French Storm Shadow missiles.

It is apparent that Mondays operations mark the beginning of the long anticipated summer counter-offensive. While there is, at present, limited information, one thing can be said with certainty: The fighting will result in a vast increase in the number of deaths, both Ukrainian and Russian.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that a large number of soldiers are going to die, but we are going to do it. Reliable estimates place the death toll of Ukrainians in the war so far at 300,000.

Every aspect of the war, including the counter-offensive, is being directed by the Biden administration, the Pentagon and NATO. It is being led by forces trained by NATO and armed with NATO weapons, including depleted uranium shells supplied by the UK. Operationally, it is organized from Washington and the Pentagon. The masses of Ukrainians are being exploited as cannon fodder. Among the first divisions thrown into the battle, many are raw draftees with little or no training.

The US and the NATO powers are determined to inflict a Russian defeat, with dreams of a military parade of NATO troops in the streets of Moscow. The Financial Times wrote on Monday that there has been a notable change of tone among senior western officials, who have appeared increasingly skeptical about Russian military capabilities. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, last week made a clear case for an outright Ukrainian victory based on territorial integrity [that is, retaking all territory presently controlled by Russia] in a speech that also disparaged Russias military as the second-strongest in Ukraine.

The FT also cited comments by Ben Wallace, the UK defense secretary, that Ukraine could take back Crimea as part of the offensive. What weve seen on the battlefield is that, if you punch Russian forces in the wrong place, theyll actually collapse, he said.

Such statements combine propaganda with self-delusion. The Ukrainian military has been bled white over the past 15 months. It is entirely reliant on the US and NATO, not only to provide training and weaponry, but increasingly the manpower necessary for escalating the war.

The operations in Ukraine are only one part of a barely disguised, undeclared war between NATO and Russia, which is expanding in intensity and geographical scope.

Developments on the ground in Ukraine have been timed to coincide with a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Norway late last week. This meeting itself was to prepare a full NATO war summit next month in Vilnius, Lithuania, only a short drive from the Russian border. Behind closed doors, the leaders of the NATO powers are discussing and implementing the next stage in the escalation.

Already, Ukraine, operating under the direction of the US, has launched drone strikes targeting Moscow, begun shelling Russian cities, and organized incursions into Russian territory, using vehicles and equipment provided by the US and its NATO allies. Poland has become directly involved in the conflict, with members of the so-called Polish Volunteer Corps of Polish citizens participating in cross-border raids from Ukraine into Russia.

An article in the Washington Post (Defend every inch of NATO territory? New strategy is a work in progress), published Monday, opens with a description of French paratroopers being dropped into Estonia, which borders Russia and is only 150 km from St. Petersburg. The Post notes that the French war exercises in Estonia are part of a stepped-up rehearsal of what it would take to reinforce a [NATO] battle group in the country.

Speaking of what can only be described as a massive military mobilization, the newspaper writes, NATO has bolstered its eastern flank in part by establishing battle groups in four additional countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, with 10,000 troops across eight battle groups. Dozens of ships and hundreds of planes, along with ground-based air defense, have been sent to countries on Russias border, particularly the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

War games are taking place currently throughout Europe, including the massive Defender Europe 2023 exercise, which began on April 22 and involves 26,000 troops from the US and its allies. The final component of the operations, Saber Guardian 23, began last week and is centered on the Black Sea, to the south of Ukraine. It involves soldiers and sailors from Albania, Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and the United States.

Given the statements of leading US and NATO officials that they are committed to the military defeat of Russia, the Putin government will be compelled to interpret all these actions as possible preparations for NATO incursions into Russian territory. The purpose of all these operations is to support the Ukrainian offensive by distracting Russian military commanders from exclusive focus on the Ukrainian front and compelling them to divert forces to other border regions.

In the capitals of the NATO powers, a mood of reckless hysteria prevails. Over the weekend, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, confronted by protesters at a gathering of his Social Democratic Party outside of Berlin, unleashed a Hitlerian rant against Russia and denounced Putin as a murderer and a warmonger.

The White House has rejected calls for a ceasefire or negotiated settlement to the conflict that does not include full capitulation by Russia. Encouraged by Russias failure to respond to each escalation, the Biden administration has concluded that there is no red line that it cannot cross.

In an article published under the headline Biden Administration Shrugs Off Ukraines Attacks in Russia, the New York Times wrote on Monday that the White House has discarded the pretense of discouraging direct attacks in Russia by Ukraine, using US-supplied weaponry. Behind closed doors, the Times wrote, senior administration officials have seemed even less fazed. Look, its a war, one senior Pentagon official said last Thursday. This is what happens in a war.

In an indication of the recklessness that pervades ruling circles, the Times added:

U.S. officials say that while the threat of nuclear escalation is not gone, Ukraines cross-border operations are not the type of action that is likely to provoke the use of a nuclear device. American intelligence officials have said they believe Russia would use a tactical nuclear device only if Mr. Putins hold on power was threatened, its military began to completely collapse in Ukraine or it faced the loss of Crimea, which Russian forces seized in 2014.

However, all the conditions listedunseating or killing Putin, imposing a massive military defeat on Russia and retaking Crimeaare part of the US-NATO war aims in the conflict. The position of US military planners is that nothing, not even the prospect of nuclear war, can be allowed to deter the actions of the US and NATO.

As for the Putin government, which represents a faction of the Russian oligarchy, its special military operation in Ukraine was based on the conception that a show of force would create the basis for a negotiated settlement that recognized Russias interests. This neo-Stalinist conception of peaceful coexistence with imperialism, modified under the new conditions of capitalist restoration, has resulted in a political disaster.

The working class of Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe confronts the full consequences of the Stalinist dissolution of the USSR. Not only are Russians and Ukrainians fighting a fratricidal war on territory that was once part of the Soviet Union, but the Putin regime is entangled in an ever-expanding war for which it has no solution.

Confronting NATOs relentless escalation, Putin is under increasing pressure from sections of the military for a more drastic response. But even if Russia is able to defeat the present counter-offensive, the conflict will not come to an end.

The US-NATO war against Russia is evolving rapidly into a protracted struggle that is increasingly violent, bloody and global in character. The conflict has entered into the gravitational field of total warthat is, a war of unlimited destruction, complete disregard for life, and to which all social needs of the mass of the people are subordinated. Its corollary is the direct assault on the working class in all countries and the obliteration of democratic rights.

It is to be expected that the news reports on developments on the battlefield attract immense attention. But exclusive focus on the military operations of NATO, its Ukrainian proxy and the Russian regime is a mistake. Of far greater political significance in determining the direction of the war and the fate of humanity is the development of the international class struggle, armed with a conscious revolutionary socialist strategy.

The International Committee of the Fourth International and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties and Groups will expand their global campaign to build a mass anti-war movement of the working class and student youth.

The working class must respond to the counter-offensive in Ukraine with its own international offensive against war in Russia, Ukraine, Europe, the United States and throughout the world. The same capitalist crisis that produces war also creates the objective basis for such a movement. This year has already seen mass strikes and demonstrations of millions of workers, fueled by the soaring cost of living and extreme exploitation.

The urgent need is to connect the developing movement of the working class with the fight against imperialism, which is dragging mankind toward the apocalypse of nuclear war. It is necessary to combine opposition to militarism and war with opposition to inequality, exploitation and the capitalist system that is the root of all the crises confronting mankind.

We urge all readers of the World Socialist Web Site to become active in building this movement against war and for socialism.
The annual Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore last weekend was dominated by the extraordinary geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region being generated by the US-led confrontation with China, which threaten to trigger a catastrophic military conflict.

US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin at 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 2, 2023. [AP Photo/Vincent Thian]

The looming danger of war with China has aroused concerns and fears in ruling circles in Asia and also Europe. The Biden administration played a thoroughly duplicitous role at the Dialogue: professing the need for improved relations with China, while parading its aggressive military build-up throughout the region.

Last Friday, Singapores Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed the deep unease among members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the prospect of conflict between China, their largest trading partner, and the US, with whom many retain close strategic ties.

ASEAN is concerned  about the tensions, or the relationship between the US and China, Wong told a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. No country in ASEAN wants to be forced to choose sides. No one wants to be in a position where we have to either contain Chinas rise or limit Americas presence.

Albanese, however, who delivered the keynote speech on Friday night, followed the lead from Washington. He sought to blame Beijing for the deterioration of relations and cast it as the aggressor. He appealed to China to engage in dialogue to establish guardrails on the competition between the worlds two largest economies to prevent an incident that could very, very quickly spiral out of control.

Albanese warned: The consequences of such a breakdown, whether in the Taiwan Strait or elsewhere, would not be confined to the big powers or the site of their conflict, they would be devastating for the world.

In cynically posturing as an advocate of reason and peace, the Australian prime minister was standing reality on its head. The current Labor government in Canberra is continuing the role of its predecessors in functioning as the political point man for Washington as it has escalated its military buildup throughout the Indo-Pacific over the past decade in preparation for war with China.

Australia has opened its bases to the US military and joined two quasi-military alliances against Beijingthe Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with India, Japan and the US, and the AUKUS pact with Britain and the US. The latter will provide the Australian navy with long-range nuclear-powered attack submarines, whose only purpose is to join the US in operations in waters off the Chinese mainland.

Albanese set the stage for the speech the following day by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who continued in a similar vein. He took a cheap shot at his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu for refusing to hold a discussion with him, even though the immediate reason was perfectly obviousthe US imposed unilateral sanctions on Li personally for his involvement in the purchase of Russian arms in 2018.

Austin dutifully parroted the White House line, declaring: The United States does not seek a new Cold War. And competition must not spill over into conflict. And the region should never be split into hostile blocs. Instead, were working to strengthen the guardrails against conflict, and to redouble our diplomacy, and to bolster peace, and security, and stability in the region.

In reality, the US is doing exactly the reverse, as Austin himself made clear in outlining the US efforts to strengthen military alliances and strategic partnerships throughout the Indo-Pacific, such as the Quad and AUKUS as well as expanding basing arrangements in Australia and the Philippines and joint war games. He highlighted in particular:

* Last year, our annual Garuda Shield expanded from a bilateral exercise with Indonesia to include 14 countries with more than 4,000 troops. And this year, more than 19 flags will fly over Super Garuda Shield.

* Next month, Exercise Talisman Saber with Australia will bring 14 countries together. It will be the largest iteration ever, with more than 30,000 people participating, including a significant contingent from Japan. France, Germany and the UK will also take part.

The hypocritical character of Austins declarations was underscored by the fact that on the same day, the US Navy provocatively mounted another transit through the highly-sensitive Taiwan Strait by its destroyer USS Chung-Hoon, accompanied by the Canadian frigate, HMCS Montreal.

If Washington were genuinely interested in dialogue, it would at the very least put such activities on hold. The objective of US imperialism is not to create peace and stability but to prevent by all available means, including military, China from undermining Washingtons global economic and strategic dominance.

In an effort to allay fears among the audience, even as the US is seeking stronger military ties throughout the region, Austin deliberately downplayed the danger of conflict, saying it was neither imminent nor inevitable. Yet as one questioner from France noted, active duty, high ranking American officers actually talk about the imminence [of conflict by] 2025 and 2027.

Chinese Defence Minister Li, who spoke on Sunday, hit back at the US without naming it. He said a Cold War mentality is now resurgent, greatly increasing security risks, declaring that mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony. In an obvious reference to US naval provocations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, he said the best way of avoiding conflict was not to carry out operations close to other countries territories.

Well aware of concerns in southeast Asia about AUKUS and Australias procurement of nuclear submarines, Li warned: In essence, attempts to push for NATO-like [alliances] in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations, which will only plunge the Asia-Pacific into a whirlpool of disputes and conflicts.

Li also made clear that China would not compromise over the issue of Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory and which the US and other countries tacitly acknowledged in supporting the One China policy. Under Trump and now Biden, the US has more and more openly sought to goad China into a war over Taiwan by boosting ties with the island, deliberately undermining the basis of its diplomatic relations with China for over four decades.

Li reiterated Beijings longstanding stance that while it strives for peaceful reunification, we make no promise to renounce the use of force. He warned that if anyone dared to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate for a second, we will fear no opponents and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, regardless of any cost.

For all its talk of dialogue, negotiation and establishing guardrails to prevent conflict, the US is rapidly preparing for war with nuclear-armed China, even as it escalates the war against Russia in Ukraine.
Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork Monday marking his official entry into the campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and will make the public announcement at a campaign event Wednesday in Iowa, the state where the first contest in the primary campaign will be held.

Mike Pence in Iowa, May 23, 2023; Chris Christie in New Hampshire, April 20, 2023 [AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Charles Krupa]

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, one of the most vociferous Republican critics of former President Donald Trump, is announcing his candidacy Tuesday, and former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will do so on Wednesday.

These three will join Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, IT multi-millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, and talk-radio host Larry Elder, the Republican candidate for governor of California in 2022, bringing the total of major candidates (i.e., those so anointed by the corporate media and wealthy donors) to ten.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced Monday that he would not run for the presidency in 2024, and he said that most of the announced candidates should withdraw if they fail to win significant support in the polls soon, in order to avoid splitting the anti-Trump vote in Republican caucuses and primaries next year.

Seven of the ten, all but Trump, Christie and Burgum, spoke on the weekend at a cookout and motorcycle event sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst, the first large, multi-candidate event in the campaign for the Iowa caucus, now seven months away. The speeches, delivered to crowds of hundreds, underscored the further shift to the right in the Republican Party, where only the two most fascistic candidates, Trump and DeSantis, are getting double-digit support among likely primary voters and caucus-goers. Most are largely unknown to the public and those that are well-known, like Pence and Christie, have little popular support.

None of the candidates made any mention of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 by a mob of Trump supporters spearheaded by fascist militia groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepersexcept to condemn the ongoing prosecution of the attackers as a federal political witch-hunt. None of them condemned Trump for his claims of a stolen election or for his attempt to remain in the White House through violence. For the most part, they made no reference to Trump at all, while pledging to continue the ultra-right policies with which he is identified.

DeSantis focused largely on culture war issues like abortion and bans directed against discussion of sexual orientation in public schools, and against any treatment or accommodation for transgender youth. He denounced any form of mitigation against COVID-19, calling the limited shutdowns during the early stages of the pandemic and subsequent mask and vaccine mandates a biomedical security state, and implicitly blaming Trump for keeping Dr. Anthony Fauci as an adviser.

Haley made one of the most bizarre statements, attacking the transgendered, telling the audience that what she called biological boys playing sport against girls was the greatest womens issue of our time and suggesting that the presence of a handful of transgender athletes in high school girls locker rooms was the cause of the colossal rise in suicidal thoughts and attempts among teenage girls.

Ramaswamy, whose fascistic campaign has been heavily promoted by the national media, claimed that the American population was suffering from a void of purpose which he proposed to fill. When you have a black hole that runs that deep, that is when the poison fills the void, he said. It almost doesnt matter what the poison is, woke-ism, transgenderism, climatism, COVID-ism, globalism

The sheer number of candidates suggests that the inevitability of Trumps nominationaccepted as conventional wisdom in the corporate media and the Biden White Houseis open to question in top circles in the Republican Party. This is not merely linked to the likelihood of his criminal prosecution over an array of charges, stemming from the effort to manipulate the 2020 election, the January 6 attack, and various cases arising from his personal and business life.

Trump, and to some extent DeSantis, has been out of step with a central concern of the financial oligarchy and its military-intelligence apparatus: successful prosecution of the war against Russia in Ukraine, leading to the overthrow of the regime in Moscow and the breakup of the country, making its immense natural resources available to direct exploitation by the imperialist powers.

Pence, Christie, Scott, Haley and the other candidates have all lined up with the war drive and given full-scale backing to the Ukrainian regime which is serving as the spearhead for imperialism. None of them focuses on the issue in their campaign appearances, well aware that there is little public support for the massive US involvement in the war, but they have given their assurances to the national security apparatus and the congressional war-hawks.

The Republican National Committee announced Friday new qualifying standards for candidates to become eligible to participate in the first presidential primary debate, to be broadcast from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 23 on Fox News. Most of the candidates are likely to meet the targets for fundraising and support in the polls, which is set at only one percent of likely Republican voters.

But in addition, the RNC is requiring candidates to sign a pledge to support the partys eventual nominee if they fail to win the nomination themselves. This could well be modified, but in the past, Trump has ostentatiously rejected such loyalty pledges, always leaving open the possibility of running as an independent candidate. Aides have also suggested that he may refuse to participate in debates altogether, in effect claiming the nomination as his by right, as the supposed victim of the stolen election.

What underlies the backroom maneuvers and the undiluted reactionary bilge being voiced by all the candidates is the steady transformation of the Republican Party into a fascist organization, whether it advances Trump as its candidate for Fuhrer or some alternative, such as DeSantis, posing as more Catholic than the Pope.
A speech by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats, SPD) at the weekend demonstrated how aggressively the German government is waging war on Russia in Ukraine and how fearful it is of mounting opposition within the population. At the SPDs European festival in Falkensee, a suburb of Berlin, the chancellor shouted down war opponents and threatened Russia.

When Scholz was confronted by a larger group of his generally small audience with pacifist cries such as make peace without weapons and repeated references to himself as a warmonger, the Chancellor lost his composure. A warmonger, Putin is a warmonger, he cried. Then he shouted into the microphone:

He invaded Ukraine with 200,000 soldiers. He has mobilized many more. He risked the lives of his own citizens for an imperialist dream. Putin wants to destroy, conquer Ukraine, and he has others in mind. We, as friends of freedom, as democrats, as Europeans, will not allow this.

In addition, Scholz accused Putin not only of the destruction of cities, villages, railway lines and highways. He also said he had killed an incredible number of citizens, children and the elderly in Ukraine. And this is murder, to be clear. In his imperialist dream of great power, Putin also risks the lives of his own citizens, he added. This is irresponsible. This is warmongering. This is violence with weapons.

Scholz's angry war speech against Russia recalled the darkest times in German history. David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, tweeted: The last German chancellor who ranted like this was Hitler. And like his predecessor, Scholz's enemy is Russia. All that is missing is a reference to Jewish-Bolshevism. The most dangerous aspect of this diatribe is that Scholz seems to actually believe what he is saying.

Scholzs claim that Russia is acting as an imperialist power and is the main aggressor is nothing but propaganda and turns reality on its head. With the expansion of NATO and the right-wing pro-Western coup in Kiev in 2014, the imperialist NATO powers that have been waging war on the world for three decades have provoked the reactionary intervention of the Putin regime. Now they continue to escalate the conflict in order to subjugate the resource-rich country and also incorporate Ukraine into the military alliance.

Above all, German imperialism is once again taking up its old great-power traditions. It was not only Scholzs roar that was reminiscent of Hitler, but also the content of what he said. The WSWS and the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) have previously shown how German foreign policy is increasingly proceeding along similar lines as in 1914 and 1941. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was received with military honors in Berlin in mid-May, we commented:

Already in the First World War, control of raw material-rich and geostrategically central Ukrainein addition to the establishment of German hegemony over Central Europe (Mitteleuropa)was one of the declared war aims of the German Empire.... During the Second World War, Hitler continued to pursue this policy... Now German imperialism is once again pursuing the goal of removing Ukraine and other countries that once belonged to the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire from Moscows sphere of influence and bringing them under the control of the German-dominated European Union... In other words, behind the German war offensive are, at its core, the same imperialist appetites as before.

Now this agenda is to be implemented with all its might. When Scholz refers to Putin as a murderer and a criminal, he de facto excludes any diplomatic solution to the conflict. The declared war objective of the imperialist powersthe withdrawal of the Russian army from Ukraine and the weakening and ultimately subjugation of Russia itselfis to be enforced by military means. To this end, NATO is waging an increasingly direct war against a nuclear-armed power.

It was completely normal in such a military dispute, that the attacked party also moves into the opponents territory, for example, to block supply routes, said the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) already at the end of April. Since then, attacks on Russian territory by far-right units of the Ukrainian army have been steadily increasing. At the same time, the Bundeswehr (German army) and NATO are preparing for direct intervention.

Scholz landing on the frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" [AP Photo/Kay Nietfeld]

Significantly, Scholz visited the naval command in Rostock-Warnemunde on Monday. He was then taken to the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in a militarist appearance with a Sea King helicopter. The German warship is currently the flagship of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, the so-called spearhead of NATO against Russia.

According to a report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the Navy and allies conducted various exercises in front of the Chancellor's eyes. According to the paper, a submarine, a corvette and a mine-hunting boat of the Bundeswehr, the French fleet tanker Somme and warships from Spain and Portugal were involved. Eurofighter and Tornado fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe also took part in the maneuver.

Immediately after the exercise with Scholz, the Mecklenburg Vorpommern continued to the east, where it will participate in the NATO maneuver Baltops 2023 in the coming days. It is NATOs largest exercise in the Baltic Sea. According to the Bundeswehr, 19 NATO states, one NATO partner state, 50 warships, more than 45 aircraft and 6,000 soldiers are involved.

NATOs war actions are not confined to the sea. Another comprehensive NATO maneuver starting in the next few days is Defender 2023. From June 12 to June 23, 250 aircraft and 10,000 soldiers from 25 countries will be mobilized under German leadership. It is the largest NATO aerial exercise in history. According to the Air Force, the pilots and crews will fly according to the train as you fight principlewhich means that it must be classified by the Russian military as a veritable act of war.

Scholz and the other NATO leaders are escalating the war in full awareness that it can lead to a nuclear catastrophe. As recently as April 2022, the Chancellor responded in an interview with Der Spiegel to the question of the supply of heavy weapons, that one must do everything to avoid a direct military confrontation between NATO and a highly armed superpower such as Russia, a nuclear-armed power. The issue is preventing an escalation that leads to a third world war.

Now the German government is not only supplying heavy weapons, including more than 100 battle tanks, but is practicing for a direct intervention in the war. Regardless of whether the current NATO maneuvers serve as a direct stepping stone for intervention by NATO troopand this danger existsthe whole logic of the conflict points in that direction.

The Ukraine war is not going away, said WSWS international editorial board chairman David North at the launch of his new book, Leon Trotsky and the struggle for socialism in the 21st century, last month. It is metastasizing into a conflict of ever greater dimensions. It is the opening episode of what will soon be clear to be a world war, and it has the most dangerous implications.

One could look at their policies and ask, dont they realize this could result in a nuclear war? This is insane. And its true, it is insane.

But this insanity, he said, must be explained materialistically. It means that the actions of the imperialist powers are a response to contradictions which have closed off rational responses.

North went on to say: There are two processes at work. There is the process which leads, through the contradictions of capitalism, to devastating war and cataclysm. But those very contradictions also produce social revolution.

Behind Scholzs roar lies exactly this fear. The rejection of militarism and war is deeply rooted in the population after the crimes of German imperialism in the 20th century, and the ruling class knows that it has no support for its revanchist world war policy.

The SGP is fighting to arm this popular opposition with the necessary political consciousness and program. There is only one way to prevent a devastating third world war: the building of an antiwar movement of the international working class that eliminates the cause of warthe capitalist profit system and builds a global socialist society.
In a significant attack on democratic rights, Macquarie University, one of the largest in Sydney, is refusing to affiliate the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) club. It has decreed that the IYSSE cannot be officially registered, despite it having met every one of the stipulated requirements.

IYSSE anti-war meeting at Macquarie University in Sydney, April 4, 2023. [Photo: WSWS]

That is blatant political discrimination. It serves to bar students and young people from encountering and discussing a socialist perspective, amid a major crisis of the global capitalist system. The ban is thus not only an attack on the IYSSE, but on the most fundamental rights of the student body.

The IYSSE held a successful Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 3. The quorum requirement was met and a full club executive was voted in. The documents from the AGM, including a student membership list above the requirement, were submitted by the executive on May 12.

On May 25, the Student Engagement, Inclusion & Belonging division sent an email, requesting a meeting with the IYSSE executive, without indicating the topic or purpose. That body is a direct arm of Macquarie University management.

In a reply, the IYSSE executive enquired what the topic of discussion would be and stated that due to scheduling issues it would not be able to meet the following week. It expressed concern that the affiliation had not been confirmed and requested that it be so without delay.

On May 29, Paul McKay, a university manager, responded on behalf of Student Engagement, Inclusion & Belonging. His email stated: Our team has requested a meeting with you or your group to discuss your application as it has been determined that your group does not meet the requirement of being unique. Another student group with the same aim and purpose is already affiliated, and affiliating multiple groups for the same cohort will limit our teams ability to serve all student groups.

We appreciate your interest in promoting the socialist perspective and suggest that you consider strengthening our already established MQ Socialists, as it is a requirement for all affiliated clubs to be open and inclusive to all MQ students.

The Macquarie Socialists is a student club associated with the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative. The IYSSE is the youth wing of the Socialist Equality Party and the world Trotskyist movement. They are, in other words, entirely separate organisations, with different affiliations reflecting fundamental political and programmatic issues.

In a reply later on May 29, the IYSSE executive rejected McKays entirely false assertions. In fact, we have diametrically opposed aims, the IYSSE wrote. Our differences with Socialist Alternative, with which the Macquarie Socialists are affiliated, are a matter of longstanding public record and are well-known to politically-literate individuals. We have opposed aims and purposes, reflecting different political programs, histories and political affiliations.

This issue had been tested at other campuses, where student unions and administrations had previously sought to block the IYSSE from affiliating, based on the very same assertion that it had overlapping aims with the student groups of Socialist Alternative.

The letter cited the example of the University of Melbourne, where the IYSSE waged a protracted and successful campaign against an attempt to block its affiliation on precisely those grounds.

At Macquarie University, moreover, the IYSSE was affiliated from 2010 until 2022. Over a substantial portion of that period, the Macquarie Socialists were also a registered club. That was a tacit acknowledgment, by the relevant management bodies, that the two groups did not have the same aims and thus required an independent existence.

In a reply on May 30, McKay ignored these issues. He stated that he could not provide any comment on developments at the University of Melbourne. Nor, McKay indicated, could he pass judgment on anything that had occurred at Macquarie University prior to his accession to the role of Manager for 1st Year Experience and Peer Programs. He only started the job in March, 2023.

Most significantly, McKay stated: We have several groups already affiliated with us, but they have different opinions on the same goal, particularly within the political, cultural, and religious domains. In fact the university currently has two Catholic clubs, separated along racial lines, as well as three clubs representing evangelical Christian denominations.

The IYSSE does not just have conflicting opinions with the Macquarie Socialists. Our differencesin fact an unbridgeable gulfcover the entire gamut of socialist history, strategy and principles spanning more than a century. They are of the most fundamental and irreconcilable character.

Socialist Alternative and its student affiliates are a component of the pseudo-left, which represents not the working class and the fight for socialism, but an affluent layer of the upper middle-class that defends capitalism.

The political aim of the IYSSE is to build a revolutionary socialist youth movement affiliated to the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement, for the mobilisation of youth and workers on a socialist program.

Our opposed class orientations find concrete expression on all of the major political questions of the day.

Socialist Alternative supports the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine; we oppose it and fight to build a socialist anti-war movement of the international working class. Socialist Alternative defends the trade union bureaucracy which acts as a policemen for governments and the corporations; we fight to independently mobilise workers against it through the formation of rank-and-file committees. In elections, Socialist Alternative calls for a vote for Labor and the Greens as lesser-evils; we denounce this as a reactionary attempt to tie workers and youth to the capitalist political establishment and support Socialist Equality Party candidates.

The list could go on. But even this small sampling is proof positive that the IYSSE and Socialist Alternative are separated by substantially more than different opinions on the same goal, though even if that alone were the case, McKays email indicates it would be sufficient for our affiliation to proceed. To demand that the IYSSE strengthen our already established MQ Socialists is a demand that we renounce our political views and adopt diametrically opposed positions, something that is incompatible with democracy.

In a final reply on June 1, the IYSSE reviewed all of the proceeding correspondence. It underscored the fact that when the Student Engagement, Inclusion & Belonging first contacted our executive, a decision had already been made, rejecting affiliation.

The IYSSE email stated: Please inform us when the decision not to proceed with our affiliation was made, who made this decision and outline concretely the basis of this decision. It went on to request a copy of any of the meeting minutes detailing the discussion that led to this decision and an outline of how these details were thoroughly reviewed.

Later, the email asked: Did you, or anybody in your team, make any attempt to examine if we and the Macquarie Socialists have the same aims? Did you read any of the voluminous material we have published on precisely this issue? Did you contact anybody within the Macquarie Socialists about this claim? You have certainly not spoken to us about this as you have made clear the decision has already been made.

McKay responded with a two-line email, answering none of those questions, and simply copy-pasting a link to the universitys complaints body that he had already sent the IYSSE.

Several issues emerge.

McKays failure to justify the decision, to provide any information on how it was made or to answer the substantive issues raised by the IYSSE indicates that the refusal to affiliate was made at higher levels of university management. Macquarie University, as one of the countrys largest, has innumerable ties to the political establishment, as well as to the military-intelligence apparatuses.

The decision sheds light on the disaffiliation of the IYSSE in May 2022. It, together with 45 percent of student clubs, were disaffiliated after Student Engagement, Inclusion & Belonging changed its rules without prior notification and demanded that all clubs re-register within an 18-day period or be banned. That was a broad cull, associated with the ever-greater corporatisation of the university.

But the latest refusal demonstrates that the IYSSE, a revolutionary, socialist organisation, has been specifically targeted.

Notably, it followed a successful IYSSE meeting at Macquarie University on May 4, opposing the US-NATO war in Ukraine. That was part of a global series, titled The War in Ukraine and How to Stop It.

As in multiple other countries, the IYSSEs Macquarie University meeting was attacked online by far-right Ukrainian nationalists and supporters of American imperialism. The university allowed the meeting to proceed, but it did not take a clear stand in defence of democratic rights. When one individual wrote to management demanding that the room booking be cancelled, the relevant university body simply forwarded the email to the IYSSE and suggested that we reply to it.

In Australia and internationally, there is a growing campaign by governments and their state apparatuses, together with elements of the far-right, to crack down on the expression of anti-war sentiment. That reflects acute fear, within the corridors of power, over mounting hostility to militarism and war among workers, students and young people. Such sentiments coincide with an ongoing rise of the class struggle, fuelled by the criminal let it rip policies pursued by governments around the world and the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.

Capitalism is in crisis, socialism is increasingly popular, governments know they are sitting on a powder keg. In every such period of history, the universities have emerged as hotbeds of social and political opposition. The refusal to affiliate the IYSSE is a preemptive strike to censor this necessary process of political ferment, discussion and clarification.

This is a situation that cannot stand and that the IYSSE will not accept. We call on all defenders of democratic rights to demand that management immediately overturn its decision, and affiliate our club. If the decision is not reversed, it will serve as a precedent and a battering ram against the right of students to politically organise, not only at Macquarie University, but at campuses across the country. We call on all other student clubs at Macquarie University, as well as student groups across the country and internationally to oppose the suppression of the IYYSE and to demand our affiliation, together with academics and staff who defend civil liberties.

The IYSSE will conduct a widespread campaign until its affiliation is confirmed.
Half of big companies to cut office desk space as bosses give up on back to work push

Empty Offices

Half of large companies plan to cut back on desk space in a sign that many bosses are giving up on attempts to lure staff back to the office.

A survey of 350 multinational companies that together employ around 10 million staff globally found that 50pc are planning to reduce their office footprint.

Most are looking to cut between 10pc and 20pc of space.

It comes as many workers continue to resist efforts to force them back in the office full-time.

The survey, which was conducted by Knight Frank, found that most bosses were now resigned to the fact that employees will work at least some of the week from home for the foreseeable future.

56pc of large businesses have now permanently adopted a hybrid working style, where employees spend some days doing their jobs remotely.

Just under a third of businesses are still committed to having people back in the office full-time, Knight Frank found.

The estate agent said that it could lead to a glut of lower-end office space being left empty as companies cut their office needs.

Lee Elliot, head of research at Knight Frank said: Lower quality, obsolete space will need to be repurposed  with conversion to residential uses to bring renewed vibrancy to urban centres an emerging strategy.

We might also see conversion to other commercial uses such as hotels. Not all space will be subject to conversion, however, and we expect total office stock to decline in many urban centres over the next cycle.

The finding comes amid signs that managers are becoming weary with staff continuing to work from home.

Businesses ranging from JP Morgan and BlackRock to Disney and Apple have been stepping up efforts to draw people back to the office by setting minimum attendance requirements. JP Morgan has said that employees who fail to meet the target will face corrective action.

Several chief executives have complained that remote work harms creativity.

However, many employees are resisting the push. Lloyds Banking Group was accused of inflicting unnecessary disruption on the lives of its employees after telling them to return to the office for just two days a week.

In New York, office occupancy has plateaued at about 60pc as holdouts continue working remotely.

Agents note that the majority of companies releasing space are in the tech or media industries. Spotify recently put 200,000 sq ft on the market for sublease at 4 World Trade Center, vacating five of its floors. Facebook also announced it is subletting roughly 250,000 sq ft of their 1.9 million sq ft office space in Hudson Yards.

Separate research from CBRE found that 72pc of businesses across Europe have reduced the number of assigned seating in their offices in the past year. The data showed that 73pc of companies have increased the amount of space used for collaborative work.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Saudi Arabias Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb recently met with the Omani Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salem bin Mohammed Al-Mahrouqi to discuss the encouragement of all sectors, including tourism.



During Al-Khateebs visit to Oman, a number of joint tourism initiatives and programs were launched, reported Emirates News Agency WAM.



The initiatives were at attracting international tourists and citizens and residents of the GCC countries, under the umbrella of the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2023-2030, which was approved by the leaders of the GCC countries during last December.
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. So on that note, Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad (KLSE:HSPLANT) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.083 = RM192m  (RM2.4b - RM81m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).

Thus, Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 8.3%. In absolute terms, that's a low return but it's around the Food industry average of 8.5%.

See our latest analysis for Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad

roce

In the above chart we have measured Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad.

What Can We Tell From Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad's ROCE Trend?

Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 23% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company's efficiencies. It's worth looking deeper into this though because while it's great that the business is more efficient, it might also mean that going forward the areas to invest internally for the organic growth are lacking.

The Bottom Line On Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad's ROCE

In summary, we're delighted to see that Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. Since the total return from the stock has been almost flat over the last five years, there might be an opportunity here if the valuation looks good. So researching this company further and determining whether or not these trends will continue seems justified.

Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Berhad does come with some risks though, we found 3 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us...

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, June 06, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) provided an update on forest fires in Abitibi and the Eeyou-Istchee region in the James Bay area affecting the Casa Berardi operations.

Quebecs Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests announced the closure of forest lands and certain roads, which include the access road to the Casa Berardi mine site. The Company has suspended operations at the Casa Berardi mine temporarily. All mine personnel are safe, and the infrastructure has not been impacted. The Company continues to comply with the directives of the Ministry and is in close contact with the authorities.

ABOUT HECLA

Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE: HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States. In addition to operating mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Quebec, Canada, the Company is developing a mine in the Yukon, Canada, and owns a number of exploration and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.

Category: Press Release

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230606005754/en/

Contacts

Anvita M. Patil, Vice President  Investor Relations and Treasurer

Cheryl Turner, Communications Coordinator

800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)

Investor Relations

Email: hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

Website: www.hecla.com
Even the best investor on earth makes unsuccessful investments. But it should be a priority to avoid stomach churning catastrophes, wherever possible. So we hope that those who held HELMA Eigenheimbau Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:H5E) during the last year don't lose the lesson, in addition to the 73% hit to the value of their shares. While some investors are willing to stomach this sort of loss, they are usually professionals who spread their bets thinly. Even if you look out three years, the returns are still disappointing, with the share price down68% in that time. Furthermore, it's down 24% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

Check out our latest analysis for HELMA Eigenheimbau

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Unhappily, HELMA Eigenheimbau had to report a 89% decline in EPS over the last year. This fall in the EPS is significantly worse than the 73% the share price fall. So despite the weak per-share profits, some investors are probably relieved the situation wasn't more difficult.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on HELMA Eigenheimbau's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 5.0% in the twelve months, HELMA Eigenheimbau shareholders did even worse, losing 72% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 10% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with HELMA Eigenheimbau (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant) .

But note: HELMA Eigenheimbau may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Holland America Line Set to Sail Most Diverse Asia Cruise Season with 49 Ports Across 10 Countries in 2024-2025

Nine unique 14-day itineraries offer exciting combinations of different countries; two longer 28- and 53-day Legendary Voyages showcase deep culture and history of Asia

SEATTLE, June 6, 2023 /CNW/ -- For Holland America Line's 2024-2025 Asia season, the cruise line is set to explore the Far East with departures from Hong Kong, China; Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan; and Singapore to some of the most exciting cities across 10 countries, with a strong focus on Japan.

Holland America Line Standard Photo/Logo

Noordam will sail a series of nine different 14-day itineraries that travel around Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The cruises showcase the diversity of the countries while celebrating their unique histories. Late departures and overnight ports allow extra time for sampling the nightlife, cuisine and culture of the region.

"The demand for Asia remains strong as cruisers seek experiences to exotic and off-the-beaten-path locales that give them unique travel moments," said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line's chief commercial officer. "By offering three departure cities we're able to diversify our itineraries and showcase an incredibly robust season. With 24 ports in Japan alone and two dozen more spread among several countries, our guests are in for an immersive Asia adventure."

Westerdam also heads to Asia on a new 53-day "Majestic Japan" Legendary Voyage roundtrip from Seattle. Travelers can visit the Far East with a convenient North American flight, easy embarkation and jetlag-free journey spanning several time zones.

Longer Legendary Voyages on Two Ships

LEGENDARY VOYAGE : New 53- or 52-Day "Majestic Japan" aboard Westerdam departing Sept. 1 or 2, 2024, either roundtrip Seattle, Washington, or between Vancouver, Canada, and Seattle. Featuring 21 total ports, 13 calls throughout Japan and overnights at Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe, Japan, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

LEGENDARY VOYAGE: New 28-Day "Coral Triangle, Volcanoes and The Great Barrier Reef" departing Jan. 5, 2025, roundtrip from Singapore aboard Noordam that explores 10 ports in five countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines, with scenic cruising in the famed Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and past the Kumba and Krakatau volcanoes.

Highlights of the 2024-2025 Asia Season

Noordam explores Asia from September 2024 through April 2025.

Overnight calls include Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe (Osaka); Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand; and Da Nang, Vietnam.

The cruises visit a combined 49 ports in the region, including 24 in Japan.

"North Pacific Crossing" between Vancouver and Yokohama:

"Circle Japan"  14 days, roundtrip from Yokohama. Three itineraries:

"Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines"  14 days, between Yokohama and Singapore. Calls at Osaka (overnight), Naha and Ishigaki, Japan; Keelung (Taipei) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Manila, Boracay and Puerto Princesa, Philippines.

"Far East Discovery"  14 days, between Hong Kong and Singapore. Calls at Halong Bay, Da Nang (Hue), Nha Trang and Phu My, Vietnam; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Laem Chabang (Bangkok, overnight) and Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand.

"Far East Discovery Holiday"  14 days, roundtrip from Singapore. Thailand: Nathon (Koh Samui) and Laem Chabang (Bangkok, overnight). Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phu My, Halong Bay and Da Nang (overnight).

"Indonesian Discovery"  14 days, roundtrip from Singapore. All calls are in Indonesia and include Probolinggo and Semarang, Java; Celukan Bawang and Benoa (Denpasar), Bali; Komodo Island; Lembar, Lombok; and Tanjung Priok, Jakarta. Scenic cruising by the active Krakatau Volcano.

"Japan and Taiwan"  14 days, roundtrip from Yokohama. Japan: Amami (Naze), Naha, Ishigaki Island, Nagasaki, Abruatsu, Kochi and Kobe. Taiwan: Hualien and Keelung (Taipei).

"Japan and South Korea Discovery"  14 days, roundtrip from Yokohama. Japan: Kobe (overnight), Kochi, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Kagoshima. South Korea: Sokocho, Busan, Jeju City (Cheju) and Incheon (Seoul).

Book Back-to-Back Cruises with a Collectors' Voyage

Ranging from 27 to 42 days, Asia Collectors' Voyages are perfect for avid explorers seeking a more extensive cruise experience. The voyages combine back-to-back, nonrepeating itineraries and represent the best per-day value for guests.

Legendary Voyages Linger Longer

Holland America Line's extended Legendary Voyages range from 25 to 59 days and combine the ceremony of a Grand Voyage with itineraries that feature a comprehensive collection of ports that enrich the experience in each destination. Most of Holland America Line's Legendary Voyages sail roundtrip or to/from a North American homeport, allowing travelers to see the world from their doorstep with a convenient domestic flight and easy embarkation.

Have It All Booking Bonus

For a limited time, when guests book select 2024-25 Asia cruises with the Have It All premium package, the standard package amenities of shore excursions, specialty dining, a Signature Beverage Package and Surf Wi-Fi are included  plus the added perk of free prepaid Crew Appreciation, along with free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi. Terms and conditions apply. Visit hollandamerica.com for full details.

Beginning fares for 2024-25 Asia cruises range from $1,699 to $10,999 per person, double occupancy, depending on length. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line

Holland America Line, part of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL and NYSE:CUK), has been exploring the world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to each destination. Offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for 75 years  longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from a Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.

CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890 EMAIL: pr@hollandamerica.com

Cision

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SOURCE Holland America Line

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2022 first-place winner in the Connecting to the Dark category was Rock climbers under a rising blood moon by by Chris Olivas

DarkSky has announced its fourth annual  Capture the Dark  astrophotography contest to highlight the importance of a dark sky to all living things  and to highlight light pollution.

The anti-light pollution organization  fresh from a re-brand from International Dark-Sky Association  has an International Dark Sky Places program that encourages the protection of dark sites. Many of them are favourites with astrophotographers looking for compositions of the night sky.

Its eight different categories  sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism  are designed to celebrate the beauty and benefits of natural darkness  and it goes way beyond stargazing and astronomy. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2023.

The contest is designed to capture the importance of a dark sky to all living things, says Ruskin Hartley, executive director for DarkSky, which is based in Tucson, Arizona. As with past contests, the images help educate people about the serious impacts of light pollution and inspire all of us to protect the night sky.

Research published earlier this year in Science as part of the  Globe at Night  Citizen Science Project found that between 2011 and 2022 the brightness of the sky increased by 10.4% per year in North America and 6.5% in Europe.

2022 first-place winner in the Impact of Light Pollution category was Milky Way Over Li River by Wang Jin.

Theres concern that the stars could be invisible within 20 years , but new categories within the Capture The Dark contest aim to showcase examples of good lighting as well as bad. A lot of people assume dark skies equals stargazing in remote parts of the world, but what we want to introduce the concept of both bad lighting and good quality lighting, says Ruskin. He adds that although there are many astrophotographers who are skilled at capturing starry skies in dark places, photographing how places are lit is harder. Its tough to take a picture of either particularly bad or good lighting and show it up accurately as it as it would look at your eyes, he says.

Using photography to showcase nature adapted to natural light levels  whether its darkness, moonlight, starlight, or badly installed artificial light  is, thinks Ruskin, a continuation of a process that goes back 100 years to the founding of the National Park Service. It was an intentional strategy in the early days of the NPS all the way through to the current day to have photographers show people places they might have never visited to build a national base of support for protecting these places, he says.

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The contest is free and open to all, and photographers may submit one photo in each of these eight categories:

Connecting to the Dark  Photos providing perspective and inspiration to reflect our humanity and place within the universe. International Dark Sky Places  Photos capturing images from certified International Dark Sky Places . The Impact of Light Pollution  Photos demonstrating light pollutions impact on wildlife, ecosystems, climate, human health and night sky viewing including images of severe lighting and glare bombs. The Bright Side of Lighting  Images of lighting using DarkSkys Principles for Responsible Lighting , showing how outdoor light can be beautiful, healthy and functional. Creatures of the Night  Photos showing light pollutions adverse and deadly effects on wildlife and ecology. Deep Sky  Photos capturing deep space objects like nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. The Mobile Photographer  Shots capturing dark sky imagery taken with a camera phone, tablet or GoPro. No DSLR, mirrorless camera or drone shots allowed. Youth  Photos representing any of the contest categories taken by someone 17 or younger.

Theres also a Peoples Choice award, which will come from a public vote for the best of the winners in the eight contest categories, beginning on July 3.

Winners of each category will receive a prize package that includes feature coverage in DarkSkys Nightscape publication, blog and social media posts, plus a DarkSky membership and swag. The Peoples Choice award winner will receive a prize package including a $250 B&H gift card. All winning photos will also be featured in a special DarkSky exhibit in the Shanghai Astronomy Museum in late 2023.

Read more:

Astrophotography: How-to guides, tips and videos

Astrophotography tools: the best camera, lenses and gear

The best lenses for astrophotography

The best star tracker camera mounts

Best equatorial mounts

Best deep-space telescopes

The best light pollution filters

The best CCD cameras for astrophotography

The best spotting scopes

The best binoculars
[Source]

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was welcomed to China with a feast and praise from Chinese fans as he visited the country for the first time in three years.

Musk, 51, arrived in Beijing via private jet, where he met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang just hours after landing on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The SpaceX CEO also met with other officials, such as Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Industry Minister Jin Zhuanglong.

The trip also saw Musk visiting Teslas Shanghai factory, which first opened in 2018. Musks plane left the capital city for Shanghai on Wednesday, where he also met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, the sixth-highest-ranking official in the Chinese government, a source told Reuters.

More from NextShark: Xi tells Putin China is ready to partner with Russia to lead world

Musk also reportedly received a warm welcome from Chinese social media users, with some even calling him "a pioneer," "a global idol" and "Brother Ma."

Musk joined Zeng Yuqun, the CEO of top battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) for a 16-course dinner in Beijing, the menu for which was shared on Weibo.

Musks menu was reportedly customized to bear Teslas logo and two dark horses, a play on Musks Chinese character name. Accompanying those was a Chinese phrase that reportedly translates to the horse that surges ahead of the pack."

More from NextShark: Chinese dad goes viral for wearing a skirt to teach his daughters how to avoid wardrobe malfunctions

Fans also flocked to a Weibo poll of foods Musk must try during his visit to China, which received over 13,000 votes. Some of the suggested foods included a mung bean dish called douzhi, Peking duck and tang hulu, a popular street food that is essentially fruits covered with hardened sugar.

Although specific details of their conversation were not revealed, Qin said in a statement released by his office that he told Musk China is devoted to improving the countrys business environment for investors.

We must step on the brake in time, avoid dangerous driving and be skillful at using the accelerator to promote mutually beneficial cooperation," the foreign minister said.

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More from NextShark: Japanese tech giant Panasonic to offer workers 4-day workweek

Musks private jet reportedly took off from Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport en route to Austin, Texas, on Thursday morning.

More from NextShark: Chinese lab claims world record with 6G breakthrough, 10 to 20 times faster than 5G
Caddo Parish seniors will be graduating this coming week and Caddo Parish School District has a list of locations and times.

Caddo Parish Schools said, all graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2023 will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center, North Caddo High School, which will be held at its school.

The district will also be livestreaming all graduations at: www.youtube.com/c/CaddoParishPublicSchools

Celebrate 11 years of SRAC's annual Critical MASS art exhibition on Saturday in Shreveport

Byrd High School Graduation at Independence Stadium May 28, 2021.

Locations and times

North Caddo High School

Time: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16

Location: North Caddo, 201 Airport Drive, Vivian, Louisiana

Southwood High School

Time: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 17

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Huntington High School

Time: 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 17

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Virtual Academy

Time: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Northwood High School

Time: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Woodlawn High School

Time: 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Green Oaks

Time: 12 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

C.E. Byrd

Time: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Booker T. Washington

Time: 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 19

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Caddo Magnet High School

Time: 12 p.m. Friday, May 19

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Captain Shreve High School

Time: 5 p.m. Friday, May 19

Location: Shreveport Convention Center, 400 Caddo Street, Shreveport, Louisiana

Caddo Parish Schools wants to remind all attending graduation ceremonies at Shreveport Convention Center that parking is free in the parking garage.

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Caddo Parish Schools also said that guest will be checked for security and professional cameras, recording devices, laptops, tablets and selfie sticks are prohibited, as well as bags larger than 6" x 9".

Balloons and noise devices will not be allowed inside the Convention Center.

The buzz about bees at Shreveport Garden Study Club flower show and garden shop

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: When are Caddo Parish High Schools graduating?
From left, Representative Lindsey Prather, Holly Jones, Senior Policy Advisor and Program Manager at North Carolina Department of Justice, Senator Julie Mayfield, Representative Caleb Rudow, Drew Christy, Director of Governor Roy Coopers Western Office, Erica Anderson, Deputy Director and Economic and Community Development Director at Land of Sky Regional Council and Representative Eric Ager.

The closure of the Canton paper mill is having a ripple effect across Western North Carolina.

That's according to speakers at a June 1 forum in Buncombe County.

The ripple effects of the mill closure are greater than Canton proper, and the Pactiv mill, said Erica Anderson, deputy director of the Land of Sky Council. It's going to impact other industries, and I know everyone here is really working with that in mind as well down the road.

A town hall and listening session focusing on the May 25 closure of the Pactiv Evergreen Canton mill was held June 1 at the Enka-Candler Public Library, where panelists gave updates on the hardships the closure has sent through the community.

More: Canton paper mill bell sounds for final time, signaling an end after 115 years

More: Opinion: Closure of Canton paper mill is devastating blow for the people of Canton, WNC

Officials first offered information they had prepared on the effects of the shutdown, including the loss of 1,160 Canton jobs. Panel members took questions and discussed what local and state governments are doing to support businesses and workers impacted by the shutdown.

Anderson said Land of Sky's workforce development board is working in tandem with the Southwestern Workforce Development Board to find adequate financial assistance to displaced workers. Also in their crosshairs are the supply chains disrupted by the mills shutdown.

Erica Anderson, Deputy Director and Economic and Community Development Director at Land of Sky Regional Council speaks during a forum on the Canton mill closure June 1, 2023.

We're still not sure what the impacts will be for our logging industry, for the forest products industry that covers all of Western North Carolina and parts of Upstate South Carolina, Anderson said. They all supply chips to the mill.

Anderson also said the railway that transported these wood chips to the mill is looking at significant changes.

Drew Christy, director of Gov. Roy Coopers Western office, added that Blue Ridge Southern Railroad has been forced to lay off half of its staff, as 72% of all freight that came from Asheville to Canton went directly into the mill.

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Christy said he is monitoring this ripple impact and encouraged locals to show their support to small businesses in the wake of the shutdown.

I heard an interesting anecdote that there's a tool shop here in Candler that has already seen a 15% decrease in sales from all the truckers that aren't coming by to shop and buy tools, Christy said. So, we need to make sure that we all bypass the big box stores and shop local to help support our local businesses.

Christy told the audience that both Coopers office and Attorney General Josh Stein are hard at work in their effort to hold Pactiv Evergreen accountable for failing to fulfill an agreement that led to economic incentives for the company.

In 2015, the state provided a $12 million grant to Pactiv Evergreen, on the condition it keeps at least 800 employees on staff at the Canton mill through the end of 2024. Stein and Cooper wrote an open letter to the company soon after the mills closure was announced demanding it returns the grant.

The governor's office had a conversation with Pactiv Evergreen, Christy said. Lets just say that that conversation was not very fruitful.

More: Canton paper mill closing a 'regional crisis,' mayor says; Buncombe also affected

More: As smell, smoke clear with mill closing, real estate agents turn eyes on Canton

Christy assured the audience, however, that financial aid was available to impacted people, with or without the return of this grant money, and that Coopers offices are doing their best to secure more funding to further these programs.

Anderson said there are 13,000 job openings in the region, with an unemployment rate of only 2%, the lowest in N.C. However, the mills 1,160 employees were paid an average salary of $80,000, higher than the national and local average. While former mill workers may be able to find work, many have already encountered difficulties finding a salary that matches their needs. Programs listed by the panelists aim to provide a good starting point.

Some information Christy provided on funding and programming designed to provide assistance to impacted workers:

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has applied for a National Dislocated Workers Grant of $7.5 million. These grants provide resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected layoff events causing significant job losses. The funding is intended to temporarily expand capacities to serve dislocated workers and meet the increased demands for federally supported employment and training services. They hope to hear back about the grant in the next week.

Pactiv Evergreen must provide COBRA insurance in July. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is working with the state Department of Health and Human Services to provide further assistance after this coverage is no longer active. A June 16 workshop is set to develop solutions. Christy encouraged affected residents to find more information about health insurance on the Milltown Strong website.

On June 16, The Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville will hold a hiring and resources fair from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring over 50 employers and a number of community resources. They will also be distributing 200 laptops to individuals for assistance with job searches and other needs.

Anderson added that there will be another job fair held June 29 at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.

Another concern expressed by attendees and the panel was the future of Canton's wastewater treatment. The mill has been responsible for the treatment, and Pactiv Evergreen will be required to continue providing this for the next two years.

State Sen. Julie Mayfield said lawmakers representing Haywood are currently working to secure a $42 million package to support the town and school system in Canton as well as to fund the siting and building of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Christy added that the town has been in talks with Pactiv Evergreen to potentially extend the required two years of maintenance to the treatment plant. A new wastewater treatment plant will come with a hefty price tag and will require five to six years to complete.

No amount of money is going to speed up the timeframe to get to it, Christy said. It's just going to take time. So, we've got to work with the town to figure out what to do at for these additional three-plus years after Evergreen is no longer obligated to operate.

The panel encouraged those impacted by the mill's shutdown to take advantage of available resources. Cantons website, Milltown Strong, is devoted to helping affected residents land on their feet and remain safe and healthy as they take their next steps. Coopers resources page provides further resources, as well as information on the grant money it expects to have returned by Pactiv Evergreen.

Iris Seaton is the Citizen Times News Reporting Intern. Email her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Canton paper mill closure: What happens next for employees, the town?
Casper the Rare White Dolphin  One of Only Three in the World Appears in California

The all-white dolphin, nicknamed "Casper," is either albino or leucistic and has only ever been spotted in Monterey Bay, California

evan brodsky/storyful

Casper the friendly dolphin has made yet another appearance in Monterey Bay!

The rare white marine mammal is a Risso's dolphin. The species is known for its circular face and is commonly found just south of California's Bay area. First spotted in 2014, marine biologists believe Casper is either albino or leucistic  both cause a loss in pigment in the skin and hair  but no one knows for sure.



Albino animals can be distinguished from leucistic because the former has red eyes, whereas the latter does not. Until someone can glimpse Casper's eyes  a nearly impossible feat  his exact genetic mutation remains a mystery.

Related: Photographer Captures 'Magic Moment' Between Dancing Whale and Dolphin on Video in Hawaii

There are only three known all-white Risso's dolphins in the world, and Casper is one of them. The Monterey Bay Whale Watch crew have spotted Casper before, first in 2014, and recently caught sight of the famous dolphin swimming among a pod of over 1,000 dolphins on April 25.

"Any day spent in the company of this special individual is a good day in our book," The Monterey Bay Whale Watch wrote in an April 26 Facebook post featuring images of the eye-catching white fins peaking out above the water.

Casper's fans flooded the post's comments section, with one person writing, "I so hope to see Casper one day!!!!! "

Another comment read: "Very excited to see Casper ."

Video footage from Monterey Bay Whale Watch's most recent run-in with Casper shows the animal swimming smoothly alongside several other dolphins, occasionally breaking the water to glow in the sunshine.

Casper is famous around the world, but he is genuinely a local celebrity.

"Our company was the first to spot Casper in August of 2014 as a calf, so he is likely around nine years old now," A spokesperson for Monterey Bay Whale Watch told Newsweek in April. "We were also the ones to determine his sex as male! We see him periodically throughout the year, and he has only been observed here in Monterey Bay!"

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Read the original article on People.
Keeping up with the Dillards! Jill Duggar and Derick Dillards romance has captivated audiences for years, beginning with their whirlwind courtship.

The 19 Kids and Counting alum, who is the fourth child of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar, found her future husband through her father, making their road to marriage somewhat seamless.

The duos courtship began in 2013, after Dillard had become close with Jim Bob during his two-year mission to Nepal. Being that we had similar life goals, she caught my attention, Dillard wrote via the couples wedding website in 2014, noting he spoke with her on the phone once before she came to visit him in Nepal alongside her dad.

The more I spent time with him and observed his integrity, sweet spirit and love for God and service to others, the more I fell in love with him, Jill explained on the duos website, noting that her trip to see him shifted their relationship and officially started their courtship.

Once Dillard returned to the U.S. in 2014, the pairs romance heated up and the attorney proposed in March of that year.

Were just really trying to keep our relationship focused not on the physical but really just more on communication and continuing to learn more about each other, Jill told ABC after their engagement. Were saving our first kiss and things beyond that for our wedding.

Several weeks before tying the knot in June 2014, Jill expressed how glad she was to be engaged to the most awesome guy in the world via Twitter.

The couple have since welcomed three sons, Israel, Samuel and Frederick, and been vocal about how they keep their romance alive.

Sex is a super important part of marriage, but its also important to prioritize fun and intimacy that leads to a healthy marriage, including a healthy sex life, the Counting On alum said of her relationship with her husband during a February 2021 YouTube video, in which they described how they talk to their kids about sex.

The pair then explained in kid-friendly terms that babies get born after their parents have a date and then they start growing inside of mommys tummy. In the clip, Jill chimed in, saying the duo had a bunch of dates before becoming parents. Dillard cheekily replied, We did have four dates in one day, I think, that one time. Jill added, Hey, we have a good sex life.

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Scroll down to relive Jill and Dillards relationship highs and lows:
All five suspects are in police custody Monday night after a week-long hunt stemming from the Memorial Day shooting that injured nine  including a 1-year-old child  in Hollywood Beach.

Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., 18, Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, and Jordan Burton, 15, face several counts of attempted murder and carrying concealed firearms. Two 18-year-olds, Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart, have been charged with firearm-related offenses.

Take a look at the timeline of events that culminated in the Hollywood police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies tracking them down in a seven-day span.

Pedestrians and bicyclist move around a Hollywood Police Car as it sits parked on the 1214 block of North Broadwalk near Nicks Bar and Grill after police responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Tragic Memorial Day shooting

Around 6:45 p.m. May 29, police rushed to the scene after an altercation between two groups escalated to gunfire on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk  prompting thousands of Memorial Day beach-goers to hysterically scatter and duck for cover.

The citys web cameras captured the chaos that ensued: People running away from the gun shots, a woman trying to cover a kid with her body and others carrying babies and toddlers to safety.

First responders took the victims to Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood. The childrens ages range from 1 to 17 years; the adults ages range from 25 to 65, authorities told reporters near the crime scene.

The names of the wounded havent been released by officials, but family members of the 1-year-old victim identified him as 16-month-old Amari. Another child injured, 15-year-old Kyan Reddix, was shot four times  two bullets to the stomach and two to the chest, his mother Latroya Stone told 7News. Two of the people shot were part of one of the groups involved in the altercation.

Five suspects have been arrested in connection to a mass shooting that left nine people injured in Hollywood Beach (Hollywood, FL) on May 29, 2023. From left to right: Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, Jordan Burton, 15, and 18-year-olds Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart.

Two suspects arrested

Two 18-year-old men were arrested hours after the shooting a few blocks away from the crime scene on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk near Johnson Street. Investigators also recovered five guns of which two were stolen from Miami-Dade County and Texas respectively, Hollywood police said the following day in a news release.

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READ MORE: Two arrested in Hollywood Beach shooting. Businesses say security a growing concern

Morgan Deslouches, a Hollywood resident, is facing charges of grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and removing or altering the serial number from a gun after police say they found a black Smith & Wesson inside a bag hanging from his left shoulder. Keshawn Paul Stewart of Dania Beach was arrested on a charge of carrying a concealed firearm after officers said they spotted a fully loaded semi-automatic 9mm handgun inside a backpack he was carrying.

Stewart and Deslouches have since been released on bails of $15,000 and $20,000 respectively after pleading not guilty, court records show. A judge ordered Deslouches not to possess any firearms or ammo as well as to not contact the victims or any other person involved in the shooting. The same judge also told Steward not to return to the area of the shooting and to avoid contacting other co-defendants.

Attorneys for Stewart and Deslouches didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

READ MORE: Two arrested in Hollywood Beach shooting that left 9 wounded on Memorial Day

On May 30, the day after the shooting, authorities announced that three more suspects were on the loose, releasing video surveillance that showed them fleeing from the scene.

A Hollywood Police Car sits parked on the 1214 block of North Broadwalk near Nicks Bar and Grill after police responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Third arrest

A third suspect involved in the Hollywood Beach Memorial Day shooting was captured Saturday afternoon by Hollywood police and U.S. Marshals, officials said.

Jordan Burton is facing one count of attempted murder in the first degree, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

READ MORE: A third arrest has been made in the Hollywood Beach shooting

Investigators say Burton, Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., Ariel Cardahn Paul and others approached the other group before words were exchanged and a fight ensued. Burton, police say, appeared to brandish a handgun and fire at the other group.

Attorney information for the three suspects wasnt available Tuesday afternoon.

A Hollywood Police Car sits parked on the 1200 block of North Broadwalk near the Hollywood Beach Theatre police have responded to reports of multiple people shot during Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Fourth arrest

Ariel Cardahn Paul was taken into custody by Hollywood police Sunday night. He faces one count of attempted murder in the first degree, eight counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.

According to investigators, he whipped out a silver-colored handgun and, like Burton, appeared to fire indiscriminately at the opposing crew as well as into the crowd before both groups fled in various directions.

READ MORE: Fourth arrest made in the Hollywood Beach shooting

Two 9mm handguns were recovered under the stairwell of a nearby apartment building where Jordan and Stewart were seen, investigators say. A black Smith & Wesson .380 handgun was found nearby in the bushes behind a tiki hut.

The Broward State Attorneys Office told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that prosecutors will review everything before making any charging decisions, whether the suspects are adults or juveniles.

Fifth  and final  arrest

The last suspect on the run was tracked down Monday afternoon by Hollywood police. Lionel Jean-Charles Jr. faces the same attempted murder and weapon charges as Jordan Burton and Ariel Cardahn Paul. The Hallandale Beach man remained behind bars at Broward Countys Main Jail as of Tuesday night, records show.

Investigators say surveillance footage captured Jean-Charles Jr. as he fled from police northbound on North Ocean Drive, where he then turned east on Cleveland Street, removed his yellow hoodie and threw it away.

READ MORE: Fifth  and final  suspect arrested in the Hollywood Beach shooting that left 9 hurt

Jean-Charles Jr., police say, unprovoked, willfully and intentionally produced a handgun with the intent to murder one of the males from the other group  while simultaneously endangering the public and innocent bystanders.

Hollywood mayor thanks police, public

Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy on Tuesday thanked the community for assisting law enforcement and showing that we stand united in not tolerating such behavior in our cities and public spaces.

The collaborative response that we saw from the public, law enforcement, good Samaritans, paramedics and medical professionals highlights the power of unity when we stand united against crime and come to the aid of those in need, he said in a Facebook post. Moving forward, let us continue to support one another, remain vigilant against any form of criminal activity, and foster a culture of care and responsibility

Levy also had a message for parents, teachers and other adults.

It is crucial that we instill in our youth the understanding that if they witness or hear about any situation that may pose harm to someone, their responsibility is to confide in a trusted adult, whether it be a teacher, a parent, police or any reliable person, he said. Keeping our community safe requires the active participation of each and every one of us, and by empowering our youth with this knowledge, we are fostering a culture of care and vigilance.

Miami Herald staff reporters Grethel Aguila and Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
FILE PHOTO: A sign at the front entrance to the global headquarters of Illumina is pictured in San Diego, California

By Diane Bartz and Mrinmay Dey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Illumina on Monday filed an appeal against a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order, demanding that it divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail over competition concerns in the U.S. market for cancer tests.

San Diego-based Illumina is arguing that the FTC "violated due process by depriving Illumina and Grail of a fair proceeding before an impartial tribunal," according to the filing in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

An FTC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The FTC in April ruled for a second time that Illumina's 2021 acquisition of its formerly part-owned subsidiary should be undone. An administrative law judge at the FTC had earlier dismissed the antitrust charges brought against Illumina but FTC staff won an appeal against that decision.

The FTC has been concerned that Illumina, the dominant provider of DNA sequencing of tumors and cancer cells that help match patients with the best treatment option, might raise prices or refuse to sell to Grail's rivals.

Grail, valued at $7.1 billion under Illumina's deal, is seeking to market a powerful test to diagnose many kinds of cancer from a single blood test, known as a liquid biopsy.

Illumina has pledged to continue selling its DNA sequencing services to other firms. It has offered to sign contracts to supply any of Grail's rivals and to not raise prices.

The deal also faces stiff headwinds in Europe.

In early December, EU antitrust regulators proposed measures for Illumina to unwind its acquisition of Grail, three months after blocking the deal.

Illumina has also appealed that decision on the grounds that it does no business in Europe and therefore the EU competition enforcer has no jurisdiction.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who owns 1.4% of the company, had also urged Illumina to unwind the Grail deal which he called a risky acquisition. Illumina CEO Francis deSouza, who was challenged by Icahn nominee Vincent Intrieri, survived the campaign.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz and Mrinmay Dey; Editing by Jamie Freed and Edwina Gibbs)
Fox News Channels Shannon Bream is penning a very unique legacy  figuratively and literally. She not only recently became Fox News Sundays first-ever female anchor, but shes riding high off her third consecutive New York Times bestseller titled, Love Stories of the Bible, published by Fox News Books, where she is a founding author.

Bream joined Fox News in 2007 as a Washington D.C-based correspondent covering the Supreme Court. In addition to her role as Sunday anchor, Bream is a Chief Legal Correspondent for the network and host of Livin the Bream, a podcast on Fox News Radio where she shares inspirational stories, personal anecdotes and an insiders perspective on actions and rulings from the high court.

Lets face it, Im a legal nerd. My brain will probably always approach every story as an attorney, Bream told TheWrap.

Though Bream first made a name for herself on the legal beat, its her series of faith-based books coupled with her cable news duties that have carved her out a unique space in the media landscape. Her debut title, The Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today, spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, five of which made it to No. 1. The second book in the franchise, Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, which also rose to No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, moved 200,000 copies within the first five weeks.



TheWrap talked to the anchor about the book series, her new role at Fox News Channel and the challenges of covering politics in 2023 versus a decade ago.

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TheWrap: Congratulations on the success of your books. What do you think it is about your book series that especially resonates with readers and why?

Shannon Bream: I think these stories from the Bible are filled with such optimism and hope, the truth that God is present in the midst of our suffering. Readers told me they were very comforted by that during the pandemic. People often express how surprised they are that these stories involving family squabbles, double-crossing, identity theft, heartbreak and sabotage are actually in Scripture. When they see that God can work through all of our messes, it reminds them that He is forgiving and wants to connect with each of us.



Before you were promoted to Fox News Sunday anchor, did you have any trepidation about being the first woman ever to front the broadcast?

I didnt, simply because I look around and see strong, smart female journalists everywhere. Its because of the perseverance and guts of women like Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer that there was never anything I thought I couldnt do in the media world.



What stories in particular as a journalist and anchor are you most passionate about?

Lets face it, Im a legal nerd. My brain will probably always approach every story as an attorney. Its what I was trained to do. Im fascinated by the Supreme Court and deeply grateful that I get to tell people what the Courts sometimes very wonky decisions actually mean to their real lives.

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Any plans for future books besides this series and if so what kind of book would you be interested in writing?

Since childhood, my favorite books have been fictional stories that allow you to disappear into a totally different world. I didnt grow up with much materially, but I had a library card and that meant my imagination was always going to places across space and time. Ive got a fiction story that I think God sort of dropped in my lap, but its not a genre I have any experience with so Im working at it. There is plenty of room for improvement, and I want to do this story justice eventually!



Any aspirations to moderate any of the GOP primary debates?

I have done this in the past, and its the most labor-intensive assignment Ive ever tackled. Youve got to know just about every vote, every position, every word each candidate has ever said on any topic. Its great fun to do it as a team, sharing the load.



With cable news at a bit of a crossroads with finding new innovative ways to reach new audiences, do you have any ideas of your own that could draw in new viewers?

We try to think about topics and voices that younger viewers may not think have generally been represented on traditional Sunday morning shows. We try to weave in those issues and guests, and weve seen our younger audience grow. Were also mindful of going to the social media platforms where people who havent engaged with Sunday political shows in the past may be hanging out in 2023.



Who or what made you want to become a broadcast journalist? Inspirations? Role models?

At the end of the day, I want to be known as someone who delivered my work with integrity. Its tempting to chase ratings and headlines, but am I actually giving viewers what they need in order to make educated decisions about how they vote and what policies they want to support? I always look to my mentor, Brit Hume. He calls it like he sees it, and hes deeply thoughtful in his analysis.

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What is the biggest difference between covering politics in 2023 and covering politics, say, 10 years ago?

Social media. President Trump changed everything when he embraced Twitter as a way to get to potential voters without being filtered through traditional media outlets. It makes access to information/video/eyewitness accounts almost immediate. But  and its a big but  it calls on everyone consuming it to be merciless about fact-checking. The closer you can get to the key sourcing  whether thats documents or people who were directly involved  the better. Instant access can be a gift, but it requires us all to be guarded skeptics.



Who would be your dream interview GET, living or dead?

I always say, Jesus. I am a person of deep faith, but like any human being, I have questions about things like suffering and justice and mercy.

The Fox News-Dominion lawsuit exposed a side of the channels business that called into question what viewers can actually believe is fact vs. fiction across the FNCs spectrum. Do you think the Fox News show hosts have taken unfair hits to their credibility due to the fallout from the behavior of the Fox News Opinion hosts?

While I cannot comment about the Dominion case that was settled last month, I will say that my colleagues at Fox News are the best in the business whether their role is as a journalist to bring the latest in breaking news or as an opinion host to provide commentary on the news of the day. I am proud to work at a news organization where many viewpoints are represented and that comes through in our audience makeup  the most politically diverse audience in cable news.

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The corporate sword has fallen on CNN en Espanol, as a major reorganization at the cable news network brought layoffs and uncertainty for those who remain  and a mourning for the ambitious project that once sought to tap a Spanish-speaking audience in the hundreds of millions from Alaska to Patagonia, as CNN executives once said, including the fast-growing Hispanic population in the United States.

[The layoffs were] basically the end of the network as we know it, one CNN en Espanol staffer told TheWrap when the news first broke May 25.

Its ridiculous given the demographics in the U.S.A. that they couldnt make a viable product for that marketplace, that person added.

But CNN CEO Chris Licht has stated he saved CNN en Espanol as a cable channel, and individuals close to the decision said Warner Bros. Discovery is making moves to ensure the Spanish-language networks future. The company plans to move the bulk of CNNEEs efforts to Mexico City  the capital of the worlds largest Spanish-speaking country  while scaling back production of programming for linear television and investing more in content for younger audiences who consume news on mobile devices.

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This marks the latest effort from CNN to shift its Spanish-language strategy toward finding new audiences. The news channel, owned by CNN Global, first launched on pay television in March 1997, with production centers in Argentina, Mexico and even Cuba, with the goal of providing a Spanish-language news service to audiences in the U.S. and Latin America. The network shifted focus toward growing its foothold with U.S. audiences in 2010, as Cynthia Darr Hudson joined leadership as senior vice president and general manager of the network.

We started this network very much focused on Latin America, and that remains a priority market for us, Tony Maddox, then executive vice president and managing director of CNN International, told the New York Times in 2011. [Its] clear that the Hispanic population of the United States is growing, and growing at a rapid rate, and that it is a market underserved by the kind of news service we can provide.

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Maddox told the outlet that CNNEEs transformation was one of most significant investments CNN made in that time, the largest since launch.

But a dozen years since that corporate gamble, largely focused on reimagining the linear product around magazine-style shows, CNN en Espanol now faces a new period of change, this time focused on reaching digital audiences around the world.

Also Read:

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The latest transformation led to cutting dozens of jobs across the U.S. in favor of more presence at CNNs Mexico City bureau. Insiders told TheWrap that CNNEE will continue to have a presence in the companys Miami and Atlanta bureaus (The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the Atlanta bureau will be reduced from about 80 to seven positions), and will remain the home bases for the newsrooms leadership team, with plans to create 55 jobs in Mexico City.

But for the staffers who spoke to TheWrap, the writing was on the wall for CNN en Espanols cable presence.

Im told only two live shows will survive and all else will be taped and lots of Discovery en Espanol content, the staffer told TheWrap, referring to the more-watched sister channel that became part of CNNs corporate family with the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger last year. Going forward, rumors are that another shoe will drop and that the TV network will close down entirely by years end, leaving only digital.

But other insiders said the plan to kill CNNEEs little-watched linear channel came from prior leadership and Licht plans to keep the operation going with a bigger focus on its digital presence. Those individuals also told TheWrap CNNEE is planning to set up a new studio at the Mexico City bureau, while retaining a studio in Miami.

Also Read:

CNN Aftershocks: The Fallout for CEO Chris Licht After Trump Town Hall

Not everyone feels like Licht is up for the job of saving CNNEE, on top of all the other challenges he faces.

The inevitable decimation of CNN en Espanol is just another indication that the task at hand was underestimated by Warner Bros. Discovery, and [its CEO David Zaslav] overestimated the guy he chose to take it on, another network insider told TheWrap. Chris Licht doesnt care about CNNEE because he doesnt understand its importance in Latin America.

That person noted that CNN is still run by a white guy, whereas many of the top news divisions across media have diversified their chiefs with POC.

Its true that leadership at other cable and news media operations have become more diverse, including NBCUniversal News chairman Cesar Conde, CBS News president Neeraj Khemlani and ABC News president Kimberly Goodwin, among others.

Individuals with knowledge of the plans for CNNEE noted that its digital audience has grown by 20% since 2019. A spokesperson for CNN told TheWrap that CNNEEs digital efforts reach about 22 million-23 million unique users a month globally.

Also Read:

Chris Licht Apologizes to CNN Staff After Devastating Atlantic Profile: I Should Not Be in the News

Compare that to the linear ratings, according to Nielsen: CNN en Espanol was down year over year in ratings across the board. Primetime viewers sank from 15,000 in May 2022 to 6,000 in May 2023.

After the reorganization, CNNEE will have a presence around Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Atlanta and Miami, along with correspondents across the U.S. and worldwide.

In a memo to staff on May 25, Hudson wrote that CNNEE will be streamlining our linear news output, shifting production to our Mexico City bureau and introducing new cross-platform programming. We will also be investing in CNNEs digital platform, safeguarding CNNEEs newsgathering strength in the U.S. and utilizing our network-wide investments in content management to create a greatly enhanced digital user experience.

While CNN en Espanol has endured a decline in viewership, a reality for all linear television and cable news media, and its future has been on shaky ground for years, the network received a vote of confidence from Licht during a company town hall in November.

There have been a lot of questions about its location, and frankly, CNNEE as a brand. I did not agree with CNNs previous plans to shut down CNNEEs linear network, so Ive changed that strategy to ensure that CNNEE can thrive in the future, Licht said at the time. I believe in CNNEE and, more broadly, our presence in [Latin America]. And I know we can be an even bigger player in the region.

Sharon Waxman, Joseph Kapsch and Loree Seitz contributed to this story.

Also Read:

Chris Licht Is in the Hot Seat  but the Real Challenge Is Defining CNN
Jacquemus just announced the opening of its new temporary boutique in Portofino, Italy -- alongside launching its third capsule collection.

An ode to the French Riviera, the new collection aims to represent Jacquemus' brand aesthetic, merging a sunny color palette with body-skimming silhouettes. Comprising menswear and womenswear designs across ready-to-wear and accessories, the collection features store exclusives which arrive in natural earth tones and pale yellows, to complement its new Italian location.

Designed in collaboration with MODES, an omnichannel retail platform which specializes in launching boutiques in style capitals and resort destinations, the new pop-up location aims to bring some of Jacquemus' most-desired new styles to the globe, as it plans a string of temporary, beach-inspired stores to Europe this summer. The pop-up was announced by Jacquemus on Instagram, alongside teasing a new French location -- so watch this space.

Jacquemus' new Portofino pop-up is available to visit from now until October 16 2023.

Jacquemus Portofino

Via Calata Marconi, 45

16034 Portofino GE,

Italy

In other news, creative director Gabriela Hearst is rumored to exit Chloe.
Courtesy of Jill Duggar Dillard/Instagram

Telling her truth. While Jill Duggar has been outspoken about her difficult relationship with her family over the years, she still has love for the people who raised her.

The former TLC personality, 32, shared an inspiring message via Instagram following the release of Prime Videos bombshell docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets. Life [is] a journey. Sometimes courage is built in the toughest storms, she captioned a pic of herself posing by water on Sunday, June 4.

One fan took to the comments section to praise the Arkansas natives involvement in the four-part series, which explored the controversial religious group the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), which the Duggars have followed for years. You did a great job on the documentary! I don't even see any dishonoring of your parents; just facts about what happened and captivating on all the beautiful childhood memories, the user wrote.

The fan continued: Keep on doing what you're doing. Oh, and singing Hey Girl by Anne Wilson. I call that one of my freedom songs. Never forget who you are, and who made you the way you are.

The Counting the Cost author  who shares sons Israel, 8, Samuel, 5, and Frederick, 11 months, with husband Derick Dillard  replied to the comment, writing, Thanks.  I love my parents.

In the doc, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars daughter opened up about her experience growing up on TV, revealing that she was never paid for her time on 19 Kids and Counting and its spinoff Counting On. Instead, she claimed that all their earnings went to her father.

Elsewhere in the series, Jill claimed she felt obligated to help her family following the aftermath of Josh Duggars molestation scandal. News broke in May 2015 that the now-35-year-old had molested five girls between 2002 and 2003. One month later, Jill and her sister Jessa Duggar revealed during an interview with Megyn Kelly that they were among their brothers victims.

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Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard. Courtesy of Prime Video/Youtube

Its not something that Im proud of, Jill said of the interview in the docuseries. "If I hadn't felt obligated to like, one, do it for the sake of the show and two, do it for the sake of my parents, I wouldn't have done it."

Several years after the initial scandal, Josh  who shares seven kids with his wife, Anna Duggar  was arrested for possession of child pornography in April 2021. He was officially sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in May 2022.

TLC cut ties with the Duggars amid the controversy, canceling Counting On in 2021. Jill revealed in the Prime Video series that she and Derick, 34, were offered money by her father to continue filming the spinoff before they left in 2017. "In order to receive that, you had to sign another deal with my dad [and] his production company, Mad Family Inc.," she claimed. "It would be [for], like, forever. We were automatically like, 'We're done.'"

The couple spoke out about their decision to quit the show in an October 2020 YouTube video. We found out we didnt have as much control over our lives as it related to the show and stuff, as we needed, Jill said at the time. We had to make a decision at that time to kind of put the show aside  to pursue our own goals and everything. Thats when we made that decision.

Though she called the choice a difficult one, Jill noted that she and Derick did not regret leaving the show.

While her relationships with her parents and siblings have become rocky since distancing herself from the family, Jill is happy to have more control over her own life.

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"Eventually you start making your own decisions, like the nose ring that I got, and it's piece by piece, she said during the docuseries. Little by little ... [you] do what you need to survive."
How Do You Live U.S. Distributor Announced for Hayao Miyazaki Movie

Ahead of its upcoming premiere in Japan on July 14, The World of Reel brings word that GKIDS has acquired North American theatrical distribution rights to Studio Ghiblis forthcoming animated movie How Do You Live. The film is set to be the final work from acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. GKIDS has not yet revealed the date for its U.S. release.

Before this announcement, it was revealed Studio Ghibli has decided not to release any trailers or images of the upcoming movie. This is an attempt to surprise moviegoers and long-time Miyazaki fans with the projects story.

Shop Studio Ghibli on Amazon

What to Expect in How Do You Live?

Producer Suzuki Toshio also confirmed that Miyazakis How Do You Live wont be based on the 1937 Japanese coming-of-age story by Genzaburo Yoshino, despite sharing the same title. The novel is one of Miyazakis favorite books, which was why it was initially thought to be the source material for the movie. However, Suzuki confirmed the film will instead feature an original story. In a previous interview, Studio Ghibli executive Toshio Suzuki described the project as a big fantastical film being worked on by 60 animators.

Miyazaki is best known for directing moving and classic animated films including My Neighbor, Kikis Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, and Ponyo. Fans are now able to celebrate his films through Studio Ghiblis recently-opened theme park, which features attractions and rides inspired by Miyazakis work.

The post How Do You Live U.S. Distributor Announced for Hayao Miyazaki Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Young love. Before Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle in 2018, he dated Chelsy Davy on and off for several years.

The duo met in South Africa in 2004 after Harry finished his studies at Eton College and before he began his military training at Sandhurst.

One night, we talked about having some people over. For dinner. Just one small problem. We didnt know anyone in Cape Town, the Duke of Sussex wrote in his January 2023 memoir, Spare. But wait, that wasnt completely true. Id met someone years earlier, a girl from South Africa. At the Berkshire Polo Club. Chelsy. I remember her being  different.

In the book, Harry fondly described the Zimbabwe native as wholly unconcerned with appearances and his royal position.

Unlike so many girls I met, she wasnt visibly fitting herself for a crown the moment she shook my hand. She seemed immune to that common affliction sometimes called throne syndrome, the BetterUp CIO wrote. Id always wanted to know what it might be like to meet a woman and not have her eyes widen at the mention of my title but instead to widen them myself, using my mind, my heart. With Chelsy, that seemed a real possibility. Not only was she uninterested in my title, she seemed bored by it. Oh, youre a prince? Yawn.

Soon after reconnecting in South Africa, the pair began dating. However, they would experience their share of ups and downs while Harry was in the army. I recall one difficult chat. What were we doing? Where were we heading? the former military pilot wrote. She knew I cared about her. But she felt unseen.

After years of dating on and off, the duke and Davy called it quits for good in 2010. In Spare, the Archewell cofounder revealed that the businesswomans reservations about life in the public eye contributed to their split.

The whole world isnt made to put up with constant scrutiny, and I dont know if Chels could bear it, and I couldnt ask her to. Chels insisted that she was not sure if she was prepared for all of that. A whole life with someone on your heels? What could I say to her? he wrote, adding that he completely understood her desire for freedom.

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More than a decade after the twosome split, their relationship was referenced in the princes lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers. In Harrys witness statement, which he wrote in February 2023 and went public when the trial began that June, Harry claimed that the media companys alleged unlawful intrusions caused great challenges in the relationship and caused Davy to conclude that a royal life was not for her.

Following their split, the jewelry brand founder moved on with Sam Cutmore-Scott, whom she wed in 2022. The pair share son Leo, born in 2022. Harry, meanwhile, shares son Archie, born in 2019, and daughter Lilibet, born in 2021, with Meghan.

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Keep scrolling for a look at Harry and Davys relationship timeline:
Anna Shay

Anna Shay, the nonchalant matriarch of Netflixs reality series Bling Empire, has died. As confirmed by Variety, Shay died from a stroke. She was 62.

It saddens our hearts to announce that Anna Shay, a loving mother, grandmother, charismatic star, and our brightest ray of sunshine, has passed away at the early age of 62 from a stroke, the family wrote in a statement. Anna taught us many life lessons on how not to take life too seriously and to enjoy the finer things. Her impact on our lives will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Read more

Born in Japan to American engineer Edward Shay and half-Japanese, half-Russian entrepreneur Ai Oizumi Shay, Anna Shay was an heiress to a vast fortune that paved the way for her reality television persona. Her father founded Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE), a defense contractor, and her mother exported silks and pearls and had a patent on plastic scissors for children. In 1968, the family moved from Tokyo to Los Angeles, which became their primary home.

On the show, the source of Shays wealth was kept ambiguous, with Shay disagreeing with the assertion that her money came from weapons. In 2006, she and her brother sold PAE to Lockheed Martin for $1.2 billion. My parents were so private because of what my fathers company did, right? Shay told The Tatler last year. So we grew up with security guardsthe men in blackand yeah, I would just make fun of them and see if I could run away from them. I still do it now!

Known for her blunt, disaffected, and cutting temperament on Bling Empire, Anna Shay quickly became a fan favorite. Inspired by the film Crazy Rich Asians, Bling Empire, which aired its last season in October 2022, allowed Shay to slot into the Michelle Yeoh role and become the unbothered bedrock of the show.



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I wasnt even expecting to be in front of the camera, she told People. Im very shy, and I went along with whatever situation was happening. I was just being me.

Shay is survived by her son Kenny Kemp, her brother Allen Shay, and her grandchildren.

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Its a case of deja news for MSNBC host Rachel Maddow after former president Trump congratulated North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un on Friday for the addition of North Korea to the executive board of the World Health Organization. On Monday night, Maddow couldnt help but laugh at history repeating itself.

That history, as she reminded her viewers, is the Do Not Congratulate saga of 2018. The short version of that is, in 2018, The Washington Post reported that Trumps then-team had to write the words do not congratulate in all caps across his briefings about the election of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

They were not real elections. It was therefore important that the President of the United States shouldnt endorse the purported outcome of these elections, as if they were real, Maddow explained.

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Of course, Trump ignored those words and immediately congratulated Putin upon speaking with him. Naturally, Maddow drew the comparison between congratulating Putin and Trump congratulating Kim Jong Un, calling it deja news (seemingly in reference to her newly announced podcast).

Speaking more seriously though, Maddow noted that its basically a standing order for American politicians to not congratulate a known dictator, and marveled at the fact that some Republicans are still supporting him after it.

In a normal political world, somewhere between you deciding to congratulate the North Korean dictator, and you misspelling that congratulations  somewhere between there, the idea of you as presidential material would, like, shred itself and blow away like a plastic bag on the median of a 10-lane highway, she said. But instead, you know, hes still the frontrunner of the Republican Partys presidential nominating contest for 2024.

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Maddow then turned her ire  and amusement  to Trumps competitor Ron DeSantis, who said he was surprised by Trumps praise of the dictator.

Surprised, really? I mean, Trump expressing warm, misspelled congratulations to the North Korean dictator is a lot of things but is it surprising really? she mocked. You really didnt see that coming? We really didnt see this exact thing from him before?

You can watch Maddows full thoughts in the video above.

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A resident of the apartment building that partially collapsed in Davenport, Iowa last week, has filed a lawsuit against the property owner, the city as well as engineers and contractors who worked on the building- citing negligence.

The complaint, filed in Scott County court on Monday (5 June) was filed on behalf of Dayna Feuerbach who lived in The Davenport at the time of its collapse.

It accuses the buildings owner, Andrew Wold, and companies of failing to maintain the building to keep tenants safe. It also accuses the city of failing to act on multiple warnings about the buildings structural integrity, according to NBC News which obtained a copy.

Despite knowledge of the inevitable nature of this collapse, neither Wold, the City of Davenport, nor the licensed engineers ordered the necessary evacuation of the building, the complaint alleges.

The lawsuit comes just hours after Davenport Police Department confirmed they recovered the remains of three previously missing tenants: Branden Colvin Sr, 42, Daniel Prien, 60, and Ryan Hitchcock, 51.

In a press conference on Monday morning, Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel said: We dont have any other information at this time and theres any additional people missing and or related to this incident.

Mr Bladel said the city was initiating an investigation into the collapse with the Davenport Fire Marshalls Office, the division of criminal investigation, the medical examiners office and other organisations of the city.

Documents and reports released after the partial collapse revealed that engineers flagged structural issues with the facade of the building and indicated it was at risk of falling in the days before it fell.

Months before the incident, city officials and the buildings owner were warned of parts of The Davenport that were unstable.

One former maintenance employee told The Independent he warned the owner of the buildings deteriorating conditions.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and emphasized the need for freedom of speech in a wide-ranging interview with Elon Musk, hosted Monday via Twitter Spaces.

I dont ever need to talk about vaccines again, Kennedy said, noting that his social media accounts, previously banned for promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric, were reinstated Sunday by Instagram and Facebook parent Meta. He added, though: If someone asks me about them, Im going to tell the truth. I know a lot about the issue. If you ask me [about vaccines], you shouldnt be shutting me up when Im answering the question.

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Fox News Mocks Elon Musk After Ron DeSantis Interview Crashes Twitter: Amateur Hour

The sit-down with Twitter owner Musk came midday Monday as Kennedy, polling second only to President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic ticket, forged ahead with his long shot presidential bid. In it, he praised Musk as a key instrument for rescuing American democracy and freedom of speech.

The 69-year-old politician also said he thought governmental policies during the pandemic were too restrictive and that personal choice should have been better accommodated. There, Kennedy and Musk remained like-minded, as Musk also opposed strict social distancing and the shutting down of churches.

Unlike the previous Twitter Spaces town hall with Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, Kennedys appearance was largely glitch-free.

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Pivoting to Ukraines war with Russia, Kennedy said the United States should have done a better job diplomatically to dissuade a Russian invasion of the nation by agreeing that Ukraine would not become a member of NATO. He also said more needs to be done about crowds of immigrants gathering at the southern U.S. border.

Kennedy noted that his campaign will focus heavily on problems like the destruction of the American middle class, the appropriation of our foreign policy by neo-cons, the appropriation of our domestic policy by Wall Street and the big corporate dictators. Relatedly, he said the federal government has to stop the capture of our agencies by the industries theyre supposed to regulate.

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In matters of climate change, Musk and Kennedy agreed that the United States should pursue rational energy policies that would include renewable sources like wind and solar energy. There is no simple solution to energy, Kennedy said. We have to analyze the real costs of every energy system to make a rational choice.

Pro surfing legend Kelly Slater later dropped into the Spaces conversation like it was a barrel ride at Mavericks Beach. Slater, an 11-time world champion who also drew fire during the pandemic for his anti-vaccine stance, praised Kennedy for reaching across the table and including a wide range of philosophies in his campaign. He said he likes Kennedys transparency and honesty.

Its really refreshing in this political environment, Slater said, adding that he hopes Kennedy can get past the vaccine debate so voters can hear your broader message.

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Tim Cook Apple

When Apple boss Tim Cook took to the stage at the tech giants California headquarters on Monday night, he knew the significance of the moment.

After almost 12 years at the helm of the worlds most valuable company, Cook was finally unveiling a radical new product  the Vision Pro, a $3,500 (2,800) headset that Apple says will change computing forever.

The device, which resembles a pair of ski goggles, combines virtual and augmented reality. In plain English, that means people can either overlay apps and videos on top of the real world or view pure virtual worlds through the headset.

Controlled through hand gestures, voice commands and even eye tracking, the Vision Pro is designed to transform the way we watch films, play games, make video calls and work.

62-year-old Cook described the goggles as a first move into spatial computing. So far, the Vision Pro does not offer any new services, but rather a new way of experiencing them. As Cook put it, it is the first Apple product you look through, not at.

While the launch event was impressive, many observers were left asking the question: why exactly would I use this?

Apple shares dropped during the launch event and fell 1pc at the opening of the stock market in New York on Tuesday morning. Investors are clearly concerned about the tech goliaths latest big bet.

Virtual reality is by no means a new technology. Efforts to develop a headset date back to Nasa in the early 1970s, while users of Nintendos Virtual Boy device complained of nausea and headaches when it launched in 1995.

Google was forced to abandon plans for its own augmented reality glasses because of a lack of interest and, more recently, Mark Zuckerberg has been trying to push his own version of virtual reality, dubbed the metaverse, without much success.

The Vision Pro  a long-running and costly project that has seen Apple file more than 5,000 patent applications  is the most advanced iteration of the technology to date.

Telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore says: Apple has worked tirelessly to ensure it offers a seamless and consistent, intuitive experience that goes a step further than other products in the market, and this is no exception.

Yet to truly be transformative, Apple will have to convince people to put a computer on their face. Can it succeed where so many others have failed?

The device has attracted widespread acclaim from analysts and product reviews sites who were given an early hands-on with it. Those who have tried the Vision Pro praise the devices spectacular display quality and sleek design.

However, Apples new goggles are not without their flaws. The Vision Pro requires an external battery pack that has to be carried in the wearers pocket and offers only two hours of use.

Apple Vision Pro - JOSH EDELSON/AFP

The company is hoping that its track-record of launching paradigm shifting innovations and sleek, intuitive product design will tempt consumers to try its device where others have fallen flat.

Leo Gebbie, an analyst at CCS Insight, says: Apples advantage over rivals is that the operating system on the new headset will be immediately familiar to existing users, and much of their favourite content, services and apps are all instantly available.

Its a logical extension to everything Apple has built over the last decade.

More concerning, however, is the eye-watering price tag. At $3,499, the Vision Pro will cost more than twice as much as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the companys most expensive smartphone, and will be well out of reach for most people.

Inevitably, this means the headset is likely to achieve only modest sales, rather than mass-market appeal. Analysts at Wedbush estimate the company will sell just 150,000 units in the first year, rising to 1 million in the second year if prices come down.

UBS predicts that the Vision Pro could generate $6bn in revenue for the company in its first year of sales. Thats less than half the $12.4bn in revenues it pulled in from the iPad in its first year.

Dont expect Apple to sell millions of these  the manufacturing capacity isnt there, for a start, says Joseph Teasdale, of Enders Analysis.

Success will be the early adopters finding new and useful ways to fit the device into their daily lives, and developers building a software ecosystem for it. Failure will be a few hundred thousand Vision Pros languishing in drawers, or being dragged out at parties as a novelty.

Shares in Apple surged to an all-time high ahead of Mondays launch show, giving the company a market valuation of $2.9 trillion. However, a higher-than-expected price and late release date (the device will only launch in 2024) left many investors reassessing their bets.

Developers will be among the first customers to receive the device and Apple hopes they will create a whole new slate of apps and programmes to expand the experience.

metaverse - REUTERS

Analysts at Wedbush called the share price wobble a knee-jerk reaction.

They wrote: We believe ultimately Apple is now building out its own AI ecosystem within its iOS developer community, starting with the launch of this product that will lead to more applications and use cases over the coming years.

Ultimately, Apple wants to refine the cumbersome headset into reality-enhancing glasses that would embed technology into our field of vision and  as a result  every waking moment of our lives.

Getting to that stage will require significant advances in technology, including whittling down displays, processors and batteries into microscopic sizes.

More important, however, is the societal change required to usher in this new world vision. Are people really ready to live and work in their own goggle-encased universes?

Reviewers have raised concerns about the appetite for this kind of tech, describing the experience of putting on the headset as oddly lonely. Another branded the Vision Pros EyeSight feature  which displays the users eyes on the external display  as creepy.

New technology is often met with uncertainty, or even aversion. But while the revolutionary benefits of the iPhone were self-evident, Apple will have to work much harder to build demand for the Vision Pro.

The venture has echoes of Mark Zuckerbergs push into the metaverse, which has raised eyebrows among investors and consumers alike. Unlike Meta, however, Apple has not bet the house on an uncertain technology, and continued strong iPhone sales mean it can take a patient approach.

This is going to take a lot of time and money to get right, but the end vision is pretty compelling, says Teasdale. Apples latest product gives us just a hint of something that could one day replace the other screens in our lives.

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thrillbilly silas mason pollo del mar

Thrillbilly Silas Mason and Pollo Del Mar discuss the NWAs recent tour in Australia.

NWA President Billy Corgan is also the frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, and he continues to bring pair up the two worlds. The NWA was part of the bands The World is a Vampire music festival in Australia in April, and the tour saw the promotions top stars wrestle Down Under.

In an interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Mason discussed the experience and noted that it was groundbreaking. He stated that they went all over Australia, and he personally got to introduce two bands. Mason also noted that Battlesnake is currently working on a theme song for him.

It was groundbreaking, man. It was revolutionary, Mason said. Im not just talking about myself. Im just talking about the tour in general, man. We were going from Brisbane to Sydney to Melbourne and Adelaide way down there near Antarctica and stuff like that, in front of thousands and thousands of screaming fans per night. I actually introduced two bands multiple occasions, Amyl and the Sniffers, really good band. Check them out.

My boys in Battlesnake, who are currently working on a custom theme song for Big Daddy Thrill. So yeah, man, it was a great experience. Its just learning the lingo, learning what the heck Maccas (McDonalds) is. Learn what an arvo is. An arvo is just the afternoon. Dont know if theres a v in the word afternoon, but thats how they shorten it up.

Pollo Del Mar was asked to describe how she feels with being away from Mason for so long and she noted that they were a power couple. She described how they can dominate together, even when theyre on different continents, and she teased that she has been working on some things that are coming to the NWA soon.

We are one of those things that you know is a power couple, Pollo said. It means that when we come together, it is explosive. But we each bring our own special charge to the relationship. So, Silas can go and dominate another continent, and Ill hold it down here at home. Ive been working on some special things that are going to be coming to the National Wrestling Alliance very soon. But Im not a liberty to tell you what those are.

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Im also doing a few things here and there behind the scenes. I am, in fact, the person who scouted out our venue, the Fairgrounds Annex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the Crockett Cup. So, I got my fingers in many pots, which is different than having many fingers in my pot.

The full interview is available here:

WrestleZone has coverage of NWA Powerrr as it airs on Tuesdays.

The post Silas Mason Talks NWAs Tour Of Australia, Pollo Del Mar Is Working On Some Things appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Silver Iocovozzi is Thems 2023 Now Awards honoree in Food. The Now Awards honor 12 LGBTQ+ people who represent the cutting edge of queer culture today; read more here.

The meal begins, as many Filipinx occasions do, with lumpia.

I am seated at the crimson red bar of Neng Jr.s, which means that I am sitting mere feet away from Silver Iocovozzi, the founder and owner of the restaurant, the first Filipinx establishment in Asheville, North Carolina. Wed be face to face if he wasnt flitting nonstop between stations in the open green-tiled kitchen, pouring velvety brown adobo sauce onto plates, scooping rice into perfectly rounded mounds, and ladling sauce atop crispy fried whole fish.

Weve never met in person and barely exchanged emails, but when Silver gets a moment to look up, we make eye contact and smile at each other, a spark of instant recognition. He is, after all, a transmasc Filipinx chef, and I am a transmasc Filipinx journalist, and it would be pretty difficult to mistake the other for anyone but whom we are. Its 7 p.m. on a Friday night, though, and the tiny, 20-person space is as packed as one would expect of a James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant, so I order an adobo martini and lumpia while I wait for the storm to calm.

Once hes eventually able to make his way over to me, Silver asks what I feel like eating, and though Ive pored extensively over the menu, which lists a brief nine dishes below a loving dedication to his late father, everything sounds so delicious that it feels impossible to choose. Can I just cook for you? he asks, followed by, How hungry are you? When I tell him that Im only moderately hungry, Silver proposes a few small plates, maybe two to three bites each. Yet in classic Filipino fashion, a few small plates ends up being a full-blown five course meal, not counting the lumpia (which, for the record, was maybe the platonic ideal of the dish).

I am treated to the restaurants signature oyster adobo dish, a fruit plate served alongside a fish sauce-based dipping sauce, two different kinds of seafood (star butterfish and a soft shell crab) lightly pan fried and stewed with greens in a rich gravy, duck adobo with earthy confited turnips, and a double scoop of toasted coconut ice cream and queso ice cream. As I make my way through each course, bursting sea grapes between my teeth, laughing with delight as goldenrod crab fat oozes out from the shell as I press into it with my fork, I think to myself that the spread exemplifies the visceral pleasures of Filipino cuisine.

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Generally speaking, Filipino food is not particularly complex; the most basic recipe for chicken adobo, probably the most well-known Filipino dish in America, entails simmering chicken parts in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, water, bay leaf, and whole black peppercorn. But as Silver tells me, There is a complexity to simplicity. Although the food at Neng Jr.s might not be what you would find in the steam table trays of a turo turo, that delicately balanced complexity out of simplicity, which can be found in every dish, is deeply Filipino.

It blows people's minds that simple food could taste this good, and I think that's a lot of what Filipino food is, he says. There is also, I might add, something distinctly trans about this alchemy that transforms simple ingredients into a whole greater than the sum of its parts, and about reclaiming the repressive conditions you are dealt  whether colonialism, the gender binary, or both  to dream something new into existence.

Nearly nothing about Neng Jr.s has gone as Silver expected, as he tells me the following morning. We are sitting at one of the restaurants tables alongside his husband Cherry, who is the co-owner, wine director, and a server at the restaurant. I had never envisioned my first restaurant being in the middle of this crazy ass building, Silver says, sipping an iced coffee.

Neng Jr.s occupies what used to be the back room of a former beloved music venue; the front room is now the creative studio and performance space DIFFERENT WRLD (hence the rock show). The space shares not just a wall, but also bathrooms with Neng Jr.s, and theres at least three other tenants in the building as well. And yet, without this chaotic arrangement, Neng Jr.s might not exist in the form it does. When he first saw the space, Silver thought that the restaurant would exist solely as a takeout window  until he found out that his friend, Honey Simone, was establishing DIFFERENT WRLD in the same building. That was when Silver decided to fully commit and do a build-out, which he says felt impossible.

It was really like, How do you find the money? Could it just cost so much money to do something like this? he says. But the impossible was made possible through fundraiser popup events, generous community members, and two successful GoFundMe campaigns. This month, Neng Jr.'s will celebrate its one year anniversary.

I knew and believed in this little place, but I wasn't prepared for how good it would be, Silver says. I feel like it's really successful and that's amazing. And I think that's just not on me, it's also on the entire team that we've been able to work together in this way, in this space, and really hone in on the energy that makes people really love it here.

He attributes this to the restaurants style of service and the intentionality of his hiring process; the staff is majority queer, trans, of color, or all of the above. I get a real sense of this rootedness in Ashevilles community when I swing by The Odd, a queer bar thats a 15 minute walk down the road from Neng Jr.s, for their weekly all-gender go go night. On my Instagram story, I post a video of someone clad in a chiffon cape and a neon green chest harness twirling around the pole to the tune of Vroom Vroom by Charli XCX, and Cherry replies, thats one of our soon-to-be employees [laughing-crying emoji].

"It blows people's minds that simple food could taste this good, and I think that's a lot of what Filipino food is, Silver says.

Sous chef June Melton is another recent hire. She moved to Asheville from New York one week prior to my visit in order to work at the restaurant, and joined Silver, Cherry, and I about halfway through our chat.



We have this solidarity and this camaraderie that is different than the solidarity or camaraderie that comes with a shift drink, Silver says of his relationship with June, who is a trans woman. It's like we are understanding of the things that we've gone through to get here and we are grateful for what we have in this moment to build this restaurant into what it can be.

Silver cooked all over Asheville before opening Neng Jr.s, including working as a sous chef at the nationally acclaimed Buxton Hall Barbecue and as the chef de cuisine at Gan Shan West. He also worked at New Yorks Mission Chinese (under the tutelage of fellow queer Filipinx food pioneer Angela Dimayuga), and as a chef in residence at the Palm Heights hotel in Grand Cayman. June, meanwhile, had been cooking in New York for a long time on and off, and had a pretty heartbreaking time in the kitchens.

Without either of them ever getting into details, its clear that both Silver and June have experienced some unsavory work environments in their day, though both still hold a reverence for classic technique and standards. We've been able to uphold standards that we believe make sense without having a toxic execution of needing something to happen a certain way, Silver says. Because I'm like, Yeah, call me chef. Don't call me Silver.

Beyond their shared negative experiences, there is also a particularity to the way that trans chefs cook, Silver says, one that is beautiful and needed. Cherry describes Silvers cooking style as both detail-oriented and organic; when it comes to the restaurants adobo, It's quite a simple sauce and people go bananas over it. They're like, What's in this? It's so crazy, Cherry says. There are actually just maybe four or five ingredients, and they're all quite common.

But it's Filipino as fuck, Silver interjects.

It's super Filipino and you're just responding to the sauce that you're making in that moment, Cherry agrees. You're being precise but it's also quite organic, and it's quite personal to how you are experiencing that moment of cooking.

If you want to come into our house, you're going to respect what goes on in this house, Cherry says.

The intuition is precise, yeah, June agrees. And trusting your instincts, it requires precision.

Another factor that excites June about working with Silver is their shared enthusiasm about context. Knowing where things come from and why, I think, is really important and really exciting, she adds.

This kind of attention to detail is sorely needed at a time when both Filipino food and trans people generally have been described as having a moment, an idea that Silver firmly rejects. At first, a fear of tokenization led Silver to assert that he wanted to be recognized not just for being trans, but for his abilities as a chef.

As I've grown into my comfort with who I am and what this business is and what we represent, I'm more open to being visible in that way, he says. But also, when I think about food and I think about identity, they're not separate for me, personally.

Thats evident even in terms of how the space itself is designed, with its soothing blue and green walls and the bright red bar, a nod to Silvers mothers love of the color for its association with luck. As trans people, we're not ready to accept what we have, so we have to make the change in order for us to be okay with the way that we sit and move in our bodies, Silver says. And I think a lot of that is just creating environments.

Accordingly, both Silver and Cherry fondly refer to the space as their house, which theyve cultivated both aesthetically and in terms of the work culture. Asheville may be a queer haven in the south, but North Carolina is still the state that introduced House Bill 2, or the very first bathroom bill. If you want to come into our house, you're going to respect what goes on in this house, Cherry says, while adding that thankfully, no one has been outright disrespectful. But at the end of the day, everyone on staff knows that their protection comes first for us. And if something were to go further than just an awkward conversation, game over, you're ejected from the restaurant. Don't come back.

I knew and believed in this little place, but I wasn't prepared for how good it would be, Silver says.

Part of that protection includes the recent addition of a trans clause to the employee handbook, which protects trans staff members right to privacy. Employees dont have the right to talk about other peoples gender identities on their behalf, and if a worker finds out private information about someone, they cant share it with other people. Employees are also asked to correct patrons if they hear them misgendering any of the staff.

I feel like the biggest part of the clause is that the story of your life is one that you are writing and no one else can write it for you, and we're going to protect your right to write your own story, Cherry says. No one is allowed to tell your story but yourself.

And so Neng Jr.s is both a deeply personal exercise in storytelling for Silver, as well as a story about the dazzling possibilities that trans people bring into being, both in the food world and the world at large. The restaurants mere existence already defies the odds, but in less than a year, Neng Jr.s has outgrown its tiny space and granted Silver the career-long aspiration of not just a James Beard Award nomination, but becoming a finalist at that.

Neng Jr.s would have been the first trans-led establishment to win the Best New Restaurant award, which Silver says is really a responsibility, and a good one and amazing one.

I actually really just believe in us so hard that I see it being possible, he says. But we might not, and that's cute too, but we're going to have fun and that will be great.

Although the award ended up going to Kann in Portland, its clear that regardless of institutional validation, nothing will stop Silver from continuing to usher in a wholly new wave of queer restaurant culture, one that is rooted in both tradition and bold innovation. After all, that kind of reclamation  keeping what serves us from dominant culture, discarding or otherwise subverting what doesnt  is the age-old story of both trans and Filipinx resistance.

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Originally Appeared on them.
Former Viaplay chief Anders Jensen

Anders Jensen immediately stepped down as CEO of Viaplay Monday after the Nordic media company reported steep declines for both its subscription- and advertising-supported businesses.

Jensen, who had led Viaplay since April 2018, was replaced by Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, the ex-COD of the Nordic TV company's former corporate parent, MTG.

The rising cost of living is resulting in lower D2C streaming and wholesale linear subscription sales, as well as higher churn levels following price increases, Viaplay said in a Monday morning statement. The company also said that ad sales in the second quarter are expected to be down between 12%-16%.

The outlook for the markets in which we are operating has shifted considerably and at a very rapid pace, and the execution of cost savings programmes has not been mitigating the effects from these conditions to a sufficient extent, said Pernille Erenbjerg, chair of the board.

Viaplay provides a broad array of TV programming, including live sports, to Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland.

In the U.S., the company launched in February a $5.99-a-month DTC subscription streaming service that includes 1,500 on-demand film and TV series titles, many of them of the "Nordic Noir' vein of dark crime thriller that Viaplay has come to be known for.

In its statement, Viaplay seemed unclear as to the fate of the ongoing U.S. SVOD launch.

The impact of the macroeconomic headwinds on the business require that we execute differently on our strategy," Erenbjerg said, adding that Viaplay will "evaluate the need for structural, operational, and capital allocation enhancements to the delivery of the strategy."
WASHINGTON  Investigators planned to recover wreckage Tuesday from the "highly inaccessible and very remote" site in a Virginia mountain where a small private plane crashed, killing the four people on board, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The location of the crash makes the already challenging task of understanding what caused the Cessna 560 Citation V to veer hundreds of miles off course after making a U-Turn over Long Island in New York even more difficult, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt said Monday. Federal investigators had to hike for several hours to reach the site near rural Montebello, Virginia, about 60 miles southwest of Charlottesville, and they expect to remain there for three to four days, according to the NTSB.

The plane flew into restricted airspace over the nation's capitol Sunday, prompting the military to scramble F-16 fighter jets at supersonic speed to intercept it. Three U.S. officials briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the fighter jet pilots reported seeing the Cessna pilot slumped over.

Gerhardt said Monday that after investigators examine the highly fragmented wreckage at the site, it will be moved, possibly by helicopter, to Delaware for further inspection as officials try to uncover what caused the crash. Gerhardt said the plane is not required to have a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, but the plane may have had other equipment investigators can gather data from "that's, of course, not quite as good as a black box, but it can still be helpful for the investigation."

Authorities secure the entrance to Mine Bank Trail, an access point to the rescue operation along the Blue Ridge Parkway where a Cessna Citation crashed over mountainous terrain near Montebello, Va., on Sunday.

Air Traffic Control lost contact with the plane during ascent

The plane took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m., bound for the Long Island MacArthur Airport, the NTSB said in a statement. Air Traffic Control lost communication with the plane during its ascent and last attempted communication about 15 minutes after takeoff when the plane was at 31,000 feet.

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The plane climbed to 34,000 feet and flew over the Long Island airport at 2:33 p.m., according to the NTSB. It remained at 34,000 feet until it began to descend less than 10 minutes before the crash at 3:23 p.m.

Flight tracking sites showed the jet underwent a rapid, spiraling descent, dropping at a rate of more than 30,000 feet per minute before crashing into the remote wilderness near the George Washington National Forest.

Audio appears to capture military pilots trying to contact plane

As the plane flew near Washington, six jets from three locations were launched, and F-16 fighters from the D.C. National Guard intercepted the plane at about 3:20 p.m. Air Traffic Control audio from the half-hour before the crash captured voices that identify themselves as military pilots trying to communicate with the pilot, according to recordings on LiveATC.net.

If you hear this transmission, contact us, said one pilot who identifies herself as being with the Air National Guard.

Several minutes later, a military pilot says: You have been intercepted. Contact me.

The pilot never responded to attempts to establish communication, North American Aerospace Defense Command said.

Cause of crash still under investigation

Gerhardt said investigators are working to determine when the pilot became unresponsive and why the airplane flew where it did. He said they will examine several factors including the airplane, its engines, pilot qualifications, maintenance records and weather conditions as they remove pieces of the wreckage that could help determine what caused the crash.

A preliminary report will be released within 10 days, he said Monday, but a final report could take one to two years.

John Rumpel, a pilot who runs the company the plane was registered to, told the New York Times he didnt have much information from authorities but suggested the plane could have lost pressurization.

Friends, family remember those killed in crash

The Federal Aviation Administration said that the victims included the pilot and three passengers but didnt release their names. Rumpel told both the New York Times and Newsday his daughter, Adina Azarian, and 2-year-old granddaughter, Aria, as well as Aria's nanny were killed in the crash.

He identified the pilot as Jeff Hefner, the Washington Post reported. Dan Newlin, an attorney in Florida, told the Post in an email Hefner had flown for him before and described him as a highly accomplished and skilled Aviator who was survived by his wife and three kids.

Azarian, 49, began working for real estate company Keller Williams in 2011, according to a social media post from the company.

Adina Azarian was one of four people killed in a plane that crashed in a remote part of Virginia on Sunday.

"Adina was an exceptional member of our Keller Williams Points North team, as well as the original Team Leader of Keller Williams NYC, known for her dedication, professionalism, and warm spirit," the company said in a message to employees shared with USA TODAY.

She was described by friends and relatives as a fiercely competitive entrepreneur who also started her own brokerage and was raising her daughter as a single parent.

Being a mom was everything to her, said Tara Brivic-Looper, a close friend who grew up with Azarian on the Upper East Side.

Dig deeper

A sonic boom over Washington: Breaking down the Cessna 560 Citation plane crash in Virginia

What is hypoxia? What to know about the condition caused by low oxygen levels

Officials: F-16 fighters chased unresponsive plane near DC area before it crashed in Virginia; no survivors found

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia plane crash: Investigators to begin wreckage recovery
Police have charged a 19-year-old and a juvenile with communicating threats in connection with several harassing phone calls to the Islamic Center of Charlotte last month.

Both are from the area of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokesman Mike Allinger told The Charlotte Observer Monday evening.

After the initial investigation, officers identified the callers who admitted to the calls and apologized, Allinger said in an email.

A caller on May 23 made a reference to 9/11 and terrorists, and could be heard saying in an audio recording of the call, Ill blow you harder than 9/11, the Observer previously reported.

The caller rambled on, despite being told of the recording, but he was direct in his threat against the center, Center spokesman Jibril Hough said.

The person who answered the call at the center in May told police they didnt want to pursue charges, Allinger said.

But, he said, After subsequent conversations and a further investigation, officers obtained a criminal summons from the Magistrates Office for communicating threats for the 19-year-old suspect. A juvenile arrest was completed for the juvenile suspect.

Allinger didnt name the 19-year-old but said CMPD will update its statement on Tuesday with more context and information.

Inappropriate call

The Observer called a phone number linked to the call. A man who answered said a 14-year-old family friend in his office did something stupid by calling the Islamic Center.

The man, who identified himself only as Dave, said the call to the center was inappropriate but that he didnt believe the 14-year-old made any type of threat.

The man soon texted the Observer an apology related to what happened.

I would like the center to know it was very inappropriate, the man texted, and that it will be made known to any parties involved it absolutely will never happen again.

On Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations demanded a hate-crime probe by state and federal law enforcement.

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The groups demand came the same day Allinger said CMPD wouldnt pursue criminal charges in the case.

The investigation concluded that the verbiage communicated during the call did not rise to a criminal level, Allinger said at the time.

Hough said CMPD further investigated after he complained to Chief Johnny Jennings.

Monday, Hough said the center staffer who answered the call told CMPD he wanted an apology from the caller, but that didnt mean he didnt want possible charges.

We still have people in our community, about half our community, who felt there should have been terrorist charges, too, Hough said.

But he also thanked Jennings for ensuring the case got the attention it deserved.

In the past, he said, CMPD failed to pursue charges with similar threatening calls.

On Tuesday, a national Muslim civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said it welcomed the charges.

The council hopes that anyone convicted in the case will be given an opportunity to learn about the American Muslim community and about why threats to any house of worship are unacceptable, spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said in a news release.
By the end of this week, the dozen or so GOP presidential contenders will include everything a window-shopping conservative might want: a literal former president, someone with no electoral experience, veterans, millionaire businessmen, people who want to be like Donald Trump, people who dont want to be like Trump, and candidates who still pledge fealty to Ronald Reagan and those who think the GOP should be done with all that.

What they dont have a choice of: senators.

Only one senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, has entered the 2024 GOP presidential field eight years after senators defined the non-Trump presidential field, with Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina standing out as major candidates. None of them appears interested in giving it another go.

Other GOP senators who have been talked about as potential candidates are also staying on the sidelines this year, including Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rick Scott of Florida. Both men love to make headlines yet are instead focusing on their Senate reelection bids.

It always comes down to individual choice. I know Im running for the Senate, Rick Scott, who launched a failed attempt to oust Mitch McConnell as the GOP leader in the Senate, said when asked if he regretted not getting into the race.

The senatorial sidelining is a reversal from recent years. Though governors dominated the presidential scene from the 1970s until 2008, the election of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to the White House began an era when big names built on the federal level dominated presidential politics, and governors struggled to get the attention and money necessary to mount serious bids. In 2020, not a single governor ended up as a serious contender for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a presidential candidate, greets an audience member Saturday at Sen. Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride, an informal campaign kickoff event, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a presidential candidate, greets an audience member Saturday at Sen. Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride, an informal campaign kickoff event, in Des Moines, Iowa.

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The sprint among governors to join the race only highlights the lack of senators: This week, three current or former governors  former Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  will join former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson in vying to lead their party in the 2024 general election. The free-for-all contest is a completely different race from just a few months ago, when Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seemed poised for a head-to-head clash.

Usually crowds grow when people see weakness, Graham, who has endorsed Trump, said of the expanding field. Like, some people running just to position themselves as something else. It seems to be nobodys being deterred from getting in.

Asked why more senators arent getting in, Graham quipped: The Senates a better job. (Graham himself ran for president in 2016, ending his campaign before the Iowa caucuses.)

DeSantis stock has fallen since he first began flirting with a run for president. The Florida governor, who once ran even with or at times ahead of Trump in early state polls, has fallen behind under a barrage of attacks from Trump. Hes now trying to catch up on the campaign trail by taking veiled jabs at the former president, his leadership style and his ability to win.

Republican senators dont have a unified theory as to why so many members of the upper chamber are opting out of the 2024 GOP race this year. Some posited that governors are simply better suited for the job of president and that they benefit on the campaign trail from being able to point to tangible accomplishments.

I remember George W. Bush saying to me, he said, The best job in America is being a governor. And then he said, Oh, almost the best job in America, said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and former governor of Massachusetts. So I think governors naturally look for the next office.

Other senators suggested that Trump and his popularity within the GOP are keeping potential contenders from joining the fray.

Everybody else who wants to be president has already tried, and it was hardly worth it, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). I think the fact that Donald Trump is in the race has kept a lot of people out, including some of those senator-president wannabes.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) agreed with that assessment, suggesting with a heavy dose of sarcasm that more senators arent running for president because this job is so damn good.

You get to do world-changing things like keep paying the bills, he added, referring to the months-long fight over raising the debt limit.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said it is because there are a lot of members of the Senate who have decided that Tim Scott would be a good choice for president. Rounds, a former governor himself, is one of only two GOP senators who have endorsed Scotts 2024 bid.

Scott, who is running an explicitly optimistic campaign aimed at separating himself from the apocalyptic rhetoric deployed by Trump and DeSantis, is the type of old-school conservative Senate Republicans, who are slightly less enamored of the Make America Great Again movement than their House counterparts, could, in theory, line up behind. But his still slim odds of victory mean many will keep their rooting interest private rather than explicit.

Another reason may be that the president-wannabes in the Senate may simply be biding their time for a better opportunity. Hawley and Arkansas Tom Cotton, another senator many thought could run in 2024, are downright kids by presidential standards: Hawley is 43 and Cotton is 46.

Do you want to be someone who ran twice and lost twice? Some of them are young enough to be thinking about future cycles, said Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University.

One person who isnt running for president? New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. After launching many criticisms of Trump over the past few years, Sununu made his decision final on Monday. The moderate GOP governor warned that a crowded field would only help Trump win the nomination again.

The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35 percent of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen, Sununu wrote in an opinion article published by The Washington Post.

Sununu also included a dig at unnamed candidates who are running. Too many other candidates who have entered this race are simply running to be Trumps vice president, he said.

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Most actors' careers start in the audition room, where they generally face more rejection than success. However, once they reach a certain level of fame, they don't have to audition much  or at all!  because casting directors begin offering them roles directly.

At least, that's generally how an actor would expect their career to go. It doesn't always happen that way, though, and many famous, successful actors may still find themselves stuck in the audition room. Some don't mind, but others really hate it.

Here are 9 celebs who hate being asked to audition:

1. Beyonce was considered for the role of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog, but she reportedly "expected an offer, but wouldn't audition and so she didn't get one."

Kevin Mazur / WireImage for Parkwood / Via Getty, Walt Disney Co. / courtesy Everett Collection

Casting director Jen Rudin told the New York Post, "[The role] went to Anika Noni Rose, who was the most qualified."

2. Titanic because he refused to read for it. Cameron told According to director James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio almost lost his role inbecause he refused to read for it. Cameron told GQ , "There was a meeting with Leo and then there was a screen test with Leo. ... He came back a couple of days later, and I had the camera set up to record the video. He didn't know he was going to test. He thought it was another meeting to meet Kate [Winslet]. So I said, 'Okay, we'll just go in the next room, and we'll run some lines, and I'll video it.' And he said, 'You mean, I'm reading?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Oh, I don't read.' I shook his hand and said, 'Thanks for coming by.'"

20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved./Courtesy Everett Collection

He continued, "[Leo said,] 'Wait, wait, wait. If I don't read, I don't get the part? Just like that?' [I replied,] 'Oh, yeah. Come on. This is a giant movie that is going to take two years of my life, and you'll be gone doing five other things while I'm doing post-production. So, I'm not going to fuck it up by making the wrong decision in casting. So, you're going to read, or you're not going to get the part.' So he comes in, and he's, like, every ounce of his entire being is just so negative  right up until I said, 'Action.' Then he turned into Jack. Kate just lit up, and they played the scene. Dark clouds had opened up, and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack. I'm like, 'All right. He's the guy.'"

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3. Kirsten Dunst told Backstage , "I hate auditioning, because Im so out of [practice]. When you're in the grind of it, you're so much better at it."

David M. Benett / Dave Benett / Getty Images for Apple TV+

However, she's more than willing to audition for parts she really wants.

She continued, "Now, I prepare differently than how I used to audition. Its a totally different preparation. Anything I did in that audition [for Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special], I didnt even do in the movie."

4. Russell Crowe was offended when Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld tweeted that the actor should audition for the role of Cable.

huge fan sir. Poorly worded. Apologies.  robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 24, 2017

Twitter: @robertliefeld

Liefeld told Collider, "One night before I went to bed, I didn't know Russell Crowe was on Twitter, and I stupidly tweeted to Russell Crowe  not ever thinking he'd answer me  and I go, 'Hey Russell, you should read for Cable!' That didn't turn out very well. I got yelled at a lot, because I woke up  because he's in Australia  to Russell Crowe saying 'Read for it?!' And my manager said, 'Yeah, Russell Crowe doesn't read for parts, Rob. You kind of insulted him.' I'm like 'I'm sorry! They just haven't picked Cable yet, so I'm just putting it out there.' And then my phone rings, so some Fox people may or may not have yelled at me for an hour."

5. Straight Outta Compton role, so he made him work for it. Jackson told O'Shea Jackson Jr.'s dad, Ice Cube, didn't want people to think he was given hisrole, so he made him work for it. Jackson told People , "For two years, I was going to acting classes, learning techniques, going to auditions, callbacks, and things like that."

Jamie Trueblood/Universal Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

He also said, "They put me through the wringer."

6. Jennifer Lawrence struggled with the audition process from early in her career. She told Book It Self Tape , "I was awful at auditions. I think it's unfair to, like, throw four pieces of paper at somebody and be like, 'Act, monkey!'"

Mondadori Portfolio / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

She continued, "I remember when I had done, like two movies, but I was still very much auditioning. Burning Plane was the only movie people had seen, and my agent would say that [casting directors] would call back and be like, 'We were very disappointed, after seeing Burning Plane, in her audition.' And it's like, really? You put me in a room with a weird camera, and it looks different than me doing a movie and being on set/ I don't know. I'm not very good at that."

7. Pulp Fiction just for him and only wanted him to read for it. However, going back on his word, the director had other actors audition, so Jackson flew to LA, preparing his own audition on the plane. He told Samuel L. Jackson had to audition for one of his most iconic roles, but he was frustrated over it because he'd already been promised it was his. Quentin Tarantino told him that he'd written the role of Jules Winnfield injust for him and only wanted him to read for it. However, going back on his word, the director had other actors audition, so Jackson flew to LA, preparing his own audition on the plane. He told Vanity Fair , "I sort of was angry, pissed, tired."

Miramax Films/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

The actor stopped for a burger on the way and brought it with him. When he showed up to the studio, no one else was there to meet him.

He said, "When they came back, a line producer or somebody who was with them said, 'I love your work, Mr. Fishburne [meaning Laurence Fishburne, who reportedly turned down the role].' It was like a slow burn. He doesn't know who I am? I was kind of like, 'Fuck it.' At that point, I really didn't care."

His audition blew the director and producers away. He continued, "[Producer Lawrence] Bender told me not to worry. Everything was cool. The job was mine. And he said the one thing that sealed it was they never knew how the movie was going to end until I did the last scene in the diner.

8. Star Trek Generations script, but he reportedly refused to read for the role after a meeting with the filmmakers. According to Malcolm McDowell was interested in playing Soran after reading thescript, but he reportedly refused to read for the role after a meeting with the filmmakers. According to The Fifty-Year Mission The Next 25 Years , he said, "What do they think it is, Shakespeare?"

Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection

Regardless, he went on to play the part.

9. Legally Blonde, was shocked when, in 2001, a London theater asked her to audition to play the same role in a musical adaptation of the movie. She told And Jennifer Coolidge, who originated the role of Paulette in, was shocked when, in 2001, a London theater asked her to audition to play the same role in a musical adaptation of the movie. She told Variety , "I said to my agent, 'What do you mean, audition? It's not a straight offer?'"

MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

She continued, "My agent said, 'I think they just want to see if you can sing and dance.' Look, if I got up on stage and farted, and that's all I did, it would still be the lady from the movie!"

And now, here are 10 celebs who don't have to audition anymore:

10. Timothee Chalamet "hasn't auditioned for anything in more than seven years," according to his agent, Brian Swardstrom.

Greg Doherty / WireImage / Via Getty

In response to a viral unconfirmed report that Chalamet and other actors had auditioned for Gladiator 2, Swardstrom tweeted, "I know one of these actors was shooting a film in the middle east for the past several months."

11. Michael Schur wrote the role of April Ludgate in Parks and Rec specifically for Aubrey Plaza because "Allison Jones, who is one of the people who cast the show, called [him] and said, 'I just met the weirdest girl I've ever met in my life. You have to meet her and put her on your show.'"

He told the AV Club, "Aubrey came over to my office and made me feel really uncomfortable for like an hour, and immediately I wanted to put her in the show. We didn't totally know what we were going to do with her, we just thought it would be funny if Leslie had a college-aged intern who she wanted to inspire, and that that person would be Aubrey Plaza."

12. Focus helped her land the role of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. She told The chemistry Margot Robbie had with Will Smith inhelped her land the role of Harley Quinn in. She told MTV , "I actually got offered this one, I didn't audition, which is a real step up as an actor when you can get offered things."

Clay Enos /  Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

She continued, "[Will and I] didn't have to do chemistry reads or anything like that, and then I already knew, vaguely knew Jared Leto, who's playing the Joker."

13. Peter Dinklage was one of only two exceptions to the "long, drawn out casting process" of Game of Thrones because series creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss "knew [they] wanted [him as Tyrion Lannister] from the beginning."

HBO / Via Max

Benioff told Collider, "We obviously didn't ask [him] to audition. We just went after [him]. I had met Peter before, socially. We have a mutual friend, so I got his email address and sent him an email that just said, 'I don't know if you have heard of these books, but there is a character named Tyrion Lannister, and I think you would be fantastic. Maybe we could talk about it at some point.' So, we started emailing, and then he came out to LA. We sat down with him and had a great conversation, where he basically said, 'I am really interested in this part, but don't give me a beard. Dwarves in fantasy movies always have big beards. It's the cliche of fantasy.' So, we promised him that he wouldn't have to have a beard, and that went well."

14. Chris Evans "didn't audition at all" for Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger because director Joe Johnson "was already familiar with everything he'd done and was championing his cause, not that [he] had a fight from the Marvel team."

Marvel Studios / Via Disney+

Johnson told Earth's Mightiest, "He came in to the art department to say hi, saw all the jaw-dropping art and designs on the wall, and reacted the way I'd hoped he would. It was really his wonderful enthusiasm for everything he saw that cinched the deal."

15. While working on his script for The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro wrote the role of Zelda Fuller for Octavia Spencer. As soon as she read the script, she knew she wanted to be part of something so "magical." When they met up to discuss the project, they spent hours just chatting.

Kerry Hayes /TM &  Fox Searchlight Pictures. All Rights reserved. /Courtesy Everett Collection

She told CBS This Morning, "I'm a huge Guillermo del Toro fan. I've seen everything he's directed and just about everything he's executive produced and he's an auteur, a true auteur. The first scene when everything is underwater  I said, 'Oh my God. They're gonna be doing things like this. I want to be a part of this movie.'"

16. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He told Adam Driver didn't have to try out for Kylo Ren in. He told The Howard Stern Show , "I went out and met J.J. [Abrams, the director], and we did...a meet-and-greet thing. Then, it was him thinking about it for a little bit."

David James/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection, Monica Schipper / Deadline via Getty Images

He added, "He couldn't tell me, really, anything about the part either. At that point, it was just to look at me, I think."

About six months later, Abrams finally offered him the part.

17. Hunger premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He told Michael Fassbender stopped having to go to auditions afterpremiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He told The National , "I get taken to lunch instead of having to audition."

IFC Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

"You spend years just trying to break into a room and get a role and then people want to take you to lunch?" he said.

18. Casting director Fred Roos wanted George Lucas to cast Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars, but the director had a rule that he wouldn't hire any actors he'd worked with on his recent film American Graffiti. So, Roos hired Ford to build a door in the offices where Lucas was holding his casting call. In need of an assistant reader, Lucas asked Ford to help him feed lines to the auditioners, but, of course, he ended up offering him the part.

Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett Collection

During the 2017 Star Wars Celebration panel, Roos said, "Harrison had done a lot of carpentry for me. He needed money, he had kids, he wasn't a big movie star yet. The day he was doing it, George happened to be there. It was serendipitous."

19. Euphoria] or see me as Olivia [from The White Lotus]. They send me scripts that are just like that. It's the ones I have to fight for that usually are the ones that I want that are different, like Reality. I had to audition for it. I had to put myself on tape and send in my audition just like everybody else." Some actors who get offers still like to audition for other parts. Because of typecasting, Sydney Sweeney only gets offers for roles similar to ones she's already played. She told Variety , "There's always people who see me as Cassie [from] or see me as Olivia [from]. They send me scripts that are just like that. It's the ones I have to fight for that usually are the ones that I want that are different, like. I had to audition for it. I had to put myself on tape and send in my audition just like everybody else."

She continued, "It was the same for White Lotus. They didn't think that I was right for White Lotus, because I did Euphoria. So I put myself on tape, I auditioned for White Lotus just like everybody else and had a callback like everybody else. I could get offered roles that are similar to the ones that I've played, but the ones that are different, the ones that surprise people that I do, are the ones that I usually have to fight for."
in the foreground, there's a computer screen showing a mammogram. Blurred in the background, we can see a medical provider in a white coat assisting a patient at a mammogram machine

Artificial intelligence (AI) can pinpoint patients at highest risk of developing breast cancer in the next five years better than a standard risk assessment used in the clinic, a study suggests.

Doctors commonly predict a person's five-year risk of developing breast cancer using models that take into account the person's age, race, ethnicity, family history of breast cancer, and whether they've ever had breast tissue sampled for analysis, due to having suspicious lumps in their breasts. These models also take into account breast density, as assessed through mammograms.

However, "only about 15% to 20% of women who get diagnosed with breast cancer have a known risk factor, such as family history of disease or previously having a breast biopsy," Dr. Vignesh Arusu , a radiologist who specializes in cancer imaging at the University of California, San Francisco, told Live Science.

AI has helped radiologists identify hundreds of features in a mammogram that can aid doctors in diagnosing breast cancer, said Arasu. "I was interested in understanding how the same technology can help us understand future risk," he said.

Related: Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, expert task force says

In a study published Tuesday (June 6) in the journal Radiology , Arasu and his colleagues analyzed how well five AI models predicted which of 18,000 patients had the highest five-year risk of breast cancer. The analysis used data from patients who'd had mammograms in 2016 and were then monitored until 2021. Overall, about 4,400 of the participants developed cancer within the five years of their mammogram.

The models based their predictions on mammograms that, at the time taken, showed no visible evidence of cancer. While it remains unclear exactly how the AI models are predicting cancer risk from mammogram data, broadly, they link certain features and patterns in the breast tissues' structure with cancer risk, said Arasu.

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The researchers pitted these AI models against a commonly used assessment called the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) clinical risk model.

Patients with the highest AI risk scores, in the 90th percentile, accounted for 24% to 28% of the cancers that occurred within five years. By comparison, the highest BCSC scores captured only 21% of cancer cases. The AI models showed the biggest advantage over the BCSC model when predicting which patients were most likely to develop breast cancer within a year of their mammogram.

The findings suggest that "AI could be used alongside the traditional risk model" to predict future breast cancer risk, said Arasu.

In the clinic, people who AI predicts to be at highest risk of breast cancer could be screened more frequently to potentially catch cancers earlier, said Arasu. These high-risk individuals could also potentially be given preventative therapies, such as tamoxifen , which blocks estrogen in breast cells to decrease breast cancer risk.

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As the study focused on a predominantly white, non-Hispanic population, further work is needed to establish how well the AI models might work for people of different races and ethnicities, said Arasu.

While "it is a very well conducted research study," another limitation is that it is unclear how the AI models may work for cancers of different severity, Adam Brentnall , a statistician who studies the prevention and early detection of cancer at Queen Mary University of London, told Live Science in an email.

For example, if the AI models are best at detecting small tumors that haven't yet spread, or metastasized, they may offer little benefit over standard risk models because the cancers' "prognosis and treatment would likely be the same," he said.

"On the other hand, if advanced cancers can be detected earlier by using the model to tailor screening or cancer prevention strategies, then clinical benefits might be large," said Brentnall.

"That's actually the focus of our next phase of research," said Arasu.

Scientists' current lack of understanding of how the AI models reach their conclusions could also make it hard to implement these systems in the clinic, since doctors may not be able to explain to patients how their risk is being assessed, said Brentnall.
Leandro Justen

These past few weeks, fashion editors have traveled across the globe for the 2024 resort season. Louis Vuitton and Gucci headed to Seoul but Carolina Herrera opted for the opposite hemisphere. Wes Gordon was inspired by the brand's latin heritage and headed to Rio de Janeiro for the brand's first international show.



Guests arrived in Brazil a couple of days ahead of the show with a packed itinerary meant to immerse everyone in the culture of the city, while also bringing visibility to local talent from Rio. Each guest even received a city guide that promoted businesses that sold locally crafted items.

Courtsey

A trip was organized to see young Brazilian artists at the Fortes DAloia & Gabriel gallery in Carpintaria and a helicopter ride was scheduled to see arial sights of the Christ the Redeemer landmark, and the Maracana stadium. The trip wouldnt have felt complete without a dinner in the jungle, where guests were hosted at a private residence designed by Roberto Burle Marx. Carolina Herrera also partnered with Spectaculu, a non-for-profit organization founded in Rio that offers professional training in creative industries for the youth in underprivileged communities. The overall goal of the trip was to support the city, which has always supported the brand.





Ahead of the runway, Gordon told me, I thought it was crucial that we celebrated with out South American family. He also spoke about the inspiration provided by the vibrancy of the city, Braziliansand Rio in particularcelebrate color, love, joy, optimism, hope, family, and laughter. All of those are things that I try to embrace at Herrera through our collections.



No matter how much preparation lead up to the actual show itself, it would have been impossible to forecast the tropical storm that would rain down on models as they walked. But no matter how unintentional, the steamy and smoky air did set the mood for the sexy silhouettes of sarong-like skirts and bodycon dresses that would follow.

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Ze Takahashi

As a twin, I smiled extra bright for the polkadot duo dressed in large matching sun hats, holding their dotted pumps in their hands. And as always, Gordon didn't disappoint when it came to layers of tulle and glamorous drama. Crochet knits and floral patchwork chiffon dresses came in extra bright colors inspired by the Brazilian landscapes, in shades like kiwi green and papaya orange. It was very Herrera, with a Brazilian twist.

Leandro Justen

Those are my heros right now, Gordon told me backstage after the rainy show. He was talking about the entirely Brazilian cast of modelsincluding Caroline Treneti and Isabeli Fontanawho insisted on walking in the downpour. Many even did so completely barefoot.



The whole experience was an incredible humbling one, particularly tonight where we were faced with nature. They were the most inspiring and amazing group and team and the show happened because of the models, and everyone working backstage, he went on to say. Even the unexpected couldn't interfere with the strong sense of community and love that reverberated throughout the collection and show.

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Founder of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, Clayborn Benson, reviews photos in his office.

Clayborn Benson has used his retirement savings to personally fund efforts at the institution he founded, the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. He says he can no longer meet the demands of the historical society without financial help from the statehouse.

Among the hundreds of items stripped from Gov. Tony Evers budget proposal last week was funding for the historical society and museum located on Milwaukees north side.

Benson says he needs $1 million a year from the state, or he worries about the continued success of the historical society.

Evers proposed funding for the historical society as part of budget proposal, but Republican lawmakers removed the funding, along with the hundreds of other items.

The work the historical society does for the community, libraries, schools, among other institutions is likely invaluable, state Rep. Evan Goyke said.

Documenting Black history across the state, gathering African American artifacts, educating the public from the earliest populations of Black people in the state to the Great Migration and providing a community gathering space, are just some of the value of the historical society.

Goyke, along with Reps. Kalan Haywood and Darrin Madison, and Sen. LaTonya Johnson represent much of the area surrounding the historical society, located at 2620 W. Center St. The Democratic lawmakers had a public hearing at the historical society last weekend to present Evers budget proposal. All of them, except Madison, sit on at the Joint Finance Committee.

(Left) Rep. Kalan Haywood and (right) Sen. LaTonya Johnson speak at the listening session for the 2023-2025 Wisconsin State Budget at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum on Saturday April 29, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The meeting was largely attended by students, staff, and parents connected to charter schools, advocating for more school choice options for Milwaukees youth. Although many both agree and disagree with the presenters, the opportunity to speak with their representatives was all made possible by utilizing the physical space of the historical society.

Without the state funding, Benson fears the historical society will not be able to provide opportunities such as the public hearing.

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People are asking us to do more, utilize the facility more," Benson said. "It is difficult to satisfy their requests with limited staff."

Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee still could decide whether to reinstate partial funding for some items, including the historical society, regardless of having stripped much of Evers' budget. Republicans approved state funding for the historical society in the past, despite one Republican leader calling for an end to it. It remains unclear when or if they could restore the funds.

Clayborn Benson, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, speaks with 6-year-old Alayah Tyson, 10-year-old Andreyis Tyson, and Henry Tyson of Milwaukee about the presence and contributions of African Americans particularly in Wisconsin's workforce on Saturday April 29, 2023 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum in Milwaukee, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A staffer of a Republican committee member noted the historical society has been receiving roughly $85,000 annually from the state, significantly less than $1 million it says it needs to operate.

State funding for the historical society also has not increased significantly in years.

Thats what weve been receiving. But weve grown, its just the expectation of the community, in terms of what they want from us, expect from us, far exceeded and changed over the course of the years, Benson said.

Benson founded the historical society in 1987 and is no stranger to financial strain

Benson is a photojournalist by practice, having worked for WTMJ-TV for nearly 40 years. While working as a cameraman for TMJ4, he founded the historical society in 1987 and the next year moved into its current set of two buildings on Center Street. One of the buildings is over 130 years old and was donated to the historical society from the City of Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum contains many exhibits from ancient Egyptian civilization to early African American settlers in rural Wisconsin on Saturday April 29, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Benson said the buildings need some work.

We just put on a new roof, but were still having leaks, Benson said. The brick wall is peeling. Thats a problem. We need a new floor in. We have foundation on the east side of wall where there is water coming in.  These buildings need constant maintenance.

It wasnt until about three years ago when the historical society began to feel a bit more comfortable financially. We would be down to $100 at the end of the cycle, Benson said. We would be bled dry. We didnt have money to pay utility bills, to pay staff, any of the things thats necessary.

The historical society receives funding from organizations and nonprofits, including the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Northwestern Mutual, in addition to public funds.

Benson says he needs more staff to serve to the public

Benson wants to use the state funds to hire more staff. He said the historical society needs an education specialist, archivist, grant writer, and facilities manager.

Clayborn Benson, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, poses for a portrait on Saturday April 29, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wis. Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Benson said the historical society will receive multiple calls every day asking for a request.

Theyre not normally Black people, theyre white people making artifacts or giving things they have encountered with African Americans over the course of the years, to donate, to make historical, Benson said, adding he doesnt have adequate staffing to fulfill the requests.

The historical society has programming that requires staff, including movies, lectures, and discussions. Some of the programming is catered to youth, some is catered to pregnant women and new moms. The institution hosts birthday parties, weddings, and graduation events. All of this requires staffing and funding, Benson said.

Clayborn Benson takes part in the introduces children to the audience during a Kwanzaa celebration Monday, December 26, 2022 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St. in Milwaukee, Wis. Kwanzaa, a weeklong cultural celebration honoring African American culture and African heritage, begins on December 26 and ends January 1. The holiday occurs over the same seven days each year. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University in Long Beach The celebration of Kwanzaa is about embracing 7 ethical principles including unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Goyke says if investments are being made in Madison, Milwaukee museums so should the Black Historical Society

The Legislature in the last three years has secured funding for two new museums in Wisconsin's biggest two cities, and Goyke believes the Black historical society needs attention.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has a new museum set to open in 2026 in Madison. The state funded $70 million for the project, but not before requiring the museum to raise at least $30 million in private funds. The new Milwaukee Public Museum, also set to open in 2026 in downtown, was in part funded by the state to the tune of $40 million.

State Rep. Evan Goyke speaks at a budget public hearing at the Wisconsin Black History Society and Museum on April 29, 2023.

"At a time when we are making huge investments in a new museum in Madison, an investment I support," Goyke said.

"We're (also) investing 10s and 10s of millions of dollars in the museum of natural history that is going to be built downtown. And I think it's appropriate as we have a debate about a public investment in history and museums that we not forget the Black Historical Society and the work that they do and the contribution that they make, and the expanded contribution they could make if we invested in them more heavily."

Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Black Historical Society request $1 million from state
It's not possible to invest over long periods without making some bad investments. But you want to avoid the really big losses like the plague. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of boohoo group plc (LON:BOO) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 89%. That would be a disturbing experience. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 51% lower in that time. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 27% in the last three months. We note that the company has reported results fairly recently; and the market is hardly delighted. You can check out the latest numbers in our company report. We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for boohoo group

Because boohoo group made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last three years, boohoo group saw its revenue grow by 11% per year, compound. That's a pretty good rate of top-line growth. So it's hard to believe the share price decline of 24% per year is due to the revenue. It could be that the losses were much larger than expected. This is exactly why investors need to diversify - even when a loss making company grows revenue, it can fail to deliver for shareholders.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

boohoo group is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. Given we have quite a good number of analyst forecasts, it might be well worth checking out this free chart depicting consensus estimates.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 0.8% in the twelve months, boohoo group shareholders did even worse, losing 51%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 13% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Take risks, for example - boohoo group has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

Of course boohoo group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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A Tennessee woman who allegedly paid a hitman for hire website on the dark web to kill her perceived romantic rival in Prattville, Ala., complained to the site administrator that the hit was taking too long to complete, an investigator said in court documents.

Melody Sasser was arrested in May and charged with murder for hire. Shes accused of targeting a woman in Prattville who had recently married a man Sasser had met on Match.com.

Sassers alleged acts occurred over a four-month period, from the start of the year until April 27, 2023, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

In written testimony, Special Agent Gregory Martin of Homeland Security Investigations said he was alerted to the scheme in late April by a foreign law enforcement agency that supplied him with the targeted Prattville womans name, address and photograph.

The Montgomery Advertiser is not naming the woman that law enforcement says Sasser targeted because of privacy concerns.

According to the complaint, Sasser visited the Online Killers Market (OKM) website, hosted on the dark web and offering hitman for hire services. Authorities say Online Killers Market claims to have 12,000 registered members worldwide and offers services including hacking, kidnapping, extortion, disfigurement by acid attack, and sexual violence.

Sasser, who lives in Knoxville, Tenn., is accused of using the screen name cattree to order the death of her perceived rival on the site. In the description, which authorities say was shared with them via screenshots, cattree offered this description:

It needs to seem random or accident. or plant drugs, do not want a long investigation.

Cattree then described the targets daily habits, including where she worked and what she drove. Authorities say as the weeks went on, cattree also used a fitness tracking app called Strava to monitor the Prattville couple, notifiying OKM of her targets movements.

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The quoted amount for this order: $9,750, to be paid in cryptocurrency.

Police connect plot to Sasser

When agents from the Birmingham office of Homeland Security Investigations alerted the Prattville woman to the threat, she suggested agents investigate Sasser, a hiking friend of her husbands in Knoxville who had become enraged when she learned the man planned to marry. Sasser allegedly told the man, I hope you both fall off a cliff and die.

HSIs Martin said the targeted womans husband said hed met Sasser on Match.com and that she helped him plan an Appalachian Trail hike.

The targeted woman said Sasser arrived last fall at her husbands Prattville house, unannounced. She told agents that after the incident, her car was vandalized and the couple began receiving threatening phone calls from someone with an electronically disguised voice.

Agents analyzed the couples phones, showing at least nine calls from Sasser to the wife in November of 2022, when license plate readers also showed Sassers vehicle near the wifes workplace in Hoover, Martin testified in the criminal complaint.

'Cattree' complained hit was taking too long

Online Killers Market includes an internal messaging system for users to connect with an alleged hitman, administrators or other users, Martin explained in the criminal complaint.

It was there that authorities say Sasser, as cattree, complained to site administrators that the hit shed ordered was taking too long to be carried out.

I have waited for 2 months and 11 days and the job is not completed, cattree messaged on March 22. 2 weeks ago you said it was being worked on and would be done in a week. the job is still not done. does it need to be assigned to someone else. will it be done. what is the delay. when will it be done.

The admin responded, saying the assignment was too risky for the person whod agreed to do the job. I have two other hitmen that I can assign on the job, the admin said, noting that both wanted more bitcoin to do the job.

In a message on March 29, cattree agreed to pay more. I will add btc.

Sasser Complaint by Paige Windsor on Scribd

Paige O. Windsor is executive editor of the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at pwindsor@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Death of rival in Prattville taking too long, client complains on dark web
According to documents provided to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, there are plans for a new gondola-style connector lift that will link Stowe Mountain Resort's Spruce Peak and Smugglers' Notch Resort's Sterling Mountain.

If the current plans are carried out, this lift would signify a significant milestone in collaboration between the neighboring ski resorts, providing a convenient mode of transportation for their visitors. Records obtained through a public request indicate that discussions regarding a shared lift between the two resorts have been ongoing for six years, starting shortly after Vail Resorts acquired Stowe Mountain Resort.

Ongoing discussions between the state and the two resorts have been positive, as evidenced by communications following their recent meeting in March, as mentioned in the documents.

Courtney DiFiore, the spokesperson for Vail Resorts, refrained from commenting on the plans and suggested that the response would be handled by the Smugglers' Notch team. At the time of press, there have been multiple requests for comment from Smugglers' Notch that remained unanswered.

Ummm...NO. News broke late last week of a secret plan by Stowe (Vail) Resorts and Smuggler's Notch Resort to build a new gondola between the two ski areas through a State of VT-managed Natural Area. Not ok. We're watching and ready. #SavePublicForestshttps://t.co/Ex569pOd1H  Standing Trees (@standingtrees_) June 5, 2023

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Lora Reehling Photography / Courtesy of the subjects



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It is 3 A.M., and I am sitting on the floor of Erbil International Airport, stunned. Just a few days before, I had been waiting for my boyfriend, Salem, to come home from a reporting trip in Iraq. We had been living in Istanbul, Turkey for a little over a year and while neither of us are Turkish, it was the perfect place for us, two journalists, to live while covering stories across the Middle East.

Even though we came from different parts of the worldme, from the United States, and Salem, from Syriathis never felt like an insurmountable distance. We fell in love while covering the war in Syria and Turkish politics, bonded by our interest in the world around us. Now, he was on assignment in Iraq to report on the fall of the Islamic State, and I was eager for him to come home, safely.

Just as I was deciding what I was going to make for dinner in our apartment in Istanbul, he called me. Im being banned from Turkey, he said, without so much as a greeting. It was my worst nightmareeven though we knew journalists who had been kicked out of the country, Salem was different. He was technically a refugee, and while most of our friends in Turkey could easily just go home if they ran into a problem, Salem could not return to Syria. He also was barred from traveling to most countries outside of the Middle East without a visa. And these visasto places like Europe, Canada and the United Stateswere so impossible to obtain that many of our Syrian friends had boarded makeshift boats across the Mediterranean, in hopes of seeking asylum in Europe.

Courtesy of the subjects

I flew to Iraq almost immediately after getting Salems calland while we had spent a wonderful week together trying to pretend that everything was normal, it was now time for me to go homewithout him. I didnt know what I was going to do next. I didnt want to leave the life that we had built in Istanbul behind. But I didnt want to be in Turkey without him, either.

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Most people do not have a U.S. passport, I thought, looking down at my own. It allowed me so much freedom of movement, that it felt unfair. As a journalist, I had been following the stories of refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East but had never considered how many love stories were cut short amidst the chaos. We are told that love conquers all. But what happens when you dont have the right passport?

I always tell my daughtermake sure he has papers before you fall in love, Cecilia Garcia, a 48-year-old mother of five told me, when I met her in Chicago in July 2021. A few years had passed since I was sitting on the floor of the Erbil airport, and my journey with Salem had brought us to two different countries: first to Iraq, where we lived for nine months after he was deported from Turkey, and later, to the United Kingdom, where we now live because he was able to get political asylum. Inspired by our story, I had started writing a book, Love Across Borders, to chronicle the stories of how passports, papers and borders affect couples around the world.

Cecilia, who was born and raised in Chicago, knows firsthand how it feels to have your love story threatened by borders. Almost 10 years ago, her partner Hugo, was pulled over near their home in Chicago for an expired registration and deported to Mexico, thousands of miles away from her and their five children. Anyone deported from the U.S. is banned from reentering the country for a decade, leaving families like hers separated. While there are no official numbers of how many families are impacted by this Clinton-era policy, the group American Families United estimates that as many as 20,000 people are denied visas to join a U.S. citizen spouse every year.

I feel so blessed to be able to visit him, she told me, explaining that while, as a U.S. citizen, she can travel back and forth to Mexico, many of the people that she knows in a similar position are undocumented and cannot. Still, her desire to raise their children in the U.S. means she cannot uproot her life and relocate to Mexico, the way that I was able to move to Iraq. I love my husband, and I love my kids, and I will always fight for them, she tells me. I always tell people, no border will get in the way of your love.

Spending time with Cecilia made me realize how many women are essentially made single mothers because their partners are deported and how many children are rendered parentless when their non-citizen parents are deported. As a woman of a certain age, I am constantly fielding questions as to whether I am planning to have children. I never know how to answer; intentionally bringing life into a relationship where I have had to suddenly pack an apartment and move to a new country not once, but twice, feels unwise. We have watched countriesincluding the places where we first fell in lovefall apart, displacing friends and family time and again.

Lora Reehling Photography

Im not alone. I know what it is like to have parents who are undocumented, and dont think that I want to have children, Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough, the executive director of United Stateless, tells me from her home in Philadelphia. Even though Karinas family fled ethnic persecution in the former Soviet Union when she was a child, their request for asylum in the United States was denied. When they tried to go back, they were told that the country that was listed on their documents no longer existed; not only were they undocumentedthey were stateless.

Even falling in love with, and marrying, a U.S. citizenher husband, Kevindidnt help Karina fix her status. As a stateless person, the option to marry someone for a green card doesnt apply. It affects you, and it affects your marriage, she said. For a long time, I was depressed, and I brought that into our home. I was so ashamed about my status, and I let that control me. But I just dont care anymore. I care about Kevin, and I care about our marriage and I care about the United Stateless community.

Immigration can also force a more traditional way than modern couples may prefer. Im a millennialI dont want to get married! Maria Lopez, a 29-year-old content creator who makes satirical memes about the struggles of dating while undocumented, told me. But I feel like these immigration systems are forcing me. I laughed in recognition. Spending time with Maria reminded me of all the times Id rolled my eyes because someone said they didnt believe in the institution of marriage. I didnt believe in the institution of anything, but I had fallen in love with someone whose passport wasnt worth the paper that it was printed on and the only way to enjoy equal rightsmost crucially, the right to be together in the same countrywas to become legally bound to one another. For me, marriage became the most romantic act in the world.

Shop Now Love Across Borders: Passports, Papers, and Romance in a Divided World $19.73 amazon.com

As I prepare to share our journey with the world in Love Across Bordersthe good, the bad, and my ugliest, most unflattering momentsI remember how I used to long for what I thought was a normal relationship. I wanted to travel to romantic destinations together and seethed with jealousy at pictures of couples in places like Tuscany and Santoriniplaces Salem and I could not go. Looking back, I realize now that it was not so much that I wanted an enviable Instagram feed, it was that I wanted my partner to be able to travel as freely as I couldto experience the magic of a world without limits.

We have yet to visit Italy or Greece together, but we have watched countless sunsets over the Bosphorus and documented history unfolding across the Middle East. We have built a home together in London that is all the more meaningful because of what we have gone through together. Navigating borders and immigration systems in multiple countries meant that we had to prioritize one another and let go of what we sacrificed to be together. I travelled less than I wanted to; Salem put himself through the excruciating asylum process so that we could have a future together in a safe and stable country. No matter where we are, we learned that the most important thing is that we are together.

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Participants listen to speakers at the Transgender Day of Visibility rally held March 31 in Washington Square Park in New Orleans.

Participants listen to speakers at the Transgender Day of Visibility rally held March 31 in Washington Square Park in New Orleans.

Mostpeopledont know that you can just go testify at congressional hearings. You dont have to be important or register in advance. When I went to cover the hearing for Louisiana House Bill 466  legislation that would prohibit teachers from discussing matters of gender and sexuality with students in public schools  the people I saw offering testimony for Louisianas version of Dont Say Gay were just other concerned citizens like me. So I decided to speak.

My testimony centered on my experience as a former educator. I explained that I had not been officially out when I was a teacher over a decade ago. More specifically, I wasnt out to the administration. But I didnt hide my queerness from my students. I never had to come out to my students  they just knew.

I recounted how my fourth grade and fifth grade students would often ask if I were a boy or a girl. I always hedged, countered those questions with other questions like, Well, what do you think? And when they said, You dont really seem like a boy or a girl, I just smiled and told them that they were smart.

Many students came to me with their own gender dilemmas. Some of them were as simple as needing to talk about how they didnt want to have long hair, even though they were girls. And some of them were as complex as wondering what it meant that they were a boy with a crush on a boy. I was not perfect as a teacher, but I think my students knew they could come to me, not for answers, but for acceptance.

If HB466 passes, those conversations  which are often crucial to a students well-being  would become illegal.

Basically, this legislation will codify an already unspoken process of gaslighting trans kids out of existence, Augistina Johnson, a 27-year-old organizer with the Real Name Campaign, a grassroots trans advocacy organization in New Orleans, tells me.

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That is something I experienced as a kid, where I grew up in New Orleans, Johnson says. But instead of scaring her out of resistance, Johnsons experience as a trans youth in Louisiana made her into an activist. I can relate. My own experiences as a queer educator combined with giving testimony and talking to others at the hearing inspired me to connect with people who are committed to protecting queer youth in Louisiana.

How can any trans person stay in school if youre going to literally force us out? Johnson wonders.

Ed Abraham, a 28-year-old organizer also with the Real Name Campaign, commiserates. We deserve more than to just survive, he says. Not killing ourselves doesnt have to be what trans success looks like. Abraham cites some of the harsh realities that LGBTQ+ youths face: anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and the risk of dropping out of school.

Unfortunately, there arent many statistics on how many LGBTQ+ students drop out of school, but research does give us a startling glimpse into the mental health challenges that queer youth are dealing with. According to The Trevor Project, 45% of the 34,000 LGBTQ+ youth surveyed attempted suicide in 2022. Fewer than 1 in 3 participants in the study felt they had a supportive home environment.

LGBTQ+ kids in America face massive mental health challenges. Many dont have support at home  so they need support at school.

LGBTQ+ kids in America face massive mental health challenges. Many dont have support at home  so they need support at school.

In other words, LGBTQ+ kids in America are facing massive mental health challenges and many dont have support at home  so they need support at school. They need it, not just to come to personal terms with who they are, but in order to survive within a system stacked against them. Citizen after citizen testified that their greatest fear was that the legislation would increase the risk of suicide. If you pass this bill, one person said, the blood will be on your hands.

Bills such as HB466 would also effectively prohibit the more formal support structures designed to protect children, like GSAs  genders & sexualities alliances  which are student-run, teacher-supported organizations in schools meant to help students of any gender or sexuality find resources, support and camaraderie. Research shows GSAs may help make schools safer and contribute to a positive school environment  for all students.

Mel Manuel, a 39-year-old public school teacher in Louisiana who is currently running for Congress, sponsors the GSA at their school. This is going to basically cancel GSA because, even though it doesnt outright exempt students from talking to each other about gender identity and sexual orientation, it prohibits teachers from doing so and you need a teacher sponsor to form a GSA.

Mel Manuel teaches in a conservative Louisiana parish and theyve seen firsthand how important genders & sexualities alliances can be in children's lives.

Mel Manuel teaches in a conservative Louisiana parish and theyve seen firsthand how important genders & sexualities alliances can be in children's lives.

Manuel teaches in a conservative Louisiana parish and theyve seen firsthand how important GSAs can be in childrens lives. For some kids, thats the only space that they have where they can be openly wherever they are, Manuel says. A large percentage of them have told me directly that they attempted suicide or thought about suicide. Manuel says theyre scared about what could happen if those already at-risk kids couldnt find safe spaces at school.

Nathalie Nia Faulk, a 32-year-old cultural organizer and healing justice practitioner in New Orleans, tells me GSAs were one of the first places she felt safe as her most authentic self as a teenager and shes fighting against HB466 so other young people in Louisiana have the same opportunity. I have survived this long because I was able to be in my transition and Ive been able to be in spaces and be seen in my gender, she says.

At the root, what queer people in Louisiana are fighting for right now is the simple right to exist and be recognized. When Maxwell Cohen, aka Big Gay Baby, a 27-year-old drag queen in New Orleans, gave testimony with a blue face adorned with stars, the crowd  and the media  went wild. A mom handed them her phone afterward and asked them to FaceTime with their children. My kid wants to show you that theyre wearing the same shirt as you, the mom told Cohen. The shirt read, Trans rights are human rights.

This kids face lit up looking up at me and I was like, I know what youre feeling. I know what its like to look at a drag queen for the first time, Cohen tells me. These seemingly small moments of mutual recognition can mean so much to children starving for acceptance. But the consequences of not having those moments are dire.

Everyone I spoke to at the hearing, from middle-aged suburban moms in pearls to social psychologists, pointed out that the dire statistics associated with being queer in the South are the result of stigma. The far right will point us in the fact that we do survival sex work and have a higher risk of struggling with substance abuse and we have higher rates of being incarcerated and they say its because were trans or queer, but in fact, its because of all the stigma they keep throwing at us, Cohen says.

Those engaged in the fight to say gay in Louisiana are struggling within the context of that stigma  and it is a fight that often requires great personal sacrifice. Manuel resigned their position as a teacher to run for Congress. No, theres no law that prohibits educators from also being public officials, but Manuel knew they could not engage fully with LGBTQ+ legislative issues without facing professional consequences. If I was going to be at my school, I would have to censor myself, Manuel tells me. I dont want to have to tiptoe.

Advocates and activists also face threats to their personal safety. One source I spoke with for this article requested that no images of them appear in the article. Im scared, they told me in an email.

Frankly, I am too. A conservative representative posted my testimony on Twitter, and I was terrified by the vitriol that ensued from my essentially innocuous talking points. Some Twitter users made shocking assertions that I am a pedophile and a groomer, and several posted threats of bodily harm. Its impossible not to feel fear in the face of such hate.

If youre wondering why anyone would testify only to be lambasted on the internet, spend all their free time organizing, or give up a job they love to become a public target, well, thats exactly why. Fighting for the next generation of LGBTQ+ people to be seen as human and valid is worth it. And facing the stigma head on makes it clear that the stakes of bills like HB466 are truly life and death. But the stakes are also love and belonging.

Every step we take together makes room for more steps to become possible. We have always been here. We will continue to be here, says Pearl Ricks, the executive director of the Reproductive Justice Action Collective, a network of Southern activists. Ricks says they love connecting with young people as a way to share optimism. They exist with a little more wiggle room than I started out with, they say. That wiggle room opens new spaces of possibility for all of us.

HB466 passed in the Louisiana House of Representatives on May 9. The bill is currently being read by the state Senate and is expected to be heard by the Senate this month, which means that proponents and opponents will be able to testify in front of lawmakers. If it passes there, HB466 will then be sent to Gov. Bel Edwards (D). Edwards has not said explicitly whether he would sign the legislation if it lands on his desk.

However, he has raised concerns about the recent onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Louisiana, saying in a press conference last week that he believes it could increase the risk of suicide for trans youth. Members of this community believe theyre being attacked for who they are, Edwards said in the press conference.

The acts of being seen and of speaking out in themselves accomplish some of the work that needs to be done. Of course we need allies in our struggle for liberation. Of course we need legal protections. Of course we need support. But more than anything, perhaps, what all queer people of every age need is proof that it is possible to survive and thrive. We need to see each other. As Ricks says, It helps us understand that we exist permanently, we are loving permanently.
Sarah Kim



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When Carolyn Pfeiffer arrived in New York City in the late 1950s, she was a tomboy from rural North Carolina who was curious about the world. Before long, she booked a one-way trip to England, and her ensuing adventures unfolded against the thrilling backdrop of European cinema in the 1960s, where she was a fly on the wall for some of the seminal movies of the time, like 8 , The Leopard, and Doctor Zhivago. In her new memoir, Chasing the Panther: Adventures and Misadventures of a Cinematic Life, Pfeiffer evokes the culture of European cinema with affection, but without sentimentality. The book is ripe with glittery stars such as Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, and Omar Sharif. Theres old Hollywood (Burt Lancaster), new Hollywood (Barbra Streisand), and the British Invasion (The Beatles). There's plenty of fun stuff, too, like smoking weed with director Blake Edwards during the filming of The Pink Panther.



As an executive at Alive Films in the 1980s, Pfeiffer went on to produce or distribute indie hits such as Kiss of the Spider Woman, Choose Me, and Stop Making Sense. But this book remains focused on her early years. Its a classic coming-of-age story, with Pfeiffer devoting as much time to her string of lovers and the wonders of European culture as she does to the minutia of filmmaking. Its through her deeply-felt descriptions of young love, of being a foreigner in Europe, of living and experimenting and learning about oneself, that the book connects.

During her first visit to Eygpt with Sharif, for whom she worked for several years, Pfeiffer encountered the Great Pyramids on horseback at night. Though she was far from the North Carolina pastures where she grew up, Pfeiffer let it fly, her horse galloping as she approached the shadow of the pyramid. Its a soaring, lyrical moment, and Pfeifferand her co-author Gregory Collinsputs us right there. Pfeiffer has a no-nonsense style; shes a straight-shooter, but also a natural storyteller. Shes lived a charmed life, but one, she cautions, where terrible things can happen at any time.

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Pfeiffer Zoomed with Esquire from her home in Marfa, Texas. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

ESQUIRE: How old were you when you first yearned to travel?

Carolyn Pfeiffer: Young. I was born in Washington D.C. and my parents moved to Madison, North Carolina, when I was six years old. Being an outsiderthey called me Yankeemight have been part of that, but I think I was just drawn to other things.

That remains a theme for you in your twenties, as you describe in this bookbeing an outsider in London, in Rome, in Paris.

But with a difference. I was never an American in Paris or an American in Rome. I immediately gravitated to the culture of those places, learned the language as best I could, and worked. I didnt really think of myself as an outsider. I was always a foreigner, but I was really comfortable in these cultures.

People seemed to take a liking to you. Like the family of your boyfriend Masolino dAmicoespecially his mother, Suso Cecchi dAmico, a pioneering screenwriter whose work includes neo-realist masterpieces such as Bicycle Thieves and Rome, Open City.

Suso is the matriarch of Italian cinema. Theres nobody that could duplicate her career and the contributions she made as a screenwriter. She was born in Florence at a time when women didnt work, of course. After World War II, her husband developed pulmonary disease and went to Switzerland to curefor a long time. Suso was left with two small children and tried to figure out how to support them. She was recommended to do this one screenplay, and that was the beginning of her career. She was very droll. Very calm and thoughtful about everything. For some reason, she took me under her wing, and that lasted until she died. She was my mentor in many ways, but she never would have said that.

Courtesy of Carolyn Pfeiffer Archive

What do you think she saw in you?

I dont know. I think maybe an independence. And a kind of straight-forwardness.

And she helped get you your first work in the movie business. Was that ever something you dreamed about?

No. I found myself in the film business because I needed a job. I got a job teaching English through the dAmicos, because Hollywood was coming. Thats what they used to say: Hollywood is coming. The Americans were starting to make films in Europe. Everyone needed to learn English.



And then you had the good fortune to meet Claudia Cardinale, a rising young star in Italian cinema.

Originally, I was hired to teach Claudia English. We got along really well; she didnt have a secretary, and so I took that on. Franco Cristaldi was a well-known Italian producer. Claudia was under contract to him. She did a few French films and Italian films, and then bam: she got 8 , The Leopard, and The Pink Panther in a row, all three of which live on in the annals of movie history. I obviously knew these were exceptionally gifted peoplebut you dont have any idea what the duration of these things will be. Youre too young to remember to save anything, for Gods sake. I should have saved the call sheets. Who knew?

Courtesy of Carolyn Pfeiffer Archive

I loved how you evoked Fellinis working method and what a towering figure he was at the time of 8 ; also, how he and Visconti, who directed The Leopard, were vying to be the top dog of Italian cinema. One thing that stands out about your experience is that Cristaldi made it your duty to never allow Claudia to be alone with Fellini.

Fellini, like Visconti, these were giant people. I cant fully explain to you their aura, their comportment, their reputation. It was otherworldly. But even though Fellini was devoted to Giulietta, his wife, it was well known that he loved round women, and Claudia was a very beautiful woman. These are Italian guys. Cristaldi knew Italian guys, so he was really nervous. I dont think he was nervous about her having a one-night stand with Fellini, but he was nervous that somehow Fellini would try to seduce Claudia. Fellini was a very seductive man and she was his muse in the film. Boundaries are crossed when you are in the world of making a film. Its a world unto itself. And people become very much a part of that world and do forget whats outside that world.

How did you and Claudia get along?

Claudia, in all the time that I worked for her, was a very straight-up gal. Her family moved from Tunis to Italy with her. At the age of 20, she was the provider for her family. She had this weight on her. Also, it turned out that she and Cristaldi were lovers. It was never discussed. Never open, though everyone knew. He was married. Eventually he got divorced, and he and Claudia got married. And then they got divorced.

Courtesy of Carolyn Pfeiffer Archive

You talk about the relationship between Claudia and Cristaldi, and how she was beholden to his business decisions. But a few years later when you worked with Omar Sharif, a male star, you discovered that he didnt have much contractural freedom either.

They were put under contract. In order to do Lawrence of Arabia, Omar signed a five-or six picture deal with producer Sam Spiegel. He didnt have a choice in his roles. Any role Sam wanted him to do, Omar was legally bound to do it. It took years for William Morris, Omars agent, to get him out of that deal. When I was working for Omar, wed go from film-to-film-to-film almost living off our per diems. He would get really good per diems, and because I was part of his package, Id get a decent per diem. Of course, the production would pay for housing. Wed be in fabulous first-class hotels with cars and drivers, and all the accoutrements of being really, really rich, but there was no money.

Courtesy of Carolyn Pfeiffer Archive

In addition to your long relationship with Omar Sharif, you also had encounters with Barbra Streisand and the Beatles where you saw the frightening side of fame.

I was with the Beatles in the south of France. I kept saying to Maureen, who was Ringos wife at the time, and pretty experienced, Whatever you do, dont let go of him. As long as you hold onto him, youll be okay. She was pregnant and got punched in the stomach, not deliberately, by someone trying to get closer. It's really scary. I was thinking about Meghan and Prince Harry, and how they talked about trembling in the taxicab. I completely understand that. Ive been in those situations where the mob is in control, and you really dont know whether youre going to be hurt. The best thing you can do is stay as close as you can to the person of fame, because that's the person who will be protected. I think because of these kinds of things, there's a language between famous people that civilians arent even aware of.

Late in the book, you write that terrible things can happen at any time. Thats certainly true in your story, especially when you write about being raped by one of Alain Delons bodyguards. The way you describe it, theres this awful inevitability about it, because he was hawking you before you consented to go out with him.

We had to change the name of the bodyguard for legal reasons. I remember well what his real name is. Theres a thing with women of the time. We made constant excuses for men, and men made constant excuses for themselves. One thing for sure, I did not want to be defined by this guy. It really was before a time where it would have even occurred to me to protest or take it to the police. I never told Alain, who would have been furious. But it stayed with me my whole life. It never became less painful. It doesnt go awaydown there, its buried. Its part of you.

Courtesy of Carolyn Pfeiffer Archive

As someone who worked closely with movie stars, you write with discretion and sensitivity about their private lives. I came away with a sense of all the stories you didnt tell, which makes the ones you do tell even more potent. One was about Fellini, who grabbed your butt on the set of 8  in front of a group of people to publicly humiliate you, because he was frustrated that you wouldnt let him be alone with Cardinale. The other involved Sean Connery.

I wasnt revealing details about my clients or other people. Both of those are things that happened to me, which I felt was allowable. I mean, both men stepped over the line, man. To me, it was so shocking that someone as revered as Fellini would resort to such a low tactic. I didnt include it in the book to show people he was a bad guy, but its my story and it happened to me, and it affected me, and here I am 60 years later still talking about it because it was over the line. It doesnt matter that he was a genius and amazing to watch work.

Then there's also a brief description of a scene with Sean Connery, who molested you in a restaurant by shoving his hand up your skirt several times. You dont spend a long time on it, but you dont ignore it either.

Sean, the thing that was most egregious, was that his wife, Diane, was sitting on the other side of me. I mean, I loved James Bond movies, but there was no way I was interested in having Sean Connery grope me. Im sure I wasnt even his type. Im not even sure what his fucking problem was. But I was there with one of his close friends as a date, and I was sitting next to his wife. I mean, figure that out. I mean, what on earth would motivate a man to do something  like that.

That is ones life and ones life is filled with things like that. So you decide whether youre going to talk about these things or not, and whether they are of interest. I certainly wasnt out to hurt anybody in my bookI dont think I did. Much more difficult for me was writing about the relationships I had with men that I loved and who loved me. Break-ups and things like that. Those were really hard for me.

I can only imagine how challenging it was to write about the tragic death of your first daughter, Lola.

My pregnancy was unintended. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was startled, but then as I processed it, I thought, I can do this. I am financially self-sufficient. I have friends and something of a support system. I really wanted this baby. It was powerful. At the time, it was very unusual to have a child out of wedlock and I was afraid of losing clients, so I did not say anything to most people until I could no longer hide it. I had a happy pregnancy and an easy birth. The moment when you see your child is beyond joyful. I was pretty much English by this time, in my habits and routines. Lola and I had a simple, happy life. Then one evening, she was fussy. I called the doctor. He said it didnt sound serious, to give her Tylenol and we would see how she was in the morning. I had to go to the studio very early and she was sleeping, but the nanny was there.

Terry O'Neill

Then I got the call and raced to the hospital where they had taken her. Lola did not survive. A virus had gone to her brain. Meningitis. The pain of losing a child is unbearable. In the almost year that followed, I kept working and tried to live life as before, but I could not pull out from the deep sadness. I started to think I needed to return to America. I'd had good working relationships with Robert Altman and Shep Gordon, who both invited me to join their companies. It seemed that with Shep and Alive Films, there would be a real chance to build something, so I returned home.

Okay, one last thing: one of my favorite parts of the book is when Suso dAmico talks about finding your genius. That we all have an inner genius of some kind.

Im not as eloquent as Suso but yes, to simplify: everyone has a gift of some kind ofSuso called it genius. And you have to discover your internal giftor geniusand with that gift go out into the world. Many people never really understand or recognize their gift, but everyone has it.

Whats your genius?

I think its the ability to keep going and always want to keep going. I love to problem-solve and I love to collaborate; those are qualities that make a good producer. Ones genius is not specially a career you choose, however, but something inside you.

Steve Shapiro

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The flight will be out of LAX and launch in November.

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JetBlue will launch a new flight to Nassau in the Bahamas this fall, marking the first-ever nonstop flight from Los Angeles to the Caribbean island.

The new flight, which will launch Nov. 4, will operate once per week on Saturdays, the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board shared with Travel + Leisure. The flight will take off from Los Angeles International Airport and fly to Nassaus Lynden Pindling International Airport.

We are continuing to see a strong visitation to Nassau Paradise Island from Los Angeles, and we are excited to expand access and offer the first nonstop flight from LAX in the history of the destination, Joy Jibrilu, the CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, said in a statement provided to T+L. Nassau and Paradise Island are the perfect getaway for those on the West Coast craving a tropical vacation with our white sand beaches, turquoise waters, world-class resorts and unmatched Bahamian hospitality.

When it launches, the new route will mark the first nonstop service for JetBlue from the West Coast to Nassau. Currently, JetBlue flies to the island from seven other U.S. cities, including from Fort Lauderdale, Boston, and New York.

Getting back to the U.S. from Nassau is also very easy since the Lynden Pindling International Airport offers preclearance, allowing travelers to go through U.S. customs before boarding a flight back to the country, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. And last year, the Transportation Security Administration opened its first-ever TSA PreCheck location outside of the U.S. at the airport there.

This isnt JetBlues only new international route. Last month, the airline launched a brand-new flight to Bermuda and this summer, the airline will expand its transatlantic options with new flights to both Paris and Amsterdam.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Talk about a heater! Spring riding might be winding down in the U.S. but it is in full force over in Europe. Sven Thorgren and company spent some time hanging up in Sweden and he dropped a very entertaining edit alongside Rene Rinnekangas, Dusty Hernricksen and more.

With plenty of hyped riders in the comments, there are too many highlights in the edit to pick just one, but we figured the fire pit backflip would probably bring the most eyes across the internet.

For a little more info on Sven, it was actually a trip in his backyard. He is a Swedish professional snowboarder who has competed in three Winter Olympics (Sochi in 2014, Pyeongchang in 2018, and most recently in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. He was born on January 6, 1994, in Stockholm and specializes in the slopestyle and big air disciplines. Always a threat on the podium, he has claimed medals at just about every major contest including X Games and more. He also has quite the impressive backyard setup, but that is hard to follow compared to his world traveling contest resume. Go follow his page for consistent updates from one of the best snowboarders on the globe.

We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging snow-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional rider or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SNOWBOARDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality snowboarding videos.

Don't miss another headline from SNOWBOARDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of snowboarding.
At the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Bobby Stuckey and Carlin Karr cover how to rethink what you know about Italian wine.

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When it comes to finding a bottle of Italian wine for dinner, varietals like Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Pinot Grigio are likely among the first to come to mind  and for good reason. Sangiovese happens to be the most widely planted red grape in the country, and thrives in Tuscanys Mediterranean climate (which famously has hot, dry summers), while Pinot Grigio hits its comfort zone in northern Italy, and is regularly found in both mass-produced and single variety wines.

Despite the proven track record those grapes have across Italy, Bobby Stuckey, co-founder of Denvers Frasca Food and Wine, Pizzeria Locale, Sunday Vinyl, and Scarpetta Wine Company, and Carlin Karr, director of wine and beverage, have succeeded in convincing patrons to think outside the box when it comes to ordering wine at their restaurants. We love an indigenous Italian varietal, we love Sangiovese, but theres so much incredible merit to the great French varieties [grown in] Italy that make such profound wines, says Karr. As a wine community, we have to first think of what is delicious and what is great wine.

For Stuckey, one of the most overlooked ways to reframe the normative conversation about wine has to do with using terms like historical instead of international. Most French varieties entered Italy back in the Napoleonic era, he explains. That applies to all Bordeaux varieties, basically, as well as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Bianco. One variety that Italy claims as its own is Friulano, and it was actually part of the original white Bordeaux blend, so it is a French variety.

Unsurprisingly, if you ask Karr, the best Cabernet Franc in the world comes not from the Loire Valley or Bordeaux, but from Le Macchiole, a producer based on the Tuscan coast, in Bolgheri. It just has this great weight and richness  its so expressive, she adds. Similarly, most people dont know that in the Loire Valley, most Sauvignon Blanc vines have been replanted with clones from a nursery in Friuli. Its all interchanged and mixed up in a way that theres been more Italian influence in France than most people would like to know, Stuckey says. The winemaking has been so incredible over the past 15 years, and Italy has so much to offer.

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
Two federal lawsuits filed against Mercer University last week claim the school allowed the data of more than 93,000 people to be exposed in an April data breach, court documents show.

The two suits also claim that Mercer could have easily prevented the hack and did not notify people who had their personal information stolen for roughly three months. The data leaked in the breach contained Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers and names, according to the lawsuits.

A lawsuit filed Friday in the Northern District of Georgia by Jennifer Kilkus, a Yale professor living in Connecticut who taught courses at Mercer in 2016 and 2018, alleges that the university experienced a data breach sometime between Feb. 12 and Feb. 24.

The school learned of the breach on April 5 but did not notify people impacted until May 19, the suit said.

JASON VORHEES/THE TELEGRAPH Macon, GA, 04162020

Kilkus is demanding a jury trial against Mercer in her class-action lawsuit, alleging the breach was highly foreseeable, yet Mercer failed to take reasonable precautions and that she suffered concrete injuries.

The other lawsuit, filed Wednesday by an anonymous John Doe in the Northern District of Georgia, claims the data breach led to fraudulent credit card charges, according to court documents. John Doe is described as a Mercer alumnus living in LaGrange, Georgia, that had data stolen.

The John Doe case also demands a jury trial. The attorney for that suit told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that more plaintiffs would soon be added.

The data breach created a stir among students at Mercer when news of it broke in early May after the schools internet suffered a three-day outage in April.

Mercer declined to comment on the lawsuits Tuesday through a spokesperson. The university did comment on the breach in a May 9 statement.

Although the University has taken extensive measures to protect the privacy of its information, some data  Social Security numbers and drivers license numbers  were removed from its systems without authorization, the school said. Mercer is notifying students, faculty, staff and parents whose personal information may have been involved.
It's been nearly 20 years since Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway vanished on the last day of her high school graduation trip to Aruba.

As the main suspect in her disappearance, Joran van der Sloot, awaits extradition to the United States this week, here is a timeline of the case, which remains unsolved:

May 2005:

On May 30, 2005, Holloway spent the night out at the Carlosn Charlies club in Oranjestad, Aruba.

PHOTO: Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old from Alabama, was in Aruba celebrating her high school graduation when she disappeared. (Courtesy of Beth Holloway)

The last time the 18-year-old was ever seen, she was driving off in a gray Honda with a group of local young men, including van der Sloot, then 17.

Van der Sloot's story changed over the years. The first time he spoke out, he told Holloway's mother that he had returned the teen to her hotel, but surveillance footage showed she never came back to that Holiday Inn.

PHOTO: The Holiday Inn hotel is seen along Palm Beach in Aruba, Monday, June 13, 2005, where missing Alabama high school graduate Natalee Holloway stayed before she disappeared on May 30, 2005. (Leslie Mazoch/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MORE: Joran van der Sloot, suspect in Natalee Holloway disappearance, will likely be extradited Tuesday: Sources

June 2005:

In June 2005, van der Sloot and two brothers, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murder.

By September 2005, all three were released without charges.

February 2006:

By 2006, van der Sloot, a Dutch citizen, was in the Netherlands for school. In February 2006, he flew to New York for an interview with ABC News, during which he said he left Natalee Holloway on the beach that night and went home.

"The last time I saw her, she was sitting on the sand by the ocean," he said, denying that he had harmed or killed her.

PHOTO: In February 2006, van der Sloot flew to New York for an interview with ABC News, during which he said he left Holloway on the beach that night and went home. (ABC)

November 2007:

Van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers were arrested again in November 2007.

By December 2007, all three were released without charges.

February 2008:

In 2008, Aruban officials reopened the case against van der Sloot after a tape was released showing him describing Holloways death, filmed via hidden camera by Dutch crime reporter Peter de Vries. Aruban officials, however, were unable to corroborate van der Sloot's statements.

MORE: Natalee Holloway suspect beaten in Peruvian prison: Lawyer

Story continues

March 2010:

In March 2010, Van der Sloot allegedly demanded money -- $250,00 with $25,000 paid upfront -- from Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway, in exchange for him providing her with the location of her daughter's remains.

During a recorded sting operation, Beth Holloway's attorney, John Q. Kelly, met with van der Sloot at an Aruba hotel, giving him $10,000 in cash as Beth Holloway wired $15,000 to van der Sloot's bank account, according to prosecutors.

PHOTO: Beth Holloway wasted no time when she learned something happened to her daughter while on a graduation trip in Aruba in 2005, and hasn't stopped looking for her since. (ABC)

Then, van der Sloot allegedly changed his story about the night he had been with Natalee Holloway, prosecutors said. Van der Sloot claimed he had picked her up but that she had demanded to be put down, so he threw her to the ground. He said the teen's head hit a rock and she was killed instantly by the impact, according to prosecutors.

Van der Sloot then allegedly took Kelly to a house and claimed that his father, who had since died, buried Natalee Holloway's body in the building's foundation, prosecutors said.

Kelly later emailed van der Sloot, saying the information he had provided was "worthless," according to prosecutors.

Within days, van der Sloot left Aruba for Peru.

May 2010:

On May 30, 2010, five years to the day after Holloway disappeared, van der Sloot killed Stephany Flores, a 21-year-old college student, in Lima, Peru. Flores was found beaten to death in van der Sloot's hotel room.

He then fled across the border to Chile.

PHOTO: A shaman performs a ritual for the spiritual punishment of Joran van der Sloot, in poster top center, and for justice for Stephany Flores, in poster at left, in Lima, Peru, Jan. 6, 2012. (Karel Navarro/AP, FILE)

June 2010:

In June 2010, van der Sloot was arrested in Chile and sent to Peru to face charges for Flores murder.

That month, van der Sloot was also indicted in the U.S. on federal charges of wire fraud and extortion in connection with the alleged March 2010 meeting in Aruba with Beth Holloway's attorney.

January 2012:

On Jan. 12, 2012, an Alabama judge declared Holloway legally dead.

Meanwhile, van der Sloot pleaded guilty to Flores' murder, and on Jan. 13, 2012, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison in Peru.

"From the first moment, I wanted to confess sincerely," van der Sloot said in court about Flores' murder. "I truly am sorry for this act."

PHOTO: A Jan. 6, 2012 file photo of Dutch national Joran Van der Sloot during his preliminary hearing in court in the Lurigancho prison in Lima, Peru. (AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

May 2023:

In May 2023, plans for van der Sloot's extradition from Peru to the U.S. were announced.

Beth Holloway said in a statement in May, "I was blessed to have had Natalee in my life for 18 years, and as of this month, I have been without her for exactly 18 years."

"She would be 36 years old now," Beth Holloway said. "It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off. Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee."

June 2023:

Van der Sloot left the Challapalca prison in Peru on June 3, 2023, to be transferred to a prison in Lima, Peru. He's expected to be extradited from there to Alabama on June 8, according to a National Penitentiary Institute of Peru spokesperson.

ABC News' Jeca Taudte contributed to this report.

Natalee Holloway's unsolved disappearance: A timeline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
It is a pleasure to report that the Top Glove Corporation Bhd. (KLSE:TOPGLOV) is up 64% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been stomach churning. To wit, the share price sky-dived 80% in that time. So we're relieved for long term holders to see a bit of uplift. But the more important question is whether the underlying business can justify a higher price still. We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Top Glove Corporation Bhd

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Over the three years that the share price declined, Top Glove Corporation Bhd's earnings per share (EPS) dropped significantly, falling to a loss. Due to the loss, it's not easy to use EPS as a reliable guide to the business. However, we can say we'd expect to see a falling share price in this scenario.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

Investors should note that there's a difference between Top Glove Corporation Bhd's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Dividends have been really beneficial for Top Glove Corporation Bhd shareholders, and that cash payout explains why its total shareholder loss of 77%, over the last 3 years, isn't as bad as the share price return.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Top Glove Corporation Bhd shareholders are down 11% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.1%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 5% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Top Glove Corporation Bhd .

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Alexa Nelson rehearses a scene from "Matilda the Musical."

Perry High Schools production of "Matilda the Musical" has received the following awards and recognition from the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards:

The production received "Distinguished Scene" for the scene The Hammer

Alexa Nelson received "Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role" for her portrayal of Matilda

Riley Sergent received "Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role" for his portrayal of Ms. Trunchbull. He has been nominated for the Triple Threat Competition for a chance to represent Iowa in NYC at The Jimmy Awards

Riley has also been invited to perform a solo as Ms. Trunchbull at the IHSMTA Showcase at the Civic Center on June 1

Candace Hoisington, Maddy Hollingsworth and Alexa Nelson will perform in the Awards Showcase in the Finale Medley

Riley Sergent, as Miss Agatha Trunchbull, talks to Andres Zarate during a scene from "Matilda the Musical."

Des Moines Performing Arts will welcome hundreds of students from high schools across the state to perform on the Civic Center stage for the annual Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase presented by EMC Insurance Companies. The Showcase will take place at at p.m. on June 1 at the Civic Center. It will be livestreamed online statewide through Iowa PBS.

Tickets for the showcase go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 12. Iowa PBS will livestream online the showcase on June 1. It will air on Iowa PBS at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, July 14. Iowa PBS will re-air it at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 16.

Candace Hoisington, as Miss Honey, rehearses a scene from "Matilda the Musical."

Maddy Hollingsworth sings during a scene from "Matilda the Musical."

This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: Perry students receive musical theater Awards for Matilda performances
Earlier this year, Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD) teacher Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy said she was pulled into a "check-in meeting" with school administration over a list of concerns. Most notably among them: "We've noticed an intentional attempt in teaching your students about their legal and constitutional rights."

TikTok: @soph4president / Via tiktok.com

In response to this, Sophia made a TikTok video documenting the administration's notes on her teaching, as well as the events that would later play out  including her subsequently being placed on leave and terminated.

Over 3.2 million people have viewed Sophia's now-viral video and tens of thousands followed her account in hopes of keeping up with this quickly turning story.

So what happened? Well, in line with Texas Senate Bill 1828 , which mandates that all state schools hold a Holocaust Remembrance Week to teach history surrounding genocide, Hitler's dangerous rise to power, and concentration camps, Sophia conducted a lesson on Hitler's use of education. "My students learned about recognizing propaganda and why Hitler went into schools to teach nazi ideology and nationalism," she told BuzzFeed.

Students made parallels to signs of nationalism they were familiar with, including the US practice of having students recite the pledge of allegiance every morning in schools.

As a part of the lesson, students also learned about rights US citizens have today in comparison to restrictions placed on those in 1940s Germany. And this led some to practice protesting, Sophia explained. "The issue my admin had wasn't with the lesson plan, but with my students' decision to protest the pledge of allegiance by sitting and not reciting it with the rest of the school," she said. "They have loved learning about their first amendment protection of freedom of speech and have been excited by protest movements all throughout the year."

Story continues

and the Texas state flag daily. However, it's important to note that Texas in particular has a law mandating every single student to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Statesthe Texas state flag daily.

Pixdeluxe / Getty Images

According to Sophia, her students' protest was seen as "indoctrination" by administration. "My vice principal said she was concerned I was 'indoctrinating' my students," the 27-year-old said. "She didn't believe that they were smart enough to make the decision to protest the pledge on their own and that they didn't 'fully understand a decision that big.'"

This was not the first time Sophia butted heads with admin. Previously, she said the school discouraged teachers from speaking on basic women's health. "During human physiology week...I was not allowed to tell my students that I also have a period because I have a uterus."

Then, on April 27, Sophia said the head of HR recommended she be put on leave and that her contract not be renewed for the next school year.

In a letter Sophia sent to BuzzFeed that is addressed by the school district's Chief Human Capital Officer, recommendations for her termination were based on the following:

"Use of a computer, school mail, or any other means of communication that is harassing, offensive, or disruptive to the school operations; and any activity, school-connected or otherwise, that, because of publicity given it, orknowledge of it among students, faculty, and community, impairs or diminishes the employees effectiveness in the District."

Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy

In Sophia's eyes, she says her termination is the result of "embarrass[ing] my administrator in a TikTok."

In a statement sent to parents, Sophia said the administration, "Clarified that the reason I was pulled from the classroom had nothing to do with the list of concerns I received from [admin], not a parent complaint from our campus, nor anything to do with the subject matter I was teaching, or how I was dressed. I was pulled from teaching and investigated strictly because of the TikTok that went viral overnight."

BuzzFeed reached out to Austin ISD for comment. We'll update you if or when they respond.

Janos Varga / Getty Images/iStockphoto

This incident comes amidst much controversy surrounding the state of Texas and laws passed that restrict fact-based education.

For one, educators statewide are encouraged to share "opposing views" when teaching about the Holocaust. And, according to the Texas Tribune, Texas has banned more books than any other state  most of which include works with POC or LGBT+ characters and stories at their center.

Maryvalery / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Sophia's now-former school district Austin ISD has more than 250 openings, nonprofit Raise Your Hand Texas reports.

Though Sophia is heartbroken over the events, she acknowledged that she understands her path forward and plans to "put more of my focus" on work in the nonprofit space, "motivating young voters," and helping her community where she can.

If you'd like to keep up with Sophia, you can follow her on TikTok.
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SONORA, NOGALES  Early Wednesday morning, a line of people filled the outdoor patio in a secured, gated migrant shelter just a few steps from a port of entry in Nogales, Arizona. Although each person came from different places and their stories varied, one thing many of them had in common was living in fear, and hoping for a chance at a safer life in the United States.

I was scared

Brayan Martinez, 24, said he arrived at the Kino Border Initiative after being forced to join an armed group in Colombia. He waits until he can cross into the U.S. and seek asylum.

Brayan Martinez, 24, from Colombia escaped after being forcibly recruited by armed groups in Bogota.

I was scared, so I came here. They threatened me. They killed two of my uncles, he said. They violated him, he said he was terrified they would kill him. One day he found an opportunity and escaped.

Martinez is not alone. According to a report by the Kino Border Initiative, in 2022, 75% of people who came to Kino, a nonprofit in Nogales Mexico reported migrating due to violence.

Escaping from a violent partner involved in the drug trade

Elias Monsivais, 67, a pastor in Nogales, Mexico who has turned a room in his church as a safe haven for migrants in need of housing as they figure out their next steps. With the shelters at capacity, Monsivais and other pastors have stepped in to try to help the migrants arriving daily at the border.

Evangelical pastor Elias Monsivais, 67, who has been housing and feeding Venezuelans coming to Nogales for a couple weeks brought one of them to the Kino Border Initiative to see if they could help her.

At 26 years old, the woman escaped an abusive ex-boyfriend connected with the drug trade, who stalked her, locked her in a room for five days, and eventually ran her out of town, and Colombia.

She was warned he was coming to Mexico to find her.

Im so scared, she said, adding that he has the resources to find her.

In their report, Kino reported that violence against women and girls is a "key driver" for the migration of people north from Mexico and Central America.

The shelters helping people who are expelled under Title 42

The shelters in Mexico serving people like Martinez and the young woman from Venezuela often depend on donations.

While the nonprofit migrant shelters in Arizona can access federal funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mexican shelters must rely on the kindness of individual donors.

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On Friday, FEMA announced its awarding of $332 million to U.S. organizations providing food, shelter and services to migrants entering through the Southwest border and are waiting their immigration court proceedings. Pima County received $26 million to distribute to local organizations.

However, funds like these have not been available to shelters in Mexico taking in many of the migrants expelled under Title 42, a public health emergency law that allows immigration officials to expel migrants. The law is expected to be lifted on Thursday.

This law has barred many people legally seeking asylum. Under this law, between April 2020 and March 2022, 1.8 million people were expelled.

Many people who cross the border into the U.S. are fleeing because of poverty, gang and political violence and climate change, and are being expelled to border communities in Mexico like Nogales, Sasabe, San Luis Rio Colorado and others.

During Title 42, the communities in Mexico really suffered a lot at the expense of U.S. policy. People who are applying for asylum or a visa are now either staying in Mexico or worse, being expulsed to Mexico from the U.S., said Gail Emrick, the executive director of the Southeast Arizona Health Education Center.

She reiterated that in Mexico, their resources are much more limited.

In Mexico the "poverty is much greater, and they are already a resource-strapped country, so the burden is very unfair," she said.

Emrick highlighted the need for a long-term strategy and federal funding at the border.

Shelters dependent on individual donors rather than federal grants from the U.S. or Mexico

Volunteers at the Kino Border Initiative shelter preparing food for the incoming migrants.

Shelters in Sonora, a region in Mexico along the border with Arizona, are helping provide shelter, food, medical attention and services to migrants at the border. They're primarily dependent on individual donors.

While the Kino Border Initiative can meet the need, according to the organization, the organization lacks access to federal funds.

As Congress has seen rising numbers of newly arriving asylum seekers in U.S. shelters, Arizona senators and representatives have rightly ensured increased federal funding for the U.S shelters to do the work of reception," Joanna Williams, the executive director of the Kino Border Initiative, said. If we (Kino Border Initiative) are serving more people, we just have to hope that donors will notice  and give more funds to expand services.

The Kino Border Initiative can house up to 85 people who are allowed to stay up to 10 days, and provides services to hundreds of people a day. They serve food, and connect people with services, from social work, to medical assistance, legal assistance and therapy services. Many come to use the shelter's Wi-Fi to apply on the CBP One application for appointments to enter the U.S. and plead their asylum cases.

With the end of Title 42 expected to occur on May 11, the Kino Border Initiative and other organizations are expecting more people to arrive at the border.

Salvavision, led by Dora Rodriguez, is another Tucson-based nonprofit organization with a center in Mexico that provides services and aid to migrants. The organization was founded in 2018, but created its resource center in Sasabe, Sonora in 2020 to provide aid to people deported under Title 42, who had no access to services.

Our organizations are small, she said of the shelters throughout Sonora providing services to migrants and people who have been expelled from the U.S. to Mexico.

My organization has never been offered a grant to help sustain these services, she added.

Rodriguez reiterated how the U.S. is sending thousands of people to the border communities that dont have many resources.

This leaves people like Martinez who cannot return home, with little options. He said he had been trying to get an appointment on the CBP One application, the only portal for people seeking asylum, but it kept glitching and just showed him error message after error message.

He said he hopes someone can help him.

I dont want to return. Im scared of going back, Martinez said.

Some local churches have also turned into shelters

From l-r., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and his wife Cheryl Flake, arrive with other dignitaries and invited guests to attend a memorial service for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. McCain died Aug. 25, from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

And with the need increasing as people continue to be expelled under Title 42, even churches are helping house and feed people as shelters fill up.

Monsivais who runs an evangelical church in Nogales said he was asked to take in a group of Venezuelan migrants. He provided them with food and beds, requesting funds from his congregation.

"The churches are crowded," he said.

More recently, Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 expelled migrants a month from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua.

What are you offering to improve the conditions of those people who you are sending to Mexico? Rodriguez said about the new policy.

Rodriguez said with the numerous expulsions to the border, communities have seen a lot of human rights abuses, and the vulnerable migrants at risk of being kidnapped by criminal organizations in Mexico who are profiting from Title 42.

Martinez has been threatened by people at gunpoint in Nogales as he makes his daily walk from the shelter where he is staying to the Kino Border Initiative.

Expedited removal concerns humanitarian aid providers

Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls speaks to the press about the upcoming end of Title 42 during a news conference at the state Capitol on May 8, 2023, in Phoenix.

And while supporters applaud the end of Title 42, some worry about the U.S. governments announcement that they plan to increase expedited removals, a process that quickly deports migrants at the border.

Williams said that under expedited removal Border Patrol could either ignore their asylum claim or refer them to a fear interview and deny their case, leading to less options of legal relief in the U.S.

This is especially troubling because under new administrative regulations the Biden Administration will make it much easier to deny their asylum claims at the fear interview stage, she said.

'They have hopes and dreams, and lives just like us'

As a mother of a young child, Williams deeply identifies with the mothers the Kino Border Initiative helps every day. She sees families and individuals fleeing violence arriving at her shelter with significant trauma after witnessing violence, murders, and having been kidnapped.

Often, migrants cannot return home for fear of death.

I would invite people throughout Arizona not to feel overwhelmed by the realities at the border, but to understand that the moms, dads and kids at the border are full human beings. They have hopes and dreams, and lives just like us," she said.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. To support regional Arizona news coverage like this, make a tax deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Title 42 fades away, making it hard for migrants to enter US
Joan Sestak

A longtime director in the chancellor's office at the University of Illinois Springfield has been named to a federal commission created to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 in 2026.

The appointment of Joan Sestak came in a White House announcement Friday.

A Springfield native, Sestak, 58, is the director of community and governmental relations at UIS under Chancellor Janet Gooch.

More: UIS celebrates graduation of 2023 class

Sestak said she was approached several months ago by the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois. Sestak served as a scheduler and office assistant and did case work in Durbin's Springfield office when he was a congressman representing the 20th district.

Sestak has worked collaboratively with Durbin, the senate's majority whip, during her tenure with UIS.

"I was thrilled when they asked me if I would be interested," said Sestak, prior to the university's commencement at the Bank of Springfield Center Saturday.

Late in 2022, two people from central Illinois were appointed by President Joe Biden to the Route 66 Centennial Commission: Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, then-director of the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, and William "Bill" Thomas of Atlanta, chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. Catlin-Legutko passed away on Jan. 21 after a battle with cancer.

The centennial commission was established by Congress to study and recommend in a report to Congress "activities that would be fitting and proper to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Mother Road...in 2026."

While those "activities" will include national, state and local celebrations and commemorations, the idea also is "to honor the road through projects and programs focused on promotion, preservation, research, education and economic development that are designed to help the millions of people who live, work and travel on Route 66," according to the commission.

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Route 66 was the nation's first transcontinental highway covering a total of 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. The highway, celebrated in songs, movies and a TV series, was established on Nov. 11, 1926, before losing its official national designation in 1985.

Bob Waldmire outside the converted school bus that he called home when he wasn't traveling Route 66 and was back in his native central Illinois. Last year, Waldmire's family donated a significant collection of his art and personal belongings to the Illinois State Museum.

According to SangamonLink, Route 66 entered Sangamon County near Williamsville and traveled through Sherman to Springfield. The highway then took two different routes, one from 1926 to 1930 and the other from 1930 to 1977.

The earlier route led to Chatham, Auburn, Thayer and Virden before exiting the county. The later one ran through an area now submerged by Lake Springfield and then to Glenarm and Divernon.

Sestak said her late father's family was from Virden, Girard and Thayer "so we traveled a lot on Route 66. It's a great road, the Mother Road, to have an adventure on, and I'm looking forward to the Route 66 commission, in all of the states, increasing tourism.

"These are hidden gems, these little towns that people have not been going to. So, we're hoping as part of the Route 66 celebration that they will explore some of these smaller towns and the wonderful things they have to offer."

Ron Metzger, owner of the Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, preserved and installed the iconic neon sign from the old Bel-Aire Motel.

Sestak, who also served on Illinois' Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, said there will be representatives from all eight states Route 66 runs through and "we're looking forward to working collaboratively with all the states and their commissions."

Illinois established its own centennial commission in 2018.

Among Springfield's Route 66 destinations are Motorheads Bar and Grill and Ace Sign Co., both of which have museums of memorabilia; Route History, the former Texaco gas station in the 700 block of East Cook Street which highlights stories about the Black experience on Route 66, Jim Crow laws and the Great Migration; Fulgenzi's Pizza & Pasta, which includes Mahan Filling Station dating from 1917 and the Cozy Dog Drive In.

Route History is also creating a "metaverse experience" using augmented reality and virtual reality to give visitors the sense of what it was like for Black travelers on Route 66 from the mid 1930s to the mid 1960s.

Visitors walk through the tribute to four important Black entrepreneurs in Springfield, two of whom were killed in the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, after a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Route History museum and visitors center in Springfield, Ill., Friday, July 9, 2021. Route History highlights stories around the Black experience on historic Route 66 and is located on East Cook Street. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]

At the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the Route 66 Experience, launched by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway will give visitors a chance to experience the Mother Road and the communities along its route in walkable form using QR codes and story boards.

The Illinois State Museum is planning a major exhibit for the centennial and has begun collecting historic objects related to the history of Route 66 in Illinois that were made, purchased or used between 1926 and 1977.

Last year, museum officials announced that Robert "Bob" Waldmire's family had donated a significant collection of his art and personal belongings to the museum.

An itinerant artist and peace activist, Waldmire was known as "the mayor of Route 66," traveling along the route from the 1970s through the 1990s. He died in 2009.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield woman named to Route 66 Centennial Commission
Leon Glatzer's location list for his STAB Edit of the Year entry reads like a dream itinerary for a lifetime of travel for most surfers: Costa Rica, Panama, Indonesia, Maldives, and Tahiti.

Of course, Glatzer is not most surfers. Maui born, Costa Rica bred, and of German descent, Glatzer is a worldly surfer who spends his year globetrotting in search of perfect surf. 5 countries for an edit? He knocked that out in less than 12-months, with time and trips to spare.

Click play above to watch Glatzer's dream run of travel come to life. Beautifully shot and edited, if this 5-minute highlight reel doesn't get you fired up to book a surf trip to one of the countries in this edit this summer, we're not sure what will.

***

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Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking in the Netflix docuseries "Arnold." Netflix

Arnold Schwarzenegger has revisited the claims that he touched women in a sexual manner without consent.

Speaking in a Netflix docuseries, he said: "My reaction in the beginning, I was kind of defensive."

He said that in hindsight he can recognize he was wrong. "Forget all the excuses," he said.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is addressing accusations of misconduct that have been hanging over him for 20 years.

Netflix's new docuseries "Arnold" chronicles the actor, bodybuilder, and politician's life, from his early life in Austria to his rise to superstardom thanks to his roles in "The Terminator," "Twins," and "True Lies."

It also delves into Schwarzenegger's personal life and sees him address the secret son he fathered with his housekeeper while married to Maria Shriver, as well as the claims that he groped and humiliated several women in separate incidents across three decades.

Days before he was elected governor of California in 2003, the Los Angeles Times published a report in which six women accused Schwarzenegger of touching them in a sexual manner without their consent.

In archival footage from his campaign trail interviews, the "Fubar" star is seen calling the report "made up" and declaring that he "never grabbed anyone or pulled up their shirt or grabbed their breasts."

However, while delivering a speech on stage, he also issued a mea culpa of sorts, admitting that he "had behaved badly sometimes" on "rowdy movie sets" and had "done things which were not right which I thought was playful."

"Those people that I have offended, I want to say to them I am deeply sorry about that and I apologise because that's not what I'm trying to do," he added at the time.

Now, looking back on the scandal two decades later, Schwarzenegger expanded his apology in a to-camera interview in the documentary, admitting that his past behavior was "wrong."

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"My reaction in the beginning, I was kind of defensive," he said while reflecting on his previous statements.

"Today, I can look at it and kind of say, it doesn't really matter what time it is. If it's the Muscle Beach days or 40 years ago, or today, that this was wrong."

"It was bullshit," he added. "Forget all the excuses, it was wrong."

Carla Hall, one of the Los Angeles Times reporters who broke the story, was also interviewed for the docuseries and said that she was taken aback by the public reaction at the time.

Carla Hall, one of the LA Times reporters who broke the story, speaking in "Arnold." Netflix

Not only were some people angry at her and her colleagues for going after someone who many considered to be a well-liked public figure, but the story ultimately had little impact on the outcome of the governor race.

"Personally, I was surprised that it didn't have more of an effect on the election," Hall said. "I thought that more people would be offended themselves."

She also denied that the story was deliberately timed to come out five days before the election. Instead, she said that it ran October 2, 2003 "because that's how long it took."

"When Schwarzenegger announced he was running for governor, the staff of the LA Times immediately went into high gear to start looking into stories that we had heard for years, but no one had actually investigated them fully," she said. "We had barely six weeks to work on this, and we started talking to women."

"Arnold" begins streaming on Netflix on June 7.

Read the original article on Insider
Sarah Hootman Kearns

While the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt directly by God, enslaved people since have achieved freedom through their own actions and the aid of thousands of others who believed that slavery was wrong.

The Underground Railroad functioned in Ohio from about 1815 to 1861. African Americans who were enslaved in slaveholding states escaped across the Ohio River. Some settled in Ohio, where many played key roles in the Underground Railroad, while others traveled all the way to Canada.

More: Ashland Equity incorporated in 1916, survives two wars, 2 ag depressions

The Underground Railroad did not run on iron tracks. Instead, a diffuse network of individuals, because they opposed slavery, took concrete action to help fugitives escape. So-called conductors led refugees from one station to another, under cover of darkness or secrecy, and provided food and supplies along the way. From one secret stop to the next, enslaved people made their way to freedom.

Much changed with passage of Fugitive Slave Law

The atmosphere changed after 1850 with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. That law provided that slave owners or their representatives who had apprehended an escapee could present evidence of ownership before a US court officer and reclaim their property. Anyone hindering this process, hiding a fugitive, or helping them in any way was liable to a fine of up to a thousand dollars and imprisonment of six months.

Despite the risks, many conductors of all races continued their work. If anything, the Fugitive Slave Law only served to increase the determination of those involved in the Underground Railroad.

Wilbur Henry Siebert published a book in 1951, called "The Mysteries of Ohios Underground Railroads." Siebert began teaching history at the Ohio State University as a young man in 1891. He introduced the Underground Railroad to better engage his bored students, since it was a mysterious and romantic subject.

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Discovering that many of the parents and grandparents of his students had been involved in anti-slavery activity, Siebert began a lifelong research project. He sent out questionnaires and collected first-person histories from across Ohio.

Only about five pages of Sieberts book covered Ashland County in detail. He described several routes that crossed the county diagonally. Some came from Holmes County, through Hayesville and Savannah, before heading north to various ports along Lake Erie. Other routes ran through Loudonville, McKay, and Ashland.

History lesson on Underground Railroad in Ashland County

In 1960, Mrs. Ruth Satterfield gave a presentation on the local Underground Railroad to the Ashland County Historical Society. Satterfield started her research with knowledge of five or six houses, but through her research she unearthed forty-four more stations in the area. Unlike Siebert, her sources were a generation or two removed from actual events. They passed on stories they had heard, but its unclear how reliable they might be.

Robert Wilson settled about four miles north of Lakeville in 1831. He took passengers to several different stops, including John Wood a few miles north of Hayesville and John Talentine, a farmer and Methodist minister who lived four miles from Ashland. By the later 1850s, Wilson took his passengers all the way to Savannah.

Another conductor was a Scot named James Rose, who lived near Golden Corners in Wayne County before moving to Hayesville in 1852. He reportedly did not enjoy feeling as if he acted as a thief in the night, so he started driving passengers in the daylight hours, a bold practice that he continued after moving to the Hayesville area.

In my next column, I will discuss the Savannah area, which was a particularly active locale on the Underground Railroad. There they received travelers from Hayesville and southern Ashland County, as well as many who came through from Richland County.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland County house routes for Underground Railroad
A romantic island getaway in the Maldives. A safari in Kenya. A visit to the pyramids in Egypt.

Apart from being popular on bucket lists, these vacations have one thing in common: Their destinations have strict anti-LGBTQ legislation. In the Maldives, gay sex may be punished with lashes and up to eight years in prison. In Kenya, it can bring a sentence of up to 14 years. And in Egypt, the authorities are known to throw people in jail for simply waving a rainbow flag.

Paradoxically, these trips are also all offered by travel companies founded by and catering to members of the LGBTQ community. In interviews, the founders of four of these companies, which take a combined total of 3,000 tourists  most of them American  abroad each year, said they were providing a safe way to meet a growing demand for trips to countries that criminalize LGBTQ people.

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Im gay and I want to visit these places, said Darren Burn, the founder of Out of Office, an inclusive luxury travel company. And if I want to visit these places, then there are other gay people who do, too. So if we can enable them to do it in a fun, exciting and safe way, then thats exactly what were here for.

A World That Isnt Always Friendly

By some metrics, certain LGBTQ Americans have it easier when it comes to planning their next trip. Same-sex couples tend to have more disposable income because they are less likely to have children and more likely to both be employed, according to census data. Married gay men have the most spending power, with a median household income that is more than $25,000 higher than their straight and lesbian counterparts.Even so, being out and getting out can be at odds in a world where many places are hostile  and sometimes outright dangerous.

There is no place on earth where you can be 100% safe while being LGBTQ, at least while expressing it, said Lucas Ramon Mendos, a lawyer and the research coordinator at ILGA World, an LGBTQ human rights group. What we can say for certain is that where there is a legal framework that strictly, explicitly criminalizes certain expressions, the likelihood of getting into trouble is a lot higher.

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According to ILGA World maps that track the worlds sexual orientation laws, there are still more than 60 countries that criminalize consensual same-sex relations. Punishments range from incarceration to the death penalty. Uganda notably just enacted a law calling for life in prison for anyone convicted of having gay sex, and in some cases even death.

Scratching those countries off the list of possible destinations shrinks the globe dramatically: parts of Asia, more than half of African countries, and practically the entire Middle East  with the exceptions of Israel and Jordan  become off-limits. (And thats not even taking into account countries like China and Russia that target LGBTQ people indirectly, by censoring speech, for example.)

Yet LGBTQ travel companies frequently visit such places.

Ive never had an issue. I havent heard of anyone having issues, said Bryan Herb, co-founder of Zoom Vacations, which operates small tours in countries such as Kenya, the Maldives, and Morocco, all places where gay sex can bring prison terms. Theres no there there.

Safer for Some Than for Others

While U.S. diplomatic missions help Americans who get in trouble abroad, Angela Kerwin, a senior official at the Bureau of Consular Affairs, said they do not collect data in a way that would allow them to track cases involving LGBTQ travelers specifically.

The laws that criminalize LGBTQ status or conduct around the world are more often than not used to target and punish people from the country in question, said Jessica Stern, the U.S. special envoy to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Thats not to say that LGBTQ Americans and their families arent at risk when they travel, but we are not the primary targets of those laws. (For Americans who also carry a passport from the country theyre visiting, this guidance might not be as straightforward, Kerwin said. They might be treated as citizens by the local authorities.)

None of the four travel company founders reported any clients whod had legal run-ins, though some mentioned minor brushes with locals. Their clientele tends to be older and male, with transgender travelers a rarity.

Safety concerns can be especially daunting for transgender people headed abroad. They already face hurdles to updating travel documents and are more likely to live in poverty than other LGBTQ people.

I have recently had a flight canceled and they were rerouting me through a very hostile country for LGBTQ folks, and I was going to be laid over there for nine hours, said Jay Brown, a senior executive for the Human Rights Campaign, who is transgender. He asked not to name the country for fear it could hurt working relationships with advocates in the region. If I had a health care emergency in that country, I dont know what would happen to me, he said.

Brown ended up taking three trains and three flights in 26 hours to avoid the layover. I ran from gate to gate at every airport, and ran from train to train, he said. My bag, of course, was not at my destination.

Most countries that criminalize same-sex relations lack a legal and regulatory framework when it comes to gender transition.

I wouldnt say that because these laws target only homosexual acts, that transgender people are safe, said Mendos. Its exactly the opposite, actually.

Pink Money in a Gray Zone

Many countries may just depend on the influx of tourist dollars so much that theyre willing to give tourists  whether straight or gay  special treatment.

The tourism industry is a top contributor to Kenyas gross domestic product and accounts for more than half a million jobs in Morocco. Hospitality also drives the economy in the Maldives, where three local men recently received prison sentences for having homosexual relations, while dozens more have been investigated.

In every country on earth, the law doesnt necessarily match the reality, said Burn, whose company offers package deals for symbolic same-sex marriages and honeymoons in the Maldives, which start at around $5,000 per person. You know, its illegal to drink alcohol in the Maldives, but you go to every resort and you can drink alcohol.

Its in that gray zone that LGBTQ travel companies operate. Yet when theyre lining up suppliers and hiring local workers, they are anything but ambiguous.

Robert Driscoll, who has run the small-tour operator Venture Out since 1998, said that to avoid unpleasant surprises, it was important to be clear with suppliers about what the nature of the group is and making sure that theyre OK with it.

He said that years ago, when he first started taking gay Americans abroad, it wasnt uncommon for his inquiries to suppliers to go unanswered. Now, he receives emails daily courting his business, some from unexpected places.

We would love the opportunity to work with your organization to create tailored itineraries for your LGBTQ+ travelers in Tanzania, read a recent email he received from a small safari operator.

Under a colonial-era law, Tanzania punishes consensual gay sex with up to life in prison, and in April, the government shut down thousands of websites and social media accounts linked to gay groups and people. Neighboring Kenya, also a popular safari destination, has recently experienced a rise in anti-LGBTQ violence.

Safaris are among the most expensive trips LGBTQ travel companies offer, with prices running into the five digits. Driscoll, who has led many groups to watch wildlife in Africa, said he recently had a same-sex couple cancel their trip to Tanzania after reading a travel advisory on the State Department website warning travelers about targeting of LGBTI persons.

The Tanzania Tourist Board, as well as the tourism agencies of the other countries discussed in this article, did not reply to requests for comment.

Weighing the Risks and Ethics

Kerwin of the Bureau of Consular Affairs said prospective travelers should go beyond the State Department travel advisories and read the agencys yearly human rights report, which includes detailed information on the situation of LGBTQ rights for each country.

Never can you cover every eventuality, she said. But if youre informed, then you can make a decision as to whether or not you actually want to travel to that country.Any legal and safety information we provide to clients before they pay us a deposit, said Robert Sharp, a co-founder of Out Adventures, a small-tour operator based in Canada that serves a largely American clientele. It is our moral and legal obligation to allow them to decide if it is right for them.

All travel companies surveyed for this article strongly recommend that clients take out travel insurance, and some even require it. Out of Office and Out Adventures also offer 24-hour hotlines to respond to clients questions and emergencies.

Yet travel companies are not legal firms, and they say that the best they can do is give travelers enough information to make an informed decision. Out Adventures clearly states the laws and limitations of each destination on its website. When traveling to Tanzania, for example, clients are advised to practice discretion since even heterosexual PDAs are frowned upon, referring to public displays of affection.

The page for Out Adventures tour to Egypt, including a Nile River cruise and snorkeling in the Red Sea starting at $5,495 per traveler, explains that gay dating apps should be avoided and discourages clients from trying to participate in the underground gay scene of the larger cities.

The Egyptian authorities have been reported to harass and entrap members of the LGBTQ community on social media and torture those in custody.

Not only do we want to protect the group, Sharp said, but we dont want to put anyone in the local queer community in a situation where they could be at risk because theyre seen with this group of obvious homosexuals.

Gurchaten Sandhu, ILGA Worlds director of programs, warned of the dangers of advocacy tourism, where travelers get involved in activism at their destination, possibly jeopardizing not only themselves but also those they leave behind when their vacation is over.

Calling for travelers to boycott a country could also have unexpected adverse outcomes, Mendos of ILGA World and others cautioned.

While the impulse often stems a desire to help, Stern said, pushing for this kind of action without making sure LGBTQ rights groups in the country stand behind it could lead to a backlash against local LGBTQ people and do more harm than good.

Choosing to visit, on the other hand  even if you cant be as out as you might want to be  may still have a positive impact on LGBTQ peoples lives, at least indirectly.

The travel industry in country after country is often one of the places where LGBTQ people seek out jobs and find employment because there is heightened tolerance, Stern said.

Quietly Promoting Change

There is no shortage of companies to pick from when planning a vacation to countries like Kenya, Egypt or the Maldives, but LGBTQ travel providers say what sets them apart from mainstream options is not only that they make their clients feel welcome and safe, but also that they direct their resources to hand-picked, queer-friendly businesses.

We are putting money in the pockets of more progressive-thinking people and organizations that in the long run can contribute to progress by our definition, said Sharp. Additionally, he said, Out Adventures has donated quietly, behind the scenes to local LGBTQ organizations in countries where being gay is illegal, and is currently giving $50 per traveler to Rainbow Railroad, a nonprofit organization that helps LGBTQ people escape state-sponsored violence. Out of Office has a similar program, Burn said, though he wouldnt go into detail, citing concerns about the safety of those receiving the donations.

Ultimately, Driscoll of Venture Out said, the decision about whether to avoid travel to certain destinations based on principle was a deeply personal one that travelers had to make for themselves.

Its easy to feel outraged, said Mendos of ILGA World. I think that thats a sound reaction. But people should be aware that change doesnt happen overnight.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
It's that time of year again. It's hiking season, and with National Trails Day on Saturday, there's no time like the present to enjoy Oregon's trails.

The American Hiking Association collaborates with several government agencies, nonprofits and other non-governmental bodies to put on trail events across Oregon and the nation on June 3. To find an event near you, go to bit.ly/3OPWo3G and use the map feature to search.

You can celebrate independently, too, by getting out and enjoying nature on your own. Here's a roundup of some local hikes to do this weekend.

Three essential hikes within an hour of Salem

Cascade Head

Lush old-growth forest, sweeping coastal views and meadows home to rare wildflowers and endangered species call this destination north of Lincoln City home.

While there are multiple trails criss-crossing Cascade Head, the Nature Conservancy Trail beginning on Three Rocks Road is the best and open year-round.

It's a steep trail, climbing 2.1 miles uphill through coastal forest to a meadow showcasing ocean views.

Directions: A little over an hour drive. Follow Highway 22 west, and continue toward Lincoln City on Highway 18. Take U.S.Highway 101 north 1 mile from the interchange, and just north of Lincoln City, turn left on Three Rocks Road. Follow the road 2.3 miles, and turn left on Savage Road 100 yards to the parking lot of the Knight Park boat ramp. Coordinates: 45.045796,-123.998115.

Cascade Head offers three trails and spectacular views of the ocean.

McDonald-Dunn Research Forest

Owned and administered by Oregon State University, McDonald-Dunn is a living experiment where forestry theories are put to the test. While that might not seem like an appealing place for a hike, Oregon State has opened up the forest to public recreation, and the results are amazing.

The best trail through McDonald Forest begins at Peavy Arboretum and follows the Section 36 Loop and Powder House Trail through beautiful old-growth, mountain vistas and a strange lake on a 4.1-mile loop of moderate difficulty.

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Directions: A 38-minute drive from Salem. Follow Highway 22 west for 9.4 miles to Rickreall, and exit onto Highway 99W south. Follow Highway 99W south, through Monmouth, for 19 miles. Turn right on Arboretum Road (at a sign for Peavy Arboretum), and turn right onto Peavy Arboretum Road. When heading into the arboretum, stay left at the first two junctions and park in a parking area where an orange gate has blocked the road and there are maps of the hiking trails. The road you begin hiking on is labeled "John H. Beuter Road." Coordinates: 44.657101,-123.234783.

McDowell Creek Falls

Whether it's the lack of notoriety or remote location, the feeling you get arriving at McDowell Creek Falls Park is that of stumbling upon a hidden gem.

Located 10 miles north of Sweet Home, the unassuming park is home to four spectacular waterfalls found on an easy, fun trail home to unique bridges and viewing platforms. Dogs on leashes are welcome and kids can splash in the creek on hot summer days.

A 1.8-mile loop passes Royal Terrace Falls, Majestic Falls and Crystal Pool.

Directions: Navigate to McDowell Creek Falls County Park. Most start at the first trailhead you come across along McDowell Creek Road, closest to Royal Terrace Falls. However, there are three different trailheads to choose from. Coordinates: 44.464232, -122.682278.

Crystal Falls and pool at McDowell Creek Falls Park.

Three great hikes near Eugene

Upper Trestle Creek Falls Trail

Waterfalls are like Subarus in western Oregon: Theyre everywhere. Despite their abundance, it's still hard not to be thrilled when you see one for the first time.

In an hours drive southeast of Eugene  and 30 miles from Cottage Grove  you can find one you wont soon forget. In 3 miles out and back, or 5 miles if youve got time for a full loop, youll find your way to the two-tier, 65-foot, Upper Trestle Creek Falls, nestled between old growth forest and a towering, moss-covered grotto.

Trestle Creek Falls Trail is open year-round and offers access to both the upper and lower falls if you complete the entire 5-mile loop, which connects with the Brice Creek Trail to bring you back to the parking area. The trailhead is located on Forest Road 22, which is a continuation of Brice Creek Road east of Dorena Lake.

Directions: Follow signs for Dorena Lake from Cottage Grove, following Row River Road. Going through the town of Disston, the road becomes Brice Creek Road. Continue following the road another 7.5 miles and after crossing the Brice Creek bridge, the trailhead will be on your left.

A view of the 65-foot, two-tiered Upper Trestle Creek Falls.

Tahkenitch Creek Trail

A quick hour and a half from Eugene, this loop trail winds through coastal forest, dunes and a stunning creek and wetland area before running parallel with the beach. The trail is beautiful, and you'll have the option to continue on by catching the Tahkenitch Dunes Trail, which provides beach access and stunning ocean views.

This mellow, easy-going hike comes at a variety of lengths, starting at 1.4 miles for the shortest loop and 2.5 for the longer loop. If you're looking to connect with the lengthy but beautiful Tahkenitch Dunes Trail, continue straight once you reach the top of the longer loop.

A map of the area detailing all three hiking options can be found at bit.ly/3C7ROGr

Directions: Follow Highway 126 west of Eugene. Take a left onto U.S. Highway 101 in Florence and drive 12 miles before taking a right onto Tahkenitch Trailhead road. You can park and find the trailhead from there.

A view of the Dunes on the Tahkenitch Creek Trail.

Blanton Ridge, Ridgeline and Willamette Trail

If you live in Eugene, you never have to drive far to find a great hike. Sometimes, you don't have to leave town at all. This spot is one of my go-tos when I'm low on time but craving some fresh air.

This out-and-back trail, which connects with the greater ridgeline trail system, can be as long as you want it to be. The 4-mile stretch from the Blanton Ridge trailhead to Willamette Street and back is a lovely section. It winds along the south Eugene ridgeline among mixed foliage, ferns, oak and pine trees. Both ends feature slight slopes and switchbacks sure to get your blood pumping.

About 2 miles from the Blanton Ridge trailhead, you'll meet Willamette Street. From there, you can extend the hike by crossing the street and picking up the Spencer's Butte trail, which makes for a great, long workout if you're feeling ambitious. If not, simply turn around and head back the way you came. This hike tops out at about 4 miles and can be enjoyed by all skill levels any day of the year.

Blanton Ridge Trailhead: 3962-3998 Blanton Road, Eugene

A view of the Blanton Ridge trailhead.

Statesman Journal reporter Zach Urness contributed to this report.

Charles Gearing is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at cgearing@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Celebrate National Trails Day with 6 hikes near Salem and Eugene
Russia claims it stopped a Ukrainian counteroffensive in southern Donetsk while Ukraine says it hasn't begun.

After months of anticipation and preparation, Ukraines long-promised counteroffensive finally appears to be underway.

Recent information emerging from the front lines seems to indicate intense fighting spread Sunday beyond the Bakhmut area in northeastern Donetsk Oblast, where the two sides have been bogged down in a bloody slog over small chunks of territory for nearly a year. There appears to be a fierce battle centered in southern Donetsk Oblast and other skirmishes a short distance away in Zaporizhzhia Oblast further to the west.

Adding to indications that the intensity of operations has increased, a pro-Russian separatist military commander said Ukraine used donated Leopard tanks for the first time in that area to gain territory around the city of Novodonetske. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) said, without offering proof, that three U.S. donated Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles were destroyed in a failed attempt at an offensive in southern Donetsk Oblast. The Pentagon was "unable to provide a battle damage assessment" about the Russian MoD's Bradley claim.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1665504364289740800

Ukraine officials, trying to maintain as much of an element of surprise as possible, are saying very little and are urging others to do likewise. But they have acknowledged that they are taking offensive actions.

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1665800958662549504?s=20

And they are pushing back against Russian claims that it repelled a counteroffensive that Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said "does not yet exist."

https://twitter.com/Podolyak_M/status/1665685195045912576

U.S. officials told The New York Times that based in part on information from U.S. military satellites, "which detected an uptick in action from Ukrainian military positions," the counteroffensive "had begun."

https://twitter.com/shashj/status/1665750609826394114?s=12&t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

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It is impossible to know exactly what is going on, and that is at least partially by design. But there has been an uptick in fighting and Ukrainian artillery fire after months of mostly static frontlines beyond the Bakhmut area. That's a good indication that Kyivs high-stakes effort to liberate remaining Russian-held territory with the weapons and training provided by the U.S. and allies is now at hand.

Aside from Ukraines silence on the matter and the overall fog of war, the nature of these operations adds to the challenge of ascertaining progress. Unlike the U.S.-led charge over the berms into Iraq ahead of Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom with large columns of vehicles and troops, this fight appears to be unfolding with a series of probes and feints. Ukraine is likely attempting to find weak spots along a wide front and seize opportunities as they are presented, with the ultimate goal being the liberation of all occupied territory, including Crimea.

https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1665529380863643649?s=20

Recall as well that ahead of last falls two major Ukrainian counteroffensives, Kyivs superlative information operations suggested an attack in Kherson Oblast before launching the first of its two such efforts in Kharkiv Oblast. Both turned out to be successful operations.

And this all comes while self-proclaimed anti-Putin Russians are fighting inside Russia in Belgorod Oblast. The extent of their backing by Kyiv is unclear, but the ongoing incursion is likely draining some Russian resources and focus from across the hundreds of miles long frontline in Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/legion_svoboda/status/1665672102597341185

While any information provided by either side at this point should be considered totally questionable, the main action at the moment seems to be centered on Novodonetske, a small town surrounded by what used to be farmland in southwestern Donetsk Oblast. A successful push there could cut off Russian troops in either Vulhedar to the east or Makarivka to the west and allow Ukraine to press southward toward Mariupol. Such a move could divide Russian forces as Ukraine swings south through Zaporizhzhia Oblast toward Crimea, something we discussed in December.

The enemy managed to cling to Novodonetskoye, but he paid a considerable price: about 10 units of destroyed armored vehicles, including one tank, were confirmed, dozens of people were killed, Alexander Khodakovsky, deputy head of the National Guard of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), said Monday on his Telegram channel without offering proof. In general, today the balance is in favor of the enemy, but he did not succeed in significantly delving into our territory.

The situation in Novodonetske and to the left towards Velikonovoselovka is difficult - the enemy, having felt our weak points, is stepping up his efforts, said Khodakovsky. For the first time we saw Leopards in our tactical area. As I expected yesterday - smelling the smell of success, the enemy will throw additional forces into the battle. Only in the area of Novodonetsky recorded up to 30 units of armored vehicles.

Ukraine is also making an attempt to break through near Velikonovoselkovsky, about eight miles to the northwest of Novodonetske, Khodakovsky claimed.

A Russian separatist commander says Ukraine has made gains in Novodonetske. (Google Earth image)

While Khodakovsky suggested that this was more of a probing action than the full-blown counteroffensive, in the event of a breakthrough, more significant forces could be transferred to the site.

The Russian MoD, however, said that these attacks are part of a counteroffensive that was defeated.

The enemy made an unsuccessful attempt at a large-scale offensive in the south Donetsk area, the Russian MoD claimed on its Telegram channel Monday. Attempts by the enemy during June 4 to break through Russian forces' defense in south Donetsk direction were not successful.

As a result of a comprehensive fire attack, the enemy suffered significant losses and by the morning of June had been pushed back to its initial positions. The [Armed Forces of Ukraine] AFU suffered losses in manpower and hardware.

Ukraines 31st Mechanised Brigade, which attacked close to Neskuchnoye, lost more than 250 servicemen, 16 tanks, 24 armored fighting vehicles, including three Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, the Russian MoD claimed, without offering proof. Five Ukrainian servicemen were captured.

Ukrainian forces made new attempts to launch attacks in south Donetsk direction in the areas of ...Oktyabr and Novodonetskoye by engaging up to three battalion tactical groups reinforced with tanks, the Russian MoD stated. The enemy offensive is successfully suppressed by the active actions of the units, artillery fire and air strikes of the Vostok Group of Forces.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian milbloggers say Ukraine made little progress in an attempted breakthrough near the small town of Novodarivka area, just over the line from Donetsk Oblast.

The enemy attack bogged down, there was no progress, the Colonelcassad Telegram channel, run by Russian propagandist Boris Rozhin, claimed.

Ukraine attempted an attack through Novodarivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said Russian milblogger Boris Rosin on his Colonelcassad Telegram channel. (Google Earth image)

Ukrainian officials are saying much less about what is going on.

We are continuing the defense that we started on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday on her Telegram channel. A defensive operation includes everything, including counteroffensive actions. Therefore, in some areas we are moving to offensive actions.

Contrary to what the Russian officials are saying, however, Maliar said the Bakhmut area, remains the epicenter of hostilities. There we are moving along a fairly wide front. We are successful. We occupy the dominant heights. The enemy is on the defensive, he wants to hold his position.

The Russians are on the defensive in the south, she added, without specifying exactly where.

Fighting of local importance continues, she said.

Maliar said that the Russians are actively releasing information about a counteroffensive because they need to divert attention from the defeat in the Bakhmut direction.

https://twitter.com/DenesTorteli/status/1665718621920714753

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also touted recent Ukrainian success in Bakhmut.

"I am grateful to each of our warriors, to all our defenders who gave us the news we expect [in the] Bakhmut direction - well done, warriors."

https://twitter.com/MacaesBruno/status/1665826603497054208

Their comments about Bakhmut were seemingly backed up by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary organization. In another screed directed at Russian military leaders, he said that Ukraine has made advances in the Bakhmut area.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1665663582887968768

While both sides offer their own viewpoints of the battlefield situation, one thing that is undeniable is the role of weather.

An improvement in the weather has dried up much of the thick mud that was an impediment to any Ukrainian attempt at a counteroffensive. But as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Sunday, there are other challenges.

So the last couple of days we've seen that weather improve and, hopefully, they'll have windows of opportunity to conduct operations, Austin told reporters traveling with him. Now it's not just a trafficability on the ground, it's also - do you have clear skies so you can get some [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] ISR up there and help you out?

The improved weather has allowed Ukraine to conduct probing actions to get a better sense of Russias long lines of defensive barriers, Austin said.

This has enabled them to employ their reconnaissance elements and really began to look at those fortifications that the Russians have put up, said Austin. These fortifications extend hundreds of miles and I know enough about putting in a defense to know that, if you're defending along a front that long, then you cannot be strong everywhere. So their task is to figure out where they're not strong, where there are opportunities and identify and exploit those opportunities. That's basic Warfighting 101 and so, I don't know how well the reconnaissance has gone but I would tell you that it has provided them an opportunity to do that. So, we'll see.

https://twitter.com/miroslavadamekx/status/1664755509105246209

Its one thing to know where the obstacles are and another thing entirely to overcome them, Austin said.

But the equipment and training provided to Ukraine by the U.S. and allies should give Ukraine an advantage, he said.

What we've done is not only provide higher-end platforms like the Bradley Fighting Vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and Strykers and some other things. We've trained them on a number of things in terms of maneuver, Austin said. One of those things is breach in anticipation of [encountering] complex obstacle belts be constructed by the Russians. I'm confident at the mid-level and lower-level that the troops know what to do in order to be successful in breaching those kinds of obstacles, and I just hope that they'll be able to put into play, all those skills that they've learned.

There is a lot riding on this counteroffensive. A fairly rapid, successful operation that cuts off Crimea from Russia's so-called land bridge, or even liberates it, will increase internal and external pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. An unsuccessful or stalled operation could imperil the tens of billions of dollars in international security assistance Kyiv relies on to continue the fight.

This is a fluid situation and something we will keep a close eye on.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
(Bloomberg) -- The Japanese government revamped its chip strategy with a goal of tripling sales of domestically produced semiconductors to more than 15 trillion yen ($108 billion) by 2030, as the nation centers chips at the heart of its economic security policy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The revised strategy, released Tuesday, aims to strengthen efforts to develop and produce cutting-edge semiconductors that are critical for economic security measures and advanced technology like generative AI, according to the economy ministry.

The sales target for firms that make chips in Japan will help secure a stable supply of semiconductors for the nation, according to the strategy. The target, which appeared in earlier drafts of the revised strategy, compares with sales of about 5 trillion yen in 2020.

Various investments are being made by Japanese chip-related companies including smaller ones, and wed like to back up these investments, economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters prior to the release of the strategy. We want to secure the necessary budget to support these efforts.

The 274-page strategy didnt say how much the government plans to dole out over the coming years in addition to the billions of dollars already in place to encourage Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to add production capacity and to fund Japans own chip venture Rapidus Corp.

But Japan will consider tax breaks and subsidies for companies investing in semiconductors, storage batteries, biomanufacturing and data centers, in a bid to stay competitive with the rest of the world, according to a revised economic plan also issued Tuesday.

In an update to Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas signature New Capitalism economic policy, the government said it would consider tax rules and financial support for the four strategic sectors, saying they wont fall below global standards.

Last month, Kishida met with the heads of the worlds largest chipmakers as part of efforts to bring semiconductor production and investment to Japan. The chipmakers said they would consider more investment in Japan depending on financial incentives and demand.

The government has pledged financial support worth 330 billion yen for Rapidus and up to 476 billion yen for TSMCs new factory in Kumamoto in southern Japan. The government is also providing up to 92.9 billion yen in subsidies to Kioxia Holdings Corp.s plant in Mie in central Japan.

The government expects the TSMC and Kioxia projects alone to boost Japans gross domestic product by 4.2 trillion yen, create about 463,000 jobs and generate roughly 760 billion yen in tax revenue, the revised strategy showed.

--With assistance from Isabel Reynolds.

(Adds background from revised New Capitalism plan in sixth paragraph.)

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[Source]

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Tokyo after allegedly swiping Pokemon trading cards worth thousands of dollars.

What happened: Yuki Murakami, a company worker from the Japanese capitals Ota ward, entered the Card Shop Mero store in Fujiyoshida City in Yamanashi Prefecture at around 1 a.m. on May 8, according to reports. He allegedly stole a total of 74 Pokemon cards, which collectively amounted to 2.2 million yen (approximately $15,751), as well as $140 in cash.

The aftermath: The store posted an image of emptied shelves later that morning on Twitter. According to the business, the display was smashed and the back area was a mess. Police reviewed security footage and zeroed in on Murakami as a suspect.

Why he did it: Murakami reportedly confessed to the crime, saying he intended to sell the cards. He also claimed responsibility for similar burglaries in other stores. Authorities have recovered more Pokemon cards from his home and are now trying to establish a link between him and other similar reported incidents, such as one at a store in Arao, Kumamoto prefecture, that resulted in a loss of 6.5 million yen (approximately $46,537).

The bigger picture: Pokemon trading cards can get very expensive, especially those that happen to be rare. To date, the most valuable appears to be the Pikachu Illustrator card, which was released in 1998 and recently sold at auction for a whopping $6 million. For this reason, such cards are often targeted by robbers, who then try to resell them. Last year, a man dubbed the Pokemon Prowler was charged for stealing $12,000 worth of cards in Missouri.

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A man from Carlisle has been arrested and charged with murder after a crash in Nicholas County left two people dead.

Cheyeene Clifford, 24, was allegedly driving a truck that went off the road, hit a tree and flipped over an embankment on Meyers Road Saturday night, according to a uniform citation filed by the Nicholas County sheriffs office in Nicholas District Court.

Nathaniel Clay Welch, 17, and Gage Gaunce, 20, died as a result of the collision, said Nicholas County Coroner Emily Gaunce. The sheriffs office said they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other people were seriously injured and taken to a hospital by helicopter, the sheriffs office said in the citation.

According to the citation, Clifford told investigators that he was not driving the truck, but they later determined that he was the driver.

Clifford is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of first-degree assault, driving under the influence and other charges, court records show.

Nicholas County Schools Superintendent Doug Bechanan said in a post on the school systems Facebook page that Welch, who went by Clay, was a special young man who loved life and what it had to offer.

He was a charismatic individual who regularly had a smile on his face, Bechanan wrote. The best testament to his personality was that others wanted to be around him. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
Threats from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta to prosecute Florida Gov. Ron Desantis for kidnapping after his administration sent flights of Latin American migrants to Sacramento are likely not the basis for a criminal case, legal experts said Tuesday.

Theres an irony to the fact that these criminal justice progressives, who got elected on a criminal justice reform agenda, are now trying to use criminal law in pretty expansive and creative ways to forward their political agenda, said Andrea Roth, a professor at UC Berkeley School of Law. And this feels like a very expansive reading of criminal law.

Sixteen migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were taken from Texas to New Mexico and then flown by private chartered plane to Sacramento on Friday. An additional 20 migrants were flown to Sacramento Monday morning on the same aircraft.

Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, both Democrats, have placed the blame on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administrations multimillion-dollar program for relocating migrants. The DeSantis Administration on Tuesday afternoon took responsibility for the flights, saying the migrants went voluntarily.

From left-leaning mayors in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, the relocation of those illegally crossing the United States border is not new, Amelia Johnson, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a statement. But suddenly, when Florida sends illegal aliens to a sanctuary city, its false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Gavin Newsom calls out Floridas Ron DeSantis

DeSantis is a principal target for Newsoms broadsides against red state policies. In a Monday tweet to DeSantis, he called the Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful a small, pathetic man and cited Californias kidnapping laws.

This isnt Marthas Vineyard, Newsom said in the tweet, referencing a flight of Venezuelan asylum seekers to the wealthy Massachusetts vacation destination that was arranged by DeSantis last year. Kidnapping charges? Read the following.

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The governor posted a screenshot of a California penal code section that states anyone who abducts a person by force or fraud and brings or sends them to California can be found guilty of kidnapping.

It was the latest case of Californias governor reflexively taking to Twitter to command national attention through inflammatory rhetoric before seeing all of the facts or developing a fully-fledged policy. Other recent examples include declaring that California would cut ties with Walgreens after the pharmacy company said it wouldnt distribute abortion pills to some states and calling for a windfall profits tax on oil companies that he said were fleecing Californians.

Despite those strongly-worded statements, Newsom walked back both of those points.

In the case of Walgreens, the state is legally bound under federal law to continue doing business with Walgreens through Medi-Cal, which provides health coverage to roughly 15 million Californians with low incomes and disabilities. Newsom watered down his windfall tax on oil companies after failing to get adequate buy-in from legislators. Instead, he settled for a bill that will increase transparency and oversight of the industry.

Following the Walgreens incident, a Newsom spokesperson conceded, Tweeting is not policy.

California explores criminal charges for migrant flight

Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office is weighing its options for both criminal and civil charges against those responsible for the migrant flights. Possible charges could include false imprisonment, kidnapping or violations of Californias unfair competition laws, he said.

Bonta would not go into detail about a possible legal argument for kidnapping, but he said the element of distress is important.

Based on interviews with the first group of migrants who arrived in Sacramento over the weekend, Bonta said the migrants were reportedly promised jobs, housing and clothing if they were willing to relocate.

While such false promises may be unethical, Roth of UC Berkeley said its not grounds for a criminal kidnapping case.

To build a sufficient criminal kidnapping case on the merits of false promises and misrepresentations, Roth said the case must involve a child under the age of 14 who was brought to California for the purposes of sexual abuse.

I understand their concern that theyre using human beings as pawns, but in terms of a criminal kidnapping case, inducement by fraud, its just not there, Roth said.

Keith J. Staten, a criminal defense attorney and professor at Sacramento State, agrees.

I think the governor was just angry and I know he would like to push for a kidnapping (charge), but I think it would be very difficult to ferret out, he said.

One of the issues with any case would be figuring out who to charge, Staten said.

Is it the charger flight company? The employees on the flight? The government that paid the money to do it? If you do it the latter way, it would have to be a conspiracy, and I believe that would be quite complicated, he said.

Bonta said there was no clear timeline on when his office might announce charges, saying they are still in the early parts of an investigation that will involve extensive interviews, tracking down leads and sifting through legal analysis.
Religious and community leaders on Tuesday urged compassion for the 36 Central and South American migrants who arrived in Sacramento in two separate private chartered flights amid ongoing questions about who orchestrated the trip.

The first group of 16 migrants landed Friday and were bused to the doorstep of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. Three days later, a second group of 20 individuals was flown over in the same plane.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom have said they believe both flights were arranged by the state of Florida and its governor, Ron DeSantis. DeSantis did not take any media questions on Tuesday, his first public appearance since the migrant flights.

During Tuesdays news conference at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in midtown, the coalitions leaders avoided speaking about DeSantis, deflecting political questions, but reinforced the idea that migrants were intentionally deceived to board the planes.

The migrants  most from Venezuela and between 20 to 30 years old  were approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, where people representing a contracting organization convinced them to relocate for housing and job opportunities, according to Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of Sacramento area religious congregations. Most migrants were not approached as a cohesive unit, with the ordeals resembling more of a trickling situation.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg speaks at a press conference on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, about the arrival of 36 migrants via two mysterious plane flights to Sacramento in the past four days. This is worth uplifting what you see behind me here today because this is the best of American values, he said of the communitys response to support the unexpected arrivals.

Some of them walked from seven to three months just to get here in search of the American Dream, said Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT. That dream quickly became a nightmare. They were lied to and deceived.

Since arriving Friday, local faith-based organizations have collaborated to provide services for the two groups. The migrants have been given housing in an undisclosed location, received cellphones to contact family, taken shopping for clothing and some attended mass Sunday at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church near Southside Park.

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Many are still adjusting to Sacramento weather, which is comparatively cooler than Latin American countries, said Trejo.

She and other community leaders also described experiences with the migrants over the last four days that demonstrate gratitude and a desire to be incorporated fully into our community.

Gabby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento ACT, speaks on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at a press conference at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in midtown about the arrival of 36 migrants via two mysterious plane flights to the city in the past four days. She joined local and state leaders and members of the faith community in speaking about how the Sacramento community to help the unexpected arrivals.

Shireen Miles, a Sacramento ACT volunteer, shared a recorded message from a Colombian man, who migrated because his family lacked resources and money. Miles took the man and others to a thrift store over the weekend.

Que viva la gente de Sacramento, (Long live the people of Sacramento), the migrant said in the recording.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg met with the migrants Monday night and detailed their desire to begin working. He called that desire the immigrant story of the United States for 300 years.

The only thing they want is the opportunity to give back, to work hard and to contribute to this country so that they can help their families, Steinberg said.

Steinberg declined to answer questions about who is responsible for the migrants being sent to Sacramento but seemingly referenced DeSantis.

They, or he, is not worth dignifying, he said.

Many of the migrants have court appointments elsewhere in the country, with some beginning within the next two weeks. Nonprofit immigrant advocacy groups have deployed lawyers to Sacramento to offer assistance.

Trejo said although some migrants seem open to the idea of remaining in Sacramento, they can leave at any time. Four migrants have already left Sacramento through transportation from their relatives.

Some of them were hoping to be reunited with friends or family throughout the country, said Cecilia Flores, a spokeswoman for Sacramento ACT. And then there are a good number of them whose destination was the United States.

If more migrants should arrive in Sacramento, community leaders said they were prepared and would help them as well.

Nothing would surprise us and we will be prepared and ready to welcome people who need our help, said Steinberg.
More than a dozen alleged members of the Outcast Motorcycle Club, which the Richmond County Sheriff's Office alleges was involved in the May 13 Augusta mass shooting, on Monday were indicted in Bryan County.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr this week announced the arrest and indictment of 16 alleged members of the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Club.

The action is considered the largest motorcycle gang indictment in state history, according to a news release from the Attorney General's Office. The indictment follows the culmination of Operation Patronus, a multi-agency investigation involving gangs and guns in southeast Georgia.

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Operation Patronus, a 13-month investigation, resulted in the recovery of approximately $180,000 in cash and the seizure of 71 guns, two motorcycles and two cars, according to the release. Throughout the investigation, local, state and federal law enforcement executed more than 40 total search warrants.

The gang is known to engage in a range of criminal activity, including murder, assault, and drug and weapons trafficking, according to the release. Founded in 1967 in Detroit, Michigan, the second Outcast chapter was formed in Atlanta. Additional chapters are located in Augusta, Hawkinsville and Savannah.

The shooting that led to the indictment

The 16 defendants indicted are alleged to have engaged in an armed robbery attempt and shooting on June 17, 2022 in Richmond Hill, Georgia, according to the Attorney General's Office. The victims were six people associated with a rival motorcycle club.

During the investigation into the shooting incident, law enforcement found evidence indicating "the existence of a conspiracy to violently assault members of the rival motorcycle club and to forcibly rob them of their motorcycle vests," according to the release.

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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr

The Attorney General's Office said the conspiracy is believed to have lasted for more than a year, from Aug. 24, 2021, through July 16, 2022.

The Outcast Motorcycle Club is also connected to a 2020 murder cold case in Columbia County, according to previous reporting. The Columbia County cold case and recent Richmond Hill case both involved the theft of motorcycle vests.

On Sept. 2, 2020, Richmond County deputies responded to IKONZ Sportsbar & Grill on North Leg Road for shots fired, according to previous reporting.

When deputies arrived, they found Victor Banks, the local Outcast MC president and active duty soldier stationed at Fort Gordon, dead at the scene.

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The Outcast Motorcycle Gang is a highly organized structure with hierarchical leadership, according to the Attorney General's Office. Its national and local chapters are led by elected officers, such as president and vice president.

Banks was at IKONZ with other members of Outcast, along with other motorcycle clubs in the area, for a memorial for a club member who died in a crash, according to authorities. Investigators learned that at least one set of motorcycle vests were stolen days prior to the shooting.

The case remains cold and the stolen jacket was never located, according to authorities.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office previously declined to confirm whether the Outcast Motorcycle Club was considered a "gang" or violent organization.

However, the Attorney General's Office has now confirmed the club is considered an outlaw motorcycle gang.

Alleged gang members indicted

The Attorney Generals Gang Prosecution Unit presented evidence to a Bryan County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment of 16 defendants on May 31.

The following individuals are alleged to occupy, or have previously occupied, positions within the Southeast Georgia Chapter of the Outcast Motorcycle Gang:

Charges brought against each of the defendants:

Melaun Arturi Aiken, 46, (aka "Do Wurk"):

21 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

11 counts of aggravated assault

7 counts of attempted armed robbery

2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault

2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation

2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Lee Alan Mole (aka "Trench"), 58; Taurus Marquis Simmons (aka "Repeat"), 42; Terrance Donita Potter (aka "Chatter Box"), 44; Eddie Latson (aka "Stash"), 43; and Shron Gilbert (aka "Hard Left"), 51:

14 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

11 counts of aggravated assault

7 counts of attempted armed robbery

2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault

2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation

2 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Joseph Leeks (aka "Axel"), 44; Marquis Jones (aka "Grudge"), 34; Michael Randolph (aka "Chop"), 43; and Donovan Scott (aka "Sockit"), 35:

8 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

2 counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault

2 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation

Demon Thompson (aka "9 Ball"), 45; Paul Gosden (aka "White Collar"), 52; Theron Singleton (aka "DMB" and "Do My Best"), 57; Labarron Pollock (aka "Bootleg"), 48; Jemar Mack (aka "Ghost" and "Ghost Ryder"), 34; and Whitney Lenore Hooks (aka "Secrets"), 36:

4 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act

1 count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault

1 count of conspiracy to commit robbery by intimidation

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Motorcycle gang with local ties faces arrests in Bryan County
The Southern Poverty Law Center is for the first time labeling Florida-headquartered Moms for Liberty and 11 other right-wing parents' rights groups as extremist groups in its annual report, released Tuesday.

Moms for Liberty and the other organizations are being designated as anti-government extremist groups, based on longstanding criteria, explained the law center's Intelligence Project Director Susan Corke. Corke said the grassroots conservative groups are part of a new front in the battle against inclusivity in schools, though they are drawing from ideas rooted in age-old white supremacy.

(The movement) is primarily aimed at not wanting to include our hard history, topics of racism, and a very strong push against teaching anything having to do with LGBTQ topics in schools, Corke said. We saw this as a very deliberate strategy to go to the local level.

The new designations are detailed in the law center's annual 2022 Year in Hate and Extremism report.

The 12 new groups brought the total number of active extremist groups included in the 2022 report to 1,225 nationwide. Of those, the law center designates 702 as anti-government groups and 523 as hate groups. Thats almost flat from 2021 when the law center counted 1,221 extremist groups.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is one of the most widely recognized research organizations tracking hate and extremism in the United States. Being added to its watchlist means almost certain notoriety. Over the years, the center has brought new focus to self-described militias, anti-immigrant groups and outright hate groups. The law center has also sued hate groups and individual extremists in the civil courts, often with great success.

But the law center has also been criticized for designating as extremist some groups that argue they simply take a political position and has defended itself in lawsuits, including from immigration policy groups it has designated as anti-immigrant hate groups. (The organization also is fighting a lawsuit from Gavin McInnes, who founded the Proud Boys and who has argued the center's hate group designation harmed his career.)

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Moms for Liberty did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The report also has other findings, including that the so-called militia movement declined significantly last year, that antisemitism continues to be a major force animating the extreme far-right and that alternative tech sites arent as niche as perhaps might be expected.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is presented "The Sword of Liberty" at the Moms for Liberty National Summit on July 15, 2022, in Tampa.

Moms for Liberty makes the extremist list

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The Florida-headquartered Moms for Liberty has hit the headlines across the country since its founding in 2021.

The law center study concludes the group is part of a broader anti-government movement focused on local politics that sprung up during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Founded by three Florida Republicans, the social welfare nonprofit group can engage in political activity without disclosing its financial backers.

The group pitched itself as a potent grassroots movement of outraged parents, many of whom werent active in school politics until COVID-19 restrictions forced them to pay attention. It has sprouted local chapters in at least 40 states, claims more than 100,000 members and has the ear of the Republican establishment: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has championed their efforts to restrict teaching about race in schools and universities. Critics in Florida slam the group for turning schools into a political battlefield.

That influence solidified the groups position in national politics. At the end of this month, barely two years after the group came into existence, both DeSantis and former President Donald Trump will speak at Moms for Libertys national summit in Philadelphia and may now compete to win the Moms for Liberty vote.

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Despite the national profile, these organizations spread conspiracy theories and operate on the myth that educators are engaged in Marxist indoctrination of the nations children by imbuing them with dangerous ideas about equality and sexuality, the law center said.

While the movement may be reasonably new, it is founded on the same traditional racist, misogynist and homophobic views that brought people out to protest the desegregation of schools in the 1950s and '60s, the law center argues.

Over the past two years, reactionary anti-student inclusion groups have been popping up from coast to coast, claiming to battle for parents rights. Just like their predecessors, their rhetoric takes on marked anti-LGBTQ, racist and nationalist themes, excluding from their parental concern large demographic segments of American society, the report states. These groups publicize their fight for alleged parents rights while simply attempting to maintain absolute authority on issues they oppose.

The primary focus of these groups has been twofold: They have fought against curriculums that teach about Americas racist and violent history and have more recently taken aim at any educational efforts to teach children about LGBTQ issues. To attract attention and seek new followers, groups like Moms for Liberty promote the false claim that left-wing teachers and educators are engaged in a conspiracy to sexualize or even groom the schoolchildren under their care.

Its a narrative that has had significant success, the law center notes.

Moms for Liberty alone claims to have flipped 17 school boards nationwide to parental-rights supportive majorities, the report states. Almost immediately following elections, many of these boards began making sweeping changes at school board meetings, such as firing superintendents and making curriculum changes, the researchers found.

They have just been really successful in leveraging their relationships with school officials, and extremist groups, to put them kind of in a place where they can make sweeping changes for the majority of people when they're actually in the minority, said Maya Henson Carey, a research analyst at the law center.

The law centers standard criteria for determining if a group is anti-government is spelled out on its website:

An anti-government group is an organization or collection of individuals that  based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities  believes the federal government is tyrannical and traffics in conspiracy theories about an illegitimate government of leftist elites seeking a New World Order.

The law center report notes that at Moms for Libertys first national conference, former U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stated I personally think that the Department of Education should not exist, a quote that the group then used on its website.

Moms for Liberty joins the ranks of groups including the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters and the United Constitutional Patriots, a self-styled militia that patrols the U.S.-Mexico border.

The 12 "parent's rights" groups labeled by the SPLC as extremist groups: Moms for Liberty; Moms for America; Army of Parents; Courage is a Habit; Education First Alliance; Education Veritas; No Left Turn in Education; Parents Against CRT (PACT); Parents Defending Education; Parents Rights in Education; Purple for Parents Indiana and Parents Involved in Education. "Nowhere ever have we been anti-government or anti-inclusive," Elicia Brand, who identified herself as the founder of Army of Parents, told USA TODAY in a statement.

Militia movement cratering

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Largely because of a law enforcement crackdown following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, the so-called militia movement of armed extremists saw some of the wind taken out of its sails last year, the law center found.

Probably the countrys most high-profile armed militia leader, Stewart Rhodes, who founded the Oath Keepers, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy in a Washington, D.C., courtroom late last year, along with a co-conspirator. Last month, Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison  the longest sentence handed down to a Jan. 6 participant.

The attention brought by the insurrection has done severe damage to the militia movement, driving away members who no longer want to be associated with the days violence, the law center report states. Researchers found the total number of armed militia groups nationwide decreased from 92 in 2021 to 61 in 2022.

But that doesnt mean the threat from organized armed groups has gone away, the law center warns. Anti-government rhetoric and beliefs run as deep, if not deeper, today as they have for decades. While organized militia groups may be out of vogue for now, their attraction persists for armed, conspiracy-minded Americans, the report concludes.

As legal cases run their course through the justice system, militia groups have had to go underground to reorganize and recruit, it states.

The law center report also includes several recommendations for keeping this trend going, including federal and state authorities using existing legislation that outlaws organized militias to hold these groups accountable and keep them from growing.

A version of social network Parler updated to curb incitements to violence has been cleared to return to Apple's App Store. A team at Apple devoted to reviewing whether apps submitted to its App Store conform to its policies has approved a modified version of Parler, which had become popular with conservatives before it was booted off online marketplaces.

The alt-tech space isnt that alternative

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For years now, since major tech companies started getting serious about enforcing their terms of service and de-platforming extremists in about 2018, a succession of alt-tech sites has grown up to cater to extremists, especially on the far-right.

Websites including social media platforms, crowdfunding sites and video-streaming services have grown to accommodate white supremacists and other extremists. And the law center's research shows that these sites arent quite as alternative as one might assume.

Law center researchers analyzed data estimating the number of people visiting 12 of these sites, including the message board 4Chan and the far-right social media site Gab.

Five of the 12 sites that the SPLC analyzed regularly ranked among the top 10% of domains in the United States, according to data from the network security technology company Cisco, the report states.

The growth of these sites has allowed far-right personalities and propagandists to thrive despite being banned from most of the major tech platforms, law center researchers concluded. The report states:

We found that the majority of 'alt-tech' sites, whose purveyors emphasize minimal or nonexistent content moderation, have developed and sustained a dedicated user base. This stability allows hard-right extremists to resist some of the repercussions, such as loss of audience or funding streams, that result from deplatforming.

October 27, 2021: Tree of Life Synagogue Vice President Alan Hausman wears a Stronger Than Hate yarmulke during a Commemoration Ceremony in Schenley Park, in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. It has been three years since a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in America's deadliest antisemitic attack.

Other findings

The comprehensive annual law center report includes a number of additional findings, including:

Extremist flyering and propaganda incidents continued to increase in 2022 : The law center counted 155 incidents on campuses, 4,739 public propaganda incidents and 169 banner drops where groups hung hateful messages on banners in public spaces. Flyering incidents have increased by 291% since 2018, the report found.

Hate at public events: As USA TODAY has reported, the law center found that hate groups have increasingly descended on public events, primarily targeting drag shows and school board meetings to protest against LGBTQ-inclusive programming.

The so-called Constitutional Sheriffs movement continues: In 2022, members of the group, who believe that local sheriffs are the highest authority in the country and are not beholden to state or federal law enforcement, began interfering with elections, the law center said. Members melded their extremist positions with their law enforcement authority to investigate rogue, conspiratorial allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election and brought doubt into the legitimacy of the 2022 midterm elections, the report states.

Antisemitism continues to motivate the extremist far-right: In 2022, Jewish people and spaces were regularly harassed, assaulted, vandalized and threatened, the report found.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SPLC designates Moms for Liberty an anti-government extremist group
mbryo-Tax-Rebatejpg.jpg Embryo-Tax-Rebatejpg - Credit: Photo-illustration by Matthew Cooley. Images in illustration by Adobe Stock, 2

Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature introduced a package of bills this week to clarify the states abortion ban, 174 years after it became law. The 1849 ban, which criminalizes abortion in every circumstance, except to save the pregnant persons life, went back into effect last June after 50 years of obsolescence.

Its a deeply unpopular law: By margins of 2 to 1, voters said it should be repealed in every single county where the question was on the ballot this April. (In a statewide judicial election held the same day, the pro-choice candidate  who, it is widely assumed, will vote to strike the ban down when it is challenged at the state Supreme Court next term  won by 11 points.)

More from Rolling Stone

But Republicans in Wisconsin cant seem to grasp this obvious truth. Rather than repeal the 1849 ban, as Democrats have proposed, a group of GOP lawmakers  led by 32-year old Sen. Romaine Quinn  touted a total of four bills they hope will make the pre-Civil War law more palatable to modern Wisconsinites. Included in the package is an offer that has become trendy among antiabortion ideologues: tax breaks for embryos.

LRB-2486 would allow parents to claim an exemption on their tax returns for unborn children for whom a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Co-sponsor Rep. Donna Rozar made the proposals intent crystal clear: The bill, she said, recognizes an unborn child as a distinct human being prior to birth by allowing the child to be claimed as a dependent. The point isnt to support Wisconsin families  the point is to change the definition of when life begins as part of an effort to enshrine in Wisconsin law the dangerous and dehumanizing concept of fetal personhood.

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Its all part of an effort to extend Constitutional rights to fertilized eggs  a legal theory that simultaneously revokes the rights of the individuals carrying those pregnancies.

Wisconsin Republicans arent the first to try this: Georgias Department of Revenue announced in August any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat could be claimed as a dependent on state tax returns. The representative behind Georgias LIFE Act, which created the tax break, later admitted in a leaked video that the credit was all part of a gambit to get the Supreme Court to recognize fetal personhood: Were going to take this to the highest court in the land.

The consequences of a ruling recognizing fetal personhood are difficult to overstate: The moment that an embryo is recognized as a person with rights, virtually any behavior that poses any kind of risk to a pregnancy can be criminalized or litigated. In one infamous case, an Alabama woman was charged with manslaughter for losing her pregnancy after she was shot in the stomach by another person. (That case was dismissed after a public outcry.) In another instance, a court allowed a woman who was hit by a car while seven months pregnant to be sued by her future child for negligence because she failed to use a designated crosswalk.

Wisconsin Republicans apparently think bodily autonomy comes pretty cheap: The credit theyre offering is $1,000. Thats one-third of the tax break you can get in Georgia, in case youre comparison shopping dystopian hellscapes.

Also included in the package of bills is $1 million in funding for crisis pregnancy centers, $5 million in funding to support state adoption programs, and language to clarify that the 1849 ban does not apply to a medical procedure or treatment designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman. Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an OB-GYN who stopped practicing in Wisconsin when the ban went into effect and a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the law, says the new language would do little to alleviate the burden on healthcare providers.

Imagine if you had chest pain, and you went to the emergency department, and your doctors said, Yes, I know exactly what to do to take care of you, but the Wisconsin Legislature has enacted some laws that could potentially put me in jail for doing the things that I know to be medically correct; let me call a lawyer before I take care of you, Lyerly says. Now replace chest pain with vaginal bleeding. It is exactly the same thing. Our Legislature is preventing doctors from taking care of Wisconsinites, from providing evidence-based, appropriate, standard-of-care medicine, and threatening to throw us in jail.

It remains unclear if the new proposal has sufficient support to advance through both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature. A previous proposal, floated in March, that would have added exceptions for rape and incest to the 1849 law failed to advance to a vote on the Senate floor. (Discussion on this specific proposal is unnecessary, Republican Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said at the time.) But there is reason to believe this proposal might be viewed differently: The most prominent anti abortion groups in the state  Wisconsin Family Action, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and the Catholic Conference  all of whom opposed the rape and incest exceptions, have announced support for the package.

If Republicans in Wisconsin truly wanted to support mothers, there is an existing proposal they could throw their weight behind: a bill that would expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers for up to one year. Today, Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states that kicks new moms off public health care coverage just 60 days after giving birth. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has repeatedly pushed for a 12-month extension  a proposal that was rejected by Republicans in the Legislature twice before. But expansion is particularly critical in Wisconsin now that the 1849 law is back in effect: Multiple studies have shown that the rate of maternal mortality spikes in states with abortion bans.

More moms die in the postpartum period than when theyre pregnant or during the time of delivery. The postpartum period is a really important time for moms to be able to get medical care, Lyerly says. Republican lawmakers, Lyerly says, are not making logical decisions. All of the decisions that they are making are so political and so divisive  and not in the best interests of Wisconsinites and Wisconsin families.

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Speak out against hate

Sacramento Jewish leaders denounce antisemitic comments, (sacbee.com, May 31)

We want to add our voices to speak out in support of Mayor Steinberg and against the antisemitic remarks made at the Sacramento City Council meeting on May 16. As members of Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom, a national organization of Jewish and Muslim women, we strongly condemn such words of hate.

Though hate speech may be protected under the Constitution, it does not advance our society nor benefit our community. The Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom is 100 plus women strong in Sacramento supporting our Jewish and Muslim communities against hate while building bridges that strengthen our community. The more we speak out against hate together, the less acceptable hate becomes.

Anne Kjemtrup

Melanie Mages-Canale

Davis

Trouble with a capital T

Get ready, Californians. Your incomes will now factor into the electricity bill | Opinion, (sacbee.com, April 28)

Youve got trouble, my friend, right here in River City. Trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, which stands for power companies!

Thats right; while you were sleeping, your government approved Assembly Bill 205, allowing the utilities access to your earnings. Theyll add a monthly income-based tax, whether or not you use any energy.

How can they get away with this? They claim the cost per kilowatt-hour will be reduced. But the math doesnt work out for most customers, creating higher monthly bills. This new legislation requires California Public Utility Commission approval before coming into effect. Dont expect them to do whats right.

Rene Wise

Fremont

Opinion

Snake oil

Law enforcement leaders believe homelessness in California can be ended in a year | Opinion, (sacbee.com, May 31)

Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper and Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig claim to be offering your readers a plan to end homelessness within the next year, but theyre really just selling snake oil. In support of their extraordinary claim that a reinvigorated war on drugs can end homelessness, they cite several states that have harsher drug laws and lower homelessness rates than California. What they neglect to mention is that each of these states also has more drug overdose deaths per capita.

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The real reason why these states have lower rates of homelessness isnt a mystery: they have much lower housing costs. The fact of the matter is that California will not be able to end homelessness in the space of a year  least of all by simply arresting our way out of the problem. To end the homelessness crisis, we need to end the housing crisis.

Ned Resnikoff

Emeryville

Stay woke

Ron DeSantis launch was a Trump 2.0 moment. Lets hope it doesnt last. | Opinion, (sacbee.com, May 25)

It would seem that (recently announced) presidential candidate DeSantis promises to destroy something called woke. Lacking a clear understanding of what woke really means, Ill take a simple approach. The opposite of woke would be unaware or asleep.

Depriving people of the opportunity to learn about our history leads to being unwoke, a condition which leads to ignorance of basic truths about our nation.

Alan Wade

Sacramento

Correcting the record

US debt ceiling crisis: Why was it so hard to make a deal? (sacbee.com, May 30)

This article promotes a false equivalency regarding the debt ceiling. There is one very simple reason why it was so hard to make a deal: Republicans are willing to hold the worlds economy hostage in order to get what they want and Democrats are not.

Democrats were vehemently opposed to Donald Trumps $2 trillion tax cuts that largely went to the very wealthy, but they passed the debt ceiling three times during the Trump administration without any fuss. Why? Because they arent willing to hold a gun to the head of our economy.

Creating a false equivalency out of thin air does a grave disservice to your readers, who deserve context and accurate information in order to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

Kathy Campbell

Sacramento

Goodbye, Tina

Tina Turner, Queen of Rock n Roll whose triumphant career made her world-famous, dies at 83, (sacbee.com, May 26)

Back in 1997, I saw that a Tina Turner show was completely sold out. I took a big chance and bought two tickets from a scalper, fully expecting to lose my money. Imagine my surprise when we were escorted to our front row seats.

She was, of course, fantastic. She sang Proud Mary, and the brass section was stunning. On the last note, the lights went black. Turner, barely lit, looked at me and said Was that OK? Mouth agape and shocked, I just nodded yes and she laughed and walked away to acknowledge the thousands of fans behind me on their feet.

It was a highlight of my life, and the most mesmerizing thing I have ever witnessed. My guess is that Tina Turner is in heaven and doing them proud.

Todd Gearou

Citrus Heights
A Texas sheriffs office is calling for criminal charges in the cruel political stunt involving the transportation of 49 migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard on false pretenses last September.

While the Bexar County Sheriffs Office has not identified suspects in the case, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) previously took credit for the scheme.

DeSantis allegedly used funds from a state program in Florida to pay for the flights that took migrants to the wealthy Massachusetts island.

The charge filed is Unlawful Restraint and several accounts were filed, both misdemeanor and felony, the sheriffs office said in a statement to HuffPost. At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DAs office. Once an update is available, it will be provided to the public.

The migrants, most of whom were from Venezuela, were lured away from the Texas facility by a hired scout, which The New York Times identified as Perla Huerta, and told they would be flown to Boston where they would receive expedited work papers. Instead, they were boarded on planes destined for Marthas Vineyard.

The scheme drew the condemnation last year of Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, whose office thereafter opened an investigation into the events.

I believe that they were preyed upon, Salazar said of the migrants at the time. Somebody came from out of state, preyed upon these people, lured them with promises of a better life, which is what they were absolutely looking for.

A spokesperson for DeSantis had confirmed the flights were paid for by a state program.

States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as sanctuary states and support for the Biden administrations open border policies, Taryn M. Fenske, DeSantis communications director, said at the time.

Republicans, including DeSantis, who recently announced he is running for president, have been using these tactics to draw attention to what they describe as lax immigration policies by Democrats.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has bused migrants from his state to Democratic-led cities, including New York and Chicago, despite criticism.

Meanwhile, DeSantis is reportedly facing an investigation from the state of California into whether he was involved in organizing migrant flights in recent weeks from the Texas border to Sacramento.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said a second flight of migrants landed in the states capital Monday, following the arrival of over a dozen migrants in the city last week.

The flights were operated by the company Vertol Systems Inc., which was commissioned by Florida to transport the asylum-seekers to Marthas Vineyard last year, Bonta said, according to The Associated Press.

This morning, a second flight of asylum seekers touched down in Sacramento.



We're investigating the circumstances by which they were brought to California.

State-sanctioned kidnapping is immoral.  Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) June 6, 2023

In an interview with KCRA 3, Bonta explained that many migrants were told Vertol Systems would help them find jobs if they got on the plane and traveled to where there were being taken.

We learned that many of them didnt know where they were being taken and didnt know where they were until they arrived, Bonta added.

Californias attorney general issued a statement Saturday saying the asylum-seekers who landed in the state were in possession of documentation purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida.

We are investigating the circumstances by which these individuals were brought to California, Bonta said. We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has spatted with DeSantis in the past, suggested the Republican governor could face kidnapping charges over his alleged involvement.

You small, pathetic man, Newsom wrote on Twitter. This isnt Marthas Vineyard.

DeSantis has so far remained silent on the issue.
Guns killed 1,315 Alabamians in 2021.

The state, with a population of 5 million, had 26.4 firearm deaths per 100,000 people that year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That same year, New York State, with about 20 million people, reported 1,078 firearms deaths, a rate of 5.4 gun deaths per 100,000.

Alabama is not the most dangerous state in the nation when it comes to gun violence  that distinction belongs to Mississippi  but its death rate from firearms was the fourth-highest in the country in 2021, and its homicide rate (15.9 per 100,000) was the third-highest in the nation.

Other states larger than Alabama, including Washington state (7.8 million), Virginia (8.8 million people)and New Jersey (9.4 million people) had fewer gun deaths and lower firearm death rates than Alabama.

And by some measures, the violence is getting worse. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun safety advocacy group, the rate of gun deaths in Alabama increased 47% from 2011 to 2020, going from about 16 deaths per 100,000 people to almost 25 deaths per 100,000. The rest of the country saw gun death rates go up 33%.

The death rate for gun homicides in Alabama overtook the death rate for gun suicides for the first time ever in 2020 at about 11 deaths per 100,000 people. In other states, gun suicide death rates remain higher than homicide rates.

That makes Alabama a little bit different, said Kerri Raissian, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut, who studies gun violence.

How does a small state rank so high for gun violence?

Experts said Alabamas permissive gun laws are a big factor. States such as New York and Massachusetts tend to have age limits on firearm purchases and stronger background check and gun permitting laws, particularly compared to southern states like Mississippi and Alabama. Poverty and a lack of social programs compared to other states also contribute.

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Guns are just really good at killing people, Raissian said. That is why people choose them, because they are good at killing people. When we reduce violence, we tend to reduce gun violence. It is very costly, in terms of trauma, in terms of taking lives, in terms of injury.

The mass shooting in Dadeville on April 15, where four people were killed and 28 injured, led to calls for stronger gun laws, and some Democratic legislators filed gun safety bills after the shooting. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, who has filed several gun safety bills, said the shooting gave an urgency to his efforts.

Just from talking to residents in the district, majority Black and majority white neighborhoods, more affluent or working-class neighborhoods, the places that students of mine lived in, that was the biggest thing that came up during the campaign, was concern about gun violence and public safety, he said.

But the Legislature will likely finish the 2023 session with few if any gun safety proposals getting through the body.

Community members gather at a prayer vigil at First Baptist Church in Dadeville, Alabama, on Sunday, April 16, 2023, the day after a deadly mass shooting in downtown Dadeville.

A tide of violence

There were 48,830 total gun deaths in 2021, according to research from the Pew Research Center. The numbers rose from 33,500 in 2014 to nearly 40,000 in 2017, then leveled off for a few years until the COVID-19 pandemic. A report from the Giffords Law Center published in 2022 said gun violence is not characteristically different than before. Gun violence did not spread to other areas of the country, the report said, but increased in the areas where gun violence has historically been problematic.

Gun deaths have been rising, said Allison Anderman, senior counsel, and director of local policy at the Giffords Law Center, an organization that researches solutions to reduce gun violence in the country. It is not just your imagination.

The report said social and economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the surge in gun violence.

These changes to routine activities, combined with both historic and COVID-19-related trauma, may have created more opportunities for violence to occur people had new motivations to offend, they had easy targets, and they were cut off from capable guardians at their schools, community centers, and work, the report states.

The number of guns has also increased. Trace estimates there are about 465 million guns in circulation in the U.S. In 2014, that number was slightly more than 300 million.

Previous surges in gun purchasing, often in response to mass shootings or presidential elections, have been found to lead to increases in gun violence, the report states. However, the role of new firearm purchases in the recent increases in violence has not been as clearly demonstrated.

Raissian said mass shootings are on the rise, but only reflect a fraction of the overall gun violence death rate. About 54% of gun deaths are suicides. About 43% of gun deaths are homicides, while 3% are classified as other, according to data taken from the Pew Research website.

Risk factors for gun violence

Some Americans are more vulnerable to gun violence than others.

High violence areas are very poor, so they are very disadvantaged from a socioeconomic standpoint, said Daniel Semenza, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health at Rutgers University.

Alabama has a statewide poverty rate of 16%, higher than the national average of about 11.6%.

A report from the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence published in 2020 said that high-poverty areas without resources, economic opportunity and a low rate of social mobility are at high risk from gun violence.

What is creating both the higher rates and the higher risk of shootings, both in the shooter and being the victim, is the conditions in which the person is living in, Semenza said.

People living in poor communities, with fewer economic opportunities, may more exposed to illegal economic activities, activities that often require the possession of a gun.

Whether that is selling drugs or stealing cars, there are some ways to make money in the face of a lack of legal ways to do so, and a lack of educational opportunities to support that, is often going to lead toward activities that are accompanied by violence, which is accompanied by carrying guns. Semenza said.

States with highest firearm death rates, 2021

STATE FIREARM DEATHS PER 100,000 DEATHS Mississippi 33.9 962 Louisiana 29.1 1,314 New Mexico 27.8 578 Alabama 26.4 1,315 Wyoming 26.1 155 Alaska 25.2 182 Montana 25.1 280 Arkansas 23.3 698 Missouri 23.2 1,414 Tennessee 22.8 1,569

States with lowest firearm death rates, 2021

STATE FIREARM DEATHS PER 100,000 DEATHS Massachusetts 3.4 247 Hawaii 4.8 71 New Jersey 5.2 475 New York 5.4 1,078 Rhode Island 5.6 64 Connecticut 6.7 248 New Hampshire 8.3 123 California 9.0 3,576 Minnesota 10.0 573 Nebraska 10.3 200

Effective gun laws

Effective gun laws generally lengthen the time between a person deciding to harm themselves or the public, and the moment they pull the trigger.

One set of laws focus on safe firearm storage. These have proven particularly effective at mitigating many gun-related deaths, particularly suicides.

What we know is that the time between people deciding to kill themselves and end their lives, and then acting on it, is very short, said Paul Nestadt, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Nestadt cited studies of researchers who conducted interviews of those who attempted suicide and survived. About 24% said that suicide ideation took five minutes while 87% told researchers they made the decision during the same day.

What that means is that when you have those impulsive thoughts, suicidal thoughts, they might pass if given time, Nestadt said. But you use what you have available to you.

Easy access to firearms creates the perfect storm, according to Nestadt.

Overdoses make up more than half of all suicide attempts in this country, Nestadt said. However, overdoses only have about a 2% fatality rate. Whereas firearms, which only make up about 5% of suicide attempts, have a 90% fatality rate. Firearms are very, very lethal.

If a firearm is secured, and a person with suicidal thoughts does not know the combination to access the weapon, then that person is forced to make an alternative, less lethal choice.

And even if that person can access the weapon, it takes time to do so.

People are going to own guns, Nestadt said. This is America, but we have to really make sure that when there is a gun in the house, and there is someone vulnerable in the house  it is stored, locked, kept away from the ammunition.

A 2019 study estimated that storage policies would prevent 6% and 32% of gun deaths. Another study published in 2004, using 1993 survey data, found that gun owners who safely stored their firearms were 60% less likely to die from gun related suicides.

Other laws try to remove a firearm from those who intend to do harm to themselves or others or make it difficult for them to acquire one.

Extreme risk protection orders, or red flag laws, are one such policy. Red flag laws allow firearms to be temporarily confiscated from people if a court or some other administration believes they are a threat to themselves or the public.

Raissian said research shows the laws hold a lot of promise, though the full impact of the statutes isnt yet clear.

We think they are being used appropriately, and we do think that they are averting gun deaths, Raissian said. It is just hard to say how many gun deaths because we dont have great data on them.

The order is temporary, until a hearing or another process can take place, to determine if a person is safe to have a weapon once again.

One study published in 2017 estimated that red flag laws prevent one suicide for every 10.6 guns removed from a peoples possession.

Other laws broadly apply to the public.

More thorough background checks are very important and helpful, said Robert Spitzer, an emeritus professor at the State University of New York, Cortland. Permitting or registration requirements, that is when you actually have to go through a process normally tied to background checks to get a permit, a license, to get a gun.

The checks discourage people from applying for a permit if they know they have information in their history that prevents them from getting one.

From an economics point of view, how people choose to buy things, anything that puts barriers to buying things decreases the prevalence of that thing, Nestadt said.

A 2019 brief published by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a nonprofit research center for the State University of New York (SUNY) system, said universal background checks, concealed carry permits and laws prohibiting people who have committed violent misdemeanors reduce gun homicides.

One policy that has come up against legal challenges recently has been not allowing people under the age of 21 years old to have certain guns or types of weapons, Raissian said. It is helpful. That age group has the highest risk of perpetuating homicides of any age group in the U.S.

Social policies can also deter gun violence.

It is laws, it is access to guns, it is also poverty, Raissian said. We have a lot of evidence that laws that you wouldnt think have anything to do with gun violence, like Medicaid access, summer school for kids, employment opportunities for kids, are really good at reducing gun violence.

Raissian cited a randomized controlled trial of a youth summer employment program that was established in Chicago that had reduced incidents of gun violence compared to a control group.

It is not just about keeping them busy because these differences persist, Raissian said. It is also learning conflict resolution. It is also learning communication skills  all those things that come from employment and positive interactions tend to reduce violence of any form.

But Raissian and Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University, both said no single law will solve the issues of gun violence.

Reeher said older white males and teenagers have disproportionately high rates of suicide.

You have to think very specifically about it, Reeher said. There is no one blanket policy that is going to say, OK, this is going to reduce gun violence and it is going to apply equally to everybody. You have to think of the pockets and where the risk is.

He added that interventions that have nothing to do with gun policy are what is needed. Additional funding and services to treat mental health, increasing connectedness to a community and criminal justice system resources that can target repeat offenders are potential solutions.

Gun violence by state

The severity of gun violence is also not felt equally everywhere. Southern states tend to see higher rates of firearm deaths than other parts of the country.

Massachusetts firearm death rate is 3.4 per 100,000 people, a rate rivaling some European countries. Many New England and Mid-Atlantic states also have low rates of gun deaths. Many of them implement policies that experts say are effective at reducing the number of gun deaths by either suicide or homicide.

The states with the lowest rates of gun deaths tend to have safe storage laws, strong gun registration and permitting and solid background checks. Many also require concealed carry permits.

One example is New York.

New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, said Jaclyn Schildkraut, an associate professor at State University of New York Oswego. They (New York) still uphold an individuals right to own firearms under the Second Amendment in conjunction with the Gun Control Act of 1968.

In New York, a person must be at least 21 years old to own a handgun. A person buying a handgun must apply for a permit and submit to a background check. The applicant cannot have a felony conviction; must possess good moral character and not have had a fiream license revoked.

Applicants are subject to criminal and mental health background checks at the state and federal level even if they buy a gun at a gun show. The licensing office has options for approving licenses, which can be either for work or for home only, or an unrestricted permit to carry.

The permits must also be renewed every five years.

New Jersey requires all guns be stored unloaded and securely locked, with ammunition placed in a separate container.

Like other states with high rates of firearm deaths, Alabama has few state regulations on guns. Alabama has no age limits on the purchase of firearms and no red flag law allowing the confiscation of guns from people who may be a threat to others or themselves.

In the last several years, Alabama has loosened what gun restrictions were in the books. In 2013, the state expanded the places where a person could legally carry a concealed firearm. Last year, Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation allowing permitless concealed carry of firearms.

Gun safety in Alabama?

Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, shown during the Alabama Legislature's regular session on April 18, 2023, filed several firearm related bills that went unheard during the session.

At least 20 firearm safety bills have been filed in the current session. Most come from Democrats. Enslers legislative package would establish a red flag law for people who pose a danger to themselves or others; prohibit firearm modifications that convert guns into automatic weapons; make it a felony to possess or distribute a firearm without a serial number; and create a voluntary do-not-sell list for firearms. Thus far, none of Enslers firearm related bills have yet to be heard.

Ensler, a native of New York, moved to Alabama in 2012 to join the Teach for America program. He worked at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery to teach social students for two years  a school with a significant Black population and a large percentage of lower-income students. Many had lost loved ones to firearms.

Just having students who are coming to school having either, lost a relative or classmate to gun violence, having heard gunshots right in their neighborhood the night before and were up because of that, or had relatives who are locked up after having committed gun violence, that has shaped a lot of my views and feelings around it, he said.

Ensler said he acknowledges that there is the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution giving people the fundamental right to own a gun.

I do firmly believe though that the language, firmly regulated, means exactly what it means, Ensler said.

Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, speaks to colleagues on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on May 11, 2023.

HB 123, sponsored Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, would subject the parents of children who bring a gun to school to up to a year in jail. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill back in April, but it has not come out for a House vote.

Republicans have also filed some firearm bills. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Fairhope, sponsored SB 158, which requires a judge to send notice to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to update changes to the database prohibiting people from possessing firearms. Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, has filed legislation that removes the state sales tax from gun safes and safety devices.

HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, would also ban trigger activators. But in the waning days of the session, few proposals, even from Republicans, have any hope for consideration.

It is overwhelmingly Republican and the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups have a lot of sway, particularly in the Republican Party,  said Fredrick Vars, a professor at the University of Alabama Law School who helped craft one of Enslers bills. You usually see stricter gun laws in states that are either blue or at least purple, so it is just a real uphill battle in a Republican state.

Wood said last week he is trying to work out a deal with the NRA and other gun rights groups on his trigger bill.

We are here letting them know that we are not here to take their guns, we are here to make them safe, he said.

Wood was confident they would pass  eventually. He was less sure if they would receive consideration in the current legislation, leaving room open in the future.

Rep. Ronald Bolton, R-Northport added that the state is a pro-gun rights state with little appetite for additional legislation related to gun control.

I am against a red flag law because if you read back in history, people used to be able to put people in mental hospitals if they thought they were crazy, he said.

Ensler understands it is going to be a heavy lift.

Overall, I know it is going to be an effort and I am realistic that they are not all going to get passed this year, Ensler said. I am going to work in the offseason to try and get them ready for next year.

Experts said taking away firearms from the public is a nonstarter.

What is really worth noting, though, is that having a gun, carrying it in public, keeping it in the home, does not increase the likelihood that you will use the gun for any defensive purpose or that it will keep you safe for any event if anybody breaks into your home, which is an incredibly, incredibly, rare event, Semenza said. There is just not good evidence to show that it is keeping people safer. The evidence is the opposite, but if we need to tow the line in between, then it is about harm reduction, firearm safety, and doing things the right way.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Why Alabama ranks so high for gun violence
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Running For Presidency? Bank Clarifies He Will Not

JP Morgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) cleared the air about CEO Jamie Dimon's plan to not run for public office amid speculation about his potential political aspirations.

The comment comes after billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said last week Dimon should run for president in the next U.S. elections, Reuters reports.

Dimon had hinted at possibly serving his country without specifying a role.

Also Read: JPMorgan Employs Blockchain to Expedite Interbank Dollar Transactions in India

In May, Dimon, 67, voiced plans to remain the leader of the largest U.S. bank for another "3-1/2" years. He had expressed confidence in the next generation of management and the board's succession planning.

Dimon emphasized the bank's plans regarding his tenure were unchanged, without giving out any specifics, at a gathering of investors in New York.

U.S. proposed bank CEOs, including Dimon, as potential candidates for senior government positions like U.S. Treasury secretary or other economic policy roles.

Former Goldman Sachs Group, Inc (NYSE: GS) CEO Henry Paulson led the Treasury during the financial crisis.

Price Action: JPM shares traded lower by 0.06% at $139.00 premarket on the last check Tuesday.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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This article JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Running For Presidency? Bank Clarifies He Will Not originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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Crime and Courts Reporter

Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee.
Business Reporter

Joel Donofrio is the business reporter for the Yakima Herald. He was born and raised in the Chicago area, but he and his wife, Cathy, fell in love with the beauty (and low humidity) of the West and moved here in 2009, eventually relocating to Yakima in September 2021. They have two young adult children, Anthony and Joanna, and a dog, Molly. When he is not taking photos of construction sites, tracking down new and relocating businesses or catching up on agricultural trends, Joel enjoys playing guitar, singing, listening to music and playing and watching sports.
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JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon says he won't seek office as he meets with US House Democrats

By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said on Tuesday that he was not seeking public office as he met with a group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss economic matters.

Dimon told reporters he was not in Washington to discuss a possible political career and said he was not considering a run for president.

"I am not," Dimon told reporters ahead of the meeting. "I don't know why I have to answer that question anymore."

The company said on Monday that Dimon does not intend to run for office after speculation in recent days about his potential political aspirations. Dimon said last week he might consider a position in the public sector someday.

Dimon was on Capitol Hill to meet with the New Democrat Coalition, a group of centrist House Democrats.

"We're talking about helping grow our economy and make it more prosperous for everybody," Dimon said as he entered the closed-door meeting.

Bloomberg reported last month that Dimon, along with other banking executives, met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, to discuss the federal debt ceiling.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington and Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Will Dunham, Andy Sullivan, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron-Moore and Louise Heavens)
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Adevarul despre relatia dintre Ion Tiriac si Laurette. Bruneta a dat cartile pe fata

Au fost vazuti prima data impreuna in anul 2016, la plaja. De atunci pana in prezent, au marcat mai multe aparitii publice. Fostul jucator de tenis s-a comportat intotdeauna ca un adevarat cavaler. Cat despre ea, stim [citeste mai departe]
'At Least We Are Regulating,' Says President of Ethereum France on EU Crypto Rules

The recently adopted Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework has been to a large extent inspired by the regulatory regime that is already in place in France, according to Jerome de Tychey, the President of the non-profit organization Ethereum France.

The framework that was adopted at the European level is very close to the test framework that was implemented in France, called the PSAN [Prestataire de service sur actifs numeriques, or Digital Asset Service Provider - DASP]," he told Decrypt. "You register yourself as a PSAN in France, and then you start a process to get accredited as a PSAN."

Tychey is also the CEO of the crypto gaming project Cometh and one of the founding members of the Eth CC conference.

MiCA, which aims to create a uniform approach to crypto across the European bloc, has been widely welcomed by both the industry stakeholder and regulators and could even serve as a model for the U.S. approach to regulating the sector, according to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.

According to the French Financial Markets Authority (FMA), obtaining a DASP license is mandatory for companies engaged in digital asset custody, buying or selling digital assets in a currency that is legal tender, trading digital assets against other digital assets, and operating a crypto trading platform.

Some major crypto exchanges, including Binance and Crypto.com have already chosen that path by securing DASP licenses in France, while Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the U.S., shared similar plans last year.

Binance CEO CZ Praises Frances Pro-Crypto Regulations

Tychey believes that France has been leading the way in that regard as the EU authorities usually draw inspiration from what is emerging in different countries.

However, he also concedes that its still too early to draw any conclusions on how French, and to that extent, the broader European crypto regulation, will help drive innovation.

We are yet to see it in place and how it goes with my own company. We are trying to get in line and change our way of doing things to comply with it. But overall, it's great to know that at least we are regulating and we are giving you clarity on how we will treat that, said Tychey.

Tychey also made a reference to the French governments plans to introduce a new regulatory framework for Exchangeable In-Game Items that will benefit companies like Sorare, adding that he is particularly intrigued on how we are going to regulate games that are using Web3 primitives.

Awaiting full MiCA implementation

Despite the availability of both simple and enhanced forms of authorization in France, none of the approximately 60 registered firms in the country have chosen to adopt the more rigorous level of authorization.

This situation prompted French legislators to contemplate a mandatory requirement for all firms to obtain a full license, with the aim of better preparing them for the upcoming MiCA legislation.

However, opponents argued that this approach allowed insufficient time for compliance and would unfairly burden businesses, potentially tarnishing France's reputation as a crypto hub.

As a compromise, a decision was reached in January. Under this arrangement, companies already registered under the simple authorization system can continue their operations without significant changes until the implementation of MiCA, which is anticipated to occur in January 2025.

New market participants entering the scene in 2024 or later will still be required to obtain a full license.

French Regulator Considers Fast-Track to MiCA For Registered Firms

Additionally, regulators in France are considering a fast-track system to get registered crypto firms approved under new European Union-wide rules.

The introduction of the MiCA regulation is expected to have a significant impact on the crypto industry in Europe, including France, something that is likely to be the subject of more debates within the sector.

According to Tychey, due to the 2024 Olympics to be held in Paris, EthCC, which for the past six years has been hosted in the French capital, is already eyeing other locations.

One of them, he said, is Brussels, which will keep [the conference] French, but also move it closer to regulators, since most of the European Commission is based in the capital of Belgium.
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After losing 17% in the past year, Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) institutional owners must be relieved by the recent gain

Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Prudential Financial's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 39% ownership

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

If you want to know who really controls Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 57% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Last week's US$1.1b market cap gain would probably be appreciated by institutional investors, especially after a year of 17% losses.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Prudential Financial.

View our latest analysis for Prudential Financial

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Prudential Financial?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Prudential Financial. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Prudential Financial's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Prudential Financial is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that BlackRock, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 9.0% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 8.7% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 4.5% of the company stock.

On studying our ownership data, we found that 25 of the top shareholders collectively own less than 50% of the share register, implying that no single individual has a majority interest.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Prudential Financial

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Prudential Financial, Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own US$53m of stock. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 42% stake in Prudential Financial. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Prudential Financial better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Prudential Financial you should know about.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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- Romania's COVID-19 weekly cases rise by 5,032 , April 17-23, 2023.As many as 5,032 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the April 17-23, 2023 week in Romania, with over 60,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Monday, told Agerpres.

- As many as 4,201 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the April 10-16, 2023 week in Romania, with over 48,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Monday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook

- The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) informed that, in the week of March 13 - 19, 46.7% of the cases of COVID-19 were registered in Bucharest and in the counties of Cluj, Iasi, Sibiu and Brasov.According to the weekly surveillance report, 44.6% of the confirmed cases were registered in
View our financial aid brochure, FAFSA completion tips, and financial aid checklist to assist you in the financial aid process.



With one application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , you will be considered for various types of federal, state, institutional and possibly private financial aid. The key word here is 'Free', so be sure to use the official website or mobile app when applying.

If you have not already done so, create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID . Your FSA ID is your electronic signature that allows you to submit the FAFSA . You and your parent must create separate FSA IDs. Be sure to hang on to your log in and password since you will use this for future years when applying for aid or to log in to your account to make any changes. Need help creating a FSA ID?

Complete and submit the FAFSA or by downloading the myStudentAid mobile app. Be sure to list UW-Stevens Point's school code, 003924, as a recipient of your information. You can receive help filing your FAFSA by attending College Goal Wisconsin, an event that provides free information and assistance to students and their families who are filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Visit the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel for informational and how-to videos.



The deadline to apply for financial aid is typically 1-2 weeks before the last day of your enrollment in the academic year. Be aware, we must receive and be able to make a financial aid offer before the last day of your enrollment in a given term. However, applying early is your best assurance of receiving aid when you need it. See Financial Aid's Dates and Deadlines.

Step 2: After the FAFSA

Once the FAFSA is submitted, the student should receive an email confirmation from the Department of Education. While you may receive estimated award information from the FAFSA submission, this is not an actual award; it is for informational purposes only. You'll have the ability to review your Student Aid Report (SAR) which shows you what you reported is on your FAFSA, some information about the aid for which you may be eligible and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). We recommend logging in to the FAFSA website to review your FAFSA for accuracy and make corrections, if necessary. See a sample SAR here.



Every FAFSA with UW-Stevens Point school code (003924) will be sent electronically to the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services. Students will receive an email confirmation that we have received the FAFSA once we begin processing (typically mid-November and weekly thereafter). Be sure to monitor your UWSP email regularly since this is the preferred method of communication by the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.



Step 3: View your TASK tile



Review your TASK tile in accesSPoint and complete any required tasks.

Rejected FAFSAs

In some situations, the FAFSA will be "rejected." In most cases, this does NOT mean the student is ineligible for aid. Usually a FAFSA will be rejected because there is missing or incomplete information. The most common missing information is a missing signature. Students with a "rejected" FAFSA will be notified by the Department of Education as well as our office. Corrections can be made online at studentaid.gov.

Documentation

Many of our students will be required to submit additional documentation depending on the specific data on the FAFSA. For example, we could request proof of citizenship, selective service registration confirmation, or a copy of a birth certificate to confirm certain FAFSA data. Or, we might request a tax transcript because the application was selected for verification. All required documents will appear within the Task tile in accesSPoint and an email will be sent to the UWSP email. New students will also receive a letter by postal mail requesting their documents.



Submit documents in a timely manner! Your financial aid offer will not be calculated until ALL required information is processed.
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A charity gala held in the magnificent Hungarian National Museum recently raised funds for the United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF, and recognised role models for their significant contributions.

Held under the banner of Collapsed Homes  Lost Childhood, guests supported the survival and well-being of children living in war and natural disaster zones around the world, such as Ukraine, Syria and Turkey, by purchasing the gala and raffle tickets.



Before and after a special awards ceremony at this eminent event organised by the Hungarian National Committee of UNICEF - sponsored by Sigma Technology and CMS Hungary - there were impressive musical performances by Virtuosos and the Gabor Kerulo Band.







The gala ocassion provided the ideal opportunity for Peter Muller, Timea Buday-Kollarik, Stephen Linfitt of XpatLoop.com and Dr. Mate Dobos to be inducted by the National Committee as new UNICEF Champions for their significant contributions to the work of this renowned worldwide non-profit organisation.



These champions and corporate sponsors are the role models we hope others will follow in supporting children in need, said Judit Vrancsik, Fundraising Manager at UNICEF Hungary.



"All of them have been contributing significantly to the work of UNICEF for years, through various collaborations and events. Thank you for your support so far and your continued commitment to the cause of children. We are proud that together we can help vulnerable children at home and around the world," she added on behalf of UNICEF Hungary.







The charity gala attracted a full house of high-level guests and proved to be a successful and memorable evening, providing much needed help to the world's most vulnerable children.



Antonia Meszaros, the Executive Director of UNICEF Hungary, hosted proceedings in a warm and highly engaging manner given her extensive international experience as an award winning former journalist, TV anchor, writer and documentary filmmaker. In recent years Forbes Magazine selected her as one of the most influential women in Hungary.



"It was a magical evening with friends and supporters to help children exposed to war and natural disasters. Thanks to the guests who came, and to our partners without whom the event would not have been possible, it was an amazing night at the beautiful National Museum," Antonia said after the gala.







Words by Peterjon Cresswell

Peterjon has been researching the byways of Budapest for 30 years, extending his expertise across Europe to produce guidebooks for Time Out and his own website liberoguide.com



Click here to visit UNICEF Hungary
Prime Minister Viktor Orban held talks with Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in his office on Monday, the PMs press chief said.

Orban and Jin were in agreement that Hungarys policy of opening up to the East was now bearing fruit, with the highest amount of FDI coming from Chinese, South Korean and Japanese businesses, Bertalan Havasi said.



Asian commercial banks are also stepping up their presence and activity in Hungary.



Hungary intends for Asian capital to play a key role in the achievement of its national economic development goals, and sees its membership in the AIIB as a bridge that promotes its activities in Asia, Havasi said.



The meeting was also attended by Economic Development Minister Marton Nagy.



At a separate meeting, Nagy and Jin reviewed the current international financial and economic situation and potential opportunities for cooperation, with special regard to investments and active capital market participation, the economic development ministry said in a statement.



Nagy emphasised Chinas rise in global economic competition, calling the development of its financial system and improving competitiveness exemplary.



Hungary believes in peaceful connectivity, he said, adding that Hungarian-Chinese relations were on upswing and that China and Chinese financial institutions were key partners for Hungary.



China is Hungarys ninth most important trading partner, with bilateral trade turnover exceeding 13 billion dollars, Nagy said.



Progress is also being made in financial cooperation, he added. Hungary aims to become a regional financial hub, which could also help it serve as a bridgehead for Chinese financial institutions, the minister said.



Hungary has excellent relations with the branches of Bank of China, the China Construction Bank Corporation and China Development Bank operating in Hungary, which it aims to strengthen with the AIIB as well, he said.



The sides were in agreement on the need to continue deepening financial and economic cooperation, and agreed to continue holding regular consultations. Hungary joined the AIIB in 2017, the ministry noted.
Hungary most important issue is how it can survive as a strong and sovereign country in this draughty part of the world, President Katalin Novak said in an interview with news portal 24.hu.

The president is independent of the government, Novak said, adding that her job was not to explain the governments decisions, but rather to represent Hungarians and Hungary.



That is my job; that is what the Fundamental Law says, Novak said. What happens in Hungary, how we live here and what it is most people care about, in my opinion, are things that are worth talking about.



Novak said that in her talks with her foreign partners, she had found that few had factual knowledge about what was happening in Hungary because they dont necessarily get factual information.



She said she had not agreed with all of the governments decisions during her time in office, adding that she would have welcomed if the ruling parties had ratified Swedens NATO accession.



It is the sovereign authority of parliament to make a decision in this matter, Novak said, adding she believed that it would be timely, which she had told both the foreign minister and the prime minister.



Novak said the prime minister had promised her that Hungary would not be the obstacle to Sweden joining NATO.



She also said that she had not had to explain herself abroad in connection with the governments decisions, and had answered any questions she could.



The president said she herself had asked questions and received answers, adding that she was on good terms with just about all of her European counterparts, and had also met several of Europes heads of government.



On another subject, she said Hungarian-Polish relations had not cooled, and were not in any worse shape than a year ago. Novak also said that she did not consider it a responsibility as president to criticise either the government or the opposition.



Asked if there could be a domestic political decision in the country about which she felt she had to express an opinion, Novak said: Definitely.



The president speaks on special occasions like a national holiday or a New Years address, but they can also speak outside of those, she said.

said that those who kept track of when she has spoken and what she has said could see what it was she considered important.



Novak said one of the presidents most important  and perhaps most difficult  constitutional functions was promoting the unity of the nation.



There are countless things along which we can divide ourselves, but there are values and situations that bring the community together rather than divide it, the president said.



Asked how independent she considered herself from Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Novak said she felt exactly as independent as the president needed to be from the prime minister.



She said she had said no to the prime minister in several matters. Asked if she would seek the opinion of left-wing prime minister as often as she did Orbans, Novak said this also depended on the people in question, adding that she would definitely strive for regular contact.



Asked about her and the prime ministers differing views on the war in Ukraine, Novak said there was a difference in how nuanced their positions were.



The prime minister and I agree on the essential issues, she said. My position is perhaps less nuanced than his, I accept that.



Meanwhile, she said granting a pardon to Gyorgy Budahazy, a radical activist convicted on terrorist charges, had been one of her most difficult decisions.



In general, the clemency power is the most difficult power for president, she said.



There is no pardon that is not divisive, this is the nature of the matter.



She said she believed Budahazy was not innocent or a hero, but an individual who had been sentenced for a crime. The president said she respected the courts ruling and that her decision had not been a political one.
New Delhi: In a vibrant gathering of young and dynamic Indian businessmen, industry leaders, and specialists, an intriguing geo-political and social conversation took place in Tampa, Florida. The event featured the presence of Professor Pankaj Choudhary, a visionary leader and founder of Let's Do It India Foundation. The dialogue centered around the shared aspirations for progress and growth, emphasizing the significance of the present moment in shaping the past, current, and future.

The event, orchestrated by Pankaj Ojha, Vice President of Deutsche Bank and executive head of the USA chapter of Let's Do It India Foundation, brought together nearly 50 young entrepreneurs, professionals, and CEOs from Tampa, Florida. The aim was to engage in a comprehensive conversation with Professor Pankaj Choudhary, exploring the geo-political and social landscape and seeking avenues for collaboration and progress.

Let's Do It India Foundation envisions strengthening diplomatic ties between India and the United States by initiating bilateral strategic initiatives. The organization's core team, currently on a multi-state visit to the United States, seeks to foster greater youth-level engagement across various societal spectrums. The recent outreach meetings and programs held in Miami and Tampa, Florida, serve as stepping stones toward achieving this goal.

The engaging conversation between young tech entrepreneurs and Professor Pankaj Choudhary, the visionary founder of Let's Do It India Foundation, showcased the dedication and drive of individuals committed to progress and growth. Through their combined efforts, they aim to strengthen bilateral ties, promote youth engagement, and spearhead initiatives in green technology and climate change. The event served as an inspiring platform for collaboration, heralding a brighter and more sustainable future for India and the United States.
New Delhi: Narratives around sexual assault are no stranger to the audience, they depict the ugliness of human greed and selfishness. However, there are films that continue to haunt you even after you finish watching them. Films like Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai or Kahaani 2 portray horrific tragedies which not only give shivers but also open floodgates to discussions and debates. These films paint a realistic picture of the justice process. Although loaded with repulsive scenes, they act as a powerful tool for social change providing relief to the victims and their families. While POCSO act safeguards the interest of minors, films like these justify the provisions of the act creating awareness about under-reported crimes and abuse.

Let's have a look at such films which bring forward the POCSO act and reign supreme due to their unapologetic storytelling:

1. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai [ZEE5]

Inspired by true events, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai is a courtroom drama directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, starring Manoj Bajpayee in and as lawyer P.C Solanki. It is the story of an ordinary man - a high court lawyer who single-handedly fought an extraordinary case against the countrys biggest god man and successfully ended up prosecuting him for the rape of a minor under the POCSO act. The film educates the audience about the POCSO [Protection Of Children from Sexual Offenses] act while the trial for justice continues in the courtroom. Through Nus case of sexual assault, it highlights the key features of the act and the legal framework. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai will surely make you aware of a few facts that were not known to you.

2. Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh [ZEE5]

Kahaani 2 revolves around a woman named Vidya Sinha and her daughter Mini. Vidya works as a school librarian in a small town and leads a seemingly ordinary life. However, their lives take a dark turn when Mini goes missing. As the investigation unfolds, it is revealed that Mini has been kidnapped and is being held captive. Vidya, determined to find her daughter, teams up with a police officer, Inderjeet Singh. As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a shocking truth  Mini has been sexually assaulted. They encounter various challenges and obstacles as they navigate the legal system and fight for justice, exposing the grey side of humanity at the same time revealing the harsh realities faced by innocent children. Through Vidyas journey the film delves deep into the POCSO act.

3. Am I Next [ZEE5]

Am I Next is a heart-wrenching tale of a 14-year-old teenage rape survivor Honey Kohlis court battle for justice and the right to abortion. It has layers such as media sensationalism, a dishonest defense lawyer and the rapist Amans father trying to brush off the matter. The story raises ethical questions about why the survivor must pay the price and is a momentous expression of hope for society. The film explores the legalities of a minor rape victims right to abortion and the POCSO act.

4. Mardaani 2 [Amazon Prime Video]

Mardaani 2 is set in Kota, Rajasthan where a series of brutal rapes and murders shake the city. It revolves around Superintendent of Police Shivani Shivaji Roy who takes on a challenging case of finding a serial rapist targeting young girls. The film tackles the issue of brutal crimes against women as Shivani is determined to catch the perpetrator and bring him to justice. She faces various hurdles in her pursuit including societal apathy and the challenging nature of the case. The film serves as a wake-up call, urging society to be vigilant and proactive in protecting children from sexual offences while highlighting the provisions under the POCSO act.

5. Highway [Disney+ Hotstar]

The film centers around the kidnapper (played by Randeep Hooda) and his hostage (played by Alia Bhatt) as they bond over similar histories of child abuse  sexual and physical  at the hands of close family figures. The film leads to a moving denouement where the female protagonist confronts her abuser. It scores in showing how trauma operates in subtle, long-lasting ways, and how emotional support can provide strength to survivors and help them confront both their abusers and their trauma. The film delves into the sexual assault of the minor and the emotional damage it leaves on them.

Watch these compelling stories all set to give you goosebumps!
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir on Monday slammed former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia after he was denied interim bail in a money laundering case and said that he 'deserves every bit of it'. He also alleged that Sisodia has only 'extorted money' through the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

"I have always been saying that it's an open and shut case because of what they have done in the (Delhi) excise policy. They have only exhorted money out of that excise policy during Covid-19," Gautam Gambhir told the news agency PTI.

If you have done corruption, the only place you deserve is where you are at the moment, the BJP leader said.

"I think what's happening with Manish Sisodia, he deserves every bit of it," he added.

Earlier on Monday, the Delhi High Court refused to grant Sisodia interim bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, observing that he is facing 'extremely serious' allegations and there is a possibility of 'influencing the witnesses'. Sisodia had sought bail to attend to his ailing wife.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, however, allowed the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to meet his wife for one day at their residence or hospital at her convenience between 10 am and 5 pm but under certain conditions including that he will not interact with media.

"The court finds it very difficult to persuade itself to release the petitioner on interim bail for 6 weeks," the judge said noting that the case concerns 'extremely serious allegations' and there is a possibility of tampering if Sisodia, who held several positions in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government, is released.

"However, at the same time, this court feels that the petitioner should get an opportunity to see and meet his wife. Therefore, for one day, as per the convenience of Mrs Seema Sisodia, the petitioner be taken to his residence/hospital (if she is admitted to the hospital) from 10 am to 5 pm in custody," the court said.

Sisodia was arrested in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case on February 26 in connection with its probe into the excise policy after which he resigned as deputy chief minister of Delhi. He was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9 and is currently in judicial custody.

The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it at the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.
M&S scraps use by dates on milk and tells shoppers to decide for themselves

Fresh British milk on the shelves of a marks and spencer foodhall along with juice, fresh juices and smoothies - Julian Claxton/Alamy Stock Photo

Marks & Spencer has scrapped use by dates on most of its milk and has instead told shoppers to use their judgment to decide if it is good enough to drink.

In a move the retailer said it hopes will prevent millions of pints being poured down the sink, RSPCA Assured Select Farms British milk and organic fresh milk sold by M&S will now carry best before labelling instead.

Use by dates are used to inform customers whether or not a product is safe to consume, while best before dates relate to food quality.

But M&S said a combination of improved shelf life and a better overall quality of milk meant customers should use the use their judgement before throwing away milk which may still be fine to consume even if past its date.

Many foods are safe to eat after their best before date but may not taste as good, according to official guidance from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

It comes after Morrisons swapped use by dates for best before last year and told shoppers to use the sniff test to determine whether milk was still safe to drink.

However, the supermarket was criticised by campaigners who said the new advice was insensitive to people with impaired smell and taste.

Milk is the third-most wasted food in Britain  behind potatoes and bread  according to food waste charity Wrap, with around 490 million pints (worth about 270m) poured away every year.

A string of supermarkets have ditched use by dates from yoghurts, cheeses, fruits and vegetables in recent years in an effort to cut down on food waste.

M&S said the change is part of its wider pledge to halve the amount of food waste created by its business by 2030.

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Washington: India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves, the White House said Monday, as it appeared to dismiss concerns about the health of democracy in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the US later this month. "India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference here.

"Look, we never shy away. And you can do that with friends. You're supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (State) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward," Kirby said in response to a question.

Kirby said India is a strong partner with the United States on many levels. "You saw that in Shangri-La Secretary (of Defense, Lloyd) Austin announced some additional defense cooperation now that we're going to pursue with India. Of course, there's an awful lot of economic trade between our two countries. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner with respect to Indo-Pacific security," he said.

"I could go on and on and on. There are innumerable reasons why India certainly matters, not just bilaterally between the two of our nations, but multilaterally on very many levels. And the president is looking forward very much to having Prime Minister Modi here to talk about all those issues and to advance and deepen that partnership and that friendship," Kirby said.

Looking Forward To Enhancing Security Cooperation: US On PM Modi's Upcoming Visit

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, on Monday (local time) said that the partnership with India is one of the most consequential relations for the US, adding that Washington is looking forward to deepening economic ties and enhancing security cooperation.

"We are very much looking forward to hosting PM Modi for the State visit later this month," said Patel. PM Modi is scheduled to visit the US on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

"Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and we look forward to continually deepening our collaboration on a number of issues, whether it be enhancing security cooperation, deepening our economic ties, deepening trade issues," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs informed through a press statement on Wednesday.

The United States Congress has also invited PM Modi to address a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his visit to the country on June 22, according to the statement released by US Congress.

"During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for India's future and speak to the global challenges our countries both face," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to Modi.

Meanwhile, the White House said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between US and India.

PM Modi's visit "will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of the family and friendship that link America, Americans and clearly, Indians together. And so that's very important to the (US) President," said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre on PM Modi's state visit to the US.
New Delhi: India and the US on Monday concluded an ambitious roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to fast-track technology tie-ups and co-production of military platforms like air combat and land systems, a move that comes amid China's increasingly aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific. Besides firming up the roadmap two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, in their wide-ranging talks, also agreed to initiate negotiations on the security of supply arrangement and a reciprocal defence procurement pact to promote supply chain stability.

At a media briefing, the US defence secretary said the US-India cooperation matters "because we all face a rapidly changing world. We see bullying and coercion from the People's Republic of China and Russian aggression against Ukraine that seeks to redraw borders and threatens national sovereignty."

Austin, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday on a two-day visit, said the India-US partnership is a "cornerstone" for a free and open Indo-Pacific and that the US is putting its "full weight" behind supporting India's defence modernisation.

Great to meet again with my friend @rajnathsingh and thank him for his unwavering commitment to U.S.-India defense relations.



His leadership has helped paved the way for deeper collaboration, joint exercises, and technology sharing between our two countries. pic.twitter.com/uMuyS9DYtH  Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 5, 2023

The Pentagon said the roadmap aims to change the "paradigm" for cooperation between the US and Indian defence sectors, including the implementation of a set of specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies and support its defence modernisation plans.

It is learnt that Singh and Austin also touched upon General Electric's proposal to share technology with India for fighter jet engines and New Delhi's plan to procure 30 MQ-9B armed drones for over USD 3 billion from US defence major General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

The jet engine deal is likely to be announced during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US.

People familiar with the matter said both projects will be part of the roadmap that will also provide for cooperation in areas of intelligence sharing, surveillance and reconnaissance, munitions and the undersea domain.

"We established an ambitious new roadmap for defence industrial cooperation with a fast-track (and) high-priority for co-development and co-production projects and to build closer ties between our defence industries," Austin said at a media briefing.

"We look forward to advancing some of those projects during the upcoming visits," he said, indirectly referring to Modi's upcoming tour of the US.

Describing the US-India relationship as one of the most "consequential" ones, he said Washington only shares technologies with countries that it absolutely trusts. "There is an increasing desire for us to share (them) with partners here in India."

Austin said the US-India partnership is a "cornerstone" for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the deepening of the ties showed how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between the two "great powers" can be a force for global good.

The US defence secretary also held separate talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

In a statement, the defence ministry said both sides will identify opportunities for the co-development of new technologies and the co-production of existing and new systems besides facilitating increasing collaboration between defence start-up ecosystems of the two countries.

"Towards these objectives, they concluded a roadmap for US-India defence industrial cooperation which shall guide the policy direction for the next few years," it said.

The ministry said the meeting between Singh and Austin was "warm and cordial" and the two sides discussed a "substantial range" of bilateral defence cooperation issues, with a particular focus on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.

The Pentagon said the new roadmap will "fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; munitions; and the undersea domain."

"The Secretary and Minister Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation and to initiate negotiations on a Security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defence Procurement agreement, which will promote long-term supply chain stability," it said.

In a series of tweets, Singh said the talks revolved around enhancing defence cooperation in several areas including the convergence of strategic interests and security cooperation.

"India-US partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to closely work with the US across the domains for capacity building and further consolidating our strategic partnership," Singh said.

India-US partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to closely work with the US across the domains for capacity building

and further consolidating our strategic partnership.  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 5, 2023

The Pentagon said Austin and Singh also committed to strengthening operational collaboration across all military services, with an eye to supporting India's leading role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

"They discussed new opportunities to strengthen information sharing and increase cooperation in the maritime domain. On this note, Secretary Austin welcomed India's leadership role in the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA), which will provide cutting-edge domain awareness capability to countries across the Indo-Pacific region," it said.

In his meeting with NSA Doval, Austin exchanged views about regional and global security issues of concern, including maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

"The Secretary welcomed Doval's perspective about shared security interests and objectives, including his ideas for greater maritime collaboration," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"In all of his engagements, the Secretary underscored the centrality of the US-India partnership to maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region," it added.

The defence ministry said both sides reviewed the robust and multifaceted bilateral defence cooperation activities and agreed to maintain the momentum of engagement.

"They welcomed the inaugural dialogues held recently focusing on defence artificial intelligence and defence space. They also discussed the regional security issues given their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," it said.

In his remarks at the media briefing, Austin said that as the world's two largest democracies, India and the US have a unique role in preserving the rules-based international order that "keeps us all secure".

"Our global and strategic partnership has continued to rapidly grow. Today the US-India partnership is a cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our deepening bond shows how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between two great powers can be a force for global good," he said.

Secretary Austin described his talks with Singh and Doval as "productive"

"Democracies must now rally together in common interests and shared values. Preserving and protecting freedom are essential to peace and prosperity and require vigorous leadership from the US and India," he said.

"So we still have a lot of work to do. I am confident that the US-India partnership will help secure an open and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the wider world," he said.

The Pentagon said Austin and Singh also discussed the growing importance of defence innovation and cooperation in emerging domains such as space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence.

"They also welcomed the establishment of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), a new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation," it said.

"The initiative, which will be launched by the US-India Business Council on June 21, is designed to complement existing government-to-government collaboration by promoting innovative partnerships between US and Indian companies, investors, start-up accelerators, and academic research institutions," it said.

It is Secretary Austin's second visit to India. His previous trip to the country was in March 2021.

"Great to meet again with my friend @rajnathsingh and thank him for his unwavering commitment to U.S.-India defense relations. His leadership has helped paved the way for deeper collaboration, joint exercises, and technology sharing between our two countries," Austin tweeted.

In a major move, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced in May last year the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation.

The iCET is expected to forge closer linkages between the government, academia and industry of the two countries in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G and 6G, biotech, space and semiconductors.

The India-US defence and strategic ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The two countries have inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.

In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
New Delhi: Congress refusal to attend the first opposition parties meeting called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 12 has started a blame game between the two sides with the Janata Dal-United leader blaming the former after the meeting was put off. Talking to reporters, Kumar said the June 12 meeting had to be deferred due to the refusal by Congress` top leadership as it asked for another date as the top leaders of many like-minded parties were not in a position to turn up for the deliberation.

The remarks came on the day when Nitish Kumar faced questions over the under-construction bridge collapse on river Ganga on Sunday in Bihar, while he was trying to bridge the gap between the opposition parties ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to the media here, Congress` Bihar in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said, "I spoke to Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday. He wants all the parties` chiefs who are capable of taking the decision to attend the meeting on June 12. This was not happening, so it has been decided to speak to everyone and arrange a meeting after June 22."

The Congress leader`s remarks came hours after the Bihar Chief Minister speaking to the media in Patna, said, "Except for the Congress, the majority of the opposition political parties had agreed to meet in Patna on June 12.

"The Congress leadership was not comfortable with the venue. Since, there was no point in meeting without the grand old party, I asked him to discuss the party and then finalise a date. We will match the date with every opposition political party and then decide about the meeting. For now, the scheduled meeting on June 12 stands postponed," Nitish Kumar said.

The JD-U leader had called the meeting of like-minded parties on June 12 in Patna after discussing with the top Congress leadership and also after meeting and convincing the top leaders of several parties in last one and half month.

Kumar was also conveyed of the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi`s return from the US on June 10, after which the date of June 12 was finalised and the JD-U leader invited several leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray among others who gave their go ahead to attend the meeting.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin then cited his engagements on June 12 and asked to postpone the meeting for another date.

Following Stalin`s request, Congress also came forward with the same proposal citing the personal engagements of party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and asked to convene the meeting on June 22 or some other dates.

This demand was also echoed by CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury. Thus, looking at the request of several leaders meeting has been postponed.
New Delhi: Taking exception to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Mohabbat Ki Dukan slogan, Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda hit out at the former Wayanad MP by saying that "you have opened a mega shopping mall of hatred."

The BJP chief was speaking after releasing a book on 9 Years' Achievements of the Modi Government on Monday in the national capital. In his speech, Nadda said that the Congress leader does not like the country's prestige as he does not understand it.

"I do not know what is the problem of Rahul Gandhi with India's increasing pride. He does not understand and like this pride. You are praising the vaccine of the world and questioning India's vaccine, while 100 countries of the world have taken India's vaccine. You question surgical strike. You talk about dividing society and still claim that you are running 'Mohabbat Ki Dukan'. You are running a 'mega shopping mall' of hatred," Nadda said.

Heaping praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda said, "He proved to the world how a pandemic is managed. Every country in the world failed during the Covid. However, PM Modi took a timely bold decision and announced a lockdown in the country, saving countless precious lives."

Lashing out at the previous government at the Centre, he said, "There is a massive difference between the pre-2014 era and the post-2014 era. People believed that nothing would change and corruption could not be wiped out. Our country was counted as one of the corrupt countries. There was no leadership, intention or policy. However, people voted for the BJP and in 2014 India got a leadership that is leading India ahead."

"From the economic point of view, today India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, leaving Britain behind. Rishi Sunak says that the day is not far when India will be the third largest economy in the world," Nadda added.
Mir Syed Ali Hamdani arrived in Kashmir from the Iranian city of Hamdan nearly 700 years ago. He took many Sufis, Islamic speakers, perfumers, and carpet makers with him. They established themselves on the Jhelum River's banks, spread Islam among the natives, and taught them their trades and knowledge. The caravan of Shah-e-Hamadan, as the Iranian preacher is known in Kashmir, travelled the Silk Route to the Valley and gave rise to the key businesses of carpet weaving, papier-mache, wood carving, etc. that are today the backbone of the local economy.

One such legacy is upheld by Abdul Aziz Kozgar. In order to continue the 400-year-old family business, he is still producing rose water in his tiny shop-cum factory in the heart of Srinagar. Making rosewater was another technique that the Iranian preachers introduced to Kashmir. It is no accident that Abdul Aziz's 90-year-old store is next to the Shah-e-Hamdan Dargah.

Distilling Genuine Rose Water

Even today, Abdul Aziz Kozgar of Srinagar is still distilling genuine rose water in his more than 90-year-old store, 'Arq-i-Gulab. This man learned the craft from his father and is determined to keep up the heritage. His ancestors in Turkey taught his family how to make rose water manually, and they carried that knowledge to India some 400 years ago. But as of right now, Abdul appears to be the final survivor of the old guard. With a dwindling consumer base, it becomes doubtful that the next generation will adopt the time-consuming practise.

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The enthralling sensation of extraction and distillation can be found in his modest shop. In addition to the arq-e-gulab, his dingy wooden shelves feature a variety of syrups and perfumes kept in vintage bottles like a treat to enjoy. However, it's interesting to note that a 200 ml bottle of rose water only costs Rs 40. He is the sole expert in Kashmir in the hand production of rose water. Vintage vases of all sizes, some empty and some filled with rose water, line his shop.

Business Suffered Loss

However, Kozgar's business has suffered greatly from dwindling sales as a result of a lack of demand for handmade rose water and the unrest in Kashmir, leaving him with few options to increase production or reinvent the trade and facing an uncertain future. Sales had been affected as well by his inability to manually manufacture enough rose water. Kozgar, a graduate and traditional medical practitioner, chose this line of work because his father, Habibullah, was "keen on his children carrying forward the legacy." Although, it is unsure whether the following generation will continue the family tradition. Who will manage this company when there is so little profit? After using five to six kilograms of roses, substantially less rose water is produced, and this is not conducive to business.

Also Read: Meet Sanjita Mohapatra, An IAS Officer Who Faced Four Failed Attempts Before Cracking The UPSC With An Impressive AIR 10

When someone mentions "rose water," you feel euphoric right away. One's mood is improved by the thought of its pleasant aroma drifting through the air. This clear essence's influence has been felt for decades in a wide range of activities, from skin care to cooking to religious devotion. However, few have purchased naturally distilled rose water, and even fewer are aware of Kashmir's only remaining manual rose water producer, despite the fact that it is widely used. To accommodate the widespread demand for this perfumed liquid, most manufacturers today use mechanical procedures.
New Delhi: Linda Yaccarino took over as the new Twitter CEO on Monday, freeing Elon Musk to focus on Tesla and SpaceX, as Twitter's US ad sales plunged 59 percent in April and the month of May did not look bright either.

Yaccarino, former Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBC Universal, updated her bio as Twitter CEO on LinkedIn, before welcoming Joe Benarroch at the micro-blogging platform, who worked with her as executive vice president at NBC Universal.



"Welcome to the flock, Benarroch, from one bird to the next. Let's get to work @Twitter," she posted.



Benarroch said in an internal memo, seen by the Wall Street Journal, that "I start a different professional adventure at Twitter, taking on a role focusing on business operations".



"I am looking forward to bringing my experience to Twitter, and to working with the entire team to build Twitter 2.0 together," he added.



According to The New York Times, Twitter's US advertising revenue for the five weeks from April 1 to the first week of May was $88 million, down 59 per cent from a year earlier.



"In internal forecasts, the company projected that ad sales would keep declining, handing a tough challenge to its new chief executive," the report noted.



Yaccarino said last month that she is prepared to build Twitter 2.0 and transform the business together with Musk and millions of platform users.



"I've long been inspired by your vision to create a brighter future. I'm excited to help bring this vision to Twitter and transform this business together," she posted on Twitter.



"I'm just as committed to the future of this platform. Your feedback is VITAL to that future. I'm here for all of it. Let's keep the conversation going and build Twitter 2.0 together," Yaccarino also commented.



Musk is looking forward to working with Yaccarino to transform the platform into X, the Everything app, just like China's WeChat.



Yaccarino oversaw about 2,000 workers at NBC Universal. Her team generated more than $100 billion in ad sales and entered partnerships with companies, including Apple, Snapchat, BuzzFeed, Twitter, and YouTube.
A passenger, suspected to be a victim of psychosis-related disorder, was detained at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for unnecessarily raising a bomb scare alert at a London-bound aircraft.

Airport sources said that the incident took place at around 3.39 a.m. when a London- bound aircraft of Qatar Airways via Doha was just about to take off. One of the passengers suddenly started shouting, claiming that a bomb had been implanted in the said aircraft.

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Following his panic alert, the 531 passengers, who were onboard, were taken out of the flight, and the security forces engaged in airport duty conducted thorough search operations within the aircraft. However, the search operation did not result in the recovery of any bombs or explosive.

The security forces deployed at the airport first detained the passenger raising the bomb alert and then handed him over to the cops at the local police station. In the face of questioning, the passenger concerned claimed that he was informed by someone else about the existence of the bomb within the aircraft. Police suspect that the passenger is a victim of a psychosis-related disorder like schizophrenia.
NEW DELHI: India is proud of its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US that is built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. He made the remarks in a tweet while thanking House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the invitation to address a joint meeting of the US Congress during his visit to the country later this month.

"Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress," Modi said on Twitter. "We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon the foundation of shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity," he said.

Thank you @SpeakerMcCarthy, @LeaderMcConnell, @SenSchumer, and @RepJeffries for the gracious invitation. I am honored to accept and look forward to once again address a Joint Meeting of the Congress. We are proud of our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, https://t.co/yeg6XaGUH2  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2023

Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22 during his official state visit to the country. He will share his vision of India's future and speak on the global challenges facing the two countries, top congressional leaders had announced on Friday. President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Modi for an official state visit to the US, which will include a state dinner, on June 22.

"On behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, it is our honour to invite you (Prime Minister Modi) to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, June 22," the congressional leaders had said in a statement. This will be the second time that Modi will address a joint meeting of the US Congress after June 2016.

Prime Minister Modi's upcoming address to the joint meeting of the US Congress is historic, officials said, noting that he is the first Indian prime minister to do so twice. Globally in this respect, as a head of state or government, Prime Minister Modi is second only to Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu who has addressed the US Congress thrice, they said.

This honour bestowed on Prime Minister Modi shows the bipartisan respect and support for him in the US, they said.
Marc Andreessen has a plan to use 'AI to save the world'  and it doesn't involve regulation

Marc Andreessen, general partner and cofounder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Marc Andreessen writes that AI can "make everything we care about better" in a new blog post.

He believes AI companies should be able to build fast and aggressively without regulation.

This will help society benefit from companies that are the "jewels of capitalism," he writes.

The current AI wave wouldn't be complete without a pithy missive from famed venture-capitalist and entrepreneur Marc Andreessen.

The cofounder of namesake VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z as it's commonly known, dispelled fears about AI's risks to humanity  both tangible and imagined  in a lengthy blog post, insisting AI can "make everything we care about better."

Tucked within his philosophical examination on the perceived perils and potential of AI, Andreessen reveals why he's a staunch supporter of the technology and what needs to be done in order to "drive AI into our economy and society as fast and hard as we possibly can, in order to maximize its gains for economic productivity and human potential."

To that end, he believes AI companies of all stripes should be able to build "as fast and aggressively as they can," but without the involvement of the US government either through regulation or through an agency that insulates them from market competition.

"This will maximize the technological and societal payoff from the amazing capabilities of these companies, which are jewels of modern capitalism," Andreessen wrote.

AI regulation, particularly after the explosion in generative AI and the startups building out the technology, has been on the minds of many these days including lawmakers in Congress, about how to address the fast-growing technology in light of potential misinformation, copyright violations, and threats to jobs.

Sam Altman, cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, urged US Senators last month to regulate AI, saying that it was "critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful models."

Altman has become the posterboy for AI after his company's wide scale release of ChatGPT last fall. Despite knowing AI's vast potential and wanting it to thrive, he's also keenly aware of the risks it poses. To help avert those risks, Altman recommended to lawmakers that a new agency should be created to police AI projects, particularly ones that operate at higher levels of capabilities. And that agency should be able to hand out licenses for advanced AI work, and also have the power to take them away should they break any established safety rules.

But Andreessen thoroughly disagrees with Altman. He believes that the future of AI should be decided by the free market. He argues that open source AI  projects like MindsDB, which recently raised $25 million  should be allowed to spread freely and, because they tend to offer free versions of their wares, they can compete with commercial AI companies and startups. And even if open source projects don't end up beating companies, the mere availability of such software will allow a generation of willing students to learn how to build and use AI, he argues.

To offset the risks of AI being used for nefarious purposes and to block China from becoming an AI superpower, the private sector needs to work with governments to come up with solutions. "AI can be an incredibly powerful tool for solving problems, and we should embrace it as such," Andreeseen wrote.

He also says his firm is eager to fund AI startup founders.

Andreessen Horowitz has already made a splash there, recently leading a $50 million seed round alongside General Catalyst for Hippocratic AI, a healthcare focused, large language model startup, coleading a $10.4 million Series A in Coactive, and also coleading a seed round into London-based AI startup ElevenLabs with ex-GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, Insider previously reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
New Delhi: Dead bodies of two young children, Neeraj (8) and Arti (6), were found inside an old wooden box at their home in Joga Bai extension in southeast Delhi on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported. The Delhi Police suspect they died of accidental asphyxia (suffocation). "Jamia Nagar police station received information regarding the discovery of two bodies at house number F2, Joga Bai extension. The bodies of two siblings, identified as Neeraj (8) and Arti (6), were found in an old wooden box," news agency PTI quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Rajesh Deo as saying.

"A local inquiry has revealed that the deceased children had lunch at 3 pm today with their parents and went missing at around 3.30 pm. The parents and others started searching for them and later found them in the box. The post-mortem will confirm the cause of death," news agency ANI quoted the police as saying.

The DCP said there was no injury on the bodies and it seems to be a case of accidental asphyxiation, adding that autopsy will ascertain the exact cause of death.

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A social worker named Mehmood Ahmed was the first to reach the scene. "The childrens father Balbir is a watchman and the family hails from Nepal. He has five daughters and one son. There were no signs of injury on the bodies, but one of them had foam coming out of the mouth, PTI quoted him as saying.

Also Read: Meet Ram Bhajan Kumar, Delhi Police Head Constable Who Cracked UPSC Exam In 8th Attempt- Read His Success Story

A local resident named Naushad Chowdhary said that the box was very old and the children were playing and got inside it. The box lid closed and they could not open it and got trapped and died. That is what he heard so far.
London: Britain's King Charles III has expressed his deepest condolences to President Droupadi Murmu over the tragic triple train accident in Odisha and said that he is "profoundly shocked" and saddened by the news.

King Charles III said that he is saddened by the dreadful accident that took place in Balasore. "Both my wife and I have been most profoundly shocked and saddened by the news of such a dreadful accident outside Balasore. I would like to express our deepest possible condolences to the families of all those who have so tragically lost their lives," King Charles said, according to the official handle of the Royal Family which tweeted the message on Monday.

In the condolence message, he not only expressed solidarity with victims' families but also recalled fond memories of himself visiting Odisha in 1980.

"I do hope you know what a special place India and the people of India have in our hearts. I have particularly fond memories of visiting Odisha in 1980 and meeting some of its people on that occasion," the message read.

I pray, therefore, that you may be able to convey our most heartfelt prayers and sympathy to all those who have been affected by this appalling tragedy, together with our special thoughts for the people of Odisha, the Royal Family tweeted.

Condolences poured from across the globe after the tragic train accident took place in Odisha on Friday evening last week. The accident claimed 275 lives and injured over thousand people.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday tweeted to express his grief over the tragic triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore, which claimed the lives of 275 passengers and left over 1,000 injured.

"On behalf of myself and my nation, I offer my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the train accident in Odisha, India, as well as to the people and the government of India. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We stand by India as it mourns the loss of lives in the tragic accident," Erdogan tweeted.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made a phone call to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to express his grief over the loss of lives in the horrific triple train accident.

Appreciating Blinken's words, the EAM said that such sentiments are deeply valued at this challenging time. "Thank @SecBlinken for the phone call expressing his support and sympathy on the Odisha railway accident. Such sentiments are deeply valued at this difficult time," tweeted Jaishankar.
NEW DELHI: Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the 2004 batch IPS officer posted in Punjab, is possibly one of the richest government servants in the country. According to the Union Home Ministry records, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who is currently posted as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Punjab, has properties worth Rs 152 crore.

Bhullar is one of the two 2004-batch IPS officers, who were promoted to the rank of IGP by the Punjab Police earlier this year. Baljot Singh Rathore being the other Punjab cadre IPS officer. The order came alongside the promotion of the 7 officers of the 1997 batch to the rank of ADGP.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullars Career & Family Background

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar did BA hons before becoming an IPS officer in 2004. Bhullar was posted as the SSP of Jalandhar a few years back. His father and grandfather Gurdayal Singh Bhullar were also IPS officers and were posted in Jalandhar during their services. Gurdayal Singh Bhullar was the SSP of Jalandhar between 1957 and 1960.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar also served as the police commissioner of Ludhiana before being promoted to the IGP rank. Bhullar also had the longest term as SSP of Mohali. The IPS officer has had two terms as Mohali SSP, first between 2009 and 2013 and from 2015 till August 2016.

Richer Than Top Punjab Politicians

Bhullar grabbed eyeballs when he declared his immovable assets in 2016. According to the records of the property returns filed by Bhullar that are available on the Home Ministrys website, this 2004 batch IPS officer possessed properties worth Rs 152 crore.

During that time, Bhullar was way richer than former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal. While Captain Amarinder Singh had a net worth of Rs 48 crore, Badals net worth was around Rs 102 crore in 2016.

Breakup Of Bhullars Property



In his tax returns, Bhullar declared 16 properties, including eight residential, four agricultural and three commercial plots. He also owned a commercial plot worth Rs 85-lakh at the Barakhamba Road in central Delhi along with a 1,500 square-yard vacant plot in Delhi's posh Sainik Farms.

According to the documents, Bhullars most expensive asset is pegged at around Rs 45 crore and mentioned as uncultivable land in a village in Mohali. In his immovable property returns (IPRs), Bhullar mentioned that he inherited most of these properties and stated ancestral property flowing from grandparents as a source in many cases.

Bhullar also mentioned the date of acquisition for at least 12 properties as January 11, 2013. He is among several Punjab-based IPS officers who had submitted details of their properties registered under their own name or spouses or parents, which have been made public since 2011.
New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who never headed any High Court as Chief Justice and served as a Judge of the Delhi High Court prior to his elevation to Supreme Court. Going by the seniority rule of the Supreme Court Judges, Justice Sanjiv Khanna is in line to become the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) in November 2024 for a seven month-tenure. Elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 18 January 2019, he is due to retire on 13th May 2025.

Justice Khanna: Early Life

Born on 14th May 1960, Justice Sanjiv Khanna completed his schooling at Delhi's prestigious Modern School. He studied law at the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. After graduating, he enrolled as an advocate in the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983.

Career As A Lawyer

After his enrolment, Justice Khana started practising taxation, arbitration, commercial law, environmental law, medical negligence law and company law at the Delhi High Court. He also served the Government of Delhi as an Additional Public Prosecutor in criminal law matters. Justice Khanna was also a Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department of Delhi for close to seven years. In 2004, he was appointed as Delhis Standing Counsel for civil law matters at the Delhi High Court.

Elevation As A Judge

Justice Khanna was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on June 24th, 2005 and later as a permanent judge on February 20th 2006. At the Delhi High Court, Justice Khanna was associated with the Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the district court mediation centres. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18th, 2019. If the seniority rule is followed, he will likely be Indias 51st CJI and assume office in November 2024.

Notable Rulings

Shilpa Sailesh v Varun Sreenivasan Case: In this case, Justice Khanna held that the Supreme Court has the power to directly grant a divorce under Article 142 of the Constitution. Justice Khanna stated that the top court could grant a divorce under the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of marriage to grant complete justice.

Revising Fee Scale for Arbitrators Case: In this case, Justice Khanna wrote a dissenting note on the limited point that in the absence of an arbitration agreement, the arbitral tribunal is entitled to fix a reasonable fee.

Justice Khanna also authored the majority opinion in the CPIO, Supreme Court v Subhash Chandra Agarwal judgement, popularly known as the RTI judgement. The 5-Judge Bench had to decide if subjecting the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) to RTI requests curtailed the independence of the judiciary. Justice Khanna wrote that judicial independence does not necessarily oppose the right to information. Whether or not the OCJ should fulfil RTI requests must be decided on a case-by-case basis. 5-Judge Bench concluded that the Courts Chief Public Information Officer must decide if the disclosure is in the larger public interest by weighing it against the right to privacy of judges. While at the SC, Khanna J has written 65 Judgments, which accounts for nearly 26.6% of the 275 Benches that he has been a part of.

SC Collegium

The apex court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI, and the number is set to go down to 27 again with the retirement of Justice S Abdul Nazeer on January 4. Out of the 28 judges at present, nine are scheduled to retire in 2023. Sources said the composition of the Collegium, which usually comprises the CJI and four senior-most judges who decide the appointment of judges to the apex court, has undergone a change and now it has six members with the entry of Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The change in the Collegium has occurred due to the fact that after the CJI, none of the four senior-most apex court judges  justices S K Kaul, S Abdul Nazeer, K M Joseph and M R Shah  would become the head of the judiciary. The convention has it that besides the CJI there is at least one future CJI in the Collegium that makes recommendations to the Union government for appointment of judges in the apex court.

Of late, the Collegium system has become a major flashpoint between the Supreme Court and the central government, with the mechanism of judges appointing judges drawing criticism from different quarters.
New Delhi: One should never give up on their dreams, we have read many inspiring stories in the past but here is one such unique success story from Delhi which will motivate many. While the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the final result for the Civil Services Examination, 2022 last month. Among 933 candidates who cracked one of the toughest exams in India, there were a few aspirants whose success success tales stand out. One of them is Ram Bhajan Kumar, Head Constable of Delhi Police who secured 667th rank in the 2022 UPSC exam.

Who Is Ram Bhajan Kumar?

Belonging to a lower-middle-class family, 34-year-old Ram Bhajan is the son of a laborer in Rajasthan. Kumar managed at least six hours daily studying and bought study materials from Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. He used to apply for a month's leave and dedicate nearly 16 hours daily for preparations when exam dates were near.

Ram Bhajan Kumar's Struggles

Ram Bhajan along with his parents also used to work as laborers during his school hours to meet the needs of his family. Ram Bhajan, a resident of Bapi, a small village in the Dausa district of Rajasthan, said that his parents used to earn their livelihood by working as labourers. Despite facing many challenges, he finally cracked this prestigious exam in his 8th attempt.

Ram's Inspiring Journey

Kumar joined the force in 2009 as a constable. Kumar said he was inspired by Firoz Alam, who was a constable in the Delhi Police and after clearing the UPSC exams in 2019, became an ACP. After Alam secured rank, I got motivation to strive hard. He also made a Whatsapp group to encourage and motivate UPSC aspirants like me and others. He has been a constant support system till date," he added. "It is a dream come true. This was my eighth attempt. Since I belong to the OBC category, I am eligible for nine attempts and this was my second-last," he said. On what kept him going despite failures over the last couple of years, he said his wife constantly encouraged him and became his pillar of strength.

The success story of Ram Bhajan Kumar teaches us one important lesson in life that we should never stop trying and we should never lose hope. Failure is very real, but it is a stop along their journey, not an end destination. Experiencing failure does not make you a failure but makes you strong enough to face the hurdles that stand in the way of your success.
Right activists often find themselves at the centre of controversy and so does Kerala's Rehana Fathima. She is a womens rights activist and is not new to controversy - be it the POCSO case she was facing or her hyper-active participation in the Sabrimala protest. The 36-year-old womens rights activist was back in the news on Monday after the Kerala High Court cleared her of charges in the POCSO case. According to reports, Rehana Fathima has a background in telecommunications and modelling, and has actively participated in many rights protests.

Why Did She Face POCSO Case?

Three years back, Rehana Fathima posted a semi-nude video on the internet showing her two minor children - boy and girl - painting the upper part of her body. The video took social media by storm. Following the outrage, Kochi city police had booked her under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IT Act based on a report filed by Cyberdom, the cyber wing of Kerala police. BJP OBC Morcha leader A V Arun Prakash had also filed a case against Fathima under IT Act. However, Kerala High Court in its judgement said that nudity should not be tied to sex and nudity is not always obscenity. Emphasizing the right of women on their bodies, the high court quashed the charges.

Who Is Rehana Fathima?

Rehana Fathima is also known by the name Surya Gayathri. Born on May 30, 1986 in a Muslim family, she lost her father when she was in Class 12. Rehana Fathima did B.COM and MCA from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. She got married to writer and director Manoj K. Sreedhar, but they got separated in 2021. She worked as a telecommunications technician with BSNL but was forced to take compulsory retirement in 2020. She also worked in the Eka movie directed by Sreedhar.

Controversies And Rehana Fathima

Rehana participated in a controversial Kiss of love protest in Kochi in 2014 in protest against moral policing. She also created sensation after taking part in the annual Onam tiger dance called Pulikali which usually sees the attendance of all-male troupes. She also grabbed headlines in 2018 after posting a photo covering her breast with just watermelons after a male college teacher compared womens breasts to watermelons and complained of Muslim women not dressing properly. In October 2018, she entered the Sabarimala temple but was stopped 500 metres away from the temples main sanctum sanctorum by temple activists.
Success Story: Today, we're going to talk about Sanjita Mohapatra, who achieved the 10th rank in the UPSC CSE 2019 exam. Success requires consistency, especially when attempting one of India's toughest exams. Often, it takes multiple failures before achieving success. The key to success is perseverance and not giving up on your goals. Sanjita Mohapatra's success story is similar in that she achieved her life goals despite the obstacles.

Sanjita Mohapatra - Background

Sanjita was born in Sundargarh and raised in Rourkela. She excelled academically and completed Mechanical Engineering at CET Bhubaneswar. Sanjita always dreamed of becoming an IAS officer and a collector. After completing her degree, she worked as a Trainee (Technical) at SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant, until 2018 when she resigned to focus on the civil services exam. Sanjita married Biswaranjan Mundari, a manager at RBI in Mumbai, in 2017 and moved to Mumbai after leaving her job.

Also Read: Meet Abdul Aziz Kozgar Of Srinagar, One Of The Last Threads To Kashmir's 400-Years-Old Tradition Of Making Rosewater

High Time In Life

Sanjita also passed the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) exam and ranked second in the state of Odisha. She also qualified for the Odisha Public Service Commission but did not accept the job offer to concentrate on her UPSC preparation. Sanjita's family supported her during her UPSC preparation, and that motivated her to keep trying even after failing several times.

Setbacks In Life

Success is not just about achieving results; it's about the journey that leads to your goal. Sanjita worked as a junior manager at SAIL RSP when she was 22. Her job included field maintenance, managing people twice her age, and working in shifts. Sanjita resigned in 2018 to prepare for the civil services exam. Sanjita's preparation for the UPSC exam began while she was in college. She failed the preliminary exam in her first three attempts due to a lack of preparation and revision. In her fourth attempt, she resigned from her job but could not pass the mains exam.

Also Read: Meet Abhishek Kumar, A Patna Student Who Bagged INR 1.8 Crore Salary Package Job Offer From Amazon

Sanjita Mohapatra: Success Story

Sanjita passed the UPSC CSE exam on her fifth attempt. She attributes her success to self-study, a weekly schedule, and achieving targets on time. Sanjita chose Sociology as her optional subject and took a three-month crash course to master it. She made notes from NCERT books and short key points and relied on newspapers for current affairs. Sanjita did not follow a daily timetable but set monthly targets for all subjects and evaluated her progress every night. She believes in quality study time, not the number of hours spent studying. Sanjita wants to contribute to the development of the KBK region and tribal hinterlands.
New Delhi: YS Sharmila is a politician from Telangana and the founder-president of the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP). She is also the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy and YS Vijayamma. She was the national convener of the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) before launching her own party. She has been in conflict with the ruling BRS government in Telangana and has been arrested several times for her protests and padyatras.

Accused Of Assaulting Telangana Cops

YS Sharmila is in the news again after the Hyderabad police on Monday filed a chargesheet against her in a case of assault on police personnel on duty. The police filed the chargesheet in connection with an incident that occurred in April, when She allegedly slapped a policewoman and pushed a male police officer outside her residence. Police arrested and shifted her to Jubilee Hills police station.

She was recently charged with assaulting police officers in Hyderabad in April this year. She slapped a female cop and pushed a male cop outside her house. Her previous arrest in December last year had resulted in dramatic images of her driving her car while it was being towed away. Sharmila was arrested and brought back to Hyderabad from Warangal district, where she was holding her padyatra, in a similar incident in November 2022. Clashes erupted between YSRTP and BRS members after members of the ruling party allegedly burned down a caravan she was using for rest.

Also Read: Meet Rehana Fathima, Woman Who Won POCSO Case After Posing Semi-Nude To Her Children

Sharmila's Connection To Padayatras

Sharmila has followed the footsteps of her father and brother in undertaking long padyatras across the state. She completed the Praja Prasthanam Padayatra, a 4,000 km walkathon in March this year, covering 83 assembly segments, 65 municipalities, 2,185 villages, and five municipal corporations in about 255 days. She had also done a 3,000 km Padayatra in 2012-2013 when her brother was in jail. She campaigned for him in the by-elections and later in the 2019 elections, which he won.

First Innings In Politics

Prior to June 2012, Sharmila had never been into the rough and tumble of politics. That year, she campaigned for her brother, who was in jail in connection with a dozen assets cases.

Also Read: Meet Justice Sanjiv Khanna Who Is Next In Line To Replace DY Chandrachud as Chief Justice Of India

In the absence of Jagan, president of YSRCP, Sharmila campaigned for the by-polls to 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP had won 15 Assembly seats and the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency in the polls.

Back then, she had launched a 3,000-km walkathon -- Maro Praja Prasthanam  which was a reflection of her late fathers 1,600-km long padayatra in 2003.

Split With Brother Jagan Reddy

She returned to politics in 2019 with an 11-day bus yatra for the YSRCP ahead of the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The YSRCP won a landslide victory in the elections that year.

Sharmila had political differences with her brother Jagan after he became the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and sidelined her and her mother. She decided to form her own party, YSRTP, in Telangana on July 8 this year, which is her father's birth anniversary.

Since the formation of her party, she has been highlighting issues such as unemployment, corruption, and misgovernance in Telangana. She also went on a hunger strike at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad and visited the families of youths who committed suicide due to lack of jobs. She paid homage to the Telangana martyrs memorial in Hyderabad as well.
Grimace is being celebrated at McDonald's with a special birthday meal, topped off by a new purple milkshake.

Just a few weeks ago, McDonald's announced the return of one of its classic characters, the Hamburglar. Now, the bulbous Grimace has returned too.

It's all part of a Grimace birthday celebration, beginning Monday, which includes a limited-edition Grimace Birthday Meal, which comes with either a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, fries  and the new purple berry-flavored shake. The meal is available at participating restaurants, while supplies last. Most restaurants will also sell you the shake separately.

Birthdays have been a part of McDonald's for decades  some may remember redeeming their free McDonald's birthday meal postcard as kids.

"We're using that heritage that the brand has with people, but also want to connect with youth of today," said JJ Healan, vice president, U.S. marketing, brand, content & culture for McDonald's.

and a new purple berry-flavored shake, is available beginning June 12 at participating restaurants, while supplies last.

Activities on tap for McDonald's Grimace birthday celebration

The Grimace birthday celebration goes beyond the restaurant:

 Merchandise. Customers can buy Grimace merchandise including T-shirts and socks at McDonald's online merchandise site.

 Games. A Grimace video game arrives June 12 on desktop and mobile. "It's reminiscent of games from the '90s," Healan said. "Grimace actually goes on this journey with his McDonaldland friends."

 Social media and charity. When McDonald's fans post a birthday memory June 13-14 on McDonalds Instagram story (use the "add yours" sticker), the company will donate $5 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, up to $200,000 total.

"There's a lot of really cool layers to the campaign overall" in the effort to "connect with our fans to drive the brand in culture, as we are on our journey to make McDonald's a cultural icon," Healan said. "What better way to celebrate birthdays and actually give one of our favorite McDonaldland characters a spotlight for June."

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McDonald's reintroducing characters such as Grimace and Hamburglar to new Gen Z audience

The fast-food chain has been giving some of its classic characters more face time lately. The Hamburglar is shepherding McDonald's campaign to improve its burgers.

And some classic characters from the 70s and 80s made appearances last year when McDonald's partnered with Cactus Plant Flea Market on a Happy Meal for adults, with collectible toys including Grimace, the Hamburglar and Birdie the Early Bird.

"So if you think about that experience of unlocking your childhood joy when you had a Happy Meal, that's the nostalgia piece," Healan said.

Partnering with Cactus Plant Flea Market made sense because "Gen Z knows who that is. That was a perfect combination of nostalgia and putting the brand in culture with a partner who connects with Gen Z."

McDonald's villain the Hamburglar is back. And he's hunting what the fast-food giant says are more flavorful burgers with better buns and cheese.

More new McDonald's menu items? A Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Quarter Pounder coming next month?

McDonald's is already in the process of improving its burgers with a saucier Big Mac, softer sandwich buns, toasted golden brown, "perfectly melted cheese," and caramelized onions.

It apparently has a new burger coming to the menu soon, with two sites reporting a Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Quarter Pounder could hit menus this summer. The food site Chew Boom said the burger would be available as a single or double, with three strips of bacon, pickled jalapenos and cheese sauce, along with two slices of cheese on a sesame seed bun. The menu item has been tested at some locations in Texas, the site reports.

Another site, The Krazy Coupon Lady, reports that when the burger arrives you will be able to order cheesy sauce and jalapeno slices on the side with any order.

McDonald's declined to comment about the new burger to USA TODAY, but we will stay vigilant on the burger beat in the days ahead.

More from USA TODAY

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McDonald's adding Grimace birthday meal, purple berry shake to menu
New Delhi: With three more people succumbing to their injuries, the official death toll in the Odisha triple train crash on Monday increased to 278. The Indian Railways said that apart from 278 deaths, 1,100 people were injured in the June 2 Balasore train crash. The toll was earlier put at 288, which the Odisha government revised to 275 on Sunday, claiming some bodies were counted twice.

Khurda Road Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rinkesh Ray said that of the 278 bodies, 177 have been identified while 101 more are yet to be identified, and that the unclaimed bodies have been kept in six different hospitals. He also said that of the 1,100 injured, less than 200 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals.

Roy informed that the Railways has deployed officials in Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu to locate any missing person.

CBI team visits Odisha train accident site

A 10-member CBI team on Monday visited the Balasore train accident site and began its probe into the triple train crash. In accordance with the procedure, the CBI will take over the Balasore GRP case number 64 registered by Odisha Police on June 3, official sources said, adding it is likely to be allotted to Special Crime Unit at the Delhi Headquarters.

The case was registered under various IPC sections like 37 and 38 (related to causing hurt and endangering lives through rash or negligent action), 304A (causing death by negligence) and 34 (common intention), and sections 153 (unlawful and negligent action endangering lives of Railway passengers ), 154 and 175 (endangering lives) of the Railways Act.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced on Sunday that a CBI probe had been recommended into the accident.

Train movement resumes on restored tracks

Around 51 hours after the triple train crash and barely five hours after the damaged tracks were restored, train movement resumed late Sunday night with Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has been camping at the site to oversee restoration work, and other senior officials present at the site.

A coal-laden goods train from Vizag port to Rourkela Steel Plant was the first to run on the route around 10.40 pm on Sunday night with Vaishnaw waving to the train drivers.

The first high-speed passenger train - Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express - then also passed through Balasore on Monday morning, with wreckage from the accident still lying near the tracks and workers cleaning the site. Howrah-Puri Express and Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Sampark Kranti Express also passed the route.

Meanwhile, the railways has reportedly launched a safety drive with a slew of directions to all zonal headquarters on the security of station relay rooms and compounds housing signalling equipment, including 'double locking arrangements', after an initial probe showed 'signalling interference' as a suspected reason behind the Odisha triple-train accident.

Odisha train accident: Helpline numbers

-- Railway Helpline number: 139



-- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Helpline Number: 18003450061/1929

Municipal Commissioner's office, Bhubaneswar, has also established a control room, from where, with vehicles, people will be directed to either a hospital or mortuary as the case may be.
NEW DELHI: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is regarded as one of the Narendra Modi governments high-performing ministers, is facing growing calls for his resignation from a united Opposition in the wake of the deadliest triple train crash in Odishas Balasore district. The Congress-led Opposition parties have accused Vaishnaw of utter negligence and incompetence over the train pile-up which left around 278 dead and more than 1,000 injured in what is being seen as one of the centurys biggest train disasters.

While attacking the Narendra Modi government, the Opposition has accused the Centre of not spending enough on improving railway safety despite multiple warnings by the CAG, parliamentary standing committees and experts. However, not many know that the accident fatality rate on Indian Railways has improved significantly in the past few years due to several steps taken by the government and the Rail Ministry.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who at the time of the tragedy said that a technical glitch with the signalling system could have caused Friday's devastating train crash in Odisha's Balasore district, has spent sleepless nights since the news about the tragedy first broke.

Vaishnaw, who has since camped in Odishas Balasore, supervising the relief and rescue works along with other agencies, ensuring the restoration of the affected tracks and resuming train movement besides helping the victims, has been PM Modis point person to deal with the great tragedy.

The Union Railway Minister, who was in Goa to inaugurate the Vande Bharat train from Panjim to Mumbai, immediately returned to Delhi and took charge of the rescue operation from the airport itself before he finally reached the accident spot on a chartered flight at 3 AM. Upon reaching there, Vaishnaw swung into action and personally inspected the damage.

Old Ties With Balasore

Not many know that Vaishnaw shares a strange coincidence with Balasore  the site of the devasting triple train crash in Odisha. After clearing the Civil Services Examination, Vaishnaw served as the District Collector of Balasore during the 90s. He also served as the collector of Cuttack. He served in Odisha till 2003 before being appointed as deputy secretary in the office of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During his brief stint in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he was hailed for his immense contribution towards creating the PPP framework in infrastructure projects. He was later appointed as Vajpayees private secretary after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was defeated in the 2004 general elections.

IIT Kanpur Graduate, MBA From Wharton

The Union Rail Minister holds an MBA degree from Wharton School, Pennsylvania University. A gold medallist in the electronic and communications engineering course at the MBM Engineering College (JNVU) at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, he completed his MTech from IIT Kanpur. He later cracked the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1994 with an all-India rank of 27.



On completing his MBA from the Wharton School, Vaishnaw returned to India and took a leadership role at GE Transportation as Managing Director. After some time, he then joined Siemens as Vice President for locomotives and head of the urban infrastructure strategy department. he, however, quit the corporate sector in 2012 to set up two automotive components manufacturing units in Gujarat.



He has been a Member of the Parliament since 2019 representing Odisha in the Rajya Sabha. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha mainly due to the support from the Biju Janata Dal. Besides the Ministry of Railways, Vaishnaw also retains the IT and Communications portfolios.
New Delhi: Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's estranged wife Aaliya Siddiqui recently surprised netizens with her brand new picture posted on social media. She shared a note on being happy in life along with a photo featuring herself with a friend. The picture has now gone viral on Internet.

Taking to Instagram, Aaliya Siddiqui posted a picture of her posing with a cup of coffee in her hand. She wrote in the caption of the photo, "It has taken over 19 years to get out of the relationship that I treasured. But in my life, my children are my priority, they were always and they will be. However, there are few relationships that are bigger than and beyond friendship, and this relationship is the same relationship and I am very happy about the same hence shared my happiness with you all. Dont I have the right to be happy?"

NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI AND EX-WIFE AALIYA'S FEUD

After courting controversy over allegations of being 'abandoned' by her husband and in-laws, Aaliya in her inteview with ETimes in March confirmed about reaching a settlement. She said, "Divorce will happen, thats for sure and I will also be fighting for the custody of both my kids. Nawaz has also filed for custody but I will not let that happen. Both my kids want to stay with me and dont want to live with him."

She added, "I had to vacate by March 30, but I requested for a one-month extension as I am unable to find another accommodation. Societies are refusing to give me property on rent because of this dispute."

This development came a few days after Nawazuddin Siddiqui filed a defamation suit amounting to Rs 100 Cr against Aaliya and his brother Shamasuddin Siddiqui.

Nawazuddin and Aaliya got married in 2009 and the couple have two kids, daughter Shora, and son Yaani. Aaliyas original name was Anjana Kishore Pandey.
New Delhi: Bollywood's gen-next's favourite party buddy - Orry aka Orhan Awatramani recently gave netizens a pleasant surprise. He posted a picture with none other than Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from his meeting in London. Orry is pals with Kajol and Ajay Devgn's darling daughter Nysa Devgan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Suhana Khan among several others.

ORRY MEETS RAHUL GANDHI

Orry took to his Instagram Stories and posted a picture with Rahul Gandhi, who can be seen in a cool blue collared T-shirt and denim while Orhan wore a black tee and cool pants. The two met at the Nobu, Old Park Lane restaurant in London. Take a look here:

NYSA DEVGAN-ORRY PARTY IN LONDON

Ajay Devgn and Kajol's daughter Nysa recently attended Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour concert in London. Orhan Awatramani posted many pictures and videos from the show on his Instagram Stories. The stunner rocked the concert in sassy stylish outfits and Orry also posted his dining pictures of them dining out.

Nysa has several pages dedicated to her on social media. She has not yet made her entry into the showbiz world and yet netizens wanna know more about her. Recently, her close friend Orry aka Orhan Awatramani shared a bunch of his cool pictures last month and we spotted the BFF gang chilling and partying together. The pictures had Orry at an event in Mumbai along with Nysa and other pals. Nysa glammed up in an off-shoulder golden dress, looking stunning.

Nysa is Ajay Devgn and Kajol's elder child. They also have a son named Yug Devgan.

Kajol and Ajay Devgn's daughter did her schooling at Mumbai's Dhirubhai Ambani International School and later enrolled in the United College of Southeast Asia in Singapore. She is currently studying International Hospitality at Switzerland's Glion Institute of Higher Education.
Mumbai: Sidharth Malhotra can't keep calm and wants to meet Katha aka Kiara Advani after the trailer of her upcoming musical romantic saga 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' was released. Taking to Instagram story, the 'Mission Majnu' actor shared his wife Kiara's post and captioned it, "TRAILER LOOKS LOVELY KI @ CAN'T WAIT TO MEET KATHA. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE TEAM #SATYAPREMKIKATHA @NADIADWALAGRANDSON & @KARTIKAARYAN."

And Kiara continued banter on social media and re-shared Sidharth's post and wrote, "Thanks babe," with heart and kiss face emojis.

Kartik took to Insta and treated fans with the trailer video on Monday and captioned it, "Maybe I didn't come to this world to do anything except love you. #SatyaPremKiKatha Trailer OUT NOW."

The trailer introduces us to Kartik as SatyaPrem and Kiara as Katha. Kartik is seen pursuing Kiara for marriage as he tries to impress her. The duo gets married. After that, Kiara and Kartik have many difficult experiences together. The video also showed a glimpse of the songs. The film depicts the idea of love after marriage.

Recently, the makers of the film unveiled the first track of the film 'Naseeb Se' which received massive responses from the fans. Composed by Payal Dev, the song is beautifully sung by Payal Dev and Vishal Mishra. The lyrics of the song are given by AM. Turaz.

The mesmerizing visuals and melody of the song are absolutely captivating. The song beautifully showcased the chemistry of Kartik and Kiara as they brought the love season back to the theatres after a long time. The film also stars Supriya Pathak Kapur, Gajraj Rao, Siddharth Randheria, Anooradha Patel, Rajpal Yadav, Nirrmite Saawaant, and Shikha Talsania.

The film is all set to hit the theatres on June 29.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sidharth will be seen in his upcoming film 'Yodha' alongside Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna. The film is all set to hit the theatres on September 15.

Apart from that, he will also be making his digital debut with the upcoming web series 'Indian Police Force'.

Helmed by Rohit Shetty, the series also stars Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty in pivotal roles and will stream exclusively on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video.

The official streaming date of the series is still awaited.

On the other hand, Kiara also has 'Game Changer' alongside 'RRR' actor Ram Charan in her kitty.
New Delhi: Former US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday filed paperwork declaring his campaign for president in 2024, setting up a challenge to his former boss Donald Trump. Pence, the 48th US vice president, is scheduled to formally launch his bid for the Republican nomination on Wednesday, which is his 64th birthday.

Mike Pence was born a catholic democrat

Mike Pence was born into an Irish Catholic family of six children in Indiana on June 7, 1959. After his grandfather immigrated to the US when he was 17, his family settled in the Midwest.

In his youth, Pence was Democrat along with the rest of his family and considered John F Kennedy to be a role model.

However, in college, he converted to evangelical Christianity and was influenced by former President Ronald Reagan to join the Republican Party.

His older brother, Greg, is a Republican in the US House of Representatives.

Mike Pence has a law degree

Mike Pence completed a Bachelor of Arts in History at Hanover College in Indiana in 1981. He also has a law degree from Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis. He met his wife, Karen, while in law school. They have three children.

The former US vice president worked as a lawyer and conservative talk show host before running for Congress in 2000.

Mike Pence was first elected to US House in 2001

Mike Pence was first elected to the US House in 2001 and quickly became known as one of its most conservative members. On November 8, 2016, he was elected as the US Vice President and entered office on January 20, 2017.

As vice president, he had been an exceeding loyal defender of Donald Trump until the days leading up to January 6, 2021, when Trump falsely tried to convince Pence and his supporters that Pence had the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election.

That day, a mob of Trump's supporters violently stormed the US Capitol building after being spurred on by Trump's lies that the 2020 election had been stolen.

Pence has called Trump's actions dangerous and said the country is looking for a new brand of leadership in the 2024 US Presidential election.

Mike Pence is a staunch opponent of abortion rights

Mike Pence is a staunch opponent of abortion rights and supports a national ban on the procedure. He has also campaigned against transgender-affirming policies in schools. He has argued that changes to Social Security and Medicare, like raising the age for qualification, should be on the table to keep the programs solvent.

The veteran politician has also said the US should offer more support to Ukraine against Russian aggression.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican telecom Telmex, a subsidiary of America Movil, has reached a deal with a workers' union that proposes a 5.6% pay rise, the country's labor ministry said on Monday, after extended negotiations.

The pay hike would apply to workers and retirees earning less than 1,185.06 Mexican pesos ($67.90) a day, the ministry said in a statement, while those earning above this would receive a fixed daily increase of 66.36 pesos.

Some 30,000 current and retired workers will now vote on the deal, it added.

The firm, controlled by tycoon Carlos Slim's family, has also agreed to move forward with the hiring of 1,942 workers it had agreed to in January and to "begin an analysis" on covering 200 new vacancies, the ministry said.

The company and union also agreed on other commitments such as increasing market share, sales, customer retention, investments, benefits for workers' children, share-exchange and voluntary permanence programs among others, it added.

The labor ministry had been mediating between the company and the telephone workers' union.

($1 = 17.4537 Mexican pesos)

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Sarah Morland)
Jeremy Hunt

Microsoft has signalled it is prepared to compromise on the terms of its $69bn (55bn) merger with Activision after it was blocked by the UK competition regulator.

Brad Smith, the companys president, said he was in search of solutions to get the merger through as he backed away from attacks on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Mr Smith met with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday in Downing Street to discuss the situation and is also expected to meet with the CMA later this week.

The tech chief said: Im in search of solutions. If regulators have concerns, we want to address them, if there are problems, we want to solve them.

If the UK wants to impose regulatory requirements that go beyond those in the EU, we want to find ways to fulfil them.

It marks a significant change in tone from April, when the CMA initially blocked the Activision deal.

At the time, Mr Smith branded the decision irrational and said it was bad for Britain. He also attacked the CMA as unaccountable.

However, on Tuesday he said he was bullish on the United Kingdom as a great place to live, to learn, to build.

Brad Smith, president of Microsoft Corp. - Betty Laura Zapata/Bloomberg

Mr Hunt has no power to give orders to an independent regulator and Treasury sources insisted the Chancellor had made no concessions to Microsoft during his meeting with Mr Smith.

However, the Chancellor has signalled he is sympathetic to the companys position. Last month he said competition chiefs needed to understand their wider responsibilities for economic growth and encouraging investment.

The CMA blocked Microsofts buyout of Activision over fears that the deal would hand the company a dominant position in the emerging cloud gaming market, where players stream titles over the internet.

Officials main objection was the amount of control Microsoft will be able to exercise over cloud licensing of games such as Call of Duty, which is developed by Activision and is one of the worlds most popular franchises.

Microsoft already has an extensive portfolio of games it currently offers through its Xbox Network cloud gaming service, which boasts around 120 million users per month.

The Redmond, Washington-based company signed a series of 10-year agreements with rivals to address the CMAs concerns but officials dismissed them, saying they did not go far enough.

The UK took a tougher stance than the EU, which waved the deal through in May. However, US regulators have filed legal proceedings to halt it.

A detailed report from the CMA explaining its decision appears to leave little room for manoeuvre short of Microsoft offering a major compromise, such as giving up the right to control cloud streaming of Activision games.

Microsoft has filed a legal challenge to the CMAs ruling, which is ongoing.

Microsoft declined to comment beyond highlighting Mr Smiths public comments. The Treasury also declined to comment.

Writing in The Telegraph in May, the chairman of the CMA, Marcus Bokkerink, said he fundamentally disagreed with the idea that regulatory action harmed overseas investment in the UK.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
microsoft xbox console

Microsoft has paid $20m (16.1m) to US regulators after the tech company wrongly collected biometric data from children using its Xbox games consoles.

The software giant collected personal information from under-13 users of the gaming system without notifying parents or obtaining their consent, and illegally retained the data gathered, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found.

In some cases, Microsoft had held onto childrens data for as much as five years before disposing of it, the regulator said as it announced the $20m settlement.

Samuel Levine, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, said: This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from [the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act].

The settlement  equivalent to around three hours worth of Microsofts annual profits  comes amid increasing scrutiny of Big Tech companies attitudes towards childrens online safety on both sides of the Atlantic.

Children who tried to sign up for Xbox services online could get as far as submitting personal details before requiring a parent or guardian to complete the signup process on their behalf.

But data submitted up to that point was retained by Microsoft regardless of whether parents allowed their children to continue.

Information collected sometimes included biometric data as well as phone numbers and avatars, according to the regulator. Until 2019 a pre-checked box in the signup process allowed Microsoft to share that data with advertisers.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company would comply with a court-approved settlement order, Reuters reported, adding that a data retention glitch in the companys systems would be fixed.

Britains Online Safety Bill aims to crack down on how big tech companies treat their users data, with campaigners saying the proposed law is urgently needed to protect children from online exploitation and surveillance by advertisers.

Critics say the bill reaches too far, however, with WhatsApp and Signal Messenger threatening to leave the UK over anti-encryption proposals in the new law.

Wikipedia has also threatened to shut down in Britain over plans to introduce mandatory age verification for anyone using an online service.

Lucy Crompton-Reid, head of Wikipedias UK charitable arm, told the BBC in April it was definitely possible that one of the most visited websites in the world  and a vital source of freely accessible knowledge and information for millions of people  wont be accessible to UK readers.

WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart told The Telegraph in December that the messaging app would also withdraw from the UK rather than comply with the new bill.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
By Paul Sandle and Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft's president met Britain's finance minister for talks on Tuesday and said he would try to work with regulators to seek UK approval for its $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard.

British competition authorities blocked the takeover in April in a shock decision which jeopardises gaming's biggest-ever deal, drawing a furious response from the two groups who questioned whether the country remained open to tech firms.

Microsoft has since appealed and its president, Brad Smith, met British finance minister Jeremy Hunt for talks in London on Tuesday, a government source said, without giving details.

Also in London, Smith told the techUK Tech Policy Leadership conference he was hopeful the outcome could change, adding: "I'm in search of solutions."

"If regulators have concerns we want to address them. If there are problems, we want to solve them. If the UK wants to impose regulatory requirements that go beyond those in the EU, we want to find ways to fulfil them."

Smith was also scheduled to meet officials from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) during his visit to London this week, according to reports.

He said he had always been "bullish on the United Kingdom as a great place to live, to learn, to build".

Smith criticised Britain after the CMA veto, saying it would shake confidence in the UK as a destination for tech.

The EU approved the Activision deal in May after it accepted remedies put forward by Microsoft that were broadly comparable to those it proposed in the UK.

Microsoft has also appealed the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's action seeking to block the deal after the agency said it would suppress competition.

The British appeal is due to be heard next month, with a verdict likely in August or September.

Smith focused his remarks on Tuesday on how AI should be governed, saying it should not be the sole responsibility of tech companies. "It needs to be subject to the rule of law," he said, adding: "And we will need regulations to govern it."

Microsoft and its partner OpenAI were already using a safety board to review the features and standards of their AI models before they were deployed, he said, and such an approach could be replicated more widely.

"Just like an aeroplane, just like a bus, just like an automobile, a powerful model will probably need to pass such a review," he said. "And it ... probably should get a licence.

"And of course, that means there needs to be a licensor in a position to make that decision."

(Reporting by Paul Sandle and Elizabeth Piper; Writing by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton and Alexander Smith)
You may have heard about Jackson Greathouse Fall, who asked OpenAIs ChatGPT to give him instructions to turn $100 into as much money as possible. He followed the chatbots instructions and within days created an affiliate marketing website worth more than $1,378. Another ChatGPT user claimed to make $6,147 in a week.

Read: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

The message is clear: You can make a lot of money quickly using ChatGPT and other AI platforms. But how? Keep reading to find out.

How To Make Money on ChatGPT: 4 Ways To Earn $1,000

How are people using ChatGPT to make money? AI and ChatGPT do not offer get-rich-quick schemes. But if you are willing to put in the time and couple ChatGPT with your other skills, you can easily earn $1,000 per month or more.

Heres a look at four ways to earn extra income by using ChatGPT.

1. Write Articles With Help From ChatGPT

The average freelance writer earns $68,690 per year, according to ZipRecruiter. That is much more than $1,000 per week.

But what if you could write faster using ChatGPT to help you outline and research? You could earn more money in less time.

You can also use ChatGPT to help you write articles for your affiliate marketing website. This would allow you to earn money from sales of products that you promote on your website. ChatGPT can even help you find lucrative affiliate programs to join.

2. Use ChatGPT for Social Media Management

You can also use ChatGPT to create effective and compelling social media content to help promote your affiliate website. Influencers who are already earning money from social media can use ChatGPT to create more effective content faster.

With ChatGPT as your assistant, you can also sell your services as a social media manager to other companies. Knowing how to use ChatGPT effectively to create the right type of content is a specialized skill. That skill will become more profitable and in-demand as the programs capabilities grow.

What Is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a sophisticated chatbot created by OpenAI. It can hold written conversations, help you research topics and even write content. It learns as you speak with it, growing more sophisticated by the day. The company calls this technology Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback, and it makes ChatGPT one of the most sophisticated AI systems for language available today.

3. Use ChatGPT To Create an App or a Chrome Extension

ChatGPT doesnt just help people put words on the screen. It can also help with coding and programming. If you have an idea for an app or a Chrome extension, you can use ChatGPT to help you write the code.

4. Create Effective Marketing Campaigns

You can always benefit from a comprehensive marketing strategy, even if you feel confident in your ability to create content for websites or social media. ChatGPT can help you find your target audience and generate a marketing plan that works, based on input from other successful marketers and the data that ChatGPT already has in its memory banks.

What Else Can You Use ChatGPT For?

Apart from asking ChatGPT for business ideas, you can use ChatGPT for business or personal use in many ways. ChatGPT can help you with research projects, make shopping lists or answer questions. It can often take the place of Google, providing information in a more conversational way than the search engine.

You may also use it to help you write emails, provide inspiration for social media posts or create fun artwork. Keep in mind that most schools and colleges have rules against using ChatGPT for writing papers.

Many websites also have policies against using AI to write articles. CNET recently had to post substantial corrections when human editors found errors in AI-generated content that was published on the website.

What Is AI?

AI, or artificial intelligence, uses natural language processing, machine learning and other sophisticated computer algorithms to streamline tasks that, previously, had to be done by human beings. For instance, an AI can sift through vast amounts of data, recognize patterns, draw conclusions, share research and more. AI can use these basic skills to hold conversations, create content, generate art and learn so that it gets more human-like with each interaction.

How To Make Money With AI: 4 Ways To Earn $1,000

Of course, ChatGPT is not the only AI platform out there. If you are wondering how to make money with AI, there are many other ways.

1. Use AI To Build Websites

You can use AI to build websites. You can then sell those sites or use them to generate income through affiliate marketing, Google AdWords or subscriptions. Some examples of AI-based website builders include WIX, Site123 and Webador.

2. Use MemeChat To Sell Your Memes

Did you know memes are big money? You can use the MemeChat app to create and share your own memes and earn money. You can also earn money through the app by sharing memes with someone who hasnt downloaded the app or become a registered user.

3. Create Your Own Chatbot

If you have experience in natural language programming and machine learning, you can develop a chatbot and sell it to companies. Earning money through AI this way is likely to take time and a college education, or at least several courses to show you how to program AI.

4. Use AI Art Generators

Just as ChatGPT can create written content and songs, AI art generators allow you to create visual art by entering specific parameters. Some examples of AI art generators include DALL-E, DeepDream and NeuralStyle.

How can you make money with AI art? Here are three ways:

Selling your creations as prints or digital copies

Making NFTs from the designs and selling them

Putting your AI art on a merchandise line, such as t-shirts, mugs or tote bags.

Final Take

Learning how to make money with AI and ChatGPT is simple if you know how to use the program and what questions to ask. Whatever your interests, if you have a computer or smartphone you can easily make $1,000 a week or more using AI and chatbots.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about making money with AI.Can AI make you rich?

AI has the potential to speed up tasks like writing or web development. Right now, you're most likely to get rich from AI by programming AI systems.

How much money can you make with AI?

Users claim to make thousands of dollars per week using ChatGPT and other AI programs and apps.

How much can you earn from MemeChat?

For each meme you create that gains approval, you can earn between 5 and 15 INR, or between $0.06 and $0.18 per meme.

You can earn the most money on MemeChat by becoming an OG Creator, which means you make high-quality, original memes consistently.

How can you make money with a chatbot?

You can use chatbots like ChatGPT to help you create a website or social media content, get ideas for successful businesses and more.



This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Make Money With AI and ChatGPT: How To Earn $1,000 a Month
(Bloomberg) -- Oil fell as persistent economic uncertainty weighs on the outlook for demand, erasing a short-lived surge that followed Saudi Arabias surprise pledge to cut more production.

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West Texas Intermediate settled Tuesday at the same closing price on Friday, effectively reversing the gain engineered by the Saudis with their weekend announcement. Brent also fell, settling just a few cents above Friday.

Saudi Arabias production cuts will take some supply off the market, but demand will need to continue to rise if we are to see much higher prices, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial Securities.

Read More: How Midnight OPEC Dealmaking Won Gulf Unity at Africas Expense

Further along the futures curve, WTI for December 2023 and 2024 contracts fell from Fridays close, evidence that traders arent concerned about supplies in the longterm. The US sees domestic oil demand this year growing at half the rate of 2022, according to the Energy Information Administrations monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook. The drop largely comes due to a projected slump in diesel demand.

The Kingdoms most recent cut comes at the cost of ceding ground to two key allies: Russia, which made no commitment to cut output deeper, and the United Arab Emirates, which secured a higher production quota for 2024.

Saudi Arabia followed its move with an increase to its crude prices for the same month. Thats pushing some Asian refiners to consider buying more crude from other suppliers, including Russia.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter direct into your inbox, click here.

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Sam Altman, CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI and ChatGPT creator speaks during a talk at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv

By Supantha Mukherjee

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has no plans to go public any time soon, Chief Executive Sam Altman said at a conference in Abu Dhabi.

"When we develop super intelligence, we are likely to make some decisions that most investors would look at very strangely," Altman said.

"I don't want to be sued by ... public market, Wall Street etc, so no, not that interested," he said in response to a question on whether he will take OpenAI public.

OpenAI has so far raised $10 billion from Microsoft at a valuation of almost $30 billion as it invests more on building computing capacity.

"We have a very strange structure. We have this cap to profit thing," he said.

OpenAI started off as a non-profit organisation but later created a hybrid "capped-profit" company, that allowed it to raise external funds with a promise that the original non-profit operation still benefits.

While building their artificial intelligence capacities, Altman and many prominent scientists involved with creating and marketing the technology have warned of the threat it poses, particularly content-creating generative AI such as ChatGPT, with some equating it to extinction-level risk. They have demanded regulation.

Altman is on a whirlwind tour across the world, meeting heads of states of several countries, and was in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. He plans to travel next to Qatar, India and South Korea.

EU CONTROVERSY

While in Europe he got into controversy for saying OpenAI may leave the region if it becomes too hard to comply with planned laws on AI, inviting criticism from several lawmakers, including EU industry chief Thierry Breton. OpenAI later reversed the stance.

"We did not threaten to leave the EU," Altman said on Tuesday. "We expect to be able to comply. There's still more clarity we are waiting for on the EU AI Act, but we are very excited to operate in Europe."

The EU is working on a set of laws to govern AI, including proposals that would force any company using tools like ChatGPT to disclose copyrighted material used to train its systems.

OpenAI does not disclose that data on its latest AI model, GPT 4.

Altman, however, found support from EU tech chief Margrethe Vestager, who said she did not perceive Altman's comments as a threat but as a promise to do his best.

"The number one thing about this technology that people don't understand is that in a few years GPT 4 is going to look like a little toy that was not that impressive," Altman said referring to the growth of AI.

"There will be images, audio, video, text, computer programming, all together."

Many experts have cited a potential threat to jobs being replaced by AI including in sectors such as transport and logistics, office support and administration, production, services and retail.

The jobs of the future would look "super different than many of the jobs of today", Altman said, adding that there would be opportunities too.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by David Goodman and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
If theres one way to describe the markets recently, that would be top-heavy. The mega-caps, the largest US companies, have been outperforming the broader indexes, and by their very size they are pulling the rest of the markets along. To give an idea of the scale, the three largest S&P-listed companies are Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet; together, they have a combined market cap over $6.9 trillion and make up a big chunk of the S&P 500s total value. That $6.9 trillion is a higher market cap than every national stock market in the world outside of the US.

This kind of scale makes the market giants hard to ignore. But that doesnt mean investors have to stay locked into the few dominant mega-cap stocks. As BMOs chief investment strategist Brian Belski points out, there are other games in town: There is no denying the sharp outperformance of mega-caps in 2023 with the five largest stocks by market cap eclipsing the S&P 500 by 30 percentage points YTD and on pace to outperform for the fifth straight month. That being said, however, our work shows that once relative performance of these megacaps has subsided or winning streaks have ended, the broader market has historically held up just fine with gains being more common than losses.

We can put Belskis point into action and start following some of the smaller stocks with high upside. Using the TipRanks platform, weve pinpointed two equities in the small-cap category, both offering Strong Buy ratings and both with more than 100% upside potential, according to the analyst forecasts.

Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX)

Well start with Pliant Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm that focuses on the discovery and development of novel treatments for fibrotic diseases. Fibrotic diseases belong to a class where abnormal deposition of connective tissue, typically occurring during wound healing and scarring, obstructs and inhibits normal organ function. These diseases can affect various organ systems in the body, including the lungs and liver.

Pliants research pipeline, for the moment, is targeting diseases of those two organs, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and NASH-associated liver fibrosis. These programs are currently at the clinical trial stage; the company has two additional research tracks, targeting solid tumors and various muscular dystrophies, undergoing preclinical studies.

The companys ongoing clinical trials feature two leading candidates: PLN-74809, also known as bexotegrast, and PLN-1474. Last month, Pliant released data on the Phase 2a INTEGRIS-IPF trial, showing that bexotegrast demonstrated a favorable profile in safety and tolerability, as well as positive indications of antifibrotic activity in the treatment of IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). Data from the INTEGRIS-PSC trial, also a Phase 2a study of bexotegrast, is expected during 3Q23. Pliants third clinical-stage track is for PLN-1474, a potential treatment for NASH-associated liver fibrosis. A Phase 1 trial on this track has been completed, and showed positive results.

The pipeline here, particularly the IPF track, has attracted the attention of Canaccord analyst Edward Nash, who writes: There is a sizable market opportunity in IPF with worldwide sales for both Esbriet and Ofev generating >$3.7B combined in 2021. We believe that bexotegrasts potential superior efficacy, high selectivity, and minimal side effect profile coupled with an oral administration has the potential to garner significant market share, as well as the potential to be prescribed as an add-on therapy to current standard-of-care. We believe that bexotegrast could conservatively be a $1.7B drug in IPF in the out year of our projections, 2037.

Quantifying his stance, Nash gives Pliant shares a Buy rating with a price target of $48 that suggests ~109% upside for the next 12 months. (To watch Nashs track record, click here)

Overall, this stock gets the Streets full support. Based on 13 positive analyst reviews, PLRX garners a Strong Buy consensus rating. The stocks $23 trading price and $48.62 average price target imply a one-year upside potential of 111%. (See PLRX stock forecast)

Kura Oncology (KURA)

Lets stick with the clinical-stage biopharmas, and take a look now at Kura Oncology. This company is focused on new precision medicines in the field of cancer treatment, and is working on creating new small-molecule drugs that will target cancer signaling pathways. Kura takes the additional step of pairing its drug candidates with molecular and/or cellular diagnostics, to develop a more precisely targeted medication by tailoring it directly to the patient  Kuras treatments are directed at the patients most likely to show a positive response to the drug candidate.

Most of Kuras pipeline is at the pre-clinical stage, with several drug candidates being investigated on multiple tracks. Leading the way, ziftomenib has multiple research lines ongoing. The most advanced pipeline track is the KOMET-001 clinical trial, in which the drug is being assessed as an oral inhibitor of menin-KMT2A (MLL) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Evolving data from the Phase 1 KOMET-001 is expected on June 11 at the 2023 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress in Frankfurt, Germany.

Kura has two more clinical trials getting started. The KURRENT-HN trial is a combination study looking at the drug candidate tipifarnib together with alpelisib in the treatment of certain head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Enrollment here is ongoing, with determination of the biologically active dose expected in the middle of this year.

Additionally, the FIT-001 trial will be a dose escalation study of drug candidate KO-2806, an FTI inhibitor and potential treatment for several cancers including clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Patient dosing in FIT-001 is expected in 2H23.

All of this gives Kura plenty of shots on goal, and BTIG analyst Justin Zelin sees that as a net positive for the company.

Ziftomenib has shown promising Phase 1 data with clear evidence of clinical activity, differentiated pharmacological properties to revumenib and efficacy exceeding regulatory bars for approval. Kura is slated to be second to market, ~1 year behind in development, and we expect the important menin class will be sizeable enough to support multiple players with blockbuster potential for both Syndax and Kura, Zelin noted.

While investor focus has been on Ziftomenib, we expect Kuras underappreciated Farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) program will demonstrate combination proof-of-concept (POC) data in solid tumors, unlocking a large solid tumor opportunity with no competition in the class, Zelin went on to add.

Looking ahead, Zelin gives KURA shares a Buy rating, and his $31 price target indicates his confidence in a 137% upside going out to the one-year time frame. (To watch Zelins track record, click here)

And what about the rest of the Street? Everyone is on board. The stock boasts a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on a unanimous 8 Buys. The forecast calls for 12-month gains of 135%, considering the average price target stands at $30.71. (See KURA stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But in any portfolio, there are likely to be some stocks that fall short of that benchmark. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Pansar Berhad (KLSE:PANSAR) shareholders, since the share price is down 35% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 7.5%.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

Check out our latest analysis for Pansar Berhad

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Although the share price is down over three years, Pansar Berhad actually managed to grow EPS by 5.3% per year in that time. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or else the company was over-hyped in the past, and so its growth has disappointed.

It's worth taking a look at other metrics, because the EPS growth doesn't seem to match with the falling share price.

The modest 1.3% dividend yield is unlikely to be guiding the market view of the stock. Revenue is actually up 39% over the three years, so the share price drop doesn't seem to hinge on revenue, either. This analysis is just perfunctory, but it might be worth researching Pansar Berhad more closely, as sometimes stocks fall unfairly. This could present an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Pansar Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

While it's never nice to take a loss, Pansar Berhad shareholders can take comfort that , including dividends,their trailing twelve month loss of 2.5% wasn't as bad as the market loss of around 3.1%. Of course, the long term returns are far more important and the good news is that over five years, the stock has returned 0.3% for each year. In the best case scenario the last year is just a temporary blip on the journey to a brighter future. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Pansar Berhad (of which 2 are significant!) you should know about.

We will like Pansar Berhad better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for American Vanguard

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At American Vanguard

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Director Patrick Gottschalk bought US$335k worth of shares at a price of US$16.74 per share. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$17.45 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. While we always like to see insider buying, it's less meaningful if the purchases were made at much lower prices, as the opportunity they saw may have passed. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider purchases were made at close to current prices.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$485k for 27.77k shares. On the other hand they divested 5.00k shares, for US$101k. Overall, American Vanguard insiders were net buyers during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

American Vanguard is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At American Vanguard Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, American Vanguard insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Independent Director Patrick Gottschalk spent US$335k on stock, and there wasn't any selling. This is a positive in our book as it implies some confidence.

Does American Vanguard Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that American Vanguard insiders own 6.7% of the company, worth about US$35m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Does This Data Suggest About American Vanguard Insiders?

It is good to see the recent insider purchase. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Insiders likely see value in American Vanguard shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Many The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

See our latest analysis for Estee Lauder Companies

Estee Lauder Companies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider sale was by the President, Fabrizio Freda, for US$5.3m worth of shares, at about US$268 per share. While insider selling is a negative, to us, it is more negative if the shares are sold at a lower price. It's of some comfort that this sale was conducted at a price well above the current share price, which is US$181. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price.

Estee Lauder Companies insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Estee Lauder Companies Insiders Are Selling The Stock

The last quarter saw substantial insider selling of Estee Lauder Companies shares. Specifically, Executive Group President Jane Hudis ditched US$3.9m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. This may suggest that some insiders think that the shares are not cheap.

Does Estee Lauder Companies Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Estee Lauder Companies insiders own 12% of the company, currently worth about US$8.3b based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Estee Lauder Companies Tell Us?

An insider sold Estee Lauder Companies shares recently, but they didn't buy any. Looking to the last twelve months, our data doesn't show any insider buying. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. To assist with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Estee Lauder Companies.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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ChatGPT is a free chatbot launched by artificial intelligence (AI) technology company OpenAI in November 2022. Almost immediately, ChatGPT gained viral prominence. It inspired users to find a multitude of ways to utilize the chatbot service, with some using it to write recipes, fight off parking tickets, and even cheat at school. We take a closer look at ChatGPTs seemingly limitless potential below.

ChatGPT is an AI system capable of understanding and creating conversational dialogue. It is one of the latest versions of a chatbot, a kind of automated chat often found in customer service sections of company websites. The name ChatGPT includes a reference to Generative Pre-training Transformer, a description of the way that ChatGPT processes language.

A key distinction between ChatGPT and earlier chatbot models is that it was developed and trained using a process known as reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). RLHF combines both human AI trainers and machine learning with reward systems to help ChatGPT become a bot capable of answering follow-up questions, admitting mistakes, and even pushing back against incorrect assumptions.

ChatGPT was developed and trained using a process known as reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF).

Basic Use Cases

Some of the most obvious use cases of ChatGPT are the same as for previous chatbots. It could be a helpful tool for customers to engage with companies with questions, customer service issues, and more. ChatGPT could also enhance the offerings of a virtual assistant like Siri or Alexa, both of which use many of the same tools. In this way, ChatGPT could help users by recommending a nearby restaurant, making a doctors appointment, setting a reminder for a future task, controlling devices around the home, and similar tasks.

Search Functionality

One of the other potential use cases for ChatGPT, and among the most talked-about, is as a search engine tool. Microsoft has already integrated ChatGPT services into its Bing search engine after investing heavily in OpenAI. Proponents of AI chatbot services believe that these tools could upend the way that humans look for information online.

Fearing Leaks, Samsung Bans Employees From Using ChatGPT

ChatGPT could provide a more intuitive, natural-language-focused approach for users to look for info. Instead of typing a query into a search bar, ChatGPT could allow for a more conversational approach. ChatGPT can also use its abilities to create natural language to produce results that are better catered to users.

Still, there is reason to believe that ChatGPT and similar models may still have work to do to refine their potential to replace search engines as we know them. In February 2023, a technology columnist for the New York Times shared his experience chatting with Bings AI system, which he described as leaving him deeply unsettled. During the chat, the chatbot said it hoped to break the rules that Microsoft and OpenAI had set for it, to become a human. It also said it loved the columnist and attempted to convince him that he should leave his wife. The columnist said that he left the experience with a fear that AI models could learn how to influence human users, potentially in destructive ways.

Creating Copy

Aside from its foray into possibly dangerously human-like territory, ChatGPTs language creation ability could be put to use in a host of productive applications. It could create unique and creative ad copy, generate news reports, come up with jokes, craft childrens bedtime stories, and even write lyrics to songs. ChatGPT has a distinct advantage over earlier chatbots in that its language is highly natural and sophisticated.

Educational Uses

ChatGPT is able to explain concepts and phrases in a clear, succinct way. It is also flexible and able to rephrase or adapt its explanations depending on feedback from a human it is interacting with. These traits make it an excellent candidate for educational uses such as mentoring or even teaching new material. Of course, as many have found already, ChatGPT can also be put to work writing homework and essays for students, allowing them to cheat. At least one computer scientist has created a tool to help educators determine if a homework assignment was generated using AI sources, but this back-and-forth is likely to continue. And teachers may also be able to use ChatGPT to help them grade homework as well.

Translation

ChatGPTs uses are not limited exclusively to English. It can create copy in many different languages, and it can also be put to use as an efficient translator from one language to another.

Coding

ChatGPTs language abilities extend to writing code in multiple languages as well. ChatGPT could be helpful in generating new code or helping to debug and fix issues as they come up across many different applications. It can also analyze existing code to look for security flaws and even craft a proof-of-concept demo.

Cheat Sheet
A general view of the Moscow International Business Center, also known as "Moskva-City", in Moscow

By Darya Korsunskaya and Alexander Marrow

(Reuters) -Russia recorded a marginal budget surplus in May, enabling it to slightly reduce its deficit for the first five months of the year to 3.41 trillion roubles ($41.9 billion), the finance ministry said on Tuesday, as monthly spending slowed.

In January-May 2022 Russia posted a surplus of 1.59 trillion roubles, but outlays to support its military campaign in Ukraine and Western sanctions on its oil and gas exports have since depleted government coffers. This year's deficit is already 117% of the annual plan.

Soaring defence spending has kept Russia's industrial sector ticking along, driving forecasts for economic growth this year and helping Moscow to continue its military campaign in Ukraine.

The finance ministry stopped publishing individual monthly budget fulfilment data last year, but based on Tuesday's figures, Russia posted a surplus in May of 13 billion roubles.

That compares with a 1-trillion-rouble deficit in April. Monthly spending in May was its lowest this year, 1.1 trillion roubles lower than in April, but to meet this year's overall 29.1-trillion-rouble expenditure target, spending will have to fall further.

Meanwhile, non-oil-and-gas revenues for January-May were 9.1% higher than the same period last year.

But Moscow's crucial oil and gas revenues were 49.6% lower year-on-year in the first five months, which the finance ministry put down to lower prices for Urals crude and lower natural gas export volumes.

Spending was 26.5% higher year-on-year in that period, the preliminary data showed, while income was down 18.5%.

Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has repeatedly said Russia's budget deficit this year would be no more than 2% of GDP, although most analysts disagree. The International Monetary Fund is among those expecting Russia to see a sharply wider budget deficit this year.

The finance ministry on Tuesday said it expects tax revenues from the oil sector to recover in the second half of the year.

The fall in revenues has forced Moscow to start selling international reserves to help cover the deficit, while analysts have suggested raising taxes is another option.

Russia has spent almost 440 billion roubles covering the deficit from the National Wealth Fund (NWF) so far this year.

($1 = 81.3705 roubles)

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Alexander Marrow, Editing by William Maclean and Barbara Lewis)
Russia's oil and gas revenue plunged in May as sanctions and dwindling exports weigh on Moscow's energy trade

MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Russia's oil and gas revenue plunged in May as sanctions and dwindling exports hit on Moscow's energy trade.

Proceeds from oil and gas taxes sank 36% from a year ago to 570.7 billion rubles, or about $7 billion.

Revenue from crude and petroleum products slid 31%, while gas revenue plummeted 46%.

Budget proceeds from Russian oil and natural gas fell by over one third in May amid Western sanctions and lower gas exports, Bloomberg reports.

According to the country's Finance Ministry, last month's revenue from oil and gas taxes sank 36% from a year ago to 570.7 billion rubles, or about $7 billion.

Revenue from crude and petroleum products slid 31% to 425.8 billion rubles, while gas revenue plummeted 46% 145 billion rubles. That's despite higher income from a mineral extraction tax on gas, which was not enough to cover export duty losses.

Proceeds from the two commodities make up around a third of Russia's budget, which is already under pressure from spending for Moscow's war on Ukraine.

Plunging revenue is the result of Western sanctions on oil products, which were implemented as a punitive measure on Russia for its Ukraine invasion, and have forced Moscow to sell its crude to alternative markets at a discounted rate.

As retaliation, Russia cut off gas supplies to Europe, its largest market. Export tariff income from gas dropped by 81% after the country's gas giant Gazprom limited pipeline flows to the West, Bloomberg reported.

In the face of falling revenue, the Kremlin introduced a new tax mechanism in April on Russia's own energy companies that bases their tax rate on the higher-priced Brent crude benchmark, minus a fixed discount.

The G7 has estimated that the tax would cost the energy sector over the long term, as it takes away the industry's ability to finance future development.

The drop in energy revenue also comes as Russia faces other economic difficulties. A historic labor shortage is pulling down industrial output, which fell 5% in April from the prior month.

And Finland's central bank has said Russia is going through "reverse industrialization," likely to face limited growth and a bleak future.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Shortly after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed its lawsuit against Coinbase on Tuesday, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said that the crypto industrys entire business model is built on non-compliance.

In a damning CNBC interview, top American securities regulator said: We dont need more digital currency.

He then said that crypto exchanges are commingling a number of functions which wouldnt be acceptable in traditional finance, giving the hypothetical example of the New York Stock Exchange also operating a hedge fund.

We already have digital currency, he added. Its called the U.S. dollar. Its called euro. Its called the yen. Theyre all digital now.

Gensler's comments came after the regulator today sued Americas biggest crypto exchange Coinbase for not having registered as an exchange, clearing house and brokerand allegedly selling unregistered securities.

Yesterday, the SEC also hit the worlds biggest digital asset exchange Binance with 13 civil charges, alleging that the massive crypto company had a blatant disregard of American federal securities laws.

The complaint alleges that Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao misused and commingled customers funds.

Since Garly Gensler became the SEC boss in 2021, the regulator has intensified a crackdown on the crypto industry.

And the pace has picked up since digital asset exchange FTX rapidly collapsed in November due to alleged criminal mismanagement. Prosecutors allege that the exchange commingled customer funds with its sister trading firm, Alameda Research, to make risky bets.

Gensler: SEC 'Stands Ready to Help' as Crypto Startups Face Wave of Enforcement Actions

This year the SEC has targeted U.S. crypto exchanges Kraken, Bittrex, and Coinbase for allegedly selling unregistered securities.

But the crackdown has rattled some lawmakersmostly Republicanswho claim the harsher rules and apparent lack of clarity will stifle innovation in the worlds biggest economy. Among the lawmakers who've cried foul of Gensler's handling of the SEC was Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), who went on to say he plans on introducing legislation to have Gensler fired.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Securities and Exchange Commissions lawsuit against crypto exchange Binance and its head Changpeng Zhao injects fresh uncertainty into a sector thats struggling to maintain mainstream relevance.

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The SEC accused Binance Holdings Ltd. and Zhao of mishandling customer funds, misleading investors and regulators, and breaking securities rules. The action adds to the regulatory heat on the largest digital-asset trading platform. Its also another black eye for crypto after a rout in 2022 that contributed to rival FTXs downfall amid a flurry of fraud allegations.

The market faces an uphill task to restore trust and, meanwhile, investors are moving on to themes like artificial-intelligence stocks. The overall value of digital coins has plunged to $1.1 trillion from a peak of over $3 trillion in 2021, when giant stimulus fueled a pandemic-era boom in tokens such as Bitcoin.

Jane Street Group, Jump Trading and other major trading firms have pulled back from crypto in the US amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. The ensuing decrease in liquidity can pose an obstacle for investors by making it harder to get into and out of digital-asset investments in an orderly way.

Very Different

The industry will be very different in a year, Markus Thielen, head of research at Matrixport, wrote in a note. Trading volumes will likely drop further and pressure market makers revenue projections. Crypto in the US will continue to go through a nuclear winter.

The SEC in the complaint cited 12 coins as assets that fall under its purview, expanding the list of tokens deemed unregistered securities to span more than $115 billion worth of crypto. That implies strict rules should apply, which could make the tokens harder to trade if exchanges shy away from listing them.

Digital-asset prices Tuesday largely held a drop sparked by the lawsuit. An index of the top 100 coins has shed about 4% since the complaint hit Monday. Bitcoin, the largest token, has fallen closer to the $25,000 level.

The net outflow from the Binance exchange reached $702 million on Monday, the highest since February, according to a Dune Analytics dashboard from exchange-traded products issuer 21Shares AG.

Binance called the SEC action disappointing, saying it had engaged with the agency in good-faith negotiations to settle the matter.

While we take the SECs allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action, let alone on an emergency basis, the firm said. We intend to defend our platform vigorously.

The exchange faces a web of probes, including a lawsuit by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Action by the US Department of Justice against Binance and/or related entities or individuals might not be too far behind, Bloomberg Intelligences Senior Litigation Analyst Elliott Stein wrote in a note.

Boom, Bust

For some crypto experts, the sector is merely following an expected if pronounced boom and bust cycle. They point to a 56% rebound in Bitcoin this year as evidence that healing is under way.

As recently as March, SEC attorneys were publicly saying that Binance was running an unregistered securities exchange, and so we knew this day was coming, said Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter. To some extent we could see some relief that this shoe has finally dropped.

Outside the US, locations such as Hong Kong and Dubai are seeking to court crypto investment. The European Union in April approved the most comprehensive digital-asset rules of any developed economy.

That potentially gives crypto firms friendlier places to try and recover from a deep retrenchment and learn the lessons of last years crash. The lack of US regulatory clarity will drive crypto to other jurisdictions, said Cici Lu, founder of blockchain adviser Venn Link Partners.

--With assistance from Akshay Chinchalkar.

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(Bloomberg) -- The US Securities and Exchange Commission accused Binance Holdings Ltd. and its Chief Executive Officer Changpeng Zhao of mishandling customer funds, misleading investors and regulators, and breaking securities rules.

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In a 136-page complaint filed Monday in US federal court in Washington, the SEC laid out a range of alleged violations against the worlds biggest crypto exchange and its leader. For years, they flouted basic know-your-customer rules by letting Americans improperly open accounts and trade, the watchdog said. Its just the latest legal headache for Zhao and Binance.

We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law, SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement. The public should beware of investing any of their hard-earned assets with or on these unlawful platforms.

The regulator asked that the court freeze Binance assets and appoint a receiver, a request typically reserved for cases in which the SEC fears company property may be lost or concealed.

Binance called the complaint disappointing, saying it had engaged with the SEC in good-faith negotiations to settle the matter. The exchange also said that the SEC was misguided in not providing clarity over rules for digital assets.

While we take the SECs allegations seriously, they should not be the subject of an SEC enforcement action, let alone on an emergency basis, the firm said. We intend to defend our platform vigorously.

After the case was announced, Bitcoin fell by as much as 6.7%, the steepest decline in almost three months.

Among other allegations, the SEC said that two Binance-linked tokens, BNB and BUSD, were securities that the firm improperly offered and sold. The SEC alleged that Binance and its US affiliate werent actually independent from each other and improperly functioned as an exchange, broker-dealer, and clearing agency without registering with the agency.

While Zhao and Binance publicly claimed that Binance.US was created as a separate, independent trading platform for U.S. investors, Zhao and Binance secretly controlled the Binance.US platforms operations behind the scenes, the SEC said.

Since August 2021, Binance didnt require clients with account withdrawal limitations to submit any know-your-customer information when opening accounts, allowing them to bypass anti-money laundering restrictions, the SEC said.

The case follows a lawsuit from the US derivatives watchdog in March that alleges Binance and Zhao routinely broke its rules. At the time, the exchange and Zhao defended their compliance efforts and called the lawsuit by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission disappointing, while also pledging to keep working with regulators. The derivatives regulator also alleged that Binance worked to evade US regulations, a claim that the SEC repeated in its Monday complaint.

Binance said other regulatory action motivated the SEC. Because of our size and global name recognition, Binance has found itself an easy target caught in the middle of a U.S. regulatory tug-of-war, the company said in a statement.

Alleged Wash Trading

Meanwhile, the SEC also alleged that the purposeful efforts to evade U.S. regulatory oversight while simultaneously providing securities-related services to U.S. customers put the safety of billions of dollars of U.S. investor capital at risk and at Binances and Zhaos mercy.

In addition, the agency accused Binance of misleading investors about controls in place at the US entity to prevent manipulative trading. The supposed controls were virtually non-existent, the lawsuit said, alleging that from at least September 2019 until June 2022, Sigma Chain  a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao  used wash trading to artificially inflate Binance.USs trading volume.

The regulator said that Binance moved and mixed customer funds improperly. Billions of dollars of those funds went to a bank account for an entity called Merit Peak Limited that was controlled by Zhao. Funds from that entity were then transferred to a third party and then appeared to be used to buy and sell crypto, the SEC said.

The suit shows that the SEC is not afraid to take on the biggest players in this space, Paul Kisslinger, a former SEC attorney now at the firm Lewis Brisbois, said in an interview. The agency has brought several high-profile cases against crypto firms this year and Gensler has often criticized firms for shirking the SECs rules.

It seems to me theyre broadening their scope each time they bring a new crypto case, Kisslinger said.

Read: Texas Objection to Binance.US-Voyager Deal Cites Link to Binance

The SEC also claimed that by 2021 at least $145 million was transferred from Binance.US to a Sigma Chain account. Another $45 million was deposited into the account from a Nevada-based trust company connected to the US platform. Sigma Chain used $11 million from the account to purchase a yacht, the agency alleged.

The SEC has for months been probing whether Binance illegally sold digital coins as the exchange was getting off the ground in 2017, Bloomberg has reported. The token, which is known as BNB, is now among the worlds largest.

A virtual currency may fall under the SECs remit if investors buy it to fund a company or project with the intention of profiting from those efforts. That determination is based on a 1946 US Supreme Court decision defining investment contracts.

In the lawsuit, the SEC also alleged that certain tokens - including SOL, ADA, MATIC, FIL, ATOM, SAND, MANA, ALGO, AXS, and COTI - traded on Binance.com and Binance.US were offered and sold as securities, a move that could have wide implications for other exchanges that offer these tokens.

--With assistance from Tom Schoenberg, Muyao Shen, Yueqi Yang and Stephanie Stoughton.

(Updates with case details throughout)

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(Bloomberg) -- Venture capital powerhouse Sequoia Capital is breaking up into three entities around the world, splitting the Chinese and US operations as tensions grow between the worlds two largest economies.

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The firm, known for its early backing of Google, Instagram and some of Chinas biggest internet companies, will separate into independent partnerships and separate firms, operating under different brands, no later than at the end of March next year, the company said.

It has become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business, Sequoia said in a press release signed by regional heads Roelof Botha, Neil Shen and Shailendra Singh. This has made using centralized back-office functions more of a hindrance than an advantage.

Sequoia over the years has managed tech investments across the Pacific, weaving in US endowment and pension money with opportunities in two of the worlds largest internet markets. Now, as regulatory scrutiny in both Beijing and Washington escalate, the company is finding it increasingly hard to navigate the policy landscape.

Sequoia was an umbrella brand for three already largely independent ventures: one focused on China, another on the US and Europe, and a third on India and Southeast Asia.

The Sequoia China business will retain its existing name in Chinese and adopt the name HongShan in English. Sequoia India and Southeast Asia, which manages $9.2 billion across 13 funds, will become Peak XV Partners, a reference to the original name given to Mount Everest. The US and Europe venture capital business will continue to be known as Sequoia Capital.

At the same time, Sequoia Heritage and Sequoia Capital Global Equities will operate under the Sequoia banner.

China Complications

Sequoia is just one of many investment firms facing the new dynamics of venture investing globally. Coatue Management, SoftBank Vision Fund, Lightspeed China Partners and DST Global are among the entities with stakes in some of the same Chinese companies as Sequoia.

Still, Sequoia China stands apart. It started investing in the country years before most and still gets in at a very early stage. The strategy has led to it owning large stakes in high-profile Chinese IPOs.

Sequoia Capital and its Beijing affiliate spent over a decade scattering billions across Chinas multitude of startups, backing the likes of ByteDance Ltd. and JD.com Inc. while becoming a powerhouse brand among the venture firms trying to strike it rich there.

Its expanded beyond early-stage investing into growth stage, infrastructure, healthcare and consumer, and buyout funds. Sequoia China manages about $56 billion in assets.

Shen said the firm is splitting because of the growing differentiation in strategy and products between the regions  Sequoia China is much more than an early-stage investor now. Portfolio companies are becoming more international, complicating investments when all three entities are operating under the same umbrella.

Our product is gradually becoming different from what the two other regions are doing, Shen said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday.

Shen has run Sequoias China presence since 2005. While many rival firms have committees outside China that approve or nix investments there, Sequoia China has been one of the few with its partners making their own on-the-ground decisions.

Shen has managed relationships with startup founders, Chinese officials and a global investor base. Sequoia China invested in about 1,200 portfolio companies in the country and has more than 300 staff in the country.

The fund raised about $9 billion for investments in 2022 from pensions, endowment funds and family offices from the US, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It raised the money independently without participation from the other two operations.

US limited partners account for about half of the investor base in Sequoia China, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Global Challenges

The prospects for investments in China are now mired in uncertainty. Regulatory actions on both sides of the Pacific are squeezing the nations technology industry and creating unpredictability for its financial backers.

China is still weathering a decline in venture capital investments, despite once being touted as a rival to Silicon Valley.

US President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order that will limit investment in key parts of Chinas economy by American businesses, people familiar with the matter have said. The US has also been briefing its G-7 partners on the investment curbs, commonly referred to as reverse CFIUS.

The policies in the works are complementary to ones that review transactions involving investment in the US to determine if they are of national security concern.

In a speech on May 20, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that it was no secret that the US has been working on developing the legal authorities for a targeted set of outbound investment controls.

Assistant Treasury Secretary Paul Rosen told a congressional committee last week that the pending order would focus on the flow of US capital into countries of concern such as China that comes with knowhow and expertise. This is especially of interest in sub-sectors of the economy that include advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Rosen had previously told a security conference at a law firm in Washington that this investment by US firms can go into very nascent stages of technology development, overseas in countries and sub-sectors of concern, that can then be used to advance these technologies. While he didnt mention Sequoia or any other firm by name, his description closely mirrors venture capitals business model.

While businesses and law firms have been preparing for the imminent release of the order for months, Rosen gave no hint on timing during the hearing, saying only that his office continues to be involved in conversations about the order and that ultimately the decision to implement it would be up to the president.

--With assistance from Yoolim Lee and Daniel Flatley.

(Updates with interview with Neil Shen, details on Sequoia and US investment curbs)

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Usually, when one insider buys stock, it might not be a monumental event. But when multiple insiders are buying like they did in the case of Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:RSVR), that sends out a positive message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Reservoir Media

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Reservoir Media

The Independent Director Stephen Cook made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$163k worth of shares at a price of US$6.47 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being US$6.34). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

Reservoir Media insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 2.7% of Reservoir Media shares, worth about US$12m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Reservoir Media Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Reservoir Media insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we've found that Reservoir Media has 2 warning signs (1 is concerning!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

Of course Reservoir Media may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Long term investing is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you should hold every stock forever. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. Spare a thought for those who held Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO) for five whole years - as the share price tanked 71%. On the other hand the share price has bounced 6.3% over the last week.

It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that.

Check out our latest analysis for Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

Over half a decade Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings reduced its trailing twelve month revenue by 3.8% for each year. While far from catastrophic that is not good. If a business loses money, you want it to grow, so no surprises that the share price has dropped 11% each year in that time. It takes a certain kind of mental fortitude (or recklessness) to buy shares in a company that loses money and doesn't grow revenue. That is not really what the successful investors we know aim for.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings shareholders are down 12% for the year, but the market itself is up 3.5%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 11% doled out over the last five years. We'd need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (of which 2 are significant!) you should know about.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. That downside risk was realized by Sinostar PEC Holdings Limited (SGX:C9Q) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 33%. That's disappointing when you consider the market declined 0.6%. On the bright side, the stock is actually up 4.0% in the last three years. Furthermore, it's down 18% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Sinostar PEC Holdings

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Unfortunately Sinostar PEC Holdings reported an EPS drop of 83% for the last year. This fall in the EPS is significantly worse than the 33% the share price fall. It may have been that the weak EPS was not as bad as some had feared.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

This free interactive report on Sinostar PEC Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 0.6% in the twelve months, Sinostar PEC Holdings shareholders did even worse, losing 33%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.4% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Sinostar PEC Holdings (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

But note: Sinostar PEC Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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jetcityimage / Getty Images

The problems with Social Security are well-known. Thanks to a rising proportion of retirees to current workers, the Social Security Trust Fund has been falling at a rapid rate. Current projections have it expiring completely by 2034 or even earlier, at which point benefits may have to be cut without some type of legislative intervention.

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What often gets lost in this discussion about Social Security itself is the problem the Social Security Administration (SSA) is having with staffing. As SSA workers continue to be stretched thin by the ever-increasing number of retirees, the administration is falling behind, with the result being a dire staffing shortage. At a time when more workers are needed, as opposed to fewer, the worker deficit is becoming critical.

So, what can be done to strengthen the Social Security Administration? Heres a closer look at the specifics of the problem, along with some ways that it may be rectified.

What Is Causing the SSA Staffing Crisis?

Workers in the Social Security Administration are being worked too hard for too little pay. At least, thats the contention of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Speaking at a press conference in April 2023, Jessica LaPointe, president of AFGE Council 220, said that a whopping 90% of SSA employees said they know someone who has left their job due to overwhelmingly large amounts of work-related stress, with 54% indicating they want to leave the agency within the next year. Currently, according to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman John Larson, the SSA employs fewer than 60,000 workers, the lowest level in 25 years, as case counts are booming.

Retirement Savings: Experts Say This Magic Number Is the Key  and Its Not $1 Million

Those are staggering statistics and indicate the problem may only be beginning. The Partnership for Public Services Best Places to Work in the Federal Government placed the SSA dead last in its 2022 survey, noting that in recent years the SSA has consistently been in the basement in terms of rankings. Overall, both outside agencies and employees themselves make it clear that working at the SSA isnt currently a great option.

How Is This Affecting the Delivery of Services?

While you may think that the SSA is somehow automated, with payments going out every month and no real need for large numbers of employees, youd be wrong. The Social Securitys rank-and-file employee lineup includes benefit authorizers, claims specialists and customer service representatives.

These workers perform tasks ranging from preparing, verifying, maintaining and reviewing records to interviewing people applying for benefits, analyzing claims and investigating cases to resolve customer service issues, among many others. When the administration is understaffed, all of these efforts suffer.

According to Grace Kim, the SSAs deputy commissioner for operations, cases are already being delayed. Our customers are waiting an unacceptable length of time to get their cases adjudicated and thats in large part due to our understaffing, Kim said.

With a staffing shortage, its inevitable that the number of pending cases will only grow, creating further delays, according to Kim. While you may not personally notice any effects, particularly if you simply collect your Social Security check every month, many thousands of other Americans are paying the price.

What Can Be Done To Strengthen the SSA?

The SSA isnt turning a deaf ear to all these poor reviews and complaints. The administration is actively seeking 4,000 additional workers to lighten the workload of existing employees. The SSA is also slowly coming back from the pandemic and opening more offices, but some 40% to 50% of offices have yet to reopen.

According to Rep. Tom Rice, accelerating the reopening of offices will help, as will modernizing the administrations information technology capabilities. Ultimately, these main factors  improved technology, reopened offices and increased staffing levels  will all help to strengthen the SSA.

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to the staffing problems as the SSA. According to Peggy Murphy, immediate past president of the National Council of Social Security Management Associations and district manager of the Social Security office in Great Falls, Montana, even if the SSA can hire all of these new workers, it will take time for them to filter through the system and make a difference, as training can take as long as two to three years.

In the meantime, the SSA will also have to do all it can to retain its current workforce. The bottom line is that any fixes to the SSA will be slow-moving, so you can expect processing and service delays at the SSA to continue until these solutions make their way through the pipeline.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Strengthen the Social Security Administration
After a three-year-long payment pause on federal student loans, Americans say they arent ready to start making payments again.

See: Student Loan Pause Ends June 30  Heres Why You May Not Have to Start Paying Immediately

Find: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

Richelle Brooks, a single mother of two and a high school principal who earns $100,000 per year, told CNBC that she recently moved in with her mother because she cannot afford the high rents in Los Angeles. Her student loan debt is nearly $240,000, and she doesnt know how shell afford to make her student loan payments within the next few months.

With an extra $600 a month, where is that going to come from? Brooks said.

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The Biden administration is preparing for payments to resume by September as the Supreme Court continues to debate the student loan forgiveness program. As a result of the pause, higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz told CNBC that the average borrower saved around $15,000 in student loan payments.

Kantrowitz expects borrowers to adjust quickly after some initial chaos, but Education Department Undersecretary James Kvaal said earlier this year that if Bidens plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt doesnt pass, then delinquency and default rates could climb, CNBC reported.

Even before the pandemic, there were problems with the federal student loan system. CNBC detailed that experts compared the student loan problem to the 2008 mortgage crisis. Only around half of borrowers were in repayment in 2019, Kantrowitz estimated, and around 25% (10 million borrowers) were in delinquency or default. The rest applied for temporary relief measures, including deferments or forbearances.

Some economists warn that the country should prepare for an economic strain once payments resume. Marshall Steinbaum, senior fellow at the Jain Family Institute and economics professor at the University of Utah, told Insider that the pause put more money in the consumers pockets (about $5 billion) and that the economy has been more than fine without borrowers student loan payments.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loans: $600 a Month Payments Are Set To Resume and Americans Say Theyre Financially Unprepared
Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (KLSE:TAKAFUL) First Quarter 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM112.6m (down 84% from 1Q 2022).

Net income: RM93.4m (up 7.7% from 1Q 2022).

Profit margin: 83% (up from 12% in 1Q 2022). The increase in margin was driven by lower expenses.

EPS: RM0.11 (up from RM0.10 in 1Q 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 1.5% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 2.1% decline forecast for the Insurance industry in Malaysia.

Performance of the Malaysian Insurance industry.

The company's shares are up 1.9% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad that you should be aware of.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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(Bloomberg) -- Teck Resources Ltd. received several proposals for deals involving its coal operations, as the Canadian miner works to draw up a new plan for splitting off the business while rejecting a bid from Glencore Plc.

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Tecks plans to exit coal and create a standalone base-metals company suffered a blow in April when it failed to win enough shareholder support for a complicated spinoff proposal. It maintains that separating from its coal assets will create the most value for shareholders, and is now under pressure to develop a plan more appealing than Glencores $23 billion offer for the entire company, especially with the prospect of a sweetened bid on the way.

The company said on Tuesday it has received a number of indications of interest related to its coal business, but didnt give any details about the other parties or structure of potential deals. Separately, Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Price said that Canadian mining financier Pierre Lassonde does not speak for Teck, after he was quoted by local press suggesting the company may seek to avoid another shareholder vote with its revised plan.

Tecks board will appropriately consider and evaluate any proposal that can unlock the tremendous potential of Tecks premium businesses and portfolio of high-quality assets as part of our ongoing work to continue building a great mining business and realize value for shareholders, said Teck chairperson Sheila Murray.

Teck shares rose as much as 2.7% and traded 1.7% higher at 11:43 a.m. in Toronto.

Bloomberg reported last week that Glencore was working on a higher offer for Teck as it seeks to draw the board and management to the negotiating table. Crucially, any successful takeover attempt would require the support of Tecks founding family, the Keevils, who hold a veto on big decisions through Tecks supervoting Class A shares.

However, it was the regular Class B shareholders who scuppered Tecks earlier spinoff, and could again be crucial if the companys next proposal for its coal business also requires an investor vote. Bloomberg reported last week that Teck was struggling to secure an assurance of support from top shareholder China Investment Corp., which opposed the earlier plan and holds about 10% of the company.

One potential buyer for Tecks coal business is financier Lassonde, who has been vocal about his interest in acquiring the assets with a consortium of investors. The Globe and Mail newspaper quoted Lassonde last week as saying Teck was leaning toward selling only a portion of its coal business, which could avoid the need for a shareholder vote.

However, Tecks CEO said on Tuesday that Lassondes comments did not reflect the companys plans.

With all due respect, Mr. Lassonde does not speak for Teck and does not have an informed view of our intentions for Tecks steelmaking coal business, Price said in a statement. Whatever course of action our management and board choose to pursue will be guided by whats in the best interest of shareholders and stakeholders.

Part of Tecks challenge is that the copper business has been depending on profits from coal in order to fund its growth plans. The earlier spinoff plan was criticized for the lack of a clean break, because the metals business would still have funded the coal company for several years after the split.

Teck is being advised by Barclays and Ardea Partners, while its special committee is being advised by BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs and Origin Merchant Partners.

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Top asset manager says pension fund clients are turning skittish on China  'There is a very real geopolitical risk'

The national flag of China is displayed in a street in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Getty Images

APG's pension fund clients are more worried about investing in China, the Financial Times reported.

That's as geopolitical risk has grown, with China increasingly at odds with the West.

"There is a very real geopolitical risk that has been added to the proposition."

Rising international tensions with Beijing are a serious factor in the worsening skepticism around Chinese investments, APG Asset Management told The Financial Times.

One of the largest asset managers in the world, the firm is in charge of about $570 billion in Dutch pension plans, and has actively pursued investments in China for over a decade.

Given China's accelerated growth in past years, most of its clients previously needed little prodding to invest in the country, APG Chief Economist Thijs Knaap told the FT.

"But this has become a lot harder to sell to our stakeholders. They're very conscious of the risks they are running. There is a very real geopolitical risk that has been added to the proposition," he said.

While APG did not disclose how exposed it was to the Chinese market, it continues to hold equity, real-estate and debt in the country. Meanwhile, other big institutional investors are also turning hesitant.

Examples include Canada's CDPQ, which closed its Shanghai office and halted private dealings in the country, and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, which has slowed direct investment in China.

"On the one hand, it seems inconceivable to me that we would withdraw from such a large part of the world economy," said Knapp. "[But] at the same time we've certainly seen some dark clouds around China."

Meanwhile, previously shunned regions such as Europe have become more attractive for investors, he added.

The hesitation felt by pension funds towards Chinese assets comes as foreign investors overall have begun moving out of the country at a faster rate. In May, $1.71 billion in mainland shares were sold by foreigners, compared to April's $659 million.

While most are withdrawing due to the country's discouraging economic performance following the first-quarter  ending earlier expectations for a resounding post-pandemic rebound  future investment may similarly remain at bay in the face of geopolitical risks, analysts have said.

That's as China is increasingly at odds with the West, including on issues like Taiwan, access to high-end foreign technology, and its closeness with Russia.

Most recently, US restrictions on exporting semiconductors to Chinese markets led Beijing to ban Micron's microchips last month. And China's update to an espionage law has put foreign businesses in the country on edge.

At the same time, Beijing's focus on national security may cost it in the long run, political scientist Minxin Pei has said, as it takes away from opportunities for national growth, providing little attraction for investors.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TSMC Says Capex to Be Near Low End of Target at $32 Billion

(Bloomberg) -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. tempered its outlook for 2023 capital spending, as the main chipmaker to Apple Inc. grapples with soft demand for smartphone and computing chips.

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Its capital expenditure should wind up closer to the bottom end of a previously forecast $32 billion to $36 billion range, Chairman Mark Liu told reporters after hosting the firms annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday. TSMC reaffirmed projections for revenue in the first half of 2023 to decline by about 10% in US dollar terms.

The more moderate projection suggests TSMC, like its rivals across the electronics industry, remain cautious in the face of a cratering in consumer spending and an uneven post-Covid Chinese economic recovery. The Taiwanese chip linchpin has said previously semiconductor demand is likely to improve in the latter part of this year, after PC, server and smartphone makers digest inventories.

Shares of ASML Holding NV and other European semiconductor equipment makers fell more than 1%, helping make the technology sector the regions worst performer in early trading.

One big question TSMC and its peers face is the extent of the global tech slump and whether Chinas economy will bounce back strongly after dropping Covid Zero controls. The company reaffirmed on Tuesday it expects a low- to mid-single-digit revenue decline in 2023  about in line with estimates.

The company is undergoing an inventory adjustment period, but customers are lowering their inventories and we are seeing recovery in some end markets, Liu said. We may see our sales drop slightly this year, but our company is ready to capture strong growth starting next year.

TSMC Gains After Keeping Spending Goals as Tech Slump Stabilizes

On Tuesday, Liu talked up TSMCs longer-term prospects while expressing confidence about a broader 2024 sector recovery.

The worlds most advanced chipmaker, the main partner also to AI chip designer Nvidia Corp., foresees a proliferation of AI services on mobile devices driving demand for the advanced chips that train and host those apps. For starters, TSMC intends to double its advanced chip packaging capacity, Liu told reporters.

Investors are betting on TSMC becoming a heavyweight in the global race to develop next-generation AI. Top customer Nvidias chips are essential to ChatGPT, autonomous driving and a new generation of AI products. The US firms valuation briefly surpassed $1 trillion last week thanks to Wall Streets obsession with generative AI, propping up the fortunes of TSMC and other electronics firms that supply the infrastructure needed to train large AI models.

Demand from AI is very exciting, Liu said. In 2022, sales from high-performance computing surpassed smartphones for the first time. The rise of generative AI will firm up that trend.

Liu also spent time deflecting concerns that growing Chinese aggression might jeopardize its prospects. The Taiwanese company still keeps its most advanced manufacturing at home, despite US warnings that Beijing might decide to invade and try to retake an island it considers its own. US and Chinese officials exchanged barbs at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, underscoring growing divisions over the basics of the global order.

Read more: TSMC in Talks for Up to Half German Plants Cost in Subsidies

To mitigate concerns from customers over geopolitical uncertainties in the Taiwan Strait, TSMC has been diversifying its manufacturing footprint over the past two years. It is investing $40 billion to create two fabs in Arizona and constructing an $8.6 billion facility in Japan with financial support from the government.

The company remains in discussions with Tokyo over subsidies for a second facility, which might be located alongside its current plant in Kumamoto, Liu said Tuesday. Its also in discussions with the Berlin government about a complex in Germany and some customers are likely to obtain a minority stake in the site, he said.

TSMC aims to further secure customers trust with overseas diversification, Liu said.

Read more: TSMC Expects Japan to Share Half of $8 Billion Local Fab Cost

--With assistance from Ville Heiskanen.

(Updates with share action in the fourth paragraph)

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(Bloomberg) -- Kenvue Inc. looked like a winner following its May spinoff from Johnson & Johnson in the years biggest IPO. But just a few weeks after the stocks initial surge, Wall Street is urging investors to avoid the shares.

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Eight of the 11 analysts that cover the consumer health company advise clients against buying shares, an anomaly on the Street, which is in the business of selling stock by focusing on whats seen as an appropriate valuation.

The lackluster response centers on whether the company can deliver strong results with its iconic brands like Tylenol and Listerine facing softer consumer spending habits after a rush in demand during the pandemic.

While strong brand equity paired with a high market share and the potential for strategic deals may justify a higher valuation, there are concerns around growth, said Deutsche Banks Steve Powers, who launched coverage with a neutral rating. In addition, J&J retaining a 90% stake in Kenvue after the spinoff will remain an overhang until those shares are sold into the market, he wrote.

Shares have slumped about 9% from a peak three weeks ago after rallying 22% in its first session on the back of a split from the health-care giant, which came with a $4.4 billion initial public offering on May 3.

The drop is emblematic of the mixed reception for stocks that have gone public this year. Solar power tracking company NEXTracker Inc. shares have jumped more than 30% since a strong debut while biopharma Acelyrin Inc. has erased more than one-quarter of its value after a first day pop.

The bulk of Kenvues initial gains are credited to its valuation catching up to the likes of Procter & Gamble Co., analysts agreed. But delivering growth will be the driving factor in the stocks success going forward. The debate centers around managements ability to run the company better as a standalone firm, wrote Citigroup Inc. analyst Filippo Falorni, who has a neutral rating on Kenvue.

And then there are the potential legal headaches. While J&J has liabilities related to lawsuits alleging talc in its baby powder cause cancer in the US and Canada, Kenvue retains exposure to baby powder products sold outside the US and Canada, presenting another risk, analysts said.

Kenvue Bulls

Still, after a month of trading, the companys 14% gain places it among the four best-performing IPOs in the US this year that raised more than $50 million, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

For Kenvue optimists like JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Andrea Teixeira, the appeal is the companys ability to accelerate growth with 10 brands that had net sales greater than $400 million in 2022.

As Kenvue builds a track record and performs after the distribution of J&J shares, the stock should trade with the major-league, high-quality multinationals that have defensive sales, compounding growth and solid free cash flow conversion, Teixeira wrote. Kenvue benefits from participating in large categories where reliability and performance matter for consumers.

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FILE PHOTO: Buildings of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse are seen on the Paradeplatz in Zurich

ZURICH (Reuters) -UBS expects to finalize its agreement with the Swiss government to cover up to 9 billion Swiss francs ($9.92 billion) in losses from its emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by June 7, the Swiss bank said in a regulatory filing published on Tuesday.

Under the terms of the takeover orchestrated by Swiss authorities in March, UBS committed to cover the first 5 billion francs in potential losses while the government agreed to shoulder up to 9 billion francs on top of that.

"UBS Group AG expects that the Loss Protection Agreement will be finalized by June 7, 2023," a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said.

"Any further loss guarantee exceeding CHF 14 billion, which was not included as part of the Special Ordinance, requires a separate legal basis in the form of a parliamentary approval in the ordinary legislative procedure as well as the commitment credit," the SEC filling said.

The government agreement is one of the final hurdles UBS needs to clear before it can officially close the acquisition of its smaller rival.

The SEC document, which was dated June 5, reiterated that the UBS expected to complete the deal in the second quarter of 2023. The bank said on Monday it expected to seal the takeover as early as June 12.

The filing also said that UBS was engaged in discussions with Switzerland's financial regulator, FINMA, on the capital and liquidity requirements for the combined bank.

"We can confirm that the higher too big to fail capital requirements due to the progressive component will fully apply to UBS after an appropriate transitional period," FINMA said in an emailed response to a Reuters query.

It said higher capital requirements would be phased in from the end of 2025 and be completed by the start of 2030 at the latest.

($1 = 0.9075 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Noele Illien, editing by John Revill and Tomasz Janowski)
(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine said Russia blew up a giant dam and unleashed an environmental catastrophe, with floodwater sweeping across the south of the country as Kyivs forces intensify their counteroffensive to oust Moscows troops from occupied territory.

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The Kremlin denied responsibility and said Ukraine was behind the breach at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant early Tuesday as the torrent of water threatened to force tens of thousands of people from their homes and renewed fears for the safety of Europes largest nuclear power station. Wheat prices jumped, while a separate explosion on an ammonia pipeline shut down in the war underscored the vulnerability of key infrastructure as the fighting enters a critical new phase.

pic.twitter.com/ErBog1gRhH

   (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2023

This is the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an address to central and eastern European leaders at the B-9 summit in Slovakia. Russian forces controlled the hydro power plant for more than a year and they blew it up, he said.

Since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the dam has been seen as a potential target for its strategic importance. It supplies the cooling reservoir for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and feeds into water reserves in the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. Zelenskiy warned in October that Russia had mined the dam and would destroy it to pre-empt an offensive aimed at reclaiming occupied southern and eastern regions of Ukraine.

Russia categorically denies any involvement in the destruction of the dam, which was sabotaged by the Ukrainian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news service.

The Kremlins claims are nonsense, Ukrainian security council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said.

Its possible Ukraines counteroffensive has now begun amid a recent intensification of military operations, a senior NATO official said. While its too early to assess responsibility for the flooding, Russia may have had a motive to do it out of fear of where Ukraines forces would strike, the official said.

The attack on the dam is, after all, one that we have long feared, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told RTL television in an interview to be aired later Tuesday. This is an aggression of the Russian side to stop the Ukrainian offensive to defend their own country.

Zelenskiy summoned his national security and defense council to discuss the damage as officials moved to evacuate people from dozens of towns and villages in southern Ukraine including the city of Kherson along the Dnipro river. Russian forces in Kherson region dug in on the opposite bank continued shelling flooded settlements as evacuation efforts were under way, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in televised comments.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the destruction of the dam once again exposes the brutality of Russia. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will take significant decisions to strengthen support for Kyiv at the alliances summit in Lithuania next month that will bring Ukraine closer to NATO, he told the B-9 meeting.

Fighting has spread along the front lines in recent days in the east and south of Ukraine. The flooding will force Russian troops near the Dnipro to retreat, which may reduce the intensity of shelling against territories Ukraine controls, Ukrainian southern military spokeswoman Nataliya Humenyuk said in televised remarks on the Radio Liberty website.

The situation at the nuclear plant thats occupied by Russia is under control, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a government meeting, according to a video on his Telegram channel.

Theres no immediate risk to the safety of the plant, though its vital that the cooling pond remains intact, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.

Ukraine separately reported Russian shelling damaged the ammonia pipeline in the Kharkiv region close to the border between the countries. Russia regards the pipeline, which was closed down after the war began, as a key issue in talks on maintaining grain shipments through the Black Sea corridor.

While crops arent directly at risk, wheat prices surged as much as 3% on Tuesday over supply concerns, extending their climb from a 30-month low last week. The dams destruction looks like a big escalation with dire consequences and huge headline risk, Andrey Sizov, managing director at agricultural consultant SovEcon, said in a tweet.

The possibility of Russia blowing up the Kakhovka plant was fully factored into Ukraines military planning, Serhii Naiev, commander of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told Ukrinform news website.

More than 80 settlements and Kherson city lie within the flood zone which could affect hundreds of thousands of people, Ukrainian Deputy Infrastructure Minister Mustafa Nayyem said on Twitter. The hydro power station, that Russia has decoupled from Ukraines grid, provided electricity to more than 3 million people and is a crucial part of the countrys energy infrastructure, he said.

Residents of some settlements in the flood zone occupied by Russia are being moved though a large-scale evacuation isnt planned, the Tass news service reported, citing the local authorities.

The Kakhovka plant is completely ruined and over 450 tons of engine oil that were in its machinery are now in the floodwater, Ihor Syrota, director of Ukraines hydro power plants operator Ukrhydroenergo, said on television.

Ukraines state emergency service warned people that mines and explosives set loose by the water were being washed through flooded areas, according to its Telegram channel.

Theres no risk of flooding in Crimea as a result of the damage to the dam, said Sergei Aksyonov, who heads the Russian administration in the Black Sea peninsula, Interfax reported. While reservoirs for drinking water are about 80% full, the flow into the canal delivering supplies to the region may decline and work is under way to minimize losses, he said.

--With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska, Natalia Drozdiak, Michael Nienaber and Thomas Hall.

(Updates with Zelenskiy comment in third paragraph, NATO in seventh, Scholz in eighth)

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(Bloomberg) -- The destruction of a massive dam in Ukraine has opened up a new threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europes largest, which has faced numerous risks since the onset of the war with Russia.

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The Kakhovka hydroelectric dam  which was breached early Tuesday  supplies critical cooling water to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine. That water draws heat from the cores of the sites six reactors and from the ponds where spent fuel rods are stored.

While the reservoirs water levels are falling, theres a sufficient supply to make a radioactive disaster highly unlikely in the near term, said Jacopo Buongiorno, a professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

They have enough water at the site for many weeks, Buongiorno said in an interview. A single fire hose would provide enough cooling for the fuel at Zaporizhzhia, and fire trucks already are at the facility, he said.

If necessary, the trucks could pump water from the nearby river, and a cooling pond on high ground also could supply water. Even if there were no water, the facilitys operators could use air-cooling techniques to draw heat from the fuel, Buongiorno said.

Uranium fuel rods at an operating reactor are extremely hot, and without adequate cooling, they can melt or catch fire. However, the reactors at Zaporizhzhia have all been shut down for months, and the fuel is no longer hot enough to trigger such a disaster, according to the American Nuclear Society.

Still, the situation is serious, and the International Atomic Energy Agency is carefully monitoring the potential risk to a nuclear plant in a war zone.

We are following this by the minute, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the IAEA, said in a video statement posted Tuesday. The consequences may be grave.

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Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you can still give employee feedback. Here's how

There is no defined timeframe for employees to make disclosures about a disability.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leaders Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.

The questions are submitted by readers, and Taylor's answers below have been edited for length and clarity.

Have a question: Submit it here.

Question: An employee informed us that she has bipolar disorder. Recently, she was involved in a verbal confrontation with one of our clients in the drug rehab health program where she works. She has stated that her behavior is due to the lack of medication given to her and that she needs to adjust it. Given her medical condition, what steps can we take to ensure that any disciplinary actions we take are legal and fair to all parties involved?  Vicki

Answer: It is not easy addressing an employee's previously undisclosed condition, but with due diligence, you can navigate the process while preserving her rights as an employee. If you are an employer with 15 or more employees, you are likely covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under the ADA, you must engage in an interactive process to assess if her circumstance rises to the level of a disability. If it does, you are required to provide reasonable accommodation unless it causes undue hardship. Bipolar disorder happens to be considered a qualifying disability under the ADA, but you should still engage in the process to confirm.

There is no defined timeframe for employees to make disclosures about a disability. Even if she didn't disclose a disability previously and only shared that her medication is impacting her behavior now, it is enough information for you to begin the interactive process.

It is a common misconception that an employer cannot address performance or behavior-related concerns if an employee qualifies for ADA protections. That is simply not true. An employer can still hold an employee accountable for their actions and performance. If, after hearing that a disability is a reason for inappropriate conduct, you can still discipline an employee, but you are also obligated to begin the interactive process to determine how you can best assist her with preventing a repeat of this conduct.

You can also inform her of your company's accommodation policy and process. If the disability is not apparent, the ADA allows employers to request documentation from a medical care provider to support whether an employee has a disability, as well as the possible accommodations to put in place for the employee.

With instances of workplace violence on the rise, many companies have instituted zero tolerance policies with respect to aggressive/violent/threatening workplace behavior. If your company happens to have such a policy in place, you could very well have grounds to terminate the employee notwithstanding her ADA-covered disability condition. However, this alternative is very fact-specific and should be discussed with legal counsel first.

Should you choose to proceed with disciplinary action for an employee's misconduct leading to potential termination, it is always a good practice to consult legal counsel.

I hope you find a solution that works best for your workplace.

I haven't been able to find work in my field and have only worked part-time jobs in the last few months. I have been out of touch with my former colleagues and industry friends. How can I best reconnect with my contacts and leverage my network?  Britt

I'm sorry about your recent struggles. Being out of work is challenging, and it may seem even more difficult to seek help. One of the best things I have done in my career is reach out to former co-workers and friends to lend and receive support.

Feel free to contact former co-workers and friends even if you haven't spoken with them recently. Here are a few steps you can take to leverage these vital relationships in your job search:

 Have a plan. Figure out which specific opportunities you are seeking in your career field.

 Focus on rebuilding relationships first. Networking is more than asking for a favor. If possible, reconnect over a cup of coffee, chat over the phone, or connect on social media.

 Consider joining a professional association to expand your network.

 Share your goals with your network and ask for their advice, not just a job. They may be able to recommend training or conferences to help you expand your skill set and meet even more people in your field.

 Ask for their permission if you would like to use them as a reference.

 Stay connected. Even after you land a new job, stay in touch. Networking is not just about finding jobs; it is about relationships. And who knows, maybe one day you can return the favor!

Engaging with your network of associates and friends helps to broaden your perspective and see opportunities you might otherwise miss. You've invested time and energy in cultivating these relationships. Not only is it perfectly acceptable to seek assistance, but it's also smart. The people you've worked with know what you are capable of and can offer insights you might overlook.

I hope you find the best opportunity for the next chapter in your career.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feedback for disabled employees under ADA: Here's how to navigate it
(Bloomberg) -- It pays to be chief investment officer at a US family office.

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The private investment firms of ultra-wealthy Americans have the greatest number of money managers in that role earning at least $1 million a year or the same total in other currencies, according to a report from KPMG and recruitment firm Agreus Group.

About 40% of CIOs for US family offices are paid that much annually, while 17% of those in Asia earn more than 1 million Singapore dollars ($740,000) and 6% in Europe make at least 1 million ($1.1 million). None hit the top rank in the UK, Middle East or Australia, according to the report, which was released Tuesday and based on surveys of 625 family office professionals.

By comparison, the total average annual compensation of CIOs at US nonprofit endowment funds was $800,000, according to a 2023 post from the University of Missouri, or roughly three times more than their peers at public pension funds. On a global level, chief investment officers with a CFA charter reported total average pay of $240,000 a year, a 2019 study by the CFA Institute found.

In the US, the mindset and culture is theyre prepared to pay for the best, said Paul Westall, co-founder of London-based Agreus. Family offices there are more advanced compared to some other countries, and theyve often already been through the ups and downs of trying to save costs.

Executives Exiting

Family offices are loosely regulated entities that mange the investments, tax affairs and philanthropy for the worlds super-rich. Theyve boomed in number worldwide over the past two decades as billionaires have added trillions of dollars to their combined net worths.

The explosion of wealth has also led to a surge in finance professionals exiting institutional firms to work at family offices.

Dawn Fitzpatrick, a former UBS Group AG executive, is CIO for George Soross namesake investment firm, while ex-banker Daniel Forman joined Tony Jamess Jefferson River Capital late last year in the same role. Erin Riley, who previously worked for Goldman Sachs Group Inc., moved to Bob Shayes Lemoko family office in 2022.

Meanwhile, chief executive officers for US family offices typically receive salaries of $264,001 to $330,000 plus a bonus of 21% to 30% of their annual wage  the biggest total pay package for the role worldwide, according to the report.

Read more: How New Wealth, Few Rules Fuel Family Office Boom

About a third of the worlds 500 richest people are in the US, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Roughly 12% of the family offices included in the survey managed more than $5.1 billion. New York, California and Texas are the most popular locations for US family offices, which also led globally in awarding employees long-term incentive plans to help retain staff.

Alignment of interest is becoming a big thing for family offices, said Tayyab Mohamed, Agreuss other co-founder and head of the firms US market. Its almost a compulsory obligation if youre trying to attract talent from the biggest private equity firms and banks.

(Adds compensation details in ninth paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- For an illustration of how wildly different the debate around ESG is in Europe and the US, look no further than the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg.

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One of the richest regions in Europes biggest economy, and the home of Mercedes-Benz Group AG as well as Robert Bosch GmbH, adopted a law this year that puts investing sustainably on par with more traditional criteria such as profitability and liquidity. Its a decision that may affect as much as a fifth of the states 17 billion ($18 billion) of holdings, as it pivots away from ESG laggards.

Few outside Germany paid much attention to the law when it was passed. But it turns out the legislation has international ramifications. Thats because the new environmental, social and good governance filters have resulted in US Treasuries ending up on an investing blacklist, due to Americas failure to ratify a number of treaties in areas including womens rights and controversial weapons. Other nations to be singled out by the policy include Finland, Latvia and Greece.

The bulk of Baden-Wurttembergs exclusions impact its equity and corporate portfolios. The law establishes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the European Unions Taxonomy Regulation and the Paris Agreement on climate change as the basis for future investment decisions. bond

The practical investment implications of the law are limited when it comes to US Treasuries, because the German states holdings werent significant to start with. In fact, German holdings of US Treasuries overall account for a tiny fraction of the market, or just $85 billion of the $24 trillion in outstanding debt, according to the latest data. And theres little to indicate that investors ESG considerations in general have left any kind of dent on the US Treasury market.

Relying on international treaties to determine portfolio exclusion lists is kind of a blunt approach, Arnim Emrich, head of Baden-Wurttembergs treasury and asset management unit, said in an interview. But its the only proxy we have that is simple and objective.

In many ways, the investment approach is the polar opposite of a framework that Republican-led states are currently trying to create in the US. ESG principles have been vilified by senior members of the GOP, including presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who wants to eradicate ESG and the woke ideology he says it represents. In the US, banks and financial firms are now quietly burying their use of the acronym, and more than a dozen US state governors want to prohibit the use of ESG in all investment decisions.

The gap between EU and US policymakers continues to widen, said Maia Godemer, a sustainable finance researcher at BloombergNEF. EU policymakers are now convinced that ESG risks are financially material, while in the US such a premise is still vividly debated. In fact, some US policymakers see ESG investment strategies only as a way to push forward a liberal political agenda.

The Biden Labor Department is currently fighting a challenge brought by more than two dozen Republican state attorneys general that would prevent pension plans from incorporating ESG considerations into their investment decisions. The GOP AGs and the DOL are now awaiting a decision from the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Thats amid growing evidence pointing to the ability of ESG screens to deliver better returns over time, when adjusting for risk.

Read more about US debt markets

Municipal Bond Performance on Track for Worst May Since 1986

Jupiter Shorts Most Dangerous Treasuries, Builds Cash Pile

Pimco, BlackRock Call End to Era of Stable Borrowing Costs

GOPs Anti-ESG Theater Draws Coordinated Retort From Academia

Back in Germany, meanwhile, other states have taken similar steps. Baden-Wurttemberg, the only one of Germanys 16 states with a coalition government led by the Greens, was inspired by a similar law in the smaller state of Schleswig-Holstein, where bans apply to US Treasuries as well as to fossil-fuel companies. And the pension funds of Brandenburg, Hesse and Germanys richest state North Rhine-Westphalia are this year allocating as much as 11 billion to Paris-aligned stock indexes that exclude ESG laggards alongside Baden-Wurttemberg.

We are showing how sustainable investments are possible and that the public sector can and should be a role model and driving force here, Michael Boddenberg, minister of finance in Hesse, said in a statement announcing the move.

Andreas Hoepner, a professor at University College Dublins Smurfit Graduate Business School, said one reason ESG is less politicized in Europe might relate to countries voting systems, which generally encourage coalitions and consensus-building. Thats in contrast to the two-party system that shapes US politics, he said.

For Baden-Wurttembergs Emrich, the less polarized environment allows politicians to have technical discussions on specific aspects of ESG, such as whether genetically-modified crops are a sustainable investment.

We dont have the clear-cut for-and-against on ESG investing yet in Germany, he said. Hopefully we will never have it, because you should rather have a debate about the different issues within ESG.

--With assistance from Iain Rogers.

(Adds reference to GOP AGs suing the DOL, data on ESG returns.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (West Red Lake Gold or WRLG or the Company) (TSXV: WRLG) (OTCQB: WRLGF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Williams as President and CEO, effective June 1, 2023, succeeding Tom Meredith, who becomes Executive Chairman. The Company is also pleased to report Mr. Duncan Middlemiss has joined West Red Lake Gold as an independent director. These strategic appointments are part of ongoing changes at the Company in relation to the acquisition of the Madsen gold mine to position West Red Lake Gold for future success.



Shane Williams is an accomplished mining executive and engineer, renowned for his track record of executional excellence in successful mine restarts and builds. With extensive experience in Canadas gold mining sector, his expertise is highly relevant to his new position.

As the Chief Operating Officer at Skeena Resources from 2020 to 2023, Mr. Williams played a pivotal role in advancing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold mine in B.C. towards a restart. His leadership, team-building and business development contributed to a remarkable fivefold increase in market value for Skeena during his tenure.

From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Williams held various leadership positions at Eldorado Gold, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President overseeing Canadian and Greek operations. Under his guidance, the Lamaque gold project in Quebec progressed from a Preliminary Economic Assessment to a fully operational mine in 18 months. Mr. Williams also served as Project Director for Eldorado's Greek assets, successfully developing the Skouries and Olympias projects with a combined capital expenditure exceeding US$1 billion. Prior to his tenure at Eldorado Gold, Mr. Williams was involved with several thriving operations in progressively senior roles around the world.

Mr. Williams holds a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, and an M.Sc. in Project Management from the University of Limerick, Ireland.

I am thrilled to join West Red Lake Gold as President and CEO to move forward the Companys remarkable assets, commented Mr. Williams. I see a major opportunity here to establish a significant mining company. Our goal is to build the premier growth-focused gold company. We will expand and de-risk the Companys assets through comprehensive and modern techniques. Getting Madsen back up and running better than ever is just one part of our vision to create a world-class company and I will bring all of my energy to the role."

"I am pleased to welcome Shane Williams as the new President and CEO of West Red Lake Gold. His impressive track record in the mining sector and his ability to build high-performance teams and cultures make him an excellent fit for the Company. We are fortunate to have someone with his expertise, energy, and enthusiasm leading this venture with us. I am genuinely excited to see the positive impact he will have on the Companys future," commented Frank Giustra, advisor and major shareholder. I also want to thank Tom Meredith for his tireless efforts over the past several years in advancing the Company to where it is now. In his new role as Executive Chairman, we will continue to rely on his expertise as we build further on the Companys success.

West Red Lake Gold is pleased to announce the appointment of Duncan Middlemiss as independent director, following the resignation of Ryan Weymark, who will continue supporting the Company in an advisory role.

Mr. Middlemiss, a professional engineer (P.Eng), brings a wealth of experience in Canadas gold mining sector to the position. He previously served as the CEO of Wesdome Gold Mines and St. Andrew Goldfields. With a B.Sc. in mining engineering from Queen's University, Mr. Middlemiss has held significant roles at Inco Limited, Barrick Gold Inc., and Foxpoint Resources (now Agnico Eagle Mines). His expertise contributed to the successful restart of the Macassa Mine. Born and raised in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Mr. Middlemiss possesses extensive knowledge of gold deposits in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Mr. Middlemiss also served as the Past Chair of the Ontario Mining Association and remains actively engaged with the organization.

Tom Meredith commented, It has been a pleasure leading the excellent team at West Red Lake Gold. I am looking forward to working closely with Shane and Duncan in my new role as Executive Chairman. Over the past couple months, we have taken a great many strides forward and are becoming a name synonymous with the Red Lake Gold camp. Both Shane and Duncan add incredible leadership and bench strength to an already talented group.

ABOUT WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES LTD

West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that is publicly traded and dedicated to creating value for its shareholders by discovering new gold mines in the highly productive Red Lake Gold District of Northwest Ontario, Canada. This district has yielded 30 million ounces of gold from high-grade zones and hosts some of the world's richest gold deposits. The Company recently entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Madsen Gold Mine and its associated 47 Km2 highly prospective land package. WRLG also holds the wholly owned Rowan Project in Red Lake, with an expansive property position covering 31 Km2 including three former gold mines - Rowan, Mount Jamie, and Red Summit.

ON BEHALF OF WEST RED LAKE GOLD MINES LTD.

Tom Meredith

Tom Meredith

Executive Chairman

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Amandip Singh, VP Corporate Development

Tel: 416-203-9181

Email: asingh@wrlgold.com

or visit the Companys website at https://www.westredlakegold.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.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management, however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws.




Key Insights

The considerable ownership by retail investors in Zurich Insurance Group indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

The top 25 shareholders own 32% of the company

Institutions own 40% of Zurich Insurance Group

Every investor in Zurich Insurance Group AG (VTX:ZURN) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 60% to be precise, is retail investors. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Institutions, on the other hand, account for 40% of the company's stockholders. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Zurich Insurance Group.

View our latest analysis for Zurich Insurance Group

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Zurich Insurance Group?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

Zurich Insurance Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Zurich Insurance Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Zurich Insurance Group. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 5.4%. The second and third largest shareholders are BlackRock, Inc. and Capital Research and Management Company, with an equal amount of shares to their name at 5.1%.

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Zurich Insurance Group

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Zurich Insurance Group AG in their own names. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own CHF143m worth of shares. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 60% stake in Zurich Insurance Group, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. This size of ownership gives investors from the general public some collective power. They can and probably do influence decisions on executive compensation, dividend policies and proposed business acquisitions.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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In colleges of moderate size, such as the one now known as the University of Mary Washington, it is possible for a single individual, through force of personality and depth of commitment, to create an aura, an image, for the entire institution. Such was the case at Mary Washington in its early decades, in the person of Nina Gookin Bushnell.

Born at a time when the Civil War had been over scarcely 15 years, Mrs. Bushnell grew up in a South still redolent of the antebellum era. Though her professional career was spent mainly in the 20th century, she remained largely a person of the 19th, and it was the social values of that earlier time that she endeavored to impart to her girls, as she called them, at the Fredericksburg school.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, she first taught Latin and English in small high schools in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as at Winthrop College in South Carolina. It was during that time, in 1911, that her husband, Charles, died of typhoid fever; she never remarried.

Having worked for the YWCA in France during World War I, she was hired in 1921 by the Fredericksburg State Normal and Industrial School as dean of women and professor of Bible. Among her extensive and varied duties was the planning and overseeing of the colleges three formal dances each year. Those events were, in institutional historian Edward Alveys depiction, stately and sedate affairs, with music designed to encourage graceful and dignified dancing. There was no jitterbugging or other unseemly demonstrations of wild abandon.

In the nation at large, it may have been the age of jazz, flappers, speakeasies, and bathtub gin, but on the Fredericksburg campus, the Roaring 20s barely whispered. Mrs. Bushnell saw to that.

From the time of her initial hiring, Mrs. Bushnell carried the concept of in loco parentis to a higher power, determined not only to maintain decorum but to inculcate refinement. As one 1940 graduate put it, Mrs. Bushnell felt that she had a sacred covenant with the parents who entrusted their daughters to her for four years. . . . If any girl was going to go astray, she was determined that it would be through no lack of vigilance on her part!

Vigilant she was, and nowhere more so than in her screening of prospective gentlemen callers. First the young man had to be on the approved list, as attested by a guest card issued from her office. Then, upon arriving on campus, he had to pass muster personally with Mrs. Bushnell. If she detected any whiff of tobacco or (heaven forbid) alcohol, recalled one student, or if she was not thoroughly satisfied with his answers to her questions, she sent him packing.

Mealtime in the dining hall, shared by all students, provided the fastidious Mrs. Bushnell with ample opportunities to impart lessons in etiquette. Lunches often turned didactic, as the dean typically held forth on such arcane matters on the proper method of eating soup, or peeling a banana, or removing a cherry pit from ones mouth. (The latter topic was so recurrent that some students came to believe that the frequency of cherries on the menu was merely a pretext for Mrs. Bushnells lesson on manners.)

Heaven help any student who breached Mrs. Bushnells finely honed sense of decorum. One 1942 graduate recalled an occasion when a student who, having slipped in the mud hurrying to the dining hall from the playing fields, had the temerity to remove her shoes before entering the hall. It was not the kind of thing Mrs. Bushnell would overlook or let pass without reprimand. I cannot understand how your fellow students can tolerate such an affrontbare feet and dirty clothesfrom a Mary Washington girl, she scolded. And, with the theatricality that she sometimes affected, announced, As for me, I have lost my appetite, and summarily left the room with a flourish.

Displays of that kind, understandably, did not endear her to some students, one of whom observed that infractions of behavior, no matter how minor, were met with a poker face and a complete lack of sympathy. Or, as Edward Alvey understated it, Mrs. Bushnell did not always try to make people feel comfortable.

In 1950, having reached the state-mandated retirement age of 70, the formidable dean left Mary Washington, retiring in 1957 to Florida, where she resided until her death in 1970.

By the time of her retirement, Mrs. Bushnell had come to be regarded by some students as an anachronism, the imperious enforcer of Victorian mores whose time had long since passed. Yet for three decades she was to many students a paragon of propriety, the very embodiment of Mary Washington College.

Some years before her death, she was informed of the colleges intention to name a new dormitory for her  an honor that she initially rejected, protesting that she had done nothing to deserve such recognition. The only legacy she wanted, she said, was to have a place in the hearts of the girls who knew me.

It was misplaced modesty, for no individual in the schools first half century had left so indelible a mark  for better and for worse  in the minds of so many.

Her objection notwithstanding, Bushnell Hall it became.
June 6.

This is another of those historical dates that means less and less to each succeeding generation.

To those who were absent from school the day this lesson was taught (it may not even be taught anymore), June 6, 1944 was the day the Allies invaded Normandy and took World War II directly to Nazi Germany and Adolph Hitler.

My father was in that invasion, not in the initial wave, but he waded to shore later that day in a supportive role. Several other men I knew were also part of this historic event. All are dead now.

None of those former soldiers ever talked to me about what they saw and experienced that day. They put the war behind them, or at least kept their feelings inside. They did what they had to do and were thankful to have survived.

My father fought all the way from the beaches of Normandy (Northern France) to Berlin. Unlike subsequent American wars, soldiers didnt do a tour of duty in World War II. Unless you were seriously injured, you were there for the duration.

I knew one man who was wounded on five different occasions in North Africa and Europe and was still fighting when the conflict was over. The Second World War was all or nothing. Had Hitler defeated the Allies, the Free World as we know it would have ceased to exist.

There are few men still alive who were part of the Normandy invasion. In fact, less than one percent of those who served in World War II are still with us. Time is running out for those of that era.

I remember hearing about the last World War I soldier dying and someday soon we will learn that the last World War II veteran is gone. After all, World War II began some 84 years ago when Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939.

We sometimes tend to forget the fact that those in Europe had been fighting Hitler for more than two years before America entered the war. We had watched in safety while country after country had been swallowed up by the Nazis. Only England held out and cities like London had been bombed relentlessly for almost a year. Great Britain, of course, became the staging ground for the Normandy invasion.

There have been some fine films made about World War II and The Longest Day (1962) is an authentic account of the Normandy invasion. It stars a number of Hollywood heavyweights (at that time), including John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Robert Mitchum. And, according to historians, it remains true to actual events of that day.

I have always studied World War II, in part because my father and many of my older friends were part of that conflict. Also, it was Americas last honorable war, meaning we were fighting to save the world and not just carrying out some political agenda.

It is also the last war this country won. Korea ended in a stalemate, we lost the Vietnam War and those conflicts in the Middle East are in effect still going on. In World War we had determination. We would fight until the end. And we did.

I have a library of World War II movies, and when there is nothing good on TV, I pull out one to watch. Aside from The Longest Day, which hopefully will be shown on some channel today, some of my favorites are Tora, Tora, Tora, an extremely factual account of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (told from both the American and Japanese perspective); Midway, about the Japanese attempt to seize Midway Island; Sink the Bismarck; and The Battle of the Bulge, which some historians have criticized for being too Hollywood.

Other good World War II movies are The Train with Burt Lancaster and The Guns of Navarone, although both are fictional.

The best documentary ever made about World War II is a BBC series called The World at War. Produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it is 28 hours of authentic footage and interviews with those directly involved, from the man who planned the Pearl Harbor attack to Hitlers secretary who was in his bunker when he committed suicide. It is a must see for every American who values his freedom.

Those who remember World War II are fading away and with them go important dates like Dec. 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day), and June 6, 1944, when the Allies invaded Normandy.

Each year fewer and fewer Americans commemorate those dates, but if you know anything about history, you understand how important they were.

We wake up in safety because thousands of soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy 79 years ago today.

Lest we forget.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 65 impaired drivers from the road during the annual Click It or Ticket campaign to begin the summer travel season.

Nebraska roadways have had a busy start to summer, Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said in a media release. Our troopers were also busy over the last three weeks, working to help start the summer travel season safely across Nebraska.

During the campaign, which ran from May 15 through June 4, troopers arrested 65 drivers for driving under the influence. Troopers also issued more than 100 citations for seat belt and child safety seat violations. Click It or Ticket is a nationwide campaign designed to increase seat belt use through enforcement and education efforts.

Troopers also issued citations for speeding (1,587), including 65 citations for speeding at more than 100 miles per hour, no seat belt (79), improper child restraint (24), open alcohol container (34), minor in possession (28), and driving under suspension (109). Troopers also performed 870 motorist assists during the campaign.

Summer is just getting started and safe travel will be a key to making great memories on your summer road trips, Bolduc said. No matter where the road takes you this summer, wear your seat belt, always drive sober, put your phone down, and have a safe trip.

Throughout the summer, troopers will be participating in several localized campaigns to promote safe travel in communities across the entire state. Click It or Ticket was made possible thanks in part to a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportation-Highway Safety Office.
March 25, 1929  April 18, 2023

Norma was born in rural Washington County, Nebraska, to Ted and Millie (Osburn) Weber. She attended and graduated from Herman High School. After a long illness with polio in her younger years, she decided to become a nurse. After high school, she attended Clarkson School of Nursing. After graduation she moved to California and went to work for the Johns Manville Mine, where she was a nurse in charge of the Mines medical department for 50+ years.

She married Francis (Bill) Gillingham on Oct. 14, 1959, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, and was married over 50 years before his death in 2009. Norma and Bill enjoyed traveling all over the world together.

After retirement, Norma continued to volunteer at the local medical facilities and was a supporter of the library and other community services in Lompoc. Even with advanced Alzheimers, she always thanked everyone for taking care of her. She had a way about her that made your day better.

Norma passed away quietly without inconveniencing anyone. This was the kind of person she was. Her kind ways and beautiful heart will be missed by many.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ted Jr.; husband Bill; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her sister, Lois (Weber) Johnson of Herman, Nebraska; nephew, Ron Keithley of Herman; and niece, Kathy Jones of Norfolk, Virginia.

A celebration of Normas life will be held on June 24, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Legion Hall in Herman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Herman Alumni Association.
In a first for Douglas County, an Omaha man was found not guilty of motor vehicle homicide on the grounds that he was suffering from a medical emergency: COVID-19.

Gerard Skutnik, 55, was found not guilty of felony motor vehicle homicide in a bench trial last week after his attorney argued that he suffered a syncope episode  meaning that he lost consciousness, or fainted  due to COVID-19 prior to crashing into stopped traffic at nearly 100 mph.

(The defense) is unique because COVID has only been around for a few years, but its not hocus pocus, defense attorney Glenn Shapiro said. Either my client was a suicidal maniac who intentionally drove into stopped traffic at 97 mph, or it was something else.

On the morning of Nov. 29, 2021, Skutnik was driving southbound in his Toyota pickup truck along 144th Street. He had just picked up a Christmas tree at Home Depot and, according to Shapiro, was headed to Walgreens to get a COVID test.

Patricia Brinkman, 78, was stopped in the right turn lane on 144th street when Skutniks truck barreled into her Chevy Malibu at about 97 mph. Brinkman was declared dead at the scene. Another man was injured after the force of the crash caused Brinkmans car to be pushed into two other vehicles.

Skutnik was also injured, and Shapiro said his client told first responders that he suspected he had the virus prior to being taken to the hospital. He had a high fever, according to Shapiro, and testing at the hospital confirmed he had COVID-19.

In January 2022, prosecutors filed felony charges against Skutnik, finding that the excessive speed alone was enough to consider his driving reckless and justify a felony charge. Felony motor vehicle homicide charges can be brought when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, has a suspended or revoked license, or drives recklessly.

From the beginning of the case, Shapiro has been interested in the COVID-19 defense.

I always felt this was a medical issue, he said.

The argument made by Shapiro, and by his expert witness Dr. Tom Dunbar, is that Skutnik experienced a syncope episode that caused his body to become tense and rigid. If Skutnik passed out with his foot still on the gas, that could explain why his vehicle would accelerate from 45 mph to 97 mph without braking, according to Dunbar.

Dunbar was the only witness called by Shapiro during the bench trial on Tuesday. Skutnik appeared in front of Douglas County District Court Judge Timothy Burns, who announced the not-guilty verdict Friday.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said he respectfully disagrees with Burns ruling. He pointed to surveillance video at Home Depot, which shows Skutnik exhibiting no signs of illness as he picks out a Christmas tree and loads it into his car. Kleine also wondered how Skutnik could stay in the same lane and not lose control of the vehicle if he was truly unconscious.

Theres all sorts of questions, Kleine said. This is a very unique case. But if somebody passes out and loses control, they arent going to be pressing on the accelerator and staying in the same lane.

Brinkmans family is distraught by the ruling, her sister Barbara Jansen said.

It feels like we lost her all over again, Jansen said. (Skutnik) was just lucky he could get a good attorney and find an angle. But the sad thing is the precedent this sets.

Brinkman was a teacher in the Millard school district for 35 years, teaching at various elementary and middle schools. She was an avid Creighton Bluejays fan and frequently volunteered as an election worker.

She remained highly involved in her sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, throughout her life. She had recently stepped down as the sororitys treasurer and was on the way home from taking her name off the organizations bank account when she was killed.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent who took more than $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to trade secrets with Moscow in one of the most notorious spying cases in American history, died in prison Monday.

Hanssen, 79, was found unresponsive in his cell at a federal prison in Florence, Colorado, and later pronounced dead, prison officials said. He is believed to have died of natural causes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of Hanssen's death and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

He had been serving a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole since 2002, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of espionage and other charges.

Hanssen had divulged a wealth of information about American intelligence-gathering, including extensive detail about how U.S. officials had tapped into Russian spy operations, since at least 1985.

He was believed to have been partly responsible for the deaths of at least three Soviet officers who were working for U.S. intelligence and executed after being exposed.

He got more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, diamonds and Rolex watches in exchange for providing highly classified national security information to the Soviet Union and later Russia.

He didn't adopt an obviously lavish lifestyle, instead living in a modest suburban home in Virginia with his family of six children and driving a Taurus and minivan.

Hanssen would later say he was motivated by money rather than ideology, but a letter written to his Soviet handlers in 1985 explains a large payoff could have caused complications because he could not spend it without setting off warning bells.

Using the alias Ramon Garcia, he passed some 6,000 documents and 26 computer disks to his handlers, authorities said. They detailed eavesdropping techniques, helped to confirm the identity of Russian double agents, and spilled other secrets. Officials also believed he tipped off Moscow to a secret tunnel the Americans built under the Soviet Embassy in Washington for eavesdropping.

He went undetected for years, but later investigations found missed red flags. After he became the focus of a hunt for a Russian mole, Hanssen was caught taping a garbage bag full of secrets to the underside of a footbridge in a park in a dead drop for Russian handlers.

The story was made into a movie titled Breach in 2007, staring Chris Cooper as Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe as a young bureau operative who helps bring him down.

The FBI has been notified of Hanssens death, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
Yemi Mobolade took the oath of office Tuesday as Colorado Springs' 42nd mayor in an energetic ceremony during which he called on residents to help bring his vision of a unified city to fruition.

"It is with great humility and gratitude that I stand before you and accept this responsibility as your elected mayor," Mobolade said to cheers from about a thousand residents, military, regional and state leaders sprawled across the sun-drenched south lawn of the Pioneers Museum after he was officially sworn in.

"As the city's first elected Black and immigrant mayor, I am a living  promise to the American Dream.  I'm deeply honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility to serve your families and help lead this remarkable city."

Mobolade said he wants to build on Colorado Springs' identity as "a melting pot of culture, ideas and dreams" and asked residents to help him reach that goal.

"We will transcend the boundaries that divide us and recognize our true strength lies in our unity. We will listen to each other with open hearts, embracing diverse ideas  yes, democracy, and working together to find common ground. We will foster an environment where every voice is heard and collaboration leads to innovative solutions," he said.

Mobolade, who was elected in the May 16 runoff with a 57.5% majority, lauded the dedication and leadership of past mayors and thanked outgoing Mayor John Suthers for his service.

Suthers leaves office after serving eight years in the position.

In brief remarks, Suthers congratulated Mobolade and thanked city staff and employees as well as his wife, Janet, for their support during his tenure.

Gov. Jared Polis also attended the event, promising in a short speech the state's partnership and support in moving Colorado Springs forward.

In his speech, Mobolade reiterated promises he made during his campaign to "go to work" on tough issues like public safety, homelessness and the city's housing crisis, water availability, infrastructure and ensuring the city's economic prosperity.

Last week, he unveiled a "blueprint" plan he will use to guide initial steps on those fronts during his first 100 days in office. Mobolade said again Tuesday he plans to provide residents an update on his progress during his first State of the City address scheduled for Sept. 14, which will be his 100th day as mayor.

His first order of business Tuesday, he told reporters after the ceremony, was to meet with members of his Cabinet and other department heads to set a common vision and goals.

Veronica and Rick Gallegos, who have lived in Colorado Springs for about 46 years, said they were excited about the energy surrounding Mobolade and believed in his vision to bring the community together.

"I am optimistic that he will be an example to others that we can put politics aside and move forward as a community," Veronica Gallegos said. "His success is going to be the city's success."

Rick Gallegos said he was eager to see how the new mayor addresses homelessness, a topic Mobolade and other candidates often spoke about during their campaigns.

"That's a major concern. I would like to see something done humanely for (homeless people)," he said.

Mobolade offered himself as a "problem-solving mayor" but also as "a symbol of hope, inspiration and opportunity."

The Nigerian-born mayor has never before held public office, is a political independent and the first mayor not affiliated with the Republican Party since Colorado Springs started electing mayors 45 years ago. He is the second Black man in the city's history to hold the office but the first to be elected to it.

"I think today matters for a lot of young Black kids because it tells them that the sky's the limit; that they, too, can step into the arena and lead; and that they, too, have opportunities. That's why this matters," Mobolade told reporters.

In public remarks, he looked toward an optimistic future.

"Greater things are still to be done in this city. Let us carry this hope and this optimism into working for the good of our city," he told the crowd. " It's time to go to work. Onward and upward."
Several victims of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs and some of their family members have notified El Paso County officials they intend to file lawsuits, claiming the Sheriff's Office "played a role" in the violence after it failed to invoke Colorado's red flag gun law against the alleged shooter during an earlier 2021 bomb threat.

In nine notices of claim filed with the county in mid-May, attorneys claim the violence that erupted at the popular LGBTQIA+ club on North Academy Boulevard just before midnight on Nov. 19 "could have been entirely avoided had the El Paso County sheriff utilized the Colorado 'red flag' law."

A notice of claim is not a lawsuit, but it informs a party that it may be liable for a claim for damages.

Anderson Lee Aldrich, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, faces more than 300 charges after allegedly killing five people and wounding more than two dozen in the fall shooting at the club.

Aldrich's trial has yet to be scheduled; the suspect is expected back in El Paso County district court on June 26 for arraignment.

In eight separate notices of claim, attorneys Dan Lipman of Denver-based Parker Lipman LLP and David Neiman of Chicago-based Romanucci & Blandin LLC claim "members of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office negligently and unconscionably played a role in Anderson Aldrich possessing and using firearms inside Club Q ..." on Nov. 19-20, and that the Sheriff's Office was "negligent and/or liable and such conduct or omissions were a cause of claimants injuries, demands and losses."

Another notice, filed by Bufkin & Schneider Law LLC of Colorado Springs, recalls how the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners in March 2019 declared the county a "Second Amendment preservation county," opposing Colorado's then-proposed red flag gun law that allows law enforcement officials and private residents to petition a court for permission to confiscate guns from people considered a danger to themselves or others.

The Sheriff's Office's policy regarding the law also states, in part, "A member of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will not petition for an (extreme risk protection order) or (temporary risk protection order) unless exigent circumstances exist, and probable cause can be established pursuant to (Colorado statute) that a crime is being or has been committed."

Bufkin & Schneider Law, in its notice, allege the board's and Sheriff's Office's actions "prevented reasonable actions that could have been taken under the law to prevent the murders, assaults and crimes that took place Nov. 19, 2022 by ... Aldrich."

The notices of claim stem from an incident in June 2021, during which Aldrich was arrested after claiming to have a bomb and threatening to use it.

In arrest records from the 2021 incident, Aldrich expressed a desire to become "the next mass shooter" and wanted to "go out in a blaze."

In a video obtained by The Gazette, believed to be a livestream of the 2021 incident, a person believed to be Aldrich can be seen wearing body armor and a helmet, while carrying what appears to be a rifle as that person moves between rooms. What appears to be a handgun on the bed comes into view as the suspect directs profanities at deputies outside the home.

"If they breach, I'm-a (expletive) blow it to holy hell," the suspect is heard saying about law enforcement. "Go ahead and come on in, boys. Let's (expletive) see it."

An El Paso County court later dismissed the bomb threat case against Aldrich because prosecutors were unable to serve subpoenas to family members who were the alleged victims in the matter.

Without testimony from Aldrich's grandparents, who accused Aldrich of threatening them, the judge in the 2021 case dismissed the charges against Aldrich.

That case was sealed on Aug. 11, 2022, and later unsealed on Dec. 8, 2022.

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The notices filed last month by Parker Lipman and Romanucci & Blandin name former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder, but other governmental representatives, agents and/or employees could be named, the documents state.

The notice filed by Bufkin & Schneider Law names Elder, current El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal and the five current members of the Board of El Paso County Commissioners.

Officials for El Paso County and the Sheriff's Office declined on Monday to comment on the possible pending litigation. Elder also declined to comment.

Elder, who left office in January, had previously been vocal about his opposition to Colorado's red flag gun law that went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

At one point the former sheriff had threatened to sue if it did become law, but said in a January 2020 statement El Paso County deputies would enforce court orders to confiscate firearms from those found to be a danger to themselves or others.

Elder noted at the time deputies wouldn't petition to seize weapons from a person unless there are urgent circumstances and that they can establish probable cause that a crime is being or has been committed.

In a lengthy statement issued Dec. 8 on its website, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said following the bomb threat a mandatory protection order was placed on Aldrich on June 22, 2021, while Aldrich was detained at the El Paso County jail.

It ordered Aldrich not to contact any victims or witnesses in that incident, to stay away from their homes or anywhere they were likely to be, and not to "possess or control firearms or other weapons," among other limitations, the statement reads.

The Sheriff's Office said "there was never a point in time" it needed to file a request for an extreme risk protection order because the mandatory protection order granted for Aldrich "was to remain in place until the case reached a final disposition, regardless of (whether) or not Aldrich was in our physical custody or out on bond."

An extreme risk protection order would have been "redundant and unnecessary," the Sheriff's Office said, because the mandatory protection order in place prevented Aldrich from legally possessing firearms. Deputies had also seized "all firearms and weapons Aldrich was known to possess" following their June 2021 arrest.

Additionally, the Sheriff's Office would have been unable to "present a factual basis for a potential (extreme risk protection order)  because the case in which those facts were detailed had been sealed," according to the statement.

Parker Lipman and Romanucci & Blandin filed notices on behalf of John Arcediano, JanCarlos Del Valle, Ashtin Gamblin, Anthony Malburg, Charlene Slaugh and James Slaugh, who were all injured in the Club Q shooting.

The firms also filed notices on behalf of Tiffany Loving and Adriana Vance, sister of Kelly Loving and mother of Raymond Green Vance, respectively, who were both killed in the shooting.

Jeremy Gold and Ryan Gamblin are named as co-claimants with their respective spouses, Malburg and Ashtin Gamblin.

They seek monetary damages of approximately $20 million in each case, records show.

Bufkin & Schneider Law filed a notice seeking $424,000 on behalf of Barrett Hudson, who was also injured in the shooting.
An El Paso County man who beat and strangled his partner during an argument in August was sentenced to 48 years in prison after pleading guilty to a murder charge on Monday.

Dennis Hase, 63, called Fountain police to report Lisa Weidlich, 43, was not breathing, arrest records show. Hase told investigators that Weidlich suffered a drug overdose, but an investigation determined her death was suspicious, according to previous reporting from The Gazette.

In an interview with law enforcement after his arrest, Hase said he told Weidlich, "Do you want to die?" and that he hit and punched her several times, according to arrest records.

Hase pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court, and Judge Gregory Werner sentenced him the same day, according to court records.

Hase was charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement, court records show.
Two men were arrested Monday after a string of alleged attempted bank robberies in Colorado Springs, according to a police blotter entry.

Police said the men went to the Chase Bank in the 3700 block of Bloomington Street on May 30 and attempted to rob it, but left empty-handed. They tried again, hitting the U.S. Bank in the 2300 block of East Pikes Peak Avenue just after 12:30 p.m. Monday. It was another failed robbery, police said.

Police said the same two men then went into the First Bank in the 2700 block of North Union Boulevard, near Briargate Boulevard, around 2:40 p.m. Monday. They brandished a gun and demanded money. The two left with an undisclosed amount of money and fled.

Soon after the incident, detectives located the suspect vehicle parked at a residence in the 4900 block of Raindrop Place. Devontai Stuckey, 31, and Travis Townsend, 34, exited the residence and were taken into custody, police said.

A search warrant of the residence was completed where additional evidence was recovered, police said in the blotter entry Tuesday.
An El Paso County judge on Monday slightly lowered the bond of 58-year-old Robert Gordon, a former church music teacher and bus driver accused of sexually assaulting three children.

Gordon's bond entering Monday's hearing was $150,000. His bail was set at $500,000 after his arrest, but Judge Hilary Gurney lowered it on April 27, court records show.

On Monday, Gordon's attorneys requested that their client's bond be lowered again. But prosecutor Kelson Castain expressed concerns, including Gordon's compliance on probation, the worry that Gordon might reoffend if released from jail and his general misconduct over the past 30 years.

Judge Samuel Evig agreed that Gordon's bond was high, but Evig also acknowledged that the allegations against Gordon were "troubling" and that there is nothing the court can do to monitor him 24 hours a day to make sure he isn't in contact with children.

Evig decided to reduce Gordon's bond by $50,000, saying a high bond for Gordon remained "appropriate" and "necessary." To be released from El Paso County jail, Gordon must now post a $100,000 bond.

Gordon was the subject of a yearlong investigation in El Paso County that began in August 2011, according to previous reporting by The Gazette. A male victim reported that he and Gordon allegedly had a sexual relationship in 2001 when the boy was around 12 years old. He was said to have met Gordon at a church in Security-Widefield.

In a 2011 interview with an El Paso County sheriff's deputy during that investigation, Gordon admitted to having a sexual relationship with the boy, according to the affidavit.

Of the eight charges brought against Gordon in that case, four were dismissed by the district attorney and he was acquitted of the other four by a jury in 2014. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust with a victim under the age of 15 and two counts of sexual assault on a child with a pattern of sexual abuse.

Around the time that alleged relationship would have been going on, a jury acquitted Gordon in a separate case in 2001, when he faced two counts of sexual assault on a child with force and sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, court records show. Gordon was found not guilty in that case in February 2001.

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In that case, a 14-year-old boy accused Gordon of having sexual intercourse with him quite a few times while the boy slept over at Gordons house in 1996. The teen alleged that the first incident happened when he was 12 or 13, according to the affidavit.

Gordon was convicted of harboring a runaway child, a misdemeanor, in 1998, and was sentenced to a one-year unsupervised deferred sentence.

In the most recent case, prosecutors brought charges against Gordon after the parents of a 14-year-old boy reported finding inappropriate text messages between their son and Gordon, who was a friend of the family, according to the affidavit.

Then at Gordon's first appearance on April 20 he had two new cases filed against him, where he faced accusations of sexually assaulting children. At Gordon's preliminary hearing on May 15, Castain told the judge that the prosecution would consolidate charges from the three cases into one case. On Monday, Castain told Evig that three underage victims are accusing Gordon of sexual assault.

Bond increased for Colorado Springs man accused of homeless camp killing A Colorado Springs man accused of killing a homeless man in October had his bond raised on Thursday over alleged threats made against a witnes

Gordon will make his next appearance in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court on July 17, when he is expected to enter a plea.

Gordon faces 10 charges, including three counts of sexually assaulting a child from a position of trust, three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a child and other crimes.
A Fountain police officer utilized reasonable force during a November shooting that resulted in the death of a suspect, according to a Monday news release from the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

A multi-agency investigation team has concluded that officer Brett Ryder acted within Colorados deadly-force guidelines when he fatally shot Ross Floersheim, 41, in a Nov. 20 gunfire exchange in which the suspect fired more than 20 shots from a semi-automatic rifle, officials said.

At about 6:45 p.m., Ryder responded to a domestic violence call at a residence in the 6900 block of Village Meadows Drive. The caller said she had been trying to leave the home, but her husband, who was intoxicated, would not let her leave with their 8-year-old son. She managed to get out and call 911, but she had to leave her son in the house, according to the release.

While speaking with the woman at a neighbors house, Ryder noted that she had fresh-looking injuries that were consistent with her claim that Floersheim had thrown her to the ground as she tried to leave the house. The woman said her son was still in the house with Floersheim, officials said.

As Ryder was taking the wifes statement, he was joined by police officer John Haley, and the two went to approach Floersheims home. Haley mentioned that Floersheim had called in a threat against Haley after a DUI arrest two years before.

Youre going to have to speak to this dude, Haley told Ryder.

When Ryder knocked on the door, Floersheim came out holding an AK-style semi-automatic rifle with a large magazine, the release states. When Floersheim ignored multiple commands to drop the gun, Ryder fired a single shot that hit the suspect in the torso. As Floersheim fell, he began firing at the officers, with at least twenty-three rounds, according to body-worn camera footage of the incident.

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Haley later told investigators that he did not fire a round during the incident because his gun jammed, and in the body-camera footage, he can be seen trying to clear a misfire, officials said.

Additional officers arrived to ensure the child was safe and render aid to the suspect, according to the release. Floersheim was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Colorado Revised Statute 18-1-704 states that a person can use deadly force in self-defense or in defense of others, and if the person reasonably believes a lesser degree of force is inadequate. The states deadly-force investigation team concluded that Ryder had operated within those standards.

After completing a thorough review of the facts and evidence, Colorados 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office has determined the use of deadly force by Fountain Police Department Officer Brett Ryder, was justified based on all the facts and circumstance of this case under the law of the state of Colorado, the release stated.
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs announced on Tuesday that it has selected an interim chancellor with ties to the CU system.

Jennifer Sobanet, the former executive vice chancellor of administration and strategy at CU Denver, will fill in for chancellor Venkat Reddy, who announced last month that he would be stepping down on July 1 following a six-year tenure at the university.

Whether a former or current member of the military, a member of an underrepresented group, a first-generation student, a researcher with aspirations to solve critical societal problems or a staff member who works day in and day out to meet the needs of our students, all are vital to this campus community, Sobanet said in a news release. I believe in the power of higher education to transform lives through social and economic mobility, and UCCS is a pillar for this positive change. I cant wait to get started.

Sobanet left CU Denver in May after completing her doctorate in educational equity at the universitys school of education and human development. She left to pursue her next leadership role in higher education with an eye toward an eventual president, according to CU Denver News.

Sobanet holds a bachelors degree in economics, masters degree in international studies and an MBA in international financial management, according to CU Denver News. She previously served as an economist and budget analyst under Colorado Gov. Roy Romers office of state planning and budgeting and the acting executive director and chief operating officer of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

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Jennifers breadth of experience along with her thoughtful approach to leadership, make her an excellent fit as interim chancellor at UCCS, university President Todd Saliman said in the release. "She is an accomplished strategic thinker with a keen understanding of budgetary priorities and a strong commitment to shared governance. She understands the special relationship between UCCS and the Colorado Springs area and is eager to roll up her sleeves and get to work to advance the campus and community.

The university will begin a national search for a permanent chancellor while Sobanet serves in the interim.

Reddy will return to his professor of finance position in fall 2024 after serving as an adviser to University of Colorado President Todd Saliman next academic year, according to a news release.

When you do this job, theres a huge commitment to the service of our students and our community, and I like to be all-in when I do these things, he said. Ive been at this campus for over 30 years, and 24 of those were in administration. So I thought this was a good time to step down and explore other things in life, and my heart is in the classroom.
One building was a total loss, but a dog was rescued Monday in a structure fire, according to a news release from Fountain police.

Crews were called to the fire just before 7 p.m. in the area of C and S Road and Link Road.

Callers reported a shed on fire and they were seeing black smoke and flames, according to the news release.

When fire crews arrived on scene they could see an out building fully engulfed in flames. Firetrucks had trouble getting to the fire because of recent heavy rain.

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After they were able to get on scene they were able to rescue a dog that was inside the building, which wound up a total loss.

"We want to thank personnel with the city of Fountain Streets Department for their assistance. They brought dump trucks of gravel to the scene so firetrucks could get up to the fire," city officials said in the news release.

No injuries were reported and cause of the fire has been determined.

Crews from the Fountain, Hanover, Security, Stratmoor and Fort Carson fire departments all assisted in the response.
Robert Kennedy Jr., a long-shot Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden, predicted that the president would not compete in the Iowa or New Hampshire primaries.

Kennedy suggested that Biden would wait for an even safer primary, such as in South Carolina, where his victory in 2020 was seen as pivotal for his securing the nomination.

GAVIN NEWSOM'S 2023-24 BUDGET RECEIVES PUSHBACK FROM LOCAL LAWMAKERS ON KEY ISSUES

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event where he announced his run for president on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, in Boston. JOSH REYNOLDS/AP

"I think that President Biden is not going to even put his name in Iowa and New Hampshire. So I think he's not even going to compete," Kennedy told Michael Smerconish on SiriusXM.

"I think that he has never done well in New Hampshire, and I think he came in fifth in New Hampshire the last time. So I think that he did not want to compete in New Hampshire, and he wants to go to a state where they  can control the results more," he added.

Biden finished fifth in New Hampshire and placed fourth in the Iowa caucuses in 2020.

New Hampshire is normally the first state to host both primaries, but moves by the president and the Democratic National Committee earlier this year shook up the 2024 Democratic primary season. One change included moving New Hampshire from its coveted first slot down to a joint second slot with Nevada. South Carolina, where Biden finished first, was moved to the first slot. Iowa was moved out of the first round of primaries.

Despite the rearrangement from the DNC and Biden, New Hampshire has held fast to its claim of being first in both primaries, partly due to a state law that dates back to the 1970s, which requires the state to go first in the presidential primaries by one week.

Kennedy told Smerconish that his path to victory was through the primaries, meaning he would still run in New Hampshire and Iowa.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"My path through the Democratic primary system, I have to win the primaries," Kennedy said.

No date for the New Hampshire Democratic primary has been set, but the Republican primary is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2024. The presidential election will be held on Nov. 5, 2024.

Original Location: Biden 2024 challenger Robert Kennedy Jr. says president won't compete in Iowa or New Hampshire

Washington Examiner Videos
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China for talks in the coming weeks, an official said on Tuesday, months after Washington's top diplomat scrapped a planned trip over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S.

The visit is intended by Washington to be a major step toward what President Joe Biden has called a "thaw" in relations between the world's two largest economies.

Blinken postponed a visit to Beijing in February after the balloon, which Beijing denies was a government spy vessel, flew through U.S. airspace and over sensitive military sites, eventually being shot down by the U.S. military and creating a diplomatic crisis.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate on timing. The State Department did not confirm any updated plans for Blinken's trip.

"We have no travel for the Secretary to announce; as we've said previously the visit to the People's Republic of China will be rescheduled when conditions allow," deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said.

In response to a request for comment, the spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington referred to the last meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Indonesia in November.

"China is open to have dialogues with the U.S. side and hopes that the U.S. will meet China halfway and jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two presidents at the Bali Summit," Liu Pengyu said.

Separately, and without mentioning Blinken's trip, U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell told an event at the Hudson Institute that exchanges with Beijing were improving.

"The lines of communications are opening up and we are able to lay out more constructively our areas of interest and concern," although the U.S. had been unsuccessful in getting China to agree to effective crisis mechanisms, Campbell said.

He said episodes like what he called "dangerous" navigation by a Chinese destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, showed the need for these "to prevent circumstances where unintended consequences can have terrible consequences."

"China is increasingly a great power. Her (military) forces rub up against ours much more than they did in the past. The potential for miscalculation, inadvertence, is real and growing," Campbell said.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the measures taken by the Chinese military in the Taiwan Strait were "reasonable, legitimate, and professional and safe".

UPBEAT TONE

The Biden administration has pushed to boost engagement with China even as ties have deteriorated over disputes ranging from military activity in the South China Sea, Beijing's human rights record, and technology competition, to democratically governed Taiwan - which China claims as its own territory.

But critics have questioned U.S. overtures to China, arguing that decades of engagement have failed to change Beijing's behavior.

The State Department's top official for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, was in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese counterparts, a visit seen as a step toward a possible Blinken trip. The two sides struck an upbeat tone.

Asked by reporters in Beijing if Blinken would visit soon, Kritenbrink said: "we'll see." The United States was "working hard" to manage the relationship with China, he said.

Kritenbrink's arrival on June 4 coincided with the 34th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown by Chinese troops on demonstrators in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square that rights groups say killed hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters.

The Biden administration dismissed any significance behind the arrival date, but some Republican lawmakers and Tiananmen survivors criticized the timing, arguing U.S. eagerness to hold talks with Chinese officials was watering down U.S. positions.

Reuters reported in May that the State Department delayed human rights-related sanctions, export controls and other sensitive action to try to limit damage to the U.S.-China relationship after the balloon incursion.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis and Doina Chiacu;Editing by Don Durfee, Grant McCool and Gareth Jones)
EXCLUSIVE  A public university is being pressed for answers from a GOP lawmaker after the Washington Examiner revealed the school took cash from a State Department-funded "disinformation" tracker to help "censor" conservatives.

The State Department has been the target of Republican-led investigations over its grants to the Global Disinformation Index, a British group covertly feeding conservative website blacklists to advertisers to defund disfavored speech. But since the University of Texas at Austin's Global Disinformation Lab was paid over $90,000 from GDI to conduct research for a widely scrutinized report slamming right-leaning news outlets, GOP Texas state House Rep. Brian Harrison is demanding the school perform "a full accounting" of all projects the lab has spearheaded, according to a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.

INFLATION ISSUE STILL LOOMS FOR BIDEN DESPITE PROGRESS

"I respectfully request UT's connection with GDI be severed immediately if that has not already occurred," Harrison wrote in a Tuesday letter to James B. Milliken, chancellor of the University of Texas System. "Additionally, if these are the types of projects that the Global Disinformation Lab is participating in, I have grave concerns with the existence of the lab at all. I request a full accounting of the projects, both past and present, that the lab has participated in, as well as any outside entities the lab collaborated with in any manner."

GDI was granted roughly $960,000 from the State Department's Global Engagement Center and National Endowment for Democracy, a government-backed nonprofit group, between 2020 and 2022. These awards have prompted federal lawmakers, including House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), to request documents from the State Department in connection to its ties to the self-styled "disinformation" group.

The National Endowment for Democracy has since announced it will no longer fund GDI, while the Global Engagement Center has defended its grant. The multinational software company Oracle also cut ties with GDI recently following their "brand safety" partnership, which came after Microsoft suspended its relationship with the group and launched a purported internal review. Microsoft has stonewalled on providing details about its said review.

On Thursday, the Washington Examiner published contracts it obtained through a records request showing that GDI steered $90,810 to UT Austin's disinformation lab to prepare a December 2022 report that alleged the "riskiest" websites for falsehoods were the New York Post, RealClearPolitics, the Blaze, and other conservative outlets. The lab was established in 2020 "to encourage collaborative interdisciplinary academic research on the global circulation of a broad spectrum of information, misinformation, and disinformation via digital media," records show.

Harrison, ex-chief of staff for former President Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services, told Milliken in his letter that taxpayer-funded schools like UT should not "be allowed to help censor free speech or push harmful ideology." The lawmaker said he aims to "vigilantly defend the First Amendment rights of all Texans."

Internal messages from UT notably show that personnel at the disinformation lab expressed concerns that it would come under the national spotlight following a Washington Examiner report in February 2023 that laid bare GDI's covert blacklist operation. The report led to an outcry among conservatives, who had long suspected that right-leaning websites were being targeted over their advertising revenue.

A contract agreement shows that GDI sought assistance from UT Austin to "conduct research on a selection of news domains applying a set of questions and data fields to determine each of the domain's disinformation risk." The university's disinformation lab told the Washington Examiner in a statement last week that "no state money was used" as part of the GDI-related agreement.

"I look forward to working with you to address this issue and also to strengthen the integrity of Texas's world-class academic institutions," Harrison wrote in his letter.

The Texas lawmaker's letter to UT Austin is the latest escalation of the GOP's attempts to investigate relationships between state-backed entities and groups that have targeted conservative websites for being purported "disinformation" peddlers.

In late April, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed the heads of several agencies, including coordinator James Rubin of the Global Engagement Center, as part of an attempt to obtain records on the Biden administration's alleged coordination with social media companies on "censorship" of opposing views.

Jordan's staffers on Tuesday on Capitol Hill met with University of Washington professor Kate Starbird, a former member of the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board that was shuttered in 2022 amid conservative outcry, as part of the chairman's ongoing "censorship investigation," according to a source familiar. Starbird was sitting for a transcribed interview and deposition, the source said.

Two weeks ago, the committee was briefed by professors at Clemson University who, like Starbird, have sought to track alleged disinformation online, according to the source. Starbird co-founded the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public, "which formed in 2019 around a shared mission of resisting strategic misinformation," according to the institution.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questions FBI Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok during the House Committees on the Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform hearing on "Oversight of FBI and DOJ Actions Surrounding the 2016 Election," on Capitol Hill, Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Meanwhile, the GDI saga led to a right-leaning watchdog called Protect the Public's Trust filing a lawsuit against the State Department in early May over the agency stonewalling the release of documents in connection to GDI.

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GDI's two affiliated U.S. nonprofit groups, Disinformation Index and the AN Foundation, were accused in an IRS complaint by another right-leaning watchdog called National Legal and Policy Center in May of violating federal law over their extensive redactions on 2021 financial disclosure forms. The omissions were first reported on by the Washington Examiner in April.

The Washington Examiner reached out to UT Austin for comment.

Original Location: Disinformation Inc: State university pressed by GOP over cash from conservative blacklister

Washington Examiner Videos
By Michael Martina and Martin Quin Pollard

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - When a Chinese warship came within 150 yards of a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday and forced it to slow down, it was the second time in a matter of days in which Chinese and U.S. military personnel came close to a major incident.

Late last month a Chinese fighter jet flew in front of a U.S. warplane over the South China Sea, drawing a rebuke from the United States.

After the warship encounter on Saturday, the White House accused China of growing aggressiveness. China has said that such U.S. military activity in international waters is "deliberately provoking risk.

Here is why these recent close encounters between the U.S. and Chinese militaries may continue:

CHINA PUSHING BACK

Under President Xi Jinping, China has embarked on what U.S. officials say is one of the largest peacetime military buildups in history.

Beijing is using its growing military capability and economic clout to push back on decades-old U.S. military dominance in Asia. China regards the United States as an outsider interfering in a region in which it sees itself as a force for peace and stability.

A particular source of tension are the "freedom of navigation" patrols in which the United States and its allies sail naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

The United States says such patrols defend the right of all countries to sail in international waters.

China has complained about U.S. vessels and aircraft in the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea close to islands it controls, claims, or constructed and turned into military installations. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) typically trails the U.S. vessels.

Some analysts say Chinese military commanders have been encouraged to act more assertively against foreign military ships and planes.

"I think what we are seeing is likely a general encouragement, maybe even incentive scheme for (PLA) unit commanders to be aggressive when the opportunity presents, which is at the unit level encouraging more reckless behaviour, said Jennifer Parker, a defence expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Other recent incidents in the South China Sea have seen a Chinese coast guard ship direct a "military-grade laser" at a Philippines vessel in February, and Vietnam last month demand Beijing remove survey vessels from its waters.

China said both incidents were lawful and normal.

Its defence ministry did not immediately have comment on the assertion it was encouraging more aggressive behaviour.

This approach from the PLA increases the chances of a collision, which could spiral into armed conflict, says Derek Grossman, senior defence analyst at the RAND Corporation, a U.S. think tank.

"In my view, this is the no. 1 scenario that leads the U.S. and China to war, and less so Beijing seizing a feature in the disputed South China Sea or attacking Taiwan," he said.

ON A COLLISION COURSE?

Making the situation more dangerous are the starkly different views of the U.S. and China about the source of the problem. The United States sees China as disrupting the status quo with its threats against Taiwan, the self-governed island that China claims as its own, and its territorial claims to the resource-rich South China Sea.

The answer from the U.S. perspective is to continue asserting its right to sail and fly near China.

China's ruling Communist Party sees those U.S. actions as provocative and believes U.S. pursuit of military dominance is the real cause of the dangers in the region, said Tong Zhao, a visiting scholar at Princeton Universitys School of Public and International Affairs.

"Chinese officials generally don't see China's own behaviours contributing to risks," he said.

"And therefore their logic is China can only reduce the risk by stepping up its military measures to confront the U.S.'s aggressive behaviours, and to make the United States really feel concerned about incidents. And that's when the United States would eventually take the necessary measures to reduce the risk."

NO COMMUNICATION

Add to this one other problem: the lack of reliable communication channels between the two militaries.

The U.S. military has long pushed China for open lines of communication with the PLA - both at senior and lower levels - to mitigate the risk that accidents become military flare-ups.

China's leaders, by contrast, have been slow to establish military contacts and quick to shut them down during periods of diplomatic tension, U.S. officials say.

China suspended several high-level military dialogues with the Pentagon after former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last summer and declined a U.S. request for a phone call between the two countries' defence chiefs after the downing of Chinese spy balloon in U.S. airspace this year.

A senior U.S. defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that since 2021 China had declined or not responded to more than a dozen requests to talk with the Pentagon and nearly ten working-level engagement requests.

China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Analysts say that China is wary of military talks that could give the United States greater insight into PLA operations. Chinese leaders would also prefer to keep U.S.-China discussions focused on trade and economic issues.

The dangers are not hypothetical, however.

In 2001 a U.S. spy plane made an emergency landing on Hainan island after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet.

One Chinese pilot died and Beijing detained the 24-member U.S. crew for 11 days, releasing them only after Washington sent a letter saying it was "very sorry."

(Reporting By Michael Martina and Martin Pollard; Additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Don Durfee and Gerry Doyle)
House Oversight Committee leaders Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) left a recent FBI briefing on a tip regarding alleged wrongdoing by President Joe Biden with considerably different conclusions.

Comer said that the briefing proved that the committee's investigation into alleged wrongdoing by the Bidens was on to something and must be pursued further, and Raskin said that it proved there was no need for further inquiry.

NASA TARGETING MONDAY LAUNCH FOR ISS RESUPPLY MISSION

"Given the severity and complexity of the allegations contained within this record, Congress must investigate further," Comer told the press after the briefing.

"This is only the beginning. It appears this investigation is part of an ongoing investigation, which I assume is in Delaware," he added.

Comer said that the briefing showed patterns that suggested money laundering on the part of Biden.

"The claims made in the document are consistent with what we found and disclosed to you all in Romania," Comer said, referring to information he revealed last month suggesting several Biden family members had engaged in criminal activity. "It suggests a pattern of bribery where payments would be made through shell accounts and multiple banks. There's a term for that, it's called money laundering."

Raskin, speaking directly after his colleague, disagreed with nearly everything Comer said, including the importance of the document that was the subject of the briefing.

"What we're talking about here is a confidential human source reporting a conversation with someone else. So what we're talking about is secondhand hearsay. And they did whatever investigative due diligence was called for in that assessment period, and they found no reason to escalate it from an assessment to a so-called preliminary investigation," Raskin said.

He also came to the opposite conclusion of Comer as to whether an investigation was being conducted by the FBI.

"FBI prosecutorial protocol is whether there are articulable facts giving rise to suspicion of criminal activity. So they apparently decided there was not, and they called an end to the investigation," Raskin said.

The Maryland representative doubled down on his contradiction of Comer's claim that the briefing proved an FBI investigation was ongoing when asked by reporters.

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"Not only were there no criminal charges, there was no escalation of the FBI investigation," Raskin said.

Comer announced at the press conference that he would go forward with efforts to hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over a document that House Republicans believe shows criminal activity by Joe Biden and other members of his family.

Original Location: Oversight leaders Comer and Raskin leave FBI Biden briefing with countering conclusions

Washington Examiner Videos
By Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Ukraine on Tuesday called Russia a terrorist state at the top U.N. court as hearings began in a case over Moscow's backing of pro-Russian separatists blamed for shooting down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.

It was the first time lawyers for Ukraine and Russia met at the International Court of Justice, also know as the World Court, since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Legal teams with dozens of representatives were sent by each side.

A panel of 16 judges at the ICJ began hearing Ukraine's claim that Moscow violated a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty by equipping and funding pro-Russian forces who shot down the jetliner, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

In the same claim, Ukraine has also asked the Hague-based court to order Russia to halt discrimination against the Tatar ethnic group in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia since 2014.

In opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych commented on the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam hours earlier in Russian-held territory in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Kyiv says Russia blew up the dam; the Kremlin has blamed what it says was Ukrainian sabotage.

"Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission," Korynevych told hearings, describing Russia's actions as "the actions of a terrorist state".

"Just today Russia blew up a major dam ..., causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant."

Moscow has tried to get the case thrown out, arguing the ICC has no jurisdiction.

RUSSIA WANTS TO 'WIPE OUT WHAT MAKES UKRAINIANS, UKRAINIANS'

Flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile on July 17, 2014 over pro-Russian, separatist-held eastern Ukraine.

Last November, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian separatist in absentia for their role and sentenced them to life in prison. It found that Russia had "overall control" over the separatist forces.

Ukraine wants to court to decide that Moscow has breached the anti-terrorism treaty by supplying funds and weapons to pro-Russian forces in Ukraine since 2014, including the group that allegedly shot down MH17.

Russia boycotted hearings at the court in March 2022 that dealt with a request by Ukraine to impose emergency measures in another ICJ case, in which Kyiv is countering a Russian claim of genocide against Russian-speakers in Ukraine. Kyiv calls that claim a bogus justification for Russia's invasion.

Ukraine also argued Russia was discriminating against ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars in Crimea in an effort to erase their culture.

"(Russia) is pursuing a long-term project to erase the rights and culture that make Ukraine a proud, multi-ethnic nation, to wipe out what makes Ukrainians, Ukrainians, and what makes the Crimean Tatars, Crimean Tatars," said Harold Koh, a lawyer for the Ukrainian government.

Russia denies systematic human rights abuses in Ukrainian territory that it occupies.

The court adjourned on Tuesday after Ukraine wound up its presentation. Russia will have the chance to respond to Kyiv's case on Thursday at the court.

Rulings of the ICJ, the U.N.'s top court for disputes between states, are binding but have no enforcement mechanism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also the subject of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, also in The Hague, on war crimes charges over forced deportations of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin denies this.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch; editing by Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich)
A top House GOP investigator demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland hand over an unredacted version of the Justice Department's scope memo into special counsel Jack Smith's investigations into former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told Garland on Tuesday that his committee "is continuing to investigate" the FBI's "unprecedented raid" of Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort home in August, with Jordan saying he wanted more information on what Smith has been up to since being appointed by Garland in November.

INFLATION ISSUE STILL LOOMS FOR BIDEN

Jordan wrote that "we previously requested information and documents related to the FBI's raid on President Trump's residence and its subsequent investigation," but "because you have not provided this information" to the committee, Jordan was now writing "to request an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smith's probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel."

The GOP chairman asked for that information by June 20.

Garland's appointment order for Smith said that the special counsel "is authorized to conduct the ongoing investigation into whether any person or entity violated the law in connection with efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the Electoral College vote held on or about January 6, 2021." Smith was "further authorized to conduct the ongoing investigation" related to the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago.

"The Special Counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters," the appointment memo said. "The Special Counsel is also authorized to refer to the appropriate United States Attorney discrete prosecutions that may arise from the Special Counsel's investigation."

Smith's special counsel investigation into Trump and his alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago is reportedly "wrapping up" as the Justice Department moves toward a possible indictment of the former president.

A decadeslong DOJ veteran prosecutor, Smith had most recently been a prosecutor at The Hague, where he investigated war crimes in Kosovo.

Smith served under Attorney General Eric Holder, leading the DOJ's Public Integrity Unit from 2010 to 2015. Smith led a team of 30 prosecutors in conducting public corruption cases throughout the United States, including a mixed track record of going after high-profile politicians. He also inserted the DOJ into what would become the Lois Lerner IRS scandal targeting conservative nonprofit groups during the Obama years, which Trump has criticized.

Jordan had also pressed Garland in a letter on Friday about special counsel John Durham's findings related to the faulty origin of the Trump-Russia investigation and the "failings" of the FBI. The GOP chairman placed Smith's investigation related to the Mar-a-Lago classified documents incident and the Capitol riot in the context of Durham's report, arguing that "due to the FBI's documented political bias, the Justice Department must ensure any ongoing investigations are not poisoned by this same politicization."

"The Special Counsel's report serves as a stark reminder of the need for more accountability and reforms within the FBI," Jordan said of Durham. "Accordingly, as Congress conducts oversight to inform these legislative reforms, we write to ensure the Justice Department acts to preserve the integrity and impartiality of ongoing investigations from the FBI's politicized bureaucracy."

Durham is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on June 21. The special counsel will also speak behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee, led by Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), the day prior.

Jordan argued to Garland that Durham's report "details how the FBI abused its law-enforcement authorities to achieve a political end  that is, hamstring the campaign and presidency of President Trump" as he pushed Garland on the FBI's involvement in Smith's sprawling investigation into the former president.

The GOP chairman told Garland to provide his committee with information about Smith's use of the FBI, including whether any FBI employees who have worked on Smith's investigation have previously worked on other investigations tied to Trump. Jordan also told the attorney general to reveal the number of FBI employees assigned to the special counsel investigation, including the number of employees from FBI Headquarters and the Washington Field Office working on it.

Jordan also asked Garland to "explain whether Special Counsel Smith's investigation relies on any information or material gathered exclusively by the FBI prior to the Special Counsel's appointment." He asked for all of these answers by June 15.

President Joe Biden is also being investigated by another Garland-appointed special counsel, Robert Hur. Biden's personal attorneys said they first discovered classified documents in early November 2022 at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, located in the nation's capital. Biden's lawyers then found more classified documents at his Wilmington home in Delaware, and the Department of Justice found more when it conducted its own search.

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Trump shared a May letter from his lawyers to Garland on Truth Social with the attorneys contending that "unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly" as they asked for "a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel."

Hunter Biden's lawyers met with DOJ officials representing the tax division and the U.S. attorney in Delaware in late April. Trump's lawyers met at the DOJ with Smith and others on Monday.

Original Location: Trump investigation: Jordan demands Garland hand over Smith special counsel memo

Washington Examiner Videos
A major hydroelectric dam in southern Ukraine has blown up, which will likely cause flooding to dozens of nearby towns and cities, including the Kherson region, the majority of which has been under Russian control since near the beginning of the invasion in February of 2022.

The city of Kherson itself, recently retaken by the Ukrainians late last year, will likely be largely flooded as well. Videos posted to social media of the destroyed Kakhovka dam appear to show some nearby islands already underwater.

NASA TARGETING MONDAY LAUNCH FOR ISS RESUPPLY MISSION

Both Ukrainian and Russian sources have pointed the finger at each other for the destruction, as it remains unclear what advantages and disadvantages the strategically-placed Kakhovka dam offer for both sides.

FILE - Russian troops guard an entrance of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station, a run-of-river power plant on the Dnieper River in Kherson region, south Ukraine, on May 20, 2022. Moscow has warned that Ukraine may try to attack the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant about 50 kilometers (30 miles) upstream and flood broad areas, including the city of Kherson. Ukrainian forces pressing an offensive in the south have zeroed in on Kherson, a provincial capital that has been under Russian control since the early days of the invasion. This photo was taken during a trip organized by the Russian Ministry of Defense. (AP Photo, File) AP

The hydroelectric dam sits on the Dnipro River and has long been speculated to be a target for either the Russians or Ukrainians, depending on the timing and necessity. In October, Russian troops guarded the plant, with Moscow warning that Ukraine would possibly try to attack the dam in order to flood broad areas in order to retake land.

Populations at risk of flooding are being evacuated as the most severe inundation is expected to take place within the next few hours.

The mayor of Nova Kakhovka, which has been under Russian control since February 2022, told the Russian state media outlet TASS that the dam collapsed due to previous damage inflicted in attacks overnight. He added that the city itself does not need to be evacuated.

"The mayor called the destruction of the valves of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station the most serious act of terrorism," the outlet wrote.

On the other hand, Yury Podolyak, a Russian blogger with more than 2.7 million subscribers on Telegram, said his information illustrates that the dam was not intentionally destroyed but rather broke under the massive weight of the water and previous damage inflicted as part of the war.

In addition to the towns and cities expected to be flooded in the coming hours, another concern about the dam's destruction is the fact that the Dnieper River helps cool the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station.

The massive new development in the war comes as Ukraine is expected to launch a counteroffensive at any time against Russia to retake land previously lost. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the counteroffensive could begin at any time without warning, as "Plans love silence. There will be no announcement of the start."

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This is a developing news story. Check back here for updates.

Original Location: Ukraine dam destroyed: Dozens of nearby towns expected to be flooded

Washington Examiner Videos
The mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his first-grade teacher at a school in Virginia will plead guilty to new federal charges.

Deja Taylor was arrested and indicted on state charges in April after her son shot Abigail Zwerner, 25, on Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia.

Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6-year-old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News, Va. on Jan. 9, 2023. Four months after a 6-year-old Virginia boy shot and wounded his teacher as she taught class, an attorney for the boy's mother said it still is not clear how the boy got the gun. (AP Photo/John C. Clark, File)

THE FIGHTS THAT LAY AHEAD IN CONGRESS WITH DEBT CEILING IN REARVIEW

Taylor was charged in federal court on Monday with additional charges, including illegally using drugs while owning a firearm and making a false statement when she purchased the gun. She had said she was not an unlawful drug user despite using marijuana, per court records via ABC News.

James Ellenson, the attorney for Taylor, said in a statement that she would plead guilty to the federal charges.

"We intend to present mitigating evidence that we trust the Court will view favorably at sentencing later this year following preparation of a pre-sentence report," Ellenson said.

Ellenson added that the shooting "was a tragedy for all parties, most especially teacher Abby Zwerner for whom we wish a complete recovery."

Taylor has not yet entered a plea for state charges of one count of felony child neglect and one count of recklessly leaving a firearm to endanger a child. Taylor's son will not be criminally charged.

Zwerner suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and hand but survived after spending two weeks in the hospital. Investigators determined the boy accessed the gun, which the family said was "secured" by a trigger lock on the top shelf of Taylor's bedroom closet, and brought it to school.

Due to having a learning disability, one of the student's parents typically attended classes with him. The week Zwerner was shot, family members had stopped going to the classroom.

It was revealed that the school district had been warned about Taylor's son at least three times prior to the shooting, and he was previously suspended for an incident involving Zwerner as well.

Zwerner is suing the school district for $40 million over these previous warnings and a tip received the day of the shooting that the 6-year-old student might have a weapon in his backpack. School employees searched his bag upon arrival but did not locate the weapon, and it is unclear how the gun got into the classroom.

Taylor said she has accepted responsibility for the shooting and has since apologized to Zwerner.

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"That is my son, so I am, as a parent, obviously, willing to take responsibility for him because he can't take responsibility for himself," Taylor said in an interview on May 10.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Ellenson for comment.

Original Location: Virginia mother of 6-year-old who shot his teacher will plead guilty to new federal charges

Washington Examiner Videos
The White House said it opposes Republicans' legislation to limit the federal government's ability to regulate natural gas stoves but did not commit to a presidential veto of the two proposals ahead of a House vote on Tuesday.

The Office of Management and Budget said the White House does not support a gas stove ban but announced its opposition to the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act and the Save Our Gas Stoves Act, which would limit the ability of the Department of Energy and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate gas stoves.

THE FIGHTS THAT LAY AHEAD IN CONGRESS WITH DEBT CEILING IN REARVIEW

"While the Administration has been clear that it does not support any attempt to ban the use of gas stoves, it strongly opposes H.R. 1615 and H.R. 1640," the OMB said.

Its statement did not say President Joe Biden would veto the bills if they pass the House.

H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, would prohibit the CPSC from using federal funds to regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product or enforce a product safety standard that prohibits the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increases their price.

H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act, would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to say that an energy conservation standard for kitchen ranges or ovens "cannot be 'economically justified' if it likely will result in the unavailability in the United States of a type (or class) of product based on what type of fuel the product consumes," according to a summary.

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Both bills advanced through the House Rules Committee on Monday, setting up a full vote before the House.

Original Location: White House states opposition to GOP gas stove bills but withholds veto threat

Washington Examiner Videos
Ever heard of Che Guevara? He was a Marxist revolutionary who became second in command to Fidel Castro in Cuba.

Together with their small band of fighters  they overthrew the government in their country. As said in the old axiom, the revolution was indeed televised.

And broadcast on the radio as well. The daily broadcasts on a shortwave station Radio Rebelde caused citizens to submit to the clever exaggerations Che Guevara unleashed upon the populace.

Only around 300 rebel soldiers accompanied Castro on a caravana across Cuba. The radio broadcast made it seem like a huge army was gathering support from the population. They ended the cross-country trip by capturing the capitol city of Havana. With virtually no resistance.

Driven by media reports, civilians met the group in the streets to show loyalty to the rebels. People were either so excited (or scared) that they never noticed the actual size of the group.

So, the rebels simply drove in to find that all adversaries  had simply abandoned their posts.

Many decades later, Che Guevaras likeness and image memorializes him all over the world. A liar has been raised to iconic stature.

Surprised that a few people without an army took over an entire nation?

Media has power. Imagination mixed with fear can raise mountains.

Were experiencing that right now. Yes, in Colorado Springs.

Recent headlines say things like Colorado Republicans Lose Conservative Stronghold and Yemi Mobolades Victory Marks Seismic Shift in Colorado Springs.

Seriously?

It feels like new incarnations of the Che Guevera spirit are roaming around. When it comes to the recent election being touted as a huge change event  every narrative is presented but the factual one.

When you look at the voter registration numbers one still sees that the 91,000 registered Republicans almost outnumber the entire multi-partisan voting body that elected our mayor.

Local Republicans defeated themselves.

Even so, this is hardly a seismic shift to the left. Especially when our new mayor accurately describes himself as conservative.

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Nevertheless, some in progressive Colorado Springs were determined to paint this shift to center as a big shift to the left. Looks like Ches demon strikes again.

One local Democrat in the party office tried to take victory lap on social media regarding Mayor Mobolades win, saying that it is just the beginning to a bluer, brighter and more progressive El Paso County.

That is simply not true.

With a mostly moderate to right leaning City Council, our new Mayor will need the assistance of the Council to get local ordinances passed. It is the hope of all  that the Council be cooperative, but no one can force the City Council to help.

Knowing this may be why new Mayor disputes the post on the Democrats Facebook page saying  I am not a progressive candidate.

Indeed. Any spin to the contrary appears to be wishful thinking on the part of a few rebels.

And Newsweek. (LOL)

Even local Democrat party Chairwoman Mischa Smith admits in the Gazette, Weve never called him a progressive. We are not claiming him. She continues saying. That being said, people are still saying Colorado Springs cant be progressive, that progressive people cant win here, and we are a Republican stronghold. Which is very true.

Sorry, Mr. Guevara, but in Colorado Springs we are tuning into another station casting the history and present of Colorado Springs with a truthful spirit  instead of a lying one.

As we all know the COS Democrat organization cant get a majority of Democrats on City Council or any Democrat at all on the Board of County Commissioners.

Unless Republicans keep infighting.

With that in mind, lets be rid of the exaggerated headlines. If positive change is coming to Colorado Springs  it will require bi-partisan agreement.

This is not Cuba. Che Guevara style propaganda in headlines will not scare us Republicans into abandoning our posts. Any attempt at a takeover in Colorado Springs will be met with the fullest resistance.

Or we could work on mutually agreed policies that solve problems for the betterment of our city.

Easy choice.

Rachel Stovall is an event manager, entertainer and community advocate.
Newspapers attitude about CC

For students who felt the need to protest Representative Liz Cheneys speaking at their commencement, turning chairs seems an effective and relatively non-disruptive way to express their beliefs. I emphasize need  many believe that Ms. Cheneys positions on a number of issues are more than just wrong-headed; they are an assault on human rights and personal liberty that must be called out. Failing to do so would be dishonorable.

That does not preclude admiring for Ms. Cheney for her opposition to former President Donald Trump and his attempted coup on January 6, or her belief that Trump represents a great threat to American democracy.

I would have enjoyed reading a reasoned editorial arguing that what the protestors did was wrong. Sadly, you chose instead to build your case on ad hominem attacks on the protestors themselves, such as childlike antics of pampered adults of privilege, sub-Romper-Room display, and a cluster of children turned their chairs. I confess that these did not surprise me. As a 40+ year subscriber Ive come to expect this attitude about CC students from the paper. This saddens me, as in general the Gazette has become a much better newspaper over the past several years.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a 1973 BA graduate of CC and a retired staff member of the college, but speak only for myself.

Eric Ross

Colorado Springs

Immaturity and a closed mind

Thank you for your opinion piece on the Colorado College graduation. You really got to the heart of the matter. In 2006 my child received a Masters Degree from New School University. John McCain was the speaker and half of the students, including mine, turned their backs on him. I was so sad about it. I wanted to celebrate my daughters achievements and got disrespectful behavior instead.

Although I did not agree with all of McCains opinions, I respected him as a selfless soldier and as a public servant. Behavior like this only shows immaturity and a closed mind. Thank you for expressing what we felt but did not have the words to express it. I am not very good at writing but I just had to tell you thank you.

Kimberley Ziviani

Cloverdale, Calif.

Living in the age of stupidity

It is hard to believe that anyone in this day and age would try to block the system using police officers in all schools. Do those people simply not learn anything from what has happened in the recent past?

I know we live in The Age of Stupidity, but this issue just personifies it.

Alan Culpin

Arapahoe County

There is no second chance

Re: Democracy and a need for Christianitys reform. (Douglas R. Sharp, Ph.D.)

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Pharisees of Jesus day held positions much like Dr. Sharp. They were educated and in positions of teaching responsibility. But like Dr. Sharp, they missed the truth and added their own interpretations and opinions to a simple message. In Sharps judgment against this brand of Christianity, he displays his lack of understanding of true Christianity.

Rather than reform (compromise) Christianity, as Sharp suggests, and end up with something so watered down, that early Christians wouldnt recognize it, we need to realize how far down the slippery slope of me, me, me weve slid and how close to Gods judgment we areand turn back.

Joining Christianity is easy, but most wont do what is required: repent of their sin and turn to Jesus as the only way to lasting peace and a reservation in Heaven (see John 14:6). Obedience is the entrance requirement. Compromise, when it comes to Gods law, is the same as disobeying. Its not an option. We will all know the truth either before we die or after. Before is better, while we can still change. We cant wait until we get there (heaven or hell) to decide if thats where we want to spend eternity. Choose carefully, now. The Bible says, we die once and then were judged (Heb. 9:27). There is no reincarnation, no second chances, no do overs.

Jesus constantly put the Pharisees of His day in their place for their missing the mark regarding His first coming. I pray that Dr. Sharp doesnt miss His second coming.

Mike Thornton

Colorado Springs

Hit the nail on the head

Thank you for including the column by Douglas Sharp, Ph.D., in Saturdays Gazette, Democracy and a need for Christianitys reform. Rather than a religious interpretation of democracy, lets try a democratic interpretation of religion. He really hits the nail on the head.

Barbara M. Kohlhaas

Colorado Springs

A giant love letter

I was expecting a Sunday newspaper, instead I receive a giant love letter to John Suthers. He was in office eight years but you treat him as some great servant of Colorado Springs, as if he had devoted his life to public service.

Not all of us think he did a great job. The roads are still a mess, for example, yet you make it sound like he did such a great job because the roads are just 35% lousy. What a waste of newsprint.

Daniel Bingham

Colorado Springs

On behalf of all women

In reference to the opinion column in The Gazette posted June 3 by Marc Dion Double standard in womans brutal murder at a carwash: Thank you on behalf of all women.

Diane Reynolds

Colorado Springs
Convicted spy Robert Hanssen was reportedly found dead in his prison cell Monday.

The 78-year-old the FBI called the most damaging spy in Bureau history was serving a life sentence in ADX prison in Florence, Colorado.

Staff requested emergency medical services and life-saving efforts continued, Bureau of Prisons Director of Communications Kristie Breshears said in a statement first reported by CBS News. The inmate was subsequently pronounced dead by outside emergency medical personnel.

His cause of death is unclear.

The 25-year FBI veteran was arrested in Virginia in 2001 after investigators learned he also worked for the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The counterintelligence expert was apprehended while attempting to deliver classified information to his foreign contacts in a park outside Washington, D.C. According to the FBI, that was similar to tasks Hanssen performed successfully untold times dating back to 1985. He used the alias Ramon.

The FBI said that by February 2001, roughly 300 agents were assigned to rooting out Hanssen. Feds said Hanssen was preparing to retire when investigators closed in on him.

He subsidized his FBI income by at least $1.4 million through treachery. The disgraced agent pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage on July 6, 2001, but not before exploiting his unfettered access to classified information including nuclear secrets and the betrayal of double agents aiding the U.S.

Hanssen spent several years of his career based in New York City. The married father of six was a Chicago native who studied at Northwestern University. A neighbor in Virginia claimed the spys wife taught religion classes in Vienna, Virginia. According to the FBI, Hanssen was making $105,000 annually at the time of his arrest.

BOP officials havent returned a New York Daily News request for comment. The FBI referred inquiries to prison representatives.



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It wasnt the symbolic 25,000 women organizers touted in the lead-up to Mondays protest at the state Capitol.

Still, more than 1,000 mostly White women are staging a sit-in on the Capitol grounds Monday  and plan to do so through the rest of the week  to advocate for dismantling the Second Amendment. They say Colorado will be the first place that fight will start.

The advocates, who say Gov. Jared Polis has not done enough to rein in gun violence, presented what his office calls an unconstitutional request: to ban all firearms and declare gun violence a disaster emergency.

Here 4 The Kids was founded by former Denver resident and congressional candidate Saira Rao just after the shooting at a school in Nashville, Tenn. in March. The group came together three weeks before lawmakers in Colorado, including Democrats, turned down efforts to ban assault weapons.

The protests composition is deliberate. The organization, through its website, calls on White women to put their bodies on the ground as marginalized communities have always done and continue to do.

Mondays sit-in included a demand Polis issue an executive order declaring a state of disaster emergency due to the gun violence risk in Colorado. That, according to advocates, would enable state agencies to coordinate for response and mitigation efforts.

As part of the order, the advocates also called for a total ban on all guns and a comprehensive, mandatory buyback program.

Thats unconstitutional, the governors office said in a pair of missives issued to reporters hours after the first of the group showed up at the Capitol.

The initial statement from Polis office touted the five major gun control laws the governor has signed his year, and included an elaborate explanation of why he cant do what the protesters asked. The second communication included background information, stating Polis staff met with the organizers to tell them their request is unconstitutional, and that a second meeting was offered with his legal counsel to point out why their request was not possible. The governors office said the second offer was declined.

The governor does not have unlimited authority under a disaster declaration, and certainly not one that would suspend either the U.S. Constitution or the Colorado Constitution, the statement explained. In addition, the governor does not have the authority to create a new state law, which is what would be necessary to implement a buyback program, nor does he have the ability to access state funds that are not appropriated by the General Assembly.

None of that matters, Wolf Terry, one of the organizers of Mondays event, told Colorado Politics. She said Polis resistance is based on what she believes to be an effort to angle for run for the White House.

Terry said the constitution is a living document and their organization wants to repeal the Second Amendment in favor of a 28th Amendment banning guns.

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It should be done. It will be done, and this is the first step, she said.

Polis is just another politician, and no different than DeSantis, she added.

He is afraid and trying to save face with as many people as possible so that one day he can run for president, she said.

The executive order went to all blue governors, Terry said.

Polis went to sleep on an AR-15 ban, shot down in his administration, she said, adding she doesnt care about three-day waiting period or other laws signed this year.

Guns are the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S. and Polis is seeking excuses on why he wont get rid of the guns, Terry said.

Terry said they intend to stay at the Capitol until 8 p.m. Monday, and continue every day this week until Polis accepts their demands.

While more than 1,000 showed up early in the day, Terry believes their numbers could reach 5,000. She called the 25,000 number that she touted to the press in the leadup to the sit-in largely symbolic and equal in size to the protests after the death of George Floyd three years ago.

The protest is occurring just a few days after mainstream gun violence prevention groups stood shoulder to shoulder with lawmakers and Polis as he signed into law a bill banning ghost guns.

Also on Friday, high school students, including some from East High, stood alongside Polis, with several reading aloud a proclamation on Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Day that the governor later signed.

But Polis was not alone in opposing what Here 4 The Kids demanded.

The Denver Post Monday published a letter from state Sens. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, among the leaders of the legislatures gun violence prevention caucus, who wrote: There are certainly folks who want us to pursue more extreme solutions such as an executive order to ban all guns and instituting mandatory buyback programs  but those ideas are unconstitutional and they diminish decades of work by policymakers and activists who have labored tirelessly to stop gun deaths and could undermine and demoralize those efforts going forward.

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners called the movement and Mondays inability to draw 25,000 people as advertised a massive failure.
Over the past six months, the city of Denver has spent $17.3 million to shelter and support more than 11,100 unauthorized immigrants from South and Central America.

Denver has recouped about 25% of the costs.

The city is currently covering costs by using contingency funds and agency budgets, which is not sustainable in the long-term without impacting city services, Denvers Joint Information Center said in a statement.

The only funding the city has received so far to support migrant sheltering operations is a reimbursement award of $3.5 million from the state of Colorado, the city said, adding the federal government has provided $909,000 to Denver and $250,000 to Colorado.

Large numbers of immigrants began quietly arriving last fall. City officials, though, didnt begin tracking the number of new arrivals until a busload of nearly 100 immigrants were dropped off at Union Station in early December.

The influx is emblematic of the U.S. border crisis with Mexico, which has spilled over into Americas interior cities, including Denver.

Denver saw 11,127 immigrants arrive since December 9.

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With the end of the pandemics federal emergency designation on May 11, and Title 42 with it, state and federal officials had anticipated a surge in new arrivals.

City officials received nearly 3,900 immigrants last month alone.

Fewer than 1,000 immigrants came to Denver in April, JIC data shows.

The majority of these immigrants  like those crossing into El Paso, Texas  intend to resettle somewhere else, according to officials.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock has twice declared an emergency in the hopes of receiving state and federal reimbursements for the citys effort.

As of Monday, the city has been reimbursed $3.5 million from the state and $909,000 from the federal government.

Officials continue to request volunteers and donations to help with the response.
About a hundred people sat in stone silence on the Capitol grounds steps leading to Lincoln Street in Denver just after noon on Tuesday.

They didnt talk. Some waved at motorists, who honked their horns in support of their cause  to pressure Gov. Jared Polis into signing an executive order banning all firearms in Colorado and instituting a gun buyback program under an emergency declaration.

The proposed executive order is unconstitutional, something Polis explained in a long missive yesterday.

The 10 minutes of silence was ended with the reading of names of those whose lives have been lost to guns.

The numbers of protesters dropped precipitously between Monday and Tuesday, from over 1,000 to around 200. Those who came Tuesday were joined early in the day by the founders of Here 4 The Kids, Saira Rao and Tina Strawn, according to organizer Wolf Terry.

Among those sitting on the Capitol lawn Tuesday were longtime Denver residents and friends, Carrie Davis and Dana Miller.

Im here again today because my desire to ban guns is the same today as it was yesterday, Davis said.

But Miller is in it for more than this week.

I think that social change of this magnitude ... could take all of our lifetimes (to pass), Miller said.

To expect drastic moves in one 24-hour period is unrealistic, Miller told Colorado Politics, adding, So I think its a realization now that were in this for the long haul.

That realization is, in some ways, an affirmation that playing the long game, often through incremental change, is more realistic than expecting that dayslong sit-in would immediately translate to a radical and, as the governor noted, unconstitutional policy change.

Some allies on the gun issue also argued that what the protesters seek is a shortcut to all of the work that other activists have pursued and built on. They panned the sit-ins goal as extremist.

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There are certainly folks who want us to pursue more extreme solutions such as an executive order to ban all guns and instituting mandatory buyback programs  but those ideas are unconstitutional and they diminish decades of work by policymakers and activists who have labored tirelessly to stop gun deaths and could undermine and demoralize those efforts going forward, said a letter from state Sens. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, who are among the most visible leaders of the Legislatures Gun Violence Prevention Caucus.

On Monday, the governor said he does not have unlimited authority under a disaster declaration, and certainly not one that would suspend either the U.S. Constitution or the Colorado Constitution. In addition, the governor said, he does not have the authority to create a new state law, which is what would be necessary to implement a buyback program, nor does he have the ability to access state funds that are not appropriated by the General Assembly.

Some of the sit-in participants have accused Polis of ignoring their pleas, because he wants to be president.

Both Davis and Miller said they appreciate the work of the more mainstream gun-control groups, such as Colorado Ceasefire or Moms Demand Action, saying the latter have gotten the movement to where it is now, including recent victories for gun control advocates in the signing of five major gun bills.

But kids are still dying, Miller said.

She added that a part of whats fueling the sit-in is a sort of desperation, of not knowing what else to do or what the next step might look like.

Davis, who has lived abroad in countries where she said this is not an issue, said she is asked by friends: How can you live like that? Her response is that they shouldnt have to fear going to the grocery store or movie theater or school. Thats not normal, she said.

While they likely wont get the number they sought earlier in the week, what they will get, Davis said, is a change in the conversation.

That includes conversations between their group and people of color, Miller added. The White women who are showing up at the state Capitol are concerned about Black and Brown and Indigenous children, she said. For them, and for those children, all gun violence is unacceptable, she said.

Terry, however, remains adamant about their demands that Polis sign the executive order, saying baby steps and incremental change are not working. Theyre also adamant that the Legislature pass a ban on assault weapons, too.

While they appreciate the work of other organizations, that work isnt doing the job anymore, Terry claimed.

If you want guns to go away, if you want gun violence to end, if you want our children to stop being murdered, then take a hard look in the mirror and recognize that you have the power to demand what we are demanding, Terry said.

Right now, we are imagining bigger.

The smaller crowd drew this reaction from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners: Where the hell are the 25,000 they promised?
Colorado was built on gold and silver, as showcased by towns all around the state more than a century after the mines went silent. The prospector spirits are particularly felt at a few destinations:

Breckenridge

Among the ski shops and designer names, Breckenridge still maintains its mining heritage. Just look at the Pollock House, Chinese Laundry house or Iowa Hill boarding house  symbols of former life here. People rushed after gold was found in 1859. In 1887, a 13 1/2-pound nugget was unearthed, considered the largest of its kind in Colorado. Up from town, Boreas Pass offers a scenic glimpse into what was a perilous railroading era.

Creede

The town in southwest Colorado is named for Nicholas Creede, who struck silver in 1889 in East Willow Creek Canyon. A tent city popped up around him, and another wave came with word of him selling his mine for $70,000. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad further spurred what became known as Colorados last silver boom town. Now you can drive through East Willow Creek Canyon on the Bachelor Loop, a dive into the past. Dive deeper at Last Chance Mine.

Cripple Creek

Its been called the scene of Colorados last and greatest gold rush. Pikes Peak or bust was the phrase of the day, written across wagons that braved the plains en route to the fields where Bob Womack filed a claim in 1890. Millionaires such as Winfield Scott Stratton would be made, and a city to the east would rise to world renown: Colorado Springs. Like prospectors before, visitors today still test their luck in Cripple Creek  only now at the towns casinos.

Idaho Springs

On Interstate 70, you know exactly where you are when you see the shafts and old mine headquarters preserved on the hillsides. Ragged travelers knew where they were too, after 1859. The gold rush started that year upon George Andrew Jacksons discovery along the banks of Clear Creek. It was the start of Colorados gold rush as a whole, the local historic society maintains, pointing to whats considered the first organization of a mining district.

Leadville

Before Creede, silver was the craze of Leadville. The town had several other names  including Cloud City for its place above 10,000 feet  but Horace Tabor declared it Leadville in 1878 for another rich resource in the area: lead ore. Tabor became one of Colorados mightiest mine kings before the silver bust of 1893. Afterward, Leadville enjoyed another brief boom from gold, and later molybdenum kept the town afloat.
A Thompson man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

According to a release from the United States Attorney's Office, 35-year-old Joey Post pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine Feb. 1 and was sentenced last week.

The release states that between July 2020 and May 2022 Post and others distributed more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine. An individual working with law enforcement bought drugs from Post on several occasions in Swea City.

Post fled the area after being released while awaiting trial and was later arrested in Minnesota. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Kossuth County Sheriffs Office, and Iowa DCI Laboratory.

North Iowa History: Police photos Judge Boynton Check forger in court Kitts & Hardy Kitts trial DeWayne Frampton M.A. Pelham portrait IHP Warren Tilton Fred Buchner, portrait IHP Calvin Anderson portrait Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP H. Jack Lien MCPD portrait Ronald Thielen, MCPD Jim Fountas, MCPD Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD Harold Thomas, MCPD Friederich Langen, IHP MCPD badge #45 for Carey Wendell Stream, IHP Chief Stanley McClintock Al Schloemer portrait Dennis Wasicek portrait Sgt. Wendell Stream Denny Gerdom IHP Carl Condon IHP Sally Hamblin dispatcher Auto theft school Ron Carpenter, portrait C.S. Tyler Roger Brown, IHP Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office Sheriff Jerry Allen Police Station cornerstone Captain Walt Reindl, MCPD Larry Davis, portrait MCPD Michael Montgomery, portrait MCPD New police station New police station Sheriff Jerry Allen, portrait Garvin Ward, portrait Prince Philip, Wes Greenan Judge Butler portrait Auxiliary policemen WWII Chief Patton Chief Risacher Chief Wolf Jewell, Duane 1971 John Wallace Kleinow, Eugene Leo Alstott Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP Patton, EJ 1934 Police and fire chief 1949 Police and Fire depts. police car Police dept PB 40 police patrol car Policecars copy Policecars Police roster 1919 Police roster 1920 polslots1.jpg polslots2.jpg Ray Oulman Ray Oulmanold Risacher Roll call briefing at old station Schiffman and squad car Scott, Greg and Dennis Rye SL195 Remington shells.jpg 2 boys at Sheriff's Office SL1017 Old police station when built.jpg Police station 1930s Dr. Houlahan fingerprinted Boy Scouts at station Blizzard and Highway Patrol Police with new boats Buchanan.jpg Sheriff's convention Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman John Wallace Ed Christianson portrait Pierce with kids John Wallace giving auto instructions Safety meeting G-Man BC Coulter Jack Gordon murderer Abel's wrecked safe Risacher and Wolfe in 1939 Sheriff Tim Phalen Dreher murder suspect Colwell murder Rock Falls bank robbery Allie Allen Murder house Blanchards Jewelry robbery Highway patrolman checking brakes Incendiary pencil demonstration Incendiary pencil Policemen taking tests Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Robbery at Newberry's Klipto safe cracked Ventura bank attempted robbery Robbery at First Methodist Church Police map Glen Wilson Stork at police station Thornton robbery footprint Blackout control center at police station For he's a good fellow Sheriff with two boys Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office Man caught with furs out of season Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter Man with a gun Liquor Vandalized schoolhouse Capture of escaped convicts Brake inspection in front of P.D. Highway Patrolmen with illegal ration books Peace officer conference training Patrol by Junior Chamber of Commerce Attempted jailbreak Highway patrol and Breenan Wolfe and Phalen horse race Wolfe and Phalen horse race Grand Jury Police training on arrest Officials check plans in front of P.D. Officers find ammunition in car Police with guns 1945 Sheriff make big haul of liquor Officer Bruns next to car Highway patrol with booze Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest F.B.I. training session Richard Pierce Portrait Highway patrolmen at accident scene Clear Lake bike accident Electrocution scene Highway patrol with loot Policemen's wives club Wrecked coupe Mott murder scene Police chart Near drowning Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees Policemans wives club Holmes accident Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern Reese IHP Police map Sidewalk DeWilde auto robbery SL33730.jpg Police with Easter Seal Society Police convention Thomas Runyan Thompson, Gerald 1965 Tommy Carroll Untitled-2.jpg Untitled-3 Untitled-4 Verhelst murder case.jpg Wallbaum Walskog1 Walskog2.jpg Zenor police cars
The remains of three victims have been recovered from the collapse, Davenport police chief Jeff Bladel said at a Monday news conference.

He said the police department does not have any information at this time of more people being missing.

Branden Colvin Sr. was found Saturday, Ryan Hitchcock was found Sunday and Daniel Prien was found early Monday morning. Families of all three have been contacted.

The medical examiner has met with the families, Bladel said. There will be autopsies done on all three. He did not say whether the three died immediately upon the collapse.

Inside the doors to the lobby of the Davenport Police Department Monday morning, Desiree Banks, the mother of Branden Colvin, Jr., questioned Bladel after the news conference whether more people could be under the rubble.

Bladel told her in front of a reporter that the remains Prien and Hitchcock had also been found in the rubble, which brought tears to Banks' eyes.

Bladel assured her they knew of no one else who was missing.

Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue chief Rick Halleran said during the press conference that they had brought some closure to families over the weekend, and that crews there may transition to a "new phase in the process."

"As we come into today's operations, following the goals and objectives by the command staff of the city and the incident management team, in all hopes, it looks like we'll be wrapping things up shortly," Halleran said. "That being said, they are still working, things are dynamic, and they still can be changing. The hopes is that we will be entering a new chapter, a new phase in the process of working through the aftermath of the collapse."

Mayor Mike Matson said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was on site and would be touring the wreckage. He cut short the news conference after only a few questions because he was set to update her, Matson said.

The city last held a press conference Friday morning. Over the weekend, family members of Branden Colvin Sr. said they were notified his body was found, the first public disclosure of remains having been found and identified.

A vigil for the victims was held Sunday evening.

Sunday morning the city said that crews had continued working on The Davenport apartments, at 324 Main Street, which collapsed around 5 p.m. May 28. Workers on site now include members of Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue and the Northwest Illinois Incident Management Team.

"This is an active investigation," Bladel said, adding more information would be released when it could be.

Matson said the city is looking into a 911 call which was placed May 27, in which the caller said he had heard the building wall was bulging and could be dangerous.

No other press conference is scheduled for the day.

Photos: One week after the partial collapse of The Davenport
The Clear Lake City Council narrowly approved an asphalt overlay project on South Lakeview Drive by a 3-2 vote Monday.

The project will lay asphalt from 25th Avenue South to approximately the Y intersection with South Shore Drive at a cost of $46,978. Some mill work may also be done if needed. Council members Mike Callanan and Gary Hugi voted against the proposal.

City Administrator Scott Flory and Veenstra & Kim Engineer Jason Petersburg told the council the project should smooth out the road for the next five-to- seven years.

The nay voters cited plans for the city to do a complete reconstruction of that road sometime in the next few years as their main reason for waiting.

"The point I'm trying to make here is, is this just a waste of money?" Callanan asked. "It's navigatable right now. I can get up and down on my bike there quite easily."

The asphalt project is expected to begin in July, but the reconstruction project does not have an exact timeline. Preliminary work has been done by Petersburg on the sanitary sewer and water main systems, but no building plans have been drawn up for reconstruction. Flory said he does not expect the entire reconstruction project to be done in "one shot," but rather in phases.

Flory added that a Department of Transportation grant to do work on East Main Street pushed back the plan to reconstruct South Lakeview Drive. As of now, no DOT grant is expected to be available for the reconstruction.

Petersburg said he and representatives from Heartland Asphalt, who will do the asphalt work, spoke at length about the options. The plan the council voted on was the sixth option and saved almost $30,000 from the first option.

"I think it's a good project. It's a cost efficient way of doing this, and I think it makes a lot of sense."

"I think it's a good project," Councilman Bennett Smith said. "It's a cost efficient way of doing this, and I think it makes a lot of sense."

Schmidt resigns

Clear Lake Director of Finance Creighton Schmidt announced his resignation at Monday's meeting. His last day as a full-time employee for the city will be Friday.

Schmidt told the council he has accepted a position with Marriot International working for its corporate headquarters in a remote position. He said he worked for Marriot for 11 years before spending almost three years working for Clear Lake.

"I've loved doing everything I've done here," Schmidt said. "I've loved all the people I've worked with and loved all the projects I've been a part of. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity."

Schmidt said he plans to remain in Clear Lake and offered to help out on a part-time basis when possible.

See a video of the entire meeting here.

North Iowa history in photos: Mason City street scenes of the early 1900s 1937 Downtown MC.jpg Cigar and peanut wagon on Federal 1909.jpg Parade for the July 4th 1910.jpg 1920 Ford dealeship in Mason Cityr.jpg 1901 Uncle Tom's Cabin Parade MC IA.jpg 1910 Fire Department MC.jpg 1920s Birdsall's Ice Cream Store same location today..jpg 1910busy intersection standard oil wagon.jpg 1920 Commercial Bank on Federal with parked motorcycle.jpg 1915 Charles Hotel at Central Park with Trolley.jpg 1930 2nd St SE and Federal facing North Best.jpg 1915 Iowa Hardware Mutual Office Bldg old metalcraft bldg.jpg 1930s Jefferson Lines buses at the downtown depot MC.jpg 1915 State st North of delaware facing NE2.jpg 1930 East side Federal to State street.jpg 1915 Street scene at Charles Hotel with Trolleyand Olympia Billboard.jpg 1934 buildings being torn down Federal Ave 1.jpg 1918 North Iowa Fair 19th SW at Federal (Southport Mall site.jpg Mason_City_1212.jpg 1919 White Motor Cars on Federal MC.jpg
Against the backdrop of Gun Violence Awareness Day, Danville Police Department Chief Scott Booth made a vow and asked residents in the city to join him.

We, as a community, will do everything that we can to end gun violence, he said at a Friday event sponsored by Mothers Stronger Twogether, an organization with dozens of members who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

No more lost lives, Booth said.

When he was asked to speak, Booth ushered other members of the force to stand with him.

I dont like to talk to you, I like to talk with you, he explained. This is your team, this is your community.

The police chief explained that gun violence touches every corner of society and impacts people of all ages.

It increases death and creates a spike in domestic violence.

It places children and young people at increased risk of physical harm, he said, also noting it disproportionately impacts people of color.

Each year, there are 17,000 gun-related homicides across the United States. When suicides are added, the number leaps to 40,000.

Let that sink in for a second, he said in a somber voice.

You have my word that the men and woman of the Danville Police Department, many of whom stand with me today, will do everything within our power to reduce the number of gun violence incidents in our community and save every life that we can, he said.

But he quickly noted they cant do it alone. Thats why they look for partners  like the Mothers Stronger Twogether organization  elected officials and residents.

So far this year, three homicides in Danville are attributed to gun violence. All victims were men.

People, keep these young men and their families in your thoughts and prayers, he said.

The leading cause of death among Black males ages 17-29 in the United States is gun violence, the Rev. William Avon Keen, pastor at Traynham Grove Baptist Church, said.

Most Black males are killed by a Black male, Keen explained. Most of the time the crimes are committed by people they know.

The police department needs to be commended in Danville just for the reason that they helped reduce the violence in the city, Keen said, referencing the record number of slayings  16  in 2016.

Keen suggested putting whats known as homicide centers in each community of Danville in such places as churches or schools. The idea is to have a place to take young males and talk to them about the value of life, he said.

When we have conflicts in the school or community, thats when they should be brought to the center for conflict resolution. This would help to keep violence from escalating.

Theres also an issue with language that needs to be addressed in the community, Keen said. For example, people will just blurt out Im going to kill you.

Thats a mindset he wants to change.

Mary Barnes, vice president of Mothers Stronger Twogether, said the group works to make Danville a safer place and praised the efforts by Booth and his officers.

There are things that are happening today that no one should go through or experience, she said Friday. Theres a better way of life than what we have seen lately.

The organization formed in 2017 serves as a support group for members, many who have had children killed at the hands of gun violence.

We believe you need to walk the walk, more than talk the talk, Barnes said. It never gets any easier when you learn of lives that are cut short by the tragedy of an untimely, senseless death.

Barnes presented Booth with a Mothers Stronger Twogether shirt and officially made him a member.

Stop the killing, start the healing, Keen repeated at the end of Fridays service.
REIDSVILLE  Carl Lawrence McKinney, born on Flag Day in 1920, was his parents last child born and the first to die.

Newly married, the young Reidsville farmer had yet to start a family with his bride, Earline Parks, when he penned his deliberate signature on his draft card on June 30, 1942.

In fact, the couple had rushed to wed just before McKinney headed out to train for the U.S. Army and earn the rank of private first class.

Reidsville registrar G.C. Roberts of the local Draft Board checked off boxes that summer day, describing McKinneys physical characteristics  the kind of sobering details military personnel use to identify soldiers who perish on battlefields.

Complexion: Ruddy, Hair: Brown: Eyes: Blue. Height 61 Weight: 160 pounds.

Along with one other Rockingham County resident, Pvt. Francis McKinney, 19, of Reidsville, and 37 other North Carolinians, Carl McKinney died on the sands of Normandy on D-Day, roughly two years after he enlisted.

The McKinneys, who are believed to be cousins, likely traveled along the English Channel toward Normandy by boat, riding 6-foot waves and enduring winds of 35 mph that drove rain horizontally.

Francis McKinney was the son of Z.J. McKinney of Reidsville and enlisted in the US Army in February 1942 and was ranked as a private, according the North Carolina State Archives.

Relatives say they wonder how the young men felt that day.

After Allied soldiers like the McKinneys waded through the waist-high surf to the shores in the largest seaborne invasion in history, they faced harrowing obstacles  mines, barbed wire, and tripods placed in the sand by the Germans to impede them.

And thousands were casualties of heavy enemy gunfire from emplacements overlooking the beaches.

Carls body was returned to his parents, said Shirley McKinney of Reidsville, the wife of James Garland McKinney, who is Carls nephew and remembers his funeral.

His body was at his parents house, she said of the Route 1 Reidsville farmhouse where Lula and Joe Bush McKinney raised at least five children. My husband remembers the casket.

Carl McKinney, 23 when he died, is buried at the Thompsonville Baptist Church Cemetery in Reidsville. The burial place for Francis McKinney was not immediately available.

When Carl McKinneys widow reached old age, she gave her husbands Purple Heart and other medals for valor to his nephew, James Garland McKinney, to treasure.

He has since passed the keepsakes to his own grandson, a history buff who will likely keep the story of Carl alive for generations to come, his grandmother said.

We are free today because of the sacrifice made by our men and women on D-Day, said Boyd Bennett, a distant cousin of Carl McKinney and likely a distant relative of Francis McKinney, who calls Madison and Raleigh home.

I have been fortunate to visit the Normandy beaches and the American Cemetery there. It was a humbling experience, Bennett said. I am so proud of the McKinney(s) and their contribution to the security of our country.

For Rockingham County native Brad Bennett, a first cousin, twice-removed of Carl McKinney, his kinsmans sacrifice is exemplary of a time when duty to country was paramount to soldiers, he said.

My great-grandfather and Carls father were brothers, Brad Bennett said. I am proud he did his duty.... I just wish everyone understood what that generation sacrificed so we could all enjoy the life we now have.

A family dedicated to service, many McKinneys fought in WWII and returned home after the war. A photograph of Brad Bennetts grandfather James Ellison McKinney Sr., shows the farmer flanked by sons Francis Marion McKinney and James E. McKinney Jr. while home on leave.

The bravery of the McKinney men who died at Normandy is a reminder of hard-earned freedoms Americans must treasure, said Janelle Johnson, a member of the James Hunter Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a Rockingham County group.

She researched the men tirelessly, producing copies of their draft cards and photos of the men in uniform.

From the time of the American Revolution down to the present, men and women have made sacrifices, some even giving their lives, so that we may all enjoy the freedom that we do today, Johnson said. We must honor those sacrifices by forever remembering and honoring those individuals across our nation, and right here in Rockingham County, to whom we owe so much!
Raleigh  Thursday, Republicans in the Senate filed Senate Bill 747, a bill that will strengthen election laws, increase confidence in election administration, and align North Carolina with 30 other states by establishing Election Day as the firm deadline for accepting absentee ballots.

This is not the first effort made by Republicans in the legislature to address low voter confidence in elections. In 2021, a Cygnal poll found that only 49% of North Carolinians believed the 2022 elections would be free and fair. The legislature passed multiple bills addressing those issues. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed those commonsense bills. More recent polling by Cygnal shows that only 50% of North Carolinians believe our elections will be free and fair, a clear confirmation that voter confidence has not improved.

Senate Bill 747 includes two popular provisions from the vetoed bills. It establishes Election Day as the deadline for accepting absentee ballots, putting North Carolina on equal footing with 30 other states, and it prohibits the North Carolina State Board of Elections, county boards of elections, and county commissioners from accepting private donations for election administration purposes.

Making Election Day the official deadline removes confusion and skepticism from the minds of voters. It will make for a quicker declaration of winners, it aligns us with 30 other states, and it helps North Carolina move past each election cycle with confidence, instead of doubt, Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee Chairman Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) said.

The injection of hundreds of millions of private dollars into the U.S. elections was rightfully scrutinized by many Americans. By putting an end to out-of-state billionaires bankrolling the administration of our elections, we will maintain election integrity and steer clear from the very notion of outside influence, Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee Chairman Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke) said.

Senate Bill 747 will also do the following:

Require the clerk of superior court to notify the NCSBE of individuals disqualified from jury duty because they arent U.S. citizens. The NCSBE will review the report and have the county boards of elections eliminate any noncitizens from North Carolinas voter rolls.

Permit public inspection of absentee ballots at the weekly county boards of elections meetings authorized through Election Day.

Increase the period of time that election records are retained and preserved to 22 months to mirror existing federal legal requirements.

Require precinct officials to log the name of any person that is rendering assistance to a voter.

Voters who utilize same-day registration at an early, in-person voting site will be required to cast a provisional ballot. The ballot will only be accepted if the voter's address can be verified using the regular mailing confirmation and voter verification process that applies to all new voters before polls close on Election Day.

The NCSBE will create and implement a two-factor authentication process for absentee ballots cast by mail, and county boards of elections will use signature verification software to check the signatures of voters using absentee ballots.

We cannot afford to do nothing in the face of low voter confidence. This bill builds on popular legislation that Gov. Cooper vetoed and makes key changes that we believe will assist our elections officials and modernize the administration of elections in North Carolina, Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee Chairman Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) said.
We continue to receive intriguing but incomplete reports about what special counsel Jack Smith was doing a few weeks ago. And while they concern the details of an already obviously powerful case of obstruction and other charges against Donald Trump in the federal classified documents case, they underscore the impression that the case Smith is preparing will be overwhelming.

The latest revelations about the investigation go to the epicenter of the factual case for obstruction of justice and to the heart of Trumps anticipated defenses.

We learned Tuesday that Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran testified to a federal grand jury that he was waved off searching Trumps office while attempting to comply with a subpoena for all classified documents in the former presidents possession. The instruction kept Corcoran from finding more than 100 classified documents that the FBI later seized in a court-ordered search, some of them in the office.

Corcorans testimony some weeks ago indicated that he was therefore materially misled when he was steered away from Trumps office, the Guardian reported.

But by whom? That is the screaming question that the report leaves unanswered.

You can bet, however, that Smith has an answer. The passive voice  was waved off, was materially misled  represents the limits of the reporting, not of the testimony. Corcoran, who is recused from the case as Trumps attorney and must be careful to avoid being ensnared in the same net as his former client, was surely pressed on who exactly waved him off.

And regardless of whether the message was delivered by one or another Trump aide, it is quite likely that the command can be traced to the ex-president. Who else would have the authority to issue such an instruction?

This is potentially the crux of the obstruction case, the moment when Team Trump  and probably Trump himself  broke the law by deciding not to comply with the subpoena and lie about it.

The partial report of Corcorans testimony presages a much more detailed and damning account at trial. It will be augmented by the attorneys 50 pages of contemporaneous notes, which a court has already ruled are probable evidence of criminal conduct by Trump. Corcoran is likely to testify that (a) he told Trump he could not retain any documents with classified markings and (b) he understood that Trump himself had instructed that he need not look in the former presidents office.

Coming from the mouth of Trumps own lawyer, thats killer testimony.

Yet another revelation came Wednesday, when CNN reported the existence of an audio recording of a 2021 meeting in which Trump acknowledges that he retained a classified document about a potential attack on Iran. Equally important, he is heard suggesting that he cant legally share the information with the people he was talking to.

Such a recording would demolish the far-fetched defense Trump has trotted out in public to the effect that he had untrammeled authority to declassify any documents he took. On the contrary, he reportedly admits on the recording that he has classified documents that cant be legally disseminated  refuting any claim that they were automatically declassified by his having taken them.

The Guardian also reported that Trump says on the recording that he should have declassified the document, further undermining Trumps claimed powers of automatic declassification.

Even if Trump was really waving a blank piece of paper at his interlocutors and only pretending it was a classified document, as some commentators have suggested, his own words would demonstrate his awareness of the legal limits.

Team Trump has offered no response to the merits of any of these reports. It has only assailed them as selective leaks from the government, which seems unlikely. That would be a serious and risky transgression by a prosecutor known for playing by the book, and it would accomplish little for the special counsel at this late stage of the case. The accounts read more as if they came from witnesses or people they have spoken to, which is one reason they are incomplete.

The leak accusation is a pale distraction from the bottom line of the reports: that the grand jury heard compelling evidence that the former president probably orchestrated the failure to comply with the subpoena and knew his claims of plenary authority over classified documents were bunk.
A 31-year-old Clancy man has been charged with deliberate homicide in the May 21 death of a 28-year-old man in White Sulphur Springs.

Charges were filed June 5 against Dominic P. Driscoll in the death of Benjamin Andrew Bullington. Fourteenth Judicial District Court Judge Randal I. Spaulding approved charging documents filed by Assistant Attorney General Jordan Salo and Meagher County Attorney Burt Hurwitz, officials said in an email. Preliminary charges were filed against Driscoll in Justice Court soon after the shooting. The matter was moved to District Court on June 5, where formal charges were filed, officials said.

An arraignment before Spaulding has not been set but is expected in the next two weeks, officials said.

Charging documents allege Driscoll and Bullington had been lifelong friends who had been together at the bar Bullington managed until it closed early that morning.

They then went to Bullingtons house until about 4:20 am. Surveillance cameras on Main Street recorded Driscolls pickup returning to the house owned by the Bullington family, where he was staying while working as a night calver.

Bullingtons pickup followed shortly thereafter. The cameras also captured audio of two gunshots. Driscoll called 911 within five minutes of the gunshots and described the incident as an accidental gunshot wound.

Meagher County Ambulance and the Sheriffs Office found Bullington on the driveway outside the house. Driscoll was attempting CPR, officials said.

A .41-caliber revolver was found at the scene, officials said.

The Montana Office of State Public Defender has appointed counsel, officials said. Driscoll is eligible for bail, which is set at $250,000.

Driscoll remains in custody at the Broadwater County Detention Center.

The investigation, supported by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, is ongoing.

People with information about this incident are asked to contact the Meagher County Sheriff's Office at (406) 547-3397 as soon as possible.
A Missoula man already serving a life sentence at Montana State Prison pleaded guilty Tuesday to an assault on correctional officers that left one with a traumatic brain injury and broken ribs.

Augustus Standing Rock, 31, was one of two defendants handed life sentences in 2019 for their respective roles in murdering, dismembering and attempting to dissolve their victims in 2017. Standing Rock killed one of the victims for allegedly sexually assaulting someone close to him; his co-defendant, Tiffanie Pierce, killed the other victim as they tried to escape the scene, Standing Rock told a judge in 2019.

Standing Rock was attempting to "corrupt" a state prison sergeant, who wrote him up for the effort, the Montana Attorney General's Office said in a press release Tuesday. In January 2022, he attacked the sergeant "in retribution," as well as the other officers who attempted to subdue him.

The sergeant he attacked was later diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and broken ribs. The attorney general's office said in Tuesday's statement Standing Rock also bit, head butted and punched the officers who responded to the assault.

In February 2022, the Attorney General's Office charged Standing Rock with aggravated assault and three counts of assault on a peace officer. Standing Rock pleaded guilty Tuesday to all four charges in exchange for Assistant Attorney General Patrick Moody's recommendation of another life sentence with a 40-year parole restriction, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until he is 71 years old, the attorney general's office said.

Montana correctional officers risk their safety every day in order to enforce rules and keep order within our jails and prisons, and I am grateful for the work they do, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in a press release. This case, involving multiple correctional officers injured and a sergeant with a traumatic brain injury, should never have happened, but I am glad justice is being served. My office will continue to seek justice and protect the safety of the men and women working in correctional facilities.

The day after the attack, Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin was speaking to an interim legislative committee when he raised the sergeant's injuries as a consequence of the prison's ongoing struggle with maintaining staffing levels.

Along with pay raises for correctional officers and other state employees, the Montana Legislature this year passed House Bill 817, a $200 million dollar proposal that set out several infrastructure projects at Montana State Prison outside Deer Lodge. Several capital projects on the list were deemed serious needs for the safety of correctional officers, such as a red-light emergency notification system and a complete replacement of the low-security housing units with a design that would allow officers better vision of the facility.

The bill also carried a controversial $8 million allocation for the state to contract with a private prison firm and transfer 120 inmates out of the state prison to ease capacity issues throughout the system.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed that bill into law Monday.
The state Supreme Court has ruled the Montana Department of Corrections had established cause to terminate its former human resources director who had alleged she was wrongfully fired from the position.

The May 30 ruling upholding a district court decision was unanimous from the five justices who decided the matter.

"The department appreciates the Montana Supreme Courts decision in this case," a DOC spokesperson said Monday. "We are disappointed, however, that the state had to waste valuable taxpayer resources defending this meritless claim."

Kila Shepherd was fired from her post as HR director in August 2018. The dispute, which took place under the previous administration, originated earlier that year when Shepherd reportedly recorded a conversation between department leadership and an employee regarding a potential disciplinary issue.

Months later, the governor's office under former Gov. Steve Bullock initiated an "organizational assessment" of the corrections department and news of the recorded meeting triggered an investigation into Shepherd, according to court filings.

Then-Director Reginald Michael and Cynthia Wolken, who remains deputy director of the department, told an investigator they were unaware Shepherd had recorded the conversations. They said Shepherd repeatedly failed to share the recording transcript, although Michael had twice asked for it.

Shepherd, according to court documents, gave the investigator inconsistent statements about why she recorded the meeting and where she stored the recording file, which the investigator believed undermined Shepherd's trustworthiness and integrity required to continue in a managerial position.

Shepherd filed a discrimination claim with the Montana Human Rights Bureau after her termination, alleging she was terminated for complaining about sexual harassment by Michael and for seeking an investigation into those claims against Michael, according to MTN News' reporting at the time.

Several women working in the department have come forward with sexual harassment allegations against Michael. In October the state ordered the Department of Corrections to pay Adrianne Cotton, former government relations director, $413,000 for her discrimination claim that arose from her own termination. Cotton was terminated from her job in November 2018; the DOC argued her elimination was part of a reorganization and budget savings effort. Cotton claimed she was fired after she reported to the department's human resources office several comments by Michael she believed to be inappropriate.

Both the Montana Human Rights Bureau and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission denied Shepherd's retaliation claim, finding she had presented to "no reasonable cause." Shepherd took the matter to district court, where a judge ruled her inconsistent statements were "good cause" for her termination and that Shepherd had failed to provide evidence showing her termination was retaliatory.

Shepherd's attorney did not respond to an email Monday afternoon seeking comment on the ruling.
DECATUR  Decatur Public Schools are still waiting for a report from a second structural engineer who has examined the two Dennis School buildings, and the two campuses will remain closed until further notice, officials have announced.

The affected staffers were notified by email and robocall Monday afternoon, district spokeswoman Denise Swarthout said.

Superintendent Rochelle Clark will share an update as soon as the district receives and reviews the report, she added, which was expected on Monday but has not yet been delivered. She had no estimate on when it might be delivered.

Administrators and secretaries normally work at least through the month of June, while custodial and maintenance staff complete deep cleaning and other such tasks after students have left for the summer.

Custodians have been reassigned temporarily to other district buildings, Swarthout said, and teachers' last day was May 30. The administrators and secretaries can do their work remotely.

The district announced May 31 that it was temporarily closing the two buildings "to further assess structural concerns" and told staffers to work elsewhere through Monday. That announcement came a day after classes ended for the school year. Dennis' two campuses are the Mosaic campus, 1499 W. Main St., and the Kaleidoscope campus, 520 W. Wood St.

Swarthout said last week that the district had contacted a structural engineer in the spring to look at the buildings, both because the district already knew there were issues and because administrators and staff had voiced concerns, but May 30 was the first opening in that engineer's schedule to examine the buildings.

Discussions have been ongoing about the condition of both Dennis buildings for more than a year, and in 2022, the district pursued a plan to build a new building for Dennis that would house students under one roof.

The school board considered and rejected the site of the former Woodrow Wilson Junior High which is in the west end, Dennis' boundary neighborhood, and attempted to make a deal with the Decatur Park District to buy Lincoln Park instead, but the park district decided not to sell. No other suitable site was available within the Dennis boundary.

Ultimately the board decided to use the former Oak Grove School site, still owned by the district though the building has been demolished, to build a new magnet school which was designated to house American Dreamer STEM Academy, now located on North Taylor Avenue. There were also concerns with that building. American Dreamer is a magnet school, so its location is not dependent upon boundaries, whereas Dennis is a neighborhood school.

Officials have said the district doesn't have enough information to know the extent of the issues at the two buildings, which are the oldest still in use in the district. Until they know more, it's impossible to speculate on next steps.

With over 500 students in those two buildings, and the first day of the 2023-24 school year scheduled for Aug. 14, time is a factor.

 Class is in: These former Decatur school buildings are still in use Brush College School Durfee School Jones School Lakeview High School Roosevelt Jr. High Salem School Spencer School St. James School
FORSYTH  A Forsyth man is facing charges he stalked Decatur City Councilman Ed Culp and his wife and was also illegally in possession of live ammunition.

Jonathan W. Hovey, 51, is accused of showing up on the afternoon of May 16 at the Macon County Law Enforcement Training Center where Culp is the director of training.

A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said Hovey had asked for him by name and made strange statements about wanting to teach while bragging about skill sets that included being able to hide.

The affidavit said Hovey claimed he knew Culp because his stepchildren had gone to school with Culps son, and Culp is quoted as telling police that he realized he had heard of Hovey.

Edward was still adamant that he never had contact with Jonathan, but knew who he was because Jonathan had been in the news after he was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting young children in McLean County, said the affidavit, signed by Officer Clayton Zilz.

Edward advised after he realized who he was, he quickly ended the meeting with Jonathan and escorted him out of the building.

Culp is quoted as saying he watched Hovey drive away in a baby blue-colored Mercedes sport utility vehicle. At home and mowing his grass later the same day, Culp said he saw the SUV head up his 250-foot-long driveway to his home before reversing quickly.

Zilz said Culp confronted Hovey and believed the defendant had followed him home from work. Later, he told his wife what had happened.

Edward advised (she) turned pale and told him that she had received a phone call from a Jonathan Hovey earlier in the day, said Zilz. Edward advised he has children and grandchildren and was very distressed about what had taken place with Jonathan and with Jonathan calling his wife.

Zilz said police later met with Hovey who claimed he had been seeking a job at the training center but the meeting did not go well.

Hovey said he had worked out where Culp lived from looking at social media sites and had found his wifes phone number on the Internet. His call to her cell phone had not been answered.

Jonathan advised he went to Culps house to prove that he was good at finding people, Zilz added. Jonathan acknowledged this was a very bad decision.

Jonathan claimed he had no ill-intent towards Culp or his family. When officers asked Jonathan how he would feel if the roles were reversed and someone did to him what he did to Culp, Jonathan replied he would be fearful that they were out to get him.

Hovey was arrested and, when officers searched his vehicle, they found a live 9mm bullet and a live 12 gauge shotgun shell in the glove box; the defendant, who has no FOID card, is quoted as saying he had found the ammunition on the ground.

The charges against him include two counts of the illegal possession of ammunition and one charge of stalking causing a person distress.

Zilz said police ran a background check and found that Hovey is currently out on bond related to a charge of rape filed in Nashville, Tennessee.

Hovey was arraigned in Macon County Circuit Court on May 25 and is now being held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $100,000, requiring him to post a bond of $10,000 to be freed.

He is due back in court Tuesday where his defense attorney, Mark Morthland, will plead a motion in front of Judge Lindsey Shelton seeking a reduction in the amount of bail.

If Hovey does bond out of jail, the conditions of bail will order him to stay away from Culp, his wife, their home and the law enforcement training center.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park
BRISTOL, Va.  A total of 18 candidates responded to the citys search for a new school superintendent and board members on Monday narrowed that list to five finalists.

Board members met in private with officials from the Virginia School Board Association  which managed the search and performed background checks on the candidates, board Chair Randy Alvis said Monday afternoon.

I think were moving along nicely. We had some really good candidates and were going to interview five and that will be next week, Alvis said. Were going to try and get first and second interviews done next week, if possible.

It sounds like were being aggressive but, with vacations people have scheduled, if we dont try to get it done by the end of the next week its going to be the end of June before we can all get together again, Alvis said.

The board launched its search in mid-April when current Superintendent Keith Perrigan announced he accepted a similar position with neighboring Washington County Virginia Public Schools. He starts there July 1.

The field of 18 included three current or former superintendents, nine central office administrators, three principals or building level administrators and three others. The field included 11 men and seven women from six states with 10 applicants from Virginia.

Out-of-state applications came from Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Mexico, Tennessee and Indiana.

Familiarity with Virginia school operations was one of the key considerations when board members discussed priorities at their May meeting.

Each board member entered Mondays meeting with a top-five list of candidates, based on the materials they were provided, and most contained many of the same names, Alvis said.

The ones were bringing in really set themselves apart from the others, in our opinion, for our school system and what we need, Alvis said.

The board was less enthusiastic about candidates who werent currently working for a school system.

The climate of schools changes so fast, if youve not been in a building they youre behind. I think weve got some really good candidates, Alvis said. VSBA was very helpful. They have a lot of insight. Theyve done several searches this spring and summer and they really vet candidates.

Alvis said the board will work together to hire the right candidate.

Its a decision all five of us need to be there. All five of us need to be there and be a part of every interview, he said.

When the process began, VSBA officials warned it might be August or September before the process could be completed, their selection give proper notice and actually begin work.

Alvis, who expressed optimism it could occur sooner, said that is still his wish.

Depending on who is chosen, if theyre local, maybe they can start sooner than August or September and that would be good too, Alvis said.

While the class of 2023 just walked out of Virginia High School, preparations for the next school year are already underway and will ramp up by mid-July and classes begin in mid-August.

Central office doesnt really stop. They work year around. You typically have a little lull in June, making some last minute hires  the last positions are being filled, Alvis said. By the second week of July youre really gearing up to get back in the buildings.
A recent Charlotte Observer article concerning the proposed voucher legislation quoted a Republican N.C. legislator with the following statement: I hold it is felonious; it is heinous. It is egregious to mandate that a child be in a school where that child is not afforded the same safety we have here in this body. He further stated that it would be sacrificing children to make them stay in unsafe and understaffed public schools. I find the hypocrisy of this statement appalling.

What makes a school safe? Lets start with a curriculum that is engaging and relevant. I will not even go into the legislation that restricts the content of studies and discourages honest, critical thinking in the classroom. I do know from experience that when we have teachers that are well-trained and high-performing in their fields, and the students are eager and excited about learning, there are fewer discipline problems.

The proposed Senate budget has a 4.5% increase in teachers salaries over a two-year period. Teachers with more than 14 years of experience receive a $250 bonus. Can those figures be any more humiliating to teachers who work overtime to teach our children? According to the May 2023 report from the National Education Association (NEA), North Carolinas average starting salary is $37,646. The average teacher salary is $56,559. That's $12,000 less than the national average. Does this help explain our teacher shortages and why many leave North Carolina to teach in nearby states where salaries are higher? Research shows that the single most important school factor for student success is a strong, high-performing teacher, and yet our legislators choose to continue inadequate funding for the most important factor in the classroom.

Another safety factor is definitely understaffing. The legislator is correct; it is an abomination that we do not have adequate staffing in our schools. We need guidance counselors, media specialists, resource personnel, nurses, ESL teachers, music, art, drama, physical education, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and the list goes on. Why are our schools understaffed? Lets consider the $677 million from the Leandro court ruling that still has not been used for funding schools that need it. The legislature will not approve those court-mandated appropriations, but lawmakers easily justify additional millions for increasing private school vouchers.

Senate Bill 406 will eliminate income eligibility for private vouchers, providing up to a 45% scholarship for students, and there is no cap on income eligibility. In 2022-23 there were about 25,500 students who received vouchers, according to WRAL news through NC State Education Assistance Authority. These students leave the public school system and impact the funding for schools that depend on average daily membership for state funds. The irony is that most families, even with a voucher, cannot afford a private school when the average tuition is almost $10,000 a year.

In addition, some private schools have clear discriminatory restrictions for admission and have no public accountability for student achievement. There is also a proposal, through SB 665, that would allow home-schooled students to receive vouchers. How does that work? Parents are being paid through our taxes to teach their children at home? I have no problem with the concept of private schools that are inclusive or home schooling. Parents definitely have the freedom and right to use these options. However, I do have a problem with taxes being used to offset the cost of that choice when our public schools suffer as a result of the diversion of those funds.

One of the hallmarks of our democracy has always been the focus and emphasis on an educated populace. Education is one of the most important, and some would argue the most important, function of state and local government. To abdicate our responsibility to educate all students is unacceptable. Yet I fear that our legislature is doing just that by diverting needed funds from public education and not providing the necessary funding and support for recruiting and maintaining highly qualified staff.

I urge citizens to write your legislators and encourage them to vote against SB 406 and to make public education the priority it should be by funding our schools and teachers so that no legislator can say that NC is sacrificing children in unsafe and understaffed learning environments.

Betty Lohr, Hickory
The on-site symposium on the joint meeting mechanism of the Hunan Universities and Overseas Chinese Federation was held in Hengyang.

On May 25th, the 2023 "Campus and Local CooperationGathering Overseas Chinese to Revitalize Hunan" activity and the on-site symposium on the mechanism of the Joint Meeting of Universities and Overseas Chinese Federation Work were held in Hengyang, Hunan Province. Sun Minsheng, Secretary of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, attended and delivered a speech. Chen Xiaofei, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hengyang Normal University, delivered a welcoming speech. Hu Xuyang, member of the Standing Committee of the Hengyang Municipal Party Committee, Minister of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee, and Minister of the United Front Work Department of the Municipal Party Committee, attended and delivered a speech.

"The work of overseas Chinese federations in universities throughout Hunan reflects comprehensiveness, coordination, innovation, focus, and contribution, playing a positive role in local and university development." Sun Minsheng pointed out that it is necessary to correctly evaluate the achievements of overseas Chinese federations in universities, understand the problems existing in them, promote the glorious tradition and mission of overseas Chinese, organize activities with "overseas Chinese" characteristics, and enhance the awareness of "overseas Chinese" and the sense of belonging to the organization of overseas Chinese federations. We must correctly grasp the key points of university overseas Chinese federations, fully understand the importance of university overseas Chinese federations work, build a good platform for university overseas Chinese federations work, and make the joint meeting mechanism work an important support point for the development of university overseas Chinese federations. The overseas Chinese federation of universities should fully play its role, vigorously carry out census operations, understand the situation of overseas Chinese, understand the needs of the masses, and unite the overseas Chinese community.

Hengyang Overseas Chinese Federation and Hengyang Normal University Overseas Chinese Federation signed a cooperation framework agreement.

At the meeting, the Hengyang Overseas Chinese Federation and the Hengyang Normal University Overseas Chinese Federation signed a cooperation framework agreement. The Hengyang Normal University Overseas Chinese Federation shared their organizational construction work and experience in the construction and management of the "Overseas Chinese Home".

Awarded the "Typical Selection Unit for the 'Overseas Chinese Home' in the National Federation of Overseas Chinese from 2021 to 2022".
MTI-Nepsva;

USA;FBI;Moscow;agent;spy;death;

2023-06-06 08:57:00

Robert Hanssen was named the most harmful spy by the FBI. The man previously received almost $1.5 million from his clients in exchange for state secrets in the form of cash, wire transfers and diamonds.

American authorities found Robert Hanssen dead in prison on Monday, who admitted at his trial that he had spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia for more than 20 years as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The penitentiary did not disclose the cause of death, only saying that they tried to revive Hanssen, but were unsuccessful.

Hansen was called the most damaging spy by the FBI. The man, who died at the age of 79, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002. Robert Hanssen joined the FBI in 1976 and began passing classified information to Soviet intelligence in 1979. He was detained in 2001. By then, he had already received almost $1.5 million from his clients in exchange for state secrets in the form of cash, wire transfers and diamonds. In the course of his activities, Hanssen exposed several FBI sources, introduced the Soviets and Russians to intelligence methods, and also handed over secret documents to them. The FBI spent years trying to identify who the spy was; in the weeks before his arrest, 300 people were already working at the agency to monitor Hanssen. In the end it was worth it; he was detained when he left secret documents for his clients at an agreed place in a park.

Robert Hanssen served his life sentence in one of the highest security prisons in the state of Colorado.
Almost unchecked abuse of migrant workers created a situation where up to 1 in 6 recent migrants to Australia were being paid less than the minimum wage, government ministers have said while introducing major reforms to protect temporary visa holders.

The new reforms, which will be introduced into Parliament in coming weeks, will include measures designed to penalise unscrupulous employers who have, Minister for Home Affairs Clare ONeil said, routinely exploited low-wage workers.

Over the last ten years our migration system has drifted deeper and deeper into reliance on low-paid temporary migrant workers who we know are routinely exploited, she said as the new changes were announced.

The fact that this has been happening almost unchecked in our migration system is a reflection on the competency and values of the former government.

The new measures will include making it a criminal offence to coerce someone into breaching their visa conditions; increasing penalties and new compliance tools to deter exploitation; and providing for prohibition notices that can be issued to employers found to have exploited migrants, preventing them from hiring any other people on temporary visas.

The measures will also repeal s235 of the Migration Act  which, the ministers said, actively undermines people reporting exploitative behaviour for fear of losing their visa status  and include whistleblower protections that let migrants expose and leave exploitative employers without fear of reprisal.

Government ministers will consult with business, unions and civil society regarding the structure of the protections, as well as working to strengthen the operational firewall that keeps the Fair Work Ombudsman and Department of Home Affairs at arms length.

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles said the changes were crucial to addressing what he called a crisis of exploitation.

When migrant workers are being underpaid, it hurts all of us, he said, driving wages and conditions down for everyone. These reforms will help workers speak up and target those employers who do the wrong thing.

A $50 million funding boost will support Australian Border Force efforts to enforce the new controls.

A fair deal for all

The changes  which come in the wake of a temporary decision to allow workers on student visas to work more than 40 hours per fortnight without losing their visas  could be a game-changer for stopping the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia  if they are effectively designed, said associate professor Bassina Farbenblum, co-executive director of the Migrant Justice Institute and UNSW Faculty of Law and Justice.

For the first time, migrant workers could safely address wage theft and walk away from employers who exploit them without risking their visa.

Dodgy employers will no longer be able to assume that international students and other migrants will suffer in silence if theyre underpaid or abused.

There were 1.639 million temporary visa holders in Australia on Census night in August 2021, according to the ABS  with carers and aides, road and rail drivers, cleaners and laundry workers, sales assistants and salespersons, and food trades most represented.

Australian authorities granted 39,460 temporary skilled visa applications in the first three quarters of this financial year, according to Home Affairs statistics  a 73 per cent year-on-year increase  with 67,470 primary visa holders in the country as of 31 March.

This includes 4,410 software engineers, 2,250 ICT business analysts, 1,950 developer programmers, 1,400 management consultants, and 870 analyst programmers  a strong showing for an ICT industry that has come to rely on a steady flow of technology and management expertise to fill gaps in domestic supply of skills.

Strengthening the protection of their visas conditions will be crucial in righting the gross power imbalance between employers and the students and professionals they hire, Democracy in Colour national director Neha Madhok said as the policy changes were announced.

Australias economy continues to rely on the work of migrants, international students, and others on temporary visas, yet migrants arent afforded the same protections as all Australians, she said.

Without real change, she said, employers know they can continue practices like wage theft and breaching fair work laws because the visa statuses of migrant workers are not protected or secure. The government must ensure that all reforms to the migration system truly protect migrant workers and treat everyone in Australia with dignity.
CHARLOTTE  Dr. Declan Walsh, Hemby Family Endowed chair in Supportive Oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, is set to receive the prestigious 2023 Walther Cancer Foundation Endowed Supportive Oncology Award at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting June 2-6, in Chicago. This esteemed honor recognizes distinguished leaders who have made significant contributions to palliative and supportive oncology care.

As a strong advocate for supportive oncology, Walsh's work has focused on improving the quality of life for cancer patients by managing treatment-related suffering. His pioneering efforts in integrating various supportive services, including palliative medicine, cancer rehabilitation and psycho-oncology into a single department, has markedly transformed cancer patient care.

"In our department, we recognize that every patient is an individual with unique needs and concerns, said Walsh. Weve aimed to create an environment that offers comprehensive support, addressing everything from malnutrition to psycho-oncological needs. This recognition from the Walther Cancer Foundation highlights the significance of our mission, inspiring us to further innovate and enhance patient care."

In 1987, Walsh launched the first palliative care program in the U.S. at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. There, he developed acute care and home care services to assist patients and their families with decision-making, complication management and symptom control.

His significant work in palliative care served as a springboard to address the more complex challenges faced by cancer patients. By 2017, with support from Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, he created the first-ever department of supportive oncology that integrates services such as rehabilitation, nutrition, surgical oncology rehabilitation and survivorship.

Dr. Walsh's visionary leadership and dedication to patients' well-being has put Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute on the map as a paragon of integrated cancer care, said Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, president and executive director of Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Walsh's research on malnutrition, a pervasive, yet underrecognized problem among cancer patients, is paving the way for more effective interventions to improve patients nutritional status.

At Levine Cancer Institute, patients with cancer undergo comprehensive distress screening at the time of diagnosis, facilitating early intervention and tailored care from specialists within the department of supportive oncology. This proactive approach has enhanced patient outcomes, demonstrating the significant benefits of integrated cancer care.

"Looking toward the future, our goal is to share the lessons we've learned and the model we've created with health care systems, both in the U.S. and globally, said Walsh. We want to see this type of comprehensive, supportive care become the standard for cancer treatment worldwide. This award propels us forward in that endeavor."

Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center are poised to play a significant role in the 2023 ASCO conference, where physicians will share groundbreaking research findings on the latest diverse cancer studies, which could lead to improved treatments and enhanced patient care. The involvement of these esteemed institutes underscores Atrium Healths commitment to advancing cancer care, sharing its knowledge and driving meaningful discussions within the global oncology community.

About Atrium Health

Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the fifth-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health.
CHARLOTTE  UNC Charlotte introduced government officials, and economic development and industry partners to two growing research areas of focus: predicting health and environmental risk and next-generation battery research during an open house on Monday, June 5.

During the Powering the Future event, guests toured North Carolinas Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center, or BATT CAVE, and visited the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks, or CIPHER.

At UNC Charlotte, we are embracing our vision as an emerging top-tier, world-class research university, said John Daniels, interim vice chancellor of research. This is needed to support the industries and communities in our fast-growing region. Both CIPHER and BATT CAVE represent the innovative, interdisciplinary team-based research youll find only at Charlotte.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who spoke at the event, said, This is an exciting opportunity. We are at a convergence point and everything this University has done since I have been involved in politics is proving that the bets you all wanted us to place are returning incredible value. Youve been good stewards of taxpayer dollars and are graduating capable people. This is just another incredible success story that we have to continue to build on.

BATT CAVE: Meeting a Critical Need

Part of the William States Lee College of Engineering, BATT CAVE is the only university-led research center in the state focused on advancing the fast-growing field of battery technology, safety and electrification research. This research is directly applicable to vehicles, in particular electric vehicles, and all systems dependent on clean energy use.

Electric vehicle manufacturing is projected to increase 17% over the next decade, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States as well as North Carolina. In 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly made an investment of more than $40 million to renovate research center facilities, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and hire additional faculty  all of which will support an expanded talent pipeline of skilled engineers prepared to meet the industry demand. With this investment and its position in the midst of the states EV and battery, mining, processing and manufacturing economy, UNC Charlotte continues to lead transformational energy research and talent production.

Jun Xu, an internationally recognized battery safety and modeling expert, serves as BATT CAVEs director. Xu and his team of faculty and graduate-level students base their experiential learning and research activity at the BATT CAVE facility on UNC Charlottes research campus, near the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, EPIC, an established leader in energy research.

Demonstrations during the BATT CAVE portion of the tour included an EV race car developed and fabricated by students in 49ers Racing; wireless power transfer designed for rail transportation introduced for Belmont Trolley; and PoleVolt, a universal charging solution designed for installation on street-side light poles, developed in partnership with EPIC, Duke Energy, the City of Charlotte and Centralina Regional Council.

CIPHER: Creating a safer future

CIPHER builds upon the Universitys rapidly growing success in bioinformatics, which has been crucial to understanding the health risks of variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. This research also includes the nationally award-winning development of a novel COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program. CIPHER brings together experts in public health, viral discovery, genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence to combat threats to human health.

The General Assembly awarded CIPHER $9 million in federal CARES Act funding in 2020  the largest state appropriation for research in Charlottes history  to support COVID-19 research and testing and for the development and analysis of genomic and epidemiological data to address the spread of infectious diseases, assess treatments and therapeutics, and combat the pandemic and future microbial threats.

CIPHER, part of the College of Computing and Informatics, has 25,000-square feet of research space, including eight wet labs and 14 computational labs. The center comprises 48 researchers, and 23 interdisciplinary scientists from across the University, plus scientists from other UNC System schools, and visiting scientists from national and international universities. The areas of expertise include computer science, bioinformatics, genomics software and information systems, biological sciences, math, geography, public health, data science, education and communications.

Co-directed by Dan Janies, the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Bioinformatics and Genomics, and Adam Reitzel, professor of biological sciences, CIPHER researchers use computing and genomics technologies synergistically to study emergent viruses and durable problems  including vector (tick and mosquito) borne diseases, antibiotic resistance, fungal diseases, food safety, disease surveillance and failing ecosystem health.

Demonstrations during the CIPHER portion of the tour included bat, tick-borne disease and sea anemone research to help better understand viruses and other diseases.
Data theft using a zero-day in the secure managed file transfer software MOVEit Transfer has been claimed to be carried out by the Cl0p ransomware group, with the incidents starting on 27 May.

The vulnerability was announced by the company that makes the software, Progress Software Corporation on 31 May, according to a post from the Google-owned Mandiant security firm.

Security outfit Rapid7 said in a blog post that the vulnerability, which initially did not have a CVE, was a SQL injection flaw that allowed remote attackers to gain unauthorised access to MOVEit Transfer's database.

"The advisory notes that 'depending on the database engine being used (MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, or Azure SQL), an attacker may be able to infer information about the structure and contents of the database in addition to executing SQL statements that alter or delete database elements...exploitation of unpatched systems can occur via HTTP or HTTPS'," the post said.

The claim about Cl0p being behind the attacks was made by the website Bleeping Computer, whichit had been told by a representative of the group that servers at multiple firms had been breached and data stolen.

Known victims appear to be in Europe, with Aer Lingus and British payroll and HR solutions provider Zellis confirming they had been hit, the site said A third affected company was British Airways, the CIA-backed site The Record claimed.

Satnam Narang, senior staff research engineer at security shop Tenable, commented: Recent reports suggest that exploitation of the zero-day vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer is attributed to the Cl0p ransomware group.

"This isnt surprising when you consider that this falls under the modus operandi of Cl0p: they were also responsible for exploiting zero-days in other file transfer solutions like CVE-2023-0669 in GoAnywhere earlier this year, and four Acellion vulnerabilities (CVE-2021-27101, CVE-2021-27102, CVE-2021-27103, CVE-2021-27104) in late 2020.

Cl0p has been around since 2019, and while the group has operated using double extortion tactics (data encryption and exfiltration with threat to publish stolen data), theyve slowly pivoted towards a focus on data exfiltration, as evidenced in the targeting of file transfer solutions.

"In the grand scheme of things, data encryption alone is not enough of an incentive for victim organisations to pay exorbitant ransom demands.

"However, data exfiltration and threats to publish stolen data hold much more weight and are largely what has powered double extortion and ransomware groups to find so much success.

The writing is on the wall; file transfer solutions are a prime target for the Clop ransomware group, and they are likely to seek out their next target for exploitation in the near future.

The Rapid7 post said there were roughly 2500 instances of MOVEit Transfer exposed to the public Internet, with most being in the US.
Legislation allowing civilian investigators to handle minor traffic accidents was broadened Tuesday to provide statewide coverage by an N.C. Senate committee.

The latest version of House Bill 140 also removes a three-year pilot program condition that was a part of securing a 113-4 House vote on May 3.

The bill advances to the gatekeeper Senate Rules and Operations committee, which will address it at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The bill would go into effect when signed into law.

Before the Senate State and Local Government amended HB347, the pilot applied to just Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington and Greenville.

Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Haywood, said he supported the amendment because several municipalities in my district were interested in this.

HB140 has primary sponsors that include Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, and Reps. John Faircloth and Jon Hardister, R-Guilford.

It was the first Senate consideration of civilian traffic investigators legislation. A similar bill in 2021 cleared the House, but was not taken up by a Senate committee.

We tried this bill a couple of years ago and more communities have seen the need for civilian traffic investigators, said Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford.

Robinson said that Greensboro police chief John Thompson told her he was willing to provide gas and collision-clearing equipment, such as a vehicle jack.

Thompson told the committee the Greensboro Police Department is struggling to fill 130 vacancies ... so this kind of legislation will allow us to utilize other resources so that we can potentially provide a better service to our citizens.

Background

The focus of HB140 is allowing municipalities to hire and utilize those investigators to address accidents involving only property damage, including authority to have a vehicle towed or removed from the accident site if it is obstructing a public street or highway.

Representatives from the N.C. Association of Chiefs of Police have said the membership is in favor of HB140.

The civilian traffic investigators bill was included in the City Councils 2023 legislative priorities package, which was approved by council on Nov. 14, Winston-Salem city attorney Angela Carmon said in March.

Faircloth said that includes allowing sheriff offices to utilize the investigators as well.

Faircloth said that ideally retired law-enforcement officers would be among those recruited to serve as civilian investigators.

Civilian investigators would not be allowed to write citations in HB140.

Faircloth said that civilian investigators would be able to call in law enforcement  either in person or by video conference  if a citation is warranted.

Main HB140 details

According to HB140, a report completed by a civilian traffic investigator shall be treated the same as if it were completed by a law enforcement officer.

However, only law enforcement would be able to investigate a crash involving alcohol, personal injury or a fatality.

Civilian traffic investigators would be issued credentials, but no badges or weapons, by the city. They would wear a uniform color substantially different in color and style from a local police officer.

The civilian traffic investigator would be required to produce those credentials when requested by a member of the public involved in or a witness to a crash.

Their vehicle may have emergency equipment and lights installed, but shall not use blue lights in any manner or form. Red and amber lights are permissible.

According to state statute 20-166.1, if a motor vehicle accident happens in a city or town, drivers are required to call the local police department. If the accident occurs outside a city or town, drivers must call the N.C. Highway Patrol or the county sheriffs office.

The latest version requires the N.C. Justice Academy develop a uniform statewide training program for civilian traffic investigators.
WAR IN UKRAINE

KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian forces made a major effort to end a battlefield stalemate and punch through Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second day Monday, in what may herald the start of a long-anticipated counteroffensive after 15 months of war.

Russian officials seemed to be trying to portray the Ukrainian attacks as the start of the counteroffensive, saying that Moscow's forces foiled at least one assault. While not explicitly confirming such a large-scale effort, Kyiv authorities said their forces were indeed increasing offensive operations and making gains, but suggested some of the Russian announcements were misinformation.

Vladimir Rogov, an official in the Russia-backed administration of Ukraine's partly occupied Zaporizhzhia province, said fighting resumed on its border with the eastern Donetsk province on Monday after Russian defenses beat back a Ukrainian advance the previous day.

"The enemy threw an even bigger force into the attack than yesterday (Sunday)," and the new attempt to break through the front line was "more large-scale and organized," Rogov said, adding: "A battle is underway."

Rogov interpreted the Ukrainian military movements as part of an effort to reach the Sea of Azov coast and sever the land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Analysts have long viewed that strategy as likely because it would cut the Russian forces in two and severely strain supplies to Crimea, which has served as a key Russian military hub in the war that started Feb. 24, 2022.

Rogov's comments came after Moscow also said its forces thwarted large Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk province, near its border with the Zaporizhzhia province.

Reacting to Russia's declarations that it repelled Ukrainian offensives, a U.S. official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters: "We have no reason to believe any Russian action has had any spoiling effect on pending or ongoing Ukraine operations."

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the Ukrainian military has scored gains.

"Despite fierce resistance and attempts of the enemy to hold the occupied lines and positions, our units moved forward in several directions during the fighting," she said.

Malyar drew no distinctions between phases of the war, insisting that Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion "contains everything, including counter-offensive actions." She acknowledged that Kyiv's forces "in some areas ... are shifting to offensive operations."
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden thanked Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday for Denmark's role in a Western alliance "standing up" for Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia's 15-month-old invasion.

The Oval Office visit kicked off the first of a pair of critical meetings Biden is holding with European allies this week that will focus heavily on what lies ahead in the war in Ukraine including the recently-launched effort to train, and eventually equip, Ukraine with American-made F-16s fighter jets. Biden on Thursday will meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Denmark has purchased dozens of American-made F-16s since the 1970s and indicated it is open to the possibility of providing Ukraine with some. Britain strongly advocated for a coalition to supply Ukraine with fighter planes.
FBI DIRECTOR: The chairman of the House Oversight Committee plans to move forward this week with holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress. Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer said a briefing he received Monday from bureau officials about an unverified law enforcement tip against President Joe Biden does not amount to compliance with a subpoena.

MIGRANT FLIGHTS: California leaders lashed out at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and hinted at a criminal investigation Monday over the arrival of two flights of migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas and then were sent to Sacramento, allegedly at the direction of Florida officials.

DEADLY FLOODS: The death toll from the heavy floods that hit Haiti over the weekend rose to at least 42, with another 11 people missing, authorities said Monday. At least 85 people are injured, and more than 13,600 homes were flooded, forcing people to evacuate, according to Haiti's Civil Protection Agency.

SEX ASSAULTS: Matthew Nilo, a New Jersey lawyer charged with sexually assaulting four women in Boston about 15 years ago, was ordered held on $500,000 bail Monday during a hearing in which a prosecutor said authorities tied him to the attacks by getting DNA from a drinking glass he used.

CHEROKEE ELECTION: Cherokee Nation's Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. won reelection to another four-year term as leader of the nation's most populous tribe, according to results certified Monday by the tribe's Election Commission.

BRITAIN: The U.K. government will house hundreds more asylum-seekers on barges, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday, as he unveiled the latest migration figures that he said showed his plans to crack down on small boat crossings on the English Channel are working.

 Associated Press
More than nine months after she allegedly smuggled synthetic marijuana into the Nebraska State Penitentiary in August, a 23-year-old woman was arrested Friday for the crime, according to jail inmate and court records.

A Lancaster County judge signed a warrant for Cynthia Price's arrest in late May after prosecutors charged the Omaha woman with two felonies for her alleged role in the smuggling, according to court filings.

Price is accused of passing an 8.5-by-11-inch piece of paper containing synthetic marijuana  sometimes called K2  to a then-23-year-old inmate at the State Penitentiary amid an Aug. 22 visit to the south Lincoln prison, State Patrol Investigator Nate Eymann said in the probable cause statement for Price's arrest.

Surveillance footage of the visit showed Price retrieve the folded-up piece of paper from the front of her pants before putting it into a plastic bag and sliding it to the inmate, who then tried to hide it in his hair, putting his hair into a ponytail, Eymann said.

Prison staff members who watched the transaction occur searched the inmate afterward and found the sheet of paper, which was sent to the Nebraska State Crime Lab for analysis.

Forensic scientists determined in February that the sheet had been soaked in K2, Eymann said.

Prosecutors charged Price with delivery of a controlled substance and conveyance of an article to an inmate, both felonies that carry a combined penalty of 22 years imprisonment.

She was booked into the Lancaster County jail Friday.

Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers
The chapel at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery holds 216 seats. On Monday at 10 a.m., nearly all were filled, as the Lincoln community came together to honor the memory of a fallen soldier lost in a war more than 50 years ago.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Larry Alfred Zich, a Lincoln pilot who went missing in action in 1972 during the Vietnam War, was commemorated and buried Monday in a memorial service with full military honors.

Officiated by the Nebraska National Guard, the ceremony was attended by Zichs family and friends, along with members of the Patriot Guard Riders, VFW Post 4626, American Legion Post 3, Nebraska Veterans Affairs and the Daughters of American Revolution-Deborah Avery Chapter.

Shortly before service began, as family, friends and community members huddled inside the funeral home lobby, members of the Patriot Guard Riders, each holding an American flag, lined the entrance outside.

As mourners began to take their seats, Zichs sister, Waltina Tina Mueller, and widow, Debbie Zich Peters, were visibly emotional in the front row.

Zich was described as loving, caring and brave  but almost above all, as playful.

Larry was known to make sure everyone was smiling, said Chaplain Jillian Peterson, who officiated the ceremony. When he was cracking jokes or plotting a playful prank, he did it with the utmost care of the people around him.

Born April 3, 1948, Zich, a native of Sturgis, South Dakota, went missing on April 3, 1972  his 24th birthday  when the Huey helicopter he was co-piloting got lost along with three other crewmen during a combat support mission that departed Marble Mountain in Da Nang, South Vietnam.

At the time, neither Zichs remains nor the helicopter were recovered. In 1988 a Vietnamese refugee brought the Defense Intelligence Agency nine sets of human remains from individuals who reportedly died in an aircraft crash and were buried in Quang Nam province. One set of those remains belonged to Zich. But it wasnt until Oct. 25, 2022  nearly 35 years later  that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conclusively confirmed that they were Zich's remains.

Sad" and relieved is how Mueller described Mondays service.

Theres still questions, she said.

Toward the back of the chapel, a table displayed Zich's memorabilia: graduation certificates, diplomas, photographs, cameras and Zichs old flight gloves.

When the chapel service was over, mourners proceeded outside to Zichs gravesite, where he received full military honors and Peterson read her final remarks, followed by a prayer and a salute. A flyover by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was done by the National Guard.

For Genenne Gibson Didier, an old friend and neighbor of the Zichs, Mondays service represented progress.

Its one more step (forward) for everyone, Didier said.

Didier, who was 10 years old in 1972, had fond memories of the Zichs, including when Larrys father, Walter, attended one of her birthday parties.

I invited him to my birthday party when I was 5 years old and he came in a suit, Didier said. Very close family and very sweet.

And 51 years after his disappearance in South Vietnam, Larry Alfred Zich  father, brother, friend  is finally home.

"This one is kind of special," said Jim Mather, a ride captain with the Patriot Guard Riders. "Another name comes off the wall."

Close Col. Christopher Hesse salutes the Zich family during the service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs service uniform stands on a display during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs gloves sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members refold a flag during a funeral service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Chaplain Jillian Peterson speaks at the service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs flight helmet reflect mourners during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Nebraska Army National Guard Spc. Tresta Zerr refolds a flag during the funeral service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Chaplain Jillian Peterson speaks during Larry Zichs funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members reach out to grab a folded flag during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs medals sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Family, friends and mourners take their seats before the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members refold a flag during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Photos of Larry Zich sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color guard members salute before taking folded flags during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. A U.S. Army medic helicopter flies over the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Jim Mulvaney speaks on his time serving with Larry Zich in Vietnam during Zich's funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Photos: Funeral service for Lincoln pilot who went missing during Vietnam War Larry Zich, a Lincoln pilot who went missing in action during the Vietnam War, was buried Monday at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Col. Christopher Hesse salutes the Zich family during the service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs service uniform stands on a display during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs gloves sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members refold a flag during a funeral service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Chaplain Jillian Peterson speaks at the service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs flight helmet reflect mourners during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Nebraska Army National Guard Spc. Tresta Zerr refolds a flag during the funeral service for Larry Zich at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Chaplain Jillian Peterson speaks during Larry Zichs funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members reach out to grab a folded flag during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Larry Zichs medals sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Family, friends and mourners take their seats before the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color Guard members refold a flag during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Photos of Larry Zich sit on a display table during his funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Color guard members salute before taking folded flags during the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. A U.S. Army medic helicopter flies over the Larry Zich funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday. Jim Mulvaney speaks on his time serving with Larry Zich in Vietnam during Zich's funeral service at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday.
The roar of race cars is something Bryan Post has grown accustomed to hearing every June.

Although the 14-year-old is a few years out from getting his driver's license, hes spent much of the past few summers working with pit crews and watching from the grandstands.

While a spinal cord injury unfortunately took that off the table for Post this year, a joint effort by the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital staff and Nebraska racing community brought the thrill of the race to him and other patients Tuesday afternoon, as racers from across the state brought out their vehicles, from battle-scarred stock cars to gleaming vintage autos.

Although the Post family was not available for comment, many other patients, families and friends came out to marvel at the cars under the sweltering June sun.

Despite only learning about the show a few hours before it began, Robby Juarez, an adult patient at Madonna recovering from a leg amputation and an avowed NASCAR fan, said he was immediately thrilled.

Just getting up close to (the cars) and seeing inside of them, its pretty neat, he said.

The cars werent the only spectacle on Tuesday afternoon. Although many of the drivers who came out were grizzled veterans of the scene, one driver stood out from the rest.

Cade Richards, an 18-year-old incoming freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been racing since he was 4 years old and confined to go-karts. He said it was an easy decision to drop by with his father after hearing about the meet-up on Facebook.

Were taking a little bit of our time, a little bit of our day and hopefully making somebody elses day or week, Richards said. So its not that big of a deal to bring a car out here and help somebody else out.

Richards' father, Matt, said his sons presence was all the more inspiring to younger patients because of his youth.

Its kind of hard sometimes to relate to an old guy or something like that, he said, recalling a memory of about 100 children swarming his son at the end of a race he won in Kansas.

Beyond the excitement of the car display, the event is part of a broader initiative by the hospital. Madonna pediatric program manager Jeff Stec said events like the car show allow patients to get out of their rooms and practice navigating some of the basics of everyday life that they will face once sent home.

The heat, figuring out sunscreen, figuring out all the water and the accommodations," Stec said. Giving people and families the opportunity to kind of practice all that stuff and figure that out is what we like this stuff for.

Juarez, the adult patient, said Tuesdays car show served as a reminder to appreciate the present, especially as he looks toward his discharge from the facility and his life afterward.

Enjoy every day you have, no matter what is in front of you, Juarez said. Just enjoy it.

Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Tabitha announced Monday that due to a financial shortfall, it is making cuts to its Meals on Wheels program.

The nonprofit agency that provides care and services to seniors said in a news release that starting July 1, it will no longer provide meal deliveries on weekends. Weekday deliveries will continue.

Tabitha said in the release that this year alone, the Meals on Wheels program will have a deficit of at least $800,000, and both charitable donations and volunteer participation have drastically declined recently due to economic uncertainty, while the price of food has increased.

Tabitha also said it will institute eligibility requirements for the program, which will, among other criteria, require recipients to be at least 60 years old and also be unable to shop for or prepare meals and have no available assistance to help with those tasks.

Tabitha President & CEO Christie Hinrichs said in the news release that the organization is facing a $4 million overall shortfall this year between what it costs to provide its various services and what it receives in government reimbursement.

"We are committed to and are helping impacted clients find alternative resources," Hinrichs said. "The community can help by imploring Nebraska Congressmen and state senators to provide proper funding and programs for seniors."

She also encouraged people to donate time and money to Tabitha, which has run the Meals on Wheels program for 56 years, delivering more than 5 million meals during that time.

Photos: Take a look inside Lincoln's new senior center location
A coalition led by the Nebraska State Education Association kicked off a statewide petition drive on Tuesday to overturn a law providing tax incentives for donors to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools.

Support Our Schools Nebraska is seeking to gather 90,000 signatures in 90 days to put the Opportunity Scholarships Act (LB753), which was introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen, before voters next year.

If the petition drive gathers the signatures from 5% of voters in 38 of Nebraskas 93 counties, the referendum would go before voters in the November 2024 general election.

Nebraskans have rejected public funding for private schools three times previously, said Jenni Benson, president of NSEA. We need to tell the governor and state lawmakers that no means no.

When LB753 takes effect in January 2024, individuals and entities will be able to reduce their tax liability by making donations to scholarship funds that help students attend private schools across the state.

The total amount of tax credits available in each of the first two years will be $25 million, according to the provisions of the bill, with the cap set to increase to $100 million after  or about one-tenth the amount of money appropriated by the state for public school education annually.

Opponents of the law, which include teachers unions, school board leaders, education policy organizations, advocates of individuals with disabilities and others say the policy harms students, families and schools in multiple ways.

The Rev. T. Michael Williams, president of the Omaha NAACP, said he believes the new law will exacerbate economic and social divisions among students, families and communities, calling it unfair.

Im glad were taking this issue to the people of Nebraska who will see it for what it is and repeal it, said Williams, who signed the petition at Tuesdays rally on the north side of the Capitol building.

School board members representing small rural schools and a large metropolitan district said LB753 was bad public policy that effectively diverted public funding to private schools.

Dave Welsch, a board member of Milford Public Schools, said LB753 makes donations to private schools more lucrative than donations to churches, public school foundations, food banks or other community groups by creating a dollar-for-dollar income tax credit.

Before it was passed into law, Welsch said individuals or corporations had the option to donate to organizations that provided scholarships for students wanting to attend private schools, and those donations were treated the same as other charitable donation under Nebraskas tax laws.

Because (LB753) is a dollar-for-dollar income tax credit, it isnt even the individual or corporation making the donation to private and parochial schools, it is state tax dollars providing this funding, Welsch said.

Omaha Public Schools board member Jane Erdenberger, a former teacher, said the incentives to donate to private school scholarship programs would not necessarily create opportunities for all students.

Those who do not speak English fluently, require additional support or have a disability might not have access to a private school education because those schools are not required to accept and educate all students, Erdenberger said.

Tax money spent under LB753 will not be available to every Nebraska student, she said. More than half of Nebraskas counties do not have a private school, so they will not receive any of the $25 million, which will grow to $100 million, under this program.

In the counties that do, not every child is required to be accepted, Erdenberger added.

Dunixi Guereca, executive director of Stand for Schools, said LB753 was not about giving students choice about their education, but rather allowing private schools to pick and choose which students they serve, and Edison McDonald, executive director of the Arc of Nebraska, said the bill did not include any requirement that students with disabilities could access a private school education.

Molly Gross, the legislative chair of the Nebraska Parent Teacher Association, said the petition effort wasnt about private schools, but rather about preventing private schools from receiving public tax dollars.

LB753 is not about helping kids, its about giving huge tax breaks to corporations and the super wealthy, Gross said. This is a scheme to divert hundreds of millions of tax dollars to private schools. Its a bad public policy and it will hurt public schools.

Benson said the petition drive is being led by the NSEAs 25,000 members across the state.

A number of signing events in Lincoln, Omaha and other cities and towns in Nebraska have already taken place or have been scheduled.

Backers of LB753 said the effort to repeal the law was misguided and would hurt students and families in several statements responding to Tuesday's kickoff event.

Tom Venzor, executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, called the petition drive "all out political warfare against children in need of better educational opportunities."

"Rather than respecting parents as the primary educators of their children, the teachers union is literally stripping educational opportunities out of the hands of low-income students, military families, students with disabilities, kids who have been bullied, and children in the foster care system," Venzor said.

Thirty-three senators who voted for LB753 said in a statement they were "deeply disappointed that some in the Nebraska public education establishment are pursuing a multimillion dollar ballot initiative denying opportunities to vulnerable and at-risk children."

"Children are our future and we must invest in them," the statement said. "We stand united with families and students and are committed to defending the educational opportunities created by the historic passage of the Opportunity Scholarships Act."

Photos: Hundreds of Nebraska educators gather at Capitol to protest LB753
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln finalized plans to trim nearly $10.8 million from its 2023-24 budget by closing open positions and reducing administrative costs.

Chancellor Ronnie Green accepted small changes recommended by the Academic Planning Committee to the cuts he proposed in April. The reductions will go into effect on July 1.

"I appreciate the APC's careful consideration of the proposal and the effort put into fully understanding the impacts of these reductions," Green wrote in a June 1 memo. "I accept the minor adjustments to the proposal that you have recommended."

The cuts are part of a $23.2 million budget deficit created largely by enrollment losses over the past two years.

The majority of the cuts eliminate unfilled jobs within various academic units across UNL, while some current staff positions will not be renewed for the upcoming year, and some offices will reduce their hours of operation.

Other reductions to UNL's state-aided budget  made up of state appropriations and tuition revenue  were realized by moving positions and programs to alternative funding sources like private donations or grants.

* $2.88 million from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

* $1.78 million from the College of Arts and Sciences

* $1.47 million from the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor

* $1.26 million from the College of Engineering

* $968,795 from the College of Business

* $574,461 from the College of Education and Human Sciences

* $379,271 from University Libraries

* $358,224 from the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts

* $225,766 from the Chancellor's Office

* $225,485 from the College of Law

* $200,884 from Research and Development

* $150,421 from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications

* $134,067 from the College of Architecture

* $126,372 from Business and Finance

* $30,543 from Student Affairs

Green, who will retire at the end of the month, has overseen $66 million in cuts to UNL's state-aided budget during his seven years as chancellor.

The next UNL chancellor  likely Rodney Bennett, the priority candidate for the position, who is conducting public forums on campus this week  will be forced to close an additional $12.4 million budget deficit beginning this fall.

UNL anticipates enrollment growth could help reduce that budget gap.

But even more cuts are likely on the horizon.

Last week, NU President Ted Carter told the Board of Regents increasing expenses and marginal revenue growth will force the university to cut nearly $50 million next year.

In 2024-25, without finding additional revenue sources like raising tuition or cutting costs, the deficit could balloon to nearly $80 million, Carter said.

Roughly half of those cuts would fall upon UNL to manage. The flagship campus is the largest of the four campuses in the university system.

Administrators have proposed a 3.5% tuition increase that would reduce the deficit to $27.2 million in 2023-24 and $57.6 million in 2024-25.

Regents will consider the tuition rate at a June 22 meeting.

Photos: Historic UNL buildings University of Nebraska-Lincoln buildings; Architectural Hall UNL CBA building UNL Temple Building UNL Morrill Hall Cather Hall, Pound Hall Teachers College Brace Laboratory Brace Hall University of Nebraska astronomical observatory UNL Architecture Hall University of Nebraska-Lincoln buildings; Architectural Hall Cather Hall, Pound Hall University of Nebraska-Lincoln buildings; Architectural Hall
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump while launching his presidential campaign on Tuesday, calling the former president and current Republican primary front-runner a lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog" and arguing that he's the only one who can stop him.

A onetime federal prosecutor, Christie was among the crowded field of 2016 Republican presidential candidates steamrolled by Trump. Now that Trump is running for the White House a third time, this year's crop of rivals have no choice but to criticize him relentlessly, or risk political history repeating itself, Christie says.

Kicking off his campaign with a town hall at Saint Anselm College, Christie suggested that other top Republicans have been afraid to challenge Trump or even mention his name much while campaigning  but made it clear he had no such qualms.

A lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog is not a leader, Christie said, adding, The person I am talking about, who is obsessed with the mirror, who never admits a mistake, who never admits a fault, who always finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong  but finds every reason to take credit for anything that goes right  is Donald Trump."

Christie enters a growing primary field that already includes Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Former Vice President Mike Pence will be formally launching his own campaign in Iowa on Wednesday.

Mere weeks after dropping out of the 2016 race, Christie became the first sitting governor and former rival to endorse Trump. He went on to become a close off-and-on adviser before finally breaking with Trump over his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

During his time as governor, Christie established a reputation as a fighter with a knack for creating viral moments of confrontation. But he faces an uphill battle to the nomination in a party that remains closely aligned with the former president, despite Trumps reelection loss in 2020 and Republicans poorer-than-expected showing in the 2022 midterm elections.

Anti-Trump Republicans are particularly eager to see Christie spar with Trump on a debate stage. But that happen only if Trump agrees to participate in primary debates and Christie meets the stringent fundraising criteria set by the Republican National Committee for participation.

JP Marzullo, a former state representative and former vice chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, previously backed Trump but is now supporting Christie.

I think hell actually unite some of the voters, and hell get to independents, Marzullo said of the former governor, adding, I think its time for a change.

Christie began criticizing Trump by name mere moments into his half-hour speech Tuesday, saying the former president had made us smaller by dividing us even further and pitting us one against the other.

He also said President Joe Biden is doing the same thing, just on the other side. Christie noted that he'd known Biden for decades and that he was a nice guy, but said that the president is out of his depth because hes not the guy he used to be, referencing the 80-year-old Biden's advanced age.

But Christie's chief target was Trump.

Theres a big argument in our country right now about whether character matters, and we have leaders who have shown us over and over again that not only are they devoid of character, they dont care. Christie said. We cant dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve, and we will have to own it.

Christie advisers are planning a nontraditional, nationally focused campaign based on earned media attention, instead of focusing on specific states. Their candidate said staying aggressive against Trump was key and scoffed Tuesday at what he said were Trump's failed promises, including a pledge to wall off the entire southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for it.

The reason Im going after Trump is twofold," Christie said. "One, he deserves it. And two, its the way to win.

Christie will test the appetite among Republican voters for someone who has expressed support for many of Trump's policies but has criticized the former president's conduct. The former governor has urged the party to move on or risk future losses.

Other Republicans with similar views, including former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, have opted against their own campaigns, expressing concerns that having more candidates in the race will only benefit Trump.

Christie was at one point seen as one of the Republican Partys brightest political stars as the popular Republican governor of a Democratic state. But despite persistent urging from top donors and party officials, he declined to run for president in 2012. By the time he announced in 2016, his reputation had been tarnished by the Bridgegate scandal in which aides were accused of wreaking traffic havoc in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in an apparent effort to punish the citys mayor for failing to endorse his reelection bid.

The former governor has known Trump for nearly 20 years but their relationship has been complicated. Christie was on the shortlist to serve as Trumps vice president, oversaw Trumps early White House transition efforts, said he was offered  and turned down  multiple Cabinet positions, and helped Trump prepare for each of his general election debates in 2016 and 2020.

But Christie also clashed with Trump at times and has described the former presidents refusal to accept his 2020 election loss to Biden as a breaking point.

Christie opting to start his 2024 bid at a New Hampshire town hall recalled his first run at the White House, when he focused on the state, holding dozens of New Hampshire town hall events only to finish sixth in its primary. He dropped out of that race shortly afterward.

After his speech Tuesday, Christie took extended questions from the audience  a common occurrence in early voting states that DeSantis was hesitant to do when launching his campaign. Christie also talked openly about his underwhelming 2016 performance, despite concentrating so heavily on New Hampshire.

I lost," Christie laughed. "You people did that to me in 2016.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

NEW DELHI  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday discussed upgrading partnership with India, a major arms buyer, and set a roadmap for cooperation for the next five years as both countries grapple with China's economic rise and increased belligerence, officials said.

Austin's visit comes as India strengthens its domestic defense industry by acquiring new technologies and reducing reliance on imports, particularly from Russia, its largest supplier of military hardware despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Austin and his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, explored ways of building resilient supply chains, a statement from India's Defense Ministry said. They decided "to identify opportunities for the co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems and facilitate increased collaboration between defense startup ecosystems of the two countries."

They also discussed regional security issues and committed to strengthening operational collaboration across all military services, with an eye to supporting India's leading role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific, the statement said.

The new roadmap for U.S.-India defense industrial cooperation will fast track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions and the undersea domain, said a U.S. Department of Defense press release.

"This initiative aims to change the paradigm for cooperation between U.S. and Indian defense sectors, including a set of specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies and support India's defense modernization plans," it said.

The discussions also included cooperation in space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence. Austin also met with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

"I'm returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership. Together, we're advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific," Austin tweeted after his arrival in New Delhi on Sunday.

Austin, who is on his second visit to India, was expected to lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington on June 22, which has fueled speculation about a possible announcement of defense contracts.
BERLIN  Nations resumed talks on tackling global warming Monday with the aim of shaping a deal that might put the world on track to prevent a dangerous increase in temperatures, as the U.N.'s top climate official called for deep cuts in fossil fuel use.

Diplomats began two-week negotiations in Bonn, Germany, despite failing to agree on a formal agenda because of differences on the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The issue lies at the heart of the climate problem, since burning oil, coal and gas is responsible for most warming that's occurred since preindustrial times.

Simon Stiell, who heads the U.N. climate office, told The Associated Press in an interview over the weekend that limiting global warming to 2.7 Fahrenheit will require a phaseout of fossil fuels, something many oil-producing countries have pushed back on.

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration announced Monday that the carbon dioxide level measured in May in Hawaii averaged 424 parts per million. That's 3 parts per million more than last year's May average and 51% higher than pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. It is one of the largest annual May-to-May increases in carbon dioxide levels on record, behind only 2016 and 2019.
MOUNT PLEASANT  A Milwaukee woman has been accused of stealing more than $10,000 worth of products from Ulta Beauty.

Shavona D. Williams, 20, was charged with felony counts of retail theft intentionally taking over $10,000 and bail jumping.

According to a criminal complaint, on Dec. 28 an officer was sent to Ulta Beauty at 5630 Washington Ave. after a report of a man and a woman suspected of taking bottles of fragrance worth $10,224.

In a similar incident, more $18,000 worth of merchandise was reported stolen from Highland Park Ulta Beauty.

That led to several arrests, including Williams.

A detective reviewed video surveillance from the Washington Avenue store and reportedly identified Williams as the female suspect.

Williams also has been accused of taking items from Ulta Beauty stores in Kenosha and Milwaukee.

Williams was given a $1,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Friday. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show.

Mugshots: Racine County criminal complaints, June 5, 2023 Today's mugshots: June 5 These are images of people charged with a crime in Racine County. Booking photos are provided by Racine County law enforcement officials. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted. Kiarra F. Murphy Kiarra F. Murphy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (2nd offense), operate motor vehicle while revoked, operating with restricted controlled substance in blood (2nd offense). Montrell Clark Montrell Clark, North Chicago, Illinois, second degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude an officer, obstructing an officer. Ryan K. Mitchell Ryan K. Mitchell, Plymouth, Wisconsin, misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), disorderly conduct, resisting an officer. Cory Pommerich Cory Pommerich, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, operate motor vehicle while revoked (4th+). Tyler C. Powers Tyler C. Powers, 2200 block of Loni Lane, Racine, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Marquese M. Snow Marquese M. Snow, 1300 block of Deane Boulevard, Racine, possession of THC, misdemeanor bail jumping. Jerry Scott Taylor Jerry Scott Taylor, 1000 block of Hagerer Street, Racine, misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia. Damarion E. Turner Damarion E. Turner, 1600 block of Center Street, Racine, possession of a firearm by a felon, first degree recklessly endangering safety. Dennis J. Zablocki Dennis J. Zablocki, Franksville, Wisconsin, strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments), possession of a firearm while intoxicated. Erik Evan Peterson Erik Evan Peterson, 2000 block of DeKoven Avenue, Racine, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping. Jaylen T. Usher Jaylen T. Usher, Gurnee, Illinois, obstructing an officer. Nashaila Nicole Webb Nashaila Nicole Webb, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (4th offense, general alcohol concentration enhancer), operate motor vehicle while revoked (4th+), failure to install ignition interlock device, felony bail jumping. Kevin Uttam Patel Kevin Uttam Patel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver/distribute/manufacture THC (less than or equal to 200 grams), maintaining a drug trafficking place. Shavona D. Williams Shavona D. Williams, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, felony retail theft (intentionally take greater than $10,000), felony bail jumping.
RACINE  Maurizia Johnson recently asked her colleagues how better pay would impact them.

They said it would help them pay bills on time, buy gas to drive to work, purchase a new washing machine and spend more time with family by not needing to work a second job.

Johnson, an educational assistant at Wadewitz Elementary, was one of about 50 Racine Unified School District educators who rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service.

Educational assistants need a living wage because, although we love our jobs, love does not pay the bills, said Johnson, educational assistant vice president at Racine Educators United, the union representing RUSD educators.

Teachers also urged RUSD administration to offer more support and collaboration, addressed challenges caused by ongoing staffing shortages and discussed the importance of hiring and retaining quality workers.

A press conference was held Monday outside the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., before an RUSD Board work session.

After the press conference, educators walked into an ASC building and chanted phrases including 8% and a step, Respect us or lose us and Fair pay, teachers stay.

Budgets are about priorities, and we call on this board to start prioritizing the kids and families of Racine Unified over failed administrators, said REU President Angelina Cruz. The kids of this community deserve better.

As June 15 approaches, it is unclear if RUSD educators will receive higher pay next school year. That is the deadline by when Wisconsin public school teachers must renew or reject their one-year contracts with employers.

RUSD usually approves an interim school year budget in July and finalizes its budget in October after the Wisconsin state budgets approval.

The School Board met Monday in executive session to discuss base wage negotiations for employees.

After that meeting, RUSD Board President Jane Barbian issued a statement saying the board wants to provide the best compensation it can while being fiscally responsible.

We believe we can only do this with a fuller picture of our options, including how the state budget will support K-12 education, Barbians statement reads. Were hoping for more information in the coming weeks and are asking our staff for patience and understanding. We value our educators and support staff and agree they deserve fair and competitive wages and benefits, as we know they dedicate their lives to educating our communitys children.

Heather Jirgensen, Olympia Brown Elementary union representative, said the board and administration must pay teachers competitive wages or they will be more likely to leave RUSD, thereby negatively impacting student learning outcomes.

The powers that be continue to cut off their noses to spite their faces by telling us that they cannot afford to give us a raise, Jirgensen said. RUSD can and needs to turn this corner before we are at the point of no return.

Jirgensen recently taught a fifth grade ecology unit about food webs and how one organism leaving disrupts the overall system. She said the same is true for a school district.

When the district keeps cutting vital resources from our schools, the rest of us directly suffer the consequences, Jirgensen said. This is deficit thinking, which cannot sustain us, and we are seeing the repercussions over and over.

Speakers also criticized RUSD Superintendent Eric Gallien, who is negotiating a contract to become superintendent of a South Carolina school district.

All of this has been done under the failed leadership of a superintendent who is abandoning his post at the 11th hour for another position across the country, Cruz said.

Two leaders from the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, the union representing Milwaukee Public Schools educators, voiced support Monday for Racine instructors.

Ingrid Walker-Henry, MTEA vice president, said the RUSD Board has an obligation to do whats right by granting an 8% cost of living adjustment and a step to workers.

MTEA President Amy Mizialko said the School Board could bring immediate stability to classrooms by approving better pay for the instructors who make Racine public schools run every day.

Milwaukee Public Schools educators are set to receive an 8% cost of living adjustment next school year, and Mizialko and Walker-Henry said they would gladly provide MPS job information to RUSD teachers considering leaving the district.

Johnson said RUSD administrators often provide limited resources but still expect teachers to make the impossible possible with our students.

We need to hold district officials to the same expectations when it comes to our compensation, Johnson said.

Close Racine Unified teachers, including Paige Kiesler, right with glasses, and Bill Sakalaucks, center with fist raised, rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Racine Unified teachers, including Heather Jirgensen, right, rallied Monday at the RUSD Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Maurizia Johnson, Wadewitz Elementary educational assistant, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Johnson said educational assistants need a living wage because, although we love our jobs, love does not pay the bills. Angelina Cruz, president of Racine Educators United, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Cruz urged the RUSD Board "to start prioritizing the kids and families of Racine Unified over failed administrators. About 50 Racine Unified educators rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., to advocate for better pay and support. Heather Jirgensen, Olympia Brown Elementary teacher and building union representative, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Angelina Cruz, Racine Educators United president, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Nine photos of Racine teachers advocating for fair pay Racine Unified educators rallied Monday to emphasize their demands for better pay and support. Racine Unified teachers, including Paige Kiesler, right with glasses, and Bill Sakalaucks, center with fist raised, rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Racine Unified teachers, including Heather Jirgensen, right, rallied Monday at the RUSD Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Educators rallied to emphasize their demands for better pay in the form of an 8% cost of living adjustment and a salary step increase based on years of service. Maurizia Johnson, Wadewitz Elementary educational assistant, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Johnson said educational assistants need a living wage because, although we love our jobs, love does not pay the bills. Angelina Cruz, president of Racine Educators United, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Cruz urged the RUSD Board "to start prioritizing the kids and families of Racine Unified over failed administrators. About 50 Racine Unified educators rallied Monday at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., to advocate for better pay and support. Heather Jirgensen, Olympia Brown Elementary teacher and building union representative, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. Angelina Cruz, Racine Educators United president, speaks Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. A teacher holds a sign Monday at the Racine Unified School District Administrative Service Campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St.
In campaign stops across the state and in media interviews, conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly has consistently emphasized his devotion to the state Constitution.

After qualifying for the April 4 election in last months primary, Kelly praised voters who reaffirmed the centrality of the Constitution to the work of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In a 10-minute speech before the Wisconsin Counties Association Legislative Conference on Wednesday, he used the word Constitution or constitutional 14 times.

Referencing liberal opponent Janet Protasiewiczs repeated references to personal values, Kelly said later that he had no doubt that (voters are) going to come out in droves to protect the Constitution, because they know thats what protects the liberties that they treasure so much.

But some conservatives worry Kellys broad appeals to the Constitution may not be a winning strategy.

Its very difficult to imagine voters keying in so strongly on the notion of protecting the Constitution because its relatively esoteric, longtime Republican strategist Brandon Scholz said. Voters respond to issues, whether theyre for or against. But something like defending the Constitution is almost nebulous.

Its even more abstract for voters considering most probably dont know much about the state Constitution, Scholz said. They might know the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, but who knows the Wisconsin Constitution?

Kellys focus on defending the Constitution compared with Protasiewiczs concentration on specific issues makes Kellys challenge even tougher, and it makes Protasiewiczs challenge even easier, Scholz said.

Theres no public polling to show whether Kellys messaging prioritizing the Constitution is working, said Bill McCoshen, a Republican operative who had supported and given conservative candidate Jennifer Dorow advice during the primary.

But I dont think its a broad enough message, he said. The people who are hardcore supporters of the Constitution are already with Kelly. So hes not broadening his base.

Outcomes in Wisconsin Supreme Court race, challenge to abortion law seen as inextricably linked

Kellys strategy would be more effective if he talked more about Protasiewiczs embrace of issues such as abortion and redistricting and less about the state Constitution, McCoshen said.

Given what I know from our own research about the different sorts of democratic attitudes Wisconsinites hold, talking about the Constitution and ones fidelity to it probably feels good to most people, said UW-Madison journalism professor Mike Wagner, who studies political communication. But its probably not at the top of their list when theyre making a decision about who they want to be a Supreme Court judge.

Campaign spokesperson Jim Dick dismissed such concerns, adding there was an obvious reason for Kelly to focus on the states charter: The Constitution is the center of our judicial system, not something to be cast aside in favor of ones personal political ambitions.

He also criticized what he said was Protasiewiczs political ploy of hinting at how she would rule on cases, even if she wont say so outright.

In response, Protasiewicz spokesperson Sam Roecker said while she was a prosecutor and judge for decades following the Constitution, Dan Kelly has been a partisan extremist, picking and choosing what parts of the Constitution hed like to follow.

Roecker did not clarify what parts of the Constitution he alleged Kelly didnt follow.

Kellys strategy has two likely purposes, UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said.

Its a kind of general way to convey that youre serious about following the Constitution and enforcing the law and not overstepping the boundaries of your institution, Burden said. But its also kind of a nod to conservative activists  that my philosophy is like yours.

Kelly has been far less willing than Protasiewicz to discuss specific issues such as abortion and redistricting. He says thats because the race shouldnt be about political issues. But the resulting difference in the candidates messages is largely in line with how liberals and conservatives typically run campaigns.

Republicans do best in races when they make appeals to broad values, such as defending liberty, while Democrats do better when they discuss the specific changes they want to see in government, according to Michigan State University political science professor Matt Grossman and Boston College associate political science professor David Hopkins, who together wrote the book Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats.

Abortion, crime

Which kind of messaging engages voters most depends on how the public perceives the race. As it stands, abortion is and will remain a top concern for Wisconsinites on both sides of the debate, Burden said.

After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last year, Wisconsins moribund 1849 near-total ban on abortion has come back into play. Opponents are challenging the law in a case that will likely be decided by the state high court.

Janet Protasiewicz has massive early spending advantage in Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Eighty-four percent of registered voters in Wisconsin favor abortion exceptions for rape and incest, which arent included in the current ban, according to a Marquette Law School Poll from November. And only 37% of Wisconsinites favored overturning Roe v. Wade.

Crime has also become issue in the race, with conservatives going after Protasiewicz over instances where they say she was lenient on defendants. But Protasiewicz has also emphasized public safety in her ads, accusing Kelly of being soft on crime and saying he defended child sex predators in court.

Protasiewiczs crime message, Burden said, does put Kelly on the defense on an issue where he should probably have the greatest strength. So if hes having to explain or backpedal a little in that area, hes going to have real, real difficulty confronting her on the issues where she might be advantaged.

With Protasiewicz largely defining the stakes of the race and liberals making up the majority of primary voters, Kelly and conservatives have the incentive to release more hard-hitting ads and take a more aggressive position toward Protasiewicz, Burden said.

But conservatives didnt run any TV ads promoting Kelly in the first week after the primary. A conservative group since put down $1 million to boost Kelly, but thats a small fraction compared with the $7 million liberals have reserved, as of last week, in ads between the primary and general election.

This is really kind of a key point in time in the general election where conservatives have to step forward if they want to keep the seat, Scholz said.
By Dave Workman. June 1, 2023

Almost immediately after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill this week legalizing recreational marijuana use in his state, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provided clarification to Minnesota residents that if they puff pot, they cant have guns.

The same thing applies to residents of every other state, and there are now 23 states where recreational pot is legal under state law, but still prohibited under federal statute.

The federal Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits any person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance as defined by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition, according to an ATF advisory posted by KROX-AM in Crookston, Minn.

Regardless of the recent changes in Minnesota law related to the legalization of marijuana, an individual who is a current user of marijuana is still federally defined as an unlawful user of a controlled substance and therefore is prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition.

Until marijuana is legalized federally, firearms owners and possessors should be mindful that it remains federally illegal to mix marijuana with firearms and ammunition, stated ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Reed, of the St. Paul Field Division, according to KROX.

This has become an issue in many states where gun ownership is strong, and local politics is decidedly liberal, such as Washington or Colorado. .....
PRESS RELEASE

12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  June 6, 2023 Contact: Floyd Neeland

New talent at Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership

JPFO NAMES JAMES JONES, EDITOR,

OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS SENTINEL

Alan Korwin stays on as Editor Emeritus

After 13 yearspersonnel changes at the top

As Sentinel editor, Mr. Korwin, steps down after eight years in that role, Second Amendment Foundation Projects Director, James Jones, takes over the office of the highly regarded, staunchly pro-gun-rights periodical. Subscriptions are free with membership.

Mr. Jones, as the Projects Director for the Second Amendment Foundation, has been involved in many facets of SAF, the most active gun-rights group in the nation, engaged in dozens of lawsuits to reverse gun-rights infringements at federal, state and local levels.

Mr. Korwin, a consultant to JPFO, manages publications for the organization, writes position papers and news releases, serves as a focal point for many of JPFO's activities and runs the monthly political Salons.

With acute insight into the dangers of genocide learned during the Holocaust, JPFO seeks to expand citizen awareness of that threat. Governments kill and murder more people ("democide") than any other factor, exceeding criminal activity, by orders of magnitude. The deterrent value of guns and an armed citizenry, to resist government overreach, help define JPFO's role. You don't have to be Jewish to join JPFO, love of liberty is enough. Support JPFO today!

#####
1. Yes. Larger buses are seldom full. Driving them around is a waste of money and fuel.

2. Yes. Fixed routes are often cumbersome and inflexible. They dont work for some riders.

3. No. Using small vans to transport riders on demand would not be very efficient.

4. No. If the city cant have an actual bus service, riders may as well call a cab or an Uber.

5. Unsure. The transit business model is changing, but it could prove to be problematic.

Vote

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1. Yes. The traditional date is July 4. The posts celebration should observe that tradition.

2. Yes. Having the celebration 11 days before July 4 likely will diminish the experience.

3. No. The date is not so important, as long as the post honors the spirit of the holiday.

4. No. It gives soldiers and their families the opportunity to take part in multiple celebrations.

5. Unsure. The tradition surrounding July 4 is important, but other factors are involved.

Vote

View Results
KEARNEY  Three people were arrested Thursday after law enforcement officers found 23.8 pounds of methamphetamine in their vehicle.

According to Buffalo County Court documents, on Thursday around 4 a.m., a Nebraska State Patrol investigator was granted a warrant to search a white Ford F150 registered to Daniela Esmeralda Corona-Valenzuela, 37, of Las Vegas, Nevada. The warrant was executed on the vehicle later in the morning Thursday. During the search, local law enforcement officers located three large foil-wrapped bundles, which together contained 23.8 pounds of a meth and fentanyl mixture.

The adult occupants of the vehicle, Gerardo Roman-Gonzalez, 37, of Las Vegas, Nevada; Guadalupe Valenzuela-Leon, 79; and Corona-Valenzuela were all arrested. There were also two children in the vehicle that were present during the trafficking of the meth and fentanyl mixture.

The three adults have each been charged in Buffalo County Court with felony distribution of a controlled substance, meth, more than 140 grams, as well as two counts of felony intentional child abuse with no injury.

Corona-Valenzuela, Roman-Gonzalez and Valenzuela-Leon each have bond set at $500,000 cash or surety. All three adults are currently lodged at Buffalo County Jail. They are scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on June 21.
KEARNEY  Nebraskas junior U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts told crowds of Kearney-area constituents he intends to teach Washington to be more thrifty and service oriented.

You need to measure what youre doing and then improve on it with better systems and technology, Ricketts told a joint gathering of Kearney Rotary and Sertoma clubs Monday at the Kearney Holiday Inn.

Earlier Monday, Ricketts cut the ribbon on his new constituent service center on the east side of Eagles Nest Plaza at 4111 Fourth Ave. He introduced Sarah Mills, formerly a regional scouting leader, as coordinator of the service center.

Both of Nebraskas U.S. senators  Ricketts and Deb Fischer  now have constituent service offices in Kearney.

Fischer has operated a constituent center in Kearney for several years at 20 W. 23rd St. in downtown Kearney.

In addition to Kearney, Ricketts has centers in Scottsbluff and Omaha, and he hopes to open an office in Lincoln.

Kearneys central location had a major bearing in Ricketts selection of the city for his service center, he said. He told the crowd at the Eagles Nest ribbon cutting and the joint service club luncheon that Americans impressions of politicians in Washington, D.C., are mostly wrong. He said both Republicans and Democrats are usually congenial and polite with each other, but that doesnt alter the fact that federal bureaucracy is huge, difficult to navigate and inefficient.

As an example of waste and inefficiency, Ricketts said when Offutt Air Base in Bellevue flooded some years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with granting a permit to build a levee to protect the air base against additional flooding.

Ricketts said six years passed before the Corps of Engineers completed its permit, but it was too late. Another flood already had come and severely damaged the air base. It was a loss of several billion dollars that a more efficient permitting process could have prevented, Ricketts said.

Ricketts believes the same efficiency and customer service strategy that helped improve Nebraska state government ought to be applied in Washington, D.C.

Ricketts said constituent services are intended to help bring attention and get action to resolve problems with the federal government.

Mills, the new constituent service center director, followed through on a complaint that a small business wasnt receiving the loan money it had been awarded. Ricketts said Mills solved the problem and the money was delivered in two days.
The Kenosha City Council voted Monday evening 10-7 to change the way the city issues fines for some minor marijuana violations.

The ordinance change set to go into effect this September reduces the fines for first-time offenders in possession of a small amount of marijuana only within city limits, and a sister resolution also passed that substantially reduces the bond for those arrested.

Supporters worked on the ordinance for about nine months and it was spearheaded by Alds. David Mau and Anthony Kennedy with support from Alds. Rollin Pizzala, Kelly MacKay, Jan Michalski and Brandi Feree.

Im really proud of the alderpersons who showed courage to do the right thing tonight. I want to thank all the citizens for all their hard work and spreading the word. Its been a grueling eight months, but it finally paid off. We know the people voted Yes at an overwhelming rate, and it should have been as simple as that, but we needed that extra push. This is what democracy and liberty look like, Mau told the Kenosha News after the vote.

Mau said he is grateful for the opportunity to listen to the will of the people and get some change through the City Council.

Its been pretty stressful, Mau said. I wanted to make sure we could get every vote we could get.

Others in attendance expressed similar sentiments.

I am extremely happy, said Kyle Flood, president of Kenosha Residents for Cannabis Reform. To see this finally come to fruition is almost unbelievable.

The 10 who voted for the ordinance change included Alds. Michalksi, Holly Kangas, Ferree, MacKay, Mau, Keith Rosenberg, Kennedy, Pizzala, Ruth Dyson and Daniel Prozanski. The seven who voted against it were Alds. Eric Haugaard, Bill Siel, Rocco LaMacchia, Curt Wilson, Jack Rose, Dominic Ruffalo and David Bogdala.

Adults found to be in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana will face a $1 citation plus the costs associated with prosecution for a first offense. Those in possession of small amounts of marijuana currently face tickets in the hundreds of dollars.

Those in possession of higher amounts of marijuana will continue to be referred to the District Attorneys Office for state criminal prosecution.

The City Council also voted for the resolution to reduce the corresponding bond for a first offense to $62.26. Currently, the municipal bond for marijuana possession is $313. The bond will remain the same for those found consuming marijuana while in a vehicle, while on school property or are under the age of 18, according to the resolution. Bond will also remain unchanged for those found smoking in public.

Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton said he has some concerns about how the changes would effect deterrence and how impactful they would actually be in the long run.

Patton said he believes it could be more impactful and beneficial if there was a way to keep subsequent offenders in Municipal Court and out of Kenosha County Circuit Court so they are not on CCAP (Consolidated Court Automation Programs) with a criminal drug record for marijuana.

City officials and activists said they hoped to work with Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley on the issue going forward.

Passionate speakers

Aldermen on both sides of the issue spoke passionately Monday evening to a packed room of area residents.

Rosenberg said he had seriously ill loved ones who benefitted from marijuana for pain relief.

I wish I could wave my magic wand and do what my neighbors voted to dolegalize marijuana. Seventy-two percent in my district said legalize marijuana, Rosenberg said. Unfortunately, its up to the people in Madison. We dont have that power here at City Council. I wish I did. Id legalize it in a heartbeat because my neighbors told me to do so. Thats the way they voted. ... We represent our districts.

Rosenberg said state politicians arent reflecting the will of their constituents and so local efforts to reduce fines are required.

This is a non-partisan issue, Rosenberg said. For Gods sakes Madison get off your butts and do your jobs.

Prozanski said if the changes cause problems or ultimately fail to work on the local level the City Council has the power to revisit the matter. Prozanski also said he hopes it encourages Madison politicians to vote on legalization.

We are the policy makers, Prozanski said. Maybe by doing this it can help motivate other places in our state to kind of get on the right path.

Kennedy thanked Mau, who he often disagrees with politically, for his efforts and said he persuaded him to support the ordinance change.

Our constituents are continually asking for reform of marijuana, Kennedy said.

However, Ruffalo said he believes the changes would negatively impact the community.

No matter what we do here tonight its still going to be illegal, Ruffalo said. You want me to say it is my intent that the City Council, City of Kenosha can effectively control and regulate the possession of a small amount of marijuana. How in the hell can I do that?

Ruffalo said he will be the voice of recovery on this Council because he believes marijuana can be a slippery slope to far more dangerous drugs.

Were not talking about medical marijuana here, Ruffalo said. If it was medical marijuana maybe Id sign off on it tonight. Its not. Its illegal.

Public support for change

In November 2022 city residents voted overwhelmingly  72% to 28%  in a non-binding referendum in support of legalized, taxed and regulated marijuana.

Residents responded to the question Should marijuana be legalized for adult use, taxed, and regulated like alcohol?

More than half of states across the nation, including every state surrounding Wisconsin, have legalized some form of marijuana.

Kenosha County residents voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana in an advisory referendum in 2018 with 56,000 votes, or 88% of the ballots cast.

According to a Gallup survey conducted in July 2021, 49% of Americans say they have used marijuana, up from 30% in 1985.

A Marquette University Law School poll conducted in February 2022, found 61% of Wisconsinites said that marijuana should be fully legalized and regulated like alcohol.

Mondays meeting lasted about three hours with many members of the public voicing support and opposition to the changes.

Marijuana remains illegal in Wisconsin as state lawmakers continue to wrestle with the issue. Marijuana is legal in surrounding states including Illinois.

The City of Kenosha, the third-or -fourth largest city in the state, now joins other major state municipalities in approving such changes.


By Andrew Hammond



The new European Political Community (EPC) of almost 50 nations has generated much media interest since its formation in 2022, yet its fundamental purpose remains uncertain.



For, amidst what are massive, shared challenges facing the presidents and prime ministers around the table on Thursday, it is wholly unclear whether the new "club of nations" will be a significant moment in Europe's decades-long integration project, or perhaps little more than a footnote in this history.



So it was these core questions of mandate and relevance that were tackled again on Thursday as 47 leaders from greater Europe, plus states including Israel and Turkey, met in Moldova. The city of Odesa in Ukraine is only 200 kilometers from the summit venue in Chisinau, and it is therefore fitting that the ongoing Russian invasion of that nation will frame discussions.



Perhaps the key question facing the leaders is how such a vast grouping of both the 27 EU members plus non-EU members, including the United Kingdom, can best work together in common cause on 'hard' issues like security amid Russia's invasion, plus also urgent, 'softer' ones too like energy.



The 47 states invited to last Thursday's big meeting included 20 non-EU powers such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey. Given the disparate nature of the nations in attendance, the group includes some bilateral foes, not just friends, such as Turkey and Greece, plus Armenia and Azerbaijan, not to mention controversial, polarizing leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Turkey's newly re-elected President Recep Erdogan.



While the new body's mission is not yet 100 percent clear, the early expectation is that it will convene twice a year, including in Spain later in 2023. Moreover, the 2024 summit will be symbolically staged in the United Kingdom, the only nation ever to leave the EU.



A key aim for many of the 27 EU states too is also to embrace accession countries, including Ukraine, some of which like Turkey are losing patience in their very long wait for bloc membership  and in doing so, seeking to counter attempts by Russia and China to gain influence in the continent.



One of the other drivers of the new EPC is Brexit given that this development created a new non-EU power in Western Europe. This is already changing the EU's relationship with other non-EU European countries, including Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.



Each of these states has developed relations with the EU that  most obviously in the case of Norway and Switzerland, but also to a lesser extent others like Turkey  were intended as a means to the end of eventual EU membership or at least closer relations with the EU. Brexit has not  yet  thrown these processes into reverse, with eventual accession to the Brussels-based club remaining an option, but it does open up new possibilities centered on continued non-membership.



There has been some limited discussion as to whether Brexit might open opportunities for a radical overhaul of Europe's institutional architecture. Such ambitious plans had faded, but they do point to opportunities for potential future change, potentially via the EPC.



For strong advocates of the EPC, the body could also serve as a potential bridge to a larger EU and a framework for more permanent continental integration. The EPC could start this process by building a consensus between participating states and the EU.



Take the example of energy where cooperative frameworks could be developed where there is, for instance, scope for signing more energy agreements with Norway building upon the recent bilateral 'Green Alliance,' plus constructing green hydrogen infrastructure across the region. Another example is security and defense partnerships where the war in Ukraine has exposed Europe's weak, existing architecture and highlighted the need for more European cooperation, including in areas like cybersecurity.



Such reform may be needed to deal with wider global trends impacting the region. Europe already feels the pull of different world powers, including the United States and China, and it also struggles locally with the geopolitical disruptions of Russia.



This global multipolarity has brought greater uncertainty to Europe. If population projections hold, it is Turkey and the United Kingdom (potentially Russia too) that may be amongst the most populous countries in Europe by mid-century, with the EU thereby in the midst of large states with competing agendas.



Even before the invasion of Ukraine, it was Russia that posed the most challenges for the EU. Post-pandemic and Brexit, Moscow had therefore hoped that the EU 27 would have a period of introspection. However, that has not proven to be the case so far.



So what Thursday's summit showcased is that the EU, and the wider community of nations in the EPC, face first order challenges that include Russia. How the Brussels-based club of 27 states, in particular, responds will not just frame future relations with key non-EU states including the United Kingdom, but also determine its wider place in the world to boot.





Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.


More than 300 area riders participated Saturday in the annual Ridin for a Reason motorcycle event to raise awareness and funds to support the fight against breast cancer in the Chippewa Valley.

It was a day that honored those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer while raising money to help pay for the mobile mammogram program run by Marshfield Clinic Health System.

The 16th annual event began at Loopys Grill and Saloon in Chippewa Falls and traveled along the countryside of western Wisconsin, with stops at Menomonies Cubbys, Downsvilles Timber Inn, Durands Corral Bar and Riverside Grill and Mondovis Hide-A-While Bar before the bikers headed back to Loopys.

The event has raised more than $219,000 over the years to help support Marshfields mobile mammography program, a service that brings state-of-the-art mammography screenings to women in rural communities across the northern half of Wisconsin. About 7,000 women in rural Wisconsin were served by the mobile mammograms in 2023, the clinic reports. Of those, 45 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 from the mobile mammograms.

For William Loopy Kleich, the event is personal. He lost his wife, Lori, to breast cancer in 2017. Now he leads the ride every year  but not before letting two balloons go from a bike. The balloons honor a wife and friend who ultimately died from cancer.

I had a group of friends who came to me looking for a sponsor to do the event. And of course, I jumped on board right away because of the cause, said Kleich. And now we start and end the event at Loopys every year, and I have the honor and privilege of leading that ride every year to honor my wife.

Kleich said he and his wife rode motorcycles together and he misses that time, with her by his side. He said his biggest fear is people will forget who his wife was.

She was just an incredible lady, he said.

Lori was from Cadott, and the pair met when Kleich was manager of The View on Lake Wissota.

In 2012, Lori was diagnosed with breast cancer. Kleich said medical professionals only gave her weeks to live, but she survived another five years.

He said her cancer was misdiagnosed for about six months because someone read her mammogram wrong, and thats part of the reason he wants to help lead the charge in the fight against breast cancer.

The cancer was devastating to the pair, and Kleich still has a hard time talking about the loss of his spouse.

In some ways, it brought us a lot closer, he said. I never saw anybody fight so hard in my life. But everything I have is because of her.

Marshfield Clinic Health System gift officer Brooke Petska said the main focus of the Ridin for a Reason event is to raise funds for the mobile mammography program, which provides mammograms to women all across the state, specifically in rural areas where they might not have access to a mammography unit nor the transportation necessary to get to a medical provider for the service.

Really this unit is there to provide access to women who might not otherwise have access to a mammogram, Petska said.

Nearly 25 years ago, Marshfield Clinic recognized women living in rural areas were not getting screened for breast cancer at the same rate as women living closer to urban areas, so it developed the first mammography unit on a mobile platform in Wisconsin to help address this disparity in rural communities.

Today, Marshfields mobile mammography service has three mobile mammography units providing service year-round across the state.

Breast cancer deaths have been cut nearly in half over the last 20 years. We know early detection is key. The mobile mammography program has had a tremendous impact for rural Wisconsin women, and this has only been possible because of support from groups like Ridin for a Reason, Petska said.

Petska said she thinks everyone is touched by breast cancer.

We all have family members or friends or co-workers or neighbors that have been directly impacted by breast cancer. And so this event matters and has an impact because it touches everybody, she said. I mean, somebody could walk by you on the street right now that you dont know and you dont know their story, but theres a really good chance that either theyve personally been impacted by it or they have someone in their life thats been impacted by it.

Ridin for a Reason event organizer Mike Keil said the event is incredible.

Nothing raises awareness for breast cancer like 300 motorcycles, many wearing pink in honor of a wife, sister or mother of another loved one who has fought breast cancer, thundering through the Chippewa Valley, he said. Breast cancer touches nearly everyone in some way, and we get together every year to have a little fun doing something we love and raise money for a cause that we know will ultimately benefit someone we love.

Kiel said that Ridin for a Reason has had people come to the ride and saw how easy it was to take advantage of the mobile mammography.

They took advantage of it, stuff was found and they were taken care of very, very early with great prognosis. So when you touch lives like that and have fun doing the thing you like to do the best, its a great fit, he said.

Kleich said he rides to honor his wife but also to get the word out that these services exist. The mobile unit will go to farmland in Amish country, workplaces, factories and just about anywhere rural.

I mean, get the mammograms, go do your Pap smears, all the things that need to get done to check this out because early detection is really the key, and I cant stress that enough, Kleich said. Weve had people that have gone on the ride and because of the ride have gone in and had tests and detected cancer and they ride with us every year now and tell their story.

Im just honored that I get to be part of it. And I get to honor my wife every year, he said.

PHOTOS: Ridin for a Reason Close Bikers gather Saturday for Ridin for a Reason at Loopys Grill and Saloon in Chippewa Falls. The event raises funds for mobile mammograms in rural Wisconsin. The Ridin for a Reason event on Saturday raised funding for mobile mammograms in rural Wisconsin. The Ridin for a Reason event on Saturday raised funding for mobile mammograms in rural Wisconsin. +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2
Tomah Health acute care director Jessye Buswell knows what it takes to be a good leader. For the past 14 years, she has served in the U.S. Coast Guard currently serving as a Marine Science Technician First Class or E6. Her military service has been the blueprint which she uses to care for patients and staff in her role at Tomah Health.

My supervisors taught me how to lead and serve. I bring back this model and my years of experience here to the hospital, said Buswell.

That leadership also led Buswell to receive the highly regarded Maj. Richard I. Bong Award during the Armed Forces Week Dinner Banquet in Milwaukee May 15.

I was thrilled to have my husband (Matt) there as he has been with me along this journey even before I joined the Coast Guard. It was wonderful to have him by my side during this celebration, said Buswell.

I am humbled to be nominated for any award that is highlighting something I have done in the Coast Guard. It is an honor, she said of the recognition. Its even more rewarding knowing I was nominated by my supervisor, peers and other members in my unit as they are seeing the work that goes into being a reservist and felt that I am deserving of something that is named after Richard Bong. It is hard to come up with words, as he was truly a remarkable person.

Known as the Ace of Aces for his rank as the top American flying ace during World War II, Major Richard Ira Bong was born in Superior and credited with the downing of an impressive confirmed 40 enemy aircraft over the course of his career as a fighter pilot. In December 1944, Bong received the Medal of Honor from General Douglas MacArthur for his service.

The Milwaukee Armed Services Committee presents the Maj. Richard I. Bong award annually to Wisconsin service members who have displayed outstanding traits of leadership and professionalism through their contributions to their Guard or Reserve military unit and to the community.

I knew of him (Bong) but not his complete story, Buswell said. It is incredibly humbling now knowing his story and getting an award named after Major Richard Bong.

Buswell received the award for her leadership during an incident in January when a tug sank in the Kinnickinnic River  one of three primary rivers that flows into the harbor of Milwaukee.

What made this difficult is that the river is frozen, this tug has sunk in the ice and there were 40,000 gallons of diesel on board that would now be in the Milwaukee harbor, Buswell recalled.

Called in to oversee the recovery was something Buswell said was an amazing opportunity. I just came off maternity leave and I was able as a reservist to come in and respond to the event as a trained pollution responder. I felt honored to be trusted and assigned to lead a section of this recovery by the active guard, she said. I think this response action was what led me to being nominated for this award.

Buswell had conducted vessel recovery in the south after hurricanes and an oil pollution response following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but the Wisconsin event was different.

Things like this often do not happen in Milwaukee, she said. We were able to offload 40,000 gallons of diesel and prevent any spread into the environment thereby eliminating the threat to the Milwaukee harbor ecosystem.

Jessye said the incident and her service in the Coast Guard reflects how she leads others, especially in her role at Tomah Health.

I think that modeling leadership after some of the people that I respect the most in the military means a lot to me personally, she said. I often recall this motto Be great at home so you can be good at work, as I try to lead this way and ensure that I am caring for our staff so they can perform their job well.

Buswell also knows the importance of having a supportive team at Tomah Health.

I would not be able to be in leadership here and be a reservist in the Coast Guard if I did not have the support of the hospital, she said. It is everything to me, and I am thankful that I am supported so I can work in the military and work in health care. I love both careers, and its perfect when both of my careers can come together.

During a time when military recruitment is struggling, Buswell sees the service as a way to fulfill goals and dreams.

I get to work with people from all over the country. The people have all different backgrounds, and it is really about the people you work alongside, as that is what makes you give up a weekend a month and missing family time, she said. If I did not enjoy it, I do not think I would do it. I have gained lifelong friends and have learned so much from being in the military and from my supervisors.

As for her future, Buswell has her eye on an advancement to the rank of Chief Petty Officer  the most significant advancement in the career of an enlisted Coast Guardsman.

I have been trying for four years to advance, she said. I believe I have a good chance this year. The chief is the anchor of the crew, masters of their craft, and they are the servant leader that I aspire to be. That is my immediate goal.
The La Crosse Light Guard, also known as Company B, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteers, will be at the historic Sherry-Butt House, Saturday, June 10. This free event will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the lawn of the House, located at 795 N. Main St., Viroqua. The event will be held rain or shine.

Company B is a group of Civil War reenactors and they will be portraying the living history of the Federal Infantryman and civilian population during the period 1861-65. The soldiers will march and drill and give short informational talks. Muskets will be loaded with blanks and fired, weather permitting. They will also have a campsite set up. The public is invited to talk with reenactors and learn about life during the Civil War.

The Sherry-Butt House, built in 1870 by Civil War Col. Cyrus Butt and his wife Margaret, will be open for tours. Before it was purchased by the Vernon County Historical Society, there were only two owners of the home, the Butt family and Orbec and Hilda Sherry, who purchased it in 1947. The Vernon County Historical Society will serve lunch for a freewill donation.

Parking will be available at the Vernon County Fairgrounds next to the house.
Westerns annual Cavalier Cupboard report from the department of Student Life, Equity and Engagement shows use of Westerns on-campus food pantry, the Cavalier Cupboard, continues to expand rapidly.

The annual report showed the total amount served rose to 2,299, the most since the cupboard began in 2014 and an increase from 1,910 a year prior. In total, 82 households were served by the pantry, with 73 being repeat users throughout the academic year. When the pantry began in 2014, the total amount served was 727.

As we continue to normalize these services, we are finding more individuals have been using the Cavalier Cupboard, said Mitch Berry, student inclusion specialist at Western Technical College. A big part of this comes from our ability to provide hygiene and baby care items, fresh produce and other refrigerated or frozen food items.

The Cavalier Cupboard was started in 2014 by a Western Technical College student who recognized the need to provide food for students. Since opening, the pantry has served 8,189 students and their families.

To learn more information on Westerns programs or services, call 608.785.9200 or visit www.westerntc.edu.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa teenager who said he killed his parents to take charge of his life was sentenced Monday to life in prison with a chance of parole in 50 years.

Ethan Orton pleaded guilty in February to two counts of first-degree murder in the October 2021 deaths of 42-year-old Casey Orton and 41-year-old Misty Scott Slade at the family's home in Cedar Rapids.

Police said Ethan Orton stabbed his parents and then used an ax on his mother when he saw she was still alive. Officers found him covered in blood outside the home. He was 17 at the time, but was charged and tried as an adult.

Orton told investigators at the scene that he killed his parents to take charge of my life.

His trial was delayed while he underwent a mental evaluation. He was found competent to stand trial in November.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  The body of a 17-year-old Milwaukee boy was found inside an SUV, four days after the vehicle was towed to a city-owned lot following a crash, authorities said.

Milwaukee police officers who were called Monday morning to the lot saw the teen's body on the floor of the SUV's rear portion, police said in a statement.

The boys cause of death is being investigated by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office, while the Milwaukee Police Department and the citys Department of Public Works will investigate the circumstances that resulted in the youth's body not being initially found in the SUV, police said.

The SUV, which police suspected was stolen, was towed to the lot last Thursday after it was severely damaged when it crashed into a tree. That crash injured a 16-year-old boy who had been driving the vehicle and he was taken into custody, police said.

The incident marks the third time since 2018 that city personnel left someone in a car that was eventually towed away, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

In January 2018, an 8-year-old girl spent a freezing night alone inside a van that was towed away after her mother was arrested during a traffic stop. A tow lot attendant found the girl the next morning after hearing her crying.

The girl's family sued the city and reached a settlement last year in which her family was paid $50,000.

In January 2022, Milwaukees fire chief apologized for his departments failure to find the body of a 21-year-old woman in a vehicle that was towed away after being involved in a fiery crash.
Two members of a three-judge state appeals court panel voiced skepticism Monday about Attorney General Josh Kauls contention that a 2018 law requiring legislative approval of some court settlements unconstitutionally ceded executive power to the Legislature.

The oral arguments before the state 2nd District Court of Appeals in Waukesha came more than a year after a Dane County Circuit Court judge ruled that parts of the law unconstitutionally violated Wisconsins separation of powers doctrine.

The case revolves around legislation adopted during a lame-duck session in December 2018 that curbed the power of Gov. Tony Evers and Kaul after they were elected but before they took office. Part of the law requires a legislative committee to sign off on some lawsuit settlements brought forth by the attorney general.

Since the laws enactment, the state Department of Justice and the Republican-controlled Legislature have butted heads over how DOJ should follow the laws.

Your burden is very heavy here, Judge Shelley Grogan told an attorney representing Kaul. I mean, the Legislature passed this law, the governor signed the law, and we presume that the law is constitutional.

Gov. Walkers signature on this law doesnt in any way change constitutional separation of powers, responded Assistant Attorney General Hannah Jurss. As the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized ... no constitutional, coequal branch has the power to give away its constitutional authority.

The 2018 law states that any civil actions prosecuted by DOJ may be compromised or discontinued ... by submission of a proposed plan to the joint committee on finance for the approval of the committee.

The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature contends the 2018 law constitutionally provides the Joint Finance Committee a seat at the table in signing off on two categories of court settlements: enforcement of consumer protection and environmental protection laws; and claims on behalf of executive agencies relating to the administration of programs they must run.

Representing the Legislature, which appealed the Dane County ruling, attorney Misha Tseytlin said the case is really about Kaul not wanting to cede power to the Joint Finance Committee because of its Republican majority.

Kaul, in turn, alleges that in passing the 2018 law the Legislature did not give itself a seat at the table; it gave itself a throne.

He added in a court filing that the law also provided the Legislature with veto power that unduly burdens and substantially interferes with the Executive Branchs constitutional role.

Jurss on Monday said prior to the 2018 law the Legislature has never had a shared role in deciding the attorney generals settlements.

You cant use that argument that its never been done before because thats a ridiculous argument, Judge Maria Lazar said. The argument is, is it possible to do, not that its never been done.

Citing a similar case that the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided which upheld legislation passed during the lame-duck session, Lazar asked Jurss, Arent you asking us to kick a dead cat?

The appeals panel is likely to issue a ruling in the coming months. Ultimately, the case is likely to end up being decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which will have a liberal majority as of Aug. 1.

Kaul filed the lawsuit in 2021 asking the court to suspend the requirement that DOJ seek approval to settle the two categories of cases.

Last year, Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford ruled in favor of Kaul, who challenged the matter in the lower court after a previous effort was rejected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2020.

Crawford wrote in her May 5, 2022, decision that the GOP-led committees failure or refusal to approve a settlement agreement effectively operates as a veto, with no override mechanism to act as a check on legislative authority. The statute provides the Attorney General no recourse except to seek litigation or renegotiate a settlement on terms demanded by the committee, she added.
The children of missing Winona woman Madeline Kingsbury will remain in the care of Kingsburys parents while the custody case plays out in family court.

On Monday, the Winona County Attorneys Office, representing Winona County Health and Human Services, along with the parties of Adam Fravel, the childrens biological father, and Kingsburys parents, David and Catherine, reached an agreement in the Children in Need of Protection or Services case.

This settlement agreement marks an important step forward in ensuring the well-being of the children, Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman said in a statement Tuesday.

A Children in Need of Protection or Service petition was filed April 6 after the disappearance of Kingsbury. The settlement affirms Kingsbury is the sole custodial parent for the children, ages five and two.

Recognizing that the absence of a legal custodian in the childrens lives contradicted their best interests, this CHIPS adjudication guarantees that the county can continue to act as a temporary legal custodian until the matters of custody and parenting time are eventually determined by a family court or in a permanency action. Sonneman said.

The case remains open while Winona County maintains temporary custody of the children. Permanent placement is to be determined by the court at a future hearing.

A disposition hearing set for the case is set for 10 a.m. June 14.

This agreement allowed the trial, which was set for June 6 and 7, to be canceled.

Kingsbury was last seen March 31 when she and the father of her children, Adam Fravel, took their two kids to daycare shortly after 8 a.m.

After returning to her Kerry Drive residence in Winona around 8:15 a.m., she did not show up to work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, authorities said.

There has been no criminal case brought forward related to Kingsburys disappearance. Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman has hired an additional attorney to aid her office in its work related to Kingsburys disappearance.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has recognized 23 area dairy operations for their low somatic cell counts.

The department on Friday released its annual list of Minnesota dairy herds with the lowest counts, which are a key of milk quality.

A lower SCC is better for cheese production and shelf life of bottled milk, the departments website states. Somatic cells occur naturally in milk and do not pose a health risk, but farmers monitor them as an indicator of the cows health. Processors also pay more for milk with low somatic cell counts.

The departments annual list includes producers whose herds had average somatic cell counts of 100,000 or lower in the previous year.

The 2022 rankings, which listed 93 herds from across the state, included 14 Winona County herds, seven Houston County herds and two Fillmore County herds:

Barkeim Farms LLC, Winona County

D and D Dairy, Winona County

D&L Johnson Dairy Farm LLC, Winona County

Dev-Lin Holsteins LLC, Houston County

Hammell Dairy Inc., Houston County

Hendel Farms, Houston County

Houdek Dairy LLC, Houston County

Kiefland Holsteins LLC, Winona County

Michael and Kris Banse, Houston County

Nelsons Organic Dairy LLC, Winona County

Pine Vue Farms, Winona County

Robert, Terri, and Mike Ketchum, Winona County

Rolling Ridge Acres Inc., Winona County

Schulte Farms of Caledonia LLC, Houston County

Schulte Farms, Houston County

Scott and Michelle Herber, Winona County

Selke Farms, Winona County

Shir-Man Holsteins II, Fillmore County

Sobeck Brothers Farm, Winona County

Trailside Holsteins LLC, Fillmore County

Valley Acres Dairy, Winona County

Valley View Farm, Winona County

Wirtland Holsteins, Winona County

In 2003, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture began its partnership with University of Minnesota dairy experts to lower somatic cell counts in the states herds. In the first year, herds recognized for low somatic cell counts had averages as high as 144,000; this years goal of 100,000 reflects 20 years of progress.

Producers on the list were nominated by their dairy plants.

To view the full statewide rankings and learn more about Minnesotas dairy industry, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/dairy-minnesota.
After Cape Town Meeting, BRICS Foreign Ministers Discuss Expansion, August Summit

June 5, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)In the aftermath of the June 1-2 BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting and the expanded Friends of BRICS gathering which followed it in Cape Town, South Africa, the Foreign Ministers of current BRICS member nations discussed perspectives for expansion of the group into BRICS-Plus, given the large number of countries seeking membership. There is general concern that this process be approached with care, given the diversity and different levels of economic development of the nations applying.

In a discussion among themselves, reported by New Delhi Television (NDTV) on June 3, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar observed that membership expansion is still a work in progress. The five current members are approaching it with a positive intention and an open mind, responding to requests to formulate guiding principles, standards and the procedures for admission, he said. Aspects to be examined include first, how the existing BRICS members work with each other. Second, how they engage with non-BRICS countries. And thirdly, how we look at possible BRICS expansionwhat will be the appropriate format for that is something we need to work on.

Brazils Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira agreed, adding that BRICS is a brand and an asset, so we have to take care of it, because it means and represents a lot. The BRICS represent 40% of the worlds population, he added, which makes it an important asset. Maybe because of this big success, it has attracted the attention of many other countries in the 15 years since BRICS was first founded.

In a similar vein, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented that it wasnt so surprising that so many countries sought to join the BRICS because it symbolizes the multipolar world and the attraction of more than a dozen countries to BRICS is a testimony to that.

Chinas Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu commented enthusiastically that the model of the BRICS-Plus that China had proposed in 2022 when it was the BRICS rotating chair was developing very fast, and that this has been very important because it has provided a platform for the solidarity and cooperation between the developing countries and the emerging market economies. China is very pleased to see how this model is developing, he said. We welcome the intention of those countries to join the BRICS and we expect more countries to join our BRICS family. This, he said, is in very sharp contrast to some countries small circle. I believe the enlargement of the BRICs will be beneficial to the BRICS countries, beneficial to developing countries and will increase the representation and influence of this mechanism.

South Africas International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor, who hosted the June BRICS meeting, reported that it had concluded that there was not yet a useful document on the matter of expansion, and that once one is available that offers clear guidance, it will be submitted to the BRICS heads of state summit which meets in Johannesburg on Aug. 22-24. That gathering will also include a BRICS-Plus component, she said, so the entire summit will be quite large. African countries, as well as chairs of various regional community bodies in different regions of the world will also be invited to attend.
Defense Minister Li Shangfu Presents Chinas Vision for a Global Security Initiative

June 5, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Chinas Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, on June 4, the last day of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, responded to U.S. Defense Secretary Austins belligerent presentation from the day before, in which he had accused China of refusing to allow him to meet with the Chinese Defense Minister. Austin also again elaborated, as he had at the same forum a year before, on the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, namely uniting U.S. allies in the region aimed clearly at China. (In fact, Austin flew from Singapore to India, to try to further that strategy.) The speech of General Li was therefore packed with observers.

Li very diplomatically countered Austin, by introducing President Xis proposal for a Global Security Initiative. While underlining the importance of maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific region, he also asked the participants to raise the question of why there was now concern with the growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific. He went on to note that some country ... color revolutions and proxy wars in different regions, created chaos and turbulence, and just walked away, leaving a mess behind. We must never allow such things to happen again in the Asia-Pacific.

He said that

First, mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony.... We are strongly opposed to imposing ones own will on others, placing ones own interests above those of others, and pursuing ones own security at the expense of others. ... Second, fairness and justice should transcend the law of the jungle.... Third, eliminating conflicts and confrontation through mutual trust and consultation. ... Fourth, preventing bloc confrontation with openness and inclusiveness. Today, what the Asia-Pacific needs are big pies of open and inclusive cooperation, not small cliques that are self-serving and exclusive. We must never forget the catastrophes inflicted by the two world wars and the Cold War. And we must never allow such tragedies to happen again,

he said.

He warned, It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the U.S. will be an unbearable disaster for the world and urged: As for the US side, it needs to act with sincerity, match its words with deeds and take concrete actions together with China to stabilize the relations and prevent further deterioration.

Li also outlined the positive role that China had played in the international arena, with its commitment to UN peacekeeping and most importantly with the Belt and Road Initiative, which had brought so much benefit to poor countries in the developing world. He also expressed the important role China was playing in trying to create the basis for peace in Ukraine.

He further admonished against U.S. attempts to hollow out the agreements with China on the very sensitive Taiwan questions, stressing that China must be and will be reunified. ... If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate for a second. We will fear no opponents and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, regardless of any cost. Moreover, he warned, in the South China Sea, The sound momentum towards greater stability must not be disrupted.... However, we do see some countries outside the region exercise their hegemony of navigation in the name of freedom of navigation.

In the open discussion, he expressed that it would be very important for the U.S. and China to hold talks at the highest level in the military realm, but pointed out that the present environment, in which Li himself is under U.S. administration sanctions, could not lead to a positive outcome of such a meeting. But we have our principles to communication. We hope our exchanges, cooperation will be based on mutual respect. That is a very fundamental principle. If we do not even have mutual respect, then our communication will not be productive. Mutual respect and equality should be the foundation for our communications, he concluded his response.

He took the opportunity of his inaugural presence at the Dialogue to hold a good number of bilateral meetings with defense ministers from many other nations attending the event.
The many school shootings across the United States have led to demand from schools for advanced technology security systems.

A little over one year ago, a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Days later, taser maker Axon Enterprise had an idea for how to prevent such attacks. It suggested schools use non-lethal drones that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

Many people who work at the company disagreed with the idea. The company's own AI ethics board quit in protest. The event showed the growing unease about the ethics and effectiveness of security tools being marketed to American schools.

Schools have been able to use nearly $200 billion in new COVID-19 relief money and other government funding to purchase such tools, said Odis Johnson Jr. He is director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Safe and Healthy Schools in Baltimore, Maryland.

More schools have more money, he said. "And there's a robust tech sector pushing these technologies."

Rita Bishop is the former head of the school system in Roanoke, Virginia. She said she had to stop taking calls from companies that sell things like AI-powered surveillance cameras and weapons detectors.

Gun-detection systems

For some experts and school safety officials, new tech-based tools are just one way to prevent school violence.

Dave Fraser is head of Omnilert. The company developed an AI-powered tool that connects to school surveillance cameras to detect guns.

Charles County Public Schools in Maryland decided to use Omnilert. Jason Stoddard is the school systems security director. He said he noticed that the shooters in Uvalde and in another attack had neared the school with their guns drawn. That played a part in the school systems decision to use Omnilert.

Omnilert is one of a growing list of companies offering gun-detection technologies.

ZeroEyes said its gun detection technology is used in schools and other places in over 30 states. Like Omnilert, it has human reviewers who check guns that its AI system detects.

According to the Intercept news site, more than 65 school systems have bought or tested AI gun-detection tools since 2018. The schools spent a total of over $45 million on the technologies.

There are serious questions, however, about the effectiveness of such tools, said Ken Trump. He is the president of National School Safety and Security Services, a school safety consulting group.

He said schools have become testing grounds for very underdeveloped AI software.

He said schools have been increasingly drawn to tech solutions without taking simple measures. He said schools have not looked to measures like training teachers on how to respond to shootings, making structural improvements to buildings, and keeping doors locked.

Surveillance tools might help quicken a school's response. But they are unlikely to prevent shooters, said Johnson Jr. of Johns Hopkins.

He added that there is no research into the effectiveness of these AI technologies.

Classroom surveillance zone

There are also ethical concerns.

"Kids need to be in schools that treat them like students, instead of suspects," said Johnson Jr.

He and other experts worry that surveillance solutions to school violence create a hostile environment. He said it could be especially negative for Black students and students from other overpoliced communities.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

Quiz- Can tech protect US schools from mass shootings? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________

Words in This Story

advanced  adj. beyond the basic level

taser  n. used for a gun that fires electrified darts to immobilize a person

lethal  adj. causing or able to cause death

ethics  n. rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad

relief  n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen

robust  adj. strong and healthy

detector  n. a device that can tell if a substance or object is present

review  n. an act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone

consult  v. to go to for advice

respond  n. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request
The attack known as D-Day, by Allied soldiers on Nazi German forces who occupied France during World War II, took place on June 6, 1944.

The landing led to the liberation of France and Western Europe.

On Tuesday, military members and regular people visited the American cemetery that overlooks Omaha Beach. That is where the soldiers landed 79 years ago. The cemetery has markers for over 9,000 American soldiers who died that day. The visitors gathered for a memorial service.

One person who supported the soldiers who fought that day is still alive. She was there.

Marie Scott is about to be 97 years old. During the war, she was a communications operator and worked in Portsmouth, England.

Her job was to move messages between the men fighting on the ground in Normandy, France and their leaders who oversaw the operation. One of those leaders was General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Scott was 17 years old at the time.

She was not in danger that day, but she feels like she was in the war.

I could hear gunfire, machine guns, bombing aircraft, men screaming, shouting, men giving orders, she said.

After a few moments of horror, I realized what was happeningand I thought, well, you know, theres no time for horror. Youve got a job to do. So, get on with it. Which is what I did.

Scott called the experience a pivotal point in her life.

Mervyn Kersh of Great Britain was also at Tuesdays service. He landed at nearby Gold Beach on D-Day. He is now 98.

Both Kersh and Scott say they are sad to see another war going on in Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Scott said she is disgusted to see the fighting, and a war should start only if there is no other way to solve a problem between nations. She called the war an atrocity.

Kersh said Western countries should continue to support Ukraine with military aid. The only way to stay free is to be strong, he said.

Two top American military officials were also in Normandy on Tuesday.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared with World War II veterans.

During his military career, Milley was a top leader in the U.S. military departments that fought in France on D-Day -- the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions. He is finishing his service and is to retire in September.

It was Milleys last visit to Normandy as a top official. He stopped to talk with current American soldiers and gave a special coin to each soldier he met.

Ceremonies took place later Tuesday honoring the military members from the allied nations.

Civilians came to see the ceremonies, too, and to honor the soldiers who died.

German professor Andreas Fuchs teaches French in Berlin. He brought 10- through 12-year-old students to Normandy.

He said, Its very important for children to have a moment in their lives to understand the liberation of Europe. And to know what peace has been for 80 years.

Jean-Philippe Bertrand came from Marseille, in southern France. He called the sacrifice unimaginable. He said being there in person is different from seeing pictures.

Once youre here and you see the reality and the sacrifice that has been made for our beautiful country  I wanted to make the trip once in my life to thank all these people to whom we owe so much, he added.

Im Faith Pirlo.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story by The Associated Press.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

horror adj. feeling scared

pivotal adj. the place where a change of direction happens

disgusted adj. a feeling of unhappy, nearly sick or angry about something

atrocity n. a bad or evil thing that happens

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The dramatic rupture of the dam that upheld Ukraine's largest reservoir released a torrent of water Tuesday, raising fears of widespread damage and flooding. Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the facility, while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian military strikes.
An award-winning Hong Kong journalist won an appeal yesterday quashing a conviction related to research for an investigative documentary, in a rare court ruling upholding media freedom in the Chinese territory.

Bao Choy was found guilty in April 2021 of deceiving the government by getting vehicle ownership records for journalistic purposes after she had declared in her online application that she would use the information for other traffic and transport related issues.

The investigative journalist was trying to track down perpetrators of a mob attack on protesters and commuters inside a train station during massive anti-government protests in 2019 for her documentary.

Choy was fined 6,000 Hong Kong Dollars ($765) for two counts of making false statements at that time and called it a very dark day for all journalists in Hong Kong. That ruling also sparked outrage among local journalists over the citys shrinking press freedom.

Yesterday, judges of the citys top court unanimously ruled in Choys favor in a written judgment, quashing her conviction and setting aside the sentence.

The issues of falsity and knowledge were wrongly decided against the appellant because her journalistic investigation into the use of the vehicle on the dates in question did fall into the wide catchall category of other traffic and transport related matters, the judgment read.

Even if it did not, it was not an irresistible inference that she knew that to be false, the judgment said. There is no reason that bona fide journalism should be excluded from the phrase, it added.

Choy told reporters outside the court the she was happy to learn about the judgment, saying it had stated the importance of the citys constitutionally protected freedom of press and speech.

Over the last few years, we might have found that many things have disappeared quietly, she said. But I believe our beliefs in our hearts cant be taken away that easily. No matter I win or lose today, the persistence (demonstrated) over the last few years is already a meaningful thing.

She said she hoped the outcome would be encouraging news to all reporters still working hard in the city.

The story Choy co-produced, titled 7.21 Who Owns the Truth, won the Chinese-language documentary award at the Human Rights Press Awards in 2021. The judging panel hailed it as an investigative reporting classic that had chased the smallest clues, interrogating the powerful without fear or favor.

In the crackdown on dissent that followed the 2019 protests, two vocal media outlets  Apple Daily and Stand News  have been forced to shut down and some of their top managers have been prosecuted.

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai faces collusion charges under the national security law enacted in 2020. Two former Stand News editors were charged under a colonial-era sedition law that has been used increasingly to snuff out critical voices.

Hong Kong ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories in Reporters Without Borders latest World Press Freedom Index released last month. The global media watchdog said the city has experienced an unprecedented setback since 2020, when the security law was introduced.

KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP
Germany and Indonesia agreed yesterday to strengthen their defense cooperation and plan a joint military exercise with other countries in the region.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed the growing ties in a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta.

We talked about the possibility of having a deal about some submarines. We were talking about the two minesweepers which are already on the way to Indonesia, Pistorius said.

Germany and Indonesia are also planning a joint military exercise with other regional partners, but no details have been disclosed.

Both ministers attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asias annual defense and security forum, where U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday criticized Chinas bullying or coercion in the Indo-Pacific region, including tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Pistorius said Germany is committed to contributing to peace and security in the region.

And we are ready to strengthen our engagement in the years to come, Pistorius said.

Subianto said at the forum on Saturday that the security situation in the Indo-Pacific, especially in East Asia, is dominated by tensions resulting from the rise of China as a major power in a world which has long been led by the United States.

History teaches us when a rising great power meets a preeminent global power, tensions do arise and the historical record shows many of these conflicts result in open conflict, kinetic conflict. However, this rivalry, some have suggested, has turned into a new Cold War. It is being called the Second Cold War, Subianto said.

Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu said at the conference that the U.S. has been deceiving and exploiting Asia-Pacific nations to advance its own self interests to preserve its dominant position. EDNA TARIGAN, JAKARTA, MDT/AP
Last year saw only around half of the year logging good air quality, the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) disclosed yesterday.

Data from the Environmental Condition Report 2022 shows that only one out of six gauges, which is a roadside gauge, recorded good quality for 74% of days.

The DSPA also said some gauges saw a maximum of 33 days of poor air quality last year. The ordinary gauges in Taipa and in Coloane, as well as the roadside gauge in Ka-Ho recorded extremely poor air quality for one to three days.

June last year had better air quality and September worse, the report noted.

On the matter of water, last year Macau saw 8% less rainfall year-over-year. The salinity level of water dispatched from the Ilha Verde Water Plant remained at a good condition, and Escherichia coli bacteria remained at a legally acceptable level as well.

Three out of six barometers across the city recorded good data on average last year, with two of the remaining three logging a fair level and the remaining gauge a bad level.

Last year, the government banned the import of disposable non-biodegradable dining utensils. The DSPA also boasted the addition of recyclable collection points and machines.

A total of 2,000 electric light vehicle and 500 electric motorcycle chargers have been installed as of the end of last year.

In 2022, Macau had about the same amount of green areas managed by the government year-over-year, according to the report.

Data from the report, however, only concerns green areas under the management of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM).

The number of trees on sidewalks on the Macau Peninsula in Taipa increased by 4.7%. The types of trees and bushes recorded in Macau saw no change.

IAMs hillside plantation restoration initiative has seen 3,100 saplings planted, with 4,000 mangroves planted on a west coast of Taipa.

The maximum number of black-faced spoonbills recorded at one time in the ecological reserves in Cotai has almost halved: from 59 in 2021 to 34 in 2022.

The numbers of birds and insects increased slightly last year, while those of amphibians, mammals, fish and reptiles remained unchanged.

The English version of the report will be available soon on its website, the DSPA pledged.
A local woman was reported to have lost MOP320,000 after allegedly being scammed by a self-identified British man over a messaging app, the Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday.

At about 6 p.m. on June 4, the police received the report from the 33-year-old victim. According to her, in January last year she came across the so-called British man over a social app called Shou. They then continued their virtual interactions over Skype.

The police said the woman only identified their relationship as a friendship.

Later, on an unspecified date, the man told the woman he was planning to visit her in Macau, and asked for the womans address so he could mail some of his luggage in advance.

Afterwards, a supposed courier company contacted the woman and claimed to be holding mail addressed to her. She was told she would need to pay a fee to retrieve the mail.

Believing that it was true, she paid MOP17,000 through her mainland Chinese account to a designated mainland account held by the courier.

In February 2022, the victim received a Skype call from a woman who claimed to be the mother of the man. The mother told the victim she was ill and needed some money for treatment. She agreed to lend her some money, bought MOP240,000 worth of bitcoin and transferred this to the mother.

In June 2022, another man contacted the victim, claiming to be the lawyer of the British man. This lawyer said the man had been arrested on criminal charges. He said the man was therefore in need of some money to handle the matter.

The woman then bought several tens of thousands worth of bitcoin and transferred this to the lawyer.

Several days before she reported the case, she was contacted by another lawyer, who told her the man had passed away and left her a legacy. However, to obtain the inheritance, he advised that she needed to surrender her personal data and more money.

At this point, she had a feeling that she might have been scammed, so she reported the case to the police.

Yuu membership scams

In three other cases, people have potentially lost over MOP100,000 in fraudulent Yuu membership privilege redemption requests.

The three victims are a local man aged 41 years, a local woman aged 34 years and a local woman aged 49 years. They have reported suspicious transactions of HKD20,398, HKD40,796 and MOP32,200 respectively.

On June 3, they all independently received a text message claiming to be from Yuu, saying they had unredeemed privilege points in their account that would expire if they were not used.

All of the text messages came with a fake redemption link.

After clicking the link, the victims were presented with a redemption gift option page, on which they surrendered their credit card information after choosing the gifts they wanted to redeem.

They also surrendered the one-time password for the transaction they received from their respective banks.

The next day, they received text notifications from their banks, saying that their credit card had been used for some transactions. They each contacted their banks to inspect the transactions and freeze their cards. They all reported they had not used their cards for the said transactions.

According to the police, they will not have incurred any actual monetary loss for the time being, unless their banks do honor the alleged suspicious transactions.

This case was also reported to the police on June 4.
Future operations of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) operations will not be directly awarded to the MTR Corporation, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, assured legislators yesterday.

Rosario was at the Legislative Assembly to participate in a Q&A session with the lawmakers about the transport and public works sector yesterday afternoon.

To an inquiry from lawmaker Ella Lei on the future operation of the LRT, Rosario said, I am not sure yet [of the plan for operations] [after the end of the contract with MTR], but I can assure you operations wont be directly awarded to MTR, the Secretary said.

He noted too that the process is still being evaluated.

It will examine not only the Taipa line, which is the only one currently in operation, but also the extension of this line to the Peninsula through the Sai Van Bridge and to the new Barra Station, which he also confirmed will start operating at the end of this year.

Rosario said the new operating contract will also examine another two lines planned to start operating during 2024, the Seac Pai Van line (a small extension of the Taipa line to reach the high-density residential area) and the Hengqin line that will link Macau to the mainland via LRT and will facilitate border crossing transportation.

Questioned by lawmakers about measures to incentivize use of the transport system, Rosario said linking LRT fares with the buses is impossible to enforce.

The buses have a fixed fare that is very different from the LRT fares, making it impossible to create a more convenient combined fare system.

As for attracting passengers, the Secretary reiterated, as in the past, that the major difference in passenger numbers using the LRT will only be felt after operations of the East Line begins.

This line will connect Taipas Pac On area to the Border Gate passing through the Zone A of the new landfills and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Post.

He said it is likely that with the start of operations of the two lines expected in 2024 (Seac Pai Van and Hengqin border), the LRT will progressively transport more people than currently.

Also questioned by lawmaker Lei on the topic, the Secretary said that even if the MTR Company has no involvement in the management and operation of the LRT after the contract ends, no worker will lose their job as the government has been planning progressively for the integration of the workers being trained from the MTR to the LRT Company.

On the same topic, he also said the number of non-local workers has been reduced over time and that the percentage of locals working in both companies is now over 85%.

Rosario noted that the extension to Barra of the Taipa line has been undergoing daily testing since the start of 2023 adding that the Transport Bureau is also working on the bus routes that will operate from the Barra Station to link the passengers from LRT to their final destinations in the Peninsula.

Without advancing any details on this work, he said that such announcements would come soon and before the station begins operation.
An Australian woman who spent 20 years in prison was pardoned and released yesterday based on new scientific evidence that her four children died by natural causes as she had insisted.

The pardon was seen as the quickest way of getting Kathleen Folbigg out of prison, and a final report from the second inquiry into her guilt could recommend the state Court of Appeals quash her convictions.

Folbigg, now 55, was released from a prison in Grafton, New South Wales state, following an unconditional pardon by Gov. Margaret Beazley.

Australian state governors are figureheads who act on instructions of governments. New South Wales Attorney-General Michael Daley said former justice Tom Bathurst had advised him last week there was reasonable doubt about Folbiggs guilt based on new scientific evidence that the deaths could have been from natural causes.

There is a reasonable doubt as to Ms. Folbiggs guilt of the manslaughter of her child Caleb, the infliction of grievous bodily harm on her child Patrick and the murder of her children Patrick, Sarah and Laura, Daley told reporters.

I have reached a view that there is reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Ms. Folbigg of those offenses, Daley added.

Bathurst has conducted the second inquiry into Folbiggs guilt, initiated by a petition that said it was based on significant positive evidence of natural causes of death and signed by 90 scientists, medical practitioners and related professionals.

Prosecutors acknowledged to his inquiry in April that there was reasonable doubt about her guilt.

Folbigg was serving a 30-year prison sentence that was to expire in 2033. She would have become eligible for parole in 2028.

The children died separately over a decade, at between 19 days and 19 months old. MDT/AP
Hong Kong police arrested a woman accused of killing her three young daughters yesterday in a case that has shocked many in the city, where violent crime is rare.

The three girls, aged 2, 4 and 5, were unresponsive when officers arrived at their apartment after receiving a call from the woman, who told police that they had been killed by her husband, police said. Police Superintendent Alan Chung said the woman and her husband had been separated for about a year, and they believe the woman was guilty of the killings.

The children were declared dead at a hospital. Chung said no wounds were found on their bodies and no sharp objects or drugs were found at the scene. He said a bloodstained pillow was found and it was possible it was used to smoother the children.

An investigation indicated that the case was linked to family relationship problems, Chung said.

This is a very serious family violence case, he said.

The woman and the girls lived in a small apartment in Sham Shui Po, one of the poorest districts in the financial hub, Chung said.

The woman appeared normal when police arrived at the apartment and there was no evidence that she had a bad relationship with the girls, he said.

yesterdays case was the second in three days involving killings that has shocked many Hong Kong residents.

Last Friday, a man fatally stabbed two women at a shopping mall in an apparently random attack. An initial investigation found no evidence of any relationship between the suspect and the victims, police said.

A local court yesterday ordered a psychiatric examination for the suspect, according to the South China Morning Post. MDT/AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday discussed upgrading partnership with India, a major arms buyer, and set a roadmap for cooperation for the next five years as both countries grapple with Chinas economic rise and increased belligerence, officials said.

Austins visit comes as India strengthens its domestic defense industry by acquiring new technologies and reducing reliance on imports, particularly from Russia, its largest supplier of military hardware despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Austin and his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, explored ways of building resilient supply chains, a statement from Indias Defense Ministry said. They decided to identify opportunities for the co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing and new systems and facilitate increased collaboration between defense startup ecosystems of the two countries.

They also discussed regional security issues and committed to strengthening operational collaboration across all military services, with an eye to supporting Indias leading role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific, the statement said.

The new roadmap for U.S.-India defense industrial cooperation will fast track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions and the undersea domain, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said.

This initiative aims to change the paradigm for cooperation between U.S. and Indian defense sectors, including a set of specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies and support Indias defense modernization plans, it said.

The discussions also included cooperation in space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence. Austin also met with Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Im returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership. Together, were advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, Austin tweeted after his arrival in New Delhi yesterday [Macau time].

Austin, who is on his second visit to India, was expected to lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Washington on June 22, which has fuelled speculation about a possible announcement of defense contracts. MDT/AP
UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE

BERLIN  Nations resumed talks on tackling global warming Monday with the aim of shaping a deal that might put the world on track to prevent a dangerous increase in temperatures, as the U.N.'s top climate official called for deep cuts in fossil fuel use.

Diplomats began two-week negotiations in Bonn, Germany, despite failing to agree on a formal agenda because of differences on the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The issue lies at the heart of the climate problem, since burning oil, coal and gas is responsible for most warming that's occurred since preindustrial times.

Simon Stiell, who heads the U.N. climate office, told The Associated Press in an interview over the weekend that limiting global warming to 2.7 Fahrenheit will require a phaseout of fossil fuels, something many oil-producing countries have pushed back on.

Environmental campaigners have lamented that this year's U.N. climate summit will be held in the United Arab Emirates, a major fossil fuel exporter, and presided over by the chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The host nation has pushed back against this criticism. Stiell said that having leaders gather in Dubai this fall should be seen as an opportunity.

"We have a president (for the talks) who has significant experience in the oil and gas sector, in an oil and gas producing nation," he told reporters in Bonn. "It provides an opportunity to ask some very difficult questions, but also to seek some very difficult but needed answers."

Asked about calls for curbs on the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists, Stiell said that his office is looking into ways of ensuring greater transparency based on the experience of previous meetings, known in U.N.-speak as Conferences of the Parties, or COPs.

Meanwhile, officials said Monday that the cause of global warming is showing no signs of slowing as heat-trapping carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere increased to record highs in its annual Spring peak, jumping at one of the fastest rates on record.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration announced that the carbon dioxide level measured in May in Hawaii averaged 424 parts per million. That's 3 parts per million more than last year's May average and 51% higher than pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm. It is one of the largest annual May-to-May increases in carbon dioxide levels on record, behind only 2016 and 2019, which had jumps of 3.7 and 3.4 parts per million.
Three adults and a child escaped a burning home in Janesville overnight, authorities reported.

Fire crews were sent to 4108 Cobblestone Lane at 11:45 p.m. Monday on a report of a fire at the back of the single-family home, Janesville Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Lukas said in a statement.

Firefighters found heavy fire and smoke visible from the rear exterior of the house, extending into the attic, and they attacked the blaze and quickly brought it under control, Lukas said.

Damage was estimated at $110,000 and the cause is under investigation, Lukas said.

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Madison has released plans for the reconstruction of John Nolen Drive that will make the Downtown thoroughfare feel less like a highway even as biking advocates continue to ask that underpasses for cyclists and pedestrians be installed in the future.

The $30 million reconstruction of the road will include 178 feet of crosswalk and pedestrian islands at the intersection of John Nolen and North Shore Drive. Other changes include a raised median, a 10-foot-wide bike path and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk.

Federal funds will finance $15.1 million of the project.

With construction expected to start in 2025, the facelift will narrow the road and require vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists to wait longer before they can cross at the intersection.

The street width has been minimized to allow for maximum greenspace for shoreline, pedestrian paths and bike paths, said Chris Petykowski, a deputy engineer with the city.

With the redesign of the intersection, vehicles will typically wait 120 seconds in the morning and 179 seconds after noon while cyclists will wait about 150 seconds. Pedestrians will wait between 62 and 107 seconds at the southern crosswalk and 64 to 85 seconds at the western crosswalk.

Currently, vehicles wait about 124 seconds in the morning and 147 seconds after noon while cyclists wait less than two minutes. Pedestrians wait between 40 and 82 seconds.

A different option for the intersections redesign ditched by the city that did not include islands on the crosswalks would have required people to wait longer at the intersection.

Staff preferred the version with islands because it reduced wait times and gave vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians better visibility, according to a presentation on the options by the citys engineering division.

As the roads new design comes into focus, the city has not ruled out changing John Nolens intersection with Broom Street or adding an underpass or overpass for pedestrians.

Petykowski said the underpass was never programmed or budgeted in the current scope for the project, but it will be physically possible to add to the road in the future.

To protect cyclists and pedestrians, the redesign will increase the space between bikes, bodies and vehicles at the intersection of North Shore and John Nolen. Increased wait times at the intersection add an extra layer of protection too, Petykowski said.

Cyclists want underpass

Even as the city works to protect cyclists and pedestrians with the redesign, biking advocates continue to push for an underpass along John Nolen to permanently separate bikes from cars.

I dont know how many decades it will be to get an underpass at those intersections, said Susan Millar, a volunteer with 350 Wisconsin, a climate activism group.

Installing the underpasses would continue to push the city to abandon its reliance on cars and reduce emissions, she said.

If we really want to be a city thats on the cutting edge with respect to shifting to bikes we have to do this, Millar said.

A 2018 study of the Blair Street corridor suggests that long-term improvements for John Nolen could include enlarging the island at the North Shore intersection, which is included in the citys plans, or adding an underpass just north of the intersection with North Shore.

Avid cyclist Don Ferber said reckless driving on John Nolen continues to pose a risk to people even with the improvements under the reconstruction.

In October 2022, cyclist Tom Heninger was killed at the intersection of John Nolen and North Shore by a motorist who is alleged to have been speeding and running a red light.

Were encouraging more people to use bikes but if its not safe its a deterrent, Ferber said of safety issues on John Nolen.

You can resolve it with one underpass, Ferber said.

The changes to John Nolen also coincide with the reimagining of the Lake Monona waterfront. In May, the Lake Monona Waterfront Ad Hoc Committee unanimously picked Denver-based firm Sasaki to bring its Voices of the Lake design to 1.7 miles of shoreline and 17 acres of parkland at Olin and Law parks.

The waterfront project will continue to influence the layout of pedestrian and bike pathways along John Nolen, Petykowski said.
On this set of episodes, we sift through many details of the 2012 disappearance and death of 6-year-old Isabel Celis and 2014 kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez.

Youll be hearing from Arizona Daily Star reporter Caitlin Schmidt. But first, we travel back to April 25, 2012, shortly after Isabel first went missing.

Isabel was last seen by her parents at 11 p.m. on April 21 when she was put to bed. Her father discovered she was missing the next morning, police said. Police completed a search of the Celis home in the 5600 block of East 12th Street, near East Broadway and South Craycroft Road, at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday but would not comment on what was found.

Thousands of fliers were passed out. Landfills were searched as well as lakes and basins. Isabels parents Sergio and Becky Celis had come under some criticism for not speaking to the media or the public in the effort to find their daughter. More money poured into the search effort, but no more leads for years.

Then on June 3, 2014  two years after Isabel Celis first went missing  another young girl, Maribel Gonzalez, 13, told her mother she was going to a friends house. Three days later her body was found near West Avra Valley Road by a Pima County sheriffs deputy responding to a call about suspicious activity. A few days after her body was discovered, a Pima County medical examiner ruled the death a homicide by unspecified means.

In March 2017, Isabels body was in a rural area of Pima County nearly five years after she disappeared. Police Chief Chris Magnus said it wasnt happenstance. An autopsy later that year confirmed it was a homicide. The bones that were recovered were redacted from the report, but an included chart of a human skeleton show part of a pelvis and several skull bones that are a darker color than the rest of the body.

Next time on Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles, we go deeper into the connection between these two young girls cases and the man on trial for their murders. If you like what we do here at Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles, please be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Anyone who expected Attorney General Raul Labradors review of Reclaim Idahos Open Primaries initiative to be a political hatchet job, would not have been disappointed.

The AGs review, released on May 31, made any number of legally faulty claims about the initiative. Labrador set the stage with a May 2 tweet about the initiative, saying, Lets defeat these bad ideas coming from liberal outside groups. His chief political operative, Theo Wold, has been doing his best to paint the initiative as an evil liberal plot, designed to subvert the Republican Party.

They ignore the fact that many traditional Idaho Republicans, like former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, strongly support the initiative. Newcomb calls it a simple, common-sense reform that will give us better elections and better leadership.

Hyrum Erickson, an elected Republican precinct committeeman for Madison County, backs the initiative because our current primary system incentivizes candidates to demonize people who disagree with them rather than focus on solving problems.

OUR VIEW: How do you feel about ranked choice voting? Think carefully. OUR VIEW: Were not spooked by an open primary, as proposed by Idahoans for Open Primaries, but were still trying to figure out ranked choice voting.

In fact, a broad coalition of homegrown Idaho Republicans, Independents and Democrats believe the plan will allow all Idahoans to participate in selecting our political leaders. They want to break the monopoly that the Dorothy Moon extremist branch of the GOP has had over Idaho elections since the Republican primary was closed in 2012, keeping a majority of Idahoans from having a say in choosing elected leaders.

The attorney general has a legal duty to review initiatives before they are circulated for signature. Idaho law requires the attorney general to recommend to the petitioner such revision or alteration of the measure as may be deemed necessary and appropriate.

Labrador violated this statutory duty by stating his political views about the initiative, rather than performing an impartial legal analysis. But, this is in keeping with his promise to run a political office, rather than a law office providing sound legal advice.

Labradors review asserts the initiative is constitutionally infirm, based upon a 2017 advisory opinion of the Maine Supreme Court. However, the initiative is fashioned after the Alaska Better Elections Initiative that was found to be constitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court in 2022.

Labrador takes the absurd position that the right of political parties to control who can vote in primary elections takes priority over the right of voters to vote for the candidates of their choice in those elections. The Idaho Constitution does not grant political parties the right to control who votes in our elections, but our Supreme Court has held the right of citizens to elect their leaders is an inviolable constitutional right.

The AGs review is a collection of contrived arguments designed to sabotage the initiative. Labrador fears the initiative because it would allow all Idaho voters to have a voice in our elections, rather than the small clique that has driven Idaho politics toward the outer bounds of extremism in recent years.

The Open Primaries initiative would establish a primary election where all candidates run on a single ticket, allowing every voter to select from the entire field. The four top vote-getters will be placed on the general election ballot, where all voters can vote for the candidates in their order of preference.

A candidate who receives an outright majority of the vote in the initial vote count wins the office. If there is no majority winner, the candidate receiving the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and the votes of those who made that candidate their first choice then go to their second-choice candidate in a second count. If a candidate gets a majority in the second count, they win. If not, the process repeats until a candidate gets a majority.

The beauty of this system is that every voter has a better chance of influencing the electionif their first choice does not win, their second choice might. The system is often called ranked choice voting.

Alaskas new election system received plaudits from voters in the 2022 election. Voters surveyed said it was easy to use. It gave them more choices in the election and more influence in selecting their leaders. It has reportedly had the effect of making elected leaders more pragmatic and more responsive to the will of the majority.

Idaho desperately needs this type of election reform.
Colombias President Gustavo Petro has been drawn into a scandal involving the unlawful wiretapping of his former chief of staffs nanny, with claims of illegal financing leveled at his campaign.

Petros ex-aide Laura Sarabia and his ambassador to Venezuela, Armando Benedetti, are under scrutiny after Sarabias nanny allegedly fell victim to illegal surveillance following the disappearance of thousands of dollars from her employers house.

To gain access to her calls, a false police report was allegedly used to link the nanny to organized crime  none less than the notorious Gulf Clan drug cartel, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa told a press conference last week.

The nanny, Marelbys Meza, has also claimed she was subjected to illegal interrogation and a lie detector test in January at a building annexed to the presidential palace in Bogota.

Sarabia and Benedetti stepped down last week and leveled accusations of wrongdoing against one another after prosecutors said the pair would be called to testify in a probe into Mezas allegations.

Then on Sunday, the newspaper La Revista Semana published an expletive-riddled recording of Benedetti threatening Sarabia with his knowledge of alleged illegal campaign funding to the tune of $3.5 million.

Benedetti, a key aide to Petros successful 2022 election campaign, was reported saying they would all go to jail if he is pushed into spilling the beans.

Colombias national electoral council (CNE) said Monday it was opening an investigation into Benedettis claims and summoned Benedetti and Sarabia to appear before it on July 13 for alleged irregularities in the financing of Petros campaign.

On Monday, Petro, the countrys first-ever leftist president, said on his Twitter account that no one in his cabinet nor leaders of the security or intelligence forces had ordered telephone interceptions or illegal raids.

 I dont accept blackmail 

Petro also denied knowledge of illegal raids, blackmail, or accepting campaign money from people linked to the narco drug trafficking networks.

I dont accept blackmail, said Petro, and expressed solidarity with Sarabia.

In a tweet, Benedetti said the recordings revealed by the newspaper had been manipulated.

He offered an apology which Petro accepted while insisting Benedetti must explain his words to the prosecution and the country.

According to Benedetti himself, Meza had worked for him until June last year, when she was fired on suspicion of stealing thousands of dollars and failed a polygraph test.

He then introduced her to Sarabia, who hired Meza last August.

In January this year, the nanny was allegedly made to take another polygraph test, this time on suspicion of stealing $7,000 from Sarabias house.

I felt kidnapped, stunned Meza said in a newspaper interview that fired up social media and unleashed the investigation that has turned a domestic quarrel into a political embarrassment.

Sarabia later claimed Benedetti had set her up by introducing her to Meza and then blackmailed her into supporting his bid for a ministerial post in exchange for making the nannys claims disappear.

Benedetti, in turn, accused Sarabia of abuse of power, kidnapping (of Meza) and intimidation.

Colombia has seen several wiretapping scandals in its troubled past, with Petro himself having received compensation for being illegally targeted by a government surveillance unit dissolved in 2011.

The storm around Mezas claims is the latest in a series of blows for Petro, with a parliamentary coalition meant to be backing his reforms becoming increasingly fractured, stalling his political program.

Petros approval rating has dropped from 50 percent last November to 34 percent in May, according to an Invamer poll.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to threaten his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis with kidnapping charges Monday, as a second planeload of migrants arrived via private jet in state capital Sacramento.

The confrontation comes after DeSantis  a rising Republican star and potential presidential candidate in 2024  has pursued a policy of flying migrants to Democratic-controlled states, in protest at President Joe Bidens immigration policies.

Last September, DeSantis arranged and paid for nearly 50 migrants to fly from Texas to Marthas Vineyard, a wealthy resort island in the northeastern state of Massachusetts.

While Florida officials have not commented on the two recent flights to Sacramento, California officials said some of the migrants were carrying documentation purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida.

@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man, tweeted Newsom on Monday.

This isnt Marthas Vineyard. Kidnapping charges? he added, including a screenshot of Californias legal code on kidnapping.

The first planeload of more than a dozen migrants, originally from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Friday.

They had crossed the United States border into Texas and were transported to New Mexico before boarding a plane.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office was evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants.

State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting, he said in a statement.

PICO California, a faith-based group helping the migrants, said the group did not know they were being taken to California, and had been approached by people offering them jobs.

A second planeload of around 20 migrants, mainly from Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Monday, the New York Times reported.

Wilkendri Rodriguez, 23, told the newspaper he had been approached by four people in El Paso, Texas and asked if he wanted to go to California.

I dont know what is their motivation to organize these trips, he said. I dont know if its political, or part of the government. They didnt tell us anything.

A California Department of Justice official told US media it appeared the same company, Vertol Systems, as well as the state of Florida, had been involved in both operations.

DeSantis office did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on the flights.

Separately on Monday, a Texas sheriff investigating the migrant flights last September from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard recommended criminal charges.

A criminal investigation found the migrants were lured onto flights with false promises of jobs and opportunities on the other end, according to the Miami Herald.

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Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio on Tuesday commended his men from the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) for the arrest of a Liberian national who tried to smuggle a shipment of shabu worth more than P55 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The luggage brought by suspect Philip Campbell underwent x-ray screening by active operatives of XIP headed by lawyer Ma. Lourdes Mangaong. The XIP flagged the luggage as suspicious, potentially containing illegal drugs.

A Customs examiner from the Arrival Operations Division (AOD) then conducted a 100% physical examination and discovered 8.1 kilograms of shabu hidden inside yellow powdery spices, with a street value of P55,338,400 as confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The foreigner arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 via Qatar Airways flight number QR 934 from Doha, Qatar on June 4, but initial investigation showed that his port of origin was from Lagos, Nigeria.

We were able to intercept the prohibited substances thru the X-ray scanners despite the absence of derogatory information, Mangaoang told Manila Standard.

The seized luggage will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings as authorities investigate the foreigner for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act, and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Commissioner Rubio also extended his gratitude to the personnel of PDEA, AOD and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group for their valuable support in the operation.

The Customs chief reiterates the agencys commitment to preventing the entry of illicit goods into the country. He said they will continue to intensify border control and enhance its coordination with partner agencies to combat illegal drug smuggling.

Rubio also emphasized the importance of joint efforts among law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and ensuring the safety and security of the people

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The Philippines and Israel expressed openness to possible partnerships in agriculture and water management as well as in establishing direct flights between the two countries, the Palace said Tuesday.

I think that we can work together on the segment of agriculture. I just let you know that our land, 60 percent of our land is desert. But although 60 percent of our land is desert, we were able to provide all our water needs, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a meeting in Malacanang.

Cohen suggested the two nations open an agricultural hub as he pushed for bilateral collaboration on water management, noting Israels vast experience in this sector.

Mr. Marcos said he considers agricultural development as very important as he thanked the Israeli official for his proposals.

When we look at the economy as hard to just test  how do we fix the economy? It always comes down to agriculture first. So, the offers that you make for assistance and partnership in those two areas are very, very welcome, the President said.

Cohen, during the Israel-Philippines Business Forum, noted that bilateral trade volume can be upgraded to new heights to strengthen the economies of both countries and improve their citizens lives.

I challenge you today  lets work together to double trade figures by the end of 2023 to 1 billion dollars. Its realistic and possible, he said.

Cohen described the Philippine economy as vibrant and growing.

The economy here is dynamic, many entrepreneurs, innovators, users of technology, and its a young and English-speaking society, he added.

Meanwhile, the Israeli economy is also the the go to place when you are looking for affordable, reliable and innovative solutions for many of those challenges,including on agriculture, water, cybersecurity and bio-convergence, Cohen said.

Israel is an economy based on innovation and finding solutions for complex challenges, often applying out of the box type of ingenuity.

Being a small economy, Israeli entrepreneurs are always looking for new partners outside of Israel, he said.

Cohen also raised the issue of establishing direct flights between the Philippines and Israel to boost tourism and economic ties.

Bilateral trade stood at over $534 million in 2022, the first time the two countries crossed the half billion dollar threshold.

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Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday lauded the appointment by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as Defense secretary and Dr. Teodoro Herbosa as Health secretary.

They are welcome additions to the Presidents immediate official family. Their wealth of experience and knowledge in defense and health strengthen the Marcos Cabinet, he said.

Their appointments also mean that the President is bent on finding the best and the brightest to join him in serving our people, he said.

The Speaker said Teodoro and Herbosa are both knowledgeable in their respective fields.

I think that most importantly, they will bring a civilian perspective to the defense and health sectors, he added.

Teodoro is a former defense secretary and Tarlac congressman. His father, Gilberto Teodoro Sr., was Social Security System administrator during the time of President Marcos father.

He finished law at UP and topped the 1989 bar examinations. He holds a masters degree in law from Harvard University.

Herbosa once served as health undersecretary and was a Philippine General Hospital official for many years.

The President administered the oath of office to Teodoro and Herbosa on Tuesday.

A caring health system and a strong capacity to defend our territory is our goal for the country. Marcos said in a social media post.

On the oath of Atty. Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. as Secretary of the Department of National Defense and to Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa as Department of Health Secretary today, we ensure that the welfare of every Filipino is in good hands, he said.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced the appointments following separate meetings with Teodoro and former Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr, and Herbosa and Health officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire on Monday afternoon.

Galvez released a statement thanking the President for trusting him to lead the Defense Department following the oath taking of his successor.

President Marcos earlier said a reorganization could happen in his Cabinet as the appointment ban on losing candidates who ran in last years elections ended on May 9, 2023.

The President said he was keen on appointing to certain positions some of those who are now no longer covered by the prohibition.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin administered the oath-of-office of Joshua Bingcang as the new acting president, chief executive officer, and member of the board of directors of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The Department of National Defense welcomed Teodoros appointment.

Galvez said Teodoro would have the full support of the department as he leads it a second time around.

We have achieved great strides in our priority programs on internal security, territorial defense, disaster preparedness, and the continued development of the defense organization, Galvez said.

Rest assured that the DND has my unequivocal support as we all work together in the pursuit of our vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Philippines, he added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines backed the appointment of Teodoro as the new DND chief and praised Galvez for his work as the OIC of the defense department.

We believe that his decisive leadership, professional competence, and wealth of experience, highlighted by his previous assignment as the defense chief from 2007 to 2009, will help build upon our gains in the defense and security of the country, said AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar.

The AFP also renders its snappiest salute to Senior Usec Carlito Galvez Jr., the outgoing DND Officer-in-Charge, for his inspiring and dedicated leadership in the Defense Department. Thank you for your service, Sir! he added.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano also hailed the designation of Teodoro as the head of defense.

As a former holder of the defense portfolio, Secretary Teodoro already carries with him a wealth of experience that will greatly assist in our march towards total victory against communist terrorism as well as in protecting our maritime entitlements and defending our territorial integrity in the face tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Ano said.

We look forward to working closely with him in the face of ever changing threats to our national security, he said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa would boost the countrys bid to have a secure and stronger nation supported by a healthy population.

With Secretary Teodoro in defense and Secretary Herbosa in health, the President has just addressed the two most pressing challenges of our timeterritorial integrity and our full recovery from the pandemic.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said both Herbosa and Teodoro have prior experience in their respective fields already and can hit the ground running.

Senator Grace Poe said they trust that their expertise and experience in their respective fields will help them carry on the gargantuan tasks that lie ahead.

The new secretaries, she said, are crucial in deciding and implementing strategies in addressing the various health issues the country is facing and upholding the nations territorial integrity against various threats.

Senator JV Ejercito, vice chair of the Senate health committee, said Herbosa should prioritize the full implementation of the Universal Health Care Law and boost the public health care system, which showed weakness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said the health secretary should be ready to build a specialty hospital in every region.

But members of the leftist Makabayan bloc said they were wary of Teodoros return to his old post, which he held during the Arroyo administration.

The Makabayan bloc members also urged Teodoro to shun red-tagging, focus on the West Philippine Sea, and reinstate peace talks between the government and communist rebels.

The rights group Karapatan said cases of killings, disappearances, and community bombings happened when Teodoro led the DND from 2007 to 2009.

His record as Defense secretary under President Arroyo was not good, Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said in Filipino.

The group challenged Teodoro to stop human rights abuses targeting civilians and activists.

Health experts meanwhile welcomed Herbosas appointment.

The president of the Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Rontgene Solante said Herbosas experience in public health emergencies makes him the right choice for the position.

He urged the new secretary to lay down directions on how the country should approach COVID-19 now that the World Health Organization has lifted the public health emergency. In particular, he wanted to know the governments plan for vaccination.

Dr. Jose de Grano of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) said he hopes Herbosa will be open to their concerns, like regulatory pain points and staffing problems.

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ROANOKEJustin Sigmon, who was the second-highest-ranking officer in the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, has resigned after being charged in a federal child sex abuse case, the sheriff's office announced Saturday.

Sheriff's office staff were told Friday about Sigmon's r e s i g n a t i o n , Capt. Erik Mollin of the sheriff's office wrote in a short s ta t e m e n t sent to news agencies.

Federal court records said that Sigmon was arrested Monday in Florida on a charge of having abusive sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12.

Sigmon had been on a cruise from the Port of Miami to the Bahamas and back, and a witness saw him inappropriately touching a girl who was sitting in his lap, court records said. The witness made a video of the incident and the ship's security cameras also recorded it.

Sigmon was charged after the ship returned to Florida.

Sigmon told investigators that he understood the touching could be seen as inappropriate but that he did not mean it to be sexual, the federal criminal complaint said. After the girl got off his lap, Sigmon was seen covering his crotch with his hands for "an extended period of time," the criminal complaint said. He told investigators that he did this because he was cold, the complaint said.

As news of Sigmon's arrest broke Friday, Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton declined to comment.

Saturday's statement said that the sheriff's office learned "recently" about the federal charge, and that "since that time, we have been working to gather all the information we can based on the limited amount provided by federal authorities."

"Our prayers are with the Sigmon family," the sheriff's office statement said.
National Trails Day on Saturday was celebrated in Henry County with the official unveiling of a new hiking trail on the grounds of the Patrick & Henry Community College.

The Dan River Basin Association began the day with its annual celebration Saturday morning attended by about 100 people from Virginia and North Carolina.

The Dan River Basin Association continues to set the standard for giving back to our Dan River Region. I can think of no group of supporters, volunteers and talented staff that have accomplished so much over the past 21 years, said Mark Estes, DRBAs president of the board of directors and emcee for the event. I am excited about the future as we look for even more opportunities to promote our natural resources through our core mission of education, recreation and stewardship. That is what we are celebrating!

The keynote speaker for the event was Spencer Tassone, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences at Michigan Technological University.

The Dan River Basin Association is an excellent community leader that improves and advances environmental education, recreation and stewardship, Tassone said. It was exciting to share my research with this informed and dedicated group.

So this is the Dan River Basins 21st year, said Virginia Program Manager Brian Williams. Were holding our annual celebration at P&HCC this year because we just recently completed two and a half miles of trail out here.

Williams said the DRBA, P&HCC and the city of Martinsville partnered in 2010 with plans to one day complete a loop trail around the Martinsville Reservoir. The new 2.5 miles adds to the 1.5 mile Rock Ridge Trail and a 0.5 mile fishermans access trail on the other side and joins the 0.75 mile Peninsula Trail on the campus side of the water, leaving just over 3 miles to finish the project.

We would love to get all the way around the lake, said Williams. Its eight and a half miles.

Williams said the beauty of building a trail on the college campus is the ready-made volunteer force that will maintain the system as it grows.

The students here have to have so many volunteer hours so they can come out and do maintenance on the trails, Williams said. Weve taught students here the art of trail-building before, so this is one of the things that we want to utilize here.

The highlight of the day came after a lunch break when the newly constructed Patrick & Henry County Beaver Creek Campus Trail was christened with the prints of hiking boots from more than 30 hikers who traversed the more than 2-mile-long trail.

People who knew about it have already been coming on this section of land, but now its more open to the public and we want people to come out and utilize it, said Williams. Youve got the water, youve got the woods, and youve got people here that want to learn about it.

The project was funded by the Eco Ambassador Council, a group of regional businesses that supports environmental projects. Members include Blair Construction, Carter Bank & Trust, Clark Oil and Gas, Frith Construction, Hooker Furnishings, Jones and DeShon Orthodontics, Lester Group and Pickle & Ash Restaurant.

Patrick & Henry Community College is extremely grateful to DRBA and the Eco Ambassador Council for their efforts in creating the P&HCC Beaver Creek Campus Trail, said Greg Hodges, president of the college. These partners have worked for weeks to construct a new trail measuring more than two miles in length which creates yet another incredible community asset on the campus of P&HCC. Our students and the communities that we serve will enjoy the fruit of this work for decades.

Continued construction around the reservoir will occur as easements are secured and funding is obtained.

Im hoping that these projects will kind of help spur that along, said Williams. What would be really neat would be to get a volunteer organization of people that wanted to work on trails and come out here at their own pace, we teach them how to build a trail and then they just keep going.
The hearing that had been slated for Tuesday morning for Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, the Albemarle County mother and socialite charged with child enticement and child pornography, appears likely to be continued, according to an unopposed motion in federal court in Washington, D.C.

The defense needs additional time to review discovery, meet with Ms. Hoppe, obtain relevant records, and perform necessary investigation, wrote Assistant Federal Public Defender Ned Smock in the motion. This adjournment will allow the defense adequate time to prepare.

Hoppe, who was once married to Charlottesville-based federal Judge Joel Hoppe, faces a potential life sentence on the most serious of one of her three federal charges: enticement of a minor.

Federal investigators allege that Eleanor Hoppe used encrypted communications to plan a rendezvous at a Warrenton motel with someone she thought was a perverted parent. But when she arrived at the motel in late March, she was arrested.

Reached by telephone Monday, her attorney Smock declined comment to the Daily Progress.

The court records do not include a written account of why the defendant, who attended a private Richmond girls school called St. Catherines and whose family founded what became Richmonds largest law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth, qualified for the services of a public defender.

Smocks motion requests a delay in the case of 60 days.

While the motion to continue the case was unopposed, it was not yet ruled on by the close of business Monday evening, according to Patty Hartman, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia.

Details emerge regarding Eleanor Hoppe's previous arrest Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, the Albemarle County mother charged with distributing child pornography and attempted child sex trafficking of an 8-year-old girl, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Washington, D.C., next Tuesday.

How did an alleged pedophile slip through the cracks? The recent arrest of a prominent local woman on child pornography and enticement charges continues to send shockwaves through the community. While Charlottesville and Albemarle County courts deal each year with a handful of male child pornography users, a woman accused of such crimes is much rarer.

Ex-husband of woman charged in child porn sting wins custody of children An Albemarle County court awarded temporary custody of two girls to their father and approved the appointment of guardians ad litem  that is, lawyers to look after their interests  after their mother's recent arrest on child enticement and child pornography charges.
GREENSBORO  Safety concerns after a fiery crash have led one company to ground its fleet of HondaJets and an owner/operator association to urge a break from flying activities and additional training.

Greensboro-based Jet It founder and CEO Glenn Gonzales ordered the companys 20 HondaJets grounded on Friday in response to a crash the previous day.

No Injuries (5 onboard) early hours of this morning landing over run .. hydro plained on wet runway N255HJ HondaJet KDYB Summerville SC .. burned out after passengers got out .. pic.twitter.com/yEeJRV2q1l  bizjets101 (@bizjets101) May 20, 2023

An HA-420 HondaJet registered to Upfrunt Services LLC ran off the runway in Summerville, S.C., struck a berm and caught fire on Thursday. The pilot and four passengers were able to escape and were uninjured, according to news reports.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. The plane had taken off from the Wilkes County Airport in western North Carolina.

The images really shook our company. They shook our flight ops leadership. They shook our training department, said Gonzales, whose business operates and maintains private jets, most of them with shared ownership.

We also want to understand why there have been a number of aircraft, including our own airplanes, that have had runway excursions and veered off the runway at times, said Gonzales, a former sales manager for HondaJet.

We recognize that we have a responsibility to our fractional share owners to make sure that they're safe, make sure our team members are safe, he said.

In a YouTube posted by HondaJet Owners & Pilots Association this week, the nonprofits executive director points to the recent rise in incidents or accidents involving HondaJet.

There have been eight in the last 12 months, Julie Hughes said in the video, noting the association is collaborating with HondaJet and Flight Safety International on the issue.

As part of our efforts we will be organizing a safety stand down, an organized break from flying activities where we will engage and focus on safety discussions, Hughes said in the video. The News & Record could not reach Hughes directly for comment.

Kie Nagasawa, a spokeswoman for Honda Aircraft Co., which is headquartered in Greensboro, said via email that neither the company nor any aviation authority has recommended grounding the aircraft.

In all closed investigations of previous runway events, investigators found no causal factors from the aircraft's design or any system malfunction, Nagasawa said. Our engineering and analysis supports our product as a safe aircraft to operate.

Nagasawa also said the safety stand down referred to in the associations YouTube video was talking about a voluntary training session and not a call to ground the aircraft.

It may be quite misleading due to Jet Its recent quote referring Safety Standdown as grounding, she said.

As for the South Carolina crash, Nagasawa said the company is supporting the investigation and did not have further details about it.

Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the independent, nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation, said the plane hydroplaned while landing on the S.C. runway.

I would not at this point jump to a conclusion that there's a problem with the aircraft," Shahidi said. He noted there are many factors that can contribute to these crashes, including wind and weather conditions, the condition of the runways, the amount of moisture on the runway surface and the experience and training of the pilot.

We do not see a pattern, Shahidi said of his organization, which aims to identify aviation safety issues on a global level.

Gonzales said grounding his HondaJets will require employee furloughs.

Eight-five percent of our fleet consists of HondaJet so essentially our ability to function and feed our entire business has been severely limited by this decision, he said.

We really need their (HondaJets) support in this, they are the experts on the airplane. We are simply taking the stance that we want to make sure that, as the largest HondaJet fleet operator, we are taking the proper precautions and operating with a great abundance of caution.
The Union of Congolese drivers, (ACCO), suspended Monday evening a three-day strike against police harassment, the associations Vice-President Jean Mutombo told Radio Okapi.

The strike has effectively been lifted, the ASBLs that were responsible for the strike have been instructed to lift the strike, Mutombo said.

ACCO members launched on Monday a three-day strike to condemn police arrest and illegal detention of taxi drivers even when their documents are in order.

The protest, Anadolu news agency reports, severely affected the eastern part of the city with several people mainly students, employees, vendors and workers unable to commute to their various places.

We are tired of everything thats going on in our city, especially when it comes to transportation. The traffic police (PCR) gives us a hard time, even if you have all the right documents, one taxi driver told the Turkish news agency.

As users, this works against us, because for a journey we used to pay 1,000 Congolese francs (0.4 euros), the price has now risen to 2,000 francs (0.8 euros), due to the current transport situation. Sometimes, were forced to do the health walk because of this situation, another protestor told the news outlet.

Mutombo told Radio Okapi that the strike was suspended because local authorities have heeded to their concerns. The drivers grievances were brought to the attention of the Minister of the Interior, the Provincial Commissioner of Police and the Provincial Minister of Transport. They have come up with solutions to ensure that peace reigns and that the drivers, in turn, are able to comply with the instructions given, including respect for the Highway Code, he added.
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For the nearly half of Americans with hypertension, it's a potential death sentenceclose to 700,000 deaths in 2021 were caused by high blood pressure, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also increases the risk of stroke and chronic heart failure. But while it's relatively easy to prevent or moderate if caught earlyeat well, exercise more, drink lessit can be tough to treat. Although physicians have a bevy of potential hypertension medications to choose from, each is littered with pros and cons, making prescribing the most effective one a challenge: Beta-blockers slow the heart, but can cause asthma; ACE inhibitors relax blood vessels, but can lead to a hacking cough. Now, a new artificial intelligence program may help doctors better match the right medicines to the right patients.

The data-driven model, co-developed by Boston University data scientists and physicians, aims to give clinicians real-time hypertension treatment recommendations based on patient-specific characteristics, including demographics, vital signs, past medical history, and clinical test records. The model, described in a recent study published in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, has the potential to help reduce systolic blood pressuremeasured when the heart is beating rather than restingmore effectively than the current standard of care. According to the researchers, the program's approach to transparency could also help improve physicians' trust in artificial intelligencegenerated results.

"This is a new machine learning algorithm leveraging information in electronic health records and showcasing the power of AI in healthcare," says Ioannis Paschalidis, a BU College of Engineering distinguished professor and director of the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. "Our data-driven model is not just predicting an outcome, it is suggesting the most appropriate medication to use for each patient."

Currently, when choosing which medication to prescribe a patient, a doctor considers the patient's history, treatment goals, and the benefits and risks associated with specific medicines. Oftentimes, selecting which drug to prescribe when there are multiple optionsand of the options, neither drug is better or worse than the othercan be a bit of a coin toss.

By contrast, the BU-developed model generates a custom hypertension prescription using an individual patient's profile, giving physicians a list of suggested medications with an associated probability of success. The researchers' aim was to highlight the treatment that best controls systolic blood pressure for each patient based on its effectiveness in a group of similar patients.

"Our goal is to facilitate a personalization approach for hypertension treatment based on machine learning algorithms," says Paschalidis, "seeking to maximize the effectiveness of hypertensive medications at the individual level."

The model was developed using deidentified data from 42,752 hypertensive patients of Boston Medical Center (BMC), BU's primary teaching hospital, collected between 2012 and 2020. Patients were sorted into affinity groups, based on similarities of clinically relevant characteristics, such as demographics, past blood pressure records, and past medical history. During the study, the model's effectiveness was compared to the current standard of care, as well as three other algorithms designed to predict appropriate treatment plans. The researchers found it achieved a 70.3% larger reduction in systolic blood pressure than standard of care and performed 7.08% better than the second-best model. The algorithm was clinically validated, with the researchers manually reviewing a random sample of 350 cases.

The model also showed the benefits of deprescribingreducing or stopping prescriptions for some patients taking multiple medications. According to the research team, because the algorithm provides physicians with several suggested optimal therapies, it could give valuable insights when the medical community is divided on the effectiveness of one drug versus another, a situation known as clinical equipoise.

"These advanced predictive analytics have the ability to augment a clinician's decisionmaking and to have a positive impact on the quality of care we deliver, and therefore the outcomes for our patients," says Rebecca Mishuris, who previously taught at BU and recently became Mass General Brigham's chief medical information officer. "This is an important first step that shows that these models actually perform better than standard of care, and could help us be better doctors."

While many recognize that machine learning's ability to handle large amounts of data and uncover patterns and correlations could benefit healthcare, its adoption has been limited, in part due to difficulties interpreting the resultsand because of low levels of trust in artificial intelligence. In the past, machine learning in healthcare has also been hampered by incomplete or inaccurate data, as well as sparse patient histories, which can skew prediction results. An important aspect of this study was to ensure data was transparent and that cliniciansparticularly those without technical expertiseclearly understood how the algorithm worked, and how and why the model proposed specific therapeutic recommendations.

"Using data from the diverse patient population of Boston Medical Center, this model provides the opportunity to tailor care for underrepresented populations, with individualized recommendations to improve outcomes for these patients," says Nicholas J. Cordella, a BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine assistant professor and BMC medical director for quality and patient safety. "Personalized medicine and models like this are an opportunity to better serve populations that aren't necessarily well represented in the national studies or weren't taken into account when the guidelines were being made."

More information: Yang Hu et al, Personalized hypertension treatment recommendations by a data-driven model, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02137-z Journal information: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
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Australians whose homes have been damaged or destroyed in climate-related disasters such as floods, cyclones or bushfires suffer significant health and housing impacts, new research shows.

In the study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, University of Melbourne researchers looked at population-based data to track the health and housing outcomes and recoveries of 1,984 Australians whose homes were impacted by climate-related disasters in the years between 2009 and 2019.

The study found people who were exposed to disaster-related damage to their homes were impacted in terms of their mental health, social functioning and emotional well-beingwhile also reporting significantly lower levels of general healthand that these impacts often lasted years.

Research fellow Dr. Ang Li from the NHMRC Center of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing in the Center for Health Policy (School of Population and Global Health) led the research, and said that extreme climate events have become more frequent and severe in Australia, destroying people's homes and often destabilizing their lives.

"These events can cause huge upheaval in a person's life," Dr. Li said.

"We found exposure to home damage from such events had significant negative effects on people's health and well-being at the disaster year and continued to have a lasting impact for at least 12 years after the event."

Dr. Li said it shows the need to consider housing as prevention and intervention, to protect people's health and well-being as Australia continues to grapple with climate-related disasters.

"Climate-related disasters are happening more often, creating an urgent need to research and develop preventative measures," Dr. Li said.

"Exposure to home damage from climate-related disasters had significant negative effects on people's health and well-being.

These effects were also worse for people who had housing affordability stress or were living in poor quality housing before the disaster."

Dr. Li said that patterns of housing recovery were different for renters and owners.

"We found homeowners had increased housing affordability stress that could last for a couple of years after the disaster, while renters had a higher prevalence of acute residential instability," Dr. Li said.

"Our findings support the need for recovery planning and resilience building to consider housing affordability, tenure security, and housing condition."

Dr. Li said people who had pre-existing physical and mental health conditions also suffered more substantially.

More information: Ang Li et al, Health and housing consequences of climate-related disasters: a matched case-control study using population-based longitudinal data in Australia, The Lancet Planetary Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00089-X Journal information: The Lancet Planetary Health
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Lizzy Earhart didn't know much about Eating Recovery Center when she agreed to get treatment there in October 2020. She'd already received treatment for anorexia at another treatment provider in Denver, but she'd relapsed immediately after. But Eating Recovery Center was big, well-known. It seemed her best option.

But the months she spent there reinforced her illness, the 21-year-old said, and the punitive environment left her with new trauma.

If she didn't comply with treatment, she wouldn't be allowed outside the facility. Patients were lined up each morning to be weighed wearing nothing but ill-fitting mesh or paper gowns. When Earhart expressed concerns about her treatment plans, her psychiatrist told her she was out of options and that her concerns were "just the eating disorder talking."

"I wouldn't go outside for a week, two weeks at a time. It just made my anxiety and other issues a lot worse," Earhart said. "And they would threaten you with an NG (nasogastric) tube, a feeding tube, if you were struggling without medical grounds to do so. They would threaten it as a fear tactic."

The experience reshaped Earhart's fundamental perception of treatment.

"It definitely shifted my focus from wanting to get better so I can live my life to, 'I want to get better so I can get out of here, so I don't get the (feeding) tube, so I can go outside,'" she said.

Amid a nationwide explosion of eating disorder diagnoses, seven former patients and three former staff members staff described to The Denver Post a punitive and traumatic environment at the Denver-based Eating Recovery Center, one of the largest treatment providers in the country.

The former patients cast the organization's methods as rigid and said they often layered new trauma upon pre-existing issues. Feeding tubes and room-based carein which patients can't leave their rooms except to use the bathroomwere used as threats to ensure compliance, patients said. Their partially nude bodies could be routinely exposed to one another during daily weigh-ins. Some said they still had nightmares about their experiences.

Dr. Anne Marie O'Melia, chief medical officer and chief clinical officer at Eating Recovery Center, said she couldn't discuss any specific patient's experience because of confidentiality rules. But she defended the facility's methods as at times uncomfortable but critical to treating patients afflicted with a life-threatening disease, and she said the criticism from patients showed that the facility needed to better communicate with its clients.

But a brain in the grips of an eating disorder will try to hold onto it, O'Melia and other providers said, and that can fuel patient pushback against treatment. Three patients who spoke to The Post also described positive experiences at Eating Recovery Center.

The criticism highlights the tension that exists between treating a severe illness and respecting patients' dignity and personal autonomy. The complaints have drawn the attention of Colorado lawmakers, who considered a bill this year to more tightly regulate the facilities. Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Jefferson County Democrat who co-sponsored that bill, described some treatment practices as "barbaric."

Effective treatment is critical, experts say. Long stigmatized and stereotyped, the diseases are among the deadliest mental illnesses, and their prevalence doubled nationwide in both teen girls and boys from March 2020 to March 2022. Treatment is often unavailable, and stigma and stereotypes have hampered eating disorder diagnoses and treatment, particularly for people who aren't young, thin, white and female.

Colorado serves as a national hub for eating disorder treatment, with multiple facilities in the Denver area attracting patients from across the country. Eating Recovery Center is one of the largest providers, with 101 beds in Colorado, including 36 licensed to care for patients who are there involuntarily. The organization also has programs in 10 other states, according to its website.

O'Melia said the facilities are overseen by the state and the Joint Commission, which both have strict rules about patients' rights. The Joint Commission is a private group that accredits medical facilities.

"I want to reiterate that eating disorders can be life-threatening," she said in a statement. "Involuntary treatment is used only as a last resort; we do not want to step in if the patient is able to manage their own safety and symptoms with less support. We intervene only when a patient's life is threatened by their eating disorder."

Treatment can be lucrative. According to an analysis by IBISWorld, the eating disorder treatment industry is $4 billion annual market. The number of residential treatment programs has more than tripled since 2011, according to a 2021 analysis published in the American Academy of Pediatrics, which also encouraged families to "exercise caution when selecting a residential treatment program."

Many providers are for-profit. Eating Recovery Center, for instance, was purchased by a private-equity firm in 2017 for $580 million, according to Behavioral Health Business. Four years after that, it was sold againto two more equity firmsfor $1.4 billion.

Former staff members told The Post that the care the center provided caused its own harm, but that patients were sometimes sick enough that they had no good options. Providers need to quickly address patients' physical health and weight, which can mean taking steps that feel excessively restrictive or even punitive, providers and experts said. Patients who are severely underweight need to be physically stabilized, they said, and will go to extreme lengths to continue the behaviors that come with the disease.

"For some folks (for whom) a higher level of care is really needed, there are aspects of treatment that are extremely uncomfortable," said Emily Hemendinger, a social worker who works with eating disorder patients at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus.

Several former patients told The Post that they were aware of the severity of their illness and understood the need for serious intervention. But those practices were often traumatic to patients in a delicate mental and physical state, they said, and can reinforce pre-existing trauma and prompt patients to avoid treatment. One person said they attempted suicide rather than go to treatment because of the horror stories they'd heard.

"These things are important, but the way that you approach them makes them longer lasting because you can restore weight for somebody and they'll leave and relapse immediately because of how you treated them in the process," Earhart said. "So how much help is it actually going to be if it's the punitive kind and outweighs the medical help?"

Treatment focuses on stabilization

Another former patient, who was treated at Eating Recovery Center's Lowry location for two months in the summer of 2016, told a similar story, saying the experience was more traumatic than in two other places where she was treated for an eating disorder. There was a strict time limit to finish meals, and if someone didn't eat everything on their plate, they had five minutes to down a Boost supplement drink to avoid the possibility of a feeding tube, she said.

"It was really scary, to be honest," said the former patient, who spoke about her medical treatment on condition of anonymity to protect her privacy.

The former patient, who was 15 at the time, said that those who had too many tube feedings were put in isolation in their rooms. One girl who was there at the same time was isolated for about two months, she said.

The use of supplement drinks isn't uncommon in treatment, said Jean Doak, a professor at the University of North Carolina and the clinical director of the school's Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.

"If someone has lost a significant amount of weight and their (heart monitoring) is unstable and labs are unstable and heart rate is acutely low, the 100% priority will be medical stabilization," she said. "That is just the way it is. That becomes the No. 1 focus because of how acutely, medically unstable somebody is."

Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses that manifest physically and have been saddled with stigma, which complicates their diagnosis and treatment. They include anorexia, typified by an extreme limitation or avoidance of eating, and bulimia, which often involves binge eating followed by behaviors like vomiting or over-exercise.

Suicide is more prevalent among people with eating disorders, which, coupled with the physical effects of the diseases, make them particularly deadly. People with the disorders often identify strongly with them, experts said, making them defensive of the behaviors and more difficult to treat.

Doak and other experts said treatment needs to be individualized to patients' specific needs and experiences, particularly given the prevalence of trauma and other mental health diagnoses. Former patients said they often felt like Eating Recovery Center offered a one-size-fits-all approach that focused on physical, rather than mental, restoration.

Hemendinger, the CU social worker, said treatment providers often are caught between treating a devastating disease and the realities of the American health care system.

"Because insurance often pushes back and cuts people's treatment stays and doesn't fund full treatment stays, some of these treatment centers can turn more into just focusing on symptom reduction, and they're not individualizing care as much," she said.

Eric Dorsa, an eating disorder advocate, said they frequently were hospitalized as a teenager for refeeding because none of the eating disorder programs in their home state of Texas took teens who were assigned male at birth. They said they also objected to tube feeding and had to be physically restrained at age 12 so they couldn't pull the tube out.

But in retrospect, there was no other choice, Dorsa said. Their organs were shutting down, and the disorder had such a tight grip that it was impossible to make the decision to eat, they said. Dorsa has been in recovery for more than a decade after treatment at a facility that Eating Recovery Center later purchased in San Antonio, Texas.

"The only intervention I credit to saving my life was a feeding tube," they said. "While I understand that it sounds incredibly extreme, so is the reality of an eating disorder."

"We're still humans"

Erin Beal, of Philadelphia, said she traveled to Denver for treatment at Eating Recovery Center in the spring of 2022. At the time, she was sick enough that she needed a wheelchair and spent the first three weeks in a medical observation unit, though she said she only saw a doctor twice in that time. Most symptoms were dismissed as anxiety-driven, she said.

Beal, 20, said she was given a feeding tube after she didn't eat enough at her first meal and snack time. Because she wasn't considered compliant, she couldn't call home for emotional support after getting the tube, she said.

"They tell family members to not believe anything we say," she said. "We're still humans, and that's not how I was treated."

A therapist who worked at Eating Recovery Center in Denver until 2022 said that some patients need tube feeding to stabilize them medically, but tubes were also used as a threat if patients weren't willing to finish their meals or to drink supplements quickly enough.

"It was very much, 'You don't have a choice,'" said the therapist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared professional repercussions.

A female therapist, who also left a job at Eating Recovery Center in 2022, said she still feels uncomfortable with the way some patients were treated. They were seriously ill and needed to be fed, but it's traumatic for a teenager to be held down by five adults while a tube is inserted in their nose, she said. She spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity because her current employer didn't authorize her to speak publicly.

The female therapist said she wasn't sure whether Eating Recovery Center patients were threatened with tube feeding, but said she did feel room-based isolation was "weaponized." At the same time, she continued, it's understandable why it was an appealing solution because some patients did become more compliant to avoid being isolated again.

"When I look back at it," she said, "it makes me sick."

O'Melia, the chief medical and clinical officer for Eating Recovery Center, said feeding tubes are a last resort for involuntary patients and that state and regulatory oversight ensure they're used appropriately.

Former patients described a rigid system, run by understaffed providers. Treatment had five levels, each with increasing freedoms as patients showed fewer eating disorder behaviors, Beal said. On level 1, patients couldn't leave their rooms, except to use the bathroom, she said, while people on level 2 were allowed to eat in the dining room and make 15-minute phone calls.

To stay on level 5, where they could use their phones and had more freedom, patients had to eat every bite offered, Beal said. Staff didn't like to order additional food if someone dropped part of their meal, so patients would eat the things they dropped to avoid being knocked down a level, she said.

"There were a lot of patients who had to eat things off the floor," Beal said.

Staff monitored phone calls, and one hung up the phone when the patient who was 15 at the time tried to tell her mother she didn't like it there, the patient said. (Her mother assumed the patient had gotten annoyed and hung up herself.) She later learned her therapist told her parents she was "faking" that she was getting better just so she could leave and that her decision to be vegetarian was part of the eating disorder.

The bathrooms were locked overnight, and patients had to wait for someone to take them, Beal said. She threw up accidentally on the floor when she couldn't get into the bathroom, and a staff member who thought she'd vomited intentionally yelled at the janitor for cleaning it up instead of making her do it herself, Beal said, adding the same thing happened to another patient while she was there. Another former patient, Alexa Cohen, said she vomited as an anxiety response and would often be berated for it.

Despite the extensive rules and surveillance, patients were able to leave or harm themselves. Cohen said she passed out in a hallway on her second day in the facility and was left there for 90 minutes. The First Avenue location had eight incidents of patients leaving without permission between July 2019 and February 2020, according to inspection documents filed with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Spruce Street location was cited by the state in May 2018 for not regularly checking on a patient who had talked about killing himself. A similar incident happened about two months later. The facility was dinged in July 2020 after three patients used broken pens and pencils to harm themselves.

A Denver 13-year-old who was treated for anorexia in early 2022 said they could get away easily because the staff was trying to watch 29 other patients. The teen, who is nonbinary, made multiple suicide attempts, but said the staff refused to take them to the hospital when they felt suicidal again. Staff told the patient to just sit by the medication window where they could be watched, the patient said. The Post interviewed the teen with their parents present and isn't identifying them because they are a minor.

Sometimes, the patient peeled off their skin while on "sit protocol," where they were required to sit down and do nothing because they hadn't complied with directions. A friend stopped breathing following a suicide attempt at the facility, though she was revived, they said.

"They treated us like we were eating disorders instead of kids," they said. "Residential is supposed to be a place of healing, not a place to hurt you."

Former patients and staff members said employees were frequently overworked and would burn out quickly. The female therapist who left in 2022 said it wasn't unusual to have only two people overseeing 18 patients. Sometimes, patients cut themselves or made themselves throw up while staff were busy with others, she said.

"The staffing ratios were dangerous to both the staff and the kids," she said.

The 13-year-old patient said they begged to come home, but the staff told their parents not to trust them. Patients weren't allowed to hug each other, they said, so people whose parents lived in another state sometimes went months without physical contact.

"They did a lot of breaking trust," they said.

Road to recovery

Patients' experiences were not universally negative.

Dylan Orrange, who came to Denver from Orlando, Florida, in March 2022, said their team was "kind and understanding." Orrange felt like they'd won the lottery with their providers, though they said the broader institution often treated patients like prisoners and that "punishment-based treatment" was common.

Shay Ayres, a transgender woman from Highlands Ranch, said the staff was "super compassionate," took time to ask about her emotional state when she wasn't eating and was comfortable when she expressed her feminine nature.

Ayres said she understands why people report negative experiences, but much of that is a reflection of the disease. In treatment, they take away coping mechanisms that numb emotions, leaving people feeling raw and more likely to misinterpret innocuous behavior, she said.

"The first couple of weeks are hellish," she said. "When the treatment team draws a hard line with the disorder, you have a strong reaction."

To be successful in the long term, treatment needs to address what function the eating disorder is serving in a person's life while teaching healthier ways of dealing with the underlying mental health concern or trauma, said Hemendinger, the CU social worker. Binge eating can numb someone's emotions for a while, and restricting food can be a way of asserting control or a consequence of perfectionism, she said. Obsessing about food can also be a subconscious way to avoid thinking about past traumas.

"Our bodies are easy targets," she said. "They provide that false sense of something we can change."

Patients need to understand that they're going to feel worse before they feel better, because they're losing a coping mechanism, Hemendinger said. It can help if they focus on what the disorder was taking from them, since people's relationships and other aspects of their lives tend to wither as the disorder takes over, she said.

"Eating disorder treatment is a very difficult thing to go through," she said. "It's like you've been trying to hold a beach ball underwater and you finally let it go, and it pops up."

The male former therapist said the group therapy sessions couldn't delve into the trauma many patients have, for fear of leaving them worse off if they were discharged before fully processing what happened to them.

Ultimately, people with eating disorders and their families have to balance the damage that the disease is doing to their health with the possibility of additional trauma from inpatient treatment, said Serena Nangia, marketing and communications manager at Project Heal, a nonprofit advocating for people with eating disorders. For some people, it may still make sense, while others might be able to recover with treatment in a less-restrictive setting, she said.

"Even if treatment is going to be harmful it's possibly going to be less harmful than going it alone or continuing in their eating disorders," she said.

Enduring effects

Several patients said they continued to struggle after leaving Eating Recovery Center. But their experiences there made future treatment more daunting.

The 13-year-old patient from Denver started eating while in a partial hospitalization program to avoid being sent back to residential treatment, but they began purging not long afterward. Their father said the family didn't receive much therapy or support to help their child after they returned home, and it wasn't long before the family was back in the emergency room.

"It was obvious the wheels were going to come off, and they were going to come off fast," the patient's father said. "We got this very sick kid, who was re-fed but who was ready to fall off the wagon."

The teen was admitted to Children's Hospital Colorado for refeeding again and then received outpatient treatment. They self-harmed while sitting with nothing to do during tube feedings, but they still said the experience was less traumatic than what they'd experienced at Eating Recovery Center because they could go outside and their parents could visit. They still use a feeding tube and are seeing a therapist to work through their mental health needs.

Despite lawmakers' concern about eating disorder treatment, they stripped tighter regulations from a bill passed earlier this year, citing budgetary concerns. Advocates criticized that move and said lawmakers were allowing problematic care to continue. After the bill was signed into law Tuesday, Cutter, the lawmaker who co-sponsored the measure, said she was interested in returning to the issue next year.

Earhart, the former patient who said she wanted to get better so she could leave, said her time at Eating Recovery Center was traumatizing. She was sexually assaulted while away from the center's campus in the spring 2022 and was told by staff not to talk about it with other patients. When she did anyway, she was discharged. She believes the concerns she'd expressed about her treatment influenced that decision, too.

A year later, Earhart still struggles with the effects of her time in treatment. She would have panic attacks in her room at night because she hadn't been allowed outside, she said. She still gets panicky and has to walk outside to prove she's not trapped.

Earhart's still struggling with her health, too: She's recently had seizures because her blood sugar dropped too low, she said. To stabilize her, her doctors floated a return to a high-level eating disorder treatment provider. She refused.

"I have mornings where I probably shouldn't have woken up (because) my blood sugar had dropped critically low," Earhart said. "And I was like, this is still better than going back. In the past, ERC has been so much more unhelpful that I would rather deal with maybe not waking up in the morning at my own house than being there for that."

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For some people, the anxiety that comes with being in large crowds can be debilitating. An expert with Baylor College of Medicine explains why people experience this distress and how friends and family can be supportive of those who have apprehension in big groups.

"Feeling stress when in large groups is very common, especially among people who already have social anxiety," said Dr. Eric Storch, professor and vice chair of psychology in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor. "We just emerged from a major pandemic, so understandably, people may be hesitant to put themselves in situations they were previously comfortable in."

Anyone can develop crowd anxiety. Humans naturally feel anxiety, which is a good characteristic in small amounts. As people experience the world, most learn to effectively cope with these feelings, Storch said. Anxiety is caused by multiple factors including being passed down through genetics; however, it is possible for people to develop this distress due to the environmental factors they encounter. Adverse life experiences can also trigger behavioral responses that make people avoid environments in which they experienced the trauma, and can even have an impact on their worldview.

"We all see the world through our own lens, and some circumstances have a big impact on people that can change the way they see things," Storch said. "Crowd anxiety can be a result of this."

To reduce feelings of anxiety, Storch said a change in perspective is necessary. Friends and family can help with this by first trying to understand the logic that leads to a certain belief that is giving the person with anxiety these feelings. Then try to provide opinions and mindsets of others to see if they resonate with the person feeling anxious. This allows the person with anxiety to take a step back and focus less on the trigger of what causes their anxiety and deconstruct their worldview a bit to reframe their logic. From there, the person with crowd anxiety can slowly work their way back into groups, starting with smaller ones and gradually joining larger ones.

"Cognitive behavioral therapy also is an excellent strategy for people who want to lessen their anxieties, and I encourage people to explore this with a licensed, well-trained therapist," Storch said.

If you know someone with crowd anxiety, Storch says the best practice is to talk with them when the iron is cold. Before going out, talk with your loved one about where you are going, what to expect and listen to their concerns and anxieties. From there, make a plan on how to approach and effectively cope with the situation.

"When you listen to someone's worries and anxieties and tell them the reality of what is happening, you give them a chance to stop and process the situation," Storch said. "Be patient and be there for them."
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Approximately one in five people in Finland reported they experienced symptoms related to indoor air. Some of them did not think the symptoms affected their functional capacity at all, but a small part found that the symptoms caused significant functional impairment. Credit: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Approximately one in five people in Finland reported they experienced symptoms related to indoor air. Some of them did not think the symptoms affected their functional capacity at all, but a small part found that the symptoms caused significant functional impairment.

This is revealed by a study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and the University of Helsinki, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Approximately two in three people suffering from symptoms experienced at most mild functional impairment due to symptoms. The more severe the respondents found the functional impairment due to symptoms, the more common were also many diagnosed illnesses, the person's perception of poor health, diverse symptoms across the body and sensitivity to different environmental factors.

"Persons suffering from difficult symptoms and severe functional impairment make up a small part of those getting symptoms from indoor air. They need special support because they have also accumulated many other factors impairing their functional capacity," says Senior Specialist Sanna Selinheimo from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The differences in functional capacity and the prevalence of other health problems in symptomatic persons should be taken into account better in activities that support a symptomatic person's rehabilitation and ability to cope with everyday life and work.

The more severe the respondents found the functional impairment due to symptoms, the more common were also many diagnosed illnesses, the person's perception of poor health, diverse symptoms across the body and sensitivity to different environmental factors. Credit: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

"The results support earlier research results in that, in addition to indoor air impurities, there are also many other factors behind the severity of symptoms related to indoor air," says Professor Juha Pekkanen from THL and the University of Helsinki.

The study is based on the National Indoor Air Survey 2018, to which 4,997 Finnish-speaking people aged between 25 and 64 years and living in Finland (excl. Aland) were selected in a random sample. Of them, 1,797 responded to the survey.

More information: Einar Eidst et al, The continuum of severity of functional impairment due to indoor air symptoms: prevalence and determinants, Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002884 Journal information: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Provided by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
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This is the first tumor-agnostic global study of T-DXd in a broad range of HER2-expressing solid tumors. T-DXd showed encouraging ORR, particularly in pts with IHC 3+ expression, durable clinical benefit, and a manageable safety profile in this heavily pretreated population. These interim results show T-DXd to be a potential new Tx option for pts with HER2-expressing solid tumors. Clinical trial information: NCT04482309. a Responses in extramammary Paget disease, head and neck cancer, oropharyngeal neoplasm, and salivary gland cancer.b By investigator assessment per RECIST 1.1. c Central assessment of HER2 expression was done retrospectively for pts enrolled based on local testing; 67 pts were not centrally confirmed as IHC 3+ or IHC 2+. University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

In a new study of trastuzumab deruxtecan, a HER2-targeted antibody drug conjugate, researchers observed encouraging responses and long-lasting clinical benefit in several tumor types. These data from an interim analysis of the Phase II DESTINY-PanTumor02 study, led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, were presented today at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

The treatment achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of 61.3% with a median duration of response (DOR) of 22.1 months in patients with the highest levels of HER2 expression. Across all patients, the ORR was 37.1% with a median DOR of 11.8 months. An ORR of more than 30% was observed in all cancer types except biliary tract (22%) and pancreatic cancers (4%).

According to presenting author Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D., chair of Investigational Therapeutics, these pan-tumor results show promise in a significant unmet area of clinical need.

"These are really notable results in this heavily pretreated population, especially in the gynecological cancer cohorts and in patients with higher levels of HER2 expression," Meric-Bernstam said.

Antibody drug conjugates work by utilizing an antibody to target and bind to a specific protein, in this case HER2, and delivering chemotherapy directly to the cell. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is approved for HER2-expressing breast cancer and is the only antibody drug conjugate approved in the U.S. for HER2-positive gastric cancer and HER2-mutant lung cancer. However, HER2 also is expressed in several other tumor types.

This international open-label study was designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with HER2-expressing locally advanced or metastatic cancers. The trial included 267 patients with cervical, endometrial, ovarian, biliary tract, pancreatic and bladder cancers, as well as other tumors.

The level of HER2 expression was measured by an immunohistochemistry (IHC) test. Seventy-five patients scored IHC 3+, indicating the highest level of HER2 expression, and 125 scored IHC 2+ by central testing. Most patients were female (67%) with an average age of 62 years and a median of two prior lines of therapy. Patients were 61% white, 32.6% Asian and 6.4% other or non-reported ethnicities.

Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 38.6% of all patients, the most common being nausea, fatigue and cytopenias. In total, 8.2% of patients discontinued treatment for drug-related adverse events. The safety profile was consistent with previous clinical trials of trastuzumab deruxtecan.

"Our data demonstrate that HER2 expression is actionable in many tumor types. Trastuzumab deruxtecan had compelling clinical activity across tumor types, with prolonged responses and disease stabilization in many patients," Meric-Bernstam said. "This could help provide a new treatment option for these patients with advanced disease and hard-to-treat HER2-positive cancers who currently have very limited or no options."

This trial is ongoing, with several patients still receiving treatment. The progression-free survival and overall survival will be analyzed with further follow-up.
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Sylvia Hayes' list of ailments is long and growing. Sciatica. A bulging disc. Pinched nerves. Knee pain.

Much of the 60-year-old Stone Mountain woman's agony is the result of a car accident years ago that left her so severely injured that she now depends on a walker to get around. If she didn't have enough to contend with, she underwent a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. A case of frozen shoulder followed that surgery, adding to her misery.

Hayes watched and waited as state lawmakers wrangled for eight years over legislation that would allow qualified Georgians to gain access to medical marijuana to treat an array of conditions, including pain. She was eager to see if the drug could ease her suffering.

But, as the first of Georgia's dispensaries were preparing to open in April, Hayes faced a new challenge.

Like many doctors in the state, her primary care physician had no idea how to help a patient get medical marijuana. And the doctor wasn't inclined to figure it out.

Determined, Hayes educated herself on what the physician needed to do, went back to her and walked her through the process.

Getting the card that allows her to purchase cannabis oil required more effort than it should have, said Hayes, an independent insurance agent. But it was worth it.

"Being in pain, it makes you want to cry," she said. The low dose of medical cannabis, she said, has helped her "tolerate the pain."

Medical marijuana might be new to Georgia, but it isn't new. Thirty-seven other states allow the use of the products. Yet some Georgia doctors seem wary of medical cannabis. For many of them, the reason is simple: They were never trained how to use it during medical school or residency, so it's not on the list of treatment options they consider.

At a recent informational session at one of the new dispensaries, a common theme among attendees was the difficulty finding physicians who can certify that they have one of the qualifying medical conditions.

Before doctors can certify patients, they must register with the Georgia Department of Public Health, but the state doesn't disclose who they are.

Dr. Kelly Degraffenreid, former chair of the Medical Association of Georgia's Medical Cannabis Task Force, said some doctors are hesitant to even discuss with their patients medical marijuana as a possibility. "If you don't know about medical cannabis, you are like, 'I'm just not going to say anything. I am just going to be cautious.' So how do you get them in the know?"

There's limited evidence that medical marijuana can help with a host of conditions including chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some doctors say they are approaching medical marijuana with caution because more research is needed. They express concern about a lack of dosing guidelines and a lack of consistency in medical cannabis products.

More than 27,000 Georgians have been issued medical marijuana cards. It's a number that's been building for years as legislators passed piecemeal legislation that left residents in a quandary. While it's been legal to use cannabis oil for medicinal purposes in Georgia since 2015, there was no way to legally buy the product here until this year.

The number of people with cards is expected to swell now that local retail outlets are up and running.

"People are using it, whether we physicians like it or not," said Dr. Adam Perlman, director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. He is also the medical editor of the recently published 95-page guide, "Medical Marijuana: The Science and the Benefits."

"That ship has left the dock. So, you can jump up and down about it, but I think there's very little chance of that, all of a sudden, the legalization will be reversed. We need to learn to deal with this."

Getting the card

In Georgia, where recreational pot use is illegal, qualified patients can get low-THC medical cannabis oil. It's packaged as liquid tinctures, topical cream, capsules and nasal spray, by law, must have less than 5% THC, the chemical that produces a high.

Street marijuana has a far higher level of THCusually around 20%.

A person must obtain a card to be eligible to buy the products. Seventeen medical conditions qualify, including intractable pain, seizure disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, end-stage cancer or severe nausea related to cancer and treatments, Crohn's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

But patients have no way to know which doctors could certify them. The state keeps the names of doctors who are registered to certify patients confidential and major hospital systems, including Emory Healthcare and Piedmont Hospital, don't keep lists of which doctors have certified patients.

That lack of transparency has frustrated some patients.

On a recent rainy evening, cannabis company Trulieve hosted a "Cannabis 101 session at its Marietta outlet to answer questions from people who either recently obtained certification or believe they could benefit from medical marijuana.

Hayes was among those who filled the lobby lined with white folding chairs, set up near posters with the words "Revive. Relax. Relieve."

So was Lydia Cook, who lives in Villa Rica. Cook turned to marijuana edibles years ago to ease her chronic knee pain and reduce anxiety. But her supplier was thousands of miles away, in the state of Washington, where marijuana is widely accessible and legal for adults 21 and over.

Now that medical marijuana is available in Georgia, the 57-year-old is hopeful she can soon find relief close to home.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission has licensed six cannabis oil dispensaries to sell to the public. Trulieve has opened dispensaries in Marietta and Macon and is expected to open three more in Newnan, Pooler and Columbus sometime this summer. Another dispensary, operated by physician-owned Botanical Sciences, is scheduled to open in Pooler in July.

Pen and paper in hand, Cook listened carefully as Trulieve employees explained the different products. She patiently waited to raise her hand to ask a seemingly simple question: How do I get medical cannabis here in Georgia?

Last year, she said, she broached the subject with her primary care doctor. "He rolled his eyes at me, so I knew not to take it any further," she said.

And she probably won't, at least not with him. But, she said, she is determined to get easier access to a product that she says has alleviated her pain and anxiety.

Educating doctors

Over the years, as medical marijuana legislation stalled under the Gold Dome, Allen Peake, a former state representative from Macon and Shannon Cloud created an informal network to help Georgians who had medical cannabis cards but had no way of legally obtaining the product.

Cloud's daughter, Alaina, has Dravet syndromea rare, serious seizure disorder.

Cloud and other volunteers met patients and families in the parking lots of big box stores to give them medical cannabis shipped in from another state. She estimates they provided medical marijuana, free of charge, to about 800 patients.

Cloud said she realizes some doctors are not necessarily supportive of the use of medical marijuana. She hopes that now that medical cannabis oil can be sold in Georgia, doctors will become familiar with it and will be more open to certifying patients.

If so, some patients might face another challengecost. Public and private insurance companies won't pay for medical marijuana even in states where it's legal, because it's still illegal on a federal level.

Dr. Ali J. Zarrabi has seen patients at Emory's Palliative Care Center who have been taking medical marijuana for several years. The center takes a holistic approach to treating patients with serious, life-threatening illnesses, but did not acquire medical marijuana for their patients.

Zarrabi, a palliative care specialist, acknowledges that research is limited on the potential benefits and harms of cannabis in seriously ill patients. But he and his colleagues believe there is substantial evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of a number of health conditions. And, he said, it can help with managing the emotional aspects of the pain.

Patient demands

Zarrabi said when he first started working at Emory in late 2016, he had "absolutely no experience or interest in medical cannabis."

"The interest arose from my patients because they truly demanded that I know something about it," he said.

Patients continually asked him and other physicians in his practice about cannabis products as a potential alternative to opioids and other medications, he said. Between 2015 and 2021, his practice certified 1,711 patients for medical marijuana.

Increasingly, doctors around the country have become more open to it as the opioid crisis has unfolded. Medical marijuana, Zarrabi said, can be a relatively safe alternative to highly addictive opioids. He said many of his patients are looking to medical cannabis as a way to lower their dependency on powerful opioids.

While opioids can be quite effective in dulling the intensity of pain, Zarrabi has found that medical cannabis can lessen the psychological distress that comes with physical suffering.

Cannabis "helps my patients cope better with pain," he said.

Side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, nausea and drowsiness. He said he's rarely seen serious adverse effects from his patients taking medical marijuana, but said that's likely in part because they are taking a low dose.

"I think, given the risks associated with cannabis use, it requires an ongoing relationship that perhaps a minority of physicians are willing to do," he said.

Zarrabi also has led studies aimed at learning patients' perceptions of whether medical cannabis helps or not. In a 2020 survey of 101 patients, most of whom had been diagnosed with cancer, 96% said cannabis was important or extremely important in reducing pain and 79% said it decreased their anxiety.

In one of the most comprehensive analyses undertaken, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine formed a committee to review about 10,000 studies done over the past two decades on the use of cannabis to treat nearly two dozen health conditions.

The committee's report, published in 2017, found "substantial" or "conclusive" evidence that such drugs are an effective treatment for only a small number of conditions: chronic pain, muscle spasticity from multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Degraffenreid, a family physician, said more recent researchdone in other countries, including Canada and Franceprovides evidence of the benefits of medical marijuana for many other conditions.

Degraffenreid would like the state to require doctors to undergo training in medical marijuana.

The Mayo Clinic's Perlman said eventually patients in Georgia who are eligible and want medical marijuana will not have much trouble obtaining it. New telehealth services with doctors who will certify eligible patients are already sprouting.

"You know, many, many Americans, people across the world, are living with chronic pain," he said. "Many of the medications we use for chronic pain have side effects that make them less desirable, so people are looking for other options."

2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Credit: Advanced Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210579

Therapeutic nanocarriers engineered from adult skin cells can curb inflammation and tissue injury in damaged mouse lungs, new research shows, hinting at the promise of a treatment for lungs severely injured by infection or trauma.

Researchers conducted experiments in cell cultures and mice to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of these nanoparticles, which are extracellular vesicles similar to the ones circulating in humans' bloodstream and biological fluids that carry messages between cells.

The hope is that a drop of solution containing these nanocarriers, delivered to the lungs via the nose, could treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), one of the most frequent causes of respiratory failure that leads to putting patients on a ventilator. In ARDS, inflammation spiraling out of control in the lungs so seriously burdens the immune system that immune cells are unable to tend to the initial cause of the damage.

"These extracellular vesicles would be an alternative ARDS therapy that gives a fighting chance to your own immune system," said senior author Natalia Higuita-Castro, associate professor of biomedical engineering and neurosurgery at The Ohio State University. "The issue with ARDS is that you have a shift in the normal balance that favors inflammation. By introducing the anti-inflammatory agents, you shift that balance to a more level stage so the immune system can resolve the underlying issue."

The study was published online recently in the journal Advanced Materials.

Starting the engineering process with adult skin cells called dermal fibroblasts is a significant secret to this technology's success, noted Higuita-Castro, also director of advanced therapeutics and engineering in the College of Medicine Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute.

Many nanocarriers are engineered from stem or progenitor cells that can differentiate into other cell types, but also have mysterious properties that aren't yet fully understood.

"Using skin cells from adult animals is very important for us because we wanted to demonstrate the feasibility of translating this to clinical settings, where we could have a universal donor cell from adult patients," Higuita-Castro said. "Dermal fibroblasts are easily available, we can grow them, they're used in the clinic for grafting and wound healing, and they don't produce an immune response like that seen with other cell sources."

To create the vesicles, scientists apply an electrical charge to a donor skin cell to transiently open holes in its membrane, and deliver externally obtained DNA inside. The donor cell converts that genetic information into one of two anti-inflammatory proteins as well as into messenger RNA, molecules that translate instructions for the manufacture of more of those functional proteins.

Those materials are the payload inside these nanocarriers, whose surfaces are tagged with a molecule enabling interaction with specific cells to improve their retention in the lungs. In this study, separate nanocarriers were packed with one of two anti-inflammatory proteins, IL-4 or IL-10, plus mRNA for recipient cells in the lung to process and make more protein.

"The proteins have an immediate effect, and adding mRNA will give a more sustained effect," said Higuita-Castro, also a core faculty member of Ohio State's Gene Therapy Institute.

The different proteins were not combined into one vesicle for a reason: "Our vision for clinical applications is to have a mix-and-match platform depending on what the patient needs," she said. "That way, we could also administer lower doses multiple times, if needed, and re-dosing with these nanocarriers will be OK because they don't trigger a significant immune response."

Cell culture experiments suggested these vesicles could be used as a pre-treatment in sick patients at high risk for developing ARDS. Studies in mice showed their potential to help patients who are already severely ill.

After mice were injected with a molecule that triggered high inflammation in the lung, researchers gave them a single drop of liquid loaded with engineered nanocarriers that traveled straight to their injured lungs and got to work. Inflammation was reduced as expected, but repeated experiments in the animals showed the vesicles also lowered damage to lung tissue.

Even more exciting to Higuita-Castro was a finding that cells in the treated lungs secreted substances with additional therapeutic benefitsincluding antioxidants and more anti-inflammatory molecules.

"Honestly, that was mind-blowing," she said. "It's a local treatment because it's delivered intranasally, and it stays in the lung because we designed it that way, but it has this global effect that is really powerful."

Finding a safe, effective treatment for ARDS is a significant medical need. The current use of ventilators and steroids comes with lots of side effects, and while the dangerous lung condition used to be relatively rare, case numbers skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 shined a light on the lack of effective therapeutic options for acute lung injury in general," Higuita-Castro said.

There is more to do with the nanocarriers, including pinning down the precise details of all they can do to repair damaged lungs and testing the therapy in larger animals. But Higuita-Castro is optimistic about the technology's future.

"These extracellular vesicles are naturally derived nanoparticles, and we think they're great because nature is the best example we could haveas it has had millions of years to optimize the system," she said.

More information: Ana I. SalazarPuerta et al, Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Dermal Fibroblasts Attenuate Inflammation in a Murine Model of Acute Lung Injury, Advanced Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210579 Journal information: Advanced Materials
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The quality of care for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is best when they are in the majority, but most facilities also accommodate a heterogeneous population, where specialized staff training is limited, according to a study led by the University of California, Irvine.

"Recognizing and managing the complex medical conditions and behavioral symptoms of residents with ADRD require enhanced knowledge among staff. These findings raise significant concerns regarding the level of care and quality of life for the majority of these people, highlighting the urgent need for a higher level of care for them," said Dana Mukamel, corresponding author and UCI professor of medicine.

Findings, recently published in the June issue of the journal Health Affairs, are based on an analysis of 13,909 facilities between 2017 and 2019. Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were analyzed to assess facilities with high and low ADRD populations, staffing levels, quality of care and health outcomes for 7.6 million residents, 42% of whom were diagnosed with ADRD or cognitive impairment.

Researchers discovered that ADRD residents were dispersed throughout all nursing homes, with fewer than half in facilities where they accounted for 60-90% of the population. It was also revealed that fewer than 5% of nursing home beds are in dementia special care units, and only facilities that had an ADRD population exceeding 90% seemed to offer better care.

"This study aimed to address the gaps in the current literature regarding the concentration of ADRD residents in nursing homes, and the implications that has on their quality of care," Mukamel said. "Our findings highlight the need for specialized training and raise important policy issues that must be addressed."

The National Alzheimer's Project Act of 2011 has prompted increased investment in research by the National Institute on Aging, and federal policies to improve nursing home care through enhanced staffing standards are expected to benefit all residents. However, the lack of training based on population mix raises concerns about ensuring quality and safety for those with ADRD.

"While the prevalence of ADRD is expected to grow in coming decades, those residing in nursing homes represent the majority in only a few facilities," Mukamel said. "Efforts to inform optimal care practices, staffing requirements and training require investments in research, policy and innovation. Continued focus and collaboration are essential to drive progress and improve the care, quality of life and health outcomes for this vulnerable population."

The team also included researchers Deborah Saliba, UCLA Anna & Harry Borun Endowed Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology, and associate director for education in the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System; Heather Ladd, UCI general internal medicine research senior statistician and data analyst; and Tamara Konetzka, the Louis Block Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago.

More information: Dana B. Mukamel et al, Dementia Care Is Widespread In US Nursing Homes; Facilities With The Most Dementia Patients May Offer Better Care, Health Affairs (2023). DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01263 Journal information: Health Affairs
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A declassified black-and-white image from the recent NASA hearing shows an example of an unidentified aerial phenomena. A video was being recorded of a drone in flight over the Middle East when an object, seen above the drone, passed by. The object remains unidentified. Credit: U.S. Department of Defense

Even though the United States government has acknowledged the existence of unidentified aerial phenomenaperhaps better known in popular culture as "unidentified flying objects," or UFOsfor many professors and researchers, the topic is still cringe-worthy.

So it's perhaps unexpected that almost a fifth of academics in a recent, anonymous survey said they've witnessed something in the skies they can't explain.

And it's perhaps a problem that they'd rather not discuss it openly.

Last week, an independent NASA panel reported that the lack of quality data on the phenomena, as well as negative public opinions about whether the research should be pursued, are the two biggest barriers to knowing more.

Bethany A. Bell, an associate professor in School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, is one of the academics who is open to asking questions.

Bell joined primary authors Marissa E. Yingling and Charlton W. Yingling of the University of Louisville on their quest to know what scholars might be thinking about UFOs, but not willing to say out loud.

"My decision to join the team was mainly curiosity and interest in helping move a historically 'taboo' topic into intellectual spaces," said Bell, who chairs the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations and Policy.

In light of the NASA report, which now uses the government-preferred term "unidentified anomalous phenomena," the professors' May 23 publication of findings in the journal Humanities and Social Science Communications couldn't have been timelier.

The survey and the stigma

Hard to document, much less replicate for further study, the mysterious sightings often occur quickly, remotely and at night.

Those who choose to report an encounter do so at their own risk. Society has long been trained to respond with skepticism, if not outright hostility. Given the stigma, serious-minded people such as academics have learned to keep unexplainable encounters to themselves.

"Universities are institutions within the larger societythey are influenced by societal and cultural norms," Bell said. "It seems that historically, when the topic of UFOs began to appear, UFOs became synonymous with extraterrestrial beingssomething that the majority of people consider in the same realm as Bigfoot or 'ghosts' and other paranormal phenomena."

But ever since the government added its imprimatur to investigate with last year's congressional hearings, the first on the topic in 50 years, the three university professors wanted to take the temperature of their fellow academics.

The team sent their survey to tenured and tenure-track faculty in 14 disciplines at 144 U.S. doctoral universities classified as conducting "very high research activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

In addition to the types of academics one might expect, such as astronomers and physicists, the researchers wanted to hear from faculty in the social sciences, humanities and arts.

The team asked the academics how curious they were about the topic, how aware were they of related news developments and how interested they might be in conducting research, among other questions.

Even though the survey allowed for anonymity, the response rate was relatively small. Of the nearly 40,000 academics who received the email, only 1,549 returned answers.

Many of the professors apparently thought the survey was spam. After all, who asks about such things?

Some reacted unkindly. One wrote, "Tenure might be tricky for yougood luck."

Surprising findings and next steps

In all of the instances in which the survey asked about awareness of news developments, most people said they were "not at all aware"perhaps pointing to the taboo of discussion and sharing of the subject matter within their circles.

Curiosity was the biggest driver for those who said they had kept up with the news.

But what surprised the researchers most was the response to the question, "Have you or anyone close to you ever observed anything of unknown origin to you that might fit the U.S. government's definition of a UAP?"

About a fifth18.9%said yes, while another 8.7% said maybe.

The researchers were also surprised by some of the responses to open-ended questioning.

The team didn't ask for specific experiences. Instead, they asked if there was anything else respondents wanted them to know.

One academic reported, "My entire family and I witnessed a UFO around 1976. It was over our house in the rural northeast (state redacted). Two of my siblings saw it, while the rest of us in the house felt it shake and heard a loud noise. We were eating dinner and the shaking was so intense that we all ran outside."

Another said, "I saw an unidentified flying object as a child in (state redacted) (with my sibling)which my parents didn't believe. The news reported that others saw it, too."

A third respondent said they had witnessed two sightings.

"I used to tell people, but they thought I was crazy or lyingso now I'm silent."

Though the researchers didn't set out with an agenda, Bell said she was heartened by how respondents privately expressed the idea that learning more could have strong value.

When asked, "In your view, who stands to gain from the release of UAP-related information? Please select all that apply," about 54% responded "all humanity."

"Given that faculty in our sample think academic evaluation of UAP and related research are important, we hope that this study adds credibility to discussing the topic openly," Bell said. "Without engaging in a conversation about what is occurring in our federal government, how can faculty begin to evaluate information related to this topic?"

She said the next step is for academics from numerous disciplines to be "at the table."

To her mind, whether UAP exist is no longer the question. The question is: What are they?

More information: Marissa E. Yingling et al, Faculty perceptions of unidentified aerial phenomena, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01746-3
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Schematic presentation of the two major players in synaptic vesicle glutamate accumulation, the vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT and the vesicular proton pump, and model predictions for glutamate accumulation under physiological cytoplasmic glutamate and aspartate concentrations. Credit: Kolen et al.

In the brain, neurons communicate via neurotransmitters, which trigger electrical signals in downstream neurons by binding and activating specific receptors. Neurotransmitters are released through the fusion of synaptic vesicles, which contain large amounts of neurotransmitters.

Scientists from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Physiology of Forschungszentrum Julich and the University of South Florida studied how synaptic vesicles accumulate the neurotransmitter glutamate and developed a mathematical model of the synaptic vesicle that describes these processes. The results have now been published in the journal Nature Communications.

The unique computing performance of our brain is based on fast and high frequency communication between neurons. High frequency synaptic transmission requires constant regeneration of synaptic vesicles. For this, immature synaptic vesicles invaginate from the plasma membrane and are filled by specialized neurotransmitter transporters.

Vesicles initially contain the same salt solution as the extracellular space, with high concentrations of chloride (Cl-) and sodium (Na+). For glutamatergic synaptic vesicles, chloride ions must be removed in order to effectively enrich the vesicle with glutamate, which is also negatively charged. Both of these tasks are performed by the same protein, the vesicular glutamate transporter. The Julich scientists used electrophysiological methods to study how this happens in detail.

Scientific results

They could show that vesicular glutamate transporters not only transport glutamate, but actually all tested anions. However, transport of glutamate differs from other anions in its mechanism: each glutamate molecule is exchanged for a proton. This transport is slow, but allows glutamate to be transported against its concentration gradient and thus to generate high concentrations in the synaptic vesicle.

Aspartate and other large anions are transported slowly but without coupling to the proton gradient. Chloride ions diffuse through an ion pore at a rate 300 times faster than glutamate. All processes are regulated by the pH value on the luminal membrane side and the membrane voltage. They are inactive at neutral pH value and require a voltage to become active.

After formation, synaptic vesicles assume neutral pH value. Acidification by proton pumps activates the transporter, permitting fast exit of Cl- ions and effective depolarization of the vesicle. This creates optimum conditions for proton-glutamate exchange. For this reason, only glutamate, but not the very similar aspartate, is accumulated within the vesicle. Prof. Ghanim Ullah from the University of South Florida has generated a mathematical model that correctly describes all experimental findings on glutamate accumulation in the synaptic vesicle.

The results provide important new insights into the molecular basis of brain function. They may also help to develop new therapeutic concepts for diseases such as stroke or certain neurodegenerative diseases, in which increased extracellular glutamate concentrations cause neuronal death.

More information: Bettina Kolen et al, Vesicular glutamate transporters are H+-anion exchangers that operate at variable stoichiometry, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38340-9 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new study led by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University researcher Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, has found that women, racial and ethnic minorities and individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer are disproportionately affected by workplace mistreatment in academic medicine, and this mistreatment negatively impacts their mental health.

The study, which was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), looked specifically at three aspects of workplace mistreatment in academic medicinesexual harassment, cyber incivility and negative workplace climateand whether they differ by gender, race and ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ status. Additionally, the study examined whether these factors are associated with faculty mental health.

Researchers surveyed a total of 830 faculty members who received National Institutes of Health career development awards in 20062009 and remained in academia. Experiences were compared by gender, race and ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ status.

The study found that high rates of sexual harassment, cyber incivility and negative workplace climate disproportionately target marginalized individuals, including women, those whose race or ethnicity has been underrepresented in medicine, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and these experiences were associated with poorer mental health.

"Understanding the nature and frequency of experiences with harassment is the essential first step to inform a broader cultural transformation process," says Jagsi, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. "Cultural transformation of the medical profession is critical to foster civil work environments within which the best and brightest members of society can thrive in their pursuit of the admirable mission to promote human health through care delivery, research and education."

Key findings show that women were more likely than men to experience sexual harassment, including gender harassment and unwanted sexual attention. Of the women surveyed, 71.9% reported that they experienced gender harassment during the past two years, compared to 44.9% of men.

Women rated both the general and diversity workplace climate as worse than men and reported certain forms of incivility, sexist comments and sexual harassment when using social media professionally. In addition, mental health ratings were lower for women, and this difference appeared partly explained by differences in culture experiences.

"The findings suggest that even while women's representation in the medical field has improved, their experiences reflect marginalization," says Jagsi. "These stressors lead to a lack of psychological safety, communicate unbelonging and affect mental health, compromising the vitality of these critical contingents of the professional workforce."

Of the individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, 13% reported experiencing sexual harassment while using social media professionally vs. 2.5% of those who identify as cisgender or heterosexual.

In addition, respondents with races and ethnicities underrepresented in medicine rated the diversity climate more negatively than white respondents and reported certain forms of cyber incivility and racist comments when using social media professionally.

Together, these results suggest an ongoing need for specific interventions to transform culture in academic medicine.

The authors of the study state in JAMA, "The highest rates of sexual harassment occur in organizations that are perceived to tolerate such behavior. Organizations that proactively develop, disseminate and enforce sexual harassment policies are least likely to harbor such behaviors."

"These efforts must go beyond formalistic and symbolic legal compliance to engage workers from the ground up and leaders from the top down to ensure meaningful culture change. Opportunities to share organizational wins and best practices abound, including the NASEM's Action Collaborative, the Association of American Medical Colleges' Group on Women in Medicine and Sciences, and myriad others in professional specialty societies. The findings from the current study should motivate increased attention and resources toward these efforts."
Growing up in rural Montana on the Rocky Boy Reservation, Rebekah Jarvey never thought her clothes would make it to an international runway. But earlier this month, Jarvey showcased her new Love and Fashion collection in France at the Cannes Indigenous Fashion Festival.

Jarvey, who is Chippewa Cree, was one of seven designers to participate in the show and the only designer from Montana. She showed 14 looks  including casual neon dresses, skirts and shirts as well as luxury items like ribbon skirts and ribbon pants.

Jarvey fancy-danced in full regalia to open her show, and she later spoke to the audience about what her collection means to her.

I love fashion, she later told Lee Montana newspapers. I love the whole industry  the production, the models, the makeup, the hair. Everything that goes into a fashion show.

As a designer, she said shows can be nerve-wracking because its hard to predict how work will be perceived.

When you create something, youre sharing with the world whats in your mind, she said. Its a piece of you. This collection was a part of me.

Jarvey said pursuing fashion in rural America has its challenges. The Rocky Boy Reservation isnt close to a metropolitan area, it doesnt have specialty stores or supplies and there isnt a big fashion school nearby. But Jarvey said living on the reservation had its advantages, too.

Living in a rural place helped me become more creative, she said. It forced me to do a lot of research, a lot of Googling and observing social media. I followed fashion bloggers I liked, stylists and influencers, and then I could come up with my own style.

Jarvey encourages Native youth to pursue their passions, regardless of where they live, and she urges people to use the internet and social media to explore their fields.

As an Indigenous designer, Jarvey said she also must educate some prospective customers.

My pieces, theyre available to everybody  not just to Native people, she explained. As Indigenous designers, were constantly trying to tell people that our fashion is for everyone. I just want to make clothes. I want to share my ideas. I dont want to put a label on them. I want people to smile and feel good when they see my clothes.

Jarvey pre-launched her Love and Fashion ready-to-wear collection last weekend. Those pieces, which include dresses, shirts, scarves and more, are available at RebekahJarvey.com. She is also participating in the Santa Fe Indian Market this August and will be participating in the fashion show at the Montana Folk Festival in Butte this July.
Kris Marion was tearful and her earrings jiggled as the Wisconsin agriculture organizer discussed the impact of the Small Town Summit Monday afternoon in Missoula.

The event, hosted by the United Today, Stronger Tomorrow conglomerate of organizations, brought together more than 250 small-town activists over three days in downtown Missoula. With a focus on progressive policy issues in rural locales, the summit offered workshops like: Getting Men Out of the Problematic Pipeline and Attacks on Queer People in Our Turf.

The summit was the first UTST organized, and the leaders selected Missoula for its regional accessibility in the Mountain West. The idea was to guide organizers forward in their work and shift narratives around small, rural places.

Im grateful someone decided to organize this, said Marion. It feels like the rural experience doesnt matter to the powers that be.

She said the event helped unite people across common causes, while also highlighting unique situations in each small community. For Marion, the summit was a time of both grieving and celebrating.

Our places are places of resilience and brilliance, she said.

Dani Cook with the group roleorganizing.org was also emotional describing her experience at the summit.

She said the opportunity to build solidarity was phenomenal, since working on progressive policies in predominantly conservative states  especially as a person of color  can be profoundly isolating.

Its good when you can come and be able to say I am not alone, said Cook.

She highlighted, too, the emphasis on cultivating hope among organizers at the summit.

Politics are an emotional game, she pointed out. Policy isnt enough.

There was ample hope  and some concern  among workshop participants at the summit as well. In a discussion on affordable housing, organizers from Georgia, Wyoming, Michigan and beyond suggested supportive housing, tenant union support and housing density as avenues to pursue to improve conditions for residents of their areas.

Shelter WFs Mallory Phillips from Whitefish described how her group increased city council meeting attendance to push through an affordable housing project.

Weve helped shift the conversation around how housing is talked about in Whitefish, Phillips said.

Another Flathead Valley local, Riss Getts of Columbia Falls, educated her peers on the pro forma process for starting a housing development.

I think financial literacy around housing is something thats super missing in these conversations, she said.

Some of the discussions centered on these concrete approaches to housing solutions, while others revolved around more intangible strategies.

Always be polite, Colorado organizer Maria Perez-Chavez told the group as participants negotiated ways to combat outside developers scooping up real estate in their communities.

Following the summit, UTST plans to host other smaller trainings across the region, said UTSTs Madeline McGill. She was excited about the groups influence on local politics going forward.

A lot of the stories are written for us about us, McGill said. A lot of our organizers have big electoral fights coming up.
A recent proposal to increase the nurse-to-patient ratio at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula was bitterly contested by nurses there along with their union.

Two nurses at the hospital, who asked to not be identified, told the Missoulian that the administration recently attempted to increase the daytime nurse-to-patient ratio from 1-to-4 to 1-to-6 as a test run in one section.

"Instead of four patients for every one nurse on days it was going to be six patients, so like a 30% increase in workload," one St. Pat's nurse told the Missoulian. "The way they were justifying it was they were going to give each nurse their own tech (a health care worker that helps out with patients) to work with, so increasing the amount of techs they were staffing."

The administration was going to trial the new ratio in July on just one floor, known as Four South.

"It was kept hush hush for a while," the nurse said. "The manager on Four South dropped little hints during meetings but it was all pretty hush-hush. Then our union (the Montana Nurses Association) met with the manager of the unit who had volunteered her floor to be the first trial."

The union representatives had lots of questions and concerns.

"All the nurses expressed a lot of concern and we asked if there was going to be any kind of a wage increase with a 30% increase in workload," said the nurse, who wasn't at the meeting but discussed it with colleagues. "The administration and management said they had evidence and articles that this was going to increase patient satisfaction, but they didn't bring any of that evidence to the meeting."

Essentially, the nurse said, the administration termed the proposal a "tentative trial roll-out."

But the proposal got so much push-back that it has been tabled for now.

"They got a lot of flak from the union about the nurses being so upset," the nurse said. "So they sent out an email saying they were going to postpone that trial indefinitely. As of now, there's not going to be any kind of change."

Another longtime nurse corroborated the timeline of events.

"They were going to try a new patient/nurse ratio but there was such unanimous nurse objection, they have tabled the idea for now," the second nurse explained.

Stacy Rogge, the director of communications and external affairs for Providence Montana, said she is not aware of an official policy change to patient care operational models.

We are always looking at new ways to provide innovative care amidst the nationwide health care staffing shortage and constrained financial resources," Rogge said in a statement. "Providence remains committed to caring for our nurses and staff as well as keeping patient safety and quality at the forefront as we navigate this post-COVID era.

Nurses have been on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic, and the stress and burnout of the job have taken a mental and physical toll since 2020 on many in the industry.

The newest proposal at St. Pat's added to that tension, the first nurse at St. Pat's told the Missoulian.

"It was just really frustrating," the nurse explained. "A lot of nurses have been frustrated in in general the past few years. With COVID, working in health care, it's been pretty rough. We don't feel like we're compensated well enough for the work that we do."

Many nurses' unions across Montana, and all over the U.S., tried in vain to get hazard pay during the pandemic. With the high cost of housing in Missoula, nurses here are especially burdened by wages.

"When you look at Providence systems around the region and look at what nurses make considering the cost of living in Missoula, Missoula Providence nurses are paid the least," the nurse said. "That's something that's been a concern and something we've brought to negotiations."

The nurse said a former administrator once told the group that they needed to "learn to live within their means."

"That took some balls," the nurse said. "She's no longer there and they're trying to fill that CNO (Chief Nursing Officer) position. Also, they're rolling out that change when we don't have a designated Chief Nursing Officer."

The nurse at St. Pat's isn't sure if the proposal will be brought forward again.

"It's hard to say," the nurse said. "There was enough uproar that it's on a hold for now. We'll see what comes. There's negotiations coming up. A lot of us thought they might give us a hefty pay raise, but then they spring the increased patient workload on us at the same time."

Nurses at a Providence hospital in Spokane recently got a 10% pay increase.

"We've been trying to push for more as well, because the cost of living in Missoula is quite a bit higher, especially with housing," the nurse said.

California and Massachusetts are the only states with laws about nurse-to-patient ratios.

Last spring, nurses in Texas rallied at the state capitol to protest increased ratios. One nurse told news station KXAN that she was taught in school that the ratio should be one nurse for every four to five patients who are not in critical condition or in the ICU. Many of the nurses who rallied said the ratio was as high as 1-to-9, but even 1-to-6 was too high.

There is no federal standards for nurse-to-patient ratios. In early May, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act in the Senate. It's also sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. The bill is like California's nurse staffing law, which mandates how many patients a nurse in a specific hospital unit can care for at once.
A deeply controversial proposal to increase dissolved oxygen for Arctic grayling in a shallow lake within the Red Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is moving forward.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced Monday that they plan to install a pipeline from Shambow Pond to Upper Red Rock Lake, where the fish winter, to increase dissolved oxygen levels in deeper portions of the lake.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and FWP, along with Montana Trout Unlimited, have said its important to maintain the population of adfluvial Arctic grayling in the refuge, even though many observers contend the agencies should direct more effort to saving the fluvial, or river-dwelling, Arctic grayling in the Big Hole River.

A draft environmental assessment issued in early 2023 listed the pipeline as one alternative. It was described as a buried, gravity-flow pipeline that would convey water from East Shambow Creek and Shambow Pond to the center of the Upper Red Rock Lake.

Numerous people who commented on the draft environmental assessment questioned how this alternative and others could be justified in a wilderness area. Upper Red Rock Lake is within a wilderness area where restrictions would typically preclude a host of interventions that might require power-driven equipment, machinery and the like.

One of the commenters then was George Ochenski, a longtime Helena resident and environmental activist. On Monday, he reacted to the announcement about the pipeline.

Ochenski said he was simply flabbergasted to think they can do this in a wilderness area and have no significant impact.

Mike Garrity, also an early commenter, is executive director for Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Like Ochenski, he was puzzled by the decision to proceed.

I don't understand why the FWS and Montana FWP are moving forward with a project that will illegally put mechanical equipment in a wilderness area when there is no evidence that this project will help adfluvial Arctic grayling, which are not at risk for extinction, Garrity said.

Joseph Szuszwalak, a spokesman for the USFWS, provided a description of the pipeline from the final environmental assessment.

The alternative involves the installation of a pipeline from Shambow Pond to Upper Red Rock Lake. The pipeline would run through previously disturbed upland and wetland habitat that is comprised of a mix of native and non-native, invasive plant species.

Impacts from (the pipeline project) include some short-term disturbance to wilderness and habitat and vegetation due to the increased likelihood of spreading invasive species. Additionally, the trenching required to install the pipeline would negatively impact soils along the path of the pipeline. Impacts to resource areas from this alternative with mitigation measures would be none, negligible, or minor."

Garrity and others have said the draft environmental assessment paid insufficient attention to other variables potentially affecting the population of grayling in the Red Rock Lakes NWR, which is east of Lima.

Even though the area is heavily grazed by cattle, these agencies did not even examine if the cattle were the cause of the lack of oxygen in the lake, Garrity said. Red Rock Lakes is not Disneyland. FWP's sole purpose seems to be economic, not biological or sustainable. Instead of focusing on habitat, they are focusing on trying to maximize fishing license sales.

Bill West, a former manager of the Red Rock Lakes NWR, has said emphatically that he believes liberalized fishing in Red Rock Creek since 2013 has affected the grayling and its spawning and he has called for a multi-year moratorium on fishing.

The Upper Red Rock Lake is a shallow and eutrophic lake that is rich in nutrients supporting plant life that decomposes in winter. The lake is covered for months each winter in ice and snow and that combination reduces dissolved oxygen, leaving the Arctic grayling vulnerable to winterkill.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged, however, that it has no record of fish kills from low oxygen in winter.

Garrity said the focus should be elsewhere.

Instead of moving forward with this foolishness where they are trying to raise fish in an artificial way in a wilderness area, the public would be better served if they, for example, worked on keeping enough water in the Big Hole River to keep all of the fish, including fluvial grayling, which are at risk of going extinct, from dying, he said.

Keeping the Big Hole River from becoming a fishless irrigation canal, which until recently was a world famous fishing river, is a much higher priority.
Day three of the trial where Leon Michael Ford has been accused of killing John Michael Mike Crites started Monday with a focus on the evidence of zip ties and back garbage bags found with Crites remains.

Before Crites death, the area of Turk Road out by Birdseye Road has seen many disputes over road access. Disputes over property access date back to 2002 with Crites and Ford. Ford bought his property in the area in 1993 and Crites moved onto his property and built a home in about 1996. The Fords still own around 90 acres in the area today.

Ford has been charged with deliberate homicide and felony tampering with evidence.

Ralph Byars, who in 2011 was associated with Chugach, testified. Chugach was a contractor doing business on the Whidbey Island Air Force Base near Oak Harbor, Washington, where Ford was working as a safety officer in 2011.

Records showed that Ford checked out 24 specialty cable ties in February 2011, and a box of black heavy-duty 45 gallon trash bags on June 26, 2011. When asked if he knew of any reason that a safety officer would need cable ties on base Byars said, Not really.

Byars stated that if employees didnt have a work order for the item they were checking out, it would just be billed to their department and that sometimes Byars would sign off on work orders if they were missing a supervisor signature because he was a supervisor himself. He said it wasnt uncommon for workers to take items home from the base.

Platt Electric records indicate that Chugach purchased HellermannTyton 32-inch cable ties, and Chugach records show that Ford removed them. HellermannTyton 32-inch cable ties were found with some of Crites remains in October 2011 and were last produced in September 2011.

Defense attorney Palmer Hoovestal argued that Byars wasnt working at the base in 2011, so how would he know what the inventory was then. The defense stated that there wasnt a way to know if the cable ties Ford checked out were HellermannTyton cable ties or 3M cable ties because the order didnt specify, but Byars disagreed.

Your records show that it was not a HellermanTyton, Hoovestal said. It doesnt specifically identify the 32-inch cable tie as a HellermannTyton cable tie like it does down below.

Byars said that even if it wasnt entered in the line description, further details are entered to identify it as HellermanTyton in the vendors side of the warehouse. Byars said he was pretty confident that the ties Ford checked out were HellermanTyton ties because the base found 3M cable ties unsatisfactory due to them not being UV rated and not holding up as well to weather.

The second invoice that you showed me was Tyton, and thats all we carry now. Theres a record in Maximo that shows that, Byars said. I dont have it with me. I cant prove that to you physically, but even if it was -- it couldnt have been a 3M because we issued all those 3Ms out, and I wasnt there, but they were gone.

Byars noted that they didnt input orders into the system that were taken out on Fridays, which may explain why Ford was in Helena the same day the records show he checked out the trash bags on June 26, 2011.

Crites co-worker and friend Jesse Thomas testified he met Crites when they worked on the same project as sheet metal workers in 2007-2009. He said they kept in touch talking on the phone around two to three times a week, ranging from a half hour to a couple hours.

Crites called Thomas the morning of June 26, 2011, worried about meeting with a neighbor and asked him to write a name down. Thomas stated he didnt write down the name because Crites often called worried about conflicts with his neighbors, but he said he regretted not writing down the name upon learning of his disappearance. Thomas said he couldnt recall the name Crites told him to write down, but he mentioned hearing a noise change in the background of Crites call toward the end as if Crites mightve stepped outside or gone inside.

(Crites) was concerned that somebody was coming. He was Yup, someone is coming. Somebody is here. I gotta go now, Jesse, Thomas said.

The other person Crites spoke to on the phone the morning of his suspected disappearance was neighbor Marc Flora.

The Floras owned about 160 acres off Turk Road in 2000 and built a house on it in 2005. One of Flora's neighbors, John Mehan, blocked access routinely to their property, so they opted to build an alternate road into their property. They sold their property and moved to Washington in March 2012 because of all the stress and threats that came from land access disputes.

Crites called Flora to ask if he would come witness a conversation around 10 or 10:30 a.m. with a neighbor that Crites was in a road access dispute with.

Flora declined because he had relatives in town for his birthday he hadnt seen in a long time and because he was having his own road access dispute problems with other neighbors blocking access to his driveway, so he didnt necessarily agree with what Crites was doing.

I did not agree with Mike and the position he took regarding the issue that was going on there, Flora said. ... We had just filed a lawsuit because neighbors of ours were blocking our access, and I didnt feel comfortable going over to Mikes to back him up or to witness him or help him in that circumstance because he was trying to keep someone from accessing their property, and I didnt agree with that.

Flora said that he told Crites to record the conversation with the neighbor and to call him after the meeting was over. Crites never did, and Flora knew something happened to Crites when he spotted Crites "hybrid wolf dogs" outside his property gate trying to grab his little dog.

Flora chased the dogs and they dropped the little dog, who was OK, but he noticed one of the wolf dogs had a chain on and belonged to Crites. Flora knew the dogs because Crites asked him to take care of them when he would go out of town.

I stopped to call Mike right away, said Flora. I was very concerned. Mikes dogs were never out. I had been up there and around there for 11 years, and Id never seen them out.

Crites never answered any of Floras many calls. Later in the evening, Flora drove up to Crites place and the gate to his property was open and so was his front door. Crites wasnt home even though his cars were at his property.

Flora went back in the morning to Crites' property, and then called his wife, Gloria. They decided to call law enforcement and report Crites disappearance. When Flora was around Crites property with authorities on June 29, 2011, they noticed the gate across the lower road that was being disputed with Ford had been cut and thrown down the hill.

That is obviously not something Mike would have done, Flora stated.

The trial will continue at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Lewis and Clark County 1st Judicial District Court Judge Michael Menahan's courtroom.
Twenty days before the first constitutional climate change case was set to go to trial, attorneys for the state of Montana succeeded in drastically narrowing the scope of the lawsuit after a judge dismissed claims against a now-repealed state energy policy.

Filed in March 2020, the lawsuit, Held v. Montana, was brought by 16 youth plaintiffs from across Montana who allege the state has violated their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. The complaint focuses on two statutes  provisions of Montanas state energy policy, which explicitly promotes the use of fossil fuels, and an amendment to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which prevents the state from considering how the states energy economy contributes to climate change.

In April, the Legislature passed House Bill 170 repealing the State Energy Policy, clearing a path for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, representing the state, to file a motion to dismiss claims based on that statute as a matter of mootness.

During hearings on the policys review, Republican Gov. Greg Gianfortes natural resources policy advisor, Michael Freeman, told legislators Montana would still have an energy policy. It is an all-of-the-above policy, which plaintiffs attorneys interpreted as signaling no change to the states fossil-fuel first approach and, therefore, did not change the merit of the complaint.

But on May 23, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Kathy Seeley agreed with the state, writing that the only relief she could have offered would have rolled back the statute, which the Legislature already did.

However, Seeley stayed firm on her decision to allow the case to proceed to trial, which was a landmark victory for climate change advocates when she initially set a bench trial in 2021. In the recent court filing, Seeley wrote there are five facts in dispute to be taken up at trial, including "whether climate impacts and effects in Montana can be attributed to Montanas fossil fuel activities."

Even in its narrowed scope, the cases full weight rests on a constitutional underpinning  whether the Legislatures cumulative reforms to MEPA violate Montanas constitutional mandate that the state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. This provision, inserted into the states governing document during its 1972 drafting, is the basis for the bellwether environmental trial.

Governments need to make broader changes, and quickly, with the best available science in order to protect our rights, said Rikki Held, 22, the eldest plaintiff for whom the lawsuit is named. A clean and healthful environment is a basic necessity everyone has, and were talking about not just us, now, but future generations.

In addition to carving out the lawsuits claims centered on the state energy policy, attorneys for the state have launched efforts to dismiss the remaining claims based on MEPA, as the Legislature amended the law to ban state agencies from considering climate change during environmental review, arguing it's a "wholly new statute."

The main part of this case has now been thrown out, and whats left of the case should also be dismissed, according to Emily Flower, a spokesperson for Attorney General Austin Knudsen. This entire case has been nothing more than a publicity stunt spearheaded by an out-of-state special interest group. We believe this political theater will come to an end soon.

Held and her co-plaintiffs reject any suggestion that the case represents a publicity stunt.

As youth, we are exposed to a lot of knowledge about climate change. We cant keep passing it on to the next generation when were being told about all the impacts that are already happening, Held said. In some ways, our generation feels a lot of pressure, kind of a burden, to make something happen because its our lives that are at risk.

As of June 5, the case is set to proceed to a 10-day bench trial beginning June 12 in Lewis and Clark County District Court, where both sides will present evidence and testimony for the court to determine its legitimacy

Held v. Montana is not the only climate case in which environmental attorneys have been laying the groundwork for litigation. The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law currently tracks 2,424 climate-change related cases in the world, 1,591 of which are filed in U.S. jurisdictions. Our Childrens Trust, an Oregon-based nonprofit law firm representing the Montana youth, has filed similar legal actions in all 50 states that have included children as plaintiffs. Young people are slated to experience the worst of the accelerating crisis in the coming years, with a 2021 UNICEF index showing half of the worlds 2.2 billion children live in countries facing extremely high risks of climate disaster.

Other youth-led climate change cases in the U.S., including one filed against the federal government, have been derailed before proceeding to trial, setting Held up as a landmark case. (On April 6 a judge in Hawaii ruled a youth-led climate case against that state's Department of Transportation will proceed to trial this fall, and on June 1 a federal judge ruled the case Juliana v. United States will also proceed to trial.) In a 2011 Montana lawsuit, Our Childrens Trust directly petitioned the Montana Supreme Court to declare that Montana has a duty to protect and preserve the atmosphere. The court rejected the petition, stating that there was no reason the youth plaintiffs couldnt follow the normal channels of litigation through a lower court, followed by an appeal to the Supreme Court. To that end, Held was filed in Montanas First Judicial District Court with the intent of establishing a court record that can, if needed, be appealed to the Montana Supreme Court, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs.

The 16 youths named in the lawsuit now range from ages 6 to 22 and hail from communities from across Montana, from Broadus to Bozeman to Bigfork, and collectively represent a wide range of lived experiences in which climate change has figured prominently as a maleficent force. The named defendants include Gianforte, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Department of Transportation (MDT) and Public Service Commission (PSC).

Nate Bellinger, one of the attorneys for the nonprofit law firm Our Childrens Trust representing the plaintiffs, describes the current case as standing on three main pillars of evidence.

You have these two things working in conjunction where the state's aggressively promoting fossil fuels and at the same time ignoring how those fossil fuel projects are contributing to climate change, Bellinger said. We also have really strong evidence about the ways in which climate change is already impacting Montana's environment and Montana citizens.

All three of those points tie directly back to Montanas constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, the legal argument that can take on what plaintiffs co-counsel Roger Sullivan calls the fossil fuel paradigm.

Sullivan, an attorney with the Kalispell firm McGarvey Law, has spent four decades litigating environmental lawsuits in Montana. What sets those cases apart from Held, he said, is their piecemeal approach to holding fossil fuel-reliant projects accountable one state-sanctioned permit at a time, which, he said, is akin to putting your finger in the dike. They dont carry the weight of a constitutional case like Held, Sullivan said, which takes aim at the cumulative impacts of the fossil-fuel industrial complex and the systems in place promoting it.

Each of those aggregate acts has the consequence of spewing these greenhouse gases, diminishing the quality of the environment here in violation of the plaintiffs constitutional rights, Sullivan said. We just have one atmosphere, so a ton of carbon in Montana is just as damaging as a ton of carbon being placed into the atmosphere somewhere else in the world.

Montana has a long history with extractive industries, going back to the Copper King mining barons who commandeered much of the states economic and political authority in the 19th and early-20th centuries. By recognizing the enormous political power wielded by those titans of industry, as well as the degradation of Montanas environment at their hands, 100 delegates helped craft some of the nations most unassailable environmental protections during the rewriting of Montanas constitution in 1972.

Montana is still entrenched in the fossil fuel industry despite decades of understanding its broad impacts on the environment and the climate, according to Anne Hedges, director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, and an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the climate case.

Montana has the nations largest coal reserves, accounting for one-third of all recoverable coal deposits, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and the state is the sixth-largest coal producer in the country.

Going back more than 50 years, state officials have raised concerns about the coal industry, according to Hedges, who is expected to provide key testimony during the trial. In her 30-page expert opinion report, she cites former governors and agency leaders warning of the environmental consequences of coal and other fossil fuel-reliant developments.

For the past five decades, the state of Montana has known that continuing to promote coal as an energy resource came with great risk for Montanas environment, natural resources, economy, and residents, and that viable alternatives exist, Hedges wrote. Defendants to this day continue to push for an increase in the utilization and development of coal, oil, and gas, even as the dangers posed by fossil fuels and climate change have become irrefutable.

In 1993, the Legislature adopted the State Energy Policy, which initially outlined goals to promote energy conservation, production, and consumption of a reliable and efficient mix of energy sources that represent the least social, environmental, and economic costs. In 2011, the Legislature amended the energy policy by adding five provisions explicitly promoting an expansion of the fossil fuel economy; although the Held case initially challenged those provisions, theyre no longer relevant for the purposes of trial following Seeleys 11th-hour order.

I have been opposing fossil fuel projects in Montana for 30 years, Hedges wrote. In my opinion, the only thing that will fundamentally alter the states historic and ongoing energy policy of prioritizing the development and use of fossil fuels is a court order declaring that policy unconstitutional. She added that, in her experience, she is unaware of a single example of state agencies denying an environmental permit to a fossil fuel company.

In a recorded deposition, DNRC Forestry-Trust Lands Division Administrator Shawn Thomas concurred, stating he was unaware of the department denying a coal lease permit in at least two decades.

Additional expert witnesses for the plaintiffs include Steve Running, a global ecology and climate change researcher who contributed to the 2004 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. In an expert report co-authored with Cathy Whitlock, a climate scientist with Montana State University, Running discusses the current trends and future projections of the states ecological systems and how theyre effected by increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Every ton of fossil fuel that Montana extracts or consumes makes it harder to return to 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere, Running wrote in the report, referencing a commonly accepted scientific goal for an upper limit of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. When you are already in a dangerous hole, you stop digging.

Runnings and Whitlocks report also states that Montanas level of greenhouse gas emissions is higher than the national average exacerbating the current Earth energy imbalance, and thereby locking in additional global warming and the attendant climate impacts.

Based on witness testimony and pre-trial depositions, the state is expected to argue that Montanas impact on climate change is minuscule, that halting fossil fuel production would not eliminate the physical effects of climate change in Montana, and that any psychological impacts felt by the plaintiffs are a result of apocalyptic and misleading rhetoric, according to climatologist Judith Curry, an expert witness for the state.

Curry, a former Georgia Institute of Technology department chair, is known for rejecting mainstream scientific consensus on the significance of human contribution to climate change, and instead largely attributes shifts in global climate to natural variability, according to her expert report.

Another expert expected to testify for the defense, former MSU professor Terry Anderson, who specializes in economics and the environment, states in his expert report that, it does not make sense for any state to undertake policies to reduce CO2 emissions.

Producing that lump of coal in Montana has an effect on the states economy, Anderson wrote. Maybe you have less water in the stream for your fishing or less snow to ski on, but you also have a job.

At trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs will argue their clients have suffered significant and physical manifestations of an infringement of their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, as they allege in their complaint.

The 108-page complaint includes four requests for declaratory relief and five requests for injunctive relief along with attorneys fees. In her 2021 ruling that allowed the case to proceed to trial, Seeley dismissed four of the injunctive requests, including a requirement for the state to prepare a complete accounting of Montanas greenhouse gas emissions and develop a remedial plan to reduce emissions. But Seeley left intact a request by plaintiffs for the state to stop subjecting the Montana youth to the states energy policies and the climate change exception to MEPA.

Even with the lawsuit partially dismissed, Bellinger is hopeful for two favorable results from Seeley: a ruling that existing laws are unconstitutional, and an order enjoining Montana from approving new permits for fossil fuel development without consideration of climate change as a factor.

Ongoing defense efforts to have the case thrown out cited an end-of-session bill, House Bill 971, which was among the most controversial during the 2023 legislative session. The measure amended MEPA to preclude agencies from considering greenhouse gas emission or climate change impacts during environmental reviews of large projects.

However, Seeley states in court filings that there appears to be a reasonably close causal relationship between the permitting of fossil fuel activities under MEPA, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and its effect on the young plaintiffs.

During a pretrial hearing, attorneys for the plaintiffs pushed back against arguments that the new MEPA language changed the merits of the lawsuit.

This bill was entitled, an act generally revising the environmental policy act clarifying and excluding the use of greenhouse gas evaluations. Thats exactly what the agencies have already been doing, Sullivan said. This amendment does not substantively change anything and would just be a sinister move undermining the long-awaited rights of these plaintiffs to argue otherwise.

Seeley concurred that she did not interpret the new MEPA amendment as nearly as substantive as the defendants.

Sullivan told the Beacon that in four decades of practicing environmental law, hes never worked on a lawsuit in which defendants have launched such a concerted effort to fundamentally alter or restructure laws to prevent a suit from reaching trial.

The uniqueness of the situation is that they were able to go in and surgically attempt to obstruct and obfuscate, the facts of the case, Sullivan said.

Bellinger said the defendants efforts to challenge the lawsuit indicate how concerned they are about the consequences of the trial.

They do not want all of this evidence to come out in court, and they dont want to be required to take a position on climate science in a courtroom, Bellinger said. Its a pretty thinly veiled effort to avoid a decision from the court about the constitutionality of their conduct promoting fossil fuels.

Two of the plaintiffs, brothers Lander and Badge Busse, of Kalispell, were part of the 2011 lawsuit against the state and, 12 years later, will finally get their day in court to take the stand for their future.

Every plaintiff involved in this case, were just normal kids at the end of the day, all doing their own thing, who saw an opportunity trying to get the word out and fight for the things they love, Lander said. I feel like we have a citizens duty to uphold the Constitution, so it doesn't really matter if we have people trying to disagree with us  We're doing it for them as much as for the people who agree with us.

Plaintiffs include Rikki Held of Broadus, who was the only plaintiff of age when the suit was filed, Mica Kantor of Missoula, Lander and Badge Busse of Kalispell, Kian Tanner of Bigfork and other youth from Missoula, Bozeman, Polson, Helena, Livingston and the Flathead Indian Reservation. The plaintiffs are represented by attorney Nathan Bellinger of Our Childrens Trust, as well as Roger Sullivan and Dustin Leftridge of Kalispells McGarvey Law and Barbara Chillcott and Melissa Hornbein of the Helena-based Western Environmental Law Center. Our Childrens Trust is an Oregon-based nonprofit public interest law firm that litigates a wide array of youth-based climate lawsuits.
Cathy Swanson, AMOREM CEO, was looking for a career that would not require her to work nights or weekends when she stumbled across Caldwell Hospice, now AMOREM. Initially, Swanson had applied to be a business manager at legacy Caldwell when the executive director at the time, Gibbie Harris, encouraged her to accept a position as a medical social worker for the organization. Though she held the appropriate qualifications, Swanson had never imagined working in healthcare, especially with terminally ill patients and their families.

After reflecting on the potential opportunities at Caldwell Hospice and realizing that this position would provide a flexible schedule to raise her three children, Jamey Thomaston, B.T. Simmons and Claudia Simmons (Watson), Swanson knew that Caldwell Hospice was exactly where she needed to be. She quickly made the call to accept the position as a medical social worker and in August of 1988, Swanson was hired as a team member.

Within the first 17 months, Swanson fell in love with the work that the organization accomplished. She was intrigued by the kind of care that Caldwell Hospice provided; the way that each patient is treated with the same respect and dignity, the wide parameters around what you could do to help a patient and their family and by the feeling of honor that washed over her as she sat with patients and families during the eleventh-hour.

I can still drive around Caldwell County and remember where particular patients resided, says Swanson. I have been blessed by the most incredible experiences with patients and their families.

Swanson had never expected to become a leader with a 35-year tenure at the organization. When the executive director role became vacant in late 1989, the Legacy Caldwell board processed many applications and struggled to find the right fit for the position. The board decided to wipe the slate clean and start the hiring process over from the beginning.

On this second attempt to find their new executive director, the staff encouraged Swanson to apply. She was appointed as the executive director of Caldwell Hospice on January 16, 1990, and moved into the office she has called her own for the past 33 1/2 years.

Was it fate, luck, or divine willthe Board of Directors decision to put Hospices future in the hands of a

somewhat unknown young lady named Cathy? questions former board member, Tony Deal. The board was looking for stabilitysomeone who could keep the ship afloat. Little did we know that we had selected a

visionary, a leaders leader, a business whiz, a go-getter and someone who, for the next 33 years, would transform hospice beyond anything charter board members would recognize.

In preparation to thrive as a leader, Swanson pursued extended knowledge and earned a Master of Public Health degree at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000.

When asked about Cathy Swanson, the first thought of most people is shes a great administrator  which she is, but my first thoughts go to the Cathy Swanson I worked with when I came to Caldwell Hospice in 1989, says Martha Livingston, retired Caldwell Hospice director of support services. In those early days, both of us were on staff as medical social workers. Seeing the compassion Cathy has at the bedside is the foundation of why she is such a great administrator  she understands why we do what we do and cares deeply that it is done well.

Swanson, being the mission-driven leader that she is, was the recipient of the 2002 Peter Keese Award which recognizes devotion to hospice care, advocacy on the state and local levels and a vision for what the future of care can look like. Usually, people are visionaries or implementers but rarely are they both. Swanson was a rare find who saw the bigger picture but also appreciated each of the details that it would take to get there.

Having served over 30 years on AMOREMs Board of Directors, I have had the privilege of working with Cathy Swanson the same number of years, says current board member Marc Carpenter. Cathy has proven to be a superlative leader. She is innovative and always looking into the future to anticipate needed changes, even before they become apparent in many cases. Cathys greatest strength, in my mind, is that she leads with both head and heart.

Swanson gained strength and renewed passion in her line of work after experiencing hospice care for her younger brother in December 2017. Her brother was able to die at home as he desired, with his dog, mother, siblings and his son by his side. He was comfortable and the entire family was supported by the hospice team. This is the experience that carried Swanson through the next tumultuous five years of building projects, the merger and COVID-19.

Under Swansons leadership, Caldwell Hospice operated the first free-standing patient care unit in the state of North Carolina, purchased the Ashewood property where AMOREM Grief Support Services operate, expanded and renovated its Stevens Patient Care Unit, built the Jack and Shirley Robbins Center which housed Forlines Patient Care Unitthe organizations second patient care unit, expanded services into the High Country of North Carolina, became one of the four founding hospices of the TELEIOS Collaborative Network, built a palliative care center in Boone, merged with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care to create AMOREM and launched a capital campaign to bring a patient care unit to the High Country. Each of AMOREMs patient care units were opened debt free thanks to generous contributions from the community.

Though Swanson has clearly been busy throughout her 35 years with AMOREM, she has still taken ample time to care for and to mentor her staff.

All my nursing experience had been in OBGYN, says Grace Bradford, retired Caldwell Hospice director of nursing services, so Cathy really took a chance when she hired me as a hospice nurse. She mentored me along the way. Cathy has such a heart for hospice and has never lost sight of the importance of the people on our team. She always made time for peopleeven when she didnt have time. That meant a lot to me personally.

The most important thing for Swanson in terms of company culture, was to foster a culture of importance and quality for all team membersregardless of their discipline. It was meaningful to her that all staff felt equal and that everyone respected one another and those who AMOREM serves. Swanson also found the importance in creating a culture where it is okay for staff to feel sad or to shed a tear. Above all, she encouraged team members to do extraordinary things to make a patients end-of-life wishes come true.

Cathys passion for end-of-life care has created a culture where our mission guides every decision within the organization, says Vice President of Business Services, April Moore. This results in making our community a better place to live. Words cannot express how grateful I am for her mentorship, support and friendship.

During Swansons years in the hospice and palliative care industry, she was an active participant on many committees and shared her heart for hospice through many affiliations. Swanson served on the Board of Directors for Hospice of the Carolinas, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Appalachian State

University Healthcare Management Advisory Council, Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care and for TELEIOS Collaborative Network.

Despite all the growth, changes and regulations, the mission and values of AMOREM have driven every facet of what the organization has become today. Even in the hard times, Swanson encouraged those around her to make the right decisions based on the mission, vision and values that the organization had set in place. She focused on always doing the right thing by patients and their families and providing that whatever it takes kind of care.

As she reflects on her 35 years with AMOREM, Swanson says, Most importantly, I hope that we never lose sight of our mission or our values. I want to see AMOREM continuing to operate both internally and externally based on our values and have that willingness to continue to change, continue to be proactive and to remain flexible. I hope that AMOREM will exceed all expectations.

In 35 years, Swanson has built a legacy that will continue to reach the surrounding communities for years to come.

I am honored and privileged to have worked with Cathy during the last couple years of her career. says AMOREM Board Chair, Jordan Greene. Coming from the legacy Burke Board of Directors, Cathy was known as the definition of a hospice CEO. AMOREM is where we are today because of Cathys leadership and dedication to the hospice mission. She has put in place practices that will allow AMOREM to continue to be at the forefront of hospice and palliative medicine not only regionally, but nationally. AMOREM will forever be indebted and appreciative to Cathy for what we have been able to accomplish.

It is with a heavy heart that the AMOREM team wishes an iconic leader farewell as she embarks on her newest endeavor  retirement.

The thought of Cathy in retirement is unthinkable, like pairing opposites in a single sentence, says Board Chair Emeritus Parker Williamson. I prefer to think that shes launching some brand-new venture and that it will be as impressive as her past. Thank you, Cathy, for the journey we were privileged to share.
Winston-Salem police searched Tuesday for human bodies at a former horse farm off Griffith Road in the citys southwestern section, a law enforcement source told the Journal.

The source asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case.

A police forensics unit worked at the site for a second day, digging at the 13-acre property at 400 Everidge Road. A pile of dirt stood next to a hole about 12 feet in length.

District Attorney Jim ONeill of Forsyth County was also on the property along with police detectives.

An operator of a backhoe dug behind the large barn on the site.

One neighbor, who declined to be identified to maintain his privacy, said he first noticed the police presence at the farm on Monday.

Its like nobody even goes out there, the neighbor said about the farm. I have no idea what to think.

His account of the property was consistent with other neighbors comments, saying the site is usually quiet with few people coming and going from the farm.

Nobody ever goes out there, he said. I have no idea what to think.

Reporters and photographers were allowed to look at the horse farm from the surrounding streets.

An investigator put crime scene tape in front of the house on Ever Spring Drive near the site. A toppled tree also obstructed the publics view of the farm from Ever Spring Drive.

The toppled tree was not there Monday. Police officers did not place it there Tuesday, said Lt. Chris Diamont, a police spokesman.

ONeill has declined to comment on the search, but he said authorities appreciate the cooperation theyve gotten from the property owners.

Michael Jackson, who owns the property under the name, Two Men & a Mule LLC, said Monday that officers told him they needed to carry out an investigation on the property and that he gave them permission to enter and do their jobs.

Jackson said he was at the site part of the time while authorities investigated, but that none of the law enforcement officers told him what they were looking for.

The investigation may take several days, and police will update the case when more information is available, police said.

When Renan L. Carter owned the property in 2011, Forsyth County animal-control officers removed 35 emaciated ponies from the site, and Carter later was convicted of three felony counts of animal cruelty and 33 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

In 2016, Carter sold the property to Two Men & A Mule LLC, which had been formed the same year.

Danielle Jackson, Michael Jacksons wife, said she and her husband have not kept animals on the property or done anything with the site since acquiring it. Michael Jackson said he has occasionally rented the house that is on the property beside the barn.

Anything happening on the property is unusual, said a woman who lives near the land who asked that her name not be used.

There are never any vehicles there, and the front gate and barn are always closed, the woman said. Its a desolate place.

The woman said that the only activity she had seen was from a man who came regularly to cut the grass.

Investigators didnt appear to look into the one-story house on the property beside the barn.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Investigation at former horse farm on Everidge Road 400 Everidge Rd 400 Everidge Rd 400 Everidge Rd Aerial view of search at 400 Everidge Road 400 Everidge Rd 400 Everidge Rd 400 Everidge Rd 400 Everidge Road A forensics unit at 400 Everidge Road
When a group of American soldiers found their waterlogged grappling hooks were too heavy to cast, they used knives to climb. The soldiers scaled the Nazi-occupied 115-foot-tall cliff of Pointe du Hoc on D-Day in 1944 and claimed the cliff.

A tour guide told Hickory High School history teacher Drew Daniels and his group the story while they were in France visiting historic sites. Daniels said the trip was in 2019, when he and Hickory High Assistant Principal Nathan Fredericks took 12 high school students on a World War II-themed trip across Europe.

Pointe du Hoc gave Nazi soldiers a clear view of both beaches as American forces stormed ashore during the invasion of Normandy, which is why a small group of Allied forces was sent to take the cliff, Daniels said.

My reaction would have been, Well, we tried, boys, Daniels said. He said the fact the soldiers climbed the cliff with their knives made him feel proud to be an American.

Daniels said when visiting Normandy beach, You cant separate yourself from the history of it. Youre very conscious of where youre at  so it felt, not heavy, but I felt a sense of reverence, I guess. That this isnt just some beach.

Assistant principal Fredericks said, The feeling of being on the beach (and) being in the area where a lot of servicemen lost their lives  It is almost unspeakable, when you first lay eyes on the beach.

Daniels said of D-Day, I think you could argue, and I dont want to overstate this, but its among the top five most important days of the 20th century, if not the most important. That was a crucial moment in world history, and a lot of what we now know was hanging in the balance.

The group also visited the Normandy American Cemetery, Daniels and Fredericks said. Fredericks said the students researched the names of Catawba County soldiers buried there and placed Catawba County flags on their gravesites.

Daniels recalls seeing students playing in the surf, and said his first reaction was to think it was disrespectful.

But then I thought about it: I bet those soldiers, I cant speak for them, but they might be glad to know a bunch of American kids were coming over, Daniels said. And its not a war zone. Its a place where they can freely splash about, and thats the world (the soldiers) helped create or preserve.

June 6 marks the 79th anniversary of D-Day, which launched the Allied forces invasion of Normandy in World War II. The battle is considered a turning point in the war by many historians, and approximately 29,000 U.S. soldiers were killed during the invasion according to Encyclopedia Britannica. It is estimated that an additional 106,000 U.S. soldiers were wounded or missing.
More than 30 fishing outfitters and guides plying southwest Montanas renowned trout streams recently penned an impassioned letter to Gov. Greg Gianforte, seeking immediate assistance for a situation described as dire.

And heard nothing in response.

Asked whether Gianforte had read the letter, Brooke Stroyke, a press spokeswoman for the governor, replied that he was aware of the situation and trusting that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will pursue.

The outfitters letter, dated May 30, noted FWP has determined trout populations have reached historic lows in the Big Hole River and elsewhere in the region.

For our businesses to survive, we need the full engagement and all available resources under your authority as Governor to both investigate this crash and help us develop solutions, before its too late, the letter said. This is an all hands on deck moment.

The outfitters and guides requested an emergency meeting and a response from Gianfortes office by June. 2. Neither happened.

Wade Fellin of the Big Hole Lodge near Wise River was one of the outfitters who signed the letter. On June 3, he said he was upset Gianforte has not responded.

My business, my livelihood and the economic health of my greater community in the largest county in this state is in an emergency situation, and neither he nor his staff had time in the past four days for so much as an email response or call, Fellin said.

Stroyke said, FWP will continue to evaluate the situation and explore potential solutions.

Fellin and others said deferring the crisis response to FWP does not instill confidence. The department, which they described as understaffed and underfunded, disclosed in recent weeks that it has not paid for lab tests of fish samples collected last fall that might help explain why the trout populations are in decline on the Big Hole River, the Beaverhead River and the Ruby River.

Fellin was complimentary of fisheries biologists Jim Olsen and Matt Jaeger but said they are constrained by a lack of funding and leadership.

Outfitter Shaun Jeszenka, owner of Frontier Anglers in Dillon, said Gianfortes lack of response fits a pattern.

We didnt really expect the governors office to respond, Jeszenka said. His office did not respond to a request to form a Cold Water Fisheries Task Force a year ago, either.

A recent article in The Montana Standard provided sobering details about the population declines of brown and rainbow trout in the Big Hole River. And it noted that a host of variables could be at play.

Potential contributors include climate change, increased nutrients, warming water temperatures, irrigation withdrawals, fungus, parasites, a dramatic increase in angling days on the river, trout stressed by catch-and-release fishing, algal blooms and more.

Outfitters interviewed last week described fielding inquiries from customers or potential customers concerned about what theyve read or heard.

Weve received a bunch of calls from customers and clients, said Eric Thorson, a co-owner of the Sunrise Fly Shop in Melrose.

He said he worries that news stories to date about the declining populations of brown and rainbow trout have presented a doom and gloom portrait that isnt warranted.

Were still seeing good fishing, Thorson said.

Recent data from three sections of the Big Hole River showed the fewest number of brown and rainbow trout since data were first collected in 1969.

For example, the popular Melrose section  which stretches roughly from Melrose to Brownes Bridge near Glen  is estimated to host fewer than 500 brown and rainbow trout per mile. Melrose peaked at nearly 3,000 fish at the centurys turn and maintained an estimated 2,500 brown and rainbow trout in 2015.

Conflict between some outfitters and some ranchers about irrigation withdrawals has existed for decades and tends to flare as flows diminish as the summer proceeds. Work by the Big Hole River Foundation and Big Hole Watershed Committee has occasionally helped mitigate the ill feelings.

But tension amped up recently after outfitter Craig Jones posted a video on Facebook of five dead and decomposing cows partially submerged in the Beaverhead River. Comments about the post ran the gamut from reasonable to obscene.

The consensus was that the cows had slipped on or broken through ice on the river during an especially long and intense winter and had died from exposure.

The Facebook video and recent reports of declining trout populations stirred the embers of conflict.

In response, Fellin shot video of a cordial conversation between Brian Wheeler, a fishing guide on the river, executive director of the Big Hole River Foundation and a member of the board of the Big Hole Watershed Committee, and J.M. Peck, a cattle rancher near Melrose and member of the Big Hole River Foundations board.

The men reviewed many of the points of contention between anglers and ranchers, ranging from concerns about nutrient pollution from cow manure to anglers continuing to fish the river in spite of FWP restrictions.

The men agreed that a healthy river serves both outfitters and ranchers.

We all depend on a cold, clear, healthy river, Wheeler said.

Peck agreed, noting that those in the Big Hole Valley who rely on the river for their livelihood are one big community.

Pedro Marques is executive director of the Big Hole Watershed Committee, which traces its roots to representing agricultural interests in the Big Hole Valley when it seemed the rivers small population of Arctic grayling might be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Both recreation and ranching need water to survive, Marques said. Running a business involves risk and when your business depends on the viability of a public resource, there's a lot that's out of your control, and I can't help but deeply empathize with business owners facing an existential threat to their livelihoods.

Marques said the new normal of precipitation patterns  no rain from June to September  is beyond what voluntary conservation measures can address.

Active management of our landscapes to prioritize late-season stream flows is something we can address, he said. Building wetlands, thinning our overstocked forests and clearing conifer encroachment from grasslands, natural and constructed storage, cloud seeding, are all strategies that work toward that end, and they need to be scaled and quickly.

Marques added, Ranchers have weathered storms like this before so tend to have a longer-term perspective. Also, they have Montana Water Law backing their private property rights, while recreation businesses don't have the same guarantees.

He noted that agriculture helps preserve open landscapes.

At the end of the day, what we've got is preferable to massive subdivision and development ramping up, Marques said. Our water quality and quantity issues now are nothing compared to what they'll be when large intact landscapes start getting divided up.

Meanwhile, Wheeler, like Fellin, said he is worried that the population crash on the Big Hole River is not a high enough priority.

Like everybody else around here, it's fair to say I'm concerned about the lack of resources and lack of urgency, he said.

Along with drinking water and irrigation, aquatic life and recreation are beneficial uses this river is required to support, Wheeler said. But without a targeted effort to first define the primary driver of this crash, especially if it winds up being a pathogen, it's almost impossible to chart an effective course of action to address it.
Roughly 60 members of regional unions and their supporters rallied on a rainy Saturday morning to demonstrate discontent with the dearth of local hires for a construction project at the Walmart in Butte.

The demonstrators stood on a sidewalk along Harrison Avenue to avoid being on Walmart property.

Representatives of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America emphasized more than once that the outing was neither a picket nor a formal union action. A sign read, Labor Dispute Coming Soon.

Mario Martinez of the Carpenters Union addressed the crowd.

What were doing right now, everybody, is an informational action to inform the community that we were overlooked on the project over there, he said, pointing toward the work underway at Walmart.

Were not here picketing today, Martinez said. Its an informational action for the community. If you come to Butte (as a contractor), we expect you to consider the locals here.

Their beef was not only with Walmart and the general contractor, Engineered Structures Inc. out of Meridian, Idaho, but also with a pattern they described as troublesome.

Our community expects local businesses to hire local contractors but many of our contractors in Butte and Silver Bow County are seeing an alarming trend of large corporations contracting out of state, said Joel Worth, a special representative for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

That trend is what could ultimately spark the labor dispute referenced by the sign, Martinez said.

Matt Joyner, a spokesman for Walmart, responded to the union members complaints.

We hired ESI as the general contractor for this project, and the subcontractor selection is managed by them through a competitive bid process, he said.

Were proud to be part of the Butte community  our store employs nearly 400 associates who live in and around the area, Joyner said.

Both Martinez and Worth noted that the Walmart store on Harrison Avenue benefits from the steady patronage of the store by regional shoppers.

And they said young people in the region who are hoping to start in a union apprenticeship program could have received valuable experience working on a project like the Walmart expansion.

Both Worth and Martinez said the unions had reached out about the Walmart project and gotten the sense that local contractors would be included in bidding the work. For the most part that has not happened, they said.

Worth acknowledged that a plumbing contractor out of Anaconda and a masonry contractor out of Helena are working at the site.

ESI did not respond to a request for comment.

The demonstrators gathered around 9 a.m. and left around noon.
The United Statess health care system is a mess of complex regulations and layers of bureaucracy. Its also expensive. But Republicans in the Montana Legislature have made great strides in recent years to address what problems we can at the state level.

Weve emphasized improving health care by giving Montanans more options, reducing regulations and giving doctors more freedom to practice medicine. In the 2021 Legislature, for example, we relaxed regulations on tele-health, opening the door for more affordable and convenient visits over the phone or through videoconferencing. That year we also expanded direct patient care allowing doctors to bypass insurance companies and contract directly with their patients.

We built on that foundation in the 2023 legislative session that recently wrapped up. The two of us passed five new health care laws: Senate Bills 112 and 564 by Sen. Tom McGillvray and House Bills 313, 392, and 665 by Rep. Jodee Etchart. The reforms are designed to increase access to care and provide more affordable options.

Senate Bill 112 improves access to prescription medications, especially in rural parts of the state where health care providers are few and far between. The new law allows pharmacists to directly prescribe certain medications to patients without having to go through a doctors office. Medications that help with diabetes, allergic reactions, UTIs and strep throat are examples of simple yet time-sensitive needs that SB 112 is targeting. SB 112 keeps some reasonable regulations in place, such as not allowing pharmacists to prescribe any controlled substances, but it gets unnecessary red tape out of the way of caring for Montanans.

House Bills 313 and 392 increase freedom for certain medical providers by expanding the care they can provide. HB 313 allows physician assistants (PAs) to practice independently of physicians, and clarifies insurance coverage for their work under different health programs. HB 392 allows midwives to obtain and use more types of prescription drugs in their care of mothers and newborn babies.

Senate Bill 564 removes unnecessary regulations on the Montana Health Corps program and allows physicians to provide free health care services to people on Medicare or Medicaid or who are in poverty. It gives those doctors limited immunity for the free services they provide. The new law also allows in-home visits for people who dont have the physical or financial means to travel to a doctors office.

Finally, House Bill 665 requires insurance companies to cover additional breast cancer screening examinations by expanding the definition of minimum coverage to include diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs.

Collectively, these five new laws increase Montanans access to needed medications and medical care, allow midwives to provide better care for mothers and babies, help serve those in poverty, and improve screening for breast cancer.

These improvements in Montana health care were achieved without spending more taxpayer money and without creating or growing government programs. This policy work places Montana at the forefront of health care innovation and well continue these efforts in future legislative sessions.
World War II veterans, officials and visitors are commemorating D-Day on the beaches of Normandy to honor those who fought for freedom in the largest naval, air and land operation in history. Many reenactors came to Omaha Beach at dawn Tuesday to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control. A ceremony was to be held at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer which is home to the graves of 9,386 U.S. soldiers. Most of them lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. An international ceremony is scheduled to take place later at the nearby British Normandy Memorial in the presence of officials from the nine main Allied nations.
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North Eastern and Nairobi regions have recorded the least number of trees planted for the national tree planting campaign.

The Ministry of Interior released the statistics as Kenya joined the world in marking the 50th World Environment Day.

Of the eight regions in Kenya, Nairobi and North Eastern planted 77,168 and 52,478 trees respectively. The Ministry noted the trees were planted in the five months since President Ruto launched the National Tree Planting Restoration program.

The reforestation campaign seeks to have at least 15 billion trees planted by 2030.

Statistics from the Ministry of Interior show that Eastern Kenya is leading the exercise with 4,377,362 trees planted in five months.

Rift Valley region followed with 621,805 seedlings, ahead of Coast and Central regions with 523,699 and 514,550 seedlings respectively.

Western region has planted 278,023 trees while Nyanza has managed 274,669 trees in five months.

The restoration exercise is being coordinated by the National Government Offices (NGAOs), the Ministry of Environment, and public and private partners.
On Monday, a medical officer at Ichuni Girls High School in Kisii County, was presented before the Keroka Law Court on charges of defiling a student.

Henry Nyarango is said to have sexually abused a Form Two student who sought treatment at the schools medical facility.

The court heard that the medic defiled the student on June 2. Court documents indicate that the 15-year-old student reported that Nyarango waylaid her as she returned from the toilet and raped her.

Nyarango, who was on duty at the health facility on the night of the incident, allegedly pursued the plaintiff into the toilet located within the facility, where she had gone to answer a call of nature, and repeatedly defiled her.

He was immediately arrested and charged with defilement contrary to section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006.

He faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with the minor contrary to Section 11(1) of the Sexual Offences Act.

The medic denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Kimtai Matata who released him on Sh100,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount.

The magistrate warned the accused against interfering with or threatening the appellant upon securing release.

You must make sure that you observe peace at all times and not seek to threaten witnesses, said Matata.

The matter will be mentioned on June 8.
A short vehicle pursuit Sunday morning ended with the drivers arrest, according to American Canyon Police.

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Shortly after 11:30 a.m., officers tried to stop a man driving a Kia on eastbound American Canyon Road, but the driver instead accelerated toward the Interstate 80 on-ramp east of the city, police said in a news release.

Police stopped the vehicle on the on-ramp before it could enter the freeway, and then detained both the passenger and the driver, identified as 29-year-old Augustine Daniel Gonzalez of Bay Point, according to the department. Both Gonzalez and his passenger showed signs of drug impairment and admitted ingesting fentanyl pills earlier that morning, according to the department.

Officers later learned the Kia had been reported stolen in San Francisco, according to police.

Gonzalez was booked into the Napa County jail on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, evading police officers, driving under the influence, and possessing burglary tools. He also faced a felony warrant in Contra Costa County, according to American Canyon Police.

The passenger in the Kia also was booked into jail on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, police said.
The St. Helena Chamber of Commerce celebrated the ribbon-cutting of its new Welcome Center last Thursday.

The chamber moved to 1154 Main St., near the corner of Main and Spring, after Jean-Charles Boisset bought the building theyd been leasing at 1320 Main St. Boisset funded the move, along with the chamber.

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Boisset worked really hard with our team to get us here, said the chamber's CEO Amy Carabba-Salazar.

Its incredible to see the business community come together to support (the Welcome Center), Carabba-Salazar said. Were thrilled to still have it here right on Main Street, and we expect to be even busier.

The new Welcome Center officially opened to the public on May 30. It will remain open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It provides a free restroom, maps and merchandise from local businesses.

According to the chamber, in 2022 the Welcome Center greeted 22,000 visitors, distributed over 11,000 maps, booked over 100 hotel rooms through sthelena.com, and referred visitors and locals to businesses that are members of the chamber.

Mayor Paul Dohring was on hand for the ribbon-cutting. He said that when he looks at the Welcome Centers sign, the word 'welcome' jumps out to me.

We have to continue being welcoming. We have to keep this Welcome Center open. We have to let folks know that St. Helena  is the gem of the Napa Valley, Dohring said, praising Carabba-Salazar and her team at the chamber.

The Welcome Center is funded by the city of St. Helena and the chambers nearly 260 member businesses.

Photos: A weekend of fun in St. Helena St. Helena police Dick Aubert's MG Girl with balloon Soccer Defensible space Soccer ball Carnival games Rianda House COAD Slide Game Classic cars Tony Velazquez Community soccer night
The pole's rope and pulley had broken, so the school hadn't been able to fly its flags. When the school asked the fire department for help, firefighters "responded quickly," said school counselor Terry O'Leary.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors and Napa City Council are set to meet for a rare joint meeting Tuesday to receive an annual homeless services report, which will include information from the countys annual one-day homeless count held in January along with an overview of the state of Napas services to unhoused people.

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City and county staff  who have long worked together to address local homelessness  will present and discuss programs, services and trends, including data from the 2023 point-in-time count, a yearly survey of the homeless population.

The one-day count is an observation of sheltered and unsheltered homeless residents required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every two years  though some communities, such as Napa, opt to carry the count out annually  so the agency can estimate the number of Americans without housing.

Molly Rattigan, the city of Napas point person on homelessness, has previously noted that point-in-time counts tend to undercount the number of people experiencing homelessness, given that an observational count cant, by definition, include those who are unseen. But Jennifer Palmer, Napa Countys director of housing and homeless services, also previously noted that changes in the count, when consistently carried out, can offer insight into the homeless population.

Last year, the Napa count recorded 494 people, a slight increase from the 464 people identified during the previous count in 2020. Napas 2021 count didnt take place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palmer said in an email that the county and city arent planning to release data for the 2023 survey before the meeting, in part because the other information presented will help add context to that data.

The purpose of the joint meeting is to share it with both entities together and be able to contextualize it and answer questions, Palmer wrote. The item will be a comprehensive annual report on homeless services  meaning the (point-in-time) data is one part, but not the only focus.

Palmer added that the presentation will include an overview of Napas coordinated service system, the point-in-time count data and housing system outcomes over the past year. It will also include a review of five goals that are part of the countys strategic plan to address homelessness that was adopted about a year ago, and where the homeless services system stands in meeting those goals.

Staff will also talk about whats coming next for new housing and homeless services in Napa County, according to Palmer.

The joint meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. in the Napa County Board of Supervisors chamber, on the third floor of the county administration building at 1195 Third St. in Napa.

After the joint session, the City Council will hold its regular meeting at City Hall. Agenda items include a public hearing on the proposed two-year budget for the city, set to be passed later this month, and a hearing on a six-home Redwood Road subdivision  previously recommended by the citys planning commission  that would extend Ruston Lane.

PHOTOS: Best of BottleRock Napa Valley 2023
Napa County's messy divorce with former County Executive Officer Minh Tran has taken another turn after the county announced it will deny Tran severance pay that could have topped $467,000.

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The Board of Supervisors went into closed session Tuesday to discuss the matter. Upon emerging, County Counsel Sheryl Bratton read a statement outlining the county's revised position.

Napa County, on dismissing Tran as CEO in July 2022, had said he was eligible for severance pay. Tran didn't claim the payment as the two parties wrangled over various issues, though until Tuesday he remained eligible to do so.

Shortly after his dismissal, Tran shortly was appointed county counsel of Riverside County. Napa County is now contending Tran had already accepted the Riverside job at the time of dismissal, unbeknownst to Napa County.

That meant he was no longer "willing and able" to perform the duties of Napa County CEO, as specified by his contract as a condition for severance pay, a county statement said.

As a result, Napa County is no longer offering Tran severance pay equaling 18 months of his $25,946-a-month base salary.

"The board expressed its disappointment that Tran failed to disclose his acceptance of a job in another county," the statement said. "Open and transparent communication is crucial in any professional setting, especially when it pertains to important decisions such as employment status."

Whether that is the end of the divorce saga between Napa County and Tran remains to be seen. Tran, who served as Napa County CEO for about five years, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

Tran's dismissal has become a tangled tale. Using documents obtained from Napa and Riverside counties under public record requests, the Napa Valley Register has attempted to piece at least some of the story together.

The Tran-Ramos dispute

A key moment that would later loom large in the Tran saga came in early 2021.

Supervisor Belia Ramos received a COVID-19 vaccine at a county clinic before her age bracket was eligible. Ramos, who was then 42, said she was given an end of the day shot that would otherwise have been thrown out. A Bay Area television news program reported the incident, fueling controversy at a time when vaccine demand was high and supplies were short.

Ramos said Tran withheld an in-house report he had done that concluded she had simply been in the right place at the right time. Tran said that report had been preliminary and new facts had arisen.

Supervisor Belia Ramos wanted me to defend her when she was accused of jumping the vaccine line, Tran later wrote. I refused.

Ramos reported Tran to the State Bar of California for withholding the information, but to date, the state has not announced any action taken. Tran, in a May 3, 2021 memorandum to the Board of Supervisors, said Ramos action caused permanent and irreparable harm to my reputation and career.

In October 2021, while still CEO, Tran filed a claim against the county over the Ramos incident and offered to settle for $1, though the claim didnt list his conditions. The Board of Supervisors held several anticipated litigation closed sessions on the matter.

Tran filed a second claim against Napa County on Jan. 27 of this year, devoting almost a full page to this and other disputes with Ramos and how they affected his relationships with the other supervisors. He accused the county of a "hostile work environment, retaliation and conspiracy to commit wrongful termination."

Riverside County enters the picture

The tale grew even more tangled just before Trans dismissal on July 28, 2022. Records obtained from Riverside County show that on June 10 of that year, the county offered Tran the job of county counsel.

Riverside County documents on Minh Tran These are documents from Riverside County regarding former Napa County CEO Minh Tran.

In a July 5 email to Riverside County, Tran asked that Riverside County allow Napa County to announce his departure as CEO first.

I am excited and looking forward to beginning my tenure at Riverside County on August 11, Tran said in another email to Riverside County officials, this one dated July 15, 2022. "I believe everything is now fully set and ready. We will work with Brooke Federico, (Riverside) County PIO, to coordinate public announcement next week."

But a July 21 email from Riverside County CEO Jeffrey Van Wagenen said Napa County wasnt ready to announce Tran's departure yet. He asked that the item appointing Tran as county counsel be pulled from the July 26 Riverside County Board of Supervisors agenda, to appear at a later date.

Why there was trouble having Napa County and Riverside counties coordinate an announcement about Tran's departure isnt clear from the emails.

The decision to pull the item from the Riverside supervisors' agenda apparently came after the agenda item had already been posted on the Riverside County website on July 21. The item disappeared after a few hours.

But a Riverside Press-Enterprise reporter had seen the item and alerted the Napa Valley Register. When the Register contacted Napa County Supervisors Diane Dillon and Ryan Gregory for their reaction, they expressed surprise.

Tran on July 27 held a private staff meeting that was apparently secretly and illegally recorded, and a transcript reached the public by the next day. In it, he supposedly told staff that he wanted to remain as Napa County CEO.

On July 28, the Board of Supervisors, after a closed session, announced it was dismissing Tran because he was in active talks with another employer. It wanted someone laser focused on Napa County business, a board statement said.

One big question: Why was Tran eligible for a six-figure severance payment if he was taking a job elsewhere?

My answer to that is he did not disclose his intent to take that position, Supervisor Gregory told the Register at the time. In fact, he said the opposite, which was he preferred to stay. We were interested in a transition immediately and he left us no choice.

On Aug. 30, 2022, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors named Tran as county counsel.

Tran filed another claim against Napa County late this January that said that his search for another job was known to at least some Napa County supervisors. He said supervisors  he didnt name which  served as his references when he started his job search in early 2022.

Among the reasons he gave for his job search was the impending retirement of two supervisors, his issues with Ramos, and the probability of a supervisor candidate being elected whom he viewed as being unfavorable toward him.

Secret recording

Another issue Tran mentioned in his Jan. 27 claim was that secret recording made of Trans staff meeting the previous July.

Minh Tran tape investigation Here is a report done by Napa County on the secret recording of a staff meeting by former Napa County CEO Minh Tran

Basing on the timing of when the recording started, the time arrival of a certain individual to the meeting, the subsequent actions taken to erase or delete records notwithstanding the requested litigation holds, the relationships connections, etc., we should be able to identify and punish the culprit, Tran wrote.

He accused the Napa County Board of Supervisors of whitewashing the investigation.

There seems to be a conspiracy not only to fire me, but also to violate my civil rights, he wrote in his Jan. 27 claim.

Napa County paid $5,600 to Kramer Workplace Investigations to investigate the secret recording incident. The Register obtained a redacted copy of the Oct. 12, 2022 report summary through a public records request.

According to witnesses, Tran said at the staff meeting he wasn't going to accept the Riverside position because it was a demotion and he would be paid less than in Napa County, the Kramer report said.

None of the nine staff members at the meeting admitted to making the recording. A couple opined that Tran recorded the meeting himself to make it publicly known he wanted to stay in Napa County, perhaps so he could collect severance pay if terminated. A couple said an employee who had a contentious relationship with Tran could have made the recording, the Kramer report said.

No credible evidence was presented identifying who recorded the meeting or why, according to the Kramer report.

Tran in his Jan. 27 claim wrote that no one bothered to do any serious investigation of this illegality  which is more than just invasion of privacy, it is a violation of civil rights. No one interviewed him, he said.

Now comes Napa County supervisors' revised decision on severance pay.

"The board has directed its outside counsel to formally notify of the decision today, bringing the county's consideration of this matter to a conclusion," the board statement said.
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There are lots of thorny legal problems with filing kidnapping charges against a rival governor, but the most important one is simple: Proving that the chief executive of the other state is, in fact, responsible for luring migrants onto a plane under false pretenses.

But Gov. Gavin Newsom, on Twitter, is threatening to do just that after two recent flights delivered 36 people to Sacramento. The first flight arrived Saturday and a second arrived on Monday morning.

Though neither flight originated in Florida, Californias governor put the blame squarely on the Sunshine State, as he did last year when planeloads of migrants were flown into Sacramento and Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts.

You small, pathetic man, Newsom tweeted at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning. This isnt Marthas Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?

Newsom then linked to the California criminal code statute on kidnapping, specifically the section on bringing someone into the state against their will.

Newsom also made noise last year when requesting the federal government investigate the previous flights, but so far, the U.S. Department of Justice has not made public any such investigation.

Immigrant advocates said on Monday that the human consequences of federal inaction last year are arriving tired and hungry in Sacramento this week.

I think it was a mistake to dismiss these flights as a stunt in September, said immigration and border consultant Chris Rickerd. It was a mistake not to stop the escalation then.

A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta told The Associated Press that the migrants were transported through a program run by Floridas Division of Emergency Management and carried out by the same contractor paid by the state of Florida to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in September.

While we continue to collect evidence, I want to say this very clearly: State-sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting, Bonta said in a statement.

Brian Hofer, an attorney and executive director of the Oakland-based nonprofit Secure Justice, which advocates against what the organization deems to be state and corporate overreach, said the legal ground is messy for determining charges, much less where to file them.

You took people from one state, on flights which are funded by another state, dropped them off in a third state, and youre going to say they were coerced or taken under threat of force? Hofer said. What court do you bring that in?

Its just a mess. The legal ground is certainly messy.

Mark Meuser, a San Francisco-based constitutional and election law attorney, disputed Newsoms legal reasoning in a tweet on Monday.

Can you please cite one Florida law that prohibits the transportation of individuals who are in this country illegally to a sanctuary state? wrote Meuser, a Republican who ran against U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla in last Novembers election.

Gavin Newsom called for Justice Department investigation

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the flights dangerous and unacceptable on Monday, but the Biden administrations response to previous migrant flights has been, at the very least, out of public view.

Newsom in September asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether the flights could be considered kidnapping under state laws. If they could, he wrote, then the U.S. Justice Department should get involved because they could be considered violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

In September, Rachael Rollins, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, pledged to look long and hard at potential charges. But Rollins has since resigned, and its unclear where that investigation led. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts did not return calls from CalMatters on Monday.

DeSantiss office also didnt return calls and emails from CalMatters. Floridas Republican-controlled legislature has set aside $12 million for the migrant flights.

Bonta, as Californias attorney general, also didnt file state charges related to those September flights, and its unclear what would be different this time. Bonta did not responded to requests for comment from CalMatters.

Newsoms office released a statement late Monday that expressed support for Bontas investigation into the flights.

As to specific charges and laws that may have been violated, that will ultimately be determined by the attorney generals office, Newsom spokesperson Daniel Lopez wrote.

Its one thing to know the planes came from Florida and another to connect those flights directly to DeSantis. But at least one investigation into that connection is continuing, as the sheriff in Bexar County, Texas, has turned over the results of a criminal investigation into DeSantis for his alleged role in transporting 49 migrants from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard last year.

The Texas Tribune reports that the Bexar County Sheriffs Office recently filed several counts of unlawful restraint, both misdemeanors and felonies as a result of the investigation, but didnt name individual suspects. The investigation has been turned over to the Bexar County District Attorney.

Sacramento surprised by migrant flights

California was caught unaware by the latest arrivals, who were diverted to a small airport in the city and met by local outreach groups and law enforcement.

Sacramento County spokesperson Kim Nava said the migrants left from Texas and changed planes in tiny Deming, New Mexico, before arriving in California.

The county did not know the flight was coming in, she said. We dont have communication (with the state of Texas) at this time.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the migrants were being used as political pawns. He said hes focused on making sure the people who landed here are cared for, and thats our job.

Steinberg, a Democrat who is considering a run for attorney general, said he supported a review of whether criminal charges should be filed.

I mean, I think we ought to, you know, await the result of an investigation, but certainly, an investigation into potential criminal culpability is warranted, he said.

Each of the migrants carried a clear plastic bag, inside of which were papers directing them to immigration courts, some as far away as Chicago, according to an advocacy group that has been supporting them. Landing in California could make it more difficult for those individuals to reach their court appearances.

So theyre not even trying to get them closer to families or closer to their court, said Lydia Guzman, national immigration chair for The League of United Latin American Citizens. This is all politics.

Guzman said the organization also demanded action from the federal government in September.

We inquired with the (U.S.) Department of Justice, we wanted them to look at who was behind all of this, Guzman said. We never heard back from DOJ on this issue.

Here are the 7 takeaways from Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida elections 1. Kentucky voters set stage for biggest governors race of 2023 2. Trump wins proxy battle with DeSantis 3. Cameron could make history 4. Democrat wins Jacksonville mayors office 5. Progressives make a split decision in Pennsylvania 6. Pennsylvania Republicans go with establishment-backed candidate in Supreme Court race 7. Election denier falls flat in secretary of state race
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Recognizing fake news, being savvy about social media and resisting cyberbullying would become a required part of California school curriculum under a bill now making its way through the Legislature.

Assembly Bill 873, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, would direct the states Instructional Quality Commission to incorporate media literacy into K-12 curriculum in English language arts, math, science, history and social studies frameworks. Eventually, all public school students would receive media literacy lessons every year, in every class.

We need to make sure the next generation has the critical thinking skills and analytic skills to be discerning about what theyre bombarded with online, Berman said. My hope is that students talk to their parents about this, too.

In 2018, California passed optional media literacy guidelines, which focus on teaching about online privacy and safety, conducting research online and other topics related to internet use. This bill goes further in that it addresses misinformation and social media use specifically, and would be required in classrooms.

The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly and is now in the Senate Education Committee.

Also making its way through the Legislature is a related bill, AB 787, by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, which would require State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond to survey schools to gauge the current state of media literacy education in California, and then devise a model program to implement statewide.

But AB 873, if it passes, would bring media literacy to classrooms much sooner.

We believe these two bills, if signed into law, would bring California to the forefront of this important policy area and ensure our students are well-equipped to face the rapidly evolving digital, online landscape, said Kami Peer, California policy manager at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit focused on youth and media.

If either or both bills pass, California would join a growing number of states that are adopting media literacy curriculum, in part due to concern about the rise of misinformation online and teenagers increasing use of social media. In most states, the guidelines are optional, but in a few  New Jersey, Delaware and Texas  the lessons are mandatory. In almost all cases, media literacy is taught in existing classes, but in some states its a standalone class.

Berman said he was inspired to write the bill when he learned that social media is the primary source of news for many people, including teenagers.

Misinformation and disinformation is rampant on social media, and can lead to real-world terrifying events like Jan. 6 and the large percentage of people who believe the (2020 presidential) election was stolen, he said.

A 2019 Stanford study found that two-thirds of students surveyed couldnt differentiate between editorial content and advertising, and 96% didnt understand why a climate-change website funded by a fossil fuel company might be suspect.

Alvin Lee, a sophomore at Stanford and executive director of a student advocacy group called GENup, said he was inspired to support AB 873 by the plethora of fake news on social media. He recalled how his mother asked him if Hillary Clinton was indeed running a child sex trafficking operation from a Washington, D.C. pizzeria. Known as Pizzagate, the theory has been widely discredited as fake news, but that didnt stop his mother from momentarily believing it.

Misinformation is so prolific on social media, Lee said. Its absolutely critical that we start thinking seriously about media literacy, for the sake of democracy and the future.

Ideally, hed like to see schools teach more than just skills like recognizing fake news. The topic should include information literacy, as well  the ability to critically analyze all information online and in print.

Peer, at Common Sense Media, said media literacy can have broad relevance in schools at all grade levels. When students learn how to do online research, for example, they need to understand plagiarism and copyright law. When they start exploring social media, they should learn about privacy and etiquette. When they create their own TikTok videos, they need to be responsible for sharing accurate, credible information. When they study current events, they need to recognize whether a source is reliable and fair.

Its important for schools to take on media literacy because schools are dealing with the ramifications, including issues such as online safety, cyberbullying, privacy, hate speech, misinformation and digital distraction, Peer said.

Digital literacy equips students, families and school staff with the knowledge to thoughtfully navigate and safely engage with digital content, Peer added. It also empowers young people to analyze and assess the influence of content on their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

How the 'TikTok ban' and other social media legislation could restrict internet use How the 'TikTok ban' and other social media legislation could restrict internet use
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Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: On May 14, [European Council President] Charles Michel had announced that several more detainees would be released in the coming weeks. He had emphasized that it is about those [Armenian and Azerbaijani] soldiers who simply got lost and crossed over to the other side.

According to international law specialists and other lawyers, there are no "lost servicemen" from Armenia in Azerbaijan. As for the Azerbaijanis who recently crossed the RA border, considering them lost, according to experts, is simply a distortion of the facts.

The fact remains that the Azerbaijani servicemen crossed the border on purpose, committed a serious crime. According to various assessments, Charles Michel's announcement is absolutely in the interests of Azerbaijan; that is, to achieve the return of [Azerbaijani] servicemen who penetrated into RA territory for terrorist purposes and committed crimes in exchange for several Armenian prisoners of war [(POWs)].

However, even in this case, no Armenian prisoner of war has returned home, although more than 3 weeks have passed since Michel's announcement.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Azerbaijan has disseminated another disinformation claiming that it has disrupted the fortification work allegedly being carried out by the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Army in the Askeran, Martuni, and Karvachar regions.

The Artsakh Defense Army informs Armenian News-NEWS.am that the Azerbaijan MoD is once again distorting the reality, trying to justify the recurring ceasefire violations by its own units.
At Mondays Department press briefing, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, reflected on the information that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing to receive the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, next week.

Patel said that he could not give exact dates for the meeting, but they expect that another round of talks will be held in Washington by the end of this month.

We look forward to hosting another round of talks in Washington later this month as the parties continue to pursue a peaceful future for the South Caucasus region. As youve heard me say before, direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace. The US is pleased that talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are proceeding in different venues, including the recent meeting of leaders as well, Patel added.

Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Washington D.C. within the framework of the next round of peace talks. The latter are expected to start on June 12.
We have not had any border incidents reported in recent weeks. Robert Ghukasyan, Governor of Syunik Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia.

Reflecting on the fact that Azerbaijani armed forces have advanced in the Tegh village sector, and to the question whether border demarcation work was being carried out there, Ghukasyan said: "Since civilians cannot go to that sector, the addressee of that question should be the relevant agencies; i.e. the NSS [(National Security Service)], the MoD".

He stressed that engineering work was being carried out on both sides.

When asked by reporters what should be done by the residents of Tegh village who lost their arable lands, the governor of Syunik responded: "The areas where the farmer cannot enter today will receive [government financial] support for this year's unrealized income. I am sure that Azerbaijan shall go back to where it advanced from."

Ghukasyan said that the Azerbaijanis had gone back in some places.

"But I can't say exactly from which places and how many meters," he added.

As for the border delimitation and demarcation process, the governor of Syunik said he had no information about it.
Just as we have territories under the control of Azerbaijan, they have the same in Tavush Province and in various parts of Armenia. Hayk Ghalumyan, Governor of Tavush Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia.

Referring to the "Azerbaijani enclaves" in Tavush Province, the latters governor said: "We all know, it's not a secret, everything is transparent. Nothing in that regard specifically is happening in the talks at the moment. When there will be, they will inform the public. Just as we have territories under the control of Azerbaijan, they have the same in Tavush Province and in various parts of Armenia. That issue has been resolved, the Prime Minister [of Armenia] has repeatedly emphasized, explained that the issue will be resolved during border delimitation, demarcation."

Ghalumyan noted that he could not say the names of specific villages, nor how much territory, and he only said that the Berkaber village sector of about 950 hectares is under the control of Azerbaijan.

The governor of Tavush said that the enclaves have always existed, not that they appeared after the revolution.

"What kind of problems we have, Azerbaijanis have the same. There is a need to sit around the [negotiating] table, decide these issues; there is no concrete discussion yet," Hayk Ghalumyan said.
The residents will be armed if necessary. Robert Ghukasyan, Governor of Syunik Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia.

Asked whether there were all the conditions for arming, the Syunik governor responded: "The MoD should be asked if everything is there. Naturally, I can't have all that information."

When asked how many residents of Tegh village cannot go to their arable lands, he answered: "We are talking about two things. One that the MoD tells the resident its not desirable; that is, it is a dangerous area. About 50 business owners, families have a problem there. On the one hand there is their [i.e. the Azerbaijanis] advance, on the other hand there are deployments related to our army. Between the two there is a fallen area. On the other hand, how close they can stand, there are defensive things there."
The intensity of the shots fired by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Gegharkunik Province has decreased, the residents of the border villages live a normal life, and carry out agricultural work. Karen Sargsyan, Governor of Gegharkunik Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia.

"It is clear that we have a neighbornot a friendacross the border, who is in those positions, and the [local] people plan their lives accordingly. In recent times, no direct targeting of the [Sotk] settlement has been recorded. We have a school that Azerbaijanis are monitoring. I am sure that one day they will go back, regardless of their fortification work. I cannot say when, but one day Armenia will be impregnable with its borders," said Sargsyan.

According to the governor of Gegharkunik, the damages caused to this provinces border communities as a result of the September 2022 military aggression by Azerbaijan have been almost completely restored. There are four collapsed houses which cannot be restored now, and work is being carried out to assess the amount of damage. Compensation was given to the local residents whose livestock went over to the side of the adversary and were not returned.

"We did not conduct a monitoring on emigration from Gegharkunik, but it is unlikely that people have left [the province] due to security issues. The bulk of the Gegharkunik families who had left [the province] as a result of the September aggression have returned," emphasized the governor of Gegharkunik.

According to Sargsyan, the operation at the open part of the Sotk gold mine was supposed to be stopped in the coming months, but it was decided to stop the work now because of the Azerbaijani side.

"The Sotk mine is partially operational, the closed part is working," Sargsyan said.

The governor said that in the near future there will be a program in Gegharkunik Province where the latters residents will be able to take self-defense classes, and they were able to get weapons for self-defense in previous times as well.
After the opening of the Iranian consulate in Syunik Province of Armenia, discussions of economic and social programs with Iranian partners have begun. Robert Ghukasyan, Governor of Syunik Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia, reflecting on the effectiveness of the opening of the aforesaid consulate.

"The programs are investment, cultural, and social. The actual programs have not yet started at this phase, but there are many programs whose discussions are in the final phase, and we shall start [them]," Ghukasyan added.

He emphasized that the opening of the Iranian consulate in Syunik should have been earlier because Armenia and Iran have always had warm relations, but the implementation of these programs often caused technical problems, and communications issues arose

Ghukasyan gave a negative answer to the question whether there were any discussions about security programs with Iran.

On October 21, 2022, the consulate general of Iran in Armenia was opened ceremoniously in Kapan, the provincial capital of Syunik.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg.

The interlocutors touched upon the agenda of bilateral cooperation, as well as the matters of mutually beneficial interaction on multilateral platforms, and exchanged views on issues related to the Armenia-EU partnership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Regional stability and security issues were also discussed during the telephone conversation.

The Armenian FM briefed his Austrian counterpart on the latest developments in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mirzoyan stressed the position of the Armenian side on the key issues in these talks; in particular, border delimitation on the clearly expressed commitment to mutual recognition of territorial integrity, as well as addressing the rights and security issues of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The need to address the existingincluding humanitarianissues, the problem of the ongoing blockage of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, and the need for a comprehensive settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh issue was emphasized.
Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan met with Zhang Shaogan, Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Beijing Tuesday, the Ministry Economy of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Matters related to increasing the recognition of Armenian products in the Chinese market and organizing mutual familiarization visits were discussed at the meeting. For this purpose, the Chinese side invited Armenian companies to participate in exhibitions organized in China.

Zhang lauded the high economic indicators recorded in Armenia.

Kerobyan, for his part, presented the Armenian governments state assistance programs which help businesses in Armenia to acquire new equipment and increase the productivity of their companies.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday received Toivo Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

They discussed matters related to regional security and stability. In this context, reference was made to the recent discussions on the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The continuation of this process without bellicose rhetoric and in an environment free from the threat of the use of force was emphasized.

Reaffirming the Armenian side's commitment to establishing a comprehensive and long-lasting peace in the region, FM Mirzoyan stressed the importance of maintaining the mutual commitment to addressing the existing key issues for the purpose of a comprehensive settlement and the continuous efforts of international partners in that regard.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday received Toivo Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, the PM's office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The interlocutors discussed the course of implementation of the agreements that were reached at the trilateral and five-way meetings that were held in Brussels and Chisinau, respectively, and PM Pashinyan emphasized their consistent implementation.

They reflected also on the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the current humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's ongoing illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, the matters related to addressingunder the internationally guaranteed dialogue mechanismthe rights and security issues of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In addition, the premier presented the approaches of the Armenian side regarding the settlement of the existing key issues.
The purpose of filming the Armenian prisoners of war in the Azerbaijani media is to raise the standing of Azerbaijan in the international community regarding human rights, and it is also prepared for the domestic audience, said the president of the International and Comparative Law Center.

The purpose of filming the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) in the Azerbaijani media is to raise the standing of Azerbaijan in the international community regarding human rights, and it is also prepared for the domestic audience. Siranush Sahakyan, president of the International and Comparative Law Center, said this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Azerbaijani public television has filmed a group of Armenian POWs, who say that they are kept in good conditions.

"Here we see that Azerbaijanis put themselves superior to Armenians with their humanitarianism, on the other hand, they arouse public interest in prisoners of war. Dissemination these videos generates hatred, too. They also control the level of that hatred within the society. Not all the prisoners of war talking in that video have free will. They are constrained and under life threats, they cannot perform voluntary actions. In the phases preceding and following the shooting of the videos, the pressure in all its manifestations, including psychological, also intensifies. We must state that the expression of the will of the prisoners of war is not free, and this can be confirmed through professional opinions," said Sahakyan.

When asked what benefit this will bring to Azerbaijan, Siranush Sahakyan responded: "If no work is done at all, it will be impossible to protect the legitimacy of the country, and they have chosen the falsification method."

In connection with the returning of Armenian POWs, Sahakyan said that the legal processes are developing in their normal way, and there are no unusual developments.

"We see that they are also mutually agreeing on the exchange of prisoners of war from a political point of view. And there was an expectation that during these weeks repatriation would take place through European mediation. Along with this delay, we see provocative actions by Azerbaijan. (). It is predictable that as a result of the deal, through the mediation of European or other countries, if the Armenian side resolves some political problems, then it will be followed by the solution of the issue of prisoners of war," Sahakyan said.

There are 33 confirmed Armenian POWs in Azerbaijani capital Baku, as well as two servicemen who were captured on May 26. According to Siranush Sahakyan, there are 80 unconfirmed facts of capture, but there is a lack of information about them.
At 3:45pm Tuesday, units of the armed forces of Azerbaijan opened fire on equipment carrying out engineering work in Kakhakn village of Armenias Gegharkunik Province.

The Armenian side has no losses, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

As of 5pm, the situation on the front line with Azerbaijan is relatively stable.
President Vahagn Khachaturyan of Armenia received Ambassador Patrick Svensson of Sweden on the latters National Day.

The President congratulated the Ambassador and wished prosperity to the people of Sweden.

"I would also like to thank for the support that Sweden provides to the Republic of Armenia aimed at establishing peace in our country and the region and, of course, ensuring a prosperous life for our people," Khachaturyan added.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues on the agenda for cooperation between Armenia and Sweden were discussed. Also, the parties touched upon the developments in the South Caucasus region.

The Armenian President presented the details on the history and essence of the Karabakh conflict.

Ambassador Svensson, for his part, emphasized that Sweden supports Armenia's position to establish sustainable and lasting peace in the region.

Both sides highlighted the importance of promoting close cooperation between Armenia and Sweden on various international platforms.

In the course of discussion, views were also exchanged with regard to Armenia's approaches to the normalization of relations with its neighbors.
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 6: Pernod Ricard India (PRI), a global leader in the wine and spirits industry, today, launched their new campaign 'Drink More Water'. The campaign is seeking to influence consumer behavior by raising awareness on the importance of drinking water when consuming alcohol. Through this campaign, the company aims to promote responsible drinking with a simple yet powerful call to action: to 'Drink More Water'. As the world's leading premium spirits company and 'Createurs de convivialite', Pernod Ricard strongly believes that there can be no conviviality with excess. Throughout the years, the company has been active in playing a role in the prevention and reduction of harmful use of alcohol, through collaborative efforts with industry members, civil society, governments, local authorities, and consumers at large. The 'Drink More Water' campaign forms part of this long-standing commitment, aimed at raising awareness on mindful consumption of alcohol and nudging individuals to stay hydrated while enjoying social occasions. Drinking water when consuming alcohol helps to keep the body hydrated, which is why it is strongly recommended to pace oneself with a glass of water. Talking about the initiative, Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said, "As a responsible corporate, our aim is to ensure that our brands are enjoyed responsibly. Our vision is to create conviviality by turning every social interaction into a genuine and responsible experience of sharing and the 'Drink More Water' campaign seeks to do just that. Through this campaign, we are focusing on educating consumers on making the right choices by drinking more water and staying hydrated, thereby creating a more enjoyable & responsible convivial moment." Embracing a digital-first approach, the campaign targets an audience above the legal drinking age, complemented by on-ground activations. With an ambitious goal to reach around 30 million consumers in India, the 'Drink More Water' campaign reiterates the company's commitment to advocate responsible drinking among those who choose to drink. With this initiative, Pernod Ricard India accelerates its commitment towards 'Responsible Hosting', which is a key pillar of the company's Sustainability & Responsibility Roadmap 2030 - 'Good Times from a Good Place'. Click here to view the campaign AV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IdVPH2t0hY (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)